Title: Serendipity

Author: Caer

Author's Note: Well, I couldn’t just do a simple PWP blanket fic. I honestly think it rambles too much, but here it is anyway. Contains Lime, Action, Yaoi (duh) 1x4, Wufei enjoying himself (gasp) and more of Duo sledding. I don’t know what it is about the guy, but I think he’s a sledder. This is a simple situational fic I threw together. Don’t expect really good writing. I thank everyone for the great feedback and advice on this little fic.

Rating: PG-13

Warnings: It’ll get a little steamy, but no major lemon here.

Pairings: 1x4

Status: Complete (Oneshot)

Disclaimer: I’d like to see someone try to sue me for this. Like I have money for them. ^__^

~~

"Heero!"

Heero looked up from Wing’s control panel to see Quatre swing onto the Gundam’s cockpit platform, landing with practiced ease on the mottled metal though his boots were wet from the snow. He stood poised ecstatically on the edge of the opening, looking in with bright eyes. The glare of the snow below glinted off his white snowsuit and his white blond hair, causing Heero to squint as he looked up from the dark of the cockpit.

He frowned and steeled himself, knowing what to expect from the cheerful blond. Turning back, he continued to run diagnostics on Wing.

"I said I didn’t want to go."

Quatre clomped over to stand in front of the somber pilot. He knelt down, balancing on his toes and looking closely at the boy. Heero kept his eyes averted, but the light reflected of the blonde’s white gear and intruded on his senses, making it hard to concentrate. He tried to give an impression of being indifferent as he typed up a new set of diagnostics for wing. Quatre spoke gently.

"Heero."

The pilot stopped typing. He listened quietly to the beautiful lilting tones of the Arabic pilot.

"It’s a beautiful day. There are no missions. We’re all together. Wouldn’t you like to come with us and be a kid again? Just for a little while?"

Quatre saw a wave of soft sorrow pass over the usually hard and intense features of the Japanese boy before he looked up with a small ghost of a smile. To anyone who didn’t know him, the smile would be indiscernible, but Quatre picked up on it and smiled back.

"You go ahead Quatre. Thanks. I’ll keep watch."

"There’s nothing to watch Heero. Come with us... Please?"

Heero made the mistake of looking into the blonde’s beseeching eyes and found that he couldn’t refuse. After all, could two hours of frivolity really hurt? Heero sighed and grabbed his gloves. He had a feeling that the combined efforts of Duo and Quatre to draw him into their group activities would end up being his demise as a soldier. But looking at the childish joy that filled Quatre’s eyes, it didn’t seem to matter.

Duo Maxwell stretched luxuriously in the fresh cold air, twisting this way and that sumptuously before cringing and grabbing his shoulder.

"Owwwthat’s it! This is the absolute last time I spend the night in a mobile

suit.""That’s what you said the last two times we did this." Wufei replied, sniffing aristocratically. The Chinese pilot and Trowa were decked out in the standard issue winter gear, sporting white camouflage jumpsuits with fur lining on the hoods. The three of them stood within the circle of their Gundams, which stood proudly against the chill wind and blowing snow of the Rocky Mountains. A faint smell of pine filled the air and the sun shone down on the freshly fallen blanket of thick snow. Hiding before the upcoming mission, they had decided it best to situate themselves in this pristine valley, close enough to their destination point, but hidden and secluded enough to block any surveillance equipment.

Wufei smirked as he got a mock dirty look from the gregarious pilot.

"Well, this time I mean it!"

"You said that too." Trowa said, smiling as he leaned against the cold metal of Deathscythe’s foot. The silent sentinels were dwarfed by the surrounding peaks; a soundless litany to the power of nature and the insignificance of man’s progress within it.

Duo hmphed in good humor, brushing off the few errant white flakes that marred his usual black attire. He shifted the large thick clear plastic disk he held, to lean against his hip as he did so. Unlike the sane pilots in the group, the American didn’t seem to get cold. The only winter wear he allowed was the long red scarf that trailed down to his hips. His cheeks were rosy and his eyes sparkled dangerously, but with good humor... as if this was his second home. The boy seemed completely in his element.

Suddenly he looked up, a bit shocked before the grin again re-spread itself across his features. Trowa and Wufei turned to look. Rather, Wufei turned to look. Trowa simply shifted his bright green eyes, disdaining to move more than was needed.

"Well... Mr. Personality decided to come with us after all! Way to go Quatre."

The blond smiled excitedly. "I can’t wait! I’ve never been sledding before."

"We should hurry." Trowa interjected. "There’s not much time."

