Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ The Road to Kindness ❯ The Boy with the Broken Glasses ( Chapter 2 )

Chapter 2: The Boy with the Broken Glasses

 

 

“Come on, Heero, it's time,” a kind, soft voice said and a warm hand was on his shoulder, gently urging him forward, but he didn't care! He wanted to scream. He couldn't stand the pitiful voices. What did they know?! He didn't want to go there.

`It's time to say goodbye.'

As Heero approached the bed, he saw that his father's eyes were just as blue, just as bright as they had always been. His face, however, was horribly mangled and covered in blood. Heero stood next to the bed and his father ran a bloody hand through his messy, chocolate hair, like he always had.

“Hey, kiddo,” Alexei Yuy croaked, his voice dry and broken. Heero wanted to run away from him, something screaming that this frail creature was not his father, but it was and he didn't run.

“Hi, daddy,” Heero managed to say.

`It's time to say goodbye, Heero.'

He looked into his father's eyes and saw that the light in them was fading.

“I'm so sorry, baby, time just… got away from us…” his father's voice was getting more strained.

It was a lie! They had plenty of time! It was all lies…

“I'm sorry, Heero… so very sorry.”

 

*****

 

Heero awoke with the sun in his eyes and a headache pounding in his left temple. He groaned and rolled onto his back. He stared up at the alien, white ceiling of his new room. Unpacked boxes littered the large bedroom, the only things in their places were the sheets that he was sleeping on and the outfit he was going to wear to school, a green t-shirt, his leather jacket, and a pair of blue jeans. Heero rubbed at his sleepy eyes. What a terrible dream. It really wasn't fair, he told himself, how things had happened in his dream was different than in reality.

His father had died when he was twelve. He had been walking to a bistro during his lunch break when a supposed ex-employee had struck him with his car. His spine had become destroyed and the doctors couldn't save him, or so his mother had told him when she had brought him to the hospital to say his goodbyes. His face hadn't been mangled and there had been no blood. His face had been as it always had been, as though nothing had happened and he would live forever. He didn't. He had lasted six hours with Heero and his mother before passing away in his sleep. Heero knew all of these things, yet he continued to have those dreams. He sighed and rolled off of the bed, nimbly navigating around the boxes.

The kitchen was as huge as the one they had had in England, but the style was all wrong. It was simply off, different from what he was used to. Three years ago, Heero and Name had moved from Japan to England, but for some reason it hadn't been as hard as this. There was no denying that America was a much different place than either England or Japan, even down to its buildings. The kitchen was empty, his mother having gone to meet with business partners in New York. Why they hadn't moved there instead of this shithole town in Maine was beyond his understanding. His mother had said that she thought a separation between Heero and his fame would do him some good, but even she had to have realized that he would never be separated from that. The kitchen was mostly sparse. Neither of them had had a chance to really unpack and Name was forcing him to go to school as soon as possible. Exactly what she was trying to prove, he didn't know. His mother was adamant on not hiring any help as she didn't want her son to grow up spoiled and useless. He had always wondered about that, since his mother was an only child and controlled a multi-billion dollar company, but spoiled didn't describe her a bit, especially compared to the posh living of her father and older brother. Heero knew that by the time he got home from school, if his mother got out of her meeting in time, all of her things would be unpacked and the house would be stocked with all that they needed. For right now, he settled for some toast and jam. As he ate, he watched the clock on the large oven that was big enough to be seen in a restaurant. If he didn't go to class, what difference would it make? Heero shook his head. He might as well, it wasn't like he had anything better to do anyway.

 

*****

 

Heero was right in thinking that moving to an unknown city in Maine would not matter with his reputation. If there was anyone in the school that didn't know something big was happening that day, they quickly got the hint when a jaguar parked itself in the student parking lot. Despite all of the whispers and gaping as Heero got out of the car and marched into the school, he ignored all of it. Even in the private British school he had been gawked at as Name Yuy's only son and he was used to it. He even expected it. He smirked to himself as both girls and boys parted ways for him as though he were a rock star. St. Peters, Maine, was not a tiny, wooden town, it was more like a smaller version of Boston without the notoriety, but it was still easy for Heero to see that the people here were not used to the `real world' intruding on them.

