Down the stairs...

Out the door...

Into the night...

And into the fog...

Heero's shoes slapped the pavement as he ran, loud rubbery smacks on concrete echoing into the night.

He ran, throwing his body forward in a desperate sprint.

He ran, not caring about being quiet, not caring about being efficient.

He didn't care. He didn't. He couldn't!

He had to get out, had to get away, had to get into the cold night.

So he ran.

Exertion.

The fog twisted around him, enveloping him, hiding him from the window above.

The window to his dorm room.

Heero wondered, as he dashed through the muted shadows and the oppressive mist, if Duo was peering out through the glass. Would he press his fingers against the clear barrier, eyes searching?

Or would the other pilot shove the window open and lean out, hoping to hear rather than see him in the foggy night?

Yes, that was more Duo's way. He'd open the window, if anything at all. If he even cared.

Heero could almost see Duo forcing the pane up, cracking the paint that glued the portal shut. The strange squeal of wood on wood echoed in his mind.

He could almost smell the flakes, those swirling peels of dust that would erupt from the ancient oak with the rising of the glass. He could almost hear Duo cough, almost see him lean against the sill and halfway into the shifting grays of the fog and the lamplight, hoping to see or hear...

No.

He had to stop thinking.

Heero's feet ached. He had run past dormitories and across the quad, now he was dashing parallel to the main school building. His reflection flashed in the windows beside him as he passed. He kept his arms tucked close, ignoring the sudden stitch in his side, and turned his head to look at himself in the silvery windows.

Racing his reflection...

Flash! There he was...Now gone again...Now back!

Brick wall...reflection...brick wall...reflection...

Heero saw himself...

He looked like shit.

Eyes wide, chest heaving, muscles corded into tense knots, hair tousled and sweaty, he looked like someone who was running to nowhere from nowhere. Was that true? Was it?

The fog was so dense that he couldn't see anything behind his mirrored doppelganger. It was a gray distorting wall, and it was coming down on top of him...

He...had to...keep...running. Faster...!

Wait!

What was that sound? Footsteps?

Heero felt his pumping legs slow, then stop. He ignored the burn of sore muscles and the acid searing his lungs.

How long had he been running? How long?

Again! The noise...was it really there?

He held his breath...

Ignoring the pain.

Around him, the fog seemed alive. Heero listened.

Why had he come out here? Why did he have to run? Why couldn't he have stayed, and listened when he was still back in the room, maybe let things happen? What was it that he feared?

There! Again! Was that a footstep...or had he been imagining it? But...he was alone! Right?

Heero strained his attention, focusing all his physical energy on the act of hearing.

Had there been someone there?

Was there someone else in the fog?

He felt a self-depreciating smirk find its way onto his face. He was listening now, but there was no one for him to listen to. Ironic. Fitting. Ironically fitting.

Now a tightness had gripped his chest, aching all the way down to the pulsing in his legs. He must have been running very fast for much longer than he had realized. How could he not have noticed? Was it because he hadn't wanted to notice?

The cold night air was unforgiving, freezing down the back of his throat all the way down to settle like ice in his lungs.

He shuddered.

He wondered if Duo had closed the window yet.

Where was this horrible fog coming from? He couldn't see where he was going, and he couldn't see where he had been. He couldn't see much of anything, come to think of it...

The damn fog.

An internal voice piped its interest in it, that gray swirl living in the black of night.

How strangely parallel, it said to him, that in a fit of confusion he should seek solace in a drift of fog. Metaphorical, even. Ha. The inner voice sounded a lot like Duo all of a sudden, its tones taking on sarcastic qualities that still somehow managed to convey concern.

He moved out of the muted streetlight and into a narrow alley between buildings. Why had he suddenly felt so exposed? He was wrapped in the fog, protected by its confusion...if he couldn't see anyone, then no one could see him. That was how things worked. That was how things always worked.

Heero clenched his fists and looked up, hoping to see the stars or the moon. But there was nothing there except the heavy grayness above him.

