In the clearing stands a boxer, and a fighter by his trade
And he carries the reminders of ev'ry glove that laid him down
Or cut him till he cried out in his anger and his shame,
'I am leaving, I am leaving'... But the fighter still remains
-Lyrics to 'The Boxer' performed by Mumford and Sons

Crimson Bonds Part 75

[Flashback]

Shannon Ireland, 1692.

"Where all my gain was loss and pain ...So I in turn extended ...My thanks sincere, with many a tear, ...And them to God commended," the performer finished her song to the rousing cheers of her audience. [1]

A glowing smile spreading across her face, the girl curtseyed as she raised the hem of her long, pale orange dress. Having reached the end of her set, she stepped down from the stage made by crates that had been pushed together, she headed for the bar and ordered a glass of water.

One large, round man who had had more than his fair share of liquor slid up beside the redhead. Draping a thick, hairy arm around her shoulders, he pulled her against his side with a laughed, "'Ye r evn' mer strikin' up close, lass. How 'bout a kiss?"

Wide-eyed, the performer smiled nervously up at him, "Ah, thanks fer de compliment, sir. But I am only 'ere te work." Politely removing his arm, she suggested, "Maybe ye should try yer luck wit' one of de oder ladies 'ere."

The patron's dark eyes lost their mirth as he huffed, "Aw, com' now. Nothin' wrong wit' one 'lil taste." Opening his hands, he moved to grab the frightened performer's shoulders.

"Is there a problem here?" a voice asked just before the man took hold of her. Surprised, the two turned towards the source to find a hooded figure that the girl's blue eyes blinked at in recognition immediately.

Raising his head, in a way that a shadow remained on his face, Heero warned the tall brute, "The lady put it nicely that she is not interested. Should I inform the bar owner that you are making his entertainer uncomfortable?"

With a glare and a grumbled, slurred series of words, the patron wobbled away. Before long, he returned to his friends as though the exchange never occurred.

Given a wide berth so that he could converse with the redhead alone, Yuy stepped close enough to the young woman that no one else around attempted to make a move on her. "Are you alright?' he asked quietly, the words drowned out to everyone else by the laughter and noises around the crowded pub.

Nodding, the performer grinned. "I am now. Thank 'ye fer savin' me." She was rewarded with a warm smile that she was easily able to make out beyond his hood. The gold rings around his cobalt irises shone through, illuminating the rest of his features for her.

When her glass of water was delivered by the bartender, young woman requested, "An ale fer me friend, 'ere on me, please."

As the staffer walked off to carry out the order, Heero frowned to his company, "I do not drink alcohol... or water for that matter." Swallowing roughly, he carefully gauged the performer's reaction.

She never so much as flinched.

"Just act like ye are takin' yer time wit it, den," she suggested. "Ye already drew some attention to ye by comin' to me aid. De more ye blend in de better."

Taken aback by how she, a living who clearly knew that he was... different was looking out for him, the Original blinked widely and smiled sincerely, "Thanks."

Raising her glass, the redhead winked, "From one lost soul te anotha'. May we both find our ways someday." At the arrival of his drink, Yuy smirked and brought their cups together. Noting the finger-less purple glove on his pale hand, the entertainer also spotted her long scarf around his neck and beamed, "Ye kept 'em."

With a soft chuckle, the Vampire nodded, "Of course. They came from one of the first acts of kindness I was shown since.." He stopped himself short, his grin fading in a bit of a panic at what he almost disclosed. Clearing his throat, he shrugged, stammering, "W-well... I mean..."

If Trowa was any closer than the corner table they had been sharing, Heero knew that he would have heard it from his cousin. How the Irish girl was able to get him to lower his defenses remained a mystery. Still, there were many things about what he was that he had to keep from her.

A sad smile spread across the singer's face. "Ye poor thing," she whispered. "I consider meself a good judge of character. Kept me safe all dis time on me own." Leaning her head in close, she took his free hand in hers without being surprised at the chill of his fingers as she squeezed them.

"Ye have a good 'eart. I can tell. What ye did just now is proof enough," she told the stunned Infected. "Whatever ye ar', dat is all dat matters. And I hope more people come to appr'ciate it. Dere need te be more like ye in de world. We would all be better fer it."

