Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Lord of War ❯ Heero's Bargain ( Chapter 7 )

A/N: A little faster this time, huh? : ) As you can tell, I’m on my break so I can actually write! Yay!

Clarification: The place where my story takes place in is just a fantasy world that is a lot like Rome, not actually in Rome itself (that would be really hard…). But, I will try to work on the language for all of you who have commented on it ; ).

* The names I used in the last chapter were just Athena and Elysian Fields spelled backwards because I’m not creative enough to think of new ones. And yes, I know they are the Greek names for the gods, but they sounded better spelled backwards than the Roman names did.

~So, for all of you that figured it out, omedetou-san! : )~


Chapter 07: Heero’s Bargain

Duo’s eyes widened and his breath quickened. Had Heero really promised that, promised him? Duo had been chained up and sold to the highest bidder, but he has never felt more trapped than he did right now with Primitivus leaning over him, his face a mere few inches away. He tried to duck under Primitivus’s guard and slip away, but he was caught by the wrists and pinned against the wall once again. A thousand and one ways to get out of this predicament swam through his head, but the promise he made to Eutal to stay alive stopped him from using any of them.

“Where did you think you were going?” Primitivus smiled, pushing his body against Duo’s, his knee in between Duo’s legs. The feel of a insinuating knee slowly sliding up to his crotch made Duo shiver and turn his head away, closing his eyes. The man’s breath was hot against his neck as Duo thought about what may have passed between Primitivus and Heero. Of course Sally would mean more to him that Duo did, that was only natural, but…//“I’ll promise you something…I’ll never take you without your consent”//. He had believed him then, he really had, ignoring the voice in the back of his mind that told him not to…he had believed him.

Then again, he wasn’t breaking his promise. It wouldn’t be Heero who was doing the taking. No, he promised him to this guy, as a part of a bargain, nothing more. Why hadn’t he said anything? He could have at least given Duo a hint about it, a quick heads up like, ‘oh yeah, and I said Primitivus could fuck you’. It was the least he could have done… //As a matter of fact, he hasn’t said anything about this//.

Without looking at the man, Duo spoke up with an unsteady voice. “What-what did he say…when you said…when you asked…”

“…to fuck you?” Primitivus finished for him.

Duo couldn’t get his bearings strait enough to look the man in the eye, so he continued to stare at the curtain that separated them from the rest of the party. “Yeah.”

Primitivus chuckled quietly and leaned in to whisper into his ear, causing Duo to shiver from the proximity. “What do you think he said?”

He cringed as he felt Primitivus’s tongue steal out and lick his earlobe. Pushing the feeling of the man leaning against him out of his mind, he thought about Heero. He didn’t think Heero was the type of man to agree to this, but Duo was only considered to be property here, that he knew. Primitivus asking if he could fuck him was the same as asking to borrow a book for the night to the people here. Primitivus moved in, closing the small gap that still remained between their bodies. //Did you really, Heero?// Duo felt the light brush of lips on his throat //Did you say that he could?// He bit his lip and closed his eyes as he felt the other man’s body reacting and hardening //Would you do that to me?// He fought back the unwanted tears that were building up behind his eyelids //“Cutting the braid would be a shame”// A knee rubbed against his crotch. “N-No.” Duo stammered out, //I wanted it to be you!//.

Primitivus chuckled at what he said and leaned in to whisper in his ear again, “Correct.”

Duo’s eyes shot open and he turned to look the man strait in the eye.

Primitivus had a mused smiled on his face. “Heero said no.”

Duo could only blink at him while the Lord lifted himself up, freeing Duo from his cage. Primitivus still had a good grip on one of Duo’s wrists and used it to pull him to his feet and off the wall. “Come over here.” He all but threw Duo into the balcony railing. “Look down, what do you see?”

Still off balance from before, Duo looked down from the balcony with unease. “I-I see a pond.” Duo looked closer. “A pond with…eels in it?”

“Those are called lampreys [1]. Not exactly the nicest fish in the sea.”

Duo stared down at the swirling pool below, watching the eel-like creatures circle each other. He had heard about them before, fisherman stories mostly, but he had never seen them. “Lampreys?”

“They’re parasites basically. They latch on to an organism with their rows of sharp fangs and needle-like teeth, bore in to the flesh and slowly gorge themselves in blood. Once they have eaten away the flesh at that site, they move to another and start all over again.”

“Why do you have such things?” It came out like a whisper.

“One reason, they are quite the delicacy. Rather good when skewered and roasted. The other reason, they hold magical properties and are used in many spells and potions.” Primitivus gave him a devilish smirk. “But, they need too feed on human blood and flesh to be of any use in that area.”

“Human blood…” Duo’s mind clicked, remembering the round wound in the crook of Heero’s arm. “Heero…”

“Exactly. Instead of letting me borrow you, he, shall we say donated, his blood for a few of my spells.”

Duo just kept staring down in shock, //he did that for me?//.

