I'm hurrying through the square, as usual, what can I say? I don't like crowds. Never have. Something about 'em, makes me feel like you lose some of your humanity or something. God knows I have so precious little of left. Take the other day, for example, just the day day.

This kid, he's only fucking seven years old for Christ's Sake, seven years old, he gets run over by some semi or something. Or a truck. I can't remember. But I was there, I mean, I think I was. It's a little hazy. Maybe it wasn't yesterday? A week ago?

Naw, it was, 'cause I remember that godawful breakfast danish the diner served. What a piece of crap. Anyway, this little kid, maybe eight, probably seven, yeah, I think it was seven, he gets run over by this truck. Or was it car? Naw, a truck.

And I'm just standing there, outside the diner, watching. The 'meds arrive come pretty quick, but there's nothing they can do. The little bugger's head was squished and all, you know? Kinda hard to make *that* boo-boo all better. And then they start coming around asking people if they want *counseling* for that. What a waste of dough. 

But, you know, the worst part was I didn't even feel anything for that kid. I mean, I was like, 'Ick, gross, his head's all smushed!' But that was it. Total lack of feeling there. I mean, the kid died. But I was like, so? I seen lotsa dead people. Doesn't matter. Felt nothing.

I mean, maybe I'm a *little* less of a monster 'cause I'm worried about my ethics - or lack of them, but I don't really think so. Either way you look at it, I'm the epitome of the freakish, souless, crazy, broken-soldier (Or useless soldier. 'Cause I'm that, too.) sterotype. 

But, yeah. So I sure as hell don't need any crowds or groups or any shit like that - the stuff that kinda makes you feel like you're less of a person or something. Maybe. I dunno. I'm not feeling too well right now, catch my drift?

'S prolly all the people. Don't like a lotta people all together. But I'll quit now, before I end up circling back on my reasons like some stupid dog chasing it's tail or something. You know, that's one of the saddest things I'll ever see, maybe. 

Probably not sadder than a little boy coming home from some stupid exploit only to see his entire family murdered and blown to bits, home in flames, but still, you know...I mean, it's so pointless. The stupid dog *knows* it can't get it's freaking tail, so what's the point of freaking chasing it in the first place? What a waste of energy. Time. Potential.

Anyway, like I said, the square's pretty packed. Beats the hell outta me, though. Square's usually packed, just not to this extent. Whatever, beats me. I dun really care. Social things are *so* pointless. 

So, yeah, I'm just walking along there, good little Maxwell boy that I am (Hah! Good?! But, you *did* know who I was right? I mean, I left *all* the little hints there, you know? And if you couldn't figure it out, well, damn, I just told you. So you should know by now.) and the stupid fat ass mayor calls out to me. I try to ignore him, but damn, the fatty can be quite loud when he wants to be. Kinda like me. But, anyway...

"Duo! DUO! DUO MAXWELL!" Yeah, I did decide not to change my name. Guess I got too damn familiar with it. A liability, I *know*, but who the hell would come looking for me anyway? 'Specially in a place like *this*. I'd always made it clear before that I was uncomfortable with opulent surroundings, still am. 

"Why, DUO, look who came here to see you!" The mayor broadcasted again to my hunched over form. Damn the fates anyway for making him have such a loud mouth...But I'm already pushing my way past the pressing crowd of the curious and admiring, richly dressed people. Guess I must look pretty under-dressed, huh?

My lucky jeans, probably about five years old...They're baggy, and they've got holes allover 'em. No changes, maybe I got a little skinnier, Heero always used to tell me I needed to eat more...I mentally shug, putting the unpleasant memory aside. He made it clear I was none of his concern anymore.

Yeah, and a killer sleeveless, (It's camo, and it reads 'Death is just a darker shade of camo' Corny, but...I like it.) it may be a little cool for it, but...Well, fine, it's the middle of winter, but I can wear whatever I want to. Oh, yeah, and these totally kickin' military regulation steel toe boots...Dammit, *I* was a gundam pilot, better than your average Ozzie mindless creep. Why didn't *I* ever get steel-toe? 

