See all warnings and disclaimers in the first chapter.

A/N: Whew! I hope everyone had a great New Year and did hugely exciting things! I didn't . . .

To Jess-Eklom: you asked a question that I should answer, why Heero transformed for Duo's father and Karon. That's a good question, I will clarify (as I should have earlier!). Thanks for pointing this out, everyone else don't be shy about doing so if you notice things that don't make sense. Sometimes I write too fast and don't pay attention . . .

Enjoy!

When Heero Goes Hunting

Duo woke slowly to find himself being slowly smothered by a heavy, oppressive heat. Groaning, he tried to roll over only to discover he was solidly trapped beneath the thick-furred body of a large wolf. Smiling, he buried his fingers in the soft coat and tried pushing Heero off him. It felt like he was lying directly on top of him.

"Heero," he managed, somewhat breathless.

Laughter in his mind. Then Heero was licking his face.

"Mmph!" Duo gasped, choking on his giggles. "Geroff!"

The next instant found him alone in the bed as Heero streaked away. Startled, Duo sat up. "Heero?"

"I have to answer a call of nature," came the reply, "and I feel like hunting. Normally I would eat with you, but I've been deprived of raw meat and hot blood for many days. Would you like some?"

"Ah, as lovely as that sounds . . ." Duo said, grinning ruefully.

Heero chuckled in his mind. "Then let me out. I'm hungry, and I doubt your housekeeper would appreciate me eating one-hundred pounds of raw meat on her kitchen floor."

Smiling at that mental image, Duo slid out of bed and wrapped a thick, crushed-velvet robe around his slim body. "I'm sure she appreciates it. Where are you, extremely large pet of mine?"

"Pet, hmm? Well, I've been called many things but never pet. All right, I will be your guide wolf, but if you call me a dog I will bite you."

"Wouldn't dream of it."

"And you should do something about that habit of yours of talking out loud. People will think you're crazy."

"I'm sure they already do. Come on." He extended a hand toward where he could sense the Telmaran wolf.

Heero nuzzled his hand, and he rested it between the wolf's ears. When he opened the door, Heero remained by his side, close enough to brush against his thigh all the time. The wolf's shoulder actually reached his waist. Heero guided him with gentle pressure, his every motion telling Duo where to turn—though in this house he scarce needed it.

In the kitchen, he could hear Karon fussing around. "Good morning, young master," she said, "and . . . Heero." To her credit the pause was very slight.

"Tell her I said good morning," Heero said in a dismissive mental tone as he waited for Duo to open the door.

Grinning, Duo waved him out. "What did you make for breakfast, Karon? I'm starving."

He heard the smile as she replied, "Scones, fresh-squeezed orange juice, and cacuyo eggs. Sit, love, I'll get you a plate."

"Thank you," Duo said, smiling as he lowered himself in a chair at the table. "Is Father already gone?"

"Yes," Karon replied. "Man left before dawn. Heavens, but I wish his job weren't so demanding. What will you and Heero do today?"

"Must you always ask so many questions?" Duo snapped. He instantly clapped a hand over his mouth. "I . . . I'm sorry, Karon, I don't know why I said that . . ."

"I-it's all right, young master," she said, though she did sound shaken.

For some reason, wave after wave of aggression flowed over Duo. And a desire to sink his teeth into red, freshly-killed meat . . . at this, he realized what it must be. Heero was hunting, most likely. He was either stalking his prey or had caught it, and this feeling was actually Heero's aggression.

How . . . bizarre. Duo clenched his teeth, doing his best to ignore it. He did not want to bite Karon's hand for pestering him. He most certainly did not want to go out and tackle a deer and rip its throat out. He took a sip of his orange juice and growled low in his throat when it was not hot blood.

Hissing in annoyance, Duo pushed back from the table and stalked to the door. "Heero!" he called. "Heero, come now!"

It didn't take long before laughter resounded through his mind and a slightly damp muzzle pushed into his hand. He recoiled at the warm, sticky wet.

"Is that blood?" he demanded.

More laughter. "Yes. Sorry, I should have warned you that until we learn to control our bond, we'll experience each other's strong emotions as though they were our own."

"Yes, you should have warned me. I just snapped at Karon and strongly desired to bite her hand off."

Heero's laughter filled his mind so strongly Duo felt his annoyance change to mirth.

"And right now she's looking at you like you've lost your mind. I told you, speak to me in your mind. Only you can hear me in this form."

Concentrating, Duo sent the wolf his disapproval. "Go back to your meal, you feisty killer. And control your joy of killing—I would like to enjoy my meal without feeling disappointment that every bite isn't fresh, raw meat!"

Heero's only reply was more laughter as he loped off. Shaking his head, Duo felt for the door and went back inside to his meal.

"I am sorry, Karon," he said again. "Heero and I are still learning about our bond."

"It's all right, my dear," she said, sounding relieved. "Eat up while it's still hot."

Nodding, Duo obeyed and dug in. This time, the disappointment that no hot blood spilled down his throat was minimal.

o8o o8o

Heero patiently waited for Duo to finish wiping the blood from his jaws and throat. Karon was standing nearby, nervousness still souring her scent as she pointed out any spots Duo missed.

"Why don't you just give me some water and let me do it myself?" he demanded somewhat crossly.

"This is your punishment for this morning," Duo replied, amusement flickering in his lovely eyes.

