The six boys entered Con’s cabin. Heero and Duo dropped onto the cot, Trowa and Quatre stood next to the doorway, and Con and Wufei stood next to the hammock. Wufei had not spoken a word since they had gotten in the vehicle and headed to Con’s home. He stood there, eyes downcast and silent, seemingly lost in his own thoughts. Con wanted to say something, but felt uncomfortable in front of the others. Heero, as if reading his thoughts, pulled Duo by the arm toward the doorway.

"Hey," the braided pilot protested, "where are we going Heero?" Heero glanced over at Con and Wufei.

"We’re going to make sure the guns are cleaned and oiled and that the car is put away properly," he answered. Duo looked at Con and Wufei and nodded his understanding. The two left. Trowa looked at Quatre. The blonde looked back at him.

"What is it Trowa?" he asked, concerned. Trowa gave a small smile and gently tugged Quatre outside a little ways from the cabin. Con watched them go, then turned back to Wufei. The Chinese pilot had not moved or made a sound. The older boy placed a hand on Wufei’s arm, startling him. Con smothered a smile as Wufei jumped.

"Sorry," he said. "Wufei, are you okay? You haven’t spoken a word since we left that warehouse." Wufei still did not look at him and didn’t speak. Con gathered his thoughts, trying to think of something to say that would pull the other boy out of this depression. "Wufei, I know what Rimbo did. He told us while he and Lambert had their guns on us. I also know that you did it to protect Quatre, and I’m sure Trowa is grateful. But you don’t have to be ashamed because of it. The guys still care for you I’m sure." He swallowed. "I…still care for you." At this, Wufei raised his eyes suddenly.

"How can you or anyone care for me?" he demanded. "I was taken by a man with no honor. My honor no longer exists, I am no longer the person I was. Rimbo took something from me, and I don’t know how to get it back," he cried, dropping his head again, but not before Con had seen the unshed tears in his ebony eyes. Con sighed softly. He placed his hand on Wufei’s arm again.

"Wufei, I know that I don’t understand how you’re feeling. And believe me, I don’t pity you. You are the strongest person I believe I’ve ever met, you don’t need pity. But I do think you need friendship, and that I can give you," he said firmly. Wufei’s shoulders shook slightly, his head still bowed. When he spoke, his voice was a ragged whisper.

"I am not strong, Con. I allowed myself to be taken, I could have struggled, I could have done something!" he exclaimed. Con grabbed him by the shoulders.

"But you don’t know that for sure, do you Wufei?" he demanded. "At the time, you were doing the only thing you could think of. They would have hurt Quatre, I know, and it would have been Lambert. I know what that red-haired bastard was capable of, and it would not have been pretty. You…saved…him Wufei," he said, his words slow and emphasized. "And it takes a strong man to do what you did, I’m sure," he finished, releasing his grip on Wufei. The Chinese pilot wiped his eyes.

"Con, I thank you for these words, and for your friendship, but…I feel as if an important part of who I am is missing. To Rimbo, I was just a piece of flesh, something to be used, and I feel sick even now thinking about him. How can I be strong when the memory of what happened makes me feel so weak?" he asked. Con felt his own heart clench at the anguish in the other boy’s voice. Making a quick decision, he moved toward Wufei and wrapped the younger boy in a reassuring embrace. Wufei stiffened slightly at the intrusion of his space, but then he relaxed, allowing his head to fall on the older boy’s chest. His shoulders shook gently as low sobs escaped from his lips. Con continued to hold him, rubbing his bare back soothingly, until the other boy quieted. Then he stepped back and took Wufei’s hand in his.

"Wufei, I think I can see how hard it is for you to believe right now how strong you really are. The others know it, and I know it too. But I can show you how others see you. Come with me, okay?" he asked. Wufei looked at him and nodded slowly. Con led him to the small building close to the cabin and unlocked the door. None of the pilots had been inside, and none of them knew what was in it. Wufei stopped suddenly when he entered. The inside of the room had many, many shelves, and each shelf was covered with tubes of oil paint. Brushes filled glass jars, and several stretched canvases that were still untouched lay against the walls. In one corner of the room, a stool stood before a large canvas. Wufei’s eyes were drawn to it, and his gaze locked on it as he realized what the subject matter of the painting was. It was of him…practicing his katas on the beach; the form was captured perfectly, the painted body looking graceful, strong, and determined. His hair was blown away from his face, looking like a crow’s wing. The rising sun shone on his body, outlining it in gold and copper, while the sand around him was painted in muted tones, accentuating the color of the subject. The ocean and the tide created the backdrop. Even on canvas, the painting of Wufei seemed to radiate energy, as if the boy on it would start moving. Wufei couldn’t take his eyes off of it.

"Con, that’s amazing," he whispered. The older boy smiled gently and took his hand.

"Wufei, this is how I see you," he said. "I saw you one morning, and I had never seen a more beautiful sight. You looked like a graceful panther, beauty, precision, grace, and strength rolled into one incredible individual. You see Wufei, the others may not admit it, but they admire you, and see this strength in you too," he added. The stunned boy looked at him.

"This is how…I look…to you?" he asked. Con nodded. Wufei bowed his head again. "I do not deserve to be thought of so highly," he whispered, voice deep with emotion. Con squeezed his hand gently. He smiled as he spoke.

