Duo stood outside the door to his one room apartment, crowbar in hand, and considered his entryway thoughtfully. He cocked his head first to one side then the other; finally nodding in approval and delicately placed the end of his tool against the wall. Shoving it forcefully up under the rusted metal apartment numbers he wrenched back, causing the nails holding up the abused digit to screech in protest. The next door down fairly flew off of its hinges as it was ripped open, and the glaring face of his Chinese neighbor protruded forth.
"Maxwell," he snarled indignantly, "would you desist with your antics for one hour?"
Duo paused long enough to level the man with a cocky grin before repositioning his weapon of choice under the brass number six.
"'Morning, Wufei," he chirped. With one last grating squeal the six fell to the floor and the braided American moved on to the seven. Wufei gave him a cynical look for a few more seconds before disappearing back into his apartment, slamming the door behind him hard enough to jar the walls. Not that that took much effort. He took a few disgruntled breaths to calm himself and turned towards his rumpled bed with a look of yearning. There was a lull in the noise outside and Wufei slumped over in relief, thinking his next door neighbor had finally stopped. A loud crash outside his door a second later told him he hadn't.
"Damn you, Maxwell," he groaned under his breath, moving towards his bed for what he hoped would be a few more hours sleep.
"CHANG!"
Wufei cringed. Fifteen minutes, that's all he asked. Grudgingly he moved towards his door once again, glancing at the clock in hopes he was wrong about the time. It still read 4:35 in the morning. Stealing himself he opened the door to what he thought was his obnoxious neighbor. Instead he was greeted by the very picture of feminine rage. He checked a moan: Just what he needed right now.
"Good morning, Noin," he greeted stiffly.
"Keep your buddy there in check, Chang," she snarled in a decidedly unpleasant way, "or I'll carve out your balls with a rusty spoon and serve them to you for dinner."
"Always so pleasant, Noin," Wufei replied as she pushed past him and in to his meager studio apartment. He watched her with bleary, sleep-filled eyes as she began nosing through his things with obvious purpose; though what purpose he couldn't fathom. He was still processing this when she rounded on him with a deadly glint in her eyes and started advancing on him.
"Where is it?" she snapped angrily. Wufei raised a slender eyebrow in her direction.
"Where is what?" he asked. Noin seemed to grow fangs as she towered over him.
"Damn it, Chang," she fairly screeched, "you know what I'm talking about! I want –" She was cut off as the door opened behind Wufei, and both of them focused on the new party. Duo merrily stuck his head in the door, braid sliding over his shoulder to dangle heavily like a pendulum. On his face was plastered his constant expression of animated verve, as well as some suspicious white fluid.
"Duo…" Noin growled warningly, her tone menacing and low. Wufei refused to look at the moron in his doorway.
"What?" the chestnut haired boy asked, acting for all the world as if he were some innocent, chirpy kid.
"Maxwell," Wufei admonished levelly, absolutely radiating noble indignation, "at least remove the evidence of your indiscretion in public."
"Huh?" Duo grunted, still oblivious to the creamy substance that was currently oozing off the side of his nose. Wufei, to those who knew him, looked like a man about ready to die of mortification.
"Your face," he explained shortly. Duo raised a hand instinctively and ended up with the white goo squelching under his finger. He pulled the limb away and looked at it for a minute before shaking his head.
"This is just glue," he said, grinning as he wiped it off on Wufei's wall.
"Glue?" the two asked skeptically. Wufei eyed the place it had been wiped off on out of the corner of his eye. He hoped it really was glue, for his wall's sake.
"For what?" Noin asked snippently.
"Oh," Duo answered, "this is for…um…" The American looked about the room for some excuse to change the subject. Wufei got the distinctive feeling that whatever it was, it was not glue. His poor wall. "Anyways," the boy continued, "can I borrow your duct tape?" Wufei considered saying no, but the choice was taken out of his hands when Noin chucked the silvery adhesive at the imbecile's face. He caught it deftly and threw them a disarming smile before prancing back to his apartment.
"Prick," Noin muttered after him. Shaking her head she made her own way to the door, pausing for a second to shoot the Chinese a glance. "See you later, Chang." And then he was alone again.
Relieved to finally have peace and quiet again, Wufei returned to his rumpled bed and snuggled into the soft sheets as he began to drift off to sleep.
RIPP
Wufei's red-shot eyes snapped open and his body tensed. He stared blankly for a second, straining to hear the noise again. Nothing. He closed his eyes and buried his head in his pillow as the silence once again settled in. He was almost beyond consciousness when…RIPP
This time he sprang from the bed and stormed towards the door, intent on getting to the bottom of this. He tripped over his tangled sheets on his descent from the bed and it only served to fuel his ill temper as he fell unceremoniously to the floor with a loud thud. Shoving himself upright again he again made for the door; flinging it open and causing the hinges to break, dropping it to hang at and odd angle by the one remaining axis. The view greeting him did nothing to dispel his foul mood.
