Another -24 september '14
Disclaimer: G-boys are not saru's... and saru already forgotten the details of the anime too.
Warning: hmmmm… think in images?
chapter 25
light WHITE hide
black
wane justified
BIND
alone fill
ban
HATE bright FIND
sky
cold
YOU
- . . . . -
The universe I lived in was just a sea of words-
floating-
streaming-
flooding-
ever-changing
inside my head
in my sight
everywhere I be-
When I opened my eyes there were no people, no beings, no matters; everything was just words in their honesty. That's how I saw her; a great beautiful arched symbol read as 'mother', although she said I could never call her that. All the more so I never called her at all; she didn't really care what she was to me, what mattered was that I understood what had to be done.
She was important-
that's what she was in my comprehension;
-important to The Cause.
Although sometimes I wondered how she looked like, as a creature;
as the beautiful one-
but she said, it was for doing this that I was born as what I was…
and then she told me to lie down, and let her do the rest-
-…what were we doing?
We're spinning life threads.
-was what she said.
I understood The Cause.
-I just didn't understand her.
"-…LEX!"
-she probably didn't even try to understand me.
-if probably she too didn't see me as a being.
"I SAID, LEX-!"
"I NEED MORE LUMPS HERE! STOP DAYDREAMING, WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A SIEGE, DAMMIT!"
…heat SPIRIT hurry…
"Hmmm-. . . . . . yeahhh, okay! You can stop staring at me, already, and put something BIG there!"
BOREDOM me
"Sir! We've fired everything we've got; there are only pebbles left…!"
…tired soldier man hunger pity…
"-ahemm! Please stop staring at the soldier; make something to be flung, instead! And I mean NOW!"
"LIEUTENANT! WE'RE OUT OF OIL, AND THEY'RE RETURNING WITH FIRE!"
"WHAT'S GOOD IS FIRE WHEN WE DON'T HAVE OIL-?!"
"I MEANT THE ENEMIES ARE RETURNING OUR FIRES WITH FIRES…!"
"-WHAAAT?!"
"-IT'S RAINING FIRE!"
"-oh, sh't! TAKE COVEEERR!"
"-Oww, this is worse than yesterday! What's Center doing?! You asked for back up from the Maxwells, didn't you, Sir?!"
"That's what Center sent for back up, idiot!"
"That BOY?! But-"
"Lieutenant! The shields won't last long, the Shielders said…! And the enemies are gaining more power from our men's fears and worries-"
"I know! Report something I don't, already- …hey, LEX, TAKE COVER NOW!"
"-Drizzle-"
"WHAT?! HURRY AND GET DOWN HERE-!"
"LIEUTENANT- IMPACT!"
"-OWAHH! DON'T SQUASH ME UNDER SO MANY OF YOUU-!"
"-quiet!-"
"…whaaat(?!) don't just squat there (!) I told you to-"
"…lieutenant(!) the impact has yet to come(!) and we're getting cool shower instead(!)"
"lieutenant(!) it's getting silent suddenly(!) what's happening(?!)"
"…lieutenant(!) why are we whispering(?!)"
"…lieutenant(!) everyone is staring at us(!) should I say something louder to them(?)"
"-uhhhh …..Lex(!) it's not funny(!) but the least you could do is smirk when I say that…(!) -dammit(!) you don't understand, do you(?!) and stop staring(!)"
"huh(?) what's that mean(?) …'eye'(?) you mean where to aim(?) -uh, right(!)"
"tsk(!) off with you, back to your posts(!) -ehem(!) right, Lex(!) those towers and barbican, you see(?) aim those(!)"
"…he- hey, lieutenant(!) the boy's filled the catapult with rock fragments(!)"
". . . . . . Lex, did you wrote those symbols(?) -okay, if it's your doing; stop giving me that-stare(!) -and fling the- ah(!)"
"lieutenaaant…(!) it won't do any good if we just fling rock fragments at the enemyyy(!) the best thing we could hope for is that they'd get something in their eyessss(!)"
"Lex, one fell out from the bowl -what's this symbol stands for(?)"
"-boulder!-"
"-HWAAGHH(!) YOU WANT TO CRUSH MY ARMS OR ANYTHING(?!) -YOU'RE LUCKY IT DIDN'T FELL ON MY FEET, DAMMIT(!)"
"….-hey -hey, lieutenaaant(!)"
"WHAAAT(?!) -IF ANYONE REPORT SOMETHING USELESS AGAIN, I SWEAR I'LL-(!)"
". . . . . . it's raining boulders theeere…(!)"
"Oh-! . . . . . . . . . I can see that . . . and stop with that annoying long-ended whisper already(!) -hey, Lex(!) -saaay… seems like you can do this, after all(!) -stare elsewhere-(!) -say…we got river on this side, so if we do something like fill the bowls with water… can you make, like, blizzard…(?!) hm(?)"
"right, just a nod is an answer enough -HEEYY(!) FILL THE CATAPULT CONTAINERS WITH WATERRR(!)"
". . . lieutenant, you're still whispering (!)"
"…you just want to brag at the enemy, right(?) just because they got back ups from powerful magic-users(!)"
"-blizzard!-"
"-WOAAAAHHHHH(!)"
"-lieu- lieuten- -nanth…(!)"
"-we go-got -blizz- ard…(!)"
"he-….her-rr-rre(!)"
"-LE -LE-EE-EEKSSS-SSSH(!) I M-MMEA-NTHH ON D-D-DE ENN-NEMM-MM-MYY -DAMMM-ITTT-ALLL-LL(!) D-DO-NNTH GRINN-NN(!) YOU-RRR A-ALLL-LL GONNNN-A FRRRE-EEE-ZZE YO-RRRRR T-TEEE-THHH!
Duo opened his eyes instantly; a small smirk tugged at the end of his lips, a tiny sense of humor was still tickling his heart. He blinked repeatedly, staring at the ceiling of his chamber. The feeling he had was so surreal; but it felt good to have that mightiness still lingered on his tongue… and in his mind.
That was… his father's memory, wasn't it? From his eye view, even.
That notorious Lex Maxwell-
He was so innocent and childlike, however; far from the image that others had depicted him to be… although it's probably due to the age he was when that happened. Came to think of it, Duo didn't really feel his age; it's like Lex himself didn't feel his own age… why's that?
"-…Duo!"
"Huuh-?!" Duo jumped, staring back at the Lieutenant who seemed like he'd been eyeing him all night from the chair near the door; probably giving him some space as if…
"-…did -did I lash something out…?!"
"No." the deeper frown on the man's face meant he was actually dissatisfied with that answer; he probably thought it wasn't habitual of Duo to not lash out in his episodes.
Duo blinked, a stiff grin plastered on his lips. Was he that… 'nightmarish' that night?
"Ummm… could you…? I mean- I'm kind of…" Duo asked sheepishly, and his stomach decided to back him up with a long loud growl.
Cail stared him with a weird frown, but he still got up and opened the doors; pushing a food cart in. "I asked for the food this morning; in case you'd decide to wake up and eat." He didn't say anything else for explanation.
Duo took it gratefully; he was somewhat in a light mood that he didn't want to hear about anything bad he'd done that night. Took a look at the light streaming down from between the crisscrossing windowframe; "…what time is it?", he asked as the man put the trays of food on a small table so that Duo could eat from his seat on the edge of the bed.
"Pass 10."
