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Duo: *walks down the nearly deserted night streets, munching on a green apple hungrily as he follows the fires of the city. Hums lightly, moving with a bounce in his step at being able to feel strong again*
Zechs: *walks beside his master, the Mage of Minds, his white hair flowing gently on the wind above his white robe as they walk along the darkness* Why do you search, Master?
Trieze: *walks with his long dark purple robes just lightly dragging on the ground. Hands behind his back.* Because I feel power, Zechs. Great power... Some as great as my own and some as great as yours.
Zech: Why do you search out their power, Master?
Trieze: They are a threat to us. The powers as great as yours is contained within a man's body. A man that has the natural ability to withstand numerous beatings and still stand tall. With the power that man holds with his endurance body, he is a large threat...
Zechs: But Minds are greater then the Body, is it not, my Master? *looks up at him slowly*
Trieze: Yes, it is. But to have a mind, you must have the body to control the power. And this man has a... well fit body with a balanced mind. But... the other, the greater power... The one who holds these powers doesn't cope well with them. His potential is still to be uncovered and trained. Although this man's body is weaker and more vulnerable he has the other guarding him. Zechs... the power is so great, so magnificent... and I want it.
Zechs: Want it, sir? Why? Of course the power is to be awed by, as you have said, but are you not most powerful yourself?
Trieze: I have a feeling if we let this one go then he has the advantage of being the strongest in the Ways. And the other power I am willing to sacrifice to heighten your powers, Zechs.
Zechs: My lord...
Duo: *swings around a fire post before leaning against it, finishing off his apple fondly as he looks up at the stars. Smiles brightly as he thinks of Heero like a fallen star, coming to his rescue all the time. Plays with a strand around his finger, smirking* I bet you guys miss him. You don't mind if I borrow him for awhile, do you? *smiles and laughs softly to himself before turning to go on his way...and smacks into a large chest. Stumbles back, core of his apple dropping to the ground*
Big Guy: Watch where yer goin! *growls*
Duo: Gomen...*rubs his head*
Gothic: *shoves the teen out of the way with a sneer.*
Small Soldier: Hey, waitaminute...Isn't he-?
Big Guy: *grabs Duo roughly by the shirt, bringing him back over to study him*
Duo: *tilts his head away and holds his breath against the nasty smell of alcohol on the monster's breath*
Drunk: *hiccups and sways.* He?! Sure.. das look like a wom'n!
Duo: *smiles smoothly, finding this might be his only chance to get out his predicament and curves his body just so to look a bit more feminish. Winks seductively at the drunk man, licking his bottom lip* (higher voice) I'm glad you noticed, hunny.
Big Guy: *starts getting confused*
Gothic: *blinking.*
Drunk: *grins drunkenly, swaying.*
Small Soldier: Then why are you in men's clothing?
Gothic: That is a good question.
Drunk: *hentai, drunk grin.* Why you in clothes at (hic) all?
Duo: *squirms in the large man's grip, licking his bottom lip again, this time out of nervousity* Now _that_ is a good question. Why don't you and I go back to your place and we can solve this little problem...?
Drunk: OK!
Gothic: *punches the drunken man in the shoulder, hard and sends the man stumbling.* Enough, you idiot.
Duo: *watches his last little bit of hope fleeting* One...one at a time, gentlemen! You'll all have your turn with enough money...
Big Guy: *shakes the woman/man roughly* Shuddup.
Small Soldier: Take off its shirt.
Big Guy: Awright...*lets go of Duo stupidly and reaches for his shirt*
Duo: *screeches* DONT TOUCH ME, YOU PERVERT! *whirls around to make a quick getaway*
Gothic: *quickly snatches him, obviously the soberest.* Ah, ah, ah!
Duo: *squirms madly, kicking and scratching at him* Let me go!!
Trieze: *hushed in the shadows of the buildings with Zechs glued to his side.*
Small Soldier: *grabs the collar of Duo's shirt and rips it off forcefully, baring the flat chest underneath* Its him! It's the bastard that killed Tod!
Drunk: *groans from the ground.* (stupid mourning) Oh, Toddd... I'm shhhorry you died! I drank a cold one for ya, bro!