Standing on a rickety ladder, Duo was holding a piece of cardboard between his legs and another piece to the ceiling above him. In his hand was Wufei's roll of duct tape. He ripped off a piece with his teeth and proceeded to duct tape the board to the ceiling. He stopped when he noticed the other man and gave him an innocent look. It was much akin to a puppy caught chewing his master's shoes; a piece of ripped off duct tape dangling from his mouth and his eyes childishly large.
"What?" he asked naïvely.
"What…are you doing?" Wufei asked testily.
"Fixing the air duct," Duo replied, as if it were the most obvious and natural thing in the world.
"With cardboard?"
"Yup."
"Why?"
"It's cheap."
Wufei refused to ponder the logic of this. Very little Duo did held any logic. Instead he asked: "Does it have to be at four in the morning?" Duo grinned charmingly at him and turned back to his task.
"No time like the present," he replied. Wufei stared at him as he continued to tinker away. Finally the man left with a sigh. He maneuvered his door so it would close behind him and slumped against it in exasperation.
"I guess I'll give up on sleep," he snorted bitterly, even though there was no one to tell. He shoved off of the door and headed toward the section of the apartment designated as the 'kitchen' to make some coffee. While he usually refrained from consuming the highly caffeinated beverage, he knew he would sorely need it to get through the day.
An hour and 10 cups later the tinkering stopped outside his door. He heard a mumbled 'good morning' and a door shut farther down the hall a few seconds later. Sighing wearily, though relieved that Duo seemed to be done, he stared down at the dregs of his cup. A bright green silt at the bottom caught his attention and his eyes widened. He leapt from his seat, sending it reeling across the floor, and clutched at his throat desperately as he panicked.
"NO!" He screamed, practically hyperventilating at this point. "It's the dreaded germandala poison! Who would do this to me?" he sputtered and flailed as he fell to the ground in a convulsive fit. "I'm too young to die," he sobbed. "And I haven't had a threesome with a goat yet!" He was too busy dying to notice his door cave in as Noin entered. She crossed the room and picked up his creamer container, completely ignoring his display.
"I knew you had it," she declared. "Everyone steals my green tea." Finally she realized that Wufei was not at her level, but was in fact writhing on the floor. "What the hell are you doing?" she sneered.
"Dying," he replied, picking himself up off the floor and dusting himself. Green tea, he told himself, not germandala.
"Whatever, you paranoid little dumb fuck," she huffed, shaking her head as she moved toward the door with her tea. She paused when she reached the door and added as an afterthought: "We have a new tenant coming in. Try to behave like a normal human being?" Wufei grunted in the affirmative. It seemed to be enough for her, because she nodded and closed his door as best she could.
Outside the apartment Duo was still working diligently at the ceiling, thought the noisy duct tape had been put aside. He watched as Noin exited the apartment belonging to Wufei and attempted to shut the now broken door. Turning, she looked up at him with thinly veiled contempt which he ignored.
"You got a new roomy coming in," she almost barked at him. "Be civil."
"Always," he beamed. She gave him a nasty look.
"Duo…" she warned. He gave her a dismissive wave and turned back to his task. She seemed to give up, for which he was eternally grateful. Noin was a bitch sometimes and right now seemed to be one of those times. Not his happy place. And not-happy places made for not-deadlines. Very bad. Finally Noin walked away, leaving Duo to himself again. Sighing he slid down from the ladder. He really couldn't do anything more about the noise coming from the vent and he had to stop pussy footing around his troubles. With determination he marched into his apartment; ready to take on his slacker tasks.
The knock at his door was loud and nearly startled him out of his seat. Duo rushed over reasons someone might have to come to his apartment as he moved towards his deadbolts. He wasn't late on anything…yet…so it couldn't be that. Other than the usual pissing off Noin and Wufei he didn't think had stepped on any ones' toes. He hoped it wasn't the cops or something equally nasty as he opened the door. In the hallway he saw only Noin and almost breathed a sigh of relief, but then he saw the strange man behind her. Suddenly he wasn't so calm. Strange men didn't just appear at your door with your land lady without a reason, he reasoned, and he knew for a fact he had never seen the man before. He stood with his head tilted down so his messy brown hair covered his face, not that that was difficult. The guy was young - probably around his age - and he looked just a tad bit destitute. Duo guessed he had stumbled on hard times recently. Either that or he was very good at hiding it.
"Duo," Noin with false politeness. Duo looked back to her, knowing she was about to explain; or hoping at the least. "This is Heero Yuy, your new room mate. Heero, this is Duo Maxwell," she continued, turning to the boy behind her with a wan smile. "I'll leave you two to get acquainted."
"Wait!" Duo exclaimed, clutching at Noin's sleeve as she turned to leave. "What the heck? Is this some kind of joke? What's going on?" Noin gave him a very promising look that entailed much pain as she pulled her arm free of his grasp.
"I did tell you," she growled coolly. "You dug this grave when you rented the place. Deal with it." They probably would have continued their battle of wills if the new tenant hadn't spoken up then.
