Warnings: Language, Lemon (Eventually)
Pairings: 1+2
Rating: This part PG-13
Author: Aya

Destination + Part Three

-Duo-Jersey-

"Damn rain, I wish it would let up already." Duo muttered as he drove down the highway. It was still raining heavily and he doubted it would stop anytime soon. According to the radio there was some hurricane somewhere or something. He reached down and fiddled with the knobs of the radio, turning to his favorite station. Music blasted out of the speakers and he began singing along loudly and very off key.

It had only been a few hours since he had left the city and already he felt free. He still wasn't exactly sure where he was going, but Duo figured that if he kept driving eventually he would come up with something. //Hmm I should probably call Q-Man and Tro soon, don't want them to worry too much.//

Duo exited the highway and turned down what looked like a main street, he was starving half to death and he really needed to use the bathroom. He spotted a pub on the next street called `The Clover' and pulled into the parking lot. The longhaired teen got out of his beloved Charger, locked it and quickly hurried inside the pub so that he wouldn't get too drenched. Once inside he saw that it was indeed really seedy looking. The patrons were mainly biker types and wannabe thugs. He shrugged it off and immediately headed towards the lavatory, in desperate need to relieve himself.

The bathroom was as dingy looking as the rest of the place and there were two trashy looking biker guys making out in the corner. Duo ignored them and the disturbing amount of tattoos that seemed to cover their skin entirely, and quickly did what he had to do. Once he exited the bathroom, Duo made his way to the bar and plopped down in one of the stools. The bartender looked at him skeptically.

"Can I get a beer?"

The man rolled his eyes. "Kid you don't look old enough to drive let alone drink."

Duo opened his mouth to retort, but instead opted for glaring at the man. After several moments he slumped in his seat and sighed. "Can I get a Pepsi then?"

The bartender laughed heartily and set a can in front of the annoyed teenager. Duo sighed again and toyed with the can. He hated when people treated him like a child; he was almost eighteen for God's sake. After a few more minutes of stewing over the beer incident, Duo turned his thoughts to more important things; like where he was going to go. He didn't really want to stay on the East Coast unless it was really far away from New York. He wasn't really fond of the southern states so that was out of the question unless it was Florida. He had never been to Florida but it looked cool on TV. Duo realized how childish that sounded and he scowled to himself, picking at the paper coaster with his finger.

He didn't know much about the Midwest, but the idea of going there wasn't too appealing to him. However a drive cross-country might be exciting, he thought with a small grin. Maybe he would end up in California, or Seattle. Duo's thoughts began wandering all over the place, examining the possibilities that a cross-country drive could bring.

"Hey sweety, aren't you kind of young to be in a place like this?" A nasal female voice said in his ear.

Duo looked at the woman and wrinkled his nose at her. She was probably in her late twenties but she looked far older with the make up that was caked around her eyes and mouth. Heavy blue mascara, bright red rouge and red lipstick that was put on rather sloppily. She looked like a clown..

"I'm not that young." He snapped irritably.

She shrugged and sat down next to him, grinning and showing off her yellow crooked teeth. "I'm just wondering what a nice kid like you is doing in a trashy place like this."

Duo rolled his eyes and popped open his soda. "What's it look like I'm doing?"

The woman smiled wider and shifted so that her barstool was closer to him. "Well it looks like you are sitting here all alone and in desperate need of some company." She reached out and twirled a strand of his long hair around one finger. "You're one damn fine looking kid." She murmured sounding as if she was in awe.

Duo shied away from her uneasily, clenching the soda can. He really didn't like being rude to women but this chick was really invading his personal space. "Look lady - I'm not in the mood for this, just leave me alone and let me drink my soda in peace."

"Look baby, I'm just trying to be nice. I've never seen you here before and you really do look like a nice kid. There are a lot of people in here who will take advantage of you." She said, nodding as though she was giving him some really profound advice.

"Your concern is touching." Duo said dryly.

"Hey Irene - leave the kid alone, he looks about ten years your junior and unlike you he's a paying costumer, so stop bugging him." The bartender snapped at the woman.

