Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing. I don't own Sailor Moon. I don't own "Guys and Dolls" either, but that's not really in the story. I will most likely make references to it, however. Just as a warning.

Guys and Dolls

One: Loners

The year was After Colony 197.

Two years had passed since the Earth and the Colonies waged war against each other. Men and women were killed during this war. There were many towns and villages destroyed, many colonies endangered. The Earth and the Colonies were finally at peace with one another, thanks to five young men and their mobile suits, called Gundams.

The five Gundam pilots saw that their suits were no longer necessary in this time of peace, so they put to rest the instruments of war forever. None but the pilots themselves know what happened to these mobile suits and the secret of their destruction was forgotten in time. The pilots went their separate ways and lived their lives peacefully…

======

Relena Dorlin (or Relena Peacecraft) quietly gathered her things. She had a smile playing on her lips, and it was not because many men came up to her and congratulated her on her speech. She was smiling for another reason entirely. She walked towards the exit but paused before continuing over the threshold.

"So," she began, "did you like my speech?" This question was followed by silence, and a casual observer would think she was speaking to herself. She continued to smile. "I know you're there, Heero." There was a slight movement in the shadows. Her eyes adjusted to the dark and soon the form of Heero Yuy was recognizable. He had his arms crossed over his chest and he was leaning against the wall.

"I heard it," he answered.

"I asked if you liked it."

"My opinion doesn't matter." She sighed in exasperation. He was always that way, but that didn't mean it aggravated her any less. She casually smoothed out a wrinkle in her dress.

"When are you going to ask me out on a date?" This also was followed by silence. She wasn't bothered. It was a typical Heero response. "Heero, you know I care about you, and I know you care about me. Why do you insist on being so cold?" Again her question was answered with silence. She glanced at him to see if his face spoke for him. No; his face bore no expression. "Heero, please say something. When you ignore me, it feels like you're not even here."

"I'm here," he stated.

"Then why don't you say something?" He shrugged his shoulders.

"What do you want me to say?"

"Anything!"

"All right. Good-bye." He turned and walked away. Relena was caught off guard but she quickly recovered.

"What? Heero, where are you going?" He turned his head slightly and smiled.

"You said I could say anything." Her face turned red. He can be so cold sometimes! I don't even know why I put up with him!

"Heero, if I didn't love you so much, I'd hate you!" she sputtered. He casually waved and continued walking.

======

Relena… Sorry I have to be this way to you all the time. You know how it is. You've known me well for a long time. When was it that we met? It was two years ago. I wonder… were you in love with me for that long? Heero sighed and brushed a strand of hair away from his face. I don't show it, but I think you know how I feel about you. That's why you put up with me. But you know, I've been a loner for so long… I don't know how else to act…

======

The day couldn't have been better. The birds were chirping, the sun was shining, and here he was relaxing in the shade. Dark glasses hid his closed eyes from view. A smug grin was on his face. His hands were nestled behind his head and his legs were stretched out on the lawn chair he was occupying. Suddenly his hat was ripped off his head and he received a blow on the cheek.

"Hey!" He tore off his sunglasses and glanced around, trying to find his attacker. He calmed down when he realized it was his boss.

"Get back to work, you lazy good-for-nothin'!" His hat was jammed back on his head. He grumbled a protest but didn't say it loud enough for his boss to hear. He pocketed his sunglasses and grudgingly got back to work. "This fella's been waitin' to get his car looked at for ten minutes!" His boss indicated a very pudgy fellow with a pink face.

"I was just taking a break."

"Your break's not for another two hours, you lazy dope!" This time it was his boss' hat that struck him. "Now quit mopin' about and get to work!" He sighed and shuffled over to the pudgy customer.

"What's the trouble?"

"My engine won't start," the customer whined. Grunting, he opened up the hood. A blast of hot air stung his cheeks. No wonder it won't start! The engine's overheated! "Excuse me, young man, but is your last name Maxwell?"

