Title: Cirque Blanc Aile
Author: Angst Faerie
Rating: T
Disclaimers: I don't own Gundam Wing, and this is a yaoi fic.
Notes:After this chapter from here on out I will include a list of the circus performers Trowa has met and their jobs. It's to help you keep in mind their occupation as well as a cheat sheet for me so I know who was introduced and who wasn't.
Thanks for the reviews it helped encourage me to stick with the story I was unsure about it at first but I wanted to try something different. These first few chapters are a bit slow but I have a lot of detail to go into about the circus before Quatre makes his appearance.
Chapter 2: Joining the Circus
Trowa felt his body start to lurch forward snapping him awake, the train was stopping. With a look through the cracked boxcar door he could see it was day light out. The sounds of movement behind alerted Trowa that the others were awake as well. As Trowa sat up he watched as Heero approached the door of the boxcar and grabbed onto the metal handle. With a mighty pull Heero slide the door open, flooding the boxcar with light.
.
"We've reached Freiburg." Heero looked over his shoulder to see Trowa. "Stay here, I will find Treize. If you wonder off, don't bother coming back." With that Heero leapt from the car, since he wasn't wearing a coat Trowa could clearly see his pistol holstered on Heero's hip. It wasn't as if Trowa could go anywhere as long as Heero had his only means of protection.
.
"Heero, wait up. I will come with you." Relena yelled as she climbed out after him. "Heero!" Trowa watched her disappear around the side of the car, she didn't even give the stranger that had hoped their train in the night another look. Apparently the only thing on her mind was Heero.
.
"He is as chipper as ever." Duo drawled out annoyed at Relena more than Heero. "Well Trowa how's about we step out and stretch our bones. Don't worry about Heero, I swear he just loves the sound of his own voice when he threatens folk." Duo walked to the open door and jumped letting out a curse as he hit the ground.
.
"I'm okay just higher up then I thought." He yelled to Trowa. Cautiously Trowa followed Duo, as his eyes adjusted to the light he felt a rush around him, there was movement all around the train as people exited and began to work. Trowa also observed the crowd that had lined up to see the circus train, it seemed the entire town was here. Duo was grinning like a fool and waving to the random crowd.
.
"It's always like this when we stop." He explained. "It's like a parade to them when we arrive and march through the town to out set up spot. Now that we are here we unload which takes forever then set up camp, get it? We set up our tent, camp? Oh forget it, that didn't even come out the slightest bit funny." Duo mused.
.
"Well it's going to be awhile for them to unload so let's get some food, I am starving. I will also give you a brief summary about the train while we walk." Duo said as they began to walk towards the back of the train. Making sure to grab his bags Trowa followed. "This circus is one of the biggest there is in Europe and has one of the best trains. The train consists of 56 cars, not including the locomotive of course. Then we have 31 passenger cars for the performers, which I would like to add what we slept in last night is not one of those. They are much nicer and don't hurt as bad." Duo whined rubbing his back some.
.
"You might recon that's a whole lot of passenger cars but that's because there is a lot of us here, if I were to guestimate I would say there is about 250 of us that live on this train. From the performers to staff and maintenance crew we all stay in them passenger cars. The cars are very roomy and can hold up to 9 people per car very comfortably. The passenger cars are at rear of the train along with a dining car, which is where we are going for food, and Treize's private car, which is also the caboose."
.
"Up front we also have 4 animal stock cars, they ride at the very front cause it's the smoothest for the animals. Behind them are 2 boxcars, we slept in one if you recall, they contain some of the supplies, followed by 2 container flats for concession storage."
.
"The middle of the train contains 15 piggyback flats which contain a variety of things such as equipment, props and vehicles. It takes us about 6 hours to unload the train and 12 hours to setup the show, it's a very long process." Duo pointed out as he stopped at a car.
.
"We are here, the 'oh so grand' dining car," Duo waved his hand towards the car. The car had a little door on the side which was open so Trowa could look inside. Inside was a kitchen towards the front of the car, the kitchen was big taking up almost half the car. There were about 3 people in the kitchen working frantically to prepare plates. The other half of the car had a couple of tables where they could eat at if they preferred not eating in their passenger car. Plates were loaded on to carts and wheeled through the passenger section to feed its patrons.
