Quatre eyed the safe house distrustfully as he moved up the stairs, avoiding the weather broken steps. He barely jumped aside as his balance saving touch to the banister around the old wooden porch made it fall apart. "Okay, maybe I should have come here *before* telling Duo to meet me here... I mean, it can't be that bad inside, can it?" He pushed open the door as he continued to mutter to himself, and winced as the hinges creaked badly. The entire one and a half room area was covered in dirt and leaves from the broken window. There was a couch... And it was making noises. "Yes, I should have come before... When the girl told me nobody had come up here, she really meant Nobody..." He picked up a stick from one of the trees outside and poked at the couch. He heard footsteps outside a second later. "Greaaaat..." Quatre gave the couch another poke, and moved back as a raccoon scurried from under it and out the door past Duo, who had made it to the doorway unscathed.

"Jesus Christ!" Duo cursed as he jumped back to avoid getting ran over by said raccoon. He clutched at his chest as he fought to keep his breath. "All those mobile dolls and I'm almost killed by a damn rabid animal! Quatre? Where the fuck are we?"

"Umm... Safe house." Quatre looked around, giving Duo a sheepish grin as he moved to the door and tossed the stick back outside. "We should not need to stay here long..." He looked around before pushing open the door to what would be, in some other universe, a bathroom. He looked at what appeared to be a closet with a bucket. "I hope."

"Safe...house...?" Duo's left eyebrow seemed to have developed a nervous twitch. "Safe from what? Certainly not rotting wood and--" he stopped abruptly as he looked over Quatre's shoulder into the 'bathroom'. "That bucket isn't used for what I think it is, is it?"

"I didn't think it would be this bad..." Quatre backed up, closing the only functioning door in the place and making Duo move. He didn't want to answer that question. "I'm going to get a few things from Sandrock... Umm... Make yourself at home?" He offered it with a weak smile as he gestured around before hurrying out the door, barely catching his balance as the floor of the porch gave slightly under his quick steps.

"Home? Yeah right." Duo snorted as he sat on the edge of the couch. Only to have it fall out from under him and collapse to the ground with a loud smash. Duo tumbled off to the floor, landing on his back.

Quatre halted as he heard the commotion. "Duo you okay?" He hadn't gotten far enough away to not hear it.

"Owwwch..." Duo was rubbing the back of his head as he laid on the floor. "Yeah, I'm okay... just startled."

Quatre let out a sigh of relief and quickly went to Sandrock, digging around and taking out far more than he thought he would need to before he'd gone inside, and he headed back, nearly killing himself on the steps up as he stepped in the hole. "Duo?" He was stuck.

"Yeah?" Duo called from in the house. "Hey, can you grab my bag while you're out there?"

"Unless you want to risk losing these things under the steps you need to come get them from me first!" Quatre glowered sideways at the steps, only glad some animal wasn't hiding under there.

"Huh?" Duo came to the door then realized what Quatre was talking about. He grabbed his wrist and gave him a hand out of the whole. "You okay?"

Quatre nodded a little, moving inside and making a pile on the floor. "I couldn't see my feet."

"This place is a dump." Duo commented. "Where the hell are we supposed to sleep?! I think I'd be better off camping out in Deathscythe!"

"Duo, I've seen you sleep before, you'd never be comfortable in there. Besides, we need to check the reports in the area... It's the only reason we had to stop here you know." Quatre pulled a little area radio out of his pile and turned it on, making a displeased face as he realized that there were constant patrols going on in their area. "Did you have to get so carried away at that last base Duo?"

Duo snorted, turning up his nose for a moment. "Well I only wanted to get us out of there *alive*! 'Blow the place up Duo!', you said. 'Create a diversion so we can get out Duo!'." He muttered under his breath as he started to fine-tune the radio.

"I think the base commander is personally out to get us though! I'm the only pilot they haven't gotten a good look at you know..." Quatre shook his head. "Still want me to get your bag?"

"Nah. I'll get it, I dropped it down the stairs after that raccoon came after me..." Duo stopped fiddling with the radio and left out the front door. He appeared a moment later with a small messenger back slung over his shoulders. "Yanno... most safe houses usually have beds..."

"Most safe houses usually have a kitchen... and a bathroom... It was the best I could find around here though." Quatre dug out one of the crinkly thermal blanket and spread it out. It covered about a fourth of the floor, and he immediately sat on it.

"I don't believe this..." Duo sat down on the other end of it "...no kitchen... no bed... no bathroom..." He sighed, resting his chin on one hand.

