An hour and a half later, Duo finally managed to drag Heero back to the
safe-house. Much to his (and, for that matter, Heero's) surprise, the
little girl had been extremely fond of the Japanese boy. She was just as
happy playing with him as she had been with Duo.
"You're both very pretty." She had told them with a bright smile, just before they had given her the bag of doll clothes. After receiving her gifts, she had squealed happily and given them both big hugs and a wide, happy grin.
As soon as she'd dumped out all the clothing, the child had modeled each outfit on her doll. Duo had given enthusiastic cheers, even a catcall or two; Heero eventually broke down and cracked a small smile.
When Heero had decided it was time for Duo and him to leave, the girl had protested quite vehemently; she started crying loudly, and abandoned her doll to throw her arms around the legs of the two Gundam pilots. The move brought tears to Duo's eyes, as he knew exactly how the small child felt. Heero hadn't known what to do.
After much deliberation, the two decided to give the little girl a small amount of money to tide her over, and visit her again the next time such an act was feasible. Duo had wanted to take the child with them despite Heero's argument that she would be an unnecessary risk to their missions. The American pilot had consented to leave her behind only when Heero switched tactics and, with an almost sad look in his eyes, told Duo in a frank manner that the child would most likely end up injured or killed if she remained with them. Even he had to admit to the truth of the statement.
"So, what do we do now?" Duo asked once he and Heero were back inside the safe-house. It was quiet, save for the faint sound of a piano being played somewhere in the house.
Heero shrugged slightly. "Whatever." came his simple reply. He wasn't picky as far as occupying his 'free time' went, so long as Duo was involved, and Relena wasn't.
Not sure whether to laugh, sight, or just shake his head, the violet eyed pilot compromised and did all three. "Let's just go back up to our room and hang out, then." He suggested. Heero nodded and followed his lover to the bedroom they shared.
* * *
They'd been home for less than an hour, and none of the time had been productive. After twenty minutes of putting up with Duo's random fit of moping, Heero was beginning to get fed up. He had grown used to his companion's seemingly never-ending source of energy and almost nonstop chatter, but silence from him still bothered the cobalt eyed young man.
"What's wrong, Duo?" he finally snapped. "If you're still upset about what happened with WuFei, then go talk to him." Heero surprised both himself and Duo with the sudden outburst.
Duo turned his head and stared. "Heero?" he asked, slightly confused.
"Go ahead, Duo. It'll bother you the rest of the day if you don't."
A little smile appeared on the long haired boy's face. "You're right. Thanks, Hee-chan." He leaned over and gave him a quick, gentle kiss. "I'll be back in a few."
Heero watched his lover exit the room, an almost anxious feeling rising up in his chest. He scowled, berating himself mentally. What was he so worried about?
"You're both very pretty." She had told them with a bright smile, just before they had given her the bag of doll clothes. After receiving her gifts, she had squealed happily and given them both big hugs and a wide, happy grin.
As soon as she'd dumped out all the clothing, the child had modeled each outfit on her doll. Duo had given enthusiastic cheers, even a catcall or two; Heero eventually broke down and cracked a small smile.
When Heero had decided it was time for Duo and him to leave, the girl had protested quite vehemently; she started crying loudly, and abandoned her doll to throw her arms around the legs of the two Gundam pilots. The move brought tears to Duo's eyes, as he knew exactly how the small child felt. Heero hadn't known what to do.
After much deliberation, the two decided to give the little girl a small amount of money to tide her over, and visit her again the next time such an act was feasible. Duo had wanted to take the child with them despite Heero's argument that she would be an unnecessary risk to their missions. The American pilot had consented to leave her behind only when Heero switched tactics and, with an almost sad look in his eyes, told Duo in a frank manner that the child would most likely end up injured or killed if she remained with them. Even he had to admit to the truth of the statement.
"So, what do we do now?" Duo asked once he and Heero were back inside the safe-house. It was quiet, save for the faint sound of a piano being played somewhere in the house.
Heero shrugged slightly. "Whatever." came his simple reply. He wasn't picky as far as occupying his 'free time' went, so long as Duo was involved, and Relena wasn't.
Not sure whether to laugh, sight, or just shake his head, the violet eyed pilot compromised and did all three. "Let's just go back up to our room and hang out, then." He suggested. Heero nodded and followed his lover to the bedroom they shared.
* * *
They'd been home for less than an hour, and none of the time had been productive. After twenty minutes of putting up with Duo's random fit of moping, Heero was beginning to get fed up. He had grown used to his companion's seemingly never-ending source of energy and almost nonstop chatter, but silence from him still bothered the cobalt eyed young man.
"What's wrong, Duo?" he finally snapped. "If you're still upset about what happened with WuFei, then go talk to him." Heero surprised both himself and Duo with the sudden outburst.
Duo turned his head and stared. "Heero?" he asked, slightly confused.
"Go ahead, Duo. It'll bother you the rest of the day if you don't."
A little smile appeared on the long haired boy's face. "You're right. Thanks, Hee-chan." He leaned over and gave him a quick, gentle kiss. "I'll be back in a few."
Heero watched his lover exit the room, an almost anxious feeling rising up in his chest. He scowled, berating himself mentally. What was he so worried about?