.
Duo climbed into the car and Trowa followed once inside a female who was ordering the other cooks around spotted Duo. "There you are, I was hoping you were somewhere. I was surprised when they told me you weren't in your room when we tried to serve you a bit ago." Spoke the female.
.
She had golden blonde hair cut in a bob where the bottom was just under her chin and curled. Her eyes were a sparkling blue and she wore a simple full length navy skirt with a white top under her beige cardigan. "I was with Heero, you know how he feels about people Irea. I hope you saved that plate though cause I am starving."
.
The women known as Irea giggled. "Hear that boys better make some more eggs," she called back to the boys in the kitchen. "Who is your friend, he doesn't look familiar?" Irea asked her eyes on Trowa.
.
"Yeah he is new, Irea this is Trowa." Duo introduced. "Trowa this is Irea she is the head cook and makes almost all the meals for us. Tell her what you want and she will whip it up for ya and do a damn fine job too I would like to add." Duo slapped Trowa on the back.
.
Irea giggled again her eyes lighting up at the compliment. "I try my hardest, well Trowa what do you want?"
.
The idea of a warm breakfast made Trowa realize just how hungry he really was. He had been eating as little as he could to ration his supplies and it was always a cold meal. "Some Oatmeal and a biscuit would be fine." Trowa said before slipping off his pack. "How much would I owe you?"
.
Irea tsked. "You don't owe me anything dear, we serve for free." Duo grinned.
.
"That's what I love about this place you can eat all the food you want and it doesn't matter. Treize just takes a percent out of our salary to pay for food and lodge but I am eating way more than I am paying for." He laughed out loud and proudly patted his tummy.
.
"Yes Duo, you and your endless pit of a stomach." Irea teased. "Were you guys going to eat in here or would did you want to go back to your compartment?" she asked.
.
"Of course in here, there is too much bitchy in my car I would prefer to stay away from him."
.
"What do you mean by that Maxwell?" Trowa turned to see the new speaker. Behind him were a boy and a girl which appeared to him to both be Chinese. The boy was the one speaking and he was wearing a completely white outfit that appeared to be straight from China as well. The pants were loose and the shirt had odd knots keeping it closed. His black hair was pulled back in a ponytail and he appeared to be sneering at Duo.
.
The girl was just smiling and was wearing an outfit similar to the boy but hers was a burgundy color. Her hair was pulled into pigtail and each fell over her shoulders. She spoke something to the boy but Trowa wasn't sure what she said since it was in a different language.
.
Due spun around at the sound of the voice and laughed nervously. "I was simply saying Wuman that I didn't want to hear your bitching today while I ate my meal."
.
"Don't call me that and I don't bitch." The boy then turned to Trowa. "Who the hell is this?"
.
"I disagree you are bitching right now."
.
"That is because you started it, and stop ignoring my question."
.
"This is Trowa Barton he hoped the train last night. Trowa this raving Asian man is Wufei Chang and that's his wife Meilan, she only speaks Chinese so I wouldn't waste my time trying to talk to her." Duo murmured under his breath to Trowa. "Anyways they married when they were like five or something."
.
"Quit spreading lies, you are shaming my country with your idiocy Maxwell. Our parents had arranged our marriage but we have not complied, and why the hell are you hanging around a train hopper! You should have thrown him off." Wufei clenched his fists in defense. He eyed Trowa wearily.
.
"Clam down Chang did ya drink too much coffee today or are your underpants just a tad bit too tight? Trowa is cool he is going to see Treize after grub for a job." Duo said as he took a seat at one of the tables and gestured for Trowa to do the same. Wufei took a seat as well along with Meilan. "Heero even approved of him." Duo added as his plate was set in front of him.
.
Wufei raised his brow at that. "Yuy? You have got to be kidding me, he doesn't approve of the people that have been here most of their lives and he trusts this vagabond. I doubt that Maxwell but it's not my place to speak, Treize is the one with the final opinion." Wufei handed Meilan a pair of chopsticks he had been holding.
.
"Treize, is he a nice man?" Trowa asked letting the curiosity get the best of him, hearing how the others seemed to speak in awe about the man.
