Heero and Duo, Saiyan Gods
Part 6: Chi-Chi's Confrontation
By: Phantasm Soldier
Anime series: Gundam Wing/Dragon Ball Z
Romance/action/suspense/alternate universe
Not a lemon or a lime
Yaoi: Heero and Duo
Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing or Dragon Ball Z or any of their characters. The only characters that are mine are the ones that don't belong to or in either Gundam Wing or Dragon Ball Z.
Chi-Chi quietly cleared her throat, as not to wake Heero. Duo whipped his head around to see who was spying. He smiled. "Is something wrong?" Duo mouthed, afraid to speak out loud and taking the chance that Heero might wake up. Heero needed all the rest he could get and if Duo had to strap him to the bed, he was going to get it.
Chi-Chi motioned for Duo to come out of the room. Duo looked at Heero, unsure if he should leave the slumbering boy's side. He, reluctantly, got up and went to Chi-Chi. She closed to door softly behind them and practically shoved Duo into the kitchen. Duo had been surprised at her strength. He wasn't accustomed to being rude to a woman, unless she was trying to kill or otherwise hurt him, Heero or one of his friends. He wouldn't hit, insult, or, depending on if they were older than him or not, he wouldn't backtalk or disrespect them in any way. Though, Duo would not offer his respect to someone that didn't respect him in return. Maybe that's why he had so much trouble with school. Every one of the authority figures thought they were deserving of his respect, but he didn't deserve theirs. Though, that was off subject, he just didn't say anything about the shoving. It wasn't like she was shoving him into a jail cell when he hadn't done anything. "What is it Chi-Chi, if I may call you that?" Duo asked. "Oh sure, go right ahead. I was walking by the room to Gohan's room to see if he was studying or if he'd snuck out to play with that dragon he calls Ickeris." (sp?) Chi-Chi began. "Yeah?" Duo pressed, wanting to get back to Heero. "I saw how much affection you were showing that boy, Heero, and I think you two make a cute couple. You obviously like him and if he trusts you as much as it seems he does, that he'd let you carry him around like that, then I think he likes you too. So, tell him." Chi-Chi said, not blushing in the least.
Duo started. "Ma'am, I'm not in love with Heero. I'm not gay. Not that there's anything WRONG with that, I'm just not." Duo said. "It doesn't matter what gender your true love is, if you love them, you can't do anything about it. Even if you wanted to. You could deny it and say it isn't true, but what happens if it IS true? What happens if it is true and you don't tell him how you feel and he ends up with someone else? You'll be in pain. Love hurts. Especially, when you let it slip through your fingers. You have millions of chances. Just tell him." Chi-Chi said. "Chi-Chi, I think you read that wrong. We...we're just friends. Nothing more." Duo denied.
"Alright, Duo. If that's how you want it. I just hope that you can deal with the pain if Heero gets tired of waiting for you to say something and takes your silence as a rejection and goes off with someone else. Maybe, even a woman and marries her. You're chance would be gone forever, probably if that happens." Chi-Chi said. "Umm, I need to get back to Heero, now. I don't want him waking up in this strange place, all alone." Duo said, politely excusing himself. Sometimes, being kind to women was an annoying habit. Sister Helen and Father Maxwell had drilled that into him. Unless, in self-defense he never hit a woman or girl, or unless he was defending someone who couldn't defend themselves or a friend....or Heero. Duo wasn't sure if what he told Chi-Chi was a lie or not. If it was it would be his first lie. And his last. He had no desire to go around LYING to people.
He opened and shut the door quietly. He turned and almost jumped out of his skin as he noticed Heero was watching him. Awake.
"Heero, what are you doing awake?" Duo asked. "I woke up." Heero said. "Obviously. I mean, WHAT woke you up?" Duo asked. "I just woke up. I've been sleeping too much." Heero said. "No, you haven't. You haven't been sleeping, ENOUGH for the wound you've got. Heero, lay back." Duo said, pushing him back gently. Heero winced and Duo jerked his hands away. "I'm sorry." Duo said. "No, that's alright. Any movement hurts." Heero said, through gritted teeth. He couldn't bring himself to move any which way, because the pain would increase and he hurt just sitting there as well in that position. "What have I gotten myself into?" Heero asked out loud.
