Author's Note: WARNING This is YAOI. As in male-male **sexual** relations. 1x2 fic. I just want this clear before you read. If this sort of material offends you, then don't read it.

More Warnings: 1x2, Angst, Language,

Starve a cold.
Feed a fever.

     Easy. Too easy.

     The words rang like a bell in Heero's mind. A cocky, confidence in his grand accomplishments. He'd managed to find a manhole near the base of the building, hidden under the snow. It led into the underground basement of the lab. It was filled with nothing more than boxes of equipment, and large pieces of machinery from older models of mobile suits. The lack of security was a relief to Heero. It was less work he had to put forth. But the lack of security only made it more evident that this was not the colonies, nor Oz. It was a personal vendetta, but against who, or what?

     The sleek, cold, grip of Duo's gun remained tightly held in Heero's hand. It gave him comfort strangely. He couldn't help the feeling that was swelling in him that he had made a mistake. Even if Duo was on their side. They are not Oz, and they are not Colonies. To kill Duo, he was ordered to kill his partner, colleague, and friend, over... what? The CRNI-36? The information in Duo's profile? It wasn't making sense. Heero pressed his back gently against the siding of the wood, crate to his right, his fabric hooking to the rough edges of the object, softly snagging the thread. He was going to be careful. Even if the coast was clear. It was never too clear. He'd stay alert, no matter what.

     "Yes! You don't know how much I've wanted this, but I don't want it to be meaningless! I don't want just sex, Heero. I want- something more..."

     More? Am I capable of giving you more, Duo?

     Heero craned his neck, his eyes studying the area ahead of him. The lighting was dull. Everything seemed to be shadowed in pale blue, the crates sheeted with a layer of dust thickly resting atop. The stench of the closed dust, and stagnated air was heavy. The taste it placed in Heero's mouth was bitter; it was a pure revelation of his situation. He focused to the elevator ahead. There were no stairs. It was apart that the only way out was the manhole, and the only way up was the elevator. He couldn't turn back now. There were too many questions. Too much was left to be resolved. The Wing pilot's arctic, detesting pupils spied for a camera. So venerable. The area was open to anyone. Heero slid from his hiding place, his legs moving swiftly to carry him. His numbed fingers were slothful to rise. His nimble thumb pushing in the button. The doors opened immediately. The electricity was running in there at least. Heero tested the elevator, pressing one foot in gradually. It wasn't giving in. The cable was still strong. Convinced with its security, he fully pulled his body into the closed walls of the elevator. The doors shut just as quickly as they had opened, the large metal doors nearly biting at Heero's heels as he attempted to enter. A quick growl escaped Heero, his vicious eyes turning to stare at the door. He began to slide the gun into his coat pocket.

     "There is only one way, and it's up. What floor would you like to visit, Heero?"

     Heero froze in place. That voice!

     "Stop panicking, the situation is under control. They suspect nothing."

     It was Moro's voice!

     "Forgive me for not preparing a welcoming party for you, but I assure you that it will be rectified."

     Heero's arms unconsciously dived for the door, his fingers clawing at the dark, cool metal to pull the jaws ajar. "That is useless. They won't open that easily. We may not have a fleet to protect this area, but I can tell you it is very much alive, it is in full and complete, technological function. The amazing thing about this lab is that it tests mobile suits and the pilots. Of course, you had to train the men in an environment, similar to space. No gravity. No air. So those are things I can easily control with a mere tap of a button." Heero threw himself back from the door, his eyes furiously searching out the small camera to the right corner. His body felt so stiff, yet he stood without wavering his anger, even against it's boiling fury.

     "Ch'. How pathetic. You can't even fight your own fucking battles, you leave it to machines," Heero taunted coolly. He was only responded with laughter.

     "Ah! How hypocritical! This coming from a boy who uses the *ultimate* machine to win his battles!" Heero remained silence, his eyes focusing on the camera.

