Broken Glass
WARNINGS: Allusion of shounen-ai. Don't say I didn't warn you. Rated PG-13 for future violence.
Don't own Gundam Wing... ::whistles innocently:: I mean, I may be maliciously mauling the characters, but they still don't belong to me!
Thanks to Nelia, Krnji, Kanaloas Wrath, and matts girl for reviewing!! Luv ya!!
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He shifted Duo so that he could shield his eyes with his right hand – the white light was harsh and piercing, and...
It was a car.
A car.
Heero began to thank Duo's God.
"You've had it rough here, ne, 'Perfect Soldier?'"
Heero blinked away the spots dancing in front of his eyes to see the face of Quatre Raberba Winner. "Hn," was his only reply.
"What happened to Maxwell?" That was Wufei, onyx eyes narrowed in what was either annoyance or concern. Most likely both. "What has he done to himself this time?"
Heero was compelled to retort with another 'Hn,' but found himself explaining instead. "It was a mission, 05. On missions those who do not take care will get injured or possibly killed." He glanced meaningfully around at the others. "Duo's condition is critical. I am not sure if he will live or die." In his head he was chanting, over and over again, Let him live. Let him live. Let him live.
"We've got to get him to a hospital," said Quatre worriedly.
"Hn," agreed Heero, though inside he was mumbling, But Duo hates hospitals...
*****
The first thing out of Duo's mouth when he opened his eyes had been, "How long till I can get out of this place?"
...to which Heero had answered, "Two days at most."
Duo, surprised at actually being answered instead of being treated to yet another 'Hn,' blinked profusely and then said, almost fearfully, "It's not like I'm injured seriously or anything – "
"Two cracked ribs, sprained angle, broken arm, twisted index finger..."
Duo grinned good-naturedly, though it looked painful. "I was wondering why I'm covered with bandages."
"Hn," Heero grunted, features emotionless.
Duo's face fell, and he turned his gaze down to the spotless white sheets. The fingers of his good hand were twisting the edge of the fabric. Heero couldn't help but notice that the American's arms were nearly as pale as the bedsheets themselves. But he kept his worries to himself.
Duo sighed and fingered the end of his braid. It was nowhere as neat as it normally was, frizzy near the top, with stray hanks of hair pulled out at odd intervals. Heero watched the other pilot through slitted eyes as he gingerly leaned over the side of the hospital bed and produced a hairbrush from his small duffel bag. Trowa had brought it from the safehouse, then taken Wufei and Quatre back to await their return. Heero had been designated as the one to stay with Duo until he could be released.
Duo began to rake his fingers through his hair, effectively undoing the braid [A/N: It may be hard to picture this if you've never had long hair and worn it in a braid. See, you'd take about ten years to untwist it, so you sort of pull it apart at the center with your fingers.] He attempted to brush his unkempt hair left-handed; he ended up dropping the brush, as his left index finger was still bandaged. It skittered away across the floor, stopping right in front of Heero's chair.
Duo opened his mouth – probably to ask Heero to pick it up – but closed it again when Heero closed the space between them in three long strides, holding the brush. "Turn around," he instructed quietly. Duo complied. Heero undid the rest of the braid, then tentatively, gently began to stroke the brush through Duo's messy hair. Duo stiffened slightly, unused to Heero doing anything gentle. But his touch was soft, and the other pilot gradually relaxed and closed his eyes. Heero, not wanting to jolt Duo out of his newfound sense of security, sat down slowly next to him.
Usually Duo was nervous around the Perfect Soldier – it wasn't that obvious, as he talked endlessly to hide his fear. It was only another part of his façade.
Heero concentrated on running the brush down through Duo's now-shining hair, then, unexpectedly, hit a snarl. Duo flinched as his head was jerked backwards.
Heero stopped, unsure, and put down the brush. "I'm sorry," he mumbled. After a moment of silence, Duo nodded shakily – his mask was glass once more, crystal clear. There were fractures in the fragile material, marks that foreshadowed a final shattering...
Heero once again wondered why Duo had chosen a laughing front to hide his inner turmoil. It was only times like this when the glass became truly transparent, truly see-through.
Heero undid the snarl with callused fingers, as gently as it was possible to be. After giving it a final stroke with the brush, he separated the silky auburn strands into three sections...and began to braid.
Duo's hair smelled of vanilla, Heero reflected. Probably the shampoo he had used to use.
He realized he'd nearly finished when Duo handed him a black rubber band and said, "Where'd you learn to braid hair?"
"From watching you."
The cheery, laughing Duo – the mask – was back now. He raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really? I didn't know I was being spied on." He chuckled good-naturedly.
"Hn," Heero said.
"Yeah, now you've used up your daily quota of words, haven't you?"
"Hn."
A comfortable silence descended over the room.
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Aaaaw...Heero and Duo make such a cuuuute couple!! ^.^V 1+2 rulez!!
Review please!!
