(fic) Crying Soul - Gundam Wing - WIP

[katikat]

Crying Soul - WIP
AU, Violence, Angst ~ 1x2, 13x6, 3+4 ~ Inspired by the movie Crying Freeman. Heero is an assassin working for the yakuza. Duo is the witness of his crime.

Prologue
It should have been an easy mission. Find and kill - the type of mission Heero was best at. And so it didn’t take him long to locate Doc G, the traitor of the Dragon Clan, and to eliminate him and his guardians. One shot per person - a clean kill. Not necessary to make his victims suffer. Mission accomplished. But then...

Then he turned around in the narrow street running between the old residences where the police hid their important witness, like the one Doc G had become, and saw him...

A young boy with long, long auburn hair in a simple braid, fair skin and violet eyes which were following his every move was standing on the balcony of the house. It was just opposite to the one where Heero had made his kill. That meant only one thing - he had been seen. It didn’t matter that a white mask was covering his face. He could still be identified. He raised his weapon and pointed it at the boy.

It was strange. The boy didn’t move. It was as if he couldn’t see the gun. Or couldn’t care less. He just stood there leaning against the balustrade, his arms hugging his black clad torso. He was almost unearthly beautiful in the light of the setting sun. The sight sent butterflies flapping their wings madly inside his stomach.

Heero’s hand wavered. Damn it. This had never happened before. Never. Should he really... The sound of the nearing police cars brought him out of his musing. He steeled himself and pulled the trigger moving the barrel just a millimetre to the right in the last possible moment. Damn it! Why did he do it?

A pfft! sounded very loud in the silent street. The boy on the balcony flinched a little bit as the bullet ripped through his sleeves and grazed his arm. But he didn’t cry out, didn’t scream for someone to call the police. He just... smiled?

Heero was shocked. What the hell...?

Then he heard the sound of the screeching tires. The sound of the wailing sirens and running feet caught his attention and he turned to the direction from where it came for just a second. But when he looked back... the boy was gone leaving only the silently closing door of the balcony behind.

Damn! Damn IT! Heero cursed mentally and hiding his gun in the shoulder holster, he started to run in the opposite direction to the one from where the police was coming. He jumped over one of the stone fences around and stopping for only a moment on the top of it, he turned back to the house where he had seen the boy just a couple of seconds ago.

I’ll come back. He promised himself. And then I will solve this... inconvenience.

1

"So... how was the mission?" Doc J asked as he pushed a dozen of full magazines across the table to Heero.

"Okay." Heero took the magazines, putting them into a small leather backpack.

"No problems?"

J’s curiosity was starting to get annoying.

"No." Heero watched as J checked his two guns, oiling them and putting them back together - as if he wasn’t able to do it himself, he snorted mentally.

"So, G is finally history? He won’t cause any more problems to the clan?"

Another question. Heero’s indifferent expression turned cold. J seemed to notice this coldness finally and shut up.

He coughed nervously and looked around his small store-room full of guns and ammo as Heero double checked the guns he had given back to him. He wouldn’t admit it to anybody, but he was scared of this boy. He was the best hit man they had ever had.

Hiding the guns in his shoulder holster Heero made his way back to the door when J called after him: "Mr Kushrenada wants to see you."

Without turning Heero nodded and walked out of the door.

With a silent "phew!" J leaned heavily against the only table in the room. Interacting with this boy was like handling an icicle!


Heero took the elevator that brought him from the basement to the 40th floor of the clan’s headquarter here in America. A building made of glass and steel, so different from the traditional house with well kept gardens that was the headquarter back in Japan.

The elevator’s door opened, revealing a dimly lit hall with grey carpet and black walls. No one was there at this late hour. Heero looked around. In his black jeans and black leather jacket he looked very out of place. He hoisted the backpack higher on his shoulder and headed to the right where Treize’s office lay.

Even a couple of meters away from the office itself he could hear the moaning and grunting coming out of the open door. He stepped to the door, opening it slightly then stopped, watching the scene in front of him.

Treize was fucking his play toy Zechs again. It didn’t surprise him at all. This wasn’t the first time he caught them like this - Zechs bent over the marble table pants down and Treize moving behind him, frantically fucking him like there would be no tomorrow. When he had found them like this for the first time Treize had even asked him if he wanted to join them. He decently refused. Treize had laughed back then.

Treize threw his head backwards crying out while reaching his climax. Zechs shuddered and moaned going totally limp under his lover. Treize pulled out of him and fastened his pants patting Zechs quivering behind with a chuckle. Zechs made a feeble attempt to stand, leaning heavily against the table while cleaning the mess he made with a tissue Treize handed to him.

Heero knocked at the door finally and both men in the office turned to him - Treize with a sated smile, Zechs with an embarrassed flush. He then pulled himself together and disappeared in the small bathroom while hastily fastening his pants.

Treize laughed at the quick retreat of his lover and Heero wondered for the umpteenth time why Zechs allowed Treize to behave like that towards him.

"Still not interested in a small threesome, Heero-kun?" Treize offered in a husky tone.

Heero met his eyes with a cold look.

Treize just shrugged. "Your loss." He then moved around the table, sitting him in the comfortable looking armchair. "The mission?"

"Accomplished. G is dead, as are his guards."

Treize nodded. "Very good. And the witness?"

Treize knowing about the boy didn’t surprise Heero at all. He could be a bastard in handling his lover, but he was a competent leader who didn’t mix feelings into his decisions and knew everything about everyone.

"Will be taken care of tonight."

Treize nodded again. "Good. I trust your judgement, Heero. I’m sure you had a reason for not killing him immediately. But I hope you know what you are doing."

Yeah, that I hope so too, mused Heero silently.

"You can go, but report to me first thing in the morning. I want to know how you handled this."

Heero nodded, turned around and walked out of the door. He could hear the moaning and occasional cries coming out of the office again while waiting for the elevator to arrive.

2

"Duo, you should really go to the hospital," Howard repeated for the hundredth time.

Duo just shook his head and flexed the tightly bandaged arm. "No need, uncle." He poured himself a glass of red wine and leaned back into the big and comfortable armchair standing in the middle of the living room, tucking his legs under him.

Howard sighed and started to pace around the room again. "Duo, you had to have seen something. Anything, give us a clue. You saw the guy killing our witness and two of my colleagues. He even shot you! So there has to be *something* you can tell us."

Duo swirled the wine in the glass looking at his man who took care of him since his parents and brother had died. "Howard, I don’t know how many more times I should repeat it - I didn’t see anything. I know you’re a cop, but I’m not the assassin here, so stop interrogating me."

Howard sighed again and sat heavily down on the couch opposite Duo’s armchair. "I know, son, I know. But it’s just... this guy got in and out without releasing the alarm and if it wasn’t for the phone the guys weren’t answering, we wouldn’t have known for hours that something happened! He is good. Really good. And I want him!"

Duo looked down into the swirling red in his glass and asked: "Do you want to get him so that justice could be ensured or do you want to catch him so that you could get your revenge?"

Howard’s head jerked up and he looked closely at the boy he considered his son. "This is not about me, Duo."

"No?"

"NO! It’s about you. The guy knows you have seen him and he knows he has to get rid of you. He will come to get you. Maybe tonight already."

"So?"

"SO? You are behaving as if nothing happened today. The guy is a common murderer."

Duo smiled to himself. If you only knew, uncle. "Relax, Howard. Your guys are sitting in the cars in front of my house. Chill out, nothing will happen."

"I want to post some of my men here in the house."

Duo froze. He gripped the glass tightly almost shattering it in his fist. "No way! I won’t allow it!"

"Duo, please, be reasonable," Howard pleaded with him. "The guy is a professional. He *will* come for you..."

"Howard..." Duo’s voice was unnaturally cold.