"Oh, late breakfast, then." He smiled and dug in wholeheartedly. All the while he was aware of the man's scrutiny on him, but he didn't want to ruin his good food with bitter mood.
Or was it? He realized as he tried to not notice the man's eyes on him he saw nothing broken around his bed, and in that chamber.
But if he didn't have such an episode that the Lieutenant should be worried about him now; why were his eyes so glued on his being, then? -No; he thought again that he didn't even remember getting to bed last night. Or when he fell asleep…
Was he sleeping…?
"Say, Lieutenant…" a thought of the Lieutenant from Lex's memory flashed in his mind, and Duo couldn't help but snickered; although that Lieutenant had probably not being a Lieutenant anymore in this time -and that Lex didn't… couldn't see the man's face and therefore Duo didn't know how that man looked like as a human being-
"Yes?" Cail asked obligingly.
Duo chuckled lightly; "Hmm… nothing; just checking your voice. I just realized you're not whispering, which is a good thing.", and chuckled deeper.
Cail blinked a few times, with a deeper frown digging between his brows; he'd look older than his age if he did that often, Duo thought-
"Wah-!" Cail jumped and caught Duo's head as it lurched forward aiming the half emptied soup bowl. "…Duo?" he tried; even knowing that Duo was fast asleep… like, really fast! But he decided it was alright when he saw Duo had a small smile on his lips; it's better to have him sleeping with seemingly a pleasant dream than having him crying his heart out in solitude like last night. After that hysterical cry as if he was physically hurting he finally had a truce with his demons, the man thought as he tucked Duo back to bed; he truly whished that it would last a long time for the boy's sake.
"… who's that nympho? Parading with only a blanket on in broad daylight…!"
And as that instant Duo's sleeping face started to frown; Cail paused his hands as he was covering Duo's body with a fresh thin blanket.
"An udderless one…!"; -a series of randy chuckle.
Duo moaned in complaint, twitching his head as if he tried to turn it. Cail sighed, knowing his wish wouldn't be so easily granted; he then pulled the chair from near the doors and sat next to the bed, rubbing his face as he settled on his seat to chase the sleepiness away.
A snigger; "What? That's a guy…?!" -a leer.
"That's one of those young Maxwells…!"
"Aah…!" -a knowing moan; "Whose toy is that?"
"Lady Selachii's toy…(!)" -a gossiping whisper.
A silent gasp; "No way…(!) -that sicko noble girl who likes cutting up faces(?!)"
"…ugly faces(!) I heard she had a herd of pretty collection of servants in her castle…(!) that nympho is her favorite lately; and they're matched up in sickness too… I heard from my neighbor working in her place that that will actually walk around naked if not covered up by others…(!) I supposed she didn't object to the sight!" -another snigger.
"I know I wouldn't!" -a choir of leering guffaw.
"Riiight…! I bet with that toned physic, that is tighter than that pretty-Nil's holes!"
Stop.
Turn around.
"-hey, that is looking this way…(!)" -a stiffened unholy grin.
"no worries(!) I heard that can't remember faces… something to do with a curse or other things(!)" -deep satisfied chuckles.
"-Rotten mouth!-"
"-so if we don't- GWHAAACK!" -a belching cough; a fortified painful scream; fell kneeling to the ground, dripping puss and putrid blackened blood.
"-AAAAAGH! WHAT'S WITH-…?!" -a realizing gasp; fearful exhale.
"-Dirty mind!-"
"-No! NoOO! I DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING AGAINS'T-!" -a sudden pause; spitting mud, spitting mud, spitting mud, streaming mud from eyes, from nostrils, from ears…mud, mud mud. "-AAAAAAAAAGHH!"
"-WHAT ARE YOU DOING THERE?! ATACKING ANOTHER NOBLE HOUSE'S GUARDS IN THEIR POSTS IS THE SAME AS ATACKING THE NOBLE HOUSE ITSELF!"
Captain bark dull
"-Empty head-"
"-AAAAAAAAAHH!" -a woman's horrified shrill seeing into the man's hollowed head from his eye holes as he fell and lied unmoving.
"LEX MAXWELL!"
Turn.
"YOU'RE NOT SUMMONED FOR PETTY GAMES! GET YOUR ARSE TO THE ASSEMBLY ROOM IN THE SECOND FLOOR, NOW!"
…slight
slight slight slight
slight SLIGHT!
"NOW, MAXWELL!"
Concede.
Duo gasped as he tossed his head; a heavy prickly feeling just passed by his heart… it turned static now.
-static. That's how he felt; how Lex always felt without disturbance. He barely talked, he didn't need food or water, or sleep; he's alone, he didn't need anything, he didn't see anything…anyone… and the universe around him was naked to his eyes.
LONELY me
Duo gasped deeper and opened his eyes wide, delirious by incomprehension and torn by the light. Some heavy breaths, he closed his eyes again with a complaining moan; and instantly fell to another slumber.
This had been continuing since last night, the moment Duo stopped his hysterical screaming. Cail had given up with his cool washcloth dripping from the bowl of water by the nightstand; it seemed that Duo didn't feel it at all when he used it to calm him down. He's not sleeping, and it's not really nightmare; it's as if Duo's consciousness was taken to a deeper realm without himself realizing. Duo hadn't lashed out anything since Cail reentered the chamber after Treize left, so he didn't think that it's alarming… yet. He'd heard something like The Maxwells were sharing knowledge in dreams; so it's possibly one of those things. If Duo still didn't get better that evening, he'd report to The General. Although he'd prefer it if he could just consult Duo himself about his own conditions… something was off with The General last night eventhough he couldn't actually point out what it was.
It's just that churning feeling in his midsection like he was feeling nervous. Sure, he knew The General liked to earn himself nervous feelings from his subordinates, and Cail was always nervous facing him; but since it was always… he knew it was a different kind of nervousness he felt last night…
And Odin was preoccupied with his Demon right now… he couldn't ask his Commander for anything at the moment; no one would assent to be sent to Odin with petty questions to ask him; and he shouldn't leave Duo on his own, especially since the Dignitaries were still patrolling the alleyways to this chamber waiting for his absence so that they could barge in and sugar-talk Duo to their sides.
Cail sighed out deeply and poured himself a glass of already not-so-warm tea from the teapot. Finished it at once, and thought that it was more of not-warm-at-all tea, instead…
The cool breeze brought the unearthly scent from the sanctuary-trees around the Palace Court; calming and reassuring, as if everyone's worries were blown far away to an unreal realm. Like perhaps Duo's consciousness was right now.
. . . . . . how far away could it be, from this reality…?
A boy.
Bright eyes; straightforward, piercing, unwavering eyes.
Beautiful-
Beautifully cursed eyes.
The view adjusted as he squatted down, he could feel the boy's eyes followed him. A smile; he could see it in a symbol too-
-a beautiful smile.
"Hello." The boy said.
He smiled in return, just feeling his facial muscles moved… not knowing what a smile really looked like, or how it was done.
"You are Lex." The boy said with a clear voice.
He nodded.
"Are you going to die?" the boy asked with a child's curious tone.
He could hear his own chuckles as answer to that. A pair of small hands cupped his face; he blinked… the grand symbol in front of him bled out floating symbols read as heart. He cupped the small hands on his face with his much bigger, colder hands.
"Sad not. Great King." He heard his own voice, his lips pulled almost painfully forming a wide smile… or a leer; he couldn't really differentiate between those acts.
"Bless your heart. Full of love."
