A/N: Inspired by just about every supernatural sci-fi/fantasy thing I've ever read. In particular, a shout out to Jim Butcher's Dresden Files… 1x2X3, 5x?, 4x? Expect multiple pairings, some het and some not, and also some breakups and…changes.
Warnings: Language, violence, sex, language. Angst. AU. Gore.
A/N #2: Thank you so much Cuzosu, who has agreed to be my beta reader and will help me catch all editing mistakes. Starting with the NEXT chapter.
A/N #3: I am SO sorry that it took so long to update this. I'm currently costuming a production of Sweeney Todd and it has sucked my soul and taken every waking moment of my life. It opened on Thursday, so I should be free and back to my usual pacing after this week. Thank you so much for your patience.
A/N#4: My work is now archived Shenlong's Gundam Wing Diaries, so if you want to read them in a different format – or read the works of some really great authors – check it out! I will, however, still be posting all of my work on as well.
A/N #5: I've started posting chapters for my next fic, Lost Dreams. It's another Gundam Wing AU fic – of a very definite fantasy bent, featuring Duo, Trowa, and Heero as the main characters. The first chapter is already up. Check it out – if you want.
Umbra
Chapter Thirteen
It was the first time that Duo had been in a hospital, and he hated it immediately. It smelled of chemicals and death and it made his skin crawl.
He had four hours to determine just HOW much he hated the smells. In that time he also had the opportunity to catalog the horrifyingly bad artwork and to test each of the types of seats the waiting room held – from the loveseats to the single chairs to the couches to the benches – and decided that they were all equally uncomfortable.
In that same amount of time he had also envisioned all of the ways that Heero might be dying in an operating room while Duo was stuck in the waiting room, sandwiched between Quatre and a crying family of three.
Quatre had given up trying to comfort him after the first hour, when it became obvious that Duo couldn't be comforted.
At some point Hilde and Wufei arrived. Since the assassination attempt had been aimed at Quatre, a magic user, the crime fell within their jurisdiction.
Hilde also tried to comfort Duo, reaching out with her magic to offer him support, but he cut her off. He was too overwhelmed with his own darkness to even dream of letting her in, and he didn't want to burden her with his pain.
They had left eventually, although both promised to return in a few hours, and Duo and Quatre were left alone to continue waiting.
Finally, when Duo was on the verge of charging back and finding Heero himself, a doctor emerged and called out Duo's name.
"What's happening?" Duo demanded, jumping up from a bench and rushing over, Quatre close behind.
The doctor frowned.
"I'm sorry, Mr. ah… Mr. Yuy," he was flipping through paperwork, not meeting Duo's gaze, and he suddenly had a very bad feeling. "Mr. Yuy didn't have any proof of insurance in his wallet. Only a driver's license and a card giving you power of attorney, Mr. Maxwell."
Duo's jaw dropped. He couldn't believe that his lover may very well be DYING and this doctor dared to discuss insurance. Not only that, but he was shocked that Heero carried any identification, and shocked even more that he had thought ahead enough to give Duo the ability to act for him in such a situation.
"I'm sorry, Dr. Robins?" Quatre placed an a hand on Duo's arm, squeezing his tense muscles in warning while at the same time sending soothing thoughts his way. "But whatever insurance issues there may be, I'm sure we can resolve later. In the meantime, do you have any update on Mr. Yuy's condition?" There was a polite overtone to the iron in Quatre's voice.
"Um… yes. Yes of course. Mr. Yuy was hit with a silver disintegration bullet."
"What is that?" Quatre asked.
"It's a new type of ammunition. We've only seen it in injuries over the past year, ever since the new legislation legalizing magic users was passed. The bullet disintegrates on impact, and the silver particles disperse in the body. The point of impact for Mr. Yuy was his sternum, which, unfortunately, means that the bullet hit bone and broke into incredibly small pieces. Several of those pieces have traveled towards his lungs, and some are moving towards his heart." Robins shook his head. "It's strange, his body seems to already be attempting to heal itself – his skin and blood are replenishing at an astounding rate. Is Mr. Yuy a magic user?"
