Crimson Ties Part 25

Duo took his time walking the hallways to check into the half-dozen guest rooms of what would soon be his new home. All large and cozy at the same time, any one of the spaces would work fine for him, he determined.

Making his way down to the first floor, he found Heero sitting in the living room waiting for him and announced, "I'll take the room next to the study, since I get the feeling you'll spend the most time in there at night with all of those books."

A pleased smile spread across the Vampire's face as he rose to his feet. "That one will serve nicely," he replied. "It also has one of the nicer views, being on the third floor and overlooking the fields behind the house.

Maxwell had made a note of that as well, but while that was a perk, he had another reason for choosing it. "Well, I tend to have nightmares every now and then, so I could use you being around to wake me up if I start screaming," he admitted sheepishly.

Before his mind got to working on the logistics around the move from filing the paperwork with the government that his place of residence was changing to the actual packing and getting his things into the estate, the living had other concerns he needed to address first.

"So... how was the hunt?" he asked quietly. "Did you guys find anything while you were out wherever you were tracking those other Vampires?"

His cobalt-and-gold eyes widening, Heero blinked. Rubbing the back of his neck, he chuckled, "When Anna told me that you know everything, she really meant everything. "

With a sigh, he shrugged, "I'm actually glad for that. I would have been afraid of letting you in on too much out of fear that it might scare you away."

At that, braided teenager snorted, "It'd take a hell of a lot for me to stay away from Midi's cooking." He was rewarded with a fitful round of laughter from the Vampire.

Smiling to himself, Maxwell took the pleasant sound in. It wasn't very often that Heero laughed. When he did, it was like the sun breaking through a sky muted by clouds... warm and brilliant.

The spell wore off as Yuy collected himself, making Duo break from his musing and he folded his arms. Raising an eyebrow, he smirked, "So, I ask again... how was the hunt? You're not going to distract me from an answer this time."

"Clever one," the Infected complimented, the corner of his own mouth curling upward.

Slowly walking towards his Other, he kept their eyes locked as he frowned, "Unfortunately, it's not the best of news that we have to report to Treize and Lady Une when they and their family come to meet with all of us later tonight. I wish that I could tell you otherwise, but we have our work cut out for us with this case."

Duo was scared then. Swallowing roughly, he lowered his head, silently willing his nerves to stop imagining what kind of monsters his tied and their family were up against. A hand rested on his shoulder while the other gently cupped the bottom of his chin to lift it until he was staring back into twin oceans of gold-tipped cobalt waves.

A small smile spreading across his face, Heero vowed in a near whisper, "You don't have to worry. I am not going to let anything happen to you. Between myself, Anna, Wufei, Trowa, Midi, the Merquise and Khushrenada families, nothing in this world, living or otherwise, is going to get anywhere near to harming you."

That wasn't what Maxwell was concerned about. He knew that he was perfectly safe, but the others were putting themselves directly in harm's way. They could be hurt or worse... Heero could be hurt or worse. And already, that was an unbearable thought.

"Will I be able to attend the meeting?" Duo inquired as the hands on him fell away. Tilting his braided head, he shrugged, "Just peace of mind, and all?"

Heero grinned, "You're more than welcome to. You would be the first human that I know of to attend a Preventer's briefing. Already, you and Quatre are first to know about us in the first place." The smile on his face grew when his Other blinked in surprise.

Folding his arms, the Infected shared, "Normally, those our kind keep the organization from all who are not at the very least turned into Companions. Obviously, one reason for that is for the sake of our secrecy as well as so that the living are not troubled by the things that we see and do. There's enough out there for your kind to be scared of as it is."

No truer words were spoken as far as Maxwell was concerned. It really did make sense to keep the knowledge of Preventers to their own. And it actually was an honor to him that he was trusted by the Vampires in his life enough that they were willing to include him with such an important secret...

...then there was the other part of him that began to wonder if he really wanted to know all of the things that the agents were aware of... all of the tangible nightmares lurking out in the world while the humans went about their lives completely oblivious to them.

