Warnings: Yaoi Um… Angst… I think… Possibly bad language… and I think that's it… This chapter was largely lemon before… *mutters to self*

Disclaimer: I don't own the g-bois. I just borrow them, use them, clean them up (mostly) and send them back just a little rumpled. I don't make any money off them and I have none, so suing me would be an exercise in futility. I do own Shiakara, Nihrana and Tia'ara, all three of which only really make a cameo appearance in this chapter, but whom are still loved dearly by myself and their fellow Original Characters, so great punishment shall befall any who steal them.

Author's notes: Well this chapter is virtually a non-chapter… It was nearly all lemon before, so now it's nearly all nothing. Remember here for lemons: http://www.gundam-wing-universe.net

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Quatre shivered and Wufei felt it ripple both physically, through his back, and in some other way, through the spell. The faery was tired and both centaurs could feel it. They needed to stop, but Wufei himself had no way of reaching Trowa. Though he could sense thoughts sent to him, he couldn't send his own and, at this speed, that was the only way he could hope to get through to the pantherin.

"Quatre?" Wufei called, hoping the little faery, being on his back, could hear him.

"Yes?" came the polite reply, only barely heard over the rushing wind.

"You're tired. You should contact Trowa and we should rest!"

"No! No, I'm fine and we're not far from there now. It's only a little way. I can make it. Don't worry about me, I'm not as weak as you seem to think everyone but centaurs are."

Wufei had to smile a little at that, and he said no more, only trusting Quatre to get them where they were going. And before he knew it, they were there.

The sun was just setting and it laid a magnificent golden sheen over the complicated maze of buildings that was the University. A quiet, end-of-the-day bustle was moving within and Quatre felt that the place was very homey. It seemed comfortable and, at a glance, friendly. And that was the feeling he picked up from it, one of overall comfort and pleasure.

But they knew Duo was in there somewhere, imprisoned. Perhaps being tortured or forced to do things he didn't want to do. A collective shudder ran through all of them as they found a clump of bushes and trees they could be well hidden in.

Trowa and Tia'ara Changed and stretched their human bodies, wincing as muscles protested for being in cat form for so long.

"We can't just storm the place. There's likely to be hundreds, maybe thousands of mages in there," Trowa said softly, his mind already analysing and planning as Quatre slipped off Wufei's back and thanked him softly for allowing him to ride.

Wufei nodded in reply and graced the faery with a tiny smile.

"It would be better to wait until night fall and do some reconnaissance so we can find where he is. I can easily hide one or two from the eyes, once I have had a chance to rest. If we know where he is, then we can better formulate a plan for his rescue," Tia'ara said, jumping in before any of the others had a chance to say a thing and smiling at Trowa.

Trowa nodded slowly, but chewed his lip in thought.

"I've heard a little about this place. They don't like to accept non-humans… but I've also heard they will give an audience if it's asked for, farcical as the whole process may be. If we go to them that way, and find out their strengths, then find out where Duo is through Tia'ara's plan, then we'll be better equipped still…"

Wufei and Noin nodded in agreement while Quatre gave a slight shrug. He didn't know anything about this sort of thing and he was happy to leave it up to them so long as they freed Duo as quickly and painlessly as possible.

"If we don't go knocking on their doors until very late tonight, they will be disoriented and that will possibly lead to more slip-ups and more information for us," Wufei put in, also gaining a nod.

So, plans laid, the five of them settled down to some much-needed rest, setting a watch in the form of Tia'ara, who would wake Wufei at some point to take her place.

Quatre cuddled his wand close and was the first to slip off, praying they would rescue their friend soon and that he wasn't too badly hurt or being hurt…

* * *

Duo shivered delightfully and gave a slight moan in the back of his throat, eyes slipping shut. He wriggled further down into the warm water with a sigh and gave another soft moan.

"Yes… oh… just like that, Heero… Mmm… That's sooo good…" Duo whispered as Heero's fingers worked magic on him of an entirely different kind than what they'd been practicing earlier.

Heero only smirked and intensified his ministrations, drawing another long moan from the elf as he shifted a little in the water to make things a little easier for himself.

"You like that…?" the mage purred, then let his fingers begin to slow their work.

"Yes! Oh… oh… don't stop, Heero! More…" Duo pleaded in a half-moan.

Heero chuckled deep in the back of his throat, his fingers working deeper and again drawing soft moans from Duo. He reached to the side of the heated bathing pool to take hold of a smallish bottle, taking his hands away from Duo long enough to cover them liberally in the contents of the bottle.

"Heero!" Duo cried in protest.

"It will be better this way…" Heero murmured, still covering his hands in the substance.

Duo made a "hurry up" noise, tilting his head back a little so he could see what Heero was doing.

"You're teasing me!" Duo whined, licking his lips in anticipation as he watched the movements of those strong hands.

"Who…? Me…?" Heero asked, somehow managing to look innocent.

"Yes!" Duo cried plaintively, pouting.

Heero dropped a quick kiss on that appealing pout, then smiled and brought his hands back to Duo's masses of hair, continuing his washing of said hair. The elf moaned happily again, eyes shutting in pleasure almost instantly.