"...and look around." He waved his hand around. "You are sitting in the middle of your living room where there are French windows leading to the balcony. Big windows. And if that wasn’t enough, they are open, because you didn’t allow me to close them."

"Howard!" This time there was a warning in his voice.

"I know you hate all the cops being around after what happened with your parents, but..."

"Enough!" Duo stood abruptly and threw the fragile glass across the room shattering it in the burning fire in the huge fireplace.

Howard looked at him with a shocked expression and stood slowly.

"I refuse to have cops all around my place. I refuse to have them in my garden. Should I see them anywhere near the house without a good reason I will file charges! You hear me?"

Duo didn’t scream during his speech. Just the opposite. His voice was so cold that it chilled Howard to the bone. It had been a long time since he had seen Duo this angry.

"Okay, okay, son. Just calm down. Calm down, please. The policemen will stay in their cars. But you have to agree on a compromise." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black box with a square red button on the top of it. "This is a ‘panic button’. You press the red square on the top and my men will be here in a matter of seconds." He offered the box to Duo. "Do you agree?"

Duo took the box reluctantly, turning it over in his hands. "Okay. If you promise me that my house won’t get overrun by cops, I will take it."

Howard sighed with relief. "Thank god for small miracles. Obviously there is some small part of a brain left in your head."

Duo smiled slightly.

Howard looked at his watch. "I have to go now, but if you should need anything, just call me and I will be here as soon as I can, okay?"

Duo nodded silently with a grateful look in his eyes.

Howard stepped closer, engulfing the young man in his arms. "I don’t know what I would do should I lose you too. Your father was a good friend of mine and I promised him to take care of you. And I have every intention on keeping my promise."

Duo embraced Howard, gently patting his back. "I know, uncle. And you are doing a fine job here."

Howard pulled back and with a last pat on Duo’s shoulder, he left the room heading for the main entrance.

Duo waited until he heard the front door closing. Then he opened the small black box pulling out the batteries from the back of it and tossing them on the couch together with the box. He won’t need it tonight.

He stepped to the window, switching the light off on his way. The gentle breeze was moving the thin curtains. It was getting colder outside. The moon was shining...

For just a moment Duo felt bad because of what he intended to do. It would kill Howard surely. But on the other hand... He couldn’t live like that anymore. To live for the sake of living wasn’t enough for him anymore. It hadn’t been enough since his family had gotten killed. Tonight it will all end. No more pain, no more sadness, no more emptiness anymore...

Duo looked at the night sky, the full moon, the millions of stars. Yeah, tonight was the perfect night to die...

2

Heero left his motorcycle a couple of blocks down the main street and decided to walk the rest of his way on foot. He moved in the shadows, hiding from the curious eyes of neighbours and possibly waiting cops. When he arrived at his goal - the house where his witness lived - he climbed up the stone fence and crouching at the top of it he looked around searching for hidden traps, guards or alarms. What he found confused him.

Only two cars with cops sitting in them where guarding the boy. That was strange. He thought that there would be a lot more of them all around the house and garden, keeping their only witness safe.

His eyes narrowed. He didn’t like. He didn’t like it at all. This was looking suspiciously like a trap. Who knows what’s waiting for him in the house itself...

He looked over at the house. It was dark, only one small light breaking through the darkness of the room on the first floor where the boy had disappeared. With a last glance around, he jumped down from the fence in the garden and moving quickly and stealthily, he arrived at the house. Climbing up the ornate facade of the house, he swung quietly over the balustrade and landed on the balcony.

Pulling out his gun from the shoulder holster, he crouched down again pressing himself into the wall. He waited for a couple of minutes but nothing happened. No alarm went off, there were no cops rushing out to catch him. Heero frowned. That was really strange.

He moved slowly to the window and took a peek inside. He could see the boy behind the thin curtains that were moving in the cold breeze. He was sitting in an armchair on the opposite side of the room. He was reading a book, looking to the world as if he was not in danger of loosing his life this very night. Was he really that naive or did he have some hidden plans?

Taking a closer look Heero had to admit that the boy was beautiful - long auburn hair braided in a thick braid, porcelain skin and big violet eyes giving him an elfin-like look. He watched the long slender fingers turning the pages in the book and he had to think about how it would feel if they were touching him, caressing his skin... The thin silken bathrobe left almost nothing to imagination and Heero felt a hot burning wave of lust uncoil itself in his guts moving down to his crotch.

He gripped his gun tighter and tried to focus back on the reason why he had come here. He should be really careful. After what happened this afternoon, he knew he was being watched even more closely than before. Wufei had made it pretty clear before he left the headquarters...

*Flashback*

Heero was sitting on his motorcycle preparing to put on the black helmet when someone moved out of the shadows of the garage. In a matter of second Heero had his gun pointed at the intruder.

"You are slow, Heero! If I wanted to kill you, you would be dead right now!" The voice was calm, detached.

Wufei... He should have expected him. This confrontation was inevitable after his failure this afternoon.

Heero hid his gun and nodded to him. "Wufei."

The young Chinese boy stepped into the dim light, black hair pulled back into a tight ponytail, clad into a simple black tank top and white trousers, hands folded on his chest.

"You failed to accomplish your mission."

"The target is dead."

"Yes, he is. But there was a witness."

Heero didn’t answer. Wufei knew everything because he was there. Always watching over him on his missions being there to correct his mistakes or take over his task should he get killed. The Guardian of the Dragon was his official status.

"You didn’t kill him. You missed on purpose."

Heero didn’t answer this either. Wufei was right and there was no reason to deny it now. He was sure Wufei reported everything to Trieze as soon as they had come back. That’s why Trieze requested the meeting.

"You didn’t kill him either, Guardian," Heero retorted icily.

Wufei nodded. "Yes, that’s true. I wanted you to do it. Obviously you felt a false sentimentality for an innocent. There are no innocents in this world, Heero. And your loyalty belongs to the clan. If Trieze wanted you to kill your own wife you would do it without asking."

Heero looked away. Wufei was speaking from his own experience here. And even if he didn’t show it, Heero knew that the painful memory of killing Meiran was haunting him.

"I want you to go there and kill him. To step in front of him and shoot him looking into his eyes. You have to get rid of the feeling of remorse. You have your orders and you will fulfil them. And I will be there to ensure that you *will* do it."

With that Wufei silently disappeared in the shadows again. But Heero knew he was still there. And that he will be there to watch every step he will make tonight.

He put his helmet on. The engine of the motorcycle roared and with screeching tires he left the underground garage.

*Flashback end*

He felt cold shiver run over his back and he knew that Wufei was watching him right now. He didn’t know where Wufei was hiding, but he *was* there somewhere.

Focusing his mind on his mission, Heero took a deep breath and pulled out the white mask from under his half unbuttoned black shirt. Putting it on he moved into the room.

4

Duo was sitting in an armchair opposite the windows. Legs crossed, he laid a big book on his lap and opened it. It was the last gift he had received from his parents. It had been his thirteenth birthday and he had had only one wish - to get this book. And it had been fulfilled. He remembered telling his brother that he had no other things to wish for. The next day his family was dead...

He could feel the familiar stinging in his eyes. God, it has been five years already and the pain still didn’t want let go. But soon it will be over. No more pain...

He could feel the man outside. He was coming and Duo was ready for him.

Duo looked up when the curtains moved revealing the man who would free him from his pain. It was the assassin - moving silently like a cat, clad all in black, white mask on his face, gun pointed at him...

And Duo smiled. Finally...

He looked the man straight in the eyes. They were cobalt blue, a really nice shade. And there were so many emotions in them. Coldness, pain, determination, sadness... All mixed together.

The killer was pointing the gun directly at Duo’s head. One bullet and everything will be over. Duo laid the book on the small coffee table next to the comfortable armchair and closed his eyes.

"I was destined to be killed by you."

Duo didn’t know where this sentence came from but it seemed fitting. This was his destiny. Meeting this man was his destiny. He felt it down to the bone. Nothing will be as it was anymore.