The other boys trudged behind Duo, silent, but with a certain amount of nervous excitement and the anticipation of breaking an unwritten rule. Though it was natural for teenage boys to go sledding, it was something different all together for soldiers fighting against Oz. These two powerful forces, had been waging all out war in the each young pilot’s mind. For once though, hormones won out and the soldiers were forced to beat a hasty retreat until such time as they were needed. The teenagers proceeded to climb the steep snow-covered hill.

The mission? Sledding. The clear plastic dish Duo carried had been resourcefully commandeered from the cockpit of a ruined MS. The self proclaimed "God of Death" had cheekily named it Rosebud, christening it with a black magic marker and had sworn to take them sledding when the opportunity arose. Now, as they stood at the summit of a very steep hill above the valley where their Gundams rested, Duo turned, hands behind his back and grinned.

"All right, who wants to take the first dive?"

Nobody moved to volunteer. Duo turned to Wufei, who stood closest to the black clad pilot.

"Oh come on guys, the first time is slow anyway! We have to make a path. Wufei, why don’t you try it?"

Wufei grudgingly took the sled and looked at the hill, raising an eyebrow. Even he was smiling slightly though.

"I should cut a path for the rest of you? Wouldn’t you be more suited to do that Maxwell? After all, you are the expert."

Wufei’s teasing didn’t phase the braided one’s excitement in the slightest.

"Actually Wu, I’m just wondering if you’ll be able to make a path that’s challenging enough for me!"

"Hunh! We’ll see about that, Shazi!" The Chinese boy shot back, his pride unruffled. These two had always had a sort of mutual understanding, stemming from their time together in the OZ prison. It’s amazing how well you can get to know someone when contemplating death.

Wufei looked down the expanse of the steep hill, which sloped into the flat valley below where their Gundams waited. The route was particularly treacherous, containing hidden river beds and rock overhangs. Not a sledding course for the weak of heart. After a moment’s contemplation, he headed in a diagonal direction, though the sled started slow, it quickly picked up speed and the four pilots watched as the Dragon used his years of strength, dexterity and control to bring the sled down and around the occasional tree and over some relatively large rocks which served as jumps, one in particular on which he flew several feet before landing and heading into the riverbed and sledding the rest of the way into the valley, coming to a stop where the hill flattened. Duo’s eyes shone with admiration.

"Not bad."

Wufei’s eyes were bright as he walked energetically back up the hill, barely breaking a sweat. Though the Chinese boy rarely joined the others in their training regimen, choosing instead to practice his forms, he was in better shape than all except Heero.

"An excellent exercise for body and mind Duo. There is your path. Now show us how it is done."

With a whoop, Duo grabbed the sled from the still smiling Chang boy and belly-flopped onto the sled, careening down the path at breakneck speed. As he neared the obstacles, he deftly shifted to a seated position as he took the jumps expertly and wove through the trees at perilous speeds. At the jump, he flew quite a ways over Wufei’s landing track and when he hit the bottom of the hill, he slid past Wufei’s mark and continued to slide for some distance on the flat plane of the valley before coming to a halt. Even from the top of the hill, they could hear his excited "Whoooo!" before he ran back up the hill. When he neared the top, he was a bit out of breath, but he tossed the disk to Trowa who caught it expertly, smiling his usual Mona Lisa smile. He went for the hill.

"Well, Quatre what do you think?"

"It looks fun!" The blond smiled eagerly.

"Then maybe you feel up to a challenge. All of you! You’re all accomplished pilots. Whichever one of you can sled past my mark gets dinner on me."

Heero eyed the hill, shrewdly, watching Trowa’s descent, while already planning his own attack to get as far as he could. Quatre looked over and laughed.

"You’re going to give it a try Heero?"

Heero’s gaze never left the hill as his brain continued to calculate, but he acquiesced with an amused one-direction nod and smiled slightly. Quatre turned to Duo.

"I’ll take your bet."

Duo and Heero both turned.

"Quatre, you’ve never even been around snow in your life! You’re going to beat me?"

"Not at all. My bet is on Heero."

"Ha! You’re on. And if I lose?"

"You buy us all dinner."

"I can deal with that. What about when I win?"

"I’ll get us the best hotel money can buy after the mission... for three days?"

Duo tried not to drool on himself. He looked at Quatre sternly.

"Are you sure you want to do that Quatre? I don’t want to brag, but I do have more experience than any of you. Even Heero. Besides, isn’t that kind of expensive compared to a little dinner?"

Quatre shook his head. He blushed as he usually did when he started talking about his wealth. He was embarrassed by it.

"You know I can afford it. Besides, it’s only fair seeing as I’m playing against higher odds and we could use the break... if I lose."

Inside, Duo took Quatre’s kind and subtle flattery with pride but outside he smirked at his challenge.

