Weeeeeeeeeeee!
Reviewers, are, of course, always so damned awesome. I'm glad you're enjoying this thingie ^^;
A side note for Savi2070 though, I just wanted to let you know WHY I choose cannon slash couples: it squicks me out any other way. I'm one of those THEY ARE SOOOOOO MEANT TO BE TOGETHER!!!!!! people ^^ Glad you (all) like it aside from that, though.
My first part-POV and first flashbackish thing of this fic... I dunno, it just wanted to be written this way ^^
***
Chapter 24
If you had asked me, during the war, where I thought I'd end up after it was over, I would have instantly said salvage. It was just one of those things that was… written in the stars, you could say. War's end = Salvage. And I did, I went into salvage with Hilde.
But then that second war came and bit me in the ass, and I was all screwed up again. I felt like I was torn… hanging from a thread I'd never noticed before, and I didn't feel right leaving to go back to salvage when there was a chance of a third war.
And I'd be damned if that happened after we went through all the trouble of destroying our gundams.
So, I took the only choice that seemed to be left for me: followed the others into Preventers, and hoped that would fill that void left by the second war.
It did a pretty damn good job, for a while. I enjoyed every extra minute I got to spend with the guys – they'd eased up a lot since the war. Apparently I wasn't too annoying anymore, because even Wufei and Heero were having conversations with me.
Wufei and Heero thrived in Preventers – it was what they were meant to do. They knew nothing but how to be soldiers, and didn't know how to act in the real world. Quatre and Trowa were more in my position – they both had places to go, but they had voids to fill first.
When I filled mine, however, I never really understood why I didn't leave. I'd filled that nagging, empty feeling left with me from the Barton war, so why was I still reluctant – very reluctant – to leave?
Answer: Heero.
Okay, I admit it: I was attracted to him from the moment I saw him, but can you really blame me? Have you seen that guy? Take away the attitude and he was a fine piece of work. Put back the attitude and he was just annoying.
But, I mentioned this, right? He lightened up after the wars. He was… gasp… friendly. It was only to the few war veterans (us, Sally), but that was where it counted. The second I realized that my attraction had morphed into something more I stopped asking for him as my partner. I've read about things like this – if you're on a team with somebody you care for more than the rest, then you make rash decisions to ensure their safety. I didn't think I'd do that – I'd seen what that guy could survive, after all, but I didn't want Une breathing down my neck just as well.
Heero, being the observant one he is, noticed. Apparently he noticed right in the middle of a mission, and it all came crashing down on him. As soon as the mission was over he marched into my office and demanded to know what my problem was.
When I say 'as soon as the mission was over', I don't mean 'after he got cleaned up'. Nope, Heero marched right into my office, sweaty, dirty, ripped clothing, and demanded an explanation. And yes, I still thought he looked sexy. Bite me.
Heero refused any really, really hard missions that required his full attention for a few days after that. I thought he was too cute, walking around with a little frown on his face and a confused look in his eyes. People mistook this for a revelation (which it was, really, but they didn't know what for) and started approaching him. When all he did was stare dumbly at them the rumors flew. 'He had a really tough mission' was one of the popular ones, but so was 'he's finally cracked'.
I thought they were fun, and did my best to stir them around.
After I'd realized why I still hung around, I figured that by leaving Preventers I would effectively be leaving Heero, and that was not acceptable. But, of course, the void was filled. I didn't need it to thrive anymore, and more and more often and started talking about our 'vacation time' and how we'd go to the beach or something.
Then we got our first team assignment in awhile, and everything was shot straight to hell.
***
"Don't you two have class?" Sirius asked the two boys when they hadn't immediately left after Duo's announcement. The two blinked at him.
"We're waiting for Heero," Wufei told him, as if it were obvious.
"You can't just… wait here for him. You have to go to class," Sirius replied.
Duo frowned. "You know, over the last few days I've been told – repeatedly – that I pretty much can't to anything. No running, no cursing, no saving Heero's life, no waiting for Heero to return. It's really, really starting to piss me off."
"If you are both determined to wait for Mr. Yuy to return, you should wait at the front doors of the school," Professor Dumbledore told them. "He'll be arriving there."
Duo smiled. "Great. We'll do that. Thanks, by the way." Dumbledore smiled amusedly and nodded. Duo looked at the two owls, who stared back at him.
"Hoo," Odin said smartly. Shinigami echoed him. Odin echoed back. Thus began a 'hoo'ing match that Duo was quick to put a stop too.
