To Belong Part 2 (DxH) G

[ChrisJS]

RECOMMENDED: Read part 1 of "To Belong." Not essential but could make more sense if you do.

I own nothing but ideas.

I decided to continue with this fic whether anyone likes it or not. I liked the storyline (although so far there's a lot of talking and little action). But I have a plan hehehe! Please let me know what you think.

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The young man stood against a plain, single story building, tugging at his braid impatiently for the umpteenth time. Taking another glance at his watch, he exhaled sharply and scuffed the pavement with the toe of his boot.

He had arranged to meet with the man claiming to be in the business of recycling old mobile suit parts, the man Duo hoped to prove a reliable collaborator for future business engagements. But the agreed meeting time had been 9:00 a.m. sharp and his watch hands were rapidly approaching 9:20.

He stuffed his hands in his pockets and pushed himself away from the building. Logic scolded him for waiting so long. If the man couldn?t even keep his appointments, he surely couldn?t be trusted as a dependable associate. Yet he waited, unable to dismiss thoughts of the bills he had barely managed to pay three days earlier. On that note, his thoughts also found Hilde. She had been feeling better since their talk on the patio, much to his relief, but the facts still remained; they were barely surviving. With that, Duo cringed inwardly, remembering his words of encouragement to her. He only hoped that they didn?t fall empty and, at the moment, that seemed a very likely possibility.

Duo?s thoughts still flew as he stared intently at his shoes, so intently that he didn?t notice the tall, lean man approach him.


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The gentleman, adorned in gray slacks, a white, button up shirt and a black tie, stood in every likeness of a businessman, save for the gray cap atop his sandy hair. He jogged down the street, glancing at his watch.

?Man, I?m late! I hope not too late!? He cursed himself for his slow pace and picked up his stride a bit. He rounded the corner and slowed, scanning the area for the hopefully patient man that was to meet him. His eyes paused on a lean youth resting one shoulder on a nearby wall, stroking the end of a very long, brown braid.

He stopped, suddenly. That hair?He hadn?t seen hair like that since?

Memories began to assail his mind. Boys, all about eight years of age?eating apples in alleyways?dodging guards? laughing as they ran?

He whipped his head back and forth as if to cast the memories away and strode towards the leaning figure. As he moved forward, he tensed a little, though he wasn?t sure exactly what it was about this guy that was affecting him so.

When he stopped a few feet away, the man flicked his braid over his shoulder, pushed himself from the wall and raised his gaze, his violet eyes shining. The sandy haired man faltered, the hair on his neck rising slightly.

?Are you Mr. Maxwell??

Duo nodded lightly, slightly taken aback as a hand was thrust towards him.

?I?m very sorry, I know I?m late and there?s no excuse. I?m so glad you decided to wait,? he spat the words out in haste, wishing they could somehow remedy his delay. ?I?m Samuel Lawrence.?

Duo, though feeling agitated only moments before, suddenly relaxed and took the other man?s hand in a hearty shake.

?It?s alright, things happen.? Duo then took the man in for a moment. His slacks, shirt and tie all exuded the air of an attentive businessman but the gray cap he wore caught Duo?s eye. It appeared to be made of wool and was well-worn, though clean and neat. It was familiarly odd but it somehow didn?t prove to disrupt his overall attire. He was still gazing at it when the man continued.

?Let?s go inside. It?ll be a bit more hospitable than?? he trailed off, but he turned his head towards the ever-crowding street to portray his point.

As the two young men entered the building, Samuel moved to guide Duo down a plain hallway with unadorned wood-paneled walls. He stopped to open a door at the end of the hall which revealed a small ?office.? A small desk stood in the center of the 10ft by 14ft room along with a chair for any visiting persons. A single landscape painting hung behind the desk and a thin file cabinet occupied one corner but other than these, the room was bare. Samuel motioned for Duo to sit while doing so himself.

?So I understand you distribute scrapped metal from used mobile suits. Not too many businesses continue to work with such products.?

?We do, amongst other materials,? Duo added. ?And I understand your company owns a facility that recycles such metals.? Samuel nodded his affirmative as Duo went on. ?Where is this facility??

Samuel lifted his hands, indicating the space around him. ?Our recycling yard is out back behind this building, actually. Would you like to take a look around?? Duo nodded, rising again to his feet.

