A/N: I seriously have to start saving things on disk with all the switching around of computers and hard drives. This is like the third time I've had to re write a chapter (previously finished) from scratch. /sighs/ On with the chapter!
Warnings: Language (depending on how you look at it.)
Pairings: 1x2
Disclaimers: Standard disclaimers apply.
Chapter 16:Diffusion
Magical Diffusion. That is the term Heero used to begin his explanation of the burning sensation that had engulfed me when I felt him in the room. The same principle that applies to the diffusion of materials within the cell applies to that of magic. Only magic's original form is not counted as matter, though if you know your stuff (like Heero) it can be formed into matter. Example 'A' being the sphere I had suspended in mid air without even knowing it.
I personally felt that the whole theory was the product of ones own warped and psychotic mind set. This stuff was un real as I had said many times before. It just couldn't be real, right? But the fact that Heero was indeed sitting before me performing the skill only suceeded in disproving my theory and weakening my denial.
Heero had asked me to explain to him what I had felt and heard that night at the apartment. What I had actually seen. At first I found it odd that he would ask this of me but then I remembered that Heero was someone who had seen many things and thoroughly checked what he couldn't see with his own eyes so by the time he was done, he could see it. I told my story, knowing that this would evidently be the last time I'd ever have to speak of it again.
Heero would take my story and lock it away as his own, just as I had done with his thoughts and image and he mines. I knew that now I would have to start depending on Heero, for he was the only one who had some insight as to just what exactly was going and why the city was shifting the way it was. He wouldn't tell me directly but I knew if I observed and listened careful there was a possibility that I could put the pieces together and create a lantern that would guide me out the dark and into the circle of those in the know.
I could only hope, right?
(X)(x)(X)
"Duo I need you to pay close attention." Heero had said, his voice stern and his gaze un wavering. Heero sat cross legged opposite of me, who also sat in the same position. Now I'd be lying if I said I'd preferred craft lessons over a morning of lying naked in Heero's arms but hey, what can ya do?
The fact that Heero was sitting here in the process of teaching me to master some ancient skill was enough to open my eyes and make me realize just how much longer Heero had been around than, let's say for example…….hmmmm, I don't know… me. There was so much to ask Heero in relation to why things were the way they were today concerning vampires and mortals and so on. I had never actually believed that my little 16 year old heart could be so overwhelmed and yet excited.
I had swallowed nervously, feeling as though he was about to tell me something outrageous and life changing. He sure as hell had the tone for it and I was weary of that. Maybe he'd actually answer the question he knew I was dying to ask: Where the hell had he been for the last week?
"Are you familiar with the term diffusion?" He asked, quirking an eyebrow sharply at me. In response I rolled my eyes, tiredly stating the definition while trying to hide my dissappointment.
"Duh Heero." I drawled sarcastically. "The process used to transfer materials from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration." I had known this shit since 7th grade. I wasn't retarded. The look I gave him the basic summary of what I had been thinking. Heero chose to ignore it with a simple snort, followed by a smirk spreading across his lips.
"The same principle applies to magic Duo." He said, his voice seeming more ancient and wise with that simple a statement. I am your grasshopper Hee-man.
"This is the first rule you must learn in the study of craft. The second, being focus and control. These elements are the key to mastering skills and are imperative to opening many doors to different opportunities in which to expand your knowledge and talent." I tried my hardest to listen as attentively as possible but Heero was already losing me. I was hoping he'd skip the basic theory and just move on to the practical stuff. This had to be worse than History and Earth Science combined. Lord help me.
Heero then sighed making me aware of my being distracted.
"I'm sorry it's just that this shit is so BORING. Do I really have to go through all this?" Heero closed his eyes, sighing in irritation. I then jumped back feeling a sudden sting and jolt bite through my wrist. I hissed and stared at Heero who was now grinning wickedly.
"OK Duo, you wish to move on to the physical parts of this lesson then let's get started." I winced as another spark went off in my shoulder.
"Find a way to shield yourself the jolts I aim at you. I think you'll soon have the initiative to do so." He trailed off, chuckling silently to himself. His eyes slipped shut once again and I yelped as another spark bit my lower back.
"Heero what the fuck?!" I stood up only to fall back down the ground as pain instantly lance up my leg. I clenched my jaw trying to concentrate on willing the pain way. Just what the hell was he doing?
As I kneeled on the floor trying to will the pain away my head began to pound and slowly unseen spark began to slowly ignite over the rest of my body, on going out while another would present itself and the irritation it brought.
Finally it stopped, leaving my skin feeling raw and sensitive to the simplest brush of my my fingertips.
Heero gave me a critical eye before saying simply. "The effects will wear off in a moment." HIs smirk then turned into a full fledged smile, slyly showing the barest glint of a fang. He seemed pleased to have demonstrated his point. I glared back at him.
"You are determined Duo, impatiently and stubbornly so, but you must learn the basics before you progress in this trade." Heero's voice said lowly.
"Now come and sit so I may continue to explain to you." He demanded, knowing I wouldn't argue. I came to sit cross legged in front of him once again, unconsciously scratching and rubbing at my arm.
