Title: Love's Ghost

Author: Phoenix

lina.inverse@verizon.net

Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing. I am poor. This fic is for entertainment only.

Fandom: Gundam Wing

Pairing: 6X2 mentioned

Rating: R for death and betrayal

Warnings: yaoi aka m/m slash, betrayal, DEATH!, murder, angst, evil people, and I wrote it. Can't deal? Don't read.

Archive: Ckos, WWOMB, and GW Addiction

Summary: Zechs is faced with a terrible choice.

Love's Ghost
By Phoenix

Zechs stared at the papers in front of him desperately trying to find a hole. A mistake. A misprint. Something. Anything. Just enough to prove that the accusation against Duo was false. Yet he found nothing. The papers sent him by Lady Une were conclusive. All the pieces fit and the evidence was solid. Duo Maxwell, his lover of ten months, was behind the recent attacks on Relena.

In the past month, three attempts had been made on his sister's life and the last one came far too close. Heero just barely saved the young Queen. The would-be killers all knew too much about the security arrangements. So, Une herself began a secret investigation. What she turned up caused her to triple check every fact, but they were correct.

Duo's access code was on entries made to the files holding security details for Relena; files he had no valid reason for opening. The information hadn't been easy to obtain either. Une spent five hours hacking her own system to come up with the data. The former pilot was good at hiding his tracks.

From there, the Preventer head visited people and places connected with the dead assassins. In each case, witnesses told of a braided man speaking with the killers just days before they made their attempts. The last nail in Duo's coffin turned out to be a secret bank account. It was in the name of Solo Yuy. Money was transferred from it to the hired men's accounts.

Now all the proof was laid out before him and a choice had to be made. Une did not want Duo to stand trial. It would undermine public trust and crush his former comrades. The truth could never be revealed. Ever. To prevent this, she planned to have the longhaired man killed. At best, everything could be arranged to look like an accident. At worst, a violent crime. No matter what, the former rebel's name remained clean.

It didn't have to be strangers who ended his lover's life. That was why Une contacted him. She was giving Zechs the option of providing Duo with a painless, fearless death. The woman knew about the history between Relena and the American. In her opinion, the strain broke his mind; the actions taken were the result of that. Duo wasn't responsible for them.

However, he had to be stopped.

Sending a quick note to Une, Zechs accepted her offer. He warned her not to send anyone by. The real Shinigami would claim his namesake before the sun rose. The only thing the blond Preventer needed was for someone to send an e-mail from Duo's account explaining he would be late. The message would justify the calls he was going to make to Duo and Une's offices and why he would later call Une in a panic. By initiating the search, the longhaired blond would be less of a suspect. For Zechs' plan to work, all the evidence had to point to a sudden, unexplained disappearance. Poor Milardo Peacecraft, waiting at home for his lost beloved.

At last all electronic trail was set. It would look like Duo started for home late and never made it. Their home was a cabin located 20 minutes out of the city. It was an hour drive to and from work, but both men thought the peace and quiet was worth the trouble. And of course, Duo loved the woods. Emotions threatened to drown the older man as he realized his love would spend all of eternity in the place he considered most beautiful.

Three hours later found Zechs putting the finishing touches on dinner.

Whenever he worked, Duo cooked. When Duo worked, Zechs cooked. The meal wasn't fancy; such a change would have told the braided man something was up. A part of the Sank native wanted to make his lover's last meal special, not left over meatloaf and soda. Yet, that was what Duo expected. Changes could alert him.

A sudden wave of anger washed over the noble. For a year after the Eve Wars Duo and Heero tried to make a go of their relationship and might have succeeded except for Relena. The young woman constantly chased after the Japanese man, got in his way, refused to listen to her bodyguards, and endangered herself at every turn. The strain on the men's relationship finally took its toll and Heero left to guard Relena. If anything happened to her war would again tear the world apart. The former pilot was convinced of it. So he chose the World over Duo. The action seemed to shatter Duo. No matter where the brash youth went, he was assaulted with pictures, new reports, articles, and gossip featuring the Sank Queen hanging all over Heero. And it didn't stop there. Duo wasn't allowed within the borders of Sank. His security clearance in the Preventers was downgraded to almost the lowest level. Guaranteeing he could not attend the same functions as Heero.

