cut
Duo took a deep breath and got out of the car. He was in the better part of the town in front of an old Victorian house with a small front yard. He fixed the sleeves of his black button up shirt and walked into the front yard. Once he climbed the three steps that led onto the porch and stopped in front of the front door, he cleared his throat and rung the bell.
"Coming!"
Duo heard Harry shout and shifted his weight before he slammed his head into a proverbial wall. He was acting as though he was going on a damn date! 'Get yourself together, Maxwell!' he snapped at himself. 'You're aware that this was a bad idea, but damn it, suck it up and act like a damn man!'
The moment his mental rant was done the door opened and Duo had to go over it all over again.
Harry looked great. His hair was ruffled and he was dressed in washed out jeans that hung low on his hips, accenting long, lean, muscled legs, and a tight black t-shirt which lined out every single hard plain of Harry's torso.
"Morning, Duo," Harry said and offered his hand to Duo who accepted it and smiled.
"Morning. You ready?" he asked and Harry smiled at him. Duo raised an eyebrow when he saw Harry's eyes glimmer, but pushed it aside.
"I just need to do one more thing. Why don't you come inside? It will only take a minute," Harry offered and Duo nodded.
"Sure," he said and entered, and Harry showed Duo into a living room.
"Wait here. I won't take long," Harry said and left.
Duo took a deep breath and looked around. The furniture was cream colored with a lot of soft, small pillows on the couch and two facing armchairs. The tea table was made out of some dark wood and one wall was made entirely out of glass, letting the sunlight in.
There was a marble fireplace in front of the furniture set and a piano was set against another wall. Several tall plants were in the corners of the room and on one wall hung a big picture Duo recognized from somewhere, but he couldn't quite place it. Other than that he could find no other picture or anything more personal, which made Duo frown a little, but he guessed that was because Harry moved in recently.
"I'm ready!" Harry called out when he came back into the living room, making Duo turn on his heel quickly. Harry pulled on a jean jacket and nodded his head towards the door. "Are we going with your car, or should I follow you on my bike?"
"Maybe it's better if you followed me," Duo said, fighting now the serious urge to openly drool at the Adonis-like man in front of him.
There had to be a law somewhere against being too good-looking, there just had to be.
"I'm spending the night there," Duo managed to find his tongue, and hoped to god and every possible deity out there that Harry hadn't noticed Duo's momentary lapse.
"Let's go then," Harry said and Duo nodded, managing to replace the embarrassing attraction to Harry for the interest in just what kind of bike Harry owned.
Once they were out and Harry locked the door and turned on the alarm system, they walked over to the garage and Harry raised the door.
Duo whistled when he saw the black, sleek Kawasaki z1000. "Nice machine," Duo commented and Harry hummed, obviously pleased with Duo's reaction. He pushed the bike out and closed the door once Duo stepped out.
"Thanks. It took me a while to find it. It's an old model; a really old model," Harry said and Duo nodded.
"I know," he murmured. "Now, we have a half hour ride to Quatre's," Harry nodded and pulled on his helmet.
"I'll follow you."
Duo nodded and left. Once he was in his car Duo took a deep breath. "That guy's something new," he muttered and gunned the engine. "Something very, very new."
cut
"Duo! I'm so glad you could make it!" Quatre called out as he ran over to Duo when he and Harry walked into the backyard of Quatre and Trowa's house.
"I'm glad I'm here," Duo said and accepted a hug from Quatre. "Quatre, this is Harrison Evans-Potter; my new partner," he introduced Harry to Quatre and raised an eyebrow when Quatre smirked at him before he shook hands with Harry.
"I'm Quatre Winner-Barton. It's a pleasure."
"The pleasure is mine, Mr…."
"Please, call me Quatre."
Harry nodded. "Harry."
Quatre grinned. "Come, you have to meet the others," Quatre said and led them over to the others who were waiting for them, practically bursting with curiosity about the man Duo brought with him.
Relena and Heero were sitting at the garden table and the woman was smiling brightly with her hands on her big stomach while Heero was looking at her with love filled eyes. Sally was with them and they stopped talking when Duo and Harry walked over. Trowa and Wufei moved away from the barbeque to greet the newcomers.
