The Heero Look

Chapter 1

2x1

"Hi."

Heero jumped out of his skin and back into the wall with a loud thump. He gasped loudly as his heart slammed against his ribs.

"Didn't mean to scare ya," a crooked smile stretched over beautiful white teeth. He was tall, immensely so and Heero craned his neck to look into his eyes. They were amethyst, or some sort of color that could only come to be with the help of contacts. Heero snorted at the thought, although something told him this man wasn't wearing contacts.

"I'm not wearing contacts."

Heero frowned in annoyance. Had he spoken out loud?

Another smile. "Usually the first thing people ask..."

Heero's frown deepened. His eyes were framed by a deeply tanned and ruggedly handsome face. His lips were full, pink and soft looking, supported by a square jaw with a five o'clock shadow.

He was striking.

And sexy…the dangerous kind of bad-boy sexy.

Heero's heart began to beat wildly in his chest.

"Is that so," Heero finally muttered to the man's earlier statement.

He nodded once and Heero noticed a bit of movement behind him. Geez, how long was this guy's hair?

He struck out a large, callused hand towards Heero. "Duo Maxwell."

"Uh…Mr. Yuy," he grabbed the outstretched hand after a few brief moments.

Duo raised a bushy eyebrow at the formality but said nothing of it. "You were surprised to see me."

Heero squelched the urge to roll his eyes. "Yes, I was actually."

Duo chuckled deeply and Heero felt some insane urge to giggle. "Jesus," he muttered to himself and ran a hand over his dark, slicked back hair.

"You alright? I didn't scare you too much, did I?" He started to reach out a hand to steady the young man in front of him.

Heero moved to the side to avoid the hand. "Not at all, Mr. Maxwell. I just wasn't expecting you or anyone else for that matter..." he drifted off.

"Ah, so Aunt Lily didn't tell you I was coming," he scratched the top of his head and Heero saw a braid swing behind him at the movement.

"No," he shook his head, "she happened to leave out that bit of information during our recent conversations."

Duo smirked and shook his head. "Yeah that sounds like her, can't imagine why she wouldn't tell you I was coming…"

"Neither can I," Heero said as his treacherous eyes began to sweep the sweet body in front of him. This Duo Maxwell was fit, no doubt about it. He was wearing a simple white t-shirt that clung to his chest and broad shoulders deliciously. A pair of dark blue jeans that rode low on his narrow hips and a pair of ratty boat shoes ended his ensemble.

"You approve," the teasing voice sounded above him.

Heero's face flushed darkly and his eyes swung up to meet the stranger. "What are you doing here," he asked rudely, ignoring the question.

"I'm moving in," he smiled crookedly and placed a hip against the wall, folding his arms high on his chest, emphasizing his massive biceps. "Guess we're neighbors now, huh?"

"That would be apparent," the smug man in front of him was beginning to get on his nerves and he grit his teeth in anger. "You don't need any help do you, I was just going down for dinner. Lily doesn't like it when I'm late for a meal."

Well, with an offer like that…

"Ah no, I think I can manage it," he pushed off the wall and went to pick up the box of things sitting at his feet. "I better hurry too then."

Heero nodded stiffly before turning on his heel and walking down the hallway. Just as he got to the stairs a voice called out behind him. He turned with a frown, "Excuse me?"

"I said left or right." Confusion was apparent as Heero waited for him to elaborate. "Which apartment is mine?"

"The left."

"Yours is the right?"

Heero sighed and mentally counted to ten to keep from saying something nasty. "Yes, Mr. Maxwell, my room is on the right seeing as how that's the only other door in the hallway."

Ooh, sassy.

"Well, I hope I don't forget, Mr. Yuy. I would hate to come stumbling in on you one night by mistake." He wiggled his brows devilishly, "No telling what might happen."

The nerve.

Heero said nothing as he turned around and stomped down the stairs. That man was trying to rile him…him for god sakes! Rewind the clock to a few months ago and Heero could've had that Duo Maxwell eating out of the palm of his hand with a simple 'hello.' Heero could dazzle him and stop him dead in his tracks with just a look, he could…

Heero stopped short as he got to the last step. What was he doing, thinking such things? That part of his life, as of several months ago, was over and dead. The person he was then was completely different from the person he was today.

