Disclaimer: Gundam Wing is not mine. Duh.

Note: And with this, it's all over. Time for me to bow out. Thanks again to all my loyal fans.

Warning: Hey, all of you who begged for a lemon! It's in this one!

Fangs of the Wolf

Epilogue

Valentine's Day

"Heero, I have said this a million fucking times and I swear, if you don't start fucking listening to me, you will be left out in this godforsaken weather alone."

"And it's my goddamn house, so you can be the one on the streets."

Duo groaned over the link. Heero listened to it with his gun before him, facing the T-section of the building and a piece of wallpaper hanging depressed from its wall. "I'm telling you, he went right."

"And I'm telling you that the right leads to a dead end and a fucking grate that leads to the left. Go left."

"And what if he waits to get back?" Heero inched forward. To his left, Wufei did the same.

"Then leave Wufei there, you stupid pansy-ass. And hurry up. You're starting to bore me."

"You could've stayed off this hit like Quatre and Trowa."

"Then you'd be about to run off down the wrong fucking corridor."

Heero ground his teeth together. "I swear to God, Duo, when we get back to the house-"

"Oh, no, Yuy," Wufei cut in. "I most certainly do not want to hear what you will do with Maxwell when you return to your house."

Heero sent Wufei a quick glare. "Really, Wufei? Really?"

Wufei simply nodded Heero forward.

"Hey, 'Fei! Are you sure? 'Cause Heero's got this way with his-"

"Maxwell!" Heero looked back in time to see the cherry blush on Wufei's face. He grinned as he rounded the corner. The idiot; it wasn't as if the two of them were doing anything like that yet.

He focused back on the bust. Left. Fine. But only because he knew Duo was right.

"Yeah, yeah," Duo replied to Wufei's outburst. "Gods, you're boring."

Wufei muttered something unintelligible.

"Love you, too, 'Fei."

"Don't call me that, Maxwell."

"Don't call me that, 'Fei."

Heero shook his head and looked around. The ratty wallpaper had followed him into this hall, as well. The faded yellow flowers were the perfect touch to a horribly ugly house. The floors were so rotted Heero was surprised he wasn't falling down into the basement. The worst part of it was the mold and mildew blanketing the walls, eating at the plaster and the wood and just everything.

It made him want to sneeze. It would probably make him sick.

The floorboards creaked and groaned as he walked, pretty much chomping away any chance of a surprise attack. He thought he could see a dented, dirty grate amongst the mildew and overall filth. He could only imagine how disgusting that filter system was by now. This place was a long, long distance from its once pristine condition.

"Hey, have I mentioned that I hate shrinks and everything to do with them?"

"Let me guess, Maxwell. You think this business went to hell not because the so-called 'shrink' was homicidal, but because he was a shrink to begin with?"

"That's correct."

"You need help."

"See? That's just what I'm talking about!"

"Hush, you two." Heero pointed his gun at the grate and hid out of the grate's line of fire. "Get the fuck out of there, jackass."

"Jesus, Heero, did you forget the bastard's packing?"

"Yuy?"

"Hold position," Heero hissed. Nothing in the grate stirred. "Get out or I start firing."

A tiny plume of dust wafted from the grate. "He's heading for you, Wufei."

"I've already got this side covered."

"See, Heero? You wasted your chance to be Superman. Sucks to be you."

"I went to the left, Duo."

Duo was silent for that one. "Huh. Ha! Then you're just stupid!"

Heero really should've been annoyed at that one, but all he could do was smile. "It's because I let you take the lead last night. You infected me when you-"

"Shut the fuck up, the both of you! Did you fucking forget I was here?"

Heero laughed. The man really didn't know that he and Duo still hadn't gone to that level.

They played a game of ping-pong before the man realized he was trapped and started shooting at the walls. Bugs started falling from the destroyed plaster, and the air was quickly filled with what would most certainly infect Heero's body within the hour, if the smell and the itchiness of his eyes was a clue.

But then the fool inevitably ran out of bullets and was rounded up like a rat. They grabbed him and informed Duo, who called the police.

"Wait – Maxwell, who did you call?"

Duo was silent over the link while Wufei stewed. Their perp was wiggling in Heero's grasp. Heero shook him back and forth until he stilled. And of course the bastard started cursing.

"Uh, sorry, 'Fei."

"Maxwell, goddamn it!"

"Sor~ry!"

But Heero smiled. He knew damn well it was no accident.

It didn't take long for the first police cruiser to arrive, and when it did Heero and Wufei were waiting outside the abandoned corporate building, Heero babysitting the fool in their charge and Wufei looking ready to bolt. It was bitterly cold out, it being the middle of February, but the inside of the compound was equally cold and there were more places to hide if their captive miraculously escape.

Only one man stepped out from the car, his hair perfect and his grin almost evil. "Yuy. Wufei."