Quatre riffled through his things, offering Duo some jerky. "Lunch?"

"Thanks." Duo took a few sticks to chew on, seemingly lost in thought.

Quatre swatted at a spider, then glanced up, noticing it was starting to get a bit dark out. "Hey Duo?"

"Hmm?" Duo looked up, blinking at Quatre.

"This really was the best I could do." Quatre moved a hand up to push his hair back from his face, before starting to gnaw on a piece of jerky. He was rather wishing they were back with the Maguanacs about now...

"It's alright." Duo waved his hand around absently. "I've stayed in worse places. Don't worry about it."

"Yes, well... I haven't... I've never even gone camping before." Quatre was eyeing the room warily, but with a resigned air as the radio babbled in the quiet room.

"Seriously?!" Duo leaned over to peer at Quatre as if he was some kind of alien.

Quatre leaned back away, blushing a bit. "Of course I'm serious..."

"Man... you're deprived..." Duo sat back again crossing his arms over his chest. "I thought camping was one of those normal things..."

"I didn't do normal things... Though..." Quatre suddenly gave a pleased smirk, the expression one that would be better placed on Wufei. "I do know how to hotwire a car."

"I would hope so!" Duo laughed a bit. "Ne Quatre... I always thought that you, out of the rest of us had a normal childhood."

"Aside from my habit of making off with cars for fun, normal was... You should really talk to Wufei though, he grew up in a similar way to myself." Quatre didn't know quite how to explain he didn't grow up normal, he grew up rich, huge difference.

"What was it like?" Duo rested his chin in his palm again as he sat cross-legged on the floor, just watching Quatre.

So much for the attempt to derail the conversation. "It was very constricting. I've never had a chance to associate with people who didn't want me for my money before. Like you, I know you aren't going to try to convince me to give you money. I had to learn not to trust anyone. I'm willing to admit that until the last two years I was a serious brat... It just came with the territory." Quatre shook his head.

"Huh." Duo was quiet for a moment, while he bit his lip, lost in thought.

"I was serious though, you should talk to Wufei about it, he might be able to explain better." Quatre waved vaguely, flinching as the safe house groaned a little as though it was about to collapse. When it didn't immediately fall on their heads, he relaxed.

"Well, I don't see him here do you?" Duo raised an eyebrow at Quatre sarcastically as he waved a hand at the empty shack. "Besides last time I tried to talk to him, he nearly chopped by head off!"

"If works better if you stay at least ten feet back and raise your voice a bit." Quatre said this entirely deadpan, turning his head a little to look at Duo.

"It started out that way." Duo smiled, seemingly getting nostalgic at the memory.

Quatre raised both his eyebrows, then his earlier smirk returned, and he leaned over to nudge at Duo. "Do you have a little crush?"

"Maybe just a smidge..." Duo held up his hand in a gesture of 'just a tiny bit,' then he smirked.

"Can't really fault your taste. Hmm, maybe I should mention it sometime...?" Quatre was only teasing, but it sounded ponderous, barely audible, like he was putting it to memory. No, instead he was actually watching Duo's reaction.

"You wouldn't dare! He'd cut my braid off for sure!" Duo grabbed his braid and pulled it over his shoulder as if Wufei was already behind him plotting it.

Quatre blinked a few times and looked sideways at Duo. "And such nice hair too." Quatre said it in a low tone... Was he flirting?

"Err... Thanks." Duo played with his braid for a few moments before tossing it back over his shoulder.

Quatre stared at Duo for a moment before laughing quietly. "I didn't think you had no comment for me. It is though, I've never been allowed to grow my hair."

"Well..." Duo went thoughtful again, biting his lip. "I wasn't 'allowed' to have long hair either... I had to keep it braided if I wanted to keep it... Why don't you grow it out now?"

Quatre brought a hand to his hair as though it had never occurred to him. "I can, can't I?"

Duo nodded. "Yeah... who's going to stop you? Not me."

Quatre gave Duo a genuinely pleased smile, nodding a little. "You're right. I can actually do things now."

Duo grinned before it broke into a soft yawn. "Is there anything we really need to do?"

Quatre shook his head. "No, but I'm not sure I'll be able to sleep without being afraid the roof will fall on me..." He blinked a bit, pulling out a more normal blanket from his bundle. "Go ahead and lay down Duo." Duo lay down on his stomach without any argument, resting his head on one bent arm. He yawned again. Quatre unfurled the blanket, laying it over Duo's back. "You go ahead and sleep, I'll defend you from anymore wildlife, okay?" He smiled widely, leaning so his head was propped in his hands, which were on his crossed legs. He wouldn't dare lean on the wall.

