There's a road - long and winding
The lights are blindin' - but it gets there
Don't give up - don't look back
There's a silver linin' - it's out there somewhere
-Lyrics to 'Star' performed by Bryan Adams
Crimson Ties Part 57
A sad smile spread across Duo's face as a couple of tears rolled down his cheeks. Slowly paging through his biological mother's diary, he took in the pictures and hand-written entries that she had entered over the months.
It was a time of happiness and excitement for the Vampire and her mortal husband leading up to the delivery of the twins that they were anticipating... long before all of that joy was destroyed. In that moment of time before the innocence and joy was disrupted, there were only smiles and pride to be found on the parents-to-be's faces and in the tone of the words penned down.
One of the favorite images for Maxwell was one of the hauntingly beautiful Infected nuzzled up against her handsome husband as he had one arm around her and his free hand resting atop her swelled belly. The love and happiness in his mother's violet-and-gold eyes, matched by the brilliant blue eyes watching her, was a moving thing to see.
Isabel and Charles... his real parents.
"They're both so... beautiful... perfect together," Duo heard himself whisper as he looked onto the couple that had brought him into the world. Swallowing roughly, he burrowed deeper against the strong chest that he was propped against when the arms around him tightened. "I wish that I'd had the chance to know them."
Gently running a hand over his lover's hair, Heero held a soft kiss against his forehead. "I wish I could have as well," he replied as quietly. "They were remarkable beings for enduring and sacrificing themselves as they did. At least you have their writings and images so that you have some pieces of them."
Swallowing past the lump that had formed in his throat, Duo closed the diary and set it aside so that he could wrap both of his arms around his Vampire. For a time, the pair simply lay atop the hybrid's bed in the dark like that in a companionable silence. So much had to be taken in from the video they had recently watched.
There had been more revelations... most of them heartbreaking and eye-opening. But at least nearly the whole puzzle that was Duo's existence had been put together.
All that was left to make the picture whole were the results of Quatre's latest tests so that the Companion could understand what it was about his makeup that the Vampires would need... what it was about him that the government had wanted so badly that could turn him into a weapon.
"You know, there was a time when I really wanted to be special just like my mom told me I was," Maxwell sighed deeply as he pushed himself to sit upright on the mattress. Staring across the room, he pulled his legs against his chest and shook his head, "But try as I did to figure out what she meant, everything about me seemed so ordinary... even compared to the other kids at the Maxwell orphanage."
Sitting up beside him, Heero shrugged, "In a way, that was what most likely kept you from being discovered by the men that wanted to use you. As much as it upset you to learn the extent to which Father Maxwell and Sister Helen went to in order to make sure that you remained with them and cover your identity, they were being every bit as protective as Carla and John had been to you."
With a smirk, the Original nudged his lover as he said, "Frankly, I am quite jealous of you. Not many people can say that they have had a more than a pair of selfless, loving parents. And here you have had three pairs in your life."
Never having thought of his situation that way before, Duo blinked his widened silver-and-violet eyes. Rubbing the back of his neck, he muttered, "Well, shit. In that case, yea... I have to admit that I was pretty damn lucky." Grinning to his partner, he chuckled, "You know how to put an optimistic spin on everything for me."
Yuy grinned, "Just making sure that you never forget how loved you are." That said, he leaned in to press their lips together in a gentle kiss. When he pulled back, he asked, "Do you think you'll let Father Maxwell and Sister Helen know that you've forgiven them? It would be nice to not have them thinking you hate them."
Even though he had never said himself that he had forgiven his guardians, Maxwell snickered at how his Vampire just knew that he had. "Yea," he sighed as their eyes met. "But I want to tell them in person instead of over the phone. It'd only be the right thing to do, considering how rough I handled things the last time I saw them."
"I'm sure they would appreciate that," the Infected smiled. "Considering how we only have a few days before we have to report back to campus for the start of the semester later this week, when shall you and I plan on heading out to the church?"
Chewing on the inside of his cheek, the hybrid responded, "The sooner the better. But at the same time I want to hang out here for as long as we can to wait and see if Quatre gets anywhere in his tests. We'll give him a couple of days before we move on if he hasn't gotten to the bottom of what's inside of me."