Duo wrapped his arms around him and laid him back gently that way, since Heero could just let his weight onto Duo. "There. Now STAY that way." Duo said. "I don't wanna." Heero said, sounding much like a small child. "Heero, please stay there. I KNOW you don't want to, but if you do, you'll stop hurting for a while." Duo said. Heero didn't really care about that, but since Duo had asked him to, he decided it wouldn't kill him to do something someone told him too, for once.
"Why is there only one bed? Are we in separate rooms?" Heero asked. "No, this is the only room available and there's only one bed, because this was meant for one guest or a married couple, I guess. There aren't anymore beds. If you want me to sleep on the floor or in a chair, I'll understand. I mean, it might be uncomfortable and I might hurt you." Duo said. "No, that's alright, you can sleep in the bed, if you promise to sleep and not that half asleep crap you pull since I've been injured." Heero said. "But, if I move too much..." Duo was cut off. "Alright, Duo. Would you ever intentionally, if it couldn't be helped, hurt me?" Heero asked. Duo's eyes widen with shock. "No, of course not! How could you even THINK something like that about me?!" Duo asked, in astonishment. "I don't think that about you. I just wanted you to hear yourself say it. So, if it isn't intentional, then, to me, it doesn't matter." Heero said.
Duo considered this. "Alright, IF you're sure." Duo said. "I'm sure. You can sleep in this bed with me when you're ready to go to sleep." Heero said.
Heero, never doing as he knows he should, tried, yet again, to get up. "Heero, please, stay in the position I put you in." Duo said, again getting Heero to lay down. Heero was already sweating again. "It hurts." Heero said, gritting his teeth. "I know. If I had the chance I'd take that pain for you, but I can't. It would help if you'd stay laying down, though." Duo said, brushing sweaty bangs from Heero's face. Duo got an idea. He got up to go to the bathroom and get a washcloth and bowl of cold water. "Are you leaving me? Where're you going?" Heero asked, knowing that he was completely helpless. It hurt too much to even sit up for too long, and he could forget about getting up. He'd grown too accustomed to not being injured over the years that he'd lost some of that tolerance for pain, not needing to use it very often. During the war he was fresh out of training and he was always hurt in some way while training. Nothing very permanent, though. This, however, would leave a permanent, thin, light colored scar on his chest. It wouldn't be a raised scar, but it would only be noticeable if someone were looking for it.
He'd found out that Duo had stitched him up and bandaged him all on his own. Getting the supplies he'd need and he'd done a bang up job with it, too. Though, he was probably taught how to do things like that a long time ago, maybe even during training or sooner. Heero had passed out from the pain of the examination of the wound. Duo had been gentle in examining it, but one could only be so gentle with a wound like that and even then it hurt to just touch it. It hurt to breath, because his chest moved. He hadn't told Duo that, though. He hadn't wanted him to worry.
Through Heero's constant painful breathing, though, he'd had an almost permanent look of pain on his face. Duo was suspicious if he hadn't already figured it out. He hadn't scolded Heero for not telling him, yet, so he figured that he was still putting the pieces together on that.
Heero was very tired all of a sudden. And cold. He used just his arms to pull the covers up. Seeing this, Duo helped him. Heero tried to yawn, but the pain was so horrible his breath caught and a look of pure agony from how much his chest had moved upward was on his face. He let out a whimper as he exhaled in a shuddering breath. "Heero, what's wrong?!" Duo asked, kneeling down on the floor, next to Heero's side, so that he was level with Heero, instead of sitting on the bed, taller than Heero and looming over him. He wanted to be as close to Heero as possible, when he was in such pain. "Hurts." Heero said, very quietly, through gritted teeth as he slowly let more of the air he'd taken in, out. "Hurts? What hurts? Your chest? But, you weren't sitting up." Duo said. "Hurts to breath." Heero said. "Aww, Heero." Duo said. He hadn't realized that Heero was in so much pain. He'd seen the looks on Heero's face now and then, but only when he sat up. He smoothed Heero's bangs back, feeling that Heero had a temperature. "Heero, you're burning up!" Duo exclaimed. "I'm tired." Heero said, already starting to fall asleep. "Okay, just sleep, Heero. Just sleep. I'll be here when you wake up, I promise. I'm going to go get something that might break your fever or at least make you feel better." Duo said. He waited until Heero had fallen asleep and then went to the bathroom for the bowl of water and washcloth.