Gothic: Would someone shut him up?! *keeps hold on Duo and starts to drag him away.*
Duo: Let me go! *beginning to shake in fear* I'm-I'm warning you!
Small Soldier: And we're warning you! Hank-
Big Guy: *throws back his fist and cracks it across Duo's jaw*
Duo: *cries out sharply, curling up to hide himself so he wont get hurt. Chin is already bruising, frail, ivory skin never tempted against harsh treatments before* S-s-st-stop...
Gothic: Lets get this pansy back to boss!
Drunk: We'll all get raises!
Duo: *closes his eyes tightly, body growing suddenly stiff then completely lax, head falling on his chin*
Small Soldier: Probably sayin- *chokes suddenly*
Gothic: *blinks lightly.* What's the matta with you, Ter(ry)?
Terry: *reaches shakily for his throat, choking like something is logged in his throat. Eyes jerk to the limp form in the Gothic's hands*
Duo: *raises his head slowly and meets the soldier's gaze, eyes brewing up a violet storm. Suddenly they flash like lightning and his gaze follows as the man collapses to the ground*
Gothic: *eyes widen.* Holy... fuck! *releases Duo, fear riding his facade. Goes to his fallen companion and looks at the larger soldier.* You take him!
Drunk: Hey, Ter knows how to play dead!
Hank: I'm not touching him! Lets get out of here!
Duo: *sways on his feet, eyes slipping closed before slowly peeling them open. Stares at the black, electrical strands diving into the ground around his enemies, shaking and quivering to indicate their fear. Raises a heavy, slow hand, palm to the sky and slowly three separate strands break through the ground right next to him and into his palm. Hand encloses around the delicate strings before giving a harsh squeeze, eyes jerking up to meet his enemies cries*
Zechs: Master...*draws closer to the more powerful mage, eyes wide* Do...Do you see anything of what he's doing...?
Trieze: *stares with widened light blue eyes as he watches the display, seeing everything that the young teen controls. A smile tugs at his lips.* Yes.... Yes, I see it all...
Zechs: *grips his Master's arm, leaning close* What is he doing? *looks up at him but suddenly whips around when he hears two thumps hit the ground...of the dead soldiers...*
Trieze: I've never seen such power... *looks at the heaps on the ground.* What raw beauty it is to my eyes...
Drunk: *still alive and just drunk.* Wooo! They're all playin' dead!
Zechs: Master...What is he?
Duo: *slowly stumbles away from the bodies, eyes slowly returning to their normal violet hue…but the brightness usually in them doesn't return. Suddenly he turns, going at a full out run*
Trieze: He... *looks at the untouched bodies then reviews the events quickly and lifts his eyes to watch him go.* He's Shinigami, the legendary prophecies told of him. He would descend into this world disguised as a human and show the world his great power after finding his...
Zechs: *eyes widen slowly* Sh...Shinigami? *watches the retreating figure*
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Duo: *stumbles up the stairs, feeling his whole body getting tired and his limps even heavier. Collapses on the door with his body, panting heavily and hair, for once, a mess. Twists the knob blindly and stumbles in, tripping to the bed's side where he clings onto to catch his breath*
Heero: *bolts up with eyes open and clear. Looks over at the form then rolls on the bed and slips his hands onto Duo to help him onto the bed with concerned eyes.* Duo? What happened?
Duo: We-have-to-go-now! *tries to push past Heero to get up and collect their things*
Heero: *keeps hold of him and twists his body around, pinning the younger teen to the bed.* Tell me what's going on.
Duo: *stares up at him with wide eyes, obviously near the break of tears and tightens his hold on Heero's arms*
Heero: *looks into his wide violet eyes and looses his soft glare, becoming concerned again. Moves a hand from Duo's shoulder to his face.* Tell me.
Duo: I...I...Heero...I killed...them...I killed them...I didn't mean to, I'm sorry! *feels his tears begin to break free and closes his eyes, shaking his head* I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!
Heero: *confused look. Doesn't know what to do so settles for caressing his chipmunk cheek gently and pulls him up to his chest to hold him.* Shhh...
Duo: *clings onto him desperately, sobbing out his exhaustion, his shock, his regret* I didn't mean to...I'm sorry...I'm sorry...I didn't mean to...
