Our feet are silent as we move through the underbrush. The air around us is redolent with the thick scent of pine and earth. I can't see the colors, but I know they're the reds, golds, and greens of fall. It's oddly comforting, so I focus on that, rather than the numbing cold that holds me in its grip. I have this half-fear I'm not even going to be able to get the gun from my waist, much less grip it with fingers that have practically lost all feeling. Man, we sure picked a shitty day to get hunted by a sniper.

Something brushes my face. Since it isn't slimy, or scaly, I figure it must be a bush of some kind. In this indeterminable span of time we've been traveling at a pace that makes a snail look like Speedy Gonzales, I've been touched, stabbed, and prodded by so many things, that I've given up reacting. I almost think getting eaten by some native creature would be preferable to this. So I'm not going to complain much if a bear comes up to me and asks if he can have me for a midnight snack. I'll just ask that he eats me head-first so that it won't be a long, drawn out process.

Wufei looks back at me again.

I think he's afraid I'll step on a twig or something and give us away. He needs to give me more credit. I didn't scream when that first bush attacked me, and I've got training and size on my side. For once I don't have any complaint to offer up for being so slight. It's easier to keep from making noise that way. Plus, he forgets I was a thief. The one thing I make no secret about. I've been perfecting the art of sneaking up unseen and unheard on people since I was no higher than an average adult's waist. Not that I can say I've grown much since then... But that's beside the point.

Everything looks the same in the dark. It's a wonder Wufei even knows where he's going. I suppose we'll find that out for sure when we finally stop. That is, if we ever get there. He's being so cautious, I'm of a mind it'll take us the entire night and well into the next day before we make it.

All joking aside, I don't think Wufei can take much more of that. I don't know how much blood he's lost, and he's doing now, and going to be doing, an awful lot to exert himself. We have no way of knowing what'll greet us when we find our friendly neighborhood sniper. And that, is both alarming and exciting. If I was alone, it'd probably be more exciting. But I've got Wufei to worry about, not just myself.

A glint flashes through the covering of trees, and I look up to catch a faint glimpse of the moon. Some days, I miss outer space. I've been away from it for so long now. But I haven't forgotten. I can close my eyes and see the vast darkness of space stretching endlessly, only broken by the occasional shuttle or the presence of a colony. It leaves you with such an overwhelming feeling. A realization of how small you are among it all. I'll go back to that eventually. Maybe by that time, the war will have ended. But I doubt it.

There are moments when I doubt it will ever end. We helped to set the ball rolling, and it's been moving ever since. Oh sure, I know we're only one element in many, but I hope we're the one that'll make the difference. I know I want it to end. I don't live and breath the mission. Not like Heero. For that, I guess I pity him. When this is all over, he'll have nothing left to go to. Maybe I don't either, but I've never really had a set place to be. I've always moved around constantly, doing one thing or another. That's the way that works best for me.

I'll ride this out for as long as it goes. So long as we need to fight, I'm there. Until the end, whichever way it goes, lose or win, I'll keep fighting. For the colonies, for myself... for the others, for the ghosts in my past. It's all I can do, and it's all I want to do. It's been a long haul since the beginning, and something tells me it's only going to get longer. But I can take that. I like a good challenge. There simply hasn't been one made Duo Maxwell won't tackle. Which is probably why I'm crazy enough to agree with Wufei while we, two frozen, injured Gundam pilots, hunt an adversary we can't see, let alone be certain of finding.

Holding back a sigh, I detach my braid from yet another bush, and hurry to catch up with Wufei. Not that I need to hurry _that_ far. I think I've mentioned how impatient I am. Going in slow and easy is not my style. I like to know what I'm doing, and then just do it. My favorite example of this is throwing myself in the middle of enemy suits. Of course, I _do_ have my hyper jammers on my side, so it's not as if I'm completely reckless and irresponsible. I only want to jump right into the action. What can I say, it's all part of my charm. Not that either Wufei or Heero will agree with me on that. I think my charm has either worn thin on them, or it was never working to begin with.

