Reunion

[self_named]

A whole year. It hadn’t even occurred to him, actually, until midmorning. He’d been here a year and two days. January 30th, he’d fallen out of the sky and washed ashore on an island from which there was no escape and a year and two days later, it was… Well, it was more home than Earth had ever been, before. Almost as much home as L2 had been,

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[heir_of_l4]

It was such a familiar sight that Quatre almost didn't notice it at first. Which, considering it was fifty feet tall, towering great and dark over the sand with a metallic glare, probably said something about what Quatre still considered 'normal.'

And then it sank in. He looked up, and looked at Duo laughing, and said, "Deathscythe?"

[self_named]

"YES!" Duo hollered, skidding to a messy halt, throwing his arms around Quatre's waist and jerking the boy around in a celebratory circle.

"AHAHHAA, 's my GUNDAM!" he crowed and then was running again. He threw himself at the machine, feet leaving the ground, hit it spread eagled, and clung.

[heir_of_l4]

Quatre laughed, breathless as Duo twirls him around--hadn't they been the same height, back home? But then, it had been years, for Duo. "I see that!" he laughed, tilting his head back, shielding his eyes to look up at it. Deathscythe always had been a piece of work. It made him miss Sandrock, more than he'd ever thought he would. But he always took good care of me.

"I'm happy for you."

[self_named]

"I never though..." Duo murmured, walking around the machine, running his hands worshipfully over the metal, inspecting for damage.

"I never thought I'd get it back. The sun's kindova permanent place to send something to."

[heir_of_l4]

Quatre smiled. "You're the one who's been telling me," he pointed out, "that anything can happen here, aren't you? It seems half the island spent two days in someone else's body, so I don't see why it can't get your Gundam out of the sun, molten core or not." He rested a hand against one giant foot, lost in the smooth, cool feel of gundanium alloy and familiar steel. "I hope it doesn't mean that we're going to need them, here."

[self_named]

The thought had just occurred to Duo as well.

"I don't think so," he said, eyes shining, grinning, rubbing down the gundam, himself.

"I don't think he's loaded up. I think it's...oh, man, Deathscythe, you're gonna be a lot of help when we're building the school, and...and..." He swallowed, smiling up at Quatre.

"Blank Slate, right? Time to use this guy for some serious non-violence."

[heir_of_l4]

Quatre's face lit up, beaming at Duo. It was perfect, really. "That's a wonderful idea," he said happily. "Building a school. Or homes for people, or...anything, really."

It was poetic, and perfect, and a wonderful change from using the Gundams for their intended purpose. "It makes me wish I had Sandrock," he admitted, though he'd wished that more than once, and before this moment. "I had to give him up, remember? Maybe you don't. And I had to, but I wish I hadn't."

[self_named]

"I remember," Duo said. "I was there, I remember. I remember every minute of that war." He flashed Quatre a wan sort of smile.

"And the next one. You got him back, Q. And then you saved the day. I promise."

[heir_of_l4]

"Sometimes," Quatre said, with a smile that was just as weak and a little bit lost, "I try to remember all the things you've told me that haven't happened yet." But that was worrisome, sad, and he shrugged it off with a determined smile. "Where can you keep him?"

[self_named]

"It's okay, I'll keep telling you if you need me to," he said. He could imagine how frustrating it was, to have come from that point, but he was absolutely determined to get it through the blond's head that he did not allow the universe to end, he did not change the color of the sky, he did not kick a thousand puppies. They'd fought and won, and the knowledge that they apparently could keep on winning was one of the things that had let Duo enjoy being trapped on the Island.

"Maaaan, I think...Well, I can just keep his cloak up and keep him in a grove of trees near the hut... Not like anyone can operate him except us, so if I get there and he's missing I'll know who to go after," he said cheerfully, offer Quatre a grin and little wave.

[heir_of_l4]

Quatre smiled at him, all innocence and big, sparkling blue eyes. "You'd let me take him for a little ride if I wanted to, Duo, wouldn't you...?"

[self_named]

Duo wagged a finger at him.

"That face is cheating! I know, because I make that face!" he crossed his arms and looked away, then glanced sideways back over at Quatre.

"....yeah, you can take him out."

[heir_of_l4]

"It might be cheating a little," Quatre agreed, unrepentant. "But it seems to work. Thanks, Duo."