Power of Equality

[FIC] Woke Up One Morning... 1/?

2008-07-25T23:19:48Z

*waves hands in surrender* I know... I promise I am alwo working on the sequel for 'Blood, Sweat and Tears' and it is progressing. But my muses side-kicked me with this fic idea and demanded it be worked on, too! Hope you all enjoy!!! Love yas!!!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Gundam Wing, or its characters. I just love playing with them.
Woke Up One Morning…
Part 1
Pairings: 1+2+1, eventual 1x2, 5xS
Warnings: Angst, Sap, Romance
BY: SkyLark
Betaed by ShenLong Deb *hugs*
Archives: http://www.gundam-wing-diaries.150m.com/gw/SkyLark/gwSkyLark.htm and http://www.mizunoamy.bravepages.com/skylark/skylarkfics.html

You know... once you have had one bad hangover, you would think that you would remember your drinking limit real quick so as to not have to endure that torture again. I had already had one such hangover not long after first joining the Preventers. Hell-bent to not have to deal with the agony that was the ‘morning-thru-late afternoon’ that I suffered after a night of shots and mixed drinks by the plenty, I had reasoned that I learned my lesson.

Weeeelll... I was wrong.

Right now, I am laying in my hotel bed on my stomach debating whether or not to even bother opening my eyes. It's obviously morning, considering how bright it is in the room behind my closed lids and already I can feel the start of a screaming headache coming on.

But for whatever torture I am about to endure today, I actually consider the fun that I had last night worth it. I actually had the pleasure of seeing Heero Yuy drunk.

Oh, seeing that the feat was accomplished was not easy. For as long as I have known my Preventer partner- just shy of five years now- I have never seen him have more than one beer at any given time, even when alcohol was provided.

But, even a former 'Perfect Soldier' needs to loosen up from time to time. And last night was that time for Heero.

We have been stationed in Las Vegas for over a month for a very high-profile case that took a lot out of us to catch the son-of-a-bitch weapons trader that Lady Une has been after for well over a year. To keep the media from being too close to the action and blowing our cover, we were sent here on our own. It took all of our resources to finally pin him down, every drop of our fortitude and training in us to catch him.

Much as all of the efforts were worth it in the end, we were spent. Even Heero was showing the fatigue that he had been fighting through when it was finally over and our culprit was handed over to the authorities.

That was when I suggested we hit one of the bars and actually the 'city of sin' before we had to head back in a couple of days. Much to my shock, Heero actually paused to consider the idea as opposed to outright denying the idea like I had expected him to. Then, I almost hit the floor when he actually agreed!

Before he even had a second to reconsider, I was grabbing his arm and leading us out of the hotel room. The night started off slow, my partner sticking to his staple one beer when we hit the first bar. From there, I'll be honest, my memory is a little fuzzy on how I actually convinced him to have a few shots with me.

Most likely a challenge or bet was involved, as is my usual style when dealing with him. Whatever the exact motivation, I do remember Heero having a few shots that turned into a couple of beers and mixed drinks after. At some point, I remember dancing with him- which is how I know beyond any doubt he had to have been more than buzzed to agree to set foot on a dance floor.

And I do remember that I’ve never had such a fun time with my best friend before. He was outright laughing and looked so... at peace with everything. It's a shame he's not like that more often... although I will admit that he has come a long way from how he was during the wars. A damned long way.

I shift a little in my bed, noting without even having to open my eyes that I am not wearing anything besides the sheet over me. Somehow, I lost my clothes on my way to crash here. Hopefully, I waited to start shedding after I was in the room.

Groaning, I push the upper-half of my body that's hanging over the side of the bed and feel that my hair is loose and moving all around me. Apparently, I thought that I didn't need my hair tie at the end of my braid, either.

’Now for the sucky part,’ is all I'm thinking as I slowly open my eyes. And 'sucky' is an understatement when it comes to the piercing headache the sunlight brings when I finally manage more than a crack to peer to the opposite side of the unshielded windows overlooking the city.

Gorgeous as the view is, it's not exactly something I can really appreciate when I feel like shit. Mentally I just remind myself how it's all worth it for the fun I had last night.

Shit. Heero.

With the form he was in last night, I'm sure that he's in just as bad of shape as I am... if not worse. The pain in my head forgotten over worry for my best friend, my eyes open fully and my left hand reaches up to brush back the loose hair that's falling in my face.

That's when I notice the flash of gold just as the inside of my open hand moves ahead of my vision. Freezing, I just stare wide-eyed at the bottom of a simple, thick band on my ring finger.

Suddenly, I'm pretty sure that my headache is about to get a lot worse.

Unable to breathe, I turn my hand to see the ring continue around instead of vanishing as I silently hope it will. Very slowly, still unable to breathe, I stay there half propped up as I reach over with my right hand to feel the band and then it really hits that I'm not just seeing things.

'Ok, there has to be a rational explanation for the ring,' I'm trying to rationalize, still unable to move as I stare at it. Surely, it's nothing to get worked up over.

Then I feel something shift beside me with a groan. Paralyzed, my eyes widen further at recognizing that voice. There's a quiet gasp a second before my partner, every bit as bare as I am under the sheets, sits straight up to stare in shock at a gold ring on his left ring finger.

Slowly, he turned his head away from the hand held up before his face to gape at me. Now, under normal circumstances, the sight of Heero with his hair mussed even more than usual in such a state of open display of stunned disbelief would be absolutely adorable to me.

But under these circumstances... I'm every bit as confused and panicked. Not to mention that my already upset stomach is churning beyond my control. I think I managed to mutter something about needing the bathroom before I run for it to empty whatever contents that haven't fully digested into the toilet.

To my surprise and relief, Heero is standing by the sink wetting a washcloth for me when the heaves are finally finished. Dressed in a pair of boxers that he had thrown on before coming to my aid, he looks concerned as he hands over the cold cloth and asked softly, "Are you all right?"

I take a moment to wrap the rag around the back of my neck so that I can steadily answer, "Yea. Thanks." Really, I'm far from fine, but now that my stomach is empty, it's a good start in getting over the hangover.

Looking a bit worse for wear himself, Heero leans his back heavily against the door frame and dry-washes his flushed face. Neither of us really know what else to say about the huge elephant in the room regarding the bands on our fingers, or how we ended up in my bed without any clothing on.

Finally, the silence is more than I can handle and I rise to my feet to return to the bedroom. Moving to the dresser, I fish out a pair of red boxers to slide into as my best friend sits on the side of the bed. "Any idea what the hell happened last night?" I sigh, running a hand through my loose hair that badly needs to be washed.

Clearly relieved that I am making some attempt to sort of what's going on, Heero meets my eyes as I near and shakes his head, "Nothing besides bits and pieces." Staring at the floor, he grumbles, "Never should have taken you up on that damned offer to go out."

"Hey," I'm quick to remind, "you didn't exactly put up much of a fight." There is a reluctant nod from him and he slowly raised his head to flash me an apologetic look for the snap. Apologizing never has come easy for him, even after all of the changes he's gone through. When he is sorry, he very damn well means it.

Smirking, I pat his arm reassuringly and sit beside him. Those blue eyes are on my loose hair for a while and suddenly I feel more exposed than I had been in the bathroom... enough so that I shield my burning cheeks by looking down at the ring on my left hand again.

From the corner of my eye I can see Heero do the same through the curtain of my hair. "Maybe we were playing some kind of joke," I think aloud with a grin. "I mean... there's no evidence that we did... anything... well... you know..." The burning on my cheeks is just growing over the more tactful way of saying, 'Well, my ass doesn't hurt and the sheets aren't sticky, so clearly we didn't have sex last night!'

Clearing his throat, Heero's own cheeks are flushing a bit and he's quick to nod, "Right. A joke or some camaraderie thing when we were drunk."

That was an even more likely explanation and suddenly, I'm feeling better and better. It was nothing more than two good friends goofing around during their night on the town. Nothing to panic over.

Settled on our little understanding of the unknown happenings of the last evening, I stand and place my jester smile on to suggest, "Well, we better start packing things up for our afternoon flight home." Wincing as the piercing stab in my brain returns, I hiss, "Better stock up on some headmeds before the flight, too."

"Good idea," Heero nodded as he rubs his own head. Rising to his own feet, he picks up the discarded blanket to throw it back on the mattress when he froze, eyes wide again.

That cannot be good.

Quickly turning to follow his line of sight, my own eyes widen when I spot on the floor a DVD case and a marriage certificate with our names signed on it.

Fuck. It's only when Heero nods shallowly that I realize I spoke that word out loud.

* * * *

We never bothered to watch the DVD. But we packed it along with the wedding certificate before checking out of the rooms we had been signed under with assumed names. Our commute to the airport was made in awkward silence.

Really, I still haven't gotten my head around the idea that I'm actually married to my best friend. Casually, I glance over at Heero as he types away at his laptop to see that he still has not taken his wedding band off even as we sit side-by-side in first class for the flight. Not that I can talk, as I'm ever aware of my own ring's presence as I sit listening to my music and look out the window.

We're about an hour away from landing when he suddenly stops typing to lean back in his seat with a heavy sigh. I know he's about to say something so I remove my headphones. His eyes still looking ahead, Heero suddenly has a lost look about him as he asks me quietly, "What are we going to do about... this?"

I'd been dreading the question, really. Truth be told, I always held a flame for 'Ro since the wars. Of course, I never would have rushed things the way we had. A few dates would have been nice first, but I never got the nerve to ask him out.

This is really unfamiliar waters for the both of us, neither one ever having been in a relationship before. Let alone a marriage.

Rubbing the back of my neck, I stare at the floor and swallow roughly. Only when I know my voice will be firm, I answer, "Well, considering neither of us were in our right mind when we got... m... mar... you know." Shit. Even the 'M' word is hard to say right now. "It shouldn't be too difficult to file the paperwork to end our civil union."

It was a fancy way of saying 'divorce.' Yet another word that I wasn't even going to try forcing my mouth to form. Never in my life did I ever plan on being married and divorced in less than a few days.

Heero is quiet, chewing on the inside of his cheek while mulling the idea over. I'm actually really surprised that he hasn't jumped at the suggestion right away. Part of me wishes that he would just accept it for what it is and not give me these false hopes that are starting to build up.

