:Eats own foot out of boredom: Okay, this chapter came out of the need to finish the fic and complete brain-numbing boredom. My cat is incredibly ill along with my grandad, and so I'm sad. :sniffle: And I'm in trouble...so the next chapter may be long overdue. Don't blame me, too many people are already doing that. --;
Oh, and a giant THANK YOU! Many arigatous, to The New Shinigami Hikari! My random yet inspirational conversations with you were funny and got me to get off my butt and write this. :Evil grin:
Misjudged Fates
Chapter 15, And I HAVE 100 REVIEWS!
Thank you all :cries:
" What...but why? What did they ever do? He can't, I won't let him I...-" Duo was clinging to Heero like a lifeline, Trowa himself was white and those from Hell were confused and yet fearful. Not one of them felt welcome in the land of God.
" Duo. Perhaps he doesn't even want to hurt them. It may be that Heaven wants peace, allies. It could even be that the Archangels ask them to fight against their Father, numerous explanations could fill the void that you've stuffed full with fears of punishment." Trowa spoke the words steadily, but knew he wasn't even fooling himself. It was Heaven, and neaither side took prisoners anymore.
" Isn't God supposed to be, to be...merciful? He is forgiving and loves all. Willing to give a second chance to anyone..." Duo muttered to himself, barely audible through Heero's tightly clenched shoulder.
" He's right. Or is that all propaganda by a vengful dictator?" Heero asked monotonously. Trowa shook his head sadly.
" God hasn't been with us for years." Ears pricked up around the room, the only listener that wasn't taken aback was Duo, but he still seemed to be resisting the idea." He was deeply saddened by the acts of Satan, and the retorts of his own people. He became, so I've heard, withdrawn, and now no-one can speak with him. He has people booked for meetings that are eight years late. He no longer controls what happens to us, it's the angelic council that decide now." He walked toward Quatre and took his hands. " You can go now, all of you, and neither Duo nor I would stop you." Quatre bit his lip and looked at his brother.
" And Trowa, what would happen to you for not turning us in?" There was a silence that rivalled any silences before, heavy with the wait and antisipation, until Trowa reluctantly answered.
" Duo and I, we would be executed for treason or desertion. Unless I got us a document for leave and we came to live on Earth, but the chances of that are slim to none." Quatre turned his face back to the angel before him.
" I'm staying right by your side, wherever you venture." He stated decisivly. Heero had been listening intently, and for his part chipped in.
" And I won't leave Duo, it's life with him or none at all." Trowa looked to the floor, apparently finding it extreamly interesting.
" Please, please go. Run now...I don't want to lose you. To be responsible for losing you." He all but whispered the request, and wouldn't look up until Quatre pulled him into a posessive embrace.
" I hate to do this to you Trowa but...I'm not going to leave and that's my final word on the subject. Heero's too." Quatre rubbed the small of Trowa's back comfortingly. "It'll be alright, we'll get them to understand. Angels have more compassion than my Father, and we managed to convince him to change his mind a few times. Didn't we Heero?" His brother gave a nod.
" You all dragged me into this." Wufei's voice was stern and left no room for negotiation."I won't let you desert me now. I'd already blame you if I died, so take responsibilty for ruining an easy, well paid job and take me with you." He crossed his arms to emphasise the point, and Trowa sighed;
" We shall have to leave in the morning then, and get there by dusk. It's not so eay to go up as it is to go down. Until then, Quatre, can I speak with you?" Quatre nodded, and the two left for the bedroom; the only room left unoccupied at that time. (Just to stop any ideas --;)
" I'm glad you're staying Heero, Wufei. I don't know what I'd do if...if..." Duo sniffed, he'd been fighting the whole time just to be with one person, and now even his own home were against him.
" I'm glad I'm staying with you." Heero replied, and then looked over to the sophisticated Chinese boy. Unspoken words passed between the childhood friends. Words of 'thank you' and 'I'll always be there'. :Chokes: Bleh...the CORN!
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Quatre practicly fell into Trowa's arms once the door was closed.
" Why didn't you leave?" Trowa didn't move to embrace him, nor push him away. Just...stood there.
" I couldn't. You find it hard to lead me into danger, I find it just as difficult to leave you in it. I know however, that facing this together is the only way we have a hope. So I stayed, there must be a way, surely?" He looked up at the Angel expectantly. Trowa was silent for a while, before 'hm'ing.