It was everywhere. He sighed and leaned against the alley wall, reveling in how the hard bricks dug through his thin tank top and into his back. An anchor to reality.

It was dark in the alley. Black muffled with gray mist. Shadows that threatened to devour his body seemed frozen in a silent dance. Dark.

Heero could see barely see his breath puffing in front of his face, the cold air steaming it and making it one with the fog. An eddy of confusion, taking the evidence of his life away...

So now what?

He had stopped running. Or had he just paused?

Now what?

Heero listened to the silence around him...

What was that? Again?

No sound of footfalls...but another swirl in the milky darkness...a disturbance in the fog...

But...there was no one else out here!

Heero felt a stab of fear invade the gripping numbness that had settled over his body.

Before he knew what he was doing, Heero had started running again.

Into the fog. Confused. Away from the unknown specter in the mist.

He tried to force himself to take even, measured breaths and run at a steady pace to conserve his energy, but he couldn't. He couldn't. His fear latched on and took control, taking his training and reducing it to a distant, horrible memory.

Fight or flight. Those survival instincts found in all humans, designed to protect them from harm. His muscles smoldered with agony, and his lungs were on fire. The consequences of flight were painful.

Down the alley and around one of the school buildings, his body flinging itself on pumping legs, fear of the unknown thing in the fog urging him to escape.

Heero ran. The sarcastic voice was back, and it wondered what the hell was wrong with him. Why was he running from a swirl in the fog? Why? He was a soldier, a trained killer. There was nothing on the school grounds that could hurt him.

Heero agreed. He knew this. He really did.

Logic. Logic. Logic...does nothing when you're running scared, he decided.

But what was he afraid of? What? Damnit! What?

...What was that?

There were definitely footsteps behind him.

Oh God.

Faster!

No! He had to stop! He had to make a stand! He couldn't let whatever...whoever...do this to him! He could have some sort of control, even if he didn't understand.

Damn fog.

Heero halted and threw his back against the wall of a building, hiding himself beside stairs swathed in shadows. His eyes searched the dull gray that wrapped itself inside a circle of streetlight directly in front of him.

Something was moving, just on the edge of the light. Heero held his breath, despite his body's protests.

Silence.

He was such a fool. He was alone.

Of course.

So why was he disappointed? Hadn't he been afraid because he had thought the contrary? How confusing...

Heero slumped to the ground, not caring that his breathing was coming in great gasps or that his body was flooded with pain. He bowed his head, ignoring the fog.

The unmistakable sound of boot heels clicking on concrete alerted him.

Heero looked up and saw Duo.

The other boy had halted in the circle of streetlight, head cocked to the side, eyes squinted. He was looking at Heero with a perplexed, slightly worried expression. No smile.

Duo stood very still. Instead of having his hands on his hips or his arms crossed, Duo's posture had lost its normal cocky attitude. His arms swung limply at his sides, fingers twitching...and then Heero noticed that Duo was fighting to control his breathing, too.

The unmistakable sheen a sweat glittered his brow.

Had...had Duo been running?

But then...how long...had he been following Heero the whole time?

Why?

The fog, which had opened up to allow Heero an unobstructed view of the other pilot, now began to invade once again. It began to take Duo away from him.

Duo tensed a little, as though he was about to walk forward. Then he stopped, obviously holding himself back.

His voice carried through the fog clearly. It was a bit shaky. "Can I come over there and sit beside you, or will you run away again?"

Heero considered. He looked at the encroaching fog.

What had he been afraid of?

"I'm through running."

Fog: Trailing

Duo watched the dorm room door swing silently.

He listened to the rapidly fading footsteps as Heero ran down the corridor, sneakers squeaking. He heard the door to the stairwell being flung open, and the subsequent booming of iron colliding against a concrete wall. Thudding steps echoed as they descended down the stairs.

The door continued swung.

Why hadn't Heero slammed it?

Duo knew he had been pushing, but it was only considered pushing because he was dealing with someone like Heero. Anyone else would have thought he was holding back.

Because he was holding back... Anyone else would have seen that...

But then, anyone else probably would have slammed the door.

