Author: SkyLark
Pairings: 1+2+1
Warnings: Angst, sap
Betaed by ShenLong Deb *hugs*
Archive: Debs-Dragon - GW Diaries
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundman Wing, or its characters. I just love playing with them.
A Christmas To Remember
Heero Yuy sighed heavily as he stepped through the main entrance doors of Preventer headquarters whilst wiping the snow off of his heavy jacket.
On his way past the front desk, he did his best to ignore the glittery decorations and the tall, lit tree that brightened the lobby. In the back of his mind, he was silently thankful that it would all be put away when Christmas came and went in just a few more days.
It was by no means that the former pilot of Wing was a Scrooge. In fact, he actually did appreciate the festivities and warm sentiments as well as the religious background to the holiday. What did always bother him was the fact that he never seemed to... fit into the celebration in any way.
...Just as he never really seemed to fit in the world since the wars had ended almost five years prior to this morning.
Life was just one big adjustment after another for Heero. And the holidays almost always seemed to make him feel like he was falling back in the progress he had been making after finally being 'freed' of his duties and missions. Only at times, that freedom felt more like a prison.
Joining the Preventers brought about a sense of normalcy and purpose that was about the only thing helping in keeping his sanity. Well, that and a certain braided friend that had been a constant in his life since the wars.
"Hey, 'Ro. Wait up, man," said friend called as he hurried into the lobby, one hand wrapped around a covered cup of coffee that he had stopped to get before heading in, the other brushing the snow from his coat.
Rushing past the receptionist desk, Duo grinned widely, "'Morning, Tiffany." The blonde just giggled, replying with her own 'good morning' and a wave.
Doing his best to refrain from outright rolling his eyes, Heero waited until Maxwell caught up to lead the way around the corner. Quickly falling into step as he followed, the braided agent grinned, "Looks like we're going to get a white Christmas this year."
The whole fascination over a white Christmas was always lost to Agent Wing. Shrugging and coming to a stop at the closed doors at the end of the hall, he responded flatly, "Looks like." Without thinking, he reached to press 'up' button for the elevator. Not surprised by the lack-luster reply, Duo smiled to himself and took another sip from his coffee.
Where Heero was not one to take much pleasure in the holidays, Agent Scythe might as well have been an elf whenever December rolled around. Despite his thrill over decorations, carols and everything else that came with the commercialized part of Christmas, he was always respectful of his roommate's coolness to it all and never pushed.
Duo always kept his own room dressed up with whatever he could fit down to a little tree that he trimmed with ornaments and lights himself. And he never pushed Yuy into shedding his inhibitions over the season... no matter how much he wished he would. Every year, he just hoped that his friend would break out of his shell and finally enjoy himself for a change.
'Hopefully, I'll get to see that in this lifetime,' he snorted in thought when the elevator opened to their floor.
Maybe a little pushing would be required for that.
* * * * * *
Typing away at his computer, Duo peered from the corner of his eye to see his partner working away at his own space across the room. It was then he decided that he would make his move and he pulled in a deep breath.
"You know," he began with a small smile, his gaze returning to the screen before him. "Alice and Jasper's invitation to their Christmas party tomorrow night is still open if you want to be my date." A light chuckle at the word 'date' was used to throw off any hint to his true feelings behind it.
His fingers stilling on the keyboard, Heero turned to face his friend and frowned, "Duo, you know that I'm not comfortable at those kind of things. I'm not like you, who can make friends wherever you go."
Blinking, the former Deathscythe pilot's face saddened a bit as he shrugged, "Well, you never give yourself a chance to try with the way you count yourself out whenever an opportunity like this comes up. You've been making so much progress since the wars and I hate seeing you pull back to your 'Perfect Soldier' roots when you should be moving on."
The Perfect Soldier. Even after all of that time, the term angered Heero.
Slowly pulling his hands back and hiding them behind his desk so that his partner could not see them balling into tight fists, he turned his head away and hissed quietly, "I wish the damned wars never happened. It would have been easier if I was not even necessary."