“It was rather eerie to watch really, seeing it latch onto him, the way he flinched and turned pale. Not that I blame him; most people pass out.” Primitivus slipped his hand under Duo’s chin and tilted his head up to look at him. “I guess you could say this was all a test. I wanted to see if you were worth all of that. I wanted to know your feelings towards him.” Primitivus let go of his chin. “You showed faith and him and were right about his reaction to my request. However…”

Duo felt a hand on his shoulder, which jerked him around to face the curtain then he was pushed back, his backside now against the railing. Primitivus waved his arm mumbled something, causing the railing to feel much shorter that Duo remembered. The Lord moved closer to him once again and gripped his wrist tightly, Duo’s eyes widened as he realized what the man was about to do //Oh Gods!//. Smiling, Primitivus suddenly shoved him off balance, causing Duo to gasp and his mind to go blank.

He was now tipped over the side of the railing, the Lord’s grasp on his wrist the only thing to stop him from falling. Duo’s eyes shot back in forth from the pool below to the hard stare of the man holding him captive. Primitivus adjusted himself to make sure there was no way Duo could catch himself if he let go, then smiled coldly.

“I’m not sure about how you feel about him, about our way of life.” A glint of malice entered his eyes and his tone changed as he went on. “I’ll tell you a story, Duo.”

Duo could hear his heartbeat thundering his ears, his breath shallow and quick as he dangled from the balcony, a slow death promised below if he were to fall. Primitivus loosened his grip, causing the Aiko to lean back by another mere inch, but it was enough to make Duo gasp audibly and his eyes widen. He wanted to say something, but was afraid if he did, the man might let go. So he hung there, at the mercy of the man whose eyes darkened with cruelty. “There was once a servant in my home, a few years back, who made the grave mistake of trying to murder my father.”

The man loosened his grip once again. Duo closed his eyes and tried to muffle the gasp that escaped from his throat, but to no avail. He did try to say something this time, but all that came out was a pathetic airy whine.

“But, he was sloppy, and was easily caught.”

Duo couldn’t help the shiver that ran down his spine as he was lowered even closer to his death. Primitivus smiled, obviously relishing the panic in Duo’s eyes. “As punishment, he was thrown from this very balcony [2], basically the same way you are close to being.”

Looking down once again, he could see the lampreys circling below, just waiting for Duo to fall. He swallowed the knot in his throat and fought to keep his composure, but couldn’t help the cold sweat starting to run down his back.

“He splashed and screamed while they swarmed upon him, latching on to every available piece of flesh. The guards waited for about an hour before they fished him out, and even then some of the parasites refused to let go. They had to rip them off; the one latched on to his eye was pulled off with the eyeball still in its mouth and thrown back in to the pond. There was even one attached inside his throat, which must have swum in while he was screaming in pain.” His grip lessened once again, Duo’s heart skipped a beat as he dangled there, helpless. “There were round pieces of flesh missing all over the body, but no blood. He was bone dry.”

Primitivus’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “Imagine what that must have felt like, being slowly eaten to death.”

Duo was jerked back some more. He fought the waves of fear that were crashing throughout his body, but every time the man loosened his grip, Duo couldn’t help the flashes of himself falling from entering his mind and causing him to panic //Help! Someone! He’s really going to…!//.

A serious tone entered Primitivus’s voice as he continued. “I know who you are, Duo. I know where you’re from and how strong the people of your tribe are. I know what you’re capable of. And I won’t allow you to cause any harm, I won’t give you the chance.”

Duo stopped breathing as the hand around his wrist let go completely and he began to freefall backwards //Heero!//. But just as a scream was about to tear through his throat, an invisible force caught him and threw him back up on to the balcony.

Shaking, he managed to rise to his hands and knees while he tried to regain his breath, his eyes wide and cold sweat dripping from his forehead as he did so. Primitivus kneeled down in front of him and jerked his head up by his hair to look directly into his eyes. “This was a warning, Duo. Heero is important to Lorlia.” His grip on Duo’s hair tightened painfully. “Try anything, and next time my magic won’t catch you.”

With that, Primitivus released his hair and strolled towards the curtain. “Enjoy the rest of the party, Duo.”

As he disappeared back to the banquet hall, Duo adjusted to sit down on the cold marble floor, his breathing still rapid. Letting one last shiver pass through him, his heart returned to its normal pace and he regained the function of his limbs. He had never felt that way before, so helpless and pathetic. Duo was disgusted with himself. He had let fear control him and hold him prisoner as he was held over the pond //I’m such a fool…//. His life was being threatened and all he could do was scream in his head for help, scream for…Duo’s eyes widened in realization of the person he called for. In all the fear and panic that had been clouding his mind, he had called out for Heero. Not Solo, Zechs, or even Hildi…but Heero.

Duo shook his head, determined to ignore that fact and write it off as a temporary lapse in judgment. After all, its not like he cared for the--//I wanted it to be you!//. The words that he had blurted out in his head earlier echoed in his brain. He had said it--in his mind yes, but he had said it…and meant it. It may not have been out loud, but in doing so, he had admitted it to his worst critic of all: himself. Duo stared at the floor in shock that he had thought of Heero in both earlier cases of panic.

He couldn’t be. It wasn’t possible. He couldn’t be falling--

“Are you okay, Duo?”

Duo’s head shot up and met a pair of light blue eyes staring down at him with concern evident in their gaze. Duo forced a smile. “I’m fine, Quatre.”

He didn’t look convinced. “Are you sure?” Quatre walked over and sat down beside him as Trowa slipped through the curtain and on to the balcony, staring at the two in obvious confusion.

