"It's a stupid day," Duo growled as he took his string of micro grenades from requisition.
Henson snorted as he clipped on his own gear, "You just keep thinking that, Maxwell, and you'll find all of your stuff on the front lawn, just like I did last year."
"You're an asshole," Duo pointed out as he put the grenades on his belt . "That was just Becky's last straw. Besides, in case you hadn't noticed in the Preventer showers, Heero and I are guys, not insecure females who need constant proof that-"
"This is your first one as an official couple," Henson reminded him. "That makes this time count. Don't give me bullshit about guys being different. You go through the day empty handed and Yuy is going to look for somebody who gives a damn."
"He's not giving me anything!" Duo retorted furiously.
"How do you know that? Even if he's not, he's been on this mission for three weeks," Henson reminded him. "Not a lot of candy shops in the bad lands where he's at. You're different, though. You've had all of this time before your hookup with his squad."
Duo glared at him as he cinched his bullet proof vest and then buttoned his uniform shirt over it. "What are you getting Becky?"
"Diamond earrings," Henson said with a grin. "She won't be able to complain this year."
"Diamonds?" Duo's eyes went wide. "I thought it was all candy and flowers?"
"It is unless you screw up, like me, then it's diamonds," Henson replied sourly.
Duo shook his head sharply, long braid swinging as he began to turn away. "This is bullshit. I don't know why I'm listening to you. Heero doesn't give a damn about Valentine's Day. He's on a mission that's heating up and I'm about to go in to back him up. He probably doesn't even know what day it is."
"Get Becky her earrings?" Wu Fei asked Henson as he approached and slipped the man behind the requisition counter his order.
"Wrapped and ready," Henson chuckled.
Wu Fei eyed Duo. "What are you getting Heero?"
"Do I look like I have time for that shit?" Duo exploded. "I'm going into a possible firefight!"
"The commissary has a tray of gifts," Wu Fei suggested in concern. "A card could fit into your palm computer pocket."
Duo felt a twitch begin on the side of his face. "Are you suggesting that I hand Heero a card, with hearts on it, while I'm trying to take down a well armed terrorist cell?"
"I'm sure there will be a moment.." Wu Fei temporized.
"Are you getting Zechs anything?" Duo demanded.
"Yes, and it's personal," Wu Fei replied, coloring a little.
Duo sneered, "Well, I can't see me giving Heero that kind of gift on the field of action."
Henson laughed. "Field of action," he repeated giving it a double entendre."That would surprise the hell out of the terrorists."
"I'm pretty sure it's not in the Preventer manuel," Duo snapped back. He glared at them both. "I'm not going to listen to either of you. Heero does not care about Valentine's Day."
It was hard for Duo to keep that resolve, later, as he crowded into a jump ship with his squad. Men as tough as old boot leather spoke excitedly about the gifts that they had already sent to their sweet hearts, or were going to personally deliver after the mission.
"You're giving Kranon... violets?" Duo almost felt the need to clean out his ears. The grizzled veteran sitting next to him was nodding and grinning.
"Ten years we've been together," the man replied. "He likes violets, so I get him lots of them. What are you getting Heero?"
"Nothing," Duo growled back. "Violets?" he felt the need to repeat and the veteran nodded enthusiastically and laughed. "Heero hates flowers," Duo protested. "He hates candy more. Why the hell would he want any of that crap on a useless day that's just made up to sell shit?"
The veteran sighed and took on a lecturing tone. "Youngster... er, Captain Maxwell... if you want a long relationship, you have to take any excuse to tell the person you love....well, that you love them. It may be a stupid day, but it makes that saying I love you a lot bigger."
"Bigger?" Haskel looked derisive. "I think it just gives people an excuse to flaunt their presents to people. 'See how much I'm loved and you're not?' he mimicked.
"I don't need a special day," Duo said in a tone of voice that made both men shut up. "Heero knows that I ..." Duo looked embarrassed and slumped in his hard seat. "Love him," he said in a very small voice.
Both men stared at him in surprise.
"Shut up about it already!" Duo exploded. "Get your heads in the mission!"
Everyone started and then there was only the loud thrum of the engines until they were dumped at their rendezvous point.
The fire fight had already begun. Duo hit the ground running with his men, machines exploding and gouting fire and smoke in the darkness. His radio picked up Heero's voice shouting orders to his squad. They were pinned down and taking casualties.
Duo's squad hit the terrorists from behind with a volley of bullets and well placed grenades taking out their bunker. Caught in a pincher attack, as Heero's squad rallied and rushed forward, the terrorists were soon giving up.
As Duo barked orders, he jerked up his radio and checked the charge, wondering why Heero had suddenly gone silent. It was working on all bars. "Captain Yuy? Report, " Duo demanded as he turned full circle and surveyed the Preventer agents and the wreckage all around them in the billowing smoke. "This is Captain Maxwell," Duo tried again, his heart constricting."Report, Yuy!"
The radio silence was complete. Duo shouted to his men, "Find Yuy! Now!"
"I'm here!" Heeo's voice said from behind him. "My radio took a hit."
Duo whirled, relief making his knees week. Heero's dark blue eyes looked weary and his face was covered in smoke and grease, but to Duo it was like seeing Heaven. He grabbed Heero's jacket and jerked him forward into a hard, deep kiss.
Heero was shocked. Duo wasn't one for public displays, certainly not while on missions.
Duo broke the kiss, embarrassed. "I though... When I didn't hear your voice..."
Heero's expression softened. "I'm all right," he assured Duo.
"Uhm, Happy Valentine's Day," Duo said, feeling lame, but needing to recover with a joke. "The guys said... it was all about... you know... Just showing you that I love you."
Heero smiled softly, as if the world wasn't burning around them and terrorists weren't being taken away in handcuffs or on stretchers. "You remembered," he replied in amazement and pulled out a small, crumpled card from his flack jacket. He brushed at some blood stains and then handed it over with a small, "Sorry."
Duo took it, amazed. "You... You..." he looked down at the card, not sure what to say except, "Thanks... love."
Henson saw the card as he passed by and chuckled, "Guess you won't have to get those diamond earrings next year, Maxwell."
"Earrings?" Heero asked perplexed.
"Never mind," Duo growled. "Let's mop this up. We can finish Valentine's Day after we get back."
"Promise?" Heero asked hopefully as he checked his gun and prepared to storm the terrorist's installation.
Duo rolled his eyes as he readied his pulse rifle. "Promise."