He groaned softly and leaned against the banister. He'd cut himself completely off from his former life and wasn't in a hurry to gain it back, if he ever would. Not even to put the likes of Duo Maxwell in his place.

Bringing back the internationally known Heero Yuy would no doubt bring back the hardships and pain he'd had to endure all his life. He'd given up the celebrity world to find himself, his true self and he'd succeeded. He was happy where he was and could count, on one hand, the times in his life that he'd been genuinely happy. Heero didn't know that a person could be so happy as a nameless resident of a quaint boardinghouse in Southern Virginia.

Lily, Ms. Lily Robinson, couldn't have been a greater landlady. At that thought, Heero conquered the remaining steps and walked into the dining room to see Lily setting glasses of water by three place settings.

Lily looked up as he walked into the room. "Well, there you are sugar, I was wondering when you were coming down."

Heero smiled and went to place a kiss on Lily's soft, wrinkled cheek. "Sorry I took so long, I was uh…held up." He stood behind his chair as he reached for the glass of water Lily just set down.

"Ah, I see you've met my darling nephew." She simply beamed with pride as she clasped her small hands together. "Hot little thing, isn't he?"

Heero only hummed as he took a sip of his water.

"Ya know, we have a few more minutes before dinner's done. If you wanted to go upstairs and change real quick, I wouldn't mind." Lily offered trying subtly to give Heero the hint that his attire was less than suitable.

Heero wasn't a fool and arched an eyebrow at her. "And why would I want to do that?"

"You know, since we've got company and all…" she said as she busied herself with straightening the silverware.

"No thanks," he said and shook his head, "I'm comfortable the way I am and besides, he's not really company, he's a new border."

She huffed and rolled her green eyes, clearly annoyed with him. "Why you insist on making things so damned difficult for yourself, I'll never understand."

Lily was an older gal of about seventy, Heero would guess, but there was no way to tell. She was short with tanned skin stretched across a tiny frame. She was lean and fit, there wasn't a day that went by when Lily wasn't outside doing some activity whether it was tending to her greenhouse or running around the block.

Heero remembered when he'd first met her. They'd talked on the phone a few times, gathering basic information on the other, directions and so forth. It wasn't until the day he'd come for the interview that he really met Lily Robinson.

She'd answered the door wearing a bright pink sweater over light blue, hip hugging jeans and bare feet. "Humph," she grunted while her eyes surveyed him from top to bottom, "you're a skinny little thing, but with a few good meals we'll be able to fatten you up real nice." She'd ushered him in and within ten minutes, the apartment on the second floor had been leased to him.

Heero found out that Lily was a wild old girl. She didn't let her age or any other such nonsense stop her from living the way she wanted. For instance, Lily loved her herbal tea laced with a liberal amount of liquor. Preferably Jack Daniels – morning, noon and night.

He shook himself from his thoughts. "Lily, what's wrong with how I look?"

"What isn't wrong with the way you look?" She shot back.

"Don't be pushy."

"Don't be an idiot."

"Lily…" Heero sighed dramatically and leaned on the chair in front of him.

She clucked her tongue and shook her head. "Darlin', you've got a thick head of gorgeous hair. Why don't you let it out every now and then, huh? Keeping it constantly gelled back like that can't be good for it."

"You do realize you're starting a trend, don't you? You and this gorgeous hair!" The eccentric man took a moment to run his hands through it. "It's so fluffy, messy, and positively screams sex. Not that other parts on you don't, darling but oh! Do you realize how many men and women run to the salons with a picture of you clutched in their grubby little hands? They all but offer their souls to have your hair created on their unworthy heads. They pay hundreds, thousands while all you have to do is wake up in the morning. Sweetheart, you won't be able to go anywhere unrecognized with this look of yours. The Heero look will be recreated everywhere for years to come."

Heero almost smiled at the memory of the famous hairdresser's words. He touched his slick hair and shrugged. "It's been fine so far."

Lily sighed dramatically and threw her hands up. "And why are you always wearing those hideous rags you call clothes? While you are sitting in this house covering yourself from head to toe, kids your age are going out trying to figure a way to take it all off."

