The wind picked up, whipping between the buildings with a faint, lonely howl. Duo's fringe was alternately tugged from his face and then lashed back into his eyes, but it didn't matter. He stared blindly out over the railing, not seeing the dilapidated buildings nearby, or the view of the city, in the distance.

He was chilled, he was exhausted, but most of all, he was alone.

Duo lay on top of his bed, propped up on a pile of pillows, watching Heero as he sat at their shared desk, typing away at his laptop. Neither of them had spoken of what had passed between them a week ago. After a few days of enforced bedrest, Duo had managed, with a lot of cajoling and a little threatening, to convince everyone that he was well enough to leave the infirmary on his own two feet.

So now he was back in the room he shared with Heero, which was a frustrating sort of blessing. He knew that there was something between them now, something unnamed, but definitely there, and he was certain Heero could feel it too. But neither of them had been willing to speak of it.

Duo knew his own reasons, of course; he was reluctant to disturb the equilibrium of the partnership, and risk shattering it completely. Having Heero only as a companion and battle partner was better than not having Heero at all. He was also indulging in a little self-preservation, after all, if the subject wasn't brought up, then he couldn't be rejected outright.

But that also meant he might never know what Heero really felt. Duo fretted, trying to work out exactly what the gesture had meant to Heero. Had it just been a one-off thing, a chink in Heero's armour that had since been welded up, never to be revealed again? Had it meant that Heero felt something deeper for Duo than he did for the other pilots? After all, he'd never seen Heero comfort any of the other pilots before. Heero never touched anyone unless it was absolutely necessary, and that pretty much meant they had to be leaking bloody puddles over the floor first.

But he was certain that there was something between them now; something had changed. Duo could feel it. He felt it every time Heero's eyes came to rest on him, a spark, before Heero quickly looked away again. Too quickly, as if the very sight of Duo burnt him.

He could feel it in his own voice, a humming undercurrent to his inane chatter. A deep purr: enticing, longing. The words he spoke were irrelevant, he had long ago mastered the skill of talking for hours on end about nothing at all, much to the irritation of his companions -- especially Heero.

The first real words Heero had spoken to him had been a curt request that Duo be silent. Duo hadn't let on how much the words had stung, covering with a joke and some acid commentary on Heero's social skills. He should have been used to it by now, he told himself, he heard it often enough from friend and foe alike.

But it still hurt. As a child, he had talked to himself as he shivered in the dark, to convince himself that he wasn't lonely, wasn't afraid. The sound of his voice had been better than the sounds of the dying, and then the utter silence which inevitably followed.

Duo's chatter trailed off as the memories sharpened in his mind. He quickly groped for something else to think about, and his thoughts, as ever, returned to Heero. Heero was still sitting hunched over the keyboard, apparently oblivious to Duo's presence.

Duo stared at Heero's back, at the short, spiky hair that trailed at the base of his neck. Heero needed a haircut, Duo thought absently, suddenly wanting to touch his fingers to those little wisps, the only softness he could see of the hard, unrelenting outline of Heero's body.

And then the short tufts were hidden from view as Heero turned to face him.

"Ne, Heero?" Duo asked in surprise as Heero's deep blue eyes bored into him.

"You stopped talking."

Duo was taken aback. Since when had Heero paid any attention to his senseless babbling? Heero had ceased telling him to shut up some time ago, instead choosing to ignore him completely.

"Uhh... sorry, I was thinking."

Heero arched an eyebrow. "About?"

"You." Duo wasn't sure how that slipped out. He supposed he'd left his mouth running on automatic for too long, now it was blurting things without even consulting his brain. Damnit, why hadn't he learnt to curb his tongue? But now it had been said there was no taking it back. He steeled himself for the acerbic comment that Heero was sure to make.

"What about me?" Heero's voice was still calm, neutral.

Duo stared at him in surprise. He'd expected Heero to order him to keep his mind focussed on himself, or an assurance that Heero needed neither his concern nor his opinions. But Heero actually seemed to be interested in the content of his quicksilver mind. Eh, might as well go the whole shebang, Duo thought. "About you... and me."