"C'mon you brats," he called. "Let's get a move on." Odin fluttered his wings and launched into the air, landing on Duo's head. Shinigami followed and landed on his shoulder.
Sirius watched, smiling. Wufei glanced at him once more, curious.
"Aren't you supposed to be in hiding?" he asked. Sirius looked at him in surprise, and Duo arched an eyebrow.
Sirius shrugged. "Just checking in on my godson."
"Good day, boys," Dumbledore said, dismissing them. They left the office down the staircase obediently, not speaking until the gargoyle was back in place.
"Who was that?" Duo asked Wufei, who smirked.
"That was Sirius Black."
Duo's jaw dropped. "Really?" Wufei nodded. "So, what'd he say?"
"He didn't do it," Wufei responded dryly. Duo laughed, shaking his head.
"Stupid Kenser," he murmured. "Anyways, let's go wait for Heero!" Odin hooted his agreement, and Wufei nodded. The two pilots set off down the corridor that they believed could possibly bring them to somewhere near the front doors.
***
"Now."
"Really, I think you should-."
"Now."
"I really don't think-."
"Now."
"It's my professional opinion that-."
"Now."
"For Merlin's sake, Mr. Yuy!" the doctor exploded, glaring at the boy. Heero glared right back.
"I'm fine. I want to leave."
"You should at least let us check you over once more," the doctor told him. Heero continued to glare.
"Now."
"No, I can't let you-."
"Now."
"Mr. Yuy, do calm down," the doctor said softly. Heero stood, black robes sweeping against the floor.
"I. Want. To. Leave. Now."
She sighed. "If you have a relapse…"
"Then I'll be back. I want to leave."
Seeing that there was no possible way, short of restraining him, that would keep Heero in the hospital, Doctor Thimes finally relented.
"Fine. Fi~ine," she huffed. "I have no idea what's so important that you'll risk a relapse, but I'll get you an escort to take you back to Hogwarts."
Heero's glare relaxed a little, and he nodded his thanks. The Muggle-born doctor, as she'd told him, sighed again and left him alone again. Heero sat down, telling himself he was going to wait ten minutes before getting out on his own.
He had a very important conversation to have with Duo.
***
"'ello then," Hagrid called out. He scanned the group, beaming when he saw Harry, Hermione and Ron. He looked at Trowa and Quatre curiously. "Where's the rest 'o your lot?"
"Asking about Heero's condition." Quatre said darkly. He cast a glare at Zabini, who fidgeted under the scrutiny. CoMC had turned out to be another Gryffindor and Slytherin class. Quatre had assumed this was because Gryffindor was the only house that could handle the Slytherins' behavior, but couldn't be sure. Quatre smirked at the black bruise on Zabini's skull.
"They'll be back later," Trowa finished for him, and Hagrid nodded.
"Righ' then. Well, some 'o yeh were 'ere the other day, so yeh know what we'll be doin'. For the rest 'o yeh, we're studyin' Glumbumbles. Yeh're gonna be pickin' which ones yeh're gonna raise an' get some healthy melancholy fluid from 'em, and yeh'll be marked on how healthy yer Glumbumble is and how effective yer fluid is."
Trowa and Quatre blinked at each other. Trowa shrugged and Quatre grinned, turning back to Hagrid.
"Okay, we got it."
Hagrid beamed. "Righ' then, come get yer Glumbumble cages." The two pilots made their way towards the giant, absently noting that the other students already had their cages and were entertaining their Glumbumbles… or something. Coming up to Hagrid they noticed a box next to him containing five cages. Trowa reached in and plucked a cage out, bringing it to eye level and staring at the creature inside.
The Glumbumble resembled an enlarged bumblebee except it was gray. The insect looked at Trowa disinterestedly.
Quatre grabbed his own cage and peered at the Glumbumble. Hagrid held out a basket to him, and he grabbed it with his other hand. Inside was a lot of the same plant.
"These're nettles," Hagrid explained. "The Glumbumbles eat 'em."
"Oh," Quatre said quietly. "Okay then."
The two pilots, now armed with Glumbumbles and nettles, went and sat in the grass near Harry, Hermione and Ron. They were all looking at a group of Slytherins, and the two followed their gaze.
Blaise and Draco seemed to be arguing over something, and listening carefully they were able to pick out key parts of the argument.