Heero: *swallows thickly and sits there holding him then gets a natural urge. Can't put a finger on the odd feeling before he's suddenly purring in his chest and throat. Blinks at himself.*
Duo: *stops sobbing into his neck slowly, wet eyelashes peeling open to listen to the odd sound. Slowly peels back, his tears from his cheek brushing Heero's as he moves back and looks up at him, confused*
Heero: *swallows again and slowly the rumble dies down. Looks sheepish and bashful as he looks down and tilts his chin down.* (mumble) Sorry...
Duo: *wipes one of his cheeks* How'd...How'd you do that?
Heero: *works his jaw for a moment.* I... don't know...
Duo: *smiles weakly, the momentarily distraction getting a hold of him* That...was really cool.
Heero: ... Thanks... *looks back up at him and shifts on the bed.* ... Tell me what just happened, Duo?
Duo: *smile disappears and looks away*
Heero: You said we have to leave?
Duo: Yes.
Heero: Immediately?
Duo: It...would be nice and...not complicated...if we do.
Heero: *gets up from the bed and tugs his boots on before going around and sticking their belongings in his nifty little pack, silent.*
Duo: *sighs thankfully, loudly and gets up, pulling on his torn shirt and trying to fix it so he can wear it*
Heero: *glances over at him then grabs his own tunic.* You ruined my shirt. *tosses the younger boy his blue tunic.*
Duo: I'm...sorry. I was trying to get away. *takes off his favorite shirt with a sigh* I liked this shirt a lot too...*slips on the blue tunic slowly*
Heero: *watches him silently then ties the pack up.* I'll get you another one.
Duo: R..Really? *watches him, fingering the blue tunic, fondly, the mysterious musky smell wafting around him*
Heero: If you would like that, hai. *opens the door and waits for the teen silently.*
Duo: Heero...? *looks at the floor shyly*
Heero: *stands there and catches the door before it shuts again.* Hn?
Duo: Why...are you just letting me get away?
Heero: *tilts his head lightly then casually replies.* You'll tell me.
Duo: *looks up slowly, a little shocked. Then smiles slowly, shyly, walking up to his companion and nods to him*
Heero: *walks out after him and closes the door. Goes down the stairs and tosses the room key onto the counter before walking out of the hotel and instinctively scans the perimeter then stops short, the night breeze rubbing over leather soft skin stretched over average, but steel muscle. Eyes fall on the three men laying in the street silently.*
Duo: *has already turned his head away, clutching his shirt up to his nose to breathe in the calming, mysterious scent from his dreams*
Heero: *looks over at Duo slowly then walks behind him and slips the pack strap over Duo's shoulder and torso before walking in front of him and crouching lightly, beckoning him onto his back by his actions.*
Duo: *slips his arms around his friend's shoulders slowly and crawls on, his exhaustion beginning to come back to him. Clings onto him desperately, legs wrapping around his waist and buries his head into his neck*
Heero: *shifts lightly to immune to the light weight. Glances around before running and then jumps and onto an invisible stair, using his levitation, and then jumps again, disappearing as he runs over a building roof.*
Trieze: Shinigami... and his Perfect Soldier. *stares after them and walks onto the street from their hiding.* Zechs, did you see the Perfect soldier?
Zechs: The boy, My Lord?
Trieze: Yes, Shinigami's mount.
Zechs: Perfect Soldier? Why do you say that?
Trieze: Shinigami only reveals his powers when his Perfect Soldier is there to tend to him afterward. *looks back at Zechs.* And this Shinigami is very dependent.
Zechs: *looks confused at his Master, momentarily lost for words* Are you saying that Shinigami is weak, Master?
Trieze: Yes, for now he is weak. I searched his mind, his human body cannot control the powers it contains. His unimaginable powers have not been trained to obey each command. But his Perfect Soldier... is perfect. *looks out into the trees again.* And once we have him, you will be perfect, my Zechs.
Zechs: My Master. *bows his head lowly* You wish me to follow them and bring them both to you?
Trieze: *wonders for a moment then shakes his head and looks at Zechs again.* Follow them, observe them. And report to me what you find, I will have to set up a new place for you to bring them back to... a place where those two pety peace dreamers (Wufei and Trowa) won't find us and Shinigami.
