Force of Friendship

Himmel woke up warm for the first time since his mother had passed away when he was six. He let a contented murmur slip from his lips and slid closer, reveling in the unusually good feeling, until he realized that the body he was currled around was both too hard and too male to be his mother.

//Ninja!//

He gasped and tried to inch away but his arms were caught and held tight. "Ninja. . ."

"No. Warm. Stay." He mumbled and fell back to sleep.

Unsure, the german boy slowly settled back down. When no accusations or blows came from the other boy, he smiled and allowed his body to relax. This was ok. It was real. And Ninja wouldn't push him away.

_____________________

When Ninja woke up he yawned and tried to stretch as he did every morning, but was stopped by an arm around his waist, a leg over his hips, and a body up against his back. He tensed at the feeling of something hard pressed against his boxers. . . between his thighs. . . from behind. . . "Wha. . .?"

It took him a moment to remember. //Himmel// As his memory unclouded and he woke up a bit more he sighed and lay back again. //He had to share the bed. It's just morning wood.//

Gently extracting himself from the embrace he sat on the edge of the bed and looked down at the boy he'd befriended and brought home. Ninja wasn't surprised at how young and innocent Himmel appeared, especially in sleep. He knew that the boy was nothing like his father. It made him wonder what his mom must have been like for him to have turned out like he did.

Himmel pursed his lips in his sleep and rolled over into a ball benieth the covers. He was cold it looked like, odd since it was summer and already 80 degrees outside with the sun just up but. . . he tossed two more blankets on the shivering German and began to clean up a little.

Yeah, sure, his house was usually a wreck of a bachelor pad, but he had company and he respected Himmels cleanliness.

It had been funny to see the boy's face at the first look into Ninja's home. He'd been trying so hard not to seem out of sorts or disgusted, but he was used to house maids and servants to clean and living as only the rich could. Ninja knew his pad wasn't a pent house but at least he could make it look like a home.

Three hours later the kitchen was clean and Ninja's resolve was wavering.

_____________________

The sound of pans clanging together woke Himmel up and he blinked sleepily, finding himself alone. A quick search found his clothes and he stumbled into the living room. "Ninja?"

"In the kitchen." Came the muffled reply.

Himmel walked in and stopped cold, his mouth hanging open.

"Hungry?"

"You cook?!"

"Sure. I live alone, or did live alone any way. If I couldn't cook then I'd starve or go broke buying those microwave things that taste like cardboard."

"It's clean!"

"Cardboard?"

Himmel gave him a look.

"Oh, the kitchen, well I had some free time."

"You don't have to clean on my account." He said softly. "I'm not really a guest or anything."

"I invited you to stay didn't I?"

"Of course, I. . ."

"So you're a guest." He shrugged, "Sides, it's nice. I never knew that the kitchen tiles had a pattern on 'em."

Himmel made a face and moved to the sink, "Well I'll do the dishes ok?"

"Wanna eat first?"

He blushed and nodded as his stomach rumbled.

A plate of pancakes was slid accross the small table and Himmel smiled. //He cooked for me.// A slight blush covered his face and he quickly looked down at his plate and began to eat.

Ninja sat across from his friend and also started eating his meal with gusto, unaware of the thoughts running through his new roommate's mind. But very painfully aware of his own thoughts. //I could love him.//

"Are you ok?"

"Huh?"

"You look kind of warm. Are you ill? Do you need anything?"

"No, 'm fine." He looked at Himmel and quirked a brow, "Um. . . not that I don't like the Charlie Brown shirt and jeans look, but are those the only clothes you own?"

He nodded shortly and bit his lip.

"We'll go shopping later. Probably tomorrow since I work all day today, but you could probably fit into my clothes until then, I have a belt you could use."

Himmel blinked, "I have no money to pay for. . ."

"Hey. You'll get a job soon right? Call it a loan or something."

"Ok."

They both smiled shyly and not another word was said until the meal ended.

_____________________

Pestario and Chubby arrived later that morning. Not even bothering to knock, both boys just walked right in like they lived there.

"That is very rude you know." Himmel admonished them from the sink where he was finishing up the dishes.

"Uhuh, sure is, so where's the Ninja? You two have a mad excellent night last night? Bet you were his bitch huh."

"I do not appreciate what you're insinuating. Bruce was kind enough to let me stay here since I have no home and no money to claim as my own."

"Sure snake boy, you just keep up with doing all this domestic shit a'ight?" Pest swung the bathroom door open and threw the shower curtain to the side, "Hey Ninja! Amigo! Waz up bro? You up to some women now that you've tasted the other side?"

Himmel blushed at the clear view of a very naked Ninja and spun to face the other way, scrubbing the dishes with vigor and trying his best to keep his breathing even. //Instructing martial arts has built him very well!//

"PEST!" Ninja pulled the curtain back into place and swore. "I have a guest!"

"Awe, you know he enjoyed it." The latino laughed and walked out into the living room. "Man the place is clean! Gay living does a houshold good?"

"Pestario I already told you that. . ."

"Yeah yeah yeah, nothin' happened, right sure. So are you coming with today or are you sleeping in you naughty naughty boy you?"

"Niether, I have work today. I told you that last night remember?"

"Play before work my brother, play before work."

"No pest, work before work before sleep."

"Before sex?" Chubby asked, suddenly interested.

Pest grinned, "Hot, butt stuffin' monkey sex huh?"

"Pest. . ."

Before Ninja could say anything else, Himmel took aim and shot Pest and Chubby with the spray nozzel on the sink.

"Hey!"

The slim German forcably pushed both of the backwards and glarred to rival any thug. "This is HIS house and you have NO right to speak to him like that in his own home! Bruce has to work today, he can't play, come back tomorrow and FUCK OFF!"

He slammed the door on their stunned faces and turned around only to spin back. "Uh. . . "

Ninja stood in shock, staring at the door and his roommate in wonder.

"Bruce!"

"huh?"

"Clothes!"

He jumped when he realized that he was still naked and dripping from his shower, "Good idea, uh. . . yeah. Thanks."

Himmel shivered and squeezed his eyes shut tight. Obviously someone hated him or loved him an awful lot to place him in this position, with such sweet temptation. //No. He was kind enough to take you in and you are not going to make him regret that. Even if he looks like the statues of Gods shown in antiquity, and even if he has the heart of a wounded angel and the face of a rembrant. . . NO! Focus!//

"Himmel?"

He swallowed and spun round with a smile, "Ja?"

Ninja smiled and Himmel's insides melted to sentimental goo. "You coming?"

"Where?"

"To work with me. Said I'd teach you to be more than a sissy didn't I? I meant it."

"I wouldn't want to be a bother. . ."

"No bother, come on, I'll be late."

"How. . . ? Isn't the jeep. . . ?"

"The Jeep is mine. I'm the only one of the gang that has a good and steady job."

"They use that without mercy don't they."

Ninja shrugged, "Well what are freinds for?"

The German looked away, "More than that."

"Yeah, well. . . can't win 'em all can I."

"You could." Himmel sighed.

"What?"

"Nothing."

With one last look at his passenger, Bruce started the jeep. He didn't press for clarification. Something told him he'd know when it became important enough to his new roommate.