A War Worth Fighting Part 16
Waking to find himself wrapped around a particularly warm body on the couch in the living room of the flat where they were staying, Heero's cobalt eyes widened. Afraid to move and wake his friend, he froze for a moment as his last memories from the night before came rushing back.
Carefully lifting his head from the shoulder it rested against, the sergeant stared up to Duo's peaceful face. The usual worry lines that came with alertness were smoothed away from the pristine heart-shaped face and the lips were curled up in a near perfect smile even in sleep.
The cut and bruises were healing nicely, now little more than just slight discolorations on those round cheeks. Here and there, a few short wisps of hair stood out from where they should have been pulled back.
Yet even with those imperfections he was... striking. So much so that it was almost frightening.
Biting his bottom lip, Heero reluctantly and carefully pulled himself away from the loose arms around him before he dwelt any more on those thoughts. No doubt it was just the early hour that was making his tired mind trick him. He would no doubt think more clearly when he was more alert.
Duo put up little resistance when he was eased back to lie on his side atop the couch, only mumbling quietly without opening his eyes. Pulling his friend's legs up onto the sofa, the sergeant draped a blanket over him.
For just a moment as he stood there watching his companion, Heero smiled in satisfaction when he heard a soft sigh of content. Gazing outside, he took in world covered by a white blanket a few inches thick. Despite the overcast sky, everything glowed and shimmered.
It was as serene a sight as any that he had ever seen. His smile growing, he looked to his friend once more as a sudden thought came to mind.
Quickly turning on his heel, the sergeant gathered up their abandoned dishes from the dining room table to clean them and see to his plan.
* * * * * *
Nearly an hour later, Duo woke alone. Blinking his eyes against the bright white light pouring through the open window curtains, he stretched and yawned. Carefully sitting up, he gazed around the living room and called, "'Ro?"
A light tapping on the window pane behind him nearly made him jump from his skin as he spun his braided head to peer over his shoulder. It took the private a moment to recognize the officer dressed in a deep blue winter coat and thick gray sweatpants. Instead of his uniform cap on his head, he wore a green woolen cap that stretched down past his ears.
Smiling, Heero waved with a gloved hand and gestured for the other soldier to join him. Violet eyes widening, Duo's jaw fell open in disbelief. After only a moment of believing that he was dreaming, he hurried off the couch and into one of the bedrooms to throw some warm articles over himself. Donned in a pair of black boots and sweatpants, a red winter coat and gray woolen cap, he rushed through the front door.
No sooner had he set foot outside and closed the door behind him did a large snowball crush up against the side of his face. Sputtering, Duo laughed and yelled, "Hey! I wasn't even ready!"
With a smirk on his face and several more rounds of ammunition at his feet, Heero took up another snowball and replied, "You should know better than to leave your guard down in a war like this."
"Oh yea?" the braided soldier snickered. Ignoring the slight discomfort in his back, he bent down to ball a pile of snow in his hands and launched it at his friend before he had a moment to fire again.
Lost in their 'battle,' the pair laughed and maneuvered around one another while dodging behind trees and firing. Hours went past in their game before they grew tired and famished enough to call a truce. Drenched from the snow melting on them, they headed back into the house after covering their tracks should anyone happen to come up and see the remnants of their skirmish.
Shedding their sopping top layer of clothing and shoes inside the doorway, Duo shook his braided head and asked, "So what brought that on?"
Heero ran a hand through his damp hair and shrugged, "I just decided to take your comment about living into consideration." Gazing back out to their snow-covered surroundings, he mused aloud, "It's been a long time since I had that much fun."
"Me too," the private admitted softly. Stretching, he winced at the dull ache in his back but chose to ignore it rather than have to take another round of those vile pills. Grinning from ear-to-ear as he headed to the kitchen with his friend, he commented, "You know what would make this day perfect then-"
Cutting him off, the officer chuckled, "Already ahead of you. I found some cocoa in our food supply that we can heat up with some milk once we've eaten."
All but moaning at the thought of some hot chocolate, Duo sighed, "God, I love you." Blushing when he realized what he had said and at the wide-eyed look he earned from Heero, he laughed nervously, "What? Friends can love each other, right?"
The sergeant shook his head in amusement and tugged on his companion's braid with an affectionate, "Baka."
Brushing off the 'love' sentiment as nothing more than friendly banter, Heero wondered why his heart started racing when he first heard those words.
