|
"Flicker Fade"Written By: Miss Murdered Disclaimer: I don't own the GW characters - am just borrowing to torment for my amusement Rating: NC 17 Warnings: m/m sex, character death (Howard –
I love this guy and I kill him!), some angst, bad language Pairings: 2x3 Summary: Howard's funeral reunites
the former Gundam pilots in Hawaii. But the reunion is complicated
by the fact Trowa and Duo haven't seen each other for years and the
feelings they once had for each other have never quite faded. "Flicker Fade"
Chapter Six You're Not in Control He'd been leaving. Trowa had even packed his bag which amounted to picking up underwear off the floor and then going to grab his toiletries from the bathroom, throwing them into his duffle without caring. He'd booked his flight, his e-ticket stored on his cell phone, his boarding time at eight p.m. He'd been leaving. But he hadn't. It wasn't Duo. It was Heero who'd asked him to stay a little longer and Trowa had rarely been asked for anything from Heero. Apart from all those years ago when he'd asked to borrow Heavyarms but in recent years, Heero had not demanded anything. So Trowa stayed. He was still vaguely annoyed but then maybe he got why Heero wanted to spend the day hiking in the lush verdant rainforest, wanted to climb up some damn hill and view the ocean, the cities, the best earth had to offer. Trowa spent so much time in drug dens, in bad neighbourhoods, in broken cities with sky high crime statistics where people struggled and starved and turned to crime - that he rarely got to see that the earth could be beautiful. That the world was better than what he saw on a day to day basis. Brussels didn't offer him a vision of beauty either - only old buildings that had been rebuilt after the war and plaques and memorials, remembering all those deaths that had occurred. Deaths that Trowa had caused. At least some of them. It had become a grim solemn place post-war and one that seemed to have ghosts around every corner. Trowa had asked why he couldn't take one of the other's during the phone call and Heero had made a noise that indicated Trowa had asked a stupid question. As Trowa could figure that out. Heero probably wouldn't have wanted to hike with Duo due to the potential running commentary despite the fact Duo would be a good partner for such a quest. Quatre would be discounted due to the attachment to his cell phone and inability to get away from his life as a corporate mogul. Wufei... there was probably a lot of reasons why Heero would not pick Wufei so Trowa had agreed even if he'd been a little reluctant. He did enjoy hiking. Did enjoy the physical activity so he was staying in Hawaii another day and one more night, flying out the next morning as early as he could. He called the airline, transferred his ticket for a small fee, smirking as it was on Preventer's dime anyway, and then spent the evening avoiding everyone in his room, ordering room service and going to sleep early as Heero had requested an early morning. Maybe an attempt to see the sunrise on the way up. Whatever, Trowa was awake ridiculously early and decided to use the gym before the hike, using some of the excess energy he seemed to have on the treadmill and the bike, going back to his room when he was done and showering before he dressed in the best hiking gear he could put together. It wasn't perfect, the cargo shorts, the thin long sleeved raglan style t-shirt that clung to his chest and muscles, but it was good enough and would work for the day ahead. His sneakers weren't exactly hiking boots but they'd work. It was too early to find a store and he was sure his exceptional balance would mean he'd not lose his footing. After grabbing a few "supplies" from the gift shop, water and some snack bars, filling his deep pockets with them, he waited around in the lobby before he decided he was sick of the artificial air and music, stepping outside to wait, surprised that Heero was taking him time. That was the opposite of the Heero Yuy Trowa knew. Despite it being years since the wars, since the regimented way that Heero had been raised as a soldier from childhood - Heero still had certain habits that he always seemed to follow - punctuality being one of them. He was tempted to call, tempted to see if he'd slept in when he turned and heard a sarcastic voice. "You've gotta be kidding me." Trowa turned to see Duo dressed in similar, he guessed, "hiking" clothes. Or at least makeshift hiking clothes like Trowa's were - the checkerboard Vans were not going to be good in the undergrowth but then neither were Trowa's sneakers. They were both unprepared hikers and Duo was rolling his eyes in exaggeration. "Lemme guess. Heero said he wanted to go hiking just with you as you were the one who wouldn't bug the crap outta him?" Nodding dumbly, it took Trowa a moment, Trowa blaming his early morning sleepy brain on his lack of quick wits. "He set us up." Duo nodded. "Bingo. It's like some kinda kid setting up their divorced parent's thing