It's A Hard Knock Life Part 4
Together Again

Solo woke up slowly, feeling groggy. He was leaning against the wall, Willow was sponging his forehead, and Foxy was pacing back and forth through the room. The broad-shouldered redhead stopped when he saw Solo open his eyes. Foxy's face twisted into a worried snarl of anger.

"Don't you ever do that again, you goddamn wet end. You scared the hell outta me," he growled, kneeling next to Solo.

Solo started to relax against the wall, falling back asleep, and then he remembered what happened to him, and what had caused it...

"Du--!!" Foxy pressed a hand over his mouth with a rough, clumsy gentleness.

"Yeah, he's here. Don't wake him up."

Solo nodded, and Foxy pulled his hand away, looking over to where Duo slept beneath a blanket with his sister. Solo followed his eyes, moving them to Duo. Solo's eyes were a disarmingly innocent shade of blue, wide and disbelieving. A tear slipped down his left cheek, and he wiped it away absently, never tearing his eyes from Duo's sleeping, snoring form.

"How? How can he still be alive?"

Foxy shrugged. "I dunno. You wanna ask him when he wakes up, fine with me. But we've all had a rough night. I say we all hit the hay for now. You guys can reminisce and all that good shit tomorrow. Or whatever. You're too fuckin' tired for nostalgia right now. So am I." Foxy stood back up, picked Cass up and took her to a mattress in one of the other rooms. Willow went silently to her own mattress to sleep, and no one else was awake. Foxy didn't come back in.

Solo stood up himself and walked over to where Duo was lying. The braided pilot laid in an awkward sprawl across the couch, beyond dignity in sleep, his feet hanging over the edge. Solo sagged to his knees, looking into Duo's pale, flawless face. His clothing, which had been tattered the last time Solo saw him, was now pretty new looking. The black in the soft cloth wasn't faded. The priest's collar wasn't frayed. Solo smiled a little, fresh tears welling in his eyes.

/ Looks like you've done good for yourself, kid, / Solo thought. / Why the hell'd ya come back here? /

He ran his fingers gently over Duo's cheek, and the younger boy sighed, moving up into his touch. Solo moved his thumb over Duo's bottom lip. Duo took the digit into his mouth and moaned, chewing it gently. His hips lifted ever-so-slightly. Solo laughed, but not loud enough to wake Duo up.

/ I always could play you like an ocarina, buddy... /

Solo ran his hand down Duo's chest, over the smooth fabric of the priest's habit. Duo leaned into him, his breathing speeding up. "Nuh... nnn..." The dark blonde boy took his hand away from Duo, shaking his head with a smile.

/ That's enough for now, bud. We'll just have to wait until you're awake... you grew up nice, kid. /

He moved Duo over a little on the couch, making room for himself to curl up on the other end. Duo instinctively nestled in next to him, sensing warmth.

The gang was back together.

/ Nothin' and nobody is gonna break us up again, / Solo thought, falling asleep with the silkiness of Duo's braid resting over his wrist, and the scent of Duo's herbal shampoo enveloping him.

~*~

Heero heard his laptop beep from across the room as he walked back into the motel room. He had gone out to get ammunition, and he had just gotten back to find that Duo hadn't returned yet. He didn't want to admit it to himself, but he didn't like Duo going out into this colony alone. It was dangerous. The whole place was dangerous. And as dangerous as Duo was, Heero didn't trust him to take care of himself.

/ Mission? /

He went over and read the email silently, eyes narrowing a little.

Sent by: shinigami@telcom.net

Time: 1:21 A.M.
To: psoldier@telcom.net

>HY - Staying with friends. Don't worry. Back in the morning. DM<

/... Duo... where are you? /

Heero went back to the double bed and slept without dreams.

Alone.

TBC...

 

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