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- Morning. -
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Heero: *sleeps in a bed made of soft grasses and leaves and thin blankets. Sleeps deeply with the morning light falling over his face, content with a smaller form pressed against his side.*
Duo: *stirs gently, heavy weight in his hair tugging at his head. Moans softly and stills again, waiting for awareness to slowly come to him. Sniffs deeply at the odd scent surrounding him, confused as the musky smell, and brows furrow together. Lays still for a bit longer, trying to register the scent with an owner when he feels something slowly creeping up bare leg. Takes a moment to register the creepy feeling before gasping, heart thundering and leaping into his throat eyes snapping open and quickly looking down. Covers his mouth to muffle the cry as he watches a large spider start crawling up his exposed limb*
Heero: *shifts in his deep sleep, an arm lifting slowly to slip behind his head, his other arm lain on by Duo. Clenches his teeth in his sleep, the muscles in his jaw twitching before relaxing and yawns.*
Duo: *grits his own jaw and slowly reaches down to knock the huge spider off. Squeals suddenly in horror when the little beastly thing speeds up and reaches safety under his clothing. Leaps up shouting and dances around trying to get the UGLY, DISGUSTING, CRAWLING thing off of him NOW!*
Heero: *eyes snap open at the sudden movements and stares up at Duo with crystal clear eyes.* What the hell are you doing?
Duo: GETITOFF GETITOFF!!!! OHMYFUCKINGGODGETTHEBLOODSUCKINGTHINGOFF!!!!!!! *starts tearing off his clothes in desperation, trembling convulse fully*
Heero: *stares at him, just watching silently for a while before getting up casually. Stretches slowly, arms reaching for the tree tops before relaxing his tense muscle and grabs Duo shaking him slowly.* What?
Duo: *stands naked in front of him, the last bit of clothing fluttering through the air and landing softly on the ground. Pants and trembles, looking over his body for the ugly spider then shudders violently, holding himself tightly*...Spider...Very big spider...
Heero: *keeps his eyes up and on Duo's face, his own cheeks lightly heated.* Oh... *eyebrows fall lightly as he feels something touch his legs curiously then begin to crawl up. Keeps his eyes on Duo's face instead of looking down which could cause a regretful glance.* Hnnn...
Duo: *looks down slowly as something catches his eye then jerks violently suddenly, making a half choke, half gag noise in his throat, eyes even wider then Heero could even make them. Grip tightens on himself before gritting his teeth, leans down in one rush and smacks the spider off -hard. Grips his hand as if it was diseased, eyes gluing shut as he could STILL feel the thing's crawling legs all over him and the hairy flesh bristling his hand as he smacked it again. Makes the same noise again, shuddering* Is...there...a...river...around...here...?
Heero: *blinks, looking around the trees, not at all disoriented by the spider, but rather at the nude boy.* Turn around and run that direction and through some bushes, you'll find it soon enough. *closes his eyes.*
Duo: *promptly does that, whirling around and hair flying at a dangerous speed. But instead of smacking the young killer, it caresses his cheek almost mockingly before its owner began to run for fresh water, hair being dragged along with*
Heero: *closes his eyes a bit tighter for a moment as he listens to the running feet. Dares to open his eyes slowly and just sees glimmers of chestnut and honey in the morning light before it's gone behind the trees. Sighs relieved then feels the crawling of something yet again. Looks down this time and glares at the spider. Leans down and snatches it by one of it's eight limbs. Flings the large arachnid against a tree and smirks triumphantly as it splats with green and white blood and guts. Stands silent for a few moments then walks off the blankets and pulls of his dirty tunic. Looks down at his mud smeared, dirt covered body then runs a hand through his knotted and dirty hair. Sighs, thinking he needs a real bath then shrugs, liking his dirty manliness of the wild before levitating a few feet from the ground and sits, cross legged in the air. Closes his eyes and sits with his hands on his knees.*
Duo: HEY! HEY GUY! HEEELLLLLOOO!
Heero: *grunts tiredly and opens his eyes to look in the direction of the voice.* 'What?'
Duo: I NEED CLOTHES! *loud splashing*
Heero: 'It's not my fault you run around acting as a woman and stripping in front of strange men.'
