Title: The Nightmare Within - Part 6
Author: Ebonydove
Archived: aenai.steelsong.com
Date: November 14, 2003
Pairings: 3+4, 1+2
Warnings: OOC, language, sap, slight angst, slight lime
Disclaimer: same old, same old...
Story: Heero is a Preventer assigned a case involving the mysterious death of a nine-year-old girl. He soon finds a link to another case, along with a series of unsolved murders. The characters are GW, but the story has nothing to do with the series.
Author's Notes: I got this idea after reading an article in the local paper. There will definitely be some sci-fi down the road so be forewarned. And a note to the naggers... this is a direct result of your efforts. Thanks!
Any coherent thoughts had flown right out of his brain the moment he felt Duo's soft lips press against his own. The sound of his heart, beating madly in his chest, drowned out all his other senses except for the feel of the young man in his arms. He threaded his fingers up from Duo's side into the mass of auburn-colored hair as he continued to nip and kiss at Duo's demanding lips. When at last the impulse to carry the mercurial young man off to his bed and ravage him filtered through the passionate haze he was in, he froze. It was all going too fast.
"Too fast, Duo."
"Hmmm?" Duo teased kisses along the side of Heero's jawline, pleased at how it made Heero shiver and ignored how still he had suddenly become.
"Duo. Stop." Heero brought his hands to rest on Duo's hips and gave a gentle push away from him. The look that Duo gave him as he unwrapped himself from him was a mix of flustered confusion, hurt, and embarrassment. But even more than that, something dark stirred in Duo's eyes; hinting of something deeper and far more bothersome to Heero. He got a quick glimpse of an expression he never wanted to see cross Duo's face again; fear and rejection.
Duo instantly put some distance between them when Heero pushed away from him and the nervous tension that had been dispelled for those few minutes between them came back tenfold. His eyes quickly darted to anywhere but Heero's as he began to ball his fists up again at his sides. He had put himself out there, risking the chance of getting his heart crushed again, but the need to feel something other than the cold darkness and menacing shadows that constantly followed him had been too great to resist. But now he was unsure of Heero. He thought he could read people pretty well and knew that despite the fact that they had just met, there was chemistry between them. "What's wrong? I thought that you... that we... "
"I like you. I do." Heero soothed as he lifted Duo's chin and finally caught his eyes. "But because I like you, I don't want to rush you to do something that you might regret later. You're upset, from your dream, and the whole night's events, so I think you should just stay still for a bit instead of trying to distract yourself from what's really going on. That, and we really just met, right?"
Duo didn't want to get into the details of his deranged premonitions or how he felt as if he had known Heero for a long time somehow. He just wanted to flee from seeing through the eyes of a murderer, bury himself in the warm comfort of the man in front of him, and not worry about the 'what ifs' or morning after. He didn't give a good goddamn that he was being needy. He admitted freely it to himself. He finally met Heero's pressing gaze and tried to give him a smile. He needed him. He wanted him. But mostly he didn't want to be turned away. Not now, he just didn't think he could take the emotional blow of being rejected just then. "I would have never called you tonight if I didn't trust you, Heero. You're the first person I've trusted in a very long time."
The soft tone Duo used as much as the words themselves stung. He didn't think that Duo would trust him so much once he learned that he had Trowa run his prints and that he had already reviewed his police record. "You don't even know me." Heero whispered back and released Duo's chin.
"I know." Duo sighed back as he shrugged his shoulders and looked away again.
"Well, then at least trust me to know when the time is right for something like... that to happen between us, okay? I think it would be best if we both just got some rest. It's been a long day and you seem a little strung out at it is." The last comment only earned him a snort of disdain and a roll of Duo's eyes.
"I'm not a kid, you know." He snapped back, crossing his arms over his chest in a stance that was very reminecent of a petulant child despite how he was trying it not to be. "It's not my first time with someone either. So you don't need to handle me with the kid gloves."
Heero frowned. It was the bitterness in Duo's voice that killed the tender mood he was allowing to build back up between them. He suddenly felt he was scolding one of the rookies at the house instead of trying to smooth things over between a potential... lover. "I know you're not a kid, but you are part of an investigation, and seeing that I'm the officer in charge of that investigation it would be wrong of me to take advantage of you." Duo gave another derisive little snort. "It's unfair that you're asking me to." He added briskly. He had expected for the two of them to argue, but Duo just stepped back towards him and placed a cool hand on his chest, right over his rapidly thumping heart.
"Despite how much you want me too, right?" Duo cooed back. He stepped even closer and all traces of the sweetness that prompted their first kiss was gone. Now there was just need smoldering in duo's eyes, barely veiled by his crooked grin and teasing tones. "You do want me Officer Yuy. Don't you?" He purred as he slid a hand up Heero's side and rested it on his shoulder. "Because I want you. I trust you. I need you to be with me tonight." He eased himself closer, brushing his lips over Heero's ear again causing another shiver from the resolute officer. "I need you."
