A Silver Lining Part 9
Trowa rose from his seat as the doors leading to the Preventer hanger opened. Several familiar agents walked out, smiles on their faces and still in their space suits, as they congratulated each other on their successful mission. Even as late as it was, everyone looked to be alert and relieved to be home after being on their mission for almost a month now.
Along with his fellow Preventers, Trowa noticed a good many civilians now mixed in with the group. The ages, races and genders of those rescued from the White Out transport ships ranged across the map. Many of those civilians still looked to be in stunned disbelief that they were safe at last after their nightmarish ordeal.
Several injured, Preventer and civilian both, were wheeled out or aided out by other Preventers. His face drawn in concern, Trowa scanned those wounded. A hand fell on his shoulder, squeezing it in support as he spun to face his friend and fellow Preventer, "Jason," he greeted.
They clasped hands as the pilot of the returned Preventer craft smirked, "She did great, Trowa. Still hasn't lost anyone on her watch, yet. She'll be one of the last ones out, as always."
With a deep sigh of relief, Trowa smiled, "Thanks, Jason. Good work on your rescues." With a firm nod of appreciation, the other soldier gave a small salute before walking off with the remainder of the passengers.
One older woman, recognizing Trowa's uniform as one belonging to the Preventers made her way towards him. The tall pilot was caught off guard when the white-haired captive kissed his cheek with tears in her brown eyes as she whispered, "God bless you, all of you for what you've done."
Several others came towards the brunette Preventer to offer their own thanks. Taken aback, Trowa just smiled and nodded to them as they were gently ushered into the main headquarters to be accounted for. As the stream of agents and rescued civilians passed, the tall pilot's green eyes followed them.
"You're a sight for sore eyes," he could hear the smile in the familiar voice behind him. When Trowa turned back to the hanger doors, he looked on the smirking face he had missed terrible over the last few weeks.
Anna's back was leaning against the hanger entrance, her wavy red hair falling past her thin hips. Her blue eyes sparkled when her lover's gaze met hers before she sprang forward into Trowa's arms as he lifted her from the ground in a fierce embrace. After sharing a sound kiss, the young couple smiled brightly to each other.
Grinning from ear-to-ear, Trowa said quietly, "Welcome back." Lowering his lover to the ground again, he assessed her from head to toe. When she was on her own feet, the young redhead stood just about an inch over his shoulder. He frowned deeply in concern at the wide rip in his partner's flight suit over her right shoulder. He recognized medical padding through the tear.
Anna shrugged nonchalantly as she smirked, "It's just a graze wound. We came up against some heavy retaliation on our last hit. It looks a lot worse than it is." Her smirk filled with mischief as she commented, "You should see the guy who shot me."
Satisfied with that, Trowa chuckled deeply. Looking to the doors leading to the Preventer Headquarters, his smile faltered as he asked, "Is that everyone you recovered from those three transport ships? I only estimated about a hundred people there."
Frowning sadly, his red-haired girlfriend nodded, "We found a lot more bodies on the crafts we intercepted. Sad things, this is just the tip of the iceberg compared to what we're after." Anna shook her head, looking ill as she said quietly, "My God, Trowa, the things those bastards are doing to these people..."
Her voice trailed off as she was lost in the terrifying sights she found during her stretch of rescue missions. "I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy," the redhead's voice faintly whispered.
The thought of Duo being in those same monsters, Trowa felt a shiver run up his spine. Had he been the one to see some the things that Anna had, he would have not taken it as well as she was. He still wasn't sure how he was going to tell her that his long-lost friend was actually alive and found in their current enemy's captivity.
"So," his lover's voice broke through his thoughts. "Anything exciting happen the last few weeks?" she grinned.
With a deep breath, the tall pilot frowned, "A lot's happened while you were gone." Deciding against bring up the discussion then, he smiled, "For now, let's get you home, first."
Anna gave a small frown of concern, noting the change in the tall pilot's behavior.
Smiling playfully she said, "All right, but first I have a date with you in the shower to focus on. You know how I can't stand being away from you and a normal spray of water pressure for more than a day."