Duo frowned. He didn't like the idea of giving any information about Heero to a stranger, but he didn't want to withhold anything that could save his life.
"No," he eventually said, "but his blood does have some of the healing ability that Dark Court Faeries have."
Robins nodded and scribbled a note.
"That's good to know. That explains why his blood is being so severely poisoned by the silver. His immune system is shutting down, and his body keeps forcing the silver deeper into itself as it tries to heal."
Duo closed his eyes and shook his head.
"What – how is he now?"
Robins shook his head.
"We've been operating for the last four hours. We were able to remove some of the silver, but he's losing too much blood. Dr. Jones – the lead doctor – wants to wait and see how his body reacts to the surgery, allow him to recover, and then try and remove the rest."
"But if the silver gets into his lungs –" Duo started.
"We won't let it get that far. We're monitoring him closely."
"So, you're confident that you can save him?" Quatre asked.
Robins hesitated.
"We're doing everything that we can."
Duo frowned at the very obvious dodge to the question.
"Can I see him?"
Robins hesitated again, but then he shrugged.
"He's in ICU right now, but yes, I'll show you where he is."
"And I'll discuss his insurance situation with you," Quatre offered as they started to walk down a corridor that smelled even worse.
"Yes, that would be good," the doctor said in a relieved tone that made Duo want to hit him.
As soon as Duo caught sight of Heero behind the glass doors his heart stopped beating.
Heero looked impossibly pale, and tubes seemed to be coming out of his body at every angle. Monitors displayed lines and numbers, none of which made any sense to Duo.
He felt completely numb as he approached the bed. Heero's hand was cold as he held it in his, and Duo felt a hard lump settle in his throat. Breathing became difficult and he realized that there was every possibility that this might be one of the last times he saw Heero alive.
"Duo."
It was Hilde's voice, and it was filled with the same anguish and devastation that Duo himself felt.
He turned to see Quatre, Hilde, and Wufei standing in the door to Heero's room. When Duo had first entered the room there had been a few rays of orange and red light streaming in, but now it was twilight outside.
It took him a moment to focus himself enough, but he managed to shut down all of his emotions and block out his connection with Hilde. Her eyes widened when he did so, but he didn't miss the minute shrug of relief she gave.
Duo had expected Quatre's eyes to be filled with pity, but instead the Ephemeral looked determined, and his eyes had a hard look in them.
"The Council meeting is in an hour. Wufei has volunteered to stay here and watch Heero. He will call us with any information they give him, and let us know when he goes into surgery again – and when he comes back out."
"Yeah, okay." Duo looked over at Wufei, and for once the Chinese man didn't look as though he was spoiling for a fight. "You –"
"I will protect him with my life," Wufei interrupted.
Duo scowled, but nodded.
"You need to shower and change clothes," Quatre continued.
"I –"
"Duo, you're covered in Heero's blood."
He looked down at himself and saw the stains on his shirt and khakis. He hadn't even noticed them before. Perhaps that was why the other families in the waiting room had avoided him.
"I'm not letting you out of my sight," Duo argued. "He's in this hospital because someone wants you dead and I'm not going to let some jackass finish the job."
"We'll go with you," Hilde spoke up.
"Duo."
He looked back at Quatre.
"Someone will pay for this. It's clear that the Council is afraid of me and what we can do. Well, they're about to have their fear justified. This will not be tolerated or forgotten."
The steel in Quatre's voice soothed Duo. He was gratified that Quatre seemed as angry and vengeful over Heero's wound as he did, and he was grateful that he wouldn't have to convince Quatre that the Council had been behind this and needed a wakeup call.
He nodded.
"I think they've forgotten just how pissed off the God of Death can get."
