|
Heero found Trowa in the cockpit with Duo. The longhaired pilot was busy flying the shuttle so didn't notice him and Trowa only ignored him. Heero stood beside the hurt Heavyarms pilot in silence for a few moments to see if he was going to say anything. When it became apparent that Trowa was going to remain silent, Heero spoke. "Yes." His voice was barely above a whisper.
Slowly, Trowa turned to look at him and he searched Heero's eyes questioningly. After finding his answer he smiled, then took one of Heero's hands. They both noticed the necklace, dangling from Heero's fingers at the same time and Trowa again looked at him in question. Heero took a sharp breath. /Thank you Quatre./ "For you...my heart." He held the necklace out. At first Trowa didn't say anything then at the same moment they both looked at Duo. "Don't stop on my account." The God of Death muttered without turning around. A grin crossed Heero's face as it did Trowa's and the taller boy stood up. He pulled Heero into his arms and pressed their lips together in a sealing kiss. Heero found himself noting the difference of tastes between Trowa and Quatre. Trowa tasted of mint and believe it or not, a Gundam, and Heero felt himself strangely drawn to the taste. Finally the kiss ended, leaving both pilots breathless. Trowa clasped Heero's hand - the one holding the necklace - then pulled the Wing pilot from the cockpit and into the sleeping quarters in which Heero had emerged from. Heero was slightly confused and looked at Trowa. "Are you sure?" The banged pilot asked. Heero smiled softly and nodded his head. "I had a talk with myself and convinced myself that it was okay. I'm sorry I hurt you." He said quietly. "It's worth it. Will you let me hold you?" Trowa wondered shyly. Heero nodded and they sat on the bed together and Heero felt so comfortable in Trowa's arms that he fell asleep. He spotted Quatre lying on the bed. The blonde spirit was curled up in a tight ball and it was clear that he had been crying. Carefully, Heero gathered his little angel into his arms and held Quatre close, being careful not to wake him. "I should have known that you'd be hurt. I'm sorry Quatre. I wish that you were on the outside with us, in my arms for real." The boy stirred, then settled. Heero sighed as he gently placed the boy back on the bed. He lay down beside Quatre and carefully pulled up the soft blanket, then he drew the smaller boy into his arms once more. The chamber room was old now and it had fulfilled its purpose. It was time for a change and within a blink of an eye, the two were back in the little boat with the blanket wrapped around them, sailing to an unknown dream and once Heero thought of it, he'd make sure to share. *** "Guys! Wake up!" Duo's loud voice startled both Heero and Trowa awake and unknowingly woke Quatre, ripping them from the cloud where they had claimed each other. "Oz is close by. They tried to contact us. They warned us that there were probably Gundam pilots somewhere around the area. They ordered us to allow them to board so they could look around. But..." Duo shrugged then took a shaky breath. "We need the two of you to fly this shuttle, if something goes wrong, we'll try to cause a big enough distraction that will allow you to escape." The braided boy said, "Now let's go!" The three boys exited the room and ran down a corridor. Before they split up so Duo could reach Deathscythe in the hanger, Heero grabbed his arm. Duo looked into the baby blue eyes, which suddenly flashed aquamarine. "Come back, we don't need anymore death." Heero whispered in a voice that wasn't his. "Quatre?" Duo narrowed his eyes in confusion then shook it off and nodded, entering the hanger. Trowa pulled Heero toward the cockpit. "There are laser weapons on board that we can use." Trowa was explaining as they sat down in the pilot and co-pilot's chairs. Quickly they took control of the spacecraft and set the weapons up. "Watch Duo and I'll watch Qua-Wufei." Trowa corrected himself. Heero let it drop. They were so used to their regular partners that it only became natural to cover them. /You shouldn't have wasted your life on me./ Heero thought quietly, but as soon as he thought he words, he regretted them. Quatre didn't even responded and Heero didn't have time to worry about him. He accepted his mission of protecting Duo and Deathscythe. The Taurus suits flew around the black Gundam like flies. Heero watched until he recognized a pattern in their flight. Up, right, down, left, right, up, right, down, left, right. The next time one of the Taurus suits flew up, Heero used one of the lasers to slice through the metal. Duo seemed to realize the pattern then, for his scythe cut through a suit on it's down beat. "The Oz carrier is behind us." Trowa's voice was calm. "Damn it. We should have brought a third Gundam." Heero cursed mentally. Trowa was silent, then he sighed. "We did." He mumbled, which made Heero look at him in shock. "It was for the way back, just in case something happened to one of the others if a battle did commence." "Which one?" Heero demanded. Trowa sighed. "Sandrock." He replied. Heero was confused. "But I thought that Sandrock was destroyed when Quatre..." He trailed off. Trowa nodded. "It was, but Oz was rebuilding it and they had 70% done before we could get it back. While you were unconscious and after you woke up we finished it. Wing Zero had virtually been destroyed and we had only 48% finished when we received Sandrock." He explained. "70%? That's almost fully functional. Why wasn't Oz testing it out?" Heero wondered. "They couldn't get it to work." Trowa shrugged. "We couldn't even get the mecha to respond. It's as if Sandrock only responded to Quatre. We brought it mainly for extra parts." Heero was silent in thought as he watched Shenlong destroy another suit. "Only to Quatre." He mumbled to himself as an idea began to form. "Trowa, will you be able to watch out for both Duo and Wufei?" He wondered. Trowa nodded and tried to ask why, but Heero cut him off. "I'm going out in Sandrock. I think I know how to make it respond." With that he left the control room, ignoring Trowa's protests about his arm. In the hanger, Heero stared at the white and gray Gundam. A memory flashed through his mind again. --- "Quatre, take Sandrock and ignore the real intentions of Operation Meteor." "What? But why?" "You were trained to defend the colonies but there wouldn't be a colony to defend. Take Sandrock to Earth and fight by following your heart." "Following my heart?" "Yes. Do what your heart tells you." "Alright...Sandrock." --- "Please Sandrock. We need you to respond." Heero whispered to the mecha as he pulled a space suit on. He shoved on a helmet, then jumped up onto the giant. Once inside he looked at the controls. "Come on. Do it for Quatre." At the request the Gundam came to life. Heero smiled as he watched. "Thank you." He nodded then pressed a button to open communication. "Open the hatch." He said, knowing Trowa could hear him. "Be careful 01, come back alive." Trowa's voice crackled from the system and Heero could hear the silent 'to me' at the end. He smiled as the hatch opened to reveal opened space. "Think we can do this Quatre?" Heero whispered to the empty cockpit as Sandrock left the safety of the ship. < I have faith in you and Sandrock. > Quatre said proudly. With that encouragement Sandrock made its way behind the shuttle. Carefully Heero maneuvered the white Gundam, keeping it hidden against the craft. When he was able, Heero zoomed in on the Oz carrier. "They have almost no weapons." He whispered, as if explaining the facts to Gundam 04. "The only weapon even worth destroying is that beam cannon and it's pointed at the shuttle. I'd have to get behind it quickly but this it the slowest Gundam. If I'm not quick enough but they miss me, they'd hit the shuttle and Trowa would-" Heero shuttered. "No. Trowa is not going to-" < Heero, use the Zero system. It will help. > Quatre interrupted. "The… Zero? You installed the /Zero/ into your Gundam?" Heero was surprised. He knew how much Quatre hated the system and he couldn't imagine the gentle pilot using it again. < Yes. I installed it and little by little I mastered it. Once you master it, it becomes a great advantage. It will help you. > Quatre explained. < Sandrock will protect you. > Heero sighed; it was his only hope. "Alright." He nodded and activated the system. |