"You little closet gambler! No trips to the moon for you! But ok, I guess that’s fair... unless I’m being sharked." Duo eyed the grinning blond suspiciously... half joking, but half in earnest. "Considering how you like to play the numbers and Heero’s constant striving for perfection, I have a feeling I may have bitten off more than I can chew."

Quatre’s mouth twitched playfully.

"We’ll see."

As Trowa climbed back to the top of the hill, his eyes bright with merriment, Heero silently took the sled and walked over to the path. Trowa eyed him with curiosity as the solemn pilot made his way to the sled path. He paused, obviously making a few more calculations before setting the sled down on the track. But instead of sitting or lying on the sled, he held onto the side straps, placing one foot at the front of the sled, while the other crunched into the snow behind him. All four boys’s watched him with anticipation and an obligatory awe they held for him, though if he noticed it one couldn’t tell. He slid the sled experimentally back and forth over the snow, before pushing off with a determined growl. He rode the sled on his feet, which were splayed in a stabilizing L shape so that he could use his back foot to help his hands tilt the sled this way and that in order to draw as much speed as possible from the small transport. He used his muscular body to heft the sled upward whenever he approached a jump, then pushed back to keep the nose of the sled upward as he landed to avoid friction.

"Damn!" Duo breathed. "How does he do it?"

Though the sled lost momentum as the hill flattened at the bottom, Heero continued to streak past Duo’s mark and across the flat glen below. Quatre laughed and began to run down the hill, followed by the others.

"Looks like you owe us dinner Duo!!"

Duo shook his head in amazement.

"The guy’s incredible. How does he do it?"

Nevertheless, one thing Duo was not, was a sore loser. He shrugged and followed after the blond. He was shouting compliments as he and Quatre tumbled down the hill while Trowa and Wufei followed amusedly after.

Heero felt elated. He was actually having fun! Somewhere on his trip down the hill, the speed of the descent, the adrenaline, the snow and wind in his face and hair, the joyful shouts from behind him and the feeling of doing something that was, not only non mission related, but utterly frivolous began to crack at the layers of cold discipline he had formed in his heart, drawing out the boy underneath. He looked up with a faint smile saw Quatre waving and laughing as the boys neared the bottom of the hill. He grabbed the sled and got up to go meet them when he heard a loud squeak erupt from under his foot and spread around him in menacing cacophony. Heero looked down to see the snow begin to color gray and darken as water seeped from below to soak the snow and ice.

The other 4 boys came to a halt as they registered the jagged dark lines spread out beneath the Wing pilot, scattering out in spidery veins around him.

Duo broke the silence with the barest hint of a whisper.

"Shit. He’s on a lake."

The four boys stood at the edge of what had now been identified as a frozen lake under the snow. They themselves were frozen momentarily as they watched the ice crack in multiple directions around the shocked Japanese pilot. The ice continued to crack and squeak and Quatre’s mind shot into action.

"Heero, don’t move!"

Heero looked up.

"I don’t have much choice."

"No! Stay there! We’ll pull you off."

He turned to the others, eyes bright with concentration. "Trowa, go get a rope!"

"Right." Trowa made tracks for Heavyarms. Quatre heard the ice crack more and looked to see Heero had started to move carefully across the ice.

"Don’t move Heero! Lay down. Try to spread your weight out."

The ice gave under his feet, cracking and allowing water to seep onto his boots. Heero didn’t argue as he crouched slowly and lay on his stomach on the ice. The cold water that continued to slip through the cracks soaked into the front of his suit, drenching it and cooling his chest and legs as well as his forearms.

Quatre knelt down at the edge of the lake. "Duo, go mobilize your Gundam. We may need to pull him out.

"You got it." Duo started for Deathscythe and Quatre began to creep his way across the ice toward Heero.

"Quatre, stay back!" Heero yelled. As if in answer, the ice creaked dangerously underneath him. Quatre cursed softly and looked desperately at the trapped pilot. He was too far away. Quatre backed slowly off the ice to wait for the rope. Behind him, he could hear Deathscythe’s various engines revving up, but it would take precious time for the Gundam to warm enough to be of any help. Quatre took off his gloves and turned to

Wufei."We’ll throw the rope to him and try to drag him across the ice. But, if he goes under I’m going after him. You need to be ready to pull us out."

"Bad idea Winner." The Chinese boy said as Trowa ran up beside them. The tall boy quickly lashed the rope around the closest tree. Wufei continued, taking off his own gloves.

"I have been trained to withstand extreme temperatures to some degree. I would have a better chance of getting us out fast. It would be better if you and Trowa stayed ready to pull us out."

Quatre realized the wisdom in this. The blond would rather sacrifice himself, but the chance of Heero surviving was mathematically increased if Wufei went instead. No time for heroics.