"If this is going to be a problem, I can try and find a different place," he offered. His voice was low but soft, and Duo could hear a faint trace of disappointment and worrying tension laced in the undertones. He shrugged and leaned back on his door frame, making it clear with a subtle wave of his hand that the rugged boy was welcome to enter.
"No need," he assured, shooting a withering glance at his land lady as Heero passed him. "Why'd you shack up in a dump like this, anyways?" There was a look of trepidation that crossed his new room mate's face as he replied.
"I couldn't find any other place for the rent," he said, obviously choosing his words with care. Duo was a master at mincing words, when he wanted to be, and the boy's statement piqued his insatiable curiosity.
"Now why's that?" he asked, ever the blunt one. "True, rent control here is unbelievably low, but I don't think that's much reason to shack up here…unless you're hiding something. There are other complexes with rent control." There was a crashing sound next door and almost instantly his door was thrown open to reveal a very livid Chinese.
"Maxwell!" the rumpled boy admonished. "At least pretend to be respectful of other people's privacy!" Duo didn't bother to turn around as he greeted his neighbor, flicking his wrist dismissively while Heero stared inquisitively at the man behind him.
"Why would I do that?" he joked. Seeing the puzzled look on his new room mate's face he sighed and half turned so he could introduce them. "This is my new room mate, Heero Yuy," he told Wufei. He heard a muttered 'so I heard' which he ignored. He knew the walls were thinner than rice paper; Heero didn't. 'Heero, this is my next door neighbor, Wufei Chang. Military child prodigy, retired due to mental instability." Wufei bristled at him and Heero did a good job of hiding his amazement.
"You don't have to broadcast our occupations, Maxwell," Wufei snapped. He seemed to think this was a wonderful opportunity to undo his rival as he said: "Have you told him your occupation yet? It would only be fair." A smirk crossed the Chinese' face as Duo scowled at him.
"I'm a writer," he replied casually. "There are worse things I could be."
"There are worse things you are," Wufei snorted. The argument was obviously beginning to heat up, and Heero felt very awkward standing just inside Duo's apartment. His apartment. He was about to attempt to break things up when he heard a door open farther down the hall. Both Duo and Wufei turned towards the sound and Heero resisted the urge to do so as well.
"Guys," a soft feminine voice lilted down the hallway sleepily, "could you keep it down? It was a long night." Heero broke his resolve and poked his head out to see a drowsy looking blonde doing the same farther down on the other side of the hall. The last traces of tiredness were replaced by interest as she saw Heero. "Ooo!" the blonde lady exclaimed. "Duo, you didn't tell me you got a new one! Hold on, I'll be right over."
The head disappeared before either Duo's or Wufei's objections left their mouths. Heero was about to ask what was wrong with her coming to visit and what she meant by 'got a new one' when the door opened again, revealing the short blonde fully as she walked swiftly down the hallway in a lacy pink chemise. It was thin and lined with soft pink fur, and it only reached about mid thigh; though the whispers of curves and outlines could be seen hinted through the thin gauze-like material. She stopped beside Wufei and eyed Heero over with an appraiser's interest as the others greeted her.
"Hey Quatre," Duo nodded. When he didn't get a reply he turned to Heero. "This is Quatre," he introduced flippantly. "If he starts coming on too strong just ignore him. He's a hooker." Quatre turned his attentions to the braided boy to pout at him, teasingly batting his arm.
"You say it like it's a bad thing," he groused playfully. "I like what I do." Heero watched the interplay, still reeling from the discovery that this angelic being before him was actually a man. Not only a man, but a prostitute. When the friendly banter had finished, the blonde god turned to him with an inquisitive and eager smile. "So what are you in for?" he asked happily. Heero fought to keep his expression level.
"Excuse me?" he asked. The way the blonde had said it made the place sound like a prison. Quatre laughed merrily and swatted the air between them like a cat. He really did look like a girl, Heero thought. He kept his eyes from wandering to check if he wasn't one.
"No one's here for the rent control," Quatre chided. "We all have our reasons. Noin doesn't even stay without reasons. So c'mon; what got you stuck in this dump?" The look of discomfort on Heero's face would have been enough to tell then he didn't plan on telling them, even if the fact he was suddenly more than prepared to leave hadn't clued them in. He kept his head down, shadowed by his messy hair, and Duo saw the muscles in his shoulders tense.
"Well?" Quatre pressed. "You don't have to worry about us turning you in if it's bad. We'll hush as long as you leave us be." Wufei looked as angry with Quatre as he had been at Duo earlier. He was about to rebuke him for prying when Heero's voice cut him off.
"I'm gay," he murmured, just loud enough to be heard. There was a second of silence before Quatre giggled and then outright laughed. Wufei looked just as amused, though he didn't seem inclined to put on an act. Duo snorted with laughter right along with them. It was obvious this response confused the new tenant, and Quatre quickly got himself under control enough to explain.