Duo heard the door to the stairwell click shut.

The door to the dorm room itself had almost stopped shuddering. Duo glanced outside and caught a glimpse of a figure running alongside the dorm and across the small street. Was it Heero?

Hm. It was foggy outside.

Maybe...

Duo slipped out of the room, locking the door behind him. A moment later, he was running, a strange urgency filling him. Down the stairs and out into the darkness and mist, he stopped and listened.

The relative quiet of the night made the other runner's footfalls that much louder to Duo's ears.

He took off in a brisk run, keeping his breathing soft and controlled as he kept to the grass and moved in the shadows. Purposefully quiet footfalls. Stealth. He didn't want to scare the runner, especially if it wasn't Heero.

If it was Heero, then Duo didn't want to alarm him...or annoy him.

That was the last thing he wanted.

The fog seemed to shift away from him as he moved, repelled by his body as he slipped quickly through the cool night. It masked him, aided him, and before he knew it, he was almost upon the other runner.

Yeah, he decided, it was definitely Heero ahead of him. Duo recognized the other boy's steps and remembered how he sounded when out of breath after extended gym class.

Together but apart, they ran through the fog. Heero's footsteps ahead, and Duo silently gaining as they roved the school grounds.

Wait...

The sound of Heero's running had stopped. Nothing remained in the void of gray except the noise of Heero's quiet attempts to catch his breath accompanied by the sound of his own hushed panting. The movement of air through lungs: the sound of life.

Duo edged closer, suddenly feeling remarkably out of place. What if he was invading Heero's privacy by chasing him like this?

He heard Heero's breathing cease and fought a stab of panic.

Was he only holding his breath? Was he listening? Yes, that must be it.

Duo forced himself to remain still. Maybe he should just leave?

Quiet footsteps, the muffled scrape of soles on pavement, and Duo realized Heero was moving again. The sound of the other boy's quiet gasping was once again drifting to him through the cool wash of fog.

Duo crept closer again, his attention focused on the sounds. There wasn't much in the night he was able to see, nothing except the numbness of the grayed, muted landscape. He felt drawn to the sound of Heero's breathing.

Even if he wasn't welcome, he needed to make his presence known, he realized. Heero's training might kick in if he didn't know who it was, and then Duo would be in some real trouble. Besides, even though he could move silently, it didn't mean that he should.

Duo opened his mouth to announce his presence...

But then Heero was gone, running again. The other boy was all but flinging himself into the gray world of fog and darkness.

Duo followed.

He kept his footfalls quiet at first so that he could keep track of Heero's steps, but after a while he noticed his own footsteps were growing louder. They had been running for a long time, it seemed. Duo realized suddenly that he had no idea where there were. He had lost track of his surroundings in his focus to keep up with and follow Heero.

Did he even want to catch the other pilot?

Duo wasn't sure.

He didn't want to bother Heero, not to the point of being a nuisance. He just wanted to open the other boy up a little. But maybe Heero wanted to be alone, and maybe that's why he had run away into the fog...maybe...

When the hell had things gotten so complicated? They hadn't even been arguing, just talking, Duo had nudged Heero with his elbow and boom! Heero had left. And yet...it didn't quite feel like a rejection.

It was confusing.

The fog seemed to smother Duo for a stifling second. Its nature had changed from comforting to callous.

He skidded to a halt, his boots sticking in the mud. He stood, bathed in shadows.

Ahead of him, a single streetlight flooded down and into the fog.

The sound of Heero's footsteps had also stopped. They had been running so long, Duo's muscles were fatigued and he was a bit out of breath. He fought to control his intake of air and listened.

Silence.

Duo suddenly felt terribly, terribly alone. Above and around, the fog swam, the darkness of the night a strange companion to the cold gray abyss.

With silent steps, he edged closer to the haven of lamplight. Even if Heero didn't want him, the other boy still had the right to know that he was there.

Still fighting for breath, Duo stepped into the circle cast by the streetlight, the fog moving away from him as though repulsed by his presence. He gave up all attempts at stealth, deliberately making his boots thud on the hard pavement.