.
"Of course he is, he has helped everyone in this circus one way or another. Meilan and I grew up together. The Long clan was close to mine and they decided it would be best if in the future we marry. We were still toddlers at the time so the arranged marriage meant little to us."
.
"Our families had met decades before we were born, if you haven't guessed we are Chinese acrobats. Both of our clans have always been performers, the Long and Chang families worked in the imperial courts. I was told that when the boxer rebellion started both of our families resigned out of fear. I know that my family would go on to lose a few members as well as Meilan's clan."
.
"We survived none the less but barely. Money was hard to come by and life was tough. We worried about food so we took on to working the fields or performing on the streets just to get by. Treize had come to China looking specifically for Chinese acrobats and happened to see us putting on a street show. He was impressed and paid for a good portion of our members to come to Europe with him. We earn enough to send money back to our family members that stayed in China."
.
Wufei took a bite and chewed. "He also is helping to get us back to China during one of our circus breaks so Meilan and I can marry in the presence of our families. Afterwards we plan on coming back to the circus to continue working." Wufei gave Meilan a soft smile and she simply smiled back.
.
Duo let out a large yawn. "Boring, your sappiness is such a drag Wuffers. I am sure Trowa doesn't care none bout you getting hitched." Wufei glared at Duo.
.
"You are intolerable!" he growled out.
.
"Your English amazes me, you knowing words I never heard before." Duo leaned over towards Trowa. "I think he makes up them big fancy words." Trowa didn't tell Duo that Wufei didn't make up his insult and just ate his oatmeal silently.
.
"Treize is a man with a heart of gold though, he saved me from an orphanage in America and probably saved me from being shipped off to work as a laborer. I love it here and never plan to leave I'd be a 50 year old man still up on that tightrope kicking the Grim Reaper in his balls taunting him how he will never get this geezer." Duo grinned while everyone at the table tried to ignore his weirdness.
.
As Trowa finished the last of his oatmeal he was aware of Heero stepping through the door of the dining car. He locked eyes with Trowa.
.
"Treize will see you now. His private quarters are in the very back of the train. Don't waste his time by keeping him waiting." He warned before turning to Duo. "Duo if your done eating get your ass out there and help."
.
With that Heero stepped back off the train. Duo jumped up, "He acts like I am trying to avoid work or something. Notice he didn't say shit to Wufei here." He said very annoyed.
.
Wufei laid his chopsticks down and gently whipped his lips with his napkin before speaking. "Because Maxwell. You ALWAYS slack off and he knows I will partake in my share of work, therefore he doesn't need to address me."
.
Trowa hid his laugh behind his hand as Duo glared at him. At the braided man's glare Trowa stood up. "I really should go."
.
As Trowa stood Duo placed his hands on his shoulders. "I hope everything works out and I get to see you soon buddy." With a wink Duo sat back down to finish his eggs.
.
Trowa grabbed his pack and put it on before stepping out. The excitement outside the train had almost tripled and Trowa could see way up front they were unloading the animals. He could make out the massive shape of an elephant in the distance. Turning in the opposite direction Trowa walked past a few of the passenger cars before reaching the caboose. He was a little stunned by what he saw.
.
Even though every box car on the train was elaborately painted in its own way the caboose was just as unique and very exquisite. It looked like a normal caboose if not just a tad bit longer. The wooden panels were painted a royal blue with white accents. Cirque Blanc Aile was written on its side, close to the top, familiar wings coming out from its sides. Under the writing were two long rectangle windows on each side of the door. Only one of the four seemed to have a curtain drawn shut.
.
The back of the caboose seemed to have an observation deck with railings to protect its passengers from falling off. As Trowa approached the door he took in the gold painted metal steps. Trowa climbed the steps and knocked the door, he didn't have to wait long before the door opened. He was looking directly into icy blue eyes.
.
The man stepped back allowing Trowa to enter before shutting the door behind them. The man had long platinum blond hair that ran down to the middle of his back. He was dressed nicely wearing soft grey slacks and lose green sweater. Taking his eyes off the strange man Trowa finally took in the elegance of the inside of the car. It was obvious from Treize's private car that the owner of the circus was doing very well.
.
