If you recognise it… I don't own it.

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"Gundam Wing & Black Cat" – Start

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"We have a new mission." Heero declared.

"Who's going?" Duo chirped.

"All of us. The job is to retrieve some data being produced for OZ, destroy the research facility and turn the researcher over to the Police. Apparently he's a wanted criminal."

"It is unlike OZ to associate with criminals." Quatre frowned.

"Not necessarily, Q." Duo shrugged, "If this guy is useful they'd deal with him. Just under the table… Seen it before. Once he's arrested they'll stop… Can't corrupt their image after all. Who is it?"

Heero placed a photo down on the table. Duo snatched it up, before anyone else could.

Seconds later he threw it down in disgust.

"The Lords of Pestilence have lost it!" Duo declared, "We do this and we'll die."

"How can you be so sure?" Quatre asked.

"Dishonourable coward." Wufei sniffed.

"Look, Chang," Duo spat, "I don't mind dying if it'll do some good. But this is a suicide mission. There is no way the five of us can succeed. This guy's house is like a fortress. I should know. Not even a stray cat can get inside. We'd need an army. Or…"

"Or?" Trowa raised an eyebrow.

"There might be a way," Duo conceded after a moment, "I'd have to call in some help… But knowing those guys they'd help us out."

Duo was mouthing his thumb knuckle absent-mindedly. His left hand making swift notations on a paper napkin. However when Heero peered at it, it seemed to be nonsense.

"Why would they help us?" Heero demanded.

"The bounty on his head. We let them have that and they won't ask for anything else."

"We don't need help from such dishonourable curs!" Wufei sniffed.

"So you think the five of us can take on a small army and get not just data, but a rather obese man out without help? And against his will? I'm good, Chang, but I'm not arrogant! My guys can help with that… Plus they make an awesome distraction… Look, we've got what? A week? Give me a few days and I can find out if they're able to lend a hand. Been a while since I've seen them, but…"

"We have a fortnight."

"Even better. I'll go put the word out that I want to talk with them." Duo rose from the table, "And before anyone worries… My communication methods are more discrete than yours."

"Not alone." Heero got up as well.

"I'm not going to take risks. I'm not stupid. But come if you must. Just keep your mouth shut. Some of my guys are a little touchy."

Duo went to the garage, Heero in tow. Heero wasn't too surprised when Duo grabbed a motorbike from the garage, only pausing to put on his helmet.

The other Pilots had gotten used to the fact that no matter where the Safe-House was, Duo would turn up, within a day, with a motorbike.

Heero could only follow in the small car the Safe-House had stashed there.

Much to his surprise, Duo didn't make for the Docks, where he would have thought a Sweeper contact would be easily made, or even for a Junkyard… Apart from the Sweepers who did Duo have on his side?

Duo instead headed off into the country-side, driving for about half an hour, before stopping at a small sort of diner.

"Hey Joce!" Duo chirped as he entered.

"Maxwell! I didn't expect you. Sit down. What do you want?"

"I'll have some of your famous strawberry pancakes. And if you could, I need to contact some Stray Cats."

"Which ones, honey?" Joce smiled.

Heero blinked in surprise. Clearly 'Stray Cats' meant more than it sounded to Duo and Joce.

"Sven, Train and their Princess. Just want to talk. Got a business deal they might like."

"I'll put the word out. How do I contact you? Howard said you were going to be out of touch for a while."

"Here." Duo slid a phone across the counter, " Only calls one number. Will only call once. I need a face-to-face in three days. Or don't bother."

"Right, kid. And what'll your friend have? I assume he's with you."

"Yeah, he is. What do you want?"

"Fruit compote." Heero glanced at the menu.

"I'd put it on your tab…" Joce tailed off.

"Yeah, in our business, tabs might never get paid. Don't worry. I've got the cash." Duo smiled.

Heero watched as Duo pulled out a wallet and quickly paid the woman. He'd never seen Duo's wallet before. The braided teen had never been asked to pay for anything among the Pilots. And when he did the shopping never seemed to take the money for it. Heero had just assumed Duo'd been stealing it, even though he had never called him on it… But clearly Duo had some sort of income.

"You never asked." Duo stated once they left the diner.

"Pardon?" Heero frowned.

"You never asked if I had money." Duo replied, "So I never said. I'm a Sweeper. I earned some cash before the Operation began. But I haven't really had time to go for the big bucks since the Operation. And yeah… Sweepers can earn really big bucks, if they're good."

"And you're good?"

"I'm alright. Won't say I'm the best. But I do alright."

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The next day, Duo's phone rang, he quickly picked it up.

"Hey Sven, wasn't expecting you… Joce… You're in the area?… Didn't expect that… You alright?… Usual, huh? Well, I got a job if you're interested… No, I'm not going into Rin's line of work. But I could do with a hand… Yeah, I know… Look, when and where? I don't like doing this over the phone… Sure… Yeah… Got it. See you then."