He came back out and sat next to Heero again, then put the washcloth in the cold water and gently pressed it to Heero's forehead, wiping off the sweat gently and slowly, then proceeded to do the same with Heero's whole face, straying from sensitive areas that might wake the boy up, such as his eyes, nose and mouth. He did the same with Heero's neck and what part of his chest that wasn't covered by the covers or the bandages. Then, he went back to wash over Heero's face again with the cloth. Duo repeated this until the water was gone and the rag wasn't of any use to him anymore. Heero woke up a few times, while Duo was doing that and just looked at Duo for a second before falling asleep again.
Once, Heero had stopped him and stayed awake long enough to say 'thank you', but quickly fell asleep, again.
Chi-Chi came in a few times to see how everything was going. She asked if she should call a doctor, but Duo said that she shouldn't right now, because Heero really didn't need one. He only had a fever. He doubted Heero was very sick, just a fever and tiredness. It was probably that Heero just wouldn't rest. He'd keep trying to get up or sit up and it hurt him. Chi-Chi had agreed, but told Duo that if Heero got any worse she was calling a doctor and she didn't care if the whole world objected.
Goku came in to see how they were doing as well. He'd said that if they got any sensu beans before Heero was better, he'd bring one for him, but Koren still didn't have any. Duo had thanked him and left.
Gohan came in, saying that his mother wanted Duo to come out for dinner, but Duo, as big as his appetite usually was, refrained, saying that he'd rather stay with Heero and wasn't very hungry, anyway. He couldn't even think of eating very much when Heero was in so much pain. He did ask for some soup for Heero. Gohan had nodded and went to tell Chi-Chi.
A little later Gohan had returned with the soup and another bowl was on a tray with Heero's. It was apparently Duo's bowl. Duo had accepted them both, deciding that there wasn't much sense in making the small boy return his bowl. Heero wouldn't want him to starve himself, just because he was injured. If Duo'd done that during the wars, then Duo would be dead of starvation by now. But, Heero never seemed as helpless as he did now. He was totally dependant on Duo.
Heero woke up as Gohan shut the door. "Duo?" He asked. "Yeah, I'm here. Gohan brought us some soup. I think I can fix it to where you can sit up and eat it, but you hafta trust me." Duo said. "I trust you, Duo." Heero said, sleepily. "But, I'm not hungry." He added. "I don't care. You need to eat. I'm not hungry either and I'm going to eat as soon as you've eaten." Duo said. "Duo Maxwell? Not hungry? That's a real event. They should stop the presses for this one." Heero said, weakly, yawning and hurting himself again. "Watch it, Heero." Duo said.
Duo started rearranging the pillows, while letting Heero's full weight rest on Duo's arm, while the other worked with the pillows quickly. He let Heero back, gently, and Heero was in a sitting position.
Duo got the bowl of soup and lifted the spoon, full of broth, to his lips and blew on it gently. He fed Heero that spoonful and Heero swallowed it. "Don't you think I can feed myself?" Heero asked. "Heero, your chest hurts with any movement you make. Reaching to get the bowl, then balancing it just in your hands wouldn't work. One, you would eventually need to rest the bowl on something and it wouldn't be too smart to rest it on your chest and I really don't want you spilling it. You've already got a fever. And to feed yourself, you'd still have to move a little and I want you in the least amount of pain I can get you in." Duo said. Heero didn't look too pleased with having to have every single little thing done for him. He never did like that.
Duo sighed. "Please, just let take care of you until you're well. Just let me do this ONE thing." Duo said. If Heero hadn't anticipated how much pain it would cause him, he would have sighed, too. "Alright. It isn't as if I'm in the position to argue with you, anyway." Heero said. "Thank you. Now, swallow this." Duo said, feeding Heero another spoonful of broth.
Once the contents of the bowl was gone, Duo picked up his own bowl, because, he decided that he might as well eat it. He'd accepted it from Gohan and he'd told Heero that was going to. He adjusted Heero's pillows back to the way they were, so that he could lie down again. Heero actually watched Duo eat. He watched Duo take the first bite and slurp up the last of the broth as well.
Goku came in and said that Chi-Chi had sent Gohan to bed and was cleaning up in the kitchen and wanted to know if he and Heero were finished. "Chi-Chi sent Gohan to bed and said to come and see if you two were done so she could wash the dishes." Goku said, cheerfully. "Yeah, we're done. Tell Chi-Chi and Gohan thanks for the soup and thanks for takin' it away, Goku." Duo said. "That's okay. I know that if someone didn't come and get it, we probably wouldn't see it again, until Heero was better." Goku said. "Yeah, you're probably right." Duo said, grinning. Goku took the tray away.
