SongBird
by Snow Tigra

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Violet eyes met cobalt and Heero gasped in surprise. Taking a step around the cart he moved toward the boy. "You? what are you doing here?"

The boy who preformed at the club stood in front of him, hugging his body tightly with one arm. The dress hanging around his body was the same one he'd preformed in the night before, but it was wet from the night air and his skin had taken on a sickly pale color. Upon meeting eyes with Heero he flashed a light smile, his lips trembling. He opened his mouth to say something but the words never came, instead his eyes rolled backward into his head and he fell forward, his body crumbling like frail paper.

Heero reacted quickly, shoving the cart out of the way, books crashing to the ground as he jumped forward to catch the boy. He moved just in time, the boy's body falling into his arms and remaining there, still as death.

"Hey," Heero shook him lightly. "Hey! Wake up! What happened?"

Heero touched the boy's skin and his eyes widened; the boy was cold as ice! Laying the boy on the ground he quickly pulled off his own jacket and wrapped it around his shoulders. Then, working as fast as he could, he shoved the books back on the cart and raced it over to the room. In record time he returned back to find the boy still lying there, curling up in the coat.

Picking him up Heero held that thin body close and ran back to the library. His mind flew as he ran. What had happened? What was the boy doing out in weather like this with his dress being all wet and the air being so cold, and even barefoot! Without even a pause he threw open the doors to the library and rushed to the basement floor which was mostly storage. Using the key the Professor had just given him he opened the restricted library room and laid the boy gently on the floor, still wrapped in the coat, then left the room.

A few minutes later he returned in a less hurried and panicked state, with old dusty blankets and a mug of steaming thin tea. Sitting next to the boy he wrapped him in the quilts and placed a warm rag on his forehead, setting the mug near his face so the scent could cross near his nose.

It wasn't long before the boy began to stir, his eyes fluttering open slowly and he rolled over, curling into a tight ball under the quilts.

"Feeling better?" Heero asked quietly.

The boy's eyes opened wider and he gazed up at Heero in surprise. "Uh? yeah. Where am I?"

"The library basement, you should be able to rest here until you get better without anyone disturbing you. What were you doing outside dressed like that? Your dress is soaked and it's far too cold to be out without a coat or shoes."

The boy turned his face away, frowning. "I ran away," he whispered softly.

"Why?"

The boy bit his lip. "He hurt me? I don't want to be hurt like that again."

Heero frowned. The man had hurt him? Was the tall blond man the reason behind the twisted arm and brushes that covered the boy's body? "Don't worry. You can stay here for now."

For those words Heero was treated with a warm smile and nod. "Do you have a name?" The boy asked softly as Heero helped him to sit up and handed him the warm mug.

"Heero."

The boy favored Heero with a bright smile. "He calls me Duo, so I guess you can too."

**

After Duo had finished off the mug Heero took it from him and helped him lie back down, tucking the quilts tightly around his still shivering body. Standing up he locked the door from the inside then returned to Duo's side, assuring the boy that no one would come looking for them for a while and that he should get some rest. It took some convincing but eventually Duo gave up and snuggled under the quilts, closing his eyes.

Heero remained sitting by his side, watching the sleeping beauty before him. The boy lying before him looked very different from the one he'd seen on the stage. On the stage Duo stood like an flawless sculpture, carved out of porcelain then brought to life for only a few to see. On stage his hair had been so smooth it looked practically liquid and his eyes had shown with the twinkle of twilight. And his voice? beyond thoughts or simple words could express.

Now, lying beneath the thick pile of old patchwork quilts, he looked so much younger. In fact, he didn't look like a statue anymore. Instead there was this fragile sense about him, as if he were made of glass. Beautiful stained glass creating a frail and innocent shape, someone to be cherished and protected. Now his caramel colored hair fell around his face in a tangled mess, like some poor child pulled out of the cold. Which, now that Heero thought about it, he was.

Settling back against a shelf of books Heero shook his head and rubbed his eyes. He knew exactly how he felt about the strange and magnificent creature before him. It was an obsession. It was as if the boy had cast some strange spell over him, and just seeing him was more addicting then the most powerful drug. He couldn't get enough of seeing the boy before him, and now that Duo was sleeping Heero found himself reeling. He'd actually caught the boy before and taken care of him without a second thought? but now that he could think he wasn't thinking the cleanest of thoughts.

Heero covered his face and took a few deep breaths. He didn't like the directions his thoughts were starting to take, especially since the boy was injured. What was wrong with him? He'd never acted like this around anyone else before, so why now?

"I've never met someone like him before," Heero murmured to himself softly. He opened his eyes and gazed at Duo again. The boy looked so sweet snuggled tightly under those covers, but he still looked cold. Heero's mind entertained the thought of crawling under the covers with him to keep him warm-

"Get a hold of yourself, Yuy," he hissed in a soft whisper.

Standing up he walked around the shelves, stepping so the boy was completely out of sight. Taking steady breaths to try and calm himself down and settle his mind he began scanning the titles on the shelf, running his fingers over the old and cracked bindings. It didn't take long before him mind had reoriented itself on the books in front of him and he found a couple he was interested in. Taking two in hand he grabbed the quilt he'd left to the side for himself and wrapped it around his body, settling down next to the boy again.

