Domino

[windandwater]

Duo's eyes blinked open, then shut themselves immediately. With a tiny groan, Duo tried to burrow himself under the covers. Of course, that was impossible because there *were* no covers. What was keeping him warm was Wufei spooned tightly across his back, and Trowa's side pressed against his front. Raising his head slightly, Duo could see Quatre's blonde hair peeking out from the other side of Trowa's chest. With a sigh, the braided boy extrecated himself carefully from the bed; he'd had these feelings before. He'd never be able to sleep with the worries that were running through his mind. Duo snagged a shirt from the floor (the sleeves were long, it had to be Trowa's), and tugged it on as he stepped out of the bedroom and into the hallway.

Duo passed the room where Max and Yuy had taken up residence, peeking through the slightly open door to see Yuy sleeping soundly, pinned beneath Max's arm. A smile crossed his face; Yuy had been out of sorts without Max around. Duo closed the door firmly and went on his way. His mind was still buzzing with what he was going to do later on the day. The plotbunnies (the crack ones!) were a major problem. With them on the rampage, the daily operations of Castle Anthrax were put on hold. Duo had already been bitched out by the Writer, who wanted the problem fixed and fixed NOW. Well, it wasn't his damn fault that the crackbunnies had gotten free. The psych ward had been empty lately, and it wasn't like any Muses would *volunteer* to watch the psychotic little fluffballs. Running a hand through his jagged bangs, Duo decided that he needed coffee.

Lots of it.

As he crossed the Common Room and headed towards the kitchen, Duo paused and then backed up a few steps. There, curled up on the couch, was a familiar figure in a tanktop and boxers. Duo rubbed his eyes and shook his head. He was *sure* that he had seen Yuy in the other bedroom...

Violet eyes widening in shock, Duo took a small step forward. "Heero?"

The figure on the couch twitched, instincts kicked in, and Heero sat up, hands reaching for the gun that wasn't there. Then his consciousness caught up with him and Prussian blue eyes blinked. "Duo?"

The American nodded, rolling up the too long sleeves of his shirt. "Who did ya think I was, love? Santa?"

Heero shook his head, then turned his gaze away, focusing on the blank TV screen.

"Heero?" Duo moved closer, sitting on the couch and scooting closer. However, instead of smiling, Heero just scooted further away. The braided boy frowned, deliberately cuddling up against Heero and hugging him. The Japanese boy stiffened in his arms, and wiggled, trying to get free.

"Heero!" Duo said sharply, "What the hell is wrong with you? I thought you wouldn't be back yet, and now you're here and you won't even say hello?"

"How do you do it?"

Duo dropped his arms from around his boyfriend. "Do what?"

"How can you take it when I... when I act... like... *that*?" Heero's voice cracked with the last word, and he still refused to look Duo in the eyes.

Duo's gaze softened. "Oh. You're still... coming down off the Mode!shift, huh?"

Heero didn't answer.

With a sigh, Duo leaned back against the couch cushions and stared up at the ceiling. "Look, Heero... we all know that it isn't really you. Sometimes ya gotta act that way for the fics, ya know?"

Heero sighed. "I just... I don't *like* to be like that. It's... I was in that Mode!shift for my whole stay at the other Place. And I was always working on that fic. The mindset... gets to you. Makes you wonder if it really wasn't me, doing those things. Enjoying it like that."

"You're not really like that."

"But I do it all the time. Shift. Plink bunnies."

Duo snorted. "Yeah, and the Writer loves me to bits, which is why she always makes me angst until I bleed." He sat up, grabbing Heero's shoulder and forcing his lover to look at him. "What matters isn't what's here," Duo tapped his finger against Heero's skull, "but what's in here," he poked Heero's chest. "The rest of it is just gift wrapping. Goddamn sexy gift wrapping, but wrapping nonetheless. You know I didn't fall for you because of your stunning social skills."

A stable, comfortable silence settled over the two Muses as they pondered their conversation. Then, with a deep exhale of breath, Heero dropped forward, landing with his face in Duo's lap.

"Jeezus!" Duo exclaimed, then smiled, running his fingers through Heero's dark hair. The Japanese boy smiled back, bringing the rest of his body onto the couch and curling up into a near fetal position. Duo leaned over and wrapped his arms around Heero, sharing a slow, sweet kiss with his lover.

"Okaeri," Duo said softly.

"Tadaima," Heero returned, just as soft.

Then, with lids fluttering shut over his deep blue eyes, Heero fell asleep. Duo watched Heero's features smooth out as the worry and tension drained away, and sighed.

"A nap sounds like a good idea. It's gonna be a long day." And Duo fell asleep as well, with Heero's head still pillowed in his lap.

Comments

[kodalai.livejournal.com]

Awwwwww! *swoons* Poor, angsty, guilty!Heero. ^_^ I'm all ready to forgive him.

Heero: Well, I'M not!

Shut up. You don't count.

Heero: I don't forgive YOU, either!

Off to the carribean with you! *zap*

[skyblueandblack.livejournal.com]

Yup, sounds like it'll be a long day, indeed. A long, hard day.

Don't tell me I'm a pervert. I already know it. ^_~