"Bless your soul. Full of life."
"Bless your hands. Full of glory."
"Bless your smile. Full of bliss."
"Bless your eyes. Full of truth…-" he felt his head moved forward, his lips kissed the boy's eyelids and forehead… somewhat awkward when they had their hands cupping his own face.
"-LEX MAXWELL! WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO THE PRINCE?!"
-and the serenity broke like thin ice crushed by soldiers' barging feet.
"-no! Wait!" Duo felt the rough tugs of the soldiers' hands dragging his body away from the boy… He bolted to sit, eyes wide and slightly teary, hand reaching out towards…-
-towards…?
Duo gasped hard breaths and pulled his hand and used it to wipe his sweaty forehead. It wasn't Lex who was reaching out, his arms were pinned behind his back as they dragged him away… -so…
That boy? The Prince's hand…? No, his dream's 3rd-person's view point showed him that the boy was standing unmoving behind the soldiers' barricade, trying to steel his heart and not letting his weakness shown.
So it was his hand reaching out…? -Duo stared at his opened palm; his fingers were shaky and cold and wet by nervous sweat. He moaned at the prick inside his chest as he realized it was himself who tried to reach out to…
"…Lex…!" he mumbled yearningly.
-so misunderstood.
-so alone.
- …so beautiful and miserable.
-so uncomprehending… even not knowing what being alive was supposed to feel like.
-like he was never a human being from the beginning…! Duo took a deep shaky breath and sighed out slowly, trying to calm his nerves and stiff muscles down. His heart beat painfully in his chest. Why was he even dreaming -no, recalling Lex's memories…?
'Though a little mind in his head knew, that Lex was probably trying to soothe his pains away; that Lex somehow knew that he would be utterly miserable in finding out about his roots… or birth; …or whatever it was they called The Cause.
-not quite… Lex was probably trying to make him aware of the importance of The Cause…?
But he didn't even know it; that…that-whatever they called The Cause was…! What was it?! What was so important that they'd slave their persons in the hands of degenerate humans far weaker than themselves for…?!
He just couldn't see the reason or… the cause behind it…! It didn't make sense at all!
If… if ever The Cause had something to do with the demons; …like the annihilation of the demons or something along that line…?
He wouldn't be able to face it. To face Heero… to even think of Heero in that light. No! He didn't want that! Didn't even want to find out about such a thing…!
A violent shivers wrecked his body and he hugged himself fighting down the nausea assaulting his stomach.
"-why?"
A voice asked him levelly.
Duo thought it was the Lieutenant from his chair asking… but he realized with a churning feeling that his surrounding was pitch black; and he was standing weightless and numb-
"-why would you think that?"
With jerky movement, Duo pulled his head up; facing the all-too-known black mass of his Nightmare floating a near distance from him. A grave fear clutched at his heart, he was fighting to breathe… if ever he needed to breathe at all…-
"-you."
"-what do you think you are?"
The floating black mass was somehow familiar looking… like it had been seen in real life, in his waking hour… like it was… -a see-through velvet.
Duo hurled at the realization and fell to his knees; he never knew that there was a 'floor' in his Nightmare's realm. It was kind of hard… and cold; unforgiving floor…-
The black mass had pointy ends, flat almost random-sided surfaces… -and that voice…
Duo hurled again, but nothing came out; it was in dreamscape after all-
"-you are made for one reason…"
The black mass unfurled in its floating form, uncoiled and opened itself- a little part of his mind expected to see a violated Heero in his tangled altar of confinement; but instead, the mass opened to a throne-like seat …-
An eerie half cocoon-like throne with coiling elongated claws keeping whomever sitting in it entrapped, caressing the pale naked skin in adoring coils; the black mass thinned in layers like mist or ragged cloth covering some strategic areas… it almost looked like the cloth of whomever it was sitting there had dissolved from his body into the blackness of the throne-
A cold stare-
Lithe supple body-
A pair of rose-colored lips thinned in dissatisfaction-
Long… long wavy silver hair-
Purple eyes that would put amethysts to shame…!
-and that voice!
"-The Cause."
Duo started to hyperventilate in panic and fright; that apathetic face ghostly reminded him of himself in the mirror… only it was a couple years older and adorned with more unearthly features; -like angels'…
-or demons'…!
It was him!
It was him all along; in all his 16 years of lifespan.. He was residing in his Nightmare!
-no! He was his Nightmare!
All those mental assaults… all those tempting contempt…! All those secrets he had slapped to his own face…!
"-don't resist anymore…"
"…Child…!"
All his manipulating whispers… all his clawing possessiveness… all his WORDS! All the truths he knew Duo never wanted them to be known…! All the things he dug from Duo's heart… and mind… and desires… All Heero…!
All of it… in his possession… in his commands, written in his SYMBOLS… as he read them aloud and moved Duo's body from the inside-
-his truth…
This man's…-
This Ruler who had almighty curse-
…..who had almighty control over him-
-and I- will be nameless.
-and Duo let out an inhuman horror-filled shriek, so hard and long that he felt he was ripping his vocal cord and burst his lungs in the process.
But his world remained black…
x - - - - - - - - x
Cail was nodding off and he woke up with a start. The room was somewhat dim as the sky darkened by layers of black cloud; he wondered if it was going to get stormy later… what a weather for such a day, he muttered his complaint under his breath, -a searing fear jerked him to alert and he instantly grabbed his sword.
Duo was lying unmoving on his bed, just like a corpse… the thought chilled the man's spines, as he slowly neared the boy; careful as to not wake up any nightmare that could be possessing his stilled figure. He knew something was not right when he saw Duo's hardened face; it was ghastly and devoid of life. His eyes were opened but unseeing; the irises were fully black, such pitch black that wouldn't even reflect the light. His body was stiff like he was a doll made of wood.
The surreal scene made the man's heart beat painfully in his chest; but not yet, he can't flee yet -he had to do something, his little mind whispered to him. So he carefully extended his right hand to touch Duo's hand, while his left hand gripping the sword handle tightly; but before his hand reached, Duo's eyes rolled under his unmoving eyelids and turned to him exactly like a ventri-doll would, -and that did it for The Lieutenant as his instinct moved his body and hands, and he was barely aware of what he let out from his mouth as he slapped Duo's face left and right-
x - - - - - - - - x
…flares of pain-
A distant sound-
Dim light…
That's his only passage back; if he lost this chance, Duo knew he'll never make it back to the surface. Surging up his courage -since he knew his Nightmare clutched him in the power of fear-, he prayed to whatever God may hear him...-
A flash of Heero staring at him with uncertainty in the cave passed his mind's eye; it gave him reasons not to break. -that time, Heero must have known who he was…or what Nightmare resides in him; why else would he made that long speech about ancestors and names…?
-oh, that's right. He had yet apologized to him… for hurting him… for betraying that unspoken trust they shared when they gave each other's names in that cave… for breaking whatever bond he thought he had from the journey back to the Palace. It wasn't simply about him hitting Odin or declaring his hatred towards the man in front of everyone; he understood now, just how grave his mistake was in Heero's perspective. Even if he apologized to him, it might not be mendable… Heero might not see him as part of his master's duty anymore -that even he was yet labeled as a friend- …he'd just be another adversary in that cold Palace.
But it's alright…-
It's alright as long as he still had a chance to see him face to face; eventhough Heero would probably ignore him like he did to the rest of the Palace people.
