Special thanks to Lyra Stormrider, co-writer of this sidestory with Quicksilver.

 
SHIN KIDOU SENKI GUNDAM WING

SAINAN NO KEKKA
Reunion: Heero and Duo
Part I: Sollicitudo

 
Perfect moments were few and far between, and they never lasted longer than a minute. When Duo embraced Heero after their yearlong separation, it was like embracing his opposite self. He loved Heero; it wasn’t like the passionate, romantic love he felt for Hilde- no, it was different. A Greek philosopher had once theorized that there were there were three types of love, and that of all of them, brotherly love was the strongest. Duo had always believed he could never love anyone as much as he loved Hilde, but now, seeing Heero, he knew he was seeing his other half.

It was a pity that the moment couldn’t last forever.

Predictably enough, it was Heero who broke away first. He studied Duo’s sleep-rumpled clothes and stubbled face carefully before stating in a flat voice, “You look like shit.”

“Pot calling the kettle black,” Duo said. For the first time, he really studied Heero without tension. Heero’s scar was what drew the eye, but Duo ignored it this time, evaluating the eyes it was masking. The cobalt blue eyes were harder than ever, but this time they held something Duo had never seen in them before- despair. It scared him. “I just had my best friend swing a knife at me, so I figured I’m entitled.”

Duo watched as Heero arched his eyebrow slightly, running his hand through his newly shortened hair. The questioning look the other boy sent his way made him chuckle a little. "Okay, so I haven't seen you in a while...doesn't change the fact that you are my best friend." He grinned as Heero blinked, trying to process those words. "Let's go get something to eat, ne? We can catch up while we do."

Heero gave a quick nod, a thoughtful look coming into his eyes as he glanced towards the hangar door. "I guess, but maybe you should tell Hilde first?" he suggested. He had seen what women did when they were irritated, and it was confusing. He would never understand them, but he recognized that agreeing to what they said whenever possible was the wisest course. Hilde had demanded Duo come back after their talk- she’d be expecting her boyfriend.

Duo blinked at the change in subject then gave a sheepish grin. "Oh...yeah. Probably would be the wise thing to do. A change of clothes might not hurt either," he remarked, giving his rumpled clothing a cursory glance.

Heero said nothing, but stood stock-still, apparently waiting.

“Ah…. You know, I don’t know where my new quarters are… I think I was reassigned since the VOQ was one of the places breached,” he said, a shadow crossing his usually pleasant features. Most people would have pressed him or expressed condolences if they had known the cause of his sorrow, but Heero wasn’t most people. He kept his mouth shut, which Duo appreciated. He was sick of sympathy; he didn’t need it. He was a Gundam Pilot, and they were a cut above.

“I know where it is,” Heero said. “Come on,” he ordered.

“How do you… nevermind. Heero, sometimes you’re just scary,” Duo said with a mock shudder, even though he was half-serious.

Heero shot Duo a sideways glance as they headed towards the building that housed Duo and Hilde's new quarters. Duo stuffed his hands into his pockets, beginning to feel a little more...alive now that Heero was back. There was just something reassuring about having the stoic boy nearby.

Hilde seemed to be waiting for them. She was in the living room, holding a med kit and a cell phone. She blinked as she saw Heero, but there was no real surprise as she said to Duo, “Good. You’re in one piece- I wasn’t sure about that. Hop in the shower, and I can have dinner prepared in ten. And don’t forget to shave- I always get burned by your whiskers.”

Duo watched with an amused smile as Hilde set the first aid kit down and waved her hand towards the bathroom. "Um...Hil..." he started, "Heero and I were going to go out to get a bite. We, um, wanted to catch up with each other." The longhaired boy gave her a charming smile as he said this, not sure how she would take his words. He really hoped she wouldn’t explode- she had a horrid temper.

Hilde paused at that, a slight frown tugging at the corner of her lips before she nodded wearily. "Okay." She glanced from Duo to Heero and back again. "Still, go shower before you go out anywhere." That said, she placed her palms against Duo's back and pushed him towards the bathroom.

Duo knew better than to argue with Hilde. Hilde tended to organize his life for him, and as long as her requests were reasonable, he tended to go along with her. Besides, she was right. He reeked.

The shower was hot, but he doubted it would stay that way for long. The plumbing hadn’t been the best before the attack, and since… well, he doubted it had helped matters. It was too bad, since he preferred baths. He hadn’t been able to fill a tub since his arrival, since the water never stayed hot enough to fill the entire thing. Maybe tomorrow, if nothing imperative came up. He’d figure out someway to jury-rig the system.

Duo snickered quietly as he tried to imagine what was going on out in the living room while he was in the shower. He could just picture Hilde and Heero standing there, staring at one another blankly. He washed quickly, deciding to leave his hair alone for the time being. It took much too long to wash, and he was in a bit of a hurry. Stepping out of the shower, he gave himself a quick shave and checked to make sure he looked acceptable before returning to the room to find clothing. Somehow, it didn't surprise him to find that Hilde had already laid an outfit out on the bed.

Hilde had selected the black pants he had buried at the bottom of his bag, and apparently she’d found time to press it in the last four days, because it was smooth. She’d picked out a red shirt that brought out the violet in his eyes, and a brush was prominently placed in the center of the entire mess.

She knew him too well. Moreover, she was hinting.

Duo gave a slight groan, but he was smiling as he undid his wet braid and picked up the brush. His hair was always hard to manage, thick and wavy right after being freed from the braid, and tangled if left free for too long. Hilde liked brushing out his hair though. It was almost therapeutic, for the both of them. He quickly ran the brush through his hair before re-braiding it and donning the clothing she had left out.

