THIRD CHAPTER

Wufei and Heero were sitting at a fancy café. Behind dark shades that made him look absolutely delicious enough to eat… (gomen, got a bit carried away) Wufei explained over a cup of hot mocha and a slice of chocolate cake what Heero was supposed to do next. Heero wasn't really listening though, and he simply nodded from time to time. He caught something about a new victim and a large sum of money in payment, but that was about it.

Heero was gazing dreamily outside the large window towards the people in the street. His heart gave an involuntary jolt when he saw a man dressed in black approaching… False alarm, it was merely a priest walking by. To avoid Wufei telling him off for not listening he eventually took a sip of his coffee and turned to look at him.

"…so I suggest you start looking for J, I'm sure he'll be able to tell us something about it" was saying Wufei at the moment.

"Yeah, probably…" assented Heero not really knowing what he was saying yes to. Anyway, he would get the finer details from Wufei later in a very casual and discreet manner. It always worked pretending he had some doubts about what they had previously discussed so Wufei would go once more over the whole deal. Apparently Wufei had never noticed Heero's tactics.

"There's also one more thing I want to talk to you about, Heero" continued Wufei.

"Hn…" nodded Heero, still not listening.

"This morning a guy dressed in black came to our hotel room. Do you know him?"

Heero choked into his cup when he heard Wufei mention a guy in black. Soon he came back to his senses and realized that Wufei was actually talking about that Maxwell guy. For the first time since they sat down to eat, Heero was giving him full attention.

"A guy dressed in black?" asked Heero casually, recovering himself after a few coughs, as if though nearly choking to death was not a matter of concern.

"Yes Heero, a guy dressed in black, about our age and your height, with a long brown braid and cobalt eyes. He showed up this morning right at our hotel room. Got any idea of who might he be?"

"I… he… umm…" Heero was in a tight spot, how could he explain Wufei he had been stupid enough to take that man to their room. "I don't know," answered Heero slowly, pretending he was as surprised as Wufei.

"Oh really? Well, I had a funny feeling you might…"

"He might've gotten the wrong address or something…"

"Really?"

Heero held Wufei's stare for as long as he could, trying to act innocent. Despite the fact he was a cold-blooded murderer, used to hiding any sort of emotions beneath a thick, serious mask, he always had a tough time trying to hide the truth from Wufei. His friend knew him too well, and no matter how good he was at covering the facts from even a mind reader, he knew he wouldn't be able to hide it for long from him.

I'm screwed thought Heero.

Wufei obviously knew Heero was lying. That man dressed in black had clearly asked for Heero Yuy. What were the odds of having another man called Heero Yuy staying at the same hotel, but at a different room and that the guy exactly mistook the other's address for his friend's.

Probably a gazillion to one thought Wufei kicking that stupid idea off his head.

"Well, maybe you're right" finally said Wufei deciding to play along Heero's game, "he must've mistaken the number or something"

Heero froze momentarily, unwilling to believe his luck. Had Wufei bought it? He dearly hoped that the Maxwell guy had forgotten his name or that he didn't mention it. Still, not wanting to press the matter he seized the first subject that came to his mind to change the course of the talk.

"So… you were saying that we have to find J… any ideas of where he might be at right now?" said Heero as casual as he could, attempting to take another sip of his coffee, only to realize his cup was empty.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Trowa Barton knew his friend all too well to believe that he'd make the hacker pay for his faults. The most Quatre would do would be lock him away at some prison and keep him there for some years until he thought he'd had punishment enough, but after that he'd let the hacker free as a bird with no extra charges. That was the kind of man Quatre was. Kind-hearted, thought Trowa sometimes; quite stupid, would think the rest of the people most of the time if Trowa wasn't there to ensure that whomever thought that got what they deserved… probably torture…

To make sure his friend's name as well as his company's were kept clean and still respected, Trowa was going to take matters in his own hands. He was going after the hacker himself. Quatre would obviously discover his plans of pursuit, but for some lame excuse of wanting to save some money if he got there before the mercenary he was sure to get off with it. Quatre blindly trusted Trowa, even with his own life if necessary.

As he was packing a cell phone, some guns and extra bullets in a briefcase, Quatre came into his room. One look around told him everything he needed to know.

"So you're going hunting as well?" asked the blonde.

"If I get to the hacker before the mercenary we won't have to pay him. You know that at the moment the company can't afford to throw away such sums"

"It's all right, we won't go bankrupt from paying a couple of million dollars"

"I'm still going"

Quatre bit his lip and stared at Trowa's back for a moment while his most trusted counselor kept reaching for spare bullets on his bed and packing them neatly. When Trowa closed the briefcase and turned, Quatre immediately lowered his gaze to the floor.

Trowa advanced toward him and when he was within inches of him he raised the blonde man's chin in an affectionate way. He stared deeply into his eyes for a moment and lowered himself slowly to kiss those soft and tender lips.

"I'll be all right," whispered Trowa when they parted.

"I know, but I can't help feeling worried about you," answered Quatre moving closer until he was leaning on the taller man's chest.

Trowa wrapped his arms around him and with one hand gently stroked the blonde hair, just like comforting a small child that was afraid of monsters underneath his bed. They stayed like that for a while until it grew darker; then, it was time to go to bed…

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Duo Maxwell was in shock. He had found Heero Yuy, that was for sure, but he had no idea he was staying with such a hot guy. Maybe that was his lucky day. Tirelessly working on his ever-faithful computer, at the middle of the night, he soon discovered a notice that amused him.

"Wanted, dead or alive" he began to read, "hacker that provoked the Winner Outer-Space Transport Company mass computer breakdown. Any information on him/her will be generously paid. Negotiable reward… he, he, they're really pissed off!" exclaimed Duo gleefully as he finished reading the notice, "and a 'negotiable reward'… well, makes me want to turn myself in just to get the money… speaking of which…"

Eyeing his wallet he discovered that not even moths would fly out of it. Time to get some cash, even if it was just to pay the hotel's bill.

"Now, who's account will I be stealing from this time…" said Duo sarcastically.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

A/N: I offer you guys who still like to read my fics a ton of apologies for keeping you waiting for sooooooo long. For no reason I simply ran out of ideas until one night, before going to bed, it hit me… I had to drag myself out of bed to write it down… YOU OWE ME AN HOUR OF SLEEP!!!! But I love to write so don't worry, I won't charge you for it, just have fun while reading it and don't forget to review after you've done so.

By the way, thank you ahanchan for pointing out that both Wufei and Heero meet Duo before he becomes the target. To tell you the truth, I hadn't noticed it… he, he, well, you've opened a whole knew line of possibilities for this story… thanks a bunch. Thanks to Juliana and Nikkler as well for reviewing last chapter!