Duo waited for a moment and when nothing happened, he frowned and opened his eyes. The man was still standing in front of him but he didn’t move. It was as if he was carved in stone. Only his eyes were alive showing his inner turmoil.

"You will do it, right?" he couldn’t help to ask.

He saw the assassin’s finger twitch on the trigger. He could see the hand starting to shake... And he couldn’t watch the painful indecision anymore.

Duo stood slowly up - the gun and the haunting eyes moved with him - and crossed the short distance between them. He raised his left hand and laid it on the outstretched arm of the man who had come to kill him and pressed the gun against his own chest.

"It’s okay. Shh. All you need to do is pull the trigger. I won’t scream or beg. I *want* you to do it. Please?" he whispered.

When the killer didn’t react he moved closer. He could feel the minute tremors running through the taut body. Raising his right hand he ran it up the man’s left arm, over his shoulder to his neck. He was a little bit smaller than the stranger and so he had to look up at his face as he touched the white mask. For the first time he noticed the small cobalt blue tear painted in the corner of the mask’s right eye.

"So sad... such a sadness in these beautiful eyes..." he whispered again.

His fingers ran back down his neck to the collar of his black shirt. He moved his hand under it, pushing the unbuttoned flaps out of the way revealing the warm tattooed skin of the man’s chest.

The assassin reacted catching his wandering hand in his. The grip was firm but not enough to hurt.

Duo looked up from the pictures drawn in the killer’s skin and saw the cobalt blue eyes watching him intently. He leaned even closer and heard the quick intake of breath the man took. Duo knew he was playing with fire, but the sudden burst of desire he felt for this stranger was almost overwhelming. It even succeeded in pushing his wish for dead into the background.

The gun was now pointing uselessly at the wall behind Duo as he was standing just a breath away from his destiny. His left hand slid up the man’s right arm and moving higher stopped at the place where the white porcelain mask touched the skin. His fingers lingered there for a couple of seconds waiting for a reaction from the silent assassin. When none came, Duo took the mask and moving it to the side he revealed the unknown face under it...

5

Duo caught the mask and moving it away, he looked into the face of the stranger for the first time. And he was beautiful - large cobalt blue eyes, long lashes, unblemished skin, pouty lips...

"So beautiful..." he whispered letting the mask fall to the ground. It hit the carpet with a soft thud, cracking slightly around one of the eyeholes.

Duo moved even closer, pressing his body into that of the assassin’s. He caught his face with both of his hands and standing on his toes, brushed his lips with his own.

Relaxing under the touch of Duo’s lips, the stranger let the arm holding the gun fall to his side and raising his left hand, he rested it on the small of Duo’s back.

Duo smiled seductively, capturing the man’s lips in earnest. They were soft, moist and yielding and felt like the heaven itself.

The assassin embraced Duo tightly with both arms, still holding the gun in his right hand. He pressed himself into the warm and soft body of Duo’s sliding his tongue into Duo’s welcoming mouth and moaned.

When they finally parted they were both gasping for breath. Duo laid his head on the killer’s shoulder closing his eyes in content clasping his arms together behind the other man’s neck.

"Hmmm... Nice."

Duo startled a little when the man grasped his bottom tightly pulling him up so that they were nose to nose, kissing him again with an almost bruising force. Duo’s feet weren’t touching the ground anymore as the killer moved them to the left, in the direction of his bed. When Duo’s dangling feet hit the bed the man grasped his hips tightly and threw him onto it. Duo bounced a couple of times and stayed laying there, panting lightly, watching the other man with much expectancy, desire but a little bit of fright too.

The killer was watching him impassively, almost coldly for a long time. But then he moved with a cat-like grace over Duo, pressing their bodies together. He reached over and lay the gun on the night table. Bracing himself on his elbows he dipped his head kissing Duo on his mouth hungrily, moving down his neck, nibbling at it.

Duo arched into his touch and closed his eyes in desire, moaning loudly. Never... never had he felt like this before. This burning feeling in his guts was moving down to his crotch and Duo tried to rub himself against the body covering him. He raised his hands, tugging the other’s black shirt out of his tight trousers. The man allowed him to pull the shirt over his head and Duo dropped it on the floor next to the bed. The stranger untied the silk belt of his bathrobe-leaving Duo lying naked under his body. Their naked chests touched for the first time and Duo gasped. The man bent his head down taking his nipple into his mouth and Duo threw his head backwards crying out silently, digging his fingers into the other’s back.

The assassin moved back up, ravishing his mouth. Duo reached for the belt of his trousers and unbuckling it, he unbuttoned his trousers and pulled the zipper down.

Every action of the other man stilled and he moved his mouth away from Duo. Looking straight into his cold eyes, the thought about the craziness of his actions penetrated Duo’s mind for the first time. But before he could even think about backing down the man turned around and pulled his black trousers off together with his shorts, socks and shoes. Finally naked he rolled back, covering Duo’s body with his own again.

Duo moved to kiss him again but the assassin didn’t meet him halfway. He stared down at him searchingly as if musing about what Duo wanted to accomplish with this.

Duo raised his hand and touched the other man’s face. "I’m not doing it so that you would spare me...” he whispered. He really didn’t. Oddly he still hoped the killer would do it. That he would kill him before the happiness of him losing his virginity would vanish. Before the pain would return.

The man still didn’t move, all the muscles tense in his body again. Duo lifted both of his hands and clasping them together behind the other’s neck he pulled him down, their lips almost touching.

"Make love to me..."

6

Heero was lying unmoving, covering the smaller body underneath him with his own. He tried to concentrate back on his mission. He came here to kill the boy - Duo, Duo Maxwell, 18 years old, orphaned, but with a rich bank account, he remembered the net search he had done before leaving the headquarters - and not to fuck him. He tried to find his focus again. Wufei was waiting for him to accomplish his mission, to prove his loyalty to his clan.

He looked over at the nightstand where his gun laid. He started to reach over when the boy pulled him down, his lips, those tempting lips only a breath away from his own.

"Make love to me," he whispered once more.

And that was Heero’s undoing. Gun, Wufei and the clan forgotten he locked his lips with Duo’s, ravishing his mouth once more. The spiral of desire was taking them higher and higher. Their surroundings forgotten, the only thing that existed in this mad world was the two of them.

When they parted gasping for breath, Duo looked up at Heero with his half lidded eyes. "What’s your name?"

Heero frowned. What should he tell the boy whom he came to kill? Maybe he should… but then the last sane bits of his mind tied the truth inside of him and he whispered back: "Dragon."

Duo smiled. Somehow Heero knew that he understood. That he understood he couldn’t tell him the truth no matter what.

The boy trailed one of his hands down Heero’s neck and shoulder, tracing the pattern of the black and green dragon on his chest. "It seems fitting..."

Heero almost smiled. There was such a wealth of emotion in Duo’s eyes. He couldn’t remember someone looking at him like that. Ever. He leaned down and kissed him again. With his knee, he nudged Duo’s legs apart and lay between them, grinding their groins together. They both moaned when their painfully erect members touched, parting their lips to pull in much desired oxygen.

"Where...?" Heero asked but was interrupted by Duo, who reached over pulling a tube of cream from the nightstand.

"Sorry, no actual lube."

Heero rolled to the site and leaning on his left elbow, he uncapped the small tube. He squeezed it and covered his fingers with the lotion. It smelled like peaches. The way Duo smelled.

Bending down, Heero caught Duo’s right nipple between his lips while reaching down between his parted legs, bypassing his shaft and touching his hidden treasure. Duo moaned and arched his back almost painfully as Heero squeezed Duo’s nipple between his teeth lightly. Licking the small bud he could feel Duo relax totally under his ministration and he inserted his index finger into him.