When Zechs learned of the continued harassment, he immediately went to apologize and see if there was anyway to minimize the damage done to what he then considered to be a worthy and brave young man. At first, Duo shrugged off the offers of assistance and reconciliation. Who could blame him? Heero had been his first love and betrayed him so deeply the wound was visible in the American's appearance. He'd lost wait and dark circles spoke of his inability to sleep.

Despite the brush off Duo gave him, the older man stayed closed by. Over time, the pair grew together and before either realized it, they fell in love. At least, Zechs thought it was love. Now he wondered if the relationship had never been more than a cover for Duo's plans. While that hurt, the deepest pain came from knowing he'd failed. Failed to heal the wounds caused by his obsessed, callous sister. And Zechs was about to do the same thing to Duo again. Choose the world over him.

The sound of the front door opening made Zechs jump and he quickly collected his thoughts. Now was not the time for recriminations. He finished mixing a deadly drug with Duo's soda and forced a normal expression onto his face. Smiling, the blond welcomed his lover home and served dinner.

Duo fortunately wasn't in the mood for talking and the only comment he made at dinner was "Gah, diet soda again? You need to keep your mind off my body."

Zechs got a laugh past his lips, but knew the taste came from the poison. It took effect slowly. Duo would feel a bit tired, fall into a deep sleep, and eventually his heart would stop. No pain. No fear. Nothing unpleasant.

After dinner, he convinced Duo to join him on the couch and watch some movies. A bit unusual, but nothing all that strange. Halfway through the first film, the younger man began to yawn.

"I didn't know I was so tired," Duo complained. "Can barely keep my eyes open."

"Why don't you use me as a pillow, love," Zechs told him, pulling his lover into the crook of one arm.

For a few more minutes, the pair sat quietly. The scene was one they had repeated over time and enjoyed the closeness and comfort. Finally, though, Duo's voice cut through the familiarity.

"Why?" The shock and despair in the word ripped Zechs' soul open.

Looking down, surprised blue met tortured, knowledge filled amethyst.

"I thought you loved me," Duo rasped, fighting the poison's call to sleep. "Did Relena put you up to this? Is she really that petty?"

"Oh Duo," Zechs began to sob. "I know. I know everything. Une found your break-ins. Her investigation is flawless. She found you out, Duo."

"Zechs, I don't..." The taller man cut him off with a finger to his lips.

"No more lies, love. Please don't die with a lie on your lips." Tears slowly made their way down the crying man's cheeks. "I know you've been trying to kill Relena. I don't blame you. This is all my fault. I should have seen the pain you were in. I should have noticed you needed help. But I didn't. I didn't."

He clutched Duo to him as he noticed the light fading from the violet eyes. "I'm so sorry, Duo." Zechs whispered brokenly into his lover's hair. "Please forgive me. I thought I'd be enough. I failed you. I'm so sorry. Twice I couldn't save those I loved. " The man's entire body shook. "I don't care that you never loved me. I will always love you. Always."

As Duo slipped away, the Sank Prince was reduced to sobbing his apology over and over.

Hours slipped by before Zechs moved from his position. Detangling himself from the now cold body of his beloved, the grief stricken Preventer went to the garage and got a shovel. It took thirty minutes to dig Duo's grave. The spot was well shaded and near a small waterfall they'd found together several months before. It was gorgeous.

Once the burial was done, the killer stared at the grave.

"Treize, please look out for Duo. He's special. I think you'll like him." Tears threatened the noble again. "I killed you both. Wait for me and I'll accept whatever you want to do. Just please keep him safe."

With that said, he returned to the house and made it look like Duo never made it home. The car was ditched over a cliff about five miles from the house. If it was ever found, the lack of body would make everyone think Duo had survived and tried to make it home. Not finding the body wouldn't seem that strange.

A quick set of phone calls to Duo's desk at the Preventers and Une's private line finished the plan. The name of Duo Maxwell was safe. No one would know what he'd done. The attempts on Relena would stop. The world was safe. Zechs Marquise cared for none of it. As far as he was concerned, life was over.

PART TWO

Five years passed since the night Zechs killed his lover, Duo Maxwell. Five years since the Preventers searched the woods looking for a man they would never find. Five years since the betrayal of his beloved and the lies to all his friends to cover it up. Five years of secrets, lies, and a soul wrenching truth: Duo Maxwell had been innocent.

At first things had gone well. Zechs was secure in the knowledge he saved the peace, even if it cost him the last living part of his soul. Then a week after the murder, yet another attempt was made on Relena's life. Same MO. This time the former noble did the investigation himself.