“I just saw Primitivus come from here.” Trowa informed them, looking at Duo as he did so.

“Y-yeah, he was here.” Duo frowned at how weak his voice sounded.

Trowa’s gaze hardened almost instantly. “What did he say?”

Duo was lost. Should he tell them? Tell them that he threatened him, //in more ways than one// Duo remembered shivering. The way Primitivus had touched him and treated him made Duo feel like he would have to scrub for hours to feel clean again.

Quatre tuned his head to look him in the eyes. “He threatened you, didn’t he?”

The way the blonde was looking at him made him feel like throwing himself into Quatre’s arms and spilling the whole story. But he refused to do so and stood up, Quatre standing with him. “It’s okay, really. Like I’m afraid of that guy anyway.” Duo forced a wide grin. “I’m just surprised he’s so worried about Heero. I thought they didn’t like each other.”

“They don’t,” Trowa said flatly, then began inspecting the railing. ”Why is this lower?”

Duo turned to see that Primitivus never raised the railing back up. “Umm…”

“What did he do and say exactly?” Quatre had a harder tone in his voice than Duo thought possible for the Lord. Sighing, Duo told them what happened: the deal Primitivus tried to make with Heero, Heero’s refusal, the story he had told Duo about the servant, how he himself was dangled from the balcony by the asshole, and what he said before he had left.

“‘Heero is important to Lorlia,’ huh?” Trowa mumbled, his brow furrowed as he thought. “Guess we shouldn’t be surprised.”

“We shouldn’t be?” Duo asked, confused.

“He didn’t say that because he was worried for Heero’s safety exactly, but for Lorlians.” Quatre explained. “If something happened to Heero…” He trailed off.

Duo nodded his head. Things probably would be utter chaos if Heero were killed. Duo couldn’t imagine the inner turmoil there would be, people blaming other people, false accusations, the whole lot. Duo stared at the balcony railing in thought. “So he thinks I’m going to kill him?”

Duo felt more than saw Trowa and Quatre looking at him. It’s not like the thought hadn’t entered his mind. Pretty much the opposite really. And it wasn’t like he couldn’t manage it if he wanted to but…lately…he didn’t want to. For a while now, Duo hadn’t even thought about trying to escape. It was true that he still refused to sleep with Heero, but that was about it. He had finally accepted the fact that as long as the sai rings were around his wrists, there was no way to escape. And from that, he knew that there were only two ways to get them off; either Heero takes them off or Duo makes him take them off. And the only way to make him would be to threaten his life.

Duo’s thoughts went in circles in his mind, from his realization that he was starting to like Heero to the fact that he would have to threaten to kill him to get free and return home. The longer he thought about it, the more confused he got. It was turning out to be a war between his head and his heart--neither was winning.

“Duo,” Quatre started when Phinneaus popped his head through the curtain. “Hey! Why are you guys out here? Heero’s coming of age ceremony is starting! You have to get going!”

Quatre nodded then smiled at Duo. “Trowa and I have to go to Heero’s ceremony, will you be okay here by yourself?”

Duo nodded, though he would rather go with them. But, Sally told him that the actual ceremony was off limits to anyone lower than a lord. He was just happy that Phinneaus would still be here.

Trowa and Quatre left as Phinneaus and he went back into the banquet hall and ate desert. There were small tarts sweetened with honey and various fruits, pastries filled with mint, sweet meats, and honey cream, and small pies with nuts on top. Even the wine was sweet and savory; served hot it slid down your throat with ease then burned pleasantly in your stomach. This seemed to be Phinneaus favorite treat, as he was flushed and hiccupping regularly by the time the last performance of the night began.

“You wanna come with me?” Phinneaus asked, with a stupid grim on his face.

Duo couldn’t help but smile at how messed up the man was getting. “Where?”

“I’m gonna sea-sneak in and see…” Phinneaus paused, as if thinking about what he was going to say, //like he forgot// Duo mused. “Right, sneak in and see Heero’s cere-thingy, you wanna come?”

“That’s okay. Maybe you shouldn’t go either.” Duo was holding back laughter //he is so fucking drunk//.

“Nah, I’ll be fine, I jus’ hafta throw up first, is all.” Phinneaus began to get up, then almost fell back down. Steadying himself, he started to walk over to the exit. Duo got up and followed. “Where is the ceremony at?”

“Tha Royal Court.”

Duo froze. The Royal Court was severely off limits, even he knew that ever since Sally was caught there. “Uh, Phinneaus, maybe you should stay here with me.”

“Nah, I have an inside accomplice, so I’ll be fine. I just hafta throw up and clear my head first.”

As if on cue, Phinneaus grabbed one of the buckets that were set out on the deck in front of the entrance and heaved his dinner out. To Duo’s amazement, a servant came over and took the bucket from him and handed him a new one, just in case he wasn’t done. The buckets were there exactly for this purpose? //Lorlia just gets weirder and weirder…//

“Okay, I’m good,” Phinneaus announced. “I’m gonna get going. You sure you don’t want to come?”

Duo shook his head. “I’ll stay here.”

“Your loss, see you.” With that, Phinneaus took off. Duo watched him leave, worried about his safety. Deciding that there was no way he would defer him and he sure as hell wasn’t going to go with the idiot, he made his way back into the banquet hall.

