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GW - Lone Wolf and Pilot - chapter 1 part 1
Yeah, I'm posting this chapter in pieces, because I'm going to have to scrape and restart the next scene for the SECOND time and I already hated it the first and I need me some motivation.
It's still 4 200 words long, mind. Whee for superlong chapters.
Fandom: Gundam Wing
Pairing: Duo Maxwell/Heero Yuy
Characters: Duo Maxwell, Wufei Chang, Lady Une
Summary: Duo doesn't want to join the Preventers, thankyouverymuch. Preserving the peace is all well and good but he likes answering to no one but himself, and like hell he wants to buddy up to people he and Killer used to stand against, back during the war.
Only the Preventers have a pack, and his brother-wolf doesn't, never has, deserves to, and maybe a junkyard dog isn't all a warrior wolf should be.
(Fusion of sorts with the Iskryne/A Companion to Wolves series, though mostly I only use the huge, sentient, telepathic wolves. Because It's Fun Okay.)
Prologue
Once his decision was made, Duo didn't feel like waiting on the local shuttle companies for a commercial flight that'd accommodate a bondwolf. Blahblah proof of up-to-date vaccinations blahblah what do you mean you're not registered with a military or law agency blahblah I'm sure it can fit in a normal Doberman cage in the luggage hold with the other pets oh what do you mean no it won't well in that case we might have enough space sometime by the end of next week and no need to be rude.
Luckily that same day a Sweeper salvage ship was leaving for the Moon; he knew none of the crew personally, but gossip was a hard currency amongst spacers, and they had a berth for him and Killer for nothing but some manual labor and a few war stories.
Also Killer didn't have to travel in a box. Always a plus.
Duo had only bothered to shoot Une a quick "coming down" email before they left, with no flight information, and they wasted a half-day exploring the Serenity park and its weird moon rocks and moss, and enjoying the low gravity -- nothing Killer liked better than doing a triple somersault for virtually no reason, the weirdo -- before hopping on another decidedly not commercial ship. Which was why it was a bit surprising to leave the docks, throwing a last hand/tail wave combo at the crew, and then to turn around and see Wufei Chang waiting for them in his nice Preventer uniform.
He hadn't gotten much taller since the last time they'd met, the poor bastard, though his shoulders had widened minutely. He still wore his hair in a ponytail so tight it probably accounted for two third of his tension headaches -- heck, it gave Duo a tension headache just looking at him. He still had that cynical look on his face, black eyes half-lidded in a permanent expression of unsurprised contempt, a downward quirk on thin, pinched lips.
He also had the biggest bondwolf Duo had ever been acquainted with sitting right beside him, cream and rust-red and black in vivid patterns and a mane like a lion.
Two years later they still didn't seem to fit.
"... Did you give him a perm so his fur would fluff out? He looks all shampooed up."
"He likes to run through car washes," Wufei shot back, deadpan. Duo choked on a startled laugh.
The wolves were looking at each other, Killer with his head low and his ears tilted doubtfully back, but already inching before Duo like he might need to protect him, the other wolf sitting regal with his feet perfectly placed, maybe a little curious behind the calm.
New one. Greeting. Almost words, wrapped up in a sense of patience, something Duo might translate as 'I have no desire to fight you, though if you start it I have no issue with finishing it.'
Killer lifted the undertone from his mind and his ruff started prickling up, his tail stiffened. He didn't growl; he never did, when he meant it. Duo caught a fistful of fur and gave a tug. No fighting. Spaceport. Nobody's turf.
Wufei's left eyebrow arched pointedly. "Friendly."
"Oh, shut up." Duo had to breathe in and out, shed his wolf's unease and irritation, that itch to know where they stood, if the not-quite-stranger was an enemy or an alpha or an inferior to protect or what. He didn't want to start arguing with Wufei, they had enough potential issues that might blow up at the merest wrong touch and Duo really wanted to let sleeping wolves lie.
Even though it still stuck in his throat that the last time he'd been on the same battlefield as Wufei they'd been on opposite sides of it.
Enemy?
No. Just -- no, no. He was being stupid. A stupid puppy. Grown up now.
Duo was grown up too, damn it. He could totally be the bigger man.
Okay. Deep breath. Step forward. Offer hand. "Hey, oh-five."
He was greeted by silence, for a second, two, and then the red and black wolf tilted his head to look up at Wufei and Wufei nodded a slow, deep-in-thought nod and took his hand. "Hey, oh-two."
Shake. Duo couldn't help but fling him a smirk; hah, the iceman unbent! kind of thought.
Iceman used to be (corditenitroglycerineblood) Yuy, I seem to remember.
"--Gack."
And now Wufei was smirking back, thin and mocking, playful like a tiger would be -- run or fight you'd end up savaged either way, but at least the tiger would have fun. "You're broadcasting."
"Aw, shut up. I'm not! It's not like I -- how the fuck does it even work?"
Wufei shrugged. "Killer speaks to Glenfiddich, who speaks to me?"
Duo transferred his glare on his brother. Killer flipped an ear back in annoyance. Not! Not talking. The red and black wolf snorted; it sounded like one of Wufei's snorts, not out of any need to sneeze, just a need to underline his incredulous amusement.
"You've been Killer's brother longer than I've been Glenfiddich's. You should know this." Concern came through before he could get offended, and Wufei's eyes, sober for once, not mocking or distant. Duo breathed out and tried to loosen the muscles in his shoulders without being too obvious about it.
"Yeah, well, not like there's a big pack up there to chat with." He sighed, looked at Glenfiddich straight on. His markings were really sharply delimited, more like a German Shepherd's black saddle than a wolf's more blurred coat, but then again Killer did have some facial markings that came out a bit Husky at the edges. He supposed that was what came out of centuries of semi-controlled breeding. He offered his hand, palm up, shushing Killer's unease, ignoring the way he pushed his muzzle close so he could counter-bite if Glenfiddich made a wrong move. "Hey, Glen. Nice to meet you properly."
The scent of alcohol filled his nose, sharp and smooth, and hints of some big Earth animal -- exhaustion-sweat through fur -- over snow. "Stag," Wufei said, and then rolled his eyes a bit. "Stag and whisky. His official name is 'Evening at a Hunting Lodge on the Last Day of Deer Season'."
Duo cracked up. Just pure and simple cracked up, folding in two as he choked on uncontrollable giggles. He knew Killer was head-tilting at him in confusion (the fuck were those mouth-noises so funny), and he knew the rare people who had any reason to pass by -- mostly spaceport employees carrying things around -- were just plain stopping by to stare at the tableau, but he -- the way Wufei had rolled his eyes as he recited it, and the name, oh god, the name.
"Ah, phew, sorry. It's just -- so snooty." He spared the wolf a half-apologizing, half-laughing look. "The scent's fine, Glen, it's just -- official name? I thought that was Glenfiddich?"
"Glenfiddich is his call name. His registration name is a transcript of his scent name. Between you and me, he'll make me an alcoholic before I'm even old enough to drink." Wufei gave his brother a narrow-eyed, half-serious glare. Glenfiddich lolled his tongue. Alright, so dogs and wild wolves might not but bondwolves definitely laughed that way too; Duo made note, and let go of that particular little niggling worry.