He turned up the same things Une had. A man with violet eyes, a long chestnut braid hired the killer, providing top-secret security information. It wasn't possible. Duo was dead. Buried next to the most beautiful waterfall Zechs knew of. Yet the witnesses were telling the truth. In desperation, the Sank Preventer had drugged them and gotten the same story.

It meant only one thing: Duo had been set up. Framed. The who and the why of it consumed the next four years of the nobleman's life. The attempts on his sister stopped after two more; the last putting Relena in the hospital. An e-mail claimed the assassins were hired by Duo Maxwell. A reporter interviewed a man who said the Preventers knew Duo was guilty but refused to arrest him as he was "close" to Une.

Zechs chased all the clues provided by these opportunities down. The e-mail proved to be untraceable. The company it came through suffered a virus attack hours after the tip off was sent. As a result, all their information was forever lost. Nothing could be done.

The man who was interviewed turned up dead three days after talking to the reporter. The apparent victim of a mugging. The reporter died in his home a week later, of a heart attack at thirty-two. Lead after lead dried up until Zechs had nothing more to go on.

The other former Gundam pilots dropped in from time to time. He could tell they were suspicious of him as first, but the hard work he put into finding the assassin, and clearing Duo's name, convinced them he had nothing to do with their friend's disappearance. Even Quatre forgot his initial gut feeling. Heero, on the other hand, became ever more cold. Not even responding to Relena. The Japanese man did his job, went home, ate, slept, and nothing more. Very much like Zechs.

Such behavior was fairly normal for the Perfect Soldier. In the former noble, however, it alarmed everyone. By the end of the first year, they tried to drag the blond to various parties or social events. Anything to get him out and away from the Preventers Office. He refused all offers.

As the second year passed, Zechs became more bitter. Every avenue led to more dead ends. Reinterviewing the witnesses only wasted time. With each month, the surety of a set up haunted him more. There were too many coincidences. Too many unanswered questions.

At the start of the third year, the nightmares began. Each started with a memory of Duo and he making love. His lover arching against him; their sweat soaked bodies seeking pleasure in the other. Then they would come together and cuddle just like normal. Yet it was at this point the dream turned dark.

Suddenly, Duo would vanish from his arms and cold wind whipped at his body. "Zechs," a soft voice would call from behind him. The noble turned each time to find Duo, but not the Duo he loved. It was a rotting corpse. Worms moving through open wounds; flesh dripping off his bones.

"Why?" The thing would ask. "Why did you kill me? I loved you. I trusted you. I gave you everything. Why couldn't you love me back? Why?"

And then the thing would look at him with those still clear violet eyes. An eternity of agony and despair reflected in their depths. The emotions sent the former OZ soldier screaming into consciousness. The word "Why?" echoing softly in his ears.

So passed the third year. The fourth held little difference. Zechs distanced himself from both family and friends. Spending more time undercover than not. Taking chances that could easily have gotten him killed. Caring less and less. Yet, never quite succeeding.

At the end of that year, though, Zechs finally caught a break. One he soon wished he hadn't. While tracing another assassin in hopes of finding someone else who'd met the elusive braided man, the Sank Prince spoke with a woman who ran a costume shop. She was a well-known master of disguise. Someone the sought after killer needed.

During their conversation, he managed to bring the subject around to people seeking to look completely different. For hours the woman ruminated on the many who tried to become entirely new individuals. Until, at long last, she told him the tale of a young lady with long blond hair. The girl wanted to look like a young man; with a long, chestnut braid and amethyst eyes.

Zechs stopped breathing. The costumer noticed the increased interest and launched into the complete tale of how her customer wanted a special set up. So the older woman taught her how to wrap her breasts, move, and speak in a deeper voice convincingly. By then end of a month, the young woman couldn't be mistaken for anything but a male when fully dressed up.

Trying not to appear too interested, the Preventer asked if the women knew her trainee's name. It was a question he deeply regretted asking. The response tore apart whatever was left of his soul. The young woman went by the name of Lena.

Reeling as if struck, Zechs thanked the woman and stumbled back onto the street. Why? Why had she done it? His mind ran in circles. There had to be a logical explanation. Didn't there?