The windows had all been covered and there were about ten people in cloaks in the middle of the hall. Intrigued, Duo joined the crowd around them as they began. They all moved fluidly together, dancing around each other to the point that you couldn’t tell them apart. Suddenly, fire of different colors spouted from their hands and danced around the performers. Some of the fire turned into beautiful scarves and they flowed through the air, making the performance even more mystical. Duo was in awe. He had never seen mages perform, let alone in such an artistic fashion. The way they moved mesmerized him. The whole world seemed to fade while the mages danced, throwing out spurts of fire and wild effects, he didn’t even notice the young man who walked up beside him.

“They’re really good, huh?” A younger guy asked him suddenly. The kid had a bright smile and kind looking hazel eyes as he looked up at Duo.

Duo smiled back. “Yeah, they are…um…”

The young man giggled. “Tertius, my name is Tertius, the youngest lord of this house.”

“Oh, um...my name is Duo, Lord Yuy’s Aiko.” Duo barely remembered to add the last part.

“I know,” Tertius smiled. “That’s why I came over. You looked a bit lost.”

Duo was starting to like the kid when his mind clicked…this kid was Primitivus’s little brother! He pushed that information aside for the moment. “Maybe a little, since Phinneaus ditched me.”

Tertius gave him an incredulous grin. “Let me guess, he went to try and sneak into the ceremony?”

Duo started to panic a little, remembering what almost happened to Sally. “Um, no, he…uh…he went to, um…”

Tertius laughed outright. “Wow, you’re horrible at lying!”

Duo knew he was giving the kid a funny look because the kid couldn’t stop laughing, not even as he talked. “D-don’t worry, I-I’m th-tha accomplice. I told him how to sneak in.”

“You did?” Duo said in surprise.

“Yeah, I sneak in to listen to the meetings all the time. It’s a fun way to ditch mage classes.” Tertius winked. Duo smiled at the kid’s playful nature. He was nothing like his brother, that was for damn sure.

It was then that he noticed that the kid was technically a Lord. “Why aren’t you at the ceremony, though?”

“I’m obligated to go to another one in about three weeks, so I opted to skip this one.” Tertius rolled his eyes. “They’re so boring…you have no idea.”

“Oh, what one do you have to go to?”

“The Emperor’s coronation of course! The day may be all fun and games for the commoners, but its long and boring for us Lords, especially the for the Emperor himself.” Tertius explained. “Although, he does get to have a lot of fun later that night.” He winked.

“What do you mean?” He had an idea, Duo wasn’t that ignorant. But perhaps it was wrong, considering that wink just came from a kid that couldn’t be any older than twelve.

“You know, The Right of Primary he gets to claim.” The kid said that in such a matter of fact tone that it made Duo feel really stupid to ask what in the hell he was talking about. “The Right of Primary is an old tradition, it’s a way to strengthen the bond between a House and the Emperor. You see, the Emperor, when he was younger, chose the person he would get to sleep with the night of his coronation. That person has to stay pure until that night, hence why it’s decided when the intended person is still pretty young.”

“Okay.” Duo still didn’t see what was so special about it. “So he basically gets to pick a virgin to be his Aiko for the night, right?”

“Yep.”

“And how does that strengthen the bond of the Emperor and the Houses?”

“Because he picks a Lord or Lady from one of the Four Houses.”

Duo blinked a few times as the information sunk in. “So, for one night, that Lord or Lady is reduced to the level of an Aiko?”

Tertius nodded. “Exactly, and they can’t get married and have to stay a virgin until that night.”

He was pretty sure he knew the answer, but he asked anyway. “What happens if they don’t stay one?”

Tertius bit his lip and looked away. “Doing so is the same as high treason. They’re executed, immediately.”

Duo made a low whistle. He thought it would be pretty bad, but it was still unreal they would execute someone for having a life. //So the Emperor gets to pick anyone to fuck. Damn. I wonder who…// Duo’s mind froze. What if it was Heero? What if that was why he never tried to sleep with him. “Lord Tertius, who did the Emperor reserve the Right of Primary from?”

“Umm…I don’t know, I was really young, but I believe Florentina. Not that I blame him, she’s beautiful.”

Duo sighed in relief, and then wondered why in the hell he did just sigh in relief. Its not like it was any of his business if Heero was destined to sleep with that guy. Not like he cared…//keep telling yourself that//. Duo scowled at his inner thought. He didn’t care, dammit!

The rest of the party went by pretty fast and soon Duo was on his way back to Heero’s house. When he got there, he found out that Heero wasn’t home yet. “He isn’t? But the moon has been out for hours.” Sally and him were sitting on the bed in his room. She shook her head and sighed. “I told you that today was going to be a very long day, and you only went to one of the things that Heero had to attend.” Sally began to undo his hair and pull out the ribbons. “But, he should be back soon, so just go ahead and get some sleep.”

Duo nodded and yawned. The day had been pretty tiring, from being sexually harassed to physically threatened, and by the same guy too…yep, it had been a long day. He sighed to himself and fell back onto the bed and closed his eyes.

“I meant get some sleep in Heero’s chamber until he comes back,” Sally clarified.

