Heero and Jake appeared on the rocky beach. Sure enough, Duo was huddled on the outfall riprap thirty meters away, head resting on his up-drawn knees.
"Heero, this is getting to be a habit," Jake warned softly.
"I know," the Wyvern agreed.
"I'll be back in an hour."
Heero didn't argue this time. "Okay. Thanks, Jake."
"You're welcome, Heero. Give him a hug from me."
Heero nodded. Jake vanished and Heero started walking toward the Banshee.
"What the hell is 'honorable' about making someone feel like shit?" said Duo softly when Heero sat down beside him.
"He is required to contemplate his errors and find ways to fix his behavior for the future."
"And he can't do that after being forgiven?"
Well. Yes. Hmm. Put like that, it did sound rather... stupid.
"It is the way Dragons have always been."
"It's stupid."
"It's tradition."
"Well, traditions can be stupid."
"Dragons are held to higher standards."
"Than who? Banshees? Were-Pumas? Humans?"
"Than anyone."
"Does that make you better than anyone else?"
"No."
"Really?"
Well...
"You're not answering me, Heero. Are Dragons better than everyone else?"
"They... It... Sometimes... it... depends."
Duo rolled his head so that one purple eye was staring at Heero. "Are you better than me?"
"No!"
"Better than Trowa?"
"No."
"Better than Q?"
"Of course not!"
"Better than Wufei?"
"N- Not exactly..."
"What makes you better than him? You get angry. You snarl and rant. You threaten people. Why is that better than him having one lousy little accident?"
"...."
"Gee, Heero... You think?"
"All right... I suppose I do think I'm better than Chang Wufei... But only because every Wyvern thinks they're better than every Were-Dragon. And every Were-Dragon thinks they're better than every Wyvern."
"'Mommie likes me best'."
"...I suppose..."
"This is making me nauseous, Heero. The idea that Wufei is punishing himself because of me. Only you two can make it better. Please make it better; I'd like to be able to eat without throwing up ten minutes later."
"I forgave him and I ordered him to accept the forgiveness."
"Will he?"
"He will or I'll kick his scrawny dragon butt around the lake."
"And he's not quitting?"
"Of course not."
"Then can we go get something to eat? I am starving."
"I'll call Jake and tell him to make it two hours, okay?"
"Yeah... There's a great little fast food place in Encinitas; you'll love it!"
~*~
Jake appeared on the beach with a faint pop. A couple of people walking along the tide line stopped to blink at him. He smiled pleasantly, as if he'd done nothing out of the ordinary, and nodded a polite greeting. They nodded back and continued on, looking back occasionally and whispering together.
He was on time, as always, but he didn't mind killing a few minutes. The Banshee and the Wyvern were sitting together on the outfall, watching the sea birds wheeling overhead, and doing a little light necking. Heero knew he was there, of course.
A seagull dipped curiously in his direction and Jake decided to take a chance; he conjured a piece of bread and tossed it into the air. The seagull and four of its fellows pounced on the bread in midair and nearly fell into the water fighting over the treat.
Jake laughed softly, but didn't offer any more bait; the birds soon lost interest.
Sooner or later, someone was going to have to figure out what was going on with Duo's teleportation skills. Ordinarily, the slightest anxiety kept him ground bound, so these two episodes of involuntary porting were highly unusual. Once could be over-looked, but twice was definitely reason for concern. He made a note to himself to speak to Professor Light Hawk about it.
Then Heero was on his feet and pulling Duo up, and with arms around each other, they crossed the rocks to where Jake waited.
Duo grinned sheepishly. "Sorry, Jake; I don't mean to keep hauling you out like this."
"You're not 'hauling me out', Duo; it's my job." He punched Duo lightly on the arm. "But you're gonna give this guy a heart attack one of these days."
Heero snorted, hooking his Banshee even closer. "As long as I can find you; I'm fine."
"Jake, I seriously owe you lunch," said Duo. "Or several lunches."
"I'll take you up on that," laughed the porter. He took their hands in his and all three of them vanished.
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