Claiming Humanity

By DragonMage

Chapter 5

Wufei walked in front of the mirror in the dressing room and stared at his reflection. Did he look all right? He was dressed in a white dress shirt with black jeans and some black boots. His hair was left down and it came down a little past his shoulders. He tried not to wear black very much since it always made his pale skin more prominent. But he did wear black since it helped him blend into the shadows easily. He turned around and stood there for a moment, turning his face one way and then another. Did he look human enough?

"Wufei, you've got to be one of the most vainest vampires I've met," an amused voice came from the door way of the room.

Wufei turned around and stuck his tongue out at Treize. "I'm just making sure I look right when I meet my little mortal later tonight."

"You're going to see him again? So soon?" Treize asked as he walked over to Wufei and placed his hands on the younger vampire's shoulders. "You look absolutely perfect. White always did well for your complexion."

"Treize, my complexion is whiter than my shirt," Wufei said dryly.

"So?"

Wufei smiled and shook his head at his sire. "I like my new mortal. He's...in so much pain. I haven't met a mortal with so much death surrounding him without even being close to death. Yesterday night he didn't want to die, but deep down inside I felt it. He did. He wanted to end this pitiful existence of his."

"Ah, such morbid words," Treize remarked as he smoothed his hands over Wufei's shoulders and down his arms before pulling the boy close. "You do know I love you, don't you?"

Wufei nodded. "Of course I do. Treize, you speak of this as if I'm going to leave you!"

"Maybe, maybe not."

Wufei tried to read Treize but he couldn't. The older vampire did so well concealing his feelings. Wufei turned around and stared up at his sire. "What is it? Is there something wrong?"

"No, nothing is wrong," Treize said, shaking his head as he held Wufei tighter. "Nothing is wrong. Now, go! You have your mortal to meet."

Wufei was unconvinced. "Are you sure nothing is wrong?"

Treize sighed and smiled affectionately at his child. "Of course I'm sure. Now go!"

"All right, Treize." Wufei stood on his tiptoes and kissed Treize on the cheek before walking past his sire and disappearing through the door.

~*~

Wufei moved quickly through the night as he sought out his mortal. Where was Duo? Was he still at his friend's home? Or did he return to his mother? Wufei was almost literaly flying as his ran, his feet barely touching the ground.

He skidded to a stop when he heard the thoughts of his mortal. He smiled. He was back with his mother. Wufei walked over to the old Victorian era house and slipped easily into the shadows. He moved quickly in them until he reached a window that was out of sight from his mortal and his mortal's mother.

They were both in the kitchen, eating and talking happily with each other but Wufei could see that Duo wasn't paying as much attention to his mother as he seemed. His thoughts were too plagued by the Chinese boy who had visited him the night before.

Smiling, Wufei watched for a moment longer before moving around the perimeter of the house till he found the window to his mortal's room. Then he grabbed a small hold and quickly scaled the walls without any trouble. He stood on the ledge for a moment, staring at the lock on the window. Suddenly, the lock snapped and Wufei was inside of the dark room. He silently closed the window behind him and looked around the place.

It was a mess. Clothes were strewn everywhere, book and papers were scattered across the soda stained carpet. The bed was unmade with some dirty clothes heaped on it. Posters decorated the wall as well as photos and little momentos that could be easily put up. Awards also lined the walls over a messy desk where the actual color of the top was forgotten.

Breathing in the unique scent of his mortal Wufei stalked around the room, picking up random things and then putting them down as another caught his attention. He did this for about half an hour before he heard his mortal's voice being carried up the stairs to the room. Wufei's sharp ears caught every single word that would have been otherwise muffled to mortal ears.

He smiled as he shifted into the shadows and waited as Duo opened the door and reached for the lights. Quickly, Wufei moved forward and slapped his hand silently over the switch and closed the door while pulling Duo into the room.