The inside of the car appeared to be made up of cherry wood paneling and the floor was covered with plush maroon rugs. The ceiling appeared to match the rugs in pattern but was in a crème color. The cupola, a small windowed projection on the roof, held a modestly sized chandelier hanging down into the room. To the left of Trowa and the back of the car was a wall with an opening near him that was closed off by some kind of curtain door. It would be the room with the closed window so Trowa assumed it was where Treize's sleeping quarters were located.
.
To the right of Trowa was a small kitchen, a private one for the Treize with a bar separating it from the rest of the room. The bar had three leather backed stools in front of it. Across from the kitchen was another enclosed room which was probably his private bathroom as he could make out a sink. Directly in front of Trowa was the sitting area. A deep navy couch was facing him with two deep cherry wood end tables on both sides. To the left of couch were two wing back chairs in a red paisley pattern. By the door sat a desk littered with paper and appeared to be well used.
.
Many artifacts filled the car as well as a book case full of books as well as a few plants giving the car a feeling of coziness. Trowa focused back on the couch, an older gentleman with short darker blond hair that was slicked back sat there with a paper in his hand. He appeared to Trowa to be in his early thirties and was dressed in a fashion that reminded Trowa of Napoleon in his blue coat. The man folded up the newspaper he had been reading and stood up.
.
"You must be our little stowaway." He spoke in perfect German, "I am Treize Khushrenada and this is my close friend Zechs Merquise." The man with the long blond hair known as Zechs shook his hand followed by Treize himself. Treize turned to Zechs and said something in French. With a nod of his head Zechs then proceeded to leave the car through the door by the kitchen, leaving the two alone.
.
Treize sat back down on the couch and gestured for Trowa to take the wing chair closest to him. "So a fellow German like myself." Treize started after Trowa took a seat. "What's your name soldier?" he asked.
.
"Trowa, Trowa Barton." Treize's eyes widened a bit at that. "Barton?" He studied Trowa's face a bit with a frown. Trowa was trying to be concerned about the look Treize was giving him but it was at that time that he hear an odd noise. It was very faint, sounding familiar but foreign. Trowa almost thought he imagined it.
.
"Heero tells me you wish to go to France, is this true?" he asked.
.
"Yes sir, I just want to leave Germany." Trowa focused on the odd noise as he heard it again, then it clicked. Bells, he was hearing the faint sound of bells.
.
"Well Trowa," Treize continued, "I would love to help you. This is our last performance in Germany, we will be here for a few days then we set off for France." If Treize was hearing the bells he showed no sign of it. Trowa was having a heard time focusing on the conversation he kept paying attention to the sound of bells.
.
"However I don't think you would have much luck there. We are in a state of recovering from a war and they might not take to kindly to you. I would feel bad if I left you to freeze to death, broke and homeless."
.
Half listening Trowa realized the sound was coming from behind him in the space behind the wall. "I don't know what else to do. I can't stay here, I have no home to go to." Trowa responded. His anxiety intensified when he caught the curtain door flutter out of the corner of his eye.
.
"I see." Treize took a sip from his nearby mug. "I have a preposition for you then, how about you come work for me Trowa. Just until the winter is over, save up some money and then decide if you want to stay or go. I could always use a few extra good men, tell me what skills you have soldier."
.
Trowa was speechless for a moment. "Thank you sir, but I have no special skills. Not like the skills most circus folk have." Trowa relaxed some when there was no further movement in the room behind him, in fact he couldn't hear those odd bells anymore.
.
"That doesn't mean you can't work here. I am assuming you can do hard labor from you position as an army man. Do you mind animals?" Treize asked and Trowa shook his head. "Good our animal tamer has scared away her recent maintenance boy, you can replace him. You will just help manage the animals, its far from an easy job but the best I can offer currently."
.
"That sounds fine, I accept your offer. I don't want to spend the winter homeless." Treize stood up and held his hand out. "Alright lets shake on it."
.
Trowa stood up and took Treize's hand. "We might follow a different code here in the circus but we are all one big family and I welcome you." Treize gave him a firm shake. "I will have Duo show you around and get you acquainted with your boss. She is bull headed but I know you will be able to survive."
.
