Disclaimer: I don't own any recognizable characters mentioned in this non-profit Non-copyright infringement..-ing fic. If I did...Hunter and Dustin would be in my closet.
Author's Note: My little buddy...or big...buddy, Stamina Pendragon /wishyounew gave me a few hints about 6 year-olds BUT I had this written already! SO! If I haven't been doing a good job, hopefully you'll se a change in the characterization. enjoi.


"Huntoor...Huntoor!" A soft groan emitted from the dark bundle of blankets, the wrapped ninja rolled over and rubbed and eye.

"Dustin? What's wrong?" he asked as he glanced over to the red display on his clock, "It's two in the morning" he noted to himself, his eyes adjusted to the darkness, seeing the small dark figure dragging the huge blanket scratching his stomach.

"It's scary in the dark dude"

Hunter sighed and sat up in his bed and yawned, "Okay" He got up and walked back to the living room with the child and flicked a switch and a soft light filled the area, "Better?" he asked looking away from the light to Dustin who had his eyes covered. Now, it was hard to tell if this was Dustin or little Dustin because of what happened a few nights ago he found the other man to be afraid of the dark. Maybe it'd be better not to figure this out; his head was already starting to hurt from the bright light.

"...." his small fingers spread enough so he could peak through, his hands snapped to his sides with a huge grin, "Yeah!" he hobbled to the couch and jumped on top of it after a few tries and blond brows came together, even Dustin as a kid was this hyper...wow. He walked over to the forgotten blanket on the floor and brought it over to the couch and over his friend. "Good night Huntoor!"

"Shhh, Blake's sleeping" he whispered as he tucked the sides of the blanket under the boy whose eyes widened and he covered his lips.

"Sorry"

"It's okay, g'night bro" Hunter smiled and dragged back to his room hoping he could get back to sleep. Normally he couldn't wake up and go back to sleep, once he was awake, he was awake. He stared up at his ceiling and sighed, great, he'd only gotten like four hours of sleep and he knew he was going to be cranky all day; Blake didn't really like him when he was cranky. He-

"Huntoor, Huntoor!" The man being called shot up from his bed and darted into the living room, expecting a horde of kelzacks or a giant monster but all he was met with was a balled up Dustin in the far corner of the couch.

"What's wrong bro?" he asked coming to sit next to the boy.

"It's scary"

"What is?" his answer was a pointed finger toward the window. There wasn't a monster or anything so he walked over to further inspect, pulling back the long curtains he spotted a vacuum cleaner. Blake. He was really lazy sometimes. "Dustin, look, it's just the vacuum" He looked over to him and he refused to look, "Come here" he said softly but that still wouldn't even get him to budge so he got the vacuum cleaner and rolled it in front of the couch and sat down. "Dustin..." he wrapped an arm around the kid and in return he got small arms wrapped tightly around his torso."Dustin, look, it was just the vacuum cleaner" the small boy peaked from the crimson shirt then nodded.

"Vacuum" he pointed at it and laughed.

"What's going on?" Blake dragged his feet to the entrance of the living room.

"Nothing he just thought there was something standing behind the curtain"

"Right, that was um-"

"It's fine bro, go back to sleep" Blake nodded and gave a small wave before dragging back to his room. After a few minutes of just sitting there Hunter nodded and put a hand to the small head at his side. "Dustin?" When he didn't get an answer he leaned a bit to get a better look at the kid.

"Yeah?" he asked with a small grin.

"You ready to go to bed?"

"Yeah!"

"Okay" Hunter got up and unexpectedly brought Dustin up with him. He pulled the small but very resistant arms from around his waist and the boy screamed causing Hunter to wince. What the hell?! "What's wrong?"

"I wanna stay with you Huntoor" he said with crossed arms and a scowl, the thunder ninja sighed with a headshake.

"Fine...c'mon bro" Dustin did a complete 180° with a huge grin and clapping hands as he brought his arms around his taller friend who picked him up. They went over to the light and Hunter turned it off. Good or bad idea? Dustin near constricted him with his legs and arms. "Dustin, it's fine...I'm right here" The little ninja nodded and after a second he relaxed in his arms. Once in his room Hunter smiled, he was so close to getting back to sleep. He pulled the blanket back then set the yellow wind ninja down and pulled the blanket up under his chin. With that he started to walk around the bed but a pull on his wrist stopped him.

"Huntoor?"

"What?"

"Where are you going?"

"Nowhere dude, just-"

"No, no, no, no, you gotta stay here Huntoor" the boy pulled a bit his arm and the man nodded, he just wanted to get to sleep. He walked back to Dustin's side then carefully climbed over him to get on the other side of the bed and got under the covers. The wind ninja scooted closer to him and pulled the blanket higher on Hunter's shoulders with a grin then snuggled into his chest. The thunder ninja wrapped an arm around the small form and fell asleep.