See all warnings and disclaimers in the first chapter.
A/N: I have nothing to say this chapter, sorry! I know you guys expect inspiring speeches from me, but I'm just . . . apathetic right now I guess. So how about a hugely exciting chapter instead? Oh, additional warning. Like in the last one, this one will contain Relena bashing . . . (are we surprised? X3)
Everything About You and Me
Heero stirred himself out of his lethargic trance after what felt like a long time. A sense of urgency finally managed to pierce the fog around his mind. They needed to eat. It was a dangerous time for them both, and they needed the energy boost only food could give them.
"Duo," he said in a hoarse voice. "Duo, get up. We . . . we need to eat." Even speaking took an inordinate amount of energy.
Duo barely stirred. "Not hungry," he mumbled, turning his face into Heero's chest.
Heero didn't think he could sit up if he had to lever Duo up, too. He pushed weakly on his newly Bonded's arm. "We have to eat," he insisted. "Come on, Duo." He couldn't believe how drained he felt.
Making an extremely unhappy noise, Duo heaved himself off Heero. It obviously took a lot of effort. But with the added weight gone, Heero was able to sit up. His hands were shaking as he reached for the tray and pushed the lid off. The hot food was long cold and looked utterly unappetizing. But there were thick chunks of sweet bread and a bowl of sugared fruit cubes. Sugar would go a long way toward perking them up.
Choosing a particularly fat cube, he rubbed it over Duo's lips. "Eat," he commanded.
Duo giggled, and Heero used that opportunity to slip the fruit into his mouth. Only when his Bonded began chewing the offering did Heero pop a few into his own mouth. They tasted divine and whet his appetite for more. Apparently they affected Duo the same way, for he pushed himself upright and lay his hand on Heero's in a silent plea for more.
Smiling, Heero put the bowl in his hand and tore into the bread. "Unfortunately, nothing's hot anymore," he said around a mouthful. "But carbs and sugar are high-energy foods, so they'll last us until we can get your ever-so-accommodating father to bring us more."
Duo nearly choked on his fruit as he giggled. "It's his way of apologizing for locking me up."
Heero snorted. "I'm going to ring for him again. I'm starving, and I want hot food."
"Me too," Duo agreed, still giggling.
"Hmm," Heero said around his bread, "maybe I shouldn't have given you sugar. It's making you weird."
For that he got pegged with a cube—Duo had remarkable aim for someone blind. Of course, the boy could sense him as clearly as he could sense Duo, so that probably helped. He picked it up off the bed and ate it. Shaking his head, he rose.
"Stay there. I'll get your father."
"You keep thinking that bread tastes good," Duo said. "Can't I have some?"
Blinking, Heero nodded and tossed him a chunk. "Sorry. Here you go."
Maxwell burst in about fifteen seconds after the bell sounded, leading Heero to believe the man had been waiting for it and had run like a mad demon at the knell. He had to fight to keep the grin off his face.
"You two all right?" he asked, immediately going to his son. "You've been silent in here for almost four hours!"
Heero blinked. What a conspicuously long amount of time. "We're fine," he said, looking at the palm that had been slit. There was no scar. "But we're both starving. Could you have someone bring us a hot meal?"
"Ours got cold," Duo explained, snagging another fruit cube.
Maxwell's eyes found the spilled oil on the bedspread. "What's this?" he asked.
"Oil," Heero said. "It's the best thing for sealing the Bonding, for some reason. I was a little careless." He didn't bother apologizing—he wasn't sorry.
"It's fine," the man said, waving it off. "I will send a servant to change the bed. Duo, I have to leave first thing in the morning for Terra. I'll be gone for a few days, and Karon will see to your needs. Will you two be fine here by yourselves?"
"Of course," Heero said, starting to feel impatient. How could he stress the importance of food at this juncture?
Obviously picking up on that, Duo grinned. "Father, we're really hungry."
"Of course," Maxwell said, hustling to the door. "I'll send Karon immediately."
