19 November AC201

TO: Director Une, Preventer Administration
FROM: M. Peacecraft, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist, Staff Resources
SUBJECT: Current case assignment

I would like to formally request reassignment of Case #19A4, Yuy, H., Major. Firstly, my current caseload is at maximum according to Preventer Standard Practice Guide Section 1B.11.19a. Secondly, and most importantly, it is my professional opinion that my previous personal acquaintance with the patient would negate any possibility of a therapeutically effective doctor-patient relationship.

Thanking you in advance for your attention to this request.

cc: S. Po, Regional Head, Medical Division

Part 1

Yuy was late. Zechs sat at his desk and fussed with the paper-clip holder, watching the door. He had a private bet with himself that, whether or not this was an involuntary referral, the former pilot-turned-Preventer was not going to show. Not to Zechs. Not to his old enemy.

To be honest, Zechs wasn't in a hurry for this, either. He still couldn't believe that Une was forcing the issue. Even a first-year psych student could tell her that no good would come from any "therapy" where the patient and his doctor were on barely speaking terms. What possible help was he going to be to an ex-Gundam pilot who, it seemed, hadn't lost his taste for self-destructing?

Sighing, Zechs again opened the folder before him and stared at the sparse information contained therein.

Heero Yuy, twenty-one years old, Agent First Class, Special Operations. Yuy had been working for the Preventers for the past three years. For the first two, his file held no complaints about his attitude or behavior. In fact, one evaluation spoke approvingly of his "increasing ease at interpersonal interactions." Then, a year ago, something had changed.

Zechs rifled through the small collection of memos from various people in different Preventer departments.

"...Was rude and insubordinate. . ." ". . .Reduced intern to tears over what was a trivial error..."

It got progressively worse. Finally, two weeks ago, there had been an argument. Nothing was on the record, but an agent had ended up in the hospital and if Yuy hadn't had such a damn fine record, he would have been out of the Preventers and in jail.

But he was one of their top agents -- he and the other pilots. Une and the brass wanted Heero Yuy salvaged in the very worst way. Zechs rubbed his temples and search vainly for clues in the dry print before him.

There was no indication that Yuy engaged in any social activities or had friends outside the pilots' tiny, ultra-exclusive clique. No current sexual or romantic interests were noted.

Join the club, thought Zechs with wry sympathy. He looked at the clock again. Yuy's time was up. Trying to ignore his secret niggle of relief, Zechs sent a failure-to-show notification to Central Files and told his secretary to call in his next patient.

"You didn't go?"

Heero scowled at the inoffensive tabletop. "I am not talking to Zechs Merquise."

"Dr. Peacecraft," corrected Duo.

Heero snorted.

"Well, what are you gonna do then, smart guy? Get fired?" Duo sat back and took a hit off his beer. The bar was crowded with other Preventers, everyone decompressing after another day keeping the UESN peaceful. He was frankly surprised to see Heero here. Bars were not on Yuy's list of favorite places. That glass of beer in front of him, for instance, was almost certainly low alcohol and hadn't been touched.

"I have an appeal in."

"Okay." Duo shrugged. "But you still have to go, right?"

Heero glowered. Duo looked at him in dismay. Damn it. Sometimes the guy was so fucking stupid.

"Look, Yuy. This ain't the war. We aren't guerrilla fighters anymore. There are fuckin' rules!"

"I never thought I'd hear the God of Death talking about following the rules," Heero shot back.

"Me neither," agreed Duo, "but I like this steady job thing. Plus it's a job I can actually do. Let's face it, Yuy. How many places are gonna hire someone with no formal education and a background in teenage mayhem? Maybe you liked living on the run, never knowin' where your next meal was comin' from or whether the roof you slept under that night was gonna leak, but I hated it. I lived like that all my life, damn it, and I don't want to do it anymore!"

"I didn't like it either," said Heero in a low voice. "I want security. I want -- you."

Duo took another drink. His heart ached, but he steeled himself against it. "We've been through this."

"We could try again."

"You bugged my computer!!!"

Heero didn't flinch, sitting straight and still in the chair on the other side of the booth. Duo took a deep breath. "Still are, probably," he muttered into his beer.

Heero didn't answer. Duo stared at the beautiful, frustrating man. With a sigh, he set down his bottle and pushed back his chair. Heero wasn't the only one who could hide his feelings. Duo was going to get up and walk out of here just like he didn't care, just like he didn't want to give in and throw his arms around that stiff, unhappy figure and kiss all the pain away. Too bad it didn't work like that. Too bad he wasn't enough to fix it..

"You've got issues, Yuy. If I were you, I'd take advantage of a free shrink and do somethin' about 'em." Then, throat tight, he shoved his hands into the pockets of his jacket and left Heero sitting alone at the table.

Case #19A4
Patient: Yuy, Heero
Date: 5 December AC201

Notes:

Yuy showed fifteen minutes late. He sat without speaking for the entire appointment and left.

Part 2

The Embers was one of those clubs where you stood in line and hoped you got in. Duo had been standing in it for an hour. Not that he was surprised. Permission to enter was jealously doled out by the doorman, a stuck-up little shit in a lavender designer suit. The guy minced up and down the line of hopeful patrons every ten minutes or so, followed by a beefy, adoring security guard. Slight, long-haired ex-Gundam pilots apparently didn't make the A-list. Of course, the fact that Duo was wearing a leather jacket and blue jeans might have had something to do with being continuously and disdainfully passed over. He glanced at the people around him, everyone looking like they'd just walked off the cover of some fancy-assed fashion magazine.

Maybe it was time for a different approach. Duo surveyed the building speculatively. It was as plain as its neighbors in this largely industrial area. No windows, flat roof, the well-guarded front door and another at the back for taking deliveries.

He slipped out of the line, ignoring the smug smirk of the doorman, and ambled away down the sidewalk. Dodging into an alley, he headed back to the Embers. This time, he came at the club from behind. A security guard lounged against the wall by the loading dock. The man straightened as Duo approached.

Without breaking stride, Duo flipped out his identification. Deciding to pull a Heero, he stood in icy silence, venturing no explanation whatsoever for his presence. It worked. The man hastily opened the door for him.

"Where's the office?" Duo barked, getting into the role.

"F-first door on the left and up the stairs," the guard replied quickly.

He nodded and strode inside. That was the kind of trick that could get him in big trouble -- Une called it "abuse of authority" -- but he had urgent business here.

Hurrying along the corridor, he could feel the bass coming up through the soles of his feet and hear the muffled pounding of the music ahead. Kifta. It was the latest thing in the street, so of course the trendy rich were all for it. Duo, head bobbing to the beat, rounded a corner and was in the bar.

Heads turned as he made his way across the crowded dance floor toward the counter. Although he kept his eyes open, he didn't see Zechs. There was certainly no shortage of wealthy, beautiful people, though.

The bartender was a young woman with bright pink hair and her eyes lit up at the sight of him. "Hey." She swiped her cloth across the counter top. "What can I get ya?"

"Information." It had worked once. Why not again? Duo produced his ID once more. "Milliardo Peacecraft. Is he here tonight?"

"Milliardo?" Her eyes widened. "Yeah! Over there."

Duo looked around. Among some tables at the back of the big room, barely visible in the shadows, he saw the pale blur of silver hair. "Thanks."

"No problem," laughed the girl, giving him a flirtatious wink. "Good luck with the prince, cutie."

Zechs saw Duo coming across the floor and stiffened slightly. The ex-Ozzie was with several handsome, elegant men who turned to look. When Duo reached them, Zechs motioned to the one empty chair. Duo shook his head. "Sorry to interrupt," he said, "but I was wonderin' if I could have a word."

Blue eyes held his a moment. Then Zechs nodded. "I'll be back," he told his companions and stood up. Drink in hand, he said, "Follow me."

If Duo had attracted attention on his own, everyone in the place now stopped to watch the two of them go by. It was Zechs, he thought with reluctant admiration. The guy just had it -- that glow that screamed "I'm special! Check me out!" Looks, birth, brains and luck. Some things were just so unfair.