but instead of an adorable child, we have a twenty seven year old man with crappy social skills who we both can't kill as he's damn indestructible." Unable to stop himself, Trowa snorted at the somewhat accurate description of Heero. "I think he bleeds. I saw it. One of us can hold him down while the other punches." "Yeah... I like that plan... as long as we both get opportunities to punch, you know? Don't want you getting all the glory." "Wouldn't dream of it." Stood just outside the lobby to the hotel, Duo rubbed at his arm awkwardly and then looked at Trowa chuckling under his breath. "You know... kinda ironic but the hike sounded an awesome idea. Getting away from it all. The Sweepers. Lydia. Everything..." Duo sighed dramatically and gave Trowa a sideways glance. "You still wanna go? Even if it's just us?" Trowa didn't see any reason not to - it was a hike. Not some club. Not some hotel room where they'd end up naked and fucking. And they'd be hiking which was not exactly conducive to long conversations about their screwed up relationship. So Trowa nodded. It wouldn't do any harm and he was leaving in the morning. "Yeah." Duo smiled and Trowa couldn't help smiling in response as it wasn't the fake one - it was the real one. And it was the smile that lit up Duo's face, that showed the subtle crinkles in his face that age had brought and made his eyes sparkle. "Great. I'll drive." Instead of explaining he didn't have a car anyway, he'd been driving around with Heero in his rental, he followed Duo to an old Jeep, somewhat messed up but it said more about the Duo he remembered than the fancy clothes, the expensive suite... it said there was still the "old" Duo alive and well hidden by a veneer of respectability. As no matter what, Duo was probably still that kid from L2 who made things with his hands and had engine oil for blood. Just as Trowa was always the nameless boy finding somewhere to belong and return to. "Nice car." "Vintage heap of junk... but my vintage heap of junk," Duo said fondly, patting the hood as though it had some form of life to it. Trowa rolled his eyes as he'd always known how Duo had seen Deathscythe as more than a collection of metal and parts, probably just as he saw this car. Duo had that belief that machines had souls and Trowa never had. His Gundam had saved his life, given him purpose and brought things into his world he'd never thought he'd have, Duo included, but it didn't have soul. Not like Duo thought. "You never change," Trowa said as he walked around the car, pulling himself into the passenger side as Duo hopped in. "Good or bad thing?" "I'm not sure." Duo made a "hmm" noise and reached for the radio, turning it on loudly as they drove out of the parking lot, the valets not working at the ridiculously early time in the morning. Despite the early hour and the lack of heat, Trowa unwound his window a small way and let the wind rush through his bangs, the early morning mist hanging over the ocean as they drove. He kept glancing at Duo as he hummed along to the song on the radio, tapping his fingers against the steering wheel, looking ridiculously casual and more than that - gorgeous in the dappled early morning light. Trowa remembered the teenage boy, the black, the long braid and how he used to look and how he'd changed as he grew up but that didn't matter. Duo maybe didn't wear all black but his clothing generally stuck in the darker colours territory and maybe the braid was no longer as long but still hung at his shoulders despite missing some of its previous length. It was strange to observe him, see the definition of his jaw, the hint of stubble as Duo had obviously just rolled out of bed and Trowa stopped himself from looking, swallowing as he remembered how they always knew how to stick the knife in and make each other bleed. Each insecurity and past mistake used like a weapon. This was nothing but a hike and Trowa had rearranged his flight for tomorrow morning and he would be getting on that plane no matter what half-assed trick Heero tried to pull. They arrived at the bottom of the trail, parking up in an area that had flattered grass that indicated this was where most people started and they got out their limited supplies. The sun had still not fully risen and the dampness in the air seemed to stick to them as Duo handed Trowa a backpack which was easier for him to carry his water and snacks than his pockets. "You're more prepared," Trowa commented as he secured the khaki backpack to his body, loosening the straps to fit over his broad shoulders. "I guess I always intend to do shit like this... never get the time, right?" Trowa nodded and looked up at the trees, tight together, the still lingering mist of the early morning and then back towards the ocean. "We should start." Duo smiled and waved his arm. "After you then." And with a small roll of eyes at Duo's theatrics, Trowa walked towards the trees ready to climb and see how beautiful the world could look in the early morning light. |
