Author's Welcome: Many thanks to those of you who read and reviewed Follow the Lights. I hope you enjoy the continuation of the Possession Arc.

...ooo...

Savor the Darkness

Part Two of the Possession Arc

A Gundam Wing Fan Fiction by The Manwell

- One -

It begins with a dream:

A feeling of warmth.

The omnipresent glow of gently brilliant light permeating every pour of the dreamer's being.

A presence drawing closer, equally warm and brilliant.

An angel.

Smiling.

Strands of pale hair sifting softly in time with an impalpable wind.

A smooth hand reaches out until the angel's fingers hover over the dreamer's forehead. Stills directly above the flesh separating the brows. It is the location of dormant power, of hidden potential, of the mystical third eye.

The dreamer sighs, already feeling blessed even though the touch which will awaken the latent insight has not been administered.

There are no words.

No sounds.

No scents.

No caresses.

Only the light.

And then the soft brush of a warm fingertip against human skin.

The dreamer's eyes close.

The light fades.

Continues to fade.

Until there is only darkness...

That night, when the inhabitants of the isolated compound had retired to their beds, they had not known. Could not have known. There had been no way to anticipate the power of the presence amongst them. No way to counter its desire, its thirst, its basic, instinctual need to survive.

And in the span of one unit of darkness, it is done.

The sun rises slowly, washing the barren landscape with its breath. But no one looks out their windows to see it. No one notices the lone figure draped completely in Bedouin garments striding silently toward the main gates. No one within the desert fortress witnesses the departure of the young man. No one. Despite the fact that their eyes are open.

He does not bother to imagine the empty stares beyond the clay walls. He thinks of other things. Power. Fulfillment.

He has Become

The night's harvest nourishes him and he smiles, relishing the tingle and tension of the energy beneath his skin, within his muscles, vibrating his bones.

He gazes into the sight of the rising sun, tastes the feel of its warmth upon him. The power inside of him nearly splits him apart. He marvels that his flesh is enough to hold it together.

He closes his eyes for a moment and inhales deeply the reborn-air.

A breeze tugs hesitantly at his cloak. It is as if the Earth, itself, knows.

He has Become.

Slowly, Quatre Reberba Winner opens his eyes and begins his journey. He takes his first step toward the dawn-kissed horizon, following the light.

...ooo...

Wufei shuts off the car engine but does not hurry to leave the interior of the vehicle. He regards the home where his friends live and is torn between two reactions. The first is accompanied by a feeling of warm contentment: he has never seen Heero, Duo, and Trowa so happy before. Nor would he have ever guessed they could find that happiness with each other. Those three, he believes, are very lucky, indeed.

And yet...

His fingers curl tighter around the steering wheel.

And yet there are things he cannot explain. Things that, after months of conducting his own private investigation, still make absolutely no sense. He had hoped to discover the answers himself, but this is not the case. Experts had been called in. The surveillance videos had been sent out to the very best labs. The results had indicated that Trowa and Heero had not been approached by Duo at all; it had seemed as if they had abandoned their perfectly normal daily routines of their own free will.

Yet Wufei knows that explanation is grossly simplistic. Somehow, Duo had approached them and convinced them to follow him. It had happened. But how had he managed it without being detected?

Naturally, Wufei wants answers. But he is not sure he is ready for them.

Something... strange had happened the day Duo had gone after Heero and Trowa. Something had prevented Cathy and her coworkers, as well as the civic center security cameras, from detecting Duo's presence.

Not for the first time, Wufei considers confronting Duo about it. But he knows he won't. Even if Wufei could comprehend the concepts involved with Duo's abilities, the subject matter itself would be far too personal. And just as Wufei knows he could never discuss the visions he receives when he meditates, he knows he would never pressure Duo into discussing the intricacies of his own craft.

The day Wufei had come to accept that he would likely never know exactly how Duo had approached Trowa and Heero all those months ago, a weight had been lifted from him. But with the relief of the one, he could no longer avoid noticing his other obligation. The obligation which brings him here twice a week to train with Duo.

Wufei quickly hauls his thoughts away from that particular avenue and, with a deep, centering breath, climbs out of his car. As he approaches the large house, he does not tuck his key chain away. One-handed, he sifts through the crafted bits of metal on the ring until he is left with the key to Duo's front door. He does not bother to knock. Duo is expecting him.

He steps into the foyer โ€“ into heavy, nurturing silence. The sound of this place is always so... At a loss for a simple, accurate word to describe it, Wufei shakes his head. It seems as if the quiet of the earth has wrapped itself around this place. As if things will sprout from the silence. As if there is an invisible jungle here. It is a sensation Wufei has not yet become used to.

Wandering deeper into the house, he turns to go past the living room and the library. He bypasses the gracefully arcing spine of the staircase and hunts out the meditation room. But before he arrives at his destination, the sounds of a struggle tumble before him into the hall from the gym. He alters his course accordingly.

"Damn!" That soft exhalation is from Duo.

"You are not operating at your maximum potential, Duo." The flat scolding comes from Heero.

"When was the last time you went through your routines?" This is delivered in Trowa's soft voice.

"There're only so many hours in a day, guys."

