Part Seventy-Seven: Off to see the Wyverns...
I nearly staggered when I saw what Q had seen first.
Duo was crossing the room to Jake's station, distractedly arranging the folds of his cloak over the most... incredible costume I've ever seen him wear. And my Banshee is nothing if not creative with his mode of dress.
The costume consisted of a long-sleeved shirt with a high collar, figure-hugging leggings, a half-sleeved knee-length tunic and a pair of almost-knee-high bright purple boots. A beaded belt loosely encircled his waist, dipping low in the front.
But it wasn't the style of clothing so much as the color - or colors - that caught the eye and took the breath away. The Human world has ways of chemically producing such iridescent and variable colors in paints, and some fabrics are woven so as to be different colors when viewed from different angles, but I do not believe they have ever produced anything as brilliant as my Banshee.
The fabric was blue and green and red and purple, all at the same time. Every curve, every angle of his body created a new hue. Every movement caused waves of iridescent color to ripple over his trim form. Accents of silver flashed at the bottom of the sleeves of the tunic, around the neck and around the hem. Duo looked as if he were wearing a collection of gems. The beaded belt only added to the effect, being made of shades of blue, green, red, and purple with silver findings.
Staring at him, slack jawed and feeling a disconcerting stirring in my groin as his pheromones reached across the room, I somehow managed to wonder where in the hell he'd gotten such an outfit without me being aware of it. And then I wondered how long I would have to wait to strip him out of it.
Then the truly absurd came knocking in my head.
~ When do you suppose he had time to make that belt? ~
::Who cares?!::
~ So you're being unobservant again. ~
::Shut up. Go away. He's beautiful! And he's mine!::
~ He hasn't said so yet... ~
::He will! I know he will!::
~ Keep telling yourself that... ~
I shook my head violently. Duo stopped a few paces away, regarding me anxiously.
"Heero?"
"I... I just... Is that a new outfit?" I stammered lamely.
He smiled tentatively and spread his cloak. "Teal sent it; it's a court costume."
"Court..." I repeated stupidly. Q nudged me gently in the ribs. I blinked.
"You look beautiful, Duo," smiled the Wizard. "Those colors are wonderful on you."
Duo colored slightly, ducking his head. "I kind of like this; I feel like I'm wearing a rainbow."
...rainbow... Yes.
"The colors are very complimentary to you," Q said. "Not many people could carry that off. Perhaps that's why Teal chose it." He cocked his head to the side, looking first at Duo then at me. "Duo, honey: I think you need to rein in your pheromones."
Duo gasped, eyes widening. "Oh shit! You're right! Q, I'm sorry! I didn't realize...!"
The... fog was suddenly gone. I was blinking stupidly at Duo and Q, and my Banshee had the most incredible expression on his face; midway between embarrassment and triumph.
"Hn," I snorted. "You know damn well you can make me stupid any time you do that." He snickered and tipped full over into triumph.
"Sorry," he murmured, coming into my arms. "I'm a little nervous."
"Just don't do that when we get to the Clanhold; I don't want to have people getting into fights over you."
Eyebrows shot up. "They would do that?" he asked incredulously.
I opened my mouth, but Q beat me to it. "Duo, you have no idea how strong that is, or how difficult it is to resist, even at low power." He fanned himself theatrically. "Why, even I have had moments of struggle."
Duo's eyes widened to impossible diameter. "Oh... Q..." he breathed.
"Never mind," Q smirked. "Come on; mustn't keep the Wyverns waiting."
I held out my hand and Duo put his into it, lacing his fingers firmly with mine. Q smiled benevolently at us as Jake stepped up to take our free hands.
"See you in three days," I grinned, feeling suddenly giddy. My Banshee was going to meet my Clan!
And the room vanished.