Anyway. He calls me over to him, and I walk over, just for the hell of it. Gotta please that mayor, might get kicked outta town, ne? 

He frowns a little at my lack of 'proper attire' (He knows I can dress good, he's seen me in a suit before. Damn those stupid functions anyway. But they were held in my honor, so...) 

The whole town kinda views me as their little curiosity. Like a monkey. I don't care. Let 'em think what they will and to hell with 'em, hm? Yeah, that's it exactly. 

So, I slouch on over, and mayor-boy's just burbling about the esteemed Lady this and the esteemed Lady that, I can't see around his bulk about who he's going on about, so I ask him what the hell this is all about. I use nicer words, of course. I gotta a 'rep-u-ta-tion' now to keep up with. Damned hard thing to keep up with, I say. Don't really see the point of it, but, hey, it gets me where I wanna be quicker. Sometimes.

He announces loudly, for the reporters, I guess, I hadn't seen them really till now, "Why, Duo, the Lady Relena Peacecraft, and her constant protector, Heero Yui, renowned soldier during the war, are here to see you!" 

Okay. That one, hurt, I gotta admit. I mean, he told me where he was going, but...It wasn't so hard to think about it like that. I mean, Heero was gone, life went on...But now, *seeing* it. *That* hurt. Yeah. It did.

Did I mention mayor didn't know I was also a 'renowned soldier'? Yeah, but only Heero got to keep the 'renowned' title. I would just be his 'comrade'. The one behind the scenes? The prop? The one nobody notices. Heero was, and always would be, the 'prince'. Nobody cared about *my* pain, my sob-story, my fucking training, what *I* went through. What a bunch of crap. What a waste of time.

I almost walk away, but then, I remember my polite, cultivated image, and I summon up the biggest, fakest, shit-eating grin I can. "Why, what a pleasant surprise!" I exclaim, honeying my words. Making them sound so sugary sweet and so sickeningly fake. 

The mayor steps aside, throwing his bulk about somewhere else I suppose, and then I can really see the 'Lady' Relena, and her 'Protector' Heero. 

They really do make a good couple. Really. She's resplendent in her gown of pale lilac, so composed, so beautiful. Her hair is done up in an intricate braided arrangement. Heero stands slightly behind her, but outshining her by far. At least in my opinion. He's wearing a suit, a freaking suit. It's a rich, dark blue, just the color of his eyes. Did I ever tell him how sexy he looked when he wore that color? I doubt it. He looks determined. I laugh, quietly, in my head. Yes, they do make a good couple. A damned fine couple. Sometimes I can be too masochistic for my own good.

I bow, slightly, and it looks elegant, I know. I've practiced enough, it looks *good*. I take Relena's hand and kiss it softly. She can't help it if Heero loves her. Besides, she's a sweet kid, I...Anyway. I grasp Heero's hand and shake it, with no inflection of feeling, totally ignoring him. Former lovers indeed.

The mayor is still standing there, all those people watching me, wondering why Relena Peacecraft would come and see *me*? Sure, I am pretty famous, damn famous in fact, but still...

"Lady Relena, Heero and I, we all go back a ways. We knew eachother...during the war." I smile briefly at the rotund, self-important man standing before me, and begin walking slowly back to my own apartment. 

Relena and Heero follow, and the crowds quietly dissipate, and I find myself in relative privacy with the two of them. Shit, this is gonna hurt.

"So..." I begin. "What brings you here?" 

"Oh." Relena said, smiling simply, "You could say I'm on a...mission for a mutual friend of ours." She winked, and I was more confused than when I had started out.

"Uhh..." I said, at a loss for words. (For once.)

Heero hung back behind us both, 'guarding' against danger. I almost laughed, really.

We eventually got back to my apartment, and I invited the two of them in. This was *so* not gonna be pretty.