Curiosity

The first thing Duo thought when he woke up, was how safe and warm he felt. Nuzzling against the strong chest that held him secure, the second thing he noticed was that he was in tub of warm water. That realization got his mind going. He was in a tub. With someone else. In a state of panic, his eyes flew open and he tried to wretch away from the form behind him to no avail. The arms around him held tight, freezing him in place as a soothing voice murmured in his ear.

“Shhh...Your safe, be still...”

“Wha...whats going on?” Duo was suprised by the rasp in his voice, making him sound like a different person entirely. “Who are you? Why...”

His rapid fire line of questions was cut short by a throbbing pain in his hands and feet, making him groan through clenched teeth as he tired thrashing away once more.

“I’m Wufei. I found you near frozen in the woods.. You have severe hypothermia and frostbite. We’re in a tub in my private quarters trying to thaw you out without doing more damage to your limbs, so I suggest you lay still unless you want to lose your hands and feet.”

Duo took the hint and stopped struggling. Whoever this Wufei was, he had no doubt saved his life, Duo owed him enough to not practically attack the man, however terrified he felt at the moment.

“I apologize for having you at a disadvantage, I understand how disorienting it must be to wake up another man’s arms, but I couldn’t have you slipping under the water after all the trouble I went to...And I didn’t trust another with you so this was how it must be.”

“Th...thank you...” Duo barely managed to squeak out the meager response. Fear making his hoarse voice that much smaller.

“Save your strength...I give you my word, no harm will come to you. Now sleep...” Wufei’s voice took on a mystical note as he uttered the last word, summoning the darkness to send Duo into a deep slumber. No sooner had he finished the last syllable, than Duo felt his eyes droop closed and his fears faded away.

When he awoke again, he was alone; wrapped in a bundle of silk sheets and fine blankets piled high on a huge four poster bed. The bed itself was impressive enough, but as he blinked the sleep from his eyes, he was able to look beyond the mountain of linens and take in the luxury around him. Everything seemed to be carved from a deep red mahogany, from the bed to the tables and even the fire place, and all with the same beautiful patterns twisting across every surface. There was even more silk draped over the walls, with lush pillows strewn haphazardly about. It was by far, the most ornate room Duo had ever been in.

Sitting up in the bed, he noticed his hands were wrapped in clean cloths, more help from this Wufei it seemed. A quick peek below the sheets, and his feet were confirmed wrapped as well. He also saw that he was clad only in a pair of silken shorts. Just great. Not only had he been in a tub with the stranger, but had been stripped by him as well. With a sigh, he accepted the fact that his modesty was well and truly gone.

He nearly jumped out of his skin when a light knock sounded on the large double doors across the chamber. His heart well and truly racing, Duo cowered under the covers. ‘what are you afraid of? this guy saved you...nothing to be scared of you idiot...’ Chiding himself, Duo forced himself to sit up once more, and prayed his voice would hold steady.

“Come in?”

The door swung open, and Duo heard his breath catch. The man was stunning to say the least. His shoulder length raven hair reflected the warm tones of the fire, making his eyes seem almost black as pitch in comparison to the smooth, pale skin. The mans clothing was just as decadent as the room; a high collared chinese style silk shirt, with buttons and clasps keeping up layer after layer of silks. He moved with the grace of a great cat, gliding effortlessly across the floor toward him. He was quite possibly the most beautiful thing Duo had ever seen.

“Good to see your awake...You’ve been out for two days, i was beginning to worry.”

“Two days? Was I really that bad?” Duo felt his cheeks flush, unable to tear his eyes away from the vision before him. A little voice in the back his head was suddenly hoping his savior had liked what he saw when he had changed him.

“You were near frozen.” Wufei sat down on the bed, close enough to make Duo’s heart race some more, leaving him light headed by the proximity alone. He reached out and brushed away some of Duo’s more stubborn bangs with long fingers and oddly long nails. “It was almost midnight when I found you...”

