Warning:  Lime.  This is an AU fic.  Reminiscent of the fairy tale, 
Sleeping Beauty.  Yaoi, Shonen ai, 1x2 pairing.  This is a one shot 
although I may write a 3x4 companion fic someday.

Sleeping Death
------------------------------

"My God, I can't believe you're really here.  I never imagined you 
would come here for *any* reason."  Blue-green eyes wide, the pale 
boy moved back, pale blue robes rustling as he gestured for the other 
boy to enter.  Once the dark-haired boy had crossed the threshold, 
the blonde boy waved his hand.  Sparkling mist settled abruptly 
revealing a small, carefully carved table set neatly between two 
satin covered sofas.

Seeing the way Heero's  cobalt blue eyes laughed at him, Quatre 
smiled.  "I know, but I really enjoy showing off.  Everything here is 
just so beautiful."

"I understand," Heero said simply, brushing his blood-red robes back 
as he sat on the sofa opposite the lovely boy.  "Then you really 
aren't angry that I let them kill you?"

With a soft laugh, Quatre shook his head.  "Everyone has to die 
sometime.  Besides you gave my name.  Now I get to be here.  And if 
it weren't for you I would never have met Trowa."

"I hate it when wars take the lives of innocents like you.  You make 
a good God of Love."  Watching the boy's eyes light up, Heero shook 
his head and sighed.  "And I'm happy for Trowa.  It isn't easy being 
Time for as long as he has.  Love is something he has been lacking."

"Yes.  But tell me, what brings you here?  War and Love generally 
don't mix, and you can't actually *like* my home."

Smirking, Heero inclined his head.  "It is uncomfortable, but still 
lovely.  Even *I* appreciate beauty.  But I did have a reason for 
coming."

Surprised that Heero would hesitate, Quatre looked at him 
curiously.  "What is it?  What's wrong?"

"It's Peace," Heero said, making a sour face.  "She's after me again."

Wincing, Quatre made a sympathetic nod.  "What can I do to help?"

"I wouldn't ask a favor," Heero said slowly, "so I'll make it a 
trade.  If you can make Relena go after someone else, I'll do any 
task you want."

"I don't know," the pale boy said, shaking his head, "Peace has 
always pursued War.  Relena's just continuing the tradition."

"I have resigned."

Gasping, Quatre stared at him in shock.  "But what will you do?  Will 
you go on to the next world?"

"No.  Because of my outstanding service I've been granted leave until 
I choose to resume my position.  They have my replacement and he 
agrees to step down when that time comes."

"All this because of Relena?" Quatre asked in surprise.  He knew how 
persistent the girl could be but Heero was so stubborn he hadn't 
expected her to get to him.

"Not just that.  I'm tired of the fighting.  I need a break.  About 
the trade, will you do it?  Her brother has become War so she can't 
chase *him*.  She sees my having stepped down as progress and has 
doubled her efforts."

"She would," Quatre laughed, then he sobered as he thought about it.  
Looking at Heero's semi-patient expression, his eyes took on a 
calculating gleam.  "Now that I think about it, there *is* something 
you could help me with.  A small case that I found in the closed 
files of purgatory.  No one had done anything with it for long enough 
that they gave it to me even though it's not my department."

"What sort of case?" Heero asked, interest peaked.  "I'm not good at 
delicate things, but I'll do whatever you ask."

Smiling wryly, Quatre gave a sharp laugh.  "I wouldn't say delicate, 
just...stubborn."

Folding his arms over his chest, Heero eyed the boy.  "If you're 
trying to irritate me by being mysterious it's working.  Now, are you 
going to take the trade?  If so then explain this case before Relena 
comes begging entrance.  I know she followed me."  

Making a slightly disgusted face at the door, Quatre glanced back at 
Heero and giggled.  "Are you sure you'll take the case?  You won't 
change your mind?"

"I'll do whatever it takes to get her off my back," Heero said, 
determination shining in his eyes.

"Alright then, come on, I'll show you what I have.  It'll take a 
while to find someone for Relena, but I'll get on it as soon as you 
start working on this."  Standing, Quatre moved across the room, the 
mist rising to take it away behind them even as more mist revealed a 
walkway before the two boys.  

