~Rough Patches~

Summary: AU. Heero is in a gang. Trowa is a French foreign student who moved to America with his father to further his studies in music. What happens when they cross paths?

Warnings: Not exactly warnings but some things I think you would like to know. Mentions of 1+6, MeiranX5 and 1XR. Racism and well, angst.

Thanks for the feedback. Further comments would be lovely.

Chapter Two: A normal start to a shitty day

Heero

"I'm sorry."

It's yet another day, another hour. Glancing at the packet of white powder I held, I snarl in distaste and stash it into my pocket. My task is only to deliver it to the person who requested it, and collect the money. Dirty job. I growl again and a petite girl that walked past me immediately moved a few steps away, darting nervous glances at me. I bare my teeth savagely and pick up my pace. The faster I got it done, the better.

I stand at the deserted road junction, arms folded across my chest. Dumb-ass guy supposed to be here by now, and now I've to wait. Irritating as hell. Did everyone think that just because I run drugs I had nothing else to do? Maybe I don't but it's none of their shit-in' business.

A truck pulls up next to me and a lightly trembling pale hand emerges from the half open window, holding a stack of notes between two fingers. I drop the packet I had with me into the outstretched palm and snatch the wad in the same action. The fingers wave at me jauntily and withdraw, the truck leaving few moments later. Assholes.

Now to get the money to King.

OOOoooOOO

I stride in through the door of the dump again and am struck by a sense of déjà vu. Wasn't it a few days ago that I walked in through the damn door and got sent away with orders to settle some fight? I rotate my right shoulder lightly. Still felt the bruises. Just like the other day, I drop the stack of notes on the table, the only exception being that there was close to nobody at the makeshift table. Only King sat there, lazily smoking a stinking cigarette and Bishop at his side eyeing me disdainfully.

"Handsome's back, huh? Let's see what he has brought back for us today. After all we are bored out of our minds while the others are out patrolling."

Patrolling my ass. More like tormenting. Some poor soul out there is getting beaten to within an inch of their life. I may be in a gang but I have my principals that I stand by. I don't need to agree with everything they do. And I don't.

Bishop pitches in, "And I bet Knight here is aching to get into the action, seeing that he gets none." He is such a pain in the butt. Fortunately for him (and me), I've gotten used to having stuff that hurt me on my butt. He sneers, normally average face twisting into a semblance of a monster. And that's what he is. Scheming little shit.

King smirks and quashes the end of his cigarette under his boot. He leans forward, resting his elbows on his thighs. Lacing his fingers under his chin like he was praying, he tells me, "Knights protect the honor of their kings. Someone has pushed that a little too far. Settle it." He slides a piece of yellowed paper across the crate and nods for me to pick it up. I do and find an address and time on it.

"End it quick."

OOOoooOOO

I get into my trusty carriage (Knights have horses, though) and drive home. There is some time before I've to meet the person at the deserted warehouse. Relena and I used to spend our time there together until she miscarried. Her child. No, our child. And now, I'm just stuck in this f*ckin' rut of my life and unable to find direction for myself: nothing to live for, nothing to protect.

We were always together, the three of us, but I guess that time is no longer here, because of the two big mistakes I've made. Stupid head or stupid heart, I can't tell. Love the brother, sleep with the sister. Damn right smart. Now Mil is somewhere out there and Relena is holding her grudge at the side of… I can't say the name. Damn me.

I squeezed the steering wheel tightly, gritting my teeth and wishing with all my heart that I could turn back time. That I would make better choices, then I wouldn't lose the one I loved and another that was closest to my heart. Now there is no purpose, and so my heart is dead. Stone cold dead.

Reaching the hovel I called home, I slammed the door behind me and flopped heavily on my bed. I think it's apt to collapse soon.

How can I stop this? I'm sick of this shit! Get me out, someone.

On my way home I think I spotted a slender form with auburn hair half hanging over an exquisite face.

OOOoooOOO

I think I fell asleep. Loud pounding on my door startled me and I was disorientated for a few moments.

