Heero awoke suddenly, his heart racing. All he could hear was his pulse ringing in his ears. All he could feel was rapid pounding against his ribs. A hand reached up to his chest, fingers splaying wide. Satisfied, he sighed and relaxed. Then the faint smell of the sea hit him, which made him confused. Moving slightly from his place on the sofa, his limbs still feeling all too heavy, he tilted his head and spotted Duo silently working in the kitchen. A horrible tension released from him.

"What're you doing?"

Duo didn't answer, he only continued to work something with his hands. Heero belatedly realized he was kneading dough.

"Are you... making noodles?"

With a small nod and a little hum, his suspicions were confirmed. Slowly, he turned enough to mostly face the kitchen. Duo looked serious. Something just didn't feel right.

"You don't have to make soba."

A soft snort was accompanied by a whispered "I planned to make it."

Heero's eyes raked across the kitchen and he noticed a delivery box from a market down he street. So the plans Duo made were to have groceries delivered and cook. Not quite what Heero was hoping for earlier in the day when he imagined Duo leaving his apartment to reintroduce himself to the world.

"I'm serious. I really appreciate it, but you don't have to make soba. It's a lot of work."

"I do have to make it. And it's not much work at all."

That wasn't close to the answer Heero wanted. He tried again.

"Really, Duo. You don't need to do this. You should be recovering, too."

The tension in Duo's arms dropped, and he paused in his kneading to check on something boiling on the stove. Immediately Heero realized that smell of the sea was katsuo dashi. Of course. How could he, even for a second, think it was the actual sea? Maybe he needed to lower his dose of pain medication.

"I want to make soba for you, Heero."

Those words were a bit annoyed, but very resigned. They broke Heero's heart.

"You really don't need—"

"Yes, I do."

Anger now bled into Duo's tone. It made Heero cautious with his own, and with the words he chose to speak. Though his head was clearing by the minute the conversation he found himself in didn't feel like it could wait until he fully shook off his nap.

"You don't need to exert yourself. You're as tired as I am, probably moreso. I haven't seen you sleep since leaving L2, you must be exhausted. And you're not dealing with any of this, you're just pushing forward. We both went through something and—"

"Heero?"

"Yes, love?"

Duo ducked into a lower cabinet and came back up with a fine mesh sieve.

"Shut the fuck up."

He did as he was ordered, not wanting to cause problems. Not a word passed between them while Duo strained the dashi and turned a knob on his stove. There was no light in his eyes when he brought a container of soy sauce closer to the pot, broth beginning to steam. Over the years they'd spent together Heero knew that if he stared at Duo long enough the braided man would cave and eventually talk. So he waited, and watched. A small voice in his head told him he should've focused on his worry, and not explained Duo's own emotions to him.

He'd do better the next time.

The broth appeared to come to a boil, soy sauce and salt were added to taste, a knob was once again turned, and a lid was placed over the pot. Eyes closed, hand still on the lid, Duo took in a deep breath and exhaled in an elongated and precise manner.

"I know what you're doing, Ro. And I know why. But I can't give you what you want right now. I can't..." he paused, and finally opened his eyes to look into Heero's. Those eyes were guarded, and it hurt him to see Duo unwilling to show how he felt. With a sigh, Duo let go of the lid and laid his hands on either side of the stove. "I'm not saying I'll never talk about it. And I'm not saying I'm trying to hide anything from you, because honestly that's just not in the cards. I don't wanna, and I don't even have the energy to try." His frown deepened. "I just can't talk about it right now, okay? Right now, in this moment, I need something to do with my hands. A task. I just..."

It was hard to watch his shoulders slump and his gaze fall to his feet. Duo looked defeated in a way Heero hadn't seen in years. Maybe ever.

"I feel broken. I need to think, in my own head, before I do any thinking outside of it. And if I think while I focus on something, on making something, on creating something... it's a step, you know? Towards feeling like I can put things together and not ruin them. I need this, Ro. It's small but I need to know I don't destroy everything. I need to create. And if it happens to make you smile when I'm done... I can't think of anything more..." he paused again, and Heero heard his feet shuffle faintly. "I dunno. Healing for me? At least right now. So don't. Don't take this from me, okay? Don't try an' convince me to sit and relax or whatever. I gotta do somethin or I'll lose my mind."

