Author: Merula
Pairings: 1x6
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Yaoi
Disclaimer: Gundam Wing is not mine.
This is for lunargeography, for her BNL prompt- You Run Away.
Drabble 74
"Hey 'Fei," I leaned into his office, catching his attention.
"What is it Maxwell?"
"Have you seen Heero around this morning?"
"No."
"That's weird."
"No it's not. The Commander told him he could stay home this morning after what happened yesterday. You heard her too, correct?" He raised an eyebrow at me. "And aren't you supposed to be home too? Med leave?"
"Yeah, yeah- but it's not like Heero to stay home, especially after something like yesterday."
"Did you call his cell phone?"
"Of course. He didn't answer. I texted him too- with no reply."
"Now that is strange."
"That's what I'm saying. It makes me... nervous." I waited for Wufei to make fun of me, but he frowned instead.
"It makes me nervous too. Maybe... maybe one of us should go check on him?"
"I'll go," I said immediately. I had been thinking about going anyway. I guess I had just wanted to hear someone confirm that I wasn't over- reacting.
Wufei looked at me for a moment, and I blinked at the expression on his face. "Duo- maybe we should both go? I mean... after yesterday... and with him not answering anything..."
The lump of ice in my stomach, the one that had been there since I'd gotten to the office and been unable to get a hold of Heero, grew a little more. "You don't think..." But of course he did. I had too...
Wufei's phone rang. He scooped it up. "Commander?" I waited for a moment, but then he scribbled something on a post it and passed it to me.
I have a mission. Go check on him. Call if you need me.
Looking up from the note, I caught his eye and nodded. I left his office and headed down towards the garage, needing to find out what was happening with my partner, even as I dreaded the possibilities of what I might find.
Once at Heero's place, I debated ringing the bell versus just using the key he'd given me for emergencies.
But... maybe the emergency was in my own head? Maybe Heero was just sleeping in?
Yeah, and what was the probability of that happening?
I unlocked his door and opened it, calling his name as I did so. There wasn't an answer, and that cold lump in my stomach moved up into my chest. His front room was empty, his mail stacked in a perfect pile on his table next to his cell phone.
There was no sign of him in the laundry room or bathroom- and his bedroom door was closed. Mentally bracing myself, I opened his bedroom door.
His bed was made, no sign of being slept in. The only thing that showed Heero had been there at some point was his uniform, hanging up neatly on his closet door. Damn, I'd have to go check the garage, see if his car was here- where could he have gone?
I almost missed it, but as I turned to leave the room, a breeze blew a strand of hair into my face and I realized the balcony door was open.
Heero lives on the second story; there was no need for my heart to give the panicked skip that it did. Quickly, I moved across the room and pushed the drapes to the side.
Heero was sitting on his balcony, his back against the side railing, his eyes closed. He was barefoot, in jeans and a well-worn t-shirt, his arms clasped around his knees. He looked peaceful, and for a moment I thought about just slipping out without disturbing him- except there was one jarring note in the picture.
Beside him, right next to his hip, was his gun.
"Duo?" I blinked, looking away from the gun, to catch Heero's surprised expression. "What are you doing here?"
"You didn't come in to work today."
He frowned at me. "Une told me to stay home today, I know you heard her."
"Since when do you actually listen to her when she tells you to do that?" I countered. "Plus I tried to call you and I didn't get an answer. I was worried." Sitting down beside him, I placed one hand on the gun. "You doing okay, Heero?"
"No," he didn't look at me, but his hand came down to cover mine. "No, I'm not. How could I be, after yesterday-?"
"It wasn't your fault, you know."
"It was my fault, and you know it." He turned slightly to face me and reached up with his free hand, to touch my shoulder. "How is it this morning?"
"I'm fine. Sally dug out the bullet, stitched me up, and gave me a shot. It was minor- as you very well know."
"Sally told you to stay home today too."
Shrugging, I dug up a smile for him. "Well, I wasn't going to be less macho than my partner and not show up after a little thing like that. If I'd known you were going to stay home, I'd have taken my meds and slept in."
"You could still go home and sleep in."
"Or I could stay here with you. I think you owe me breakfast at least."
He sighed and turned away from me, leaning back against the railings. "I owe you a lot more than that. If I hadn't made that decision yesterday- you-"
"Heero, stop it right now. You made the only decision you could've made. That little girl was more important, and besides, I got myself free didn't I?"
"You got shot."
"A minor wound, remember? Don't beat yourself up over this. You know in the same place I would have chosen the kid."
"I almost didn't." His hand clenched mine. "I nearly shot your attacker before hers- I- I'm going to quit the Preventers- I can't- I can't trust myself-"
It took me a moment to truly understand what he was saying. I turned my hand over in his grip and entwined my fingers with his. "But I trust you. You did the right thing yesterday, no almost about it." I sagged a little, letting my head rest on his shoulder. "Today though- not answering your phone- sitting out here with your gun- telling me you're going to leave the Preventers- that's not the right thing, Heero. Who was it that told me after the Freeman case that running away never solved anything?"
"You were half-packed and practically out the door," He retorted.
"And you weren't?"
"I- I didn't know what else to do."
I sighed and lifted his hand up to my mouth. Pressing kisses on his thumb, the back of his hand, his wrist, I said: "You call me, idiot. Just like I call you. This isn't a one way street, you know."
"You were injured- and Sally sedated you."
"Granted, but- you have my key, you know you're always welcome." He was silent for a moment and I sighed again. "You are, you know. I knew I should've had you move in with me."
He blinked, looking surprised. "But I'm-"
Before he could finish the sentence, I hauled him to his feet with me, scooping up the gun and sticking it in my own pocket. I pulled him into his bedroom and placed him in front of the mirror over his dresser. Standing behind him, I met his gaze in the glass. "You're what? What do you see?"
He opened his mouth, but I knew I didn't really want to hear it. "You know what I see? My partner- that I rely on, my friend- who is always looking out for me, and my lover- who I need more than anything." I put my arms around him, resting my chin on his shoulder. "Don't run away from me, Heero. Please don't."
His hands came up to cover mine. "I need you too."
We stood for a moment, in front of the glass, arms around each other, before the moment was shattered by the ringing of my cellphone. "Give me a minute," I said and pushed Heero towards his bed.
"Maxwell? Did you find Yuy or not? Is he all right?" Heero blinked up at me, sprawled across his quilt, and I grinned.
"Oh, he's fine. Just slept in. In fact, he's just about to be my breakfast, so I don't think we'll be coming in today after all."
Wufei sighed. "I'm glad he's okay. Oh and it's make you breakfast, Maxwell, not be your..." He stopped and I laughed as he hung up.
"He's going to kill you tomorrow." Heero said as I joined him on the bed.
Leaning close, I put my lips against his. "But you'll be around to save me like always, right?"
"Right."
That was all I needed to hear.
OWARI
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