Crimson Ties Part 5
Tuesday's morning classes went by in a breeze for Duo on the second day of his new semester. Despite the fact that he'd only had an hour of sleep the night before, he never felt more awake thanks to his renewed anger.
It felt right, the rage. It was something familiar to him. An old friend of sorts.
Heero was no less vile than any other Infected that he loathed. And Duo was not about to forget that the next time they met. He would make his demand and tell the monster exactly where to go to guarantee that a distance was kept between them.
Such was Maxwell's reasoning when at the end of his last class that early afternoon as he stormed up the steps to the library and through its opening doors. Narrowed violet eyes scanned the first floor as he stalked through the aisles for his target.
After walking the whole floor and not finding the Vampire, the braided teenager moved for the librarian station. The shapely, redheaded woman behind the counter looked up from her computer and smiled, "Can I help you?"
Making a real effort to keep his building fury back so as to not have it unleash on her, Duo bit hard on the inside of his cheek by means of distraction before he replied calmly enough, "Actually, I'm looking for Heero."
Practically gushing at the name, the librarian blinked her green eyes as her face flushed. "Oh," she giggled as any school girl would if she were being asked about the boy she was crushing on. Resting a hand over her large chest, she answered wistfully, "Heero is stocking our new shelves on the second floor."
"Thank you," Maxwell said in a rush as she finished her sentence and turned on his heels to move for the stairs. He couldn't stand that swooning look on her face any longer.
It was that giddy, captivated reaction that had him even more convinced that he was under the influence of the same power that the Infected wielded. One way or the other, that was going to be remedied before he left the library.
Not paying attention to the students walking about, Duo sped up his steps when he reached the second floor.
Much like the first floor, the floor was carpeted with the finest of thick burgundy-hued threads. Here and there, couches sat about the tall book cases where handfuls of his fellow classmates sat and read. Peering left and right when he reached a new row of pupils, he picked up the sound of shuffling at the end of the stretch and followed it.
As he reached the last bookcase, the braided youth came to a grinding halt as the source of his ire came into view. Perched on a tall step ladder, Heero leaned over the edge to gracefully set an armful of books onto the top shelf that he was working on.
The way that the Vampire was angled and stretching made the hem of his tight, gray T-shirt ride up just enough to reveal the firm muscles of his lower abdomen. Fighting the gasp that almost broke from him as his eyes grew, Duo couldn't help but stare at the perfect physique before him.
Peering over his shoulder when he finished placing the book in his care, Heero's lips curled in a small smile as he slowly straightened himself back on the ladder. "Hello, Duo," he greeted, climbing down to the floor.
At the sound of his name from the Infected, Maxwell refocused on his anger and hate. Glaring heatedly at the librarian, he hissed, "What the hell have you done to me?"
Taken aback, the Vampire froze in his approach to blink his cobalt eyes. "What are you talking about?" he questioned, his surprise seemingly genuine in his timbre.
"Don't act like you don't know," Duo demanded, keeping his voice at a low growl as to not cause too much of a scene if anyone was in earshot. "Whatever you're doing to make me, and everyone around here so damned... interested in you. I don't want a single fucking part of it. Do you understand?"
Heero only looked all the more confused. Shaking his head, he frowned, "I don't have a special talent of any kind by being what I am, if that's what you're assuming. And even if I had that sort of power, I wouldn't use it to manipulate what anyone thinks of me, Duo."
The braided human covered ears with his hands as he snapped, "Don't say my name like that!"
Lowering his arms again, he quickly closed the distance between them until their noses were nearly touching. "You and your kind are the scourge of this world," he rumbled through his clenched teeth.
Not about to give himself time to reconsider his words, Maxwell let them flow out as they came to him. "As far as I'm concerned, you don't deserve the right to walk amongst the living. I know that there aren't a lot of people who see you for what you are the way I do, and that's fine. Even if I was the only person on the planet that hated you, my feelings wouldn't change."
Much his surprise, the Vampire's unreadable expression never changed. There wasn't even a hint of shock or anger. In fact, if there were anything that could be picked up, it was an odd sense that he'd almost expected such sentiments to come at him.
After a brief silence, Heero bow his head and relied simply, "I shall keep my distance from you, then. Your opinion is yours to hold to, and I respect that. So, I promise to not make you uncomfortable. This will be our last discussion, if you so wish."