Over the years, Heero had been moved to four schools, including this one, but procedure never seemed to change; meet with the principal, get his schedule, mingle with the masses. His last principal hadn't been worth the cost of his enormous desk, but, ironically, the principal of Peter's High was made of sterner stuff. Treize Khushrenada seemed to have been yanked out of a nineteenth century romance novel with his polite mannerisms and noble speech, but authoritative looks and clear leadership skills. To Heero, he looked like the sort of man who wouldn't take shit from anyone, let alone a seventeen year old boy, regardless of who his mother was, and at the moment he wasn't sure if that was good or bad, but he filed it away for later consideration. Also unlike his last principal, Treize didn't keep him waiting, he was there waiting for him in the office when Heero walked in. Treize's light blue eyes were on him in a second and Heero could see the intelligence smoldering in them. Despite his usual dislike for anyone masquerading as someone with `authority', Heero couldn't help but respect the man, but that didn't mean that he would like him. High school was a lot like prison, there were dealers and thugs and it helped to respect the warden, but getting too friendly with him only led to disappointment and problems.

“Heero Yuy?” Khushrenada asked in a tone that clearly said that he knew damn well that he was and he wasn't impressed like his little fledglings. Heero nodded. It wouldn't do to start anything this early in the game, at least not until he had all the facts, then the fun could begin.

“Here is your schedule,” Treize handed Heero a slip of paper, “your books will be given to you in class. Given your past delinquency, your mother has scheduled a meeting with me three weeks from now to see how you're doing, so I suggest that you behave. If you get lost, your homeroom teacher will give you a tour when classes are over. For now, your homeroom and first class are down the hall, tenth door on your left.”

Heero gave him an odd look. He had never met someone who acted so much like his mother, authoritative and utterly unimpressed. He turned to leave, but Treize put a hand on his shoulder, stopping him. Heero bristled at the unwanted contact but stifled the urge to hit or bite the man.

“Hold it, Yuy.”

Heero tried as hard as he could not to glare at him, but a loathsome look escaped his shields anyway.

“I will tolerate no juvenile behavior, especially not from someone who has no excuse not to try to excel. Your homeroom teacher, who happens to be your science teacher as well, also happens to be my wife, so treat her right, do you understand me?”

Heero's eyes widened and Treize smirked at the slip in his cool façade.

“Yes, sir,” Heero gritted out. It looked like Treize was going to win this one, but that was alright, even the tough ones fell down and in the end, Heero always won.

 

*****

 

Treize watched Heero stalk out of his office and sighed. Why did he always get the hard cases? Speaking of hard cases…

“Mr. Khushrenada?” Treize's secretary asked.

“Yes?”

“Mr. Maxwell is here to see you.”

Treize nodded.

“Send him in.”

A hard case indeed. Treize glanced at Maxwell's file. All the facts were there, yet there was something bothering him about what was in there, though he could never figure out what it was. He was a good student, a bit strange, a bit sad, but the type of kid that every teacher prayed for, if a bit quiet and repressed. The type of kid that was, for the most part unnoticed, perhaps bullied a little. Though, there was something about him that made Treize feel wrong inside.

“Mr. Khushrenada?” a small voice asked. Treize's eyes softened as the boy entered his office on careful steps, like a deer in the presence of a wolf. Treize knew that he shouldn't let the boy's appearance affect his stern stature, but it did. There was something about him that made any pretense of coldness disappear.

“I'll make this brief, Duo. You've missed five classes in the last three weeks. You know that the school rules state that I have to expel you. Further, I have tried to contact your father, but he has answered none of my messages.”

The teenager hunched in on himself. Treize recognized it. It was an old street fighting trick, when someone was overpowering you, make yourself smaller, a harder target.

“I've been sick,” Maxwell said and the closer Treize looked, the more he believed that, “and my dad's been really busy, but it's the truth.”

Treize nodded.

“Alright, I believe you and I'm sure that it will be easy to convince your teachers. However, I can't keep sticking my neck out for you, Duo. Without a written letter from your father, I can't give you anymore time. You miss one more class and I'll have to expel you. My hands are tied.”

The boy, if at all possible, turned a bit paler.

