Heero's eyes fluttered, moving rapidly despite their heavy weight. His skin felt oddly numb and he could only make out a vague twilight in the small room. He was warm, he could tell that much. And on his back. With something soft beneath his head. Actually, the layer beneath him and above him was rather soft, too. He turned his head to the side, shocked when he heard a whimper escape out of his throat.

"Heero?"

Only slowly did he turn up enough to see his braided lover hovering over him. "...Duo..."

"Yeah, it's me," Duo whispered. He reached up and pushed a few stray strands of hair from Heero's eyes. "How're you feeling?"

"Tired. Numb." He closed his eyes again and sighed. "Where are we?"

"Home. I put you to bed as soon as we got back." Duo kissed his forehead and gave him a little nuzzle. "Do you remember what happened?"

Heero tried to shake his head and grimaced when vertigo overwhelmed him. He grabbed the edges of the bed as if he were falling. Duo, with a worried expression, leaned across him and tucked the blankets in.

"It's okay, you're not gonna fall. It's just the drugs."

"Drugs?"

"I guess you don't remember. One of the lab boys shot you up full of something."

"Some...thing?"

"I dunno, it's some fifteen syllable chemical I can't pronounce. But the antidote was right there, so you're gonna be fine." Duo chuckled. "You should've seen Trowa an' Wufei tackle him. He's gonna be in traction for months."

Heero raised one eyebrow, doing his best to ask questions without using too much energy.

"Oh," Duo nodded, understanding his motion. "Yeah. Relena was actually his target, you just got in the way at the wrong time. I guess that's one med center that won't get anymore good will speeches."

Heero rolled his eyes and waited.

Duo frowned, wondering what Heero wanted, then grinned sheepishly and closed his eyes. "Sorry, forgot. You were right, he was another assassin. Quatre's in the hospital interrogating him now. Geez, that's weird, huh? His royal cuteness is all grown up and bitch-slapping prisoners..."

Heero sighed.

"Okay, yeah, Wufei does the slapping, Quatre just asks questions, I know. Anyway, Une told me to take you home to rest up and call if there are any complications. I wouldn't worry, though. Unless you're a hemophiliac, and you get shot too often to be one."

"...aftereffects?"

Duo shook his head and unzipped is Preventer jacket, dropping it down. "None, really. Just numbness, and that has to be worked out." He unbuttoned his shirt and let it fall to the floor, followed by his shoes as he kicked them off. "The drowsy feeling should go away soon."

Heero took a deep breath and allowed his eyes to open wider. "I think it is. What...do you mean, 'worked out'?"

"Well, Sally said exercise was best, but that's kinda cruel, don't you think?"

Heero frowned. Not answering the question. He opened his mouth to ask again, but Duo pulled the blankets back without warning and lay his hands on him, beginning with his right arm. The abrupt burst of cool air on his skin told Heero that he was quite naked.

"You've had a rough day," Duo whispered, beginning to knead the muscles in his hands. "Thought you might like this instead."

Heero whimpered again as the rubbing worked down his bicep to his forearm until his hand yielded to every movement of Duo's fingers. The chill in his skin gradually warmed under Duo's hot flesh, and parts of his body began to relax. After a few minutes, Duo moved to the left arm.

"Numb feeling leaving?" he asked.

"Mm hmm..."

Duo's grin broadened. When he finished with that arm, he stood up over Heero's lower half and rubbed down Heero's thighs, his grin fading when he saw his movements had no effect sexually. Things were still too numb, then. He gradually finished off the legs, massaging each foot masterfully until Heero's face lost its stern look and expressed every good feeling his skin conveyed.

And now things were starting to take effect.

"Not enough yet," Duo mumbled, but he raised his voice slightly. "Okay Heero, on your stomach."

"More?" Heero whispered.

"Yup. Your whole body needs it."