Irene lifted her chin indignantly. "I'm not bugging you, am I baby?" She purred, blowing her sour breath all in his face.

Duo grit his teeth and slammed his soda can down on the counter top. "Look lady - I'm not your baby, I'm not a kid and I don't want your company so go away."

The bartender laughed heartily and Irene's face flushed a dark red color. She opened her mouth to retort but before she could get a word out, there was a loud crash and hissing sounds coming from outside. Everyone turned towards the door in curiosity and the sounds of loud cursing and snarling floated in over the music. "Geez, I hope it's not another one of those drunk red necks looking for a fight." The bartender muttered to himself. "Next person to fight in here is going to get booted."

Duo turned his attention back towards his soda and was grateful that Irene and the bartender had started in on a conversation about rednecks and Irish beer. Maybe they would stop bugging him now. The longhaired teen began stirring his soda with a straw, staring off at the wall. Yeah, he decided a drive across country would be really nice. He'd get to see a lot of different places, meet new people and then maybe he would go to California. He had a decent amount of money that he had been saving for awhile and he supposed that if worse came to worse he could ask Trowa to wire him some.

Suddenly the door slammed open and a slender young man stormed in. He was drenched from the rain and he looked absolutely pissed. "Goddamned motherfucking pink piece of shit sorry excuse for a car." He muttered to himself and yanked back a bar stool, not even wincing when it skidded across the wooden floor making that horrible fingernails on a chalk board sound.

Duo's eyes widened slightly as he took in the figure that was now sitting next to him. //Whooah he looks niiice.// That was an understatement. The guy was.. a god. Tall, muscles to die for, and tattoos that made him look dangerous and very sexy. Duo looked up at his face and tried to keep himself from drooling. The guy was perfect. Smooth chiseled features, black and blue hair that was plastered to his forehead from the rain and the brightest blue eyes Duo had ever seen.

"Oh my..." Irene murmured to herself, obviously taken with the guy.

"Give me a shot of tequila." Tall, dark and sexy demanded, not even looking up at the bartender. When his drink wasn't served, he looked up and sneered. "Please," he added, his voice dripping of sarcasm. Duo tore his eyes away from the vision and stared down at his soda again; trying in vain to think about his plans and not about the guy sitting next to him.

The bartender frowned and stared at the man. "You got ID son?"

"Do I look like a fucking teenybopper to you?" The Asian looking man snarled, blue eyes flashing dangerously.

Bartender Joe, as Duo had just dubbed him, backed away from the man and quickly poured the drink, shoving it in his direction. "Don't have to be so rude about it." He muttered to himself, before he started cleaning the counter top again.

Duo watched out of the corner of his eye as Sexy downed the drink in one gulp and immediately ordered another one. The violet-eyed teen was just about to order another soda himself, when suddenly he felt someone grab his crotch. "That's a nice package you have there."

Irene leered as she squeezed. Duo jumped about two feet in the air, effectively knocking over his drink and his barstool. Irene peered at him innocently as Duo seethed. "Look you sick bitch, you touch me again and I will stop being such a gentleman and smack the shit out of you!"

The red head woman scowled and put her hands on her hips. "How dare you talk to me like that, you little punk!" She crowed angrily.

Almost immediately two huge tattoo covered men came up to them and stood behind Irene. "Is there a problem babe?" One asked her.

She pointed at Duo. "That punk kid insulted me! He called me a bitch and all I was trying to do was be nice to him!" She whined.

Duo glared at the three people in front of him and clenched his hands into fists. "Look man - I don't want any trouble... but this...woman is a fucking loony."

The two bikers advanced on him and one shoved him backward with one meaty hand. "Maybe you need to be taught a lesson on how to respect your elders." He suggested with a smirk.

Duo looked around frantically, practically everyone else was watching with amusement and he knew they weren't going to help him. The odds of him winning this fight were pretty.. Slim to none. Damn, trouble just followed him wherever he went. "There's not much to respect." He retorted.