"Khushrenada." Heero nodded in greeting. Wufei looked away.

Treize smiled at his ex-lover before turning to Heero again. "I see you managed to catch the fool."

Heero tilted his head slightly. "Of course we did. We're the best in the area, including all of your men."

Treize simply held out his hand, into which Heero pushed his little captive. The man spat at Heero, but having already been the recipient of such attempts for years, Heero easily dodged. That started a new round of cursing. "Wufei. Will I be seeing you this Friday?"

Wufei turned on Treize as if the man had thrown firecrackers in his face. "No! Hell, no! We are not together, and I am not going out with you!"

"You heretics will be devoured within the souls of your own brethren, and when the night splits into-"

Treize shook the man but never looked away from Wufei's face. "I will see you at seven."

"No! Don't you dare come to my house!" Wufei stormed over to Treize and stuck his finger in the man's face. "I don't want you anywhere near my home, do you hear me? I will kick your fucking ass!"

"Is that an invitation?"

Heero wordlessly took the suspect back just before Wufei swung his fist at Treize's face. And the old dance began again.

Sirens from down the street said more cops were coming now, but the fight didn't pause. And it wouldn't. Not until Treize won. Again.

Heero went to his car and leaned against the side door, making himself comfortable for the ensuing show. Wufei was still up to bat, and he was trying a few more extravagant moves. Now that they knew without doubt that Treize was healed, Wufei was no longer pulling his punches. Treize didn't seem too concerned about this, though his hands weren't in his pockets like they'd been in the first few fights. Wufei kicked at the man's chest, forcing him to take a quick step back. Treize was smiling. Wufei was snarling.

All was right with the world.

Except his ears were getting cold.

"Hey, Heero?"

"What is it, Duo?"

"Could you grab the shit from the list on your way back tonight? I know it's really late, but we don't have any more milk or eggs, and I desire food."

Heero rolled his eyes and shook the bleating bastard in his hold again. "Of course."

"Great."

Heero's eyes narrowed then. There was something off about Duo for a split second, something that didn't quite fit. "And could you have Wufei take the shrink?"

"Wufei would kill me." Bringing in the shrink meant giving the oral report to Khushrenada, their official precinct partner. Having the chief on their side meant getting good cases from the start of their P.I. team. It meant that after only a handful of months, they were almost lucrative.

"Not if you said I'd asked you to."

"Then he'd kill you."

"Yeah, but not until he sees me again. By then, I'll have a good excuse."

Heero rolled his eyes. Wufei's turn was ending; Treize was starting to look bored, and Wufei's attacks were a short second slower. Treize took over even as Heero watched; the blocks turned to grabs, the evasions to punches. Wufei had to jump backward and block Treize's second blow.

"Wufei!"

"Your heathenish hearts have fallen into the darkness inside everyone; you can't understand your own fallacies, but inside you lurks-"

Heero sighed and shook the man again. "Isn't there an off switch for you?" he muttered, only noticing afterward how similar to Duo that had sounded. He looked back to Wufei in time to see the man duck around another punch and swerve away from Treize.

"What?"

Heero cocked his head and pointed to his earpiece. "Duo wants me to throw you into the pit alone for some reason."

"I heard!" Wufei shouted back.

"...Oh, yeah," Duo said, and even from where Heero stood a few number of meters away, he heard Wufei snort.

"Just this once, Maxwell! And that excuse better be good," Wufei warned, his voice lowering enough that Heero only heard him through the communication link. Wufei jumped over a kick and aimed squarely for Treize's face.

"Um, for this to happen," Heero said, waving their prisoner back and forth, "someone needs to take him."

"Yeah!" Duo piped up, his voice chipper enough to give them both fair warning. Wufei snarled something, his voice too full of pants to be understood. "Take him, already!"

Heero had a feeling Duo wasn't talking about their shrink.

"Maxwell..."

Apparently Wufei didn't think so, either.

Treize snatched Wufei's ear, grabbing the earpiece and placing it by his own ear. He dodged Wufei's reaching hands. "Duo Maxwell?"

"What the? Fuckface?"

The name, for some reason, only made Treize smile a little wider. "Yes. How are you doing?" Wufei outright snarled and wrapped a hand around Treize's lower arm. He tugged, but Treize simply pulled against Wufei and successfully kept the piece by his ear. Wufei cursed.

"I'm well enough, rat bastard. Why the fuck do you have 'Fei's link?"

"Who says it's Chang's?" Wufei shouted a few words he must have learned from Duo, words that traveled far enough to reach Heero's ears.

The crazy doctor stopped shouting and stared. Quietly, he murmured, "that young man is afraid of himself."

Heero blinked down. "Holy shit, I think our shrink has a nerve still hooked on straight."

"You and I both know it's 'Fei's; Heero wouldn't go near the two of you for threat of his life."