Duo didn’t tense or flinch and the amount of trust he was showing to Heero was incredible. He smeared a generous amount of cream on Duo’s opening and his shaft and looked up to see Duo watching him. There was no fear or doubts in the violet pools. Only desire and lust.

"Ready?" he asked the braided one. He almost didn’t recognize his voice. There was so much gentleness in it. He didn’t think he was capable of such feelings.

Duo nodded and Heero rolled him over onto his belly, pulling the silken bathrobe off of him with one move. This position will be the easiest for him. No need to stretch his arms or legs. Duo could just lie down and enjoy everything Heero was doing to him.

Heero moved between Duo’s spread legs and parting them even more, he braced himself on his hands and with one quick move he penetrated Duo for the first time.

Even in his relaxed state Duo must have felt some measure of pain because he cried out silently and clenched his hands into fists. Heero bent down and started to shower his back with small kisses, moving down from his shoulders and back up again, stopping at his neck biting it gently. Duo moaned again, but this time there was only pleasure in it and moved his head to the side to give Heero a better access. Licking the bite Heero rotated his hips experimentally and Duo gasped, his eyes flying open as he instinctively spread his legs wider.

Heero started to move. First slowly in and out, than faster and faster, setting up a mad rhythm. Duo’s opened eyes closed tightly again and he bit down hardly on his lower lip to keep himself from crying out in pleasure. He tried to rub his aching member against the sheets to relieve the burning hot desire that centred itself in his crotch.

Finally feeling their approaching release, Heero rolled them over onto their sides so that he was spooned against the other, doing this without slipping out of his lover. Duo’s leg was pulled over Heero's hip and he felt the thrusts speed up as Heero got a firm grasp on Duo’s shaft. With three quick strokes, a wave of pleasure crashed over Duo and he released himself into Heero’s hand, throwing his head back on Heero’s shoulder. Feeling the lithe body clench around him Heero reached his completion, pumping his seed into his lover’s waiting body.

They lay there, spent and panting, their bodies glistening with sweat. Heero gathered Duo close and embraced him tightly. He kissed the boy’s flushed cheek and Duo smiled, his eyes still closed.

Their desire satisfied for the moment, practical thoughts penetrated Heero’s foggy mind once more. Their lovemaking - and it *was* lovemaking and not merely sex - complicated things. He finally remembered why he had actually come here and he could feel his body go rigid. His loyalty belonged to the clan as Wufei said. But would he be able to do it? Would he be able to kill Duo now that he realized that the boy was the only one who could soothe his crying soul? His eyes moved to the nightstand where his gun was laying and he could feel the cold embrace his heart.

Duo must have felt his reaction and understood immediately what was wrong. He opened his eyes moving them over to the gun too.

"You will do it, right?" he asked in a low voice, his right hand caressing Heero’s hugging arms. "I won’t make it hard for you. I will go quietly as I said I would before."

Heero had now the feeling that he was suffocating, that he couldn’t pull enough oxygen into his starving lungs. How could this day have gone so wrong? This morning the only thing on his mind was his duty to his clan. And now? Now it was full with thoughts of the auburn haired, braided, violet-eyed boy that lay in his arms. The boy who had brought the first rays of sunshine into his life after what seemed like an eternity of bleak darkness.

"I will not beg or yell or call the cops," Duo continued his eyes never leaving the gun. "You gave me a wonderful gift, Dragon. And now it’s time for my payment. Because nothing is for free."

Heero opened his mouth to say something... anything... when he heard the almost inaudible movement on the balcony. With lightning speed he reached for his gun and gripping it tightly in his right hand, he rolled from the bed and landing in a crouch, he pointed it at the balcony door.

"That’s right. Nothing is for free," the silent cold voice came through the open door and Wufei stepped through it, his own gun pointed at Duo who was now sitting naked in the middle of the bed, a look of shock in his beautiful eyes.

His gun not moving away from his target, he looked at Heero who was still pointing his gun at him with a determined look on his face. "You didn’t accomplish your mission, Dragon. So I will do it for you!"

7

"You didn’t accomplish your mission, Dragon. So I will do it for you!"

Duo froze, pulling the thin sheet over his naked body, looking at the newcomer with an uneasy feeling in his guts. Somehow he knew that this man meant trouble.

Heero got up from his crouch, standing in his naked glory without shame. The Chinese was looking at him intently, his gun never leaving his target.

"You forgot about your loyalty to the clan? This... inconvenience took you more time to take care of than usually," the other man said in such a cold voice that Duo shivered. "If you have forgotten your duty, I will remind you of it!" With that he cocked his gun and prepared to pull the trigger.

Heero didn’t say a word but he moved quickly in front of the Chinese man’s gun, putting himself between him and Duo, gun still pointed at the newcomer. "I won’t allow you to do it, Guardian," the Dragon retorted, the coldness in his voice matching the other man’s.

That surprised the Guardian. "You would kill your clansman because of a good fuck?" The shock was evident in his voice in his voice.

"I don’t want to kill you, but I *will* do it if you won’t leave him be," he promised, his posture unwavering, the hand holding his gun steady.

"He could destroy us and you know it. He is a liability. I’m here to fulfil my duty and you won’t stop me!"

With that he proceeded to pull the trigger. The Dragon moved with what seemed to be the speed of light and caught the other man’s wrist tightly, using his momentum to twist it behind his back kicking the Guardian’s knee from behind. The other killer went down dropping his gun in the process. But then he twisted unexpectedly, kicking the Dragon’s feet from under him and he went down as well. The Guardian pinned him down smashing his hand a couple of times into the floor and he had to release his gun or the other man would have broken his wrist. But then he freed his other arm and hit the Guardian with a fist over his right ear. He twisted from underneath him jumping to his feet only to find him waiting for him. The fight began in earnest now.

Duo slid from the bed quickly dressing in the thin silken bathrobe he snatched from the floor where the Dragon dropped it when they made love. He held his breath while he watched the fight unfold in front of him. What should he do? Seeing the quick moves the men were using with such a practice he knew that he was no match for either of them. And to run would be crazy. They would get him before he would be out of the door. Besides he had no intention to flee. To call the cops? And get both of the men arrested? No, that would only prove that the Guardian was right and he would really destroy them.

What an irony. They were fighting because of him. Because the clan - whatever the clan was - wanted him dead. And he *wanted* to die, didn’t they understand that? Oh god, he didn’t want for this to happen. He didn’t want to see the Dragon dead or injured or in any kind of trouble because of him. What should he do???

Then he saw the gun laying just two or three feet away from him. A horrible thought crossed his mind. Should he...? He has never been able to do it before. But now... Now it would solve all the troubles at hand. But...

He heard the crash coming from across the room and looked up seeing the Dragon jump up from the floor again sending the other man flying into the wall with one vicious kick. His Dragon was bleeding, Duo noticed. They will kill each other. And Duo didn’t want anybody to die because of him. He had to do something!

The decision made he bent down and picked the gun. This one belonged to the Dragon. It was an odd feeling to hold it in his hand. It was cold and somehow heavier than he thought it would be. He didn’t actually know how to use it, but he noticed that the Dragon cocked it before he lost it in the fight. If he was right it was enough to just pull the trigger now.

He raised his eyes from the weapon to see the men circling each other, both of them bleeding from various wounds. They were totally oblivious of him.

"Enough!" Duo said calmly. But they didn’t hear him and continued their fight. "I said ENOUGH!" Duo raised his voice so that they would finally notice him.

The men stopped fighting and moving away from each other they turned to him. They were panting lightly but besides the wounds there was no actual evidence that they were in a fight. No fatigue or sweat or something. It was obvious that they were used to this.

The Guardian snarled. "See? I told you that he would turn against us, that he would destroy us." There was some measure of triumph in his voice. As if he was glad that he was right.

The Dragon was watching him unmoving. His eyes were empty, dead. He was waiting for Duo to do something - prove him right or wrong.

