A/N: I had this idea forever ago and just never finished it. Finally got around to it! I hope you all like it!

Rivalry's End

Heero and Relena were walking around the remains of the Sanc Kingdom. It was something Relena suggested they do, along with their friends, just to remind themselves of what they won and lost during the war. So far, besides Relena and Heero, only Quatre, Dorothy, Noin, and Zechs were present, everyone off in their own area. As Heero and Relena continued their trek, they took note of Zechs sitting outside as he scanned the landscape. Relena sensed Heero tense up, bringing an important subject to her mind.

"You need to talk to him," Relena said to Heero as they looked at Zechs.

"For what?" Heero asked.

"To put all of this bad blood to bed, once and for all."

Heero groaned.

"Oh, it won't be that bad," Relena insisted.

"He tried to kill me, Relena. Repeatedly."

"And you tried to kill him. Repeatedly. And you threatened to kill me. Even more repeatedly."

He looked away, uncomfortably.

"It's about time we all stopped trying to avoid the past or ignore that it ever happened," Relena declared. "It happened. It's time to deal with it."

"Some of that political orating slipped in, just now," Heero noted.

"You're lucky it doesn't happen more often. You need a good lecture. On a regular basis."

Heero rolled his eyes.

"Talk to him," Relena demanded.

Heero sighed. "Fine."

"To make peace."

Heero stared at her then sighed again. "Alright."

Heero walked over and saw Zechs hadn't looked his way yet. The closer Heero got, Zechs did finally notice him as they locked eyes. Heero stopped just before Zechs, and they stared at each other for a long time. Their entire history played in their minds, from their first encounter when Heero piloted Wing Gundam to Earth to their final battle on the Libra and all of the battles and emotions in between.

"Relena's idea?" Zechs asked.

"Who else?" Heero replied.

"Noin. She's been on my case to talk to you, too."

Heero groaned. He rubbed the back of his neck, "How did we end up like this?"

"Probably karma," Zechs shrugged. "We kinda deserve it."

"Fair enough."

Zechs stood up. He presented a path toward the beach, "Let's talk."

They walked down to the beach, both remembering when they battled here, when Heero piloted Epyon and Zechs piloted Wing Zero. Another quiet frustration for them since that fight ended in a draw, like many of their other duels. They stared at the sea, trying to come up with something to say.

"I suppose apologizing is pointless," Zechs spoke first.

"Would you mean it?" Heero asked.

"Not really."

"Yeah, me, neither." Heero thought for a moment. "Was… either us actually… right?"

"Were we even trying to be?" Zechs countered.

"Touché."

Zechs considered that for a moment. "Even if we were, I honestly don't know if it's for us to say. I don't even know if there was a 'right' or 'wrong' in this case."

"We did a lot wrong."

"But you did a lot of good, as well."

Heero slowly craned his neck back. He looked at Zechs, "Did… did you just compliment me?"

Zechs smiled a bit. "So I can surprise you. Interesting."

Heero rolled his eyes and looked back at the sea.

"Why come back for Relena?"

"I was wondering how long it was going to take you to ask that."

"Figured now was a good time." They were silent for a few moments until Zechs asked, "Well?"

Heero was using the silence to best consider his answer. "The past five years… after Mariemaia's insurrection, I spent my time taking in this 'new' era. I… didn't think it would last. After Libra… then Mariemaia… I thought war would just show up again, anyway. I just waited for it."

"And when it didn't?"

"I was honestly surprised. I'm not saying war will never happen again but… five years is a long time. When Wufei came to me with the invitation that party… I could only think about how things were different now. How maybe… there was more to me than a soldier."

They heard noise further down the beach. They looked see Relena and Noin had come down to the beach with Quatre and Dorothy and the recently arrived Duo, Wufei, Hilde, and Sally.

"You weren't the only one," Zechs said to Heero.

"Is that why you finally married Noin?" Heero asked.

"It was one reason of many." Zechs' brow furrowed and he looked at Heero, "Wait. 'Finally'?"

"I may not know a lot about love, but I know how she's felt about you almost as long as I've known her."

Zechs actually laughed a little at that. "I've known longer. Just never felt right to do anything about it before."

"I'm sure someone would call you an 'idiot' for that," Heero surmised.

"Would you?"

"No. I have no right to judge. I'm no better at love than you."

"So, we do agree on more than a few things," Zechs joked.

Heero rolled his eyes.

Heero and Zechs gazed at the ocean again. While they both loved outer space, something about the nature of Earth was calming.

"Do you think you can live in this world of peace?" Zechs asked.

Heero considered his answer for a moment. "Maybe. Do you?"

"I asked myself that question a lot." Zechs looked toward the sky, "Searched all over the world and space to find my answer. I finally found it."

"What did you find, Zechs?" Heero asked.

Zechs looked across the beach, Heero followed Zechs's gaze.

To where Relena and Noin were talking.

Heero looked back at Zechs, "It's that simple?"

"And that difficult," Zechs looked back at Heero. "It's starts with a choice, Heero."

"That being?"

"You've already made it. The choice to put the soldier behind. To choose the man."

"The soldier is still who I am," Heero countered.

"I know that better than anyone," Zechs confirmed. "But you're talking to someone who will always have the soldier in his soul… but that doesn't mean it has to control all I do."

Heero looked down, thinking that over.

"Believe it or not, the war is over, Heero. It has been for a long time. We won."

"So, what's next?"

"That's up to you," Zechs shrugged. "But hurt my sister, and I'll murder you."

"Yeah, I was waiting on that threat," Heero groaned. "Kinda hollow. You haven't succeeded in killing me yet."

"I'll try harder next time."

"If the only way that happens is if I hurt Relena… then they're won't be a next time."

"Good."

Heero looked back at the ocean, as did Zechs. "We really won, didn't we?"

"Yeah. The war's over."

"It's strange. I'm actually relieved."

Zechs smiled.

Heero took a deep breath and exhaled the last of his hesitations of living in a peaceful world.

The noise from the down the beach was growing as the conversations increased.

"Seems like everyone is here now," Heero noted.

"Yep," Zechs agreed.

"We have to go over there, don't we?"

"Yep."

Heero let out an exasperated sigh. "Let's get it over with." Zechs smiled as they headed to join the others.

"Us meeting up won't be a regular thing, will it?" Heero asked.

"God, I hope not!" Zechs replied, immediately.

"Couldn't agree more."

They caught the gaze of Relena and Noin, respectively. Slowly, small smiles formed on the faces of Heero and Zechs.

Heero shrugged a bit, "But under the right conditions… it could be tolerable to be around each other. From time to time."

Zechs let out a quick, quiet chuckle. "It just might."