Don't mistake me. I'm as aware of my surroundings as I can be, limited by the night. I listen for every sound, am careful of where I put my feet, and have Wufei in my line of sight at all times. My mind has a tendency to wander wherever it likes when I'm not talking. It doesn't bother to ask me if I like it, so there isn't much I can do about it. Which, as I'm sure you've guessed, is why I subject everyone around me to so many conversations, pointless or otherwise. I'm not too fond of deep thinking, and relaxation for me equals boredom. So while Heero may be content to sit on his computer all day, or Wufei to read his books, it would kill me to remain still for so long.

Man. I sure get repetitive when I'm antsy. I think I've lost count on the amount of times I've mentioned my inability to cease all movement for long lengths of time.

Wufei jerks to stop so suddenly, I almost run into him. By the way he keeps glancing around, I think he heard something. I didn't. Brows furrowing, I trace the path ahead of us with my eyes, and then slowly fan out, trying to catch any signs of movement. Whatever he's focusing on, he isn't saying. Not that I expect him to. For all I know, Wufei considers me a tag-along, not an active part of this little hunting party. He is prone to taking charge without asking, and to doing everything on his own. Well, I got news for him. I'm the one with the gun. He isn't getting it, so I'd better get some answers.

He turns back to look at me. There's a tightness to his eyes, and a pallid hue to his face that tells me he's in pain. It can't be comfortable walking around with a broken arm. We need to splint it to keep it immobile. Even if it's just with a few twigs or something. I suppose we could make a sling out of his jacket.[1] He'd freeze, but since he got shot in the upper arm, the splint won't do much good unless he's got the sling. Now, all that remains is getting him to agree. I doubt we're in much danger here. We're in a highly dense area, and as long as he didn't hear anything, we should be safe to stop for a few minutes. I'm going to insist on it, whether he likes it or not.

"What?" I ask quietly.

He shakes his head. "Nothing."

Nothing? Yeah, right.

"Did you hear something?" I press, not willing to accept that for an answer.

"No." Then, after a short pause in which I think he's having difficulty explaining himself to me (Imagine that, Chang Wufei having to explain himself), he says, "I want to make certain we're going in the right direction."

"Ah." How comforting.

It could be worse. I could be navigating.

"So, we're relatively safe?" I venture.

He doesn't answer at first. He looks around him instead.

"As much as we can be. Why?"

"Take your coat off," I instruct him, bending over to sample the various offerings left by the trees.

When I rise, Wufei is standing in the same spot, unmoving, and staring at me like I've grown a third eye.

"Oh come on," I say in exasperation, "I'm not making a move on you or something. I want to make a sling."

No, if I was making a move on him, he'd know it. Like most things, I don't do that half-way.

Before Wufei averts his face, I almost think I saw a flash of embarrassment. Not possible. I must be imagining things. Nothing embarrasses the intractable Chang Wufei. Especially not some harmless comment about me making a move on him. Or is it so harmless? The bit of warmth that thought creates in me takes me by surprise. Either the stress of the situation is really starting to get to me, or I'm just realizing for the first time that Wufei cuts a rather nice figure, and his lips look pretty damn kissable. Soft and almost pouty, because he has a habit of pursing them in disapproval all the time.

Right. I've lost it.

Enough so that _my_ cheeks are the ones burning.

"We don't have time for this, Maxwell."

My head jerks up. "Sure we do. You've got all the time in the world when you've no where to go but down."

The flat line of his lips, and the slight narrowing of his eyes tells me he didn't find that comment funny.

"I don't need a sling. We need to get moving."

I hold the sticks up. "I didn't remember asking you what you wanted. Now either get that coat off and give me your arm, or we'll just sit here until our friend finds us."

"Maxwell..." he growls, and I know I've pushed the limit when he sounds pissed.

Just my luck I live to step over the line.

"Yes, Chang?" I ask in mock hauteur, inclining my head.

Besides, I figure I have nothing to lose. I'm already marked to die. Maybe that's what makes me so brave. If we get out of here alive, he'll probably make life hell for me for a while. Wufei doesn't like being mocked.

