A Shifting of Fortune Epilogue
Two Months Later
In some ways the time since that fateful night had rushed by. In some ways it had crept at a snail's pace. But whatever the mode of its passing the last two months had been filled with wondrous changes.
Duo, Heero, Quatre and Trowa had moved into a modest two-bedroom house that they shared with a gray kitten named Smokey that Duo had rescued from the street so much like Heero had rescued him.
Quatre set up a home office and was offering his services as an accountant. Trowa worked at a bookstore a few blocks from home.
Everyone was in his own phase of adjustment. For the most part Duo, Heero and Trowa were sleeping better than they had in previous weeks. Unfortunately poor Quatre still had frequent night terrors.
He would begin to moan then thrash about before the dark dreaming jarred him awake in a cold sweat screaming out Trowa's name. All Trowa could do in response to his lover's nightmarish assaults was hold Quatre tightly whispering reassuring words until exhaustion lulled him back to sleep.
Heero didn't think Duo knew about his own recurrent restlessness. But Duo often laid awake well into the early morning hours watching Heero's entire body shake as the terror-contorted twitching betrayed the controlled facade his partner displayed during the day. Duo would take Heero's clammy hand pulling him closer as he, like Trowa, tried to comfort his brave lover.
In spite of their problems everyone was slowly building a new life as couples and friends. No one expected total peace to come in weeks or months but they all were sure that the future would be brighter than the past. Each knew they could rely on the others to move forward as they looked eagerly to the years ahead.
Although the memories might never disappear completely they hoped, with love and patience, the past plague of demons would one day be buried deeply enough that they would never find their way to the surface again.
*********
Once Chang Wufei was no longer a threat, Noin had returned to her estate. She then offered each of her former residents a place in her home wanting to make amends for the reprehensible wrong she had done. Even though she believed her humble gesture was totally inadequate in light of all the suffering she had caused, Lucrezia Noin was more than willing to do anything to receive even the smallest measure of peace.
When Duo and the others respectfully declined her offer stating that they needed their own private home life and that the mansion held too many bad memories to allow for a fresh start, Noin was heartbroken. Tears streamed down her face as she asked what she could do to help them with their new life.
At Duo's suggestion the Mistress of Vixen's Lair opened her home as a Safe House for prostitutes of either gender who wanted to quit the "street life" and start anew. Using her wealth and position she provided a safe haven from anger pimps or anyone else who objected to the women or men's choice to leave.
Duo had traveled the full circle from whoring to becoming co-manager with Noin. But who better to understand the loneliness and the fears of those seeking to mend prostitution's ravaging results. Who else had a heart big enough to comfort and care? What better choice than Duo Maxwell.
Heero had retuned to his former job but under quite different circumstances. At Noin's request he had taken the position as Head of Security directing a handpicked team to keep everyone within the estate's influence from harm. The employment arrangement also afforded him the opportunity to work side by side with his lover and best friend Duo Maxwell-Yuy.
*********
Chang Wufei recovered from his physical injuries but his mind continued its steady and quite rapid deterioration. Now the Asian psychopath was a permanent resident in the State Prison's Division for the Criminally Insane. Being locked away in the mental ward only served to escalate his mind's downward spiral until Chang withdrew into his own private world.
Heero, needing final closure of that part of his life at Vixen's Lair, once visited Chang. A guard had taken Heero to the day room window pointing out a gaunt, almost skeletal form, huddled in the far corner.
Heero stared in disbelief at Chang's bony contours, which were such a contrast to his previous muscular physique. Dressed in his once white robe and pants, now dingy and worn from neglect, Chang was only a shell of his former egocentric self.
Heavy black hair, longer than it had ever been before, hung in a stringy curtain hiding Yuy's former foe's face. Within the ebony mane's protective confines Chang found a least a degree of security from the outside world's maddening control.
The guard, noticing Heero's shocked reaction at the sad scene presented to him, leaned his shoulder against the reinforced window as he, too, was moved to a certain compassion.
"Shaggy isn't he?" the guard commented as he watched Chang press his knees closer to his robed chest. "He won't let anyone touch his hair." he added shaking his head in puzzlement.
Heero turned his eyes away from the window. "Why?" he wondered.
The guard shrugged letting out a sigh, "I don't know he keeps mumbling something about "a braid like his" whatever that means."
Chang looked so pitiful crouched in his lonely place on the floor that Heero couldn't help the twinge of sorrow that came as a strange surprise. Even with all the misery Chang had caused it was painful to witness the results of his total mental decline that would forever keep his mind, body and soul in hellish bondage.
When Heero, again to gain some sense of conclusion, asked to speak to the clearly reclusive man, he was told that since his arrival Chang had remained relatively unresponsive. Except for an occasional fit of rage resulting in him having to be drugged and restrained, Chang's withdrawal was all-inclusive.
