13-Jun-2002

Title: Broken (Silver) Arrow
Author: bonnejeanne (bonnejeanne@yahoo.com) and von (sablexo1@yahoo.com)
Category: yaoi, AU, songfic, sequel
Rating: NC-17
Pairings: 1 + 2 (1x2)
Spoilers: None
WARNINGS: Lemon, some language, weird premise, a little angst
Disclaimer: Gundam Wing characters and universe are the property of the copyright owners. Our stuff is ours. No money being made here.
Feedback: welcome.

NOTES: Another in the Classic Monster Series, a sequel to American Werewolf in Space and in a sly way, to Bloodline as well.

"Broken Arrow" - written by Robbie Robertson, sung by Rod Stewart
The song can be found here - it's a 4 mg file, be forewarned:
http://www.no-assumptions.com/listen/RodStewart-BrokenArrow.mp3

DEDICATION: This is a birthday gift for Debi, aka DeeEzBee, who made us a lovely piece of fan art for American Werewolf in Space. Also dedicated to Stacy, another amazing artist with similar taste in subject matter. ^__~ And finally to Les, and everyone who read and liked American Werewolf, and Bloodline. Yes, the Classic Monster series will continue and yes a couple of other pilots will be getting into the act, though no ETA for the next story at this time.

Broken (Silver) Arrow

by von and bonnejeanne

It was another mission gone wrong. From the beginning, Duo had had a bad feeling about returning to the valley where he and Heero had completed a prior assignment to destroy arms at an OZ, formerly Alliance, base. Completed, only to succumb to the dark whim of chance as Heero took two rounds of enemy fire during their escape. Subsequent events had brought many things out into the moonlight, including secrets, mysteries, and emotions that neither of the young Gundam pilots had intended to reveal. The breathless alliance they had found between them in the hours that followed had become a treasure that terrified Duo for the vulnerability it brought as much as it astounded him for sheer power and beauty. Against his will, he had given his heart after all his vows never to open himself so far again, and been brought almost to his knees by the return offered from the supposedly emotionless 'perfect soldier'.

Had he been waiting from that time to the present for the other shoe to drop?

Perhaps he should have been, but the answer was no. Once committed, he'd accepted the miracle with his whole heart. It added an edge of terror to every subsequent assignment, every battle in which his heart's new owner was at risk, but if the timing for such a love was indescribably bad, the object of it was the most capable warrior his world knew, a fact which made the risk just bearable.

Heero had become his hostage to fortune, but Duo Maxwell had no intention of surrendering him. Not without a fight that would tear the world in half.

That resolution had enabled him to resume his vocation with the characteristic grin and deceptive bravado. Wing's pilot now knew that Shinigami walked the night on four paws, and somehow it only strengthened their bond.

For a creature of the night, Duo was incredibly pragmatic. The shiver of foreboding that slid across his nerves when they had to return made no sense, and he tried to ignore it as foundationless. It made no difference - they had to go, once they'd gotten the message.

How Saelac had managed to reach them remained a mystery, but there had been no doubt in Duo's mind that the village pack leader had sent it once the content was deciphered. It was a warning, not a summons, but it brought them as sure as an order from the Scientists.

/Someone in OZ has learned how to hunt weres./

The Gundams had been left behind, on the far side of the mountains because both of them were wary of using the same plan a second time. Duo knew he could have brought Deathscythe in under the noses of an entire OZ battalion, confident that Professor G's stealth technology was advanced enough to remain light-years ahead of the Earth military's detection and countermeasures, but Wing was not so equipped. So they stashed the Gundams and went over the mountains on foot, two and two for the most part, though there was that in the keen air of the high passes that called to Duo to try it on four.

The trip down the other side was easy.

Instead of heading straight for the base, which was exactly where they had left it, as Duo jokingly pointed out, they decided to scout the village first.

Even from a distance, they could tell it was too quiet.

The closer they got, the more the hackles rose on the back of Duo's neck under the heavy weight of the long braid. The streets were empty. The windows were shuttered. A little windblown debris skated across the empty sidewalks. Nostrils flaring, Duo scented blood, not fresh, maybe a couple of days old. Even as they moved to slip from the woods into the edge of town for a closer look, Duo suddenly reversed and his hand dropped on Heero's arm, pulling him back.

The gun appeared in Heero's hand even as the Japanese pilot felt the touch of his partner. The not-rightness of the village moved over his senses and kept him ready to go into whatever action was called for. Looking around and checking their flank, Heero moved in sync with Duo.

Backing out, they circled the village perimeters keeping under the cover of the forest that surrounded the town on all sides. On the side away from the mountains, and incidentally towards the base, they found plenty of evidence to indicate at least something about what had happened.

Duo pointed, sitting on his heels. "Trucks, big ones. Four, five... maybe six. Stopped at the edge of town. The ground flattened there, passage of a lot of human footprints, soldier's boots around the edges like a containment formation." Standing slowly, the chill he'd felt earlier bit deeper. His blue eyes took on unconscious violet overtones as his jaw set in a deeply stirring anger. "They were rounded up, herded onto trucks, like concentration camp prisoners."