"Thanks Quatre." Duo closed his eyes, mumbling lazily as he relaxed.

Quatre nodded a little. "Not a problem." He yawned a bit, closing his eyes as he sat there. He was unaware he knew how to sleep sitting up.

"Hey Quatre?" Duo had turned to face him, but left his eyes shut. Quatre's only reply was a barely perceptible mumble. He really shouldn't have closed his eyes, because he was out like a light the moment he had. "Oi. Quatre." Duo opened his eyes, pushing himself up. He pushed Quatre's shoulder.

Quatre's eyes popped back open as he fell right over, blinking up from where he'd been fortunate enough to land in his supplies. "Duo?" He was confused how he got where he was. Last he'd checked, he'd been sitting.

Duo chuckled. "Oi, maybe you should sleep, I'll take the first watch."

Quatre gave a slight nod, rolling over onto his stomach so he was fully on the metallic blanket. "I have the feeling that might be a good idea."

Duo put the blanket back over him. He got up and stretched out. "Are you expecting anyone else?"

"No, once I realized we were being pursued I decided not to call any of the others." Quatre reached out, grabbing his little backpack and tucking it under his cheek.

"I see." Duo went to stand by the door, looking out of it for a few moments. He turned around then sat near Quatre, still keeping an eye on the door.

"Don't forget to watch the window, it's broken." Quatre gestured a bit, curling in a barely perceptible motion towards Duo. He was just plain not used to sleeping near people.

"Ne... If someone came in through that window the whole place would collapse!" Duo seemed greatly amused by this fact however.

"Please don't say that, I don't want to be buried in this dirt magnet." Quatre practically groaned the reply, covering his head like he expected the ceiling to come down just on the suggestion.

Duo chuckled. "I'd dig ya back out. I'm tough." he flexed his biceps, slapping them with his other hand. "See? Look at that! Nothing but rock hard muscle!"

Quatre turned his head a little to look at Duo. "Yeah I see it, you man you." It was a weak rejoinder, but he was tired, so it could be forgiven.

Duo looked at him oddly. "Quatre that is the gayest thing I have ever heard you say..."

"Glad to be of service." Quatre faintly smirked, closing his eyes. "Been wanting to say it for a while too."

"Is that so?" Duo leaned back with a self-satisfied smirk on his face.

"Oh yeah, just couldn't find the right time to tell ya." Quatre snuggled his cheek into his bag, trying to get comfortable again after having startled awake.

Duo continued to grin. "You should get some sleep..."

"I should, giving away all my secrets." His voice was closer to a mumble, and he curled a bit more towards his side for comfort.

"You sure are." Duo shook his head in light amusement. He shut up after that, figuring he was keeping Quatre up with his continued conversation. Quatre smiled a bit, finally going back to sleep as soon as he figured that having last word wasn't important. Duo hummed a tune to himself to keep occupied while Quatre slept. The house creaked some but nothing eventual happened.

Quatre, Duo now got the chance to observe, was not a sound sleeper. About half an hour into watching for anyone who might have discovered them or animals, Quatre had ended up using Duo as a pillow, and was having something resembling a nightmare if the look on his face was anything to go by. -Poor Quatre...- Duo thought to himself, as he put an arm around Quatre's shoulders and stroked his hair. He adjusted Quatre slightly so his head was in Duo's lap. Quatre settled into a bit less of a restless sleep, but he seemed to have a bewildered look to him as he cautiously settled against Duo. He finally sighed a little and was still, slipping past dreams. Duo smiled, but didn't stop stroking Quatre's hair. -It's pretty soft...-

Quatre roused before dawn, and Duo could see him move a little before pausing in apparent confusion. "Hey..." Duo greeted with a soft smile, removing his arm from around Quatre.

Quatre turned his head a little to look up at Duo, blinking a few times. "When did I end up here?" It was a whisper. He had the air of someone who expected to get in trouble.

"You seemed to be having a nightmare... so I uhh... comforted you..." Duo looked more embarrassed than anything.

Quatre blushed a bit, slowly pulling back. "That... hasn't happened before."

"It's alright... don't worry about it." Duo shook his head, dismissing the matter.

"No, I mean..." Quatre stopped, sitting fully up and running his hand through his hair.

"You mean what?" Duo blinked tiredly at him.

"I mean being comforted like that... Go to sleep, I can stay awake now." He crossed his legs, then leaned over to gently push on Duo's chest so he'd lie down.