Those heart-felt words resonated in Yuy, causing him to have an emotional response in the form of a sting of his eyes.

Never since his turning did a living ever call him a friend to others. Not once had he ever dared to believe that one would revere him as anything but a monster. It was a profound moment unlike any other for the lonely immortal in all of his existence.

Gasping when the young woman reached over to wipe a stray tear from his cold cheek with the pad of her thumb, he froze when she bravely moved in to press a soft kiss to the other. "One day ye will see ye are worthy of bein' loved," she vowed softly. "Den ye will be able te accept yerself. 'Til dat day, just know ye 'ave made a difference in one life. And I will be far from de only one."

Feeling a knot in the very depth of his being, Heero swallowed roughly. A small, grateful smile curled his lips as he squeezed her hand back.

The pub owner blew a sharp whistle from the end of the bar, signaling the end of his performer's break. "Back te work," the slight redhead announced brightly before she threw back her water. "Ye will stay through de last set?" she asked, her tone revealing it as more of a request.

"Always. I wouldn't miss your act for anything," Yuy replied. Her grin widening, the singer spun away and waltzed her way back to the stage.

Drink in hand, the Original returned to the corner table to sit along with his cousin. Unable to help the smile that remained on his face, his heart felt lighter than it ever had. And it would remain that way whenever he was around the singer from that night on.

*   *   *   *   *   *

[Flashback]

Centuries later...

Running his fingers through the long hair cascading from his lover's head where it lay pillowed on his bare stomach, Heero sighed deeply in content. Chuckling deeply, Duo was in the same state of undress as he gazed into the cobalt-gold eyes locked on him and smirked, "Does that mean you're finally sated?"

"For now," the Original shrugged with a mischievous grin. "Give me about ten minutes and ask me again." To make his point well known, he ran the fingers of his free hand over his husband's chest.

Maxwell purred at his touch, "Yea. Same here." The Companion turned his head back to stare up at the sea of stars over them.

It was well into the third month of the pair's honeymoon. Now having made their way to Cancun, the late evening gave them the privacy of an empty beach to lie together, indulge in each other and to simply just be with one another as if they were the only creatures in the world.

Between the full moon that lit the sands and soothing sound of the waves rolling in, they may as well have had the earth, the sea and the sky all to themselves.

Lost to his thoughts, Yuy heard himself ask softly, "I hope that I make you happy, Duo." It was a slip on his part to make it known just how vulnerable he was when it came to their relationship. Caught off guard by it, his eyes grew as he froze.

Frowning, the Hybrid pushed himself up on his elbows. "Of course you make me happy, 'Ro," he murmured sincerely. "I'm only the damned luckiest guy to ever exist to have you for my Chosen."

Yuy blinked and swallowed past the lump in his throat. "I- It's just... you," he struggled, fumbling over the words that he suddenly couldn't find to express just how inept he felt when it came to his measuring up to the creature that he loved with every fiber within him.

Pain washed over Duo's face as he realized aloud, "You still don't get it, do you? You have no idea how incredible you are. Heero, you're only the kindest, most loyal, and just downright good person I ever have and ever will know. Granted, you're pretty good at hiding it behind a wall at times out of fear of being hurt but you're not fooling anyone. Least of all me."

The Vampire blinked away the threatening sting in his eyes. Leave it to his Companion to have him figured out when it came to his stoic demeanor that he carried around for most others outside of the family to see.

Maybe there actually was something to the way that Duo saw him. Anna had said as much and more over the many years that they knew each other. Perhaps it was time that he accepted himself as a someone deserving of the same unconditional love that he had for his soul mate and his sister.

Sensing that the moment was becoming a bit too much for his Chosen, the long-haired half-breed slapped the Infected's side with a snorted, "Besides, how the hell could I turn down being with someone who had a body like yours-" Gasping, when the Original shot upright to claim his lips in a fiery kiss, he closed his eyes and gladly returning the gesture.

When they finally separated, panting for air only out of primal instinct, their foreheads rested together. "Ten minutes is up," Heero smirked, his voice husky with need as his fangs grew in.

"I was hoping you noticed," Duo purred.