Duo had nothing to sleep in, but that was alright, since he usually just slept in his boxers anyway. Heero was still saying that he was cold, whenever Duo asked him about it, so the body heat would probably do wonders for it, anyway. Duo went to take a shower, but left the door open so that he could hear Heero if Heero needed anything, though he knew that no matter what was wrong with Heero, he wouldn't get Duo out of the shower to do something for him. Not unless it was life or death. Duo sighed. He wouldn't have minded having to leave the shower if Heero needed something. It was like Heero could just as easily get up and get it. It was even painful to breath! No wonder it hurt so much to just move.
Duo came out of the bathroom in his boxers, stretching and yawning. He was so tired he could probably just fall over and sleep for a hundred years on the floor. Chi-Chi might not be too happy with it, though. And he didn't think he really could sleep for too long. All Heero would have to do was make some little noise and Duo would wake up. He was a heavy sleeper, but if something was wrong, something just told him to wake up and he just obeyed it.
He slipped under the covers of the bed, next to Heero. Heero was shivering, but sleeping. The shivering seemed to hurt him, because he was making that pained face again. The face that Duo couldn't stand to see on him. He got as close as he dared without hurting Heero and wrapped his arms around his waist, instead of his chest or something. The body heat from Duo seemed to be warming Heero up. Duo smiled. He let his head rest on the pillows, next to Heero's face and fell asleep.
Duo woke an hour later, to some movement and he felt something. He opened his eyes and Heero was asleep, but so close to him that he was almost kissing him. Their noses were touching. Duo moved his head back a little, not wanting Heero to wake up in that position or someone to walk in and see it, then fell asleep again.
A few hours passed and then Duo was jolted awake by some whimpering, sounding almost like crying. It was coming from Heero. He didn't blame him, Heero was probably sick of all the pain that never seemed to go away and when it did it didn't leave for long. Heero's tail had snaked around and wrapped itself around Duo's arm. Duo was still getting used to his Saiyan tail as well. He strained to see Heero's face clearly in the dark. Heero was sleeping, but obviously he'd moved and the pain was so bad that in his sleep he couldn't stop it and was crying. Duo didn't know why the pain hadn't woken him up. Maybe, Heero was too exhausted from all that pain to even BE woken up. He might have to just wake up on his own. Heero was in a new position now. He was laying on his side and Duo could see the tears coming from Heero's eyes, cascading down his cheeks.
Duo couldn't help himself. He leaned over and kissed the tears away. Maybe Chi-Chi was right. Maybe he did love Heero. Maybe that's what the unidentifiable feeling inside him was. Love. Of the romantic kind. Or so he liked to call it. Yes. That's what it was. Why he was only NOW realizing it, was beyond him. Or, maybe, he had always known, but just hadn't dug deep enough to realize it that he knew. Just didn't pay close enough attention.
Heero felt Duo as he kissed his tears away, but instead of waking up, he snuggled closer to Duo, though it hurt and brought more tears to his sleeping face. Heero had gotten himself so close that his head was just under Duo's chin. Duo left one hand around Heero's waist and started to toy with a lock of Heero's hair with the other, while whispering to Heero that it was okay and the pain would be gone again, soon. Heero stopped crying in his sleep and Duo stayed up for a little longer to make sure he was finished, knowing he wouldn't know of it when he woke up and soon fell asleep himself, after he was satisfied that Heero wasn't going to start crying in his sleep, anymore. He wondered, briefly, how Heero was going to react when he found himself being held in Duo's arms in that position, before he fell into a deep sleep.
Author's note: So, Duo's finally realized that he loves Heero. That doesn't mean Heero's realized it, though. They aren't a couple yet. I don't know how long I'll drag it out for that, though. *grins* Is Duo ready to admit it to other people, though? Should he? Someone might tell Heero or say something around Heero that might tell Heero of Duo's feelings, before Duo is ready to tell Heero. Then again, they might not. I know, no Chi-Chi bashing in this one. I'm sorry for people who wanted it. I'll get it in, in other parts. Really. I just had other ideas for this part, that's all. Hope you liked this part. Mail me at, traci1985babe@hotmail.com
Part 6: Chi-Chi's Confrontation
By: Phantasm Soldier
Anime series: Gundam Wing/Dragon Ball Z
Romance/action/suspense/alternate universe
Not a lemon or a lime
Yaoi: Heero and Duo
Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing or Dragon Ball Z or any of their characters. The only characters that are mine are the ones that don't belong to or in either Gundam Wing or Dragon Ball Z.
