Those sad, somber droning sounds continued all day. Taking pity on my lack of knowledge about my Banshee heritage, Teal explained that the drone call was the traditional reminder that a remembrance would take place that day at dusk.
The constant reminder seemed to bother Duo more than it did Teal; the elder Banshee carrying on as if it were nothing to do with him at all. Duo, though, was torn between anxious fretting and fighting off tears for most of the day.
Teal insisted that we take breakfast in the common meeting hall.
"But..." Duo began fretfully, already winding himself up again after the relaxing bath.
"No," Teal said firmly. "This is your Clan, misbegotten though it may be, and you are here for your mother's sister. You are here for me and for my daughter." His green eyes flashed with a touch of temper. "They can try all they like to forget about you, about us, but wishing won't make it so, and I won't have my love's final memory marred by childish behavior. You are here for me, Duo, at my request. Mika will have free rein after today, but this day is mine." His tone was so low and so severe that I almost felt sorry for Mika. Almost.
So, we breakfasted in the hall.
Banshees young and old seemed compelled to stare from behind parchments or around furniture, whispering among themselves. A few brave or indignant souls approached us. Teal met them all with a bland smile and a brief, "You remember Duo, Danc's son. He was kind enough to come to stand with me for the remembrance." The steel in his eyes suggested they keep to themselves any contrary ideas.
No one dared challenge Duo's right to be there. And Teal offered no introduction or explanation for my presence.
I found myself slipping into guardian mode more than once, staring back at those who stared at my Banshee and his uncle. That served quite well to keep those glares from lingering.
Breakfast was good and reminded me of my own home; porridge and sausages and warm bread dripping with butter and honey and several varieties of fruit juices to choose from. As we were leaving the hall, a young male sidled up to us, eyeing Duo intently.
A glance at Teal told me not to interfere yet.
"Duo?" the youth said hesitantly. "Do you... Do you remember me?"
"Fael?" said Duo softly.
Elation brightened the young male's eyes. "Yes! You remembered me!"
"Of course," said my Banshee. "We played together enough."
"And you saved me from the briars that time!" His face fell then. "I'm sorry they made you go," he whispered. "I never did understand that. I missed you a lot; so did some of the others. I'm sorry about Shar; she used to tell us what you were doing Out There, all your adventures." He made a move as if to touch Duo's hand, but drew back. "I'm sorry; she was a very nice person."
"Thank you, Fael," said Duo rather distantly. He had that look that suggested he might be getting teary again.
"Have you come home to stay?" asked the Banshee eagerly.
"No," Duo returned sharply. "I have my own life, my own Clan now. I only came for Teal and Dael."
Fael flinched, though whether from the sharpness of Duo's tone or his words, I couldn't tell.
"Oh. Well, I guess I can't blame you for that." He lowered his voice. "You're not the only one who doesn't feel very welcome here now." He suddenly smiled brightly and said loudly, "Well, it's really wonderful that you came. You look just grand; the Human world must really agree with you. I hope we'll have a chance to talk again." He scurried off then, as if chased by dragons.
"Incoming," muttered Teal with a raised eyebrow.
I looked around and saw the female from the window heading our way.
I leaned toward Teal to whisper in his ear. "What do you think - too old and stringy for a snack?"
His sharp bark of laughter brought all eyes our way, and had him still chuckling when Mika planted herself in front of him.
She launched immediately into what must have been a dressing-down; I was forced to try to follow it by reading her body language and vocal inflections, as she used the Banshee language. It's been years since I had occasion to speak the language, and I was never fluent to begin with. It didn't help that she spoke fast and with just enough regional dialect as to make it mostly incomprehensible. Duo, however, had no such problem.
He inserted himself between Mika and Teal and just... exploded. Having no idea of the conversation, I was astounded by the waves of roiling hatred that warmed the very air between them. Teal took a pace back, holding Dael close. Other Banshees began to gather, some of them eyeing Duo with distaste or even outright enmity. I glared at them; gratified to see them falter and retreat under my own outraged stare.
