Simon limped back to the living room after his parents had left and sighed. "Finally." He took a handful of popcorn from the bowl on the ta ble. "Monty Python on BBC."

"Hm?" Mike looked up from his spot on the couch. "Oh..right." He stretched and changed channels on the tv. Simon set his cane down and lay down next to Mike, who sighed quietly and wrapped his arms around Simon's midsection, careful of the injuries that were still healing. The familiar theme music to 'Monty Python's flying circus' started up, and Simon leaned his head back against Mike's chest. The attack had left his confidence in shards, and right now, this is what he wanted: to relax. He just needed some time, was all.. Everything healed in time. "This is nice."

Simon nodded faintly,feeling Mike's hands close around his stomach. After a moment's hesitation, he rested his own hands atop them. There was a knock at the door, and Simon sighed. "Bloody hell..they certainly choose their moments well." He sat up, breaking the embrace and picking his cane up, a few pound notes in his hand. Mike reached over, took the money, and went to the door before Simon had a chance to halfheartedly protest. Mike paid for the pizza and sat back down. "I could've done that, you know. I'm not a bloody invalid." Simon muttered sulkily. Mike frowned, opening the box.

"I just..thought that with your leg.. you should rest, is all."

"I'm fine." He said quietly.. He was so used to his parents being overprotective, he didn't need it from his friends too.

"Sorry." Mike took a piece of pizza, frowning. Simon kissed him on the cheek with a faint smile.

"I just hate everyone treating me like I'm going to break at any minute." He said in his usual soft tone, the harshness gone from it. "I mean.. my parents won't let me go back to school yet, I can't play basketball until me leg heals.." He sighed and grabbed some of the pizza for himself. After all, he was a growing boy. Mike still looked hurt. Simon grinned. "You wanna play truth or dare?"

".....What?" He stared at Simon like he had just suggested dying their hair purple and dressing in sequins before running through the football field.

"Truth or dare." His grin widened.

"You've got to be kidding."

"Yep." Simon laughed. After a confused silence, Mike allowed himself to chuckle. "C'mon, stop being so damned grouchy." Mike leaned against him, and as Simon embraced him, neither said anything for a moment.

"I was really scared, you know."

"Me too."

"You weren't even breathing."

"Well, I guess I owe you." Simon murmured softly. "You saved my life."

"You bought me pizza.. we'll call it even." Mike took another piece of pizza as Simon laughed.

"Deal." He looked back to the tv and chuckled as John Cleese ranted about a dead parrot. "One of the Monty Python troupe was gay, you know.. Graham Chapman."

"Mm?" Mike asked through a mouthful of pizza. Simon nodded.

"I suppose British gay men aren't that hard to find." He commented, leaning up to lick a bit of tomato sauce off Mike's lower lip, watching him shiver. They never said what they were both thinking; in fact, Simon wouldn't say the three magic words until years later, when he met Yukito, but at least he had the assurance that Mike felt the same way, and that helped him to fall asleep with the other boy curled up in Simon's arms.


Simon whimpered softly as he felt the strong hands clasp around his neck. He shuddered violently and tried to shake them off. "No.." he whispered, gasping for breath.

"Simon.." He heard his voice from far away. "Simon.. wake up.." Simon jerked into reality with a sharp gasp, looking around fearfully. Mike stroked his hair, holding him tightly. "Hey.. shh.. you were just having a nightmare, is all.." He frowned in concern and kissed him gently. "Just a nightmare.." The body beneath him slumped back and Simon whispered 'God..', closing his eyes in an attempt to rid himself of the nightmare.

"Do you have nightmares often?" Mike asked softly.

"Lately, I do."

"Sorry.."

"No, don't worry about it... just go back to sleep." He kissed the other boy's cheek lightly. "I'll be fine."

"You sure?"

"Always." Simon smiled weakly, staring through the darkness as he watched Mike fall asleep again. He sighed and leaned back, closing his eyes and waiting for sleep to overtake him, but it wasn't until he listened to the slow shallow breathing of the brunette on top of him that he began to relax, his breathing slowing to match Mike's. "Sweet dreams.." he whispered before he went back to sleep again as well.