June 1999
Sorry -- to whoever's following this weird li'l fic --this took so long. *squeals* *I* want to live forever, damnit! Don't have enough time to do everything I wanna do as it is *mutter mutter* Stooopid title *mumble mumble*
New Bordeaux.
Quatre glanced at the trees bordering the lonely airstrip as the plane touched down. Once, the area had been full of vineyards and was considered one of the world's prime wine producers. No more. Time and circumstances had changed that, altered it beyond any hope of redemption. Now the countryside was no different than that of many other countries on the European continent of Earth. No distinguishing features.
Other than army depots and military bases. And barren patches of land where mines and missiles had harrowed the earth and made her weep.
War was hell.
Quatre watched Duo go over the contents of his backpack one more time, mentally ticking off each and every item deemed necessary for a few days of covert surveillance. "Got everything?" he finally asked when Duo looked satisfied and began to shoulder his pack. The wind blew Duo's hair into his eyes and Quatre watched bemusedly as Duo tried to blow his annoying bangs out of the way.
"Yeah, think so," Duo grinned, no trace of the previous days' melancholy darkening his features. The openness of his gaze made Quatre's heart lurch within his chest and he wondered how someone could continue to *look* like *that* after having done all that Duo had. It was a mystery he would never wish to encounter but had. It wasn't one he wanted to solve, but one that Quatre knew he needed to. For his own sake.
"I guess I'd better be going, huh?" Duo reached out and Quatre obliged, both gripping each other's hands in a handshake of farewell. Both knew that it could very well be goodbye, but not one of them mentioned it. The surroundings were quiet, the early morning solitude broken only occasionally by the warble of some unknown avian resident in the nearby greenery. It was a beautiful morning for a meeting. Saying goodbye would have destroyed whatever little peace nature could provide them that morning. Besides, it was too soon since they'd only said hello.
"Take care, Duo," Quatre smiled in what he hoped was a confident and reassuring voice. "We'll keep an eye out for your signal. Just name the time and place."
Duo nodded, not answering but knowing that Quatre understood from the look in his eyes. Giving the blonde boy a last smile, the longhaired boy jogged down the deserted airstrip.
Minutes later, Quatre shielded his eyes against the glare of the shifting morning sunlight as he tracked the small plume of dust rapidly disappearing down the country road. He could barely make out the dark outline of Duo's clothes behind the hazy grey dust, but he waited until he could see his friend no more. Then, with a drawn-out sigh, Quatre turned back towards the plane he'd piloted.
All there was left to do was to wait.
End Part Four
Shirin
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