And then Mika raised her hand, as if to swing on Duo. A soundless gasp seemed to take the onlookers. I started forward. Teal caught my sleeve. In that instant, Duo grabbed Mika's wrist, immobilizing her.
Everything froze. For the space of perhaps three seconds, nothing moved and no one breathed.
Into that disquieting stillness, Duo's voice sounded harsh and accusing.
"Well, I didn't die out there, bitch! If you wanted me dead, you should have stuck a bloody knife in me then! You have no power over me now, harpy! Just like you had no power over my mother!" His eyes shifted, taking in the silent Banshees that surrounded the confrontation. "You're all fools, to follow her," he snarled. "Damn fools!" He let go of her arm, flinging her back away from him.
He spun away from the shocked and startled Banshees and grabbed Teal and I, pulling us along with him.
"Goddammit," he muttered under his breath. "Stupid fucking bitch! Who the fuck does she think... Lousy miserable petty martinet hariden!"
We were some distance away before Teal cleared his throat and dug in his heels, forcing Duo to stop his furious rush.
He spun about, glaring at both of us. "WHAT?!"
Teal tried to keep his face neutral, but it was obvious to me that he was not going to succeed. The attempt ended with a raucous bray of laughter.
Duo's face suffused with a blush so deep, I thought he was having a stroke, but in the next instant, he just crumpled. "Teal!" he wailed. "It's not funny!" I moved in close to him and he turned to me, wrapping his arms around my waist and laying his head on my shoulder. "I can't believe I did that..." he whimpered. "Oh, goddess..."
I hugged him close, distracted for the moment by his pheromones. "You were magnificent!" I whispered. "I didn't understand most of it, but you were... just breath-taking! What a Banshee you are!"
Yes, I know I sounded ridiculous, but I meant every word. Duo had fairly blazed with righteous fury during that confrontation, and handled it well.
"He's right," said Teal and I blinked. I had almost forgotten that we were not alone, a serious lapse for me.
"But she's -"
"She's just a person, Duo," said Teal softly brushing his hand over Duo's hair. "That's part of the problem with this Clan. The Matriarch is only a person, no better and no worse than any other Banshee, but Mika has set herself up as a queen; a godling even. Your mother disagreed with Mika publicly and a few others disagreed in private, but everyone else..." He sighed and nuzzled his daughter. "This Clan is so isolated, so insular... There are good Banshees here, Duo, but they've become afraid of their own shadows." He shook his head and started down the path again. "I should have insisted," he muttered, possibly to himself. "I should have just taken you both and left then."
Duo stared after him, then looked up at me. "Heero...?"
I shook my head. "Your Clan, baby."
He sighed and untangled himself from my arms to follow Teal. "You really think I did good back there?"
"Yes," I said firmly. "You did good." I took his hand and we fell into step together.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
At the cottage, Teal put Dael down on the floor and Duo immediately joined her.
"I'll make tea," Teal murmured and fled to the kitchen.
Duo looked at me, chewing anxiously at his lip. "He's being so... odd," he whispered. "Heero, is he trying to be cheerful for me? Because he shouldn't be..."
I sat on the low sofa next to Duo. "I think he's just trying to get through the day the best way he can. Losing someone you love so suddenly..." I shook my head; I could hardly compare my memories of my parents' deaths with Teal's memory of Shar. I wasn't yet six years old when my parents died; it was years before I truly understood.
Duo turned to rest his arm on the sofa, looking up at me. "I was eleven when it happened... I never got to say goodbye to Caz. Never had time to really think about it then. I was in shock, I think. I wonder if that's how he feels..."
"Why don't you ask him?" I suggested.
"I don't -" he began, but then Teal was back.
"You two look very grim," he smiled handing around the tea. "You're not planning on psychoanalyzing me are you?"
Duo choked on his tea, face reddening alarmingly.
My own face warmed significantly, as well.
"Please don't," Teal chuckled. "I just have to get through tonight, and pack so that we can leave. I can fall apart when I get to Merry Brook."
"Teal..."
"It's all right, honey." He grinned at my Banshee. "We do what we have to do." And then he very deliberately turned the conversation to Duo and I, and our jobs.
