A new chapter coming! Sorry for being so late, but I hope you will enjoy this! I will try my best to post the next one the coming week! Read, enjoy and review!

Chapter eight: Denial

Takao squirmed around, caught in between the reality and the nightmare he was having. The boy groaned and whimpered, fighting back the terror. A thin sheet of sweat covered his trembling body as he trashed around. Takao could almost feel the pain of his arm being broken again, the sensation of hot blood running down the side of his face was too vivid to be just a dream. There was only pain... Then came the darkness and the fear. Takao's eyes watered and he squeezed them shut tightly. He was so cold.

And it was getting colder.

The boy whimpered again .

I will hurt you boy... You will never run away from me...

No, no, no...

The panic made him choke.

A cruel laugh resonated through his mind.

And when I am done with you, I will find that precious Shin-chan of yours and hurt him too.

No, not Shin-chan!

But it was useless. Takao was helpless and completely unable to protect himself let alone Shin-chan. Just the possibility of his friend getting hurt made his chest ache in a strange way,

He was wide awake in a matter of seconds, breathing hard and crying silently.

It took him a while to realize that he wasn't in his old flat. Then it took him a little longer to remember that he was in Midorima's room, who was holding tightly his shoulders, trying hard to make Takao calm down. Sweet, meaningless words fell off his mouth, whispers that were aiming to ease Takao.

''It's okay,'' the Miracle muttered and brushed his fingers over his friend's cheeks. Midorima was observing Takao, wondering why the boy was muttering and groaning his name in his sleep. As far as the green head could tell, the shorter one was having a nightmare, judging by the way he was trembling and crying. "What were you dreaming about?"

Slowly, careful not to hurt Takao, Midorima lowered the two of them back on the bed and pulled the covers up, making sure that his friend was warm. Even when they settled in a comfortable position, neither tried to let go of the other.

Takao buried his face in the crook of Midorima's neck and closed his eyes. His body was still shaking with fear, his mind was still clouded, but somehow he managed to comprehend that he was safe. That Shin-chan was there with him and nothing threatened the two of them.

"A nightmare," he muttered and fisted his pale hands into the fabric of Midorima's shirt. "He was coming after you," the boy's voice wavered and he held back a sob.

The green haired boy stroked the other's hair. He could deal with the nightmares in which Takao was in danger, but it was new to him to face a dream in which he was the one being chased. And it was strange how scared Takao look because of that.

Midorima brushed his thoughts aside and pressed Takao closer. Why was so cold in his room?

"It's okay," he said softly. "I am okay, don't cry, idiot."

Takao laughed softly at the insult and smiled, keeping his eyes closed. It was strange how gentle his friend could be even when he was calling him an idiot.

"Thank you, Shin-chan," Takao whispered and relaxed, slowly drifting off again. This time he slept peacefully.

Midorima woke up about an hour before Takao even started stirring. It was a Saturday, so it was okay to just keep lazing in bed, he decided after a quick glance at the clock. He turned his head back to Takao, who was now cuddled against him like a kitten, his hand resting on Midorima's chest. Right above his heart. Something in Midorima's chest tightened at the sight and he frowned.

For the first time in a couple of days he had the opportunity to slow down and just think what was going on. Ever since he had found Takao on the sofa in the living room, the two of them were closer. Takao would sleep next to him every night since the nightmares would be less difficult to handle with the green haired boy around. And strangely enough, Midorima felt alright with this. The only thing that bothered him now was the strange feeling of warmth inside his chest every time he would look at Takao. Even now it felt too good to lay like this with him halfway on top of his body and snoring lightly on his shoulder.

He is kind of cute...

The moment that thought passed his mind, Midorima tensed.

As far as I recall, you and Takao-kun are really close, right Midorin? Maybe the two of you will get together soon?

Momoi's words echoed in his mind. No, there was no way.

Midorima blinked a few times, still staring at Takao's pale face. There was no way that he could have some feelings for his friend, right?

"Shin-chan..." The whisper was so quiet that Midorima barely managed to hear him, but it sent shivers down his spine.

Takao muttered his name again and pressed closer, mumbling something about warmth.

He is just cold, that's it.

Yeah, okay. Then what was his excuse for turning to the side and putting his arms around his friend?

Midorima closed his eyes and took a deep breath. No, this wasn't right. He had no right to taka advantage of Takao in his state. Not to mention that the two of them were males. No.

Careful not to stir Takao up, Midorima slid out of the bed and quickly found a pair of clean sweats and a T-shirt. He needed some time alone with his basketball in order to calm down. On his way out, he grabbed the phone from the table and walked out. The door shut softly behind him.

Takao's eyelids lifted slightly for long enough to see Shin-chan exiting the room, but he was too tired to call out for him. Instead, he closed his eyes again and curled into a ball under the covers, falling back asleep.

"So, Takao isn't going to play in the Winter Cup, huh?" asked Aomine during the short break after a tiring one on one with Midorima.

He had been caught off guard when the phone had rung that morning, too early for his liking, but the fact that Midorima was actually calling him for a game had quickly convinced him to get up and go to the other end Tokyo.

Midorima dried off the sweat on his neck and nodded.

"Yeah," he muttered and lowered his gaze, remembering his friend's expression in the morning. He actually regretted leaving Takao alone, but he needed to calm down a little. "The cast on his arm is going to be removed tomorrow, but I doubt he will be back in shape in time."

Aomine placed the ball on the ground and took out a bottle of water from his bag.

"Have you talked to him about this? Maybe he wants to participate?"

Midorima snorted at that. There was no way that he was going to let Takao play in the Winter Cup unless the black haired boy was well enough both mentally and physically. And right now he was lacking in both areas.

"He is our point guard, Aomine," he reminded him, looking down at his hands. "If he is not capable to keep his composure and play at his best, we cannot allow him to go on the court."

Aomine laughed at that. Poor Midorima. He really believed himself that he could control Takao. The dark skinned man had a feeling that the Shutoku's point guard would be on a different opinion than his friend.

"Not to mention that there is a high possibility that we will play against Rakuzan at some point. I don't want him to face Akashi right now."

Okay, now that it was mentioned, Aomine had to agree. Under normal circumstances Takao would be crushed mentally by their former captain given the red head's abilities. But now, when the Shutoku's point guard was already unstable it was even more dangerous to let him face the Rakuzan's captain.

"You might be right, but I think you underestimate Takao," muttered Aomine and stood up. "I think he can stand his ground. You have to believe in him."

Midorima kept his eyes on his former team mate for a while, observing his face. It was strange just how much Aomine had changed since Kise and him had started going out. And now, unlike a few months ago, Midorima didn't feel disgust at the thought of their relationship. It was more like envy that was filling up his heart. Not that he was going to admit it, though.

"How is Takao doing anyway? Getting better?"

The green head nodded again. His team mate was slowly getting over what happened and maybe in a month or two he would be back to his old self.

"He still has nightmares, but he will get better soon."

Aomine patted him on the shoulder.

"Be nice to him, he needs you right now." It was strange to hear those words from the badass Aomine, Midorima decided.

"Kise really turned you into a softy, Aomine," he teased and stood up as well, getting ready for another one on one.

The Touou's ace frowned as he watched the other go back to the court.

"Hey, what do you mean?! I will prove you that I have not gotten soft!" True to his words, Aomine crushed Midorima.

Later on, as the two of them were saying their goodbyes, Aomine wondered if Midorima realized that he was falling for Takao. Hard.