Chapter Ten
Trigger warning: mentions suicide attempts, physical and mental abuse, panic attack and intrusive thoughts.
Word count: 4,158
Author's note: I guess I forgot to upload chapter nine when it was finished. So you'll be getting two chapters this month. I'll be planning out the rest of the story for the rest of the month and updating my Young Justice story. I'm hoping I know how many chapter there will be before too long. Have a great day guys~! Thanks for reading~!
Yall when I was editing the last page I was listening to "I'll Never Love Again" by Lady Gaga and I am just wrecked. I've had Behind the Sea playlist on shuffle and I was attacked.
Quatre had called everyone in before the crack of dawn. Not that Wufei was asleep or had been sleeping much since they discovered Ayame was alive. That was almost a month ago and Wufei has been collecting every piece of information he could. Since the news conference Ayame has been in two interviews and three photoshoots. Caelum was involved in all five of them and by all accounts they looked like a happy couple.
Wufei kept lingering on Ayame's photos. To him, she didn't look like herself. Short hair, pale skin, forced smiles and frail looking. He needed her back, he needed to hold her to make sure she was real. To feel her heartbeat and to hear her breathing. He didn't know what he'd do with himself if they were unable to rescue her. Or at least speak with her.
Wufei was the first to arrive at Quatre and Trowa's home. Quatre had secluded himself in his office and Wufei felt he may have disappeared on purpose. To give Trowa and him alone time. Wufei wasn't ready to forgive him, but he could feel himself starting to waver. He understood why Ayame trusted Trowa the most, they became friends fast and their personalities were the same. Except for Ayame's few quirks. She confined in Trowa more than Wufei knew. Losing her family at such a young age of course she would come to see them as her family. She was protective and would do anything, obviously, to keep them safe.
Trowa and Wufei were sitting in the living room. Silently sipping on their coffee, the television playing in the background. Trowa wanted to speak, but he was afraid his words would fall on deaf ears. Over the last few weeks he had felt Wufei's tense energy was waning, but at the same time he was attempting to rush them. He knew why, they all did. Telling the usual patient man to be patient was making him more an more impatient.
"I'm sorry." Wufei said suddenly.
Trowa nearly dropped his cup in surprise. He quickly recovered and watched Wufei with soft intent.
"How I've been acting towards you, it wasn't fair. You were just doing what Ayame wanted and I should have honored that. But I didn't. I was just angry she sacrificed herself like that and I took it out on you." Wufei continued, "I'm sorry."
"You don't have to apologize Wufei." Trowa said as he placed his cup down, "but I appreciate the notion."
Heero and Duo arrived within minutes after their conversation had ended. With donuts. Duo was prepared to carry the tête-à-têtes, however, when they walked in Trowa and Wufei were sitting next to each other talking freely. Heero pinched Duo, predicting he was going to ask.
They were snaking on Donuts when Quatre dramatically entered the room and slammed a fancy envelope on the coffee table. Everyone peered over the table, reading Quatre and Trowa's name in fancy gold cursive.
"Is that what I think it is?" Duo asked.
"It is." Quatre nodded, "the wedding is in two weeks. I'm willing to bet Relena and Dorothy received one as well. So here's what I'm thinking, we divide into three teams. Duo and Heero will act as Dorothy's bodyguards and Wufei will also go as a bodyguard, but for Relena. Since they're her cousins, they'll be able to see Ayame before the ceremony begins."
"That will give us a chance to see her." Heero said.
"What will you and Trowa be doing? Because those coat closets aren't as roomy as you'd think they are." Duo said, winking at Wufei. He just scoffed and returned his attention back to Quatre.
Quatre shook his head, "Trowa and I will be running interference while you two sneak her out. And I mean sneak, Heero, no explosions, no guns. In order for this to work we need absolute stealth."
"Wouldn't it make sense to send Trowa with Duo instead? They are the stealthiest out of all of us." Heero suggested.
"Trowa and I are expected to be together. Besides if you two run into any difficulties Duo and Ayame will need you." Quatre explained.
The discussion around him began static as Wufei starred down at Ayame's real name written above Caelum's. Seeing the invitation made everything real and his stomach began to feel nauseous. His heart raced, his skin felt like it was on fire and his blood was pooling in his ears.
