Wow. So sorry for the late posting, I totally didn't realize how the holidays were going to extend all the way to the new year. ;-P Hope you are having a wonderful, relaxing time with friends and family and, as always, thank you for reading! :D
1423 Days Until Last Communication
Duo wiped his sweat-soaked brow on the back of his arm and turned to grin at Heero, who glared back with the full force of his most intense irritation, sweat soaking his shirt so that it clung to him in a very appealing way despite the brooding look on his face. He laughed to himself. They both knew Heero could do it, he just didn't want to. Didn't want to get sweaty and not get a shower and sleep in a tent and eat protein bars and jerky for dinner and Duo understood that, really, knew he had some bad memory surrounding camping or something but honestly – Duo lived for this shit and he wanted to share that with the man he was pretty sure he was completely in love with.
He stopped, waited a moment for Heero to come to a stop next to him, shouldering his bag a little and trying not to groan but Duo put his hands on his waist, heedless of how wet he was, and pressed a kiss to his lips with a smile. Heero withdrew uncomfortably, putting a hand on Duo's chest to push him away before stopping and staring at it in horror.
"You don't like it?" Duo teased, laughing, and Heero growled.
"No, I don't," he replied, obviously not sure where he should put his hands on his body so as not to have to touch himself which amused Duo all the more.
"Aw come on," he said, grabbing Heero's waist again, pressing his body up against his, licking his cheek and tasting the salty tang of sweat, mashing his face against the side of his head and murmuring in his ear. "Doesn't it kinda turn you on?"
"No," Heero said, so stoic there was no room for argument, and Duo backed away with a mock pout.
"Well, that's not fair. You look sexy as hell," he said, edges of his lips turning up again as Heero dropped his eyes, clearly embarrassed. Duo knew he had some body image issues, though he really couldn't understand why, and therefore saw fit to tell him at every opportunity just how attractive he was. "But we're almost to the campsite. There's a river nearby we can 'cool down' in." He wiggled his brows suggestively, reaching out to smack Heero's shoulder, and Heero rolled his eyes in response.
The campsite Duo had pre-emptively selected was quite a few miles short of his normal site on this particular trail but then he knew Heero was going to struggle, especially as it was his first time hiking, and really they had made better time than he'd expected and he was proud of Heero. And despite his bad attitude, Duo did catch him looking at the scenery, appreciating the view, the trees, the plants, the wildlife – the things that made Duo feel content here in a way that he rarely felt in the city. Not that he didn't enjoy the city life – he did. He loved going out, loved the people, loved the food and the atmosphere and the excitement but then there was something about this that was so calming, so real. He didn't worry, didn't stress, didn't have to present any kind of persona – it was just him, alone with his thoughts. Well, unless he was conducting a class, which was another matter entirely.
Rushing water could be heard a minute or so before they reached the river bank and Duo watched Heero's face as they broke through the treeline, noting how he relaxed – accepting that if Heero were anyone else maybe there would've been a smile but then that was good enough. He took what he could get with Heero. Truthfully, it was strangely endearing.
Duo set down his pack, slipping off his shoes and socks so that he could rest his legs in the water and Heero followed suit, removing his prosthetic so that he could massage his thigh. He figured despite Heero's best intentions, it would always be weaker, and this kind of activity was probably close to his limit.
"The view is really great at the campsite," Duo said, reaching down into the river to splash cool water up on his face and chest.
"I'm sure," Heero murmured and Duo looked over at him, sweat and water dripping off his face, and he felt suddenly like Heero wasn't talking about the campsite. He smiled, flattered.
They sat there for a few minutes until heart rates returned to normal, watching the water create little eddies and carry off leaves. The shared silence was something he appreciated about Heero over anyone else he'd dated – that he didn't have to act or put on a front or constantly present himself a certain way. And he felt Heero actually appreciated this about him, too, which only made it better.
"Hey," Duo eventually said, garnering a weary look from Heero and he cringed sympathetically. "I can take our packs up to the site. It's only another few minutes up the trail and then I'll come back and get you, huh?"
Heero's face clearly fought through weighing the options, wanting to stay but not wanting to seem pathetic in front of Duo but it wasn't like that for him. Heero didn't seem pathetic at all.
"I'm just happy you came," he said, trying to comfort the other man though not too obviously, and he leaned forward to kiss him lightly although Heero's mouth was set in a frown. He let his nose trail against Heero's and smiled a little, pulling away to look him in the eyes, suddenly overcome with the urge to tell him that he loved him but... but the words stuck in his mouth and really, Heero didn't seem big on verbal acknowledgements of affection and... and it was just putting himself out there in a way he hadn't done in a long time and why ruin what they had with meaningless words? It wouldn't add anything to their relationship to say them.