Following the boy, Heero snorted at the walkway, irked by the fact 
that even marble was lovely in Love's domain.  Looking at the boy in 
front of him, he frowned.  "Why be mysterious?  Why don't you just 
tell me what I'm going to see?"

"Because," Quatre said over his shoulder, smiling at Heero's 
irritated expression, "I want you to see the way I first did, with no 
preparation."  Glancing forward again, he waved his hand causing the 
pale blue mist to separate leaving tall violet curtains that stood 
hanging from thin air.  Biting his lip, he took hold of the pull 
string and, watching Heero, tugged the curtains open.  He wasn't 
disappointed.

Heero's first thought was that Quatre was some sort of closet-lecher 
to keep such a creature in his home.  Discarding this thought, he 
allowed his breath to slow as he stepped onto the platform and viewed 
the boy who lay sleeping beneath the transparent glass.  Clothed in a 
flowing black robe, his skin seemed pale, the black sheets he lay on 
making it glow faintly.  Although the boy's heart-shaped face was 
beautiful enough to make Heero pause, it was his hair that caused his 
breath to falter.  Long, rather wavy golden brown hair curled on the 
pillows beneath the boy's head, falling down past his knees, shining 
against the black cloth.

Shaking his head at Quatre's gleaming eyes, Heero touched the globe 
that covered the boy, marveling at how cold it was.  Looking at the 
boy, he saw that his chest was rising and falling slowly as he 
breathed from a deep sleep, his long dark lashes lying lightly on his 
pale cheeks.  His expression also made Heero pause.  It seemed so 
sad, as if the boy were suffering even in his dreams.  Glancing at 
Quatre again, Heero raised an eyebrow.

"Who is he?"

Pleased that Heero was affected by the boy's beauty as much as he'd 
been, Quatre moved to stand beside him, also laying a hand on the 
glass.  "He used to be Shinigami, Death.  According to the records he 
was the best they ever had.  But he gave up.  One day he closed his 
eyes and fell into a deep, self-induced sleep and no one's been able 
to wake him up since.  When I first heard of the case, I *had* to try 
just because I felt sorry for him.  Then I entered his dreams and...I 
liked him.  He's...I don't know how to describe it.  He doesn't 
deserve to live like this, hiding from the world.  But nothing I've 
said has convinced him to come out.  He says he has nothing to live 
for."

"You go into his dream?" Heero asked, not liking the idea although he 
couldn't have said why.  "And you'd have me go in and bring him out.  
That's the trade?"

"Yes.  I know how stubborn you can be.  If anyone could make him come 
out it'd be you.  As much as I'd like him to come out on his own, I'm 
sure he'd find reason to live if he'd just give the world another 
chance.  You see, he was Shinigami for so very long, much longer than 
you've been War.  But he didn't know he could step down.  They didn't 
tell him."

"What?" Heero said in surprised indignation.  "They didn't tell him?"

"He was the best.  They didn't want to lose him," Quatre said sadly, 
looking down at the sleeping boy.

"But they did."  Glaring at the high-handed ways of the upper 
deities, Heero glanced through the glass again.  "Alright.  I accept 
the trade."

"Excellent.  I'll start working on Relena.  You have my permission as 
holder of his case to delve into his dreams at your own discretion."  
Smiling, Quatre gripped Heero's hand.  "You can take him to your home 
or work here as you like."  When Heero nodded, Quatre started to 
leave, pausing as he glanced at the boy again.  "One thing, Heero.  I 
want your word that you won't hurt him.  He's my friend."

Surprised by the order, Heero eyed Quatre for a moment before 
nodding.  "I won't unless I have to and then I'll be careful.  Know 
this though, I never fail a mission."

"I know," Quatre sighed, "I know."

* * *

Staring at the boy, Heero prepared himself for the trip into his 
dreams.  It was an easy thing for a God, but he'd never done it to an 
ex-God before and knew there would be definite differences.  Once he 
was confident, he undid the clasp holding the glass down and swung 
the lid up, blinking at the rush of cold air that hit him.  
Concentrating carefully, he held his splayed hands inches above the 
boy's closed eyes.  Then darkness surrounded him and he slipped into 
the dreamworld.