Trowa threw the rope out to Heero who grabbed on and began to pull himself forward. He was beginning to go numb in the front from lying in the icy water, but he steadfastly ignored the discomfort as he pulled slowly, trying not to put any concentrated pressure on the ice as he went.

"No Heero!" Quatre yelled. "Secure yourself first."

Heero stopped, rolling to one side as he removed his own gloves and tied the rope expertly to the straps on his snowgear. The ice shifted underneath him and he felt it sink a bit. He rolled slowly back to his stomach and the ice rose again. He began to pull himself forward. Quatre and Wufei grabbed the rope.

"We need to pull him in fast!" They began to pull hard, dragging the Wing pilot toward the shore. The combination of the friction and weight movement, however, caused the ice to squeal harshly and give way. A piece of ice buckled in front of him with a resounding "CRACK", tipping under Heero’s weight and subsequently, he sliding him mercilessly into the icy depths.

"Heero! Wufei, stop!"

Quatre cried out in alarm and they stopped pulling. They had to wait. Pulling the rope now would only end up trapping the wing pilot.

Heero was quickly getting numb, but he acted fast and hefted himself onto the ice, only to have it crack and break again under his hands. He tried in vain to pull himself out twice before his body began to slow and his struggles grew weak. He feebly struggled to keep himself above the water, but his vision was becoming hazy and his body was no longer reacting to his commands. He made one last grab for the ice before his body stopped responding and the cold water slipped lazily over his face and eyes and finally pulled him under. The last thing his mind registered was Quatre’s panicked cries and a splash close by. Then everything went dark.

When they saw Heero slip under, Wufei lost no time, he ran as far as he could out onto the ice and then jumped, flying over a good ten feet of the lake before landing on a small broken piece near Heero. The loose piece of ice tilted and Wufei slid into the freezing water, but he was right by Heero. Concentrating on his breathing, he grabbed the rope and hauled the unconscious pilot back above the surface. He grabbed the boy with one arm and a piece of the thicker ice and hauled them both up.

"Pull now!"

Quatre and Trowa wasted no time, but before they could get the boys close enough, the ice gave again Wufei and his burden were again submerged.

"No!" As stupid as it was, Quatre was about ready to jump into the water himself to help his friends when the large gray metal hand of Deathscythe plunged into the water, fishing the two boys out and delivering them to the shore in a sopping heap. They lay there. Heero was limp and still whereas Wufei was at least healthy enough to complain.

"What took you so long Maxwell." He stuttered through chattering teeth.

The raven-haired pilot tried to roll over to get up, but he couldn’t stop shivering. After making sure that Heero was still breathing, Quatre removed his own coat, handing it to Trowa. He continued to give out orders as he took off his fleece undercoat and wrap Heero gently inside of it.

"Cover Wufei up; take him to Shenlong and get him in some dry clothes. Trowa... stay with him until you’re sure he’s all right."

Trowa nodded and led the shaking pilot to his Gundam. Duo jumped down, handing Quatre the coat he had pulled from Deathscythe.

"Is he even breathing?"

"Barely. How warm is your cockpit now?"

"It’s getting there."

Undoing the zipper, Quatre lifted Heero’s upper body gently out of his suit and pulled it off. Duo pulled off Heero’s boots and peeled the rest of the jumpsuit off his legs so that he was clad only in his sweatpants and tank top while Quatre wrapped him up in the dry coat. With a great deal of effort, he lifted the heavier boy in his arms and placed him on Deathscythe’s open hand. Duo grabbed the boarding cord and flew back up to the cockpit to maneuver the hand up and to the entrance. Together, they lifted Heero and set him in the pilot’s seat. Quatre pulled the two blankets out of the overhead compartment and covered Heero quickly before beginning to unbutton his own shirt.

"Duo, get the extra blankets and chemical heat packs from Sandrock. I’ll need to warm him up."

Duo’s eyebrow rose.

"Uh... Quatre?"

Quatre paused as he caught the dubious look Duo was giving him. His anger welled

up."Damn it! Duo, why don’t you grow up for once!"

Duo took a step back, dumbfounded. He hadn’t meant anything, but he felt like a jerk nevertheless. He shook himself out of his stupor and leapt onto the boarding cable to swing to the ground to get the supplies. There would be time for apologies later. Right now, Heero was more important.

In Deathscythe’s cockpit Quatre shut the hatch and turned the heat on full blast. He finished undressing down to his boxers, and quickly slid under the covers with the pale Japanese boy. Heero was still breathing... barely, but he was deathly still. His skin was freezing and clammy to the touch. Quatre gently peeled off his tank top and then his sweats, blushing as he found that Heero wore very little underneath. However the blond removed even that and quickly tore open the three chemical heat packs. As they warmed, he slid one under each of Heero’s armpits. The third one was a little trickier.