"Hello!" Duo greeted with a grin while Harry just waved.
"Everyone this is Duo's new partner, Harrison Evans-Potter," Quatre said and Harry nodded at them.
"Good day."
"Wufei Chang," he said and offered his hand to Harry. "I'll probably be the one who will work most with you and Duo." Harry nodded at him while he shook hands with him.
"Trowa Barton," he and shook hands with Harry. "Next to Quatre, I'll probably become the one you'll call most when Duo starts grating on your nerves." Harry chuckled at that and Trowa's lips tilted into a small smile. Quatre snickered while Duo rolled his eyes. Harry walked over to the table and the three stood up, or in Relena's case tried to stand up.
"Don't!" Harry stopped the pregnant woman, "It's fine." He offered his hand to her. "It's a pleasure, ma'am."
Relena laughed lightly at that and winked at Heero when Harry bowed down and kissed her knuckles. "I am Relena Yuy. I'm the one who will probably be begging you to keep Duo on a leash once this one's out," she said and Harry chuckled while Duo shouted indignantly.
Heero chuckled and shook hands with Harry. "Heero Yuy. The one who will be helping you keep Duo on a leash, and the one you can feel free to come to if you and Duo get stuck on a mission."
Harry nodded. "I'll keep that in mind. Thank you," he said and Heero nodded.
"And I'm Sally Chang." Sally said and giggled when Harry kissed her knuckles. "I'm the one you'll come to despise pretty soon, just like everyone in Preventers."
"You are the head of the Medical team," Harry concluded and Sally grinned. "Then we'll see each other a lot," he said and Sally raised an eyebrow at him.
"You prone to getting into trouble?" she asked and Harry laughed.
"Some would say I go looking for it, but I beg to differ," he chuckled. "Trouble does well enough of a job finding me."
"Then you'll fit right in," Wufei said and clapped Harry's shoulder in a friendly manner. "Just to warn you…"
"You're all Gundam Pilots. I know," Harry interrupted him. "I promise I'll do my best in working with Duo." Everyone, even Relena and Sally, raised eyebrows at him.
"How did you know Wufei would say that?" Quatre asked and Harry shrugged.
"When my former commanding officer told me I would be transferred to HQ and work with Agent Shinigami, I did some research," Harry explained. "It wasn't difficult to find his file and read it. When I saw the partners Duo partnered with for missions I simply connected the dots." He shrugged almost carelessly while his company stared at him, impressed by his implied skill. "Besides, there is only one Relena Yuy nee Peacecraft in the world." He winked at Relena who giggled and nodded.
"You are an interesting man, Harrison," she complimented.
"Please, call me Harry," he asked and Relena smiled at him.
"Of course. I have no doubt that soon enough you'll be calling me Lena," she said. "Duo has a way of rubbing off on people."
"I have no doubt about that," Harry drawled and looked at Duo over his shoulder, making the braided man raise an eyebrow at him. "Anyway!" he clapped his hands and looked around, "Can I help somehow? I'm not used to sitting still." Everyone laughed while Wufei placed his left hand on Harry's right shoulder.
"Then you and Duo will work just well together," he commented and lightly nudged Harry closer to the table.
"Why don't you just sit here; the others have everything under control," Relena said and patted the seat on her right, "and we'd really like to get to know you better."
"Why do I have the feeling that this leads to a thorough interrogation?" Harry asked, but took a seat never the less. Relena laughed at that while Heero and Sally took seats again with Wufei joining them while Trowa went back to the barbeque and Quatre dragged Duo into the house for drinks.
"We need to get to know you somehow." Sally said and Harry chuckled.
"Am I to assume you have kept back from hacking into my files?" he drawled. Relena giggled and glanced at Heero who grumbled while Sally laughed.
"Quatre forbade us from doing so until we officially met you," Heero said and Harry chuckled.
"Really now. And that stopped you?"
"Quatre can be quite… convincing," Wufei stressed out and Harry raised an eyebrow with a small smirk on his lips.
"Really now," he drawled dryly.
"You'll see soon enough," Sally assured him. "You're Duo's partner now. I have no doubt that if you'll stick around you'll get to know all of us better. Especially now that we managed to pull Duo away from Preventers."