Zechs led him up a wide, spiral staircase to a lounge area. Here, the noise was a little less and it wasn't as crowded. He gestured toward a sofa. "Duo Maxwell, right?"

"Yeah." Duo laughed a little nervously. Shit. No wonder Heero was so pissed off. Who could unburden themselves to fucking Prince Charming? "It's weird that we've never actually met, huh?"

Zechs nodded. They sat, eyeing each other. "So," Zechs said finally. "What can I do for you, Maxwell?"

Duo took a deep breath. "It's about Yuy."

Zechs' drink wobbled, splashing a bit over the rim. Carefully, he set it down, lines appearing between his eyebrows. "Yuy?"

"I know you're his shrink and that he's supposed to be coming to you for the Invol."

Those too-sharp eyes narrowed on him. "He's filed an appeal."

"Yeah, but he won't get it, will he? You're the only doc with high enough security clearance to listen to guys like us babble."

Zechs shrugged. "I can't discuss his case, Maxwell. You know that."

"Bullshit," said Duo shortly. He thought uncomfortably about his self-righteous lecture to Heero, then ruthlessly overruled his conscience. "I'm all for followin' the rules, as long as it works. But sometimes, followin' the rules gets nobody anywhere. Then you've gotta dump 'em. This is one of those times."

Zechs blinked. His lips twitched. "Go on."

Duo opened and closed his mouth. He stared suspiciously at the other man, but Zechs was all grave attention. "How the hell did you get to be a shrink, anyway?" he burst out.

Now Zechs grinned openly. "The court ordered it."

"Huh?"

"I almost destroyed the world, remember?"

"Yeah. And got off, too. But then, Relena's your sister." Duo couldn't quite keep the scorn out of his voice.

Zechs heard it and met it without flinching. "You're right. I should be in prison. Instead, I'm stuck in a tiny, dreary office listening to the woes of people like Yuy."

Duo started.

"I thought you knew," Zechs' continued. "I was sentenced to ten years of community service. I already had most of an advanced general degree from the Academy. Health service was an option the courts gave me. So I got into an accelerated training program. The Preventers is my assignment. It's unpaid. You could say that Yuy and I have that in common, we're both in Invol."

No, Duo hadn't heard any of that. He recovered quickly. "It must be rough," he observed, looking around the glittering club.

"I endure. Aside from sneering at me, Maxwell, what do you want? What's your interest in Yuy's therapy?"

"It isn't goin' well, is it?"

Zechs' mouth tightened. He shook his head. "He won't talk. He just sits and glares at me."

"Some of the problem is me."

There was no change in Zechs' expression. After a moment, he nodded.

"We were lovers. It's a long story. We started livin' together a year ago, but it didn't work out. He's takin' it kinda hard."

"I thought it might be something like that." Zechs leaned back. "Who initiated the split?"

"I broke up with him."

"Even so, it seems that you still care enough to sneak into this club and try to wrangle details that are strictly confidential."

"What of it?"

"Why did you leave him?"

"Look -- I ain't your patient. I just wanted to let you know what part of the problem was, okay? If Heero wants to tell you that, he will." Duo rose, suddenly nervous. "Just cut him a little slack. He can be a real asshole, but a lot of it is, well, its been kinda hard for all of us to adjust to peace, ya know?"

Zechs said, "Sit down, Maxwell."

Duo sat.

"You're still in love with Yuy, am I right?"

"We're friends . . ."

"Don't give me any shit, Shinigami," Zechs retorted. "If you want me to break the rules, it won't be cheap."

"Wha? You want me to pay you?"

"In a way. I want you to be honest and I want you to be forthcoming. I can't put the pieces together if no one will give them to me. Yuy sits like a stump for forty-five minutes and you dance around the subject like one of my sister's politician friends. I can't sign off on Yuy's case if nothing changes. It's not my say-so that will get him back into Une's good graces, but his own behavior."

Duo carefully relaxed his hands, opening them on his knees. "Okay. Fine. Yeah. I'm in love with the son of a bitch."

"Why did you break up?"

"Jealousy -- mostly."

"Whose?"

"His." Duo remembered a few choice episodes and shook his head. "Sheesh. You'd think every guy in the fuckin' universe was after my ass, the way he would get sometimes!"

"It is a nice ass."

Duo's jaw sagged. He shut it again and glared. Zechs smiled back. "So he was jealous. Was there a reason for him to be?"

"NO!"

"How was your sex life?"

"I don't believe you're askin' me this." Duo muttered.

"You started it."

"Yeah? Well, I ain't doin' your job for you, Zechs." Duo looked away, unnerved by the speculative look on that handsome face. Shit. And this guy was Heero's last chance?

Zechs said nothing for a long while, frowning thoughtfully at the floor. Then, "Would you be willing to help at some point during the therapy if needed?"

"Huh? Help? How?"

"By coming in, participating in a session. Not right away, and maybe not at all, depending on how things go, but just in case -- would you be willing?"

"Yeah! Sure! I'm on a case at the moment, but it's local, so I'll be in town."

"Excellent." The man extended a shapely hand. Duo, hoping this hadn't all been a really stupid idea, took it and had his own firmly shaken. "Yuy was an honorable opponent during the war and I haven't forgotten how you all watched out for Relena. I'll do what I can."

Case #19A4
Patient: Yuy, Heero
Date: 6 January AC202

Patient Notes:

A breakthrough! Communication, of a sort. I asked him about his failed relationship with Maxwell. He hauled off and hit me. It's a start.

Part 3

"I did trust him!" Yuy sat ram-rod straight in the chair, his death-glare in full operation. "Why don't you think I trusted him?"

"It's a guess," Zechs replied, thinking he'd better be careful. The last thing he wanted was for his patient to figure out that he'd been talking to Maxwell. "You don't strike me as the trusting sort. It's understandable. Being suspicious kept you alive during the war. Shedding that kind of conditioning isn't easy."

Yuy, jaw clenched, sat without speaking for several long moments. "It's what he said."

Zechs waited, barely breathing.

"Duo said I didn't trust him. He said I was jealous."

"Why would he say something like that?"

A slow flush was stealing across those fine features. "I don't know," muttered Yuy, eyes falling.

Zechs said nothing, content to ride it out. It was almost five minutes before Yuy was able to keep going.

"I -- used to check up on him a lot. But NOT because I thought he was unfaithful! J-just to make sure he was all right. We have dangerous jobs."

"Okay. You followed him?"

Heero nodded.

"Anything else? Open his mail? Listen in on his phone conversations?"

The flush deepened. "Maybe -- maybe I was a little out of line. Sometimes."

"Did you ever catch him cheating on you?"

Heero shook his head.

"So why the suspicion?"

Obstinance was creeping back into those blue eyes. They were coming to the end of Heero's tolerance for introspection.

"Did he have any other complaints about your relationship?"

There was a visible flinch and another long silence. Zechs held onto his patience. The forty-five minutes was almost over. Damn it. He needed more time with this one. He got up and walked around to lean against the front of his desk. "Don't worry about it," he advised quietly. "Think about it until next time. We made a good start today."

Dark blue eyes met his. There was still plenty of anger and mistrust, but Zechs optimistically told himself that he saw some curiosity there now, too. With a terse nod, Yuy walked out.

The street was quiet. A street lamp flickered, giving the illusion of movement to nearby shadows. Duo caught himself jumping at them and scoffed at his own edginess. This wasn't L2, damn it! It was downtown New Port City, upscale, low-crime. It was the kind of place where the young Duo Maxwell wouldn't have dared come to pick pockets. Street rats and junkies stood out like sore thumbs on these wide, clean boulevards.

Saturday night. He should be out breaking hearts. Instead, he was heading back to his empty apartment with a bag of burgers. What was Heero doing? Sitting at his desk on the eleventh floor of HQ, probably, tea at his elbow and maybe a carton of noodles.

Had it really been that bad, living with Heero? Duo faltered, nearly missing the curb, and stopped for the light. Sure, the guy had been kinda possessive, but in a way, it had felt good to know he was that important to someone else.

"What the hell are you talking about, Maxwell,?" he muttered out loud. "He drove you fucking nuts!"

