Asbestos Gelos Part 10
Quatre frowned as Heero emptied his goblet for the third time. His king was not looking well, his reddened eyes stood out starkly against his extremely pale skin. He couldn't remember the last time that he saw Heero even crack a smile.
The only thing that Heero still seemed to enjoy was his daily rides on Wing, and even those were becoming shorter and shorter until he would only be away from his cups half an hour at most.
There had been a time when Quatre wouldn't have hesitated to call Heero on his aberrant behavior, but now... the king was so erratic that neither he nor his two lovers felt that they could reach their old friend any more.
He hated to think about it, but Quatre had definitely heard rumor of revolt...
"Bad day?"
Quatre startled out of his thoughts at the sound of Wufei's voice. "Bad thoughts." Nothing more needed to be said. They were all worried over their friend. Heero had gone so far beyond self-destructive that it looked as if nothing beyond a miracle could save him.
"Perhaps we could..."
Quatre slowly shook his head. "I'm beginning to believe that the only person who could do anything is forever beyond our reach."
The grim look on Wufei's face darkened further. "You cannot be suggesting that we abandon our king- our friend when he needs us most?!"
"Never!" Quatre's face flushed. "I grieve for our dead friend Duo, and for Heero who might as well be! But I would never abandon them." He closed his eyes miserably. "But I just don't know what I can do! Nothing I have tried has worked. In fact, I'm sure that by encouraging Heero to confide in Lady Peacecraft I've made things worse!"
Wufei carefully wrapped his arms around Quatre's body and let him take out his frustration.
"How could fate be so cruel?" Quatre paused. "Or is it destiny that is cruel, and fate is kind? I can never recall. I've never heard anyone say 'cold cruel destiny' or he was 'destinally wounded' and I've never heard of someone being 'destinylistic'. But there is 'cold cruel fate', 'fatally wounded', and 'fatalistic'. So that should mean fate is the bitch, right?" Quatre looked up. "I'm being completely insane, aren't I?"
Wufei smirked. "Only a little."
"Is Quatre going on about fate and destiny again?" Trowa slowly walked over to them both and slid an arm around both of their waists.
Quatre shot him a withering look and shook his head. He did however lean into the embrace, happy for the comfort of his lovers and tried not to think to hard about loosing them suddenly as Heero had lost Duo.
"Come now!" Trowa tapped his chin. "This is no face for such a grave look."
Quatre affected a small smile, but it was the best he could do. "With my friend in such pain... how can I smile?"
~*~
The halls seemed to echo eerily as Duo quietly slipped through them on his way to the former master bedroom. He expected to be discovered at any second- but Duo made it into the disused room with none the wiser.
He closed the heavy door and breathed a sigh of relief as he leaned against it. Only when he turned and surveyed the room did his legs give out, causing him to slide down the worn wood until he rested on the cold floor.
It was empty.
No, it was full of furniture- everything from the time when he had slept here, but it was empty of some essential element that had made the room so comfortable. Duo stood and walked around the room running his fingers through the thick dust, fluffing flat pillows, and arranging statuettes that weren't 'correctly' placed.
It took him a moment, but he finally realized what was wrong, there was no Heero. His presence was completely wiped from the room- not even his scent remained.
Duo shivered from a sudden cold feeling.
He needed to see Heero. Now.
~*~
Duo felt slightly better slipping around the castle in the cover of dark. He had easily learned from Heero's hound the location of his new chambers- the farthest from their old rooms that he could find that were still in the castle. Just that thought made Duo's heart clench. It had only been a short time since he had seen Heero, and it hurt so badly! For Heero it had been much longer.
Again, Duo completely avoided detection on his way to Heero's rooms, though there was a close call when a maid came by with a load of washing. Luckily, she was far too occupied with the bedding to notice him hiding in the shadows.
After minute of listening at the door, Duo carefully opened the heavy wooden door. As he expected- Heero was laying on the much too large bed, illuminated by the candles he had been using to read before falling asleep.
Duo carefully removed the book from Heero's lax fingers before carefully sitting on the edge of the bed and studying his lover. Heero looked nearly dead. His eyes were sunken and shadowed; his features were pinched and worn even in sleep. A shadow of a beard was growing in his strong chin where before he had always been clean shaven.
Duo's heart threatened to burst from all the emotion he felt at seeing his love in this condition. Guilt, anger, fear and love all vied to consume him. He fought them down until only love was left. No matter what condition he was in- how he looked, Duo couldn't help but love the man who slept fitfully on the bed.
~I cannot stay here...~ Duo lightly ran his fingers over Heero's cheek with a regretful smile. He would like nothing better than to spend this and every other night of his life in Heero's arms- but he could not be discovered just yet.
"Don't go yet."
He froze. He watched as Heero's eyes slowly opened. "Heero?"
"You always leave so quickly when I dream of you. Stay a while?" Heero's voice didn't crack, but it came very close.
Duo had never heard so much pain and pleading in his love's voice. It tore at him. Then he realized that Heero thought he was dreaming. ~Damn me, but I cannot leave him.~
Carefully sliding onto the bed, Duo wrapped his arms around Heero's tense shoulders. "Not tonight, koi. I'll stay with you tonight."
"All night?" Heero's face wavered between hope and disbelief.
"All night." Duo rested his cheek against Heero's chest and heard the other man's rapid heartbeat. Almost reverently, Heero's hands were gently running over his hair fore and back.
"I don't know how much longer I can carry on without you, Duo." Heero seemed to have calmed, but his words terrified Duo.
Realizing what his lover was hinting at, Duo sat up shaking his head. "No! Don't do that! We will be together soon!"
Heero paused and smiled. "Ahh, I see. Then I can wait a while longer." His eyes closed.
Realizing that now Heero thought he would die soon, Duo longed to tell him everything. He cursed the demon bitch, and that his only chance at winning rested on him taking her completely off guard. If Heero had any clue that Relena had been behind his 'death'... well, there would go his chance at surprise.
"It will be ok, love, I promise." Duo gently stroked Heero's cheek causing the other man to open his eyes.
"And we will be together?"
Again, hating that it wasn't the complete truth, Duo nodded. "Yes."
For what seemed like the first time in forever, Heero laughed. "Well, my angel, care to give me a small preview of what heaven will be like?"
Before Duo could protest, not that he particularly wanted to, Heero was upon him- covering his face with enthusiastic kisses and quickly removing their clothing.
When they were both finally naked, Heero paused. "Promise me something?"
"Anything."
Heero's face clouded with sadness again. "Will you come to me again?"
Swallowing hard, Duo nodded.
"Every night until we are together?" Heero faltered. "I fear... that only then could I wait."
Duo nodded again. He would have to move up his time table slightly so chances of his getting caught were slimmer, but he could not bear to leave his love in pain. Not when he had any other option. "Yes. Every night, love."
Heero sighed visibly relaxing, and then set about wringing the most out of every second together they had.
No more coherent words were spoken that night.
Only when the first hints that dawn approached did Duo stir from his place in Heero's arms. It was a testament to how worn Heero was that the smaller boy was able to slip out of bed and hastily clothe the other man without Heero waking.
Quickly blowing his love a kiss, Duo stealthily left the room- he had plans to finalize.
TBC...
Umm comments? Please? Pretty please with a chocolate sauce and whipped cream covered Duo? With a Heero on top? ^_^
To The Next Chapter
Back to Aaeth Payne's Fanfictions Page