Dael eventually fell asleep and to my surprise, Duo dozed off soon after, lying on the floor within her playspace, the baby snuggled up to him with her dragon in one arm and Duo's braid wrapped around the other.
"I'm sorry it took such a tragedy to bring him home to you," I said softly.
"So am I," sighed Teal. "Shar was afraid of Mika. Most of the Clan are, I'm sorry to say. She would have made things very difficult for Shar if Duo had tried to visit sooner." He got to his feet then. "Why don't we move into the kitchen and let them sleep?"
"I take it that Duo's mother wasn't so easily cowed?"
Teal gave a snort as he refilled our mugs. "Danc wasn't afraid of anything, Human or Magical. She wasn't a wanderer, but she spent time in the human world. She even went to a Human university and earned a degree."
That was remarkable. Magical Creatures seldom chose to live among Humans, and almost never participated in their educational rituals.
I guess my surprise showed; Teal smiled fondly at the memory. "Danc wasn't only a craftsman; she was an artist with fibers. She wanted to know everything there was to know about fibers and textiles, and she was good."
I could believe it; I'd seen the blanket Duo had that she had made for him before he was born. It was a beautiful thing, patterned with castles, and dragons and all manner of animals and birds, and even what looked suspiciously like Human aircraft.
"Does Duo know any of this?"
"Not yet," he sighed. He looked at me, one eyebrow cocked appraisingly. "I plan to have a long talk when I come to visit. I am going to visit, Heero. I wasn't blowing him off."
"That's good, because if you do try to blow him off, I'll hunt you down."
He snorted with stifled laughter. "You really do love him, don't you?"
I met his green eyes. "With all my heart. And I'll wait forever for him to decide that he loves me."
He reached out to touch my hand. "I'm glad you came with, Heero. I wholeheartedly approve of you."
I blinked. "Thank you."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We arrived at the designated place a few minutes before sundown. Teal had changed his clothes; he was now wearing blue from head to toe; a shimmering, sparkling, glowing shade of electric blue. He had dressed Dael in the violet velvet dress that Duo had sent for her. Interestingly, the dress was almost the exact color of Duo's eyes when he was angry. A coincidence? I wondered. With my Banshee, it was often difficult to tell.
Duo is such a curious mix of worldly wisdom and childish innocence sometimes. Perhaps that is one of the reasons I've fallen so hard for him. He keeps me off-balance in a way I've never known before. Just when I think I know what he's going to do or say, he will go off in exactly the opposite direction, leaving me scrambling to catch up.
Take now, for example. I had no idea whether Duo would bawl like a child through this memorial or adopt the imperious anger he had earlier shown to Mika. Whichever way he went, though, I would be beside him.
I glanced at Teal, and saw, just beyond him, a gathering of female Banshees. Mika was not among them.
"Teal?" I murmured. I don't remember my father's memorial; I may not have attended, and I had no clue as to what to expect. I just hoped there would not be trouble of their making.
He followed my glance, though, and smiled faintly. "Shar's friends. They are no braver than she was, but they won't allow her memorial to be... besmirched by any temper tantrums on Mika's part." He bowed gracefully to the females, and they returned the bow. "They know how she felt about Duo; they have no problem with him being here," he said softly.
Duo was paying more attention to the area than to us, clearly wandering somewhere in his memories. The glade was clear of trees, although a number of very tall, very old trees encircled it. Circular cuts of wood had been laid down to form a floor, obviously very old, well-worn, smooth and glowing. In the center of that space were... offerings, I suppose would be a good word. Flowers, blankets, jewelry, Banshee-crafted goods; things offered in remembrance of a friend, a companion, a fellow artist.
I was contemplating the idea of giving gifts to the memory of a beloved compatriot, when a soft chime sounded. Duo and I both looked up, recognizing the sound.
Magical delivery services announce themselves thusly, as a way of not startling the recipients of such deliveries. Having a bowl of fruit or bouquet of flowers suddenly appear from nowhere is just as unnerving to Witches and Wizards as to ordinary Humans.
