(Untitled)

[lightningbaron6]

Any who thinks that Zechs Merquise has an active and engaging life outside of work would find themselves sorely mistaken, if informed of the truth. They're also sorely mistaken if they think that he has much of a life outside of work, period. But workaholic though he may be, Zechs can't find a reason to justify going into the office today, no

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[imperfecthero01]

He may have to act social now, though. Or at least in accordance to what... vagually... passes for a form of social with Heero Yuy and Zechs Merquise.

There's a knock from his door, a quick and efficient one. It's easy enough to recognize.

[lightningbaron6]

It is to Zechs, anyway, considering he's heard it more than a few times on the door of his office. That's why he doesn't even bother to check who it is before he opens the door. That's not to say he isn't surprised, however, because he and Heero have never been the sort to chat casually, and certainly not to visit.

"Heero," Zechs says simply when he opens the door. "Something I can do for you?" He moves to one side so that Heero can come in if the matter, whatever it may be, is going to involve some discussion.

[imperfecthero01]

"Yes," Heero says, and that's all he says as he walks in the door.

Zechs may want to ask a further question or two.

[lightningbaron6]

O..kay, well. That was certainly informative. Thank you, Heero Yuy. Zechs closes the door and follows Heero into the living room before gesturing at the furniture, inviting the other to make himself comfortable

[imperfecthero01]

"I don't need anything," Heero says, and takes the offered seat. As for whether or not he needs an opinion, he nods. "It's something important," he says, somehow deigning it necessary to verbally explain at this point. "It has to do with our job."

[lightningbaron6]

Zechs pauses in tying his hair back at Heero's last statement. It seems like he was right, though he's not really surprised. Heero may not be easy to read, but Zechs has a mental database for him, just as he does for everyone else he's met, of situations, reactions and the like. That makes things easier. Besides, he's always been good at reading people, even complex ones.

"Sounds important, yeah," he agrees as he disappears into the kitchen for a moment. A few moments later he's back with a fresh mug of tea, and he settles himself in an empty seat before looking across at Heero.

"Shoot."

They're mature enough that Zechs doesn't really think it's necessary to append the invitation with "figuratively."

[imperfecthero01]

Heero has considered the various ways to put this. There may or may not be complications in how he'd be expected to explain it - but in the end, he's just chosen not to care about those.

Nobody said he was wordy, after all.

"I don't want to be a Preventer anymore."

[lightningbaron6]

If Heero had opted to be verbose, Zechs would find himself having to add an entire new volume to his mental inventory. As it is he arches an eyebrow in mild surprise, since this isn't exactly what he'd been expecting to hear. But it's not the first time that he's heard it, it won't be the last, and he honestly can't say that he's all that surprised on the whole, unanticipated topic of conversation aside

[imperfecthero01]

"It's... complicated," Heero says, slowly. "I'm not even sure how to explain it."

That's not much of a help, really. But he's trying, at least.

"I assume you know the situation that went down in my apartment."

[lightningbaron6]

Zechs blinks. "Situation?"

Owing to a deus ex machina to prevent him from storming over and demanding to know what the fuck all the commotion was about, he was elsewhere at the time. He and Duo are not chummy, either, so no, Heero, he has absolutely no clue.

"What happened? 'Situation that went down' implies something negative, in my experience."

[imperfecthero01]

Heero smiles, in that unpleasant way where it's not really a smile at all. "I assume," he says slowly, "In your inheritance of my memories, you caught a few of an old trainer of mine. Sean Richardson?"

[lightningbaron6]

"...yeah."

Oh, yeah. Him. Zechs may not exactly be Heero's best mate, but even he has to feel a little ember of hatred for someone like Sean. He's the sort of person whose throat Zechs would at least make a valiant effort to tear out solely on principle.

If he were alive, of course, but that's beside the point. It's principle, principle.

"Now that you mention it I did get a brief memo that something happened at the barr- complex, but no one bothered to fill me in completely on the situation. I was at a meeting in Moscow talking budget and politics the week it happened." Zechs frowns. "I take it that Sean decided to make a grand return." Statement more than question.

He appreciates that people don't want to bother the higher-ups, but honestly, it would be nice if he could find out about stuff like this sooner, in some cases.

[imperfecthero01]

A return, yes, but in no case would Heero ever label it as grand. He's certain of the fact that Sean meant it to be, though.

"He broke into my apartment, looking for me. When he found Duo, he... decided to entertain himself some."

Heero's voice is flat, but if one were to pay attention, his fist is clenched. This is something that is never going to stop making him angry.

"They both took quite a beating, but I don't believe Duo would have lasted much longer if I had not come in."

One did have to face facts, unfortunately.

[lightningbaron6]

"Duo?" Zechs isn't at all surprised that the boy would have been there, but Heero's description of what had been happening makes him pause and reflect for a moment

[imperfecthero01]

"That was my one mistake," Heero says, his voice traced with a hint of regret. "I merely finished him off, rather than letting him explain himself - though I'm not sure if he would have, anyway."

Not without a game or two to play, at least.

"He had no personal grudges against me, though, and he could not have been that bored. It had to have had a point."

[lightningbaron6]

"I'd have done the same." And Zechs would have, because when someone he loves is involved, he's not always been the clearest or most rational of thinkers. Those are times he acts on emotion and instinct, and it doesn't surprise him that Heero did something similar