"Rip Current"

Written By: yaruna

Disclaimer: Gundam Wing isn't mine! I'm not pretending they are, I simply love messing around with the lovable characters. Any similarity to existing works is purely coincidental.

Rating: R

Genre: Drama, Hurt/Comfort, Angst, Romance…? Alternate Universe

Warning:Probably some OOCness. Kind of bastard Heero in the first chapters. Some swearing. Won't pass the Bechdel test. Somewhat cliché, I think. Hmmz… what more… oh yeah, I'm a bit of a sadist, people will get hurt… sorry about that

Summary: Feelings are running high on the shorelines. Duo has arrived on the shores of Sanc Island and is making new friends, and enemies, among the locals as they surf their way towards the big competition. AU

A/N:I live for feedback

Sit back, and let the waves take you for a ride.

"Rip Current"

Chapter 23: Perfect Ten

 

Alex and I paddled out to the lineup side by side. I did the best I could to ignore him as he taunted me about my slow paddle. My arm did bother me, but that wasn't the main reason I was going slow. I wanted him to get tired of it and just head off at his normal pace and leave me alone.

'What the hell did you tell Trowa and Wufei anyways?' I asked him and he laughed. Nothing in his laughter was kind or joyful, and he was only doing it to taunt me more.

'You'll find out when you lose,' he answered with a smug smile, and I rolled my eyes.

'You're assuming too much.'

'That's what they said,' he said, and finally sped up his paddling.

Pretty soon he was far ahead of me, and I could speed up my own paddle to get into position when the horn blared to announce the start of the heat.

Not only to announce the start of the heat, but the start of the finals of the most prestigious competition in surfing. And I was in it. I'd never even dreamt of going so far.

Alex caught the first wave minutes into the heat as a set came in, and I went for the next one.

The waves had gotten consistently larger after my heat in the semis. The first one I caught in the finals was definitely on par with the last wave I'd gotten in the semis.

The drop was steep, and I pushed against the wave to force the board to keep contact with to water in what would otherwise had become an eleven foot free-fall into the reef.

It terrified me.

It excited me!

The water roared as it wrapped around me, and shut out all other sound. The beach was hidden from my vision, and all I could see was water and the horizon through falling water drops. I let it all disappear. I let the wave steal reality away until I was one with the water.

When a section ahead of me stayed open just long enough for me to get out, my mind screamed at me to take the chance, but I didn't want to let it go. I wanted to stay with this feeling, and in that moment of hesitation I lost my chance and the section closed.

The spray from the foam behind me egged me on, and pushed me to go faster. It worked me towards my limit as I raced towards the opening that was about to become smaller. I hunched down as I travelled along the water, and the spraying water from the foam ball caught up with me and spat me out through the small opening that was still there.

I stood up straight and turned back in amazement to watch the whitewater settle, with an overwhelming urge to give thanks to the water for letting me ride it. More than that, I wanted to thank it for letting me out, for staying with me unto the end. The board began to sink under the surface as it lost its speed, and I dropped down to sit on it.

If ever I had ridden a perfect wave, this was it.

The roar I could hear then wasn't from the ocean, and I was pulled away from my thoughts to look towards the beach. It took a moment for me to realize what the crowd was doing there, to remember that I was competing, to understand that I had to get back to the lineup and get one more wave.

On another day, I would have stopped there. I would have gone home and been lyrical about the ride I'd just had. But if I did, Alex would win. If I did, I would disappoint Wufei and Trowa for not even trying. More than that, I couldn't disappoint myself like that.

I looked towards the scoreboard, and squinted to see what it said.

Perfect ten.

For both of us.

Not even that would ruin my mood. Even if I'd gotten less than a ten, I wouldn't have cared. I knew it had been the perfect wave, and that was all that mattered.

I duck dived under an oncoming wave, and headed back into position. Alex was already there, probably having had more presence of mind after his wave than I'd had after mine.

'You're not making it easy,' Alex said, and smiled wryly. 'I like it.'

'I don't particularly care. I'm not doing it for you.'

'You wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for me,' he said, eyes narrowed.

'I have my reasons,' I answered and brushed my thumb against the pendant at my neck. Even if Alex and Mueller hadn't challenged me to Rift Wars, I would have gone, I was sure of it. I would have gone for Solo. I would have gone because he would have hated it if I hadn't. He's a much better motivator than Alex or Mueller ever could be.

'You need a reason other than the money? I heard Winner stepped in to sponsor you, must be nice with a billionaire as a friend,' he said.

