"Oh, man… I don't know how much longer I'll be able to keep walking… Maybe I should ask him to slow down a little…" Duo thought to himself, looking at the figure walking a few paces in front of him.

"No… I can't do that… He'll think that I'm weak… I don't want him to think that… Weakness can't be part of the Perfect Soldier's life, even now that the war is over…" he scolded himself, shaking his head. "Besides, during the war I faced worse conditions with less sleep…"

{{Yeah, but you hadn't been separated from Heero for months when those

situations occurred.}}

{So…? What has that got to do with it?}

{{Heh…}}

{… What…?}

{{You know.}}

{No I don't.}

{{Liar.}}

{I run, I hide, but I never lie!}

{{I thought that we already went over that earlier.}}

{Yeah… I guess we did…}

{{Trust me. We did.}}

{Well… So?}

{{Just tell him you need to rest.}}

{No way!}

{{Why not?}}

{He'll think I'm a weakling!}

{{Really? You think so?}}

{Yeah…}

{{I think you're wrong… I think you'd be surprised.}}

{Oh well… Doesn't matter… I'm not gonna.}

{{You should. You're only going to hurt yourself if you don't.}}

{Nah… I won't.}

{{You'll catch cold.}}

{No way! Death doesn't get sick!}

{{Uh huh. Sure. Then how about that cold you got during one mission?}}

{Aaa… Ano… Eto…}

{{That's what I thought. Now hurry up and ask to rest. If you don't, you'll-}}

With a scarcely perceptible groan, Duo collapsed, his energy reserve completely spent. He hadn't been in what you could call a well-rested state before he had first spotted Heero in the woods… Running away from his friend made him more tired… And even after all the sleep he had gotten before searching for the Japanese boy, he still hadn't been at his best.

Chasing after Heero had pushed him to his limits physically, and then the emotional roller-coaster he had ridden on once he had finally found Heero had drained him mentally… In short, he just couldn't go any further on his own.

Heero heard his friend and turned around just in time to keep Duo from hitting the ground. Duo noted somewhere in the back of his head just how strong Heero was.

"Duo no baka… Why didn't you just say that you needed to rest for a few minutes?" Heero questioned. Duo was almost sure that he could hear some emotion in his friend's voice… Was he upset? And was that… Care? No… Of course not… Not from Heero!

"Didn' wanna' make ya' think I was weak or anythin'…" Duo replied, his voice slurred and tired. He looked up, purple eyes meeting cobalt ones, and smiled weakly.

It took all Duo's self control to keep from crying. "I can't cry…" he thought to himself. "Boys don't cry… I can' t cry… Boys don't cry!" he silently repeated to himself over and over. A tear formed in one eye and threatened to spill down to his cheek.

Heero shook his head. "No, Duo… I wouldn't have thought you were weak…" he murmured, tracing the edge of Duo's face with one callused thumb.

Duo almost fainted right then and there. He had heard actual compassion in Heero's voice that time. It wasn't his imagination, he was sure it wasn't! And the path that Heero's thumb traced on his face left behind an extremely pleasant tingly feeling…

Much to Duo's surprise, he felt himself being scooped up by the Japanese ex- pilot. Heero's strong arms were surprisingly gentle, and Duo felt himself relax quicker than he ever had before. He felt safe in Heero's arms; his friend wouldn't let anything or anyone harm him… He was sure of it.

Practically purring, Duo quickly fell asleep in Heero's arms as his friend continued to head towards the place he had left his motorcycle.