"It's no big deal..." Duo drawled as he lay down with a tired yawn.

"Maybe for you. Go to sleep, we'll talk later." Quatre nudged Duo closer until he was lying on his bag pillow, hoping he'd forget the entire conversation. Duo drifted off right after that, falling asleep almost instantly. Quatre brushed Duo's bangs away from his face, whispering. "Thanks." He then sat back up, watching the room lighten to a dull predawn color.

"I'd love some pie... thanks..." Duo mumbled in his sleep and rolled over with a loud grunt.

Quatre chuckled softly, watching the braided teen sleep with a considering look on his face. It just went to show how much he was trusted that Duo, the notoriously light sleeper, hadn't woken up with the touch. Duo continued to mumble strange things as he slept, none of them seeming to be related to the others at all, turning over several times while he did. Apparently, Duo was as vocal in sleep as he was when he was awake. Quatre shook his head, only moving to keep Duo from rolling off the blanket. He'd have to save the braid from the layer of dirt more than once, so he ended up holding it in his hand as he waited for Duo to wake up.

"Yeah that's nice..." Duo drooled a bit as a faint smile appeared on his face, leaving no doubt to what he was dreaming about now...

Quatre got a definite blush on his face, though he looked more intrigued than anything, lifting the stilling hand he'd put on Duo's side a moment before, he leaned a little closer to see if he'd hear any other mutterings along those lines. Maybe he could figure out who it was. Duo only mumbled something that Quatre could decipher as 'shoot a duck in your eye'.

Quatre just shook his head ad sat back up, fiddling with the braid in his hands, wrapping it around his fingers. It wasn't intentional, but peering around the safe house, he didn't think about it. Duo drifted off into dreamless sleep for the next few hours, seemingly sleeping peacefully. He awoke to find his braid still curled in Quatre's hand. "Quatre?"

Quatre made a faintly questioning hmm noise like he was coming from somewhere far away, having spaced out as he let himself just blank his mind for a while. Duo's voice tugged him back from that.

"You alright man?" Duo asked as he sat up slowly.

Quatre blinked, looking at Duo as the other teen sat up, not even paying attention to the rope of hair in his hands. "What do you mean?" Quatre seemed vaguely confused.

"You seemed kinda spaced out... are you alright?" Duo didn't bother to remove his braid from Quatre's hands as he held it. It didn't bother him. He knew Quatre would try to cut it off.

"Oh... I was just... not thinking." Quatre smiled a little.

"Ah. I see." Duo smiled in return.

"Did I get a special treatment or do you talk in your sleep so much for everyone?" He certainly hadn't seen it before, so he was interested.

"Did I really talk in my sleep?" Duo's eyes were wide. "Heero said I did too... What did I say?"

"Err..." Quatre blushed a bit.

"Well???" Duo prodded.

"Mostly nonsense.." Quatre didn't say *just* nonsense, because there was no doubting one of the dreams that Duo had flit through.

"What about the stuff that wasn't nonsense?" Duo grinned playfully.

"I got the impression you'd let a bed partner know exactly what you wanted." Quatre managed not to blush again.

"Oh... That sort of dream." Duo laughed, closing his eyes.

"Yes, that sort of dream." Quatre twisted his fingers in the end of Duo's braid, watching the other teen with a tilted head.

Duo fluffed out his bangs with his opposite hand, still chortling with amusement. "You have those sorts of dreams too?"

"Once or twice maybe, I don't really remember those." Quatre shook his head a little, Duo's action making him want his own hair out of his face.

"Once or twice? I have them almost every night!" Duo leaned over a put a hand on Quatre's forehead.

Quatre blinked at Duo's actions. "What are you doing?"

"Checking to see if you're delirious..." Duo said as he studying Quatre's face. "You sure you've hit puberty? You're supposed to have those kind of dreams."

"Of course I have!" Quatre reached up with the hand that wasn't wrapped in Duo's hair. "I've had those dreams! I just have nightmares more, thank you." Quatre immediately looked mortified by what he said.

"See?" Duo smirked. "That wasn't so bad was it?"

Quatre relaxed as Duo didn't comment on the part he'd been worried about, and he shook his head. "I said I'd had a few..."

"Wanna share?" Duo leered, leaning back a little.

Quatre stared at Duo, jaw working, then finally he squeaked. "No!"

"Please! I tell you one of mine if you tell me one of yours!" Duo adopted puppy eyes.

