Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Lean On Me ❯ A Connected Past ( Chapter 14 )

Authors Note: Well, how do you guys think the story is going?? Do you think a plot is forming here?? I have it planned now, and am nearing the climax, so keep reading, and enjoy it! Later guys, and thanks for reading. And be sure to review, whenever I get this posted. Ta-ta!

Disclaimer: You know I don't…

Chapter Fourteen

Jackson rubbed his hands together in anxiety as he put the finishes touches on the mind control device. One more wire, and done! He bit his lip and held the device up to the bright light above him. It was the exact way Raphael and Katana had wanted it, so he would live to see another day. He looked at the clock on the wall and squinted at it to read the time. "Five in the morning. Plenty of time remaining before it's actually due," he said to himself. He smiled and rubbed his eyes. If he hurried, he could add in the extra bit, and it would be finished in his mind eye. It had everything that his leaders wanted, but he was adding one more thing in it for an old friend.

**~~~~**

The next morning, Trowa entered the parlor looking as tired as ever. He looked up and saw the other boys sitting on the chairs and sofas. He sat down next to Duo. "What are you all doing up this early?"

Duo shrugged. "Same reason as you, I guess."

Quatre nodded. "Yeah. We're all worried about Vienna and Riley."

WuFei leaned back in his chair. "They can't hide. No matter if they're captured or not, they are still in plain view of the World Rebellion."

"You're right," Heero agreed. "Even if Riley and Vienna were in this room with us, Raphael could still reach them and take over."

"They win no matter what we do," Duo said.

"I did some researching last night when you all went to your rooms," Heero said. "It took me awhile to actually hack my way into the files, but I eventually did. I found out that whenever the girls are being controlled, the machine doubles their strength and agility, and if they are put on a higher level, it triples. They would be far stronger than us."

Trowa stood up, ignoring Heero's last comments. "I vote we go out and look for Riley. Raphael may be able to control her mind from miles away, but I would still feel at least a little bit better knowing that she was with us, instead of wandering around out there alone."

Duo nodded. "So would I."

Quatre smiled. "Let's go then.

**~~**

The early morning bustle on the streets and sidewalks were pressing Riley into a tough crowd to get through. She shoved her way through the people, but some would just push her back. She came to an alley and jumped inside, out of the crowd. She stared at the jumble of men and women and children walking past the alley entrance. "My gosh," she muttered. "Why don't these people just drive instead of crowding the sidewalk?" She shook her head and brushed her hair back behind her ears.

"Leave me alone!" a small cry called out.

Riley turned around sharply and stared down the alley. It was faintly lit, but it was light enough for her to see at the far end of the alley two large boys ganging up against a young kid who didn't look a day over six. The older boys were rubbing their hands together and laughing.

"Aw, come on little boy. You aren't afraid of us, are you?" one boy taunted. He slammed his fist into the palm of his left hand.

Riley glared at the boys. "Hey!" she shouted. "You leave him alone."

The boys spun around. One with black hair sneered at her. "Well, look at that. A pretty girl wants to fight us."

The other snickered. "I would like to see her try."

Riley scowled. "Well then. You better get ready for this one." She charged them, throwing herself onto the first boy. He landed heavily on the ground with Riley on top of him. She punched him in the nose before rolling of him and getting onto one knee.

"You're gonna pay for that, girl," the second said. "No one hurt's my friend but me."

Riley smirked. "If you're as weak as he is you're gonna be a cinch."

He lunged at her and would have brought her to the floor, but she had quickly slipped out of his reach. He fell to the rough cement. "Stupid girl," he grumbled getting to his feet. "You don't know who you're messing with."

"I know I'm fighting a chubby hot head that doesn't have any sense of mind, but otherwise, not really," she retorted, smiling.

Behind her, she heard the small boy shout out, "Watch out!"

Riley spun around too late. The boy she had punched earlier threw an even harder punch at her stomach, and she fell back a few steps only to be met by a kick to the back of her knees. She fell forward, racked with pain in her stomach.

"Ha! That will teach you to mess with us," the black haired one said defiantly.

