I've been roaming around, I was looking down at all I see
Painted faces fill the places I can't reach
You know that I could use somebody
You know that I could use somebody
-Lyrics to 'Use Somebody' performed by Kings of Leon
Crimson Ties Part 88
Duo sat alongside his lover on the waiting bench before the two cells that contained the Wilds. Beyond the impenetrable glass, the tall Others were lying on their sides across the floor under the effects of their heavy sedation. No longer snarling or imposing as they slumbered away, they looked little more than the young men that they actually were.
"Aw," the braided Companion grinned as he rested his temple on his Vampire's shoulder. "They're so cute when they're sleep." Heero laughed, his head falling back with the loud ring that filled the air. From their own stations by the remaining cells, Sally, Josh, Anthony, Amara and Kristy snickered and shook their heads in amusement.
Suddenly, there was a flash of color in the center of the room that materialized into Trowa, Zechs and Noin as quickly as it appeared. In their arms, Barton and Merquise each carried a frail female Infected.
Already prepared for their imminent arrival, the braided doctor removed two syringes from her medical bag and rushed to the new arrivals. Weary and frightened as the pale, coughing Vampires were, they were too weak to be anything but cooperative as they were prepped to have their blood drawn.
Unconsciously, Maxwell's hand reached up to latch onto Yuy's arm. Distraught over the ghastly sight that their new guests made, he was too stricken to move or speak. Relena had used her ability to find the two worst cases of Vampires that were losing their battle to go on existing. And her gift was right in finding this pair as they were clearly as bad off as Rosshe had been when he was recovered, if not worse.
The first that was seen to struggled to raise the side of her sweat-drenched face away from the Speaker's chest so that she could lift her head. "I-is this going to work?" the trembling creature asked Po in little more than the whisper that she could manage. Tears filling her eyes, the short-haired blonde whimpered, "Will they accept us even if we are not who Wilds were originally tied to?"
A sad smile gracing her lips as she finished filling the first syringe, Sally met the tired gold-and-green eyes on her and replied, "That's what we're all here to try and see happen." Removing the needle from their first patient, she moved to work on the lovely African creature that had a hard time keeping her eyes open while she was all but lifeless in Trowa's arms.
Duo's heart broke a thousand times as he looked on the nearly faded immortals as the hope over that sentiment brought on nervous, bittersweet grins.
This would have to be a very emotionally challenging moment for them... to know that they might have a chance to exist with a Companion that was not their originally intended soul mate that had forever been taken away before they'd ever had the chance to know each other.
Judging by the expressions on the travelers that had gathered the beautiful Infected, it had been a difficult experience for them to be the bearers of the double-edged news.
"There," Sally announced softly when she pulled the second needle free.
Nodding to Heero, she waited for him to usher her inside each Wild's holding cell and injected the prisoners with the blood of who they hoped could now be deemed as their Vampire. Hurrying out of the last room with the doctor when the last brute that she oversaw began to stir as the syringe was removed from his neck, the Original sealed off the room once more.
With a deep sigh, the doctor wiped her brow with the back of her arm and returned to her medical bag as she informed, "All that we can do for now is wait for them to wake up and see what happens." That said, she removed two half-pints of Treize's recently donated blood from her kit and produced one to each of her new charges. "For now, this should more than tide you over in the meantime."
Confused, the ailing beings stared at the offerings in their possession for a moment before they sank their fangs into the plastic to drink greedily.
The moment they finished, there was a considerable change in them from the less sickly hue of their skin to the evaporation of the sweat that had coated them. Taken aback by the immediate difference, Amara murmured, "Remarkable." Beside her, Anthony nodded with a wide smile.
"A-amazing," the darker-skinned Infected stammered with her thick African accent, shifting so that should stand under her own willpower. Brushing her long braids behind her shoulders, she laid a hand over her breastplate, she shook her head, "I no longer need to breathe again."
Relief fell over the room like a palatable thing as the onlookers sagged heavily with deep sighs. "Well, that's half of the battle won," Trowa chuckled, a wide smile finally tugging his mouth. Politely gesturing to his friends and family standing by, he introduced, "Gabre, Mimi, these are just a handful of the welcoming party that we had told you about."
