Chapter 26 – Peace
When Quatre came back to the world, it was with a groan and a splitting headache.
He felt liked he'd gone several rounds with Wufei and lost horribly each time. He blinked up at the sky, clouds still hanging low, but with rays of sunshine poking through. It looked calm, like after a storm, just before the sun broke through the gloom. With effort, he pushed himself up, everything a bit fuzzy to both his eyes and his empathy. He turned and saw Trowa lying beside him and slowly crawled his way over to him.
"Trowa? Trowa are you—can you hear me? Are you all right?"
"Mmm—yes," was the faint reply just before Trowa's eyes slit open and squinted up at him. "Just don't ask me to move."
Quatre smiled at him and shook his head in agreement, relief making his eyes a bit wet and everything even harder to see. He reached out with his empathy tentatively and blew out a breath in relief as well as he felt the presence of the others, exhausted and spent, but alive. Settled and assured they were all right, he all but collapsed next to Trowa, curling up against him in the dirt.
"The others?"
"We're all fine," Quatre breathed out into Trowa's shoulder.
"In a manner of speaking," Duo gave out, his ears picking up Quatre's soft words. He sounded just as spent as Quatre felt. "I may never move again."
"You'll live," Heero grunted.
"Did it work?" Wufei asked, pragmatic even when in a heap on the ground. "I would like to not have a repeat of whatever it was Zero did."
"Yes, seconded," Duo agreed. "Also, Q, did we not talk about going rogue? You lying liar."
"I didn't," Quatre insisted, frowning at the disbelieving huff Trowa let out. "I just remembered advice we were given. The Great Ladies bound Epyon on their own before, but weren't trying to do what we were, permanently disabling her. Just repeating what they did before wasn't enough for our combined will—we needed Zero and she told me to call her. You were there, Duo, Heero."
"She did," Heero agreed. Then, for Trowa and Wufei's benefit, "In Ares, before Zechs arrived."
"I could hear Zero, after we failed, that first attempt," Quatre went on. "And I realized what she'd meant, and what Heavyarms meant. I linked her to us and her will was enough of a push to seal Epyon away. Can't you feel it?"
Even without the benefit of his empathy, they should be able to, Quatre thought. The remnants of all that energy from the Colony Kingdoms pulsed through them still.
"Yeah…yeah I can," Duo murmured, the smile in his voice palpable. "We did it. We actually fucking did it."
"Yes," Quatre concurred. "Epyon's gone, sealed away. And, I think, Zero too—part of the binding now. I could feel her acceptance, her letting go at the end."
Well, that and strange visions that all blended together as well. He couldn't make sense of them though, and he didn't think he was meant to. It was a goodbye, in a sense.
"Good," Wufei got out. Quatre could hear him begin to struggle to his feet and tilted his head up to watch him. "Then we just have an army left to defeat."
Quatre watched Wufei's gaze draw inexorably to where Treize was still crumpled on the ground. Lady Une was unconscious next to him, still alive from what Quatre could tell, but Treize was awake, looking around him in a mixture of confusion and despair. He didn't look quite to ghastly as before, eyes a deep blue now instead of that sickly green color, and some of the color restored to his complexion.
He didn't think they were out that long, but Quatre couldn't hear the sounds of battle anymore. Following Wufei's lead, he pushed himself up and offered a hand to Trowa, helping his husband up as well. He looked around and saw most of the fighting forces were knocked flat by Epyon's binding and were struggling to regain their feet. The Maguanacs and Nix were having the most luck of the forces closest to them. Nix wasn't bleeding anymore, but the wound in his side looked painful. He still made his way to stand beside Quatre, unflinching in his movements. Quatre stroked the sides of his face in relief, Nix's muzzle level with his eyes in this form.
Most of the leaders of Treize's allies were dead or defeated. Dorothy and Dermail were gone. Dekim Barton and his son were dead and defeated, respectively. Quinze was dead. All that was left of the main leadership was Treize and Lady Une. Wufei came to this same conclusion and advanced on Treize, raising his dao, arm steady despite his exhaustion, and leveling it under Treize's chin.
"On your feet," Wufei ordered, his voice uncompromising. Treize didn't fight him, clumsily rising as directed.
