cut

Une cursed under her breath. There was nothing she hated more than a puzzle. That old file bothered her more than anything in the world right now. She scanned the photo, and did her best to fix it. The more she looked at it, the more she thought it was impossible.

She heard about the Grandfather Syndrome, but it was impossible for the genes to be that strong after 300 years. Besides, she could find nothing more if she didn't have any more files on this Harry James Potter who died over 300 years ago in London.

She thought that it could be coincidence, but she stopped believing in coincidence a long time ago. Everything happened for a reason.

She cursed again, and opened the restored photo on her computer. She opened Harrison Evans-Potter's file, and clicked on the photo. She stared at the two photos with a frown, her fingers tapping madly against the table.

Equal eyes; completely equal eyes. Lips, nose, chin; everything matched perfectly, except for the fact that Harry James Potter had slightly indrawn cheeks, and his eyes were shadowed with something she couldn't define. Harrison Evans-Potter looked healthier. His eyes showed inner strength and determination.

But when she came down to it, they were completely the same.

Her phone rang and she answered it. "Speak!" she snapped.

"Good morning, Une." Quatre's voice came over the line, and she breathed a sigh.

"Good morning, Mr. Barton."

"I wanted to ask if what you've sent Heero and me is all the equipment that was salvaged."

"I'm sorry to say that it is," she said and sighed. "Is there any chance you would be able to get any information off of it?"

"Heero and I will do our best. Whatever we'll find, we'll send directly to you."

"Good. Just protect the data to the best of your abilities. That information is highly classified."

"Will do."

"Good. Call in the moment you find something."

"As you wish." The call ended, and Une all but threw her phone on the table. She looked back at the screen of her computer. She grabbed her phone, and dialed a number.

"Central, how can we help you?"

"Connect me to Commander Hawkeye," she bit out tiredly.

"Right away."

Une grunted, and sat back in her chair. A few moments later the line came to life.

"This is an honor. To hear from you twice in a week? Are the skies falling on us?" Hawkeye teased, and Une snorted.

"I've reconstructed the photo from that old file you've sent me, Kirk. To be perfectly honest I don't like what I've found."

"You've seen it as well then."

"Yes, I've seen it as well. The resemblance is uncanny. We're either dealing with one epic grandfather syndrome, or this is some major coincidence."

"I know, right?" Hawkeye snorted, "Trust me, sometimes I think I would be much happier if I didn't decide to go and clean up Records. I'm telling you. That file has brought me nothing but sleepless nights."

"What bothers me most is the fact that the statistics in both files are practically the same. Aside from the case of severe malnourishment in Harry James Potter's case and his lack of knowledge when it came to technology, their height, weight, special skills and overall character evaluation mach word for word."

"I know. If this was a Si-Fi movie I'd immediately assume time travel," Hawkeye spoke sarcastically, and Une snorted.

"Except this isn't a Si-Fi movie and we are having two guys, one dead, one very much alive, with the alive one being a perfect copy of the first one."

"Do you think cloning?" Hawkeye asked, and Une snorted again.

"More Si-Fi nonsense?"

"I'm running out of ideas here, Une. You should have seen Harry after he woke up from the coma. If you think their resemblance is uncanny now, you should have seen him then. I think I have a photo somewhere at home. I can send it to you if you want. I'm telling you; it's the same man. Now, I love Harry like a son, but I have to admit, there is something strange about him. Une, before he became a Special Agent it was as though he was from a different time. At that time I thought it was because of his amnesia, but a year ago, when I found this centuries old file I started having doubts."

"Well you are known for thinking out of the box," she muttered, and Hawkeye chuckled.

"I love that kid, Une. And I'd like nothing else than to bury that file somewhere where it won't be found, but I also know that he would like nothing else than to find out where he came from. He wants to know who he is, and how he came to be here, no matter what he says and does. When he joined the Preventers and started going to missions, he livened up. He has extraordinary leadership skills. He showed them from day one. You may be born with the talent, but that level of skill exists only in someone who actually fought before. I've researched every OZ file, and every file from the Rebellion groups that existed during the wars. I found photos from each division, and every rebel group. He never showed up anywhere. It's like he fell out of thin air."

"What about the colonies? Did you search there?"

"What do you take me for; a rookie? Of course I did. I'm telling you, I spent nights looking over surveillance cameras, birth records, missing person units and all that crap. Nothing."

Une sighed and rubbed her nose under her reading glasses. "I'm running out of ideas here, Kirk."

"I know, Amanda."

