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"An Inexplicable Thread"Written By: ELLE Disclaimer: I don't own the characters from Gundam
Wing (unfortunately) and they were used without permission, but all
the words are my own. Rating: NC 17 Warnings: AU in modern day, language, extensive
drug use, my poor understanding of the military, CIA, and Yakuza,
likely it'll get pretty smutty at times but I'm not certain how long
it'll take to get there. Pairings: 1x2 Summary: For years now, Duo has been plagued with visions of a mysterious man he is forced to paint. Meanwhile, Heero is returning from undercover field work to a life of nothingness. But they will soon learn they are more entwined then they know... Notes: I'm trying something a little different with the POVs in this. I normally stick to third person POV but only follow one character's thoughts. In this story, some chapters are going to be half Duo's POV and half Heero's POV. Then others, when they're together, are going to be a mixture. We'll see how it works out. I'm a bit nervous about it because I frankly despise mixed POVs as I find them contrived and unrealistic, BUT I can't see any way around it so here goes nothing.
"An Inexplicable Thread"
Despite his own personal admissions, which were unfortunate but forgivable, Heero's reconnaissance mission went flawlessly. He acknowledged that what he was doing probably wasn't healthy and certainly wasn't conducive to any psychological evaluation he would have to undergo, but he honestly didn't know what else to do. He didn't have hobbies or friends or anyone to go see. He didn't even know what he liked to do, let alone what he wanted to do. So he started trailing Duo. It was beyond easy for him - unsuspecting civilians are always the easiest. They never think to look behind them, they never notice the car across the street is always the same car, they never expect it. Heero took it slow. He went home to eat and sleep and shower. All to convince himself that this wasn't anything peculiar, that he wasn't going overboard. And it didn't feel much like he was going overboard considering how uneventful Duo's life appeared to be. For about three weeks he followed him in rotating shifts. Most of the day he spent tucked away in his studio, but Heero supposed that was due to the fact that he was trying to create enough work for an exhibition from scratch in two months. Five times he ran to the post office to ship a painting. Twice he went to a fancy lunch, once with his portfolio and once with a painting in tow. Almost every night he'd meet a dark haired girl for dinner. She was the only person who came to his place. He couldn't tell if she was a girlfriend or not, but at the very least they were close. They usually would wander to a party at some trashy apartment or bar in a bad neighborhood. Sometimes Duo went alone, but usually she was there. So for a few days he followed her after discovering where she lived when they went back to her place after dinner once. She had a normal 9-5 at a mechanic and though she had some other associates, she mostly seemed to hang out with Duo. He frequently wondered if Duo was curious why he never called. Then again, Duo had his number and he never called him either. Every time he started thinking like that he realized he'd done nothing that would suggest he would be even remotely receptive to any additional contact and that it was unfair to project some dismal desire for friendship upon the braided man. Clearly a whole month of only knowing one person in an entire city was finally wearing on him. Though he wondered if that would help him break so that he could pass his psyche exam, he almost always came to the depressing conclusion that he was never going to break. He was just creating a new character for himself, the character of Heero Yuy, and he was vetting his role just like he would if he was trying to take down a hit. Start with research, subtly slip into their lives, gain their trust, and take them down. But he had to get to Duo, right? Duo had a friend - hell, it could be that chick for all he knew - feeding him information. He had to get to Duo. There was a reason. He wasn't just doing this out of desperation, isolation, and the simple fact that he had nothing else to do. No. It was important. It was important. A sinking sort of loneliness was creeping into his heart the day he finally decided to make his move. A loneliness of a sort he'd never felt before. He typically distracted himself with a job or other people's emotions. To have to sit and deal with his own bullshit day in and day out was a weary monotony he found he could barely tolerate. It was a bar night. Heero figured he could hardly walk into a private party where he wasn't invited and it would take too long to vet some kind of relationship with whoever leased those junky apartments. So he settled on a bar night. If Heero were on a job, a real job, he would've checked himself. He was feeling reckless and needy, a combination which he rarely felt and which would've jeopardized any relationship he needed to create. But this wasn't a real job and Duo already liked him and Chang wouldn't be calling him up to check in so he ignored it, pushed forward, and against his better judgment, walked into the bar. The ambiance, if you could call it that, was tense and the air heavy with the mingled smoke of cigarettes and marijuana. The interior was close to dilapidated, the pleather on the stools cracked and peeling, the varnish on the bar bubbling, the pictures on the walls stained with smoke and time. As he scanned the room he assessed the threat level of its inhabitants and decided there was really no one there he couldn't handle. He noted Duo in the corner with a beer in his hand, a practically empty pitcher in front of him, and a cigarette dangling out of his mouth. His dark-haired girl friend was with him and they were shouting good-naturedly over the music and raucous patrons at two less than