Cobalt blue eyes focused on Duo, as Heero took in every word of intel. He nodded. "Then we have our mission," he stated simply as his hand on the gun tightened.

Duo's eye lingered on a scattering of dark patches visible here and there within the flattened area. His nose confirmed what his imagination suggested - not everyone who got on the trucks were unhurt. The sense of outrage and injustice that had gotten him committed to the gig as a Gundam pilot flared along with a more primal, almost feral rage. There were hints of other aromas, too masked by the dilution of human odors of fear, the old blood, diesel fuel from the trucks and the lingering taint of small munitions to be certain, but it prodded him with the memory of a special musk tuned to five different chemistries. They'd have never given the village up without a fight, but there weren't any indications of fighting, soldiers' blood... not here at any rate.

"I want to check out the other side of the village perimeter," Duo said, fighting with the feeling that some one, some few, *must* have escaped. This time he'd a better idea what to look for.

Heero did a lightning quick check of the plan in his head. He understood what Duo was looking for because he had been looking for the same thing. The place was too quite and a little too sterile. Taking a deep breath, he nodded to Duo. Looking up at the L2 pilot, Heero suddenly found an errant thought crossing his mind. The way the light hit Duo's face brought a small smile to his lips. When did I lose my solitary existence, he thought, finding the answer standing before him.

Reaching out, he touched Duo's chin. "Let's go," he said, finding his senses and thoughts returning to the moment.

Duo turned into the touch without a thought. His eyes focused on Heero's for a moment, almost startled, a little questioning, then smiled slightly, very briefly, paying homage for that bare instant to the presence of his personal miracle before his mind returned to the cool/hot presence of Shinigami in his soul. His hand slipped up to brush fingertips along the Japanese pilot's smooth cheek, highlighting the line of that incredible bone structure before he resumed the scouting stance and melted into the woods, knowing his partner would be beside him.

Scouting the other side of the village and the woods beyond eased Duo's tensions fractionally. The trails were few, well-covered, impossible to follow very far but it was enough to confirm than a few, perhaps a handful of souls had managed to get out, and disappear into the forest. There was no point in tracking them, with luck they'd found shelter and concealment. As the sun began to sink behind the trees, stealing the daylight into deep shadow, the two pilots turned by mutual impulse in the direction of the OZ base.

There wasn't even the need for a discussion of the plan. It was simple. Locate and liberate the noncombatants, then trash the base thoroughly enough to make OZ abandon it. The Gundams might be needed for completion of the last part, but they could certainly get the destruction underway before heading back over the mountains for the mecha.

Travel through the forest was fast and unerring. Once before they'd been pursued through these woods, Heero wounded and fighting not to fail. This time rested, prepared, and given energy by the burn of a pure, quiet rage, they crossed the distance like shades of retribution.

Senses tuned to the highest pitch, the two pilots sensed the disturbance long before they got close enough to hear the sounds of weaponsfire or the perimeter sirens. This time Duo didn't even pause to seek the rising moon, his hand rose to the fastening of his collar, then froze as another sound rose above the commotion. There was a rage that matched and even exceeded his own in the howl that spiraled up from the area around the west wall, but it was quickly answered by the thunder of munitions. Hand dropping from his collar, Duo ran.

Heero felt a cold shiver creep up his spine at the sound of the howl. Turning, he moved towards the sound of gunfire as he felt himself lock into full mission mode. The cry deserved a full answer and he intended that it should receive one.

The searchlights on the wall were swiveling rapidly, attempting to catch a full-sized, gold-tinted shape squarely enough to guide the guards that were shooting. They succeeded in tearing up the ground, and driving the attack away from the wall, which was showing damage in the form of deep scrapes and gouges. But the attacker was alone, outmatched, and Duo's nose told him, not unscathed.

He was also, they could see as they reached the edge of the woods there, more than half insane with rage.

Blinking as he took in the situation, the impossibility of a direct attack on the wall or gates, Duo hissed, "We have to grab him, stop him, or he'll get himself killed to no purpose!"

Edging around, keeping out of sight of the wall and tower, and leaving the other side of the circle to Heero, he realized the task might well be impossible if the huge wolf was so lost to anything but madness that he might turn on those attempting to save his life.

"Hai," Heero said, simply. Unlike the last time, he fully intended on being a part of the fight.

The opportunity was slim when it came and would have failed without Heero's strength, as he managed to get a hand on the creature and pull it back into the trees where Duo appeared, helping him drag the beast into the darkness. It fought, but the smell of fresh blood was not sharp enough to keep the pilot's scent from finally breaking through to the brindled wolf whose paws were torn from trying to break through the wall, flanks heaving with flesh cut by shrapnel and grazes. Once he stopped fighting, Renke glared at them through wild amber eyes.

Keeping his senses trained behind them, to detect any advance away from the wall by anything from the base, Duo crouched next to the beast, laying a hand on his back.

"Where are the others?" he demanded urgently.