The taller of the two picked him up by the collar effortlessly until Duo's feet were actually off the floor. "Yeah I think this punk needs a real good lesson." He said, emphasizing his words with a violent shake that left Duo dangling like a rag doll, before tossing him onto the floor.

"Why don't you leave him alone?" A deep voice asked coolly. Duo looked up from his new position on the floor and saw that tall dark and sexy was the one who was sticking up for him.

The two bikers turned their backs on Duo and stared incredulously at the man. "What'd you say punk?"

Sexy raised an eyebrow and stood up, crossing his muscular arms over his chest. "Why don't you pick on someone your own size?" He asked coolly.

The longhaired biker snorted and thumped Sexy in the chest hard with his hand. "And who might that be punk? You?" He laughed.

The spiky haired man smirked and gestured towards the man's girth. "No not me. I don't really think of myself as obese."

"Why you --" The biker started towards the man angrily, but just as he raised his fist to swing; a large wooden bar stool was slammed against his back; stunning him momentarily before he collapsed to the floor.

Duo stood there holding the part of the stool that hadn't broken, a sneer painted on his delicate features. His head was aching from where it had collided with the floor but he was practically seeing red with anger. No one treated him like that, no one. "I may be just a kid, but I'm a kid who doesn't take shit from red neck biker pieces of shit." He snarled.

The longhaired biker's companion gaped at the sight, but before he could even react or come out of his paralysis, Sexy kicked him in the crotch violently and followed the sudden move by an upper cut, which sent the large man flying.

Irene and Bartender Joe gaped at the sight along with the rest of the patrons. Then the balding man noticed the broken bar stool and his face purpled with rage. "Both of you, get out now! I said no more fighting and I meant it! Out!"

Sexy shrugged nonchalantly and gulped down the last of his Tequila before walking out calmly, giving the biker one last kick for good measure.

Duo cast one more scathing look at the patrons before hurrying after his mysterious savior. The man hadn't really gone far and was standing outside under the awning, smoking a cigarette and glaring at the rain. Duo cleared his throat and shoved his hands in his pockets. "Um, thanks man.. If you hadn't stepped in when you did I would have been dead meat."

Sexy looked him up and down briefly before turning his gaze back towards the rain. "No problem. I don't like seeing people get picked on." He said gruffly.

They stood in silence for a moment and when it was pretty clear that the guy didn't plan on saying anything else, Duo sighed and started for his car.

"Hey!"

The longhaired boy stopped and turned around. "Yeah?"

The taller man opened and closed his mouth a couple of times before speaking. "Do you.. Know if there's a mechanic around here somewhere? My car broke down."

Duo looked around and shrugged. "Well it's pretty late so any garage is probably closed by now. Which one is your car?"

Sexy scowled and gestured towards a shell pink car that had steam practically pouring out of the hood. Duo couldn't help but laugh as he stared from the man to the car. "You drive a pink car?!" He laughed loudly for a few moments before he noticed that the man was glaring at him evilly. Duo coughed, trying to hide his snickers and walked over to the car; grateful that rain was slowing down. The blue- eyed stranger followed him.

"It's not my car; I'm borrowing it." He snapped.

Duo shrugged. "Whatever you say man." He stood in front the car, and looked at him. "Do you mind if I have a look?" He asked.

Sexy stared at him skeptically. "You fix cars?" He asked doubtfully.

Duo lifted his chin proudly and nodded. "Yes, I fix cars. Worked in a mechanics shop for a few years before, don't let my delicate appearance fool you." He added with a wink, before popping the hood and peering inside the steaming mess. After a few moments he stepped back and looked at Sexy with a grin. "Well the problem is simple really; your fan belt is broken."

The muscular man stared at him blankly.

Duo sighed and shook his head. "The fan belt keeps the water circulating in the radiator. When it breaks, the engine overheats and stops functioning properly. Hence the steam and all." Duo said gesturing towards the car.

Sexy scowled deeply and glared at the car. "Can you fix it? I'll pay you."

