The Last Mission

Midnight of Shadows

()March 4 A.C. 199

Beep Konnichiwa! This is Usagi, I'm not in right now, but I'll be back later so leave a message and maybe I'll give you a call! Beep

Sigh "Tsukino, this is Grant, your boss. It's been two days and we haven't heard from you. If you want to quit, call me back and let me know or else I'll have to terminate you...indefinitely!" click

The answering machine rolled to a stop before shutting off. Soon the little red light began blinking, signaling the message waiting to heard by the owner.

(TLM)

Heero knocked twice before stepping away from the door and placing his hands in his pocket.

"Coming!" a melodious voice called from inside. Shuffling was heard before the door suddenly opened to reveal a petite young lady. His eyes widened a fraction as he surveyed the girl. Was this...

"Ne, can I help you?" But it wasn't. A moment's surveillance pointed out subtle differences. Her hair was lighter, shorter, only reaching down to her back and tied up with an orange bow. Cornflower blue eyes twinkled from a visage

wreathed in joy. She was taller than his target was specified to be, a little on the slender side. An orange sundress graced her figure followed by natural colored sandals.

She frowned when he didn't say anything and placed a hand on her stomach as if to guard it. Heero's eyes were drawn to the gesture and he was again surprised as he noticed the slight protrusion of her belly.

"Did you want something or are you just here to creep me out?" she demanded after another moment of silence. His eyebrow quirked at that. She certainly wasn't meek. He nodded his head toward her.

"Duo Maxwell," he replied. It wasn't necessary to say too much to a complete stranger. Her face seemed to brighten then as if she had an epiphany and she stepped aside to let him in.

"You must be Heero Yuy," at his hesitant glance she continued on, closing the door behind him, "Du-chan told me all about his buddies from the war. He described you very well."

She continued on into the small apartment, leading him to the living room. She directed him to a couch and then headed into the kitchen to retrieve some refreshments. When she turned to go, Heero could see her rounded belly more clearly. She was pretty small, maybe only five or six months along. He wondered who the father was but the familiarity she spoke of Duo with left little to speculate.

"Duo should be back in a couple of minutes. He and Hilde left some time ago to go to the scrap yard," she explained as she placed a tray with two glasses of lemonade on the low table between them before sitting on the armchair.

Her light brows shifted expectantly as she watched him. Heero, not wanting to be rude, picked up a glass of lemonade and sipped. A sour taste briefly registered to his tongue and he schooled his expression. Gingerly he placed the glass back on the table before sitting back on the couch.

The girl leaned back in the armchair, her legs crossed daintily as she lounged in comfort. Heero's gaze wondered around the apartment, his mind wanting for some sort of stimulation. The living room was decorated with a black leather sofa, armchair, and loveseat. Cherry wood tables were placed by the couches, ceramic burgundy lamps occupying the smallest ones. A window provided light into the small room, the burgundy curtain tied deftly back to allow artificial sunlight to filter through. A narrow hallway led off to three separate bedrooms and a bathroom at the end of the hall. The kitchen veered off to the right of the little apartment followed by a balcony. It was cozy, if dark, the type of room he'd expect his comrade to live in.

"So," his head turned towards the voice, "What brings you back to the colonies Mr. Yuy?"

(TLM)

Beep Konnichiwa! This is Usagi, I'm not in right now, but I'll be back later so leave a message and maybe I'll give you a call! Beep

"Usagi, it's me, Molly. Look I know that guy Rubeus was a bit of a creep at the party, but he said he's sorry and he really does like you. Anyway, gimme a call girl, I haven't heard from you in three days! What's up with that! click

The answering machine rolled to a stop before shutting off. Soon the little red light began blinking, signaling the messages waiting to heard by the owner.

(TLM)

He didn't answer. The girl shifted uncomfortably before offering an apologetic smile, "How rude of me, I didn't introduce myself! Aino Minako, but everyone calls me Mina." She held out her hand in greeting, but he merely looked at her. Minako blushed before lowering her hand after getting no response.

"I live here with Duo and Hilde and help around the garage every once in a while. Have you come to catch up on old times with Du-chan? He'd like that very much, you know. He's always talking about his old buddies from the war and how he'd like to find out how they're doing and all. He keeps in touch with Wufei, oddly enough. I swear that man hates Du-chan with a passion. Gee, you know, you look just like Du-chan described you..."

If the girl took a breath between her constant tirades of words, Heero didn't know. She had barely asked one question before she moved on to the next and all he could do was listen. Her questions continued for another minute or two before they were interrupted by a loud...

