For Sunny- some Wolfen One. This one really fought with me- it wanted to be much longer- I'm sure you'll be able to tell... I had to explain to it that I had a full wip folder already and that it really needed to give me some sort of ending... yeah. You'll see how well that worked!
Wolfen One Drabble 3
Pet
"Why do we always end up in the North during the cold months?"
"Duo- it's spring."
"It's still cold." Duo huddled in his coat and made a face at his lover.
"I knew we should've stayed in the south," Heero rolled his eyes. "Do I need to remind you who took that caravan job?"
"I know, I know- it sounded like a good idea at the time- and it did earn us enough to see us through the winter if we're careful."
"And enough to put us up at an inn overnight if you don't want to camp." Heero squinted at the map in his hands. "Looks like there's a town up ahead, want to stop?"
"Let's see- cold tent versus possible warm featherbed... What should I choose?"
"Then mount up and-" Duo reached out and stopped Heero's fingers from untying his tunic.
"Oh no. Do you know how hard it is to convince innkeepers that my 'dog' is perfectly safe?"
"I only show my teeth at the ones who proposition you. Should I wag my tail more when I growl?"
"Don't start. We can walk in- it's not that far."
"Plus it should warm you up."
"You can't think of a better way to do that?" Duo arched an eyebrow and Heero smiled, leaning over to brush a kiss across Duo's mouth.
"Of course I can- but I think you'd prefer a featherbed to the ground..."
~*~
The inn was right on the outskirts of the town. Duo took their horse to the stable- Grey was used to Heero's scent, but a whiff of wolf and the whole stable might panic. Heero went to go talk to the innkeeper.
As he entered the inn, scents of ale and beer, wine and spices, soap and stew hit his nose. It smelled like a decent inn. Hopefully it wouldn't be too expensive.
Underneath the other scents was something familiar.... and yet strange. What was that?
"Can I help you?" A cheerful looking man greeted him and Heero turned with a smile, dismissing the problem scent from his mind.
"Yes. My partner and I are looking for a room and a meal. He's taken our horse to the stable-"
"Just one?"
"Just one." Heero saw the innkeeper frown a little as he tried to place them. "We're hunters- the horse is more of a baggage animal for us-"
"Ah, of course. Not many hunters through here this time of year. So a bed, a meal and maybe a bath?"
"Depends on the price."
The innkeeper named one that Heero found more than reasonable. The deal concluded, he turned to go and find their room, when something caught his eye. There was a girl sitting next to the hearth, knitting needles flashing in her hands. An enormous dog was curled up by her feet.
It raised its head and stared back at Heero challengingly.
"Ah, that's my daughter Relena," the innkeeper noticed his pause. Heero noticed the way the man stressed the word daughter, but his attention was on the animal next to the girl. That was the source of the strange scent...
"That's an... interesting dog she has there."
"The mastiff?" The innkeeper relaxed a little. "He was a lucky find. Relena's blind- she got lost one day and found him out in the woods- or rather he found her."
"He didn't attack her?"
The innkeeper shook his head. "Not at all- in fact it seems like he sort of adopted her. Keeps her safe- acts almost like a pair of eyes for her. Nearly as smart as a human, he is."
Was he now? Heero narrowed his gaze just a little. The dog bristled and showed his teeth.
"Down Drake!" The girl reached out and tweaked the dog's ear. Much to Heero's amusement the dog gave her an exasperated look and subsided.
The door of the inn opened again and Duo stepped in, smiling when he caught sight of Heero. "All set?" He asked.
"Yes. Bed and bath and a meal."
"I hope that's a warm bath."
"We have a hot spring," the innkeeper assured him. "Just in case Southerners come to stay."
Duo laughed and acknowledged the jibe, grabbing Heero's arm and heading towards the stairs. "What's wrong?" He hissed when they reached the landing.
"Nothing. At least it might be nothing. Did you see the dog?"
"The big ugly brute near the girl? Sure I did. Why?"
"He smells wrong."
"Wrong how? Not like a dog?" Duo pushed open the door to the room the innkeeper had given them.
Heero waited until the door was closed. "No, he smells like a dog- and something else."
Duo caught on quickly. "Shifter, do you think?"
"Possibly."
"Something we need to do something about?"
Heero shook his head. "I don't think so. The innkeeper said he helps the girl."
