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"Worlds Apart"Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing nor any of
its characters. I only own the original characters. And nobody's paying
me to write this. Rating: NC 17 Warnings: Angst, AU, Non consensual Pairings: 1x5, 2x4 (eventually) Summary: Duo meets a stranger and falls head over
heels, but Quatre is hesitant to jump into a relationship with the
braided man for reasons he won't say. "Worlds Apart" Duo was not having a good day, to put it mildly. He'd slept through his alarm, which meant he was late to work and had to suffer through a lecture the moment he walked through the door. He hadn't had a part he needed to repair the truck he was working on due to someone, his best friend and coworker to be exact, pilfering it to fix the vehicle he was working on. He'd spent hours calling around town to see if anyone carried it and, by the end of the day, had to give a lame excuse to the customer as to why their truck wasn't ready when it had been promised. And now, when all he wanted was to grab a few groceries, he was staring down at a large mess of produce he had unintentionally knocked off of its perch on the table to tumble into a mess on the floor. A giggle to his right brought his attention to a petite blond gazing at him with sparkling blue eyes. “One of those days?” He grunted. “You could say that.” The blond stepped around the table and Duo took in the ripped jeans that fit like a second skin. He wore a pale blue T-shirt that had, apparently once said something, but the letters were too faded to be made out. He knelt down and began helping Duo put the bags of apples back in place. “Thanks.” He graced the braided man with an easy smile. “Not a problem. I'm Quatre.” “Duo.” He kept cutting his eyes to the blond as they put the produce back in place. He had a sweet face, one that could easily be mistaken for innocent until you looked deeply into the cerulean eyes. Duo wondered at the edge of sadness behind the careful mask of sweet and alluring. “Do you normally shop here?” Surprise flickered across his face before a sultry smile curved his full lips. “Why? Do you know everyone who shops here?” He chuckled, somewhat nervously. “Most of them, actually. It's not that large of a grocery store and I come at the same time every week.” “Ah.” Quatre dropped his eyes to the task at hand. “Yes, I normally shop here, but I usually come in later.” “Oh.” As the last bag was placed back on the table, Quatre brushed his hands together and lifted his shopping basket. “Well, Duo, take care and try to have a better day.” “Yeah... Thanks again.” With a final smile, the blond turned and sauntered off. Duo went back to his shopping, mind stuck on the petite blond. He was definitely what Duo would consider his type. Pale, trim, and sweet. Of course, a five minute encounter wasn't enough for an exchange of numbers, but he decided to make a point of trying to find out more about Quatre. He finished his shopping and went to the register. “Hi, Duo. How are you today?” “I'll be happy when this day is over,” he muttered as she scanned his items and put them into bags. “By the way, Marie, do you know Quatre?” She looked up, surprise in her eyes. “Well, I've checked him out a couple of times. George knows him better as he usually comes in around ten.” She quirked an eyebrow, a small smirk coming to her lips. “He is rather easy on the eyes, isn't he?” Duo flushed slightly. He wasn't exactly in the closet, but he didn't broadcast, either. The only reason Marie knew his orientation was because he'd once dated her brother. “Yeah, he is.” ****** “Where have you been?” Quatre rolled his eyes, holding up the grocery sacks for his roommate to see. “Shopping. Why?” He frowned, moving to the table in the kitchen part of their small, two bedroom apartment. “You never shop this early.” He sighed. “You can be a mother hen at times, Wufei.” He grunted. “We have a schedule, Quatre, and I don't like it when you break it. It makes me worry.” He put the juice and some other items in the fridge before dumping out the other bag, scooting half the items toward his roommate. “You'll thank me later.” Wufei gathered up the purchases. “I didn't realize we were out.” “Hm.” Quatre glanced to the clock before moving to the living room and plopping on the sofa. “I met someone at the market.” “Oh?” He dropped his head back to gaze at the speckled ceiling. “Totally gorgeous. Long hair in a braid, muscular, and violet eyes... violet!” He was silent for a long moment. “He talked to me like I was a normal person.” Wufei sat next to him, pulling one leg to his chest as he tucked a strand of hair behind his