Duo woke up to the voices as he drifted in and out of awareness, wondering where he was, why he felt so odd. The last thought that he had was that he had been walking out of his hotel looking for a place to get some coffee and got ambushed. But that wasn't important because he was floating, like he was in space again. The voices didn't make any sense, they were fragmented. He didn't think that heard them at the same time, there seemed to be long stretches of silence, he might have been sleeping. And as soon as he moved or responded to something, he'd feel the prick of a needle and it would go black again. He really should be worried about that, but couldn't gather enough interest in being worried.
"He's lucky...boss's giving him the good stuff."
"Man is he out of it...never thought someone would sleep through that."
"He's exhausted...look at the boss...he looks like he's died and gone to heaven."
"Sweet piece of ass...I remember...."
"Shit...he did a number on him...told you he was a psycho...not to be trusted...just don't fuck with him...he's...weird."
"H...not much better...looks really stoned...used to be a bright...."
"Man...wouldn't want to be in his shoes..."
"Ain't got any...looks like the boss is keeping him, wouldn't so wasted..."
"Man...at times I don't know who's more twisted..."
"Not our problem...fell sorry for the poor shit...really fucked...not just up the ass..."
Duo sighed and turned over, wondering where the voices came from, they didn't sound like the usual ghosts that talked to him. He really should get up, he had to make breakfast and pack a lunch for Maria. He had so much to do, but he just wanted sleep some more, he was so sleepy for some reason...
Duo woke up again and tried to sit up, groaning at the way his body just hurt. He felt that he had been in the same position for days, like it used to be when he was a pilot, waiting to ambush Romafeller convoys in Shinigami. But odd things kept hurting, his nipples, his bellybutton, his ears and other places. And he was naked. He hated being naked now. It showed too much. And the place smelled musky and musty, like someone had been screwing around for a while in it, but it also had that abandoned smell to it. He tried to shift again, a dull ache shooting up inside him. Well, he knew what had happened, he thought. He'd been knocked out and fucked over, again. Just like on the PeaceMillion the first time he was there. The other big clue that he had was that he was handcuffed to a pipe, he thought. He hadn't opened his eyes yet, hoping that it was just another bad dream. He had several that started out this way.
"You're awake." Duo tried to place the voice that was talking to him, he had to think for a second to remember it. He thought that it was just another in along the line of voices that he had heard, while he was out of it. But he knew this voice, it was Howard.
That scum had disappeared after the final battle pretty much like he had. Duo thought that he had just gone back to whatever illegal business that he had before he had gotten involved with Dr. G. Duo wasn't stupid, he knew that Howard was so good at hiding the Gundams because he didn't want to get caught by OZ either, holding the drugs or any of the other stuff that he was smuggling. If he could turn a profit off it, he smuggled it.
"Don't deny it. You've been out of it for a while," Howard continued calmly. "I've had you for a week. And had you all week. You're still a sweet ride, even looking the way that you do and stoned out of your mind." You look bad kid, what happened to you? It's not just the scars, but you're too skinny. And your eyes. Which is why I had you so out of it...they were so flat and lifeless, like a dolls.
Duo sat up some more, wincing. He tried to blink his eyes a couple of times, and ended up rubbing his face against his arm just to get them unstuck. He must have been sleep the entire week or had his eyes closed the entire time. He just hoped that the memory of the last week never came back to him.
"Water?" he croaked, his mouth was feeling as dry as L2 and hoping that he could get the foul taste out of it. He didn't have to guess very hard where it came from.
Duo watched Howard get up and walk over to where he was with a glass in his hand. He crouched behind Duo, tilting the glass so that he could drink out of it. Duo greedily swallowed for a couple of minutes, glad to get something liquid into his system. He was so thirsty, he didn't even try to attack Howard until he realized that the older man moved out of his reach as soon as he finished drinking. Duo leaned against the wall, trying to ease the ache that was in his arms from being in such an odd position. Duo watched Howard suspiciously, wondering what was going to happen next, mentally going over his options.
It didn't look good for him. He was naked and had just figured out that all those odd pains were from the piercings that someone had done to him while he was out of it. The metal felt very odd against his body. He felt like crap because he hadn't eaten for a while and was just realizing that there was something funny in the water he had been given, because he was starting to feel a little dizzy. He wanted to get as much information as he could before he passed out again. Maybe his subconscious could think of a way out of here.
"Why?" he asked shaking his head trying to hang on to consciousness for a little while longer. He wanted to close his eyes again so much. His eye lids felt like they weighed a ton. He wasn't pretty anymore and he wasn't a street kid, people would be looking for him he hoped. Une and Relena at least. He wasn't too sure about Wufei or Heero, seeing what they had tried to pull. Which was why he had been out wandering about that late at night in the first place. But someone should have figured out he was missing by now, unless they thought that he had pulled the same disappearing act that he did at the end of the war. He was too tired to try and figure it out. Or it could be because he had money now, T-chan did leave him a bundle, not that he had touched it for anything, he'd been living off the accounts that he skimmed off OZ, even after he moved in with Une and Maria.
