Author's note

Evening all,

I'm aware it's Sunday night/Monday morning for most, butit's the last day of my working week. London was fun fun fun, but now I'm applying myself to get this out of WIP hell.

Mega thanks to everyone who reviewed, especially Yilun, Snowdragonct, Waterlilylf, Katerina Shinigami (Shi-chan), Wind dancer1981, Kendecia and lildeamon666. Welcome to new reviewers Dannie, Loki lee, and Heather. You are all making this worthwhile. Please continue to leave your comments.

Foreseeable Future, by Hikishi

Disclaimer: Gundam Wing does not belong to me. This displeases me but hey, what can I do? So please, save your breath and don't sue.

Pairings: ?

Warnings: Blood, Violence, Swearing (of course), Death (though anyone important)

Genres: Angst, Drama, Action, Hurt/Comfort.

Foreseeable Future

Chapter Five

Seeing Other People

Duo awoke a few hours later, on a sofa with Quatre leaning over him.

"Quat'?" He mumbled sleepily, blinking. "Wha' happened?"

"You fainted in the interrogation room." the Profiler replied calmly, helping him to sit up and pressing a glass of water into his hands.

"…Oh."

"How do you feel now?"

"Okay, I guess." He paused. "What time is it?"

Quatre glanced at his Rolex briefly.

"A quarter past four."

Duo struggled to his feet and reached for his crutches. At the same time, Heero appeared in the doorway.

"Shit….gonna be late for work." He mumbled as he searched for his coat. the blond tilted his head to the side in confusion.

"Work?" Don't be silly Duo, you can't go to work. Didn't you call in sick?"

"Sorry Quat', no can do. I can't afford to miss a night and Howie will give my shifts away if I don't turn up."

"You can't be serious?!" his friend all but yelled in disbelief. "For Pete's sake Duo, you have two broken toes and a cracked ankle! You have a concussion, you can't possibly work!"

"I have two arms and two legs Quatre." the young psychic told him stubbornly in a clipped tone. "I'm going to work."

Heero stepped aside as the determined man limped past him on his crutches. Before he had time to think, Quatre had launched an empty plastic bottle at his head.

"Hey!"

"Well what are you waiting for? Don't let him go on his own! Get after him!

"Why don't you go?" the Preventer accused, and received a grim smirk in reply.

"I'm going to call his boss. If there's anyone that worries about Duo more than me, and is more pigheaded and stubborn than that idiot, it's Howard."

Duo was surprised when Heero beat him to the reception, waiting there with his car keys in hand. He immediately became suspicious and swept past him, heading down the sidewalk slowly. Heero jumped into his car and kerb crawled beside him.

"If you think you're gonna stop me, you've got another thing comin' pal." The young man was on the offensive, unsure of Heero's intentions.

"Baka." Heero scowled at him. Quatre's friend was very strange. He could be docile almost to the point of painfully shy, yet also extremely aggressive. What a polar personality. He wouldn't look out of place at a big budget premiere as the star. "Get in the car." He ordered. Duo stared back at him in barely suppressed anger and kept walking. Obviously he did not like being told what to do.

"I can walk thanks." Came the almost glacial reply. Heero raised his eyebrows in challenge.

"Twenty blocks with a cracked ankle?" Two could play this game. "Plus two broken toes and a madman after you?" Duo continued to ignore him as he thumped along, already tiring. "The Scrapyard isn't even close enough to reach on foot, even with two legs." Heero lost his patience. "Stop being stupid, Duo, and get in the Goddamned car."

"You'll take me?" The long haired man was entirely too disbelieving.

"I said I would, did I not?"

"No, you didn't." Duo's sharp mind supplied the reply, nevertheless, he relented and slid into the passenger seat. "But my foot hurts so I'll take you up on the non-offer."

The Preventer ignored the almost mumbled thanks and pulled away.

Once they'd reached the Scrapyard, , Heero helped him out and followed him inside. The bar was dim and empty; it was early still. Howard must have heard the noise they made entering and exited the office, wiping his hands on a towel.

"Hey, can't you read signs? We're closed right now…" As soon as he saw Duo, he'd crossed the room within a second and gave Duo a squeeze. "Holy shit kid!" The old man exclaimed, taking the boy's chin and tilting his head this way and that to survey the damage. "Who the hell did this to ya?"