"What do you suggest?" she asked, and heard him sigh.

"I was thinking I should visit London." Une frowned at that.

"Why?"

"The British have a thing for saving historical documents of any kind. I was thinking I should visit the Ministry's Records, and do a little investigation on the Potter family."

"Do you think they'll have records from over 300 years ago? That's well before colonies."

"I'm sure they will. You never know, maybe I'll find something. If nothing else, maybe I'll find a descendant of Harry James Potter. Then we can settle on a serious grandfather syndrome, and make peace with the fact that the family disappeared somewhere in the system after Harry James Potter."

"Maybe that's our best option," she said, and sighed. "Fine. Call me if you need anything."

"Will do," Hawkeye said. "Before you hang up, I've heard Harry's on a mission in Britain."

"Yes. He and Special Agent Shinigami are investigating a serial murder case."

Hawkeye chuckled. "Beast and Shinigami on a mission together. I hope nothing goes wrong, otherwise things could become complicated."

Une frowned at that. "How do you mean that?"

"Why do you think I chose Beast as Harry's code name? Didn't you read his file?"

"I did, but I didn't go beyond the red tape."

"Harry is dangerous, Une. He's fine until some lines are crossed, but once someone does that, there's no stopping him. He lives by his own code, and that code doesn't allow a lot of mistakes."

"Then he and Duo will get along splendidly," Une said. "Duo used to have a code very similar to Harry's. He still lives by it, but I'm afraid that he doesn't have the same view on life Harry seems to have."

"Just don't let anyone come between Harry and the mission; not even his Partner. His last Partner learned it the hard way."

Une frowned at that. "What happened?"

"Let's just say the kid didn't know when to stop and listen to the orders of his superiors. When Harry had enough of him going against orders, he drugged him and left him stranded in a hostel. He finished the mission on his own, and when he came back he said he either wanted his old Partner back or someone capable of obeying orders. We didn't even know what exactly the kid did, but I know that it takes a lot to have Harry blow up. I think you can guess how far he was pushed."

"I suppose I was right to put him with Duo and the others."

"More than you could possibly know."

"Which brings us back to where we started." Une said, and looked at the photos on her monitor. "I can understand why the former Gundam Pilots act the way they do, but as you said, there is no record of Evans-Potter before he was found on the riverbank."

"I don't know, Amanda. I'm not sure I want to know either."

Une frowned at that. "Why?"

"What if it's something we can't explain? What if Harry's past destroys him? Sometimes it's better to leave the past alone."

"You're the one who sent the file to me, Hawkeye. And you said that he wants to know, no matter what he says."

"Wouldn't you?"

"What?"

"Wouldn't you want to know? Wouldn't you want to find out where you came from; who you are?"

"I would."

"And what if there was a chance that knowledge would destroy you? What if you found out that you were a completely different person?"

Une frowned at that. "I don't know. We have all done things we don't want to remember."

"You're preaching to a choir."

Une snorted. "So. Should we proceed?" she asked, and heard him sigh.

"I think we should. We can always destroy all data if we won't like what we'll find," he concluded, and Une hummed.

"I only have one more question. You never told me why exactly you concern yourself so much with this. It couldn't be pure curiosity and good heart."

"I love that kid like a son, Amanda. I want him to finally find his place in the world."

Une frowned, but nodded. "Very well. Call me the moment you find something."

"Will do." The line died, and Une placed her phone on the table. A moment later, she picked it up again.

"Central?"

"I need the name of the best genealogist in Britain."

"Just a moment."

Une knew she allowed herself to get involved too deep into this. She knew she would not be able to rest until she dug up anything and everything she could on this matter.

She would get to the bottom of this.

Or she would die trying.

cut

"Harry? I have a new mail from Trowa," Duo said as he walked into the living room only to find Harry sleeping on the couch.

It was Friday, and by now they practically had eyes and ears everywhere in the city. Come Monday Harry would start working at the local High School as the substitute PE teacher.

They came back from checking out the Graveyard half an hour ago, and Duo noticed almost immediately that there was something wrong with his Partner. Of course, for the last three days they worked nonstop, trying to set up everything so they wouldn't have to worry about unwanted surprises.

Duo thought he was prone to being stubborn, but he found out Harry was just as stubborn (if not even more) as he was. Duo was almost certain that Harry barely slept the past three days, because he triple-checked everything, and while Duo admired that in him (however unwilling he was to admit that out loud) he also didn't want Harry to overdo it.

