Pairings/Warnings: 1x2, light angst, awkward romance, some smut, multipart fic
Chapter One - Straight to My Head
Heero knew it was part of procedure. That it was part of his yearly review process. And he understood. He really did get the logic. He just didn't have to like the whole idea.
Once a year, Heero Yuy had to have an impartial Preventer agent accompany him on a mission in order to evaluate his performance in the field. It irked Heero as the whole point of his role in Preventer was as a "special agent" meaning that he did not have to follow the normal rules or abide by the standard protocols. But Commander Une had been quite clear – she wanted Heero to have a yearly evaluation just as any other Preventer employee did. It did not matter that he was special, that he was different, she still required an evaluation of his work and to ascertain whether he was both physically and mentally capable as he had always been. He had always thought that Une had been forced into it, made to appease old elites who still feared that a former Gundam pilot may become a terrorist once again. Yet she never admitted and Heero never asked. He never cared enough to hack her email and get the truth. The truth wouldn't help the situation, only make him feel depressed that forever he would be tarnished by a few wartime mistakes and be expected to turn into a crazed sociopath.
Heero waited in Une's office, the lady herself "dealing with a situation" as her secretary explained and he had been instructed to take a seat in the office. He did so with a muffled "thanks" and took a seat in front of the large imposing wooden desk. He glanced around, noting the many pictures of MarieMaia and how she was a young woman and no longer the child he remembered. As he sat, he wondered what sort of agent he was going to be forced to babysit this time.
They had sent a variety over the years. From a therapist who required therapy, to the veteran who broke his foot, to the time Une herself came along. Heero felt he had seen it all. Yet maybe this year it would be tolerable. After all, the mission they were tagging along for was a relatively straight forward security and escort deal and Heero did not expect any complications.
Until he heard voices outside the office door – his acute sense of hearing picking up Une's brisk tones and the warm baritone and laugh that was all too familiar…
The door opened. Une was there – every hair still in place and her uniform as immaculate as always despite whatever "situation" had occurred. Yet Heero merely glanced at Une as beside her was Duo Maxwell.
It was hard not to react – he always reacted to Duo no matter how hard he tried to not show it. Duo had always gone straight to his head, always felt like a punch to the gut, always been the one person in his life that was able to get through the barriers that had been created through a childhood becoming a perfect soldier. Duo was always the one. And he was far from impartial. There was too much history, too much sex and fights, too much walking away and coming back together. There were years. So much damn history – perfect and imperfect history.
"Hey," Duo said, his voice soft and husky, "guess I'm your babysitter this year, 'Ro."
Heero felt the familiar tug in his stomach in response to Duo's voice – to the way he said 'Ro, the only person who he would allow to use such a pointless nickname. There was nothing that Heero could say to that – there was never much he could say to Duo. Duo had always been too good with words, with being social, with being the one who people liked and being too damn charming. Heero only grunted, feeling somewhat fifteen and confused by a boy with a braid and the most incredible smile.
"He's not impartial," Heero said finally, his words directed to Une and ignoring the close proximity of Duo who had plopped down on the chair beside him.
He glanced in Duo's direction to see that Duo wasn't offended by Heero's attitude or his lack of proper hello. In fact, Heero often wondered if he could do anything that would make Duo hate him. He had done enough that any reasonable person would probably never speak to him again – he had tried to kill him, punched him in the gut and told him once that they meant nothing out of fear and self-loathing. He could hurt Duo but Duo could hurt him too – utterly destroy him with a look. It seemed Duo was amused, a small smile on his handsome face.
"He's willing to go with you and fill in the appropriate paperwork," Une answered, her voice stern as though she were talking to children.
"Yeah – I even promised to complete my expenses form properly," Duo said wryly.
Une ignored Duo's comment and removed her glasses, rubbing at her temples as though trying to soothe a headache. She suddenly did not look quite as immaculate and as intimidating as she usual. "I just need you to co-operate, not blow anything up and complete the paperwork. I believe both of you can do that without killing one another?"
Heero nodded.
"Yeah… it'll be fun. Getting the old band back together."
"Perfect," Une said, smoothly her hair and placing her glasses back on her face, "but if I hear anything about this apart from a form saying "passed", I will not be happy."
"I intend to behave myself, what about you, Heero?"
Heero rolled his eyes and got to his feet. "It will be fine, Commander Une. I promise."
"Thank you," she said, her eyes meeting Heero's steadily, "you are both dismissed."
They left the office, Une already dialling someone as they departed and as Heero closed the door behind them, he felt Duo's hand on his shoulder, the warmth of his skin sending tingles through Heero's body despite the material.
"So what's the mission?"
"Escorting Relena's daughter to the colonies."
"Woop-dee-doo, babysitting, huh?"
Heero snorted. "Things have changed."
"Yeah," Duo said with a wistful smile, "but we don't."
"No, we don't."
It didn't matter what had happened, what years had passed, he still only had ever belonged in one place and that was with Duo Maxwell.
His yearly evaluation had just become much more complicated.