“I understand,” he said under his breath. Treize couldn't help but smile at him.

“You can go to your class now.”

Duo nodded and walked out of the office, mixed feelings of relief and fear squeezing his heart.

 

*****

 

Heero blocked out everything around him as he sat in his science class. People swarmed around him, buzzing with excitement, but too nervous of his glowering state and impressive aura to approach him. When things finally seemed to settle down a little, he took a look around. Everything looked normal, everyone looked normal. He had thought that an American school would be more exciting, but he didn't see the difference besides the obvious lack of pedigree. There was one exception, a very tall boy with long, silver-white hair and ice blue eyes that reminded him of someone he had met a long time ago, but he brushed that feeling off. The boy stared at him in interest, but Heero broke the gaze first, ignoring him. That boy was trouble. Just like him, Heero thought with a smirk, and that was not acceptable. There could only be one alpha dog and he would see to it that the silver haired boy learned his place. Heero felt someone walk past him and he sat up straight. No one had dared get near him before. He looked up, but only got a dark brown braid as it passed before the person was sitting in their own seat further up the aisle. From the set of the person's shoulder and the lack of a curve at their hip, Heero knew that it was a male. He was perturbed that they hadn't given him so much as a look. How… odd. Still, the boy had obviously come in a bit late, so he had probably not noticed the newest addition to the class. That thought made Heero relax. He wasn't comfortable with the attention he regularly got, but it was the natural order of things. Heero memorized that back. It was slim, clothed in a black t-shirt that was scuffed in some places and torn in others. The braid, strange on a boy, was dark and dirty, long strands of hair coming out at the base and tail. He looked thin, his braid dangling low near the boy's jean covered thighs. He wasn't normal, that was sure…

Then, their teacher arrived. From the second that she strode into her classroom, Heero thought that it was obvious that she was Principal Khushrenada wife. Une Khushrenada was almost as tall as her husband, but even more imposing with her thin rimmed glasses and cool brown eyes. Her long, dark brown hair fell against her back and as she took her spot by her desk, the whole room fell silent with a mix of respect and fear. It almost made Heero laugh, the site of over a dozen teenagers freezing because of one woman.

“Alright, let's begin,” she said in a no-nonsense voice, “I'm sure you all know of our new addition, Heero Yuy, so introductions are not necessary.”

Heero looked at the boy in front of him to see if he had any reaction to the news that the new boy was sitting behind him, but he didn't move at all. Heero frowned. What was wrong with the boy? Surely the news that the heir of the infamous Yuy Corporation was sitting in the classroom with him would garner some reaction, but nothing. Une said something more, but Heero heard none of it, only staring, transfixed on the strange boy.

 

*****

 

Class ended and Heero had never been more bored in his life. Complex biology of marine life was not something that came to any interest or use for him. Instead, he spent the class looking at the back of the head of what he had dubbed `that odd boy'. The bell rang and students started to file out to their next classes. Heero held his breath as the odd boy stood. He couldn't understand why he felt so anxious to see the boy's face, but he was. Then, the boy turned around and Heero lost his breath all together. The boy's thinness didn't stop at his back. He wasn't just thin, he looked a bit unhealthy, his skin both dirty and pale. But, beyond his frail form, his face was pretty, framed by a pair of thin glasses and his messy bangs. Then there was his eyes… oh, his eyes. They were wide with long eye lashes, but it was the color that made Heero's chest tighten and grow hot. They were violet. Heero had never met anyone with violet eyes before. They were so beautiful, deep and nearly glowing. Heero knew that violet eyes were a product of pigment mutation at birth and was incredibly rare, yet none of that mattered right now. The boy picked up his ratty duffle bag and started to leave with the rest of the class when he finally noticed that someone was watching him. Those wonderful eyes fell on Heero and the boy froze, his expression caught between a sort of paranoia and clear interest. Heero paused, ready to deflect any stupid questions that the other teenagers had desired to barrage him with, like `are you really him?!' but they never came.

“Hi,” Heero tried to break the ice, smiling sexily at the boy. At seventeen years old, Heero had had time to explore his sexuality and had discovered that he was gay. What this meant for his future, he didn't know, but he did know that some part of himself was attracted to this American.

