See all warnings and disclaimers in the first chapter.

A/N: Quick note to answer another question. The Telmaran don't transform for anyone but their Bonded typically, but this is only tradition. They can, and they do sometimes when circumstance calls for it. This rule only applies to humans, of course, and the only reason Trowa transformed last chapter in front of Relena was to shake her up, because Quatre's evil like that. XD

The Dance of Tongues

Denan Maxwell swept his son clean off his feet, holding him in an embrace that nearly made him disappear. Duo didn't bother trying to ward him off or calm him down, he simply held his father back. He knew nothing else would assuage the man's fears. It was a little hard to breathe, though . . .

"I'm so sorry, Duo," he mumbled, kissing Duo's hair. "This is my fault. God, I'm so sorry. You had to go through all this because of me . . ."

Duo pushed at his father until the man loosened his hold enough he could step back. Reaching up, he brushed his fingers over his father's face, following lines and contours he had once known so well with his eyes. "It's not your fault, Father," he murmured. "Heero was hurt worse than me, and that only because he wouldn't stop trying to break free from his bonds. I'm all right, see?"

Behind him, Heero made a sort of huffing grunt, sounding quite indignant. It made Denan smile a little—Duo could feel the slight turn-up of his lips. "Young Quatre wouldn't let me say anything about Relena, yet," he said, sounding somewhat disappointed. "Said he had a plan all worked out, something to do with weeding out the rest of the schemers in this grand plot."

Duo could hear the distaste. Denan Maxwell had a reputation for being the most straight-forward player in the field, never saying anything he didn't mean or doing anything without motivation. He always said—with much irritation—that he was Prime Chancellor because he wanted to help people and make a difference.

And he did, too. "Quatre told us the same thing," Duo said.

"With one big difference," Heero finally interjected.

Duo couldn't help it and grinned; he was wondering when Heero wouldn't be able to hold back anymore.

"I'm going to kill Relena," Heero finished with an audible growl.

"Well," Denan said, sounding a little surprised and flustered, "certainly I wouldn't be the one to take that right away from you. She more than violated the Treaty of Tel'Mar."

Heero growled softly again, and Duo could feel the malice. Smiling, he took his father's arm while reaching for Heero's hand. "Why don't we show him around?" he asked, no longer wishing to talk about such ugly topics.

o8o o8o

Quatre was hard-pressed to keep the smile off his face as he observed the hideous tension reverberating between Relena and Dorothy. The young women were so much alike it was amazing, and only they didn't see it. Both devious schemers, both cunning manipulators. And both overestimated their guile.

"I hope you two don't think it was a tasteless move on my part to invite you over together," he said in his most warm, concerned voice, "but I really want to get rid of any potential malice you may have toward each other. It's all in the past now, right?" He smiled.

The smiles they gave in return were false and plastic. "Of course," Relena demurred. "I think a large part of the confusion for that whole episode was due to my brother."

Quatre blinked, but that was his only reaction. That was low, even for Relena. Dorothy proved more adept at covering her reactions than Relena, because she actually looked willing to buy that.

"Really?" she said. "I never would have imagined a conniving streak in Zechs. But then, I suppose after me he is next in line for the Andarian throne. What happened, Relena?"

Relena smoothly accepted control of the situation, dimpling for her cousin and leaning forward just the slightest bit. "Don't you think it's odd that right before I appeal the Courts, Zechs just disappears? He knows it's because if there was any investigation, it would reveal his plots. I've been trying to spearhead a search for him, but with everything that's been happening in these last few days it's practically impossible to get anything done."

They both tittered, and Quatre leaned back, not sure whether to be amused or disgusted. Really. These two were so transparent.

"Relena's lying through her teeth," Trowa said abruptly. He looked bored. And quite arrogant. "I don't think a word she just said is true. Dorothy doesn't believe her, either, but she's hiding something, Quatre. I would give my spleen to find out what."

Quatre bit his lip. "Patience, love. Perhaps I can winkle it out of them."

Aloud, he said, "It's wonderful you're accepting this so graciously, Dorothy. You'll be a fine empress."

She glowed at the praise. "Why, thank you Quatre. But it sure is strange, Denan Maxwell having a sudden change of heart, isn't it?"

Said sweetly. Like a layer of honey coating poison. Quatre had to fight back his grin.

Relena just shrugged gracefully. "I suppose justice triumphs after all," she said. Perhaps just a trifle snide.

"Oh! Did you hear about his housekeeper?" Dorothy changed the subject. "Found dead? Murder. And Duo missing! What a strange time for all this to be happening."

"We found Duo, actually," Quatre interjected mildly. "He and his Telmaran Bonded are safe on Tel'Mar at the moment. There are plenty of authorities waiting to question them on what happened, of course, but I've told them to leave them alone for now. They both need to recover, and since Heero is Telmaran, this falls to them to decide."

Again that almost-reaction from Relena. He supposed she masked it well enough, but she wasn't as good as Quatre. Dorothy just sighed.

"I'm glad he's all right. It would have been terrible if anything happened to him."

"Yes, he's just lovely, isn't he?" Relena murmured.

Quatre opened his mouth to speak, but at that moment a servant came bursting in, red-faced and huffing. "Princess!" he gasped. "Forgive me for interrupting, Lord Quatre, but an urgent message just arrived for Princess Dorothy. Her father was suddenly struck very ill. They took him to the hospital, and doctors are already fearing the worst!"

