Title: Live and Learn
Author: Karina
Rating: PG
Pairing: Duo + Zechs
Notes: Challenge 192. Baby Series 4 #34. Takes place following Incredible Eyes.
Spoilers: None
Warnings: Extended Length
Many thanks to ShenLong Deb for her work betaing this set of fics.
Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing or the Characters from the series but the baby is mine.
Title: Live and Learn
"Zechs? You okay?"
And he was making the young man worry. Shame on him for disturbing the brilliance that was Duo. He inclined his head slightly, settling his backside on the dust covered antique he had been inspecting, looking slowly around the dimly illuminated attic. He was... tired. Pleasantly tired. Despite the range of his thoughts he found himself to be oddly content, not only with the moment, but with how his life had settled into a routine.
"I'm quite alright, Duo. Just thinking."
"You sure? You looked to be pretty down."
"Not down, merely contemplative. Looking at this... All of this... " He motioned into the dim distance of the attic "Do you know, I find myself feeling oddly content."
Duo settled his neat butt on the shrouded piece of furniture beside him, showing utter disregard for the delicacy of the antiques around them; for the amount of years they had seen, for the events they had survived. For some strange reason it lifted his spirits to see it.
"Why?"
Such an insatiable curiosity.
"Why? I'm... not really sure why. I doubt I can explain it really either, but looking at the stuff, at the variety and the sheer amount of it... I thought so much had been lost and... I just feel... It's a hodge podge, a mishmash of odds and ends, of history, personal and otherwise. Looking over it I can't help but feel... No, 'content' is not quite the right word."
To his surprise the generous lips stretched into a wide smile. "Don't sweat it, Zechs. I know what you mean. It has the same effect on me. I look at it and I can't help thinking that all of this shit is older than me, and worth more than me. It has history. It makes me feel small and insignificant, and makes me think of every mistake I have ever made without even trying. And I have made a shit load of mistakes. I'm just thankful it can't talk, or it would tell me how insignificant I am in the scheme of things."
"You are hardly insignificant Duo."
"Hell yeah, I am! I have no illusions, Zechs. I'm a street rat. I was born a street rat and nothing can change that in the overall scheme of things. And strangely enough, I don't give a shit. I am who and what I am. I know who I was, and I will be that person until the day I die, and that's fine. I can live with it. Doesn't mean I can't try being other things, becoming more things to add to the street rat persona. It lets me see the world around me from multiple points of view as I live and learn. And I want to live and learn, Zechs. I want it so bad. I don't have to sit and wallow in the shit and misery every day. The universe is a big place and I know it. I will never see all of it, so I will content myself with exploring this little part of it that I live in. I have a whole planet to explore, space colonies and the biggest mystery of all to keep me occupied. Its gonna be a great life and I'm more than willing to live it."
He could not help the smile and he could not deny this young man so effortlessly lifted his spirits. "There is nothing 'just' about you, my friend. So what is it, this 'biggest mystery of all' in your perspective?"
"I don't know." The blue eyes were brilliant, shining in the dim light, drawing him in. "If I knew that it would not be a mystery, would it?"
End
Karina Robertson 2012