Deathscythe was the tool Duo used to punish, but for executions he used a different weapon.
He knew nothing about his parents, and had no relic or memory of them save for one.
Father Ian Maxwell had traveled to Jerusalem in 966 with a teenaged acolyte named Solomon. While there, Solomon had followed a strange, magical thread to a dark side alley and discovered an abandoned basket filled with rags. Buried under the rags had been an infant, and buried under the infant, wrapped in a rich velvet cloth, had been a scimitar made of pure silver.
Finding Duo had been the first magic that Solo had experienced, and the Ephemeral had taken it as a sign from God that his calling was to protect Duo and use his magic to protect others weaker than himself.
For Duo, the scimitar had become a constant companion, and as a child he had spent hours practicing with the weapon until he could use it with ease.
It wasn't the easiest weapon to conceal, but the new leather duster that Duo had purchased covered the scimitar and its scabbard across his back better than he could have expected. He knew he looked intimidating in his solid black clothing, and it mirrored his mood.
When he, Hilde, and Quatre were escorted into the Council hall the rest of the group were already assembled. Duo was surprised to find that all Council members were present. For the previous meeting, there had been a few empty thrones, but tonight all nine were occupied.
As he scanned the room he spotted Sally Po in one of the thrones, and he was taken aback. He never would have guessed that the dryad was a Council member, and the knowledge that she WAS and hadn't told him certainly made her more interesting. It was beyond belief that a Council member would collaborate with an illegal pack of shape shifters.
Duo noticed that Alexios was flanked by both his human servant and by Martha. The shape shifter was in human form and she looked terrible. It was clear that Alexios had been abusing her and not allowing her to shift into animal form – bruises and lacerations decorated her visible skin, and when she turned to look at the new arrivals Duo actually stumbled. The right side of her face was a deep, open wound, and her right eye was gone. The wound was a horrible parody of the damage she had inflicted on Alexios.
Beside him Hilde noticed the wound as well and hissed in anger. He could feel her rage through their connection, but couldn't be bothered to calm her. Duo had never had much toleration for Alexios, and this only solidified his disgust.
Once again, Quatre had been relegated to a lonely chair across the hall from Treize. Quatre gamely took the chair and sat on it as regally as any Council member.
Duo allowed himself to look for Trowa. Instead of being in his lion form, the shape shifter was in his human form, dressed very formally in a white tuxedo that Duo could swear looked almost exactly like the one he had worn at Chippendales. He was kneeling down beside Treize's throne, as though he was a pet, and the look on his face was the blank expression that Duo already knew meant that he was furious.
He wondered if he was angry over Martha.
As though Trowa knew he was the subject of Duo's thoughts, the man turned to look at Duo.
The movement revealed a flash of light, and Duo noticed the silver collar and leather leash around Trowa's neck.
"Son of a –" he started forward involuntarily, and only Hilde grabbing his arm stopped him.
"Duo!" She followed his gaze to Trowa. "What?"
"Trowa's on a fucking leash," Duo muttered.
She frowned.
"Trow – Duo, please tell me that your boyfriend slash Soul Mate is not Treize's pet."
"He isn't a pet," Duo growled. He realized that he couldn't feel Trowa's pain, and he wondered if that was because he was blocking out everyone, or because Trowa was blocking HIM out.
"Duo –" Hilde started again, her voice bordering between pity and exasperation.
Any further conversation between them was delayed by Trieze speaking up.
"It seems the Emissary has been delayed," Treize began, giving Zechs a pointed look. The faerie shrugged in apology.
"While we are waiting," Quatre spoke up, and while his voice still had a polite veneer, there was an underlying anger and force that hadn't been there before, "perhaps we could discuss a few issues?"
Treize arched an eyebrow in amusement.
"Such as?"
"It has come to my attention that a group of shape shifters were recently attacked by several Council members, and that three were actually killed."
"Really?" Treize asked, his voice filled with surprise.