Violet eyes widening, Maxwell stiffened with a soft gasp. "H-hey, don't say that, 'Ro," he breathed. Biting his lip, he shook his head, "If the wars never happened, we never would have met. So, there actually was something good that came out of it, right?"
Keeping his head turned away as he stared though their window to watch the falling snow, Heero muttered a barely audible, "Right." His less than convincing tone was not lost to Duo.
"Right," the braided agent repeated in a pained whisper before diving back into his work to run from how hurt he was. One thing he was not going to do was allow the other Preventer to see that he was affected by his words.
The remainder of the day and evening passed in complete silence between the two. After a few hours of Duo not saying a word, Heero knew that something was wrong. He knew it was his fault somehow. Lately anytime his best friend was clearly upset he had seemed to be the cause of it somehow.
It certainly did not help his mood that was already in a dark place thanks to the season.
Finally, it was time for the pair to call it a night. Heero crawled into bed, pulling the covers up to his shoulders, he turned onto his side and sighed with his eyes drifting closed. "It would just be a lot easier if there had never been the wars... or me for that matter," he thought to himself just before he was claimed by sleep.
* * * * * *
Cold. That was the first thing that Heero recognized when he felt himself waking some time later.
...It was cold in the room. And for some reason, his bed felt stiff beneath him. Reaching for his blanket without opening his eyes, he came up empty. Suddenly, the sloshing sound of a car passing by in the wet street only feet away filled his ears. His eyes did snap open then, and he sat up with a start.
To his shock, the Preventer found himself on a bench in the nearby park a few blocks away from his apartment.
Dressed in jeans, brown boots, a red sweater and tan winter coat, he slowly turned his head around in disbelief. The dark sky was lightening in the eastern stretch as the signs of the first rays of sunrise behind the thick cover of snow clouds that were letting go of a steady drift of flakes.
"W-why would I be dreaming this?" Heero heard himself ask aloud.
Just behind him, a familiar voice answered, "Oh, this is not a dream, I am afraid to say."
Snapping around, the former Gundam pilot froze, eyes wide as he gasped at the man standing before him in a white suit. "Treize?" he managed. Any confusion and fear he had up to that moment disappeared as soon as he realized that he had to be dreaming.
Arms folded behind his back, the tall man smiled kindly, "Good to see you again, Heero." the smile faded a bit as he shrugged, "Of course, I would have preferred it be under different circumstances. You know, you really should be more careful with what you wish for."
Cobalt eyes narrowing, Yuy frowned deeply, "What are you talking about? None of this is even real."
Rounding the bench as if he were floating, Treize sat beside him with a sad grin on his face. Hands in his lap, he leaned against the backrest and replied, "As I mentioned before, this is not a dream. And I assure you that this is real."
As he met eyes with his once sworn enemy, he stated, "Everything in life- the good, the bad and everything in between- serves a purpose in life. And you wished that yourself and the wars had never existed. Well, now you have what you asked for."
When Heero's eyes widened slightly, he clarified, "Not you, nor the wars, have ever existed. Life has gone on without a single conflict or your presence. And this gift was given to you with the order that I guide you, show you how these things have played on the lives that had been affected by that."
Smirking, he added, "And just to further emphasize the lack of embattlement as well as the consideration that I am dead, I never existed in this new world, either."
Taken aback by everything he was hearing, the former pilot shook his head and took it all into consideration. Removing the leather glove from his right hand, he opened it to allow a few snowflakes to land in his palm. "I can feel the cold and the wind," he muttered to himself.
Maybe... it wasn't a dream if that bit of sensory was working. But, then again... "If I don't exist, how can I feel that?" he argued, a proud smirk tugging his lips.
Chuckling, Treize smiled pleasantly, "Very good question. For this demonstration, you will be seen and heard by all around while I will not. No one that you have known up to this last evening will ever recognize you if you met right now. It will only emphasize what kind of an impact you have made on everyone that you had crossed paths with."
