13-Dec-2000
Well, Deb requested a Snow Fic, so here's snow fic! Short, sappy... Yay! Er.. She said something about a snowstorm, which this is not about, but it must be snowing pretty damn hard for it to be all white like I write it. So, er... There.
Eto... So... Deb, this is for you! *glomps*
Warnings: shounen ai
Pairings: 1+2
Archive: GW Addiction
Snowflakes are not conducive to echoing, shallow and mottled as they are, so, surrounding though he was, Duo Maxwell's laughter was heard only once.
But once was enough. Enough to be heard by the only person within hearing distance, within any reasonable distance, enough to resound in his mind.
Heero Yuy watched as his friend, co-pilot, fellow victim of cruel fate, threw it all the winds and played. Something Heero couldn't remember, something not needed and therefore just not done.
Duo spun, head up and braid twirling behind him as he laughed, melted snowflakes dotting his face, hair, and clothing, sparkling in the cold winter sun, transforming the boy into something much more ethereal.
He understood how unusual the snow was for Duo - it was a wonder for him, as well. Times like these, running through a rainstorm and getting soaked but not caring, lying with the sun bathing you in warmth, really made it clear how much they'd missed. Duo could act on it, though, fill in missing childhood experiences they should have enjoyed, while Heero could but watch.
Neither knew how long they were, one watching another enjoy the simple pleasures, until abruptly Duo stopped, flopping down with his laughter still filling the twinkling white expanse. He lay silently for a few seconds, last laughter dying down as his chest heaved, making up for air lost. Suddenly he was up again, and at Heero's side. His eyes shined blue-violet, his cheeks red from the cold and a few tendrils of hair floating loose. He looked as an angel, surrounded by falling white and glowing with joy. Real joy, not something put on for the benefit of others and the defense of himself.
"Have you ever seen snow before, Heero?" He asked, voice still breathless. "I mean, real snow."
"Of course not." Why did he even need to ask?
"Then come on!" Duo exclaimed, grabbing his hands, and running further into the vast white of the field, until all they could see was their footprints and the blanketing snow. Heero let himself be tugged as he debated whether to let go or not, Duo stopping before he could decide.
"Isn't it amazing?" Duo breathed, almost to no one, with childish pleasure. Heero shrugged, the aesthetic beauty not registering to one who has never had need for it, never measured it as Duo measured it now.
"It is," Duo answered for him, then bent his head back and stuck his tongue out, chuckling around it.
"What are you doing?" Asked Heero in confusion.
"Catching snowflakes!" Duo replied with glee, even Heero's normal pessimism not able to destroy his good humor. Not surrounded by this wonder. "Try it!"
"Duo, I am not doing that. You look like an idiot." Heero crossed his arms, trying hard to maintain the apathetic facade that protected him. Duo stopped, looked at him with those eyes still so bright.
"Doesn't matter! You're the only one here, anyway." He stuck his tongue out again, giggling every few seconds. Reluctantly, Heero followed suit, but not so far as to stick his tongue that far out... Just bending his head back and opening his mouth was enough.
Even though he expected it, he was still surprise at a sudden cold shock on his tongue, gone as soon as he registered it. A small chuckle forced itself from his throat at the sudden sensation, unfamiliar but not unpleasant.
Duo's laughter joined his as the braided boy nudged his ribs. "See! Having fun isn't that hard, Heero -" The lack of finality in his tone suggested that he wanted to say something else, but he didn't, even as his mouth remained open, and silence reigned.
"Ne, Heero... Ever made a snow angel?"
"A what?"
Duo responded with another quick laugh, then dropped himself to the snow with a crunch of compressing crystal, pulling Heero down with him. The surprised boy landed awkwardly, collapsing to lie in the snow next to Duo with all pretense of protective grace dropped.
"A snow angel!" Duo exclaimed ebulliently. He crashed to the snow, lying on his back in the fluffy snowflakes. As Heero turned his head to watch skeptically, Duo began moving his arms and legs in wide arcs, pushing snow aside with a swoosh that seemed too loud. Heero stared through the cloud of his condensed breath as Duo stopped, then carefully stood up, trying not to put his hands of feet into the depressions he'd just made.
"There!" He said with satisfaction, kneeling to lean by Heero, eyes still on his creation. "A snow angel."
Heero clambered to his knees, doubtfully eying the dimples in white, until he saw that it did, indeed, look like an angel, with large wings made from Duo's arms, flowing robes and even a braid to match its maker.
"Your turn." Heero eyed his companion uncertainly, still not sure making snow angels was a useful pastime for a soldier. But, he realized, he did want to join Duo in the snow, form a twin angel so Duo's would always have someone... As he did.
So he did, lying back in the cushion of white and sweeping his limbs as the American had. When he was convinced his handiwork was complete, he tried to get up without disturbing it, bending awkwardly to his knees and crawling over next to Duo.
"Perfect," breathed his partner, watching the two outlines appreciatively. He sank to the snow again, Heero following after a few seconds of deliberation. Stretching his arms over his head, Duo made a pillow of his forearms while Heero simply lay still, arms sprawled beside him. One had landed half on Duo's stomach, and rested half-supported by it. Neither seemed to notice, or care.
"Heero, were you serious?" Duo's whisper seemed almost lost. At the mere questioning grunt he received in reply, he tried to continue with more clarity.
"About never seeing snow?" Heero almost nodded before he realized that the gesture would have been lost in the blurring blankets of snow that were finally beginning to seep the heat from him.
"Of course." He heard Duo's whispered reply of affirmation and agreement, but neither spoke after that. He listened to nothing but Duo's breathing and the soft sounds of the snow's impact until he was lost in it, concentrated in silence and aware of only his companion.
Finally, he spoke, low voice piercing the silence even at its normal low level.
"It's getting cold, and near dark. We should go." No response but slow, steady inhalations and the answering exhaling.
"Duo?" Still nothing. He rolled to his knees, kneeling before Duo, and realized that he was asleep, blue-violet eyes shut and face calm in repose.
"Duo..." It was too far back to carry the American, much as he would have wanted to. He nudged the braided pilot gently, just enough to rouse him slowly.
"Heero?" Duo asked, voice still hazy, in the grip of sleep. A slow grin stretched over his face, and Heero found his own lips quirking almost imperceptivity in response.
"Time to go," he whispered. Duo stretched, his coat whispering against itself. They both got to their feet, dusting snow from still slow limbs and content in silence. Neither spoke, even as they began the long trek back, crunching through cloying snow in tandem. But both knew what they were thinking, both knew something had happened, something significant.
Would he tell Duo what he'd discovered in the snow, observing the angels? Heero wondered as they trudged along, feeling no need for haste. Not now. It was too soon, he was still too scared, traipsing into the unknown mirrored into brilliant cobalt blue.
But someday.
Kitto.
Someday.
Owari
Well, was that suitable? *grins* It wasn't sap in the most traditional sense, but I kinda like it.
A brief note, the 'cobalt blue' is used in the strictest sense, therefore referring to Duo.
Ryan Harbin
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