Old yellowing paper and mineral oil, Glen offered, Wufei's scent name, and Killer grudgingly replied with Duo's own ozone and burnt wires from a sparking engine.
In wordless agreement Wufei turned on his heel to go and Duo fell into step with him, the men side by side and their brothers flanking them on the outside -- and rarely used corridors or not it was crazy how much that cleared the way.
"I take it Killer doesn't have a registration name?"
"He's not even registered. Shit, what'd his name oughta be? Broken-down car abandoned on the street in a colony with shitty climate control?"
"I don't even have his -- oh. Thank you, Killer." Wufei shook his head a bit, as if that could clear his nose of hot asphalt and rust on steel.
"Yeah, sorry, he's loud. Had to push kinda hard for Hilde to hear him."
"No matter." Wufei kept striding ahead; he checked his watch and the cynical humor fell away, replaced by distant professionalism. Duo stuck his hands in his pockets and slouched, strangely disappointed. "He'll learn to modulate. Une's waiting for us."
+
The Preventers building was pretty new. Duo supposed the war had made sure a lot of old fussy edifices in Brussels were leveled; left a lot of space to build right in the center of town. There was an office tower, pointy and vaguely Eiffel-ish in shape, if much shorter, and a low complex spreading all over the block behind it; gymnasium, shooting range, motor pool, and probably training grounds or whatever else out of sight behind the buildings.
The receptionist didn't look twice as Killer went sniffing all around the lobby with almost frenzied interest. Duo's attempt to get issued a visitor badge kept getting interrupted with blood! bitch wolf scent! another bitch wolf scent! spiciest curry! yummiest donut I want a donut now! male and old male and new male and cubs! Wufei and Glenfiddich waited nearby for him to be done, watching Duo's brother zoom by and probably laughing themselves breathless behind their bland lying faces.
"Okay, if you're done with the three-rings circus, buddy, we're going this way."
Killer let Duo clip a visitor ID collar on him with barely a flicker of puzzlement, but his enthusiasm took a nosedive when they crossed through the security gates. There were glass doors to go through and it was like suddenly they were in enemy territory; he had to check out the hospital-sized elevator before he let Duo in it, and even then he was tense, head low and walking all slinky.
Hot-asphalt-rust-on-steel?
... wolves there.
Uh. Wolves outside too. Duo didn't get it. He'd certainly been bombarded with enough distinct scents to be aware of it. A dozen must have gone through the lobby in the last month only.
... passing through. Not territory.
Oh. And from here on it's their territory.
Killer pressed against his side, responding only with a sense of unease and trapped. Duo slung his arm over his brother's shoulders and scritched his flank.
Mission? In-fil-tration?
He sounded hopeful, too, like storming through an enemy base stealing intel and ammo and leaving bombs and dead officers in exchange was more comfortable than coming in all polite to meet the locals properly. Oh god no, it's not a mission, you are not coming out of the elevator like a murderjack-in-the-box.
Glen stretched his neck before Wufei, sniffed at Killer's nose, making a questioning sort of whine-bark noise. Killer's ears went flat and his golden-brown stare cold, direct. Measuring. He'd probably learned it from Duo; it wasn't a challenge, per se, the way it should have been. It was... colder, more calculating than that. Killing mindset, all locked up. Duo tightened his hold on his brother's ruff. "Killer. No."
"Glenfiddich can't feel him in the pack sense." Wufei frowned, eyeing the two wolves. "What's the problem?"
The elevator went ding before Duo could answer. He braced himself, blocked Killer's way with a knee before his chest; not like it'd stop the wolf if he put any more weight in it. "So. Er. How far is it to Une's?"
Wufei hadn't become a Gundam pilot by being slow-witted. "... I'll lead the way and make sure people stay in their offices."
He slipped out of the elevator, immediately went against a wall so he wouldn't be in Killer's way, so Killer wouldn't feel trapped. Duo allowed his brother to drag him out.
Of course he went the wrong way, yanking Duo to an office door three doors down and sniffing stealthily at the bottom of it. Behind it Duo could hear a curious whine. Aw fuck.
"Lambert, Razor, stay in," Wufei said from way behind them -- normal speaking voice, like the man would hear him fine through the wood... oh.
It was real weird to think of Wufei Chang, loner extraordinaire, as hooked into any pack mind. Duo wondered if he'd only bothered to speak aloud so Duo could tell he had. ... Or maybe it was just that the wolf inside could hear the words and relay them to his brother.
Great first impression. Just great. His irritation and embarrassment slipped through; Killer flinched.
You are not fighting any wolf or human here. Not any. Now just trust me already!
Killer's ears flattened down. Trust! was shoved back at him, wounded and absolute, only there was still an edge of unsafe, enemy, notmine, and... fuck, but he'd been trained for that just as long as Duo had. Duo'd been thinking in the back of his head, where he thought Killer wouldn't know, about how most of those guys used to be Specials or OZ or even Romafeller.
Wolves could lie mind to mind, but they rarely saw the need, not strongly enough to become proficient at it, and if Duo himself hated lying he wasn't going to teach his brother how to, beside; whenever Duo had any infiltration mission that needed him to pass amongst wolves he went alone, without his brother. When Killer met any other wolves on their own turf it was usually to kill them.
He was really good at it.
Summer breeze through the city, Duo pushed at him, hard, and bird up in a tree.
Where? Killer returned, looking around like just maybe they'd be turning the corner in a second. Wincing, Duo pulled on his ruff a bit to get him to follow. After a long second of deliberation Killer allowed it to move him, though he gave the closed door and its stranger-wolf smells a long, wary look.
No, not here, just... You got along with them. Didn't fight. Friends. It was good, wasn't it? He knew the difference, though; they'd been allies' brothers and they hadn't met on each other's turf to start with, and there hadn't been so many of them that Killer felt surrounded. Friends here too. It'll be good. Promise.
Side by side if not quite touching, Wufei and Glen were holding up the wall a couple doors down and not-staring at them in a way that was so deliberate it had Duo twitching. Godfuckingdamnit, of all the people Duo didn't want to...
...hell is going on? came from a voice he didn't know, and Just stay inside for fuck's sake and The Fuzz says and a mess of other thoughts, impressions, who? notpack hostile wary dangerous who' sdominant? and smells and flashes of vision, a jumble of offices seen from the carpet and a training room and the sidewalk zooming underneath at a trot and, oh, god.
And they were alone again. Killer had gone stiff and his fur was up from ruff to tail-tip.
"... Okay. Une. Now." Only he was starting to really wonder if she'd still want the both of them, if she wasn't going to take one look at them and put back that phone he'd heard ringing in her office a couple seconds ago and just say never mind, no, go.
Wolves everywhere, Killer told him, and pressed hard against his side, like he was still small enough to hide his head under his arm.
"Shh."
Trust, Killer said, and then, quietly, Scared.
Glen exchanged a look with Wufei, and then went at a trot to the other end of the corridor, the nice important door with the golden plaque on it, manipulated the handle with an experienced twist of his jaws. Wufei held his hands behind his back, casual and relaxed, and waited to see which side Killer would decide he got to walk on, Killer's or Duo's, before he fell into step with them. (Killer chose to let Duo have him, which had Duo's fingers scritch sadly behind his ear; it was rare when his brother needed to be protected more than he needed to do the protecting.)
