Duo: Hey! My poor Hee-chan is being whipped as we speak, HURRY IT UP, so I can save him.
HDA: ::who has now gotten used to the popping up of random g-boys.:: Don't give that attitude man, I'm doin' it all for you! ::Said a la Bobby style from the Goofy Movie:: Gotta love 'em! I hope you guys all know the sacrifices I'm making for you. I'm at work right now, YES AT WORK, I have a crappy ass, shit paying job at a local Steak 'n' Shake, and I'm still typing. I just love you all that much!
AN: YES HEERO WILL BE SAVED IN THIS CHAPTER! I SWEAR I'M NOT A COMPLETE BITCH!!!!!
Duo::snorts:: that's debatable.
HDA: shut up -.-
Disclaimer: I don't own the boys, there I said it, can I go home now?
ALL G-Boys: NO!
HDA: fine -_-;
Warnings: Duo being scary and Heero helpless (gosh he's cute like that!), angst and misconceptions, and big shounen ai hints… Yes unfortunately they're still just hints, we'll be getting to the real stuff soon though. ^-~*
Italics denotes thoughts
***** denotes scene change, though I don't think I have any in this chapter… Oh well, c'est la vie!
Spoils of War: Ch. 20
Blood trickled down Heero's chin from where he'd bitten his lip to keep from crying out his pain, physical and emotional. He would never give his tormenters that satisfaction. The sound of the large castle doors being brutally shoved open made Heero wearily raise his head. One look at Duo's enraged expression destroyed the last of Heero's hope that this had been nothing more than a horrible mistake. Trembling, his lips unconsciously parted to implore the man he'd come to respect and care for. Unable to fight the exhaustion that tore at his beaten body, he gave up his battle with unconsciousness.
The anger that Duo felt grew exponentially when he exited the castle only to see Heero strung up for the guards' amusement. Surprise flitted over Duo's face when Heero lifted his head to look at him. His heart clenched at the broken look in the beautiful blue depths. He flinched back as the boy mouthed one word: why? As Heero dropped limply into his restraints, Duo rushed forward.
"Release him at once!" the sound carried over the courtyard, quieting all those gathered.
The soldiers that spared a glance at the royal advisor hurriedly moved to unchain the slave. Shoving his friend's tormentors aside, Duo gingerly took the limp body from their hands. Unmindful of the blood that would no doubt, stain his robes, Duo cradled Heero close.
"I want the palace healer sent to my room immediately!" Duo called out.
Gathering his slave close, the longhaired boy made his way back into the castle. Once he had reached his room, Duo kicked the door closed and gently lay Heero on his bed. Seeing the boy's labored breathing, the violet-eyed boy hurriedly stripped the metal collar from around Heero's neck, and threw the evil implement away, uncaring of where it landed. Gently maneuvering Heero's body, Duo arranged him so he was lying on his stomach. The violet-eyed boy winced at the sight of the marks crisscrossing Heero's back. Leaving Heero a moment, Duo rang for a servant. Removing his cloak and outer shirt, Duo bent over his wounded friend.
"You rang, Milord?" a soft voice called out.
"Yes, please bring a basin of hot water, several linen cloths, and a roll of bandages. And hurry, if you can." Duo replied.
A few moments later the boy returned carrying a large bowl with the linens and bandage rolls piled in it. Duo pulled a small wooden stand near the bed and the servant obligingly set the basin on it. He quickly scooped the linens out of the ceramic dish and deposited them neatly on the bed.
"Thank you, are you waiting for the water to heat?"
"No, Milord." The boy scurried to the servants' entrance and quickly returned with a pail of steaming water.
"How did you heat it so quickly?" Duo asked as the boy poured the obviously scalding water into the basin, his hands covered with thick cloths.
"The cook was boilin' water in the kitchen. He hadn't put anythin' in it, so I took a pail-full."
"Thank you."
"My pleasure, your lordship. I figured he needed it mor'en the cook." He nodded his head at the prone body on Duo's bed.
Duo smiled at the child and nodded. "May I know the name of the boy who can filch an entire pail of water without notice?" he chuckled as he picked up one white cloth.
