If you think I'll sit around as the world goes by
You're thinking like a fool 'cause it's a case of do or die
Out there is a fortune waitin' to be had
You think I'll let it go, you're mad, You got another thing comin'
-Lyrics to 'You've Got Another Thing Coming' performed by Judas Priest
Crimson Ties Part 94
Locked where he stood, it took an eternity of a minute before Trowa was able to blink his emerald-and-gold eyes. When the being that he was staring at didn't vanish when he raised his eyelids again, a rush of air escaped the Vampire as if he had been punched in the gut, the Vampire's legs nearly gave out at the sheer shock of looking on the smugly grinning hybrid standing in the street before him.
"My God," he breathed. "Solo."
Sure enough, none other than the enemy himself had walked up on his unsuspecting prey as if he was taking a leisurely stroll to enjoy the pleasant, spring evening. Everything about the blonde reformer was relaxed with an air of confidence- the rolled back shoulders, the easy posture... the fact that it seemed he was alone. That last bit was something Barton was not about to bet his existence on as actually being the case.
But it was that air of cockiness in light of being in the presence of his foes that had the Infected worried.
Midi's soft humming on the air neared the living room seconds before she appeared to approach her husband with a short stack of fine china plates in her hands. "I can help with the extra chairs, love-" she offered, only to cut herself short when she looked onto his stiff stance and especially pale face.
Following his wide gaze, the 'little mother' froze along with him with a sharp gasp. Her grip slacking, the plates she was carrying fell to the carpeted floor to chip and smash into pieces against each other in a loud clamor.
In a flash of motion at the sound, the living room was suddenly crowded with stunned Vampires, Companions and Hunters alike. More gasps and quiet murmurs rose at the same time that hands wrapped around the weapons that were strapped to the lots' hips and across their backs.
Every single one of those beings had been shown Solo's images that had been acquired so that they would know the face of their challenger. Actually having the hybrid only feet away from them was a true shock, but soon they were all ready to spring at the first chance to strike him down.
"Taking him out is not going to be this easy," Trowa warned with a bit of a bite in his word to be sure he was heard. Peering over his shoulder to directly address his guests and friends, he frowned deeply, "He would never expose himself like this, knowing that he was walking into the lion's den. We don't move until we know exactly what we're up against."
Frustrated as they appeared to be over having to restrain themselves, there were only nods and silent acceptance amongst the ranks. However, no one removed their hands from their weapons or eased their postures.
Quickly turning to face his wife, the Original cupped her face in his hands and told her urgently, "Call the Khushrenadas and tell them what is happening. I am going to see to our cousins and they can meet us there." Swallowing roughly, Midi nodded and bolted from the room in blur of herself for the nearest telephone or vidphone. As soon as she was away, Barton closed his eyes and used his gift to fade from their living room.
When he materialized in Heero and Duo's home, the teleporter found all of his cousins gathered on the front porch, where he joined them. Backs stiff and eyes enlarged, they gazed on Solo in disbelief.
Wufei and Anna, who entered the estate from the back as to not alert their unwanted guest, cast concerned side glances at their little brother when he suddenly began to tremble. From Trowa's change in perspective from this viewpoint, he could understand the reason for that quivering...
Solo's taunting smile and violet-silver eyes were boring down directly on his twin through the glass, never moving.
Heero moved to stand behind his Companion as opposed to beside him at the first sight of those tremors. Wrapping his arms tight around Maxwell's waist to hold him back against his strong chest, the Japanese Vampire whispered by an ear, "Steady, love. We're not going to let anything happen to you."
"Yer bloody damn right 'bout that," Anna growled under her breath as her thick Irish accent slipped in, her gold-ringed eyes narrowing fiercely on the other Reformer as her fangs grew in. "'E has another thing comn' if 'e thinks 'e can git anywhere near ye, little brother."
Chang let out a gruff grunt that seconded the statement while his right hand tightened around the hilt of his faithful blade hanging from his hip in a silent wish that Solo would make the attempt so that he could act.