Duo expected Wufei to make a remark all the way down to Une's office, only he never did.
He let Wufei walk in first, (safe-ally-recon), and then he followed. Killer slinked in last, and then Duo closed the door, safe from attacks from behind.
"Agent Chang, what -- ah, Mister Maxwell. Killer. It's always a pleasure to see you."
Yeah, right. Hah.
Une was of course seated behind a big important desk with a huge wall-to-wall window at her back that had Duo's shoulders tight with the thought of snipers, even if there was no doubt the glass was a dozen inches thick and reinforced beside and all viewpoints monitored. Smooth shiny loose hair, neat pantsuit, screaming professional-but-not-military down to her polished fingertips -- only she wasn't seated with perfect poise to match her dry greeting, she had Glen's heavy head on her shoulder and was wrist-deep in his fur, giving his neck practiced scritchies. When Wufei came to a stop before her desk she slowly let her hands fall; the look they traded was... weird, just weird.
Sword oil and crushed rose petals, Killer shared cautiously, confused, and it wasn't the name of anyone in the room but it was so present Duo could almost smell it himself. He could swear he used to know who...
Oh. Right.
Must be awkward to see your old commander's brother attached to the guy who killed him.
Rather, yes, came Wufei's response, sharp but tired, worn.
(Wufei at fifteen and barely awake, having crashed for twelve hours after the last battle and yet looking even more exhausted than before he'd gone to bed somehow, wiry muscles in sharp relief from constant exercise and too little food and tight with anger, black eyes burning as the Treize Faction representatives tried to stare him down, appalled at his hand clutching white-knuckled at rust-red fur. 'He chose me,' was all he'd said, and Duo had wrapped both his arms around Killer's neck to make sure he didn't jump out of the shadows of the gangway overhead because he didn't know who his brother would savage, the strangers come to take back a corpse or the wolf stealing one of Duo's almost-pack.)
It's not your fault that grandstanding bastard used you to commit suicide!, Duo tried to send back, but he wasn't sure how or whether Killer was relaying and Wufei's expression didn't shift any way that might have shown he'd heard.
Aw, hell. Whatever. Later. "Milady. Hey. Nice digs."
"Thank you," Une replied, deadpan, eyebrows faintly raised.
Une's scent name, Glen politely reminded them, was marble in shadows where blood has dried. Cheerful.
"Thank you, Agent Chang. If you could...?"
"I'll get him settled in one of the dormitories. Come on, Glenfiddich."
They left. Duo felt strangely bereft. On one side of the desk, a hellbeast with all-devouring teeth and claws. On the other side, Duo and his poor bondpuppy. It was crazy how short on backup he felt.
Killer nipped him. Duo bit back a smile.
"Sit down, please." He sat. "You might want to start with whatever happened out there."
Aw, hell. Straight away with the hard questions. Then again it kind of was a potential dealbreaker, so. Okay, maturity and honesty, he could do that. "Kinda went into hostile territory mode." He sighed, raked his hand through his bangs. (Huh, time for a trim, he could stick them behind his ears.) "He's just not used to so many wolves at once. Or so many people, for that matter."
"Hm." Une was frowning, tapping on her lip thoughtfully as she watched his brother, who'd gotten bored with the discussion already and was wandering around the room tracking things. "Lack of proper socialization. In your opinion, is that something that can be remedied?" She speared him with a penetrating look. "Without any serious injury?"
"If I say no?" Duo retorted, scowling back. Couldn't fault her, but after all the harassment she'd subjected him to --
"I refer you to a trainer of my acquaintance. Off campus, as it were." And then seeing his face she smiled thinly. "Did you think I would let go of the chance to have another Gundam Pilot in my employ so easily?"
Duo huffed his exasperation and relaxed in his chair. "How many of those do you have, by the way? Anywhere close to a complete set?"
"Alas, Mister Winner is quite busy with his... little business," Duo snorted, "and as for Mister Yuy's whereabouts..."
The look she sent him next was clear, a little softer, a little chagrined. She'd been hoping he knew.
It pinched a bit, because he'd been hoping she would, too. She was the one with the spy network. He was the one Heero didn't consider a close enough friend to keep in touch with.
No, that wasn't quite fair; as far as Duo knew Heero hadn't kept in touch with any of the other pilots, anyone from the war. Maybe Relena would know, wasn't she his almost-girlfriend or something? but it wasn't like Duo was close enough friends with her to ask. Also she was kind of Vice-Foreign Minister by now, he seriously doubted a random message from some wretched has-been war vet on L2 would make it through her secretary.
It was really weird to think of where the people he used to know had ended up.
"... But you've got Trowa?"
"Mister Barton is currently on assignment, but yes, he and his brother are part of the Preventers."
Duo almost smiled, lips twitching. He could tell she could tell, she didn't hide her own.
Ozone and burnt wires and sparking engine?
Trowa and Coyote, man! Been a while, huh.
Killer smacked him in the face with a tangle of scents that felt almost excited, if scents could have feelings. As always, it was hard to untangle Trowa's name from his brother's. Duo just wasn't good with trees; it all smelled foresty to him. He was a city brat! He just knew one of them had a pine tree -- Trowa -- and his brother had some kind of bird along with his own not-pine tree.
... But anyway. "So. Sales pitch?"
"Do I need to give you one? You're aware of the salary I would pay you, and the other, ah, less tangible advantages."
Killer was chewing on one of her houseplants when she glanced at him to make a point.
"...Like proper housebreaking," she continued dryly. Duo's cheeks started burning.
"Okay fine. Lodgings?"
"All new agents are housed on base for a duration of a year. Mandatory. After that time period they can request to stay on base or move out. Agent Chang will show you around. I've heard it said most find it satisfactory."
Duo could guess from her expression that she would waive it for him only if Killer started leaving chewed-up trainee tidbits on the carpet. And again, maybe not even then. Whatever, Killer did need to socialize and Duo had never really cared where he slept so long as it was out of the rain and (luxury of luxuries!) not on a hard surface.
They went into other tedious things like vacation time and available union affiliation that he didn't give a shit about. Killer had wandered off to another plant. He seemed to be looking for the best one to purge with. Goddamnit. Stop that. Come here.
... Bored.
Yeah, me too, but stop eating her plants, she'll pitch you through the window one-handed, I swear to God.
Killer was probably as heavy as her massive oak desk. He eyed the woman dubiously, and slinked his way to Duo's chair.
"Okay. All well and good. Mm, that delicious legalese. What would we actually do?"
She leaned forward, hands crossed before her chin, spearing him with her eyes. "It does depend greatly on whether you've retained the skills that used to make the five of you such a force to be reckoned with."
Duo stiffened in offense.
"Which we will know at the end of the mandatory month of training with the other new recruits. Which you will not try to wiggle out of. Three other new agents in this batch have brothers of their own. Killer will integrate faster with them than with long-established pack dynamics."
Goddamn, but that wolfless woman read minds better than most wolf-brothers would have.
"I don't plan on giving you the run of the mill missions, Oh-two."
