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"I think that went fairly well," Duo smiled cheerfully, setting aside a bottle of his new drug, putting away his notes from when he had created the chemical while still a child. Heero nodded, and eyed the bloody figure of the princess.

"How long will she be unconscious?" he asked as Duo stood, peeling off rubber gloves and disposing of them. The American indicated about 12 hours, and leaned against his lover. Heero brushed him off, winking at him, and unshackled the girl, her body sliding to the floor.

"The hook?" Duo asked, and Heero nodded. His lover tossed a set of thin handcuffs on a sturdy chain to him, and Heero strung her up so she was suspended as if kneeling, just high enough to be uncomfortable. Duo walked over with a spreader bar and a set of weighted clamps. Heero placed the clamps over her toes, and tightened them to what he judged was a painful degree. She moaned slightly when he was done, a pained grimace gracing her aristocratic features. Duo affixed the spreader bar between her legs, and arranged her feet as far apart as they could be. Heero nodded in satisfaction, and switched off the camera.

Duo picked up their clothes from the floor beside the bed, then paused as Heero's arms slid around him. "You're evil, my love," Heero purred, and kissed Duo's neck. The American sighed, leaning back against him, and smiled.

"You are too, Hee-kun. C'mon, let's get out of here for now. She's done for a while," Duo grinned, twirling away from his lover and towards the door. He unlocked it with his palm, and it slid open. Heero shut off the lights, and stepped outside after Duo. He smirked, then locked the door. Duo danced off down the hallway, humming loudly as Heero paced after him, smiling gently.

Quatre met them with a tray of coffee, cheese and crackers at the top of the stairs, smiling warmly as Heero grabbed Duo's braid possessively. Duo grinned, "Thanks, Quatre-chan!" Quatre nodded as Duo took the tray gratefully, and they began walking down the wide panelled hallway towards one of the windowed parlours, alight with a blazing sunset over the sand.

"I think you did very well today, with Relena," Quatre commented, opening the door for the couple. Heero nodded in thanks, and Duo smirked, "I certainly hope so! I'm trying to break her physically before mentally, so she's betrayed by her own body as well as...other things. Tomorrow should be fun, but I think it might be a bit tedious. Was Tro-kun watching too?"

Quatre nodded, and the youth in question looked up from a deep conversation with Relena's distinguished driver. Heero evaluated the man cautiouly, who's wrinkled face smiled at him with seeming wisdom. The elder man stood as Duo carefully placed the tray on a table, watching the scene.

"Yuy-sama, you may not know me, but my name is Pargan. I come to apologise for my part in Relena-sama's actions," the man spoke, his voice noble and refined as he bowed to the Japanese youth. Heero stared at him, surprised, then returned the respect and bowed in return. "There is nothing to forgive that will not be accomplished with her death," Heero replied, smirking slightly as he sat down in a plush chair. Duo eyed him mischeviously, then perched himself in his lover's lap. Heero leaned forward and wrapped his arms about Duo's slim waist, drawing him backwards into the seemingly huge chair.

Pargan nodded, and almost grinned before returning to soft conversation with Trowa.

Duo grabbed two coffees from the tray, and handed one to Heero. The Japanese boy sipped at the hot liquid as Duo curled up on his lap, his visage strangely thoughtful. Heero stroked a loose tendril of Duo's hair, and the American glanced at him.

"Do you think what we're doing is wrong?" he asked quietly. Heero bit his lip. His love would have to ask that gnawing question, after what they had done was just beginning to be irreparable. Relena could not easily return to life without an eye and the explanation thereof. Duo didn't seem to regret his actions, just merely appeared curious of his opinion. Heero drew in breath, and considered it.

He knew that the circumstances of Relena's actions towards them changed the response greatly. She had done a great many evils to them and their compatriots, otherwise they likely would have continued to suffer her, but not go as far as they had. But was what she had done justification for their torment...that was what the Japanese youth felt was at the core of Duo's query.

Heero closed his eyes from Duo's questioning gaze, and reflected upon the first and foremost of her supposed crimes: trying to kill Duo. Remembered rage gripped him in a fierce tension, and he opened his eyes to Duo's countenance.

"Were it any other, in normal circumstance without aggravation," he began quietly, putting the jumble of his thoughts into spoken language, "-what we are doing would be horribly wrong...but she creates an extenuating situation. I cannot believe then, that what we are doing is undeserved. Wrong...perhaps morally, but who are we, as soldiers, to decide morals?" Duo gazed at him, then smiled softly, and kissed his nose.

Heero's eyes crossed, and Duo giggled. "Thank you," he spoke after calming. "I needed to hear that again, to believe it. Saa, so what are our plans for her tomorrow?" Duo smirked, sighing happily as Heero pulled him closer. The Japanese boy only smiled.

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