"Heero please don’t kill me." Quatre whispered as he set the last heat pack gently on the frozen pilot’s groin. Then he gathered the boy up and pressed his own warm body against Heero’s cold flesh, trapping the freezing hands between them. Quatre hissed and began to shiver himself as the cold of the other boy’s body seeped into his own. Still, he wrapped himself around Heero, making as much direct contact as he could, rubbing vigorously on arms and back, trying to stir blood to the surface of the chilly skin.

He left Heero once when the cockpit opened and Duo quickly handed him the blankets and heat packs. Their eyes met briefly.

"I’m sorry Duo."

Duo shook his head and smiled.

"I understand. Just take care of Heero. We’ll talk later right?"

Quatre nodded in relief and closed the hatch back up after Duo left.

He wrapped Heero’s feet up inside one of the blankets with a heated pack. The other blanket he added to the two already covering them both. Then he crawled back inside and once again pressed tightly against the boy.

The cockpit continued to warm slowly as it dissipated the remaining cold swept in by Duo’s visit. It became very quiet as the two boys lay there cocooned in blankets and the noise of the vents as they loudly expelled the stale heated air. Quatre looked worriedly at his fellow pilot, rubbing Heero’s hands beneath his. He began to fret as the time continued to pass without any sign of movement from the other boy. Heero was breathing. Quatre could feel the light breaths as a gathering of vapor beneath the hand he placed against Heero’s mouth, but the pilot gave no sign of waking. Quatre fitfully began to calculate the risks of taking him to a hospital.

As if sensing that the mission was in danger, Heero began to shiver. Quatre loosened his grip and allowed the pilot’s body to shiver and warm itself up as he attempted to wake the Wing pilot.

"Heero." Quatre said in the quiet cover of the dull gray blankets that surrounded them. Heero’s eyes were beginning to move underneath the delicate lids.

"Can you hear me... Heero?"

The long lashes fluttered momentarily before opening completely. Heero looked about, bewildered.

"What happened?" He slurred.

"You fell under the ice Heero."

Heero’s shivering began to slow and Quatre realized that the pilot was trying to bring himself under control. He was truly amazing sometimes. One couldn’t help but admire his control as the shivers slowly calmed, becoming brief momentary tremors instead of the continuous shivering of before.

"I don’t remember." His voice shook only a little.

"You came sledding with us remember?"

Heero looked around briefly, assessing, calculating. He seemed to be in his own world, but he answered.

"That doesn’t sound like something I would do."

Quatre pulled the blanket back up as it slipped off the dark haired pilot’s

shoulder."Well, you did. But we didn’t realize we were sledding onto a lake. When we landed last night, the heat from our vernieas must have compromised the ice’s structural integrity. It broke apart and you fell in. Duo used this Gundam to pull you out, but you had passed out by then."

Heero’s eyes began to droop and Quatre shook him gently.

"No Heero. You have to stay awake now. Until you’re warm. Talk to me Ok?"

Heero tried to keep his eyes open. His voice was thick.

"Who... who’s Gundam."

"Duo’s. He pulled you out."

"Thought Wufei was..."

Another gentle shake. "Stay with me Heero."

He forced his eyes to stay open. He stared at the fine hairs on Quatre's arms as the glinted in what little light filtered into the gray beneath the blankets.

"Wufei jumped in the water to save you, but Deathscythe pulled you out. If he hadn’t, we would have lost you both."

"F... Five minutes to mo... mobilize below f..."

"Below freezing."

Heero shuddered violently and Quatre pulled him closer without thinking. Heero began to shiver in earnest now, his muscles spasmed violently. He curled up into a fetal position on the leather seat. Quatre curled himself around the boy again as tightly as he could, patting his back and uttering soft assurances as his body continued to tremble. Though Heero never let things get to him, Quatre knew that he himself would feel a bit vulnerable after something like this.

It was a few minutes before Heero could bring himself under control again, but he found that his head had cleared somewhat and he could feel the blanket scratch against his skin where before there was only vague pressure. He felt much warmer and he found that he could move his fingers somewhat now. He began to slowly curl his numb hands into fists rhythmically to get the blood flowing again. He could feel Quatre’s warm body pressed against him.

Heero suddenly seemed to realize the importance of where he was and whom he was with as he lifted the blanket to look underneath. Quatre blushed and tried to explain.

"Sorry Heero. We had no choice. We... we took your clothes off because they were wet. You were barely breathing. You’re probably still hypothermic. This was the best way to warm you up."

Heero continued to look at him in that intense way that always made Quatre feel more self conscious than even his father could accomplish. His next words topped the effect off perfectly.

"Are you gay Quatre?"

Quatre moved away in shock.

"What?"

"Are you gay?" He asked calmly.