Duo's response made Treize look over to Heero. "Oh? You believe I could best him?"

"No," Duo was quick to say. "I wouldn't beaten him to a pulp."

Heero rolled his eyes, but the answer made Treize laugh. Wufei didn't seem pleased with this. His knee almost met with Treize's groin before the taller man managed to swerve away at the last second. "I thank you, then, Duo Maxwell. Again."

"MAXWELL!"

Duo made a weak chuckle. "Uh... I gotta go. Heero, don't forget that, um... stuff. The food stuff. Bye!"

"Duo," Heero growled, but the brunette didn't respond. Heero sent Treize a heated glare. Treize simply smiled. "Wufei! I'm leaving, so take this damn man and get the hell out of the cold before you freeze!"

Wufei whipped around to Heero. "You planned this, didn't you?"

Heero sent him a droll stare. "You can't believe this was my idea."

Even from the distance between them, Heero saw the grinding of Wufei's teeth. "Maxwell." It sounded like Wufei was contemplating murder.

"Wufei, I give you full leave to punish him for this, b remember that he's still recovering, and I'm afraid that if you intend to harm him in any way, I will be forced to kick your ass." Heero adjusted his stance against his car just enough to show off his gun, then pushed off and stood. "I have to go."

"Yuy, you bastard-"

"Now, now, Wufei. You shouldn't be so angry with your friends."

Wufei bit Treize's bait, the patronizing tone apparently hitting one of his many nerves. The shouting match began anew.

Heero simply walked over and shoved the shrink forward. He stumbled and staggered and yelped. Treize caught the man and turned to his car. "Coming, Chang Wufei?"

Wufei glared, but after several short moments, trudged after Treize. The glare he sent Heero's way was murderous.

Heero only smiled.

Heero trudged into the house and shook a hand through his hair, trying to get some of the snow off. The downpour had started only a half hour ago, and already the snow was starting to accumulate on the streets. He thought he would walk into his house and find Duo plastered against the window; the fool was always fascinated by the snow, especially when he was safely warm inside the house.

So finding the living room empty made his eyebrow raise.

He looked around. His house was different now. Walking in like this, he could see the differences. The shoes on the floor. The laptop on the sofa. The stupid painting Duo had seen at a yard sale and had bought because he'd liked the colors. Through the living room and into the kitchen showed even more tiny changes. Animal magnets were scattered along the fridge. A computer magazine was propped open on the counter. On the table was a Hot Wheels car Heero had bought Duo as a gag gift. Underneath it was a folded piece of paper.

Heero moved toward it, feeling a bit of trepidation burn through his nerves. Why was there a note on the table? Where was Duo?

"Duo?" Heero turned around, ready to search the house. Then his cop instincts finally kicked in and he went back to the note. With one hand on his gun, he grabbed it and flipped it open.

Bedroom, moron.

Heero's eyebrow twitched.

He stomped to the bedroom and snapped open the door, words already forming in his mind. Everything stopped short when that door widened and Duo turned from the windowsill. His hair was unbound. It was the first thing Heero noticed, something he rarely got to see, even now. Duo had demanded he do his own hair, even back when he could barely move without pain. The brunette didn't seem to enjoy having his hair loose and on display.

Following that long trail, curved naturally due to being braided when still wet, brought Heero to his second realization. Duo was only wearing a pair of black boxers. Heero's mouth went dry.

Duo smiled at him a little nervously and tilted his head. "You called for me?"

Heero thought he should still be angry about that, but he didn't think he could manage anything at the moment. He would be pissed later. "Yeah. You..." He lifted his hand with the note.

Duo looked down at it and raised an eyebrow of his own. "Um, Heero, why is your gun out?"

The question mustered up some of the anger he'd thought was too buried under pure, hard lust. "You weren't here, and there was a note on the table."

"With my Jag on top of it." But Duo's smile was only partly teasing. "You were worried."

Heero wanted to be angry, but Duo was moving toward him and the sway of his hips was making those boxers look a little low. Heero's brain fuzzed. "Yes... what?"

Duo grinned outright then. His fingers trailed up Heero's hips to his waist to his chest. Duo was only a couple inches shorter than him, just enough to give a shadow under his lashes and make his simple glance up sexy as hell. "Heero, I kind've, um..."

Heero could only blink down at Duo. He had to back away. He took a deep breath and held it. It was either back away now or it would be too late.

But then Duo grabbed his shirt and wrenched him forward and even as Heero clearly saw a small wince of pain on Duo's face, the smaller man leaned up and planted a kiss on Heero's lips. It wasn't completely new; Heero and Duo had kissed a number of times since Duo's lips had healed all those months ago. And it wasn't as if Duo hadn't instigated something before. But this was different than those other times; when before Duo had been almost violent, almost angry, this was soft. Heero found himself melting into it despite himself. Duo's lips were warm, warm and sweet. Was that chocolate on Duo's lips? The fool had probably been drinking that hot chocolate again, slurping up the marshmallows like a little kid. Heero was sad he'd missed it.

