Duo woke up in a cold sweat again. He was breathing hard and he was scared. He took a few deep breaths and clutched the golden cross hanging around his neck. When would they stop? He closed his tired eyes, but was startled again as Heero creaked the door open and walked into his room. His mussed brown hair looking even wilder than usual and his piercing blue eyes were somewhat hidden from Duo's view.
"You had another nightmare again?" he asked.
"Yeah, it's no big deal though. You should get back to sleep, it's late." Duo said, even though in his mind he was begging Heero to stay with him. The nightmares had gotten worse and worse as wartime dragged on. There was no real sanctuary for a soldier. Even less for the God of Death. But Duo wasn't one to try for pity; it never did him or Heero any good, so he slapped a half-smile on his face like he alwayss did and told him he'd be alright.
Heero walked over to his bedside, ignoring Duo's poorly worn mask and sat on the edge of his bed.
"It's okay, Duo." He said, as comfortingly as The Perfect Soldier could. "You can tell me everything." Then he leaned over to the worried boy and wrapped his arms around him. Duo's whole world seemed to melt away as he became lost in Heero's tight embrace. Heero was even more perfect and beautiful close up. The intoxicating scent of him flooded Duo's senses.
Heero could feel Duo quivering under his grip; was he crying? But "boys don't cry" according to Duo himself. Now he could feel the hot salty tears soaking his shirt as Duo let everything pour out into his warm chest. Heero rubbed his back, letting him know he was there. He had never seen Duo break down like this before; it was unsettling. He was usually so cheery, so strong, but that boy seemed like a helpless child now.
Duo could feel Heero's steady breath against his own chest, comforting him, soothing him, as he let out everything about the war, the L2 colony plague, Solo's death, the Maxwell Church massacre, and the loneliness of being a single soldier with no one to fight beside.
"Why had Heero just shown this act of emotion? I could see his flaws just like the rest of us when everyone threw their lives on his shoulders, but even so, why now? Could he be just as lonely as me?" Duo thought. "He probably thinks I'm a weak baka. Pouring out my heart like this. I wish I could show him how much he means to me. What am I saying? He can't let me interfere with his damn missions. And just that thought hurts." For the first time he turned to look up at his companion.
Heero looked almost as if he would loose it too, but he couldn't let that happen; Duo needed someone strong right then. Heero Yuy doesn't break his composure. Yet he could feel this intense burning as he related his own life to Duo's troubles.
"Heero?" Duo questioned.
"Hn?" a grunt was his usual reply. Someday he would understand how he communicated with such little words. Duo continued on:
"Can you stay with me tonight? Until I fall asleep?" He sounded so weak. He was prepared for his answer. He knew Heero would probably shrug him off. He had already reached his emotional capacity for the year with this hug.
"Of course." Duo was stunned. Maybe Heero did have feelings.
It was the question Heero was begging for. He had felt the same way as the worried pilot he held close to him. He wanted to be there for him tonight, all nights. To see Duo in that pain also hurt himself. He kissed Duo's forehead and curled under the covers of his bed with him. They held eachother the whole night. Neither was alone for the first time in both of their lives. And they both a sense of peace that would last forever and could never be taken away by this war that brought them together.