Journey into the Snow
Heero and Quatre landed after a long flight through harsh snow storms and deadly hail flurries. They were tired, they were cold and they were wet. Quatre wrapped his arms around his body to keep out the cold. Heero was cold too but he was more concerned for Quatre.
But why am I so concerned about Quatre? He asked himself. It must be because he's my friend…
Squinting through the snow, Heero spotted a cave. He leaned in close to Quatre and shouted over the wind.
"Let's take a break." He pointed to the cave and Quatre nodded.
The two friends trudged through the deep snow to the cave. It wasn't much warmer but at least the wind had stopped. Quatre sit against the wall, shivering, while Heero looked for something to burn for a fire. Far in the back he found some wood scraps and after working them together for a moment, he created a very small fire. He and Quatre hovered around it, relishing in its warmth.
"I knew it would be cold out here but…" Quatre's teeth were chattering as he trailed off.
Heero nodded. It was usually cold in the Darkness but never this bad. He wasn't shivering but every once and a while his teeth clattered together. Quatre looked up at Heero and smiled.
"Well, let's take our mind off of the cold, shall we?"
Heero looked up as Quatre moved next to him. He began to sweat at the closeness of the blond angel.
"Body heat." Quatre explained.
Heero nodded but it didn't make him feel any move comfortable.
"So, tell me about yourself." Quatre smiled rubbing his hands together before the fire.
Heero turned and watched the flames dance. "Not much to tell." He shrugged.
"Well, I know you have a lot of siblings. What's that like?" Quatre asked, doing his best at conversation.
Heero's countenance grew dark though his expression didn't change. "I don't get along with most of them. Duo is the only one I've ever really considered family. Most of the others have my father's dream of domination."
Quatre saddened and looked down. "I'm sorry." He looked back up at the flames and sighed. "I've only got Zechs. Don't get me wrong! I love him. He's always been the greatest big brother to me, training me and everything; it's just, sometimes I wonder what it would be like to have more." He shrugged. "I personally want a big family." He smiled.
Heero felt his heart stop for a moment and he nearly choked. He wouldn't be asking…
Don't be stupid, Heero. He's not asking you to start a family with him. He cursed himself. He turned to Quatre and tried to look casual.
"Why do you want a big family?"
Quatre shrugged and turned to face his friend. "I don't know. I guess because I never had one. My parents gained the title of Guardian Angels when I was very young so they moved to Earth to follow their charges around. I never really knew them. All I had was Zechs and the Saints. I don't want my kids to have to grow up like that."
Heero nodded. The size of his heart was unlike anything Heero had ever seen. Yes, Duo was kind hearted but not like this. Quatre had a kind of sacrificial love in him that Heero found fascinating. He wanted to ask about it when Quatre stood up.
"Well, we should get going again. We still have a long way ahead of us."
Heero nodded and stood up. After putting out the fire, the two friends left the safety of the cave and again set out to brave the elements. After only a few minutes, the wind had grown so strong that the small cave they had only just left was no where to be seen. Quatre was about to ask if they were going in circles when a figure in the distance approached them. The angels slowed to a stop and watched the figure as it approached. The creature, which they had thought was human, they now saw walked on four legs. As it appeared from the snowy confines, Quatre gasped when he realized it was a unicorn.
"It's beautiful." He whispered in awe.
The unicorn was whiter than the snow and its bright golden horn shined, casting away the sound of the wind. Heero watched it carefully. It was unlike anything he had ever seen, and it seemed to be staring at him.
"I think it wants us to go with it." Heero said softly.
"Uh oh…"
Heero turned to Quatre when he heard his speak.
"What's wrong?" Heero asked.
Quatre blushed and looked sheepishly over to Heero. "Unicorns…they…they can only be tamed by virgins."
Heero raised a brow. "So?"
Quatre blushed and looked down at his hands. "I…well…I'm not…"
Heero's eyes widened. "You're not a virgin?" The thought sounded ridiculous even as he said it, though Quatre's blush answered his question for him. He wanted to push; to ask who it was; how it had happened; but he didn't. He didn't want to intrude on something that was none of his business. Instead, he turned to the unicorn and walked forward carefully. The beast didn't move, in fact it approached Heero and nuzzled into his outstretched hand. Heero smiled and turned back to Quatre.
