DISCLAIMER: This is the general Disclaimer, I don't own Gundam Wing, no matter how much I wish I did. This is all for fun and only get paid in reviews.

Authors Note: Ok, I'll admit that I know where the story is going, I just don't know exactly how I'm going to get there. I had the idea so I decided to start writing since I've had trouble with it for a while (seriously, writers block for YEARS here). I'm hoping that this will help me push past it. That doesn't mean I'm going to skimp though, I plan on making it a good story.

Warnings: There is swearing, drugs, sexual situations, violence and male-male relationships. Reader beware. Not for young readers.

The story is AU and OOC. The only pairing I have figured out so far is 3X4.

Enjoy, R&R and try bearing with me if I take some time getting new chapters up though I hope to go for about one a week.

Chapter 6

Buddies

Duo searched the blankets around him. He picked up his pillow before tossing back to its space. Muttering to himself, oblivious to the others eyeing him nervously, he scrambled to his feet, crouching to avoid knocking his head on the ceiling.

"Ah ha!" he exclaimed. He grabbed the shirt that was laying where he had been sitting and returned to his seat, tossing his legs over the edge of his bunk. He proceeded to fold, then roll the shirt up.

"Why are you rolling everything?" Quatre asked. Duo looked down at the blonde.

"Because, you can fit more stuff in a smaller space if you roll it." Duo said, holding up the rolled shirt. He looked over the items laid out on his friends own bunk. "Are you planning on bringing all that?"

Quatre frowned. "Well, not all of it. But I want to make sure I don't miss anything important." He looked over the items the same as Duo. To be honest he wished his father hadn't sent him with so much stuff.

"We're gone two nights, so that's three shirts plus the one your wearing. You know, extras. One pair of pants, also extra since your wearing one. And pj's if you want them, or you could sleep in your undies. And a jacket or heavy sweater so you don't get cold or anything. After that just make sure you've got your toothbrush and all that." Duo grinned. Quatre sat on the edge of his bed.

"Yeah, that makes sense." He rubbed a hand over his eyes.

"Can't sleep? Still trying to get that bear out of your head?" Duo asked, watching Quatre.

"Yeah," the blonde felt a slight blush on his cheeks. Duo pushed himself off the bed an landed with a soft thud.

"Hey, no need to be embarrassed. It certainly wasn't a pretty sight." Duo shrugged.

Quatre looked up, "You don't seem all that disturbed by it." He said. Duo grinned.

"I've seen worse. Like a few months back, some idiotic wanna be gang banger gave me a once over, should have seen my face after that!" Duo fingered the bridge of his nose, "I think I got one of those deviated septum thingies now." He said with a frowned.

Distracted when Wufei lost his grip on his bag and started cursing, Quatre turned back to Duo and eyed him critically. "Well if you do, it's not noticeable."

"Thanks," Duo continued to smile. He turned. "Hey, Chang, you wanna keep it down back there. Unless you plan on translating cause I wouldn't mind learning how to swear in a fifth language."

In response, Wufei glared. Duo turned and pulled himself back up onto his bunk.

Early the next morning, each teen was woken up one by one by Howard. Four of them managed to drag themselves out of bed, not entirely sure why it was necessary to get up before the sun for a camping trip. The fifth teen, Duo, had simply rolled over and, with one arm and one braid dangling from the bed, went back to sleep.

Half an hour later, Quatre's gentle prodding and Heero's not so gentle tug on the braid brought Duo out of bed to stumble into the bathroom for a shower. Finally after another forty minutes the five of them stood, with Howard and Milliardo and their bags at the edge of the lake. Duo yawned hugely before staring sleepily at the canoes.

"All right, time to pair up… Well pair up as best as possible. One of you will be with Howard." Milliardo told them. "Who ever you get stuck with is your buddy for the trip, that includes chores and tent sharing, understand? And no switching. If you and your buddy hate each others guts you have to find a way to work it out."

Duo wasn't sure he liked the sound of that last bit. He liked it even less when, of all the numbers in the can to pick, he pulled the two… which matched Wufei. The two looked at each other for all of three seconds before both of them broke out in strings of curses.

Trowa and Quatre were the first to get settled in the canoe, followed by Howard and Heero. Milliardo got one all to himself, though he had more to pack into his. Wufei and Duo took the longest. It seemed impossible for the two of them to agree on anything. To Wufei it seemed Duo was being stubborn just for the sake of being stubborn. It took some time, but finally they group managed to get settled and four canoes set off across the lake just as the sun peaked over the mountains.

Wufei ignored yet another yawn from the boy behind him in the canoe. He focused solely on the task at hand, getting himself and (unfortunately) his 'buddy' across the lake dry and in one piece. It took a moment for him to realize that said buddy was not quite doing his share of the work. Turning around he shot a glare to Duo who was sitting with his oar laying across his lap.

"Are you planning on helping or just sitting there?' Wufei asked sharply.

"I am planning on talking." Duo said. Wufei opened his mouth to comment that Duo always talked but he was cut off. "And you are planning on taking part in this conversation, for both our good."

Quatre pull up his oar as the canoe he was in reached shore. By this point the sun was well over the mountain. Trowa hopped out of the boat and pulled it close enough for Quatre to get out. Looking back Quatre noticed that Duo and Wufei were still quite a distance from shore. Duo appeared to be saying something, Wufei's reactions seemed to vary between defensive, angry, and eventually some sort of understanding.

"Wonder what they're up to out there." Trowa said. Quatre looked back.

"Maybe trying to come to an understanding?" The blonde suggested. Looking out over the lake at the two. What ever the conversation was, it was over and they were starting towards the shore.

With the last two on solid ground, the group tied up the canoes, each took their share of the gear and headed off into the woods for their camping trip.

TBC