ear. “You are normal.” He shook his head. “No, we're not, Wufei.” He looked to his friend. They were alike in many ways. Both had been raised in wealthy homes. Both had normal childhoods. Both had lost their families; although, in different ways. His mother had died giving birth to him and his father had died in a car crash when he was fifteen. Wufei's parents had disowned him and thrown him out when he was sixteen because he'd told them he was gay. Quatre still wasn't sure which scenario hurt worse. And both had done whatever was necessary to make it. Neither liked their current lifestyle, but neither knew how to change it. Wufei sighed and ruffled Quatre's hair. “You should never have had to deal with this.” He cut his eyes to his friend. “And you should?” Wufei shrugged. “I don't know.” They sat in companionable silence until the sun began to sink. Both watched the window as darkness descended and Wufei released a breath. “We need to get ready.” Quatre nodded and pushed from the couch. He moved to his bedroom and dug through his drawers. He kept on the same ripped up jeans, but replaced his sneakers with boots. He pulled off his T-shirt and replaced it with a tight tank top. He put on several bangle bracelets and hoop earrings. Kohl liner and a shimmering gloss finished off the wardrobe and he stepped out into the living room. Wufei was sitting on the sofa, zipping up his boots. His roommate had opted for very short cut off jeans, a tank top, with a red unbuttoned shirt draped over it. His hair was loosened from it's usual severe ponytail and he wore a black choker about his neck. He stood. “Ready?” “Yeah.” They moved down the stairwell, both silent as they adopted their persona's for the evening. They walked to their normal corner. Wufei leaned against the building wall while Quatre waved to several others down the street. “How's it goin', Angel?” He raised a shoulder. “Same old, same old, Precious.” The girl crossed to them. “Keeping the Dragon in line?” Wufei snorted. “Try the other way around.” He looked to the scantily clad woman. “Any takers, yet?” She shook her head. “It's early.” She glanced around, dropping her voice. “Candy's at the hospital.” Both stiffened slightly. “Why?” Quatre asked. “She found out she's got HIV. Bruce is pissed.” Quatre bit his lip. “Was she not using protection?” Precious pursed her lips. “She said she thought she could trust a regular.” Wufei grunted. “That's stupid. What the hell was she thinking?” She leaned her shoulder to the wall, eyes sad. “The same thing we all hope for. That one day a prince charming will swoop in and take us away from this hell.” Wufei shook his head. “Shit like that doesn't happen in real life.” A horn honked and he glanced over to a familiar Lexus. “Here's a prime example,” he muttered, pushing from the wall. “I'll see you guys later.” “Be careful,” Quatre admonished. Wufei nodded, throwing on a smirk as he leaned in the passenger window of the gray Lexus. “Treize, have you missed me?” The man smirked. “You have no idea.” “How's the wife?” “Doing good. Are you available?” He raised his eyebrows. “For you? Always.” He waved to Quatre as he climbed into the car. The blond returned the wave and watched as they drove off. Quatre sighed. “How did our lives end up like this, Precious?” She cut her eyes to him. “One of those days?” He chuckled softly as he remembered asking that same question several hours earlier. “I met someone today. He didn't know who I was and talked to me like any other person. It was... nice.” “Oh, Angel, one day...” He nodded. It was a dream all of them shared. That one day they'd make something of themselves. That one day they wouldn't have to sell their bodies... their souls just to make ends meet. That one day they'd be respectable. But too often, that 'one day' never came and they were either found dead in a gutter... or laid up in a hospital with some crippling disease that came from selling sex. “You know what I wanted to be when I was a child?” “What?” she asked softly. “A musician. I used to play the violin and the piano. I was pretty good, too.” Precious shook her head and ran her fingers through his tousled locks. “Don't do this to yourself, honey. It only makes it hurt worse in the end.” He knew that. After living the lifestyle for five years, he couldn't help but know. A car pulled up and both looked to it. No one got out and Precious smirked. “Newbie.” Quatre nodded and took a breath. “I'll go find out his pleasure.” He crossed to the car and waited for the window to roll down before leaning over with a sultry smile. The man inside was young, maybe early or mid-twenties. He was rather nondescript, but appearances didn't