"You're…a…" Quatre smiled outwardly but inside his mind was screaming.
He's a virgin? How! How can someone that gorgeous be a virgin!
Heero climbed onto the back of the creature and offered his hand to Quatre. "Don't worry, he's safe."
Quatre hesitated and then moved forward. The unicorn didn't flee, so he assumed that it was safe. He took Heero's hand and let himself be pulled up. The unicorn immediately reacted and began riding quickly through the snow. Heero wrapped his arms around Quatre and pushed them both close to the body of the beast so they wouldn't fall off.
Quatre shivered, but this time it wasn't because of the cold. The feel of Heero's body against him was intoxicating. Images of his dream began to flood into his mind and Quatre began to wonder what it would be like if Heero did this too him in a warm bed; perhaps even remove his robe…
Quatre shook his head viciously. He must not think of Heero like that! What if Heero didn't feel the same? What if it discussed him? For all Quatre knew, Heero was straight; but then again, wasn't he straight too? He had never even looked at another man in a sexual way before and now he was thinking of being naked with one? What was happening to him?
The unicorn carried the boys to the entrance of, what appeared to be, a tomb. They dismounted and the beast ran swiftly back into the throws of winter. After several deep breaths, Heero and Quatre stepped forward and pushed open the heavy doors of the enclosure. The inner walls were lit by torches and the passageway seemed long and empty. Heero closed the door behind them to keep out the chill and together they walked slowly through the many twists and turns of the passage.
As they walked, Heero stole glances at Quatre. Who had he lost his virginity too? He seemed far too pure to do that. Quatre noticed him staring and smiled sheepishly.
"You want to know, don't you?" He asked finally.
Heero thought about playing dumb, but decided against it. Quatre was too smart for that. Instead, he nodded. "Forgive my curiosity."
Quatre shook his head. "It's okay. I don't mind telling you." He looked over at Heero and smiled. "Her name was Elliel."
Heero felt his heart drop into his stomach. So he was straight. He blinked. Why did it matter what his sexual preferences were? Heero didn't care…did he?
"It happened about three years ago," Quatre continued, unaware of Heero's inner workings, "she and I were betrothed." He chuckled sadly. "It was the plan of our parents, you see. They wanted to insure that they would have an heir." He nodded fondly.
"What about Zechs? He's older, isn't he?" Heero asked.
Quatre nodded. "Yes, he is. They had already tried to arrange his marriage to a girl named…Alice, I believe. But she was in love with someone else and Zechs had already decided that he was gay." He chuckled. "Boy, the Saints weren't happy when they heard that one."
Heero smirked as well. He could just imagine what the people of heaven thought of the Holy Prince after that.
"Anyway, they had decided I was their last hope." Quatre shrugged. "Elliel was nice enough. She was a wonderful chess player." He smiled as he remembered.
Heero looked down at his friend. He could sense there was more. "…but?"
Quatre grew quiet. "But…it just wasn't meant to be." He looked into Heero's eyes. "After we…you know…she disappeared. We found her about a year later…ravaged. We're still not sure what happened to her and ever since then, the Saints have been hesitant to arrange a marriage for me. Afraid it will happen again."
Heero felt a strange pain in the pit of his stomach. He couldn't imagine what it would be like to loose someone you loved. But did he love her? As if answering his thoughts, Quatre smiled.
"To this day I'm not sure what I felt for her. I knew that I liked spending time with her…but as for love…" He shrugged. "I really don't know."
Suddenly Heero felt hope. If he wasn't in love with the girl, then perhaps he still had a chance. He suddenly froze; Why did he care? If Quatre was his friend then shouldn't he be sad that he didn't love her? But he didn't feel sad, he felt…hope. He didn't even realize that he had stopped walking until Quatre poked him in the arm.
"Heero?" He asked.
Heero jerked and turned to look at the small blond. "I…thought I heard something." He said distractedly.
Quatre raised a brow but didn't question him. "Okay, well…let's keep moving then."
Heero followed, silently cursing himself for making his thoughts so obvious. The passage became steadily darker as they went along, as there were fewer torches. The boys turned a corner and came to a giant wall with a small door right in the center. The wall was covered with ancient writing and the stone was old and crumbling. Quatre glanced once at Heero before walking forward. He leaned into the wall and tried to make out the writing.
