Author's note

Evening all,

I figured I'd put this update in as I'm going away this weekend and probably won't get to update anytime soon otherwise.

Thank you to Chirichi916, Yilun, Waterlilylf, Katleap, Snowdragonct, Wind dancer1981, Cewo, TKM, Kendecia and Katerina Shinigami, for continuing to review and supply feedback. I don't know where I'd be without you guys.

Anyway, on with the story.

Foreseeable Future, by Hikishi

Disclaimer: Gundam Wing does not belong to me. This displeases me but hey, what can I do? So please, save your breath and don't sue.

Pairings: ?

Warnings: Blood, Violence, Swearing (of course), Death (though anyone important)

Genres: Angst, Drama, Action, Hurt/Comfort.

Foreseeable Future

Chapter Four

Future, Present and Past Tense


Duo stared around dubiously as Heero checked his windows and doors. The Preventer's apartment was spacious enough. The beige couch he was sat on was comfortable, wide and low, the white carpet underfoot, pristine in condition.

"Are you hungry?" A voice close to his ear enquired and he jumped, head whipping around, wide eyed with fear. Blue eyes gazed back at him calmly. Somehow, Duo managed a small headshake and the face retreated, allowing his the focus on the body attached to it. "A drink then." Came the decisive answer. He watched as the older man strode purposefully into the kitchen area, returning moments later with two steaming mugs.

"H-hot chocolate?" He asked as the pleasant and slightly spicy scent wafted up out of the mug. Heero nodded.

"With cinnamon. It will warm you up."

"Hmm." Duo replied quietly as he took a sip. "Thank you."

"So." Heero set his own drink down after only a few swallows and leaned forward to regard him intensely. "Your friend Quatre tells me you work in a bar."

"…Yes."

"Why?" Fired back at him, making him start and slosh his drink.

"To make a steady income." Duo answered, nearly inaudibly. Then he straightened, determined not to be afraid.

"Don't you go to college?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Can't afford to."

"How long have you worked there?"

"A year or so."

Obviously Duo was uncomfortable, so Heero decided to end his interrogation attempt. What he wasn't expect was for Duo to suddenly meet his gaze.

"I was so scared Heero. I thought that I was going to die."

The next day Heero drove Duo down to Preventer Headquarters to file an official statement. Due to the drugs and shock, Duo's memory was shot to pieces and he could shed little more light on the killer. He eventually broke down, pale and shaking when Wufei pushed him too hard.

"I don't know okay! I don't know! Look, I've told you what I can remember, isn't that enough?" I haven't done anything wrong, why are you treating me like I'm the criminal?"

"I'm sorry Mr Maxwell, but we need to make absolutely sure that we don't miss anything in your statement. You're a material witness."

"Duo, just calm down okay?" Heero found himself saying rather softly, trying to placate him. "No-one's pointing the finger at you." His voice dropped in warning as he addressed his partner in an undertone that the witness wouldn't hear. "Pack it in, Chang." He hissed. "he's trying his hardest. Do you want Winner angry at us? Duo's his best friend, he's already breathing down our necks as it is. Stop scaring him, he's frightened enough."

"Can't make Winner angry." Came the low reply. "A pissy Profiler's all we need right now."

Heero refocused on Duo again. The young psychic looked haggard and upset., lines of pain standing out on his handsome but washed out features. His head was resting on his uninjured hand, long fingers tickled by his multi-tonal hair.

"Would you like something to drink before we proceed?"

"No thanks." Duo squared his shoulders once more. "I just want to get this over with."

"Okay Duo. The man who attacked you, you said he was tall. About five ten or so?"

"He - he was taller. Maybe….six foot?" Was the slow reply. He shook his head. "I'm about five six." The young man picked at a nail.

"Did he have any distinguishing marks? Tattoos? A scar maybe?"

"No…" Duo responded. Then… "Yes." More calmly.

"Duo?" He looked up. The young man met his gaze, eyes glassy and unfocused. Belatedly, Heero heard someone gasp to his right. Wufei. Damn, the kid was having another séance…vision, whatever they call it.

"He calls himself Oz." The psychic said in a soft voice. Heero noticed the change in speech pattern, as if he were speaking to another person.

"Oz?"

"Yes. He's angry because someone…turned him down. He was humiliated. Everyone was….laughing at him. Like his daddy used to. She's gone…died in an accident. Oz is cheated…he wanted to make her pay for ruining his life. He sees her everywhere, smiling at him with that cruel look in her eyes. So he picks someone…to be her. The librarian was first. Oz thought she was perfect. Until she laughed. It was her laughing at him. That was when when he got mad. When she was hurt it made him…happy. But the screaming was the best part. It told him that they were suffering, like he was suffering…"

"Duo, what was the girl's name?" Heero found himself asking urgently. Those beautiful blank eyes turned to him as the door began to open, holding him in their void.

"…Karin Hino…" His eyes slipped closed and he swayed a little. Heero jumped up and was around the table in a nano-second, catching the young man as he fell from the chair.

"Duo?" He called out as Wufei rose on shaky legs, staring at the witness as if he'd just grown a second head.

"What in God's name just happened?"

"A vision." Quatre said from his point in the doorway, a serious look on his face. "A strong one. He's passed out."