Chi-Chi quietly cleared her throat, as not to wake Heero. Duo whipped his head around to see who was spying. He smiled. "Is something wrong?" Duo mouthed, afraid to speak out loud and taking the chance that Heero might wake up. Heero needed all the rest he could get and if Duo had to strap him to the bed, he was going to get it.
Chi-Chi motioned for Duo to come out of the room. Duo looked at Heero, unsure if he should leave the slumbering boy's side. He, reluctantly, got up and went to Chi-Chi. She closed to door softly behind them and practically shoved Duo into the kitchen. Duo had been surprised at her strength. He wasn't accustomed to being rude to a woman, unless she was trying to kill or otherwise hurt him, Heero or one of his friends. He wouldn't hit, insult, or, depending on if they were older than him or not, he wouldn't backtalk or disrespect them in any way. Though, Duo would not offer his respect to someone that didn't respect him in return. Maybe that's why he had so much trouble with school. Every one of the authority figures thought they were deserving of his respect, but he didn't deserve theirs. Though, that was off subject, he just didn't say anything about the shoving. It wasn't like she was shoving him into a jail cell when he hadn't done anything. "What is it Chi-Chi, if I may call you that?" Duo asked. "Oh sure, go right ahead. I was walking by the room to Gohan's room to see if he was studying or if he'd snuck out to play with that dragon he calls Ickeris." (sp?) Chi-Chi began. "Yeah?" Duo pressed, wanting to get back to Heero. "I saw how much affection you were showing that boy, Heero, and I think you two make a cute couple. You obviously like him and if he trusts you as much as it seems he does, that he'd let you carry him around like that, then I think he likes you too. So, tell him." Chi-Chi said, not blushing in the least.
Duo started. "Ma'am, I'm not in love with Heero. I'm not gay. Not that there's anything WRONG with that, I'm just not." Duo said. "It doesn't matter what gender your true love is, if you love them, you can't do anything about it. Even if you wanted to. You could deny it and say it isn't true, but what happens if it IS true? What happens if it is true and you don't tell him how you feel and he ends up with someone else? You'll be in pain. Love hurts. Especially, when you let it slip through your fingers. You have millions of chances. Just tell him." Chi-Chi said. "Chi-Chi, I think you read that wrong. We...we're just friends. Nothing more." Duo denied.
"Alright, Duo. If that's how you want it. I just hope that you can deal with the pain if Heero gets tired of waiting for you to say something and takes your silence as a rejection and goes off with someone else. Maybe, even a woman and marries her. You're chance would be gone forever, probably if that happens." Chi-Chi said. "Umm, I need to get back to Heero, now. I don't want him waking up in this strange place, all alone." Duo said, politely excusing himself. Sometimes, being kind to women was an annoying habit. Sister Helen and Father Maxwell had drilled that into him. Unless, in self-defense he never hit a woman or girl, or unless he was defending someone who couldn't defend themselves or a friend....or Heero. Duo wasn't sure if what he told Chi-Chi was a lie or not. If it was it would be his first lie. And his last. He had no desire to go around LYING to people.
He opened and shut the door quietly. He turned and almost jumped out of his skin as he noticed Heero was watching him. Awake.
"Heero, what are you doing awake?" Duo asked. "I woke up." Heero said. "Obviously. I mean, WHAT woke you up?" Duo asked. "I just woke up. I've been sleeping too much." Heero said. "No, you haven't. You haven't been sleeping, ENOUGH for the wound you've got. Heero, lay back." Duo said, pushing him back gently. Heero winced and Duo jerked his hands away. "I'm sorry." Duo said. "No, that's alright. Any movement hurts." Heero said, through gritted teeth. He couldn't bring himself to move any which way, because the pain would increase and he hurt just sitting there as well in that position. "What have I gotten myself into?" Heero asked out loud.