Heero attempt to sit up on his own, but the room seemed to spin around him and he collapsed back. Duo reached out and helped him up, then gently turned him towards the wall. Heero settled on his front, his face tilted at an angle off the pillow. "I'm starting to feel sore," he admitted.

"Feeling's coming back," Duo replied. "Don't worry, it'll all be gone by the time I'm done." He straddled Heero's back and massaged the thin shoulders, forcing the muscles to release their tension. Heero shut his eyes and smiled ever so slightly. Every little noise out of him made Duo's smile broaden. The things it takes for him to relax... His fingers eased along Heero's ribs and along his sides, making sure not to neglect anything. Scooting down as he went farther along, he eventually had to hop off again to reach the back of Heero's legs. "Better?"

Heero nodded once. "Much."

Duo sat down beside Heero, lightly caressing the small of his back. Trailing his fingertips along Heero's skin, he let them wander down to just above his thighs. "I haven't finished yet."

Heero smiled and cracked one eye open. Duo opened the top drawer of the nightstand and brought out a long silk sash and a black eyeshade, dangling them in front of Heero's nose.

"Duo, I can't move yet."

Duo giggled, an adorable menacing sound. "I know." He slid the eyeshade over Heero's face, securing the silk lining with the strap in back. "Don't worry, I'll be gentle."

"And this counts as exercise?"

"O ye of little faith," Duo grinned. "I'll be doing most of the work, but it'll be good for you, too."

"That was a pun, wasn't it?" Temporarily blind, Heero could only listen to the sound of Duo's jeans sliding against skin and falling to the floor.

"Shhh," Duo whispered. "Save your breath. You're gonna need it."

The mattress dipped slightly as Duo climbed back up and straddled Heero's hips, crouching on all fours so he could lay on top of him. He held most of his weight on his arms, but allowed himself to press down on Heero just enough for effect. Brushing a few strands of loose hair aside, he began placing tiny, tickling kisses along Heero's neck and giggled when Heero shuddered.

"Careful, boyfriend," he said, nibbling on Heero's ear. "I might think you have emotions."

Heero opened his mouth to speak and instead found Duo's lips on his as the braided boy stole his words away. He brought one arm straight up and awkwardly lay his hand on Duo's back, intending to press him closer. The braided pilot had no intention of giving his lover that much control, however, and grasped his wrist. He gently forced Heero's arm back around until he held it just beside his head, and tied one end of the sash around the wrist. Winding it around one decorative hole in the bedstead, Duo pulled it far enough back to tie Heero's other hand.

"Come on, you gotta come up a little," Duo whispered, more supportive than seductive. He put one arm beneath Heero's ribs and helped him rise onto his elbows, lending him strength until Heero regained some control over those muscles and could hold himself up. Heero adjusted a little, bringing his hands closer on the pillow even though he couldn't pull them back.

Duo bit one lip, worried he might be rushing him. "You all right?"

Heero nodded once, afraid to move too fast and bring on another bout of vertigo. "I can feel them more now." He lowered his face towards his hands and fought his tingling fingers up to the eyeshade.

Duo twined his own fingers into Heero's hair and pulled his head back, forcing himself to be gentle where he would have been a little rougher otherwise. "Naughty Heero, you leave that on."

"Duo, no games tonight," Heero sighed. "It's a distraction."

"It's important," Duo argued. "You shouldn't look at anything. Concentrate on your body. Think about how it's feeling."

"And how exactly are the tied wrists supposed to help?" Heero wondered.

Duo grinned again. "They're not. I just like seeing you tied up."

Heero heaved a sigh and rolled his covered eyes.

Duo released his hair and started rubbing his shoulders again, and when Heero lowered his head this time he didn't try to remove the blindfold. His breathing grew loud, mixed with his vocal chords, until every push of Duo's hands drew a little groan out of him.

"I think I'm just about done working on your outside," Duo whispered in his ear. "How about I work on your inside, now?"

"I don't think Sally had this in mind," Heero replied, "when she said 'exercise'."