Trowa happened to look over at Wufei and saw his skin turn pale. "Are you alright?"
Wufei choked out a, "no." Before he hunched over with his arms wrapped around his stomach. Everything he's been feeling was pushing their way to the surface. He imagined Ayame standing at the altar, beautiful in all white. Caelum was with her, they looked happy repeating their vows. But then there was gun shot and Ayame fell to the floor. Caelum stood there with a gun pointing down at her, emptying the clip into her already lifeless corpse.
Trowa soothed his back with small circles and Duo dunked a tea cloth into the cold water and placed it on the back of his neck.
"Deep breaths Fei." Duo whispered, sitting down on the floor in front of Wufei. He looked back at Quatre and Heero, obviously freaked because their friend who was always in control of his emotions was losing it. What could they do for him? It was impossible to make Ayame magically appear.
"We'll have her back soon, Wufei." Duo said.
Wufei gripped Duo's shirt weakly, tugging on him. Immediately, Duo wrapped his arms around him. It was embarrassing for him to be seen like this, but he wanted to feel safe. Duo was that net. As much as the braided fool irritated him, he trusted him. The first year after Ayame died, Duo was the only one who could get him to smile, to breathe. Duo slept over at his apartment whenever Heero worked late, he made sure Wufei ate and slept.
The others left to give them space. They refined their plan in the other room. Trowa suggested they should keep Dorothy and Relena out of the loop because in the worst case scenario they should have complete plausible deniability. Heero disagreed Dorothy and Relena's positions would protect them. They would find out anyway, they always did.
Duo poked his head out, giving them the all clear by tilting his head back. Wufei was standing with the invitation in hand. He looked exhausted with his eyes red and puffy. He turned towards them when Duo cleared his throat.
"I'm happy she's alive. I've missed her." He said, "but I don't agree with your plan."
He wouldn't pinpoint it, but everything just felt…wrong.
"May I ask why?" Quatre asked nicely.
"We thought she was dead, we accepted that. Now, after three years, she resurfaces. Why? What game are the Romerfellers playing? I don't think I have to point out that she doesn't look like our Ayame." Wufei paused, "if we do manage to safely get her out are we prepared for the difference three years has done to her?"
"You're worried she won't remember us?" Duo asked.
Wufei shook his head, "yes and no. I'm worried she will remember us, but what will she do once she sees us. There's no doubt in my mind that they've hurt her in some way, she's strong. Stronger than any of us, but what if—"
"Are you suggesting brainwash, Wufei?" Heero asked, raising a skeptic eyebrow.
"Yes and it makes sense. They put on this show, they put Ayame front in center to not just draw everyone in. But us. The Romerfellers have to know that we will do anything to save her. They're baiting us." Wufei said.
"I'm following you, but what are you suggesting that we don't save her?" Quatre asked.
"I think we should, but we need to absolutely careful. Ayame was capable to take us out back then, but if she's become their puppet? There's no telling what she's capable of now."
Ayame is standing on a pedestal surrounded by mirrors on all sides. Her maids are pinning the areas that needed to be taken in and trimming the lace around her wrists. They're discussing what should be done about her when Genni walked in.
Immediately Genni marveled at the dress. "My, my, my, you really do look like a princess."
Ayame doesn't say anything, she stares pass her reflection. With the count down to the wedding getting closer she's become more and more quiet. Hiding her panic deep inside so no one could see. Her brain was coming up with plans of escape she knews she won't be able to pull off.
"Ladies will you give us a moment?" Genni asked, holding her hand out for the tomato cushion for the pins.
Ayame's maids leave after they curtsy and she turns to face Genni. Ayame remains still as the old crow runs a cold hand over the silk of her dress and then up to her face. Ayame braces herself as Genni's hand disappeared into her hair. Ayame yelps when Genni yanked her down by her hair, making her trip down the ledge. She tugged her close so Ayame could clearly see the hatred in her old eyes.
"Let me remind you, Lord Caelum is not your savior. He may think he's in charge, but he is not. The two of you were betrothed for the soul purpose of reuniting two families and to produce heirs. I expect you to remember your place. You have no say, you have no rights."
