Blue Forest Banshee by PlaidDragon
Part 4
The train and I were on time, passengers swarming as I stepped onto the platform. I put my back against a pillar where I could watch the train and the station. The conductor was making his last call of "All abooooard!" when a slender figure stepped down from the forward car, walking toward the station.
I saw the auburn braid first, then noticed the long cloak. Something about it tripped a memory, but try as I might; I couldn't pull it into focus then. Instead, I had the unsettling feeling that I had seen it before.
It wasn't remarkable, being a simple black ankle-duster with a clasp at the throat, slits for the arms and an elbow-length capelet around the shoulders. I shook it out of my head; it would come to me eventually. My attention now was for the person inside that cloak.
Long hair suggested a female, but I was not surprised to find that Q's latest acquisition was male. The young male was smaller than me, slender and almost frail looking, but he moved with a controlled strength. His profile was sharp, but his mouth was generous. As he brushed a hand over his shining hair, I saw that his ears were slightly pointed. Not Human, then.
I pushed away from the pillar and approached him. An inticing scent wafted past me. I filled my lungs and felt the tightening in my groin. Pheromones. Duo Maxwell was spreading a very powerful aphrodisiac around him.
In the mating dance of life, I have and, always will, choose my partner from the male of the species. I couldn't tell if it was the effect of the pheromones, or if I was having a "moment", but I wanted that red-braided creature, and I would never be satisfied with anyone else.
As I stepped up behind him, his shoulders tensed very slightly; he knew I was there.
"Excuse me," I said in the friendliest tone I could muster. "Are you Duo Maxwell?"
He turned so sharply that his long braid whipped around, almost catching me in the face. I caught hold of its end.
"I'm Duo Maxwell," he said tightly. "Let go of my hair."
It took me a few seconds. The pheromones were strong so close to him, and when he spoke he flashed his purple eyes at me. The combination made my heart stutter. I was right about the sharp features and pouty mouth, but his countenance as a whole was what Humans think of as "elfish;" heart-shaped face, well-defined cheekbones, the outer corners of his large eyes tilted up just slightly.
My first impression was that he was simply the most gorgeous thing I'd ever seen. I had to remind myself that I was standing in the center of a pheromone cloud so thick I could almost cut a hole in it. Wait until the spell dissipated, and then decide, I warned myself.
I reluctantly released his braid; it was very thick and warm to the touch.
"I apologise. It's a dangerous thing, isn't it?" I said lightly, but he wasn't buying it. I'd warned Q that smiling wouldn't help. I gave it up, and said simply, "I'm Heero Yuy. Q asked me to pick you up and buy you lunch before delivering you to his office."
He relaxed a bit then. "You know Q?"
"Since I was ten," I admitted.
Duo Maxwell, non-Human of uncertain lineage, looked me carefully up and down before smirking and purring warmly, "Well, good. I haven't eaten since day before yesterday, so I hope lunch is on Q's account."
I raised one eyebrow. "Of course. Do you have any other luggage?" I indicated the overnight bag at his feet.
"No. That's everything." I felt the hitch in his smooth voice, but his face was relaxed, his smirk having grown into a grin.
I took the case and offered him my arm, but his grin went away.
"I don't need protection. I can take care of myself."
"As you choose." I shortened my stride to match his, and he walked silently beside me to the car, the miasma of aphrodisiac dropping off almost immediately.
Yes, I said silently to myself; you certainly can take care of yourself, Duo Maxwell.
But it didn't stop me wanting him.