He hung up.

"Okay, I've arranged a face-to-face." Duo declared, "But I'm willing to bet that at least two people here think it's a set up. So I won't be allowed to go on my own."

"Two people with you." Heero snapped.

"One." Duo argued, "If there are three of us, they won't agree. Sven and Train are highly protective of their Princess. She's only a little girl. Eve's an absolute sweetheart. You harm her, you die. Look… These guys are my friends. I know them."

"Okay, one." Heero reluctantly agreed, "Me."

"No." Duo shook his head, "You're too aggressive. They'll see you as a threat. Their attitude won't get along with 'Fei. They're too laid back. I don't want them to know Q's one of us… So it's got to be Tro…

"If that's alright with you." Duo turned to face the silent teen.

Trowa shrugged.

"Good. We're leaving now. The meet's not for a while, but I need to pick something up. We'll be back in three hours, max."

Duo rose and sauntered outside. Trowa following behind, subconsciously checking the locations of all his weapons.

Much to Trowa's surprise, Duo grabbed the jeep over his usual motorbike.

"You need to ride with, right?" Duo replied to the unasked question, "This is easier. Get in."

Trowa quickly leapt over the side of the jeep and buckled up. Duo easily drove the car out of the drive and towards the city.

As the journey continued Duo seemed to keep up a continuous line of conversation, which required very little from Trowa to maintain it.

That wasn't to say Trowa couldn't have interrupted, or spoken. But the silent teen chose not to and it didn't make much difference. If Trowa had spoken, he had no doubt that Duo would have listened intently, but as Trowa didn't the braided boy continued to natter away.

Just as they entered the city centre and were looking for a place to park, Duo fell silent.

"Tro," Duo spoke after a pause, "Sven, Train and Eve know me. But I don't really want to give them more names than necessary. I trust them… But… Is there something else I can call you? Just in case?"

"Nanashi." Trowa replied quietly, "I was once known as Nanashi."

"No-name, huh? Better than me. I used to be known as Kid."

Trowa turned to look at Duo. But he was concentrating fully on the road. Trowa knew that what he had just heard was probably the first thing Duo had said the entire trip. He may have talked a lot. But he'd said next to nothing.

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It didn't take Duo long to find a place to park. And even less time to find the place he was looking for.

Trowa did wish that Wufei could see what he saw right then. Seeing as how the Chinese Pilot occasionally swore that Duo couldn't read, so seeing the braided boy enter a book shop would be quite amusing.

Duo darted off to peruse the books, clearly looking for something, but not afraid to pick up a few other things in the process.

Trowa eventually settled in a small, quiet corner with a book of his own, waiting for Duo to finish, trusting that the smaller boy would seek him out.

"You want that one, Tro?" Duo's voice asked, about an hour after they entered the shop.

Trowa raised an eyebrow, nodding at Duo's bag, which he was already carrying.

"I needed a present for Eve." Duo shrugged, "Anyway, you want? We can leave it behind when we move on. You seem to like it. I've been abandoning mangas all over the place. What's one more?"

"Agreed." Trowa smiled.

"Great!" Duo chirped, quickly nabbing the book out of the taller boy's hands, "I'll pay for this and meet you outside."

Only a few minutes later, Duo emerged and handed the book over to Trowa, a huge grin on his face.

"This way!" Duo headed off, "Sven said they'd meet us at a café. Good thing too, I'm starved!"

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Once at the café, Duo procured a milkshake and chocolate doughnut for himself and a large mug of coffee for Trowa, along with a blueberry scone. Trowa was surprised as Duo knew exactly what to order, even getting the right amount of sugar and cream in the coffee.

Duo then headed unerringly for one table outside, partially shaded from the sun, by an umbrella. Three people were already sitting there.

"Hey Train!" Duo slid down into a seat, "How are you?"

"Fine! You alright, kiddo?"

"Great! Hi Princess, bought you a book. Not sure if you've read it, but reckoned you'd like it just the same." Duo handed it over, just as Trowa sat down.

"Thank you." Eve replied politely, "Who's he?"

"This is Nanashi. A friend of mine."

"No-name?" The last member of the group raised an eyebrow.

"I trust you, Sven." Duo shrugged, "And I know you. Nanashi doesn't. He really is a good friend of mine, but I'm not going to force him to trust you. And quite bluntly, I'd rather keep my friends' identities secret. I'm sure you can understand."

"Somewhat." Sven nodded.

"How's business been?" Duo asked, "Oh and I brought you these."

He tossed a bag of what Trowa assumed to be bullets at Sven.

"Poor." Train sighed, "There's no new bounties."

