Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ halloween mishaps ❯ of teddy bears and sleep ( Chapter 6 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: a friggin dragon 
'Fei fei gets some sleep...
Anime/Manga: Gundam Wing Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Comedy | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 07.10.2007 | Pages: 2 | Words: 6.8K | Visits: 174 | Status: Work In Progress
'Fei fei gets some sleep...
Anime/Manga: Gundam Wing Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Comedy | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 07.10.2007 | Pages: 2 | Words: 6.8K | Visits: 174 | Status: Work In Progress
Duo’s Pov
I don’t know how long I’ve been staring at my reflection in the mirror. With no one around I drop my smile like a lead balloon. My eyes look tired and my face slack. I almost lost a dear, dear friend. My eyes well with unbidden tears from a day of suppressing them for ‘Fei and the others. I take it upon myself to lighten the mood, to make them smile and momentarily forget their worries. After a lifetimes worth of tears and misery, I never want others to experience it if I can help it now.
Hastily I wipe my eyes and splash water on my face to hide the traces of my worry worn face. A knock at the door jars me from my thinking. “Duo? Can I come in?” Heero asks through the door. “Yeah sure Hee-chan” I say cheerfully. I congratulate myself on sounding like my usual happy self. I unlock the door to let him in. I turn back to the mirror to open the press and prepare myself for the nightly ritual of brushing my teeth. The shower is switched on and I turn with toothbrush in hand to the lovely sight of Heero undressing.
First his shirt is disposed of, next is the pants to reveal white boxers with little turtles all over them, courtesy of yours truly. Heero removes them slowly revealing my favourite golden globes. Ehehe, must wrote that down somewhere. Anyways, back to that gorgeous ass. Lower… lower, why is he going so slow. Oh yeah, he’s discovered he has an audience so he’s gonna milk it for all he’s worth. Come to think of it I’d like to milk him for all he’s worth. Think I’ll do just that. As he stands up I wrap my arms around him and rest my head on his muscular shoulder.
“Hiya Heero” I try for my huskiest voice in the sound file of my brain. He turns around and takes my hands away from his waist. The look in his eyes is not of lust but of something else I cant put my finger on. Never breaking eye contact he begins to undress me. Not with any sexual undertone, just gentle hands in the task of removing cloths from my body. I hold on to his shoulders as he removes my pants and boxers before standing again. Taking my hand in his, he leads me into the shower with him and wraps his arms around me, one hand on my hip, the other taking my head gently and guiding it to lean on his shoulder.
We stand there like that under the hot spray, I know why is doing this, he’s done it before once. He strokes my scalp soothingly, my chest tightens with the overpowering sensation of the love he has for me, and how well he understands me. This entire day has evolved around my laughing smile, the mask I show the world, for my friends. But even so, Heero and my closest friends, the other pilots understand. They are the only ones who care enough to understand how this insane broken soul works. And I love them all for it. And I, no, we, almost lost a dear friend today. I know it wasn’t due to a mission and they can be as equally if not more dangerous and life threatening then what happened to ‘Fei today. But every time the others go on missions and are injured, my heart leaps into my throat and I hold on to the hope and trust I have in them to get themselves and each other out and back safely. I know there are risks, it would be foolish of me to believe everything will be peachy keen. We are only human, but we have hope and something to live for now.
With all of these thoughts brought to the surface, the first hiccup makes its way passed my throat and out of my mouth. Heero holds me closer, his hand holding my hip moves to stroke my back and I hold onto him for dear life as I sob into his chest. I don’t have to look up to know he is crying, his body shudders as he sobs silently. In here, is the unspoken agreement that nothing said in this shower stall will be repeated, that a breakdown will not be discussed, just excepted as a necessity, a way to let go in the arms of the one you love. The first time it happened was the second month we had moved in here, Heero had come back from a mission with a wound to his chest. And rumours that spread like wild fire had finally reached my ears when I had gotten back from my own mission. The version of the ‘Chinese whispers’ I got was that Heero had been killed, his chest ripped out. Needless to say Une was a force not to be reckoned with when I had to be resuscitated in the middle of the cafeteria. Heads went flying as she interrogated every one who had spread the rumour until she cornered the originator, a pilot of the rescue copter who had flown them out. Heero had taken me here after I hadn’t done anything more then latch on to him and barely speak to anyone for three days.
My sobbing had reduced itself to a hiccup ever now and again. I don’t know if there are tears as the water continues to trail over us. It feels nice. I feel tired; my energy seems to have deserted me. I look up to meet the reddened puffy eyes of my love. He smiles slightly. “Ok?” he asks softly. I bury my head on the crook where arm meets shoulder and nod my head. I look back up him with a smile of my own. “Lemmie wash your hair?” I inquire. “Sure” he nods and picks up my orange and vanilla scented shampoo and hands it to me.
I wash him gently and thoroughly, a sort of relaxing and therapeutic action I guess. He returns the favour. I love electric showers; you can stand under the water all day and never have it go cold.
We step out of the shower, very much refreshed and calmed. Heero takes the biggest fluffy white towel and wraps me around in it so tightly I can’t move my arms and have no room to really move my legs enough to walk properly. I can’t help but giggle as I am thrown over his shoulder and brought out to our room. He places me in the middle of the bed before disappearing into the bathroom with the soft command of “don’t move” before he leaves. I’m too comfy to move any way.
He returns moments later with a towel, drying himself off. But he doesn’t dress, the towel is thrown toward the hamper, ‘towel in one’ I note in a fuzzy haze. He gathers me up in his arms and kisses me soundly as he removes the towel from my body. He rises, making me have to stand on my own two feet. With the towel gone I am naked as he walks over to the wardrobe. I do nothing but watch, contenting to mindlessly watch the actions playing out before me. He removes my black bath robe from the hanger and walks back over, spreading it out at the shoulders to case me in it. I slip my arms into it and he wraps the soft robe and himself around me.
With a kiss to my cheek he sits me on the bed and proceeds to brush out my hair patiently. I sigh happily and close my eyes to lose myself to the sensation. Half an hour of brushing, Heero takes out the hair drier. It doesn’t take long to dry it since it’s had a half hour to dry a little. Ten minutes later, my hair is dry and Heero runs his fingers through the now clean tresses of hair. After braiding the mass of hair he wraps his arms around me from behind and bringing us to lye down. I wrap my arms in his and snuggle deeper. “Thanks ‘Ro.” A kiss to my neck. “Welcome. Feel better?” He replies. I turn in his embrace with a smile upon my face, a real felt one.
I caress his lips with my own. “Yeah, you?” “Much”. We lay there for a while, peacefully dozing in each others arms, when a sound catches our attention. We both freeze, our breathing quietens as we listen. Wufei’s voice is muffled through the doors. He sounds panicked. I leap from the bed, Heero scrambles for something to wear thou I don’t know what as I fling the door open of our room and then his.
Wufei twist and turns, trapped tightly in twisted blankets. He whimpers in pain trying to free himself. I crouch down beside him, placing hand s on his shoulders to still him. “Wufei, come on buddy wake up.” I say calmly. “N-no, please, let me go, they’ll go away again if you don’t let me go.” He murmurs desperately. “Sh, its okay ‘Fei, no ones going any where now, come on buddy.” I try hoping he’ll relax. It’s only been an hour since we left him. “No, please, they’ll leave; I don’t wanna be alone any more. I don’t want them to go! Everyone leaves, everyone goes away, but it’s my fault, I can’t help them, I cant help ‘ny one.” Wufei’s voice becomes thick with sleepy emotion. Oh ‘Fei, please wake up. “I’m not goin anywhere, neither are the others, we’re here for you.” I try to reason to the still sleeping form, a least he’s stopped struggling.
