What is Good and What is Evil?

Disclaimer: I don’t own GW nor do I own D&D or any related products. I make no money off this and live off of canned cat food.

Warnings: NC-17. AU. Adult themes, not for kids!! Language (Duo’s potty mouth). Angst. Rape. M/M, Anal. Lemon/Lime. 2X1. 2X3. 5Xzechs. Random POV changing although I did try to keep in somewhat sensible. (srry if I missed anything.)

Okay this shows just how BIG a nerd I am. This is D&D/GW fanfic please don’t hate me forever. *Gulps* Gods bless us all, just when I thought I could sink on lower on the nerdom scale.*Gulps again* For those of you who aren’t D&D nerds I apologize if this doesn’t make much sense I will try to explain at the end. For those of you who are D&D nerds feel free to use any of this for a campaign setting or an encounter.
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“…..” speaking, *…..*thinking, //…..//flashback.

Heero leaned back against the trunk of the tree he sat in. His bow rested comfortably against his thigh. He brushed his long brown bangs out of his dark blue eyes, carelessly tucking a strand behind his tanned, pointed ear. The sunlight drifted lazily through the leafy canopy of his forest home, lulling him to complacency. He shifted slightly, making no noise. He had to stay alert. There was a troop of bugbears [1] traveling near his forest.
A wren’s loud mating call drifted through the canopy and Heero replied with a similar call after a few moments. He stealthily climbed higher and knocked an arrow into his bow keeping it loose for the moment. Entering the clearing that the small forest path led to was a band of eight walking in a more or less single file line. Heero pulled back his bow, sighted the enemy, and waited for the signal from Wufei. His golden skin broke into a light sheen of sweat as Wufei held the signal longer and longer.
*What’s he waiting for? * Heero wondered. *They have a human with them?* He noted dispassionately noticing the smaller figure for the first time. *Most likely a captive. I hope they’re not hurt in this.* He told himself looking at the ‘shirt’ she wore, it was little more than a long canvas sack, she wore no pants, but had rags tied around her feet. The bugbears were dressed better and that didn’t happen often.
The caravan stopped to consult what appeared to be a map. They began to move forward again and still Wufei held the signal. Heero heard a cardinal’s mating call, the sign to let the intruders pass. The human hunched forward and looked around at the treetops wildly as if expecting an attack. Heero decided to withhold the attack as well. The band was still days journey from the village and Heero wanted to see why Wufei decided to let them pass, although he guessed it was because of the girl. Once they were gone Heero slipped from his perch and went in search of the band’s coordinator.

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*I should never have trusted the fucking bugbears!* Duo exclaimed to himself silently for the thousandth time. They stopped to check a map, which was probably wrong. They were taking a ‘shortcut’ through an elven forest. “We’re all going to die here.” He muttered softly and one of the foul smelling brutes glared at him. He shut his mouth quickly. He glared at the simple iron band on his finger. It was the reason he was still here, the reason he couldn’t use his eldritch powers. His scowl deepened. *Trust a fucking bugbear!* he ranted silently. Now he was on his way to be sold to a neogi [2] of all things. He cast a glare at the band worn on a chain around Tok’s, the leader of the bugbears, because it wouldn’t fit on his fat-ass fingers. Duo closed down him mind quickly, not thinking what those hands could do. His kidneys still hurt and he knew there were bruises, there were bruises everywhere, he wouldn’t think about it. He wouldn’t think about those hands holding him down against the ground while… He repressed a shudder as the troop moved on. He glanced around the forest in fear. Certain he’d heard a fake bird call. *Any minute now we’re going to be attacked by the elves and I’m going to get killed.* he thought almost in relief.

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“They have a human with them.” Wufei said his black ponytail pulled painfully back from his eyes.

“Since when does the safety of a human come before the safety of our kith?” Quillathe demanded. She was young still and was rash for an elf. Not to mention she was a wild elf, and they were known to shoot first and ask questions later.

“They are days from our village still. I want to try to ascertain if the human is working with them or not. If she is we’ll kill them, if not we’ll try to save her, as long as it doesn’t bring harm to our people.” Wufei explained patiently. “Although I would guess that she’s a prisoner by her garb. However if a human is working with them, then they would have plans that most bugbears wouldn’t think of.” He commented

“We should strike now before they go any further!” she exclaimed, her dark eyes burning with anger.

“If we attack now the human could be injured and it’s not hurting anything for the moment.” Heero agreed with Wufei. Quillathe walked away in a huff. Zechs just shook his head at her and began a conversation with Wufei.
“I think the human could tell the difference between a real call and the cardinal’s signal you gave.” Heero stated. Wufei blinked at him.

“You do realize that most other elves not raised or trained here have a hard time telling the difference between a real call and the ones of our forest right?” Wufei asked him skeptically.

“All the same, I’m just telling you what I think.” Heero said silently agreeing with his friend. It must have been a coincident.
Heero wandered off to sit by himself, as he was apt to do. Most humans considered elves to be a bit…above everybody else. Elves just didn’t mingle with many people most of the time. They weren’t social if they weren’t comfortable with the company. Humans lived and died so quickly, they were always changing and so the elves, which were long-lived and as changing as the timeless forest, naturally distrusted them most of the time. But even most other elves consider Heero to be a very private person. He hadn’t grown up in the village he lived in now, very few of its residents had, but he’d been here for a decade now. Not a long time for any elf, but still no one knew much about him. He worked hard, he didn’t make trouble and so no one bothered him. He slipped into the forest as Wufei and Zechs and Quillathe laughed together, the wild elf never stayed upset for long.
He wanted some time alone. His thoughts were drawn as they often were to his lost love. The high elves’ blond locks and cerulean eyes haunted his dreams still. He still woke in the middle of the night aching for the feel of his lover’s lithe body against him. It had been fifteen years since He’d died, fifteen years since his world burned.
Heero spun about quickly, knives falling ready from his wrist sheaths into his palms.

“Hold friend. I only came to talk.” Wufei said as he walked forward his rolling gait making no noise on the forest leaves. “You always do that. I always think this will be the time I sneak up on you, but you always prove me wrong.” The older elf said laughingly as Heero sheathed his daggers. Heero gave a small smile in return. “You know what else you always do?” Wufei asked him. Heero raised an eyebrow. “You always lose yourself in these long brooding silences. You think about memories that hurt you, why?” he asked. He’d never pried before, but Wufei was worried. Heero wasn’t trancing [3] you could tell that by looking at him. He wasn’t eating and he was staring to lose weight. “What do you think about? What’s in your past that pains you so? That keeps you tied to this half-life in our small village.” He prompted. Heero surprised Wufei and himself by replying.

“Love.” Heero told him. “Part of the reason I came here. I wanted to get away from those that are bright and shining. I wanted those who were darker.” He said.

“A high elf?” Wufei asked and Heero nodded. “How did you end up here? A lot of the people here are high elves.”