"We really do not have time for this," he hisses, fumbling with his buttons.

I step up to him, balancing the good-sized twigs between my legs. "Allow me."

Without waiting for him to answer, I begin undoing the buttons of his jacket as quickly as I can with my stiff fingers.

I almost missed the look of startlement on his face, but not the stiff set of his body. I know for a fact that Wufei doesn't like having his personal space invaded. I don't know if it's because he has an aversion to being touched, or just doesn't want anyone getting close.

"What are you doing?"

Since it would be cruel of me to take advantage of one of the very few stupid remarks Wufei has ever made, I'll find some other way to bug him.

"Like you said, we don't have time for this. So, I'm helping you."

He makes a displeased sound, but he doesn't push my hands away.

I realize this is the first time I've been this close to Wufei. It's oddly disconcerting. I'm aware of the warmth coming from his body as I get down to the last of the buttons, and for some reason, it only now hits me. We really could _die_. This could be the last moment I see Wufei alive, and it rattles me. How vulnerable, how fragile we are without our Gundams as shields. Yet, I'm not afraid to face death. I'm just afraid I'll take Wufei down with me. I don't need any more blood on my hands.

I smile, though I don't want to, as I pull away. "All done!"

Wufei watches me closely for a few seconds, and I'm afraid he sees past my mask.

But he only says, "Thank you."

Which just about shocks the hell out of me. Expressing his gratitude is not something Wufei is big at. He'd rather not be in debt in the first place.

"You're welcome. Uh... need help getting it off?" I volunteer.

He shakes his head, and I'm forced to watch as he struggles out of it, wincing in pain only once when he slides his injured arm from its sleeve.

Producing the sticks, I say, "Place your arm up near your chest."

He does so, dark eyes watching me the entire time. I don't know why, but it makes me feel self-conscious.

As I slide the first twig behind his arm, my fingers brush across his skin. It's smooth, save for the bumps that signify his reaction to the cold air against bare flesh. I really am something else. I decide I don't like one guy, and then like another, all in the span of one day. Either I'm fickle, or I just don't know what the hell it is I want. Probably both. Good thing I have no intentions of acting on these feelings and ruining our friendship, nor putting myself in another awkward position. Wufei won't become a replacement for Heero. That would not be fair to either of us.

"Here, hold this other one in place. I need something to secure them..." I murmur, wondering what in the world I'm going to use.

"Take the sash at my waist off. It will have to do," he answers quietly.[2]

I look down. A blue one. It ties in the back, so I have to reach both arms around Wufei, careful not to touch him as if I'm trying to embrace him. He remains remarkably still, even as I work to get the knot undone and try to keep from touching any place else. When I get it undone, I do the best I can not to hurt him further as I tie it on. It's only one, but it'll have to do. With the sling securing his arm to his chest, there won't be too much danger of the splint coming undone. We just need it to keep the broken bone immobile. Less pain that way.

"How's that?" I ask, backing away.

"It will suffice," he tells me, and I almost make a face. So much for the disturbing mood the closeness brought. Wufei seems perfectly fine. Another reason why I'd be better to keep my mouth shut, and keep my distance. This is real life. Not a soap opera.

"Okay," I say far more cheerfully than I feel, "let's sling you up."

No reaction. Well, guess Wufei didn't like my pun. Not that I can blame him. It was kind of lame... But damn, trying to get him to lighten up is a tough job.

Securing his jacket so that his arm rests in the sling as much as it can, I slide the sling under his other arm and around his back. He's slim enough that I both sleeves fit around him, with some still left over. It's not the best looking get-up, but as Wufei said, it'll suffice. It keeps his arm from moving, and holds it in place. That'll work for about as long as we need it to. Unless things get a bit rough. I suppose we'll deal with that when we come to it.

"Let's go."

Right. I guess one 'thank you' is all I'm going to get.