At the bier of gifts, there appeared a silver bowl filled with fruit. Someone, I thought to myself, is monitoring my thoughts. I couldn't help a smirk at the idea. And instant later, however, another gift appeared; this time a long, richly woven scarf covered with stylized dragons. And then a plush toy; a very life-like tawny mountain lion with deep green eyes. And a music box tinkling an Irish jig. And a bag that unfolded and unzipped itself, demonstrating that it could hold much more than its dimensions would first suggest.
There were other things, over a dozen in all, and I knew exactly where they had come from. Duo and Teal both stared as if stunned, and I stepped between them to murmur for both ears.
"Obviously, the Weres have spread the word."
Duo turned to me with purple eyes awash. "But... why? They didn't know her..."
"They know you," I said softly.
Teal cocked his head and just sighed, hugging his daughter tightly. Dael had spotted the plush toy, if her acquisitive noises were to be believed, and she wanted it, now.
"You have good friends, Duo," said Teal softly. "And I will be delighted to meet and thank them when I visit you."
Duo said nothing; I don't think he could get past the lump in his throat.
Discreetly, I added my own offering to the bier; a small painted ceramic pendant of a Banshee dancing with a dragon, and silently thanked Shar for all she had done or tried to do for Duo.
The other Banshees seemed rather stunned, as well.
A change in the music of the pipes announced the beginning of the ceremony. The dirge-like drone lightened and there came a deep 'boom' of thunderous proportions. A flute trilled, threading its cheerful notes through the deeper skirls of the bagpipes. Another 'boom' of thunder, and I realised that it was a drum set to anchor the music, countering the flutter of the flute.
Torches flared surrounding the glade, and lanterns leaped to life above the wooden floor. A line of female Banshees stepped into the light, led by Mika. Teal stiffened slightly next to me, and I saw an exchange of some sort between him and the Matriarch. She inclined her head regally, and he returned an acknowledgment. An agreement, I was sure. She would do nothing to disrupt his consort's final farewell.
The line of females paced slowly around the glade, until it seemed that every female old enough to walk unaided stood there, facing the center. The flute and the pipes were stilled for a minute; the drum still marking a slow rhythm. All at once, another drum, lighter than the first, began marking out a sprightlier beat. The flute trilled again and the pipes rose in an almost tangible wall of rich sound and the females began to dance.
I wish I could describe it in better detail, but I think I was somehow ensorcelled by the music, by the sound, by the pure emotion in that clearing. The dance was familiar; Q and I went once to a stage production of Irish dancing, long lines of men and women with flying feet and upright posture, but at the same time, this was not the dance of Humans, Irish or otherwise.
"The females dance first for their departed sister," murmured Teal. "Then it is her family's turn to dance. Finally, the males will take their turn and dance for the regret of losing a female of their Clan." He smirked at my decidedly amazed expression. "Yes, we do make rather a lot of noise at these things."
"Would they..." I began. "Would it be the same for a male?"
"For a male, we would take the first turn," he replied gently. "To honor our brother. When I die, I will expect Duo to lead the dance for me."
I looked over at my Banshee; curious at how he was taking this. He swayed slightly with the music; eyes half-closed, as if it called to him. He was Shar's family, would he be expected to join Teal? I didn't know if he even knew how to do this dance.
The dancing last for some minutes; I gave up trying to keep track of the different steps. The clattering of feet mixed with... well, let's call the movements 'airs above the ground' because they weren't exactly balletic, but they were certainly complicated and graceful. ::Flying Banshees,:: whispered an awed little voice in the back - the far back - of my brain. Gorgeous... Each female seemed to have her own complicated steps beyond the general line dance; even the children bounced enthusiastically in imitation of their mothers and sisters.
And I couldn't help wondering... I was surely of an age, based on these children, to have joined the dancing for my father, but I had no memory of that happening. Did I not know the steps, or was I excluded for some darker reason? Or had I somehow blocked out the whole event?
This time was Duo's and I would never intrude on his grief or in any way distract him from his farewell to the female who adored him. But once we were home again, I would be making a visit to my Clan. I was beginning to have questions that perhaps should have been answered long ago.