“I could only stay away for so long. After a few years I ached to see again the grace of my kin. I longed…I long for eyes like the morning sky and hair like spun sunshine.” Heero whispered softly.
“Nightbreeze scorching.” He stated with bitterness tinting his voice. Wufei’s eyebrows rose in surprise. Almost sixteen years ago chromatic dragons [4] had razed the Naïlo [5] forest to the ground with acid, lightening, and fire. Hundreds of elves had died and quite a few visiting humans and dwarves and many town of wood gnomes as well. Sixteen years, ten of which Heero had lived in his village and Wufei, who was considered to be one of Heero’s best friends, both by himself and by others, never knew that the blue-eyed elf had a lost love, much less that they had died so horrifically.

“Very few were said to have survived that fire.” He commented sadly. “I was there to shoot down the dragons and sift through the rubble.

“I was away at the time. I lost the only person I ever loved.” Heero said softly. “I came here to forget, yet the memories still plague me. I try to remember the happiness we had but it slips away from me and I’m left with pain and loss,” he said softly.

“Your love wouldn’t want you to grieve forever. Sixteen years is long enough, maybe you should travel again.” He suggested. “Give it some thought.” Wufei suggested with a pat on the back and turned away leaving Heero alone.

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Duo writhed on the ground in hurt. He had his arms and legs pulled against his body as his muscles convulsed in pain. A harsh cry ripped its way from his lips and the bugbears laughed around him. After what felt like eternity the pain subsided. Duo lay panting raggedly about twenty feet from the campfire that the bugbears had made for the night.

“Do it again.” One of them garbled roughly in Goblin. They still didn’t know that he could speak their language. Tok took the Master Ring [6] in his hand and Duo felt pain lance through his body again. He screamed loudly, positive that at any moment his flesh was going to melt of his bones and his skeleton would dance around the campfire. He tried not the think of the words ‘searing, flesh’ [7] as once more his body was wracked with indescribable pain. He screamed again certain that an elven arrow would pierce him through the heart. He prayed for it in fact. The pain receded and Duo found that tears were pouring down his face. His body was unharmed other that the bruises from the rough physical treatment.

“Again.” The bugbear ordered and Tok punched him hard across the jaw. He moved to a different seat quickly. Tok yawned and stretched.

“We sleep. You guard, stay awake. Tell if someone come.” Tok demanded of Duo in Common and he climbed painfully to his feet and began limping a perimeter around the camp.

About halfway through the night Tok rolled over and called to one of his companions. “You guard for now, I want the slave. He should be healed enough by now that he won’t die from a little attention.” He demanded in Goblin. The smaller bugbear climbed to his feet grumbling. “Slave! Come!” Tok called in Common. He didn’t want to but his body had to obey. Duo lurched toward him unsteadily, his rough, jagged movements etched with weariness. He found his whole body was trembling as he moved forward and he feared he would fall to his knees and have to crawl the rest of the way. He staggered into arm’s reach of where Tok sat on a musty, dank bedroll. The taller creature backhanded him across the face knocking him flat on the ground. Duo inched slowly to his hands and knees and spat on the ground. In the dim firelight he could see the shine of the blood he’d tasted and the gleam of a tooth. He could feel the entire side of his face bruising already.

“He doesn’t really need this.” Tok commented in Goblin and ripped the dirty, ragged cloth from Duo’s body violently. He shredded the rags wrapping Duo’s calves with his sharp nails and took a large chunk of flesh in the process. Duo’s long braid, which had been tucked in the shirt swung freely. The bugbear wrapped his meaty hand around the matted, filthy braid with relish and yanked Duo onto his bedroll. He rolled on top of the smaller boy’s naked frame with a leer and Duo fought unsuccessfully to contain a sob of horror. *Please just let me die this time! Please!* he pleaded to the gods above. He tried to ignore the feel of the monster on top of him, tried to ignore the hands groping his body. He always tried. It never worked.
The monster pushed himself roughly inside the boy beneath him. Duo threw his head back and screamed shrilly in anguish as the creature sank into him roughly and pulled back, quickly pushing forward again. Each thrust pushing deeper into him, ripping and tearing his flesh as the large beast dry fucked him. He wrapped his arms underneath Duo, hiking his hips higher and giving him better access to the boy’s soft flesh. His reeking breath gusted hot against Duo’s flesh as he panted and grunted his pleasure. A line of drool dribbled slowly onto Duo’s pale, bruised skin. The clammy, stinking flesh of the creature pressed onto him from all sides. Duo tried to focus on relaxing his body, trying to save himself from as much pain as possible. With each brutal push from creature his vision swam with white stars. He sobbed brokenly unable to stop the raggedness of his breathing. His eyes slowly lost their focus and he stared blankly at the forest canopy riddled with stars above him. His entire body limp and unresponsive as the brute drove into him mercilessly over and over again.

The leader suddenly cried out in pain as an arrow sank into his back. Rearing back he tried ineffectively to pull the offensive item from his flesh. The rest of the bugbears were on their feet and ready to fight immediately. None of them had been asleep with the prospect possibly being able to join in the rape of their captive.
Four elves stepped out of the woods around the camp, two carried bows drawn and two carried leafblades [8] drawn. Tok dragged Duo to his feet by his hair and tossed him forward. “Fight them.” He commanded in Common. And Duo moved forward shakily as his abused body threatened to give out on him. He targeted one of the elves holding a leafblade and began to attack him. Surprise showed on the elf’s face as he tried to fight against the human without hurting him. Him? The captive was a male?

“We’re here to help you.” His melodious voice cut through the night. “Don’t fight us.”

“I have to!” Duo practically sobbed as he landed a blow to the elf’s stomach. “The leader has a ring on a necklace! It has to be thrown away!” He gasped over the sounds of the battle as he again tried to hit the elf. Duo misjudged a swing and took a glancing blow to the shoulder from the blade, which sent him staggering to one side. He kicked the elf’s feet from under him, knocking him face down. He pinned the elf’s arms behind his back and hissed into the pointed ear. “If you can’t get that ring, kill me! Please don’t leave me alive! Please!” he begged hot tears pouring from his eyes and onto the elves neck. The elf threw him off and Duo climbed to his feet unsteadily and headed for a female elf. At first she seemed determined to kill Duo and he had to block more blows than he tried to give. But when he passed up chance after chance to deal a blow she began to go through the motions halfheartedly. And he almost smiled in relief. He fell forward sharply with a cry of pain as an arrow shaft buried itself in his side. The elf caught him in one of her arms. He realized then that he was chanting over and over again, “Please kill me, please kill me!” he had been for a while probably why she wasn’t trying to kill him. He hit the elf in the face and pushed back. He steadied himself, broke off the shaft of the arrow and moved shakily forward to attack again.

“Use magic to fight them!” commanded Tok and Duo thrust his hands forward sharply. He felt for the first time in months the rush of magic power flowing through his body. He cast a sickly green cloud of eldritch energy toward the elf and she doubled over puking into the grass.