Gulping down the knot in his throat, Duo felt his sweat glands kicking into gear to make a few thick drops roll down the back of his neck. Taking a deep breath, he continued to keep his gaze locked on his twin and asked softly, "H-he's not here alone is he, Fei? You know all about battle strategies. There's no way he just waltzed in her without a plan."
Reluctant as he was to answer and worry his sibling any more than he already was, Chang kept his own focus on his target as he replied matter-of-factly, "No. Everything that he's done up to now has been carefully calculated. He wouldn't make a risky move like this without thinking it through and having a definite a way out. He's not alone."
'Fantastic,' Maxwell almost huffed aloud, but he had lost his voice again. Even in his head, the sarcastic remark came out in more of a squeak than anything. Knowing how his brother and sisters were armed and ready to defend or attack should the need for either arise, he silently cursed his luck at having his scythe well beyond his reach.
Then, to end the uncomfortable silence that had fallen outside, Solo held his arms out toward his twin. "You have a lovely home, Duo," he complimented with that smile that was anything but warm. Lowering his arms, he asked calmly, "Will you not invite your dear, long-lost brother in?" A ferocious snarl directed at their 'guest' broke from Heero and he clung to his Companion all the tighter.
Slowly but surely, there was a line of allies filtering into the living room behind them. Treize and his clan, all of their living friends and many of the rescued Others along with their Vampires filed together to watch behind the large window.
Midi slipped silently out onto the porch to be close to her family, settling beside her husband as their hands linked together. For the freed Companions, they trembled only with Duo in seeing their former master... only their shaking was born out of rage that they only just managed to rein in.
"Ah, quite the impressive looking lot you have there," the blonde hybrid smirked. "They will make a wonderful party to see you off when I take you away with me."
"You and whoever is with you will never get near enough to Duo to try," Heero snapped, voice nearly shaking with the rage that he was holding in.
Biting his lip, the braided Companion leaned heavily back against him for even more reassurance from his Vampire's presence. His brother's damned silvered eyes were just so... sure... so confident that he would have his way. Whatever it was that he had up his sleeve it had to be able to tip the odds that seemed heavily in favor of the Vampires and their allies.
Solo tilted his head, the smile on his face widening as he responded, "Actually, he is going to come right to me... if he values the existence of any one of you." While his audience blinked and reeled in surprise at his bold comment, he called over his shoulder, "Celeste. Do be a dear and show yourself, would you?"
Hearing that name, Josh and his fellow former Others cried out and cringed in terror. "Celeste?" he breathed. "Dear God... he brought her." Anthony, his Vampire frowned deeply along with all of the Infected tied to the stricken Companions. Before anyone could question who the girl was, a lovely and petite being walked from the line of trees that framed the sidewalk.
"It's her alright," Sharon whimpered, tears in her eyes as she latched onto Jacob. "He came to kill us all in one strike," she all but wailed.
A shoulder-length fall of curly, dark locks bounced at the sides of Celeste's face with every step along with her sweet, pale blue sundress as she made her way to her Master's side. When she reached him and turned to face their audience, the Hispanic beauty's heart-shaped face was pale and striking. The corner of her full lips twitched as though it wanted to smirk. But there was a thick cloud in her haunted, brown-and-silver eyes that only belonged to a Wild.
Chuckling, Solo slowly draped an arm around the young woman's shoulders. "I believe that you have seen the effects of my dear's gift that I gave her," he announced while keeping watch over his charge. "When I went to the remains of the base where I had been raised, I smelled that it had been visited by Vampires not long ago." Inside, Heero and Duo stiffened with sharp gasps, their eyes growing along with their family.
Gently brushing back a few strands of hair from the sides of his Wild's face, the blonde Reformer went on, "Celeste, here, was one of my first Others. And her ability proved to be very... explosive." He concluded with a deep chuckle of that last word.
Rubbing the back of his charge's head, he went on, "In a brilliant ball of light and fire, she'd brought everything down... killed hundreds, if not thousands of people in the blink of an eye." The Wild kept her silvered gaze homed in on their horrified onlookers as her mouth did curl into a small, empty smile that ran chills up their challengers' spines.
With a deep breath, her Creator focused back on his brother and said, "I thought that you might want to meet her."