Duo held the gun tightly in his right hand. "I have no intention to turn against you, to shoot you or call the cops. There is something you didn’t consider. You didn’t consider that I would *want* to die, did you?"

When neither man said anything looking at him with no expression on their closed off faces Duo continued: "I haven’t said anything to the cops. I didn’t allow them to stay here in the house to protect me. And you know why? Because I knew HE -" he pointed at Heero, "- would come. That he would come and kill me. And I wanted him to do it, because I have wanted to die since my family left me alone all these years ago. But I’m a coward. I was not able to just take my life myself. Too afraid of the pain... or maybe the resurrection. But I saw Dragon kill those men. He was quick and efficient, making sure that they would die immediately. No suffering, no resurrection. And that was what I wanted for me. Maybe I was being selfish here because I didn’t help the police to catch you, but I couldn’t loose this chance. The chance for all this-" he waved his hand around, "-to end."

The men stood there and something like an understanding found its way to their eyes for just a second before it vanished behind the cold mask again.

Duo smiled bitterly. "Looks like I lost my chance for a quick death, huh? Obviously I will have to take care of that myself after all."

Duo felt an odd relief spread through him. Either way it will finally end now. He started to raise the gun to his head when a burst of pain shooting through his back and chest stole his breath. Opening his mouth in a silent scream he looked down at his chest letting his hand holding the gun fall.

There - on the whiteness of his bathrobe a crimson stain started to spread. He could feel the blood running down his chest and back leaving angry red traces behind.

The gun slipped from his nerveless fingers and he looked up at the two men in front of him. They were looking at him with something similar to shock. None of them had a gun in his hand. But who...

Duo could feel the blackness envelope his mind and his knees gave up. Heero was immediately next to him, catching him before he could hit the floor.

"Dragon?" he whispered confused. He didn’t know what happened. There was no sound of a gunshot...

Cold fingers caressing his face were the last things he registered before the darkness claimed him.

8

Heero watched in disbelief as the crimson flower blossomed in the front of Duo’s bathrobe. The bloodstain was growing bigger when Duo looked up to meet his eyes with his own. There was confusion in them. He heard the bullet wheeze past him, hitting the wall behind him, but Duo obviously hadn’t.

Duo’s knees buckled and he started to slide to the floor. That nudged Heero out of his frozen state and he hurried over to his lover catching him before he could hit the floor. Cradling him gently in his arms, he slid to the carpeted floor with him.

Wufei snatched his gun from the floor and moved over to the windows, looking out carefully through the curtains. His eyes searched the garden and the nearest surrounding. "There is nobody out there. The assassin had to use a silencer. He is gone," he said turning back to the pair sitting on the floor.

Heero wasn’t paying attention to Wufei as he tried to stop the blood flowing freely out of the wounds on Duo’s back and chest. Duo blinked dazedly, his eyes unfocussed. Heero could feel his lover slipping away. He caressed his cheek with the tips of his fingers calling softly his name.

Duo looked at him, confusion and disorientation still present in his eyes. "Dragon?" he whispered.

But before Heero could answer him he felt Duo going limp in his arms, his head lolling back.

"Duo? Duo!!!" Heero cried out shaking the unresponsive body in his arms.

"We should go, Heero." Wufei was standing at the windows looking down at him. He slid his gun back into his shoulder holster. "We don’t know if the cops didn’t see or hear the assassin. They can be here any minute." His voice was calm. There was no trace of the previous coldness in it. He could see how desperate Heero was and he understood the pain he was feeling now. He knew this pain too... To hold the one you love in your arms, to watch the person die...

"It will be over soon." When Heero didn’t react he continued: "You should be glad, Heero. You have been spared the necessity to kill him yourself."

Heero looked up and glared at him. "You don’t understand anything," he snarled. Taking Duo in his arms he stood up, determination written in his face. He walked over to the bed and laid Duo gently down on it. Then gathering his clothes he started to dress.

"What do you think you are doing, Yuy?" Wufei asked suspicion in his eyes.

"I have to get him to the hospital," Heero answered without looking at Wufei.

"Heero, you can’t be serious. He is the witness *you* came to kill! Can you tell me what you would tell the doctors in the hospital? How you could explain it to the police that you have been in the house while their *protected* witness has been shot?"

But Heero didn’t seem to listen to him. He had a new mission now - to save his lover no matter what. Should Wufei try to get in his way he would take care of him. No one will stop him from saving Duo.

"Heero-" there was a strange patience in Wufei’s voice, "- he would have to die anyway and..."

Heero put his shoes on and retrieved his gun from where Duo dropped it just a couple of minutes ago. Then he turned to his lover and bending down he took him carefully in his arms. He started to head over to the doors leading out of the bedroom when Wufei’s determined voice stopped him.

"Heero!"

Heero stopped but didn’t turn around.

"I can’t allow you to do it." There was a sound of gun being cocked.

"You will have to shoot me, Wufei. Because I’m going to walk out of this door and I will take Duo to the hospital. So either shoot me now or let me go."

Wufei hesitated. Heero turned around and looked him straight into the eyes. "Wufei, you reminded me of my duty to the clan and how the clan needs to be protected. Well, think about it. Someone out there wants Duo dead and he didn’t hesitate to use us as scapegoats. The cops would go after us should he die. After the *clan*. He is the only one who could tell us about who is trying to kill him. It has to be someone who knew we would come here tonight to kill him. So he had to know about the reason why we would come here too."

Wufei cocked his head to one side and seemed to think about what Heero had said. Then - after what seemed like eternity - he let his hand holding the gun fall back to his side. "I must admit you are right. Someone out there *wants* the clan to be responsible for his death."

Heero sighed out with relief. Maybe there is still time to save Duo’s life.

Wufei dug a key ring out of his pocket and walked over to Heero. He put the keys into his shirt pocket and stepped back. "I left the car down the street. It’s a black corvette, you can’t miss it. Take the stairs down to the hall and then turn to the right. You will find an unlocked door there. Go along the stone fence and you will find a small metal gate in it. It will lead you to the passage between this house and the neighbour’s. Take the door to the neighbour’s garden. It’s unlocked too. You can walk out of the main entrance there. The neighbours are out of the town and the street lamp near the entrance is broken, nobody will see you."

Heero looked at him with something similar to gratitude shining in his eyes.

Wufei shrugged. "I had to find a backup way out of here should something go wrong. Take him to Quatre. He will help you and won’t ask too many questions. But be careful. We don’t know what’s going on here."

Heero nodded. "Thank you."

Wufei waved his hand. "Just go. I will take care of the evidence here and then I will head over to Trieze to report what happened."

Heero nodded again and clutching Duo tightly to his chest he hurried out of the room.

9

Wufei got out of the elevator on the top floor of the clan’s headquarter building. He turned to right and walked through the dimly lit hall. He stopped in front of Treize´s apartment. Wufei knocked and receiving no answer he opened the door and stepped inside. The door wasn’t locked - there was no need. Only a couple of people knew the code that had to be inserted into the small keypad inside of the elevator so that it would reach the top floor of the building.

Wufei looked around. The only light came through the half open door leading to the bedroom. He crossed the living room and stopped in front of the door. Panting and moaning was coming from the inside of the room.

Not again, Wufei thought, annoyance crossing his mind. Taking a deep breath he stepped inside.

Treize was lying naked on the fur-covered bed, leaning with his back against the wall, his eyes closed in pure bliss. Zechs was kneeling between his spread legs his mouth moving up and down on the other man’s erect shaft. Treize was gripping Zechs´ head tightly arching into his talented mouth. They were both covered in sweat, Zechs´ pale skin shining against his lover’s olive brown.

Wufei coughed to gain their attention.

Treize turned to him immediately. "Wufei..."