Duo shrugged. "Well I could fix it easy if I had a spare fan belt, which I don't. You'll have to wait until morning when one of the garages around here open."

Sexy swore under his breath and kicked the car. "I can't wait until morning; I have to get out of here tonight." He growled angrily.

Duo hesitated before voicing his thoughts. "I can give you a ride somewhere... if you want." He offered with a smile.

The man stared at him suspiciously. "Why?"

The longhaired boy shrugged and fiddled with his sleeve. "Well you did help me out in there, and it's the least I can do..."

Sexy frowned at him for a few minutes before his shoulders sagged in resignation and he stamped out his cigarette before nodding. "Yeah, thanks." Duo grinned and they walked towards his car.

"Nice wheels." The tattooed man said appreciatively.

Duo got in the driver's seat and waited until the other man got in before talking. "Yeah, she's my baby. Fixed her up from when she was a pile of junk."

The man raised his eyebrow when Duo referred to the car as a female but didn't comment. Duo stared at his profile for a minute and found himself blushing as he realized that the man was having a very.. Weird affect on him.

"S..so where are you headed?" He stammered.

"I don't know yet. What direction are you going in?" Sexy asked. His voice was a flat monotone.

"Uhh to be honest I'm not too sure about that myself. Just trying to get as far away from New York City as possible." Duo said with a sheepish grin.

The man looked at him briefly before returning his gaze outside the window. "Same here."

The longhaired teen turned on some music and began driving. "How about this - you stick with me until you figure out where you want to go. But I gotta tell you I plan on possibly getting off the East Coast."

"That's fine."

Sheesh, the guy wasn't a big talker was he? They drove in silence for a few moments before it got to be too much for Duo. He hated silence. It was unnerving. "So what's your name?"

The guy sighed as if it were taking a lot out of him to answer. "Does it matter?"

Duo rolled his eyes. "Well I'd like to know what to call you unless you'd prefer I call you `hey sexy' all the time." As soon as the words were out of his mouth Duo nearly bit his tongue off. //Real smooth Maxwell... scare the guy off five minutes after you meet him.// He shot a quick look at tall dark and sexy and saw that the guy's blue eyes were trained on him. He looked somewhat amused.

"Heero Yuy."

Duo grinned. "That's more like it. I'm Duo Maxwell, so are you going to tell me why you were driving that big pink monstrosity?" He asked with a cheeky smile. The guy scowled at him.

"It was my girlfriend's car... if I'd have known it was such a piece of shit I wouldn't have taken it." The dark haired man said with a shrug. He twisted in his seat and dumped his wet duffle bag in the back seat, pausing once to glance at Duo. "You don't mind do you?"

"Uh.. no not at all." For some reason Duo was slightly disappointed to hear that he had a girlfriend. He watched out of the corner of his eye as Heero peeled off his wet tee shirt and changed into a sweater. At the site of those muscles flexing Duo's overactive hormones reacted expectedly and suddenly his jeans were a little too tight. "So uh.. Why do you want to get away from the city?" He asked, desperate to kill the sudden silence.

Heero shrugged. "I'd rather not talk about it." A hint of sadness flashed in those Prussian eyes, but it was gone so quickly that Duo wasn't sure if he had actually seen it.

"What did your girlfriend dump you or something?" The violet-eyed boy asked jokingly.

The Asian looking man glared at him. "Girlfriend was the wrong term. Stalker is the right one. And I already said I don't want to talk about it."

Duo's eyebrows shot up. "Okay man chill, I was just playing." Heero sighed and looked out the window again.

//Great.. I pick up a totally hot hitchhiker and he has to be the quietest SOB this side of the US. I sure have rotten luck.// Duo thought moodily, before he turned up the music and began singing along to Staind.

~TBC~

AN - Ehehehe ^_^;;

[ note: this has been unfinished forever and a day. I keep it up cuz I luvs it. ^_~ which is why I'm asking you to e-mail aya and beg and plead for more of this. I figure if you've made it this far, you want more of it, too, ne? ]

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