Candlelight (11/?)
Author: Osco
Pairings: 3x4, 1x2, 5xS
Rating: R
Warnings: Lemony goodness, violence, language, magical happenings, and ugly Trolls attempting to ruin the story!
Summary: Retelling of the fairy tale, "East of the Sun, West of the Moon" GW style. What if you made a mistake? What if the person you loved had to pay the price? How far would you go to save him? How about a place that can't exist?
Disclaimer: Gundam Wing belongs to Bandai, Sunrise and Sotsu Agency. I am but a poor college student who has no hold over the characters whatsoever and is doing this as a pastime.
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Chapter Eleven: The Bard from Taurus
The next two hours were quite possibly the most awkward and uncomfortable Quatre had ever experienced, wedged between Heero and Duo has they made their way back to their inn and explain what was going on. Well, Quatre was really the only one explaining anything, as Heero seemed content to stare stonily at the pleasant and cheerful bard, who in turn seemed content to grin maliciously at Heero every time he draped an arm across Quatre's shoulders. By the time they were settled around a table within the dark folds of their inn, and finished with his whole tale of Trowa, the curses, and Sylvia's, Quatre was muttering up silent prayers to whatever deity watched over Taurus to put him out of his misery. He blushed and scowled over at Duo again when he felt the elf's hand wander in a not-so-public place, knocking the hand away and hoping fervently that Heero didn't decide to murder him here and now, mission be damned.
"Would you quit it?!" Quatre hissed the warning out, the words squeaking between his clenched teeth.
"My bad, Blondie, just can't seem to help myself." Duo smiled, completely unperturbed by the increasingly dangerous glint in blue-green eyes.
"What part of 'Trowa's my fiancé' do you not understand?"
"Well, Trowa's not here right now is he? I'm just trying to help out how lonely I bet you are, you know, being forcibly separated from your lover and all. I, for one, would. But, at least your separation was due to sorcery, not just plain old pigheadedness."
"Duo, stop being a moron."
"Oh, I'm sorry, does it make you uncomfortable, He-chan? Well, excuse me for not taking your feelings into account; next time, I'll be sure to consider how you would feel if I groped an attractive blond under the table. Because, you have so much say in what I decide to do."
Heero growled in a distinctly menacing manner, Quatre thought, to which Duo smiled brightly back, his violet eyes glittering in a challenging style.
"Sorry I don't speak wolf. Try words, buddy."
"Would you guys please just—?"
"Maxwell."
"Oh, are we to last names already?"
"Please, both of you, just—"
"The sarcasm is not helping."
"Really, are you sure? Because I happen to think it's extremely beneficial to our current conversation. "
"Really, this isn't helping—"
"We're not talking about this again. I explained why this wouldn't work."
"Yes, the ever so eloquent 'me human, you elf' argument, which I might add, is so antiquated I would think it was you who was five hundred, not me. Please, you may be a lot of things, Heero, but I never thought coward was one of them."
Quatre glanced around at the stares they were starting to attract before he glared back at the bickering pair, a deep and hot anger spreading through his veins like wildfire. He could understand the awkwardness and the anger that was between these two, and to an extent, he did feel slightly bad about asking them to do this, especially when it was blatantly obvious to him that these two still had a whole convoluted mess of feelings between them, but he had hoped that they would ignore that for the present in light of the other pressing issue facing them. This was pointless and they were wasting time they didn't have! He stood up abruptly and slammed his palms against the table, effectively halting the arguing and casting a deadly silence all throughout the inn's pub. He glared hotly at the pair of them before he swung his cloak over his shoulders and picked up his staff from the ground.
"I didn't come here to listen to you both go at each other's throats! I came here because I thought that you, Duo, would help me find Trowa, help me save him, and I thought that's what you were here for, Heero. Because Sylvia's smoke vision showed a whole lot of stuff that didn't make sense, but this was the one step of advice and guidance that did! But, if this is all you're intent on doing, I'll leave and do this myself! Trowa doesn't have time for you two to decide whether or not you prefer to bicker like children or can put aside differences and the past for the moment to help him!"
Neither Heero nor Duo said anything, Heero's face a stoic mask, but his eyes were stormy and clouded as the blond's words pierced his soul and Duo's violet eyes, which had been so full of anger and bitterness before, wide and properly contrite. Quatre stared at them, his own ocean inked eyes unrelenting and almost glowing in determination, Nix moved to sit beside his arm on the table, swirling eyes fixing on the two as well. The little cat had remained completely uninterested in the predicament up until Quatre got upset, and was now looking all too much like a mother admonishing her cubs. He growled deep in his chest as he stared at the now appropriately sheepish looking Elf and the stubborn prince, as if daring them to let the blond go off on his own. It was surprisingly intimidating, and Quatre thought back to his dream with Dorothy, when little Nix had appeared as a warrior in his defense. A sharp and clear laugh brought him back to the present and he glanced over at Duo.
Quatre's was more than a little surprised at that smiled and when Duo threw his head back and let loose a musical laughter which filled up the silent inn, he clutched his staff tighter and narrowed his eyes in confusion. Laughter was the one reaction he had not expected, but the sound of it did signal an instant return to conversation all over the inn, which the blond was grateful for. All the attention on them was creating an unpleasant ache against his shields. Duo stood up in an effortlessly graceful manner and gave Quatre a genuine smile, something that the blond suspected he hadn't truly seen until this moment, not even in the courtyard.
