First off, I wanna apologize for the lateness of this chapter,
knowing how you all have been so impatiently waiting for it
*coughsarcasmcough*, but I've been -reallllly- busy the past
couple of days. Cause it was my BIRTHDAY!!!!!! ^______________^
Three days of partying. Can't beat that. Well, maybe you -could-
, but still! I'm FINALLY 16! *does a little happy dance*
*ahem* Now that I have that out of the way...Boy did I have FUN writing this chapter. *evil cackle* I am -so- going to get killed for this chapter. ^_____^ Though, I'm more worried about Jell-O Injustice Boy and Sexxah Fanged Heero than any rabid reviewers...(well, okay, there's a few scary reviewers that I should worry about...*sweatdrop*)...*looks around warily* Who knows when they'll pop out of nowhere and try to strangle me? MEEP! o.O;;;
I was gonna have this awesome fight...but once I start writing, I can't force myself to write stuff my inspiration doesn't want, and apparently, it didn't want a violent fight scene. Yet. Hence the 'yet'. It's highly intrigued by all the people mentioning a lovely 1x2x5 threesome. I can't deny that I haven't thought about it, considering how I keep changing Heero and Wufei and Duo's feelings towards each other constantly (which I'm sure is driving you all INSANE), though I don't want to weird anyone out with a threesome. -I- certainly have no room to talk *coughblushcough*...But I know a lot of people are freaked out by threesomes, so maybe if I get enough positive responses in reviews...You just don't know what my inspiration might come up with. *evil grin*
Duo: *sweatdrop* You're such a hentai DVG.
I know. ^_______________^ But you still love me, ne Duo-chan? *chibi eyes*
Duo: Er...of course I do...*pats her head* You're -special-.
YES! *happy dance* REVIEWS!
Harlequin Light: ^_^;;; I try my hardest to update quickly. I know how much -I- hate it when it takes an author forever to update, so I try not to be the same way. If that makes any sense. But I'm glad you're enjoying this little story so far!!
SanosukeLover- Milly Maxwell: Heh, I see I didn't bastardize Heero too much in the last chapter, now did I? It gets better! Not only Duo's feelings change, but so do others'! ^^;;; I'm so evil I scare myself sometimes...
Ichigo Pocky: Don't worry, I'm just as torn about who I should pair Duo with too! ^^;;; That's the main reason I keep throwing these whammy plot twists at you poor reviewers! Cause I can't make up my damn mind!
Solain Rhyo: *modest blush* Now I don't think it was -that- great...But if you like it, then it's all good. ^_^ Gummi bears scare you? *blink blink* That's a new one.
LadyRune: *glomps* It's reviewers like you that make me feel all hentai-happy inside! *snuggle* One of many reviewers who suggested a threesome...^_^ All will be right with the universe...eventually.
Mars: YOINKS? *bursts out laughing so hard she falls from her computer chair* Interesting word...*wipes tears from eyes* And yes, it's ALWAYS the Angst-Filled Bishie Eyes that grab the reader! Haha! It's so true! Just like no one can refuse Quatre or Duo's Chibi Eyed Pouts, no one can resist the power of the Angst-Filled Bishie Eyes! ^______^ And I'm not dead! (Yet *eyes Heero and Wufei cautiously, both of whom are trying to look completely innocent despite the dangerous weapons in their hands aimed at her*) You're gonna hate this cliffhanger. I don't know -why- I can't go without just ONE chapter not having a cliffhanger. I'm just evil like that. Buwaha. Maybe this time you'll have a same day review! Don't sulk! Be happy! ^_^
Lexington: Yaay! I'm luffed! *snuggle* Heh, Duo and Heero in a room...together...Now it's gonna be Duo, Heero, AND Wufei...in a room...together...Buwaha.
Iruka-Yuywell: ANOTHER reviewer who suggested 1x2x5 threesome bliss!! *snuggles her to death* I luff reviewers like you! ^_______^
Smiley-person: Don'tcha worry, Wu-chan, I haven't forgotten about you. *winks* You get plenty of action in this chapter. (Wufei gets a nosebleed) NOT that kind of action! Sometimes I think you're more of a hentai than me and Duo combined!
Duo: Hey! I resemble that remark!
