The boy was standing next to his bed when he woke up and he nearly had a heart attack.
He'd been having one of his reoccurring nightmares when he'd woken abruptly,
sitting up and catching his breath as he usually did. Then he saw the dark figure
standing beside him and he toppled off the other side of the bed with a startled cry.
Sitting on the cold wooden floor, he rubbed his eyes furiously. Then he
looked again. The boy was raising an eyebrow at him. With a faint sound, he
was on his feet and bolting for the door. He never made it.
One minute the boy was standing next to the bed and the next he was standing in front of
the door. Skidding to a halt, Duo's eyes narrowed as he slowly backed toward the
bed. "How did you get in here?" The dark-haired boy raised an
eyebrow again and Duo searched the room for anything he could use as a weapon. The
boy continued to stand there and Duo slowly sidled toward his window. It was closed,
meaning that hadn't been how his uninvited guest got in. But that was how *he* was
getting out. Jerking the window open, he took a brief look down, then jumped.
The boy caught him. By this time he was sure he was dreaming, so he didn't bother to
struggle when the boy's horribly strong arms tightened around him momentarily.
Groaning as he was sure his ribs were cracking, dream or not, he nearly fell when
the boy released him suddenly. Then he caught sight of two blazing cobalt eyes and
he did fall.
"What were you thinking?" the boy demanded, voice harsh as he glared.
"You could have killed yourself!"
Wrapping an arm around his sore ribs, Duo decided he'd had enough. "Look, I
don't know who you are or why you're in *my* dream, but just leave me alone, okay? I
have enough nightmares without you."
Frowning, the boy stalked to him, kneeling in front of him and jerking his arm aside so he
could press a hand to Duo's chest.
"Shit! Don't do that. This has got to be the most painful dream I've
had." Scowling, Duo shoved the boy's hand aside, then let out a yelp when the
boy grabbed him.
"This isn't a dream." Lifting the long-haired boy, the dark-haired one
frowned. "I'm Heero and I've been assigned to you." Glaring at Duo's
stricken expression, the boy's frown darkened. "And I've hurt you.
Damnit."
Staring at the boy, Duo felt like he was falling into craziness; could feel his mind
deteriorating. He wondered briefly whether he'd hit his head falling out of bed,
because it was obvious his mind was messed up. "Okay, whatever you say, pal.
Just let me down and we'll call it even, kay?"Gasping, Duo contradicted his
order as things changed suddenly. One second they were standing outside the building
and then they were back in his apartment and he threw his arms around the boy's neck as he
stared at his room. "This is too much. Man, I don't deserve this!
I'm seventeen, I'm too young to go crazy!"
"You talk too much," Heero muttered as he set him down.
"Hey, figment of my imagination! Take a hike." Duo yiped when the
boy suddenly pulled at the bottom of his shirt, and he scooted back on the bed.
"Stop that!" The boy didn't react as his strong hands touched his
stomach and Duo kicked at him, abruptly furious. "I don't care if this *is* a
dream! Get your fucking hands off me!" Kneeling on the bed, the boy
caught his wrists with seeming ease and he was pushed down onto his back as Heero sat on
his legs.
"Stop it," Heero frowned, watching the boy struggle. "Don't make me
hurt you."
"This isn't happening!" Stilling suddenly, Duo closed his eyes tightly.
"Oh man, I want to wake up now..."
Still frowning, Heero ignored the boy as he ran his free hand under the thin shirt,
fingers probing quickly before he released the boy. Sitting to the side, he was
confused when the boy didn't move. "They're just bruised. You're not
hurt."
"Huh?" Violet eyes very wide, Duo blinked for a moment, then sat up
quickly.
"Your ribs." Heero was a little confused by the boy, he showed so many
expressions that were unfamiliar to him.
"That's what you were doing? Then you're not going to rape me?"
"Do you want me to?" Heero countered, letting his eyes move over the boy's lanky
form. "I will if you want."
"No!" Blushing bright red, Duo shook his head as he glared. "I
just want you to leave."
"I can't do that, you're my assignment, my mission. I can't leave your
side."
The boy looked so serious that Duo almost believed him, then he laughed.
"Right. I could just see you following me to work. Be kinda tough
with the bathroom breaks though."
"Work? Stealing is work? I suppose that would be more difficult with
two," Heero murmured, watching the boy's eyes spark. It was strange how quickly
the boy changed emotions.
"That was years ago," Duo growled, hands curling into fists. "I had
no choice. But how did you know about that?"
"I read your file," Heero shrugged. "I guess it wasn't up to
date."
"Someone has a file on me?" Things clicked suddenly and Duo felt his
throat try to close up on him. "So you're here to kill me. Who sent
you?"
"I'm not going to kill you," Heero muttered, not a little exasperated.
"I wasn't even supposed to hurt you. I'm supposed to keep you safe,
protect you."
"Someone hired me a bodyguard? Man, this is insane...I'd kill for a cup of
coffee." Accepting the cup the boy handed him, Duo took a sip and smiled
distractedly. "That's pretty good--Hey! Where'd you get this?"
Staring at the cup as if it had grown a head, he didn't see Heero's glare.
"You *said* you wanted coffee," Heero reminded him, having trouble dealing with
the boy. "Have you changed your mind already?"
"Well...no...but--" Duo clamped his mouth shut when the boy's glare nearly
scorched him. It didn't last long. "Who *are* you?"
"Heero. I won't tell you more than that."