Crossing the street, he headed toward the glass and steel high rise that had been home for the past three months. His apartment was so expensive that he'd yet to furnish it, but after leaving Heero, he'd been miserable and reckless and in need of something splashy to distract him. Besides, he'd always wanted to live in a "tower of light." He and the gang had seen pictures of such buildings back on L2, and they'd all sworn that someday, they'd live in places like that. Now here he was, thought Duo. He'd made it. And the others?

Something brought Duo out of his preoccupation. He spun around. That ripple of shadow was not the blinking street light, he thought grimly. He kept walking, every sense now focused behind him. Sure enough, after a moment, he heard it, the faintest of footsteps.

Ahead was a small park. He turned into it and was promptly swallowed by the black shadows beneath the trees. Stepping into some shrubbery, he waited. After a moment, his follower approached. Even as he watched, the man began to slow, figuring it out fast. Duo moved quickly into the path, hand reaching under his jacket for his gun. Then, "Yuy!"

Chagrin crossed Heero's face. Duo shook his head. "I don't fuckin' believe it."

"I wanted to talk to you."

"I've got a phone, Yuy. It's not like I'm gonna hang up on ya."

Heero said nothing, only stood in the half-light of the path, hands in the pocket of his raincoat, hair every which way, looking tense and adorable. Duo felt his will crumble. He turned. "Aw, shit. C'mon. I'm hungry. Let's go back to my place."

They returned to the street, neither speaking. Heero was probably pissed at getting caught, but hell, "Did you really think you could sneak up on me, Zero?

"When did you figure it out?"

"'Bout a block or two back."

"Heh. I've been following you since Nineteenth Avenue. You're slipping."

"Nineteenth? Really?"

"Hn."

"Bastard."

Harrington Towers loomed ahead of them, outshining the stars. Something else gleamed -- metallic -- across the street. "Yuy!"

Heero had already seen it and was moving. His body slammed hard into Duo's, both of them tumbling to the sidewalk as something bright streaked past overhead. Rolling apart, they ran for cover. Duo, clinging stubbornly to his dinner, made it behind a postbox and drew his gun. That had been a high-powered energy weapon! Sure enough, a shadow moved along a low roof on the other side of the street.

Where was Heero? Setting his burgers down carefully, he edged around the other way. He saw Heero behind a nearby concrete block planter.

"Friend of yours?" called the other Preventer, gun drawn and ready.

"I dunno. Hope not." Duo thought about his current case. His cover for his latest mission was as a rich inter-system drug dealer. Being seen heading into the Towers wouldn't do anything to hurt it, but he sure as hell didn't want any of those scum knowing where he really lived. "How about you?"

"I dunno. Hope not!" came back at him.

Duo laughed reluctantly. "So -- who's gonna to be the bait?"

"Rock-paper-scissors?"

Duo nodded. He watched as Heero extended his arm. One, two, three -- Duo stuck out his two fingers. Heero brandished his fist. Ah, fuck. Duo pointed toward the apartment building and a deep overhang that sheltered the entrance. It was a distance of about a forty meters, broad, open patio with the occasional potted shrub or tree. Heero nodded. Duo took a deep breath and ran.

He made it halfway before the deadly rays lit up the night. Diving, somersaulting, he got behind a planter. From the nearby roofs came a shriek, cut off in mid-utterance. Duo started to get up, then sat heavily back down. He'd been hit! Reaching up, he touched warm, sticky wetness at his temple. Close. Way, way, too close. Yuy was right. He was getting sloppy.

"Duo? Hey!" Heero ran toward him, keeping low, ducking behind the planter.

"You got him?"

"Yes, but you're hit. I'm calling an ambulance." Heero took out his phone. Duo swatted at him.

"Don't piss me off. It's a graze. Just -- go get my burgers, okay? They're behind that postbox. I'm fine, damn it."

Heero gave him a look, but nodded and with another quick glance around, headed off, punching numbers into his phone as he went.

"That better be HQ you're calling," muttered Duo, dragging himself upright. His head hurt like the devil now and he was a little dizzy. Probably a slight concussion. Damn.

Heero returned with the crumpled white bag. "This is dinner?"

"Don't start." Duo snatched the burgers. "Did you call HQ?"

Heero nodded and looked over toward the building where the shooter had been. "I'm going to check out the body. You stay here."

"Regulations say wait for back-up."

Heero just grinned and walked away. Oh, well. No one else was shooting at them. Maybe the sniper had been solo.

Duo sat down heavily on the planter. His head pounded, but he kept his eye on the street, just in case. After a few minutes, Heero appeared on the edge of a roof and signaled the all-clear. Their back-up came soon afterwards, five or six police cars and a couple unmarked Preventer vehicles.

So much for a quiet night at home, Duo thought, picking up his burgers and starting toward the action. He didn't get far. Heero appeared, slipping past the line the police were setting up and coming straight for him.

"What's up?"

"You're going home."

"Won't you need my report?"

"Later."

Duo, whose head was a misery by now, said gratefully, "Okay," and was perfectly content to let Heero steer him back across the patio, through his lobby -- which was rapidly filling with gawkers -- and into the elevator.

Heero insisted on being the one who bandaged him up and got the analgesic patch on him. When the phone calls started, he fielded them, watching with faint disapproval as Duo, headache subsiding, finally got to wolf down three burgers and some slightly soggy fries.

"The shooter was my Bad Guy," Heero announced after one of the calls. "A hit man who works for Slagg."

"That your syndicate case?"

"Yeah. What are you working on?"

"Drug dealers. A starblast ring."

They stared at each other. "So," said Duo finally, "what did you want to talk about?"

"About going out again, you and me."

Duo opened his mouth, but Heero rushed on. "I've been talking to Zechs, Duo. It -- it's not easy, but I'm doing it. He's been making me think about things in ways I hadn't before. I realize that I've been inappropriately jealous. . ."

Duo choked and Heero reddened. "In fact, a lot of the things that were wrong in our relationship were my fault, I guess. I'm not saying that we try to live together again or anything, just go out once in a while."

"Uh, that's good," Duo agreed, "but realizing you got problems and actually doing something about 'em are two different things. Like tonight, for instance. What's with following me? Why didn't you just call me up?"

"I hate the phone. You know that. Besides, you always have your video turned off. I can't stand not seeing the people I'm talking to."

"What's so important about seeing me?"

"I can't tell what you're thinking."

"Why do you need to? Why would I be thinking anything other than what I'm saying? Have I ever lied to you?"

There was an arrested look in Heero's eyes, as if he was suddenly seeing something completely unexpected. "That's not it," he protested, but his voice lacked conviction.

The phone rang again. Heero grimaced and put it to his ear. "What? Yeah. Yeah. Now? Okay." He clicked it shut. "I have to go."

"Bad Guy of the Month." agreed Duo.

"Are you sure you won't go get checked out?"

"Yeah. I'm okay." An awkward silence fell between them. Then, "You never answered my question," Heero said. "Will you go out with me?"

"I'll think about it," said Duo.

Heero nodded and turn toward the door. He stopped. Duo watched his body tighten. Suddenly, he spun back around. Before Duo knew what was happening, Heero was across the room. He caught Duo's head in both hands and kissed him hard. Then he ran, door slamming behind him.

Duo stared at the door for a long time afterwards, his fingers against his mouth.

Part 4

Patient 19A4:
A/V Session Record
Disk #6
Transcription by: E. Mason, Medical Assistant
Transcription Approved by: MP

Doctor: So -- you say physical contact makes you uncomfortable. Do you have any idea why?"

Patient19A4: ...

Doctor: Maybe it's time to talk about your past. Are you ready to do that?

Patient: ....

Doctor: Do you remember your parents?

Patient: No.

Doctor: Who is the first adult you remember? Your first care-giver?"

Patient: Odin Lowe.

Doctor: He was an assassin, wasn't he?

Patient: Yes.

Doctor: What kind of relationship did you have with Lowe? Would you say he was an affectionate man?

Patient: ...

Doctor: Demonstrative? Reserved?

Patient: He treated me okay.

Doctor: Give you hugs? Tuck you into bed?

Patient: No.

Doctor: Beat you? Molest you?"