"Heero, there's got to be more to it than that," he patronized. "There are other places that take are tolerant, and some are even rent controlled. You can't be here just because you enjoy being stuffed." The look on his face said he knew more than enough about that, and Heero thought it best not to argue.
"I thought so too," Heero replied with a shrug. He had relaxed considerably now that the news had gone over well. He was silently concerned about how his room mate would take it, but Duo didn't seem to have the first inclination of a problem with it. Maybe he could live with this. He didn't see the cold calculating look come over Quatre's face, or the hard glances shot between Duo and Wufei as his last statement hit home. Finally the silence was broken by Duo standing up and moving inside.
"Hey guys," he said, "it was nice talking to you. I'm gonna help Heero get situated now. See you later tonight." He waved over his shoulder at them as he shut the door, knowing perfectly well they would head to Wufei's place to eavesdrop on them and wholly intending on finding out what they had all silently asked for. Something didn't quite add up with Heero's story and they wanted to find out just what was going on. Quatre knew every apartment complex this side of town and if he said there were gay-friendly ones there were. Not to mention the law said they had to be. He tried to shake the thoughts from his head as he watched Heero take in the apartment. It wasn't much to look at, but it was home and that had always been good enough for him. There was a small bedroom to the right of the main room and the bathroom was in the opposite corner. The kitchenette sat against the right hand wall, directly before the bedroom. Everything was littered with masses of general trash: dirty clothes, paper plates, half eaten meals, and personal affects. Heero looked slightly disturbed by the sight.
As Heero took in the surroundings, Duo took in his new acquaintance. He was lean and tan; probably no older than himself. There was a definite Oriental slant to him features which Duo placed as Japanese. He seemed to scowl a lot, though the braided American was sure that more went on underneath the harsh face he put on. He shifted his glance to the possessions Heero had brought with him – a duffel bag and a battered cardboard box with the words Uhaul inscribed on the weathered sides. The poor boy didn't seem any better for wear than his luggage.
"Hey," he called, drawing Heero's attention to him. The sight of his meager possessions tugged at Duo and he couldn't bring himself to question the new guy before he was at least comfortable. He motioned with his head towards the bathroom for emphasis on his next words. "Why don't you take a shower? You look like death, so why not go relax a bit before unpacking." Heero gave the bathroom a dubious look before nodding slowly.
"I could do with a shower," he agreed.
"Great!" Duo exclaimed, clapping his hands emphatically. "The towels are above the toilet. It's western, but Wufei's got one of the funky ones if you'd prefer." He could hear the strangled rage through the wall and he knew Quatre had silenced the man forcefully. The blonde's voice drifted softly to him through the wall, warningly saying his name. Heero didn't seem to hear. He was giving Duo and odd look; as if he had just said something very unorthodox. "Ah, sorry," Duo apologized hastily. "I thought you looked kind of Oriental, and you have a slight accent, so I figured you were from overseas."
The boy nodded suspiciously before leaving for the bathroom, closing the door behind his self firmly and flipping the lock. Duo didn't have the heart to tell him the latch didn't work on the door, making the lock completely useless. He probably felt weird knowing there was some guy he didn't know standing outside. And he also had a feeling he was confused by their general lack of appall over his revelation. He decided to introduce him to the fellow tenants as soon as possible.
In the bathroom the water could be heard spraying from the faucet. Deciding he had nothing to do for a good 30 minutes he turned to his stereo system. He scanned his cd cases before coming to a stop on one, a smile lighting his face impishly.
Ten minutes later Heero walked out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel and dripping periodically. He gave Duo a sheepish look to apologize for making an appearance unclad, but realized that the other man wasn't paying attention to him. He finally noticed the music pounding out of the speakers surrounding the living room and wondered how he had missed it before. He smiled when he recognized the song they were blaring. He stooped to pick up the empty case on the coffee table beside him and read the cover. The words 'Old Rock' were scrawled across it in an almost illegible tangle of handwritten lettering. Duo, still oblivious to him, began to sing along with the chorus as he continued his erratic dance.
"SECRET…AAAAGENT MAN! SECRET…AAAAGENT MAN!" he crooned as he frantically played the air guitar and head banged to the tune. Heero chuckled softly to himself at the sight. "HE'S GIVEN YOU A NUMBER, AND TAKEN 'WAY YOUR NAME!" Duo continued with his amusing display and Heero found himself admiring the lithe body performing before its unknown audience. It was a nice body, muscular and toned. Duo had lost his shirt to the pile of unmentionable things at some point while he was in the shower. Judging by the slightly cleaner shirt swinging in his hands he had probably been changing when the song had swept him up.
Heero probably would have observed more, but for the harsh rapping that sounded on the door. Duo stopped his dancing and finally noticed Heero, who tried to look as if he hadn't been staring instead of getting clothes, then turned to the door. Heero had managed to quickly jerk on his pants unnoticed before the door flew open to reveal a tall brunette with the oddest hair-do he had ever seen. It swept over one green eye like the pointy-bang-of-doom. It was the pointy-bang-of-doom.