"Thank you," Duo and Heero said in unison, and the man bustled out.
Feeling jittery from eating sugar on an otherwise empty stomach, Heero turned to his newly Bonded and for the first time since leaving Tel'Mar changed into his primary form. Duo sensed it, of course, sitting up a little, head turning with uncanny accuracy to Heero's direction. Heero crossed the room in one long bound, leaping onto the bed and pouncing on the person who was now closest to him in the galaxy.
Duo let out a high 'eep!' of surprise, falling backward beneath Heero's weight. Heero snuffled at his face, unable to get enough of his sweet laughter, his wonderful scent, the delight and pleasure in his blind eyes, and the happiness in his loving heart.
How did I get so lucky?
Though those thoughts were not directed at Duo, the boy still got the gist. His arms went around Heero's neck, pulling the enormous wolf close and kissing his soft muzzle.
"It's funny how emotions can change so suddenly," he murmured. "Hours ago I didn't know you at all, and now I know everything about you as if we've been best friends forever. It's . . . amazing."
Heero licked his Bonded's pale face, tail thumping on the bed a little.
So when Karon entered the bedroom, this was how she found them. An enormous wolf sitting right on top of Duo. Heero's only warning was the fear and alarm that suddenly soured her scent. She shrieked, making Heero flatten his ears against his skull. Damn, but human females could be noisy!
"Young master!"
Heero rose to his full impressive height, ears straight forward as he turned to her. He only had to utter a single, low growl to get her to flee. His tongue lolled out in silent laughter.
Duo's hand closed around his tail. "That's not nice. I like Karon."
"Didn't your father tell her I'm a Telmaran?" he asked.
"I don't know. Probably not since her reaction was so . . . freaking out."
Heero pounced on Duo again, laving his face with his tongue. Laughing, Duo tried unsuccessfully to ward him off. Moments later he heard footsteps heralding the approach of Maxwell and Karon.
"That's Heero, fool woman," Maxwell barked. "The boy's Telmaran. I told you that, didn't I?"
Heero paused to look at the pair, hoping his annoyance showed. He didn't appreciate being made a spectacle.
Karon gulped. "Ah, yes you did, Master, but . . ." she swallowed noisily. "You never did tell me he was such a big . . ."
Heero phased into his human form. "Wolf," he snapped. "I'm not an animal, Karon."
"Yes, yes, thank you Karon. Go back to your work." Maxwell pushed her out. To Heero he said, "She'll get used to you. Bit of a jumpy sort. I apologize. I'll bring you dinner myself." He once more saw himself out.
Duo sat up, wrapping his arms around Heero's waist and resting his head against the taller youth's shoulder. "Don't be angry," he murmured. "Karon's just . . . you know. A simple woman. I don't think she's ever left this city."
Heero simply laid down, squashing Duo underneath him. A muffled protest that lacked coherency drifted up from his lumpy pillow. "Okay," he said, chuckling.
When Maxwell returned, the pair dug in with voracious appetite. While they ate a pair of servants changed the bed and remade it. Then the Bonded pair went about their nightly ablutions, getting ready for bed.
"Can I brush you?" Duo asked when Heero jumped onto the bed in wolf-form.
"Please," Heero said, laying his head on Duo's lap.
So Duo brushed his fur, the long strokes soothing him into a dozy trance. The bed felt cloud-soft beneath him, and Duo's warmth seeped into his core.
"You're so soft," Duo murmured, stroking a finger between Heero's eyes. "Your fur is like velvet."
Heero gave no response to that, simply sighing deeply. Tomorrow, he would go out with his Bonded and they would explore the city. Tomorrow he would give Duo a taste of freedom. Tomorrow he would . . . tomorrow . . .
This may follow in the tradition of "Duo, My Pet" and turn into a piece of pointless, plotless fluff . . .
Heero: Are you capable of writing anything else?
Jewel: . . .
Heero: That's what I thought. Baka.