"Yeah, that's right." This won't be cheap. "Say, mister, did you know your engine's overheated?"

"Oh, so… that's why it won't start?" Yeah. Damn, where'd I put…? "Your name's Duo Maxwell, then? As in the famous Gundam pilot?"

"Well, I wouldn't exactly say famous," he chuckled, grinning proudly.

"So what's a war hero doing here?"

"Getting money so I can pay the bills."

"Duo!" He jerked his head up, accidentally knocking into the hood of the car. "Stop socializing with the customers!"

"Yes, sir!"

======

No one cherished this time of peace more than the one Gundam pilot who had been a pacifist from the beginning: Quatre Raberba Winner. Now that the threat was over, he finally had time to do all the things he had been putting off. His sisters constantly egged him to go out and find a girlfriend; he assured them that he would when he was ready. There was so much more he wanted to do that a girlfriend just couldn't fit in the picture yet. Not that he didn't want a girlfriend. He promised himself, and his sisters, that he would make time for girls.

"I just don't know," he muttered to himself. He pressed his forehead on the windowpane. "Maybe I'm destined to be a loner, like the other Gundam pilots." He sighed, causing the window to fog up a little. Something in the sky caught his attention. He stared at it, then blinked and took a closer look. It couldn't be… He ran outside and stared at it again. A shooting star? Or a comet? He watched the object descend to the earth. Well, if it is a shooting star, I'd better make a wish.

"All right," he said aloud. "I wish that myself and the other Gundam pilots won't have to be loners our whole lives. I wish we could each find a girl and be happy." The star/comet/whatever-it-was glimmered for a moment, then disappeared, leaving Quatre alone in the quiet afternoon.

======

He quietly took off his half-mask and wiped a bead of sweat from his face. It was hot in the circus tent, especially on a warm afternoon. His act wouldn't be on for a while yet. He took the time to get a drink of water and relax in the shade. It was another boring day. He was used to excitement and battles. This time of peace just wasn't his style. I wonder how Heero's handling it? he thought. He missed being a Gundam pilot but if he was being truly honest with himself, he kind of liked these times of peace. Sort of.

"What are you smiling about, Trowa?"

"Not much. I was just thinking." He knew the voice and was expecting her when she came in to join him. It was Catherine, just as he thought. She looked a little worn out. Trowa idly wondered if she was hot in her costume.

"Any special thoughts?"

"No. Not really." She looked a little disappointed. Trowa knew all about her feelings for him, but she knew that he preferred being a loner. He had only stayed with the circus this long because it traveled a lot, and that was much better than staying in the same place all the time like the other Gundam pilots.

"Oh. I see… Hey, you're up in about five minutes. You'd better get ready." Trowa sighed wearily and put his half-mask back on. No rest for the weary, I guess.

======

It was quiet on the mountainside. The steady trickle of the stream interrupted the calm of the afternoon. A lone figure sat cross-legged on the mountain, his eyes shut tightly. Bugs crawled all over this young man but he didn't even move. Not even a bird's song distracted him from his meditation. He sat there without need of food or drink for over an hour. The sun began to crawl slowly towards the western horizon.

He had once been a fighter. Every moment of his life had been a risk, a gamble to live or to die. He had once gone into battle with a mighty mobile suit. Those days were over now. When once he had four companions to share in the life of a warrior, now he was alone. It was better this way. He liked the times of peace. He no longer had to live with the thought that he was the cause of death and tears. He could enjoy the rest of his life in solitude. Certainly his friends would come and see him but he would mostly be alone. That was how he liked it.

The life of a warrior had been a lonely one. He was no longer a warrior but he still lead the life of a loner. Once a loner, always a loner. That was how it was for him. His shadow was the only part of him that moved as the sun sank lower into the distance.

Author's note: I haven't seen Gundam Wing in a while, so if I OOC them it's not on purpose. That's about it!