Lights will guide you home,
And ignite your bones,
And I will try to fix you
-Lyrics to 'Fix You' by Coldplay
Crimson Ties Part 33
Managing to pull the covers down from the bed with Duo still in his arms, Heero gently settled him down onto the mattress. Though his eyelids felt like dead weights wanting to close on him, the braided teenager couldn't bring himself to fall asleep when he had so much on his mind after his talk with Relena.
A deep frown of concern marred the Vampire's face as he finished pulling the comforter over the living. Stretching himself out to lie on his side next to his Other, he reached up to gently brush back the bangs covering the distant violet eyes watching him. "You seem troubled," Yuy whispered sadly. "What's wrong?"
"Just thinking," Maxwell answered with a shrug, his violet eyes fully opening when he stared up at the Infected in the dim moonlight that filled his room. Pushing himself up on his bent arms beneath him, he said, "Relena told me about the night Karl was killed."
Slowly releasing a deep breath, Heero replied, "I was wondering what the two of you were discussing when you were alone for so long." He shifted to sit upright on the mattress and ran a hand through his unruly hair. "That was... one of the most difficult experiences we'd ever endured together," he commented softly.
Pulling his legs to his torso, Duo propped his head on his knees and waited for his Vampire to continue. With a shudder, Yuy glanced away and whispered, "We were all pretty cocky back then. Never had a failed mission with little more than a few scrapes and bruises to show for it between the lot of us."
The Infected snorted, "Of course we had a couple incidents that were a little more intense than others but they were nothing of real concern to us. So when Wufei, Karl and I were called in on what none of us thought of as more than a routine check on another Vampire who was being looked at in a random murder, we went in practically laughing at how easy it was going to be with the three of us there to handle him."
Biting his lip, he shook his head, "No one had a clue that he was mutated until we were on him and he turned on us. Karl was the closest one... and if Wufei hadn't had his scales, he would have been ripped apart just as easily next. That skin of his was the only thing that kept us both intact, protecting us as we took out the assailant."
Duo swallowed roughly when Yuy went silent. Finally, the Vampire drew a deep breath and turned his head so that their eyes could meet again. And there was a deep pain in those golden cobalt eyes that left the living's heart twisting in his chest.
"It took some doing for Wufei and I to stop blaming ourselves for Karl's death," he shared, just managing to fight off the bit of a shimmer that came into his gaze. "He was a close friend... practically family to all of us and we had let both him and Relena down by not seeing that he came back home safely."
Frustration built up in the Infected, his hands balling into fists that clenched and unclenched as he stated, "But going over and over what happened, we did everything by the book when there was no clear sign of danger present. Any other team would have done exactly what we did in that alley."
Clearing his throat, Heero stared down at the comforter as he sighed, "Still... it doesn't do a whole hell of a lot in making us feel any better over Karl. I hadn't seen Wufei that distraught since-"
He cut himself off, his frown deepening when he continued, "Well, it had been a very, very long time since I'd seen him like that. And I was with him there. Every time we went to check on Relena, we were guilt-ridden in being reminded all over again about Karl and how she would have to go on in her existence without him. But in time, like all things, it's become easier to deal with for all of us."
Unable to take seeing his Vampire at such a loss, Duo released his legs to straighten them out so that he could close the distance to wrap his arms around Heero in the first embrace that he'd initiated between them. Stiffening in surprise, the Infected blinked his growing eyes before he eased and returned the tight hug.
They held each other like that for a long moment, their heads resting on each other's shoulders as they took solace from the pain. Pulling back, and reluctantly at that, Maxwell slipped back to his half of the bed to lock gazes with Yuy again.
"I don't know how you and the others can stand staying behind when you're split up when you don't know what might happen," the living breathed. "Like now, with Anna-" His voice caught at his sister's name, tears of worry filling his eyes at the thought that she could possibly be harmed by the very clear and present danger out in the world.
Resting a hand on his Other's shoulders, Heero gave him a sad grin as he reassured, "I have every faith that she's well equipped and not about to let her guard down at any time. She's also with Treize and Noin, who are every bit as fierce in fighting opponents. And you have to remember that Anna took care of one of our first Rogues without weapons... in a dress."