Trowa laughed loudly and kissed her temple in thanks for the change in subject. "It's good to have you back, Anna," he whispered in her ear. The pair joined hands as they left the base.
* * * * * *
Just as the sun was rising the following morning, Duo was finishing making the small batch of sausage links to go with the meal he was preparing. It was the only time he was grateful for becoming a light sleeper thanks to his ordeal with the White Out Organization. He had hoped to be awake before Heero this particular morning.
When the sausages were finished, Duo carefully used a fork to remove them from the skillet. Placing all the plates of food on the tray he had found in their storage, he smiled to himself in anticipation at seeing Heero's face. Carefully lifting the tray after the glasses of milk and orange juice were added, he made his way through the house.
Grateful to make it to the top of the stairs with little difficulty, the braided pilot could already feel the strain of his muscles kicking in. Duo was not used to lifting for so long and his weakened body was starting to feel the effects. Having already planned on that happening, he had left the bedroom door cracked open before he left to start breakfast.
Heero was still asleep in bed, dressed only in his sweat shorts and a few sheets atop of him, when Duo peeked into the bedroom. It was only a couple of years when the slightest sound or movement around him would have the ex-Wing pilot alert and out of his slumber.
It still marveled Duo how much his best friend had changed since the last time he saw him. From now being so much more open with his nurturing side to admitting to his own humanity and emotions, Heero certainly had grown in just a couple of years. The braided pilot couldn't have been more proud of him, or happy for him.
Pushing the door open with his side, Duo quietly stepped into the room and walked towards the bed, carefully balancing the tray with both hands. When he neared the edge of the bed, he whispered, "Heero."
A slight stir and mumble from his friend was Duo's only response as the other pilot rolled from his right side onto his back. Unable to hide the smile from his face at the sight, the braided pilot whispered a bit more audibly, "Heero. Wake up."
"Um?" Heero mumbled as he rubbed his eyes. Quickly recognizing that Duo had been calling him, his cobalt eyes snapped open as he turned to the other side of the bed on instinct. When he found his partner standing instead of sitting there, his eyes blinked in confusion as he tried to place himself after just waking.
Once he made out the tray in Duo's hands, Heero came to full alertness as he sat up. "Duo? What is this?" he asked in sincere bewilderment.
Fighting the blush that threatened to color his cheeks, Duo shrugged, "Breakfast." Carefully setting the tray to sit over his friend's waist, he grinned, "Considering what today is, I thought it was appropriate."
Still confused, Heero ran a hand through his sleep-mussed hair. "Today?" he asked himself quietly, trying to think of what day it actually was since the last couple weeks seemed to meld together. Duo just chuckled to himself in amusement at the fact that his partner really didn't know what was going on.
The single, red carnation in a slender crystal vase set at the top of the tray completed the picture of a perfectly prepared meal. At the sight of the small tag hanging near the bulb, Heero took the note in his hand and read, 'Happy Birthday, Heero' in a fancy script from Duo's hand.
Blinking in shock, Heero whispered, "Y-you remembered." He turned his wide cobalt eyes up to his friend and repeated only a bit cleared, "You remembered."
Duo grinned brightly as he nodded, "What kind of best friend would I be if I forgot your birthday?" He continued with a laugh, "Especially since I'm the one who decided what day it fell on."
A small, warm smile fell on Heero's lips as he said quietly, "This is the first time I ever got to celebrate it... Thank you, Duo."
The American practically beamed at the sincere gratitude for his actions. There was also a twinge of pain on Duo's part at the thought of Heero forgetting his own birthday the last two years because he was so busy looking for him.
How could he possibly repay him for all of the sacrifices he had made for him, let alone what Heero was still giving up for him now? It was still all too overwhelming to think of anyone going so out of their way for him, let alone the same person whom for so long found it difficult to express their feelings towards anyone.
