C&C is appreciated to the millionth power.

<Part 1>
 

 At prescicly 4:00 AM, A spark flashed inside a shell of metal and flesh. Running up along real and fabricated nerve endings to a cybornetic central memory and data bank that would be likened to a human brain. Optical shields lifted and once again took in the world.

 "Good Morning 001."

 Wire's were once again shot through with the sparks and the heavily treated human bones were
turned by a network of fabricated muscle and tissue. The head turned toward the open door.

 "How are we doing today?"

 More sparks, air was released from it's chamber and pushed up a tight tube, resonating carefully
crafted vocal cords resulting in speech. "I am in working order doctor."

 J smiled at his favorite creation, "Good. Good." He checked the cyborg's wiring and response
systems and then the living aspects. "You seem to be in perfect working order."

 "I am."

 "And you have maintained yourself for a whole year now with no human aid. I believe you are ready
to go into the world."

 "Hn."
 
 

 The year is AC 299. Cyborgs have become the reining power on Earth. Created by doctor J in AC
198 as super soldiers, they were assimilated into the society as regular people and in 220 they struck,
seizing power of the world and her colonies. Now the only humans who remain are rebels or slaves.
J himself has become cyborg and through his creations, he controls all cyborg or flesh. Those who
resist are terminated.
 
 

Part 1

[Iron Hearts]
 
 

 "You will take up residence among the worlds populace. You're name will now be Heero Yuy.
Japanese male seventeen years of age."

 "Hai."

 J tossed a laptop to the cyborg, "Inside are all of the files and records you will need and all of the
information you will find necessary to live out of the lab."

 "Hn."

 "Are you ready?"

 "Hai."

 "Good. You will live on a colony called L2 to start. I am going to expect daily updates for the first
month on your progress."

 Heero nodded.

 "Your mission is the emotional destruction and ultimate capture of this man." The doctor offered
Heero a photo of a smiling human around Heero's adopted age.

 "This is a man?"

 J looked at the picture, grimaced, and shrugged, "Yep."

 "Do you want him alive?"

 "If you can. I should warn you he is smarter than he looks."

 "Hn."

 The doctor frowned, "Heero, this is a dangerous mission."

 The cyborg just smirked. "Where do I find him?"

 "I'll flush him out for you. Don't worry, I've made you a body that has significance for him and his
past. If nothing has changed and all goes well, he will find you."

 "Understood. Mission accepted."
 
 
 
 

 Duo slipped through the shadows, avoiding the glowing red eyes of the cyborg. His braid
rhythmically slapped against his back as he moved. Enhanced eyes scanned ahead. One thought was
running through his head as he ran. //They're gone! The whole church is gone because of me!
Because I'm a freak!//

 "Duo!" He turned, slipping on a patch of oil and slid almost underneath the speaker.

 "Anou. . . ohayo Quatre."

 "Don't you ever think that this happened because of you! A human religion has no place in the ‘borg
world. They would have done it had you lived there or not."

 "But. . ."

 "Duo! Quatre!"

 Two heads turned to the new voice, "Trowa!" Quatre greeted the Cyborg with a kiss. "I didn't know
if you got away!"

 He frowned, "I am ‘borg. They wouldn't arrest me."

 The blond smiled and ruffled his lover's hair lovingly, "It isn't your fault either."

 Duo felt his spirits rise in the presence of his motley group of fellow misfits. Quatre, a human who
could read minds, even enhanced ones, who just happened to be in love with a Cyborg. Trowa, a
Cyborg who loved a human, and had somehow gained a soul through their bond. Wufei was on a
mission, but he was also a ‘borg. Gifted with an almost obsessive sense of justice. No surprise he
sided with the rebles. Then there was Duo. //A freak even among freaks.//

 Quatre's eyes shot to his and Duo shook his head and ran off.

 "I. . . ah. . . I'll see you later."

 Trowa held Quatre close and the small boy sighed, "Not a human, not a ‘borg. Trowa, all he knows
is what he is not."

 Caught up in memories the braided boy ran on.

