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"SHADOWS AND LIGHT: AN UNBREAKABLE BOND" Written By: Stone Angel
Please see Prologue for disclaimer, ratings and explanations. ^_^ AN:
SHADOWS AND LIGHT: AN UNBREAKABLE BOND:
Heero moved his arms to mirror Duo's in the dim light
of the porch light that cast pale yellow rays into the darkness of
night. "Like this?" "Ah. Tres bien. Now, crouch a little. I'll move
you from there, Ok? You're gonna attack the tree. Just kicks right
now. We can deal with punching later. Sound good?" Heero nodded as he focussed on the tree that was his
target. "Ah." Duo smiled to himself. 'Heero doesn't talk much when
he's learning new things. I guess that might be why he picks up on
stuff so quickly. He devotes all of his attention to learning. Good.
He's gonna need that.' "Ok. You ready? I'm gonna Pull." Heero nodded and smirked. "Yosha." 'Eager. Good.' Duo's eyes began to glow. * Heero felt his body be called into action by Duo's eyes.
He leapt forward through the air as if on a spring. Heero felt the
energy within him, like a large coil waiting for the right moment
to unleash. His foot struck out, his leg straightened and his body
aligned with the limb. He watched amazed as his foot struck a low,
small branch on the tree and the limb fell to the ground, having cracked
and broken cleanly from the trunk. Heero stood and gaped at it. 'Segoi.'
He heard Duo chuckle from behind him and turned to see his lover smirking
at him. "You're good." Heero smiled. "Yeah, right. That was you." Duo grinned. "So it was. But, as before, you'll
be able to do that on your own." Heero felt himself become excited. "Cool."
He frowned. "Um, you're not worried about the tree?" Duo chuckled. "Iye. It'll live." For a moment, Heero looked back to the decent size branch
on the ground before turning to Duo. "What can you do?" Duo smirked again and stepped forward. He took the branch
in two hands and snapped it neatly. The fact that he had done it was not what amazed Heero.
It was the ease with which it had been done. It was as if he had snapped
a toothpick. 'Jeez. And he was hitting Wufei with all that strength.
Itai.' "Wow." Duo looked back to him. "Ah. I'm not as strong
as I could be, but I'm strong enough. We get stronger with age. So
naturally, as I am fairly young, I'm not very strong. Plus there are
things that are done when one is made to give optimal strength, but
since I was a mistake..." He looked back to the branch. "Wufei
and Quatre are stronger than I. I'm stronger than Trowa. He was strong
as a ningen, though. He had been in the circus. An acrobat. You saw
him balance that chair in one hand. That's where he learned his balance
and acquired some of his strength." Heero nodded. "Oh." He thought about that
for a moment. "What happens if you run into a mark that is older
than you are?" Duo sighed. "I can't just ignore them. I have to
do something. If that means retreating for the time being, then I
have to do it. I usually use the element of surprise. It can be useful.
When we're within about a quarter of a mile from each other, there
is no way to hide ourselves from the other if they are feeling for
us. However, if I move fast enough and catch them off guard, I can
turn the situation to my advantage." "Have they ever won?" "...Ah. A few times. I'm lucky I wasn't killed.
But then I find a hunter or they find me and we obliterate them. Hunters
have all the cool gadgets and gear. I'd like to get my hands on some
but we're not allowed to have them." He shrugged. "Eh. Se
la vie, I suppose." Heero marveled over the secret society of which his
lover was a part. "Wow." Duo smiled. "I guess. Try the kick again, this
time in the air. I'll teach you some more moves, then maneuvers, then
punches. Then we can corporate Ki into this." Heero smiled and jumped into the air, striking at an
imagined foe. "So, um... In the safe house at Quatre's..."
He stood still facing his lover who was looking at the ground in shame.
Heero stepped forward and kissed him lightly, cupping his cheek tenderly.
"Duo. Past. Remember?" Duo nodded, though his eyes didn't raise. "How come you could kick Wufei's ass so easily?