Then his heart stopped. Being found at midnight was not a good thing. Being found at midnight meant they were out in the dark. Being out in the dark meant only one thing. Wufei was a demon. this was not good at all. The utter panic in his eyes must have given away his plans for escape, for no sooner than he shrank back into the pillows, than Wufei kneeled over him and placed an arm on either side of his body, giving him the oddest look.

“I was wondering when you’d notice I’m not a human... but don’t fear. I gave you my word, no harm will come to you under my care. “ Duo didn’t buy it, lungs still refusing to breath. “You intrigue me. I always thought humans were animals...but you, are no animal...what is your name?”

Duo couldn’t speak, his mind frozen in terror.

“The hard way then...” Wufei ran one of his long nails gently down Duo’s cheek, letting his eyes close. “Maxwell... Duo Maxwell...”

Amazement unbound Duo’s tongue. “How...did you do that?”

“Simply read your mind...An easy trick as long the subject is close.” Wufei had a small catlike smile on his face, amusement obvious in his deep obsidian eyes. Duo however was not so amused.

“Well stay the fuck out of my head!”

“Is that any way to speak to the man who saved you life?”

“You\'re no man.. your a Demon who’s gonna gut me and leave me skewered on a post for my neighbors to find!”

He was interrupted by a loud snort and fit of laughter, Wufei’s head hanging down and shaking at the idea. Something about that only fueled Duo’s anger and ignited his remaining courage. If the Demon thought Duo would just sit there and let him kill him and make fun of him he had another thing coming.

“QUIT MOCKING ME! Kill me or do what ever it is your going to do.. I’m...I’m not afraid of you...” Duo clenched his eyes closed as his voice trailed off, waiting for a sinister blow of some kind. A violence free moment later he cracked an eye, to see Wufei smiling down at him.

“Such character...I could do that easily enough, but where\'s the fun in that? Oh, and if you’ve already forgotten I gave you my word. Even if I’m a demon... I’m wont let any harm come to you little one...”

Duo could only shiver as Wufei’s eyes darkened and his long nail traced down his throat. His body was beginning to revolt against him, and Duo felt his face grow flushed under the attentions of the gorgeous Demon. “Why did you save me?”

“Honestly I don\'t really know... I saw you laying in the snow, and couldn\'t take my eyes off you. I guess I want you to sate my curiosity... You’re beautiful Duo.. absolutely beautiful... I don’t know why, but I needed to see you alive....” Licking his perfect lips, Wufei leaned down and Duo felt his heart flutter and desire flare along the fear.

Duo could gasped as Wufei’s long nails were delicately dragged down his chest, followed by the gentle touch of Wufei’s fingers. His touch was warm... for some reason Duo had always thought a Demon would be cold. He couldn’t believe he wasn\'t trying to escape, fighting for his life or at least not accepting his fate like some pathetic child. As Wufei explored the bared skin of his chest, Duo lay still, hearing the little voice in the back of his mind whisper, ‘Maybe this isn’t such a bad way to go after all.. especially if he’s the last thing you get to see...’

----

Wufei stared down at his human, completely enraptured. He was stunning, alive and responding to even the lightest of his touches. The prince felt his own pulse quicken, wanting nothing more than to explore everything the pail boy had to offer. It was so confusing, here was a creature that his clan had cast aside like garbage for centuries, yet he was quickly becoming obsessed with one. He had the burning desire to protect the fragile human, to keep him, and that thought scared the hell out of him.

What was it about the little Duo that intrigued him so? He looked up into the boys eyes, and his breath caught in his throat. Duo’s eyes were a shade of amethyst that would make the finest gem jealous, filled with fear and desire at the same time and radiating purity. The innocence of them burned right into his very soul; and right then Wufei decided that he would do anything for those eyes.

“Do you fear me Duo?” He watched as the boy nodded slightly, still laying compliant below him. “I swear to, on my very life, I will never hurt you... say the word and I will give you whatever you desire...”

He watched as a cascade of emotion washed across Duo’s face; fear, confusion, desire, guilt and hesitance. After a moment of waiting, he started to speak. “I... I want to go....”