Heero nodded, "Of course." Raising a hand, he ran his cool fingers along his soul mate's jaw line as he questioned, "What else is on your mind? I get the feeling that something else is really bothering you."
A lump formed anew in Duo's throat at that. "Solo," he whispered brokenly.
Leaning into his lover's touch, a deep frown marred his face. "It's pretty hard for me to think that I have... or had a twin brother that may or may not need help." Shaking his braided head, he sighed, "I know that my parents told me to stay away from him if he survived everything he went through, but... it's not the easiest thing for me to accept."
Once again, his Vampire was nothing short of understanding and supportive. Wrapping his arm back around his Companion's shoulders, Yuy pulled him close. "I'm at odds over the matter, myself," he said softly.
Drawing a deep breath, he commented, "Whilst I know the importance of family since I would be lost without our siblings or cousins and so can see how you would want to seek him out, your safety is and always will be my priority. And I highly doubt that Carla and John would have ever suggested you stay away from him if they did not have a reason to be concerned."
"Yea. I know," Maxwell sighed, resting their foreheads together. A shudder running through him in recalling how his dad had warned of Solo losing his humanity if he was still alive, he promised, "Believe me, I'm not about to try and seek him out... but I don't have to be completely thrilled with the situation, either."
Deeply saddened for his partner, Heero leaned in to press their lips together to offer as much reassurance as he could. Absorbing every bit of the affection shown to him, Duo closed his eyes and deepened the kiss. No longer allowing himself to be absorbed by his grief or anything akin to sadness, the Companion only focused on the warmth, need and adoration that existed between himself and his soul mate.
Their hands roaming, clothes were shed as the pair melted down to the mattress. An easy and slow rhythm highlighted by kisses, light bites and licks along every inch of exposed skin. In every sense of the phrase, they made love with all of the fervor that they had in them while taking their time and enjoying the moment for as long as they were able.
When their climaxes were imminent, Heero remained propped over his mate as he reached for the small dagger in the drawer of the small cabinet beside the bed. Buried deep inside of his lover, he nicked the side of his neck before he lowered himself so that Duo could wrap his mouth around the wound. Groaning in pleasure, the hybrid's eyes closed as he took long gulps of the sweet nectar filling not only his body, but his soul.
Already deep in euphoria over having his partner drinking from him, the Infected just managed to have his fangs grow in so that he could bite into the nape of his Other's neck. His cry muffled even as he continued to indulge in his Vampire's essence, Maxwell's back arched as the mind-numbing pleasure that wracked his entire being sent him over the edge with Heero right behind him with a deep moan.
Once their trembling bodies calmed, Yuy carefully pulled himself from the deep recesses of his partner's body. Shifting himself to clean their chests, he slipped onto his side and pulled Duo close to him. A hand running over the embellished band of gold and crimson that shimmered in the moonlight, he whispered breathlessly, "Love you."
"Love you, too, 'Ro," the Companion smiled, still coming off of his high from their joint feeding. Nuzzling deep into the strong chest that sheltered him, he bit his lip and sighed, "Thank you... for always knowing how to take care of me." Chuckling softly, his Vampire craned his head down to hold a kiss against his temple.
There was no further need for words. All that there was in the world was their simply being... being together... being in love. And being happier than either of them could have ever have hoped they would ever experience in their existences.
Everything else would sort itself out. In the end, nothing else mattered as far as either being was concerned short of what happened between them. Time and time again, what they had would stand against whatever obstacle might come in their path.
* * * * * *
"Oh my God," Anna breathed as she leaned heavily against the wall behind her. Keeping her cell phone by her ear, she frowned in worry, "How is Duo holding up?"
Back in Trowa and Midi's mansion, Wufei replied, "As well as can be expected. Heero is staying by him, so I am sure that he'll help our little brother through this." Peering into the living room, he watched as their scientist friend made slide after slide using the samples of blood that had been presented to him.
Stepping away from the room, the scaly Infected informed, "Quatre is already busy trying to figure out what kind of weapon Duo has the potential of being. It's a good thing that you already drew supplies of blood from me and the others for the times we were separated by missions. Your medical fluid bags have more than enough for Winner to work with."