"Well, it's not every day an Elf gets scolded by a Human, especially when said Elf has at least four hundred years on the kid. And it's not every day he's right." Duo bent over in an unmistakable bow, smirking when he rose and offered his hand to the surprised blond. "Why don't we start over, eh Blondie? The name's Duo, I may run and hide, but I never lie, and I heard you've misplaced a Trian prince. Need some help getting him back?"
Quatre felt a smile tug at his lips and he placed his hand in Duo's letting the Elf shake it before he withdrew his hand and touched his forehead and inclined towards Duo, offering up his own Araaban greeting. "Quatre Raberba Winner, nice to meet you, and yes, if you don't mind; I did kind of come here for your help."
Duo grinned cheekily before glancing back at a still sitting and silent Heero, eyes flickering between a plethora of emotions that Quatre didn't even try to identify before he cocked his hip to the side and placed his hands on his hips and smiled brightly down at the Sive prince. "What do ya say, Heero? Put aside bickering in the interest of rescuing our favorite uni-banged prince? I don't have a clue about where someplace can be East of the Sun and West of the Moon, but I know some people who know some people who might."
He stuck out his hand toward Heero, who responded by staring at the hand with a blank look before standing, ignoring the hand, and inclined his head fractionally towards both Quatre and Duo. The blond caught the exaggerated exasperation from Duo has he pulled his hand back, a loud sigh escaping out of his throat, but his empathy caught the needle of hurt that didn't reach the perpetually happy eyes. Quatre had a feeling he was going to want to find a needle of his own as this journey continued, one to drive through his temple and put himself out of the misery he knew was coming. It was bad enough dealing with Heero's tightly controlled emotions that still leaked out into him, he didn't really need longing and unrequited love filtering into him too.
"It would not be beneficial for Trowa if we don't work together."
"Well, I think that's the closest thing you're going to get to an 'I'm sorry,' Cat, so we should probably just leave the, ah, wolf at that." Duo smiled at Quatre's truly dumbfounded look; who the bloody nine hells insulted the Sive prince like this on a regular basis and wasn't more paranoid? Quatre glanced worriedly at Heero, who was glaring at the violet eyed bard with all the fury of a wild dog fighting for a scrap of meat, and had another moment where he knew he was in for a rather unpleasant, immediate future.
The waitress finally came by with plates of food, having deemed it was safe for her to venture to their table now that the situation was diffused enough to not seem so close to an explosion. She paused at the winning smile Duo sent her before scurrying away, Heero's frosty glare discouraging her from any untoward behavior towards the charismatic bard; Quatre rolled his eyes skyward before glaring at Nix, who seemed completely disinterested with the three of them now that everything had calmed down slightly. Quatre gave the little cat an arch look but didn't say anything, knowing he wouldn't have the cat's attention now that food was here to occupy his attention. He heard Duo call his name, or the abbreviation of his name that made him think fondly of his family and of Trowa; it just figured that the bard would call him that too.
"So, Cat, you're from the Mortal lands? And an Empath? That's an interesting combo. Are there many Empaths where you're from, we've never really checked, just kind of assumed Mortals were generally powerless, hence not living in Fey."
"Well—I didn't know anyone else but…"
"That doesn't really matter." Heero's eyes were staring hard at Duo, who looked slightly amused and miffed at the same time. "He has a rare gift, it's not unlike you."
Duo was silent, but it wasn't for the reason Quatre initially thought. Initially, Quatre thought that Duo was trying to come up with something to say in response to the genuine admiration in Heero's comment, but when he looked over at the Elf, the violet eyes were focused on him. The eyes glittered with a deviousness that made Quatre slightly nervous before they focused back on Heero. A sly smile spread across the braided Elf's handsome face and Quatre felt a stab of uncertainty come from the stoic prince, which was unusual for Heero.
"Why you Humans feel the need to keep everything secret, I'll never know. Power comes from knowledge, doesn't it? Ignorance just keeps you wandering around the dark, not exactly helping anyone that way, are you?"
Heero growled and Quatre felt distinctly uncomfortable. Duo knew, just like Heero did and Sylvia, and he barely knew him. Quatre wondered faintly if he had really been the only one to have no idea about his family, the blood in his veins, even after reading the histories and the knowledge of how rare his gift was. Duo's comfortable snicker caught his attention again, just in time to watch the Elf hold up his hands in a surrendering manner.
"Fine, fine, you grumpy old wolf, have it your way," Duo smirked. The tips of Heero's ears turned slightly red, which was utterly fascinating to Quatre, who had never seen the prince anything but composed or annoyed. It was nice to see, he decided, to see how this one boy, Elf, could illicit so much from Heero without even trying. Quatre hoped for their own sakes (as well as his own, privately) that they resolved some things on this mission; Quatre knew they would make each other happy if they let it happen. And him as well; he really didn't know how much unrequited or unacknowledged love flying around he could handle on top of everything else.
Heero stood up abruptly and stalked away from the table, heading towards the exit, muttering something about needing to check the perimeter, face pulled into a tight scowl, the door to the inn slamming shut behind him. Quatre stared after him and kept silent, even after hearing Duo's undignified giggles, for a few moments, almost unsure if he should even dare to join in. He felt a smile tug at his lips though as the giggles continued, and he glanced back around at the violet eyed Duo, whose body was thrumming in times with his muffled laughter. He probably shouldn't have felt so amused at Heero's discomfort, for so many obvious reasons, but the grin and laughter was infectious and before he knew it, he was laughing too. The pair of them continued for some time until the only evidence of their humor was lingering grins and an escaped chuckle or two. Quatre smiled down at Nix, who had curled up and shut his eyes, full and satisfied and completely unconcerned with whatever was going on, and felt the good mood begin to lift again, replaced with his heavy and usual despondent distraction. He heard a throat clear and he looked back up at the braided boy, eyes shining in a knowing sort of way.