I am seconds from imploding over the silence when he suddenly looks over at me and announces in little more than a whisper, "What if we stayed married for a while? Regardless of how we got here, I don't want to fail at my first marriage without trying to make it work."

Feeling the growl in my chest before I even hear it, I warn in a low voice, "I'm not a damned mission, Yuy. Don't treat me or this situation like one."

Much to my satisfaction, there is understanding in his gaze over the concern. A small smile, he has the nerve to correct me with a reminded, "Yuy-Maxwell." Then he actually has the nerve to chuckle when my scowl deepens. "I am not looking at you or this marriage as a mission," he promises, suddenly very serious and with all of the sincerity in the world that is making my breath hitch.

Shrugging, Heero states, "We already live together, shared the same bed enough times on account of fighting nightmares to know we can manage that and neither of us is currently attached to anyone. And I cannot speak on your behalf, but for me there is no one else that I trust more to have some facet of a relationship beyond friendship with. There are just a lot of elements in this situation that may make this the right thing for us."

Leave it to the former 'Perfect Soldier' to weigh all of the ins and outs of this cluster fuck of an epic magnitude.

A part of me wants to believe that there is more than reasoning behind his suggestion... and maybe there is, even if he'd not about to come right out and say it yet. I mean... he knows enough about his emotions now to be more than aware if he is not attracted to me or cared for me in that sense. If that were the case, I don't have a doubt that he would have gladly taken up the divo... legal separation idea.

That alone is enough for me to feel confident to grin and nod, "All right. We'll try it out, then." Snickering, I ask, "So... when we're back home, how about a date? A night out at a nice restaurant or something?"

My heart skips a couple of beats as that smile on my... husband's face grows a bit. Nodding firmly, he agrees, "A date."

Of course, it's putting the cart before the horse... but it could work. And that's enough to keep me smiling for the remainder of our flight.

* * * *

I'll be honest... I was as nervous as hell over our first date. Right up until we actually sat down in one of the local finer restaurants’ private rooms that we would never have stepped in for a simple hang out, my stomach was in knots.

We're a couple of hours into our meal now and things have been better that I expected. Really, I don't know what I had been so worried about. We've had dinner and hung out together more times than I could count before. The whole marriage thing really hasn't changed a whole lot between us, which is great.

Although, there are come changes that are going to need to be made. The first of those I need to address before we go on any further.

Finishing my sip of the wine that came with my meal, I comment, "You know that we have to keep this between us when we're at work. Une does not allow couples that are involved to work together as teammates."

Heero sits up and reaches into the pocket of his khakis to remove two flesh-toned band-aids. "Already thought of that," he replies while reaching over for my left hand. Efficient as ever, he wraps one band-aid over my wedding ring and does the same to cover his own. Unless someone was really looking closely, they really would not have had any idea that we were hiding anything.

Laughing, I shake my head, "Leave it to you to cover all the bases." I have to force myself to sober as I fold my arms and ask, "What about the physical part? I might not know much about relationships from my own experience, but I don't really care to be in one that is missing that part."

"We can start out slow," he responds before chewing and swallowing a piece of his steak. "It wouldn't be the best idea to rush things." Swallowing a gulp of his own wine, he chuckles at my raised eyebrow and adds, "At least not any more than they've already been rushed."

Satisfied with that, I smile, "Works for me." That grin becomes a wicked smirk as I inform, "I don't kiss on the first date, though.”

There is a bit of relief in those deep blues in seeing that I was in no rush to push things as Heero grins, "Fair enough." Slicing into his meal, he inquired, "What about the sleeping arrangements?"

Good question. I decide to just speak out my thoughts as I shrug, "Well, you did mention before that we've shared the same bed plenty of times. I don't see how we couldn't get used to that on a regular basis. We could turn whichever room we don't take up into a guest room... for when we're ready to have guests see our living arrangements." It's my turn to be relieved when my partner nods in acceptance of that suggestion.

"I like the view of the ocean from my room better to sleep and wake up to," Heero throws in. He quickly states, "That is, of course, if you don't mind moving the bulk of your things in there."

A smile spreads on my face as I reply, "Not a problem. You also have the king bed, so that'll work out better for us, too." My best friend smiles back and we silently check that little issue from the list of items that need to be addressed.

From there, we continue to discuss the finer details of our marriage and how we are going to make it something we are both comfortable with.

* * * *

You know, I'm actually more nervous getting ready for bed now than I was leading up to that dinner earlier. It's our first night- well that we're sober enough to actually experience- as a married couple. Even though the plan is to take things slow, I really have no idea just how this is going to work out,

Sure, Heero and I have shared the same bed before. But we always stayed on our own sides of the bed, never really getting any closer than to let the other sense that they weren't alone should the nightmares of the wars and our pasts creep in.

This is something entirely different.

Running a hand through my bangs, I step into Hee- no- our room. Already heading for the bed in his usual sleep gear of a gray tank top and white boxers, my husband pulls the covers back and looks almost as nervous as I feel when he looks back at me. I swallow past the constriction in my throat and head for my side of the mattress to slide under the comforter.

It only takes a second for Heero to follow my lead and take up his half, turning the lamp light off in the process. The large windows overlooking the ocean allow enough moonlight in that I can make him out perfectly and we just stare awkwardly at each other for a moment.

Then, slowly, 'Ro creeps closer towards the middle of the bed and I join him there. We make a few tries as to best to tangle up a bit before we settle on my turning my back to him while his arms wrap around my middle from behind. Nearly the moment we settle like that, it's like the air is breathable again as a weight is lifted.

I'm glad that he can't see the goofy grin on my face right now. This feeling that I have laying like this with him spooning me is pretty incredible. Like we belong like this.

Heero sighs quietly by my ear as he whispers, "Good night, Duo."

"'Night, 'Ro," I smile in just as quiet a reply. Soon, I can hear and feel his even breathing as a sign that he's drifted off. Closing my own eyes, I lay my arm over his and just take in the feeling for a moment before dreaming away.

Yea. I can definitely get used to this.

TBC

Commission pimping!

2008-07-25T18:30:17Z

To make it not so spam-ey, I'll link to my entry where I list what I can do, prices and examples and all that. Just needed to get it to more eyes!

To make it worth posting here, here's some cuteness!

Here's just a real quick little doodle. :)

[Fic] Open Arms 1/1

2008-06-23T16:18:35Z

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Gundam Wing, nor its characters. I just love playing with them.

Open Arms
Pairings: 1+2
Warnings: Yoai
BY: SkyLark
Betaed by ShenLong Deb
Inspired by T-Shirt pic: http://usera.imagecave.com/t-shirt/1x2homecomingj.jpg
Archives: http://www.gundam-wing-diaries.150m.com/gw/SkyLark/gwSkyLark.htm and http://www.mizunoamy.bravepages.com/skylark/skylarkfics.html

Five years.

It’s been five years since the last time I flew Wing. Five years since there was a significant battle for which I might have been needed. Five years since I saw anyone I came to know during the war.

Following the demise of Dekim Barton, I had attempted to settle down into the world of normalcy. However, it did not take long for me to realize that it was too soon for that. My training was still too ingrained, affecting everything that I did and thought. There were still too many things in life I had never experienced or understood- even within myself let alone with how the way of life worked.

So, I left everything I had known up to that time behind. There were no farewells or explanations as they would have only complicated my need to sever ties to my past for a while… and there was one in particular that I would have struggled saying goodbye to.

Ironic how that same person was the one I tried my best to push away during our time together.

Of all of the people I had ever known in my life, Duo Maxwell was an enigma in every sense of the word to me. No one else in my life had the ability to frustrate, scare, confuse and intrigue me all at the same time the way he could.

He was the only person who ever really understood me, knew how to break through my defense walls. For many reasons, it was why I needed to get away. Single-handedly, my braided counterpart had managed to stir up feelings and questions within me that I needed to sort out on my own.

And so I have seen all of the Colonies and most of the Earth enjoying the peace that we had fought for. In the meantime, I was able to observe life in a whole new way by watching simple interactions from the people I passed by- little more than a flash in their own worlds.

Through those observations, I realized how casual it was for most people to embrace or sling an arm over the shoulder of a loved one or close friend. More and more, I missed having those very touches that Duo was always willing to provide when we were together.

Over the course of my disappearance, I found that attempts to track me down had been made. Relena and Quatre’s tries did not surprise me. Lady Une, of course, was looking for me to sign on as a new Preventer. Wufei and Trowa’s efforts did take me a bit by surprise.

But Duo never made one attempt to find me in all of the time that I was gone. Once again, he understood me more than anyone else ever did. I needed my space, my own time. He ‘got it,’ as he would say.

It made it even more clear to me where my feelings lay for him. There was so much confusion over it before, but really, I always knew that I had loved him. I just needed time to actually come to terms with that realization…

…and only a little more time to realize how lonely I was.

Duo may not have tried to find me, but I had kept tabs on him so that when I was finished my soul searching, I could return to him. Of course, there is still a grave concern that he may not want to see me again. Maybe his lack of efforts to tracking me was because I had upset him deeply with my vanishing.

More than ever, I needed his acceptance. I needed his understanding and his willingness to be there for me the way he had been before. If he would deny me that… I really don’t know what I would do.

That fear kept me away for a while. Finally, I just couldn’t take being away from Duo any longer.

Now, here I stand, before his quaint home on L2 not far from where the Maxwell Church once stood years ago. My hands are sweating after their clenching and unclenching at my sides as I silently try to urge myself forward.

Finally, my feet move as I adjust the backpack strapped along my shoulders. The hollow sound of my feet falling on the wooden porch steps only makes my heart beat faster in my chest in anticipation.

I freeze before the closed door for a few deep breaths before raising my hand that has begun to tremble. I don’t allow myself a moment to turn back and knock three times.

After a brief eternity, I hear someone coming to the door and the knob turns before it cracks open. My heart is about to hammer out of my chest as I look upon my braided partner for the first time in what has felt like a life-long separation from him.

He’s taller, like myself, as well as filled out quite nicely. But all other details are lost to me as all I can focus on are those wide violet eyes watching me.

Then… like in countless dreams that I have had, Duo just gives me one of his real, brilliant smiles. Stepping forward, he opens his arms as easily as he had opened his door and wraps me up in them tightly.