"I'll be back in thirty," Duo offered as he shook off his feet and slid back into his socks and shoes. "And if you get bored waiting, then just head up the trail until you reach the bridge. Once you cross it you'll see a thin trail to your left. It's not really a trail as much as a path beaten down by feet over time so you have to really look for it, ya know?" Duo explained as he picked up their bags and hefted one over each shoulder. "Anyway I'm sure you'll hear me but it's only five minutes on the path and the treeline clears and there you are."
Heero nodded and they shared one last look, Duo swallowing down barely contained emotions that he didn't understand why they were surfacing now, and turned to head back to the trail. He set a gruelling pace so he wouldn't have to leave Heero there long, trying to figure when these feelings for him became so overwhelming – but there was no specific moment, nothing he could pin-point, it was just... just the way he was.
The way Heero's eyes lingered just a moment, as if afraid to let him go. The way Heero curled up on himself at night, fingers grasping gently for his braid, hoping he wouldn't notice. The way Heero offered dates tentatively, afraid of his rejection, only wanting to make him happy. Sure, Duo might've picked him out for his self-confidence, and he had that in spades when it came to his career, his talents – but it was his uncertainty that Duo found endearing, his honest desire to please, his... what? His love? Was that what it was?
Duo sighed and slicked back his bangs from where they were plastered to his forehead, reviewing the tarp a minute. This was stupid, all this thinking. It wouldn't get him anywhere. If he wanted it resolved he'd just have to talk to Heero about it and, well – he'd see about that. Maybe.
He was just heading back to retrieve Heero when he heard the gunshots and cursed under his breath as birds launched into the sky in a flurry. There weren't supposed to be hunters up here but then their attitude was always so self-centered and –
Duo's train of thought was interrupted by an inhuman wail he couldn't place but it sure as hell didn't sound like any animal he'd ever heard, injured or not, and that was when it occurred to him.
Heero.
His heart began pounding in his chest as he ran back along the dirt path to where he'd left him, knowing that if anything happened to Heero he'd never be able to forgive himself. This sure as hell wasn't Heero's idea.
When he reached the river in record time and Heero wasn't there, he panicked momentarily, eye casting around desperately for some indication of where he might have gone. But then it occurred to him that he never would've been able to hear Heero's cry that distinctly from here and that he must've been on his way to the campsite and gotten off course somehow. So he turned around and made his way back, trying to stop his frantic breathing so he could listen for any indication of Heero's presence.
He found him not far past the bridge after hearing a shaky moaning, Heero having obviously fled from the trail in pain or fear or – Duo wasn't sure, but the brush was clearly tripped through and Heero was curled up on the ground, clutching his thigh and openly weeping. Duo didn't see any blood, but he rushed towards him anyway, falling to his knees beside him, putting his hands on his arm to roll him over and getting punched in the face for his effort.
Now the only blood was his own, dripping down his chin from a split lip, and he tried to back up but Heero grabbed at him, his eyes glazed over and vacant, cheeks still wet from tears, and fear gripped Duo's heart then as he realized – he didn't really know how Heero lost his leg and he didn't really know what Heero was capable of.
He shouted at him that it was him, Duo, that he was okay, that he was safe now and that he needed to stop as they scuffled through the leaves, Duo blocking the vicious attacks as best as he could until finally, instead of trying to push him away, he drew Heero in closer, held his arms in a bear hug so that he couldn't lash out. Although he was strong, way stronger than Duo had realized despite working out with him nearly every day, his resolve weakened and he must've figured out that he wasn't wherever his mind took him because his body went limp against Duo's chest as he began to cry again. Duo had never seen Heero cry before and the devastated sobbing was disconcerting, to say the least.
"I thought I was in that fucking desert," he finally managed out in a painful gasp and Duo held him tighter.
"No. You're here, with me," he replied, mind racing to put the pieces together so that he could do something to help even though Heero had never mentioned a desert before. "I thought you'd been shot."
"Shot...?" Heero quieted against him but kept his face pressed against Duo's sweaty t-shirt, breathing heavily into his chest.
"Yeah, I heard the gunshots, then I heard you, and I thought the worst," Duo admitted and felt Heero stiffen.
"I – I must've –" Heero's voice was strained and tense, almost embarrassed. "I was alone and I – I was lost and I –"
"No," Duo cut him off, burying his face in his hair. "You weren't lost because you have me now and I love you and I will find you, okay?" His words were clear and strong and he felt Heero tremble even as he tried to nod. "I will always find you."
Heero's fists twisted in his shirt and Duo heard the harsh intake of breath catch in Heero's chest and he whispered – "I love you too."