Riley grunted, pushing up onto her knees. Her arms shook with the weight she was putting on them and from how much air had been knocked out of her. She closed her eyes for a second, took a deep breath, and looked over at the boy. He was standing off in the corner, staring at her wide-eyed. When he saw her looking at him, he smiled. She smiled back as she heard a movement behind her. Her eyes narrowed and she rolled to the side. As she turned, her nose was inches away from a knife that one of the boys had taken out. The knife was yanked out and coming at her again. She rolled back the way she had come and kept rolling until she reached the boy. She got onto one knee and glanced at the boy. She got his attention and motioned for him to get out of the alley. "Get out," she whispered fiercely.

The boy nodded and waited until she had moved out of his way. When the boys were focusing on trying to stab her, he ran out of the alley and to the busy sidewalk.

"The kid's getting away!" the black haired boy cried.

"Forget him, Jason, the only thing I care `bout right now is getting rid of this girl," the second said.

Riley was up on her feet, looking from one boy to the other, hoping of finding some weakness. The black haired boy, Jason, was glaring at her and the second, a fiery red head, was flicking his knife back and forth. Riley feinted to the left, then sharply changed direction and came at the red head. With her sudden change of direction, his grip had somewhat lost hold of his knife and Riley was able to wrestle it out of his hands. She backed away, aiming the knife at the boys. "If either one of you get any closer, I'll throw it straight at your chest."

Jason smiled. "You don't even know how to throw one."

Riley raised an eyebrow. "Oh really? Well let me tell you, I've been throwing daggers and knives since I was five, so I wouldn't be talking. And just to prove it, watch this." Expertly, she twisted the knife around her hand, threw it up into the air, turned around on the ball of her left foot, reached her hand up, and caught the blade in her hand. She smirked. "Care to test me?" she asked, her sarcasm dripping. Oh, crap, she thought. I hope they don't see the blood on my hand. When she had caught the blade, it had run along the length of the palm. She could feel the blood and knew it would start running down her arm any second. She didn't have time to wait.

She started walking past them, sticking close to the wall, still aiming the dagger at them above her head. The boys stayed away as she turned out of the alley and out of view.

As soon as she was out of the alley, she stopped to wipe the blood off the blade and put it into the waistband of her pants, and turned to run when she hit a small boy. She looked down. "What are you still doing here?" she exclaimed, recognizing the boy as the one in the alley. "I told you to run away."

He smiled up at her. "I wanted to wait for you. You saved me, and besides, I have nowhere else to go."

Riley bit her lip as the pain from her hand began sinking in. The blood began dripping down her arm and she hid it behind her back so the boy wouldn't see. "Come on then. If we wait around here much longer, they may come after us again."

She took his hand with her clean one and they walked quickly away from the alley.

Duo rubbed his hands together, looking around the busy street and sidewalk, searching for a familiar brunette. "Darn these people," he muttered. "I can't see through them." He sighed as another man pushed him aside to get by. "Hey, watch it!" Duo yelled after him, but the man kept on going. He shook his head. "Idiots." He continued on and then bumped into another person, only this one was a young girl with brown hair and holding the hand of a child. "Oh, sorry," he apologized.

"No problem," she replied, going on.

Duo nodded and then paused. "Wait a second." He spun around and began pushing through the crowd after the girl. That girl had to be Riley. But I don't remember Riley having a kid.

He soon got to a clear area and spotted the girl and the boy turning into the city park across the street. He looked both ways and then ran across. He entered the park and saw her sitting down on a bench with the little boy. Still not sure if it was her, he walked forward and hid behind a large oak near the bench to listen and watch.

Riley pulled her bleeding hand out from behind her back and inspected it. The boy, sitting next to her, stared at her hand wide-eyed.

"You're hurt!" he cried. "I did this to you. If I hadn't been-"

"No, it isn't your fault," Riley assured him. "If I hadn't done that fancy trick I wouldn't have cut myself with that knife. I've been trying to learn it for this whole year and I still haven't got it quite right. I somehow drop it or cut myself, like I just did."

He nodded. "Oh."