The redhead continued to walk along the sidewalk just beyond the hospital as she smirked, "Well, hopefully Relena and Midi will keep their eyes on him so that he doesn't burn himself out. That poor boy has been pretty busy since he returned home."
Chang chuckled, "You know better than anyone how much Quatre lives for this kind of thing. As enthusiastic as he is over genetics, I couldn't imagine how he could have had a better time if he'd never met us. By the time he graduates, he's going to be running laps around even the most experienced of scientists in his field."
His smile faltered at the sound of his wife's giggle. Swallowing roughly in knowing that he had to change the light-hearted banter, he sighed, "As for Relena, there's a bit of distressing news to share."
Pausing in her steps, Anna frowned and waited patiently for her lover to tell her softly, "Treize and the rest of their family headed out a few hours ago when one of our fellow agents called. It seems that they are investigating what is likely the crime scene of another victim of the Rogues."
"Goddamn it!" the Irish Vampire hissed. "Those bastards are beyond pissing me off right now!" Shaking her head, she thought aloud, "The Commanders would never have left on such short notice unless they didn't have reason to think that maybe there was a mistake." Wufei made an affirmative grunt.
Just what they all needed on top of everything else. It just seemed like life in general was throwing every challenge it could at them.
With the end of her break quickly approaching, Anna took in the sky as it began to brighten overhead. "Keep me posted if anything changes," she requested. "Even if you can't reach me, leave a message with me in case I can sneak away to see if you called."
Nodding, the scaly Vampire reassured, "Sure thing."
"And give Duo a hug for me, not one of those one-armed pats on the back, either!" his wife added quickly. "Tell him that I'll give him a good hug of my own as soon as I see him when I get home in a few days."
Unable to help the smile that spread across his face, Wufei snickered, "Okay, okay. I'll see to that for you. Only, I do hope that you have much more than a hug planned for me when you're finally released."
Blinking in surprise, Anna grinned wickedly. "Oh, don't you worry about that, lover," she purred. "If I get my way, neither of us will be resurfacing from our bedroom for quite some time and we'll be walking funny when we do."
Those words sending a chill of anticipation and excitement through him, Chang hummed, "That would be a good a start." Of course, he had much more planned than a tussle in their bed, but he wasn't about to let into his surprises. "Try to behave until I get to talk to you again," he smirked.
"Aw, you never let me have any fun," the redhead grinned as she began to head back for the entrance of the emergency room. "Love you."
Warming at the sentiment, the scaly Infected whispered back, "I love you, too." Their final salutations were exchanged before he closed the flip to his cell phone and returned to the living room.
Silently joining Relena and his cousins at the couches, Wufei watched Winner label the Petrie dishes with the names of the Vampire that belonged to the drop of blood at the center of each sample. Meanwhile, the medical cooler waiting with more bags of blood sat beside the station of microscopes, tube spinners and other tools that would all come in use.
Trowa tilted his head, asking, "So, what is your plan in testing whatever theories you might have to what Duo is capable of?"
Aquamarine eyes scanning the round dishes of his friends' blood samples, Quatre took up the one belonging to Heero. "Unfortunately, this is not exactly going to be an easy process" he responded, his gaze still staring at the dark red spot beneath the protective slide.
He rounded his station, shrugging, "There are going to be a lot of guesses and misses in figuring out what it is about him that would be so desired by Vampires. The answer might be right in front of me, but it's going to take seeing a lot of the same thing before I pick up on the change... if there is any in your DNA."
Biting his lip, the scientist carefully set the disk beneath his microscope as he declared, "But I would stake my life that there will be something very drastic and common in all of your make-up. All that I can do is hope that I'm good enough to notice it and what it all means."
Relena blinked, her growing eyes widening in awe over how much her friend could say with so little breaths. Smiling, she complimented, "Well, if there is anyone who will get the answers, I'm confident you will, Quatre."
Cheeks burning with a deep blush, the blonde living peered over his shoulder to meet the Infected's gaze. "Thank you, Lena," he grinned shyly. Forcing back the red to his face, he cleared his throat and focused on Midi. "You said that the blood of Heero's that was on storage is from before he ever drank from Duo?"
