"Reality Check"

Written By: SkyLark

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Gundam Wing, or its characters. I just love playing with them.

Inspired by T-Shirt Commission pics: http://usera.imagecave.com/t-shirt/1x2hugj.jpg and http://usera.imagecave.com/t-shirt/sweetfreedom.jpg

Pairings: 1+2+1

Warnings: Angst

Rating: PG 13

Betaed by ShenLong *hugs*

Archives: http://www.gundam-wing-diaries.150m.com/gw/SkyLark/gwSkyLark.htm and http://www.mizunoamy.bravepages.com/skylark/skylarkfics.html

Summary: When Heero nearly loses Duo in the war, he realizes he needs to let his partner know how he feels.

"Reality Check"

"Duo, pull up!"

My partner's voice shouted over the crackling transmission in response, "Can't!... Controls... shot... hell! Not... respond-..." My heart pounded in my ears as I could do little more than watch the radar in Wing's cockpit. The flashing blip that represented the OZ shuttle Duo had successfully taken control of was descending to the earth too rapidly for me to reach him in time.

Everything had been running smoothly on our mission before a few Taurus suits spotted us on our reentry into Earth's atmosphere. Before either of us could react in time, shots were fired into the cockpit of the craft, rendering it useless as it collapsed from the sky.

Shaking my head, I pressed forward on my control bars as far as they would give. Even at Wing's top speed in a near free fall, it was not moving fast enough. Then, a static-broken cry from Duo filled my ears just before everything went silent and the blip on my radar disappeared.

My eyes wide, I heard myself cry, "No!" Gripping my the control handles even tighter, I willed my suit to move faster. The entire descent would have only taken a few minutes, but they were the longest damned minutes in my life.

We had been too confident that everything was all right and so we had been caught off guard. That simple mistake gave the enemy the chance to act. And that could very well have been the end of the only person that I really trusted.

No, as soon as that thought entered my mind, I forced it out again. Duo being gone was not something that I could begin to deal with. Even then, long before I even really understood my feelings for him, I couldn't fathom being without him.

After months of working alongside the braided pilot, he had managed to get under my skin more than I was about to admit at the time. So I was not about to believe that he was lost until I had absolute proof.

Finally, zeroing in on where the ship would have crashed based on its descent, I found myself staring at the tops of trees that covered a deserted field. A large plume of smoke and a large gap in those trees along with a light flash of flames told me where I needed to start searching for my partner.

Mentally preparing myself for whatever I may find, I carefully landed Wing in the shelter of the trees several yards from the crash site.

Unfastening my harness, I raised the cockpit hatch to lower myself to the grass below. The moment my feet hit the ground, I was running towards the black plumes of smoke rising above the trees.

Along the way, there was a small clearing from which the remains of the shuttle were in plain sight. Slowing in my steps, I fought to breath in seeing the bent wings and tail pointing to the sky while flames licked at the downed trees surrounding the craft.

What would have been the cockpit and main cabin of the ship were nothing more than mangled pieces of metal that continued to burn.

I was so lost in my fears over what had become of Duo that I never sensed anyone coming up on me until I felt the barrel of the pistol press against the back of my head. The first thing that ran through my mind was J's voice warning me to never let my emotions cloud my focus in battle.

It had been my second mistake that afternoon.

While it would only take a second to turn the tables back in my favor, I still never should have put myself in that situation in the first place.

"Got'cha, `Ro," I heard a familiar voice smirk behind me. My eyes closing in relief, I released the breath that I had been holding. Slowly turning my head, I was looking at the lightly scratched heart-shaped face of my partner. Pulling his pistol back to replace it in his holster he snickered, "You're losing your touch. Any other day, I would have been leveled before I could get within five feet of you."

I returned his smirk while making sure not to let on to my relief and happiness at seeing him in one piece. Sighing, Duo ran a hand through his bangs as we looked back towards the wreckage ahead of us. Jovial as he had been a moment ago, his pale face and wide eyes gave away how shell-shocked he was from the crash.

