*waves* Hola people!

Ya know - the past two weeks, I've had to unearth my car at LEAST 3
times a day - if not the snowblower hiding down the corner, waiting
until the right moment when I put the shovel inside and step out with
my keys in hand, then it's having to scrape layers upon layers of
frost off the outside and the INSIDE of my car. It gets vastly
irritating if you know what I mean!

***************************************



Duo woke up shivering. If there was one thing he couldn't stand, it
was being cold. Being so skinny meant he had less on him to ward off
the cool temperatures, and goose bumps rose on his arms.

" I *hate* winter," he grumbled. " Why can't we ever get extended
missions south of the border?"

Throwing on his jeans and a thick sweater, he also grabbed his gloves
and wrapped his braid around his neck like a scarf. Sufficiently
covered, he headed downstairs.

Quatre peeked out from underneath a huge blanket wrapped around him
twice.

" 'Morn...'uo.." came his muffled greeting. Trowa smiled slightly and
secured one end of the blanket a little more securely.

" Heero and Wufei are out there checking their Gundams. I've already
done mine and Quatre's."

" Sheesh...ya couldn't have done mine too, while you were at it?" Duo
sighed and put the cup he'd picked up, down. Inspection came before
anything. Including caffiene. With another huge sigh, he went to the
front door. First, he pulled on an over-sized parka he'd picked up
when he and Quatre had gone shopping to prepare for this mission.
then came a second pair of thicker gloves. He slid his feet into his
boots and slapped the velcro straps tightly over his double-socked
feet. His braid fell down his back as he replaced it with a black
scarf, winding it around his throat three times before tying it
tightly. His normal cap was replaced with a jaunty woollen touque
that had a pompom on the end that bounced when he walked.

Suitably bundled up, he opened the door, prepared to brave the
elements. The wind blasted him back into the hallway.

" AHHHHH! For-GET it! Shinigami's fine!" Duo ranted as he tried to
push the door shut with some effort. He never heard trowa come up
behind him and give him one good shove. Duo went sprawling into the
snowbank.

" You bloody traitor!" Duo came up spitting snow. " Damn it Trow--"
The door slammed in his face. Growling and muttering death threats,
Duo made his way to where the Gundams were parked. Through the snow
being tossed from the treetops and being swept off the ground, he
could see Wufei and Heero inspecting their gundams. Duo waved at
them, too cold to do anything other then trudge towards Shinigami. As
he reached the foot of the black death machine, he looked up, giving
it a cursory look over. Something caught his eye, and he blinked.
Looking again, he grinned in resignation.

" And they laughed at me for buying it!"

* * * * * * * * *
* *

Heero and Wufei finsihed checking their machines and began heading
back towards the safehouse.

" Perhaps we should check on Maxwell," Wufie said absently. " He
looked pretty cold."

Heero nodded and abruptly veered off course to where he knew Duo had
last left Deathscythe. As they neared the spot, Shinigami loomed out
of the whiteness, a blackness eclipsing all else. As always, a
shiver went through at the sight of the machine - it was unnerving
how much the machine really did resemble death. Suddenly they heard a
strange
noise and exchanged glances.

" Duo?" Heero called out, narrowing his eyes as he looked up. Wufei
suddenly clapped a hand over his mouth, preventing Heero from seeing
the smile that abruptly appeared. Heero stared in disbelief - what
was he doing?

Duo saw them watching and waved the object at them, grinning madly.

" Told ya a scraper would come in handy! "




~~OWARI~~

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