Ah, that Lily, never one to mince words.

Heero looked down at himself. He was wearing a long, dark brown shirt that was shapeless and fell past his bottom over a pair of bleach stained, baggy black slacks. A pair of solid black, functional tennis shoes covered his feet. His hair was gelled and combed completely back, leaving his face to be open except for the slightly tinted, round oversized eyeglasses.

"I think I look okay," he surmised and noticed Lily roll her eyes. The subject of his appearance was getting old so he changed the subject. "So this nephew of yours…"

Her eyes practically glazed over at the new subject. "Ah yes, Duo! Oh that boy has always had a special place in my heart all to his self. When he was younger I used to call him my 'little man'," she giggled with delight, "truth be told, he's my favorite but don't you say a word."

Heero smiled good-naturedly and made a cross over his heart.

"The doll called me up a few weeks ago and asked for a place to stay, of course I said yes! I was never really able to say no to him...about anything." She motioned for Heero to sit down as she continued talking, "God, you should've seen him when he was a kid. Born troublemaker, I tell ya."

"Was he," he commented. It was adorable how Lily gushed on about her nephew, besides the fact that he was a total jerk with an apparent one track mind…and he'd found that out all within ten seconds of meeting him.

"My dear sister-in-law spoiled him absolutely rotten, back then and now. She always used the excuse that he was her first and deserved that right," Lily waved a finely manicured hand in the air, "that was bull. But who could blame her? Have you seen the eyes on that boy? Like jewels, they are! One look at those babies and you were lost, man or woman. He used to have everyone wrapped around his finger, and I'm sure he still does."

"How long will he be staying?" Heero took another sip from his glass.

"Just for a few months, I'm afraid. Although, I really wish he would stay longer. He'll move back into his house in North Carolina at the end of the summer."

Heero began to wonder what he could be running from. A little farfetched for him to believe Lily's favorite nephew decided to come visit just because. Maybe he'd had a nasty lovers spat with his current conquest, maybe a divorce, maybe he had a horrible gambling debt and was hiding from thugs that wanted to chop him up and throw him into a river!

'Doll' he certainly may be to Lily but to Heero he was an arrogant pig. Heero would make it an issue to stay away from him. He knew men like him only existed to conquer and destroy.

'Well not me,' he thought to himself.

He also knew that men like Duo Maxwell never looked at men like him, or Mr. Yuy as he'd become, twice.

"Hey there sweet thang," Heero almost choked on his spit while Lily squealed in delight and launched herself into the dark, brawny arms of her nephew. He watched as Duo looked at him over his aunt's head and wink.

Winked at him!

Lily pulled back and cupped his harsh cheek. "You need to shave," she said as she assessed the rest of him.

Duo rubbed his prickly skin and winced. "You're right, been a bit too preoccupied though."

Lily 'hmmed' once she deemed him healthy. "Go ahead and sit down, darling. Did you wash your hands," she asked the last question quickly.

Duo had the decency to blush lightly. "Yes ma'am."

"Well, looks like that brother of mine taught you something useful other than chasing tail."

"Auntie," Duo teased with a wide grin.

She dropped a kiss on his forehead and pushed his ragged bangs to the side. "Mind your manners and behave yourself while I get dinner."

"Need any help in there?"

"Not from you I don't," she smiled and opened the swinging door that led to the kitchen.

"I'm a mess in the kitchen," he explained with a smile as he sat across from Heero, watching his aunt leave the dining room. "Ain't she somethin' ?"

Heero nodded with a pleased smile. "She sure is...she's actually become a really good friend."

Duo nodded. "She's my favorite aunt, I gotta confess, but don't tell anyone," Duo swore him to secrecy and Heero had to stifle the urge to laugh. Like aunt, like nephew…

"So how long have you lived here?" He said after taking a gulp of his water.

"It'll be eight months next week."

He nodded his head and leaned his elbows on the table. Heero eyed the elbows distastefully, 'Didn't she just tell you to 'mind your manners,' you ape?'

"Where'd you live before that?"

"North."

