13-Jul-2000
I'm baaack... this thing sorta hit me. I wrote it up and posted it in one night, which I've never done before, so if the grammar/wording is a bit odd, don't flame too bad, okay?
Legal stuff: None of these characters are mine. Gundam Wing belongs to Bandai, Sunrise, and Sotsu Agency, among others. For time-wasting purposes only and not for profit, so don't sue, 'kay?
Writer's Notes: This is a short little fic I wrote 'cause I'm currently a bit stalled on my Gundam Wing/Xenogears crossover--it hasn't been extensively beta-ed, so be warned! Has shonen-ai, language, violence, and AU--the OOC-ness of the characters is something I'll let you decide. BTW--this fic is dedicated to my cat, Kale. You'll know why if you read it. *grin*
It was my watch.
I stood my ground, unmoving, as the cool, biting wind swirled around me. The shadows stood sharp and clear against the crisply-glittering snow, the moon that cast them full, pale, and--beautiful.
I shook my head, banishing the thought from my mind. No! It is just a night--like any other night! The crunching of snow under my feet, the crisp, clean scents--wood smoke, pine, the distant musk of the others inside--they stirred the embers of instinct even as I continued to lie to myself.
To most people, this night would be silent--just as I would be invisible, hidden in the shadows of an overhanging pine. They could not hear what I could--the quiet scurrying sounds made by warm, burrowed bodies under the drifts. The quiet whisper of wings overhead. The silent, clarion moon-call that drifted to my ears, even as the wind chilled my body and fired my blood. The OZ sentries, not two miles away, would be clapping their hands against the cold--huddled in their jackets, unheeding, unaware. They would not feel the muted thrum of the earth under their booted feet, through their insulated flesh and bone. A pity.
My restlessness grew. Even as I berated myself, even as I called rebellious, shivering flesh back to its duty--my gaze was drawn irresistibly upwards. I watched the slow movement of dark clouds over the moon's pale face, fingers sunk into piney bark. I gritted my back teeth in frustration--then whirled around at a sudden movement.
It was Duo. As lightly clad as I, he shivered slightly as he stepped towards me, barefooted in the snow. The darkly, melted trail leading from the door bore mute testimony to his arrival, even if my ears had not. I've never been able to hear him coming--not if he doesn't want me to. He knows this--I think it gives him a certain perverse satisfaction.
Blue eyes flicked towards my fingers, covered in piney sap from where they had dented the tree, then rose and caught mine.
"You okay?"
"Hai." My response was curt. I knew it would not satisfy him--his curiosity and concern were not so easily appeased. His gaze rose, following mine to the silver moon that dominated the sky.
"Funny. You don't sound okay." He moved lightly behind me, resting a chin teasingly on one shoulder. My breath came heavier as the warmth of his body contrasted sharply with the bite of the chilly air.
"Don't push it, Duo." My voice was harsh. Even my self-control had its limits--though I would never admit that out loud. I closed my eyes as the blood thundered in my ears, heightened by the juniper/sage/musk of Duo's scent.
"C'mon--you of all people should know that I can't... help... pushing it," his voice rumbled softly against my cheek. I opened my eyes, watching the small steamy plume of his breath floating in the air before me. "I know you feel it too... even if you insist on lying to yourself, your body is much wiser than that." He tugged a bit at the material of my tanktop, teasingly. "And so am I..."
"No." I pushed away from him, stumbling into the silver light. I fought the urge to raise my face to the cool wind, to succumb to the lure Duo was dangling before me. Damn him; he knew exactly what I wanted. "I have a job to do, Duo. This is *not* a good time."
His purring, throaty voice was the only warning I got. "You're wrong, Heero. This is the *perfect* time."
And then he bit me.
This was no playful nibble, no lover's nip. His white teeth fastened onto the juncture of my shoulder and neck, and BIT me. He sunk his teeth deep into my shoulder, tearing away at the flesh--then he stepped away, and grinned at me with that cocky smile. Daring me to do something about it. I growled angrily, feeling my hands curve into claws.
"Duo..."
His grin widened as he stepped backwards, his eyes glimmering and reflective in the night.
Then he broke and ran as I lunged for him.
He was fast. He had disappeared into the woods before I could take three strides. I knew that, much like his Gundam, Duo could disappear in the darkness of the pines in a heartbeat. His ability to cover his trail was matched only by mine--to find it. I threw myself after him, and let the night take me.
The mooncall thrummed in time with my heartbeat--lengthening my stride, expanding my senses. A hundred-thousand scents flashed past my keen nose; old game, fresher-frozen carcass, piney woods, frozen earth. Familiar wolf markings, older and faded, flew by unheeded. A fresh, sharp acrid scent drew me to a halt. I paced eagerly towards the marker--white-claw-marks gleamed in the moonlight, ragged furrows carved deliberately into bark. The acrid smell hit me again, raised my hackles: cat scent--adult alpha male--stark, potently sexual.
In *my* territory! It was a blatant, mocking taunt.
The trail was clear. I no longer felt the cold--my muscles were powerful, my fur thick. I shook errant cat-scent off of my thick ruff, then ran. No cat could outrun me. The world glimmered, black and white and shades of grey. I no longer needed to see where I ran--my paws leaped and landed, feeling the earth, letting primal instinct take over. The white-glimmer of snow was my ally. It cushioned my feet, made the trail clear and distinct. The pattern was clear to a questing nose--the scent was close. Very close. My muzzle wrinkled as I growled in mingled fury and satisfaction. The hunt was almost over.
