Title: "Home"

Theme: #14 Nostalgia

Rating: PG

Word Count: 1,015

Characters/Pairings: Dearka/Yzak (of course!); Athrun

Author's Notes: I hate this. Took me days to write it because I kept putting it off because I didn't like it. But oh well. I don't hate it as much as I did to begin with, so I suppose that's good. And the song is "Split-Screen Sadness" by John Mayer, and doesn't belong to me. its just in there because it fits, and I love music lyrics. They speak so much more than regular words.

start-

But—" Yzak protested loudly as Dearka dragged him through the crowd.

"C'mon Yzak! I know you don't like having fun, but would you do it just for me?" Dearka pleaded.

"I don't—" Yzak began to argue before Dearka cut him off.

"Or is the reason you don't want to because you're afraid?" the blonde taunted lightly.

Yzak's mouth snapped shut for a moment. "I'm not scared," he replied forcefully at last.

Dearka smirked as he pulled Yzak into the photo booth. "Then say cheese!"

Dearka sighed heavily, staring at the strip of pictures. Yzak pouting, himself doing his best to make the silver-haired boy at least smile. The last picture caused a ghost of a smile to flick across his face. Yzak had been so surprised when Dearka had kissed him.

It seemed so long ago, so hard to think that the photos had only been taken a year before. Those had been happier times. Not that the relationship between himself and Yzak wasn't good, but tensions between the Plants and Earth had arisen again, and war had only to be officially declared once more.

Which was why he was in this predicament. He'd been given a week's leave, and in that week the war had all but started. The ship Yzak commanded, the Voltaire, had gone out without him, and ZAFT had lost contact with it.

Dearka desperately hoped Yzak was okay. Over the last few years they'd become so close that he didn't know what he'd do without the quick-tempered Yzak by his side.

He glanced around the apartment they shared when off-duty. He hadn't cared for its update in the past few days, spending his time next to the phone, waiting for any scrap of news.

The phone rang suddenly, Dearka's breath catching in his throat as he scrambled to pick it up. "Hello?" he asked hopefully.

"Dearka?" Athrun's voice replied. "Is that you?"

"Oh. Athrun," Dearka answered, his voice becoming monotone. It wasn't Yzak, and it wasn't the military saying that they'd found Yzak.

"I…heard about Yzak. And…" Athrun seemed unsure, wavering a bit before continuing. "…I'm sorry. About Yzak, I mean…"

Dearka frowned. "You're acting like he's dead, Athrun…" he said slowly.

"I know it's hard, but Yzak is probably gone, Dearka," Athrun said softly.

Dearka froze for a second before rage rolled over him. "What the hell are you saying?" he shouted angrily. "Yzak's not dead! He can't be! So stop saying that!"

"Dearka—" Athrun started, but was cut off as Dearka hung up on him, staring once more at the strip of film.

Yzak wasn't dead! He couldn't be! Athrun had been wrong in the past, and he had to be wrong now! Yzak had told him about how, when Athrun and himself had disappeared back during the first war, they'd been believed dead. But neither had been. Dearka could only hope that it was the same for Yzak, that he wasn't dead, just missing.

Butterflies of worry exploded anew in his stomach as he tried to ignore the creeping doubt Athrun's call had infused in him, despite his denial. Hoping for any kind of distraction, he turned on the radio.

"…One hand on the trigger of a telephone

Wondering when the call comes

Where you say it's alright

You got your heart right

Maybe I'll sleep inside my coat and

Wait on the porch 'til you come back home—"

Dearka slammed his hand down on the off button, leaving a small dent. Why couldn't the stupid radio be playing something that didn't remind him of Yzak? His eyes watered of their own accord as he fought back sudden tears. He didn't cry. He hadn't ever cried, not since he was young. He was stronger than that. Besides, what would Yzak say if he saw him crying? Probably something to the effect of him being a blubbering idiot. That got a small, short laugh out of him, which was better than nothing.

A violent pounding from the door caused Dearka to jump in surprise. He didn't dare hope as he leapt to his feet, flinging the door open. There stood a tired, bruised, battered, and annoyed-looking Yzak.

"Yzak!" Dearka shouted, crushing the silver-haired boy in a bear hug. "You're alive!"

"Of course I'm alive you idiot! Now let go of me before you break something!" Yzak snapped, wincing as Dearka accidentally squeezed his bruises.

The blonde immediately let go. "Sorry," he muttered, blushing slightly. "What happened?"

Yzak sighed. "Long story. But do we really need to talk about it out here, or can I go sit down?"

Dearka blushed again, stumbling back inside. "Sitting down works," he mumbled.

Yzak shook his head. He didn't know what he was going to do with that guy. Brushing past him, he collapsed onto the sofa next to the phone, unaware that Dearka had been sitting there for the past few days. The photo strip caught his eye, and he picked it up with hands that trembled slightly. The memory caused a tiny smirk to appear upon his lips. He hadn't thought it amusing then, but things had changed. It seemed like forever ago, and in a way it was. So much had happened since then, such as his realization that even he could feel that little thing called love, no matter how much he denied the fact.

Dearka plopped down besides him, the sleepless nights catching up to him now that Yzak was safe and sound. He tipped slowly until his head lay in a slightly surprised Yzak's lap. "Why don't you tell me in the morning what happened?" he said with a yawn, falling asleep almost immediately.

Yzak sighed. The fool had probably been up the past few days waiting for him. What an idiot. He moved Dearka's head gently to a more comfortable position, and then leaned back with another weary sigh. It'd been a long few days, but that was all done, and he could deal with the consequences of them in the morning. But for now, it was just nice to be home.

-end

Blah. And just a note. Voltaire was one of the coolest guys ever, so Yzak has one of tthe coolest ships ever. The end. -smirk-

xxravenwingxx