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"Duo's Salvation "Written By: Jewel of Hell Disclaimer: Don't own nothin' but these words Rating: NC 17 Warnings: Gratuitous violence, abuse, torture, language, yaoi, lemon, angels, demons, bigotry, hypocrisy, blasphemy, heresy, sacrilege, and general religion-bashing. THIS IS NOT A STORY FOR THE CLOSE-MINDED. Pairings: 1x2, others Summary: When the Prince of Hell is captured and taken to Heaven, it is up to the Prince of Heaven to save him. But what if he believes Duo is already being saved? "Duo's Salvation "
Quatre was startled out of a light doze when Trowa shifted. Blinking, he lifted his head and looked down at the elf. Piercing verdant eyes were open, regarding him with affection. Clicking his beak a little, he yawned and stretched as best he could without moving Trowa too much. He was stiff from lying in one position too long. Small price to pay for his injured lover's comfort. Though thanks to the earth dragon, his injuries were healing quickly. And it helped that elves naturally healed faster than humans. He sighed and rubbed his cheek against Trowa's forehead. "Sleep well?" he asked. "You're a very soft pillow," Trowa replied, reaching up to sift his fingers through the feathers around Quatre's neck. The gryphon purred. He could recall in horrific, vivid detail the sight and sound of Trowa slamming into the tree. He'd actually thought it had killed his lover, such was the sickening crunch of bone. It was as if every function of his mind shut down and let anger simply take control. Never had it occurred to him that he was no match for Relena in a contest of strength. He simply wanted her dead and he wanted to watch her bleed. He had only come back to his senses a little when he felt Trowa's weak call in his mind. He had known Trowa a long time. They had met over two-hundred years ago, not long after Trowa first left his forest home and set off to explore the world. As far as Quatre knew, Trowa had never stopped exploring during that time. The elf had an incurable case of wanderlust, seeming to want to see and experience everything at least once. Quatre, not much older than a fledgling at the time, had been anxious to test his wings and get out of the nest, so to speak. So when they met it was instant and right chemistry. Quatre traveled with Trowa for about thirty years, the two of them growing and maturing together. They were like a match made in heaven, and it didn't take Quatre long to realize he was hopelessly in love with the elf. He would never forget their first time. Quatre spent most of his time in human form then, and like everything else Trowa did his seduction of Quatre was quiet, methodical, well-thought-out, and undeniable. He played Quatre like a well-tuned harp, every touch and movement sure and confident and skilled. Now, they spent less time together. Their love had perhaps tempered over the years, but it had lost none of its potency. Quatre knew with quiet assuredness that he would never love anyone else but Trowa. He did not dread the thought of Trowa wandering off and leaving him behind, even if he never saw the elf again. That was simply the way of their relationship. Perhaps most would not understand. That didn't, of course, mean that when Trowa wandered back into his life he was not ecstatic to see his wayward lover. Heaving a sigh, Quatre laid his head back down. "Think you'll be up to travel, soon?" "I'm ready now," Trowa replied, sitting up. Quatre didn't see any real pain on the elf's face as he rose to his feet. He made a few loose circuits around Quatre, seeming to gauge his own reaction. Then he nodded. "Yes, I feel worlds better." "Good, because I'm tired of being holed up in here," the gryphon groused. "I'm actually looking forward to making hell for this angel-witch." Trowa's mouth quirked up in a crooked grin. "You're just happy to get out and meddle." Now able to fully move, Quatre stretched and arched his back, wings fanning out a little. "Same thing. I can't imagine you're happy to be stuck in here, either. I'd have thought you'd have gone stir-crazy by now." "I was considering it," Trowa mused. About this time Wufei entered their cave. He was in human form. Treize, Zechs, Heero, and Duo followed him, and Quatre found himself a little perplexed by the demon's countenance. He'd never seen Duo looking so . . . well . . . peaceful? Perhaps he'd had some sort of epiphany? For his part, Heero looked satisfied, but not in an obnoxious, self-congratulating way. As if he'd conquered some enemy against insurmountable odds. And had survived to reap the benefits. Insanely curious, he started to ask when Trowa's hand landed lightly on his flank. "Later," his lover mouthed. He understood. Nodding a little, he sat back on his haunches. Wufei looked like a dragon on a mission. "We're leaving," he said. "I will fly Trowa, Zechs, and Treize down to the river. We're going to the capitol city Endina. Treize, from there you will take the lead. Quatre, Trowa, and Zechs will accompany you as new recruits. The goal is to find out as much as you can about the inner workings of Oraia's plots. I will take Heero and Duo to explore her religion a little. The Way of Light may have some clues. There may be fanatics with their ears to the ground." "Mm, there might be a problem with that plan," Quatre piped up. "Zechs is a siren. Humans typically don't trust them as far as they can throw them." Zechs smiled at him. "It's because they understand we're far superior. They feel threatened." Quatre hissed laughter. "That is a good point," Wufei conceded after a moment. "Very well, Zechs, you will accompany my team instead. You may be better able to lull zealots than hardened soldiers." "Don't hold me in so low an esteem, Wufei," Zechs purred. "I could most likely win over anyone if I put my mind to it." Quatre didn't miss how the siren's eye flickered over Duo. The