Folding her hands together, Mimi's gold-and-emerald eyes shimmered as she looked on the smiling faces surrounding her. "We are forever in your debt," she whimpered. Gabre nodded in a seconding of the sentiment as her throat was constricted by the lump that prevented her from speaking at the moment.
Noin voiced on behalf of the group by bowing her head and reassuring, "It's our pleasure." Wrapping his arms around her shoulders, Zechs nodded and leaned the side of his head against hers, enjoying the peace that came on in knowing that at least part of their theory was panning out in preserving their own.
Her hands brushing back her long sun dress, the blonde, Italian Vampire swallowed roughly and moved to stand before the nearest holding cell to take in her potential Companion as though a chain connected them. The African Infected followed suit, peering through the glass of the next cell as the others around held their collective breath.
In many ways, the Wilds were complete opposites- the one injected with Mimi's blood a tall, Hispanic, dark-featured and muscular young man of her turned age in their mid-twenties while Gabre's was a fair, late teenager like herself, lean with a head of red hair. "What are their names?" the braided Vampire questioned, peering her head over her shoulder to lay her onyx-and-gold eyes on her rescuers.
Just as Josh's mouth opened to answer, another voice spoke up from down the corridor to reply, "Peter and Eduardo." Spinning, the band looked on as Sharon approached, fresh from her changing sleep with her hand in Jacob's. Both the image of perfect health and radiating adoration for each other, the couple neared their friends.
Berber's green eyes no longer bearing the silver bands that belonged to Solo's Others, her smile faltered as she stared at the Wilds. "For all of your sakes, I hope that this plan works. I knew them both not long before they..." Her voice hitching, she avoided having to bring up those painful memories and instead shared, "They're both great guys."
Never breaking her focus on Eduardo, Midi said so softly that her words were almost nonexistent as she murmured reverently, "Yes. I can already feel that. So strange... it... it's as if everything about him is suddenly flooding me now. I can even make out some of his past the same way that I had once felt before with my Chosen."
"It is the same for me with Peter," Gabre breathed, the wonder in her growing eyes. "Perhaps what exists between us has not completely erased the feeling of our true Others, but this is... definitely very nice in and of itself as well." With small tears of joy filling her eyes, the Italian Infected nodded to the sheer elation of their audience.
Zechs smiled widely and leaned against his wife when she gave him a nudge. "Absolutely brilliant handling of this, love," Noin praised softly by his ear. "Now we have a way of being able to hopefully even things out when this damned war is finally over." Kissing his cheek, she looped her arms around his waist.
"I'm just happy that this is yet another chink in Solo's armor," Merquise replied as he held her back. Shaking his head, he commented, "I doubt that he ever would have imagined that we might be able to expose so many flaws in his great scheme."
The grin on his lips spreading further across his face, he snickered, "And the best part is that with so many that will have Duo's blood in them, Dorothy will be able to see how many we'll be mounting against him."
Her fists clenching at her sides, Sharon growled deeply, "I just hate it that his turning us makes us lose everything we knew about that hideout that he calls his palace. If we could just go and storm the place any time we wanted, we could bring that bastard down as soon as we think we have the numbers on our side." Frowning deeply, she met Josh's equally frustrated gaze. "I can think back to our times back with him, but I can't remember a damned thing about where we were."
"That's going to be our biggest challenge," Morgan responded. "It's all part of the blood balance between the hybrids. Relena's just as blind to him as Dorothy is to Duo and anyone who is close to him."
Grinning, he added, "The nice difference between them is that Solo's biting intended Companions doesn't bring on the permanent change that even a few drops of his brother's blood will when it's consumed. That alone gives us a bit of an advantage since the Others that are on their own can be picked up on our radar, so to speak."
Now that the pieces were all beginning to fall into place so that she could make out the whole mysterious picture, Berber's growing eyes fell on the Reformer. "And here your brother's so convinced that he's the superior to the two of you," she snorted. "Already, you have him beat in a lot of ways and you haven't even begun to tap into what you can do."
Duo subconsciously tugged at the collar of his red, sleeveless turtleneck, chuckling nervously, "Oh, well, I don't really think there's anything more special to me that my blood. And I only have that because of my birth parents. I don't think that there's anything remarkable that I have to offer."
