A/N: I hate what I do to Hisoka in this chapter, my only saving grace is that it was written into the anime .

Disclaimer: It's probably a good thing I don't own the anime, because I would actually make it yaoi – Tsuzuki and Hisoka is just too cute!

Chapter 1: Sleeping in Safety

"NOOOO!!!!"

The scream took Tsuzuki from unconscious to wide awake in a nanosecond. "Wazzhappening?" Okay, so maybe not wide awake, but definitely conscious. The scream sounded again and Tsuzuki bolted out of bed. It sounded like Hisoka – but where was it coming from? Then he heard the faintest of whimpers, "Tsuzuki, please, help…."

"Oh gods…," Tsuzuki breathed. Hisoka was in trouble – he was hearing him screaming in his mind. He yanked on some pants and a shirt and quickly teleported into Hisoka's house. Taking the stairs two at a time, he burst into Hisoka's bedroom, and the only thing he felt when he saw Hisoka safely in bed was intense relief. Hisoka was alright, he had only been imagining it… Wait. Hisoka's face contorted like he was in pain, and a whimper escaped his lips as he thrashed in the bed. 'He's having a nightmare,' Tsuzuki realized. His heart ached about the fact that even in sleep, his partner had no respite from his pain. He moved forwards, gently brushing his hand against his partner's smaller one, and was suddenly pulled into the dream.

A horrified child watched blood run down the women's body, staining the white coat of the angelic demon that held her in his grasp. The demon turned, staring directly into bright green eyes, and his lips curved upwards in a malicious smile. When the boy ran, he gave chase and soon overpowered him, dragging him to the ground. The boy screamed as he hit the ground hard, a heavy body on top of his.

'Hisoka, it's okay, it's only a dream, wake up.'

The demon ripped the boy's clothes off, exposing the creamy skin to the night air. The knife flashed as the first of many cuts were made on the child's torso.

'Hisoka! Wake up!'

The knife was tossed aside, the blonde's legs were yanked open, and the demon's hips snapped forward. The little blonde let out an agonized scream.

"Hisoka! Wake up!"

Back in the bedroom, Hisoka suddenly sat up, shaking and sobbing, while bits of reality slowly sunk in. The sticky warmth of tears that seemed to have two sources, arms tightening around him, fear from somewhere else being ruthlessly suppressed, waves of comfort and safety flowing over him…. Somehow he knew that it was Tsuzuki who was holding him, and allowed himself to give in to a few moments of comfort, clutching Tsuzuki's shirt and sobbing into his chest.

"It's okay, angel, it's okay, it's only a dream. He can't hurt you here. You're safe." While Tsuzuki talked to him, he gently stroked Hisoka's blond hair, which was damp with sweat, and rubbed soothing circles on his back, trying to calm his heaving partner.

Eventually, Hisoka's sobs evened out and he pushed himself off Tsuzuki, suddenly ashamed of the childish way he had clung to the older man. People would never stop looking at him like a child if he didn't stop acting like it.

"I'm sorry Tsuzuki, I didn't mean to do that." He tried to make his voice cold, so that he would leave him. Again, however, Tsuzuki proved too understanding of his feelings.

"Hisoka, do you think that I think less of you, that I think you are a child for crying in my arms?" Hisoka looked away from him, and that was all the answer he needed. He reached out and gently lifted Hisoka's chin, turning him to face him. The green eyes were still covered with a light, clear blue film. "Listen to me, Hisoka." Tsuzuki kept his voice quiet but firm. "You are one of the strongest people I know. Anyone who'd been through what you were would have nightmares. It's not a sign of weakness. If you can share your pain with someone, want comfort from someone, it's a sign of your strength. I will never think you're weak or a child if you turn to me for comfort."

Hisoka looked at him. 'Really?' he thought. 'Can I really turn to Tsuzuki when I have a nightmare, and he'll hold me and tell me he cares about me?'

Touching like they were, Hisoka forgot to shield his thoughts from Tsuzuki, who 'heard' everything.

"Yes, Hisoka. I will always be here to hold you." Hisoka blushed at the fact that Tsuzuki had heard him, and blushed even deeper when Tsuzuki pressed a kiss to his forehead. "I love you."

Tears welled up in Hisoka's eyes again. "No one has ever said that to me before."

"It's true, Hisoka." Tsuzuki gave him a gentle smile. "Now, let's get you back to bed. Stay here for a moment." Tsuzuki got up and went to the bathroom, where Hisoka heard the water running. Tsuzuki reappeared in moments, holding a wet washcloth and a glass of water. He set the water down and slowly began to wipe Hisoka's face with the cloth. He was about to call him an idiot and say that he was not a child, but the loving, concentrated look in Tsuzuki's eyes forced him to keep his hands at his sides as he gently wiped away the sweat and tear tracks staining Hisoka's face. He then handed him the glass of water while he returned the washcloth to the bathroom. Coming back, he asked, "Do you want to change? These are kind of wet," he said, fingering his shirt. "O-okay," he said. He turned around quickly, and slowly lifted his shirt off, trying to hide his small, scarred body from Tsuzuki's gaze. Once again, Tsuzuki understood his feelings.

"Are you ashamed of your body Hisoka?" Hisoka bowed his head. Did Tsuzuki have to know everything? He suddenly let out a startled squawk when arms wrapped around his bare stomach, warm lips gently pressing against his shoulder. "Do you even know how beautiful you are, angel? These scars," Hisoka shivered as one long finger slowly traced one of the scars on his stomach, "don't matter to me Hisoka. They are simply a sign of the hardships that you've had to live through." Hisoka gave into the feelings of comfort and love radiating from Tsuzuki and leaned back into the warm shelter of the larger body behind him, Tsuzuki's soft lips placing butterfly kisses along his shoulder to his neck. He cradled him close, turning him in his arms. Hisoka looked up into his eyes, and knew that Tsuzuki wanted to kiss him, but didn't want to scare him off. He tilted his head, closing his eyes, and that was all the permission Tsuzuki needed. The kiss was everything Hisoka had never experienced in his life, before Tsuzuki. Warmth, comfort, affection, tenderness, and gentle love were all rolling over him, and he was floating on these feelings, never wanting them to end. Unfortunately, Tsuzuki broke the kiss and smiled down at him. "We really should get some sleep, love."

"O-okay." Hisoka was still trying to come down from the emotional high and didn't protest when Tsuzuki lay down next to him, pulling the covers over both of them. However, when his arms wrapped around him, Hisoka managed to surface. "Wha-What are you doing?"

"Is this okay, Hisoka? I won't hurt you, I swear. I promised I'd protect and wouldn't let you have nightmares anymore." Tsuzuki looked at him, his violet eyes beseeching. Hisoka allowed himself to relax back into his partner's arms, his body a little tense, as he had always tried to maintain physical distance from people. Tsuzuki gently stroked his back and his hair, so the tension in him was slowly eased.

"I love you, angel. Sleep, and I'll keep you safe." Hisoka clung to that love and promise, and moved his hand so that his fingers entwined with Tsuzuki's as he was lulled into sleep.

A/N: Please review! Warning: Lemon in next chapter, so if you can't handle, don't read.