"You have two minutes before Une makes it up here," he warned with a soft voice. Heero somehow got the feeling the voice didn't suit the man. He continued. "She's wearing her glasses."
Duo gasped out a brief 'shit' and scrambled to turn off his stereo as if his life depended on it. "Thanks, Trowa," he called over his shoulder. The oddly banged man nodded slightly before catching Heero's eye. Heero wanted to shrink away from that gaze, but stood firmly; keeping his indifferent face in tact.
"Hide," the odd man advised. Heero puzzled this as he left the doorway. He heard the door open in the apartment next to them and the sound of Quatre's voice filled the hallway as the two walked farther down the hall together. He thought about that for a moment before another figure appeared in the doorway. She was definitely a woman, though her flinty gaze was enough to make any man wet himself with fear. Her hair was pulled up in two braids, circled into buns and held up with tiny bows. Her lips were pursed together tightly and the light glinted evilly off of the rim of her glasses. He wished he would have followed the man's advice.
"Lady Une," Duo greeted, making his way towards the door while pulling on a fresh pair of pants, his shirt changed already. Heero wondered if he were insane to stand up in front of that look. "What brings you up here?"
"Your stereo," she replied flatly. "Turn it down or I'll remove it from existence." Duo nodded sheepishly.
"Of course," he said. "I didn't realize it was so loud. Sorry, Une." She didn't seem to be convinced but she left all the same when she saw Heero further in the apartment. Interest flared briefly in her iron-clad eyes and he was relieved when she didn't say anything as she left, but he didn't let it show. "Sorry about her," Duo apologized after he shut the door in her wake. "She's really nice when she's not all done up." He gave the wall a thoughtful look as he worried his lower lip between his teeth gently. With a sigh he turned back to Heero, some internal debate having been ended. "I guess I'll have to show you around to everybody a little earlier than I wanted," he said. Heero nodded dumbly, not sure what else to do. Quickly he threw on a shirt from his duffel and moved towards where Duo stood at the door.
"What will the other tenants think about…"
"Your preferences?" Duo cut off, swinging the door open. "How about you meet them and then you decide." Heero nodded warily, not liking the idea but not seeing any alternative. They would find out sooner or later, so he might as well be straightforward about it he supposed. They stepped outside and Duo immediately pointed to the apartment to the left of the door.
"That's Wufei's apartment," he informed him. The brass 68 was dilapidated on the frame but still managed to shine. "It's not likely that I'll be out where you can't find me, but if you need help then he's the next person to go to." Heero nodded mutely and they began walking down the hallway once more, not mentioning any of the other rooms. Heero decided they must be occupied by people of no importance or mirth to mention and let it be.
"This is Quatre and Trowa's place," Duo said finally near the end of the hall. The worn numbers read 94 beside the frame Heero remembered seeing Quatre poke his head out of it that morning. "They'll help you if they're here, but knock first; sex and sleep is about all that goes on in there."
"Trowa sleeps with him?" Heero asked incredulously. Not that the idea of two men rolling about naked and sweating offended him, but…
"Yeah," Duo drawled. "They're lovers. I thought this was your alley, Heero?"
"It's not that," Heero shot back, not liking the other boy's tone. "Does he know Quatre's not faithful? He seemed like the sort of person who wouldn't put up with that."
"Trowa knows," Duo snorted, "he's Quatre's pimp. But he doesn't sell him for more than peep shows and the occasional lap dance, though. He is pretty possessive." Heero nodded. Not really because he agreed, but because he couldn't think of any other response. Duo shook the thoughts free of his head after a second of pondery and continued on.
Duo led Heero past the silent door to the end of the hallway. They quickly made the trek up the creaking steps to the last floor, Heero following behind in hushed complacence. Nearing the top the stairs ceased their groaning and became more solid beneath their feet, as if recently replaced. Voices could be heard sparring in friendly tones on the next floor and as the rows of doors crested the top of the stairs the words became discernable.
"So unlady-like, Noin," a middle aged man at the other end of the hall chuckled. He had short golden brown hair that was greased back sharply and he was leaning on the door frame of what Heero assumed was his apartment. His angled blue eyed were trained on the woman who had shown him to Duo's apartment earlier. She was standing on the opposite side of the hall from him, about half way down the hall. Her hand was resting lightly on the handle of the door as she laughed in response.
"Being lady-like isn't in my job description," she retorted jovially. The other man shook his head wearily, a smile perched on his lips.
"Being lady-like is in every ladies job description," he argued. "Even Une can be lady-like on the other side."
Duo and Heero stepped up onto the landing, drawing the man's attention and Noin's soon after. The braided boy waved to them and walked forward, leading Heero along with him. He nodded to the man at the end of the hall.
"Treize," he greeted. The aristocratic man nodded in return. "This is my new roomy, Heero."
"Une told me you had a new acquaintance," Treize told them. He turned his dark blue eyes to the young Japanese boy and saw the question on his face. "Une is my wife," he explained. "I believe you met her earlier." Heero nodded, not wanting him to call her out for another encounter. Duo clapped him on the back, startling him.
