It had been three weeks since that awkward moment in Heero's limo.  I'd expected him to be like every other human, but he wasn't.  He was even more twisted.  In the limo he actually took care of me, and treated me like I was almost equal to him.  But the moment we stepped into the factory where I was to work, all of that changed.  It's like someone took a vacuum to his head and sucked out all of his emotions.  He was using his short speech again, he started calling me Kitsu, and his eyes were so empty. 

So I've worked it out to this, in the company of others, workers, friends, etc. I am scum, but when we are alone, I am Duo, equal to humans.

I stand here, contemplating all this at my station in Heero's car factory.

"What on earth is with that man?"

I sighed and continued my daily job of inspecting windshields.  When they tell you assembly lines are dull, they mean it.

"Hey, Duo!" someone calls out to me.

I turn around and see G, a manager at the factory and fellow Kitsu.

"Yeah G?"

"Mr. Yuy wants to see you.  What did you do this time?"

I grin.

"Nothing.  Just stole a few parts, made a few escape attempts." I rattle off my numerous misdeeds.

G shakes his head.

"How you've survived this long is beyond me."

I shrug and bound up the stairs to Heero's office, wondering if I'd survive this time.

"Duo." Heero says in monotonous greeting as I enter.

I nod slightly. Rule no. 1; do not speak unless spoken too.

I notice Heero doesn't make eye contact.  Rule no. 2; don't expect emotional or social response, it is against Heero's nature to have feelings.

I shift uneasily, wondering why I'm here.

I clear my throat.

"Ahem."

Heero's blue eyes snap up to look at me, hitting me with a shiver of coldness.

"What is it with this man and his eyes?  Why do they always have this affect on me?"

He acknowledges my staring.

"Yes?" he says.

I tense up, feeling stupid and even a bit afraid.

"You, um…you called for me sir?"

Heero stood up, walking towards me.

"I've noticed Duo, that you don't seem too happy with your current job.  You have a lot of excess energy; my guess is that you find doing the same task over and over extremely boring.  Is this true?"

I hesitate.  If I say yes, he might punish me, but if I say yes, maybe he'll give me something more exciting to do, but what if it's dangerous?

He demands an answer just by looking at me, with those eyes that I can hardly stand.  I give in.

"Yes, it is true sir."

"Thought so."  Duo, what if I reentered you in the Black Spade games, to give you something to do?  Would you like that?" he asks.

"With a choice between getting hacked into tiny pieces or risk boring myself to death, what would common sense say?"

"Yes sir, I would." I answer.

The thing about common sense is that you need some before you can use it.

Self doubt and fear cut it.

"Um Heero?"

He looks at me again, I'm amazed at his ability to substitute looks for words.  I continue on.

"What if I can't make it?  What if I lose or I get killed?"

I feel stupid asking these questions, but part of me hopes for sympathy.

I feel a hand lift my face.

"You won't die.  You won't lose."

I look up at him.

"How are you so sure?"

"I won't let you lose Duo, I believe in you."

He leans in close to me.  My face gets hot and my heart rate increases.  I want him closer, but at the same time I want him far away, because I know I'm walking a forbidden line.

Something suddenly changes in Heero's face and he quickly pulls away. He looks disgusted with something.

He sits back down at his desk and without looking at me he says, "I'll arrange for you to be re-entered into the Games.  That is all Kitsu, you may go now."

I leave more confused and worried than when I had come in.

~Heero's Office, After Duo's Left~

Heero sat at his office, unsure of his thoughts, even more unsure of his actions.

"What the hell is wrong with me?  Treating him like that!  Like I care about him.  Dammit!  I was this close to crossing a forbidden line.  But his face, his beautiful face…"

He slammed his fist on the hard wood.

"This is ridiculous."

~~~~~~~

As the day comes to an end two young men are left confused by their own thoughts and feelings, but very much in love.  But in this world, even love has its limits.

~*Author's Notes:*~

Sorry for the incredibly lame chapter ending and short chapter in general.  Dramas are harder than they look!!!! Anywho, if anyone cares, I have about three more fics that will be starting up and one that will be ending within two chapters or so.  It's been great ppl.  Feed back is always nice, especially when I don't know how good the story is, because this one, I'm very unsure of, but if you like it, guess I'll continue it. ^   ^ Ja ne!

-BlackStar