“Hn,” the boy said, and walked away. Heero stared at his back in shock. What had just happened?! Was the kid really… ignoring him? Was he playing coy or did he really not care about Heero's presence? Heero got up, shoving his new book in his book bag and ran after the much shorter boy. It was only when he stood that he realized how slight and small the longhaired teen was, but that didn't faze him. He certainly wasn't the shortest boy in class, but compared to Heero's height, he was smaller, but just right.

“Hey, wait!” he called, grabbing the boy's arm and pulling him back. The boy glared at him from behind his glasses and Heero saw that both the nose and one of the joints of the glasses were tied with tape and the left lens had a small crack in it.

“What is wrong with you?” Heero demanded, “I'm Heero Yuy-,”

“I know,” the boy interrupted, looking away from Heero's eyes.

“Then why-,”

“The world doesn't revolve around you!” the American snapped. Heero stared at him with wide eyes. Only his mother had dared snap at him before. He didn't like it one bit.

“You're going to learn that sad fact sooner or later,” the boy murmured and broke away from Heero's grip, disappearing into the hall. Heero watched him go in amazement. The boy truly didn't care about who he was, he had even scolded him without fear. Heero should have been angry about that, but he only felt intrigued. He had to know him, and he vowed, by the end of the week, he would more than just close friends with him… whether the kid wanted that or not.

 

*****

 

Math was, somehow, even more boring than Science. It was ridiculous how far behind America was in education compared to England and Japan. He knew everything his text books had to offer. What was the point in trying? His whole future was already decided and putting so much effort into something so useless was just a waste of time. His only consolation was that the longhaired boy was in the same math class as him. He once again sat in the front of the class while Heero followed him closely, resolving to never let him out of his sight. He frowned when he discovered that the silver haired boy was also in their class and as the brunette passed him and tripped over his outstretched foot. Those violet eyes met icy blue, but he kept on walking to his seat, to Heero's amazement. He glared at the silver haired boy, but the tall stranger only smirked at him. Those icy blue eyes, so different from the other boy's bothered him. Normally, he would have wiped that smirk off of the arrogant boy's face, not for the short boy's sake, just because the silver haired boy annoyed him, but he didn't. He found that he didn't want the violet eyed boy to see him do something so… what had his mother called it? Brutish? He told himself that the right way to do surveillance was to become close to the target and to do that, he couldn't frighten the boy off by beating up one of his classmates, even if he was asking for it with that smirk. Another part of Heero, someplace buried, deep down inside of him, told him what a horrible thing it would be for the braided boy to not like him or, worse, be disgusted in him, but he was used to ignoring that little voice and shoved it back down.

If Heero had had the time to think about what he was doing, he would have been appalled by his own stalker-like behavior towards a boy that refused to be friendly with him, but he didn't think. Since meeting him, he hadn't done a whole lot of thinking at all, just reacting. Still, he watched and waited for class to be over for his chance to pounce. Next period was lunch which meant he would have plenty of time to talk to him. What if he still spurned his advances, that annoying voice piqued. Heero ignored it again. Even if he had to force his friendship on him, he would not leave school today without figuring the mystery boy out. At this point, he didn't know if it was his pride talking or his libido. He questioned why he would be attracted to a boy with torn clothes and dirty hair when no other boy had made him feel that way, or at least close to the feelings he had now, but it was undeniable that there was something there that interested Heero. Hn, an intimate encounter with Heero Yuy, several of the boys in his last school would have jumped at the chance, just for bragging rights, yet he somehow knew that this boy, gay or not, would be a project. He liked projects.

Class ended and Heero stood, readying to trail his `project' once more, but he was stopped by the silver haired boy. Heero glared at him for getting in his way, but the other boy was either oblivious or ignoring him.

“Zechs Merquise, you must be the infamous Heero Yuy,” Zechs stretched out his hand to shake, but Heero ignored it, his eyes following the braided boy as he started to leave the classroom.

“Who is that?” he blurted out. Zechs frowned, his eyes narrowing, following Heero's own gaze and Heero saw the heat in them, but he couldn't tell if it was lust or anger, maybe a bit of both. That look made Heero's chest clench.