"Ah, I didn't think that was a Virginia accent. You know, most people from here have a more southern accent…"

Was he really going to pester him with this inane conversation?

"Right." 'Where the hell is Lily?'

"Did you know who lived in the room before me?"

"Yes, a young woman who was going to the local university."

Duo tilted his head to the side. "Oh yeah? Huh…know why she moved out?"

Heero tried not to sigh in irritation, "I guess she acquired housing on the campus."

'If he asks me one more question…'

Thankfully, Duo took that moment to be quiet and instead, decided to look upon the young man in front of him. He wasn't old, he knew that for a fact but as to whether he was older or younger, he wasn't sure. He was a mystery, for sure. By what means had he come to live in his aunt's boardinghouse for close to eight months?

A number of things began to run through his mind, one wickeder than the last. He wasn't horrible looking, he was just very, very plain. He had an angular face with high cheekbones that were balancing an awful pair of tinted glasses, preventing him from seeing the color of his eyes. Duo didn't think tinted glasses were still in the making unless they were sunshades but obviously he was wrong.

His clothes were tacky and abominable, to say the least. They were drab and shapeless. His face was clear of any blemishes and had an olive tint while his hair was a deep, dark brown. But why on earth did he have it all slicked back like that? Jesus.

The only tantalizing thing that was on Mr. Yuy's body was his lips. They were a pale pink in color and deliciously plump and soft looking.

Duo looked down at his hands that were beginning to fidget with the silverware. They were small, with long elegant fingers and looked soft and gentle to the touch. His nails were blunt yet clean with a few speckles of color on the cuticle. Paint, maybe?

Duo hid a smirk as the young man began to shift in his chair. He was making him nervous, he could tell. In a way he was unaware of he found he liked making him squirm. The lad looked boring to the 'T' and probably needed a few good thrills in his life.

'Well, it's not like I'm going to be doing anything these next few months,' he said to himself, 'might as well do my civic duty and give this boy a good time.'

"So why are you living here?"

Heero huffed inwardly. "I really don't see how that qualifies as any of your business, Mr. Maxwell."

"Ouch!" Duo winced comically. "You know, you're kind of hard to get to know."

"Guess you should just give up and stop trying then, huh?"

"You wish it was that easy," Duo smiled crookedly and Heero glared.

"Dinner darlin's!" Lily said as she wheeled in a small cart crammed with silver platters. "Duo dear, help me place these on the table."

Duo did as asked and placed each platter in a careful array.

Lily sat down in a heap. "Oh, boy I can't wait to dig in. Duo, why don't you go ahead and serve everyone? Make sure you put a generous portion on Mr. Yuy's plate. I've managed to put a little weight on his meager bones but we've still got a long way to go."

Duo gave him an appraising eye and Heero blushed despite himself.

Duo had a very healthy appetite, or a very troublesome tapeworm. Either one had to be the cause of him to have four servings of everything Lily had cooked for that evening. Just as Lily had moved to pile his plate again, Duo waved his hands in surrender, still chewing his last bite.

"If I eat any more I'll blow," was his eloquent explanation.

"Oh you," she flapped her hand but set down the serving spoon. "You're still a growing boy and I can not send you to summer camp without putting some more meat on ya."

Heero choked on his rice and beef and hurriedly grabbed his water. Lily began patting his back gently with a frown on her slightly wrinkled face. "You okay, dear?"

"Just fine," Heero said as he caught his breath. "Did you say summer camp?"

Lily nodded.

He turned to Duo. "Aren't you a little old to be going to summer camp?" Heero felt slightly annoyed when both Duo and Lily began laughing.

"Oh honey, football summer camp." She smiled with pride, "I forgot to tell you that Duo's in the NFL. He plays for the Carolina Panthers."

"Does he?" Heero said with disinterest and mentally smiled as Duo's face folded into a frown. He's probably used to people fawning over him at the mention of his profession. Well he, Heero Yuy, fawned over no one!

"Sure does, the darling. And he's the quarterback!"

"Ah."

"Don't watch football, Mr. Yuy?" Duo spoke up.

"My time is spent on things of a little more significance, Mr. Maxwell." At Lily's frown, Heero added, "I really don't know much about it but now, thanks to you, I know that the football players go to summer camp."