-Silence.-
Heero: *opens an eye and looks in the direction again before setting his feet down silently and is through the trees and brush in a moment's wake, looking for the younger cross-dresser.*
-River rushes by quickly, Duo no longer in sight.-
Heero: *walks out of the bushes and looks around, walking down the sandy shore in just his leggings, the sand pressing between his toes. Eyes scan carefully and curiously.*
-Soft bubbles begin to appear in the middle of the river, drifting away with the current.-
Heero: *walks to the edge of the river and watches the bubbles before swallowing slightly and debating with himself whether to save the one who witnessed a killing or save an innocent bystander. Groans inwardly and levitates weakly above the shore before going above the water which seems to press down from the unseen force. Glides above the splashing surface and follow the bubbles then suddenly drops in.*
Duo: *fights weakly against the under currents, hands snatching nothing but water as he twists and turns, his only air escaping his mouth. Tries to breathe; tries to break back to the surface, but only brings in the cool water. Coughs and gags on it, lungs filling with water and nose stinging horribly. Twists in the water again at another powerful undercurrent and smacks his head against the rocks*
Heero: *follows the blurry vision, swimming hard to get to him quickly. Holds in most of his oxygen and grabs the teen around the waist with one arm again and swims again, down current and up. Surfaces with a light gasp and holds the boy up with him, kicking his legs and feet to get to shore. Swims long and hard before actually feeling his feet touch the rocky bottom. Wades to the soft shore, far down stream from his made camping spot. Sighs heavily and lays down his drenched, naked cargo. Keeps his eyes on Duo's face again as he kneels down beside the boy.*
Duo: *coughs and sputters up water, gasping for air and clawing at the ground. Rolls over onto side, curling up, water spurting out of his lungs and his mouth. Makes a noise that sounds like a sob and takes in shuddering, sucking breaths of air*
Heero: *sits back on his heels and runs a hand through his own messy, wet hair with a heavy exhale. Closes his eyes for a long moment before hearing rustling behind him. Opens his eyes and slowly turns his head around to see a very large beast behind him emerging from the trees. Takes in the huge beast that looks like a very rabid and hungry looking bear/wolf mix. Curses again and grabs Duo to lift him.*
Duo: I...hate the woods...I hate...this place...*goes into a coughing fit again* this...is...hell!!
Heero: *grumbles and lets the body lean on his chest as he lifts both his hands, his belt left discarded at the campsite. Takes in a deep breath and looks over the huge beast before closing his eyes and trembles, the beast lifting slowly and getting pushed back before being thrown into the air and back into the trees, breaking several of them but not breaking the beast. Takes in another breath, opening his eyes to check as the outraged beast gets back up and charges. Curses again and again then goes tense and the beast stops against a shield before trying to press forward against it. Goes sliding backwards in the sand as the beast pushes.*
Duo: *gasps into the killer's chest, eyes squeezing themselves shut and holds tightly onto him, despite the fact that he could very well kill him* Are we going to die...?
Heero: *gets a growling rumble in his chest, jaw tightly closed. Grunts lightly through his nose and plants his feet concentrating harder for the tons of beastly meat to get pushed back. Lifts the beast again with his powers, trembling again, light sweat mixing with river water and raises his hands, thus raising the beast above them, and then flicks his fingers and the beast flies up into the air. Eyes snap open and grabs Duo, running swiftly into the trees and the ground rumbles beneath them as the beast hits the earth again after a long fall. Continues running with Duo held to him. Reaches the camp and sets Duo down with a pant. Lightly glares at him and then goes to the bed and collapses onto it.*
Duo: Are you okay? *stares at him, lightly coughing in his throat*
Heero: *grunts again and pulls a cover over his head and lightly damp body, intent on sleeping.*
Duo: *crawls over and pulls it down* Are you tired?
Heero: *mumbles into the blanket beneath him, laying on his side.* Yes...
Duo: *eyes soften gently, surprisingly calm despite the claws from the animal that was close to tearing them both apart*...You saved me.
Heero: *eyebrows fall slightly before relaxing and opens an eye to look at him slowly. Shifts in his head and tries to act casual.*
Duo: Thanks...uh...What's your name anyway?
Heero: *stays silent for a long moment then mumbles something.*
Duo: Eh? What was that?
Heero: ... Heero. *snuggles his head into the blanket as if in shyness.*
Duo: Well, thanks Heero. I'm Duo.
Heero: Duo. *closes his eye again and exhales deeply as he reaches for the blanket again.*
Duo: Want something to eat? *tugs it away again*
Heero: *begins to growl softly then lets the growl roll out as a groan and rolls onto his back to look up at Duo with both eyes.*
Duo: Does that mean a yes? *smiles softly*
Heero: *nods slowly then closes his eyes again and tilts his head up as he realizes Duo's nudity again.* I.. have an extra pair of clothes in my pack.