"What the fuck?!" Duo gasped out before Wufei pressed him against the wall and closed his hand over Wufei's soft mouth, making sure not to hurt the mortal in the process. Duo tried to focuse his eyes in the darkness. It took a while but he finally managed it. He didn't have to really look to see who it was pinning him against the wall, he already knew from the incredibly strength in those arms that surrounded him, that hand pressed against his mouth.

"Are you going to scream if I let you go?" Wufei asked softly.

Duo shook his head as much as he could.

Wufei slowly released Duo and stepped back. He smiled slightly and walked over to a lamp and turned it on. His face was slightly illuminated but still hidden by the shadows as he turned and faced Duo.

"What do you want?" Duo hissed as he moved away from the wall and walked just a bit closer to Wufei. He was scared, that was the truth but he was also seriously pissed off and annoyed. Who did this guy think he was? And how the hell did he get into his room?! Duo had thought he locked the window! He took a deep breath and tried to calm himself as he tried very hard to think about all of this logically. Obviously, this guy was a pretty good in order to climb up two stories with close to nothing for support and pop open his window.

Wufei smiled as he read Duo's thoughts easily. The boy didn't know how to lock his thoughts, but then, of course he didn't know he had to.

"Who are you?" Duo asked.

"I already told you my name," Wufei said.

"Yeah, Chang Wufei, right?"

"Precise."

"What do you want?"

Wufei was silent for a moment as he pondered the question. Then he answered. "What is life to you?"

Duo blinked. Then he glared at Wufei in outrage. "What?!"

"What is life to you? Do you wish to live a full life? Or would you rather end it quickly and have it over with? Is life good? Is it bad?" Wufei was honestly curious as these questions entered his mind and poured out of his life. He had only lived as a mortal for fifteen years. What was fifteen years to almost seventy of learning how to live and get on in life. He didn't even know of the true pain of life. His life stopped when he saw Treize and Zechs, not that he was angry about it. He loved being immortal but there were still those questions of motality that plagued him. What was life? How does a mortal feel when he knows that someday it will end? For him, it will never end. But what about a mortal like Duo?

"Get out of my room! Out of my house!" Duo shouted in outrage as he pointed at the door. He walked over to the lights and flicked them on furiously.

Wufei winced and looked away from the sudden brightness of the false lights. Gods, they stung his eyes!

"What's wrong?" Duo asked in exasperation as he watched Wufei shy away from the lights.

"Nothing," Wufei said quietly. He blinked a few times and tried to adjust to the brightness but it was so difficult. He hadn't seen such bright lights in a very, very long time.

Duo blinked as he suddenly realized he was seeing Wufei completely without any shadows surrouding him. The Chinese boy was incredibly pale, his skin shone like polished ivory. His lips were natural colored but almost just as white as his skin. His eyes were dark, piercing and almost dangerous; they were like obsidian stone. Duo took in the clothing: white shirt, black jeans, black boots. They were normal enough, but it was the way they fit on Wufei that unnerved him. It was like Wufei could easily tear them off, the clothing were tense from the pressure of having such a body underneath it all. That was as best as he could explain it in words.

Swallowing hard, Duo took in the incredibly paleness again. Didn't this guy *ever* go out??

Wufei looked at Duo from the corner of his eye. "What's wrong?"

"What are you?" Duo breathed.

Wufei almost laughed. He cocked his head to the side and stared at Duo. "Why, I'm just like you."

Duo shook his head. "You're not. You're something...else. What are you?"

Wufei sighed and rolled his eyes. "Just because I'm pale doesn't mean anything, Duo." He focused his power on Duo's mind, *making* Duo believe him.

Slowly, Duo nodded his head as the slight hypnosis did it's work. He shook his head and blinked. "Um...What are you doing in my room?"

"I was curious about you and I didn't know any other way to meet you," Wufei answered nonchalantly as he walked over to the light switch and turned it off. He turned to Duo, his face shadowed again. "I hate bright lights."