Carefully, I try to remove the trapped blankets from his sleeping form. I push him up by the left shoulder and pull the blanket from underneath. I unwrap its painfully tight hold from around his broken arm. He whimpers at this and latches his left arm around my neck and pulls me down. “Shit!” I just about refrain from yelping. Heero is watching all of this from the door way and laughs. Jesus Wufei is strong. “This isn’t funny Heero, gimmie a hand will ya, he’s gonna break my neck!” I growl. “But you look so cute like that” Heero coo’s. I roll my eyes but I here him walk over to help. Heero sits on the bed and stroked Wufei’s head. “Wufei? Come on, let go now. We’re here, and were not going any where alright?” Ack, Wufei’s grip tightens and he buries his head into the space between my shoulder and the pillow. “Don’t leave, Meiren I’m sorry, I couldn’t save her, couldn’t save my clan, my colony, so many … I failed them.” He cried brokenly. I stilled, Heero too. This is the first time I’ve heard him cry, and I don’t like it, I want to wipe the tears away and wrap him up and never let him go. “Heero?” I ask lightly.
Heero looks from me to Wufei. “He should stay with us” he says softly. I smile sadly. “Yeah, now the hard part of convincing him. But we have all week.” I reply trying to sound mischievous. Then it occurs to me “Who’s Meiren” I wonder to myself. “My wife, my… Nataku” Wufei’s voice is so low we have to strain to hear it but oh my god, Wufei is married! Heero’s wide eyes meet my own. “Where is she?” Heero asks as he lays don behind Wufei stroking his head again. “Gone, died in my arms, in my field of flowers, fought when I refused to fight, fought because I was too weak, died because of my failure.” He mumbles. Tears run freely down my face. I shake my head. “We shouldn’t be doing this; he-he’s still asleep and unaware of this.” Gods how stupid am I. I didn’t intent to pry. If he wants us to know the rest he’ll tell us. Heero sighs. “Your right… but, we should tell him what we know.” Heero replies. I nod.
Wufei’s arm has gone slack, but as soon as I try to move it tenses, once again trapping me. “Time to wake up sleeping dragon I think.” I say smiling. “Wufei? Come on Wufei, wakey wakey.” I say shaking his shoulder lightly. “Mmmuh, don’t wanna.” Wufei sighs with a soft snore. Hmm, he doesn’t normally sleep this hard, usually the bursting through the door gets him up and I find myself looking down the pointy end of a katana, actually happened a couple of times.
His arm starts to tighten again and I brace myself for the crushing hold but it stills. “Mmmuh?” Wufei mumbles in sleepy confusion. Then he backs up quickly, effectively smacking Heero in the chin with the back of his head with a painful click of teeth. Wufei Froze but the mattress gave under the weight of both of them at the edge and they tumbled into a heap on the floor. The pain filled yelp Wufei gave had me shot over the other side and helping him to disentangle himself from Heero and sat comfortably on the floor for the moment. “’m sorry…so sorry, sorry” Wufei mumbled over and over, his tired eyes fixed to the floor. I took in the sight of them, Wufei was frazzled looking from sleep and Heero was trying to keep tears at bay from the knock on the chin…. Oh shit, Wufei hit his head against ‘Ro.
“Come on ‘Fei, up ya get.” I encourage him to stand up on shacking legs and sit back on the bed. Heero slowly rose from the floor and moved to kneel beside me as I took Wufei’s chin in my hand and turned him so I could look at eyes a little better. “Wufei? Focus on me buddy, come on.” Wufei did so, his pupils expanding and shrinking as his vision cleared. He shook his head, becoming more aware. “Whut happened?” He asked, still not all awares from sleep and probably the bump to his head. You were having a nightmare and we tried to wake you, took a little longer from the concussion.” I explained as gently as I could with a smile. A blush graced his cheeks at this in embarrassment. Hehe, our dragon is so cute. Now m blushing… where did that come from. Anyways, back to ‘Fei. Ahem.
Looking into his eyes I deem him as fine as he can be in his current beet root faced state. I look to Heero for his analysis. He shifts over and I move to let him sit in front of ‘Fei.
He holds up a finger and moves it. Wufei’s dark eyes follow silently. Poor guy. Heero frowns and turns to me. “He looks okey but I think he should sleep with us. The beds big enough that we wont overheat, makes more sense then taking turns standing guard when we need to wake him or if he has another nightmare.” Heero states lowly to me. Now Wufei sputters at this. “I do not need a babysitter! I’m perfectly fine here, I consent to te two hourly wake up since its necessary but that it all no if you two will excuse me I will go back to sleep.” Wufei growls. He stands up quickly but pays the price for it as dizziness overcomes him and begins his descent to the floor. Of course Heero was ready for such an outcome and catches him easily.
“I don’t think so Chang. Either we all sleep in here where the bed is smaller or in our room where there is plenty of space.” Heero states calmly as he proceeds to adjust Wufei until he is carrying him bridal style. I didn’t think it was possible for ‘Fei’s face to become redder. “Face it ‘Fei, when Heero’s got his mind set on something there’s no avoidin it… why do you think I’m still here!” I can’t help but tease Hee-chan. He knows it too of course and grins at me.
“I’m sorry I hurt you Yuy but please, I’ll be fine on my own.” Wufei sounds desperate now. “It’s only for tonight ‘Fei, please? We’ll feel a lot better knowing your safe and close by. I know your only a room over form ours but just tonight?” I ask softly as I suddenly got worried again. He looked into my eyes; he must have seen something as he looks away with a slight frown to his features, glaring softly into Heero’s chest before blushing again. ‘Alright’ he whispers.
“Good good” I cheer happily and follow him and Hee-chan out to our room. Heero deposits him in the middle of the bed and climbs in on the right hand side while I take up the left. Heero drapes the covers over us. I give a loud yawn. “Night Hee-chan, night ‘Fei, oh, and wake us if you need anything.” I say snuggling into my pillow. “’K, g’night” Wufei whispers as his eyes drift closed. I cast a worried look as Heero who is watching. He looks to me with a smile to his face, mouthing ‘he’ll be okey, I’ll take first watch. Love you’. I smile and mouth my own reply ‘okie doke, love you too, wake me if he or you need me k?’ he nods and let my eyes close.
------------------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------
Heero’s Pov.
Eventually, Duo’s breathing evened out until he was peacefully asleep with Wufei. They look so much younger when asleep. Duo looks a lot more carefree and peaceful, his smile retired for another day. I wonder how long it will take until he wraps himself around Wufei; he tends to move closer to the nearest heat source. Quatre found it adorable when we went camping, I had gone to the woods to relieve myself only to come back and find Duo pretty much trying to climb into Quatre’s skin. Quatre was smiling and stroking his hair as he slept. When he looked at me there was a silly grin on his face. “He is so cute!” he squealed in a whisper… which apparently is possible!
I have to agree with him, he is indeed cute. Even when he’s pulling pranks and running through the halls of Preventers running away from his latest victim and cackling all the way, he is cute.
