Standard disclaimers apply. By the way, I had said that I would write two epilogues, but after much thought - all of two minutes - I decided that it would be wisest and easiest to stick with one. --Kitsune-chan

Conflicting Obsessions: Epilogue

Duo Maxwell trailed two fingers lightly over the sleeping face of Heero. With one backward glance, he slipped out the door. He could barely believe that Heero had finally opened himself to Duo. It had been a week since Wufei had retrieved the two from the Russian taiga. Every night since then had been spent in the soft warmth of Heero's arms.

Duo slipped out the back door and began his trek through the woods to his special place where he could watch the sunrise. Surprisingly, it had been Heero who vowed his love as often as possible. It had been Heero who was unafraid of public displays of affection. Perhaps it was because this was so new to Heero; he basked in love the way a sunflower sought the light of the sun. Duo had yet to tell Heero he loved him.

Duo paused in his meandering to touch a vine of morning glories that wound its way up an old oak tree. 'Ah. Kodak moment.' He giggled softly to himself. He looked around, as if to check if anyone were watching, and picked a morning glory. He drew it along his cheek and continued walking.

He reached the hillock where he spent his most private moments. He walked around the base of the small rise. The grass, wet with dew, nearly made him slip as he stopped short.

Sitting with his arms wrapped around his bare legs and his cheek resting on one knee, Heero graced Duo with a tentative but winsome smile. One long-fingered hand reached out to him. The American pilot hovered where he stood for a moment, torn between touching this fey beauty and sprinting back to the woods where he could be alone.

As was inevitable from the beginning, he joined the Japanese boy on the grass. It still rendered Duo breathless every time that Heero smiled at him. At first the smiles had come reluctantly, as if those muscles were not well developed. None of them had the sheer wattage of Duo's own, but they held a sincerity that the braided pilot's rarely did. Duo leaned against Heero, watching the first rays of light peer over the horizon.

"Love you," Heero murmured and placed his arm around the smaller boy.

"I love you too." Heero raised Duo's hand in his own and kissed the back, never taking his eyes off of the myriad of colors before them.

Oo-~~~-oO

Duo Maxwell cackled joyously as he swept his thermal scythe through another Aries. Smoothly, he followed the motion by reversing the momentum to block an attack with the base of the scythe. The mission objective had been reached and all that remained of Duo, Heero, and Wufei's mission was to destroy this contingent. 'Feh! Child's play!"

Finished with his small batch of mobile dolls, Duo turned to aid Wufei or Heero, whoever needed the help. Wufei, as well, had destroyed all of his opponents. That left Heero who had one opponent. Duo gasped as he realized that the one opponent was a Gundam.

"System Override," Deathscythe warned. A moment later, the visual blipped, then showed a full-screen view of the cockpit in the opposing Gundam.

Shinigami's eyes narrowed as they took in the long platinum hair and silver mask. A superior smile graced his visible features. Although Duo could not see the ice blue eyes that he knew shone underneath the mask, the American thought he could feel their gaze stroking his body. He shuddered, but he remained uncertain of what flavor of emotion accompanied the tremor.

"Greetings, Gundam pilots. I am Zechs Merquise... But I am quite certain at least one of you is well aware of that." Glittering smile. "Speaking of whom, 02, what a pleasant surprise it is to see you *again*."

Duo did not deem this worthy of a response, but obviously Heero did as he cursed quietly in Japanese and just slightly moved Wing more firmly between Deathscythe and the new Gundam. Duo thought he heard Wufei mutter, "Again? Interesting friends of yours, Maxwell."

"I must also introduce Tallgeese. The newest in OZ technology. It just may be a match for your Gundams. Until later, Gundam pilots." With that said, the massive machine backed, and then retreated.

Duo left out a massive breath. 'Later, indeed, Zechs Merquise. I'll be looking forward to it.'

Oo- Owari -oO

Author's comments: Done done done done done! And I've already got the comments written! Yahoo! Please write to PeachCerise@aol.com with any comments or flames! (I love flames!) --Kitsune-chan