Duo simply stared.

Lily began talking, "The poor thing has an injury and is recuperating until camp starts."

The gorgeous body he'd laid eyes upon earlier looked as healthy as a horse. "What injury may I ask?"

"He broke his shoulder," Lily patted her nephew's hand lightly.

"Auntie, it's just a separation," he corrected his dear aunt.

"It's just a separation," she whispered to Heero as if Duo hadn't spoken.

"I'm sorry to hear that," Heero conveyed his displeasure. He wasn't a total jerk. "It doesn't hurt, does it?"

Duo frowned, obviously not liking the topic. "It hurts every now and then. My Doc said I needed to put it to rest for a while so I decided to come pay Aunt Lily a visit."

Duo didn't voice that the team doctor and his coach had given him two options - either take some time off and come back to lead his team to glory in the Super Bowl or retire prematurely and end up a 'goddamned shit for brains.'

Duo had called his aunt the very next day.

The world of sports, as the world he had left, was brutal and taxing. Such an injury as the one Duo sustained could be the end of his career. Heero felt a smidge of sympathy for him.

"So what do you do for money?"

That was until the brute opened his mouth…again.

"Lord baby Jesus of this blessed day, Duo! Could you be any ruder?" Lily questioned with warm, scarlet cheeks.

Heero had a feeling he definitely could.

Duo shrugged one large shoulder and smiled crookedly. "If Mr. Yuy and I are going to be…cohabitating together we should know a few things about each other. Don't you think?"

"You've been hanging around those teammates of yours a little too much," she went on to say.

"Its fine Lily," he turned his attention to the jackass across from him, "I paint."

Duo took a moment to rake his eyes along Heero's body that left a smoldering heat in its wake. And he wished he hadn't felt it but for some reason he was relieved when he heard Duo wasn't running away from a nasty divorce. But that still didn't mean he wasn't otherwise attached or hiding from loan sharks.

"Paint, huh?"

"Yes," he said slowly, "on clothes."

"Clothes," Duo deadpanned.

Heero felt the tiny vein on his forehead begin to tick.

Lily had hoped that having her outgoing, vibrant nephew home would bring Mr. Yuy out of his shell but through the course of their first meal her hopes were dying a horrible, painful death. If anything her young tenant had retreated further into his shell, hiding behind his glasses, oversized clothing and withdrawing further into a veil of secrets and privacy.

"He's very good at what he does Duo," Lily doted happily, "He works so hard and sells his creations to a boutique up in DC."

"Is that so?"

Heero nodded once while glaring over the rim of his water glass.

"Rest assured that I can pay my way and don't have to worry for money," he pushed his chair back and stood up. "Lily, the food was delicious as always."

"You're leaving so soon? I was hoping to have a bit of tea." Lily tried, distressed over Heero's obvious mood.

"I have work to do," he nodded, "Goodnight Mr. Maxwell." He turned on his heel and exited the small dining room.

The absolute nerve. Was it truly necessary to question his work and economic means? "Pig-headed, cocky, rude, gorgeous, sexy…" Heero muttered to himself all the way down the hall.

--

"You see what you've done?" Lily threw her napkin down angrily in her plate. "You just don't know when to quit."

"You're right, I'm a monster…I should go apologize," Duo said without remorse and scooted his chair back, scraping against the hardwood floor.

"Wait, no! You'll only make it…worse," Lily tried but he was already jogging towards the staircase.

--

"Mr. Yuy!" He called anxiously to the man stomping up the steps.

"Something else you needed, Mr. Maxwell?"

"You didn't have to leave, ya know."

Heero waited for him to get to the point.

Duo shuffled a bit and chastised himself as he did. Why was this homely man making him feel so edgy?

He walked up a few steps to be eye level with the other tenant. "I just wanted to say it was a delight to be in your company this evening." Duo grabbed his dangling hand and massaged the back gently with his thumb.

Heero had to reign in the gasp that threatened to escape his throat. The simple touch set his body afire and he quickly snatched his hand back.

"S-Shame I can't say the same," he turned his head and practically ran up the steps.

