Disclaimer: Gundam Wing is not mine.

Love. It's a special thing, that. A special feeling that you give to someone very dear to you. I mean, you don't go and grab just anyone in the middle of the street and say "I love you" to them. That would be embarrassing, not to mention stupid, unless you're high on some drug or just plain nuts.

And you can't exactly call sex love. You could easily get laid without love, that is, if you find a suitable partner who wants to do it with you. Force the other person to have sex with you and that's rape. Another thing that would earn embarrassment for you and that would make you look entirely pathetic, like you're too desperate for a lay.

So yeah, love is something that you don't readily give away. It has to be earned.

Let's take Heero for example. I love the guy, I really do. The war taught me a lot of things about him, hell if it wasn't for the war, I doubt I'd have met him at all. As a pilot and as a soldier, I respected him. As a friend and an ally, I admired him. And although he tries his damnedest to deny it, I know he's just as human as the rest of us, and for this I loved him.

Oh, and the outer package itself isn't that bad either.

It wasn't any surprise to me that Relena easily gravitated to him. She's not a bad match for him. The girl's got guts of steel and her dedication towards the achievement of peace is unquestionable; just a tad too idealistic for my tastes though. Plus there's the bloodline.

Despite all this, I tried. Foolish? Yeah, I know. The girl's got everything a guy can possibly ask for. The chance that I'll actually be able snag Heero Yuy's heart is next to nil. However, I still tried.

But my efforts just wasn't enough. I wasn't enough.

I guess this is the part where I say, "Mission failed" huh?

We're here now, in the same building, in the same office, his desk practically beside mine. Peace time. Preventers, both of us. Together, but not quite so. I'm still by his side more for my sake than his. Yes, I'm selfish. So?

"Mission."

Same old Heero. Blind to anything else but the mission.

His lithe figure eases itself out of his chair, one long fingered hand closing his laptop shut, and heads for the door. I rise and follow him, saying nothing.

He stops just before he reaches the doorway and turns around to face me.

"Be careful this time."

His face was a blank as a doll's, but his voice was soft as he said this. I continue to stand there in front of him, with merely a few inches of space separating us.

Watching.

Waiting.

Wanting.

I give him the barest of nods. He turns his back to me and walks. I follow behind him, a silent shadow.

Close.

So close.

AN: Just thought I'd try my hand in this. A bit sad, though. Ah well.