I mean, he's older." Duo smiled wryly. "Adrenaline rush. You'd be surprised
how much stronger we become when we get an adrenaline rush. Plus he
was weakened by the thirst. We get stronger as we get older but there
are times that we are weakened. After a battle or when the thirst
is at its worst. But I pity anyone who messes with me when I’m
angry or scared." He resumed the exercises. "Oh. What do I do if
there are a whole lot of people I'm fighting?" Duo smiled wryly. "If they're marks: Pray." Heero laughed. "No, I mean people. What do I do
if I come across a group of people?" Duo smiled slightly. "Run away." Heero stopped and regarded him. "Run away? Even
with all this?" Duo smiled and explained. "Well, if you run, they'll
chase you. And chances are, they'll all run at different speeds which
means they'll reach you at different times, giving you a chance to
take them out individually." Duo's lips quirked into a smirk. "Sure. But don't
expect me to go all out." "Of course." * * * Duo took a stance and held a hand out to Heero, curling
his fingers in a provocative gesture. "Come at me. Don't hold
back." Heero smirked and rushed at him, forming a Ki ball and
preparing to strike out with his other hand and a foot. He threw the
Ki ball at Duo's torso as he brought a foot up towards his head, striking
quickly to the side and preparing to follow up with a punch to the
chest. Duo, slowly by his standards, moved out of the way,
the Ki ball flying into the ground behind him. With an ease born of
practice, he caught Heero's fist, not roughly, just stopping it and
ducked as Heero's foot flew over his head, the momentum making him
spin. He released Heero's fist, not wishing to dislocate his shoulder.
Heero faced him, a smirk upon his lips. "More?" Duo smirked as well. "Ah." * * * Duo carried his lover into the house, mindful of his
soreness. He set him down on the couch and went to draw a hot bath.
While he had not broken the skin himself, Heero did have a few scratches
and scrapes from the rough ground. And, though he had been careful
not to bruise him, he knew his muscles were sore from strain and impacts.
Having filled the tub with steaming water and some essence of eucalyptus
that he had bought for Heero for this very reason, he went to retrieve
his lover to find him battling unconsciousness. Duo smiled. "Heero." Heero turned his tired eyes to Duo and smiled lazily.
"Hai?" "Think you can wait to sleep for a little while?
I have a hot bath with your name on it." He offered. Heero grinned. "That sounds nice." Duo grinned as well and picked up his lover, carrying
him into the bathroom, slowly stripping him and carefully lowering
him into the fragrant, steaming water. "Into the tub with you." Heero relaxed into the hot water. "Please tell
me you're at least a little sore." Duo smirked. "Not really. But do you want me to
say it anyway?" Heero shook his head. "Damn. I hope I can have
that kind of endurance someday. Right now, EVERYTHING hurts." Duo sat by the tub. "Gomen nasai. We should have
stopped after a few minutes. Fighting, even sparring, takes a lot
out of you. Especially when you use Ki. But I think you encountered
the ground at least twenty times." He smiled sheepishly. Eyes sliding closed, Heero chuckled. "Sou deshou." Duo stroked his hair and smiled to himself when Heero
moaned. "After this, how does a massage strike you?" Heero grinned but his eyes remained closed. "Arigato.
But I might fall asleep." "Aw, that's Ok. But I need to get the tension out
of your body or you're gonna be ridiculously stiff in the morning.
So just kick back in here for a few and then off to bed with you.
I have some eucalyptus and lavender oil. It'll help relax your muscles
and ease any aches." Duo tousled his hair absently. "How do you know all this stuff?" Heero peeked
an eye open with a small smile playing at his lips before he closed
his eye again. Duo grinned though he knew Heero couldn't see it. "It's
just stuff that I've picked up along the way. I've gotten into a few
battles that left me sore for days. Eucalyptus not only eases the
muscles, but the lungs, and lavender puts at ease the mind. It's pretty
cool stuff." Heero nodded. "Ah. I've always wanted to learn
about different herbs and their healing powers." Duo shrugged. "Yeah, I don't know all that much.
Just some helpful stuff. I want to learn more from Wufei, but you've
seen us interact. We can't get much done without going at each other's
throats after a mere few minutes." Heero chuckled. "I noticed." Duo nodded. "Yeah. I love torturing that guy. I
can't believe he's getting laid and he's STILL an ass!" Heero laughed. Checking his watch, Duo decided that it was time for
Heero to get out of the tub and lifted him, Heero bemoaning the loss
of the hot water and unwillingly standing on sore and wobbly legs.
Mindful of his soreness, Duo dried him quickly and thoroughly before
carrying him to the bedroom and laying him down on the bed as carefully
as he would a priceless glass statue. Heero smiled up at him and Duo tousled his hair affectionately
as he turned to walk into the bathroom to retrieve the oil. Upon entering
his room, he saw Heero, lying on the bed, face down and head buried
in the pillows. Duo smiled as he jumped up on the bed and playfully
put a foot on the small of Heero's back. "I declare this mountain
as mine." Heero giggled and rolled to throw Duo off balance. It
worked and Duo fell to the bed aside him, laughing. Heero winced as
the bed shook and jolted his sore muscles. Duo stroked his hair. "Gomen nasai. Shall we start?"