 ~sterile white walls. Born of a human and sired by a ‘borg. The child horribly unwhole. His father
fashioned him a left arm and right hand and left leg of living metal from his own body. Mending the
missing pieces with pieces of him. Explosion. Screaming. Father being torn apart, mother running.
Can't outrun them! Fire! Blood! Oh God they're going to catch us! Mother hides baby in the arms of
a stone angel outside Maxwell church. Mother is captured. Killed. Baby watches it all, and doesn't
make a sound.~

 Unaware of what he was doing or where he was running, He slammed into someone, ramming them
both into the dirt. "Ung! Itai." Duo groaned, holding his head. "You o. . .k?" He looked up at the boy
and froze. He looked just like. . . ~Spiky, chiseled hair falling over stone eyes painted deep cobalt.
Strong limbs holding the frightened orphan child as his parent's bodies were carried away.~ //an
angel!//
 
 

 Heero stood stiffly, preparing to teach the clumsy human a lesson, then he saw his face. //It's him.//
The cyborg tensed for battle but was not ready when his target's eyes filled with tears. //What is he
doing?//

 "I remember you." He breathed, "Thank you."

 Heero tensed, "Impossible. We have never met."

 The boy only nodded and smiled that infuriating grin he had worn in the picture, "The angel of life to
my Shinigami."

 "I have no idea what you are talking about."

 Duo nodded, "I know."

 The cyborg was having trouble processing all of the fractured information he was gathering from the
target. Nothing about him was anything like the information on humans had led him to expect. The
boy offered him his hand to help him to his feet and Heero gasped when his simulated skin met metal
under the boy's black glove.

 Noticing his surprise, Duo pulled away, "I . . . anou. . ."

 "You're ‘borg."

 Duo was angry. "I am not! I had a mother and a father!"

 "Where are they now?"

 The anger faded into hate, "The ‘borg."

 Heero ripped the startled boy's shirt off and gasped.

 Duo frowned and hung his head, "I was born of a woman and a borg."

 "A breed."

 "I'm a person!" Violet eyes shot with sparks.

 The Cyborg nodded, "I apologize."

 "You were just released weren't you."

 Heero met the other boy's eyes with distinct shock. "Hai."

 Duo smiled, "Don't worry, I don't bite."

 "What is after you?"

 "Huh?"

 "You were running."

 "Oh." Duo smiled and pushed his bangs out of his eyes, "The past. It happens all the time. I was
cursed with an excellent memory. Photogenic since the day I was born. Hey do you have a place to
stay?"

 "Hai."

 Duo nibbled his lower lip and smiled shyly, "The church I lived in was burned down tonight. My
friends all have homes but. . . could we make an exchange?"

 "What?"

 "Well. . . Duo slid his hands up the ‘borg's strong chest, "I could introduce you to something I'm sure
J never showed you."

 Heero's dedication to learning as much as he could got the better of him, "Something new?" Hot lips
came inches from his own an Heero caught his breath at the shivers the near proximity brought
through his body. "In exchange for shelter?"

 "Hhhhhai." Duo grinned as he breathed out the word and ran one black gloved hand over the
shivering borg's face.

 "I accept. Follow me."

 Duo grinned and let his arm wrap casually around Heero's waist as his braid now flopped against
both their backs, "You know what? I don't even know your name."

 "Heero Yuy issue 001." He swallowed hard and looked down at the boy causing such a bizarre
reaction to his circuiting.

 "I'm Duo. Duo Maxwell." Duo giggled happily, "1 and 2. Oi Hee-chan, I think this is fate, I really
do!" His laughter and lilting voice filled the ‘borg's mind as they walked. "Do you believe in fate? I
think everyone should believe in fate but shinigami, every one should believe in that too. I run I hide
but I never lie, do you lie? Can you? I mean is it in your programming? I hope you don't lie to me,
You're really sexy did you know that?. . ."

 Heero was desperately trying to process all Duo was saying but he was going too fast and skipping
subject again and again. Finally in his best self interest he tuned the breed's voice out. This was going
to be a looooong mission.
 
 

 It was late when Heero began his first report to J.

 J

 Subject has been found and first move made. His home is gone. We are rooming

 together. 002 as I have labeled him is definitely a breed. The memory banks in his

 mind appear to be cybernetic in nature. I haven't tapped them yet but soon. He has already
introduced me to something new. It is like nothing you ever showed me. It
 

 is too good to be a good thing. He calls it pizza.
 
 

 Duo woke up on the couch, Heero had covered him up and taken his shirt off. The remains of their
pizza party were strewn all over the small apartment. //He really was raised in a lab!// Duo thought,
//He didn't even think of sexual favors! That's a first!// Stretching he stood and walked into the
kitchen. Heero was already up and had coffee brewing.

 "Good morning." He greeted in a complete monotone.

 "Damn you really are a ‘borg!" Duo chuckled.

 "I told you that."

 "Yeah but. . . gees! How early did you get up?!"

