Heated Touch

A/N: I'm baaa-aack! With the sequel to Shiver lol. Enjoy! (I advise you to read Shiver first before reading this.) Oi, and as pointed out by Alea, -cough- you're right, it IS probably impossible to fall asleep while walking. BUT! Kira was tired from running and being stuck in the rain, so his mind blanked out and 'fell asleep' (Lol…hope you all understood that…).

Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam SEED.


The small apartment creaked as the wind seeped into the room through the small cracks. The bedroom was dark and only the sliver of light coming from the hallway illuminated the floor. Soft breathing could barely be heard in the quiet pitter-patter of the rain. The sheets moved slightly and tousled brown hair was seen underneath the thick blankets. The figure underneath the covers moved again and he shifted slightly to the right, his eyes slowly opening, trying to adjust to the darkness.

Panic gripped him as he took a slender hand from under the blankets to grope at his eyes, "I can't see! What's this weight on my eyes?"

He pealed a cold wet cloth off his face and stared at it quizzically. He closed and opened his eyes several times, trying to clear the blurry edges in his vision and sniffled. He was confused. "How did I get home…? And moreover…What was this doing on my head?"

After tossing the cloth carelessly on the table beside him, Kira's violet eyes glanced at the window and saw the trails of rain dancing down the glass. The moody, grey sky frowned at him and continued to shower the city in its tears. "Wasn't I…in the rain…?"

His eyes widened with remembrance, "…with Athrun…" A vivid blush appeared, dusted like frosting on his cheeks.

Shaking his head slowly to clear the muddled thoughts, he turned to the bedside table and read the clock sitting on it. "…eight forty-two…pm? Eight forty-two pm!"

He moaned and closed his eyes. He was supposed to be at Lacus' dinner party tonight at 7 pm! Not only was he late but he wasn't even ready yet; however since he did make a promise to Lacus, he had no choice but to get up and quickly run out of the house again. Still feeling bone-tired after the nap, Kira propped himself up quickly and tried to swing his legs over the bed. What he didn't notice was that his whole lower body was tangled in his sheets plus with the dizzy and soreness he was experiencing…

BAM!

Athrun, distracted in the kitchen, looked into the direction of Kira's room. He placed the knife back on the counter - he was preparing dinner for the two of them - and decided to check up on him. His socks muffled his arrival to the beige door that separated him from Kira and slowly, he opened it.

"Kira…?"

The disheveled male looked up at him, clearly distressed, as he tried to untangle himself from the mess of blankets and sheets. "Athrun? What are you still doing here?" Kira had fallen out of bed.

The lights clicked on and Kira had to close his eyes painfully, unaccustomed to the sheer brightness after waking up in the dark. He heard Athrun close the distance between them and felt him kneel down by his feet.

"…You just had to open the lights…"

Hearing Athrun laugh at his comment, Kira blinked blearily at him and repeated, "What are you still doing here? What about Lacus' dinner party? I thought you were invited too…"

Ignoring him for the moment, Athrun frowned at Kira as he placed a firm, but gentle hold of him on his arm. He swept a few stray bangs away from his forehead and left his hand there.

"-Wh-What are you doing?" asked Kira, wide-eyed and staring at the former pilot.

"Hrmm…" Athrun looked at Kira passively before replying. "Go back to bed, you aren't going because of your fever and I'm not going because no one would be here to help you."

"I don't have a-"

"Fever? Yes you do, from the rain no doubt," Athrun stared sternly at Kira. "Didn't I warn you?"

"Yes, yes…" Kira clamped his mouth shut, feeling the sudden urge to call Athrun his mother. Clearing his throat so as to suppress his laughter, Kira spoke, "But you don't have to stay! I can take care of myself."

Athrun gave him 'the look'.

Frowning, Kira stared back with equal intensity, noticing that he was still sitting on the ground. "Funny how you can notice the small details in the background when concentrating…"

The deep green eyes melted slightly as they flickered over the complexion of his friend.