Yes! That was exactly what Duo wanted... but this wasn't right. There was a surge of guilt flooding him. The Infected was not supposed to be this nice about the whole thing!. He was supposed to lash out, rant, argue,... something! This kindness and respect shown was only making things worse.
Shaking his braided head, he laughed, "Oh, no you don't. You're not going to make me out to be an asshole here. You don't have to go out of your way to avoid me." He raised a hand and pointed at his own chest as he announced, "I'm the one who's being the bigger person here by trying to get to tolerate your kind. But it's going to be when I'm damned good and ready."
"Fair enough," the librarian smirked. "At least now you have a good place to start. Whenever you are feeling especially tolerant, you know where to find me. I won't press for us to be any more than acquaintances until you're ready."
With a firm nod, Duo bit out, "Good. I'll see you before Literature tomorrow, then." Spinning on his heels, he stamped away. Had he peered back over his shoulder, he would have caught the amused smirk that tugged the corner of Heero's mouth as he watched him retreat.
Once he was back outside and smelling the fresh air, Maxwell stopped on the top step. Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath to calm himself. A sudden realization over what just took place hit him like a slap to his face and his eyes shot wide open.
"What the hell just happened?" he asked himself.
* * * * * *
Hours later, Heero was stepping back into the living room of his mansion to find Trowa and Midi sitting there. At his arrival, their quiet conversation abruptly ended as their anxious faces turned to watch him as they rose their feet, "Did you get to talk to him today?" the tall Latin inquired.
"Are you still sure that it's really him?" his wife questioned.
Nodding, Heero took a seat in the recliner and answered, "I know it's him. And I did talk to him again." With a sigh, he dry washed his face with his hands. "He hates me... well, us. All of our kind."
Midi frowned sadly. Walking over to her cousin, she squeezed his shoulders as she offered, "Such a thing could only be expected, all things considered. What happened to his parents was a tragedy that never should have happened, not to mention how close he had come to being killed, himself. If we hadn't found him in time..." She shuddered, unwilling to continue with that thought.
Chewing on the inside of his cheek in thought, Trowa folded his arms across his chest. "And your feelings for him have not changed?" he asked.
His cobalt eyes peering up at the green-eyed Vampire, Heero shook his head, "You should know the answer to that. I am tied to him, regardless of how he feels about me. When he's in my presence, he has no idea of the emotions I'm holding back."
The couple shared a knowing glance. Fully understanding how powerful that bond was, their hearts went out to him. There was much at stake for their cousin if his feelings were not returned by his true Other. If his Other did not agree to become his Companion, not even her presence would be enough to save him.
Already, there had been signs that time was running out.
"Has he completely rejected you?" Midi wondered as she looked back to her charge, running a hand soothingly through his unruly hair.
Staring at the floor, Heero responded, "No. I thought that he would... I had even offered to leave him alone but he refused. Right now, I don't think even he knows what he really wants. He's more lost than I've ever been in my existence."
Trowa blinked in surprise and smiled, "Then there's still hope. If he isn't against being around you entirely, things can change between you in time."
As much as he wanted to believe that as well, Yuy was not at all sure there would be enough time for that. There was no telling how Duo would react when he remembered that he and his family were at the same Harvest where his parents had died. Even if they had saved his life from the Rogues, the braided teenager's rage and resentment could fall solely on Heero for needing their blood.
"You look tired, dear cousin. Why don't you go and feed?" Midi suggested, squeezing his shoulder again. "There is still plenty of her blood in safe storage. That should help you feel a little better."
Unable to help the small smile at her natural mothering, Heero could not deny that a feeding was long-past due. Along with being deprived of nourishment, his last talk with Duo had shaken him. Getting to his feet, he gave a shallow nod to the worried pair and headed from the room.
Once they were alone, Trowa walked up to his wife to wrap his arms around her. Sinking into his embrace, the eternal beauty rested her head against his shoulder and sighed, "I do so hope that this all works out between them. He's growing weaker, so even her blood is not enough to sustain him."
Running a hand through her shoulder-length hair, her husband placed a kiss on her forehead and shook his head, "There never has been a situation like this before in completing the tie between one of our own and their Other. As the law enforces, the humans hold onto their free will and are the ones to decide whether or not they will become a true Companion or not."
Midi lifted her head, frowning, "And if Duo learns of Heero's place in the Harvest, he could very well choose to remain untied to Heero... content to let him eventually wither and die when all other options of feeding have failed."