Wufei moves to lie on his side facing Duo. His body curls and his shoulders shift to bury deeper into the duvet. I smile. Looks like they are both attracted to heat. I decide to read while I am on ‘stake out’ so I turn on the bedside lamp and fish my book out from the top drawer. After about 10 pages or so, Wufei’s movement catches my attention. He is murmuring and moving closer to Duo. Duo responds by wrapping his arms around Wufei, and Wufei responds by burying his head into Duo’s shoulder with a contented sigh. Well that didn’t take long. I expected to feel jealousy, but, it feels right. And Wufei needs comforting right now. I feel contented now, knowing that my lover and our very dear friend are sleeping peacefully beside me; I can protect them better this way. ‘God help those who stand in the way of there happiness’. I scowl… and then blush at the thought.
It feels strange. I feel somehow closer to Wufei, a difference between the friendship I have for Trowa and Quatre to him. He is such a strong person, so much pride. Although he came from a large family he was pretty much alone and sheltered in his world of formality and tradition. The pain he still suffers from his loved ones being ripped from him is why he still searches to right the wrongs and injustices from the world. Even though it sometimes leads him on different paths, he is still, and always will be the force of justice in my eyes. He has such ferocity, all of us do and it differs according to its owner’s personality. He hasn’t grown much since we had first met. Even though we stopped taking the growth restrictive medication, he has only gained about an inch and a half. Duo’s malnourished childhood has caused him to miss the growth spurts but they could still happen but he stands at 5’6 now, the same height as me. Trowa is the tallest, standing at 6 ft and Quatre at 5’5, despite his upbringing, it’s early days yet.
I look at Duo; I saw that blush earlier when he was examining Wufei. Maybe he is feeling the same way? I should talk to him about it. But I don’t want to risk losing him. He is everything to me. He is my best friend, partner and someone who understands me and accepts me for who I am. I smile as I think of him; he is such a generous and loving individual. How can so much life and love come from a person who calls himself Death? But I understand why he did. If only we had met early on, maybe I could have done something. But what’s done is done. I am just thankful he came into my life that day… even thou he shot me twice! I chuckle at that. So much has changed, and I am eternally glad of it. I have the urge to cook him his favourite breakfast of pancakes full of syrup, sausage and rashers on the side with eggs ‘sunny side up’.
Wufei seems restless as his legs shift constantly and his torso wiggles every now and then. His arms rap themselves around Duo, bringing them closer together with Wufei lying half on top of Duo.
I can’t help but think that if anything did happen to me, if I were killed on a mission, that Wufei would be able to be there for him, not take my place or be a substitute, but I could see their friendship blossoming into something deeper if let. I sigh and rub a frustrated hand through my hair and down my face, trying to gather my thoughts. I can’t deny my own attraction for the smaller pilot, but, could it develop into something more? If anything else, I must tell Duo, we make a point of being open and honest with each other. I just hope that this isn’t too much on our relationship but it will eat at me if I don’t talk with him. I just pray Duo will forgive me for these thoughts.
“Penny for yer thoughts?” Duo’s husky voice from sleep asks startling me. I look at him for a moment, trying to decide if I should say something now or wait till morning. He looks down at the mass of black hair that is Wufei’s head with a smile and carefully raises his head on the pillow, a sort of half sitting, half lying down position so as not to disturb Wufei. He looks to me again patiently, knowing he will get his answer. Oh well, now or never. “How do you feel about Wufei?” I ask gently. Duo looks at me a little puzzled. “Well, he’s one o’ my best friends, honest, someone I can ‘play with’” he smiles at the last bit. “I would do anything for him, I want to protect him.” Duo says lowly as he reaches the end of his sentence. “Yes, but how do you feel about him… do you… love him?” I ask my face carefully blank. This gets a light squeak from him, but he contemplates this as he looks down at him, stroking his sleep hair.
“I… I love him, as a friend but… maybe…” “it could be more” I finish for him. He looks up at me with a worried expression on his face but nods slowly and swallows. As I speak to him I keep my eyes on Wufei, it wouldn’t do to have him wake up in the middle of our ‘chat’. “I feel the same way.” I tell him honestly and take his hand in mine, smiling. He smiles in return and squeezes my hand. “I love you Heero.” He says, his voice thick with the urge to cry, I know how he feels. I bend down and kiss him gently on the lips. “Love you to Duo, forever and always.” I reply. A look crosses his face, not a happy one. “You’re talking like your expecting to die soon.” He whispers, his grip on my hand tightens.
“No, you can’t get rid of me that easily.” I smile, but it doesn’t put him at ease so I open my mouth to continue when Wufei stirs again, climbing fully atop of Duo and wrapping his arms tighter around him, his head buried in the crook of Duo’s neck. Duo chuckles at this. “If he woke up now he’d die of embarrassment. Reckon he was a koala bear in a past life?” Duo asks with a smile on his face and in his voice. “Possibly” I answer smiling. Duo goes quiet, his face looking solemn. “What’s wrong love?” I ask tentively.
“It’s just, what if this happened in some remote area, where no one knew where he was, or he’d gone down a cliff and no one could see him. I can’t help but… I can’t help but imagine being called to identify his body and… I couldn’t do it, couldn’t stand it if he died. If you did, or the others, I love you guys so much. I love you so much it hurts to think Heero.” Duo’s voice trembled all the way while fat tears gathered and trailed down his reddened cheeks as he stared wide eyed at the covers in front of him. “Oh Duo.”
I move to lay beside him and turn his head to kiss him long and sweet. I pull away and press my forehead to his. “Look at me love. We are not going anywhere if we can help it. We are Gundam, well ex-Gundam pilots. We’re tougher then most and park ourselves where there’s trouble and cause trouble for the idiots who want to start another war. Its we do and there’s always the threat of death. But we’re like cock roaches!” Now Duo is looking at me like I’ve grown two heads as I smile at him. “Not even nuclear weapons could rid the Earth or the Colonies of us!” Duo chuckles, even through his tears. “Got that right Hee-man. But cockroaches?” He smiled and shook his head at me. “Very attractive and sexy cockroaches” I proclaim. He snorts in an attempt to hold of laughing louder and chuckles instead.
“Your right, I’m being silly.” Duo sighs, a small smile on his face. “Not at all. I was thinking the same thing. I don’t know what I’d do if you…were gone.” I cant even bring myself to say the ‘D’ word n the same sentence as him. Duo kisses me, a full out desperate battle of the tongues, although his head is in an odd angle, not wanting to awake Wufei. I manoeuvre myself so that I’m leaning over Wufei without touching him so Duo can lay against the pillow comfortably as I devour his mouth. I bring my hand to his face, wiping away tears and smoothing over his face while we continue. We break away for much needed oxygen but stare into each others eyes while I continue to stroke his beautiful cherubic face. He sighs happily as he stares into my eyes and brings his own hand to my stroke my face before pulling my head down to his for another kiss which I gratefully accept.
“Should we wake up the sleeping dragon now?” he asks breathlessly. I glance to the clock behind me on my bedside locker. It’s been about to hours already. I nod and move to sit beside my lover.
Wufei’s POV
Mmmmm, so warm.
Something is shaking me. Go away… trying to sleep here!
The shaking continues, a little harder this time. “Fuck off” I mumble into my pillow. My pillow shudders as it chuckles. I bury my head deeper into it to shut it up and stay still. Someone or something is talking. But I don’t care; I don’t want to hear it. I was having a nice dream to. I had my arms wrapped around a certain braided pilot and reaching toward Heero.
The shaking starts again. Damnit what the hell. I lift my head and crack my eyes open. “Quit shakin me already ‘m trin ta sleep!” I yell. My vision clears to reveal an amused looking Heero. Huh? Why is he in my bed? My face blanches and wakefulness has never come so suddenly. I am lying in Heero’s bed. But where is Duo. I flinch when I feel a hand stroke my head and turn sharply to see Duo smiling at me. Oh my face is surely on fire.