Quatre stared at Duo. Finally, he sighed. "Alright, how do you want me to tell you?"

"Just tell me what happened. Details. Who what where when... that sort of thing." Duo bit his lip grinning in anticipation. It wasn't like they had anything else to do after all.

"Oh, so you want *everything*." Quatre was considering, putting together a little fantasy from the vague remnants of one he'd had in his head. He didn't much want to tell Duo that well, *Duo* was the person of the focus of that one. It wasn't like he could control his subconscious. "Do I have to say who?"

Duo nodded. "Yes."

Quatre blushed pink, tightening his fingers on Duo's braid and snapping at the ponytail a bit. "Well, the one I remember best was in Sandrock, and it involved a few rather kinky bits." Quatre gave Duo a questioning look, asking if he really needed to get more detailed. Duo nodded, encouraging him to go on. Since he insisted... he'd just keep who it was to himself for as long as possible. "Well... He was spread over the control panel, and I'd at some point handcuffed his hands to the upper edge of the hatch, so he had to go up on his toes to not strain. He was naked, and I wasn't. Actually, I don't think I ever got undressed. That's about where the dream started anyway, with me running my hands down his sides, counting ribs, and listening to the groan he was giving me." Quatre tilted his head up away from Duo's face a bit as he described. It was disconcerting to be watched by the person he had the dream about. "I threaded my fingers into the back of his hair and tugged his head back to kiss him, very talented tongue. That's all I did the entire dream, just touch him, seeing how many noises I could get out of him." Quatre finished up and leaned over to get a bottle of water.

Duo blinked in an almost comical fashion for a moment. "Whoa... That's pretty... twisted." He smiled perversely for a moment.

"Yes, well, your turn." Quatre was relieved he didn't have to say anything identity wise other than 'he.'

"Alright, don't say I didn't warn you..." Duo leered with a bright smile. "I have this one a lot, where I'm in a cell and Trowa's interrogating me, then Wufei comes in and ties me up and puts a ball gag on me. Then he teases me while Trowa watches. Then, Wufei pounds my ass into a table while Trowa sucks me off." Duo wiggled his eyebrows at Quatre.

Quatre shook his head a little with a small smile. "Hmm, I see." He didn't seem at all perturbed. In fact, he thought it was a rather nice mental image.

"Not bad eh?" Duo sighed happily. "Ne... who were dreaming about? Someone random?"

Quatre shook his head. "No, a pilot." He then tilted his head back to drink.

"Ooh!" Duo sat up with interest. "Which pilot?"

"I'd really rather not say." Quatre set the water bottle down, carefully capping it. -Please don't ask for hints...-

"Come on! I just told you I had a wet dream about *two* of the pilots! You can tell me who!" Duo whined. "Oh... and *PLEASE* don't tell them!" He added.

Quatre shook his head. "I won't tell them..." Quatre was still eyeing Duo, avoiding the point.

"Tell me who!" Duo gave Quatre an annoyed shake.

Quatre grabbed Duo's wrists to stop him from shaking him. "Okay, I'll tell, stop!"

"Sweet." Duo let him go.

"You." Quatre was watching Duo, just waiting for a reaction.

"Me?" Duo pointed to himself.

Quatre nodded a bit, mutely offering the water bottle to Duo.

Duo took a sip then smacked his lips. "How come I'm always the one in bondage? Even in my own dreams..."

"My dreams always put people at my mercy." Quatre smiled a little and relaxed. Duo wasn't going to react in a bizarre fashion.

"Do you ever have them about others?" Duo asked.

"I don't remember them as well, but yes." Quatre retook the bottle, and then swept the braid back into his hand.

"So it's not just me." Duo smiled. "Phew, that's a relief."

"The ones with you in them are the only ones that have any clarity though." Quatre's lips twitched. "Who else did you dream about? It's not as though you have many options left."

Duo shrugged. "Mostly Wufei, I had one about Sally once... And that girl Trowa hangs out with..."

Quatre stifled a laugh. "Aside from you, Heero, Zechs, and Treize are the only ones for my dreams. I managed to get a hold on one of Zechs' school pictures, he's cute under that thing."

Duo grinned. "I bet... any of them at the same time?"

"Heero and Treize... That... was a very strange dream." Quatre shook his head as though trying to put an image away.

"Tell me more!" Duo prodded, poking at Quatre.

Quatre rolled his eyes. "Pushy much? There was one with you and Zechs somewhere amid the rabble too you know."

"Was I good?" Duo leered with a grin on his face that said, 'I know I was.'