Duo raised his hands to Heero's cheeks, his fingers soft and cool and a little wet from being plastered against the window. It made Heero smile.

Those cool hands pressed a bit harder, curling into Heero's skin as those lips tilted and meshed against Heero's, until one hot lick on Heero's lower lip earned a sharp hiss. Duo plunged right in, wrapping his hands back around Heero's head and snagging around his hair. That tongue had definitely tasted chocolate at some point. Heero shivered.

And then he pushed Duo away.

He was surprised to find his breath ragged, his fingers trembling. He shook his head to clear it. "No. No, Duo. We can't-"

"Damn you, Heero," Duo growled. Heero focused on Duo just in time to see that scowl grow a morph into that dangerous, determined look he recognized by now. Duo grabbed at Heero's shirt, and when Heero pulled away, Duo simply chased after him and tugged at the buttons. Heero reached for Duo's arms to stop him. "If you touch me right now, I will hurt you." Heero hesitated. That kind of activity would be bad. Duo's shoulder still wasn't healed, no matter what Duo said. He'd already winced, and all he'd done was grab at Heero. If he did anything more, what would happen?

Heero's hesitation wasn't missed, and Duo took the chance to pull at Heero's shirt until two buttons popped. A sharp ping came from somewhere across the room. Heero stumbled away, but Duo was already attached to his collarbone, pulling at the skin and scraping his teeth over the bone. The breath in Heero's throat froze. "D-Duo. Stop."

"No. No more stopping." Duo's breath hit his chest and made his body heat soar. Heero bit his tongue to stop the moan. "I don't want any more stopping."

This was bad. Heero grabbed Duo's cheeks and pulled him back. Duo didn't wince at the force, but that was to be expected. Duo had caved in and let Heero pay for cosmetic surgery once his cheeks healed, and they looked completely normal again. They were perfectly healed now. His cheeks were a safe place to touch. "Duo. I mean it."

Those violet eyes flared. "Heero, Quatre and Trowa have had more sex in the past month than most have in a year. They've been together just as long as we have. And yet they, unlike us, are having sex. And do you know why?"

Heero frowned. This argument again. "Most likely because they had not been tortured."

"Exactly!" And Duo stamped his foot.

That one left Heero momentarily speechless. "What?"

"Quatre only got a bullet in him for his troubles, so Trowa doesn't feel like he has to pander to the guy. And I got beat to shit, so you touch me as if I'm made out of porcelain!" And Duo stamped his foot again. The vision of all that hair around that flushed face was starting to bring that heat to the forefront of his attention. Jesus, Duo angry was a sight. "It's like back when I was in the hospital and you didn't fucking touch me anywhere. And not to sound too damn girly, but it's making me think I'm suddenly a... a freak!"

Heero watched Duo run a hand through his thick hair, stopping when it got too tied up in the knots. He turned to pace. "Duo, you're not a freak."

"Yeah, well, fuck you, anyway!" Duo turned back to Heero and threw a hand up in the air. "I wanted the surgery, you know?" And the subject was so sudden and random that Heero blinked. This was why he hardly ever won in a verbal fight with Duo. He always anded up too confused. "I wanted it so badly I didn't even fucking fight with you over the bill despite the fact that it's your fucking money and I didn't want to touch it. Because I knew that I had scarring all along my face and you hadn't touched me in ages."

"Duo," Heero said, and he reached out to grab Duo's shoulders. The lithe man pulled sharply away. He dropped his hands. "I've kissed you plenty of times."

"Yeah, like French acquaintances when they see each other again. Like a granny to her grandson. Like..." But Duo winced at whatever he'd just thought and hook his head. "And yeah, I guess the thought's really, really girly, but, you know, usually guys want to touch the ones they like!"

Duo's bare chest was heaving, going up and down enough to pull on the muscles of his stomach and make the boxers quiver slightly. Heero cleared his throat.

"Duo."

"I am perfectly fine, you fucking asshole!" Duo got into Heero's face, until their lips were nearly sealed together. "I'm still healing in a couple places but it's nothing that would get in the way of us just fucking touching each other and – and what the hell are you looking at?"

Heero groaned in defeat and grabbed Duo's face, holding him still until his lips were sealed over Duo's, snatching away any more shouts and meshing their lips into each other. Duo gasped, giving Heero the chance to push in, to lower his hands to his neck and rub to the back and grab all that hair, tugging at it. He slipped his tongue in. Duo had brushed his teeth before this, and if he was tasting things right, he'd also popped in a quick stick of gum.

Somehow, the idea made Heero smile.