"Heero! You shouldn’t be asking that!"

Heero looked at him quizzically.

"Well are you?"

Quatre felt suddenly trapped. He didn’t want to leave because Heero was still shivering, though only slightly now, but he didn’t want to deal with this either. He looked down, feeling his chest tighten as he answered.

"Does it matter?"

Heero continued on in his bland serious voice.

"I would like to know. Duo and Trowa think so. Is it true?"

"They..."

Quatre broke off, sighing and wondering just how much Trowa and Duo had concluded and why they were going around broadcasting it. Was he that much of an issue? Did it even matter? Why did it have to come up at all? He suddenly felt very alone. He had tried so hard to avoid this. All it ever brought him was loneliness. This would change everything. He shook his head, looking down.

"I don’t know Heero. I think so."

He looked away as he said the next part, not wanting to be drawn into Heero’s accusing gaze. May as well start distancing himself now anyway.

"I like girls. But I think I’m more attracted to... boys. I don’t know. I’ve been with the Maguanac corps, fighting and training since I was 11. I haven’t really had time to find out about that kind of thing. I didn’t think it mattered." He sighed.

Quatre heard and felt Heero shift beside him and suddenly, he felt a hand trail up his thigh and grab...

"Heero!"

Quatre snatched the offending hand, holding it away and glaring at the Wing pilot; his eyes demanding explanation. He vaguely registered that the wrist he held was still cold.

Heero looked at him with infuriating composure as he spoke.

"If you’re not sure, that would be the easiest way to find out."

"Damn it!"

Quatre pulled himself violently from the blankets to press himself back against the door of the cockpit; crossing his arms and putting what tiny distance he could between them in the cramped space.

Heero pushed the blankets down so he could look at Quatre.

"What’s wrong?"

"You can’t just do that Heero!"

"Why not?"

Quatre stared incredulously at the boy. Heero had his head cocked in that ‘curious puppy’ look he got when he truly didn’t understand. Quatre ran his hand roughly through his hair, exasperated at the other boy’s naivete. He guessed that tact wasn’t something they taught perfect soldiers.

"Because you don’t. You can’t just toy with people like that Heero. It’s not

right."Quatre closed his eyes, furious at being manipulated so. He knew that Heero didn’t know any better, but it hurt just the same. He kept his voice soft.

"Heero, just because I may be attracted to boys, doesn’t mean I’m going to be turned on by any guy I meet. Especially when they’re just trying to satisfy their curiosity. It’s insulting."

Quatre continued quietly, head bowed, not wanting to see Heero’s face.

"I can’t say I don’t find you guys attractive, Heero I do. I think that each of you is beautiful in his own way. Especially you if you must know... If that’s what made you suspicious... but that doesn’t mean I want to be teased like that."

Heero simply continued to watch him with unmasked curiosity. Noting the track of a solitary tear as it appeared from under the blond fringe to track its way down a pale

cheek."But your going to make an issue of this aren’t you." Quatre said. "You think that I’ll be a distraction to the mission. That I’m not strong enough."

"Quatre, you’re not making any sense."

Quatre looked up, his eyes pleading.

"Isn’t it enough that I fight Heero? I work hard to be an important part of this team. I’ve always kept my preferences to myself. I.. I try never to make any of you uncomfortable and I don’t impose myself on anyone...I ...I don’t think. I don’t let it get in the way of missions and... and...I...I"

His words slowly trickled into incoherence as he watched Heero Yuy move forward purposefully with that hard intense look of his to what... hit him? Heero grabbed his arms sha...ke him? Kiss... oh...

Quatre bumped his head on the low ceiling as Heero moved with swift accuracy to press the other back in a well-aimed kiss if a clumsy one. Quatre’s surprised yelp was muffled by Heero’s mouth and the Japanese boy laughed softly and brought a hand up to rub the abused blond head. Between the out of character soldier and the crack on the head, Quatre lost all sense for a second before realizing that Heero’s mouth was moving against his own, warm and insistent before sucking gently on his lower lip, then kissing him again.

"Nnngh." Quatre moaned softly and his knees threatened to buckle. He felt hands touching his hips hesitantly before sliding around his waist to pull him close and holding him up. Heero’s arms were still chilly, but his tongue was warm and loving as it swiped across Quatre’s lower lip and Quatre couldn’t seem to form a solitary thought; hard as he tried. As the other boy pulled away, Quatre looked up confused.

"I don’t understand."

Heero stroked the perplexed boy’s soft blond hair and looked into his eyes with the same driven intensity, but warmth as well.

"Idiot." He whispered. "That isn’t why I asked you."

"Wa... What?"

"You make too many assumptions Quatre. Did it even occur to you that I might have feelings for you?"