"Stop whining Zabini, honestly. You'd think you were never hit before," Draco said distastefully. Blaise was patting at his bruised face. He glared at the blond boy.
"Well unlike you Draco, I still have parents that'll curse me if they find out I've been bruised by a muggle!"
Draco's face mutated from distaste to rage in seconds and he was up on his feet, wand drawn and holding it at Zabini's neck.
"Zabini, if you don't take that back I'm going to hex you within an inch of your life and then beat the rest out of you!" he spat angrily. Zabini's eyes widened, and he looked like he was going to speak when Draco continued. "My parents owned your family. Your family was, and still is worthless without the Malfoy support. See to it that you never forget your place again."
Snarling at the white-faced Zabini for good measure, Draco stalked off towards the school. Hagrid called after him but got no response. Harry watched him leave, concerned, but Quatre and Trowa were just curious.
"Draco has no parents?" Quatre asked quietly. Harry looked back, quickly blinking any concern from his face.
"Voldemort killed them," he said darkly.
"Killing his own men," Ron mumbled, shaking his head. "Well, can't say they didn't deserve it, it was their own fault for joining up with him anyway."
Quatre hummed softly. He felt sympathy for Draco at losing his parents, but at the same time couldn't quell the concern he felt.
What had the Malfoys done to be killed by their own master?
***
Duo stood outside the doors scanning the countryside anxiously. They'd been standing here for quite a while now – he was getting pretty impatient and only his desire to see Heero kept him rooted to the spot. He and Wufei made very idle conversation at first, but when that had died Wufei contented himself with entertaining Shinigami while Odin fluttered around Duo's head.
What if he really isn't coming? Duo stopped that thought as soon as it manifested. Of course he was coming. Heero had said so himself, and come hell, high water, or Relena herself, Heero did everything he could to keep his word.
Duo had begun pacing back and forth before he finally saw it – a moving speck far down the road in front of him. He froze all movement, staring at the solitary speck as it began to grow. Odin hooted excitedly. Duo watched the speck for a few minutes more until a blurry vision of a robed Heero Yuy came into view.
Duo prided himself on being a strong, respectful soldier. He did not run like a crying, needy woman towards Heero with his arms wide open.
He jogged.
And fine, when Heero came into focus he began running at full speed, but he didn't throw his arms out until they had almost collided, and the force of his body slamming into Heero's knocked the wind out of him.
Regardless, he hung on for dear life, reassuring himself silently. Heero was not going to die on him. Heero would never willingly leave him, and would fight to live. Heero came back to him – Heero was hugging him back with the same crushing hold Duo had on his neck and shoulders.
When both boys decided that yes, air was needed to function, they released each other.
"You're back," Duo stated quite obviously, and breathlessly. Heero grinned slightly and nodded. "Odin missed you."
The little yellow owl was fluttering around the two of them, hooting excitedly. Heero glanced at him, smiled a bit wider and turned back to Duo.
"I was hoping that I was missed by more than Odin," he said quietly. Duo beamed at him. He inclined his head and laid a kiss on Heero's temple, cupping his chin when he drew away.
"I love you, Yuy. Never, ever do that to me again."
Heero sighed softly, and he nodded. "I promise."
Duo grinned. "Okay then. Since we've got that settled, let's get the hell out of this sun. These robes are killing me." Heero nodded and together they walked back to where Wufei was waiting, Odin fluttering and hooting overhead.
As Duo watched Heero accept Wufei's welcome, he couldn't stop that wistful feeling he got whenever he told Heero he loved him. Heero liked to hear it – he said it helped him believe it. He said it made him want to fight for that, and to see if he could feel like that himself.
Duo would wait, as he always would. He loved Heero – he truly did, and he would wait for as long as it took.
One day, he knew, Heero was going to say he loved him back.
***
Aw, sap. ^^;
So we're hinting at a plot. Can you find it? I didn't think so. ^^
Heero's back! ^^;;;;;;;
Oh, and that 2 weeks of no-updates? That was me on vacation. Gomen! ^^;; School will, undoubtedly, hinder my updating, but hopefully not too much!
Ja~ ^^ (And A BIG THANKS to all reviewers! I love you! ^^)
By the way!! I just just noticed that "change URL" thing on my account… I'm gonna do that, but not til like… later in the week. If anybody bookmarks people in Favorites like I do then the link with all the numbers might not work. Just a warning! If you don't understand… Well, if you can't find me look up Elbatsnu under Authors ^^ I'm the only one there.
