Duo bit his lip and tried not to look too disappointed. He should have known that they wouldn't turn up. Tim had looked way too nervous the night before.
"Oh hey! Is that them now?" Jem pointed at the end of the alley where two figures were coming toward them. The dark-haired one was wearing a black boob tube with a long fishnet shirt over the top and long tight black pants. The white haired one was wearing an open black vest, a black dog collar and long tight black pants also. Both were lean and around six-foot tall.
"Yeah." Duo answered, a little daunted. Jem forced himself to stop staring and closed his mouth. He couldn't help but notice how handsome the two were.
Duo stepped forward as they came closer. "Tim! Ade! Am I glad to see you guys! Especially you Ade! I wasn't sure if you were like, around still."
Ade grinned. Tim elbowed him in the arm and nodded at the redhead.
"Um...yeah." Duo continued. "This is Jem remember? He wanted to come see you guys too."
Their reaction was instantaneous. Both of them threw themselves at Jem, exclaiming and hugging him. When the two of them let go, Jem grinned embarassedly and ran his fingers through his hair.
"Not often I get gorgeous guys throwing themselves at me in dark alleyways." Jem grinned at his childhood friends. They grinned back.
"Um, did you guys want to go somewhere more private?" Tim asked, " 'Cos this alley will be flooded with activity soon."
"Sure, like where?" Duo inquired.
"There's a few streets further back from the road that are pretty deserted at this time of night. We can talk there." Ade suggested.
Duo smiled to himself. Heero and Milliardo would flip if they heard that. They didn't want Jem and him meeting prostitutes in any alley let alone a deserted one.
"Sure." Duo smiled again and the group set off.
/Gosh Duo's a babe. He's even more amazing than I imagined. That hair, those lean hips....that backside./ Ade trailed behind the group as they walked, his bruised ribs causing him pain. /Better keep myself in check. He's probably freaked out enough to be hanging with prostitutes, let alone turning around to see me all google-eyed./ Ade smiled to himself.
The group stopped and sat down on the hard concrete; Tim and Ade leaning against the wall and Jem and Duo facing them. For a short while there was an awkward silence. Then Jem spoke up.
"So.....you guys are on the game?"
"Jem!" Duo exasperatedly admonished him. Tim and Ade looked at each other and laughed. Jem had hardly changed at all. He had always had the ability to speak his mind without being offensive. To know just what he could get away with and how far he could push the line.
"Yeah." Tim answered, still grinning. Then he sobered. "Duo, I know that's probably weird or shocking for you and Ade and I won't be offended if you don't really want to stay, or like, hang around us."
"It's cool." Duo smiled to reassure them. "I'm just happy to see you both."
"Are you kidding? We're so happy to see you!" Ade grinned. "To see that you are well.....and yeah. Healthy. You are healthy right? I mean, you can breathe fine 'n all?"
"Yeah. There are moments, but mostly it's all good. I mean, I'm never going to run for America or anything, but I haven't been to hospital for at least five years."
"You don't know how great it is to hear that Duo. Tim and I always wondered how you were after that night we visited. I've never gotten you out of my head. What happened after that night?"
"I don't remember a great deal, but I had some sort of life-saving operation and then a long recovery period. It's pretty much been smooth sailing since then. Where did you two go after that night?"
"Oh..." Tim scratched his ear, thinking. "Oh, that's right. We were stopped by a nurse or warden or something the next night and they threatened to call the police on us so we were too afraid to come back."
"I figured it was something like that." Duo looked concerned. "But I mean after that even. How did you guys live? Like this or..or what? And even now..." Duo bit his lip and looked at Ade. "Even now I'm worried for you both. Your eye Ade. And don't think I didn't notice you wincing and grabbing your side on the way here."
Tim's eyes darted toward Ade who shrugged helplessly. "I know it looks really bad. But it's okay. Really."
Duo raised an eyebrow at him.
"No seriously Duo. It's like you were saying before. There are moments for me too. Moments when I want more or I want better, but mostly life is a whole lot better than it ever was. Especially now." Ade grinned at Jem and Duo.
