Love Conquers All Part 9
Duo twitched in Heero's arms. Under his weakness-laden eyelids his eyes moved rapidly as he watched another night terror unfold from the depths of his subconscious. Heero put his hand on Duo's forehead to keep him from twisting his neck. His head felt hotter that it should while his cheeks were just as clammy as before. At the touch of his partner's hand, feeling twice as cold on his feverish brow, Duo jumped with a flinch that took Heero by surprise.
The sudden increase in movement spurred Duo's chill-dormant senses. Another jerk expanded his chest. A hard inhalation sucked in a gulp of air filling his starved lungs so quickly it felt as though they were tearing apart.
"Duo, it's Heero can you hear me?" the Captain asked lifting more tangled tresses from Duo's eyes to free up his sight.
Again Duo's entire body jerked in a convulsive fit. More raspy gasps rose through the white fog. Now his harsh breathing rattled in the dank mist. A congestive cough shook deeply in his chest produced by stale fluids that had gathered too long in his stationary posture. Even though a change in position could further aggravate any injuries Duo might have suffered Heero dared to straighten his neck and spine hoping to more fully open his clogged windpipe. A gagging retched up blood tainted saliva from the back of Duo's throat. Heero wiped away the ejected fluid adding another layer to the fusion of sweat and dirt staining his hands.
"Duo awake up." Heero called loudly daring to give his lover a firm shake. Sluggishly Duo's eyelids parted then slid shut. Heero shook again. This time his eyes seemed more inclined to make a concentrative effort to stay open. At first Duo's restored sight remained fuzzy and unfocused. His dulled perceptions were unable to give his confused mind an understandable picture of his surroundings and an even less lucid interpretation of the strange figures hovering over him.
Duo's curled form began to relax, his knees to come away from his body. Heero laid his hand on Duo's chest hoping that by firming up the pressure it would ease his breathing and help Duo to be more aware of his lover's reassuring caress. Another extension, a wince as stiff muscles and joints untangled from their restrictive state.
Heero leaned over so his face was in line with Duo's wandering sight. "That's it." he praised to encourage Duo to continue in his painful rearrangements. "Take it slow." he instructed trying to help all that he could.
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Duo's last memories were of Chang closing the iron shackles around his wrists. His final remembrances were of his Master forcing him back on the cold floor, baring his genitals and entering his unprepared anal opening with one hard thrust. He could still hear the Dragon's panting, his grunts and groans as he rutted and rode his Pretty One. The pain and blood were brought back in terrifying realism as Duo gritted his teeth to keep from screaming out loud.
The rape had taken only minutes that last time, as Chang seemed to have other things on his mind. As his Master merely went through the motions the sex did not seem intended to satisfy his bodily appetite or to meter out punishment but to be an act that he did simply because he could do it. When the evil bastard finished he looked down at his pet laying limply on the hard floor, wet with blood and Chang's sexual excretions, without any emotion at all in his black eyes. "Mine." he growled running a slender finger along Duo's damp cheek.
After that night Duo retreated into a self-imposed withdrawal, a disconnection designed to screen his senses from any more defilement. A numbed state so his body would not feel the physical degradation and to shield his mind from the trauma and the eventual insanity Chang's brand of loving would spawn. That night Duo's spirit wall was born and no one would find a way to breach that wall but his one true love.
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Now Duo's confusion-clouded mind could not isolate prior retrospections from reality. His befuddled senses offered only misinformation and frightening phantom sensations. Suddenly becoming aware of the restrictions on his body, hearing a male voice's deep resonance echoing in his ears, Duo's tormented recollections came rushing back in a seizing wave of terror. Instinctively his self-preservation took over. Stiff fingers curled into tight fists. Arms tightened, muscles poised to fight back, no matter how feebly, against his Master's advances.
Without warning Duo struck out, his clenched fists batting at the vague shape looming above. Enlarged pupils reflected his panic. "No more you damn Son of Satan." he shouted determined to fight off the Dragon's lecherous attack. His enraged blows came within inches of Yuy's jaw as he felt a rush of air pass under his chin. Rage-tightened hands crashed into Heero's chest with unbridled fury. Considering his faint condition and his weakness impaired reflexes the strength in Duo's punches surprised his soldier.
Heero's hands sprang up in his own defense intercepting his frightened lover's fists and grabbing on as gently as he could. He knew the pressure on Duo's severely bruised wrists would be painful but, at that moment, Heero had to protect Duo from hurting himself. He held on as far up on Duo's hands as he could to lessen the pain. Somehow, though, Heero doubted his partner even realized he was hurting as he strained against the unyielding grip.
