Warnings: language (cursing)

TAINTED FOR LIFE

Chapter two

'I'm thinking about telling mom and dad about my tattoo.' Hilde said. She sat at he desk in her room writing... something. Duo sat on her bed and looked at her angrily. 'And WHY would you do that!'

Hilde turned around, an evil grin plastered to her face 'Because I like to see you suffer.'

'What did I ever do to you!' duo all but screamed, thinking about all the horrible ways in which his parents could kill him once they found out. Hilde was really out for blood this time. It has been four weeks since she had got her bodily decoration. And ever since she had come back from her check-up at the tattoo-shop she was really... devilish with him. He was about to find out why.

'Heero told me you and Quatre came to see him.' She said, the grin disappearing. She looked like Satan on PMS.

'Heero?' He questioned, hoping that he could live to see another day if he just kept denying it. Denial is the key to survival. Just like ignorance is the key to a happy marriage. Wise lessons he had learned from his father.

'Don't even TRY your 'I am so innocent' charade on me! I can look right through you mister!' She said, pointing at him, her eyes narrowing dangerously. Maybe it was time for him to leave the scene as she got up and moved towards the bed like a tiger stalking it's prey. He swallowed, his sister always made him feel... cornered when she looked at him like that.

'Heero told me 'my handsome brother' and 'his blonde-friend' had stepped by the shop. Wanting to 'watch', thinking about getting a tattoo themselves!' She was now really close to him and he leaned back on his elbows but his face grew smug.

'He called me you're handsome brother?'

'ARGH!' She jumped him, literally, straddling his face, her hands flew to his throat, pressing on it, but not hard enough to actually let him suffocate. 'I told you I liked him and you STOLE him!'

'Hilde! You bitch, get off me!' He raised his legs putting his feet against her stomach and pushed her away. She fell on her back on the ground.

He must admit he was a bit out of breath. How come she was so angry! But then again, she was BORN with the sole purpose of ruining his life. 'You sounded more like you were advertising for him! That you WANTED ME to get something with him!'

'Oh come on! Like a guy like him would be gay! Dream on Brother.' She spat the last word out like it had a nasty taste to it. A really nasty taste.

Both their heads turned as the door flew open and their parents stood in the doorway. Their mother looked flustered, father looked furious. Duo swallowed as he lay his angry gaze on him. 'what the hell do you think you are doing Duo!' He asked, rushing to Hilde's aid, getting her on her feet. Unfortunately, by grabbing her uncovered wrist. He looked at the wrist in his hand. His face went pale and if looks could kill all of humanity would be extinct by now. He fixed his gaze on Hilde, who looked innocent and then lay a pointing gaze on her brother. She gave him a smug smile as her father let go of her wrist, stepping towards his son, lifting him of the bed by his collar.

'Would one of you PLEASE, NOW, IMMEDIATELY tell me what the meaning of this... MARK is!' Grabbing Hilde's wrist again, raising it so their mother could see as well. She gasped, putting a hand on her mouth, looking shocked at Hilde.

'How can you even THINK this was my idea! HE,' she pointed at him while tears started streaming down her face, 'FORCED me to take it because he thought the tattoo-guy was hot!'

Two pair of furious eyes focussed on duo. He looked at then, not believing this was actually happening. He would suffer for this for the rest of his life! 'You actually believe that! I wasn't even near her when she let it done!' He looked at his parents, pleading, begging them to believe him. His mother showed some mercy and the anger left her gaze, it looked like she believed him. Thank god. But he knew his father wouldn't be convinced. Cautiously he looked at him. How he hated it when he was right.

'I know my daughter. And I know she would never betray the trust of her family like THIS.'

'Don't you know your son as well! Don't you know me, dad!'

'you can think of your deeds while being grounded. For the rest of your life.' He said firmly and then turned to his daughter. 'I am going to find a specialist and we are going to remove that Satan-sign.' He spat and left the room, dragging his wife with him, who tried to show her protest against Duo's punishment. But nobody in this house dared to stand up to fathers will. His will is law and that is how it shall be. For ever.