Duo groaned as he got up and shuffled his way to Heero’s bedchamber, not having enough energy to argue. Slipping under the covers, he laid there staring out at the moon. The curtain that was usually separating the room from the balcony was pulled up, letting the cool night air and moonlight in. Duo was dozing for about an hour by the time Heero wandered in, surprisingly not drunk. He undressed and slid in beside Duo. There were a lot of things that Duo wanted to ask him because of what he had learned today, but there didn’t seem to be any good way to bring it up, so Duo opted for the only icebreaker he could think of. “Long day?”

A grunt was his only reply. Annoyed but persistent, Duo spoke up again. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure,” Heero answered lazily.

“What did Primitivus ask for from you when you asked him not to say anything about Sally?” He needed to hear it from Heero. He needed to hear that Heero wouldn’t lie to him. He needed to know that Heero really did care for him.

“Nothing important.”

//I’m nothing important!!//. It’s true that the man didn’t know that he knew the truth, but ‘nothing important’! “What did he ask for?” Duo asked again.

Heero yawned. “It doesn’t concern you. Don’t worry about it.”

Duo was fuming. So, him own fate, health, body…it didn’t concern him! Duo knew that he was basically considered property but it had never been thrown in his face as coldly as just was. He was just a piece of ass that the man beside him owned, no say on anything, even his own fucking virginity! //This place!// he just couldn’t stand it anymore! Enough was enough!

* * * *
“Enough.” Heero heard Duo whisper. Not exactly sure what he was mumbling about. Heero just lay there on his back, waiting for Duo to explain himself.

“Take them off, Heero.” Duo’s voice sounded dangerous.

Heero turned his head to look at him, but was met with the sight of his back. “What?”

“The sai rings, take them off.”

Heero scowled at the tone of Duo’s voice. Where the hell did he get off talking to him like that? “No. Go to sleep.”

“Take them off Heero.” It was a demand, not a request. Heero’s scowl darkened but his answer remained the same. “No.”

Heero felt the bed shift and before he knew it he had Duo straddling him, his hands around his throat. Duo’s eyes were dark as his hands on Heero’s neck tightened suggestively. Stunned, Heero didn’t move.

“Take them off, Yuy.” His hands gripped him tighter, making it hard to breathe. He knew Duo was strong enough to pin him down, but he didn’t think he was stupid enough to try.

“Let go, Duo.” Heero warned, causing Duo’s grip to tighten once more as his eyes stared him down. If Duo didn’t come to his senses soon, Heero would have no choice but to force him to let go. “You wouldn’t get far, Duo, don’t be stupid.”

“Far enough. Now take them off!” It came out of the man like a hiss, a sound completely out of character. Heero glared at him even as he felt his windpipe crushed even further. Heero was about to make his move when the sight of something glinting caught his eye from the far pole of the bed. Realizing what it was, Heero stiffened. If the idiot didn’t listen to him now…his head was as good as gone.

* * * *

Duo knew what he was doing was probably beyond idiotic, but as soon as the adrenaline kicked in, there was no going back. He was sick of it! He couldn’t stand it anymore! Fuck the promise he made to Eutal, trying to escape was his only option. His thoughts went back to earlier today and the threat that Primitivus had made. He didn’t give a damn! He knew now that if he had to, he could bring himself to kill Heero, his hands were around his neck right now, for fuck sake! He couldn’t believe that he was debating whether or not he could do so earlier, how pathetic and soft he had become! He was trained to be able to kill his own father if need be, why the hell would he not be able to take out a man who bought him in the market as his own personal fuck toy? Duo scoffed at his own stupidity.

But what was really starting to piss him off was the fact that even though the man had hands wrapped around his neck, Heero still looked like an arrogant pain in the ass. He should be at least a little concerned, under the circumstances. That fact just made Duo’s blood boil even hotter. But when Heero looked away for a second and his eyes widened, Duo was intrigued. When Heero’s eyes finally came back to his own, they were wide with caution. He was happy to see a shift in his composure, but he knew it wasn’t due to Duo’s threats. It was then that Heero started to mouth something. ‘Can you read lips?’

Duo lifted an eyebrow, but nodded.

‘Slip your hands from my neck and into my hair, then kiss me’. Duo was about to growl as few choice words when he caught the pleading look in Heero’s eyes. ‘Now!’

Utterly confused, Duo just stared at him for a while. What the fuck was this guy thinking? Like hell he would--Heero’s eyes flicked from somewhere behind him back to Duo’s eyes, giving him the idea there was some method behind the madness. //You trusted him before// his own conscious chided.

Though his mind protesting all the way down, Duo leaned forward and took Heero’s lips with his, refusing to close his eyes and sliding his hands into the brown, untamable locks atop his head. A spark passed through him as there lip met. At first, Duo only wanted to do a chaste kiss then pull off, but he found his lips taking more time than he first intended, tasting Heero with pure curiosity as his eyes glided shut. The spark that Duo had first felt dimmed into a pleasant tingle that spiked again as Heero licked his lower lip. Duo found himself moaning and opening his mouth to return the favor, all anger and thoughts of escaping lost for the moment. Warm hands slid up and down his sides and rested on his hips //that feels good// while Duo surprised himself and sipped his own tongue in to Heero’s mouth. Heero moaned into his mouth, causing a shiver to run up his spine. When their kiss broke, Duo was still in a daze.

