Disclaimer: I don't own or have any relation to Gundam Wing or any other Gundam series. I'm not making any profit from this, nor have permission to write it.

Pairings: 1x2, 3x4 and likely 5x6, since quite a few people object to 5x6x13. Anyone wants to pick out someone for Trieze then?


Princes and Thieves

Chapter Four: Day and Night


The food was delicious, and Heero made sure to compliment the women of the village on it, giving them a small smile and getting warm, delighted beams in return. The village's elders and leaders, and Father Maxwell, together with the King, his two advisors and the Captain of his personal army, sat at the central table with a perfect view of the performances to come. Only the main table was properly served, while the rest of the villagers and the soldiers mingled around large tables filled with food, which they took at their own leisure.

Heero noticed that it was getting dark, and in a few minutes the small lamps that had been lit would not suffice. Wondering about this, he turned to Quatre and tilted his head in the direction of one of the lamps; Quatre, seeing this, smiled and shrugged a little. I don't know, either, but they definitely have a reason so let's just go along with it, said the shrug, and satisfied, Heero turned back to his food and ate a spoonful of the really quite tasty pie – Shepard's Pie, Sister Helen had called it, if he remembered correctly. He would get the recipe from the Sister, if she allowed him to; he found that he preferred the simple food he'd been eating on this tour compared to the exotic, unidentifiable delicacies his chefs seemed determined to stuff him with.

A slow, rhythmic drum beat started off to Heero's right, and he looked up from squinting at his food, aware that the last of the natural light had just gone. Then a flute started playing to Heero's right, and the melody was almost alive in its beauty. Heero closed his eyes and listened closely, awed that such a sound could be wrung from a mere wooden flute, and almost sighed with disappointment when other sounds – lighter drums, fiddles, and other flutes – joined in to make a chorus. Somehow, despite the harmony of the chorus, the lone flute with the deep drum called out to him like nothing else.

Opening his eyes, Heero watched as flames systematically flared into life, one by one, in the cup of the torches that the young men of the village held, beginning with the torch directly to his right. The torches, as the light continued its steady way down the line, clearly formed a rectangle square in front of the table where he was sitting. Once the last light directly to his left had been lit, the torch-bearers raised the staffs the torches were set on, and jabbed them into the ground in a well-rehearsed move as the music swelled to a climax and ended. The villagers, soldiers, and Lords all applauded.

A young man in his twenties stepped into the rectangular clearing and bowed to the main table. When he straightened, a bright grin was on his face. "Lords and ladies, gentlemen and goodwomen – the festivities to welcome our King and his men begin now!"

Good-natured cheers erupted from the spectators at the side, and the young man waited for it to die down a little before continuing, excitement clear in his face. "My King, my Lords, elders and leaders and Father, good soldiers – we hope you enjoy the performances we have worked hard to perfect, and forgive any faults that might inadvertently crop up along the way. Eat, and be merry, and let your hearts be as full as your stomachs will be, tonight!" He bowed again, to loud cheers, and other men around his age joined him in the clearing as he straightened, and the music began.

Their dance-fighting was well choreographed and rehearsed; each knew exactly what to do and when to do it, and their movements were smooth and complemented one another as drums pounded out the quick, blood-pumping beat in the background. Heero's and Trowa's nods of approval, Zech's grin and Quatre's beam caused the men to stand up tall and proud when they were done, and they left the clearing to be welcomed eagerly into the throng of soldiers who bombarded them with praise and questions on their art.

Next came the slower, softer performance of the girls of the village, dressed in colourful, bright outfits that swirled around them as they danced lightly. Their steps were intricately patterned, and their timing impeccable as they moved together. The applause from the table of nobles and elders brought happy blushes to their faces when they finished their dance.

The children put up a short play that caused much laughter, and the hopeful, eager looks in their eyes as they looked at him made Heero smile a little wider and clap a little louder. The older men performed a more traditional ballad medley that everyone, even the normally quiet King, joined in, and the women showed off their powerful, high voices in arias that no one else could match. The young men and women came back again in another performance, and the dancing and singing went on and on. The meal passed quickly, and before they quite realized it, dessert – a slice of rich-looking cake each with a fruit platter in the middle of the table – was placed before them, and the young man from the beginning was back to announce the last act.