Yet the old costumer had no reason to lie. No way to know he was coming. He'd found her by accident. The route he normally took came no where near here. It all moved back to a blond woman who knew what Duo looked like. Who knew enough about him to impersonate him.

Why Relena? Why? Heero was at her side. Duo was with Zechs; not even near Heero at all. Ever. The two lived in separate worlds.

So the distraught man spent months trying to discover how and why the trap came into being. All for naught. No one else knew anything. No matter who he talked to, no one else in the neighborhood remembered seeing the blond girl. By the five-year anniversary of his crime, the tired man understood nothing more.

Looking at his world, Zechs found his life was not worth living. He couldn't kill his own sister, as much as he may want to. She'd cost him more than a lover. Duo had been his soul. The best part of living. And he could never avenge is death. But maybe he could pay for his crime.

So, on the night anniversary of Duo's murder, Zechs again stood in what once had been their home. Unlike his beloved's death, the Sank heir's would be the most painful he could think of. Drawing a small pistol from his pocket, the man looked around the living room. A single shot to his stomach. He'd suffer for hours before finally dying. Fitting.

Dust covered everything. The windows were dark with dirt and a small breeze told him one was broken somewhere. So very little had changed since that night. In the house at least. Zechs, however, felt like centuries had past. Here his life began when Duo Maxwell joined him as an equal and here it ended with the same man's death. Now it was time for that death to be more than spiritual. Casting a last look around, Zechs opened the back door and headed into the woods.

It took only fifteen minutes to find the grave. After all, he knew the way and the hidden paths and he was in a hurry. The site still took his breath away. Softly lit by moonlight; crickets singing. The waterfall sparkled as if it moving, shimmering diamonds. Like something from a fairy tale.

In the middle of the clearing, Duo's grave lay. Green grass covered the earth and a small bed of violet flowers grew around the oblong strip. The blond man approached the burial place with great reverence.

"I know I have no right to come here," Zechs said quietly. "but I had to. I had to tell you how sorry I am. Sorry that I didn't trust you more. Sorry that I didn't see Relena's evil. Sorry that I didn't love you enough to know you would never do what I thought. Sorry for so many things." A single tear slowly slid down his cheek.

"I thought I could make things right when I found out how terribly wrong I'd been. I couldn't even do that. I can't kill her, Duo. Not my sister." He laughed bitterly. "I know. I could kill you but not her. She's the last Peacecraft, my love. The last. My family's line can only be continued through her. I cannot bring myself to end all my family has struggled for. But I can't live with myself any longer."

He carefully placed the tip of the gun against his stomach.

"I can never make up for my sin. Maybe you'll forgive me someday. For now, please let my suffering make up in the tiniest bit for yours."

Closing his eyes, the killer tightened his finger on the trigger, a part of him not really wanting to die and still screaming for him to stop. He didn't.

"Zechs," a whisper reached him.

The shaking man's eyes flew open to see Duo standing in front of him, a furious expression on his hazy face.

"Duo?" Zechs breathed, just before the sound of a gunshot filled the forest.

PART 3

The shot echoed in the glen as Zechs stared up at his dead lover. Long chestnut locks moved gently with a nonexistent wind. Black priestly garments covered his form, however the look on his face was anything but peaceful. Unholy fury burned in violet depths.

"You fucking idiot!" Duo raged.

"Duo?"

"Of course it's me, you, you, you," the ghost paused. "Who else would save your sorry ass?"

It was then that the noble realized Duo had pulled his arm away and was even now holding it. The shot went harmlessly off into the woods. He was going to live.

"Why?"

"Why what? Why did I save you? Why would I bother?"

"Yes." Zechs felt tears building in his eyes. Perhaps his lover could never forgive his betrayal.

"Will you please stop crying?"

Taking swipes at his face, Zechs did his best to comply. "I will try to control myself."

Unexpectedly, Duo's face softened. "You always were sentimental. It's one of the things I love most about you."

Love. Not loved. A tiny bit of hope started to grow in a previously dead heart.

"I never wanted to hurt you, Duo." Emotions threatened to strangle him as he tried to get the words out. "There was so much evidence. Everything fit. I should have seen it was too perfect."

This time Duo smiled and laughter entered his eyes.

"Far too serious and overly sentimental. What was I thinking?" The ghost pulled Zechs to him and whispered. "Oh yeah, you are really, really fuckable."

"Duo!" Shock filled his deep voice.

Laughter filled the glen. "Sleep my love. No dreams this time."