"I watched. I think you two were putting on a show for me... You were otherwise in charge, and you had that hair of yours down. Didn't top the one I told you about in the first place though." Quatre gave Duo an unrepentant look.

"Interesting..." Duo seemed to be thinking about this and was quiet for the longest time.

Quatre sipped at the bottle, then finally directed full attention to what he was doing with his hands as he snapped Duo's hair-band with his fiddling. "Ummm..."

"Hmm?" Duo snapped out of his reverie.

"Do you have another hair8band?" Quatre had caught up the hair in his fingers as soon as he'd heard the snap.

"You broke my hair-band?" Duo grabbed his braid to inspect it. He grumbled. "I think I do..." He crawled away to dig through his bag.

"I didn't do it on purpose... I didn't even realize I was still fiddling with it..." Quatre shook his head, getting out some jerky and popping it in his mouth.

"It's alright, I just think that was my last one... and I snitched it from Wufei anyway..." He smiled a bit. "Nothing..." He sighed and pulled his braid up into a low bun tying it with a few loose strands. "That should do."

Quatre bit his lip to hold back a little laugh as he really looked at Duo. "Glad you aren't mad."

"You think this is funny?" Duo pointed at his makeshift bun. "You should've seen the time Howie dressed it up like someone named 'Princess Leia' while I was sleeping. I was *sooo* pissed."

Quatre's eyes widened and he sniggered, visualizing it. "I think I have something you can use... One of my bowie ties."

"Sure, I'll try." Duo stuck out his empty hand, asking for it.

Quatre pulled the tie, it having silver ends and a tiger for the pendant. He handed it over. "Here."

Duo undid his bun and tied the tie around the end of his braid. He swung it back and forth a few times. "I think this will work for a little while."

Quatre smiled a bit, nodding. "It should. At least we changed topics... I was starting to get visuals."

"Ain't nothing wrong with it." Duo smiled. "Keeps me warm at night anyway."

Quatre shook his head. "So, do your preferences lie the same way as your dreams?" He raised an eyebrow after he asked the question.

"I guess so." Duo shrugged.

Quatre nodded a little. He then looked around the shack they were in. "Turn the radio on, would you?"

"Sure." Duo crawled over the radio and turned it on, leaning over to listen it closer, but staying crouched on all fours.

Quatre watched Duo and blushed a bit. "Could you sit or something? After all that talk that isn't exactly the best angle to look at you from..."

"Why? Does it turn you on?" Duo leered, grinning as he wiggled his butt a little.

Quatre blinked at Duo, then eyed him. "Do you really want me to answer that?"

Duo laughed and sat down. "I think you don't have to. I already know."

"Tease." Quatre shook a finger at Duo in rebuke.

"You know you like it." Duo chuckled again.

"Maybe. Doesn't mean I can do anything about it, though does it?" Quatre shook his head, glancing around.

Duo looked at Quatre strangely, eyeballing him. "Are you...?" he trailed off.

Quatre diverted his attention back to Duo. "Am I what?"

"Propositioning me?" Duo finished in a whisper.

"Though it had crossed my mind, I didn't have such high ambitions." Quatre blinked at him, ever astounded by Duo's leaps in logic. Duo stared at Quatre, chewing on his lip, not quite sure what to make of him. Quatre returned the stare, then shook his head slightly. "Duo?"

"What?"

Quatre let out a breath. "How did you come to that conclusion?"

"Well you have dreams about me... then you say that looking at my wiggling bottom was making you randy..." Duo trailed off, fiddling with the cuff of his shirt.

"I..." Quatre trailed off, then looked down at his lap with a sigh.

"You..." Duo leaned over to poke Quatre's shoulder again.

Quatre looked back up to Duo. "I've never seriously thought about it..."

"You mean..." Duo looked confused.

Quatre met Duo's confused look with one of his own. "What?"

"I'm confused... are you a virgin or something?" Duo pointed to Quatre.

Quatre pinked slightly, and immediately cursed his pale complexion in his head. "Yes..."

Duo's face softened and he patted Quatre on the shoulder. "Hey... it's no big deal... don't worry about it..."

Quatre blinked then looked closer at Duo. "You mean you aren't!?"

"Well... no..." Duo looked a tad embarrassed.

"Geeze! I've never even..." Quatre gestured vaguely at himself. "And you've already..." Gestures at Duo.

"It was only twice and even then..." Duo trailed off. "I'm not much more experienced than you!"

Quatre noted his point hadn't gotten across. "I haven't even ever properly touched myself! Yes you are!"