His immediate reaction to her quiet, intense voice was embarrassing. Mostly just oh yes please, and a reaction near physical to the thought of the adrenaline highs waiting for him. Killer had looked up, eyes gleaming, expectant.
We hunt?
Not yet, he had to say, reluctantly.
Oh please, make it soon.
It was then that he fully accepted that the Devil Witch-Woman from OZ had him by the short hairs, and perfectly knew it. She didn't even need to ask before getting out the paperwork and sliding it across the desk for him to fill.
"Agent Chang will explain the details to you. Welcome to the Preventers, Trainee Maxwell Killersbrother."
--
Next.
It's still 4 200 words long, mind. Whee for superlong chapters.
Fandom: Gundam Wing
Pairing: Duo Maxwell/Heero Yuy
Characters: Duo Maxwell, Wufei Chang, Lady Une
Summary: Duo doesn't want to join the Preventers, thankyouverymuch. Preserving the peace is all well and good but he likes answering to no one but himself, and like hell he wants to buddy up to people he and Killer used to stand against, back during the war.
Only the Preventers have a pack, and his brother-wolf doesn't, never has, deserves to, and maybe a junkyard dog isn't all a warrior wolf should be.
(Fusion of sorts with the Iskryne/A Companion to Wolves series, though mostly I only use the huge, sentient, telepathic wolves. Because It's Fun Okay.)
Prologue
Once his decision was made, Duo didn't feel like waiting on the local shuttle companies for a commercial flight that'd accommodate a bondwolf. Blahblah proof of up-to-date vaccinations blahblah what do you mean you're not registered with a military or law agency blahblah I'm sure it can fit in a normal Doberman cage in the luggage hold with the other pets oh what do you mean no it won't well in that case we might have enough space sometime by the end of next week and no need to be rude.
Luckily that same day a Sweeper salvage ship was leaving for the Moon; he knew none of the crew personally, but gossip was a hard currency amongst spacers, and they had a berth for him and Killer for nothing but some manual labor and a few war stories.
Also Killer didn't have to travel in a box. Always a plus.
Duo had only bothered to shoot Une a quick "coming down" email before they left, with no flight information, and they wasted a half-day exploring the Serenity park and its weird moon rocks and moss, and enjoying the low gravity -- nothing Killer liked better than doing a triple somersault for virtually no reason, the weirdo -- before hopping on another decidedly not commercial ship. Which was why it was a bit surprising to leave the docks, throwing a last hand/tail wave combo at the crew, and then to turn around and see Wufei Chang waiting for them in his nice Preventer uniform.
He hadn't gotten much taller since the last time they'd met, the poor bastard, though his shoulders had widened minutely. He still wore his hair in a ponytail so tight it probably accounted for two third of his tension headaches -- heck, it gave Duo a tension headache just looking at him. He still had that cynical look on his face, black eyes half-lidded in a permanent expression of unsurprised contempt, a downward quirk on thin, pinched lips.
He also had the biggest bondwolf Duo had ever been acquainted with sitting right beside him, cream and rust-red and black in vivid patterns and a mane like a lion.
Two years later they still didn't seem to fit.
"... Did you give him a perm so his fur would fluff out? He looks all shampooed up."
"He likes to run through car washes," Wufei shot back, deadpan. Duo choked on a startled laugh.
The wolves were looking at each other, Killer with his head low and his ears tilted doubtfully back, but already inching before Duo like he might need to protect him, the other wolf sitting regal with his feet perfectly placed, maybe a little curious behind the calm.
New one. Greeting. Almost words, wrapped up in a sense of patience, something Duo might translate as 'I have no desire to fight you, though if you start it I have no issue with finishing it.'
Killer lifted the undertone from his mind and his ruff started prickling up, his tail stiffened. He didn't growl; he never did, when he meant it. Duo caught a fistful of fur and gave a tug. No fighting. Spaceport. Nobody's turf.
Wufei's left eyebrow arched pointedly. "Friendly."
"Oh, shut up." Duo had to breathe in and out, shed his wolf's unease and irritation, that itch to know where they stood, if the not-quite-stranger was an enemy or an alpha or an inferior to protect or what. He didn't want to start arguing with Wufei, they had enough potential issues that might blow up at the merest wrong touch and Duo really wanted to let sleeping wolves lie.
Even though it still stuck in his throat that the last time he'd been on the same battlefield as Wufei they'd been on opposite sides of it.
Enemy?
No. Just -- no, no. He was being stupid. A stupid puppy. Grown up now.
Duo was grown up too, damn it. He could totally be the bigger man.
Okay. Deep breath. Step forward. Offer hand. "Hey, oh-five."
He was greeted by silence, for a second, two, and then the red and black wolf tilted his head to look up at Wufei and Wufei nodded a slow, deep-in-thought nod and took his hand. "Hey, oh-two."
Shake. Duo couldn't help but fling him a smirk; hah, the iceman unbent! kind of thought.
Iceman used to be (corditenitroglycerineblood) Yuy, I seem to remember.
"--Gack."
And now Wufei was smirking back, thin and mocking, playful like a tiger would be -- run or fight you'd end up savaged either way, but at least the tiger would have fun. "You're broadcasting."
"Aw, shut up. I'm not! It's not like I -- how the fuck does it even work?"
Wufei shrugged. "Killer speaks to Glenfiddich, who speaks to me?"
Duo transferred his glare on his brother. Killer flipped an ear back in annoyance. Not! Not talking. The red and black wolf snorted; it sounded like one of Wufei's snorts, not out of any need to sneeze, just a need to underline his incredulous amusement.
"You've been Killer's brother longer than I've been Glenfiddich's. You should know this." Concern came through before he could get offended, and Wufei's eyes, sober for once, not mocking or distant. Duo breathed out and tried to loosen the muscles in his shoulders without being too obvious about it.
"Yeah, well, not like there's a big pack up there to chat with." He sighed, looked at Glenfiddich straight on. His markings were really sharply delimited, more like a German Shepherd's black saddle than a wolf's more blurred coat, but then again Killer did have some facial markings that came out a bit Husky at the edges. He supposed that was what came out of centuries of semi-controlled breeding. He offered his hand, palm up, shushing Killer's unease, ignoring the way he pushed his muzzle close so he could counter-bite if Glenfiddich made a wrong move. "Hey, Glen. Nice to meet you properly."
The scent of alcohol filled his nose, sharp and smooth, and hints of some big Earth animal -- exhaustion-sweat through fur -- over snow. "Stag," Wufei said, and then rolled his eyes a bit. "Stag and whisky. His official name is 'Evening at a Hunting Lodge on the Last Day of Deer Season'."
Duo cracked up. Just pure and simple cracked up, folding in two as he choked on uncontrollable giggles. He knew Killer was head-tilting at him in confusion (the fuck were those mouth-noises so funny), and he knew the rare people who had any reason to pass by -- mostly spaceport employees carrying things around -- were just plain stopping by to stare at the tableau, but he -- the way Wufei had rolled his eyes as he recited it, and the name, oh god, the name.
"Ah, phew, sorry. It's just -- so snooty." He spared the wolf a half-apologizing, half-laughing look. "The scent's fine, Glen, it's just -- official name? I thought that was Glenfiddich?"
