Disclaimer: I don't own any rights to the Gundam boys. I'm just here to play with them.

Thank you to all who have been reading and reviewing this story. It's become a favorite of mine. Here's the latest installment, hope you enjoy and I look forward to your feedback. Later!

Dragon Heart

Chapter 6

Duo had taken a few steps back and let Heero deal with Zechs. He knew Heero cared for him and would never go back to the platinum blonde, but it still upset him that the aristocrat kept trying to win his former lover back. I wish Heero would just deck him and tell him he's with somebody else. But that'll never happen.

Duo's ears perked up at the sound of Heero's voice. To the untrained ear it might sound like Heero's normal speaking voice, but if you knew him as well as Duo did, you'd recognize the slight drop in tone and the fact that his speech had slowed. These changes were minute at best but Duo sensed them and that meant one thing. Heero was pissed.

"I'm giving you one last warning, Zechs. I will never come back to you. Leave me alone."

"You say you won't come back to me but you never give me a reason, Heero."

"A reason? You need a reason other than you cheating on me?" Heero sighed and bowed his head. He stole a quick glance to the side to see Duo standing there and he knew what he needed to do. "Fine." He looked up and faced Zechs, his face as blank as ever, but the eyes burned with the intensity of his emotions. "Duo. Duo is my reason. I love him and we're together now so you need to stop this ridiculous display and just leave."

Zechs' head whipped around to glare at Duo who was standing there, shocked. He didn't show his happiness for Heero's public confession, or his fear at being on Zechs' hit list. He just stood there, not knowing what to do or say.

Suddenly Zechs let out a growl and in a move too fast for Duo to completely follow, Zechs pulled a dagger and sent it flying with deadly intent. Before he knew what was happening, Heero was standing in front of him, his back to Duo.

"I said leave, Zechs. Now."

Duo couldn't really see Zechs beyond Heero, but he heard a strangled gasp and then the sound of quickly retreating footsteps.

"Hey, Heero---"

Heero fell to his knees with a grunt.

"Heero?"

Duo knelt down next to his lover and looked to see what was wrong. His heart stopped when he saw a dagger embedded in Heero's chest.

"Heero! No!"

Duo cradled the man and gently laid him down on the ground, tears streaming down his face.

"Oh god! Why….why did you…? Heero, please….please don't leave me!"

Heero reached up and tugged on the chestnut braid. "I'll be….fine. Now stop crying and…..kiss me."

Duo didn't hesitate. He leaned down, placing tender kisses on Heero's lips, the sweet of his lover's lips mixing with his own salty tears. Help quickly arrived and Duo was pulled away so Heero could be carried away to the healer, but Duo refused to lose physical contact with his love. He managed to hold Heero's cold hand in his as he mumbled soothing words to both Heero and himself.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Wufei slowly opened the door to peer inside. He'd knocked softly several times but received no answer so he decided to let himself in. But when he saw the occupants and their position, he stopped dead in the doorway.

Heero lay in bed, his chest bandaged, with Duo curled up beside him, face nestled into Heero's neck, leg protectively draped across Heero's hips. Heero's arm was around Duo and his hand tightly grasped a length of chestnut braid.

What a wonderful sight. I'm so happy they've found each other. Wufei sighed and backed out, silently closing the door. He would visit them tomorrow. Or perhaps Duo would finally leave Heero's side and seek him out. Wufei scoffed quietly knowing the impossibility of the thought becoming a reality. If I loved somebody like that, I imagine I wouldn't leave their side either.

"Ah, there you are."

Wufei whirled around to see Treize approaching. What's he doing here? Didn't I just leave him in the library?

"I thought it would be nice to ride into town for a little bit. A change of scenery perhaps?"

Wufei frowned and tilted his head slightly, studying the man before him. For the past month or so it seemed like every time Wufei turned around, there was Treize. He either had some vague or random question or he wanted to do something weird like go into town for no particular reason. He'd also taken to having Wufei attend his meetings with his advisors. It was becoming increasingly difficult to cure himself of his growing feelings for the man. If he won't leave me alone, how can I stop these feelings! Wufei felt his anger and frustration at himself welling up and he lashed out at the innocent man before him.

Request or command?

Treize frowned. "Neither. If you do not wish to go, simply say so, Wufei."

Wufei noted Treize's change in demeanor and the clipped tone to his voice.

Thank you, but no. Tired.

"Very well."

Treize bowed to Wufei and walked back the way he came. Wufei just stood there stunned. Why did he seem hurt? I wasn't that rude. And why in the name of god did he just bow to me!