Heero's first images where of a pulsating violet light, and cold.  
Then there was a sharp cry and someone blocked off the light 
partially as strong arms wrapped around his waist and he was swung 
around in a quick circle.

"Quatre!"

Frozen in shock, Heero stared at the boy who held him, noting the 
exact second the boy realized he *wasn't* Quatre.  He was released 
abruptly and found himself looking into beautiful, if extremely 
angry, violet eyes.  Then the boy moved back and he recognized him as 
the sleeping one, despite the fact that his glorious hair was held 
back in a long braid.  

Still glaring at him, the boy folded his arms over his chest.  "Who 
are *you*?" he demanded angrily.  "I thought Quatre had me..."

Regaining the use of his voice, Heero answered with a cold tone.  "He 
did.  I'm here as a favor to him."  Seeing the way the boy's eyes 
narrowed in disbelief, Heero nodded.  "He asked me to come.  I am 
Heero, partially retired God of War."

Frowning in confusion, the violet-eyed boy shook his 
head.  "Partially?  And why would Quatre send the God of War?  I 
thought we were friends."

"Yes.  You are friends.  And he is my friend.  What is your name?"

Still looking hurt, the boy turned and perched on a convenient rock 
that appeared out of the empty violet nothingness.  "The name's Duo.  
I may run and hide but I never tell a lie.  That's me in a 
nutshell."  Sighing, he crossed his legs beneath him and glanced up 
at Heero, sad resignation shining in his eyes.  "I guess Quatre got 
tired of arguing with me.   So, what'd he send you *here* for?"

"To wake you up," Heero said bluntly, not one to be anything but 
straightforward.

With a sharp, joy-less laugh, Duo smirked.  "Good luck.  There's 
nothing for me out there.  I'm sick of being Death.  Do you know what 
it's like to have everyone who sees you die?  And that's my job.  I'm 
never going back."

"Things have changed," Heero said, shaking his head as he eyed the 
boy who, even when smirking, was beautiful.  "They no longer force 
people to accept deity positions.  Quatre should have told you this."

"Well, doesn't look like you did your homework," Duo said, voice 
mocking.  "Quatre already asked and They said as soon as I came out 
they would put me back in my position.  If I were them I wouldn't 
have told him, but they did so I know better than to go anywhere.  
Nope, I'm staying right here.  I can be alone here as easily as I 
could as Death.  And it doesn't hurt as much."

"Why would they be so determined to have you?" Heero asked, fighting 
his urge to go kill some deities.  

"Because," Duo said, voice softening slightly, "When a person dies he 
can see through any illusion.  And it is easier for people who've 
lived a good life to go to the other world if they aren't filled with 
terror.  At the same time, I can be terrifying to look at when the 
person needs to be consumed with fearful guilt.  All without the use 
of illusion.  I used to find it flattering.  Especially when I was 
first chosen."  

Looking at the boy, Heero could understand how it would be easy to 
die if he were the last thing one were to see.  Although he couldn't 
imagine finding the boy frightening, he knew that Duo was the most 
beautiful deity he'd ever seen.  He definitely understood why they'd 
want to keep him.  That didn't mean he wasn't still fighting the need 
to go on a killing spree, but he understood.

Glancing at the other boy's intense expression, Duo shook his head 
and jumped off the rock.  "I'm gone.  I don't really want to talk 
about this.  It's useless."  Turning, he started to walk away.

"Where are you going?" Heero demanded, unable to believe the boy was 
actually walking away from him.  "I'm not finished talking to you."

"I'm going deeper," Duo said over his shoulder, voice challenging, "I 
have nothing to say to you."

"Do *not* walk away from me," Heero growled, stalking after the boy.

Looking at Heero, Duo smirked suddenly.  "Try to stop me."  Turning, 
he started to walk away again, grinning when Heero caught his hand, 
his cobalt eyes blazing.  "Alright," Duo said slowly, eyes narrowing 
as he grinned.  Jerking his hand out of Heero's grip, he took off, 
sprinting into the violet mist.

Accepting what was obviously a challenge, Heero gave chase.  Not one 
to play games, he still had no intention of letting the boy brush him 
off so easily.  Catching up with Duo, he wrapped his arm around the 
boy's waist and pulled him backward.  Not expecting the move, Duo 
fell.