"And now – this is quite a surprise, I must say, even to me, and I'm not surprised by much! – we have our last performance by a not-oft seen group. Leisha, Arkaan and Louie we're all familiar with, but what makes their dance tonight special is their usually missing fourth member, without whom the dance is never really complete, but whose talents we don't often get to see. Well, he's back tonight!" Over the excited cheers and calls, he yelled, "Let's welcome them, everyone!"

A single flute note split the air, and the unseen flutist held it until the crowd quietened to a barely audible murmur. Then, when all was quiet, the flute started again, this time with two other flutes joining its fast-paced, lively melody, and a pretty young girl about the nobles' age stepped into the clearing.

She was an amazing dancer, Heero could tell, one of the best he'd seen. The colours of her clothes were not as varied as the other dances previously, but the cut of it was unerringly suited to her movements. Then one of the three flutes stopped, the song turning slower and more lyrical, and a young boy stepped out to join her. Their partnership was flawless, and Heero marvelled as they seemed to read each other's minds.

Another flute stopped, and a second girl stepped out to join the pair; the three moved as one as the melody slowed and turned mournful. It took a few seconds for Heero's ears to recognize the same flutist from the beginning of the night; then suddenly, despite the intriguing play of movements going on in front of him, all his attention was focused on the remaining flute. The slow, liquid dance the three young people were crafting became an afterthought; the trembling flute melody filled his senses and caused his throat to tighten. I'll have to talk to the flutist in person later, Heero thought dazedly as he listened. Such beautiful music should be fully appreciated.

The music drew nearer, growing slightly louder in volume, and then the remaining flutist moved gracefully into the clearing, in front of his three friends, bright violet eyes locked on Heero's stunned ones, fingers still fluidly drawing the notes out from his flute.

Their gazes remained locked as Duo's fingers slowed, stopped; his friends' flutes taking over the now mysterious and low melody. Duo's flute was gently placed at the feet of one of his friends, and then he stepped forward until he was two arms' length away from Heero.

Even with all his willpower the King couldn't stop his eyes from slipping down to Duo's frame as he began to move to the music – a frame clad in wispy, willowy see-through cloth of a gauze-and-silk quality. When the breeze blew the fabric against his body it outlined his figure perfectly; without the breeze Duo's slow, sensual dance had the same effect. His movements spoke of deadly grace, and liquid mystery; it beckoned and kept just out of reach at the same time. Heero watched, tried to clear his mind, and forced himself to try not to want.

It was impossible to do that and watch Duo dance at the same time, and he gave up, drinking in the sight greedily with his eyes. When had the longing for his best friend turned into a different kind of longing?

The music drew to an end, the flutes taking turns to trill the lingering, repeating melody, and Heero raised his eyes to catch Duo's intense gaze again. I know you, that gaze said, and pleaded him to believe. Know me.

Then the music ended as Duo relaxed into his final position – wrists as if bound above his head, on his knees, the fabric of his clothes settling on his body and outlining it so very clearly. Take me, that position said, and in that moment Heero wanted nothing more than to take advantage of that clear submission.

His fists clenched under the table, and he knew his knuckles were turning white. His nails dug into his palm, and he latched onto those pinpricks of pain, reminding himself of his duty, his decisions.

Duo might have, by some miracle, remembered – but he didn't know what he was doing. He didn't know the consequences. But Heero knew, and he couldn't let himself have the same luxury of not-knowing. He couldn't surrender, no matter how much it tore him apart.


When Duo had seen his dark-haired saviour back in the clearing with the bandits, his first thought was wow. He'd known his… preferences… for as long as he could remember, and he'd always been comfortable with it, and so had the village. And this boy had caught his eye like no other.

When he'd gotten back his memory and remembered how Heero was like, he'd felt the overwhelming urge to protect him. Duo couldn't imagine ever leaving his side again, after having put the young King through that once before – and see what that had brought about!

If only he wasn't the king, he thought in grim despair as he slipped into his costume for the night. It would be so much easier if he weren't. So many rules…

Then he let the grin surface on his face. Rules that I'll find some way to slip around, I swear.