Riley didn't have anything to wrap her hand with, so instead she pressed her clean hand on the wound in an effort to stop the bleeding. It wasn't helping much. She winced and looked at the boy. She looked him over, trying to see where he may have come from. He had dark blonde hair that stopped above his ears and dark brown eyes. His clothing was a pair of dirty and ripped shorts that didn't look very warm for the upcoming winter and a shirt that looked like shreds. "Where are your parents?" she asked him.

He looked down at his hands. "I don't have any. They've been dead since I can remember. I lived in an orphanage, but that place was so dirty and grungy, that I left. I haven't been back since, um, two months ago, I think."

Riley blinked in surprise. "So you live on the streets?"

He nodded and then his eyes grew frightened. "You aren't gonna take me back to the orphanage, are you? Please don't! The people there are so mean and we never get hardly any food!"

"Whoa, slow down!" she said. "I won't send you back if you're so strongly against it."

"You won't?" he asked in surprise.

Riley shook her head. "No, but trust me on this: the orphanage has to be better than living on the streets. I've lived on the streets too, and I know how horrible it is."

"You've lived on the streets?"

She nodded. "Yeah. I was on the streets for two or three years; much longer than you."

"You're like me. You don't have a family either?"

Riley shrugged. "Actually, I do. My parents are dead, but I still have an older brother and sister. I found them a few months ago." She looked at her cut; the blood was still coming. She stopped applying pressure and tore off some of her shirt. It was one of her favourites, but her health was more important. She wrapped it around her hand. "So, how old are you?"

"I'm five," he replied.

Riley shook her head. "You're younger than I was when I started out on my own." Suddenly, she heard something, or someone, moving around behind the large oak nearby. She stared at the oak and waited.

"What's wrong?" the boy asked, looking around.

"Shh," Riley warned. "Stay right here." She rose up off the bench and made her way to the other side of the tree. She saw the back of the person and with a shout, she jumped on him, pulling him around to face her and throwing him on the ground. She found herself staring into the face of Duo Maxwell.

Duo shifted his weight, trying to get a better look at the girl. He knew it was Riley, but still-

Wait.

They had stopped talking. He frowned and leaned farther out from behind the tree.

Suddenly, a loud shout was heard behind him and he quickly found himself on his back and staring up into pretty emerald green eyes.

"Duo!" the attacker gasped out.

He blinked. "Riley, hey! What a surprise!"

She backed off him and stood. She glared down at him. "Were you spying on me?'

He sat up and rubbed the back of his neck. "Next time, see whom your attacking first before you attack. And no, I wasn't spying on you."

She rolled her eyes. "Men are such babies," she grumbled.

"Aren't you going to help me up?"

She held out her hand to him. He took it, and when she had pulled him up halfway, she leaned down to his face and smiled. "Bye!" She let go of his hand and let him fall back on his butt. She turned and walked back to the bench.

The little boy looked at her, confused. "Who is that?" he asked.

She shook her head and sat down. "Just an idiot clown who has nothing better to do than spy on me."

Duo came out from behind the tree, frowning. "That was harsh," he muttered, leaning on the back of the bench. "That is no way to treat a handsome young man."

Riley snorted. "Hn. Yes, I shouldn't treat a handsome man like that, but your aren't a handsome man."

He glared at her. "Gee, thanks, Riles."

"Who are you?" the boy asked him. He glanced at Riley. "Is he your boyfriend?" he asked innocently.

Riley eye's widened and Duo's jaw dropped. "Heck no!" they both exclaimed.

Riley jumped up and pointed at Duo. "That clown as my boyfriend? Yeah, that will be the day!"

"To be in a relationship with her you have to be equipped with body armor and a shield!" Duo stated, folding his arms across his chest. "The very idea of it."

The boy started laughing.

Riley and Duo looked at one another and then at the laughing boy. "And what is so funny?" Riley asked.

"Nuthin'," he said through his laughter.

Riley shook her head. "Anyways. I'm Riley Barton and this is Duo Maxwell. Do you have a name?" she asked, sitting back down on the bench.

The boy stopped laughing and shook his head. "No. Everyone at the orphanage called me Kid, or Shorty, because I'm so small."