"Glenfiddich is his call name. His registration name is a transcript of his scent name. Between you and me, he'll make me an alcoholic before I'm even old enough to drink." Wufei gave his brother a narrow-eyed, half-serious glare. Glenfiddich lolled his tongue. Alright, so dogs and wild wolves might not but bondwolves definitely laughed that way too; Duo made note, and let go of that particular little niggling worry.
Old yellowing paper and mineral oil, Glen offered, Wufei's scent name, and Killer grudgingly replied with Duo's own ozone and burnt wires from a sparking engine.
In wordless agreement Wufei turned on his heel to go and Duo fell into step with him, the men side by side and their brothers flanking them on the outside -- and rarely used corridors or not it was crazy how much that cleared the way.
"I take it Killer doesn't have a registration name?"
"He's not even registered. Shit, what'd his name oughta be? Broken-down car abandoned on the street in a colony with shitty climate control?"
"I don't even have his -- oh. Thank you, Killer." Wufei shook his head a bit, as if that could clear his nose of hot asphalt and rust on steel.
"Yeah, sorry, he's loud. Had to push kinda hard for Hilde to hear him."
"No matter." Wufei kept striding ahead; he checked his watch and the cynical humor fell away, replaced by distant professionalism. Duo stuck his hands in his pockets and slouched, strangely disappointed. "He'll learn to modulate. Une's waiting for us."
+
The Preventers building was pretty new. Duo supposed the war had made sure a lot of old fussy edifices in Brussels were leveled; left a lot of space to build right in the center of town. There was an office tower, pointy and vaguely Eiffel-ish in shape, if much shorter, and a low complex spreading all over the block behind it; gymnasium, shooting range, motor pool, and probably training grounds or whatever else out of sight behind the buildings.
The receptionist didn't look twice as Killer went sniffing all around the lobby with almost frenzied interest. Duo's attempt to get issued a visitor badge kept getting interrupted with blood! bitch wolf scent! another bitch wolf scent! spiciest curry! yummiest donut I want a donut now! male and old male and new male and cubs! Wufei and Glenfiddich waited nearby for him to be done, watching Duo's brother zoom by and probably laughing themselves breathless behind their bland lying faces.
"Okay, if you're done with the three-rings circus, buddy, we're going this way."
Killer let Duo clip a visitor ID collar on him with barely a flicker of puzzlement, but his enthusiasm took a nosedive when they crossed through the security gates. There were glass doors to go through and it was like suddenly they were in enemy territory; he had to check out the hospital-sized elevator before he let Duo in it, and even then he was tense, head low and walking all slinky.
Hot-asphalt-rust-on-steel?
... wolves there.
Uh. Wolves outside too. Duo didn't get it. He'd certainly been bombarded with enough distinct scents to be aware of it. A dozen must have gone through the lobby in the last month only.
... passing through. Not territory.
Oh. And from here on it's their territory.
Killer pressed against his side, responding only with a sense of unease and trapped. Duo slung his arm over his brother's shoulders and scritched his flank.
Mission? In-fil-tration?
He sounded hopeful, too, like storming through an enemy base stealing intel and ammo and leaving bombs and dead officers in exchange was more comfortable than coming in all polite to meet the locals properly. Oh god no, it's not a mission, you are not coming out of the elevator like a murderjack-in-the-box.
Glen stretched his neck before Wufei, sniffed at Killer's nose, making a questioning sort of whine-bark noise. Killer's ears went flat and his golden-brown stare cold, direct. Measuring. He'd probably learned it from Duo; it wasn't a challenge, per se, the way it should have been. It was... colder, more calculating than that. Killing mindset, all locked up. Duo tightened his hold on his brother's ruff. "Killer. No."
"Glenfiddich can't feel him in the pack sense." Wufei frowned, eyeing the two wolves. "What's the problem?"
The elevator went ding before Duo could answer. He braced himself, blocked Killer's way with a knee before his chest; not like it'd stop the wolf if he put any more weight in it. "So. Er. How far is it to Une's?"
Wufei hadn't become a Gundam pilot by being slow-witted. "... I'll lead the way and make sure people stay in their offices."
He slipped out of the elevator, immediately went against a wall so he wouldn't be in Killer's way, so Killer wouldn't feel trapped. Duo allowed his brother to drag him out.
Of course he went the wrong way, yanking Duo to an office door three doors down and sniffing stealthily at the bottom of it. Behind it Duo could hear a curious whine. Aw fuck.
"Lambert, Razor, stay in," Wufei said from way behind them -- normal speaking voice, like the man would hear him fine through the wood... oh.
It was real weird to think of Wufei Chang, loner extraordinaire, as hooked into any pack mind. Duo wondered if he'd only bothered to speak aloud so Duo could tell he had. ... Or maybe it was just that the wolf inside could hear the words and relay them to his brother.
Great first impression. Just great. His irritation and embarrassment slipped through; Killer flinched.
You are not fighting any wolf or human here. Not any. Now just trust me already!
Killer's ears flattened down. Trust! was shoved back at him, wounded and absolute, only there was still an edge of unsafe, enemy, notmine, and... fuck, but he'd been trained for that just as long as Duo had. Duo'd been thinking in the back of his head, where he thought Killer wouldn't know, about how most of those guys used to be Specials or OZ or even Romafeller.
Wolves could lie mind to mind, but they rarely saw the need, not strongly enough to become proficient at it, and if Duo himself hated lying he wasn't going to teach his brother how to, beside; whenever Duo had any infiltration mission that needed him to pass amongst wolves he went alone, without his brother. When Killer met any other wolves on their own turf it was usually to kill them.
He was really good at it.
Summer breeze through the city, Duo pushed at him, hard, and bird up in a tree.
Where? Killer returned, looking around like just maybe they'd be turning the corner in a second. Wincing, Duo pulled on his ruff a bit to get him to follow. After a long second of deliberation Killer allowed it to move him, though he gave the closed door and its stranger-wolf smells a long, wary look.
No, not here, just... You got along with them. Didn't fight. Friends. It was good, wasn't it? He knew the difference, though; they'd been allies' brothers and they hadn't met on each other's turf to start with, and there hadn't been so many of them that Killer felt surrounded. Friends here too. It'll be good. Promise.
Side by side if not quite touching, Wufei and Glen were holding up the wall a couple doors down and not-staring at them in a way that was so deliberate it had Duo twitching. Godfuckingdamnit, of all the people Duo didn't want to...
...hell is going on? came from a voice he didn't know, and Just stay inside for fuck's sake and The Fuzz says and a mess of other thoughts, impressions, who? notpack hostile wary dangerous who' sdominant? and smells and flashes of vision, a jumble of offices seen from the carpet and a training room and the sidewalk zooming underneath at a trot and, oh, god.
And they were alone again. Killer had gone stiff and his fur was up from ruff to tail-tip.
"... Okay. Une. Now." Only he was starting to really wonder if she'd still want the both of them, if she wasn't going to take one look at them and put back that phone he'd heard ringing in her office a couple seconds ago and just say never mind, no, go.
Wolves everywhere, Killer told him, and pressed hard against his side, like he was still small enough to hide his head under his arm.
"Shh."
Trust, Killer said, and then, quietly, Scared.
