Banshee Part 1

"You ditched me last night."

I looked up from the pile of work on my desk and rolled my eyes at Trowa. "I didn't ditch you. You were all wrapped up in that elfkin- did you even really register it when I left?"

"Of course I did," he snorted back at me. "I guess I should count myself lucky," he said, perching on the edge of my desk. "You did stay in the club for a couple hours."

"You know I hate those places."

"I do- but Duo- you need to get out more."

"I get out plenty."

"Oh really? In the last week, not counting last night, how many times have you left the compound?"

"Seven times," I grinned. "At least once a day."

"Getting coffee and a cupcake at the place down the street doesn't count either."

"Hey, you didn't make that distinction when you asked me. Look, Tro- I get out- everyday I walk down the street, get my snack and come back. That's out."

"That's not enough."

"The Horde Must Be Guarded," I intoned at him and he rolled his eyes.

"There's a whole compound of dragons here guarding it, I don't think it all falls to you." Trowa shook his head at me. "Look- Duo- I just- I hate to see you like this. It's been a year-"

"I know- and I'm fine. I really am."

He sighed. "Was the club really that bad?"

"It was crowded and loud- I have never liked that and you know it."

"But you liked the singer."

"You'd have to be deaf not to like the singer."

"Quatre told me that he's single."

"Quatre also said he was a cold-hearted bastard, remember?"

Trowa shrugged. "Elfkin don't like banshees; I think he's just prejudiced. I'm sure that banshee isn't all bad."

"He seemed nice enough when I fixed his tire for him," I agreed and watched my cousin's jaw drop.

"What?"

So I told Trowa about my encounter with the banshee's flat tire.

"That sounds... potentially bad. Who would flatten his tire and steal the spare?"

"The spare may have been stolen a bit ago- and he didn't notice until the tire went flat," I pointed out, but Trowa's question did make me wonder if it all had been done on purpose.

"Hm," he said and got to his feet. "Well, I guess that just means that you have to go back to the club with me tonight- if only to make sure the banshee gets home okay, right?"

"Ooo, what an incredibly subtle way you have of making me get out and socialize," I turned back to my work as he laughed.

"So, we'll meet at 7?"

"I'll be at the gate."

~*~

The club was worse than the night before and I nearly told Trowa to forget it- I didn't want to subject myself to that again. Heero wasn't on the stage when we arrived and I really didn't see the point to staying.

I think Trowa could tell, because even though Quatre had already secured a table in the corner, Trowa convinced him to take one closer to the stage.

Less than thrilled, I followed them to the tiny table wedged in next to the stage- it was even more crowded here. Someone elbowed me in the ribs and I wanted to turn and snap the offending party's head off. Not a good sign...

Contenting myself with a bowl of dry pretzels instead, I was mentally ticking off minutes in my head- I wasn't staying here longer than half an hour- to hell with what Trowa wanted me to do.

But then Heero took his place on the stage and I forgot the crowd. He sat on the stool, adjusting the mike and I saw his eyes widen a little when he caught sight of me. There was that twitch of the lips- was that his version of a smile?- and a small nod in my direction before he started.

Trowa kicked my foot under the table and gave me a meaningful glance. I kicked him in the shin and focused my attention on the banshee.

Heero finished his first set and vanished backstage. I returned my attention to my table companions and found Quatre regarding me with a worried frown. "What?"

"You like him?" He asked me and I frowned back at him.

"I like his music," I countered. "I know you said he was a cold hearted bastard-"

"He is," Quatre returned flatly. "And- forgive me, Trowa- after what happened to you, Duo- I don't think you should be looking at someone like Heero-"

I bit back my first response and glared at Trowa, who at least had the grace to look ashamed. "I'm not courting him," I finally responded. "I don't see what's wrong with listening to him or looking at him. Most of the people in here are doing that."

"He acknowledged you-"

"I fixed his tire for him yesterday. He seemed perfectly civil." Well, okay, not civil to an elfkin maybe, but the guy had a flat and a missing spare- a dragon would've been taking pieces out of the bumper at that point. By my standards, he had been very civil.

"Oh," it was Quatre's turn to look uncomfortable. "You did? He was?"

"Very much so. Thanked me and even offered me a ride home- which- not that it is any of your business- I didn't take him up on. He even apologized for being short tempered with me."

Quatre blinked at me for a moment, but before he could say anything, Heero had returned for his second set.

When he finished, Quatre and Trowa were once more intent on each other, and I managed to slip away from the table without them even noticing.

It took ages to wend my way out of the crowded club, and when I reached the street, there was no sign of the banshee or his car. It had been a long shot anyway- but-

Stifling a sigh, I headed up the street at a brisk pace, heading for the alley where I could change and fly home. I was nearly there when I saw a dark-haired figure farther up on the other side of the street- a guitar case slung over his back.

Why was he walking?

"HEY!" I called without thinking and he whirled- falling for just a moment into a familiar stance. So- he was expecting trouble? Why? Or was that his natural reaction? "You didn't get another flat, did you?"

He dropped out of the stance and shook his head. "I decided it was safer to walk," he said when I reached him.

Safer? Here? Was he kidding? "Safer?" I echoed and he shrugged in reply. "Look- why don't you let me fly you home?"

"Fly?" For just a moment, his expression lightened- he looked- almost wistful. Then it closed down again. "No thanks. I don't like owing favors-"

"Then you need to let me fly you home, because I don't either."

That got his attention. "What-?"

"My cousin keeps dragging me off to that club for my own good. You are the only reason I can stand to be in there. So I owe you. C'mon- I'll fly you over and drop you off- no favors expected, okay?" I grinned at him. "Besides- I have to go to work early."

"All right- but only because I have to work early too," he said after a moment, and before he could change his mind, I ducked into the alley and shifted into my other form.

"Climb on."

"Seriously," he said as he threw his leg over my back. "How the hell do you hide this form?"

"No one is going to see me at night," I pointed out and lifted off. "I blend in- and I don't shift outside the compound during the day."

He felt good against my back, warm and soft, and I heard his delighted inhale as we soared upwards.

"Where do you live?"

"Three blocks down from here- 12th St. and Copper. The brownstone on the corner."

Not a good neighborhood- but the brownstones had roof access- I could land him on top of his easily enough- and I did.

"Thanks," he said and swung himself off my back. Much to my surprise he headed for the fire escape and not the roof door. "Practically right to my door. Now I'm glad the landlord never fixed my window lock." I followed him over and watched as he swung himself onto the fire escape and knelt by the window there.

"You should get it fixed," I told him, but he didn't seem to hear me.

"Hn," he nodded towards a group standing on the corner- their backs to us. "I think I do owe you for the ride home after all."

I peered at the group- the flashes of light blond hair said elfkin to me- but what were they doing here? They looked as if they were waiting for someone... and that was the way Heero would've walked home...

"What are they doing-?"

Heero shrugged. "Waiting for some sport, I imagine." He gave me a look. "Shouldn't you head home? You said you had to work early." He slipped inside his apartment. "Thanks again."

The window shut quietly before I could respond. I spread my wings again and lifted off- but I headed towards that group- Trowa always said I was too curious for my own good.

"He's not coming," one of them hissed as I hovered over them. "He'd have been here by now-"

"He must've gotten past us somehow- or he didn't head home-" They were elfkin- I studied them for a moment- but didn't recognize any of them. Who exactly were they waiting for?

I didn't like the obvious answer, but-

"Let's go home." The tallest of them snapped and the group dispersed. I headed home myself, my thoughts whirling.

What was going on...?

TBC...

 

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