Riley nodded. "Well, you'll need a name if you're gonna stay with me."

The boy smiled at her hopefully. "I can stay with you?" he asked excitedly.

Riley paused. What was she thinking? She couldn't take care of this kid! She was lucky she was still there, and it was only a matter of days before she was gone, so of all times to take in a lost boy this was not the best time. She looked at the boy's expectant face. She just couldn't turn him down. She knew what it is like on the streets, and how dangerous it is. She had been there.

"Riley, can I talk to you a minute?" Duo asked, glaring at her.

Riley nodded. "Just stay right here," she told the boy. "I'll be back."

She stood and she and Duo went a few feet away to talk.

"What?" she asked him.

He stared at her. "Hello! You can't take care of him! Right now, you got to focus on keeping away from the World Rebellion, and the idea of taking care of him right now- well, that's crazy! And what will Trowa and everyone else think?"

"I already know all that, Duo, but you of all people should be backing me up right now!" Her eyes stared into his. "I've lived on the streets and so have you. You and I both know how dangerous and hard it is out there, especially for a five year old boy." She jabbed her finger into his chest. "The city is far too dangerous. There was so many times that I could have been hurt, Duo. You may have lived on the streets like I did, but you have not the slightest idea what it was like for me. I was a girl, all alone on the streets with no protection at all. So many men have gotten so close to-" she stopped short. She took a deep breath, biting her lip. She looked over at the boy on the bench, all of the horrible memories from the past coming back. She pushed them away and faced Duo again. This time, he didn't look so harsh. He actually looked like he cared.

"They didn't-?" He didn't need to finish.

Riley snorted. "Thank goodness no. The only reason men didn't hurt me was because of an older boy that I could trust. He defended me whenever I needed him. He would always fight them off.

"Now do you see why I won't let the kid go?" she pushed on. "The same stuff could happen to him by older women and he may not have anyone to protect him like I did. I'm not letting him go, Duo. I know I am putting me and him in a dangerous position, but he is in more danger on the streets, and I would be filled with guilt knowing that I sent a kid into the wild and unmoral world only to be destroyed." She backed up a step.

For once, he didn't say anything. She shook her head and walked back to the bench. She felt him watching her, but she didn't care. She sat down on the bench in front of the boy.

"Is everything okay?" he asked her in his small voice.

Riley put on a smile and nodded, even though right then she wanted to find a gym and punch all the stuffing out of those punching bags. "Yeah. Now, about a name: I've got the perfect name for you." When she had been talking to Duo and had mentioned the boy that had defended her, she knew the name she wanted to give the boy. "What do you think of the name Solo?"

The boy smiled. "I like it. Why do you like that name?"

Riley saw Duo walk back behind the bench and she waited for him. "Well, Solo was the name of a good friend of mine. He helped me when I lived on the streets and I think his name should be passed on to you." She failed to notice the shocked look on Duo's face.

"What happened to him?"

"I don't know what happened to him. I was found by an older man who took me in, and I never saw Solo again."

"He's dead," Duo said bluntly.

Riley jumped at Duo's abrupt statement. She stared at him. "What? How do you know who I'm talking about?"

"Did Solo lead a band of orphans?" he asked her.

She nodded cautiously. "Yeah. I guess he could have been considered the leader. I never joined the team for some reason, but yeah, he was. How do you know that?"

He stared past her. "Because I was in that band of orphans. Solo and I were good friends." He glanced down at her. "And I do remember him mentioning a younger girl that he had met. He said that she wouldn't join the band, but he couldn't figure out why. That was you, wasn't it? You were the girl he was talking about."

Riley couldn't believe what she was hearing. Could Duo really have been good friends with the boy who had helped her numerous times before?

Something told her that this wasn't a joke.

Trowa sighed, dropping onto the sofa in Relena's parlour. He had spent the past three hours searching for Riley in his certain area to search, and hadn't found her. He was the second person to come back, but right then WuFei was up in his room showering; WuFei hadn't found her either.

He groaned and closed his eyes. He could only hope one of the others had found her.

