Quatre watched silently as Duo came down the stairs and flopped down on the sofa.  Noting how carelessly he was treating his sprained arm and also how dark his mood was.
     Catching Wufei’s raised eyebrow, Heero’s slight frown and the almost impermissible tilt of Trowa’s head, he was pretty sure he wasn’t the only one who’d noticed.
     He hated to see Duo upset, it just never seemed right.  Getting up from his place on the floor he paused on his way to the kitchen.  “Would you like something to drink Duo?”
     Duo looked up at him dumbly and blinked, “Drink?  Ah sure, water I guess.”
     That request was totally off-base when it came to the braided pilot that, of it’s own accord, it spurred Wufei into speaking.  “What, you’re not having any of the syrup you call coffee?”
     Duo actually seemed to sink deeper into the couch.  “Water’ll be just fine.  Thanks, Quatre.”  The Arabian felt his heart contract painfully in his chest when he heard the ‘dead’ tone of Duo’s voice and the way he refused to meet his gaze.  It was all he could do not to bend down and engulf Duo in a hug.
     “Alright.”  Slowly he entered the kitchen, pouring a glass of water and wondering what had caused the switch in Duo’s behavior.
………………………
     Duo felt his heart sink.  He was an idiot.  Love.  How could he have let himself fall in love with another person?  Another Gundam pilot, at that?  He doomed the other, just like he’d doomed Sister Helen, Solo and Father Maxwell.  “Anyone I care about dies.”
     He hadn’t realized he’d spoken out loud until he heard a slight gasp next to him.  Looking up through his wayward bangs, he saw the object of his affection standing next to him holding a glass of water and looking very pale.  In one graceful motion Quatre set the glass on the coffee table and bent next to him.  “Duo, that isn’t true…”
     Feeling suddenly cold he stood up, eyeing the blond narrowly.  His voice was low, like death, unyielding.  “Death can have no friends.  Come near me and you’ll die.”
     “Duo!  Don’t talk to Quatre like that…”  Trowa’s threat floated through the silent room, almost like an echo.
     Duo smiled manically at the Heavyarms pilot.  “What you gonna do about it Barton?  You gonna ‘save’ him?”
     Quatre stepped between the two of them.  “Duo, please stop.  I don’t know what’s wrong but fighting with Trowa won’t fix it.”
     Duo looked into Quatre’s big, blue eyes and swallowed hard before looking at the floor.  “Sorry Tro-man.”
     He felt a small, gentle hand on his shoulder and felt his heart ache painfully as he pulled away, heading for the door.  “I’m going for a walk, don’t wait up for me.”
………………………
     Quatre paced the floor as he eyed the clock impatiently.  He’d sent the other’s to bed earlier but that had been before he’d found out from Rashid that Deathscythe had mysteriously disappeared from the hanger.
     Was he worried?  Yes.  He stared at the pictures above the mantle, eyeing one of him and Duo.  His hand went to cover his heart, ‘I don’t want to loose anyone else I love.  Allah, bring him home safely.’
     Once more his eyes went to the Grandfather clock.  It was two in the morning.
     “Quatre?”
     He jumped, turning to see a braided boy looking at him from the doorway.  He smiled in relief, moving forward he wrapped his arms around the slim waist.  “Duo, you’re alright!  I was so worried?”
     “You were?”
     Quatre pulled back a little at the tone of Duo’s question, he sounded almost afraid.  “Of course Duo.  Why wouldn’t I be?  I…”  He swallowed hard but kept his eyes on Duo.  “I-I…”  He felt his ears go bright red.  “I love you.”
     Duo’s legs seemed to go out from under him and Quatre bent over him.  “Duo?  I’m sorry… I…”
     Duo’s violet eyes were hard as he looked up.  “I won’t let him have you.  He can’t, you’re mine.”
     Quatre blinked as Duo’s lips pressed against his own, striking him dumbfounded.  When Duo pulled away Quatre blinked a few times, stunned.  “D-Duo?”
     Duo’s face was utterly serious as he looked into his eyes.  “You said you loved me.  Did you mean it?”
     “Yes.”
     Duo took his hand.  “I’ve grown to love you too.  So promise me… promise me we’ll always be together.”
     Looking into his eyes Quatre smiled softly, “I promise.  I’ll love you forever.”