Point proven. ^___^
Ryoko-Onee: GOMEN NASAI! *bows apologetically* I just can't help myself when it comes to cliffhangers! And Heero does more than just puts the moves on Duo...Poor Wufei...*foreshadowing* Have fun reading! ^_^
Yami Crystal: Shocked? In Awe? Wow...that's a rarity. Well be prepared for this chapter then, cause there's a lot more surprises where the last chapter came from!
Sakusha-san: OoooOooooOOoo...haiku. Awesome! ^______^ I'm glad you're enjoying my torturous cliffhangers!
Dark Ice: Wow, another awed reviewer. I feel special. But yes, we're certainly going to have a big confrontation, but it's a lot different then I thought it would be. ^_^ In a good way of course!
Shella: Yaay! My favorite reviewer-person!!!! *snuggle* I'm -your- favorite person now? Awwww...I am honored. ^____^ If you liked the brief revelation of Heero's 'third dimension', wait until what he does with Wufei. *coughforeshadowingcough* I am so evil sometimes. Is it really alarming that I can manipulate people's sympathies? *blink blink* I never thought I could do that. I just wrote what I felt, but I guess that's what does the trick, ne? ^^;;;; *MEEP* NO BARNEY! I can't -stand- the Purple Thing, he's almost worse than Relena! (Note the 'almost') He gives me nightmares...*twitch* But yes, anywho...Don't worry, I'm sure I can squeeze in some more Noin action for my Shella- chan. ^_^ Maybe even some fun with Une. I dunno, just maybe though. *evil grin* (I am such a hentai) Man, I can't go a chapter without fulfilling my -own- fanservice needs, and I consider myself a -very- demanding person, so I'm sure that you will always be well satisfied with the fanservice I provide. ^_____^ And there will be plenty more cute nicknames for Duo to create before the end of this story! And that doesn't even count all the nicknames he has for Wufei!
^________________^
*ahem* Now that I have the reviews out of the way...I'm sure you guys wanna read the new chapter, ne? Well go! Be free! Read! And do be sure to visit the little place called 'Review' and feed this poor-excuse of-an-author's ego! She just might get the next chapter out faster!
Wufei: *sniff* That's blackmail.
And?
Wufei: *sweatdrop* You have no morals, onna...
***
Quatre and Trowa found themselves having to practically leap down the stairway in order to keep up with the black blur speeding along ahead of them. The second that 'We can't find Duo' left Trowa's mouth, Wufei had taken off like a rocket out the front door, leaving no room for any sort of tactical discussion before they could possibly come to a definite conclusion as they fought to catch up.
Out on the sidewalk, Wufei suddenly halted dead in his tracks, making the couple hit their emergency brakes and skid to a stop to keep from crashing into him.
"What's wrong?" Quatre asked, gasping slightly. The deep wave of fear radiating from the Asian had turned to wary misgiving. Then he felt it- there were two vampires heading right towards them, not trying to shield themselves at all.
Were they doing it on purpose?
The three stood still for a tense moment as they approached. The two women appeared almost normal to a passerby's sight, strolling nonchalantly down the sidewalk arm-in-arm and talking casually, though the slayers and the fellow vampire knew differently.
As if in response to their suspicions, the one nearest to them, a woman with light brown hair, turned her gaze from her companion and stared straight into Wufei's eyes, motioning for him to follow with a small jerk of her head.
"Where is Heero?" Wufei said abruptly, falling into stride beside the women.
"There's a party going on right now...I believe you know where. He's waiting for you there and has a friend of yours with him," she answered obscurely.
He growled various colorful words. "Heero better not do anything, or I swear I'll-"
"He won't. He only wants you," the purple haired companion interrupted assuredly, concern in her expression. "And be careful...Trust me on that."
Confused, Wufei stopped. First veiled threats, then a worried 'Be careful'.
What the hell was going on?
He pushed his way back to where Quatre and Trowa were still standing, observing him questionably.
"Do you remember where the party was last night?" he inquired, eerily calm.
"Yes..." Trowa trailed off apprehensively.
The blonde empath went ghastly white.
"Good. Take us there so I can turn myself in and save Duo before it's too late."
***
If they thought Wufei had gone fast when leaving the apartment, that was nothing compared to the speed they were using now, moving through the crowds like lightning without being noticed. Soon the bustling metropolis melted away to quiet green lawns and large houses as the three neared their target. The familiar dark shadows of forest began creeping up behind the homes, giving off a sinister, confining pressure of tense anticipation that wrapped around them like a noose, tightening little by little as the willow trees came into view.