When Heero related to Duo, Quatre and Trowa how he had found Chang they all, despite what the Asian had put them through, shared Heero's regret believing that even Chang did not deserve his horrible fate. Quatre even went so far as to lift up a prayer that one day Chang's disturbed mind could rest easy.
*********
Various shades of midnight shrouded Duo and Heero's bedroom in comforting shadows. The soft tinted hues conveyed warmth but not nearly at the heightened rate of the heat produced by two bodies pressed together in passion.
The lovers laid facing each other, arms and legs fully entwined, breathing in the erotically mingled scents of moist skin and fragrant massage oil.
Duo had stirred Heero from another of his fitful slumber sessions with gently kisses. The prodding into his wakeful state was also helped along by light touches as Duo's fingers trailed down his partner's damp cheek.
Sensing how tense Yuy was as his normally well-toned muscles were too taut and strained Duo offered to ease Heero's stress with a massage. Of course the beautiful boy received no argument from his more than willing koibito.
Now everyone knows that the only way to give a proper rubdown is if both participants are totally naked. Again Heero did not voice any objections gladly allowing his soon-to-be masseur to help him divest himself of his tee shirt and boxes.
Believing in fair treatment, Heero returned the favor letting his hands wander a bit more than necessary during the mutual disrobing. Heero's fondling of certain special spots that he had learned from pervious experience would quickly get Duo's attention was carried out in a most deliberate manner.
Duo playfully swatted back at Heero's less than subtle touches. "I can't concentrate on your massage if you don't leave me alone." He stated reaching for a bottle of soothing oil.
Heero grinned as he also found himself in an unusually playful mood, "That is not necessarily a bad thing is it?"
"What?" Duo asked rubbing the oil between his palms to warm it up.
Heero leaned forward brushing his lips on Duo's mouth, "Not leaving you alone."
"First things first lover." Duo answered, "Now roll over on your stomach." he ordered as he coated his hands with the herbal scented liquid.
Heero flopping over accomplished two things. First it put him in the most accessible position for Maxwell's marvelous manipulations. Secondly it gave Duo a completely unobstructed view of his lover's trim bottom.
With a soft sigh Heero turned his head to the side placing his hands under his cheek. Moving around a bit to get comfortable offered yet another pleasing view inviting Duo to give the wiggling buttocks a teasing tag.
"Ouch! Damn Maxwell!" Heero exclaimed bucking back at the stinging spank.
"What's wrong lover don't like it rough?" Duo cooed.
It was probably a good thing that Heero couldn't see his partner's delighted grin as he straddled Heero bracing one long leg on either side. Tipping the bottle just enough to drizzle a thin stream of oil across the pinkish blush marking the evidence of the tantalizing contact, Duo wasted no time in beginning a series of masterful strokes.
Sliding both slippery hands upward Duo paused at the small of Heero's back. A relaxed moan escaped Heero's lips as Duo applied gentle but firm pressure straight up his spin and over his shoulders.
Heero bucked once more at the tactical sensations produced when Duo's slick hands traveled down once more over Heero's rounded globes this time not stopping until his fingers met just inside his crotch.
"Duo. Oh yes." Heero whispered spreading his leg wider to allow more room as Duo ran both hands down the inside of Yuy's thighs.
"Like that?" Duo asked leaning over to nuzzle the nape of Heero's neck.
His answer came in the form of a lazy nod and another low moan.
The entire process was repeated over and over again until Duo was sure he had enkindled a fire that his lover would not be able to quench by himself.
The last trip of hands up his thighs ended as eager fingers reached under Heero trapping his very attentive manhood in a solid grasp. This time Heero reacted to the gentle squeezing raising up on his hands and knees pressing his slick ass to Duo's stomach. The slippery lotion made the contact most pleasant in deed and provided for friction free movement of skin against skin.
Duo bent over resting his chest on Heero's back as he continued to stroke the well-oiled shaft from base to tip and back again. About every third stroke Duo would let an oily thumb trace circular patterned on the head's tip.
Now Heero was lost in such an ecstatic state he clawed up handfuls of tangled sheet to keep his balance and try to hold off his coming as long as he could.
"Oh." he breathed out the explanation of ecstasy. "OH DUO!" he cried feeling a tingle begin to travel up both legs to gathering with shuddering force in his aching groin.
"Want me to stop?" Duo whispered not letting up the punishing pace that was quickly sending Heero over the edge.
Heero could only let out a ragged breath as Duo increased the culminating caresses. Heero bowed his back pushing as hard as he could against Duo who slid an arm about his partner's waist to hold him in place.
"Now?" Duo wondered the single whispered word coming in the same breathy pants as he sensed Heero was coming.
His answered came as a second, more intense, shuddered recoiled Heero's entire body. Duo held on tightly as hot cum exploded from the constricted penis' tip coating his hand with Heero's milky seed.
Heero mumbled something before his sated body went limp in his lover's embrace. Slowly Duo eased both sweat-soaked bodies down bracing his arms on the bed to keep his weight from being uncomfortable.
