Duo's POV
When I woke up the first thing that popped into my mind was that it was all a dream.
I couldn't believe that Wufei had said he loved me, had kissed me again…made me believe it was true. But it wasn't. I clamped a pillow over my face; half hoping it would suffocate me.
"What are you doing?" Wufei's voice was slightly amused as he pried the pillow off of me.
"Go way," I whimpered.
"Why?" he sat next to me and I unwillingly sat up.
"Because…" I mumbled.
"Give me a good reason," Wufei said, his fingers gently unbraiding my hair.
I closed my eyes against the sensuous pleasure of his hands in my hair before saying, "Why are you doing this?"
"Doing what? Brushing your hair?" Wufei sounded surprised. "Because first of all, it's a rat's nest. And second of all," his voice dropped suddenly as he whispered, "Because its beautiful."
I felt a slight reddening in my cheeks at the small praise. "No…why did you even bother to take me in?"
"I felt sorry for you-"
"Oh," I shrank away from his touch. I don't want his pity.
"At first," Wufei continued, "But after a few moments of talking with you and I had to have you close to me. If you hadn't come home with me that day, I think I would've gone crazy, wondering 'what if'. But you came home with me…and-," Wufei stopped suddenly and wrapped his arms around me, pressing his forehead against my neck. "You made me love you."
"Do you love me?" I whispered, my body freezing. If he says no again…
"Yes." One word. One small, one-syllable word and I was melting in his arms.
Crap. I'm going to cry. I turned slightly in his arms and he touched his lips gently to mine before saying, "Are you ready?"
I clasped his hand in mine, turning it over gently before saying, "Please. Let's go home."
Wufei's POV
Duo was exceptionally quiet on the way home. I asked him several times what was bugging him but he wouldn't answer me, only shook his head and tightened his lips.
Finally, he said, "That doctor…before we left…she kissed you."
"On the cheek," I pointed out.
"But it was a kiss." He looked vaguely upset.
Is he jealous or something? "I told you, I've known her for years."
"Where'd you meet her?"
"First year of high school."
"And?"
"And she introduced me to her girlfriend and-,"
"Her girlfriend? She's-,"
"Yes." I smiled at him. "What were you thinking?"
He looked highly offended, "Nothing! I was just curious!"
"You were…" I paused, and then dragged the word out. "*Jealous"
"Was not! I was just curious," Duo argued, waving his hands about as words failed him.
I grinned and grabbed his hands. "Admit it. You don't like the thought of me being with anyone but you."
"Do *you* like the thought of *me*?" He demanded.
"I like the thought of you a lot," I answered, letting go of him.
"Mmph," Duo glared and refused to talk to me the rest of the way home.
"I can feel you looking at me! Do I have something hanging out of my nose or something?" Duo asked for the umpteenth time that evening, waving his hand in front of my face. "What are you thinking about?"
"You."
"Ahhhhh…" Duo looked severely flustered.
"And how lucky I am."
"Ahhhh…." A blush was spreading steadily over his face.
I stood up suddenly and walked across the table to hold him. "Wu?" he questioned me, bringing his hands up to rest lightly on my chest.
"Duo?"
"Mmm." Whatever he wanted to say was silence by my kiss. As soon as his lips were free he yawned. "Heh, sorry."
"It's eleven. You ought to be tired. In fact, you should have gone to bed hours ago. You were just out of the hospital this morning," I lectured.
"Wufei?"
"What?"
"Do me a favor and shut up."
I glared at him, but the moment of anger passed quickly and I started propelling him towards his bedroom. "*You* need to be in bed," I told him.
He stopped short and clutched my arms tightly in his hands. "Wufei, please…"
"Please what?" I asked, stopping and gazing at him concernedly. He looked so pale-and almost frightened.
"Can I sleep with you tonight?"
"What!" I yelped my hold on him loosening.
Duo blushed, "No, not like *that*." The blush disappeared, leaving only a very pale face behind. "Wufei, you don't understand! The nightmares…they come at night and I'm so scared," his voice died down to a soft whisper as his fingers tightened around the folds of my shirt. "Wufei, they haunt me and I can't make them go away-I want to cry, but I can't, the tears don't come, and I can't scream, my voice is stuck in my throat-oh, please! Wufei," there was a vast depth of pleading in his voice as he pressed his face into my chest and breathed in short, broken gasps.
"Well, yes. Duo, why didn't you tell me about these nightmares?" I asked, lifting his face so I could look at him.
"Because you've already done so much for me and it's not that bad, I've dealt with them for years," he babbled.
"Your crazy. I would've done anything to stop them," I said, leading him into the bedroom and sitting him down on the bed.
"Wufei, you couldn't have. You can't. There are things that have happened to me that you won't ever understand and I don't expect you to. I only want you to hold me…to try and comfort me," he lowered his head and inhaled deeply.
"You know I'll do anything for you," I whispered, kneeling beside the bed and embracing him. His slight framed heaved with inward sobs and we sat like that for a long while until his body swayed and he couldn't keep his eyes focused.
"Idiot," I whispered, as I helped him under the covers. "Never to tell me this…"
"Don't go," he breathed, his hand reaching towards mine.
"I won't," I responded, grasping his hand tightly.
"Promise me…promise me always."
"I promise," I whispered. He didn't smile, as I'd half-expected only let out a soft cough and turned over onto his side. I stood there for a moment, watching him sleep. Then I slowly turned out the lights.
It felt so strange to feel a warm, living presence beside me as I got into bed awhile later. Not since I was a young child, seeking comfort in my mother's arms at night-or the disastrous night I had lost my virginity-had I had another person in my bed.
I lay stiffly besides Duo, afraid if I moved I would wake him. I needn't had to worry, Duo was a cuddler and a moment after I got in bed, he cuddled up next to me and wrapped his arms around me. His breathing was warm and tickled my neck as he nuzzled me softly. I stiffened as he pulled me closer, but after a few moments, I relaxed into his hold and placed my own arms around his waist. My eyes fluttered shut and the next thing I knew I was falling rapidly past the milky border between reality and sleep.
The next time I opened my eyes, it was because Duo was whimpering in his sleep. He wasn't talking or crying, just whimpering, a low sound deep in his throat. "Duo?" I murmured, wondering if I should wake him up or not.
He whimpered again and his hand groped along the sheets, twisting the folds of fabric between his fingers, his knuckles turning white as his grip strengthened. His lips started moving, but I couldn't make out the mumbled words.
The sheets were becoming tangled and soaked with sweat as he tossed fretfully and he was starting to scare me. "Duo! Wake up!"
He sat up quickly and immediately flung his arms around me. "Wufei!"
"Tell me what happened," I said instantaneously. "What were you dreaming?"
Duo's fingers dug into my back s he whispered, his face buried in my neck, muffling his voice, "It's dark. And something horrible is going to happen, but I can't see it coming! And I know its there, its going to hurt me, but I can't see it and I don't know how close it is and I can feel the light, its only inches from my reach but then…the sunlight never comes and I'm running and it's all darkness and-and-Wufei!" His voice broke and he choked back a sob as his body went limp against mine.
"Oh," was the only word that I could say as I cradled his limp body to me. "Duo…"
He coughed and whispered, "Promise me you'll bring the light. The darkness can't last, promise!"
"Duo, I'll do my damnedest to make the sun shine for you again, I promise," I vowed, pressing my lips against his flushed, sweat-streaked face.
"I-I," words failed him and he only clung desperately to me.
But I knew.