demon, however, didn't seem to notice. Interesting. So Zechs had not given up on him. He wondered what Heero would do if he found out. He smiled inwardly. Perhaps he would have to tell the angel and find out. Would Heero react calmly, and reason with Zechs that his desires were unrealistic and downright impossible? Or would he turn into a jealous lover? Quatre knew how he'd react, but Heero? Nn, the angel was hard to predict. Wufei, however, quirked a grin. "It's my great respect for your abilities that has me making this decision." The siren gave the Imperial dragon a lascivious grin. "You mean you want me where you can keep an appreciative eye on me." Quatre nearly choked on his tongue at the sudden burst of laughter he tried to suppress, but Wufei merely gave him a benign smile. "Something like that. We'll arrive at the capitol under cover of night. I'm going to forge a telepathic link between all of us so we can call upon each other if need. Treize, I'll leave it to you to find a place for us to stay the nights." "My estate will serve-" "For Trowa and Quatre," Wufei interrupted, "but I can't risk the rest of us being seen with you. Remember, Oraia knows Heero and Duo are in league with me. Now, would you all mind gathering around me? Heero, Duo, you will be first. Divine energies meld well with mystic energies." Angel and demon both nodded, and the odd company moved close to Wufei. Quatre, who communicated completely telepathically in his natural form, watched with interest. He had to be in close proximity to whomever he spoke for them to hear-he could not broadcast-so it made him quite curious. Wufei had both take his hands, and his eyes slid to half mast in a look of concentration. He could feel it the moment Wufei began. He wasn't quite sure what he could feel, but there was a definite and sudden surge of energy in the room. It almost felt like static in the air, intense and making the surface of the skin tingle. It made Quatre's frame quiver in anticipation, eager for his turn to learn more. It wasn't long before Wufei invited Quatre to join with a nod, and he eagerly made his way between Wufei and Heero. It felt like a web of pure energy. It vibrated with unseen intensity, making the very air around them shiver. Quatre felt almost breathless as he waited, and then it settled over him. It felt like lightning took up residence under his skin, leaving him feeling strangely giddy. Wufei included Zechs and Trowa next, then Treize last. "You will be the most difficult," the dragon told the human in a surprisingly soft voice. He smiled. "But I will be able." Treize returned the smile, with one full of affection. That surprised Quatre, too. "I know you will. I could never doubt you." Wufei didn't glow under the praise like a dragonling-of course he didn't. He was several thousand years old. But he did grin faintly as though the words amused him. "Those who do don't make the same mistake twice." Soon, it was done. Quatre marveled at the finished web. It was intricate and tight, feeling like it would not unravel over time. The three brightest points on the web, a bit like large spiders, were of course Wufei, Heero, and Duo. Quatre had no trouble discerning them. Trowa was slightly more difficult, and Treize and Zechs doubly so. Like smaller, less significant spiders. That thought made Quatre hide an unkind grin. "Hm," Zechs said after Wufei was finished, "what an interesting sensation. It's like I now have seven voices in my head instead of just one. How . . . distracting." Wufei snorted. "All it takes is a little practice to block them out." "I can demonstrate," Heero said abruptly. "To some extent, angels are all part of a web similar to this one." Quatre blinked when the large spider that was Heero suddenly went dark. Moments later, Duo did the same thing and he went dark, too. He thoughtfully examined the two dark nodes and nodded to himself. That seemed easy enough. He did the same thing. Wufei looked at him with a slight smile. "Just like that. Do you two understand?" Zechs managed soon after, Treize took a little longer. But who could blame him? He had no source of magic, sorcerous, mystic, or divine. "Good," Wufei said. "If you want to contact someone in this web, simply send a gentle request along the lines in the direction of the corresponding person's node. Heero?" The angel sent a gentle pulse, and Quatre felt it. He knew who was trying to contact him, and that it was directed at everyone in the web. "It will take practice to send it to one individual," Wufei went on, "so until you get the hang of it, just do exactly what Heero just did and send the request out to the whole web. It is much easier." Quite happy with this new turn of events, Quatre stretched and fanned out his wings. "Can we go?" Wufei nodded. "There's no point in lingering. Heero, Duo, Quatre, we'll fly high to stay out of sight. Let me know if you start getting tired. I can make the flight the entire way to Endina without stopping, but you three are significantly smaller than me." They walked out to the ledge, and Wufei transformed back into his magnificent primary form. His black scales glittered in the sunlight. Trowa, Zechs, and Treize all climbed onto his back, and angel, demon, and gryphon took to the sky after him. Quatre, very happy to be out of the caves and back in the sky, winged high with speed and dove back down on his party. He flew close to Duo, begging the demon without words to play. Duo, grinning, took his invitation without hesitation. Feeling full of energy too long suppressed, Quatre let out a burst of laughter. Duo joined in. Don't wear yourselves out immediately, Wufei sent through the telepathic web, but he sounded more amused than chastising. Quatre ignored him, and so did Duo. If he really needed to, he could just bum a ride off Wufei. That's what overly large Imperial dragons were for.
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