Quatre was flustered. Was Heero still trying to hurt him, or was he serious? His hands fluttered nervously at his sides and he grabbed Heero’s arms around his waist, trying halfheartedly to remove them, push them off.

"But you’re not. You’re not..."

Heero kissed him again and the pale arms stilled. He pulled away slowly.

"Are you sure Quatre?"

Heero waited for the blonde’s eyes to meet his own before continuing.

"I didn’t think so either. But every time you’re around, I want to touch you. I have wanted to hold you like this for a long time Quatre. I don’t know what else it could

mean.""You’re delirious."

Quatre put a hand up to feel the boy’s forehead for fever, but Heero jerked away trickily and instead pressed another swift kiss against his outstretched finger.

"I’m fine."

Quatre’s hand dropped and he stared at Heero in wonder.

"Then you mean what you said?"

"Yeah... is that ok Quatre?"

Quatre looked into the earnest Prussian eyes and saw nothing but honesty. Honesty and now a bit of uncertainty... even apprehension. The blond cursed inwardly and pulled the beautiful Japanese boy into his arms in a strong embrace, soon returned. A faint sigh of relief brushed his neck and ruffled his hair. The Arabian felt ashamed.

"Please forgive me." He whispered. "I’m so selfish. I didn’t even think that you would feel like this." Compassion tinged his voice now. "You’ve never even known what it is to have friends or family have you? Never been loved. It must have been so hard for you not to have anybody."

He lay his head lovingly on the other boy’s shoulder, his blond hair sliding and tickling the sensitive skin.

"You deserve better Heero. Can you ever forgive me?"

Rough hands brushed his back, rubbing the muscles gently and Quatre closed his eyes and sighed.

"You’re so kind." Heero said.

Quatre smiled, shaking his head. "You’re the one who is kind. You’ve always been there to help me and keep me going. I owe you so much."

"Do you want me?"

Quatre looked at the beautiful boy before him and felt as if a door had been opened. Finally finding someone to love presented a world of new opportunities Quatre had never experienced but always dreamed. A chance to actually show someone all the love he had to give. He moved forward nervously, but determined to show Heero Yuy how welcome he was to the blonde’s heart if he wanted it. He smiled and leaned forward. Tilting his head, he kissed the boy in the hollow by his ear between jaw and neck. He pressed his lips into the soft skin and waited a few seconds before pulling back.

Heero’s heartbeat sped up at the sweet touch and his eyes slipped closed. He opened them only when the slender Arabian had pulled back to look him in the eyes.

"I told you Heero. I find you beautiful inside and out. I would be a fool not to want you."

Heero smiled back, his eyes simmering with adoration. Quatre memorized the out of character expression, treasuring it, hoping that he would be able to see it again. He wanted so much to give Heero reason to smile like that more often.

A sudden shiver forced it’s way out of the other pilot and Quatre looked at him in

alarm."You’re still cold Heero."

He gently pushed the naked boy back onto the pilot’s seat finding that despite the now cloying warmth of the cockpit, Heero was not fully recovered. He quickly gathered the blankets up, but instead of covering Heero up, he threw the blankets around his own shoulders and crawled up to straddle the boys lap, effectively draping the blankets over them both and sitting on Heero’s thighs as he pressed his warm body against the chill of the other’s. As Heero’s hands willingly and possessively wrapped around his lower back, he tucked the covers around them and secured them under Heero’s shoulders.

Quatre kissed Heero gently. He rubbed the other boy’s shoulders and arms again, trying to coax warmth back into them as the two continued to explore their newfound affection. He smiled a bit as Heero stopped shivering underneath him and Heero took the opportunity to slide his tongue between Quatre’s smiling lips, tasting the soft warmth within.

Quatre sighed at the feeling of being invaded so sweetly. He coiled his own tongue around Heero’s and pushed softly back. They played like this for some time before opening their mouths as they had their hearts to lock together. Tongues reached eagerly for more to touch and taste as roaming hands explored subtle dips and curves of unexplored flesh, memorizing, and staking a present though intangible claim of the other. Heero dragged the tips of his fingers along the Arabian’s strong thighs while Quatre buried his slender fingers in wild brown hair. Quatre broke off the kiss and began to kiss Heero’s neck and throat, smiling again as he felt Heero’s pleasured hum travel through his lips.

Heero once again trailed a hand up the Arabian’s thigh to softly cup the warm flesh between Quatre’s legs. Quatre gasped and buried his head against Heero’s neck.

"You really are into being direct aren’t you?"

Heero smiled and rubbed gently, causing the blond to clutch his shoulders as his breathing grew uneven.

"N... Not fair." Quatre gasped. He reached down and tickled down Heero’s stomach before sliding his hand down to cradle and administer his own tender caress.

"Quatre... ahh..."