 "My system starts at four am colonial time."

 The breed yawned and blinked his sleep fogged eyes, "Didn't anyone ever teach you the wonders of
sleeping in?"

 "No."

 "Damn them."

 Heero shook his head and poured Duo some coffee.

 "Don't you want any? I know you're a model capable of food intake because you had pizza and
tasted it."

 "I do not prefer coffee."

 "So you made this just for me?"

 "Hn."

 "Aw. Thank you!" Duo glomped the living machine.

 Heero felt his temperature rise and his artificial heart speed up. //Interesting reaction to the near
proximity of another male. I thought only females could cause these symptoms.//

 "Heero? Yoohoo! Earth to Yuy."

 "Hm?"

 "Where were you just now?"

 Heero looked around the room then back at Duo, "Did I leave? I must check my displacement unit."

 Duo laughed, "No no no, it's an expression."

 "Slang."

 Duo shrugged and made a face, "Yeah sort of."

 Heero licked his lip and nodded, "I was given files of slang terms to learn."

 "You can't learn to live through computer files, you have to get out and live!"

 "How do you suggest I do this?"

 Duo grinned, "Come with me son, and I'll learn ya a thing or two." He quipped and jumped into the
exit tube. Heero could do nothing but follow.

<Part 2>
 

 Duo was almost walking on air! //Love at first sight! Oh My Gods he is soooooo hot! My angel!// The idiotic grin would not leave his face.

 "Duo?" Quatre emerged from the shadows of the apartment building he and Trowa lived in.

 "Q-man!" Duo trotted over and glomped his two friends, "Tro! You guys won't believe this! I think
I'm in loooove." He swooned dramatically causing Trowa to have to catch him before he fell.

 "What happened last night?" Quatre asked, worried for his best friend.

 "I just ran into him! He's. . . oh wow I can't even describe him! He was just released and I stayed on
his couch last night and he didn't even try to make a pass! Man he's soooo. . . ahh."

 Both of them being used to Duo's chatter they cut to the important parts, "He's a Cyborg?!"

 Duo rolled his eyes and grinned, "He is sooooooo much more!"

 Quatre place his hands on his love sick friend's shoulders, "Do you think he can be trusted?"

 "I told you guys he didn't even think about sex with me! And he got up early and made coffee even
though he doesn't like it! He's kind of quiet but it's part of what I like about him. Guys I think he's the
one!"

 Quatre sent a worried glance at Trowa, "What if J sent him. If he's so perfect he might have been
made to attract you."

 Duo's smile slipped, "You. . . You think he's a trap?"

 "It's possible." Trowa pointed out.

 The braided boy became silent, almost stoic as he thought that over.

 "Duo you are the only light in the rebellion. You're our leader even if you can't believe it. J needs to
bring you down to crush the rebels and he isn't above playing dirty."

 His mind had immediately accepted the possibility but his heart refused to. "I. . ."

 "Duo?"

 Trowa and Quatre's eyes shot to the boy walking toward them. His dark hair spiked over his eyes,
even in the light it was hard to tell if it was dark brown or deep green. His eyes, when they were in
sight were bottomless pools of cobalt. He was a little bit shorter than Duo and his build was more
solid, more muscled. He was wearing black spandex shorts a green tank top and large tennis shoes.
The type of clothing all new releases were given.

 "Heero!" Duo rushed to the boy and draped himself over him as if it was second nature, "Guys! This
is him! Heero Yuy, meet Quatre Winner and Trowa Barton series 003."

 Heero nodded in recognition and then turned to Duo.

 The braided breed grinned at him and leaned his head on the ‘borg's shoulder.

 Quatre looked at the pair of them worriedly. He opened a mind link to Heero to try and discover
what his intentions for Duo were.

 Trowa held his love up as he entered the cyborg's consciousness. //Be careful Quatre.//

 //Always// Quatre waded through the other boy's shields and reached his hands out to touch his
electronic mind. The wave of memory, knowledge and emotion was a rush as always, as potent as a
drug, but he couldn't let the high it gave him distract. He sifted through the thought until the name Duo
touched him. Heero's thoughts.