“Duo Maxwell. What's someone like you doing asking questions about someone like him?” Zechs asked in a clipped voice, obviously upset about something. Heero watched as the tip of Duo's braid disappeared out of the door. Duo… it was a strange name for an American, but it somehow suited him.

“What's wrong with asking about him?” Heero asked, though he was only half paying attention, too busy mentally cheering that he at least knew the mystery boy's name. Zechs smirked.

“Like you, everyone in school knows of him, but that doesn't mean that he's popular, do you understand?”

Heero narrowed his eyes at him.

“If you're done making up riddles, I have better things to do.”

“I'm trying to say that you shouldn't get involved with him. He's not worth the great Heero Yuy's time. He's a waste of space.”

“If I wanted a list of people you think appropriate for me to be associated with, I would have asked for it,” Heero snapped. Zechs glared at him, but then smirked again.

“Fine, don't say that I didn't try to warn you. If you'd rather be friends with him than me, that's none of my problem,” Zechs walked out of the room, patting Heero shoulder as he left, making Heero stiffen under his touch.

 

*****

 

Heero gathered his stuff and went on his way to drop his things off at his locker. He had didn't know what Merquise had against Duo, but he had a pretty good idea. It wasn't exactly that he didn't like him, it was typical bully fare, something that Heero had seen hundreds of times, so he didn't think anything of it. The last thing he would do was be friends with a boy like Merquise. It wasn't because of the bullying, it was simple behavioral science. You couldn't have two alphas in one pack, too much competition. On his way to the lunch room, hoping that he would be able to find Duo again, he got his wish and saw Zechs and Duo arguing at Duo's locker, only it looked like Zechs was the one doing most of the talking while Duo appeared to be ignoring him. Suddenly, Merquise grabbed Duo's upper arm in a tight grip and slammed him against the locker. Something inside of Heero flared to life. He had seen people being bullied hundreds of times, but had never thought to step in and help. He had even been a bully a few times, though he only targeted those that he knew would be formidable opponents; otherwise what was the point? But, the sight of Duo's small body pinned against the metal locker made him want to do something. What did he care? Heero thought. Still, there was this strange feeling inside of him, almost like… protectiveness? He looked around and noticed that, even in a sea of people, no one stopped to help Duo out. Heero saw Duo saying something to Zechs and the silver haired boy sneered, but released him. Merquise left Duo to pick up his things, then the violet eyed American left for the lunch room with Heero tracking his every step.

 

*****

 

Duo didn't seem to notice Heero following him to the cafeteria, in the lunch line, or even back to a table. Heero, on the other hand, did notice a few things. The first was actually the most important, Duo's ass was really, really nice, especially in the jeans he was wearing. The second was that Duo was either a very light eater or didn't have the money to get a proper lunch because he only got a salad and some milk. Heero scoffed at the notion that anyone was poor enough that they couldn't even afford a school lunch, he hoped that the kid didn't have an eating disorder or something. He had no respect for people like that. The third thing that Duo noticed was that, while the other tables seemed to be packed in, there was a perfectly good empty table that Duo sat at, but no one else even looked at it, as though no one would dare to sit with him, or perhaps this was just expected behavior. It was probably for this reason that Duo looked up when Heero sat at the table with him. Duo's violet eyes narrowed and he glared at him.

“What do you want?” he demanded. Heero smiled.

“What makes you think that I want anything?”

Duo snorted and returned to his salad.

“Look, I don't know what you and Zechs talked about, but why don't you just go sit with him and leave me in peace?”

Heero frowned at Duo's assumption that his presence had anything to do with Merquise.

“What is your problem with me?”

Duo's head snapped up and his eyes were fierce, like they were on fire. Heero's breath caught in his throat.

“My problem is that I don't have the time or patience for spoiled little rich boys on a power trip,” Duo snapped. Heero's pride prickled at the slight.

“So you're just going to make assumptions about me based on what you think I am? Isn't that a bit judgmental?” Heero shot back.

“I saw you coming a mile away. You just can't stand that there is one person out there that isn't going to bow to your every whim. Well, I'm sorry, but just being born doesn't impress me. Especially since you let someone like Zechs Merquise talk you into coming over here and bothering me. What did he tell you? That it would be funny if you put something in my food? Or was it something a little less juvenile. I sure hope so, or you're even less than what I thought of you.”