He looked at Hilde one more time, tears in his eyes. How could she do this to him? In all their lives she had never done anything that would cause him this much hurt. He needed to find a way to punish her and to get back at his parents. He had crossed the line already, he may as well stay there. He stomped out of her room, thinking about going to his, but thought better of it. He walked through the hall out of the house, slamming the front door with a hard bang. Steam will come out of his fathers ears if he found out he disobeyed his orders but at that moment he didn't care about the consequences. He didn't need to think about that now. He needed a friend and a shoulder to cry on. To let out all his frustrations from the past three years, from the moment he had told his parents about his sexual orientation.

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'Duo!' Quatre looked with big eyes at his friend who stood at his doorstep. Completely soaked from the rain that poured down heavily from the sky.

Duo just sighed and walked into the house, taking his shoes off and his socks, that were also wet.

'Wait here, I'll get you some dry clothes!' Qautre rushed up the stairs and Duo followed the blonde with his eyes, resting on another figure, standing still on the marble steps, looking at him with green eyes, devoid from any emotion as they took in Duo's wet appearance.

'Hi Trowa.' Duo said, not even waiting for an answer as he knew he won't get one. Trowa always gave him the silent treatment. He hoped for Qautre the tall, slim, boy was more talkative to him. Duo would go crazy hanging out with a guy THAT silent. He swallowed, feeling guilty, Trowa wasn't here for fun, they only came together for more... important things that needed a bedroom with a lock. He felt really unwanted, even though Quatre tried his best to deny that as he led him up the stares to the bathroom where he could dry himself and change into the clothes Quatre gave him.

After drying of he put on the dark blue sweatpants and the white T-shirt his friend had given him, they must have been way to large for the small blonde, but they fitted him perfectly.

Now dressed in dry clothing he went to Quatre's room and took everything in. He had been here many times before but never was the bed so hastily made and he noticed how Quatre's shirt wasn't buttoned up straight. Yes, he felt really unwanted here. He'd came here to feel better, not worse.

Quatre and Trowa, who were sitting on the edge of the bed looked up at him as he entered. Quatre flushed and played with the hem of his shirt as he knew duo would notice what it was he had been interrupting.

'I didn't see your dad's Mercedes.' The braided boy commented.

Quatre shook his head 'He ain't home.'

'I didn't see your moms either.'

'She is out with some friends.'

He didn't need the confirmation but now he was absolutely sure what Trowa and Quatre had been doing. Even though Quatre's parents were totally cool with the fact that there only son out of thirty children was gay, the blonde never felt at ease making out with his parents down stairs or just down the hall. He knew that for they had been each others first. They were both experimenting with gay sex, thinking that maybe they were wired that way and well... the opportunity was there and they had took it. They weren't in love and duo didn't freak out, not changing his point of view on Quatre but Quatre was never quite okay with it. That was the first thing that started to break there friendship. The second and probably fatal blow was the boy sitting in the same room as they were in right now. Trowa.

Duo hated Trowa, they were in the same school and often found themselves in a fistfight against each other. Yes, somehow he really disliked the silent man. Maybe because 'Duo' was a synonym to 'Loud' and 'Noisy'. And because he was the first of Trowa's newly found lover, Quatre. At least, he assumed Quatre had told him about that.

'I am sorry, it was a mistake coming here. I should have known better when I saw the absence of your parents cars. Sorry... please... continue.' He stammered and walked out, down the stairs. A worried Quatre followed him, a wise Trowa stayed behind in the room.

'Duo! Duo, please don't go!' He aid as he rushed down the stairs. Catching up on duo and pushing himself against the front door so Duo couldn't open it.

'Quatre, you're being ridiculous. I didn't want to disturb, I only came by for a visit!' He lied, trying to open the door.

'Yeah right and eagles are flying out of my ass!'

Oh my god, Quatre had said something like ass! Wow, it must be the end of the world.

Duo stayed silent.

Yes, the end is here!

'Duo please, tell me what's wrong! You didn't came all the way over here, walking, to leave five minutes after arrival without saying something!'

'You'll get the clothes back tomorrow.'

'That's not what I meant Duo!' Quatre warned. Trying to glare at him. TRYING, for Quatre had the ferocity of a small defenceless kitten.