::Life,:: murmured that same little voice in my head, ::will never be the same for you, Heero Yuy.::
The tempo of the music changed, signaling that the females were finished. Teal nudged my shoulder and I bent my head toward him.
"Would you mind holding Dael for a few minutes?"
"Of course," I whispered, taking the baby. She immediately leaned back to examine my face, as if memorizing my features. Or perhaps comparing previous memories to ascertain my place in her life.
"Thanks."
Teal grabbed Duo's hand and slipped away, pulling my startled Banshee with him. The crowd swallowed them before I could catch Teal's reply to Duo's exclamation of surprise.
They were gone only a minute, before reappearing on the edge of the floor. Teal looked... different from the Banshee I had easily become comfortable with. He seemed more focused, more commanding; fairly radiating power as he stood in the flickering torchlight at the edge of the wooden circle. He held twin scabbards, one in each hand, easily, as if the long swords were part of his everyday dress.
The pipes droned beneath the marking drums and the flutes were silent for the moment, as Teal bent his head to Duo, murmuring quietly. Duo looked almost scared; eyes just a little too wide, demeanor just a little too anxious. But he listened intently to his kinsman and nodded. Teal handed him one of the scabbards, and together they stepped into the circle of light.
They paced to the center and faced each other, raising their sheathed swords in salute. Then they turned and stepped away in opposite directions, half a dozen paces each.
The drums began to boom and the pipes came up again, the smaller drums picking out a lively rhythm.
Duo and Teal faced each other once again and drew their swords. Again, they saluted with the naked steel, then laid the bare swords and scabbards on the floor in an 'X'.
A particularly loud 'boom' signaled the start. Both Banshees seemed to levitate; their opening leaps were so effortless. They floated into the air and came down again to begin an incredibly intricate series of steps into and around the 'X' of the swords. It seemed as if each was trying to outdo the other, a duel of footwork over the swords.
I am not a creature of lightness and air. Wyverns are solid, dependable, rock-like in nature; watching my Banshee and Teal dance, I began to understand why my mother and my grandmother could fall so easily for a charming creature born of mist and fire. And I... Well, I rather regretted not having some of that same mist and fire within myself.
If I had not already been head over heels in love with that ridiculously resistant Banshee, I would have fallen instantly watching him leap and spin and pirouette between the scabbard and the blade of that sword. It was a dance of power and strength and masculine ferocity; flashing feet and floating leaps became merely the icing.
It ended almost abruptly with both Banshees frozen in place, facing each other above their swords. They held that pose for a few seconds, then both took a pace back to stand beside the 'X' of their swords, bowed deeply to one another, and picked up the sword and scabbard, returning the one to its place in the other. They paced toward each other, stopped, and saluted.
Apparently, that was the formal ending of the dance, because Duo suddenly threw his arms around Teal in a very Duo-ish gesture, hugging him tightly for a long moment.
A murmur rose up from the Banshees surrounding us, not a threatening sound exactly - more surprised it seemed to me - but distracting all the same. I made a visual sweep of the area, glare at low power, just in case anyone decided to be foolish. No one did.
And then Teal and Duo were at my side again, Teal with the plush puma under his arm for Dael, Duo with a grin so wide, I almost missed the sheen of tears in his eyes.
"That was..." I began, and had to pause to think of a suitable superlative. "Magnificent!" It didn't come close to what I felt, but it would have to do.
Teal shrugged carelessly. "I haven't danced like that since my father's send-off." He cuffed Duo lightly on the arm. "Now, this one... That was magnificent, Duo. You remembered everything perfectly. Not a step out of place."
"I didn't expect to," Duo began breathlessly. "I thought I'd just screw everything up. I've never done it before."
Teal laid his arm around my Banshee's shoulders. "You were always good in practice as a kid. You had a flawless kinesthetic memory. I'll expect something just as good for my memorial, you hear?"
Duo just nodded. "I'll try... What about this?" He lifted the sheathed sword.
"It's yours," smirked Teal, green eyes sparkling with mischief. "From your mother. One of the few females willing to lower herself to learn the males' dance. Danc was one of a kind, Duo; never forget that. If something interested her, she went after it."