Closing my eyes as I return the hug, I’m suddenly aware of a tear rolling down my cheek. A light kiss falls on my temple and I receive a whispered, “Welcome home, ‘Ro.” It is exactly what I needed to hear.

There are no questions, no demands… only open arms and the acceptance that I needed so badly. And I’m never letting go again.

END

1_equals_2_fans @ 2008-06-15T11:24:00

2008-06-15T16:59:30Z

Hey guys,

I've been writing again and its come time that I need a beta. I need a beta to edit my stuff for grammar and spelling (obviously), but also for detail consistency, character/story continuity, flow, style, etc. I need someone who can beta a piece and return it within a few days (depending on the length). Mainly I'm looking for a beta who can work with me to make my writing better.

Any takers?

Sissani

[fic] Reality Check

2008-05-30T19:53:45Z

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Gundam Wing, or its characters. I just love playing with them.
Reality Check
Inspired by T-Shirt Commission pics: http://usera.imagecave.com/t-shirt/1x2hugj.jpg and
http://usera.imagecave.com/t-shirt/sweetfreedom.jpg
Pairings: 1+2+1
Warnings: Angst
BY: SkyLark
Betaed by ShenLong Deb *hugs*
Archives: http://www.gundam-wing-diaries.150m.com/gw/SkyLark/gwSkyLark.htm and http://www.mizunoamy.bravepages.com/skylark/skylarkfics.html

"Duo, pull up!"

My partner's voice shouted over the crackling transmission in response, "Can't!... Controls... shot... hell! Not... respond-..." My heart pounded in my ears as I could do little more than watch the radar in Wing's cockpit. The flashing blip that represented the OZ shuttle Duo had successfully taken control of was descending to the earth too rapidly for me to reach him in time.

Everything had been running smoothly on our mission before a few Taurus suits spotted us on our reentry into Earth's atmosphere. Before either of us could react in time, shots were fired into the cockpit of the craft, rendering it useless as it collapsed from the sky.

Shaking my head, I pressed forward on my control bars as far as they would give. Even at Wing's top speed in a near free fall, it was not moving fast enough. Then, a static-broken cry from Duo filled my ears just before everything went silent and the blip on my radar disappeared.

My eyes wide, I heard myself cry, "No!" Gripping my the control handles even tighter, I willed my suit to move faster. The entire descent would have only taken a few minutes, but they were the longest damned minutes in my life.

We had been too confident that everything was all right and so we had been caught off guard. That simple mistake gave the enemy the chance to act. And that could very well have been the end of the only person that I really trusted.

No, as soon as that thought entered my mind, I forced it out again. Duo being gone was not something that I could begin to deal with. Even then, long before I even really understood my feelings for him, I couldn’t fathom being without him.

After months of working alongside the braided pilot, he had managed to get under my skin more than I was about to admit at the time. So I was not about to believe that he was lost until I had absolute proof.

Finally, zeroing in on where the ship would have crashed based on its descent, I found myself staring at the tops of trees that covered a deserted field. A large plume of smoke and a large gap in those trees along with a light flash of flames told me where I needed to start searching for my partner.

Mentally preparing myself for whatever I may find, I carefully landed Wing in the shelter of the trees several yards from the crash site.

Unfastening my harness, I raised the cockpit hatch to lower myself to the grass below. The moment my feet hit the ground, I was running towards the black plumes of smoke rising above the trees.

Along the way, there was a small clearing from which the remains of the shuttle were in plain sight. Slowing in my steps, I fought to breath in seeing the bent wings and tail pointing to the sky while flames licked at the downed trees surrounding the craft.

What would have been the cockpit and main cabin of the ship were nothing more than mangled pieces of metal that continued to burn.

I was so lost in my fears over what had become of Duo that I never sensed anyone coming up on me until I felt the barrel of the pistol press against the back of my head. The first thing that ran through my mind was J's voice warning me to never let my emotions cloud my focus in battle.

It had been my second mistake that afternoon.

While it would only take a second to turn the tables back in my favor, I still never should have put myself in that situation in the first place.

"Got’cha, ‘Ro," I heard a familiar voice smirk behind me. My eyes closing in relief, I released the breath that I had been holding. Slowly turning my head, I was looking at the lightly scratched heart-shaped face of my partner. Pulling his pistol back to replace it in his holster he snickered, "You're losing your touch. Any other day, I would have been leveled before I could get within five feet of you."

I returned his smirk while making sure not to let on to my relief and happiness at seeing him in one piece. Sighing, Duo ran a hand through his bangs as we looked back towards the wreckage ahead of us. Jovial as he had been a moment ago, his pale face and wide eyes gave away how shell-shocked he was from the crash.

It had been a reality check for the both of us... how easily our young lives really could be cut short from the war.

Shaking his braided head, my friend frowned, "If the emergency eject hadn't worked..." A shudder shook his whole body as his voice drifted off. I shivered as well, although it was not as obvious.

Just as it was Duo's nature, he shifted off the grim subject and snorted as he looked down as his somewhat tattered priest outfit. "Of course, it would have been nice to have avoided the trees on the way down," he stated in exasperation. "And I'm pretty sure there was poison ivy in the thickets that I dropped into. I'm going to itch like a son of a bitch for days!"

Turning on his heels, he headed down the slight slope in the opening while he ranted on, "G's going to shit a brick when I give him the news about this! Of all the stupid, bone-headed..."

As his rant continued, I couldn't help but smile as I watched and listened to Duo. Having come so close to not having the sound of his voice or the view of that swinging braid around, I had a new appreciation for everything about him. Never again was I going to take any of that for granted.

Before I even knew what was happening, I followed my partner and wrapped him up in a tight embrace from behind. Instantly, Duo froze and the words stopped. For a long pause, he stayed like that until another shiver moved through him.

A slow, long breath was released from his lungs as he sagged heavily against me. Slowly, he slipped his own arms around mine and lowered his head with closed eyes.

Clearly, the realization of his close call was still creeping in. Instead of running from the situation as he was about to, I was forcing him to cope with it. And in dealing with it, he was more than willing to accept whatever comfort I could offer at that moment.

Some time passed before I heard a quiet sniffle from Duo. Resting my chin on his shoulder, I simply decided to lower my guard and honestly say what was on my mind... what was in my heart at the moment.

"I'm glad you're all right," I managed to whisper. It was an understatement. But, I had the feeling that the other pilot understood that. Even those words would never have come out of me before then.

Turning his head, Duo's tear-streaked face offered me one of his real smiles... not his jester grin but the one that reaches his eyes. The same violet eyes that were shimmering at that moment. "Thanks, 'Ro," he replied sincerely in little more than a breath.

It hit me right then and there where my confused feelings for Duo really stood. While a shock at first, I knew beyond any question that I was in love with him.

My second reality check of the afternoon.

The war and my missions were going to complicate things, I knew. There was still a lot that needed to be accomplished before I could actually share my feelings, but there would be a time and place for that.

Until then, I was content to sneak in quick embraces like the one we shared that afternoon before we were finally free and safe to actually continue down the path we had started together.

When we headed back towards Wing, we both subconsciously drifted towards each other until out arms would brush from time to time during our walk. Part of me wondered who really needed the contact for reassurance more. In the end, I suppose we both needed it just as much.

Now, five years later to the day, Duo and I have made our home in the same field where the shuttle crashed. Finally free to explore and act on our feelings for each other that had only grown over time, we couldn't find a more fitting place to stay.

Our lives are much simpler these days. While it was an adjustment at first, it certainly has grown on me.

I smile as I step out into our back yard to watch Duo hang our laundry on the line. Wearing a plain tank top and shorts much like myself, his long braid drifts on the summer air as he hums to himself in his work.

After all these years, he still has the ability to take my breath away without effort.

I sneak up on my partner to embrace him from behind. Instantly melting against me, he snickers, "You got me, 'Ro." Resting his arms over mine, he sighs in content.

On this, our anniversary of sorts, I nuzzle where his neck and shoulder meet and whisper, "I'm glad you're my husband."

An understatement. But he knows that.

Turning in my arms, Duo gives me a deep kiss that warms my entire body. Slowly pulling back, he stares into my eyes and smiles, "Me too, 'Ro."

Overhead, a few streaks from the climbing sun peer through the opening in the trees that still remains from the crash site. Not needing another reality check to know where my feelings fall, I lean in to kiss Duo soundly again.

It's been a hell of a journey down this path we've been traveling together so far. And I know we'll see it through its end side-by-side, the same way we began.

END

[FICLET] Petals On the Breeze

2008-05-17T17:26:19Z

This was inspired by one of T-Shirt's recent pics (link behind the cut). My muses just wante the fic short, simple and sweet as the scene. Hope you like!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Gundam Wing, or its characters. I just love playing with them.
Petals In the Breeze
Inspired by T-Shirt’s Commission for me:
http://usera.imagecave.com/t-shirt/1x2goldenfieldsflj.jpg
Pairings: 1+2+1
Warnings: Yaoi
BY: SkyLark
Betaed by ShenLong Deb *hugs*
Archives: http://www.gundam-wing-diaries.150m.com/gw/SkyLark/gwSkyLark.htm and http://www.mizunoamy.bravepages.com/skylark/skylarkfics.html

"He loves me. He loves me not."

Yes, as foolish and girlish as the whole thing seemed, I am actually plucking feather petals to determine whether or not the object of my affections cared anything for me. It had become a tradition of mine whenever I disappeared in the fields behind one of the schools where Heero and I were hiding out.

In the thick of the war, there were few and far between opportunities in which I could escape from the world. The field allowed me that opportunity, with grass and flowers so tall that I disappeared under their shield when I lay on my back as I was that afternoon.

Having a field like this of my own brings back those old memories. Back then, I never had anyone I could really talk to about when it came to my confusion over Heero and my feelings for him. Silly as it seemed, plucking flowers seemed better than just keeping everything in.

Nowadays, the wars are long behind me. I actually have my own home in the countryside in the middle of nowhere. Life is good... actually, it's really damn good after everything it had taken to get to this point in my life.

"He loves me not," I mutter as I pluck another white petal to let it drift in the air. "He loves-" My words pause along with my hand when I see that there are only two pedals left to pluck. Doing the math in my head, I knew I was going to end on 'He loves me not.'