Harry hummed and nodded. "I have heard many things about Duo," he said. "I have no doubt that some were exaggerated, but I also don't believe they were completely untrue. He is a dedicated man."
"You don't have to tell us that," Wufei grumbled. "If he and I hadn't gone on that mission a month ago together I doubt I would have seen him."
"It's been almost a year since he joined us for any sort of gathering," Heero said and Harry frowned a little.
"You could say that Duo's a bit too dedicated to Preventers," Relena added and Harry hummed.
"That's not exactly healthy," he muttered and everyone else at the table exchanged glances. "I mean, I'm not one for going out a lot, but I did try to have some kind of life outside of Preventers."
"How long have you worked for Preventers, Harry?" Relena asked and Harry hummed.
"Three years."
"And before that?" Heero asked and Harry sighed.
"Not much actually," Harry said and relaxed in his seat. He rested his hands on the armrests and crossed his long, lean legs under the table. Heero's eyes flashed a little and an approving glimmer appeared in his eyes when he saw a gun cleverly hidden from untrained eyes.
"Tell us something about yourself," Relena said and shifted in her seat as much as she could.
"There's not much to say, really," Harry tilted his head back a bit. "I don't really know where to start."
"You probably know everything you need to know for now about us," Heero said. "Everything else you'll find out with time."
Harry chuckled at that and nodded his head. "I suppose that's true."
"Where are you from?" Sally asked.
"No where in particular, to be perfectly honest," Harry shrugged. "I woke up in a hospital right after the Eve wars with no memories of my past." His company tensed up, and Trowa turned around to look at him. "All I could remember was my name. They tried to find out at least something with DNA testing, but since no one applied a missing person report and the DNA testing brought forward no results I was designated as a John Doe. The head nurse of the hospital called in Commander Hawkeye. They made me a new identity to have me in the system, and Hawkeye helped me get some education. Once I finished it I joined the Preventers." Harry finished his story and his lips tilted into a small smile. "I've been working for them ever since."
"I'm sorry," Relena whispered and placed her right hand on Harry's left. Harry patted her hand with his right and chuckled.
"No need to be," he assured her. "Somehow I think that having no memories is better than remembering whatever delivered me into that hospital, don't you think?" he winked at her making her smile and shake her head.
"Why Preventers?" Wufei asked and Harry shrugged while Relena leaned on Heero who wrapped his right arm around her shoulders as she leaned on his shoulder.
"I don't know. I felt like I would be good at that," Harry said. "Something was pulling me there and Commander Hawkeye was all too happy to let me in. I climbed the ranks within a year. Commander Hawkeye has become a good friend to me; almost like a father. He taught me everything he knew and then let me learn everything else on my own."
"John Hawkeye is a great man," Sally said. "Next to Commander Une he is the best Agent the Preventers have." Everyone nodded at that.
"I don't know where I would be if it weren't for him," Harry spoke up. "On one occasion, he told me that he lost a son during the wars. In a way I think he helped me because I reminded him of Blaine."
"Anyway!" Sally clapped her hands, "Any hobbies?" everyone smiled at the obvious change of subject.
"I'm pretty good at playing the piano and a guitar, I love reading, and I'm a big fan of football," Harry grinned brightly.
"Really now." Heero and Wufei leaned forward making their wives roll their eyes at them.
"Oh God, here we go," Sally muttered and Harry laughed at that. This was turning out to be not a bad idea after all.
cut
"Quat, you're gonna tear my arm off," Duo grumbled as Quatre pulled him into the house.
"Spill!" Quatre rounded on Duo once they were in the kitchen that overlooked the back yard.
"What is there to spill?" Duo asked, acting as though he didn't know what Quatre was talking about.
Quatre rolled his eyes and sighed. "Tell me about Harry!" he pushed and it was Duo's turn to roll his eyes.
"I met the man for half an hour on Friday and I picked him up today. All I can tell you is that he lives in a nice Victorian house and that he has a mean bike," he said and Quatre rolled his eyes again.
"Tell me what you think about him."