"Can't say that you don't look good with the whole kicked puppy look, Cat, but I bet that you'd look better with a smile." Duo leaned back in his chair, booted feet coming to rest against the edge of the table. "Though, I guess I can't really blame you for the long face; I'd be pretty bummed too if my lover was whisked away in the dead of night and now I had the whole fate of the Fey resting on my shoulders."
Quatre's face pinched into a slightly confused look for a second, mainly because he wasn't used to all of the strange terms that the Elf used, before it hardened into a mask of determination. "It doesn't matter what I feel, all that matters is getting Trowa back."
Duo hummed in response, not really agreeing or disagreeing, and took a sip of his drink. "I suppose you'd feel that way too. Gotta say though, you've got a sure lot more guts than most would in this situation; Trowa's a lucky guy he decided to kind of pseudo-stalk you, kidnap you under loving pretenses, and whisk you away into a strange and dangerous land. You know, it would make a good ballad, if we knew the ending."
Quatre stared in response and felt a bemused smile tug up his lips. Hearing the description of Trowa's unorthodox method of courting from someone other than those who knew him best was refreshing—looking back, stalking, kidnapping and whisking away was all that had occurred. He had kind of ignored their beginnings after meeting Trowa, after falling in love with him. He looked once more at the bard and felt a kind of awakening overtake him, like he was really seeing Duo for the first time, like he hadn't really understood him before but now he was a step closer to it. "You're not at all what I expected."
Duo smiled in response and tilted his head back. "You heard of me prior to Sylvia's spooky-smoke-mirror thing?"
"From Sally. She kind of told me a little bit of what happened between you and Heero at his majority, and the rest I kind of picked up along the way. I kind of thought you would be…I don't know, a little more reserved, serious. Not really a joker."
"Really? Well, that's just…" Duo laughed out loud and set his feet back on the floor, leaning across the table into Quatre's face, a devilish smile spreading across his face. "That's just a gas, uh? Why? If you got the story then I'm sure you got some of it from Wuffers too."
"I don't know. They both said that you were an Elf and that you liked nicknames, but I just thought if you were involved with Heero that you'd be a bit more…or a bit less boisterous I guess." He felt heat creep up into his face at the playfully teasing way Duo looked at him.
"You didn't think someone as tightly wound up as Heero would ever go for someone who wasn't a bit like him, uh?" Duo leaned back into his seat, a smile still playing on his face, but this time, Quatre picked up on the bitter acknowledgement that laced the words, that dimmed the bright purple eyes just a little.
"Well, I had only met Heero once when I heard that story—and it wasn't the complete version. The more I've traveled with Heero, and caught glimpses of you, the more I kind of adjusted what I thought you'd be like. It's a good surprise, I think, that you're so different from him, otherwise I don't think you would get a response out of him. You wouldn't stick in his mind so much."
"Stuck in his mind, uh."
"You have no idea." Quatre breathed it out before he thought better of it, and he winced at the sharp look he got from the Elf. "I mean—it's not like I purposefully peek or anything! I just—sometimes when I'm tired the shields I practice at don't work that well and things just…pop into my head. With Heero, most of the time, I could see bits and pieces of you, or who I thought was you."
"It bothered you." Duo didn't really ask, but he looked on, curious.
"No, not really. Emotions like that, they don't really bother me by themselves; I guess you could even say I like having them around me, like they help buffer against the way more numerous and toxic emotions I can't seem to help picking up. It was just…it hurt I think, feeling what he did sometimes when he thought of you; it was too close to what I'm always feeling."
Quatre paused and focused his ocean blue eyes directly into violet with a deep and intense truth echoing within them. "He loves you, I think, and even though I think he would murder me in my sleep, Trowa be damned, if he knew I was telling you all this but…but I think you deserve to know."
Duo didn't act surprised or happy at Quatre's proclamation, just stared back and smiled in a rueful manner, which startled the slender blond a little. His face lost its certainty and adopted a look of confusion; it was unnerving how often Duo surprised him, acting a way different than what Quatre thought he would. Duo shook his head, head and reached down to pick up the end of his braid, fingers beginning to play with the strands in a way that Quatre thought felt sad, resigned.
"Cat, love was never the problem. But, you know that saying, or maybe you don't, but I think it's common enough to be known outside the Fey; sometimes love just isn't enough. I've known how Heero felt concerning me for years, and so has he, but he refuses to do anything, to recognize that it exists. Not much I can do against that, except what I already do, and we all seem to know how well that's worked for me so far."
"But then—"
"Don't get me wrong," Duo half-smiled. His head tilted back and purple glinted at Quatre from a half-lidded eye. "I'm not saying I'm throwing in the towel or anything, just that it's a bit more complicated than I would want. But, then again, I am Shinigami, Elven bard extraordinaire! What bard wants to fall in love ordinarily when all we sing about is epic adventures and obstacles? I don't think I'd be able to look any of the other bards and minstrels in the eye again if I didn't have some kind of epic of my own!"
Quatre was silent, picking up the lie, knowing that Duo didn't want the complex, that he wanted the simple and wanted to point out that lie, but Heero's reentrance halted his opportunity, a slightly calmer face fixing on both of them and stating that they should all go to bed, having a full day ahead of them. Duo, without a glance back, rose from his seat and grabbed his various packs and instruments, announcing he had a stop to make before they left and that he'd see them bright and early. Heero didn't spare Quatre one glance as Duo whirled out the door, fierce blue eyes fixed on the long, swinging chestnut braid and the body attached to it as it disappeared into the night. He turned around and stomped up the stairs to their room, face carefully blank. Quatre sighed and resigned himself to a fitful night, knowing he would be lucky to get any sleep with all that Heero would be feeling.
