Napoleon woke first, not understanding the Russian rants and curses being  howled by his roommate, but suspecting an intruder or worse. As he turned on his bedside light he was relieved to see only Illya, tucked up and  unmoving but uttering these strange sounds. Napoleon turned back his covers  and walked over quickly, shaking Illya. That proved to be a mistake, as  Illya's eyes flew wide open and his hand flew up to Napoleon's throat  chocking him! Napoleon was so surprised that for a moment he didn't realise  what was happening and Illya took advantage of his stillness to sit up and  hiss "you bastarrd! we had a deal!" before he squeezed harder. Napoleon  realised that Illya was not being his normal self, tried to break his hold
on his throat, only succeeding in letting in some more air before it closed  off again. Then, suddenly, Illya let go, realising where he was and what he was doing.

"Oh God " he muttered, scrambling away. Napoleon gasped for breath, rubbing his sore throat, and advanced on Illya but stopped when Illya backed away, seemingly afraid. Then Illya tried to bolt for the bathroom, but Napoleon was to fast and pulled Illya back down upon the bed. Feeling Illya struggle against him, he disentagled himself with more deftness than speed and more luck than finesse.

"Illya? Are you alright?" Napoleon asked, concerned by the other man's pale  colour and shakes

"Yes, I am. It was just a dream" Illya replied, unsteadily.

"That was some nightmare" Napoleon commented, wrapping his arms around the other man. Illya didn't seem to notice.

"It was just a dream" Illya repeated, sounding like he was trying to  convince himself more than Napoleon.

"You're looking a bit pale, want to tell me about it? that sounded like a real doozy" Napoleon replied, and softly pressed a kiss into the nape of Illya's neck.

Illya froze.

"Sounded? What exactly did I say?" he questioned, turning around and out of  Napoleon's embrace.

"I'm not sure exactly. " Napoleon hedged, feeling cold after having the warm body pressed up against him.

"Napoleon, I need to know" Illya's voice was tinged with more than a little urgency.

" Well, " Napoleon thought back, "you started swearing and cursing, or that's what it sounded like,  in Russian. I didn't undertstand any of it, but it sounded as if you where angry. Then, when I shook you, you called me a bastard and said we had a deal going. So what's this about? I've never heard you curse like that?"

" I was dreaming that my sister was being raped, and there was nothing I could do to help her. I was living in Alaska, but I could still see it. Where is the telephone, I have to call her" he started to get up.

"Alaska? " Suddenly the conversation with the professor this afternoon made more sense "you're planning to transfer again? Illya, hold on a moment. Calling your sister at " he checked his watch "three fifteen in the morning won't win you any favors. She's probably deep asleep. "

"Yes, I intend to transfer to Alaska next year. I want to finish the year here. Why did you kiss me?" he asked.

Napoleon smiled. "Because I've wanted to do that since I met you. Because it felt right. " he replied.

"Because you have learned that I have a reputation? Because you think that I am easy because of that? I am not interested Napoleon. We had a deal, I will keep up my end if you keep up your end, no more than that. Do you understand?"

Napoleon's hopeful face fell, causing Illya  a twinge of agony that he didn't understand. He wasn't interested in Napoleon, he couldn't be he told himself.

"Alright" he conceded, figuring this might not have been the best time to try and kiss the Russian "but why did you say I was a bastard and you had a deal with me?"

"Not you. Benny. Benny Taylor. " Illya said, as he laid back under the covers, closing his eyes. "Goodnight Napoleon"

"Goodnight Illya" Napoleon muttered, saddened by the actions of that night.

Morning came all to soon