Just then, the chime of the doorbell rung. Trowa sat up, waiting for Pagan to answer the door. When the old man didn't come down stairs, he went to answer the door. He found Heero standing there, alone. He gave a nod at Heero. "Nothing?"

Heero shook his head. "No." He stepped inside and waited for Trowa to shut the door. As Trowa was about to walk back into the parlour to wait, Heero said, "She'll be back. You and Cathrine are the only family she has left. Leaving you is something she wouldn't want to do. And she wouldn't be stupid enough to fall into a trap set for her." He glanced side-ways at Trowa and walked on to the grand staircase.

Trowa watched him, a faint smile appearing. "Thanks, Heero," he whispered. As if he had heard, Heero turned and nodded at him. Then an idea came to Trowa. "And Heero," he called, "we'll find Vienna. You don't have to worry about her."

Heero paused and shook his head. What was that about? How did he-? He looked back to where Trowa had stood, but he wasn't there.

The new Solo looked up at Riley as she held his hand, walking down the sidewalk. Her smile was gone and she seemed to be deep in thought. He sighed and then looked over at Duo, walking on the other side of him. Duo was like Riley, only not as stone-faced. He looked down at the boy and smiled.

"You okay, kid?" he asked.

Solo smiled and nodded. Despite the fact Duo had fallen into the habit of calling him kid, as the other orphans had, it didn't seem as bad when he said it.

"Good. We're almost there, so it isn't much farther."

Riley glanced at Duo and then down at the boy who held her hand. She sighed inwardly. Man, this is such a mess, she thought. First I have the problem of Raphael and his crew, secondly I now have to take care of Solo, and thirdly there's the problem with Duo. Well, it isn't really a problem, it's just- Actually I don't know what to call it. It's a complication; I guess I could call it that. I just don't get it. I never would have thought the real Solo would connect Duo and me. We're so different, but we're still alike in many ways.

"Riley, are you okay?" Solo asked her.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Why?"

Solos shrugged. "You just seem so sad about something."

Riley forced a smile to comfort him. "I'm fine. I've just got some things on my mind."

Solo cocked his head to the side like a dog would. "Like what?"

Riley hesitated. He wouldn't understand any of it, and she didn't want him to worry about something that didn't involve him either. Plus, there was the fact that Duo was standing right there and he was part of her thoughts. Okay, most of her thoughts.

When Riley didn't reply, Solo tugged on her hand. "It help's to talk about stuff. It makes you feel better."

"Who told you that?" Riley asked.

"A boy at the orphanage. He was talking to somehow else, but I heard him."

Riley nodded. "Well, that kid's smart. It does help to talk about it, but what I have on my mind isn't stuff you would understand."

Solo frowned. "Will you tell me when I can understand it?"

Riley smiled, nodding her head. "Sure thing." She looked up and whispered too low for Solo to hear, "I hope it's all over by then."

Solo may not have heard her, but Duo certainly had. He looked at her. "So do I," he replied loud enough for her to hear. Riley glanced at him. Duo smiled, and then showed his crossed fingers.

They came to the gate that led into the estate around ten A.M., and Solo was dumbstruck by the size of the place.

"Is there where you guys live?" he gasped out.

Riley laughed, forgetting her worries. "No. We're just staying here with my brother and some other friends and the Vice Foreign Minister Dorlian. You know her, don't you?"

Solo scrunched up his nose. "The rich girl who acts like an old woman on TV? Yeah, I've heard of her."

Riley snorted, covering her mouth in an effort not to burst out laughing. She heard Duo snickering, but didn't dare look at him in fear of not being able to contain her own laughter. "Solo, I've never heard that description before, but I think you know the person we're talking about. Oh, and I wouldn't call her that if I were you, okay?" Riley said. "It wouldn't be a good thing. Just call her Vice Foreign Minister Dorlian."

Duo raised his eyebrows. "That's a bit long, Riley. Solo, how about instead of calling her that mouthful, try Queenie, okay?"

Riley glared at him. "Duo!"

By now they had come to the door leading into the mansion and their voices had brought Pagan to the door. Pagan opened the door and ushered them inside.