The brindled wolf glared back at the base, impressions flooding Duo's senses rapidly. Not words, not thoughts, almost pictures... A huge black wolf with blue eyes, another only slightly smaller with darker eyes and a slightly longer coat. "Saelac and Uli, they're inside? What about the other two?"

A slight, impatient, almost guilty flood and secondary impressions. Duo shook his head. "I think Tavin and Axel are guarding the escapees in the foothills," he muttered to Heero, "Think he's disobeying orders being here." The brindled wolf snarled softly, but his breathing was coming in heaving gasps and now he was licking at a few of the sluggishly seeping wounds.

Dropping to his knees, Heero touched the wolf. "You've done enough here. Get back to the others. We'll take it from here," he said, glancing up at Duo.

He got a fiercer snarl for his troubles. Duo snorted softly in answer.

"There's a better way," he said, glancing at Heero. They had done full intel for the previous mission and knew the layout of the base thoroughly. "We get you in," he told the wolf, "you get the people out. I have a pretty good idea where they must be, there are only a couple of places where they could confine than many people. Saelac and Uli will probably be in high-security confinement, if they have any idea what they've got." He shook his head in suspicious wonder at the idea. "Heero and I will go after them, and provide enough distraction along the way to cover your escape. There's a river at the northeast side, which supplies the base with water. We can get in through there."

Heero nodded in agreement.

The wolf's amber eyes tracked from one to the other, and then he seemed to relax just a little. As he did so, a slight tremble of extreme exhaustion ran through his frame.

Duo observed it and said nothing. He glanced at Heero. They were fresh, Renke was obviously not, but he knew better than to expect the young were to be talked out of participating.

Without any further need for conversation, Duo set a slow pace for working their way through the forest to the northeast side, to allow the wolf to recover some of his energy. They found the small river and Heero was sent to disable the anti-intrusion defenses around its entrance to the base, while Duo explained the plan they would use to the third member of the group. He described the layout, but knew that Renke's sense of smell would guide him more accurately than the directions. The three of them would sneak in, Heero and Duo would quickly set some explosives in several areas for distraction, and also to create a method of egress through the wall. After a slight delay the charges would go off, and the groups would attempt the rescue and escape. It was simple enough to work if things worked in their favor, but the two pilots were used to improvising if that turned out not to be the case.

It was decided that the best time to try for it would be two hours before dawn. Renke crawled off to rest in concealment and Duo slid down next to Heero, both their backs against the trunk of a large tree. He glanced up at the moon, which was rising late, and waning, his hand somehow finding its way into Heero's as they waited for the remainder of the night to pass.

Raising Duo's hand to his mouth, Heero kissed it. Under the cloak of night, appearances didn't matter much. Something about this whole thing sucked to him. He couldn't put his finger on what was causing the reaction, but he'd had a bad feeling from touch-down that hadn't dissipated.

"I don't think I need to tell you this, but I'm going to anyway," he said, looking up at Duo. "Watch your butt."

Duo shifted until he was leaning his body against Heero's side and shoulder. The Japanese pilot was as solid as the tree. "Ok. And watch yours... I have uses for it later, you got that?"

"Hn," Heero replied, swiping his tongue across Duo's hand. "Got it," he said, moving to settle Duo against him more.

The American Gundam pilot smiled slightly as he settled, absorbing as much as he could of the contact with all his senses. Even in the midst of the tension-filled night, he found himself savoring the sight, feel and scent of the boy who had become his lover against all the odds. "Perfect," he murmured softly, though whether in agreement to Heero's last words, or simple an assessment in tribute to him, it would have been hard to determine.

The waning moon flirted over the edge of the trees as she began to fade slightly in the imperceptibly lightening sky. They gathered at the edge of the woods without a word, the plan already set. Duo took the lead, sliding into the icy water after stripping down to his pants and a gray tank top, leaving the rest of his clothes and boots concealed in the woods, his share of the explosives in a waterproof bag over his shoulder. He struck out, trusting Heero to have disabled all the anti-infiltration measures, and knowing the others would be right behind him. Once through the small, dark opening, he came up for air and then quickly climbed out and found partial concealment as the other two came through. From there it went by the numbers... for a while.

Renke disappeared as they moved silently around the base, avoiding sentries and setting decoy bombs as well as the ones that would breach the wall and allow them to get out. The hard part was finding the high security area and determining if Saelac and Uli were actually there. There wasn't any time to be wrong. The bombs began to go off in sequence, alarms wailed, and the base began to boil like a stirred-up ant colony.

It really looked like they were going to make it, though. Duo had forgotten how many high security confinement cells he'd broken into or out of in his short career. A pair of vivid blue eyes widened in shock as the door came open and Duo appeared like an apparition. "No time for chitchat, Heero's springing Uli, we'll meet 'em outside. You hurt? Ugh, nasty. Can travel? Course you can. Hold up those shackles, will ya?" Duo rattled off as he slipped his fingers into his wet braid and brought out a lockpick. He barely heard heard the warning, though he noticed the odd dark welts around Saelac's wrists. His fingers closed over the white metal and suddenly he felt his skin in contact with it begin to burn.

