Author: Zazu
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Fluff
Pairings: 1+2+1
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing, nor do I own the characters. I have borrowed them here for some fun and creativity, and this is not for profit. I do, however, own the plot mentioned here, and any instances that you may find similar to real life events are purely a coincidence.
Synchronized
The first thing Duo noticed was that he was being shaken awake.
The second thing he noticed was the burnt smell in the air.
His eyes opened wide and he sat up quickly, only to find Heero's hands pushing him gently back onto the couch.
"Easy," Heero murmured.
For a moment, Duo blinked up at his lover, disoriented. "What...the food!"
To his surprise, Heero pulled him close, clutching him tight. "You idiot," he muttered into Duo's ear. "I'm so glad I came home early. I don't want to think about what could have happened."
Duo hesitantly put his arms around Heero, feeling Heero's hand stroke down his braid. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I didn't mean to fall asleep. I guess the medicine isn't really non-drowsy as it claims to be."
Heero pulled back. "I told you not to bother with dinner if you're feeling ill. Why are you so stubborn?"
"I..."
"You could have burned the house down!"
"Sorry."
Heero couldn't hold his anger; the contrite expression on Duo's face softened Heero's glare.
"I don't mean to yell, but can you imagine what I felt when I came home to smell burning food and saw you passed out on the couch?"
Duo nodded. "Sorry," he repeated. "I just...I really wanted to make you a special dinner and now I've ruined it."
"I don't care about dinner," Heero snapped, then took the sting out of his words by cupping Duo's cheek. "All I care about is that you're okay. What would I do without you?"
Duo covered Heero's hand with his own. "I'm fine."
"I can't remember the last time I felt my heart in my throat," Heero whispered, searching Duo's face as if trying to memorize every inch of it. "Maybe it was the time you forced the terrorist to exchange the innocent with you as the hostage."
Duo could remember Heero's anguished expression from ten feet away where he stood trying to negotiate with the terrorist for Duo's life just a little less than a year ago.
"Hey." He traced Heero's lips with a finger. "I couldn't bear to leave you behind Heero. I swear I'll be more careful from now on."
"Good."
They stared at each other for a long moment before Duo groaned, leaning his forehead upon Heero's shoulder. "I can't believe this! I would be the stupid one who would make a mistake on our anniversary!"
Heero chuckled, resting his cheek against Duo's hair. "I don't care about the burnt food. Maybe this was the perfect thing for our anniversary."
Duo lifted his head, shocked. "What?"
"Not that I need the reminder, but it makes me realize how important you are. Anniversaries...maybe it isn't just to celebrate the years we've spent together. Maybe it's to tell us just why we..."
"Why we need to be together," Duo finished. "I need to be with you. If I'm not, it...hurts."
Heero nodded in agreement. "Let's order take out. We need to leave the windows open to air out the place, and I don't particularly want to be around other people right now."
The doorbell suddenly began to ring urgently. "Yuy! Maxwell!"
"Wufei?" Duo said, recognizing the voice.
Heero hurried to the door. "Calm down, Chang, it's under control."
Wufei stepped inside as Heero moved to let him in. "Good," he said curtly. "It smells pretty strong out there." He wrinkled his nose. "And in here. What happened?"
"I burned dinner. What are you doing here?" Duo asked. "Not that you're unwelcome, but you rarely show up without notice."
Wufei raised an eyebrow. "I'm here to deliver something for Heero." He turned to Heero. "I know I told you it wouldn't arrive until tomorrow, but you got lucky. It came a day early."
Heero accepted the package Wufei offered. "Thank you," he said.
"I'll see you tomorrow, then," Wufei said. "Get better soon, Maxwell."
"Thanks."
Heero saw Wufei out the door, and once the door was shut, Duo spoke up.
"What's in the package?" he asked curiously.
Heero smiled. "Your anniversary gift. I got Wufei to charge it on his credit card and get it delivered to his place so you wouldn't know."
"We said no gifts this year!"
"You tried to cook me dinner when we said we'd eat out."
"Fine." Duo had to concede to that point. He eyed the package in Heero's hands again. "So, do I get to open it now?"
Heero simply handed it to Duo. Duo pulled Heero down on the couch beside him. He studied the box, then leaned over to kiss Heero on the cheek. "Thank you."
"You haven't even opened it yet. You might hate it."
"It's the thought that counts. Besides, I doubt I'll hate it." He carefully unwrapped the packaging and pulled out a navy box. The silver name on the top was familiar, but Duo couldn't remember what the store sold until he had carefully opened it.
Two identical black watches sat side by side in the velvet interior. Duo gently took one out, studying the face of the watch.
"Why a watch?" he asked. He put it on and found that it was a perfect fit. Heero took the second watch and put it on as well.
"These watches are kinetic. So long as we wear them, they'll keep on ticking." Heero lifted Duo's head by his chin so that their eyes could meet. "I'm a selfish man, Duo Maxwell. I want you to remember that you're mine now, and every second these watches tick away and every second that it will tick away, they're all mine. Your whole life, I want it to be spent with me. And I want my whole life to be spent with you."
Duo's eyes were bright with moisture and he grinned. "Good thing, that."
"What?"
Duo kissed Heero quickly, then hugged him tight. "Good thing you're selfish. I wouldn't have you any other way. All yours, Heero, heart and soul, from the past eight years and for the next eternity."
Heero smiled, nuzzling Duo's neck. "Heart and soul," he whispered.
The watches were the only thing they refused to remove when they made love two days later, the delay at Duo's insistence so that he wouldn't get Heero sick.
And each kiss, each caress and each beat of their hearts, was marked by the watches, ticking away in perfect synchronization.
OWARI
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