"Don't worry," the American grinned, "she can be really nice when she lets her hair down."
"Unlike you, who are unceasingly tiresome," a second male voice replied from behind them. Both young men turned to see a tall man coming out of the door Noin had been standing in front of. He had waist length white hair and icy blue eyes that were tender but gaurded.
"Aw," Duo pouted playfully, "are you saying you don't like me?"
"Nothing of the sort," he assured. "Were you going to introduce your companion to us or merely flaunt him?" Heero realized uneasily that they were talking about him. He wasn't sure why the knowledge made him feel that way, but he had a hunch his insticts were accurate in choosing.
"This is Heero Yuy," Duo told him, jabbing his thumb in Heero's direction, "and I am not 'flaunting' him. Just thought I'd let him get a feel for the local wildlife."
"Wildlife?" Noin scoffed. "Well isn't that quaint?" The man beside her seemed about to say something, but she cut him off. "Don't bait him, Milliardo," she sighed. "We'll be here all day if you do."
"We have to go, anyways," Duo informed her. Heero didn't think they really had to, but let it drop; imagining it was probably his way of excusing himself from a potentially nasty situation. "See you later," Duo called over his shoulder as he tugged his companion back to the stairs. The tanned youth caught the sight of braided buns out of the corner of his eye and understood their rush. Une had made an appearance at last, it seemed, and neither wanted to be there to witness it. They moved down the stairway at a much easier pace after they were beyond sight.
"They're not actually married," Duo told him abruptly. Heero was confused and Duo saw it. He explained. "Treize and Une; they aren't actually married. She refused to take the plunge unless he dropped his lover and he wouldn't. He's just delusional."
"Lover?" Heero asked curiously. Duo nodded.
"Zechs," he replied. "Milliardo you met, but he has an alternate personality named Zechs." Duo let out a small snort of amusement. "Those four up there are the only soap opera you'll ever need. They keep all of us quite entertained, including themselves I think."
Heero nodded in agreement. Duo continued to fill him in on the little things as they made their way down to the first floor. The first floor was by far the dingiest Heero had seen. The walls looked dry rotted, though upon closer scrutiny it was just the wallpaper molding.
"Only one couple lives down here," Duo told him. "Relena and Dorothy live in 11 down there near the middle. Crazy dykes. Just stay away from them as much as possible. They and Une are S&M addicts. The two of them tend to stick to themselves for their fun, but they'll drag in anyone who happens to walk by. Une's a bit more tasteful about it." Duo gave him a look that he was sure was meant to be reassuring, but it didn't help any. "If you get them separated then Dorothy's a lot of fun to be around," the braided boy defended, "as long as you don't talk politics." Heero nodded dumbly in response; not buying it as much as he would have liked to. He heard someone yelling from one of the rooms.
"Beg for it, bitch!" the voice shouted. Heero jumped and Duo cringed, glancing at room 11. An equally shrill voice began screaming various obscenities and the first voice laughed. Duo turned to him with an uneasy smile. "Sally probably got called in by now," he told him, moving for the stairs once more. Heero was all too happy to follow his lead.
"Who's Sally?" He asked as they neared there floor.
"Sally is the cop who raids this place every once in a while," Duo explained. "Don't tell her shit, or else you're dead." Duo gave him a hard look and Heero nodded in silent pledge. He hoped his face expressed his honest devotion to keeping their secret sufficiently. It seemed to, since Duo shrugged and continued to lead him towards their apartment. Running from authority was something Heero understood all too well, and he wasn't about to cause problems for his new neighbors when they seemed harmless enough. He figured that was the true binding force in this place; illegal activity and running from trouble. It wasn't the rent or the quality; it was the safety from the law. They had reached their landing and were standing a little ways from the stairs. There didn't seem any to be any reason to return to their apartment or to move, so they merely stood; thinking.
"Don't worry, Heero," Quatre yawned behind him. He turned abruptly to face the sleep mussed figure. "The worst thing that goes on here is occult, and that's only Relena." He snorted delicately. "Even Dorothy won't do it with her, the crazy bitch." Heero got the impression no one liked the two, but didn't say anything. Instead he turned his mind to wonder when Quatre had joined them and how he hadn't noticed.
They headed back to their room finally and Quatre separated from them when he saw Trowa standing in the doorway of his apartment. The taller man nodded towards them as he pulled the slight blonde into the dwelling and shut the door. Duo seemed unfazed by the action, leaving Heero to wonder over the possessive act. They continued on towards their own place in silence, remaining unbroken until the door shut behind them.
"Why would Quatre put up with that?" Heero asked softly. Duo gave him an odd look and he clarified. "I mean the possessiveness. Does Trowa always shepherd him around?" Duo shrugged.
"It's not really possessive," he said. "He's just trying to protect him. A while back one of Trowa's rivals decided to try and hold Quatre hostage as a bargaining tool. He's been really defensive about him ever since. Never leaves him alone. But Quatre still gets his space…if he wants it."