Heero gritted his teeth.

“Zechs didn't tell you to do anything, and even if he did, I wouldn't stoop to his level.”

Duo flicked his bangs out of his eyes.

“So? Is that supposed to make me feel better? I guess that means you decided to annoy me all on your own.”

Heero sighed in exasperation.

“So I'm rich, why do you hate me because of that?”

“I don't hate you,” Duo protested, “I don't trust you.”

Heero leaned in, making Duo flinch and move back.

“And what does it take to impress you?” he demanded. Duo blinked at him in confusion.
“Excuse me?”

“You're right, you don't know me and I am intrigued by you. But, I'm not spoiled and I'm not trying to annoy you. Maybe if you actually gave me a chance, you would see that.”

“And if I do give you that chance, then what?” Duo snapped, “What is that going to prove? That you're a nice guy for pitying me? That you managed to figure me out?”

“That's up to you to decide,” Heero said, “but I think it's more pitiful that you won't even give me that chance.”

“Fine! But if you try anything-,”

“I won't,” Heero interrupted, using that leverage to gain what little footing that he could, “I guess tomorrow I'll just have to prove to you that I'm not the bastard you take me for,” he said, dumping his fries onto Duo's tray and leaving while he still had the last word. Duo stared at Heero back as he left. What the hell had just happened?! He looked down at the food Heero had left him. Heero Yuy… just what the hell did he really want? Why go through all of this just for a `chance'? Why ruin his reputation by talking to him and why try so hard? Duo nibbled on one of the warm fries. He knew one thing: if Heero thought that he was easy in his friendship or anything else in that matter, he was in for a rude awakening. As Heero left the cafeteria, he wore a triumphant smile on his face. It wouldn't be easy, but at least now he had a chance… things were looking more and more interesting by the minute.

 

*****

 

For the rest of the day, Duo saw that Heero had backed off at least a little and felt relieved. He didn't know what he would have done if Heero had decided to follow him home from school. He talked tough, but in reality, Heero was much bigger, and more powerful, than him. He didn't see how he could have prevented him from chasing him all over the place. And if he did try to retaliate, well, no doubt a Yuy would have all sorts of ways of making him suffer for it. But, he really wasn't all that intimidated by him, at least not yet. In the end, Heero Yuy was still just a boy, only two years older than he was, and as the saying went, he had bigger fish to fry. Heero just happened to be a pretty large fish himself.

The day was cloudy and gray, but it had yet to rain, thankfully. Duo kept a close watch to make sure that he wasn't be followed as he always did when he went home. He left the comfortable scenery of the school and suburban side of St. Peters to the taller buildings of the city. He ducked into alleys and side streets until he was miles away from the school and he found himself in a back alley, standing in front of an old metal door that had been spray painted a thousand times with Chinese graffiti.

“I'm home,” he called as he entered the tiny, two bedroom apartment that he called home that was in the back of an Asian restaurant, where his `father' did his business.

“It's about time,” a gruff voice called. Duo rolled his eyes where his guardian couldn't see. He could spend only two hours at school and Wes Maxwell would consider it `too much time'. Duo walked into the kitchen where Wes was looking over some paperwork.

“You're needed at Lane St, you got that?”

Duo nodded.

“Is that all?”

“Vanilla this time. You should be so grateful,” Wes turned to look at his `son'. Wes was six foot three, imposing even by height, but he wasn't thin nor fat and Duo knew very well that it wasn't all presence that Wes had going for him. He was more than willing to show everyone that size mattered and he wasn't afraid to use a little force to get what he wanted. He and Duo looked nothing alike, for good reason, Wes had messy blonde hair and cool gray eyes, looking much like the shark that he was. The reason why there was no resemblance between father and son was because Wes wasn't Duo's father, not by a long shot.

“You haven't been returning Khushrenada's calls,” Duo mentioned. Wes snorted, looking up from his paperwork.

“I told you that the second you decided to go to that school it would be your responsibility.”

“If I miss anymore classes, I'm going to be expelled,” Duo protested.

