lavandarlizard2 | I am cranky, purple...

We'll see in LJ will cooperate with me *this* time...

BFB - 087b - Strange Days V

A scream shook the room. Heero jerked awake, already on his feet and moving toward the bed, before much more than registering that Duo needed him.

“Duo! Angel, it’s all right! I’m here; I’m here, baby...”

He swept the Banshee up into his arms, wrapping him close. “I’m here, I’m here,” he crooned softly. “It’s just a dream; you’re safe, Duo; it’s all over.”

Fingers, hands scrabbled weakly at his shoulders. “...nononono...” The gasping moan trailed away, leaving only hitching sobs behind.

Heero sighed heavily, rocking Duo gently as he stroked his hair. “It’s all gone, baby; you’re safe with me. No one’s ever going to hurt you again.”

Duo cried softly for several minutes before beginning to move in Heero’s arms.

“...lemme go...” he begged, and Heero relaxed his grip on the fragile creature, though not releasing him entirely.

He couldn’t just let go; not after that awakening, but he was mindful of the doctor’s warning that Duo would probably be... conflicted for a while, and that he shouldn’t try to force anything.

“I’m here, baby; it was just a bad dream,” he murmured as Duo struggled to put space between them.

“...oh...” He pulled back to blink owlishly at the Wyvern. “Heero...” His focus sharpened all at once. “Where were you?” he asked and his tone cut to Heero’s heart.

Not where he should have been. Not there to protect his Chosen. Not there to destroy the monster that had raped his love. ~~Not there~~. He claimed to be a guardian, but he wasn’t there. He’d failed to protect, to guard. He had failed to be a Wyvern.

He hung his head miserably. “I wasn’t there... You needed me and I wasn’t there...”

Duo stared at him, blinking in confusion. “I... I mean... now... You weren’t here... I woke up and you were gone...” From bed, he meant.

Heero stared at him. “I was restless... I didn’t want to disturb you... You were sleeping so well; you haven’t been sleeping and finally you were... I was at the desk, going over reports... I thought you’d sleep better if I wasn’t tossing and turning... I... I dozed off at the desk. You had a nightmare...”

“I did?”

“You screamed.”

“I... did...?” He couldn’t remember a thing, beyond waking up and finding himself alone. What the hell? “Heero...?” he said in a very small voice.

The Wyvern slipped his arm around Duo’s shoulders, being careful not to seem too possessive. ‘Yes, angel?”

“Am I ever going to get over this? Are... are we ever going to be the same again...?” He looked and sounded small and exhausted; his eyes red-rimmed and deeply shadowed.

“Yes!” replied Heero fiercely. “You will recover!” He hesitated, thinking about how to phrase his next thought. “We will never be the same again, my love, but we will be better; I promise that.”

Duo regarded him silently, looking for any sign of a polite lie. “I’m so tired of being so screwed up...” he whispered and leaned into Heero’s embrace.

“You’re not screwed up; you’re just... recovering...” Well, dammit; that came out lame.

Duo seemed to accept it, though. He sighed softly and relaxed against the Wyvern.

“I want to go back to work...” he said softly.

“Already?” It came out a little more startled than Heero intended. He had expected that Duo would stay in his room for at least another week. He needed to get his feet back under him, not be rushing around dealing with the details of work.

“I’m bored out of my mind... maybe if I can get back to my routine, I can get this behind me sooner.”

“Only if Mistress Loquinn and Dr French say it’s all right.”

Duo looked up at him, wide-eyed. “I need a note from a doctor?” he asked incredulously. “Heero...”

“I won’t be able to stop worrying unless they clear you.”

Braced for a fight, he was somewhat surprised when Duo gave in easily.

“I don’t want to worry you any more... You won’t hover if they say I’m okay?”

“Well...” Why did he have to put it that way? “I’ll try very hard not to become annoying in my hovering.”

Duo chuckled thinly. “That’s the best I can hope for, I suppose?”

“I’m afraid so.”

“Guess I’ll have to take it then.”

...tbc...

I have my fingers crossed that tomorrow will be a better day. Maybe the adorable young man from the Japanese freight company will visit again... He's rather young and so earnest and polite; bows every two minutes and apologises for the stupidity of his company every thirty seconds. I don't mind; they can be stupid every week if he brings me See's chocolates each time. ^_^ Yes, I can be rented.