"Tommy, sir. You won't tell no one will you?" he gazed up at Duo as if the advisor held the child's life in his hands.
"Of course not!" Duo looked appalled at the very notion. "And what's more, if you are discovered, come to me and I'll give you a full pardon." Duo winked at the child who smiled up at him until Duo began to dip his hand into the water to dampen the cloth.
"Stop!" Tommy grabbed Duo's hand worriedly. "The water's real hot."
He looked down to where he grasped the advisor's wrist and his eyes widened in horror.
"I'm sorry milord." He quickly released Duo's hand and bowed in apology. "I didn' wanna see you burn your hand."
The young boy blinked in confusion when the longhaired advisor chuckled.
"Well I thank you for the consideration, but I'll be fine." Duo assured him, dipping his hand in the water once more.
The servant watched in amazement as Duo soaked the cloth and wrung it out without so much as flinching.
"Don't look so surprised." Duo spoke gently as he began to clean the lacerations crisscrossing Heero's back. "I don't have the soft hands of a noble."
The braided boy continued to rinse his slave's back in silence.
"You don't have to stay." Duo turned to smile at Tommy. "I'm sure I'll be fine. I don't want you to be yelled at, just because you were helping me."
Tommy blinked in surprise then nodded to Duo before quietly exiting the room. No sooner had the servants' door closed then the door to Duo's chamber's was thrown open. The advisor looked up in shock as the palace healer strode in without a word. The only way that Duo was able to identify this strange woman on sight was the strange robes that she wore. The flowing garments bore the symbol of a healer and the crest of Sudest. He'd never before met the healer because he'd had no need for one and was quite surprised by her gender and her face. Her sharp angular features were the first thing Duo noticed. She had the slanted eyes of the Estern people, but her hair was honey blonde, her eyes cornflower blue, and her skin pale cream.
Her mouth was set in a grim line as she placed a basket on the bed next to Heero's prone body. Her pale blue eyes quickly assessed her patient as she began to remove jars from the basket. Looking at the basin, she quickly tested the water with the tips of her fingers. A ghost of a smile crossed her lips as she nodded approvingly at the temperature of the water. Her hand drifted over the cluster of small glass vials separated on Duo's bed, before she snatched one up with a quick glance at Heero.
Mixing the powder into the bowl of water, she swiftly dampened a cloth and began to bathe the cuts on the prone boy's bath. As she was cleaning her patient's back, she turned to a small girl standing next to her that Duo hadn't noticed before. She spoke in soft, gentle tones, the language slightly musical. The girl nodded and exited the room silently, returning a moment later bearing several earthenware jars.
The healer took the jars, murmuring what Duo assumed was a thank you in her native tongue. She pat Heero's back dry with another clean cloth and opened one of the jars. Dipping her hand into the jar she extracted a large dollop of an opaque white gel. The blonde gently slathered a generous amount of the ointment over the boy's back.
"How this happen?" she asked quietly, her voice husky and comforting, thick with the accent of her homeland.
Duo's hand clenched at his side as he turned away from the bed and paced towards his desk.
"The guards say they found him trying to escape to the East." Duo grit his teeth. He said he wouldn't leave…
"You lucky he still alive." The healer replied coolly.(1) "Most slave not survive beating."
Duo barely heard her as he reached down and lifted the note that was lying on his desk. With painstaking care the words: "Catch if you can." Were spelled out in flowing Sudest script with strange symbols that Duo had learned was Heero's name in his own language. Duo's hand clenched, crushing the paper between his fingers.
"They'll pay for this." Duo growled.
"I understand you upset. He not able to fulfill duty for many day but that no reason to execute soldiers who just follow your order." The cold sting of the words enraged Duo.
"MY ORDERS!" Duo whirled around to glare at the blonde who was calmly wrapping bandages around Heero's torso. "WHY would I order him nearly whipped to DEATH!"
"He try to escape." She replied somewhat angry.
"He was trying to be a good friend…" Duo's voice quieted. "And when he was in danger…I did nothing."
The healer cocked her head curiously as Duo dropped his head in shame.
"You not order this?" she asked quietly.
