Gundam Wing

London Alleyways

Warnings: very slight angst, difficult accents, period fic, AU, intrigue, humor, semi-large age differences, OCs

Chapter 07: You Spin Me Right Round

Under any normal circumstances Mrs. Darlian would not dare to condescend to travel down to the police Head Quarters, but as it were she decided that the deed must be done.

Seeing as the Sergeant of police wouldn't spare any of his time to call on her, she would simply call on him. So, there she sat in his office sniffing disgustingly at the unpleasant smell of the station house.

"I'm sure you can see why I have asked for your assistance in this matter." She was saying. "I am quite worried about my nephew's activities. It would be such a shame for him to be dealing in anything unsavory."

The sergeant fought the urge to roll his eyes. He knew very well the kind of woman that was sitting before him. She was tricky and spoiled and utterly offending with anything that didn't go her way.

"I'm sure, Madam that you're only thinking of your nephew's well being, but I can not spare any resources on the task of following him around town." Nor would he want to. Mr. Yuy made very generous donations to the police force as did his father before him. Even if his men weren't spread quite so thin he wouldn't waste resources on following after one of the best respected men in London.

Mrs. Darlian pursed her lips in displeasure. She had been arguing the point with him for well over half an hour and made little to no headway. "Well, if that is the way you see it, then I shall take my leave of you, Sergeant."

She stood rather huffily and stormed out of the office in an undignified manner. "Good day to you."

The Sergeant rolled his eyes and refused to offer her escort back to her carriage waiting outside. She was a woman who figured herself a lot more influential than she actually was.

It wasn't exactly a secret that she controlled her nephew's inheritance from his mother and it wasn't exactly a secret that she had been throwing her daughter in his path since they were children. He shuddered at the thought.

Miss Darlian was known in society for her flighty head and her red hot temper tantrums. No, the sergeant wouldn't help this spoilt woman control her esteemed nephew.

On her way out, Mrs. Darlian practically ran over a burly man with a deep scowl in his face.

Officer Wilkins wasn't in the best of moods. He hadn't been since his thorough dressing down three weeks prior, but upon his walk to his desk he had over heard an interesting conversation between his Sergeant and Mrs. Darlian that would potentially be just the kind of opportunity he was looking for to put Mr. Yuy, that spoilt half-breed, in his place.

"Forgive me my impertinence Mrs. Darlian, but I couldn't help, but over hear that you are in some what of a dilemma."

Mrs. Darlian stopped in her furious stride out of the station and turned to look at the officer addressing her. "What could you possibly have to offer in regards to my dilemma?"

Resisting the urge to bristle at the woman's mighty tone of voice, Officer Wilkins reminded himself that all bluebloods were the same: high and mighty, and downright spoilt. "Madam, I used to walk the route along Winged Lane and if I'm not mistaken your nephew, Mr. Yuy, resides in that neighborhood."

Raising an interested eyebrow, the severe woman pulled a card out of her purse and passed it toward the burly man. "If you have something of interest and you indeed believe that you may be of service in my dilemma, please feel free to call at your leisure, Mr….?"

"Wilkins, Madam. Officer Wilkins." He bowed with a greasy smile and took the card from her manicured hand.

"Well, good day to you, Officer Wilkins." Mrs. Darlian didn't curtsy she simply sneered in dislike and turned to be on her way.

Glancing down at the card, Wilkins let a satisfied smirk fold over his mouth. Perhaps that braided queer will suffer; perhaps that spoilt half-breed will suffer, either way he wins. "Good day, Mrs. Darlian."

It was amazing to Duo how any house could possibly be fancier and larger than Heero's, but the Winner London home had accomplished that; in spades.

It had all the fancy décor and frilly hangings of the socially elite complete with a butler the size of a mountain wearing a fez and red velvet vest over his lose fitting silk shirt and billowy black trousers.

"Master Quatre has been most anxiously awaiting your arrival, Masters Heero, Wufei." The Arab butler's voice was deep and kind.