Glen exchanged a look with Wufei, and then went at a trot to the other end of the corridor, the nice important door with the golden plaque on it, manipulated the handle with an experienced twist of his jaws. Wufei held his hands behind his back, casual and relaxed, and waited to see which side Killer would decide he got to walk on, Killer's or Duo's, before he fell into step with them. (Killer chose to let Duo have him, which had Duo's fingers scritch sadly behind his ear; it was rare when his brother needed to be protected more than he needed to do the protecting.)
Duo expected Wufei to make a remark all the way down to Une's office, only he never did.
He let Wufei walk in first, (safe-ally-recon), and then he followed. Killer slinked in last, and then Duo closed the door, safe from attacks from behind.
"Agent Chang, what -- ah, Mister Maxwell. Killer. It's always a pleasure to see you."
Yeah, right. Hah.
Une was of course seated behind a big important desk with a huge wall-to-wall window at her back that had Duo's shoulders tight with the thought of snipers, even if there was no doubt the glass was a dozen inches thick and reinforced beside and all viewpoints monitored. Smooth shiny loose hair, neat pantsuit, screaming professional-but-not-military down to her polished fingertips -- only she wasn't seated with perfect poise to match her dry greeting, she had Glen's heavy head on her shoulder and was wrist-deep in his fur, giving his neck practiced scritchies. When Wufei came to a stop before her desk she slowly let her hands fall; the look they traded was... weird, just weird.
Sword oil and crushed rose petals, Killer shared cautiously, confused, and it wasn't the name of anyone in the room but it was so present Duo could almost smell it himself. He could swear he used to know who...
Oh. Right.
Must be awkward to see your old commander's brother attached to the guy who killed him.
Rather, yes, came Wufei's response, sharp but tired, worn.
(Wufei at fifteen and barely awake, having crashed for twelve hours after the last battle and yet looking even more exhausted than before he'd gone to bed somehow, wiry muscles in sharp relief from constant exercise and too little food and tight with anger, black eyes burning as the Treize Faction representatives tried to stare him down, appalled at his hand clutching white-knuckled at rust-red fur. 'He chose me,' was all he'd said, and Duo had wrapped both his arms around Killer's neck to make sure he didn't jump out of the shadows of the gangway overhead because he didn't know who his brother would savage, the strangers come to take back a corpse or the wolf stealing one of Duo's almost-pack.)
It's not your fault that grandstanding bastard used you to commit suicide!, Duo tried to send back, but he wasn't sure how or whether Killer was relaying and Wufei's expression didn't shift any way that might have shown he'd heard.
Aw, hell. Whatever. Later. "Milady. Hey. Nice digs."
"Thank you," Une replied, deadpan, eyebrows faintly raised.
Une's scent name, Glen politely reminded them, was marble in shadows where blood has dried. Cheerful.
"Thank you, Agent Chang. If you could...?"
"I'll get him settled in one of the dormitories. Come on, Glenfiddich."
They left. Duo felt strangely bereft. On one side of the desk, a hellbeast with all-devouring teeth and claws. On the other side, Duo and his poor bondpuppy. It was crazy how short on backup he felt.
Killer nipped him. Duo bit back a smile.
"Sit down, please." He sat. "You might want to start with whatever happened out there."
Aw, hell. Straight away with the hard questions. Then again it kind of was a potential dealbreaker, so. Okay, maturity and honesty, he could do that. "Kinda went into hostile territory mode." He sighed, raked his hand through his bangs. (Huh, time for a trim, he could stick them behind his ears.) "He's just not used to so many wolves at once. Or so many people, for that matter."
"Hm." Une was frowning, tapping on her lip thoughtfully as she watched his brother, who'd gotten bored with the discussion already and was wandering around the room tracking things. "Lack of proper socialization. In your opinion, is that something that can be remedied?" She speared him with a penetrating look. "Without any serious injury?"
"If I say no?" Duo retorted, scowling back. Couldn't fault her, but after all the harassment she'd subjected him to --
"I refer you to a trainer of my acquaintance. Off campus, as it were." And then seeing his face she smiled thinly. "Did you think I would let go of the chance to have another Gundam Pilot in my employ so easily?"
Duo huffed his exasperation and relaxed in his chair. "How many of those do you have, by the way? Anywhere close to a complete set?"
"Alas, Mister Winner is quite busy with his... little business," Duo snorted, "and as for Mister Yuy's whereabouts..."
The look she sent him next was clear, a little softer, a little chagrined. She'd been hoping he knew.
It pinched a bit, because he'd been hoping she would, too. She was the one with the spy network. He was the one Heero didn't consider a close enough friend to keep in touch with.
No, that wasn't quite fair; as far as Duo knew Heero hadn't kept in touch with any of the other pilots, anyone from the war. Maybe Relena would know, wasn't she his almost-girlfriend or something? but it wasn't like Duo was close enough friends with her to ask. Also she was kind of Vice-Foreign Minister by now, he seriously doubted a random message from some wretched has-been war vet on L2 would make it through her secretary.
It was really weird to think of where the people he used to know had ended up.
"... But you've got Trowa?"
"Mister Barton is currently on assignment, but yes, he and his brother are part of the Preventers."
Duo almost smiled, lips twitching. He could tell she could tell, she didn't hide her own.
Ozone and burnt wires and sparking engine?
Trowa and Coyote, man! Been a while, huh.
Killer smacked him in the face with a tangle of scents that felt almost excited, if scents could have feelings. As always, it was hard to untangle Trowa's name from his brother's. Duo just wasn't good with trees; it all smelled foresty to him. He was a city brat! He just knew one of them had a pine tree -- Trowa -- and his brother had some kind of bird along with his own not-pine tree.
... But anyway. "So. Sales pitch?"
"Do I need to give you one? You're aware of the salary I would pay you, and the other, ah, less tangible advantages."
Killer was chewing on one of her houseplants when she glanced at him to make a point.
"...Like proper housebreaking," she continued dryly. Duo's cheeks started burning.
"Okay fine. Lodgings?"
"All new agents are housed on base for a duration of a year. Mandatory. After that time period they can request to stay on base or move out. Agent Chang will show you around. I've heard it said most find it satisfactory."
Duo could guess from her expression that she would waive it for him only if Killer started leaving chewed-up trainee tidbits on the carpet. And again, maybe not even then. Whatever, Killer did need to socialize and Duo had never really cared where he slept so long as it was out of the rain and (luxury of luxuries!) not on a hard surface.
They went into other tedious things like vacation time and available union affiliation that he didn't give a shit about. Killer had wandered off to another plant. He seemed to be looking for the best one to purge with. Goddamnit. Stop that. Come here.
... Bored.
Yeah, me too, but stop eating her plants, she'll pitch you through the window one-handed, I swear to God.
Killer was probably as heavy as her massive oak desk. He eyed the woman dubiously, and slinked his way to Duo's chair.
"Okay. All well and good. Mm, that delicious legalese. What would we actually do?"
She leaned forward, hands crossed before her chin, spearing him with her eyes. "It does depend greatly on whether you've retained the skills that used to make the five of you such a force to be reckoned with."
Duo stiffened in offense.
"Which we will know at the end of the mandatory month of training with the other new recruits. Which you will not try to wiggle out of. Three other new agents in this batch have brothers of their own. Killer will integrate faster with them than with long-established pack dynamics."