"You are only the most amazing creature to ever exist," Heero commented, keeping his voice low enough that only his Companion could hear.
The corner of his lips smirking, he added, "But you're right, that's more extraordinary than remarkable." Flashing him a half-hearted glare, Maxwell knew that his embarrassment was showing through his burning cheeks. The Original snickered softly and gave him a soft nudge.
Undaunted by the hybrid's sentiments, Sharon grinned, "Oh, I think there's more to it than what you've been able to tap into so far. For your blood to be as powerful as it is, you've probably only scratched the surface of your real potential." Shuddering, she frowned, "Somehow, I think Solo's been holding back too." Swallowing roughly, Josh nodded in backing that suggestion.
An uncomfortable silence filled the basement as the group standing around processed that unpleasant possibility.
Breaking the unease, Jacob shook his head to address Heero and Duo with a smiled, "We can only go on what we know for now. That being said, Sharon and I came to relieve the two of you in your guard duty while the remaining Vampires linked to the last two Others are gathered. Considering how you've both been going non-stop for the last few days as you have, I imagine that some time alone would be welcomed. It's the very least that we can offer after all that you've done for us."
Their eyes growing, the lovers exchanged glances before Yuy smiled and bowed his head to the newly established pair. "That is most kind. Thank you," he replied sincerely. Already beaming at the thought of finally having some one-on-one time with his Vampire, Maxwell nodded enthusiastically. On their way past Trowa, they exchanged handshakes with their smirking cousin and headed off hand-in-hand.
Clapping his hands together, Trowa eyed the mix of Infected and Companions around him as he announced, "Okay, I already have the locations of our last two friends that we need to bring in from Relena." He arched an eyebrow high, asking, "So, who's coming along for the ride?"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
At the top of the stairs leading down to the cellar, Heero swooped upon his lover to slide Duo onto his back. Laughing, the Reformer hooked his arms around the Infected's neck and his legs around the strong waist beneath him just as the Original sent them from the house in a rush. Through the blur of their surroundings, he soon recognized their swiftly approaching back yard seconds before they were inside and soaring up the main staircase.
Once they were in their master bedroom, Yuy carefully lowered his Companion to befall him once again. This time his sudden 'attack' came in the form of a passionate kiss and gripping hands.
All too happy to return the spar with his own fervor as his eyes closed, Duo released a deep moan into the mouth that his tongue was already reacquainting itself with. Clinging onto his partner, he was soon removing the offensive fabric that dared to separate them until every article lay in heaps at their feet along with the Reformer's hair tie so that his locks could be freed from their tight weave.
Their reunion was moved to the bed where the Vampire and his Chosen were able to taste, touch, kiss and nip every inch if skin that was within their reach. Panting heavily, Heero pulled back only so that he was able to level his lover with a focused stare. Gently brushing a hand through his equally out of breath Reformer, he requested in a husky voice, "Take me."
A sharp gasp rising from Maxwell, his violet-and-silver eyes widened. "H-Heero?" he whispered, his own voice thick from the lump that filled his throat. Swallowing hard, he questioned softly, "Are you sure? I mean... I'm your Companion... isn't it wrong for me to... well... pitch?" He ducked his braided head even as the blush that flooded his face came on at how foolish his words sounded to him.
This was a completely new experience, so of course he had no idea if there were such rules to the relationship between an Infected and their bonded. Somehow, he had always assumed that the Vampire in those situations always called the helm when it came to their coupling.
His head falling back, the Original laughed which only made Duo burrow his head deeper to hide the deeper red that colored his skin. "You are absolutely adorable," Heero smiled lovingly, shaking his head in amusement.
Leaning in to press a soft kiss against his Companion's pouting lips, he breathed against them, "Just as I have staked my claim on you, nothing would make me happier than for you to claim me through this."
Instantly losing his embarrassment, Maxwell blinked up at his Vampire in awe. He would have been lying if he tried to say that he'd never imagined taking Heero before... that he never dreamed of it.... that he never longed for it. But now that the opportunity was presented to him, his slowed heart began to pick up over his nerves at actually having to perform. Anxious as he was, however, he was not about to turn down the offer.
Stretching up suddenly, Duo kissed the Infected deeply and shifted himself so that he was lying atop his Chosen. Inexperience was quickly replaced by the recollection of how carefully and gently Yuy had been in preparing and making love to him.