"You got a secret admirer, kid." Howard smirked at him. "He'd been looking for you for a while, then you popped up at that restaurant. Thought that you had fallen off the face of the Earth, or had headed out to the colonies. Couldn't find hide, not that you got much left now, or hair of you. And I did look. Wanted to find you too. I was always disappointed that we didn't get to know each other better. And even now you still be worth a bundle in some places, looking like you do isn't a handicap with your moves." You're not going to believe me if I tell you that I missed you, so I'm playing it tough. I liked you because you used to have your priorities straight, you knew how to separate business from pleasure, you won't believe how many people never learn that one.
Duo shuddered and made an odd strangled noise in the back of his throat. He had an idea who his secret 'admirer' was. So he hadn't been hallucinating when he saw the person he thought was Zechs at the restaurant. He started to whimper, tears starting to creep down his face and pull at the handcuffs, trying to get away, he wasn't going to let him touch him again if he could help it.
"You got it in one, kid. You were never stupid, got to hand you that," Howard said in the same calm, friendly tone ignoring the tears, "You can hide real well, too. If you hadn't come to London, we'd have never found you. I've got to find out how you managed to keep yourself so well hidden, all this time. But you be nice to me, and I'll see that he doesn't hurt you too much." He won't hurt you at all, he knows that anything permanent, and he dies for real.
Duo started sobbing hysterically before he passed out again, wondering what would be worse being 'nice' to Howard or enduring what Zechs wanted to do to him. He just hoped that someone, anyone found him before he lost it, not that he was too stable anymore. His last coherent thought was that he was going to tell that Mina that this was one of her worst ideas yet to get him out of his shell. He was never leaving the safety of the house again.
Duo woke up again, nauseated from the smell of the car he was in, the drugs that Howard had been pumping into him and bumpiness of the raod that they were going over. He swallowed hard and wondered where he was now. He opened his eyes a crack, trying to figure out what the hell was going on. He felt someone's hand on the back of his neck. It tightened slightly, and Duo heard Howard laugh lowly.
"Welcome back to the land of the living. You're just being moved to someplace that you'll be more comfortable at, kid. Don't try anything, I've got you trussed up like a chicken going to market." So you won't hurt yourself. That little scene before the drugs kicked in worries me. What happened to you?
Duo shifted and felt the ropes that bound him tightly, he'd have a hard time trying to get out of them. "What are you going to do with me?" he asked quietly.
"Nothing much. Just going to start your reeducation for your new station in life." Howard said. "You're going to learn to follow my orders or else I turn you over to your admirer for a few nights." A threat to keep you in line, because I wouldn't trust Mirialdo with dog sometimes, and if you were thinking you would know that I know that, so behave yourself, please. Don't make me go through with it.
"Just kill me Howard. I don't care anymore." Duo said tiredly. I'm sorry T-chan I can't anymore. It's so hard and I'm so tired. Tired of the nightmares. The fear. Your daughter's confusion. Une's pity. Of trying to heal and having things hurt even more because of what I am trying to do.
"Just behave and I'll have a treat for you at the end of the week." Howard promised. Mirialdo out of your life. I'll give him what he wants to know, which is that Treize won't remember you and then you are never going near him again.
"My death?" Duo said dully.
"Jesus, kid what happened to you over the last year or so?" Howard asked in astonishment, "Not that I care, you'll be a lot easier to break in with that attitude." I don't want you broken, though. I want the cheeky stowaway that I found in my ship. God you were fun to be with.
Duo started to laugh hysterically, not bothering to answer Howard, he was still laughing when he felt the prick of a needle in his arm. He was glad to pass out again and this time hoped that he wouldn't wake up.
Howard stared down at Duo worried. He was no saint, he had lost anything that he'd call a conscious when he built TallGeese for OZ, but something about Duo's reaction bothered him, the kid was really close to edge of losing it. He was glad that he had his supply on him, he didn't think that Duo would have stopped laughing on his own, he had been too hysterical. He'd just have to be really gentle with him, rethink what his plan was. One wrong move and he'd have what he wanted, but Duo probably be too damaged for anything else. Duo had full range of talents that he could use outside the bedroom, he wanted the whole package, not just something to fuck, fun as that was.
He'd seen the scarring, Mirialdo wasn't kidding when he said that he had cut him up 'some'. Duo might be able to get rid of some of the scars with time, but he lost that perfect sleek skin that Howard had enjoyed the first time that he had gotten his hands on him. he had spent hours just touching him. The piercing he had done to offset some of the damage. And he got off on it. Duo was his now, he might as well look like he belonged to Howard. It would protect him if they got separated, not that he was going to let that happen. But it was known in certain circles that Howard had gotten a permanent playmate and that he had those piercings. If Duo booked or got lost and he couldn't track him any other way, those would show him as his. It was only a back up plan, he had no intention of letting him go. Duo needed someone to take care of him now it looked like. And Howard would be that person. He'd be royally pissed in the beginning but he'd get over it he hoped.
Duo, even now as messed as he was now was someone that he wanted to explore mentally as well as physically. It would take a long time to get behind the walls that the boy had built around himself, but it would be worth the effort if he could get a loyal, talented, loving associate out of it. If not, if Duo lost it, well he knew of several places that he could dispose of Duo and make a pretty penny off him. but he would regret that. No doubt he'd just make sure that he got one too many pills and slept himself into oblivion. It would be kinder. But he wanted to avoid that scenario, he'd just keep him drugged for a little while longer, letting him be more awake for longer periods, if he was rational. Hopefully, with someone to care for him, Duo would lose that blank doll look in his eyes and bounce back into the kid that he had been.