 ~//Duo Maxwell. Mission, search and download emotional destruction.//~

 The young Arab's heart fell, //We were right! Oh poor Duo!// He was about to pull back when he
saw something. A small light. Creeping forward he reached out a tentative hand to it. //A new soul!//
He held the fragile thing and reached inside it's light, //How could Heero have a soul?//

 ~//Duo. My Duo. I have to protect him. Nothing will hurt him as long as I am active.//~

 The boy gasped at the emotion coming from the lighted soul, //He has gained a soul through feelings for Duo! But can it override his programming?// With careful hands, Quatre wrapped the soul around the Cyborg's mind and then tugged it down to his spine, helping the little glowing thing anchor itself so that it could grow whole. //Ok Trowa, I'm finished.//

 The Cyborg sent a mental rope to his mate and Quatre followed it back into his body.

 ". . . ?"

 "He has the beginnings of a soul."

 "How?"

 "He has feelings for Duo. They've developed into a soul, like yours for me did."

 "Aa."

 "But his programming is for Duo's destruction."

 Trowa's arms tightened and Quatre kissed him softly.

 "I don't know which will win out."

 "We will watch him closely."

 "Watching won't matter. The destruction is supposed to be emotional. You've seen how Duo feels
already, the feeling will only get stronger."

 "So what do we do?"

 Quatre's lip quivered, "I don't know." He accepted his lover's hug and bit his erstwhile lip. "I wish
Wufei were here."

 "He will be home soon."

 "Yo, Guys!"

 They looked up from their whispering to Duo and his would-be assassin.

 "I'm taking Heero to get some -real- clothes." Duo grinned, "Wanna come?"

 Quatre shook his head, "We have plans, but why don't you come over for dinner and a movie
tonight?"

 "Deal!" Duo grinned and snatched Heero's arm, "Come on! Comeoncomeoncomeon!"

 Heero sighed and followed the energetic breed while Quatre and Trowa watched them  carefully.
"They don't trust me."

 Duo laughed, "They don't trust anyone. They wouldn't trust me if I hadn't saved their butts more than
once."

 "What do you mean?"

 "Trowa was on the list for scrap for loving Quatre and Quatre was up for execution for the sin of
being a human. I sprung them. Actually I sprung Quatre and he told me him and Trowa loved each
other and begged me to help him get Tro out. So I did. Now we're like best friends. Well, Quatre is
my best friend. Tro doesn't talk much, so I guess I haven't really learned much about him, but he's

cool."

 "Hn."

 "You're really quiet too."

 "Aa."

 "Ha!" Duo laughed, "I'm going to need a Heero/Human dictionary to hold a conversation with you if
you keep up the ‘Hn's and ‘Aa's."

 "Hn."

 That brought more laughter from Duo.

 They reached the large mall and Duo pulled Heero into one store after another on the way to the
clothing stores. The braided boy ran amuck in the toy store and slipped a hair brush, some shampoo and some conditioner into his duffle in the beauty boutique. At the video store more items joined the hair care products, and in the electronics shop more followed. Heero noted how the breed managed to slip what he needed out without paying for it. He mentioned that while he and Duo took a break from shopping and had pizza in the food court.

 "Well the whole mall is ‘borg run, and they took plenty from me." Duo shrugged, "I don't see it as
stealing, I'm just taking bits of what they owe me."

 "And how long will it take for the debt to be payed?"

 Duo's bright face became dark and Heero involuntarily inched back. "They can never repay what
they took."

 The borg caught his breath at the unexpected wave of protectiveness he felt in the face of the breed's
pain. He didn't know how to react, so he reached across the table and placed his hand over Duo's.

 "H. . . heero?"

 He only locked eyes with his braided companion and tried to convey that he was there for him
through his eyes.

 Duo's violet eyes grew misty and he smiled lopsidedly, "Thanks."

 "Hn."

 The taller boy jumped up with renude energy and Heero almost groaned out loud as they once again
headed toward the clothing store.

 Duo was full of life, moving from rack to rack tossing all sorts of clothing Heero's way. "Try this one!
Ooooh! You would look hot in these! Oh My God! Hee-chan! Look! It's an MSU shirt!"

 "What is MSU?"

 Duo froze, "Anou. . . some college from before the wars."

 "Aa."

 "But it's cool!"

 Heero sighed and tried on every thing Duo threw into the dressing room. "Are you sure people wear
these?"

 "Possitive."

 A sales woman walked up and stared at them both, "Sir is that skirt. . . ah. . . comfy?"

 "DUO!"

 "Haha, sorry."

 Soon the cyborg had a whole wardrobe together. The black jeans and green shirts were Heero's
choice. The blue silk boxers were Duo's idea. Heero felt a pleasant tingle in his nerve center as he
remembered the other boy's comments. ‘They match your eyes.'

 "Oi! Heero! The manga shop has a sale!"