I threw myself into a long, ground covering lope. The wind flew with me, under my paws, through my ruff. The steady silent heartbeat of the trees around me never faltered, even as the scent grew stronger. I fought the urge to growl in triumph, and give myself away. I ran... saw the cliffside ahead--saw the dark shadowy movement of my prey below it.
I leaped.
A brief, clean thrust into the air--a moment of weightlessness. Then I fell as earth reclaimed Her own, and slammed into my prey in a shower of snow, fur, and claw. I growled fiercely as we rolled, using my greater strength to pin him below me even as he squalled and kicked. We painted messy designs on the snow as we struggled--then motion ceased.
I growled deep in my chest in satisfaction, fangs settled firmly against his vulnerable throat. I met his fiercely glittering stare easily.
:Give up?:
The panther pinned on his back beneath my jaws wriggled slightly. I suddenly felt his powerful hind legs dig into my exposed underbelly--claws threatening to disembowel me with one kick. Fangs gleamed in a quintessentially feline grin.
:Fuck no. Do you?:
I whurfed in frustration. Considered the position. Then made an offer.
:A draw?:
A glowing, back-reflected gaze considered me carefully. Then gave a slow, careful blink.
:A draw.:
I released his throat with a small pang of regret, leaping to one side even as he rolled away with his trademark speed. He lay in the snow, boneless and relaxed, panting slightly. Wide-pupiled amethyst eyes glimmered out of the sleek black face.
:That was a good run... almost got me that time.: Duo yawned, exposing strong white fangs. I flopped down next to him, my muscles relax.
:What do you mean, almost? I *did* get you.: I rested my muzzle on the elegant, relaxed line of his back. Smelled the sharp, strong musk that was Duo.
:Hah. If anything, we got each other.: The relaxed feline regarded the powerful wolf resting on his flank. Chocolate-black fur glimmered against the snow, frosted with silver around the ruff. A cobalt-blue gaze stared past the clean lines of muzzle and brow.
The chocolate-furred tail thumped once in agreement. :Hai.:
:If you two are done wrestling...: The tone was short and sharp--much like its owner. My ears pricked forward, catching the sound of wings back-beating against the air a moment before he landed. I didn't bother to move. I was comfortable where I was.
The falcon landed softly, dropping the blood stained carcass of a dog to the snow before him. He settled his wings meticulously, preening back an errant feather; then cocked his head, fixing us with a keen dark eye.
The panther's whiskers wrinkled upwards as it yawned again. :I don't know. Are we done, Heero?:
:Could be: I allowed. I watched the falcon with amusement as it bristled.
:You... may I remind you we still have *real* hunting to do?!:
:Oh really? Like that poor dog you killed?: The panther sniffed disdainfully at the carcass. :It's not like you to be so flashy, Wu--what would the locals think if they saw a huge fuckin' falcon carrying off their pets?: The bird of prey tilted its black-hooded head and gave the cat a dark glare.
:The idiot dog tried to *attack* me during the Change. Something that stupid doesn't deserve to live.: Wufei ruffed up his chest feathers irritably.
:And you're one to talk, Maxwell. After all, what would the locals think if they saw a wolf the size of a small pony chasing an equally-large panther in the woods? You two and your hormones...:
:Hey, hey--Wufei. Lay off! This was necessary, ya know.: Duo sounded mildly annoyed. I found myself pinned by the falcon's fierce stare.
:Damn it, Heero. Are you *still* fighting the Change?:
I laid my ears back in disgruntled embarrassment, and growled. : I don't like not being in control. It's dangerous.:
:Not as dangerous as fighting the Change on the full moon, you dog-headed fool!: Wufei mantled angrily, clacking his beak. Duo stretched out his paws towards the falcon, unsheathing his claws in an idle threat/reminder.
:Chill, Wu-bird. We worked it out of his system.:
:Fine.: Wufei mantled irritably, then took off in a flurry of wingbeats. He ascended high into the air in a cloud of flying snow-powder. :Then we will Hunt. The night is not forever.:
:Hai, hai.: Duo made a small grunt of protest, then lithely rose out of the snow, fastidiously shaking the remnants of their tussle out of his fur. Despite his feigned reluctance, Heero could scent his rising eagerness. That long black tail twitched in impatience as the shadowy cat looked back at him. :Coming?:
I rose silently, my brief rest more than enough. The earlier chase was mere play--now came the Hunt. And the Kill. I broke into a smooth lope, my jaws hanging open in easy pants as my focus sharpened. Duo bounded smoothly in and out of the shadows nearby, ears pricked forward in eagerness.
:Time to thin the ol' OZ herd, eh Heero?:
I remembered the sweet taste of flesh; marrow-sweet bones breaking underneath powerful jaws. The small, convulsive last struggles of weak, two-legged prey. Yes. Time to thin the herd.
:Hai.:
End
Writer's Notes: Hah! Betcha thought that was a PWP, huh? Anywho, if it isn't fairly obvious--I am a big fan of White Wolf's rpg Werewolf: the Apocalypse. This isn't a direct take from their game, but if it feels similar, it's because that's the inspiration. Hope ya liked it! I'm thinking of another one for Quatre and Trowa--I know what Quatre would be, but Trowa's animal form is giving me fits! So if you have any ideas, let me know!
(:./hope/running)
