Author's Note: So here is the next part of the story I got most of it settled now it's officially in sixteen parts that I am posting slowly but surely the parts as soon as I can. As always enjoy, feedback will be appreciated.
Part 9 - Hero of War
"A hero of war is that what they see?
Just medals and scars so damn proud of me,
And I brought home that flag, now it gathers dust."
Groaning he put his weight against the board bending it into form. He was standing outside their new house in the bright, hot sunny day bending boards to make the frame for the hot tub that Duo had requested. It was more of a hot tub and surrounding deck, and he had a feeling that Duo might like a larger deck out back overlooking the lake, so he'd pulled up the existing one and started from scratch. Fitting the bored in he pulled the nails from between his clenched lips banging them home, with a satisfying grunt. He stood wiping his forehead with them hem of his shirt, it was unseasonably warm for early June, not that he was complaining he was not a fan of the cold.
"Earned myself a beer I think," he muttered to no one in particular. Wandering into the kitchen he tucked his work gloves into his tool belt. He opened the fridge admiring his reflection in the polished metal door and pulled out a bottle, using the hem of his shirt he popped the top taking a long swig trying in vain not to let his eyes drift to where the calendar sat, a small x on each day that Duo had been gone. May had come and gone and June was just getting going and he was still on assignment. He lowered the bottle sighing, he hadn't heard from Duo. The odd e-mail when he could manage he was very busy with the case and contact had been forced to a minimum.
Grumbling he turned form the reminder that Duo had been gone over a month now. He was getting ready to head back out and work on the deck when his cell went off, reaching into one of his pockets in his belt he pulled out the blocky sort of phone. One that was waterproof, and drop proof and supposedly bullet resistant though he'd tested that theory on his last one it hadn't worked. The army had been none to happy with him ruining his issued phone.
He looked at the call ID it was his CO calling, guess his sabbatical was over. With a resigned sigh he flipped the phone open with a brisk "Yuy."
-#-#-#-
Duo was excited, he had been gone for almost a month and a half, it had sucked pretty bad. Off world he'd been on L2 working a case of arms dealers. Ex-military arms dealers, and unfortunately he'd been the one to go undercover, his eye patch according the Wufei and Trowa had looked more bad ass and he would be more believable. It had also meant his contact with Heero had been only brief e-mails, saying nothing except he was alive and well. In case he had been under surveillance by the people he was looking into.
It had sucked they had busted the guys, and everyone went home happy, none so more then Duo who had a conversation to finish with Heero. Well if he had his way there would be little talk and lots more of the action part they had been getting to before his cell had interrupted. He turned in the drive heading for the house, it was dark the lights off, Duo winced it was looking like Heero was not home. Still ever hopeful he pulled he stopped the jeep and got out gathering his bag and moving into the house. Opening the locked door he called a tentative "Hello?" but he knew as soon as he had the house was empty. It had a musty smell to it, Duo felt his heart drop he had wanted to surprise Heero.
Dropping his bag haphazardly at the door he wandered through the living room into the kitchen, he flipped a light spotting a tarp out back covering something where the deck used to be. Apparently Heero had pulled it out and was building something else, he smiled wonder what he was up too. He moved away from the window spotting a sheet of paper on the fridge door attached by a magnet. He moved to it, written in Heero's hasty scrawl he read through the message his heart sinking lower in his chest in disappointment.
Duo,
If you are reading this you are probably home and back safe. I was just called in again, there's been an uprising on a planet that I cannot disclose as you know. We are being dispatched and I am not sure when I will be back, or how good communication is. Will try to contact when I can, miss you so much.
Love,
Heero
Duo smiled slowly, he was not happy Heero was gone, but the 'love Heero' made him happy. Heero had not forgotten about him.
-#-#-#-
"Captain, sir?" Heero snorted opening his eyes, he was sitting in his foxhole when his Sergeant awoke him. "Yes Sergeant," he mumbled looking at him with a single cold blue, the other a glowing red that was a little unnerving. Heero sighed, "My watch right?" the other nodded furtively, groaning he stood stretching his cramped leg best he could keeping his head down. He changed places with the other man sitting up and watching for the supposed enemy across the open clearing and into the town beyond.
It was cold here, cold as hell…if hell could be cold. He didn't function as well in he cold, the snow and ice. His body did not circulate blood as well as it used to his heart beating slower then the average man. His body mass, did not help him very much either. On top of his misery and slowed reflexes his eye had been shot out. He reached up touching the side the cold bare metal, it had hit his fake covering lodging in it, and thankfully not busting through the main part. It had also ripped away more of the synthetic skin leaving the metal of that half of his skull exposed. It hadn't hurt but it had scared the hell out of his men, who sometimes forgot that more the 50% of Heero's body was made up of Gundam plating and synthetic skin and organs.