"Duo!" Heero exclaimed with startled excitement, "Calm down." he urged in a lower tone hoping the softer words would reach his lover's fear-consumed mind.
But the words and pleading had no affect. Duo breaths now came in short winded puffs. If this struggling and straining didn't end soon hyperventilation would set in then convulsions and passing out could follow. In Duo's weakened state Heero was afraid that if he did lose consciousness that he might not awake up again. No matter what had to be done Duo could not be allowed to black out.
Heero held firm knowing he did not need to use excessive restraint to control Duo's pounding. "Duo, look at me." Heero implored urging him to recognize his face, to respond to his voice, anything that would bring him out of his mind's horrified state. Again Heero's entreatments fell on terror-deafened ears. Once more Heero grappled with uncertain resolve. What more could he do to bring Duo out of his memory trance and back to his love where he belonged.
Until then Quatre and Trowa had let Heero do what he thought was best, after all Duo was his lover. Both of the immortals knew how protective they were of each other and that the human would have no less need to protect his own but it was clear that Heero's pleading was doing no good. Witnessing Yuy's failure the gentle God of Light decided it was time for intervention.
He moved to kneel closer to the mortal pair. His eyes narrowed on Duo's pale face wet with exerted moisture. "That wicked Dragon is responsible for this, " he announced, "so the sound of a male voice will be the last thing to calm Duo down." he reasoned, "Let me try something different."
Laying one flattened palm on Duo's forehead Quatre took in a focusing breath, held it for a few seconds then exhaled in a long sigh. Placing his other hand on Duo's heaving chest he leaned close to his ear. "It is all right." Quatre said in a voice at least two tones higher than normal. If Heero had closed his eye and listened he would have sworn that a female had spoken the words. "Now listen to me." the Fair One ordered.
Duo showed no signs of hearing or understanding. Quatre repeated the order with a firmer tone accenting the command. Heero thought Duo relaxed ever so slightly but he could not be certain. He had to believe that the immortal's words, his gentle tactile touches, were getting through. The Light One stroked Duo's tangled hair and repeated the insistent words. This time Heero did sense a definite response as he felt the tension in Duo's body ease up. "Try again." he urged.
"Duo," Quatre whispered, "I want you to come back." He paused taking in another deep breath. Now his cheeks glistened with a sheen of sweat as the God of Light put all his concentration into rescuing Duo's from his mind's hellish bondage. "Can you hear my voice, feel my touch?"
Slowly Duo's eyes redirected their wild sight in the direction of the "female" voice's soothing pitch. They searched through dim shadows for the comforting sound's source.
"Can you feel my touch?" Quatre asked again.
Finally Duo's eyes centered on Quatre. With an almost indiscernible nod he confirmed the connection had been made. "Your lover is here. He is holding you now. Look up, see his face." Duo's eyes lifted, their blue sight more alert.
Heero took over, "Duo look at me. Tell me who I am."
Duo's eyes blinked pulling his soldier's strong features from the misty gloom. "Heero?" he whispered hoarsely. With a questioning tone the single word was forced through labored, wheezing gulps of air.
A wide smile spread over Quatre fair face. "That is correct. Follow my voice to return to your lover. Duo Maxwell use my strength to come back."
Trowa reached out catching his lover as Duo took the last of Quatre's power and his energy reserves gave out. With a contented sigh Quatre relaxed on Trowa's chest.
Heero held fast to his own recovering mate. As the last of the fight gave out and Duo's arms went limp Yuy guided them down folding them across his stomach. Duo's head tilted, his sight rising to converge with Heero's misty eyes as they gazed lovingly back. "Heero." The name was repeated with more strength, more awareness.
Heero leaned over tightening his arms about his rewakened soul mate, "Welcome back my love." he greeted his returned lover as his tears flowed freely. Their lips touched, the brushing kiss healing all the hurt and reuniting their souls with a bond so strong that no one or nothing could ever separate them again.
Heero and Duo held each other close afraid if they let go that one or the other would disappear. They cried together, kissed and gave thanks to the fates and the deities who had guided their paths. "I thought I had lost you." Heero sighed wiping his eyes with the back of his hand.
"I was so foolish to doubt your love." Duo confessed.
"You should have come to me when those rumors began." Heero replied, "You know you are the only one in by heart."
"I know. Can you ever forgive me?" Duo begged his soldier's pardon. "When I think of what almost happened..." the rest of the sentence was choked off by a renewed flow of tears.
"Let us not speak of this again." Heero proclaimed, "The past is gone, the future is beyond our control. All we have is this moment so let us live that to the fullest."
