Title: I'm Still Standing Here

Author: Avel

Summary: Duo befriends a new transfer student who has just escaped an abusive relationship. Sex, drugs, pain, and love, Duo's life will never be the same.

Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing, nor do I make a profit from these works.

Pairings: 1x3 and 11x2

Everyone knew that he was a loner, he didn't fit in, and that's how it had always been. His violet eyes once vibrant, now remained empty, haunted, and clouded by years of pain and rejection. His teachers never knew what made the youth so perceptible to torments by his peers, but somehow that was always the favorite past time for the 11th grade class of Burmens High School, in L1 colony. He was a reject and was looked down on as a "nobody" amongst the class. What made Duo Maxwell so different from the rest was the simple fact that he was from L2. Quite frankly, he was white trash that had survived what had come to be known as the Maxwell Church Massacre and had found himself being placed in one of the wealthiest colonies, other than L4. He arrived at school each day in a worn black hooded sweater and faded black jeans that were slightly too large for his slender frame. His hair though a glossy chestnut bronze, with light caramel highlights was always covered with a hood, causing suspicions and teasing by a bunch of students. Rumors spread like wildfire around him, encircling him in an endless cycle of lies. However, he had long since given up on caring what others thought about him. He preferred to isolate himself from any and all group activities before the group members had a chance to shun him, causing his participation in classes to weigh heavily down upon him, and his grades suffered for it. Duo was a very bright student, who would have been an A student, had participation not been an essential part of the grading system. His lack of interest in most human interaction and broad understanding of most subjects, wore on the patience of many of his teachers resulting in being singled out and punished. Though it was clear Duo had a different perspective on life, he was about to encounter someone else's tortured existence, one that would change him forever.

"Lets turn to page 362..." the vapid drone of the teacher drew many students to daydream and turn their interests to other topics. It was 11:35 a.m. and the day so far had been going slowly but smoothly. A brief knock at the door caught the attention of everyone in the class, as a tall youth stepped into the classroom a white slip of paper evident in his hand. As he approached the teacher the class studied the new student with some interest. He was tall and extremely thin wearing a faded pair of blue jeans with cuts in the knees, they would have been tight had the boy a waist, but he wasn't scrawny, infact he was well defined. He was wearing a tight tee with cut off sleeves; it was black with 'The Used' in white letters on the front. His lean arms were pure muscle, not bulky, but flattered his image along with his evident washboard stomach. What caught the most attention was his unnaturally parted hair. His hair was of a dark chestnut with red auburn streaks glistened in the sunlight, but what made it peculiar, was that his hair came over one of his eyes, without any sign of hair gel or spray. He had grace and elegance, though it was evident that this young man was most likely from a different colony, or perhaps Earth. Something about the youth was off, but no one could place exactly what it was. The teacher, Mrs. Serton, greeted the young man with a smile as he handed her the transfer notice, and then turned to address the class after reading the note. "Ok, well then, this is Trowa Barton he's our new transfer student from.." she looked expectantly to the young man who politely answered with "Earth, though I could be wrong." The class chuckled at this answer and one boy asked rather loudly "How could you not know where you're from?"

Mrs. Serton gave a harsh look to the class, which quieted down, though humor was evident on their faces. "Would you care to explain, Mr. Barton, what you meant? I'm sorry but this class is right before Lunch so their a little rowdy." Mrs. Serton assured Trowa. Trowa acknowledged the statement with a slight nod and answered, "It's really none of your business, may I have a desk or shall I come back later?" His voice held politeness but his face held annoyance, and Mrs. Serton a bit shocked by Trowa's response told him to take a seat next to Mr. Maxwell. The class snickered at this as Trowa was pointed in the direction of the back of the room, where a seat lay empty and discarded. Stationed next to it was a black hooded figure whose head was buried in his arms, like he was asleep. Trowa noticed the class's reaction, but went to sit down in his new seat while Mrs. Serton came to hand him a set of books and explain where they were and what he should bring and prepare for. Trowa curtly nodded in understanding, content with Trowa's willingness to move right along, Mrs. Serton continued with the class for the next 45 minutes until the release bell rang. While everyone hurried with shoving their class work and pencils into their bags, Trowa noticed that the boy next to him hadn't moved, he would have thought the boy dead, had his back not rise and fall with each intake of breath. It didn't take long to figure out that he had nowhere to go, and was alone in what he considered a strange place. This was his first day of school, actually the first school he had ever attended, and so he felt out of place. He was about to ask the teacher where the cafeteria was located when he noticed that he did have a student to the left of him, which seemed familiar with the place.

"Mind telling me where the cafeteria is?" he asked while tapping the figures shoulder. Silence remained for what seemed like an eternity, figuring the other hadn't heard him he was about to remove the boy's hood when the teacher told him that it was a hopeless case and that she'd escort him. He shook his head and politely said that if she didn't mind that he wouldn't pose a bother on her on his behalf, and so he was left alone with the mysterious youth beside him.

"What's your name?" Trowa asked curiously, this time the figure moved to look at the student that was addressing him, and came face to face with the most beautiful emerald eyes imaginable.

