AHH!!! I WANT IT TO BE FULL MOON ALREADY DAMMIT!! I LUST FOR FLUFF!!! cough anyway, on with the show, sorry for angstish stuff....
Chapter 11 (crickey!)
Mind still reeling the next day Duo slipped out of his room and wandered back to the kitchen door. He was surprised when he reached there to find a can of tuna set out with a waiting Heero.
"Kitty kitty, I missed you this morning." Violet eyes widened as he stared up in the smiling face. Heero. My Heero. Closing his eyes Duo blindly stumbled into the japanese man's waiting arms. Still smiling Heero scooped him up and rubbed cheeks. "Hey, what's wrong?"
Instead of answering Duo just cuddled into the warmth that was Heero, who accepted his silence comfortably. Careful to not jostle his precious armful he stood and nudged the door shut with a foot. Turning he started into the front room when suddenly he sneezed, tightening his grip on the frail cat body roughly. "Neko? I know you're upset but...you're filthy."
Not loosening his hold Heero detoured to the bathroom, firmly closing the door and window before releasing Duo. The little brown cat stared up at Heero in confusion from the countertop, bristling when the human started the shower to warm up. His fur fluffed up even more when the japanese man peeled off his shirt, revealing the nicely toned stomach and chest he loved falling asleep against. Ears back he voiced a protest to near nekkidness. Heero noticed the distressed cat and laughed.
"Hey, either you take a shower with me or you get a bath in the sink, either way you're getting clean."
Considering the options Duo stopped yowling and instead fixed an accusing glare to the undressing japanese man. Too bad that glare ended real quick to be replaced with shock when Heero went to the next stage of clothing removal, it had been one of his best glares in awhile. By the time Heero had kicked his jeans off Duo realized he was staring and turned his eyes away. If cats could blush he'd be quite a sight. The jeans were soon followed by silk heart patterned boxers, a strangely amusing oddity to Duo, at least, it would have been if literally the man of his dreams wasn't sans clothing in front of him.
After a moment testing the water Heero picked up his cat again and stepped into the stream. Against the warmth and smell of Heero Duo was quiet and didn't protest even when the human lathered his fur with some strawberry scented shampoo. Laughing and teasing Heero made his fur spike, gave him a mohawk and generally picked on him. Getting no response from the suddely comatose cat he held him up next to the nozzle and washed the soap out throughly.
Stepping out for a minute Heero found a fluffy towel and wrapped Duo in it before stepping back in to complete his shower. Pretty soon he was finished washing up himself, including getting that pesky dusty cat hair off his chest, and he shut off the water. Wrapping another towel firmly around his waist he retrieved the sodden cat and went into the front room to chat with him while he got both of their mane's under control.
Sitting on the couch, not caring he was wet Heero started rubbing Duo with the towel to dry him. Though it ruffled his furr the wrong way he put up with it, looking around the room for anything that had changed. Spotting something his ears perked up and he wriggled away from Heero to attack a brown paper package. Could this be! MY god it is!! Absolutely tickled Duo shredded the paper and began to frolic happily with the silver jewelry peices.
"Hey! Neko, those belong to Duo!" Eyelids lowering in the eternal and speciesless expression of "duh" Duo went back to playing giddily with the bracelets and choker. I thought I had lost these forever! How did Heero find them! Oh! He's going to be so happy!! Can't wait til full moon even more now!! Enthuisiastically he jumped back onto Heero to lick his face and purr. Just wait buddy!
Heero laughed a little and petted his roommate for a minute before returning to brushing his fur. It wasn't long before the short reddish brown fur was half dry and every hair in place. Setting down the brush again Heero released the cat and went to get dressed. He hadn't done much art in a while.
Back in his bedroom and clothed in sweatpants and a raggy shirt he searched around for his paints. In the back of his closet he finally found the stowed oils and assorted paintbrushes. Setting up the easel with a barely started canvas in the corner he was vaguely aware that he was being watched by a certain fine feline. On the canvas a portait of human Duo was slowly taking shape, much to the cat's joy. He's still thinking about me! In peaceful silence Duo watched Heero paint and learned about random facts concerning mixing paint whenever Heero felt so inclined to impart wisdom.
It was several nights later that Duo had another chance to escape from Heero, not that he minded the company, but it was nice to leave and go kill things for awhile. Stalking a skunk he grinned to himself at his plan. Yes, he would get nice and stinky and dirty then Heero would shower with him again. Pouncing on the skunk he broke it's neck, a bit sad it hadn't had the chance to spray him before it died. With a catish shrug the panther feasted on bitter stringy meat. When he was finished he left the fur with the rest of its carcas, he had no desire for the black and white pelt. Licking his lips he slunk off, determined to find his roommate a present.
15 minutes and a chase later had Duo proudly walking home with a bunny in his mouth and mud in his fur. Baaathh with Heeeerrrooo. Gleefully he skipped, near as he could get anyway, towards the house.