'Quatre, please, this night has been embarrassing enough already!'

'TELL ME!' the smaller boy demanded.

'Hilde gave me the blame for her tattoo telling mom and dad I like Heero and now my father wants to see me burn! Because that is the only right fate for a faggot like me!' He screamed out in frustration as his tears made his face wet once again.

Quatre's mouth hung open and he was unsure what to say. Then thought: Deeds say more then words. He leaned forward, standing on his tiptoes and wrapped his arms around Duo, holding his friend in a warm embrace.

He felt like crying his eyes out with Quatre but a voice, softly calling Quatre's name stopped him.

'No! Duo please don't go!' Quatre sent his lover a quick but angry glance. Duo had pushed him aside and had opened the door, leaving the house after he got back into his shoes.

'Duo!' He called out loudly, the rain fell down with lots of noise and he watched with sad eyes as his friend walked off the driveway into the darkness. He was worried. No rich, defenceless, kid should be out in the dark on a night like this one.

He closed the door and called Duo's parents, saying that if he wasn't home in half an hour, it may be a good idea to start looking for him. After he had done that, he sent Trowa away, not liking his company at the moment.

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Duo didn't know where his feet were taking him but when he found out eventually, he swallowed hard and became nervous, feeling sweaty all of a sudden and hot, despite the cold rain. He was outside the shop that had caused this shit. LifeTime Tattoo. And, surprisingly, the lights were still on and the woman he had seen behind the counter when he came for a visit was now cleaning the floor behind the white curtain.

He ducked his head when he heard a loud lightening strike very close to him. The strike must have caught the attention of the woman for when he looked up, she was looking outside, looking him straight in the eye. She put away her mob and went to the door, unlocking it.

'What are you doing here kid?' she asked, motioning him to come inside. He obeyed, though he didn't know why. It didn't seem like a good idea going in with strangers, but then again, he saw no immediate threat as he was a foot taller then her and probably much stronger.

'What are you doing outside at this hour! In this storm!'

He looked at the clock and was more then surprised to notice it was almost twelve o'clock. He had been wandering around longer then he thought, seeing that he left home at nine pm. He vaguely wondered what SHE was doing here at this hour bur that thought was pushed away by a different one: Was Heero still here?

'Hey! I know you!' she suddenly said, pointing at him, surprised 'You're the kid that came here with that blondie, to watch! Yeah! I don't forget a braid when I see one!' she joked, but thinking it was weird she remembered the boy since it was like... a month ago or something and the strangest of people came to this shop. 'I'm Catherine by the way.' She said, shaking his hand.

'Duo Maxwell.'

'No! You're kidding right!' she all but yelled, amazed. 'Frankie! Come quick! I told you we would meet someone famous by working here!'

A big guy came up to them, now if things got out of control, duo was no match for THAT guy. The man furrowed his eyebrows, scratching the back of his head. 'What ya saying Gale! I ain't never seen this one on tv!' The poorly spoken man said.

'Well, okay, not THAT famous but he is the son of that bigshot that owns that fancy company in the main street! How's it called again?' she asked at Duo.

Duo knew his father earned himself quite a name, turning a salvage company into THE biggest electronic high-tech company in the world. 'FutureElectronic.' He said, not pleased about the topic. The company would have been his if not for his liking of his own gender. Now Hilde would get it once she is old enough and he? Well, they'll pay his college and then he was on his own, he guessed.

'Yeah! He, I don't want to beg or anything, but can you fix us some free tellies?' She said with a smile and duo assumed, hoped, she was joking. Since he was in no position asking favours from his father.

'I'd better leave.' He said and as if it was a sign, the thunder roared loudly just as he grabbed the door handle.

'Don't be crazy! You'll be a fried chicken before you can say 'Call me sappy and slap me silly'!'

Call me sappy and slap me silly? What the...?

'Dun mind the gale, she jus' got ouwof the funny farm.'

Catherine hit Frankie on his tattooed arm. 'Go scrub some floors!' She joked, but he obeyed none the less, disappearing into the back.

'Hey, we'll be done in half an hour. If you're willing to wait we can bring you home.'

'Yeah! For ransom!' Frankie called from the back and Duo found himself again hoping that it was just a joke.