“Kill her!!” Tok shouted as he tried to coordinate a defense with his remaining troops. Duo moved forward slowly to deal a deathblow to the elf. He felt like he was going to be sick as well.

Then he froze in his tracks. He turned slowly just in time to see the first elf he had fought throwing a small trinket in a glittering arc against the night sky before it was swallow by the forest. Duo yanked the iron band off his finger and dropped it to the ground. He laughed manically and seemed to burst into thousands of pieces. A whirling black cloud surrounded the fighting ground. Tok thrust a sword at the elf before him with a cry of rage. The shrieking black cloud condensed in front of the blow and the elf was unharmed. The elves realized that the cloud was made up of small black bats, each one seeming shadowy and insubstantial. Their eyes trailed violet eldritch energy as they flew about the clearing. Duo reformed fifteen feet off the ground and hovered, a long, tattered black cape trailed behind and around his naked form. [9] He let the eldritch energy fill him completely; burning away any trace of the helplessness he’d felt for months. He felt powerful, he felt alive. No longer living a half-life as a prisoner without his magic. He let lose a volley of eldritch blasts with both hands, each violet and black sphere of energy catching a bugbear and flinging them backwards. He continued to laugh manically as he blasted those below him. The harsh sound sent a shiver down the spines of more than one occupant of the battleground, bugbear and elf alike. He blasted Tok, the ugly son-of-a-bitch, and then again for good measure. He drifted down and floated a few inches off the ground. He bent to pick up a large sword and gripped its weight in both hands. Tok groaned and tried to sit up. Duo stood on his chest heavily and looked down at the larger creature. It stared back at him in fear.

“If I had the time and energy your death would be slow and painful, looks like you lucked out.” He said in Goblin. He plunged the sword in the creature’s gut and twisted it viciously. He pulled the weapon out quickly and thrust it in again, and then again. Up, down, up, down. He stabbed the body long after in was dead, all the while cackling and screaming like a madman, tears running down his dirty face. Duo heard the rustle of leaves and he looked up to see the elf that saved him. He climbed off the quivering mass of flesh, which was now almost unrecognizable as having once been alive. He staggered toward the elf slowly still laughing, dragging the heavy sword behind him. He dropped it realizing it was causing him pain. Comprehending he was in pain started to bring him back to reality. Seeing the elf raise his sword in an attack position as Duo approached, dropped him another notch lower on the crazy meter. He took another lurching step forward and the arrow wound was jarred sharply. His laughter caught in his throat and came out as a strangled sob. He started to cry, harsh, shuddering sobs ripping from deep in his chest. He couldn’t go any further he was done. He wouldn’t even get to talk to the elf that had saved him; he couldn’t make himself stop sobbing. He tried to tell the elf with his eyes what his heart wanted to say. Thank you. *At least I’ll die free.* he thought as his vision blacked and he dropped. Instead of hitting the ground he felt strong arms wrap around him and lower him gently. The scent of rich forest earth sprinkled with fresh rain filled his nostrils, erasing the stink of his captors.

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Less than a day had passed since they’d saved the human. He’d sleep fitfully, but hadn’t wakened. Heero had carried him to the river and bathed the worst of the gore off of him while the rest burned the bodies of their foes. He had set up the camp. Quillathe had returned home to tell the village of what happened.

“Nnnnn….” The man yelled suddenly and sat straight up. Heero jumped. One minute he was asleep, the next he wasn’t. He inhaled a deep shaking breath and…starting screaming harshly at the top of his lungs. Heero crouched next to him and laid a hand gentle on his shoulder. The human flinched away from his touch and backpedaled out of the bedroll he was laying on. Heero grabbed his wrist in hand.

“Calm down.” he whispered firmly in Common. And the man’s head whipped around to stare up at Heero. Heero’s dark blue eyes met the startled violet eyes before him and Heero’s breath caught in his throat. This man was beautiful! He didn’t normally find humans attractive but this one was just gorgeous. He looked at the heart-shaped face before him and realized something. *How old is he?* he asked himself in shock. He couldn’t be more that sixteen years old. He wasn’t even an adult yet. Rage boiled in Heero anew. *A child…they raped a child!!*
“Come on.” Heero said finding his voice again after a moment. He removed the bandages covering the boy’s many wounds and gently pulled him to his feet and helped him into the river. “Let’s get you cleaned up.” He stated and shucked his clothes as well.

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The elf’s voice was soft and melodious and did much to soothe Duo’s fear. He had no idea where he was at the moment, but didn’t care because he was free. He didn’t even mind that he was still naked. Especially since he was going to get a bath. The summer’s day was fairly hot and the cool water felt wonderful against his skin. *Of course it could have been the middle of winter and I would still have waded into this river.* Duo thought and shuddered. He stopped at waist level but the elf pulled him further into the river the water. It was almost to Duo’s shoulders and had already covered the small elves when he pulled Duo gently onto a rock in the center of the slow flowing water. Duo sank onto the smooth, clean stone with a small sigh of pain. He leaned to the side a little testing his body for the hurt. He felt something grate in his chest. *Shit!* he swore silently. *My ribs are broken. Fuck it! When did that happen?* He remembered an elven arrow piercing his flesh. He sat with the water around his waist; the early afternoon sunlight filtered though the trees. It was peaceful here. The elf made his way hurriedly back to shore and brought a small wooden bucket back with him, it had a long rope tied to it and on the other end was a small weight. The bucket was filled with a spicy smelling soap [10] and a comb and brush. The elf tossed the anchor upstream from them and began to unbraid Duo’s hair as gently as possible. Duo cried out in fear and pushed away from the elf violently. Over three months of not being washed had turned his once luscious locks into a snarled, matted mess, but he didn’t care. No one was going touch his braid again. No one! He clutched his braid firmly in hand and tried to climb off the wide rock.
“Hold on.” The elf said gently and placed a restraining hand on his shoulder. “You’re safe now.” He said softly. It was so unlike anything Duo had known recently that he started to cry. Part of him wanted to reprimand himself for becoming so emotional all of sudden, but he knew he needed to. He needed to let himself heal now or he never would. He knew himself. He wrapped his arms around his torso and rocked back and forth slightly as the elf sat near by. He sobbed brokenly, and then he started screaming again. It was a raw pained sound full of anguish and hurt. He dug his nails into his flesh and raked the skin on his back. Trying to draw blood, trying cause himself enough pain to cover the hurt in his soul. The elf turned Duo around and took his hands firmly in his own and held them clenched there, pressing them against his own narrow chest. Duo’s entire body shuddered as he continued cry out his pain. The elf pulled Duo against his shoulder and Duo resisted a moment before letting himself receive the comfort this stranger was offering him. He enfolded Duo in his arms and brushed a hand over his head gently. He murmured softly in elven. The fluid language rolled over Duo like the water of the river. He quieted slowly and let the moment fill him. The cool water soothed his skin. The soft words the elf spoke sank into his soul. The warmth of the other’s body pressed against his, he didn’t even care that they were both naked. He felt like the shorter man wouldn’t do anything to hurt him, although he knew it was stupid. *Everyone will hurt you.* he told himself, but for now he was safe it seemed. Duo looked up at the elf as he stood before Duo on his knees. His dark blue eyes held pain and tears trickled down his face as he spoke softly. Duo reached a shaking hand up. He trailed his wet fingers over the tear-stained golden skin of the other’s face.

