I'll be your dream, I'll be your wish
I'll be your fantasy, I'll be your hope
I'll be your love, Be everything that you need.
I love you more with every breath, Truly madly deeply do.
-Lyrics to 'Truly Madly Deeply' by Savage Garden
Crimson Ties Part 49
The sun rose up into the sky with a brilliant glow that penetrated the drawn blinds of Duo's bedroom window. Even through his closed eyelids, Duo could make out the brightening of his surroundings.
Sighing deeply, the braided Companion turned onto his side to put his back to the shades and burrowed himself deeper into the strong and cold chest curled up close beside him. A firm pair of arms draped around the former living to hold him tight as a gentle kiss was pressed and held against his temple.
Heero. Smiling against the Vampire's muscular torso, Maxwell let out another deep sigh of content. Reveling in the feeling of their bodies pressed together with only the comforter draped over them, he silently wished that they could stay like that for the rest of their existence.
If there really was a Heaven, this was what it would be like. Nothing was more pure, profound or fulfilling.
Loathe to open his eyes as he was to greet the morning that would eventually pull them away with their responsibilities, Duo knew that eventually they would have to resurface into the world. Besides, he wanted to drown in those gold-and-cobalt eyes that he knew would be watching him.
He wasn't disappointed when he blinked his eyelids to refocus himself, his head already tilted up so that his violet gaze could properly take in the sparkling oceans that insisted in pulling him in. The love and adoration in that gaze left Duo breathless and ever dumbfounded that such emotions were directed at him.
To think that someone as strong and compassionate as Heero could think the sun rose and set with Maxwell was something that was hard to imagine. The Infected was an Original, one of the first of his kind. He'd hidden in mountains and forests for many a decade with few that he could call family and friends.
Yuy became the ever-present cousin to Trowa and Midi, supporting their marriage and staying true to their forged friendships in the darkest of times for their brethren. He had saved the life of a dying girl he knew little of, save for her desire to live. He had stayed by his sister, spending nearly every night with her at her cell to keep her company in the Antarctic for a decade.
Anna had been right... there were few creatures more devoted and expressive of their love than Heero.
Matching the wide grin on his Vampire's face, the Companion leaned up to press their lips together in a long and lazy round consisting of deep and sweet, chaste kisses.
"God, I love you so much," Yuy breathed when they broke away, their foreheads pulled together and his fingers laced in his lover's braid.
Without hesitating, Duo replied in kind, "I love you, too, 'Ro." He was rewarded with a blindingly brilliant smile and another deep kiss in response. Losing himself in the moment, the former living buried his hands deep into the Infected's unruly hair as his eyes drifted closed.
How he had fought this beautiful and perfect thing... this ultimate bond in which he felt safer and more cherished than he could have even imagined was something that the newly born Companion thought back on in wonder. No longer could he remember the old Duo Maxwell that despised Vampires and anything tied to them.
From the moment he first met Heero Yuy, the braided immortal recalled how instantly he felt their connection. And now with their coupling the night before and his drinking his bonded's blood to turn him, the intensity of that hold tying them together was beyond explanation.
When their mouths parted again, the Infected ran a hand through his lover's long bangs to stare into his violet eyes. "How are you feeling?" he asked softly.
Actually taking a moment to think on that, Duo's eyes grew and blinked. Other that a little sore from their activities the night before, he physically felt no different than he had before he was changed in taking his partner's blood. "I feel great. Better than that, actually," he replied sincerely, a bit of his surprise in his tone.
Shifting to prop his side up a bit, he frowned, "Shouldn't there be... something that I notice different in me? I mean, I'm not a mortal anymore. You'd think that the slowing of my organs before they finally still with the exception of my heart would be pretty noticeable."
Yuy folded his arms behind his head and shrugged, "When I became a Vampire, I had thought the same thing until I realized that my heart was no longer beating I was not breathing." Raising an eyebrow, he commented, "But we both know that you were changed. Even if there is nothing noticeable, you sense the difference just as I do."
Moving an arm to run its fingers along the glimmering gold-and-crimson band on his Companion's arm, he snickered, "Besides the obvious evidence."
Violet eyes gazing down on his permanent ring, Duo grinned and nodded, "Yea. I sense it." Lowering himself back down, he gracefully slipped flush atop his Vampire as he moved in for another deep kiss that was returned with every bit as much fervor as he put out there.
He wanted to forever stay like this with Heero... he wanted them to find a way to merge into one body so that they could always occupy the same space together in every which way. This gorgeous, remarkable creature was his. It was overwhelming to think that God would have been so gracious as to grant him such an incredible gift.