"She—Epyon is gone then," Treize said, his own voice alone as smooth and refined as Quatre remembered, even in defeat. "While I did not think I would be, I am relieved."
"Good for you, buddy," Duo said, darkly, tall and menacing as he came to stand beside Wufei. "Got some buyer's remorse in calling forth the psycho, evil spirt, do you?"
Treize simply nodded. Then, "In my limited defense, Epyon was mostly Dorothy's idea, but I don't argue that I did little to dissuade her course of action. To my ultimate regret."
"Your regret doesn't change what happened," Heero said coldly. "You can only move forward and atone for your actions. Do we have your surrender now?"
Treize met Heero's gaze and then nodded. "Yes, you have it."
"Good. Send a runner to your generals then. We'll do the same." Heero cocked his head over towards where Dekim Barton's body and crumpled son lay. "I assume you'd like your daughter to be released from protective custody from Barton's men. You'll need to order that too."
"She's the new heir to the Barton family," Trowa added. "If she swears fealty to Ralph, I'm sure she'll be treated with respect, regardless of your actions."
"Of course," Treize agreed, real regret sharpening along Quatre's mind through his empathy. Then his eyes traveled down to Lady Une before meeting Quatre's gaze for the first time. "My dear Lady was ordered to do everything she did; I ask that be taken into consideration."
"I believe that's up to your brother, I don't care where she goes," Quatre returned.
That wasn't entirely true. And he was sure he wasn't the only one who knew that.
From the moment he'd heard Lady Une's name and realized her true role in everything that had befallen his family, a deep, searing anger ate at him. At the thought of what she had been willing to do, willing to destroy. She and Treize hadn't known Quatre really was the heir to Quattuon and they'd still been willing to destroy an innocent, uninvolved family to try and gain a foothold in the Colony Kingdoms. And after, they'd conspired with Dorothy to hasten Trowa's curses activating—Quatre could almost feel the press of the candle against his palm again.
There had been no love lost between them since Lady Une entered his life, but Quatre thought some part of her loved his father and he tried to find kindness for her. Knowing that had never been true though, that his father, his family, him, it was all a mission, an order by forces conspiring for power…it burned at him. His hands were clenched tight enough they would've broken skin if his nails had been long enough.
Treize played his role in this, and while Quatre held no illusions that his remorse now was only because he'd been so thoroughly manipulated by Dorothy and Epyon, his emotions didn't lie. His desire to bring peace and do what was necessary to fix his mistakes was real. Perhaps so was the Lady's. Perhaps she too would express true regret and guilt for playing Quatre's father and family like fiddles in this whole drama now with the haze of Epyon's influence lifted.
Quatre knew he would never forgive her, regardless of all that, her motivations or remorse. But that didn't mean she should have to die. It took him a few breaths to reign in the anger and betrayal coursing through him before he could continue as diplomatically as possible.
"She, and you, have caused my family enough pain." Trowa gripped his hand and Quatre relaxed at the wave of support and love he felt suffuse his very soul. It helped him settle and say, more honestly, "But, I think there has been enough death, on all sides. I don't wish to see anymore."
Treize was smart enough to not try and say anything further on the topic. He nodded, gratefully, and allowed Wufei, sword lowered and a little steadier on his feet, to bind his hands with his magic. Wufei did the same to Lady Une, Trowa's cousin, and any others who were unconscious. Quatre relaxed back into Trowa's hold and watched and waited as the sky began to clear of the clouds and the Maguanacs nearby started to wake up.
"We won," he said. There was a punch-drunk pitch to his voice and it brought a tired chuckle out of Trowa.
"We did."
Ending a war was not nearly as clear-cut or easy as starting one.
It took time for their allies to come around after Epyon's binding flattened most of them on the battlefield, just as it took time for Treize's forces. It also took time for their respective runners to spread the news regarding Treize's surrender to all parts of their forces and halt the battles that cropped once soldiers roused enough to keep fighting. Rashid, Auda and the other Maguanacs present refused to leave them alone and help with the wounded on both sides until Zechs and Noin arrived to provide relief.
Quatre gave Treize credit for not quailing under the baleful gaze from Rashid, while he stood guard over him and Lady Une.