He rose up from his table, placing some coins on the table for the waitress, Nix rising with him, as if he had been awake the entire time, which Quatre thought was a distinct possibility. The room was silent when he entered, and feeling utterly drained from the events of the day, he collapsed on his bed, still fully dressed. He kicked off his boots and shut his eyes as he felt Nix curl up into his side, hand reaching up and closing around his pendant, which was warm under his palm. He faintly hoped that the next day would finally start to look different, that his mission to find Trowa would finally have some kind of direction, but sleep overtook his thoughts and he felt himself drift, echoes of laughing violet eyes and half smiles on stern faces filling up his head, no matter how he tried to fight them.
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Quatre was, again, lying in the middle of a large field. This time, however, he deemed it prudent if he just stayed still, didn't look around and didn't try to seek anyone out. The last time he went into a dreamscape was still etched in his mind and he had no desire to repeat that night or run into a much more enlightened Dorothy. No, he would just stay right here, close his eyes, and wait until Heero woke him up. His wonderfully logical plan was thwarted though, when he felt the soft grass beneath him shift into hard cobblestone and the quiet of the field transformed into the noisy din of a city. Swearing under his breath, Quatre sat up on his forearms and looked around, recognizing the now familiar cityscape and horizon of Taurus. He pushed to his feet and looked around, the figures filmy and watery in his eyes as he walked around the courtyard he was also familiar with, the one he had been waiting for Duo in. At the thought of the violet-eyed bard, Quatre heard a very festive and playful song enter his ears, and he turned around.
And there, right under the large oak tree, was a slightly younger Duo, looking as if he was fifteen or sixteen years old, playing his pan flute and dancing around, his braid flying behind him. He had a large crowd gathered around him and cheering, and within that crowd, Quatre spotted another familiar sight, the sight of an old man with metal hands and a creepy grin, talking to another old man, this one who Quatre thought vaguely resembled a mushroom with a very large nose. J and the unknown man talked to themselves as Duo played and finished his song, taking an exaggerated bow as the crowd cheered. Quatre felt himself walking closer and closer to Duo; the crowd was scattering away, going about their own way now that Duo was finished, and as he got closer, he noticed he wasn't the only one making his way towards the vibrantly happy looking Elf. No, stopping directly in front of Duo was a very serious looking child with a wild shock of dark brown hair and scowling blue eyes, a child that Quatre would know anywhere.
Heero.
Quatre froze and stared at the scene unfolding before him, as a very young looking Heero stopped directly in front of an only slightly younger looking Duo. He remembered that time here was different, that Humans could live for much longer than normal, and that Elves lived even longer. He wondered briefly how long ago this memory (he had no doubt that's what he was watching now, though the how he was still a little confused about, and whose it was, though he had his suspicions) took place, and whose it was, but Heero interrupted his train of thought.
"Is all you do all day is play that stupid instrument?" Heero's scowl was met with a slightly bemused smile from Duo.
"You don't want to call Lil' Scythe stupid now, she'll get angry."
"It's pipes of wood tied together, it's not alive."
"Oh yeah, smarty-pants, how do you know? Have you tried talking to her?"
"It's not alive."
"Well, it might not breathe, but that doesn't mean it's not alive. Here, go ahead, feel for yourself." Duo held the pan flute out to Heero's hand, a smile on his face. The little boy looked at the instrument analytically, which made Quatre smile to himself, before he touched it without hesitation. Quatre couldn't really see anything unusual happen, but he felt something thrill along the wood and zap into little Heero's hand, something that felt humored and indignant, something alive. Heero's eyes flew open and he snatched his hand away, glaring at Duo in both surprise and anger.
"You did something. Wood doesn't spark normally."
"Nope, not me at all, that was all Lil' Scythe. See? Life is everywhere, even in places you wouldn't expect. You want to know where her name came from?"
"Hn."
"Well aren't you talkative little human? I named her after the Lady Deathscythe, patron lady of all the Elves and one of the Great Ladies, just like the Lady Wing, whose sign you wear on that chain. You see, when I was really little, I was alone and wanted a friend, and after wandering around for hours and hours, I found myself in a surrounded by a bunch of oak trees. I knew where I was, I was surrounded by the Dead Oaks, where I remembered being told Deathscythe liked to come when she was younger, where she lived as a girl. I wished for a friend in that glade and then I heard a voice…"
"Your story isn't scary…or even convincing."
"Well that's too bad because it really did happen! Whether you believe me or not, the Lady appear out of nowhere and she gave my Lil' Scythe if I promised to make her come to life, and I would find my friend. So, that's what I do, I play music with her and she comes to life every day I play underneath this oak tree. She's alive because the music she plays is her breath, and even if she doesn't talk, she still listens. And when she hears someone saying that she doesn't, she can get a little annoyed, after all, wouldn't you if someone said that you didn't live?"
Quatre saw Heero frown deeper at the cheerful Elf, obviously in war with himself over to believe the bard or not, but he was robbed of the decision when J came over and placed a metal hand behind the small boy's shoulders and guided him away. Before the scene melted away, he saw the mushroom-man smirking at Duo, saying something that made the bard frown and cast a long look over his shoulder at the retreating boy. Quatre closed his eyes to ward off the dizziness the swirling images caused, and when he opened them once more, he was surprised to see he was in the same spot, within the courtyard, next to the oak tree. Duo was playing again, this time, strumming a lyre and singing a lively song that had the crowd laughing brightly. Quatre's brows puckered in confusion, as the elf looked the same to him, but again, once the crowd parted and left after his songs, there was Heero, no longer appearing five, but closer to twelve, scowl still in place, but a warmth in his eyes as he watched Duo bow at patrons.