Heero studied him. The crease in his knitted brow, the wisps of chestnut strands escaping his usually tidy braid, and how he hid his eyes behind the hair that fell across his face. He said the only thing that felt natural.

"I love you."

Duo's posture changed, and he could've sworn he saw a hint of a smile on his still obscured face.

"I know."

He didn't ask for Duo to say it back.

Later, when he was quietly reading and Duo announced their meal was ready, a fuss was made over his attempt to move to the dining table from the sofa. Duo ran over, insisting he wasn't supposed to put weight on his ankle yet and he'd bring the soup to him. Unwilling to start a fight over something so minor, he shot Duo the saddest look he could manage and asked to please be allowed to eat at the table rather than the sofa. Duo folded instantly. He began to reach for his crutches when he found himself lifted in Duo's arms.

He weakly protested being carried the short distance to his dining table.

For as proud as he was, he couldn't really effectively argue against being held so lovingly. Not when Duo seemed to need it. Part of him knew deep down that carrying him was as much for Duo's reassurance as it was for his healing ankle. Once situated, he glanced up and caught Duo's wrist as he began to move away. As expected, Duo looked startled and seemed to think he wanted something.

He did.

And he took it, by pulling Duo into a quick kiss. If his baka wasn't going to initiate contact, he'd do it himself. After all, last night he all but admitted he wanted to show affection but was too afraid. If Duo was worried he wasn't real, he was more than happy to regularly prove he was.

Everything about their lunch, from the plating to the flavor, demonstrated love. They ate mostly in silence, sneaking glances at one another like kids making eye contact across the school yard while secretly planning some adventure. With each time one was caught looking, the smiles on their faces grew just a little more prominent. That reactive flinch of Duo's was missing, too.

"It's good, yeah?"

Heero practically deflated as he unraveled in sheer comfort.

"It's wonderful, Duo. I'm still amazed from last time, and this time? Without all that congestion it's even better. Logically I know how this works, and that sense of smell impacts taste, but I wasn't prepared for just how good this is."

The sparkle that left Duo's eyes on L2 reappeared then. It took his breath away.

"Really?"

"Yes. Really."

Duo's gaze narrowed a bit, and he looked vaguely thoughtful.

"What's with that tone?"

Heero wasn't sure he'd changed his tone.

"Hm?"

"Your tone, Ro. It's so..."

"Honest?"

Duo laughed, and he felt like the greatest man alive to have elicited that sound.

"I was thinking more along the lines of sappy."

"I can't have a sappy tone when the man I love gifts me the most perfect homemade meal, and carries me to the table, and makes me want for almost nothing while he takes such good care of me?"

He saw the bit of playfulness that comment sparked, and hoped it would keep their mood light. The Duo who laughed, and joked, and made everything so much brighter and better was absent since he woke up in the hospital on L2. Loving, caring, intense, and afraid Duo was who he'd seen the last few days. Part of him thought Duo might not believe he deserved to be happy after all that happened. And if his suspicions were right, he'd simply have to use every resource available to convince Duo his happiness was not just deserved, but the best way to honor everything lost.

"Are you seriously trying to win romance points right now by praising me?"

Heero smiled, a full smile with nothing held back. It didn't escape him how stunned his partner looked, no matter how he tried to hide his surprise.

"Maybe. But only because you've been making me look bad."

"How's he doing?"

Heero suppressed a sigh and adjusted his earpiece, eyes double checking that Duo really had gone to take a shower. The noise alone wasn't enough to convince him. Part of him wondered if Duo would run the water just to spy on him.

War paranoia sometimes reappeared in ridiculous situations.

"Not great. He made me soba, and it was absolutely perfect down to every last hand cut noodle being utterly identical."

"It's still so weird that Duo cooks."

"Don't worry, you can still count the dishes he makes well on one hand. If we're staying in, it's me who's cooking."

"That sounds more like it."

"You should see how he butchers instant ramen."

There was no hiding the amusement in Quatre's voice when he asked "Just how does one do that?"