"The police are currently investigating, and as the Arbiter –"
"Have any of these shifters actually come forward and given statements?" It was clear from Treize's tone of voice that if any shifter had they would be severely punished.
Trowa's gaze narrowed at the tone.
Quatre shrugged. "The police feel they have enough evidence to begin an investigation and they will do so. Council members may be questioned by the police, and they are expected to fully cooperate with this investigation."
Treize smirked.
"I'm sure they will," he assured Quatre in his most patronizing tone.
"Dorothy isn't here," Hilde murmured in Duo's ear.
He looked, and sure enough, no one stood behind Zechs' throne.
"You don't think –" she started.
"I think it's damn strange that you wouldn't have your full entourage when the Emissary from the Old Council visits. Especially if that Emissary is your little sister."
Duo couldn't shake the feeling that the only logical reason for Dorothy's absence was because she was physically unable to make it. Which could only mean that she was dead.
"Additionally, the police are investigating a serial killer, a magic user who has only targeted nulls until recently," Quatre continued.
Duo caught a few Council members looking in Zechs' direction, which as much as convinced him that Dorothy had indeed been killed.
"Damnit," Hilde said beside him, obviously coming to the same conclusion.
"And would you like us to cooperate with that investigation as well?" Treize asked.
"It doesn't matter what I would like," Quatre said. "The law stipulates that you must cooperate with any investigation involving a magic user. At this time I am merely suggesting that this serial killer poses an increasing risk to magic users and to this Council."
"Thank you for the warning, but –"
"I'm so sorry to be late," Relena's clear voice rang out, interrupting Treize.
She swept into the room like a fresh breeze, and her mere presence seemed to ease tension from many of the Council members, and Duo noticed Quatre sit up straighter as she approached him.
"Arbiter," she greeted him, ignoring protocol and Treize.
Quatre inclined his head to her.
"Why on earth on you sitting on a folding chair across the room from the Head of the Council?" Though she posed the question to Quatre, her gaze was on Treize.
"Duo likes to be close to the exit," he assured her.
Relena looked away from Treize to Duo, and her large eyes were full of sympathy. She reached out and ran a hand across his cheek, tucking a strand of hair behind his ear.
"Well, perhaps he has the right idea." She snapped her fingers imperiously, a woman clearly used to having her every desire fulfilled.
Sure enough, only a moment later two of Treize's human servants came out bearing an ornate wooden chair and, after a moment of hesitation, placed it beside Quatre's.
Relena sat down and turned a brilliant smile to the rest of the room.
"Jason sends his regards to all Council members and hopes that you, in particular, Treize, are doing well."
Treize inclined his head fractionally.
"He is too kind."
"Hm. Yes. He also wanted me to offer you a trade – your Executioner for his."
Duo frowned and looked at Relena.
"But apparently," Relena continued, "you don't have an Executioner, despite the fact that it is Council law."
Treize's mouth became a small, pinched line. He glared at Duo, who shrugged. He had nothing to do with this.
"He left of his own volition," Treize pointed out.
Relena hummed.
"Yes, and did you report this to Jason?"
Treize was silent.
"I know that you – like myself – prefer the older, slower means of communication. Perhaps your letter informing Jason has not yet arrived? When did Duo Maxwell decide to abandon his post as the Executioner?"
Treize's eyes narrowed, and Duo experienced a moment of grim satisfaction.
"It has been some time. Perhaps my missive was lost entirely?" Treize suggested.
"Perhaps." Relena turned her gaze to Duo. "And you, Executioner? Your negotiations with Jason three hundred years ago were based upon you continuing to serve him."
"As I do," Duo assured her, wondering why they were repeating this conversation. "I will always serve Jason."
"Very well, then serve him now and return to your role as Executioner for this Council. OR you may return home with me."
Duo could feel the weight of most of the Council's gaze on him.
"Relena, I cannot return to Jason's court. I swore that I wouldn't."