Duo snickered at that, wiping a stray tear from the corner of his eye as he allowed that reasoning to sink in. Of course there was always the chance that something could go wrong, but what more could he do than worry himself sick?
It was only a matter of time before Yuy would be off on another hunt, leaving Duo behind to potentially fall apart with anxiety unless he got a hold on the reality that he was helpless to do more than be a support.
Things were just especially troubling for the braided teenager. And he was aware that it was because as Relena said, these Vampires were incredibly remarkable as well as a huge part in his life that he had come to really love.
"Sorry," Duo sighed, shaking his braided head. "I guess that it's really starting to hit me with how bad this situation could get. The thought of losing any of you doesn't exactly sit well with me."
A warm, pleased smile spread across the Vampire's face at the sentiment before he pressed and held a chilled kiss against his Other's forehead. Maxwell closed his eyes and leaned into the touch before it left his skin feeling colder in its absence than its presence.
Gently pushing back on the boy's chest, Heero made him lay back down onto the bed and pulled the covers him again. "You really should try and get some sleep now," he urged quietly. "Don't be troubled by another thought of this tonight."
Once he was sinking back into the plush mattress, Maxwell knew that he wasn't going to win the fight to stay awake much longer as his eyes grew heavy on him again. However, he was still alert and strong enough to get a firm hold on his Vampire's arm. Gold-and-cobalt eyes widened in locking onto his.
"Stay with me tonight?" the living requested, his voice on the verge of begging.
Chuckling softly, Yuy lowered himself back down onto the bed, only under the covers this time. Slowly opening his arms when his head rested against the downy pillows, he gave that loving smile as his Other slid near until his side was pressing against him.
For Duo, the closeness was nothing like what he'd imagined. Though the Infected was cold, being curled up against him as those strong arms wrapped around his body actually filled him with warmth. A ghost of breath tickled his ear at the whispered, "Good night, my heart."
Another soft kiss was pressed against his forehead as his violet eyes drifted closed, finally settled for the night in knowing how absolutely safe he was.
And the sweet tenor voice rose up to sing him into the land of dreams once again.
* * * * * *
In Athens, the sun was high by the time Lady Une and Zechs reached their destination. None of the beautiful surroundings of the historical city were taken in as they hurried on foot to the private estate on the outskirts where Amara was waiting to meet with them.
To the humans walking about, they looked little more than a Vampires on business between their suits and briefcases in hand. One of the nicer things about Greece was how few citizens there followed the news or watched television to recognize the Infected's faces from their serving on Council.
Properly filled in on the details to why the trip was so urgent over the course of the flight, Merquise's face was etched in the same subdued mask as his cousin. Though the pair's expressions were calm and determined, the tenseness in the shoulders and the rigidness of their backs spoke otherwise.
Climbing the stone stairs of the mansion gracefully, the Vampires stopped before the front door to knock when it was opened to them. Amara peered through the opened crack, her emerald-and-gold eyes filling with relief in seeing the two standing on the porch.
With a deep sigh, the Grecian Infected undid the chain latch and opened the door to the visitors. "Commander. Zechs," she greeted anxiously when the visitors entered. "Thank you both so much for coming so quickly." In a rush, she closed and locked the door behind them.
Only all the more worried by her agent's frantic state, Lady Une lowered her briefcase and rested her hands on the smaller Infected's shoulders when their eyes met again. "Remember that nothing had been confirmed as of yet," she said in a soothing voice.
Swallowing roughly, Amara's bobbed, black locks bounced with the movement of her nodding head. "Jacob is back this way," she spoke in a more clear and calm manner. Taking her briefcase back up, the Commander and her cousin followed after her down the long hallway.
In reaching the last door at the end of the stretch, they paused when it opened to a beautiful young woman with long, blonde hair. Around her right upper arm, a thick gold band was wrapped, woven with a twine of crimson red silk that sparkled in the natural light pouring in through the window.
The Companion's brilliant blue eyes widened on her prestigious guests that she had nearly knocked into with a sharp gasp and she bowed her head deeply to them. "My apologies," she spoke in a rush.
