So just a heads up, it's been a long time since I last watched Gundam Wing so be prepared for not everything in here to be cannon compliant. Also, I don't have a schedule for this fic so I don't know when I'll get to updating it again. Regardless, I hope everyone enjoys it.
It was a beautiful night decided Duo as he strolled down the street. It was a clear night and a light breeze blew through coats and hair. Refreshingly chill but not too much as to be uncomfortable. He couldn't see any stars with all of the light that poured out from windows and signs, but the large variety of shapes and colors from those same signs where pretty in their own way. The crowded sidewalk was a little annoying to navigate, but seeing so many people with smiles and laughter drift in and out of bars and restaurants and the few stores still open at eleven at night made it a little easier.
Duo had picked up his own late dinner after work from a nearby restaurant and was now taking his time on his way back to his apartment, enjoying everything from the loud, boisterous laughter and excited conversations to the sight of couples and groups just having a good time and enjoying each other's company. It really was a beautiful night. Almost prefect even.
Except for the person who had been following him for the last two blocks.
They were very carefully following a few yards behind him, maintaining a perfect distance that with most people would let him go unnoticed. That wouldn't work with Duo though. Since the person had started following him the moment he had left the restaurant with his takeout order, Duo had been aware of his presence. He didn't show it though. Instead, Duo continued to smile pleasantly and maintain a casual pace, appearing for all of the world to be unaware of the other person.
As Duo walked, he considered his options. If he confronted them now in the middle of a busy sidewalk, the other person would either at best turn and run away or at worst go in for the attack since they were already found out. Dou didn't really like either possibility. If the person ran away, they might leave the area completely for the night, but they also might just decide to try their luck with someone else. Someone who probably wasn't as observant as Duo or as able to protect themselves in a fight. And if the person decided to attack once they realized that they were found out, a bystander could easily become involved and get hurt, or possibly even worse. A fist fight would probably just have them dumping into other people, but if they had a knife or a gun...
Ultimately, Duo decided to lead the person away from the crowd. He continued on his way, changing his route to one that was a little longer from his usual one. After about fifteen minutes of walking, the amount of people on street was started to thin, and his surroundings slowly became more quiet he entered an area with fewer clubs and late night resturants, and more already closed for the night shops and residential homes. Another ten minutes pass by; Duo and the man following him were pretty much the only people in sight on the street and the stars were the only steady sources of light. The only other sources of light where the occasional car driving by and a few windows. All of the lamp posts along the road were mostly burnt out or broken.
No one else around and an endless series of darken streets and alleys to disappear into. Duo had very purposely walked into a prime location for anyone who wanted to commit a crime and have an easy escape route to use.
"Any moment now." Thought Duo. He could hear the man slowly coming up closer behind him. Duo continued to look straight ahead.
He didn't have to wait much longer. Just as Duo was about to pass an empty alleyway, an arm suddenly latched itself around his neck and he was dragged into the dark corridor. Within seconds, Duo had gone from walking along the sidewalk to being pulled into extremely dark alley. The man still had his arm wrapped around Duo's throat, but he had also added a knife pressed roughly against his skin.
"Gimme everything you have." Hissed the man right next Duo's ear.
The long haired brunette sighed. Now that he had led the mugger away from the crowd, he could finally take care of this without needing to worry about anyone else possibly getting involved and hopefully be on his way soon.
"Look, dude." Started Duo. "I'm gonna give you one chance to leave and go home before I leave your unconscious ass here for the police to find."
There was a moment of silence as the mugger clearly hadn't been prepared for that kind of response and was trying to register what exactly he had just heard. He got over it quickly enough though. Duo felt the tip of the knife press a little harder into his skin, just enough to make a small cut. Duo could feel a slow, tiny drip of blood slide down his neck. "I'm not gonna tell you again! Now hand ov-"
The mugger cuts off and suddenly both he and the arm that had been around Duo's neck were gone. Before Duo even had a chance to turn around to see what was going on, someone pushed him forward with a hard shove to his back. He stumbled for a moment, caught himself, and spun around to see what the hell was happening.
The hell that was happening was that the mugger was now the one in a choke hold, the barrel of a hand gun tightly pressed up under his chin and basically forcing the mugger to stare skyward. As for who had grabbed the mugger, it was-
"Heero?" Hard, blue eyes flicked over to Duo. He isn't sure why, but he suddenly feels very self conscious as the other looks him over rather intensely. Duo sees the moment Heero spies the small cut on his throat as his expression darkens subtly right before he jams the barrel of his gun even harder into the guy's skin. The would-be mugger shouts in pain and fear.
"I-I'll leave him alone!" He screams. "Just let me go!"
Heero doesn't look like he's gonna let the guy out of the choke hold alive, but he doesn't get a chance to do anything else before Duo sighs in exasperation and holds up a hand to get Heero's attention.