"Like a cat…" Heero murmured affectionately as he watched the pleasure Duo took in the simple act of grooming. The elf didn't reply, possibly didn't even hear as wallowed in the pampering. He'd been surprised when Heero had suggested a joint bath, then afraid, but the proposition of someone else washing his hair instead of having to do it himself had been too much for him to resist and he'd agreed and was immensely glad he had. It felt so good and Heero was so careful, but firm enough that he was actually cleaning and not just moving the accumulated dirt around.

"You sure know the way to a man's heart…" Duo murmured without thought and Heero faltered a moment, but didn't stop.

Neither of them had said those three words, but Heero felt it growing within him, blooming into something frighteningly beautiful. Something so beautiful could so easily be crushed and he didn't want to say anything to Duo yet for fear of rejection or hate. He watched Duo's face as he washed the chestnut silk and knew he had to show the elf…

But Duo had said he wanted to take things slowly and Heero wanted to respect that. He could wait… forever if he had to, but something inside told him if he broke that last barrier, if he showed Duo how beautiful it could be, then nothing would stand in the way of Duo being able to love him and admit that he loved him.

"Take a deep breath…" Heero said slyly.

"What do you mea-" Duo started, but his words were swamped as Heero dunked him under the water to wash away the suds in his hair.

Heero sniggered, amazed at himself and the playfulness Duo had brought out in him, then dove away from the elf as he broke the surface, spluttering oaths and death-threats. He pushed to his feet, leaving him open to Heero's appreciative eye down until the water, which lapped at his chest, just a little below his nipples. His eyes seemed to glow with hidden mirth and his hair was plastered to his head, falling straight down around his face to float around him, making him look like some sort of water sprite who had decided to grace the human world with his presence for a reason known only to himself.

He scowled playfully at Heero and put his hands on hips, head tilted to one side.

"Now that wasn't very nice!" he cried.

Heero smirked and swam over to him, then stood, just a little taller than Duo, but equally as beautiful in his own ways. He moved close, one arm slipping around Duo's waist and pulling him against the mage's body. His lips hovered close to Duo's, not quite touching.

"What are you going to do about it…?" he challenged in a breathy purr that went straight to Duo's groin and made him very bold.

"Sure I could think of… something…" he murmured, looping his arms around Heero's shoulders and closing that short distance between them to kiss him deeply. Heero was surprised for a moment and it showed in his eyes, but he didn't take long to recover and was soon kissing Duo back, his tongue begging entrance to Duo's mouth. Duo gave permission, parting lips and teeth and meeting Heero's tongue with his own, the two of them duelling for dominance of the kiss.

That surprised Heero even more. The enthusiasm with which Duo was responding had been unexpected. He'd thought the elf would retreat quickly, threatened by the lack of clothing on them both, but instead, he pressed against Heero, still warring for dominance and gaining it as Heero lost concentration, pondering on his thoughts.

Heero tightened his arm about Duo's waist and lifted the other hand to tangle in the masses of wet hair, tilting his head back to deepen the kiss and regain the dominance of it, though Duo didn't give it without a bit of a fight. Heero did expect Duo to back off then, but he didn't, giving a muffled laugh into the kiss instead, amused by Heero.

~Heero, Duo, Nihrana said- ~ It was Shiakara's voice in their heads and Heero snarled back a reply before Duo could say a thing and without even breaking the kiss.

~We're very, very busy and Nihrana can wait. If he can't, I'll kill him!~

Shiakara withdrew in a hurry and didn't try again.

Duo broke the kiss, burying his head against Heero's shoulder and giggling madly, finding the situation hilariously funny for some reason. He shook with his laughter and even he wasn't sure what was so very funny about the comment.

His laughter calmed as Heero ran his fingers up and down the elf's spine and sides, making him shiver and sigh happily. He kissed the shoulder his face was currently buried in, then let his tongue flicker out to dance across the silky skin.

At some point, Duo murmured that he didn't want this to happen here, and they somehow made their way to Heero's rooms. They lost themselves in each other, Duo afraid at times and needing assurance and care, which Heero gladly took the time to give. As they lay together, panting, Duo was glad it had happened. At some stage, when he had no thought left, he realised he loved Heero Yuy.

"Duo…?" Heero murmured eventually.

"Hnnmm…" was the only reply Duo made, feeling like a puddle of afterglow and quite happy to stay that way for the moment.

Heero laughed softly and carefully rolled off him, eyeing the door and their towels laying there and knowing they should go wash. He muttered to himself and waved a hand instead, taking the lazy way out and cleaning the two of them with magic.

Duo snuggled against Heero, burying his face in the mage's chest and laughing softly at the act, though he said nothing, still feeling puddleish. He looped an arm around Heero's waist and, when Heero gently lifted his face, returned the kiss the mage gave. He wasn't ready to offer his heart, couldn't admit yet what he'd realised in the height of passion. He would wait and bide his time. For the moment, he needed to sleep…

Heero felt his lover's breathing slow and smooth out into the rhythm of sleep and smiled a little, brushing chestnut bangs back from closed eyes, and tracing one finger along the edge of a pointed ear. Duo was so beautiful, so full of life, so… everything. Heero still wasn't sure if he was in love, but he was sure he was in more than lust.

The question was; could an elf ever feel anything more than simple lust for a human…?

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Author's note: Oh that sucked even more than the Treize/Milliardo one… *sigh* You just don't get the whole point when you condense ten pages into about two paragraphs. This bites… But at least I made that word; Puddleish! Or should that have been puddlish…? ~_^