Author: Merula

Pairings: 1x2

Rating: PG-13

Warnings: Yaoi

Disclaimer: Gundam Wing is not mine.

Welcome Home

The lock resisted for a moment- it always did in this sort of weather. Heero cursed under his breath and for a moment wished he was back on the colonies- the manufactured weather was at least predictable and it never got cold enough for locks to stick.

As the lock finally turned, his cell started ringing. Heero fished for it as he pushed the door open, trying not to drop the bag of groceries he carried.

"Yuy," he snapped into the handset.

"Bad news," said the voice on the other end and Heero cursed again.

"What is it this time? If this another security emergency, the answer is no. Chang's been teaching Relena- she can take care of herself-"

Quatre cut him off. "It's not Relena. It's Duo."

The grocery bag fell from his hands with a soft thump. "What do you mean? What's happened?"

"They let him go."

"WHAT? When? Why the fuck wasn't I told? I damn well told them- told you-"

"I know you did. Will you please not shoot the messenger? I only just found out myself."

Heero pushed the door closed, locked it and took a deep breath as he sat down on the floor in his hallway. "When?"

"Two days ago, I-"

"Why didn't they tell me?"

"Une's decision apparently. She didn't say-"

"I'm coming up there. They can't stop me. If he's been released-"

"He's missing, they-"

"What?!" Heero knocked the back of his head against the door in sheer frustration. "How could they fucking lose him?"

"Heero, shut up a minute and I'll tell you everything I know, okay?" He heard Quatre sigh heavily. "They decided to let him out two days ago. Release forms were signed. I saw those myself. After those forms were signed he was supposed to go see Une- no I don't know what the hell for and believe me, I tried to get her to tell me. Apparently they sent a 'handler' to pick him up and transport him to headquarters on L1, but somehow he gave the guy the slip."

"And he's been missing for two days before they decided to tell us?"

"Yes. Une feels that he'll try to get back into contact with one of us. She's requested that we inform her the moment we see him-"

"She can stick that request right up-"

"That's what I told her." Quatre's voice darkened a little. "She knew we were against this from the first. Rest assured, if I see Duo, the last thing I'm going to do is turn him over to Une."

Heero closed his eyes, resting his head against the wall. "I can't believe they did this..."

"I can."

"We need to start looking for him-"

"Already started. Trowa's been on it since Une called. We haven't found a trace of him yet, but Trowa let Howard and the others know. Maybe he'll turn to the Sweepers? Any thing's possible."

"Damn them anyway. They were supposed to tell us- I promised Duo I'd be there to meet him! What did he think when I wasn't there?" Heero's voice broke. "He never should've been locked up there in the first place!"

"I know that, Heero. I know. I pleaded with Duo to reconsider- but he was frightened- he was worried it would happen again-"

"It was an accident! He didn't mean it!"

"He didn't see it that way, Heero. You know he didn't. And then Une-"

"I'm going to kill her."

"I'll help. After we find Duo, okay?"

"Okay. Have Trowa send me an update? I'll start on this end-" Where the hell could he even begin? With a two day head start Duo could be anywhere...

"Will do. I'll call if we get any news."

"If you find Duo-"

"I'll hold on to him for you. I promise."

"Thanks. I'm sorry, I was difficult- I just-"

"I know. We'll find him, Heero. I know we will. I'll call you soon."

Heero clicked the hang up button and dropped the phone to the floor. Duo hadn't answered any of letters- and his doctors had refused to let Heero visit him. They said it would be 'too traumatic'. It had been over a year since...

Opening his eyes, he frowned at the tipped over grocery bag. Damn it all to hell... what a fuck up.

He got to his feet and picked up the bag. One step at a time. Put these away, start the search. Maybe Relena could use her contacts...

They had to find Duo before Une did. God only knew what she wanted him for- had something come up? Something big? If she was the one putting pressure on the doctors to let Duo out...

Shaking himself, he looked at the group of pictures hanging in the hallway. One in particular caught his eye- it always did.

"Where the hell are you, Duo?" He addressed it softly.

A small noise made him look up.

"I'm... here?" Sitting on the top of his staircase, hunched over, was Duo. The bag slipped from Heero's fingers again as he bounded up the stairs and threw himself at Duo. Duo caught him, his arms twining tightly around Heero's shoulders.

Heero held him back, just as tight. "Duo-"

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I never meant- I didn't want- I'm sorry-"

"Shh. You don't have anything to be sorry for."

"You got hurt."

"It was an accident." Before Duo could answer, Heero put his fingers over Duo's mouth. "It was an accident. You were doing your job- I got in the way. Technically, it was my fault, not yours."

Duo sighed, tugging Heero's hand away from his mouth. "But... I was jealous..."

"So what? Still an accident."

Another sigh. Resting his head against Heero's shoulder, Duo smiled faintly. "Not going to budge on that point, are you?"

"Never. It's the truth."

"I'm still sorry. Sorry I hurt you, sorry I never answered your letters-"

"You did get them?" Heero had wondered about that.

"Yes. But I knew if I wanted to get out that I couldn't answer them- they- I-"

"I understand. It's okay."

They sat in silence for a long time, holding tight.

"I should call Quatre," Heero finally said. "Tell him the search is off, see if we can't get Une off your trail-"

"She's not after me." Duo countered and smiled at Heero's expression. "You do know she has to answer to a committee, right? That's why this started- they put a lot of pressure on her after-" his fingers brushed over the faint scar on Heero's cheek.

"She never said-"

"She couldn't say. But she's the reason I got put where I did and not- someplace worse."

"But she sent a handler-"

"Noin. Who gave me a ticket to here and 'lost' me at the 'port. I'm not a Preventer anymore- now that I'm released, she can't be forced to do any thing else to me."

Heero considered this new information for a moment. It did make sense... "Then I guess I won't kill her."

Duo laughed quietly into Heero's shoulder. "I missed you."

"I missed you too. I'm glad you're home."

He caught the hitch in Duo's breathing, heard the slight hesitation in his voice. "Are you sure-"

"Yes." Heero couldn't help tightening his hold just a little more. "Very sure." He tilted Duo's face up towards his. "Welcome home."

OWARI

 

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