Duo wrapped his arms around him and laid him back gently that way, since Heero could just let his weight onto Duo. "There. Now STAY that way." Duo said. "I don't wanna." Heero said, sounding much like a small child. "Heero, please stay there. I KNOW you don't want to, but if you do, you'll stop hurting for a while." Duo said. Heero didn't really care about that, but since Duo had asked him to, he decided it wouldn't kill him to do something someone told him too, for once.
"Why is there only one bed? Are we in separate rooms?" Heero asked. "No, this is the only room available and there's only one bed, because this was meant for one guest or a married couple, I guess. There aren't anymore beds. If you want me to sleep on the floor or in a chair, I'll understand. I mean, it might be uncomfortable and I might hurt you." Duo said. "No, that's alright, you can sleep in the bed, if you promise to sleep and not that half asleep crap you pull since I've been injured." Heero said. "But, if I move too much..." Duo was cut off. "Alright, Duo. Would you ever intentionally, if it couldn't be helped, hurt me?" Heero asked. Duo's eyes widen with shock. "No, of course not! How could you even THINK something like that about me?!" Duo asked, in astonishment. "I don't think that about you. I just wanted you to hear yourself say it. So, if it isn't intentional, then, to me, it doesn't matter." Heero said.
Duo considered this. "Alright, IF you're sure." Duo said. "I'm sure. You can sleep in this bed with me when you're ready to go to sleep." Heero said.
Heero, never doing as he knows he should, tried, yet again, to get up. "Heero, please, stay in the position I put you in." Duo said, again getting Heero to lay down. Heero was already sweating again. "It hurts." Heero said, gritting his teeth. "I know. If I had the chance I'd take that pain for you, but I can't. It would help if you'd stay laying down, though." Duo said, brushing sweaty bangs from Heero's face. Duo got an idea. He got up to go to the bathroom and get a washcloth and bowl of cold water. "Are you leaving me? Where're you going?" Heero asked, knowing that he was completely helpless. It hurt too much to even sit up for too long, and he could forget about getting up. He'd grown too accustomed to not being injured over the years that he'd lost some of that tolerance for pain, not needing to use it very often. During the war he was fresh out of training and he was always hurt in some way while training. Nothing very permanent, though. This, however, would leave a permanent, thin, light colored scar on his chest. It wouldn't be a raised scar, but it would only be noticeable if someone were looking for it.
He'd found out that Duo had stitched him up and bandaged him all on his own. Getting the supplies he'd need and he'd done a bang up job with it, too. Though, he was probably taught how to do things like that a long time ago, maybe even during training or sooner. Heero had passed out from the pain of the examination of the wound. Duo had been gentle in examining it, but one could only be so gentle with a wound like that and even then it hurt to just touch it. It hurt to breath, because his chest moved. He hadn't told Duo that, though. He hadn't wanted him to worry.
Through Heero's constant painful breathing, though, he'd had an almost permanent look of pain on his face. Duo was suspicious if he hadn't already figured it out. He hadn't scolded Heero for not telling him, yet, so he figured that he was still putting the pieces together on that.
Heero was very tired all of a sudden. And cold. He used just his arms to pull the covers up. Seeing this, Duo helped him. Heero tried to yawn, but the pain was so horrible his breath caught and a look of pure agony from how much his chest had moved upward was on his face. He let out a whimper as he exhaled in a shuddering breath. "Heero, what's wrong?!" Duo asked, kneeling down on the floor, next to Heero's side, so that he was level with Heero, instead of sitting on the bed, taller than Heero and looming over him. He wanted to be as close to Heero as possible, when he was in such pain. "Hurts." Heero said, very quietly, through gritted teeth as he slowly let more of the air he'd taken in, out. "Hurts? What hurts? Your chest? But, you weren't sitting up." Duo said. "Hurts to breath." Heero said. "Aww, Heero." Duo said. He hadn't realized that Heero was in so much pain. He'd seen the looks on Heero's face now and then, but only when he sat up. He smoothed Heero's bangs back, feeling that Heero had a temperature. "Heero, you're burning up!" Duo exclaimed. "I'm tired." Heero said, already starting to fall asleep. "Okay, just sleep, Heero. Just sleep. I'll be here when you wake up, I promise. I'm going to go get something that might break your fever or at least make you feel better." Duo said. He waited until Heero had fallen asleep and then went to the bathroom for the bowl of water and washcloth.