matter in Quatre's line of work. Not for the johns, anyway. “Hi, sweetheart, what's your pleasure?” His mouth worked silently for a moment. “I'm... I'm not sure.” “Ah.” He grinned. “One too many wet dreams about the brother-in-law?” He flushed. “Coworker. How much... do you charge?” “Depends on what you want. Hand job is a hundred, blow job is two, and sex is three.” His eyes widened. “That much?” He shrugged. “I gotta make a living somehow.” He swallowed and nodded. “All right.” Quatre glanced to Precious. “I got this one.” She nodded and waved. “Be careful.” He climbed into the car, throwing every ounce of charm he had at the man. They arrived at a rather cheap motel and Quatre waited in the car as the man got a room. Minutes later, he was walking into a rather cold motel room, looking down at sheets that looked a little worse for wear. He turned on the heat and turned to face the man. “What do I call you?” the man asked. He smiled. “Angel.” The john licked his lips. “Appropriate name.” Although meant as a compliment, Quatre felt the sting of the words hit his gut. He shoved it away and set to work. An hour later found him leaving the motel three hundred dollars richer and his john knowing full well that he preferred men to women. He walked back to the corner, surprised to find Wufei. “What are you doing back? You normally spend the whole night with Treize.” He smirked. “The wife called. He's in deep shit.” Quatre chuckled. “It was bound to happen sooner or later. How long has he been coming to you?” He shrugged. “A couple of years. How's your night going?” “Left a poor john crying over the fact a man gave him the best sex he's ever had.” Wufei grimaced. He always hated the ones who came out to discover their orientation. ****** “Damn it, Heero!” He looked up from the engine he was working on. “What?” “I'm two days late on this truck, and it's your fault.” He shrugged. “How was I supposed to know you needed the part? You should have labeled it or something.” A snicker came from across the garage and Duo rounded his glare to Trowa. “What do you find so funny?” The normally quiet man shook his head. “You've been antsy all week. What's your problem?” He sighed and rubbed his forehead, smearing grease across it unintentionally. “It's nothing.” “I think he's found himself a girl,” their boss said from the doorway leading into the office. “Would explain why he was late last Friday.” Duo snorted. “No, Gary, I most definitely have not.” Trowa quirked an eyebrow. “Maybe a boyfriend.” He stared at the man for a long moment before turning back to attach the part he'd finally had come in. “No, I haven't.” Heero rested his hands on the bumper of the car he was working on, studying his best friend. “But you've found someone you're interested in.” Duo dropped the wrench and cursed. “No... not exactly.” “Who is he?” Trowa asked. He shook his head. “It isn't like that. I just had an issue at the grocery store.” Heero quirked an eyebrow. “How do you have an issue at the grocery store?” He sighed. “I knocked over a stand of apples and he helped me pick them up.” Heero barely held back a laugh. “What's his name?” “Quatre.” “Quatre what?” “I don't know. We only talked until we got everything back on the table and then he disappeared.” He paused before putting the wrench back to work. “He was perfect, though. Beautiful eyes and blond hair. Really small... but there was something about him. Like he was sad but couldn't show it.” He shook his head. “Just drop it. I'll probably never see him again.” “In that case,” Gary groused, “stop lolly gagging and get back to work.” Duo grunted but did as he was told. The rest of the day passed with Heero and Trowa making subtle shots at his person in their sarcastic manner. Sometimes he really wondered about his friends. Heero could seem almost scary if a person didn't really know him, and Trowa was as emotionally stunted as they came. But somehow they managed to act human for the sole purpose of making remarks about his person. Duo cleaned up and punched his card, glad the day was over. He drove to the market and grabbed a buggy, pulling his list out of his back pocket. “Fancy meeting you here.” He looked to the side, eyes widening. “Quatre.” The blond grinned, hopping up from his perch by the hand-held baskets. He carried one loosely as he crossed to the brunette. “How was your week?” He shrugged. “It's over, so I'm happy. And yours?” Quatre walked beside him as he made his way to the back of the store, content to tag along wherever he went. “All right.” He quirked an eyebrow as Duo grabbed for the cheapest orange juice. “You know, you really should buy American and support your own economy.” Duo