Out of nowhere, a hand appeared to tug away the last two petals at the same time as a familiar voice declared, "He loves you."

Blinking in surprise, I turned my head up to smile at the upside-down face smirking down at me. "Thanks, 'Ro," I grinned. "Not that I ever questioned it."

Just shaking his head in amusement, Heero stretched himself out over my head in the grass to bend in for a deep kiss, a response that I happily return whilst pulling his head down.

Yea. I forgot to mention that we've been living together for the last five years. We've been married for three. So, as I mentioned, life is really damn good nowadays.

END

[fic] A Place In the World

2008-05-15T06:00:35Z

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Gundam Wing, or its characters. I just love playing with them.
A Place In the World
Accompanying fic for a scene from ‘Beloved.’ This time, in Heero’s POV. Inspired by contest pic by Toniq: http://sharona1x2.com/rapture/contest/art/SkyLark_Toniq2007lg.jpg
Pairings: 1+2+1
Warnings: Angst
BY: SkyLark
Betaed by ShenLong Deb *hugs*
Archives: http://www.gundam-wing-diaries.150m.com/gw/SkyLark/gwSkyLark.htm and http://www.mizunoamy.bravepages.com/skylark/skylarkfics.html

"Yet another miracle," Duo smirked as he turned off the engine to the car we had just restored. "Considering the shape that this old beater was in when it got here, I almost thought that it was beyond even our help." He slipped out of the driver's seat and closed the rusty door behind him while\st brushing his hands against his blue work pants.

After years of traveling the earth and colonies, I had been living and working with the former Deathscythe pilot for a few months by then. It had taken a long time for me to realize that I had come to feel more than friendship for Duo. I suppose that I always knew that I loved him, but was never really sure until that past year.

Once I did come to the complete realization of my affections, I decided to travel to L2 to see my old partner again. And hopefully find the courage to tell him how I felt in the process. Weeks of planning went into my trip. Never one to do anything without thinking it out fully, I had a clear idea to what would happen, along with all of the possible reactions and things that may have come up.

Nothing in this lifetime could have prepared me for the surprise I received when I did finally arrive on Duo's doorstep... Carissa. The moment that little head peeked from behind my friend's legs, I felt the bottom of my stomach give out. Nowhere in my sorting and readying did I consider a child to be in the picture.

Of course, because of the close resemblance between the child and my old partner, I had assumed that he was married. My mind reeled over thoughts of how wrongly I had read the signs that I thought he had been throwing me during the wars. And if I had been right, I was too late to do anything about it now that a family was involved.

Seven years. Why in the hell did it take me so damn long to finally admit what I had known?

I was so lost in my shock over the girl that I almost didn't register the words my braided comrade was telling me. Eventually, when it sunk in that Duo had adopted the child, I was able to breathe again... but it did not change the fact that there was a little one that was forever tied to him.

And I could never compete for his affections when he had a little one that had become his whole world.

Reluctantly, under a bit of pressure from Duo and Hilde, I ended up staying to work in their salvage yard. What was supposed to only last a couple of months has gone on for nearly half a year by that afternoon.

During that time, I must admit that Carissa had grown on me. She's a very bright girl for her young age, a sign of a child that had to grow up quickly after losing both of her parents. Much like her father, even with a difficult past, she remains cheerful and friendly to everyone she meets. She and Duo compliment each other very well in having that in common.

For some strange reason, I even think that Carissa likes having me around. Listening in on Duo's bedtime ritual of a story and tuck in, I have gathered as much by some of the things that she has said. It's one of the reasons I'm still here, actually. Where I did not think that there was room for me in their family, maybe there is an opening after all.

Until I got the feeling that I am too much of a bother to have around in their lives, I was more than certain I would stick around. At least it kept me close to Duo in some way.

Time went on and I came to learn my friend’s reason for adopting in the first place. Just as I had been searching for my own place in the world, so had he. Only for him, that place he needed in life was to be a father. And seeing how he is with Carissa, I am certain that there could be no better person for the role of a parent.

That particular day, I could tell that Duo was anxious to wrap things up. Carissa was sitting in the main office with Hilde after being dropped off there by her babysitter to avoid a bout of the ‘flu that was going around in her house.

Grinning from ear-to-ear, my braided partner nudged me in the side and commented, "Nice work on the engine there, ‘Ro. You got this car purring better than I could have if it was new."

I smirked as our eyes met, nodding my head in appreciation before looking back on the car. One of the most fulfilling things about working the yard is being able to use my hands to restore and create as opposed to what they were used for during the wars. Every day I return to work, I'm reminded that I really can do anything that I set my own mind to as opposed to what I am ordered.

It's very... fulfilling.

The sound of someone running towards us had me turning along with Duo. Instantly, my nerves were on edge when I saw Hilde hurrying near with tears running down her face. In all the time that I have known the girl, I have never seen her cry but on one occasion up to then. Seeing her in such a state then sent a particular chill down my spine, knowing that there was something terribly wrong.

Beside me, I felt my friend tense up as well. Before either of us can ask what was wrong, Hilde moved towards him and shouted frantically, "Duo, Carissa's gone! I turned my back for a second and now I can't find her! I've looked everywhere!"

My mind quickly took those words in to process them as a wave of emotions came into play. Of course concern and fear for Carissa were the first things that came to mind. Duo's face paled a couple of shades as his jaw fell in the midst of his own turmoil over the situation. Then, in a mere heartbeat, his face reddened as his eyes narrowed. "What!? What do you mean she's gone!?" he yelled at his business partner.

Hilde nearly come undone at his anger and I could not help but feel for her as she whimpered and sputtered a few non-coherent words before managing, "I-It's just like I said! I turned my back and she wasn't in the office anymore! She must be in the yard somewhere!"

'In the yard' was all that I needed to hear to act. Under normal circumstances, Duo would have been able to remember the heavy machinery and vehicles roaming the yard and stop them. However, he stood frozen in fear as I quickly took hold of the hand transmitter hooked to my belt.

Placing it close to my mouth, I shouted, "All crew, stop whatever you're doing now! Carissa's missing in the yard somewhere!" Efficient as always, the crews throughout the area stopped all of their tasks, the sound of loud engines dying down all around while those without transmitters of their own were hollered the announcement.

Once a complete silence fell on the yard, I turned to see Duo still too disoriented by the news that had wracked him to move. Placing the transmitter back to my mouth, I ordered, "Everyone spread out and start looking." Affirmatives were either shouted or radioed back in response.

Resetting the transmitter on my belt, I gripped my braided friend's shoulder to force him to focus on me. His violet eyes already beginning to shimmer, I promised him, "We'll find her." With one last squeeze to his shoulder, I turned to run back towards the main office for a chance to think of where in the whole mess of the scrap yard Carissa could have run to.

Seeing that worry and loss in Duo's eyes had shaken me. I never saw him so distraught that he couldn't think, though I understood considering he was the girl's father. What's more, after growing a bit of a kinship with Carissa, I was bound and determined to find her, to see that she was safe.

Just as the office comes into sight, my instincts in tracking from back during the wars kicked in. 'Think like your target,' Odin and J had taught me. It was a lesson that had paid off time and time again in the past.

While dozens of other yard workers ran about in their blue work uniforms, calling for Carissa, I came to a stop to really think over my surroundings. Knowing just how loud the still vehicles would have been when she left the building, no doubt she would have been frightened and hidden. There was no other explanation to why she was gone. She certainly would never have run away on purpose.

Clear on what must have been the reason for her disappearance, it did not take long for me to remember the large pile of old sewage pipes a few yards away from the office. It was the closest place where a child her size could take cover. Fast as my feet could carry me, I rounded the main building and headed for the piping.

It did not take long after I arrived at the foot of the tall stack to hear the faint, echoed sniffling. Pinpointing the source of the sound, I made my way to a pipe large enough that I could hunch myself into near the bottom of the pile.

Slowly peering into the entrance, I found Carissa sitting a couple of feet inside with her legs hugged to her chest. Her purple top and jeans were smudged from the light layering of grime she’d crawled through to reach her little haven. Looking up, her violet eyes shone and widened on me with a startled gasp. "Heewo," she whispered brokenly.

Few people have the ability to affect me when I see them cry. Duo is one. Carissa is another. Despite the grime and smell, I crouched down enough to enter the pipe and sat down facing her when I neared. "Are you all right?" I asked softly, not wanting to frighten her any more than she already was.

Sniffling again, Carissa wiped at her tears with the back of her hand, smudging her face in the process. With a small nod, she sniffled, "The big noises scared me and I hid here." A fresh round of tears filled her eyes as she looked up at me and frowned, "A big noise took my mommy and first daddy away."

My stomach knotted a bit at that realization. Duo had told me how the girl's parents were killed in a car wreck not far from their home where Carissa was with their babysitter. Now knowing the connection between that night and some of the metallic crunches she no doubt heard in the yard, I could only imagine how horrific that would have been for her.

"Ah. I see," I replied softly. Shifting myself so that I could wrap an arm around her little shoulders, I was taken aback at how quickly and easily she latched onto me for support. Lightly rubbing an arm, I told her, "I would be scared, too, if I was you in that case."

Shaking her head, Carissa looked back up to me and frowned, "But, you don't get scared, Heewo. You're the most bravest guy I know. You and Daddy."

I snicker, but those words really do touch me in knowing how a child like her could see me in such a light. Smiling, I shared, "Well, I have been, and still get scared sometimes. Like just now, when your Aunt Hilde announced you were lost."

Carissa winced a bit at that, but there was still a look of wonder in her widening eyes as she breathed, "That scared you?" Biting her lip, she questioned, "And Daddy... he's scared, then?"

"Very," I nodded. Her look of wonder changed into a fearful one and I quickly read her mind to reassure, "He won't be mad at you for running off. I don't think your Daddy can ever be mad at you." She smiled through the tears beginning to form.

Thinking back to Duo, I reached for the transmitter with my free hand to announce that I had found his daughter when she asked, "Are you scared of other stuff?"

Our eyes met again and I knew that there was nothing that I could keep from her. Taking a deep breath, I sighed in admission, "I used to be lost like you were just now. I'm afraid of being lost like that again... alone." It was the most honest answer that I could give... one that I needed to tell someone about.