“Not for me?” He spoke without thinking in Abyssal. [11] *Right?* he thought. The elf cringed slightly at the sound of his words, his blue eyes going wide. The elf shifted behind him and began trying to wash his hair again. Duo pulled the length of his hair away roughly and shook his head violently. The elf just hugged him again. He didn’t speak anymore and Duo knew it was because of his words. For the first time in a very long time Duo felt shame for his heritage. The elf appeared to be about eighteen or nineteen. Which meant he could have been anywhere between 110 and 155 years of age.

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*What was that?* Heero wondered still in shock from the harsh…dark…yes that was the word, dark language that had flown from those blushed lips with such ease. Heero cupped his hands and trickled water over the man’s head. He remained silent as Heero worked and he wondered if he’d offended the human with his reaction to the language he spoke. Maybe he didn’t know Common. Heero decided to see what languages the man knew.
“Can you understand me?” he asked in Elven. He thought perhaps the man spoke his language because he’d been so relaxed while he’d talked to him. He didn’t reply. “I can’t tell what color your hair is supposed to be under all this dirt.” He continued. Nothing. He didn’t reply, but he did relax his shoulders some.
“Can you understand me?” he asked in Sylvan. Nothing.
“Can you understand me?” he asked in Gnomish. Nothing. But he looked over his shoulder a little at the questioning tone in Heero’s voice.
“Can you understand me?” he asked in Draconic.

“Yes.” He replied. Heero’s heart froze. The young man’s reply was only one soft word but it was mind blowing. It seemed to resonate deep in his soul, ringing like a bell. The Draconic language was ancient and beautiful and the boy spoke it beautifully.

“Can you understand me?” he asked in Goblin.

“Yes.” He breathed even softer as his shoulders tensed slightly.

“Common?” Heero asked. The man nodded.

“Can you understand me?” he asked in Orcish. No reply. Heero lathered the soap in his hands and began to gently massage it into the man’s hair. He cried out and pulled away again. “I just want to help you wash your hair.” Heero said reassuringly. The boy just shook his head, tears rolling down his cheeks. He sat tensely for a moment more and then slowly relaxed a little. Heero leaned him back slowly and rinsed the soap, then lathered it again slowly. The man relaxed more and leaned heavily against Heero as he worked. His breathing slowed and deepened and Heero realized that he had fallen asleep. He smiled slightly and continued to wash the other’s hair. He started awake with a small cry a moment later as Heero poured water over his hair to rinse it.

“Shh, its alright.” Heero soothed gently. The man’s head whipped around and he stared up at Heero. Heero was faced again with the beauty of the man’s deep violet eyes. Wide with shock and fear he shivered in the water and looked around him in bewilderment, as if he couldn’t remember where he was, even though he’d only dozed for a few moments. *Or as if he can’t believe it.* Heero thought bitterly.

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The elf pressed a piece of soap into Duo’s hands. His blue eyes were sad as he turned and climbed out of the river. Duo couldn’t help but follow his small frame with his eyes. The golden hued skin was darker than the other elves that he’d seen. So was the other’s chocolate-brown hair. Duo had never seen a naked elf before. His form was lithe and supple. His skin rippled over the muscles of his body like waves crashing to the shore.
Duo stood on the rock and began to wash leisurely, poking at his broken ribs and deciding that there was one broken and a second cracked. The water pooled around his calves. He ran the spicy soap over his body with a sigh, loving the feel of the getting clean. He closed his eyes and relished the fact that he was finally free. The face of the bugbear leader loomed in his mind and his eyes snapped open. Suddenly the day was cold and dark, nothing was the way it had been. He could feel large hands wandering over his body, poking, prodding, squeezing his flesh painfully. He scrubbed the planes of his body callously, heedless of the pain in his ribs, back, shoulders, legs as he worked. All that matter was being clean. His eyes burned and he realized he was crying again. He raked his nails over his flesh. He had to get clean. He had to! He ran the soap viciously over his flesh. He hands were shaking frantically his entire body trembled. He sat back in the water and rubbed the soap from his body. He sat still for a moment. He closed his eyes and heaved a small sigh. Then he felt it. A small brush, like a finger down the back of his neck. Like the way Tok used to do when he would walk by. Duo’s eyes snapped open again. He could feel Tok’s hands brushing his body. He reached for the soap again and stood. He ran his nails down his arms and legs, his fingernails catching his healing wounds and breaking them open again. He sat back in the water and rinsed the soap. He had to get clean. He could still feel that bastard touching him! He grabbed handfuls of sand from the bottom of the river, barely remembering to hold his breath as he plunged under the water. Grounding the sand into his skin trying to stop the feeling of the monster’s hands against his flesh. He felt a scream welling up in his chest.

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Heero looked over toward the river at the sound of a small cry. His human charge was standing on the rock, rasping sand against his skin and leaving long gashes on his arms and torso and legs with his nails. Anywhere he could. A shrill, gasping scream issued from the other’s lips as Heero threw his clothes off again and ran into the river. He wrapped his arms gently around the taller man, pinning his arms to his sides. He cried out again as Heero restrained him from behind. He began to struggle wildly. They tottered on the rock unsteadily.

“Stop now. You’ve got to stop. You’re going to hurt yourself.” Heero said speaking calmly. He didn’t respond.
“Stop!” he shouted in Draconic. The deep resonance of the word vibrated through his chest and into the air around them. The man sank to one knee sharply and Heero winced hoping he hadn’t broken anything. “Stop now. It’s okay. You’re okay.” Heero said softly in the other’s ear. And slowly he began to relax against Heero’s body as he spoke soothingly in the hissing, rasping language.
Heero pulled him off the rock slowly and toward the shore. He quickly dried the shivering man’s body, while he stood staring straight ahead.

“Come on lets get you back into the bedroll until Wufei and Zechs come back with some clothes for you.” Heero suggested. The human didn’t move. “You’ll catch cold you should at least wrap in the blanket.” He said in Draconic. Still nothing, still staring ahead unblinking. Heaving a sigh he gently grasped the human’s hand. He tried to pull back in fear, but Heero held him tight. His violet eyes found Heero’s blue ones and held them. Their depths held a soul-wrenching terror that Heero wanted to push far away from the taller young man. His brows drew down as he looked at Heero, confusion slowly replacing the fear. He glanced around the small camp quickly, his eyes coming to rest on Heero again. He slowly nodded his head and Heero led him around the small fire and to the bedroll he’d occupied earlier. He sank into the thin pad in exhaustion and pulled the blanket over his lap. Heero took the thin, absorbent towel in hand and began to dry the other’s hair slowly. Heero was surprised to find that his hair wasn’t the dark brown he’d originally thought it was. Instead it was a light chestnut color that caught the glinting sunlight of the afternoon and spun it into gold. Heero sank to his knees and slowly began dragging a wide-toothed wooden comb through the still damp hair. The human slowly relaxed against his body as he had in the river. His broad shoulders pressed against Heero’s ribcage. His head inclined forward so that Heero could reach his hair. A shudder shook his body periodically. Heero set the comb aside and picked up the brush in one smooth movement. The quickness of his action caused the man to jump.