Heero trembled as his climax continued to pump into Duo's hand until final release was achieved. Duo kissed behind Heero's ear bringing on another slight shiver.
Duo moved to center his mouth over Heero's ear, "Don't get to comfortable," he warned feeling his koi relax beneath him, "I am not finished with you yet." he promised then reinforced the pledge with a nip on the nearby earlobe.
Heero turned his head looking back into deep and quite expressive violet pools that seemed to reflect the limited light shining through the bedroom window. "Who said I was finished?"
With that announcement of his intent to prolong their love-making, Heero pushed up to return to his kneeling position spreading his legs to open up a clear path for Duo to take him.
This time Duo's delighted grin was clearly apparent. Duo let the satisfied smile grace his moisture streaked face as he offered a full tongue-laced kiss in reply.
Breaking the kiss for a much-needed intake of oxygen, Duo nuzzled against his lover's equally damp cheek. "Turn over on your back." he humbly requested, "Please, I want to see your face."
Rotating around Heero slid one leg on either side of his beloved keeper of his life and breath. The one person who kept him sane and assured that he would not have to walk the world alone.
"Have I told you how lucky I am to have you?" Heero confessed pulling the tie from Duo's braided hair's end. "Have I told you how much I love you?" he whispered combing his fingers through the silky cinnamon-spun tresses.
Duo leaned nearer breathing in Yuy's strong and seductive sex scent. "Not since this morning." he replied before capturing Heero's mouth again.
Duo slipped a slick finger over his partner's anal opening and was rewarded with an anticipative groan. The other hand, encouraged by Heero's clear signals, caught under his partner's waist to ensure a proper union.
Heero wrapped his arms around Duo's neck using the leverage to keeping his quivering body in check. "Forget the foreplay." he demanded bringing his legs up to further steady his posture.
Duo's finger moved from the opening. His enlarged manhood was already prepared with a mixture of oil and his own weeping fluid. He took hold of his harden shaft guiding it into line as he pushed to enter his thoroughly aroused soul mate.
Heero closed his eyes, pushing back, wiggling enough to allow easy penetration and did not stop until his equally aroused partner was fully seated in his hot channel.
"Heero," Duo whispered as he took a moment to enjoy the sweet sensation. "thank you."
Heero opened his love-glazed eyes seeing a watery mist welling behind Duo's long eyelashes. "For what?" he wondered in confusion knowing that their loving was always by mutual consent and done solely for both their pleasure.
Now Duo's tears flowed freely making Heero concerned that he had done something wrong. "Duo?" he began to inquire as to the source of his lover's weeping.
"Thank you for not treating me like a whore." Duo interrupted before Heero could finish.
Heero tightened his enfolding arms, "I have never thought of you like that." he assured his koi, "Remember I once told you that I never wanted to hear you use that word again?"
Duo nodded his soaring emotions making it difficult for him to speak.
"That word or its meaning does not exist anymore. It never will hold any power ever again, do you understand?"
Duo's answered came in the form of a crushing kiss that was the prelude to his thrusting down into his lover's heat.
Heero pushed back then gave up all his control allowing Duo to take over. This time the thrusts did not come in slow movements. Each centered plunge was fast; each designed to hit that certain G-Spot that he knew would cause fireworks to explode in every part of his lover's body and soul.
The pace picked up until both lovers knew they would soon reach the peak of their sensual striving. Heero wrapped his legs tighter craving every inch of stimulation his partner could give him. Now two bodies moved at one.
The midnight hues cloaked the lovers in soothing shades of enveloping darkness. They knew, without a doubt, that their love was strong enough to shield them from a world torn by hate and fear.
Together they could face the future. Together they would replace every old memory with new hope. New love and new lives. Together forever.
"Duo." Heero breathed out the wonderful name as climatic trembling coursed through his body. His lover could not answered, at least not in words, as he felt the beginnings of his own mounting completion.
As practiced lovers, each so in tune with the other, they traveled to the pinnacle as one. With an exhaustive force they both came, the release nearly taking their breath away.
Still joined Duo and Heero shared a sated kiss before Duo carefully backed out immediately missing his partner's reassuring contact. Duo eased over on his side not yet willing to give up his binding embrace.
Laying in the muted tones of shadow and starlight, the lovers remained entwined breathing in the heady scents of sexual fulfillment.
At that moment all was forgotten. Their friends, although very dear to them, did not occupy a place in their thoughts. Noin, in her changing from cruel to kind, was not considered in that time or space as the lovers concentrating only on their closeness.
Even Chang Wufei, who had in an ironic way brought Heero and Duo closer to perfection than they even thought possible, was brushed aside. The pity for his lifeless soul was kept at bay as total peace took over.
At that magnificent moment all that mattered was two souls forever united by one absolute conviction, the unfailing and eternal bond of love.
OWARI
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