"Sure, whatever. Just leave, I can't you have you up here," Duo said, waving his arms about. "My mom will kill me!"

"She's asleep. She won't know," Wufei said with a slight shrug as he walked over to Duo's bed and pushed everything off. Then he sat down and stared about the room again before looking back at Duo. "You didn't answer my question."

"What was it again?" Duo asked as he tried to shake the fog that had suddenly wrapped around his mind. Giving up, he looked at Wufei and tried to think.

"What is life to you?"

"Life? I don't know. It sucks?" Duo said, shrugging as he walked over to his desk and plopped himself down on the cushioned chair. "Why do you want to know?"

Wufei shrugged indifferently. "It doesn't matter. What does death mean to you?"

"What point are you trying to make?" Duo asked, suddenly annoyed again. He wanted this guy outta his room but it didn't look like Wufei was gonna budge anytime soon.

"No point, just curious," Wufei answered.

Duo stared at Wufei, narrowing his eyes at the boy. How old was he? Barely fourteen? Possible fifteen? He's probably the same age as me, he mused. But what is up with him? Why does he ask these kinds of questions as if I can really answer them. Weirdo.

Wufei almost laughed outloud at Duo's thoughts. Ah, do I look so young? Wufei turned his head and stared at the mirror across from the room. All he saw was an old Chinese vampire. Did Duo actually see a child in him? How curious. And fascinating.

"Would you ever end your life?" Wufei suddenly asked, remembering Duo's desire for death at the park a few nights ago. Wufei had implanted a thought in the boy's mind to make sure he lived another week or so for his own pleasure. He had wanted to talk to this boy, possibly toy with him...Maybe love him? The mere thought sent chills up and down Wufei's spine in excitement and anticipation. Oh, to love such a warm body. It was positively sinful!

"Yes," Duo answered with sudden solmenity. "I would end my life."

"Why?" Wufei pressed curiously.

"Because sometimes life just isn't worth living and death is like a sweet embrace for me," Duo answered truthfully. He looked at Wufei. "Whatta about you?"

Wufei smiled and shook his head. "No, I don't desire death." I'm already dead, he thought in amusement.

"I guess everyone has their own opinions," Duo sighed. "I'm gonna tell ya something, and I have no idea why, but I just am. But after I tell ya, will you keep your mouth shut?"

Oh, such bad English, Wufei thought mockingly.

"Yes, I will 'keep my mouth shut'," Wufei said, quoting Duo.

Duo stared at Wufei for a moment. Then he shrugged. "My parents are getting a divorce. Not even my best friend Quatre knows. I just can't tell anyone, ya know. I always thought my family was perfect and nothing could go wrong, that everything will always be okay. What a joke, huh?"

"I never had a family until a while ago," Wufei said quietly.

"So, I guess you have an idea of how shitty I feel right now?" Duo asked almost hopefully. He couldn't find anyone to confide in whom he knew would understand his torment and pain at the idea of his parents spitting up. He had lost Solo, now he was losing his small family. It hurt a lot inside. He hated being left and abandoned.

Wufei nodded. "Yes, I do have some idea."

"Cool." Duo paused. "You know another thing?"

"What?" Wufei asked.

"I'm gay."

Wufei blinked. Gay? Duo had said the word so bitterly, as if it was something bad. What was wrong with being gay? He knew himself was gay, obviously, since he had slept with his fathers many, many times in the past few hundred years. And he's had relationships with mortal men. What was wrong with being gay? It was as normal as being straight. It has been going on for the longest time. Being straight had always just been a necessity of procreating. After becoming a vampire, that need was no longer needed. He *couldn't* procreate so he indulged himself in the delicious passion of the flesh.

"You know, I have no fucking idea why the fuck I'm telling you this," Duo said, suddenly angry with himself at telling this perfect strange something he couldn't tell Quatre or his mother. Although, telling this Wufei had also released some emotions in him. He felt just a little better at finally saying it. How strange.