 "You aren't paying for them any way."

 "That's not the point!" Duo grinned and drug the Borg from the store.

 As they were leaving, something caught Heero's eyes. "Go ahead to the manga store, I will meet you
there."

 Duo paused and turned around, "Huh? Why?"

 "I have something to do."

 The boy looked torn but he nodded and walked away.

 Heero went back into the store and pulled the garment off of the hook, he charged the purchase to
J's account as mission materials. //He owes him at least this.// Then ran to catch up to Duo.

 "Hey!" Duo grinned and sauntered up to him, "What's in the bag?"

 The Cyborg lowered his eyes and held it out, "It. . . I know nothing can repay the ‘borgs debt to
you, but I saw this."

 The braided boy was for once, speechless. He took the bag from Heero without looking away
finally finding a few words, "Heero, I didn't mean. . ."

 "I know." The Cyborg assured him, "I just thought of you when I saw it so look at it."

 Violet eyes lowered to the bag and Duo gasped, pulling out the brand new leather bikers jacket. It
was the one from the window! The one he had wanted for forever but hadn't been able to steal!

 "Hm?" Heero pressed.

 "I. . . Heero how. . ." He stopped for a moment and then launched himself at the startled borg. "I
love it!"

 "Hey!" The store owner glared at them, "Can't you two read?! No humans! And definitely no breed
scum like you Maxwell."

 Duo stiffened and began to turn, "What?"

 "Clear out! You heard me freak."

 Heero caught Duo's arm and pulled the boy behind him, "He's with me."

 "So someone finally caught him eh? How is he as a slave?" The ‘borg grinned meanly, "Seems like
he'd be a little bitch to train."

 Duo started to push by but Heero held him fast.

 "You work ‘all' his muscles?" The Cyborg insinuated, "Or just the one's between his cheeks?"

 That was the last straw, Duo charged the chuckling ‘borg and slammed his fist into the man's jaw.
Unfortunately Duo was flesh and flesh could be hurt. The ‘borg sliced open his real arm and sent a
shock into his stomach. Duo fell into Heero's arms. When he began to rise again Heero held him
back, "No."

 "He can't get away with that." Duo growled.

 "Walk away Duo. He isn't worth it."

 "What was that structling? Not worth it? A ‘borg is worth a thousand of their kind."

 Heero ushered Duo from the store, the violet eyed boy thrashing all the way and spit on the hateful
man's window.

 Duo went limp after they had gone a ways and Heero sat him down and inspected his arm. "You're
hurt."

 He shook his head, "Look again."

 "Hm?" Heero did as he was bade and gasped, the wound was gone, "Where. . .?"

 "I heal fast."

 The ‘borg slid Duo's new jacket onto the boy's shoulders and softly said, "let's go. We are supposed
to be at your friend's home."

 Duo nodded, " just wait a minuet ok?"

 "For. . .?"

 "Shh!" Duo perked up and listened with a huge and glee-filled grin on his face, "3. . . 2. . . 1. . ."
Suddenly an explosion ripped through the mall and the Manga store was reduced to scrap.

 Heero stared at the store and then at Duo.

 "Now we can go." The breed giggled and led the way to Quatre's home.

<Part 3>
 

Duo bounced inside, "Honey! I'm hooooome!"

 Quatre peeked out of the kitchen, "Oh good! I need some help in here."

 "No prob." Duo grinned at Heero and then walked toward the kitchen. Trowa stopped him part
way there, "Hey Tro."

 "The news said the manga store was bombed."

 Duo grinned and his eyes sparkled impishly, "Weeeeeeeeell. . ."

 "Duo!" Quatre came out of the kitchen wiping his hands on his apron. "You could have been hurt!"

 "I'm a breed. Part human, part Borg, it's hard to kill me."

 "Sometimes I think you're part turky too!" Quatre admonished him and smeared flour across the
unsuspecting boy's face. "You can't just walk into danger like that! We need you baka! What would
Wufei say if he came home and found out we had let you die huh?"

 Duo had a sheepish half smile and scratched his head thoughtfully, "Anou. . ."

 Quatre giggled and pulled the thief into the kitchen, "Come on, I'm baking a cake."

 "Yum!"

 Heero sat down opposite of Trowa and the two of them just stared at each other for a while. Finally
the quiet became too tense and Heero broke it, "You love the human."

 "Yes."

 "How?"

 Trowa shrugged, "It isn't something you can control. It just happened. I saw him and something
inside of me changed. He was a part of me. I couldn't continue my orders feeling as I did so I joined
their cause."