Goddamn, but that wolfless woman read minds better than most wolf-brothers would have.
"I don't plan on giving you the run of the mill missions, Oh-two."
His immediate reaction to her quiet, intense voice was embarrassing. Mostly just oh yes please, and a reaction near physical to the thought of the adrenaline highs waiting for him. Killer had looked up, eyes gleaming, expectant.
We hunt?
Not yet, he had to say, reluctantly.
Oh please, make it soon.
It was then that he fully accepted that the Devil Witch-Woman from OZ had him by the short hairs, and perfectly knew it. She didn't even need to ask before getting out the paperwork and sliding it across the desk for him to fill.
"Agent Chang will explain the details to you. Welcome to the Preventers, Trainee Maxwell Killersbrother."
--
Next.
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Can't pin down the exact reason, but Trowa smelling like pine = <3. It fits him. Pinesol joke inn...3..2..1. When you first posted the pictures of the wolves and let everyone guess who got who, I thought Coyote would be Duo's. But thinking about it, Trowa does chameleon trickster better then Duo does, who never really lies about who he is.
No one knowing where the hell Heero is and the quiet kind of depression that follows from the realization shows how much Duo likes him without overstating it. Quatre being sly enough to not get sucked into the Preventors gave me a snort. He does though already have a pack, so it wouldn't bother him much in that sense would it? He has his sisters and the Magnuac's to rely on and take care of already...right?
Questions... Hilde's been left behind, Une doesn't seem to be a major character (major players, yes, but active character, no). I guess your earlier post on Bechdel test got me thinking. Will there be lady badasses featuring at any point? Also, how does the transfering of speshul wolves happen? Did Wufei have his own wolf beforehand that died or...? Killer said he smelled cubs. Will we get to see the puppies? And are they even allowed on what, a military base? I know they are big and scary and dangerous, but why were the wolves developed instead of say, a plague?
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Coyote is way better at looking unobtrusive. Or friendly, or very submissive, or pretend-alpha (he very much isn't, though XD) He can even do tricks! u.u
Quatre is an empath, even, so he doesn't even need a wolf to feel included in a pack bond. XD
re: bechdel test, I really don't know, unless you count the wolves. The five pilots being men already cuts down on a lot of female interaction. Sally or Noin might be around, and there's a couple of female recruits with wolves, though it's traditionally a very heavily male-dominated field (back in the ancient days -- read, in the books this is inspired by -- used to be that women were entirely barred from bonding.) They'll be around to interact with Duo but I don't know if the fic will ever have a reason to pay attention to a convo they have with each other. Could be, if it's mission-related. They're pretty badass so far in my head, but this is so heavily Gboy-centric... hrrm. (hilde might phone them or come down for a visit! i dunno yet, i'll have to see if it fits, but this isn't the last they've seen of her.)
Wufei never had a wolf, or wanted one. His clan was never into them at all, they considered them a bit barbaric and pointless, and also fur clogs old aeration machines liek whoa anyway so even pets were hard to come by on his home colony. XD But Treize had just died and he just went "welp can't let his wolf die too, i'll, uh, bring it back with me and find somewhere for it to go later" only by then Glen was all ahaha nope i'm sticking with you. It was a crash course on wolf bonds. About as many little boys and girls say "wolfbrother!!" as they say "fireman!!" or "veterinarian!!" when you ask them what they want to be when they grow up but it was never Wufei's thing, he thought it was a bunch of over-romanticized archaic crap and kind of sneered at it, so he didn't have anything but the very most basic knowledge about all of it. I think he was too proud to ask the other pilots for help, too, and after that it was end of the series and they all went their own ways anyway. it was probably a most hilarious first six months there. >:D
Wolves were not developed, bondwolves (which are a different species from our own canis lupus btw) have been partnering humans since pretty much prehistoric times. At this point people don't even question why wolves anymore, you might as well ask a thug "why a knife, you could have used a brick". Well yeah he could have, and some thugs prefer bricks, but this one happens to have a knife. ?_? At some point Duo thinks "centuries of breeding" but that's his own impression that people have only been serious about breeding their wolves for looks instead of letting them choose since the 19-20th century. (which isn't true either, but he's fuzzy on precolonial history. XD)
We will in all likelihood see the puppies. Puppies! X333
And wolves are allowed on base because as far as the military is concerned they're partners with the human soldiers and soldiers in their own right (though they usually don't get to work without their human, when the reverse isn't true). They're more common and work for their food more often in the Army, in Mobile Suit corps they're more of a honorary thing, but it's a long and proud tradition blahblahblah and the military likes those. It's even pretty common that the military organizes breedings and that cubs are born on base, in case the whelping bitch's human partner is on deployment there or doesn't have longterm lodgings elsewhere. Or the bitch just feels more comfortable on base, because that's where the pack is. Actually it's probably more common than having the cubs be born at home. XD;
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Wufei thinking he would find Glen a home, hurhurhur. Boyo /must/ not have grown up with animals. Rule number one: feed it and it never leaves. (Wonder if that's how the Fae feel?) Personal bit of headcanon I have: Wufei as a far, far descendant of Fa Mulan. >:)
Bondwolves being a natural thing huh...Bet that made recognizing stuff like Quatre's empathy a lot less stigmatized and/or simply dismissed as fantasy.
Yes! Puppies! ...as in the Gboy's wolves having puppies or random litters popping up to chew/throw up on combat boots?
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Puppies as in there's currently a litter on base and they'll have to be introduced to killer at some point because pack, and probably puppies as in, ~SPOILERS: HEERO HAS A SHE-WOLF~. I don't know if the fic will go that far though, because urrrh she is not ... currently pregnant. XD
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I personally liked the sequel, I think it was called An Apprentice to (of?) Elves, more than A Companion of Wolves because Isolf drove me crazy lol
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I haven't read the sequel! Am v. sad, but i couldn't get my hands on it. I read spoilers that made me not want to, though, because in the first book i was all yay canon ot3 but apparently not, and that made me sadface.
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*wipes eyes* It's just allergies, I swear. *tiny sniffle*
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(aaah i wanna be next scene already!!! i wanted some woman from OZ with a male wolf to try to be friendly and ask about his wolf, surely no awkward or offensive talk can happen when it's about wolves, we all love wolves.
"so where did you get him? :)"
"oh, stole him from an Alliance base before the war when he was a cub. We were planning to eat him." Duo this is not how you come across as friendly and harmless and non-awkward to your new colleagues. D: )
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Everyone wants Heero. It's a universal truth.
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Killer does need a pack. Just reading about how unsure he is, and how he relies on Duo and misreads some signals is really sad, and really emphasizes how alone they’ve always been. Une pushed a button, but it was the right one to push. They have to get used to others, the both of them.
That said, Une is a manipulative bitch and she knows it XD I so love her character.
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Yeah, they really need this. The preventers probably bring them more than they bring it at this point. >__>;;;
Une is Queen Bitch from Hell and awesome at it. XD Go Une go! ♥
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Killer's sad lack of socialization and Duo's growing embarrassment as he starts to realize just how much of a problem it really is; the little starts towards camaraderie with Wufei, interrupted by all the awkward; Duo and Killer's obvious need for action and just how much the other Gboys are clearly still in Duo's head even after all this time. It's all awesome.