…Just to be able to see him with his own eyes…-
x - - - - - - - - x
Duo bolted to sit, with a frightened scream wracking his body; and sought whatever moor he could find so as to not slip to that dark realm again. He barely felt the strong hands clutching at his shoulders, or heard that distant sound that was now close to his ears… of its vibration rumbling on his chest…
The guards from outside the doors burst into the room, they had frightened looks which soon turned to a surprise, making an 'ah-' stop and an 'oh…?' uncertain -almost comical faces.
Blinking rapidly with eyebrows curved up, they took three seconds to evaluate the scene and decided to break the situation. "-Cail? ...Lieutenant, Sir?"
Cail somewhat heard he was called, but his scream wouldn't stop before his voice breaks, or he lost his breath… he thought over and decided he needed some air in his lungs. With a cough and a hard wheeze he stopped screaming and realized that terrified scream he was still hearing wasn't his voice; it was Duo, in his arms; clutching at his body like a lifeline… -it was Duo.
"DUO…-!" with a coarse voice he shook Duo's body and tried to pry him from his body. Duo's scream choked and he seemed like he tried to continue it, but his lungs decided they needed air too, although his throat constricted and he was in a coughing frenzy. But it was Duo.
"Ah! It's alright! Just nightmare-!" The Lieutenant made a baffled excuse to the guards; something they didn't quite believe but decided to let it passed… the air in that room freaked them out, they wouldn't have gotten in if not for The Lieutenant's screaming. With tentative nods they left the room trying to not look like they were too pleased to not have to be in there any minute longer.
Duo's coughing fit was broken by wheezes and frightened moans; he looked like a little child trying to get free from their nightmare's clutches, Cail thought…-if only the man knew.
"…Duo?" Cail tried and wiped the locks of hair plastered to Duo's forehead by cold sweat. They may have looked silly under different circumstances, clutching each other and screaming like hell fire burned their tails like that… but even in the eyes of others the-now in that room might have not looked funny, judging by the fear in the guards' eyes he saw. Probably they've just dodged a swinging blade without knowing-
"Duo? …should I call for Gen-?" His words were cut by Duo tightening his clutch in a jerk, shaking his head while shivering as if in cold. Cail blinked the leftover of his fear and surprise out, and knew that Duo needed an anchor more than someone he was used to cling to right now; so he pulled the boy closer, arranging his small arching body to settle in a more relaxing manner and embraced his shoulders and head with a deep sigh.
Yeah… it was probably more than a swinging blade they've dodged. He shuddered as his mind recalled the black-eyes that turned at him… it felt like he was marked by Death's eyes.
x - - - - - - - - x
Odin's head lulled forward and hit Heero's hand; a finger twitched ever so slightly under his forehead, and Odin was instantly awake, wide-eyed… almost delirious-
"…Heero?" he tried carefully, restraining his excitement with steeled voice, covering Heero's hand with his much larger and coarse hand. There was nothing.
He waited for another minute, eyes wild trying to catch whatever cue of his Demon moving; but there was still nothing.
"…What's wrong, Heero…?" he mumbled, stroking the pale cheek with the back of his fingers, carefully avoiding the half-opened wings on the pillow.
After a few breaths span still nothing, he let out a depressed sigh, gripping the unmoving hand on and off as if he could pump his wish into it. Wiping his face with a hand while growling, he hit his head to the mattress in a slump; his men might say that he was now un-Odin-ish, but even he could be drown in depression too… there were situations that got him down too… he just didn't let it showed outside, acting rude just to hide it under his skin.
Another finger twitched, stronger this time. Odin felt it like a cut of a dagger on his palm.
"Heero?!" he jumped and stood up from his creaking chair, looming over the lying demon with his muscular body. And another minute passed with nothing. Odin hissed, "Hey- come on! It's been five days, already! How long are you going to stay still…?" he begged at the end; he almost said 'stay dead', but his tongue had reflexively avoided that word. His wound on his waist had healed to a faint scar already, so why would Heero still be unconscious…?
His focused senses caught a faint moan answering his words, and then another. Odin thought in frantic for a couple of seconds, and widened his eyes in realization. "BY GODS…!" he sprang up and ran towards the bathroom, not minding the ajar door. "WAIT, HEERO; I'LL BE THERE-OUCH! -DAMN!"
Not half a minute later he ran towards the bed while toweling himself in haste, his body was steaming from the hot shower; put his underwear as fast as he could and jumped into the thick blankets.
"-Sorry! I'm sorry!" he muttered while pulling his Demon's body into his embrace, noticing how stiff it was, didn't take time to strip the shirt off him the normal way and just ripped it off and tossed it to the floor in anger; Odin nestled in his usual pose and arranged Heero's body to drape over him as best it could with that stiffness. "I'm sorry! Your share! Take all you need!" Using his left hand stroking the cold smaller back while his right hand massaged the stilled hand, noticing how stiff the joints were that if he bent that hand he'd probably hear cracking sounds.
"-I'm sorry, Heero, I'm sorry!" he muttered over and over remorsefully. It was his mistake that he didn't do what he usually did in that passed five days; he had been thinking about Myrica's words about their links being that easily broken, and too absorbed in being careful not to worsen Heero's state, minding about his own wound and that poison despite knowing that Myrica had took it out from his system… so he'd been treating him like a breakable thin ice, and even avoided touching him unnecessarily; watching over him from the too-used chair by the bed… bitterly aware of the thing he kept under his own pillow.
-it's all that cursed book's faults!
It got him over-contemplating everything and missed what he had to do; what he usually did.
Another moan in complaint, and Odin clamped his mouth with a click. "Shh- okay, I'll shut up…!" he whispered, and settled to being cozy in their arrangement. A thought popped up unbidden, although he should be realizing it sooner or later; that Heero was waiting for his fill these five days' span…and he didn't even realize it; that twitch and faint moans were all his leftover strength could muster; that he was probably listening to all his rambling all along but was having no power to wake up at all. And the man felt shame washed over his being with an avenging shiver. It almost brought tears to his eyes.
Odin pulled the smaller body up and clutched it with both arms, keeping the forehead on his chin since Heero's neck was inflexible, and he couldn't forced it so that his head lied on its side. "-…I'm sorry, Heero…" he whispered with a hard voice to the cold skin, almost kissing it with every word out; feeling the half-opened wings feathers ghosted over his heated skin like a cool mist… he surrendered to the urge and his guilt, and kissed the brown head gently, remorsefully. And he was grateful that it wasn't anymore later he realized this…
x - - - - - - - - x
"This is Treize...!" the greeting was confident in a warm tone. The double doors opened up by themselves revealing the extravagant living room; The General proceeded into the inner chamber passing through its opened doors, he knew where to look for the occupant and directed straight to the balcony. The glass doors were opened, leaving the lace curtains swayed gently in the breeze; the setting sun gave its last lick to give colors at the white see-through curtains, making picturesque half-silhouette of the man sitting cross-legged on the balcony railing.
The sight made his heart skipped a bit, he caught himself staring at that balcony for some seconds as he paused from his strides; with an annoyed frown he quenched whatever feeling bursting from within so that he could control his body better.
"Anyone trying to kill you could push you off that railing without so much an effort...!" he commented conversationally, setting the swaying lace curtain to the side with his right hand as he walked towards the sitting man.
"Would you do that, Treize?" a kind smile bloomed on that angelic face, the yellow orange-tinted lights gave luminescent aura on the long blond hair played by the cool wind...