Once Ralph arrived and took both Treize and Lady Une into his custody, he was proclaimed as the new King of Kushrenada officially And then, he immediately turned to the soldiers who fought for Treize and gave them an opportunity to swear fealty and be pardoned. They would never be permitted to serve in the army again, but they could avoid execution and live other lives in Kushrenada, Venti, or the Fey. Most took up the offer and with the leaders from Taurus taking the remnants of White Fang into custody, the fighting fully stopped.
It was a relief to the five of them, still drained and exhausted.
Quatre spared one last look for Treize and Lady Une, still unconscious, before he let Trowa's hand at the small of his back lead him towards a horse.
Cathy was ecstatic to see them all alive and well. She hugged Trowa tight before she did the same for Quatre and Wufei. She hesitated for only a second before doing the same for Heero and Duo. Sally looked exhausted and dirty and still the smile when she saw Wufei shined through—Wufei relaxed for the first time since they'd woken up and made his way to her to hold her close. Duo let out a relieved shout when Solo and his crew made their way back along with the rest of the crew from the Peacemillion and Captain al'Fada's warriors, wrapping him up in a tight hug before shoving at his shoulder playfully.
Quatre felt relieved too, that so many of their friends and forces were still alive. They had not escaped unscathed of course, and there was mourning mixed among the celebrations, but they had gotten lucky. The addition of their airships and their crews, of the Maguanacs, and not letting Epyon get a foothold, all helped Ralph's remaining forces hold their own against Treize's greater numbers and minimize their losses. It was as best a scenario possible, given everything.
Everyone insisted the five of them get some rest after they'd gotten back to their base camp and the initial accounting of their losses and next steps from Ralph. None of them argued, too exhausted to stand at that point. And that was where Quatre was, curled up and mostly asleep across Trowa's chest in one of the less-occupied healer tents when Cathy came and interrupted said rest.
"Trowa, Quatre," she said softly, the regret in her voice making his empathy redundant. "I'm so sorry, but there's—there's some important women outside to see you."
"Uggh, no," Duo groaned from where he and Heero were curled up on a cot across from Trowa and Quatre. "Tell them to come back tomorrow. No more ancient spirits today."
"For once, I am in agreement with Maxwell," Wufei grumbled from down the row, Sally sitting beside him and stroking his hair.
"Hn," Heero grunted, the sound clearly annoyed.
Trowa grumbled something that was more sounds than words into Quatre's hair and tucked Quatre in tighter against him. Quatre couldn't help the smile, even as he levered himself up to meet Cathy's apologetic face. despite the hold and the grumblings. "I guess I should have expected a few of them would show up afterwards."
Trowa grumbled again and Cathy spared him a fond look. "All five of them actually."
That got Quatre more awake. And Heero and Wufei, both sitting up and looking much more interested. Even Trowa finally cracked his eyes open. He pushed fully out of Trowa's hold and only Duo stayed where he was under a blanket. "Sandrock too?"
Cathy nodded. "Sandrock too—I've only ever heard stories. There's no statutes or paintings of her that survived the sacking of the Quattuon palace."
"Oh gods, they're definitely not gonna leave us alone until we see them now," Duo lamented.
Heero let out a low chuckle and swung himself out of bed, holding out a hand to Duo. The Elf stared at it resentfully before he took it and let Heero pull him to his feet. "Fine, let's go say hello to the old biddies. Then, I'm sleeping, really sleeping, for like a day."
Cathy chuckled and left with a flap of the tent entrance. Quatre felt a little wobbly when he stood, but he was still able to help Trowa to his feet. Quatre could only imagine how he looked—they hadn't spared any time to shower before collapsing on the cots in the tent and while it hadn't mattered then, curled up and spent with Trowa, he felt the grime and dirt now. He combed a hand through his hair, wincing when it caught on a tangle or two before Trowa took the hand and kissed it.
"Stop fussing," he said around a yawn, scratching with his free hand at the stubble starting to show on his jawline. "They're not going to care. And you look fine."
Quatre gave him a look that told him he thought Trowa was full of it.
"He's right, Q," Duo said picking at his braid, which was more than a little undone. "You make exhausted and covered in shit look almost passable. Now me, there's no way I can fix this in the next ten minutes!"