That would be until Duo decided to run his hands against Heero's chest and down to the waistline of his jeans.

He backed up like he'd been stung. "Duo, no."

He caught it then. A flash went through those violet eyes before determination set back in. Heero felt something clench in his chest. Hurt. Duo was hurt.

He really did think he was too ugly to touch now.

Shit.

Heero reached for Duo then, but the man danced away. Duo grabbed the bottom bedframe and shook his head. "Heero, I kind've want to have sex with you before I turn thirty. Can we try that, please?"

"No." Duo flinched. Heero's hands moved uselessly in the air. "I mean, yes, but-"

"You're being a bastard!" Duo slammed a hand on the bed. "You – you have to tell me." That chest was heaving even more now, and Duo's head was cocked up, his chin lifted. It almost looked like anger, but Heero knew enough about Duo to know better. He wasn't angry. He was upset. He was trying very, very hard not to cry.

Shit.

"Duo."

"Shut the fuck up, Yuy." Duo looked down at the bed as if it were a baring tiger. He snatched his hand away from it. "Make a goddamn decision."

Heero's breath left him in a whoosh. A decision? Did Duo really mean that? Was Duo really telling him to fuck him or... or break off their relationship?

"Look, I'm not saying like a... a rape sort've thing." Duo looked away. "But we've been together for half a fuckin' year and you have yet to... you know... anything." Duo waved his hand stupidly and turned into a tomato. "I just... you know?"

In any other situation, the first thing Heero would have said was a joke about eloquence. In any other situation, Duo would have told him to shut the hell up before the words had even left his mouth. In any other situation, it wouldn't feel like something was about to break.

"Duo, I can't." That flash of hurt took longer to disappear this time than before. "It's not-"

"Can't? Or won't?" Duo's gaze was hard when it pierced into him. "You and I both know I've healed. And you did long before me."

"Duo, your shoulder is still healing, and your ribs-"

But Duo was already nodding, his eyes already dark. Duo had already come to his decision. "Got it."

And Duo moved past him to leave the room.

Heero turned. This couldn't be happening. Duo couldn't be leaving. Not because of this.

Heero ran and grabbed Duo just before he made it to the bathroom. He kicked and squirmed in Heero's grasp, tot he point where he was completely off the ground, placing his weight completely on Heero. The weight almost made him drop the long-haired fool. Heero's chest was on Duo's shoulder. Shoulder.

"What the hell are you doing, Yuy?" Duo reached back to grab at Heero. His feet, while scrabbling for purchase on the hallway floor, never neared his legs. The stupid, half-naked bastard was trying to keep from hurting him.

"Duo, calm down. Just..." And he finally said to hell with it and hugged Duo to him, ignoring, for a short instant, the thrill of fear that crossed his spine when Duo's left shoulder rested against his chest. "Just please calm down for a minute."

Heero's hands rested against Duo's chest as he fought once more for breath. He could feel Duo's nipple against one finger. His own breath suddenly became a bit short. "What the fuck now, Yuy?"

"Please just listen?" Duo seemed ready to argue that one, but Heero dipped down and kissed Duo's shoulder and his fingers were trembling enough or something that made Duo quieten. "Not to sound a little girly," Heero said, "but I'm scared."

Duo scoffed. "You're scared of sex?"

"No!" Heero quickly denied. Duo tried to shove away from him, but Heero instinctively kept him close. Only afterward did he realize he'd put pressure on Duo's shoulder again. "Shit. Are you all right?"

"I swear to God, Yuy, when you let go of me, I'm going to fucking hurt you."

It sounded almost like he was crying. Was Duo trembling, too? Heero pressed another kiss on Duo, this time in the valley between his neck and shoulder. Duo shivered. "That's not what I meant to say."

Duo snorted.

The scent of Duo's body wash was all over his skin. Had Duo taken a shower? But then why was his hair curled? Heero swallowed hard. Had Duo really put so much effort into this? No wonder he was so mortified.

And dammit, the man was still only wearing those black boxers. He was going to go insane. "I can't touch you without thinking about you that night."

Of course they both knew he was talking about the night of the bust. "I want to be with you, Duo, really I do. But you're still so..."

"So what, Yuy? Fragile?"

Heero most certainly wasn't going to say that that was the exact word he'd been about to use.

Duo turned in his arms, and Heero didn't stop him. There was no pain on Duo's face, no indication that Heero's reckless acts had done anything to irritate Duo's wounds. And thought Heero had thought he'd heard tears in Duo's voice, his eyes were still dry. "Heero, that was forever ago. The doctors gave me a clean bill of health. In a few more weeks, there'll be nothing left but these damn scars."

But Heero could only shake his head. "Not to me."

Duo scoffed. "You're being stupid." Purple eyes blinked and narrowed. "You can't tell me you really think I haven't healed."

Heero only shook his head.