"What'd ya' wanna know that for?" Duo asked, more than a little uncomfortable that this boy was talking to him, acknowledging him.

"So I can talk to you. Was wonderin' if ya' wanna hang out - get lunch" Trowa smiled confidently at the boy as he introduced himself.

"My name's Trowa Barton, by the way." He extended his hand out to the boy who looked wearily at the hand despite the small smile on his face.

"Duo, Duo Maxwell, I know an awesome pizzeria not far from here, we can take my car if you want." Duo stood up and took his hand in a sturdy grip; a look of pure happiness graced his face as he led Trowa out of the classroom and towards the student parking lot.

"So I hear you're from Earth? How could you not be sure? Told ya' this place is fucking sick! I could live here - if only I could." The smile faded slightly, but Duo took another long breath inhaling Diet Coke from the straw he had been playing with.

"I traveled a lot, before... before our group disbanded, Catherine wanted me to get a good education so I passed the transfer tests and wound up here. This is the first school I've been to, its kind of weird I don't know anybody on this colony and I just feel like some jacked up car inside a show room. Well, now I know you so I guess ya can't really say I'm totally alone." He smiled and took another small bite of the greasy extra cheese pizza that had been cooling down.

"Who's Catherine? What, were you like part of a traveling circus? Duo laughed, and saw a mixture of sadness and embarrassment flash across Trowa's face for an instant before quietly admitting that it was true.

"Catherine's my sister, we were a part of a traveling Circus that performed through out all the colonies and Earth, budgets went down so we were forced to shut down, or at least until the manager can find the money to support the troop. They were my family." Trowa stated softly before looking at Duo's face which was ready to burst with laughter, ready to take offense, Duo pointed frantically behind him. Turning Trowa saw a small group of teens around the same age as them looking as if they were going to be jumped if they separated. Indeed the place was dark and a lot of grizzly looking men wearing biker outfits and others looked as if they'd just been released on parole, but other than that he didn't see what was amusing or scary about the situation. Duo swallowed his pizza, gasping and choking for air, "They're from our school, that's Relena Peacecraft! She's the richest bitch at the school, oh, and there's that slut, Dorothy. Boy, are they in the wrong place, I wonder why they're here?"

"Duo? Is that you, oh good, It is." Relena approached the table a smirk plastered on her face, like the light pink lip-gloss on her lips. "Isn't that you're car out there?" She asked in a sickeningly sweet voice. Both Trowa and Duo looked out the window to see Duo's now trashed 1998 Chevrolet Camaro Z28. Duo looked at his car and then back at Relena's innocent face and back.

"You did that to my car!" Trowa said in a shocked voice, looking at the girl with pure shock.

"Your car? That's Duo's everyone knows that scum drives it" The girl looked at Duo suddenly uncertain that the prank worked.

"He sold it to me you bitch, you're paying for it!" Trowa was up in a flash with a yell that shook both Relena and the rest of her party. Duo however just sat there in shock and confusion.

" I hear you're a Peacecraft this shouldn't be that hard to fix, I'm asking one grand or your in for it slut." Trowa growled, though it was way too much money he was always good at getting things he wanted - he had long since given up on his pride.

"What's it gonna' be? I'm waiting." He watched as the girl who looked as if she were in crisis mode looked shakily at her purse and opened it nervously, her hands shook and it took her a while to get the purse open, but in the end she handed Trowa twelve-hundred dollars, 1000 for the car and 200 as hush money, before turning on her heels and fleeing the scene.

"That was easy.'" Trowa smiled at Duo who looked at Trowa as if the young man had sprouted horns, "We'll split it 50/50, you get half and I get half."

"How'd ya do that, why'd ya...sure, thanks." Duo said in a disbelieving tone, "she practically handed you her wallet!"

"It was nothing. She shouldn't have messed with your car, she's lucky I'm such a nice guy."

Trowa took another slice of pizza; his second slice, and bit into before saying that he was full.

"How can you be full? You hardly ate anything" Trowa shrugged, and then said in an odd tone that Catherine wasn't there.

Duo took a look at his car and deemed it salvageable, but complained about having to get a tow truck and their situation on getting back to school on time for their classes. They finally decided on a cab and that after school they'd take Trowa's car and tow it back to Duo's home. The cab ride was more or less uneventful and the boys made plans for where they'd meet up each day and scheduled plans for over the weekend to introduce Trowa around the town. They both arrived at school just before the bell rang and rushed to their classes, money safely in pockets.

A/N: Well here is Part 1 of ISSH, which is a part of my Silent Desperation Arc. I had planned on making this out to be 4 parts, however I actually split my original part one and plan on finishing a bit more at the end and upload it as part 2. Questions? All will be explained in side stories following the fic, I have one side fic in particular that will hopefully clear up that horrible mess of the beginning! I want you all to be aware that I indeed know that I threw these two together much too quickly to be realistic. So look for that, the side stories will be done on a whim, so I honestly don't know when they'll be up, one could be up during the space between part 2 and 3 (depending on if I have 4 parts, otherwise it might get up to 6 parts or higher). Or it they could all be written after the fic is completed, who knows? Remember to review before you leave! x.

-Late