He had one quick rehearsal of the dance with his three friends, and then they left to go watch the performances. Well, his friends at least did – his eyes sought out Heero among the crowd at the main table. When he got his first good look at the King, clean and dressed in finery, his first emotion was want. Heero looked absolutely perfect, and Duo wanted him.

Dammit… this complicates things.

But no, not really. He could work with that.

As the day faded, Duo smiled to himself at the way Heero bent closer to his food, narrowing his eyes at the plate, the better to see it. Too cute. When he played the flute to start the torches, and Heero's eyes slipped shut, he was entranced, and tried to put all he felt into that melody. He almost played the wrong notes in frustration when the other players had joined in, the magic of the moment lost as Heero opened his eyes again.

I have to see if he feels for me the same way – if he can feel for me like that, he decided.

Originally the dance they'd planned on had Leisha go on first, then Arkaan join her, then Louie in a trio, then Louie and Duo with Leisha and Arkaan playing. Now Duo sought out Arkaan, since the girls were dancing.

"Hey, Ark! You know we planned on Girls and Boys as our song, right? Could we use Day and Night instead?"

The blond-haired boy gave him a Look. "Who're you planning to seduce, eh?"

"I just don't feel like dancing pairs tonight," Duo said – it wasn't a lie, since he didn't lie; he really didn't feel like dancing with Louie. All he wanted now was to dance with Heero, but since that wasn't possible… and besides, he really was planning to seduce Heero, or something like that, which he couldn't do in a less intimate pair dance.

"Hmph. Day and Night – okay, we could do that. I'll tell the girls when they come out."

Duo grinned. "Thanks!"

When the three other dancers in his group had gone out to perform what Duo felt was the most interesting and difficult part of the whole dance, and he was left playing the flute alone, he saw the music affect Heero once again. Suddenly the dance wasn't important – it was just him, the flute, and Heero.

I want to play for him and him alone, just the two of us, Duo thought wistfully.

Then he stepped out to dance, and ensnare Heero.

Duo put his all into his dance like he'd never done before – every movement sensuous, showing off his body. He watched Heero the entire time, and saw the flashes of longing that even years of training could not hide. Look at me, and remember me, he willed his lost friend. Remember… and want.

When the dance ended, he looked up from under his lashes in his final position – kneeling in front of his three friends, head slightly bowed, arms stretched over his head in a graceful arc with his wrists crossed as if they were tied. I am yours, his body said. Take me.

Heero was staring fixedly over him as some point above the three flutists, and he felt a pang of sadness. Then he was aware of Quatre's eyes on him, and when he looked over, the blond gave him the brightest grin he'd seen and a discreet thumbs-up. He can feel emotions, Duo remembered, and felt a smile surfacing. He fought it down, but when he looked to Heero's other side and saw Trowa look at him, look pointedly at Heero, then give him a small approving nod, he couldn't stop the grin from spreading across his face. Hastily he got up, accepting Arkaan's helping hand, and the four of them bowed to the main table to overwhelming cheers and applause and escaped the clearing.

Delirious with their success, his friends soon dispersed to enjoy the food and the admiration of the crowd. Duo, however, lingered around the clearing, finding a good place to watch Heero as he'd been doing the entire night.

The elders were leaving the table, and the crowd dispersing. Soon only the nobles were left, and the stragglers of the village who ate the remaining food and gulped down beer. Duo was aware of nothing else but Heero, and took in every little detail. He's changed so much in so many ways, but there are some things that are entirely the same, he thought with some amusement as Heero glared lightly at something Zechs, leaving the table, said in parting – that expression of his, the slightly scrunched-up nose and wry tilt to his lips, jolted Duo's memory and brought him back to childhood years.

Lost in thought, he didn't notice the drunken man step up to him, but was rudely yanked back to reality when the body impacted with his, causing him to stumble a few steps forward as stifling arms wrapped around him. "Looking pretty tonight, aren't ya little harem-boy?" a voice crooned in his ear, and Duo caught a faceful of drunken breath. He recognized the voice, and felt a little jolt of fear – despite his skill, if caught in a bear-hold like he was now, against a much stronger opponent, he couldn't do anything. And Epin, one of the middle-aged but still fit drunkards of the village, was, if nothing else, strong.