I can’t move. My arms and legs won’t work…. Damnit. “Hey ‘Fei, how ya feelin? Sorry we’ve had to wake you; you looked like you were really enjoying it!” Damn that gorgeous smile. I can’t move my arms because they are underneath Duo… oh my god IM LYING ON DUO MAXWELL!
“Wufei?” Oh god, Heero’s going to kill me now. I turn wide eyes to him. He takes my face gently in his hands and his faces gets closer. I swallow… what’s he going to do!
Probably hit me for being an idiot. “Open your eyes Wufei.” He commands gently, when did I close them? I obey to see him staring into my eyes, studying almost. “How do you feel?” He asks. “I … uh, fine… just sleepy, and my arms are d-dead.” I congratulate myself on not sounding panicked. “Ah, sorry bout that ‘Fei, you looked so comfy I didn’t wanna move you.” Duo says as he lifts his torso to let my arms slip out from under him.
“S-sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude, honestly.” I apologise. Oh please forgive me! “There’s nothing to be sorry for Wufei, We’re honoured that you feel safe enough to sleep so close to us and trust us like that.” Heero stated with a small bow. “Besides, now I claim to have two teddy bears to cuddle” Duo added cheerfully. I smirk. “Aren’t you a little old to be playing with teddies Duo?” I tease. “Ha! Never, you’re never too old to have a teddy.” Duo stated. For some reason I felt the urge to share my own ‘teddy bear’ experience.
“I used to have one too.” I say gently with a smile. I move to get off Duo to the middle of the bed but Yuy stops me with a hand to my back, holding me down while he shifts closer to us and settles. I scowl at him and he smiles at me, daring me to do something about it. I blush but settle back down. “Tell me about him ‘Fei?” Duo asks softly. Well, who am I to deny him a request. I sigh as I remember it. “My grandmother gave it me on my 6th birthday. It was a black fuzzy bear sewn with golden thread, blue eyes and a small red bow. It was so soft. It was the only toy I had in my possession; I had to hide it though as my grandmother said the other elders would not allow it.
“What? But it’s only a teddy bear, what’s it gonna do, come to life and wreak havoc on mankind?” Duo asked incredulously. I chuckled at that. “I wasn’t just a child, I was the heir to the Dragon Clan, I was expected to act accordingly and give up any childish behaviour. But my Grandmother always had a soft spot for me. Whenever she taught me my lessons I had my teddy close by. I guess it was the only friend I had.” I chuckled, trying to hide the sadness I felt. I refused to look at them though; sure they would have sensed my hidden sadness. Someone’s hand started stroking my back.
“What happened to it?” Duo asked cautiously. “My father found it, he was furious and ordered a cleansing.” I replied. “Cleansing? What did they do Wufei?” Heero’s voice was masking something I couldn’t quite place. I couldn’t see their faces as I was lying down, I could only see Heero’s ribs and stomach in front of me. I sighed. They cause me to let my guard down whenever I’m around them. I shouldn’t have mentioned the cleansing. Now I’m the Baka.
“Wufei? What’s a cleansing” Duo asks, it’s not lost on me that he’s used my full name. “Nothin, we should get some sleep.” I say softly. I think it has worked as neither says anything more for a while. They must have come to some kind of agreement as I suddenly find myself sitting in Duo’s lap who has a firm hold of me with Heero on the other side of me. I blink my sleepy eyes looking from one to the other. “Wufei… what’s a cleansing?” Heero asks an order in his voice. I swallow and look to Duo for help. His expression is set, serious and unmoveable. Shit.
I sigh and open my mouth. “A cleansing is a cleansing of the mind, the soul and body.” Well so far so good. “Firstly you are scrubbed clean until it is satisfied that all the dead skin is removed…” “You mean scrubbed raw Wufei… don’t sugar coat this Wufei, whatever you do.” I nodded to Duo with a grim expression. “Next you put in a white cotton wrap to wrap around yourself in the fashion of underwear. 10 lashes are delivered to remind you of what you did wrong, then you…” “WHAT! Lashes? Just how fuckin old were you?” Duo growled. I answered in a small voice. It was my own fault I had gotten caught, but he didn’t understand. “Seven” I replied. Heero clamped a hand over Duo as he was about to yell again. “Let him finish love” Heero said gently. I felt a wave at longing when he said that but beat it down quickly. Duo nodded and Heero removed his hand. Heero nodded at me to continue. I don’t know if I should have been thankful or not.
“After the lashes, you clean out the old shrine. After this is accomplished, three days of meditation is required to finish the cleansing.” I look to them as I finish the description. “There’s something else isn’t there, something you neglected to tell us.” Heero states. I look at him blankly, what is he talking about? He sighs. “How long does the entire process take and were you fed?” Heero asks calmly. Ah… yes, I might have forgotten that part. “The cleansing takes eight days and for the cleansing of the body to be successful, only water may be consumed but not with meditating. Also the washing occurred everyday until it is time for the meditation.” I inform him as if it were the most natural thing in the world, well, in my clan it was.
Duo’s breathing draws my attention to him. His face looks distraught, his eyes wide and his breathing is laboured and panicked. “Wufei move!” Heero says gently even as he assists me to the sit on the bed. He picks Duo up and sits him at the edge of the bed with his head between his knees. “Breath Duo, breath. Come on, that’s it, listen to my voice. Every thing is ok now.” Heero soothes as he rubs Duo’s back. “Wufei find me a paper bag quick!” No sooner is the order out of his mouth am I off the bed and in my room. I take the paper bag from the magazines Quatre thought to buy me and plant it in his awaiting hand.
Heero sits Duo up and places the bag in his hands who proceeds to bring it to his mouth and take deep breaths into it. His breathing becomes less desperate and his shoulders relax a little. “Duo?” I dare to put a hand on his back in a comforting gesture. “Duo, are, are you alright?” I ask worriedly. Duo removes the bag and takes a deep breath before slowly letting it out. He smiles up at me with tears in his eyes from his ordeal. “I’m fine ‘Fei. But let me tell you this. If I ever meet any of your elders in the afterlife there will be no mercy.” He states this in a dangerous voice that makes me shiver.
Duo stands to move in front of me. I look at him, awaiting some kind of request. He grabs me in a fierce hug; slowly I place my arms loosely around his shoulders and pat his back twice. “’Fei, kids are meant to act like kids. I don’t care if you were meant to rule the world even. What they did was wrong. It was unjust! I know people have different beliefs but what they did… because you had a fucking teddy bear… is just barbaric, for anyone to go through.”
I felt Heero hug us from behind. “He is right you know.” Heero says softly. I keep my face blank, not wanting to believe them, but for years, even when I was a child, I wanted to tell my elders they were wrong. I wanted to go and play with the other children but they were ordered to do no such thing. I remember the days I spent in my room crying under the pretence of studying’ and was not to be disturbed. A shudder escaped without my consent… and that was all it took for the damn to break. Shamefully, I couldn’t stop the tears, making me cry harder at my shame. I had no right to even be considered as the heir. I must have spoken this aloud as Duo’s voice cut through my thoughts.
“Shhhh ‘Fei, there’s nothing to be ashamed of.” Duo tried to sooth. “Showing emotion is not a weakness, it is strength” Heero added. I just help on tighter, never wanting to let go.
