Something Furry Part 3
His mate yawned, his eyes still half-closed despite the cold shower he'd taken less than twenty minutes ago- not to mention the icy rain that dripped off the edges of their umbrella. Duo made a mental note that his mate was not at his best early in the morning and moved closer to carefully slip an arm around his waist. Heero accepted the caress, giving his mate a sleepy smile.
"I hope Sally made coffee," he said and leaned a little into Duo's side.
Happy that his mate seemed to be getting more comfortable around him, Duo smiled, adjusting the umbrella a little. "If she didn't, I will. Is the customer there too? Did she say?"
Heero shook his head. "She didn't say. I would bet she either has an early appointment scheduled with the customer, or she's expecting them to drop by."
"Did she say what kind of job it was?"
"No," Heero rolled his eyes and smothered a yawn. "I'll be lucky if she tells me when we get there. She likes to keep me on my toes."
"Is it dangerous?"
A shrug. "Don't know. Sally usually doesn't take those ones, unless there's some sort of reason we have to do it."
"It would have to be a good one to put yourself in danger." Duo didn't like the idea of Heero going off on dangerous jobs. He didn't know enough about this business yet to be able to watch Heero's back effectively.
He had a lot to learn, Duo thought with a sigh, in order to be a good mate for Heero.
"Here at last," Heero opened the door of the shop. The smell of fresh coffee drifted from the back room and Heero perked up immediately. Duo made another mental note. His mate was clearly a caffeine addict.
Sally was at her desk, a large book in front of her. "There you are," she said and waved her hand at the coffee pot. "You're late."
"You didn't give me a time," Heero protested as he poured himself a cup of coffee. He sat down on the battered sofa carefully and glared amiably at his boss. Duo curled up against his side, being sure to give Heero enough room to move, but close enough that another Pride member would know Heero was his.
Not that he expected one to show up this morning, but it made him feel better. Heero didn't protest and Duo relaxed a little. Sally grinned at him and he wondered how much she knew about Pride.
"We're supposed to meet the client in about thirty minutes. I wanted to give you some time to put a kit together."
"And what kind of kit am I putting together?" Heero lifted an eyebrow at her. "Spit it out- it's not another demon-possession is it?"
Duo made a faint sound of dismay. Demon-possession?! Heero patted his arm absently.
"No, no," Sally waved her hand in the air. "Just a haunted house."
Just a haunted house? Duo blinked at her. That didn't sound good either, in his opinion.
Heero just sighed. "And I need a kit for that?"
"Well-" Sally shrugged. "It's really haunted. Supposedly the spirits are getting a bit violent..."
"Or maybe the owners are just pissing them off?" Heero leaned forward to put his coffee cup on the low table in front of him. "Which is it, Sally? What are we in for?"
"That's just it- I'm not sure. There's something we have to do- and hell if I know what it is yet- and so we're either going to get in, get it done and be out or-"
"Or?" Heero prompted.
"Or Duo and Wufei are going to have to come pull us out."
What? No, he needed to be with Heero! Before Duo could protest, Sally spoke: "I need you in the shop this morning, Duo. I truly do. Wufei isn't going to be here until noon. If we're not back a half hour after he gets here- then the two of you are going to have to come get us."
He wanted to argue- but technically she was his boss- and Heero's too. He couldn't go against her authority. Biting his lip, he turned to Heero.
His mate looked surprised. "You really are having trouble seeing which way it's going to go?"
"Sorry," Sally lifted a shoulder in apology. "You know how it goes. Sometimes things get blocked- I think it's because what we have to do is dependent on something else-"
"Right." Heero got to his feet and headed for the store. "I'll get a kit together. Anything I need to put in?"
"Just the usual."
"Got it." Heero vanished into the store and Duo looked at Sally.
"So if you aren't back a half hour after Wufei gets here- then we go get you? Does Wufei know what to do?"
She nodded. "It won't be the first time he's pulled us out- and if the two of you do show up, then we'll be okay. I do know that." Sally gave him a reassuring smile. "More than likely though, we'll be finished and back here before he shows up for work. So don't worry, okay?"
"I'll try not to."
Tilting her head, she waved at the door. "Go on out and help Heero. Remind him to pack the book, will you? He knows which one and he nearly always forgets."
His mate was digging through a battered looking knapsack when Duo joined him. "Got that, need to grab some more of those..."
"Sally said to take the book- you'd know which one."
Heero snapped his fingers. "Right. I hate that thing, but if we need it." Turning to one of the locked cases behind the counter, he produced a ring of keys. "Now where did I stick it..."
A moment later, he unlocked a case and pulled out a small book covered in what looked like leather. Duo was close enough to smell it though, and it didn't smell quite right...
"Human skin," Heero said as Duo wrinkled his nose. "Isn't that lovely?" He tucked the book in the side of the knapsack and brushed at his fingertips. "Makes my skin crawl."
"Why do you need it?"
"Despite the cover- done for the sheer theatrical joy of it, I'm sure- the damn thing does have some spells that are very useful." Heero fussed with the contents of the sack for a few more minutes under Duo's worried eye.