"He throws in some combination of beef, tomato, chili, onion, garlic, yuca, carrot, and something called chayote. He calls it sopa de ramen and tosses in the ramen seasoning as well." His voice became frustrated and desperate. "And there's segments of corn on the cob, too! He just lets it boil until it's cooked to whatever softness he wants, throws in the noodles, squeezes lime over it, and calls it a day. And he buys good, spicy ramen for this!"

"Is it bad?"

"No, but it's not ramen anymore and it defeats the whole purpose of instant ramen!"

He wanted to smack the obvious smile off his friend's face when Quatre responded "I can see that."

"And the cilantro! He puts entire bunches at a time, it's overpowering!"

"I see."

"He doesn't always understand that less can be more! Don't even get me started on the many ways he makes quick eggs and rice!"

"Heero?"

"Yes?"

"No offense but what's your point?"

He sighed. Of course Quatre didn't have time for this. And with Duo in the shower it was best he get to his point before he also ran out of time.

"Making that Soba? It's like a ritual of labor, and it seemed to help him, just a little. And I can't say I didn't enjoy the results. He put a lot of love into that dish and for a few minutes there things felt almost normal. He even asked me what I was reading, and hinted during our meal that maybe he'd like to hear me read to him. But that mood of his didn't last beyond doing the dishes. I'm worried about him."

"Still not talking?"

"Not really. Not about what he needs to talk about."

On the other end he could hear Quatre sigh, so similarly to the way he wanted to moments before.

"He was afraid to touch me for a while. Still is, to an extent."

"Really? Duo is afraid of touch?"

"Yeah. When pressed, he said he's afraid I'll disappear. And though he didn't explicitly say so, it's pretty clear he doesn't fully believe I'm alive and actually here. He'll touch me as part of the task of taking care of me, but won't initiate physical affection. Not even a hug or kiss."

They stayed on the line, holding a prolonged silence that danced on the border of comfortable and uneasy until Quatre finally spoke.

"How about you? How are you doing?"

While he wasn't interested in diving particularly deep into his own issues, his friendship with Quatre was one of mutual support. He'd feel guilty if he didn't tell him the truth.

"I'm having nightmares again. It's being handled."

He wasn't an idiot. He knew Quatre would understand, at least partially, what that meant. But he also hoped with everything in him that his friend wouldn't pick up on the cause of his nightmares. Thankfully, he didn't pry.

"Trowa wants to see the two of you. Do you think we can arrange that, or is it too soon?"

The idea of seeing Trowa was very appealing. He hadn't seen his partner since he passed out after getting shot, though they'd spoken on the phone once or twice. Trowa was... less receptive to texts than before. Meeting face to face sounded wonderful. Anything to change the routine he and Duo settled into upon their arrival home was a welcome distraction. Plus he really wanted to see what would happen once Duo and Trowa were reunited. Each of them made made him feel incredibly loved when they separately promised to look out for each other.

While he was in the hospital, the thought of his work and life partners extending such fierce care for one another made him smile when he was otherwise groggy, or in pain, or anxiously awaiting news from his friends while angrily sitting out of the action. He'd enjoy seeing if their behavior was changed at all, or if it would remain as before.

"I'd love that, Quatre. But I'm not sure Duo is ready."

"So you do think it's too soon."

"Maybe."

"That idiot is going to be ready whether he likes it or not!"

Heero wrinkled his nose in confusion at the new voice on the line.

"Wufei?"

"Yes, and Trowa's here, too. You should join us."

"...I was on speaker?"

He heard shuffling, and some noise that sounded an awful lot like a small struggle.

"Sorry, Heero. An idiot stole my phone!"

Quatre again.

"Well..." Heero glanced at the time. "How about we all get together? Maybe later today? Preferably not at my place, he needs to get out and have a change of scenery. Duo hasn't even left to do grocery shopping. He's delivering everything because he doesn't want to leave my side."

"That's... sweet?"

"It's not healthy for either of us."

"I'm glad you realize that. How about my place?"

"Quatre, it's a little far I'm not sure—"

"My new place."

Heero remained silent, assuming correctly that Quatre would understand his confusion.