To be continued
Just want to say thank you everyone for you reviews. This was meant to be a sort of short 1 or 2 chapter short story but I find myself enjoying this story to cut it short. There will be happiness; I just think there are some things that need to be sorted out. Just beware that I have no plan as to where this goes, only that Halloween does feature in this XP a sort of ‘finale’ maybe? I don’t know.
Hope your enjoying the trip so far.
I don’t know how long I’ve been staring at my reflection in the mirror. With no one around I drop my smile like a lead balloon. My eyes look tired and my face slack. I almost lost a dear, dear friend. My eyes well with unbidden tears from a day of suppressing them for ‘Fei and the others. I take it upon myself to lighten the mood, to make them smile and momentarily forget their worries. After a lifetimes worth of tears and misery, I never want others to experience it if I can help it now.
Hastily I wipe my eyes and splash water on my face to hide the traces of my worry worn face. A knock at the door jars me from my thinking. “Duo? Can I come in?” Heero asks through the door. “Yeah sure Hee-chan” I say cheerfully. I congratulate myself on sounding like my usual happy self. I unlock the door to let him in. I turn back to the mirror to open the press and prepare myself for the nightly ritual of brushing my teeth. The shower is switched on and I turn with toothbrush in hand to the lovely sight of Heero undressing.
First his shirt is disposed of, next is the pants to reveal white boxers with little turtles all over them, courtesy of yours truly. Heero removes them slowly revealing my favourite golden globes. Ehehe, must wrote that down somewhere. Anyways, back to that gorgeous ass. Lower… lower, why is he going so slow. Oh yeah, he’s discovered he has an audience so he’s gonna milk it for all he’s worth. Come to think of it I’d like to milk him for all he’s worth. Think I’ll do just that. As he stands up I wrap my arms around him and rest my head on his muscular shoulder.
“Hiya Heero” I try for my huskiest voice in the sound file of my brain. He turns around and takes my hands away from his waist. The look in his eyes is not of lust but of something else I cant put my finger on. Never breaking eye contact he begins to undress me. Not with any sexual undertone, just gentle hands in the task of removing cloths from my body. I hold on to his shoulders as he removes my pants and boxers before standing again. Taking my hand in his, he leads me into the shower with him and wraps his arms around me, one hand on my hip, the other taking my head gently and guiding it to lean on his shoulder.
We stand there like that under the hot spray, I know why is doing this, he’s done it before once. He strokes my scalp soothingly, my chest tightens with the overpowering sensation of the love he has for me, and how well he understands me. This entire day has evolved around my laughing smile, the mask I show the world, for my friends. But even so, Heero and my closest friends, the other pilots understand. They are the only ones who care enough to understand how this insane broken soul works. And I love them all for it. And I, no, we, almost lost a dear friend today. I know it wasn’t due to a mission and they can be as equally if not more dangerous and life threatening then what happened to ‘Fei today. But every time the others go on missions and are injured, my heart leaps into my throat and I hold on to the hope and trust I have in them to get themselves and each other out and back safely. I know there are risks, it would be foolish of me to believe everything will be peachy keen. We are only human, but we have hope and something to live for now.
With all of these thoughts brought to the surface, the first hiccup makes its way passed my throat and out of my mouth. Heero holds me closer, his hand holding my hip moves to stroke my back and I hold onto him for dear life as I sob into his chest. I don’t have to look up to know he is crying, his body shudders as he sobs silently. In here, is the unspoken agreement that nothing said in this shower stall will be repeated, that a breakdown will not be discussed, just excepted as a necessity, a way to let go in the arms of the one you love. The first time it happened was the second month we had moved in here, Heero had come back from a mission with a wound to his chest. And rumours that spread like wild fire had finally reached my ears when I had gotten back from my own mission. The version of the ‘Chinese whispers’ I got was that Heero had been killed, his chest ripped out. Needless to say Une was a force not to be reckoned with when I had to be resuscitated in the middle of the cafeteria. Heads went flying as she interrogated every one who had spread the rumour until she cornered the originator, a pilot of the rescue copter who had flown them out. Heero had taken me here after I hadn’t done anything more then latch on to him and barely speak to anyone for three days.
My sobbing had reduced itself to a hiccup ever now and again. I don’t know if there are tears as the water continues to trail over us. It feels nice. I feel tired; my energy seems to have deserted me. I look up to meet the reddened puffy eyes of my love. He smiles slightly. “Ok?” he asks softly. I bury my head on the crook where arm meets shoulder and nod my head. I look back up him with a smile of my own. “Lemmie wash your hair?” I inquire. “Sure” he nods and picks up my orange and vanilla scented shampoo and hands it to me.
I wash him gently and thoroughly, a sort of relaxing and therapeutic action I guess. He returns the favour. I love electric showers; you can stand under the water all day and never have it go cold.
We step out of the shower, very much refreshed and calmed. Heero takes the biggest fluffy white towel and wraps me around in it so tightly I can’t move my arms and have no room to really move my legs enough to walk properly. I can’t help but giggle as I am thrown over his shoulder and brought out to our room. He places me in the middle of the bed before disappearing into the bathroom with the soft command of “don’t move” before he leaves. I’m too comfy to move any way.
He returns moments later with a towel, drying himself off. But he doesn’t dress, the towel is thrown toward the hamper, ‘towel in one’ I note in a fuzzy haze. He gathers me up in his arms and kisses me soundly as he removes the towel from my body. He rises, making me have to stand on my own two feet. With the towel gone I am naked as he walks over to the wardrobe. I do nothing but watch, contenting to mindlessly watch the actions playing out before me. He removes my black bath robe from the hanger and walks back over, spreading it out at the shoulders to case me in it. I slip my arms into it and he wraps the soft robe and himself around me.
With a kiss to my cheek he sits me on the bed and proceeds to brush out my hair patiently. I sigh happily and close my eyes to lose myself to the sensation. Half an hour of brushing, Heero takes out the hair drier. It doesn’t take long to dry it since it’s had a half hour to dry a little. Ten minutes later, my hair is dry and Heero runs his fingers through the now clean tresses of hair. After braiding the mass of hair he wraps his arms around me from behind and bringing us to lye down. I wrap my arms in his and snuggle deeper. “Thanks ‘Ro.” A kiss to my neck. “Welcome. Feel better?” He replies. I turn in his embrace with a smile upon my face, a real felt one.
I caress his lips with my own. “Yeah, you?” “Much”. We lay there for a while, peacefully dozing in each others arms, when a sound catches our attention. We both freeze, our breathing quietens as we listen. Wufei’s voice is muffled through the doors. He sounds panicked. I leap from the bed, Heero scrambles for something to wear thou I don’t know what as I fling the door open of our room and then his.
Wufei twist and turns, trapped tightly in twisted blankets. He whimpers in pain trying to free himself. I crouch down beside him, placing hand s on his shoulders to still him. “Wufei, come on buddy wake up.” I say calmly. “N-no, please, let me go, they’ll go away again if you don’t let me go.” He murmurs desperately. “Sh, its okay ‘Fei, no ones going any where now, come on buddy.” I try hoping he’ll relax. It’s only been an hour since we left him. “No, please, they’ll leave; I don’t wanna be alone any more. I don’t want them to go! Everyone leaves, everyone goes away, but it’s my fault, I can’t help them, I cant help ‘ny one.” Wufei’s voice becomes thick with sleepy emotion. Oh ‘Fei, please wake up. “I’m not goin anywhere, neither are the others, we’re here for you.” I try to reason to the still sleeping form, a least he’s stopped struggling.