Dorothy's reaction caught Quatre off-guard. Her eyes widened, her hand flying to her breast as she gasped aloud. "Oh no!" she exclaimed, immediately rising to her feet and rushing to the servant. "I'm so sorry, Quatre, but I simply must go!"

"Wait," Relena called, rising as well and hurrying after her cousin, "I'll go with you."

He didn't try to stop the pair from leaving, and he was even more surprised that Dorothy didn't protest. When they'd gone he leaned back, bemused. Folding his hands in his lap, he considered. Trowa came and knelt in front of him, taking his hands and stroking his fingers over the backs.

"What?"

Quatre gazed down into green, green eyes for a time. "That was strange, don't you think?" he said after a moment. "Something was wrong with Dorothy's reaction. It was . . . well, I don't know. Too practiced or something. Like she was expecting something like this and had been rehearsing being shocked and scared."

Trowa didn't seem to care all that much about it as he leaned forward and licked Quatre's hands, nibbling on the slim fingers. "So what does that mean?" he asked.

Quatre found it very hard to think with that mouth on him. "I don't know yet," he said. "You're not making this any easier, you know."

Trowa chuckled deep in his throat, almost like a rumbling purr. He sucked two fingers into his mouth and thrust his tongue between them, eyes meeting Quatre's with smoldering desire. Quatre felt himself responding instantly. Why could he never say no to his demanding lover?

"Because you are every bit as demanding as me," Trowa said, eyes glimmering with amusement. "Now, where do you want it? I can carry you to your room if you wish, or I can just throw you over the chair. I don't care about that sort of thing as much as you do."

Quatre noticed his eyes were still the slits of a cat's pupils. He noticed it very distantly. "The bed would be nice," he heard himself say in a low, strained sort of voice that didn't sound like himself at all.

Trowa laughed, and this time there was a definite purr. "Can do, my love." He slid his arms under Quatre's slender body and carried him to the bedroom.

o8o o8o

"There was actually a very specific reason I left Hedara," Denan said as he and his son sat in a quiet cave in the Yuy clan territory.

Heero, laying across Duo's lap, perked his ears a little to look at the man. Duo absently stroked the wolf's soft ears. "You mean this last time?"

"Yes. I was meeting with Doctor Po."

That effectively won Duo's undivided attention. He sat up straight, a bolt of both anxiety and hope surging through him. "Why?" he asked.

"Who's Doctor Po?" Heero asked.

"She contacted me to let me know there are new . . . developments," Denan replied. "There's an experimental treatment now that has a high success rate of healing victims struck blind by the macili virus."

Duo felt his heart begin to pound. He knew his father had been in steady contact with Doctor Po, Duo's physician, for the last six years. Always hoping for a treatment that could restore his son's sight. The thought of being able to see again both terrified and exhilarated Duo.

Heero, however, raised his head and licked Duo's cheek. "I think you should do it, Duo. It will probably be a long time before we can control the Bond enough that you can see through my eyes."

"But . . ." Duo said, not even sure what he was thinking enough to say it. "What do you know about it, Father?"

"It's a six-week treatment," Denan said, "followed by a four-week recovery. The success rate is eighty-three percent, Duo."

Which, of course, was an astronomically high rate, seeing as how last year there had been no viable treatment at all. Duo leaned down and rested his cheek on top of Heero's head. Heero nuzzled him.

"You're worried about it," his wolf noted. "Why? I thought you wanted to see again."

"I do," Duo murmured, "but I've learned to live with blindness. I don't want to try this, get my hopes all up, then it fails. I don't think I could . . . it would be like losing my sight all over again."

Heero made a soft whining sound, full of sympathy. "If that happened, I would be here for you."

"I know." Duo kissed the top of Heero's head. Aloud, he said, "Can I talk to Doctor Po first? Ask her about the procedure?"

"Of course," his father said, and he felt the man brush his cheek. "The Telmaran allowed me to bring my private communicator, so just let me know when you are ready."

"Thank you, Father," Duo said quietly, smiling.

Denan kissed his son's forehead, then Duo heard him leave. Heero sat up then, and moments later he changed form. He startled Duo just a little by capturing his lips in a sweet kiss.

"It'll be all right, my love." He pushed Duo down onto the comfortable bed. "I'll be right here with you, no matter what happens."

Duo tangled his fingers in Heero's. He was seldom unhappy with the way things were in his life, but he was definitely glad he had Heero. Without his wolf, he had a feeling he would have been completely overwhelmed.

Whew! I was afraid I wouldn't get this posted before the weekend. Hugs to you all, see you next chapter! Oh, I was thinking about actually writing a 3x4 lemon, something I rarely do, but I'm loving Quatre and Trowa in this story. Let's do a vote. Yes, or no?

Quatre: I vote yes.

Jewel: You don't count.

Heero: He's the only one who counts, you idiot.

Jewel: Fine, no 1x2 lemons.

Duo: Awwwwww! Why not, Jewel?

Jewel: Not until Heero apologizes.

Heero: (GUN)

Jewel: All right already! You get a lemon, too! Sheesh. Ever heard the term "loose cannon?"

Heero: Hn.