Title: If Fortune Smiles
Author: Karina
Rating: PG
Pairing: Heero Duo Wu Fei Zechs
Notes: Challenge 27. Baby Series 2 #36. Takes place a few minutes after Before The Lull.
Spoilers: None
Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing or the Characters from the series but the baby is mine.
Many thanks to Dulin for her work as beta.
If Fortune Smiles
Duo moaned softly with the pleasure of it. He drank in the welcome warmth and wished they could linger long enough to dry their clothes, but the wind was dropping and they needed to start back for the palace.
Initially he thought Milliardo had lost it when he had taken the left over kerosene and doused the liquid over the ruins of the cabin. He had noted Wu Fei watching with wide eyes and knew he had thought the same thing, then with a wuff the kerosene had caught fire and the cabin had become engulfed in flame.
"Find whatever you can to feed it." Heero had understood and begun to throw boards into the flames.
Duo was quick to realize that with the fire rising the air around them warmed quickly and it was more comfortable.
"We need to leave but we need this to burn well and long." Milliardo explained.
"A beacon." Chang grinned. "You light a lantern for them."
"Exactly." Heero paused to bundle himself into his clothes. "How long does it take for frostbite to set in?"
"Not all that long. Wet socks will not help but if we are quick we should be spared serious damage. The depth of the snow will slow us down but if fortune smiles we should meet the search party on the way."
//If fortune smiles? Shit. Despite the war we survived so why shouldn't Lady Luck smile on us some more?// Duo limped closer to the flames luxuriating in the heat and ignoring the snow. This close to the flames it melted, falling as rain. //This is the warmest I've felt for hours.//
"Estimate to reach the palace?" Chang questioned.
"More than an hour." Milliardo stared into the night measuring the decreasing wind. "We have a few minutes before we can start. Light the lanterns."
Duo felt around for the torch flicking on the beam. It would add to their light but he knew already Milliardo was planning to use the lanterns for more than light. The kerosene lamps, unlike the torches, generated heat. Not a great deal of heat but perhaps sufficient to keep their hands warm enough to spare them frost bitten fingers if they alternated hands as they moved. Every source of heat would be welcome.
"Use a knife to rip one of the blankets into strips. We go tied at the waist by the strips so if one of us falls the others will know."
The King's blue eyes rested on the fire. The pain in his head was a thundering roar but he could not permit himself to acknowledge it. There was help for them all at the palace and there too was his son. The fire leaping into the night was his lantern in the window to announce their presence and he only hoped it was visible to someone who had the means to investigate.
End
Karina Robertson 2006