�Are you alright, Ken-kun,� Omi said, settling down beside him, his wings folded behind him.
Hidaka nodded and then looked into the other�s eyes. Ayemi had said that by spreading his wings the way he had earlier, Omi was flirting with him, but Ken wasn�t so sure. �Omi,� he said nervously. �What � what was that about, with your wings�� he trailed off uncertainly, shaking his head.
Omi blushed and his wings fluttered. The younger man sighed. �Well, Ken,� he started in a soft, hesitant voice. �We�ve been working together for� two years?�
Ken nodded.
Omi sighed again and shook his head. �I�ve always wanted to� rise to mate, but I�m so much smaller than the others� I�ve never been able to compete against them.�
�I know,� Ken said softly, closing his eyes. The other�s next words startled Ken out of his reverie.
�I � I�ve always found you� attractive,� Omi whispered shyly. When Ken locked eyes, he said, �But we couldn�t have a mating flight, because you couldn�t� you didn�t have wings!�
�It�s that important?� Ken asked softly.
Omi shrugged and shook his head. �I � I don�t know,� he answered quietly. �Maybe it shouldn�t be, but�� he looked up and Ken and nodded, �it really is, Ken-kun.�
Ken blushed. �How�s a �mating flight� work, exactly?� he asked timidly.
�Well, basically,� Omi started, �you would fly up as high as you could and I�d chase after you.� Grinning, he added, �When you can�t go any higher, you�d level off. If I catch you� then, well� I think you know what happens then.� Omi blushed and looked away again.
Ken smiled gently and cupped Omi�s cheek in his hand, pulling his chin up so that he could look into the other�s eyes. �To be honest,� he started softly. �I � I�ve had strong feelings about you for� months now. It�s just that I was afraid you didn�t feel the same way.� He shrugged and smiled. �You�re my friend and I didn�t� want to push you away, I guess.�
Omi smiled. �You could never do that, Ken-kun,� he said gently. Impulsively, he leaned forward and kissed his teammate gently on the lips. Hidaka tensed for only a moment before relaxing into the kiss.
When the two broke away a moment later, Ken said, �I � I don�t want to� rush things, Omi.�
Omi nodded in understanding. �We can wait until we�re both ready, Ken-kun,� he said sweetly.
Ken grinned and smoothed Omi�s hair. �I�ll let you know when I�m ready, I guess,� he said shyly.
Omi smiled and leaned against Ken�s shoulder. �I�m glad you�re back home, Ken-kun,� he whispered.
�Me too,� Ken sighed, wrapping his arms around the smaller man.
End.
Ken pushed the larger man away and tried to slide out of reach at the same time. �Leave me alone,� he pled fearfully.
The man only chuckled softly and leaned closer as Ken backed into a firm and immovable surface. �No where to go now,� he said softly. Ignoring his prisoner�s struggles and pleas, he slowly began to open Ken�s shirt, to reveal the soft warm flesh beneath it.
A soft knock at his door startled him and he had to choke back a startled gasp. Standing, he pulled on his robe and opened the door. Youji was standing just outside looking more than a little concerned.
�Are you alright?� the other asked in a whisper.
Ken nodded and forced a smile. �I�m fine,� he whispered. �It � It was nothing. Just a bad dream.�
Youji looked at him doubtfully. �I heard you all the way in my room,� he whispered softly. �I�m surprised you didn�t wake Omi or Ran.�
�Sorry,� Ken said, blushing. He didn�t want the others to realize that the recent incident with Crawford had shaken him so badly. They might mention it to Shinta, who was the only one on the team who knew about his past. Shaking his head, he looked back up at Youji. �I�m fine,� he repeated. �Sorry I woke you.�
Youji nodded. �If there�s anything you need,� he said gently. �I�m right across the hall.�
�Thanks,� Ken said softly. As soon as he closed the door, he sighed in quiet relief and padded over to the couch he had across one wall. Flopping down, he turned on the television and put it on mute, so as not to wake anyone.
Although he didn�t think it would have been possible after his vivid nightmare, Ken soon fell asleep watching a re-airing of a soccer game.
**
�Ken,� Omi said, gently shaking the sleeping man. �Ken, it�s morning. You have to get up.�
�Hmm?� the other moaned, squeezing his eyes shut and stretching. He opened his eyes and rubbed the sleep from them, sitting up. �Omi?� he said blinking tiredly.
The other smiled and his wings fluttered. Leaning forward, he kissed Ken lightly on the forehead before standing up. �Morning, Ken,� he said. �You and me have to open the shop in about an hour, alright?�
�Right,� Ken gasped. He cast around for a moment before he found a clean shirt and pants. Grabbing them, a towel and his bath supplies, he started down the hall, freezing as he reached the door. Whirling around, he looked at Omi with wide eyes. �You kissed me!� he accused.