"I'M HOME!"

Minako stopped mid-sentence and looked up with raised brows toward the entrance. "Ne, I didn't even hear him come in," she muttered quietly to herself, but still audible to Heero's acute hearing. He glanced toward her and took note of her lowered brows and pursed lips. Duo sauntered into the room a moment later and passed them by, heading to the kitchen to seek out a soda, mouth still moving.

"Mina-chan, Hilde won't be back until later, she said she had some catching up to do at the university. By the way, I saw Jubi at the cafe on my way up. She told me the strangest story about some guy she saw last night. Said he gave her the creeps. Funny the description she gave me kinda reminded me of Heero..."

plop

The can dropped lifelessly from Duo's fingers as his sentence trailed off, eyes glued to the person occupying his couch. Heero gazed back at his old colleague, mind noting the subtle changes. He'd grown an inch or two taller, chestnut hairs still in the trademark braid, cobalt eyes still mischievous, and frame still lean yet muscular. He was clothed in dark ripped jeans, a black muscle shirt, and an open navy work shirt with Shinigami's Den stitched on the left pocket. Wrenches and screwdrivers of various assortments hung from the tan work belt around his hips.

The silence stretched between the two as they regarded one another.

"eh-" Duo managed to mutter before a look of complete blankness took over his tense features. He didn't say anything, couldn't say anything as he stared at the figure seated idly in his living room.

Minako turned in her chair to look at Duo finally in concern when he didn't offer any form of greeting to his friend.

Her hands gripped the armchair tightly even as she opened her mouth to say, "Duo, are you ok? You look like you've seen a gho-"

"HIIICHAN!"

Heero was already two steps ahead of him. He scooted to the right of the loveseat even as the blur known as Duo attached itself to the couch and began to squeeze the crap out of the pillow Heero had been leaning against. If he had been any other person, Heero would have died laughing, but seeing as he wasn't, he settled for a raised eyebrow and mere twitch of the lips. Duo continued on oblivious to his surroundings.

"I've missed you so much! Where have you been? Who have you been living with? Why didn't you contact me? I thought you were dead! What took you so long to contact me? Did you miss me? Were you secretly yearning to see me and couldn't be satisfied until you saw me again! Where have you been!"

"Um, Du-chan," Minako offered quietly, face red from embarrassment. Duo stopped rambling to look at her then. Minako simply pointed to the right of him where Heero sat looking at the boy as if he'd lost his mind. It took a moment for Duo to figure it out, but when he did, he dropped the pillow as if it burned and giggled nervously, face turning red.

"I knew that," he offered sheepishly. They could only stare at him deadpanned as he sat there in morbid embarrassment.

Silence.

Uncomfortable silence.

cough

"So who wants cookies!" Minako chirped before bounding from her chair and hastening to the kitchen. As she turned into the doorway a giggle escaped her lips, followed moments later by loud explosive laughter that echoed down the hall.

Duo fidgeted nervously on the couch as he watched Minako leave. He waited a couple of seconds before he finally directed his gaze to the boy next to him. He wasn't saying anything, didn't have to, as his look said it all. Idiot.

"So what brings you to L2?" Duo ventured after another minute of stifling silence. He didn't wait for an answer as he got up from the loveseat to take a spot on the sofa adjacent, body folding into the leather in a comfortable position, all earlier chagrin forgotten. He kicked off his shoes and tool belt, throwing them carelessly on the floor, as he got cozy. "I haven't seen or heard from you since the Mariemaia incident."

Heero nodded his head and regarded Duo with a calm and calculating gaze. He seemed to think on what he wanted to say a moment longer, the hesitation not missed by the braided pilot, before he replied, "Tying up lose ends."

Duo frowned in bafflement, "What loose ends? Plan on doing something big again? Still accepting missions?" He didn't miss the flash that passed Heero's expression. He had struck a nerve.

"Something like that."

"Something like that huh?" No reply. Duo shrugged casually, dismissing the comment as of it meant nothing. His eyes remained steady on Heero's visage though, imploring him to say more. "Heard you were living with Doctor J again, or rather, that creature that calls himself J." Heero's look never changed, though his eyes did seem a bit colder.

"Hn," That was all he was likely to get, nothing more, nothing less. It really didn't matter, "Who's the girl?"