"Thank you, my man," Duo said, flipping a quarter into the air. "Have a tip for your services."

Riley rolled her eyes. "Oh, gosh," she muttered.

Pagan walked to the base of the grand staircase and called up, "Miss Relena, Mr. Maxwell has returned with Miss Barton. Do you wish to admit them?"

Riley winced as she heard a racket of numerous doors opening, and then the pounding footsteps of people running to the staircase. Riley looked at Duo. "Well, it seems I was missed."

"You have no idea," Duo replied. "Trowa was a wreck."

Trowa came bounding down the stairs first, followed by the others, and Relena came shortly after. Riley took a quick peek at Solo to see what he was thinking of this. He seemed frightened, and he hid behind Riley, holding onto her legs.

"Riley!" Trowa exclaimed, but he then saw the small boy clinging to his sister and he stopped a foot in front of Riley. He looked from Riley to the little kid, and then to Duo. "Care to explain this?" he asked Duo.

"Explain what?" Duo asked. "The kid?"

WuFei came up behind Trowa. "What's going on? You confounded onna, where have you been?"

Riley rolled her eyes. "I have been walking around the city, WuFei. And guys, this is Solo." She looked over her shoulder at the small boy.

The boy looked around her to the four boys and Relena. He shook his head stubbornly and ducked behind her again. Riley sighed.

Duo bent down to Solo's level. "Solo, they won't hurt you. They're my friends, and Riley's too."

Solo nodded. "Promise?"

"Promise."

Solo let go of Riley's legs and walked out to stand between she and Duo. He looked up at the others, looking them all over carefully.

"Well?" Trowa pressed, waiting for an answer.

"This is Solo," Riley continued. "He lives on the streets by himself."

"And so you brought him here?" Quatre asked in disbelief.

"Riley, you know you can't take care of him," Trowa said. "There is too much going on right now."

Riley groaned. "You think I don't know that? I know it's dangerous and I also know it's equally dangerous in the city, living on your own. Solo is only five, younger than I was when I first started to live on the streets, and it was dangerous then. It's even worse nowadays."

"Still," Trowa replied.

Riley glared at him, surprising him and the others. "He isn't leaving," she growled.

Solo tugged at Riley's arm, hoping to get her attention. "Riley," he called softly.

Riley looked down at him. "What?"

"Don't get upset. You'll make me upset."

Riley smiled. "Don't worry about it. I'm fine."

Heero looked at Duo. "And what about you? You let her bring the kid."

"I'm behind her all the way," he said easily.

"You are?" Riley asked in surprise. "In the park you were reacting the same way as they are."

Duo shrugged. "Now I see your view of things." He turned to the others. "Heero, you've mostly been with Dr. J your whole life and he is practically all you know, right?" Heero shrugged. "And Trowa, you've been with the circus and your trainer. WuFei has been with his people and Meiran. Quatre, well, you were born into a rich family and you had your family and instructor your whole life. Now, can any of you tell me what's it like to actually live on the streets for months at a time?" No one said anything. "There you have it then. None of you do; only Riley, Solo, and I do. Riley has had it worse than me on the streets, so she of all people knows the worst part about living out there. I do too, and if Riley hadn't found Solo, what do you think would happen to him? I'll tell you what would happen. He could be killed, hurt, captured, and a million other things could happen. Now, if none of you can see our view, then you are more thick-headed and cold hearted than I thought."

Riley looked down at her boots as Duo finished his `speech'. Solo looked up at her and smiled reassuringly. Not wanting to be in there a minute longer, Riley said to Solo, "Are you hungry?"

His face brightened. "Yeah!"

"I'll take you out to eat. Does pizza sound good?"

The boy's face scrunched up. "What's pizza?"

Duo stared down at him, a horrified expression on his face. "How can you not know what pizza is? Okay, Riley and I are showing you the finer foods in the food pyramid."

Riley took one glance at her brother, who was watching her. She only smiled at him half-heartedly and took Solo's hand. Solo then grabbed Duo's hand and started running back out of the mansion, pulling Riley and Duo with him.