Disclaimer/Notes/Misc: I don't own Gundam Wing or the G-boys, if I did, it would be a hentai with lotsa boypiles. Mmm.

Anyway, this fic is dedicated to Shenlong and Snowdragonct for all their help in getting me to post this up, as well as for inspiring me with their own works. Thanks for all your advice, you guys rock... seriously.

You'll have to forgive my rudimentary knowledge of the Justice system. What I know is information gleaned from my stepdad (a cop) and my mom. You also have to forgive some of the complete fudging I do of Atlanta and the surrounding area, but hey, it's fanfiction. I'm allowed to mess with my state capitol.

And chapter 1! I'm pretty proud of this chapter, there have been some minor changes to it over the past week, but all it all I think this is a pretty strong continuation. This was going to be updates Saturday, but I got impatient. Enjoy! This won't happen next week :P

Oh, and I'm still working on Magic's Slave, for you guys who are still interested. It's not abandoned, just on hiatus. My muses have fled.

Letsee here, pairings: 1x2, 3x4, Sx6, RxD, 5xCathy, (past)5xMeilan, (past)2x4, (past)2xSolo, (past)1xR I think that takes care of it...


Duo undid the latch on the screen door and stepped into the cool morning air. The note he'd left on the table merely informed his mom that he'd gotten a job to help pay for the bills, and though he never lied, he couldn't tell her the whole truth either. It would have broken her heart.

He shouldered on the backpack that lay at his feet and took the road westwards, waving to his neighbors and looking cheery.

"Morning Duo!" An older man weeding his garden stood up straight and smiled. "Got school this morning?"

"No sir." Duo said politely. "I managed to get a job, so I'll be helping my mom out with the bills. No more time to audit classes for me."

"That's a shame son. A boy as smart as you could go far." The man walked over and leaned on the fence. "I hope you'll go back one day, as a regular student, I mean. I know your mom needs help and all, but don't throw your life away for her sake Duo. You know she wouldn't want that."

"I know, Mr. Bickerton." Duo smiled. "I'll see if my job will let me off early on Fridays so I still have time to slip into one of the classes."

"Good." The old man nodded. "I'm sorry the only help I can give is advice. If I had the extra-"

"I know, sir." Duo smiled reassuringly, even as his stomach churned. "It's fine though. We can take care of ourselves."

"I know you can, boy." Mr. Bickerton smiled fondly. "Both you and your mother are proud people. Good luck, son."

Duo nodded again, and left the old man to his gardening. His insides writhed restlessly, and he felt his breakfast trying to make a reappearance. Please, heartburn do not show up today. I can't afford to show any weakness to Solo's gang.

He ducked down a small side alley, and climbed in short length of chain link fence, before dropping to the ground. Casting a look around the area he'd dropped into, he took a deep breath and waited.

It didn't take long for two. blond twin youths two come sniffing around. "Looks like another country kid that doesn't know any better."

"Tsk, should we teach him a lesson? Show him Solo's turf is his alone and he doesn't want fresh chickenshit getting where they don't belong?"

"Sounds good to me."

Duo grinned, he had never heard these voices before, so he was sure they wouldn't recognize him… His name on the other hand… "Before you do something hasty, boys, you might want to know who I am."

The left one put his hands on his hips and his brother mirrored his stance and added a sneer. "Well go on…" the left one said. "Tell us who you are, we haven't got all day." His brother finished.

"Duo Maxwell." Duo grinned. Hook, line, and sinker. "I ran with Solo years ago, before I got adopted out… and before the fire."

The shell-shocked looks on the boys faces at his name, melted into two looks of malicious glee. "Solo's been looking for you, alright."

"I'm sure he'd love to catch up."

"Follow us."

The cocky grin slipped from Duo's face and was replaced by a worried frown as he nibbled at his bottom lip and followed the two blonds. Solo looking for him was never a good thing. While they had been friends as children, best friends, Solo had come to resent Duo after a chicken pox epidemic wiped out half of the orphanage before the fire and had left Solo hideously scarred, but had left Duo unscathed. If Solo was looking for him, nothing good could follow. The man was actually five years older than Duo, and their relationship had always been… awkward. He contemplated making a break for it, but they reached the old boy's and girl's club in short order.