Blue eyes slid slowly closed; no matter how hard he fought, Zechs could not keep himself awake.

"We need...need." He had things to say. Important things. If only he weren't so tired.

"Later," a soft, gentle voice caressed his ear. "We have time later."

Catching the unconscious man in ethereal arms, Duo carefully laid him on the ground. Violet raked over the still form, glowing with anger from what they saw. Dark circles surrounded Zechs' eyes worse than a whore's mascara. Too many stress lines marred the once smooth perfection of his face. On top of that, the ghost could see his former lover had lost at least fifty pounds; idiot was starving himself to death. It was enough to almost convince the spirit to wake him and give the fool the lecture of his still young life.

Duo chuckled. Most people would be trying to take revenge on their killer at this point. However, he wasn't just anyone. After his death, Duo's soul had watched Zechs. Seen the burial and the site chosen. Returning to their home revealed e-mails, notes, and records showing the evidence against him and the tall man's frantic attempts to discredit it. Couldn't be that many ghosts in the world who could hack their killer's computer.

Left alone after the investigation was closed, Duo had plenty of time to think about what he knew. Giving the amount of evidence against him, the former rebel was surprised Zechs hadn't killed him outright. He would have. Betrayal was one of his sore points.

A real smile flitted across Duo's lips. Honor and justice were concepts so wound around the beautiful blond's soul death was the only thing that might stop him thinking about them. Not that it was a bad thing. He knew going into the relationship what made Zechs tick. And he loved him for it.

Ghostly fingers brushed aside strands of hair from the aristocratic face. So damnably beautiful. The bitch was going to pay for every second of suffering. While Duo was certain she hadn't meant for him to die, just be humiliated and shamed. That is would destroy his lover probably never even crossed her excuse for a mind. Her wants and needs always took precedence. Bitch. If only he could leave this place.

Making him even more furious was the fact that her actions convinced Zechs that Duo never really loved him. It hurt. Knowing the man he truly did love thought it was all an act. The nightmares always floated at the top of the blond's mind and were easily visible to Duo's new abilities. She was going to pay for every single little pain if it took forever to arrange it.

None of that was really important right now. For the next few days Zechs would be his only priority. There was so much suffering visible on his face it made Duo shudder to think how much more could not be seen. Fortunately, the blond never did get around to shutting off the utilities. It would be an easy matter to order food and a few necessities with the credit cards in the noble's wallet. Just a tiny bit of payback.

Sighing, the ghost drew in his power. Being dead did not mean the end. In fact, the young former pilot soon found he had more abilities in this new form than when alive. This and the house were places he could be almost solid again. Though he would look a bit see through he could move things and easily be heard.

Carefully Duo wrapped his arms around Zechs; the blond felt so warm.

"Duo," Zechs moaned in his sleep.

An answering moan almost made it past the ghost's lips. Being dead did not mean a dead libido. Of course seeing his lover laid out like a buffet didn't help any. Five years was a long time to be alone. He brushed pale fingers over Zechs' chest smiling when his nipples pebbled immediately.

"Duo," the taller man moaned again and arched into the touch. "Please."

Temptation had never been something Duo was good at resisting and he did want to take Zechs in the clearing. Wanted to ever since they first found the place. However, the older man was really not in shape to be doing some of the things Duo planned.

Sighing again, the former pilot reigned in his urges and carefully lifted the unconscious man. After a few days rest there would be time to play. Plenty of time. And plenty of time to make Zechs face the truth and what had to be done about it. The blond bitch was going down. But not quite in the same manner as Zechs would be in the next few days. Oh yes. Death was looking up.

PART 4

Zechs slept soundlessly on the small, dusty couch as Duo went through his wallet. It was a small matter to use the credit cards and the Preventers cell phone to turn on the houses utilities and order supplies. Within an hour the power was back on; as the sun left the sky, the sprinklers signaled the return of water. Soon groceries would be delivered from the market. Life was almost back to normal. Except of course that Duo wasn't alive.

The ghost watched the unconscious man. Lines of worry, pain, and despair still marred his features, probably would for days to come. However, now that he was back in Duo's sphere of influence things were going to change. His lover had suffered enough. All of it needlessly. He might be brilliant, but like all humans, Zechs could be terribly blind when it came to some areas; especially those dealing with family.

