Author's Note: Yay, another MGS oneshot! Inspired by Peace Walker this time because this oneshot just had to happen, lol. No, no pairings up ahead... except a light Huey/Strangelove if you REALLY squint xDDD Not a particular fan of the pairing (I'm not in favor of the bi stuff, either), but I guess this can work. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Metal Gear or any of its characters; copyright goes to Konami.


Wow… it seemed so easy.

To stand up on my own and walk? How could I? I was practically born without legs: I can't use them at all. I felt impotent and stupid for a very long moment, watching how Strangelove disappeared from sight. I mimicked a pair of legs with my fingers and I was surprised: was it that easy to walk?

Not many people can say with certainty how they learned to walk. It's instinctive, and whenever I see a crowd of people walking, I think: "How can they not notice? How can they not know?" I consider movement a gift, and by some miracle I am not quadriplegic. I've tried to stand up many times already: every attempt was in vain. I… I can't feel my legs; neither can I feel my weight upon them. It's as if- well, you'd have to be paraplegic to know what I'm talking about. In need of a better metaphor, it's like your legs were made of glass that, every time you stood up, shattered into a thousand pieces.

I didn't look at her face or at her back whilst Strangelove left the room, but at her legs. They would obey every command of hers in a question of nanoseconds. Envy and relief seized me. Envy because I wanted to walk, because I wanted to run until I was out of breath, because walking was natural. But I was also relieved because a woman like her wasn't meant to go through life step by little step, just like I had. I've always liked to think that I haven't walked but strode through life. After all that's happened though, the realization has fallen on me: in a sense, I'm way behind everybody.

But hey… I can always try, can't I?

Strangelove has her hopes in me. But now that I think of it, by 'standing on their own', I think she didn't mean literally. She just couldn't. Perhaps I need to take just another step and really stand on my own, to be… stronger. Yeah, I think that's what she meant. And I have to do it, or else… Well, let's say I won't get my reward. The 'never try, never fail' philosophy never worked for me.

Heh, walking's easy. You just have to stand up and take the step.


A/N: Let's hope it was good. Seriously, I had a good lot of fun writing this little piece, thanks to who Huey is. Doesn't he have a wonderful personality? I'm surprised there are no fics with him as the main character! Dammit, guys, give the guy some credit! xDDDD

Reviews are appreciated!^^