Ignorance truly was bliss at times.

But it was the overwhelming desire to know every aspect of Heero and his existence that had Duo nodding firmly, "I'd like to be present, then. Whatever it is that you all have to discuss, I can handle it."

"Somehow, I'm confident that you can as well," Heero agreed. "You're much stronger than any other human that I've known." The living could feel his cheeks warming at the compliment and he turned his head away to fend the blush off.

Then there was only one other pressing matter to discuss. Taking a deep breath, Duo smiled, "Well, whenever you think it's safe to call on Anna, have her bring over her gear to draw some blood from me. You've been without it for long enough, and I'll feel better knowing that you'll finally be satisfied for a while."

Cobalt eyes wide, Yuy practically vibrated with anticipation as he stammered, "R-really? You're sure you're ready to do that? Once I've... indulged, it will be next to impossible for me to cope if you were to change your mind and move on without me."

Duo laughed, "I'm already committed to sticking with you. The last thing you need to worry about is me leaving. If I wasn't ready to do this, I wouldn't have offered."

That really was the truth of it all... his mind was already well set to the idea of doing whatever he needed to preserve the Infected, to remaining by his side now that he was coming to accept the bond between them since he knew how hard it was to be separated. His body might as well be thrown into the mix as well.

Wrapping his arms tightly around his Other, Heero whispered by his ear, "Thank you, Duo." The excitement shining in his eyes, the Vampire headed for the doorway before the teenager had a chance to return the hug.

"I'll give our sister a call now," Yuy called over his shoulder. "She and Wufei have had plenty of time to take care of their business by now."

Content to sit back, Maxwell shook his head in amusement as he mentally basked in the warmth from that wide grin. As new and nerve-wracking as all of these changes in his life were, he knew that he'd happily accept them so long as Heero never lost his beautiful smile.

*   *   *   *   *   *

Moments later...

"Alright, now make a fist," Anna urged as she finished tying off her little brother's upper arm at the bottom of his rolled up sleeve with her gloved hands. Seated facing the teenager, she reached for the cotton ball on the table beside them to dampen it with a bottle of antiseptic and swab her point of entry.

Duo complied, balling his right hand into a fist so that the bluish-purple veins of his exposed and upturned arm bulged slightly. Gently guiding his elbow to rest on the table surface, the redhead leaned in to run her cool fingers over her prospects to determine the best line to draw from. Choosing her mark, she lightly traced it as she smiled and whispered, "There you are."

The teenager swallowed roughly, suddenly very nervous now that he was actually sitting here a few heartbeats away from being poked drained of his blood. Having donated before, it wasn't the needle that had him worried... nor was it the fact that it was a Vampire that would be taking it... or what this meant for him and his bonded once the deed was done...

What had Maxwell so concerned was his all too prominent fear that he was certain was unfounded... but what if what he had to offer wasn't enough to save Heero? Was the blood of a Chosen really enough to keep their Vampire alive?

How would he be able to live with himself if Yuy drank his blood only to feel every bit as empty as he had before?

Silently, the teenager was grateful that his bonded Vampire didn't trust himself to be in the room when his Other's blood was drawn. Duo was grateful to not have Heero worry or have any doubts over his conviction. It was good that he and his sister had the room to themselves.

Glancing up with her eyes, Anna frowned deeply, "Are you okay, Duo?" She straightened herself in her own chair, patting his leg as she reassured, "We don't have to go through with this if you don't think you're ready."

Instantly shaking his head, the braided living replied, "No, I'm ready... it just... pretty overwhelming that this might actually be what Heero's needed all of these years."

There was much to be read into that sentiment and his sister picked up on all of it as realization filled her gold-rimmed eyes. Her warm smile returning, she leaned forward again and winked, "You're what we've all been waiting for all these years as the answer to our prayers. You already know how real the tie between the two of you is."

Sighing deeply in hearing just the words that he needed to that moment, Duo relaxed. "Yea," he smirked. Gesturing to the inside of his elbow, he said, "I'm ready now."