The tears, the laughter and his death wish showed that he wasn't too sane now. He had been crazy to be a pilot, but that craziness wasn't the one that he had now. But what had happened to Duo to make him what he was now? He knew that they all had a part in it-Mirialdo, G and the Mad Five, himself. He'd try and keep the two of them apart until he was sure that he wouldn't find Duo hanging by his braid. Miraldo had waited this long, he'd wait a few more days.
Duo woke up chained to a bed. He was happy that he was wearing an oversized shirt, even if it did look like one of Howard's Hawaiian monstrosities. It was open and Duo saw what Howard had done to his body. It wasn't pretty, but Duo hadn't been pretty for a while now. He felt that his ears had been pierced, a couple on each of the lobes and one on the top of his left ear. Both nipples and his navel had hoops in them too. But what was weirding him out were the two metal hoops that were on the end of his penis, the one at the base of it and the one that he felt between his legs. Duo cautiously tugged at the cuffs that were holding him to the bed, then explored for a join or a lock or something. He shivered when he realized that they had been welded on him, he couldn't feel a lock. A quick look showed that his ankle bracelets were the same way. And they had been fashioned to look like an elaborate bracelet and anklet set. Matching the collar that rested around his neck.
There were no way that he could get these off him without a bolt cutter and a lot of luck. And the locks that were on the chains were placed so that he had to be triple jointed to get to them to try and pick them so that he could get out of the bed, not just double jointed. If he could ever get his hands on something to pick the lock with. He wondered what Howard had zapped him with, so that he had slept through all this being done to him. And how come he never figured out that Howard was a major kink this way, he usually could tell them and avoid them.
Duo's head jerked up when he heard the door open to the room. He relaxed fractionally when he realized that it was Howard and not anyone else. He wondered if he had just dreamed seeing Zechs and Howard was the only person that he had to worry about.
"Good morning kid," Howard called to him, before he sat on the bed. Duo continued to ignore him and jerk at his chains, wondering how he could escape. He was over the hysterics that happened in the car, he had to get out of here. Howard lightly slapped him across the face to get his attention. "I said good morning. Answer me."
Duo stared at him silently, not wanting to give in on this one point. Howard grinned back, happy that he was seeing some spirit in him, that scene in the car had worried him. Howard tugged at a nipple ring, happy to see that Duo squirmed at the sensation.
"Morning," Duo growled, giving in so that Howard wouldn't do that again, it felt good/weird and he was afraid that he might like it if he did it again.
Howard leaned over and kissed him gently on the forehead. "I got you something good to drink, it'll fill your stomach after all those missed meals. You were getting a little something in your stomach, but nothing that was part of any of the four major food groups. I hadn't realized that you were so thin now."
Duo grimaced, not wanting to be reminded of the lost time, he wondered how long he had been out this time. Howard must have read his mind, because he grunted "A day," before opening a can of something and tilting it so that Duo could drink it without choking too much. Duo gulped at it gratefully, happy to have something that would take the taste of the drugs and other stuff out of his mouth.
"What?" Duo rasped, before Howard cut him off.
"What am I going to do with you? Fuck you silly does come to mind. And I've already started on that, I'm sure you noticed. And you were an active participant in the experience also." Howard grinned at him, "But as I said, training you to be a good little boy for me. I'm not going to be too hard on you if you obey me, but give me grief and you play with him." Howard didn't need to say who 'him' was. Duo knew it and shuddered with fear.
"About?" Duo couldn't form the rest of the question. Howard shook his head and stroked Duo's cheek gently.
"I like that look. And they do feel good I've been told. They also mark you as mine."
Duo closed his eyes and swallowed. "You let me go now and I won't kill you." I am not a fucking dog to be tagged. I am a person, totally fucked in the head, but person. Not a pet or a piece of property to be marked. What the fuck were you thinking of Howard?
"Good one, kid. But I'm not the one chained to the bed." Howard laughed. Some spirit at last!
"You're going to slip and I'm going to kill you, you do know that." Duo said quietly, as easily as he was talking about the weather. He knew how to kill. And he had killed a lot of people, a lot of different ways. And what was one more, he'd been damned for a while for what he had done.
"And I," Howard leaned over and lightly tugged at the rings that were on the end of his penis. "Am going to make you mine. I've got the time and you know I have the patience and the drugs that will wear you down. I can take all the time I need, the business practically runs itself at times."
"Why?" Duo asked, shivering at the sensations that those rings evoked in his body, he felt himself respond to them, hardening at Howard's touch. He could learn to like those rings, as odd as they were. And that fact scared him more then anything else, except Zechs.
"As I said kid, you are a sweet ride. I'm sorry that I gave into that mushroom headed weirdo and let you be a pilot, I would have been very happy to keep you for myself. I was the only one that touched you on the PeaceMillion, I wouldn't let the rest of the crew near you."
"Yippee." Duo interrupted, dead pan.
Howard laughed and tugged at the other nipple ring. "Glad you liked it. But if I kept you out of that mess, you wouldn't look like that now. You'd still be pretty with your clothes off."