Zechs made an attempt to move away from Treize but he gripped the platinum blond hair even more tightly keeping his mouth on his shaft. Wufei could see Zechs turning red with humiliation. The painful grip Treize had on his hair brought tears in his eyes.

"So the mission has been taken care off." It was no question, it was a statement.

"Not exactly," Wufei answered his eyes fixed on the two silver tears running down Zechs´ cheeks.

Treize looked at him sharply. "What do you mean?"

Wufei met his eyes without flinching. "Someone else wanted the kid dead. Shot him through the window while we were in."

"So he is dead?"

"No, Heero took him to Quatre’s clinic."

Treize stilled Zechs´ moves. "Why? We wanted him dead. Someone else was just ready to do the job for us."

"Yes, but the assassin had to know we were coming to take him down. He wanted to use us as scapegoats. It’s clear there is someone out there who wants to get him for reasons unknown. But nobody would even try to look for the assassin’s motives. Everybody would think that Maxwell was killed because of what he had witnessed."

Treize let go of his lover’s hair and Zechs moved away from him, covering himself with his bathrobe he snatched from the floor. Treize didn’t mind at all to show his aroused state. "Is that the only reason why Heero took him to the clinic?"

"I don’t know what you mean," Wufei answered. Better play dumb here.

Treize´s eyes narrowed. "I think there is something going on between him and the boy. And don’t play dumb here, Guardian," he said coldly. "You know everything about him."

Wufei sighed mentally. You would be surprised, he murmured to himself mentally. He decided not to answer at all.

"I think I will have to have a talk with Heero. No one will disobey my orders and get away with it. Not even he." There was cold fury in his voice.

Zechs moved closer and laid his hand on Treize´s knee in an attempt to calm him down. Treize slapped it away not even looking at him.

"I think it’s time for me to take a closer look at our witness. Do you think he will survive? I don’t want to come to the hospital only to find him dead already."

Bastard, Wufei thought. "I don’t know if he will survive. He was bleeding pretty badly."

"Hmm, I will go there anyway. But looking at it from our point of view, it would be better if he survived. Someone out there wants to make us responsible and he is probably the only one who would be able to tell us anything." He looked at the clock on the nightstand. "Meet us in the garage in half an hour. We will go to the hospital together." Then he looked closely at Wufei. "You should change your clothes. You look like you were in a fight."

Wufei looked down at himself. His pants and shirt were torn. He was lucky he cleaned the blood from his face before he came here.

"Now go," Treize dismissed Wufei. "We have here something that has to be taken care off." He grabbed Zechs who was quietly sitting on the edge of the bed following their conversation and guided his head back to his swollen member.

Wufei met Zechs´ eyes for a second before the blond man closed them. They were full of silent pain.


Twenty-five minutes later Wufei came out of his small apartment - nothing like the one of Treize´s - closed his door behind him and crossed the hall to the elevator. He pushed the button and waited for the cabin to reach the top floor.

Treize´s apartment door opened and Zechs came out. Dressed in a white suite he looked stunning. Spotting Wufei standing there his steps faltered. He stopped a couple of feet away from him and looked at everything but Wufei.

Wufei looked up at the blinking numbers over the elevator door. He felt the uneasy silence spread between them.

"Treize is coming?" he asked to break the tension when the elevator door binged open. He braced it with his foot.

Zechs looked up at him surprised. He was not used for people to actually talk to *him*. For everybody he was only Treize’s nice decoration at best, his fuck toy at worst. "Yes, yes he is coming already. He had to make some phone calls before we leave."

Wufei nodded. This was the most he had heard from Zechs in the past three years. He dimly remembered that he had been different. Full life and laughter. Just like Treize. But then... Wufei stopped himself. This was something nobody in the clan talked - or even thought - about.

"Why do you allow him to treat you like that?" Wufei couldn’t help to ask.

Zechs looked at him and his eyes clouded with pain again. He opened his mouth slightly and maybe he would have said something, but in the same moment Treize came out of his apartment and Zechs looked away closing his mouth tightly.

Treize walked over to them and not giving them one glance he stepped into the elevator cabin. Zechs moved in after him taking his usual position slightly behind Treize´s right shoulder.

Wufei frowned slightly but stepped in too and let the door close shut after him.

10

Heero was sitting in one of those uncomfortable orange plastic chairs you can find in every waiting room. His elbows were lying on his knees and he was staring at his blood stained hands. So much blood… But he couldn’t force himself to wash it off. It would be as if he tried to wash Duo’s life essence away.

He’s used to killing, seeing people die. But seeing the one you care for slipping away from you, seeing every drop of blood leave his body… An unknown emotion gripped his insides – the desire to take revenge. He had never felt anything like that before. Killing was a job for him. Nothing more. He knew that if the victim had been anybody else he would look at the shooting as if it was a puzzle to be solved. Who and why would be the only question he would be interested in. The victim wouldn’t matter.

But this was Duo. He had known him for just a couple of hours, but in that short time the longhaired boy managed to turn his world upside down. He had some feelings for him. He didn’t know how to identify them, but they were strong enough for him to not listen to his orders. Heero didn’t know if he should be angry or confused by that.

“Heero?”

Heero looked up. In front of him stood a young man with thick blond hair and big blue eyes, dressed in a light grey pants and pink shirt. His looks screamed money.

“Quatre?”

The blond man smiled slightly and sat down beside Heero. “You looked so lost.”

Heero almost smiled. Lost… Yeah, that was how he felt right now. As if someone was pulling the steady ground from underneath him. Quatre always knew what to say, how the others felt. He had this talent to know everything about you after the first glance.

“Don’t worry, Quatre.”

“You really like the boy, don’t you?”

Heero looked at him sharply. But seeing the worried expression on Quatre’s face his look softened. The other man didn’t mean anything by it. He should remember by now that there were no malicious reasons behind Quatre’s action. He always meant what he was saying. Heero couldn’t understand how he could do any business with a man like Treize.

“I don’t know, Quatre. He just seems to grow on you fairly quickly. Oh, and he is no boy. He is only a year younger than you!”

Quatre looked surprised. “Really? When you brought him in he looked younger…”

Heero didn’t know what to say. He remembered Quatre’s surprised expression when he stopped in front of the employee entrance of the hospital with screeching tires and Duo up and out of the car. He called Quatre from his cell phone giving him the “medical emergency” password. That meant that Quatre should bring the Team together as soon as possible. The Team was a group of 6 people – doctors and nurses – that were paid for doing their job and asking no questions. The clan used them when one of the members sustained a… work related injury. When he arrived they were already there, waiting for him with a gurney. They took Duo away from his and laying him down on the gurney, they rushed away with him.

And now the only thing Heero could do was to wait.

“Quatre?”

“Yes, Heero?”

“Could you… uhm, could you ask if there is any new information about Duo’s condition?” Heero asked, feeling uncomfortably. He wasn’t used to showing his feelings. Even if it was impatience. Your enemies could use it against you. But this was Quatre. A man he could call a friend.

Quatre smiled, understanding for his impatience filling his eyes. “Of course. I will do what I can,” he promised, patting Heero lightly on his shoulder.

He stood up and walked over to the door leading out of the small waiting room. He opened the door and Heero got a glimpse of Trowa, Quatre’s bodyguard standing in front of door, watching his charge like a hawk. Their eyes met and they nodded simultaneously, understanding passing between them. One nod between the two of them was more than an hour-long conversation between other people.

‘Should this endanger Quatre…’ said Trowa’s eyes.

‘I wouldn’t do anything to put your charge in danger, you have my word’ answered Heero with his look.

Quatre was of course totally oblivious to it as he passed by Trowa and headed to the nurse station. Trowa followed him closely keeping him safe. The door closed itself silently.