Duo evaded his question easily, if uncomfortably, pulling back from the concerned man.

"Sorry I'm late again Howie. I'll work extra to make up for it-"

Howard would not be deterred so easily though, and Heero could already see what Quatre had meant by being more stubborn than Duo.

"What happened?" He demanded roughly, looking more worried. Duo stopped rambling and winced unhappily, fidgeting on his crutches.

"Some dude attacked me on my way home last night."

"Damnit Maxwell!" The grey haired manager exploded. "I told you not to walk home! What'n the hell were you thinking!?"

"I'm sorry Howie-"

"Not the point!"

"Look, can we talk about this later?" The young psychic tried desperation creeping into his tone. "We have to get ready for opening and I'll be slower with my foot-"

"Have you lost your mind kid?" Howard asked in astonishment. "Ya can't work lookin' like that!"

"Please Howie, I really need the money…"

Heero was starting to get very unsettled with that statement. Was Duo on drugs or something, because it sure sounded like it.

"No!" Came the hard and fast reply. "'Fer God's sake, you can't even walk properly." Duo did not reply to this. "I can't have you working like that, Insurance won't cover you anyway. Go home Duo, don't worry about your pay check, I'll sort it." When his employee didn't move, he stepped forward to give him a brief hug. "I ain't changin' my mind, kid, go home and rest, you look like something' ate you and shat you out." Duo's shoulders slumped. "Now, get the fuck outta my bar before I decide to fire your ass." These words were said affectionately, but with firm meaning. Heero slid an arm across Duo's shoulders and led him back out in the bright sunshine.

"What am I going to do?" Duo asked no one in particular once they were back in the car. "I need that money…"

"You didn't listen to what he said did you?" Heero interjected coolly. "Your boss is going to pay you for the shifts you have to miss right now."

There was no answer to his statement. Duo simply leaned his head against the window and sighed, closing his eyes in defeat. Heero tried again.

"He's right, Winner too. There is no way you are fit to work right now."

"…" The young psychic sighed again.

Heero let him mull over things as he drove back to his apartment, intending to drop Duo off and ask Wufei to watch him for a while so he could go back to work for a bit. He wasn't prepared for Duo to suddenly cry out as they passed through L2 district.

"Stop! Stop the car!" And he was climbing out before Heero had even finished braking. Duo was moving across the pavement pretty quickly for a man on crutches.

"Hey!" Heero also got out and nearly dove over the hood in an effort to catch up, following Duo as he head towards a dilapidated building. "Oi, wait!" He reached the young man's side as he supported his shoulder against the eaves at the top of the steps, next to a row of buttons.

"Which one…"

Duo decided seemingly at random to press one. Heero heard the answering buzz somewhere inside and after a minute someone answered.

"Yeah?" a man's voice, distorted and tinny.

"Hey Zeek, it's Duo from two-B. I've lost my keys, can you let me in?"

"Two B's empty shithead, get lost."

Duo glared at the speaker.

"Zeek you fuckin' idiot, you've been tryina' set me up with your goddamn junkie cousin since that party last month. Let me in, fucker."

"I don't remember." Came the short reply and a definitive click.

"That's because you've been off your face for two fuckin' weeks!" there was no answer. "Zeek! ZEEK!" Duo yelled, leaning over the railing by the steps to hammer on the dirt encrusted window next to the door. "Buzz me in, asshole, or I'll torch your stash!"

Silence, then the door buzzed and Duo pulled it open, limping inside. Heero was a step behind him.

All at once, the young man stopped, and turned to him.

"Listen, don't you give anyone in here any shit." He said seriously. "You can't let anyone know you're a cop. There're kids living here, and if it gets out that I live here, that psycho….who knows what he'll do."

Heero scowled.

"I'm not stupid. Nor do I want to get shot by the crazy that just buzzed us in. Why are we here anyway?"

"I need some clothes, idiot."

The building was in worse condition on the inside, if that was even possible. The staircase creaked loudly, protesting his weight and the banister made him visibly recoil. The whole place reeked of urine and marijuana, the wallpaper, what was left of it, was peeling and brown. They made it to the first floor landing and Duo bent to speak to a kid playing there in Spanish. They moved to the second flight, where they came across a pair of drug addicts. Needles littered about on the steps surrounding them. Duo smacked them both across the head with his crutches.

