Saviors

Part 8

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 warriors must become saviors despite the obstacles they must overcome on

their journey.

~~~~~

"Father," Quatre spoke softly and his father looked up at him.

He hadn't changed much in the years since Quatre had last been home. The King of Sanc was still as strong, wise looking man. Definitely suited to his position as a leader. Quatre had always felt inadequate trying to follow in his father's footsteps and had been relieved when he had discovered his gifts. The small healer was far too much like his mother to rule a country. Small in stature and gentle in disposition, he didn't have it in him to sit in court and stand up against people who were constantly trying to get him to lean towards their way of thinking. So off he had gone, to train while Relena took his place as the heir.

"Quatre," his father beamed, setting aside his papers. "This certainly is a pleasant surprise."

The blonde looked down at his feat and than back up almost hesitantly. "I'm not so sure if you'll say the same once you've been told why we've come." The Kings brow furrowed and Quatre took a deep breath before launching into the tale of he and the others had fled over the Kaladar/Sanc borders.

At the end of it came an uneasy silence as his father sat behind his desk, face pale and lips slanted into a frown. Finally the man stood, both hands pressed against the top of his desk. "Well, you young people these days certainly know how to get yourselves into trouble."

Quatre heaved a sigh of relief. He had somehow expected shouting from his strong willed father. He smiled a small smile. "We try father."

The man smiled softly at his son. "As long as you're okay, Quatre, I suppose everything should be peaceful. As you've surmised, Odin wouldn't dare step over the border. And from what I understand none of you used force to escape, you have made me proud. You did not go against your pacifist teachings."

Quatre forced down a burst of anger at his father's last words. This was part of the reason he had wanted to leave so badly. Ever since birth he had had his fathers beliefs pumped into him. They were good beliefs, he had never denied that, but more than anything he had wanted to go out there and learn all this for himself. His father was proud of him because he had run and not fought to defend himself, not because he had done particularly well.

He sighed and forced himself to smile back. It had been so long since his father had seen him he doubted the man would have been able to gauge his emotions. "Thank you. My friends and I will be staying in the palace for a week or so. With your permission of course...."

"Of course," he waved away the almost request. "You can stay in your old suite and your friends can stay in rooms near by." He sat back down and began to shuffle through the papers he had set aside. "Now if you'll excuse me I have much work to do and not much time to do it in. Ruling a country isn't as easy as I had wished it to be."

"Very well, father," Quatre bowed and left the room, the others trailing behind him.

"Woah," Duo mumbled when they were a faire ways away. "I figured we'd be in trouble or something."

"So did I," Quatre told him as he slipped through the halls, old memories of his child resurfacing. "Looks like my fathers become more accepting since the last time I was here. If I even broke a vase he'd have a fit. Of course most of them are very expensive, but still...."

"It's just because he misses you so much, Quat," Relena told him from the back. "He would have been glad to see you even if you had have had a rampaging dragon on your back. You haven't been back in, like, three years. He misses you coming into his office covered in mud after having played Trowa and his animals."

Quatre laughed, remembering the fit his father had had when he had dripped all over the Oriental rug. The gaudy thing had had to be replaced. "If I recall correctly, YOU were right mucking with us."

"Who me? A princess? Playing in the mud?" She drew herself up; nose pointed up in the air. "I would never dare." She let the pose faulter. "At least not without a little persuasion."

"You were the one who came up with the idea," Quatre laughed. "Plus I was already covered in mud anyway. After you and Trowa tackling me the moment I stepped out the door."

"If you hadn't taken so long to come outside we wouldn't have gotten bored and come up with the idea."

"That wasn't my fault, my nanny decided I needed an extra bath," he protested as he came to the end of a hallway and opened a door. He stepped inside and flopped out onto a plush blue armchair. "Gods, I miss this chair."

"Well, you went away and a chair is definitely too big to carry across the country."

Quatre ignored the girl and let his head fall against the back of the chair, his eyes drifting shut. It had been a long journey and he could see himself falling asleep, leaving Duo and Heero to fend for themselves. He knew that Duo had no idea how to deal with a servant and it was doubtful Heero had any history dealing with them either. Not with his background as a soldier. But of course, his ever-present conscience always kicked in before he could do what he wants.