Genni pulled her up and fixed the dress around her. She looked thoughtful for a moment and then her gaze coldly dropped. "Such a shame, the dress is so lovely. Oh well, there's only so much we can do with you. Smile, my dear. It is the only good thing about you."
Genni took all the air with her, suffocating Ayame as she fell against the pedestal. Her maids walked in and found her on the floor, sobbing into her arm. Their jaws fell open and they exchanged what-the-fuck-do-we-do looks with each other. They knew Genni treated Ayame horrendously, but in their low totem positions they couldn't do or say anything. And Ayame always dealt with the hostility with grace.
The elder of the maids, crouched next to Ayame and drew her into her arms. She ordered the other two to start dismantling the dress and she held Ayame, running a soothing hand over her hair. After they had put her in a springtime color maxi dress, they hide her puffy eyes and flushed cheeks with make-up. Ayame was too embarrassed to thank them out loud, she opted to squeezing their hands when the guards came to collect her.
The guards lead Ayame to the tearoom where Caelum had been waiting patiently. She was happy to see him, he was, after all, the closest thing to freedom she'd ever get. Caelum stands to greet her, kissing her on the cheek.
He turns towards the guards. "You can leave."
"I'm sorry sir, but we are under orders to stay by the Princess's side."
"And I'm telling you to disappear." Caelum said, glaring down at them.
"I'm sorry sir, but that won't be happening."
"Was it Lady Genni that ordered this? Let me remind you, as a Lord, I outrank all of you and Lady Genni. Disobeying my direct orders mean dire consequences for all of you." Caelum threatened, pushing Ayame behind him.
Takin in the new information the guards bowed to the two and left the room. Ayame released the air she had been holding and nearly fell to the floor.
"Are you alright?" Caelum asks, resting a hand on her shoulder.
"That was stressful to watch." Ayame said.
"Then how about a walk? The fresh air will clear our minds."
This time, without hesitation, Ayame went outside. Leaving her shoes in Caelum's hands. He followed her, laughing every time she paused under the sunlight broke through the clouds.
"You really love this, don't you?" Caelum asked.
"When you grow up under the sun and surrounded by nature, you tend to miss it when it's taken away from you."
"I thought you grew up in the palace in a faraway country?" Caelum asked.
"Not…exactly." Ayame returned to Caelum, eyes casted downwards as she considered her words carefully. "What…what if I told you I used to be the leader of a Northern rebellion group called the Blades, who fought against the Earth Alliance and Oz?"
Caelum cocked his head to the side. "That's an interesting and imaginative what if."
Ayame doesn't answer, just stares off into the distance. The natural light giving way to the stress her maids had hidden. Caelum wasn't blind, he was well aware of Genni being a source of fear for Ayame. He did his best to shield her from the old woman, but they were allowed a few hours to be together a day. The things she said sometimes and the aura she exuded had him curious.
"It is just a story, Aurora. Right?" He inquired. He knew there was more to her than what his family told him. He caught her face in his free hand and lifted it so their eyes could meet.
"I helped the Gundam pilots destroy several Earth Alliance and Oz facilities." She said softly
"You're not joking, are you?"
Ayame shook her head, "I've fought on the front lines. I have killed many without remorse. I did anything and everything I could to keep a territory free of your family's grip. I've held the hands of my men until they died. I have buried many friends and grieved quietly for the ones we couldn't."
"Why tell me? I could tell my superiors. They could have you killed." Caelum had released her, stepping back to measure up the woman who stood before him.
Ayame falls silent but holds Caelum's fierce gaze. The solider in her rising to the surface. Killing Caelum could be the best distraction to make her escape or it could get her killed. Honestly, she'd be fine with either.
"That's what you want, isn't it? You want to die."
"They stopped me the first time." Ayame stared off into the distance. "More than anything? I want to be with him."
"Him who?"
"His name was Wufei. He was a Gundam pilot and he killed himself after his colony was destroyed right before his eyes." Ayame said.
"Were you two close?" Caelum asked.
"I loved him and I never had the chance to tell him." Her biggest regret.
The car ride was taking forever. Was Quatre's driver even going the speed limit? Trowa and Quatre didn't seem to notice. They were too busy going over paperwork. He was half listening to their conversation when his ears perked up at a particular word.