"Trowa and I rented an apartment this week, in the city. That's why Wufei is here. Originally we planned to move in ourselves, but he's helping us unpack because Sally told him he was too clingy after that threat on her life, and she demanded he do anything without her." He could hear Wufei protesting in the background while Trowa laughed. "Anyway, I'll send you the details."

For a moment Heero wondered how anyone could manage to find an apartment and all out move in a matter of a couple days, but then he remembered that everything was possible when you had money. Quatre didn't need to shop around for a place, or budget, or figure out logistics like a normal person. Good for him. But he still had questions.

"I thought you liked your place."

He could hear Quatre's shy smile in his voice.

"That's the problem. It was my place. Not our place. Trowa and I should have a home we build together. We're renting until we really decide what we want to do. And if we call it a housewarming Duo can't say no. Plus if he still needs something productive to do with his hands, he can help us unpack and figure out where the sofa should go."

"How'd you know he needs to be productive?"

"I was with him in the war, after you self-destructed. I know he needs to keep busy."

Though it hurt to hear that, it was a fair point.

"You downtown?"

"Pretty much. Not too far from HQ, has a river view."

Heero noted that the shower was still running. Duo was taking longer showers these days, in spite of his refusal to leave his side. The unusual behavior only served to worry him more, and he once again glanced down the hall towards the bathroom door.

"Sounds great. We'll be there."

Heero was incredibly disappointed.

Not in the apartment, which was both modern and luxurious without being pretentious. The place was a far cry from Quatre's larger estate, which always looked to Heero like it was trying very hard to capture a ridiculously antiquated European style of elegance he simply didn't value. No, this new apartment his friends got was very nice. How much of it was Trowa's style, or simply Quatre's style once removed from his family's influence, was unclear. But it fit them well. It brought to mind thoughts of what a place might be like for him and Duo, and how their styles and wants could merge. The apartment was wonderful and full of promise.

What wasn't wonderful, what put him on guard and in a quieter mood, was the way Duo and Trowa greeted one another.

Or rather, how they didn't.

Was it too much to ask to see them excited? Maybe even to see them embrace? He shook his head. Asking Trowa to embrace anyone was a big deal, so maybe an embrace was going too far. But these were arguably the two most important men in his life. Trowa, his partner in all things Preventers, and Duo, his partner in all things. Perhaps it was childish to want more between them, but Trowa's silent nod and Duo's artificially cheeky salute left him wanting. They'd each so earnestly promised him to look after each other, not knowing his counterpart did the very same.

How could he not hope for more?

And that silly gesture from Duo... was that his way of avoiding connection? Or was he reading too far into things?

Quatre helpfully positioned him on a rolling desk chair in the kitchen. From there he could unpack boxes of flatware and stack it all on the counter for either Quatre or Trowa to put away properly. It wasn't much, but at least it kept him from doing nothing at all. More importantly, he could use his good foot to roll himself on the tile floor that ran throughout the property and keep Duo from following him around and demanding he use his crutches.

Wufei came into the kitchen to grab a box and just laughed at him.

"What is it, Chang?"

"It's just funny to see you like this. Back in the war you'd not care" he gestured to his ankle, "and walk on that thing."

"Back in the war I didn't have Duo watching me like a hawk."

Wufei smiled. "Oh, he did watch you like a hawk. You just ignored him or didn't notice." When he saw Heero become flustered, he felt a sense of accomplishment and wanted to poke around even more. "How'd you even sprain it so badly?"

The question made Heero angry and uncomfortable in a way he couldn't hide and didn't want to hide. His fury was not held back.

"I don't know! I got shot in the chest and I woke up with my ankle killing me once the pain meds wore off! It doesn't make sense!"

"Awww, don't be mad at Wufei."

Quatre. Always Quatre, trying to smooth things out.

"I'm not angry at him I am angry at the situation!"

Not minding his attitude at all, Quatre rounded the kitchen island to stand behind Heero, then slumped himself over his shoulder, brazenly hugging him from behind. They were familiar, but this sort of action was still rare between them. A voice in Heero's head told him Duo would have a fit seeing Quatre draped over him because it might, maybe, pull at his stitches. He absently hoped to get caught, just so the others could tell Duo how over-protective he was being and that stitches didn't magically rip apart and self destruct. Hell, they'd dissolve in another 24 hours, anyway.

