Disclaimer: Gundam Wing belongs to them, not to me (which is probably a good thing).
Title: Sentiments
Author: aomurasakiai
Pairing: Heero/Duo (friendship but could be more)
Rating: PG
Warnings: Shounen Ai hints, AU, post-EW
gw500 challenge: #24 - "magic"
Word Count: 591

Heero crossed his arms over his Preventer uniform as he stood in the snow-covered clearing, waiting for the god-forsaken fireworks to begin so he could go home. Sometimes he wondered why, year after year, he always managed to get himself dragged into the New Year's celebration that the Preventers had held since the Second Eve Wars ended. Well, he knew the reason; he just had a hard time admitting it to himself…

"Hey, Heero." Duo came walking up to the unruly haired Japanese, also wearing his Preventer uniform. "Excited?" Heero shrugged in an uncaring way and Duo huffed at him.

"Honestly now, Heero. People will think you don't want to be here."

"I don't," Heero said tersely. Duo blinked at the other before chuckling and turning to look at the dark sky.

"Figured as much. You were never into sentimental things very much, ne?" Duo heard the soft grunt from his long time partner and smiled almost wistfully. Looking around, he saw almost everyone gathered around in anticipation of the fireworks show. He checked his watch under the limited lighting provided by the moon. Another 5 minutes or so to go.

The braided American jumped a bit when he heard a hissing sound but relaxed when Heero held up a box of sparklers for him, himself holding one that was already lit.

"They were passing them out," he said matter-of-factly, nodding his head toward some of the other Preventers carrying armfuls of boxes around to the rest. Duo took one and gave Heero a grin.

"Thanks." Heero held his up and Duo lightly touched his own sparkler to the burning tip and immediately it flared up. He moved it up and down, watching the smoky trails slowly fade away. He wrote his name in the air, and smiled as it too faded away. Duo turned to his Japanese friend, his smile turning into a frown when he saw that Heero was just staring at the sparks shooting from the end of his wand. But, as if the unruly haired ex-pilot could sense his gaze, cobalt blue eyes lifted to meet violet ones.

"You seem… quieter than usual, Heero," Duo said softly after a long moment. Well, the "Perfect Soldier" was always quiet, but the braided young man felt that it was somehow different this time.

"If you didn't want to be here, then why are you?" Duo voiced the question that he had been wondering earlier when he'd found Heero by himself. They both stared at each other silently for the longest time, their faces lit up by the flickering sparklers. Duo felt as though Heero's intense stare, combined with the reflections of the sparks off his eyes, was burning straight through him and he tried his hardest not to look away. Heero pointed his sparkler at Duo.

"Because you're here." Duo blinked, stunned.

"What?" The countdown was beginning and their sparklers were finally dimming, indicating they were coming to an end. Duo thought he saw Heero's expression softened before the sparklers went out completely.

"Because you're here," he repeated in the semi-darkness. "Then it… has a more sentimental value."

"Three… two… ONE!" And the fireworks began, but the two ex-Gundam pilots never took any notice. As the bursting fireworks lit up both of their faces in a spectrum of colors, Heero smiled and Duo saw that clearly.

"Happy New Year, Duo," he said before turning his attention skyward. Still stunned and trying to process what had just happened, the braided American just nodded rather numbly.

"Happy New Year, Heero."

Owari