“And this is my problem, how?” Wes sneered. “I told you where your priorities lie and if you dare start putting that damn school before your job, I told you what would happen.”

Duo paled a little, but refused to let any other reaction show. Wes frowned.

“Fine. I'll take care of it,” Duo murmured.

“I'm sorry, what was that?”

“Yes, sir,” Duo gritted out.

“Better, but you'd better take care of that attitude.”

“I'll go, then,” Duo said, shoving his duffle bag into a corner. He turned to leave, but Wes made a grab for his braid, slamming him against the wall. Duo choked, pain flaring up his neck.

“How many times do I have to tell you?” Wes snarled, “No glasses when you're on a job!”

Duo felt the man release his hair and he hastily took his glasses off, squinting as his vision suddenly blurred.

“I'm sorry, I forgot.”

“Damn right you're sorry,” Wes growled, returning to the kitchen table, “now get the fuck out of my sight.”

Duo took off while Wes was temporarily appeased.

 

*****

 

Duo had decided a long time ago that vanilla assignments were the best. He didn't have to dress up or prepare in anyway, he just had to go to where he was told and wait to be picked up. Wes had called it `easy money' once.

`Yeah, let's see if he thinks it's so easy when he's the one doing it,' Duo thought bitterly as he waited for his customer to pick him up.

Duo had been an orphan for as long as he could remember before Wes had come along and taken him from the gutter. Before meeting his current guardian, his life had been spent stealing, digging food out of dumpsters and just trying to survive. He didn't remember if he had ever had any parents, all he remembered was his name. As a child, he had heard of such wonderful fairytales from other orphans. One day, a kind person, for some reason, would pick up a street kid and adopt them and they would live rich, happy lives forever. But, even as a child he had realized that those stories were just that, stories. He was six when he had first spotted Wes. He had been looking for something, an orphan to take home with him, he learned later. A year later, he approached Duo with a deal; he would give him a place to live and plenty of food if he did a few jobs for him. It had seemed like a good deal, but a street kid is always cautious and Duo knew that if something sounded too good to be true, then it was. Still, hunger took on a life of its own and Duo found himself following the blonde man back to his apartment. What had happened next was obvious.

 

*****

 

“What do I have to do?” Duo asked. At seven years old, his hair was already long, though not at the length it would be as a teenager. Still, he was pretty with his wide violet eyes and soft face. Wes was just as tall and imposing as he would be over the years and could easily crush the child with one hand. Instead, he handed Duo a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, which the child ate quickly without a second thought. Wes smiled at him, but it was the smile of a reptile.

“I'm sure you'll figure it out.”

 

*****

 

Duo discovered much later that the sandwich had been drugged, but that became obvious when he awoke in a strange place. The room seemed cold, but realized that he was naked and the room was actually a bedroom. He had been laid on Wes' bed, left alone for a few minutes. He had thought that it was odd, but as he tried to move, to get off the bed and run away, he found that he couldn't. He wasn't tied down in any way, his body just refused to do what he ordered it to. He was trapped. He panicked as Wes walked into the room, but only his eyes showed his feelings. His arms and legs were limp and he realized that even if the drugs wore off in time, he would not be able to escape the towering man. Wes undid his tie and dropped it to the floor. Duo had thought that he had looked so respectful in his suit, but he knew now that he was wrong.

“I'm sure by now you can guess what is going to happen and what job I want you to do,” Wes smirked to himself, “I knew that getting a street kid would be better. Less tracks to erase and you're so much less… unworldly than kids from proper homes. I don't have to explain shit. But, right now, it's just you and me and I'm going to give you a little deal. In about twenty minutes, those drugs are going to wear off and you'll be able to move around. Before then, you and I are going to have a little bit of harmless fun. Then, I'm going to start to show you the ropes. If at any time, you try to run or hurt me in any way, I will hunt you down and I will hurt you. If you continue to fight me, I will kill you. I trust that you can understand these terms. Now then…”

Duo had little time to register what the man was saying before he was no longer alone on the bed. Wes spread his bare legs to examine him, spreading Duo's buttocks and pressed a finger to his entrance. Duo felt tears start to build up in his eyes.

