Duo slowly opened his eyes

The Littlest Angel

Duo slowly opened his eyes. Sunlight was streaming in through the window on to his bed. He lifted himself up and sat on the edge of his bed. What time was it? He glanced down at his watch: 9:32, it read. Oh, well, he might as well get up. He normally didn't get up until at least noon when they weren't on a mission, but he could make an exception. He had a hard time sleeping in the bright light and he didn't feel like going back to sleep anyways. Duo stretched, loosening his tense muscles. He got up and headed down the stairs.

Duo walked into the kitchen, where Quatre had been making breakfast. There were a few dishes lying on the counter. Duo could tell by what was out that Quatre hadn't just cooked breakfast for himself. It looked like Quatre had enjoyed a nice breakfast with Trowa that morning. Duo thought of the time he had attempted to cook breakfast for Heero. Setting of the smoke alarm and scaring everyone out of their wits wasn't exactly the romantic breakfast he had planned.

*Heero,* he thought, as all traces of happiness escaped from him. Why did Heero have to torture him like this? Why couldn't he just get over him? He wasn't the world's greatest guy, and he certainly wasn't exactly the nicest person Duo ever met. So why did he love him so much? And why was it so painful? Duo sighed as he dropped into a chair at the table.

"Good morning, Duo! I didn't expect to see you up so early! I made you breakfast, even though I know not to expect you till lunch." Quatre giggled. "I don't even know why I still make you breakfast every morning! You're rarely up in time to eat it, so someone else always has to." Again Quatre's bubbly laugh tinkled through the air. Duo forced a weak smile. Quatre stopped giggling as soon as he saw Duo's saddened expression. Normally Duo loved hearing Quatre's sweet laugh, but for some reason it cut into the silence, and Duo's loneliness like a knife.

Quatre hung his head as he piled food onto Duo's plate. "Oh, Duo . . . Why . . .?" Duo placed his hand on Quatre's arm, silencing him. Quatre's tear-filled blue eyes met Duo's wounded violet ones.

"Quatre . . . Please don't cry for me." He said softly. He looked away. "I cry enough myself." He added quietly. Quatre turned back to Duo, tears streaming down his fair cheeks. He opened his mouth to comment, but Duo silenced him. He gently wiped the tears from Quatre's face. He feigned a smile. "Thank you . . . for the breakfast." Quatre smiled, gratefully. ". . .and thank you . . .for caring." Quatre smiled, touched. He knew how hard it was for Duo.

"Duo, I promise, I'm gonna help you. Together, we'll make it through this. I promise." Duo smiled up at his friend, this time a true smile. One Quatre hadn't seen many of lately. He knew Quatre would keep his promise. *What an angel* he thought, *a little angel.*