Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I don't own Gundam Wing or Obernewtyn. I asked but they said no. Damn!

Thanks to the people who reviewed the last chapter and I hope you enjoy this one. Oh yeah, Teknology is not spelt wrong. Its just how it is spelt in Obernewtyn. Please Read and Review!!!

ShadowSorceress



Chapter 2

Duo snatched another glance at Wufei across the small kitchen, taking in his appearance as he ate the stew in front of him. The boy had dark skin from more than just a tan, marking him as one of the gypsy people who refused to settle and lived as nomads. Dark hair was caught back in a short ponytail and piercing eyes took in his surroundings. Duo practically winced at the dark bruise spreading across Wufei's face, although it was nowhere near as bad as it should have been, thanks to Quatre's healing skills.

Duo cleared his throat. It was obvious that Wufei wasn't going to start a conversation and Duo was bored with the silence. Why are the Council after you, if you don't mind me asking? he said, and immediately regretted opening his mouth. Wufei stiffened. How do I know that you aren't a spy, even after your kindness? he replied, his voice low and wary.

Duo smiled bitterly. I think you have a pretty good idea of why we aren't spies, he said, still adjusting to having a spoken conversation after spending so long with Trowa and Quatre. When together, the three of them tended to use mindspeech instead of talking aloud. Wufei sat back in his chair, staring intently at the braided boy. Enlighten me.

Duo sighed. If Wufei was going to be like this, he might as well play along. Well. Why don't you let me demonstrate. Not noticing the panicked look on the other boy's face he sent out a mindprobe, knowing that Wufei would be able to hear him. See.

He was surprised when he was thrust out of Wufei's mind painfully. The gypsy was glaring at him across the table, eyes blazing with anger and.....fear? Keep the fuck out of my mind! he growled at Duo who edged away slightly, glad he wasn't an empath. I.....sorry! I shouldn't have. I was just trying to show you, he blurted. Why hadn't he thought first? He should have realised that Wufei didn't like people in his mind from his reaction to Quatre earlier.

Forget it, Wufei snapped. So, the three of you are misfits? Duo nodded, still worried by the strength of Wufei's reaction, and expecting him to explode at his admission. However, the boy just took another drink and then looked at him. I presume that you are from Obernewtyn, since you seem well trained in your Talents.

Duo nodded again, but brightened at the though of his home. Yeah, we are, he paused for a moment, thinking. How do you know? he asked, wondering for the first time if they had made a mistake helping Wufei.

Our leader, the D'rekta told us. He announced that our people were your allies and that we were also welcome at your stronghold at any time. I'm surprised that you did not know.

I heard something, but I was at Tor when your leader was discussing things with Rushton and the Guildleaders. We didn't get much news there. Duo smiled faintly, remembering the two months he had spent on the Teknoguild expedition fondly. Are you going to come with us to Obernewtyn? Or is there somewhere else that you'd like us to take you? We're heading towards the outer colonies at the moment, after those, there's just home or the blacklands.

Wufei regarded him silently, then seemed to hunch in on himself, staring at the table top. It's not as if I have anywhere else to go. I don't know where my family are now. And they'd be disgusted with my weakness if I did , he thought.

You'll enjoy it at Obernewtyn. No matter what it was before, it's become something better, Duo said softly, worried that Wufei had heard stories about what used to happen at the house when it was under Council control. If you want, we could get someone help you to train your Talent.

My...... Talent? Wufei asked, confusion on his face. I don't have a misfit Talent.

Sure you do Wufei, Duo said, coming to stand next to him. All three of us heard you back there when..... He paused, deciding how to phrase it so as not to get another bad reaction. All three of us heard you in our minds, powerfully. If you had been an untalent then maybe Quatre might have felt your emotions, but neither I nor Trowa are empaths. He felt Wufei's dark eyes boring into him. Not all of the people who come to us know they have Talents.