Anna bit her lip as she reached for the syringe beside his arm. Pulling the plastic cap from the needle she made a quick inspection of the line at the end that would drain the blood into the plastic medical fluid bag.

Then, taking a deep breath and releasing it slowly, she steadied her hand when it began to shake in her excitement. Bringing the needle in, she made a fast and easy pierce through the skin and vein wall to draw the precious crimson stream out. "And the worst part is over," she smirked as she released the tie from her little brother's arm.

Blinking, Duo watched as his blood ran steadily into the bag. "You're good at this," he complimented. "I hardly felt a pinch."

"Well, I've had a little practice doing this by now," the redhead chuckled, her eyes trained on watching the progress of the drawing.

That turn of her head revealed the fresh bite marks in the nape of her neck, remnants of what was no doubt a powerful lovemaking session between her and Wufei based on how wide and deep the bite appeared to be.

Just as Maxwell was about to paint a picture of the desperate bonding, Anna sighed, "It's pretty amazing, you know. I've been waiting for this along with Heero for so long that to have this moment here..." Her voice breaking, she shook her head, "It's still pretty overwhelming... not quite sinking in yet."

Finally breaking her gaze from the bag to look back at her 'little brother,' she smiled sheepishly and giggled, "Sorry. I didn't mean to make this any stranger for you than it already is."

Shrugging, the braided teenager smiled, "No need to apologize. I can only imagine how relieving this has to be for you." Anna returned his smile and squeezed his sleeved arm in appreciation for the understanding.

Her blue eyes falling back on the filling bag, the Vampire's grin fell away as she asked softly, "Did you really mean what you said to Heero this morning... about wishing you had a dozen sisters like me?" Biting her lip, she glanced back up at the living.

The corner of his mouth tugging upward, Duo replied, "Actually, I wish I had more than that." he laughed when the redhead launched herself at him to throw her cold arms around his neck. Wrapping his sleeved arm around her as she kissed his cheek, he closed his eyes and leaned into the touch.

Every word of that was meant on Maxwell's behalf. There had been countless times that he wished he had siblings of his own that he could relate to and rely on. Neither Anna or Wufei were of blood relation... yet. But that didn't change the fact that the teenager felt every bit the same allegiance and sense of family with them.

When she pulled back to return to her seat, the Infected chuckled quietly as she wiped away a stray tear from her face. "I always wanted a little brother," she grinned widely. "And I couldn't have asked or hoped for a better one." Eyeing the bag and noting that it was nearly full, she clamped off the line and removed the needle from the teenager's arm to press a cotton ball over the entry wound.

"Hold that there for a couple minutes to prevent bruising and further bleeding," Anna instructed with all the knowledge of the seasoned nurse that she was. Wincing, she warned, "Even though Heero would be satisfied with this amount of blood, you have no idea how powerful a Vampire's need to drink from their Other is. If there were any more drops leak from even that tiny wound..."

Rather than have her feel like she had to go on, Duo snickered, "Got it." As calm and cool as he appeared and sounded, he inwardly shuddered at the thought of having a ravenous Vampire seeking to potentially drink him dry.

But then, he also had a profound trust in Heero that there was little true fear that such a thing would ever happen. Still, precautions were precautions.

Following the Infected's instructions, the living put pressure down on the cotton swab and stared at the bag filled with his blood. Frowning deeply, he sighed, "You know... it wasn't too long ago that I hated Companions every bit as much as Vampires," he snorted bitterly. He swallowed roughly and muttered, "I called them glorified blood banks. Who knew that I'd be one of them... regretting ever saying or thinking that?"

Anna removed her gloves and smiled warmly as she squeezed his shoulder. "That was another time," she reassured and rose to her feet. "And my kind, as well as Companions, have been called far worse over the course of our existences. There's no need for you to dwell on that, or be mad at yourself."