"It's good to see you again, Rashid." Heero gave the huge intimidating man a nod. "Let me introduce you to my guests."

Henry, Jimmy, and Joe were eyeing the man with open curiosity while Freddy, Ivan and Oscar were running wary gazes over him. If this guy was a butler then they were the crown princes of Newfoundland.

Duo and Solo had slightly better manners. "It's nice ta meet ya." Duo nodded and smiled at the giant man while Solo did the same.

Rashid smiled kindly at the mismatched group and returned the greetings. Master Heero and Master Wufei always were the most interesting of Master Quatre's friends. He couldn't wait to find out the whole story behind how a bunch of street rats had ended up as guests in Heero's home.

Before Rashid's intense and studying gaze could unsettle the skittish children too much a happy shout brought everybody's attention to a young blond man standing at the top of the stairs.

"Heero! Wufei! Lord! It seems like forever ago we were all in Bath together!" He came running down the stairs and immediately wrapped Heero up in a bone crushing hug, swiftly latching onto Wufei as well before he could retreat. "I have missed you, my friends."

"It's good to see you again, Quatre." Wufei detangled himself from the enthusiastic man giving him a reserved smile.

"Yuy. Chang." A deep and smooth voice said from the stairs.

All heads turned toward the new voice to reveal a tall man with a fall of auburn hair and a pair of bright green eyes. "It's good to see you both."

"Likewise, Barton." Heero and Wufei shook Trowa's hand before turning toward the slightly nervous group behind them.

"Quatre, these are my guests I told you about."

Duo stepped forward and stuck out his hand toward the smaller blond man hoping he wasn't breaking any etiquette rules he just had drilled into him.

"I'm Duo Maxwell." Quatre shook his hand and gave him a bright smile.

"This is Solo Maxwell, Frederick, Ivan, Oscar, Henry, Josephine, and James." He used all of their proper names. It didn't seem like quite the time to be informal. Quatre Winner was a very powerful, very rich man. He didn't want to make a bad impression. He didn't want Heero to be disappointed in him.

Quatre blew out a breath and gave the whole group a wonderfully huge smile. "It's lovely to meet you all. Why don't we head into the dining room and have luncheon."

Trowa was having a hard time repressing his chuckling. The poor children were sitting so stiffly and so quietly that it was blaringly obvious they were deathly afraid of making a mistake.

It had come out how Heero had offered to educate the children in exchange for Duo accompanying him to his ball as a distraction for his Aunt. The plan sounded a little farfetched and Trowa suspected that there was more to this story than meets the eye or Heero was willing to divulge.

Trowa watched as one little boy, Henry, was about to dip his bread into his soup when he yelped in pain and quickly dropped his roll back down to his plate. Duo was shaking his head at the little boy and looked pointedly at his own spoon held in his hand.

Meeting his partner's eyes, Trowa couldn't help, but smirk at the amused glint in Quatre's gaze. Heero and Wufei seemed fascinated with the way the children were behaving.

Back at Yuy's home the children never stopped talking or eating with gusto. It was blaringly obvious that this behavior was severely unusual for the small family gang.

Clearing his throat, Quatre smirked at the nervous braided man. "Heero tells me you and your gang here, once cornered him in an alleyway." Leaning forward at the astonished look in Duo's eyes, Quatre whispered quite loudly, "You must tell me how you got one up on him like that."

And just like that all the stiffness eased out of Duo's shoulders and rest of the group chuckled in relief.

It had come as quite a shock that their host and benefactor had actually informed the blond businessman of how they had come to know one another, but it also came as a relief. Now that Duo and his gang knew that everyone in the room knew about their origins it was much easier to enjoy them selves without the fear of messing up and embarrassing their generous new friend.

Even though Heero was out for his own benefit, Duo couldn't help, but feel extremely grateful to him for giving his family this opportunity; regardless of the eventual outcome.

The children resumed eating their meal with their normal enthusiasm and everyone soon found themselves engaged in lively conversation.