raised an eyebrow and grabbed for the Florida's Natural. “Happy?” Quatre grinned. “Ecstatic.” He couldn't help smiling. “So, what prompted you to change your routine of shopping yet again?” He raised a shoulder. “Out of some stuff I need for tonight. My roommate prefers we always have certain things in our apartment.” “I see.” He dropped several more items in his buggy and marked them off his list. “Are you always this dirty when you go grocery shopping?” He looked down at his grease-stained hands. “Yeah. I'm a mechanic and the hand soap my boss keeps isn't really good enough to get the grease off.” “A mechanic. That must be exciting.” He snorted softly. “I don't know that I'd go that far, but it's a job.” Quatre studied the brunette. He was probably the most handsome man the blond had ever seen. “Why a mechanic?” He shrugged. “I always liked tinkering around with cars. I used to work on the ones at the orphanage and decided to kept on doing it once I left.” Quatre tilted his head to the side. “You're an orphan?” He nodded. “I was on the streets for a while when I was a kid and then taken into an orphanage when I was twelve.” Quatre dropped his eyes to the floor. “I see.” Duo looked to the suddenly downcast blond. “What is it?” He shook his head, forcing a smile. “I'm an orphan, too. Well, I didn't become one till I was fifteen and my father died.” “I'm sorry to hear that. Did someone take you in?” he asked. There was only one orphanage in town, so he figured he would have seen Quatre had he been sent to it. “No. I made it on my own.” Duo appraised the slight blond, seeing the steel under the seemingly frail physique. “It's a difficult life on the streets.” Quatre nodded as they continued down the aisle. “Yeah, but I've got a roof over my head now.” He gave Duo a lopsided grin. “Even if it is water damaged and my roommate can be a total ass at times.” Duo chuckled. “Apartments can suck, can't they?” “Better than a park bench.” He nodded in understanding. “So, what do you do for a living?” He shrugged. “Odd jobs. Are you really going to buy that?” he asked, pointing at the can of sodium loaded soup and effectively changing topics. Duo quirked a grin at the blond's obviously health-nut and economy conscientious preferences. “Which one should I get?” “This.” He pulled a different can off the shelf. “Low sodium and a full serving of vegetables. You'll pay a little more, but your body will thank you for it.” Duo chuckled. “Any other causes you support that I should know about?” “Going green,” he said with his eyes sparkling. “I'd like to help stop global warming if I could.” “I see. Did you make sure they had solar panels on your apartment building?” He scrunched his nose. “The manager refused.” Duo laughed outright. “I was joking.” He raised his chin. “I'm not. The environment is important.” Duo shook his head, trading out his soup for the one Quatre recommended. He studied the blond for a long moment. “Did you come here now just to see me?” He tilted his head slightly. “Yeah, I did.” “Why?” He raised a shoulder. “Because... you seemed nice.” His brows drew together and he looked away. “I don't know a lot of nice people.” Duo hated the slight hurt that had overtaken the blond's face. “Are you single?” Wide eyes turned back to him. “What?” “I'm sorry if I misjudged you. I just... I was wondering...” Quatre shook his head. “No, no you're right.” He licked his lips. This was dangerous. He should have listened to Wufei and stayed home. “I'm not seeing anyone, but...” He looked back to Duo. “I can't get involved with anyone.” Duo gazed at him silently. “Is that why you're always so sad?” His eyes widened. “So this is the guy that's kept you fuddled all week.” Quatre and Duo spun, the braided man blushing slightly. “You're spying on me now?” Heero shrugged. “We were bored.” Quatre took in the newcomers. This was getting worse by the minute. He backed away from Duo. “Well, I guess I'll see you later.” Duo frowned as the blond disappeared down the aisle. “Damn it, are y'all determined to screw with every aspect of my life?” “How were we supposed to know he'd run off?” Trowa asked. Duo sighed. “I guess it doesn't matter.” ****** Quatre ducked into his apartment to find Wufei sitting on the sofa, gazing up at him. “Did you see him?” Quatre bit his lip and nodded. “Yeah.” He shook his head. “You're setting yourself up for disappointment, Quatre. You don't know this guy.” “I know, but... he sees me, Wufei.” Tears tried to fill his eyes, but he fought them back. “He sees me.” The Chinese man stood and pulled the blond into his arms, not sure how to respond to that. TBC....
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