-the lights and colors were so thick it felt as if he could breathe them in, like a different kind of addictive drug; The General shook his head. Maybe he's already addicted...!
"Is there something urgent?" he asked to the back presented to him.
"Do I have to have something urgent to call you here?" the gentle tone carried a melancholic smile, but he didn't turn around to even spare Treize a glance.
The General blinked and waited several breaths span; "...is there something wrong, Master?"
A light chuckle; "...there's always something wrong, Treize...". The presented back was hunched a little, a relaxed pose... almost looking tired and frail; not the sturdy back of a Master -a King... just a young man who'd been alienated by his own world for almost his entire life.
It looked lonely.
"What happened to your face?"
"Oh? My-cat and I had a little argument..." The General provided conversationally, "I probably shouldn't spoil him too much." He added, and instantly regretted having said that by the end of the last word. He cleared his throat to hide it, hoping the Master wouldn't find it unusual of him.
"To have fights means you can make up later..." The Master chuckled again.
"I suppose... but other people's Familiars wouldn't attack their masters, especially leaving evidences of such act on places where it's plain for everyone to see -I was hoping you'd say that to defend me, even with criticism...!" The General said with a soft snort.
"Ahaa haha ha haa! That's your fault for spoiling your-cat too much...!" The Master laughed outright but didn't turn around, as if he was preoccupied with something to stare at down there somewhere.
His spirit lifted at hearing the burden-free laughter, he didn't realize his lips pulled to a smile; it felt even better knowing that he was the one who made his Master laughed.
-yes, it's an addiction to have such power over such an almighty Ruler; knowing that the privilege was his only and that he had no rival for it.
His feet decided to get closer to his Prized-achievement, a hand sought that soft long hair shining in the yellow lights -...or it was his eyes seeing things with delusions in mind.
He could just use a light push to shove that lithe body off the balcony... people would be too afraid of consequences to question his actions later, whether they found out his doing or just suspected it. Just a light push -the throne was already in his grasp, anyway. People saw him as the Ruler, anyway; he was the one controlling everything from the Palace to the last strings of the suburban fortresses, anyway...!
-just a light push.
-just a push...!
His other hand grabbed the trembling extended hand, the thick jacket he was wearing dampened the tapping sound; pushing it down with effort... a tear rolled down his cheek; his knees buckled, and he fell kneeling behind the lonely back... the swaying long locks teased his face, cool like mist by the dusk air, soft as feathers.
...his heart crumbled.
He rested his forehead on his Master's back; yearning for a physical touch... the distance crushed him in that closeness. He wanted to own this person; all of him and not sharing a bit with the world! He was jealous of the Demon...! If his Master could be a little more Odin-ish, he'd tie his soul to this person's even without needing a Contract! But this person was this Kingdom's own... tied and alienated by its selfishness! -how he tinkered many times to just snatch him from his balcony-railing and leave this cursed kingdom to its demise...!
But that knowing-sincere smile always caught him in the spotlight, beckoning him to the sunny side from his darkened thoughts.
He loved this person with all his might!
"Is there something wrong, Treize?" the gentle tone almost sounded like surrendering.
The General smiled, closing his eyes and shook his head, feeling the brush of the soft blond hair with his movement, the warmth of the back seeped through the layers of clothes and hair. It was his bit of Haven...
"No. Everything is fine, Milliarde"
He felt his Master's smile bloomed in his mind. "...I miss you too, Treize", came the gentle words, soothing like mental-medicine, more addictive than drugs.
The General smiled in resignation. He lost again-
...he swore to succeed next time, after he dealt with the lesser things... he didn't have to do it with these hands, anyway!
x - - - - - - - - x
Duo covered his head with the towel, like wearing a veil; the water dripped from his hair to the bathroom floor. His nervous toes clenched on and off at the tiles, eyes watching the small streams ran towards the drain hole.
"Duo, it's ready!"
"...yes, thank-you, Lieutenant."
Cail paused, he realized Duo had reverted to calling him by rank again. Not that he minded... it just made him a little lonely; or maybe it was him seeking for familiarity in places he shouldn't be in the first place. He nodded although the door blocked him, something weighed his mind but he didn't know how to voice it. He reminded himself about his task and place, and waited by the front door obligatorily.
Duo got out of the bathroom fully clothed. A long deep purple cloak covered his body and the hood hid his face; he dragged the excessive length on the floor as he walked. Cail widened his eyes in reflex at the sight, he instinctively realized the weight of this ordeal and he bowed to show his respect -or just hid his nervousness.
"Cail..." Duo called silently, making Cail to pause his hand that was pulling the door handle open. "It might be selfish of me, and I don't know whether you were consented to this or just being blackmailed by Treize..."
Cail blinked at Duo, he almost made a funny expression at the mention of Treize doing things by blackmail.
"I am grateful for your friendly nature; I can't thank-you enough for your help, whether you realize that you've helped me or not..." the hooded head bowed slowly. Cail opened his mouth to say something, this one sided conversation had beginning to sound like a farewell. "I have one thing to ask of you, if you don't mind."
Duo paused, Cail froze before whatever he was going to say made it to his throat...this had become more awkward with every second passed.
"I ask you..." Duo continued, "To please stay be my friend; for whatever happens after this?"
Cail closed his mouth and blinked again; just that? Duo sure made it sound like it was good-bye..., his mind thought. He nodded his answer and opened the door, Duo walked pass him without another word.
He headed towards the landing of the west end of the Palace, the only landing by the edge of the rocky cliff; he picked it for solitude. The guards to his chamber and the Lieutenant tailed him along, he left it to them to chase away whoever approached him in his way; he'd instructed to them to not speak with him after he exited his chamber, and they obliged nervously. He'd said, after this, he'd free them of their fear of him; the Lieutenant seemed like he wanted to object to that, thinking that Duo was going to ask Treize to relieve them of that task; but Duo's eyes held such finality in his resignation that he didn't dare to voice his mind.
They stopped by the double doors to the landing, Duo nodded once to cue them to leave him alone pass those doors. The guards stopped at respective distance behind him; the Lieutenant opened one of the doors for him, peeking outside to make sure one last time that everything was done as told. Duo ignored him and moved along, letting his cloak fell to the ground as he walked. He had a thin black veil covering his head and shoulders underneath the cloak, the ends of the veil seemed to be folded and held at his front by his joined hands.
There were exactly 188 candles stuck to the landing floor, spread forming a circle of pattern Duo had drawn in details, in a sealed envelope he pulled from his bag. So Cail knew that this was some effort Duo had anticipated even before he left the Covenant. It took him and his men almost 3 hours to prepare the set; he'd made sure everything was perfect, knowing Duo trusted him with his fate.
The candles at the nearest outer lines of the circle lighted by themselves as Duo got near; Cail gasped at the sight, his eyes glanced at Duo and the candles in turns and saw Duo paused on his way; he took 2 seconds to realize that Duo was waiting for him to close the door and leave him be. He bowed in haste and closed the door. The wind was still picking up its pace with the boiling black clouds rolling in the sky above; he was skeptical that anyone could lit the candles in that condition at first... before witnessing how the candles lit up by themselves.
