Coming Home Part 3

Whatcha doing?" I turn away from my computer a few hours later to find Duo regarding me through half-closed eyes.

"Just finishing up some things." I log out, figuring that I'm finished at least for a little bit. "How are you feeling?"

He lifts his shoulder in a half shrug. "Sleepy. Damn Quatre and his meds."

"Do you hurt anywhere?"

Shaking his head, he yawns. "I know, I know, that's why the meds. If I don't take them, I won't feel better..."

"You know, this taking care of you is easy- you already know all the lectures before I start." I tease, startling a laugh out of him.

"Yeah, that's what happens after a few times at Quatre's. You learn that it's futile to resist."

"Ah, now I see why you agreed to stay with me instead of there."

That makes him smile. "Speaking of-" he tilts his head a little and narrows his eyes at me. "What did Quatre want?"

Why do I suddenly feel like I've stepped into a field of land mines? "Hm?"

"He took you out in the hallway right before he left- what did he tell you?" Duo's gaze intensifies.

"He's just worried." I prevaricate and look at the clock. "It's almost dinner time, are you hungry?"

"Heero-" he doesn't snap the words, but I can hear the steel. "Tell me what he said."

He's not going to give up easily. "It was mostly about you being reckless and how to stop you," I start and then wonder if he remembers our conversation of yesterday. "I didn't tell him anything you told me, but he's really worried about you. He wanted me to talk to you about the Preventers." That's not quite everything, but Duo doesn't need to know about Quatre pushing me to rejoin.

Duo sighs and rubs his face. "Poor Quat. I'm amazed he hasn't just forced me to quit."

"Why would he do that?"

"Trowa's ended up in the hospital a few times because of me." Duo looks down at his blankets. "More than a few times, I guess. I don't mean for him to get hurt- but sometimes- well, he doesn't always listen when I tell him to stay behind."

That makes me snort with laughter even as I feel a rush of sympathy for Quatre. No wonder he was pushing me so hard. It wasn't only Duo's safety at stake- it was Trowa's as well. "Like you would stay behind?"

"That's different. I don't have a semi-psycho lover who freaks out when I get hurt." Color rushes across his skin and I wonder why.

"Semi-psycho?" I repeat and Duo nods vigorously.

"Seriously- have you been around Quatre when Trowa is hurt? It's frightening. He gets this look in his eyes..." Duo shudders theatrically. "Scares me to death."

"And yet, it doesn't stop you from being reckless," I dare and he just laughs.

Hey, he's not my lover- I can just go hide!"

"Well there's the answer to the problem then," I say without thinking. "You need a semi-psycho lover to scare you into behaving."

There's a pause before Duo meets my gaze with a faint half-smile. "I wasn't trying to give you ideas," he says in a softer tone.

The implication hits me hard. He does remember yesterday's confession... and he's not upset over it... so... hope rises in me like a wave.

"If it would keep you from hurting yourself, I'd do it, anything at all." Even rejoin the fucking Preventers...

His smile deepens. "Anything?"

"Anything." One more moment and I'll be drowning. Attempting to lighten the mood, I manage a smile for him. "Even go semi-psycho if needed."

That makes him laugh. "Somehow I have a feeling it wouldn't be 'semi' with you," he says. "You aren't one to only go halfway." He crooks a finger at me. "Come here."

I can feel my heartbeat increase, feel my pulse in the tips of my fingers as I sit down on the edge of the futon beside Duo. He reaches up and snags my collar.

"Were you serious yesterday?" His expression is different now, his smile gone, his eyes searching my face. "What you said to me? Was it true?"

My breath catches in my throat. "Yes."

"Not just saying it to keep me out of trouble? Not just because one of the guys told you to?"

That makes me blink. "No- of course not."

His smile returns. "Good." His grip on my collar tightens and he pulls me down to his mouth.

It's better than any midnight fantasy I ever had of him.

So good in fact that it's hard to keep in mind that Duo is not up for much more than this- his kisses would try a saint, but I remind myself firmly that the man has bruised ribs- not to mention the leg- and I manage to pull a small distance away.

Duo frowns at me. "Where are you going?"

"You're injured," I remind him.

"Nothing hurts at the moment."

"Let's keep it that way."

His smile lights up his face. "I see the psycho-ness starting already."

"Just wait." I tell him. I'm not sure who I'm warning, him or me.

It doesn't seem to bother him. His lips are curved in a smile that warms me to my bones. "I think I've waited enough," he says and tugs on my collar. "Come back here- I'll be good."

I can't resist the temptation when he smiles like that. Leaning down again, I just barely manage to taste his mouth again when the phone rings.

"Do you have to answer?" He breathes against my lips and I sigh in response.

"It might be for work."

"Damn," he chuckles softly and lets me go. I get up and reach for the phone, grimacing when I see the number on the display. For a moment, I'm tempted to just let it ring- but it would be better to get this over with.

"Hello?" I say warily into the handset.

"It's me, Heero," Trowa chuckles in my ear and I relax. "Is Duo awake by any chance?"

"Yes."

"Can I talk to him? I have a few questions about some of our cases-?"

"Sure," I turn and hand the phone to Duo. "It's Trowa."

Duo takes the phone and makes a rude noise into it. "You have lousy timing, Barton.... Ah, never mind. What do you need?"

I go back to my computer while Duo is on the phone, though it's hard to concentrate with the murmur of his voice behind me.

Maybe I should listen... after all, I might find myself back there...

"Anything else?" Duo asks and I can hear the weariness in his voice. I check the clock- he's due for his meds again. As he wraps things up with Trowa, I go and fetch him a glass of juice. He groans theatrically as I trade the phone for the juice and meds. "I'm feeling okay-" he starts.

"It's time. What did you say earlier? If you don't take them, then-"

"I know, I know," he makes a face at me, but swallows down the pills. "I just- you weren't here for so long- and now you are- and I'm sleeping all the time-" His voice drops during the confession and I can't help the warm feeling that rises in my chest.

"It's not for long," I tell him and take the now-empty glass. "And I won't go away again."

He settles down in the blankets, eyes already half-closed. "Even if I do something stupid or reckless?"

"Who says I'm going to let you?" I set the glass down on the table and look back to find him blinking rapidly, trying to focus.

"You can't- Heero- you aren't thinking...." He frowns at me.

"What?"

"You aren't going to join up again- are you? The Preventers-"

How did he know...? "I'm thinking about it," I admit and his frown deepens.

"After what happened- you can't-"

"I think I would feel better if I was there to watch your back," I start and his mouth drops open.

"Heero- you- after-" He's fighting sleep, obviously getting agitated- this isn't what he needs right now.

"Shh. We'll talk about it later. When you're better. Right now, you need to rest."

Yawning, his eyes nearly closed, he is still trying to argue. "I don't want- you don't have to-" I wait him out, knowing he's not going to last much longer. His voice lowers to an incoherent mumble, and I move softly away, taking his glass to the sink.

I know he'll jump right back onto the topic when he wakes up again, but- unless I can figure out something else- I don't think I'll have a choice. I just hope Duo understands that....

TBC...

 

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