Heero nodded. "What do I do?" Duo smiled warmly. "Just lie on your stomach. I'll
get the tension out of your neck. Then your back." * Heero nodded and rolled onto his front, keenly aware
that he wore nothing more than a towel, yet not seeming to care. He
felt Duo's slick hands, rub over his skin, his fingers carefully kneading
the knots from his muscles. The scents of eucalyptus and lavender
filled the air, making his eyes droop closed and an overall sense
of comfort to overtake him. Heero purred. Not a primal, catlike purr
that Duo was wont to do from time to time, but a human purr, a sound
of sheer delight; the scents were so much like that of his lover.
His beloved's fingers worked magic over his shoulders and neck, the
tension easing to nothing within minutes as if it had never been.
The hands moved lower when Heero's neck felt like it
was made of Jell-O, working the tension from his upper back. So relaxed was Heero, that he didn't realize he was
projecting his thoughts into Duo's mind. 'How did I go from never
letting anyone see my scars to letting someone give me a backrub?
How did he do that?' Upon hearing his lover's voice in his head, Heero startled
slightly. "Gomen. I didn't mean to think aloud." Duo kissed his hair. "It's Ok, Hee-kun." His
lips moved lower, caressing the back of Heero's neck, making him shudder
as small shocks ran through him. Duo left a trail of warm kisses down
his spine to the small of his back. Heero knew the scar was there and while he was no longer
self-conscious about his scars with Duo, he hated them no less. His
eyes slid closed when Duo gently kissed over the marred skin, caressing
it with his lips and sending shivers through Heero's whole body, causing
minor discomfort in his sore muscles and pleasure to flow through
his very being. He nuzzled the pillow beneath him. Duo covered his scar with kisses as soft as butterfly wings, the muscles beneath relaxing from the very touch of his lips. His hands worked over the small of Heero's back, kneading the muscle to relax even more. ‘"Hee-kun..."’ Heero moaned and rolled onto his back, pulling Duo up
so he was level him and kissing him deeply. He moaned into the kiss
as Duo worked the tension from his arms and chest. 'Duo-kun.' ‘"Hai."’ Though Heero's body was awash in pleasure, it was not
sexual. It was loving, but not suggestive or demanding in any way.
It merely was. He held Duo close to him and nuzzled his hair. 'How
could anyone hurt this angel? I can't understand. Why?' Duo nuzzled his collar, sending chills through him. Heero pulled back and looked into Duo's eyes, smiling
a small, warm, yet slightly sad smile. Duo's eyes spoke volumes as they looked into his own.
He knew what Heero was thinking and he didn't like it. Heero held him tightly. "Ai shite ieru, Duo-kun." ‘"Ai shite ieru, Heero."’ Duo licked
at a small scratch on Heero's cheek, gently laving it, causing it
to heal. He moved to another small scrape on Heero's brow, paying
it the same attention. He moved down and did this for all the small
cuts and scratches on Heero's skin, making him moan and writhe in
his arms. 'I can't understand.' ‘"That is because you are you. You are not
meant to. I am glad that you don't understand. If you did, you would
be a different person."’ Heero nodded sadly, understanding what Duo meant. 'I'm
glad, too.' Duo continued to heal Heero's wounds, working the tension
from his entire body. At last, Heero was lying on the bed, his body completely
relaxed though tears fell from his eyes. Duo smiled sadly and wiped the tears away. "Hee-kun...
What's wrong? Please don't cry." Heero choked on a sob and embraced Duo tightly, afraid
to let him go. "Duo-kun... I'm sorry. I can't stop." * Duo understood and held him tightly. ‘"Heero.
I want none of your pity."’ Heero nodded but continued to cry. "I just... I'm
so angry. That anyone would do that... Could do that to my angel.
I'm so angry." Duo stroked his hair, holding back his own tears with
his formidable skill. "Hee-kun. If I can leave this in the past,
you should be able as well. Shikashi... Do YOU need to talk?" Closing his eyes, Heero nodded his head. "Hai.
Onegai. You don't have to say anything but I feel like my soul is
encased in ice. Like someone is squeezing my heart in a vice grip.