A put on frown creasing his lips, he covered the beauty's ears with his hands and sighed softly, "But you see... she's a bit unstable nowadays. It took me quite some time before she was ready for this appearance because it does not take much to set her off, quite literally. And I wouldn't want her to get upset and have the same thing that happened in Antarctica to happen here. That would be quite the tragedy."
"Bastard," Zechs hissed under his breath. Practically vibrating, his hands clenched into tight fists at his sides. "There's not a damned thing we can do."
Shaking her head, Noin muttered, "She's too close to Solo for me to be able to manipulate or read her thoughts. Even if I could, I wouldn't feel comfortable trying if she has such a hair trigger on her gift. A blast the size of what she made at the base would take out radius stretching out for miles from here. Hundreds of innocents would die along with us."
"Of course, you could make all of this go away by just stepping out and coming with me, Duo," the human Reformer smiled widely to his twin. "No one has to die here like this if you don't want that to happen. I doubt you would want to be responsible for killing anyone you care about... especially not that Vampire, Yuy, who you're tied to."
Whimpering, Maxwell looked over his shoulder to find his lover's gold-and-cobalt eyes set on him. "Don't," Heero urged softly. "He wouldn't risk dying like this or exposing what he's been doing with the humans that he's taken. If Celeste uses her power now, everything that he's spent years working towards would have been for nothing."
"Ah, yes, that is all very true," Solo called. "I read everything your lips just said, Original. And you're right. Bringing forth that kind of destruction would only ensure that every high official looks into this and my efforts to throw this world into chaos for all creatures will fail."
He paused, tapped his chin and shrugged, "Then again, I just might be content in knowing that I have taken out every one of you- including the highest Representatives of the Vampire Council." Raising an eyebrow, he centered on his brother once more to ask him, "Are you willing to take such a chance in defying me?"
Shivering in her effort to hold onto the harness of her control, Celeste all but whispered, "M-Master... let me kill them for you. They're all so vile. I want to end them... Let me feel the fire again so that they may burn."
The blonde hybrid ran a hand over her hair as he glanced over to her, soothing, "Not just yet, sweetheart. Remember you must wait for my word first." He shrugged nonchalantly, "But at the rate that things are going, I don't believe that it will be much longer before you may use that remarkable talent-"
"Alright! I'll go with you!" Duo shouted, cutting his brother off. Everyone around froze, their wide eyes settling on the braided Companion as he glared at his twin, hollering, "You swear that no one here will be harmed?"
At his right, Anna breathed, "Duo... no."
Wufei whispered at his left, "You don't have to do this, little brother."
"Call his bluff. He won't actually use Celeste," Trowa requested softly.
Unable to speak, Heero made his own plea known by tightening his hold around his lover's waist that begged, 'Stay.' The slightest weakness in those strong arms was testimony enough to how the Infected was struggling to keep himself together.
If he turned his head to meet his Vampire and their family's eyes, Maxwell knew that his resolve would break along with his already shattering heart. "I can't risk it," he managed so quietly that his voice was almost lost, the hint of a warble coming to his voice. "He's lost his mind after everything that's happened to him and I can't chance him snapping when he could hurt any one of you."
Anna whimpered. Wufei's body sagged heavily. Trowa sucked in a sharp breath that he never released.
...Heero's body jolted with the sob that nearly broke from him even as his arms held all the tighter onto his Companion.
Opening his arms wide before him again, Solo smirked, "You have my solemn word as my only fellow hybrid that not so much as a hair on their heads will be touched."
Curling and uncurling the fingers of his right hand towards himself, he said, "All that you have to do is step out and travel with us back to my home. Simple as that." Just to add that extra jab of pain that he was already causing, he smiled, "I'll even give you a moment to say your farewells first."
Set in his decision as he was, Duo still couldn't help the tears that prickled in his eyes. "You'll have me, then," he promised.
Judging by the profoundly pleased expression on the other Reformer's face before he cupped his mouth to whisper into Celeste's ear and the sincere look of disappointment on her face that came as she listened, he knew that Solo would hold his end of the bargain. Dreading having to be taken away as he was, the braided hybrid was willing to make that sacrifice for the existences of his loved ones and friends.
