Disclaimers: First page

Warnings: 1x2, Angst in later chapters, rated M for mature themes.

……………………………… "Sunlight"

Duo had been gone for no more than a day and a half when I realized that I missed the annoying boy. And not only that, I was worried about him!

I raged silently in my mind about his less than redeeming qualities. It was an effort to rid myself of this debilitating weakness but at the moment nothing seemed to work. Duo had, in fact, become such an integral part of my life that I could not bring myself to care about what I did before he was here. Concerned, I had J retrain me. I didn't want to be distracted by these emotions. Not when I had this responsibility to the cause.

………………………………

It had been about a week since I had gotten back and Duo still had yet to return. Of course, I was no longer concerned for his well being, but more for the danger he represented if he were to be captured and give out any of our secrets.

A day later he stumbled through the back door, heaving a sigh of obvious relief. I felt my chest tighten painfully with an emotion I could no longer remember when I took notice of his injured body. I shoved the feeling away ruthlessly. He had made it back alive, which meant that he had not been caught. It was all that mattered.

Turning to go upstairs, I caught a fading look of hurt that passed through his violet eyes. Only, Duo could no longer sway me with petty emotions. I was immune to his previous charm and he had realized that fact immediately by just looking at my face.

As I shut my door I heard Quatre asking him what was wrong and then his short and despairing reply of "Don't worry about it Qat."

………………………………

Of course I had noticed the damn window when I had first arrived at the safe house. It was a large window that looked out over the vast landscape. From it you could easily be spotted from the surrounding area. That must have been the reason I froze when I walked into the living room one evening to see Duo, leaning against the panes of the glass, framed by the setting sunlight, a blatant target.

I glared at him before stalking over, making myself just as vulnerable as he had himself.

"Hey Heero? I was thinking about the last time we talked and well…"

The last time? I snorted mentally, I would hardly call what we did 'talking'. He had blabbered the whole time before he thought it would be a good idea to taunt me, that was when I had drawn my gun and the whole incident was over in my mind.

"…Anyways I just wanted to apologize. I know I was way outta line and shit. Um…yea."

He looked honestly ashamed of his actions but I could hardly believe him.

After a few tense minutes, Duo shyly looked up at me from under his lashes. I was still wondering what I was thinking, just standing there like a fool when I had more resourceful things I could be doing when he suddenly reached for me. His arm was in my grasp within seconds and his violet eyes stared into mine with some emotion I couldn't name. He then proceeded to hastily but softly press his lips against mine.

I stood still; Duo's eyes shut for a brief moment before he pulled away, a look of giddy happiness on his features. Blinking, I realized that in this moment, he looked so strangely beautiful I could not pull my eyes from him. The sun that had been setting steadily was casting a haze of golden light on his face; his hair was so intense it looked as if it were on fire, and his eyes held that same fire, only for me.

What shocked me most about that moment in time is that I had stood by and let it happen. I did nothing to stop it. Duo had kissed me, and gotten closer to me that any other human had ever done and still, he lived to tell about it. And then I had watched him, entranced by the sunlight's play on his features.

The moment seemed too wonderful for him that I, for some unknown reason, could not end it in anger. Instead I just let his arm go and then gave him a last once over before I, myself went back to my life. But I could NOT let him get away with it.

There would be time later for retribution. He would learn that he couldn't play those sorts of games with me.

AN:

Sorry about the wait. I hope you all like the newest installment of GUOL.

A big thank you goes out to Akito-kun and one-winged-shinigami for their reviews. GUOL is still in its fledgling stage but I hope to make it big, I hope you two will be there along the way!

AN2: this is a repost of chapter 3. Grammar and such has been hopefully fixed for the most part.

Ryuinu