Dragonheart Part 16
Duo propped up his pillow, settled back and smoothed the bedcovers over his bare chest. Folding his arms he waited for Heero to tell him what was on his mind.
Heero fumbled with the downy duvet gluing his eyes on his fingers so he could not see Duo's perplexed expression. His throat was dry and he wished that there was one more drink in the empty wine bottle. Unfortunately the last dregs had not dulled his mind or slowed his growing libido.
A log in the fireplace popped with a release of heated air. His nerves were so on edge that in spite of himself Heero flinched. Of course all these odd behaviors did not go unnoticed on Duo's part.
The covers swished as Duo leaned closer. "What has you so anxious?"
It took all of Heero's willpower to keep from going into a hasty retreat. *What in the hell is wrong with me?* he demanded from his inner council.
No answer was forthcoming. It seemed that his internal voice had suddenly become as mute as Quatre. Now a case of full-blown anxiety had a good hold. His heart hammered, breaths stabbed in his lungs and his palms were sweaty despite him continually rubbing them on the covers.
Duo fixed his imploring gaze on Heero; his patience was wearing thin. "Is it something that I have done?" he wondered with a slight quiver in his voice. He could think of nothing that would have displeased his friend, the evening had been fun and they both had enjoyed themselves.
With Duo's unexpected question that clearly carried confusion in its tone, Heero looked up from his finger fumbling and dared to center his sight on his concerned friend. "You haven't done anything." he whispered lowly pushing the words passed the stubborn dryness. "It isn't you but me." he continued then paused as he realized that he was not making any sense at all.
Duo reached over and lightly laid his hand on Heero's hand. He was immediately aware of the trembling and dampness. "Are you ill?"
Heero nodded "no" then sucked in a calming breath. He was not being fair to Duo and he could no longer keep him in a state of worry. "I don't know where to begin." he finally admitted as much to himself as to Duo.
A small smile curled up at the corners of Duo's lips and he squeezed Heero hand. "The beginning is a good place to start anything. Don't fret, explanations have a way of sorting themselves out if you relax and let them flow. Remember what you taught me about flow?"
Heero recalled, when Duo first began his training, how he tensed up every time he parried a blow. "You can't defend against an enemy that way. The energy flow is more important than the power." Heero demonstrated by gliding his sword in fluid, sweeping strokes, "You have to move like water."
Now Heero's words had to move like water. They didn't need to worry about the rocks in his stream of thought but lace through the barriers of uncertainty and effortlessly slip around the obstructions of fear.
Heero locked his sight and took the chance that even if Duo did not agree with his sentiments that he would at least understand that his feelings were genuine. "Duo...I...I... Damn why is this so hard!" he swore at his inability to open the floodgates of his heart.
Duo fingers touched Heero quivering lips. "Love, tell me what truth is on your heart."
Heero's eyes widened as his ears questioned if they had heard Duo correctly. Then he felt a connection but not from the term of affection but from the current flowing from Duo's hand to his hand and Duo's heart to his heart.
"Love? How did you know, when did you..." Heero couldn't finish, the warmth from Duo's touch was tingling on his skin and his mind was clouded by heat.
Duo ran a slender finger along Heero's face tracking the single tear that streaked his cheek. "I don't know when I realized that you meant more to me than just a dear friend. I think the first night that I held you, when you were ensnared in your dark dreaming, it was then that my feelings began to change."
Duo lowered his eyes and now there was also a shiver in his body. "Many nights I stayed awake and watched you sleep and countless times during our training session I resisted the urge to grab your sword, make you stop and kiss you."
Now more tears joined the lone droplet on Heero's face. "I have felt so much of the same emotions but I was afraid. Oh God, I was so afraid that you would think that I was mad and that I might lose your friendship."
Duo let his hand linger until it was wet with the tear's salty moisture. "We have both been foolish." he leaned nearer until he could feel Heero's quickening breaths feather against his lips. "But the time for hesitation is over."
The kiss was gentle, just a brief brushing of lips on lips but it held so much meaning. There was not one drop of lust or unbridled passion but just enough fondness to let Heero know that, not only did Duo understand but was of like mind and heart.
Heero melted into the kiss as all doubts flooded away in an outpour of relief and redemption. Perhaps his soul was not beyond salvation; maybe his sins were forgivable after all.
"Does this make us lovers?" he whispered as the kiss ended.
Heero leaned back and found that Duo, too, was crying. "If you will have me." Duo replied so lowly that he could barely hear him.
The well-spring of weeping was a cleansing flood that washed away Duo's insecurity and gave him permission to believe that someone could indeed care for an orphaned Dragon Keeper whom the world had long ago abandoned.