Wufei froze mid-stride again without warning, making Quatre and Trowa pause and look back impatiently to see why his footsteps had ceased. He couldn't bring himself to speak, but there was something waiting beyond the seemingly innocent sweeping branches that made him feel a fear he hadn't experienced since...since he was turned.
Misinterpreting the fear he sensed, Quatre put a reassuring hand on the Asian's shoulder. "Once we go in there, you can't go back. You'll be stuck with us," he added in a halfhearted attempt at a jest.
"It's not that!" Wufei spoke up hastily, not wishing to offend him. "I- It's just..."
He did not get a chance to finish as two men walked out with elegant grace, far too perfect to be human. The fear grew as they approached and, with shame, he had the strong urge to run back the way he had came. Why was he behaving so irrationally?
"It's been a while Wufei..."
His blood ran cold. "Who the hell are you?"
"There's no need to be crass. It doesn't suit your handsome features."
"Treize, now isn't the time to be flirting." Treize's partner interrupted with jealousy tingeing his silky drawl.
"Oh, lighten up Zechs," he dismissed airily.
Butterflies fluttered uneasily in Wufei's chest. The sound of their voices prodded at things that lay dormant, stirring up vague images of a long surpressed misfortune.
Quatre's piercing aquamarine stare shot back and forth between the vampires as realization dawned upon him, the untold story unfolding itself in his discerning mind. "Where has Heero taken Duo?" he asked firmly, his expression not betraying any of the revelations that had presented themselves to him.
The silver haired beau waved his hand lazily in the general direction of the house. "They're somewhere in the party," he answered casually.
Trowa's emerald eyes narrowed in displeasure and he shoved past the two with a ready grip on his gun, as if daring them to try to do anything with the consequence of death. "Quatre, Wufei, let's go. Now."
Wufei pulled himself out of his distracted thoughts, a confused light in his uncertain gaze as he followed the blonde Arabian under the trees; he could feel Treize and Zechs watching intently from behind.
"Here's your last chance to back out," Quatre offered as Trowa went into the music-throbbing house ahead of them.
"No, I won't," Wufei refused doggedly, forcing all his perplexities out of his head, and with that, entered the party.
***
For one of the extremely rare times in his whole entire life, Duo Maxwell was struck utterly speechless.
There was no quick or witty remark instantly forming on the tip of his tongue to spring out heedlessly in an answer, no fast movement to dance his way around something he didn't want to confront. He just stood there, still as stone in recovering shock, the dim notion that he must appear really stupid gawking like an idiot barely registering.
This was a trick...only another trick to lure him into being put under the vampire's spell...
So why wasn't he breaking away?
Duo found himself seriously considering the hurt on Heero's face was truly genuine. Could he really be upset over the fact that a -slayer-, of all people, thought he was the most horrible person in the world, yet was able to show compassion for a victim of unwelcome assault? Because that -was- what Duo thought of Wufei, he had been one more innocent used by the sick, twisted vampires for their own demented pleasure, Heero being one of them.
But did he truly believe his opinion of Heero?
'He's a cold-hearted murderer,' he reminded himself mentally. Yes, he had been the one who had tried to kill him, or have him killed. Several times in fact! He had tried to sink his own fangs into his throat just the night before! There can be no redemption for the things he had done!
This was merely an act, Duo decided finally, ending his unheard argument.
Though even as he came to his conclusion, he couldn't pull back as Heero leaned forward further without any warning and kissed him.
Kissed him.
-Kissed-.
The door beside them was thrust open with a wood-splintering slam and, as suddenly as it had happened, Heero was ripped away as Wufei took him up by a fistful of leather jacket. Duo teetered on the verge of falling from the unexpected gravity imbalance; his flailing arms hooked by Trowa's, who eased him down onto the couch.
To anyone else, this scene might have seemed comical, but in their positions, it was quite serious. 'What would have transpired if we had been too late...' Quatre wondered, troubled by the reactions his empathy was receiving. Duo looked like he was about to faint, Wufei's anger had exploded to new heights, and Heero...He didn't want to admit it, but there was -something- underneath the emotionless façade he was staring at the Chinese boy with that he was concealing. He had let his barriers down just as the three had so loudly barged into the room, and whatever he had been attempting to convey to the braided slayer had shaken both of them. However the barriers had shot back into place as soon as Wufei got hold of him, and Quatre didn't get a chance to figure out exactly what he was covering up.