Omi giggled. �You�re adorable when you first wake up,� he teased. �Take your shower. I�ll make breakfast.�
Ken sighed and shook his head lightly. They�d only been seeing each other officially for a few days and Omi was easily the more demonstrative of the pair. Although, Youji was quick to point out that Ken would take any excuse to touch his small partner. Ken knew that was more out of a need for the comfort he felt when the other was near than out of any affection.
Sighing deeply, Hidaka headed into the bathroom and tossed his things down on top of the hamper. He closed and locked the door; then turned on the water. He shrugged out of his robe and then pulled off his pajamas. Tentatively reaching a hand into the stream of water, he was pleased to find that it was a good temperature.
He stepped under the stream and began to wash off, enjoying the feel of the water on his body. Knowing it would take Omi at least twenty minutes to make breakfast, Ken took his time and enjoyed the experience.
When he was done, he turned off the water and dried off; then he quickly dressed and headed down the steps. He was surprised to see that Youji was already downstairs. He usually slept late when he had the morning off.
�Hey,� he greeted cheerfully.
�Morning, Ken,� Youji said softly. �Did you tell Omi about you nighttime adventure?�
Ken frowned and shook his head in confusion.
The other man merely rolled his eyes and turned to the youngest man. �Kenken had a nightmare last night,� he said succinctly. �Woke up screaming.�
Omi turned away from the stove and frowned. �I thought I heard something,� he said softly. �Are you alright, Ken-kun?�
�I�m fine,� Ken said, a little too quickly. Turning away, he added, �It was just a dream.�
Omi frowned, shooting Youji a significant look. He dished out an omelet and poured a cup of coffee, then handed both to the blond. �Here�s your breakfast, Youji-kun,� he said cheerfully. The look on his face told the other that he wanted to be alone with Ken.
Taking the hint, Youji stood and said, �Thanks, Omi. I think I�ll� eat it in the living room!�
As the tall man left the room, Omi dished out his own breakfast and Ken�s and then sat down at the table beside Ken. �Ken-kun,� he said gently, sliding the plate in front of the brunette. �It might help if you talk to someone about it.�
Ken sighed deeply and shook his head. The last thing he wanted was to tell anyone what his nightmare had been about, but he also knew that Omi would be hurt if he didn�t. Sighing again, he made his decision. �It wasn�t really a nightmare,� he said softly.
�No?� Omi asked, his wings folding gently at his shoulders.
Hidaka shook his head. �It was� It was a memory,� he said softly. Looking up, he hurried on. �Shinta said that I was an undercover specialist before I joined Weiss and he was� he wasn�t sure I was ready to do that again?�
�I remember,� Omi said softly.
�Well,� Ken said, �that�s because on my last undercover assignment I was captured and� The people we were after we slavers, Omi. They did some really� awful things to me.�
�Oh, Ken,� Omi said softly, wrapping his arms around the older man. Still embracing the other, he asked, �Being captured by Schwartz brought up all those memories again?�
Ken sighed and nodded, his face buried in Omi�s shoulder. Sitting up a little, he said, �I � I�ll be fine to work, though� eventually.�
Omi sat back and smiled. �I�m sure you will,� he said gently. �If you need to talk, I�m here for you and if� if you�re having trouble sleeping, you know where to find me.�
�Thanks, Omi,� Ken said earnestly. �If the dreams get worse and I need time off, I will tell Shinta,� he added softly.
�You�d better!� Omi said firmly. Smiling, he added, �This doesn�t concern the others, yet. I won�t tell them anything. It�ll be up to you who knows anything.�
Ken smiled and leaned forward to kiss Omi on the lips. �Thank you,� he said, settling back into his seat.
�You kissed me,� Omi accused teasingly.
�Yeah,� Ken agreed. �And I plan on doing that a little more often, so be ready for it.�
�I will,� Omi said, giggling. �Now eat your omelet before it gets cold.�
�Yes, dear,� Ken teased.
Both men were still chuckling when Ran stepped into the kitchen. �Youji said something was wrong with Ken?� he said, his voice tinged with concern.
�He�s fine,� Omi said gently. �He just needed someone to talk to.�
Ran glanced at Omi and then at Ken; then a rare smile creased his face. �Just remember,� he said teasingly. �The kitchen is for eating.�
The pair burst into laughter as Ran took the cup of coffee he�d poured into the living room and left them alone once more.
Omi smiled at Ken and asked, �Should we be worried that Ran is making jokes?�
Ken shook his head and kissed Omi once again. �I don�t think so,� he answered. �But let�s get the shop open before we�re late and ruin his good mood.�
�Right,� Omi agreed.
End.