"He left him here this morning alone," Heero pointed out. Duo shook his head and threw himself onto the pathetic excuse for a couch. He heard soft footsteps and the light click of Wufei's door opening and closing. He wondered if Heero had heard it as well but he didn't seem to have.
"No," he corrected, "he left him with us. This is a bad part of town. Everyone in this apartment complex looks out for everyone else. We may not like each other, but we're still neighbors." Heero nodded in understanding. It was a pack, albeit a very queer one. Pun intended. He was brought back to reality when Duo clapped his hands and shot up out of his chair energetically. "Time to get you unpacked," he announced. "Do you want to share the bed or sleep on the couch?" Heero balked. Did he imagine it, or did he hear someone else do the same?
"I have a choice?" he quipped weakly.
"Of course," Duo thrummed energetically. Everyone had assembled in Wufei's place by now; it was time for questioning. He could at least make the boy comfortable while he was at it, though, couldn't he? Heero watched him, wondered where he kept all the energy. Maybe it was coffee. "I wouldn't have offered if you didn't," Duo assured him. He gave him a teasing, if suggestive, leer as he added: "It's been a while since I had a bed partner, though.I kinda miss it."
"You're saying sexual favors to share the apartment?" Heero discerned skeptically. Duo laughed. He could almost hear Wufei silently dying on the other side of the wall.
"If that's what you want," he replied, trying not to eye his room mate suggestively. "I was thinking more along the lines of cuddling, but sex is an added bonus." He laughed at the look of shock on Heero's face and moved to grab the man's duffel. Heero hefted his box into his arms and waited for Duo to point him in the proper direction. When the other boy began heading for the bedroom he followed, trying not to trip over anything as he made his way towards the door. The braided boy walked towards the bed and cleared a spot with his foot on which to put the duffel bag; shoving the pile of clothes that had occupied the spot farther under the bed as Heero took in the room more thoroughly.
It was far worse than first glance had suggested, he realized. The walls were yellowed where the paint hadn't yet flaked off – probably lead paint, judging by the age of the building – and a worn piece of cardboard was duct taped to what he assumed was a window at the foot of the bed. The faint smell of mold permeated everything, but was overpowered by the stench of stale sweat. It was disgusting; Heero grimaced as he gingerly put down his load on a relatively clean looking spot. He was suddenly very glad he hadn't taken his shoes off when he caught a better sight of the carpet from his bent position.
"You might want to leave your stuff in bags for a while," Duo suggested. "Wait until I've got the place cleaned up a bit before you move in for good." His tone didn't make the proposal sound very optional, Heero noted. He nodded in relief all the same; he was terrified of what unpacking would render his belongings to.
"Shall we clean, then?" Heero offered. Duo eyed him over for a second before giving him an aloof grin.
"Sure, why not?" he purred calculatingly. His thoughts races quickly over all of his stash points and determined most of them were in the living room, making the bedroom relatively safe. He needed to find out what his new room mate was doing here anyways and the rest of the group would get violently angry if he pussyfooted around the subject much longer. He left the room for a moment to get a trash bag and when he returned he found Heero looking about despondently. Chuckling he tossed the bag at the other boy. "Anything that's not valuable gets chucked," he explained. He turned to start in on one of the larger piles near the door as Heero did the same beside the dilapidated dresser in the corner. Duo wondered how long he'd had it and why he couldn't remember it being there before.
"So where are you from?" Duo asked offhandedly.
"Around," Heero replied curtly. Duo groaned.
"Look, buddy," he said tersely, "I'm trying to be friendly so could you at least act cordial?" Heero stopped moving around and Duo turned to glance at him curiously. The other boy was staring at him as well, a look of shock and shy apology on his face.
"Sorry," the Japanese replied. "I thought you were…" he let his voice trail off for a moment then shook his head. "I'm from Kyoto."
Duo whistled appreciatively. "Wow, what brought you to the slums of this fine outstanding city?" he asked jokingly. Heero didn't seem to think it was funny as his face clouded over once again and he turned abruptly back to his task; shoving unoffending trash into the black bag he held with a violent jab.
"Stupidity," he grunted. Duo backed off the subject. Obviously it was a sore spot and needed to be tread upon lightly. Maybe Quatre should milk him for information. Duo mused. The sweet little blonde was good at that sort of thing, and he always seemed to know where to step in order to keep a person level on rocky grounds.
Apparently the occupants of the next room thought so as well, for a few minutes later he heard low whispers coming through the wall and then a door open and close. Almost instantaneously there was a knock at his door which he stood to answer. Heero followed him to the door tentatively, hiding a little behind the door frame to the bedroom, Duo noted. He kept that in mind as he opened the door to reveal an innocent looking Quatre standing in the hallway.
"I couldn't sleep," he lied sweetly. Duo kept himself from snorting with laughter, knowing it was a lie for Heero's ears, not his.
"Trowa hogging the bed again?" he asked teasingly, playing along. Quatre swatted at him lightly, smiling gently at the mention of his lover.