"Heero, is that an insult?" Duo grumbled. He sat up and rubbed hard against Heero's backside, letting him know just how much this was for both of them. "Do you really wanna do jumping jacks instead'a letting your boyfriend, your lover, your one and only...have a little fun?"

Heero, not understanding that there was indeed a right and a wrong response to that, answered "Sally did say exercise."

Brief silence.

"Fine," Duo finally snapped. "Exercise it is. I'll put you through a real workout, if that's what you want."

"Duo--?" Heero wondered if he'd said the wrong thing.

"I was going to be nice," Duo said in a falsely sweet voice. "I was gonna take my time and let you feel better little by little. But since you want it rough, that's okay by me."

Heero felt Duo position himself carefully, the hard muscle nudging against his skin. Then the nudge disappeared, and he knew Duo was drawing back for the first thrust inward. If I don't say something quick, Heero decided, this will be too rough. "Duo, I'm sorry."

Nothing happened for a moment as Duo paused. "You are?"

Heero nodded and drew on every single memory he had in social situations to formulate his response. "Yes. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I know you're only trying to help me. You're right, this is a lot better than formal exercise." It was almost the exact same apology he'd heard Trowa give to Quatre days ago. He frowned. Except it was missing something. "I love you," he tried, wondering if it would work.

To his relief, he heard Duo give a love-struck sigh and trail more tickling kisses on his back. "Oh, I love you too, Heero. You're forgiven. You know I can never stay angry with you."

No, just for days on end, Heero thought, but he didn't say it.

Duo gave his rear end a soft pat and took a deep breath. "Just try to breathe normally, and you'll feel better in no time."

No time at all, Heero thought to himself as Duo gently pushed forward. Heero forced himself to relax as he was filled entirely, becoming as close as possible with his lover. Duo's left arm firmly gripped his waist, helping to hold him up while the other hand snaked under him and grabbed so hard Heero arched his back in surprise.

"Well, guess those muscles work," Duo teased. He drew back, making Heero moan, then undulated his body to push his hips forward again, and Heero groaned again and bent his head back. Duo moved his arm to the center of his lover's chest and helped lift him a bit higher so he could kiss his cheek. "Now let's work on those legs."

Withdrawing again, he forced Heero up on his knees. Keeping one arm on Heero's waist, he held him close as he entered. Heero's arms stretched towards the mattress, held by the silk sash, and he jerked hard against the cloth, trying to bring his hands down.

"Don't move," Duo whispered. "You look so good..."

"Faster," Heero begged. "Faster."

"Sure you're up to it?" Duo moved his hand faster, and Heero lay his head back on Duo's shoulder. "Guess so. Another deep breath, boyfriend."

The sudden thrust up into him, followed by the faster retreat and re-entry, shattered any cry Heero might have made. He gasped as waves of sensation woke up the sore muscles, and a cold sweat broke over his hot skin. Duo's motions came even faster and despite his deliberate lack of force Heero's moans of painful pleasure wouldn't stop. His volume increased as they both came closer, and soon Duo's moans threatened to drown his out. Heero tossed his head to one side, hard pressed to withstand the tension in his muscles, and his arms drew back on the sash until the wooden frame creaked.

The silk snapped, they both gave one last cry, and Duo withdrew just as they both dropped back, Duo sitting on his legs while Heero leaned against him in a similar position.

"I think your arms are fine now," Duo breathed. He circled his own arms about Heero's body once more, stroking his face and hair and chest. Only slowly did his boyfriend's breathing return to normal. "In fact, all of you feels fine. Shower now?"

Heero nodded briefly and stared into Duo's eyes. "Much better than 'jumping jacks'," he admitted. "Hot shower?"

"Of course," Duo said as if insulted. "You're the one who likes cold. Or maybe we'll just have a nice, hot bath."

Heero gave him the smallest of smiles. "So this is your idea of therapy?"

"Yup," Duo laughed and helped untie his hands. "And aren't you glad you've got your own therapist?"

The End