Quickly becoming more comfortable as he went along, he found his footing quickly and was able to act on his own desires that he'd built up for this moment. Encouraged by the moans of pleasure that he brought from his lover, Maxwell noted the buttons that tripped his Infected and made sure to press them.
Actually being inside of his writhing partner was far more overwhelming... far more wonderful than any dream or fantasy that the Companion would have possibly come up with. The second his shaft was completely sheathed, all doubt was forgotten as a wave of bliss and intense love drove him from that point forward.
Rocking his hips back and forth, he leaned forward so that he and Heero could latch onto each other, kissing and moaning as they moved in a steady rhythm. Instinctively reaching between their conjoined bodies, Maxwell took a firm hold of his Infected's hardness.
His cobalt-and-gold eyes closing, Heero's back arched as he cried out in rapture. A few more pumps and strokes later, the pair was screaming their lover's name as they fell into the waves of rapture.
When the hybrid collapsed against him, the Original managed to reach over to the nightstand where the small pocket knife was waiting in the drawer. Cutting the side of his own neck, he shifted Duo so that his head was facing the wound before it could close. Silvered eyes opening at half-mast, the hybrid took in the sweet blood from his lover with a deep sigh.
Hissing a sharp breath through his teeth as his fangs grew in, Heero fought to think right through the euphoria that overcame him. Quickly turning his head, he bit into the exposed nape of the neck that hovered above him and pulled in a deep gulp that sent him over the edge once more with a muffled scream.
Wracked by the instant second orgasm that took him as well, Maxwell only just managed to finish his drink just as the cut sealed up. Still shuddering from the aftershocks of their joining, the pair latched onto each other as tightly as their spent bodies could manage. Panting and gathering themselves, they simply enjoyed the closeness and the quiet between them.
After a long, peaceful moment, Yuy released a long sigh of content. Shifting so that he could meet the gaze that opened to him, he matched the loving smile that was shown on him. Gently brushing his fingers through the damp bangs shielding the warm silver-and-violet eyes that were watching him, he whispered sincerely, "Thank you, Duo. That was incredible."
"You're really thanking me?" Maxwell snickered, his voice a bit strained from its recent abuse. Shaking his head so strongly that more of his loose hair cascade around them as he commented, "I'm the one who should be thanking you. I've never felt anything so... amazing before in all of my life." Chuckling, he added, "Besides when you take me, of course."
While they lay there laughing softly, the reality of what had just occurred really set in for the Companion. The fact that his Vampire, an Original no less, had granted him such a gift made his slowed heart skip a few beats. A lump forming in his throat, he swallowed past it and leaned in fact to press his swollen lips against Heero's.
Pulling back, Duo made sure to fix his lover with all of the devotion he could show as he breathed, "I love you... so damned much, 'Ro."
"Truly and deeply," the Infected smiled back in kind. Tightening his arms that were already looped around the lithe Reformer, he said softly, "With all of my being and for longer than the endless stretch of eternity."
Emotionally and physically melting at those words, Duo made an inarticulate sound that came out as a whimper. All but pouncing downward, he began a kiss of a much more passionate nature that was readily returned. That 'spar' went on for some time before the happy, sated couple broke apart reluctantly.
Wincing when he shifted slightly, the hybrid smirked, "Well, one thing that's no different whether I'm on top or bottom... the stickiness." Heero's head fell back with another loud round of laughter and they carefully separated to move towards their conjoint bathroom. Their fingers of their hands lacing together as they headed for the shower, he winked to his Vampire, "I wash you back, you wash mine?"
An absolutely wicked smirk curled the corner of Heero's lips as he replied, "Oh, I don't plan on stopping at just our backs. We won't be missed for quite some time now." Tilting his head, he pulled Maxwell against him to assault his mouth with a hungry kiss. When he leaned back, he grinned in conclusion, "And I intend on taking full advantage of every second we have to ourselves."
Softly gasping for air simply out of the need to cool his body from that fiery exchange, Duo sighed deeply, "God, I really do love you." He laughed when he was swept from his feet and carried the rest of the way into their walk-in bathroom.