Quickly raising a hand when Heero raised an eyebrow and opened his mouth to protest, he grinned, "Allow me to demonstrate." Reaching out, he took hold of the younger man's arm.
In one blink, the ex-Wing pilot opened his eyes to find himself standing before the tall gates blocking off a long stretch of driveway that wound up a tall hill. At the top of that hill stood a white mansion with tall pillars along its massive front porch. Standing along with him and Treize was a large mass of people gathered around, muttering anxiously amongst themselves in their coats, hats and gloves.
Shocked by the sudden change in his surroundings Heero whispered, "W-where are we now?"
Folding his arms behind his back, Treize smirked, "We are standing before the palace of the Queen of the Earth. This would be Relena Peacecraft's fifth year in power since learning of her birth right and working her way into power."
He stretched out an arm to span the mass around while explaining further, "And this is a normal sight whenever it has been announced she will be returning home from an extended meeting with the Earth Sphere Alliance."
Before he could continue, someone from the front of the pack shouted, "There she is!" Turning his head to face the street as the audience cheered and waved, Heero watched a familiar pink limo rolling up into view and made its way through the parting crowd.
The former OZ leader turned to watch and shrugged, "As you can see, Relena has yet to grow out of some of her... trends." Still staring at the vehicle in disbelief as it rolled through the gates, Heero remained silent.
A voice rose from the mass to shout, "Keep the Colonies occupied!" Then another yelled, "Heavier taxes for them!" And a third, "We cannot trust the Colonies to not rise up against us!" More cries filled the air of the same nature, making Heero almost physically reel in surprise over what he was hearing.
"Well, no wars," Treize sighed, "no rights fought for the oppressed. Turning to meet the cobalt eyes on him, he smiled sadly, "Unfortunately, things have only become more challenging for the Colonies over the years. They are more captives than citizens where they live with no chance of getting out of their situation."
If he did not have Heero's attention up until then, he certainly did now. "No one is making a move to do anything against what is going on?" he all but yelled.
As the gates closed when the limo entered the heavily guarded property, Treize raised a finger and responded, "Well, there is one who has always been making a lot of noise. And they are here now, so let's go in and check on their progress." Reaching out, he gripped his charge's arm and the world changed again.
This time, in that heartbeat, they were inside of the palace- more specifically on a balcony overlooking a large, red carpeted room below. Facing the ex-pilot beside him, Treize placed a finger against his own lips just as the large double doors to the room opened. "Heero Yuy," Relena's voice called as she stepped inside. "This is a very pleasant, if unexpected visit."
His eyes widening a bit in shock, Heero carefully peered over the iron railing to watch in shock as his namesake followed the queen into the large space. Wearing a brown business suit, the man smiled tiredly, "I appreciate the hospitality that your staff has provided me as I have been waiting for your return, your majesty. As the main representative of the Colonies, I have been anxious to learn of how the Earth Sphere Alliance meeting went."
Donning a sparkling crown of gold and fine jewels on her head, Relena wore an elegant lilac dress that touched the floor.
Slowly making her way to the throne at the furthest wall of the room, she folded her hands in her lap and answered with a frown, "I certainly wish that I could give you the news I know you are looking for, Heero."
A frown marring her face, she stated, "However, as the leader of OZ, my brother is still receiving reports of resistance to the laws that have been set in the Colonies against the occupation. Until these little revolts are ended, I am afraid that the people of Earth will not feel safe trusting the people of space to their own devices. The vote was unanimous to keep the Colonies occupied and higher taxes will be issued."
Gasping sharply, the original Heero Yuy spread his arms out and pleaded, "You cannot agree to punishing the whole because of a few! My message of peaceful talks between the Colonies and the Earth is not going to fall on sympathetic ears forever. There will always be those who will decide to take matters into their own hands."
Sincerely saddened by her announcement, Relena shook her head, "I am but one person as well, Mister Yuy. While I understand your situation, I am afraid that I am at a loss over the best way of handling all of this." Her head lowering, she muttered, "I... I still don't know if I ever was ready for any of this to begin with."