Heero leaned back and closed his eyes. He thought about the time when Trowa had been the one doing the killing job for the clan. When Heero was just an unimportant boy, who heard fascinating things about the Dragon from the men at the dojo where he had been training. And then one day his sensei came to the dojo bringing this important looking man with him. He stood at the wall watching Heero the whole time he was there. Later he found out that it was Cameo Kushrenada, the leader of the clan. And Heero didn’t understand why the sudden interest in him…

He didn’t understand until the night when the men attacked him while he was leaving the dojo. He took five of them down before he felt the dart hitting him in the neck.

*Flashback*

His head was pounding when he finally woke up. He didn’t know what happened. Heero cracked his eyes open and looked around trying not to alarm anybody that he was awake. He was in a bare room with painfully bright overhead lights. He laying on his stomach, tied to the gurney he was laying on. He was naked, a simple piece of tape keeping his mouth shut. He felt the cold seeping into his bones.

A door somewhere behind him opened and some men came in. They were talking in Japanese. It seemed as if they were arguing, but his head was killing him and he wasn’t able to decipher what they were arguing about.

Then someone ordered them to shut up. Heero heard steps to the right of him, but his head was turned to the left, so he was unable to see who it was. He froze as he felt a hand on his shoulder. It moved down his back, massaging the small of his back for a while. Then it caressed his buttocks, his thighs and calves before vanishing again.

“I know you are awake, Heero. Don’t play games with me.” The voice was harsh and its owner moved around the table to step in Heero’s visual angle.

Heero gave up the pretending and his eyes opened moving up the black clad body. Oh god, it was Cameo Kushrenada!

He chuckled. “I see you recognize me. Good. Do you know why we brought you here, Heero?” he asked and when Heero shook his head he explained: “We are in need of your services, boy. Our Dragon has been injured and now we need a new one. I saw you fight. You are good, maybe even better than our last Dragon. You will be the best man for the job.”

The hand was on his back again. “Such beautiful skin, unmarked as of yet. No tattoos. But you are only 14. And besides – it will change pretty quickly.” There was this evil chuckle again and Heero shivered.

He heard the other men step closer to the gurney. Cameo stepped back and crossing his arms on his chest he leaned back against the wall to watch. The devious smirk on his face sent chills up Heero’s spine. Then there was this buzzing sound in the background, but his mind was still muddy and he couldn’t place it. But when the first pain radiated from the skin on his back he understood – they were tattooing his skin. His eyes opened wide and he started to struggle. He never wanted this. He wasn’t even a real member of this clan. He had been at the dojo only because the sensei took him in after his father had thrown him out. He never wanted this. Never…

“If I would be you I would stop struggling boy. The men can cause you a lot pain if you don’t let them do their job,” Cameo warned him.

But he couldn’t give up like that. He just couldn’t. But then he felt one of the men hit one of the pressure points on his neck and his whole body went rigid. The pain didn’t disappear, but now he couldn’t move at all. He was terrified.

The evil chuckle was back. “See? I told you, boy. You should relax, this will take some time. It’s only a reminder of who you belong to, boy.”

He didn’t belong to anybody. Oh god…

“Relax, boy. You’ll see, you *will* get used to that. Everybody gets it in the end.”

He could feel a single tear run down his cheek. The last tears he ever shed…

*End flashback*

After that his life had been full of dead people, killing and blood. He didn’t even remember how it felt to be clean of the death he had caused. But with Duo he got the first glimpse of how it was, how it could be when someone wasn’t looking at him as if he was death incarnated. And that’s why he couldn’t let him die. Duo might be the last chance for him to win his humanity back. His very soul…

His focus snapped back as he heard steps approach the small waiting room. He pulled out his gun but kept it hidden in his hand between the two plastic chairs. Then the door opened and Treize, Zechs and Wufei stepped in. He didn’t relax, just the opposite. His body went even more rigid as he saw the cold smile touch Treize’s lips.

“Well, Heero, it seems that we have a problem here, don’t we? Care to explain me why you didn’t follow through with your orders?”

11

"So, can you explain it to me, Heero?"

Heero stood and faced Treize. He didn’t relax his guarded posture though, nor did he return his gun to his shoulder holster.

Treize moved further into the waiting room and sat down on one of the orange plastic chairs. He crossed his arms on his chest and crossing his legs, he leaned back comfortably. His relaxed posture was fake though. Heero was sure of that. Trieze’s eyes watched him sharply, looking for any signs of weakness.

"I’m waiting, Heero!" There was warning in his voice.

Heero quickly ran over in his head what happened in the past couple of hours, deciding what to tell and what to keep hidden. "Someone wanted to use the clan. Let us be responsible for the killing."

"Yes, I heard that from Wufei already. The question is, why wasn’t Maxwell already dead before the assassin shot him?"

Heero didn’t look away from Treize. He knew that one false move would be his and Duo’s end here. He felt Wufei’s look on him and he wondered how much did Wufei tell their leader.

"We just came in. The shooter was clearly waiting for us to get inside."

Treize´s eyes narrowed. He knew there was something wrong. Something Heero kept for himself and didn’t tell him. But he also knew that he wouldn’t get anything out of Heero with pushing. Tricks and hidden traps were the only way to learn something Heero didn’t want to tell you.

Treize nodded slightly. "And what do you think we should do with the boy right now? He is still a witness after all. We can’t let him go, you know that."

Yes, Heero knew. And the plan he thought out was rather risky. Should Treize refuse to go along with that...

"I want him to become the protectee of the clan," he stated in a calm voice.

Zechs gasped in surprise and even Wufei looked shocked. Treize´s only reaction was to open his eyes a little wider.

"Hm, you realize what you are asking here, Heero? Not anybody can become a protectee of the Dragon Clan," Treize said slowly. He didn’t understand what was Heero up to.

Heero nodded. "Yes, I know. But it worked with Quatre."

Treize waved his hand. "That was something different. He had something to offer the clan. The clinic was really useful these last couple of years. Besides, being a business partner to the Winner Corporation is really profitable. What has the boy to offer to the clan? And don’t tell me his money - we have enough of that."

Heero didn’t have an answer to this. That was the tricky part. If he could convince Treize that Duo would really be useful to the clan...

Treize smirked. "Well, we could always use him the way the protectee served the leaders in the old days." The lust in his eyes didn’t leave any place for doubts about what he meant.

Zechs paled and Wufei eyes grew hard and cold. Heero’s hand flexed on the handle of the gun, his body tightened even more and he pressed his lips together.

Treize was watching Heero closely. He saw his reaction and allowed small satisfactory smile escape his guarded mask. Looks like he had found something... no! Someone who was important for Heero, who he had feelings for. This could be useful - and interesting!

"All right, you have my permission to make him a protectee."

That elicited another shocked gasps from Wufei and Zechs. Even Heero’s eyes widened in surprise. He didn’t think it would be so easy. But a suspicion... an uneasy feeling was already growing in his guts. That was too easy. What was Treize up to?

Suddenly the calm satisfied look vanished from Treize´s eyes. Arctic cold replaced the previous emotions. "But beware, Dragon. Should he dance out of the row, you will take care of him. And this time I will make sure of that. We tolerate no traitors in our rows. Remember Doc G and Meiran!"

Heero bowed slightly showing his gratitude. "Thank you, Treize. And I will remember that. Should he become a problem I *will* take care of him. You have my word."

Treize nodded obviously satisfied.

The door opened in the same moment and an old man in green hospital scrubs appeared in it, accompanied by Quatre and Trowa.

"Are you waiting for news on the shot victim?" he asked looking around.

12

Heero was sitting in the uncomfortable orange plastic chair again. But this time it was in the small private room where the pale, unmoving figure of his lover was lying on the bed. He was holding his hand, stroking the knuckles with his thumb. The skin of Duo’s hand was so soft and warm. The pulse he felt on his wrist reassuring him that the boy was still alive.

When the doctor came into the waiting room looking all tired and stressed he had thought the worst. He had thought that Duo had died. That he really left him alone. That he had really lost the only good thing that had happened to him in his life.