Heero took both of Duo's hands in his to ease their shaking. "What do we do now?" He and Duo felt the same way but what was the next step in their newly discovered connection?
"We take one step at a time and let our hearts show us the way." Duo wisely replied then pulled Heero down until they lay side by side. "For tonight just hold me." he requested as he snuggled against Heero's chest.
Heero pulled Duo nearer. "You will never be without my protection." he avowed.
"We will be each other's shield and shelter." Duo whispered lowly before giving into sleep's insistence tugging at his eyelids.
Heero lay awake a long time gazing at the peacefully slumbering Keeper. The moon-glow shone silvery across Duo's face highlighting his cheekbones and accentuating his slight parted lips.
Shifting his arm around Duo's waist Heero slid down until he was face to face with his newly pledged lover. He placed a gentle kiss on those inviting lips. "Always." The single word affirmed his commitment and confirmed his hope that his heart was indeed safe.
*********
Heero and Duo sat side by side at the breakfast table. Before they came down to the kitchen they had lingered in bed to share a few minutes of private pillow talk and several more experimental kisses.
They both were in agreement to ease into their relationship but their bodies were not being very cooperative. Hands wanted to wander and their genitalia seemed to have a mind of its own.
Even now Duo's hand had roamed under the table and was perched on Heero's knee. Heero hoped that the five-digit assault would honor the predetermined boundaries and not fondle further up his leg. As it was he was having enough trouble focusing on the conversation with his father and anymore distractions might push his concentrative willpower passed its limits.
Duo took delight in Heero's reaction and was especially pleased when the lightest increase in pressure sent a quiver through his mentor's leg. "Heero can teach me how to fight," Duo thought to himself as he teasingly squeezed and was rewarded with another shiver, "but it will be my pleasure to teach him about love."
Somehow Heero finished his breakfast without any outward signs of distress. As he and Duo helped Anna clear the table he leaned close to the perpetrator of his earlier torment and warned. "You will regret your teasing once we are alone."
As Duo anticipated the promised retribution a mischievous grin flickered across his fair face. "What are you going to do spank me?" he asked huskily.
The picture that Duo's breathy inquiry painted in Heero's head triggered a completely involuntary twitching in his frontal region and momentarily turned his mind to mush. He stared taken totally off guard by the unexpected physical and mental debilitation.
When the stunned silence stretched longer than a pause Duo let the grin bloom into a fully satisfied smile. "Touché." he announced before bouncing out the door into the back garden.
As soon as Heero's mind cleared enough to give his feet orders to move he headed into the garden to find his tormentor.
Duo had taken up his sword and was sparring with an imaginary adversary. Once more Heero was brought to an abrupt halt. He stood fixed in place by the graceful beauty displayed before him.
The Keeper's movements were no longer choppy or his footwork faulty. He now progressed from one position to the next with a flawless flow that was a pure joy to watch. Duo had worked hard and sacrificed much to achieve such perfection and had emerged from his clumsy cocoon to be transformed into a strong and confident butterfly.
Heero still felt a measure of remorse over his contribution to Duo's loss of innocence but now that guiltiness had been reborn as a disquiet aching in his soul. Heero understood his comrade's reasons and respected his right to reclaim his home. He had promised his protection as a friend but now that he and Duo were becoming lovers there was an unbearable burden on his heart.
Until then if the unthinkable happened in battle Heero would have mourned Duo as a friend and brother-in-arms but could he lose Duo's love and endure the separation? Could his soul survive the severance?
Heero was swiftly pressed to change Duo's mind, to dissuade his determination to face Merquise. Now panic began to replace the pride.
"Duo I need to talk to you." Heero declared with a hint of hesitation in his voice. Duo was not going to like what he was about to hear.
Duo rested his sword on his shoulder and mopped back bangs from his eyes. He was about to mention Heero's purposed corporeal punishment and the deliciously appealing results but the seriousness in Heero's demeanor put him on notice that something was wrong.
"Heero?"
"Let's sit down." Heero responded motioning to a stone bench.
Duo sheathed the sword and sat down with an uneasy feeling in the pit of stomach. Had he pushed for too much too soon? Had Heero decided that the stigma attached to a male with male relationship was going to be too difficult to handle. Was this the end before they had a beginning?
"Duo I care for you but..."
"But you want to be just friends." Duo finished the sentence not wanting to prolong the pain.
Heero stared for a moment then reached for Duo's hand. "No I still want to be with you but I don't want you to challenge Merquise."
Before their hands touched Duo pulled back "What? Not fight...why?" he stammered as his mind tried to comprehend Heero's sudden detour from their plans. "No I've worked too damned hard. You can not ask me to deny my destiny." he angrily declared at the unfairness of Heero's request.