 "Your orders?"

 "For the destruction of the heir to Winner enterprizes."

 "So he -is- Raberba."

 The cyborg nodded, "He has a very large following of human and ‘borg. No one can help but love
him. The only one with a larger influence is Duo."

 "I thought he was hated for his parentage."

 "By most borg he is. But he has something about him that calls to any one in pain or need. He can't
stand to see anyone hurting. For that, there are many who would follow him to their ends."

 A crashing sound came from the kitchen and Quatre could be heard yelling, "Duo! Duo damn it! Put
that down! Duo! We need to bake that before you eat it! Don't lick that and put it back in the batter!
There are raw eggs in that you could get sick! Duo! Stop! Wait! Don't. . . DUO MAXWELL!!!!"
The last scream was accompanied by a cloud of flour erupting in a *poof* from the kitchen and a
nervous little giggle from Duo.

 "Quatre? Yo dude, what's with the frying pan? Qua. . . HOLY SHIT!"

 Heero looked back at Trowa and the other Cyborg shook his head.

 "I didn't take Quatre as an easily angered person."

 "He isn't." Trowa sighed, "Duo is the only one who can make him raise his voice. . . in anger."

 A flour and batter covered Duo flew from the kitchen and into Heero's chair, squeezing behind him
and peeking over the startled ‘borg's shoulder, "Hee-chan! Save me! Quatre's gone Zero system!"

 Trowa turned to his lover and said in a complete monotone, "I take it we aren't having cake."

 Quatre paused, dropped the industrial sized frying pan he had been holding, and fell into peels of
laugher, followed by a very relieved Duo. "Duo Maxwell there are times. . ."

 Duo grinned and leaned further over Heero's shoulder. The borg surprised them all into silence when
he licked some of the batter from Duo's open lips and asked, "Strawberry?"

 Duo almost swooned right then and there. The look on his face was one of pure bliss.

 Quatre looked nervously to his lover but Trowa shook his head. "Anou. . . what movie do you want
to see?"

 That snapped the young breed out of it. "I stole some great ones! Let's see. . ."

 "DUO!" Both of his friends chastized.

 He looked up with a completely innocent expression, "What?"

 Heero watched the friends interact with a slight twinge of something that might be called envy.  They
all fit so well with each other. //So this is friendship. I was taught that it was not real, but now I see.
The doctor and his promises, they are what is false.//

 A roar accompanied by the sound of splintering wood announced a ‘borg arrival. All of the jumped
from their seats, and Heero found himself smashed face first into the nearest wall. In the background
he could hear Duo cry his name. He hated the intruder for causing the breed such distress.

 "Heero! Oh! Don't hurt him!" Duo ran up to the ‘borg and leapt to his back, pulling him off of the
other ‘borg, "Leave him alone!"

 "Maxwell!" The indignant intruder growled and tried to reach behind himself to get the clinging boy
off, "What do you think you are doing?! Have you lost your data processor?!"

 Quatre once again came to the rescue. "Duo! Wufei! Stop!"

 Both of them paused in their antics and turned to the angry boy before them.

 "Duo, get off of him." Quatre waited until the breed was off and turned to the new boy, "Wufei, you
owe me a door."

   "Maxwell was being held captive!" He argued.

 "No." Duo glarred up at him from Heero's side, "‘Maxwell' was being held. Period."

 "You. . .? Who -is- he?! I leave for three days and suddenly we have a new ally? How quick to trust
are you?!"

 Duo jumped to his feat, "Heero is trustworthy!"

 Heero put up a hand to stop the boy but Duo wouldn't let up.

 "I trust him with my life and more.

 "More is correct Maxwell, you are trusting him with ours also."

 "So believe me because you know I love all of you like family."

 Wufei lurched back and sent a death glare at the intruder to -his- territory. Heero met the glare with
one of his own, every bit as scalding.

 "Maybe we should postpone the movie." Trowa suggested.

 Quatre nodded and Duo took Heero's arm, "Come on Hee-chan, we're going home."

 "You are LIVING with that filth?!"

 Duo grabbed the confused ‘borg's ponytail and yanked it hard as he could, snapping his head back,
"I claim him."

 "You can't! You're human!"

 "And Borg. And by my Borg side I claim Heero Yuy model 001."

 Quatre and Trowa exchanged another ‘look'. To the ‘borg, claiming someone was a serious bond of
friendship or more serious yet. . . love! "Duo are you. . .?"