Trowa was chuckling away as the twins told a story involving great gestures of their arms and waving of forks, while Wufei was sitting quietly and telling Freddy about Mr. Winner's library. Freddy seemed most eager to explore it at the end of the meal and Wufei seemed even more eager to guide him through it.

Henry was chuckling away while watching the twins' antics and Solo was listening intently as Joe and Jimmy regaled Quatre with every detail of the education they were received while in Heero's care. The blond man seemed more than happy to listen to the youngest members of the group with a soft smile on his lips.

Leaning over to his relieved and still quite stunned pupil, Heero asked, "Did you really think I would have brought you here only to watch you and the children fail?"

Meeting the blue eyed businessman's gaze, Duo smiled wryly and turned his gaze back toward Joe and Jimmy. "I guess not." Then looking the Japanese man in the eye once more stated, "But I was worried 'bout embarrassin' you."

Taken aback by that truthful confession, Heero gave the braided young man a small rare smile. "You and the children have made great progress. Even if you had slipped up I wouldn't have been embarrassed of you." Resisting the color rising to his cheeks, Heero stated, "I'm actually quite proud of you all."

Duo did blush then and quickly turned his attention back down to his half eaten food. Hearing someone other than Sister Helen saying something like that sent a shiver of happiness up his spin and a tingle of confusion through his chest. He knew he was growing feelings for the tall stoic man, but he just couldn't afford it.

His gang depended on him and one slip could potentially get them kicked out on the street where they came from.

Luncheon after that was quite uneventful and the party retired into the larger sitting room. Trowa had taken Wufei and Fredrick to the library to look around while the twins and Henry spent quite a bit of time pulling stories of the Arabian lands out of Quatre's butler and friend, Rashid. Heero sat with Solo discussing various and sundry things.

Duo has in an arm chair next to Quatre while keeping a watchful eye on Joe and Jimmy as they sat on the floor playing with a puzzle the blond man had pulled out for them.

"They are all wonderful children, Duo. You are all lucky to have each other." Quatre's words shook Duo from his observations.

"They're my family." The simple statement brought an almost sad smile to the blonde's face.

"I don't think I have to tell you how lucky you are that it was Heero that stumbled upon your alley." Duo's puzzled expression spurred Quatre to continue on with his train of thought. "I doubt you could have met a more generous man than he. When he told me of what he had done in regards to you and your gang I wasn't surprised in the least."

Duo's brow furrowed. "Yeah. He told me he wante' us to help him fool his old wind bag of an aunt." For some reason he couldn't let himself believe that Heero had done all of this out of the goodness of his heart. It was easier to separate him self if he believed that the Japanese businessman had a selfish reason for his good deed.

"Is that what he told you?" Quatre had an amused smirk dancing over his features. "Heero certainly is an interesting man. I never realized he had begun to deceive himself so thoroughly."

Feeling his forehead nearly crack his confused frown was so deep, Duo opened his mouth to reply, but was interrupted with Trowa's return.

Leaning over the back of Quatre's chair, the taller man placed a gentle hand on his lover's shoulder. "I do believe that Wufei has found a kindred spirit, in our young Frederick."

"So he liked the library, I take it." Quatre turned to face his lover, but didn't miss the look of confusion then realization sweep over the braided young man's face. "Good. Poor Wufei was growing rather wrestles with just Heero to discuss philosophy with."

Duo continued to stare as the taller man with hair covering half of his face rounded the chair and seated himself on the arm of it. He seemed awfully comfortable with his close proximity to the blond and Quatre seemed no less content with it.

Turning to their guest, Trowa asked, "How are you finding living with our Heero?" He didn't miss the stunned look on Duo's face.

The puzzle fell together rather perfectly and Duo couldn't have been anymore stunned. But before he could even begin to formulate a response to Trowa's question Heero stepped up completely oblivious to his charge's discovery.

"I'm sorry to have to leave so soon Quatre, but I have some business to attend to and so does Chang for that matter."

