16-Apr-2001
Title: Blood That Cold 2/?
Author: Ryan Harbin
Suggested listening: '4:00 AM' by Luna Sea. It's gorgeous, extremely well done song. And it really did affect the mood of the fic.
Pairings: *slurs like a drunken sailor* I already told ya that... This one has very little of my favorite two, though... ;_;
Warnings: AU, blood sucking
Archive: GW Addiction
Notes: Well... I know I said I'd be working on other stuff, but I was suddenly in the mood to write some of this. So I did! *rubs eyes* I really should be sleeping, though.
Well... it's been a few months since I wrote any of this. ^^;;; I decided to write some, but really got going after I read part one of Phoenix's 'Even' arc... *shivers*
While the previous parts shifted from Heero's, Duo's, or Saisa's POV, this one adds Wufei, Trowa, and Quatre. Be prepared, there's little indication as to which is which.
(One month after part one)
He was led quickly into the office, deep cream walls offset by darker furniture and white carpet. So white, so innocent, as if protesting the overall darkness of something deeper, that lurked in shadows and was never really seen until it was too late. Oh, he knew what that something else was, and the young heir knew he knew, but neither was admitting knowledge to a tale used to frighten children and darken a stormy night.
He'd checked the records; It had been dozens of years since the Turned had dared strike, news of any attack spreading quickly through the small hamlet.
Then people began disappearing again, at first one or two every few weeks, or even months. But now it was dangerous to go out at dark, sometimes even during the day, for it appeared the vampires had enlisted human help, those of natural blood who wanted to be anything but, and hoped if they were good they would be Turned.[1] The manhunt for these turncoats was just as desperate as the one for the dark ones themselves. gradually, though, the Police Commissioner had realized they would need the help of this Quatre Winner if they wanted to gain full access to the town. And that led him here. He had never had a lot of contact with the blond-haired heir, but the young man - well, he was the same age as himself - seemed nice enough, congenial and eager to help. They both knew what they were up against.
"Please, Commissioner Wufei, sit down."[2] He took Winner's offer, seated himself in an armchair which managed to somehow be formal but comfortable at the same time. it was, in keeping with the theme, a light sand tone. His host situated himself at his desk, a large chunk of what appeared to be solid mahogany, ghastly expensive and the only thing spoiling the white motif. The small man appeared quite at home at the massive fixture, leaning forward and steepling his fingers, his surprisingly wise aquamarine blue eyes staring at him, a calculating look reflected in their depths. Wufei stared right back, making it clear he would not be intimidated. Apparently this satisfied the man, for he leaned a bit back, speaking again.
"I believe we both know why you're here. Let's not dispense time idly with pleasantries, then?" Thought uttered with inquiring tone, it was no question.
Wufei nodded. "I agree. There's little time to waste. Something must be done, and gone about quickly."
"Do you have any proposals?" He added as an after thought, "And call me Quatre. My father was Winner."
Wufei shook his head. "Unfortunately, no. Nothing that wouldn't have a horrible loss of life and cost to the town and lands. And you?"
Quatre sighed, leaning back even more in the chair. "We're beginning to formulate a plan. However, it all hinges on one man, one you may not be eager to trust."
"Who do you mean," Wufei questioned, mind racing to produce any options for such an individual. There was not another man he knew of that could possibly assist their quest...
"I see you are as baffled as I was," Quatre commented, amusement glinting in his eyes. Wufei was forced to admit he was.
Quatre smiled. "I'm glad you can say that." He crossed quickly to a door, one other than the one they'd come in. Wufei couldn't see much of what lay beyond it, except that there was very little light.
When his host stepped away, a second figure was revealed behind him. Blinking, apparently from the sudden invasion of light after that dark corridor - the person, a man about their own ages, regarded him suspiciously. He had red tinted brown hair in a curiously banged style, covering one of his thin emerald eyes. He a long, thin face, striking in form and feature, and his skin was an almost paper, eerie shade of white. Wufei was struck with the absurd notion that it matched the room perfectly.
"Wufei, this is... Trowa. Trowa, meet Chang Wufei, Commissioner of the police." The solemn young man eyes him, suspicion still lurking in his eyes, though nothing was evident in his face.
"He's going to help us," the blond haired man added.
Trowa's face went slack once again, even the eyes expressionless in apparent acceptance of Quatre's comment and, hopefully, Wufei himself. He nodded once, then slowly settled into another chair.
It was only then Wufei noticed, in the way he'd been trained to but had neglected since he'd arrived, the way Trowa's eyes darted around the room, lighting only on a mirror and the set of windows on one wall. That and the apparent bloodlessness of his skin finally whispered a hint to the young Commissioner.
"You're... One of them?" he asked, incredulous both that one of the Turned would offer their assistance, and that Quatre had accepted it.
"Was," Quatre corrected, moving to lean against the edge of his desk. "I'm impressed," he added.
"Was?" If anything, Wufei was even more confused. "What do mean, was? He is or he isn't! It's not a temporary or treatable condition!"