At the stray tear that dropped onto his cold cheek, the Infected's gold-and-cobalt eyes flew open. Seeing the long trails running down his lover's face, he gasped and carefully lifted him up to end their kiss. "Duo?" he whispered, voice dripping in worry. "What's wrong, love?"
Snickering, his Companion lowered himself back down beside him. Cheeks blushing, he reached up to wipe at his shimmering eyes with a soft chuckle. His braided head shaking, he reassured sincerely, "I'm just happy, Heero... happier than I ever thought that I could be."
Once his vision was cleared of the dampness that had the world swimming, Maxwell could see the concern and questions in Yuy's gaze. Smirking, he rested their foreheads together once more as he insisted, "I wanted this. No. I needed this. I need you. I love you. And I was a damned idiot for not allowing myself to see that before."
Slowly reaching up to cup the side of his lover's face, he murmured from his heart that had been aching to say the words. "You are everything to me, Heero Yuy. And I forever pledge myself to you for the rest of our existences."
It was the Vampire's turn to have his emotions catch up to him and his own eyes watered. Clearing his throat, his thick voice whispered, "I've waited.... a very long time to hear that."
Duo swallowed roughly past the lump in his throat as it really hit home how long the Infected had been without a soul mate. Heero had to silently sit in the wings as he watched the sweet, loving relationships that his cousins and siblings were lucky enough to find.
"Well, I hope that it was worth it," the braided Companion smiled nervously, ducking his head.
Chuckling, Heero nodded, "It was more than worth every second." When he leaned in to exchange a chaste kiss, the gentle touch expressed how sincere the sentiment was. Pulling away, he took hold of the end of his partner's braid. A small smirk tugging the corner of his mouth, he met the violet eyes watching him, requesting, "May I?"
Quickly recalling all of the hints that his Vampire had made to how he wanted to see his long hair down, Maxwell smiled with a small nod. Nimble, cold fingers made easy work of removing the rubber band at the end of the rope of hair before they unraveled the loose weave to send the wavy tresses free.
Biting his lip, Duo's slowed heart began to beat a little harder as the covers were pulled away so that Yuy could take in every inch of him.
If it were possible, the newly turned immortal felt more exposed under that cobalt-and-gold stare that roamed over his body... and it wasn't due to his naked state. It was as if even his soul were on display, as if the Vampire could look right into that secret part of him.
"You're beautiful," Heero breathed, a hand running through the long locks that were cascading around his Companion. Shaking his head, he corrected, "No. You are exquisite."
At the burn in his cheeks and the shimmer of his eyes, the former living turned his head away, chuckling, "You know, of all the changes in my body, it would have been nice to lose my ability to blush and cry."
Gently holding his lover's chin to keep their gazes locked, Heero's loving smile remained as he gently wiped a stray tear away with the pad of his thumb. "I'll always be here to hold you whenever you need to cry," he vowed. Smirking, he added, "And I'm glad you can still blush. You're adorable when you do."
His face reddening all the more, Duo laughed and lightly swatted the cold hand away before he pounced back onto his partner. Their lips locking in a passion-driven exchange, the forged pair latched onto each other for another round of worshiping through touches and kisses.
When they finally separated, the Infected remained on his back as he reached up to run his fingers over his lover straddling his hips. "At some point, we're going to have to resurface to see the others," he snickered. "You know we'll never hear the end of it from Midi and Anna especially if they're not told the wonderful news soon."
Feeling his partner's free hand trace the gold band on his right arm, Maxwell's grin spread further across his face. "Yea," he agreed with a firm nod, "But first, I need a shower." Raising an eyebrow, he offered, "I'll wash your back if you'll wash mine."
Quickly sitting up to catch his Companion in his arms as their chests pressed together, Yuy claimed his mouth once more in a sweet kiss. In their close contact, the pendants around their necks made a soft chime when they brushed up together. Rubbing the tips of their noses together, he purred, "Deal."
* * * * * *
"You cannot keep me in here forever!" Meiran screamed within the confines of her small, windowless cell.
Pacing back and forth with her fangs exposed, she shrieked, "I am a Khushrenada, the bloodline of a true Original and the relative of representatives on the Vampire Council! Mark my word that you will all be sorry for treating me like some common prisoner!"
The Infected growled deeply, fists clenched at her sides as she continued in her purposeful steps back and forth across the short space provided her. This was beyond unacceptable, being trapped and expected to wait for some maker of the creatures that captured her.