Does that make any sense?" Duo felt a tear escape its prison and nodded a little.
"Yes." Heero opened his eyes and ran a hand through Duo's bangs.
"Thanks. I just... I need to get these feelings off my chest.
Is that Ok? I know you don't want to talk about this." Duo nodded but didn't meet his lover's eyes. "I'll
let you talk, Hee-kun. Q says that talk is important with stuff like
this. I'm just... I'm too weak to talk about it. I never talked about...what
I did to get the money for the medicines for the other boys. To anyone.
Ever. I just...tried my best to ignore it. Leave it behind me. I want
to do the same for this." He pleaded with his lover with his
eyes. 'Duo-kun... Did ignoring it help?' Feeling his resolve crumble, Duo looked away as the
tears fell from his eyes. "Heero... Onegai... I said I'd listen.
Not talk." Heero rubbed his back. "Gomen." He took a
shaky breath. "I have so much anger for the people in your past.
I feel like they hurt me personally. And in a way they did. They...hurt
someone that I love. And I want revenge. But I can't get it. They're
all dead. I just... I want to kill them. Make them die again. Or go
back in time and take you away before any of that could have happened.
I was there. I wasn't me, but I was there. And I feel...responsible." Duo shook his head. "No, Heero. Please don't blame
yourself for this. It is not your fault. Kudasai, Heero. Onegai."
He pleaded his lover. Rubbing his back, Heero nuzzled his hair. "I know.
I just can't stop feeling like this. Do you understand?" Duo nodded wordlessly. Heero continued. "I just wish that I could change
everything so it didn't happen to the one I love. I wish that I had
never said that and triggered the memories. I wish that I could make
you forget again. I wish that this pain would go away. I wish that
yours would go away, that I could take it away, into me. I would in
a second, you know." Duo nodded. "I know. Hee-kun. Please don't blame
yourself. I realize now that they have been trying to surface for
some time. Please. I'm not going to let this bother me. Please don't
let it make you look at me differently. I'm still me. This happened
before even Solo met me. I know it will be hard. For both of us. But
I'm prepared, come what may." Heero closed his eyes and tears escaped his prussian
blue depths. "Duo-kun... I don't want you to have to be the strong
one. I can do that. Please let me. Let me be here for you. I think
you need that." Duo smiled sadly. "I do need it. And I already
have it. And I'm good at being strong when I have to. You shouldn't
have to have such a burden." He hugged Heero tightly. "I
hate my father, Heero. I always have. But that happened over two-hundred
years ago. I won't let this affect me. Us. I'm not going to let him
or any of the others hurt me any more. Do you understand?" Heero nodded and wiped away his tears only to shed more.
"Hai." Duo rubbed his back and let Heero cry, suppressing his
own tears to the best of his ability. "You can cry, Hee-kun.
Just don't cry for me." Heero sobbed harder and buried his face in Duo's hair. Duo felt his own tears come forth at the pain held within
those sobs, waves of sorrow, hatred, and hurt flowing from his lover
to assault him. 'I wish I had reacted better. He never would have
known. He wouldn't be like this. Kuso. This is my fault.' Holding him, Duo listened to his lover's ragged sobs
for long moments before they died down to shaky breaths. He wiped
away his own tears, rubbing Heero's back with his other hand. "Are
you Ok, now?" Heero shook his head. "Not even close. But it's
alright. I have you with me. Everything is always alright when you're
with me." Duo smiled sadly and moved back to gaze into his lover's
deep blue eyes. "I feel the same." Through his tears, Heero smiled up at him, running his
fingers through Duo's bangs to expose his eyes better for him to see.
Looking deeply into his eyes, he spoke. "Watashi no Shugotenshi." Duo smiled and kissed him lightly, barely brushing his
lips against Heero's before he nuzzled his hair. "Sleep, Koi.
You need to rest. You're drained in body and mind. I will be here
when you wake." Heero nodded and closed his eyes, snuggling closer to
Duo's chest and hugging him tightly. Duo waited until Heero was fast asleep before carefully
removing his arms from himself and making his way out of the room.
He looked back to Heero from the doorway. 'I'll be back, Heero.' He
closed the door silently and leaned against it, shaking lightly. 'I
need to hunt. But I can't. I'm too drained to be safely aware of my
surroundings. It would be dangerous. I guess I have to settle for
fridge blood tonight.' His eyes wandered to the bathroom door. He
stared at it for a moment before consenting and walking in to take
a long, hot shower. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Back to
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