Before Duo could finish, Wufei felt the spooling power of his fathers guards storming toward his room. He had a minute at best before they burst into his room, and stole Duo away forever. Almost in a panic, he clamped his hand over Duo’s mouth, and desperately tried to come up with a plan.

“The guards are coming.. I’m sorry I shouldn’t have brought you here...” Duo shrank down below him, fear filling every corner of his violet orbs. Wufei felt his stomach curl; if they found Duo, they would kill him. Wufei could not hold off a dozen of his fathers men for long. Summoning the darkness, Wufei set a barrier around them, sealing the doors closed and preventing any of them from using the shadows to slide into the room. That would buy him a few more minutes at best.

He wracked his brain, searching for anything that would let them escape but to no avail. There was no way out of the room that didn’t spell certain death for his human. Then suddenly, it came to him, though the consequences would be immense. He looked down at Duo, who was frantically looking between the door and himself. “I can save you Duo, but It will never be undone will you trust me?”

Duo’s eyes were wide and reflecting the panic in his own. Wufei’s heart clenched in his chest. If Duo was not willing, the only other thing he could offer was a painless death, a fact that made his stomach turn again. Duo must have understood Wufei’s pained
expression, for as they heard footsteps thundering toward them, Duo found a small voice.

---

Duo could feel the power radiating around them, battering down from all sides. The Demons were definitely coming, and no doubt for him. Wufei was frantic, and it scared him even more to see something as powerful as the demon this afraid. Ignoring the voice of intelligence that begged for a quick end, Duo heard his own timid voice whisper. “I...I’ll trust you...”

No sooner had the words left his mouth, Wufei sprung into action; scooping him into his arms and setting him on his lap. Duo heard the Demon mumbling in a language he didn’t understand, and soon an immense pressure filled the room, the power thick and smothering. Duo’s mind screamed at him to fight, to escape the demons embrace and run for his life, but he sat there frozen. He had said he would give the demon his trust, and he would. Duo Maxwell never lied. Besides, if the demon was this afraid, that meant Duo would last all of half a second with out him. And those were not the best of odds.

As the dark magic threatened to overwhelm his senses completely, Duo heard Wufei’s voice beside his ear pleading and unsure. “Say it again.. that you trust me...”

For some reason he wanted to reassure the Demon, needed the other to be strong. So he found courage for his voice, and spoke with as much conviction as he could muster.

“I trust you!”

With that, Duo felt his head firmly pulled to the side by a tight grip at the base of his braid. Lips were mumbling against the skin of his neck, and the air around him turned electric. Before he had time to react, Duo felt a pair of sharp teeth sink into his neck, and it was as if for that instant all the power in the room flooded straight into his body and out again at the same time. Involuntarily he arched away from the Demon, and only Wufei’s strong embrace kept him from effectively ripping out his own throat. It was pleasure and pain, a feeling that he wanted to go on forever, but would surly die if he had to endure another second. And then it was gone.

His breath coming in deep gasps, Duo tried to make his body move, to try and figure out what the hell had just happened, but it refused. He sat there, shaking from the force of what had been done, and couldn’t even turn around to see the face of the Demon who held him. As if reading his thoughts, which wouldn’t have suprised Duo, Wufei’s arms fell limply to his side, and the strong chest he had been leaning upon fell back onto the bed. Duo slumped off the Demons lap, catching himself with unsteady arms. His breath still heaving, he brought a hand to his neck, feeling the slick wetness that was undeniably his blood. Duo turned to the demon, ready to demand to know what on earth had just happened, when two things happened.

First, the door burst open and a dozen Demon Guard crashed into the chamber, power gathered at their fingertips. They were circled around the bed and yelling orders to him before he even had a chance to register the second thing. Wufei was unconscious.

---

***Sorry for those of you who had to read the version I forgot to spell check.. talk about embarassing... but I fixed it and promise not to do it again. *smacks self for not finding a beta reader... *