'You're just as bad as he is; admit it,' whispered a little voice in the back of his head, and it sounded strangely like Quatre. Duo sighed, and was about to leave the living room when he thought he heard a whimper. He turned quickly, and frowned when he saw Harry shift. The man fisted his hands, and frowned in his sleep. He curled into himself, and Duo's frown deepened when Harry started to shiver.

Duo walked over and kneeled beside the couch. "Harry?" he placed his hand on Harry's shoulder. He frowned when he realized Harry was strangely cold. "Harry?!" he shook the man's shoulder, and grabbed his hand, only to flinch back completely.

Harry's skin was ice cold, and it was at least 25°C in the apartment.

"Damn it!" Duo didn't know what was going on. He didn't know what to do. It was as though Harry was freezing in front of him.

He grabbed Harry's shoulder and shook him hard, trying to make him wake up.

"Harry! Damn it, man! Wake up!" with a gasp Harry's eyes snapped open. Within seconds Duo found himself on his back, with a knife at his throat, and two unfocused eyes gazing in his.

"Duo?" Harry gasped as his eyes focused on him.

"Yeah," Duo grunted. He was winded since he didn't expect such a reaction from someone who wasn't an actual soldier.

"I'm sorry. You startled me." Harry pulled back and helped Duo up.

"I startled you?" Duo asked and rubbed his throat. "Damn it, man, you were freezing at 25°C! Your skin was…"

"I'm sorry I startled you, Duo!" Harry interrupted him, and Duo frowned. The look in Harry's eyes was one he couldn't classify. "It happens sometimes. Ever since I woke up from that coma, it – it just happens sometimes."

"And you didn't think you should tell me that?!" Duo snapped. "You didn't think I needed to…"

"Damn it, Duo, I didn't know it would happen!" Harry cut him of as he brushed his hands through his hair, breathing as though he ran a marathon, "It happened a few days back! Usually it doesn't happen twice in a month! I didn't know it would happen twice in a week!" Duo recognized the panic in Harry's voice.

Harry took a deep breath and rubbed his face with his hands before he started pacing. Duo frowned when he saw Harry flex his fists. His hands were shaking a bit, and it seemed like Harry's muscles were twitching.

"Alright," Duo took a deep breath, "alright." Harry looked at him and stopped pacing. He rested his right fist on his hip, and brushed his left hand through his hair. "Do you know whyit happens?"

"I don't know what triggers it," Harry answered. "I – I just know that – it's like I'm back there." Harry crossed his arms over his chest and a shiver wrecked his body. "I'm back in that darkness, I'm cold, and – and it just keeps growing darker. I can't move, I can't breathe, and it starts getting colder and colder and…" he squeezed his eyes tightly shut, took a seat in the closest armchair, leaned forward and braced his elbows on his knees before he hid his face in his hands.

Duo stood rooted to his place, unable to find any words to say.

"I don't want to go back there," Harry spoke in a whisper, and Duo shivered.

Until this moment Harry seemed like someone who couldn't be moved by anything. For a week Duo saw only efficiency and hard work, and now he was looking at a man who was facing a demon that obviously tortured him for a long time now.

Duo was at a loss.

He honestly didn't know what to do.

"I don't want to go back to that dark place, Duo," Harry murmured. "I don't want that." He looked so lost and alone in that moment, and suddenly Duo knew exactly what to do.

He walked over to Harry, took a seat on the armrest, and placed his right hand on Harry's left shoulder. Harry in some moments reminded Duo of Heero, and Duo knew that Harry didn't need a hug, or useless comforting words. Harry just needed to know he wasn't alone.

A few minutes later Duo felt Harry's shoulders relax under his hand, and he started to breath lighter.

"You won't go back there, Harry. I'll be there to wake you up," Duo comforted, and Harry moved back to look at him over his left shoulder.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I hoped you wouldn't need to know that. It's a bit…"

"There's nothing embarrassing about it," Duo cut Harry off firmly. "We all have those stupid little flaws we're ashamed off when we shouldn't be. You lived through god knows what. Maybe you don't remember, but your body does."

Harry snorted, and pushed himself up. He made a few steps forward and brushed his fingers through his hair. "It's stupid. It's been years, and I'm still a wreck every time it happens," he muttered, and looked at his wristwatch. "We should start getting ready. We're supposed to go out with Mary in an hour."

"I can call her and cancel," Duo said, and stood up.

"No," Harry said, and shook his head. "I need to get out and stop thinking about it. If I don't, it might happen again."