"You better clean this shit up!" he growled dangerously, pressing the end of his walking aid into one's throat and pinning the other with a dark glare. "And fuck off. I see you in here again and I'll kill you."

"S-Shin…didn't know you was back-"

"Don't give me that shit. I see you shooting up in this building again and I'll rip your fuckin' throats out. Now get rid of it all and get out."

They scrambled around, grabbing up the needles and scarpering, though not before Duo had managed to land a good solid whack on each of their heads with his crutches. Heero said nothing, it wasn't as if he could arrest users after all. However those needles, near children…He followed Duo up the third flight of stairs and they finally reached the second floor. Heero already despised this building and it's occupants. A woman with red hair was standing in the doorway to one of the apartments, smoking a cigarette whilst her toddlers played behind her in the living room. She was wearing a cheap green sequinned dress and heavy makeup. Heero saw her eyes light up when she spotted Duo.

"Shin baby! Ain't seen you in days." she remarked as she took a deep drag from her little stick.

"Hey Starla, lookin' good."

"Cain't say the same for you baby. You look like shit hon'." She dragged her blue eyes up his frame, giving him a sultry smile. "Want me to kiss your boo boos?"

"Sorry babe." Duo replied flippantly but with a charming smile. "You're not my type."

Starla seemed to notice Heero then and a laviscious grin spread across her face.

"Oh? You forgot to mention your gorgeous new piece of ass. You back in the game sweetie? Stealing away my meal tickets hmm?"

Duo ignored the last part, hoping Heero hadn't understood the street talk.

"Starla, this is Heero Yuy. Heero, meet Starla Dee." The Preventer went to shake her hand, only to have Duo pull him back. "Whoa boy, I'd watch out, she bites." Starla demonstrated this by snapping her jaws together and laughing.

"Oh Shin, he's my favourite flavour."

"Thought I was your favourite flavour?" Duo teased. "Never mind. Listen, do you have that set of picks I left here last Christmas?"

She vanished from the doorway, leaving them only for a few short moments to get what Duo had asked for. She returned with a black leather pouch that was quickly handed over.

"Here."

"Thanks."

"So what happened to that cute blond that drops you off in his limo?" she asked, crossing her arms and leaning casually against the doorframe.

"Quatre's just a friend!"

"Sure he is Shin, and I ain't never sucked a guy off before." She said sarcastically. Duo decided to ignore that comment and told her to be careful tonight, asking her if she had a babysitter.

"Sure do!" Starla chirped. "Jewel finally got herself an honest to God real job. She don't have to do the circuit no more. Working ten while eight at some office. She stays the night at mine to watch the brats, saving money that way."

"Good for her. You're all better than this."

"And you weren't?"

"Can it Starla." He said a bit of an edge to his tone. The redhead shrugged and tottered back inside, as Duo bent to the lock of the only other door on this floor. Heero watched as he opened the little leather pouch and extracted three rods of metal, handing him to case to hold without even a glance in his direction. "Here, hold this a minute."

Heero did as he was asked, wondering how many different faces Duo Maxwell had.

"So, Starla's a prostitute?"

"Uh huh?" Duo's voice was muffled, holding picks between his teeth."

"Why do they call you Shin?"

"'Cause that's who I am."

The door clicked open and The young man made a happy noise and grinned, muttering self praise under his breath. They went inside, Duo smacking the wall inside the door and calling out a "Hi Solo" into the darkness.

"I thought your name was Duo."

"They both are. Look," The young man spun around to face him. "I've never known my parents, don't know my real name." He shrugged one shoulder. "I've done a lot of things I'm not proud of too. But that's in the past. It doesn't affect how you see me now." He shook his head at Heero's befuddled look. "I don't expect you could ever understand."

As they entered the main living space, Heero stopped in light surprise. The apartment was well maintained. It was clean and the furniture was of very good quality. Everything matched the décor and wooden polished flooring ran throughout. Paintings hung from walls, and the place smelt fresh like a garden. Duo shucked his coat and dropped the crutches to one side, choosing to hobble towards his little kitchenette.

"Sit down, I'll make coffee."

