Part 6
Disclaimer: 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 in their journey.
~~~~~
The only sound in the hallway was the sound of their pounding feet. Quatre wanted desperately to muffle the sound. With his senses heightened to him it sounded like a stampede of buffalo. And to make maters worse Duo's panic was starting to overwhelm his shields. And Heero's anger and guilt wasn't helping any.
He lead them through a maze of seemingly random passages. Quatre knew these corridors like the back of his hand. He had lived here since he was ten.
They burst through a door and started down the stairs that were on the other side two at a time.
"How the hell do you know where we're goin'?!" Duo called from behind him.
"Very carefully," the blonde called back. He heard Duo snort.
They continued down the dimly lit stars, barely managing not to fall. They came to a pitch black landing at the bottom and Quatre grabbed the torch off the wall.
"This hasn't way hasn't been used since the last war Kaladar had with Sank, which was over five hundred years ago." he told them. "The stairs have been kept lit just in case. Despite the fact that Sank is now a pacifist nation, there are other kingdoms who would stop at nothing to get their hands on the healers here. This passage leads strait to a hidden exit in the east forest."
"So we should come out right where our things are?" Duo asked rhetorically.. "She wasn't kidin' when she said we weren't gonna be seen."
He wasn't answered as they started into the darkness. The pathway was wide, the light from the torch didn't reach the sides. A few rants scampered in front of them. Quatre couldn't help but smirk as Duo latched onto Heero when this happened. There was more to their relationship than met the eye.
They walked for what seemed like hours, before there was the faint glow of moonlight at the end of the tunnel.
"We're almost there," Heero told Duo, who had been in the middle of complaining about his sore feet. "See the light? That's the end."
With sighs of relief they left the stuffiness of the tunnel for the freshness of the forest. Their supplies were right at the exit. Three horses stood in front of them, with supplies already strapped on.
"We're almost out now," Duo said as he climbed onto the pitch black horse he seemed to have chosen for himself. "But the question is, where are we goin'?"
"Sank," Quatre said quickly. "Odin would never dare send a crusade of soldiers over the border. Even if father would never harm him, there are other countries who would love to. Sending an army onto Sank territory would be the excuse they've been looking for."
Heero climbed onto his horse as he seemed to mull over this. He nodded. "That sounds better than anywhere I can think of. We shouldn't have any trouble getting in there. You are the prince. That's where we'll head."
Quatre had some trouble getting on his horse because of his slight stature, but managed. He had always been short and had managed to get past that. There was nothing stopping him from doing the same now.
"Quatre," Heero steered his horse towards him, as he spoke almost hesitantly. "Is your cousin still at the palace?"
Qautre giggled. "Unfortunately for you she is. She is to be heir. I forgot her...fixation. I'm sure she'll have grown out of it somewhat."
Heero's cobalt eyes glinted in the moonlight. "If she hasn't I'll carry through with my threat."
Quatre just giggled some more.
"What're you talkin' about?" Duo looked between the two, obviously confused.
"When Heero was brought to the healers my cousin Relena had been visiting me here," Quatre explained to the braided boy. "Well, Relena had never had any experience with boys before this and had developed a rather bothersome crush on Heero. Finally Heero got fed up with it and told her that he was goin to 'destroy' her. It was a riot."
"You mean someone had a crush on HEERO?" Duo started to giggle as well. "And she actually went out of her way to let him know? Gods! That poor girl."
"You wouldn't be saying that if you knew her," Heero glared at the boy. "I swear, she was sent from the depths of hell just so she can make my life miserable. You can't hide from someone when you can't even walk."
"Of course ya are kinda cute," Duo said almost apologetically. "With the messy hair and your blue eyes. Of course I ain't no court lady. I ain't seen and awful lot of guys that look like you."
"That's because there isn't anybody who looks quite like Heero," Quatre told the blonde with a twinkle in his eyes. "But than there aren't many who are as beautiful as you Duo."
Quatre could have jumped for joy at the jealously that Heero ws giving off. He had been right. Heero had feelings for the other boy, and it was no mere friendship. And Duo had just as much as admitted that he found Heero attractive.
'I'll be their matchmaker. It's obvious that they haven't done anything with their feelings. It's about time Heero found someone who can love him for who he is and not who he seems to be.'
"Come on," Heero commanded. "We haven't long before the soldiers begin to search the forest."
Quatre and Duo nodded and Quatre lead them out of the forest without being caught. By dawn they had made it to a small village and stopped to buy some fresh food. They rested before continuing.
It would take a weeks hard ride to reach the border of Sank and then at least three days to reach the capital. They were going to have to get over the border as soon as possible. Especially with Odin's army after them.
They spent their entire day in the saddle and than collapsed into an exhausted slumber the moment their heads hit the pillow. Often one of them would fall asleep on their horse and they would be jared awake.
By the time they reached the border you could see the dark rings around each boys eyes. Quatre was never so happy to see the lands of his home kingdom spread out before him.
"We're almost there," he told the boys with a smile. "I haven't been home since I was thirteen. That last person who's come to see me was Relema and that was a year ago."
The border guard didn't recognize him and he was forced to show them the emblem his father had given him before he had left. After much debate the two guards let him in and they were off again.
They stopped at an inn. Finally being able sleep without having to worry about being attacked during the night.
As they neared the palace, Quatre could feel the anticipation of returning home. He hadn't seen his father in two and a half years. He hoped that he wasn't still angry at him for giving up his titles.
TBC.....
~~~~~
Shade: This is one of my worst ever parts. I will revise this chapter
eventually. Please excuse the names of countries and cities. Kaladar is
the name of a town about an twenty minutes away from where my cottage is.
It sounded kinda cool so I chose it.