Duo nodded. "Then we won't stay long. We both need to be rested."

"Why did you come in the living room either way?" Harry asked, and Duo frowned for a moment.

"Oh!" he muttered. "Trowa sent a report."

Almost immediately, Harry frowned, straightened, and his eyes hardened. "What did he say?"

"He found a few things. He's bringing it into HQ. The forensics will have their work cut out for them."

Harry nodded. "Did you write back?"

"No. I wanted you to read the report first before I answer."

"Alright," Harry said. "If you want you can have a shower while I read the report. I'll be quick with it, and write a short answer. You can fill it up if you have anything more to say."

"Good. I'll be quick," Duo said, and left the room. Once he was out, and Harry heard the shower start running, he took a seat again, and took a deep breath.

He closed his eyes, and leaned back in his chair. Not a moment later, he could feel the cold setting in and thousands of voices started whispering in his mind. He opened his eyes quickly, and a shiver passed down his body. He looked at his fisted hands, and swallowed over the bile that gathered in his throat.

"Damn it!" he hissed, "Damn it all to hell!"

cut

"Aren't you looking hot!" Mary called over to Harry and Duo when they got out of Duo's car.

She looked very pretty in her black summer-dress. Two more girls were with her. Duo and Harry remembered one of them from the diner, and the other made both of them inwardly cringe. She looked pretty enough, but she was eyeing them, especially Duo, somewhat lecherously.

"Evan! Looking sharp!" Mary grinned and Harry smirked at her. He really did look pretty good in his skin tight black jeans, and sleeveless black turtleneck.

Duo looked even better. He too decided to wear tight jeans, but he opted for a burgundy button up shirt, with top two buttons undone, and his sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His hair was in his trademark braid, but this time it was a bit loose, so a few strands fell out of it to dance around his handsome face.

"You look absolutely ravishing, May," Harry complimented and Mary rolled her eyes.

"You Brits and your nicknames," she muttered, and one of the girls behind her snorted.

"You have no idea," Duo muttered, and Harry shot him a glance with his left eyebrow raised.

"Really now. I didn't know you had a problem with nicknames. And besides, you Americans have the same tendency," Harry drawled.

"I dun remember ever shortenin' yer name, Evan."

"Because there's nothing to shorten," Harry concluded as he shrugged his shoulders.

"And there is in Mary?" Duo drawled.

"Of course." Harry smirked, with his head held high.

"As cute as this it, I'd like you to meet my two friends, and then we are going to party," Mary said, and turned to look at the two girls behind her. "Evan, Max, I'd like you to meet Martha Brighton and Lea Brighton."

"Sisters?" Duo asked, as he shook hands with the two girls.

"Coincidence," Martha said as shook hands with Duo. "My maiden name is Petrov."

"You're married?" Harry asked, and Martha smiled at him, while Lea rolled her eyes.

"Course she is. She is the only one in our group that got married already," she said.

"I am also the oldest in our group," Martha said, and Lea and Mary rolled their eyes.

"By two years only," Mary drawled.

"Enough to make you two fetch me a pack of cigarettes," Martha teased, making Harry and Duo exchange a smirk.

"So!" Harry casually threw his right arm over Duo's shoulders, making the (only slightly) shorter man roll his eyes. "Where are you taking us?"

"There's a club two blocks away where we always go. They have good music, cheep drinks, and a lot of hot hunks," Mary said, and started to lead the way.

"Doesn't your husband mind you going there, Marty?" Harry asked, and Martha rolled her eyes.

"He's out with his two friends. I don't give a flying fuck what he thinks about me going out with Mary and Lea, because he damn well knows I know where he's going with Vince and James." Harry snickered and Duo grinned.

"What 'bout you two?" Duo asked, and looked at Mary and Lea.

"As free as birds!" Mary grinned, "This is it," she said, just as they stopped in front of a back door in some little alley.

"This is a back door, May," Harry stated dully, and Mary rolled her eyes.

"I know that, smart-ass. We know the owner," Mary winked at them and opened the door. Duo and Harry were immediately overwhelmed by loud music.

"Going?" Lea asked and winked at them. Harry and Duo exchanged a glance, took deep breaths, and followed after the three. They were left wide-eyed when they came out of a hallway and stopped beside the bar. Their eyes immediately fell upon the dance podium where an unknown number of people danced and moved almost as one to the beat.

"Ain't it great?" Lea called out, "Come on, Duo! Dance with me!" she grabbed Duo's hand and pulled him towards the podium.