Duo gasped and closed his eyes. He could like that too. It felt very odd, but intense. Felt like it just zapped his brain, in a good way, doing that. Howard knew what he was doing, so given enough time he could break him. it wouldn't be hard. He was a borderline with sanity as it was, it wouldn't take much to drive him over. He could cooperate, after a while, to have Howard think that he had given in to him and then play for time. Howard would have to make a mistake eventually and he could get out then. His big fear was that he would enjoy being Howard's property and not want to get out when the opportunity presented itself.
"It was worth it," Duo said evenly, opening his eyes again. "Just so that G didn't get his hands on another kid and fuck him up."
Howard stared and smiled. "I forgot about that. You were always protective of other people, whether it was your gang or the other pilots. That did come up in our little talk, not that you recall it. And I can use that. But now, you get another trip. I'm going to be busy for a while and I don't trust you, so it's off to the land of nod, kido."
"What?" Duo asked dully. I hate drugs. Why does people keep giving them to me? And Howard's stuff is propably a lot nastier then anything that Mina was trying to calm me down with.
"Don't worry, just something to make you sleep, then I'll wake you with a kiss. And you can show me anything that you want." Howard leered at him.
"My ass going out the door." Duo mumbled as he felt the needle enter his arm again. If this kept up he was going to look and be a junkie.
Howard laughed at his comment and tucked the covers in around him. Duo was thin and he was going to feel the cold, so he should keep him warm. Wouldn't do to let him get sick. Duo murmured something and tried to curl up, tugging at the chains again to get comfortable.
"Kid, only in your dreams." Howard said as he left the room. He had waited for Duo to fall asleep before leaving, he didn't really want to leave him. Covered up and asleep, Duo looked about twelve and innocent. Howard was worried about him however, he hadn't seen such dead eyes since Heero Yuy on the ZERO System. But he wasn't going to let him go just because of that. He wasn't taking care of himself, since he'd been dumb enough to walk into that ambush outside the hotel. Sunglasses covered your eyes, hid what expression you had. Duo could always wear them.
Duo woke up later, wondering why he was so stiff. He wiggled, feeling the chains that kept him in this bed and groaned. He wondered if he could talk Howard into giving him some more slack, he liked to sleep curled up now. He felt too vulnerable this way. His movements attracted attention and he heard someone walking over to the bed. Duo bit his lip, wondering who it was. He couldn't defend himself if he was like this.
"Relax kid," he heard Howard say, "Just me. And I got something for you to eat. I promise there aren't any drugs in it."
Duo opened his eyes and snorted. Like he would believe him. He didn't believe that he had been here a week or more, so he wasn't going to believe that he wasn't going to drug him.
"Come on, kid. Why should I lie to you?" he asked
"Why shouldn't you?" Duo said bitterly. "And I understand what you're going to do to me. G did train me to be a terrorist. I know all about brainwashing, torture, response and control. You're going to be nice to me to mold me into what you want. Get nasty so that I will be happy to please you, because if I don't cooperate with you, I'll get hurt." Scary part is that it might be better then what I am now. Would it matter? I'm so screwed up from what happened to me any change would be better.
"I know. I also know that you aren't stupid and you are planing to escape, no matter what it costs you. Don't blame you really. But I just want to inform you of a few things. Those little babbles that I welded onto you are made of gundanium. You're not going to be able to get them off. So are most of the hoops that I pierced you with. Unless you're going to rip them out of your body, they are there for life." Not to mention the little tracker that I placed in your collar. Just in case you do succeed in getting away from me and my contacts can't find you. I don't want to loose you again.
"That's a thought." Duo began.
"I'd just repierce you, once you healed." Howard said quietly. Do you hate yourself that much? A few baubles are a small price to pay for protection and three meals an day. You look like you've seen Hell, and didn't enjoy the tour.
"I'd rather have everything ripped out then show the world that I belong to you." Duo said in a dead voice. "Its not like I don't have any scars."
"Duo," Howard started gently, stroking his cheek. "I can take care of you. Don't fight me on this one. And being nice to me shouldn't be all that hard. We know each other. You know that I won't pull any punches on you. And sex isn't the only thing that I want out of you. I know that G trained you to do all sorts of things. In a little while, you might be able to work for me besides warming my bed. You're smart, you know how to get things done. While you are a sweet piece of ass, I want your brain too. You will give me both."
Duo stared at Howard in horror, shivering. He would have killed for this, when he was younger. A secure place, just one person touching him. A warm bed and food. Not now though. He wondered idly if Howard was going to enjoy finding out how screwed in the head he was. But he had to get control of himself if he was going to get out of here. Wherever here was. Dry land was the only thing that he knew. But he was getting out of here, even if it killed him because he had to, he wasn't the frightened little street kid that had been caught by Howard all those years ago. He had people that cared about what happened to him and a place to go once he got free. He had options that Howard knew nothing about.
"Just let me out of here, now." Duo said at last, when he got control of himself. "If you don't, don't trust me, because I will kill you to get out of here. Never let your guard down."
The deadness of his eyes and face, and in his voice, disturbed Howard. The Duo he remembered was bouncy. So he wasn't that way the last time that he was on the PeaceMillion, but he had been a lot more animated then this. Howard felt that someone had killed Duo and didn't bother to tell him that, so he was still walking around.
"Do you want something to eat?" Howard asked, trying to ignore how disturbed he was to see the changes in Duo. "I got some soup, vegetables and dessert."