Meiran waited on no one! Especially not in a cage!
Finally, the door that blended into the thick walls of rock began to open. Bending at her waist as she spun towards it, the raven-haired beauty made to strike whatever it was that was entering. Only the moment she was about to spring forward, a bolt of energy slammed into her abdomen and slammed her back against the wall behind her with a sharp cry of pain.
Staring down at the white glowing web that wrapped around her waist that held her tight, Meiran's gold-and-onyx eyes narrowed. At the sound of footsteps approaching, her head snapped up to take in the young blonde entering the room.
Lovely in her features and slender form, the girl of no more than nineteen wore an emerald halter dress that fell to her knees. Wearing black heels that clicked along the floor in her steps as she neared the Infected, her hauntingly pale blue eyes were encircled by the same silver ring as the others.
Just behind the new arrival, Berber stepped into the doorway. Capturing the Vampire's gaze, she shot a warning glare that begged the captive to try and move. Smiling, the blonde continued to look on their prisoner as she said, "Excellent work, Sharon. You may release her and leave us now."
Hesitant, the brunette waved her hand in the air as though wiping away at something before she walked off, closing the door behind herself. Feeling the webbing evaporate, Meiran's fangs grew back in. Focused back on the girl before her, she smirked, "That was a mistake."
Sharon was in the process of raising her hand again when the Infected hunched down to spring for the blonde. "How do you know Duo?" the long-haired beauty demanded suddenly.
As though she had been splashed by ice water when she was seconds from lunging forward, the Vampire's eyes widened and she stumbled back from the reeling shock of the dreaded human's name. Glaring heatedly at the blonde, she hissed, "How the hell do *you* know that little bastard?"
Giggling, her captor smirked, "Good. I knew there was a reason why I saw you to be the one to work with us in finding him."
"What makes you think that I would ever work with you after how you treated me?" Meiran snorted bitterly, her fangs retracting ever so slightly.
The gesture was meant to silently make it known that she was listening. If these creatures were looking for Maxwell, her task to join forces with them might not be half as difficult as she'd first anticipated. Smirking, the young creature replied, "Because you want him out of the picture and we want him."
Her lungs filling with a gasp at that, the raven-haired immortal's golden eyes grew. "You wish to destroy him?" Try as she did to keep her intentions to herself, she couldn't help but have a tone of longing in her voice.
"No," the blonde responded, a bite in her own timbre. "My maker, Solo, wishes to bring him in with us where he belongs."
Solo. Meiran made sure to commit that name to memory. Whether he was a friend or foe still remained to be seen, but he would not be forgotten by her either way.
Not at all pleased to hear that her captors wished to keep Maxwell intact, the Vampire snorted, "And just what are you that he belongs to? And do you have a name, or are you such a lap dog to this Solo that you have no identity anymore?"
Giggling again, the young woman shook her head in amusement, "I had a feeling that you would be a fun little challenge when I first saw you days ago. My name is Dorothy. And as for my kind, we refer to ourselves as the Others. Since we are neither true humans nor Vampires, it's only right that we have our own title."
The Others. Fitting, in the Infected's mind as she had the chance to see the reports in her cousins' files to know that these beings were believed to be Others, future Companions to her own kind. Silently, she wondered if these creatures saw the irony in their kind's reference.
"And what does this maker, Solo, want with Duo?" Meiran pressed, folding her arms across her chest. "There is absolutely nothing about that human that I could see him as being important in any way."
The corner of her mouth curling up, Dorothy chided, "And yet you were unable to take care of him, if he was such an annoyance to you." Her arms falling to her sides at the 'slap' of those words, the Vampire's eyes narrowed and her body shook with her rage.
Raising an open hand in the air, the Other smiled, "My apologies. But I must have you understand the gravity of the situation. There is nothing ordinary about him." She lowered her hand and drew a deep breath. "As for why my maker is so interested in finding him... Duo is Solo's twin brother."
* * * * * *
On pins and needles with excitement, Duo's hands drummed on his bent knees as he sat in his living room. Purposely wearing his sleeveless, red turtleneck with his jeans, the braided Companion looked to the shimmering band on his arm. Reaching over to brush his fingers over the embellished crimson twine that laced the ring, he smiled to himself.
"You look comfortable with that," Heero's voice said softly. Peering up, Maxwell blinked in seeing his Vampire leaning against the door frame with an adoring smile on his face. By the casual posture, it was easy to assume that he had contented himself to watching his partner for a while.