Quatre looked about to speak when the third part stood. Without a word, he turned and strode from the room through the same door, only one significant glance at the clock which then flicked to Quatre as acknowledgement of the other two occupants.
Wufei blinked his black eyes expectantly. This was becoming and increasingly strange day...
"You're late," Heero observed, a plain statement to be read as a question. He was leaning in a deceivingly casual manner against a tree, arms crossed over his chest in a gesture that couldn't be read as anything but closed off.
"It couldn't be avoided," he replied expressionlessly, apparently nonchalant.
"Why not?" Heero was never one to be diverted if he was suspicious or even curious. His burning blue eyes seemed slightly ominous, the centuries-old man suspicious of anything and anyone he felt he could be threatened by.
"We met with another who will help us," Trowa, known to Heero as Rial, answered.
"And?"
"He'll do. He figured out who I had been quickly, and seemed fazed only that I had been, not still was."
Heero nodded in acceptance, supernaturally enhanced muscles playing rhythmically under his clothing as he stood. "We have to move quickly. It would be better if we had more time to plan, but time is a luxury we lost long ago."
"Of course. I'll make it clear. Same time tomorrow."
Bare seconds later there was nothing but the soft noise of foliage moved by displaced air.
Trowa returned after little over an hour. By then, Wufei had gone and Quatre was once again along in his main office. Trowa walked in without prelude, knowing if the man was going to do something to be embarrassed about, he wouldn't do it there.
"Trowa!" Quatre greeted him, face open and happy. "How did it go?"
"Fine. He agrees. And you?" he asked, relaxing into the same chair he always occupied.
Quatre shrugged. "You were there for the important part. I detailed to him why you are... Why you were. And a bit about your contact, but nothing specific." He took Trowa's lack of reply for acknowledgement and acceptance, as he'd done correctly many time before. The green-eyed man brought the stoic and silent stereotype to new levels, but Quatre had learned to read him, his uchuu no kokoro giving him a greater understanding of the man than he otherwise would have possessed. [3]
"Do you think we can do it?" he asked quietly, a tone of voice that could be mistaken for meek.
Trowa turned surprised green eyes to him, an almost troubled look settling onto his aristocratic features. "I don't know," he answered truthfully. "But we have the best help I can imagine."
"Your contact?" Trowa had never told Quatre anything more except that he was another vampire, he didn't like the chain of command, he was willing to help them take the Head down. Apparently, without him, the majority of the vampires would panic, leaving the rest open to easy attack.
He nodded, debating whether to tell Quatre about him or not. The internal battle was finally won, Trowa realizing that he would have to trust his companion as he was trusted.
"His name is Heero. At least, that's what he says his name is. He knew me as Rial." That was all the information he was willing to surrender at the moment.
"Rial?" Quatre appeared to be trying to figure out what significance the name had.
"Long story," he deadpanned before standing up.
"Do you trust him?" The frank tone of Quatre's brusque tenor surprised him. He took a moment before answering.
"Yes, I think I do."
Quatre nodded, that one comment all the confirmation he needed. "Good. Because if he betrays us, we're all dead."
Duo was waiting for him when he returned, casually standing in one of the catacombs he thought had been unknown to all but himself.
"I suppose it wouldn't do any good to ask where you were?" he asked in a light tone.
"Good for you," Heero replied dryly, walking past the long-haired vampire without a backwards glance.
Duo caught up with him quickly, as Heero known he would. He knew that Duo would simply ignore any glare or threat he tried, so he let him walk next to him in silence.
"Saisa's been looking for you," he commented in an offhand tone that hid much more serious implications.
Heero stopped, effectively halting his companion by gripping his wrist. "What do you mean?" he asked, eyes narrowed.
Duo jerked his hand free crossly, glaring at Heero before he answered. "I mean he is pissed as hell. He knows something's up, and he's not going to let you get away with it."
"Nothing's up," Heero hissed in reply, blue eyes narrowing even further before he turned away.
"You really must think I'm stupid!" Duo spat. "And you're underestimating him, too! He's got more followers than you think. You've been spacing out for a month, and he's been gathering everyone under your feet! They all want to know where you go every few days. And they're going to find out. Hell, I probably shouldn't even be telling you this, soon they'll be after me, too. If they aren't already! And, unlike you, I prefer not to invite trouble to myself!" By the end of his speech he was yelling, finger stabbing Heero's chest as he ranted.
"Thank you for caring," Heero said calmly.
If anything, Duo appeared angrier. "You really aren't taking this serious, are you? You better have a damn good excuse for being gone all the time, of they're taking your ass down!"
"He wouldn't dare!" Heero replied contemptuously.
Duo sighed. "He'd dare more than you think, Heero." However, he didn't press the issue any further. In fact, he didn't speak at all as they walked through the twisting corridors, back to the occupied area, and into the proverbial lion's den.
End Part 2
Short part! But I have everything planned, and this is how it turned out...
Notes:
[1] Anyone here seen Blade? (Actually, I saw the movie after I started the fic...)
[2] People forget that 'Chang' is actually his given name. Everyone just calls him Wufei.
[3] Yep, I kept the UnK...
Ryan Harbin
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