A slight, communicative pause follows this and Wufei imagines Trowa and Heero sharing a look.

"Then perhaps you should reprioritize your time," Trowa continues. "This is important."

Duo sighs. "I know. Trust me, I know..."

The soft scuff of bare feet on the mat as one of the room's occupants adjusts his position precedes Heero's quiet command: "Again."

By now Wufei has pressed his hand against the door and is quietly coaxing it ajar. Gradually, the scene is revealed to him. Duo is sweaty and disheveled, his face flushed and his breaths heaving. Heero stands in front of him, calm and controlled. Trowa is behind him, silent and relaxed.

Wufei takes note of their stances and postures. His eyebrows arc in disbelief as he realizes both Trowa and Heero mean to attack Duo, their Keeper. Wufei frowns, considering the puzzling fact that Duo is allowing this when he could very easily forbid it.

And then bodies are in motion. Trowa shifts first but it is Heero who strikes. They work together, alternately attempting to distract and deceive Duo while the other attacks. And they are fast. Very fast. Wufei watches the fluidity of the match and wonders to himself if even he has retained that kind of dexterity and endurance from his days of fighting with Nataku. Because it looks to him like Heero and Trowa have not only maintained their endurances but surpassed them.

Wufei observes Duo's reactions. Observes the way he will opt to block or avoid a blow rather than returning the attack. Heero is scowling at this. Trowa's expression is, as ever, subtly speculative.

It ends when Trowa manages a quick kick to the back of Duo's knee in tandem with Heero's convincing feint. The instant Duo hits the mat with his knees Trowa is behind him, immobilizing him with a lock that Duo might have been able to break on a day when he weren't so overextended.

"Duo," Heero says quietly. He approaches his housemates and kneels before Duo so that their gazes are level. "You are not taking us seriously."

Duo swallows down another gulp of air. "I am... taking you... very... seriously," he differs.

"Then why will you not fight us?" Trowa inquires. His grip remains firm but considering the trembling of Duo's muscles, Wufei thinks that perhaps Trowa is more holding him up than holding him submissive.

"You still don't understand," Duo manages as his breaths begin to calm. "I can't fight you."

"What are you talking about?" Heero demands brusquely. "You are perfectly capable ofโ€“"

Duo shakes his head. "It's not a question of being capable. I simply cannot attack you guys."

"What is stopping you?" Trowa persists.

"I... I'm not sure... The Oath, I think..." Duo pauses, takes a deep breath, and with a slight shake of the head concludes, "I'm sorry. I can't spar with you. But I am still training and I can still handle myself."

"You will tell us if your training is not adequate," Heero tells him. It is not a request.

In a near-whisper, Duo replies solemnly, "I took The Oath with you and Trowa. I am unable to hide any truth from either of you."

Trowa shifts his grasp and winds his arms around Duo's chest from behind. Pressed against him, he leans in and brushes his cheek against Duo's unraveling hair. Heero reaches for the youth caught unresisting in Trowa's arms and trails his fingertips along Duo's cheek. Wufei watches as Duo accepts their advances. It is a very strange moment and, were it not for the fact that he knows Duo Owns both Heero and Trowa, he would have assumed the entire situation is reversed.

Confused, Wufei silently backs away from the scene and wanders into the library. He finds himself standing before the leaded glass windows overlooking the grounds and wonders what it is he has just witnessed. Is Duo not in command here? Is he not in charge of two other souls? If so, why does he permit his dependants to attack him when he can do very little to defend himself? And why does he allow them such familiarity with his body?

Wufei shakes his head in tandem with a great sigh. It is all very, very strange.

But no stranger, he supposes, than Quatre's situation. Again he recalls the image of his old comrade. The young man who is brilliant, strong, wise, intuitive... and a vampire.

Wufei tries not to dwell on this. He tries not to think of Quatre at all while he is in Duo's house. After all, his quest to contain Quatre's powers โ€“ to protect himself and others from the power the young man wields โ€“ is what brings him here. And every lesson Duo provides only feels like another betrayal.

Not for the first time, Wufei wonders why he must choose.

"Hey, Wu. Been waiting long?"

Wufei snorts, glad for a distraction. "As if you did not know the moment I arrived."

"True," Duo concedes, coming to stand beside him at the window. He mirrors Wufei's defensive posture, crossing his arms over his chest and glaring out at the autumn-crisped greenery. "I suppose I could try to explain what you witnessed back there..."

Wufei smirks. "Don't strain yourself, Maxwell. While I may not be able to comprehend the... intricacies of your life, I can understand that there are still limitations you must respect."

Duo smirks back. "That's what I love about you, man. Always so sympathetic."

Wufei almost laughs.

"So, you ready for another session?"

He almost sighs.

"I know you don't like 'em, but if Q ever needs us to stop him from hurting others we need to be ready."

"As I said, Maxwell," Wufei replies quietly, "I understand that there are limitations. That does not mean I like the fact that they exist, but I understand that they do." And with that, Wufei turns and heads for the meditation room. He passes the gym and hears the sounds of weights being lifted. The sound of water gushing through the pipes signals the use of a shower nearby.

Ordinary sounds. Life sounds.

It bewilders him that he knows so much about his friends and yet comprehends so little.

End of Chapter One