Blinking back, Carissa smiled and wrapped her arms tight around my arm. "But you won't be lost again, Heewo. You have me 'n Daddy!" she giggled. "We won't go nowhere."

My own eyes widened at that sweet, simple comment. Hearing such a sentiment meant more to me than anything. That was the moment that I knew I had finally found my place in the world. Somehow, I there was still room for me with Duo and Carissa.

Swallowing past the lump that had formed in my throat, my arm around the child pulled her closer to me as I whispered, "Thank you, Carissa. That's one less thing for me to be afraid of, then." Brightening all the more through the smudges on her face and clothes, she kept her grip on me.

With one rough clearing of my throat, I raised the transmitter in my other hand to my mouth to announce, ""I found her, Duo. We're by the stacks of piping fixtures just north of the office."

There was a pause before my partner's voice rasped, "Is she-..." Broken as he sounded, he couldn't finish the question. Hearing her father's voice was enough to make Carissa tremble with tears again, no doubt wanting to be reunited with him badly after her scare.

Lightly squeezing her arm, I radioed back, ""She's fine. We're heading back to the office now." Ending the transmitter ion, I turned to focus back on my little charge and smirked, "Ready to go?" Wiping at her wet face, Carissa nodded.

Slowly leading the way back into the open, I waited patiently for the girl to make her way out right behind me. As soon as she straightened, she held her arms up to me in a silent plea. Only hesitating from surprise for a breath, I grinned and bent down to take her up in my arms.

And so, just like that, I carried her back to the main building where a tearful, elated Duo had just arrived to embrace the both of us.

Later that evening, after an outing for ice cream following our dinner, I stood by in the doorway of Carissa's room as Duo sat by watching in a silent vigil. No doubt, after what happened that afternoon, he wanted to reassure himself that his daughter was really safe and sound.

As I leaned against the frame, my braided partner looked back at me with heavy-lidded eyes and a look of pure exhaustion after his emotional ordeal. Folding my arms, I suggested, "You should get some sleep, yourself."

There was a pause as I could see Duo's wheels turning. No doubt, he wanted to come up with some smart ass remark or an outright refusal, but neither came. "She's fine," I told him, trying to bring reason into the picture to fend off the demons.

Again, no immediate response. Finally, I took a deep breath and went right to what was no doubt the heart of the matter. "You didn't fail her today." The moment those words sunk in, I could see those violet eyes on me swirling with emotions once again.

So that had been his biggest concern all along.

Reluctantly at first, my partner gained momentum as he rose from his chair beside the bed to step out into the hallway and close the bedroom door.

Turning to face me, he frowned deeply, "I froze when I found out she was missing, Heero. I couldn't even think. If you hadn't been there to ground me, not to mention remembering to have the team stop their machinery, who knows what could have happened to her. God forbid she was hurt while I was trying to get my head around what to do. I might have lost her if --"

Before he went on any further down that path, I broke in, "You're her father, Duo," I interrupted. "Of course you were in shock over the situation. But she's home and she's safe now."

He offered me a tired smile and retorted as a couple fresh tears rolled down his face, "Thanks to you." Not quite comfortable with that acknowledgment, I shrugged and lowered my gaze a bit.

Rubbing the back of his neck and brushing away the tears with his other hand, Duo chuckled bitterly, "You must think little of me -- first for freezing and now for getting upset over a hypothetical."

He caught me off guard with that. Never before had I known how worried he was over what I thought of him, or his actions. Bottom line, there never really was a time that I questioned him or anything that he did.

As soon as those words left him, my head snapped back so we could lock gazes once again while I replied firmly, "No." The doubt was written all over Duo, but I shook my head and told him honestly, "I would think less of you if you didn't."

Just the way his violet eyes widened and jaw slackened... I could tell that what I had said meant a lot to him. More than ever, I finally came to understand the regard that he had for me that night. How I had never seen it before... maybe I really wasn't too late with my own feelings for him as well.

We just stood in silence, watching each other, before I reached out to squeeze his shoulder in a tentative move for some kind of contact that we both needed. "Get some sleep," I ordered, relieved to see the uncertainty and worries fade away from my friend's face for the first time all day.

Having said my piece, I turned and headed for my room down the hall. My hand was on the doorknob when Duo called, "Heero..." I paused to look back at him expectantly.

The former God of Death actually bit his lip nervously before he grinned. Uh... I just wanted to thank you... Not just for today, but for sticking around these last few weeks." Clearing his throat, he said in little more than a breath, "I-it's been really nice... having you here."

Ah. It hit me then that we were at the end of another couple of months. Yet another deadline that I had given to how long I would be staying with him.

Recalling my conversation with Carissa earlier that day, I smiled. I really was wanted after all. My leaving would only be up to me. And I was not about to go anywhere… even if I was not going to make that known right away.

“Well don’t get used to it,” I warned with a tone of amusement. “I’ll probably be leaving in a couple of moths.” The start of a small, surprised smile tugged my braided friend’s lips and I opened my door offering a quiet, “Good night.” The sentiment was offered in kind as I entered my room.

Leaning up against the door as I closed it behind me, I chuckled quietly to myself. Unable to help the grin on my face, I whispered, “I’m home.”

And I never looked back.

END

[fic] As You're Sleeping

2008-05-03T05:00:13Z

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Gundam Wing, or its characters. I just love playing with them.
As You’re Sleeping
Accompanying fic for a moment from ‘Away From It All’: http://www.gundam-wing-diaries.150m.com/gw/SkyLark/Away.htm
Pairings: 1+2+1
Warnings:
BY: SkyLark
Betaed by ShenLong Deb *hugs*
Archives: http://www.gundam-wing-diaries.150m.com/gw/SkyLark/gwSkyLark.htm and http://www.mizunoamy.bravepages.com/skylark/skylarkfics.html

The steady beeping from the heart monitor is the only sound in the room besides your slow breathing. It's all enough to soothe a person that has been awake for as long as I have been to sleep, but my head is filled with too many thoughts for that right now.

Visiting hours ended some time ago, but no one on the staff has bothered to ask me to leave. Between the Preventer's badge hooked to my jean belt and bloody shirt, I suppose that it comes as no surprise and it's just as well. I would not be very accommodating if anyone did ask me to step out for the night.

The last time I was in a room with you like this was after I had rescued you from the Lunar Base. I had been surprised with myself that I even bothered then. Now, I understand the strange emotions that I had been dealing with then to understand why I did it.

Four years have passed since then. Peace nearly just as difficult to fight for now as it was during the wars. At least we're not so alone in that we have to shoulder that burden alone anymore. But, even with the Preventers, we have to face missions that put us at risk.

Recalling when I had asked you to join the force with me, I was taken aback by how quickly you had agreed. I had assumed that you were more than happy with Hilde and the salvaging business you had started up together. Part of me did not even see the reason in bothering to ask you, but I couldn't help but try.

In the end, there really is not another person that I work better with than you. You're the only person that really understood me... the only one who 'gets me,' as you put it. For me, there was no better option for a partner for me. It had taken time, but you were the first of the other pilots that I came to feel I could trust with my life.

Little did I know I could trust you with more than just that.

Over the last couple of years of sharing an apartment, you've been rubbing off on me. A lot of my changes were so subtle at first that even I didn't catch them. Suddenly, those subtleties grew to the point that Wufei, Sally, Quatre and Trowa felt the need to mention as much.

Laughing came easier. Opening up came easier. Really knowing what my feelings were telling me was easier thanks to just constantly being around you and seeing how you always went along with your own emotions.

Then, I started realizing other things. Whenever we were not paired together for extended missions, I noticed how much I missed having you close.

Back during the wars, your laugh annoyed me along with your constant talking and now the sounds of those things makes me smile. I missed your pats on the back or casual, friendly shoulder squeezes whenever you passed by. Suddenly, I found out just how much I enjoyed any form of contact with you.

You really amaze me. Do you know that?

I still remember that night we both walked home after a social outing with a handful of our coworkers one night. During the walk, you managed to mumble your way through telling me about your past- Solo, the other street kids, the Maxwell Church. Even in my own haze, I took everything in.

Since that day, you completely amaze me at how someone who had endured so much can still be able to laugh and smile. It made me aspire to be more like you in that sense. If you could be that open and free even after your past, then I could certainly try to be the same.

And so, I completely trust to you my soul. You've saved it from the years of training that erased so much so that I could be the soldier that I was molded into.

Gently, I brush back your bangs from your closed eyes and can't help but sit in awe over how peaceful you look. Not very often do I have the chance to see you without your jester mask, or the shroud of the God of Death mid-mission, in place.

I came here as soon as Lady Une gave me the call that you had been injured during this last mission. There was guilt in her voice, no doubt because neither of us were happy about one or the other of us leaving in charge of a team of new agents. And this was exactly why.

Answers were demanded as soon as I arrived. Reluctantly, Une informed me of the pilot that stepped out of line to try to prove himself while putting his team in danger. You took the brunt of the backlash from the enemy, as any good leader would. So here you lie, sedated after a few procedures to remove bullets that were mere inches from vital organs and arteries, while that bastard escaped without so much as a scratch.

That was soon fixed when I found Agent Hawk. A broken nose, wrist and several cracked ribs still only seemed the start of what I wanted to do to him, but a few other agents moved in to hold me back. When I returned to the hospital with blood on my shirt, the nurses and doctors around all made good to keep out of my way, aside from offering the directions to your room.

Lady Une is no doubt going to have a word with me for my actions, but I really couldn't care less. And somehow, I'm more than certain that you would have done the same for me if the tables were turned.

I dry wash my face, thinking back to the report of your injuries that the Doctor ran down. If some of those bullets had hit by the difference of inches, you would have been beyond help.

And... I simply cannot go on in a world that you're not in.

What is more, I have decided that at whatever expense on my part, I want to see that you have that peaceful look on your face as often as possible. I really cannot think of another person that deserves to be happy more than you.

I love you.

I finally figured that out, only I've never had the courage to actually come right out and say that to you.

After everything that we've endured over our lives, it's almost funny how I can actually be afraid of just saying a few words. Maybe it's the fear of being rejected or, even worst have you disgusted with me. After all, you've certainly never made it clear to where your attractions lie. You're simply always with me, which is why I can't help but hope that maybe...