In the balcony, the former Gundam pilot read her lips and frowned deeply over her dilemma. For one as inexperienced as she would have been without the war to see the real struggles out in the world, she certainly was not ready to lead with such authority.
With a rough swallow, Heero had forgotten himself for a moment and stepped forward enough that he was in view from below. That movement caused his namesake and Relena to look up at him with wide eyes.
Gripping the armrests of her throne, the young woman shrieked up at her invader, "Who are you?! How did you get in here?!" Quickly, the pacifist moved to shield her with a heated glare upward. "Guards!" Relena shrieked just before the door was all but knocked down to the swarm of uniformed men charging in.
All but falling back out of their immediate sight, Heero turned to Treize just as he reached his hand out to him. "That would be our cue to move on," his guide suggested while gripping a shoulder.
In that void between realms, the former OZ leader's voice suggested, "Let us go and see how some of your friends are fairing."
* * * * * *
They were not well, as it turned out. And Heero had to stand back and watch the troubles that they were all facing for just a glimpse in their new lives.
Because L5 was never attacked by OZ, Wufei never lost Meiran. The couple together was even starting a family with a young child and a second on the way. However, what should have been a happy thing to see was ruined when it was clear how they suffered trying to support themselves with the heavy taxes and restrictions laid down on the Colonies.
Even Winner Enterprises was up against odds that threatened the business folding. Quatre, as the one coming in to lead when his father retired, was dealt just as much of the guilt and blame for the impending failure of it all. It all threatened to bring the blonde Arab to the end of his sanity.
Trowa, or still No-Name as he was called in this new existence, never had the chance to unite with his sister. What was so much more unnerving was that his path still crossed with that of the original Trowa Barton along with his band of mercenaries that were trying to make a difference for their people. Pulled into the man's part of the initial plan of Operation Meteor, he was in the works of finding a Colony to drop onto the Earth.
As soon as that bit was revealed, Heero all but begged Treize to take him away from it all so that he could collect his thoughts.
* * * * * *
In the next instant, the two were standing in the midst of a pitch void around them. Turning away from the glowing tall man before him, the ex-Wing pilot buried his fingers in his hair and walked off a couple of paces to catch his breath.
Approaching him cautiously, Treize asked, "Do you now see the reason for yourself and the war? One change in events, one life can make a world of difference in the chain of events for all. The lack of the battles you endured would not have changed the building tension between the Earth and the Colonies. And the chain of events that would then have built up would amount to so much worse."
Grimly, he shook his head, "The original Operation Meteor will happen in this new world. The wars to follow will bring about far more devastation and death than the Eve Wars. Not all of your friends will live to see the end of it all and those that do will not be around long enough to see things truly improve."
Afraid to ask, Heero kept his back to his guide and asked in little more than a whisper, "What Colony will be used?" Peering over his shoulder, his heart dropped when Treize frowned deeply, clearly hesitating to answer.
Finally, the tall man answered, "L2."
Spinning around to face him, the ex-Gundam pilot cried, "What?!" His cobalt eyes narrowing, he gripped the front of the other man's suit and shouted, "You have to take me there! I have to talk to Duo to warn him!"
Treize's eyes widened and his mouth opened and closed a few times before he managed, "You... you do not want to see Duo right now, Heero. He is the one person I really hoped I would not have to guide you to."
Panicked by that bit of news, Heero's eyes widened. Tightening his grip, his glare returned even more fierce than before as he ordered, "Take me to him."
Swallowing roughly, Khushrenada nodded firmly, "Very well." His hand rose to take hold of his charge's arm that was still clutched to his suit and they left the void.
When they reached their new destination, Heero released his guide and spun around to find himself standing in the middle of an empty church. At the front of the long building, candles glowed along the white marble altar before the large cross on the main wall.
Though he had never actually seen so much as a picture of the place, he knew exactly where he was and breathed, "The Maxwell Church." Of course, it would still remain since his friend would never have been recruited to steal a mobile suit in the mission that doomed the structure and all that lived there.
