Author: Blue
Category: AU, 2x5, 2x3, 4x3, 4x5, 1x2
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: OOC, yaoi, language, very light lime, violence, blood, gore, a drunken vampire and a fair indication of my own insanity. Spoilers: No, no and . . . no.
Note: This may be a little late, but . . . . Happy One Year Anniversary to a little piece of gundam wing! *waves madly at Dacia* I would have done this sooner (hell, I would have done a lot of things sooner, like answer those emails that are piling up in my inbox *wince*) but my computer is getting ready to 'bite the pebbles'. *grins at suzume* Consequently, all sizeable monetary donations to the 'Give Blue the Gift of Happiness' fund are greedily, er, gratefully accepted. Annnnd I think that's it. Oh, wait, one more thing. ->insert shameless plug for the Boys Next Door Smut Contest<-

Dance With the Demons + Part 14
Of Death's Touch

Duo lay back on the crimson sheets, his muddled brain trying to come to grips with what had just transpired. His entire body felt heavy and warm, still tingling with the aftershocks of his and Heero's combined energy. Feeling strangely calm and sated, he once again turned to look at the vampire that lay beside him.

Heero's eyes were focused on the pale imprint of Duo's hand on his chest, above his heart. The mark was rapidly fading away; the skin returning to its darker, bronzed tone. He looked up when he felt Duo's eyes on him.

"What in the name of Christ Almighty did we just do? And please, for the love of God, don't say you don't know." Duo absently rubbed a hand over the bite on his neck. The spot was tingling, almost burning with residual energy.

Heero looked stumped. That was always a good sign. If you asked Duo, they had just discovered the best fucking alternative to sex in existence. Not that he was going to tell Heero that. Then again, maybe if they combined the two . . . .

"We found the answer to my question," Heero ventured.

Duo resisted the urge to snort. "No shit." That was one hell of a way to find out. Something occurred to Duo then, something that he had forgotten to ask Heero. And since they were both wallowing in the glow of something alarmingly akin to post-coital bliss, why not ask him now?

"I asked Wufei what animi motus," Duo paused. What was that other word that Heero had used last night? ". . . meus meant," he finished. Heero's brow winged up. "And?"

"Trowa interrupted, said it meant something like soul passion. What the hell is that supposed to be?"

Heero looked at Duo for a second longer. Then he sat up, exposing the gracefully curving lines of his back and . . . lower things. Duo tried hard not to stare at the rounded bend of Heero's thigh where it joined his upper body. He wasn't having much luck.

"And while you're at it, you can tell me what the hell animi MORTUS means, too," Duo added.

The vampire leaned down over him, capturing his wrists, one in each hand, and pinning them beside Duo's head. He moved closer until his face was barely inches away. Duo felt his pulse quicken, Heero once again dominating his senses. Cobalt eyes filled his vision; the rich spicy warmth of his scent filling his nose.

"The first means my soul's passion," Heero whispered, touching his lips briefly to Duo's. "The second . . . ." His tongue darted out to swipe over Duo's lips. "The second means my soul's death," Heero said, pulling away from the shocked man.

Heero released Duo's wrists, quickly rolling off the bed and wrapping the sheet loosely about his waist. He was gone, the room empty, before Duo's overtaxed brain could register his passing.

Duo lay still, sprawled on the silken sheets. He flexed his fingers once, then covered his face with his hands, taking a deep breath. My soul's passion, or my soul's death . . . or both. That's what Heero had said when Duo had first consciously used his . . . whatever it was. But damn it, what the hell did it MEAN? Duo realized he was absently rubbing the wound on his neck again. Angrily, he yanked his hand away, sitting up and leaning against the headboard. Swiftly getting up from the bed, Duo was overcome with a wave of dizziness. He sat back down with a plop. Shit. Try that again. This time, he rose slower, and was gratified when the dizziness didn't return. Just how much blood did Heero take, anyways!? That thought stopped Duo short as the reality of what he had done crashed down around him. He had let Heero drink his blood. Willingly. And he had enjoyed it.

