Author:  aomurasakiai

Warnings:  AU, Angst, Sap, Shounen ai/Yaoi

Pairings:  2+1, 1+2, 2x1

Spoilers:  None

Rating:  PG-13

*Everything above may be subject to change*

Fragile Faith:  Chapter 02 - The Strange Boy

Duo quickly dialed the phone number of the orphanage.  After the 4th ring, it was answered by a woman.

//Hello?//  Duo perked up immediately.

"Hi!  Is this Lady Une of the Wyatt Orphanage?"

//It sure is.//  Duo smiled.  Lady Une seemed really nice.

"Well, my name is Duo Maxwell and I was wond-"

//Oh!// Lady Une cut in. //So *you're* Duo.  I didn't expect your call so soon.  I only got off the phone with Mr. Khushrenada like 20 minutes ago.//

Duo smiled.  "He told me all about you and how you needed help." he explained.

//Oh yes,  I need help watching all the little imps.  Mr. Khushrenada mentioned that you are really good with kids so I'm glad that you are showing some interest.//  Lady Une chuckled.  //So anyway Duo, how much would you like?//

"Like I said to Mr. K, I'll be volunteering and I won't accept any payment." Duo said with a grin.

//Oh, you're such a dear.  I thank you Duo.//

"It's really no problem for me.  I can start anytime.  When would you like me to drop by?"

//That's wonderful!  You can drop by any day, if you're not busy that is.  But I don't expect you to stay the whole day of course.//

"I might, you never know.  How about I drop by right now?  I don't have anything else to do at the moment."

//Fantastic.  I'll see you then.//

"It's nothing really.  See you in a few minutes."

//Bye bye Duo, and thank you so much.//

"Bye Lady Une."  Duo hung up, grabbed his keys and jacket, and headed out to his car.

~~~15 minutes later~~~

Duo knocked on the door of the Wyatt Orphanage and almost immediately, a young woman opened it, smiling.

"Hello, are you Lady Une?" Duo asked, returning the smile.

"Yes I am.  And *you* must be Duo."

"That would be correct." Duo replied, nodding.

"I'm so happy that you decided to come.  Mr. Khushrenada told me all about you.  Please, come in."  Duo followed Lady Une inside.  The small Wyatt Orphanage looked like an average orphanage, not too fancy, with pictures drawn by young kids decorating the plain walls.  Duo smiled as he heard kids playing in the next room.  Probably no more than 10 of them from the sounds of it.

"We only have 8 orphans here now," Lady Une said, confirming Duo's guess. "They are really quite a handful but very likable.  I'm sure that you'll have fun with them."  Lady Une smiled and led Duo into the room.

"I'm sure I will." Duo said, smiling at the 7 kids who were busy playing with games and with each other.

"Kids, let me introduce you to a new playmate, Duo."  All the kids stopped playing immediately and pranced over, each saying "hi" enthusiastically.  After Lady Une introduced each little ball of energy, Duo waved and picked up one of the girls, Midii.  She placed her small hand on his cheek.

"Pretty..." she said, smiling.  She then immediately clung to his neck and the others raised their arms as well, obviously in envy.  Duo laughed and picked up each of them, hugging them tightly.  They were all around 7, probably no older than 10.  After several minutes, Duo turned to Lady Une.

"Lady Une, you said that there were 8 orphans.  Where is the last one?"

"Oh..." Lady Une ushered Duo out of the room.  "Well let me just say that Heero isn't like the others... at all."

"Heero.  Is that his name?" Duo asked, his curiosity building.

"Yes."  She let out a sigh.  "Like I was saying, he isn't like the others.  He keeps to himself; doesn't like to play, to socialize or anything of that sort.  I suppose it's because of age difference but... well, he's been here since he was around 5.  We found him unconscious in an alley, malnourished and his clothing in shreds.  We have no idea who his parents were so we think they abandoned him."

"Damn..." Duo whispered, shocked.  "Was he alright?"

"Yes but, it was so weird because he hardly ever cried."  Lady Une paused for a moment, thinking.  "Never in fact, not in all the time he's been here."  She sighed before continuing.  "He's been here for 12 years now and we hardly even know him.  He doesn't open up to us, doesn't show any hints of his feelings, and... it's just so hard to explain."  Lady Une sighed and looked up at Duo.  "Would you like to see him?"

Duo nodded.  "Yes... please."

Lady Une turned and led Duo into one of the single rooms in the orphanage and slowly opened the door.  It was a bit dark; the only light was coming from the only one window, located on the far wall.  And there, staring out the window with one hand under his chin, sat a teenager wearing only a green tank top, tight black shorts, and white socks.

"Heero?" called Lady Une.

No answer.

"Heero, I want you to meet Duo.  He will be a new playmate here."

Silence.

Lady Une looked at Duo.  Duo smiled reassuringly and made his way towards Heero.  Coming up behind the quiet boy Duo offered his hand.

"Hello Heero, my name is Duo."  Heero ignored him and continued to stare out the window.  Duo let his hand fall to his side but his smile still remained.

"What are you looking at Heero?" Duo asked, sitting down next to him.

No reaction.  No movement.  Nothing.

"Heero, is something wrong?"  Duo placed one hand on his shoulder and realized how tense he was.

"Come now Duo, it's no use," Lady Une said quietly.  Duo looked back her and nodded.  Getting up and walking across the room, Duo took one last glance back at Heero before sighing and closing the door behind him.  What he didn't know was that when he was alone once again, Heero turned to stare at the closed door with sad eyes.



tbc...