The blond looked at his friend and complained, "But you only just got here!"

Chuckling at his friend's behavior, Heero shook his head. "We've been here for far longer than I had anticipated. We really must leave and I'm sure you and Barton still have unfinished business to attend to before you leave for Paris."

"Did Quatre not tell you?" Trowa stood from his perch allowing his lover to do the same. "We have decided to extend our stay here in London."

"Yes, in light of resent events," and Quatre chuckled at his friend's sudden scowl, "We decided it would be infinitely more entertaining to stick around for a while. Besides," he smiled sincerely, "I'm betting you and Wufei could actually use our help in regards to the up coming ball."

Heero suddenly blushed and had the decency to look sheepish.

"Yes, Heero Yuy. I did find out about your birthday ball and I am mortally offended that you didn't see fit to invite us!" Quatre laughed to show no actually ill will between friends.

"I assure you," Heero stated with a renewed glare at his giggling friends, "That had I known you both would be in town I would have happily extended an invitation."

Looking to sooth both Heero's annoyance and Quatre's teasing, Trowa smiled. "In that case, Yuy, we're more than happy to attend. As of right now, I believe you best go and retrieve Wufei and Freddy from the library before they get so absorbed we are unable to pry them away."

During their banter, Duo had excused himself from their sides to gather up his gang.

Josephine pouted and pulled on his sleeve. "But Duo! We 'aven't finished the puzzle yet!"

"Yeah!" Jimmy protested.

"I'm sorry," Duo gave them an apologetic smile. "Mister Yuy said we had to be leavin' now. He and Lord Chang have business."

Nodding in resignation the two youngest followed him toward the others. Soon they were all organized and awaiting Heero's return with Wufei and Freddy.

Heero climbed his way up the stairs toward the library and was about to step through the door way when a sight suddenly stopped him in his tracks.

Wufei and Freddy were standing no more than a foot apart, an old and thick book open between them in the Chinese businessman's hands. Freddy was looking up the few inches separating their height to stare into Wufei's deep onyx eyes.

Time seemed to have stopped for him as Wufei looked into his pupil's warm brown eyes. Without his commanding it his face was lowering slowly toward the younger boy and he didn't seem to be able to stop himself. He knew he shouldn't; knew it was better for the boy before him if these thoughts had never entered his mind in the first place, but neither of them seemed able to stop the pull.

His throat seemed tight and dry as he whispered, "Freddy..." Their lips were so close together, they could each feel the warmth radiating off of the other.

They were a second away from actually finishing their action when the clearing of a throat startled them apart.

Taking a deliberate step back, Wufei shut the book in his hands with a sharp snap then turned toward the sound to meet the stoic expression of his friend.

"Yuy."

Taking a step into the library, Heero never took his eyes off of his tense friend. "I already called for the carriages. Duo's already waiting for us to leave."

Freddy couldn't quite make his heart stop pounding. They had been so close. He could almost feel Wufei's lips on his.

This wasn't a feeling he was used to. His time on the streets before he met Duo had been terrifying, painful, cold, but when he was with Wufei he could almost forget about everything. He treated him like an equal, never looked down on him.

His heart suddenly ached. "I-I'll go down and wait with Duo." He didn't take his eyes off of the floor as he rushed passed Heero and hurried away from the library.

Heero watched his friend's carefully blank expression suddenly crack as he watched Freddy race from the room. "Fei."

"I know Heero."

Sighing, Heero thought, 'No, you don't.' He could tell his friend was harboring feelings for the young man and he didn't know quite how to help either of them. He only hoped that Duo would be of more help to Freddy then he was to Wufei.

Duo turned from his conversation with Quatre to see his young charge hurrying into the room with the look of a cornered animal. "Freddy?"

The boy merely shook his head and took his place with his other friends and kept his head pointed to the ground.

Frowning Duo was about to press the issue when Heero's voice took his attention.

"Well, Quatre. It was nice to see you again."