     "Would you like a small taste of what's to come? Here, I hope you enjoy this!-"

     In almost an instant the elevator began to drop, Heero's body lifted, flying from off the floor of the elevator. It jerked him up so rapidly, he didn't have time to think or react. Even if he could, what would he have done? The elevator came to an abrupt, and brutal halt, crushing Heero back painfully onto the ground. Heero barely even made a sound as his bones collided with the firm floor. His head snapped back, his eyes flinging open to stare widely at the camera. A train of blood was dripping down his lip in a slow trail.

     "No screams? You are so well trained. But surely that didn't hurt? It wasn't very many floors! But now, now I can take you all the way to the top, and let you fall to the bottom. Have you ever wanted to fly?" The voice asked in a mocking tone.

     The most cryptic smile played on Heero's bleeding mouth, his arms lifting to point his gun at the camera. "Me? Baka. I've always had Wings..." with those words he shot out the camera. The sparks flew down onto Heero, burning small holes against his coat. A hole remained against the area where the bullet had penetrated. Funny. It went through! So that must mean...

     The ceiling isn't protected by metal.

     Heero's body pained him greatly; he was fighting back the stinging in his spine as he tried forcefully to pull to his feet. His body was so heavy. But he had to get out. Each moment he struggled, the elevator climbed another floor. He'd underestimated them, but he wouldn't now. He knew what he was up against. And no one knew computers, or machines like Heero did. Heero stood too his feet, his legs shaking with the rapid speed of the elevator. He rose up his arms, pointing the gun towards the ceiling. His fingers gripped tightly on the gun. Just as he began to pull the trigger, the elevator dropped. Heero felt his feet lift off the ground almost too quickly, but he had already fired the shot. His body flew up towards the broken ceiling, breaking painfully through the damaged cardboard roof. In a spray of saw dust, and the scent of gun oil, Heero shot up out of the elevator, his hand reaching to cling to the opposing cable as the elevator dropped down with out him. All was not safe now though. He now was holding on to a cable that was sending him upward towards the ceiling with rapid speed. What would he do?

     "Once on L2 I had a cold, and Sister Mary told me, starve a cold, feed a fever, or is it, feed a cold, starve a fever? I think it's symbolic ya know?"

     ... Starve a-? Symbolic? Ch', now of all moments I consider this. Starve a cold, that is me. I starve myself of anything good that could bring me contentment. I don't give, or receive, I follow orders, and I fade into the black. But Duo... he is different. Much more so than I could ever be. For Duo to gain contentment, he must be fed-

     "Yes! You don't know how much I've wanted this, but I don't want it to be meaningless! I don't want just sex, Heero. I want- something more..."

     I know what you desire. I know what that something is that you find that incalculable sate for. I starve, for the same thing. Your body is so smooth, and when I could feel the gentle drops of sweat from your elation on your body, I was in fucking heaven. For once I was doing something for myself. Kuso. But I forgot what you wanted, didn't I? I forgot to tell you the reason why I wanted to fuck you. I told myself in my mind that it was a one-time-fuck; I'd even leave before morning. Later I'd tell you to forget it, and I'd keep on living. But- that isn't true, ne? Look what you've done to me. You're making me realize more each day that maybe I...

     Heero growled. He couldn't die now! Not now that he finally understood the damn stupid boy! He flung himself off the rope, his body falling once more. Falling. Tumbling. Helplessly.

     Wing, my Gundam. He's been the only thing I could trust. He is the one thing that has kept me from dying. He's a symbol of freedom, for myself. Wings. Plural. Duo- you give me my second wing. Duo. You keep me from falling...

+++

     Duo darted maniacally. His arms swinging a quickly matched punch towards Keith. His hair jerked back in a snake behind him, slapping lightly against the glass of the tubing. Torrid clothes stuck to his pained body. He was bruised at this point. He'd been fighting Keith all this time. He'd held up pretty well considering he only had one good hand. The fight was making me feel more alive! It felt so good to get a chance to smack that stupid face Keith possessed, to finally bruise those tender cheeks of his and stain his mouth with red blood.