Everyone suddenly looked to the end of the street where someone was running toward them.
"Tim!" the figure called. "Mr. Ferrari is asking after you. What should I tell him?"
"Tell him I'll just be a minute!" Tim called back. The person ran away again. "Sorry guys." Tim pulled himself to his feet and looked down at his companions. "I have to keep moving."
Ade stood also. "I'd really better go as well."
Duo jumped to his feet. "Wait! Can I have your phone number or something?"
"No. No phone." Tim stopped and thought, running his fingers through his hair lightly. "Tell you what, I'll give you guys our address. Just a second." He fished through his pockets for a pen. "Here." Tim took Duo's hand and began to write. Duo felt his stomach give a flutter and inwardly frowned at his unexpected reaction.
"There you are." Tim grinned, "The both of you can drop by anytime during the day. You shouldn't really try to find us around here at nighttime again."
"Gotta fly!" Ade gave Jem a friendly slap on the back and Duo a wave and a smile and then the two took off.
Jem and Duo watched them go, both still feeling a little surreal.
"What a whirlwind meeting that was." Jem raised his eyebrows and smiled at Duo.
"I know. I'm still processing it all. Hey, do you remember how to get out of here?"
"Pretty much. This way."
Heero leaned on a wall at the front of the school, scuffing his shoe in the dirt and waiting fop Duo to arrive. He hadn't heard from him since Wufei's party on Friday night and he was fairly annoyed that Duo hadn't contacted him. /Didn't he realise how worried I've been?/
"Hey! Heero!" Duo jogged up to him. "Have a good weekend?"
"No." Heero replied coolly. "You?"
"Yeah I did. What happened to make you put on the ice act?" Duo cocked his head; puzzled.
"You hardly filled me in on anything Duo. You went off to find two prostitutes and I don't even know who they are! You didn't call me either. For all I knew,....well I didn't know. I didn't understand any of it."
Duo stared, completely taken aback. /He must be upset to ramble like that. Heero! Rambling!!/
"I'm sorry Heero. I had no idea how big a deal it was. I would have explained more but I was just excited and not really thinking straight I guess."
"Hn." Heero grunted, settling back against the wall.
/Does that mean I'm forgiven?/ Duo wondered. /I'm forever trying to interpret his silences./
The bell for first period rang.
"Look Heero, meet me at lunch and I'll explain everything. And try not to stay too mad at me okay?" Duo poked his tongue out then grinned; enjoying teasing Heero, as usual.
Heero watched Duo jog away, his braid bouncing on his back. /I can never stay mad at you Duo./ Heero thought. /And believe me, sometimes I try./
"Well?" Heero frowned at Duo over a hamburger and juice box. "Spill. Who are they?"
"Their names are Tim and Ade. And I have told you about them before." Duo opened his home-packed lunch. "Remember? The two ten-year-old boys who beat me up for my lunch money just after I met you?"
Heero nearly choked on his juice. "Those bullies?? The ones who put you in hospital? Duo! You went to see them??"
"Heero. It's fine. They're really decent guys." Duo persuaded.
"Duo. They almost killed you." Heero fumed.
"They didn't mean to!" Duo felt himself getting a bit angry. "They were only ten. And they apologised. They felt terrible! They had no idea that I was sick!"
"You were tiny Duo. They picked on you despite how skinny and small you were."
"Don't you remember what else I told you?" Duo flared, "The scars? The burn marks? The cigarette burns? I checked Ade out; he still has them! And new ones to go with them!" Duo sighed. "I was just happy to know that they were still alive Heero. And you should have seen how happy they were to see me and Jem. After all they've been through Heero, I them to be happy."
Heero exhaled exasperatedly. "I know that Duo. It's just.....bullies turned prostitutes? It just feels wrong."
Duo's eyes flared and he opened his mouth to argue again.
Heero held up his hands. "I know. Alright. I'm not letting you go down that alley by yourself though. Ever."
"I don't have to. I have their address."
Heero swallowed his frustration. "Okay. Whenever you meet them next, I'm coming too."