The last surviving light of the dusk dimmed in the far away sky. For an unknown reason Cail's heart lurched down in his chest, feeling like something was slipping away from his grasp. He couldn't back away now that it had started. He could only wish that it was for the best... especially for Duo.
x - - - - - - - - x
Duo watched the last trail of light faded from the sky. The scenery in front of him was the gaping black wound of the earth that marked the missing of the spring that was once a lake. His mind supplied him with the memory of the remains of the Maxwell's headquarter hidden in the depth of it; he shivered and chased it away from his head -he had to be 'empty' for this to work, or it would be a failure with vengeance. Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, Duo thought of a plain darkness where he used to find solitude in his mind.
Not oppressed by the light.
Not oppressed by the world.
He thinned his lips, and let the neatly folded ends of the veil fell from his grips. The winds instantly picked the thin cloth, playing with the material as it flapped and swayed behind Duo's body. A black blindfold secured the veil to his head; he didn't need to see with his eyes in darkness. The thin black ceremonial long-dress tied with layers of sash from his hips up; a neck-piece of crochet-work adorned his upper body, covering his chest and shoulders -the outfit was originally for maidens of rituals, of such ceremonies where it was not permitted for men's eyes to see; because the maidens were topless under that neck-piece, and the thin long-dress didn't provide much cover for their lower bodies ...long ago, such rituals were as a part of sacrificial ceremony to the gods; the maidens' eyes would be denied of light for the rest of their lives.
Duo took it as an escape route...
Slowly walking towards the candles array, hearing the candles lit up in a wave from near him until the fire formed a full circled pattern; disregarding the candles in front of him as he walked forward, knowing the dress caught fire... he started with a little leap, the bells around his ankles chimed when he landed on his toes; another longer leap while he turned his body in mid air, landed with one foot and swung the other leg to turn around on his pivot. Catching the end of the veil with a hand and spread it at his side... bowed slowly; hit the sole of his foot to the floor for another chime, lifted that foot while bending his knees, curving his waist and torso, lifting his free hand above his head -made a gentle flowing curve to the end of his fingers.
Another chime.
A wider leap.
Another curve.
The winds provided the music for his dance, the darkness was his stage; he could forget about the fire of the candles and its heat burning his clothes.
More turns, wider curves; the fire left liquid traces in the air from his movements.
He could drown in darkness...
x - - - - - - - - x
The Master smiled to the night, the brewing storm accompanied him on his balcony railing.
"...a black butterfly dancing its life away in fire... beautiful and sad." He breathed; his eyes clouded by shadow... his always reliable Treize had left him alone. His back felt cold.
He was alone.
x - - - - - - - - x
Another black veil swayed in the strong wind.
The lady in white dress stood on the tip of a pointy rock on the unoccupied other side of the gaping earth, her eyes hidden by her thick black veil stared at the flickering lights on the far away landing. Her face was devoid of emotion.
-a sigh.
Relena threw the glass in her hand to the wall; the crashing sounds only mocked her anger. She hissed and took some heavy breaths, then threw some more things that were in her reach.
"-AAAAAAGHH!", screaming her frustration out... knowing that she was witnessing the luxury she couldn't have.
x - - - - - - - - x
The General Treize smiled ruefully as he climbed his bed; the bundle at the head corner gasped and hissed; it made him laughed haughtily.
"Your master is so pathetic!" he started, and laughed satisfactorily when a clawed hand tried to swat at his face, -again; he caught it midway easily, pulling the hand and pinned it to the bed, instantly looming over the frightened bundle; knowing full well that the wide eyes could see him through the blanket used as cover by that creature. A series of screeches and hisses tried to drive him away in panic. It only baited him more to the game-
x - - - - - - - - x
Odin stirred with a surprised jerk; he didn't realize it when he'd fallen asleep. He frowned as he felt his inner clock; some time passed midnight, he sighed and closed his eyes again -and opened them again instantly, staring at a pair of dim blue eyes staring at him from his chest.
"...Heero." his tone was half surprised and half relieved, almost a question -that he himself didn't know why it had sounded like that...
The droopy eyes of his demon were glazed lightly, giving a thin shade of grey on them; almost liquid color... Odin blinked and realized what it was; the chill had woken him up.
Heero didn't react; the night air felt bereft...
-it felt almost sad...; he closed his eyes slowly, the liquid shade pressed to his long lashes, forced to cling on their ends. He didn't move again after that.
Odin almost afraid to check those glistening liquid with his fingers. His demon never cried...! His hand paused midway, doubting his safe line; he pulled the thick blanket to cover his demon's head, and rested his idle hand on top of the covered back. Knowing he wouldn't feel warmth from that small body seeping through the material.
Sleep denied him until morning comes; just as his demon denied him anymore movement through the night. He probably deserved more than that as punishment for his negligence, he thought. His chest felt tight.
It felt almost sad.
x - - - - - - - - x
"...why did you choose me?" Odin asked silently, instinctively knowing that his demon was 'there' at the present. The morning felt warmer with clear sky after the passing dark clouds of that night. It took over 10 minutes until the demon opened his eye a slit; Odin waited in patience... he didn't have any more choice, after all.
Another minute until his demon blinked and opened both eyes.
Another 10 minutes until his closed lips thinned.
". . . hm?" 5 more minutes to that small voice.
Odin stared the demon's eyes intently. The demon blinked slowly and shifted his gaze to stare back at his.
"...because I was half-beast?" Odin asked with an almost disappointed tone. "Because I had more life-force than humans..?"
"Because I was 'food'?"
"Because I separated myself from the politics?"
"Because I was tied?"
An impatient pause-
"-why?" Odin asked with finality.
The demon blinked a couple more times sleepily; there was a dismissal flashed in his eyes, he closed his heavy eyelids again almost uncaringly.
Odin waited over 15 minutes after that; not getting any answer... he thought the demon left him to sleep again. He sighed and closed his eyes too; the tasks from the Master haunted him again... severe Contract... kill Treize...-
It probably followed with 'prepare for war' later...
"...you took off the blood-thread..." the mumbled voice broke his thought. Odin opened his eyes widely, almost afraid that he imagined hearing it.
Heero didn't move on his chest; the morning breeze played with his brown locks. He knew Odin held his breath, waiting for him to speak again; the man's large hand was closing to his cheek... he turned his face to hide it with the blanket.
Odin stiffened.
The demon could hear that his heart skipped a bit ...his head lied on the man's chest, after all.
"...you cared enough that the thread was hurting me..." he mumbled under the blanket, timidly. "You cared enough for me..."
The last sentence was almost inaudible, but Odin could hear it perfectly. He widened his eyes at the admission. All these years he never even tinkered with the idea that the demon was seeking protection from him...!
Odin gasped and hugged the small body from above the thick blanket.
-ah; but he did seek his protection...! The realization almost broke his heart.
-why now...?
-why didn't he realize it sooner?
'you should be worrying more about his heart, not his body... Demons are operating on their feelings more than food, especially the dead ones'- Lui and the-siblings inside him had said it that one time.
x - - - - - - - - x
Heero was sitting by the bed side, already dressed minus his boots. He was wearing his generic Palace attire, long-sleeved jacket with high collar and matching pants, all in white. The Kingdom's crest pinned under his collar, like a pendant. The matching shoes should be indoor boots, also in white, which at the present were taken hostage by his owner.
"Don't be a kid, give me my shoes." He protested flatly.
The man harrumphed with his battle-pout intact, getting ready with his gears while clasping the white boots under one arm; tapping the sole of his own boot after wearing it as if mocking his demon's demand.
"I can go bare-footed." He warned his owner, who turned his face at him with narrowed eyes, giving his own warning.
