Warnings: Still PG-13, though things are going to get complicated.
NOTE: if anyone wants to see my sketch of Desolo Duo (complete with wings) go to www. Angelselene. Deviantart. Com (remember to take out the spaces). He's all colored now, although now that I'm looking at him I think I'll probably end up redoing the background… I don't like it very much, but I do like the effect with Zechs.
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Chapter 5:
"Master?" there was a deep pain in the Owned's voice as his Master continued to sob.
Without warning, Zechs grabbed the First's face and looked him straight in the eye. "Do you remember me, Duo? Do you remember who I was, not who I am to you now, who I was!" he demanded.
Chestnut brows knitted for a moment as the First considered it. Slowly comprehension dawned on his face and his eyes cleared. "You're Zechs," he stated. "You were my friend. Now you're my Master." The beatific smile that accompanied that statement broke the Preventer's heart.
"Do you remember Heero?" the blond pressed, moving his grip from the Owned's face to his shoulders.
"Of course I do," came the matter of fact reply.
"Then you still love him?" hope sprung without note to the Preventer's voice. The First sighed dramatically and gently cupped his Master's face, tenderly drying his tears.
"I love you, Zechs. You are my Master now. You are the only one that matters," his tone was the careful gentle neutrality that one tended to use to explain painful things to children. "I remember Heero very well, and I know…" he paused, thinking for a way to communicate his feelings about the Japanese man. "I know that I cared very deeply for him… probably loved him but," he sighed, releasing his Master's face and sitting back on his heels. "It doesn't matter anymore. I can be his friend again, but you are my Master."
Zechs could feel his heart breaking. "You don't mean that…" he gasped out, panic in his crystal eyes.
"I don't lie, Zechs, you know that. If you want, I… think I can go back to treating you like I used to… if that's what'll make you happy…" there was a clear need in beautiful violet orbs to make his Master happy at all costs. "But I can't change the way I feel about you, or the way I think of you," he confessed, hanging his head and beginning to play absently with a lock of the golden silk that served as his hair.
"What else do you remember? Do you remember—"
"Preventer, please, slow down. His memory is obviously returning, but there's no need to rush it," Collins interrupted, placing his hands on the agent's shoulders. The First growled deep in his throat at the motion and gave a merciless glare to the scientist. Collins quickly realized his mistake and moved away from the blond man.
"Did you know about this?" Zechs demanded.
"Of course not. But it does explain quite a bit. Desolo, you were waiting for someone specific to Imprint on. Is this the man?" the scientist asked.
"I have a name, Collins," the First scowled.
"Fine, Duo," the man stressed, rolling his eyes. "Answer my question."
"No. He's not. I think Heero was the one I was waiting for, but I'm not upset that it's Zechs. He was my best friend," the beaming smile he sent to his Master was heartbreaking.
"I think the two of you need to reacquaint, and I need to explain a couple more things to you, Preventer. We have spare rooms here, if you'd like to stay for a few nights and get used to the idea of… Duo being your Owned—"
"But I can't—"
"And you can't not," Collins pointed out, looking pointedly at the still kneeling Owned who was now displaying a look of absolute terror.
"You… don't want me… Ma—Zechs?" his voice was thick with emotion as he forced the words out.
"It's not that I don't want you, Duo," the blond quickly tried to explain. "I just… I don't want to be your master. I just want to be your friend…" he stopped when he could see that his words were doing no good.
"To him, it's the same thing," Collins explained softly. "Come," he stated softly. "Why don't we get you a room. Do you want De—Duo's bed moved in for the time being?"
"Why?"
"Well, I can guarantee you he's not going to let you sleep alone. He'll sleep on the floor if you want him to, but I think you'd rather have him comfortable in his own bed rather than yours," the scientist explained, leading both down a hall. Duo was carefully keeping about three paces behind Zechs, close enough to react should anything threaten his Master yet not in his Master's personal space. The Owned felt his heart wrench at the thought of Zechs not wanting him. His mind searched desperately for a way to please his Master… anything that would make him want him… Anything…
The familiar weight of his cross suddenly registered in his mind and he stopped walking. "Zechs?" he asked softly. Both men stopped and turned to look curiously at the First as he drew the silver chain from around his neck, walked up until he was only a scant foot from his Master. "I… I want you to have this." And with that, he reached up and slipped the fine chain over the blond man's head and patted the cross gently before stepping back away.
"Duo, no! I—I can't accept this—!" he protested making a move to take it off, but stopped at the absolutely terrified look on the younger man's face. "Duo…" he tried to argue, holding the plain silver icon in his palm. "… This is your past…"
With a slight sigh of relief, he stepped closer and gently closed the blond man's hand over the cross. "Whether you like it or not, Zechs, I am yours… and so is my past. Compared to you… it's meaningless."
Finally, with Duo's darker hand and taloned fingers resting on his own pale hand, the reality of the situation began to sink in. Zechs took a shaky breath then looked into intent violet eyes, but the Owned silenced anything he might have said. "Please, keep me?"
Zechs was lost. Without consciously thinking about it, he threw his arms around the smaller man and held him tight, not noticing the brilliant smile on the Duo's face as he nuzzled his Master's chest and purred contentedly.
Tsuzuku
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Not near as long as the last chapter but it was such a good place to end it, and you can't really complain since I'm basically updating on a daily basis. Please, keep the reviews coming, you authors KNOW how motivating they can be!