"Don't you EVER touch him like that!!" Wufei growled threateningly, practically hurling Heero over a nearby armchair and into the wall with a painful thud. "It's -me- you want, so leave him out of this!"
Heero was silent, surveying him coolly and not replying. There was a new warmth radiating from the 'traitor', a soothing aura had enveloped itself protectively around the Asian like a gentle embrace that certainly had not been there when they had last clashed. Maybe it was the black clothes borrowed from Duo that he wore, how the slayer's subtle scent seemed to emit from him like the similar aura, or the raw intensity that burned so brightly in his ebony depths like wild fire.
For a brief second, Heero's sureness in his victory wavered. He would not allow defeat, but fleetingly, the fiery person clutching the front of his jacket was a person to be feared.
And revered.
It was just fleeting though.
The familiar, barely perceptible smirk fixed itself confidently on his lips, the only sign of a change of emotion.
"Oh yes, I -want- you, Wufei," Heero provoked, amusement flickering in his stony Prussian gaze. "But you must admit, a third in the mix would be much more interesting."
"You're disgusting," Wufei spat acidly, obviously not as amused as him. "And I don't want to hear your shit, it's not going to work this time."
"Shit?" Heero paused. "Shit, eh? I don't know what you're talking about, I was being serious." The smirk widened.
"It's hard to tell with you," he replied scathingly, ignoring the insinuation of the ending to their last argument over his sense of humor. "Now -I'M- serious. Leave them out of this, it's our problem and no one else deserves to be involved."
"'Them', is it? What happened to 'him'? Clearly, if you had burst in at an earlier moment of our little confrontation, you would have heard the slayer over there-" Heero's eyes strayed over to the couch where Duo was and was met by Trowa's ice cold glare. "-putting up quite the passionate outburst about how I should leave YOU alone and am not decent enough to actually say something nice. Sounds like someone who wants to get involved, not be left out of the fun."
Wufei's scowl deepened, the wild fire in his eyes flaring up dangerously as he lifted the Japanese vampire a few inches higher off the ground. He refused to let him get under his skin, the one thing he was attempting so hard to do, because if he did, it would only make the situation worse. He would much rather keep the casualties down to just himself and Heero before even a hair on any of the slayers' heads was injured. They had done more than enough for him already, to the point of stepping outside their lines of duty, and he didn't wish for it to go further.
"I swear to any of the gods that will listen to me, if you so much as-"
"As what?" Heero prodded with a touch of sarcasm, plainly the actuality that the raven-haired teen had the upper hand right then didn't bother him in the least, or if it did, he didn't reveal it. "And what would you do if I did?"
"I'd make you regret it if you did." Wufei ground out through clenched teeth, his fist tightening its grip.
"Oh really? Apparently, you're too -nice- to be bad like I am, despite the fact that you -stabbed- me in the arm."
"I'm not proud of that," he replied quietly, though not loosening his hold in the slightest. "It was a moment of weakness and I'm ashamed of ever doing it."
His response caught Heero off guard. The last time he had heard Wufei talk like that was the night he had pushed him over the edge in the alley outside 'Chasing the Dragon' and he had holed himself up in his room, forcing the inhuman urge to go away instead of sustaining the hunger.
Once again, Heero couldn't get over the shrouded strength that reared its head up whenever it seemed as if Wufei was about to lose control or give up. Especially now. Nothing he had said or done since the three had barged into the room had seemed to effect the Asian like it usually would when they bickered. It was as if he was an entirely different person.
"So you're saying...you wouldn't have stabbed me?"
Wufei blinked at the sudden change in Heero's tone of voice. He sounded almost...insecure with himself.
Quatre's empathy was having a heyday and he was definitely going to need a -lot- of painkillers for the migraine that was sure to follow.
***
Heero: *suspicious glare* Are you turning me into some horny lecher or something? First it's Duo, now there hints of me having feelings for Wufei. Will you make up your mind already?