This last thought spurred Wufei into action and he ran to catch up with Treize. A demanding hand on the Lord's shoulder turned him around and he was faced with a scowling Wufei and a tablet shoved in his face.

"Wufei, what---!"

Don't EVER bow to me!

Deep blue eyes just stared at him for what seemed like an eternity before a response dripping with disdain echoed through the hall.

"Is that a request or a command?"

Wufei felt his cheeks burning at the question and he was suddenly aware of how rude and inappropriate his behavior truly was and he quickly fell to his knees, something he hadn't done since coming into Treize's possession almost a year ago.

Treize studied the kneeling man before him. He thought he and Wufei were becoming closer. Granted, it was an upward climb against gale force winds in five feet of snow, but Treize was prevailing. He thought he had won Wufei's affections. Not his love, but his affection. His fondness. His friendship.

But for the past few weeks, the young man had become edgy and he seemed to be withdrawing into himself. And he was directing unwarranted outbursts of anger at Treize. Why? What have I done to deserve this treatment? I have been kind and generous and not once have I treated him like a----

"Get up and follow me."

Wufei quickly followed Treize's command and he was so caught up in his own thoughts about his behavior and the possible punishments resulting from it, he didn't notice where they were until Treize shut the door behind them. He was confused to find them in Treize's personal quarters and when Treize headed back into his personal bedroom, Wufei hesitated only a few seconds before following.

He stood there in the familiar space and watched as Treize sifted through a large trunk in the far corner. He'd often wondered what the man kept in there once he was told that the locked trunk was for valuable personal possessions. Wufei had a trunk as well but it contained nothing at the moment. He had no personal possessions worth hiding or protecting.

Treize turned around and walked over to Wufei, a folded piece of rectangular paper being pulled out of a silk bag. He handed it to Wufei.

"Read it."

Wufei took the paper and was horrified to see Treize's hand trembling slightly. Oh gods, he's absolutely furious with me. He unfolded the rather large piece of paper and once he saw the pictures and the information it contained, he too was trembling.

His eyes raked over the paper that looked like it had been folded and unfolded many times, its creases were so worn. There were two pictures currently attached to the left side. One, a picture of an infant, wrapped in a yellow blanket, sleeping in his mother's arms. The second, a mug shot of an apathetic young man with ebony hair and eyes to match.

The rest of the paper looked like an official document with stamped seals over dates and signatures. It listed his place of birth and birth date, name and randomly written notes throughout the years. One note was just a physical description. Another indicated he had a temper and could become violent at times. And the last note written stated "lost ability to speak".

He looked up as Treize took the paper from his hands. He opened his mouth to protest but nothing came out as he watched the older man walk to the fireplace and pull out a lighter. Treize set the paper on fire and threw it into the fireplace.

With a strangled cry Wufei lunged for the fire and reached in, grabbing the paper, burning himself. He fell to his knees, slapping the flames away and then clutching his hand and its precious possession to his chest.

"Wufei!" Treize was on his knees by Wufei's side in an instant. "What the hell were you thinking! Don't you want to be free!"

He pulled Wufei up into a sitting position to inspect the burned hand but he was pushed away. He watched as Wufei carefully peeled away the picture of the mother and infant, and then tossed the paper back into the fireplace.

Treize ran a soothing hand down Wufei's hair and the young man looked up seeing deep blue eyes which seemed watery in the growing firelight.

"I didn't want a slave and yet I was compelled to accept you. I realize the horrible mistake I made giving you to my cousin and I've tried my best to earn your forgiveness. I have strived to be your friend, not your master. Although I've seen that you are content with your life here, I do not feel that you are truly happy. And I realize that once again I am to blame. For all my words of protest that you are not my slave, or anybody's for that matter, I did not do the one thing that would make it a reality."

Wufei hung his head as tears came in a steady stream down his cheeks. He couldn't believe what Treize just did and mostly, he couldn't believe what was happening to him. This was what I feared from the moment we met. Even as those papers burn into ash, I can still feel his hold on me. I will never be free of this man.

Wufei collapsed into Treize's chest, clutching a fistful of shirt and openly crying. Treize just sat there on the floor, comforting Wufei the best he knew how. He held the young man close against him, cradling him in his lap while he stroked the long ebony tresses.

"I am sorry, Wufei. I don't want to cause you pain in any way. I swear to you that I will do everything within my power to make you happy. Anything, Wufei. Anything for you."

To be continued….