"What about a hospital?" He asked.
"It's just in case Ayame needs one." Quatre replied, "it's precautionary."
"What else is precautionary?" Wufei choked on the real question he wanted to ask. Is planning her funeral precautionary as well? Were they planning to dissimilate her mind if she had been brainwashed?
"We just have to be prepared for everything." Quatre said, his voice soft. "It's my family's hospital. We'll be able to hide her there until she's better."
Before their conversation could continue Quatre's phone rang. Wufei sat back with his arms crossed over his chest, waiting patiently to continue their discussion. Trowa offered him a book that he had brought along, but Wufei politely refused. He shared a few words, looked confused for half a moment, and then hung up the phone.
"Well that was odd."
"Who was it?" Trowa asked.
"Heero. He says there's someone we should meet before we commence with our mission."
"Can't it wait?" Wufei asked, his hand clenching around his shirt's material.
Quatre saw the motion and clicked his tongue, "Heero doesn't think so."
Wufei sighed heavily, "great."
"Wufei I know you have an issue with the plan, but everyone agreed this is the best way to save her. We've taken your thoughts into consideration and adjusted. You have to trust us." Quatre said.
"I do trust all of you. It's this situation I don't trust." Wufei said before he returned to looking out the window ending the conversation.
The anxiety Wufei felt was long gone and now all he was was a ball anger fuming in the corner of the car. Which made for the longest car ride the three have ever endured. Every so often Quatre would reach over and place a hand on his knee. It worked, but only for a few minutes until he was back at it. When the mansion came into view the air left his lungs and his body stopped moving.
The driver pulled up to the grand entrance, where an older man escorted all of them to a waiting room. Heero, Duo, Dorothy and Relena were already there and stood when the three entered.
Duo and Heero moved to welcome them, giving them clear view of Caelum sitting across from Relena. Wufei almost snapped, he wanted to rush the future prince and throw him into a wall. Several times. He fought the urge and focused the sudden rage and stuffed his hands into his pocket.
"You all know Caelum." Relena introduced them.
Caelum stood, buttoning his smoker's jacket as he approached them with his hand extended. Quatre and Trowa shook it, but Wufei glared at him.
"What's going on?" Wufei asked, looking over in Heero's direction.
"Don't ask me, ask Caelum." Heero said.
Wufei rolled his eyes, cryptic as ever.
"And why should we trust him? He is a Romerfeller." Trowa asked.
"Not all Romerfellers are the same." Dorothy said, closing the door behind her.
"True cousin. I am nothing like our grandfather." Caelum said.
"I can attest to that. Cael has always looked up to the Peacecrafts and has no stomach for war. Even when we were children." Dorothy added.
"I wanted to be worthy whenever Aurora and I married." Caelum admitted.
"That's very noble, but why help us now? You've had plenty of time to contact the Preventers and help us out." Duo asked, leaning against the back of a couch.
"I'm not helping you. I'm helping Aurora. She's told me who she was. What she used to do, what the war had put her through personally. Being a Romerfeller and all I can get my hands on files no one else can. It only took a day, but I confirmed her story."
Quatre put his hands up to pause Caelum's story. "She told you. Why?"
"I'm not sure exactly. Maybe she thought if I knew who she was I would take a number out of my grandfather's book and stage an accident after our wedding." Caelum replied. "She's a complicated young woman."
"You don't have to tell us." Duo snickered, "or Wufei. He got the blunt end of her personality the most."
Caelum's head whipped in Wufei's direction. "You're Wufei?"
Not knowing what else to do, Wufei just awkwardly nodded his head.
"She told me a lot about you." Caelum clapped him on the back and then gripped his shoulder with a giant grin, "She thinks you're dead. Well, this will be a lovely surprised for her I think."
Wufei shoed his hand away, "why does she think I'm dead?"
"She was told you were. By whom I'm sure I don't know." Caelum replied.
Wufei curses something in under his breath, fixed his jacket and turned to walk out the door. Heero and Trowa were quick to stop him. He fought back, demanding to be released. Quatre stood in front of him and cupped his face in his soft hands.
"You can't go to her. Not right now, not like this. You both will be killed." Quatre spoke softly, calming Wufei until his arms were relaxed in Heero and Trowa's grip.