" We'll see soon enough." He sighed." Really I'm glad you'll be there." He finally wrapped his arms around the blond beneath him.
" I love you Trowa." Leaning foreward he caught the boy's lips in an unexpected kiss. "What time are we...You, being expected to bring us by?" Trowa laid his forehead against Quatre's, trying to ease the thoughts buzzing around his head in droves.
" At most, tomorrow evening. But we may end up with an armed escort if we wait that long. We'd have to leave in the morning anyway, and I still need to get certification to pass back through to Heaven."
" Oh. I see, I wasn't expecing it to be so soon." The clear disappointment in Quatre's voice was undeniable, and it was such a short time. Trowa couldn't help but think of it as having only a single evening left to spend with the one he loved. It was certainly a glass half empty.
" No. No-one ever does. I should go and phone Zechs..." He smiled as small hands tightened their fisted grip on his shirt.
" Please, couldn't we just have...a little time together?" He smiled and kissed the top of the golden head.
" If that is what you wish Little One."
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Duo was curled up against Heero on the sofa chair, and Wufei was reading an Angel's book called 'A Demon's Reasoning'. Judging from how he frowned every few pages, the two on the chair realised it must be a biased piece on Hell, and that it was most likely insulting his race. Bad move.
" Duo?" Duo opened eyes that, although he resisted, were slowly pushing him toward sleep.
" Mnng?"
" Who is 'Zechs'? I'd feel better if I knew what we'll be dealing with." Heero requested thoughtfully. Duo crinkled his brows as he concentrated for a moment.
" Well," Wufei put down the book and took an attentive yet comfortable position on the couch. " Zechs Marquise, formerly Milliardo Peacecraft, is one of five men. They make up the core of the Angelic council, and beyond them there are seven more. Twelve in all, but the five I mentioned are the ones to finalise decisions, the others are more like a debate section. It's just so they look democratic." Duo stopped for a moment before Heero nodded him on expectantly. "Trowa and I have known Zechs for a long time. We both lived in a village that was attacked by demons when we were only five, we'd already become friends at that point." Wufei's face visably fell and his eyes were downcast, he almost felt responsible in a way, for all those apparently un-necessary deaths. His mind noted Duo was still talking, he needed to know this, even if his kind were in the wrong, he could repent. Or he could try to at least. " When the village was destroyed all the survivors were taken to the refugee camps set up. There were many then, still are now, as more raids hit and homes are lost. Anyway, Trowa and his family were seperated at the tramway, the trams would have taken us to the camps. I stayed with him, because I knew he's never liked crowds. Before we knew it, the tram and our remaining family members were whisked away forever. At the station, we were left lost. It was by pure chance that Zechs came along. We spent twelve hours in that station. Just wandering around, and when it came to the last tram, just before the station closed, there he was. He'd seen Trowa, who was looking increasingly unhappy as the whole thing progressed, and had come to see if we were alright. When we explained to him, he knew there was one chance in a million we'd find our families again, and yet didn't want to send us on alone. He ended up looking after us in his big, expensive mansion. Heh, up until a year ago we were rich as kings. Living like them too. Thankfully, after nine years, we found all the people from our village. They'd made a new town, a new, thriving life, and welcomed us back into it. We're both in his debt, and know he'd never lie to us about the problem at hand. But if he's said there's nothing he can do, I'm afraid I'll have to believe him." The room was silent for a while, digesting the new-found information.
" You think we have an ally in him then?" Heero queried.
" Definitely, I'd trust him with my life. Already have a few times." Duo grinned cheekily, leaving Heero to wander just what the comment meant. He ignored it, filing it away to ask his lover later. For now he was content to enjoy their last untroubled night with him in his arms, and did just that.
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Quatre moaned as he felt the cool wall through the back of his shirt and the hot mouth that ravaged his own. He gasped when cold hands brushed the skin on his stomach, feeling feather-light kisses trail down his neck.
" Trowa..." He sighed as the kisses halted at the bottom of his neck, to be replaced by a tickling breath that caused his own breath to hitch.
" I'll never let them take you. Together, always." Trowa's husky voice promised, even through the threat of immenant danger.
" Always." Quatre agreed, untucking the white shirt from Trowa's belted trousers. Trowa smiled.
" It's not an obligation. Love." Quatre's wide eyes shot him a look.
