Disclaimers: I don't own Gundam Wing, as much as I want to. I'm just borrowing them. I'm not making money.

AN: Hello people! This is a fic that I find may be a good idea. I think it would suck to be observed and shunned for being different. I hope you like! I will try to be clear. No plot holes, and not just plain dialogue. Thank you for the reviews, those who did review!!! ^_^


~*~*~*~* are flashbacks
'blah blah' are thoughts
/stuff/ are telepathic messages

Mastermind
Chapter 4: Back at School



==Duo's P.O.V.==


Today is Monday. Sunday had gone by quickly and I had already shown Quatre and Heero around the area, reviewed the rules, and done everything that had to be done to prepare them for school, or anything for that matter. I sighed to myself as I fixed my tie in front of the mirror behind the door. Heero was sitting on his bed, and Quatre was in the washroom.

/You dread school./

I nearly had a heart attack when those words entered my mind and I whirled around to face Heero. My braid came around and smacked my face. Smart move eh?

"Geesh Heero, don't do that! Use your mouth! You scared me! You didn't talk to me yesterday and now suddenly you confront me…or my mind…" I pause a moment before tossing my braid over my shoulder again. "Yes I do dread school because of all the requirements and the teachers who think I'm a brat or the devil, I don't know which…" I trailed off there. I hadn't told Heero about my enemies, and especially not Jack.

"You're hiding something." Heero said quietly. His eyes bore right through me and I glance at the mirror in case something was out of place. Nope. Perfect.

"What makes you think that?" A glance at the clock shows I have 10 minutes before breakfast hall and then classes 30 minutes after that.

"I read." He said as if stating the obvious. O.k. He was stating the obvious. I sighed and walked to his bed, flopping down, messing up his well made covers.

"You don't do that Heero. Maybe to people when in emergency, but you aren't supposed to do it normally. Do you consider me a friend?"

Heero paused before nodding slightly.

"Then don't do it."

Heero nodded again. "So what is it?"

I took my time answering. "Heero, there are people here, that you shouldn't mingle with. I'm not taking charge of your social life or anything, but they don't mingle with me and they hate me. Basically, if we're friends, you aren't friends with them, and vice versa. I personally don't mind whose friend you are, but they don't accept people. Block them out for the best."

"Who are they?"

"Just a few guys that I got on the wrong side of."

"Hn."

At that moment, Quatre walked out.

"Ready at last Quatre?" I teased. Quatre nodded, and the three of us headed to the breakfast hall.

On our way, I passed by Jake on the 4th floor. He raised his eyebrow at me, looking at Heero and Quatre.

"Who're your new friends 02?" He sneered. "More maniacs like you?" I glared at him, stopping.

"Keep to yourself 412." I growled. I almost fell down the stairs and quickly thanked my lucky stars that Quatre steadied me by the shoulder. The feel of being suffocated overwhelms me as I choke unwillingly. I knew I wouldn't die, but the panic was there. After all, that is what Jake was aiming for.

/You won't tell me what to do Maxwell./

/I'll do as I wish. Back off/

Suddenly, another presence entered and Jake fell back with a soft growl.

"Back off." Heero said in a low voice. I looked gratefully at him as I took in oxygen that I seemed to have missed. Of course, in reality, it was just an illusion, a feeling. Like I said, it isn't a bad thing to panic. Heck, I'd be afraid if I were totally calm!

"Who're you?" Jake snarled. "This is none of your business."

"Allow me to introduce." I looked Jake in the eye. For some reason, I felt more at ease and more bold with the presence of Quatre and Heero now supporting me. "01 and 04."

"0?" Jake was clearly surprised and I almost smirked at him. But I knew the consequences. Last time I had done that, I felt blood pouring from me in the speed of a snail. More like the feeling of oozing blood, losing life slowly. Yuck, not to mention scary. I wonder, even now, where he comes up with these nasty ideas and how he manages to get me to feel them. You'd think as a genius I'd know. But then, I don't think I pass the genius level by too much. My telepathy is unstable because I hardly use it on my side. One can communicate with a telepath by simple thoughts because the telepath can hear and direct messages. So, let's say I'm a bit rusty.

"Yes. They're my friends. Leave us alone. We aren't allowed to associate anyway 412." With that, I followed Quatre away, Heero behind me. I could feel Jake gawk at me and glare at me, but I tried to ignore it, slapping a big grin on my face.

Heading down to the first floor meant seeing Anastasia for the first time since Friday, as we hadn't been able to meet the past weekend. I was busy with Heero and Quatre, and she was busy with the shrinks. Poor girl. Anastasia, as I mentioned, doesn't like to talk. How does she communicate? Paper and pencil do the trick. The only reason she is allowed to associate with others while Heero, Quatre and I cannot is because of our age difference and due to the fact that Anastasia doesn't talk. To the scientists and shrinks, she simply exists in her own world. I guess only I know that she prefers to be silent, or the only one who cares to understand. As someone who understands my 'conditions', the adults fear that I'll scare the other resident students, so they isolate me. Think again. Anastasia isn't a dumb 8-year-old. She knows what's going on. She's an observer. And a good one too. Which is why I have to smile for her.

Glancing to the stairs below, I caught sight of her head. Anastasia and I meet for breakfast every Monday morning and converse then. That's how I know so much about her. She's never late.

"001!" I called as I took the stairs by two toward the waiting girl. She turned and we locked gazes.

/Hi Duo./

"Hey there, what's up? Anything new?" I asked her with a smile as I pat her on the head.

/No./ She was already looking at Heero and Quatre. /New residents?/

"001, meet 01 and 04, they just moved in with me on Friday and Saturday. I finally have roommates!"

