[Note] Since I'll be going back to do some of the earlier challenges, I'll be moving the chapters around so the last chapter might not be the actual "update". Thanks for all of your encouragement.

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Disclaimer: Gundam Wing belongs to them, not to me (which is probably a good thing).
Title: The Warmth of Friendship
Author: aomurasakiai
Pairing: Heero/Duo (if you want it to be)
Rating: PG
Warnings: Possible… Shounen Ai/OOC/Angst/WAFF
gw500 challenge: #01 - "cold"
Word Count: 700

"Jeez… it's freezing out here…" Duo could barely whisper as he fell further behind the Perfect Soldier. They had just finished their mission and safely hidden their Gundams on the mountainside, but that had forced them to walk through a hailstorm to the safehouse. He had his arms crossed over his chest, trying to protect them from being pelted with the pebbles of ice. At least only his arms were exposed; he wondered how Heero was taking it with just his tank top and spandex shorts. Looking up, he saw that the other pilot was still walking, as if their current situation wasn't affecting him at all. Truly was the Perfect Soldier.

His braid felt incredibly heavy on his back, most likely from accumulating all the falling ice and snow. Duo felt his eyes beginning to close as well and he barely felt anything in his chilled limbs when he fell to his knees.

'It's really cold…' he thought, wanting to just curl up and go to sleep…

"You baka!" Duo looked up to see the Japanese pilot marching up to him.

"Gomen, Heero-kun," he said quietly, forcing himself to stand. But that was taken out of his control when his left arm found itself around Heero's strong neck and one of Heero's arms was around his waist. The braided pilot was almost bodily lifted from the freezing ground and dragged onwards. Despite Heero's almost inhuman strength, Duo felt that he was also dragging him down with his weight, slowing them both down. And apparently, Heero realized it too.

"This is not going to work," he mumbled to himself. He dropped his hold on his partner and for a fleeting moment, Duo thought he was going to be left behind to die in the cold. However, Heero knelt in front of him and hoisted him up on his back. Eyes widening in shock, Duo was about to protest but it all died in his throat when he felt Heero's surprisingly warm hands under his knees, keeping him from falling off.

"We'll get to the safehouse faster this way," was the only explanation Heero gave. Duo didn't argue with that, being too tired to. His head rested on Heero's shoulder and despite his efforts, violet eyes closed.

"I see the safehouse," Heero told him. "We'll be there soon." Duo tightened his arms around the other pilot, intending to share his warmth, no matter how little it was.

"Ne, H-Heero-kun…" the braided pilot whispered, shakily.

"Don't talk so much, baka. We're almost there." Despite the harsh wording, Duo smiled.

"Heero-kun, I'm… really cold. But, your back is… warm. Very warm."

"Just a little farther." Heero's voice rumbled under Duo's ear.

"Aa…" They finally reached the safehouse and Heero had to shift the braided teen to one side so he could reach out and open the door. The hail and cold followed them inside and Heero struggled to shut the door with one of his feet.

"We're here," Heero told Duo with a hint of relief. But, his heart skipped a beat at the sudden silence from the other pilot. But his soldier mode kicked in before his worry could surface and he set the unconscious boy on the floor in front of the small fireplace. After tossing in the wood blocks, he struck a match and watched as the fire slowly ate the timber. He moved Duo as close to the heat as he could and waited.

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'Warm. Something is… very warm.'

As Duo came out of unconsciousness, he heard the soft crackling of firewood… as well as something very out of place: a soft thumping sound. Once his vision became clear, he realized that he was looking at a bare shoulder. His face flared up when he recognized it to be Heero's and that he was pressed up against the other's naked chest, able to hear the steady heartbeat. Turning his head slightly, Duo saw their clothing drying in front of the fireplace. He smiled as he settled back on Heero's body, not wanting to move away just yet.

"Arigato, Heero-kun," he whispered. Arms tightening around him were the only response, along with a silent thought.

'Yokatta, ore no baka.'

Owari