Duo sighed and leaned back against a cabinet, looking out the window. Harry laughed at something the others told him and Duo felt a small smile pull on his lips. "What is there to tell? I've read his file. He seems like a good Agent, but I'll be able to confirm that once we go on our first mission. I called Commander Hawkeye on Friday and he said that he was sorry he lost his best Agent. He seems like a good enough man," he said and looked at Quatre who was looking at him with a raised eyebrow and arms crossed over his chest.
"And what about him being a tall-dark-mysterious-hunk-of-a-man, with his middle name being sex-on-legs, eyes to die for and a give-'em-hell attitude I know you adore?"
Duo spluttered and looked at Quatre with wide eyes. "Quatre!" said man rolled his eyes.
"Oh, please Duo. Did you really think I wouldn't notice he is thee kind of man you fall for on a regular basis?"
"Do I have to remind you that I haven't dated anyone in years?" Duo asked dryly and Quatre snorted.
"Don't remind me of that. I still think you're an idiot for pulling so far into yourself that you've found the entrance to Narnia."
"Narnia?" Duo asked dully and Quatre rolled his eyes.
"Never mind," he muttered. "What I'm trying to say is - do you like him?" he asked and Duo snorted.
"I've just met the man."
"So what?!" Quatre snapped. "I liked Trowa from the first time I met him!"
"And you started dating 5 years later," Duo stated dully.
"We were children."
"We were never children, Q-bean," Duo corrected him. "The wars took care of that."
"You know what I mean," Quatre waved Duo off. "What I want to say is that you can tell if you like someone pretty soon. So?" he raised an eyebrow at Duo, "Do you like him?"
Duo sighed and rubbed his face with his hands. "He is hot," Duo finally admitted. "And yes he is the kind of man I'd usually fall for," Quatre grinned triumphantly, but Duo only glared at him, "but he is my partner. We will work together for God knows how long. As much as we know, he'll die on the next mission."
"Duo…"
"Don't 'Duo' me, Quatre. You know just as much as I know that not everyone can keep up with me on missions."
"Duo, not one of your partners died while they were with you on a mission," Quatre spoke, and Duo could see frustration in his eyes.
"I know," Duo said, "but that means nothing. Harry seems like a nice guy. Hell, he seems like a nice straight guy."
"He doesn't seem bothered with me and Trowa," Quatre spoke uncaringly and Duo groaned.
"Damn it, Quatre, listen to me!" Duo snapped. "Harry an' me will be just partners, alrigh'! Besides, with missions I dun have any damn time to think about romance!"
Quatre sighed and stepped back. "Alright," he said. "Alright. I'll step down," Duo let go of a breath he was unconsciously holding, "but don't come crying to me in the end, Duo," he warned and Duo frowned in confusion. Quatre smiled sadly and hugged Duo. The braided man tensed up for a second before he returned the hug. "I just - I don't like seeing you like this, Duo. You deserve better; so much better."
Duo sighed. "I dun know, Quat," Duo whispered and buried his face in Quatre's neck. "Sometimes I think that this is exactly what I deserve."
"You deserve better," Quatre whispered and squeezed Duo tightly, "much better."
cut
"Finally! We thought you've gotten lost!" Sally cheered when Quatre and Duo came out of the house. Duo carried a tray with glasses while Quatre carried different drinks.
"I was showing Duo the new program I'm developing," Quatre said with a grin.
Duo started passing glasses around while Quatre started to place drinks on the table, only to have a bottle of wine tilt to the side.
"Quatre, watch it!" Sally cried out when the bottle fell and everyone held their breath.
"Good catch." Heero commented, quite impressed.
Harry had the bottle in his right hand, gripping the table with his left with his chair tilted to the side on two legs, and he was stretched, practically diagonally with the ground.
Harry breathed a sigh of relief and pulled himself back up.
"Very good catch," Wufei spoke wide eyed, while Quatre smiled gratefully at Harry who smiled at him and placed the bottle in the middle of the table.
"It would be a shame if the bottle broke," Harry said with a small smile. "That's some very good wine." He turned the bottle a little only to whistle lowly. "And a very good year."
Quatre chuckled. "I suppose you know something about wine," he said as he took a seat and Trowa started to bring the meat on the table.
