Disclaimer: I don't own a thing (as sad as that realization is), except for the words I've written.

Warnings: Rated for adult language (Duo's got quite a surly mouth and mind), some violence, and mild adult themes.

A/N: Thank you for your reviews! As you'll notice the story is definitely deviating, at this point, from my inspiration, Bad Luck and Trouble. It will be going in and out with that storyline, just FYI for those Lee Child fans. As usual, your input and comments are always appreciated.

Maxwell

Chapter 14: A Teenage Dream's So Hard To Beat

By the time the two men checked into their new hotel, one that Duo did in fact approve of, they had discussed just what their next move was going to be, thinking of each and every possibility and probably overanalyzing everything to its fullest extent.

And even after all of that, they hadn't come up with one damn plausible thing.

"I'm telling you, we need to investigate the last M.R.," Duo said as he leaned against the wall, waiting for Heero to unlock their new room.

After a familiar beep, Heero pushed open the door, shaking his head. "We're laying low. Not investigating further."

Duo rolled his eyes. "You expect me to sit in this stuffy hotel room for days on end? Until what? Preventer gives us the all fuckin' clear?"

The door closed behind them with a click. Heero set his bag down and turned to face Duo with a quirked eyebrow. "We're here together, aren't we?"

Yeah, and we could talk about the shit that's been going on between us lately, but that sure as hell won't happen.

Duo decided not to voice that particular concern in favor of keeping up his irritated rant. "I don't need you to babysit me."

The comment was offhand and probably unnecessary as it caused a soft glint of indignation at being referred to simply as a babysitter, but shit, Heero's protective act had always felt a little smothering. Duo sighed, he hadn't meant to offend the man.

But as if something had clicked inside the Japanese man's mind at the comment, Duo was suddenly experiencing that famous genetically enhanced Heero Yuy strength first hand as his fingers wrapped around Duo's bicep, squeezing hard enough to leave a mark, and drug him towards the full size bed in the center of the room. He slammed Duo down on the edge before the braided man could even think and had placed his powerful hands atop his knees as if to hold him in place.

Now this was more like them. This angry relationship that seemed to make little sense. Those teenage hormones racing and giving them the best adrenaline spike of their lives. But right now they were trying to be serious, have an adult conversation, not fuck like horny adolescents...right?

Duo put on his best scowl, but it was no match for Heero's death glare. He swallowed. "Look, 'Ro. All I meant was that I don't need anyone to protect me. I'm not gonna do anything stupid."

Heero scoffed. "Right."

Duo's brows furrowed. "Fuck you."

This comment, he quickly decided was also unnecessary, but the other man's reaction was quite different this time.

Strong lips pushed against his own, forcing his body backwards on the bed with a force that Duo hadn't felt since the war. Though they'd been sleeping together now for a few intimate days, these new movements were somehow different. And fuck if they weren't making Duo harder than ever before.

Suddenly Heero wasn't seeming so unsure or insecure. He was fucking dominating the situation and Duo was putty in his roaming hands. It was the most amazing turn of events he could have damn well hoped for.

His lips were bruising and brought Duo back to reality, the force on the verge of painful, but the passion causing his blood to boil. His hands found the hem of Heero's shirt and began to pull upwards roughly, the other man complying and allowing the fabric to be peeled from his upper body.

Heero's lips whispered along his jaw and down to Duo's neck, kissing and nibbling and causing a guttural groan to be ripped from the other man's half opened mouth. Yes, this was what he missed, this primal attentiveness, this impulsive recklessness. Heero matched Duo's earlier efforts and pulled his shirt up and over his head in one fluid motion.

They melted back into each other, the smoothness of skin on skin as Heero laid his full body weight into the man beneath him. And Duo invited him eagerly, realizing that for once it felt more natural than it had in a long fucking time. Their movements were succinct and yet perfectly in tune and it made him think about his curiosity when watching Trowa and Quatre together in the kitchen days before.