"Fine, that figures. I tell you what, Heero. I have to be at work in
about....four hours so why don't you come back tomorrow and you can follow me all you
want." Duo prided himself on his resilience, but this had gone to far. It
was obvious the boy was wrong in the head--if he was even real. "Go ahead and
disappear, I'm going to bed." Laying on the bed, he put his back to the boy,
waiting to see what he'd do. Sure enough, the boy stretched out beside him.
Duo sat up. "Look, Heero. I don't know where you escaped from, but
if you *have* to stay here, sleep on the floor."
"It's cold on the floor." Heero didn't blink, his calm expression throwing
Duo off as he watched him.
"Oh. Man, I wish I could afford a CAT-scan..."
"Do you want one?"
"Go to sleep!" Closing his eyes, he pretended the boy wasn't less than a foot
away from him. He couldn't wait to wake up.
* * *
//Did you send me to the most difficult human you could find? Or are they all
like this?// Staring at the back of the sleeping boy's head, Heero frowned.
//Your information wasn't accurate.//
--You're complaining, Heero? You'vve already hurt him, he could have died jumping out
that window. It's painfully obvious that you can't do this so why don't you just
come back? I know Relena would forgive you.--
//Never. As I said, hell is better than that female. Besides, I just need time
to understand how these humans work. Then I'll do better.//
--You'll change your mind, I know you wiill. That boy could live for years, ninety
even with you protecting him. So long as you don't accidentally kill him, of
course.--
Heero's eyes narrowed at the mocking tone, but he didn't move as the boy in front of him
continued to sleep. //Ninety years with this one is small compared to an eternity
with her. You're not going to change my mind, Zechs. I've accepted this
mission, I won't come back.//
--And if he asks for something you don'tt *want* to give? Aside from your history and
your absence, everything else is his if he asks. Are you truly prepared to be a
slave to this human boy?--
//He isn't likely to ask for anything extreme. Besides, we know he cares about
people, that's in the file. Although...the file is old. How long ago was that
information found? I don't even know where he works now. If he had moved since
then I might not have found him.//
--You would have found him, once you putt your mind to it. Heero, do you want to know
why I chose him?--
//I already asked you that.//
--I'm surprised you didn't sense it whenn you touched him. I think I'll let you find
out on your own, sleep well, Heero....--
//You know I don't sleep--// Heero frowned suddenly as he realized the connection
was gone. He didn't know what the man had hinted at. He hadn't sensed anything when
he'd touched the boy earlier. Moving for the first time since he'd lain down, he
lifted his head so he could see the boy's face. He had, of course, noticed the boy's
appearance, that long golden, brown hair and those wide violet eyes. And the boy's
skin had been soft despite the muscles beneath it, but he didn't know what Zechs had
expected him to sense. Making sure the boy wouldn't wake up on him, he sat up on the
bed, crossing his legs under him as he moved so his knees touched the boy's back.
Leaning forward, he let his fingertips brush the boy's soft cheek.
Again, all he noticed was the smooth texture of his skin. Running a hand down the
boy's arm, he lifted a limp wrist, his fingers feeling the boy's palm as he took in the
calluses. They were a bit odd in that they looked like he held something for long
hours, but there was nothing shocking about them and he the hand fall gently the bed.
The boy wasn't tall, about his height and although he was on the thin side, Heero
couldn't see anything to warrent the man's words. His eyes fell to the thick braid
that hung down the boy's back and his fingers pulled off the hair tie. This had to
be it, he realized as his hands seemed to move of their own accord to undo the boy's long
hair. His fingers threaded through the thick length and he didn't realize what he
was doing until he found his face buried in the hair as he inhaled a faint scent of smoke
and violets.
"It can't be..."
The boy made a soft sound at his low whisper and Heero watched his long lashes play
against his pale cheeks before Duo settled again. //Zechs...Damnit! Talk to
me!//
--No need to yell, Heero. Is sometthing wrong?--
//Who is he?! Why....//
--Now Heero, you know who he is. II guess it's understandable that you wouldn't
recognize him immediately, it's been so long. How long has it been, Heero?
Since he chose death over Death?--
//You...knew? You knew he was here and you never told me?! Bastard!//
Duo moaned in his sleep as Heero's hold on his hair tightened and the boy calmed
himself quickly. //Does he remember...anything? Me...?//
--Of course not. Heero, you knew wwhen he broke the rules. You knew *then* what
would happen yet you did nothing to stop him.--
//I...couldn't. He was right. They didn't deserve to die...//
--And by letting them live he broke the rules. Death can't make one rule for some
and change it on whim. It doesn't work that way.--
//Have you been watching him all this time?// Running his fingers through the long
hair, Heero hid his face against the back of Duo's neck.
--No. I only found him in this liffetime. He's had so many scrapes with death
that Death himself has taken notice. He's the one who clued me in. That's why
I sent you to him. Heero, your avoidance of my sister aside, there's another reason
for your being on earth. His time has been served and when he dies Death means to
have him as a replacement. He gets to come back.--
//If I kill him...he comes back with me?//
--Don't even think about it! Heeroo! If you kill him he'll come back, all
right, but you'll be bonded with Relena. I think he'd rather live his life on earth
first. As you know, if he dies of natural causes my sister will let you be.
You just have to keep him alive until then. As you said, it's not *that*
long. Besides, you're together again--
//Yes...and he doesn't know who I am...//
--He doesn't know who *he* is, Heero...& Oh. Relena's here, I have to go.
I'll check in with you later.--
Still keeping the now-precious boy asleep, Heero wrapped his arms around the slender
waist, pulling Duo back against him. "I've waited so long," he whispered,
brushing hair back from the boy's neck as he kissed the soft skin. "I'll never
let you go again..."
* * *