Forcing himself from his thoughts, Duo grinned as Heero began his meal and sat beside him. "Well, I'm going to be making whatever dinner you want tonight as well." Instantly, his comrade's head went up to protest but the braided pilot held his hand up as he stated, "And no arguing. This is your day."
The very idea of having a day that was 'his' made Heero smile. Knowing that Duo's taking care of him for a change was helping him as well, the Japanese pilot nodded as he promised, "All right. I won't argue with you."
"Good," Duo replied with another bright smile. "I have cake in the 'fridge for dessert. Oh! And you should check your email later today, too."
Before Heero could finish his mouthful of food to ask what he needed to do that for, Duo placed a quick kiss atop his head and grinned, "Enjoy your breakfast!" With that, he bounded from the room. Swallowing his food, Heero chuckled deeply as he shook his head in amusement.
* * * * * *
When Heero had finished his breakfast and changed, he headed downstairs to find his braided friend sitting in the living room on one of the fine couches that furnished the space. His cobalt eyes widened at the large sign that read, 'Happy Birthday, Heero' spelled out over the large fireplace. Here and there, colorful confetti was spread on the floor and over the tables.
In his lap, Duo had an opened book that he had uncovered in the den. At the sight of his partner, he quickly closed the book and jumped up, grinning brilliantly as he cheered, "Surprise!"
Laughing loudly, Heero shook his head, "I can't believe that you've done all this for me." Scanning the colorful sight, he said quietly, "This is amazing."
Unable to fight off the urge to blush any longer, Duo rubbed the back of his braided head with a hand as he shrugged, "Well, I wanted your first official birthday to be special."
Heero walked up to him, a warm smile on his face as he embraced his partner tightly, unable to think of anything else to say or do at that moment to show his thanks. When they broke from the embrace, the ex-Wing pilot gestured to the book that the other pilot had left on the couch as he asked, "What do you have there?"
Sitting back on the couch as he took up the book, his braided comrade took the book up again as he answered, "I was looking for decorations in the den and found this photo album."
"Ah," Heero replied. "Relena filled that for me a few months ago." Sitting beside his best friend as he peered over his shoulder to some of the images as he explained, "She always said that one could never have enough pictures."
Duo chuckled deeply as he scanned the images taken over the last couple years while he was away. His violet gaze fell on one photo of Trowa with a young woman that he didn't recognize.
In the picture, the tall pilot and red-haired young woman looked to be at the top of a steep hill, looking down to the camera. The unfamiliar girl was wrapped around Trowa from behind, as if ripping piggyback, both their smiles wide captured while they were laughing.
Pointing to the blue-eyed girl in the image, the braided pilot asked, "Who is she? I saw her in a bunch of other pictures in this book while I was scanning through it."
Heero gave a small smile at the image as he replied, "That's Anna Dawson. She and Trowa have been dating for a year-and-a-half now. They met during a department meeting at the Preventers."
Taken aback from the news, Duo turned to him with wide eyes as he gaped, "Really!?" Looking back to the image of the young redhead, he grinned, "She's very pretty."
With a nod of agreement, the Japanese pilot stated, "And very sweet. You'll like her, since she's a lot like you." At the raised eyebrow of uncertainty from his partner, he chuckled deeply, "Anna has just the right amount of kindness and brass that even Wufei respects her."
At that, Duo smirked, "That is quite an accomplishment." He turned his violet eyes back to the book, finding a few more pictures of the young couple as he gave a small grin. "I still have to give my seal of approval, though. Trowa's like a brother to me. At least by these pictures, she seems to make him happy."
Heero chuckled deeply again as he reassured him, "Happy enough to have Trowa preparing to pop the question." He was rewarded with another wide-eyed gaze, causing him to laugh loudly.
When he contained his laughter at last, the ex-Wing pilot smiled, "Anna was sent off on a few field assignments around the same time we found you-"
"You mean the time you found me," Duo corrected, raising an extended pointer finger.
Taking a deep breath, his dark-haired friend continued on, "Well, at any rate, you'll get to meet her when we're back home." A bright smile fell on his partner's face at the idea.