Quatre's smooth voice spoke right next to his ear.

"Lighten up. At least you've got someone taking good care of you."

He frowned, and pulled a little at the arms wrapped around his neck, testing how easy it would be to remove Quatre from his person once he passed his threshold for less familiar touch.

"It's nice to a degree, but he can be a lot."

Wufei smirked with a very knowing look and ran a hand though his hair while he stared at Heero.

"Maxwell is always a lot. Has been since we were kids. You know that!" When the only response he elicited was a grumble, Wufei felt encouraged to continue. "Come on. You love how he is. Are you saying you don't like his devoted attention? Or how he can't help wandering back here just to check on you, even with everyone else around?"

"Honestly I'm just already kind of tired of it, you know?"

He wasn't expecting Duo to appear from around the corner holding an empty folded box. The hurt look in his eyes was loud as he was quiet. Before he could take his words back, Duo spoke, voice steady and even as he clutched the box a little tighter.

"It's okay, Ro. I knew you were lying in the hospital. When you said you'd never tire of me."

The memory of that moment, with Duo lovingly at his bedside, was hard to swallow while he stood there looking so hurt. He felt like a knife was deservedly pressed into his heart. Words from years ago circled in his head, telling him he was the worst person alive. Duo maintained eye contact as he continued, and dropped the box into a pile as Trowa entered the room behind him.

"Anyway, I'll get out of your hair. I'm sure one of the guys will give you a lift home."

His shoes were on and he was out the door before anyone could react. Wufei shot Heero a worried look, and Quatre tightened his grip when he attempted to stand, urging him not to hurt himself.

It was Trowa who muttered "I'll go after him." He beat Wufei to the door, dashing down the hall. Once he rounded the first corner to the elevators he heard a voice.

"Over here."

Turning around, he saw Duo standing with his arms crossed over his chest. He was looking towards the floor, leaning his back against a wall. He'd gone in the opposite direction of the elevators. It was precisely the turn Trowa wouldn't have made.

Without making eye contact, Duo spoke again.

"Feel free to give Heero a preview of our next conversation. Let him know I'm not mad. I'm right, but I'm not mad." He then grumbled in a low voice full of anger. "He's right, too. Hell, I'd be tired of me by now." With a bite to his lip, he finally looked up. "Make sure he takes his pain medication at 20:30. He'll say he doesn't need it, or he'll try and push it back, but it sometimes upsets his stomach, even with food, and if he takes it too late he'll have a hard time sleeping. He needs plenty of rest to recover."

"Duo..." Trowa watched his friend flinch at the sound of his voice, and he knew it was because he spoke with tenderness. "You're aware that he's not really tired of you, right? He's tired of feeling useless."

A silent nod encouraged him to say more. Duo would be patient and wait for him to have words, but for once he didn't need extra time. He was feeling surprisingly confident.

"The way you worry about him, he worries about you. Why don't you come back with me and tell him all of this yourself?"

If he had more to say, Duo's weary smile cut him off.

"Tro... it's not that simple."

"Yes it is!"

"No, it's..." he let out a small breath and dropped eye contact again. "Listen, it's real simple that he and I love each other, and to an extent we sometimes need each other. I can walk back right now and he'll welcome me with open arms. And if you hadn't followed me I'd shoot him a text and let him know we're good. But he wouldn't have said that if he wasn't genuinely needing time apart. So why wouldn't I gift that to him? He doesn't need me right now. He doesn't even fully want me around right now. I've overstayed my welcome, and I get it. I'm a lot at the moment. I smothered him because I'm not really okay and I haven't had time to decompress and I'm running on fumes."

Their eyes met again, and Trowa saw how honest Duo was being.

"So I'm gonna respect his needs. Give him space. Give myself the same. And then I'll come back, and if it was enough time apart I'll stay and try not to be too damn extra with him."

"You really aren't upset with him, are you?"

"Not really, no."

"Then why leave like that? Why not tell him all of this yourself in the moment?"