It didn't take very long for Duo to understand just what was going on with him. "You – you... you fucking shit!" Duo pushed against him, useless as it was. And when that didn't work, the sneaky bastard grabbed Heero's lips in another kiss. Surprise had him stumbling back, almost falling, until Duo turned him around and slammed him against the wall. Those hands were coming back, grabbing at the last buttons of his shirt and pulling it apart. "Heero, I've wanted to be with you since before I even got these damn scars." Duo leaned down before Heero could stop him and licked his nipple. He hissed and jerked. "And I think you feel about the same damn way." Duo dipped one hand down to Heero's pants. Heero caught the moan, but the rest of his body wasn't as controlled. "So get your head out of your ass, please?"

"Dammit, Duo." He reached for that hair again, but Duo ducked onto his knees and lightly bit the jean fabric hiding his crotch. Heero instinctively stilled. Heero couldn't safely look down, not without losing any last vestige of control. But still he knew that Duo was smirking.

The first button almost made a popping sound sliding out of the slit, and hell if the zipper didn't sound like the reloading of a magazine. His legs decided an escape was in order, but Duo wrenched down his jeans and he simply stumbled back against the wall. Duo had learned Heero's penchant for going buff under his clothes, and had been disturbed to learn that Heero preferred it even when out on a bust. He didn't seem so concerned about it just then.

"Duo, st-stop."

Those long, slim fingers stilled over Heero's skin. "Stop because you aren't ready, or because you're stupid?"

Shit. Duo's breath was ghosting over him. He slammed his head against the wall and felt himself harden. And throb. "Neither – both. Whatever."

"Yuy, I hate to tell you, but this position leaves my shoulder unharmed."

Shit, he didn't need to hear that. "Your ribs-"

"Perfectly fine." That warm breath blew on his dick as Duo pulled those fingers over to its base. "Any other complaints?"

There might have been if that tongue hadn't flicked out to test his tip. Any mental functioning was lost then. Duo took his silence to be consent and ran his fingers slowly up the underside, playing with it as if it were a fragile toy. Heero hissed. His hands scrabbled on the wall, looking for a sort of leverage.

And then Duo swallowed him.

He banged his head against the wall again. Those lips cupped around him while that hot cavern sucked. A wet trail played up and down. He could feel the tiniest scrape of teeth, just enough to warn him. One hand slid down, tickling his sac. The other wrapped around the base of his cock and slowly squeezed. His hips bucked.

Duo seemed wholly undeterred by the sudden movement. A hum vibrated along his length then, and through a foggy head he realized Duo was doing it on purpose. He had to bite his lip to keep from shouting. "Duo," he panted finally, and with one hand he reached down, grabbing the back of Duo's head. His fingers trembled. Before he knew it, he was holding Duo still and slowly his hips slid forward and back. Duo seemed to pick up on his movements quickly, and though his fingers fumbled for a second, his mouth slid straight into the rhythm, and with the slightest tilt in his head, he followed the pace Heero set.

The fire boiled through his stomach to his groin and burned white. Following it blindly, he pumped harder, faster, until finally it was more of a rubbing than anything else, Duo's hand pushing against the base and his tongue enfolding the tip. With a grunt and a curse, the white stars flared and stole his vision.

And with a sudden fear, he pulled Duo away. Those teeth almost bit down in surprise, but Duo caught himself and widened his jaw. That purple gaze rose up to meet his. "Heero?"

"Tell me you're prepared."

The lust in those eyes clouded a bit darker, momentarily confused, before he grinned in triumph. Later, Heero promised, that bastard would be regretting that look. "Of course." And Duo got up from the floor, grabbed Heero's hand, and pulled him back into the bedroom.

Time wasn't wasted on such things as pulling the covers back or even getting comfortably on the bed. Duo shoved Heero down on the bed and rolled over enough to grab a large bottle of lube – talk about optimism – from the nightstand, next to the alarm clock. Heero watched Duo move, disturbed to see no careful rearranging or twitching. He was still garbed in those black boxers, the fabric straining much more than before and much less likely to fall off. Heero's shirt still hung from the sleeves. He took the moment to rip it off.

When Duo turned back, Heero snatched the lube from him and laid it down on the pillow beside him. Duo pouted, but he grabbed the hem of his boxers and... hesitated. Then with a growl he ripped them down. His hair slid around his shoulders as he bent, pooling around him onto the bed. Heero wrapped a small swatch around his fingers and lightly tugged. Duo, on one foot, toppled onto the bed, splaying himself on Heero's chest.

Heero smirked and leaned up, grabbing Duo's lips in a quick kiss. When they parted, it was with a smack. "I like you hair down."

Duo turned beet red. Something in those eyes brightened before he looked down. He kicked one leg back and the boxers went flying. "Thanks."