Maxwell sniffled, spinning in his Vampire's arms and threw his arms around his neck with all of his strength. "You'll find me, 'Ro. I know the bond between us will show you where I am," he whispered brokenly.
He added in a fierce whisper, "But don't come for me until you know we can finish this." Biting his lip, Yuy took those words to heart and nodded fervently rather than trust his voice as he tightly clung to his lover while his gold-and-cobalt eyes narrowed dangerously on an unaffected Solo.
When they pulled back enough for him to tilt his head, the Companion claimed his partner's lips in a deep kiss to express his loss and promise to hang on however long he had to before they were reunited. Then, painfully, he stepped back so that he could move to the rest of his family.
Trowa stepped up first, pulling the Reformer into a firm hold as he vowed reassuringly on Heero's behalf, "We won't need long to be ready. And we will be ready to end this war when we see you again, cousin." Nodding, Duo muttered a 'thank you' and pulled away so that his tearful 'little mother' could envelope him in a shaky embrace.
At the sound of her high-pitched sobs, the braided immortal smiled sadly and held her back. "Aw, Midi, it'll be alright," he soothed. "I hope you won't stop working out those wedding details for me and Heero."
Behind him, Yuy leaned heavily against Anna for support when his knees threatened to give out on him at that comment. All of a sudden, the thoughts of their happy exchange of vows seemed like a distant dream that may not come true now.
"Nothing will keep me from that," the lovely Latin Vampire giggled sadly. "You've seen my list of things that I still need to tend to. I need to make sure nothing is left out. You just be careful, sweetheart." Drawing a deep breath, she stepped back and shared a quick peck with her cousin before she sank back beside Trowa so that he could hold her against his side.
Duo prepared himself for facing the pair that he knew he would have an especially hard time parting with. Meeting Chang's gaze, his growing panic ebbed at the sight of the small but confident smile that greeted him. "Courage, brother. This is not 'goodbye," the scaly Infected insisted as he gave the hybrid a firm squeeze. "We'll all together again before you know it," he declared confidently.
Hugging him back, Maxwell snickered through the tears rolling down his face, "Thanks, 'Fei. I know you'll make sure that everything's in order for the fight ahead with your experience in battle." He received an affirmative grunt and a pat to the back as they stepped away. Bowing his head, Chang moved aside so that his little brother had a clear way to Anna.
At the sight of her, those walls around the Reformer's defenses came crashing down with a sob.
Not at all caring about her own wet face, the redhead launched herself forward and the siblings gripped onto one another desperately. "Take good care of Heero for me, sis?" Duo whimpered after he kissed her temple.
Planting a kiss against the Companion's cheek, she breathed, "You don't even have to ask. All you need to worry about is taking care of yourself out there until we get back to you. And I know you'll be able to hold your own." Sure as she was, she still couldn't help trembling at having him taken away by their enemy. Pulling together the last of her strength, she sniffled and whispered, "Love you, dear one."
"Love you too, Anna," her brother managed in kind, finding what relief he could in knowing that his Vampire was being left in her good hands. Leaning back, they pressed and held a peck of their lips then reluctantly broke apart.
Heero swooped back in for another tight embrace, lifting Maxwell from his feet as their lips met once more for a passionate kiss. Their eyes closing as they poured everything into the exchange, neither being gave the thought of this possibly being their last moment a consideration. All that mattered was making sure that their Chosen knew exactly how deeply they were loved and were going to be missed.
Finally lowering his soul mate, the Infected rested their foreheads together as their watery eyes locked. "I love you... so damned much," he whispered. "It took me all of my existence to find you. I am not going to lose you now."
With a breathless huff of a laugh, Duo smiled, "I love you, too, Heero. I know you'll find your way back to me again." And yet... it was so damned hard for him to force his body to move from the arms that were holding him. Every inch more excruciating than the next, the Vampire and Companion unhinged from each other, their hands lingering together to their last fingertips before they were separated.
Dropping his head, Maxwell took rushed steps to make to the front porch steps.