Duo's fingers fumbled with the button of Heero's pants and soon the garment was gone and then so was Duo's own and it was only a thin layer of cotton between either of them now.

He could feel Heero's hardness pressing up against his thigh, grinding into him with want and need and then he bucked upwards suddenly sending a shiver of desire through both of their bodies. And then it was all fucking over and the last scraps of clothing were being ripped off their bodies and Heero was fumbling for the small, plastic bottle he knew he would find in Duo's duffle and they were lost in the act.

And amidst everything, Duo realized that maybe he was running away from how things used to be, that he was scared and running was his way of coping. But that was bullshit, because now all he wanted was to feel Heero next to him, hear his voice, feel his bruising lips, understand the words that seemed to be there and yet unspoken.

They needed each other. Needed the sensation of one another's skin against his own. It grounded them both and Duo realized now, like he should have so long ago, that he loved this man because when they were together, for once the world didn't seem so scary.

They were grounded together and together they could be real people again. It was a fucking shocking realization.

So when it was over and they were lying in bed, breathless, Duo finally turned on his side and with a rush of impulsivity that was not uncommon for him he found the words he'd been biting back pouring from his mouth, a little bitter but a lot truthful. "Heero. I like you."

Fuck, not the right word. Dammit, but it would have to do.

Heero's eyes were closed and his breathing even and for a moment Duo thought that maybe he was asleep, or at least pretending to be. His muscles began to relax as he came to the realization that his words, which he was now regretting, hadn't been heard.

But then Heero stirred and a small, nearly imperceptible smile wound it way onto his lips. "I like you too, Maxwell." He paused and the smile grew, his eyes still closed in fabricated exhaustion. "But you're still not going anywhere until we hear more information from Preventer, Duo."

Duo rolled his eyes and flopped backwards on his pillow. It wasn't even his intention to try and sweet talk his way out of the situation by professing his feelings, but shit it was a good idea now that he thought about it.

But obviously it wasn't going to work anyways. Fuckin' overprotective prick.

Alright, alright. Fuckin' overprotective naked, gorgeous prick.

The next morning, while Heero was taking a quick and efficient shower lacking Duo's presence (but hell if he hadn't tried), the sound of a communicator call coming from Heero's laptop assaulted the other man's still sleepy attention.

"You've reached Heero Yuy's most top secret line, he can't come to the communicator right now. Can I take a message?" Duo answered with a sing-song voice and cheeky grin. He realized quickly that if it had been anyone else on the other end he might have been in deep shit. But upon seeing Wufei's still bandaged visage and nearly amused expression he knew his greeting was at least somewhat appreciated.

Duo quirked an eyebrow. The man was still obviously hospital bed ridden. "Sup, 'Fei?"

"I can't talk for long. Sally will be back any minute now." The paranoia in the Chinese man's voice had Duo biting his tongue to suppress a laugh and witty remark. Maybe Heero was right, maybe they were good together.

Nodding, Duo responded. "I'm all ears."

Wufei sighed and spoke softly as if he was afraid of a nurse or someone overhearing. "This is classified information that even I'm not supposed to know. Une's taken me off the damn case, but that sure as hell isn't going to stop me-us-from investigating." Duo was impressed by the bitterness in the man's words towards his Preventer boss and the sudden turnaround from their earlier conversation. "Mizzerahi Ryland has been linked to a rental car in Sanc. For God knows what reason. I'm sending you his last known coordinates. I can't do much from this damn hospital, so I guess you and Yuy will have to take on the dirty work for the time being."

Duo smirked, swiping at the shaved side of his head. "Gee thanks, 'Fei. I see you're getting over your near death experience quite nicely. Are we to assume Ryland has information regarding the real M.R.?"

Wufei shrugged, ignoring the man's offhand comment easily. "At this point it could be anything. He could be the damn stalker for all we know, though I still don't believe I was the key target in the attack on L4. Just look into it. Winner and Barton informed me that they will be on their way back to Earth shortly."