Duo stopped and stood in the circle of lamplight.

In the shadows, sitting with his legs pulled up against his heaving chest, sat Heero. Duo could barely see the other boy, but his posture was extremely defensive. Strange. Duo wished he could see the expression on Heero's face, or even just his eyes, but the contrast between the light in which Duo stood and the darkness in which Heero sat was too great.

Doubt overwhelmed him. Maybe he should just leave Heero alone.

The fog suddenly shifted, and a gust of frigid air made Duo force back the urge to shudder. He started to move towards Heero, but stopped himself. Maybe...maybe he should ask first? He just wanted to help his friend.

"Can I come over there and sit beside you, or will you run away again?"

Heero was a rock. "I'm through running."

Fog: Interpretation

Duo stepped out of the light and into the shadows, the fog moving away from him as though pushed. His eyes adjusted quickly to the relative darkness.

He was used to such environments.

Duo sat down beside Heero on the cold concrete.

Now he could see Heero's tired face. He didn't appear to be angry.

"Why'd you run? I've never seen you run from anything before," Duo finally said after an awkward moment of silence. "Just curious."

"I don't know," came the quiet reply. Heero wouldn't look at him.

Duo's voice was sarcastic. "That's not very helpful."

"I don't care," he paused, his tone suddenly flooded with bitterness. "I can't care. I'm not supposed to."

"I get the impression we're talking on several levels at once here," Duo muttered, leaning back against the cold brick wall. "I didn't mean to piss you off, back in the dorm room."

Heero's head swiveled. Shocked blue surrounded by shadows and fog fixed on Duo. "You didn't."

"But...I thought..." Duo looked down and watched, detached, as his fingers curled into helpless fists.

"Sometimes I get confused," Heero said suddenly. He swallowed. "How'd you find me?"

"I followed you before the door even stopped swinging," Duo replied, letting a tiny grin find its way onto his face. "I was going to let you know that I was following you earlier, but then you ran away again."

"I thought you'd just sit there...maybe open the window..." Heero's voice was faint at first, but then he cleared his throat and continued in a stronger tone. "Why didn't you say something while we were running, then?"

Duo unclenched his fingers. "I don't know. It didn't really occur to me. Maybe I didn't want you to yell at me to 'get lost' or something. I just wanted to make sure you were okay, I guess. I...I don't know."

"Thanks," Heero replied. He turned his head away, and looked out at the gray confusion swirling in the night air. "I didn't know who was following me, or even if anyone was actually there."

"Were you scared?" Duo blurted, before he had thought about what he was asking.

He was surprised when Heero answered. "Yes," His voice retreated to a flat monotone, "Irrationally so. It's embarrassing to admit, but I suppose that denying it would be rather stupid."

"So that's why you ran?" Duo asked again, turning his body so that he faced Heero.

"Maybe. I'm not sure," Heero admitted. He shifted his gaze from the fog to the ground. "Why'd you follow me?"

Duo laughed softly. "To see why you had run. Our conversation seems to have looped around in a circle," he paused, "I didn't think you wanted me around, though. Usually when two people are arguing and one person leaves, that person either wants to be left the hell alone...or they want to be followed. I wasn't sure if I had picked the right option."

"But we weren't arguing, were we?" Heero rubbed up and down the length of his arms. The sweat on them was starting to chill, and with the combination of the already cold temperature and the lack of warmth his tank top provided, he felt like he was turning into a lump of ice.

"No, we weren't," Duo agreed. "Uh, do you want my over shirt? I'm wearing two, you can have the black one."

"That's okay, I'm fine," Heero shook his head.

"Are you really?"

Heero smirked. "Maybe."

"So why'd you run?" Duo poked him in the side.

"If you stopped asking, maybe you'd find out," Heero returned, his smirk fading even as his eyes sharpened. "Why do you ask so many questions?"

"Because I want to know answers," Duo replied with a slightly acidic laugh.

"And why do you want to know answers?" Heero pressed. He fidgeted, then shifted in place until his body was turned sideways.