"Shit!" The panicked curse snapped Duo back to the wonderful world of reality to see Heero, a bare five feet away and looking unnerved. Violet eyes caught with blue and for a long moment neither moved. Then, eyes still locked with Heero's, trying to convince him he meant no harm Duo slowly walked forward and laid his catch at Heero's feet. Unable to resist he nuzzled Heero's ankle in the motion of bringing his head, surprised the man didn't pull away or strike him. In fact, he was downright shocked when Heero slid to his knees to grip the panther's face in both his hands. For a long moment the japanese man examined the feline face and the serious amethyst eyes that had a barest hint of green around the edge that you only noticed under such intense scrutiny.
"I know you." Heero's voice wasn't scared, just throughly sure about the fact. Purring low and thick Duo licked his face before turning to small cat form in front of the japanese man's eyes. Wiping blood and saliva off his face Heero examined the small creature. "Neko, you're a shapeshifter." Smiling he hugged the cat and exclaimed, "I have such a cool pet!"
Heero you idiot.... All hope that Heero had figured it out faded and Duo just flopped against a broad shoulder pathetically. Before he stood Heero picked up the dead rabbit. "A present? Thanks." Holding it by the ears in one hand and supporting Duo with the other he walked the last ten feet back to their house.
"Neko, you need a bath."
After another pleasant shower, he was hardly embarrassed at all this time, Duo was napping in small cat form. A towel coming out of nowhere to cover him made an ear flick in annoyance but other than that he didn't move. Why bother? He was warm and tired and all was right in the world...
"Where the fuck is it?"
Well, maybe not for Heero. Sighing to himself Duo squirmed out of the blanket to watch Heero dig around in a box out of the closet. What's he looking for? Quickly getting bored observing the japanese man shuffle through junk he turned his head away to get back to his interrupted nap.
On the brink of sleep and hearing sounds of frustrated rummaging Duo had a random thought. I never returned that umbrella. Have to do that first thing full moon, just a couple of weeks now. Purring into his paws at the thought he rolled over and stretched. Must sleep.
"Finally!" Cracking an eye Duo observed Heero holding three very odd articles, a small bottle that looked like a prescription full of liquid, a handkerchief, and a long retangular box. Curiosity got the better of him and he got to his feet, following his pet human into the kitchen, wondering what he was doing. When he reached the linoleum he saw Heero sitting down with his items carefully laid on the table. Violet eyes widened when Heero opened the case and withdrew a wicked looking syringe before filling it with the liquid.
In horror he watched Heero tye the bandana around his bicep and tighten it harshly. Knowing what was coming Duo turned away, unable to stand the sight of that needle entering the flesh of Heero's arm. How many times has he done this?! Why is he doing it?! Questions raced through Duo's head, interupted by Heero swearing, slamming the used syringe on the table and running to the bathroom. There was the unmistakable sound of someone being sick and unable to help himself Duo ran to his pet's side.
Looking miserable crouched over the toilet Heero was throughly emptying his guts. With a distressed meow Duo tried to get as close as he could to Heero, rubbing against his legs and feet desperately. Each heave of Heero's body and pained gasp sent Duo into a renewed frenzy of snuggling and whimpering, not sure what to do to help. Soon enough there was simply nothing left to throw up and after a moment of dry heaves Heero's body got the point.
Quietly whimpering, a sound that shocked Duo to his very core, Heero rested his heated forehead against cool porcelian. "Once a month is just too fucking much." Biting out the words he pushed away from the toilet to stand and rinse out his mouth, faltering slightly. Giving no notice to the concerned cat following him he stumbled to his bed and collapsed on it. At a plaintive meow he hissed wearily.
"Neko, don't go in the kitchen, I don't want you messing with that needle, I'll deal with it soon." With bleary eyes he watched the small body jump up next to him to curl comfortingly on his back.
Clutching a pillow Heero fought to control his breathing even though his entire body hurt. It was always like this at first, in a little while the pain would go away. From the warmth on his lower back he heard another subdued meow, begging for an explanation. So he gave it, not caring it was a cat he was talking to.
"Silver nitrate." With a shuddering sigh he bit the pillow as a fresh wave of pain rippled through him. "Nulls the effects of the shapeshifter gene. Bet you didn't know I was one too, huh cat?" A small movement gave him justification to continue in his mind. "Every month I have to self medicate myself, I don't want to be a cat... I don't want to be a monster..."
Duo listened to the words, his heart hurting. He knew silver was a cure for most, but the metal was hard on a body, especially a shapeshifter's. What was so bad with being a cat? He hadn't minded until Heero showed up, even now he just wanted to be human so they could talk and stuff, he didn't want to be human forever... And here was Heero, denying who he was and slowly killing himself for no real reason. Prolonged treatment like that could damage ability to heal, smell and see above the level of humans.
Softly, so softly Duo almost didn't hear Heero continued talking, "I don't want to be a killer anymore...."
Whoa, weird things happen when I type and am sleepy. I'm geting more depressed by the minute...One sad lil fallen angel, right here... Someone please slap me around for this peice of crap I'm pretending is a chapter...... Oh the drama.... Can anyone please tell me how the hell I got so far off track of my original plan??!!! Depressed....it's so sad, only reason I haven't attempted suppuku is cause it would dissappoint the people waiting to see what happens next. Pathetic, ne?