 "I'm sure." He nodded, "Come on Heero."

 Wufei refused to relax his stance, "I do not approve."

 Duo's eyes softened and he ran a hand over the ‘borg's face, "I'm sorry Wu-kun, but I don't need
your approval.

 "I. . ."

 "I'm sorry."

 Deep Brown eyes watched the boy walk out of the apartment and he growled softly, "I do not
approve of this at all."
 
 

 Heero watched Duo carefully all the way back to the apartment. The boy was strangely silent. The
silence was almost too loud. Duo never shut up! It was just part of what made him. . . him! "What is
wrong?"

 Duo stopped suddenly and turned to face the ‘borg. "I know we haven't known each other long, if
you don't accept my claim I won't force the bond if you don't want it."

 Deep cobalt eyes searched the trembling boy. //He thinks I don't want him? Thinks I will combat the
bond he claimed on me? I would battle J himself to be with Duo even of only to stand near him in
battle, I never dreamed he would want me! Of course I accept him! I l. . . no, love is to fragile a
word to describe my feelings for Duo Maxwell.//

 "Well?" He asked nervously.

 "I accept the bond."

 Violet eyes lifted to cobalt and Heero watched them waver. It was as if the world slowed to a snails
pace and off in the distance both of them could swear they heard a soft melody carried on the wind.
The moment was so precious, so full of emotion that neither of them could move. Finally Duo swayed
into Heero's chest and hugged him tightly.

 Heero's arms slowly encircled the other boy and he nuzzled his ivory neck, their breathing was
jagged as if they were caught between laughing and sobbing.

 Duo breathed Heero's name and curled in closer to him, "thank you."

 The ‘borg smoothed the breed's hair and kissed the soft skin of his shoulder, "Mm."
 
 

 In the shadows Wufei watched them carefully. //Maxwell you are a naive fool. But you are my
friend, and I will not allow your human emotions to cause your destruction.//
 
 

 In his lab, J glared at his computer screen, "001 you disappoint me greatly." His mechanized hand
punched a large red button on the console and in Heero's assigned rendevous point, a pod split open
with a sickening wet sound, and a female ‘borg pulled herself from the slime inside. "Heero Yuy, I
will destroy you."

<Part 4>
 

When the explosion ripped through the apartment Heero instinctively covered Duo with his own body. Once the shrapnel cleared he pulled the startled boy up. "Ok?"

 Duo blinked widely and then nodded with a slow motion. His eyes suddenly shot to the side and
Heero turned to the smoking door. A woman's form stood there in a pink metal hunters suit on and a
detonation device in her delicate fist. "Friend of yours?"

 The borg glared at the woman, "No."

 "Heero Yuy I am Relena Dorian, unit 014, I have been sent here to destroy you under the cyborg
declaration act 00923."

 Duo turned wide eyes to Heero, "What does 00923 say?"

 "Failiure to accomplish a given mission." Heero's arms tightened around Duo and he answered in a
sharp monotone.

 The woman continued, "Also act 00678 and 00555. Your violation of these laws have forced me to
be activated to terminate you and your target."

 Duo jumped when Heero's grip tightened painfully and he raised his voice for the first time since Duo
had found him. "NO!!"

 "This does not compute, programming has been given a virus. Cleansing may be possible."

 "I don't want your ‘cleansing'!" Heero pushed Duo behind him and glared at the robotic assassin.
"And Duo is mine."

 "Prepare to die unit 001."

 Heero's eyes widened and he pushed Duo sharply, "The window!"

 "We're on the tenth. . . oh SHIT!" He screamed as Heero crashed through the glass with him in his
arms. The borg landed on his back, absorbing the impact painfully. "Heero? Heero man speak to
me!"

 "Ung. . . get off of me!"

 Duo scrambled to his feet just as the hunter crashed through the front doors. "Uh. . . Hee- chan she.
. ."

 The borg grabbed Duo's metal hand and jerked the startled breed behind him.

 Duo gasped and began to run but the woman was right behind them. Heero tugged harder, "Come
on!"

 "I only have one mechanical leg Heero I can't run like you!"

 "Then I'll carry you."

 Duo squeaked when Heero scooped him up and kept running. "HOLY!!!"

 They reached the dock around a corner and Heero dove in with Duo perfectly, not even leaving a
ripple. The hunter couldn't find them.