Also, Glenfiddich is clearly just as much of a Magnificent Bastard as his former owner. <3
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It is not any less awkward in the next scenes. Actually, probably worse. D:
Glen learned from the best, obviously.
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Though the presumption that Quatre might know where all of them are at any given time is also endearing. Hmm..
Ano... question. Is it safe to assume Duo and Killer'll be working under Wufei and Glen at some point?
....pity Zechs doesn't have a wolf (I recall you saying you didn't have plans for any other canon characters to have wolves?). Zechs/wolf & Heero/Mary interactions would have been curious, but Zechs & Heero/Mary aught to be just as good, with how you write.
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Is it safe to assume Duo and Killer'll be working under Wufei and Glen at some point?
Yup, though I don't know yet if scenes where that is highlighted will be very developed.
Zechs doesn't have a wolf but there are some things I really oughta write about him and Mary and Heero during the war. XD I hope i can slip it in during the fic, but if i can't i'll write a prequel, because it was so much fun figuring it out.
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Except Heero's almost as good about blending in as Trowa is, and he's got a hairtrigger that wouldn't make it the least bit safe for him to be around someone that wasn't a pilot for a long while.
...though maybe he's not still there, anymore. Pity.
How did Mary take to the "We're going to blow up the mobile suit so they can't have it." choice?
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How did Mary take to the "We're going to blow up the mobile suit so they can't have it." choice?
Snarling and howling and she probably would have bit Heero as he was ejecting her from the cockpit if she could have reached. :/
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Either way, wherever he is, I can't wait to see Duo/Killer's reaction to finding them. That's gonna be fun. (Also, Duo/Killer's reaction to the other three with brothers in his new squad. Odds are high at least one of them's an ex-Ozzie. This does not sound like a bad idea at all.)
...awe. Poor Mary. Fear not! Heero loves you more then he loves himself.
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There are no words to accurately describe how awesome this is.
I am bird up in a tree happy about this and I can't wait for more~
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AM
SO
EXCITED
ABOUT
THIS
FIC
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Glad chapter one finally is out. Its as epic as ever, but for you I think thats expected.
Yes, I think Une is quite put out not that Quatre wont join her, but more that she cant find a way to blackmail him into joining her because, well, he's so much sneakier than she is.
Id like to think that While Heero is so very good at not being found, Chances are Both Relena and Quatre either know exactly where he is or have a very good Idea of where he is. Moreso Quatre than Relena though. I just cant see him not keeping an eye on his 'pack' and what with his Empathy, he would definitely know things like 'is he healthy, how is he feeling, is he still alive.' And when Une asks him 'where is Yuy' Quatre just smiles and replies 'I havent the faintest'
So, ill get my fanboy-ism out of the way now. Will we be seeing much of Quatre in this fic, and will there be lots of super cute QuatrexTrowa+Coyote moments. Oh i can just see them now *eye smiles and giggles outragiously*
Yes, I think Killer will handle being socialized well... after the first couple of months of Stir-crazy ness, or maybe just once he gets buddy buddy with Glen and Coyote.
Somehow, I have the feeling there was a conversation between Trieze and Glen right before Treize went out to die 'Im going out now, Ive got to die to end this war, You will need a new bondmate, thats Wu Fei, he's good and honorable and will take good care of you' and neither Glen or Wu Fei really had any choice in the matter.
+ Une cuddling Glen is entirely too Adoreable. I cant help but wonder what happens when Glen gets around Marie-maia.
Hmmm. I suddenly fear the thought of G-Boy bond Puppies. I dont want to think that Heero's bondwolf would be slutty or anything, plus it might be a bit more natural with bondwolf's and all, but yes. Pups with Glen, Pups with Yote & Pups with Killer.... Obviously they get to live at Quatre's place. Duo: You dont have a bondwolf... and your such a Mamawolf (Motherhen but hen is food so must be wolf) Quatre: wants to have a zero moment all over Duo at the mention of him being motherly or girly at all but immediately melts at the sight of puppies.
I do hope next chapter involves lots of touring goodness and a little bit of Killer and Duo meeting puppies and other bondwolves they'll be living with, plus an introduction of Tro and yote.
Ill be waiting anxiously ^^
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Yeah, I get the same feeling about Treize and Glen. XD That bastard planned everything else, why not that. I don't think he would have ordered Glen though, and if he'd tried Glen would have laughed at him, but I can certainly see him figuring out how best to give them the time to make it happen. Wufei's kinda pissed about it, but in a resigned way. It's useless being angry at Treize for being Treize.
First time Glen was around Mariemeya, Endless Waltz resulted. >__>; I mean Wufei would have joined up with her anyway, but homg Treize's girlcub! must protect!!! it certainly hastened the event.
... Slutty? Uh, she's a wolf, she doesn't have that kind of values. When she's in heat she mates, it's natural and perfectly alright, and if the male isn't good enough for her she finds better. If that means being mounted by several males until she finds one she likes enough for a second round, she would and there'd be no value judgment attached. :/ I admit I don't like this word much, especially in that context.
Mary having a litter with several fathers would actually be possible! but only if i wanted to make the fic a 1x2x3(x5). I kinda want to try twosomes for once. XD
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such a pity. Im such a fanboy for the pair. I often go onto fits when I see tro with anyone else, which im really bad about cause I can totally see Quate with Heero, but I sooo cant see Tro with anyone else.
Please, please do a one-shot Quatre and Yote, Id love you forever, come on, you cant deny the epic cuteness of it all.
I think you could manage Mary having more than One wolf's litter without making it into a three+-some, As you said, wolves are wolves, its entirely possible she might go through 2 wolves before she finds the Alpha she's happy with.
Somehow I can totally see Glen and Mary Hooking up even Tho Heero and Duo are the pairing, or Heero and Tro, cause even I have to admit, that pairing is plausible. Just not in my headcanon ^^.
Yes, I know its Duo-centric... evil evil duo-centricness. But a Glen Marie scene would be epic on multiple levels
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Uh, no. Telepathic bond means when she feels the urge to mate, so does Heero, and so do the partners of the wolves who fall in with her. It's pretty much a Wolves Made Them Do It scenario. Lucky she's only in heat twice a year and the rest of the time she couldn't care less.
Homestuck Rec
(Anonymous) 2012-04-20 01:49 am (UTC)(link)I like it because it does a Human/Troll war and interactions very well.
http://archiveofourown.org/series/15751
Re: Homestuck Rec
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While it's awkward and embarrassing for Duo, I imagine that it's more of a realization for Wufei about the differences in their lives and a better understanding of Duo's circumstances (since, let's face it, the two of them come from wildly different childhoods.) He knows Duo isn't an idiot nor incompetent and that he wouldn't let his wolf be unsocialized without good reason. Killer was raised and trained with him to be a terrorist and neither of them know much else.
Also, Killer and Mary puppies! I imagine Heero going incredibly mama!bear protective over them.
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heh, yeah, pretty much. XD; You're right that it'll eventually help their friendship, but for a while things will likely be kinda awkward. Mmm growing pains.
Killer and Mary puppies! I can't wait ohoho. ^o^~