They'd announced the end of the war yesterday. It had been like a burdeon, that I didn't know I had carried, had been lifted from my shoulders. I felt almost like I could fly and for the briefest of instances I considered stepping forward and off this cliff, to see if it could happen.
The thought was taken with the wind, however, whipped out behind me, much like my hair. It wasn't teethered on and I had no need to carry it with me, so it just drifted off, leaving me no thoughts for that endless moment.
The shift was subtle, but I felt it, heard it, the deafened silence left behind when the bugs and animals stilled, pausing to see if they had a reason to be alarmed. I didn't bother turning though, there was only one who would follow me out here.
My hunch was confirmed by the warm, calloused hand that landed on my shoulder, giving the muscles a small gentle squeeze. It was surprising how light his touch could be one moment, and then to watch him rip apart metal and more solid objects than flesh the next.
Turning I offered Heero a bright smile, a real one, that expressed true feelings of happiness, contentment. He returned it with a tiny quirking of his own lips, before his eyes drifted to take in the view I had been admiring.
"It's finally over. What will you do now?"
That question caught me by surprise, and not just because it had broken the silence, but because it had come from my own mouth. It caused my comrade in arms to look thoughtful.
"What is there to do now? I've.. never really had a chance to just.. be."
That was obvious. Considering how to answer him, I watched a bird off in the distance catch an updraft, and float along the cliff, only to be joined by others when he paved the way downwards, towards the water below.
My hand went upwards, capturing the one that rested on my shoulder. I only held two fingers, but the connection was enough. It told me what I needed to know. Turning away from the edge, my arm slipped away from him, but our hands remained clasped, becoming tighter when he helped, threading his fingers between mine.
"I guess it's up to me to show you, huh?"
That got a tiny smirk and a raised brow, most likely from my mock exasperated tone.
"It seems your qualifications make you perfect for this mission, 02."
He managed to startle a laugh from me and with a shake of my head I gave his arm a tug, leading us away from the cliff and back towards our current safehouse. I don't think it'll be a hardship to lead Heero Yuy through life. This might be my best mission yet.