“Chang, what are you doing in my chamber so late?” Heero asked someone behind Duo with a pleasant tone. Duo whipped around to be met by a pair of onyx eyes staring at him in anger. Looking over the man a bit more, Duo noticed the large curved sword in his hand, ready and waiting to strike. Cold sweat went down his back as Duo realized what had just happened. Heero must have seen this man behind him and told Duo to do that to…save his life…

The man sheathed his sword and bowed. “Sorry to disturb you, Heero.”

“It is alright. I don’t believe you have met my new Aiko, since he came here while you were gone.” Heero dawned a quiet smile.

“No, I haven’t.” The man eyed Duo with a look of distrain. “You know, for a moment there, really thought he was trying to strangle you.” His tone was dangerous, implying he knew damn well that he had been.

“Honestly, Wufei, why would he? You’re a bit paranoid, my friend.”

“Perhaps,” Wufei eyed him again. “Just please be more careful in the way you…indulge yourself, My Lord.”

Heero arched an eyebrow. “If that will stop you from visiting me like this, very well.”

“It would. Again, sorry for disturbing you. I will speak with you in the morning?”

Heero nodded. “Of course. Good night, Wufei.”

Wufei bowed, then escorted himself from the room. Duo was still in shock. “I didn’t even feel his presence.” He mumbled, mostly to himself.

“You wouldn’t,” Heero declared. Duo turned back to him with anger in his eyes until Heero explained further. “He’s from the Temple of Life and has been trained there since he was very young. The only reason I even knew was there was from the moonlight hitting his sword.”

“Temple of Life…you mean he was trained by the monks there?” Duo felt a little better. If it were one of those temple warriors who had snuck up on him, he could forgive himself for not noticing.

“Yes,” Heero answered plainly.

Duo looked back to the door where the man had left. “What is he doing here?”

“He protects me.”

Duo just stared down at him blankly. “Protects you, why?”

Heero gave Duo a once over with his eyes and raised his eyebrows, basically giving him the ‘I wonder’ look. Duo frowned, getting the message, but it was then that he realized something…if Heero hadn’t said anything, his head would have been taken off. //He did it again// Heero saved him when he had no reason to. “Why did you do that, if he is supposed to protect you?”

Heero seemed to think for a while, his face as unreadable as always. “I didn’t feel like having your blood all over me.”

“Bullshit,” Duo announced. He could tell Heero was lying. There was something more to the way he acts and, for once, Duo was going to get his question answered. “Why do you keep saving me?”

Heero looked up at him for a while. “Why, Heero?” Duo reiterated.

At last, Heero answered. “You’re annoying, sarcastic, dangerous and you completely ignore my social class.”

Duo looked at him with a face of utter confusion, but a hint of amusement. //What the hell kind of answer was that?//

He stared down at him a bit longer until Heero turned away from him, a light blush playing on his cheeks. “I like it.”

It was Duo’s turn to blush. “You like it?”

Heero nodded quietly. Duo’s thoughts revolved around those words for a while until Heero spoke up again. “Now it is my turn to ask a question.”

Duo looked down at him, still confused on what to think about Heero’s answer. “What?”

“Why did you kiss me for so long?”

Duo’s eyes grew wide and his face flushed a dark red. Why had he kissed him for so long? //Because you liked it// Duo’s inner voice smirked. No, that wasn’t it, he was just--just caught in the moment, that was all.

Knowing there was no way he could give Heero an answer that wouldn’t embarrass the hell out of him, Duo just grumbled, crawled off of Heero and laid down facing the balcony. He heard a victorious chuckle behind him and frowned at the moon. Heero may have won this round, but it was the last one he was going to.

Duo lay there staring at the moon, letting his eyes drift shut on their own.

As soon as his eyes wondered shut, he felt a hand close over his mouth and his hands held down from behind. He could tell from his smell that it was Heero right behind him. “Don’t yell, no one would come running anyway.” His voice was seductive, making a shiver run down Duo’s spine and his stomach turn at the same time.

Heero uncovered his mouth and turned him over, crouching on to top him now, as he held up Duo’s hands to the steel bar headboard. One his hands were on either side of a bar, Heero whispered “Sai,” and the rings around Duo’s wrists snapped together, effectively chaining him to the headboard.

Duo was dumbfounded, the situation that he was in refusing to dawn on him. Once it did, Duo pulled frantically at the rings around his wrists. “Let me go, you fucker!”

“Such language, Duo,” Heero purred as he tried to push his knee between Duo’s legs. Duo felt it and clamped his legs together, refusing to let himself be put in an even more compromising position. As he struggled, Heero’s shining blue eyes never left his. “You never answered my question, Duo. Why did you kiss me for so long?”

“Fucking shut up and let me go!” Duo growled as he continued to wage war against Heero and keeping his legs closed. But he soon lost as Heero managed to slip his knee in. Using that as leverage, Heero positioned himself in between Duo’s legs and laid down, the full length of his body on Duo’s. Duo tried one last pull at his bindings, then collapsed on the bed, his angry eyes glaring into Heero’s.

Heero grinned as he leaned down to whisper. “Answer my question.”

