+ Title: The Eye of Horus - Part 1
(Full Title: Heero Yuy and the Eye of Horus)
+ Author: Vinyl Koneko (Emily)
+ See Prologue for warnings, pairings...

The Eye of Horus + Part 1

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New York, USA
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Quatre Raberba Winner stood just inside the packed lecture hall, watching his friend explain carbon dating to the assembled students, the majority of which were female who seemed to be paying more attention to Heero than to the lesson. The blond man couldn't help but smile. One of the girls in the front was asking a question that related more to Heero's personal life than archaeology. The bell signaling the end of the day rang, and Quatre found that it would be safer for him to move away from the door than face the horde of students.

When the room finally cleared, Quatre noticed Heero leaning against the chalkboard, massaging his temples and eyes closed. Quatre didn't know if he should make his presence known or not when Heero started. "I don't even know why I took this job." He opened his eyes. "It wasn't as bad until the Darlian girl got placed in the class. She asks me questions that are none of her business and professes her unending love for me in essays on Pompeii."

"It can't be that bad."

Heero just responded with a look that dared the other man to challenge him.

Quatre straightened his tie, signaling that he was getting down to business. "As charming of a campus Barnett College is, I think we should talk someplace else."

They walked off the schoolgrounds, chatting amiably about friends and life in general, avoiding the subject that Quatre wanted to speak about in a more secluded location, which turned out to be the library just down the street. Upon finding a private enough area, they sat at one of the round tables, Quatre clasping his hands.

"I received a telegram from Wufei this morning. He got a little inside information on OZ's next big hit and, as he claims, sent enough to me to pique your curiosity on the matter."

Heero leaned closer, listening intently to absorb everything that would be said.

The blond man cleared his throat before continuing. "Wufei called it the Eye of Horus. It's a scepter claimed by the ancient Egyptians to wield the power of the sun god, more precisely in the form of revenge. OZ thought they had a lead, but it turned out to be a dead end because they're missing a piece of the puzzle, but they don't know what the missing piece is. It could be a key or a map, but they aren't certain. Wufei checked up on his Egyptian mythology, and it said that whoever holds the jade scarab holds the key to the power of Ra."

Quatre leaned more towards Heero, lowering his voice to a barely audible whisper. "The problem is, not even Egyptian texts verify what, or maybe even who, the jade scarab is." He leaned back again. "That's all I know."

Heero sat back, seeming to digest the information. "OZ is seeking the power to control life on Earth."

Quatre nodded grimly.

"Who is in charge of their search?"

Aquamarine eyes glistened with sarcasm, "Your dear friend Doctor Zechs Marquise. I wouldn't be surprised if Treize Khushrenada himself is following Marquise's every move."

"Do you know where they are?"

"I got a report from Rashiid affirming their station in Cairo. If I had a guess, I'd say they're going through the recorded hieroglyphs and seeing if the scepter is mentioned there."

Heero stood up, hands in his pockets and gazing out the window. "Trowa won't be happy to hear we have to leave again."

Quatre smirked, moving to stand beside his friend. "Trowa doesn't care. He sticks around here for too long and starts getting fussy about me. He thinks I work too hard."

The Japanese man blinked, disbelieving. "You work too hard? Was he awake on the last few trips you sent us on?"

The blond smiled. "That's just Trowa. Thinking about others before himself."

"No, you mean thinking of you before himself."

Quatre's smile didn't fade as he steered the conversation back on track. "So are you interested or not?"

"Yeah, I'm interested. I might have a lead, too."

"Really? What?"

Heero shook his head, "Not what, but who. His name's Duo Maxwell, a...friend of mine. Collects mythology and spent some time in Egypt a couple years ago. Spending time in Australia, off the Great Barrier Reef, last I heard."

Quatre was unsure with Heero's hesitation in calling Duo a friend. "Are you sure he'll help?"

Heero shrugged. "It's been several years. Time heals all wounds, right?" he added wryly.

"I guess it depends on the circumstances. What happened?"

Heero deep blue eyes narrowed, face taking on an expression of awkwardness of vocalizing the event and regret from what had transpired. "We were sort of seeing each other, but with me traveling all the time, it got difficult to stay in touch. I got to visit the Greek temples from the days when Zeus was the supreme god, and I couldn't let Duo miss out on the opportunity.

"We got closer over the trip. Duo told me that he loved me, but I got a message that Dad was sick, so I had to return home. I told Duo to stay in Athens - I told him I'd return within the week, but I never did, and he went to Egypt. Haven't spoken to him since."

Quatre didn't know how to respond appropriately. "So...do you think he'll help or not?" Heero just glared in response. "I mean, it's not like he's helping you personally, just the fate of the entire world, if myth serves correctly, so things should work out all right.

Heero scowled. "You can only be optimistic because it's not your ass."

"True," the blond man beamed, "but you're never optimistic anyway. Now, let's go get Trowa. You might want to pack first, but it's important that you leave as soon as possible. OZ might already have a leg-up on us, and they have better chances of finding the scepter with the more time we give them."

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