Patient: NO! Fuck off, Zechs!

Doctor: Come on! Talk to me, Yuy!

Patient: He treated me like I was an adult. He'd shake my hand when I'd successfully complete a mission. Sometimes he'd praise me and sometimes he'd yell at me.

Doctor: What happened to Lowe?

Patient: He died. I moved around for a while and then I ran into J.

Doctor: How old were you then?

Patient: Dunno. Maybe seven or eight. Maybe older. I'm not really sure.

Doctor: And what was that relationship like?

Patient: Pretty much the same. I was a member of the team. They treated me like one.

Doctor: I see. So being physically demonstrative -- showing friendly or tender feelings with your body -- wasn't very common?

Patient: ...

Doctor: And how about the other side of the coin? Have you ever been sexually assaulted?.

Patient: Hell, no! I'd kill anyone who tried that shit with me!

Transcription note: [five minutes of complete silence]

Doctor: So why do you think you don't like to be touched?

Patient: ....

"Damn you, Heero Yuy!"

Duo threw the nearest thing to hand across the room, an empty soft drink can, with all his strength. It hit the wall with an unsatisfying thunk and fell to the carpet. Where was a glass beer bottle when you needed one? Furious, he strode across his living room to collapse onto its lone piece of furniture, the couch.

He should have known. Heero hadn't changed! Gloom made its way through Duo's anger and disappointment. It was his own damn fault. He'd wanted to be with Heero again so badly. He'd thought that maybe, just maybe, enough time had passed for Heero to have done some thinking, to have loosened up a little or something. But in the end, it had been the same old wham-bam, thank-you-ma'am, Yuy special. Of course, he hadn't been smart enough to keep his mouth shut about it and it had all degenerated into the usual jealous accusations, denials, finger-pointing and rants.

With jerky, clumsy movements, Duo unbuttoned his coat and peeled it off. His body still burned, unsatisfied in spite of having been brought so swiftly and roughly to climax. Rubbing a bruised wrist, he remembered how Heero had slammed it against the wall and held it there. Duo had been helpless against that incredible strength. Then Heero had kissed him.

Always before, any kisses between them had been initiated by Duo, but like the night of the shooting, Heero had gone in and planted a quick, hard one on Duo's lips. It had left a cut on the inside of Duo's mouth and himself weak-kneed with shock. His protest had died on the spot. Unfortunately, afterwards it had been business as usual.

Why the hell did it have to be like that? Why did sex with Heero have to be so -- impersonal? Being lovers was different than just being friends. Making love had to be more than just those hurried, almost painful encounters. Other lovers took the time to enjoy each other. He'd seen how Quatre and Trowa were. More times than Duo could remember, he'd tried to take it slow and easy, only to be overwhelmed by the rush of raw, impatient power that was Yuy.

The same old ugly insecurities crept back. Maybe it wasn't Heero's fault. Maybe it wasn't that Heero didn't like to be touched, it was that he didn't like Duo touching him. After all, if you really loved someone, you'd want to be gentle, wouldn't you? You'd want to make it last sometimes. But if that someone was just convenient, someone you liked and were used to, but weren't necessarily in love with . . .

It had been a stupid decision, going out with Yuy again.

They called Zechs in on his day off. He had been in the middle of showing one of the city's museums to a very attractive young executive from New York. As he'd had definite plans for the man afterwards, the interruption did not put him in a very good mood.

"Sir!" squeaked the young corporal sitting in front of the detention cell. Her eyes were wide. "I -- I don't think you'd better go in there right now!"

Peeling off his gloves and long silk scarf, Zechs threw them on her desk. "He's my patient. Let me in."

Mouth an 'o' of alarm, the young woman nevertheless jumped to her feet. Zechs watched her draw her sidearm before she punched in the access code. Damn right, he thought with a twinge of apprehension. Steeling himself, he pushed open the door and cautiously stepped into the cell.

Yuy was slumped on the bench on the far side, white-faced, bloody-knuckled, and coldly, dangerously angry. His brows came together sharply seeing Zechs and he straightened. Zechs put his back to the door and directed a pointed look toward the security camera.

Yuy's jaw tightened, but he sat back. Zechs stayed perfectly still, reining in his impatience, letting the minutes tick by. As they did, the stiffness in the wiry young body began gradually to ease.

"I lost control," said Heero in a low, disgusted voice. "I hate it when I lose control."

Zechs nodded. "The date didn't go well?" he asked finally, lightly.

For a moment, he was certain Yuy would attack him, too, but to Zech's surprise, Heero laughed shortly. "No."

"Maybe you better tell me about it."

"You don't want to hear about the guy I just decked?"

"Why? This wasn't about him, was it? He was just some poor dumb fuck who was in the way, right?"

Heero's eyes narrowed again. Then he shrugged and made a quick gesture with his hands, one redolent with frustration. "Conversations in these rooms are recorded, aren't they?"

Zechs considered him thoughtfully. "Just a second," he said. Turning to the camera, he said: "I need an order to release Yuy into my custody. And be quick about it!"

The order came within fifteen minutes, along with two burly guards who escorted them through the building and up the elevator to Zechs' office. Yuy said nothing, walking beside Zechs, eyes on the floor. Once the doors closed on the guards, he threw himself into his usual chair and stared moodily at the carpet.

Zechs took off his suit coat, loosened his tie and sat down, propping his feet on his desk. Okay," he said. "Talk."

"Are you in a relationship?" asked Yuy, staring at the bottom of Zechs' shoes.

"Not at the moment."

Yuy nodded, still not looking him in the eye. "But you have been, right?"

"Yes."

"When you have sex, do you like to fool around for a long time or just do it?"

"It depends."

"On what?"

"On how much I like my partner. If I like him a lot, then I'm more likely to be in the mood for foreplay. If it's just a one night stand or something..."

"But sex is just sex, right? In the end, aren't other things more important?"

"Sure," Zechs agreed, "but that doesn't mean sex isn't important. Sex is a very strong physical drive. We all have it and it's inextricably woven into who we are and how we see ourselves and others."

There was a long silence after that, so long that Zechs was reminded of their first sessions. Then, just as he was wondering if he should call it off, Yuy said quietly, "When Duo and I were living together, we used to get into fights about sex."

Aha. Finally.

"He's -- he's a very tactile kind of person, always wanting to touch and to cuddle and stuff like that." Yuy sank back in the chair, hands tightening on the arms. "But I just can't do that. We get going and it's like, I have to do it right now or the feeling goes away. He always said that it didn't really matter, that he loved me anyway. but I knew it was only a matter of time before he..."

" ...went looking for something better?" Zechs finished gently.

Yuy looked like he would shatter if he moved. He nodded. "The other night, when we went out, we had such a great time. It was just like it used to be. Afterwards we came back to my place and fucked. I thought everything was going to be all right, but he lost it. Just blew out at me."

Zechs stared at him. Yuy's handsome face was shadowed with hurt and confusion. "Hmm," he said finally. "Did you hear yourself? Did you hear how you described what you did?"

Yuy looked blank. Zechs swung his feet off the desk and leaned forward, holding the other man's bewildered gaze.

"You said you 'went back to my place and fucked.' Think about that."

Yuy frowned, puzzled.

"Some people," Zechs said mildly, "would have called it 'making love'."

Part 5

Une's office was on the top floor of Preventer Headquarters. Zechs rode the elevator up, ignoring the covert stares of the others sharing the car. At the top, he stepped out into a small, tastefully furnished lobby. There were two people waiting there. They looked up from their magazines and started, recognizing him. Ah, notoriety. He took a seat near the window and looked into the street far below.

Mindy, Une's secretary appeared. "Dr. Peacecraft?

He got up, smiled apologetically at the other two and followed her from the lobby, down a long hall to Une's office.

"I've got a man in the hospital with a broken nose and two cracked ribs. These weren't the results I was hoping for, Zechs."

Good old Lady Une. He would never be her favorite. Treize's ghost would always lie between them.

"It's only been three weeks! He's just started talking to me. What do you think I do? Give people happy shots and all their problems go away?"

"Yes," she said frankly.

