Secrets Part 5
"You do realize I can protect myself?"
"I know you can." Duo pulled himself carefully up and out of the co-pilot's chair. He swayed alarmingly on his feet and Heero reached out to grab his elbow.
"Be careful!"
"I am!" Duo protested and dropped into Heero's lap, wrapping his arms around Heero's shoulders. "Look, you stubborn bastard. I spent years waiting for you to come back. Then I... well, I got wrapped up in this mess and you show up again! Do you really think I'm going to stick you back into danger? I want you safe!"
His kiss was fierce and desperate, and Heero had to respond.
"Duo-" he started when Duo's mouth left his.
"No. Don't start. Whatever it is- don't start it now. Not that you forced me- because you never did- and not that you have to help me- because you can't. Just- give me this. Please...?"
"You're exhausted- and hurt and-"
"I don't care. Please?"
Another desperate kiss, Duo trembling against him. Heero couldn't refuse him...
Carefully, he tightened his grip on Duo and stood up. It wasn't that far to his bed, only a few steps really, though it seemed longer. Duo's grip never slackened as Heero placed him on the bed, pulling Heero down beside him.
It crossed Heero's mind, once, that he should use this somehow, pause in the middle, work Duo up to a pitch and demand answers. But he couldn't- once they started, he couldn't- didn't want to stop. It was hard enough to go slowly, hard to be careful of Duo's bruises...
When it was over, Duo curled up beside him, eyelids drooping with weariness.
"Thank you-" It was a bare whisper of sound. "I know this is hard..."
Heero closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. "Do you? If you were in my place- would you just stand by...?"
Duo leaned his forehead against Heero's and sighed wearily. "No."
A moment more and he was asleep, his breathing evening out, his body limp and relaxed. Exhaustion had finally caught up with him.
Heero waited, counting Duo's breaths, patient and calculating.
When he deemed it safe enough, he slipped out of bed and headed down to the room that held the cleaner, making a quick stop on the way.
Duo's boots and clothes were already clean. Quickly and carefully, Heero made a small hole in the thick sole of Duo's boot. He slid the tiny tracer into the hole and then resealed it. He debated adding one to the clothes, but Duo might keep the ones Heero loaned him. His boots were a better bet.
Replacing everything as he found it, he returned to the bedroom. Duo was still fast asleep when Heero curled up beside him.
They would make planet fall in a little over ten hours. Hopefully before then, Heero would have a chance to convince Duo to confide in him. If not- well then he'd use the tracer and hope that Duo wouldn't find it.
Closing his eyes, he pulled Duo close and fell asleep.
TBC...
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