Kira, noticing even more of the little things happening around him, stared back at Athrun, his gaze trained on him - him and his hand still on his forehead…The firm hold on his arm…

The expression on his face melted and was replaced with a calm as he started to think about Kira…His eyes glimmering even in the dullest light…

…The firm hold on his arm…Flesh on flesh…

Athrun couldn't help but lean in closer to peer at those beautiful, soulful eyes. How can they be so deep and still retain the intense violet?

…Flesh on flesh…Flesh on flesh?...Bare hand on bare arm?!

Kira yelped and moved away from Athrun like a bullet. Athrun, startled, moved back instinctively to give Kira some room. Athrun gazed worriedly at his friend. Did he move in too close?

"What's wrong Kira?"

The brown-haired teen quickly glanced underneath the covers before slowly dropping them back over himself. His face immediately turned a bright cherry red and he stared at Athrun in hysteria. "Athrun, you stripped me?!"

Athrun flinched and bowed his head. "I couldn't just leave you in your wet clothes!" He looked up at Kira imploringly, "I'm sorry, Kira."

Kira was still at a lost for words, his face expressing a look of shock.

Inside, Athrun was panicking, trying to decide the most eloquent and pain-reducing way to explain this to Kira. He looked at the other coordinator and saw that his face was still very red. Was he, himself, just as embarrassed? Could Kira tell? All he can feel right now is the incredible heat rising in his cheeks.

-Briiiiiiiiinnnnggg!-

Thank goodness. The timer in the kitchen saved him.

"Kira, I'll come back into your room and explain later. I have to go check on the chicken." Athrun immediately dashed out of the room and slammed the door shut.

Still in the same stupor, Kira inched his way on top of his bed and curled up into the blankets…

-------------------------------------

Athrun placed the knife down once again and sighed. The vegetable he was supposed to be cutting was left half-chopped. He was still quite worried about Kira. Would he forgive him?

Flashback

The blue-haired teen pressed the other boy he was now carrying closer to himself as he walked up the stairs to his apartment.

"Of all the times I wished you would fall asleep on me, it's when we're walking in the rain..." murmured Athrun under his breath. How inconvenient. He glanced down at the sleeping boy and couldn't help but smile as the frustration disappeared.

"Did you know you look absolutely adorable right now, Kira?" he whispered as he walked up the final flight of stairs.

And as if Kira was responding, he shifted his head to the side and mumbled incoherently. Again, the same gentle smile alighted Athrun's face as he stopped in front of their destination. He took the keys from Kira's pocket, and carefully turned the knob, entering the warm and cozy hallway.

Athrun went into Kira's room and placed him onto his bed, where he promptly flipped to his side, getting comfortable. The green-eyed teen shook his head in utter disbelief, unwilling to believe that Kira was such a heavy sleeper and walked to the nearest washroom. He needed to get himself dry…

After spending several minutes trying to find the towels - there were no clean ones in the washroom - he came across a few in the hallway closet. During the short search, he had discarded his jacket and left it to dry on the back of the dining room chair. He carefully crept into Kira's room and found him still asleep on his bed.

"…Kira…"

Athrun approached the male slowly, as if any sudden movements would startle him awake. He sat beside Kira, his weight causing the bed to shift slightly, and Athrun nervously began the task of drying Kira's hair and face.

"His hair is so soft…" Athrun couldn't help but think as his hand brushed against it.

Once he was done, he glanced at the wet clothing Kira was still wearing. The blanket underneath him had already begun to soak up the moisture but Athrun could still see slight tremors going through Kira. He needed to get rid of the clothing.

His hands shaking, Athrun's fingers descended onto the buttons of Kira's shirt but they halted mid-way, unsure if this was the right thing to do.