It had been a reality check for the both of us... how easily our young lives really could be cut short from the war.

Shaking his braided head, my friend frowned, "If the emergency eject hadn't worked..." A shudder shook his whole body as his voice drifted off. I shivered as well, although it was not as obvious.

Just as it was Duo's nature, he shifted off the grim subject and snorted as he looked down as his somewhat tattered priest outfit. "Of course, it would have been nice to have avoided the trees on the way down," he stated in exasperation. "And I'm pretty sure there was poison ivy in the thickets that I dropped into. I'm going to itch like a son of a bitch for days!"

Turning on his heels, he headed down the slight slope in the opening while he ranted on, "G's going to shit a brick when I give him the news about this! Of all the stupid, bone-headed..."

As his rant continued, I couldn't help but smile as I watched and listened to Duo. Having come so close to not having the sound of his voice or the view of that swinging braid around, I had a new appreciation for everything about him. Never again was I going to take any of that for granted.

Before I even knew what was happening, I followed my partner and wrapped him up in a tight embrace from behind. Instantly, Duo froze and the words stopped. For a long pause, he stayed like that until another shiver moved through him.

A slow, long breath was released from his lungs as he sagged heavily against me. Slowly, he slipped his own arms around mine and lowered his head with closed eyes.

Clearly, the realization of his close call was still creeping in. Instead of running from the situation as he was about to, I was forcing him to cope with it. And in dealing with it, he was more than willing to accept whatever comfort I could offer at that moment.

Some time passed before I heard a quiet sniffle from Duo. Resting my chin on his shoulder, I simply decided to lower my guard and honestly say what was on my mind... what was in my heart at the moment.

"I'm glad you're all right," I managed to whisper. It was an understatement. But, I had the feeling that the other pilot understood that. Even those words would never have come out of me before then.

Turning his head, Duo's tear-streaked face offered me one of his real smiles... not his jester grin but the one that reaches his eyes. The same violet eyes that were shimmering at that moment. "Thanks, 'Ro," he replied sincerely in little more than a breath.

It hit me right then and there where my confused feelings for Duo really stood. While a shock at first, I knew beyond any question that I was in love with him.

My second reality check of the afternoon.

The war and my missions were going to complicate things, I knew. There was still a lot that needed to be accomplished before I could actually share my feelings, but there would be a time and place for that.

Until then, I was content to sneak in quick embraces like the one we shared that afternoon before we were finally free and safe to actually continue down the path we had started together.

When we headed back towards Wing, we both subconsciously drifted towards each other until out arms would brush from time to time during our walk. Part of me wondered who really needed the contact for reassurance more. In the end, I suppose we both needed it just as much.

Now, five years later to the day, Duo and I have made our home in the same field where the shuttle crashed. Finally free to explore and act on our feelings for each other that had only grown over time, we couldn't find a more fitting place to stay.

Our lives are much simpler these days. While it was an adjustment at first, it certainly has grown on me.

I smile as I step out into our back yard to watch Duo hang our laundry on the line. Wearing a plain tank top and shorts much like myself, his long braid drifts on the summer air as he hums to himself in his work.

After all these years, he still has the ability to take my breath away without effort.

I sneak up on my partner to embrace him from behind. Instantly melting against me, he snickers, "You got me, 'Ro." Resting his arms over mine, he sighs in content.

On this, our anniversary of sorts, I nuzzle where his neck and shoulder meet and whisper, "I'm glad you're my husband."

An understatement. But he knows that.

Turning in my arms, Duo gives me a deep kiss that warms my entire body. Slowly pulling back, he stares into my eyes and smiles, "Me too, 'Ro."

Overhead, a few streaks from the climbing sun peer through the opening in the trees that still remains from the crash site. Not needing another reality check to know where my feelings fall, I lean in to kiss Duo soundly again.

It's been a hell of a journey down this path we've been traveling together so far. And I know we'll see it through its end side-by-side, the same way we began.

END

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