With a great deal of effort, he lifted his head to watch Duo and Relena chatting while Heero glared at the two. He couldn't help but smile. Heero was always glaring, especially when Duo's incessant chatter was involved. Besides that he could see that Duo was again making the stoic soldier jealous. It wouldn't be long until the two realised their feelings for each other and got together. He just hoped it was before Heero severed someone's head for being too friendly to Duo. He rather liked his head where it was Quatre was one of Duo's best friends, so was usually the boy's social partner and was usually the one receiving the jealous glare.

".... so Quatre dragged Trowa to the church and asked the priest if he'd marry him and Trowa," Quatre choked as he heard what Relena was telling the braided boy as they sat on the carpet near his feet.

"Relena! We were seven!"

"So?" the girl's eyes were dancing merrily. "It doesn't make it any less amusing. If anything it just makes it funnier."

"Well, leave that out of this, or I'm gonna bring up the time you ran away and join the circus."

"Hey! That's how we met Trowa. That was a blessing in disguise."

Quatre rolled his eyes. "Whatever."

Duo laughed at the two. "You guys are riot! Me 'n Blade were never even this bad."

"Who's Blade?" Relena asked curiously. Quatre leaned forward, interested as well. Duo hadn't mentioned much about his past during their journey.

"She's sorta like a sister," the boy told her. "She was my best friends sister," pain flashed briefly in expressive violet eyes. "Before Solo died. I miss 'em a lot."

"I'm sure she misses you a lot. too," Relena reassured and impulsively gave the boy a small, platonic hug. "I know I certainly would. And I will when you all leave."

"I'm sure we'll miss ya too," Duo grinned at her. "When Quatre told me about your crush on Heero before we left I was sure we'd meet a boy-obsessed girl. Ya could probably fit in with my friends no problem."

"Oh, I doubt that," Relena replied. "I've been spoiled since I was born. And I rather like the fancy clothes that fill my wardrobe. Even if I do wish that I would be allowed to where pants."

"Don't we all?" Duo replied. "I've had to where one of those skirts you girls all hafta put on. How do ya get around without trippin' all the time?"

"With lots of practise."

"You've worn a dress?" Everyone looked over to find Heero with a dumbfounded look on his face. Quatre could almost see what must have been going through the cobalt eyed boys mind. Duo would probably look damn good in a dress.

"I was 'sposed to draw the guards attention away from the gate as Solo and Blade slipped," Duo blushed. "Blade refused to do it 'n I was the only other person that was available that was likely get the job done right."

"Don't worry," Relena clapped him on the shoulder. "Quat's worn a dress too. We used to play dress-up and he'd always were one of my dresses. He looked very pretty I might add."

"Relena," Quatre glared at her, while he tried to hide his blush. "I remember lots of things about you. too, you know. You want to talk about cross-dressing, fine. There was the time you cut off all your hair and changed into MY clothes. You had decided you were going to be a knight and nothing was going to stop you."

Relena stuck her tongue out at him and stood gracefully. "I'm sorry to leave you gentlemen, but a princess and heir has duties. I'll be sure to visit you as soon as possible."

"Bye," Duo waved to her as she left, closing the door behind her. He turned to Quatre. "Your cousin's kinda cool."

"If you had have known her a year ago you wouldn't be saying that," Quatre laughed. "She really was a boy crazy girl back than. I was surprised when she didn't start flirting with both you and Heero. I guess she's grown up at least some."

What Duo was about to say next was split by a huge yawn. Feeling like a lousy Quatre stood. "I guess I should show you to your rooms. Well, just follow me." He led the other two out of the room and to the next rooms. "These were for supposed to be for any siblings I might have had, but mother died giving birth to me and father refused to remarry, so I was alone down here. Duo can have this one," He pointed to the room next to his. "And Heero, you can have the one across the hall from him."

"Thanks, Q," Duo hugged him before entering his room.

Heero stood for a moment and than gave the boy a slight bow. "I appreciate everything you've done for us. We would probably be dead be now if it wasn't for you bringing us here."

He smiled at the other boy. "You and Duo have become good friends. I couldn't stand the thought of leaving two friends to face death when there was an alternative." Quatre stifled a yawn of his own. "We should all really get some sleep. Don't mind when a maid or page drops some breakfast off in the morning. I don't expect Duo to wake up when someone enters the room. But you're a light sleeper so I figured I should warn you lest we're short one servant."

Heero gave him a slight nod before entering his own room.

Quatre yawned again and turned back to his room. "Now I believe there's a comfortable bed of my own calling to me."

TBC.....

~~~~~

Shade: This chapter was pretty much a way of getting to know Quatre and Relena a little better. Quat's father may be a little OOC, but the dudes only in the series for, like, five minutes. Relena's really OOC but I love to make her like this. I like Relena. So shoot me.