Just managing to contain her amusement over the little moment of sweetness between her friends to a small smile, the 'little mother' nodded, "Yes. Anna had drawn that from him months ago when we were running out of options to keep him nourished."
Mentally shuddering of how close the Japanese Infected had come to fading away if he was so desperate that he had to drink from himself, Winner swallowed roughly. "That's what I need, then," he murmured. Taking up his opened notepad and pen, he set it beside the microscope and peered into the eyepiece.
Not wanting to distract the scientist from his work, the Vampires silently stepped out of the room. Relena and Trowa remained close, both to retain their roles as the mortal's protection and to be around should he need their help in any way.
Rubbing her hands together anxiously, Midi all but whispered to the others, "I'll start a pot of coffee and breakfast for Quatre. If this is going to take any bit as long as he's hinting, he is going to need to be looked after since I doubt he'd care about how he is holding up." That said, she turned on her heels and hurried for the kitchen.
"I'm going to check on Heero and Duo," Wufei announced. Bowing his head respectfully to his cousin and the Councilwoman, he headed out. Once he was out on the porch, he shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans and walked with purpose towards his brothers' estate.
Greeted by Heero when he knocked on their front door, the scaly Infected nodded to him as he stepped inside to find his younger sibling in the living room. A freshly bitten Duo rose from his seat and neared with a smiled, "Hey, 'Fei. Was Quatre able to find everything that he needs for his research?"
Chang nodded, "He's just started his study. From the sound of things, he's going to need a lot of time in getting to the bottom of what we all want to know about you. However, we're also convinced that he'll be able to get to the bottom of what the scientists were after. Right now, he just needs some time and space to work."
Swallowing roughly, the Companion muttered, "Yea." He folded his arms and unconsciously ran his hand over the gold and crimson band fixed to his bicep. It took this long for him to learn that he was born of a Vampire. Whatever else there was to know would come to light sooner or later. All that he could do was practice a little more patience.
"I, uh... was charged with a certain duty," Wufei informed as he shifted his weight back and forth in discomfort. Before either of his brothers could ask, he sighed and opened his arms before he was any more uncomfortable with the matter. Pulling Maxwell into a full, tight embrace, he told him, "That's from Anna."
Taken aback at actually being hugged by the scaly Vampire, Duo blinked in shock before he had his senses back to laugh as he returned it before Chang pulled back. It was a very noble and sweet gesture for the Infected to step out of his comfort zone to honor a request from his wife the way that he had.
Silently, the braided hybrid couldn't help but wish that his sister was home with them so that she could have given him the hug herself. "Thanks, man," he snickered. His smile slipping away, he asked, "Any idea how long Anna is going to be working at the hospital?"
Wufei replied, "At least another three whole days. She also told me to let you know that she owes you more hugs where that came from when she does return home."
In light of how much he missed the redhead, that was exactly what Duo needed to hear. With a small grin, he responded, "Cool. I appreciate your passing that on."
Chucking quietly, Heero stepped beside his lover to rub his back soothingly. "The timing works out for us. We'll give Quatre some time to get his arrangement sorted out before we go and visit the Maxwell church some time over these next couple of days," he commented.
Violet-and-silver eyes blinking, his lover nodded, "Good point." A thought coming to him from an earlier discussion, he looked back to the other Infected and inquired, "Has Relena heard anything more from Treize or the others yet? Did they confirm if there was another attack from the Rogues?"
The subject boiling his blood all over again, Wufei shook his head, "There has been nothing more reported in as of now. But I'm assuming that we should hear something before long as they must have arrived at the location of interest by now."
Appearing every bit as unsettled as his Other over the possibility that there was yet another victim of their enemies, Heero frowned, "If it is, then the attacks are coming on with less and less down time in between." Hesitant to even think of it, he added, "If we're not unaware of even more cases like this. There's always the chance that we're looking at something bigger than what we are assuming."
"They just can't stay hidden forever," Maxwell huffed in frustration, running a hand through his bangs. "We have to get lucky some time here and have a way of finding them so that they can be taken care of."