Twisting so he landed on his back, Duo laughed, eyes shining as he 
took in Heero's furious expression.  "Not bad!  How about a rematch?"

Breath coming fast as he looked down at the smiling boy, Heero shook 
his head.  "You're not running again."  Leaning forward, he growled 
lightly before giving in to his baser emotions and kissing the boy.

Duo froze in absolute shock as Heero's mouth moved over his, blinking 
rapidly as he stared at the face right above him.  He hadn't known 
what sort of reaction he'd get from the boy, but he hadn't expected 
*this*.  As many centuries as he'd lived as Death, he'd never heard 
of a boy kissing another boy...or of it being so pleasant.

"Why...why did you do that?" Duo asked breathlessly when Heero pulled 
back.  Then his mouth fell open slightly in wonder as Heero moved his 
hands so his fingers brushed lightly over his cheeks.  When the dark-
haired boy moved closer again, Duo let his eyes fall closed as those 
soft lips brushed his.  Marveling at the way Heero's tongue felt on 
his, Duo slowly moved his arms around the boy's waist as he let his 
own tongue explore Heero's mouth.  He was just starting to truly 
enjoy himself when Heero pulled back again, a strange gleam in his 
eyes.

Licking his lips, Heero barely held back a smirk as he realized he'd 
found something the boy might wake up for.  Judging from the way 
Duo's hands tightened momentarily when he pulled away more, the boy 
had enjoyed the kiss as much as he had.  //I've always believed in 
following my emotions,// Heero thought as he slowly disconnected from 
the boy, //Looks like they've led me to something.//

Blanking his expression, Heero sighed as he met Duo's unhappy 
gaze.  "I have to go now," he said with honest regret.  "I'm sorry."

Staring in confusion at the boy who'd caused such new feelings to 
surge through him, Duo sat up quickly.  "Don't go," he said softly, 
wanting him back in his arms.

"I'm sorry," Heero said again, being careful to make no mention of 
when or if he would return.  "There are things I must do."  With 
that, Heero turned and walked away.  His last backward glance showed 
the beautiful boy still sitting, stunned, watching him go.

* * *

Heero knew that time moved differently in the dreamworld, it seemed 
to pass infinitely slower there.  So Quatre'd told him, and Heero was 
counting on it.  He now had a plan of action that would not only let 
him touch the boy who'd attracted him on sight but, hopefully, would 
also cause that boy to find reason to wake.  He had no way of knowing 
for sure if it would work, but he was fully willing to take the 
chance.  A day in the real world had passed when he went back.  It 
was his hope that Duo would be restless by the time he arrived.  He 
must have been.  

Heero had no more than looked around the violet void before arms 
caught him from behind, turning him.  Without so much as a hello, 
Duo's arms were wrapped around his neck and he was being kissed just 
as he'd kissed the boy the day before.  Never one to let such an 
opportunity pass, Heero kissed him back, pulling the boy's lithe body 
flush against him.

When Duo's initial fervor didn't still, Heero's breath caught in his 
throat as the boy moved fitfully against him.  Realizing he was 
losing control of both the situation *and* the pace, Heero slowly 
unwrapped the boy's arms, forcing him back a few inches.  Face 
flushed and eyes shining, Duo smiled a magnificent smile.

"I missed you," he said quickly, obviously eager to continue the 
greeting.

Looking into Duo's violet eyes, Heero shook his head slightly, 
feeling the light touch of fingers moving restlessly against his 
neck.  Raising an eyebrow, his eyes moved over the boy's face.  "I've 
created a monster."

Laughing happily, Duo placed a quick kiss on the hand restraining his 
right shoulder before grinning at Heero.  "I've never felt anything 
like this.  Never!"  Eyes wide, he moved an arm and brushed the back 
of his hand over Heero's smooth cheek.  "I'll never get enough of 
you."

"Until someone else comes," Heero said cynically, hating the thought 
of someone else touching the boy.  "Lust doesn't care who the warm 
body is."  He barely kept from wincing at the hurt etched across the 
boy's face as he kept his expression neutral.