* * * * * *
A fresh batch of snow began to fall by the time the soldiers had finished and cleaned up after their brunch. Seated on the couch to look out the large window with a cup of hot chocolate in hand, they quietly shared and laughed over stories of the past and present.
Never once did either bring up, or even think about, the future. A true soldier never did. For them, it was only the past and mostly the present that they concerned themselves with.
Shifting gears in their conversation, Heero took a sip from his cup and requested, "So tell me about Montana. Do you like it there?"
His smile turning wistful and his violet eyes losing focus, Duo sighed deeply. "It's like Heaven on Earth," he began. "Where my family and I have always lived we're not far from Glacier Park so you can see the mountain ranges in the distance.
"Then, there are wide fields that stretch out forever with trees here and there. Right behind the house, we have this huge lake that you can swim in during the summer and skate on in the winter."
With a deep breath, he went on, "You get to see all of the autumn colors in the trees off in the distance and you get just the right amount of snow when the season rolls around. And those fields are just so green and vibrant during the spring and summer, it's incredible."
Shaking his braided head, the private returned to the flat and met his friend's gaze. Quietly, he said, "So yea, I like it there." Unconsciously running a finger around the rim of his cup, he finally raised it for a long sip of his hot chocolate.
Finally returning from the vibrant imagery of the place that his companion described, the sergeant smiled and whispered, "It certainly sounds beautiful."
Duo tilted his head and grinned, "Your turn. Where are you from and what was living there like?"
"Hiroshima," Heero answered.
Gazing out the window as he placed himself back in the city, he shrugged, "It is much more populated and congested than what you described Montana to be. There are industrial buildings and crammed in residences, but it's home."
Slightly wincing, he added, "Well, home enough since it's where my family and I have always lived. Being a so-called 'half-breed,' I do not suppose I would be fully accepted anywhere. But it was not nearly as bad as it has been since joining the army. Now, I am constantly reminded of how different I am."
Offering a sad smile, the private suggested, "You just need to get a thicker skin like I had to because of my hair." Their legs bent and leaning against each other on the couch, he gently nudged his friend's with his own and stated, "You still have such a hard time accepting yourself. Who really gives two cents what anyone else thinks?"
Heero lowered his head and frowned, "It is not so easy for me here, Duo. Even after everything that I have done to prove myself loyal and devoted to this country, it will never be enough for me to ever really be looked at as an equal to my peers... to my neighbors."
"Yea," Duo sighed and bit his lip. "So when are you finally going to stop trying to prove yourself when you know that it won't change anything?" he inquired in a near whisper. "When are you going to be happy with who you are and what you've accomplished since no one else will?"
Taken aback by the question, the sergeant silently considered his answer before settling with a sincere, "I don't know. I never really gave it much consideration."
Smiling, the braided soldier responded, "Maybe it's time you did."
Maybe he was right, Heero thought to himself. Of course it would have to start in little steps for him to get used to liking who he was.
A small grin tugged the officer's lips as he announced, "All right. Just for a start, you can call me 'Blue Eyes' whenever you want. I always hated being reminded about what set me apart. Perhaps hearing that nickname will get me more used to not reacting to whatever anyone else has to say."
His violet eyes widening, Duo laughed, "Great idea!" Lightly slapping his friend's knees, he praised, "Way to start solving the problem, 'Ro! I'm proud of you!"
It nearly took the wind out of Heero's lungs to hear someone besides his mother and the Sergeant Major say those words. There was something profoundly different in hearing that sentiment from someone who did not really have to say such a thing the way parents and superiors offered it. It was much more difficult to earn from a peer.
Blinking in surprise, he could only manage a soft, "Thank you."
In hearing the tone of sincerity of the nearly choked voice, Duo picked up on what a profound impact he made with such a simple comment. It was heart-wrenching to see someone that he had come to care about in such a need for acceptance and understanding. He was probably the only person in the world who truly knew how lost and insecure the normally stoic and certain sergeant was.
With a wink, the private replied just as quietly, "Don't mention it, Blue Eyes."
For the first time, Heero didn't flinch at hearing that name. Their smiles growing at that, the pair turned their heads towards the window to watch the snow as it continued to fall.
* * * * * *
Pacing back and forth in his office, Treize growled to himself.
He was growing terribly impatient over his situation. The war front was not improving for the Germans by any means. Constantly being pushed back towards their own borders, they were practically opening the door of Europe to the Allies.
