Warning: This story has slash (boyxboy), if this offends you then please hit the back button. :)
Antauri sprawled himself among the sheets and sighed. This was the first ounce of rest he has been allowed in the past week since the war started and he was going to savor every last minute of this rare chance for sleep. He was lucky he still had enough energy to get to his bed; a majority of the team had not even gotten past the main room before collapsing into dead sleep.
He wrapped the dark blanket around his body and relaxed against the soft cloth. He allowed his heavy eyes to fall and his mind to cloud as he slowly drifted away from the real word.
Warm.
Warm, soft, and smelled lovely.
Antauri nuzzled further into this welcoming feeling and a metallic hand gently pressed against his head, petting him. His eyes peeked open and a soft orange entered his vision. Reality held up a red flag towards the familiar colored fur, but his dream self merely looked up and eyed the former leader. Mandarin's dark eyes were focused on his reading as his fingers continued to trace along Antauri's head.
He must have said something because Mandarin's eyes locked on to Antauri's and the leader's mouth perked up into a strangely soft smile and Antauri felt his heart break.
There was once a time when Mandarin was so kind. A time when Antauri would simply walk into the orange simian's room, lie by his side, and Mandarin would place a hand on Antauri's back or head and trace the line of his helmet or spine. He would not even look at Antauri. He would just read his book and soothe the black monkey without a second thought. And if Antauri spoke, Mandarin would smile and respond in a soft, calming voice. A rarity for the demanding leader.
Antauri had not realized when morning came. He just absorbed the calm, warming memory and did not think of anything else. There was no war, no pain, no anxiety, no stress.
And there was only Mandarin and himself.
That was all he wanted.
But it was only a burning memory.
It was only a thin link between the past and now.
Mandarin was no longer his leader.
Antauri was no longer his second-in-command.
It was over.
Antauri awoke to an empty bed and tear-stained eyes.