'If you only surf for the money, I feel sorry for you,' I said as I watched the next wave intently. It wasn't perfect, but I decided it was good enough, and I paddled for it. More to get away from Alex than that the wave had potential.

It still gave me a sweet ride, though without a barrel. It wouldn't bring high points, but I was satisfied. I'd achieved my main goal, and when I paddled back to the lineup, Alex was on another wave, which fit me perfectly. If I could spend the rest of the heat without another exchange of words with Alex, I'd be thrilled.

My score for the last wave was called at a three, not surprising me in the slightest. Without a barrel, the points simply didn't go that high. Soon enough, Alex's score was called at eight point three, which meant I needed eight point thirty-one to win the finals.

'Beat that,' he said as he came back, and I smirked. I hadn't thought I'd be able to go the heat without hearing his voice again anyways. It had been a futile wish.

'We have five minutes left, you sure you want to get complacent?' I asked.

'Don't worry about me,' he said with a smug smile, and I narrowed my eyes. What was he up to now?

There was a lull in the waves, and I was beginning to get worried when I finally saw a set roll in. I let the first one go, and was surprised to see Alex let it go as well. I had priority, so he wouldn't be able to stop me from catching a wave, and if they called interference on him, he would lose. If I had been him, I would have taken it.

I lay down on the board and paddled for the next wave that towered into a high wall behind me. It surely pushed on fifteen feet.

Alex paddled next to me, on my right side, where I'd intended to go once dropping into the wave.

'I'm going right!' I called for him, and I knew he heard because that annoying smirk appeared on his lips, but he didn't back off.

He wouldn't.

It was a split second decision, and I didn't back off either. I took a final, powerful stroke and we were committed.

I felt my stomach and heart try to climb their way out of my throat as I popped up and dropped down the wave in a turn towards the right, setting myself up to go as deep as possible. I kept half an eye on Alex as he still paddled above me to catch the wave.

The board shivered beneath my feet as I struggled to keep its fins in the water. The speed that I built up from the drop was incredible, and as soon as I'd set up a nice line for the barrel, I hit the breaks.

It was lucky I did, or I would have run straight into Alex as he dropped down the face of the wave.

'Get out!' I called and the wave enveloped us both in a tube.

'Where?' he asked in a high-pitched voice.

I had no answer for him. The power of the wave was incredible, and a bail, or a wipeout on it wouldn't be a pretty one. We were only a couple of feet above the reef. It was exhilarating, and I think I laughed.

I pressed my hand into the water, slowing down a bit more, falling further behind from Alex. Though I say further behind, it wouldn't have been much more than two feet distance between our boards if we'd been on the same line. I kept myself high, and slowed down as much as I could.

Alex on the other hand pumped to get out faster, and I knew he was scared out of his wits. For my part, this was what I lived for. That feeling, the rush I got from riding the power of the ocean.

I couldn't lose. If he got out, but I didn't, they would call interference and they'd only could one of his points for the final score rather than two. If we both got out, I was sure to get a high score. Of course, I aimed to get out, but no matter what, Alex wouldn't win. I wouldn't disappoint anyone. I could enjoy the wave for what it was, without any pressure, except for the one of getting out alive.

I know I laughed then. Possibly, it had a bit of a manic edge to it.

Alex veered out through an opening ahead that closed before I got to it. I pumped to get my speed back up, and was almost pulled up with the wave, but I pushed down and managed to keep my balance. It brought my heart to my throat and adrenaline pumped through my veins.

I caught up with the break, but right then, right there, I knew I could make one more section, and I let it fall around me after giving a small wave towards the beach. I sped up again, and reveled in the indescribable force that was all around me, empowering me.

The wave opened again, and there would be no more chances.

I slipped out and the whitewater pressed me away as the wave fell in on itself behind me.

I shouted in joy. What were the chances of rolling two such waves in a heat? If anything, that one had been better than the first.

I was about to paddle back out when the horn sounded, and a deafening roar came out over the water.

The crowd was on their feet, cheering loudly, and I lifted my hands over my head, a wide grin on my face, listening as the roar became louder. My heart thundered in my ears, joining with the sound of the crowd, and the soaring of the water. It was the heartbeat of the ocean, punctuated by the waves.

'You're all right, Reaper,' Alex called from a bit away, and I forgot everything.

'What?' I asked, confused.

'Don't make me say it again,' he said with a roll of his eyes. 'I don't like you, but you're a good surfer.'

