by Nakia Raberba Winner
The night sky glimmered with a thousand tiny diamonds, the stars winking with a pure white radiance at the crowds assembled in the various cities around the world. On one particular hill, away form everyone in the populace below, the five former-Gundam pilots rested, waiting with everyone else.
When the first drastic explosion rocked the sky, and the red-and-green sparkles rained down over everything, 'oohs' and 'aahs' were collectively sighed: almost as a signal that the war was over. A sense of unity and everlasting peace settled in that single second, and more than one person shed tears of joy.
Pinks and purples, scarlet, blue and gold, green shone and danced in the sky, pulling the explosive force of completion and ecstasy from the hearts of the people.
Quatre snuggled down into Trowja's warm, encircling arms; Duo rested his head on Heero's chest and the Japanese boy played with the American's chestnut braid. They felt what the people felt, but more. A sense of longing and loss. The realization dawned on them that they'd never see their Gundams again, and that what they had spent the most important years of their life fighting for and doing, had come, it was over, finished, and they would live like the rest until the day Shinigami took them.
Quatre was the first to start crying, and his small body shuddered as he
released the sobs that would free him from the burden resting on his chest.
Trowja stroked his lover's platinum locks, smiling down as he realized Quatre
was laughing. Duo's loud chuckles were soon to follow, and tears traced
tracks down his cheeks as well. Heero nodded, keeping his eyes downcast as
the wet worked it's way out of his eyes, burning lines of acceptance on his
shamed face.
"Heero!" Duo cupped his lover's face in his hands, grinning and laughing
and crying, feeling as if he would burst with the sheer extremity of his
passion.
"Heero! You're crying! I love you Heero!"
"Ai shiteru, Duo Maxwell. Forever." Lips met lips, and the fireworks
were forgotten as the two boys lost their souls in that one searing, swearing
kiss.
WuFei smiled and cried as well, sniffling and promising himself that he
would cry when he wanted to. Look, Mieran, look at us now. You fought for
good, and good won out. Peace has fallen, and we're alive. Alive and
together: as friends should be. Thank you, Mieran. I love you always.
After death- do- us- part.
"Quatre," Trowja turned the blonde to face him, wiping at the wet
staining his cheeks. Quatre laughed even harder, jumping to his feet and
spinning in wild circles: laughing and crying and shaking his head in
amazement and exuberance. Trowja laughed, then, too, and Heero joined in,
until all five of the Gundam pilots spun and laughed and cried on that
hilltop, sanctifying it as their own and telling the world that they were fit
to live and love.
"Ai shiteru, Trowja Barton." Quatre gasped, throwing his arms around the
taller young man's neck and hugging tightly. Trowja returned the embrace,
nuzzling the nook of Quatre's neck and savoring the scent that was his lover
and joy.
"Ai shiteru, Quatre Raberba Winner. But..."
Quatre pulled back and stared into Trowja with those piercing azure eyes,
pleading with him.
"But what, Trowja?" He asked. There was no condemnation in that
question, just curiousity.
"Would you do me the honor," Trowja whispered, "of making you yourself
Quatre Winner- Barton?"
Quatre's mouth dropped open, and his tears flowed anew as he realized
what had just been asked of him, and nodded vigorously.
"Yes, yes, yes!" A
small silver band found it's way out of Trowja's pocket, and around Quatre's
middle finger. The two collapsed onto the ground, gasping what couldn't be
said.
"Duo Maxwell. I'm going to do this the more traditional way." Heero
knelt slowly in front of the braided American, and Duo shut his eyes and drew
in a shuddering breath. "Will you marry me?"
"Would it be to terribly cliché if I passed out just now?" Duo whispered,
falling to his knees and kissing his lover with the passion that had formerly
been reserved for fighting.
"Yes, I'll marry you, Heero Yuy."
WuFei spoke up softly, from where he had been watching the goings- on
with a fond look of love on his face. "We're brothers, Gundam pilots. Now
and always. Kindred spirits destined to stay together until and after death
takes us. We've shared our sorrows and pain, tears and joy and laughter, and
it unites us with an inseperable bond."
Slowly, the Chinese boy turned around and began a slow descent down the side of the hill. But Duo barreled into him, slamming him to the ground and hugging him ferociously. Quatre followed, Heero and Trowja came next, until they were a huddle mass of joy and love, never to be apart.
~~~~
Mariemeia walked slowly along, her fingertips brushing the smooth, marble edge of the stone. The gray and black swirled together, making it one color that can only be described as 'marble'.
Here lies:
Heero Yuy~ Gundam Pilot 01
Duo Maxwell-Yuy~ Gundam Pilot 02
Trowja Barton~ Gundam Pilot 03
Quatre Raberba Winner- Barton~ Gundam Pilot 04
Chang WuFei~ Gundam Pilot 05
~In life, they were friends, brothers, companions, and kindred spirits. Now they roam the heavens together, five pairs of wings protecting those of us still here, as they did when they walked the mortal plain. 'Till death and after, brothers to the forever.~
Gently, the red- headed woman leaned down and kissed the tombstone, resting her face against it and fondly stroking the engraved letters that pronounced to all the world the beauty of the Gundam pilots, and what they selflessly forfeit for the colonies: and mankind.