"What?" Duo looked confused, "Did everyone get honest on us all of a sudden?"

"No," Sven muttered, "OZ doesn't appear to know about the Sweepers."

"You're joking, right?" Duo breathed, "I thought every politician knew about the Sweepers. We just keep it a secret from the Public!"

Trowa could see the obvious distress in Duo's body. Hands running through his bangs. Leg nervously twitching.

He didn't know what the secret regarding the Sweepers was, but it was clearly important to Duo. As well as to the two men and one girl.

"You mucked up." Sven pointed his spoon at Duo, "You killed too many."

"You finished what the Apostles started." Eve nodded.

"Would it help if I said it was an accident?" Duo retorted, "Trieze is a Master at spreading false information."

"What did you think it was?" Train laughed slightly.

Trowa was slightly in shock at the fact that Duo was basically admitting his involvement in the Gundams.

"The guys pushing for War." Duo shrugged, "The Hawks. I wouldn't have taken out so many members of Chrono. I'm not stupid! Take them out and we get what we have now… Chaos! I never meant for that."

"What were you trying for?" Train leaned forward.

"For things not to turn into a Massacre." Duo waved his hands around, "For the Colonies to have the same freedom and rights as the Countries. For this whole damn War to be over."

"Nothing too ambitious then." Eve seemed to tease.

"You know me, Princess." Duo grinned, "But seriously… OZ doesn't know?"

"No."

"I presume Howie's working on it?"

"Why you so keen on it?" Train frowned, "You realize you'll become the biggest bounty going?"

"Only if I'm identified. Sweeper Rules, remember? They can only put a bounty on an identified head. I'll just have to keep my head down." Duo replied, "Anyway, talking about bounties, how about this one?"

He slid the photo across the table. Train moved to pick it up. As he shifted his top slid to one side revealing a tattoo on his clavicle. Trowa spotted the tattoo and froze. He had heard stories about the tattoo, but he had never thought he'd see it. The infamous 'XIII'.

But Train seemed so… So… So friendly.

"Big one." Train stated, "You don't aim low."

"Selected target." Duo replied, "My guys were of the belief they could go it alone. I know they can't. My offer is that we get the data and the labs he has in his basement… You get the bounty. Reckon between the two of us we can get it."

"With us attacking him and you attacking the data, they'll be split in two." Sven nodded, "Good plan."

"Your guys any good?" Train asked.

"Good enough." Duo grinned, "Won't say any more. You in or out?"

"We're not taking sides in this War." Sven pointed out.

"Not asking you to." Duo retorted, "Just offering you a bounty. What we do is our business. Not yours."

"Long as you understand that." Sven nodded.

"What research is he doing?" Eve asked.

"Doll research, Princess." Duo was quick to answer, "Mobile Suit technology. No nanotech. Wouldn't ask you if it was. Just in case."

"Nothing alive?" Eve pressed.

"Not that I'm aware of. But I'll scout it out before we do anything. And knowing Train, he'll do the same. We'll find out, don't worry."

"We're in." Sven stated, after glancing around at the others.

"Good." Duo nodded, "We'll meet you there. Here." He slid a phone number across the table, "You can contact me on that. Two days?"

"We'll make it. You?"

"I'm Howie's favourite kid. I'll make it. Even if I have to drag the others. I'll also give Howie a kick up the backside to sort out the Sweeper system. You won't be the only ones suffering. And I'm sure the police could use the help."

"You'll be spiking your own wheel when they find out who you are." Train reminded.

"You're not invincible." Eve added.

"I know," Duo shrugged, "Trust me, I know. And yeah, I'm fighting for Freedom and Peace… But what's that worth if people die of starvation? What's it worth if I cause killers to walk the streets unchecked? I'll just have to be smarter and faster than any guy on my tail."

"Even us?" Train pulled Duo into a noogie.

"I'll do my best." Duo laughed, "I have got a rep of my own, Black Cat."

Trowa stared almost in horror.

"What are these?" Sven had one of the bullets out.

"If I got it right," Duo grinned, "It should be a concussion bullet. Hit within half a meter of the target. Should act like a concussion grenade. Just with greater range. Tell me if it works."

"Nice." Train pulled out his gun and checked that the bullet fitted.

Once he had, he laid the gun down on the table. Trowa couldn't stop starring at it.

It was the final piece of evidence… The final nail in the coffin.

Trowa started to hyperventilate.

"By the way," Sven turned a pointed gaze at Duo, "We will only work alongside the Demon. Not the Jester."

"My guys don't know the Demon." Duo protested.

"Well, they'd better get used to him." Train laughed, "I don't work with the Jester. You know that Duo."

"Okay," Duo sighed, "I'll bring the Demon… Been a while since the Black Cat and the Demon worked together."