"What the fuck?" Ignoring the sensation, which grew with each second, his fingers made short work of the locks, they weren't really top class after all. But by the time he dropped them on the floor his body was starting to feel weak and an odd dizziness threatened to slow him down.

The tall pack leader pushed to his feet, though he looked ill, worse than ill, but his will was the same Duo remembered and he shook off the pilot's offered hand, knowing it would slow the other boy down.

There wasn't any time to figure out the discrepancies. "Can you change, we might go faster?" Duo muttered as they made it out of the security block, barely dodging the armed squad that rushed down the corridor.

"Can't... silver poisoning..." the pack leader muttered, though the growl in his voice betrayed the fact that he wasn't giving up so easily.

"Silver what? Nevermind," Duo shook his questions off as he pulled the taller boy after him, dispensing with any concessions to Saelac's pride. They just had to get to the spot where they were meeting Heero and his charge - the escape route would open on time, with a big boom.

Additional explosions and turmoil, and the shift of attention in the running soldiers suggested that Renke was having some success. Get these two out and he and Heero could come back and help if it seemed to be needed. The distance seemed longer than he expected but it didn't matter.

There was Heero, the figure of long-haired Uli at his side, that one also looking oddly worse for wear, the same dark welts around his wrists. The explosion came on time, opening up a breach in the wall above the river's outlet.

Then hell broke loose.

A spotlight bathed them in white exposure. Bullets spattered around them. An energy that Duo didn't recognize seemed to rise in his chest. He pushed Saelac towards Heero. "Get 'em out!" he cried, pulling his tanktop off and yanking the gold cross from around his neck, dropping it in the pack leader's pocket even as he turned the opposite way, jerking the fastening from the end of his braid and tearing at the top of his pants.

Throwing his head up, his eyes caught the sliver of the moon's edge beyond the spotlight. "You want a show, you fuckers? Watch this!"

Bathed in artificial light, he began to change. There were cries of sheer astonishment, the aim of the bullets wavered, giving Heero and the two wounded weres a chance to duck into shadow. The next moment the wolf shape darted out of the wildly moving spotlights and was gone.

Heero only had enough time to curse before heading the hurt parties towards the safety of the woods. Mental note, he thought. Slap the braided baka on his furry ass for heart-attack.

By the time the soldiers had regained their senses the fugitives had escaped. That did not stop them from aiming gunfire in their last known position.

On the wall, a cloaked figure watched the entire chaotic circus with unconcealed amusement. The plan had worked far better than he'd expected. Not only had they brought the Gundam pilots out, but that amazing image... wonderful. With eyes too keen for normal human perception, even in the increasing predawn, the man on the wall picked out the fast and graceful silhouette of the wolf, dark chestnut coat blending with shadows as it worked its way in the direction of the rendezvous point.

On the other side of the base, a howl was answered by two others, as the townsfolk and Renke were met by help from the outside.

Lifting a small comm unit to his lips, the man on the wall called off the pursuit of the escaped locals. Ordered the base into defensive status to resecure it. And then raised an archaic weapon to sight on the fleeing wolf.

"Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger, young one," he said, and released the crossbow quarrel.

It felt like cold fire tearing through Duo's side. It knocked him down and continued to sear even as it bit. He'd never felt anything like it, and in that moment Duo knew that in spite of the changes the Earth had brought to his body under the benevolence of the moon, he was still mortal.

No idea how he made it through the woods. The stink of his own blood was thick in his nostrils. But there in the place they'd agreed to meet, was the one he had to get to. Stumbling, pushing back to his feet, somehow he made it, and dropped to the ground.

Heero counted heads as they spilled into the cover of the woods. His eyes immediately searched for Duo, then widened as he saw the big wolf on the ground.

All thoughts aside, Heero dropped to his knees on the ground. He visually checked the wolf's body and then ran his hands through the thick fur. He smelled blood.

"Fuck," he muttered, inspecting the wound. The projectile was not hard to find. Embedded into Duo's flank... Heero felt the moist, sticky blood coat his fingers.

Duo's head moved and his tongue came out and weakly licked Heero's fingers. There was so much Duo wanted to say, but he couldn't change, the strength wasn't in him.

"Try to keep still," Heero said, petting the huge canine. He tried not to think of the implications or that this was his lover and one who had breeched his defenses so totally and thoroughly. "Looks like a crossbow arrow. Need to get it out," he said.

Another figure dropped to his knees by Heero. Nose flaring, Saelac hissed, "Yes, out, fast." He reached down to help hold Duo still so Heero could do it.

Glancing up at Saelac, Heero nodded. "Duo," he said, quietly. "Say ouch." Without preamble, the Perfect Soldier grabbed and pulled the arrow out in one swift tug. Mentally, he cursed himself for causing Duo pain and then he vowed whoever had done this would get to feel the pain his lover had felt.

Looking at the head of the thing before discarding it, Heero could not detect any particular chemical. The only anomaly seemed to be that the arrow was tipped in silver.