Once outside, Duo?s eyes spanned the large open area. Mobile suits were scattered around in pieces, some identifiable, some already having been reduced to mere sheet metal, rivets and electrical wiring.

His observations were interrupted when the distinct sound of padding feet echoed behind them. Duo turned just in time to see a boy no more than four rush past him and towards Samuel. Before another moment, Samuel had the boy swept up in a hug.

?What are you doing out here, Ed? Shouldn?t you be inside with Ms. Westler??

The boy shook his head sternly and furrowed his brows. ?I don?t like her.?

Samuel laughed. ?That?s because she doesn?t let you have your way, isn?t it? You know she?s a nice lady. She even brings you candy. You need to be more respectful young man.? He shook his finger at the boy in an exaggerated gesture but Duo could tell that there was very little sternness behind the harsh voice. By the incessant grin the boy wore, he knew it too.

Samuel dropped the boy to his feet and patted his backside gently. ?Go on. Ed.? Before long, the little boy was gone from sight. Samuel turned and glanced apologetically at Duo, who only shrugged in indifference.

Turning back to the yard, Samuel addressed the business at hand.

?This establishment is quite small, I know, but it has proven quite effective for launching our company?s operations. We are currently working on expanding our facilities here in L2 but we also hope to have reached L1 and possibly L3 by next year.? Samuel spoke while waving a hand in a seemingly general gesture towards the yard. ?But that may prove to be more difficult than upper management originally thought.?

?Because you can?t find anyone who still carries old suit scraps?? Duo offered.

?Well, no. It?s not that we can?t find anyone who carries them that?s the problem. The difficulty lies in trying to find anyone who carries them consistently. Most recycling companies don?t want to bother with mobile suit scraps because the amounts are now limited, thus making them an unreliable source of income. I guess it makes economical sense for the individual business owner but it sure makes it difficult for companies like us.?

Duo gave Samuel a sideways glance with an eyebrow raised. ?You?re right. Mobile suits are limited. So why start a company that specializes only in recycling mobile suits??

Samuel returned Duo?s peripheral glance along with a widening smile.

?Well, let?s just say our founders were??emotionally motivated.?? In seeing Duo?s expression turn from ponderous to intrigued, Samuel continued. ?The people who established this company were all soldiers in the war against the Alliance. And even though the Alliance was overpowered, they never felt justified in the victory. This is simply a way of continuing the battle, against the Alliance and Oz, against any form of oppression. At least that?s how they viewed it.?

Duo stood staring at the young man, mouth slightly gaping and looking what must have been quite ridiculous before his own mouth pulled into a grin.

?Is that so? Hmph.? He threw his hands onto his hips and pulled his shoulders back, then leaned forward, dipping his head low in a hearty laugh. ?So this company is dedicated to further vengeance, eh? Just like we always said??

???The bill should go to the Alliance.?? Samuel interrupted with a laugh.

Duo stopped short and shot a glance in Samuel?s direction. The young man, feeling the weight of Duo?s gaze, suddenly stiffened as he, too, felt the awkward feeling of familiarity invade the conversation. A few moments passed with no words and Samuel finally shifted, lifting a hand to tug his cap off and smooth the ridges a few times.

Duo?s eyes followed the motion of his fingers casually until they noticed a small, black inscription on the tad inside.

?Larry?

Duo froze. That name?

Looking up at the man before him, Duo began to assess him with a new interest. The sandy hair he had barely noticed before suddenly screamed out to him and the blue eyes took a vibrant, younger look to them?.much younger?and Duo suddenly imagined that same cap on him, only hanging over his forehead as if it were twice as big as his head.

His violet eyes widened and his mouth went dry. Before he could stop himself, he spoke questioningly?

?Larry. You?re?Larry??

Samuel looked at him in surprised awe. ?I?haven?t heard that name since??

?Plain Alley?? Duo interrupted him. Samuel?s eyes grew wider and his mouth opened as if he were about to speak, then closed it again. His eyes grew distant then, though they began to look Duo over and he suddenly gasped.

?Duo??? Samuel stared, unsure, but his spirits lifted in undoubting confidence when Duo flashed him the same smile that he had sported those many years ago. ?Man! DUO! How?where have you?you?re ALIVE!?