As he closed the photo album, Duo asked with a wide grin, "Well, what do you want to do today? Whatever you're up to, I'm game." A small smirk tugged at Heero's lips.
* * * * * *
A few hours later, Heero and Duo were enjoying a swim in the large lake that was hidden in the foliage around them. It was a pleasant, long hike to their secluded swimming hole with the warm weather and clear day.
Poking his head up from under the water after diving in, Duo was grinning from ear-to-ear. He always did enjoy the outdoors so he was more than thrilled with Heero's suggestion for the day's activities. Still, something had been bothering him a bit since their discussion earlier that morning.
With a short swim into the deeper water where his friend was, the braided pilot asked, "Heero? Have you ever... well, dated anyone while I was gone?"
Not having expected that question, Heero looked up from where he had been floating peacefully. Meeting his partner's eyes, he shook his head, frowning, "No. I was too... occupied to even think of dating someone."
Duo winced slightly as he frowned sadly. He lowered his head and commented, "It's just... Wufei has Sally, Trowa has Anna and by some freak of nature, Quatre has Relena." At the last comment, Heero chuckled deeply.
Looking up to face his best friend again, the American bit his lip before saying quietly, "I just feel like you missed out on so much because you were so busy looking for me, you know?"
Just able to place his feet on the rocky bottom of the lake to stand, Heero fixed the other pilot with a stern glare as he stated clearly, "I want to get one thing straight. Got it?"
When his wide-eyed partner nodded nervously, the ex-Wing pilot continued, "My searching for you these last couple years had been my choice. I don't feel that I've missed out on anything, since my actions paid out in the end."
The reflection of the golden sun bounced off the ripples of the water to dance on their faces as Heero went on, "I don't have any regrets when it comes to what I may or may not have missed on. So don't ever feel guilty for something that I decided to do. Understood?"
At the intensity of his partner's words, Duo nodded and replied sincerely, "Okay." Slowly, a small smile tugged at his face as he bit his bottom lip. Taking a chance, he moved forward quickly, before Heero could see him coming. He placed a soft kiss on his friend's cheek and whispered close to his ear, "Thank you."
Pulling back quickly, he smiled at the other pilot's stunned face and suggested, "We better start heading back. We have a bit of a walk to the house and I need to get dinner started if we want to eat at a decent hour."
With that, the braided Preventer quickly swam back to the dock. His cobalt eyes still wide, Heero moved a hand up to where he could still feel Duo's wet lips. A wide smile fell on his face and he finally managed to move to swim after his friend.
* * * * * *
Heero checked his email, as Duo had all but ordered, when they returned back to their summer house later that afternoon. He blinked in shock at having received a message from all of their friends, including emails from Hilde, Dorothy, Lady Une, Zechs and Noin, wishing him a happy birthday.
The messages included short recorded videos from each of them. The fact that all of their friends had known about the occasion meant that Duo had, at some point, contacted all of them.
Despite his own anger towards them, the American was still willing to put his own feelings aside to contact them in his efforts to see that the ex-Wing pilot had a memorable, first birthday. It was staggering to Heero to think that anyone would take such steps just for him.
Clicking on the last message of the long list of emails he had received, Heero smiled in relief at the sight of Anna safely on Trowa's lap in their library. Together, they chorused, "Happy birthday, Heero!" The Japanese Preventer laughed as the young couple went on to extend their best wishes to him as well as Duo.
After having checked all of his birthday messages, Heero had a warm smile on his face as he rose from the seat at his desk. Closing his laptop, he decided to reply to his friends the following day as to spend more time with his braided comrade.
No sooner had he closed his computer did Heero hear the other pilot call from downstairs, "Dinner's ready!" Shaking his head, he made his way to the hallway as the pleasant smell of chicken parmesan and noodles filled the air.
* * * * * *
Once dinner was finished, Duo cleared the dining room table off quickly, ordering Heero to stay put. When he reappeared from the kitchen, the American retuned carrying a chocolate iced cake with nineteen burning candles atop as he sang 'Happy Birthday'.