He looked across the barren, snow laden land, unable to shiver to warm his body relying on his layers and layers of clothing to make sure he would continue to move. Otherwise he would freeze slow down and pretty much die. A human popsicle. He smiled at that, though he didn't think Duo would appreciate that. Besides he still hadn't slept with him yet…they had only kissed and he for one was dying to run his hands up and down that slim, milky white body. He closed his eyes feeling his body react despite the freezing temperature. He chuckled softly to himself opening his eyes and glancing across the clearing once more, eyes peeled and ready for an enemy, hoping that he would make it home soon.
-#-#-#-
Duo was staring at his computer screen not really seeing it. Heero had been gone two months. Two very long, very lonely months in a beautiful house, and large comfortable bed. "Come on honey don't mope he'll be back soon." Wufei said not looking up from his phone, his thumbs moving rapidly as his text whatever flavor of the week held his attention. It had been ridiculously quiet the last two weeks, not much going on aside from the drama of Wufei's social life that seemed the stuff of reality TV.
"Any news from him Duo?" Trowa looked up from his own screen Duo having the suspicion he was Skypeing with Quatre across the plaza. "No," he muttered scanning his e-mail once more, not expecting anything. He'd been in contact with the commander of the base who had told him that there was zero radio contact with the outside. It was a self-contained mission, and that was all he was allowed to divulge at the moment as it was an ongoing operation.
Sighing he shut the window going back to his work, well pointless busy paperwork that he didn't really need to be doing. With nothing better to do, he might as well. Paperwork and wait for Heero to return.
-#-#-#-
In the almost ten years he'd been serving in the military Heero could not remember being more miserable in his entire life; and he had been dead three times now. The relentless cold of the outer planet, coupled with the lack of shelter, living in fox holes with limited supplies had taken it's toll on everyone. For Heero though it was worse, his synthetic skin had crumbled from sustained long exposure to the cold. It had started on his fingers and toes on his replaced limbs. Then spreading up and out this included his face having been exposed the most. It had been awkward when he'd been sitting around the campfire sharing soup and talk with the men and half his lips had fallen into his cup of watered down soup.
So here he was sitting in shelled out building trying to stay warm his wool cap pulled down under his helmet his still real hand tucked in his thick coat and nestled under his shirt. His Gundam hand wrapped around his gun, unfeeling and unyielding in this harsh environment. It would serve soldiers well, Heero could see that easily. It was unaffected by cold or heat, it would not cramp up or get a spasm, The limbs where reliable, the skin was not and he could tell the doc's his information was invaluable.
He looked at his watch, one of those heavy duty ones that would never break. It was past midnight. His ten years of service where officially up, he could if he so chose forever leave the military. He smiled ironically, once more thinking of the small boy running with pure joy around the lab. He looked around the room he sat in, the bodies curled together for warmth wrapped in those scratchy army issue blankets. His men, his for the last five years of his contract. He knew, he knew deep down he couldn't leave them, just like he'd known the Docs had him when they'd shown him the boy.
He would not leave his men, and he knew better then anyone the importance of the data he brought back. Just as he knew that tomorrow the commander would call him in for his decision the papers on his makeshift desk, a contract for another five years. He knew all these things and just as sure as he knew he would sign on and remain in this frozen hell. "Forgive me Duo…" he whispered in the below zero night. His breathe a visible puff from his half lipless Gundam mouth. The words slurred in the quiet darkness. His slow heart spacing his beats even further apart, waiting for the semi warmth the morning sun would bring and they moved farther across this barley hospitable terrain.
Worlds away tucked in bed, in the chilly fall evening Duo sat reading a book he shivered not knowing why. He glanced at the clock it was only 9, the day was ending and it had been an auspicious day. The end of their ten-year contract, his service to the military had expired today, and Noin had called him into her office to remind him exactly what day it had been. When she passed across the official document, Preventors documents. Renewing his contract for another five years.
He had wished Heero had been there he had no idea what Heero was going to do now their contract was up. He had a suspicion though, and following through on that he had signed his name at the bottom. Five more years, but he was no longer military, all Preventor with a pay rise and better benefits. He had done it though because he loved the work, he loved being so close to Heero. "Come home soon," he mumbled rubbing his useless and scarred eye, "I miss you."
TBc…