reputable looking men across the table from them. He pretended not to notice Duo as he walked up to the bar and sat down. The burly bartender eyed him suspiciously and finished up serving his other patrons before heading over and asking bluntly what he'd have. Heero ordered whiskey straight up and sipped it nonchalantly while he waited for Duo to notice him. After about fifteen minutes and a refill, he felt a shoulder bump into his and a tall, thin man in a trench coat leaned back against the bar, his dark, sunken eyes examining Heero mischievously. "Never seen ya here before," he started in a warm voice with a nasally undertone. Although Heero was inclined to simply ignore him, he decided to placate the man and not risk drawing anyone's ire. The last thing he wanted was to get kicked out. "I'm new to the city," he replied coolly, only sparing him a quick glance. "Well, I'm Dobbins, and if there's anything I can do for you, just let me know." He gave Heero a gratuitous wink and it became immediately apparent to Heero that he was being offered drugs. Slipping into character before he could stop himself he asked quietly if he had any snow. Once he saw the sickening smile spread across those thin lips he realized what he'd done and he felt a mix of nausea at his lack of self control and nervous anticipation at the possibility of getting high. It had been a little over three months and although he could normally block out the cravings, being this close to it, without any sort of direction in his life... "You look like the type for that high class shit," Dobbins chuckled. "I got it. How much ya want?" Committed to the path he'd chosen, Heero whipped out a couple bills. "Don't fuck me on the quality," he warned carefully, meeting Dobbins' eyes directly. Of course, being in Hideaki's inner circle for years left him with certain expectations that were unlikely to be fulfilled in this shit hole. "How much will this get me?" He handed the bills over under the bar. "An eight," Dobbins replied, slipping a small pre-measured, zip-locked pouch into his hand under the bar as he took the money and slid it into a pocket inside his coat. "Pleasure doing business with ya. Just let me know if there's anything else I can do for you." He lingered there a moment longer, as if willing such an easy customer to think of something else he needed, and to avoid Dobbins' stare Heero looked the other way instead. He noticed Duo's friend sauntering up to the bar as the three men at the table laughed and clapped, a blush spreading across her cheeks. "Hilde won't share with ya," Dobbins advised with an amused shake of his head as he hoisted himself off the bar to leave. "She don't do any of that shit." Hearing her name she turned to look at Heero and Dobbins, the later of which was already headed off. She stared at him hard a moment, as if she recognized him but couldn't figure out from where, and Heero wondered if she'd seen the paintings too. "Holy fucking shit!" Duo's voice bounded over from across the room, his hands gesticulating wildly, the cigarette between his fingers spreading ash across the floor and unsuspecting - uncaring - patrons. He threw a punch that collided with Heero's forearm with more impact than Heero had expected. "What the hell are you doing here?" "Who is this?" Hilde asked, clearly unable to believe her friend knew this stranger. "Its Heero!" he exclaimed, visibly delighted. Heero downed the rest of his whiskey in one shot and motioned the bartender over with two fingers. Hilde still seemed confused, which pleased Heero to a degree. Even Duo's best friend wasn't privileged with the knowledge of him. "You have to come back over here, with us, I'll introduce you to everyone." Duo's words were rushed in his drunkenness and his enthusiasm strangely comforted Heero. Despite the ridiculous way they'd met, it was decidedly nice to have someone excited about his presence again. Three weeks without familiar contact was a long time to go. Even though Heero prided himself on his ability to distance himself from anyone and everyone, it didn't magically negate the fact that humans were social creatures who thrived on shared experience. Even when working for Hideaki, he'd become 'friends' with the other gang members. Before his long-term field assignment, he'd been 'friends' with other agents. Maybe they didn't get beers together on Friday nights, but they had mutual respect and occasionally shared a meal in the break room. To become completely separated from that... It was much more difficult than he'd ever anticipated. "Okay," Heero agreed reluctantly and slid a couple bills towards the bartender as he poured him another glass. Hilde carried a pitcher over with them as they wandered back and Duo pulled him up a seat. "Hey everyone! Hey!" Duo called out across the bar, standing precariously on the rims of his bar stool so that he was over a head taller than anyone else there. "Hey man, everyone, listen up you assholes!" He finally got a good majority of the patrons' attention and Heero attempted not to flush with embarrassment. He hated to be the center of attention and here everyone was looking at him. "This is my buddy Heero and all you dickheads better treat him with some damned respect, okay?" The crowd laughed and waved off Duo, some of them shouting greetings, and it appeared to Heero that Duo knew everyone there and that they all knew him. But then it seemed hard not to know the boisterous, braided man. Duo kicked his legs out from their supporting position and fell on his ass onto the stool, pouring himself another beer. "This is Hilde, if ya haven't been introduced," Duo offered, gesturing to the dark haired girl with a thumb. "She's my wing-lady and the best chick to ever have your back." She blushed lightly at the praise and stuck out her hand across the small table. Heero accepted it firmly. "Nice 'ta meet'cha!" she quipped cheerily. "Likewise," Heero replied flatly and released her hand so she could