“Sorry.” He said softly and began running the brush through the long hair. The man leaned back against Heero but didn’t relax again. The other’s shoulders shook in silent tears, his breath coming in ragged pants.
“Do you…wanna talk?” Heero asked softly and the man took a deep, shaking breath.

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“Do you…wanna talk?” The elf asked him. Duo closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

*Do I want to talk?* he asked himself. He didn’t really know.

“How did you get here?” the elf asked his lilting voice was soft. A simple enough question but it brought back memories from only a few months ago, yet they seemed as if they happened to someone else.

*What to tell him? How to explain that I’m not really any better than the monsters I killed. I wonder if he thinks me human?* He told himself. He knew that if he had to he could travel now, it’d be hard, but he could. A few more days and he’d be fully healed other than a few scars and lingering bruises. But he also knew that mentally he was nowhere near well, maybe he never would be. But his face hurt where Tok had hit him, his knee was twisted, his arms hurt, his legs hurt, his entire body hurt and he didn’t want to have to go anywhere just yet.

“I…” He cleared his throat. “I was trying to set up a business deal and was betrayed.” He said to start a conversation that he knew was going to be very hard for him to have, the irony of his situation was not lost on him.

“What kind of person would betray someone to bugbears?” the elf asked affronted and slightly horrified.

“The business deal was with the bugbears.” Duo told him. He could almost hear the unspoken thought, ‘What kind of person makes business deals with bugbears.’ He almost smiled. “But I paid for it.” He shivered and rubbed his hands over his eyes, no longer wanting to smile.

“What ah…” the elf cleared his throat. “What kind of business deal?” he asked tactfully.

“We were going to attack a trade caravan and loot it.” He said simply. *He doesn’t need to know that it was the biggest caravan ever to grace the shores of our country or that I was going to kill everyone on board or that a huge intercontinental war would probably have started over it.*
“I promised a part of the goods to the bugbears, but they were already being paid by a neogi slaver to capture slaves. They got the trade goods. They would have gotten paid on delivery.” Duo shuddered violently. “They got me,” he whispered almost too soft to hear. He found that he couldn’t stop shaking. The elf wrapped his arms around Duo gently, hairbrush still in hand.
“Don’t!” Duo said sharply and hunched in on himself. The elf pulled back sharply, not wanting to hurt Duo. “I…I appreciate it. I do. Most people aren’t kind to me. Its…” He trailed off and gave an almost wistful sigh. “I don’t deserve it. I’ve paid for my sins. With my blood, my tears. My body.” A sob stuck in his throat and he swallowed it down. “I probably haven’t paid in full, but it’s a start. I’m sure the gods have more planned for me. And I know I deserve it.”

“What could you have possibly done to think you deserve something like that?” the elf asked in disbelief. Duo barked a short, sharp laugh.

“You don’t even know who I am and yet you want to think the best of me. I’m a murderer. I’m a killer. And I do it without remorse for money. I do it because I can. Because others are weak and I am strong.” He spouted bitterly. “But I guess there’s always going to be someone stronger than me.” He whispered and shivered again.

“Funny you seem remorseful to me.” the elf commented as he started to braid Duo’s hair. Still being gentle, still sitting. He hadn’t gotten up and left, he’d had yelled or denounced Duo.

“Do you understand what I’m telling you?” Duo asked disbelievingly. “I’ve killed scores of people to make a few gold coins. I’ve killed men, women and children and never thought more than twice about doing any of it.”

“As you said, you’ve paid for your sins, at least in part. Maybe if you change your ways now the gods will agree that you’ve learned you lesson.” The elf suggested. Duo sat still in shock. *I can’t see this child killing anyone who didn’t deserve it. He must feel the need to make us fear him to protect himself. Or perhaps he’s fallen in with some bad people.*

*Is this elf crazy?* he asked himself.
~No, he just isn’t comprehending what you’re telling him.~ he answered.
*He doesn’t understand.* he agreed with himself.
~He doesn’t know what you’ve done. Why bother trying to tell him.~ he advised.

“No, my sins are too great to be forgiven by any god.” He told the elf.
“What’s your name?” he asked after a moment.

“Heero. Yours?” he replied.

“Duo.” He said quietly.

“Nice to meet you.” the elf replied and Duo barely swallowed a snort. He grew serious suddenly.

“Thank you for saving me.” He whispered as Heero tied off his hair. *I have changed a lot in the past few months.* He thought in surprise. *Not only do I admit that I needed help to get free, but I thanked the person responsible rather than killing them. In fact it hasn’t occurred to me to kill this elf at all!* Which was very shocking and a little disconcerting. This elf had manhandled him, taken liberties he wouldn’t even allow his lovers, and he honestly didn’t care. He felt very tired and very old. He felt like all his years were catching up with him all at once. He wanted to cry. He pulled his newly washed braid over his should and clutched it in his hands tightly. “I couldn’t even kill myself to get away. I couldn’t do anything.” His voice broke and he let himself cry. Not caring that a complete stranger was present. Heero sat next to him and pulled him into the circle of his arms, hugging him tightly. *Do you deserve to cry?* he asked himself suddenly. All those you’ve killed will never cry again. So you were prisoner for months and they…* his mind wouldn’t, couldn’t complete the thought. He pushed forward down the path his mind had set him on though. *You earned what you got. Maybe you don’t deserve to heal.* the thought had a horrible sense of rightness to his fragile psyche. *You should continue to suffer for those you’ve hurt.* He willed his tears away even though all he wanted to do was cry. He pushed Heero back slowly even though all he wanted was to be held by someone and told that everything was going to be alright.
Duo heard voices speaking in elven approaching. Heero stood with a sigh and began cooking a meal.

“Glad to see you’re awake.” a cheerful voice commented in Common as two more male elves approached the campsite. “We worried about you for awhile.” He admitted. Duo looked up at him as if he’d lost his mind.

*Worried? About me?* he thought. “You don’t even know me.” he said somewhat exasperated. *How could these elves survive for centuries if they were so naïve.* he wondered.

“That’s true, but we were still worried. I’m Wufei. This is Zechs and you already know Heero.” Wufei said good-naturedly. Heero began talking in Elven. Wufei’s brow creased in worry as he looked down at Duo.