Now THAT was frightening.

Shaking slightly, Duo glanced about, trying to decide what to do. He had to do something, or he'd drive himself insane thinking. He was hungry and sweaty; his hair was a mess. He was torn between bathing and eating when a soft knock came from the direction of the doorway. He looked towards the sound, surprised when he saw Relena standing just inside the door. She had clothing slung over her arm.

"Yeah?" Duo said after a moments hesitation.

Relena inclined her head slightly. "The Erus suggested you bathe. You won't be disturbed," she said, walking further into the room, through the curtain and laying the clothes neatly on the bed. "Something for you to eat will be sent shortly. The Erus requested that you remain here," she finished.

Duo blinked. "Uhh . . . thanks?" he said, shrugging.

She smiled slightly in amusement, and Duo noticed a small glint of fang. Then she turned and left the way she came.

Duo stared after her. It was hard to tell what she thought about him. Not that it mattered. He glanced at the clothes she had brought in. Sighing, he turned on the faucet and started filling up the bath. While he waited, he unbraided his hair and dug out a couple of towels, keeping them within reach of the bath.

Once there was enough water, Duo stripped and stepped in. Submerging himself to wet his hair, he then began the arduous task of washing it. He hissed when the water came in contact with the bite mark. That stung like a bitch.

He dipped under the water again, washing out as many of the suds as he could. As he washed himself, his thoughts began to wander. Again. He'd really have to do something about that.

This time, however, his thoughts were more focused. In fact, they were focused solely on one thing: Heero. And they weren't even his usual `crazy-ass-vampire-wouldn't-trust-him-as-far-as-you-could-throw- him' thoughts. Instead, Duo seemed fixated on how his hand had looked splayed over Heero's chest, and the feeling of his skin under his fingers. Which probably wasn't a very healthy thing to be fixated on. Duo bathed quickly. He started draining the water, and then turned the taps back on. Somehow, he managed to rinse out the rest of the shampoo and soap suds that clung to his hair. Grabbing both towels, he wrapped one around his waist, then used the other to dry the dripping chestnut mass.

Picking up a piece of clothing, he examined it critically. Black straight-legged jeans, somewhat looser than what Trowa would normally stick him in. A thin shirt made out of soft material, also black, with three-quarter length sleeves, and his coat from last night. Duo began dressing, smirking slightly when he noticed Heero had also included black silk boxers. The vampire definitely had a little obsession with the color black.

Duo hauled on the boxers and pants, not at all surprised when both fit him perfectly. He rummaged around for a brush and quickly combed and braided his hair. He had just hauled the shirt on, adjusting the sleeves, when Heero walked in. Well, glided in.

The vampire was fully clothed now, clad in tight pants and a form- fitting sleeveless shirt. All of it, naturally, was black. They were going hunting, but Duo thought that Heero was going just a little bit overboard with the monochrome wardrobe.

"Don't we look spiffy," Duo quipped from where he was standing beside the desk. He was looping the holster belt around his waist. "You're getting carried away with the whole hunting bit."

Heero reached down, picking up the main part of the shoulder holster. He helped Duo shrug into it. "I'm not allowed to get carried away?" he said, a little too happily.

Duo looked up sharply. Heero's eyes were sparkling with excitement. "What IS with you?" he asked for the second time that night.

The vampire grazed the tips of his fingers over Duo's neck, where he had bitten him. The spot twinged at his touch, sending little sparks of pleasure, not pain, singing along Duo's nerves.

"What the hell . . . ?" Duo mumbled, moving away from Heero and towards the mirror. What he saw made him suck in a sharp breath. The twin puncture wounds had healed over. The skin where they had been was shiny, completely smooth. "That was stinging just a few minutes ago. Heero, what did you do?"