     Duo shouted, swinging his leg back to kick at Keith's upper thigh, "What makes you think that you are Shinigami? Hm? I see you staggering! You haven't been trained enough." Keith was knocked forward with the blow, nearly loosing his balance. Duo's smirked wickedly, tossing around his body to slam against the unprotected boy. "You are a poor excuse of a fighter! You never block or guard anything!" Duo was practically laughing the words. Had he too, gone insane? His hand tried to force an upper cut to Keith's stomach, one that was quickly intercepted. Keith's eyes lifted, watching Duo with a twisted smile before throwing him back with both arms. "And your cockiness keeps you from winning," Keith retorted. "This is the man my koi desires?" Keith murmured, he seemed disgusted. His hands balling up to deliver a second hit in attempt to wound Duo. Duo tilted his head quickly, waning his body to avoid the hit. Frustration rose to Duo's face, blood streaking against the cool, glass tubing. "Would you just shut the hell up about that? He isn't mine dammit!! He doesn't want me! Heero just likes to fuck around!" Keith smiled delicately, his hands gouging with a snap towards Duo's braid, swiftly wrapping the chestnut hair around Duo's neck with a quick spin. Duo swore loudly, his hand clawing at his tangle of hair as his feet struggled. Keith pressed against Duo's back, grinding his body smoothly against Duo's. "Everywhere Heero has gone, I have always gone. I have always been at his side. He seeks guidance in me, and comfort. He is the only one that I love, and the only one I desire. I refuse to let a little braided, slut take him from me!" Duo choked, his eyes watering slightly from the pressure against him, "You bastard! They mess with your head that bad that you can't see that he isn't interested in you?

     Keith's fingers began to gently pet Duo's hair. "Such fickle hair. So long and useless. Did he touch it? Did he run his fingers through it? Did you spread your legs for him right there and then?" Keith asked with a malicious tone. Duo's braids broke, his hair flinging free; he threw his leg back to shove Keith off, managing to pry away from the boys grip. Duo breathed in heavily, trying his best to pose a grin on his face, "What of you and Dr. Emilio, hm? If anyone here is the slut, it's you, Keith. You're a tool. Even for them." Keith gnashed his teeth, his body trying to launch towards the American pilot. "Heero prefers me over you! His nights are spent with me!" Keith shouted, his fingers clawing against Duo's flesh. Duo's mouth remained open ad he tried to fend off Keith. Keith only continued his rant. "Every night! Heero is with me! You never see me! You never notice me there! Because... I have been inside his laptop..." Duo's eyes widened at this exposure. "Heero- he comes onto his laptop, and requests information, *I* give him that information! Did you know that Heero drinks? Sometimes, he'll drink enough to get him out of it. And he'll hack into my world. So many voices! I hear everything! I hear so much information in my head! I hear what girlfriends say to their boyfriends over their electronic messages. When people tap into the net to play games I can hear all they say. I am permanently connected to information! The only silence and solitude I find is being able to talk to Heero!" Keith shouted. Keith's fingers weakened, his body slumping against Duo's. Duo didn't know how to respond! What could he say? Keith's shoulders were quivering, his voice breaking.

     "When- he drinks enough, he'll hack through, and he'll find me, and we'll talk. Only, I talk to him through the information I give. Heero, he tells me things. He says, 'If I seem this way to you now, just wait; you're going to see that there is a lot more to me than you had thought', when I asked him about mission loyalty he said 'It's not everything in life, it is life itself. Don't forget that'. I wait for him everyday. He always shows up, never disappoints me. I just wish he thought more of me. I wish he loved me like that. I told Heero that he couldn't trust you. Do you like the little message I left on his laptop?" Keith smiled against Duo's clothes; "I left that message to tell you to look into the telescope that night. I flashed the numbers on the clocks you passed when you came from the club!"