After dying, the former Gundam pilot had used what time he could to do some research. It had been about three weeks before the power and phone lines were shut off. In that time, Duo discovered very interesting leads. Following them was harder as leaving the property meant growing weak and becoming little more than a shadow. Fortunately, there were ways to compensate. Using death to his advantage, Duo reached out to several people involved with the crimes and who had died. What their ghosts told him cleared everything up.

The plot was very well thought out. Intricate. Clever. Genius level in fact. She had taken almost every aspect of everyone's personalities into account and anticipated just about all the moves made. But she forgot one tiny fact. Zechs loved Duo enough to kill him. And the murder had been an act of love.

Rather than let Duo face the humiliation of a trial or be locked away as insane, Zechs chose an easy, painless death for his beloved. With the facts available then, the options were a trial or imprisonment. Either would have destroyed Duo. Which had been her goal.

There was no way to prove the American wasn't the one behind the attacks; all the evidence fit perfectly. Poor Zechs. How deep his despair must have been? The pain of thinking he'd been betrayed by the one person he loved and trusted. Duo'd have chosen revenge. Turned his lover over to the authorities and left him to suffer. Knowing that shamed the longhaired ghost every day. Zechs picked a path of personal agony to let Duo rest in peace.

Having discovered the truth didn't help Duo much. He tried to reach out to someone, especially Zechs. However, all he caused were nightmares as he could not keep his fury under control. So he waited. Finally someone returned. Naturally things did not go according to plan.

Sill, Duo had his lover back and a chance to make things right. If he could. A possibility existed that Zechs was too deeply wounded. He might never again regain his full strength or spirit. In which case, Duo really didn't know what to do. It might be easiest to just take the lovely blond into death; they could be together then. Yet what if he had more to live for? What if the world still needed someone with his sense of honor, loyalty, and justice? Could he even tell his lover the truth and who was really behind the plot?

The ghost sighed. As much as he might want revenge, he feared the price it would bring. After all, what evidence pointed to the real culprit? Testimony of dead people? That would hold up wonderfully in court. Really. The truth might ease Zechs' mind, but it couldn't make anything right.

"You damn bitch," he hissed. "Why couldn't you have left well enough alone? I wasn't going to upset your perfect little world. I was happy!"

"Duo," Zechs moaned softly. The nightmare was starting again as the former noble felt the ghost's fury wash over him. "Please. I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

Cursing, Duo moved to the sleeping man's side and brushed suddenly sweaty locks aside. "Shhh. It's alright. I'm here. I'm not mad." Slowly aristocratic features eased. "Not at you anyway. You really are brilliant but have a nasty habit of missing the obvious when it comes to those you love."

Zechs shifted, a frown marring his face. "Thought it was you. So sure."

"I know," Duo soothed. It was much easier to reach people in their dreams; took less energy as well. "And you are sure it's Relena who did all this. You're wrong." Zechs inhaled sharply. "Look at what you know. See it from a different way. Turn the facts on their side."

For long minutes they remained silent. Eyes moved under still lids as the man reviewed fact after fact trying to find where he'd gone wrong. What did he know the woman behind this? She was blond, knew how to contact mercenaries and killers, was very clever, devious on a genius level, manipulative.......Zechs stopped, stunned. None of those words really could be applied to his sister; except for the being blond part.

Relena barely managed to hire good help at her house. Finding mercs or killers without looking like a fool was entirely beyond the young woman. And when would she have had time to learn how to completely disguise herself? Or go out and hire the men? Her every move and minute was accounted for. Bodyguards went with her whenever she moved; even if it was just from room to room. There was no way. So who?

"Dorothy!" He yelled fully waking and jumping off the couch. Breathing heavily, he turned to find the ghost of his lover watching him, violet eyes filled with desire.

"That's right my love. She's the one who did this."

"But why?"

"Time enough for that later," Duo purred.

Zechs gulped and wondered what had brought on this sudden mood shift. Looking down, he found his shirt had come half open and he was certain his hair must be mussed by sleeping; he probably looked like someone freshly ravaged.

"Or someone in the middle of a ravishing," a sultry voice filled his ears even as two very solid hands pushed him back onto the couch. "I've been celibate for five years. Entirely too long."

"Missed you," Zechs panted. Questions could wait. Now he needed to have Duo touch him again. Cold fingers against his burning skin were all that mattered. Dorothy could wait. Where was she going to go? Especially since she didn't know they were after her.