Genre: Supernatural / Fantasy

Pairings: 3x4, 1x2, 6+1, 13+1, 13x6x13, 13+OC, 5+2

Disclaimer: I own nothing. That's all.

Warnings: Yaoi, lemon, language, mental instability, possible OOCness, violence, abuse

A/N: Pampers-KND asked how old everyone was, so I thought I'd clarify. Quatre isn't human—you'll have to wait to find out more. Trowa is one-hundred and sixty-five. Heero . . . you'll have to wait and see. XD

Changes in the Dark

For the first time in several days, Quatre woke alone. He seldom woke to Trowa by his side, but lately he always awoke with Duo pressed close to his body. It was a comforting sensation to which he was rapidly becoming attached. Sitting up, he glanced outside. Perhaps a few candlemarks past dawn—half an hour at most. Oh well. As good a time as any to get up.

As he dressed his thoughts carried him back to yesterday. Trowa and several others had started a search for Treize Khushrenada, but apparently he'd disappeared. Anxious, Quatre had resorted to once again calling on Heero for information.

"He and Krysonia never arrived as they said they would," Heero said with a strange little frown. He looked thinner and paler than even two days ago.

And to top it all off, tonight was the full moon. Duo had been extremely skittish the last few days, often refusing to come out of Quatre's bed at all. Quatre had not told the young werewolf of his plan to sedate him for the night. He wasn't sure why, but he just wanted Duo to drift off into a peaceful sleep before dusk and not wake until dawn when his transformation was over with.

That would give him a whole month to find an alternate solution. I won't do this again.

The smell of breakfast immediately greeted him when he went downstairs, dressed and presentable. Trowa looked adorably domestic in a long white apron—a gift from Quatre's mother. She loved to tease Trowa.

"Good morning, angel," the sorcerer said when he saw Quatre, leaning down and kissing him. "I thought you might like eggs and bacon for breakfast."

"Sounds good," Quatre said, smiling and deepening the kiss for a moment. "Where's Duo?"

Trowa raised an eyebrow. "He's acting like a bitch in heat. I've never seen anyone so irritable. His timidity has been replaced by a temper suitable for ten women."

Quatre couldn't help it and burst into laughter. The thought of Duo, ears back and snarling, it was just too cute! "What'd he do?"

"He woke up as soon as I rose," Trowa said, "and he snapped at me for waking him. Actually snapped, as in, with his teeth. Drew a little blood! And if that weren't bad enough, when I asked him what he would like for breakfast, he told me in a short, curt little tone that he wished I would leave him alone. When I asked him what was wrong he acted like a cornered kitten! It was rather adorable."

Sobering, Quatre turned to leave. "I'm sure it has something to do with the full moon tonight. I'll go find him."

"Be careful he doesn't bite you."

Unable to help flinging his lover an amused look for that comment, Quatre began searching his estate. Though the size had never especially bothered him before, it did now. Really, were all these rooms necessary? They were proving quite the hindrance in finding one little werewolf.

He eventually found Duo in a room on the top floor. It was a little warmer up here than below, and the boy was curled up in the far corner. He'd dragged a pair of cushions off the couch to make a cozy-looking nest on the floor. The whole thing was surrounded by a heavy quilt Quatre dimly recognized as a gift from his mother years ago. Now, where had Duo found that?

The werewolf looked asleep, but as soon as Quatre was only a few paces away indigo eyes snapped open and Duo reared at him. It startled Quatre into backing down. He could see sharp white fangs behind those lips. With the light from the hall glinting off his eyes he looked more the werewolf than ever before. To Quatre's relief, there was definitely recognition in those eyes.

He was just clearly displeased at being disturbed. Quatre smiled softly, hoping to appease the irritable boy. "Hey. I was just wondering if you're hungry. Trowa made breakfast."

A low growl reverberated in Duo's chest. His eyes narrowed the slightest bit. "No," he said, and despite the growl he sounded civil . . . mostly.

And Quatre had to agree with Trowa. It was adorable, the anger. Duo was too cute for his own good. "I think you should eat anyway," he insisted gently, hoping Duo's own timid nature would encourage him to back down.

It didn't. In fact, Duo obviously did not appreciate the concern, because he sat up—and his eyes were flashing. His lips peeled away from his teeth in a snarl. "I'm not hungry!" he snapped, actually lunging forward a bit as though he planned to attack Quatre.

Okay. Time to switch tactics. Letting his own expression go hard, Quatre stared right into those violet eyes. Wolves responded in the wild to displays of strength, so perhaps Duo needed just that.

"You have no reason to act like that, Duo," he said in a slightly cold voice. "I'm trying to help you."

Apparently it was the right thing to do—or maybe the wrong. Duo's eyes widened and tears gathered in the corners to spill down his pale cheeks. "I . . . I'm sorry!" he stammered, backing up and hunkering down in his nest.

Instantly regretting his harshness, Quatre closed the distance between them and reached down. Duo started up, but while Quatre thought it might be another display of temper he instead pushed himself against Quatre's chest with a whimper. Settling down, Quatre pulled him into his arms and held him.

"Shh. Don't apologize. I'm sure this has to do with the full moon tonight."