"And I'm going to eat how?" Duo asked, lightly tugging at his chains, emphasizing that he was stuck there. His stomach made hungry noises at the same moment and Howard laughed at Duo.
"Behave and you get to eat. Be bad and I eat it in front of you. And starving yourself isn't an option because I will shove a tube down you throat."
"I'll behave." Duo grudgingly promised. He was tired, the drug residue and hunger were dulling his mind. He was surprised that he was hungry but he remembered Howard telling him that he hadn't eaten that much over the last week. If he had been here a week. Words could be used confuse and break him as well. Duo wouldn't put it past him, confusion was Howard's best weapon now. And he would use it.
"I'll take you word on that kid because I know that you don't lie." Howard said, starting to unlock Duo from the bed. "But not to tempt you, as soon as you get into that chair, you're getting chained to it. It weighs three times what you do, you're not going to be able to use it against me as a weapon."
Duo rolled out of bed and shuffled over to the chair. Howard kept a tight grip on his collar, to make sure that he wasn't going to run. It was also handy to keep him still while he fastened Duo to the chair.
"Good kid," Howard smirked at him, patting his head like a dog. Duo shuddered and pulled the shirt around himself, the best that he could. He was cold and he didn't care is Howard had been working him over for the last week, day or even a century, he didn't like other people seeing his scars. Mina, the perky shrink scolded him for that, but it wasn't her that looked like Frankenstein's Monster, so he told her to go jump in the lake. He didn't even want to show her them, she got a little green at the discription of what had happened, so seeing it wouldn't be good for her stomach either.
The way that he had been fastened to the chair, he could reach less then half a meter, just enough to feed himself. There weren't any utensils and the food was on paper plates. Nothing that could be used as a weapon. Duo grabbed the soup and started to sip at it, making a face at the temperature. Howard laughed at his reaction.
"Hot soup's a weapon. And that one usually is served cold, so it's okay. Same with most of the other stuff here. Nothing that you can use against me. When I trust you, you get hot food. Not before."
"I was just wondering about what was in it." Duo asked after a few minutes of drinking it. He also nibbled on the plate of raw veggies that Howard had brought him also. He felt like a giant rabbit.
"Fruit mostly, sort of like a tropical drink. Good for you kid, you haven't been taking care of yourself since I saw you last. Been that tough? I told you that I can take care of you, make sure that you have regular meals."
Duo didn't answer him, concentrating on eating, so that Howard couldn't figure out what he was thinking. Howard assumed that he was thin because he couldn't afford to eat now, not because everything was tasteless. Still was. But he ate it to keep his strength up, he'd need it to get out of this mess. That Howard thought that he was wandering around London that time of the night, because he had no place to stay, not because he was running away from his overly affectionate psycho roommates. But he knew to be outside the hotel, so someone had information that he might be there and just wasn't giving it all to Howard. Zechs starting to play with his boss? If that was the relationship that was going on. Hoping to fuck him up and take over? Or was it just bad communication, like happened sometimes? He was too fuzzy to think and just wanted to fall asleep again.
"Your offer is about six years too late." Duo said tonelessly. Should of nabbed me before I learned what love was...as much as it hurts, I'm glad that I had T-chan for the small time that I did, it's just everything was too much for me...even if he had survived I would still be messed up.
"Kid, don't be stupid, you need someone to protect you. You look like shit. Too skinny and wandering though the city at that time of the night. And its gonna be me. I can keep Mirialdo away from you."
"Don't make promises you can't keep," Duo said dully. "Zechs will do what he wants, when he wants, that's what got him in trouble with the Romafellers. That's why he ended up with you. Then White Fang. So if he wants me he'll go through you to get me. And I'm not worth it."
"Kid you're broken now, before I even got serious about it." Howard complained. Had it been that hard for the last year? I thought that you were smarter then that, you would have a nice little nest egg to keep you going. You aren't dumb, you knew how to plan things out, so why were you out and about at that time of the night, looking like you were running from someone?
"Not broken, just tired and uncaring." Duo whispered to him, staring down at his hands. "Peace was supposed to make things all better. I feel worse then before. I'm so tired. It wasn't worth it."
"Did you expect any of those people to give a flying fuck about you after it was all over?" Howard asked roughly. "If they did you wouldn't be where you are now." They all ended up with Winner after everything happened. But you didn't. No one could find you. And then you just popped up again. Alone. They didn't think that you were good enough for them, I guess.
Duo laughed hollowly, not bothering to look up at Howard. They did Howard. Too much and I ran like the stupid shit that I am because I was scared and weirded out they could actually like me, want me, looking like I do. And now I'm here. Smart move number umpteen million on my part. I am just so tired, the dreams drain me and they're never any good. Maybe letting you turn me into you little toy would be better. Just let it all go. The past, the present...the future.
"Kid..." Howard started, "Look at me."
Duo lifted his head to stare at Howard with empty eyes, "He doesn't come to see me. T-chan. The rest do. Solo, Sister Helen, Father Maxwell and the gang. They come and they talk to me in my dreams. Along with everyone that I killed during the war. But T-chan doesn't. And it's starting to fade. The smell of him in his books and the memories. Because he never visits me like the others. I can remember a kill that I made one night in perfect detail, right down to the way that the fat pig smelled, that he wouldn't die fast enough and I had to strangle him with my braid because it was taking too long, he was being too noisy and they were going to want the room back."