Blood gushed out of the wound as the arrow was removed. Duo whined softly, pressing his muzzle against Heero's body.

Uli had come close and looked down at the discarded projectile. "Sonofabitch," he muttered. "Whoever it was, they knew what to use."

"We need Karl," Saelac growled. Glancing at Heero, he stood up, and then took a deep breath, and opened his mouth. A howl came from the pack leader's human throat that would have done a wolf proud. It carried a note of urgency to it. They owed these two so much... he hoped they had enough time to try and meet the obligation.

Duo found himself half across Heero's knees as he tried to continue to breathe. The burning sensation inside him had gone away, but he felt so weak. He wasn't supposed to be weak. He was supposed to be strong. He was a Gundam pilot. And he was a... a something else. It was ridiculous to be laying here trying to remember to keep his heart beating. But at least he was here. At least if nothing else, he had that scent in his nose, those eyes watching over him, a familiar hand stroking him gently as if Heero had no idea he was doing it.

Heero peeled off his green tank top and folded it. He then pressed it against Duo's wounded side. Other ideas came to mind. They were simple battlefield medical techniques that he wouldn't have hesitated to use on himself. Unfamiliar with canine anatomy, however, he decided to err on the cautious side... at least until he got impatient with waiting and then he'd do what he had to do.

Looking down at Duo, he smiled a little. "If you'd broken your leg, I would know how to fix it," he said. Inside, he felt the most profound pain he had ever experienced in his life and it had nothing to do with a physical injury. His training told him in no uncertain terms that he could lose Duo very easily and quickly. Clenching his jaw, Heero allowed his anger to surface and block that out as an option.

When the silent figures emerged from the trees around them, they found the two guarded by Uli and Saelac.

Duo thought he heard Renke's voice, saying, "Oh fuck, no way..."

Saelac's voice, calm, if vibrating with urgency, "We need to act quickly. Karl?"

The next thing Heero knew, he was walking beside a litter, hastily made of treelimbs, covered with coats and jackets, carried by the half clothed figures of Tavin and Axel. Surrounded by nearly the entire village, there was no chance an OZ patrol was going to get anywhere near them.

Somewhere along the way, Duo moved from a bare grasp of consciousness into dreams.

Heero found himself in a well-concealed tent, the old man who had once fixed his own bullet wounds placing wise hands on Duo. There were questions on the faces all around him but the old healer ignored them and concentrated on his work. Saelac cleared people out of the tent, leaving Heero alone with Duo and Karl.

The old man cleaned the wound, bandaged it, but seemed troubled. Finally he cornered Heero and asked him a few rather odd questions. Then he asked the young Japanese man to hold out his hand. A sharp prick, and a couple of simple tests, and Heero found himself sitting next to the cot where Duo lay, with a tourniquet on his arm.

He was close to falling asleep when Duo began to slowly change next to him. Violet eyes opened, focused on his face, and then the boy seemed to relax. Karl appeared with a blanket and covered Duo's naked human body to the shoulders.

"It's going to be all right," Karl said quietly, placing a hand on Heero's shoulder.

"Arigato," Heero said, quietly as he looked down and away. The release from tension brought water to his eyes. Swallowing hard, he looked back at Duo. "Thank you, sir," he said, finding his voice a little rough. "I'll watch him."

"Of course you will," Karl said, patting Heero and then moving off, to give the news to the ones who waited outside. Heero thought he heard a quickly muffled exclamation of relief from someone who sounded like Renke outside, and other, softer voices that faded to quiet.

Duo had closed his eyes but they opened again. His hand slipped from under the edge of the blanket and wandered towards Heero like a lost kitten seeking his mother.

Heero moved beside Duo, taking his hand. He brought it to his mouth, pressing his lips to it before holding it against his face. "Get some rest. I'll be here," he said, noting with some annoyance the fluid on his cheek.

Duo gave his hand a soft tug. "...'ere with me.." he mumbled, his tone a little reminiscent of a slightly petulant child.

"Shut up," Heero said, already moving to comply. He carefully got under the blanket and arranged Duo against him, enclosing the pilot in his arms. Leaning down, he dropped a kiss on Duo's bare shoulder.

Duo snuggled against Heero's body, closing his eyes. A little smile crept across his lips and it might have been Heero's imagination but it almost seemed to have a bit of a smug quality to it. "Better," he muttered into Heero's shoulder and settled to sleep.

Heero took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Whatever revenge or retribution would have to wait. Listening to Duo breathe, Heero fell asleep.

When Heero woke, it was late afternoon, turning towards evening. They had slept through the day.

He found something had been placed in his hand. A gold cross on a chain. Saelac had placed it there after finding it in his pocket.

The body against his moved slightly, and the face tucked into his shoulder turned up, slightly thwarted by the unbound chestnut hair that had become wrapped around them both to some degree.

"Heero?" a sleepy, slightly hoarse voice emerged from under the hair.

"Hai," Heero replied, looking down. He moved the curtain of hair back, grateful to be able to touch it again.