Beyond the stained glass mural windows, laughter and excited cheers could be heard. Turning towards the sound, Heero walked down towards the back of the church. Slowly opening one of the large wooden doors to peer out, he took in the large lot crowded with children of varying ages.
More than a couple dozen kids were playing a large game of dodge ball. Laughing, the outer ring of little ones were tossing the ball into the lot at the center that was dodging and weaving to keep from being hit.
And in the middle of it all, chuckling and playing along with the children was a tall man in a black priest outfit with a braid of hair past his hips.
Gasping, Heero's eyes widened at the sight and whispered, "Duo." Sure enough, his partner and friend looked every bit the same as he did before he went to sleep. That usual, wide smile was ever on his face as he called to the kids to 'take cover' and 'duck' whenever the ball was being hurled at them again.
It was strange to actually see him in his priest outfit once again. Only, this time, it was clear that the attire was actually worn for his role in life. That was made clear when several of the children in the outer ring cheered, "Get Father Maxwell! Get Father Maxwell!"
With a forced hurt look, Duo turned to his conspirators when he had a break and pouted, "Hey, what did I ever do to you?" When the ball was thrown at him and he dodged easily, he laughed along with the youngsters.
Caught up in watching how much fun his friend was having, Heero just stood perfectly still in the doorway and a small smile began to tug his lips. Several minutes into the game, Duo was one of the last remaining, thanks to that natural agility and quickness of his.
Suddenly, just as he was in the midst of running, the braided priest came to a halt when he bent forward wheezing for air. A hand reaching up, he covered his mouth as a violent coughing fit struck him. The little boy that had caught the ball dropped it as he and the other children all rushed in, crying the priest's name in worry.
Blinking, Heero straightened, a deep frown of concern. This was not a simple spell from a mere cold or flu. Something was wrong.
As Duo struggled to breathe, a nun ran into the scene with an inhaler in her hand. "Father Maxwell," she cried when she neared. Placing a hand on the prone young man's back, she pressed the apparatus into a shaking hand.
With her assistance, the priest straightened himself and pressed the inhaler into his mouth to take a few deep puffs. The children watched with sad expressions as he managed to finally breathe in ease again. Panting, he met the nun's eyes and told her quietly, "Thank you, Sister Helen."
A sad smile raising the corners of her mouth, she nodded and patted his back soothingly as a mother would. At that same time, another, much older priest hurried into the scene to check on Duo. Bowing his head slightly, the ex-pilot greeted, "Father."
Once again, Heero blinked in surprise at actually having a face with the name of the man and woman whom his partner had cared so deeply for in his early years of life.
Sister Helen and Father Maxwell were the closest things to parents that he had. Now seeing them looking after him as they were in that moment, it was more than evident that they cared a great deal for him.
Smiling to the orphans huddled around, he rubbed the heads of the ones closest to him and reassured, "It's alright, everyone. Just pushed myself a little too hard."
"You really should rest a bit, son. We'll take care of them from here," Father Maxwell offered quietly with a squeeze to his shoulder. Grinning, Sister Helen nodded in agreement.
His face showing a bit more of how tired he was, Duo wiped at the sweat that had built on his forehead despite the cool air. "Alright," he replied, sighing in relief. "Thank you." Smiling back down at his young audience, he waved, "Go on back to you game now, kids." Reluctant at first, the little ones nodded and went back to make their ring again.
A hand over his mouth, the braided priest moved for the orphanage joined to the church and out of Heero's view. Numb, he closed the wooden door that he had been peering through and turned to face Treize who had been standing behind him the whole time.
In little more than a breath with his stomach clenching tightly in his chest, he asked, "What is wrong with him? For the whole time that I knew Duo, he never had so much as a cold because of the immune system drugs that were given to him during his training with Professor G."
Pointing back to the door, Heero frowned, "You told me you were hoping you would not have to show me this. What is wrong with him?"
Treize watched his charge sadly and took a deep breath. "Duo is dying. This is going to be the last Christmas that he will live to see."