"I know enough," Harry said and shifted in his place a bit.
"That was a good catch," Trowa commented and took a seat beside Quatre while Duo sat himself beside Harry. "Are you into acrobatics?"
Harry shrugged. "After I woke up in the hospital I practically had to learn how to walk again. My physical therapist was great, and she's a former acrobat. Once I entered the Police Academy I had her as my personal trainer." He nodded at Quatre when he offered to pour him some wine. "I kept on practicing regularly even after I joined the Preventers."
"I asked because I've noticed how you move," Trowa said as they put their portions on their plates and started to eat. "You move quietly, and your steps are measured and light."
"I'll take that as a compliment," Harry said with a smirk. "This is very good," he complimented the wine and Quatre smiled at him.
"You're welcome to join us every time," he offered and Harry nodded.
"Any other notable skills?" Wufei asked and Harry laughed while Sally and Relena rolled their eyes.
"I can't tell you everything, now can I?" Harry teased. "I'm sure you are all just dying to get your hands on a computer." The former Gundam Pilots blushed a little sheepishly.
Well, all besides Duo.
He was still thinking about what Quatre told him while they were in the kitchen. He just couldn't get it out of his head. It seemed Harry was getting on well with everyone, and Duo couldn't deny that Harry seemed like a kind man with the way he was answering everyone's questions and how he treated Relena and Sally.
Trowa was right. Harry had a certain awareness around him that made it seem like he had seen war. It was as though Harry was used to watching his every step; as though he was used to danger.
It would be practically invisible to someone with an untrained eye, but Harry seemed constantly aware of everything going on around him. His eyes would dart around at every sound although he could mask his reactions like a professional.
There was a look in Harry's eyes Duo was used to seeing. He could see it every time he would look into a mirror or when he'd look into the eyes of his friends. It was the look of someone who fought for his life. Someone who spent time on the battlefield.
Duo had read Harry's file. He read Harry's medical file as well. He knew Harry was found on a riverbank in Old England a week after the Eve wars, and that he was in a coma for 2 months before he woke up with nothing but his own name as a memory. He knew it took Harry a year to learn how to walk again. He knew Harry passed the entrance exam for the Police Academy with flying colors and that he finished his education in the shortest amount of time.
Commander Hawkeye said that he held Harry in high esteem.
But what Duo didn't know was what made Harry tick. He didn't know what made Harry get up every day and go to work. He didn't know what made Harry join the Preventers out of all things. He didn't know why Harry went to the Police Academy, or why he tried so hard to climb the ranks in Preventers faster than the speed of sound.
He didn't know who Harrison Evans-Potter was.
'Well. I guess I'll have time to find out,' Duo thought to himself and raised his head when everyone around the table laughed.
"So basically, Agent Berry was knee deep in mud, Agent Sawyer was literally hanging on a line and I couldn't move because that bloody bear was too bloody heavy!" Harry said and others laughed again making Duo realize he must have been too deep in thoughts.
"So your first mission as a Special Agent was quite…"
"It was a bloody comedy, that's what it was," Harry interrupted Sally and took a sip of his wine.
He seemed to have relaxed a lot since his hands were resting on the armrest of the chairs and his legs were slightly parted under the table. His shoulders weren't as tense as they were when he and Duo arrived, and his eyes were glimmering.
"I'm telling you, Hawkeye never let me live that down. I told him that mission was too easy, and it would have been had Sawyer been smart enough to check where he was walking."
"We all had missions similar to that one," Heero said.
"Yeah. Remember that one when you, Duo and I got trapped in that shack in North Carolina?" Wufei smirked.
"The time Duo blew up the kitchen?" Heero asked.
"'Ey! 'Ow was I ta know tha damn stove worked on gas of all things! Back during the wars we were lucky enough to have rations, let alone a stove to cook on," Duo cried out in his defense.
"Yes, but you still blew up the kitchen and we were still trapped there because all our gear was in the kitchen when you blew it up," Heero smirked at Duo who huffed and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Note to self: on missions, I cook," Harry said and everyone laughed while Duo glared at him.
"That was 7 years ago," Duo growled and Harry raised an eyebrow at him.