She inclined her head. "An oath that he respects, even if he doesn't understand." She sighed and gestured to Treize's throne. "Then you will once again serve this Council?"
Duo hesitated. After Anthony's death, he had promised himself never to be subject to the whim's of the Council again. Furthermore, he couldn't imagine serving Treize in such a capacity, especially since the vampire would use it to his advantage. There was simply no way that Treize wouldn't try to pit Duo against Quatre.
"I am the Consigliore for the Arbiter, and I simply don't see how I can serve both HIM and act as Executioner."
"That does seem to be a dilemma. Especially when this very Council has tried to have him killed."
Relena turned her blue gaze back to Treize, and her eyes were noticeably colder.
"Can you explain just how it is that this afternoon both the Arbiter and myself nearly lost our lives? Only the quick thinking of your errant Executioner saved us."
It wasn't entirely the truth, but Duo was completely fine with her leaving out any mention of Heero – he didn't want Treize or any of the Council aware of his existence.
Zechs looked interested, however, and Duo mentally cursed. The faerie was simply too smart.
"I offer my deepest apologies that you were ever in harm's way," Treize said, "but I fail to see your rationale in believing that this Council is responsible for an assassination attempt."
"Perhaps not the Council as a whole, but certainly someone on your Council. "
"I will certainly look into the possibility," Treize assured her.
"I would rather the Executioner do the investigating. He is, after all, a more impartial judge."
Treize and Duo locked gazes.
It seemed that he wasn't going to be given a choice in the matter at all. It was also obvious that Treize wanted him just as little as he wanted to be involved.
"Relena, there's still the issue of –"
She waved a hand at Duo to silence him.
"Yes, yes, of course. Which brings me to Jason's next point of business. We are aware that in the New World the Arbiter is traditionally an Ephemeral who belongs to a Council member. However, the present Arbiter is the servant of no one."
"I would be delighted to change that," Treize offered.
Duo snorted a laugh at the eagerness in his voice.
"By taking him as your servant or by replacing him with one of your servants?" Relena mused, a smirk on her face.
Treize offered her a sour expression.
"Jason would like you to adopt the Old custom," she continued.
"The Old custom?" Hilde whispered to Duo.
"In Europe the Arbiter is a Council member," Duo explained to her.
He wondered just WHAT Jason thought he could accomplish by forcing this issue. Treize would never allow Quatre to challenge for a seat on the Council – and Duo had serious doubts that Quatre could even win a seat, or hold it.
From the looks on most of the Council members faces they shared his thoughts.
"Perhaps Jason is unaware of the limitations of this Arbiter. Perhaps he has confused him with Anthony Quinn?"
"Oh no, Jason is very aware of the talents of this particular Arbiter," Relena smugly corrected him.
Treize looked furious, and Duo didn't blame him – Relena had just informed the vampire that he had spies on his own Council.
"Surely we aren't going to waste our time tonight and allow the human to challenge one of us?" Urshanabi spoke up.
"Are you suggesting that obeying the will of Jason is a waste of your time, Urshanabi?" Relena asked, her voice sweet and dangerously demure. "For if you are, I am quite confident that the Executioner – who has sworn to obey and protect Jason – will be more than happy to show you just how wrong you are."
Duo would not be happy to do that – but he was confident that he could kill Urshanabi, especially considering the mood he was in tonight. All the same, he had no particular issues with the boatman, and didn't want to kill him over such a trivial insult.
"Of course not," Urshanabi said. "The will of Jason is the will of us all."
Relena smiled and turned back to Treize.
"Well?" She prompted.
"If the Arbiter wishes to challenge for a seat on this Council, then of course he may do so. It seems such an awful waste for him to be killed this early in his career, but if that is the will of Jason, far be it from me to argue it." Treize sneered.
Quatre turned to Duo.
"What the hell are they talking about?" He whispered.
"Relena just signed your death warrant. You need to pick a Council member to challenge for their seat."
