Disclaimers and other Warnings: Well, I'm sure everyone has heard this whole thing before, but some people just don't listen, ya know? Anyhoo…Story mine. Characters not. Got it? Oh, and be warned, this is my first attempt at a GW fic…*nervous laughter* Erm, anyways, there is yaoi and shonen ai or whatever you wanna call it. ^_^ Enjoy. Oh, and C&C would be very much appreciated.

Why did he have to keep being paired with Duo Maxwell for missions? Why? For a reason unknown to him, Heero Yuy could barely manage to keep a hold on his emotions when he was near the American pilot, narrowly stopping them before he acted on them. That was no way for a soldier to be.

A few feet ahead of him, Duo stopped and extracted a lock pick from his hair. Heero barely stopped himself from rolling his eyes. Soldiers get in and do the job, he told himself. No time for anything else. He sidled up to the long-haired lock-picker. He heard the barely audible 'snick' as Duo's task ended.

Duo straightened to find a figure looming over him. He was startled enough to yelp "Ch—!" before a callused hand clapped over his mouth. What the hell? I'm being attacked! Where'd Heero go!? Duo began to struggle only to find that his "attacker" wasn't holding on to him anymore. He turned to face his foe but surprisingly ended up locking eyes with Heero.

Duo dropped the volume of his voice. "Kuso, Heero, you startled me." The dark haired pilot scowled at him. But, to both of their surprise, Heero mumbled "Sorry." Duo's jaw would have dropped to the ground if it had been physically possible. Did he just apologize to me?! Not old Stone Face, no way.

"All right, who are you and what have you done with Heero Yuy?" Duo's jaw plummeted again as he saw Heero reddening. It took all of his willpower to not put a hand to Heero's forehead and ask if he was felt all right.

Heero regained his composure and brushed past Duo, silently berating himself. What the hell was that? It was that long braided baka who should have apologized for nearly blowing their cover. Why did I even say anything? And then I-I blushed for god's sake! I can't do any other missions with that baka. Not when his beau—Heero cut off his thoughts abruptly. That was no way for a soldier to think.

He walked straight to the computer sitting on the extravagant desk. There wasn't any time to waste. He went through the files quickly, his hands flying over the keyboard, finally locating what they were after. Heero loaded the file onto a disk and started out of the room.

Duo rammed right into him. Before Heero could say or do anything, Duo whispered "Someone's out there." Then he moved farther back into the room. Heero didn't follow. "Heero! Get back!' He still didn't move. Duo dashed forward, grabbed his wrist, and pulled him back. Once safer in the shadows, Duo still held on to Heero's wrist. He was more than a little afraid that Heero would go charging back out into the hallway to confront the person, but Heero was making no move to pull away. His heart began to pound harder.

"Who is it? One of Treize's underlings?" Duo tried to control his voice, wondering why it was trembling. He wasn't that afraid.

"Probably. Get to the window and shut up."

Reluctantly Duo dropped Heero's wrist and edged toward the single window. It would be a tight fit. He looked back at Heero, still in the shadows. The dark haired pilot nodded but suddenly all his attention was focused on the door. The doorknob was turning.

Get out, get out, get out! Duo started for the window again, then remembered Heero. He turned back around just in time to see a tall man come into the room. The man took one look at Duo and drew his gun. Duo's hand went for his own gun, but it was too late. Duo saw the man in slow motion, pulling the trigger.

The bullet caught the tail end of his braid as Heero tackled him. Duo rolled and shot at the man, who retreated to the hallway. Heero was crawling out the window. Duo fired two more shots and followed, dropping to the roof beside him.

"Let's finish this mission," Heero growled. They took off running towards their two Gundams.

As more shots rang out, Heero wondered what had possessed him into giving up his concealed position to save that damned American baka. He was expendable. No he isn't, said a quiet voice from the back of his mind. You care about him. You just won't admit it. He began to deny it, but heard Duo trip and slam into the roof. Heero backtracked, dragging Duo to his feet. Neither boy noticed the bloody streak on the roof. Heero retained his hold on Duo's hand, running with him to the edge of the room and the Gundams. They separated and ran to their respective mechas. Once safely encased in gundanium, Duo flipped the com on and said, "It looks like those guys are gonna meet their maker, ne?"

Appallingly, Heero felt laughter rising in his throat. That baka had nearly got himself killed twice already and he just brushed it off…That's what soldiers are supposed to do, he reminded himself. But…but, Duo didn't act like a soldier most of the time…He got out a "Definitely," and flipped the com off, a flood of gratefulness nearly overcame him as he and Wing wreaked havoc on the OZ base. They had made it out alive. Duo had made it out alive. A rough voice spoke from his mind, It doesn't matter that you made it out. You are expendable. So is D— The quiet voice from before cut in. No! He is not expendable.

At that point Heero felt like an argument was taking place in his head—one he wasn't included in. The voices of duty and…and what? Whatever the quiet one represented was only around when Duo was close by. Duo…violet eyed, chestnut haired—what was he thinking?!

You care about him…the quiet voice stated.

Soldiers do not care about anyone! the voice of duty disagreed.

No! duty wouldn't give in without a fight.

Again Heero cut his thoughts off, scanning the area for Shinigami. He found them easily, but he wasn't prepared for the situation he saw them in. Three dozen Leos had come from somewhere and had completely surrounded Deathscythe—and Duo. Quickly Heero flipped the com back on to hear Duo muttering, "Shit, shit, where did the come from? Kuso!"

Duo isn't supposed to be cussing at them, he's supposed to be annihilating them! What's wrong with him? Oh well…Here I come, ready or not! A blast from the buster rifle disintegrated five Leos into carbon vapor.

"Heero!" Duo voiced his relief. "'Bout time!" Heero didn't answer; he just mutely kept destroying Leos left and right. Occasionally Heero caught glimpses of the thermal scythe out of the corner of his eye. They continued on their warpath until, abruptly, the two Gundams were alone, the base had been reduced to a pile of smoldering rubble. "Mission complete. Let's get to the rendezvous point."

"Hold it Heero we're getting something from Quatre."

A small vid screen popped up on Wing's main monitor. "You guys, we won't make it to the meeting place until tomorrow, late morning probably. Are you both all right? Mission accomplished?"

Duo laughed. "Quatre, Quatre, haven't you learned that if we get a mission, we get it done?"

"Guess you're right," Quatre admitted sheepishly. "Get to the rendezvous cave and wait, then. Ja ne." He blipped out.

"Okay then, let's get outta here."