"But I don't want someone else," Duo said slowly, chewing on his 
lower lip as he frowned at Heero, blinking in hurt confusion.  "I've 
never felt lust," he said stubbornly as he let his arms drop to his 
sides.  "I've seen millions of people and you're the first I've 
wanted to touch like this."

"They didn't kiss you," Heero said simply, despising his role as 
devil's advocate.  "Besides, we just met."

"What does that have to do with anything?" Duo demanded, folding his 
arms over his chest as he frowned in irritation.  "I'll have you know 
I've been kissed before.  I was human once."  Blinking at the anger 
that blossomed for a moment on Heero's face, Duo tilted his 
head.  "Are you trying to push me away?" he asked suddenly.  
Straightening, a slow smile made it's way to his face.  "You are."

//He's quick.//  "Why would I do that?" Heero asked, curious as to 
what reason the boy would come up with.

"I don't know," Duo muttered, eyeing him.  "And I don't care because 
it's not going to work."  Nodding sharply at Heero's look of 
surprise, he ducked his head and ran the tip of his tongue over the 
hand on his shoulder.  The other boy's jerk and audibly indrawn 
breath caused him to grin before he nipped his teeth on the hand, 
Heero releasing him abruptly.  Turning back to him, Duo tilted his 
head to the side and smiled.

Surprised by the boy's boldness, Heero wasn't sure what to do.  His 
plan revolved around the boy's being passive and starved for human 
contact.  //Well, he certainly looks starved.  He bit me.//  Glancing 
down at his hand, Heero felt his body react as his helpful mind 
brought him images of other parts of his body the boy could feast 
on.  Fighting an insane instinct to blush, Heero shoved the images 
out of his mind before looking at Duo.  Seeing the way the long-
haired boy was staring at him, he found himself inching closer.  

Not wasting any time, Duo closed the space between them, sighing with 
satisfaction when Heero's hands slid down his back.  He tilted his 
head to the side for a kiss and gasped when Heero pulled him closer, 
his lips moving over Duo's exposed neck.  One hand behind the long-
haired boy's back, Heero slipped the other inside the loose neck of 
his black robe.  Head thrown back, Duo gripped Heero's shoulders 
tightly for support as the other boy exposed more skin to his lips.

Hand moving slowly over Duo's lightly muscled chest, Heero brushed 
the cloth to the side so he could take one of his nipples in his 
mouth, rolling it with his tongue.  Growling in response to the boy's 
moan, Heero bit down gently, the fingers of his hand moving to circle 
the other nipple teasingly.  Feeling Duo sag slightly, Heero 
straightened, his hand moving behind Duo's head as he kissed him.  
The boy's reaction was perfect, an urgency to the kiss that eclipsed 
his earlier intensity.  When Duo instinctively rubbed his body 
against him, Heero moved his head back, letting out a shaky breath 
before he gained control of himself.  Before he could back up more 
than a couple of inches, Duo gave his hair a tug.  Meeting his gaze, 
Heero was surprised by the fury he saw blazing in those violet depths.

"You're *not* planning to run off *now* are you?" Duo asked, voice 
dangerously low.  "That's rather rude, don't you think?"  

"I can't stay here long," Heero said carefully.  He was starting to 
understand how the boy could intimidate or even frighten 
mortals.  "Time moves slower here."

"Think I don't know that?" Duo muttered, releasing Heero and pulling 
his robes closed.  "I'm the one who's stuck waiting for you to come 
back."

"I'm sorry," Heero said, making no mention of the fact that Duo could 
easily go with him.  Although he preferred the direct approach, he 
also excelled at subterfuge.  "If I could stay longer, I 
would."  //Unfortunately, if I did you'd have no reason to wake up.  
So I can't.//

* * *

The plan was good.  Each visit to the dreamworld would be farther 
apart and each time he would leave Duo more and more unsatisfied.  It 
was a very good plan.  The only problem was that Heero hadn't taken 
into account his own lust for the boy making it hard to wait and 
harder to imagine leaving.  Where before it had been easy to wait a 
day, now the first day he was away from Duo seemed to pass as slowly 
as if *he* were the one in the dreamworld.  