Quickly clearing away the table and closing her medical kit, the redhead blurred out of the room and reappeared before Duo could blink with a couple of little cartons and a small box. "Juice and cookies!" she cheered as she set the items beside her brother. Raising a finger, she smirked, "Be sure to finish all of that."

Carefully, as though it were the most precious thing in the world, the Infected handled the fluid bag with both of her hands. Biting her lip as she stared at the red, sloshing liquid inside, she took a deep breath that she released in a sigh. "I'll get this to Heero," she smiled before she quickly bent at the waist to kiss the end of the human's nose. That said, she was off in a flash for her brothers' home.

Taking up the box of cookies, Maxwell laughed quietly and shook his head in amusement. He sighed deeply and leaned back in his chair with a sense of peace, knowing that Yuy was about to finally taste the life-giving essence that he'd longed for since his turning almost five-hundred years to that afternoon.

As he opened the top seal, the braided living felt as opposed to heard another presence approach the living room doorway. Peering over, he found Wufei leaning against the door frame with his arms folded across his chest and a distant look in his onyx-and-gold eyes as if he was lost in deep thought.

Slowly turning his head to meet the violet eyes on him, the scaly Vampire commented quietly, "My dear wife forgets how well I can read her."

Blinking in his attempt to keep from panicking at that sentiment, Duo's hands remained frozen around the box of cookies in them as he swallowed roughly. In a downward flick of his eyes, he noted how prominent the two puncture wounds in Chang's neck were as a perfect mirror to what Anna bore.

Wufei walked around the living room table to take up the seat before the teenager. Taking a deep breath, he leaned back and kept their eyes locked as he stated, "I did not want to leave her alone with Heero this morning, fearing what might transpire between them when they were alone. Knowing my brother, he would have had questions to how you came to be here with us waiting for him. And I knew that he would not be happy when he got his answers."

His shoulders tensing, Maxwell began to sink in his chair as his throat constricted on him. Then, with a small smile curling his lips, Chang raised a hand and reassured, "I have no idea what happened when I was away. And frankly, I don't want to since it seems everything is fine between them now."

Sagging heavily in relief with a deep sigh, the teenager's windpipe opened back up. The last thing that he wanted to see was any tension between Heero and Wufei. Anna's promise to her brother to keep his heated comments from her husband was hint enough that the scaly Infected would likely not be as quick to forgive as she had been.

"I'm well aware that I can't fight all of her battles," the raven-haired Infected frowned. "My Celtic Rose has enough thorn to her that she is perfectly capable of handling herself, but I still can't help my want to always protect her." Tilting his head, he grinned, "And I get the impression that you share that desire. Though I don't know how you did it, I'm certain that you were the one to step in and defend her."

That kiss that Anna gave him before Wufei stepped in, Duo realized. So, the Vampire did catch that exchange and put the pieces together. A tiny, nervous smile spreading on his own face, he nodded firmly though he was uncomfortable taking credit for simply doing the right thing in looking after his sister.

Chang bowed his head reverently as he stated sincerely, "I am humbly in your debt."

Raising his head again, he locked onto the boy's violet eyes to convey how serious he was in his next words. "Though family always looks out for family anyway, you have but to name any one favor and I will see to it without question or argument so long as it is within my power."

Mentally reeling at that, at such a promise coming from an Infected, Duo stammered, "O-oh, there's no need for that, Wufei. Like you said, family always looks out for family. I didn't do anything special, really."

"Perhaps there is no need now," the scaly Infected smirked. "But the offer will stand for as long as it takes for me to repay you." He chuckled, and added, "There's really no point in arguing with me. Just accept this with my most sincere gratitude."

At that, Duo smiled as the real honor of the offer set in. Maybe the Infected was right... maybe there would be a time when he would need a favor. Nodding firmly, he replied quietly, "Thanks, 'Fei. I'll keep it in mind, then."

His 'brother-in-law' gave a pleased grin back and rose from the chair just as the sound of the front door opening filled the air. Reaching for the band-aid that had been left on the table for him, the living used it to secure the cotton swap in place over his dried puncture hole when Trowa entered.

