YEARS (AC 196-197)

Heero tentatively opened his eyes, barely noticing how sore they felt, how sore his entire body felt. He blinked to adjust to the dim lights of the room, ignored the signals of pain his nerves sent - along with a warm touch.

"Hey... You awake?"

Heero tilted his head in the direction of the voice, despite protesting neck muscles. Duo sat in a chair beside the hospital bed Heero was resting in, both his hands cradling Heero's left, his eyes bloodshot and voice remarkably meek.

Strained chuckle. "Yeah, you're still alive. Told you I wouldn't let you leave." Duo quickly offered Heero some water from a canister.

Heero took a few sips, and it did wonders for his parched throat. "You..." He cleared his throat. "You've sat here since - how long have I been out?"

"Not that long." He sighed within his shaky smile. "But it sure felt like eternity."

Heero curled his fingers, pressuring the hand left in his own. "I think we need to stop meeting like this, then."

Duo shrugged. "Yeah..." Amused snort. "I'm tired of doing my hero worship by hospital beds, anyway. Regular ones are better."

Heero rolled his eyes. "That pun is only fun the first hundred times, Duo - I'm done being the hero now. No more killing."

Nod. "I heard - still, you can't really escape that fate, can you? I mean, it's in your damn name."

Negative headshake. "You know my name is an assumed one. All my names have been - I don't know if I even have a real name anymore. My last alias just stuck, since I haven't had anyone give me another."

Duo dared laugh. "Then maybe we should change that." Nod. "Yeah, I think I'll call you 'Bob' from now on. How about that, Bob?"

Snort, lopsided smile. Brief consideration of a pillow fight, concluding against.

Duo's grin widened even more, oblivious. "Yeah, I think that'd be fine. 'Bob Maxwell'. I kinda like the ring of that."

Grunt. "Enough, Duo. Or should I say 'Duo Yuy'? I like the sound of that better."

Duo smiled down at him, briefly brushed aside Heero's bangs and planted a soft, quick kiss on his forehead. "I have a feeling we'll both keep our names - and each other."

Smirk. "Softie."

Laugh. "Damn right - and proud of it, tough guy. And you know damn well you've been plenty mushy on me too."

Another grunt, both acknowledgement and dismissal. From outside, they heard a rocket go off. And another. A third; brilliant colorful lights reflecting of the whitewashed walls of the room. Heero was startled at first, but Duo's calm told him it was safe. "New Years Eve..." he reasoned, dismissing the fear of continued fighting. "Duo, you should go - at least over to the window or something. I don't want you to miss the fireworks, I know you love those."

For a moment, Duo gave him a stunned look, and then broke out laughing. "Oh, I think I've already seen enough fireworks to last a lifetime this last week, Heero."

Heero smirked again. "Oh, I'm not so sure about that... Come here, Duo - closer."

Duo obeyed. Heero tentatively reached for Duo's shoulder, coaxing him down for a prolonged, tender kiss. Outside, the rockets kept on their racket, lights dancing on the naked wall.

With some effort, Heero scooted a little to the side, and softly tapped the open bed-space in invitation. Duo accepted, and carefully lay down beside him. Their eyes locked, he sighed, and whispered "I can't believe it's been a year already - a damn good one, too. Well, except this last week."

Strained chuckle. "We'll have many more, Duo. As many as you like - together."

Duo let go of his hand, and caressed Heero's cheek instead, quick to deliver another kiss. "Told you you had your mushy moments too. Happy new year... Bob."

To the sound of fireworks and interrupted laughter, Heero retaliated only with soft lips on lips.