Quatre snuggled in Trowa's arm his heart filled with joy over the reunited lovers. "I love you." he whispered to his mate. "I love you." Trowa answered in kind sealing the promise of his devotion with a kiss.
"Soon with my help all this will be forgotten." Heero promised, "Chang and his castle will fade from your thoughts because all your days and nights will be filled with so much love that there will be no room for anything else."
"Ryuujin." Duo remembered beginning to tense up again. He pushed against Heero as all he could think of was escaping from the Dragon's Lair. A raw ache caught in his over-exerted muscles. The biting pain caused him to wince dredging up a distressed groan from deep in his throat.
"Shhhh." Heero whispered, "rest now then we will leave. I promise my protection. Do you trust me?"
"With my life." Duo declared without hesitation.
Quatre shifted in Trowa's arms and for the first time Duo was aware that he and Heero were not alone. His wide sight settled on the two strangers sitting by his soldier's side. "Who are you?" he wondered calmly sure that if they were with Heero they poised no threat.
"I am Quatre and this is Trowa." the God of Light replied, "I think, however, that more explanations can wait until we are safely away from this pit of vipers."
Duo looked at Heero who nodded in agreement. "All right," he also agreed, "but it is nice to meet you."
"There are a few things that need to be changed." Quatre announced pressing his palms together. His actions told Heero that something magical was about to happen. As the Fair One's hands parted socks, pants, a shirt and a fleecy coat appeared in a neatly folded pile. A pair of fine leather boots completed the enchanted outfit.
Duo's eyes widened at the sight of the instant clothes. "Wow" he whispered looking so much like a child in a candy shop. "Something tells me you two have a lot of explaining to do." he grinned reaching out to touch the soft coat.
"Let me help you dress." Heero offered gathering up the new clothes.
"Wait," Quatre called, "before you dress let me clean you up."
This time the magic was done with two swipes of his hand and a strange chant. In a blink of an eye the stained tunic vanished and Duo was clean. Days of dirt and sweat vanished replaced by soft fresh skin. And with the cleansing the bruises and scars faded away. His ratty hair was smooth and sparkled with thousands of fiery points of light. It hung straight down his back brushing along his spine. In shimmering auburn cascades it pooled over the floor.
The torn flesh left behind by Chang's repeated rapes was perfect as if nothing had happened. Duo knew it would take longer for his mental scars to heal but he also knew with Heero's love he would not have to do it alone.
Duo looked down at his wrists, at his body made perfect once more. As he sat naked but unashamed before his lover and his new friends tears welled again in his clear blue eyes. With reverent care he held his tarnished cross closing his misty eyes in a prayer of gratitude. "Amen." he whispered softly. "Thank you." He offered verbal gratitude to the immortal allies.
Quatre and Trowa exchanged smiles, "You are welcomed." they answered in unison. "Dress now and we will leave this awful place." Quatre urged motioning to the clothes.
Dressed and ready Duo was understandably anxious to leave. "One more task before we go." Heero announced pushing up his uniform jacket sleeve. Duo's eyes widened then misted up again as he watched his brave soldier untie the red ribbon from his wrist. His heart told him the creased cloth band was the same one Heero had given him as a keepsake of their love.
"We cannot leave until this ribbon is back where it belongs." Heero proclaimed, "Turn around and let me braid your hair then I will secure the end with our symbol of passion."
Heero combed his fingers through Duo's auburn mane; its fiery hue so near the ribbon's color that one seemed to blend with the other. Lovingly he separated the flowing locks into three sections. With the same heartfelt fondness Heero plaited them into a long rope. As Duo held the end he tied on the ribbon.
Duo stared at the scarlet band still not quite believing that what he saw and felt was real. Heero pulled his only reason for living into a tight embrace, "Beautiful." he declared letting Duo know with a kiss that it was not a dream.
Taking up his sword, Yuy helped his lover to stand. Duo's legs were unsteady for they hadn't been asked to support him for quite some time. "Slowly, one step at a time." Heero instructed slipping an arm around his waist. "Lean on me; let me do all the work."
One step, then another. Slowly his legs began to cooperate. Trowa handed the quiver of arrows to his immortal partner, shouldered the crossbow then took a position on Duo's opposite side. He took the shaky mortal's elbow lending his magic-based stamina.
Quatre moved to the chamber's archway taking a guarded peek into the rectangle room, "All clear."
"Watch yourselves." Heero cautioned as the nagging feeling that they were being watched again alerted his soldier's instincts. "I still believe we got in here much too simply. Something tells me that we might not get out as easily."
"Simply." Trowa repeated rolling his green eyes, "You call our journey here simple?" he asked cutting his sight back at his Fair One.
TBC...
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