Zechs: *eyes glint appraisingly* Hai, my Master. I'll do my best. *bows down, taking his Lord's hand and giving it a light kiss before running after the two targets*
Trieze: *watches his apprentice disappear into the darkness, but keeps a tab on him through their mind link as he sighs with a grin and walks down the silent street.*
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Heero: *walks silently, holding Duo's legs, going through the trees stealthily. Tries to sort out what's been going on in his mind since the night he met the young teen.*
Duo: *mumbles into Heero's neck* ...ero...Tired...Rest...?
Heero: *slows and looks around his extremely dark surroundings, the tree canopy blocking out the moonlight. Looks at a log, seeing well with his keen vision. Walks to the log and turns, crouching again to let Duo slide onto it.*
Duo: *literally slides off Heero's back, plopping and swaying sleepily on the log before catching his balance*
Heero: *turns to him and watches him before shaking his head lightly and takes the pack, setting it aside. Gathers some wood quickly and builds a small fire before standing by it and looking at Duo.*
Zechs: *walks slowly through the trees, using his mind's eye to block the Perfect Soldier's senses of picking him up. Draws as close as he dares to, moving up against a tree*
Duo: ...'eero...Where...did...you...get...your...powers...? *closes his sleepy eyes, beginning to fall forward before catching himself*
Heero: *goes to gathering leaves and grass and makes it into a little mattress on the forest floor before taking the blankets out and laying them on top, working his jaw lightly as to not answer the question.*
Duo: ...eero...?
Heero: *fixes the bed nicely and then pulls the top blanket back, kneeling. Pats the bed so Duo will come lay down.*
Zechs: *watches carefully before slipping his eyes closed and reaching into the tired Shinigami's mind*
Duo: *does as bidden, crawling sleepily to the bed and sways, falling onto the blankets* Ari...ga...to...
Heero: *sighs heavily and wishes to ask him again about tonight, but also hoping he falls asleep so not to further pursue the topic of his powers. Covers Duo with the blanket and tucks him in gently.*
Duo: *eyes widen suddenly, as if the sleep was suddenly lifted then droops again, snuggling sleepily into the blankets*
Zechs: (soft)...My Master was right...You are weak...Weak and petite. Why would such a human as you possess a power like that...?
Duo: ...We're...safe...?
Heero: You're with me, aren't you? *sits slowly beside the form on the bed and keeps watching him.*
Duo: *smiles weakly, staring out in front of him but not really seeing anything* Weak...Hai, I am...
Heero: *blinks lightly and puts the back of a warm hand to Duo's forehead before lowering it again and runs a knuckle over Duo's cheek.* ... Together we are strong.
Zechs: *looks over from the corner of his eye and blinks, watching the caress hotly*
Duo: *eyes get slightly misty, hands relaxing their grip on the blanket* Always...? Be with me...?
Heero: *stills his hand then turns it and runs his fingertips over the sweet, milky skin.* (soft) If that is what you wish, hai.
Duo: *smiles dazedly again, this time stronger before letting his eyes slip close*...Hold my hand...?
Zechs: *eyes slip close again and moves from one mind to the other, gripping a tree branch tightly*
Heero: *slowly does so and shifts his seat by Duo. Unconsciously begins to run his thumb over Duo's knuckles as he watches the tired form. Blinks lightly then closes his eyes a long moment at an odd feeling then shakes it off and looks down at Duo again.*
Duo: *grips onto his protector's hand tightly, breathing deeply into his pillow of blankets as he begins to slip away from consciousness but with comfort of knowing someone is near*
Zechs: *frowns darkly as he continues to search deeper, past memories and dreams and into his powers and past lives*
Heero: *continues to massage the hand in his own then shifts again in the grass by the blankets and blinks tired eyes, blaming it on the lack of sleep and then the short nap before Duo roused him again. Closes his eyes again to rest his eyes.*
Zechs: ~Fall asleep...Fall asleep, Perfect Soldier.~
Heero: *suddenly whines softly and opens his eyes slowly, eyelids heavy. Slowly lays down, his upper body laying over Duo's and the bridge of his nose is against Duo's jaw again, the way he likes it. Suddenly feels an urge again and the rumbling purr crashes forth from his chest and throat as he snuggles to the warmth.*
Duo: *slowly gives a large smile in his sleep*
Zechs: *dashes off in the woods*