"Maybe some people, but not everyone. Sorry. There are no happy shots for Yuy. His problems are solvable, but it's going to take a little time."

"I have a case coming up," she said, "It's high risk, high stakes and absolutely critical to UESN security. I'm going to use the pilots and I need him to be ready."

Zechs said nothing, holding his temper with an effort. Yuy was just starting to open up. Taking a sledgehammer to him now would only send him to ground again. Une sighed and sat back in her chair.

"I'm sorry, Zechs. I know I sound cold, but -- this is that important. The operation is scheduled to start in two weeks in Zurich. There simply is no one else who can do it."

"Une, there's a lot inside Heero's head that needs to get out. I know what triggered that particular incident and I'm working on it. I have an idea for some rather unorthodox therapy that might help lower his stress level considerably."

She shook her head. "What about medication?"

Zechs thought about the files he'd recently received from a former Oz acquaintance. Drake had been in Intelligence. It made for some harrowing reading. "I'd rather not. The conditioning he underwent to become a Gundam pilot was -- extreme. He was subjected to a heavy drug regimen and his reaction to them now might be atypical. It's a real risk."

"Then you don't have much of a choice. You'll need to think of something fast. He's either fit for the mission or he's in big trouble. Don't look at me like that, Zechs! I'm only the regional director and Yuy's antics have attracted absolutely the wrong attention! I can't cover for him anymore. I'm already catching it for letting him slide on the first assault. Either he passes a psych exam in two weeks or he's going to be handed over the Internal Review and you know what that means."

"I'll see what I can do," Zechs grated.

The phone rang while Duo was working at his computer. Peacecraft? What the hell? He quickly clicked on the receiver.

"Maxwell? Got a minute?"

"Yeah. What's up?"

"I've been thinking about your boyfriend."

"He's not my boyfriend."

"Right. Anyway, he's a real hard case," continued Zechs as if Duo hadn't spoken. "Une's getting impatient, especially after this last screw-up."

"Yeah," sighed Duo. "I heard about that. You do know that me and him are currently not talking, right?"

"Yes, but it's not what you want, is it?"

"It isn't?"

There was silence. Duo could almost see those cool blue eyes fixed on him, waiting for him to quit fucking around. "Okay. Maybe it's not, but I don't know what to do anymore, damn it!"

"I don't think this is just Yuy's problem and nothing's going to be solved if I keep treating it like it is."

Duo swallowed hard. "W-what do you mean?"

"I don't really feel comfortable talking about this over the phone. Have you eaten yet?"

"No."

"How about dinner?"

"Er, sure. I guess. Where?"

"The Gray Lance?"

"Never heard of it."

"It's near the banking district. Do you want me to send a car?"

Send a car? Duo grinned. "Sure. Is it a limo?"

"Would you like a limo?"

"Are you flirting with me, Zechs?"

There was a laughter. "Do you mind?"

"Nope. Just don't get any ideas. My heart belongs to that psycho, Yuy."

Zechs had a nice chuckle. "The car's on its way."

"Your guest is here, Your Highness."

Zechs looked up from his paper to see the Jameson, the club's host, leading Duo Maxwell into the dining room. Maxwell was staring around in open curiosity, hands crammed into his jacket pockets, braid swinging. Setting aside the paper, Zechs watched him approach and take the chair Jameson pulled out for him. He was trying hard not to be impressed.

"What is this place?" he wanted to know when the host had withdrawn. "It doesn't even have a sign."

"Yes, it does. It's over the doorbell."

"That little bitty brass plaque?" Zechs nodded. Duo stared around at the bookshelves, the fine wood paneling, velvet drapes the color of wine.

"It's a private club," Zechs said. "My family were founders and we have a permanent membership. The cook is the best in town."

"Oh."

Their waiter, an elderly man in a tuxedo, appeared with the wine and salad. Duo's wide eyes followed his movements around the table and out the door.

"That's Peterson. He's worked here for sixty years."

Duo nodded. "Can anyone join this club?"

Zechs shook his head. "I'm afraid not. You have to be invited, then voted on."

"No kiddin'."

Zechs grinned.

"So, what's this thing you couldn't talk to me on the phone about?" Picking up his fork, Duo stabbed a piece of tomato.

"Heero is pretty thoroughly in love with you."

Maxwell's fork wobbled. "I'm not so sure about that," he growled.

"Why not? Because he has trouble with intimacy?" Startled, Maxwell lifted his head.

A hit, thought Zechs, keeping his expression bland.

"Are you sure that's it?" the younger man asked finally. "It's not as if he can't get into it."

"Really?" Zechs helped himself to a roll. "Why do you say that?"

"I know he can be, well, passionate. There was this time at one of your sister's parties -- he didn't know the punch was alcoholic and he had a couple of glasses without realizin' it until too late."

"He doesn't drink?"

"Nope. It's the whole Heero Yuy, Gotta-Be-In-Control-Of-Myself-Or-The-World- Will-End thing. Anyway, you can imagine what happened. The stuff went straight to his head." Maxwell smiled faintly, gaze turning inward. "Man, he was all over me. It was great," he added wistfully. "I felt . . . It was like . . . Oh, hell."

"And that didn't suggest anything to you?"

"Yeah. That he had to get stinking drunk to make love to me."

They fell silent as the elderly waiter returned with their soup. When he was gone, Zechs said, "That's all it suggests?"

"What else? Hell. We've known each other for years, been friends a long time. For all I know, I'm just convenient. He likes me, we get along -- why not fuck?"

"Has he ever dated anyone else, either before or after your split?"

Duo shook his head.

"If you were just convenient, wouldn't you think he'd be attracted to others? It's not as if others aren't attracted to him. He's a remarkably good-looking man."

"Don't I know it," agreed Duo fervently. "But now that you mention it, no. He's never really acted like he even noticed other guys."

Zechs nodded and started in on his soup. Duo simply sat and stared at his, looking thoughtful.

Good boy, thought Zechs. Think about it. The man was stunning. And there were plenty of men and women who went for the strong, silent type. Hell, thought Zechs, his own sister was one of them.

"Well," Maxwell said finally, uncomfortably. "What else could it be?"

"Opening up to someone requires that you deliberately make yourself vulnerable, that you relinquish control." Zechs replied. "I suspect that Yuy simply has no idea how to do that."

"You're kiddin'!"

Zechs shook his head. "Not at all. Sex is instinctive, but expressing love is learned behavior. From what little I've been able to pry out of Yuy during our sessions, I suspect it wasn't among the list of survival skills his care givers gave him."

"Yuy told me once that it was Lowe who told him to follow his emotions."

"Maybe so, but I'm willing to bet Lowe wasn't much help with telling him how to deal with those emotions once he let them loose."

Duo stirred his soup absently. "I was an orphan, too," he said finally, voice low, almost as if speaking to himself, "but I had my gang. And later there was Father Maxwell and Sister Helen. . ." His voice trailed away. There was a stricken look in his eyes.

"That training he got during the war didn't help matters, either." Zechs went on. "First Lowe tells him to follow his emotions, then the rebels tell him to keep them under wraps. That's what's standing in our way, in my opinion. Damn, but I wish I had more time!"

"What do you mean?" Duo asked uneasily. "He is he gonna keep comin' to you, right?"

Zechs leaned back in his chair, drumming his fingers on the linen tablecloth, pale eyebrows drawn together. "This is strictly off the record, Maxwell, but you guys are about to assigned to a very high level mission. If I can't get Yuy to quit acting out, he's going to be dropped from it and suspended pending a UESN Oversight Board Review. Don't forget, you guys are under the microscope, too. If some people had their way, all of us would be sitting in prison."

Duo grinned crookedly, but he looked worried. "So what do we do?"

"Frankly, I think he could pass a psych exam right now, but if I could get him to reduce his stress level in the next two weeks, he'd have no trouble at all. Getting things straight between you two would go a long way to easing up the problem, don't you think?"

Duo opened and closed his mouth. "Yeah," he said finally. "But how? Shit, I tried for a year to get him to open up to me and all that happened is that we both got crazy. It's almost like he physically cannot let go, Zechs! You can almost see it happen. We start makin' love and he's gettin' into it and something in his head suddenly goes off and then its just a big rush to get it over with."