Opening his mouth to retort. Trowa was stopped by the sound of a few knocks echoing through the house. "Now who would that be?" he muttered as he led the way to mansion entrance and opened the door to a familiar pair of onyx eyes rimmed by gold.
The slight, beautiful, Asian-featured Vampire before him smiled in greeting, "Oh, hello, Barton. I did not expect to see you here." Craning her slender neck to try and see around the tall Latin, she asked, "Has Heero returned home from work?"
Grinning, the Clan Leader nodded firmly, "Meiran. He did return, but I am afraid that he's not exactly up for company. He is feeding now, and will be better off spending some time alone given his mood. Midi and I were going to be leaving shortly to give him his space."
A deep frown marring her pale face, the dark-haired visitor lowered her head and muttered, "Oh. I see." Putting on another wide smile, she peered back up at her fellow Vampire and shrugged, "I shall stop by again later to check on him, then." That said, she turned and walked out without waiting for a parting exchange.
Inwardly groaning, Trowa closed the door and turned to face his mate. "You would think after centuries of this that she would have gotten the hint," he grumbled. "She doesn't make it a point to hide how she wants him to make her his bonded, regardless of his feelings."
"Meiran is nothing if not persistent," Midi commented. Glaring at the closed door, she growled, "Her being brought up by the Peacecraft family has gone to her head in believing that she can have whatever she desires. She won't be happy when she learns about Heero's choice of a Companion."
Snorting, the taller Vampire stated, "It's our cousin's choice to make and it's none of her business who he shares his bond with. When and if Duo ever comes around to accepting Heero, she'll just have to get used to it."
Though his lungs did not need the air, Trowa still took a deep breath in to calm himself as he turned towards the brown eyes watching him. Cupping the side of his wife's face, he smirked, "Let's retire to our own home. Our cousin needs time on his own... and I am craving your presence in our bed."
All too happy with that suggestion, a pleased grin tugged Midi's lips.
* * * * * *
Two voices cried out in rapture as the two bodies that were twined close together shook almost violently at the peak of their lovemaking's orgasms. Still mentally reeling as he rode the wave of his climax, Wufei's dark eyes widened with a gasp when his lover pushed herself up beneath him to sink her fangs into the side of his neck.
Overcome by the sheer pleasure of feeling his bonded drink from him, it took the last bit of effort that Chang had to turn his own head as his own fangs grew. Biting into the exposed half of her neck, he moaned deeply as her essence poured into his mouth with a muffled whimper of bliss that escaped her.
Another wave of orgasms born of the incredible sensations from their drinking each other washed over the joint couple after a few long gulps. Then, his body sapped of his strength after their vigorous session, Wufei collapsed beside his wife and pulled her close against him.
Chuckling deeply, he kissed the top of her head. "Thank you, Anna. That was... much needed," he smirked as he buried his face into her thick, curly red hair. Humming an affirmative, his elated lover raised her head to claim his lips in a fierce kiss.
"I'm the one who should be thanking you," the female Vampire replied when they finally parted. Purring, she ran a hand over the smooth, scaly skin of her husband's bare chest and sighed, "If I had to go another day without indulging in you, I was going to implode."
Nodding, Wufei pushed back his loose, black hair and leaned in to slowly lick up the thin trail of blood running from the puncture wounds at the side of Anna's neck. The feel of his tongue running over her skin sent a shiver through her naked body. "Give a girl a chance to recover, would ye?" she chided, her fatigue making her slip into her native Irish accent as she playfully slapped him away.
"Oh, you make me so hot when you turn Celtic on me," Chang half-moaned, half-snickered as he lightly poked at his wife's side, making her wiggle and laugh.
Sighing when their little 'skirmish' died down, the redheaded Vampire nestled back into her husband's arms and stared up at the star-filled sky peering through the clearing in the woods that they had found.
Deep blue eyes flecked by gold shifted back to Wufei's face as she frowned, "I hope that Heero is all right. We haven't been separated for this long in years."
A concerned frown etching across his face, the Chinese Vampire held his lips against her forehead before resting his own against it. "I'm worried about him as well," he admitted. "We only have a few more days of this hunt left and then we can get you back to him."
Smiling lovingly at her partner, Anna caressed the side of his face. "Thank you for understanding, love," she breathed. "I'm fortunate enough to have a husband who appreciates and supports the connection that my brother and I have."