Wide, violet-blue eyes fastened on him. Slightly turned-up nose wrinkled, then a wide, well-shaped mouth opened and Duo said hoarsely, "What the FUCK happened, where the HELL are we?"

A slow smile spread across Heero's face. If he needed confirmation that the God of Death was still amongst the living, he'd gotten it. "You were shot with a silver-tipped arrow after getting naked and showing off to OZ last night. We're in a nicely concealed place, being taken care of by Karl. He took some blood from me and put it into you and you got better," he said.

"No shit?!" Duo said, his eyes getting even wider. "He did? I did? You did? A silver-tipped what? I remember the getting naked part. Is everybody ok? Everybody make it?" He leaned closer and rubbed his nose against Heero's cheek, and then smiled like a little kid.

"Yes to all," Heero said, then turned his face to Duo's, capturing his mouth with his own.

The kiss started off innocently enough, but grew into an expression of joy, relief, gratitude and love. Once again, Heero felt his world up-end, but it didn't bother him at all.

Duo pressed against Heero, his hands working around the Japanese boy's body. When they both came up for air, he sighed. "Man... that's... good. Great. Perfect." He smiled and kissed Heero back for a little while.

"Perfect," he repeated. A deep breath and another sigh. "Oh man, I had some weird-ass, fucked up dreams. Had a little conversation with Shinigami - my name sake, you know. I asked him what the fuck he was doing there, talking to me, and you know what he said? Said, 'whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger.' What the fuck was *that* all about?"

He followed this recital with a grin. Then his expression sobered. He stared into Heero's eyes for a long moment and then ducked his head slightly.

"Sorry," he mumbled.

"For what?" Heero asked, touching Duo's face with his fingertips.

Flash of violet-blue eyes. "Fucked up," he explained. "Not supposed to do that. I take too many chances. Don't know any other way to do it." Then he favored Heero with a sly look. "Waitaminute, who am I saying this to... Mister jump outta the tall building and go splat..."

Heero smiled. "I admit I wondered," he said. Sliding his hand along Duo's cheek, he turned the beautiful pilot's face up to him. "Let's call it even. A cautious Duo Maxwell, is a fake Duo Maxwell. I prefer the real thing."

"Well that's cuz you got good taste," Duo smirked, and his lips found Heero's for another kiss.

Closing his eyes, Heero allowed himself to fall into the kiss completely. After a moment or two, he brought his hand down on the soft curve of Duo's bottom under the blanket.

"That's for getting naked without me," he said.

"Ouch!" Duo said, but the smirk returned. "I just can't resist a spotlight." His hands slid around Heero's rear under the blanket and he sighed. "You are overdressed. From the waist down to be specific."

"Yeah, you're better," Heero replied. "You could help, you know."

Duo's hands immediately started pulling at the spandex shorts, groping them down along his body. "How's that?"

Heero felt the touch of flesh against flesh and nodded. "Better," he said. "Are you sure you're... up to it?"

Duo's body rubbed against Heero's. He was up to it. "I actually don't feel that bad, for somebody who was talking to Shinigami. Little sore. Kinda itchy around the side. But you're right, I should probably take it easy..." he said, looking around innocently.

Heero watched Duo for a second as his body reacted to Duo's words. Adjusting and shifting his body, he slid his hands around Duo's rear, squeezing and kneading the soft curves. "Agreed," he said, unable to look away from the violet-blue eyes. "Take it ..easy, Duo."

The other boy grinned. Leaning close, he licked Heero's cheek and then along his jawline. "I have an idea..." he said. "Since I'm supposed to... take it... easy...." He moved his mouth next to Heero's ear. "Why don't I let you take it.... that would be easy..."

Moving carefully, but finding no pain, just some soreness, he turned around until his back was to Heero, and then looked over his shoulder. "Would you like that? Ever want to?" He shifted back and rubbed his rear against Heero's groin.

"I think you must be psychic," Heero said, reaching down. He spat into his hand and then carefully parted Duo's rear. Sliding a coated finger inside the braided pilot's body, Heero felt his own body answer in return. Removing his finger, he then placed himself at Duo's entrance and tilted his hips forward.

"Unhgh..." Duo groaned softly. He shifted as his body adjusted to the intrusion, and then pushed back slowly. "Ooooh... been a while since... that's.... um, that's nice..."

Reaching down, he stroked himself, his body quickly building heat. The feeling of Heero stretching him, firmly seated inside, was something he'd thought about rather often, and the reality was not the least bit disappointing. His free hand found the edge of the cot and gripped it, as he braced himself for movement. "Mmm... come on, Heero-love..."

Licking his lips, Heero tightened his grip on Duo's hips as he moved deep inside. "Stop.. me if I hurt you," he managed, feeling the exquisite body around him. While his body reveled in the passion and heat, another part of Heero experienced the joy and sense of completeness with Duo. "Next time," he said, through clenched teeth. "No talking to Shinigami without me."