Without waiting for me, he turns, continuing on. Apparently, he found his bearings, because he doesn't seemed to be too concerned about whether or not he's going in the right direction anymore. Or maybe he just figures we stood around enough, the sniper will be bound to find us no matter what direction we go in. That would be fine by me. I'm getting tired of all this. I'd rather he just get out in the open so we can get it all over with. Which has a snowball's chance in hell of actually happening.

The rate at which we're moving has picked up. For that, I have to feel some pride. It looks like Wufei's arm was slowing him down some. If I hadn't thought to patch him up, we'd still be moving slowly, and he'd still be in great pain. I'll have to be careful, however. Pat myself on the back any harder, and I'll break _my_ arm.

We settle back into our alert silence. I miss the conversation already, even if it wasn't particularly productive. I'm one of those people that believes you need not be productive all the time. Life is also about having as much fun as you can get from it. The last thing I want, when I look back, is to wish I could have lived differently. That's part of the reason why I'm fighting.

I slant Wufei another glance. Yet, again, I won't take the same steps in my personal life. Call me a hypocrite, call me scared. Maybe I'm both. Right now, I have an out, and I'm taking it. This isn't the time to be thinking about something like this. And I'll leave it at that.

Shadows bleed into one another, and then abruptly, give way to a clearing. We pause at the edge. Like Wufei said, it's a narrow ridge, formed by layers of rock. We're above it, however, and if there's anything below, we can't yet see. I'm suddenly more alert than I've been the entire time traveling here, and almost without thinking, my hand strays to the gun at my waist. If the sniper is somewhere around here, we're going to find him. And end this. One way or another.

Wufei falls back next to me. His words are barely above a whisper, and I have to lean in to catch them. His warm breath fans across my cheek, and I fight to keep from reacting. "The sniper could be here anywhere. Or perhaps not at all. I may be wrong."

I shrug, unconcerned. But my muscles are stretched so tautly, I can feel the scratch across my arm protesting.

"We'll find out soon enough."

And that's it. We won't be talking any longer.

I've got the gun. I've also got the least serious injuries, so I'm the one that's going to take the risk. We aren't going to accomplish anything by standing around. If it means getting shot, well then it means getting shot. If that's stupid, then it's stupid. If I can at least lure the sniper out, then Wufei'll have a chance to get him. I know he'll find the bastard if I can draw his fire. I just hope the place I get shot isn't fatal. I don't actually want to die quite yet. I've still got a lot to do. I didn't keep from killing myself so that I could die a few short years later.

"God, you're a crazy bastard," I mutter to myself, and then, I motion to Wufei that I'm going near the ledge.

My gun is drawn before he can express the fact that he doesn't agree. Too bad. I didn't ask his permission.

Dropping low, gun pointed at the ground as I go, I move out into the open. My braid slaps casually against my leg as I go, and I'm so low to the ground, my knee is nearly brushing it. I feel naked, as if a thousand eyes are on me, yet I can't see them. But it's dark. That isn't as bad as it could be. I've got some cover, so I'd better not waste it. No, I shouldn't waste this slim chance I've got to draw all attention to me and keep it from Wufei. I think he'd probably kill me himself if he knew what I was doing. Because, admittedly, it is pretty stupid. But I like doing dumb things.

Everything is loud to me. The light brush of the grass against my legs, the thudding of my heart, and the faint rustle of air through the trees. My heart is so loud, I almost fear the sniper will hear it and be tipped off. If my luck holds, he'll still by lying down below the ledge. There's only one way to find out, and as I drop to one knee just on the edge of rock, I pull my gun higher. One peek would be all it takes. I brace myself on one arm, and try to keep my breathing steady. I don't want to screw this up.

There's a sharp crack.

The bullet slams into my shoulder with enough force to knock me off balance. As I'm adjusting to the shock of it, the searing fire eating me alive beneath the skin, I'm falling head first over the ledge. It seems to happen so slowly, as if my body is clinging to air. I flip once, my arms flailing out in front of me. It's funny the things you notice, but I'm still holding on to my gun. I catch a brief glimpse of my knuckles, stretched white from the strain, before rock flashes out in front of me, and it's all I can see.