DVG: *smug smirk* Of course not. I will never be able to make up my mind. You three are just so perfect-
Wufei: PLEASE don't finish that statement. *impending nosebleed*
DVG: *pout* But- You three WOULD-
(Heero, Wufei, and Duo all tackle her and clamp their hands over her mouth to shut her up)
*ahem* Now that I have that out of the way...Boy did I have FUN writing this chapter. *evil cackle* I am -so- going to get killed for this chapter. ^_____^ Though, I'm more worried about Jell-O Injustice Boy and Sexxah Fanged Heero than any rabid reviewers...(well, okay, there's a few scary reviewers that I should worry about...*sweatdrop*)...*looks around warily* Who knows when they'll pop out of nowhere and try to strangle me? MEEP! o.O;;;
I was gonna have this awesome fight...but once I start writing, I can't force myself to write stuff my inspiration doesn't want, and apparently, it didn't want a violent fight scene. Yet. Hence the 'yet'. It's highly intrigued by all the people mentioning a lovely 1x2x5 threesome. I can't deny that I haven't thought about it, considering how I keep changing Heero and Wufei and Duo's feelings towards each other constantly (which I'm sure is driving you all INSANE), though I don't want to weird anyone out with a threesome. -I- certainly have no room to talk *coughblushcough*...But I know a lot of people are freaked out by threesomes, so maybe if I get enough positive responses in reviews...You just don't know what my inspiration might come up with. *evil grin*
Duo: *sweatdrop* You're such a hentai DVG.
I know. ^_______________^ But you still love me, ne Duo-chan? *chibi eyes*
Duo: Er...of course I do...*pats her head* You're -special-.
YES! *happy dance* REVIEWS!
Harlequin Light: ^_^;;; I try my hardest to update quickly. I know how much -I- hate it when it takes an author forever to update, so I try not to be the same way. If that makes any sense. But I'm glad you're enjoying this little story so far!!
SanosukeLover- Milly Maxwell: Heh, I see I didn't bastardize Heero too much in the last chapter, now did I? It gets better! Not only Duo's feelings change, but so do others'! ^^;;; I'm so evil I scare myself sometimes...
Ichigo Pocky: Don't worry, I'm just as torn about who I should pair Duo with too! ^^;;; That's the main reason I keep throwing these whammy plot twists at you poor reviewers! Cause I can't make up my damn mind!
Solain Rhyo: *modest blush* Now I don't think it was -that- great...But if you like it, then it's all good. ^_^ Gummi bears scare you? *blink blink* That's a new one.
LadyRune: *glomps* It's reviewers like you that make me feel all hentai-happy inside! *snuggle* One of many reviewers who suggested a threesome...^_^ All will be right with the universe...eventually.
Mars: YOINKS? *bursts out laughing so hard she falls from her computer chair* Interesting word...*wipes tears from eyes* And yes, it's ALWAYS the Angst-Filled Bishie Eyes that grab the reader! Haha! It's so true! Just like no one can refuse Quatre or Duo's Chibi Eyed Pouts, no one can resist the power of the Angst-Filled Bishie Eyes! ^______^ And I'm not dead! (Yet *eyes Heero and Wufei cautiously, both of whom are trying to look completely innocent despite the dangerous weapons in their hands aimed at her*) You're gonna hate this cliffhanger. I don't know -why- I can't go without just ONE chapter not having a cliffhanger. I'm just evil like that. Buwaha. Maybe this time you'll have a same day review! Don't sulk! Be happy! ^_^
Lexington: Yaay! I'm luffed! *snuggle* Heh, Duo and Heero in a room...together...Now it's gonna be Duo, Heero, AND Wufei...in a room...together...Buwaha.
Iruka-Yuywell: ANOTHER reviewer who suggested 1x2x5 threesome bliss!! *snuggles her to death* I luff reviewers like you! ^_______^
Smiley-person: Don'tcha worry, Wu-chan, I haven't forgotten about you. *winks* You get plenty of action in this chapter. (Wufei gets a nosebleed) NOT that kind of action! Sometimes I think you're more of a hentai than me and Duo combined!
Duo: Hey! I resemble that remark!
Point proven. ^___^
Ryoko-Onee: GOMEN NASAI! *bows apologetically* I just can't help myself when it comes to cliffhangers! And Heero does more than just puts the moves on Duo...Poor Wufei...*foreshadowing* Have fun reading! ^_^
Yami Crystal: Shocked? In Awe? Wow...that's a rarity. Well be prepared for this chapter then, cause there's a lot more surprises where the last chapter came from!