 Under the artificial ocean Duo began to struggle, he couldn't just stop breathing like Heero could.
The cyborg realized this and clamped his mouth down on the boy's, offering him the auxillary oxygen
in his chest. His struggling stopped and he moaned, a soft hum against Heero's lips. His tongue
slipped into the warm mouth and Heero stiffened in surprise before groaning and leaning in for more.
They stayed under for at least a half an hour before the oxygen tanks ran dry and Duo began to lose
consciousness. Heero quickly brought him to the surface. The hunter was gone. "Duo?"

 He coughed and looked up to give Heero a brilliant smile. "I'm ok Hee-chan."

 "We need to get you dry cloths."

 "Quatre's?"

 "Let's go."

 When Heero and Duo slipped inside Quatre cried out and ran to his bedraggled friend. "What
happened?! Duo are you ok? How did this. . . When. . . Why. . ."

 "I'm fine Kat, just a little winded."

 Heero sighed, "It was a Hunter."

 Quatre, Trowa, and Wufei all looked at Heero carefully. Wufei finally asked what they were all
thinking, "Why?"

 Heero closed his eyes and answered toneless. "I failed to complete my mission, shared a bond with
breed, and broke my connection with the collective motherboard."

 Duo bit his lip thoughtfully, "Well we can help you finish your mission! Then she won't be after you
right?"

 "I can't."

 "Why not?" Duo looked at him pleadingly, "Hee-chan she could kill you!"

 "My mission was your destruction."

 The violet eyed breed froze and slipped back from Heero, "What?"

 Wufei snatched the other cyborg up by his collar and lifted him into the air, "KISAMA! I knew you
were up to no good! You are not terminating Maxwell!"

 "No." Heero said, unresisting to the violence aimed at him. "I am not."

 "Heero."

 They all turned to Duo who's face had lost all of it's color. The lithe body was shivering with
repressed emotion.

 "Duo."

 "You lied to me!" Duo's eyes filled will hurt and rage and he ran. Ran from all of them.

 "Duo!" Quatre and Trowa tried to stop him.

 Heero slid from his shirt and likewise Wufei's grasp, and ran after the breed, "Wait!" He rounded a
corner a couple miles away and gasped. There Duo sat. Upon the hands of a huge stone angel who
looked just like. . . "Me?" beyond were the ruins of a church, brought down by fire.

 The violet eye'd boy was crying harshly in the angel's embrace. He hadn't seen Heero approach.
"Duo no baka." He shivered, "You know better. Everyone you love leaves, all of them do sooner or
later." He traced the stone face and sobbed again. "Heero."

 "Duo."

 The half breed fell right from his perch and Heero caught him before he hit the ground. "Fine." Duo
closed his eyes and went limp.

 "What are you. . ."

 "I guess I was destined to be killed by you."

 "Duo no baka. Why do you think they sent a hound after me?! I refused the mission."

 "You. . ."

 "Hai Duo, you want to know why I refused?"

 He nodded, unable to speek.

 "Because I can't kill you Duo. I love you too much."

 "Wha. . . what did you say?"

 "I love you."

 Duo blinked a couple times and Heero's heart fell, //He doesn't feel the same.//

 "Hee-chan."

 "Aa?"

 "Is this part of your mission?"

 "No."

 "Are you lying?

 "No."

 "Are you programed to lie?"

 "No."

 "How do I know you aren't lying?"

 Heero groaned, "Duo!!!"

 A grin covered the beautiful face and Duo wrapped Heero into his embrace, "Ok! Ok! I love you
too! I love you! I love you I love you I love you!"

 "Touching."

 They froze and looked up, Relena stood, watching them.

 "Now stand still like a good borg so I can deactivate you."

 Heero jumped at her and Duo screamed as she tossed a handful of scrambling chips at him. He
couldn't dodge them all. The borg fell to the ground. Deactivated.

 "NO! HEERO!" Duo didn't see Wufei take down the hound, or the others scrap her. He ran to
Heero's side. "Heero! Heero! Hold on!" He tore to scramblers off of him but the damage was done.

 "Duo." He raised his hand to cup the soft face of the boy he loved.

 "You're going to be ok! I know you will! I can rebuild you!"

 He shook his head, "To much damage. The virus would kill me all over again."

 "Heero."

   "Take this. He held up a tiny chip."

 "What is this?"

 "My soul."

 Duo clasped the presciose peice of Heero to him and held his hand tight. "Heero!"

 "Goodbye. . . my love." His eyes lost their brightness then, and Heero Yuy, issue 001, was classified
inactive.
 

~Owari~

[continued in Souls of Lead]