"Let go, Epin," he said as calmly as he could manage, running through all the ways he could get out of this quickly. There wasn't one, and he blanched as a disgusting wetness touched his cheek – the bastard was licking him, and one of his hands was wandering lower… if he waited just a little more, the hold on him would shift, and Duo could perhaps use his stance and –

And suddenly Epin's arms loosened as he yelled, stumbling back from Duo. Utterly confused, the braided boy whirled around, scrubbing at his cheek with his sleeve as he did. It took a moment to blink the light-spots from his eyes, having faced the torches before and having them at his back now, but when his eyes adjusted Heero's back was blocking his sight, and he could barely make out Epin sprawled on the ground. Taking a step to the side, Duo peeked out from behind Heero's form and saw the tip of the King's sharp sword resting against Epin's neck, Trowa standing ominously just behind Epin's head, hand on his own sword.

Heero had… protected him?

A tap on his arm caused him to turn to see Quatre looking at him worriedly. "Are you alright?" the blond asked, and there was an unexpected fierceness in his eyes as he continued, "When you stumbled forward, you stepped just enough into that light that we could see you. Do you want us to dispose of the bastard for you?"

Duo blinked, startled, then blurted, "You'd do that?" Then he realized what that sounded like, and quickly added, "Not that I want you to, of course, it's not a big deal, he does it often –"

Then he realized it wasn't exactly the correct thing to say, either, as Quatre's expression darkened and he was aware of the sudden tensing of Heero's body. The rasp of Trowa's sword being drawn slightly from his scabbard was loud in the sudden stillness.

"No, no, wait, that wasn't what I meant!" he exclaimed, hitting his forehead and berating himself mentally. "He's just drunk, when that happens he hits on people. I usually can fend him off, it's not a problem…"

He trailed off as Heero turned slightly to face him, sword still pointing at Epin. Those dark eyes he'd always marvelled at studied him, and up close Heero was all the more breathtaking. He turned fully to Heero, forgetting Quatre's presence. "Really, I'm fine now," he said softly, mesmerized. "Having you come to help is all I need to be fine."

Heero watched him for another second, and then abruptly turned away, sheathing his sword. He made to move off, then paused as if struck by an afterthought. In one fluid movement he crouched by Epin's head, the man suddenly extremely sober and terrified, and said something too low for Duo to hear before standing and striding off. Duo could only blink after him, and didn't react even when Trowa moved to Quatre's side and Epin took off like a shot.

"Are you really alright, Duo?" Quatre asked him gently, but he looked amused.

"Er, yes," was the still-stunned reply.

Quatre smiled openly at that. "You should have seen it – we caught sight of you and that man at the same time, but Heero was out of his seat before any of us even registered what we were seeing." Here he turned to Trowa with a knowing look in his eyes as he asked, "What did Heero say to that man?"

Trowa gave him a Look that said I know what you're doing but I'll go along with it and repeated Heero's parting words. "Touch him again and you die."

"He did?" Duo's eyes were wide. "Er – sorry, but I have to go," he said in a rush, and turned and dashed off in the direction Heero had gone.

Trowa and Quatre watched him go, and when he was out of earshot the blond said cheerfully, "This is terribly fun, isn't it, Trowa?"

"…"

"Yes, really, it's not often I get to see Heero off-balance. Duo's coming along nicely. Now, as for Zechs and that nice Wufei…"

"…!"

"Of course I'm planning on the two of them together as well! Didn't you see the sparks?"

"…"

"Okay, yes, I was partly distracted by the fireworks on Heero and Duo's side, but the attraction between the good Captain and Wufei is unmistakeable. Now stop arguing."

"…" Trowa sighed, then put an arm around Quatre's waist and tugged him to his side. Dropping a quick kiss on the blond's forehead, he gave him an exasperated smile and began walking, pulling the smaller teen along with him. Laughing, Quatre followed.


Well. Back from the dead! Due to, in particular, serena429's empathetic demands for me to update this story, I have found my bunnies, dusted them off, and wrote the latest chapter to this. Hope you liked.

Next chapter has Duo finding Heero and talking it all out… should be fun. -grins-

A big thank you to the wonderful people who reviewed, I love you all! Unfortunately I can't reply individually thanks to FFnet's dratted new policies. But I always read the reviews before I write, because they give me the encouragement I need to write on. So thanks.

Ashen Skies
"Dammit… this complicates things."