"Come here," Heero said, mostly unnecessary as he was tugging Duo over anyway. He unwound the braid and redid the parts that were messy with an efficiency that spoke to practice. Duo turned and beamed at him when he was done a few minutes later. "Now quit whining."
"Like he's ever listened to those words before," Wufei quipped while belting his dao around his waist; Sally hid her smile behind a palm.
"Oh shut up, Wuffers."
"You first, Elf."
"You ready?" Trowa asked softly, ignoring their bickering friends. He looked so warm and sleep-rumpled but still regal. Quatre smiled and nodded.
When they left the tent, there was a small gathering around five women outside. Five women who all looked in their prime: young but not youthful, confident, and unjaded. They looked like they inspired warring lands to unite against a common threat once upon a time. Only Deathscythe's hair, which was still white, gave any hint as to their true age.
Deathscythe was playing with Nix, who had shrunk back down to his normal size and didn't look as heavily injured as before, which was a relief to Quatre. Heavyarms and Nataku were both assisting a few awestruck healers until they noticed that the five of them had appeared, excusing themselves to join Wing, who'd been speaking with Ralph and Chrismarlie, as they made their way back to the fifth. To Sandrock, who was watching the five of them with a fond look on her face. Nix made his way over to her, sitting gracefully at her feet.
The five of them lined up and faced the five Great Ladies. For what felt like a final time.
"I believe congratulations are in order," Sandrock said, breaking the silence that enveloped them all. She nodded at each of them before lingering on Quatre, her smile going wider. "You did so well."
"You really did!" Deathscythe agreed, clapping her hands in exuberance. "And still so clever—and you all thought the riddles were useless!"
"Epyon is bound," Nataku said next, her relief palpable to him through his empathy. "And while she can never be truly gone with the way she bonded herself to the desire to wage war and destruction, something that will always exist in the hearts of living things, she will not return to the Fey."
"Zero is gone too," Wing added. "She pushed her essence into the bindings you fastened for Epyon."
"Order and Chaos together again, in balance," Heavyarms concluded. Then, with a wry raise of her heavy brow, "Not bad work out of the five of you."
Sandrock nodded and stepped forward with Nix, reaching forward to run the back of her fingers down Quatre's cheek. "And in the same vein, we are no longer needed either."
There were denials that echoed throughout the crowd at Sandrock's proclamation, but Quatre felt the truth of her words deep down. He felt it, when he'd been bound to Zero along with the others—the path forward for this world, the Fey and the Mortal realm (Other), was set with Epyon's and Zero's absence. The Great Ladies had bound themselves to that path, and with its conclusion, they were free. Free to move on and not remain tied to an existence that could never be truly whole.
Sandrock smiled at him and he gave one back, no other words needed between them.
"So that's it?" Duo said, at a bit of a loss as he looked between all of them before settling on Deathscythe. "We defeat the big bad and you guys just leave?"
"Oh hush," Deathscythe scolded, the care in her voice lessening the admonition. "You don't need us anymore and neither does this world."
"It has leaders to guide it, when needed," Wing said, her eyes and face set in the certainty of her words. "And others," she gestured to Ralph and Zechs and others gathered around, "to bring the Fey peace."
"Besides, we're a bit tired," Heavyarms quipped. "Been hanging around a few millennia."
"Our time is done," Nataku concluded. "We gladly leave this world to your hands. We have every faith it will be protected."
"Goodbyes are never easy," Sandrock added, stepping back and giving Trowa a soft smile as well. "But nothing earned ever is. However, I do hope this blow will be softened somewhat by this one's decision to stay."
Quatre followed Sandrock's gesture down to Nix. He grinned as Nix yipped and pawed at the air in silent request for Quatre to grab him as he hopped into his arms. Quatre never could refuse him anything and followed directions gladly. "Not sick of me yet, are you Nix?"
Nix purred and rubbed his head under Quatre's chin. Sandrock chuckled and stepped back to join her sisters. "Apparently he thinks you still need looking after."
"No arguments here," Trowa said. Quatre wanted to glare at him at the tease, even if only in jest, but he couldn't quite pull it off, his grin too bright from equal parts sadness and relief. At least Nix was staying.
Nix yipped and climbed up onto Quatre's shoulder to reach Trowa, tilting his head for neck scritches that Trowa was happy to oblige.