"Well, are you just going to stand there all day, He-chan, or are you going to say hello?" Duo cast the prince a teasing smile as he gathered coins into a leather pouch, strands of chestnut hair escaping from his braid and falling across his face.
"Don't call me that, I'm not an infant."
"That's the beauty of nicknames though, can't pick 'em, someone else does for you, and you just have to live with them."
"You look the same." Heero frowned up at the bard as he straightened to standing.
"Well, it hasn't been all that long, has it? Twenty years…you've grown a bit though! Look at you, already up to my shoulder!"
"Shut up."
"Eloquent as ever, He-chan."
Quatre smiled at the exchange, settling himself on the ground by them, crossed legs used as a perch for his elbows as he cradled his face in his hands, simply watching. It was obvious that some time had passed; he could feel the familiarity between the two, a friendship, and the blond ginned wider when Duo flicked Heero on the nose in a teasing gesture, making the prince scowl even deeper. It was nice to see Duo get so much out of the prince, emotions that weren't tainted with regret and anger yet. Duo plopped down on the ground, sitting inelegantly in a heap while Heero remained standing, poised and controlled.
"So, how's Sive? Not sick of being a prince yet, are you?" Duo smiled brightly up at the younger boy.
"It's fine and no, I'm not. It was an honor to be chosen by Lady Wing to lead, I wouldn't just throw that away."
"No, I guess you wouldn't, uh?" Duo canted his head to the side and laughed gently to himself. Quatre noticed the red tinge to Heero's ears. "You make any friends yet? I hear that there're few other princes and princesses around your age in the Colony Kingdoms…funny how that worked out."
"I've met others, they seem acceptable. You promised to come visit, but you didn't."
"It's been awhile since I've been there; it's not easy to go back to someplace you've been avoiding for so long."
"You've been there?"
"Long time ago, way before you were even around yet! Some bad stuff happened, I was just a kid, didn't really understand a lot of it, but people died, humans and elves alike, and when I left with G I promised I wouldn't go back unless something made me. Something big and worthy of a song."
Heero didn't say anything to that reply and Quatre didn't get a chance to think any further when his surroundings shifted again, people and time zooming by him in squiggly blurs of light and shapes. When the scene cleared for a third time, Quatre was still sitting under the oak tree within Taurus, but this time, instead of it being day, the moon shone bright on the cobblestones and white branches. Duo was lying on his back, hand resting comfortably behind his head, staring up at the twinkling stars high above. He was humming to himself, and looked an inch away from sleep, but he frowned and sat up when he, and by proxy Quatre, heard footsteps behind him. Duo's bright violet eyes focused in the dark with a sharpness that humans couldn't hope to achieve, widened and then smiled in time with his mouth.
Duo rose up to his feet in a fluid motion, his pan flute belted loosely at his side and his hands resting against his hips, looking up into a pair of dark blue eyes that he used to look down at, smirk resting comfortably against his lips. "Beginning to think you asked me here only to stand me up. Just goes to show that you should never try and predict a Sive prince, he'll always surprise you when you least expect it."
Heero said nothing, just stared down into Duo's face, his hand unconsciously reaching forward and tangling fingers within the chestnut braid that dangled before him. Quatre felt distinctly uncomfortable, watching a moment, a memory of either or both of them that was intimate and private. He closed his eyes and tried to force himself out of the dream, away from a moment that wasn't his and painfully reminded him too much of the first time Quatre had met Trowa, well met him when he wasn't the Bear. It didn't work, his opened eyes still faced with Heero and Duo and an oak tree. He growled under his breath and tried to block out the words from his ears, but he didn't have that much success.
"You've grown."
"That tends to happen over time, and so have you! Not the scrawny little prince anymore, are you? Look at this, you're taller than me, I've never had to look up at you before, and I have to say, I thought you'd end up on the short side for the longest time."
"Hn."
"Again with the words, you better watch it, an Elf could get a complex from all the flattery and praise packed within that grunt."
"Duo."
Duo's smirk faded into a friendlier and genuine expression as he returned Heero's stare, an expectant look on his face. When all that passed between the two for next few minutes was breath and stares, Duo tilted his head back and let out a very put upon sigh, one that Quatre recognized from that first encounter earlier that night, and gave Heero an arch look. Heero, to his credit, didn't let his confusion show on his face, but Quatre could tell by how he narrowed his eyes just a fraction in addition to his own different way to tell.
"Do you remember when you asked me to wait for you to get big? That second time you and the old geezer visited, because you said you would be the friend that the Lady promised me for playing Lil' Scythe, but I was too much older, you needed to get bigger first? You were just little, still a young child then."
Quatre frowned and guessed that was from a different memory that hadn't played, as he had no idea what Duo was talking about, but Heero had no such problem and nodded slowly.
"Well, I did wait for you, and the strangest thing happened. Wouldn't you know it, I found out I wasn't waiting for you to be my friend, because you were already that, and I already had friends on my own…and that wasn't exactly what the Lady meant when she made me that promise. It was for something else…something I have a feeling I'm going to have to show you because, the Lady knows, you won't figure it out otherwise."
