This is just something pretty short... from Sept, 2001. But if you haven't read it, it's new to you! Please enjoy.
Title: Bridge of Spring
Author: Ileana (babygray)
Pairing: 1+2
Disclaimer: GW is not mine. This is pure jest.
Notes: Plot influenced by Banana Yoshimoto's Moonlight Sonata (printed in Kitchen). A bit rough and un-beta'ed.
The snow crunches with each step he takes towards the next ward. In his hand is a letter in need of a stamp.
The city is soundless in the constant of a cold February snowstorm. The streets are empty of people and vehicles. The river murmurs in the distance as he approaches the bridge.
He has never gone into that particular ward. In fact, it has been six months since the last time he has been anywhere near that bridge.
A sudden wind curls around him while blinding him momentarily with snow. He wipes some on the snow from off his face and continues.
The closest post office to his house that is open is in the next ward... the ward Duo came from. The post offices in his own ward can be on the other side of the city, as far as convenience is concerned.
He pauses in the calf-high snow and looks up at the white curve of the bridge. He hesitates, feeling the skin on his face contracting in the cold.
Tightening the grip on the fragile envelope in his hand, he takes the first, thus bravest, step onto the bridge.
He walks across the bridge slowly. His more foolish side makes a wish with each step, but as he draws closer to the center, logic settles in.
Somewhere, in a frozen corner of the city, a bird calls out.
Heero looks up at the sound and gazes out on the dark waters of the river. Even in the cold embrace of winter, it refuses to freeze. Heero gives it a smile.
Something dark in his peripheral vision moves, drawing his attention away from the waters.
He turns in time to see a thinly dressed figure stumble and begin to collapse a third of the way across the bridge. Without hesitation, Heero dives for the figure in an attempt to catch him.
The jogger falls into the soft snow before Heero reaches him. A strong wind began to blow upstream, threatening to bury the exhausted young person in the white nothing before Heero can get there.
Falling to his knees, Heero grabs the person's soaked sweatshirt and pulls his face up. He almost lost his grip on the wet cotton once he sees who it is.
"Duo..." Heero whispers the name so softly he couldn't hear his statement above the harsh breathing of the young man he chanced upon. Duo's skin is cold, frozen and covered in sweat, as Heero wraps his arms underneath Duo's and tries to haul him up.
Duo makes no attempt to verbally acknowledge what is going on. His hand clenches the coat Heero is wearing as Heero pulls him closer. He holds his old bridge friend as a white silence wraps around them.
Out, in the midst of snow and wind, a bird calls out in a shrill voice.
Heero looks down upon his shivering bundle and instinctively lifts the dead weight up. Ignoring the wind and the deepening snow, he begins walking back to his apartment.
He accidentally leaves the white envelope behind.
--
Heero repositions the moist towel on Duo's forehead as the snowstorm begins to lessen outside. Duo's breathing has become more natural and regulated, yet a fever has settled in. Heero was able to remove the wet sweatsuit and worn sneakers before tucking Duo into his bed.
Duo's wet clothes are on the plush carpet by the foot of Heero's bed. On the wall, a clock ticks out the seconds of silence, one after the other. A weak light filters through the apartment's windows. The sky is still overcast and the city is still silence.
Heero left the kitchen light on for some strange reason, allowing the warm amber to seep into the otherwise dark bedroom. On the stove, a pot of water slowly boils itself ready for some noodles, for some soup.
Heero sits in a chair he had pulled up to the bed's side and watches his bridge friend sleep. Duo's thermos stands by his feet, waiting to be used.
His phone begins to ring, but he makes no move to get it. After twenty rings, it stops.
Duo stirs slightly in the bed. He opens his eyes slowly and sees his old bridge friend looking down upon him in a silent, dark room.
"Where am I?" he whispers, his voice rough and tired.
"You collapsed on the bridge. I brought you to my place." Heero lifts the thermos up from the floor and opens it. With the open thermos in one hand, he helps Duo sit up with the other. "Drink."
Duo takes the thermos and holds it with both of his hands. "I fainted, huh." He lifts the thermos to his face and breathes in the smell of tea, milk and lemon.
Heero nods. The clock ticks off its seconds.
Duo takes a drink from the thermos, allowing the hot liquid to course down his throat. The warmth did not dispel, but rather gathered fiercely and distinctively in his stomach. Duo smiles.
Heero frowns, but keeps his opinions to himself. "Would you like to stay for dinner?" he asks instead.
Duo looks at Heero for a moment, wondering if it's the kitchen light that is making Heero look so fierce. "If you don't mind..."
Heero nods once more. He takes the cloth that had fallen from Duo's forehead and stands. "My name is Heero Yuy." He extends his hand.
Duo looks at the hand offered questioningly before extending one of his own. "Duo Maxwell. Nice to meet you Mr. Yuy." They shake hands.
In the other room, the phone begins to ring.
--End