"While in your own eyes you may be unworthy, in another’s you are perfect. Wufei," Con said, gathering his courage, "I think you are worthy of every good thing that can happen." He grinned suddenly. "But I am a little biased," he continued. Wufei looked up at him as he spoke on. "You see, I know now that I feel something very strongly for you…here," he said, placing his hand over his heart. "What I’m feeling goes beyond mere friendship, Wufei. It is love, and because I love you, I know that you are perfect…" Con took Wufei’s hand, pressing a kiss to the palm, "strong…" He gently caressed Wufei’s cheek, "and deserving of praise," he finished. The older boy closed his eyes, chuckling. "It is I who don’t feel worthy of you," he said suddenly. Wufei’s eyes were wide. His hand shook slightly as he lifted it to where Con’s hand still stroked the skin of his cheek, lightly touching the other’s hand.

"You really mean that don’t you," he said softly. His eyes lit up slightly, and he smiled for the first time since they had left the warehouse. "Con, I think…I know I return your feelings. I love you too," the Chinese boy said. "And I don’t see why you don’t feel worthy. You are brave and strong, and firm in your convictions," he said, still smiling. Con chuckled then.

"Well, love is crazy," he said. "But it may let others see in us what we don’t see ourselves," he added. "I haven’t painted since Dorian, the man I loved, died. After that morning, I was inspired again." Con smiled down at the younger boy. "You brought my soul back to me," he said. He enfolded Wufei in a warm embrace then. The Chinese pilot wrapped his own arms around Con’s waist. They stood silently, looking at the painting.

Trowa pulled Quatre down the beach until they were out of earshot. The blonde looked quizzically at the taller pilot.

"Trowa, did you want to tell me something?" he asked. Trowa stopped and turned to him. His eyes were serious as he gazed at the smaller boy, their emerald green seeming darker, as if hiding a secret. Trowa’s face was still, like a calm pool with hidden depths. Quatre looked trustingly up at him, content to wait until he spoke. Finally, Trowa took a breath.

"Quatre, I’m sure you’ve figured I wanted to tell you something." Trowa bowed his head slightly, thinking of what he wanted to say. He raised his head and looked Quatre directly in the eyes. "Quatre, when I heard your voice call my name when you were kidnapped, I felt pain in my heart. I knew you were in trouble and that I wasn’t going to make it in time to save you." His brow furrowed slightly at the remembrance, and Quatre raised a hand to the taller pilot’s brow, smoothing away the lines with a sweet smile. Trowa smiled slightly back. "I guess what I wanted to tell you is how much I care for you. You are my sun in a world of darkness Quatre. I was so worried that we wouldn’t come in time to get you away from Rimbo. I feel terrible, but I was glad that Wufei paid the price. If he hadn’t made a sacrifice, I know you would have been hurt, and I don’t want that." Trowa looked ashamed of himself then, and Quatre impulsively put his arms around the taller pilot.

"Oh Trowa, don’t feel that way. I looked in Wufei’s eyes when he made the decision. There was humiliation, but I did not see regret. Wufei did it to help me, and I know he couldn’t have made any other choice, because that is the kind of pilot he is." The blonde smiled. "To tell you the truth, I was glad about his decision too," he added. Trowa let laughter show in his eyes, the smaller pilot’s cheer reaching him. Then he became serious again.

"Quatre, thank you for making me feel better," he said. "But I have something else to tell you. When I learned you had been kidnapped, I felt something cold wash over me. I was so worried about you. Then when I saw you tied up, but okay, I felt the sunshine of your smile as you saw me. It felt so warm and wonderful, and I knew then that I couldn’t live without you." Trowa tilted Quatre’s chin upwards. "Quatre Raberba Winner, I love you," he said, and leaned down to place a soft and gentle kiss on Quatre’s upturned lips. Then he pulled back quickly and waited for the smaller pilot’s reaction. Quatre’s eyes were wide, and his hand raised to his lips, as if he could feel the warmth left by Trowa’s kiss. Then he threw his arms around Trowa’s neck.

"Trowa, I love you too! I was afraid to say something because I didn’t know if you felt as strongly as I do." The little blonde’s expression was sunshine and pure joy. Trowa felt the warmth of the look penetrate to his very core, melting something hard and cold inside of him that had remained frozen for so long. With growing wonder, Trowa felt he had been changed. A feeling bubbled up inside of him, and a husky chuckle worked its way past his lips, building into a delighted laugh. He put his arms around Quatre and swung him in a circle. Quatre gasped in surprise, then laughed aloud with his love. When Trowa had set the blonde back down, their lips met again, this time in a longer more passionate kiss. The two of them held each other and looked at the ocean.

Heero and Duo had just finished oiling the guns, and Duo put his down with a sigh. His eyes were on Trowa and Quatre. Then he looked at the small building where Con and Wufei had disappeared. He sighed again.

"You know, sometimes I feel like the loneliest guy on the planet, do you know what I mean Heero?" he asked, turning to the Japanese pilot. Heero just grunted and placed his gun back in the duffel bag. Duo grinned.

"Look who I’m talking to," he said. "The perfect soldier probably doesn’t have time for things like love and finding a companion, huh?" He shook his head and stood up, dusting his pants off. "Well Heero, I’ll see you later," he said with a wave as he walked back to the cabin. Heero watched him go, then turned to the ocean. Pulling his knees to his chest, he rested his chin on them and stared out at the horizon. If someone had been there and had looked closely enough, they would have seen a single tear make a damp trail down the perfect soldier’s cheek.

The End

Author’s note: I know, I know, it’s a kinda sad ending….please don’t hurt me! *dodges thrown objects* I’m sorry, but I really don’t believe in the Heero/Duo pairing, although I do enjoy stories with them. Although, in this fic you can interpret it that way if you choose. I left it rather vague on purpose. Heero is pining for whomever you wish him to. *grins*