On his way past the large living room window, he took in the distraught lot inside- Treize and his whole family, Hunters, his living friends in Quatre, Catherine and Trent as well as the Vampires and Companions that he had helped save. Those that could not fit in the living room had filtered into the spaces between the mansions to watch with varying emotions from grief to anger.
There was not a one of the large mass of nearly a hundred that the braided hybrid had not come to know personally over the last few weeks.
And it was especially touching to him that they would all be as worried and distressed over his capture as they were. Noin opened a window through his mind that he might hear the softly thought words of encouragement and promises of vengeance from those standing by to which he nodded in appreciation.
Rather than lose his nerve by drawing out his duty any longer, Duo quickly descended the steps without looking back at his loved ones. Keeping his head lowered, he decided not to look at his brother now that a certain presence was making itself known.
Shinigami was fighting, scratching his way at the surface that kept him from breaking out to make it known just how much he appreciated being taken away from where he belonged. He wanted blood... he wanted screams and he wanted Solo to pay dearly for what he was doing. There was no reason, only the cold wish for all things terrible to happen to any that tried to claim him.
Calm and collected as he may have appeared on the outside, Maxwell was fighting a war of his own with the darkness that was inside of him.
If he was to look at his twin now, he doubted that he would have been able to stop whatever it was Shinigami intended to do... and at the moment, he wasn't at all sure that he would want to intervene. Maybe there was a part of him right then that wanted Solo to suffer every bit as much as his alter ego did.
"So nice to finally make your acquaintance, Duo," that smirk in the other Reformer could he heard in his voice when his counterpart came to a halt before him. Glaring at the other hybrid's feet, the braided Companion continued to refuse to look up. "Let's go home, then," Solo ordered, seemingly to himself.
From the estate, the large audience watched as a second Other materialized from thin air at his Master's free side. Resting a hand on either half-breed's shoulder as Solo took hold of Celeste's hand. Closing his eyes, the tall young man called forth his gift once more. The four standing in the street began to glow a multitude of colors and vanished from sight.
Heero gripped the handrail of his front porch support so tightly that the wood gave way in a series of loud, snapping cracks. The time for tears and sadness were over. Now it was time to act out on the rage that had been building in him. His gold-and-cobalt eyes dried as they narrowed on the now empty street before him. Spinning on his heels, he stormed for the front door as he growled under his breath, "Anna."
"Right behind you, brother," the redhead snarled in kind as she and Wufei released each other. Her own eyes glaring and shoulders rigid, she stormed behind Yuy as his shadow.
When they were inside, everyone that would have been in their path cleared away for them, casting the pair worried glances as they passed. Wufei, Trowa and Midi were not far behind them, already well aware of where they would be heading and making the turns through the estate until they reached the stairs leading down into the basement.
After the family was well out of earshot, Treize sighed deeply as he reached up to dry wash his face and scrub the unshed tears from his closing eyes.
Lowering his arms, he could see how the rest of this clan looked on anxiously down the path that their long-time friends had taken. "Give them their space," he requested softly. "They are going to need to get their heads together for what's ahead and having too many of us fretting around them will only make this worse for them."
Zechs met his cousin's gaze, frowning deeply, "You do know that Solo is doing this to bring us to him, where he and his Others will have the advantage?" Leaning close to lower his voice enough that the Vampires standing around couldn't hear, the Speaker commented, "He must have figured out that Duo's blood works for us the same way his does for humans. This was the only play that he could make to put an end to that."
Her head shooting up, Lady Une's eyes were still shimmering as she gasped, "You don't believe that he would actually kill Duo, do you?" Pressed against Quatre's chest as he held her, Relena let out a wail of a cry at the suggestion and clung to the mortal all the tighter. Biting his lip, Winner's own face was dampening from fresh tears and he buried his head in her shoulder.
"That wouldn't be his intent," Noin declared confidently. "He knows that there would be nowhere to hide from Heero if he did. What's more, he wouldn't risk the loss of their bond that would bring us to wherever he is operating."
Nodding, Khushrenada replied, "I agree, but we best not make Duo wait this out any longer than he needs to." Slowly facing his wife and co-Commander, he stated, "We need to get a hold of the camps to get tell them ready for when we make our move."
TBC...
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