A wide grin spreading on his lips, Duo rose to his feet and approached his lover as he commented, "Funny thing is, it feels like it's always been a part of me. I've already had a few times when I forgot that it was on." Shrugging, he smirked, "Sort of like you."
Chuckling, Yuy closed the distance between them and claimed the braided immortal's mouth in a heated kiss. All too happy to return the gesture, Maxwell closed his eyes, moaning softly as they held tightly to each other. Feeling himself being lifted by his Vampire's strong arms, he hooked his legs around his Chosen's waist.
Out of habit more than the need for air, the former living panted heavily when they broke apart. "God I can't get enough of you," the former living whispered breathlessly, fingers lodged deeply into the thick hair at the back of his partner's head.
"All part of the change, too," Heero responded softly. The corner of his mouth tugged upward as he warned, "I didn't think it was possible, but I need and want you even more now that the tie between us has been sealed." A thought washing over him, his lopsided smile faded, a cloud of something very dark and sad taking the light from his golden eyes.
Had it not been for his hearing Wufei and Anna's story, Duo would never have known what was likely causing the change in his soul mate. Instead, he smiled and placed soft kisses all along the Infected's cold face.
Leaning back to rest their foreheads together, he said, "Maybe the change in us and the link give us the chance to live a longer existence together, but I know that what I feel for you comes from me and not some mystical thing that's beyond our understanding." Grinning, he vowed, "I love you truly and deeply, Heero."
Gold-and-cobalt eyes blinked away the slight tingle in them as he gave a brilliant smile at those two words that he had used to describe his own feelings. Nodding, he breathed, "Truly and deeply." Their pact was sealed in another long kiss that left their growing passion on the verge of scorching them.
"How long before the others get here?" Maxwell inquired once his lips were freed to speak. Already feeling his nether region responding wholeheartedly in a need for action, his hands were gripping into his lover's blue sweater in their wish to rip the material away.
Sighing, Yuy groaned, "Any minute, unfortunately. Too soon for us to take care of this." He ground their linked hips together so that his own stiffness rubbed against his Companion's, making the braided immortal gasp with wide eyes. "I should have thought ahead more and asked them to stop over later tonight."
Duo chuckled, "It's alright. We'll have all night to make up for the lost time." Leaning in, he nibbled along the Vampire's jaw line, purring, "Which I intend to make good use of when we're back in our bedroom." His eyes closing with a grunt of anticipation, Heero turned his head to crush their mouths together.
Suddenly able to hear the softest of creaks in the wooden steps of the front porch, the Companion pushed back and unlaced his legs from his partner's waist. Making quick work of readjusting their clothes and willing their erections away, the couple smirked to each other in amusement at the sound of the front door opening.
Her steps rushed as she rounded the corner with Trowa, Wufei and Anna in tow, Midi was in full 'mother' mode, asking, "What's the urgent matter that you two needed to discuss?" The moment that the family was in the room and had a good look at the braided Companion, they froze with gasps and wide eyes that were settled on the gold band around his bicep.
A cry escaping her, the recently bitten brunet slapped her hands over her mouth. The twin fang marks in Barton's neck shook as he laughed, "I knew it!" Tears filled the redhead's eyes as she giggled, biting her lip while a very pleased Chang wrapped an arm around her shoulders to squeeze her against his side.
The first to break from her stupor, Midi sprang for Duo to throw her arms around him. "Oh, I'm so happy for you both!" she cheered, tears running down her cheeks. Clearing his throat, Heero seemed to struggle with keeping his eyes dry against his emotions when his cousin held him next.
A round of congratulations and one-armed embraces went around the room. The last to join in, Anna slowly approached the newest official member of the family with a proud smile.
Biting his lip, Maxwell mouthed a sincere 'thank you' to her before he pulled her close. Had it not been for her heart-wrenching recantation of her experience with Wufei, he might never have realized that it was his heart longing for Heero and nothing else.
The Irish Infected clung to him just as tightly and kissed his cheek. By his ear, she whispered, "Good on you, little brother. Welcome to the family." She received a tight squeeze in response before Yuy stepped up to be 'attacked' by his sister next. Chuckling, the unruly-haired Infected spun her as they embraced.