“We found this.” Zechs said shrugging and handing a lumpy, wrapped bundle to Duo. Duo looked from the package to the elf and back again before taking it in hand. He pulled off the ties that held the canvas and stared down at the items in his lap uncomprehending for a moment. It was his shirt. His clothes, his things. He pulled the shirt out and shrugged it on hissing through his teeth as he raised his arms above his head. It was tight and black, of course. The others went about their business giving as much privacy as possible without leaving. Which basically meant ignoring the fact that he was getting dressed. The shirt was a little longer than strictly necessary, it was sleeveless and it hung down past his narrow hips, clinging to each curve of his muscled body like a lover’s touch. He stood to his feet shrugging off the dizziness he felt. He slipped on his under clothes and socks, black of course. He pulled his pants on and laced them slowly. His fingers remembering the feel of the leather laces even though he could barely recall wearing the clothes he had on now. His pants were tight leather, black of course, and he looked poured into the pants as they rode low on his hips. The leather had panels cut away revealing swaths of red and violet so dark they were almost black and the true black of the leather only served the bring into focus the darkness of the other colors. A long leather vest, black of course slipped over it all. It hung to his knees and was tooled with a tribal design in the same shade of red and violet. Leather bracers that matched his vest laced onto his forearms. Mid-calf boots went on under his pants so just the toes were visible when he stood. He plopped back onto the bedroll to examine what else had been brought to him. He smiled widely. His four daggers were here, his scimitar still in its leather scabbard, black of course, his kukri. He smiled up at the elves, seeing that none of them were looking at him, he quickly sequestered the daggers about his person and slipped the kukri into the sheath that had been built into his boot for it. At the bottom of the pack was a smaller tied pouch and a simple, if well made, pack with one large central compartment and two smaller side compartments.[12] He opened the pack quickly and stuck his hand inside looking for anything. He pulled out a bedroll, an extra blanket, an extra set of clothes, these just plain black. The elves were very interested by this time. He turned the smaller packet over and opened it curiously. It wasn’t something he recognized. But what was inside it was most defiantly his.
A glint of silver caught his eye.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Duo gave a small cry of joy and then a happy giggle. The elves, all of them turned to look at him with guarded expressions. He smiled widely. Interest showed in the elves eyes as they watched him.
“Do you have a couple small pots I can use and a cup?” He asked. “If its not too much trouble.” He added as if he felt bad about asking.

Heero pulled out two small pots. “Its no trouble. Besides there’s no way we’d let you stop now. We want to know what’s got you smiling.” Heero told him with a small smile of his own. Wufei’s eyebrows rose in surprise, but neither of them saw it. Duo turned toward the river and filled the pots with water. He set one on the fire and the other on the ground. *What is he doing?* Heero thought.

“That has to boil.” He told them and sat back down. When it was boiling he dipped some out with the cup and poured what looked like an herbal mixture into the water and some of the cold water. He sloshed it around a couple times and threw back the contents in one mouthful. He swished it around in his mouth as he poured the rest of the contents into the boiling water with small metal clinking noises. After a few moments he spit the water onto the ground and the scent of camphor filled the campsite. He scooped the metal out of the boiling pot with the cup and poured it into the cold pot and put the boiling pot back on the fire. Duo sat back on his newly reacquired bedroll.
He laid out some of the metal pieces in a row. He pulled his lower lip out and shoved a long needle through it! Heero jumped forward slightly, Zechs looked sick and even Wufei started. He put a small piece of metal that looked like a nail at the end of the needle and fitted it into a groove there. He pulled the needle back down through his lip, screwed a metal ball onto the end and picked up a mirror to survey his handy work. He smiled a little at his reflection.

“Well whada’ya think?” he asked looking up at the elves. He put the flat end of the hollow needle to his mouth and blew sharply toward the fire to clear it of the chunk of flesh that had just been part of his lip.

“I think I need to go for a walk.” Zechs stated and turned around. Duo shrugged at his retreating back. Heero swallowed suddenly felling as sick as Zechs looked. He put the needle back into the boiling water. He splashed a sharp smelling liquid onto a small square of cloth and rubbed it on both his ear lobes. His ears were already pierced, twice in each lobe, and he put half-ring earrings through them. Wufei cleared his throat and walked away slowly trying to maintain a shred of pride.
Heero stood to his feet and walked to where Duo was. He sat on the ground next to the taller man to see better. Duo smiled at him widely and Heero felt his heart stop. Where as everything about him seemed to be serious, his clothes, his words. His smile seemed to soften his features, if only it reached his eyes. If only his eyes were happy as well. He knew he’d freaked the others out, whether he meant to or not. He was waiting to see if Heero would leave as well. He fitted the end of a half ring with a ball on one end and pulled it through his other ear gently. He twisted another ball onto the end and gave the earring a small, experimental flick. He shrugged off the vest and peeled himself out of his shirt. He rubbed the astringent over his left eyebrow and shoved a barbell through that as well. He had his nipples pierced! Heero expected some small exclamation of pain as the object was forced through those blush colored nubs but the only sound was Heero's pounding heart and a small sigh that could have been pleasure! He’d pierced his navel! He pierced his nose on one side. He pierced his tongue! *For crying out loud what else has he got to punch holes in?* Heero asked himself. He quickly got his answer. Duo stood to his feet leisurely and reached for the laces of his pants. Heero lunged upward and practically fled the campsite not looking back as rich laughter followed him into the woods.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Two days and nights passed as the elves stayed with Duo a he recovered from his many wounds. Although he wasn’t healing as fast as he would have like, it was still faster than most humans. On the night of the third day after he’d woken, Duo came down with a fever. The elves were a little surprised, as he’d seemed to be getting better. He coughed almost none stop and seemed to have a hard time catching his breath. Throughout the night his fever only got worse and when Zechs leaned over him to replace the damp clothe on his brow a look of such pure hatred and rage contorted his features that Zechs leapt back in surprise.

“If you ever come near me again. I will kill you. I will kill your family. I will kill your friends. I will kill anyone and anything you’ve ever come in contact with. I will erase you from this world.” He hissed coldly in Goblin. He tried to climb to his feet and failed as his body refused to help him. Tears trickled down his face. “You stay away from me!” he demanded pain thick in his voice. A sob lodged in his throat as he shook his head slowly. “Please, please, please!” he begged in Common as he rocked back and forth. Zechs inched closer to comfort him.

“I’m not going to hurt you.” he said softly in Common. Purple energy crackled across Duo’s fingers as he stared at the elf shifting towards him. Zechs froze. Wufei froze. Heero froze. Duo froze. Zechs stared at the energy gathering slowly in Duo’s hand. Wufei stared at Zechs. Heero stared at Duo. Duo stared at what, in his fever he thought was a bugbear.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He was afraid. He was terrified. More than the time he thought he was going to be hanged, more than the time he’d stolen that hippogriff’s egg, more than when he watched his only true friend plummet from the sky, riddled with arrows to lay broken on the ground below. He didn’t know how he’d gotten control of his powers, but he had and now they were going to pay. They were all going to pay for hurting him! He gathered the energy slowly and prepared to release it at his assailant.

“Duo stop!!” a sweet voice rang out loudly in Draconic. He turned his head to see…an elf. What the hell was an elf doing here? When had he been captured? The events of the past week came back to him and he released the energy exhausted.