"Go on." One twin waved him in.

"We're right behind you."

"Just to watch your back, of course."

Duo took a deep breath and pushed the door open. The building was definitely not up to code, but it was livable. And comfortable. Solo kept up repairs, and saw that nothing stayed broken for very long. The electricity worked and the walls were solid. Solo himself fixed any holes, filling them with drywall mud and sanding them back to a smooth finish. While he wasn't the best of people, Duo could admit that he looked after his gang. No one went hungry or without clothes or a place to sleep. He had created a safe haven, and the kids of the street loved him for it.

"Duo!" The man emerged from a side office, looking utterly smug and unsurprised. "It's good to see you again." Each scar on Solo's face stood out in stark relief and Duo felt like he should be on his knees, crying and apologizing.

"Solo," he inclined his head and stiffened his spine, "I need a job. We have too many bills and not enough money to eat. Mom is starving."

Solo nodded like he expected this, the bastard. "I see. Are you willing to do… whatever I want you to do? Like you used to?"

Duo gritted his teeth, but nodded.

"Then welcome back." The broad smile that crossed Solo's face made him look even uglier. "You can start tonight. At the Schbeiker junkyard someone has come into a set of car parts that sell very well on the black market. Get them, and four hundred dollars is yours. No questions asked, and you're free 'til next week. And then we'll see if you're good at anything other than stealing."

Duo sneered, "You should remember what I'm good at Solo. You took it from me often enough."

"I want to see if you've gotten any better since then." Solo smiled innocently. "It's been a long time. If you always steal for me, then the police are going to recognize you." Then the man frowned. "Speaking of which, you're going to need to cut off that ridiculous hair. Everyone will know if you keep it."

Duo grabbed his braid and pulled it to rest against his chest over his shoulder and stroked it like a cat. "Never," he snarled, "if Father Maxwell and Sister Helen couldn't make me cut it off, I sure as hell won't for you."

Solo narrowed his eyes. "Fine. But if you get caught, don't expect any of us to come after you."

"I never get caught, Solo."

"Just do the job."

"Absolutely." The braided boy suddenly dimpled with a mischievous grin. "You said you wanted those parts tonight?"

"Of course."

"Doesn't leave much time for planning." Duo leaned against the wall and smirked. "What if there are dogs?"

"You've always been good at making shit up."

A snort. "Of course." Then he cracked his knuckles. "This is gonna be fun!"


A lone figure dressed in black crept along the chain-link fence of the Schbeiker Junkyard, pausing at regular intervals to inspect the bottom. Clouds obscured the moonless sky, making it a perfect night… except for the streetlamps… and the dogs.

Duo cursed at having dodged yet another German Shepherd and wondered why he didn't bring food, like kibble or even a steak, like in cartoons. Eyes alighting on a loose section of fence, he pulled it up from the ground and waited for the sound of another dog. After hearing nothing he pulled out a pair of wire clippers and clipped off the last six inches of fence, making sure he didn't expose any bare skin before he wriggled under. When he was safely through he stood and brushed the dirt from his clothes before creeping towards the building Solo's people told him housed the car parts. He was nearly to the door when a hand caught him at the scruff and braid and hauled him upright.

"Duo Maxwell, what the hell are you doing?"

Duo squirmed. "Fuck, Howard, lemme go!"

The mustached man in the pink Hawaiian shirt laughed. "I don't think so, kiddo. Why don't you tell me why you were sneaking in?"

Duo went limp and muttered one word, "Solo."

"Fuck, Duo, I thought you stopped running with him?"

"Need the money."

"Duo, we offered you a j-"

"Yeah, but you won't- can't pay enough money!"

Howard was silent for a few moments. "Which parts did you need."

"The antique ones."

Howard whooshed out a breath of air. "Fine. I'll tell Hilde you needed them more. Stay put."


"So this… Howard person… just gave you the parts?" Quatre raised an eyebrow in puzzlement.

