The Wrong Kiss ch. 3
Shinigaminx
Notes: Ok, let's see… First posted fic, so, of course, pleeeease review. Comments will be replied to promptly and flames will be used to toast marshmallows. Oh, and uber AU Relena, but I promise, there is a method to the madness.
Disclaimer: Don't own 'em. Don't sue me, unless you want the lint in my pockets.
The Wrong Kiss
Shinigaminx
After Detria disappeared in what might as well have been a puff of mist, I spent the remainder of that long night stalking the streets. As luck would have it, I ran across a 'pyre just as I was about to retire for the day, only to have one of my New Orleans counterparts show up just as I was about to make the kill. After dusting the 'pyre he cursed me soundly in French and what I think might have been Latin, of all things. And, if you would believe it, his only reason was a belief that women weren't good enough fighters to do this job. I don't think, if he hadn't taken my kill, I wouldn't have taken out my frustrations on him. As it is, I did and I hope he never thinks girls can't do this job again, cause if he does, I don't kick as hard as I think I do.
All in all, an -extremely- boring night, and a bit of a let down after the build up Detria had given me about the evil vampyre queen. The only weirdness I experienced, other that the normal oddity the is New Orleans, was a constant nagging feeling that something was watching me. Now, I know what you're thinking, she chases nightmares for a living and she's -surprised- she's cracking up? But really, I don't get the willies. I do have to occasional thought that something is stomping around on my grave, but I like being outside at night when everything is dark and quiet. There is a certain odd, peaceful, and sometimes frightening fatality about it. That night though? Every time I spun around I always thought I could see something ducking around a corner. Every time I turned a corner, something flitted into the street with me. And I could never, never find it or see it. It is a rather disturbing feeling.
When I finally gave up, after making sure my co-worker was singing soprano in Saint Pat's, I decided that I would much rather spend the day in a hotel than I would being stared at by off-duty cadets. I slumped into a b&b in the French Quarter just after 4 a.m. One of the nicest things about New Orleans is the totally absence of normalcy. Ok, so that's an exaggeration, but really, where else can you go into a typical house and ask the nice French lady who doesn't speak two words of English for a room? And then immediately get one? I really love this town. I went upstairs, dragging my little carry all and just dropped into bed. I didn't even bother changing. I just grabbed my teddy and went to sleep.
Yes, fine, I have a teddy bear. I know, very juvenile, very girly. I am happy to say I have never and will never take it on an assignment when I have a partner, so no one except Duo knows about it. I always have to chuckle when I think about it. Duo and I used to share and apartment. One birthday I woke up and there was this big brown teddy with a giant pink bow around it's neck. It was absolutely the most adorable thing. I went flying out of my room and across the hall to Duo's and jumped on his bed. In that utterly delectable morning voice of his he said, that, while he couldn't think of a better way to wake up, what in hell's name was I doing?
My 16th Birthday
"Oh, Duo, you sweetie!" I threw myself on top of his bed, hugging and kissing him. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I laughed and kissed him again. He grabbed me and held me still, kissing me lightly on the lips before shoving me off him and tumbling me onto the floor. He sat and quickly hitched the sheet higher. Duo sleeps naked and I almost got a view that would have been very nice but not something you show to girls at- A quick glance at the clock showed my the ungodly hour of 6 pm. The sun wasn't due to set for an hour yet. Duo slowly shook his head at me, chuckling. "Kitten, aren't you glad I didn't have company? I don't think any of my friends would have appreciated you enthusiastic thank you. Now," and here he seemed to catch sight of my teddy, clutched to my chest. He did a double but take continued. "What are you thanking me for?"
I slowly extended Teddy, confused. "You... remembered my birthday?"
Duo took her and turned her over several times, touching the big pink bow gently. "Um, Kitten? Did you look your room over before you came running in here?" I shook my head, mute. He sighed. "Some day we're going to break you of those civilian habits of yours." He tossed Teddy back and I caught her, cradling her to my chest. "It hasn't blown up yet and I don't think it's going to do anything really interesting. Get out of here so I can get dressed and we'll go look at your room."
I nodded, quiet, and slipped out. A chill wound it's way up and down my spine. If Duo hadn't given me Teddy, then who had? No one had been in my room...
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We never found out who gave me Teddy, but I still have her, and I love her. And don't laugh. I'd only been a real hunter for a week or two then. I'd never do that now. Anyway, that night, after Detria, I just couldn't sleep. I kept dreaming.
I am laying in bed, my old bed, the little day bed in the apartment I shared with Duo. I was turning 16 again. I'm so excited. My eyelids droop and I fight to stay awake. I have to stay awake for something, something I didn't quite get the first time. My head rolls sideways in the pillow, so heavy. I can't move, I'm trapped, but it's ok. It's ok, it's ok. Someone nice is coming. Dad? No, you're dead I... I watched you die. Blood, and Mommy screaming, and the man biting your neck. No, it's ok, it's not Daddy. I blink sleepy eyes and smile at the man standing over my bed. He seems uncomfortable, uneasy. He glances at the window. My black window, keeping the sunlight out. I am so tired, I just have to sleep. I offer him a little smile and he leans down, kissing me lightly on the lips. Something being put at the foot of my bed... It will be Teddy...
