Ifrits & Angels Part 6
Heero opened his eyes and blinked. This wasn't his office. Where the hell was he?
"Master? Are you awake?"
Right. Job. Tent. Cave. Hotel. Stepped between two- whatever the hell they were- not his brightest idea. "I thought I asked you not to call me that?"
Duo's expression turned from anxious to relieved. "I'm sorry. I won't do it again. How are you feeling?"
Huh. Heero sat up, automatically rubbing his head, and considered. "Really good, actually." That wasn't what he had been expecting. It had hurt a lot earlier...
Duo murmured something Heero didn't quite catch, sitting down on the bed beside him and leaning close. "Truly? Quatre said he healed you, but you slept for so long that I was getting worried."
Casting a glance at the window, Heero frowned. It was dark outside- how long had he been out? He repeated the question aloud to Duo.
"Several hours. Are you hungry? Quatre said you should eat- he said the healing would-"
The question came out before he could stop it."What is Quatre?"
"An ifrit."
Heero blinked. That did explain a bit- the warmth in the car- the heat of the blast that had hit him. But an ifrit?
Deal, he told himself. You're talking to a winged being with a split personality you found pinned in a cave. And of course, that question led to another.
"So, what are you? He called you Shinigami, but you aren't like-"
Duo shook his head. "I'm not a death god. Not like you're thinking of the term. Shinigami is a nickname- She- someone gave it to me a long time ago- as a sort of joke."
"Then what are you?"
"I was-" the other looked out of Duo's eyes. "An angel. One who went to the dying. One who fought. I had to- someone had to- I volunteered. I wanted to help. Then... there was a conflict- and I was imprisoned."
Heero frowned, wondering what conflict- not the one...? "Is that why Chang called you a demon- because of the conflict?"
"No! Not that one. Not that first one. I was never among the Fallen. I am not a demon." The other faded from Duo's eyes. "It was a minor skirmish, really, but I was... not as careful as I should've been. The humans there... feared me. I never hurt them, but after what happened- they put me where you found me."
This was... this wasn't all of it. Heero knew it. There was more- but... now didn't seem to be the time to push. Not with that frown on Duo's lips, not with the other so close...
He nodded to himself. It was enough for now. "You mentioned something to eat?" He changed the subject awkwardly, but Duo's frown vanished and he got to his feet.
"I'll get you something right now," he promised and left.
Sagging back against the pillows, Heero closed his eyes. What had he done? He was a ancient language expert- not a- well, who would be the appropriate expert for dealing with ancient mythological beings? Maybe he could ask the university to send him someone?
"Are you awake?"
He opened his eyes to find Chang standing in the doorway, his arms folded across his chest.
"Apparently."
"I have spoken to my superiors. They wish you to take a permanent position with us-"
"I don't have a vocation."
Chang smiled faintly. "You wouldn't be required to take vows. But as the handler of something so- potentially powerful- they feel it would be better if you were under their protection. There are many problem areas that could use your help-"
"I'm a scholar- not a handler- and I truly don't feel comfortable dealing with problem areas."
"Truly?" Chang echoed. "And yet- you were in the military- served in quite a few problem areas- until you were injured."
"How did you-" Heero shook his head. "Never mind. I can guess."
"You have an excellent record of service- you dealt with some very sensitive situations. My superiors feel that this background will be very helpful when dealing with your servant."
"He's not my servant."
"He calls you master."
"I asked him not to." Heero shook his head as Chang started to retort. "Look. Your superiors sent me into a situation without fully briefing me. No one told me that there was anything so- what did you call him?- potentially powerful? trapped behind that rock. I didn't mean to open the door- and I couldn't leave him there! Now I am supposed to give up my life- my job- everything I've worked for the last five years- because I now have a.... new friend."
"New friend? That's an interesting way to put it."
"Better that than servant- or handler-"
"He's dangerous- whatever he told you-"
"I really wouldn't finish that sentence right now." Heero could see past Chang's shoulder- at the very angry looking Duo standing behind him.
"You need to face the truth, Dr. Yuy."
"You need to get out of my way," Duo growled and Heero had to bite down on the urge to laugh at Chang's expression. "Dr. Yuy hasn't eaten and he's still not well. You can finish your discussion with him later."
Chang vanished and Duo stepped into the room, depositing the tray he was carrying on the table beside the bed.
"Thank you."
Duo shook his head, his eyes still focused on the place where Chang had vanished. "You should've let me scatter his bones across the desert sands-" Heero reached out and put his hand on Duo's arm. As he hoped, Duo turned his attention away from the door. "Are you hurt? Did he make you feel unwell? Should I fetch Quatre?"
"I'm fine." Heero assured him gently. "Sit down, please?"
Duo perched in a chair beside the bed, still frowning. "I don't like him."
"The feeling seems to be mutual." Heero rubbed the bridge of his nose and frowned. "Wait a minute- I'm not- where are my glasses?"
"Right here-" Duo offered them to him and Heero tried them on, only to pull them off a moment later, frowning. "What's wrong?"
Sliding his fingers into his hair, Heero felt for the familiar ridge of scar tissue. It was gone. He pulled the corner of his shirt off, examining his shoulder- perfectly clear. "Ah, hell-"
"What is it?"
Sighing, Heero dropped the now-useless glasses onto the bed and leaned back a little. "You said- Quatre healed me?"
"Yes. Are you still feeling unwell? He assured me that he fixed everything- if he didn't-"
"No. He did fix everything- and then some."
"Is it- are you angry?"
"No, no. Just surprised." He summoned up a smile for Duo and reached for one of the plates on the tray. Duo helped him get settled with it and then sat quietly while Heero ate.
Something was up- Heero couldn't tell exactly what- but-
"What is it?" He asked and Duo blinked at him in surprise. "Something is wrong. What happened when I was out? Or are you still upset with Chang?"
"Only if you are. I could- take us away from here, if you desired it. We do not have to stay here with them- if you wished to return to your home and your job, it would be a matter of minutes-"
Heero considered that for a moment. "Not yet- term doesn't start until next month. We have time- besides- I don't think they'll let me go."
"They can't stop me - and if you wished it-" Heero leaned forward and put his hand on Duo's shoulder.
"It's all right. The Church has a lot of power. If they asked the university to loan me to them- then my bosses would do it in a heartbeat. It would be better to negotiate with them than just leave- or fight."
Duo covered Heero's hand with his, eyes returning to sanity. "Understood."
TBC...
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