"And you're right, for once." Duo looked up to snap at him, and Heero grabbed those open lips again. Duo's shouts were muffled, swallowed and morphed into moans. Heero licked those lips before releasing them again. "You aren't all that injured anymore."

Duo blinked. "Told you so."

"Mature, Duo Maxwell."

"You know it." Duo reached for the lube, but Heero pulled it away and unpopped the top himself. "You're taking top, but I'm top."

Duo furrowed his brow for a moment. "Yuy... no."

"That or nothing."

Duo glared, but he finally grumbled under his breath and rolled fully on top of Heero. "At least I get to look down on you."

Heero simply cocked an eyebrow and squirted some of the lubrication onto his fingers. Duo scowled, but he willingly spread his legs for Heero to reach up. Duo was hard as hell, and the urge to touch led him to skim a finger down a vein, making Duo jump in surprise and yelp. Heero chuckled. "Bastard," Duo hissed, but then he cried out softly and bucked. Heero's finger had rested against his hole. That hair fell everywhere, pooling even further over Heero's chest and neck and arms as Duo's head fell back, exposing his slim throat. When Heero slid his first digit inside, Duo moaned and squirmed on top of him. It took only a short moment for Duo to flinch and bend into Heero. Those eyes looked a little doubtful.

Heero pulled Duo's head down, successfully tangling his face in those long strands, and dragged that mouth back to his. He entered Duo as he did, playing his tongue over Duo's until they were battling it out, Duo's ass wiggling and pushing down on Heero's finger. A sweep of Duo's interior was rewarded with a sharp cry and a spasm. Duo's hands gripped the bed sheets and twisted. Duo pulled his lips away from Heero's and rocked against Heero's finger, whining almost piteously. This time it was Heero who wore triumph on his face. Duo saw and bent until he had Heero's ear in his mouth. "Smartass."

Heero laughed and turned his head to lick Duo's cheek. The man jumped, unintentionally pulling his hair across Heero's nipple. He hissed. Retribution had him sliding his second finger in. Duo jumped again, but this time his head dipped down and bit Heero's pulse. His back arced, hitting Duo's chest and stomach.

They couldn't wait much longer after that. Once more Heero found that prostrate and Duo keened, shivering so badly Heero thought the man might come, but Duo panted and rode it out and then it was time to reposition, to get Duo's knees just that bit wider and for Heero to adjust his body, and then they were looking at each other with eyes turned almost black and Heero's tip was pressing against Duo. Heero started it, holding Duo's hips steady and slowly dropping Duo onto him. Duo gasped and tensed. His hands ran up to Heero's biceps and clenched, his fingers pressing in until Heero's skin was as white as his knuckles. "Duo – is this... your first...?"

"Shut up," Duo said, and his teeth were set. "Think this is a habit? I'd be more ready if you hadn't taken so damn long."

"If ever I thought sex would make you more poetic, you've just proven me wrong." And before Duo could retort to that one, he slid the man down a bit more. That hair of his swirled around them like a curtain, cutting off the room around them. And when Duo finally rested on him to the hilt and they were both panting at the new contact, that hair fell around Heero's head, filling his vision with Duo and nothing else. Duo's hands still clenched around Heero's arms, but now he was aware of the loosening of the grip and the way Duo was leaning on him more. His pants were changing, turning into more what Heero was feeling. Duo moaned again and shook Heero's arms a bit. Then the man above him rubbed against him and he was moving, pulling at Duo's hips, guiding them until they found the rhythm he was trying to make and they were bouncing, making the bed creak and slam against the wall. Duo's keens took on a more urgent tone pretty quickly.

"Calm down, Duo," Heero gasped, running his hands around Duo's waist and up his chest, pushing Duo back. His eyes, having closed somewhere in there, opened and glared glazedly at him. Heero slowed them back down to a rocking sort of sway that, when Heero moved to slow Duo, too, earned him a groan and a heated curse. Despite the heat breathing through his very veins, Heero chuckled.

"For fuck's sake, Heero-"

"No poetry at all. This is the first time for us, idiot."

"I'm smarter than you, asshole!" Duo was still panting, though, and the pre-cum dribbling down his length made the argument rather ridiculous at the moment.

"Only with computers." Duo looked ready to argue, so Heero just skipped the talking and reached between them for Duo's member. Duo yelped and jumped as his fingers wrapped around him. Heero gulped as Duo's jump made that body of his move and twist, jerking his dick along for the ride. Who could know that such a move could make his entire body spasm?

Still, he managed to get Duo to sit still and played a little tune with his fingers. Duo's dick jerked at the feel and its owner growled.

Heero leaned his own head back and closed his eyes, letting himself take one last moment to feel Duo's body around him and the sweat beading up along their bodies and the touch of Duo's fingers against his chest, those fingers spreading and that body jerking a bit when Heero thrummed against the vein pulsing underneath. "Heero. Heero, I need to move."