" What do you mean?"
" I mean," He stole an unsuspected kiss and smiled fleetingly again, he hadn't smiled so much in his life. " That just because this is an...unpredictable night for us, you don't have to." Quatre looked dissappointed, and yet a little relieved. Trowa wondered if he'd ever had any such romantic encounters before.
" Have you ever been in a relationship. Like this, like us, before now?" There was that expected yet heavy silence before the blond answered.
" Yes. I've had 'encounters'. None of them were for...love. Simple lust and power hungry fools who thought they could get to Father through me. But, I've only had one relationship before this that I would call intimate, and even then we never..." He trailed off. Looking somewhat lost, he focussed on the floor, thoughtful.
" It's alright." Trowa lifted Quatre's head by the chin. "We'll wait until you're completely comfortable."
" But..-"
" You stayed when I wanted you safe, I get one wish in return. And I wish that you are entirely happy with whatever we do together." He stole another kiss from those sweet lips, and then excused himself.
Quatre was left alone, back with the thoughts of that 'encounter'. Encouter really was the best word to use, as it seemed the affections had been one sided, he'd been strung along. He screwed his eyes shut. Betrayal was something he despised, and yet he coudn't forget it, not forget those eyes, that hair...
Trowa would never, never abandon me like that. Use me, he loves me. He said so, and I trust him. I do trust him. I do trust...? I do. And he loves me, as I love him. I'll always love him.
By the time Trowa had closed the bathroom door and come back to the bedroom, Quatre was curled up loosly on the bed, sleeping peacefully. He walked over and pulled the covers up, placing a kiss on the pale cheek.
" Love you." He pulled the door closed, but left it open enough enough for a chink of golden light to fall on the covered legs of the prince.
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" Hey Trowa! I thought you and Quatre'd be busy a few hours yet." Duo said, giving a suggestive wink.
" He's tired, we should all get some rest before tomorrow." That seemed to close the matter, and he slipped back into the bedroom, and that was the last they heard from him.
" We should sleep too." Heero agreed, attempting to get up. Duo trailed his hands over his lover's chest, effectively holding him down.
" Sure you don't want to engage to bed in some other activities?" He purred. Wufei chocked on the air.
" Wha! I don't want to hear that sort of thing, especially about Heero." He pulled a face of disgust and left the room sharpish, but not before poking his head around the door. " I suggest you go to sleep. If you keep me up I'll be forced to take further measures." Duo groaned.
" He's right though, I need to sleep to be prepared for everything, anything, tomorrow." Duo noticed that Heero was slightly colder than other times they'd been together, he wondered if it was a product of stress. If so, sleep would help that also.
" Alright. I'll fold out the bed."
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The next morning, the group stood in the crisp, frosty air. Trowa led them through the slowly waking town, toward a little chapel. Next to a road, with a school near-by, it didn't look anything unordinary. But, as a 'House of God', it was a doorway. A broder between Heaven and Earth.
" We'll have to go up. There are a few landing stages, but otherwise it's non-stop climbing.
" Climbing what?" Quatre asked, his fingers entwined in Trowa's.
" You'll see." He walked up to the alter as Duo locked the main doors. They both bowed toward the crucifix at the alter before Trowa closed his eyes.
Quatre didn't notice the light at first, mistaking it for sunlight playing across his skin. But when he turned, he could make out a pale, almost white rock. Eventually the light retreated, showing that it was indeed a cliff face. He gasped.
" It's...a stairway?" He asked. Trowa nodded and Heero remained silent.
" Let's go." They began up the stairway that could lead a thousand men to their deaths, but could deliver a thouand more to paradise.
Okay, well I didn't know Duo and Trowa were going to have been brought up by Zechs. It flowed out of me then I read over it and went 'Holy cow, where did that come from?'. Also, I hate it when people make Quatre out to be all defensless and weak, it really bugs me. And those fics that make him completely innocent, that just wouldn't happen. He has eyes. :Wink:
So I gave him a couple'a old relationship wounds. No, it was no-one you know. Just some random OC hat he will get over very quickly, thank you oh-Boy-Who's-Hair-Defies-Gravity. :Grin: It's not going to be mentioned much again, I don't think he'll come into this, but I'm considerring him being in the sequal. (you guys got any ideas for the title of the sequal?)
More soon!
Forgetful