A rush of air left the ex-pilot's lungs as though he had been hit in the gut. Bending forward, he only managed to stay on his feet by gripping the end of the pew close beside him. "Dying?" he whispered in disbelief. "But he... he can't be."
Walking, simply to have something to do, the Preventer moved past Khushrenada and moved up the aisle towards the front of the church until he could not go another step. "It's not possible," he tried to reason with himself as he slipped to sit down in the pew to his right and stared ahead, his whole being cold over the information setting in.
After a long silence, a sincerely saddened Treize appeared standing before him. "You are aware of Duo's life on the streets... prior to staying here at the Maxwell Church, correct?"
Swallowing roughly, Heero nodded. He was one of the few people that his friend had ever shared some of those experiences with. Just the thought of what the desperation for food to keep himself and his friends that he was looking after alive brought Duo to have to do made the hairs on his arm stand on their ends.
"He did not come out of those days unscathed," his guide informed. Looking up to meet his eyes, the ex-Wing pilot gazed in confusion.
Treize folded his hands behind his back and explained, "Duo had been carrying a viral mutation of one of the more dormant variations of HIV. When he was discovered by Professor G, he was diagnosed and treated immediately to kill the strand. It saved his life."
Clearing his throat, he went on, "Now that there is no war, no run in with Professor G, that strand has been festering in his bloodstream to the point that he is beyond help. When the first symptoms became clear when the disease decided to spike, it was too late to prevent the inevitable. His immune system is falling apart and his body is attacking itself and he knows his time is running out."
Heero's hands rose so that he could bury his face in them. He had no idea... no way of knowing any of this. If he actually had his selfish wish to not exist because of some challenges... then Duo...
"You look lost."
Gasping sharply, the Preventer snapped his head back up to have his wide eyes fall on the braided priest entering through the sacristy leading to the altar. A worried look on his face when he stepped forward and neared the visitor, he commented, "You're new to the area. I've never seen you around before."
Struck by the run-in with his friend, Heero scanned the Church around to see that Treize had abandoned him. Forcing a rough swallow, he met the violet eyes watching him and nodded, "Uh, yea. I just got into town not too long ago. I am sorry for intruding."
Just as the Asian young man was about to get to his feet, Duo raised a hand and reassured, "It's alright. The doors here stay unlocked for a reason." Grinning that familiar grin of his, he reached a hand out and introduced, "Father Duo Maxwell."
Heero blinked and took the offered hand into a firm shake. Quickly recalling that the actual Heero Yuy was alive, well and famous as ever, he replied, "Odin. Odin Lowe."
Tilting his head the slightest bit, the black-clad young man smirked, "I... know this is going to sound strange, but I almost get the feeling like I know you somehow." His heart swelling at that, the Heero held his breath. Gesturing to the space in the pew, the priest asked, "May I?"
Without hesitating, the former Perfect Soldier nodded and shifted over to allow him room. When his partner sat beside him, their shoulders brushed and he felt a charge from the contact.
"You look like you could use someone to talk to right about now," Duo smiled. "I've been told before that I can be a good listener if you you'd like to get some of whatever you're carrying around off your chest."
It was so like him, Heero thought. Whatever world or realm Duo lived in, he was always willing to lend a hand to anyone in need. He could feel a lump forming in his throat that he had to clear as he looked ahead to the altar again.
Shaking his head, he heard himself say quietly, "I've just had a pretty... eye-opening day to how life works. And it's been hard to take at times."
The braided priest gazed up to the large cross at the front of the church and chuckled deeply, "Life... can be pretty challenging. And it certainly never turns out the way that you plan." There was a hint of sorrow in his voice at that last sentiment.
Unable to help himself, Heero turned to face him and asked, "Was... becoming a priest what you thought was planned for your life? You're awful young to be a clergyman."
Laughing, Duo shook his head and focused back on his guest. "Actually, no," he admitted, smiling. "For a long time, when I was younger, I thought that I would be able to make more of a difference in the world than just what I can do here in this role." Sighing, he shrugged, "But, it just never came to be."