"Almost ready?" Sally called from the back.
"Yes, yes, I'll be right there." Heero closed the knapsack and smiled at Duo. "Don't look so worried. We'll be okay. Are you sure you feel comfortable running the shop this morning?"
"Of course," Duo managed a smile back. "Just be- really careful, all right?"
"Of course," Heero echoed as he slung the knapsack over his shoulder. "I'll see you when we get back." He paused for a moment, looking faintly puzzled as if he was wondering if there was something he forgot.
Duo took advantage of the opportunity and leaning forward, kissed his mate quickly. Heero's puzzled look turned into a softer expression. "We'll be okay," he said again and brushed his fingers over Duo's cheek. "Don't look so worried. We do this all the time."
Easy for him to say, Duo thought as Heero headed towards Sally and the back door. Still, he was a magician, and powerful enough that Grandmother had gone through a lot of trouble to tie him to the Pride. He needed to remember that.
Shaking himself, he looked at the clock. The store wasn't due to open for another hour- and Duo didn't feel like curling up on the couch until then. He went looking for cleaning supplies, hoping that he'd be able to keep himself too busy to worry.
~*~
Duo leaned against the counter. He'd cleaned everything he could think of- except the things in the locked cases- he had a bad feeling about some of them. He'd opened the store on time, helped the customers that came in, and tried not to think about how much time was passing.
It was nearly noon. Sally had said that if all went well, she and Heero would beat Wufei back to the store.
For some reason, Duo had a feeling things were not going well. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The dragon would be here soon.
Heero would be okay. Sally had assured him of that- but then this morning she had admitted that at times she was blocked. Had she been and lied to Duo to keep him calm? He didn't want to lose his mate.
Back when Grandmother had shown him the files, Duo hadn't thought that he'd be lucky enough to get someone like Heero. He knew what his kind was usually meant for and as Grandmother had put each folder down, he'd felt his heart sink lower and lower. Thinking back, he wondered if she hadn't been manipulating him- she had to know how he felt about some of those who had offered for him...
Heero's folder had been the last.
"This one isn't Pride. He's a magician- one I want to bring closer to the Pride. He hasn't offered for you- you'll have to chase him, but I know how you are on the hunt. I think you can catch him with my help."
He'd looked at the picture on the cover- the man was walking down the street, head down, by himself in a crowd of people. Beautiful- but so lonely looking that his heart ached.
"Does he have someone?"
"No one at all. No other spouses- you know how humans are. As far as my sources can tell, he is unattached, and dedicated to his work. Do you like him, Duo?"
That was easy to answer. "Yes."
"He might be difficult to win."
"I don't care. I want to try."
The bell over the door jangled and Duo snapped out of his reverie with a jolt. Wufei stood by the door, shaking the rain out of his hair.
"Duo!" He said warmly. "Those two didn't stick you with the front, did they?"
"They're on a job," Duo told him. "Sally said if they weren't back a half-hour after you got here, then we were supposed to go pull them out."
The dragon blew a startled puff of smoke in the air. "That bad?"
"I guess so- Sally said they'd more than likely be back before you, but-" Duo trailed off unhappily. Wufei's reaction hadn't been reassuring.
"What sort of job?" Wufei reached the counter, pulling off his coat.
"A haunted house."
Much to Duo's relief, Wufei seemed to relax a little. "Figures. Those ones are notoriously unpredictable. I'm amazed Sally even takes those jobs. Well, let me get some coffee and we'll wait- and the moment a half hour is up, we'll head out. All right?"
"All right."
Wufei tugged on the end of Duo's braid. "Relax. Did she mention a hospital stay? Injuries? Did she remind Heero to take the first aid kit?"
Duo shook his head.
"Then it should be okay." Wufei assured him and headed for the back room.
The bell chimed again and Duo turned toward the door, expecting customers but hoping for Sally and Heero-
And felt his stomach lurch at the sight of the two men who sauntered in.
Not them! Not now!
"Duo," the taller one with red hair smiled at him. "Here you are. Une said she'd mated you to some human, but I didn't believe it." His companion flicked blond hair over his shoulder with a smile and Duo fought not to show his teeth. He didn't stand a chance in a fight with these two.
"And yet here I am," Duo said instead, keeping his head slightly bent. "Grandmother had the good of the Pride in mind." That sounded pretentious, but when dealing with these two...
"Still, a human? Why?"
"She didn't tell you?" Duo's eyebrows shot up, thankfully hidden by his bangs. Treize was one of his Grandmother's favorite spouses. Why hadn't she confided in him?
"Obviously not," Treize's companion leaned against the counter and Duo took a careful step back. "Otherwise, why would we be here?"
"Zechs, behave." Treize ordered absently. "We'd be here to offer Duo and his new mate our congratulations of course. Where is this mate of yours?"
"He's not here," Duo said, suddenly very grateful that Heero was late. "He had a job this morning."
"And he left you here alone?" Zechs raised an eyebrow and Duo willed himself not to growl. "Unprotected?"
They wouldn't dare...
"Hardly," a warm voice drawled behind him. "Duo was left here with me. I assure you, I am very able to protect him from any threat."