Chang shrugged, "You're his direct line, just as I'm yours. And I know how difficult it is for me to be away from you for any length of time. Until Heero's Other is found and becomes his Companion, you're vital to our brother's survival. I'll never have an issue with your wanting to be around him for his sake."
Raising an eyebrow, he smirked, "I'm the only one who knows every inch of your body the way that I do."
"And no other creature ever will," Anna vowed, sealing her promise with a deep kiss. When she pulled away, she whispered, "Love you."
Rejuvenated by their shared coupling and feeding, the red-headed Vampire jumped to her feet to saunter past their discarded pile of clothes and weapons. She bent to take up a couple of hair bands along the way to the nearby lake and made quick work of twisting her waist-length hair into a braid that she spun around her head.
Peering over her shoulder to her husband, she smiled at how his black-and-gold eyes roamed over the lean muscles of her nude body in the moonlight. Were she able to blush, Anna would have as she giggled, "Care to join me for a bath, or are you going to stare at me all night?"
Wufei pillowed his head on his folded arms and purred, "I'll join you as soon as I've had the chance to admire the view, first."
Oh, yes, there was no doubt that the eternal young woman would have been blushing at that compliment. Playing off her embarrassment, she waved her hand and laughed, "You're biased."
"I know what I want. And it just happens to be you," Chang declared. Pushing himself to his feet, he closed the distance between them and cupped her oval-shaped face in his hands. Forcing her blue gaze on him, he chuckled, "Even after all of these years, you're still one of the most insecure beings I've ever met, Anna Chang."
When she opened her mouth to speak up, the red-head's eyes widened when it was caught up in a passion-filled kiss that made her toes curl back. Moaning deeply, she latched onto her husband to return the gesture with everything in her.
There was reason for her to doubt herself... and what they shared as far as she was concerned. But right at that moment, she was not about to allow dark memories of a time long past to ruin the intense love that was being shown to her right in that moment.
Scooping her up without breaking the kiss, Wufei gracefully walked them into the lake and released her when they were submerged to their chests. Finally pulling away, the corner of his lips tugged upward. "Turn around," he ordered politely.
Anna spun to oblige him, a smirk on her mouth that opened in a quiet groan of pleasure when the wet scales of his hands massaged her shoulders. Content to give her husband the chance to help wash off the remnants of their lovemaking, she was more than happy to be every bit as thorough with him after she was properly seen to.
But, like all good things, they eventually had to come to an end.
Reluctantly, the couple reemerged from the lake to dry themselves and pull their clothes back on. Slipping his arms back into the sleeves of his brown T-shirt, Wufei looked to their weapons and frowned, "Treize and Lady Une are not going to be happy when we report on the progress of the hunt."
"No, they won't be," Anna agreed aloud, releasing her long tresses from their confines to fall against her. Pushing the hem of her purple Tank-top into her jean shorts, she shook her head, "This situation has a potential of getting out of hand very quickly if we don't continue to monitor it."
And if that happened... well, neither of them were ready to dwell on what that would mean for their kind and humans alike.
Very carefully, the redhead ran her fingers over the vials stored in her pocket. Quatre was going to be quite busy going through the latest samples that they had found. The sooner they had more answers to their findings the better they would be prepared to bring about the solution to their problem.
Pulling his black hair in its standard ponytail at the base of his neck, her husband suggested, "Let's just finish covering the ground we have to and get back home."
Home. Heero. Trowa and Midi.
Anna's still heart ached to be reunited with the rest of their family again. She especially missed her dear brother... so much that it physically hurt her to not have his presence near.
Practically trembling in knowing that they were to be reunited again, she climbed back to her feet and nodded firmly to Wufei that she was ready to complete their task.
Gathering up their weapons, they vanished into the woods in the blink of an eye.
* * * * * *
"Feeling especially tolerant this afternoon?" Heero smirked as a certain braided teenager walked past the librarian station to head to class. Scanner in hand, the Vampire made quick work of checking in the stack of returned books that he had been working on.
With a snort, Duo continued on by as he answered, "Enough to acknowledge you and not bolt out of here without all of my books. Later."
Blinking his cobalt eyes as his Other made his way for the stairs, Yuy felt a small smile curling his lips. Maybe Trowa was right.
Maybe there was hope, after all.
TBC...
Back to SkyLark's Fanfictions Page