"Good. Then let's stow our things and find that hot bath."
~*~
The meal had been as good and the bath as hot as the innkeeper promised. Heero curled up in the featherbed after both and watched as Duo dried his hair by the tiny fireplace.
"Nearly finished," Duo glanced up and smiled. "I just need to braid it-"
"Leave it down. There's nothing it can get tangled on in a featherbed."
"There's you."
"And I want it tangled around me. Come to bed."
Duo got to his feet and Heero pulled back the covers. Before the hunter made it to the bed, there was a soft scratching at the door.
"What's that?"
Heero's nose caught the scent and he slipped out of bed. "I'll get it."
Duo made a faint noise and tossed his pants at him. "Clothes!"
Tempted to make a remark that their visitor wasn't wearing any either, Heero drew on the pants quickly and opened the door.
The mastiff strolled in and Duo edged a bit closer to where he'd left his knife. Not all shifters were as mild-mannered as Heero...
Heero closed the door and their unexpected guest blurred.
"Good evening," the man said, flicking his dark hair over his shoulder and Heero heard Duo mutter something about shifters and clothes under his breath. "I apologize for the lateness of my visit."
"Evening," Heero returned. "To what do we owe the honor of your visit?" He studied the man carefully- black hair, golden skin, and black eyes. Someone from the east maybe? What was he doing here?
"We don't get many shifters through here," the man turned his dark gaze on Heero. "I want to make sure you don't mean any harm to those who dwell here- they are under my protection."
"Sounds like you ran into a few of the foxes too?" Duo asked before Heero could say anything.
The man's brow creased. "No- none of them were foxes..."
"Thieves," Heero clarified. Unfortunate as it was, there were a few shifters who took advantage of their heritage to rob people- and worse.
"Yes, two seasons ago."
"What happened?"
The man smiled, showing all of his teeth. "What usually happens when a dog runs into a fox?"
Heero smiled too and Duo rolled his eyes. "I'm Heero, this is my partner Duo. We spoke true down in the main room- we're honest hunters. Nothing else."
"Wufei," the man made a short bow. "You smelled like hunters- seemed honest- but I've learned that it is always good to... explain the situation."
"Of course," Heero agreed. "You may assure the innkeeper and his daughter that we mean no harm."
Something flashed over Wufei's face and Heero wondered what caused that expression.
Duo made a faint noise. "They don't know? Why not?"
"Shifters are nightmares here- scary stories meant to scare children. You mustn't tell them what I am! I couldn't believe your partner had told you-"
"How did you know I had?" Heero demanded.
"You started explaining about my scent before you entered this room."
"You heard that?" Duo exclaimed.
"Dogs have good hearing you know."
Duo glanced at Heero, amused. "Yes, I know." He turned his attention back to Wufei. "So, they just think you're some sort of super intelligent dog?"
"Yes."
"I don't understand." Duo shook his head. "Why stay here?"
"The girl." Heero guessed and knew he'd hit the mark.
"She needs me."
And you love her, Heero nearly said, then bit his lip. "I will swear to you that we mean them no harm. We just wanted a warm place to sleep. We'll leave in the morning and say nothing to them about you."
Wufei smiled. "Thank you. I will leave you to your rest." His shape blurred again and Heero let him back out into the corridor.
His lover sat down on the bed, his expression thoughtful. Heero curled up beside him.
"He loves that girl, doesn't he?" Duo asked,
"Yes."
"And he's never going to tell her what he is."
"I don't think so."
"Heero- that's just..."
"We can't interfere."
"But-"
"Duo. He knows them better than we do. He must have some reason why he thinks they won't accept him."
"Still..."
"Not everyone is as accepting as you, beloved."
"I know. I just... I wish we could help somehow. But you're right. He must have a reason- and we're strangers here..."
"We can only help if he asks."
"He won't ask."
"I know." Heero brushed a kiss over Duo's collarbone. "I know. You want to help."
"I do, but I don't see how we can without betraying his confidence..." Duo pulled Heero down into a kiss. "I'm going to have to let it go, aren't I?"
"I'm afraid so. Unless some miraculous solution occurs to you in the night."
"Let's hope it does. In the meantime-" Duo snuggled down in the softness of the feathers with a smile, "we shouldn't waste the heat or the bed..."
OWARI
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