"Good, then I think we're off!" Deathscythe said, a happy bounce to her step and she leaned into Wing's space. "Be good! Don't do anything I wouldn't do!"
"That's not exactly a high bar to clear," Heavyarms snarked back before giving Quatre and Trowa one last bow of her head before she lumbered after the other two, Nataku trailing after. Before she disappeared, "Come on, desert rat, you too. Time to let them walk their own path."
"I'm coming," Sandrock said in response. She turned and her eyes met Quatre's one more time. "Remember, dear one, those who love us are never truly gone. You can always find us here."
She rested her hand over her heart and Quatre could feel her inside his own. And with that, she was gone, along with the other Ladies. Nix let out a soft, sound, settling back down on Quatre's shoulder, ail curling around the back of his neck. Quatre felt Trowa's hand slip into his, drawing his gaze from the empty space where Sandrock and the others had been to his husband's eyes, the green bright with emotion.
"Now what?" Duo asked, breaking the somber silence.
Quatre laughed, helplessly, and shrugged his shoulders carefully, leaning into Trowa's space as Nix hopped down and pranced over to Duo and Heero, letting out happy chirps all the way. His eyes never left Trowa's. "We go home?"
"We go home," Trowa agreed, leaning down to press the alleviated, happy sigh against Quatre's lips.
"—and once we were home, which luckily didn't take too long as Captain Zechs and Miss Noin were kind enough to fly us back, I wrote you. And that pretty much leads us to now. I'm sure I missed some of the details, but I think I captured the important bits."
Quatre watched as Iria blinked at him, the teacup in her hand held so laxly in her stupor that tea was starting to dribble on the carpet. She was staring at him as if she couldn't decide if she was proud of him or horrified for him. Quatre took another sip and cut a glance over towards Nix, sitting primly on top of the table.
Perhaps he should have eased her into the story of the past year. Looking at the whole thing objectively, it was a lot to take in all at once.
It was springtime in Tria Colonies and Quatre had been back home for close to three months. It had been a little lonely at first, with just him and Trowa returning to Tria straight away amongst his closest friends and family. That lessened over time, but he was still happy to have his sisters here with them both now.
Both Solo and Captain al'Fada departed with their airships and crews not long after the battle concluded and the Great Ladies left their world. Mariam promised to help Ralph restore peace to Venti by finding the heir believed to be in hiding and Solo turned to help the leadership in Taurus with the White Fang insurgents to face judgement. He'd also offered to ferry any captured Elves who'd fought beside them home as well, but most wanted to settle in the Colony Kingdoms. Quatre was just relieved the hero worship of him was more evenly spread across the five of them now.
S returned with them, as had Howard and the rest of the kidnapped staff who went to war with them, including Kurtz and his forces, but Cathy took Hilde with her to Sanq as part of the peace escort of Treize and his loyalists to the pacifist kingdom. Though Princess Relena did not have a standing army, she did have a contingent of peacekeepers and several well-built and spelled prisons in her borders. Wufei and Sally were currently in Quinque, following Master O and the rest of Quinque's armies to essentially debrief and provide accounts to the scholars and historians documenting their history. Neither expected to be back in Tria Colonies for another moon.
Quatre knew Heero and Duo couldn't return back to Tria Colonies with him and Trowa. Heero was the Prince of Sive Colonies and his country had been without their monarch for long enough already, but it had still been hard to swallow their departure. Other than Nix, Heero was his constant over the majority of the past year, Duo following shortly after. Watching them leave for Sive, even with Duo's bone-crushing hug and promise that they'd either crash their manor in Tria or kidnap them both soon, was difficult.
Lastly, while most of the Maguanacs returned to Quattuon, Rashid and Auda and several of the other captains refused to leave Quatre's side and followed him back to Tria Colonies. Quatre was of two minds about that. On one hand, having the men he now regarded as close as family with him helped ease everyone else's absence on his heart. But on the other side, he was worried that, eventually, there'd be some sort of suggestion that he should return to Quattuon with them. To take his 'place' as the prince of Quattuon. Which was not going to happen, not in the way they likely wanted.
Not now that he had Trowa back and they were home.