"Maganac's finally letting them out of their overprotective sights?" Duo joked. He thought of how enraged the Arabic men had been when Quatre had run away during the war and wondered just where all their insane loyalty towards the blond originated.

Wufei merely shrugged again, his eyes shifting towards the door and probably the hallway outside his small hospital room. "Dammit. Just do what you can Maxwell. And be safe...please." His words were meant to be condescending, a jab at Duo's tendency towards recklessness, but somehow they came across as sincere. The man might have been more fucking confusing than Heero was.

Duo shot him a quiet grin and weak solute before the screen went blank, Wufei's last words being a hissed, "Over and out."

They were in a bad part of town according to Heero, an acceptable part of town according to Duo, but still they took precautions; his braid was tucked down the back of his shirt and both men wore hooded jackets that made them blend in with their surroundings. No one was going to question a couple of young and untrustworthy looking street rats. It was a natural fit for Duo, but he could tell Heero was still tense about the whole situation.

"Heero, don't you think if someone wanted to kill us we'd already be dead?" Duo asked sidelong as they trekked slowly towards a rental car one long block ahead of them, parked, like the driver was waiting for something. He hated to say it out loud, but shit, wasn't it the truth? Wufei had been barely scathed in his car bomb attack and they could have obviously been shot point blank in the head just as Richardson had been. But they hadn't, only the seemingly innocent had been taken by death so far. It was seriously fucked up.

Heero shook his head, but only grunted his notorious, "Hn." Apparently he was unwilling to actually provide a verbal response probably due to the fact that he agreed with Duo's question. And probably annoyed that Wufei's disposition was suddenly becoming more aligned with Duo in regards the the nature of their investigation.

The moment they reached the curb across the street they had been walking, both sets of eyes were drawn towards two hulking men as they pulled their bodies from the small rental car that was supposed to be registered to fucking Mizzerahi Ryland. He was listed as 5'9" and dark skinned, quite the opposite of either of the men now walking towards them on the sidewalk a block away.

"Doesn't look like that car belongs to Ryland anymore. Not fucking good," Duo muttered in Heero's ear.

Being ex-pilots and war-vets they were probably a bit more aware of their surroundings than normal human beings, spotting a convenience store that might afford cover if things got out of hand. But the paranoia they both immediately felt was something new. Maybe Heero had been right to try and force Duo into hiding.

The two men were large, much taller than either of their apparent targets, but as Duo had learned, size was definitely not fucking everything. The men continued their steady pace and both Heero and Duo continued to appraise them out of their peripheral vision. They were carrying, that much they could tell, but they were also clearly inexperienced, having probably watched too many crime dramas and carrying their guns in their coat pockets like movie-approved villains. Amateurs.

Duo had to stifle a laugh, but shit, a gun was a gun he figured. Especially when it was pointed straight at your heart.

"They here for us?" The words were a mere whisper as they left Duo's mouth, trailing into Heero's waiting ear.

Heero clenched his teeth obviously. "They're here for you."

Duo rolled his eyes, but bit back his response realizing that ever since the last envelope had been addressed directly to the God of Death, it seemed that maybe Heero's concern was more truthful than he cared to admit.

"We should take this off the street," Duo muttered, trying to formulate some sort of a plan without giving too much away to their soon to be assaulters.

Heero grunted. "Roger that." It seemed Mr. Perfect Soldier already had a plan. "In. Now."

They both entered the convenience store several steps in front of them with ease and speed, though the world had seemed to suddenly slow down around them as Heero's mechanical mind and Duo's impulsive one worked in time together. The two guys followed quickly, now only twenty yards off.

The convenience store was empty save for a young woman looking bored and underpaid behind the counter. Heero eyed her. Death glare on and powerful as fuck. "Get out of here."

"What?" She screwed up her eyes, a piercing above her eyebrow twitching with her scowl of confusion.