"No need for that, dear," the Commander smiled kindly. "Zechs and I are far from royalty, so we feel a bit odd at being treated as such." Merquise chuckled and nodded in agreement.
Blushing, the lovely girl hurried to Amara's side with a wide smile. As her Vampire draped an arm around her shoulders, the Companion bit her lip and frowned, "He's pretty bad off at the moment, but he has been expecting you. I-I think knowing that you were coming was the only reason he's been holding on as he has." At the last bit of her assessment, her voice hitched and she teared over with concern over their friend.
Amara bit her lip against the shimmer in her own eyes. Pressing a quick kiss against her partner's temple, she whispered, "It'll be okay, Kristy." Nodding to her fellow Preventers, she stated, "We'll leave you to talk to him." Gently, she guided her Companion back down the hallway.
With a deep breath, Zechs mentally prepared himself for what awaited behind the door as he held it open to his cousin. Silently, they slipped inside to take in the especially pale form lying before them. Heavy-lidded, gold-rimmed brown eyes blinked tiredly at the faces approaching.
Nearly as white as the sheets covering him, the frail-looking Vampire gave a small smile to the prestigious couple when he recognized them as they neared his bedside. "Lady Une. Speaker Merquise," Jacob breathed. "I am honored that you came to see me."
Swallowing roughly and doing her best to keep her emotions in check, the Commander sat on the edge of the mattress and took in the handsome Infected, turned at the ripe age of eighteen. His, curly brown hair was nearly matted down against the sides of his face from sweat that only came to their kind in times of great strain... when their end was near.
Lady Une took the young Vampire's hand and squeezed it tightly. "Hello, Jacob," she smiled. At the weak squeeze that she received back, her still heart twisted in her chest. Clearing her throat, she said softly, "I do wish that we had met under better circumstances, my dear."
"I'll take this honor however I can get it," the Grecian chuckled before he fell into a fit of coughs. Biting her lip, the Commander rubbed his back when he turned away from her. The lungs were filling up with fluid... another grave sign that there was not much time.
Unable to trust her voice when Jacob sighed and relaxed heavily back into the mattress, Zechs placed a hand on her shoulder to speak in her place, "Son, we came here because your friends, Amara and Kristy, believe that there could be a tie between something that we are tracking in our end of the world."
Taking a deep breath, he continued, "They mentioned that when you were lost to a fever, you kept saying that someone was in trouble... a girl, they were pretty certain."
Pain etched across the smaller Infected's face as he tried to process what was being said. "I... I dream of a girl now and then... a human," he finally managed, a bit of a light coming into his eyes in his excitement. "She's beautiful..." the wistful expression on his face at the sentiment quickly faded into a deep frown as he shivered and groaned, "but something happened to her."
Hands shaking, Lady Une struggled on her first attempt to open her briefcase. She got it on the second attempt and reached inside to remove a stack of large pages. As she straightened herself, she swallowed roughly and stated, "I have a few pictures that I would like to show you, Jacob. Would you please let me know if any of the people in these look familiar to you?"
The weak Vampire was only able to sit up with Zechs' assistance when the tall blonde shifted his pillows behind him so that he could be propped up. With a firm nod, he replied, "Sure."
Flipping the sheets over, Lady Une gave him a moment to study the first image on top. Jacob frowned deeply and shook his head. When that page was set aside to reveal the picture behind it, he took a second to take that face in as well before he shook his head again. The same happened with the next photo...
...and when that one fell away, his gold-and-brown eyes widened with a shaky gasp. Suddenly falling forward, the ailing Vampire gripped the edges of the image tightly in his hands.
Taken aback by the reaction, both the Commander and Speaker fell back as their new found friend stared in disbelief at the face of the brunette that had been named the Rogues' last victim.
"Sharon," he breathed. Raising his eyes, he turned her picture towards his guests and nodded, "T-this is the girl that I've seen. Who is she? How do I know her?"
Her fears officially confirmed, Lady Une put on a warm smile and freed one of his hands to hold it. Thankfully, the glance that she and Zechs shared was completely missed. "Someone clearly meant to help you through this," she offered with a warm smile, not wanting to elaborate any further lest the young Infected give up his will in leaning that she was his Companion... and she was gone.