"So, when is the wedding?" Midi inquired when everyone had their moment with the newly forged couple. Reaching into the pocket of the apron she wore over her sundress, she announced, "I've had an invitation list ready for weeks now. All I have to do is have you pick out the invitations and-"
Duo waved his hands in the air, laughing, "Whoa, little mother! Heero and I haven't even begun getting into discussing that topic just yet. Besides, I don't even thing a wedding is necessary since we're always going to be together no matter what." Heero beamed at his side at the sentiment. Leaning in, he pressed a kiss to his Companion's cheek.
Lightly patting the former living's braided head, the brunette Infected smiled, "Oh, I think it's so sweet that you think you have a say in the matter. We've all been waiting for this moment for decades upon decades. And this is the last wedding in our family that we'll be able to enjoy."
Chuckling, Trowa shook his head, "Just go along with it, Duo. It'll all be a lot less painful if you don't fight my wife when she has her mind set." He laughed along with the rest of his family when his bride smacked him in the arm with a glare.
Honestly touched by Midi's wishes, Maxwell sighed as he turned towards his Vampire. Shrugging, he grinned, "Well, with a proper proposal when we don't have enough to worry about with the Rogues, I'm up for a wedding if you are."
Lacing his arm around his Companion's waist, Yuy smirked, "You know I'm game for that." The Latin Infected let out a shrill cry of excitement before she threw herself at the new loves to hug both their necks at the same time while the others sat back snickering.
Gently patting his cousin's back, the smile on Duo's face couldn't have been wider. Not only was he permanently tied to Heero now, but they would eventually be married as well. Nothing was going to be able to ruin his joy... not even the Rogues.
* * * * * *
Later that evening, the new lovers were linked together on the Companion's bed. Their lips locked and naked bodies intertwined after the last round of lovemaking, the pair moaned and panted in the aftermath.
Chuckling breathlessly, Duo brushed back the loose hair that was draped around his lithe form. A pleased smirk on his face, he purred, "I'd say that was a good start to catching up on that lost time." Unable to trust his voice at that moment, Heero just hummed in agreement, nodding his head against the nook of his partner's shoulder that he was nuzzling.
A companionable silence settled over them as they contented themselves to just holding, kissing and caressing each other in the brilliant colors that flooded the room from the setting sun. Once again locked away from the rest of the world, all that mattered was the creature in their arms and expressing every bit of the love they had for each other.
With another sigh, Maxwell rested the side of his head against his Vampire's shoulder. Chewing on the inside of his cheek in thought, he asked, "How long will it be before my change will make it safe for you to drink from me?"
Heero shivered at the question, his resolve faltering in his desire to sink his fangs into his lover right then. For him, the moment would only be right when he was granted permission to do so. "As of this morning, I could bite you without infecting you."
Blinking in surprise, Duo swallowed roughly. This would be the official release of the last of his guards. Quickly lying flat onto his back, he turned his head towards the window to expose his neck. "I'm ready," he announced, his conviction and reassurance clear in his voice.
Gold-and-cobalt eyes locked on the slowly pulsing vein in his partner's neck. Yuy swallowed past the lump in his throat. Slowly shifting to prop himself above his Companion as his fangs grew in, he leaned in as his eyes drifted closed and gently kissed the soft skin before his teeth penetrated it.
With a sharp gasp Maxwell's eyes widened at the wave of pure euphoria that coursed through every fiber of his being. Groaning in his own pleasure, Heero continued to drink his Companion's sweet, life-giving essence in long gulps as his fleeting control over his own composure slipped away.
His back arching and eyes closing, Duo let go of the few tendrils holding him to the world and allowed his body to release in another orgasm that wracked his body. Right behind him, Yuy's muffled scream and trembling body spoke of the power of his climax before he collapsed completely onto his partner.
Feeling the fangs retract from his neck, the long-haired immortal breathed heavily as he tried to get his thoughts together following the mind-blowing experience. Love-making was one thing... but to actually sense how needed he was through that drink was overwhelming. He had given everything he had to offer of himself and it was accepted with the utmost graciousness, desire and compassion.
A few stray tears ran past his closed eyelids to be kissed away by cool lips that only brought on warmth in their wake. "Thank you, my love," Yuy whispered, his voice thick with emotions that he was choking back. "That was... even more incredible than I could have dreamed."
"Yea," Maxwell snickered. "I know what you mean." Opening his eyes, he smiled up at his Vampire. The immense joy that was throbbing through him was lost when Heero stiffly froze in wide-eyed fear with a sharp pull of air.
Stammering, the Vampire whispered, "D-Duo? What...?" The words were lost to him. Something was clearly wrong and he was in a panic.
Around the violet pupils watching him, there was a band of silver.
TBC...
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