The blond looked from the young boy, Freddy, with a sad smile and widened it for his two friends. "It was our pleasure, Heero. We will be waiting for you to call and invite us for luncheon."

Turning an amused smile toward the silent tall man, Heero asked, "Is he always this presumptuous?"

"Don't you know?" Trowa smirked and wrapped an arm around his lover's waist. "It was good seeing you both, Yuy, Chang."

Shaking hands with Trowa and receiving warm hugs from Quatre, Heero and Wufei led the way out of the Winner London home.

Duo stopped in front of his hosts and shook hands with them both. "Thank you for yer hospitality." The rest of his gang echoed those sentiments before they all filed out of the house and piled into the carriages.

It had been a grueling day despite the relaxed luncheon at the Winner home.

Once they had returned to Heero's house Wufei had made his excuses of business and departed, leaving Sally and Howard to guide the gang in their studies for the rest of the day.

It was just after supper and Duo was sitting at his dresser brushing his long hair out when he saw Freddy walking past his room in the mirror.

"Oi! Freddy!" The boy stopped and walked back to the door just barely sticking his head into the room. Duo stood from his seat at the vanity and finished braiding his hair, tying it off with a ribbon. "Hey Freddy, come on in."

The sixteen year old stepped into the room cautiously. He wasn't quite sure what Duo wanted to talk to him about, but he was nervous like a rabbit. Taking his place next to Duo on his bed, Freddy kept his head down, staring at his hands as his fingers picked at the blanket.

A warm gentle hand landed on his shoulder. "Freddy, what happened ta' day?" Duo was worried about his friend. He had rarely seen him so withdrawn.

Freddy shook his head stubbornly. He wanted to talk to his guardian more than anything, but he was afraid of what he might think if he knew that he was in love with Lord Wufei.

Frowning sadly, Duo nudged the boy's face up to look at him. He could tell something was seriously wrong with his charge. "Ya know ya can tell me anything, right?"

Looking at his guardian in his concerned violet eyes, Freddy felt tears well up in his own for the first time in a long time. "I-... I love Wufei." His voice cracked and his face flushed.

Duo didn't know quite what to say to that. He had suspected as much, but it was completely different to have his suspicion confirmed. "Oh Freddy."

Suddenly the tears spilled over and Freddy was being pulled into Duo's arms where he clung to the first person to ever show him kindness like a lift raft. His throat was tight with sobs and his cheeks burned from the hot tears, but he just buried his face into Duo's chest and told him about the near kiss in Winner's library.

By the time he was done pouring out his tale and the tears had all, but completely dried, Duo was warring with himself on whether to kill the Chinese businessman himself or to console his confused and heartbroken friend.

"I dun know wha' ta do, Duo!" Freddy stared up at his friend's carefully blank face. "I jus' know 'e dun like me! Why would 'e li' a whore li' me?"

"Shu' up, Freddy-boy!" Duo swatted the back of the crying boy's head making him flinch away. "Don' ya ever star' talkin' li' tha!" Duo knew his speech was regressing, but he didn't really care at the moment. All he cared about was the heinous rat shit coming out of his charge's mouth.

"Yer jus' as worthy a' love as tha' stuck up Prince Bastar'! An' don le' no one tell ya other wise!" Freddy's eyes were the size of saucers. It had been so long since he had heard his guardian speaking like that it was almost a shock, but comforting none the less to have something familiar to grasp at.

Duo's face softened from its scowl as he watched the astonishment mix with the sadness on his charge's face. He gently cupped Freddy's damp cheek and gave him a comforting smile. "You are very much worthy, Freddy. Lord Wufei is just..." Duo sighed and chuckled humorlessly.

He couldn't really give his charge love advice now could he? His own heart was warming and he was just as confused and a little bit frightened by his own predicament. Duo had been ignoring his own state and refusing to acknowledge it, but Freddy's predicament was just making it that much harder for Duo it to overlook Heero Yuy and his frightening affect on him.