Duo smiled before walking back into the dining room where his aunt was gathering dishes. He came to stand beside her and raised his hand to pick up a glass only to have it slapped away so hard it was left with an imprint.

"Ow!" He whined, rubbing his smarting hand. "Whatcha' do that for?"

She placed a small fist on her jean covered hip and pointed an accusing finger in front of his nose. With a frown she began, "Now you listen to me, you little trouble maker, Mr. Yuy is a good man. You will treat him with the utmost respect and if I detect otherwise, your ass is mine."

Duo nodded obediently with his bottom lip quivering in a pout. "Now Auntie, you know me. I'd never…"

"Save it Duane," she used his proper name to let him know she meant business. "He's a very quiet young man and likes his privacy, so don't you do anything to jeopardize it."

"Yes ma'am," he nodded although his eyes were alight with mischief. Duo had a problem with authority, nine times out of ten he did the exact opposite of what people told him to do.

"Now," she said moving her small, tanned finger away from his face. "You grab some of these dishes and join me in the kitchen, tell me about the things you've been busy doing these past few months."

Duo grabbed the dishes before looking at his aunt, "Even the downright naughty?"

"Oh dear boy, you have to tell me that first!" She giggled and led the way into the kitchen.

He followed her and started to tell her all about his comings and goings as of late but couldn't get his mind off the young man upstairs. What the devil was that boy's real name? He really had the clothes of a homeless person, baggy and poor looking but despite that, he had a graceful almost fluid walk. His posture was straight and proud.

'Too proud,' if you asked him. The man was crabby, unpleasant and severely uptight. Duo didn't have the foggiest idea though, as to why, when he held his hand he'd gotten little shivers up his spine.

"Damn it," Heero hissed as he entered his apartment and slammed the door close. That man infuriated him like no other and he'd only known him for a matter of hours. He was so sure, so arrogant, and so damned sexy.

Heero angrily tore off his clothes, leaving them on the floor in his wake. He passed the full length mirror in the corner and stopped. In the last eight months Heero hadn't given much thought to mirrors but, as he stood naked in his room, save his boxers, he looked at himself carefully.

Coming to this quaint boardinghouse, Heero had weighed a hefty one hundred and fifteen pounds that had been stretched over his five foot seven frame. He was short compared to model standards but what he lacked in height, he made up for in beauty. He was thin with sculpture like hipbones jutting from small, yet tight abs. His arms had definition to them but weren't overly muscled as were his thighs and calves.

But now, Heero would be considered out of shape, still skinny to most but out of shape none the less. He was almost fifteen pounds overweight, and it had become more noticeable in his face. His high cheekbones were legendary across the world but they'd filled out, and weren't as gaunt and pronounced as before.

He grabbed at the superfluous glasses that hung on his nose and placed them on the table beside him. Dark blue eyes that swirled silver in their depths looked back at him. Many times he'd been crowned with the title of 'Sexiest Eyes Alive.'

Heero thought it was ridiculous but apparently he was the only one. When made up, his eyes could stop all with just one glance and had proven to do so at many photo shoots. Even without the added make up, his eyes were arresting and exotic with the almond shape that was very distinctive. So distinctive that he had to wear those ugly glasses so that he could remain anonymous in this small town.

His eyes were almost as legendary as his hair.

He walked to the bathroom and turned on the faucet. Deeming the temperature at least lukewarm he shoved his head under the tap and furiously scratched at his hair, rinsing away the styling gel.

When his hair felt pliable enough, he turned off the water and grabbed at the towel hanging on the door. He dried his hair half heartedly before he threw his head back, shook it a few times and looked back into the mirror.

"The Heero look," he whispered sourly.

When gelled back, his hair looked a dark brown but when it was free of any chemicals, it was a sable brown with natural blonde highlights in between. It was slightly layered and, since he hadn't been to a salon since he'd left the city, was rather long. His hair used to gather in the front and taper in the back, with the sides barely touching his ears. Now, his bangs almost covered his eyes, his sides were down to his ears and the back almost covered his neck. His hair had become so irritating that he had taken to wearing a large spandex band to keep the offending tresses out of his eyes. But this was only when he was in the privacy of his own room.