Wufei thought quickly. A Talent? I can't be a Talented Misfit. If I was, I'd have been able to stop him, wouldn't I? But I couldn't. Finally he met Duo's eyes again. he said, grudgingly and turned his attention back to his food. They stayed in a comfortable silence for a few minutes, each in their own thoughts and Wufei found himself relaxing in the braided misfit's presence.

So, are you a Twentyfamilies gypsy Wufei? Duo asked suddenly, shattering the stillness of the room. Now that Wufei seemed more relaxed, he wanted to find out as much as possible about the boy who seemed to go from one extreme to the other, from terrified child to imperious gypsy prince in the blink of an eye.

Wufei nodded and lifted the torn arm of his shirt to reveal the Twentyfamilies symbol, a tattoo of three Agyllian birds flying in a spiral, now set among a patchwork of bruises. Duo gasped slightly, marvelling at how the image seemed graven into Wufei's skin, the colours still bright. Without thinking he started to reach out, wanting to run his hands over the picture, find out how it was created.

Wufei flinched as Duo's fingers brushed his skin and Duo pulled his hand away quickly, an aghast look on his face at violating the gypsy's personal space twice in one conversation. I'm sorry Wufei, I shouldn't have.......I just wanted to find out how it was made. I didn't mean to do anything! Wufei smiled faintly, quickly replacing the frightened expression he wore. It doesn't matter. The bruises hurt a bit, that's all, he replied, soothing Duo's shame.

Are you sure? Duo asked.

Quite sure, Wufei said, pulling the shirt back to cover his arm, grimacing at the dirt and blood that had been ground into the material, noticing it now that his hunger was gone. An embarrassed grin appeared on Duo's face as he too noticed the state of Wufei's clothes. I feel bad now for not asking this sooner. Do you want to borrow some of our things to wear?

Wufei nodded. I think that could be a good idea. Especially if the Council's soldiers check this ship.

Duo pushed open the kitchen door and stepped out, holding it for Wufei, who brushed past him into the corridor. Duo showed him to his quarters and dragged a bag from under his bed, then began pulling clothes from it. Some of this should do I think, or there's always some things of Quatre's and Trowa's.

Wufei selected a white shirt and a pair of loose Sadorian style trousers from the clothes Duo found. He turned to change and winced as he saw the bruises and blood across his chest and stomach although the worst injuries were wrapped with bandages. He changed and then turned to Duo who was sitting on the bed staring into space.

Wufei asked in a low voice.

Duo shook himself and then grinned up at him, a flash of pain disappearing from his eyes. Oh sorry. I was just thinking. He sank back onto the bed and stifled a yawn, glancing at the clock on the wall. Hmmmph. Trowa should be getting up soon. It's his turn to be in charge. The childlike tone in Duo's voice made Wufei smile slightly.

Tell me Duo, he began, sitting next to the violet eyed boy. What are your Talents? I have heard of your blond friend's healing Talent before, some of my people have that skill, but what other abilities do you posses? How did you manage to hurt me without touching me.

Duo's smile faded and he became serious. I apologise for that. I wasn't thinking. I'm a coercer mainly. We can enter people's minds, as long as they don't have a mental shield, and do stuff.

Like what?

Well, what I did for you for a start. You find the place in a person's mind that controls pain and sort of jab them. Then we can change memories thoughts or suggest new ones. That's how I got rid of the soldiers who had you. There's a girl at the house called Dragon. Elspeth, the guildmistress of the Farseekers found her when she went on an expedition. She's amazing! She can enter people's minds without them knowing and make them see things, like a hallucination. When the soldiers came to investigate Obernewtyn, she managed to make it appear as if the house was destroyed to everyone who came near. The best description is that we manipulate a mind. We're considered Obernewtyn's protectors because our Talent is the most aggressive.

A chill passed down Wufei's spine. This innocent looking boy had the same ability as the one who had almost destroyed him and he spoke of it so casually. Who could tell what he was capable of? Not noticing the look that passed across Wufei's face, Duo continued. I'm also a Farseeker. That means that I can enter minds. Find things out, and communicate with others that way. Like you can, you just need a little training. I'm also a Teknoguilder, Wufei raised an eyebrow, not understanding the term. Teknoguilders, well.....what can I say about that. They don't really have a particular set of abilities. Just a sort of empathy with machines mixed with a bit of telekinesis. But strong coercers can do that as well. The main thing is a passion for teknology and finding things out.

