Disclaimers and other Warnings: Well, I'm sure everyone has heard this whole thing before, but some people just don't listen, ya know? Anyhoo…Story mine. Characters not. Got it? Oh, and be warned, this is my first attempt at a GW fic…*nervous laughter* Erm, anyways, there is yaoi and shonen ai or whatever you wanna call it. ^_^ Enjoy. Oh, and C&C would be very much appreciated.

That night, after Heero had settled Duo in, he went to Wing and managed to rouse Quatre on the com.

"Heero! Is everything okay out there? Is Duo's leg okay?"

Heero ignored the questions, not really trusting himself to answer. "We'll probably join you the day after tomorrow. I'll contact you if that changes."

"Okay. Get some rest."

"Hn."

Quatre smiled as they broke the connection. As Heero slowly clambered out of Wing, a faint sound reached his ears. It was Duo.

"Heero! Heero! Are you okay? Heero! Dammit, answer me!" The dark-haired boy heard scraping sounds. Duo was getting up. He heard him take a step and fall exclaiming, "Kuso! Heero, answer me!!"

"Duo?"

"Heero! Are you all right?? I heard noises coming from the back of the cave and I thought...I thought something happened to you."

"So that's why you were crawling in that direction?" Heero asked as he effortlessly picked Duo up and carried him back to the sleeping area. He had apparently been trying to get up for a while, he was quite a ways from that area. "Did you think you could help me with your leg like that?"

"Well, um, I was at least going to try…"

"Duo no baka."

"Hey!" Duo asked urgently as Heero put him down and started back towards the Gundams, "Where are you going?!"

"Back."

"Arigato, Mr. Information. Why are you going back there again?"

"To see if there is anything."

"How were you planning on defending yourself if there is something? Self-destructing is not an option, by the way. Here," Duo pulled his gun out and slid it across the ground to Heero. "Take that. And try not to get killed, okay?"

Heero disappeared into the darkness. Duo immediately began to worry. The minutes ticked slowly by. He started to drum his fingers and tap his good foot, wishing for Heero to come back. Suddenly, Heero was back, coming out of the darkness and sitting down beside Duo, handing him his gun back. Duo's first instinct was to throw his arms around the Japanese boy and hug him for all he was worth. Then he actually followed that impulse. "Heero! Can't you learn how to make some noise? Was there anything back there? What took so long?" The braided boy wasn't letting go. What's happening to me? Heero wondered as he put an arm around Duo's shoulder and squeezed softly.

"I didn't see anything."

"What took you so long?" Duo repeated, still with a firm hold on the object of his affections.

"I was looking for whatever it might have been. I don't really want something coming out in the middle of the night and eating us."

"Heero, I think that's the first time you've ever said more than twenty words in a row!" Duo laughed, finally releasing Heero.

"Blame it on your influence." The blue-eyed pilot smiled. Duo happily grinned back, glad to have Heero there beside him.

Before he could do something really stupid, Heero grabbed his blanket and walked out of the cave, leaving Duo staring open-mouthed in the direction Heero had gone. Now what had he done? Duo picked up the other small blanket, wrapping himself up as his teeth began to chatter, speculating forlornly what he had done to push Heero away.

What's wrong with me!? Heero wondered after being outside for a few minutes, suddenly unsure of exactly what he was yelling at himself about…for letting his emotions get totally out of control…or for wasting that almost-intimate moment with Duo…He stopped pacing, noticed he had left a beaten down path, and practically ran back into the cave, deciding on the latter.

The sight of Duo shivering uncontrollably with his eyes shut was his undoing. Heero dashed to the braided boy and threw his arms around him, mindful of the chestnut haired pilot's wound, holding him as close as possible.

Duo's eyes opened a slit. "Heero…you came back…so cold…" he murmured, feebly returning the dark-haired boy's embrace. Heero hastily snatched the two remaining blankets up and tucked them around Duo, then went to Shinigami, grabbed the lighter, ran back outside, gathered as much dry, burnable material as he could find, and sprinted back to Duo.

As soon as Heero got the small fire going, he went around to Duo's good side and promptly encircled him with his arms again.

"I thought you couldn't find the lighter," Duo whispered hoarsely.

"I lied." Heero confessed, tightening his grip.

"Why…?"

"Heero no baka," he said quietly, more to himself than to the other boy. He had been selfish, wanting another night like the previous one, not thinking that Duo's injury made him more susceptible to the frosty temperatures of the night. "Gomen, gomen…"

"For what?" some of Duo's strength seemed to be returning.

"Being so selfish…I-I never realized your injury would make you more vulnerable to the cold…" Heero's voice was even fainter than a whisper, he sounded pained, too.

"Nani? Selfish?" Duo raised one hand—the one that wasn't pinned to his side—and turned Heero's head so he could look him in the eye. He was slowly beginning to war up, thanks to Heero. The same boy, who he now felt had to like him, more than just a little bit.

Heero mutely shook his head, laying it down on Duo's shoulder, staring into the fire. The American lowered his head, much as Heero had done the night before, and rubbed his cheek against Heero's hair, wishing his other arm wasn't momentarily held to his side by a blanket, because all he could currently do was slip his arm around Heero's waist.

They stayed like that, silent, for at least an hour. Duo had stopped shivering and was actually quite hot, but Heero hadn't loosened his hold one bit.

"Daijobu desu ka?" Heero murmured drowsily, on the edge of sleep.

"Aa. Now, anyway," Duo answered into Heero's hair.

"Why is there a picture of me in Shinigami?" Heero asked suddenly, any trace of sleepiness gone from his voice. He raised his head to look at Duo, waiting expectantly for an answer.

The long-haired pilot blushed and stammered, "I, um, well, you see, er—uh, because, well, um, because I…uh, well—"

"Never mind. You talk too much." Heero said huskily, his lips an inch from Duo's.

"Yeah, prob—" Duo was efficiently silenced by Heero's lips pressed firmly against his own. He enthusiastically abandoned himself to the kiss, wiggling his other arm free to hold Heero where he was. Feeling the other boy's lips part, Duo eagerly did the same, exploring the Japanese boy's mouth with his tongue as Heero did the same to him. The braided boy began to think he had died, or he was asleep and having the best dream of his life. They finally ended the kiss, both short of breath. Neither spoke, both afraid that words would somehow ruin what had just happened. They fell asleep in the same position they had been in before the kiss, both with small, secret smiles on their lips.