I sat bolt upright in the little hotel bed. The tap dripped in the bathroom, a steady slow beat for me to concentrate on as I tried to calm my thundering heart. The shades were drawn tightly, as a glimmer of morning light peaked in. What woke me up? What demanded my attention? Nothing in the room moved, not even a breeze. The heat coming in around my curtains was oppressive. Suddenly there was a light tap at the door.
"Maid?" I swore under my breath. "No, no, sleeping." Belatedly remembering my manners, "Thank you." I sank down back into the pillows, wondering about the dream as sleep reached out to take me under again. Had there actually been someone in my room?
I am on the floor at Blue Heaven, dancing and being jostled by people on all sides. It is more crowded than ever. Why isn't warmer then? The floor is much colder than it normally is. Hands slip around my waist and rest themselves on my upper thighs. The material of my skirt seems -really- thin. The hands are so cold, they feel like they're going to burn through my skirt. They pull me back, into a close embrace with a cold body. It's a man, a very aroused man. His hands slide higher, reaching under my shirt, caressing my stomach, slowly moving higher. A girl in front of my turns around and adds her hands to his. She reaches out, resting a hand on my hip and sliding the other down my chest, between my breasts. There are people on all sides of me now, touching, caressing, exciting. Their hands are all so cold. A tiny part of my brain tells me they are all pyres but I don't care. Someone raises my arms, someone else pulls my shirt up, up and off. There are hands all over me and I moan, shivering with delight. A mouth touches mine, swallowing the sounds I make. A hand gently touches my right breast, then another, and another. They play with my nipple, rubbing it, rolling their thumbs over it. A mouth latches on to the other breast, sucking gently. My skirt falls to pieces and drops away from my body. A hand cups my most private area, massaging it with questing fingers. I want to scream with frustration. There are so many hands and no one will finish this beautiful torture. The I feel lips on my neck and shoulders, dozens of them. Teeth gently scrape the skin and the sensation travels directly to my stomach. Then someone bites down. A flash of pain sends white light streaking across behind my eye lids. Another set of teeth tear into my shoulder. I feel the blood trickle down my chest and someone licks it off, roughly, hungrily, like a cat. The mouth on my breast digs in fangs and blood courses out like milk. I want to scream but the mouth still covers mine, and it too bites down, piercing my lip. It begins to suck, drawing my blood into it's own mouth. I can taste it. The copper, salty, tangy flavor is every where. I can't get away. My blood drains and my head spins. I lurch, falling over-
God -damn- it! I ran my hand over my mouth and it cames away red. I had bitten my lip in my sleep and there was blood flooding into my mouth. I swallowed the bitter liquid, letting the familiar taste run over my tongue. The bleeding quickly stopped and I licked the blood off my hand. I shivered, remembering the feel of hands running over my body and the traitorous thing responded to the memory. Good lord. If a dream could do this, I needed to get out more often. I swore softly and buried back under the covers. I let my eyes rest on the bright mid-day sun till sleep claimed me again.
It's late, and it's cold, the stars beginning to fade, preparing to give way to the false dawn. My breath steams in the winter air, fogging the air in front of my face. Someone laughs, a pretty girl's laugh, and a long chestnut braid swings around a corner. I run after it, chasing the flashing, jingling bells braided into the very end. Braided in for Christmas. They tinkle merrily, teasing me. "Duo, Duo, please slow down, please?" He knows I can't run as fast as he can. The braid whips around another corner. Why is he doing this? The braid seems to go around more than one corner. It's there- no there- no the- A long sweeping coat, a New England pea coat, swings around another corner. Where are these corners coming form? Wait, that's Daddy's coat! Why is Daddy with Duo? I can't catch my breath anymore, I've run too far. Why aren't they stopping? The stars are all gone now, and the world is poised on the knife edge between dark and dawn. The darkness reaches out, wanting me, but the light burns. I spin around, faster and faster, where can I go, where is it safe-
My blood pounded in my ears, leaving me deaf and dumb to the world around me. I couldn't breath right, there was something on my- I thrashed about, my chest constricted and my body immobile. I finally broke free, lading unceremoniously on the floor. The bed was a mass of tangled sheets and torn apart bedding. I touched my shoulder, feeling the sweat soaking my upper body. Panting unsteadily, I forced myself into the bath room and the shower. Standing under the cool spray, I began to feel a little better, not nearly so panicky. What had come over me? I shivered and turned the heat up, just a little. I lolly-gagged for long moments, letting the spray pound my naked back, massage my aching shoulders. I had to go. I needed to go back to New York. I had failed here. I let Detria get away and I didn't know much more than I started with. Squaring my shoulders I decided that I would take the little I did know and do something with it. There were two courts now? OK, fine. I would take them both out, even if I did have to do it myself. But I would start on my home ground and work south. They would rue the day Detria had spoken to me. It would be the beginning of the end for them.
Isn't it odd how brave you are in the shower?