Warnings: 1x2x1, lemon warnings on this bit. Oh, and a vague Prachett ref...
Wolfen One Part 4
After a long moment, Heero began to pull away. Instead of letting him go, Duo followed, sliding over on top of Heero without breaking the kiss. Heero made a surprised sound, but stopped trying to get away.
Heero's hand tightened in Duo's hair, his arm went around Duo's waist, steadying him. Duo pressed closer, opening his lips and letting Heero taste him.
Heero finally managed to pull back a little, reluctantly. "Your shoulder..."
"Is fine." Duo moved his mouth down the curve of Heero's jaw. Heero tilted his head back and bared his throat. Duo nipped him gently and Heero shivered.
"You don't have to..."
"I want to," Duo replied and tightened his hips against Heero's, the brief friction making them both gasp. "And you want me to."
He slid under the blankets, caressing and kissing as he moved downwards, making Heero shudder, until he found what he was looking for. He began his self-appointed task and Heero's hands tightened briefly on his head.
"Don't hurt yourself..." he heard and nearly smiled. Instead, he increased his pace slightly and was rewarded with a moan. He realized that Heero was holding himself completely still, his thighs trembling under Duo's fingers, making sure that his movements wouldn't jar the hunter.
Such dedication and consideration deserved the same. Duo worked harder, settling into a pace, using his hands to caress and tease and torment... and was soon rewarded when Heero's hips made an aborted attempt to snap upwards, his hands tightening down again.
Duo finished and slid back up, grinning. Heero was breathing hard, but he still managed to catch Duo before the hunter rolled off of him.
"Not on that side- shoulder," he warned breathlessly and made Duo slide to the other side. His breathing steadied and he tilted his head to meet Duo's eyes. "Thank you, I didn't... that is... I wasn't..."
Duo smiled. "I know, but I wanted."
Heero turned over to face him. "Do you?" He reached out and let his hand slide down Duo's stomach, and then lower still. Duo half closed his eyes as Heero's hand slid between his legs, and started to move. Duo wished that he had thought to take off his pants before going to bed, as they were getting tighter by the second.
Heero's hand left and Duo whimpered. "Just a moment." Heero reached behind himself and pulled his pillow free. He half lifted Duo with his other arm and slid the pillow under Duo's shoulder. "Lay back." Duo did and Heero followed him, straddling his thighs, but careful not to add his weight. "Shoulder?"
"What shoulder?"
Heero chuckled and vanished under the blankets. The too tight-pants were quickly removed and Heero set about returning the favor with enthusiasm.
Such enthusiasm in fact, that Duo fell into an exhausted sleep afterwards, completely missing the way that the other cradled him carefully against his chest as the fire burned low and the storm increased its howling.
~*~
The bed was empty, the sheets getting slightly cold, both the pillows under his own head. Where was he? Duo's questing hand found only empty space. So he cracked an eye open to find out why.
Heero was sitting on the floor in front of the fireplace. He had obviously just brought the water bucket back in, as it was full of snow. His shirt was hanging up on the wall dripping with water and his pants looked slightly damp. There was a cooking meat kind of smell in the air too, Duo noticed, which meant breakfast. A coating of white was on the windows and the wind was still howling around outside, which meant the storm hadn't yet abated.
Duo slid out of the bed and shivered. The air in the cabin was chilly. He looked for his pants and found them crumpled on the floor, half-under the bed. He scrambled into them hurriedly, but he was still cold.
Heero turned his head slightly and watched. He didn't say anything, which made Duo wonder if Heero regretted the night before.
Duo wondered if he regretted the night before. The South was more relaxed about bedding matters than the North was- had he done something that had offended Heero? Was there something he was supposed to do or say? Some custom he had missed? Had he been too forward? But Heero had seemed to enjoy himself...
"Good morning," Heero said and Duo felt slightly relieved. "Are you always so quiet the morning after?"
Duo blinked. Oh. Maybe Heero had been wondering why he hadn't said anything?
Or maybe he was just as worried as Duo was? Though there wasn't any need to be...
Heero frowned. "Did I hurt your shoulder last night? Are you in pain?" He rose to his feet and Duo realized that he hadn't said anything yet; just stood there like an idiot- no wonder Heero called him that!
Heero touched Duo's bandaged shoulder. "It doesn't feel warm," he sounded puzzled. "Does it hurt?" He slid his hand carefully around the bandage and Duo shivered again. Heero reached behind him, picked up the blanket from the bed and wrapped Duo in it. Then he pulled him to the fireplace and sat Duo down on the hearth. Heero sat down beside him, still frowning.
Warmth soaked into Duo and he sighed happily. "Thank you."
"Speech at last. I was wondering if you had forgotten how," Heero's frown lessened. "How is your shoulder?"
"Aches a little, not bad."
"Are you hungry?"
"Yes." Heero got to his feet and opened the small door set in the fireplace. He pulled out a warm mug of broth and handed it to Duo along with a piece of bread.
"Your shirt is dry," Heero nodded at Duo's coat. "It's under there. You can put it on again after I check your shoulder."
"Thank you." Duo looked at the messy braid that hung over his shoulder and sighed. "Do you have a comb I could use too?"
"I think so." Heero got to his feet and went to rummage around as Duo ate his breakfast.