Which brought his attention back to his sister—and the second part of why he'd written to her as quickly as he had. Apart from missing her and wanting her to live in the Fey where he wouldn't lose her so quickly due to how time worked in the Fey.
Iria was still staring at him so he cleared his throat, which jolted her out of her daze. She swore as she realized she was spilling tea and hastily set the cup back down on the side table. "I'm so sorry, Quat, I—"
"It's just tea," he teased back.
Iria gave a wan grin and settled back into her seat, flummoxed, her emotions like bees in the way they buzzed. "I just—I can't believe you actually saved a whole kingdom. More than one! I mean, I can, it's the most you thing I've ever heard, but just—"
She trailed off again before her eyes, the blue so similar to his own, to Sandrock's too, focused back on him. She looked to be deciding something and then the next thing he knew, she was up, pulling him up out of his chair (the strength in her arms such a welcome change to her sickly frame) and hugging the breath out of him. He wheezed, "Iria!"
"I'm so happy you're ok," she whispered fiercely, hugging him tighter. Quatre felt her love for him flare up bright and he returned the hug, so grateful to have his sister back with him.
"I'm happy you're ok too," he returned. "I was worried. Both when I realized the money from Tria Colonies must have stopped and even more so when I saw Une."
She released him and brushed some tears away from her eyes, giving him a reassuring smile. "Most of our sisters were married by that point so they were fine, and the others, well. Father trusted the daughters he taught his trade more so than Une when it came to the accounting. We had a small fortune set aside for each of us when the funds stopped. We were more worried about what that meant for you and the prince, ah, Trowa."
"That's good," Quatre said. Then, soften, "I do regret not being able to go back, to see father's grave, or the others, but my place is here. And I'm done with travelling, for at least a little while."
"They know, Iria said. "And they're happy for you! You were always going to do great things, Quatre, we all knew it. So did father—and we were right."
Quatre squeezed her hand at the clear truth he felt from her words. Even at the mention of his father, the sting of his memory not so barbed anymore. "I had help."
Iria laughed loud at that before reaching up to ruffle his hair. She collapsed back into her chair and looked at him fondly. "You're still the same, long-lost prince or not. Can't accept a compliment to save your life."
"Well, on that subject," Quatre hedged as Nix hopped over to settle in Iria's lap, purring loudly when she began scratching under his chin. "That's actually something I was hoping to talk to you about—and get your help with."
"Help in taking a compliment?"
"No, the prince subject," he clarified. "I was happy you, Maya, and Shaara were able to accept my invitation to stay and live here in the Fey. When I wrote you, I wasn't looking to disrupt anyone's life."
"We were happy to come, Quat," Iria said. She watched him in that way she had that said she knew he was stalling. "We missed you. Plus none of us were ready to settle down—Shaara may never be ready! She's a bit like you in that way, itching for new things and change."
"Yes—I suppose she is." He took a breath and plunged forward. "But I was happy it was the three of you specifically. Not just because we've always been closest with each other, sharing the same mother, but because, because I was hoping one of you could also do me a favor."
"What do you need?"
"I am a prince of Quattuon," Quatre said, the words no longer as daunting as they'd once been. "But I'm also a prince of Tria now too, through marriage to Trowa. And after everything—I don't want to be separated from him."
Iria nodded, stroking fingers down Nix's back. "Understandable."
"Yes—so while I am a prince of Quattuon, I can't live there," he said, probably a little too cagey if the expression on his sister's face said anything. "The country has a good system of government with the council established and the Maguanacs, but they've been without their royal family for centuries and are eager to have it represented on their council with its...emergence."
"Ok," Iria said, brows furrowed in confusion. "What does that have to do with me? Or the twins?"
"Well—Quattuon doesn't just have a prince," Quatre took a breath and gave his sister his most winning smile. "They also have three princesses."
Like before, Iria could only stare at him in response. At first. "You—you want me to be a princess?"
"Technically, you're already a princess," he rationalized. "But I was wondering if you, or the twins, or all three of you, would be interested in governing a kingdom alongside a council."
Iria opened and closed her mouth a few times, trying to find the words. Quatre smiled at her and reached across to take her hand, resisting the natural urge to send her comfort and calm through his empathy. "I know what you're thinking—I went through something similar when I found out about our heritage. I promise you whatever you're thinking about not being able to, you're wrong. You'd be wonderful at governing and leading people. You've always done it within our family, even when you were sick."