"I'd be careful if I were you!" Martha shouted over the music to Harry, "Lea is not known as one able to take a hint!"

Harry raised an eyebrow at that and nodded. "We'll go get our drinks and then we'll go and find a place to sit! I'll take care of Lea once we're done with that!" Mary and Martha exchanged a glance, and smirked. Both noticed a strange gleam in Harry's eyes. All the way to the bar, his eyes were on Duo, who looked uncomfortable dancing with Lea who seemed to be in her element.

"What will it be, Evan?!" Mary called out to him.

"I'll have a Vodka Martini! Max will have a Bloody Mary!" Harry called over to her, and she nodded.

"You don't worry about him?" Martha asked him, leaning close as to make it easier for him to hear her.

"He knows who he belongs to." Harry said, and Martha raised an eyebrow at him when his eyes darkened with something she couldn't describe.

"I can see a table fit for us!" Mary called over to them, and the two followed after her. The bartender brought their drinks, and winked at Harry.

"Hello, handsome! I didn't see you here before!" he leered, and Harry raised an eyebrow at him.

"New it town!" he answered, and the tall, dirty blond man grinned.

"If you want I could show you the sights a bit!"

'This one works fast,' Harry thought cynically, but on the outside he gave the man a slight grin, making Mary and Martha raise eyebrows at him.

"I don't think you could keep up with me, kid!" Harry said. The bartender blushed to the roots of his short hair, snorted and walked away.

"You sure know how to shake them off!" Martha called out to him. Harry looked at her and smirked.

"I know who I belong to!" he stated and slowly stood up. He winked at them, and started to move towards the dancing crowd. The two friends shared a glance before they turned to observe.

It seemed the crowd moved almost instinctively to clear his path towards Duo. Once he found Duo and Lea, he stopped behind Duo, wrapped his arm around Duo's waist, and pulled him flush against his body.

Harry felt Duo tens up and knew his eyes widened without needing to see it. Harry's eyes met Lea's over Duo's right shoulder and he smirked at her when he saw her gape in shock. She blushed heavily and moved away, scurrying over to Mary and Martha. "Having fun?!" he called out as he took Duo's right hand in his, spun him around only to flatten their bodies together again. He took a firm hold of Duo's waist with his hands and leveled his lips with Duo's left ear.

Duo choked up when he felt Harry's strong body against his, and almost whined. There was no denying that Harry was very handsome, had a strong, muscled body, and - boy could he dance. There was also no point denying that Duo hadn't allowed himself to hold or be held in a while. Feeling Harry this close brought that fact up pretty quickly. He frowned when he felt the periodic tightening of Harry's hand on his waist.

*Status.*

Duo took a deep breath, and moved even closer to Harry, wrapping his arms around Harry's shoulders, and reminding himself that this was a mission, and that they had appearances to uphold. For some strange reason that thought left a bitter taste in his mouth.

*Uncomfortable.* He signaled back to Harry, squeezing his right shoulder in quick succession. He felt Harry chuckling, since their bodies were flushed together. Harry bowed his head, and hid his face in Duo's neck.

It looked as though he was kissing Duo.

*Relax. Enjoy.*

Duo barely suppressed the shiver that wanted to shake his body at the feel of Harry's warm breath against his neck and ear. He frowned and growled. This may be just a mission, and Harry may be more experienced when it came to playing the masses, but damn it Duo wasn't a slacker either.

'Two can play this game, mister,' Duo thought, smirked, and the game was on.

At first Harry tensed up when Duo got even closer, his left leg between Harry's, and Harry's own leg between Duo's.

They moved together to the beat, completely unaware that almost everyone moved away from them, and that many were looking at them with lust-filled eyes.

"It's almost as if they are made for each other!" Mary called out, with a smirk aimed at a pouting Lea.

"You should have told me they were together!" Lea snapped at her while Martha snickered.

"I thought it was obvious," she said, and Lea glared at her.

"You know I don't do obvious!"

Mary and Martha laughed.

Duo swallowed a groan when Harry's hand ghosted over his thigh, and their lower bodies met in a painfully slow thrust.

'Finally!' Duo thought as the song ended. He was about to dart off, but Harry grabbed his hand and stooped him.

*Slow.*

Duo barely stopped himself from punching the man. If anything Harry looked unconcerned and untouched by anything. He seemed perfectly fine, while Duo had to use every single piece of his self control not to spontaneously combust.

Harry led Duo over to their table, and took a seat beside him. He threw his right arm casually around Duo's shoulders, smirking at all the looks they were receiving.