"But everything is different now."
"Different! Nothing is different!"
Heero reached for Duo's hand again and this time caught hold before he could retreat further. "I don't know what I would do if I lost you. I have just discovered that I love you and now you want to put that love in jeopardy."
Duo drew in a deep breath attempting to keep his temper in check, "If I asked you not to fight would you ignore Merquise and let him have free reign?"
"But I have to defend the King's territory."
"And I have to defend my home."
Heero grasped at any way to change Duo's mind. "But the Gypsies can help me do that without you being involved."
Duo locked his sight on the person who had recently become the center of his life but as much as he cared for Heero he could not allow anyone else to fight his battles.
"Please Heero don't make me choose between you and what simple heritage I have." he leaned closer and softened his tone. "It is not about my house, that is just a building and I would gladly leave it to live with you. But I will not allow anyone to steal my dignity. Can you understand? Please understand."
Heero knew before he began that he could not win the argument. He cared too much for Duo to ask him to deny his humanity but that same caring put his heart at risk and that carried with it a frightening possibility...life without his precious partner.
Heero tried one last persuasion. "There is no need for us to live in the past when we can share the present together."
"But the present only lasts until midnight then it, too, become the past." Duo wisely stated, "We can win this my love. Please have faith in me as I do in you."
"All right." Heero conceded with a sigh. "But we will not make a move until I decide that everyone is ready."
"Don't wait too long to decide." Duo set his own rules then gave Heero a quick kiss to seal the deal.
"We will meet again with Wufei and the Elders tonight before we visit Shinigami."
"Tonight." Duo agreed, "Now let's get in a practice session before the morning is gone."
*********
It soon became apparent that neither teacher nor student had their minds on practice. After several near misses from lack of attentiveness to the task Heero called an end to the session.
"We should stop before someone gets hurt." he stated the second time Duo barely blocked a cross-slash.
"I'm sorry." Duo apologized.
"Don't be I am no better focused." Heero admitted, "Let's take a walk, the break will do us good."
The swords were stored away in the house and Heero told Anna the general area where they would be in case someone needed to find him or Duo.
The day had dawn clear but now a mixture of sun and clouds had tempered the usual rising of the mid-day temperature. Summer was but a few weeks away and the fields had put on a mantle of vivid vegetation. Likewise the trees were robed in varying shades of green ranging from the emerald foliage adorning their limbs to fluffy moss shoes covering their roots. A breathtaking array of flowers swayed in the breeze. Pink and white and violet the color of Duo's eyes mingled with yellow buttercups and feathery ferns.
A bubbling stream soon joined the wandering pair. It kept its pace zigzagging around rocks then cascading over shale shelves with giddy abandonment in its unending journey to the Crescent River and the sea beyond. Birds twittered and flew from branch to branch lending their happy songs to perfect day. Somewhere above the mountain a hawk caught an updraft and circled lazily among the clouds.
It was easy for Heero and Duo to temporarily put aside their troubles, to stop dwelling on their training and the soulless bastard that made that training necessary. For that peaceful moment the soldier and the Keeper were the only two people in the world.
Where the forest thinned a meadow spread out in a wildflower abundant circle. Filtered sunshine glistened through the fluttering leaves inviting the strolling twosome to stay for awhile.
Duo and Heero sat against the same tree trunk in quiet contemplation. A lot had happened in a short time and each one in their own way had to sort out their feelings. Surrounded by nature's purity everything leading up to that moment seemed surreal. It was almost as if a spell had been cast, like the silent pair was sleeping and would soon wake up to find that Merquise and his misery was only a dream.
Duo laced his fingers with Heero's fingers and rested his head on Heero's shoulder. His bangs tickled under Heero's chin as he shifted to gaze up into twin pools of cobalt blue. "How did I live before I came to love you?"
Heero gave consideration to the heartfelt question. "Love makes the difference between living and existing and I didn't know the difference before I met you."
"Then today we both begin living." Duo proclaimed.
*********
As Heero lay on his back, Duo used his chest for a pillow. Twirling the end of Duo's braid he savored the warmth of his lover's body pressed against his. There was a wondrous sensation as their heartbeats blended into a perfectly metered pulsation.
Duo was experiencing the same serene sensations but he was not as content to remain still. With catlike grace he slowly slipped his knee up between Heero's legs until it was in a position to prod his pillow's crotch.
Heero tensed at the initial contact. Duo moved his knee in a circular motion building the friction. "Does that feel good?" he wondered even though he already knew the answer.
