Author's Note: I think that the title should be enough to tell you what's happening in this chapter. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing

Warning: slight swearing

Catching Up

Ah. Nothing like waking up from a nap in the middle of the afternoon. Refreshed was the only word he could use to describe it. However, he was too comfortable where he was that he lacked the motivation to get up and out.

"Hey Kid? Could ya answer someding for me?"

Duo cracked open a violet eye, looking at Solo inquisitively. "Shoot."

"I was wonderin' why everybody calls ya Duo."

Now opening both eyes, he patted on a spot on his bed, saying simply, "Sit. This might take a bit."

Duo waited patiently as Solo settled himself in the spot where Duo had patted, green eyes boring him, demanding an explanation. He could have chuckled at the turnabout. Years ago, it would have been him listening as Solo talked. My how things have changed…

"Now, to answer your question: why does everybody call me Duo? Well, remember when I thought you were dead when it really was Copy Chris?"

Solo nodded.

"Well, I still thought it had been you. That's where Duo comes from. I gave it to myself to remember you by in the belief that I would live for the both us, living for two instead of one. Are you getting me so far?"

"I'm getting' ya," Solo answered, falling silent again.

"I don't have to tell you that I worshipped you when we were younger," Duo commented, smiling up at his blond friend.

"Course ya don't," Solo said. "A lot of kids liked me. Ya stuck 'round da longest dough."

"Wait, are you saying you just tolerated me?"

Solo shook his head in amusement. "Not at all. I liked havin' ya wit me."

"And I liked…no loved being around you," Duo replied.

"Do ya still?" Solo asked.

"What do you think?" Duo answered.

Solo chuckled, bringing a hand up to cup Duo's cheek, thumb stroking the flesh. Duo leaned into it, closing his eyes. Oh yeah…oh yeah, that was familiar. Very familiar. If he recalled correctly, he was the only one who Solo touched like this, though he did it when nobody else was around. It had been an old method he had used to help him fall asleep back when they were kids and it was something Solo had used when they…

"Hey Solo?" he asked, eyes still closed.

"Yes?"

"You think I can see that scar again? You know, the one Copy Chris tried to put on his own body."

"An' fucked up badly? Sure."

Solo maneuvered himself so that his back was facing Duo before he removed his shirt. Duo's eyes trailed over the long scar that was still visible, despite the many years that had passed. From nearly the tip of Solo's left shoulder extending down and ending just about the right side of his hip, directly above the right butt cheek, it was the same as the last time the braided one had seen it.

Solo looked over his right shoulder at Duo and smirked. "Like wat ya see Kid?"

Duo blinked and tried to grasp at what Solo had said. Like what he saw? What did he mean by…

It was then he took in Solo's physique. Though it was still thin due to malnutrition, he could still see the muscles in Solo's back that gave proof to harsh living. It was quite a feat that Solo's ribs weren't showing, though Duo knew without a doubt there was not an ounce of body fat anywhere. And this was just Solo's back. How much different would his front be?

"C'mon, Kid. Talk ta me," Solo teased. "Ya almost droolin'."

Duo shook his head, eyes widening. Oh crap, that wasn't a good move but then again it shouldn't have been too much of a surprise after all.

Still smirking, Solo turned around completely, revealing the rest of his torso to the braided one. It wasn't heavily muscled but there wasn't any fat either. It was definitely stronger looking than from the last time he had seen it. He gulped as Solo drew closer, hovering just in front of his face, that smirk still on his face.

"Dun be nervous Kid," he said. Then he leaned forward, planting a small kiss on his forehead. Pulling back, a smile on his face instead of a smirk, he said, "Wat about ya scar? Can I see dat?"

Duo nodded, transfixed on the blond. He raised his shirt up and pushed down on the side of his pants to reveal the remains of what looked like a jagged gash, extending from his abs towards his back. However, unlike Solo's, Duo's was more faded, obviously a result of taking better care of his skin. Nonetheless, Solo whistled as he reached out a hand and delicately touched the scar, tracing it as if in fond memory.

Then Solo looked back up at Duo, his normally lively green eyes sad. "I've never forgiven myself for dis," he said, his hand stopping its motions on the scar.

"Solo, it wasn't your fault," Duo stated. "I was careless. I learned from it and never let it happen again."

"Watever ya say," Solo muttered under his breath. Then speaking up, he asked, "Wat happened to ya after we separated?"

"Well, you already know I went to the Maxwell Church," Duo began. "I went back onto the streets after that."

"Da streets? Did ya ever go ta one of da old hideouts?"

"I kinda stayed away from those," Duo admitted. "Too many memories and I thought you were dead then."

"Okay. Wat next?"

"Well, eventually I stowed away on a sweeper ship that was leaving L2."

"Stowaway? Risky. Ya know wat woulda happened if ya was caught, right?"

"That's the thing, I was caught. However, there was this guy on board as well. Professor G. He was impressed that I got through his security and offered me a job of sorts."

"Wat kind of job?"

Looking straight into Solo's eyes, Duo said, "To become a Gundam pilot."

"Whoa. Ya mean ya was one of dose?"

"Yeah," Duo answered, unsure of what Solo's reaction would be.

"Cool. Which one was ya?"

Surprised, Duo answered, "02."

"02?"

"I was the pilot of Deathscythe. You ever heard of the God of Death?"

"Dat was ya?" Solo exclaimed.

"Yep."

"Cool. Wat was it like?"

"That's a good question. How can you put describe something like that? Well, it was liberating. I got a rush each and every time I sat down in the cockpit. Solo, wipe that smile off your face, you know damn well that's not what I meant."

"Yeah, yeah, I know. Just get back to wat ya was sayin'."

"Fine. Anyway, it made me feel like I could do anything, like I was truly immortal, the God of Death incarnate."

"What?"

"What do you mean 'what?'"

"Dat word ya said. In…car…someding. Wat does dat mean?"

"It's a fancy way of saying 'in the flesh,' I guess."

"Oh. I see."

"Is there anything else you want to know?"

"Maybe later," Solo said, getting off the bed and stretching. Duo couldn't help but take a peek before the blond could catch him. Damn, he was still as…what was the word? He couldn't come up with one at the moment. Maybe later. Odd, that sounded just like what Solo just said…

"I'm gonna go look for someding ta eat," Solo said as he started heading for the door. "Want anyding?"

Shaking his head and bringing himself up to speed, Duo answered, "I'm good."

"Take it easy den, Kid," Solo said, smiling at him. Duo had to blink his eyes. Now, right now, Solo resembled somebody he knew. He looked just like…Quatre? However, Solo soon spoiled the sight by winking at him, implication clear in that action, before leaving and closing the door behind him.

Duo continued to stare after Solo, his mind still coming to grips with what he had just seen. Quatre…Solo…those two…really did look alike. Sure there was enough difference to tell who was who but there were those moments when the two really looked like each other. So much so that they could have been twins.

Which was preposterous. What? Didn't think he knew that word? Pfft, people these days. Anyway, it was ridiculous to think that those two were even related. Unlike him, Solo did know who his parents were before they abandoned him. Quatre also knew his and it was a known fact that he was the only male child out of thirty children. All the others, even the miscarriages, had been girls.

But that didn't explain why he was seeing double. At least he hadn't seen Quatre look like Solo…oh wait, scratch that. What had been preventing him from getting into a relationship with the Arabian in the first place? The fact that Quatre did look like a bit like Solo.

Damn it. How did he get into these predicaments again?

It was completely and utterly illogical.

Okay, enough with the complex words.

This was not right at all.