"So?" Harry asked dully. "You saying you know how to cook now?"
"You bet I do," Duo bit out.
"I wouldn't know," Harry smirked. Everyone was snickering while Duo bristled at Harry.
"That's it mister. First evening we're free I'm making dinner," he growled and only then realized Harry was teasing him.
"Really now," Harry asked slyly. "It's on. But if you mess up, next time I'm cooking."
Duo barely fought off a blush and, just as barely, stopped himself from hitting Quatre, since the blonde was laughing his little heart out.
Now, let no one say that Duo was a man who didn't accept a challenge. No, he was no coward, even when his dignity was at stake. "You have yourself a deal, Potter," Duo growled and Harry grinned.
"Great! It's a date, then!"
Duo choked up and everyone laugh.
"First you go around seducing our women and then you hit on the most desired bachelor in Preventers," Wufei teased and Duo looked at him wide-eyed while Harry chuckled.
"Do not fret, my friend," he said and raised his glass. "The only straight thing about me is that I'm a straight up bastard when I want to be," he drawled with a smirk.
"Mr. Potter, such language around ladies," Relena spoke teasingly and Harry winked at her.
"I apologize, my Lady. I shall watch my tongue from now on," he apologized and Relena and Sally giggled.
"You're not half bad, Potter," Heero said and Harry snorted.
"Wait till you get to know me better. Hawkeye didn't choose my codename on a whim, you know?" he drawled and everyone laughed.
Everyone but Duo, that is. He was still somewhat bristling because he let himself be conned into anything.
You don't con a conman; you just don't!
Duo tensed up when his eyes met Harry's and the raven haired man had the decency to wink at him and toast him with his glass.
'You just wait, Potter,' Duo thought to himself and glared at Harry who looked at Sally when she asked him something. 'I'll show you not to tease Duo Maxwell.'
Everyone laughed at something and Duo relaxed in his chair with a small smirk.
'I'll show you.'
cut
"Thank you for a lovely day. I had fun," Harry said as he was getting ready to leave. Night has fallen and they have all entered the house after they cleaned up the back yard.
"No problem, Harry," Quatre said. "Like I said; you're welcome to join us every time." He glanced over his right shoulder making Harry raise an eyebrow. "Duo can be quite difficult," he whispered when he looked at Harry again, "but I can tell that you'll be good for him."
"Are you sure?" Harry asked, and Quatre nodded and continued speaking.
"Duo changed a lot in the past 8 years and, to be perfectly honest, we don't like what he's become. Today we saw him act in a way we haven't seen in years. I hope that with you as his partner he will become at least half the man we once knew."
Harry stared at Quatre with a small wary frown. "I don't know, Quatre," he murmured. "I'm not your regular Mr. Sunshine either. I have a truck load of my own problems, but I can promise that I will try my best."
Quatre smiled and nodded his head. "That is more than I can ask of you, Harry."
"Thanks again," Harry said and shook Quatre's hand. "You have my number now, so call me if you need anything."
"Have a safe trip home," Quatre said and Harry smiled.
"See you," he said and left. Quatre watched as the man walked over to his bike, pulled on his helmet and waved at him before he drove off.
With a sigh, Quatre closed the door and walked into the living room where everyone else was.
"He left?" Trowa asked when Quatre joined him on the couch, and Trowa hugged him to his side.
"Yes."
"He seems like a really nice man," Relena commented. She and Heero were sitting on the love seat with Relena nestled against her husband who was holding her against his side lovingly.
"Sure he does," Sally said, "although I can't wait to get my hands on his file." Everyone but Duo nodded in agreement, and Relena rolled her eyes.
"Honestly, Sally. Sometimes I think you're just as bad as they are," she spoke teasingly and Sally winked at her.
"Wufei rubbed off on me," she drawled and Relena giggled.
"What do you know about him, Duo?" Heero asked and the braided American shrugged.
"Not much. He has outstanding recommendations. He handled quite a few missions fit for us, and Une seems to hold him in high regard as well. He climbed the ranks of Preventers and gained his status as a Special Agent in a year. I'm not making any real decisions until I've seen him at work," Duo recited and the others nodded.