Then, before Heero could really think about what Duo was saying or implying, the violet-eyed bard reached up and pressed his lips to the stoic prince's. It didn't last long, just a fleeting, telling touch and it was mainly one-sided, Heero to shocked to respond for most of it, which made Duo smile when he pulled away. Heero's hand entangled itself more thoroughly within Duo's braid.
"So…you said earlier you wanted to ask me something? Care to enlighten me?" Duo's head titled to the side and his smile was so bright it was practically glowing in the night. And, much to Quatre's surprise, he saw a small upturn of lips on Heero when he answered.
"J wants to throw my majority this summer. I want you to come." His fingers gently yanked the braid, tilting Duo's head back; the Elf let a slow, sly smile cross his face.
"Well, I am Shinigami, the greatest bard to grace the Fey in three hundred years; a Colony prince can't have anything less at his majority. And, I guess you're as big a reason and song as I'll ever get."
"Hn." Heero met him halfway their second try, fingers hopelessly tangled within the braid he couldn't leave even if he wanted to. And with that, the scene washed away, leaving Quatre, who had a small smile on his face, sitting alone.
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Duo sat up awake in his sleep halfway across Taurus, rubbing a hand over his face and trying to figure out how, after reliving a series of his favorite memories of Heero, he had seen Quatre smiling at them before he woke up. He frowned in the dark, a hand going to his braid and fiddling with the end of it, slightly unsettled by the power the kid seemed to have, falling into others' dreams after only recently meeting them…it was almost unheard of. Or, at least, unheard of for most Empaths…he grinned ruefully for a moment. He sighed and flopped back onto his pillow, knowing that he wouldn't be getting back to sleep anytime soon.
"Well, well, Blondie, who would have guessed you had it in you."
Duo chuckled under his breath and closed his eyes, already envisioning just how exciting his next two months were going to be. At the very least, he was in for an interesting; Quatre had some things to answer for and it was time for Heero to quit keeping him in the dark.
"Well, Illrea, I'll try to do you some justice."
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While he hadn't felt right watching a scene that was so private and precious, Quatre missed the warmth that had been shared between the two before, even if it had been a somewhat painful reminder of what he didn't have due to his own doubt and weakness. All that was left now was a gaping loneliness that made his skin itch unpleasantly. He pushed up off the ground and stood, taking in the murky surroundings slowly. He didn't know why he was still stuck in the dream, because apparently whoever was dreaming of his memories had stopped, but the longer he stood there, the more discomforted he felt. The copper pendant against his chest was hot on his skin and seemed to be the only pinprick of light within the dark space.
"Quatre?"
The blond whirled around, legs crouched in a defensive stance should the dream take an unpleasant turn. However, Quatre felt himself relax and breath out a shaky but happy breath as the blind-folded face of Trowa filled his sight. He looked more or less the same from the last time he had seen him, almost two months ago. He was dressed in a loose tunic and soft, leather trousers that hugged his lean, tall body, cinnamon hair falling over one side of his face, shadowy blind fold covering his eyes. Quatre's breath caught in his throat and this time, he didn't hesitate or shy away from the tall prince, but rather launched himself into strong arms that smelled like pine and sandalwood. He had waited for this to happen since the first time, but it never had…he wasn't going to waste whatever time he had with Trowa this time.
"Trowa."
"Cat, what's the matter, you seem upset. Are you all right?" Quatre could feel the cool, calming presence Trowa always exuded was mixed with warm concern that made Quatre spine tingle. "You're shaking—is you're empathy bothering you?"
"I've just missed you is all." Quatre let his hold relax slowly, sliding his hands up Trowa's back, letting one hand come around and rest against his heart while the other cupped the back of his neck. He smiled as wide as he could before pressing his lips to the still concerned looking prince; he could have cried, in all honesty and male pride be damned, but he settled for smiling again, feeling his teeth brush against Trowa's lips.
"Missed me? I only left for the chess set." Quatre pulled away a bit more and looked into Trowa's covered eyes, and around them. He sighed, taking in the familiar setting of Trowa's bedchambers, resting his forehead against Trowa's neck, inhaling him deep into his lungs.
"No, muHibb, it's been much longer. Neither of us are home and this is—it's real but not, I think. Sorry, it's all still so confusing to me." He placed his palms against Trowa's cheeks and tried to pierce the dark band that covered dark green eyes. "Remember, we've met here once before, you pushed me out because you could feel Dorothy coming."
Trowa went still and Quatre could feel the shock radiate off his skin. "How do you know—?"
Trowa stopped and, as if a floodgate had been opened, Quatre felt him become aware of where they were and where he really was. He closed his eyes and rested his forehead against Trowa's pulse point, breathing in time to the beats he felt there. Trowa's arms tightened after a few minutes and Quatre raised his head, smiling sadly at Trowa and drank in the pure warmth he felt trickle down from Trowa, letting it fill the cold hole he, for so long, had tried to ignore. Trowa took in a shuddering breath as he wrapped the blond even tighter to him, as if he was trying to squash any space or air that separated their souls and Quatre felt a nose bury in his hair.
"How?"
"The pendant, remember…you saw it last time and suddenly remembered everything…Heero thinks it's what lets me do this when I dream, sometimes at least. I never got a chance to tell you, but Sandrock gave it to me, when she gave me help to try and find you."
"Quatre, I don't want you to try and find me! I can't—Dorothy is—"
"I'm well aware," Quatre interrupted. "She already knows all about me, can't say that she's my biggest fan." He looked down and focused on the hand that was still resting against Trowa's heart. "Did you always know, about who I am, or did you just figure it out as time went on?"
Trowa was silent, and in this small dreamscape, Quatre had no doubt Trowa knew what he was talking about. "I wasn't sure not really, and I didn't want—you were already adjusting; I thought telling you I thought you were a long-lost heir to an influential Colony kingdom might be a little much."