Duo nodded. "Yeah, me'n Hilde and Howard go way back. Almost as far back as me'n Solo did."

He heard a snort from the officer and looked up, indigo eyes flashing dangerously. "You think I'm lyin' Officer Yuy?"

Heero nodded once.

"Then you don't fuckin' know me!" he snarled, "I'm Duo Maxwell. I run, I hide, but I never tell a lie. And you can take that to the fuckin' bank. Now why don't you leave me alone and get another donut to pad your fat ass?" He was pleased when the cop's Prussian blue eyes narrowed and his mouth opened to retort.

"I think a break is a good idea." The lawyer interrupted casting a cool glance through aqua eyes at them both. "Could you get Trowa for me, Heero? I need to speak to him about a… case." Duo watched a flush creep up the blond's neck.

Heero nodded once again and stepped out of the room.

"A case, Quat?" Duo grinned.

"Shut up!" Quatre hissed. "You don't know me, I don't know you, and if you want me to stay on this case we have to act like it. And stop antagonizing Heero! He thought well enough of your honesty to call me, didn't he?"

"But Kitty-Quat…"

"No! This is serious Duo! They really would take me off the case if they knew!" Quatre looked slightly panicked.

Duo appeared suitably cowed. "Fine, then can I meet this Trowa? The one that makes you blush like a virgin?"

Quatre blushed again. "Yes, that's fine. But-"

"I know, I know. I don't know you."

"Quatre…"

Duo looked up, and quickly smothered a grin. The man who walked through the door had a smile of soft joy gracing his lips and the eye not covered by his unibang practically glowed.

Quatre stood and quickly crossed the room, throwing his arms around the taller man in a hug. "It's good to see you again, Trowa, I just wish it didn't have to be under these circumstances."

Trowa raised a questioning glace over at Duo.

Duo caught it and waved a little. "I'm his newest client. And don't worry about it. Molest my lawyer all you want."

Quatre's face flamed and he pulled out of Trowa's hug. "Mr. Maxwell, I…" he sputtered to a stop.

"So we're back to last names? And we were getting along so well." Duo grinned and leaned back in his chair, a pleased smirk hovering about his lips.

Trowa stepped over and extended a hand. "Trowa Barton. You're Yuy's project too, you know."

"Mr. Perfect Cop?" Duo shook Trowa's hand, eyebrows scrunched together, and then the cop's last name registered, "Wait, Barton? As in, Crime Lord Barton? The scourge of the homeless?"

"My unfortunate Uncle. Yes."

Quatre blinked, "'Scourge of the homeless?' What do you mean?"

"His goons round up the homeless kids that no one cares about. Tells them he'll give them jobs, a life… But he turns them into whores and drug peddlers who bring more kids into his "services." Even Solo hated him." Duo shrugged. "Thought you knew all that, being a hot shot lawyer?"

"We knew he controlled the criminals, well… most of them." Quatre admitted. "But we didn't know he did so much. Are you sure there's no one else out there?"

"Not anymore."

"Oh."

There was a moment or two of awkward silence, in which Duo found a potted petunia in the corner of the office fascinating; before Heero stepped inside the office and handed a glass of water to Duo with a quiet grunt.

Duo took it gratefully, casting a surprised look at the Japanese man. "I take it this is my cue to start again?"

"I can leave if you want." Trowa offered, oblivious to the crestfallen expression on Quatre's face.

"Nah, Tro'. Besides, Q-man doesn't want you to leave." Duo grinned and took another sip, before setting the glass on the desk.

"Nicknames, Mr. Maxwell?" Quatre raised an eyebrow in surprise, and Heero grunted again, well aware that Duo was avoiding the subject.

"Yeah. Defense mechanism." Duo winked. "Alright, since tall dark and silent is grunting at me again, well, after Howard got the parts for me, I hightailed back to the boys and girls club…"


Duo took a deep breath and dropped the bag of clanking metal at Solo's feet. "There. I got your damn car parts. Where's my money?"