She didn't stay confused for long as both Heero and Duo pulled out the weapons they'd been harboring at their backs and raised them on her in the most nonthreatening way possible. But shit, she disappeared quicker than they'd expected into the back room of the place, leaving them alone, crouched behind a poorly anchored display as the two goons from outside traipsed in, irritatingly pleased smiles on their faces.

They apparently assumed they'd cornered their targets; unfortunately for them they were gravely mistaken.

The two men stopped mere feet from the ex-pilots bodies. Neither breathed, keeping their guns tucked away but easily accessed, a flick knife resting calmly in Duo's right hand just in case. But they had the element of surprise on their side.

Heero gave a count of three on his fingers, tapping Duo's crouched thigh in a strangely intimate way with each beat. One. Two. Three.

On three Heero and Duo heaved the display forward powerfully. It landed the two hulks on their backs with a painful sounding thud, their guns clattering to the floor. The guys were dumb as fuck and should have seen it coming and should have had a better handle on their weapons. They deserved what was coming to them.

Instantly Heero and Duo were moving. The American jumped atop the display, his feet splayed between flimsy shelves riding it like a surf board. The Japanese man, meanwhile, reached out to grab his partner's knife, spinning the blade in his fingers until his hand wrapped the handle and swiftly, without a second thought, severed the webbing between each man's thumb and forefinger. The injury would effectively put them out of commission in the area of holding a pistol for at least several weeks.

Upon hearing their groans of surprise and discomfort, Duo jumped once, twice, three times atop the shelving unit until he was satisfied that the bodies had been crushed enough to at least wind them, daze them, probably knock them into black oblivion.

"Check 'em out or flee the scene?" Duo asked, slightly out of breath, with a side glance towards Heero.

Heero seemed to contemplate the ultimatum for a brief second before grabbing the edge of the shelving unit. Duo hopped off in time for the other man's superhuman strength to pull the makeshift weapon off of the two men with ease. It seemed they had, in fact, been knocked into black oblivion by the multiple impacts. Duo was correct in assuming they were amateurs.

Each ex-pilot took one man and searched his pockets. No identification. Not surprising, they might have acted ignorant and brash, but they weren't that stupid. Or perhaps their employer wasn't that stupid.

Without speaking Heero headed towards the back exit, Duo hot on his heels. Obviously they were still being watched. No shit; but it was getting to be such a norm that Duo didn't even care that much.

They wouldn't go back to their rental car, that much was for certain. But if Ryland wasn't driving the car registered under his name, then where the hell was the man? Probably dead in a fucking ditch somewhere, but Duo was going to try and be more optimistic than that.

He followed Heero through the alleyway behind the convenience store when the sound of a cell phone ringing broke through the silence. This time it really was a cell phone. Heero brought it tentatively up to his ear, having not recognized the blocked number.

"Hello." It was more of a growl than a greeting, but all things considered it was pretty good for Heery Yuy. They'd just been fucking ambushed too, hadn't they?

Duo quirked an eyebrow as he watched Heero listen to the other end, his expression unreadable. It took him a moment to understand the confused expression on the braided man's face as a look of pleading before Heero pressed a button on his phone and the sound of Sean Davis' voice filtered through the speaker.

"...under these circumstances. I wouldn't normally be on the grounds to share information regarding a classified case..." Duo snorted openly at that. Little did the man fucking know. "But seeing as how it involved some of your own-"

"Cut to the point," Heero bit out, uncharacteristically impatient. It made Duo stare at him for a moment too long, studying. Somehow their roles had become reversed for that singular second in time.

Davis cleared his throat, clearly caught off guard by the interruption. But the sureness in his next words were what made Duo's own throat go dry.

"We received an envelope with a tip inside, more of a threat you might say towards two of your companions." He paused, as if to let the information sink in and connections to be made out of his cryptic words. "There's just been a shuttle accident, a private one traveling to Earth. Trowa Barton and Quatre Raberba Winner were the only registered passengers."