Duo opted to stay quiet and just glare, hoping the man would just become bored and release him. Heero, however, smiled devilishly and began to trace Duo’s ribs lightly with his fingertips, making the braided man squirm. Duo was ticklish, but the way the man was doing it in made him want to moan, not laugh. Fighting back that reaction, he spoke up, hoping to get Heero to stop. “If I tell you, will you stop?”

Heero placed a soft kiss under Duo’s jaw. “No, just tell me.”

He remained silent once again only to have one of his nipples tortured into submission by Heero’s mouth. “Aaaahh, shit. Stop.” Even Duo could hear it was a weak protest at best.

“Tell me why.” Heero mouthed around a now hard nipple, his hand stole out and began to tease the other one. Duo could feel his face flush and couldn’t help the gasp that escaped him when Heero continued his tormenting of Duo’s flesh. It just wasn’t right, whether he really did want it or not, it felt good. More than good. The only question he really did have in his mind was: Does he really not want it? Duo tried to get a hold of his hormone-addled brain and stop Heero before he lost the power to control himself, but he was fighting a losing battle. “There-ah-is no-oh-reason.”

Heero slid his hand down Duo’s side and rested it on his waist and grinned. “Liar. Admit it to yourself, Duo. Why did you kiss me like that?”

“Because…” Duo trailed off, finding it difficult to admit in more than one way. He didn’t want to say it out loud and then there was the problem of actually getting it out coherently while Heero found more and more ways to break Duo’s resolve. “Because I…”

Heero slid his hands up to rest them around Duo’s bound wrists and quietly gazed into Duo’s eyes. Not being able to stand the look of those piercing dark blue eyes that were accented by the full moonlight, Duo had to turn away. “Because I…liked it. I liked kissing you.”

Duo could feel his heart beat a mile a minute from that confession. But finally having that off his chest did feel good; it was embarrassing, yet lifting at the same time.

“Was that so hard?” Heero cooed. His hands left Duo’s wrists and began to slide down towards his neither regions. Duo’s resolve may be dissolving, but it was still there. He didn’t want this, at least not like this, not with his hands chained to the headboard. //Stop// those questing fingers were at his navel, //you promised me--//.

“You promised!” Duo gasped out, stopping Heero from gliding any further down. “You promised you wouldn’t do it this way.”

“I promised I wouldn’t take you without your consent.” Heero leaned down, his mouth a few mere centimeters from Duo’s ear. “When I’m done with you, you will be begging me to take you.”

Heero suckled Duo’s ear as his eyes grew wide and his body shivered from what the dark haired man had just said. Duo’s body was already reacting, his half hard cock making itself know, from what Heero had already done. He couldn’t imagine what else the man had on his mind, but with Duo restrained down, there really wasn’t much he could do.

“Tell me something,” Heero hummed against Duo’s throat as he was sucking on it. “When Primitivus had you pinned against the wall, what were you thinking?”

//I wanted it to be you!// That thought echoed through his mind again, this time meaning more than it ever did. Duo flushed all the way down to his chest. “N-Nothing!”

“You’re denial, Duo. Admit it to yourself.”

“I wasn’t thinking any–Aaahh! Fuck!” Heero’s hand slipped down into Duo’s toga and grasped his cock, which had been upright and begging for attention. Heero found the small amount of pre-cum at the tip and swirled it around the head. Duo threw his head back and gasped incoherently, not even he knew what he was trying to say. His breathing, which was already heavy, grew even more rapid. Once the blissful shock wore off, Duo was met with the triumphant gaze of Persian blue eyes. “That felt good, I take it?”

Heero continued to lightly stroke Duo, making it almost impossible for him to keep his eyes open. Sounds started coming out of him that he didn’t even know he could make as he tried to muster a protest but to no avail. //Fuck, how does he know how to do all of this?//

Heero leaned down and was met by yielding lips as he kissed the breath out of Duo. It was just like he remembered; warm, demanding yet soft and tasted of fruit. “Please…” Duo managed to get out when Heero let him up for air.

“Please what Duo?” Heero used more of the pre-cum that was steadily dripping out to slicken his shaft. “Please stop, or please don’t stop?”

Duo couldn’t answer, he didn’t trust himself to, afraid his voice would betray him like the rest of his body had. Instead he let out an uncharacteristic whine.

“Again Duo, what were you thinking?” Heero loosened the grip he had on Duo’s cock and started to trail a finger even further down. Duo jumped when he touched the sensitive spot under his sac and shivered as that finger came close to his entrance.

“I-I thought…” He didn’t want to say it, not out loud, not at this moment.

That questing digit began to circle his opening lightly. “Admit it to yourself Duo.” That finger pushed in slightly, causing Duo to arch his back and let out a throaty moan. //Why am I like this? Why am I being so weak?// Heero pushed in further and began to stretch him. “What did you think about, my little Aiko?”

“I thought…I thought that I…” No, he wasn’t going to admit it. Another finger joined the one already inside of him, pushing him to open himself as Heero pushed for the answer to his question. “Thought what?”

Duo managed to keep his mouth shut until Heero stroked his passage in the right place, causing his pleasure to jump to a new peak as he screamed. “Oh Gods! Ah!”

“Admit it Duo,” Heero cooed again, finding that spot once more. “Say it.”