Duo jerked back to peer into Quatre's eyes, tears instantly gone. "Oh." As though that never would have occurred to him. "Braudon always drugged me the night before so I slept through the whole day and night."

Quatre's chest tightened. Gods did he hate that man. All five of them. It gave him immense satisfaction that they would all be tried as the worst kind of criminal. If they weren't executed they would be sent off to the prison isle Tantras to live out the remainder of their lives. He pulled Duo back against him, tucking the cinnamon-haired head under his chin.

"You're not with them anymore, Duo," he murmured. "You're with me. I'll never hurt you. And I'll protect you from now on."

He could swear the boy started purring. In fact he nuzzled closer much like a contented kitten. "You mean that, don't you?"

"Of course I do."

And for the first time since Quatre had met him, that gamine face broke into a real, genuine, sweet smile. It lit up his whole face like sun shining at last on snow-covered fields. It was beautiful, and it belonged there. He nudged his nose right under Quatre's chin.

"I really like you, Quatre. Heero told me you would be good to me, and he's never lied to me."

Quatre felt his eyes mist a little and blinked fiercely, giving the werewolf a squeeze. I think he has a crush on that man, he thought with an inward smile. He was fine with that. He liked Heero. He seems to care for Duo a great deal, as well. I wonder why he never took Duo in, or at least tried to find a better home for him.

He did remember Heero telling him he lived in Rauldone . . . it didn't make sense. Then again, it wasn't any of his business. He sifted his fingers through Duo's silken hair.

"Do you know who the third member of the Triumvirate is, Duo?" he asked.

The thin body in his arms stiffened immediately, and Duo jumped up, almost bowling Quatre over. "I'm hungry," he said in a short tone. And he stalked out of the room.

Quatre sighed. I know he's hiding something from me. And unfortunately, I have to know. But that could wait until this night was over. That could wait for a time Duo wasn't already so on edge.

-

Trowa prepared the drug and poured it into Duo's drink about an hour before dusk when the three of them sat down for dinner. Duo's moods had been up and down all day, ranging from anger to tears to brightly chipper. Quatre and Trowa (who stayed home to help Quatre cope with the feisty werewolf) both took it in stride, but both men were exhausted by the time dinner came.

Duo finished a little more than half before his eyes began drooping alarmingly. He staggered up from the table and made it a few steps before his legs collapsed beneath him. Trowa's lightning reflexes spared him hitting his head on the table—he caught him and carefully lifted him.

"Where are you going to put him for the night?" he asked, cradling the boy.

Quatre had him take Duo to one of the guest suites on the ground floor. "You don't have to stay if you don't want," he said. "Maybe you should run down to the office for a little while."

Trowa shook his head. "I can finish what I need to do here. I'll just be in the library. Are you going to stay with him all night?"

"At least for awhile," Quatre said. He was curious about the actual change.

Trowa left and closed the door.

It happened about half-an-hour after true dark when the full moon finally broke free of the horizon. It didn't happen all at once, and while Duo didn't wake from his drug-induced sleep his thin body tossed about on the bed, face contorted into what Quatre suspected was pain. After about fifteen minutes the boy was gone and in his place lay a small wolf. His fur was predominantly rusty-colored, but his pretty face was black. There was some gray and sandy brown mixed in, as well.

Rising, Quatre carefully eased the clothing off the thin frame. Even in this shape he looked too thin. His fur had a healthy sheen, though. Once the change was complete Duo lay still once more.

Quatre watch him breathe quietly for awhile before sighing and rising. He padded into the kitchen and got himself a mug of tea. Passing by the library he looked in on his lover. Trowa looked up at him and leaned up to give him a kiss.

"How's it going so far?"

"Good. I hope he's all right."

"I'm sure he will be, angel."

Quatre smiled down at him. "Thanks."

He returned to the room, not sure why he felt so uneasy. His mother was a nymph, and his father was an elf. Both of them were known for their uncannily accurate premonitions. Raking his fingers through his hair, Quatre pushed the door open to resume his watch.

And froze on the precipice. "Duo . . ." he breathed.

The werewolf was awake. His dark eyes were at half-mast as though still out of it, but at the sound of Quatre's voice his head shot up. His eyes were wide—and utterly terrified. No recognition. Nothing Quatre could reason with.

Not at all sure what he could do, Quatre slowly stepped toward him, careful to block the door. What would he do if Duo's fear turned into aggression? He had no idea. But he couldn't let Duo get out!

The motion brought Duo instantly to his feet, ears flat against his skull. His eyes darted frantically around the room, and his desire to escape was obvious.

Shit, shit, shit! Why is he awake? Why didn't the drug work?

He took one more step toward Duo and that was it. The werewolf leaped off the bed and sprang for the only avenue left him—the window. It was closed, of course. Duo jumped right through the glass. It shattered, littering the bedroom floor with glittering shards liberally stained with blood.

For the eternal length of time it took his heart to beat once, Quatre stared at the scene before him, unable to move. Then his body jerked as though stabbed with a red-hot knife.

"TROWA!"

Oh HO! A cliff-hanger!! Sorry it's short, but I had to end it there. I just had to.