Sakusha-san: OoooOooooOOoo...haiku. Awesome! ^______^ I'm glad you're enjoying my torturous cliffhangers!
Dark Ice: Wow, another awed reviewer. I feel special. But yes, we're certainly going to have a big confrontation, but it's a lot different then I thought it would be. ^_^ In a good way of course!
Shella: Yaay! My favorite reviewer-person!!!! *snuggle* I'm -your- favorite person now? Awwww...I am honored. ^____^ If you liked the brief revelation of Heero's 'third dimension', wait until what he does with Wufei. *coughforeshadowingcough* I am so evil sometimes. Is it really alarming that I can manipulate people's sympathies? *blink blink* I never thought I could do that. I just wrote what I felt, but I guess that's what does the trick, ne? ^^;;;; *MEEP* NO BARNEY! I can't -stand- the Purple Thing, he's almost worse than Relena! (Note the 'almost') He gives me nightmares...*twitch* But yes, anywho...Don't worry, I'm sure I can squeeze in some more Noin action for my Shella- chan. ^_^ Maybe even some fun with Une. I dunno, just maybe though. *evil grin* (I am such a hentai) Man, I can't go a chapter without fulfilling my -own- fanservice needs, and I consider myself a -very- demanding person, so I'm sure that you will always be well satisfied with the fanservice I provide. ^_____^ And there will be plenty more cute nicknames for Duo to create before the end of this story! And that doesn't even count all the nicknames he has for Wufei!
^________________^
*ahem* Now that I have the reviews out of the way...I'm sure you guys wanna read the new chapter, ne? Well go! Be free! Read! And do be sure to visit the little place called 'Review' and feed this poor-excuse of-an-author's ego! She just might get the next chapter out faster!
Wufei: *sniff* That's blackmail.
And?
Wufei: *sweatdrop* You have no morals, onna...
***
Quatre and Trowa found themselves having to practically leap down the stairway in order to keep up with the black blur speeding along ahead of them. The second that 'We can't find Duo' left Trowa's mouth, Wufei had taken off like a rocket out the front door, leaving no room for any sort of tactical discussion before they could possibly come to a definite conclusion as they fought to catch up.
Out on the sidewalk, Wufei suddenly halted dead in his tracks, making the couple hit their emergency brakes and skid to a stop to keep from crashing into him.
"What's wrong?" Quatre asked, gasping slightly. The deep wave of fear radiating from the Asian had turned to wary misgiving. Then he felt it- there were two vampires heading right towards them, not trying to shield themselves at all.
Were they doing it on purpose?
The three stood still for a tense moment as they approached. The two women appeared almost normal to a passerby's sight, strolling nonchalantly down the sidewalk arm-in-arm and talking casually, though the slayers and the fellow vampire knew differently.
As if in response to their suspicions, the one nearest to them, a woman with light brown hair, turned her gaze from her companion and stared straight into Wufei's eyes, motioning for him to follow with a small jerk of her head.
"Where is Heero?" Wufei said abruptly, falling into stride beside the women.
"There's a party going on right now...I believe you know where. He's waiting for you there and has a friend of yours with him," she answered obscurely.
He growled various colorful words. "Heero better not do anything, or I swear I'll-"
"He won't. He only wants you," the purple haired companion interrupted assuredly, concern in her expression. "And be careful...Trust me on that."
Confused, Wufei stopped. First veiled threats, then a worried 'Be careful'.
What the hell was going on?
He pushed his way back to where Quatre and Trowa were still standing, observing him questionably.
"Do you remember where the party was last night?" he inquired, eerily calm.
"Yes..." Trowa trailed off apprehensively.
The blonde empath went ghastly white.
"Good. Take us there so I can turn myself in and save Duo before it's too late."
***
If they thought Wufei had gone fast when leaving the apartment, that was nothing compared to the speed they were using now, moving through the crowds like lightning without being noticed. Soon the bustling metropolis melted away to quiet green lawns and large houses as the three neared their target. The familiar dark shadows of forest began creeping up behind the homes, giving off a sinister, confining pressure of tense anticipation that wrapped around them like a noose, tightening little by little as the willow trees came into view.