Instead of facing the fog, they were now both turned towards each other.

"Because...because I..." Duo broke eye contact and fiddled with the outer seam of his pants. "I'm curious about you. You're so closed up."

"And why are you curious?" Heero leaned forward, his expression suddenly intense.

Duo continued to look down.

Heero sighed, and leaned back. "Well? I tried to answer your questions. Now it's your turn."

"I know," Duo brought his gaze up, his face occupied in holding a complete lack of expression. He took a deep breath and let it out in a huff before continuing. "I'm curious because I fucking care, okay? You're my friend, and I want to help you out, but you keep pushing me away. If you want me to leave you the hell alone, just say so."

He moved as though about to stand up. Heero grabbed his arm and jerked him back down.

"I ran because I care, too."

Duo's jaw dropped, his mouth open in shock. "Huh?"

"You heard me. Don't make me repeat myself," Heero bit out, his tone turning harsh. "You push and you push and I'm not used to anyone doing that...and because of that I end up hurting people that try."

'I'll end up hurting you.'

The unspoken words echoed against the fog.

"So why don't you try, then? To make contact, I mean. Don't you get lonely?" Duo's voice was curious, but something else edged its tone.

Heero's shoulders slumped. "Of course. But I don't know how, and even if I did, I wouldn't want to. Despite our occupation, Duo, I don't like hurting people."

Duo's eyes widened. He snorted. "What, and you think I do?"

"I didn't mean it like that, and you know it," Heero returned sourly.

"No, I really didn't," Duo paused, his voice thick. He turned his head and stared out into the fog. It had been starting to evaporate, but now it seemed to be rolling back in heavy waves. Thicker than ever, the gray flood of pained confusion encroached upon them.

A whisper. "Did you know, Heero, that everyone I have ever loved is dead?"

Heero clenched his jaw. "No, Duo. I did not know that."

"Then let me tell you something," Duo closed his eyes and kept his head turned away. "It is much better to value the friends and the people you have now, while you still can have them. Because one day they're going to be stone dead, and then, if you didn't take your chances and make the most of your time together, all you'll be left with is regret."

He opened his eyes and turned to look at Heero. Intensity.

"Trust me on this one, Heero, regret is worse that anything. It's even worse than guilt. It means that you were a coward. A coward. It stays with you for the rest of your life," he leaned forward, warm breath turning to steam in the cold night. "That's why I push. I don't want to regret."

"No one wants to regret," Heero said quietly. He squared his shoulders. "You said yourself that everyone you've ever loved is dead. Well, guess what? I've never loved anyone. Ever. And no one's ever loved me. Ever. I've never had the opportunity to regret. All my life has been training. The mission."

A long pause.

"That might be one of the saddest things I've ever heard," Duo whispered. "But it's no reason why you can't start making an effort now. It's never too late to try."

Heero's eyebrows shot up.

"Oh, hell, you've got to walk before you can run, Heero," he paused. "You've got to let someone in first."

"And you want that 'someone' to be you. Am I right?" Heero forced himself to ask.

"You've got to give me some credit here, I am going to an awful lot of trouble," Duo smiled, his mouth too tight for the expression to be completely genuine. "But no, not necessarily me. Just someone. Pick your 'someone' wisely, though, because a lot of people will stomp on your heart, whether they mean to or not."

The silence seemed alive, thickening purposefully between them. Tension. They focused solely on each other.

Heero cleared his throat. "It's cold out here."

Duo blinked. "Yeah."

"Maybe we should go inside?"

"Maybe."

Heero stood up, ignoring the little aches that accompanied the movement. The sweat had dried cold on his bare arms and lower legs, and his clothing was still slightly damp. He looked down at Duo and held out a hand.

Wordlessly, Duo took the offering. A moment later, they were both standing.

For a few seconds they only stared at each other, their hands still joined as if they had just shaken. It felt as though in they had made an agreement, a pact, or...as though they had greeted one another.

The fog had dissipated.

Together, they turned and walked into a clear, starry night.