This time, though, his mind and body didn't betray him. There was good reason however, because in the time he'd spent behind the shelf Duo had managed to roll over on his back, his face turned away from Heero. That seemed to help a lot and Heero found himself acting much more rational and collected as a result. Sighing with relief he opened the book and began to read.

Hours passed, the room silent save for the sounds of Duo's light snores and the turning of pages. Up above the room Heero heard the noises of the library closing down for the night and dimly realized he'd forgotten to turn in his hours for that week, something he was supposed to have done after he delivered the books. Oh well, not much to do about it now.

Turning the page in his book he began reading again as he heard movement. Heero glanced up from the book to see Duo had rolled on his side, the side with his hurt arm. Setting down the book quietly he crawled over to the boy. Gently, and with great care, he rolled Duo back over on to his back. He didn't know how damaged that twisted arm was but he knew it was a pretty good guess that if Duo slept on it all night it wouldn't get any better.

Pushing the covers back up around him Heero's eyes happened upon Duo's face, and he found he was lost again. He couldn't tear his eyes away and found himself just crouching there watching those soft lips. They were parted slightly, just barely moving as Duo breathed in and out in his sleep. A few stray strands of hair had fallen across the boy's face and they drifted into the air for short flights as he expelled each breath, then landed back upon his face only to be sent flying once again.

Heero stared, mesmerized by the simplistic but beautiful sight. His skin looked so smooth, perfect in every place without a single mark or spot, just a smooth creamy color begging to be caressed. Before Heero even realized what he was doing he found himself leaning forward, moving his own lips closer to the boy?

Blinking he froze and jerked back, suddenly aware of his movements and back in control of his body. What in the world was he doing?! What in the world had come over him? To just lean forward and kiss someone without asking their permission, in fact doing it while they were sleeping and? and this was another boy no less!

Heero shook his head and stumbled back a little bit, covering his face again. Gritting his face he resisted the urge to growl in frustration. What was going on? He just couldn't understand why he was acting this way.

Slowly he chanced opening his eyes and took a long line of deep breaths, just watching the boy cautiously. "What did you do to me?" He whispered.

Duo's lips parted just a little more, as if in response. If Heero didn't know better he would have sworn the boy was begging to be kissed, but no, he knew that wasn't it. Still?

"One couldn't hurt."

And with those words Heero's control was lost. Leaning forward ever so slowly he touched his lips to Duo's, feeling that soft skin brush his own. The simple touch sent a strange warmth flowing through his boy and he kissed the lips softly, enjoying the small taste.

A small whimper brought him back to his senses and his eyes snapped open, meeting with Duo's, which were wide in fear. Heero jumped backward, both boys sitting up and moving away from each other with wide eyes. Heero swallowed in guilt as he watched the boy bring a finger lightly to his mouth and trace his lower lip.

"S-sorry," he stuttered out, his face growing red. He knew he shouldn't have touched the boy. He knew he shouldn't have done anything like this, he should have just kept his nose in his book where it was safe. But now? Heero turned his head away, his bangs falling to hide his eyes in shame.

"What was that?" the boy whispered quietly.

Heero looked up in surprise. It was strange, but Duo's voice was so soft and quiet, like a child asking in complete wonderment and fear. The boy just sat there, his finger resting on his bottom lip as he gazed at Heero in confusion. "What was that?" He repeated quietly.

"A kiss," Heero murmured back. "Sorry, I shouldn't have-"

"Would you? would you do it again?"

Heero blinked in confusion and just stared at the boy. Had he heard that right? No, impossible, it was his mind acting strange again. He couldn't have heard the boy right, could he?

"What?"

Duo blushed slightly. "It? it felt nice. Could you do it again?"

Heero nodded numbly, his throat going dry. The voice Duo asked in, that sweet and innocent tone, it was too tempting. Moving forward slowly he crawled across the floor toward the boy until they were kneeling very close together. Timidly Heero reached forward and slid his hand down the side of Duo's face, giving the boy plenty of time to slap his hand away, but he didn't. Instead Duo seemed to melt into his touch, leaning his head sideways, his eyes sliding partway shut. Then Heero leaned forward and their lips met.

Intoxicating. That was the only word for it. Heero leaned forward and kissed the boy, slowly at first, and that same warmth flew through his body, awakening in him a deep hunger that made his entire being ache for more. And when Duo responded to the kiss, kissing him back, the ache only became worse. Heero found his arms wrapping lightly around Duo, ever mindful of his hurt arm, sliding up the boy's back to thread into his hair.

A soft whimper came from Duo's throat and Heero responded with a low moan of his own as the kiss deepened. Slipping his tongue forward he used it to taste Duo's delicious lips and the boy opened his mouth allowing Heero entrance with another quiet whimper.

