Graze
by kebzero
"It's just a flesh wound..." Duo grinned down towards his knee from his perch at the low brick wall, and the person tending to said knee, but neither vintage comedy nor the mischievous grin seemed to connect, judging from Heero's cold, passive expression, intently focused on the task at hand.
"It's a graze." He didn't see Duo's eye-roll; he focused on the small first aid kit, picked up a piece of cotton, dipped some antiseptic on it and continued cleaning the scratched knee. It stung, but Duo tried not to show it, beyond a mild clenching of teeth, passable as theatrical. Heero went for the white box again, took a flat plastic bag, tore it open, and fished out the compress pad within. With precision aim, he positioned it over the knee. "Bend," he ordered.
Obedience. Heero administered the compress pad, and took great care in sealing the adhesive edges to Duo's skin, fingertips repeatedly passing all sides, ensuring the patch stuck. "I never would have figured you for a nursemaid, Heero."
Frown.
Chuckle. "Sorry, couldn't help it." Duo straightened his knee, satisfied that the patch stayed on. "Thanks, Heero."
Heero nodded, and proceeded to pack the first aid kit away. The used cotton and plastic scraps he stuffed in the right pocket of his white shorts.
Duo jumped down from the wall, did a quick knee-bend, just for show. "Good as new..." He paused, looked at Heero again. "You know, it was an accident."
Heero's eyes narrowed as he reflected on the final few moments of the basketball game. "He pushed you on purpose."
Shrug. "Whatever. You didn't have to fly in his face just because of that - I almost think you'd have punched his lights out if I hadn't held you back."
Curt nod. "It was tempting - but like you suggest, it wouldn't be worth the trouble."
Duo chuckled. "Yeah, well - after that little lesson in Japanese profanities, not to mention your glare and shaking fist, I doubt that guy will be bothering us again any time soon." Pause. "You know, you should have waved to the girls cheering for us - I think they really like you."
Scoff. "I don't deal with-" He cut himself short, a most unusual expression on his face; almost as if he had let slip something he shouldn't have. "I don't have time to deal with girls. I have missions, and-"
Duo rolled his eyes again. "You need to take some time off to live now and then too, Heero. Isn't there anything you'd like to do for yourself, and not for the damn missions? Even with your 'life is cheap' way of dealing with things, there has to be something, right? You know, 'die with no regrets', and all?"
Heero brooded on this for a while. "...yes," he answered at length.
Grin. "Then go for it, man!"
Heero opened his mouth as if to speak, but no words came. He turned around and walked away, heading back to where they hid the Gundams, to return the first aid kit. "Maybe later..." he mumbled over his shoulder.
When Heero was out of earshot, Duo gently grazed his finger along the warm edges of the plaster and sighed to himself. "Just don't wait too long, pal... Nobody waits forever."
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