Laughing, Heero prepared to blow out the candles as Duo practically bounced in his seat across from him, cheering, "Make a wish!"
"No need to this year," the ex-Wing pilot smiled to himself before he blew out all of the glowing candles in one huff. His braided partner cheered excitedly and began removing the candles to cut the cake.
For a moment, the two Preventers enjoyed their slices of vanilla cake, just enjoying each other's company in silence. After a while, Duo was beginning to work on his second slice as he thought aloud, "Last year as a teenager. And I'm right behind."
Heero chuckled deeply as he admitted, "It is almost frightening. Considering how we never should have made it out of the wars alive." Duo nodded as he swallowed.
When they both had their fill of cake and that was cleared away, Heero was led to the living room. Once his friend was seated, Duo shifted on his feet almost nervously as he began, "I wanted to find something nice for your birthday, since this was your first and all, and well..."
Taking a deep breath, Duo revealed his hands from behind his back. Heero blinked in shock at the small box sealed neatly in silver wrapping paper. He accepted the box almost tenderly.
As he took a seat beside him on the couch, Duo smiled nervously. Slowly, Heero unwrapped the gift to reveal what looked to be a jewelry box. Opening the lid, the ex-Wing pilot gasped sharply as his cobalt eyes widened in shock.
"Duo..." he whispered as he removed the silver cross pendant and chain.
Removing his own, gold cross pendant and chain from under his shirt, Duo held them close together to reveal their similar designs as he spoke quickly, explaining, "I had it fashioned after mine. When you had to give mine back after you found me, you almost looked... disappointed."
His eyes still on the silver cross, Heero breathed, "It's perfect."
It truly was as if his friend had read his mind in what he had felt in losing the feeling of that cross that somehow connected them when they parted. Now it was a common bond that they could share. There could be no more perfect gift than what he was holding.
A look of relief filled Duo's face as he sighed deeply, smiling. Taking the silver cross and chain, the braided pilot carefully hooked the necklace around his friend's neck. Pulling back to see how it fell at the same length as his own chain he grinned, "Now we match."
Unsure of how he was able to keep the tears that threatened to fill his eyes at bay, Heero turned and held his partner tightly, "Thank you, Duo."
Losing the fight to his own tears, the other pilot blinked his shimmering, violet eyes as he embraced his best friend just as tightly. "Anytime," he whispered back.
* * * * * *
That evening, an exhausted Duo fell into bed, his night shirt rising up from the impact, as he sighed deeply in relief. It had been a busy couple days and an emotional ride. With a wide yawn, he closed his eyes as he rested his head on the pillows.
With a deep chuckle, Heero crawled into the bed on the opposite side. Pulling the covers over the both of them, he carefully tucked his tired friend in as Duo mumbled, his eyes still closed, "Happy birthday, Heero."
Smiling warmly down on him, the ex-Wing pilot whispered back, "Thank you, Duo, for everything. This was... one of the best days I've ever had." The last words were barely breathed and spoken with the utmost sincerity.
His violet eyes still closed, Duo hummed as a small smile tugged at his lips. "I'm glad," he yawned again. "Good night."
"Good night," the Japanese Preventer replied just as softly.
Even as he said the words, Heero knew that his friend would be asleep before he even heard him. Smiling to himself, he contented himself with watching the unpredictable pilot sleep peacefully. Not only did he have his first birthday, he was able to spend it with the Duo that he always knew.
Looking down to his bare chest as he lied on his back, Heero watched the silver cross shimmering in the moonlight that peeked from the doors leading to the second level balcony. His smile grew the slightest bit at the sight of the pendant.
The day had been one filled with so many feelings and revelations. Allowing a small tear of joy to finally slip past his defenses and down his right cheek, Heero looked over to the braided pilot.
Leaning over, he placed a soft kiss on Duo's forehead, holding his lips there for a moment before pulling back. The small grin on his partner's face grew a bit at the touch even in his sleep. With that small smile on his own face, Heero closed his eyes.
TBC...
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