The fact that Quatre had contacted him wanting to know if there were 
progress wasn't helping.  He didn't want to explain his methods to 
the boy, but he didn't want to lie either.  Instead he simply didn't 
tell everything.  Thinking of explanations to give Quatre did help 
him pass the time, but it also made his lust for Duo increase.  Heero 
was starting to wonder if Love hadn't played a trick on him and cast 
a spell.  Although he didn't think Quatre would do such a thing, it 
would explain his growing attachment.  Especially since, like Duo, 
lust was a new thing for him, at least lust of this magnitude. 

As the first day grew late and it started into the second, Heero 
found himself spending hours watching Duo sleep.  It took every ounce 
of control he had not to push the glass lid back and run his fingers 
through that long hair.  Staring at the sleeping beauty, Heero 
marveled at his own feelings for the boy.  The lust he understood 
completely.  after all, the boy was beautiful.  No, it wasn't the 
lust he was having problems understanding.  Rather, it was the pull 
he'd felt listening to Duo's sad voice the day before, a pull to hold 
the boy close to him and soothe him for hours.

Affection was a foreign thing for him, but he knew what the word 
meant and it described his feelings perfectly.  He *cared* about the 
boy, cared that he not be unhappy or hurt.  He cared enough that the 
thought that Duo might not feel the same was a nearly physical pain 
to him.  Staring down at the boy who slept beside him, Heero didn't' 
even notice that he'd opened the lid.  With a soft, partially 
frustrated sigh, he reached out and brushed a bit of that silky 
golden brown hair out of Duo's face.  Then came the knock.

Standing with an irritated growl, Heero stalked to the door, eyes 
narrowing as he jerked it open.  When he saw who stood there, he 
couldn't figure out what she might want.  He'd completely forgotten 
about her pursuit of him and since Quatre was having so much trouble 
making her fall in love with someone else, he'd pushed all thoughts 
of her out of his mind.  The introduction of Duo's presence in his 
ordered world had helped to push her into the back recesses.  Now, as 
he looked at her in irritated confusion, he couldn't for the life of 
him figure out what she wanted.

Smiling sweetly, Relena blinked bright blue eyes at him before 
glancing at Heero's death-grip on the door.  Still smiling, she 
stepped forward slowly, nodding to Heero when he moved back out of 
her way.  Once inside, she waited until he finally shut the door 
before taking one of his hands in hers.  "Heero, I wanted to see 
you.  Why haven't you come to visit me?  Didn't you get my 
invitation?"

Tugging his hand away, Heero remembered the invitation he'd destroyed 
and made an expression of distaste.  "Hn."

Shaking her head in disapproval of the non-answer, Peace glanced 
around the room, eyes taking in the new color.  She'd visited him 
many times since taking the position of Peace, and this was the first 
she'd seen any color but blood-red in his domain.  Not wanting to be 
too distracted from the boy in front of her, she glanced at the 
violet mist for a quick moment before raising an eyebrow in question 
and smiling at him.  "I like the way you've redone the place.  Does 
this mean you're no longer plagued by reminders of your station?"

Looking at the mist which matched the color of Duo's eyes, Heero felt 
his face flush slightly.  He hadn't changed his home through 
conscious decision, but he had noticed the new look and he'd liked 
it...alot.  Looking at Relena, he let out a sigh.  "I haven't given 
up my 'station' permanently," he said, changing the subject.  "You 
know that."

"Still fighting, I see," the blonde said sadly, frowning at Heero's 
stubborn expression.  "Well no matter, I won't give up on you so 
easily."  Her tone was reassuring.  Since the first time she'd met 
the intense boy, she'd been determined to introduce peace and 
happiness to his blood-filled life.  The fact that she'd also fallen 
for him only increased her determination.  "Aren't you going to offer 
me a seat?"

Frowning at the girl, Heero debated on how he could throw her out 
without being too rude.  It wasn't a rule, but deities were generally 
treated with the respect of their position.  And Peace was an 
essential position, as necessary for mortals as Death.  Duo 
immediately returned to fill his mind, and he glanced over his 
shoulder to the canopied bed before he thought about the 
consequences.  He realized his mistake the moment Relena turned to 
follow his gaze.  

