Author: aomurasakiai
Warnings: AU, Angst, Sap, Shounen ai/Yaoi
Pairings: 2+1, 1+2, 2x1
Spoilers: None
Rating: PG-13
*Everything above may be
subject to change*
Fragile Faith: Chapter 14 – Understandings
Duo placed his hands on Heero's shoulder and gently pushed him away. The Japanese boy kept his head bowed but Duo cupped his wet cheeks and gently lifted his head so he could see the tearstained face.
"Don't cry… Heero." Duo's voice was thick with emotion. Heero tilted his head slightly, leaning into Duo's hand and closed his eyes.
"When you first came… it was so easy to ignore you. But you came again… wanting to be friends. I… began to get scared. I knew that I would get hurt again and… I… I just wanted you to leave; to leave *me* alone."
Heero opened his eyes and glanced at Duo.
"But you still came back… you brought me a gift… that's the first gift anyone's ever given me. I didn't know… why… I was confused but… happy. So, I decided… I would enjoy it while it lasts."
"That's why you…" Duo stopped when Heero nodded.
"That day… I just wanted to be with you… no matter how short that may have been. But then… you asked me what I wanted to eat… where I wanted to go. It was… almost like how my parents had asked me. It was then… I thought that that day had come back to haunt me again. But still… I promised myself that I would enjoy it while it lasted."
"H…Heero…" Duo never thought that his consideration for the Japanese boy in front of him would cause him… so much pain. He saw the cobalt blue eyes drop.
"I wanted to hold you… to be held by you… just like that day. But it felt… different. I felt… so much more from you. It was… a tenderness that wasn't there with my parents."
Heero started to tremble again.
"Then the day ended. But… I was glad… that I got to see such a beautiful scene… glad that I was awake… to hear you whisper those words to me."
Duo's eyes widened.
"When the door closed… I thought it was over… just like before… just like I knew it would. All I had to do was to try to stop it from hurting again… but this time it was harder. You… came back again. I… didn't know… what to think…"
Heero began to slump forward in exhaustion. Duo caught him and held him close, feeling the other's warm breath by his neck.
"You… brought me another present. Was that day… repeating itself? I didn't want it to… But then again I did. I wanted… to feel like someone wanted me again. To fool myself again… and to be hurt again. It was all your fault. I know you didn't mean to hurt me… but you did…"
"Heero." Duo pulled away from the Japanese boy a bit and grasped the other's shoulders. "I will not leave you. I'm not like your parents. I won't do that… I couldn't do that." He ran his hand through Heero's soft but messy hair. "You're incredible… and beautiful and I just want to be with you." He cupped the teen's chin and lifted it so he could look into the cobalt blue eyes.
"Please Heero?" Duo watched as Heero gave a small, hesitant smile and nodded. Duo smiled as well before he leaned forward to gently brush his lips against the smile. When they parted, it was still there.
"Well… I guess we should change for bed." Heero just nodded and got off of Duo who reached over and took out a dark navy blue pair of pajamas and tossed them to the Japanese boy.
"We forgot to get pj's didn't we?" Duo said with a grin. He pulled out another tan set for himself and hopped off the window seat.
"I'll keep my back turned." Duo said with a grin. He quickly changed and buttoned up his top.
"Are you decent Heero?"
"Matte… O-Okay." Duo turned around and was glad to see that his own pajamas fitted Heero just fine. The Japanese boy left the top button undone, just like Duo did. He never liked the sensation of being choked to death by clothing.
"You look great as always. Good night, Heero." He gave the other boy a thumbs up. He made a move to the door to check with Lady Une where it would be okay to sleep. He almost didn't hear Heero's tentative whisper.
"Duo… would you… sleep with me?" Duo froze and turned around, not believing his ears.
"W-What did you say?"
"Would you sleep here?… With me?" Duo smiled, noticing the change in the question. He shrugged and decided to just play along.
"Sure I don't see why not. We wouldn't want to bother Lady Une while she's looking after the other kids." He made his way back to the window seat and sat down.
"Is this okay, Heero?" He placed his hand on Heero's. "With you?" Heero looked up and nodded with certainty. Duo lay down on the pillow and pulled the hesitant Heero on top of him. He breathed in Heero's wonderful scent and loosely wrapped his arms around the other teen's waist, holding him tenderly yet securely in his embrace.
"Sweet dreams, Heero." But the boy was already fast asleep, unconsciously rubbing his cheek on Duo's chest, safe and warm in the arms that held him.
tbc…