"Kid...?" Howard interrupted, frightened by what he was hearing. What had Duo been doing during the war? He knew about the occasional take out that Duo had done, but this made it sound like a full time thing for him. Had it been? What did G make him do?
Duo went on, not even listening to Howard. "But I can't remember the rest of the night, but I did sneak into T-chan's quarters. I needed to be held so bad, it was worth the pain of trying to get there, because the pig liked working over whomever he picked up first. And the only way that I got near him was as a runaway, 'cause that's who he targeted. Kids that were new to the area and had just started walking the streets. No one that would be missed. So I dressed up like a girl, looking fresh from the sticks and he was on me in a second. He'd been doing it for years, but no one did anything about it. And G wanted him dead because his would start a power struggle and the Romafellers would be busy with the infighting, not because of the kids he killed. But I don't remember what happened for the rest of the night. I know that he held me and I was there, but I can't remember it. And I want to, they were good memories. And all I'm remembering are the bad ones."
"Kid you're scaring me." Howard managed after Duo fell silent, he knew why T-chan wasn't visiting him in his dreams, but he wasn't going to tell Duo. He'd find out soon enough. And if he thought that the dead were talking to him, no wonder he was wandering around at night.
"That's okay I scare myself at times." Duo continued in the same dull, dead tone. "I like the drugs that you pumped me full of. I don't remember anything. And I sleep without nightmares. I still wake up screaming occasionally, when it gets bad, when they act like they hate you because you survived and they didn't. So maybe it's good that he doesn't come to see me. I don't want him to blame me too, because I told him that I loved him. And now he's dead." Duo finished what he was saying, winding down like a toy whose battery had died, just staring off at nothing.
Howard shivered and grabbed his bag. He wasn't going to deal with this now. One pill and Duo would be back in la-la land. The empty thing that was in front of him wasn't like the bouncy kid that he discovered on the PeaceMillion all those years ago. Or the stoned sex maniac that he had been fucking for the last week.
Stoned Duo was willing to do anything and had even come up with a few interesting ideas And it hadn't mattered what he had been flying on, Howard had given him a couple of different goodies over the course of the week. Duo had been a hot bundle of sexual action that Howard had enjoyed endlessly. Not the dead eyed doll that was so disturbing, sitting in front of him. So he was going to do himself and Duo a favor and get him stoned for a few more weeks. He might get better then. He'd let him down to eat, but other than that he would be flying.
"Hey kid. Here's your dessert." Howard said, shoving a pill into his mouth and holding it closed until he swallowed it, ignoring the glare. Life at last, but it only lasted a couple of seconds, then those beautiful eyes were dead again. "Make everything go away. And you'll like it. You just said that you did."
"I won't remember anything?" Duo asked when he was able to speak. He couldn't understand why he was angry. Not remembering was good. Stoned was not so good, but he might be able to get out once he came down. Howard might get careless if he thought he was a junkie. Just had to hope that it didn't turn into a reality.
"Nothing kid. But you know the price." Howard said. Life that bad...you that desperate? You were madder about that then anything else the first time we meet, me giving you drugs. The sex seemed routine for you, like you expected it even once you got caught. The price you had to pay for being careless. Not that you remember much, I had you flying for a while. G was impressed that stoned, you still kicked ass in a simulator.
Duo shook his head. "I don't remember anything? No matter what? No matter what I did with you? I don't care if I enjoyed it, I just don't want to remember." Maybe being a junkie wouldn't be all that bad, perpetually stoned or perpetually in pain? Not a big choice to make. He had the pain for the last couple of years. He'd try and see what stoned was like.
"You know how to hurt a guy's feelings, kid." Howard complained, watching Duo's head start to loll back on the chair, a silly smile crossing his face. "I like to think that I am worth remembering."
"Hate memories," Duo slurred his words, the drug was kicking in fast. He'd be out of it in another minute. He could hardly wait. "Never any of the good ones stay, they fade too fast. Don't want to remember getting fucked over anymore. Been too often, too long."
"How long Duo?" Howard asked curiously. A few more minutes and he could start playing with Duo. Actually have Duo play with him. He'd be out of it for hours. The replacement was mindless, not much better then the zombie it was replacing, but he didn't scare Howard as much, and he enjoyed it much better. He was just nervous that one trip too many and Duo wouldn't come back. But he couldn't deal with the zombie right now.
"Seven. Started it when I was seven. Hurt so much...but I had to take care of the others... Solo asked me to, before he died. It was about the only way to get money. Couldn't steal enough, they were still all too sick from the plague. But there were a lot of survivors that were willing to celebrate that they survived."
Howard shivered. He didn't think it had been that long. Over half of his lifetime, no wonder the kid didn't want to remember. He flicked a finger at one of Duo's nipple rings, gratified at moan of pleasure that Duo made and how fast his cock hardened. Touch him anyplace when Duo was like this and he responded, but where he had been pierced was especially sensitive. Duo was just one giant erogenous zone that wanted nonstop sensation, when he was stoned. Giving, taking, anything to feel. Howard hoped that Duo would be that way with him, sober, someday.