/I'm happy for you. Names?/

/Quatre is 04, Heero is 01./

Up to this point, Heero and Quatre only watched quietly as I spoke and Anastasia listened. I don't think they know we are silently conversing. At least, Quatre shouldn't know. Heero, I wouldn't be surprised. I turned and headed toward the cafeteria, Anastasia at my side, Heero and Quatre behind me.

/What do they do?/

/Quatre's an empath. He feels things stronger than others. Heero is telepathic like you./ I grinned at her as I ruffled her bangs. She shook her head, smoothing them back into place. At this point, we were at the cafeteria line, getting breakfast. Cereal and toast, optional oatmeal. I don't know if that's good or not, but judging from Anastasia and Quatre, it was a no. Heero was, as always, expressionless. We were silent as we got our food, and then found an empty table at a quiet corner. There, I introduced Quatre and Heero to Anastasia.

"Quatre, Heero, this is Anastasia, 001. She's 8, telepath and genius, the youngest of us."

"Nice to meet you." Quatre smiled and extended his hand across the table to the little girl. Anastasia looked the hand, her brows furrowed, then glanced at me.

"Go ahead, Quatre's really nice. If you feel afraid, it would be Heero." I joked with a nod.

"Hn."

Anastasia took the hand, withdrawing quickly.

/Pleasure Quatre, Heero./

/Same./ Heero returned to both Anastasia and I. I guess he wanted to include me into the conversation. Quatre on the other hand, looked rather pale, and I had to chuckle.

"Quatre, she's a telepath. It's how she chose to communicate. Like I told you, she doesn't talk."

"Oh…right." Quatre nodded hastily.

/Sorry if I scared you./ Anastasia kept her face straight, but I heard the guilt in it.

"Don't worry Stasia, Quatre's not used to it."

/But you…/

"I'm used to it only because I've been around you so long!" I quickly cut in.

/Duo, you're a telepath too. You're powers are way up but you don't use them.

Busted. Quatre gawked at me before he schooled his expression.

"Quatre, I wasn't sure…" I start. I wonder why I hadn't actually told him.

"It's o.k. Duo." Quatre smiled at me. "I know now."

That easy-going? Man, Quatre will be one good friend. I hope he meant what he said.

"Don't be so nervous Duo! You're getting to me." Quatre laughed.

"What do you mean, his' powers are way up?" Heero asked Anastasia quietly. Anastasia shrugged.

/Duo's a telepath. He's also telekinetic. He can make things move, make things happen, feel things, send messages. It's how he pranks the Normies and the Enemy. Added to super genius, he's really smart, just doesn't use his brain./

/Hey!/ I protested, grinning.

"I'm not really that smart." I corrected. "The reason I get such high marks it because I always know what's on the tests and stuff. It's funny to prank them, and especially the scientists and shrinks. Man, making them go around is circles was the funniest thing I'd every done!" I grin.

"It's time for class." Heero pointed out.

"Oh yea!" Quatre exclaimed as he quickly finished his juice. Anastasia stood.

/See you later Duo, Quatre, Heero/

"Bye 001." I waved as she headed out of the cafeteria. Then, I stood with my new friends, and led them to class.

Our first class was Math. What a cinch. You'd think they'd be over teaching us how to make a curved line and calculate the slope, or hypotenuses of triangles, but they never finish! It's a bore. Teachers insist that practice makes perfect. On regular terms, I agree. But. They didn't take into account that the geniuses of the class, which is about half the class, works twice as fast. Just because the Normies can't catch up, we get to stay behind. Once again, I ponder what they are doing on this island anyway.

I led Quatre and Heero to the back of the room where we are supposed to sit. The desks were placed in twos, and I motioned for Heero and Quatre to take the two desks together at the farthest back while I sat in front of Heero near the windows of the classroom. The teacher waited a minute for the other students to file in. Much to my surprise, Jake was now in the class. I wonder how he ended up here. More importantly, how he ended up sitting next to me. I backtrack a bit to what he said to the teacher. Oh. The guy was 'brave' enough to sit next to me. Big deal. Now, I'm somewhat afraid. With a part of my brainpower, I put up blocks around my mind so he couldn't filter in so easily.

"Class, today, we will have a test of Pythagoras theorem." She stated calmly. No introductions to the new classmates, nothing. Announce a test the first day back at school after weekend, pop quiz. Not that I had many problems.

"I want all the work to be shown." She continued. Darn. That makes it all harder. I can simply look at the question and solve it. But now, all that extra writing! I couldn't help but groan.

"Problem, 02?"

"No ma'am."

"Then keep silent."

"Yes ma'am."

But from the looks Jake was giving me, and his smirks, I was truly afraid. I don't know what he would do with that crazy mind of his.

/Don't worry Duo. I'll watch you./ Heero's voice enters my mind and I blink in surprise. Heero had gotten past my blocks without my noticing! I doubt even Jake had even done that…but then again, I wasn't paying attention.

/Thanks Heero/

/Hn./

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Jake jump and tremble, and I immediately knew that he was trying to get into my mind. Looks like Heero's blocks were stronger and could also send messages back to the intruder. I'd have to ask him how that works.

But now, on to the test.

And thanks to Heero, my work was uninterrupted this class. I think as long as I can get him to stop reading my mind all the time, we can be real friends.

/All right Duo. I'll read only at your permission./



Damn. He did it again.











Saori: Sorry that took kinda long!! Finally...a weekend!!! ^_^ I'm happy...but I'd be happier if you readers review lots and lots! Next up...I'll leave that to later...it isn't decided yet...