'Thanks?' I said, flabbergasted at the turn of events, and I wanted to question him further, but he was already paddling towards the beach again.

When I came in, everyone came to me, and I tried to hug all of them at the same time.

'You did it,' Wufei said, and Trowa squeezed my shoulder tightly.

'Was there any doubt?' I asked, smirking and doing my absolute best to pretend I'd been completely self-confident the entire time.

'There's always doubt where you are concerned, Duo,' Hilde said and I brought a hand to my heart.

'You wound me so, Hil'. I had to warrant your four-page spread somehow.'

'You did it for me, then?' she asked, her eyebrows raised.

'You don't believe -' I was grabbed around my thighs by Trowa and Wufei and was lifted up to sit on their shoulders. 'Hey!' I placed my hands on their shoulders to keep my balance as they started to walk up towards the podium.

I looked behind me to see Quatre carry my board, and he gave me a wink. I smiled broadly and winked back before I turned forwards again and let go of Trowa to point ahead of us, towards the podium where they were already heading.

'Onwards, my loyal steeds,' I said in a loud voice to make myself heard.

'I swear I'll drop you,' Wufei said with a grumble and I laughed. I only just managed to avoid giving him a pat on his head to see if he would make real of his threat.

There was only one thing missing. Person, actually. I looked back again to see everyone on the jet skis coming back in, and my heart settled when I saw Heero out there.

I leaned forwards to get off of their shoulders and onto the podium in one swift movement. I gave them all hugs again before Quatre handed me my board and a hand showed up next to me. I grabbed it and let it help me to my feet before I bent down to gather up my board. My arm complained with a sharp twinge, surprising me, since I hadn't felt any pain at all during the finals. I shifted my hold on the board and placed it behind me, making sure that the Winner and Legends stickers showed.

'Duo, you just won Gundams with a perfect heat score. The first ever to do so. How do you feel?' the interviewer asked and I let out a breath.

'It was my first ten ever. To have gotten two in the same heat is surreal. My blood is still pumping.'

'I can imagine that,' he said and I let my eyes travel out over the crowd to see Heero stand right outside of it, watching me with a small smile. I shot of a grin in his direction, but he only lifted his hand ever so slightly, making me frown.

Had I done this? Had I made him hesitate to come up to me?

'Duo?'

'Sorry?' I said, shaking myself out of my thoughts as I focused on the interviewer again.

'I'll let you go and get your trophy. Congratulations,' he said, and I grinned.

'Thanks, buddy,' I said, and grabbed my board once more as I was shown to the side, to another platform, where I was presented with the trophy, and a huge check.

To be honest, I can't begin to retell what went on. I don't really remember. I answered questions, and I took photos, and I probably wrote some signatures. But my focus was on Heero the entire time.

His smile was proud, but he looked sad. When another interviewer hailed me, I saw Heero turn, about to leave, and I panicked.

I shoved my winnings into Quatre's arms, my board fell into Trowa's, and I ran. The crowd split down the middle, giving me a clear path, and I called out.

'Heero!'

He froze, and turned around with a confused look. He looked at me, then over my shoulder, and then at me again.

'What's wrong?' he asked, and I let out a laugh in disbelief.

'What's wrong, you ask? You were leaving.'

'I thought...' he swallowed. 'I would congratulate you properly at home.'

'Congratulate me here,' I said, and he fixed his gaze on me, eyes narrowed.

'Really?' he asked.

'I've been longing to kiss you the entire day. Will you let me?'

My heart was beating quicker then than it had out in the water, as I waited for Heero to respond. He didn't, but he turned his palms my way, in an open invitation, and I took the step required to reach him.

Our arms wrapped around each other, and a hand snaked its way to my neck in the same way that my own hand travelled up to the back of Heero's head and our lips merged together.

There was no one else in that moment. There was only the feel of Heero's body against mine. The press of his soft lips on mine. We were alone.

We separated and leaned our foreheads together.

'I love you,' he said.

'Love you too,' I answered, and we hugged tightly.

The illusion could only hold for so long, and the soaring buzz from the crowd reached my ears. But then there was applause, and my eyes widened as I let myself look back.

Our friends were at the front, applauding the loudest, but several others had joined in. People I didn't know, and some that I did know.

'Go, Duo!' Broden called, and I looked towards him.

He had a wide grin on his face and gave me a wink that I could only reply to with a smile.

'What's going on?' I asked Heero silently and felt more than heard him chuckle.

'The world is changing,' he said, and I finally believed him.

Everything had already changed.

Chapter 24

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