A wide smile spread across the tall Vampire's face as he announced, "Quatre accepted our invitation in coming to stay with us. He and his family were thrilled."

"That's great!" Duo exclaimed. Opening the box of cookies, he fished out one of the vanilla wafers out to polish it off quickly as he turned towards his 'cousin.' Swallowing the treat that he hardly tasted, he asked, "When will he be moving in?"

Barton rounded the table to take up the seat that Wufei had occupied, answering, "Quatre wanted to have the winter break to spend with his loved ones, but he'll be settling in well before the start of the next semester."

Relieved that his best friend and roommate was being taken care of, Maxwell was even more at ease over his decision of the move. At some point, we was going to have to have his own heart-to-heart with Father Maxwell and Sister Helen when things were a bit more... official.

Throwing back a couple more cookies, the teenager reached for the first carton of his juice, commenting, "I'm surprised Midi wasn't rushing over here with you to give the news."

His head shaking, Trowa snorted, "She's too busy getting her to-do chores together for your joint celebration party that she's planning. That'll keep her occupied for some time since she's a perfectionist when it comes to details."

Wufei leaned against the door frame again as he snickered, "That's our little mother."

As Duo reached for the next carton of juice to replace the one he had finished off, Trowa's emerald-and-gold eyes suddenly widened when they noted the small band-aid on the inside of the teenager's arm.

His back straightening, it was clear that the Latin Infected realized what was taking place. Quickly looking over at his scaly cousin, he asked urgently, "Has every precaution been taken to be certain that she won't be interrupting this?"

"Do you really think that Anna or I would ever let her within a mile's radius of this... let alone that we'd even risk her finding out by telling anyone in Treize's family that this was happening?" Wufei replied, raising an eyebrow as he made a lopsided smirk. "She'll be too late to stop this now. At this rate, Heero is already in the process of drinking."

This she and her was not liked, going off of the biting tone that the Vampires used in discussing this one. Swallowing the last bit of his juice down roughly, Duo had a very strong feeling that it was Meiran that they were talking about. For some reason, the hairs on his arms stood on their ends.

Settling heavily back into the chair with relief, Trowa nodded firmly, "Very good." He reached up to rub the back of his neck as he grinned sheepishly, "And my apologies. I should have known better, that you and Anna would have made sure that there wouldn't be trouble."

"No offense taken," Chang replied sincerely. The grin on his face slipping away, he sighed, "She has a way of putting every one of us on edge." Looking to the time on the grandfather clock, he noted the hour and said, "I should be off to get my program up for the meeting before Treize and the others get here." On that note, he slipped away silently to oversee his task.

Barton looked back to the teenager and folded his arms behind his head. "So, welcome to the family officially," he smiled, gesturing to his cousin's exposed arm. "I look forward to seeing how well Heero will be faring soon."

Duo grinned back, "Thanks. And I'm anxious for that, too." Sitting back, he appraised the tall Vampire just across from him when a sudden thought crossed his mind. "Hey, Tro, can I ask you how Anna came to become Heero's sister?" he inquired, tilting his braided head. "She told me that there wasn't a lot she remembered about the time just before her turning, but that you would be able to tell me since you were there."

Shrugging, he stated, "I'd just like to know as much about all of you that I can since we're all family now."

With a hum, Trowa folded his arms and responded, "It would only be fair. And since Anna mentioned that you should ask me, I don't see why I shouldn't tell you." Biting his lip, he muttered, "Much of the details that she lost are better for her. Others... well, I wish that she didn't have to remember them."

Violet eyes blinking at that, Maxwell settled himself in his chair and waited patiently for the Infected to gather his thoughts. Taking a deep breath, Barton began, "This all took place not long after our kind had evolved to the point of being able to walk in the sunlight. We all parted ways, traveling to see sights that we had only been able to dream of up to that time."

"Along our touring, Heero made the suggestion that we visit Ireland...."

TBC...

 

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