Heero drooped his eyes as if bored; only saying 'you cared enough for me' brought this... he'd known it since the beginning, because Odin always had a child's heart he could see clear like crystal, one of the reason he surrendered his person to him... one of the reason why he never gave such admission to Odin. Now his status had just degraded from 'demon-pet' to 'fragile-pet'... the man probably saw him like a caged bird who cannot fly anymore since his wings were never trained to fly.
Well... his wings couldn't fly, because they're not meant to fly! Heero narrowed his eyes dangerously.
"Stay!" Odin barked pointing a finger at the demon.
"I need to guard your back!" he insisted, earning a popping artery on the man's temple, and a teeth-baring.
"I can guard my own back!" Odin snarled; probably feeling insulted being reminded about that incident with that poisoned knife.
"You can, but I need to!" the demon pressed, something flashed in his eyes... something alarming; Odin thought he probably had sensed it that the Master ordered him to severe the Contract, and he was feeling insulted that the demon didn't trust him enough about how he took his importance despite it being the King's order or not.
"You think I'd run away, or something?!" Odin tested angrily.
"Would you?" Heero's eyes were sharp and penetrating, with the deepest frown he'd ever made.
Odin tsk-ed; he'd thought about doing that since last night, over and over and over as if getting lost in a loop-hole; he wanted to just run away and take his demon to safety, away from this Kingdom and that kingdom and the promise of war; but that's impossible... even Treize knew that it's impossible now; that he was tied to be loyal to the Kingdom -or King; that he couldn't blackmail the General with 'turning mercenary' anymore. That he couldn't run away with or without the demon, anyway...
Heero sparred with Odin's darkened stare. "If you're not, give me my shoes. You don't want to be late to the practice court after taking absence for so long." He reasoned stubbornly.
"I don't give a damn about some soldiers waiting for me in the practice court! They can practice themselves better without me yelling their asses off!" Odin growled; which was true... him not being there probably made their practice more efficient, since they'd be more unfocused with Odin's yelling instead -moreover with the demon present, evenmore after they knew what the demon could do as in battle.
"I care of being late! People say that I made you late...!" Heero accused.
Odin blinked at that, almost losing his fire; knowing what people implied in those accusations.
"It's you who's too childish and make yourself late! Give me my shoes or I'll file complaint to Treize-"
"NOOOO!" Odin roared at the mention of Treize. Heero was taken aback that he had an almost shocked look on his face, it made Odin felt almost guilty. "I forbid you to see Treize without my presence!" Odin ordered, knowing that for Heero's standard it was the expression of him feeling dejected; he probably thought it was because he went to Treize the last time about the bedding too.
But Treize had his assets... things that even he didn't know, things that the General used to do his dirty works throughout the land; even more with that cat-Familiar of his, looking timid and cute and hide its deadliness perfectly. Odin didn't doubt Treize's loyalty; if Treize knew the Master wanted him dead, he would even sort to killing himself to obey... but it's a different story with his-cat; that Familiar wouldn't allow it. Why else would the Master order him to kill Treize? It might not be about Treize, it's about someone who could be on par with that-cat.
And the order was to sever the Contract, too. With the terms, severing the Contract is as easily as hurting the demon in their land. If what the Master meant was to sacrifice Heero to the-cat while the man was to kill Treize...?
. . . but he couldn't disobey the King's order...! Odin shuddered. -and realized he was staring at Heero's hung head; the demon might have conceded to his order while feeling dejected... although that was not what he meant! Odin growled exasperatedly and left.
Heero stared at the floor and shut off his senses; if Odin didn't want him around, then where else could he be? If he was to stay in Odin's chamber and not allowed to get out, what's the difference with being caged? -again, like back then... might as well put him in a tomb and let him rest-
Odin knelt in front of him and put the white boot on his right foot. Heero looked up at him in surprise; the man didn't need to see his face to know the expression he made, he proceeded with the other boot, and then rushed to the doors without a word.
Heero blinked staring at his feet, then to the closed doors where Odin exited. So Odin conceded to let him follow the man...! He sprang to his feet and almost ran to the doors, only to collide with Odin's back as he stood frozen outside. He slapped the man's back in protest, one hand at his face; a normal human might have sported a nosebleed because of it.
The door panel closed behind the demon's back; Odin turned around and pushed his back flat to it, a serious frown shaded his face. Heero looked up at him with uncertainty at the unusual gesture.
Odin let out his heavy sigh in a blow of breath, and knelt down; his head was still higher than Heero's, but the man could stare at him face to face without his height dominating their conversation. He pulled out a fur-hat from under his jacket; apparently he left Heero back then to retrieve it from his closet, before putting the white boots on the demon's feet. The color was bright deep red, like the color of blood... perhaps a little darker, like the color of congealing blood. The man put it on the brown head carefully, minding the neatly folded wings so as to not hurt them accidentally. -but this late in the game...
"I don't need it to cover my wings." He said levelly, staring at the man's eyes concentrating with his work. He lost the white one that Odin made for him, he didn't ask for another... because of the poor animals slain just to make him that hat that didn't really serve much purpose wore in the Palace, and all that.
"It's from our General..." Odin breathed, "His 'thank-you for bringing my cousin back in one piece -and I heard you lost your hat in the way, but it's not like I feel responsible about that, I just happened to find a nice material and didn't have the right occasion to give it to you -thank Gods you didn't jeopardize the Contract while having trouble on your way back, but I won't admit it's my fault' gift...! Although he only shortened it to 'this is a token of appreciation for Heero' gift."
Heero blinked at the length, he almost smiled. Odin caught the softened look in his eyes, and the demon averted his gaze; knowing Odin stared at him with such conviction... it's too much to look at this up close.
Odin seemed to know what he felt, might as well surrender to the moment, he thought to himself and crushed his demon in a tight hug, sandwiched between his muscular body and the sturdy door; Heero thought of protesting but refrained when he felt the man's arms pressing his body on and off, as if feeling just a tight hug still wasn't enough.
"...?" he tried turning his head to look at Odin's face, but the man's head was on his shoulder so he couldn't. Odin felt the small movement, felt the brush of the fur-hat to his ear; breathed in the demon's scent deeply, chuckled when his demon stiffened by that little act... while the demon could draped his naked body on top of him without restriction, too.
"Hmmmh..." Odin smiled to himself, closing his eyes savoring the unearthly scent filling his senses. "I forgot that you're a bride I stole from your Deity..."
Heero blinked at the wall of the corridor in front of him; what's this after 10 years? Odin knew Heero thought that...
"...I'm not a damsel in distress, Odin." He said levelly. Almost apathetically, it made Odin tightened his arms.
"No..." a wider smile, "...you're a sacred-maiden." He grunted out because the force of the hug. It was meant as a compliment, but Heero blinked in incomprehension; Odin chuckled picturing his almost-baffled look, his senses picked some discreet yelps and frightened steps scurrying from both ends of the corridor, notably at the junctions.
Heero glanced at a guard who so happened caught his eyes in a flash as he hurried back towards the way he came from. "You should do this inside..." he criticized levelly.
"Let them see." Odin said uncaringly.
A baffled air hung around the demon, Odin smelled it like a predator smelled its prey; the demon probably thought that he was being contradictory to himself, with the way he'd spoken his order inside the chamber. Ahh... if only the demon knew what kind of contradiction storming his mind, right now. He gave one last pressure to his embracing arms, discreetly grateful that his demon didn't need to breathe -he realized how much strength he was using, any other human might have fainted by now; releasing his body and held him still by the upper arms, looking at his blue eyes filled with unspoken question.