Which explains why Duo is rarely quiet, came Trowa's soft mindvoice as he walked into the room. He's always talking but that tends to make people think he can't possibly listen as well. Duo stuck his tongue out at the brown haired boy and Wufei stood up, disturbed by the fact that he had heard Trowa in his head, even though he had felt nothing. How's Quatre? he asked, an evil glint in his eyes. Did you put him to bed and is he sleeping well? He sniggered as Trowa glared at him.

Wufei stared at him, wondering why the comment had got such a reaction from the other boy. Trowa turned his attention to the gypsy and looked him over. How are you feeling?

Well, thank you. I'm still a little tired though, even if I only woke a couple of hours or so ago.

Trowa shrugged. It's the healing that Quatre's set on your body. The tend to tire people quickly. He makes your body heal faster than it normally would and it uses up more energy. The worse the damage, the more tiring it is. The spare bed has clean sheets if you'd like to rest.

Wufei nodded and then Duo broke in, apparently still intent on getting revenge for Trowa's comment about him always talking. Are you going to tuck Wufei into bed as well Trowa? Won't Quatre get jealous? Trowa glared again at the implication and spoke silently to him mind to mind. You're determined to tell the entire world aren't you?

Of course I am. I thought you didn't mind people knowing. Everyone at home knows, why not Wufei? He'll find out eventually.

Trowa sighed mentally, they'd had this conversation several times before. I know and we don't mind others knowing. I just wish you'd stop implying it in such crude terms. Especially if you suggest that I would sleep with someone I barely know and betray Quatre.

Wufei watched them in silence, certain that they were conversing silently and not liking that he couldn't hear what they were saying. Fine. Lighten up a little though. It was just a joke!

Duo turned back to Wufei. Sorry about that. Do you want me to take you back to your room?

Wufei shook his head. That won't be necessary. I think I can find my way.

Okay. Now, if Trowa doesn't mind, I'm going to sleep.

Wufei left and was followed by Trowa. Sleep well Duo.

Duo curled up under the bedcovers. Yeah. I will. It was only as he drifted off that he realised that Wufei hadn't told him why the Council wanted him.

*******

It was a few hours later when Wufei was awoken by the sound of Duo crying. He untangled himself from the sheets and blanket and slipped along the corridor to his room, opening the door softly.

When he approached the boy, he was surprised that Duo appeared to be sleeping peacefully, even though the noise continued. It took a moment to realise that what he could hear was in his mind. Gently, Wufei laid a tentative hand on the bare skin of the boy's arm. Wufei had said that he had no misfit Talent, but that wasn't strictly true. In the same way that some of his people could dream of things that could come to pass, Wufei could sometimes slip into other people's dreams. He didn't consider it a Talent, just a pointless skill that he had always had. He pushed a little with his mind and was pulled into the stream of disjointed visions that was Duo's dream.

~A dark haired boy with startlingly blue eyes bruising his/their lips in a harsh kiss.~
~A dial on a dark machine being turned higher and higher, towards the inevitable pain.~
~A cruel smile twisting soft lips and a sadistic laugh.~
~A pair of hands violently tearing off his/their clothing and running cold hands over his/their unwilling flesh.~
~A stream of blood from numerous cuts across his/their back and thighs and the knife cutting ever deeper.~
~A mindprobe questing ever deeper into his/their mind, reaching places that were never meant to be discovered.~
~Tears. Hot and salty and streaming down his/their face as the waited for the pain to return.~
~And over it all, the vision of a pair of cobalt blue eyes enjoying watching him/them hurt.~

Wufei pulled out and brushed away the tears from his face. Duo whimpered in his sleep and his mental sobs continued. Hesitantly, Wufei climbed onto the bed next to him, wrapping bruised arms around the braided boy. Holding him until his crying dwindled and finally stopped.