With a frown, the agent replied, "Do you ever... feel disappointed with how things turned out for you if you thought things would be different?"
"No," the other young man answered without hesitating, his smile growing. "I don't regret a thing. Because I believe that everyone and everything in this life has a purpose. I may not be making the difference on the scale I dreamed and hoped that I would, but I believe that I am making a difference where it matters."
Dumbfounded, Heero sat there staring at him. Finally finding his voice, he stated, "I think that I'm starting to finally understand that about myself for the first time."
Caught up in actually having the chance to talk, the two remained right where they were and engaged in a long conversation. They even shared quite a few laughs during heir time together.
Since he could not reveal so much about himself, Heero kept asking Duo questions to learn more about him and his life. He learned of how after years of not being adopted he was brought in by Father Maxwell and took on the man's name.
Never losing his smile, the priest went on to run down the names and personalities of every child he helped care for since their own arrival to the orphanage. Lie a proud father, he shared their stories and his hopes for their futures.
Really, it was not unlike how the Duo that Heero knew would talk about his friends. He took the time to really come to appreciate and care for everyone he came across. And it was all... moving to the ex-Wing pilot as he sat there and listened.
Some time during that talk came another realization to the Preventer... he was in love with his best friend. Never before could he think of such an unselfish, eager to please person like Duo. And now this new life that he had thought would be a more promising one for him was actually killing him.
Hours passed and finally, it was clear that the 'sun' was 'setting' outside as the windows began to darken. Noting the change, the American checked his watch and winced, "Wow, I had no idea how long we've been here. I should get going to check up on the kids to get them ready for dinner." His violet eyes falling on his guest, he smiled sincerely, "It was... really nice talking to you, Odin."
The heart in his chest racing in knowing that he had to end their moment, Heero swallowed and responded softly, "You too, Father Maxwell."
"Duo," the other corrected and offered his hand for another tight handshake. "Hopefully we'll get to meet again soon? If you ever need a friend, you know where to find me." With his smile slipping a hair, he said, "I know I sure could use a friend."
It took ever ounce of strength on 'Odin's' part to not allow the threat of tears to overwhelm him to know that even with little ones and his 'parents' around, his partner clearly still felt alone with his dilemma. "I would really like that... Duo," he nodded, his voice thick.
Their hands lowered and the priest rose to his feet and headed for the altar. Stopping at the sacristy door, he looked back and waved, "In case I don't see you in a couple days, Merry Christmas."
Bowing his head in appreciation, Heero replied, "Merry Christmas." And with a heavy chest, he watched as his best friend disappeared with his braid swinging behind him.
Once he was alone, the agent gave into the tears. Covering his face once again, he bent forward and cried silently for the one person who had become his world... the same person that he could not save here.
"Duo's sickness is going to spike again in about five months," Treize's voice spoke from the pew in front of him. "And in a hospital bed, he is going to die slowly and painfully."
Behind his hands, Heero's eyes continued to mist over as he begged in a whisper, "Please stop."
Still, his guide continued, "About three months after that, L2 is going to be used as the catalyst in Operation Meteor. Relena will be dethroned and imprisoned during the war. Wufei will also lose his wife and children. Quatre will lose his mind over feeling all of the devastation and become a permanent prisoner in his own body. Trowa will be injured in the war and confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his days."
His hands balling into fists, the former pilot shot his head up to glare at the tall man and cried, "Stop!" The echo of his voice carried through the empty church. Slumping heavily in his seat, he frowned deeply and pleaded, "Please take me back. I can't... I can't allow any of this to happen." He shook his head and breathed, "I can't... imagine a world without Duo or where anyone I care about is suffering."
Smirking, Treize asked, "Pretty humbling to see the impact one event, one person can have on so many, wouldn't you say?" Barely able to move on account of his numbness, his charge just gave a small nod.
As he leaned forward and gripped the back rest of the pew, the tall man stated, "You were granted a very special gift by seeing all of these things, Heero. A word of advice- never take anyone or anything for granted. You only get one chance at this life and it would be a sad existence to not appreciate even the smallest of things."