"Please, I urge you to listen to your comraded. Aurora—Ayame—isn't strong enough to be in a fight. There are moments when I saw it, the will of hers to fight astounds me, but she physically cannot." Caelum pleaded. "If you want to go through with this, I need to warn you. She looks far worse in person than she does on screen."
Caelum dug in his pocket and threw a decoding device at Wufei.
"What's this?" He asked.
"A code to the Leo's in the basement of the mansion, along with some guns, ammunition and small bombs. I'm well aware of your plan, but please hear me out." Caelum said.
"What did you have in mind?" Wufei clutched the decoder in his hand.
Genni was putting the last pearl beaded hair pin into Ayame's hair. Complaining the whole time how she wished it was longer and then jammed a few more pins into her head. Ayame jerked away, but Genni pulled her back and glared at her in the mirror. A look of warning if she moved again.
A knock at the door ruined Genni's concentration and she set everything down in a loud clunk to answer it. Her shoes sounding like uncoordinated hoof clops along the way. Her mood and attitude did a 180 when she opened the door.
"Ah, yes, hello. Welcome, welcome." Genny greeted overly excited. "Princess, your cousins, Relena and Dorothy, are here."
A new hope sprung in her heart. Maybe the other Gundam pilots were here as well? Ayame turned in her chair, greeting them warmly with a smile. Dorothy approached first and hugged Ayame, two arms around her protectively.
"You look stunning." Dorothy said, taking the pin that Genni just placed out. Ayame caught the look of irritation on her voice and couldn't help but flash her a quick smirk.
"You really do." Relena added, "thank you Genni. That will be all."
"I must insist that I stay to help with the final preparations." Genni insisted.
The final preparations being to threaten Ayame if she doesn't follow the itinerary to the letter.
Dorothy stood from her hunched position and stared Genni down like she was on top the tallest white horse. "You were asked to leave, now do so."
Genni stuttered through her words. Something only Caelum was able to do. "How dare you! You have no right to talk to me like that."
Dorothy took a step forward glaring down at her with scary contempt. Genni took a step back. "I am the late Duke Dermail's granddaughter and Miss Relena is the current representative of a the E.S.U.N. We out rank you. We will always out rank you."
"Please Genni, please leave." Relena says in a softer tone. Genni considers the three girls for a moment, glares down Ayame before Relena blocks her view. The spiteful woman leaves in a gust of irritated wind.
"Are you alright?" Relena asked.
"Yes, thank you. She can be…terrifying." Ayame replied, a hand of relief on her chest.
"We bring you good news Ayame." Dorothy nodded to Relena.
To hear her real name was so confusing. She was rarely called Aurora in the walls of her prisons, but to hear it spoken so tenderly was like an out of body experience. Ayame stopped existing years ago.
Relena bent down and covered Ayame's hands with her own. "The whole time you've been held captive, you've been lied to."
"What do you mean?" Ayame asked.
"Wufei is alive. He and the other pilots are here to take you home." Relena replied.
"No. No he's not. He died. They showed me pictures. He-he can't be." Ayame's voice cracked.
"They found someone who looks like Wufei and staged everything." Dorothy explained.
"We were just in the room with him." Relena added. "He's been with the Preventers along with the others."
"You're lying. Wufei is gone." Ayame felt her eyes sting, "he's gone and he's never coming back."
Dorothy and Relena looked at each other, not sure what could be said to make Ayame believe them.
"No Ayame. He's alive." Trowa said as soon as the door was closed.
Ayame gasped and stood in shock and ran to him. Trowa enveloped her with his arms and drew in a shaky breath and buried his face into the nook of her neck.
"I'm so sorry, Ayame. I'm sorry." He sobbed, "we should have kept looking."
Ayame raised her head and kissed his cheek, tears streaming down her cheek. She didn't need to say it, he saw the understanding in her eyes. He wiped the tears away from their faces, wiping more at her make-up because she didn't look like herself.
"There's someone who wants to talk to you." He said, placing the device against her ear and she held it there over his hand.
"Hello?"
"Ayame." Wufei sighed with soft relief.
Tears freely fell again, "Wufei, you're—"
"Alive and I'm coming for you."