Of course, that was what they were all hoping. But when and if that opportunity would ever come remained to be seen.
* * * * * *
Noin sighed as she leaned heavily against the brick wall behind her. "This is every bit as bad as the last attack," she muttered under her breath.
Her golden eyes scanning the snow that had been covered over by a fresh layer of snow, the tracker was able to see all of the divots that told the story of what had taken place in the empty alley no more than a few nights before. Releasing a shaky breath, she shook her head, "There was no mercy shown... only brutal violence. And the clean up is too pristine, regardless of the fact that the snow covered things."
On his hands and knees a few feet away from her, Zechs slowly and carefully extracted a syringe that he had plunged deep into the bank along the edge of the wall. The tube contained two drops worth of blood. "But they left just enough for us to find, just like every time before," he growled as he rose with his eyes staring heatedly at the evidence in his hands.
"Based on the smell that I picked up," the Speaker sighed, "this victim was a young male. I'd place them as at college age- late teens, early twenties."
Standing alongside his joint Commanders, Agent Greene of the area blinked his gold-rimmed green eyes. Tall and muscular, the Vampire's short red hair swayed as he turned to Treize. "Yesterday, a missing person's report was filed on a college student with that same description," he informed.
Lady Une met his gaze and requested, "Please be sure to gather every detail from the report that you can. It would only help if we can be quick in identifying the poor soul who came against the Rogues here."
The handsome Preventer's eyes narrowed in disgust. "With all due respect, ma'am," he growled in his deep voice, "I hope that your theory that Rogues are not responsible for all of this holds out. If it does turn out to be our own kind, I will forever be ashamed to call myself a Vampire along with them."
Patting his agent on the shoulder, Treize grunted, "As would we all, Lance." With a deep sigh of emotional strain over the situation, he turned away from the crime scene that his cousins were quietly discussing amongst themselves.
Focused on their friend, the Councilman said sincerely, "Thank you for calling on us as soon as you did. If it would not be too much trouble to you or your Companion, might we be able to stay at your estate for a couple of days so that we can continue to work from here in gaining everything we can on our victim?"
His eyes widening, Lance beamed, "Oh, no trouble at all, Sir. Molly and I would be honored to have all of you in our home for as long as you need." Waving, he turned on his heels and led the way from the alley as his guests covered their heads with hoods as a precaution to keep from being recognized.
Once they stepped out into the crowded streets, the Infected turned into blurs of themselves and sailed through the unknowing pedestrians.
* * * * * *
Such a strange request, this one.
But, Meiran wanted him and Solo was going to make sure that she had him. Never one to disappoint, the hybrid smirked when the raven-haired Vampire entered his throne room only to come to an abrupt halt with a startled gasp.
Eyeing the smirking being that stood beside her captor, a dark smirk tugged the corner of her mouth. "You work quickly," she praised. "I am most impressed."
"Dorothy confirmed everything that you had come to say with her gift," Solo replied. Casting his Seer a sidelong glance, he was given a small nod of further verification that all was just as it needed to be.
Frustrated, the chained creature standing amongst the lot grumbled, "Soon as I'm free, ye all will be sorry fer takin' me like this! I want a fair fight!"
Quickly approaching him, Meiran raised a hand as she reassured, "I do apologize for the inconvenience on behalf of everyone here, but I assure you that it was all for the best." Raising an eyebrow, she grinned, "See, you and I have a mutual friend... a friend who I am quite certain you have been anxious to be reacquainted with."
Solo and Dorothy exchanged amused glances. Their lovely accomplice was proving to be worth more to them alive than dead with every action she took. "How are the players of the game that is about to unfold?" the hybrid questioned quietly as his guests became more familiar with each other.
"The church and weapons' base are exactly as Meiran had said. And though I cannot see Duo or whoever will be around him at any time, I can see the others falling into place just as we have wanted very soon," the Seer answered with a pleased smile.
Very soon. Everything in Duo's world was going to come crashing down in one fell swoop to destroy whatever opposition he might pose to his brother's cause.
Grinning widely, Solo purred, "Excellent."
TBC...
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