Part 1
Disclamier: I don't own Gundam Wing.
Warning: Shounen ai, Nasty language, Major AU, some violence and knowing
me lots of fluff.
Description: In a land of great poverty a group of young worriers must
become saviors despite the obstacles they must overcome on their journey.
~~~~~
"THIEF! Somebody stop that boy!!"
The boy, by name Duo Maxwell, dodged through the overcrowded streets, clutching a loaf of bread against his chest. 'Hafta keep goin,' he thought. 'Solo needs this. So does Blade. Jus a little while further.'
He felt his side throbbing. He was weak from both hunger and exhaustion. He didn't really know how long he could keep this up, but he had to to. For Solo and Blade's sake. Solo was sick and needed this while Blade was very worried about her brothers health. This would help him. He was sure of it.
'Damn Odin Lowe and what he's done to this land! If it wasn't for him and his "treaty" this country wouldn't be in this mess. There would be no monsters ravaging villages. My parents would still be alive. Why were we cursed with such a ruler as this?' Of course the question had been asked thousands of times before, but never answered. Nor was it likely that they ever would be.
Amethyst eyes darted about searching for some alleyway that he could possible sneak into. He was beginning to panic. The pounding footsteps of the merchant weren't that far behind him. With a sigh of relief he spotted a narrow alleyway and slipped into the dark passageway.
Too bad the merchant had most likely seen that move. He slipped into the shadows of a doorway, blending in with the darkness with his black clothes.
He held his breath waiting for his pursuer to pass. He squeaked as the door behind him was flung open and he was wrenched inside, before it was flung shut.
The braided boy opened his mouth to scream when a calloused hand was clamped over his mouth. "Shush," the other man - there was no doubt the other person was a man - whispered. "You don't want whoever was following you to find you."
He nodded and the hand was dropped from his mouth. He looked around taking in the room that he was in. It was small and dark, the only light coming in through a window covered with a grimy old blanket. In the dark he could sense the others presence very close to him, hear him breathing evenly.
Duo nearly jumped out of his skin as a match was lit, showing the face of the man in front of him. The 'man' was a boy really, no older than himself, but somehow his posture promised danger, like a snake readying to strike. Dark brown hair fell in his face, nearly hiding intense prussian blue eyes. His clothes practically screamed 'soldier boy' with a sword that was obviously used well strapped ti his narrow waist. Usually Duo ran from such people, but this danger that the boy permeated was intoxicating, like some sweet obsession. The boy was... for lack of a better word, beautiful.
"Who're you and why'd you save me from the merchant?" Duo choked out.
The boy stayed impassive, waving his hand in a dismissive gesture. "My name is of none of your concern. As for the other question, I did not want this location discovered. Which it would have been when you were caught at in the doorway. Now who are you and why are you running from the merchant?"
"I'm Duo Maxwell, I'm a thief," he glanced down at the bread loaf still held in his hands. "I needed food for a friend so I got some." The other boy gave a nod as he used the still burning match to light a small candle, before he sat down on a chair in the corner of the room. "Ah.... Do you...um...think I could maybe go now. I really do hafta get this back to my friend."
"You'll have to wait here half an hour," the other boy told him. "Unless of course you'd rather take your chances with the man you pilfered from...?"
Duo shook his head wildly, his braid swinging from one side of his back to the other like a pendulum. "No way, man! I'd rather hafta work the streets than get caught by those bastards. I've heard too many stories about what they do to kids they catch." He shuddered as he remembered the stories that Solo had told him. He definitely did not want that to happen to him. He was so lucky he hadn't been caught and used for some rich filth's sick pleasures.
Again the other boy nodded, completely unfazed by all that Duo had said. They sat in silence for a while, Duo going completely mad with boredom, and the blue eyed boy almost glaring off into space. It was not a comfortable silence by any means, but Duo could not bring himself to try and start up a conversation. Not with this guy. Something told him that if he didn't watch what he was saying he'd end up losing a limb or even his head.
Sighing, he sat down and held his hand out, palm facing up. As he concentrated tiny figures began to appear on his palm. A small illusion. Nothing serious or energy consuming, something that would easily amuse him, but not empty his reserves. Nothing too big for a mage.
When they had discovered this power, Solo had told Duo to leave the streets. That as a mage he could become someone's apprentice and live like a king once he joined a guild or something. That wasn't what the braided boy had wanted, of course. He wanted to be able to help his friends and loved ones with his gifts. Not some overgrown king.
He made four figures. One was himself, one Solo, one Blade and the other the boy that sat across the room. He Solo and Blade were all wrestling in the center of his palm, while the other boy sat on the edge of his thumb, legs swinging over the edge. He had no idea why he had left him out of the others activities and all alone by himself, but it just FELT like something the other boy would do.
He was so preoccupied by his illusion that he didn't hear the other walk up to him and study his small world. "You're a mage, aren't you?"
Nearly jumped out of his skin and the four figure vanished as he clenched his hand into a fist. "Don't do that! Scared the hell outa me! And yeah, I am a mage. What's it to you?"
The other boy shrugged, annoyingly monotonous. "Nothing. It just seems strange to me that someone with talent such as yours to be living as a thief."
"I don't want to be some house-hold mage!" Duo fumed. "I want to be able to REALLY kelp people! Not people who can afford to hire me, but those who really need the help."
He shrugged again. "Understandable."
Duo crossed his arm in front of his chest and stomped his feet, knowing perfectly well that he looked very childish. "Gods above! You are so annoying! You say almost nothin' yet you know one of my biggest secrets. Now tell me SOMETHIN' about yourself!"
The other boy smirked. "Heero, my name is Heero Yuy."
Duo grinned up at the boy. "That's much better. Nice to meet ya, Heero. You really did save me from those guys. I'd 'ave probably been caught if ya hadn't 'ave pulled me in here with ya. Even if it was to save your own ass."
Heero chuckled this time, making Duo's grin widen. "My pleasure. I haven't seen someone like you in quite some time now. It's rather refreshing. And I believe it's time for you to get home to your friend."
Duo looked down at the bread in his lap and laughed a little. "Ya know, I'd completely forgotten." He stood up and started towards the door before turning back. "Thanks again. If ya ever need my help in this city jus' ask around for me. You'll find me eventually." He turned and left.
TBC
~~~~~
Shade: A new fic! My first G-Wing in a while. I've been sick lately and haven't been able to as much as look at a computer screen without getting a very large headache. I'll admit I need glasses but can't stand the damn things.