He returned to the hearth with a comb, his small box of medical supplies and Duo's shirt.
"Turn around." Heero commanded when Duo had finished. Duo did so, dropping the blanket to his waist, grateful that Heero had built the fire up so high.
Heero gently undid the bandage. "Good. It's looking much better today." He began to spread the salve over the wound.
"How long before it heals completely?"
"It's hard to say. Some people heal quickly, others slowly. Now that the infection is gone, you'll have a much easier time of it."
"The stuff you're rubbing on it smells nice at least," Duo sniffed. "Most healing ointments stink." Heero laughed.
"My... the healers who took me in told me that some people didn't believe that things that smelled or tasted good were 'proper' medicine. For some of their clients they had to make the cures smell or taste bad."
"Really?"
"Really. Half of healing is in your head, they used to tell me. More than half sometimes." Heero chuckled. "They said that only a patient who believed they'd getter better really would."
"Did you ever see patients that did?"
"I saw a few who I was sure were going to die, live instead- and I think it really was because they thought they would live- or had things to live for. That part is important too. The healers would say that as well- you weren't really living if you had nothing to live for."
"It sounds like you learned a lot there. Why didn't you stay?"
Heero was silent for a long moment, and Duo was about to tell him not to answer if it made him uncomfortable, when he finally did.
"I... I was sent there because of a disease that I have. My parents were hoping the healers could help me with it."
Duo bit his lip, wondering if he should ask the next question that occurred to him.
Heero continued, answering Duo's unspoken question. "They tried for a very long time and ultimately failed. My parents didn't want me back, and I didn't want to stay... I knew the healers would keep me, but I also knew they regretted not being able to help me- it's hard to live with your failures after all... so I left."
"And you've been on your own since then?"
"Yes." Duo looked over his shoulder at Heero. The man seemed to be in perfect health...
"You don't look sick."
Heero nodded. "I know. Don't worry- it's not catching. It's inherited- you can't catch it..."
"I wasn't worried about that," Duo protested. "Is it a fatal disease? Will it kill you?"
"I'm afraid it will."
"But not for a while yet surely?"
"Soon, I think."
Duo twisted all the way around, making Heero blink in surprise. "Are you sure? You look healthy! There's nothing that can be done for you?"
Heero smiled. He wiped his fingers free of the salve and cupped Duo's cheek. "I'm afraid not. Don't look so distressed. I'm ready for it."
Duo frowned. "Maybe you need to believe you can survive. Isn't that what you said? Half of healing is in your mind? You sound like you've already given up!"
Heero leaned forward and kissed Duo. "Don't worry about it. Not now." He turned Duo around and began wrapping a fresh bandage around the wound.
"I just don't see why you've given up!"
"Because I've fought it long enough. It's tainted my whole life. It made my parents turn their backs on me, drove me out of any home I found. Why do you think I live alone here? It's so I don't have to live with people who look at me with worried eyes."
Duo sighed. He was going to tell Heero to just come along with him when he left, but he couldn't guarantee that he wouldn't be worried. He was worried now. What if Heero got worse? Or died while he was here?
But wouldn't it be better if Duo were here for him if it happened? Better than dying alone?
Heero finished with the bandage, began undoing Duo's hair.
"I can do that."
"Not with your shoulder. I'll be gentle, don't worry."
As Heero combed out his hair, Duo stared into the fire and tried to think of ways to get Heero to let him stay after the blizzard ended. Maybe once he caught the wolf, he could see if the local village had a healer to ask about Heero's condition. Maybe they would know of someone who could help...
Heero finished combing and began to twist Duo's hair back into a braid.
"Can I ask you a question?"
Duo blinked, startled out of his thoughts.
"Of course."
"Why do you wear your hair so long?"
"It's a custom," Duo answered, thankful to have a diversion. "Children grow their hair long- we don't cut it until you go through the manhood ceremonies. Then your father or other male family member cuts it to about here." He touched his shoulder.
"Then you grow it again?"
"No. I had no male relatives left when I reached the age that it should've been cut. So I left it long in their memory."
"It's never been cut?"
Duo smiled. "Actually it has, but that was because I was practically tripping on it. I didn't think my family would mind if I cut it at least to a manageable length since it kept me from joining them prematurely."
Heero chuckled. "I'm sure they didn't." He wrapped the tie around the base of the braid and reached for Duo's shirt. "Here." He helped Duo get it over his bandaged shoulder.
Duo finished putting it on and then pulled the blanket back up around himself. He looked at Heero's shirtlessness with a raised eyebrow. "I still don't see why you aren't freezing." He grumbled.
"I don't see why you can still be cold. Such thin blood you Southerners have." Heero moved onto the floor in front of the hearth and pulled Duo down onto his lap, wrapping his arms around him. "But I'm more than happy to share my warmth. Unless you'd rather go back to bed and get some more rest?"
Duo shook his head and settled himself comfortably. "Not yet. I want to be up for a while." He tilted his head and listened to the wind whistling for a moment. "Don't suppose you have any good fireside tales to tell to pass some time? Since I don't think we'll be going out for a stroll anytime soon?"
"I have a few. I'll tell one if you tell one?"
"Deal. You start."
Heero smiled. "Once upon a time there was a little girl who always liked to wear a red hood that her grandmother had made for her..."
TBC...
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