"I shouldn't do this. Kira will just think I took advantage of him...But if I don't he'll get sick…"

"I guess I have no choice…"

Athrun boldly unbuttoned the shirt, letting it slide easily off the chest. Gulping down whatever moisture was left in his mouth since right now his throat was rather dry, Athrun gently eased the shirt off, refraining himself from 'accidentally' brushing the warm skin.

"Damn it all…"

He was so sorely tempted when the shirt came off, leaving Kira exposed on the bed obliviously asleep in his own little dream world, but with whatever will he had left, Athrun didn't. It would be wrong.

Now came the hard part - his pants.

"Oh god…" thought Athrun in horror. He was quite aware how heated he felt at that moment and if he was to take off the pants, he knew for sure that he'll have to drown himself in a bathtub full of cold water to calm himself down.

Sighing, his fingers twitched as he unbuckled the belt, the metal clasp cold in his hand. He could feel the sweat trickle down his forehead and slowly, he slid the black pants off, revealing the thin but muscled thighs and calves.

Athrun, who couldn't possibly stand the temptation any longer, quickly bolted out of the room and opened the tap, plunging his whole face into cold water. He felt as if he ran a whole mile without breathing. After calming himself down, he stared at his reflection in the bathroom mirror, spotting the pale expression on his face. The thought of a near-naked Kira in his room made Athrun weak in the knees all over again accompanied with a nice ruby flush.

He slammed his hand on the marble counter, "Curse it! Why must I be so attracted to him?"

He felt so frustrated that he couldn't just tell Kira, afraid of rejection and the loss of their friendship. He was nothing but a coward. "A very big coward…"

Clenching his fist, he willed himself to breathe steadier. Turning back into Kira's room, Athrun found him curled up like a kitten and he had to bite down his bottom lip to prevent himself from cooing out loud. Athrun took out the extra blanket he found while sifting for the towels and placed it on top of Kira.

For awhile now, Athrun sat at the foot of his bed, occasionally staring out the window but the majority of the time, just staring at Kira. The temptation still lingered but it was nothing but a feathery trace now that Kira was all covered up. But still…Athrun came forward and brushed a few stray hairs from Kira's eyes, effectively feeling the warm forehead.

"Damn, he has a fever…"

Athrun got up grimly and headed to the washroom to get a wet towel. "Why am I not surprised that he's sick?"

Sighing, he got a cloth and placed it under the tap. "I guess I'll stay here and watch over him. I can't just leave him when he has a fever…" Athrun smiled slightly at the prospect of his task.

End Flashback

"That's it. I have to explain to Kira right now before the guilt drives me into the utter brink of insanity."

Athrun, while holding a glass of water, took the medicine he found in a cabinet and headed towards Kira's room. He opened the door he so recently slammed shut and peered inside. He only saw Kira's back facing towards him.

He padded quietly towards the sleeping male, placing the water and medicine onto the bedside table. Athrun sidestepped around the bed and knelt down in front of Kira, facing his peaceful features.

Athrun absent-mindedly reached out and touched Kira's warm cheek lightly. "I'm so sorry…I didn't mean for you to become so aggravated Kira…"

He began running a thumb underneath his lower lip, tracing the shape of it. "You know I didn't take advantage of you and you know I don't mean to. At least I hope you think I don't…"

Athrun shook his head, fully knowing that Kira is still asleep and probably can't hear him apologizing. "I guess it is rather silly of me apologizing right now…I'll tell you again tomorrow…"

A tense silence was lifted as Athrun bent down and placed a gentle kiss on Kira's forehead. Gazing adoringly at the other, he got up and headed towards the door. This time he made sure to close the lights as he went out and before he left, he murmured quietly, "Sweet dreams, Kira…"

The door closed and Kira's mouth twitched into a smile.


End Part 1

Note: Athrun didn't strip him all the way down. Kira still had his boxers on lol.

Yes…there is a part 2…and LOL! Shakuhachi Jade practically guessed half of what happened in this chapter XD Am I that predictable? Hahaha, good job!

Thank you for your valuable time readers.

Spyrit