Heero looked confused, and Duo realized with a start that the vampire's nose scrunched up just a little; so little, it was almost imperceptible. And it was kinda sexy . . . .

"It was like that before I touched it," Heero said, walking up behind Duo and brushing his fingers over the spot again.

Duo felt the slight touch evoke that same twinge of pleasure. Unconsciously, he tipped his head to the side, baring the slender curve of his neck. Duo looked in the mirror, first at his neck and then up at Heero. The vampire leaned down, brushing his lips over the healed wound. The feeling intensified, and Duo melted back against Heero's body.

"Holy shit," Duo said as the vampire wrapped an arm around his waist.

"Duo?"

"Yeah?"

Heero grazed his teeth over Duo's neck lightly, leaving the skin unbroken. He inhaled, breathing in Duo's scent, and let the breath out slowly. It was hot against Duo's skin. "I think I may be a little drunk," he said, pushing his nose into Duo's hair and breathing deeply again.

"DRUNK?"

"Maybe not drunk," Heero amended. "How about high?"

Duo tried to ignore the wonderful sensations coursing through his body and keep his power in check. How he was supposed to control anything with Heero hanging all over him was a mystery.

"How!?" Duo demanded.

"On your power and your blood," Heero replied. Duo swore he could hear a slight sing-song lilt in the vampire's voice. A drunken - high, whatever -Heero was a very disquieting Heero.

Duo's heartbeat was steadily getting faster. His body fit against Heero's perfectly, the heat from the vampire searing into his back. The power inside Duo rose up automatically at Heero's touch, as if it was desperately reaching out to him. Duo viciously attempted to squash it. His rebellious body was also stirring in response to Heero; blood rushed happily down to his groin. He tried to put a stop to that, too. He wasn't having much luck with either.

Then Heero interceded. His power washed over Duo in a cool wave, calming and soothing. The twisting inside him subsided, until it was only a gentle humming just below the surface. Duo's mind and body quieted, the pleasure he felt at Heero's touch was still there, but muted now.

"We still have a renegade to destroy," Heero said, pulling away from Duo.

Duo remained frozen, quaking in his proverbial boots, for a moment longer. Then, turning to face Heero, he said, "All this is confusing the hell out of me, you know that, right?" Actually, what he wanted to say was, `hell, let's forget about the monster and just jump each other right now.'

Heero smirked. "Work first, play later." Duo HAD said the first sentence out loud, right? Not the second?

Narrowing his eyes, Duo said, "Are you really high?"

The vampire nodded. "A little."

"This is crazy."

"Most definitely."

"Shut up."

Then, to Duo's surprise, Heero reached out and grabbed his hand and started hauling him across the room. Duo sputtered, but managed to snag the rest of his weapons on the way out the door.

+

Duo eyed the motorcycle doubtfully where it sat in the side alley. A shiny black color, it was crafted for speed, with the driver, and consequently, the passenger leaning down low over the body of the bike. Heero tossed Duo a sleek matching helmet, which he deftly caught.

"You drive?" Duo asked, failing to keep the shock from his voice.

"Of course I drive," Heero said, settling down on the bike.

"Maybe we should just walk . . . or let me drive," Duo said hopefully. Heero was still acting just a little too happy for his liking.

"Nonsense. Get on." The vampire patted the seat invitingly.

"Why aren't you wearing a helmet?" Duo said, delaying what now seemed to be the inevitable.

"Duo, be serious," was all Heero said.

"I AM being the serious one," he muttered under his breath. Still, he jammed the helmet down over his head, and somewhat timidly seated himself on the motorcycle behind Heero. He rested his hands lightly on Heero's hips, wriggling his fingers in through the belt loops of his pants.

Heero engaged the bike, revved the engine a few times, and took off like a shot

"Jesus! HEERO!" Duo screamed at the top of his lungs. His arms came up around the vampire, holding on to his waist for dear life and tight enough to bruise a human. Heero's laughter floated on the night air long after they had rounded the corner and disappeared from sight.

