July 2001
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters from Gundam Wing, Sotsu, Bandai and Sunrise do. But I've put them on my Christmas list, does that count?
Notes: This was originally part of the story "Alternate Dualities" until I decided that sticking with Duo's viewpoint throughout was less confusing. But I still liked the scene, and decided it could stand alone as a ficlet.
Heero sat by Duo's hospital bed, waiting for his partner to wake. Waiting for those dancing violet eyes to open. Waiting for the manic grin, the ridiculous comments, the irrepressible laugh.
Heero lowered his head into his hands and sighed. When had Duo gotten under his skin like this? He remembered being concerned about the other pilots during the war, but never anything approaching this level of anxiety. Then, he had been more worried about how their injuries might affect their missions, but now...
Now, he was just worried about Duo.
In a way, it was only natural, he reasoned. Duo, or Preventer Shadow as he was now known, had been his only partner for three years now. They complemented each other, pairing strength against weakne... lesser strength. They were a good team, very successful. It would be an irritation to have to break in a new partner when Duo suited him so well...
Heero shook his head. Denial was a blind spot he could not afford. Duo was more than just his partner in the Preventers, he was...
He was a friend, one of the few people Heero trusted.
He was skilled - a pilot, a mechanic, a lock-picker, an excellent shot, a master of stealth and camouflage.
He was dependable, reliable.
He was a reliever of tension, somehow knowing exactly how to relax those around him with banter and cheerful chatter.
He was wise, in his own fashion. He knew well the demons that stole sleep away, and how to banish them. He knew the healing power of laughter, and the crippling power of fear.
He was a constant riddle; sometimes an annoyance beyond bearing, sometimes the only comfort in the world.
He was complex, and mysterious in ways Heero still could not define.
He was the one who taught Heero joy, the one who challenged him to be better, the one who helped him feel connected to the human race.
He was Heero's reason for living.
Heero sat by Duo's hospital bed, waiting for his partner to wake. Waiting for his other half to come back to life, so that he could be whole again.
Owari
(:./wingnut/waiting)