"Mmm..." Duo moaned, his body rocking against Heero's, the friction against a certain area inside sending small shocks through his body. "I'll hurt you if you stop... Ok... now shut up and dance..."

The Perfect Soldier did as ordered. Holding on to his lover firmly, he angled his body, thrusting fast and hard into Duo. Picking up his lover's rhythm, Heero felt his body move towards its peak as he danced.

Suddenly Duo felt himself being propelled over the crest, the sensations building and then exploding through him. With a choked gasp, his body jerked hard as creamy liquid spilled from him, coating his fingers.

Heero felt Duo's body react to pleasure and felt himself surrender to ecstasy as well. His arms encircled Duo, as his seed spilled inside of his lover's body. Leaning down, he kissed the soft nape of Duo's neck as he felt his body begin to calm.

Duo melted back against his lover. As Heero slipped from his body, Duo turned, sliding his arms around the Japanese boy needfully. Kissing him deeply, Duo opened his eyes and drank in the sight that met them. "How do you say it in Japanese?" he murmured. "Ai shi... shiteru?" Without waiting for an answer he kissed Heero again. It felt a bit scary saying the words, but after coming close to losing each other, it was something he wanted to say, at least once. Sighing, he relaxed against Heero, realizing he was going to have to get up and seek food soon. For some reason he was starving. But it felt really good to just lay here with his lover...

Heero looked at Duo for a long moment. There was so much he wanted to say, but found himself once again gripped with strong emotion. "Duo," he said, feeling the words well up from somewhere deep inside. "I ... love you," he concluded. It would have to do for now.

The syllables almost scared Duo and he placed his lips on Heero's quickly. But they sank into his consciousness, anchoring to deep places inside. "You don't have to," he said, then shook his head and started over. "I'm glad," he managed. His arms tightened and he kissed Heero deeply.

"Maybe it'll get easier later," Heero offered, some time after the kiss. "We know what we mean."

Duo grinned slowly. "Maybe it'll get harder later," he said, and then added, "And then we can do it again..."

Heero shook his head. "You dog," he said, with a grin.

"Bow wow."

When the two pilots finally got up, Duo peeled the bandage away from his side before Heero could stop him. Crusted with dried blood and fluids, the gauze revealed almost smooth skin beneath it. The area was a little tender to the touch, but it was closed completely, leaving an odd-shaped, pale scar that almost looked like a star.

If there'd been any doubts about Duo not healing like a normal human, or about the strange nature of the wound, they were dispelled. The oddest thing was that Heero suspected that if it had been an ordinary bullet, or even a plain arrow or quarrel that had pierced the werewolf's body, there might well have been no mark at all.

Duo brushed at the pale scar and finished removing the bandage. "No big deal," he said with a shrug.

"Yeah," Heero replied, stoically. "But you didn't get to see it gushing like I did." Inspecting the area on Duo's body with his fingertips, Heero looked at the scar with great interest. "Silver," he said.

"Huh?"

"That arrow was tipped with silver," Heero said. "I think that means something you should know. Maybe the others can fill you in."

Duo rubbed the tip of his nose and nodded. He made a soft exclamation as he found his tunic and a pair of pants about his size folded on a chair. Someone must have gone back to where they'd stashed their things in the woods. His hand reached up and brushed absently at his collar bone, missing the familiar presence of the cross.

"Hn," Heero said, watching the braided pilot closely. Duo had no idea or reason to know it, but he had just been put on Heero's *close surveillance* list.

"Turn around," he said, unclasping the small crucifix. He then, placed it around Duo's neck.

"Now you're dressed."

Face lightening with relief, Duo curled his fingers around the small charm protectively. He leaned forward and kissed Heero. "Thanks," he said, a smile tugging at the corners of a mouth more than inclined to the expression to begin with.

Heero found that in addition to his spandex shorts, someone had left him a plain dark brown t-shirt. The murmur of voices guided them out of the tent and down to where several people were gathered, sitting on the ground or leaning against nearby trees.

Their arrival was marked by several pairs of eyes from the piercing blue ones of Saelac to the light brown ones of Axel, who waved, wide-eyed. There was an extra degree of scrutiny on Duo from the small group, and more than one set of nostrils flared, assessing his recovery through senses keener than a human's.

Duo noticed that both Saelac and Uli had strips of cloth loosely circling their wrists, but both weres looked completely recovered, a large contrast to the last time he'd seen them.

Renke walked over impulsively and scowled at Duo, then embraced him roughly and walked away.

"Gee I didn't know you cared," Duo quipped without thinking. Then he smiled sheepishly. "But I'm afraid I'm taken."

He was answered by a glare from Renke and soft chuckles from a couple of the others.

"Next time duck," Renke growled. "Get yourself killed, we'd have to deal with your grumpy boyfriend."

"Ahhh..." Duo protested. "It was a lucky shot!"

"It was you showing off," Heero said, quietly. "He's right. Duck next time."

Duo grabbed his chest. "Ouch!" he said, grinning, though his eyes flickered with a slightly darker, if unidentifiable emotion. "Said the pot to the kettle. Did I give you shit for getting shot last time?"