Heero smiled and looked back at Duo and the almost-pain on his face. Some strands of hair had plastered themselves to his face and chest and back. "Me, too," he whispered, and his fingers started pumping up and down Duo's length as he pushed into Duo's body. Duo leaned into Heero, those hands of his curling on Heero's chest and scratching him. Those hips rocked with Heero until they were simply moving, too intent on the returning white to give a damn about finesse. Duo ran his nails up to Hero's shoulders and dug in, and the sharp clutch make Heero shake, and just like that it was over and he crashed into the light full-speed, barely having the sense to hit Duo's prostrate once more before he felt Duo convulse above him and around him and damned if it didn't make the white even brighter. He groaned as his seed spilled and felt Duo spill, too. Duo called out Heero's name and arced his back, driving Heero just that tiniest bit deeper.

Duo almost fell on top of him when their climaxes were over, just barely turning and collapsing onto his side. Heero slid out and almost felt like he'd lost something. So he wrapped his arms around Duo and pulled him into his chest. They were both panting, and soon they would both have to get up and change the sheets or something before they could both go to sleep. But for now, this really felt perfect.

"Told you I was all better," Duo said, mumbling into Heero's chest. It made Heero roll his eyes; the man seriously had an issue with getting the last word in.

"Yes, you did," he said, feeling somehow generous. It had to be the sex. "And I suppose a thank you is in order."

Duo mumbled something, then lifted his head and pressed his lips to Heero's chest, right above his heart. "You're welcome."

The man was a romantic. Heero smiled. "We have to clean up."

Duo groaned. "In a minute." But despite the words, Duo pushed against him until he let the man go. He only rolled over and grabbed something off of the nightstand before turning back around and grabbing Heero's hand. It was something small and clinked as it was pressed into his palm. Heero looked at Duo with a frown, but the man was already standing up. His ears were slightly red. "I'm gonna go wash up, okay? And, um..." He rushed to the hallway, and his next words didn't reach Heero until the man was already closing the bathroom door. "Happy Valentine's Day."

Heero blinked, not quite comprehending the words for a time. Valentine's Day? He looked at the clock, but it only showed the time. He looked down at his hand, remembering Valentine's Day as a day for couples. Traditionally it was for guys and girls, but maybe he should have thought of it, anyway?

In his hand was a small ring, thick and silver, with a small, emerald-cut stone inside. It was dark blue.

"If you don't like it, whatever. I just got it 'cause the spinel stone or whatever it's called looked like your eyes."

Heero stared at it for a moment longer. A ring? He vaguely remembered joking with Duo about marriage and giving the man a ring for their first year anniversary.

Looked like Duo didn't want to wait that long.

He stood from the bed and went to the bathroom. The door was unlocked. Heero charged in, catching Duo by surprise and making the man jump about a foot in the air. He's grabbed a washcloth, but hadn't seemed to get any farther than that. His face looked red enough to cook on. "Heero, what the hell are you-"

Heero wrapped Duo up in his arms and started laughing.

"Heero? Um, so do you like it or not?"

Heero pulled Duo back and answered him with a kiss, one that made his own damn toes curl. He pulled away and laughed again at Duo's dumbfounded look. "Cat got your tongue?"

Duo gaped for a moment longer before snorting and lifting his chin. "If you do, then good. I expect mine to be equally thoughtful and expensive."

Heero rolled his eyes and grabbed Duo's wrist, pulling him into the shower. He snatched the washcloth and tossed it onto the soap, then turned the water on.

"What the hell?"

Heero ignored Duo's attempt to escape and turned on the shower. "Don't you know how to clean yourself off, idiot?" He grabbed the washcloth again and grinned. "How about I show you?"

Duo blushed and backed away. "You're ready again already?"

"As you said, it's been too long." He stalked over to Duo. The fool had essentially trapped himself. "And you should get used to it, anyway."

"That's – I'm not always going to be bottom, you dick!"

"Try me." And Heero leaned in to bite Duo's earlobe.

"Ah – I mean it." But Duo wasn't fighting, and his fingers were crawling into Heero's, curling their hands together. Heero nibbled on Duo's earlobe. "Ah! Heero, dammit! The ring!"

With a growl, Heero stepped away and placed the ring on the sink, then turned back to Duo. He'd expected to have to fight to get Duo back against the wall, but he was simply standing there, his hair soaking against ever inch of his skin, his arms open and waiting. Heero smiled and easily returned to them.

A/N: OMG, it's finished. When I said epilogue, I hadn't expected it to be longer than any other chapter in the story. Anyway, the story's officially over, and though it's sad to see it go, I hope it entertained you all and lived up to expectations. And look, see? I gave my loyals their lemon. ^_^

And with that, Fangs of the Wolf comes to a well-deserved close. Thank you, everyone, for reading.