I checked my messages on my laptop this morning. There was only one there: it was from Duo. I haven't read it yet. I'm going to, and soon, but to be honest with myself, I have to work myself up to it first. I may not be frightened on the battlefields of war, but when it comes to the workings of love, it's an entirely different case.
The main reason that I'm worried about the matter is that I don't know exactly what I'm going to say to him. I realize that I should simply explain that I've appointed myself Relena's permanent bodyguard until the war is over, but somehow I know that won't satisfy him. I'm sure that the others will accept it, but not Duo.
Even if he isn't happy with the response, I have a few days to prepare myself for his reaction; he's currently on a mission, and isn't expected to be back until three days from now. That still isn't long enough for me to think of precisely how to phrase what I need to say to him, but it's a start.
Relena is at a friend's house and won't be back for a few hours, or so she says. That means that I have a good chance to read that message now, without the risk of having her walking in on me and reading it.
Opening my laptop and turning it on, I can't help but feel slightly nervous. I don't know what I'm expecting. It's just Duo, sending me a message, probably mission-related. Nothing even remotely out of the ordinary. Besides, I can always just turn the laptop off if I don't like what it says. Taking a deep breath, I open the message.
Heero,
Hey! How are ya? I miss ya, man! So do the rest of the guys. Q-man says hi, and I'm sure the others send their hellos too. So, where are ya, anyway? Out on some ultra-top-secret mission or somethin'? Or maybe you've finally gotten tired of your clothes and you're out shopping for a new outfit? Anyway, just checkin' up on ya to make sure you're OK. Talk to ya later!
Duo
I smile as I read the message; apparently Duo types the way he talks as long as the message isn't 'official'. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised; it's just like him to be like that. Typical strange American.
Well, I suppose the message wasn't so bad. It's nice to hear from him, but it's left me wishing even more that he was here. Now to write a reply, which is much easier said than done.
I don't know what to say. No matter how I phrase what's happened, I'm going to risk hurting his feelings, and I don't want to do that. He has little enough happiness in his life, but more than enough pains and sorrows. I don't want to add to that heavy burden.
But then again, wouldn't it hurt him to not hear from me at all? I know Duo well enough to be certain that it would.
Sighing, I finally decide to go ahead and just give it my best shot. That's all I can do.
Duo,
I am doing well. I appreciate that you bother to think of me occasionally; just don't let it interfere with your missions in any way. Tell the other pilots that I appreciate their concern and that I send my greetings. I am currently on a mission at Relena Peacecraft's estate; I am to be her bodyguard for the duration of the war. I will give you further details at a later time, if the Doctors or I deem it necessary to do so. You may stay in contact with me if you wish, as accidentally revealing my location is of no major concern; it is common knowledge among the members of OZ that I am guarding Relena personally. As long as I make no move against them, however, they seem content to leave me unharassed. I expect that you will keep yourself safe during your own missions. Anything less than perfect conduct will leave me unimpressed, as I am sure you know.
Heero
There. That went fairly well; it wasn't near so difficult as I expected it to be, or at least not once I actually began to write it. I click the send button and wait the few seconds for it to transfer.
No going back now. Actually, I could easily unsend it and delete any and every trace of it from the entire world... But I won't.
I sit back now and wait for Relena to return home. I don't have much else to do right now. Perhaps I should consider downloading a few games for my laptop? It's a possibility. Maybe I'll figure out why Duo's so obsessed with that ancient Final Fantasy video game series that he plays so often...