Heero could feel the heat from Duo's body as Duo licked the curve of his ear and ran his hands over his chest and arms. His eyes slid shut of their accord as he shivered hard in response to the teasing touches. "Duo... stop." Everything in his being screamed at him that it was wrong, but when Duo began to kiss him again and pressed a warm tongue into his mouth, all thoughts of duty, or consequences, or the conversation they had just had, instantly disintegrated.
"This is wrong of me." He whispered hotly against Duo's mouth. But all Duo did was kiss him harder and drew him closer.
"I want you, Heero. Please... "
The sweet plea that Duo had moaned against his neck broke the strangle hold of control that Heero had so carefully been practicing. He took Duo in his arms, returning his kisses with hard, heated ones of his own, and just when he thought he couldn't stand the heat between them for a moment longer, Duo grazed a fleeting touch over his aching arousal with one of his own. Without further thought, he swept Duo into his arms and marched down the hallway. He would allow Duo to chase away whatever demons stalked him by finding refuge in his bed that night as long as it was understood that Duo had just committed himself to a relationship and not a one night stand, whether he wanted it or not.
When Heero woke the next morning he found himself tangled in a mass of silky hair and long slender limbs. He ran his fingertips along the side of Duo's sleeping face and caught himself smiling at the glitter that came off on his hand. He lifted one of Duo's wrists and it let go, watching with some contentment as it dropped like a stone onto the rumpled sheets. He had finally worn the boy out in the waning hours of the morning and was glad that Duo finally slept soundly without any more nightmares.
He couldn't ignore the sudden pang of tenderness he felt for Duo as he watched him sleep in his bed. It was followed by a frightening urge to protect and shelter him from whatever the kid had gotten himself involved with up until now. He was also very aware of what he had done and how many rules, both personal and professional, he had just broken, but as he watched the steady rise and fall of Duo's chest as he lay there in his bed, it hardly seemed important that he was in so far over his head in such a small amount of time. He glanced over Duo's sleeping form to the clock on the bedside table and sighed. He'd like nothing more than to stay in bed all day with Duo and forget investigations, and paperwork, and all the rules he was breaking, but it wouldn't be long before the world would be clamoring for his attention to close the files that had been haunting him night and day.
He slipped on the pants that had been carelessly discarded in the rush of passion and gently pulled the covers up around Duo's nude body before making his way to the kitchen. Coffee was definitely going to be his friend today. He had been absentmindedly watching the drops of dark liquid drip into he pot for several minutes when his attention was suddenly diverted to the sound of his doorbell buzzing. His heart lurched into a quickened beat as he realized that Duo was still fast asleep in his bed and if anyone found out what had happened between them the night before, it could mean disciplinary action or even suspension. Not to mention he wasn't thrilled with the idea of it getting around that he was suspended because he took advantage of a potential witness to a crime. He'd always prided himself on his level of professionalism and decorum when it came to things like that. He was already dreading the conversation that he and Trowa would have to have sooner or later. It wasn't a secret he wanted to keep from him, or anyone really. But was all about timing.
He quickly darted down the hall, checking to see that Duo was indeed still sleeping and then shut the door. By the time he made it back into the living area, Trowa was already letting himself in with the key he had given him when he first got the apartment. Cursing himself for that move, he ran a shaky hand through his hair acting as if he hadn't just been taken by surprise by his partner.
"Hey, I figured you were still asleep. I was about to leave when I remembered the key you gave me. I have some news and thought we could go for coffee... or lunch."
"Hn." He blocked off the hallway that led to his bedroom with his body. "I have some brewing. What are you doing here? What news?"
The slight smile Trowa had when he first arrived slipped away as he took in the room. There was a rumpled blanket on the floor near the sofa, a half-cup of cold tea left on the table, and Heero's most recent book looked as if it had been tossed haphazardly on the chair. All the clues, combined with Heero's obvious surprise and discomfort that he was there, pointed out that something was off. Heero wasn't the sloppy or forgetful type. He'd been caught off guard. "Did I come at a bad time? You seem... edgy."
"No. Just not awake."
"Heero, it's almost 11:30. You never sleep past seven."
"I... got to bed late." Trowa wasn't buying it, he could tell. He marched past him into the kitchen and poured himself a cup of coffee, hoping the move would distract Trowa enough to change the topic. "Is the news on our case?"
"Have you seem that Maxwell kid?" Trowa asked casually picking up the blanket and folding it neatly on the sofa while Heero busied himself with pouring coffee.
Heero paused pouring sugar into his cup as he tried to only look mildly interested. "The second sight kid that came to the station to see me?"
"Yep. That's the one." Trowa replied watching Heero's frame tense as he made his way into the kitchen to stand nearby him.
"No. Why?" When he turned back to Trowa the look his partner was wearing was a very unhappy one.
"Heero, I followed him last night."