"Yuy needs to know -- on a gut level -- that intimacy isn't going to have disastrous consequences. He needs to learn that relinquishing some control can actually be to his advantage, both in his intimate relationships and other dealings with people."

"Right! But how!"

"Remember how you said that sometimes, when the rules don't work, you have to break them?"

"Y-yeah." Duo gave him an uneasy look.

"Well, I agree. God knows what the licensing board will do to me if they get wind of this, but here's what we're going to do."

Part 6

Heero stopped the car in front of the imposing, wrought-iron gate. Slim hands tightened on the wheel. He hesitated, then looked over at Duo. Duo smiled back sympathetically, but gave no quarter. If Heero wanted to back out of this, he was going to have to do it entirely on his own. He wasn't getting an easy out from Duo.

It was almost dark, sunset only a suggestion of red in the west. The gate lights were on and Duo could see more lights marking the line of the driveway through the trees beyond. A uniformed guard came over to the car. Heero lowered the window and handed over his identification. The guard nodded and returned to the hut. A moment later, the gates swung inward.

"Why do we have to do it here?" Heero asked finally.

"You heard Zechs. It's neutral ground, neither yours nor mine."

"Yeah. Just his."

"He's your therapist, and it ain't like he's going to be watching, for Chrissakes!"

"Why does he have to be anywhere around at all?"

"In case you go over the edge, maybe."

Heero turned red and said something rude. Duo ignored it. He was frankly impressed that Heero had made it this far.

"I can't believe I agreed to this." Heero threw the car into gear and drove on through the gates.

Duo, wisely, held his tongue.

They rolled up the winding, wooded drive, heading for the summit of a hill. New Port City was fifty miles away and they had seen few houses for awhile along the increasingly narrower, steeper roads. The drive broke through the trees at last and out onto the hilltop. Sculpted lawn stretched away to the tree line. At the very top of the hill was a sprawling mansion of quarried mountain stone and timber. It looked very old. Lights were on in a few of the mullioned windows. The peaked roofs, many chimneys and unexpected porches gave it a fairy-tale feel. There was an expensive sports care parked near the front door, but no other vehicle in sight.

Heero pulled up behind it and the two pilots got out. They climbed a broad, shallow flight of granite steps to an imposing front door. Elaborately carved with hunting scenes, it was inset with brass and copper. Heero pushed the doorbell.

Pargan answered. "Gentlemen!" he greeted them, looking genuinely pleased to see them again. "It's been too long. Please do come in."

Heero trailing, Duo followed the old servant through halls lined with old pictures in enormous, fancy frames. At the back of the hall, Pargan opened a door and waved them into another book-lined room with leather furniture, a fireplace and a gray-whiskered dog that sniffed lazily at their boots before retreating to its cushion. A moment later, the door opened again and it was Zechs.

Today, he wore jeans and an oversized sweater that was a little threadbare at the elbows. His hair was not in its usual regulation ponytail, but loose and careless over his shoulders. He was carrying several books.

"I was half expecting you to back out," he said to Heero.

"I almost did," replied Heero bluntly. "And I'm thinking about it now."

"You can." Zechs met his glare squarely. "This is entirely voluntary. If at any time you want to stop, you can. Are you both clear on that?"

"I am," said Heero, but his voice wasn't quite as steady as always.

"You can do it," Duo said. "I know you can."

Heero nodded solemnly.

"All right." Zechs set the books down on a table. "Come with me. I'll show you the suite and leave you alone. Take your time. Send down for something to eat or drink, if you want. One glass of wine is allowed."

Zechs led them through more elegant halls, up broad, curving staircases. Duo saw chandeliers that looked like they were dripping diamonds. Fancy vases and statues stood everywhere. It was like being in some kind of museum.

At last, they came to a set of double doors. Zechs pushed them open. Duo's eyes got wide and he couldn't help the little wriggle of excitement.

The room looked like a movie set. There was an enormous bed, with a tall ornate headboard and heavy posts. All the furniture was rich-looking and old fashioned. The fireplace had a embroidered screen. Persian rugs covered a floor of richly polished, mellow wood. He went to one of the windows. Pushing it open, he looked out across dark, rolling woodlands.

"There are, um, toys in that trunk," said Zechs. "And before you ask, no, I will not tell you where I got them. Dial forty-one to get housekeeping. They'll bring up something to eat or drink if you need it. You can get me at extension six."

"Your house phone has extensions?"

"This isn't my house," replied Zechs. "It's a family lodge. Usually, Relena has diplomatic meetings up here when she wants them to be discreet."

"Right," muttered Duo. "Discreet."

Zechs smiled again. "I'll leave you two alone. Remember, Yuy -- tonight all the control is Duo's. You have to trust him implicitly. Last chance to change your mind."

"I'm ready," said Heero, darting a glance at Duo and away.

Zechs nodded, satisfied. He withdrew, closing the doors quietly after him.

Duo looked at Heero. Heero looked back. Duo took a deep breath. Might as well get started. Why was he even hesitating? Hadn't he been fantasizing about this all week?

Maybe it was Heero's expression. The perfect features were as controlled as always, giving nothing away. It was only looking past them and into those dark blue eyes that Duo could see the uncertainty. He put his arm around Heero. "Hey. It's me, okay?"

"This is weird."

Duo walked him over to the bed and sat them both on the edge of it. He took Heero's hand. It was ice cold. "You've never done anything like this either, huh?"

"You haven't?" Heero looked up sharply.

Duo shook his head and grinned sheepishly.

"Oh," said Heero and looked a little easier. Then he smiled faintly, wryly. "This wasn't exactly how I imagined our next time together."

Duo laughed. "Me neither," he agreed, "but I've gotta be honest with ya, Yuy. I've really been lookin' forward to this."

"You have?" The other man gave him a slightly offended stare.

"Yeah." Duo brought Heero's hand to his lips and kissed it. "The idea of having you at my mercy has been driving me crazy. I'm gonna do shit to you that you won't believe!"

"Duo . . ."

"Uh-uh. You trust me, right?"

Heero gave him a short, jerky nod. Duo shifted around on the bed to face him. A shiver ran through Heero when Duo began to unbutton his shirt. When he reached to help, Duo pushed his hand aside. "No. I'm doing this stuff, remember?"

Heero was straining against the impulse to grab him and throw him to the bed. Duo could see the muscles tensing beneath the fine flesh. Not tonight, buddy.

The shirt dropped to the floor. Damn, but Heero's skin felt good. Like silk. When they had lived together, Duo had become an expert at finding excuses to accidently touch Heero, brushing up against him as they passed in their kitchen, making contact as he'd reach for something.

"Stand in front of me," Duo instructed next.

Heero did so. Duo leaned forward and unfastened his jeans. Once again, Heero started to do it, then clenched his fists and held them firmly at his sides. Neither did he move when Duo finished undressing him. But when Duo reached to caress his flank, Heero withdrew slightly. Duo bit back a sigh. He'd really hoped, deep down inside, that they could just do this in the ordinary way, but Zechs was right. He would have to take everything out of Heero's hands.

He stood up and went to the trunk. When he returned, he had leather manacles and some straps. Heero lost a little color, but otherwise didn't flinch.

"Lie down on your back," Duo instructed. Heero, trying to appear unconcerned, got onto the bed and did as he was told. Duo leaned over him, picking up one of his wrists. There was an almost imperceptible tremor and he could see Heero making a conscious effort to hold still.

Heero watched silently as Duo buckled the manacles around first one wrist, then the other. A leather strap looped through metal rings bound them together. Then Duo dragged the shackles up over Heero's head and used another strap to tie them to the headboard. Long fingers clenched as the prisoner tested the strength of the bonds. The straps were strong, but he was quite capable of breaking free. Zechs had been adamant on that point. "We don't want to induce real panic," the psychologist had warned.

However, "These aren't strong enough," said Heero.

Startled, Duo look down at him. "Of course not."

"I know myself, Duo," Heero said gravely. "After we get started, I'll want it to be the same as always. Don't let me."

"Shit, Heero. If I tie you up too tight, I might hurt you or somethin'! And besides, that's not the point! What if you really, really want to get away? This is voluntary, remember?"