"This is a very old dialect…" he said thoughtfully. He finally leaned back. "I can't make it out."
Heero stepped forward and looked at it. "I can." Quatre turned to him with a look of appreciate and awe crossing his features. He watched Heero lean into the words and suddenly felt a warm feeling flow through him.
Heero really is something. He's unlike anyone I've ever know. I wonder if he and I will be together someday… He paused and his brow furrowed. Why did I say that? I'm not interested in him…am I?
"I know what it says." Heero said, throwing Quatre out of his thoughts.
"Oh? That's wonderful!" Quatre smiled and walked forward.
"I'm not so sure…" Heero grunted. "It's a riddle."
Quatre looked at the words and nodded. "What does it say?"
"In the next room," Heero read, "you will find three torches in three separate rooms. Placed on a wall, there is a panel with three separate switches. They only turn on or off. You may look inside each room only once. Your goal: Find which switch belongs to which bulb."
Quatre and Heero exchanged a curious look and walked into the next room. Just as the riddle said, there were three doorways, all covered with curtains, and three switches. Quatre walked to the switched and studied them carefully before turning to Heero.
"This could take some time to figure out."
Heero nodded and sat on the floor, closing his eyes. He needed to focus his thoughts. "Well," he started but was interrupted when he heard Quatre scream. Opening his eyes he saw the small boy being lifted up to the ceiling. He was tied tightly by something slippery and Heero gasped when he realized it was a serpent. Heero spread his wings, ready to take off and rescue his new friend when the serpent opened its mouth.
"Don't you dare touch him."
Heero froze. "What do you want with him?" he shouted.
The serpent's slimy lips curled into a grin. "Nothing. I only want to keep him away from you."
Heero glared.
"The only way you are allowed to solve the puzzle is alone. You mustn't have help." The creature explained.
Heero grumbled and turned back to the puzzle. "And if I fail?"
The room filled with a hissing laughter. "It will be messy…" He hissed.
Heero felt his heart stop for a moment before it began pounding in his ears. Now he had even more incentive to solve the puzzle. He couldn't let Quatre be hurt. He sat again on the floor and began to talk it out to himself.
"Well, the only way to find out which switch belongs to which light is to turn them on." He told himself and looked at each switch. "But how can I figure out all three if I can only enter each room once…" Suddenly a light came on in his head and he smirked.
"Ohh," the serpent hissed, "he has an idea, he does." He mocked.
Heero ignored him. He stood and walked over to the switches. He took the first two and turned them on, then he waited; five minutes passed and then he turned the first one off. He turned and walked over to the first room. Opening the curtain he saw a single torch burning brightly. He smiled and closed the curtain. Then he walked over to the second room and walked inside. The torch was not lit so Heero reached up and touched the old wood. It was cool to the touch and Heero almost laughed out loud. He walked out and went to the last room for confirmation. He reached up and touched the last torch. It was warm from being lit. He turned and walked out to the room where the serpent waited and cleared his throat.
"The first room holds the torch that is controlled by the second switch, the second room the third switch and the third room the first switch."
The serpent shrieked causing Quatre to cover his ears. Its slithery body released Quatre and slithered back into its shell. Shocked from the shriek, Quatre didn't open his wings and fell. He closed his eyes and prepared to hit the stone when he felt something warm wrap around him. He opened his eyes and found Heero holding him as he flew carefully down to the ground.
He saved me…Quatre thought.
Heero landed and placed Quatre on his feet. He immediately began checking the smaller being for wounds and Quatre blushed.
"I'm okay, Heero." Quatre smiled sheepishly.
Heero's eyes met soft blue ones and he frowned. "Are you sure?"
Quatre nodded and looked down. "Th-thank you for saving me."
Heero nodded and grunted something that sounded like 'you're welcome' before turning and walking away. Quatre felt his heartbeat quicken when he thought of Heero being so close to him but he tried to shake off the feeling. Instead he looked up into the shaft the serpent disappeared into.
"Do you suppose we go up?" he asked.
Heero looked up into the darkness and nodded. "We must." He turned to Quatre. "Are you alright to fly?"
Quatre blushed at the concern in his voice and smiled. "Yes, I'm fine." He said and the two spread their wings and flew upward into the dark tunnel in search of the next task.