"Due to the fact that our cellular structure was not originally designed to contain magic reserves, magical diffusion is not a process our body does automatically as it would, say, regulateyour heart beat." The statement started off complicated enough to his satisfaction, Heero mowed on casting an amused glance to my surly expression from time to time. I could already tell that Heero being my teacher would cause some issues. During this time Heero was only focused on teaching me craft and nothing more.
"Magical back up can be harmful to our bodies and will only continue to produce negative effects until it is broken down efficiently." Heero took my wrist in his hand and moved his thumb in circles within my palm. I chose to speak up at this time.
"What does this have to do with why I felt as though I was on fire the minute I entered the same room as you?" I asked flatly, causing Heero's eyes to widen.
"Are you un able to piece together the scenario from the basic facts I have just given you?" My expression was one of a very confused young man at the moment. Was he kidding? Well it would seem so, Sherlock, now wouldn't it?How the hell was I supposed to get an answer from the damned seminar he had just given me on 'diffusion'? Heero sighed.
"I suppose not…" He chuckled.
"Duo to my vampiric status at this time of the month my magic was at its highest potency causing negative charges that in turn set off your magic reserves. When there is two great bodies of magic within the same area they repel and cause back lashes of a sort. This can only be overcome a greater something." He explained. And to my surprise I actually under stood. I told him so. He told me to explain what he had just said if that was the case.
"Ok, because you're in your time of blood lust or at least the after affects of it, that aura your body sent off was igniting mines. Causing me to burn." I cast a small glare as I said the last part and felt my cheeks reddening at the double meanings behind our wording.
"Exactly. In order for the….discomfort…..to end it you'd have to diffuse the magic reserves your body held. But you didn't know that at the time so I guided you through it without your knowledge." I paused in thought and then felt the realization dawn on me.
"You used sex to dilute the potency of magic within your body and mines. You fused our auras using sex." Heero nodded, a grin spreading across his face.
"Good." He said, clearly pleased.
"So if something stronger can dilute a high concentration of magic, then what was the something stronger in this case?" Heero continued rubbing circles in my palm before moving on to stroke the nearly transparent skin that was the underside of my wrist. Be brought my wrist to his lips and kissed it lightly causing me sigh somewhat contentedly in the back of my throat.
"Lust…" He whispered against my wrist, his breath traveling over the skin causing my nerves to tingle in excitement.
"There's an outlet for everything Duo. You just have to find it." He said before smirking and releasing my wrist. He then got up and headed for my bathroom in order to shower and whatever else.
This gave me time to think. I had just gone through my first craft lesson with Heero and something told me there was a LOT more to cover. But was I really willing to through this? I had never complained about my life being too boring. I was an average 16 year living life with his friends and now so much was happening, or at least getting ready to happen. Heero was teaching me this for a reason. If craft was no longer used, then why try to bring it back unless it was needed. Heero had a reason for everything and I was now going to make it my personal job to find those reasons. He wouldn't willingly give them to me, so I would investigate and find things out for myself. However something told me that this task wouldn't be easy and that whatever awaited me in the future would involve a long hard bumpy road with lots of idiotic drivers to cut me off and cause mishaps.
I stared after Heero as he ducked inside the bathroom.
What are you and Trowa hiding, Heero?
I had to admit that little by little, day by day, I was starting to grow suspicious of him and his motives. It made me feel terrible but to the stability, or lack there of, in our relationship I guess it wouldn't be too much of a suprise.
(X)(x)(X)
I welcomed the sting of the hot water as it hit me. I could feel his eyes on me as I entered the bathroom and knew that he distrusted me. Part of me was angry with this but another part of constantly nagged at me saying that I knew it would soon come to this. What else should I expect? He has reason to distrust me and I'm proud that his sense in keen enough to alert him in that manner.
But at the same time he's weary of me he's also leaning on me, holding on to me as an 'in case of emergency' package.
My hair is plastered to my forehead as the water continues to run down and scald my body and I close my eyes as I feel someone lightly touch my shoulder, stepping into the shower with me.
"Duo…" He reaches for the rack and directs me to turn around so my back is facing him. I relax as I feel a softness work up and down my back, the scent of Calvin Klein filling the shower and mingling with the steam.
"You know, you never told me where you went, how you knew I was here……." Duo says his tone teasing, yet holding an edge of seriousness. I sigh as he continues working on my back, opening my eyes to stare at the cream ceramic tiles.
"I obviously contacted Quatre and as for my whereabouts this week….I couldn't tell you that. I still can't." He made a small murmuring noise that turned into a grunt which I assumed to be something to the affect of "I knew you would say some shit like that so why the hell did I ask you selfish son of a bitch." Yeah. I think that's about right if I'm as good at reading Duo as I believe I am.
The water steaming around us was causing small beads of perspiration to form on my brow; furthering plastering the brown mess I called hair to my forehead.
Duo remained silent, the only sign of him still in the shower being the constant massaging of the loofa into the small of my back and up the expanse of my shoulders. I felt tension ease out and couldn't help but moan. This is what I needed to bring my week to a pleasant close.