Heero did so, looking around in wonder. The first thing he spotted was the packed bookshelf. Duo didn't seem the type to read. Then again, Duo didn't seem like a prostitute either. An artist's easel stood next to the mini-library.

"Why do you live here?" He asked, scrutinising a collage set into the glass of the coffee table.

"What's with the third degree?" Duo shot back.

"Well, you could easily afford a better place."

Duo came through, two mugs in hand, one cream, the other black with the writing, 'Asshole, and proud of mine' in yellow on the side. The plain one was passed to Heero, who took a tentative sip.

"Milk and two sugars right?" The older man nodded absently. Exactly how he liked it. "It's cheap rent, no one bothers me and it's close to work. Plus I send away as much money as I can out of every pay check." Came the blunt explanation.

"I see." He watched as the psychic picked up a gold cross and rubbed it thoughtfully. It had been laid over a bible on the side table. Was Duo religious?

"Where do you send money to?"

"Maxwell Church Foundation." Maxwell. Duo's last name. "I was fifteen when some bastard decided payment for me sucking him off would be a knife in my kidney."

"You were-"

"Blowjobs and hand jobs only." Duo cut him off, staring morosely into his cup. "Anyway, I got landed in hospital, and that's where I met Father Maxwell. He fed me some bullshit about God loving me, and took me off the streets. Got me into Rehab twice. The second time was worse, but I pulled through. That was two years ago. I owe Maxwell Church everything. Haven't taken anything stronger than aspirin since."

Heero was amazed at the complex person sat before him.

"What…what were you on?"

"Heroin."

"Christ." There was silence, as Heero thought about it. Fifteen. He'd been a child.

"Does Quatre know?"

Duo shrugged once more, braid slithering over his shoulder to land in his lap.

"If he doesn't I sure as hell ain't telling' him. Poor guy had a shit fit when I told him I'd eaten outta dumpsters."

Despite the situation, Heero had to quirk a smile at his words. The other man continued to rub his cross, a comfort reaction, he'd guessed.

"How did you come to work and Howard's then?" He posed his next question. "You're barely legal."

"Lied about my age. He nearly sacked me on my nineteenth birthday when he found out."

"I thought you always told the truth?" Heero thanked Quatre for that little scrap of information.

"I do. I call it a lie because I didn't actually tell him my age. He raved for a few weeks and suspended me, then finally demoted me to glass cleaning so I could still work there. I was back behind the bar six months ago."

"I've seen your records, they state that-"

"My twenty first birthday isn't for another three months right?" Duo sighed. "Blame Quatre. He set that one up. Thing is, I don't know when my birthday is either. Born on the streets means I have no records, I didn't legally exist until Quat came along and fixed it. They could only narrow it down to the year. So it doesn't matter, because my real birthday could be any day."

For twenty one years of age, Duo seemed to have been through an awful lot.

Heero watched as the young man rose from his seat and shuffled towards his bedroom door. "So now you know my sordid childhood, what about you? Family, interests, your favourite colour?"

Strangely, Heero found himself answering. He didn't talk about his personal life usually, things like this weren't something a Preventer discussed with their targets. And Duo was not only a witness in his investigation but also a complete stranger. But there was something about him though. He had just slid past this Preventer's armour without even trying.

"I'm twenty three years old with a degree in computer programming. I was adopted when I was a baby. My father is a teacher and mother works as a nurse." He said rhythmically, staring at a sketch resting on the shelf underneath the table with mildly shocked fascination. It was of himself. Sleeping. Drawn years ago. The paper was yellowed with age and torn. "I like playing basketball-" A cry and a muffled thump sounded, bring his words to an abrupt halt. "Duo?"

No answer.

Heero rose to his feet, stepping towards the door his charge had disappeared through scant seconds earlier.

"Duo? Are you all right?" He asked again, sticking his head into the room. "Did you fall?"

The young psychic looked as if he had indeed fallen over. He was flattened against the wall, pale and shaking. Heero moved closer to help him up, frowning when Duo turned terrified eyes to him. The older man turned to see what had frightened him so much and also froze in horror, slamming back against the wall.

A body, dismembered, was scatted all over the silk sheets of the double bed. Pictures lay amongst the entrails and eviscerated pieces and a message had been painted on the wall in blood.

"Holy shit!"

-The Hunt Begins-