Stopping in the doorway to the living room area, he grinned to see Hilde and Heero still staring one another down, exactly where he had left them. "Glad to see some things don't change," he murmured. “You two never did really get along, did you?”

The two of them turned their glares from each other and onto him, and he wished that he had had the native intelligence to keep his mouth shut. It was one of his primary flaws- open mouth, insert foot. And always at the worst possible time. “Um, Heero? You ready to go?”

Heero gave a curt nod.

“Duo, take my cell,” Hilde advised, she said, pressing a cellphone into his hands. “I programmed the number here into it- its AutoDial 6 now. The Preventers will be looking out for you guys, so I suggest you stay on base. I doubt they’d let you leave, anyway, and sneaking out would be nearly impossible unless you broke about a dozen rules. Security is really tight.”

Duo pouted slightly. “There’s nothing to do on base!”

“It’s safer,” she said. “Promise me you won’t leave base,” she begged.

Duo shuffled his feet a bit, sighing. He knew once he promised Hilde anything he wouldn't want to go back on his word. After all, his motto was 'I may run and hide, but I never tell a lie." Looking over at Heero, he wasn't surprised to see the same stony expression on his face. "Aa. Fine, Hil, we won't...leave the base." He'd just have to find something for them to do ON the base. Needle in a very, very large haystack.

Hilde smiled. “I won’t expect you home before two, then,” she said, brushing a chaste kissed against Duo’s lips. “And Heero? If you get him into any trouble, the Eve Wars will look like child’s play to what I’ll do to you,” she said cheerfully.

Heero’s eyes flickered. “Keeping Duo out of trouble may be impossible.”

“Well, Gundam pilots specialize in the impossible. You’d better make sure it happens.”

Silent laughter shook Duo's body as he watched Hilde and Heero. He didn't feel too offended by Hilde's wanting the other pilot to keep him out of trouble- God knew it seemed to follow him like a faithful puppy. "See you when I get back, Hil." he said, a sweet smile on his face before he turned and headed out of the quarters with Heero. Once the door was closed behind them, and Hilde out of earshot, he turned to look into the cool blue eyes of his best friend. "Ne, Heero...got any ideas on where we can go first?"

Heero evaluated his friend with carefully, looking slightly off balance. He didn’t have the same confidence Duo was used to seeing in his face, and he seemed out of place. Duo wondered about that; the old Heero had the ability to blend into the background wherever he chose and the ability to fit in, whether it was in a ballroom or on the battlefield. This Heero seemed shyer, and more jumpy. Just what we need, Duo thought, a trigger-happy Gundam pilot.

“I don’t know the base,” Heero said finally. “You choose.”

"Aa." Duo murmured, trying to think of where they could go. "There should be some restaurants near here." He was pretty sure that the restaurants, stores, and other recreational areas were near the housing units. "What kind of food are you in the mood for?" he asked, tucking his hands into his pockets as he led the way. The braided boy figured the best time to talk would be once the both of them had food sitting in front of them.

“Anything is acceptable,” Heero said, further exasperating his friend.

Duo almost screamed in frustration. If there was one thing he couldn’t stand, it was someone who couldn’t make up their mind. He liked opinionated, sharp people who knew what they thought. There was a difference between being laid back and a pushover, and Heero was seriously trying his very limited patience.

Duo clamped down on his lower lip and shot a look at Heero. "No preferences at all, huh?" he prodded. As he spoke, he tried to recall any type of food that Heero hadn't shown much of a liking for back when they had been pilots. Maybe offering that up would get him to change his mind and say something. "How about...Thai? I think there's a Thai restaurant here..."

Heero’s left eye twitched.

Duo chortled in merriment. “Yes, let’s go for Thai! That sounds perfect!”

“No,” Heero said in a flat voice.

“No?” Duo asked in mock surprise. “I thought you didn’t care?”

“I hate Thai- it’s too spicy,” Heero said, glaring at his friend. “And you know I hate it. You’re suggesting it to irritate me."

Duo pretended to be wounded. “Would I do that?”

If it were possible, Heero's glare turned even deadlier. "Yes, you would."

Duo laughed softly, shrugging his shoulder lithely. "Hey, you said anything was fine. Thai was the first thing I could think of." He gave a little smirk. "Evidently, you do have an opinion on where we eat, so speak up!"

Heero gave a slightly irritated growl, still glaring at Duo. The food really should be something mild, since he had grown unaccustomed to many spices in The Breaks. "Pizza." he said simply.

His friend gave him a bright smile. “Pizza, here we come! The base has at least three of the places, and oh, I loved their stuffed crust. And extra pepperoni, and maybe a slice with ham and pineapple with five different cheeses! Yum, cheese!” he said, rolling his eyes in pretend ecstasy.

“It’s amazing you haven’t had a heart attack yet. Your cholesterol must be off the charts.”

“Did my ears deceive me? Did Heero Yuy just crack a joke?” Duo’s eyes lit up, hoping that his friend was shaking off his melancholy and finding his soul again. Duo had lost pieces of himself since the war, but nothing had prepared him for what depths Heero had sunk to.

The corner of Heero's mouth curled very slightly as he looked at Duo. "Well?" he asked, gesturing for the other boy to once again lead the way.

Duo grinned and jokingly bowed. "Right this way, my good sir." He started off towards one of the pizza parlors, feeling much happier than he had since this whole mess had started.

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