“No…” he managed to croak out. He tried over and over again to get his body to respond, but nothing happened. He choked out as the finger slipped inside of him. It was weird, but didn't actually hurt, but he didn't care! Wes was right, he did know what he wanted from him. You couldn't live on the streets and not know things like this, even if you had never done it yourself. He also knew what happened to little kids playing whore and he had promised himself that he would never do that!

Any protests Duo could have voiced were drowned out by his cry as he felt another finger enter him and start to stretch him.

“It's nothing personal, kid,” Wes said as he thrust his fingers in and out of Duo's body, “but you're pretty and cute and you'd be amazed how hard it is to find little boys like you with no attachments.”

Wes took a tube of ointment out of his pocket and unzipped his slacks. Duo looked at the man's cock with wide eyes. No, he didn't want that thing inside of him! But, things were out of his hands now and all he could do was squeeze his eyes shut and scream as Wes bent him double with his legs near his head and shoved into him.

It hurt. He knew that it would, but knowing something and actually feeling it were two completely different things. He screamed his head off as the solid, large thing was thrust inside of him. He could feel something ripping and hot liquid running down his legs. He felt the large man's weight on him and every inch of his length, he could smell his hot breath on his face and kept on screaming until his throat felt raw.

“That's ok,” Wes panted, slowly moving in and out of the boy, “scream all you want, kid, no one's going to come for you.”

Duo sobbed, the rhythm of that hurtful organ moving inside of him was insane and he wanted to throw up or fade away or something, but he only laid there and felt what was happening to him.

“Don't worry about the blood,” he heard Wes saying, “even girls bleed their first time, it's only natural.”

The minutes passed and Duo could feel some of his mobility returning in his arms, but his legs were still useless to him. His eyes widened as Wes wrapped his hands around his slim throat and squeezed. He had lied! He was going to kill him!

“Ssh,” Wes cooed in his ear as he strangled him. Duo's vision began to gray and he saw little red spots start to dance. He gasped for breath and squirmed, grabbing at the man's arms with the little strength that he had. He heard him moaning and the thrusts became harder, faster, more brutal. His vision turned to black and he clawed at the skin under his hands to no avail. Then, the grip was released and fresh air flooded his lungs. He took two deep breaths, then choked as Wes tightened his grip again and he started to feel himself fading away, but he still fought as much as he could.

“That's it, struggle, perfect…” Wes groaned, releasing his grip when he felt the boy's pulse become too faint, only to tighten again when he regained some breath, over and over again, bringing him to the brink of death and back. Duo's struggles ceased, but he still cried. He suddenly felt a strange wetness explode inside of him and those evil hands left him. Too weary to do anything but breath, Duo lay there, listening to his gasping pants and Wes' heavy, satisfied breathing.

 

*****

 

Duo shook himself out of his memories. He wasn't that child anymore. He was older, wiser. He knew now that Wes had never intended on killing him, he was too valuable. It had been eight years since that day, but he somehow still felt as vulnerable as he had been then. He supposed that he could run away as far as he could and hope that Wes never found him, but what would be the point? It was either whore himself for food and shelter or go back to the streets. Either way, he was in the same situation. In one, he could feel his humanity bleeding out of him, in the other, he was starving or dead. At least this way, he got to go to school. Though, that may not be for much longer if he couldn't find a way to balance these jobs and his classes. He hadn't lied to Khushrenada, he had been sick, though it hadn't been the flu. He couldn't afford to let these jobs get to him, that was clear. He asked himself what the point of school was since he was obviously never going to do anything with an education, no matter how good his grades were, but he knew the answer, just a few hours being a normal kid kept him sane.

He knew all about Heero Yuy, the boy wonder. He had asked him why he hated him. The truth was, he loathed him because he didn't even have to try. Just by being born, Heero had gotten everything he could want, yet he didn't even try to make something out of his life while Duo didn't even have a choice. No matter what he did, because he was pretty much born in the gutter, he would live there for the rest of his life. How could he not hate him? Still, Heero was right, he wasn't being fair. He wondered what Heero would think if he could see him now? Further more, why did the thought of Heero finding out about his real life make him feel so dirty inside? Why did he care anyway? His ride finally pulled up and he got inside without a second thought.

 

 

End Chapter 2