The ground rushes up on me suddenly. The soundless vacuum I was falling in bursts, as I hit rock with enough force to drive the air from my lungs. My back arches as I gasp silently, and my grip on the gun loosens. It skitters across the rocks away from me, and vaguely, outside the pain, I hear it. The full of it sweeps across me, stealing my vision for one moment, so that all I can see is black. I frantically try to claw my way out of it, fighting the need to give in. I can't let go. I have to focus on the pain or we'll both be dead.

I knew this was a stupid idea.

Tears spill from my eyes. I can't stop them. My body needs to release the agony somehow, and at the moment, I can't move. Nothing cooperates for me. Yet, I can feel the sticky wetness of blood seeping down my side. It's warm, taking the chill from the air. But I still can't move. And the panic that siezes me is like static screwing up my brain waves. I scream at myself to get up, but the words won't come out. I still haven't regained my breath. And if I can't move... if somehow I've injured my back in the fall, then I don't want to survive. Because then, I'd be nothing.

My eyes sweep shut.

I guess I was wrong about the location of the sniper.

I hope to God that Wufei is all right. Yeah... here I am, praying to the God of Life. But I figure, right now, we need him.

My breath suddenly comes back to me in one painful gasp, and I rise off the ground, nearly choking on it.

That was unexpected.

There is no time to be thankful for it, however, because something moves just to my left. It hurts like hell, but I throw myself back down and roll. A bullet strikes the area where I was laying. My shell-shocked brain can only register the fact that I'm being shot at. But as I roll again, and avoid another hit, I realize that there has to be two of them. Last I checked, teleportation was a thing of the very distant future. And you know, it's too bad I just so happened to roll away from my gun.

"Having fun?" I spit out, flattening myself against the wall, as far back in the shadows as I can get.

"No more than you," a voice answers back, after a moment's hesitation.

A woman. The sniper, or at least one of them, is a woman. It'd be laughable if I wasn't in such an awkward position at the moment. And here I was, calling the sniper a man the entire time. Guess that'll show me.

Can I kill a woman? You bet your ass I can. When she's out for my blood, I see her as one thing only. A target, the same way she sees me. Unfortunately, I've got nothing to fight back with. And I'm distracted by the silence from above, because it doesn't tell me if Wufei is all right or not.

I'll need to buy me some time while I figure out what to do.

"So, there's two of you, huh?" I ask conversationally.

Silence meets my question. She probably doesn't know what to make of me.

"Pretty smart of you," I continue. "You must have figured we'd try something like this."

"Be quiet!" She hisses. "You're just giving yourself away!"

A shot hits the wall too close to my head for comfort.

I slide farther to my right. Much more, however, and I'm going to be falling off another ledge. I'd rather not repeat that if I can help it. It wasn't fun.

"Rifles weren't made for such a close range. Otherwise, you're a fairly good shot."

If I could get her over here by me, I might be able to push her off the edge. Or, at least get her to fall with me. That's better than chancing she'll live, and get to Wufei. If he's still alive. No, I refuse to believe he's dead. He's stronger than that. And he wasn't the one that made the stupid mistake.

I think it's even worse, because I did it on purpose.

"So, you're from OZ, huh?"

Another shot.

Damn, I'm pushing it here.

"What's it to you?"

She's closer this time.

"I just want to know who's killing me, is all."

There's a glint. The moonlight reflected from the barrel. If I can gather up enough energy here, I might be able to launch myself at her.

"I suppose I can grant your dying wish. Yes, we're from OZ."

As I figured. Relena led them to us. If I live, I might have to let her know exactly what I think of that. If I die, I'll haunt her from Hell.

"Too afraid to take us on in our Gundams, huh? Well, can't blame you there."

There. I can make out a vague shape.

"Why you arrogant-"

Whatever she would have said, is cut off as a form leaps down from above. As startled as she is, I jerk back, wondering if I'm really in for it now, when the shape spins around so quickly I can't follow the movement. The next sound I hear is one of a gun hitting rock. The sniper stumbles out farther into the light as she takes another blow, and I see her clearly illuminated by the moon, balancing precariously on the edge. The last kick is to her chest. With a slight scream, she totters dangerously, and then slips, falling over the edge to disappear.

