Into the Woods Part 5
The warm sunlight slipping through the cracks in his shutters woke him. He inhaled, the scent of mint mixing with honey and cinnamon, flooded his senses, warming him even more. He was so... comfortable.
There hadn't been any nightmares.
Heero blinked, his mind stuttering into wakefulness.
No nightmares. Not one. Even with the elf beside him- the one who was wrapped so closely around him, his warmth keeping Heero relaxed, his soft breathing indicating that he still slept.
How? The nightmares were his near constant companions and after last night... he'd expected them. He should've had a nightmare...
But he hadn't. Heero took a deep breath and mentally scolded himself. Why did it matter? He should simply be grateful that he hadn't- that he'd woken up feeling warm and comfortable-
Carefully, he stretched, trying not to wake up the elf behind him. He waited for his back to protest, waited for the familiar twinge- but it didn't come. Odd. Maybe having a warm body against it had kept the muscles soothed? Once he got Duo back home, he'd have to figure out a way to repeat the experience.
He hadn't felt this good in the morning since... well, he couldn't remember when. It was a good feeling and one to be treasured. Turning a little, he found his lips curving at the sight of the elf buried in the blankets beside him.
He watched as the elf''s eyelids fluttered, expecting a moment of panic- Duo might not remember the events of yesterday when he first woke.
"Good morning," he said when Duo's eyes had opened enough.
"Morning," the elf just yawned and snuggled closer, his arm snaking across Heero's chest, his forehead against Heero's shoulder.
So much for thinking the elf would panic, Heero's smile widened a little. He reached up and grasped Duo's wrist in his hand, taking a brief moment to note the contrast of their skin colors in the sunlight.
Never touch without permission.. The words echoed in his memory- but without the familiar echo of pain across his shoulders.
Duo's hand turned in his, his fingers entwining with Heero's. "How are you this morning? Does your back hurt? Do you need the ointment?"
"I'm fine," Heero squeezed Duo's hand gently. "It's actually doing well- I guess your warmth relaxed the muscles or something- I can't feel it at all."
"Truly? But you said yesterday-"
"That it usually hurts- and that's true enough- but not this morning."
"I'm glad." Duo curled closer and Heero was glad for the clearness of the mint that mixed with the heady intoxication of Duo's scent. It allowed his mind to focus on the here and now and not on old memories. "I have to tell you something."
"What is it?"
Duo sat up a little, leaning over Heero, his braid falling over his shoulder and pooling on Heero's chest. "I think- I had the weirdest dream- well- I don't think it was a dream- but-"
"What happened?"
"Last night, after you fell asleep- I... I think I talked to my cousin. I could... hear him, in my head. Do you think- could it be real?"
Heero frowned, thinking, his fingertips straying to the mark on Duo's throat. "I didn't put a magic limiter in this-"
"My people lost their magic when they left- but Quatre said maybe us being back in the forest gave it back to us? At least a little?
"It's very possible- his dryad may not have put a limiter on him either-"
"He said they made a deal- he agreed to stay if Trowa would help the village- send the plants to cure the sickness." Duo bit his lip. "Do you think I really did talk to him?"
Could the elves regain their magic? None of the ones in the Goblin Village had before- but most of them had been bound so tightly by their magic bonds that they could barely breathe without permission.
"Some of the elves could talk to each other over distances. It was a common gift among your people- it is very possible that you did talk to your cousin."
If the elf was regaining his powers... it could be very dangerous if the village found out.
But at the same time- if he could get Duo to the Elven City- there were magic devices the elves had used to escape. If Duo could activate one of those- well, he could claim anything had happened to the elf- wild animal- uncontrolled magic-
Or that he'd simply run out of food.
His people would believe it. No one would see the elf leave the forest- no one could trace him farther than the city. It would be the perfect solution.
But it also meant that he'd have to head back out with Duo soon- before anyone noticed something odd about his elf-
"What?" Duo was still looking at him, a faint line creasing his brow.
"I think I have a way to get you free." Relief flooded him, and in that moment of delight, Heero reached up and pulled Duo towards him. Duo's lips opened, welcoming his kiss and it took Heero a moment to pull himself together. "Sorry- think the mint is wearing off-"
"I don't mind-"
Heero slid away, despite his body's protest. Duo was willing...
It wasn't safe. He might- forget-
"I have things to do- I have to finish my deliveries so I have an excuse to go out again-"
"I'll help." Duo slid out of the bed after him, watching as Heero stretched. His back still wasn't aching at all. He had to find a warming spell- maybe he could trade for one.
Heero's mind was busy as he pulled off his tunic and looked for a fresh one. Duo's hand landed on his shoulder.
"Heero- master- your back!"
"What? It feels fine-" He turned his back to the tiny glass that hung on the wall, craning to look over his shoulder. "Oh... hellfires..." his back was smooth, his green skin unmarked...
"They're gone!" His elf was hovering beside him, nearly vibrating with shock. "The scars- what happened-?"
He quickly caught Duo by the arms, forcing the elf to look at him. "Duo- last night- did you- did you want to heal me? Want to make the scars go away?"
"Yes," Duo ducked his head. "I talked about it with Quatre- hoped Trowa knew something- I wanted to take away your pain-"
Take away his pain.
The scars gone.
No nightmares.
Healing was a rare gift among the elves- usually they relied on plants to heal. And healing that touched the mind as well as the body was even more so- if his people found out that Duo held that gift...
Heero let Duo go and pulled the fresh tunic over his head. They needed to move quickly- without arousing suspicion...
"Did I...?"
"Shh. Yes. I think you did- but we can't let anyone know- they won't let me keep you if they know you can do this-"
"I'll be careful."
"You-" Before he could finish, there was a knock on the door.
"Heero?"
He knew that voice. Hellfires- this wasn't going to be good-
TBC...
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