Heero closed his eyes and nodded "yes". He was so absorbed in his partner's pleasuring that he was not aware that Duo was unlacing his trousers. It wasn't until supple fingers brushed over his breechcloth that his eyes popped opened and he drew in a startled breath.
"Duo!" he hissed in reaction to the light caresses being bestowed on his groin.
Duo moved his knee to allow for a clearer path to the desired organ. His fingers slithered under the cotton cloth and were rewarded with a buck from Heero's hips. "Should I continue?" came the next enticing inquiry from the braided Keeper.
Heero raised up enough to gaze down at his exposed frontal region. He had occasional awoken from an erotic dream to find his manhood standing at attention but this was the first time that the rigidity had been helped along by such stimulating tactile contact. His sight was fixed in fascination as the breechcloth was pushed aside to reveal his rapidly elongating penis.
"Heero do you want me to go on?" Duo asked again as he realized that Heero's thoughts were focused elsewhere.
Heero blinked then lifted his eyes until they locked with twin pools of violet. "I want to but...." An involuntary quiver coursed up both legs cutting off the last of his sentence.
Duo stilled his hand. "I won't do anything that makes you uncomfortable."
"I...we..." Heero tried to speak again but couldn't seem to process the words.
"I won't be angry if you want me to stop." Duo promised, "I only want what makes you happy." he smiled to reassure Heero of his honest intensions.
"Kiss me." Heero managed to whisper between shivers.
Duo braced his hands on the ground and slid up Heero's chest then delivered a gentle kiss on his partner's parted lips. Heero tentatively touched Duo's back. His fingers tangled in Duo's braid where it had begun to come undone. He felt warm and cool at the same time, a tingle prickled on his suddenly sensitive skin.
The few kisses that Heero and Duo shared up to that moment had been playful in nature but this tender conveyance of a deeper sentiment held a greater promise of commitment.
Was Heero ready to take the next step toward the communal bonding that went with that promised love? Duo was willing to wait, to go as slow as he wanted to go.
Confusion--body willing--mind uncertain.
"Can we take it slow?"
Duo leaned back and smiled. "Tell me what you want."
"I like the touching."
"Here?" Duo slid a finger across Heero's cheek then let it travel down his throat.
"Yes."
"Here?" More fingers joined the lone digit and Duo's hand flattened on Heero's stomach.
Heero nodded affirmatively.
"Lower?"
"Hurry."
It didn't take long for Heero's neglected member to once again rise to the occasion. Duo tunneled his hand around the stiff shaft savoring its pulsing within his firm grip. Lightly he rubbed his thumb over the milky precum moistened tip.
A steady flow of air hissed over Heero's lips as he collapsed onto his back. "Damn! Duo!"
Duo set to the task of relieving Heero's "tension" in the most pleasurable manner possible. Alternating strokes--fast and slow--hard and soft. Over and over with measured precision Duo concentrated on bringing his unsure lover to the thundering climax that he deserved.
Keeping up the balanced pace Duo raised up so he could see Heero's face. His eyes were half-closed as waves of delight surged over his trembling body. "Heero look at me." Duo demanded as he sensed that Heero was quickly approaching the point of no return.
Like an obedient soldier Heero set his sight in line with eyes that were both angelic and devilish at the same time. Heat gathered in his loins and sparked between his legs before the firestorm burst forth in an explosive ejaculation. Heero shuddered, arms and legs jerked in orgasmic convulsions that threaten to plunge him into unconsciousness.
Duo eased his hold to allow the softening member's pumping to subside. Still shaking from his forceful release Heero panted in ragged breaths. All he could do was let the final waves flow out into an exhausted but blissful afterglow.
Duo rolled over onto his hip then leaned over his sated lover. "Are you all right?" He moped back damp bangs to better see Heero's desire-glazed eyes.
Heero sucked in a moderating breath, "What in the hell did you do?" he wheezed as he cautiously touched his sticky shaft.
Duo couldn't help but grin at Heero's oddly phrased praise. "Just solved a stressful problem?" he teased.
"Well," Heero declared flopping back from sheer weakness, "you are a very talented problem solver."
Duo led Heero to the rambling brook and helped him wash away the remnants of his excellent manipulations and, to quote one of Duo's amusing adages, "Put the horse back in the stable."
The lovers laid on the grassy bank under the spring-frocked willow branches and permitted the sun's warmth to soothe their souls. Entwined in each other's arm they whispered endearingly and fell asleep to the bird's beautiful lullaby.
That night the Gypsy camp would become a war room and plans for Merquise's downfall would be finalized but for the remainder that peaceful afternoon the solitary pair would be content to let their love keep the world at bay.
TBC...
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