He came back out and sat next to Heero again, then put the washcloth in the cold water and gently pressed it to Heero's forehead, wiping off the sweat gently and slowly, then proceeded to do the same with Heero's whole face, straying from sensitive areas that might wake the boy up, such as his eyes, nose and mouth. He did the same with Heero's neck and what part of his chest that wasn't covered by the covers or the bandages. Then, he went back to wash over Heero's face again with the cloth. Duo repeated this until the water was gone and the rag wasn't of any use to him anymore. Heero woke up a few times, while Duo was doing that and just looked at Duo for a second before falling asleep again.
Once, Heero had stopped him and stayed awake long enough to say 'thank you', but quickly fell asleep, again.
Chi-Chi came in a few times to see how everything was going. She asked if she should call a doctor, but Duo said that she shouldn't right now, because Heero really didn't need one. He only had a fever. He doubted Heero was very sick, just a fever and tiredness. It was probably that Heero just wouldn't rest. He'd keep trying to get up or sit up and it hurt him. Chi-Chi had agreed, but told Duo that if Heero got any worse she was calling a doctor and she didn't care if the whole world objected.
Goku came in to see how they were doing as well. He'd said that if they got any sensu beans before Heero was better, he'd bring one for him, but Koren still didn't have any. Duo had thanked him and left.
Gohan came in, saying that his mother wanted Duo to come out for dinner, but Duo, as big as his appetite usually was, refrained, saying that he'd rather stay with Heero and wasn't very hungry, anyway. He couldn't even think of eating very much when Heero was in so much pain. He did ask for some soup for Heero. Gohan had nodded and went to tell Chi-Chi.
A little later Gohan had returned with the soup and another bowl was on a tray with Heero's. It was apparently Duo's bowl. Duo had accepted them both, deciding that there wasn't much sense in making the small boy return his bowl. Heero wouldn't want him to starve himself, just because he was injured. If Duo'd done that during the wars, then Duo would be dead of starvation by now. But, Heero never seemed as helpless as he did now. He was totally dependant on Duo.
Heero woke up as Gohan shut the door. "Duo?" He asked. "Yeah, I'm here. Gohan brought us some soup. I think I can fix it to where you can sit up and eat it, but you hafta trust me." Duo said. "I trust you, Duo." Heero said, sleepily. "But, I'm not hungry." He added. "I don't care. You need to eat. I'm not hungry either and I'm going to eat as soon as you've eaten." Duo said. "Duo Maxwell? Not hungry? That's a real event. They should stop the presses for this one." Heero said, weakly, yawning and hurting himself again. "Watch it, Heero." Duo said.
Duo started rearranging the pillows, while letting Heero's full weight rest on Duo's arm, while the other worked with the pillows quickly. He let Heero back, gently, and Heero was in a sitting position.
Duo got the bowl of soup and lifted the spoon, full of broth, to his lips and blew on it gently. He fed Heero that spoonful and Heero swallowed it. "Don't you think I can feed myself?" Heero asked. "Heero, your chest hurts with any movement you make. Reaching to get the bowl, then balancing it just in your hands wouldn't work. One, you would eventually need to rest the bowl on something and it wouldn't be too smart to rest it on your chest and I really don't want you spilling it. You've already got a fever. And to feed yourself, you'd still have to move a little and I want you in the least amount of pain I can get you in." Duo said. Heero didn't look too pleased with having to have every single little thing done for him. He never did like that.
Duo sighed. "Please, just let take care of you until you're well. Just let me do this ONE thing." Duo said. If Heero hadn't anticipated how much pain it would cause him, he would have sighed, too. "Alright. It isn't as if I'm in the position to argue with you, anyway." Heero said. "Thank you. Now, swallow this." Duo said, feeding Heero another spoonful of broth.
Once the contents of the bowl was gone, Duo picked up his own bowl, because, he decided that he might as well eat it. He'd accepted it from Gohan and he'd told Heero that was going to. He adjusted Heero's pillows back to the way they were, so that he could lie down again. Heero actually watched Duo eat. He watched Duo take the first bite and slurp up the last of the broth as well.
Goku came in and said that Chi-Chi had sent Gohan to bed and was cleaning up in the kitchen and wanted to know if he and Heero were finished. "Chi-Chi sent Gohan to bed and said to come and see if you two were done so she could wash the dishes." Goku said, cheerfully. "Yeah, we're done. Tell Chi-Chi and Gohan thanks for the soup and thanks for takin' it away, Goku." Duo said. "That's okay. I know that if someone didn't come and get it, we probably wouldn't see it again, until Heero was better." Goku said. "Yeah, you're probably right." Duo said, grinning. Goku took the tray away.