"Too long." Train grinned, "They won't be expecting us."

"They never expect us."

"Duo," Eve spoke up, "Is your friend alright? He's breathing funny."

"Oh, slag!" Duo stared, running his hand through his hair, "I think I broke him. Bother. Hate to run. Would love to talk more. But I'd better fix him first. See you in two days."

"Not if we see you first." Train laughed.

"Sweepers' Bar." Sven stated, "Catch you there."

Duo got up and hauled Trowa to his feet. He then managed to manoeuvre Trowa back to the jeep. Before driving back to the Safe-House.

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Duo almost dragged Trowa into the living room, dumping the tall teen into a chair.

"They'll help. I broke Trowa." Duo spoke in a rush, "I didn't mean to. See you later."

With that the braided boy was gone.

For a few moments the other three looked at each other, the door which Duo had dashed out of and the almost frozen Trowa.

"Trowa?" Quatre asked, "What happened?"

Once it was clear that Trowa actually was in shock, completely non-responsive to Quatre's voice, measures had to be taken.

Heero slapped Trowa, without all of strength behind the blow. However it was still forceful enough to nearly knock Trowa out of the chair. As Heero went to deliver another blow, Trowa caught his wrist.

"What happened?" Heero demanded.

"What did Duo say?" Trowa replied.

"His friends will help us." Quatre answered, "But he didn't explain why you were in shock."

"Duo has some powerful friends." Trowa murmured, "I'm not sure if he's got huge gundanium ones or he's a whole basket short of a picnic."

"Why?"

"What did he say about his friends?"

"Sven. Train. Eve." Wufei rattled off, "Eve is a young girl."

"Train," Trowa almost whispered, "He's the dangerous one."

"On what grounds?" Heero frowned.

Trowa raised his hand to hover over his left clavicle.

"X. I. I. I." Trowa spoke softly… Reverently, tracing the letters onto his clavicle.

Heero nearly fell off his chair in shock.

"You're sure?" Quatre pressed.

"Saw the tattoo. Saw the gun. Duo confirmed. It's him."

"I heard he was dead." Heero breathed.

"I heard that rumour too." Quatre nodded, "But there was a second rumour a couple of years ago. It said he quit and became a bounty hunter."

"You know about him?" Heero blinked.

"My father is involved in politics. You can't be involved and not know about the Black Cat."

"The Black Cat?" Wufei frowned.

"You haven't heard about him?" Trowa stared.

"What's he got to do with politics?" Heero demanded of Quatre.

"What do you know about him?" Quatre asked.

"Elite assassin. Will take down ten, twenty, fifty men to kill one target. Only kills the target. Uses a gun. Six shots. Both gun and man marked with XIII. Number thirteen. Also called the Black Cat. Expert marksman. Lighting fast. Catch phrase: I'm here to bring some bad luck."

"You don't know why he has the tattoo?" Quatre pressed.

"No."

"Do you know about the Numbers?"

"No."

"Chronos?"

"No."

"Allah! Alright, I'll start at the beginning. The countries don't really rule themselves. There are organisations that control the countries. Four in number. The largest is Chronos. They rule about a third of the Sphere. As you might guess, they have enemies. If the enemies become too difficult they need to be eliminated. As such Chronos has the Numbers. An elite team of assassins. Each armed with a different type of weapon. Each referred to by a different number. One through to Thirteen. Though it's One to Twelve now. One is the Commander. Two is the second in command. They don't fail. Thirteen, the Black Cat, was considered to be the best. The one day he decided to quit… Only you don't quit the Numbers. The Numbers have Power. But they have no Freedom. They are Pets of Chronos. Officially Black Cat died years ago. Unofficially, they tried to kill him. But he got away. In the end, I heard it was decided that as long as he didn't break the law or oppose Chronos they would leave him alone… Simply put it was deemed too dangerous to try to kill the Black Cat."

"Maxwell knows him?" Wufei blinked.

"Very well, apparently." Trowa nodded, "They've worked together in the past."

"What is he like?" Wufei pressed.

"Cold-blooded killer." Heero declared firmly, "Best assassin in the business. Ruthless. Determined."

"Just like Duo." Trowa countered.

"I'm not sure which is more disturbing." Quatre frowned.

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Please Review.

Sorry, new fandom. Every time I read 'Sweepers' I thought of Duo. And hence this snippet was born.

Basic idea is that the Salvage Sweepers started occurring as suppliers of information, weapons and transport to the Original Sweepers. Over time the Salvage Sweepers became predominant in people's minds. And no-one corrected that.

So now there are two types of Sweepers. The Original types know about the Salvage types, but not all the Salvage types know about the Original types. Howard is the Union Leader for both types. And has unofficially retired from Original Sweeper business.

Sorry, did I think about this too much?