Duo turned just enough to see Wufei lounging in the doorway behind him, coffee cup in hand, smoke drifting up from his nostrils.
"Who are you?" Treize asked.
"This is Chang Wufei, one of my mate's associates." Duo said, moving a little closer to the dragon. "This is Treize, one of my Grandmother's spouses- and Zechs, one of his."
"Must make things complicated at the family reunions," Wufei smiled, showing all of his teeth. Duo was gratified to see Zechs move a bit closer to Treize.
"A little. So Duo's new mate considers you adequate protection?" Treize feinted.
"Are you questioning my ability?" Wufei glided towards the counter and Duo could feel the heat that radiated off of him- and the scent of smoke that always hung around Wufei seemed to intensify. "My family has acted as guardians for thousands of years," the dragon hissed, blowing out a stream of smoke that made the two Pride males back up a little.
Duo glanced at the clock- only five more minutes. Heero and Sally needed them. They couldn't waste time with these two for much longer... Could Wufei scare them off? Or eat them? That would be good too.
"Not at all," Treize backed off. "It's just- well, Duo is a jaguar, you know, and most of them are not allowed to go anywhere without their mates."
"And why is that?" Wufei asked, heat still rolling off of him in waves.
"Because," Zechs smiled, showing his own impressive canines, "the jaguars are too warm-blooded to be trusted. They need to be confined for their own good, or they will be unfaithful to their mates..."
It was harder to hold the snarl this time. Of all the lies the lions used to keep the other cats under their control- this one was the worst- and the most unfair...
"That doesn't sound good," a familiar voice said behind Duo and relief rushed through him. Turning, he nearly threw himself in Heero's arms.
Safe. He was safe.
Heero's hand stroked over Duo's braid. "Then again, perhaps their mates just don't know how to win their loyalty," his mate added and Duo nearly laughed at the other two's expressions.
"You are Duo's mate?" Treize asked, one eyebrow arching up.
"I am. Who are you?"
"I am one of Une's spouses. She told me that she had mated Duo to some human- I came to see for myself."
"Did she tell you why?" Heero asked and Wufei snorted.
"I doubt it, Heero. Otherwise he wouldn't be here."
"You realize that you have to be able to face the challenge of the Pride members who feel Duo should've gone to one of them?" Zechs asked and Duo finally realized why exactly they were here.
"Like you?" Heero smiled. "I'm not worried."
Zechs leaned over the counter. "You should be, human." He snarled.
Heero moved quickly, one hand catching Zechs' wrist where it lay on the counter. "Any one who tries, will have to deal with this," he said and spoke a few words that Duo didn't understand.
Zechs pulled his hand free and Duo's eyes widened at the dark mark on his wrist. "What's this?"
"A curse mark," Heero smiled pleasantly. "I may be only human, but I am also a magician."
Treize drew in a deep breath as Zechs look at the mark on his arm with dismay. "So that's why Une gave Duo to you. She wanted a tie with a magician."
"That's what she said."
"What is this?" Zechs was rubbing at his wrist.
"I think the best thing to do is just to let you discover what it does. It will wear off eventually, but anyone who seriously challenges me will be stuck with a permanent one." Heero's smile turned to something a little less pleasant. "Or worse."
Treize's eyes widened. Then, much to Duo's surprise, he smiled. "I see why Une chose you as fitting mate for one of ours." With a slight bow he took Zechs by the arm and led him out of the store.
As the door closed behind them, Wufei turned to Heero with a smirk. "Nice curse there. He's going to hate you for the next few days."
"I hope so," Heero laughed. "It was the first thing that came to mind."
"What was it?" Duo asked, tightening his grip on Heero, relieved and grateful.
"Impotence." Wufei chuckled and Duo nearly choked. "Where's Sally?"
"Upstairs. She has a terrible headache." Heero grimaced. "It was one of those jobs that turned into a psychotherapy session with the ghosts-"
"But they all agreed to move on?"
"Eventually." Heero sighed. "Looks like your day was more exciting." He frowned at the door. "Which reminds me that I need to check my own curse."
"I wondered when we'd get around to that." Wufei gestured at the back room. "Go ahead, I can watch from here in case a customer comes in."
Duo followed Heero and perched on the couch. He hoped Heero's curse worked- if any of the other Pride members did show up to challenge him, the wolf might help as much as Heero's magic.
Heero pulled off his shirt and Duo frowned at the array of bruises on his mate's side. Those had not been there this morning. "What happened?"
"The ghosts tossed me around a little," Heero winced as he touched the bruises. "I hadn't realized..."
"You never do," Wufei snorted and looked at Duo. "When he comes back from a job you need to check him carefully for injuries. He tends to ignore them."
Duo made yet another mental note about his mate. "Does anything else hurt?" He demanded and Heero shook his head.
"No, I don't think so," he said and Duo silently vowed to check for himself as soon as possible.
Heero touched the curse mark on his upper arm. "All right. Let's give this a try," he said and closed his eyes.
He shifted.
Duo's eyes widened and Wufei made a startled sound.
Heero... wasn't a wolf...
TBC...
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