Something Dragony Part 2
His passenger grinned again as Duo started the engine. "Your uncle said you rebuilt this car?"
What the hell was he? Those teeth! Maybe a werewolf? Duo wasn't up on his nonhuman creatures. Course until a few minutes ago, he hadn't even known any existed, so... "I did, yeah. He helped me find some of the parts." He started to back out of the parking space. "Which way am I going?"
"On second thought- are you staying at your uncle's house?"
"Yes."
"Let's head there instead." Duo inhaled sharply. What if this guy was some sort of bizarre serial killer? Maybe he filed his teeth to look like that? But they were huge... not human teeth at all...
Heero's lips curved slightly. "I won't harm you, Duo Maxwell. I'll swear it by any gods you choose. I simply think our discussion would be easier if we weren't worried about others overhearing."
"All right." It wasn't like Duo had anything to lose. Jay had been the last one...
They rode in silence for a few miles before his odd companion cleared his throat. "May I ask a question? About Jay?"
"Sure," Duo cast a quick glance at him. "What do you want to know?"
"Was there a good turn out for his funeral?"
That was a weird question. "Yeah. Everyone from the university, some of his old students and colleges... I was sort of surprised, really, but there was a good crowd."
Heero's lips curved slightly. "I'm glad. The last time I spoke to him he was worried about it."
Eyes widening in surprise, Duo suppressed his first reaction. "Really? I mean, he complained about everyone-"
"He did, but he also wanted to be missed, I think. There was one man in particular- a professor-"
"His old partner?"
"That's the one. Did he show up?"
"Yes." Duo sighed. "Prof G was one of my advisors at the university- he always said he wanted to dance on Jay's grave, but really, he looked sadder than anyone." He turned into the driveway of his uncle's house. "Here we are," he said, his uneasiness returning.
Heero slipped out of the car and Duo followed. As he opened the front door, he wondered again if this was really a wise idea...
It was too late to change his mind. Heero followed him inside and stood quietly in the hallway as Duo flipped on lights.
"The study?" He suggested and Duo nodded, following him down the hallway. He must have been here before... had Jay invited him?
Heero was the one to turn the lights on in the study, pausing at the table under the window that held his uncle's favorite piece of art- a large dragon statue that stretched the length of the table. Duo frowned at it. The damn thing had given him nightmares when he was a kid.
Surprised, he watched as Heero gave the thing's head a familiar pat. "Glad to see this is still here."
"You're the only one," Duo said as he sat down on the sofa.
Heero turned to him, his expression unreadable, one hand still resting on the sculpted head. "You don't like it?"
"It used to scare me when I was a kid. Jay would call me in here when I was in trouble- and he'd always stand over there- with that thing glaring at me behind him. Used to give me nightmares." Duo let his eyes travel slowly over the sculpture, taking in the silver lined scales, the sharp looking talons, the glaring eyes- and those teeth... "I mean, it's well done- Uncle said one of our ancestors carved it- but I'm not going to keep the damn thing."
Duo stopped, suddenly aware that his guest was glaring at him... sort of like the sculpture, really... and his lips were curving back now- showing his teeth...
His teeth. The eyes. The tattoo on his arm....
Gasping, he scooted back into the sofa. "Oh! Oh.... You.."
Crap. He was so dead.
"Yes. Me." Heero's fingers tapped the sculpture's head. "This is a sculpture of me that I allowed your ancestor to create..."
"You really are?"
"Want me to switch forms and show you?" The tips of Heero's fingers were starting to look sharp...
"No. No! I'm good. I believe you!"
"What the hell did you think I was?"
Telling Heero that he'd thought he was a werewolf wasn't going to go over well, Duo could tell. "I didn't- I mean- it's not like I was expecting a dragon! I mean... you aren't scaly, or spitting fire, or-"
"I'm a water dragon. I don't spit fire." Heero stepped towards him and Duo tried to sink further into the sofa."And I think it's a good idea that I didn't pop up in that form-" he gestured at the sculpture, "or you would've run-"
Running sounded like a wonderful idea to Duo- only the dragon was between him and the door.
Heero took another step and Duo closed his eyes, hoping he'd die quickly.
He felt a weight settle next to him on the sofa and a soft huff of breath. "Relax, will you? I said I wasn't going to hurt you."
"That was before I insulted your statue." Duo pointed out, eyes still closed.
Another sigh. "It's all right. Open your eyes, please?"
Duo did so, carefully. Heero did look less angry... "I am sorry."
"I'm sure you are." Heero titled his head a little. "Maybe you're reconsidering my offer?"
Duo blinked. "Offer?"
"You didn't want the wealth or luck or fame, remember? So I offered companionship. Still considering it? Or should we go back to one of the others?"
Right. That offer. Companionship he couldn't lose...
All of a sudden it seemed more believable...
Duo glanced at the statue and then back at Heero. "That's really you? I mean, you really have been around-"
"800 years- more or less. I don't keep exact count anymore. But yes."
"Would you really want to? I mean, everything else you could just grant and leave, right? If you-"
"Duo Maxwell," Heero cut him off. "I wouldn't make the offer if I wasn't willing."
"Can... can I think about it?"
"Of course." Heero's lips curved. "One of your great great aunts took three years to decide. I'll give you as much time as you need." He leaned back on the sofa and Duo relaxed a little more.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome." Heero looked up at his uncle's clock. "Still want dinner?" He smiled, flashing his teeth. "I know I'm feeling hungry..."
Duo swallowed hard. "What... what do you want to eat?" What did you feed a dragon? Steak? Or fish? He was a water dragon.
Please, not people...
Heero's smile widened as if he could read Duo's thoughts. "How about a pizza?"
"Dragons eat pizza?"
"Why not?"
Duo went to grab the phone, relieved. Pizza he could deal with...
TBC...
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