Wufei froze mid-stride again without warning, making Quatre and Trowa pause and look back impatiently to see why his footsteps had ceased. He couldn't bring himself to speak, but there was something waiting beyond the seemingly innocent sweeping branches that made him feel a fear he hadn't experienced since...since he was turned.
Misinterpreting the fear he sensed, Quatre put a reassuring hand on the Asian's shoulder. "Once we go in there, you can't go back. You'll be stuck with us," he added in a halfhearted attempt at a jest.
"It's not that!" Wufei spoke up hastily, not wishing to offend him. "I- It's just..."
He did not get a chance to finish as two men walked out with elegant grace, far too perfect to be human. The fear grew as they approached and, with shame, he had the strong urge to run back the way he had came. Why was he behaving so irrationally?
"It's been a while Wufei..."
His blood ran cold. "Who the hell are you?"
"There's no need to be crass. It doesn't suit your handsome features."
"Treize, now isn't the time to be flirting." Treize's partner interrupted with jealousy tingeing his silky drawl.
"Oh, lighten up Zechs," he dismissed airily.
Butterflies fluttered uneasily in Wufei's chest. The sound of their voices prodded at things that lay dormant, stirring up vague images of a long surpressed misfortune.
Quatre's piercing aquamarine stare shot back and forth between the vampires as realization dawned upon him, the untold story unfolding itself in his discerning mind. "Where has Heero taken Duo?" he asked firmly, his expression not betraying any of the revelations that had presented themselves to him.
The silver haired beau waved his hand lazily in the general direction of the house. "They're somewhere in the party," he answered casually.
Trowa's emerald eyes narrowed in displeasure and he shoved past the two with a ready grip on his gun, as if daring them to try to do anything with the consequence of death. "Quatre, Wufei, let's go. Now."
Wufei pulled himself out of his distracted thoughts, a confused light in his uncertain gaze as he followed the blonde Arabian under the trees; he could feel Treize and Zechs watching intently from behind.
"Here's your last chance to back out," Quatre offered as Trowa went into the music-throbbing house ahead of them.
"No, I won't," Wufei refused doggedly, forcing all his perplexities out of his head, and with that, entered the party.
***
For one of the extremely rare times in his whole entire life, Duo Maxwell was struck utterly speechless.
There was no quick or witty remark instantly forming on the tip of his tongue to spring out heedlessly in an answer, no fast movement to dance his way around something he didn't want to confront. He just stood there, still as stone in recovering shock, the dim notion that he must appear really stupid gawking like an idiot barely registering.
This was a trick...only another trick to lure him into being put under the vampire's spell...
So why wasn't he breaking away?
Duo found himself seriously considering the hurt on Heero's face was truly genuine. Could he really be upset over the fact that a -slayer-, of all people, thought he was the most horrible person in the world, yet was able to show compassion for a victim of unwelcome assault? Because that -was- what Duo thought of Wufei, he had been one more innocent used by the sick, twisted vampires for their own demented pleasure, Heero being one of them.
But did he truly believe his opinion of Heero?
'He's a cold-hearted murderer,' he reminded himself mentally. Yes, he had been the one who had tried to kill him, or have him killed. Several times in fact! He had tried to sink his own fangs into his throat just the night before! There can be no redemption for the things he had done!
This was merely an act, Duo decided finally, ending his unheard argument.
Though even as he came to his conclusion, he couldn't pull back as Heero leaned forward further without any warning and kissed him.
Kissed him.
-Kissed-.
The door beside them was thrust open with a wood-splintering slam and, as suddenly as it had happened, Heero was ripped away as Wufei took him up by a fistful of leather jacket. Duo teetered on the verge of falling from the unexpected gravity imbalance; his flailing arms hooked by Trowa's, who eased him down onto the couch.
To anyone else, this scene might have seemed comical, but in their positions, it was quite serious. 'What would have transpired if we had been too late...' Quatre wondered, troubled by the reactions his empathy was receiving. Duo looked like he was about to faint, Wufei's anger had exploded to new heights, and Heero...He didn't want to admit it, but there was -something- underneath the emotionless façade he was staring at the Chinese boy with that he was concealing. He had let his barriers down just as the three had so loudly barged into the room, and whatever he had been attempting to convey to the braided slayer had shaken both of them. However the barriers had shot back into place as soon as Wufei got hold of him, and Quatre didn't get a chance to figure out exactly what he was covering up.