Solo stepped forward and held out an envelope. When Duo reached for it, he found himself suddenly enveloped in a hug with Solo's mouth right next to his ear, hot breath sending unwanted shivers over his skin. "You did well today, Duo. Next week, we'll see what else you can do." Then he pulled back and held the envelope out again.

Duo took it cautiously, then turned on his heel and left. I'm going to find another job. I'll do this until I find something that pays well. I don't have to do this anymore. I don't have to listen to him.

But he didn't. Weeks flew by, and still no other job. Solo had taken to calling him out more than once a week for odd jobs, and Duo started to relax. There was never anything too objectionable, and Solo never touched him after that first hug until…

"Duo. Come here." The scarred man crooked a finger at him in silent demand and he made his way over to where Solo was sitting on a plush computer chair.

"Yeah?"

"Come with me. I've got a business proposition to discuss with you… out of the range of prying ears."

Duo stared at the other man warily, before he nodded and followed Solo deeper into the building, past where he'd seen most of the members living. When Solo waved him through a door he raised his eyebrows in silent question.

"My private office."

Duo snorted, but stepped inside. The door shut with a loud click and Duo found himself suddenly struggling to get away from an insistent mouth and hands that pinned him to the wall. "Solo! Get off of me; I'm not going to be your goddamn fucktoy again!" he yelled and kicked out hard, only to stop struggling as he heard the snick of a switchblade and felt cold metal on his neck. Hot breath played over his ear and it was given a few sharp nips before the mouth pulled away and bit down on the other side of his neck, rolling his skin between teeth as Solo's free hand wandered ever lower.

"I think you are, Duo. I think you're going to get down on your knees and suck my cock. You know why I think that?" Solo chuckled darkly. "Because if you don't," he pressed the blade a little farther into Duo's neck and cupped Duo's rear end, "I'm going to scar your pretty little face up, cut off that braid, and then something might… accidentally happen to your dear mother, and that would be such a shame."


Duo looked up from his chair at all the people staring at him. "It's not like I had any fucking choice." He ground out from between clenched teeth. "He was gonna kill mom! I couldn't do anything."

"Maxwell, you don't have to defend yourself." Heero spoke quietly. "You did what you had to do. The fault lies with the man that did this to you."

Trowa nodded his agreement.

Quatre also nodded and gave him a hug. "You poor thing. How long you have to put up with this?"

"Months. Years." Duo shrugged. "This all happened three years ago, you understand. Things are… different now. He's gone, and while I'm not exactly free, this is the closest I've been in a long time."


Duo checked the tape holding the switchblade to his arm, like he always did before going anywhere (you never knew how bad the streets were going to get and protection was always necessary), before he knocked on that same office door where Solo had cornered him three years ago. "Solo. You wanted to see me again? This is the third time today."

The door swung open, and Solo was already sitting in his favorite chair, pants unzipped, slowly fisting himself. "Well come on in, Duo. You know what to do by now. Do I have to make another threat?"

Duo sidled into the room and dropped to his knees, like he'd done for some many years, and took a deep breath before easing the hot flesh into his mouth. Making the decision that today was the last day he was going to put up with this shit, he worked the knife free from its restraint and took a deep breath, before biting down hard. Blood flowed into his mouth, choking him a little before he plunged the blade into Solo's windpipe to silence the older man's screams. When they had died to a gurgling rasp, Duo gutted his rapist and left him in the chair, struggling weakly to rise and give chase.

He hadn't planned this, he was just going to go along with Solo's attentions, but something inside of him today had snapped.

Duo ran from the building and slid into one of the many cars Solo had stolen, before putting pedal to the metal and driving as fast as he could out of town. He was almost to the city limits when the officer pulled him over.

"Blood?" The officer looked quite a bit queasy as he shined his flashlight at Duo's blood covered clothes.

"I just killed a rapist." Duo said tersely, and pointed to the knife in the passenger seat. "You gonna take me in, or what?"


"And that's how I got here. Officer Yuy kindly let me borrow the shower and some clean clothes, and then he called you, Mr. Winner." Duo took another sip of water and then a deep breath. "Think I got a chance?"