I think most people know this song.. But if ya don’t, it’s ‘Can you feel the love tonight’ by Sir Elton John.
There’s a calm surrender
To the rush of day
When the heat of a rolling wave
Can’t be turned away
I spotted Duo as soon as I opened the door... He looked... Sad, and a little feverish. Yet, he was stunningly beautiful. He leapt from where he was sitting on the couch as soon as he saw me. He ran over and wrapped his arms around my waist, burying his face against my chest in a desperate hug. I couldn’t help but notice the faint trembling of his slight frame. I slowly brought my arms up to encircle him and rub his back soothingly.
An enchanted moment
And it sees me through
It’s enough for this restless warrior
Just to be with you/
“I’m here.. Daijôbu Duo... I’m right here” I whispered quietly into his soft honey brown hair and felt the trembling ease a little bit. We stood there for what seemed like a small eternity when I felt his body relax in my arms. When I looked down, I saw that he had fallen asleep. He must have been overwhelmed with emotions. Carefully I reached down and hooked an arm under his legs, keeping the other firmly around his shoulders and picked him up. I carried him over to the couch where I laid him down gently and allowed my gaze to linger for a moment. He looked so young and innocent in his slumber. Nothing at all like the angel of death we knew him as.
And can you feel the love tonight
It is where we are
It’s enough for this wide-eyed wanderer
That we got this far
Wu Fei entered shortly after Heero. Quickly I summoned him and my Arabian prince from where I stood in the archway between the den and the kitchen where I had been a moment before. I figured it would be best to give the former wing pilot and Duo some time alone.
We gathered around one of the counter tops [2] to discuss our next plan of action. It was obvious that Heero’s very presence had an effect on our braided companion.
And can you feel the love tonight
How it’s laid to rest
It’s enough to make kings and vagabonds
Believe the very best
Watching Duo sleep gave me a sense of peace, something I had never felt before. I was amazed, and a little frightened by it. I was the perfect soldier. I wasn’t supposed to have feelings. But if this was true, why did I feel a sense of yearning whenever I see Quatre and Trowa together? Or jealousy when Duo would hug Wu Fei? Did I.... Love him? No.. That just wasn’t possible.. But why did I always feel peaceful, even happy, content whenever I was with the braided youth?
There’s a time for everyone
If they only learned
That the twisting kaleidoscope
Moves us all in turn/
I couldn’t understand it.. I was the perfect soldier. A killer without emotions. But if that was true, why was I falling in love with my companion.. I was so confused. And that, above all else, frightened me the most. There is very little in this world that my computing mind cannot handle but unfortunately emotions have always been a foreign concept to me. I have been trained since my birth to be the ultimate fighting machine. Odin told me that. Dr. J confirmed it. All I have ever been capable of doing is completing missions. So I’ll make this a mission. I cannot allow harm to come to pilot zero two at any cost.
There’s a rhyme and reason
To the wild outdoors
When the heart of this star-crossed voyager
Beats in time with yours
“We can’t let Heero hurt Duo again… but we can’t exactly tell Heero to go away when Duo so obviously needs him… I just don’t know what to do.” My desert prince grieved coming very close to sobbing into my chest. I suspect there hasn’t been a lot in his life that he didn’t understand and he was very, very lost. Smoothing his bangs out of his face I nodded my agreement and gave Wu Fei a questioning glance. “So what can we do?” I asked trying to mask the worry in my voice. I was sure that if we lost Duo my sweet angel Quatre would not be far behind.
Wu Fei simply shrugged. It seemed he was as lost as anyone. Which meant as far as we go as a team.. We had no ideas. We needed to think of something and fast. There was only one person who understood Heero better than we did. Unfortunately none of us could truly stand that person. But we would have to for Duo’s sake. So I suggested we call her.
And can you feel the love tonight
It is where we are
It’s enough for this wide-eyed wanderer
That we got this far
I awoke on the couch once again and vaguely wondered if Heero coming back had only been a dream. But all doubts of it being real were soon put out of my mind as Heero gently tucked a strand of hair that had come loose from my customary braid behind my ear and whispered, “Morning...”
And can you feel the love tonight
How it’s laid to rest
It’s enough to make kings and vagabonds
Believe the very best
That simple gesture and soft greeting was enough to cause my heart to leap into my throat as I sat up and looked at him. He slowly sat down beside me and gently wrapped his arms around my shoulders in a warm embrace. Confused, I looked up at him, the unspoken question in my eyes. All he said was, “Hush,” and hugged me a little closer. So I laid my head on his chest and let the steady rhythm of his heart beat lull me back to sleep.
It’s enough to make kings and vagabonds
Believe the very best