Part 43
Duo checked his watch. Right on time, as always. He looked forward to getting back home. Familiar people, familiar things. He didn't care for these overnight jobs; didn't care to be surrounded by Humans this way now. Especially when he was working alone. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end nowadays when he was forced to move alone among crowds of Humans. He looked back on his first years alone in the Human world with amazement that he managed to survive on his own as he did. Life now was much more comfortable, mentally and physically.
::I've gotten used to being a magical creature again. And I like it. No more pretending to be something else, skirting the truth, feeling my soul shrivel.::
He'd been doing solo investigations for a couple of weeks now, along with the more intricate jobs. He'd gone out a few times with Witches or Wizards and once each with Q, Trowa and Wufei, but he was usually partnered with Heero. Those were his favorite jobs, knowing that the powerful Wyvern was at his back.
Thinking of the other assignments, he had to smile. Most were day trips, except for the job with Wufei. That had been fun; Wufei was as over-the-top on assignment as he was at home. He had flirted outrageously; right down to offering to keep Duo warm at night if blankets didn't suffice. Needless to say, Duo declined, partly because he didn't want to tease, partly because he suspected that the Wyvern would not be amused. The idea of a confrontation between the Were-Dragon and the Wyvern was definitely not amusing.
::Nope; no shredded lizards on my conscience!::
His shoulder pouch contained his notes on the odd occurrences in Indianapolis. In his not-so-weighty opinion, it was simply a case of high spirits among some young Dwarves. Nothing he had heard suggested any sort of malice, and the stonework was definitely Dwarfish in style. The city Humans should count themselves fortunate that they had been gifted with such sturdy and serviceable structures. But Humans being what they were, they would probably tear it all down again. Oh, well. That was a matter for officials of the Human and Magical worlds to determine. His part in the matter was finished.
He slipped down a narrow lane heading for his telepoint, and turned into the alley. Three steps in and something caused the skin to prickle up and down his spine. He started to turn, and a shooting star struck him down, turning the whole world black.
::Oh... That was pretty...::