“I thought I…I wanted…” Heero hit his pleasure spot right on. “Ah, shit, Heero! I wanted it to be you!”

Duo’s eyes flew open from his hazed bliss when he heard himself say it. But it was done, and he couldn’t take it back, which was obvious when he saw the smug yet thrilled look on Heero’s face. “And why would you want it to be me?”

Heero added another finger, making Duo moan deep in his throat. “Why, Duo?”

“Because I-I’m…” Heero’s fingers left Duo’s passage and he sat up to see Heero gripping his own cock as he lined it up with his entrance. “Because I’m…”

Duo felt the press of Heero’s head on his opening. “I’m…”

Heero pushed forward, Duo gasped. “I’m falling in--”


Duo shot up from the bed, sweating and eyes wide from the dream he just had. His breath was labored as he sat there, stunned at himself. “No, no, no…”

He had dreamed that Heero going to fuck him…and he had enjoyed almost every moment of it, which was apparent from the mess now cooling between his legs. Embarrassed as all hell, Duo’s gaze shifted over to where Heero had been sleeping, letting out a sigh of relief when he saw that side of the bed was vacant //thank the Gods for his insomnia//.

Slipping off the bed, Duo cringed at the sticky substance drying on his leg and ran off to his room. Fill the basin with water once he got there, Duo cleaned himself off while trying to figure out what the hell was wrong with him. He should have known it was a dream, how the hell else would ‘Heero’ have known about what Primitivus had done or what he was thinking at that time?

Shaking his head, he finished cleaning himself off and took out a new toga from the dresser and slipped it on. It was just strange…it was his dream right? Why would he want Heero to coax him into admitting--that’s what it was. Throughout his dream, ‘Heero’ kept on saying “admit it to yourself”; he was admitting what he really felt in the dream, not to Heero, but to himself. //What I really felt…// Nope, that couldn’t be it. Then, he would have…would have…

Duo sighed and left to walk back to Heero’s chamber. Lost in his own thoughts, it scared the shit out of him when he bumped into Heero right outside the room. “Oh shit, sorry.”

Heero blinked at him. “That’s all right, but…where did you come from?”

“Oh, um, washroom.” At least that was a believable lie this time, considering the shitty ones he had told before, when he managed to lie, that is. Not giving Heero enough time to comment on it, Duo traipsed back into the room and slipped under the covers. Heero followed suit a second later.

The turmoil that was brewing in his head before he ran into Heero returned full force as he lay there. He would admit to anyone that Heero was a good looking man //better than good looking// and that he was abnormally nice compared to others in his station, though he was quiet about it, but letting the idea that Duo was more than attracted to him finally rest in his mind was hard to do. Then there was that spark. The spark he felt when they kissed. He had kissed people before, even had a girlfriend for a while, though they didn’t do anything past kissing. But, it had never felt like that. There had never been that jolt between him and the other person before. //Maybe it was a fluke, because of the tension?//

He would have to find out once and for all.

* * * *

Heero was more than a little confused as he lay there. First of all, he woke up from Duo moving around in his sleep, which was a new one. He usually slept like a rock. Then, when he tried to fall asleep again he heard //I know I didn’t imagine it// Duo moan his name. That shocked him upright and from there he decided to get up for a while. But when he ran into Duo in the hallway and the man had said he was at the washroom…//that’s where I went//. Why would he lie about that?

Defeated, Heero stared at the ceiling and waited for sleep to overcome him. It was then that he felt the bed shift and Duo suddenly appeared in his line of sight, leaning over him.

“I forgot something,” Duo announced and leaned down to kiss him. Surprised yet please, Heero let his eyes drift shut and let Duo take charge. It wasn’t long until he felt Duo’s tongue caressing his bottom lip, asking for entrance. Though he was confused about the change of heart, he bent to Duo’s will and opened his mouth, allowing that velvet tongue slip in again. His hands stole up and rested around Duo’s sides as the long haired man moaned into his mouth.

Quietly breaking the kiss, Duo pulled up and gazed down at Heero. “Happy birthday.”

Apparently satisfied with the effect he had on Heero, Duo laid back down, his back to Heero once again. Heero just laid there in a daze, his cheeks now flushed and his mind utterly confused. //Happy birthday indeed//

* * * *

Duo buried his face in the pillow. It was there again. The spark. Even stronger this time, too. It just didn’t make sense; why with him, of all people? Duo sighed to himself, //it does make sense//. He pulled the blanket up to his chin and closed his eyes. //Admit it to yourself// the voice of Heero from his dream quietly called out in his head as his consciousness slipped away from him. //I know// Duo sighed just as sleep took him, //I’m falling in love//.


TBC…
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Review Please! And a quick shout-out to my Beta Readers! Thanks! : )

[1] – These parasites/predators can get up to 40 inches long and latch onto things, drinking their blood and eating their flesh while attached. If you want to see a picture (though they’re usually dark brown) go to: http://www.scar.utoronto.ca/~youson/lamprey-photo.htm

[2] - This idea was inspired by a real story about a banquet thrown by Vedius Pollio in ancient Rome. Go to: http://home.triad.rr.com/warfford/Roman_Empire/slavery.html and scroll about half way down to the excerpt about it if you want to know about the real incident.