Heero's heart sunk like a stone and the smell from the coffee he'd been craving all morning suddenly made his stomach twist. He'd just been caught telling a lie to his best friend and partner and instantly regretted it by the slightly wounded look on Trowa's usually stoic face. "I understand."
"No apparently you don't. And apparently you think that it's okay to lie to me on top of sneaking around. I'm only your partner, but I guess that doesn't carry much weight with you anymore." Trowa huffed. "I thought after all this time, after everything we've been through you would trust me enough to tell me what you were up to, but I guess... "
"Tro, that's not it at all... "
Trowa cut him off by grabbing the half-full mug of coffee from Heero's outstretched hand, pacing his way into the living room with Heero following shortly behind. "Look... " He huffed as he stared into the mug. "I know that you have been on your own for a long time, and that the only real relationship you had fell apart when Zechs was killed but... "
"Just. Stop." Heero sighed softly, even as he gave Trowa a mild glare. "This isn't about him. Or what happened back then. I... there's just something about Duo. It's like I've known him my whole life. We have this... static between us."
"That's just your libido talking, Heero. I mean for shit's sake, he's the goddamn lead suspect in our murder investigation! You don't know anything about him other than he's some unemployed, street poor, L2 migrant trying to find his way here by claiming to be some kind of physic or lead you on some kind of vision quest. I understand that you have good intentions Heero, I do, but taking him to bed isn't the best way of helping him, you know. And may I just mention the fact that he's just a kid, barely even eighteen!"
"Keep your voice down!' Heero snapped back without thinking of how loud their discussion had become.
"It's okay. I'm already awake." Duo said quietly from his slouch in the doorway of the hall, the sheet from Heero's bed wrapped loosely around his hips and his clothes bundled underneath his arm. His shoes were dangling from his balled up fist and his hair looked to have been wrestled into a rushed ponytail.
"Holy shit Heero." Trowa sighed as he watched the look of horror spread across Heero's face; realization dawning as to why he'd been acting so damn out of sorts since he'd arrived.
Heero completely ignored Trowa as he held out his hands to Duo, as if he were a wild horse about to bolt. He was standing so still, so tense, and to Heero was the most amazing thing he'd ever known. He was desperate to make Duo understand that his intentions were sincere, but found the words he wanted to say eluded him as he stood there stammering. "Duo, please... let me explain... Trowa didn't... "
"There's nothing to explain, Officer Yuy." Duo looked up at Heero then, his face a neutral mask and his eyes sharp and clear. When he spoke his voice was eerily calm and quiet. "I gotta go. Places to be, best friend's to help murder...besides I wouldn't want to send you, or your partner, on any wild goose chases with promises that my vision quests could lead you to my only friend in this whole fuckin' town's murderer." He hissed, not even sparing a glance to Trowa.
"Duo! No, I don't think that you... We don't think you're... "
"An accomplice? A murderer maybe? L2 trash?"
"Shit kid, that's not what I was saying... " Trowa said quietly, earning an even more violent glare from the half-naked young man.
"Yeah, whatever." He rushed by Trowa and was out the door before Heero could even cross the room.
"Duo, wait!" Heero scrambled after Duo's fleeing form and just about took his partner's head off when he caught his arm and kept him from going after Duo. "Let go of me, Trowa. Right now." He growled, but by the time he had broken Trowa's loose hold on him, Duo was long gone.
"Let him go, Heero. He's not going to listen to anything you say right now in the frame of mind he's in."
Heero spun on him, making him back away in the face of his obvious anger at what had just happened. "Why would you say... "
"Just wait, Heero. Before your head comes off, let me remind you that I didn't know he was here, and in all honestly he shouldn't have been here. What the fuck are you thinking, anyway?"
All Heero could do was shake his head and try to calm himself down. "He's not a damn suspect in this case Trowa, and you know it."
"Heero, the reason I came over this morning is because of something I found out about him. Your new... "
"Don't." Heero warned.
"He's been in this kind of trouble before. It involved a rash of arsons and a finally the murder of a Priest on L2, before he came to earth. I found it in a sealed juvenile file and thought you should have all the information before going off on one of his visions and especially after I found out that you picked him up last night from that club."
Heero's mind was on complete overload. Duo thought that Heero saw him as a suspect, and what was worse, he'd never trust him after this. And Trowa was quickly losing confidence that he could even decipher the facts that they had in their case so far. And all the time that he was wallowing over his love life, there was someone out there killing innocent young women.
"I need to go after him, Trowa."
"Yeah." Trowa shrugged, feeling bad to have to be the one to bring Heero the news. He didn't want to see him get hurt, but there was more to Duo that what he was letting them see. "Come on, he couldn't have gotten far wearing nothing but your bedsheet."
Heero nodded in silence and went to get dressed leaving Trowa in the living room to ponder just what they were going to do about the mess the case was sure to be in if they didn't find some answers soon. For all their sakes.
End Part 6
(:./ebony/within6)