Then used his right hand to stroke at the pale cheek; "You don't have to look so caught... you know I care." He said gently; ignoring a couple other high-pitched yelps and the sounds of running steps from the junction, -apparently some ones who came their way thought to just watch and wait for the scene with the demonic Commander to pass so that they could continue walking; they're probably regretting their patience by now.
But was this act considered obscene that they'd flee? Heero mulled at it and decided it wasn't because of him being a demon, but because Odin being un-Odin-ish right now.
"It's disgusting. Stop it." Heero criticized sternly.
Odin drooped his eyelids; he didn't look angry yet. "What is...? Doing this outside?"
"Treating me like a maiden." Heero protested.
Odin paused, and thought; he admitted it was too late for dramatized intimacy now... and besides, Heero had even more Spartan life style than him. 'Something that's not needed is not needed', that kind of style; but in that sense, it's not him using the demon like everybody else thought; it's the demon using him, right?
"If you understand, proceed to the practice court without that disgusting melancholic smile on your face." The demon demanded flatly.
Odin stilled, while staring with almost a dejected look, but admitted that he'd probably crossed a line somewhere. -but was it really disgusting? ...his smile...?
...maybe it's not compatible with his muscled body?
Or with his face...?
But the smile was on his face...
. . . then, it's his face disgusting...?
"Move...!" Heero frowned when Odin didn't move a muscle. He admitted to himself that he probably shouldn't have said it with words so harshly just to escape the awkwardness, but he didn't like it that Odin didn't care about others watching. He didn't like to stand out more than he already had to.
x - - - - - - - - x
Now... it seemed he'd really crossed the man's line...!
Heero tried to walk with a straight face... although his eyelids felt heavy they drooped unintendedly, and why did his brows couldn't be un-frown-ed?
Odin chuckled throatily, his grin had pulled to a leer. So Odin minded it about that disgusting-thing, but the man should know it too that he minded it about being treated like a maiden. Why that all of a sudden?! Only because he admitted that he took Odin's care into consideration? Did it really have any deeper meaning than that...? And he thought Odin was the soldier type, not the lover type... -uuugh, thinking it in words already sent chills down his spine!
Or was it just Odin being a bully...?
That's why they're heading to the practice court, right? Just bully those men, there...!
Odin chuckled deeper and hoarser, knowing what bothered his demon; it made Heero wondered whether he meant to laugh or to snarl. Adding to his enjoyment, Odin pulled the small shoulder he had under his arm and flattened the lithe body to his side. Almost letting out a snicker when his demon involuntarily let out a protesting moan.
The smaller hands tried to push and separated their bodies apart, his brows were knitted so deep they almost looked like being tangled. He almost looked too cute for Odin right now; the man couldn't help himself and swoop his demon from his feet with that circling arm, and grinned toothy-ly at the -almost- flushed face of his demon when their faces were aligned because of the arrangement.
Heero hit him on reflex.
"...uungh-..." Odin complained with a not so moan or growl, but the playful light was still there in his eyes. "Why? Are you embarassed arriving like this at the pratice court?" he purred.
Ah! Heero knew it... so this was payback for insisting to come along and calling his smile disgusting?
"HAAHHAHHAHAHAAHAAHH!" Odin laughed outright at the expression his demon was making, although his demon didn't seem to realize how endearing it was. Odin being Odin decided to dare the devil more and tasted a lick at his demon's chin.
-of which earned him a knee-kick at his own chin.
"-...owwwhhhh...!" this time he moaned and groaned at the same time, facing the ceiling of the corridor, trying to chase away the fireworks that decided to flare behind his eyelids. Heero was walking away so fast his steps could par with a running human. Odin thought he'd probably teased his demon too far...
"Heero, wait! I'm just being playful...!" he said levelly, a touch of joy still colored his tone; knowing his demon could hear him. Snorted once, and swung his legs to chase after the fleeing demon.
"-WAAHH!" a surprised yelp stopped his demon at the junction; and Odin had only moved two wide strides to chase him too. A wavy brunette hair flowed as the wind hit them from the open corridor of the long balcony; Odin knew whose it was even before he managed a glimpse of the person.
"I'm sorry, I'm in a hurry-!" the clear voice said in remorse; the almost fragile looking hands holding his demon's upper arms... the purple bright eyes shining like gemstones; the black attire.
Odin almost hissed outright, but the look on that boy's face stunned him to stop his strides; that look... that mesmerized burden-free look on that pretty face... almost making him looked angelic with shimmering air around him... like a totally different person-
"...Hello!" Duo said after he recovered from his short-lived surprised, looking openly at the demon's face with a gentle smile and light flush on his cheeks. "Are you an attaché for the Demons? I didn't know there's someone working that job here in the Palace...!" he smiled wider, "Maybe those rumors about war going to start again are just rumors, then. Treize shouldn't be so stressed about it...!" he commented off-handedly.
The demon blinked at the open face.
"Oh!" Duo realized what he was doing and pulled his hands, slapped them to his hips several times in hands-cleaning gesture, and presented his right hand to shake. "I'm Duo. Nice to meet you!" he beamed.
The demon stared at his open face.
Duo widened his smile inviting the demon to a handshake he's patiently waiting.
The demon stared at him...
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thanx for reading -and waiting n_n
saru's note:
thank-you for patiently waiting for this fic; saru just finished the long-overdue comics… OTL -oh, better not tell about the details of the process-
anyway; this chapter was stretched for so long of time, so saru added more; so this one is actually the plot for two chapters… you'd probably notice the difference of the atmosphere of the storytelling… but thinking you wouldn't like too steep a cliffhanger too…
oh yes, saru didn't have dictionary for the half-end of the fic, saru is minding about Frankfurt event this year, saru is stressed about the royalty payment and its tax and the tax annual report, saru is brewing another comic-concept just because saru don't have time to finish all those things -as if saru is not stressed enough as it is, and more stress=more concept=more stress… it's the devil's circle-, saru is happy and unhappy at the same time (the graphic made concerning spikes lately -need company to keep safe)… saru is having a heated argument over vit.C with Oni-tan, saru got reprimanded by cousin just because saru like listening that song about a dead sinden (Sundanese traditional singer) from the singer who claim that she could speak with ghosts and that the sinden-lyrics were really the dead-sinden's song…just because saru got more incidents lately with those-things? Uuuh…do you see any correlation in that? -saru is having self-justification because saru like that song a lot… and saru avoided the crematorium too this Tuesday- just for prevention… and you probably wouldn't read this note anyway. Okay, everything is in order.
Oh, about self-calling, if anyone ever wondering…
In Indonesian, there's no 3rd person speech pattern. We don't use the difference of 'do' and 'does'. And there's also no gender difference in 'he/she'. And we don't say 'you' to our parents, we call them as the noun 'mom'/'dad', or grandparents, or people older than the person speaking; using 'you' in the speech to call them is considered impolite, even to strangers. So does saying self's name, or sibling's name/noun. Saying self's name is usually to emphasize endearment, or as in spoilt way, or intimate…or just plain habit. So we don't call our own names as if we are seeing ourselves as another person/3rd person, the grammatical pattern just doesn't translate into English. Saru don't know the details but it seemed many Asian languages have the same pattern…?