Slow and Steady Part 10
Heero was sitting in the great room, enjoying a bit of sunlight when he heard some noise behind him. He turned, and saw Duo enter. "Duo. You didn't go with the others?"
"Meh." He plopped himself down on the arm of the sofa closest to Heero. "They don't need that many hands to carry the stuff."
"But I thought you liked that place."
He shrugged. "Not nearly as fun when you're not there. I liked watching you on high alert for that lady that made a pass at you that one year."
Heero regarded him skeptically. "You also liked perusing their fine selection of brands you've never heard of."
"Yeah, but every time I do that, I shoot myself in the foot, since then I've heard of them and it's not quite the same anymore."
"You didn't have to stay behind for me."
"Hey, I gave you a whole five minutes alone. Don't be greedy."
Heero aborted a protest with a soft sound of exasperation and went back to looking out the rear sliding door.
Duo gave him a whole two minutes of mental solitude before piping up. "Hey, wanna go for a walk?" When Heero took too long to respond, Duo jumped to his feet. "I'll take that as a yes." He slid the back door open, took a deep breath of fresh air, then turned back to Heero expectantly. "Well? Oh, come on. You were planning on working out, anyway."
There was no point in denying that. Even now, he was flexing his toes, his calves, whatever he could, every moment he could, exercising his neural pathways if nothing else. He hesitated in accepting Duo's offer on principle alone, then rolled out onto the deck. Duo offered him an arm, but he somewhat stubbornly chose to get to his feet using the railing instead, so Duo just moved the chair out of the way and let him get his legs under him for a bit. When the time was right, he sidled up next to Heero and waited. Once Heero indicated his readiness, he closed the distance and got an arm around Heero's waist. "This okay?"
There was the faintest shadow of disapproval on Heero's lips, but he nodded. Duo assumed it was just because of the implied level of assistance. Normally a good grip on Duo's arm was sufficient, but it wouldn't be for a distance of any significance. They made it down the two steps off the deck before Heero wriggled a little in his hold. Duo backed off just a bit, and Heero maneuvered the arm between them into a more comfortable position over Duo's shoulders. "Alright. Let's go."
It was a pleasant stroll around the perimeter of the house, accomplished one step at a time. Duo pretended to enjoy the scenery while concentrating very much on the feel of Heero's body against his own, carefully calibrating his hold to every wobble and lurch. Heero had been right. It really was somewhat difficult to fight instinct, to keep himself from bearing more of the weight than he actually had to, but he'd promised to be a good walker, and if nothing else, Duo did not break his promises.
"Hey, let's hang out on the porch for a bit, yeah?" Duo proposed as they came around the front of the house. Heero was doing pretty well, all things considered, but he'd slowed a little bit, and he wasn't picking up his feet as well as he had when they'd started. And, to be fair, all of Duo's rapt attention to the details was hard work as well. Even though Heero was lighter than he used to be, it seemed easier to just haul around his dead-weight than to support him in such a precise way.
Heero nodded his assent, and they came in for a gentle landing on the front porch steps.
"There. Isn't that better?" Duo said, settling down next to Heero. He quickly explained himself before Heero could take offense. "How long has it been since you were last more than ten meters away from that chair of yours, hmm?"
"Since you took it for a joyride last night."
"Oh. Well, it doesn't count when it gets away from you, not the other way around."
Heero puffed out a little sound of amusement in response, and for a few quiet minutes, they were just two guys, chilling on the porch on a lovely winter's day. They pondered the whimsy of Earth weather, and the changing colors of the leaves. They spotted a squirrel up a tree, nibbling warily on something. After the rodent disappeared into the foliage, Heero decided it was time they finished their circumnavigation of the house. They assumed their positions, and as they got underway, Heero asked idly, "Why is it you're doing this for me?"
It was finally Duo's turn to contemplate his answer. "Remember that time on Moon Base, when you didn't shoot me?"
"Yeah."
They continued the rest of their walk in companionable silence.
TBC...
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