He poked at his pouty lips for a moment before opening his mouth. He smiled softly and winced as he looked at his teeth. They were sparkling white, a cosmetic dentist had seen to that but they were going crooked. Oh, if his mother was here to see this, she'd have to be sedated. Heero had been subjected to years of braces and retainers alike to acquire the perfect smile. Since he wasn't in the public eye as much as he used to be, he'd become lazy and decided against the orthodontist' advice to wear it every night. He shook his head softly before reaching for the small yellow container that sat on the counter. He placed the top and bottom retainers on in place and winced at the tightness.

He knew he'd be feeling the full effects in the morning.

He was beautiful – exotic even, he concluded after giving himself a once over. Men and women dreamed for looks like his, but it all came at a price.

During childhood he didn't have many friends and hardly any experiences. In school he was either admired or hated for his looks, people automatically thinking he was stuck up with a bad attitude but gorgeous, never the less.

It was hard to find an agent, as well. The ones that he and his mother had gone to wanted the all-American look and it was obvious he didn't have that.

"He's a pretty little thing, isn't he?" The agent pinched his cheeks with tobacco stained fingers. "How old?"

"He's just turned eighteen. Legal by all accounts and ready for action."

Heero rolled his eyes at his mother's words. He really didn't fancy the way the agent was looking at him, as if he were inspecting a piece a meat. What he would fancy though, was a huge steak with shrimp, mashed potatoes and green beans.

His stomach rumbled at the image.

Heero moaned quietly.

"Stop that bothersome noise and stand up straighter," his mother hissed into his ear and he did as told.

"Very nice," the agent murmured to himself as he continued to pinch and prod the young man.

'You stink,' Heero wanted to say, 'Take your hands off me,' he wanted to snap, but most of all, 'I'm hungry,' he wanted to cry.

"He's American?"

Heero's mother, Bridget Yuy, snapped, "He's not an alien, if that's what you're wondering."

The agent looked at Bridget with a frown. "Bridget, your boy is gorgeous and definitely belongs in this business, especially with that hair and those eyes…"

"But," she demanded.

"We're all American here, you know blonde hair, blue eyes…occasionally brunettes and redheads but uh your Heero just isn't our look." Heero watched as he gathered up their portfolio. "I'm sorry."

His mother snatched the folder from his outstretched hand and snarled. "Yes, you will be when you see my Heero in magazines, commercials and on god damned taxi cabs." She grabbed Heero's arm tightly and all but dragged him out of the small office. They marched down the hall and waited for the elevator in silence.

Once on board, Bridget released Heero from her death grip and pulled out a notepad. She scratched something out while scribbling down something else.

"Mother," Heero ventured twisting his hands in front of him.

"What is it," she snapped.

"Can we stop for something to eat, I'm awfully hungry and…"

"God, you're so selfish! Heero, I'm here with you, beating the pavement, trying to get you signed and all you can think about is food? You ungrateful hussy! You're fat enough as it is, look at you." She emphasized by pinching his stomach hard and Heero cringed away from her.

"All I had today was that smoothie this morning and it's almost five…"

"I sold my house for you, I gave up everything in Florida to drive up here and make you a star. Is this the thanks I get? For putting my life on hold for you?"

Heero put his head down and willed away the smarting tears. He knew his mother hadn't sacrificed anything for him, it was always about her. The whole modeling career was her idea and she hardly left him any choice in the matter.

At Heero's silence she continued. "Mind over matter Heero, just imagine you've finished eating the juiciest burger ever and…you'll magically be full." She waved a finely manicured hand in the air.

"Now, pay attention because we have a few more agents to see."

Heero frowned at the memory and was shocked to feel a tear roll down his cheek. He wiped it away quickly before walking into his bedroom. The agent that finally noticed Heero's potential was a large man named Willy Downs. His office was in a seedy part of town but one look at Heero and he saw a bright future. If a fat balding man of forty-two could be moved by this young man then he could just imagine what the masses would think of him.

They drew up a contract that very night.

Heero slid under the cool covers and collapsed, suddenly exhausted. He turned on his side and hugged his pillow to his chest. The memory of hunger pains, overbearing mothers and annoying neighbors lulled him to sleep.