"I promise I will heed that," the Preventer vowed, the urgency in his eyes. Then he said the one thing that he never thought he would say to the former OZ leader when he gave a heartfelt, "Thank you... for all of this."
Chuckling, Khushrenada straightened and his hands locked behind his back again. "My pleasure," he answered back, every bit as sincere. "Until we meet again, my friend."
Suddenly, the world went to a blackness that lingered a few heartbeats.
Heero sat up in his bed with a sharp gasp, his face damp from sweat. Panting, he looked around his room while is eyes adjusted to the dim natural light seeping in from behind his drawn blinds. When he recognized the space was indeed his own and exactly as he had seen it last before going to sleep, he was on his feet and opening his door to hurry out.
"Duo?!" he called in worry. Rushing for the only other bedroom down the hallway, he gave a few loud knocks. The sound of a muffled exclamation followed by almost violent rustling reached his ears and the door opened to a disheveled, t-shirt and boxer-clad Maxwell.
His violet eyes wide and alert with concern, he asked in a rush, "Ro? What's going-" That thought was cut off when Heero moved forward to grip him in a tight embrace as he buried his head in Duo's shoulder.
Blinking in shock, the braided agent reached his own arms up to return the unexpected embrace.
Once the last of his fears had finally been reassured, the ex-Wing pilot pulled back and grinned, "I decided we need to get a Christmas tree for the living room."
At that, Duo's back straightened and looked back to his alarm clock. Meeting his friend's gaze, he frowned, "You woke me up at seven o'clock on a Saturday morning to hug the hell out of me and say we need a tree?" he reached forward to press his hand against the other agent's forehead. "You feelin' alright, man?"
"Never better," Heero smiled. "And I hope that invitation to the party as your date tonight is still open."
Maxwell's jaw dropped just before he grinned widely and nodded, "Well, yea. Of course it does."
Letting out a relieved sigh, his partner replied, "Good. Then we have a lot to do before then if we're going to decorate this place before inviting the others for our own get together here for Christmas in a few days." That said, he hurried back down the hall to return to his room and change.
Stunned, Duo just watched his best friend disappear and rubbed the back of his neck. "Hope to hell this isn't some dream," he muttered to himself. "I really would take to wake from it." A wide smile breaking in his face, he rushed back into his own room to get ready for their busy day.
* * * * * *
Five years later, it was proven that it was in fact not a dream at all.
Heero Yuy was a changed man when it came to the holiday season, and in so many other ways as well. Not long after that meeting with Treize, he made good on his promise to never take anyone or anything for granted by taking the first big step in admitting his true feelings for Duo to his best friend. They had been going strong in their relationship ever since.
As they knelt and finished securing the bottom the of tree they had just cut for the living room of their home, the braided pilot turned towards his fiancé.
With a smirk, he commented, "You never are going to tell me what made you suddenly have such a big change in you way back then, are you? And why do I get the feeling it's tied in to the mysterious flowers and packages that started going to Lady Une every year after that make her so happy she actually cries?"
One hand gripping the shovel that they had brought along, Heero reached with his free hand to grip Duo's gold scarf. Pulling him forward while they remained crouched on the snow-covered ground, he claimed his lips in a sound kiss. "And I have nothing to do with those packages," he grinned when he pulled away, being completely honest with that. He shrugged, "Apparently, someone appreciates her and they want to make it known."
Leave it to Treize to find a way to make his own most important person feel loved even when he was gone, he thought to himself with an inward smirk.
Brushing a hand over the other Preventer's cheek, he stated, "And as for you, I just got a reminder of how important you are to me and how I would be lost without you," he grinned.
It was the same answer he gave his partner whenever he asked. And it always served to be enough of an explanation.
"Well, I'm glad that you managed to find that out since I feel the same way about you, pal," Duo snickered. Brushing off their jeans, they both rose and worked together to carry their tree through the thick wood just outside of town.
Unknown to either of them, a certain guide was watching from high in the treetops with a pleased smile on his face before he faded away.
OWARI
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