AN: You'll all be pleased to learn that I will be updating more frequently (or trying to in any case). Hope you all enjoy this next chapter!
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing or anything related to it (aka anime of any kind)
Warnings: Shonen ai, Trowa restraining himself (damn him), possible Heero OOCness. (Not in my opinion but people seem to think that Heero can never actually be emotional or nice)
***** denotes scene change
italics denotes thoughts
Spoils of War: Ch. 16
"Heero, why did you and Trowa abduct me and Quatre?" Duo demanded, slightly annoyed.
"I am to protect you from anything that might cause you harm." Heero replied firmly.
"Yeah, so?"
"I was protecting you."
"Protecting me from what!" Duo huffed.
"Yourself." Heero replied blandly.
"How am I a danger to myself?" Duo demanded hotly.
"You work too hard."
That statement spoken with complete seriousness made Duo's anger melt away in a heartbeat. Birds flew from their perches on branches as loud hearty laughter rang from Duo. The braided advisor continued to laugh until he was wheezing for breath and clutching at his horse's neck for support. Looking up with eyes blurry from tears of mirth, Duo was slightly surprised to see a small smile on Heero's lips instead of the from he'd expected.
"It's nice to hear you laugh again." The soft-spoken words made Duo smile.
"So what if I over-work?" Duo shrugged.
"You could get sick," Heero murmured almost too quietly for Duo to hear. "or worse…"
"Worse?"
"It leaves you vulnerable to attack." Heero kept his voice low.
"That's why I have a bodyguard." Duo teased.
Heero shook his head. "I know you were only humoring me when you gave me this position. You're an amazing fighter."
Duo was about to deny his slave's statement when he saw the crease in Heero's brow. "Are you worried about me?"
Heero kept his eyes resolutely on the path, or lack thereof, in front of them.
"Heero…" Duo waited until the boy looked at him.
The slave regarded him silently for a moment before nodding once. Duo dropped his gaze to his hands… You care that much…
"Heero…do you trust me?" Duo's question was meek and hesitant.
"Of course." The slave looked surprised at the question. "Why wouldn't I?"
"Even though I'm your master and own you?" Duo looked at the boy in surprise.
"No one owns me and I have no master save myself." Heero replied curtly.
"I'm glad you don't see me as your master. I certainly don't see you as a slave." Duo smiled.
"So I won't be punished for abducting you?" Heero raised an eyebrow.
"Well…I don't know about that…." Duo trailed thoughtfully.
"Oh heaven help me…" Heero rolled his eyes sarcastically.
"Thanks for getting me out of the palace for a little while."
"You really do work too hard." Heero insisted.
"I'll ignore the fact that that statement is coming from you." Duo looked at Heero from the corner of his eye. "But even if I do, I really have no choice."
"Yes, you do."
"Heero," Duo sighed, " the council does as little as possible. Quatre and I are forced to pick up the slack. There is no one else."
"I know, but you won't be able to work quickly and efficiently if you're too stressed. And I am willing to assist you in anyway I can." Heero looked at Duo significantly. "You can't do everything, even if others expect you too. No one is perfect.1"
"You're right…" Duo hung his head in exasperation then looked up with a smirk. "Hey Heero…"
The ex-soldier looked up in time to see the advisor's braid whip around a tree. The words "RACE YA'" faded slowly from the surrounding trees as a white quarter horse sped into the forest in pursuit.
* * * * *
"So you kidnapped Duo and I to force us to relax." Quatre looked inquisitively up at Trowa who nodded.
"Mind you, this was Heero's idea not mine. He has a tendency to take things to an extreme." The taller boy rolled his eyes in a long-suffering fashion.
"Oh," Quatre turned his gaze to the reins held loosely in his hands.
"I hope I didn't scare you with the dagger earlier."
Quatre jerked his head up to look at Trowa in shock before a smile curved his lips.
"No, you didn't scare me." The petite prince assured his companion.
"Really," Trowa raised an eyebrow.
Quatre nodded looking again at his hands. "I don't think I could ever fear you…"
"Oh? And why not?"
"No assassin or kidnapper would hold their hostage so gently. I had never felt safer." Quatre closed his eyes and, to his utter horror, could feel his cheeks burn.
Trowa smiled slightly at the soft blush that dusted Quatre's cheeks a pale pink. He couldn't help but think the gentle shade looked quite becoming on the prince's cherubic face. Remembering how Quatre had wound his arms around his neck when he'd jumped out the window, Trowa had to admit it was something he wouldn't be forgetting soon. Nor would he forget how Quatre had buried his face in the green-eyed boy's shoulder as they rode into the forest.