There was a pause, as Heero appeared to think that though. Duo squirmed uncomfortably under the intense cobalt gaze.

"What about... us?"

"Well, that's what I was wondering, is there an 'us'?"

Heero frowned in apparent incomprehension. "We're a team, if that's what you mean. Our abilities are complementary; we are more effective working together than alone."

Duo looked at Heero carefully, trying to determine whether he was honestly misunderstanding, or hedging. Although Duo never outright lied, he was a master of crafting words that implied one thing, but meant another, and was just as adept at detecting when others were doing the same. But Heero was a confounding blank to him, mask unbreachable. Duo mentally sighed, and gave him the benefit of the doubt. In some ways, Heero really was the most naieve of them all.

"That's not what I meant. I wanted to know... at the infirmary, when you took my hand, what that meant to you." Duo felt as though his speech was naked without the familiar camoflauge of its flippant tone and joking words. But he was sick of running, and hiding behind language. Now was the time for honesty, and if he wanted to get it from Heero, he'd have to lead by example.

This time Heero shifted uncomfortably, saying nothing. Well, Duo thought, at least silence was better than an outright denial, or a careless dismissal.

Time to lay all his cards on the table. "Heero... I care about you. I don't know whether you know that or not. I thought I'd made it obvious, but I guess that's like, the one thing I've never actually said, in so many words..."

Duo saw another expression that he'd never seen on Heero's face before, then, a strange kind of insecurity. Had Heero doubted what he'd felt? Heero was still looking at him, but the mask continued to slowly slip.

"Heero?" Gently, Duo probed. "I'd really like to know what you're thinking... what you're feeling."

"I don't know." Heero's voice was low, uncertain.

Duo tried hard not to let his disappointment show. What had he expected, declarations of undying love? Foolish, to let himself hope. He should be content that Heero was opening up at all, even if he didn't feel everything Duo had hoped.

"That's ok, I understand. I just wanted you to know how I feel. It doesn't change anything between us... I'm not gonna try and jump your bones or anything." Duo plastered a smile to his face, praying that his chagrin didn't show.

"Duo... I feel... " Heero paused, and Duo had to suppress his amusement at the thought that Heero was running an internal systems check to analyse his feelings. Now was definitely not the time to make fun of the pilot. Why did the most absurd thoughts occur to him when he was in the most serious of situations? He kept his expression carefully schooled, and after a few moments, Heero continued:

"I feel something for you. But I can't put a name to it. I don't know what I'm supposed to do about it." Heero closed his mouth suddenly, as if he'd said too much.

Hope flared within Duo, and this time he couldn't quash it, even if he'd wanted to. Heero might not be able to put it into words, but he felt something. Something for Duo, alone, and that was enough. His happiness bubbled away inside him, and he realised he was grinning inanely.

He felt better suddenly, felt like getting up and dancing around, but he knew his body would probably mount a rebellion if he tried. Instead, he sat up carefully, swinging his legs over the side of the bed so that he was face to face with Heero without having to crane his neck.

"Y'know, Heero, it wouldn't kill you to admit you're fond of me. I mean, it's nothing to be ashamed of, you'd hardly be the first to fall for my devastating charms." Duo's smirk became even wider as he teased the stoic pilot.

"Hn." Heero grunted, but there was no trace of the usual scowl. Instead, he stared at Duo with a focussed intensity, as if searching for something that might only be found in Duo's eyes.

Duo felt uncomfortable under the scrutiny of the gaze, but didn't look away. Heero seemed so focussed on him that he didn't even realise Duo was staring back, so Duo took the opportunity to stare openly at Heero for once, instead of merely sneaking glances when he thought nobody was watching.

Heero's eyes were the bluest Duo had ever seen. His cheekbones were high and his face pointed, almost fae. Such long, dark lashes and fine features might make another boy look girlish, but Heero's expression never held anything of softness or femininity.

Duo let his gaze wander down to Heero's mouth, wondering what it might be like to see a smile curve those lips.

Then, on impulse, he leant forwards, balancing himself with a hand on Heero's shoulder, and pressed his lips gently to Heero's. Time seemed to grind to a halt. He couldn't hear anything but the thunder of his pulse, couldn't see anything but the blur of Heero's cheek. But then sensation filtered through, and he felt the stiffness of Heero's body, and the slackness of his mouth. Dismayed, he began to draw away.