"He told us as much," Trowa said and Duo shrugged.
"There's not much to say. His past remains a mystery though. According to all the data he has, he fell out of the blue."
"Just like Heero, you and I did, Duo," Trowa reminded.
"Yeah, but still, we have some memories from before the war, Trowa," Duo countered. "He's a complete phantom."
"Maybe he was from the colonies," Wufei suggested. "If he came from L2 for example, there is a possibility that there really is no data on him anywhere in the system."
"That doesn't matter," Quatre said. "Hawkeye and Une are vouching for him. We'll see everything else for ourselves in time."
"We aren't exactly known as the most patient lot, Quatre," Heero stated dully and Quatre rolled his eyes at him.
"Well we'll have to be for this," he answered.
"I don't know," Relena murmured. "I like him. Anyone who can make Duo Maxwell blush and bristle because of anything is good in my book."
Duo glared at her lightly while everyone else laughed. "I'd expect at least you to be on my side, Lena," Duo grumbled.
"We'll if you didn't piss me off by closing yourself in the HQ for more than a year then maybe I would be on your side," Relena bit out and Duo tensed up.
"Listen, guys," he bowed his head, "I know I hadn't been the best of friends for a long time but…"
"We understand, Duo," Wufei cut him off, "and even though it's nice to hear an apology from you it's not exactly needed. We are just worried about you."
"You're our friend no matter how long we didn't see you," Trowa added. "It did hurt when it seemed like you've forgotten about us, but what hurt more than that was the fact that you've forgotten about yourself."
"We can barely recognize you, Duo," Sally said and Duo bowed his head. "You've become this tough Special Agent who speaks properly, never acts out, and performs missions in a way the Perfect Soldier performed them during the wars."
"We just think that you should relax a little," Heero said and Duo looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Even I relaxed occasionally during the wars. You can't focus your whole life on your work. There are people around you who miss you."
To Duo, hearing all that from his best friends hurt. It hurt something awful.
He knew he had changed. He knew that he buried himself so deep into his job that he forgot why he did it. He knew that if these people, his friends and family, didn't love him as much as they did, they would have forgotten about him less than a year ago when he stopped coming to gatherings.
"I'm sorry, guys," he apologized honestly and raised his head, letting everyone see the tears in his eyes; tears he would never cry. "I'm sorry fer shuttin' ya out." In a moment found himself enveloped in Quatre's and Sally's arms.
"It's alright, Duo. You're here now," Quatre comforted.
"We'll just have to try harder to pull you out of your office," Sally added. "I can even write a report deeming you unfit for duty!" she joked and Duo laughed.
"Sure," he chuckled. "I dun kno' who'd Une kill first; you 'r me."
Everyone laughed at that.
"What they said. You're lucky to have us, baka," Wufei drawled and Duo nodded.
"I'd come to hug you but Quatre's love seat is too fluffy," Relena said and everyone laughed again. "Quatre and Sally are right, Duo. We all love you. Heero and I would be more than happy to have you around when this little one comes out."
"But not alone with them," Heero blurted out, earning himself an elbow into the ribs. Everyone laughed again while Duo shook his head with a small smile.
His throat was closed up and he was fighting back tears with everything he had.
Yes, he was lucky to have them. They were his family - his blessing - even though he firmly believed he didn't deserve them.
"Thank you, guys," he said and looked at everyone. "Thank you."
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Harry closed and locked the door of his house. He threw his keys into a small basked that sat on top of a hallway cabinet.
With heavy steps he walked up the stairs and into his bedroom. After he threw himself on the bed he looked at the ceiling and sighed.
"You did it, Harry," he muttered into the silence. "You're finally here," he swallowed and licked his lips, "and now comes the hard part."
He turned on his side and opened his fisted right hand to look at his palm.
He closed his eyes and frowned when his mind was filled with voices, images, emotions and flashes of blue light. His eyes snapped open and he realized he was breathing quickly and that his body was covered in a thin layer of cold sweat.
"Damn it…" he muttered and pulled into himself. 'I just hope it won't take too long.' He closed his eyes and pulled in on himself, wrapping his arms around his waist. 'I don't know how much time I have left.'
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