"Of course not!" Duo snapped. "I am personally opposed to slavery!"
"Then why you have slave…personal slave." she stated dryly.
"Don't you listen to palace gossip?" Duo asked incredulously.
"I above such base practice." She answered defiantly. "Beside, gossip is gossip, not truth."
"True, but gossip often has a base in truth." Duo answered. "However, to answer your question, he was a gift-"
"You could refuse."
"And throw him to Dermail and his cronies!?!?" Duo demanded. "Not a chance!"
"Duke Dermail give you him."
"Yes he was a mercenary that Nord had hired during the war. He was captured and brought here, presented to me as a gift."
"You are Lord Duo?" She asked in suddenly realization.
He blinked, freezing in confusion when her expression shifted from angry and resentful to eager and hopeful. Tilting his head curiously, he nodded.
"I pleased to finally meet you." She stood to bow respectfully before turning back to Heero.
Duo's mouth hung open and his brow creased as he attempted to say something that made sense.
"I apologize for false accusation." She wrapped bandages around the battered boy's bruised wrists.
"You're sorry for your false accusations…but not your accusations." Duo asked suddenly.
"Of course." She replied. "You not first noble I tell off."
She seemed to have difficulty forming some of the words that she used and her speech was clipped and unfinished.
"Well," Duo smiled liking the bold Esterner. "I thank you for helping me with Heero…"
"Sally Po." She offered the name quietly.
"Thank you, Sally."
"You welcome, my lord."
"Of, please! Don't start with that."
Sally looked up at him with infinite patience.
"I can't stand formalities."
"Very well."
"You are Estern, are you not?"
"Yes."
"Did you travel here?"
"Yes, on war wagon."
"A WHAT?!?!"
"War wagon." She repeated calmly, examining each jar before replacing it back in the basket, setting one aside every now and then.
"But I don't remember a war with the Est."
"Happen about three year ago."
Duo cursed under his breath, while he'd been Quatre's friend three years ago, he still hadn't been aware of many of the governmental and political happenings until about two years ago.
"I was taken to His Majesty, King Iman, as gift." Her eyes slid closed in disgust. "If I not a better healer than last doctor, I would be in King's harem."
Duo shuddered. "I'm sorry. I know how you must feel."
A cold glare met his gaze. "How you know. Your life never taken from you."
"Trust me, I know." Duo held out his hands, palm up.
The pale hands were not soft as all other nobles' but were dotted with calluses and now that his long-sleeved shirt had been removed, one could see the twin marks that encircled his wrists.
"No matter what I do. The marks won't fade."
Duo's eyes dropped as she reached up to touch his hands hesitantly. She paused and looked up at the advisor. Duo nodded sadly. Her hands were cool and slightly callused like his own. She gently prodded his hands and wrists curiously.
"Why you show me." She demanded. "I could expose you."
"Wow you really have learned the country law details in a short period of time."
"Why you tell me?" she insisted.
"You seem like someone I can trust." Duo shrugged
"Appearance can be deceiving."
"I trust you. You know that I am working to stop this. I'm the only one who can do anything right now."
"You right." She conceded and stood. "He wake up soon. Here," she pressed a jar into the braided boy's hand. "Put on cuts once a day when you change bandage."
Duo nodded. "Thank you again."
"If you need, call me." She bowed once more before exiting the room.
AN: YES! I put Sally in the story before WUFEI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And I don't know if he'll even be in the story. If I can't find an applicable slot then he will sadly remain out of this fic. BUT HAVE NO FEAR WU FEI LOVERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I got sick and tired of another stereotype and am writing an AU that features WuFei as one of two main characters. I figured because no one does AU for Wuffie, I would! ^-^
WuFei: Oh joy…(note the sarcasm)
Anyway oh, yeah nearly forgot.
1) I'm not trying to make Sally look stupid or anything. I just wanted to get the point across that she doesn't speak Sudestern every well. Think of a Chinese person speaking English and you'll know what I mean. ^-^
READ AND RE VIEW PLEASE!
Final AN: THERE ARE YOU HAPPY! IT'S A "LONG" CHAPTER. Even if it IS mostly dialogue. *snickers evilly*