Summary: Duo has the most expressive eyes. Heero wants to make sure he sees each expression for the rest of their lives. ( Ficlet )
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Duo asked me once if my life had ever passed before my eyes when I had blown up Wing. At the time I had scoffed and called him an idiot, before explaining that the three point two seconds it had taken for me to lose consciousness was not nearly long enough for the approximately sixteen years of my life to 'pass before my eyes.'
He'd dropped the subject, with only a small wince of pain at the harshness of my tone, and never brought it up again.
I now understood, standing there, what he was getting at. All I could see in my mind's eye, as if on a slow motion reel, was every wince and hurt look that has ever crossed Duo's face because of me.
He has the most expressive eyes I've ever seen on a soldier. I've always thought that to be an issue, but it never effected the mission, and it took me a while to realize the phenominon only occured when we were alone, all other times his laughing mask was firmly in place.
I'd give anything to see those eyes right now, but they are hidden from the world by thin lids. Maybe it's for the best, I don't think I could handle seeing that hurt look once more. Or maybe they'd be filled with fear? That would be even worse.
It's a horrible time to realize how much I care for the idiot, and how close he's become to me. Making a split second decision, I decide this won't be the end, that everything will be fine.
With that decided in my head, I lash out with my arm, and grunt when it meets flesh and the newly formed connection threatens to be too much for gravity. I've never cared much for it, and I refuse to allow it control over the situation.
"H-Heero."
Those vivid eyes have opened once more, and this time the look in them is surprise. Grunting I flex my muscles under the strain and stare at him for what seems like forever, but is only seconds.
"Idiot. Stop hanging there and start climbing!"
It took him a long time to get the idea, to switch gears from 'Oh crap I'm dying' to 'If I want to live I should probably get my ass in gear' but he managed it. With our strength combined it's easy work to get him back over the ledge that he'd been thrown off in the explosion.
"We have a mission to finish."
I realize now what Duo meant when he asked about my life flashing before my eyes. Funny that he never mentioned that it only happened when the person that is your life is the one threatened.
"Lets hurry up, then I'll treat you to pizza."
It wasn't exactly a declaration of never ending love, and need, but I think he understood, his eyes said it all.
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Careful, don't step in that puddle of sap, it's slippery.