"What is that?" Relena asked curiously, giving Heero a funny look 
before moving across the mist filled space.  She hadn't noticed the 
curtains before, as they were the same color as the mist, but she 
couldn't help but wonder what War would keep behind such lovely 
curtains.  Glancing at Heero, she quickened her step as the boy 
looked ready to head her off.

"Don't," Heero said quickly, following Relena.  As much as he 
regretted having to anger the higher deities, he had every intention 
of throwing the girl out, forcibly if need be.  Catching her as she 
pulled back the curtain, Heero paused.  //What better way to make her 
realize I'll never be hers?//  Clenching his teeth, Heero forced 
himself to halt, not liking the thought of her looking at Duo.

Frowning at Heero's furious yet contained expression, Relena pushed 
the silken cloth aside, eyes widening as she saw the boy who lay 
within them.  "Heero?  Who is this?"  Anger blossomed in her chest at 
the thought of someone else being in the boy's domain, even if it was 
a boy.  Looking to Heero, she waited, eyes narrowing as she saw the 
way his cobalt eyes fell on the figure in the bed.  Turning again, 
she realized the boy was asleep.  Then it hit her full force, there 
was a boy sleeping in Heero's home.  A beautiful boy.  "Heero, I want 
to know who this is."  Glaring with fury, she folded her arms over 
her chest.

"It's none of you concern," Heero said, eyes taking in the girl's 
anger and dismissing it.  "I want you to leave now."

Gasping at the order, Relena's blue eyes shot sparks.  Peace or not, 
she got just as angry as any other deity when provoked.  "You tell me 
or I'll ask him myself," she warned, turning to do just that.  

"Don't touch him," Heero growled possesively, shoving the girl away 
from the bed none too gently.  He no longer cared about proper 
protocol, he wasn't letting her touch the boy.  "He's mine."

"Your's...?" Relena whispered in confused shock at the anger in 
Heero's voice and the possessive way he placed a hand on the sleeping 
boy's shoulder.  "Heero...what are you saying?  Please...talk to me, 
Heero."   Her eyes widened as she realized what the boy reminded her 
of, standing like that.  He looked like an animal protecting it's 
young, or it's injured mate.  "Oh no..."  Shaking her head in 
disbelief, her eyes flew to the boy who slept on despite their 
presence.  "What is he to you?"

"He's mine," Heero said again, unable to find words that better 
described his feelings for the boy.  

Letting out a shaky breath, Relena shook her head again, not wanting 
to believe the boy she loved could care for another.  "You don't..."  
Swallowing roughly, she forced herself to go on despite the lump 
growing in her throat.  "You don't love him...do you?"

Eyes glinting, Heero looked over his shoulder at Duo before meeting 
Relena's pain-filled eyes.  Deciding actions were better than words, 
he turned his back to the girl, a hand stroking Duo's cheek lightly 
as he bent and placed a gentle kiss on the boy's soft lips.  Relena's 
heart-broken cry barely filtered into his mind as he went into 
shock.  Duo opened his violet eyes and looked up at him.

Blinking slowly, Duo's gaze fell on Heero's shocked expression, a 
small tentative smile coming to his lips as he raised a heavy hand to 
touch his cheek.  Then the dark-haired boy let out a harsh cry as he 
moved to kiss Duo again, the girl behind him forgotten completely.  
Wrapping his arms around Heero's neck, Duo pulled him closer kissing 
him as if he'd never let go.  Neither boy noticed when the door 
opened and shut quietly behind them, too engrossed in each other.

Pulling back slightly, Heero stared at Duo's smiling eyes, still 
unable to come to grasp with the fact that he was awake.  Letting out 
a small laugh at the other boy, Duo pulled him onto the bed, rubbing 
his forehead against his neck before looking up again.  "I couldn't 
wait for you," he said slowly, preparing himself for Heero's attempts 
to push him away.  "I decided I'll be Death if I can be with you."

"I've already made my claim," Heero said somewhat hoarsely.  "You're 
mine."

Holding him tight, Duo grinned.  "I said I'd never get enough of you."

"Good," Heero said quickly, moving to kiss him again, his hands 
moving through the hair that framed his beautiful face.  "Because I 
won't let you go."

-Owari-

    Source: geocities.com/white_lyon