"If you're going to do that every time we come here, tell me to bring a box of tissues!" Mary shouted. "I think you've broken quite a few hearts!"

"I think they did more than that, May!" Martha shouted over to her. "I've seen porn movies with less actual porn!"

Duo couldn't stop the blush that covered his face while Harry let go of that belly laugh Duo heard only once in the past week, and it was because Harry's old partner sent him a mail.

"I think everyone knows you're together now!" Lea was still pouting, but seemed to be less offended than before.

"I think that was the point, Lea!" Mary shouted over to her, and everyone laughed.

Duo was still a bit uncomfortable. In a way he thought he made a mistake by upping the game that way. It seemed Harry didn't mind it, but Harry was (obviously) used to pretending he was in a relationship for the sake of missions.

And that, for some reason, left a very, very bitter taste in Duo's mouth.

"You alright?" Harry asked him.

"Just a bit tired! We had a rough day today!" Duo said. Harry's eyes shone with worry, and he looked in Duo's eyes.

'The perfect attentive boyfriend,' Duo thought, surprising himself with how bitter his inner voice sounded. 'What the hell is wrong with me?'

"Max?!" he focused on Harry, and his heart skipped a little when Harry's worried gaze dove into his. "I asked you if you wanted to go home?!"

Duo looked at Mary and Martha who were smirking at him a little. "Don't you want to stay?!"

"We can always join them next time! Right?!" Harry asked, and the three girls nodded enthusiastically.

"'Course! Have a safe trip! This one's on us!" Mary said, and Harry grinned at her. "Get some rest, Max! Don't let Evan keep you awake for long!"

Duo forced a smile on his face, while Harry grinned at them.

"He'll rest plenty!" he called out as he pulled Duo out of the booth. They waved at Mary, Martha and Lea, and made their way out of the club with Harry leading the way. Duo raised an eyebrow when he noticed that people seemingly instinctively moved out of Harry's way; something he didn't notice earlier.

They got out, and the silence of the night washed over them right away.

"Let's go," Harry spoke, and started to walk back to where Duo parked his car.

Duo felt like he should say something.

He really felt like he should say something.

The problem?

For the first time in his life he actually didn't know what to say.

He was always, always the one with something to say.

He always had an answer to everything.

And now, now of all times, he had no idea what to say to Harry.

"Do you feel like driving or should I?"

Duo jumped in his place and looked at Harry. His emerald eyes shone with worry, and his lips were slightly down-turned. That was genuine worry on his face.

'Or is he that good of an actor?' Duo thought. 'But there's no one to act for.'

"Duo?"

Duo barely stopped himself from flinching back, when Harry appeared standing closer than he remembered. "I'm fine!" he blurted out, "I'll drive. Let's go." He quickly dug out his keys from his back pocket, unlocked the car, and got it. Harry followed at a slower pace and they made their way back. The 15 minute ride was spent in silence. Once they were in their apartment, Duo walked into the bedroom without a word.

Harry winced and brushed his fingers through his hair. He sighed after a few moments, and followed after Duo. He found the American already changing his clothes, and a pang of something warm spread through his body before Duo pulled on his sleeping pants, and an old t-shirt. "Duo?" said man turned to look at Harry who was leaning on the doorframe with his arms crossed over his chest.

"Yes?" Duo asked, and Harry sighed.

"Look. I'm sorry if I crossed any boundaries tonight. It's just – I got used to this sort of thing with Remy. I've fallen into old habits, and if I've offended you with it, I want you to know that I'm really sorry."

Duo actually stared at Harry almost shocked during his whole apology. He (again) found himself speechless. "It's okay." Or not. 'Where did that come from?' he thought to himself. "Just, gimme a bit of a warning next time, kay?" Duo hit his head into a proverbial wall. 'Where did that come from?! He just said it's just part of a mission! You retarded idiot!' he thought, but Harry was smiling, and it was neither a teasing smirk nor a sly grin; it was an honest to heart smile.

"Alright," Harry said, and pushed away from the doorframe. "Get some sleep, Duo. I'll see you in the morning."

"Yeah. See ya," Duo said and Harry closed the door behind himself.

Duo frowned when he was left alone.

Something was wrong with him.

Something was definitely wrong with him.

And he knew just what that something was, and the name of his problem was Harry Evans-Potter.

That man was trouble.

He still didn't know just what kind of trouble, but that much he could say.

He had time to figure out everything else.

Or so he thought.

cut