Disclaimer: Gundam Wing belongs to them, not to me (which is probably a good thing).
Title: Simple Rewards
Author: aomurasakiai
Pairing: Heero/Duo
Rating: PG
Warnings: AU, bit of sap/WAFF
gw500 challenge: #31 - "challenge"
Word Count: 665

"And it's the final lap!"

Duo was ready to collapse, feeling the strain on his legs as he rounded the track. He really wanted to beat Heero Yuy, champion of last year's school marathon, this year. Glancing up, he saw that the unruly haired teen was still ahead, though not by much. He pushed his exhausted body forward, catching up inch-by-inch.

Heero was well aware of the effort that the braided boy was putting into the race. He smiled to himself as his mind wandered back to last year when they first met. It had been extremely close but in the end, he had crossed the finish line first. He had been catching his breath when Duo had come up to shake hands with him. That was the day he found out how captivating the other's violet eyes were. But after that, they had remained as total strangers.

"It's going to be close! Who will win?!"

Heero saw out of the corner of his eye that Duo was pushing himself beyond the limit. Glancing ahead, he saw that they were quickly approaching the finish line. After a split second decision, he slowed almost minutely and Duo unknowingly gained the advantage, crossing the finish line first.

Cheers erupted from students and teachers alike while Duo leapt up and gave a shout of victory. In no time at all his friends and many girls surrounded him. Heero seemed to be forgotten as he looked at the crowd all over the braided teen. He started to turn away when he too was enveloped with people congratulating him. The Japanese teen could only nod politely at the overexcited spectators.

"AHH!" Quickly turning around at the shout, Heero saw the braided boy feeling around his neck and then frantically searching the ground.

"My cross! It fell off! I had it when the race began. I know I did!" Duo knelt down and brushed away the dirt on the racetrack, trying to find his lost necklace. Heero watched silently as distress and desperation marred the heart-shaped face. Everyone else spread out to help search; only Heero didn't move.

-----

"Duo, it's getting dark. We can come back tomorrow." Duo didn't even acknowledge what his friend, Quatre, was saying. He had continued to search around the track for his missing necklace long after everyone else had left. Only his closest friends stayed behind.

"He's right. You need to eat and rejuvenate your energy," Wufei said.

"We'll be able to search better in the morning," added Trowa. Looking up with tired eyes, Duo nodded wearily and allowed his friends to lead him home. Minutes later, a certain Japanese boy armed with nothing but a flashlight, walked out onto the track just as night fell over the city.

-----

Duo slowly opened his eyes against the sun streaming through his window. Remembering what had happened the day before, he bolted upright in his bed.

'I need to go find it,' the braided teen thought before quickly changing and heading downstairs. The cross was from his mother, one of the few keepsakes he had after she had passed away. He must find it. Opening his front door, he nearly ran into Heero who had his hand poised over the doorbell.

"Heero? What are you doing here?" Duo asked, surprised. The Japanese boy said nothing and held up his hand. Duo recognized his cross but instead of a silver chain, it was a gold one.

"The chain was broken so… I switched it. Gomen." Eyes wide with shock, the violet-eyed boy carefully took the necklace from Heero.

"You found it…" he whispered. Then he realized that he'd never seen the other when he had been looking for it. So it meant that…

"You searched all night?" Heero nodded, almost embarrassed.

"WAI!" Before the unruly haired boy could react, he found himself embraced by the other. "Arigato, Heero! I don't know how to repay you!" Heero blinked once before smiling to himself.

'This is more than enough…'

Owari