Duo had nothing to sleep in, but that was alright, since he usually just slept in his boxers anyway. Heero was still saying that he was cold, whenever Duo asked him about it, so the body heat would probably do wonders for it, anyway. Duo went to take a shower, but left the door open so that he could hear Heero if Heero needed anything, though he knew that no matter what was wrong with Heero, he wouldn't get Duo out of the shower to do something for him. Not unless it was life or death. Duo sighed. He wouldn't have minded having to leave the shower if Heero needed something. It was like Heero could just as easily get up and get it. It was even painful to breath! No wonder it hurt so much to just move.
Duo came out of the bathroom in his boxers, stretching and yawning. He was so tired he could probably just fall over and sleep for a hundred years on the floor. Chi-Chi might not be too happy with it, though. And he didn't think he really could sleep for too long. All Heero would have to do was make some little noise and Duo would wake up. He was a heavy sleeper, but if something was wrong, something just told him to wake up and he just obeyed it.
He slipped under the covers of the bed, next to Heero. Heero was shivering, but sleeping. The shivering seemed to hurt him, because he was making that pained face again. The face that Duo couldn't stand to see on him. He got as close as he dared without hurting Heero and wrapped his arms around his waist, instead of his chest or something. The body heat from Duo seemed to be warming Heero up. Duo smiled. He let his head rest on the pillows, next to Heero's face and fell asleep.
Duo woke an hour later, to some movement and he felt something. He opened his eyes and Heero was asleep, but so close to him that he was almost kissing him. Their noses were touching. Duo moved his head back a little, not wanting Heero to wake up in that position or someone to walk in and see it, then fell asleep again.
A few hours passed and then Duo was jolted awake by some whimpering, sounding almost like crying. It was coming from Heero. He didn't blame him, Heero was probably sick of all the pain that never seemed to go away and when it did it didn't leave for long. Heero's tail had snaked around and wrapped itself around Duo's arm. Duo was still getting used to his Saiyan tail as well. He strained to see Heero's face clearly in the dark. Heero was sleeping, but obviously he'd moved and the pain was so bad that in his sleep he couldn't stop it and was crying. Duo didn't know why the pain hadn't woken him up. Maybe, Heero was too exhausted from all that pain to even BE woken up. He might have to just wake up on his own. Heero was in a new position now. He was laying on his side and Duo could see the tears coming from Heero's eyes, cascading down his cheeks.
Duo couldn't help himself. He leaned over and kissed the tears away. Maybe Chi-Chi was right. Maybe he did love Heero. Maybe that's what the unidentifiable feeling inside him was. Love. Of the romantic kind. Or so he liked to call it. Yes. That's what it was. Why he was only NOW realizing it, was beyond him. Or, maybe, he had always known, but just hadn't dug deep enough to realize it that he knew. Just didn't pay close enough attention.
Heero felt Duo as he kissed his tears away, but instead of waking up, he snuggled closer to Duo, though it hurt and brought more tears to his sleeping face. Heero had gotten himself so close that his head was just under Duo's chin. Duo left one hand around Heero's waist and started to toy with a lock of Heero's hair with the other, while whispering to Heero that it was okay and the pain would be gone again, soon. Heero stopped crying in his sleep and Duo stayed up for a little longer to make sure he was finished, knowing he wouldn't know of it when he woke up and soon fell asleep himself, after he was satisfied that Heero wasn't going to start crying in his sleep, anymore. He wondered, briefly, how Heero was going to react when he found himself being held in Duo's arms in that position, before he fell into a deep sleep.
Author's note: So, Duo's finally realized that he loves Heero. That doesn't mean Heero's realized it, though. They aren't a couple yet. I don't know how long I'll drag it out for that, though. *grins* Is Duo ready to admit it to other people, though? Should he? Someone might tell Heero or say something around Heero that might tell Heero of Duo's feelings, before Duo is ready to tell Heero. Then again, they might not. I know, no Chi-Chi bashing in this one. I'm sorry for people who wanted it. I'll get it in, in other parts. Really. I just had other ideas for this part, that's all. Hope you liked this part. Mail me at, traci1985babe@hotmail.com