Mission Accepted: Confrontation, 3
Relative disclaimers apply. And one more for the violence and mild language.

Quatre winced. That particular tap had been hard enough to disorient him again.

"I'm talking to a man that doesn't exist."

Hawton thought this was hilarious.

"You're smart, Master Quatre," he said once he'd recovered.

Quatre didn't reply.

Hawton spat out a curse that widened Quatre's eyes and made his face go pale.

"I worked for years to get his notice! Busted my ass to get in the door! Years! So many freaking years! I was honest! But honest doesn't get you anywhere in business, don't you know that you can't get rich unless you do something bad?"

He tapped the top of Quatre's head with the gun. Quatre groaned but otherwise didn't say anything.

"Your father - laughed at me behind my back! Oh sure, to my face he said I was good, was great, putting me there had been a great idea of his! And I was doing a damned good job. I didn't need him to tell me that! I didn't need anyone to tell me that! But it didn't matter, you see. He was wheeling and dealing behind my back! And then he told me that he had a greater opportunity for me in mind, would I take it! And I said -" he blinked coquettishly - " 'Why, yes, sir, I'd be honored!' "

The mocking mood faded. He tapped Quatre's cheek with his empty hand.

"Even though I knew he was up to no good! Your freaking honorable father! You think you know that man? He told you he was against war? That he was a pacifist? Not in the corporate world! I'm telling you, that piece of sh-oh, excuse me, Your Highness, garbage - put me out on a limb, and then had you fire me because he didn't have the cojones to do it himself! And you freaking agreed with him!"

"I didn't know!" Quatre said before he could help himself. "I had no idea! This is all new to me!"

Hawton grabbed him by the collar.

"You lying little piece of garbage," he hissed. "You were the one who told me to talk to a lawyer. Why else would you do that? Tell me!"

The collar was digging into Quatre's neck, but he faced Hawton without fear.

"Father would have told you to do the same thing. I wanted to be like him. And besides, he was out of town."

"ARGH!"

Hawton let go of the collar and shoved Quatre against the back of the chair. Then, as Quatre was recovering from the latest hit to his head, his tormentor touched his nose to his.

"You freaking don't remember everything. Otherwise you'd've remembered what I told you when you said that crap, and you'd be shaking in your little booties."

Quatre s-l-o-w-l-y shook his head.

Hawton exhaled, then drew back and yanked the sunglasses off.

"How about now?!"

Quatre's eyes narrowed to slits.

You were looking for my father's office. For me. I'd hung up on you earlier. I didn't know who you were and didn't pay much attention to your threat. I didn't even repeat it to Father. You didn't confront me. You'd called the secret office telephone number and let me have it. Before I'd cut you off you'd said something about promising to ruin me and Father. But we got lots of threats like that, so yours wasn't special. And I was protected. Why fear you? Even now, as you wave the threat of death at me? Ahh, do you know what I've seen and done in the past few years? In the past few days? You should be afraid of me. And my friends, once they find me. I'm not bragging. But I'm not the impressionable, spoiled little boy that I was back then.

"Who are you?" he asked.

Hawton laughed out loud and derisively.

"Too late, former Master Quatre. Maybe I should have thrown more clues out, huh? Your friends Duo and Heero would've appreciated that. Want me to contact them now and tell them that? Ha ha!"

He cocked his head to one side and pursed his lips.

"Well, Duo might have. Heero's head is in the clouds. He's got Miss Bitch on his mind. Not that I blame him."

Quatre's lips twitched.

I can't let him get to me!

"Yep, she's quite a hot little number, isn't she? I wonder, what do you think they were doing all night, all alone in that room? Talking? HAH! I'm willing to bet that he took good care of her. Care to place a wager on that?"

"That's their business—"

Hawton slapped him again.

"It's mine. Whenever someone's on my tail everything they and their friends do is my business. You think she should get tested now, or wait nine months?"

Quatre exhaled and didn't answer.

I understand everything now. It's a shame that I don't know your real name, because I'd love to curse it as you rot in hell. They'll find me. And when they do -

Briggs shrugged.

"Let's let Heero worry about that, huh? But as I was saying, it's far too late for anyone to do anything. I shall quietly stake my claim on the universe. And the best part is, no one will be able to find me! The money that your family and Relena's family sunk into my many and varied storefronts will fund me forever!"

Something metallic clicked in the doorway.

"Relena!" Quatre gasped.

She didn't acknowledge anything except Briggs, on whose chest Heero's gun was aimed.

"You'll do nothing," she hissed, and pulled the trigger.

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