* * * * * *
A couple hours later, Midi was putting the last ingredients onto the large turkey that she was just pulled from the oven to serve as the main course for dinner to the many visitors that were residing at the estates. Practically aglow in her work, she softly hummed a cheery tune to herself while Trowa looked on from the doorway with a loving smile.
"You haven't had this many mouths to feed in quite some time," the Original commented as he pushed himself from the wall that he was leaning against to cross the room and wrap his arms around his wife's waist. Smirking, he rested his head on her shoulder and she giggled while leaning back against him. "Between looking after our guests and the wedding planning, you have to be thrilled with how busy you are."
The 'little mother' continued to stir the broth at the base of the pan as she nodded, "You know that nothing makes me happier... other than the obvious moments we get to enjoy. Once our allies are occupied with their dinner, I look forward to our escape to partake in that."
Her last sentiment was expressed with a raised eyebrow and a playful wink over her shoulder. Chuckling, Trowa bent down to kiss her soundly that promise a bit of what was about to come for them in due time.
For the moment, everything was running smoothly. The Wilds were still sleeping at the moment in what everyone hoped would be their changing sleep from which they would wake as Companions. In the meantime, the remaining Others were now united with their Vampires and in their own slumbers to join the ranks of their rescuers.
Quatre was back from his studies and back to dissecting the makeup of the blood that was discovered in the base. Back in the basement of her caregivers, Catherine was soldering new Companion bracelets for the turned mortals that had been saved from Solo's influence. And before long, more deposits of blood to those in most need of preservation would be made.
"I look forward to when things are back to normal," Barton said quietly. Grinning, he shrugged, "But there has been good to come from all of this. Besides rescuing the Others and saving our own in the process, we're going to come out of this with a lot of new friends, including many unlikely ones in former foes."
Midi grinned back at him, "That alone will balance out all of the struggles, dear husband. We just have to keep in mind that there is always some silver lining." Their lips met in another soft kiss before they worked together on the last preparations for their guests' meal.
From the hallway, Doctor J stepped away from his brief observation over the sweet scene that the couple made. Along his way back to the room that he knew would be filled with former Hunters, their voices engaged in conversations and laughter filling the air as he neared, he sighed to himself with a thoughtful frown.
Leaning against the banister posts of the main stairway, Trent and Rosshe were talking quietly amongst themselves. Just returned from their day on campus, they took the short wait on dinner as a chance to catch up. When the old man approached, their discussion ended so that they could grin and nod in greeting.
A small, sad smile spread across J's face as he stopped to address the Vampire. "The kindness and selflessness of your kind is... beyond inspiring," he complimented softly. "Had I known that such things came so naturally, I never would have become a Hunter. I never would have preached hatred against the Infected."
Biting his lip, Trent nodded shallowly. Unable to meet his 'brother's' golden eyes, he muttered, "I'm ashamed for the things that I said and would have done back then, too. No amount of apologizing would make up for any of it."
"Apologies would be completely unnecessary, as are anything akin to guilt or regret," Rosshe stated, a stern reassurance in his voice. Patting the junior's back, he grinned, "What's past is past. Now we all move forward together... set an example for the rest of the world that shows how really there are little differences between our species."
Their shoulders righting at that, the doctor and his former pupil raised their heads to meet the Egyptian's gaze. Smiling, they nodded firmly in agreement to set such a standard. "Another silver lining," the old man said quietly to himself.
Midi appeared in the hallway to announce that dinner was ready to which Vampire and living alike migrated into the main dining room to continue their conversations and sit together in peace.
* * * * * *
Emerging from their bedroom, Wufei and Anna were still all smiles as they walked down the long corridor hand-in-hand. The scaly Infected leaned in to whisper sweet nothings in his wife's ear that made her giggle when they froze at the sound of a pulsating beep. Their sensitive hearing picking the source to be coming from the office at the far end of the corridor, they faced each other with wide eyes.
Instantly bolting for the room, they materialized before the computer monitor at the head desk. Reading the message that flashed across the screen, Chang let out a howl of a laugh and cheered, "Yes!" Quickly falling into his chair as his wife stood behind him, he bent his fingers back and rubbed his hands together. "Now to learn what Instructor H had left for us."
Fingers flying over this keyboard, Wufei typed in the commands to pull up the files that had been long buried.
TBC...
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