Disclaimer: Still not mine…

AN: This is it! I think… Unless anyone has any more crazy ideas… which are welcome!

Watching You

Epilogue

"Duo… I… I'm sorry," I said softly, concentrating on the piece of wiring before me.

"Nani?" he asked; I saw his black-booted feet come over and stop before me, saw him crouch down and look up at me with those big blue eyes, slight concern dancing in his gaze.

"Sorry for what?" he asked.

I dropped my hands into my lap, finally looked up at him.

"Sorry for… for betraying you like this. For… for…" I sighed. "For going and falling for someone like Chang Wufei while you were sitting here trying your hardest to – "

"Hey!" he said, cutting me off, but his voice was far from harsh. "Hey, don't go saying that. We all make mistakes," he said softly, "but you know what? *That's* not one of them."

He was smiling, and despite the fear, the terrible feeling of betrayal and pain in my stomach, that smile still made me feel better.

"But –"

"No," he said, shaking his head, the tip of his braid sweeping back and forth across the floor as he did so. "Don't apologize when you've done nothing wrong. We were over a long time ago, and I was just too stubborn to see it."

"But I didn't have to go and –"

"Hey," he said, cutting me off again, "do you *know* how long it's been since I've seen the Wu-man crack a smile?" He paused. "Come to think of it, I don't think I ever *did* see him smile up 'till now."

I looked down again. This was so stupid. Wasn't it…?

"You mean a lot to him," Duo said softly; I looked back up at him, confused at the seriousness of his words, of the weight of what he was saying. "I don't know if he ever tells you that, but even a baka like me can tell. And if he *doesn't* tell you that, then have him come and talk to *me*." Duo grinned, and I caught myself smiling, just a little, at what he was doing. What he was finally giving up, how he was setting me free somehow.

"Besides," he said, waving his hand, looking off to the side, "I've got my sights on someone new. And *this* should be a real challenge, even for the Great Shinigami!"

I felt my eyes narrow. "What? Who?"

He grinned, and leaned over, whispering a name in my ear.

My eyes widened as he pulled back. "Ne? Whaddaya think? How long's it gonna take?"

I suddenly burst out laughing, shaking my head. "Oh boy… until hell freezes over, Maxwell… but hey, I know you've got some strings you can pull."

He grinned, and leaned in, giving me a quick hug that I hadn't expected in the least. But nonetheless found myself returning.

"You're a different person," he said, letting go and standing up. "And I think I might just like this one better. Thanks for the parts!" he grinned, holding up the handful of miscellaneous resistors I'd dug up for him. "Ja!"

And he bounced back off toward Deathscythe, juggling the parts as he went, making sure to toss one at Heero before innocently walking on as if nothing had happened.

I smiled, and shook my head.

When hell froze over.

But who knew?