Carefully, I try to remove the trapped blankets from his sleeping form. I push him up by the left shoulder and pull the blanket from underneath. I unwrap its painfully tight hold from around his broken arm. He whimpers at this and latches his left arm around my neck and pulls me down. “Shit!” I just about refrain from yelping. Heero is watching all of this from the door way and laughs. Jesus Wufei is strong. “This isn’t funny Heero, gimmie a hand will ya, he’s gonna break my neck!” I growl. “But you look so cute like that” Heero coo’s. I roll my eyes but I here him walk over to help. Heero sits on the bed and stroked Wufei’s head. “Wufei? Come on, let go now. We’re here, and were not going any where alright?” Ack, Wufei’s grip tightens and he buries his head into the space between my shoulder and the pillow. “Don’t leave, Meiren I’m sorry, I couldn’t save her, couldn’t save my clan, my colony, so many … I failed them.” He cried brokenly. I stilled, Heero too. This is the first time I’ve heard him cry, and I don’t like it, I want to wipe the tears away and wrap him up and never let him go. “Heero?” I ask lightly.
Heero looks from me to Wufei. “He should stay with us” he says softly. I smile sadly. “Yeah, now the hard part of convincing him. But we have all week.” I reply trying to sound mischievous. Then it occurs to me “Who’s Meiren” I wonder to myself. “My wife, my… Nataku” Wufei’s voice is so low we have to strain to hear it but oh my god, Wufei is married! Heero’s wide eyes meet my own. “Where is she?” Heero asks as he lays don behind Wufei stroking his head again. “Gone, died in my arms, in my field of flowers, fought when I refused to fight, fought because I was too weak, died because of my failure.” He mumbles. Tears run freely down my face. I shake my head. “We shouldn’t be doing this; he-he’s still asleep and unaware of this.” Gods how stupid am I. I didn’t intent to pry. If he wants us to know the rest he’ll tell us. Heero sighs. “Your right… but, we should tell him what we know.” Heero replies. I nod.
Wufei’s arm has gone slack, but as soon as I try to move it tenses, once again trapping me. “Time to wake up sleeping dragon I think.” I say smiling. “Wufei? Come on Wufei, wakey wakey.” I say shaking his shoulder lightly. “Mmmuh, don’t wanna.” Wufei sighs with a soft snore. Hmm, he doesn’t normally sleep this hard, usually the bursting through the door gets him up and I find myself looking down the pointy end of a katana, actually happened a couple of times.
His arm starts to tighten again and I brace myself for the crushing hold but it stills. “Mmmuh?” Wufei mumbles in sleepy confusion. Then he backs up quickly, effectively smacking Heero in the chin with the back of his head with a painful click of teeth. Wufei Froze but the mattress gave under the weight of both of them at the edge and they tumbled into a heap on the floor. The pain filled yelp Wufei gave had me shot over the other side and helping him to disentangle himself from Heero and sat comfortably on the floor for the moment. “’m sorry…so sorry, sorry” Wufei mumbled over and over, his tired eyes fixed to the floor. I took in the sight of them, Wufei was frazzled looking from sleep and Heero was trying to keep tears at bay from the knock on the chin…. Oh shit, Wufei hit his head against ‘Ro.
“Come on ‘Fei, up ya get.” I encourage him to stand up on shacking legs and sit back on the bed. Heero slowly rose from the floor and moved to kneel beside me as I took Wufei’s chin in my hand and turned him so I could look at eyes a little better. “Wufei? Focus on me buddy, come on.” Wufei did so, his pupils expanding and shrinking as his vision cleared. He shook his head, becoming more aware. “Whut happened?” He asked, still not all awares from sleep and probably the bump to his head. You were having a nightmare and we tried to wake you, took a little longer from the concussion.” I explained as gently as I could with a smile. A blush graced his cheeks at this in embarrassment. Hehe, our dragon is so cute. Now m blushing… where did that come from. Anyways, back to ‘Fei. Ahem.
Looking into his eyes I deem him as fine as he can be in his current beet root faced state. I look to Heero for his analysis. He shifts over and I move to let him sit in front of ‘Fei.
He holds up a finger and moves it. Wufei’s dark eyes follow silently. Poor guy. Heero frowns and turns to me. “He looks okey but I think he should sleep with us. The beds big enough that we wont overheat, makes more sense then taking turns standing guard when we need to wake him or if he has another nightmare.” Heero states lowly to me. Now Wufei sputters at this. “I do not need a babysitter! I’m perfectly fine here, I consent to te two hourly wake up since its necessary but that it all no if you two will excuse me I will go back to sleep.” Wufei growls. He stands up quickly but pays the price for it as dizziness overcomes him and begins his descent to the floor. Of course Heero was ready for such an outcome and catches him easily.
“I don’t think so Chang. Either we all sleep in here where the bed is smaller or in our room where there is plenty of space.” Heero states calmly as he proceeds to adjust Wufei until he is carrying him bridal style. I didn’t think it was possible for ‘Fei’s face to become redder. “Face it ‘Fei, when Heero’s got his mind set on something there’s no avoidin it… why do you think I’m still here!” I can’t help but tease Hee-chan. He knows it too of course and grins at me.
“I’m sorry I hurt you Yuy but please, I’ll be fine on my own.” Wufei sounds desperate now. “It’s only for tonight ‘Fei, please? We’ll feel a lot better knowing your safe and close by. I know your only a room over form ours but just tonight?” I ask softly as I suddenly got worried again. He looked into my eyes; he must have seen something as he looks away with a slight frown to his features, glaring softly into Heero’s chest before blushing again. ‘Alright’ he whispers.
“Good good” I cheer happily and follow him and Hee-chan out to our room. Heero deposits him in the middle of the bed and climbs in on the right hand side while I take up the left. Heero drapes the covers over us. I give a loud yawn. “Night Hee-chan, night ‘Fei, oh, and wake us if you need anything.” I say snuggling into my pillow. “’K, g’night” Wufei whispers as his eyes drift closed. I cast a worried look as Heero who is watching. He looks to me with a smile to his face, mouthing ‘he’ll be okey, I’ll take first watch. Love you’. I smile and mouth my own reply ‘okie doke, love you too, wake me if he or you need me k?’ he nods and let my eyes close.
------------------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------
Heero’s Pov.
Eventually, Duo’s breathing evened out until he was peacefully asleep with Wufei. They look so much younger when asleep. Duo looks a lot more carefree and peaceful, his smile retired for another day. I wonder how long it will take until he wraps himself around Wufei; he tends to move closer to the nearest heat source. Quatre found it adorable when we went camping, I had gone to the woods to relieve myself only to come back and find Duo pretty much trying to climb into Quatre’s skin. Quatre was smiling and stroking his hair as he slept. When he looked at me there was a silly grin on his face. “He is so cute!” he squealed in a whisper… which apparently is possible!
I have to agree with him, he is indeed cute. Even when he’s pulling pranks and running through the halls of Preventers running away from his latest victim and cackling all the way, he is cute.
Wufei moves to lie on his side facing Duo. His body curls and his shoulders shift to bury deeper into the duvet. I smile. Looks like they are both attracted to heat. I decide to read while I am on ‘stake out’ so I turn on the bedside lamp and fish my book out from the top drawer. After about 10 pages or so, Wufei’s movement catches my attention. He is murmuring and moving closer to Duo. Duo responds by wrapping his arms around Wufei, and Wufei responds by burying his head into Duo’s shoulder with a contented sigh. Well that didn’t take long. I expected to feel jealousy, but, it feels right. And Wufei needs comforting right now. I feel contented now, knowing that my lover and our very dear friend are sleeping peacefully beside me; I can protect them better this way. ‘God help those who stand in the way of there happiness’. I scowl… and then blush at the thought.
