Author's Note: References to sexual activity and mental illness/voluntary hospitalization, just in case that's a thing for anyone.

Thank all of you for reading! I appreciate all of you for sticking with this fic, despite the erratic update schedule. Updates going forward will be every other week. I've committed! Next update will actually be from Quatre and Zechs' perspective, so! That will be exciting, if you're looking for that.

Feel free to come chat on tumblr! I'm tracking fic: tell me and fic: tmwyrf


Heero was amazed at how quiet the weekend was. He'd spent most of it in his room, studying alone to escape the small undercurrents of tension that had plagued the dorm all week. But when he'd had taken a break from to brave the common area, he'd found Trowa seated next to Wufei, reviewing notes from the class they shared, a tiny smile hovering over the Chinese man's mouth as the Russian made some comment about the class. Quatre and Zechs were both in the living room, Quatre's books spread over the coffee table as he plowed through his Intro to Law homework, a highlighter in one hand. Zechs was reading quietly, curled in the corner chair with a steaming cup of tea on the table. It was warm, almost genial, the kind of thing he could remember from Peacemillion.

Duo, Heero noticed, was conspicuously missing. It pained him to admit that his lack of appearance probably had a great deal to do with the peaceful environment. The animosity from Quatre made Duo hostile, sarcasm coating everything he said. Heero felt a pang of sadness as he admitted, to himself, that Duo's absence lightened the atmosphere of the room considerable. With him gone, Quatre was left with only Trowa to target, and the Russian skillfully ignored every barb the blond sent his way. If anyone else noticed that Duo was gone, they didn't mention it. Not until Wufei finally spoke up as they prepared for the coming week.

"I haven't spoken to him," Heero answered the inquiry with a frown. "It may be better to ask Trowa. They do share a room."

"I have asked Trowa," Wufei sighed, sitting heavily on his bed.

"I'm sure he's fine," Heero sat down as well, blue eyes calm and clear. "He's more than capable of protecting himself. We all are."

"That is not what I'm worried about," pushing a hand through his hair, Wufei drew his lower lip between his teeth, shooting a look at Heero and then promptly looking away. Heero frowned.

"You don't trust him," it was not a question.

"I don't trust any of you," there was a slight curve to Wufei's lips, gone almost as soon as Heero noticed it, his expression turning gravely serious. "Tell me honestly, Heero. Are you at all worried about what could be in his file?"

"I am," Heero admitted. "but not for the same reason Quatre is."

"You're worried about what happened to him."

"I'm worried for him. I know people change, Wufei, but Duo would never betray his friends," Heero left no room for doubt.

"Heero," Wufei sighed again, crossing his arms over his chest and shaking his head. "It has been five years. I don't think he sees us as friends anymore. He was very hostile to Quatre." Heero shook his head, running a hand over his face and turning to look out the window. It was dark, now, the dim glow of streetlights seeping in. Over the last five years, he and Duo had only exchanged a handful of words. Heero had told him his plan, and then disappeared. His absence, he knew, had been felt keenly. But Duo had supported his decision, sending him postcards when he could and respecting his silence. It had never occurred to him that his wasn't the only silence.

"Did you two talk? At all?" Heero asked it softly, almost afraid of the answer.

"I-no. We did not," Wufei leaned back resting his head against the wall. "I needed time to find peace. And after it...did not occur to me. I did not think he would want to talk to me." He met Heero's eyes guiltily, then looked away.

"I was gone," he admitted softly. "I checked myself into-into a clinic. Duo knew. He helped me pick one out. But I was gone for five years. I only checked out a couple of months ago. I don't think Trowa talked to him, either." Heero looked down, picking at the blanket and avoiding Wufei's gaze. Checking in to the facility had been the right decision. Heero did not regret it. The time spent there had been time invested, time he had used to come to terms with his childhood, his hand in the destruction caused by the war. It had let him find a balance between the soldier he'd been programmed to be and the man he wanted to become.

"Heero," there was a weight settling next to him, a warm hand on his arm. Heero turned his head, meeting Wufei's eyes. The Chinese man squeezed his arm, expression serious. "Five years is a long time."

"I know," Heero admitted. Then he set his jaw, leveling a hard look at the man beside him. "But he's still my friend. I know he's different, but he's still my partner."