The next thing both boys knew Duo was on his back and Heero was lying over him, their arms wrapped around each other as they continued to move their mouths together, completely lost in the intoxicating tastes and amazing sensations. It was air that finally brought them to the surface and both broke away to gasp for breath, Heero falling back and lying down next to Duo as he breathed heavily.

A kiss? He'd never thought a kiss could do so much to him. He'd nearly lost his mind there and if it weren't for lack of air he could have kissed those amazing lips and buried his hands in that smooth, silky hair until the world ended and was reborn again. Heero swallowed air hungrily and tried to get his raging heart back to normal, closing his eyes he found his world spun in tight circles.

My god, he thought, if that was just a kiss, what else could this boy do?

**

Duo lay down next to him, gasping for air just as hungrily. However his eyes were already mostly shut and he felt like he was floating on air, the roar of the seas in his ears as his body hurt and ached.

But it wasn't a bad pain, that he knew. No, this was so much different from what he'd ever experienced before. To feel Heero's lips against his own and that boy's body pressed against him had made him soar, soar higher then the bluest sky. Even after the kiss was ended he still felt like he was flying and he could swear he almost felt the air running through his hair.

Duo opened his eyes and turned his head slightly so he could watch Heero lying beside him. He lay there; watching in quiet wonder as the boy's body seemed to react the same his own was. How strange, how strange that Heero would react the same way. Swallowing lightly he reached out a hand and touched Heero's, causing the boy to jump slightly and turn to look at him.

The two boys just stared, gazing at the other as they tried to cool down. However, the effect of staring into each other's eyes had the opposite effect, at least on Duo, and he felt his stomach knot up from the same ache. Without realizing what he was doing he brought his hand up and moved it through Heero's hair, sighing softly.

"That was?"

Heero flashed a timid smile and pulled away, sitting up and running his hand through his own hair.

"?amazing." Duo finished quietly.

"I didn't mean to get so carried away."

"I didn't mind."

Heero stood up, seemingly ignoring Duo protest and shifted, tugging gently at his own shirt and looking around the room. "Um, I need to go back to my room and get some stuff, change of clothes and some food. I should probably get you some dry clothes too. Will you be ok if I leave for a little while? I promise I'll be back soon."

Duo sat up and nodded, moving around to hug his knees with one arm under the quilts. "Promise?"

"Yes, I promise. And I have the only key to the room right now, so no one else will come in while I'm gone."

A small smile crossed Duo's face and he nodded again, this time with a little more energy.

"In the meantime you should get some more sleep, or you might get a fever from being outside in the cold for so long. Just close your eyes and go to sleep, I'll wake you when I get back."

Duo slid back under the covers and lay down as a response, pulling them tightly around his body as he did. Lying there quietly he watched Heero slip his jacket back on and unlock the door. He didn't even blink until Heero was gone and he'd heard the sound of the lock click once more.

Settling down he let his mind wander as his eyes traveled over the books. He wasn't that tired anymore, but he listened anyway. It was strange, the feeling he had being around the boy. He didn't understand it at all; it all seemed so new. Had it been anyone but Heero the sound of the door locking would have frightened him into thinking he was now in another cage, only this time without bars or windows. But, strangely, he felt safe with Heero. Safe and secure.

Closing his eyes he realized it was the same feeling he'd felt for Zechs, long long ago. His memory was fuzzy about the first time he laid eyes on Zechs, but he did remember the intense fear he'd felt at the time. Before he'd met Zechs he'd been all alone, lying in a dark room with nothing to hint at an outside world.

Then a door had opened and the blond haired man had stepped in. Back then he'd been younger, his hair cut closer to his head so it just slightly brushed the tops of his ears. And he'd worn older clothes with darker colors. He remembered cowering in the corner until Zechs walked over to him, whispering words of comfort until his panic had been laid to rest.

Duo smiled softly as the images played in his mind. He could still clearly see that much younger version of Zechs, acting so warmly toward him. Taking care of him and brushing his hair, which had been body length even then. He remembered those caring and tender hands helping him to dress every morning and Zechs' beautiful young voice teaching him to sing with the help of an old, slightly out of tune piano.

He loved those memories, cherished them. But as he watched them turn out in his mind they took a decidedly darker turn and suddenly the younger Zechs was replaced with an older version. An older version who pulled Duo's hair, shoved him to the ground, ripping at his dress-

Duo's eyes snapped open and he gasped, his body shivering. Trembling under the quilts he pulled himself into a tight ball, fear moving over his body. No matter how much he tried he couldn't banish the images of what had happened to him that night. He couldn't make them go away, and he saw them even though his eyes were wide open and tearing.

Lying there curled into a tight ball, he wept, his body echoing the old pains from that night. The memories seemed to hit his very nerves, causing him to remember the burning pain from his arm and his backside as Zechs had pushed painfully into him.

Duo cried out loudly, burying his head into the pillow. He tried to make the memories go away, he really tried, but they just wouldn't stop and he could swear he felt the tall figure of Zechs leaning over him, the putrid smell of his desire and lust washing over him.

With those images racing through his mind Duo cried himself into a deep sleep, his body curling into a tight ball completely under the covers as he sobbed and trembled.

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