     Duo growled, pushing Keith away from him. He felt soiled suddenly. All this time. Keith had been talking to Heero through the laptop. But Heero genuinely didn't know Keith. Keith was just a passerby. Just information. Heero probably didn't even think of him as a human. Just one mechanical face, talking to another. "Heero... I met him a few months ago. He was alone. But he never forgot you! He forgets me so easily, but he never forgot you! It's not fair! You don't deserve him! And I'll make you pay for taking him!" Keith stood back, stepping towards a round, smooth, black, circle pattern on the floor. He connected his hands into the dangling black shackles, pulling the plug from the panel above to connect to the port in the back of his head. Duo watched as the room suddenly was filled with light. Keith had strapped himself in a strange pod. Tubing of coolant snaked out from every corner of the room. The blue liquid began to boil furiously. "Do you really want to know what the CRNI-36 really is? It makes the person who wears it a mechanical device themselves! With this, it gives me the ability to control any computer operated device I want." With Keith's words emitted, the glass of the several tubes irrupted. Blue, slick, jello-like liquid spewed forth in a magnificent spray. Duo raised his arms to shield him from the glass, but the shards seared past, slicing against his arms and legs. The floor was covered in a sticky film of glass and liquid. Duo effortlessly tumbled down, falling to the floor. His body pressing against he fallen glass. He coughed out blood. His weary eyes lifting to look at Keith.

     Keith laughed, as the room seemed to come alive. The metal cords around the area whipped above furiously, diving to grasp hold of Duo's legs and arms. They lifted Duo's up from the ground, forcing him up towards the high ceiling. "I'm not allowed to kill you until the Doctor has given me what is needed from you. Your brain. You see, mines a little damaged. The other half of yours in my head will do nicely!" Duo felt like a ragged doll. He was rolled up towards the ceiling, his blood dripping down towards the floor messily. Mechanical arms that were hooked on the ceiling grasped Duo. They appeared to be made for lifting crates. They held him by his arms, leaving his body to dangle. His clothes were ripped to practically rags. The cords wrapped around Duo's legs. He could feel himself fading. But he refused to just let go. He'd keep fighting until the end. His struggling attempts were weak, but he didn't stop. He had to fight.

     That's what they wanted me for! See Heero? I'm Innocent. I'm not collaborating with them. It was all an elaborate hoax. I'm innocent!

     How foolish I am. Look at me here. A weak pathetic fool. You'd be so ashamed if you saw me here like this Heero. That's why I fight. I won't stop. That way, at least I can die knowing that I held on to the very end. I should have pleasured you that night. I shouldn't have let you pull away. I did want you to fuck me. I wanted to bite your skin, ravish your mouth and grind my flesh to yours. It would have been beautiful. A moment of bliss. But the thought of becoming that close and you ripping that away from me, scared me. Everyone in my life has always left me.

     You are all I have left in this world. I wanted you to show me more, give me more. I wanted to feed off you. But I couldn't be content with the way things were already. I was happy, I was with you. Fuck! Now that I think about it, starve a cold is really like you. You're willing to be content with what you have now. You never ask for more, you settle for so little. Me. Heh. I'm so damn selfish. I am the fever that keeps constantly feeding, wanting more, and more.

     Duo tilted his head back, a smile softly pursing his lips, blood flowing from the corners, running down against his chin. The warm, taste of his own blood in his mouth was numbing. He was trying to remain conscious. What ever they were going to do to him, he wanted to be awake for it. He kept wriggling. He'd try to keep himself awake. The only time he wanted to close his eyes was when it was finally time to die.

     Heero. I was unable to call you my koibito. I was unable to be your lover. But you were my partner, my friend, and my first, and last love. You may not be here with me, but I'll always be with you. If I could make one selfish wish, it would wish to always be by your side. Either as your partner, or a ghost. Be prepared Heero. I'm going to haunt you. I won't torment you with bad memories. Only the good ones.

     I rony. I really won't live through this mission.

     With a weak breath, Duo's mouth uttered the words so softly. "I love you."

Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters. This is strictly fan fiction on the televised series Gundam Wing. It is for non-profit and I am in no way affiliated with it. (duh!) Purely entertainment based here.

Author's Last words: This is NOT the end, but I have finished allt eh chapter sof SC, FF, they'll be posted up gradually. I don't know. I like this chapter, and things are really starting to come together. There's still more things to reveal! I'm so happy I have it done. I think there's two more chapters left, and they're finished. You'll see then soon! I think I like fight scenes far too much. Gomen for that. I just love action.