It feels strange. I feel somehow closer to Wufei, a difference between the friendship I have for Trowa and Quatre to him. He is such a strong person, so much pride. Although he came from a large family he was pretty much alone and sheltered in his world of formality and tradition. The pain he still suffers from his loved ones being ripped from him is why he still searches to right the wrongs and injustices from the world. Even though it sometimes leads him on different paths, he is still, and always will be the force of justice in my eyes. He has such ferocity, all of us do and it differs according to its owner’s personality. He hasn’t grown much since we had first met. Even though we stopped taking the growth restrictive medication, he has only gained about an inch and a half. Duo’s malnourished childhood has caused him to miss the growth spurts but they could still happen but he stands at 5’6 now, the same height as me. Trowa is the tallest, standing at 6 ft and Quatre at 5’5, despite his upbringing, it’s early days yet.
I look at Duo; I saw that blush earlier when he was examining Wufei. Maybe he is feeling the same way? I should talk to him about it. But I don’t want to risk losing him. He is everything to me. He is my best friend, partner and someone who understands me and accepts me for who I am. I smile as I think of him; he is such a generous and loving individual. How can so much life and love come from a person who calls himself Death? But I understand why he did. If only we had met early on, maybe I could have done something. But what’s done is done. I am just thankful he came into my life that day… even thou he shot me twice! I chuckle at that. So much has changed, and I am eternally glad of it. I have the urge to cook him his favourite breakfast of pancakes full of syrup, sausage and rashers on the side with eggs ‘sunny side up’.
Wufei seems restless as his legs shift constantly and his torso wiggles every now and then. His arms rap themselves around Duo, bringing them closer together with Wufei lying half on top of Duo.
I can’t help but think that if anything did happen to me, if I were killed on a mission, that Wufei would be able to be there for him, not take my place or be a substitute, but I could see their friendship blossoming into something deeper if let. I sigh and rub a frustrated hand through my hair and down my face, trying to gather my thoughts. I can’t deny my own attraction for the smaller pilot, but, could it develop into something more? If anything else, I must tell Duo, we make a point of being open and honest with each other. I just hope that this isn’t too much on our relationship but it will eat at me if I don’t talk with him. I just pray Duo will forgive me for these thoughts.
“Penny for yer thoughts?” Duo’s husky voice from sleep asks startling me. I look at him for a moment, trying to decide if I should say something now or wait till morning. He looks down at the mass of black hair that is Wufei’s head with a smile and carefully raises his head on the pillow, a sort of half sitting, half lying down position so as not to disturb Wufei. He looks to me again patiently, knowing he will get his answer. Oh well, now or never. “How do you feel about Wufei?” I ask gently. Duo looks at me a little puzzled. “Well, he’s one o’ my best friends, honest, someone I can ‘play with’” he smiles at the last bit. “I would do anything for him, I want to protect him.” Duo says lowly as he reaches the end of his sentence. “Yes, but how do you feel about him… do you… love him?” I ask my face carefully blank. This gets a light squeak from him, but he contemplates this as he looks down at him, stroking his sleep hair.
“I… I love him, as a friend but… maybe…” “it could be more” I finish for him. He looks up at me with a worried expression on his face but nods slowly and swallows. As I speak to him I keep my eyes on Wufei, it wouldn’t do to have him wake up in the middle of our ‘chat’. “I feel the same way.” I tell him honestly and take his hand in mine, smiling. He smiles in return and squeezes my hand. “I love you Heero.” He says, his voice thick with the urge to cry, I know how he feels. I bend down and kiss him gently on the lips. “Love you to Duo, forever and always.” I reply. A look crosses his face, not a happy one. “You’re talking like your expecting to die soon.” He whispers, his grip on my hand tightens.
“No, you can’t get rid of me that easily.” I smile, but it doesn’t put him at ease so I open my mouth to continue when Wufei stirs again, climbing fully atop of Duo and wrapping his arms tighter around him, his head buried in the crook of Duo’s neck. Duo chuckles at this. “If he woke up now he’d die of embarrassment. Reckon he was a koala bear in a past life?” Duo asks with a smile on his face and in his voice. “Possibly” I answer smiling. Duo goes quiet, his face looking solemn. “What’s wrong love?” I ask tentively.
“It’s just, what if this happened in some remote area, where no one knew where he was, or he’d gone down a cliff and no one could see him. I can’t help but… I can’t help but imagine being called to identify his body and… I couldn’t do it, couldn’t stand it if he died. If you did, or the others, I love you guys so much. I love you so much it hurts to think Heero.” Duo’s voice trembled all the way while fat tears gathered and trailed down his reddened cheeks as he stared wide eyed at the covers in front of him. “Oh Duo.”
I move to lay beside him and turn his head to kiss him long and sweet. I pull away and press my forehead to his. “Look at me love. We are not going anywhere if we can help it. We are Gundam, well ex-Gundam pilots. We’re tougher then most and park ourselves where there’s trouble and cause trouble for the idiots who want to start another war. Its we do and there’s always the threat of death. But we’re like cock roaches!” Now Duo is looking at me like I’ve grown two heads as I smile at him. “Not even nuclear weapons could rid the Earth or the Colonies of us!” Duo chuckles, even through his tears. “Got that right Hee-man. But cockroaches?” He smiled and shook his head at me. “Very attractive and sexy cockroaches” I proclaim. He snorts in an attempt to hold of laughing louder and chuckles instead.
“Your right, I’m being silly.” Duo sighs, a small smile on his face. “Not at all. I was thinking the same thing. I don’t know what I’d do if you…were gone.” I cant even bring myself to say the ‘D’ word n the same sentence as him. Duo kisses me, a full out desperate battle of the tongues, although his head is in an odd angle, not wanting to awake Wufei. I manoeuvre myself so that I’m leaning over Wufei without touching him so Duo can lay against the pillow comfortably as I devour his mouth. I bring my hand to his face, wiping away tears and smoothing over his face while we continue. We break away for much needed oxygen but stare into each others eyes while I continue to stroke his beautiful cherubic face. He sighs happily as he stares into my eyes and brings his own hand to my stroke my face before pulling my head down to his for another kiss which I gratefully accept.
“Should we wake up the sleeping dragon now?” he asks breathlessly. I glance to the clock behind me on my bedside locker. It’s been about to hours already. I nod and move to sit beside my lover.
Wufei’s POV
Mmmmm, so warm.
Something is shaking me. Go away… trying to sleep here!
The shaking continues, a little harder this time. “Fuck off” I mumble into my pillow. My pillow shudders as it chuckles. I bury my head deeper into it to shut it up and stay still. Someone or something is talking. But I don’t care; I don’t want to hear it. I was having a nice dream to. I had my arms wrapped around a certain braided pilot and reaching toward Heero.
The shaking starts again. Damnit what the hell. I lift my head and crack my eyes open. “Quit shakin me already ‘m trin ta sleep!” I yell. My vision clears to reveal an amused looking Heero. Huh? Why is he in my bed? My face blanches and wakefulness has never come so suddenly. I am lying in Heero’s bed. But where is Duo. I flinch when I feel a hand stroke my head and turn sharply to see Duo smiling at me. Oh my face is surely on fire.