"I – "
"Senator Yomi," Noin's voice snapped from the stairwell to the right. Quatre's eyes flew open and he slammed into Duo in his haste to enter the apartment before the door slammed shut. Slamming wasn't quite the word for it as the door made no noise other than a soft whoosh of air, but the three occupants couldn't have cared less. Swiftly Duo and Quatre ducked into the bedroom with Heero, leaving the door open and pressing themselves against the wall to peak out of the frame. Noin's voice continued to sift through the door, Heero noted, almost as if the thing had never been shut. "What could possibly bring you to grace us with your presence?" she said. Quatre was worrying his lip with his teeth as he listened. Duo shot him an inquisitive look and the blonde returned it with an equally puzzled one.
"Bum job?" Duo mouthed, Quatre shook his head minutely and mouthed back: "You?" Duo shook his head as well. He turned his attention fully to the doorway again and that's when he saw Heero. He was pale and shaking, obviously terrified of something. Duo poked Quatre and directed his attention towards the tanned boy as well.
"I'm looking for a young man," the senator's voice carried through the door. Heero's eyes widened a little bit more. "Goes by the name Heero Yuy." If it was possible, Heero blanched whiter. "My sources say he rented an apartment from here this morning." Heero was hyperventilating silently as he backed away from the door jam. He tried to hurl himself around, reaching for his duffel on the bed as he did so, but Quatre grabbed him and held him still. He had the look of an animal being pinned in and Duo gave him what he hoped was a reassuring smile. Quatre motioned for him to be quiet and still; returning their attention to the door with a tilt of his head.
"Haven't heard of him," Noin lied. Heero's confusion and shock were palpable. "Got a picture I could look at?"
"I merely need to speak with him for a moment," the senator replied. There was a silence from Noin for a moment before she spoke again.
"Yeah, he came here," she said. Obviously he had had a picture on him. How odd. Heero wasn't breathing, he also noted, but he did seem to manage crying in panic while remaining soundless, not to mention motionless with the help of Quatre's surprisingly strong hold. Noin was still speaking, however, and he turned his attention back swiftly. "Your sources are off, though," she informed the senator. "He paid for the place two weeks ago and hasn't shown up since. Paid cash for three months, didn't give me a name, said he'd be by with his stuff later. I can show you his place, but there's nothing there."
"I would like that," Yomi answered coldly. The sound of stairs and then floorboards creaking let them know as the two continued up the stairs to the next floor and then down to some random room. A door creaked open and there was silence as they assumed the senator surveyed the apartment. Heero was calming down from hysterical panic to mind blowing bewilderment, but he stayed silent as did the rest of them. Finally the door upstairs closed and the two could be heard making their way back down stairs. As they drew nearer there voices could be made into words.
"You will tell me if he comes by," Yomi asked suggestively.
"I don't know," Noin sighed. "My life is busy. I can't be sure I'll remember."
"I'll have the city overlook this place for two more years," the senator bargained. Duo snorted lightly and Quatre rolled his eyes.
"If you don't mind the information being a few days late I can manage to get me boyfriend to do it," Noin offered.
"Dear lady," the masculine voice snapped civilly, "I do not wish to play these games. What is your price?"
"I'd like to know why you're after one of my tenants, albeit an absent one," she replied.
"I can't do that." Noin paused for a minute before answering.
"Ten million for the information when it happens," she finally said. "And no surveillance. I have other tenants who want to stay unknown, if you understand. They wouldn't be too happy if they found they were inadvertently being spied on."
"You are a harsh mistress," Yomi's voice gritted. "Five million, and no surveillance."
"I can do that," Noin chirped. "Have a nice day, Senator." He only grunted in reply. The sound of his footsteps receded along with Noin's and when neither could be heard anymore the three hide-aways' relaxed. Tentatively Quatre and Duo moved towards the door to the hallway, dragging a still frightened Heero with them. Footsteps pounded up the stairway and they halted, waiting to see who it was.
"He's gone," Noin called, passing their door and entering Wufei's place. The three in Duo's apartment did the same. As soon as Wufei's door was shut behind them Heero felt the burning gaze of his fellow tenants boring into him. They were all there, he noted. Everyone, from Relena and Dorothy from downstairs to Une and Treize up above, was crowded into the little studio apartment. Somehow the managed to look comfortable despite the cramped space that left Heero feeling very claustrophobic; though that might have been the group stare he was receiving.
"Now," Noin ordered, drawing his attention to her though no one else seemed to notice her, "would you mind telling us why Senator Yomi was nosing around on this side of town for you? So thoroughly, might I add."
"It's a long story," Heero replied weakly.
"We have time," Wufei informed him. Everyone else seemed to agree and Heero felt helpless against them. Duo and Quatre moved around to stand in front of him, Quatre sitting in Trowa's lap languidly. Somehow that calmed his nerves, knowing that at least one person in the room was at ease. Sighing he decided he might as well begin before someone did something he would regret later. Leaning against the door he began.
Forward
