Intricate Scrawls 'I love romance,' Duo lay draped across the couch horizontally, feet propped up atop the back of the piece of furniture, hanging upside down. A tub of ice cream balanced on his stomach, ignored, as he watched the two main stars of the film, the lovers, engaged in the obligatory passionate clinch. Heero snorted, fingers skating across the keyboard, eyes fixated on the glowing screen. Duo glanced round at his quiet, broody companion. He smiled a little, almost affectionately, before once again letting out another burst of speech into the frustrating silence. 'Why're you always on that computer anyway, Heero? What are ya? Some kinda geek?' Duo let out a light chuckle in succession with his remark. Heero did not even glance towards him. 'It's called work Duo. Something you wouldn't know much about, neh?' Heero smirked to himself, just a slight twitch of the lips. 'Hey hey…You know that ain't true now Heero. I work plenty enough.' There was a silence between them. Duo dubiously spooned another mouthful of melted ice cream into his mouth. Heero continued to type. The film continued to run. Then Heero spoke again. The trump card. This, Duo could not contend against. This was Heero pulling out the big guns. 'How much homework do you have Duo?' A groan passed the American pilot's lips as his wide, blue hued eyes rolled subversively around his sockets. Again another silence passed. 'Oh Jessica…I will never leave you…' said the man on the television. Duo wrinkled up his nose, reaching for the remote control, the film suddenly seeming sickening. 'Loads,' he replied dully, his tone holding that essence of reserved defeat. Heero nodded. He knew this already. Duo was not a homework type. He was not interested paperwork what so ever. Heero knew this too. Heero knew a lot of things. Things people didn't expect him to know. Heero sighed lightly under his breath. Duo was shifting on the couch. Heero could just hear the battle in his mind. One argument said: 'Do homework, show Heero wrong.' The other said: 'Go to bed, it's damn late.' 'You look tired.' Heero's voice was the usual emotionless drone, not even holding a slight drawl, or any hint of personality. 'Go to bed, I'll mess with my reports and print you off a copy.' Duo remained silent. Now and again, Heero showed an odd sort of subdued compassion that caused Duo to think perhaps maybe, just maybe, underneath the countless walls he secretly cared. As if reading his mind, Heero added 'We may get a mission. I don't want you to be exhausted. It could jeopardise our success rate. Sleep well.' Heero entered the bedroom, when he heard a voice. 'Heero…?' The pilot froze, then relaxed, remembering that despite what he was used to, now, he was not alone constantly. 'Yes, Duo?' he inquired, mildly exasperated. The backs of his eyes ached severely, his limbs where sore from exertion. He needed sleep badly. 'Thanks…For the report…' Heero stood stock-still. This was odd behaviour. And in his mind, odd behaviour equalled bad things where going on. 'It's no problem. I already told you, I need you on top form. You're my back up if something goes wrong. Which it won't, but I need you here just in case. What is wrong with you…?' Duo shook his head almost ferociously, replying 'Nothing Heero, nothing, nothing's wrong with me, I'm fine…It's just…Sometimes I get…Cold…' Heero climbed into his bed. He closed his eyes, satisfied that if Duo felt he was fine, he was fine. Then, through the darkness, he heard a sound. The chattering of teeth. Heero frowned, perplexed, before inquiring albeit sharply 'Would you like my blanket…?' Silence for a moment filled the air again before Duo ground out 'N…No…No Heero…You keep it…' The floorboards creaked in the quiet, shattering it completely as Heero crossed the room and rested his palm against Duo's forehead. The skin there was taut, and cold to the point of almost death. Heero stood still for a moment. Duo gazed up at him almost fearfully. 'You're…Freezing,' he murmured. A hint of awe entered his voice. Duo shivered as Heero's palm moved away, he felt a sense of loss. The feeling of the dry, warm, callus ridden skin pressing against his had been comforting. 'Move up.' Duo stiffened. Confused, he stared at Heero dumbly for a moment, before echoing him numbly. 'Move…Up…?' he asked slowly. Heero nodded firmly. 'You're freezing, I'm going to sleep with you, we can share my warmth.' Duo moved up as he was commanded, making room for Heero. Duo watched with uncertainty as Heero's lithe form climbed atop his bed and lay down beside him. His eyes were calm, emotionless and business like, his face inches from Duo's, so close he could feel the warmth of Heero's breath on his cheek. Duo averted his gaze sharply, a little coyly even as Heero's arms wrapped around him and pulled him close. Duo curled against him willingly, revelling in the warmth, his fingers clutching onto the material of Heero's tank top as he began to drift to sleep. Heero, however, remained awake for many hours. Just clutching onto his American comrade, staring blankly at the wall before him.