I can’t move. My arms and legs won’t work…. Damnit. “Hey ‘Fei, how ya feelin? Sorry we’ve had to wake you; you looked like you were really enjoying it!” Damn that gorgeous smile. I can’t move my arms because they are underneath Duo… oh my god IM LYING ON DUO MAXWELL!
“Wufei?” Oh god, Heero’s going to kill me now. I turn wide eyes to him. He takes my face gently in his hands and his faces gets closer. I swallow… what’s he going to do!
Probably hit me for being an idiot. “Open your eyes Wufei.” He commands gently, when did I close them? I obey to see him staring into my eyes, studying almost. “How do you feel?” He asks. “I … uh, fine… just sleepy, and my arms are d-dead.” I congratulate myself on not sounding panicked. “Ah, sorry bout that ‘Fei, you looked so comfy I didn’t wanna move you.” Duo says as he lifts his torso to let my arms slip out from under him.
“S-sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude, honestly.” I apologise. Oh please forgive me! “There’s nothing to be sorry for Wufei, We’re honoured that you feel safe enough to sleep so close to us and trust us like that.” Heero stated with a small bow. “Besides, now I claim to have two teddy bears to cuddle” Duo added cheerfully. I smirk. “Aren’t you a little old to be playing with teddies Duo?” I tease. “Ha! Never, you’re never too old to have a teddy.” Duo stated. For some reason I felt the urge to share my own ‘teddy bear’ experience.
“I used to have one too.” I say gently with a smile. I move to get off Duo to the middle of the bed but Yuy stops me with a hand to my back, holding me down while he shifts closer to us and settles. I scowl at him and he smiles at me, daring me to do something about it. I blush but settle back down. “Tell me about him ‘Fei?” Duo asks softly. Well, who am I to deny him a request. I sigh as I remember it. “My grandmother gave it me on my 6th birthday. It was a black fuzzy bear sewn with golden thread, blue eyes and a small red bow. It was so soft. It was the only toy I had in my possession; I had to hide it though as my grandmother said the other elders would not allow it.
“What? But it’s only a teddy bear, what’s it gonna do, come to life and wreak havoc on mankind?” Duo asked incredulously. I chuckled at that. “I wasn’t just a child, I was the heir to the Dragon Clan, I was expected to act accordingly and give up any childish behaviour. But my Grandmother always had a soft spot for me. Whenever she taught me my lessons I had my teddy close by. I guess it was the only friend I had.” I chuckled, trying to hide the sadness I felt. I refused to look at them though; sure they would have sensed my hidden sadness. Someone’s hand started stroking my back.
“What happened to it?” Duo asked cautiously. “My father found it, he was furious and ordered a cleansing.” I replied. “Cleansing? What did they do Wufei?” Heero’s voice was masking something I couldn’t quite place. I couldn’t see their faces as I was lying down, I could only see Heero’s ribs and stomach in front of me. I sighed. They cause me to let my guard down whenever I’m around them. I shouldn’t have mentioned the cleansing. Now I’m the Baka.
“Wufei? What’s a cleansing” Duo asks, it’s not lost on me that he’s used my full name. “Nothin, we should get some sleep.” I say softly. I think it has worked as neither says anything more for a while. They must have come to some kind of agreement as I suddenly find myself sitting in Duo’s lap who has a firm hold of me with Heero on the other side of me. I blink my sleepy eyes looking from one to the other. “Wufei… what’s a cleansing?” Heero asks an order in his voice. I swallow and look to Duo for help. His expression is set, serious and unmoveable. Shit.
I sigh and open my mouth. “A cleansing is a cleansing of the mind, the soul and body.” Well so far so good. “Firstly you are scrubbed clean until it is satisfied that all the dead skin is removed…” “You mean scrubbed raw Wufei… don’t sugar coat this Wufei, whatever you do.” I nodded to Duo with a grim expression. “Next you put in a white cotton wrap to wrap around yourself in the fashion of underwear. 10 lashes are delivered to remind you of what you did wrong, then you…” “WHAT! Lashes? Just how fuckin old were you?” Duo growled. I answered in a small voice. It was my own fault I had gotten caught, but he didn’t understand. “Seven” I replied. Heero clamped a hand over Duo as he was about to yell again. “Let him finish love” Heero said gently. I felt a wave at longing when he said that but beat it down quickly. Duo nodded and Heero removed his hand. Heero nodded at me to continue. I don’t know if I should have been thankful or not.
“After the lashes, you clean out the old shrine. After this is accomplished, three days of meditation is required to finish the cleansing.” I look to them as I finish the description. “There’s something else isn’t there, something you neglected to tell us.” Heero states. I look at him blankly, what is he talking about? He sighs. “How long does the entire process take and were you fed?” Heero asks calmly. Ah… yes, I might have forgotten that part. “The cleansing takes eight days and for the cleansing of the body to be successful, only water may be consumed but not with meditating. Also the washing occurred everyday until it is time for the meditation.” I inform him as if it were the most natural thing in the world, well, in my clan it was.
Duo’s breathing draws my attention to him. His face looks distraught, his eyes wide and his breathing is laboured and panicked. “Wufei move!” Heero says gently even as he assists me to the sit on the bed. He picks Duo up and sits him at the edge of the bed with his head between his knees. “Breath Duo, breath. Come on, that’s it, listen to my voice. Every thing is ok now.” Heero soothes as he rubs Duo’s back. “Wufei find me a paper bag quick!” No sooner is the order out of his mouth am I off the bed and in my room. I take the paper bag from the magazines Quatre thought to buy me and plant it in his awaiting hand.
Heero sits Duo up and places the bag in his hands who proceeds to bring it to his mouth and take deep breaths into it. His breathing becomes less desperate and his shoulders relax a little. “Duo?” I dare to put a hand on his back in a comforting gesture. “Duo, are, are you alright?” I ask worriedly. Duo removes the bag and takes a deep breath before slowly letting it out. He smiles up at me with tears in his eyes from his ordeal. “I’m fine ‘Fei. But let me tell you this. If I ever meet any of your elders in the afterlife there will be no mercy.” He states this in a dangerous voice that makes me shiver.
Duo stands to move in front of me. I look at him, awaiting some kind of request. He grabs me in a fierce hug; slowly I place my arms loosely around his shoulders and pat his back twice. “’Fei, kids are meant to act like kids. I don’t care if you were meant to rule the world even. What they did was wrong. It was unjust! I know people have different beliefs but what they did… because you had a fucking teddy bear… is just barbaric, for anyone to go through.”
I felt Heero hug us from behind. “He is right you know.” Heero says softly. I keep my face blank, not wanting to believe them, but for years, even when I was a child, I wanted to tell my elders they were wrong. I wanted to go and play with the other children but they were ordered to do no such thing. I remember the days I spent in my room crying under the pretence of studying’ and was not to be disturbed. A shudder escaped without my consent… and that was all it took for the damn to break. Shamefully, I couldn’t stop the tears, making me cry harder at my shame. I had no right to even be considered as the heir. I must have spoken this aloud as Duo’s voice cut through my thoughts.
“Shhhh ‘Fei, there’s nothing to be ashamed of.” Duo tried to sooth. “Showing emotion is not a weakness, it is strength” Heero added. I just help on tighter, never wanting to let go.
To be continued
Just want to say thank you everyone for you reviews. This was meant to be a sort of short 1 or 2 chapter short story but I find myself enjoying this story to cut it short. There will be happiness; I just think there are some things that need to be sorted out. Just beware that I have no plan as to where this goes, only that Halloween does feature in this XP a sort of ‘finale’ maybe? I don’t know.
Hope your enjoying the trip so far.