No longer needing words, the newlyweds' actions took over as they engaged in another scorching kiss and fell back onto the sand to resume where they had left off.

[End Flashback]

*   *   *   *   *   *

Hands balling into fists at his sides, Heero stared at the mug shot of the dark-haired, mustached man clipped to the file belonging to his personal background.

Septum Miller. Mister M. The one behind the captures of Duo and Anna.

Oh, Yuy may have been good and kind under normal circumstances. Today, however, he was anything but. Now that he had the identity of the living who had taken away the two creatures who saw and brought out the best in him, all that he wanted was blood.

For far too long, the Original had bottled his feelings up as he had before he met his sister and husband. Now those buried emotions were boiling over. And they wouldn't be forced back again. Not until Septum Millers paid for what he had done.

Whatever it took, Heero would see to it that the scientist knew exactly how much he felt about the wrongs made against him and his family.

"Get a hold of Treize," he growled without looking away from his most loathsome enemy. "Tell him to push the appeal process forward as much as he can so we can nail this bastard to the wall."

The first to reach his cell phone, Charles carried out the order.

*   *   *   *   *   *

Emma wearily kicked dirt over the campfire that she had built in hopes of drawing the attention of any passersby who happened to be touring the Rainbow Valley. Walking all day while stopping every now and then to make fires from the low bushes and other kindling she came across, the trails of smoke she sent up went unnoticed.

Disheartened, the child filled up her canteens at a nearby lake to be boiled later and began the trek back into the rugged terrain of cliffs when the sun began to set. Clutching the straps of her backpack, she frowned deeply in concern over how long she might go without finding anyone who could help her.

Climbing up into the mouth of the deep cave she had used the night before just as darkness had settled, Emma's feet were suddenly bound together fast and tight by a rope that had been hidden beneath the dirk and rock beneath her. With a startled cry, she fell forward to crash roughly against the ground.

"Got'cha!" a familiar voice yelled out. Jumping from behind the pillars of stone to reveal herself, the Mean Lady appeared holding a large sack that she emptied by throwing the dirt and mud inside out to what was nothing but open air... until her prey was covered head-to-toe in grime to materialize before her.

Coughing, Emma struggled to get her bearings and push herself up, but the Hunter was squatting over her with a pistol in her hand and a dark smirk on her face. At the sight of the weapon, the young living had no choice but to remain still on the cave floor as tears flooded her eyes.

"I have to give you some credit, you little brat," Lucie began, "Until now, I wouldn't have expected you to last out here this long on your own. Guess that Hybrid knew what he was doing when he chose that ability for you."

Just the mention of Solo brought pained thoughts of him, Anna, Duo and Celeste that tore at the orphan's heart. She had let them all down. And now, with the barrel of her captor's gun aiming for her forehead, she knew she would never see them again.

Shrugging, Aisley commented, "Since there's really no need for you anymore, there's no point in taking you back to the base. I'll be sure to tell that Vampire you cared about how I took care of you." Her finger sliding over the trigger, she began to apply pressure.

Eyes squeezing closed, Emma held her breath and waited for the bullet to kill her when a deep timber came from behind to suggest, "I wouldn' do that if I were you, mate." Gasping as her eyelids flew open, she took in the startled look on the Mean Lady's face as she stared ahead to the opening.

Slowly peering back over her shoulder, the child took in two tall Vampires. The male was ruggedly handsome with a head of thick blonde hair while his beautiful partner had hair of black that fell to her waist. Both of their brown-and-gold eyes were narrowed in a silent warning at the Hunter.

It was the female immortal who spoke next to inform, "We' been followin' the both of ya for a while to see whatch'a were up to. My advise is that you put the gun down. Now."

Well aware that she was unequipped to handle one, let alone two Infected, Lucie's rage steamed over as she screamed and raised her pistol to try and let off a shot at them anyway.

No sooner had she lifted her arm when it was snatched and forced upward in a hard grip by the dark-haired Vampire at the same time that the bullet was released in a loud bang to sail out into the night. There was no chance of retaliation when a blow to the side of the head sent the world into a black void.

Her fangs growing in, the striking Infected muttered at the prone Hunter, "I warned ya."