"You haven't even touched yourself?!" Duo's eyes were as wide as dinner plates.

Quatre crossed his arms, defensive. "No." Duo was speechless. Quatre just eyed Duo. "It takes something like *that* to make you be quiet?" He finally leaned over and closed Duo's gaping jaw. "You'll get flies."

"I can't believe you've never even jacked off Quatre..." Duo's tone was still one of disbelief. "I mean you have dreams like that and you don't even..."

"It doesn't sound appealing." Quatre watched Duo. "I don't see a point to it."

Duo smirked. "It's fun. I thought all guys did it."

"Well apparently not." Quatre folded his fingers in his lap and sat up primly.

Duo snickered. "Maybe you should start..."

Quatre shook his head with a faint scowl. "I meant what I said, the idea of touching myself ruins the entire thing for me." Duo gave Quatre another odd look. Quatre sighed. "I tried, once, and it was like I was in the bath or something and the nice erection I had just wilted away."

Duo swallowed. "You want me to teach you?"

Quatre went a little wide-eyed. "You'd do that?"

"Sure. Why not?" Duo shrugged.

"Erm, well... How would we do that?" Quatre unfolded himself a bit, apparently paying attention.

"Well first, think of something really arousing..." Duo took a deep breath.

Quatre raised an eyebrow at Duo and just waited. "Alright, our earlier conversation fits that..." It was a murmur, barely audible.

"Are you hard yet?" Duo asked after a quiet period. Quatre gave Duo a look that questioned his sanity and nodded a bit. Duo was trying hard not to laugh at the situation. "Okay... now stroke yourself through your pants like this." He demonstrated.

Quatre watched Duo, then let out a breath. "I don't believe this will work..." He tried to oblige anyway, and was far from stunned that his body reacted the same way as the first time. It was relaxing, not arousing.

"Quit thinking like that," Duo scolded. "If you're already thinking negatively it's not going to work."

Quatre closed his eyes with a sigh. "Alright then..." No, no improvement. "Then I have to start over."

Duo sighed. "Alright... picture this then: Treize and Zechs have just come back from a long dip in a hot spring where you've been peeping on them. They're both butt naked and horny as fuck. And they want you." He grinned. "That help?"

Quatre's lips twitched into a little smile, and he cracked open his eye. "I suddenly feel like I'm taking advantage of the enemy." It was an amused murmur before he let out a breath. "Though it did the trick."

"Not a bad mental image... It makes me shiver." Duo punctuated his words with a little shiver. "Now are you hard?"

"Once again, yes." Quatre was also amused, and it showed in his voice.

"Me too." Duo breathed opening his eyes. "Now just touch yourself lightly..."

Quatre licked his lips and ran his fingers over the seam of his pants, but had to pull his hand away. He had the acute feeling of being dysfunctional.

"Ne Quatre... you seem to be having a hard time... Want me to try?" Duo leaned over slightly, his eyes alternating between Quatre's face and his groin.

Quatre gulped a little, eyes widening slightly as he moved his hands to the ground on either side of himself. "Sounds nice."

Duo scooted close to Quatre and slight off to one side. He put his hand on Quatre's groin, just testing the waters as he touched it lightly, in an experimental touch rather than an arousing one. Quatre flicked his gaze down, then back up, licking his lips a little. "Does it feel good?" Duo increased his fondling, making the touches more erotic. He knew what he liked so he was trying it on Quatre now. Quatre drew a sharp breath, half closing his eyes, though he held still, watching Duo intently. "I'll take that as a yes." Duo smiled.

Quatre belatedly nodded, leaning back onto his hands. Duo unzipped Quatre's pants and slipped his hand in, caressing Quatre's erection through his boxers now. Quatre whimpered, flitting his gaze up to Duo's face from the slightly unfocused look he'd acquired, and he ran his eyes quickly over Duo's expression.

"Is this okay?" Duo asked softly, but he didn't stop. Quatre nodded quickly, struck momentarily mute. Flattening his palms out against the smooth surface they were sitting on, he held very still, even as his breath picked up a bit.

Duo took another deep breath and slipped his hand below the waistband of Quatre's boxers. He slipped his fingers around the hardened flesh underneath and gave a few tugs. Quatre shivered with the feeling and closed his eyes, lifting his hips into the action with a little groan, though it was barely audible at all. Duo smiled as he kept a pace of slow even strokes, watching Quatre's face. Quatre let his head fall back with a soft keen, and he finally let himself move, hips lifting into the hand that Duo had been kind enough to lend him. Duo started to stroke faster, placing his other hand on his own erection to fondle himself through his pants. Quatre curled his hands into the blanket they'd used the night before, aware he didn't have it together enough to ask Duo if he could touch him, so instead he cracked his eyes open, only to see what the other teen was doing. This drew out an appreciative purr.

