Tie Five

Duo sat on a locker-room bench cooling-down after his work-out in the Preventer Rec-center. For him that meant he unwound his braid and was running a brush through the tangled strands. "For Father Maxwell" he whispered counting out the strokes.

1. He taught me to read.

2. He accepted my faults.

3. He didn't yell when I ate all the communion wafers.

4. He bought me new clothing.

5. He made me feel wanted." Duo continued for five more strokes then switched sides.

"For Sister Helen," he said counting again.

1. She taught me to braid my hair.

2. She baked ginger-bread mobile-suits.

3. She read bedtime stories.

4. She trusted me to take apart her radio when it wasn't broken.

5. she made the orphanage a home.

His eyes were closed as he struggled to hold on to each fleeting memory working his way to ten.

"For Solo" he intoned softly switching sides again. Ten strokes for his orphan brother. His lips moved and he was hardly aware of the words he spoke with each stroke, the boy had been his world; the one who taught him how not just how to survive but how to live. In the gutter existing by whit and cunning alone, struggling to feed themselves, he still made time for fun. Solo gave him pride.

"Five strokes for the family I never knew; Ten for each of the friends that I do. Ten for my loved ones who are now gone and five more because the future starts with each dawn." He sighed.

"Mind if I join you?" came a velvety voice. "I don't want to intrude."

"Naw, its OK, public place and all that, I'm near done anyway" Duo shrugged, dividing the silky chestnut mass into three and working them together: Solo, Father, Sister, Solo, Father, Sister. His whole life good times and bad woven neatly together. "Did you enjoy your laps?" he asked the tall agent.

"I did." Zechs nodded settling down on the other end of the bench "I missed a lot of things on Mars and I'd say starting the day with a swim was among the top-ten. That and long showers, Soaking baths…Sauna, Jacuzzi, I thought I'd never get free of that pervasive red dust. Preventers definitely know how to spoil their agents. If I didn't have a mission later I could easily spend the entire day right here."

"The facilities are nice that is for sure. Still, I thought Uni'd give you another week to settle in before putting you in rotation. You sure you are up for it?"

"She wanted to, but I requested active duty. Sally cleared me physically and I think it is time I was doing something useful. I've been an exile much of my life, after Sanq, the wars, Treize, Mars. I'm tired of hiding. I like feeling I am a part of things again. I wanted to thank you for that."

"Me? For what?" Duo arched a brow.

Zechs pulled his top knot loose and the long, still green, cascade fell around his bear shoulders. "I was actually worried about working with you pilots. Sure I stepped in to help put down the Barton insurrection, but that was out of necessity. I never wanted us to be enemies. But I couldn't be sure how you'd feel seeing me every day. I'd heard you five don't exactly "play well with" others. Most people can't perform at our level. It is dangerous for them to try. I was resigned to being the odd man out." broad shoulders shrugged. "Then I wake up to green hair."

"It was just a childish prank." Duo mumbled staring at the tile floor. "I usually get shouted at and chased around with a sword for things like that. I didn't really mean anything by it. It was stupid."

"So you say, but I think differently. I know people, even preventers, were disgusted 'the terror of earth' was returning to terra-firma. They seemed torn between thinking I might explode any minute, or shatter like glass. History led me to believe that should the god of death come calling, someone like me might expect a bit worse than a dye job. Your pranks are only harmless to those you care about. All I've heard these past few days is how our resident dragon loosed his tail and the fire bled out of his belly and into the tips of his hair. New look, even temper and Maxwell's the miracle worker." Zechs grinned, "As I see it Shinigami's mark is practically a badge-of-honor. The sign was a nice touch too. It looked like you put a lot of time in making it, what with all that green glitter. "

"Actually I only did the lettering. The glitter was Quatre's idea. But don't you dare tell him I told you. The poor thing got as much glitter on himself as the sign. He wasn't at the party becouse of it. You can still see the odd speck sticking here and there. If you mention it he will blush to the tips of his ears, it is really adorable."

"Treize held Young Mr. Winner in highest respects, even before we learned he was a pilot. They met at some benefit or society thing and he was quite impressed by the boy's professionalism and maturity. After Zero I imagine some treat him just like they were treating me. I'll have to remember he has a playful side too."

"Just don't mess with his hair, his publicist will flay you alive." And the self-proclaimed god of death shivered at the thought.