Which was when Heero hooked a hand around his neck, and pulled him back.

Heero hadn't kissed anyone before. He hadn't seen the point in it. Seduction, pleasure, these weren't things it was deemed necessary for the perfect soldier to know. They weren't things he was interested in.

Until Duo. Heero hadn't realised the effect that another person could have on his own body, until Duo touched him. Until Duo kissed him. At first, the feeling had been so alien that he didn't know how to react to it.

And then Duo began to move away, and the air was suddenly cool on his moist lips, and all he could think about was how much he wanted Duo to kiss him again. On instinct, he reached out to slip a hand around the slender neck, halting the withdrawal. Duo's face registered surprise, shock, but he didn't resist as Heero pulled him closer.

Heero pressed his mouth back to Duo's. It was rough at first, a pressured claiming at neck and mouth, before he realised that at this rate he would bruise and he lightened his hold. Duo's lips slid across his own, and he felt himself respond, kissing at Duo hungrily, as if this were the only chance he might ever have.

Duo broke the kiss first, breathing heavily, his head dropping forwards, his forelock whispering against Heero's cheek. Heero slowly became aware of the weight on his shoulders, and realised Duo's arms were loosely clasped around him, though he couldn't recall exactly when that had happened.

Heero's body felt as though it were on fire at every point that Duo was touching him, and some places Duo wasn't, as well. The need within him howled, and he fought to contain it, disturbed by its intensity.

How could Duo do this to him, make him feel like this? Make him feel as though he had never really lived before? He listened to the soft susurrus of Duo's breathing, the sound both reassuring and arousing.

A few moments later, Duo raised his head, brushing his lips lightly across Heero's before loosening his grasp and letting himself fall backwards onto the pillows. The feather-light contact sent a different kind of shiver through Heero, and he wondered yet again how it was that Duo could affect him so.

"Ehh... Heero..." Duo's eyes were wide and there was a stunned sort of grin on his face. His lips had been reddened by the pressure of the kiss. Heero reached towards Duo, fingers outstretched, wanting to touch those lips, to see whether they were as soft under his fingertips as they had been under his mouth.

He jerked his hand back guiltily, as a sudden beeping startled him. He turned away from Duo quickly, to observe the newly arrived information flashing on his screen. He could feel Duo's gaze still resting on him, but couldn't bring himself to turn back. They were too new, all these things he was feeling, and he retreated to the safety of the world he knew.

"Leos at Gallivare base." Heero gave the explanation grimly, before Duo could ask.

"How many?" To Heero's relief, Duo, too, seemed to have slipped back into his usual capable, confident demeanour.

"Nothing I can't handle."

"Can the source be trusted?"

"Unknown."

"Heero..." There was a pause, and for an irritated moment, Heero was certain that Duo was going to tell him to be careful. But all Duo said was, "Take Trowa with you. Just in case."

"I can do this alone."

"Heero, you crazy bastard, why can't you just do what I tell you for once!?"

Heero flicked his eyes from the screen to Duo's face, intending to glare, but was caught suddenly by the expression on Duo's face - genuine concern. Duo was worried for him. How strange it was to suddenly see beneath the mask and interpret the words as Duo intended them - 'I'm worried, please be safe' rather than the challenge to his competence as he'd always thought them.

And he found, with this new perspective, came the sudden desire to reassure Duo.

Surprising himself, he answered, "Very well. Trowa and I will head to Gallivare at 0400 hours."

He kept his eyes on the screen, but he could hear the relief in Duo's voice. "Thankyou, Heero."

Heero simply nodded as he saved a copy of all the relevant information onto disk, yanking it from the drive almost before it was finished. "I have to get this to Trowa."

He stood abruptly, making it halfway across the room before Duo's irrepressibly cheerful voice called after him, "And be careful, Mister Perfect Soldier!"

And although Duo couldn't see it, instead of the usual scowl, Heero Yuy's expression held the faintest trace of a smile, as he walked out the door.