Heero's gaze was intense, utterly serious. "I need to train myself to be different, Duo. You said you'd help."

There wasn't much he could say to that, so Duo got more leather straps and added them to those at Heero's wrists. Finished, he sat back down on the edge of the bed. Heero held still under Duo's silent examination, outwardly calm, but Duo could see nervousness in the way he held himself, legs pressed tightly together, fingers wrapped with white-knuckled strength around the leather straps that bound him to the headboard.

"I'm not going to hurt you, ya know," Duo said softly, setting a hand on that smooth chest.

"I know," replied Heero. "Shouldn't we get on with it?"

Duo's eyes narrowed, remembering his earlier discussion with Zechs.

"He'll probably try to establish control straight off," Zechs had told him. "It will be habit on his part. He may not even be aware that he's doing it, so don't let it get to you."

"What's your hurry?" Duo stroked the back of his hand down the side of Heero's face. Heero jerked his head away. Pulse quickening, Duo seized some of that thick, messy hair and pulled it back. Blue eyes sparked.

"You're mine tonight, remember? If I want to touch you, I'm going to touch you."

Heero's nostrils flared. He looked like he would retort, then he took a deep breath and nodded. Duo set his hand against Heero's cheek again and felt the skin warm. He knew what to do about the annoyed glare. "Close your eyes," he ordered. Heero blinked, surprised, then closed them. Duo stroked idly along the slim, straight jaw. With a gentle thumb, he traced the outline of that beautiful mouth. Heero's eyelashes fluttered. Duo grinned, seeing a flash of blue. Leaning close, he whispered, "I said, close your eyes. I'll blindfold you if you can't do as you're told. Remember. If you can't give up control voluntarily, I'll take it away."

Heero swallowed and closed his eyes so tightly that tiny lines appeared between his eyebrows. Damn, but he was beautiful! Those chiseled features, the lean, elegant, dangerous body -- everything about him was perfect. A year ago, when Heero had first confessed his attraction, Duo had been sure he'd died and gone to heaven.

He set his fingertips on Heero's lips once more, the mildest of touches. They parted slightly and he felt the other's breath on them, warm and moist and quick. "Lick them," he ordered huskily.

Heero's eyes flew open. Duo swore and got up. This time, when he returned from the trunk, he had a black silk scarf.

"Don't you dare," gritted Heero, bristling.

Duo climbed up on the bed beside him and Heero tried to roll away. Grabbing him around his naked waist, laughing, Duo hauled him back, careful to keep out of reach of those long legs, now thrashing violently. There was a brief and invigorating struggle. He finally subdued his furious captive by sitting on him and got the scarf wrapped tightly around Heero's eyes. Then Duo slid off and sat cross-legged beside the trembling, cursing, Heero, catching his breath.

"Take this off!"

"No."

Heero tried rubbing it off, but Duo was no slouch at tying knots and just watched. After a few minutes of frantic and futile effort, Heero cursed again, but weakly, and gave up. The fine hair on his body was standing straight up. Duo stroked his open hand down Heero's arm, feeling gooseflesh.

"Please take it off," Heero asked, very politely indeed.

Duo leaned over and kissed him briefly, gently. "No."

Another convulsive swallow. "I'll do what you say."

"Yes, you will."

Silence.

"What are you afraid of, Heero?"

More silence.

Duo bent and reclaimed Heero's parted lips. They were unbearably sweet and, at the moment, yielding. They opened without resistance to admit his tongue and when Duo at last lifted his head away, they remained parted, reddened and wet, infinitely desirable.

This time, when Duo set his fingertips there, Heero's tongue appeared, obediently flickering around them. Duo abandoned himself to a caress he had never imagined he would receive from Heero. He watched through his eyelashes as Heero sucked his fingers, entranced by the sight of the beautiful man.

And Heero was so beautiful. His spirit might rebel against the demand to submit, but his body was responding wonderfully. His nipples were erect and his cock rigid and trembling against his belly. A fine sheen of sweat made his skin glow in the low, yellow lamplight.

Yet even as his body yearned toward pleasure, his mind was struggling against it. Beneath the satin flesh, muscles stood out like steel cable. When Duo plucked at one pert, caramel nipple with his wet fingers, Heero jerked and made a small, unhappy sound.

Duo got off the bed. He was just as aroused and not in the least ambivalent about it. While Heero lay still, straining to hear him, Duo undressed, pausing to stroke himself, to indulge in another long, blissful study of the exquisite creature on the bed.

"Duo?" A current of anxiety ran through Heero's voice. "I'm here." Duo returned to the bed and got into it. Crawling over to Heero, he straddled the other man and, on hands and knees, looked down at him.

"W-what are you doing?"

"Whatever I want."

Heero wet his lips and Duo, unable to resist, bent to claim them again.

He took his time, tasting Heero, savoring him. All too soon he felt the other man begin his inevitable withdrawal, tensing up, trying to turn his head away. Duo stopped. He wrapped his fingers in Heero's dark hair and tightened them until Heero gasped. Lowering his head again, Duo caught that full lower lip between his teeth and bit down hard. Heero made another sound, this one of pain and surprise.

"I feel like kissing you. Don't give me any shit, Heero."

"Sorry," Heero whispered.

Duo resumed the kiss. This time there was even a tentative response. Encouraged, Duo kept at it, the kiss deepening and becoming more passionate. Heero moaned softly, the sound lost in Duo's mouth. His tongue tangled with Duo's and when Duo drew back a bit, to his delight, Heero followed, lifting his head rather than lose contact.

"Oh, very good," approved Duo, releasing him at last. Heero fell back against the pillows, flushed and breathless. His swollen lips parted, the tip of his tongue appearing to touch the marks of Duo's teeth. It was a vision that made Duo's pulse race.

Duo lowered himself onto Heero's body and felt the immediate return of that tension. His ass was nestled against Heero's groin; he could feel the other's erection in a hard line under him.

I'm in heaven, thought Duo, and began kissing and sucking at the soft flesh of Heero's neck. There was another low moan and Heero turned his head, not to escape, but to give Duo better access. That simple, spontaneous movement made Duo's heart leap.

"Do you know how long I've wanted to mark you?" he asked, pausing long enough to put his mouth against Heero's ear. "All I'll have to do is look at you and see the evidence that you're mine."

"Yours," gasped Heero, a tremor running through him. "Always been yours. E-even when you didn't want me."

Duo froze. Heero pressed his lips together, as if he regretted speaking. The pulse at the base of his throat, so close to Duo, beat rapidly. Bemused, Duo kissed it. His own heart was pounding just as hard. Heero surely could feel it, too. "I've always wanted you, Heero. Always."

He left marks, dozens of them on the pale, tender flesh. Sliding down Heero's body, he kissed and sucked the smooth skin of shoulder and chest. He took his pleasure at those tiny, rigid nipples until Heero sobbed aloud. Each touch, each caress seemed to push Heero closer to the edge.

Heero shook ceaselessly now, tugging helplessly at his bonds, writhing under Duo like a wild thing. And when Duo at last slid down, pushing Heero's legs open with his knee and took that erection into his mouth, Heero cried out, body arching so violently, Duo was half afraid his spine would snap.

An inchoate mix of pleas, curses and Duo's name tumbled from Heero's lips. Holding him firmly to the bed, thwarting attempts to thrust upwards into his mouth, Duo took several long pulls at the hard, hot cock, then let go and sat up, rocking back on his heels.

"Duo!" Heero's voice broke and shamelessly, helplessly, he thrust his hips in Duo's general direction. "Please! Don't stop!"

Even as he shook with his own urgency, Duo leaned over his beloved captive and kissed him. Heero eagerly, hungrily, returned it. "Don't worry," Duo promised. "I'm not through with you yet!"

Heero whimpered.

Now came the moment of truth. Always before, Heero had been the one on top. Twisting his hands in their shackles, he now lay, listening intently as Duo leaned across the bed and took the lube from the night stand. Setting the tube on the bed nearby, Duo seized Heero's ankles and pushed his legs up and back.

"D-Duo..."

