Walking Wounded
"
Finally?" Heero sat beside Duo on the dock, expression hopeful.
Duo smiled shyly, his legs trailing in the water as he tried to get used to the cool temperature of the lake. His eyes went to Heero, sliding up and down Heero's muscular body in his swim trunks, before he said, "I guess I have to get used to... you know?"
"Nobody is judging you, especially me," Heero told him. "If people don't like the scenery, they can go elsewhere."
"It's not scary. or anything, just weird to see, I think," Duo tried, but there was doubt in his voice. "Right?"
There was a definite question in his voice now.
"You get used to it," Heero assured him, "And then you don't notice it anymore."
"Even when..." Duo couldn't go on, the pain making his voice stick.
"Even, then," Heero assured him and reached out to take Duo's strong hand in his. "The rest of the package is just as handsome as ever."
Duo smiled. "Sorry. I know I'm sounding stupid. We already went over this."
"Hundreds of times," Heero agreed. "So, let it go. Stop thinking it makes a difference. I think I proved, last night, that it doesn't."
Duo grinned, blushing a little. "I guess you did."
Heero looked down at Duo's legs. "Ready to try swimming?"
"As long as you're with me to keep the one finned wonder from drowning?" Duo replied as he lifted one foot, with it's flipper, and then the knee that had nothing below it.
"Always," Heero assured him with a chuckle.
"Then, let's swim," Duo laughed, and shoved off of the dock and into the water.