Duo shook his head and then leaned forward, nuzzling his nose in Howard's crotch. He started mouthing his cock through his pants, nursing it gently, coaxing it to grow. It was Howard's turn to moan, especially when Duo bit at his zipper and fumbled with unzipping his pants, trying to undress him without using his hands, making little happy noises. Howard helped it along by pushing his pants down and stepped out of them, letting Duo play with his cock and balls. He didn't know how long that he just stood there, supported by the table behind him, while Duo just licked his balls and inner thighs, ignoring his cock. He could come with Duo just doing that alone.
He longed to force Duo to suck on him, to fuck his talented mouth, but he had learned that letting a stoned Duo play with him was one of the most gratifying things he could have. The kid knew tricks that Howard could only dream of. Khushrenada must have been a very happy OZ general if Duo had been giving him the same treatment. Howard wondered how the guy had managed to want to fight a war with Duo in his bed. How he had the energy. Duo nuzzled his thighs open a little further, having his tongue to wander down to his anus. He nearly screamed when Duo unexpectedly stabbed him with it, fucking him with his tongue. After a few minutes of that, Howard grabbed at Duo's shoulders and shouted, coming all over him. God he was good. Duo, finally seemed to find his cock when he licked it clean and him, making sure that he got every drop the ended up on Howard and not on him.
"Christ kid." Howard panted. "Why don't you want to remember this? You are a dream come true."
Duo didn't answer him. He crouched in the chair, straining at the chains to reach him better, happy that Howard moved in so that he could. Then he was too busy, licking Howard's nipples, playing with them, getting them and Howard hard again.
"You are going to kill me, you know. But not the way you want too." He groaned, running his hands all over Duo, listening to him moan, trying to give him some pleasure in return. Duo deserved it. Duo moaned, switched positions and then swallowed him whole, not bothering to answer him. Howard sighed and let Duo suck him, amazed that he hadn't choked yet, wondering how he could breathe. He floated in a haze of warm pleasure, enjoying feel of Duo's mouth around him. He sighed and gently pushed Duo's head away from him. It was exquisite, but they could continue this in bed a bit better. Duo would be more comfortable. Since the kid was going to make sure that he got his jollies, he should at least let him be unchained and comfortable. Plus he was getting a little too old to do it on tables.
Duo growled and tried to continue what he had been doing, but Howard kept a firm grip on his collar, tugging it to make sure that he stopped. Duo was little single minded about things when he was stoned. Once he started something, he didn't want to stop. Howard then unlocked Duo from the chair and led him over to the bed. Duo twisted out of his loosened grip, slipped out of the shirt, then jumped on the bed on all fours, waving his ass at Howard. Howard laughed and grabbed the lube out of the drawer in the table next to the bed.
Duo might not talk much anymore, especially when he was stoned, but he did have a way of making his interests know. And that little display told him that Duo wanted to be fucked, hard and fast. Duo was thrusting his hips back and forth mindlessly as Howard stretched him, making little growling noises in his throat and rubbing against the bed, getting the friction that he wanted from the cover. Watching Duo like this was the best turn on that Howard could think of and he wasted no time plunging himself into Duo, when he was stretched. He played with the rings that were in his nipples, amazed at the sounds he was hearing from Duo. It didn't take long for Duo to spill himself all over the bed, without Howard touching anything but his nipples. Duo tightening around him sent Howard over the edge as he emptied himself in the boy. They both collapsed on the bed, Howard satisfied and panting. Christ, Duo would put him into his grave if this kept up. He pulled out of Duo, ignoring the little angry sound that he made, and rolled off him and stroked his back, listening to him make odd little purring noises because he was touching him.
After a few moments of rest Duo started to rub against him, wanting to do it again. Howard chuckled and patted him on the head.
"Kid, I'm beat. Just do what you want, but don't expect much."
Duo growled and continued to rub and nuzzled at him, rubbing lightly against him, just hard enough to feel his piercings move in his flesh. He was disappointed that Howard didn't really respond to his playing with him. Howard, after a while, took pity on him and rolled Duo over and just fondled his body, alternating pulling at and then stroking the rings on his body. Duo mewed and writhed, thrusting his hips in the air, wanting more. It only took a few pulls at rings on the head of his cock with his hand and Duo came again covering himself and Howard with his semen. Duo lay panting on the bed and Howard hoped at last he was calmed down. Or at least was going to take a rest.
He sighed when Duo rolled over and started nuzzling him again, gently licking up any trace on himself on Howard. After he was though with that he curled up and apparently was ready to fall asleep. Howard chuckled and curled around him, not wanting to start anything else by disturbing him by chaining him down, not that he was going anyplace. Even if he did, it would be just to find someone else to play with, not like he would run anywhere. This nap would last about a half hour or so and then Duo would be after him again. The cycle would repeat a couple of times before Duo would eventually pass out for a day or longer and Howard would get that dead eyed zombie back.
Howard's musings were disturbed by Duo putting his hand on his cock, making him hold Duo while the boy snuggled back into his body, making sure that his cock lay against him, rubbing against him, until he was semi-hard again. Duo giggled at his success and fell back to sleep, happy with the way that he had arranged Howard. Howard wasn't too sure who was the pet here. He wasn't going to worry about it, though. Duo was just one giant hormone when he was stoned, Howard was definitely going to give his chemist a raise for this batch of drugs. Duo may kill him with activity, but he wouldn't scare the crap out of him with those doll eyes.
