Mage vs. Guard Part 6

"You can't still be mad."

Heero didn't even look up from his book.

"I said I was sorry." Duo took a deep breath. "I didn't know you screamed like a girl."

"I don't scream..." Heero retorted, looking up with a glare before he remembered that he wasn't talking to Duo and snapped his mouth shut.

"Well, that's why that other guard rushed in. He thought a lady was in danger."

"In the stables in the middle of the day?"

"Well, you're the one who thought you were being attacked."

"You grabbed my ankle! I thought I was by myself!"

"Well, I wouldn't have to resort to such tactics if you'd just be reasonable."

"If you were reasonable you wouldn't resort to such tactics. Honestly Duo, you've been my guard for how long? Don't you think it's time to give up?"

"Four months, two weeks, three days- and no." Duo crossed the room and perched on the edge of Heero's desk.

"Get off my desk."

"You aren't using this part."

"Duo-"

"Heero- with all due respect, if you truly wanted me to stop, I would. But you don't."

"How many times have I said..."

"Actions speak louder than words."

"It was one kiss!"

"Was it? How many times have I kissed you?"

"Forty- se... - I don't know!"

Duo leaned close. "And yet I'm not a frog."

"Don't tempt me."

"That's the idea."

Heero snorted and slammed his book down. "I just-" Before he could finish the sentence, there was a knock on the door. Duo went to open it. One of Relena's personal guards stood there.

"The Lady wishes to see you- right away."

Heero got to his feet with a sigh. "It's never good news when she wants to see me right away."

~*~

Duo watched as Heero took the piece of paper Relena handed him without a word. She was pale and strained-looking. Captain Chang was standing behind her chair, mouth set in a grim line. Whatever it was, Duo knew it was very bad.

"So he survived." Heero said, his voice soft.

"Apparently," Relena twisted her hands together, "and he's holding a grudge."

Heero just nodded. "I'll send a response and head out at once."

"Not alone! We'll send a force..."

Much to Duo's surprise, Heero leaned over the desk and placed a gentle hand on Relena's wrist. "No. He's not targeting the school- it's me he's after. If you send a force with me he'll take it very badly. This is between the two of us. Right now he's not angry with you or the school. Let's leave it that way."

"But Heero-"

"Relena, I know you want to help me. I appreciate it, I truly do. But think of what happened last time."

Relena's complexion turned even whiter. "I know... but..."

"He needs to be taken down. At the very least I can get close enough to set a drain on him. Once that's set, then you can send someone in."

Duo had a very bad feeling about this.

"There has to be another way!" Relena jerked her hands away from Heero. "There has to be!"

"If you can tell me another way, then I'm willing to hear it."

"Let me call the Order together. Someone will have a solution..."

"That takes at least an hour to pull everyone together- and he's insisting I meet him in two at the edge of the woods. Call the Order- look for a solution- but I have to go out there and face him while you do."

"For this, they'll be in that chamber in less than a minute," Relena snapped. She got to her feet, grabbed Chang's shoulder and snapped out an incantation. A moment later Duo and Heero were alone in the office, and the bells to call the order were ringing frantically.

Heero shook his head and snorted. "More like ten." He muttered and headed for the door.

"The meeting chamber is the other way," Duo said as he hurried down the hall after Heero.

"I'm not going to the meeting. If they do find a solution, they'll let me know. I have to get ready."

"For your mage duel that you obviously don't expect to come back from."

"Realistically- no." Heero gave Duo an apologetic glance from under his bangs. "I'm hoping to exceed my expectations though."

"You damn well will," Duo snarled as he followed Heero back into his chambers. "I'm not going to stand by and let some guy kill you."

Heero opened the cupboard over his desk and frowned at Duo. "It's not some guy," he said as he pulled out various bottles. Duo's eyes widened. Heero usually didn't use potions at all. "He was my teacher once, before he turned to evil."

"So he's a Dark mage?"

"Worse. He's a Blood Mage."

Duo's jaw tightened. "And you're facing him alone?"

"Such faith you have in me."

"It's not that! I've never heard of a blood mage being taken down by less than a group of mages-"

"Neither have I."

"And yet you're planning on going out there by yourself! Heero- that's suicide!"

"He called the duel. I have to answer." Heero selected three bottles and tucked them into his belt-pouch. "If I don't, he'll turn his attention on the school itself."

"He might anyway!"

"No," Heero closed the cupboard and turned to face Duo. "He won't."

"How can you be so sure?"

"You'll just have to trust me, this one last time."

Duo grabbed Heero's shoulders. "I'm going with you."

Heero smiled faintly. "I knew you'd say that." He reached out a hand and slid his fingers across the back of Duo's neck, pulling him close. "I can't take you with me. I'm sorry- but he'll use you against me, and I can't have that happen."

Before Duo could protest, Heero kissed him. It was a farewell kiss and Duo knew it- he tightened his grip on Heero's shoulders, but a moment later light exploded against his eyelids.

Heero carefully caught Duo as he fell, placing him gently in the chair. He should stay unconscious at least until Heero was safely away. He'd make sure someone in the guards knew Duo was here and hopefully Chang would keep him out of the way until it was over.

"I'm sorry," he said to his unconscious guard. "If I had known this was on the horizon, I would've given in." He brushed his fingers over the lines of Duo's face and then left the room.

TBC...

 

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