Blind Love 6

AN: Okay...late update, short chapter. I'm sorry. I'm lazy, It's fun to procrastinate. Haha.

Disclaimer: Don't own, don't sue

Chapter 6: The Meeting

After the boy agreed to speak with him, Heero found himself being lead into the large changing room on ground floor of the building. After going through the one door, the room separated into two hallways. One for men, one for women. Inside the men's changing room, large lockers lined the walls with brightly colored benches lying in from of them. There was a door labeled 'Sauna' right next to a door labeled 'Showers'. It was pretty basic and Heero soon found his attention wavering as slipped slowly into a daze.

"So…um...what is your name?"

"Hmm?" Heero shook his head and turned his gaze back on the blonde boy as he was trying to undo the knot in his belt.

"I asked what your name was. You did, after all, approach me and ask to talk. I suspect you already know my name if you've been watching me all this time. Sensei does like to yell things out. So it's only fair that I know who it is I am talking to."

Heero almost slapped himself out of sheer embarrassment at being caught daydreaming. "My name is Heero. Yuy." He said

From the tangle of belt, the blonde boy stuck his hand out. "Nice to meet you. I'm Solo."

Heero took the hand and shook it, sitting down on one of the benches after he was released.

"So what is it you wanted to talk to me about?" Solo asked, his voice muffled as he struggled to disentangle himself from his class uniform.

Heero didn't know quite how to phrase the question he was about to ask. What was he supposed to say? Hey, I know this guy, and he has your last name. Are you guys related? That would make him sound like an idiot. It was common knowledge that people could share a last name and not be related at all. By blood or marriage. But there was something familiar about Solo. His presence and the way he placed himself was almost identical to Duo's, save for the braided boy's meekness when it came to his disability. And then there were the eyes.

Both of them had a matching pair of violet eyes that reflected light, making them shine. While Duo's eyes were blank in their beauty, Solo's were brimming with knowledge and inner strength that drew him apart from the longhaired boy. They even had similar features. Delicate cheekbones, plush lips, firm chin. Heero was positive that if you gave Solo chestnut hair, he would look exactly like his brunette counterpart.

"Well?" Solo asked as his head finally popped out of the top of his uniform. "Are you asking me about joining my Aikido class? 'Cause you'll have to speak to sensei about that…"

"No…um, I was wondering. You see, I know this guy, right." Heero shifted his weight in his spot, uncomfortably. "And he, well….he looks a great deal like you. It was just a thought…. so I was wondering if you knew someone by the name of Duo Maxwell."

Solo froze in the midst of removing the t-shirt he had had on underneath the thick fabrics of his "Aikido" uniform. He slowly lowered the shirt back down over his torso and bit his lip, turning to a small duffle bag hanging out of his locker.

"Yes…" He said quietly.

Heero's heart jumped. "Yes?"

Solo nodded solemnly, running a hand through his hair. "He…ah….was my brother."

Heero frowned. "Was?"

"Yeah…Duo…we were born in a happy family. In the suburbs of LA, apparently." He looked up at the ceiling, the floor, anywhere but at Heero and Heero's eyes. "We, as we had been told, were a couple of trouble makers, me and Duo. I don't remember much, and I don't think Duo would want to relive our parent's death again. It's just one of those things you shove out of the way, y'know?"

He exhaled deeply. "When I was…jeez it's been a while, 8 years old, he was 5 and I had to take care of him. Some orphanages couldn't fit the both of us, others accepted us but we caused so much trouble, we were kicked out soon after. So we lived out on the streets. I had to provide food for him, and everything. It was pretty bad. We hitchhiked all the way to New York. But there was no room here either. I couldn't find a job at age 8. So…I did things for money just to save him. When it became too much, and we were older, I left him on the front porch of a big house, so I could get an education by myself. It was easier to paw for just one kid. I planned on finding him after I was smart and had a job, like a paper boy or something. But I couldn't find him. I had been selfish…."

Solo put his head in his hands. "I don't know why I'm telling a stranger this! How do I know you know Duo is alive and well!" the blonde's face is contorted with anger. "Why are you being so curious in a subject that is none of your business!"

Heero put his hand's up in defense and scowled. "I didn't delve that deep into the subject! I just asked if you knew him!"

"Well I DO!" Solo shouted. "Now my question is….do you?" his voice softened and tears started to gather in the well of his eyes.

Heero nodded. "I…work with him."

Solo smiled a sad smile; all evidence of anger washed away from his delicate face. "You do?"