Reaching up, the insider ran a hand through his short hair with a deep sigh. There was no way for him to escape Germany under the circumstances. He needed more time. Somehow, there had to be a way through their opponents.
Much as he wished he could anywhere else, he had his responsibilities.
If the Axis powers did lose, there would not be a friend that he could turn to. He not only would have turned on the Allies, but he would not have ensured the win for the Axis.
He simply could not leave now.
...But if things really grew grim...
There would have to be a way for him to get out and regroup in what would no doubt become the final battleground.
Japan.
* * * * * *
Reluctantly accepting the last of his medication later that evening, Duo changed into a T-shirt and boxers and went to lay himself down in one of the soft beds. No sooner had he pulled the covers over himself did Heero enter the room wearing his own night gear.
To the question that was asked of him in the wide violet gaze watching him, the sergeant shrugged, "You have nightmares when you're on that medicine. I might as well be nearby in case that happens."
Without another word of explanation or allowing a moment for his friend to protest, the sergeant lowered himself onto the half of the mattress that was not taken up. Pulling the covers over himself and turning his back to the other soldier, he yawned, "Good night, Baka."
Duo just smiled tiredly and lowered himself onto his stomach. "Good night, 'Ro," he sighed as his eyes drifted closed.
Neither of them knew whether it actually was the officer's presence with him or not, but the private slept the night through.
After that, Heero came up with a new excuse so they could share the same bed every night. And Duo never complained.
* * * * * *
Two weeks.
It had been two weeks since the Essex and its fleet were attacked and sidelined for repairs and Wufei was more than anxious to be back at sea. Laying on his back atop his cot, he stared up at the ceiling of his new quarters as he replayed that horrendous strike. Memories of the burials at sea of many men he had come to call friends continued to haunt him.
He needed to be back in the fight. But the Essex was still going to need some time to be ready for sailing again. Even another day was too long for the Chinese pilot.
At a knock on his door, Wufei called, "Come in." When his commanding officer stepped into the room and closed the door behind him, the Asian soldier gasped sharply as he sprang from the bed to salute and stand at attention. "Sir," he greeted sharply.
The tall man smirked, "At ease, Chang. For the time being, I am no longer your direct superior, so no need for the formalities between us."
Lowering his hand from his brow, the pilot frowned, "No longer my commander, Sir? I was not informed that there was to be a change in rank."
"This is not a change in my rank," the blonde-haired officer corrected politely. "This is a change in station for you. After I put in a good word in for you and your fellow flyboys that managed to take off during that attack, I managed to have a transfer approved for all of you. Tonight, you will be leaving for the U.S.S. Enterprise which is already in active duty."
Hardly believing what he was hearing, Wufei's eyes widened further. Finally, he was going to get his chance to rejoin the war effort. "I- I don't know what to say," he stammered, shaking his head.
Chuckling, the older airman patted him on the shoulder and stated, "No need for any of that. What you and your comrades did back there was above and beyond the call the duty. And your efforts fended off many a plane that could have caused a great deal more damage and loss of life to our fleet. Along with medals that you will be presented with, it was decided that you could be much more useful to us in the air than sitting here."
Slowly leaning close, he added quietly, "Now this stays only between us." Intrigued, Wufei nodded firmly and swallowed roughly. "There is a good chance that we will eventually be paying Iwo Jima a visit. The talks are only beginning, but the prospect looks good for a possible hit in the next few months."
Unable to breathe, his heart racing, the Chinese pilot nodded once more. His superior grinned, "When and if that happens, the Enterprise will be one of the ships assigned there. I know how badly you and your friends have been aching for a shot at that island, hence my insistence for you to be sent to that particular carrier."
Mouth opening and closing in a few attempts to speak, Wufei laughed, "T-thank you, sir! I cannot tell you what this means!"
Patting his subordinate on the back, the commander winked, "I know better than you realize." As he turned on his heel, he ordered, "Now get packing. You and the others will be flying out of her in less than an hour with the coordinates to your new destination."
The door was not even closed before the pilot rushed to gather up his clothes and other belongings. Looking up to the dart-holed map of Japan on his wall across from him, his dark eyes fell on the image of Iwo Jima that was nearly shredded apart from his target practice.
Smirking, he neared the paper and ripped it from the wall.
One day.
One day there would be a reckoning.
TBC...
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