“I’m sorry.” he croaked out in Abyssal. “I…I thought you were one of them. I’ll die before I let them touch me again!” he stated fiercely and looked up at Heero, who was pale in the firelight. Duo sank to the bedroll exhausted and passed out.

‘I’m sorry.’ Duo heard a soft voice say after sometime but he thought nothing of it. ‘Don’t use your powers anymore.’ The voice said. Duo fell back to sleep.

Duo woke gripped in the terror of a nightmare. He thrashed against his blankets wildly, a low wail slipping from his lips.

“Duo, Duo its okay, its okay.” A soft voice stated in Draconic.

“Vorel!?! [13]” he questioned in astonishment and sat up. But instead of a glossy scaled hide or the ebony skinned drow [14] he expected to find he saw a golden skinned wood elf before him with dark blue eyes.

“You’re okay.” He stated again softly. Duo made as if to sink his head slowly into his hands but stopped halfway. His entire body shook in terror. His breathing came in ragged, gasping pants. There on his right ring finger as though it had never left was a simple iron band. He began to whimper, a sound so full of primal, animalistic terror it was painful just to listen to. “Its only until you’re better.” Heero assured him. “You became violent and tried to use your powers against us.” Duo stared at his hand giving no indication the he’d heard. “Duo?” Heero asked concerned as he laid a hand lightly on the other’s shoulder. Duo jumped and the screamed he’d been holding back poured from within him. He back peddled frantically.

“Nonononononononononono!” he shrieked repeatedly.

“Duo be calm.” Heero told him.
An order. Duo stopped screaming and sat still. “Its only until your fever breaks. Understand?” he asked.

“I’m going to kill you.” He stated calmly looking up the elf. His eyes betraying no emotion. “I’m going to do things to you that you can’t even imagine. I will break you. Every part of you will belong to me. Understand?” he responded croakily. “Do you even realize what you’ve done? You know…” he was lost for words.

“Go back to sleep.” Heero told him. His eyes rolled back in his head and as he passed out again. He fought it he didn’t want to dream and he knew he would. He always fought even though he knew it would do him no good.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“I don’t understand. So you can’t use you magic powers. It can’t be that bad can it.” Heero asked less than two days later when the human’s fever had broken.

“No you don’t understand.” Duo replied evenly. “At all.” His voice always remained composed now. He could do anything else. Heero had told him to be calm.

“I’m going to take the ring off you now.” Heero stated. “Give me your hand.” Duo couldn’t have refused if he’d wanted to. Heero slipped the band off of Duo’s finger and placed in on his own left hand. Duo gripped Heero’s right hand in a vice gripped and yanked the iron master ring off his right hand and thrust it onto his own before Heero could do anything to stop him.

“On your knees.” Duo whispered as Heero sank downward with a confused look on his face. “I can do anything I want to you. Do you understand that? Anything I want and you won’t be able to stop me.” He breathed gently against Heero’s pointed ear. Duo held a knife towards Heero hilt first. “Take it.” Duo commanded and Heero’s hand wrapped around the dagger.

“Let him go.” Wufei’s voice broke through the forest.

“I’m just trying to make a point.” Duo said quietly. “Keep that dagger in your hands.” He said standing. “Try your hardest to kill them. I want them dead. Kill them but don’t let go of that dagger. Do nothing to hurt yourself on purpose.” He said gesturing to the other elves. Heero’s body lurched to its feet as horror over came his face. He moved towards his friends slowly, his feet making no noise in the leaf litter. He slashed at Wufei and Zechs again and again as his friends blocked each move while trying not to hurt him.

“Please Duo, please stop this! I understand!” He begged aloud sobbing as he landed a slice on Zechs’ arm. Duo stood impassively to one side. “I understand!! Please stop, please!” he shouted.

“Stop fighting.” Duo’s whisper barely cut across the clearing as he stood with his arms folded. Heero crumpled to the ground as he cried. He couldn’t drop the cursed dagger no matter how much he wanted to. Wufei hugged his friend tightly around the shoulders and glared coldly at Duo. “Stab him in the stomach.” Duo commanded evenly. “Stop.” He said before Heero could land the blow. “Come here to me on your hands and knees.” Duo told him and Heero broke from Wufei’s grasp and crawled slowly to where Duo stood. He gripped Heero’s hair tightly and pulled his head back sharply. He planted his lips firmly on Heero’s as the hand clutching the dagger rose quickly toward his chest. “Don’t fight me,” he commanded softly. The dagger fell to his side as Duo plunged his tongue viscously into Heero’s mouth, bruising his lips. Raping the small elf’s mouth with all the hatred and pain he could muster. He pulled back leaving both of them panting for breath. “Give me the dagger.” Duo told him and the dagger made its way to Duo’s hand and was slipped into a hidden sheath. “Give me your ring hand.” Heero lifted a shaking hand to Duo’s. Duo clamped his fingers onto the ring adorning Heero’s hand. “The only person who can take this off is me. Now imagine I’m a bugbear. Now imagine my six friends and I have had you for four months. And we’ve done anything and everything we wanted to you. Now pretend that you’ve been saved, only to find the ring on you again. You have to be calm even though you want to scream, you have to go to sleep even though you know you’ll have nightmares. If you think about this really hard, every single moment of every single day, for the next six years, you might understand. But you don’t understand now. You never will.” He stated softly in a broken voice and pulled the ring off and slipped the slave band onto his left hand. Heero crumpled backwards to the ground with a quiet sob. Duo dropped to his knees next to the elf and lifted his small frame gently into his arms. Heero clung to Duo’s shoulders tightly.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know, I didn’t realize.” Heero cried against him. “I meant you no wrong.”

“I know that. That’s why I haven’t killed you.” Duo told him as he clung to the elf in his arms as well. “They…they did things to me…” His voice broke as he stared off into space. He shuddered violently and blinked a few times to clear his head.
“Which way is the nearest town?” He asked suddenly. Heero composed himself suddenly aware that he and Duo weren’t the only ones in the forest. His face burned in embarrassment but he pushed it down.

“Wufei what do you think?” Heero asked his friend in Elven.

“I think he’s crazy and you are too because you just sat there hugging him!” Wufei snapped as he attended the wound on Zechs’ arm. “But also I understand that he’s been through something horrible. I just think he could have communicated it better. He isn’t actually violent without provocation…I vote yes.” Wufei stated reluctantly.

“I vote yes.” Zechs replied surprising his two friends. “From what little we’ve learned of him it may do him some good to stay a time in our homeland.” The two of them looked to Heero. He nodded slightly. “Its settled then.”

“Our village is five days from here. You are welcome to stay a time if you wish.” Heero told him. His eyebrows shot up in surprise.

“I wouldn’t want to impose or be more of a burden.” Duo told them.

“No trouble. Stay at least until you’re fully healed.” Zechs assured him. “There’s plenty of room for you and you won’t be a burden. There’s always something that needs to be done.”