Sighing again and collecting his thoughts, Duo continued, "Give it some time, Freddy. If Wufei feels the same for you it will all work out. And even though he is a tight ass, he is honorable and won't lead you wrong."

Freddy nodded in understanding. He knew Wufei would never play him for the fool, but despite his adopted brother's comforting words he still felt his inequality to the proud businessman.

Looking into his friend's eyes curiously and with somewhat restored optimisms, Freddy asked, "Does your heart flutter and heat up like mine does with Wufei when Heero looks at you?"

Chuckling nervously, Duo scratched at the back of his head. "Yeah, it just about jumps out of my chest, I can never-" He stopped abruptly and a flush began to creep up his neck. The realization of what he had just admitted halting him mid sentence.

Glaring at his suddenly grinning friend, Duo reached over and pinched him ferociously. "You little shit! You did that on purpose!"

Freddy giggled madly as the pinches turned to tickles and both former street rats ended up wrestling on the cloud soft bed merrily. "Stop! Stop! I give up!"

Duo relented and both boys separated with laugh flushed cheeks and smiles.

Once their hearts calmed and their giggles subsided, Duo glance over at his young friend nervously. "Is it really that obvious?"

"Nah. I was jus' lucky ta catch you smiling at him while his back was turned." Freddy grinned.

Puffing a breath out through his lips, Duo rubbed at his face. "If he ever knew we'd be out of here faster than ya could say scat."

His young companion refrained from commenting. He didn't think Heero would turn them out just like that, but then again what did he know about a nobleman's whims.

Looking over at his now grim faced guardian, Freddy wrapped an arm around him. "It'll be alright, Duo. Heero is a good man. He won't turn us out. He promised."

Duo smiled wryly. Even through all that his young charge had endured he had still retained his faith in humanity. Not that Duo had lost his completely, but he knew that not all people could be trusted to keep their word. Heero was a good man, true, but he may decide yet that having a street rat developing intimate feelings toward him would tarnish his reputation.

Duo found that people were often times unpredictable like a cornered animal.

"Thank you, Freddy." Returning the embrace, Duo placed a kiss upon the sixteen year old's forehead before pushing him off the bed and toward the open door. "Now get ta bed with ya! We have a whole day of learning to get done, tomorrow."

"Good night, Duo." Freddy smiled warmly and stepped out of the room to return to his own, leaving Duo to sit in silence with a sad expression and a longing heart.

Heero stepped back into the shadows of the hall as he heard Freddy walking toward the door.

The conversation he had over heard left him with a foreign feeling deep in his chest.

He was worried about Freddy and had stopped to listen and to find out how he was dealing with the afternoon's events. He was overwhelmingly relieved that Duo had comforted the boy and thoroughly entertained with said former street rat's colorful language. It had brought a smile of amusement to his worried façade.

But when he had heard Freddy's seemingly innocent question and Duo's unwitting reply the hall had suddenly spun on its axis.

His own visceral reactions to the braided young man had confused him exceedingly, but that wasn't what had struck him so much as Duo's quiet statement of his own reaction to finding out about the braided man's feelings. It hurt him strangely to think that he had given the beautiful young man the impression of such cold heartedness.

Like Freddy said, he had given his word and he would not renegotiate on that. It wasn't a surprise that Duo had such little faith in his fellow man, but it hurt Heero that he had such little faith in him.

With a surprising determination, Heero resolved to show the beautiful braided young man that he was a man of his word and trustworthy with the well being of his gang. He wouldn't rest until Duo was convinced.

Heero nodded in satisfaction with his new mission and turned toward his own room. He ignored that his chest had fluttered at Duo's words and his own heart was beating as if to jump from his chest.

Fingering his retrieved time piece in his watch pocket, Heero shook his head. He would think about that at a later date. As for right now, he had trust he must earn.

A/N: Alright! The plot thickens... slightly. So, I hope ya'll like it and I apologize for the long delay. This chapter gave me some trouble, but I happy with it. Please review and tell me what ya'll think!

11