Title: Truth, Lies and Everything In-between (Part 3)

read part 1 for the disclaimer and other notes

|KEY|

=== - flashback

=*=*=*=*=*=*=

"Do you feel that you life's become a catastrophe?
Oh, it has to be,
For you to grow, boy.
When you look through the years and see what you could have been,
Oh, what might have been,
If you'd had more time."
--Take the Long Way Home, Supertramp

=*=*=*=*=*=*=

"Duo? What did he do?" Trowa shrugged, receiving a glare from Heero.

"I don't know, Heero. I was just told to kill him...there was no explanation as to why."

"Wait a minute, wait a minute. What's going on here!?" Duo stepped forward walking in between Heero and Trowa. Heero was quick to correct this error on Duo's part. Heero slowly moved back in front of Duo, Trowa giving his lover a sad smile.

"Heero, I'm not going to try anything. I promise. Here." Trowa handed Heero his gun.

"Okay, I don't know what's going on here...but I would really like to!" Duo was practically screaming in their ears. Trowa sighed and motioned for the two to follow him deeper into the alley. As Trowa leaned against the wall he stared at Heero and Duo; the two were standing only a few feet away, Duo anxious for an answer as to what was going on.

"Okay, Duo, I'll tell you the whole story." Trowa sighed. "I'm an assassin...I've been one for almost nine years now...Damn...I've killed hundreds of men since I was nineteen..."

"Nineteen?" Trowa nodded.

"I was young, had no family, no money to go to college...I first got some odd jobs to pay for an apartment downtown...but it wasn't enough...Then one day, out of no where, a guy approached me...he offered me a job. It paid three thousand dollars. Of course I said sure and asked what the job was. He said extermination. Being the genius that I am, I assumed he meant the extermination of bugs...or rodents...something along those lines...Well, I soon found out he meant human extermination...I tried to get out of it, but he said if I left I would be dead come dawn...so valuing my life I stayed...He trained me...and soon enough the time came for the 'job'. I did it. I felt no remorse for the life I had just taken and that made my boss happy. In the beginning that was the only thing I had to do...but because my assignment went off with flying colors he offered...no more like told me, I had another job. This one paid seven thousand. Next thing I know it was my profession..."

"And you *knew* about this?" Duo was now addressing Heero. Heero only shrugged in answer. "And you are okay with it!"

"He won't be doing it for much longer..."

"No, I won't...I'm dead now..."

"What?" Heero quickly walked closer to Trowa, who in turn slid to the left. "Trowa?"

"I failed Heero...I didn't get my target...I've never failed before...I've *almost* failed once...and got reprimanded for it...harshly...I know what's going to happen now that I *did* fail! I'm disposable, Heero. My life means nothing to him...And Duo...you're in danger too...Leave Duo, I don't know what you did but you have been black balled by his 'society'. If I didn't get you, someone else will!" And with that Trowa took off running. He bolted out of the alley way, onto the sidewalk and disappeared down the street. Duo was about to chase after him when Heero stopped him.

"Heero?"

"He's a trained assassin...he stopped once, he will not stop again...Come on I know where he's going." Heero turned and began running in the opposite direction of Trowa. Duo was quick to follow.

"I don't get it! You knew about this, and didn't try to stop him!?"

"Things like that are not important when you are in love...I knew about it after the third date...but I didn't care...All I knew was I found him...and I wasn't going to lose him again."

==========

Heero sat down on the edge of the pep rally stand in front of the lunch area at South Hills High School. He pulled his lettermen jacket closer to him; it was rather cold even for an October day in California. He sighed deeply as he scanned the grassy area. Hundreds of students were walking to and for, ignoring the conversation between his 'friends'.

As Heero continued to sit there, his feet dangling, he spotted a now familiar figure in his mind. Trowa Barton was his name; he found that out from a classmate in his History class. Heero was amazed by the young man. He was tall, thin and very mysterious. The way he put his hair drove Heero wild, one emerald eyes hidden behind his long bangs.

Heero desperately wanted to get to know the young man, his hormones urging him on every second of the day. But his friends had other things in mind for him. Every time he even mentioned the other boy, Heero received a speech on; 'How a guy in his position shouldn't be seen in the same room with a guy like Trowa.' Heero was just thankful they didn't know he wanted to know Trowa a little more intimately then just a friend.

Heero watched as Trowa walked past them, his eyes never leaving the path he was following. He watched as Trowa nodded to a few people as he made his way towards the gym.

Heero sighed as he turned back towards his friends, who were now making fun of a group of girls walking by. He shook his head at their immaturity and wished he had picked better friends in Freshman year.

=*=*=*=*=*=*=

Trowa drove back to his apartment as fast as he could. He wasn't sure what he was going to do when he got there, just that he had to get there and fast.

Trowa threw his car in park and jumped out of the car. He ran up the stairs to his apartment throwing the door open. As he looked inside he gasped.

"Hello, Trowa."

to be continued...

CCT: (dun-nun-nun!) Who could that be talking to Trowa? Mmm, just read on to find out.