Quatre laughed softly and tilted his head back, focusing ocean blue on the dark band. "I suppose not. Still, making a long-lost heir of a kingdom the sorceress who cursed you tried to destroy your fiancé probably wasn't the best choice."
"…you're well-informed. How much do you know?"
"Well, probably everything that you do. Kind of had to…Heero doesn't know that I know about being Illrea's great-great something grandson, but I'm going to tell him soon."
"And…you are the heir?"
"Seeing as Sandrock kind of told me, yeah, I'd say I am."
"You're not as surprised as I would expect."
"I've had a month to come to terms with it, and with the fact that Dorothy would like nothing more than to see my corpse on fire for more than being your fiancé." Quatre thought briefly of telling him about Treize and the suspicions Heero had regarding him and what his role was with the events surrounding them, but decided against it. Maybe another time, he didn't want to make Trowa worry more than he already was. Quatre would worry for the both of them, he wasn't the one taken hostage by a vindictive Troll princess. He could handle it.
"This is why I don't want you to look for me."
"I know, but that's why I have to. Please, I can't—" He didn't finish, he couldn't. Trowa didn't really seem to need the end of the sentence, able to discover the words on his own and his hands grazed up and down his back gently.
"So…how did you get here?"
"I guess we're dreaming similar, feeling something similar." Quatre paused and fished out the copper pendant from under his loose tunic, bringing it up for Trowa to examine. "Sandrock told me that the closer I got to you, the more powerful I could feel your emotions. Like a compass."
Trowa held the pendant in his fingers and gazed at it, his expression telling Quatre there were so many other questions he had, so many other things he wanted to know, wanted to warn against. But, instead, he tucked the pendant back under Quatre's tunic, his fingers lingering on the skin for a moment longer than needed and reached up to cradle the blond's face in his hands, angling Quatre's face upwards, their lips a breath away from each other. "It's not your fault, Cat, you know that right?"
Quatre didn't answer. It was his fault, no matter what Trowa said, but if he said that, Trowa would just try to insist, further wasting the time they had with each other. So, he didn't say anything, just tugged Trowa's face down and pressed their lips together hard, inhaling through his nose and his tongue darting out, coaxing Trowa's lips to part. It didn't take a lot of convincing, Trowa responding with equal fervor, tongue plunging in to Quatre's mouth, a hand weaving through the blond hair and tilting Quatre's head back further, deepening their connection into something needy and desperate. Quatre gripped Trowa's hip, pulling them closer together, and gasped out when their erections rubbed together, Trowa muttering a low sound as his lips drifted down and latched onto the pale neck like a leech. Quatre felt his vision blurring, his skin heating up as his own pulsating need and arousal mixed with Trowa's, sinuously wrapping around his muscles and coiling in his stomach and groin.
There wasn't any slow seduction at play, no teasing touches, fleeting puffs of hot air on overly sensitive skin, or coy advances, both knew that they didn't have time for that, that the dream could end any second, that the sun would inevitably rise whether they were ready or not. Quatre was methodically removing clothing as Trowa pushed him into a wall for support, breaking apart from each other to pull the tunic over his arms and head, a whisper of fabric in the wake of their own music. His hands shook as they immediately went to work unlacing Trowa's pants, throwing head back against the cold bricks of the wall as a whimper escaped past his throat and out his mouth when Trowa rolled his hips slow and hard. Trowa pulled away, which made Quatre groan impatiently, and in one fluid motion, undid Quatre's loose leathers and stripped them off with his underwear. Immediately, he pushed him back into the wall, one hand under Quatre's leg and drawing it up, his own pants slipping down his hips and legs so their bare erections touched, sending a wave of heat and pleasure down Quatre's spine, his hands flying above his head as Trowa's crashed against his again, searching for purchase as knee-weakening heat rolled through him when their hips set up a rhythm, slippery and wet with precum.
Quatre lost track of how long they continued, hips rocking in a torturously slow motion, but eventually the haze cleared enough for Quatre to decide it wasn't enough, he wanted more, he needed more. He pulled away, chest heaving as he tried to rapidly inhale air for his feverish body, hands traveling from various places on Trowa's skin to rest against his bare chest and push him away, creating a sliver of space between them. Trowa groaned deep in his throat, not pleased with the sudden change, but apart from that did as he was directed. Quatre looked up with glazed blue eyes, dark as a stormy ocean, wishing he could see the dilated green irises behind the band, sliding his leg back down to the floor. He smiled at Trowa, slow and easy, before turning around in his arms. He braced his forearms against the brick wall, which he noticed no longer looked like Trowa's bedchambers but whatever his prison looked like, and tossed his sweaty hair of his forehead.
"MuHibb…don't go slow."
Trowa didn't verbally respond with words, his breath hitching as he pressed his chest to Quatre's back and the sweaty tunic the blond was still wearing, but Quatre felt a wave of desire, warmth and love wash over him, giving him all the answer he needed. He hummed in approval when Trowa rubbed up and down his arousal smearing his hands and fingers and let out a low moan when he felt himself being stretched, ignoring the obvious sting that was bound to develop from being celibate for almost three months. He felt detached from everything apart from Trowa and the growing pool of heat between them, his body shuddering time with Trowa's fingers shallowly thrusting in and out. Trowa's lips attached to his neck again, silently asking if Quatre was ready, if he wanted more; Quatre nodded, breath coming out in pants. Trowa didn't waste another moment, withdrawing his fingers, lining up, and driving in without pause, letting out a low moan as he did so. Quatre's back arched in a bow-like shape, head falling back onto Trowa's shoulder and mouth open in a silent scream.