A soft breath warmed his shoulder and Heero felt his whole body warm at Quatre’s soft touch. His hips thrust forward as much as was possible while trapped under the young blond. He quickly slipped his hands inside the other boy’s boxers to give more direct attention to Quatre’s arousal. It twitched in his hand and Quatre jerked, pressing himself up against Heero’s stomach and chest, trapping the boy’s hand between them. He tried desperately to control his breath and his passion.

"Heero... Heero, we can’t

Heero looked up at him.

"Quatre, there’s nothing wrong with this.

Quatre rubbed his shoulders reassuringly.

"I know Heero, but...I mean... after all, this is Duo’s Gundam."

Heero cursed under his breath. He removed his hand and they both took a couple of minutes, trying to quell their excitement. Each could feel the movement of the other as their breathing slowed and the erotic energy that danced across their skin and through their blood softly expelled.

"You know..." Heero panted. "I’m almost tempted to do it just to piss him off."

Quatre laughed. He kissed Heero gently and his eyes became serious as he pulled

back."How are you feeling now?"

"I’m... a lot warmer."

Quatre chuckled. "So am I."

"Quatre."

They froze as their eyes met again and Quatre lowered his head sexily to seize the Japanese boy’s inflamed lips when a quiet hum heralded the opening of the hatch and cold air rushed into the cockpit as Duo lighted on the platform. Quatre protectively pressed himself against Heero to keep the other boy from getting cold again. Duo was holding a bundle of dry clothes.

"Hey guys, I figured I yi yi yi Whoa!"

The two boys looked up from beneath the blankets. Heero was smiling. Quatre was sporting an all too typical blush and Duo couldn’t help but grin... after a bit of sputtering and opening and closing his mouth like a fish in shock and amazement.

"Well this is just cute. Quatre, is this the professionalism you were referring to?"

Duo and Heero exchanged an amused glance before looking back at the guilty blond.

"I’m so sorry Duo. I was so mean."

"I suppose I can forgive you." Duo pouted. "Can I get a kiss too?"

"No." Heero warned. Quatre simply stared, dumbfounded. Duo laughed and dropped the dry sweats on the control panel beside them.

"Kidding. Wow! I mean, this is quite the development. You really are amazing Heero. Half an hour in a Gundam and you’ve already hooked yourself a boyfriend! Well, what should I expect? I’ll leave you two alone. You just better not get too into each other in my Gundam, ahem... so to speak, or you pay to have the leather replaced. There is a one-time destruction quota on my buddy here and Heero already used his. I just came to see if the perfect icicle was awake. We still have a mission in two hours. You up for it Heero?"

He nodded. "Affirmative."

Duo looked askance at him. "Riiight... Quatre now that you two are an item, I fully expect you to teach him not to be so weird. Now get dressed and get the hell out of my Gundam.

Duo left the two boys and closed the hatch. Both of them stayed underneath the blankets, clinging to one another waiting for the heat to return before they left the safety of the blankets to redress.

Heero looked down, noticing that there was no movement from the blond.

"Quatre?"

Quatre still had his head on Heero’s shoulder and he was simply staring at the wall. At Heero’s voice, he stirred and looked into the questioning Prussian eyes.

"He didn’t care... about seeing us."

Heero looked back at him squarely.

"No, he didn’t. It’s really not a big deal. Why are you so shy about who you are?"

"It isn’t accepted at all on L4." Quatre replied despondently. "They may be pacifists, but they’re very conservative."

"That must have been hard for you Quatre."

The brown haired boy wrapped strong arms around Quatre’s waist and pulled him tight.

"You don’t have to worry about that anymore. Our friends will not shun us, Quatre, because they are true friends. They love you as a friend and respect you as a leader. Your happiness is more important than any social ‘norm’ you may be violating. Never forget that."

Quatre sighed and kissed his neck, just because it was there, exposed and soft.

"We have to get ready Heero."

"Hn..." Heero slipped back into soldier mode, but pushed Quatre off his lap very gently before grabbing the sweats and getting dressed seated.

Quatre grabbed his own clothes as well and squeezed into them. There was barely room for the two of them to dress in the tiny space. He didn’t mind though. He felt as if a weight he had been carrying for a long time had suddenly been lifted from his shoulders. At the same time he felt a bit cheated. He had wondered around for so long with the belief that he had to hide his differences from people. How many opportunities had he missed because he was not brave enough to risk rejection, and once again, Heero had been the one to show him that he did have worth. Heero really was an amazing boy.

Quatre looked up and found that boy, looking on him warmly. Quatre took his hand and as they exited the Gundam, he silently mused upon what fates had caused the chain of unlikely events of the day... all leading up to this moment when he finally found someone to love... and thanked them.

Owari

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