"Before I let you go though I have another question for you. Do you only speak German, or do you know any other languages?" Treize asked.
.
"German is my native tongue but I know English and a bit of French as well." Treize smiled at his response.
.
"That's good, really good. It might seem like a silly question but those are the main three languages spoke in circus I encourage my workers to learn at least two or else it makes communication a bit difficult here. Well Trowa it's a pleasure to have met you."
.
Treize opened the door for Trowa to leave, Duo was standing outside waiting for him. As Trowa left he looked back at Treize one last time, he couldn't help but feel like he sold his soul to the devil himself. He couldn't figure out why though, the man had been more then generous towards him.
.
Back on ground Duo pounced Trowa. "What did he say? What did Treize say?" he kept repeating. After Duo calmed down a bit Trowa was finally able to tell him what happened in the caboose earlier.
.
"Ugh you might have been better off being homeless then dealing with Lady Une." Duo groaned. "Why is that?" Trowa asked as the two walked towards the circus set up location.
.
"Une the animal tamer is mean, beyond Heero mean too like super massively extreme mean." Duo emphasized his words by stretching out his arms really wide.
.
Trowa was amused. "Really now." Trowa thought back to Treize's words about how the other worker had quit because of her.
.
"Yeah she is very demanding I avoid her like the plague." Duo crossed his arms and huffed.
.
The rest of the walk was quiet on Trowa's part, Duo talked about random things it helped pass the time. Reaching the spot activity surrounded them. Duo pulled Trowa with the crowd towards the animals. As they grew closer Trowa could make out someone yelling, rounding the corner by the big cats cages Trowa found the source of the screams.
.
It was a woman wearing white trousers and a burgandy coat. She had her mouse brown hair in two braids and weaved around into two buns on the side of her head, she was also wearing a pair of eyeglasses. The woman was currently yelling at a bigger man of what appeared to be middle eastern descent, her heavy Russian accent making her words almost unintelligible.
.
Duo elbowed him in the side. "That is Lady Une and the poor man that is on the receiving end of her wrath is Rashid. He is the leader of the Maganac corps. I heard they were a mercenary group that Treize hired to run his circus, they do everything. They run the train, set up the tent, and they provide protection. You name it they do it. I wonder what he did to piss off the beast though. Oh well its not my concern, now go introduce yourself." Duo then pushed Trowa forward catching the two's attention.
.
"What the hell do we have here?" Une asked in her heavy accent. "Treize hired him to help you." Duo called out in the distance, from his spot Trowa could see Duo hiding behind a crate before completely disappearing behind it when Une turned her glare on him.
.
"So you are the replacement? Typical of Treize to hire more incompetence." She snarled out. "Well new boy I have one rule and that is don't get in my way. You do what I tell you and nothing more." With that she stormed off leaving Trowa alone with the big man known as Rashid. Rashid laughed awkwardly.
.
"Don't mind her she is just mad, when she calms down things will be a whole lot more pleasant I promise." He gave Trowa a smile. "What's your name? I am Rashid Kurama if young Maxwell hasn't already rambled off about me."
.
"Trowa Barton." He looked around at the animals surrounding them and noticed the lion that was looking back at him in one of the cages.
.
"Well Trowa if you don't want to report to her you can always seek me out, we have plenty of work to keep you busy. What you mainly will do is clean cages and the animals. Not to hard if you know enough about the animals to keep yourself from getting killed." The huge man gave out a rough burst of laughter.
.
"I have to help with the poles but if you ever need me find one of my men and they will take you to me. For now I would say get to know the animals a bit, give Une some time to cool off. Afterwards you can see what she wants you to do. Good luck and welcome to the circus."
.
The big man turned and headed back around to the main area. Trowa continued to look at the lion, the name tag on the cage read Leo. "What have I gotten myself into?" Trowa asked the lion which just laid its head down. Off in the distance Trowa could almost swear he heard the soft and familiar sounds of bells.
.o.o.o.o.o.
There is the second chapter something I was proud to get up before school opens up again.
According to some sites Une is actually of German decent I made her Russian do to the fact I wanted some diversity in my characters backgrounds. Please give me reviews I do read them and enjoy them immensely.
- Angst Faerie