Duo was lazily playing with Howard and himself, when he heard the knock on the door. Enjoying Howard, suckling on him languidly and licking him, treating Howard's entire body like a giant ice cream cone, while fooling with the rings on his body, pleasuring himself. Howard liked that, liked watching his reactions, Duo kept himself on the edge, not wanting to drive himself over it and come before Howard. He growled at the interruption, because that meant he couldn't play anymore, because he couldn't play himself or Howard in front of anyone, he remembered dimly from some random, hazy thought that was floating around in his head that Howard didn't like that. Howard patted him on the ass and laughed. "Five minutes kid."
Duo growled again and Howard made a mental note to ask his chemist what the hell was in those pills that he was giving Duo, he didn't want to turn his brain into mush from this. Just keep it occupied for a couple of more weeks until he accepted what had happened to him. He pulled the covers up around them and grabbed Duo's braid to make sure that he didn't 'forget' and try and give him a blowjob under the covers using the logic that the other person couldn't really see what he was doing. He had done that once, when someone else had walked in on them.
"Come in," Howard called out, figuring it was either Mirialdo or one of his lieutenants that were with him at Mirialdo's country estate.
It had been the best place to bring Duo, no one knew where it was and Mirialdo would get is jollies out of mentally torturing Duo and Treize at the same time, until he got bored or realized that Treize wasn't going to walk out on him. Treize knew that he had that option, Howard made him the offer one morning after seeing the younger man limp in and sit down carefully for breakfast. Howard didn't have to figure out what had happened to him. He had seen it before, just not as bad as it seemd that morning. Treize just smiled and politely thanked him, never mentioning the offer again, no matter how rough it got.
Mirialdo walked in, smirking at Howard's state of undress and Duo being in bed with him. "I see that the little kuja is keeping you entertained." he said sarcastically "I just was here to tell you that I would be honored if you joined me for dinner tomorrow night, at seven. Of course your kuja robja is also invited, In fact I insist."
Duo was trying to squirm away from Howard trying to put more distance between Mirialdo and himself. Even as stoned as Duo was, he remembered that he had hurt him and he didn't like him for some reason. Not that Duo could think much, unfortunately, the drug that he was tripping on limited his reasoning to good/not good. He knew that Mirialdo was not good and didn't want to be near him. He whimpered a little when Howard didn't loosen his grip. Mirialdo laughed at his reaction, which caused Duo to freeze.
"He remembers his place at least," Mirialdo growled, getting closer to Duo. He reached over Howard and grabbed Duo's chin so that he was forced to look into Mirialdo's eyes. "I won. He doesn't remember you and it will be pleasurable to see the look on your face when you realize how completely under my control your precious T-chan is."
Duo wiggled, trying to get away from those hard, hurting fingers. Mirialdo let go, and patted Duo on the head, "I shouldn't tease you like this. You're so stoned that you can't remember your name, but you know enough to be afraid of me."
"If you're through scaring him, we'll see you tomorrow night." Howard said, dryly. "Is it formal or informal dining?"
"And can you to lend him to me tomorrow night, after dinner? I think I can keep him occupied between T-chan and myself. I won't hurt him, much, just I want to test something out." Mirialdo's tone left Howard no choice but to semi-graciuosly agree to the request. He didn't want to have to watch Duo all the time until to stop from taking him when he said no. Mirialdo had never learned to deal with rejection well. The last person that said no to him, Howard had to dispose of in the Thames...in pieces. The man didn't know enough to get out of Howard's way for a deal and then was stupid enough to anger Mirialdo. The man's name should be Piececraft, not Peacecraft.
"You are a sick person Mirialdo. I can't guarantee anything." Howard growled, not wanting to give into easily. "He might try to kill you." If Treize hasn't left you yet, he's not going to. Stop torturing the man. Or he will walk out on you one day. You want to really find out if Treize has forgot everything? Shouldn't you be more afraid that Duo might trigger his memories?
"I'm not fucking a boy almost a third of my age, who's too stoned to form a coherent thought most of the time, never mind the fact that he's so scarred, he should be in a freak show. He's no threat to me even if he was sober and in better shape."
"At least I'm not testing my lover's loyalty by playing sick mind games with him." Howard retorted. "Since he has no idea why you do half the things you do to him because he doesn't remember anything about what your relationship was like before Chang tried to kill him."
"True enough" Mirialdo agreed amiably. "We both have issues, but let me get what I want out of him tomorrow night. And I might record it to match the other session. The one on the Libra. And then we can see what happens. But I think that's all I'll need, one session with the little kurva. And it is casual."
"Until tomorrow night then," Howard nodded, while stoking Duo's back to comfort him. He must be scared if he wasn't trying to grab at him. Mirialdo smirked again and strode out the door, anticipating the next evening's fun.
Duo curled around Howard and shivered for a while, frightened. Howard reluctantly got up and grabbed his supply again. As much as having Duo fool around with him for the rest of the night sounded fun, the kid was going to need his strength for tomorrow night. Plus he didn't seem interested any more. Mirialdo was scaring Duo when he was stoned too, that wasn't a good sign. Duo eagerly swallowed the pill Howard gave him, after he teased him with it for a little while. Howard hoped that Duo wouldn't feel too hung over from this combination of drugs, but it wasn't going to be pretty tomorrow night and Duo was going to need his rest. And he couldn't get it up again if he tried.
End Part 15
Christine
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