Catherine grabbed a wet cloth from the counter and threw it at Duo, who gave her a questioning glance.

'Nothing is for nothing. You have to earn the ride!' she said and went to the back, her followed her and for some reason he smiled then and he smiled while scrubbing the floor on his hands and knees and he smiled throwing away ink they had used and putting the garbage outside. He had done some work that was the closest to be called hard in all his life and he smiled through the whole ordeal, even though Heero wasn't there. He found out that Frankie and Catherine were interesting enough to keep his mind occupied and off of his father and the hell he would get in once he was home.

But even though they were long done cleaning, they stayed in the shop, talking till Three am and Catherine yawned and said: 'Come Frankenstein, no sleeping in tomorrow, we better get going.' She pulled Frankie out of his chair and motioned duo to follow them.

The red pick up was old and only had two seats so he had to be snugly in between the two. He couldn't help but smile as Catherine sat behind the wheel, no questions asked.

'So Max, what address is the piece of ground that sports the palace you live in?' Catherine asked as they left the centre of the city.

'My name is Duo.'

'I know.'

Half an hour later they pulled up on the drive way and Frankie whistled while Catherine let out a catcall as they watched the house and the four expensive cars next to it.

'Oh my god! Aston Martin, Jaguar!'

'Mercedes and Ferrari!' Catherine finished, totally excited. 'Forget the free tellies I want one of those! Do they come as a Christmas bonus once I worked myself up into that business of your dad?'

'Yeah, and with working up she means: Sleeping with the man in charge.' Frankie said, earning himself an angry stare.

'Hey! At least I can give them a better night then their wives can.' She turned her attention to the house again, which in her eyes should belong to royalty 'Aw... the first look upon the house a rich-fucker tastes bitter-sweet. You must be really happy with having a dad like yours.'

Frankie had gotten out so duo could get out of the car. He didn't respond to Catherine's remark.

'I'll walk ya to the door!' He said but Catherine pushed him back, miraculously being out of the car somehow.

'Let me do this, I don't think his parents would be pleased with a Tattoo-Jimmy dropping off their beloved son!' Se walked to the front door with duo.

Duo couldn't help but think that his parents couldn't feel better about being dropped off by someone who, in their eyes, could be nothing else then a whore. He swallowed as he rang the doorbell, since he had forgotten his keys.

The maid opened the door but Catherine didn't know she was just the maid and reached out her hand, politely introducing herself. 'Hello misses Maxwell, I am Catherine bloom.'

The maid looked at her like she was pure poison and Catherine tucked her hand back into the pocket of her tight jeans.

The maid ushered Duo to come in and he did. Just as he did his parents came to the hall. As soon as his mother laid her eyes on him she run towards him and pulled him into a tight hug. His father approached the door as well and took in the 'whore' at his front door with disgust.

'thank you for bringing our son back.'

She smiled, waiting if he'd invite her in.

'You're presence here is not appreciated.' He pulled out a fifty from his wallet and gave it to her, 'Please be gone. I hope this covers all of your... services.' With that last word he looked at Duo and he looked rather smug. Like he was, in the back of his mind, proud of his son who seemingly had bedded a woman. Thinking there was still hope to 'save his sons soul'.

She looked at the bill and then suddenly it hit her what he thought she was. She looked up at him, ready to rip his throat out. She threw the bill straight in his face and then turned to Duo. 'You must have gotten your kind personality from your mother.' She looked back at his father and to his dismay she spat on the ground. Duo knew he should be grateful, for she was more the kind of girl to spit straight in his face. She turned on her heels, calling a vague: 'Come by the shop again duo.' Then the door was slammed close by a very angry father who stepped out of the hall into the study where he liked to sit and brood with a glass of Brandy.

'duo, we were so worried.' His mother said, looking him into the eyes, concerned, she wasn't as excited with the idea that he slept with a whore as his father was. He could see it in his eyes and he could feel the anger boiling inside of him. He broke lose from her gripped and before he stormed to his room he screamed: 'She isn't a whore! She is a friend!'

A good one...

Hmmmm, this isn't what I was going for in the beginning... but it'll do.

I live on reviews!

CW