Duo: Ah, thank you. I was going to ask for that. *scrambles away*
Heero: *rolls to his side again and curls up, pulling the blanket up quickly to block out the sun's rays so he may sleep peacefully...*
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Heero: *rolls onto his stomach, tangled in the blanket, the cloth wrapping around his waist instead of covering him. Buries his face into the blanket then lays his cheek down and breathes deeply of the scents around him. Sighs heavily in sleep and then groans softly as a delicious smell reaches him.*
Duo: 'ero.............................'ero.........................'ero.....*gentle shaking*
Heero: *inhales deeply and shifts, rolling onto his back again from being roused from his sleep. Opens tired, unfocused eyes and blinks blurredly.*
-Suddenly something is popped into Heero's mouth, hard and...jerky.-
Heero: *makes a noise at the intrudence and rolls the thing over his tongue, trying to free one of his hands from the tangle of blanket.*
Duo: ...chewed on it a bit. *jerks the blanket free suddenly from his body and starts folding it up*
Heero: *does so, chewing slowly and growls lightly at him for taking the warmth. Runs his hands over his eyes to clear them with a soft rub then lays back again and watches Duo as he chews.*
Duo: There's more by the fire. *walks to the his bag and starts stuffing the blankets in* We better leave soon.
Heero: *sits up, leaning on a hand.* "We"?
Duo: *looks over his shoulder, smiling sheepishly* Uh huh. *stands up slowly and turns back to him, wearing Heero's tight black pants, barefoot, and a dark creamed v-cut shirt tucked in, and strands loosely tied to bare his chest and shoulders*
Heero: I didn't know there was a "we". *slowly gets up and looks him over before stretching.* When did this happen?
Duo: I think it happened between waking up and you saving me...
Heero: I thought last night I cleared it up by saying that I'm something you don't want to know...? *walks to the fire, rustling his short hair with his hands as he looks into the flames.*
Duo: So...? I wont get to know you then. I'll just travel with you. Besides, I'm as guilty as you are now.
Heero: And how are you guilty? *pops more of the jerky into his mouth and chews as he looks at Duo again.*
Duo: People probably think I was helping you since I'm not at the village anymore.
Heero: *smirks slowly.* I kidnapped you, Duo. Are you just coming along on your own will?
Duo: Oh, well, I...*thinks about that for a moment*
Heero: *walks around the fire and picks up his dark green tunic to slip on after shaking the dirty thing out.* I thought you would have run off by now.
Duo: Nah. I'm starting to like you. So I'm a willing captive. We going? *moves to the fire and scoops up some food. Starts chewing on the hard meat*
Heero: *stays silent as he laces the top of his tunic with the leather lace. Watches his fingers then finds his boots and pulls them on, taking a seat on a log. Sits here with one foot up on the log, an arm circling his knee as he watches Duo.*
Duo: Yes...? No...? I mean, they should be here soon and stuff...
Heero: *just watches him, looking him over and debating with himself before closing his eyes and bowing his head.*
Duo: Come on, 'eero. I wont get in the way...
Heero: How did you do it? Last night... How did you escape?
Duo: Eh? *looks away for a second before looking at him with a mask of stupidity*
Heero: *looks up at him with an arched eyebrow then slowly stands and slips his pack on.* You can walk barefoot, can't you? Until we reach the next village?
Duo: Hai, I got hard feet. *seems to be happy with the answer*
Heero: I already warned you that I kill for a living. *walks to the fire and looks at Duo.*
Duo: I...I know.
Heero: And now you're all right with that?
Duo: I'm hoping that going along with you, I can change your mind about things.
Heero: It's all I know. *reaches back into his pack and pulls out a little bottle of blue sand. Pours a little into his hand then mumbles something under his breath before tossing the sand into the fire and watches it extinguish instantly before turning and starting off.* Keep up.
Duo: Hai, sir! *runs to catch up*
- - - - - - - - - -
- Village. -
- - - - - - - - - -
Heero: *drops the pouch of coins into Duo's hand and watches the happy-go-lucky boy go off to the market as he, himself, walks into the motel room and drops his pack on one of the beds. Stretches and sighs heavily before stripping of his dirty nature marked clothes and heading into the bathroom to take a long hot bath.*
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Heero: *walks out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist and is taken by surprise to hear a knock at the door. Walks to the door silently and opens it cautiously, greeted by one of the motel managers who gives him a note. Nods and shuts the door again before walking to his bed and reads the note before falling back on the bed, eagle-spread.*
Duo: *bounds up the stairs, singing merrily with baskets of food and clothes in both hands. Puts down one basket as he gets to the door and opens it with his free hand. Picks up the basket and waltzs on in* 'ey, 'eero, wait...*blinks and stares at him on the bed*
Heero: *diverts his eyes away from the ceiling to look at the boy.* Hn?
Duo: Nice...pose...Anyway! I got some cool clothes! *walks to the bed and plops the baskets down on it next to Heero*
Heero: *leans up on his elbows and looks over at the baskets.* Show me.
Duo: *grins from ear to ear and pulls out a black outfit with a priest collar* Isn't it the coolest!?
Heero: *looks at him, eyebrows slightly curving up.*