"I just realized in that if I didn't leave so abruptly, I probably never would. I'd stay, and I'd stay selfishly. But he needs time apart. We both do. So do me another favor and make sure he knows I'll see him tomorrow. But late, so he gets time for himself." A small and crooked smile blossomed on his face. "It'd be pointless to have nearly all of his alone time spent sleeping, yeah?"

Trowa felt a smile attempt to creep onto his face, recalling Heero's coma after his self destruction in the war and how for a while he considered that his friend's alone time, but managed to withhold it.

"You want any company?"

"No. I think I'll take a walk. I wasn't kidding when I said that maybe I also need some time to myself. And when I'm done thinking I'll probably take that sleep aid Sally prescribed me. Didn't wanna be drugged into sleep in case Heero needed me, but I'm exhausted and it's making me not behave my best. It'll be good to get a full night." Duo peeked at him through his bangs. "Tell him that, too. So he doesn't think I died if I'm out cold and can't answer my phone or whatever."

With a grin, Trowa softly offered up his thoughts.

"I didn't want to tell you earlier, but you look like shit."

Duo barked out a laugh and brought a hand up to brush some of his hair from his face.

"You look worse than Heero did in the hospital."

"Worse than when Une paraded me in public before my failed execution."

"Worse than those poster children for Relena's charities."

"Than an abandoned, soaking wet puppy on the side of the road."

"I've seen sewer rats who look better than you, Duo."

"They were probably my neighbors growin up."

"Fighting you for scraps of food."

"Mad at me for eatin their friends."

Trowa stopped their game of escalation. It was suddenly all too real. He always knew he'd lose if he got serious, but somehow Duo could say something serious and keep the tone light. It truly was a game he didn't understand the rules to. And then his friend spoke again, and he only felt worse.

"It's cool. They ate my friends, too."

He didn't know how to respond, and they stood in silence for a few long seconds that stretched to a point of near discomfort. Trowa, for once, broke that silence.

"I know that was a joke, but I also know it was truthful. When you reveal hard truths about yourself with a joke, I really want to say the right thing. Something comforting, something to show I care. But I'm not sure what that would be. You're one of the few people I'd go to for guidance on this subject, and... well..."

A soft, sincere smile crossed Duo's face.

"You nailed it, Tro. That was exactly the right thing to say. Really. Thanks, buddy."

The silence stretched a little further, but it was less uncomfortable and only a little awkward. Still, Trowa felt the need to lighten things for Duo's sake. His friend was always turning harder emotions into easier ones, and he wanted to reciprocate that. Suddenly, he knew how.

"I'm the reason Heero's on crutches."

That got Duo's full attention.

"When he was shot I had to move him. And like an idiot I thought he could walk with a chest wound and a dropped lung if I only helped him along. I pulled him up by his arm, Duo. His arm! He fell like someone switched on gravity in zero G when I stood him upright, and I wasn't ready to catch him. That ankle took his whole weight."

Duo was smiling, eyes impossibly wide, with one hand covering his mouth.

"You're not joking!"

Trowa shook his head.

"¡Hostia! Don't you know better? Aren't you like, the most prepared of all of us for patching up field wounds?"

Trowa grimaced, still unsure if he'd done right by Heero days before. Duo noticed.

"Tro, you did great caring for him when he self destructed, and you did great on L2. For real, none of us would've known what to do at all but you had a plan. And then you just dropped the poor guy! ¡No lo puedo creer!"

"Pardon?"

Duo ignored the question.

"He's gonna kill you if he finds out!"

Trowa nodded, and Duo looked at him with a wild expression.

"Shit, man!"

"Yes, shit."

Duo looked up and down the halls as though he worried Heero wheeled himself out of the apartment in complete silence and was listening in.

"Tro he's going nuts over that."

"Don't tell him. Let him have a little mystery. It's better than knowing his partner dropped him like dead weight."

"Oh fuck no, I ain't sayin a word. Right now I'm broke, and broken, and you're the one I do not envy. Not one fucking word. I'll take this one to my grave!"