"You're right not to fully trust me." I said, my voice slightly muffled by the walls and water around us. I felt a sharper pressure applied to my back as he scrubbed and massaged.
"I know. It's good that you don't delude yourself thinking you have a right to fuck me and yet leave me in the dark. I'm glad you thought about it. That shows some definite improvement of your behalf." He muttered sarcastically causing me to frown. This caused further silence until Duo ordered me to step back and turn around.
"I don't wanna get my hair wet again." he had said somberly falling back into silence.
I had complied as he began working up lather, the cool subtance quickly heating up as he rubbed it into my back. He was keeping his gaze away from face, away from my eyes.
I could look down and see the small beads of water clinging to his eyelashes and spreading throughout his angrily arched eyebrows.
"Duo, don't act like that. Shit, you act like I don't get frustrated at times." He shook his head, still refusing to look at me.
"I can't help it, it's fucking tiring not knowing how long it will be before you decide to pack up and leave for good." He said, his voice holding a recessive helpless tone to it."I can only wonder. You're so much different than I and being around you makes me feel young and naïve. Like everything I know is part of my own childish sense of mind. Maybe I just need to grow up." He scowled, his voice rising only to lower back down again.
It wasn't long before he finished and decided to exit the shower. I took him by the wrist and turned him around to face the other side of the shower.
"I'll return the favor. You're the only one who can make me feel like a complete bastard Duo….. That's how I know you're more than just another bed mate. You make me feel." I said quietly, hoping that this conveyed enough to him.
He eventually turned around and took the loofa out my hand, finally looking up as he stepped under the spray. I smirked.
"Your hair." I pointed out. He simply shrugged letting a small smile play on his lips.
"Forgettaboudit." He looked up at me from under the hair clinging to his face and a large expanse of his neck. I brought my hands to grip his shoulders as his own hands rested on my chest, causing that particular spot to feel more heated than the rest of my body. I then leaned down and captured his lips, kissing him more passionately than I had ever cared to before. He leaned up into the kiss, moaning softly and suddenly it seemed as the small gap between us had finally been bridged for the time being.
His smaller form pressed against mines and I found myself ready to get lost in him all over again.
(X)(x)(X)
Quatre, I'll be back soon. I just had to get some last minute Christmas shopping done. Make sure not to lounge around the house too long and give Duo a call to see if his mom's okay and how he's holding up.
Love you – Nina
I smirked as I read the letter, thankful that she didn't decide to drag me along. Post-it notes could work miracles, that they could.
Tiredly, I flopped down at the breakfast nook and flipped open my phone, dialing the numbers for voice mail. I was hoping Duo would give me some sort of call being that I had been quite the ass hole lately. He didn't deserve that and I knew I should talk to him. He was probably waiting until I would wake up one morning feeling exactly how I felt now: like total and complete shit. I had just finished showering and dressing and I still felt like crap.
I needed some fresh air.
Heero had come to me yesterday, seeking Duo's new location. I had given it to him off handedly, really not caring for his presence at the moment. Nor a certain green eyed bar tender's……..
Both of them could rot in hell, because both of them were trying to screw me and Du over. I refused to be played.
Please enter your password…
The dial sirens overly happy voice said into my ear. I dialed in the digits and was pleased at her next pre recorded statement.
You have 5 unheard messages. First message:
"Hey Q, long time no smell. Hey listen, do you wanna hang out today or something.Cuz I mean it's been a while and we kinda miss you so-"
I smiled as I continued to listen to Duo's animated voice trying to speak over the noise in the background. I wonder where he was when he recorded this.
To erase this message press '7', to save it press-
I automatically pressed '7' finding no reason to keep the message saved. I'd simply call Duo back and arrange something. The next message was a surprise to me and I listened intently.
"Hey Quatre. How are you? Listen I was hoping that maybe we could talk. I know I've been gone for a week and all but I'd really appreciate it if you just let me know your alive….Please? There's no reason not for us to be friends and well I was hoping that you'd stop by the club next time Duo's around, maybe sooner? Just call me okay? Bye."
I heard a soft click and then the dial siren was once again speaking in my ear, inquiring as to whether I wanted to save the message or erase it. I'm pretty sure I don't need to tell you what I did with that particular message.
I smiled a small smile to myself, bitter, but a smile none the less. I thenpicked up my keys and exited the apartment. If I was lucky maybe Duo and Heero were finished with their morning cuddling as I'm sure they had been engaged in. Maybe we could all hang out and act like normal high school going kids for once. So much drama for no reason.
Christmas was within the next 5 days and I intended to make the best of the Holidays this year. With or without Trowa. I wasn't going to wait forever and so with that thought I walk out the door and prepare to breathe in life deeply, just like I was meant to.
(X)(x)(X)
Notes: Okay, I know this was short. But we're entering the holidays and I jus needed ot make sure everyone's whereabouts were known before my Christmas chappy! That's right!. My CHRISTMAS chapter. Although strangely it really doesn't feel like Christmas this year, but at least I can make sure the GW characters in this story have a happy holiday. MERRY CHRISTMAS!