These thoughts and feelings are much easier to deal with when you're sleeping. When I am not distracted by your smile or your laugh or your touch, they have been coming to the surface more and more.

Now, I believe that I am beyond the point of hoping for something more... beyond simply wishing and not acting as I have been doing for so long.

My eyelids are winning the fight against my struggle to keep them open. Keeping our hands joined, I shift a bit to lean half on the mattress and half on your chest so that I can be alerted if you wake before I do.

It's light out when I come to again, not even aware that I drifted off. Looking up, I find your wide violet eyes on me as you try to find your voice to say something. Too overwhelmed by relief and acceptance of my new mission, I quickly sit up to lean in and kiss you with the same fervor of the feelings that have been smoldering behind the damn that had been built around them.

To my fear, I can feel you stiffen. And then, you sigh and return the kiss with just as much commitment behind it. The world fades away for me again, only this time because I am so wrapped up in feeling you, tasting you that it is consuming all of my senses.

Finally, only for the need of air, I pull away panting. Blinking your own wide eyes, you look up at me and blink in surprise. Then, a small... real smile lights your face to banish away any fears I had about this moment. The expression in your gaze is one of wonder- as though you're looking upon me for the first time.

In many ways, I suppose that's true. This is the true me... the me than no one else was able to see before now. So, I do not need for you to be asleep to come to terms with who I really am.

With a deep breath, you breathe a simple, "Hi."

I feel a grin spreading on my own lips as I whisper back, "Hi."

This is a new day for both of us, I can already feel it. And for once... I'm not afraid to welcome it.

END

Fic: I Don't Mind

2008-05-01T00:19:19Z

Disclaimer: I don’t own them so don’t sue me!!
Arc: Whenever You Call
Story Title: Step 6 – I Don’t Mind
Author: La Loba de Mibu
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Shounen-ai, Romance, Drama
Pairing: 1=2
Summary: When Duo discovers one the children he’d helped get off the streets is in an abusive home, he takes some drastic measures to assure his safety. But how will Heero handle things?
Word Count: +/- 4300
Author Notes: This fic takes place in the Whenever You Call universe. It is set quite a few months after “Warmth,” and is directly related to the content in Step 3—What the Rain Knows, so reading it will improve understanding of this step.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Previous Steps ~ WYC Series Index

::Step 1::Step 2::Step3::Step 4::Step 5::

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

( The Gundam family, with some prodding from Duo and Quatre, had gathered together for a horribly mundane barbecue . . . )

[fic] Away From It All 1/1

2008-04-26T20:51:17Z

Away From It All
By: SkyLark
Betaed By: ShenLong Deb *hugs*
Warnings: Yoai, Sap
Pairing: 1x2x1
Note: Inspired by the following T_shirt pics commissioned for me:
http://usera.imagecave.com/t-shirt/1x2beachshanty.jpg
http://usera.imagecave.com/t-shirt/1x2pillowfightj.jpg
http://usera.imagecave.com/t-shirt/1x2afterglowm.jpg

Clicking the last few keys to end my report of my latest mission, I make quick work to convert the document into an email attachment addressed to Lady Une. I raise my hand to make a show of it before lowering my pointer finger to press the mouse clicker on 'Send' to officially end my day.

Finally. Another grueling week done.

A smirk tugs the side of my mouth as I look to my little desk calendar. Not only was it the end of the week, but it was the end of the second week of July. Which meant that it was officially the start of my fifth annual, two-week 'Away From It All' vacation with Heero.

Two weeks without missions, cell phones and even my partner's laptop. Everything that we did for the remainder of the year was basically in preparation to have it all left behind for that break.

Not long after the whole Mariemaia incident, out of the blue, I had been asked by Heero to join the Preventers with him since he did not feel comfortable being partnered with someone he did not know or trust. Wufei was paired with Sally then, Trowa was busy running with the circus and Quatre was very content with overseeing his family's business.

Meanwhile, I was busy helping Hilde's salvaging business get off the ground and business was booming. Unsettled with the daily grind of monotony, I jumped at the opportunity to work with the ex-Wing pilot that I secretly had a crush on.

Weeellll... maybe it wasn't a total secret to some since Quatre, Trowa, Wufei and Hilde had all at some point figured it out. So much for my stealth abilities.

So, Heero and I partnered up in what I believed was only due to his lack of other options at the time. It took almost a year after that time for me to realize it was a lot more than that. That and a trip for the hospital for me after a mission gone bad.

I had been sedated into a coma to recover from my injuries and Heero had been at my side nearly the entire time. The rules of no overnight guests did not apply for him. Between his Preventer badge and that glare of his, he had the entire staff on-hand willing to overlook the visitor guidelines.

When I came to after nearly a week, I woke to find my partner sleeping half on my chest and the mattress with our hands joined. Even asleep, Heero looked like hell. His eyes had dark circles under them, his hair was mussed more than usual and he had allowed quite a bit of stubble to grow.

Both amused and sad to see him like that, I lay there watching him a moment before squeezing the hand in mine after a few failed attempts to talk past my scratchy throat. Instantly alert, my partner sat up with wide eyes. That initial look of surprise quickly faded into a smile and relief that I had never seen on his face before.

And then he did something I never saw coming by finally following his emotions like he had been taught to lean in and kiss me.

To say that I was shocked shitless would be an understatement. Still, I was able to kiss him back when I finally snapped out of it.

Weeks later, once I was healed up, we moved from our separate apartments into a house of our own. Some may say we moved quickly there; but considering how we had been dancing around each other for two years, I'd have to say it was about time. It proved to be was best decision every of us had ever made besides coming clean with our feelings.

By that summer, I had made the suggestion of our having a vacation. And not the vacation we had been used to of just vegging at home where we could still be called in if we were needed. A real vacation away from it all. Hence the name we have dubbed those two weeks.

It was a bit of a surprise to me how Heero had not even flinched when I ordered all electronics, including his laptop, stay home. Seemed that after a whole year of working with the Preventers he was in need of some down time for a change as well.

We had spent almost two weeks picking a location that we both wanted on a remote beach in the middle of nowhere. Finding a shanty on the white sands, we rented the place and had fourteen of the most relaxing days we ever had.

The best part about the trip was that I actually got to see my then lover actually live for the first time in his life and we actually had the chance to be kids again. Like a second chance for the both of us.

We have tickle fights-which I always let Heero win just to see him smirk in victory at making me laugh. Then there's also pillow fights, goofing off in the water and going to the town's ice cream parlor or movie theaters just to name a few other things.

I swear years come off my partner's face the moment we get to that shanty. As if all of those bad memories, training and duty are completely lifted off his shoulders.

And it's one of the most damned beautiful things I have the privilege of being the only person in their world to share that with him.

Shutting down my computer, I quickly change into the jeans and plain gray t-shirt that I brought along before locking up my office at the end of my half-shift. Every loose tie handled, I don't have to burden myself worrying over what may or may not come up while we're away. My mind is too busy envisioning that view of the white-sanded beach from the shanty's master bedroom window.

Just as expected, Heero is waiting for me by our car in the parking lot wearing a pair of blue jeans and a red tank. Smirking, he pulls me close as soon as I am within reach and gives me a deep kiss that sends a wave of electric shocks up my back.

When we finally pull away, I grin and pant, “Nice to see you, too.”

Chuckling, my partner-in-crime gestures to the car that is already packed behind him as he asks, “Ready to go?” My answer comes in the form of my moving past him to jump into the passenger seat of the opened convertible. Shaking his head in amusement, Heero rounds to take the driver’s seat and starts the car.

Our drive lasts just over five hours with a quick rest stop for lunch. Then, at last, our haven comes into view past the lone road we are on leading to the white-sanded beach.

I sigh quietly and stretch my arms over my head to feel the cool sea air blowing past. “Home sweet away from home,” I smirk while readjusting my sunglasses. From the corner of my eye, I see Heero nod his head in agreement.

Not long later, we’re unpacked and shirtless as we head into the living room. Opening the white back patio doors, I stare out to the beach while Heero falls onto the couch. When I feel his eyes on me, I turn and smirk, “Sorry. Just enjoying the view.”

A smirk tugging his own lips, he replies. “So am I.” I shiver a bit at the husky, teasing comment and he waved me over. The moment I am within reach, Heero stretches up to pull me over the sofa back and into his lap.

Moaning, my head falls back as I am once again reminded of just how talented my partner’s tongue is.

* * * *

By the time the sun came up the following day, we had pretty much rechristened every room in the shanty before all but collapsing into a sated sleep.

It was nearly noon when I finally woke up and reluctantly left Heero's arms to greet the day. Cup of coffee in hand, I step out onto the back patio in nothing but a striped sleepwear top to take in the ocean and clear skies.

My mind wanders where it shouldn't- already thinking about how this nice get away is not going to last forever. Normally I wouldn't let myself think about that while still on vacation, but it's getting harder and harder to have to say goodbye to this little bit of peace.

Granted, there was a time I loved working for the Preventers as a way of filling my life with some excitement and strangely enough normalcy. But even that wears after a while. Suddenly, what appeals changes. For me, that thrill was gone and I wanted a new 'normal' in my life that did not include risking my life anymore.

We earned our right to finally let go of our responsibilities, didn't we? Hadn't there been enough close calls, sleepless nights and other sacrifices we'd been through?

I nearly jump when an arm wraps around my waist, just managing to keep what's left of my coffee from spilling. Damned Yuy's getting as good at stealth as I am. The initial shock only lasts a second and I smile while leaning back against the chest behind me.

A light kiss presses against my temple as Heero asks quietly, "What are you thinking about?"

"Stuff I shouldn't while we're here," I admit with a shrug. I take the slight squeeze from the arms around me as a sign to continue. Sighing, I look back to the cobalt eyes watching me and notice that my partner is only wearing the stripped pants that go along with the top I am wearing. With a deep breath, I frown, "I'm already kinda dreading going back."

Lightly shrugging his own shoulders, Heero smiles, "What if we don't have to?" he questioned. Taken by surprise by the question, my eyes widen and jaw hangs open as I try to fathom that possibility.

Chuckling, the former 'Perfect Soldier' walks around to sit in one of cushioned the patio chairs in front of me. "I've looked into what buying this place would cost," he tells me. "It would hardly put a dent in our nest egg."

