Relena looked up, meeting Duo's eyes. "Who?" she asked, playing dumb.
"You know who," the deep voice replied calmly; "Yes or no – is he there?"
Duo nodded at her.
"Yes," she said.
The call disconnected.
"Wait—" Relena called, but it was already too late. She gasped, looking fearfully up at Duo.
His cellphone rang next. He was already holding it in his hand. The caller ID read 'Heero'. They looked at each other tensely and Duo answered the call, putting it on speaker.
"Quit playin' games, motherfucker!" he growled; "Just tell us what you want already!"
"By the end of this week Heero will be dead, but not before he calls out one name," the man said calmly, unfazed by Duo's threat; "Which will it be: yours or hers? Name it right and his death will be quick and painless. Get it wrong and he dies a slow and agonizing death."
The call was disconnected again.
Relena's phone rang again. He was bouncing between the two of them, trying to avoid a trace.
"A name, now, or all bets are off."
He hung up again and called Duo.
"Who will he call to redeem him? Will it be you – a man he hasn't seen in eight years, or her – the woman who bore his child? Choose quickly or Heero will suffer for your silence."
By Christmas AC 204 there were seven victims, each too different to indicate a certain pattern, yet all were brutally tortured and finally murdered. Anyone could be next – New York City was being terrorized. The hateful crimes made waves in the community and called for Preventer's intervention. News of it even traveled up to the Colonies. They called him "The Redeemer", because he only killed his victims after they were forced to call their loved ones and beg for the redemption found in death. He has been claiming victim after victim and it seemed that there was no stopping him. That is, until he reached a victim who didn't know who to call...
My notes: This fic is a HARD read. CW for child abuse, sexual abuse, non-con drug use, kidnapping, violence, torture and gaslighting. There are no angels in this fic; Duo is an asshole, Heero is deeply traumatized (and also at times an asshole), Relena is also not a paragon of virtue. It is primarily hurt, angst and pain, with a little bit of comfort. But mostly hurt.