"Don't you EVER touch him like that!!" Wufei growled threateningly, practically hurling Heero over a nearby armchair and into the wall with a painful thud. "It's -me- you want, so leave him out of this!"
Heero was silent, surveying him coolly and not replying. There was a new warmth radiating from the 'traitor', a soothing aura had enveloped itself protectively around the Asian like a gentle embrace that certainly had not been there when they had last clashed. Maybe it was the black clothes borrowed from Duo that he wore, how the slayer's subtle scent seemed to emit from him like the similar aura, or the raw intensity that burned so brightly in his ebony depths like wild fire.
For a brief second, Heero's sureness in his victory wavered. He would not allow defeat, but fleetingly, the fiery person clutching the front of his jacket was a person to be feared.
And revered.
It was just fleeting though.
The familiar, barely perceptible smirk fixed itself confidently on his lips, the only sign of a change of emotion.
"Oh yes, I -want- you, Wufei," Heero provoked, amusement flickering in his stony Prussian gaze. "But you must admit, a third in the mix would be much more interesting."
"You're disgusting," Wufei spat acidly, obviously not as amused as him. "And I don't want to hear your shit, it's not going to work this time."
"Shit?" Heero paused. "Shit, eh? I don't know what you're talking about, I was being serious." The smirk widened.
"It's hard to tell with you," he replied scathingly, ignoring the insinuation of the ending to their last argument over his sense of humor. "Now -I'M- serious. Leave them out of this, it's our problem and no one else deserves to be involved."
"'Them', is it? What happened to 'him'? Clearly, if you had burst in at an earlier moment of our little confrontation, you would have heard the slayer over there-" Heero's eyes strayed over to the couch where Duo was and was met by Trowa's ice cold glare. "-putting up quite the passionate outburst about how I should leave YOU alone and am not decent enough to actually say something nice. Sounds like someone who wants to get involved, not be left out of the fun."
Wufei's scowl deepened, the wild fire in his eyes flaring up dangerously as he lifted the Japanese vampire a few inches higher off the ground. He refused to let him get under his skin, the one thing he was attempting so hard to do, because if he did, it would only make the situation worse. He would much rather keep the casualties down to just himself and Heero before even a hair on any of the slayers' heads was injured. They had done more than enough for him already, to the point of stepping outside their lines of duty, and he didn't wish for it to go further.
"I swear to any of the gods that will listen to me, if you so much as-"
"As what?" Heero prodded with a touch of sarcasm, plainly the actuality that the raven-haired teen had the upper hand right then didn't bother him in the least, or if it did, he didn't reveal it. "And what would you do if I did?"
"I'd make you regret it if you did." Wufei ground out through clenched teeth, his fist tightening its grip.
"Oh really? Apparently, you're too -nice- to be bad like I am, despite the fact that you -stabbed- me in the arm."
"I'm not proud of that," he replied quietly, though not loosening his hold in the slightest. "It was a moment of weakness and I'm ashamed of ever doing it."
His response caught Heero off guard. The last time he had heard Wufei talk like that was the night he had pushed him over the edge in the alley outside 'Chasing the Dragon' and he had holed himself up in his room, forcing the inhuman urge to go away instead of sustaining the hunger.
Once again, Heero couldn't get over the shrouded strength that reared its head up whenever it seemed as if Wufei was about to lose control or give up. Especially now. Nothing he had said or done since the three had barged into the room had seemed to effect the Asian like it usually would when they bickered. It was as if he was an entirely different person.
"So you're saying...you wouldn't have stabbed me?"
Wufei blinked at the sudden change in Heero's tone of voice. He sounded almost...insecure with himself.
Quatre's empathy was having a heyday and he was definitely going to need a -lot- of painkillers for the migraine that was sure to follow.
***
Heero: *suspicious glare* Are you turning me into some horny lecher or something? First it's Duo, now there hints of me having feelings for Wufei. Will you make up your mind already?
DVG: *smug smirk* Of course not. I will never be able to make up my mind. You three are just so perfect-
Wufei: PLEASE don't finish that statement. *impending nosebleed*
DVG: *pout* But- You three WOULD-
(Heero, Wufei, and Duo all tackle her and clamp their hands over her mouth to shut her up)