Sighing wearily, I fall against the wall. It looks like I won't need to jump her after all.

The shape turns away from the edge, walking over to me, to fall down on one knee.

"Hey, Wufei, you took all the fun out of it. We were just about to take a tumble over the edge."

"Idiot!" He snaps, the tension in his tone evident as he reaches out and grabs a hold of me.

The way he jerks me toward him is not exactly gentle.

I get a glimpse of a long, nasty cut down his neck and two across his chest, before he shoves his face so close to mine our noses are almost touching.

"So you met up with the other sniper, huh?" I ask him, staring into his eyes.

"Yes. He's dead."

He says it so coldly, so precisely.

"How come I got the woman?"

He ignores that. "I thought you were dead."

I shrug. "Yeah, me too."

"When you fell over the edge..."

Wufei looks rattled.

"Hey, it's like I always say, you can't kill Death. Maim it, break a few bones, yes, but not kill it."

I think something big is going on here. I just can't get past the pounding in my head or the aches that seem to be coming from everywhere to figure it out.

"You're a fool, Maxwell."

I grin stupidly. "I know."

And then he kisses me.

I say it so matter-of-fact, only because my brain is in shock.

It's so short, only the brushing of his lips against mine, that I can't get past my startlement long enough to kiss him back. But the warmth, the shock of desire stays with me, a tight knot of feelings in my stomach.

He moves away soon after, pulling me to my feet, and avoiding my eyes. I can't tell if he regrets it, or if he thought it was a mistake. I don't know what to say. This should be a good thing. But instead, I feel like a mess of nerves inside. I never expected that from Wufei. I wonder if it was only because he was glad I lived. I wonder if it meant anything at all to him. And yet, I can't say a damn thing, because the words won't come.

Instead, I let him help me up the cliff in silence. We stumble across the opening, leaning on each other for support. It's only now I notice Wufei's sling is lying at an odd angle. I'd suggest stopping to fix it, but I've now lost the use of one of my own arms. The bullet pretty much tore the hell out of my shoulder. It feels great, I tell you. Nothing like it in the world. I want to do it again some time.

Somehow, we make it back the way we came. Still, as we travel, we say nothing. I notice it seems to go faster this time. By the time we make it to our Gundams, I'm feeling somewhat faint. I'm not very big to begin with, and all this blood loss is stealing oxygen from my brain.

When Wufei drops me next to the rock, I lean against it, not minding that things are poking into my legs, or that I'm slouched over so that my good shoulder is touching the ground. My legs were starting to feel like rubber, and I almost didn't think I would make it the last few steps. So I'm happy to keep from moving. That's the only time you'll ever hear that from me.

Wufei sits down some distance from me, breathing heavily and looking as bad off as I feel. We stare at each other, still not speaking. Maybe he doesn't know what to say either. At the moment, as I close my eyes, I don't think it matters. Not yet. I can't think about it right now. What I want, is to go to sleep. To go to sleep and never wake up.

No, not death. I just want to sleep, dammit.

As I slip in and out of consciousness, I hear a sound on the edge of it. It sounds like a suit landing. Maybe OZ decided to try their luck this way after all. Well, they're in for a real fun time. They aren't going to get much of a fight out of us.

"What happened?"

That's not OZ. That's Heero.

I hear myself say, "You're late, Heero. You missed all the fun."

Strong hands force me to stand, and I sway.

"Hang on, Duo."

Was that Wufei, or Heero? I can't tell now.

When darkness rushes up to greet me, I embrace it, falling down with it as it envelops me completely.

Notes:
[1] Gee, who knew that First Aid class would be so helpful. ^_~ And so soon after taking it even...

[2] If that thing around Wu's waist really isn't a sash, well, it is now! ^_^ I needed something, and since Duo's boots don't have laces, and I don't think vines would be very comfortable, this was all I had to work with.