"Do you trust me?" Wufei asked wonderingly.

"No."

"How strange you are," Wufei said, smiling in mocking amusement.

"Ah, don't give me that crap."

Wufei was completely enthralled and intrigued. No mortal had spoken to him like this before, or at least not in a long time. This Duo had no fear for manners or etiquette. In fact, his whole being said 'screw it with being polite'.

"How does it feel to be in pain? How does it feel to be warm? How does chocolate taste like?" Wufei suddenly asked, desperate for answers to questions that he had locked away for so long. Just like Duo, he was suddenly pouring himself over to his victim. Maybe his victim no longer but someone to confide in. Oh, the sweet luxury of doing such a thing. He had done this with his vampire fathers but they had forgotten their humanity and mortality. Even Treize had forgotten a bit of humanity that he fought to keep, something Wufei himself seeked to learn, something he had never known in his life time. Zechs, well, Zechs had let go the minute he was made.

Duo was stunned. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"How does chocolate taste like?" Wufei whispered almost to himself as he got off the bed and walked over to Duo. He leaned over Duo almost menacingly. "Tell me! How does chocolate taste like?"

"Okay, you're seriously not right up there," Duo shouted as he tried to get away from Wufei.

"Tell me!" Wufei insisted as he caught Duo and held him. "Tell me! I've never tasted chocolate!"

"Are you lactose intolerant?" Duo asked, attempting to crack a joke. He was scared out of his mind. There was something seriously wrong with this guy!

"I want to know what chocolate tastes like," Wufei said slowly. "Tell me."

Duo reached behind him and pulled out a candy bar from his drawer. "Here, why don't you try? Just let me go!"

Wufei let Duo go. He stared at the candy bar, already knowing that his body and mind was going to reject it. He couldn't even find the desire to put it in his mouth and try it. His vampire body wouldn't accept anything but blood. He turned away from Duo and walked back over to the bed and sat down angrily.

"What's the matter?" Duo asked as he looked at the candy bar before looking back at Wufei.

"I can't have chocolate," Wufei muttered.

"That's all right, a lot of people have that allergy problem," Duo said, shrugging.

Wufei almost laughed bitterly outloud. Oh, it wasn't an allergic condition; his body just won't accept the food.

Looking out of the window, Wufei could already feel the heat of the sun. He had already fed so he wasn't thinking about taking Duo's blood although it was very tempting. He wasn't hungry yet he still desired that sweet blood just a few feet away from him. He only had to get off the bed and claim it for himself.

While Wufei was off in his own world Duo tore open the candy bar and took a bit bite out of it. He chewed slowly as he tried to figure out what was wrong with Wufei. It was kinda obvious that this guy had some "issues" that he needed to take care of. And why the hell was he so white??

Lifting his head, Wufei breathed in the sweet smell of that chocolate Duo was eating. Is this what it tastes like? Or does it change when you eat it? He sighed inadubily.

"You sure you don't wanna just try and take a bite?" Duo asked as he held out his candy bar to Wufei.

Oh, I'd like to take a bite of something but not from the chocolate, Wufei thought wickedly. He slowly unfolded himself from his sitting position and glanced at the clock. It was still early...

"Do you want to go out?" Wufei asked as he walked over to the window and moved the lock with simple command of his mind. He turned around and looked at Duo.

"What? But it's like midnight!"

"We still have about five hours till dawn," Wufei said.

"I need to sleep," Duo said, shaking his head as he finished off his chocolate and threw the wrapper in the trash.

"Sleep?" Wufei blinked. "Oh, that's right. Mortals sleep in the night..."

"Excuse me?" Duo asked, wondering if he heard right

"Nothing," Wufei said with a straight face. "Well, I suppose I'll bid you good night then." He pulled up the window and stood there for a moment. "I'll come back tomorrow." Then he was gone.

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Ah, so whadda ya think?