He made a zipper motion over his lips for good measure and they fell back into a silence, but this time it was comfortable, friendly, and warm. Trowa wanted to say something, anything, really, to ease up on the broke and broken comment and reassure his friend, but he didn't. The last thing he wanted was to pile more onto Duo, and they both knew he wouldn't stay down for long. Stressing the point would benefit no one, so he chose to relax back into that quiet air.

Duo was the one to speak and break it.

"I'm glad it was you who followed me, and not Quatre or Wufei."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Quat would try too hard to emotionally support me and Wufei might just drag me back against my will. You get me right now, though. I may've been a little overly dramatic, but it's only because I'm so tired."

With that, Duo seemed to settle the topic of the tension between him and Heero. He'd said what he needed, and was done. There was finality in his voice. Instead of pressing on, Trowa decided it was a good time to change subjects. In one fluid motion, he took a few steps and mimicked Duo's stance along the wall. After a moment, he silently nudged his friend with an elbow, and got a small chuckle for it.

"I haven't been able to thank you, yet. For never doubting me."

"I know you, Tro. Isn't much of a leap of faith to believe you'd stick by your friends. One of my easiest decisions, honestly."

"But I destroyed Deathscythe!"

He hadn't meant to blurt that out, it just happened. They were being honest, and it just slipped out. To his complete shock, Duo grinned, equal parts amused and lost.

"Yeah. Obviously. I mean if I didn't already know, the times Heero, Wufei, and Une told me were kinda giveaways."

"I didn't stick by you then."

"Tro, you're not an idiot. Don't pretend you are." Duo leaned a little away and gave him an appraising look. Something inside Trowa eased up.

"I appreciate it, nonetheless. How you trust me so freely. So much happened in very little time. We were all emotionally wrecked, and scared, and... vulnerable to ideas we might not otherwise be. When they arrested me I didn't argue. I didn't even ask what the charges were, I just resigned myself to the idea I was set up and resisting wouldn't make a difference. I wanted them to escort me out of there as soon as possible so a scene wouldn't be made." He shifted his weight from one foot to another. "Later, on their shuttle, when they read the detailed charges and began to interrogate me, I realized just how bad that could've looked to you all. Just going along with it could make me look guilty. And yet you still believed in me. Quatre said you knew I was the source of the data leak, but were so sure of my innocence that it gave everyone else hope. How'd you even know it was me? Even I didn't know."

For just a moment, Duo looked uncomfortable. He glanced away, and scratched the back of his head, dragging his hand down to the base of his neck.

"It was down to you and Wufei. I didn't officially rule out Sally, but it's a safe bet she probably didn't know about the planned escape route with Relena in case of an emergency evacuation at that summit. Wufei tells her a lot, but rarely details on an active case unless she's involved. Chevalier had to know about it to send someone to shoot me. You all talk too damn much, it was hard to get a read on who knew what about me and who didn't. Made my job super difficult and I couldn't just overtly say hey, keep this thing a secret because I didn't know what would be used, and it's bad protocol in general. So when I stepped into the church and heard the music, I knew. Was the same music I played at Quatre's, on his piano. Only two other people knew about that. And he had no reason to play it, if not to fuck with me."

"And still you thought I was innocent?"

"Of course." Duo looked back to Trowa. "Never doubted it for a second. Just like you never doubted that it wasn't me who was tryin to kill Quatre."

Trowa could hear his own pulse in his ears, and he knew he was getting emotional. He felt suddenly too warm, and his jaw was beginning to clench.

"I won't... I won't forget that. I won't forget what a good friend you are to me."

He felt an elbow nudge him in return.

"Love you, too, Tro."

With a smile, the taller man wrapped an arm around Duo's shoulders and pulled him into a side hug, kissing the top of his head. It elicited a chuckle from Duo. They remained in the hallway for a few more minutes, comfortable in each other's company and embrace.

"I do, you know."

Duo turned his head up to look at his friend with a questioning gaze.

"Love you," Trowa clarified. "I should... probably say that out loud for once. So you don't have to guess."

They were still in an embrace, and he could feel Duo's excited energy coming off in waves.

"It wasn't a guess. I knew. Got a lotta experience with silent types. But thanks for telling me."

He was glad Duo didn't make this a big deal. It was awkward enough for him to express an emotion like love, even if it was platonic. That Duo allowed the moment to pass effortlessly and without fanfare meant the world to him.

