Blue Forest Banshee Part 47

Heero hauled Duo out of the water and laid him on the mat. Duo coughed a couple of times, and his lashes fluttered. He shivered.

"Cold..." he muttered, his hand reaching for the tub.

"No," Heero said gently. "I'll do it."

Again, Heero lifted him and let him down carefully into the tub. He then ran his fingers gently through Duo's hair, looking for any bumps or swellings from his fall. He found the lump on his temple, but it was clearly several hours old.

Duo sank back into the tub, luxuriating in the scented water, almost oblivious to Heero's presence. Something was not right with the Banshee's behavior; he shouldn't be so limp or out of touch.

Duo's purple eyes were too dark, too soft, like dusky velvet; his movements languid, almost sluggish. The door had been locked, and Duo never locked the door. He had laid in the bath long enough for his skin to wrinkle, but his braid was mostly dry, with traces of dirt and grease in it.

"Duo, your hair's still dirty." He awaited Duo's reaction.

The auburn-haired creature drew his long braid over his shoulder, peering at it myopically. "Oh. It is. I forgot," he murmured. "I was going to wash my hair... I guess I forgot..." He sighed heavily, letting the braid fall, and settling back against the tub.

Heero touched his hand, lifting it between both of his. He couldn't afford to panic and he couldn't cross-examine the Banshee while he was half-conscious. He made an effort to control his voice and his demeanor. "May I help you? I know how much you hate for your hair to be dirty," he said gently.

"Okay. That would be nice." He rolled his head to look at Heero. "You're very kind, Heero," he sighed. "Um... I don't think I can stand up... I think my knees are waterlogged."

"That's all right; I'll help you."

"Okay..."

Heero let the water out of the tub and prepared the shower, while Duo played distantly with the receding water. Heero came back to slide his arms under Duo's and pull him to his feet, letting the slender Banshee lean against him as he dripped off.

Glancing down, Heero noticed a single trickle of color on the back of Duo's thigh.

::What is this?!::

He touched a finger to the thin stream, and brought it to his nose to inhale deeply.

::Blood.::

He drew a breath and let it out slowly, letting his rage flow out with it. It could have come from any number of things. Duo could have scratched himself when he slipped. Those ridiculously tight jeans he wore to blend. A cut or scrape from his mission. Anything at all.

"Duo, you're bleeding. Did you get hurt?"

Duo lifted his head from where it rested against Heero's chest. "Huh...? Bleeding..? Where..?" He swung his head around, trying to look over his shoulder, and nearly toppled over. "I... don't remember... Umm... Sorry..."

"Will you allow me to check?"

"Sure, go 'head," he mumbled, huddling against Heero's warmth.

"Please don't feel embarrassed," Heero said gently. "I won't hurt you."

"I know. You're the most wonderful person I know," he sighed, not noticing Heero's suddenly startled expression.

Duo was past embarrassment, but Heero was not. His own face burned as he ran his fingers carefully up Duo's leg to a place he certainly didn't belong but very much wished he did.

And he found blood.

Duo flinched, a muffled "Ouch!" into the Wyvern's robe.

Heero retreated immediately. "I'm sorry. I promised not to hurt you --"

"S'okay. You're gonna wash my hair."

Swallowing, Heero helped him into the shower, then quickly shed his robe and joined him.

~*~

If anyone had asked him later for the details of his sojourn in the shower with Duo, Heero would not have been able to answer with more than, "I washed his hair."

He honestly didn't remember any more than that amid the nearly blind rage he felt against the one who had done such an injury to his Banshee.

The bleeding had stopped by the time he tucked Duo, now mostly asleep, into bed. He turned the lamp off and tucked the comforter around him. Then he spent two minutes in his own room, pulling on a pair of lounging pants and picking up a book.

He spent most of the night in the chair in Duo's room, reading by fairylight. Occasionally, Duo would sigh or murmur and Heero would lean forward anxiously. Always, Duo would relax, sometimes shifting his position, sometimes brushing at a few strands of hair.

Several hours before dawn, Duo whimpered and reached out across the bed. Heero touched his hand lightly, just to let him know he wasn't alone. Duo opened his eyes.

"Scared," he whispered, meeting Heero's dark eyes. "Help me..."

Heart burning with the fire of righteous purpose, he moved to the bed. As soon as he lay down, Duo snuggled against him, tucking his head against Heero's ribs, and his arm around Heero's waist. Heero rested his hand on Duo's shoulder. That was where it stayed for the remainder of the night.

TBC...

 

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