"I—I don't know anything about these people though, Quatre! Or the Fey! I mean, how could I—" Iria trailed off abruptly, looking down at her hands before meeting his eyes again. "I'm not you, I can't just unite a whole country together against a common enemy!"
Quatre chuckled, the irony of how similar his sister's arguments sounded to what he'd lamented to Sandrock not lost on him. "You're right, you're not, but in all honesty, I think they'd prefer someone who wasn't quite as impulsive as I can be. It was always you who managed to keep our family together, even with your own struggles. I know you're downplaying your role after father's death, but Maya already shared all you did to help all our sisters and their new families."
"Maya exaggerates."
"You know, I think come by any tendencies to accept praise honestly," Quatre laughed. "I get it from you. I should send Trowa after you whenever he gets frustrated with me for it."
She laughed then too. And then, more seriously. "Have you asked either of the twins about this?"
He shook his head. "I wanted to ask you first. And Iria, you can say no—the fact the Quattuon council wants our family on their council doesn't matter. They'll be fine either way and you should follow whatever path you want here. I just think they'd be better with you."
Iria mulled over his words, the proposal, his confidence in her, and if she wanted what he was offering. He could almost see the gears turning in her head, but it was when Nix let out a yip and levered himself up so he could meet Iria's eyes that she made her decision. Nix batted at her with a paw before sitting back down, looking at her with the same confidence he'd given Quatre during their journey.
She quirked a brow at him first, then up at Quatre. "He's awfully pushy, isn't he?"
Nix purred in agreement and Quatre laughed. "You have no idea. But I've found he's usually not wrong, even if I can't see it at the time."
"Hm," she let out before staking a fortifying breath, her uncertainty morphing into an iron determination Quatre recognized all too well. "Tell me about Quattuon."
He grinned and started at the beginning, just as Sandrock did when they first met.
Later, after a busy dinner where Iria shared this new opportunity with the twins and he fielded as many questions as he could, Quatre was lying lax in bed with Trowa draped behind him. He was still buzzing on the shared connection that always spiked high when they made love and he let out a soft, content noise as Trowa pressed gentle, open-mouthed kisses along his shoulder blades.
"Do you think they'll go?" Trowa asked into the quiet. Quatre rolled over so he could look up into his face. Quatre didn't think he'd ever get tired of being able to see his face in the soft candlelight glow of their room.
"Yes—Iria will, and Maya will probably follow. Shaara may at first but then decide something else fits her better—she'd probably love joining the Maguanacs. I could sense it off of them. Their excitement and trepidation at something so new and different, but desire to do good."
"Sounds familiar."
Quatre smiled, his head tilting to the side a little in acknowledgment. "Rashid will be happy."
Trowa scoffed, but no unkindly. "Rashid will settle for his second choice."
"Just until he gets to know Iria and the twins. They are definitely an upgrade."
"Only because it's three for the price of one."
"You didn't grow up with them, believe me, they'll be better suited for council room debates and discussion on taxation rates."
Trowa hummed and adjusted so he could go back to pressing kisses wherever he could reach, this time along Quatre's front. It was distracting. "They were more studious than you growing up?"
Quatre let out a breath as after his question, Trowa bit at a nipple, sending hot licks of pleasure thrumming through his body. "I—I was too busy daydreaming most of the time to pay attention to—to, ah!"
"To?" Trowa prompted, the smile on his face teasing, lifting his face up from where he'd been sucking a mark into Quatre's hipbone, reigniting the slow simmer into a boiling need.
"To business lectures a-and negotiations, Trowa," Quatre breathed out, his voice lilting up on his husband's name as his lips closed briefly over the head of his hardening cock. He couldn't stop the frustrated noise he let out when Trowa pulled right back off, looking back at him with that same infuriating smile.
"Yes, I imagine they didn't cover things like preventing world takeovers and breaking ancient powers in lessons about trade routes."
Quatre huffed and wriggled out from under Trowa to push him over and climb over him, straddling him. He was done with his husband's teasing. "Trowa?"
"Yes?"
"Shut up and kiss me."
Trowa smiled and obliged.