Series: ???

Title: Campfire

Author: Tonia Barone

Rating: PG (Just to be safe…)

Category: POV, mild angst, AU (if you view the pilots all being together as non-canon)

Pairings: 5xM (in the past)

Summary: A little stream-of-consciousness from our favorite dragon.

Warnings: Wu might be a little OOC, depending on your view of him.

Disclaimer: I'm but a poor hick from the sticks. I own nothing, including the G-boys, sad to say. Jus' thought I'd give them a break and let them play in my backyard for a bit. You can have them back when I'm done.

Notes: My first GW fic. Well, not really. Did a snippet before but can't find it so this is my first POSTED GW fic. I know the boys back and forward but I've only ever read fics on them, not written them since I don't think I do them justice (pun intended). But this just wouldn't leave me be so here it is. It's basically a scene based on the pic with all the boys around a campfire. Wu's in the tree and Quatre's covering Duo with a blanket while Trowa and Heero play with…something by the fire. I didn't know what it was (though it looks like a canteen to me) so don't bug out if I got it wrong, 'kay? Okay, I'll shut up and let you get on the fic now. Hope you like it.

Feedback: Sure, if ya wanna…

Special thanks to Ashy for beta-ing this. *hands Ashy lots of pocky and chibi G-boys* THANK YOU!!!

Campfire

            After securing the parameter, I climbed up a tree overlooking our camp. We'd just had to evacuate our prior safe house because it wasn't safe anymore; OZ had somehow found out where we were. Since we had yet to complete the mission that was the reason for us being together, we stayed together.

            The forest we're in is a good distance from the safe house yet still in range of our Gundams and the base that's our target. It's an old forest and most would probably find it too frightening to venture into at night. That's what we're counting on.

            I watch from my perch as Duo stretches out by the fire, leaning back against a rock with his arms behind his head. Trowa is showing Heero something; by the looks of it, I'd say it's how to make a proper meal with field rations. I don't care how 'perfect' he claims to be, Heero couldn't cook to save his life. Not that he would, mind you. The man seems to have a distinct disregard for his own life, judging by all the insane stunts he pulls.

            But wait, there's something missing. Ah yes. Quatre. Now where is...oh. There he is. Seems Duo's nodded off and Quatre went to get him a blanket; it's a little chilly out.

            I used to think Quatre was weak. I mean, what man in their right minds wears pink? But I've come to find out that Quatre is very strong; probably the strongest person I know. He has this inner strength that's amazing to behold. He, like myself, was raised as nobility. Pampered. But he didn't let that stop him from doing what he believes in. It took the death of my wife for me to go do what I had to do.

            Oh Meiran...what would you think if you saw me now? No longer am I that 'weak' scholar but a warrior, like you. I wish you were here. You would have loved the battles we are faced with regularly.

            But if you were here, then I would most likely still be at home, nose buried in my books. I would not have gotten the chance to meet these fine men. I think we've all learned something from one another.

            From Heero, we learn to press on no matter what. The mission is important and comes first, above all.

            But Duo teaches us that it's all right to have fun and act our age, from time to time, balancing out Heero's stricter lesson.

            Trowa's lesson was that no matter how hard it gets, to never close off your emotions. He said once that someone he greatly respected had told him to follow his emotions. Odd that he was looking at Heero at the time...

            And Quatre...from Quatre we have learned to care. I truly believe that without him, we would not be together. He's like a mother to us, odd as it sounds. Constantly looking out for us and our needs. His getting the blanket earlier for Duo is a prime example. His heart knows no boundaries and through his loving acts, he has taught us how to care...how to love, too.

            As for me, I don't know what I've taught them, if anything. I'd like to think I've taught them to fight in what they believe in. That maybe, through me, they will see that our cause is just.

            Ah, now there's something. Duo is always teasing me about my 'justice rants', as he calls them. Says I have a stick shoved so far up my ass that it's a wonder I can even nod my head. We constantly get into spats over my rants and his braid, which I always threaten to cut off. I never would, though. I can see how precious it is to him; a reminder of the past, he said once.

            We all have those. Duo has his braid; I, my mourning whites; Quatre, those ridiculous goggles he wears; Trowa, his name; and Heero...though no one else knows of it, I've seen the rumpled teddy bear stuffed in a nook in his Gundam's cockpit.

            One day I needed to a welder so I could replace a plate on Nataku's leg and Heero said I could borrow his, which was in the storage compartment behind the pilot's chair. I went and got the welder but just as I was closing the door to the compartment, a flash of color caught my eye. Seeing how everything else was done in varying shades of gray, I was curious.

            So I moved everything aside until I could clearly see what had caught my eye: a brown, beat up teddy bear. It had a torn red bow, a missing eye and looked like it had seen better days. I was so caught up in bear that I didn't hear Heero climb up until he spoke behind me.

            "It belonged to a little girl once."

            Startled, I spun around and found him staring at the bear from the hatch. He looked so lost then; so alone. Then the moment was over and he reached past me to shut the compartment door. He climbed into the pilot's chair while I just stood off the side, stunned. I didn't move until he ordered me out, and then I made a beeline for Nataku. It wasn't until I had closed the hatch door and was settled in my own chair that I realized I'd forgotten the welder.

            "Wufei, dinner's ready. Come on down and eat with us."

            I looked down to find Quatre staring up at me from the base of the tree. I looked over to the fire and could see Trowa spooning out the stew he and Heero had made. Duo was still lying by the fire but looked like he was stirring. Nothing, I think, could keep him from food.

            But that's a thought for another night.

            "Coming, Quatre."