Something Furry Drabble 5
Heero finished the spell and picked up the sword on the floor in front of him carefully. Opening the door of the workroom he headed back to the counter where Sally and the customer stood waiting.
"It should be okay now," he said, handing the sword back to the customer with a smile.
"No more weird nightmares?"
"Shouldn't be."
"Thanks!" The customer slipped the sword into the sheath he wore across his back and handed Sally his credit card. As Sally rang up the sale, Heero looked around the store.
No sign of Duo... his heart sped up a little. He checked the backroom. Not there. Where had he gone? Sally wouldn't have sent him on an errand... not now...
"He's with Wufei," Sally called and Heero rejoined her by the registers. "He's perfectly safe."
Heero couldn't argue with that. "Where did they go?"
"Quatre called, wanted to talk to Duo, so Wufei took him down there."
"What? What for?"
Sally rolled her eyes. "Relax will you? Nothing bad. He just heard about the problems with the Pride. It wouldn't be a bad thing if he came in on your side. A prince of the fae? And all those sisters of his?"
"Yeah, but what kind of price would he ask for that?"
"Nothing that you wouldn't be willing to pay to keep Duo safe, I'm sure. They'll tell us when they get back." She grinned at patted his shoulder. "Why don't you go inventory the new shipment? That should keep you occupied enough not to worry."
Heero snorted in disbelief and headed for the back.
~*~
Duo eyed the cup in front of him. Quatre had said it was tea, but it didn't smell like tea, at least not the kind Duo was used to, and he hoped it wasn't an insult to leave it untasted.
He wondered again why they had been summoned down to the tea shop.
Wufei and Quatre were discussing some play they had both seen, arguing amiably over the lead actor's ability. He knew that they were making what Sally called 'polite noise'; it was something some of the customers did in the shop. Wandered around and talked, getting comfortable before getting to the reason they were there.
Duo just wished they'd get to the point. He wanted to get back to the store. Sure, it was supposed to be a simple cleansing, but he'd been reading some of Heero's books... There were so many things that could go wrong.
He twisted his bracelet around his wrist and told himself to be patient.
"That's lovely," Trowa's voice in his ear nearly made him jump. How did the fae manage to move so silently? "Did Heero give that to you?"
"Yes," Duo replied, holding it out a little.
"Did he know what it meant?"
"He did afterwards."
Trowa chuckled. "I'm glad things are going well. Did you give him one in return?"
Duo shook his head. "Not yet."
"Why not?" Quatre cut into the conversation. "Is his feeling not returned?"
"Of course it is," Duo protested. "I just... I haven't found one for him yet. None of the ones at the shop seem right."
Both the fae seemed to relax. "You're still happy with him?" Quatre asked.
"Very much so." Duo's eyes narrowed a little. "Did my grandmother ask you-"
"No!" Quatre made a sharp gesture with his hand. "No. She did send someone today to ask us for magic help against him."
Duo tensed. "What did you say?"
"I refused." Quatre frowned. "I also advised her that it was in her own best interests to stop the game she was playing and apologize to Heero. However, I am not sure that she listened to me."
"Did she tell you what was going on?"
"No. There is some sort of power struggle in the Pride. You both need to walk wary for a bit- and I would have Heero practice using his leopard form- get comfortable with it. You're going to need it."
Duo nodded. "I will do that. Anything else?"
Quatre's lips quirked into a smile. "Go down the corridor and ask to see my sister Irea. She makes jewelry. She might have something you can give Heero. The more secure he feels in your relationship, the better."
~*~
Heero was midway through the second box when something brushed his ear. He whirled, box cutter in hand, to find his mate leaning over him.
"Sorry," Duo apologized as Heero put down the box cutter.
"It's okay. I didn't hear you come in-"
"You wouldn't have," Duo looked amused. "Wufei decided to stay and have dinner with the fae- So Trowa dropped me back here."
Heero relaxed. "That had to be a little disconcerting."
"I'll say. He just pulled me into his shadow and then I was here." Duo wrinkled his nose a little. "A bit creepy, really. Need some help?"
"Sure."
Duo dropped down onto the floor next to him and reached for the open box. "More tea leaf books I see."
"They are very popular." Heero smiled a little. "Count them for me?" He waited until they were on the fourth box before he asked: "So, what did they want?"
Duo sighed. "Guess my grandmother wanted them to help her deal with you."
"What did Winner tell her?"
"No. He also told her she needed to apologize to you."
Heero snorted. "That will never happen."
"I know," Duo sighed. "He also told me that you need to practice being in your leopard form. You'll need it soon."
Need it? Heero didn't like the sound of that. "All right- but I don't think I can go running through the streets in it-"
Duo laughed. "I think he meant that you need to be comfortable in the skin." Duo leaned into Heero's side, his voice dropping into a throaty purr as he rubbed his cheek against Heero's shoulder. "I can help with that."
Work, Heero reminded himself. They were still on for half an hour. He couldn't just drag Duo home and...
"Why don't you two go home?" Sally suggested, leaning in the doorway, smiling.
As Duo pulled him to his feet, Heero had to admit- sometimes it was nice having a psychic boss...
OWARI
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