I groan and throw a shoe at the door to shut the people outside my door up. Satisfied when the noise stopped, I strap my knives onto my belt and tuck one into my left boot. I had left them on. Small wonder my toes were stiff. Walking to the door and tossing my shoe back to the bedside, I open it and find Kin and a few other men outside.

"Yo, boss. We've got work to do."

I close the door harder than I needed to.

OOOoooOOO

I step into the warehouse alone. The guys were waiting out back in case something went wrong. Walking forward steadily, I wait for the other party to show up.

Looking around me, I take in the familiar surroundings and feel my heart clench.

That was the spot where the three of us first met. It was at this very position that Relena and I shared our first kiss. This was the place where I first realized I was in love, Mil's figure outlined by the honey-gold rays of the sun… It was here that I told Mil of my love for him, afraid he would reject me, but even more afraid that he would leave. And he did.

It's been too long since I've been here, but I can't let it distract me from my mission now.

I scan the place again, seeing nothing but the dim shapes of large containers by the shafts of moonlight streaming in through the large windows. Maybe J was just being deluded and paranoid again, seeing everything as threats.

Maybe not.

Without warning, a punch is thrown at the back of my head. I didn't hear anyone come up, but instincts and the slight rush of air told me to duck. I do so, and twist so I am facing my assailant. A long braid and dimly glowing violet eyes greet me. His lips curved into a maniac grin and I am just in time to fend off another strike aimed for the left of my face.

A widening of the grin was all the warning that I got. My attacker goes into such frenzy that I am hard pressed to keep up. Almost. I manage to block most of the blows and when I saw an opening, I took it. Swinging my fist upwards hard, I catch the man under his chin, bashing his jaw into his skull, jarring his teeth harshly. That's his surprise back to him. He spits and I see his saliva is tinged with red. Bitten himself. Good. Maybe he would take that hint and leave our fucking territory alone.

The foolish man grins again.

"Nice ta meetcha! Name's Duo! Duo Maxwell."

So cheery. I don't know what possessed me to reply.

"Yuy."

"Now that we know each other, let's start our time together properly."

Must he take it so lightly?

He rushes at me, oddly colored eyes gleaming faintly in the dark warehouse. Why can't he just learn the lesson and go? I'm sick and tired of fighting.

Another flurry of punches. I block them all deftly and throw a few of my own back. It never feels good when I hit someone else. I hurt, too. Let's end this soon. I seized the opportunity to slug him across his right cheek and jaw and then dazed him with a sound crack to the back of his head. He topples hard onto the concrete and lies still for a long moment. Mission accomplished. I doubt he will want to mess with us any longer. I turn and start to walk out of the warehouse.

It's not been a few steps before a hoarse voice stops me.

"Bastard. You killed my best friend's baby. His wife is in a coma. You murderer. Your goons have done irreparable damage, do you know? An innocent woman and child, just because she was Chinese and unable to fight back!"

His voice reaches a crescendo in the middle of his speech and cracks at the end. I stop walking but do not turn. What's all this he's accusing me of?

"My… goons?"

"Don't fucking pretend you don't know! You people cornered 'Fei's wife and beat her up. She was pregnant! And she did not do anything to you! Why did you do that? How could you?"

His question ends in a plaintive cry, leaving him in harsh, wrecking sobs that hurt me to hear.

"I… apologize. But leave us alone."

That said, I walked on.

OOOoooOOO

I left the warehouse in a daze, unable to quite believe that the gang had caused such a problem, unable to understand why. Kin and the others had followed me for a bit before I waved them off, saying that it was settled. They had seemed bewildered but I'd more pressing issues on my mind. Were we all racist bigots? That we could actually do something like that and live as though it was all okay?

I couldn't understand it at all.

My head was running around in circles but my legs refused to carry me anymore. I came to a stop outside a warm cozy-looking shop that housed violins, cellos and flutes in the main display. I leaned against the glass as though it could grant me some warmth from inside, but all I felt was my heart getting colder.

Then from the shop I heard strains of a melody. So fleeting, so fragile, so hopeful. Numb, I slide down to land my butt on the cold stone path that was as cold as my heart.

Could something – anything – warm me up?