Chapter Warnings: m/m relationship, language.

A Grand Affair

Chapter Six: Bedside Promises

Duo cursed for the millionth time as he nearly lost his grip three stories up from a rocky ocean floor. He knew he was growing weaker but this was just pathetic. He vowed that if he ever made it out of here alive, Heero or no Heero to save, he was going straight back to the gym. The Angel of Death did not have trouble scaling walls. Damn sneaking around at night, he'd be embarrassed if he was caught climbing this awkwardly.

"You're in your mid-twenties and you're already moving like you're fucking fifty," Duo muttered to himself. "If only OZ could see you now, buddy."

The verbal degradation was the last push up onto the balcony that had better have been Heero's. If it wasn't, Duo was ready to just walk through the room, ask for directions and use the door like any other normal person. But, to his relief, he spotted a single lounge chair and lone glass table. Those were the landmarks. Now, came the hard part.

Any lingering humor fell aside and Duo took a few deep breaths. The air tasted salty and he ran a bare arm over his forehead as he tried to collect himself. Four months couldn't change a person that much but Duo felt himself expecting something horrific. Something out of a nightmare. He could just imagine peering into the bed and seeing Heero looking a hundred years old, or dead and decaying, or mutilated.

Duo snapped out of it fast enough as he heard a guard begin to patrol the back of the palace. It was now or never. Duo opted for now and damn the consequences from whatever was about to happen. In absolute silence he picked the lock and was in the dark bedroom before the guard ever had a chance to look Duo's way. Gingerly, Duo closed the door behind him and held his breath, waiting for the Perfect Soldier to snap into kill mode and attack the intruder.

But nothing came. This unsettled Duo considerably. In all his years of knowing Heero, nothing passed over Heero's attention awake and especially asleep. There was something very wrong about the ease in which Duo approached Heero's bedside. But once Duo reached the nightstand he saw the reason why he wasn't pinned against a wall with a gun to his head. Sleeping pills. Hard. Core. Sleeping pills. Duo picked up the bottle and grimaced as he mentally counted about four pills left. As he set the bottle down he eyed another prescription. He picked it up but set it immediately down after only reading the first word. Antidepressant.

This was the man that did not take medication. This was the man that did not need medication. This was supposed to be the Perfect Soldier before him, not some depressed, starving and sleep-deprived husband in his mid-twenties. But all signs of the Perfect Soldier were gone from the pale man lying in bed. It was undeniably Heero, to Duo's greatest fear; the features were unique entirely to him, and Duo knew he'd recognize Heero in any form. But this thinning, nearly gray body forced Duo to step closer, just to make sure.

The body shifted and dark blue eyes open blearily. "D-Duo?"

Duo froze, his heart pounding out a painful, fierce rhythm that he was sure showed through his shirt. He didn't want to talk to Heero. He just had to see him. That was all.

"I'm dreaming again, aren't I?" Heero groaned, letting his head relax.

"Yes, I'm afraid so," Duo said softly. Slowly, he sat down on the edge of the bed. He was taking a great risk but his heart was beating too loudly, and the blood was rushing past his ears in such a loud thudding that he couldn't hear his common sense any longer. "Heero, you have to take better care of yourself. The Heero I knew wouldn't have allowed himself the luxury of death when times got rough…" Duo pleaded softly.

"It isn't worth living anymore," Heero sighed, closing his eyes. "You're gone forever and all because of me."

Yes, because you were an honorable idiot that put your duty always before your relationships. Fuck you. You deserve this you…you…

A tear ran down Heero's cheek as he reached out and grasped Duo's hand. "I miss you so much," he murmured in a thick voice. "You're all I ever think about. You have to just let me go. I know that I'm just dreaming this up and you only say these caring words because my mind is formulating what it wants to hear."

"No, Heero," Duo groaned. This was far worse than he had ever expected. He felt tears coming to the forefront of his eyes. "I came to tell you that you have to take care of yourself. I'm going to get you out of this. I promise you. I haven't abandoned you. I just had to go away for a while and collect my thoughts. Promise me, you'll stay alive and well and I promise you that we'll be together again soon."

"I'll promise you anything," Heero sighed sadly. "But this is all still a dream."

Duo leaned in and kissed Heero softly on the lips. "I love you," he whispered painfully as though those words had been forced some kind of knife in between his ribs. "And if you love me, you'll keep up your end of the promise."

Heero nodded in agreement and accepted another long, lingering kiss from Duo. He could feel his will returning to him, the reason why he had fought so hard during the war. Duo was his only reason. For anything. For everything.

Duo pulled away with a heavy sigh. "I must go now. But if you break your promise, I'll know and then my end of the deal is off, too."

"Don't leave," Heero pleaded.

"I'm sorry, Heero. I have to. Just remember our promise."

"I won't forget," Heero vowed.

Duo stood up and sank into the shadows, shuddering from the silent sobs that wracked his body. God, if he had known it had been this bad he would have never moved. He instantly felt responsible for the lightly sleeping form that was dying in that bed. He had seen how thin Heero was becoming from how the sheets fell over his body. Heero's hair even began to look a little thinner and its usual shine was gone. Those eyes had been hollow and haunted. In all his despair, Duo had unconsciously clasped his cross in his hands. He had gotten it inscribed on the back, Heero & Duo, just as they had moved in together.

Slowly, Duo took the chain off over his head and quietly placed it on Heero's nightstand. That should be enough to inspire hope in Heero to return to a healthy state. Duo stalked out of the bedroom and closed the balcony doors. He savored the wind against his face as he flipped open his cell phone.

"Hello?" a bleary voice answered.

"Quatre. It's Duo," he said sharply.

With a final glance back into the bedroom he continued, "Tell me the plan."

(O)(O)(O)

Heero awoke feeling slightly different. He could vaguely remember his dream and the promise he had made to Duo. It had seemed so real. But the promise had given him a momentarily sense of purpose again. However, as the sun crept into Heero's bedroom, all motivation to live left him once again. Reaching over to snatch up the bottle of antidepressants his hand knocked against something foreign.

Sitting up fully this time he reached over and picked up the object. Heero sat there stunned, holding the metal piece in the palm of his hand. It couldn't be. It wasn't.

With shaking hands, Heero turned the cross over. And there was the inscription. Heero's fingers closed tightly around the necklace as he titled his head back against the headboard. It hadn't been a dream. Duo's promise was a real as this cross in his hands. Reverently, Heero put the cross around his neck and slipped it under his t-shirt.

He stumbled out of bed and looked at himself in the mirror. A living corpse. But the outline of the cross was visible under the shirt and Heero felt a competitive smile pull at the corners of his mouth. He would keep his end of the bargain.

He felt like eggs, bacon, ham and a tall glass of milk for breakfast. Maybe even some oatmeal before he hit the gym for an hour or two.

(O)(O)(O)

Alright, time to go after bad guys. No more moping around for either of our heroes. How's Heero going to stand up for himself? How is Duo going to find Antonio Verducci? Both will be answered very soon. Thank you to the four that reviewed this last chapter: datanali, anf600, Cassie, and mcl. Please let me know the good and the bad. If I'm losing your interest or if I've captured it; let me know! Thanks, everyone!