That said 'nest egg' was our account that we could both live comfortably off of for the rest of our lives without working another day. During the wars, turns out we had both separately come up with the brilliant plans of hacking into OZ's funds. What we took was a drop in the ocean for them to notice, but a hell of a lot more money than the majority of people saw in their lifetimes.

I knew that there was more than enough to pay for the little shanty. What blew me away was the fact that Heero had actually looked into seeing how much it would cost. Not wanting to get my hopes up over what that meant, I hear myself reply, "Well, I wouldn't want to own this place if we couldn't stay here."

"Baka," he snickers, shaking his head. "Of course you know that's what I'm getting at." A look of mischief filling his blue eyes, he reaches back for a pillow and playfully hits me with it.

Finally coming to my senses, I laugh and grab a pillow from the chair beside me to return a jab of my own. "Yea, and what about the Preventers? I didn't think you would ever be willing to give that up."

Rising to his feet, Heero lands a soft blow to my side with a slight frown. "You don't think that I can go on in life without having a mission?" he retorts in a tone that borderlines on hurt.

That ends our little pillow fight for me and my arms fall to my sides. "Of course I didn't mean it like that, 'Ro," I respond, trying to really get my sincerity across. "I just don't want you to make a decision that you think you may regret because of me."

Apparently, that warranted another hit from the pillow. Shaking his head, my lover smirks, "What would there be to regret, Duo?" When I don't have an answer, he pauses and cups the side of my face as our eyes lock.

"I've put a lot of consideration into this," Heero said quietly. "Everything that I have done up to now, I've put others before myself- before my own life. My own happiness has been on hold ever since I really knew what it was like to be happy."

Biting my lip, I nod when he seems to be searching for the right words to go on. Our foreheads meet as he informs me, "I want to be selfish for a change and put my happiness first... and I am happiest when I'm with you."

Not many people know Heero can be such a romantic. It's rare when he shows that side, but when he does he can almost knock me over. Against my lowered defenses, a can feel a few tears sting my eyes.

"So..." my long-time partner in crime grins, "All you have to say is you want the same and we'll stay here... leave the rest of the world behind to fend for itself."

Unwilling to trust my voice, I close the distance between us to lean up for a kiss that deepens quickly. When we pull back, I manage to nod and whisper, "Yes. I want that."

A smile widens on Heero's own face before he pulls me close for another kiss to seal the deal. That little moment its broken when I take advantage of the moment to strike him with my pillow. Laughing, we tussle and ‘fight’ until both pillows are torn. Neither of us care as worry, knowing that the shanty is going to be ours to clean after as we kiss away the loose feathers floating around.

Let the rest of the world go on as it will. All we need is each other. Now, it looks like we're going to have just that for the rest of our days.

And I can't wait to start.

END

Whenever You Call Series

2008-04-16T18:20:46Z

Hiyo! I wrote a series of 1=2 fics that I'd like to share!

Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, so don’t sue me!
Arc: Whenever You Call

Author: La Loba de Mibu
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Shounen ai, Drama, Romance
Pairing: 1=2
Summary: After the wars, Duo and Heero go on to join Preventers, becoming partners and incidentally roommates. As they adjust to their new lives in peacetime, they slowly learn to live with one another, and perhaps even to love . . .
Author Notes: The “Step” stories in the Whenever You Call universe are mostly designed to stand alone, however they each build upon the previous “Step,” and thus are best read in order. Step 1 takes place during the war and was the spark for the fics that followed, which take place several years later.

Step 1 ~ It Starts . . .

Step 2 ~ Looking For Love

Step 3 ~ What The Rain Knows

Step 4 ~ Not Going Anywhere

Step 5 ~ Warmth

[PG] [FIC] = 1x2x1 By-the-Sentence Snippets: Snippets

2008-04-13T17:13:18Z

1x2x1 By-the-Sentence Snippets: Christmas-y
by Aki Midori

Pairing: Heero Yuy and Duo Maxwell
Warnings: shounen ai, if you squint
Rating: PG for hints of shounen ai
diSClaiMErs: Characters mentioned in this snippet aren't mine.

BlaHs (Notes):
Hello, my friends. I'm out of my snit, thanks to all of you who gave me a push. 'Christmas-y' got the most votes, so my mind started whirling, and this came up. I'll try to finish the other two, as soon as I figure out where the sentences will take me. I hope you enjoy this particular addition to the Sentence-Snippet series, even though it's not Kiss-mas anymore! ;;;

(Duo couldn't really remember what explanation Sissy Helen gave about this Kiss-mas stuff, but whatever it is, it must be really special, because it's not every day a jolly old man called Santy Claus hands out new toys to street rats like him.)

x-posted, my friends. sorry. ^^;

1=2 By-the-Sentence Snippets

2008-04-09T04:31:40Z

1x2 By-the-Sentence Snippets: Snippets
by Aki Midori

Pairing: Heero Yuy Duo Maxwell
Rating: PG
Warnings: Language, shounen-ai, chibi, injured Heero
DiSCLaiMerS: Gundam Wing ain't mine. XD

BlaHs:
Ok, guys, we'll go interactive in this one! Meaning, I get to dish out three possible scenarios, and you get to choose which one I'll complete first.

Sorry it's been so long since my last addition, but still, I'm very grateful for all your reviews and enthusiastic feedbacks. I'll try to post more snippets, so everybody'd enjoy!

Thanks again!

Please follow the fake cuts. ^^

(PREVENTERNESS II - RECOVERY)

(SAFE-HOUSE)

(Christmas-y)

Thanks for reading, everyone! Let me know which one is your favorite, and I'll complete the snippets.

-x-posted. sorry if this floods your pages. ^^;;

[Fic] What You Get

2008-03-28T14:42:09Z

Title: What You Get
Pairing: Heero Yuy and Duo Maxwell
Rating: somewhere between PG-13 and R
Warnings: Post EW, intentional tense change, m/m. My screwy sense of humor plus Maxwell’s mouth. It’s a whacked combination.
Disclaimer: Gundam Wing is the property of Bandai, Sunrise, Sotsu, etc. I make no money. You do not sue.

So a cop and a pilot walk into a bar...

[Fic] Propinquity

2008-03-07T04:42:59Z

Title: Propinquity
Pairing: Yuy and Maxwell
Rating: NC-17
Wordcount: 6,300 or thereabouts
Warnings: A couple of teenage killers, a lot of bad words and some extremely weird smut. Bon appétit.

I... think I actually wrote Gundam Wing fic again.

[FIC] "Someplace Only We Know" Ch. 1

2008-02-22T03:20:24Z

Title: Someplace Only We Know
Author: WickedGame
Genre: drama, fluff, AU
Pairings: eventual 1=2, 3=4, eventual 5xR
Warnings: lemon, lime, a little bastardization of Treize and Zechs (please don’t kill me!)
Notes: a fusion of Dirty Dancing and GW. This takes place in the Catskill Mountains sometime in the present. Beta read by Mel.

Heero Yuy was only sure of one thing as the car traveled down the road on an early summer morning: it was hot. It was sticky hot; the kind of hot that clung to your skin and made you feel like the weight of the heat was on you in layers.

The trees went by at a fast rate; almost too fast to appreciate the evergreens that covered the Catskill Mountains. Heero wished his father would slow down just a touch, maybe delaying their arrival at the Catskills Resort just a little.

Truth was, he wasn’t looking forward to the month they would be spending together. He had better things to do than yoga and learning to fox trot. There was his computer and the software programs he was writing, for one. For another there were the martial arts lessons he enjoyed and the gym he liked to work out at. But all of that had been put aside when his father had announced that they were all taking a vacation at the resort owned by his old friend, Treize Kushrenada.

The road to the resort was smoothly paved and narrow, lined with more of those beautiful evergreens before opening up to show a stately main house with cabins all over the surrounding area. People were playing volleyball in the sand pits, windsurfing in the lake, and there were even some people practicing tai chi on the lawn in front of the main house. Heero looked on with little interest, just wanting to get out of the car and stretch his legs.

The car stopped and the doors opened. There was a handsome man standing in front of them, dressed in a suit despite the muggy weather. Heero brushed his jean shorts off with his hands and went to open the trunk of the car.

“Doctor Yuy! I finally got you to come up here and visit us,” the man said, holding out his hand in greeting.

“Treize, it’s good to see you,” Mitsuki Yuy said, shaking Treize’s hand. “This is my wife, Misato and our children, Heero and Aemi.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” Heero said stiffly as he held out his hand. He wasn’t good with crowds, wasn’t good with people, and definitely didn’t like the slightly oily way Treize Kushrenada moved. It was too smooth.

“Beautiful children, Mitsuki. But they’re not exactly children anymore, correct?”

Mitsuki shook his head. “Heero’s eighteen as of a month ago. Aemi’s still seventeen, but she doesn’t have far to go.”

Treize looked behind him and gestured toward the car. “Trowa, Quatre, get their bags and take them to cabin eleven.”

A tall brunette with hair covering half his face and a shorter blonde with sparkling eyes stepped forward both dressed in the resort’s uniform of khaki shorts and green polo shirts.

Heero reached into the trunk and began to lift out the bags with them, not content to let a couple of minimum wage workers do all the work when he was just as capable.

“Hey, thanks,” the blonde said, holding out his hand. “I’m Quatre.”

Heero wiped his hand on his shorts before grasping the blonde’s. “I’m Heero.”

The brunette held out his hand and Heero shook it.

“If you don’t quit lifting twice the luggage we do we might lose our jobs,” he joked, holding onto Aemi’s largest suitcase.

“It’s not in me to let other people carry my things,” Heero confessed. “It’s not something I’m used to.”

“Well then, let me lead the way,” Quatre said cheerily as they started to walk.

It was dusk before the Yuy family had everything unpacked and put away. Heero took a look at Aemi and his mother playing solitaire and his father reading before declaring that he was going up to the main house to look around.

His father glanced up. “Meet us at eight for dinner, all right?”

Heero nodded and slipped out of the cabin, almost jogging up to the main house. The evening air was still muggy enough to leave a layer of sweat on his skin and Heero wished that he was back home, where he could take his shirt off and toss it aside.