“You can stay with me if you like,” Heero said softly. “Plus you’re well enough to travel now so we can head out without hurting your knee too badly. We’ll set a slow pace.” He continued as he began to pack the camp. Duo nodded once looking at the ground.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The days passed quickly as they traveled further into the wood. A chorus of songbirds greeted them as the small woodland village came into view through the trees.

“What are they saying?” Duo asked Heero suddenly. Heero smiled at him slightly.

“We have druids that can speak to the animals, but I am not one of them.” He quipped.

“Not the birds…them…right there, that call just then. What does a blue jay’s cry mean?” he said back smiling a little. It never reached his eyes. His smiles never did, none of them save one, the insane smile hat had gripped him when he’d killed his captors. Heero stared at hi not bothering to hide his shock.

“Visitors approach, all is well.” Heero told him softly.

“A cardinal means all is not well.” He half questioned half stated. Wufei stopped to look at him in surprise as well.

“A cardinal’s cry means hold the attack.” Heero told him.

“Why did you hold the attack?” he asked confused.

“I didn’t want to hit you in the crossfire.” Wufei explained. Duo just stared back and forth between them, his expression unreadable. He stared for so long that Heero began to feel the need to fidget, but continued to hold the other’s violet gaze instead. He turned away suddenly without comment and looked ahead as they continued on.

“Duo.” Wufei intoned as they walked. “Welcome to Enberk! This is where many of the remnants of the Naïlo scorching have settled. The Siannodel elves took us in after the forest was destroyed.” Wufei explained.

“Naïlo!” Duo paled and swayed back and forth on his feet, threatening to topple. Heero place a steadying hand on his shoulder. *It seems the gods would have me look upon the faces of those I’ve killed.* He thought bitterly. *This is to be my punishment then. To live here with those I helped destroy.*

“Are you alright?” Heero asked concerned. He said it as though he’d been speaking for a few moments.

“Fine.” Duo stated evenly and moved forward again.

“Were you there?” Heero asked softly as Duo passed him. Duo jerked around to look at him. He found the elves’ eyes filled with emotion.

*Sometimes, I almost wished I lied.* he thought with a sigh. “I was there yes.”

“It’s bad enough for an adult to have lived through it, but for a child to experience something like that rekindles my anger all over again.” Zechs stated coldly. Duo looked at him in confusion for a moment. Then understanding came over him and barked a sharp laugh.

“Child? How old do you think I am?” Duo asked surprised.

“No more that sixteen years.” Zechs replied. Duo giggled good-naturedly.

“Why, you flatter me.” He stated joking coyly.

“How old are you?” Heero asked taking his turn at looking bewildered.

“I’m twenty-six.” He told them smirking.

“That’s impossible.” Wufei stated.

“Well how old are you?” Duo asked seriously.

“118, but its different. I’m an elf.” He said.

“So what you’re saying is that you’re not human.” Duo added helpfully and started walking again. The three elves stared at one another for a moment before Heero started forward.

“You look pretty human to me. But if you’re not then what are you?” He asked catching up quickly. Duo looked straight ahead without answering as they drew closer to the town. He shoved his hands into his pockets, fiddled with his braid nervously, straightened his vest, shoved his hands back in his pockets and finally answered.

“I’m…something different.” He stated simply and continued walking. Duo walked a couple more steps to put distance between them. He turned halfway around to face his saviors and awaited their judgment. *I wonder if they’ll try to force it out of me. I wonder what they’ll do if I tell them. I wonder if they’ll try to burn me alive like at Terran. And Durman. And Quantie. Or maybe they’ll just try to hang me like at Tesspane.* he thought to himself sadly then stopped to wonder why he was sadden by it. *Because they were nice to me, if only for a moment and I’ve never had that before.* Normally he wouldn’t care, but he realized how…fragile he was

“Why didn’t you tell us sooner.” Wufei asked in an even voice.

“I don’t want to say.” He said because it was the truth and he didn’t lie.

“Well I suppose you’d better come up with something.” Zechs suggested tensely.

“It’s complicated.” He explained shrugging his shoulders.

“Then you’d better try to simplify it.” Wufei said sliding forward and putting himself between Duo and the village as Zechs shifted around him. Heero hesitated a moment but then took a position as well so they surrounded him.

“And personal.” Duo said softly.

“We’ve trusted you by bringing you here, I think you should tell us at least what race you are, if not human.” Heero said softly. They continued to watch him warily but said nothing else. The braided boy heaved a deep sigh.
“You were nice to me. And I didn’t want to change that this soon. If you could give me some rations I’ll just leave now. If not I’ll leave anyway.” He told them evenly, not letting his tattered emotions show.

“You don’t have to leave, we won’t make you tell us. I just think that since we’ve showed faith in you, you could return it, but we won’t make you.” Wufei told him. “But you will have to tell us if our people will be in any danger by keeping you here.” Wufei stated. Duo hesitated a little then started to speak.

“There is a chance, but if my contacts haven’t found me by now, they probably won’t at least for a while.” he replied.

“What about your family? Friends?” Heero asked. Duo laughed bitterly.

“I don’t have any family, not anymore and I only have one friend.” He told them.

“Will they be looking for you?” Zechs asked.

“Probably, I can write him and tell him I’m alright.” Duo told them.

“You really do look very human though.” Wufei stated as they started walking again.

“Elven.” Heero stated and they all turned to look at him. “Look at his eyes. The way they’re shaped, the eyebrows, even his cheeks. You have elven blood somewhere in your history. But I’d bet most people don’t notice because your ears are rounded and because of the particular color of your eyes.” He explained.

*Damn it, now I feel guilty!* he thought to himself. “This isn’t what I really look like, well a little, but yes I do have elven in me.” He told them softly. “And you’re right most people don’t notice.” He was silent a moment more, lost in thought. *If you stay here Maxwell it will end badly.* “Maybe I should go, it will take a long time for a letter to get home and I’ve been away for awhile. I should leave.” He stated

“Leave? But you only just got here.” A light voice called from Duo’s back-left which faced the open forest. Duo spun quickly trying to hide his shock. He hadn’t heard them approaching at all. A tall elf was walking toward him, well tall for an elf. His shoulder length blond hair was stirred by the wind through the trees; his aquamarine eyes seemed to pierce into Duo’s damned soul. The scent of saffron and smoking incense caressed his nostrils and made him want to gag as he took deep panicked breaths. The elf’s skin was alabaster and smooth, flawless save for a long pink scar that cut along his jaw line from the front of his ear to halfway to his chin.
*I’m a dead man.* Duo thought as he felt himself sinking to the ground as he knee gave way and he succumbed to shock. Heero stepped forward to catch him as he fell. His blood roared in his ears as his vision darkened. He realized that he was speaking over his sobs. “Please save her, please save her, please, please, please!” soft and incessant as he blacked out. The scent of the forest covered in morning dew pushed against his senses and washed away the cloying scent of saffron.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 2 explains all the little numbers [1], [2], and so on.