Duo grinned at him, "Enjoying yourself?" he asked, rather breathlessly.

Quatre moved one of his hands with the question, resting along Duo's wrist, but not in a motion that was to get him to quit. He managed to find his voice for a whispery reply. "Oh yes."

"Good." Duo replied, moving Quatre's hand to stroke with his own on the blond.

Quatre made his eyes focus on Duo's face, a shiver running down his spine as he stilled, a low hiss of breath the only sound he made as he came, fingers tightening against Duo's subconsciously to keep him in place. Duo gave a few last gentle tugs on Quatre's erection, smiling as he watched Quatre's face. He leaned over towards his bag to get some tissues to clean Quatre off. Quatre closed his eyes at last, making himself let go of Duo's other hand, shivering a little from the new sensations. Duo took a deep breath as he sat back, tucking his knees under his chin.

Quatre pried his eyes open as he sank onto his back, making no motion to put himself to rights. "Thank you... My imagination fell short." It was just a whisper as he turned his head to look at Duo, rolling over so he could touch his leg, looking almost completely casual for once.

"You're welcome. I'm always happy to help." Duo smiled at the other teen, still a bit wound up from the 'teaching lesson'.

Quatre patted Duo's leg a couple times, then brought both up where he could see them as he propped himself up on his elbows. "Not sure I'll be able to do that on my own, but at least I have an idea what I'm missing, hmm?" He sounded amused and pleased, not in the least worried.

"Yeah..." Duo smiled, amused as well. "I still can't believe that you don't whack off... the idea that someone our age doesn't..."

"You saw what happened before you decided to help me..." Quatre blushed, lifting a slightly sticky hand to his face and licking at it ponderously. He immediately reached over to get something to wipe the rest off with his nose wrinkled in distaste.

"It's alright... maybe you just need some more practice." Duo admitted with a tiny shrug.

Quatre laughed a bit, sticking the cloth with the other things. "Duo, your hands feel wonderful, mine do not." He pushed back up, sitting on his knees and he took his fingers to his pants, settling everything back in place.

Duo almost blushed. "Thanks Quatre..."

Quatre smiled a bit, reaching over to tug Duo's hand towards him so he could study it. "You have more calluses than I do."

"I hardly doubt that's why my hands feel better." Duo answered in a dry tone.

"It was only an observation." Quatre ran his fingers lightly across Duo's palm, causing a sensation that wasn't quite tickling. He wasn't pressing hard enough for that. "They're bigger than mine too."

"Yeah..." Duo simply watched Quatre, a little intrigued by his attention.

Quatre ran his hand along the back of Duo's, and closely inspected his palm, seeming to have a little fascination over them. "I have no idea how you can manipulate all those little things I see you work on."

Duo shrugged, his smile returning in amusement. "It's not hard, I'm just good with my hands. I've had lots of practice."

Quatre smiled, squeezing the appendage in his hands and seeming content to just hand onto it. "Before I came to Earth I never was touched so much. It's nice."

Duo nodded, smiling sadly. "It is nice, isn't it?"

Quatre nodded a bit, looking to Duo's face. "You know... If you ever just want to cuddle with someone, I'm game."

"Thanks Quatre. I appreciate it, I really do." Duo sighed. "It's just sometimes... I want affection but there's no one around to give it."

Quatre squeezed Duo's fingers. "I know the feeling."

"Sucks ne?" Duo gave Quatre a small returning squeeze. "I feel so powerless sometimes..."

"I guess it doesn't matter when you come from, does it?" Quatre sighed out a long breath.

"No, I guess not." Duo suddenly leaned forward, resting his chin on Quatre's shoulder.

Quatre freed one of his hands from Duo's, the other threading their hands together as he wrapped his arm around Duo. "Hey, I'll be here for you to lean on if you want to."

Duo sighed into Quatre's shirt. "Thanks, me too."

Quatre just tugged Duo closer, looking around the room with a little sigh. "Hey Duo, could you do me a favor?"

"Sure, what?" Duo turned his head to look at Quatre.

"Could you pick the next safe house?"

Duo laughed. "Alright... I will."

Quatre just nodded, settling back into the hug. They ended up stuck in that dirty little shack for a week.