Duo said nothing, holding him in place, letting Heero get used to the idea of being open and exposed. Then he lowered his head and with his tongue, began to caress Heero's balls. The response was a long, shivering exhalation. Duo didn't hesitate, moving down, licking and teasing his way toward Heero's asshole. It clenched desperately in anticipation and when he poked his tongue into it, the other man cried out, jerking wildly, nearly breaking free of Duo's firm grip on his thighs.

"Hold still," Duo warned, "or I'll tie your legs."

A half-frightened, half-eager nod. Duo smiled happily, dizzy with pleasure and anticipation. He covered his fingers with the lube and inserted one, feeling Heero's muscles clamp around it. Deeper he pushed, finding the prostrate. Heero's reaction was all he could have hoped for. There was a long, soft, unsteady moan. Another finger and Heero threw his head back against the mattress, dark hair, damp with sweat, falling onto the white sheet.

It was almost more than Duo could stand, seeing Heero like that, watching him tremble and jerk with each push of Duo's fingers against that sensitive spot. Finally, knowing he couldn't hold out much longer himself, Duo greased his own cock and rising on his knees, set the head against that small, slick opening.

"Yes," he heard, barely audible. "Please! Oh, please, Duo!"

Duo pushed. There was that moment of resistance, then he was in. Heero cried out again, muscles seizing Duo's cock in a vicelike grip that broke what was left of his control. Lifting Heero's legs onto his shoulders, he fucked Heero and he fucked him hard.

It was like drowning in ecstasy. Duo drove deep, spurred on by the terrible pressure in his gut and the sight of the wanton, beautiful man who moved in such erotic abandon beneath him. He wrapped his hand around Heero's cock and knew with distant triumph that the last of Heero's control shattered. Duo heard a desperate scream and the organ in his hand convulsed, spilling hot fluid over his fingers even as the muscles around Duo's sex clenched unbearably. He heard another scream, his own, and made one final, desperate thrust, feeling the pressure in his gut burst. Release came in a flood of enervating, incapacitating pleasure.

It was some time later when he came to his senses, still buried deep in Heero, half lying on him, breath coming in short, harsh gasps. Heero was completely still, also breathless, sweat-soaked and flushed.

Move, Duo told himself and somehow got off to fall onto the bed beside Heero. The other man went limp and they lay in the deep silence of the room, barely touching.

More strength returned. Duo rolled over and made it to his knees. He unbuckled the manacles from Heero's wrists and took the blindfold off. The latter was soaked through with tears and sweat. Drawing back, Duo stared down at him, the beginning of nervousness nibbling at the edges of his contentment. Heero's eyes remained closed. He didn't move.

Had he gone too far? wondered Duo. Had he pushed Heero too hard? Was it too much, too soon?

"H-Heero?"

Without a word, Heero rolled over and curled his body around Duo's, pressing his face against Duo's thigh. Uncertain, but hopeful, Duo stroked the damp hair. "You okay?"

There was a brief, emphatic nod, but still Heero didn't speak. Gently, Duo pried him away and lay down beside him. Immediately, he was engulfed in Heero's embrace again and this time there was no getting out of it.

"Yeah," said Heero finally, voice muffled. "Yeah. I'm okay."

"Was it even a little bit fun?" Duo wished he could see Heero's face, but the other man kept it resolutely hidden. There was a long silence, then Heero relaxed his stranglehold enough to look at Duo at last. His lips were bruised and bitten, eyes red-rimmed and puffy, but there was a curious serenity in his gaze. He lifted a hand and brushed strands of long, fine hair from Duo's eyes.

"No," he said, and Duo's heart plummeted.

"I -- I'm sorry." Duo began to edge away, devastated, but Heero tightened his embrace.

"It wasn't fun, Duo, it wasn't anything so trivial." He sighed. "I don't have words for how I feel. I wish I did. There were moments there when I thought -- I thought I would die."

"Um, is that good or bad?"

"Oh, God." Duo felt the rapid beating of Heero's heart. "It's good, so good! I felt like we were -- like there was nothing between us at all. I didn't know you could feel like that, like we were one person."

Relief swamped Duo and a profound, excited happiness. Heero snuggled around so his head was against Duo's shoulder. "I really love you, Duo."

Duo was pretty sure that if Heero hadn't been so firmly attached to him, he'd be floating. "I love you, too," he replied, kissing the dark hair. "And man, you're hot. You were made for love, Heero. Ain't no two ways about it."

There was a low chuckle. "I think you enjoyed having me at your mercy way too much, Maxwell."

"You're prob'ly right," said Duo equably and heard another rumble of laughter.

There was a long silence, comfortable. Zechs hadn't put a time limit on how long they could stay here, Duo thought. Would Heero be up for more or would that be asking too much?

"Of course," Heero said after a while, "I probably won't be able to change right away. Zechs says these deep-seated inhibitions take a lot of time to overcome."

"Uh, yeah," agreed Duo, wondering at the note he heard in that deep voice. He couldn't see much of Heero's face, but what he could see suggested a small, sly grin.

"It'll probably require some fairly extensive therapy."

"Is that so?" Duo felt laughter bubbling up inside him, pure joy seeking an outlet. He shifted around until he had Heero under him again. He received one of those too-rare, angelic smiles. "Dr. Maxwell, at your service."

"Are you very expensive?"

"Totally, insanely expensive," replied Duo solemnly. "You'll be paying for a long time."

"Hn," said Heero. His arms came up to wrap around Duo and, pulling him back down, he made his first deposit.

Epilogue

Zechs walked briskly across the deserted lobby. His footsteps echoed as he made his way toward the bank of elevators on the far side of cavernous, glass-walled space. It was mid-morning and he had just finished the morning's competency evaluations over at New Port City Hospital. He didn't have too many appointments today, which meant catching up on his paperwork and maybe a chance to sneak out early.

He pressed the elevator button and waited. A moment later, the chime announced the arrival of a car at the end of the row. Zechs arrived in time to see the doors slide open and two figures hastily spring apart. Maxwell and Yuy, clothes mussed, faces red, stared back at him. Then Maxwell's irrepressible grin appeared. "Oops," he said.

"Just be glad I'm not Une," Zechs replied and calmly got onto the elevator while they scrambled off, tucking in shirts and straightening ties. The door closed and only then did he let himself burst out laughing.

They came to see him together these days, a kind of 'marriage' counseling, he supposed. There were still rough spots, of course. Heero's inhibitions were not the sort to simply vanish overnight, if ever. But he was working hard, and he wasn't alone. With therapy, Duo had come to realize that Heero had not been solely at fault for the problems in their relationship. His own outspoken dissatisfaction with their sex life, for instance, had been pretty destructive, too.

"I was terrible in bed!" Heero had burst out one afternoon during an especially emotional session. "You talked about it all the time! How could I not be afraid you'd look for someone else?"

Thank God, it was working out, anyway. They were living together again and this time, they seemed to be dong just fine. There were no more broken jaws, no more formal complaints. Une was happy, which meant Zechs' parole board stayed happy. He'd stuck his neck out on a difficult case and managed not to get it cut off. All in all, things weren't looking too bad.

"Good morning, Dr. Peacecraft," chirped his secretary as he came into the clinic. "You're early!"

"Good morning, Lisa. There were only two cases. What time is my first appointment?" He picked a heap of papers from his in-box as he walked past her desk toward his office.

"Eleven."

Inside, he shrugged out of his jacket and sat down. There were the usual assortment of memos, mail, conference announcements, and several new case files. He picked up the top file and his involuntary curse was so loud that Lisa came running in to see what was the matter.

"It's all right," he told her through gritted teeth. "Hold my calls, will you? I'll be writing a memo and I'll want it sent out immediately."

"Y-yes, sir," she agreed and withdrew, closing the door carefully behind her. Zechs turned to his computer.

19 May AC202

TO: Director Une, Preventer Branch 0
FROM: M. Peacecraft, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist, Staff Resources
SUBJECT: Current case assignment

I would like to formally request reassignment of Case #32B3, Chang, Wu Fei, Captain. Firstly, my current caseload is at maximum according to Preventer Standard Practice Guide. . .