A/N: Oh my God this story has gotten out of control!
But what I really mean is that it has taken forever to get even close to the end, and for a 30-pager that's hardly normal.

But anyways, am hoping to end it soon, so I'm just posting some edited versions of the earlier chapters - mainly trying to get this site to display cuts between characters.

This story started as an idle thought in the summer of 2004 in Boston.

It grew during another summer in Dublin in 2005...

Fought through a winter in Yellowknife in 2006, and a sentimental fall in Toronto...

Gained a quiet boat ride in the summer of 2007 during my masters and here we are, the idle summer of 2008 where it's been on my mind, but I have yet to find an ending that suits it.

But I can feel that it will be soon, the fall in New Zealand seems like it may suit one more chapter.

This story has been linked so closely with my 'mental state' and my travels, and I apologize that during the harsher terms of my undergrad I found little time for it or the inspiration it needed, but I'm done school now, and as I start to work again I'm sure my off hours will once more lend some time to Duo and Heero.

It is funny to note however, how the voice of the tale seems to change with the locations and my getting older, the later chapters are written in what feels like different handwriting.

But enough of this nostalgia, and on with the story because in the end A/Ns are really not what you came for:

One: Twitch

A slight tightening of his comrade's shoulders was the only warning Duo had before he was on top of him, throwing his lighter frame to the floor and proceeding to attack him with a vehemence he hadn't even been aware Heero possessed until it was directed physically at him.

"Heero!" He managed to dodge a few poorly placed punches, scrambling out from under his attacker and sliding backwards a few paces from him. "Heero, what the hell!" He shouted before Heero was on him again, two quick strides to close the distance before beating him up against the wall, steeled fists taking shots at his stomach, again and again.

Duo bit down hard on his lower lip as another punch grazed his hip and firmly decided that if he wanted to get out of this in one piece he would have to stop playing the defensive. He ducked to avoid a blow to the head, inwardly wondering why he wasn't dead yet, knowing that Heero was more than a match for him, and planted a swift kick to Heero's knee, causing him to stumble with a barely concealed growl.

Spinning out from between Heero and the wall Duo quickly slammed his elbow towards Heero's head, the strength from the blow pushing his forehead towards the solid concrete wall with such force that Duo cringed at the contact.

It was enough, apparently, and Duo watched with silent disbelief as his comrade crumpled and slid down the wall, head now sporting an ugly gash. As he took a deep shaking breath, Duo again wondered how the hell he had managed to knock out the perfect soldier with one blow. He raised a hand to his side, wincing slightly, even more surprised that he would get off with only a few bruises. He took a slow step towards Heero's unconscious form and crouched beside him. Carefully rolling him onto his back he slipped the bag from his back, removing some of the rope they had used to get down into the mountain base. Binding Heero hand and foot, he resettled the bag and grabbed Heero's wrists, hoisting him over his shoulder.

Muttering to himself about how someone so thin could weigh as much as they did he slowly made his way towards where the gundams where stored, trying his damndest not to think about what had just happened.

What had just happened? He thought to himself gloomily, shaking his head as he readjusted his comrade's dead weight so it wouldn't sit on top of a newly formed bruise.

Answers would have to wait till after they were in a secure location.