"You know..." Trowa let the last word linger before he finished his thought. "Heero would probably have killed to witness this."

Duo slipped from his grasp, that mischievous light Trowa knew so well was brilliant in his eyes.

"Oh, definitely. You giving me a kiss on the head and admitting you love me? You? The guy who doesn't show too much outward physical affection to anyone beyond Quatre and who understandably has a hard time verbalizing his feelings?" For a split second Trowa worried he gave Duo too much credit and he was making a big deal of things, until his friend added "Heero would give his left nut to see that!"

There was something supremely satisfying with the way he turned things into a joke. Duo always made awkward situations less awkward for him.

"Would you like to arrange it?"

Trowa was happy when Duo punched him lightly in the shoulder with a look of mock indignance.

"No thanks. I happen to like that left nut."

"The right, then?"

He saw Duo's eyes light up once more.

"Sure thing, man. The right. Never cared for that one."

With a pat to Trowa's arm, Duo gave him one last smile and headed towards the elevator. He watched him go, the same way he'd wait for someone to unlock their door and head into their house when dropping them off before leaving. Whatever Heero or Duo thought of the situation, Trowa was certain they'd be okay. Duo came a long way from the man he singled out in HQ more than half a year ago to feel out a potential friendship with. He felt incredibly lucky to watch him come out of his shell.

As Duo stepped into the elevator and turned around to hit the button for the ground floor, Trowa allowed himself a small smile. Before the doors closed, he softly called out "You're exceptional, Duo Maxwell." He was rewarded with a look of surprise, and Duo's cheeks coloring.

When he finally returned to the apartment and Heero looked at him with worry and hope, he shot a small grin at his friend.

"Duo is perfectly fine. He loves you, and he'll tell you himself tomorrow evening after you've both regrouped. Don't panic if he's out of communication. He knows he looks like shit and he'll take a sleep aid to make sure he's well rested and clear headed before he sees you. He was ready to text you exactly that if I hadn't followed him. Honestly, I think he's just exhausted and coming to terms with needing rest. We all know how much he's blaming himself for everything that happened. Perhaps he was also subconsciously punishing himself, thinking he doesn't deserve rest until everything is right again." His voice quieted. "Except it'll never be right again, not the way it was before, so it's a fool's errand."

Trowa paused. Heero's expression softened when he heard that Duo wasn't angry, but worry creased his brow at his last comments.

"Are you sure he'll be okay? Because I can still go after him and try to—"

"He'll be okay. He was so calm, so rational. Honestly it was a little strange to see, given the teenager he once was." Both Wufei and Quatre chucked. "He wasn't upset at all, and he was completely unwavering in his care for you, Heero. I offered my company, but it seems his plan is to pretty quickly take that sleep aid and collapse in his own bed, or I guess his couch?" With a bit of playful disgust in his voice Trowa added "A grown man ought to have an actual bed, we really need to talk to him about that." At Heero's smile, he forged on.

"Rest will do him a world of good. He's on what? A few hours of sleep over four or five days? We're not kids anymore, and this isn't the war. Those hours are wearing on him and he knows it. I promise when he's rested, he'll be a new man. I would never have let him go if I thought any differently."

Satisfied with the relief that washed over Heero's face, Trowa added with a bit of amusement, "Also Duo says you have an hour and fifteen before you have to take your medication."

Heero's expression turned into something very similar to a petulant child upon hearing about his pain medication.

"I can wait another few hours and take it before bed. I'm fine!"

Mirth flashed in Trowa's eyes as he deadpanned "But Duo says if you do that, you'll have an upset tummy and won't be able to sleep easily."

Quatre and Wufei tried their best to contain their laughter when Heero turned bright red, but neither succeeded. If any of them had concerns about Duo's emotional state, knowing he understood he needed rest and that he was thinking things through enough to mention Heero's potentially upset stomach relaxed them. Understanding he needed real rest was a huge deal, but the comment about Heero's meds was such a little thing. It gave a big indication that who he was remained intact.

Even exhausted and completely frayed around the edges, he cared about others. And there was something comforting about that.