We traded then, while Duo digested that news, Teal taking his daughter back to allow her to glomp the plush toy, and me taking the sword to hold for him. It was a beautiful piece of work; over a meter long, the scabbard inlaid with semi-precious stones and delicate etchings. It was perfectly balanced and not at all heavy or awkward to handle.
"An heirloom?" I asked softly, as the male Banshees assembled to perform their part of the ceremony.
"Mmm... Yes and no. It was made for my mother's father; she gave it to my father as a sign of her acceptance of his courtship. When he died, she gave it to me. If I should ever have a son, it would go to him. Failing that, it will go to Dael, for her mate and then to her son." He glanced my way briefly. "If your father was an Old Country Banshee, Heero, the chances are very high that somewhere there is a sword with your name on it, just waiting for you to claim it."
I blinked, and looked down at the sword in my hands. Something of my father's... I swallowed, feeling suddenly... lost.
And then warm fingers laced with mine, and I looked up to meet Duo's bright eyes. It would be... good... satisfying to uncover my other side with the help of this one, I thought inanely. He had to love me; I don't think I could bear it if he didn't...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It was full dark when we returned to the cottage. I had planned to call Jake to teleport us home, but changed my mind. I would prefer to fly with my Banshee in my arms.
But Teal had some business with Duo first.
Once again, Teal begged my indulgence in speaking privately with Duo. To be perfectly honest, I didn't mind watching Dael while the two retired to the bedroom.
Dael had attached herself very firmly to the plush puma and seemed more than happy to play with it in her playspace. I sprawled back on the low sofa listening to her chatter and watching this miniature of Duo.
Perhaps, I reflected with amusement, I will have a new generation of my own Clan to spoil soon. I have always been fond of children. While still young, I baby-sat frequently for the children of my cousins and siblings. They claimed I had 'a way' with the little ones, and could get them to obey me more readily than their parents. I think it was simply that I indulged them shamelessly when their parents weren't looking, while still managing to command their respect and obedience. But I went away to school at the age of twelve, and they grew out of the habit of my indulgences. Those children are now grown, or nearly so, with children of their own beginning to appear.
I certainly wouldn't mind spoiling this one, though, should her father make good on his promise to visit us. Already a part of my mind was considering whether Dael's first kimono should be green or peach and whether she would like a pair of the traditional wooden geta with matching tabi... I shook my head, smirking to myself. A baby Banshee in Japanese clothing... Duo was deeper into my soul than I had thought.
Eventually, I got down on the floor with Dael, and she proceeded to use me as a jungle gym, still clutching her puma. Trowa would be thrilled to know how much she loved his gift. And I was thankful that Trowa never had the idea to gift Duo with such a thing; I might have had a more difficult time in securing his undivided attention if plushies had been involved.
Dael had progressed to drifting towards sleep, cuddling with her toy, cooing softly to it, when voices were raised in the bedroom.
"I should have known!" I heard Duo say more in anguish than in anger.
I got up to see what was wrong.
To my surprise, it was Teal, not Duo, who was near tears.
"They threw me out of my own house?!" Duo cried. "Teal, I should have known! That bitch! I should rip her bloody damn heart out!"
"I... I'm sorry, Duo," Teal whispered. He sat on the edge of the bed, his head hanging over his tightly clasped hands. "I didn't remember that night. It didn't hit me until later... By then, there was no point. Or so I thought. I know it never occurred to Shar..."
"Shit!" Duo spun away from his cousin to pound his fists against the wall in frustration. "Dammit!"
I caught him by the shoulders, turning him to face me. His purple eyes flashed with anger, and I very cautiously slipped my arms around his shoulders, to hold him lightly.
"Tell me," I whispered, not sure if he would allow my embrace or fling me off. He fairly seethed with fury.
For a moment, he stood rigidly, then he slumped against me, arms sliding around my waist and his head resting on my shoulder.
"It's my house," he muttered. "This house. My mother built it. Mika threw me out of my own fuckin' house, Heero. My own house!"
That was... not what I expected. I looked past Duo to Teal questioningly. He nodded.
