The morning was quiet and bright. The sunlight shone brightly through the tall rectangular windows of the shared room. A beautiful day was ahead.
Heero awoke on the floor of his and Duo's room. He sat up, alertly, and snapped his head toward the bed next to him. Kai still lay asleep, even in the same position, as Heero had left her.
He smiled genuinely at her, pleased that her sleep was undisturbed. He looked towards the sunlight and prepared himself for the unexpectedness of the day ahead.
Heero quietly stood up and crept to the large bedroom's door and closed it softly behind him.
He yawned and stretched as he made his way down the short flight of stairs to the living room. As he was about mid-way to the ground floor, he heard an unusual sound but soon recognized it.
"Duo's home..." Heero said flatly as he saw the snoring Shinigami sleep peacefully, sprawled over the couch.
Heero sauntered toward the kitchen to fix his morning coffee and breakfast. He had to explain everything to Miss Une so he could take care of Kai.
'This may be more difficult than it seems.' Heero thought as he drank his black coffee tiredly. 'Hopefully the others will understand...' he remembered Relena the night before and sighed heavily about the meeting he had to attend with her later that day.
The retired pilot gazed outside the kitchen window as a small bluebird perched herself on a spindly branch of a budding tree. 'To be as free as a bird...' his mind trailed off, 'It'd be so easy to be that free with no troubles or obligations,' he grimaced at the word 'obligations', thinking of Kai as one of them. 'I hate to think that, besides, what do I have that's so important? So important that Kai's not worth my time? She needs me and I'm here to help. I promised her...' Duo's loud yawning interrupted Heero's thoughts as the braided pilot entered the kitchen.
"Morning, Heero," Duo slapped Heero on the back and sleepily makes his way to the fridge.
"Hn."
"So what's for breakfast?" Duo yawns loudly while searching through the practically empty icebox.
"I wouldn't know since you eat it all," Heero casually leans over the island counter, sipping his coffee, waiting for an exasperated remark. But the remark didn't come. Instead:
"I guess I'll have to go to the store then," Duo closed the fridge door and sluggishly walked toward the counter to pour himself a cup of coffee.
Heero watched him with wide eyes in astonishment. Usually Duo would've rose to his own guilty defense, but for some reason...didn't. Something was up.
"Duo, what's the matter?"
"Oh.... nothing. It's just that Hilde's driving me insane," Duo scuffled his hair with his hands to show his distress.
Heero raised his eyebrow.
"Don't give me that look, Yuy!"
Heero backed off.
"Anyway...where was I? ...Ah hell I don't remember! Maybe this'll help," Duo reached for the large sugar container but couldn't get in touch with it.
His struggle was invisible to Heero.
"Umm...buddy, could ya help me out here?"
"Hn," Heero slid the container to his exhausted friend.
"Thanks," Duo immediately began to pour the sugar into his mug. Looking pleased he took a large gulp of the overly sweetened drink and sighed happily.
"Ahhhh..."
Heero looked at him slightly disgusted.
"Are you sure you need all that?" he gestured toward his friend's mug.
"Are you kidding?! This is just my first cup! I'm really gonna need it today, along with some aspirin," Duo took the coffee pitcher and filled his mug with it dark brown content, along with the remains of the sugar.
"You know what? I was so tired last night that I just fell asleep on the couch. Couldn't even move to my own bed. That's sad, Heero. The woman's a slave driver when it comes to wedding preparations," he agitatedly stirred his coffee and furrowed his brow.
Thinking the conversation was over, Heero drifted back to his own worries. But as always, Shinigami broke the silence.
"I mean it's not my fault that she wants a string quartet but can only afford a CD player! I mean come on! The woman's so indecisive! First it was the location-"
"You guys finally decide?"
"Well I just nodded my head, but yeah. Pretty much."
"Where?"
"Along the bay."
"Oh," Heero decided not to ask any more questions before Duo would explode.
There was another small silence between them before Duo calmed down a bit.
"I just don't get it. Why can't everything be simple and easy?" he returned to his normal tone. He seemed to be disappointed about the future.
"Why can't it be..." Heero murmured.
The Preventers both stood opposite of each other in silence; equally hoping for different solutions.
After his coffee, Heero hurried up stairs while Duo searched around the kitchen for signs of food. Hopefully Kai was still asleep. And indeed she was; peacefully in slumber.
Heero, relieved, sighed as he saw her.
Maybe Duo would...could leave before she wakes up. He prayed he would.
Heero quietly approached the bed that she lay on. Her wounds were another thing to tend to. He decided to carefully examine them without disturbing her, but was stopped by the ruckus down below.
Heero silently closed the door behind him and sprinted down the steps to the kitchen.
"ARRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!" Duo screamed, "I'm gonna die if I don't get something to eat!"
The starving pilot noisily went through every cabinet and every drawer, desperately searching for food.
Heero hurriedly tried to think of something to shut him up and get him out of the house. As always, the Perfect Soldier succeeded in a plan and executed it well.
"Duo, I'm sure Hilde would fix you something."
Duo paused at the thought.
"Yeah...I bet she would!" he beamed brightly at the suggestion. "Thanks, Heero!"
He didn't even bother changing his clothes or redoing his braid; Duo was out the door in a flash.
Heero didn't waste a moment. Once the door was casually shut, Heero ran up the stairs. He was sure Kai was awake by now. He hoped Duo's wailing hadn't frightened her. As soon as he opened the door he saw Kai's hazy, terrified eyes.
"Kai...Kai," he called her name softly as to not give her another shock. He rushed to her bedside.
"Kai! Kai!" his voice became firmer, more worried.
Heero gently shook her to make her come to her senses, but the effect was not comforting. Kai suddenly became violent. She screamed and kicked and yelled with all her might, but Heero wouldn't let her get out of control. He pinned her wrists down along with her legs and tried his best to calm her.
Without the free movement of her arms and legs, her strongest defenses, Kai didn't know what to do. All she could do was cry and face what she felt were the consequences.
"Kai! Kai! What's wrong?!" Heero was harsh yet had a soft tone that could compensate his cold effect.
She finally came to with a good shake of the shoulders, but was still as terrified.
"Hee..Heero?" she asked weakly.
Heero gave her a relieved smile in return and released her from his grasp. "Yes, it's me."
She still had a haze of fear over her eyes, so Heero repeated his words for her reassurance.
"It's me, Kai. It's me, Heero Yuy," he gently wiped her tears away, giving her a comforting smile.
"Heero...." Kai replied again, trying to reassure herself.
He gently nodded and was sure to keep strong eye contact.
With a slight silence between them, Kai suddenly flung her arms round Heero's neck and buried her face in his shirt.
"Heero...Heero...please tell me it's over. Please, please tell me it's over," she quivered with frightened sobs.
"Whatever it is, Kai...it's over. You're safe here, with me," Heero returned her panicked embrace with his strong arms and comforting warmth.
Heero felt her sigh of relief and her quiet gratitude.
"Thank you..."
And with those last words, the moment seemed to lengthen into eternity.