But then the man told them that Duo was alive. The injury wasn’t as dangerous as they thought it had been. The blood loss was severe, but as soon as he received the much-needed transfusion, his blood pressure started to climb up again - they had him stabilized. After that it was a piece of cake. They were sure that Duo would recover. The best news of the day.

Treize left shortly after that, together with Zechs and Wufei. After they departed, Heero felt he could breath more easily. He still didn’t understand why Treize agreed to make Duo their protectee. That just didn’t make any sense. He knew he didn’t have any good arguments for why they shouldn’t just kill him on spot as soon as they found out who wanted to discredit the clan. But Treize agreed anyway. He would have to be more careful from now on. Treize was up to something. And Heero would find out before Treize could drag Duo into his sick plans and intrigues.

There was the sound of doors opening behind Heero’s back and he quickly let go of his lover’s hand. He pulled away and straightened slightly in the uncomfortable chair. He didn’t reach for his gun though. There was no need. It was either Trowa or Quatre. He heard them talking on the corridor just moments ago.

"Heero?" It was Quatre. Of course.

Quatre moved further into the room. He walked around the bed where Duo lay. He was looking at the longhaired boy with compassion. Heero’s eyes moved away from Quatre and settled on the sleeping form of his lover. He was pale, dark circles marred his beautiful face, making it look sick and gaunt. The thick bandages that covered his shoulder were clearly visible from under the hospital gown. An IV tube had been inserted into a vein on his arm. But he wasn’t hooked on the respirator, which was a good thing.

"He looks so young and innocent," Quatre whispered.

Heero agreed with that. If he had done a better job at killing Doc G and the men who were guarding him, he wouldn’t be here. He wouldn’t have gotten pulled in his world that was marred by death and violence.

Quatre looked at Heero. There was concern in his eyes. "I heard that Treize agreed to making him a protectee of the clan." When Heero nodded his eyes not leaving the sleeping face of his lover, Quatre continued: "You should be very careful here, Heero. Treize doesn’t do anything without reason. And he would have to have a *very* good reason to extend the protection. Duo can’t offer him anything he doesn’t already have. We both know that. So the only reason he agreed has to be *you*."

Heero’s head shot up and he looked at Quatre sharply. He had thought about that himself. And he didn’t like the direction his thoughts were heading.

"You know he still hasn’t forgiven you for your disobedience," Quatre said carefully. That was not something you would like to discuss with Heero. It tended to make him mad. "Everything is tied down to the girl and her dog, am I right?"

Heero looked away. The girl and her dog... The ones he refused to kill because they were innocent. He disobeyed his direct orders. He remembered how mad Treize had been. It had been the first time Treize lost his famous control. The girl and her puppy should have been a warning to everybody who went against the clan - we will punish you in the most hurtful way possible: by going after the ones you love. But Heero refused. The girl died anyway. He never found out who actually killed her and the dog.

When Heero didn’t answer him Quatre continued silently: "You know that he was always looking for a way to control you. And now he thinks he’s found something he can use against you." He pointed to the unconscious Duo. "Is he right, Heero? Because he will try to test you. He will try to find out how far he can push you by using Duo’s safety against you."

Heero met Quatre’s eyes. He knew the other man was right. Quatre could read people like a book, always able to tell what they were thinking, feeling. But there was nothing he could do about Treize right now. The best chance for Duo to survive was to become a member of the clan. The alternative was to go into hiding, to run for the rest of his life. But the clan would find you in the end no matter where you have tried to hide. So the important thing now was - how far would he be able to go to ensure Duo’s safety?

His thoughts were interrupted by a small movement of the body on the bed. Heero’s attention snapped back to his lover and he moved forward, trying to hide his eagerness. "Duo?" he asked silently.

The figure stirred and the beautiful violet pools opened. They wandered around the room without focus until they settled on Heero’s face. Duo frowned as if trying to remember something, but then his face brightened and he smiled happily. "Dragon?"

13

Wufei was driving the black limousine as it rushed through the streets in the dim light of the pre-dawn hours. Everybody was quiet in the car, submerged in their own private thoughts. It was Zechs who first broke the silence.

"Why did you do it, Treize?" he asked without looking at his lover. "Why did you allow for the boy to become the protectee?"

Treize frowned and gifted Zechs with a sidelong glance. "The clan will profit from him becoming a member." He didn’t explain his statement further.

Zechs looked at Treize. "But how? I don’t understand..."

Treize frowned even further. He raised his right hand and pushed one of the buttons on the panel over his head. The glass barrier between the passenger and the driver began to slide up. When they were safely parted from Wufei, Treize turned to his lover. "You don’t need to understand. And you have nothing to say in this matter. You should finally get that."

Zechs dropped his eyes. "Sorry. Won’t happen again," he whispered.

"I’m sure it won’t!" Treize growled. He reached over and wound his hand in Zechs´ platinum blond hair. "You have other things to take care of." He pulled Zechs closer. Then there was a zipping sound and quiet panting filled the car.


Wufei parked the limousine in the underground garage and killed the engine. He raised the hearer of the phone and pressed one of the buttons to get a connection to the back of the car. "We are here," he said.

He stepped out of the car stretching his legs glancing around looking for a threat and finding none. He moved to the back of the car and opened the door. Treize stepped out and straightened his clothes. Then he bent down and looked back into the car.

"I will see you in two hours. We have a meeting with Dekim Barton and he is easier to handle when you are there. Don’t come too late. He hates to wait." With that he turned to Wufei. "I want you to be there too. He will bring some of his men as his bodyguards. He still doesn’t trust us obviously. And I don’t trust him either. So in two hours, my office."

Wufei nodded and watched Treize walk away without a backward glance. Wufei was still holding the door open, but it didn’t look like Zechs would get out any time soon.

"Zechs, you coming?" he asked a little impatient.

"Yes, yes, I’m coming. But you don’t need to wait for me, okay?" Zechs´ voice was so quiet Wufei had to strain his ears to hear him.

Wufei nodded. "As you wish." He let the door open and turned to leave. But then he heard the quiet sob escape from the inside of the car. And then another one. Wufei hesitated. It was none of his business, but... He sighed. He couldn’t let Zechs here all alone. Not in his current state.

He turned back and stepped closer to the car. He bent down and looked inside. What he saw tore at his heart. Zechs was huddled in the corner of the back seat curled up in a small ball. He was rocking back and forth, tears streaming down his pale face. His eyes were clenched shut, his lips red and swollen. He was hugging his legs to his chest with his arms in a clear defensive posture.

Wufei slid in and sat down next to Zechs. He reached over and hugged Zechs awkwardly with one arm. The blond man froze and his head shot up. His blue eyes were red and swollen. Recognizing Wufei he relaxed and leaned into him.

"Why?" he whispered. "Why is he like that, Wufei? I remember how it was before. He loved me so much, I know he did... Before..."

Yes, before. Before he killed his father for you, Wufei thought for himself. He didn’t say anything loud though he only hugged Zechs tighter.

"I can’t live like this, Wufei. I can’t live like this anymore," Zechs sobbed.

Wufei sighed. "Then leave. That’s the only way. He went too deep. He won’t change back anymore. The man you loved is dead. He has been dead for three years already. You have to leave before he will kill you too."

Zechs was quiet for a while. Then he shook his head. "I can’t, Wufei. I owe him that much. And believe it or not - I still love him." He smiled bitterly. "I’m being foolish, right?"

Wufei sighed again. "No, just hopelessly in love with the wrong person."

They sat like that for a long while. Wufei was holding Zechs while he sobbed his heart out. And no one noticed the quiet figure standing in the shadows near the lift. Treize was watching them, his own heart clenching painfully. But he knew there was no way back. He made a decision three years ago and it predesignated all of his future actions. There was no way back - for anyone of them.

Tbc