Somewhat startled by the sudden mood swings the other boy was having, Heero decided to edge on slowly. "Yeah…he's…doing well."

"That's good…god, I haven't seen him since I was…10. My gosh…"

Heero took pity on Solo. He was young when he made the decision to pay for his own schooling. He had made his mistakes and blamed himself for them. That was no way to live. But, being away from Duo so long, it was a given that Solo didn't know about his brother's problem. Heero had left out that little detail purposely. He'd have to save it for later.

"Hey, um, if you want, I could take you to….y'know, see him."

Solo smiled brightly. "Would you? Oh you have no idea how much that would mean to me!"

Heero nodded. "I will. It might be a bit of a shock for him though…"

Solo agreed.

Duo sat at his kitchen table as Quatre babbled on in the background about one thing or another. Usually, he would have listened to what his friend had to say. He barely had anyone else. And Quatre was not one to complain about much, being polite like he was. But today, Quatre's topic Duo could have expected from a mother.

"And do you know how dangerous some of them can be. You have to be careful who you befriend and fall in love with. You can't just go flaunting about frivolously until you're absolutely sure you can deal with any consequences. Horrible or not. Now this Heero character that you've been talking nonstop about might not be as great as you think he is. Sure he looks cute and is gentlemanly and nice and comfortable to be around; but you never will know for sure until you've spent enough time with hi-"

"You mean until YOU'VE spent enough time with him. Quatre, I know you're just trying to protect me, and I appreciate it, but honestly. No guy I meet will you ever approve of. I'm just a little kid to you again. I need supervision and I need you to know where I am at all times. It's becoming ridiculous. What if one day I decide to get my own place? Will you be calling my apartment 24/7 or will you finally realize I can live on my own?"

There was a sharp intake of breath from Duo's companion and an indignant huff as stomping footsteps left the room, followed by a loud slamming of a door somewhere in the background. Duo buried a hand inside his bangs and sighed. He and Quatre rarely fought and it was hard for him as it was for his friend.

And it did put a dent that would prove to be very hard to fix for the next couple of days, in their friendship. Duo still needed help with the little things…like food shopping and navigating around their apartment building. Quatre would surely throw his words in his face and only help him with venom.

There was a buzz as the intercom to their apartment was being pressed. Stumbling off his chair, Duo felt around the wall of their kitchen to the door. Digits searching for the one little button…there.

"Hello?" He asked.

"Hi…is this Duo?" inquired a familiar nasally voice.

"Heero? Yes this is Duo! Wow…how did you find my apartment?"

Heero chuckled…a welcome sound. "Went through files at the office. I have papers on all you interns."

"Oh I see. Do you want to come up?"

"Actually yeah…I have here…someone who wants to see you."

Duo blinked in his spot then said, "O-okay…come on up then."

The braided boy staggered to the couch and sat down. Being on top floor meant that he and Quatre had to wait at least 3 minutes for guests to make it all the way up to their room.

Duo found himself wondering vaguely how he looked. He hoped he didn't look too much like someone who just jumped out of bed. He fiddled with his shirt, trying to straighten it out with his hands and pulled loose hairs from his braid back into place. When there was a knock on the door, he leaped up and raced for the doorknob, swinging the door open in anticipation.

"Hey." Heero said, stepping up close so Duo could reach out and touch him, to know where he was.

"H-hi." Duo said, blushing. "Sorry if I look like crap. I wasn't expecting you to pop up like this. I didn't know-"

"Not at all, you look…" there was a swallow "You look great."

Duo beamed.

"Um…" Heero continued. "I brought someone with me. He wanted to meet you…kinda"

"Oh really…that's cool. Why don't you guys come in then?" Duo stood out of the way and motioned for them to come inside. Heero first, his friend second.

"Nice place you got here." Heero supplied conversationally.

"I barely helped with the decorating. It was all Quatre."

"Oh."

"Just make yourselves comfortable. Do you guys want anything? To drink maybe? A snack?"

"Nope…I'm fine thanks." Heero said.

"No." Came an unfamiliar voice which Duo took down as Heero's friend.

Duo took a seat which he noted as unoccupied as Heero took a deep breath.

"So Heero? Who's your friend?"

There was a sharp exhale from one of the two men sitting opposite him.

Heero was the first to speak.

"Actually Duo…I think you know him."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Ever know someone named Solo?"

TBC

Yaoi Fan Bunny- Okay….shorter chapter. I was becoming impatient. I'm really impatient. I need to fit myself to a schedule of updates. But I'd probably end up procrastinating….and lagging. Like a lagging-lagger. HAHA!

Please R&R