Gesturing to the picture that Jacob continued to hold onto as if it was the most precious thing in the world to him, she grinned, "You can hold onto that... take strength in it."
And it was as if the young immortal's ailment had been cured as he reverently looked back on the picture. Clearing away the lump in her throat, the Commander folded her hands in her lap and shared, "Now, I have been with many of our own who have endured the sickness that you are stricken with. You have my word that before Zechs and I leave Greece, we will personally see to it that you receive donated blood from the local hospitals straight away to make you stronger."
Eyes growing anew, the frail Infected looked up at Merquise. Chuckling, the blonde reassured, "That would be one of the perks that comes with our notoriety. And it would be our pleasure to assist you."
She gave his hand another squeeze as she leaned forward to tell her friend, "I can tell you some practices that will help take the pain away for a while."
Leaning back against his propped up pillows, Jacob's whole body sagged in relief as he sighed heavily, "That would be wonderful, Lady Une. Thank you."
Gently patting his sheathed leg, the Commander's smile grew as she requested, "Close your eyes and do your best to picture Sharon the way you remember her from your dreams. I'm going to ask a few questions about her that are going to make it easier to remember every detail about her- from how she looks to the sound of her voice and how she smells."
As he sank all the deeper into his bed, the ailing Vampire closed his eyes, sighing softly as he hugged the picture against his chest.
* * * * * *
The sun was beginning to set when Lady Une and Zechs returned to the streets of Athens after they had said their farewells to their hostesses and Jacob. Closing his cell phone, Merquise announced softly, "The local hospital is preparing to have a supply of blood ready for Amara to collect before the hour is out."
"Very good. Thank you for arranging that, cousin," the Councilwoman sighed in relief, her brown-and-gold eyes still staring ahead of her as she continued to run the grave situation through her head.
Still in disbelief over the events that had transpired, the Speaker frowned, "So we know that Amara's feared theory is right. Our Rogues really are attacking future Companions." He shook his head, "This is... a first for us to have to deal with. It definitely brings out a lot more questions and concerns."
In little more than a whisper, Lady Une nodded firmly, "We're fighting for two sets of victims now... the humans that are being killed and the Infected that remain in the world without them. The lines of Communication are going to need to be opened up again for any reports of other Vampires dying so that those agents close by can do their best to sustain them."
Fighting the urge to give into the tears that wanted to flood her eyes over the memory of the poor Vampire that they had left sleeping soundly for the first time since his turning over two hundred years ago, she frowned deeply, "I don't know how long the extra blood and the memories of Sharon will keep Jacob going. It'll only be a matter of time before her loss catches up with him and he fades away."
"You helped give him a fighting chance just by giving him hope," Zechs reassured, glancing at his cousin from the corner of his eye. "That's a lot more than what he had before you saw him. Jacob is young yet. With your help, he might actually find his own strength to survive for as long as he can."
Comforting and true as those words were, he knew that there was little real consolation when there was still the whole picture of their case to consider now. They had their work cut out for them now... and the Rogues were still well ahead of the game.
Lady Une turned to face Merquise as she stated, "When we are in flight, we need to get on seeing just how big this is. As soon as Treize, Noin and Anna are back home we have to have a meeting with everything that we can pull together before then."
The speaker chewed on the inside of his cheek and stated, "Duo needs to be there to hear all of this as well. He's going to have to be even more protected than he is now, considering how he could potentially become a target."
A shudder running down her spine at that, the Council woman nodded, "Of course." Quickly fishing her cell phone out of the pocket of her business suit coat, she opened the top and pressed one of her speed dial numbers.
Pressing the receiver to her ear, she only needed to wait a couple of rings before the call was picked up and a familiar voice answered with a polite 'Hello.' With a deep breath, Lady Une replied, "Wufei, I have an assignment for you."
* * * * * *
Duo was struggling to focus on his exams. Part of that was due to his lack of sleep after being up so late talking with Relena. Another reason for his drifting mind was his ever growing concern for Anna and his frustration at not being able to do more than hope for the best.