Trowa didn't move at first, waiting for some kind of approval or sign that Quatre was fine, but the blond didn't want to wait. He didn't care if it hurt as much as it felt good; he just wanted to feel Trowa while he had a chance to, in a dream that felt so real he wasn't entirely convinced it wasn't. He flexed his back, moving off of Trowa before slamming back, drawing out another low moan from Trowa. He smiled around his heavy groans and cries; the blond was aware he was the more vocal between the two in sex, which he was fine with as Quatre felt all the noises anyway, but whenever he could draw out a desperate sound like that, he felt a swell of pride.
Trowa pressed even closer as he pulled out and slammed back in again, one hand wrapping around Quatre's torso and grabbing hold of the blond's erection while the other reached underneath a pale knee and drew it up, letting him thrust into Quatre even deeper. The slender blond cried out and reached his hands back, looking for something to grab when he felt Trowa hit his prostate, blinding white filling his vision and empathy, hands hooking around the tall prince's neck and hip, drawing him closer, deeper, harder. Lips traveled up and down his neck, coming to rest on the shell of an ear, Trowa whispering and gasping words that Quatre couldn't hear beyond the feeling of pain and pleasure swell within him.
It felt impossibly fast and hot, like they could both spontaneously combust if they continued at their pace, but Quatre was beyond caring, and Trowa was too, if his continued pounding was any indication. All too fast, Quatre felt the rush to completion, every nerve in his body attuned to the fiery combination of him and Trowa, and with a few more strokes and thrusts from Trowa, it was over, all let out of him in a cry that sounded dangerously close to a sob and a flash of darkness that swam over his vision. He felt Trowa drive a few more thrusts in before he let out a desperate sound of his own mixed with words that, even though Quatre hadn't heard in three months, recognized and loved.
"Je t'aime, Quatre, je t'aime plus que la vie…"
"I love you too, muHibb, more than life itself."
They slid down to the floor cautiously, Trowa staying inside Quatre until his back was to the wall and Quatre rested in between his legs, both sprawled boneless on the floor. Quatre let out a pained wince and grunt as he felt the consequence of going as fast and hard as they had, but he didn't mind it. The pendant on his chest was glowing copper underneath his damp tunic, Trowa's hand that wasn't stroking up and down Quatre's body in a gentle motion, cradled Quatre across his torso and pulled out the pendant, balancing it in his palm. Quatre felt a pair of lips press against his temple before a face was buried in his messy and wild blond hair, chaotically messed up from sweat and tugging.
"I'm going to find you, Trowa."
Trowa sighed into blond hair and tightened his arms. "I know you will. But I wish you wouldn't."
Quatre laughed softly and turned in Trowa's arms, pressing his lips to Trowa's again chastely. He reached up and combed through the tall prince's cinnamon brown bangs, imagining the green of his eyes even though the band covered them completely. "Well, that may be but I'm just not all right with my fiancé marrying a Troll."
Trowa let a small smile flit across his face in agreement before he touched his forehead to Quatre's. "You'll probably wake up soon."
"Probably. I didn't—let's try to meet like this again…it'll help me through the day if I know I can see you at night. If thinking the same thing or feeling the same thing is what does it, just think about how much you miss me, and I'll do the same."
Trowa just hummed in reply, a deep reverberation that Quatre felt ripple into his skin. "Won't be too hard."
"That's the idea." Quatre sighed sadly and pressed their lips together once more. He could feel the dreamscape start to shift, could feel himself start to fade. He swallowed down an angry denial that he wanted to shout out, that it wasn't fair he had to leave Trowa, but all that escaped was a tremble and a shaky breath. He could feel Trowa's reluctance, could feel his awareness shift as well, but he clung to him as long as he could, until…
…until he opened his eyes and was left clinging to the extra blankets, alone in his bed at the inn in the grey light of the early morning.
Quatre sat up, hands shaking as he pushed the blankets away, not looking at Nix, who was up and watching him carefully. He looked over at a still sleeping Heero for a second, happy that he hadn't woke him up this time, and then down at himself. Sure enough, his pants were sticky and uncomfortable, but when he moved to stand up and grab another pair to change into, pain lanced up his lower back and thighs. That…was unexpected. Gingerly, he winced and got to his feet, walking slowly and in measured steps to the washroom, snatching a pair of pants on his way. Once changed and washed enough for the day, he carefully sat back down, hands clenched tight and resting on his legs. His eyes were blurry and he spared Nix a small smile when the little cat purred deep in sympathy for him.
Even if it was a dream, it was real. That had been Trowa who kissed him, held him, pushed into him…as if he was with him right now. The whole time, the dreamscape was real; it was Trowa there, it was history that truly was unfolding in front of him, and it was really Dorothy who could have killed him then and there. It had been a dream, but it was real too, and that was so much more painful. Making sure to keep quiet, Quatre curled his legs to his chest as much as he could without pain and buried his face in his knees, pouring everything out so that when Heero woke up in another hour or so, he could make it through the day alone.
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Ok, next chapter...I had a good helping of angst those last few paragraphs, didn't I? And a smutty scene for all you patienet folks...and, funny thing, I was writing this chapter at work and when I did the lemon, I kept thinking to myself 'writing gay porn in a retirement office...I'm so going to hell.' Haha, made me laugh.
So, hope you all enjoyed! Sorry it took so long, for explanation, see my LJ under homepage. Review!!! Feed my starving muses so they can write more sex! Cheers.
Osco