"Look, let's just leave this guy for the local police to handle and get out of here, okay?" Says Duo. "He was never gonna get anything from me anyway and one small cut isn't worth killing him over."
Heero doesn't look like he agrees with that statement at all, but one more glance at Duo and he apparently decides to go with it anyway. He releases the hold he has on the mugger and the guy stumbles to the ground. He tries to get back on his feet and make a run for it out of the alley but he doesn't even gets to stand up all the way before the handle of Heero's gun strike his head hard enough to knock him out cold. He slumps to the ground completely still and silent.
"I was gonna suggest that we just tie him up or something, but this works too." Thought Duo.
Heero doesn't even spare the guy a second glance. Instead, he starts walking towards the street at the opening of the alley. "Let's go." He says as he passes Duo and keeps walking. Duo follows, pulling out his phone and dialing the local police. He briefly explains the situation and where the unconscious man could be found before hanging up. He deliberately leaves out his name to the operator. As far as he was concerned, the matter is over and he doesn't want to have to spend anymore of his night dealing with it. During the entire time as they walk, Heero leads the way, stopping only when they arrive outside of Duo's apartment building ten minutes later.
"Why I am not surprised that you know where I live?" Asked Duo, taking the lead now and climbing the steps. Heero follows close behind, but says nothing. As they walk up the second set of stairs to the third floor, Duo actually turns around and levels Heero with a stare that clearly says, 'Well, are you gonna say anything?'
The answer to that unasked question is apparently no because Heero just stares back at him, intense and unblinking. Duo sighs, leads the rest of the way to his apartment door, and leaves it open for Heero to enter after he passed through. The door shuts and a quiet click! tells Duo that Heero has engaged the lock. A very good idea considering the area he currently calls home. Duo heads to his tiny kitchen and sets his cold, take-out dinner on the counter. He turns around to ask his old comrade how long he'll be staying, but he barely gets a sound out as he finds Heero standing directly behind him. There's hardly any space between them and Duo so is backed up against the counter top. Completely on reflex, one of his hands grips the counter behind him to brace himself while the other shots up to push the blue eyed man away.
He doesn't even make contact as Heero catches his hand by the wrist. His grip tightens and jerks Duo's hand sideways and hold it away from both their bodies. Heero's other hand comes up and grips Duo's chin. Gently, he turn Duo's face to the side and begins to examine the cut on his throat. Duo doesn't struggle, partly because he realizes Heero just wants to look at his wound but mostly because the way he is going about it is making Duo's mind freeze up in confusion.
Heero takes less than a minute to finish his examination. He releases Duo's chin and wrist and steps back.
"Where do you keep your first aid kit?"
Duo blinks in confusion. His mind is still trying to process what the hell is going on. "What?"
"Your first aid kit."
"Oh." He turns and points down a hallway opposite the kitchen. "In the bathroom, under the sink."
Saying nothing, Heero makes his way down the hallway and disappears through the first door on his right. Duo is left to wait uselessly in the kitchen as he reboots his brain. It works though as by the time Heero returns a moment later with a small white and red plastic box, Duo's mind has finally caught up.
Heero lays the box on the counter right next to Duo and pops it open, quickly pulling out an extra large bandage and one of the packets of individual disinfectant cloths.
"Hold on!" Exclaims Duo. "It's just a tiny cut; it barely even bled! I'm more than capable of slapping a band aid on it all by myself."
Heero tears open the little packet and pulls out the tiny wet cloth. For a moment, Duo wonders if he is planning on just ignoring him and his excellent observation, but the other speaks up before Duo can say anything else.
"I want to do it."
...
"What?"
A hand is gripping his chin once more and turning his head up and sideways. There's a slight sting as the cold, wet cloth wipes at the cut. Once the blood is cleared away, he wipes it down again with a second one before reaching for the white, rectangle shaped patch. He peels off the back and presses it over the cut. Once done, Heero grabs the used towelettes and band aid wrapper to throw them away. Duo reaches up and brushes his hand over band aid patch. It's perfectly smooth; not even a single crease.
Duo is still standing where Heero left him when the blue eyed man returns from putting away the first aid kit. He heads straight for the door.
"Heero! Wait!"
He stops and turns around to face Duo.
"Why are you here?"
Oops, that came out way more rude that he meant it to. Good thing he wasn't at work with Hilde. The last time she heard him be that rude to someone, she smacked him right upside the head.
"I-I mean, how did you end up in the same alley where I was being mugged?"
Heero watched him for a moment in silence, one hand still on the lock to his door and a strange look in his eyes. Was it...nervousness? No, maybe hesitation? Duo couldn't quite tell and Heero wasn't giving him anymore time to figure it out. He turned back around, unlocked the door and opened it. But just before he left he said, "I just happened to be there." And then he was gone. Out the door and disappeared down the flights of stairs.
Duo stared at the door in disbelief.
"That is total bullshit!" He thought.