He walked around the perimeter of the house and then up onto the veranda. From here he could see the dining room, and all the waiters there, dressed in white. Treize stood in front of the group, looking authoritative and not as warm as he had earlier that day. This was the business side of Treize Kushrenada, the side only his staff got to see. Heero hid in the shadows so that he wouldn’t be seen and watched as the boss did his job.

“Now, I went out of my way to hire all of you from some of the finest colleges and universities I could find. Why did I do that? Because you’re smart. I shouldn’t have to remind you that this is a family place. Families are here to relax and have fun but, we want them to come back. So keep your fingers out of the water, your hair out of the soup and show the kids a good time.”

The waiters looked at one another and Treize snapped. “All the kids. Even the ones you’d rather not even get close to. Show them the terrace; show them the golf course at night. Let them see the stars. Romance them any way you like, just so long as they keep coming back for more. But nothing else, you got that?”

The quiet in the room was broken when a group of dancers came walking through, an amazingly good-looking man at the forefront. Heero only noticed one thing at first and that was the long braid down the man’s back, brushing his ass. He sucked in a breath and sunk further into the shadows.

“Well, well, well. If it isn’t the entertainment,” Treize said scornfully.

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t our boss,” the braided man said coolly.

“Listen, you have your own rules. Teach them whatever they pay for you to teach them but that’s where it ends. Keep your hands off!”

The waiters broke apart to continue their work. The instructor stared daggers at Treize’s back and then turned, only to bump into one of the waiters.

“You got that straight, Duo? What you can and can’t touch and all that?”

Duo glared at the college boy and smiled wickedly. “Why don’t you go back to putting pickles on everyone’s plate and leave the hard stuff to me, hmm?”

Heero buttoned up his shirt and pulled on his dinner jacket. Ties weren’t required but the jackets were and so he wore one. He tried to tame his hair somewhat and pulled on a pair of dress shoes before walking up to the main house to join his family for dinner. He was already late after taking up so much time watching the waiters and that amazing man.

They were sitting in the back of the restaurant and were talking to Treize when Heero showed up. Mitsuki and Misato smiled at him as he took his seat while Aemi studied her reflection in a spoon.

“Heero, Aemi, this is your waiter, Robbie Marks. He goes to medical school in New York City, don’t you Robbie?” Treize pointed out.

“Yes sir,” Robbie replied as he set down four water goblets and filled them with the pitcher in his hand.

“These people are my special guests. Please, give them whatever they want,” Treize instructed before making his way back towards the front of the dining hall.

The meal was eaten in almost total silence, that was, until Treize came back to their table, a younger blonde man in tow. Heero noted his long, sleek hair and thought to himself that the brunette he’d seen earlier had more beautiful hair by far.

“Mitsuki, this is my assistant, Zechs Merquise. Zechs, this is the Yuy family. Doctor and Mrs. Yuy along with their children, Heero and Aemi.” Treize clapped Zechs on the shoulder. “Zechs is going into hotel management in the fall!”

“Need someone to take over the reins here for you one day, right Treize?” Mitsuki joked before gesturing towards Heero. “Heero here is in computers.”

“Oh,” Zechs commented dryly before turning to Heero. “Graphic design? Computer animation?”

“Software design actually,” Heero replied.

“Would you like to go and watch the band with me, Heero?” Zechs asked, flashing a smile at Treize.

“He’d love to!” his father answered for him and Heero sighed, wishing his father would butt out. He stood and followed Zechs to the dance floor, where they stood along the perimeter.

“And this is our own Chang Wufei!” an announcer’s voice rang through the speakers and the curtain spread to reveal the band leader; a short, but attractive Chinese male with a slim baton in his hand. He smiled uncomfortably before leading the orchestra into a sinfully pulsating mambo beat.

The floor cleared and Heero looked over the crowd to see that the brunette man with the braid and a young, blonde woman were in the middle of the dance floor, moving sensuously with one another to the mambo beat.

“Who are they?” he asked Zechs, who was watching with a touch of disinterest.

“The dance instructors. That’s Duo Maxwell and his partner, Relena Peacecraft. They’re here to keep the guests happy.” Just then, Duo threw Relena in the air and caught her somewhat sideways, the pair showing off brilliant smiles. Zechs sniffed. “They shouldn’t be showing off like that. That’s not the way to sell the dance lessons.”

Just then, Mitsuki showed up at his son’s elbow. “How’re things going, you two?”

“Fine, Dr. Yuy. Just fine.” Zechs replied, draping an arm companionably around Heero’s shoulders. “I was just about to ask Heero if he’d help with the games tonight.”

“Sure he would!” Mitsuki beamed with pride at his son and Heero sighed. He loved his father but sometimes the man just didn’t know when to shut up.

[FIC] "Undaunted"

2008-02-17T18:07:16Z

Title: Undaunted
Author: WickedGame
Prompt: 2/17/08 “me & you undaunted by our joyful scarring”, post-series, wake-up sex, bite marks
Genre: PWP, fluff
Rating: NC-17/MA
Pairing: 1x2
Warnings: lemon, foul language
Notes: Written for springkink 2008. Beta read by chaoticbeauty21.

There was a sound in the hazy background of his mind that he hadn't heard since the fall, and it stirred him. It made him want to swim out of sleep and move towards the surface of wakefulness.

Birdsong. The birds were singing in the birch trees outside the bedroom window. His mind supplied that they were probably busy building nests and getting ready to mate for the year. A lazy smile appeared on his face when he suddenly thought of his own mating the night before; a lazy smile accompanied by a dull throb where a bite mark marred his left nipple. His fingers lifted off the sheets to trace the welts left there, pushing down to feel the pain of the bruises Duo had left when he’d bitten down during his orgasm.

The thought of Duo made Heero open his eyes and turn his head to the left, where his boyfriend was still softly snoring on his back. Heero reached out and brushed a stray lock of hair out of his face. He allowed his fingers to trail down Duo's chest to toy with a dusky nipple.

Heero nearly laughed when Duo swatted his hand away and rolled over onto his left side, presenting Heero with his back. A back that bore its own scars and marks; some of them old and some fresh.

There were lash marks and burn marks. There were scars from beatings and scars from lovemaking. Duo had almost as many scars as Heero, although most of his had come from OZ and not from Heero.

Heero loved every single white scar, loved every single pucker of skin that showed where Duo had been and how he had become who he was. He loved those scars like he loved Duo himself. As a matter of fact, half the time he didn’t even think of them as scars, but as parts of Duo that were as definitive as his smile and his infectious laugh. They were like roadmaps of Duo’s life and Heero sometimes loved making love to Duo nice and slow while his lips and tongue kissed and worshipped every single mark.

Heero scooted closer to Duo, sliding his hand over a slim hip and reaching between muscular legs to fondle soft testicles and a warm cock.

“Hmmmm?” Duo’s voice was raspy and heavy with sleep as he stirred.

“Shhh,” Heero found himself whispering as he tugged gently on Duo’s shaft, sliding his hand up and down the hardening erection.

“Mmmmm,” Duo hummed as he wiggled his ass against Heero’s pelvis. “Mornin’, sunshine.”

Heero smiled briefly and reached over to his right for the tube of lubricant sitting on the nightstand. With practiced ease he unscrewed the cap and tossed it back onto the nightstand without spilling a drop of the clear gel. He rubbed a generous dollop of the lubricant onto his erection and then placed the tube carefully on the nightstand.

“On your back,” Heero ordered quietly as he drew back the covers. Duo rolled onto his back and smiled, spreading his legs wide and lifting them back, exposing himself to Heero.

Heero hooked Duo’s knees over his elbows and lifted Duo up before pressing inside of him, sinking them both back down to the mattress. Heero propped himself up on his elbows and Duo drew one of his legs up, letting Heero in that much deeper.

“Didn’t get enough of me last night?” Duo asked, wiggling his ass.

“I never could get enough of you,” Heero grunted as he thrust inside of Duo, biting down on his lip to keep from waking the neighbors. It was tight and hot inside of Duo, and the feeling of it never failed to amaze Heero. He knew he was lucky. Probably too lucky.

Heero moved in and out of Duo lazily, almost sleepily. He wanted to take this slow in comparison to the hurricane that was last night. He wanted to make it last but he knew it would probably be a folly to guarantee such a thing. He never lasted too long with Duo and didn’t think he ever could.

There were sighs and moans as they moved together, lips touching and tongues warring for dominance as they kissed deeply and lovingly. And in the end, Heero finally spilled himself inside of Duo with a shudder and a groan, sweat coating his body and making him cold as he came down from the high.

Duo was still hard under him and Heero smiled. Duo never complained if he didn’t get off during sex because he knew Heero would make good on it. Heero was never one to neglect Duo’s feelings and so he withdrew carefully from Duo’s body before sinking down on the bed and licking lazily around the head of Duo’s cock.

“Oh, damn,” Duo moaned as Heero licked up and down the shaft, nuzzling his nose in the fragrant hairs at the base of Duo’s erection.

“You smell so damned good,” Heero whispered as he licked the inside of Duo’s right thigh and then nibbled on the left one.

“You feel better,” Duo said softly as his hands reached for Heero’s head and guided him back to his dick. Heero smirked and moved to fulfill what was an obvious request. He opened his mouth, swallowing Duo's cock down to the base of the shaft. Sucking hard as his mouth came back up to the head, he tongued the underside, flickering over the head as he reached the top.

Duo hissed and arched his back, his hands slipping out of Heero’s hair and grasping at the headboard behind him.

“Fuck!”

Heero reveled in the panting of Duo’s breath and the tightening of the muscles in his body. Duo was close, and Heero’s mouth worked even harder toward his climax, sucking hard on the head and swallowing Duo’s cock down to the base.

Duo shouted as he came, his semen filling Heero’s mouth. Heero swallowed with a gulp, the slickness sliding down his throat. He suckled gently on the head, catching the last drops on his tongue and savoring them before swallowing them also.

Heero pulled the covers over them as he returned to his pillow and contemplated the sunshine streaming through the slits in the blinds. The birds were still singing and Heero smiled a sated smile.

“You amaze me,” Duo murmured as he snuggled up to Heero’s chest. “You just keep going.”

“Nothing could stop me when it comes to you,” Heero said seriously as he kissed the top of Duo’s head.

-The End-