Heero sighed expansively, giving Karon a long-suffering look. It actually worked—some of the nervousness faded.

"Begging your pardon, Heero," she said, "but you could transform and do it yourself, isn't that right?"

"No," Duo said, sounding definitely amused, now. "He behaved like a dog this morning, so now he's getting treated like one."

Heero snapped at Duo's hand, though his teeth didn't connect. He would never hurt Duo. "Wolf, not dog. All wolves hunt. Even we civilized ones."

"Besides, he said he would only transform for me, now," Duo told Karon. "Is that because you have to?"

"It's tradition. And because your father and Karon have already seen my human form, I could for them as well. I just prefer not to. This is my primary form, after all. I'm far more used to running around on four paws rather than two feet. You bipedals are an awkward lot, aren't you?"

"Watch it, or you're going to get a swat," Duo said menacingly, squeezing Heero's tail.

Panting laughter, Heero licked his Bonded's face, causing the boy to giggle and grab his muzzle, planting a kiss right between his eyes.

"There, is he all cleaned up, Karon?"

"He is," Karon replied, her scent telling Heero she was much more comfortable now. "He looks very handsome."

A little surprised, Heero looked at her to find a smile blossoming on her apple-cheeked face. Well, that was nice. Her fear was rapidly fading.

"Good. It's not like I'd gobble her up in her sleep. Humans taste funny."

Duo swatted his flank. "Thank you, Karon. Heero and I are going out today, so I won't require anything else."

She took half a step forward, already opening her mouth to protest. Heero just looked at her, ears forward and alert. That was all it took. She snapped her mouth shut, nodding instead.

"All right. Try not to be out too late, okay?"

"Sure," Duo said, smiling that sweet smile of his. "Thanks, Karon."

Hmm. Sometimes it was right handy that Duo was blind. She left, and Heero easily jumped onto the bed.

"What are you going to wear? And are you going to shower before we leave?"

"Why? Do I stink?" Duo asked sweetly.

Heero didn't take the bait. "It's my experience that humans are nearly as fussy about hygiene as we Telmaran. Which of course means they shower every day. Are you different?"

"Nope. Especially not now that you could smell me if I wasn't clean."

"Won't your hair take a long time to dry?"

"Not if you help me," Duo replied, undoing the robe's belt.

Heero sat up at that, changing form. "I'd be happy to," he said, pacing to Duo's side.

Duo's expression was a little startled. "You should warn me before you do that," he said a bit reproachfully.

Grinning, Heero leaned down and bit the tip of Duo's nose. "Sorry. I'm going to change to my human form now, kay?"

Making a funny sound of surprise, Duo jerked back and slapped Heero's arm. "Thanks a lot."

Chuckling, Heero spun Duo around and pushed him into the bathroom separated from his bedroom by only a door. "Come on. I'll wash your hair for you. I've been dying to get my hands on it since I saw you. Such pretty hair."

Heero waited for a moment, wondering why Duo paused. "Umm . . ." the boy said.

Tilting his head to the side, Heero shrugged. "What?"

"Never mind," came the somewhat faint reply, and heat flashed through Duo's scent.

Odd. Was that . . . embarrassment? Heero couldn't fathom a reason for that as Duo slowly peeled off his pajamas and started the shower. His entire body was flawlessly pale, right down to his small feet. Smiling at such pretty feet, Heero herded him under the spray and followed him, enjoying the cloying heat of the steam as it quickly filled the bathroom.

Slicking his hands with a shampoo that smelled of . . . there were too many different aromas in that scent to identify. He glanced at the label. Cinnamon honeyed apple.

"This smells good," he commented, plunging his hands into the thick, wonderful mass of Duo's hair.

Duo gave a soft sound of pleasure as Heero began working the shampoo through his tresses. Only after the discomfort faded from his scent did it occur to Heero what must have caused it: his nakedness. The realization made him grin like a fool. Prude. The Telmaran had few personal boundaries, and naked bodies were not included in those boundaries. It hadn't crossed his mind that humans worried about such things.

"I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable," he apologized, though he could not hide his amusement.

"You just . . . caught me off-guard," Duo explained, sounding embarrassed that Heero drew attention to it.

Which made the wolf grin more. "The Telmaran don't care about such things," he told his Bonded. "I . . . forgot. Then I couldn't figure out why you were embarrassed until just a moment ago. Sorry. I'll remember in the future."

"Your people have a very different culture, don't they?" Duo mused.

"Yes," Heero said, directing Duo's head beneath the fall of water. "We aren't human, despite appearances. You have such beautiful hair, Duo."

"Thank you," the boy said softly, his pleasure flickering through his scent. "Would you mind putting conditioner in it, too? It takes me forever."

"Of course," Heero said, picking up the bottle and flipping the cap. It had a similar smell to the shampoo and poured into his hand like silk.

Duo remained silent while Heero worked the conditioner through his hair, massaging his scalp, then rinsing it away. Heero could tell by his closed eyes and slightly parted lips that he enjoyed the sensations very much. Smiling, he turned the water off and pulled Duo out of the shower, wrapping him in a thick towel.

"There. Hurry. I'm curious to explore the city. I've never been in a city before. In fact, this is my first time away from Tel'Mar, so hurry!"

"Yes, my overexcited pet," Duo said, grinning as he dried himself.

Raising an eyebrow, Heero changed form and shook his massive body. Duo shrieked as the cold spray liberally doused his slender body.