He's such an innocent… That thought nearly made Trowa stop cold. How could he think of an innocent in such a manner? Hell, when did he start thinking of Quatre in such a manner? He was so young… Although, Trowa wasn't exactly sure of his master's age the boy didn't look a day over fifteen! With an internal growl, Trowa pushed his less than honorable thoughts to the back of his mind as he and Quatre continued their quiet ride through the woods.
* * * * *
"Heero."
The slave looked up from where he was releasing Wing's bridle. With the leather and metal implement removed the ghostly horse bent its neck, dipping its muzzle in the cool water that flowed from the spring into the stream that wound its way out of the clearing the horses and their riders had stopped in.
"How did you meet Trowa? And do you know where he got his name?"
The cobalt-eyed boy walked to where Duo was seated underneath a tree and lowered himself to a kneeling position, setting the bridle beside Deathscythe' s
"When I met Trowa, he was still known as Nanashi which, as you may or may not know, is Estern for No Name. I assume you know of his slave origins, especially if you grew up with him." Heero explained.
"Yes, I did indeed grow up with him. We were owned by the same master."
"Yes, I remember he called you Shadow."
Duo nodded, "It was a childhood nickname. I acquired the name Duo Maxwell later on."
"I had figured as much." Heero conceded. "I met Trowa close to two years ago. He was trying to escape his owner. I helped him escape by killing his master and giving him the alias, Trowa Barton, from a corrupt mercenary I had killed a while ago. Fortunately he didn't' need to be trained in the art of battle." Heero looked at Duo significantly. "He knew many dagger techniques that he said he had learned from an old friend named Shadow. His master had seen his talent and disregarded Sudestern slave laws and continued Trowa's training. While I was helping Trowa refine his fighting skills we soon found he had a natural ability for archery. After minimal training Trowa became a master archer. He even managed to turn arrows into functional close-range weapons. He's quite resourceful when need be.
We ended up traveling together and soon were an established mercenary team. We became known as some of the best assassins and mercenaries available."
"So that was Dermail's game." Duo muttered leaning back onto the elm's worn bark.
"Game?" Heero raised a questioning eyebrow.
Duo nodded. "He probably learned a lot about you two from the less…respectful Sudest associations. He no doubt expected you and Trowa to at least attempt to kill Quatre and I." The braided boy cocked his head slightly when Heero looked away. "Heero…?"
"I…I was originally planning to attempt escape by assassinating you." The Estern slave looked mildly sheepish.
"Really?" Duo grinned. "What stopped you?"
"It was strategically unwise."
Duo's eruption of laughter seemed to catch Heero off guard.
"I don't think you'd find me that easy to get rid of." Duo chuckled.
"Well I know that now. Even if I wanted to escape, I still wouldn't try to kill you." Heero gave Duo an exasperated look.
"And why is that? Value your life too much?" Duo almost giggled.
"No," Heero glared, then smiled softly. "I can't kill someone that I care about."
Duo's laughter quieted abruptly as he looked at Heero in shock. The searching violet eyes read the sincerity in Heero's and Duo smiled back.
* * * * *
"I don't understand." A low voice growled.
"Don't look at me." A rather harsh voice wheezed. "I told you it might not work."
"Why would those two assassins become that brat and his bastard of an advisor's bodyguards? I was so sure that they'd try kill the prince and his advisor."
"Well, I guess we nee to move on to different tactics." A nasal voice interjected.
"Indeed, it's time to stop fooling around."
To be continued…
1. I know Heero's nickname is the perfect soldier, but out of everyone I think Heero finds the most faults within himself. He doesn't think he's perfect which is a stem of many of his problems. In this story I'm just expressing that I think he realizes that humans aren't perfect, especially not him.
HDA: Don't ask me why I finally put the TBC on there. I couldn't tell you. I guess
I just felt like it.
Duo: Well, I hope you feel like typing some more.
HDA: HOW THE HELL DID YOU GET OUT OF THE STORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Heero: Hn, we're all here.
HDA: * Looks around herself and realizes what they say is true, proceeds to
glomp Trowa *
Quatre: HEY!
HDA: * Looks between the two * Can you two have sex here…now?
Everyone: WHAT?!?!?!??!?!?!?!??!?!??!?!?!??!?!???!?!??!?!??!?!???!?!?!?!??!?!
WuFei: * gets a nosebleed *
HDA: Eh heh heh heh… never mind…. * looks at WuFei * Well what do ya' know. He
Really does get a nosebleed at the slightest mention of sex…