Duo grinned in spite of himself. Just like Heero to change the subject. The once perfect soldier liked to dictate the directions of his conversations. Most likely he had a purpose for being here and once that purpose was fulfilled he'd be out of Duo's life for another interminable amount of time. It was always like that. Heero ghosting in and out of his life as he pleased and Duo never really pressing him for more.

"Minako, though I'd wager she already introduced herself to you. Very friendly. She and Hilde were roommates at the university before they decided to move in with me." He leaned forward to snatch a glass of lemonade from the table and raised it to his lips, taking a massive gulp.

"That's your baby."

He choked, and coughed, spluttering up the sour liquid while trying to regain his breath. It took several moments for the coughing to subside and his breathing to return to normal. Giving the glass a confused look, he set it back down on the table. He'd forgotten Minako's lemonade packed quite a punch. Smoothing the wrinkles in his work shirt, he leaned forward and clasped his hands together, studying them with his brows drawn down in quiet contemplation. The seconds ticked away before he brought his gaze back to Heero and quietly answered him.

"Yes." Heero only stared at him. Duo sighed and leaned back against the couch again, "I don't know what to do. We were messing around a lot when Hilde and I broke up, and then she got pregnant. She wants more from me, but I just don't know what to do. I can't take care of a baby, I'm too young, I wouldn't know how to be a good father, I don't know anything about parenting. I don-"

"Shut up."

Heero's blunt phrase cut him off and Duo looked at him in shock, "What?" he asked.

Heero leaned forward, intense gaze burning into Duo's, "You created that child and you're going to take care of it. It doesn't matter if you know how, you'll learn. You're fortunate enough to have children, to have the opportunity to raise children in this peaceful existence we call life in the here and now. Treasure the fact that you have somebody who loves you, who is willing to give you the gift of a life not your own, to entrust with the fate of a child. Don't take your blessings for granted. We don't have many of them left and you, more than anybody, would do well to remember that."

Duo's mouth closed and opened again in shock before he said anything. For Heero to be so concerned baffled him.

Those eyes were blazing with a fire ignited deep in his soul, a desire unfulfilled. Never before had he considered him to be a compassionate person, or a martyr for children. He opened his mouth to reply when Heero suddenly stood up and stretched out his hand.

"Goodbye Duo, I have to go now." Duo stared at the proffered hand before standing himself. He searched Heero's gaze thoroughly for any sign, and indication for his visit, but saw nothing but cold determination and, oddly enough, finality.

"Heero I-"

"Goodbye Duo."

Duo stared at the Prussian blue-eyed boy a moment longer before heaving a big sigh and stepping forward. Instead of grasping his hand, he engulfed Heero in a hug, holding him tight and leaning his head on his shoulder. Heero went stiff for a minute, body tensed. Slowly he began to relax and finally returned the embrace, albeit loosely.

"I hope you find what you're looking for out there," he whispered before stepping back, "Call me sometime you know," all serious gone, and indigo eyes laughing once again, " I never hear from you. You know I miss ya pal."

They walked to the door then, and Duo watched a Heero strolled down the hall, watched until the young man was out of sight and out of his life once again. Slowly he closed the door and leaned against it, eyes closed in concentration.

"Did your friend leave already?"

He opened his eyes to se Minako there, blues eyes radiating concern. She looked so pretty standing there, she always did. Always so worried about him, making sure that she wasn't a burden to him, never complaining about the way he treated her, even though he was hardly home. She loved him so much, every ounce of her body radiating her passion, and he never took the time to tell her how much she meant to him. Always took for granted that she would be there just because she was carrying his child. And he loved her for it.

He loved her.

His eyesight became blurry then, and he blinked to clear them, droplets trailing down his cheek. Minako rushed forward in concern, hands cupping his face, brows drawn down, and lips pouty. "Duo, what's wrong?" He shook his head and took a deep breath, hands coming up to grasp hers and pull them away. Minako opened her mouth to say something, but was cut off by Duo's lips on her own. The kiss was sweet and light, love in every caress of his lips. When he pulled away, Minako gazed at him with star struck eyes. Duo smiled down at her and pulled away from the door.

"Why don't we go out for dinner, just me and you tonight, like we used to?"

(TLM)

"Please buckle your seatbelts."

The attendant announced as the passengers settled into their seats. Heero leaned back in his seat and glanced at his ticket stub once more. L3, the last destination for this flight. He was lucky to have gotten a plane ticket on such short notice.

He stuck the stub in his pocket and closed his eyes. It would take a day to get there. It would do him good to get some rest.

(TLM)