"I'm not saying-"

"He's my friend, and I left him alone. We all did. We have no idea what could've happened to him," Heero interrupted, standing. The look he gave Wufei was blank, his eyes dark, a faint sheen to them. "If I-If I were Duo, and my friends had left me, I would be hostile to them, too." He left the room quietly, leaving Wufei to sit in the darkness, worry lining his brow.


Duo appeared in the early morning hours, slinking into the dorm with his hair in a messy bun, feet bare. Holding his boots in his hand, he shut the door as quietly as possible, every muscle in his body tensed as he listened for his roommates. It was late, and he was exhausted. The weekend had been busy, spent trying to catch Jared's eye. He'd succeeded around five, finally, looking up at the boy through his eyelashes as he sat across from him in the cafe, offering Duo a hot chocolate with an arrogant smirk on his face. So far, everything was going according to plan. Duo moved silently through the shadowed living room, then froze, eyes widening in surprise as they caught sight of the figure on the couch.

"Heero," he greeted.

"Duo," the figure rose, closing the space between them to inspect his appearance.. "I was worried."

"'Ro," Duo crossed his arms over his chest.

"Will you at least tell me next time?" Heero was unflinching, mirroring Duo's posture. After a brief moment, Duo nodded, and that was all it took. Heero relaxed, smiling in triumph. Snorting, the braided man punched him on the shoulder.

"You ass. How many times do I have to tell you I can take care of myself?"

"I know you can, Duo," Heero gave an exasperated sigh. "But it doesn't hurt to keep me updated." Duo rolled his eyes, slinging his arm over Heero's shoulder and dragging him down the hall.

"Sure, Mama 'Ro. You got it," he drawled. "Now. I need to shower. And you should sleep. You've got an early morning class."

"So do you," Heero pointed out, ignoring the nickname. Duo was warm against his side, a comforting weight. It was a weight he had missed. The familiar smell of cloves was overlaid with someone else, though. Something that made Heero's nose wrinkle. This close, he could see marks on Duo's neck, faint bruises that would only darken as time when on. Heero frowned, pausing and turning Duo towards him, eyes scanning him over. Watching him warily, Duo raised an eyebrow.

"I'm skipping," he yawned, covering his mouth, and Heero's eyes widened, suddenly seeing it all at once. Duo's eyes were hooded, his lips swollen. There was still a flush on his cheeks, still a looseness to the way he walked. Dropping his arm, Heero stepped back, eyes narrowing.

"Duo," it was almost a growl, Heero's hands fisting at his sides. "I was worried about you. And you-you were out-" Duo caught his hands at once, holding them in his own, the hard edge of his violet gaze softening.

"I didn't mean to worry you," the quiet sincerity in his voice pulled Heero up short. "I'll tell you next time I go out, okay? I'm sorry." Taking a deep breath, the Japanese man nodded. It wasn't that Duo was having sex. It was that Duo had prioritised having sex with checking in. And he seemed to know that, somehow saying exactly what he needed to hear to calm down. Heero squeezed his hands, nodding again, offering a crooked, apologetic smile.

"Good," Heero loosened his grip. "No go shower. You stink."

"Hey!" Duo protested, shoving at him. "You ass. I smell great." Laughing, Duo headed down the hall, shoes still in hand. He paused at the door, turning to look over his shoulder at Heero, lips curved in a smug smirk. "Oh. Before I forget. I made a contact in the group. Goodnight!"

Heero blinked, then snorted. Of course. That's what Duo had been doing. He shook his head, turning to head back to his own room, catching sight of Trowa as he did. The Russian said nothing, just stared through the crack in the slightly ajar door with glittering green eyes. Heero tilted his head, meeting that hard gaze with an unflinching one of his own. The door shut, and Heero bit back a chuckle, opening the door to his bedroom.

Trowa had spent the weekend seeming unconcerned by Duo's absence, making jokes about finally having time alone. He and Wufei had talked briefly about his plans to infiltrate the group, something involving the campus acrobatics club. And while they'd all been busy planning and studying, Duo had been several steps ahead of them, insinuating himself in to position. With a flicker of pride, Heero crawled in to bed. Duo was head of all of them, more focused on the mission than anyone else had given him credit for. Good, Heero thought, losing himself in sleep. That would show Quatre.