"No," Heero said, answering the question. Reaching out, he touched the small of Duo's back, caressing him. "He likes you. Be nice."

Renke snorted. Duo's eyebrows rose. "Nice?" he said as if he'd never heard the word before. But he shifted back a half-step into the touch.

Saelac watched the exchange, waiting for the banter to die down before he said, "We owe you both. Blood to blood - you need us, we'll come."

Duo's head turned to meet the pack leader's eyes and his expression became unusually serious. After a moment he said, "I hear you."

After a moment of silence, he looked around. "It seems very quiet - no OZ breathing down our necks? We'll take care of them more permanently before we take off..."

Uli shook his head. "They're gone."

Duo blinked.

Heero frowned. "What do you mean gone?" he asked.

Tavin shook his long blond hair back out of his face with a brief gesture. "They packed up and left. The base has been abandoned. Big transport ships from the sky showed up and in five hours they were completely gone. Nothing left but the walls." As the freshest, he and Axel had been the ones scouting the OZ installation.

"What the fu..." Duo scratched his temple. "That doesn't make much sense... does it?"

Heero shook his head. "No it doesn't. Something must be going on. We'll check it when we get back to our suits." he said.

"You mean your... Gundams?" Axel asked, his eyes wide. They had never revealed who they were to the village inhabitants on their previous visit but it hadn't been that hard to put the few facts together and draw some conclusions.

Duo simply answered with a mysterious wink.

"We won't be staying either," Saelac said. "Most of the village are going to relocate, some to other towns, some into the mountains, some elsewhere."

Duo's expression sobered but he nodded. It sucked but he knew the exigencies of survival better than most people.

In an odd way, it made Duo feel a bit more secure, knowing that their friends here were going undercover. But then, they had been hidden here in the valley for a long time with none the wiser. It took a couple of Gundam pilots to draw the extra attention that had caused all this. The mystery of who in OZ could possibly know about the weres was something else, and he was starting to think the answer wasn't going to be easily forthcoming.

Heero lifted the arrow that he'd picked up before leaving the tent. He held it up for inspection. "What can you tell us about this?"

Saelac took the object, touching only the shaft, and examined it closely before handing it back. The expression on his handsome face shifted between concentration, curiosity, and concern following the intense scrutiny.

"Not much," he said. "But I can tell you this. It's an antique. Wasn't made in this century or the last. There's a crest on it, but it's worn almost smooth, and I don't recognize it."

Duo's eyebrows shot up. "An antique? Somebody shot me with a fucking antique?!"

"Silver is not a practical metal for weapons, it's too soft," Uli explained. "But it's poisonous to weres. A weapon like this... predates what we refer to as the Age of Science. When our kind were known, not disbelieved as primitive mythology."

Heero peered at the crest and then ran his thumb over the contours. "Someone in OZ knew and had access to this. If it were one of the engineers, they would have crafted a projectile like a bullet and every soldier would have had a clip of them. Somebody has a secret," he concluded.

Redheaded Axel nodded and then glanced meaningfully at the loose strips around Saelac and Uli's wrists. "They had those made though... were those antiques too?"

Duo shook his head, certain of the answer to that. "Not the most high tech handcuffs I've ever picked, but not exactly antiques. Those were silver too?" He remembered the way his skin had burned at the contact and suddenly understood why the two usually formidable weres had been so weak when they'd been rescued.

"Plated," Saelac confirmed, "Heavily, but over steel, or they wouldn't have been strong enough not to bend." He regarded the two pilots with a slight frown. "That they figured out about us is one thing. That they had that," he nodded towards the arrow still in Heero's hand, "Means something else. It was a trap. Maybe just to draw you out but it still doesn't make sense why they pulled out."

Duo scowled slightly, his almost elfin features taking on a rather sinister cast. "It does if it's only one move in a chess game."

"Hn," Heero remarked. "Survival test. You might be on their dead list, now."

Duo grinned. "Wouldn't be the first time," he said with a wicked expression. "The only problem is, Shinigami doesn't play games."

He reached out and plucked the object from Heero's hand and wrapped both hands around the shaft, which suddenly snapped with a loud cracking sound upon the exertion of a little of Duo's real strength. He handed the pieces back to Heero with a slight, nonchalant smirk.

"Don't get all worked up over a broken arrow, Heero," he said. Then he looked around. "So, anybody got anything to eat? If I'm gonna go climbing those mountains again, I'd rather not do it on an empty stomach."

Heero looked down at the pieces of the arrow in his hands. Glancing up at Duo, a small smile crept over his face. Later, he would tell Duo that the term *broken arrow* had a military meaning a long time ago. It was an accident involving nuclear weapons. "Me too," he said, simply.

Several voices assented and the young members of the pack moved off, leading the two pilots to a well concealed cave set up for cooking.

The pieces of the broken arrow were left on the ground behind them.

~owari~

Please feel free to direct feedback to the authors!
sablexo1@yahoo.com, bonnejeanne@yahoo.com.

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