Then there was a much more pleasant excuse for the braided teenager's lack of focus in his recalling how he'd woken up in Heero's arms for the first time that morning.
As a small smile tugged his lips during what was now his last final of the day, he thought of how the Vampire had smiled that smile at him when his eyes opened. He recalled the cold kiss pressed against his forehead to the point that the skin there tingled as it had at the touch.
Once again, he silently dreaded when the day would come for Heero to leave on his next hunt. Duo never was one to sit and wait things out when he could act. But there really weren't any options for him when it came to this. He was a human whilst Yuy and his family were Vampires that could handle their own against the demons.
But then... maybe there might be a way.
Stricken by a thought, the living sat upright in his desk with widened eyes. Running the notion through his head a few times over to weigh everything out, a wide grin tugged his lips. It might not exactly work, but then he did have an ace up his sleeve that he could use to his advantage.
Shaking his head, Maxwell forced himself back to the present to get through the last few questions so that he could fill his answers in on the grid sheet. Pleased with his efforts in spite of his distant thoughts, he took his papers to the front desk and handed them over to his teacher.
All but running into the hallway when he grabbed his coat, Duo came to an abrupt stop when he found Wufei leaning against the opposite wall. Smirking, the scaly Infected pushed himself from his post and approached the teenager.
"Hi, Fei," his brother greeted, the surprise in his voice and on his face as they met in the middle of the hallway. Chuckling, the living slipped his arms into his jacket sleeves and shrugged, "Not that I'm not happy to see you, but what brings you here?"
Chang gestured for him to follow him further down the hall away from the other ears around. Rounding the end corner, he checked to make sure that all was clear before he met the confused violet eyes in him to answer quietly, "I received a call from Lady Une an hour ago. She gave me direct orders to keep an eye on you at all times when you're not with Heero."
Wonder quickly turned to worry as Duo leaned his head close, whispering, "Did she tell you why? I mean... I'm not in danger or anything, am I?"
Shaking his head, Wufei replied just as softly, "I was just told that we would be filled in on everything when Treize's team has returned so that we can all be briefed together." Together, they stepped out into the sunny winter day as he smirked, "Until then, you'll just have to tolerate me acting as a bit of a bodyguard to you."
If there were any creature that Maxwell would have given that role to besides Heero, it would have been Chang. The scales shielding his body had clearly proven to be more than helpful in keeping anything shielded by them safe.
As far as his having to constantly be looked after, the braided living would have protested... had he not sat in on that Preventers' meeting to know of the potential dangers out there. Since he was unable to defend himself on his own, he supposed that he could tolerate having his brother around by a means of being safe rather than sorry.
Duo zippered his coat up against the wind that had picked up on them, noting how even with his brown coat opened his brother-in-law did not so much as blink at the sharp bite in the air. Shaking his head, he snorted, "Well, I suppose that having you around all the time is better than watching you fret the hours away while you work on your laptop."
With an undignified expression, Chang's head snapped to face him with a heated glare. "I don't fret," he huffed. His face softening with sadness, he stared ahead again and commented under his breath, "I just... really miss her." The fact that he couldn't even say Anna's name was only further proof of the time he was having with her absence.
"Yea. Me, too," Maxwell responded in kind.
Violet eyes scanning the snow-covered grounds, he mentally groaned at how the faculty and students that were walking about openly stared at Wufei... or more to the point, his scales that were reflecting the sunlight that was bouncing off the white sheets on the ground.
The Infected paid no mind to the other eyes on him. Clearly, he was more than used to being looked at when he was out in public.
Clearing his throat, the living grinned widely, "Hey, Fei. You know how a little while back, when I stood up for Anna, you promised me I could ask any favor of you and you'd do whatever you could to make it happen?"
At that, the scaly Vampire came to a stop along with the scholar in a the middle of the path where no other soul could hear them.
Raising an eyebrow, he snickered, "Already thought of something, did you?" He bowed his head dramatically. "I am your humble servant for whatever it is," he smirked when he straightened. Folding his arms across his chest, he inquired, "What is your request?"
Pulling a deep, cold breath, Duo answered, "I want to become a Preventer. And I want you to train me."
TBC...
Back to SkyLark's Fanfictions Page