pour herself another drink as well. "So where'd you meet this guy?" Hilde asked Duo over the rim of her glass, eyes sparkling with amusement. It was pretty obvious even from their limited interaction that Heero and Duo were polar opposites. "Eh," Duo replied, scratching his head and glancing in Heero's direction uncomfortably. "It's kind of a long story..." "They all are with you," she teased. Heero sat there and observed for about another hour as Duo and Hilde harassed and joked with their friends, speaking only when spoken too, which was fine with him. He didn't see anyone that might be a serious contender as any sort of informant, but then he wasn't actually focused much on that. Although he appreciatively sipped the whiskeys Hilde picked up for him from the bar, his fingers itched for a hit. He knew it would make this whole situation easier for him, too. And his unbearable loneliness was influencing him to desire a relationship with Duo, to be friends with him - a task that never came easy to Heero. Duo was giving him a chance, a chance he rarely got with people due to his antisocial and aloof behavior, and he found himself clinging to it against his will. He threw back the rest of his whiskey and stared deliberately at Duo. This at least would give him the opportunity to relate to him on some level. Duo's bright eyes stared back at him playfully. "Do I have something on my face?" he joked, leaning over the rickety table a bit more heavily than Heero felt was prudent. Heero just nodded his head in the direction of the bathroom. "Come back with me." Duo's eyes were wide with surprise and then narrowed in suspicion, though they still maintained that playful glint. "I don't know what kind of man you think I am Mr. Yuy, but -" Heero cut him off with a sigh and stood. It must've occurred to Duo that he didn't mean that because he heard him quickly follow after. The bathroom was relatively grotesque at that point in the night but Heero slid into the bigger stall, motioning for Duo to join him. Duo, for his part, obviously rather inebriated and walking better than Heero anticipated, giggled at the idea of being there with him. They had to stand rather close to avoid the putrid toilet, Duo's face only a foot away from his. "You followed me, didn't you?" Duo whispered, inching his nose closer and despite Heero's pounding heart, he kept his eyes cool and calculating, not willing to believe he'd been so sloppy that Duo noticed him these past three weeks. "I mean, how else would you find this shit hole?" he continued with a laugh. Relief flushed through Heero as he pulled out his wallet and slid out a bill and two playing cards. Duo didn't seem to know the extent to which he was correct. He held one of the playing cards upright so the face pointed towards the ceiling and handed it to Duo. "Hold this," he instructed and Duo obliged carefully. "King of hearts?" he asked with genuine curiosity. "Is that how you fancy yourself?" Heero decided to ignore this question as well, not wanting to divulge the details on the nickname given to him by his fellow gang members for his penchant for one-night stands. In fact, he never slept with the same woman twice. Nor did he particularly enjoy any of the encounters, but none of his 'friends' had to know that. It was all a show for his cover, anyway. He pulled out the little baggie and Duo's eyes grew wide again for the second time in five minutes. "Shit," Duo gapped. "I didn't know you did this shit." Heero just met his eyes and shrugged slightly. "There's a lot you didn't paint about me, apparently." Duo blushed. "Yeah, sometimes I forget I don't really know you." Heero carefully poured half the baggie out on the playing card in Duo's hand, straightening the crystalline powder into two neat lines with the other card - the rule card. A constant reminder for him that no matter how fucked he got, he still had to follow the rules. No blabbing anything that could blow his cover. "You know I don't usually do uppers," Duo admitted carefully as Heero rolled the bill into a tube. "You don't have to," Heero replied as he inhaled the powder with efficiency, closing his eyes against the burn as it hit his sinuses. He offered the rolled bill to Duo who stared at it a moment, hesitantly. Heero thought that he really wasn't going to accept, but then he tilted his head to the side. "Aw what the hell," he said, excitement lacing his voice. Duo accepted the bill as Heero took back the playing card so that Duo could have the rest. He groaned after the hit, his eyes closed tightly. Heero took back the bill and slipped the unsuspecting drug paraphernalia back into his wallet. They both stood there a moment, a bit awkwardly, waiting in anticipation for the drug to hit their blood stream. After a few minutes he felt himself relax as the hit began to roll over him, that lovely euphoric feeling spreading across him like... like a lover's gentle, warm, well-known embrace - he assumed. He didn't really know, but he found it difficult to care in his growing euphoria. "Thanks, 'Ro," Duo murmured, leaning against him for a moment. Although it was just his shoulder, in his drug-affected state the touch only added to his euphoria. Before he let that touch implicate anything, Heero reached out and gripped his upper arm, leading him out of the bathroom and back to the table where Hilde awaited anxiously. She must've known what occurred because her face contorted simultaneously with relief and disapproval upon their return. Duo thumbed out a cigarette and offered one to Heero, who accepted gratefully. He only ever smoked while high, but then he could easily set back a pack, finding it helped maintain the high. Duo leaned over and lit the cigarette for him before lighting his own and Heero drew in deeply, feeling better than he had in months. Tonight, he thought, smiling at Duo through half-lidded eyes, was going to be a good night. tbc... ~ * ~
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