"It's Duo's house. Always was. Danc built it when Shar and Caz were small, so they'd have a proper home. She raised them, mostly. Had plans to add a second floor when Duo was born... She loved them and she loved him..." His voice broke and he began to weep softly. "She had plans... just like Shar... I hate this place!" he snarled. "I hate these people, this poisonous mindset!" He surged to his feet, fists clenched at his sides. "Go home, angel," he ordered sharply. "Go home with Heero. Forget this place and these people. They are not your Clan. Dael and I are your Clan, and we will be back in the spring. I promise, Duo. We will come to you in the spring, and we will make our own Clan."
Duo just looked at him for a long moment. "All right," he whispered finally. "Do one last thing for me before you leave here."
"Anything angel..." He sounded exhausted.
"Give the house to Fael... He's the youngest of seven; he'll never have anything of his own otherwise."
Teal nodded, trying to make a smile. "You're right about that... I will angel. I'll tell him tomorrow."
We were ready to leave soon after, Teal having confirmed arrangements to send to Duo everything in the house that had been important to him or to his mother that he couldn't carry with him. The furniture, barring a few sentimental pieces, would stay with the cottage. I looked it over one last time. It was a fine sturdy place, well suited to a small family. I hoped Fael would appreciate Duo's gift.
We walked outside since I don't like changing inside; my wings make it difficult to get through most doorways.
Teal was dry-eyed once again with sleepy Dael curled in his arms. I flicked my cloak into existence since Duo hadn't brought his own, and tucked away the overflow of the things Duo was taking with him.
The more technologically inclined among us have dubbed it the "transdimensional pocket," but most creatures just call it "the otherspace." Almost all Magical Creatures, the majority of Witches and Wizards and even a few non-Magical Humans have access to the otherspace. Its capacity is governed by the strength and control ability of the individual. Q, for instance, has been known to extract an entire furnished room from his otherspace. Garden Gnomes, on the other hand, carry only small tools.
For shapeshifters such as myself, the otherspace is where clothing and other accessories go when we change form. It's where the Weres carry their necessary possessions while in their animal forms. It's also how demons travel, being able to step into and out of their otherspaces at will.
We said our good-byes outside, both of us hugging and being hugged by the blond Banshee. Little Dael obligingly snuggled with each of us, and made a grab for Duo's braid that made him smile. Outside of the glow of the fairylights, other Banshees loitered, spying on us.
I allowed myself a small smirk; I'd soon take care of that.
I laid the cloak around Duo's shoulders and scooped him up in my arms. He waggled his fingers at Teal and blew Dael a kiss, and then I morphed.
The screams, shrieks and thunder of swiftly departing feet was music to my ears and I chuckled evilly as I spread my wings in a great stretch. Teal's eyes widened in amazement and Dael cackled with glee.
"Holy shit," breathed Teal. "Heero, that's amazing!"
"I'll take that as a compliment," I smirked.
"It's meant as one!"
Duo wrapped his arms around my neck. "My very own flying Dragon," he snickered.
"No kidding! Damn, Heero; I'll want to see this in daylight."
"Anytime, Teal; I'll take you flying, and Dael too. See you in the spring."
"That you will. Ta, both of you. Fly safe."
Duo waved briefly and I launched, my wings pulling powerfully as we spiraled upward. The ground receded rapidly and silently until I reached my cruising altitude. Then Duo sighed heavily.
"What's wrong, baby?"
"Nothing. Not much. Well... I mean... She's gone... Really gone. My mother. Caz. Shar. All of them gone now... Only Teal and Dael left."
"And they love you very much."
"I know, and I love them... But Shar was almost... Hell, she was the only mother I ever knew." He rested his head against my collarbone. "I feel... Okay, this is stupid... I feel... abandoned..."
"You feel grief, baby. It will always be with you, but you will notice it less with time. But you're not alone; not as long as I'm here."
He was silent for a few minutes.
"I'm glad you came with," he said softly. "I wouldn't have handled it well on my own. Damn, I'm tired..."
"Go to sleep, then; I don't mind."
"Okay. But wake me when you take a break, okay?"
"I will wake you when I land."
"And don't try to fly straight through; it's too far."
"Hn."