+

Duo's legs were NOT wobbly. No sir; steady as a rock, he was. That's what he kept telling himself as he walked beside the speed demon he usually called Heero. Well, usually he called him some little nickname that was borderline insulting, but that was a technicality, really.

They were following a small walking trail just outside the city. There had been another attack, the time placed between the first two found. That meant three separate attacks in less than sixteen hours. Duo had been informed when he had arrived at the police department for the files on the previous attacks. At least he had managed to walk steadily through the station after the hair-raising ride Heero had put him through.

Duo looked up and saw a male uniformed officer waiting on the edge of the scene. The yellow police tape was wrapped around the trees, standing out in stark contrast against the brush. The forested area was flooded by light coming from several spotlights the cops had set up. The crowd that usually crawled all over crime scenes had thinned out. Looked like Duo was the last one called in.

"Duo Maxwell?" the uniform inquired, looking at the braided man.

"Yep," Duo said, stepping ahead of Heero.

"Who's he?" the officer grunted, jerking a thumb in Heero's direction.

"A menace to society," Duo mumbled under his breath before saying, in a louder tone, "He's with me, helping me track down the renegade."

The cop looked at Heero with narrowed eyes. "Huh," he said, "right then. This way." He turned away, ducking under the tape without looking to see if they were following.

"YOU! You there!"

Duo looked up, grinning when he saw the familiar figure storming his way. Detective Trant Clark always was the vocal type.

"What are you doing traipsing all over my scene?" Clark demanded, jabbing a finger at Duo.

"Traipsing? Me? Come on, Clark, give a guy some credit," Duo said, laughing. "I haven't traipsed over evidence since the Hewlett episode years ago."

And that really wasn't by choice. When an eight foot tall troll hauls your ass over the bloody remains of its last meal - incidentally, a family of four - it's usually not because it was your idea to begin with.

"Well, I'll be damned. Duo Maxwell, are you the one they called in on this one?" Clark said, a smile emerging.

"In the flesh." Duo reached out and clasped Clark's hand warmly. "What are you doing back? I thought they had enough of you at the station?" It was hard to imagine Clark working steadily at a desk job.

"CopCity? Shit, Duo, you know what the desk mites are like." Clark motioned for them to continue walking.

"Still can't tell their ass from a hole in the ground, huh?" Duo said, falling into step beside the detective. Heero eyed the man suspiciously, then took up his position beside Duo.

Clark chuckled. "They'd love to hear that one."

"You should tell them someday," Duo replied. "When you're ready to retire."

"So, are you going to tell me who he is?" Clark asked, indicating Heero.

"Ya know, that rookie at the tape needs a swift kick in the ass," Duo said. He had no idea if Heero wanted his name known, so he'd be damned if he was just going to spit it out. The vampire hadn't said a word since they had sighted the cops; his little high had abruptly evaporated.

Clark snorted. "Rookies. He let the both of you in without even so much as a glance at any ID. I swear, this place went to pot after I left." He shot Duo an appraising look. "Now that you're done trying to change the topic, either you tell me who blue-eyes is, or he waits back at the tape."

"Heero Yuy," the vampire said, "I am assisting Duo on the hunt."

One of Clark's eyebrows winged up. "The hunt, huh? Detective Trant Clark, of the 35th." He held out his hand.

Heero merely flicked his eyes down, then, ignoring the offered hand, inclined his head in acknowledgement. Boy, oh boy, was the bastard charm flowing tonight.

"Right," Clark said, withdrawing his hand and eyeing the vampire suspiciously.

They were standing on the edge of a section of torn earth, the grass ripped away and the exposed dirt muddied. Duo wrinkled his forehead. Mud? It hadn't rained in days. He searched the area with his eyes. Pieces of white showed scattered about, streaked with brownish stains. The entire place stank of violent death. A nice mix of outhouse and old blood.

"What the fuck am I looking at?" Duo said.

[cont]