Crouching down over the dirt-covered child, her partner smiled as he urged softly, "It's gonna be alright, kid. We'll be takin' ya back to our home and git this sorted out."

In seeing his terrified charge's stare, he smiled warmly and pressed a hand against his chest. "I'm Darnell," he introduced before gesturing to his grinning company. "And that's my wife, Margi. We'll get you to safety, kiddo."

Only shaking all the more from her close call, Emma whimpered, holding her tongue since she couldn't tell if the pair was well intended or not. They could see her fine since she was plastered with mud and dirt, making it impossible to know if her gift was trying to shield her. The last thing she wanted to do was put her trust in the wrong hands.

And even if they were good, she was still too shaken to even begin to talk at the moment.

Margie suggested as she threw the unconscious woman over her shoulder, "We best git going home now, love." Gesturing to the quivering bundle of nerves, she stated worriedly, "The poor lil' dear is about to shake 'erself apart."

Nodding, Darnell replied, "Right. Just hang onta me, lil' one." Easily scooping the girl into his arms, he held her fast against his chest to stabilize her. Bolting through the cave opening in a blur of himself, his wife was fast on his heels.

*   *   *   *   *   *

"Preventers," Nancy whispered to herself as she read over the mysterious note that had been slipped under her office doorway. "An organization of Vampires set out to find and destroy their own called Rogues- ones who lose control of their urge for human blood."

This was it. The proof that the Senator had been searching for to prove how innately evil the Infected were. They had to hide the fact that their own needed policing to keep up the air that humans need not fear them when, in fact, they could not help the carnal monsters that they truly were.

Giggling to herself as she continued to scan the crudely written letter, McAdams murmured, "I am going to destroy Treize when he opens his appeal. And with him, the Human-Vampire Treaty in one blow."

*   *   *   *   *   *

As quickly as the rush of air from the incredibly fast run through the Outback came on, it ended.

Slowly blinking her eyes open, Emma lifted her head as her arms tightened around the neck they were wrapped around. Finding herself on a stretch of lush, green grass swaying in the moonlight, she took in a large series of stables and fenced off yards of a private horse station.

While Darnell was busy securing the Mean Lady, Margi was preparing the bathroom with towels and soaps for their little guest. Fidgeting as she sat on the edge of the bathtub, the girl swallowed roughly when her host ran a washcloth under a steady stream of water from the sink faucet.

"There now," the beautiful Infected smiled as she turned towards the trembling girl. "I can a'least 'elp ya get a start on cleaning ya up before you take your bath."

Gulping, Emma squeezed her eyes closed and felt the rag gently wiping away the mud from her face. Nice as the warm touch was, she was too worried about what she would do if the Vampire suddenly couldn't see-

Margi's voice giggled, "Well, you're even prettier than I thought, sweet'eart."

With a sharp gasp, the girl blinked widely at the dingy washcloth in her rescuer's hand. Reaching up, she touched her cleaned face. "You can see me," she breathed.

Shaking her head, the striking Infected frowned in confusion, "Why, yes. Tiny dimples 'n all. It was only a little bit 'o dirt-" Her comment came to an abrupt halt when her young guest suddenly sprang forward, gripping the front of her shirt in tight fists.

"You have to call the Preventers!" Emma cried desperately. "I need to talk to Wufei Chang and Heero Yuy!"

Brown-and-gold eyes widened as far as they could. Already pale skin turned all the more fair. Taking hold of the girl's shoulders, Margi urged, "How in the world do ya know 'bout the Preventers, child?"

*   *   *   *   *   *

Ten minutes later...

Wufei was closing out of another public site that came up short in alluding to where Septum Millers could be. Pausing at the ringing of his cell phone linked to his secured line, he reached into the pocket of his jeans and opened the receiver.

"This is Chang," he greeted.

On the other end, the familiar voice of a friend he had not heard from in weeks greeted, "'G'day, Wufei."

At the recognizable accent and deep tone, the scaly Infected straightened in his chair. "Darnell," he replied. "How are things in Australia?"

The immortal station owner answered, "Actually, Margi 'n I got an urgent matter on our hands at the Bowen Downs Station. Ya better git here soon as you can, mate."

TBC...

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowen_Downs_Station

 

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