"Challenge?"
"A fight to the death."
Quatre's eyes widened. Duo patted his arm and scanned the Council. His eyes landed on Sally Po, easily the weakest Council member and likely the only one that Quatre stood any chance of defeating.
Sally met his gaze and nodded, as if accepting his choice. Duo frowned. The dryad was certainly a unique woman. But Quatre was the Arbiter, and it was Duo's duty to protect him.
"Quatre, Sally –"
"I challenge Alexios," Quatre spoke up, startling everyone.
The Greek vampire laughed out loud.
"Very well. I gladly accept!" Alexios rose from his throne and moved to the center of the room.
"Are there – any rules?" Quatre asked, standing as well.
"Don't fucking die," Duo snapped at him, furious that Quatre was doing this.
Alexios might not be the strongest Council member – but he was certainly strong enough to defeat a human as weak as Quatre. The Ephemeral was an Empath – not an ability that lent itself to fighting.
"Here," Duo started to unsheathe his scimitar, but Quatre waved him back.
"I don't need it," Quatre assured him.
"For the love of – please tell me you don't plan on trying to reason with him?"
Quatre didn't answer, but instead strode confidently into the center of the room and came to a stop only a few feet away from Alexios.
"At least he doesn't have a weapon," Hilde pointed out.
Duo snorted. "He doesn't need one. He's a fifteen hundred year old vampire. He moves ten times faster than a human and is ten times stronger. He can rip Quatre's head off with his bare hands and not even work up a sweat."
Hilde paled.
"Are you going to do something?"
"What?" Duo demanded. "If I interfere then Quatre immediately forfeits and he gets executed. And I'm sorry, but I'm not up to killing Quatre Winner tonight. Especially since my – since Heero is dying."
It was not lost on Duo that Quatre was throwing away the life that Heero had worked so hard to save, and he felt rage start to simmer within him.
"But –"
"I'm trying to think of something," he assured Hilde.
There was absolutely no way he would allow Alexios to kill Quatre. He looked over at Relena.
"As Executioner, am I –"
"Duo, this fight belongs to the Arbiter," she interrupted him, her voice firm. "Allow him to win it."
Duo scowled, but turned back to see Quatre and Alexios bow to each other.
"Fuck this," Duo muttered to himself and started forward.
He got no more than four feet before a cloud of magic erupted from Quatre and spilled over the room. Duo felt the warm sunshine of Quatre's magic wash over him and then force its way into his mind. He staggered from the force of the invasion.
Around the hall it was clear that the rest of the Council and their entourages were also being affected by the magic. Several were clutching their heads, as though trying to keep Quatre out of their minds.
Alexios was completely frozen in place, a look of increasing fear on his face.
Duo could feel the magic rifling through his memories, tugging at some, discarding others.
Abruptly he was forced to relieve the memory of the night he had first met Anthony Quinn.
Council meetings under Noventa often ended in a literal orgy of blood and sex. Duo had never participated in them – he had had his fill of them when he served Jason and he had no interest in being the plaything of any Council member or leader again. He usually made his escape as soon as possible, but one night he had had to stay behind and discuss the increasing threat of a war between the states with Noventa, and the possibility of the southerners using necromancers to aid their armies.
By the time he had finished the after-Council party was in full swing. Duo had skirted the action, but before he could reach the door he had encountered Alexios.
Jason had never respected the Greek vampire, and neither did Duo. Jason despised his manners more than anything else – while Duo was disgusted with the vampire's desire to punish and molest his victims to within an inch of their life. Alexios was incredibly weak for being as old as he was, and Duo suspected that he took out his insecurities on anyone weaker than himself in an effort to appear stronger.
Jason thought it was the height of ignorance and bad grace to eat and fuck at the same time. The ancient hero believed that food was one thing, and a bedmate entirely another. For the hundred years that Duo had shared Jason's bed the Head of the Council had certainly had his fill of Duo's blood, but never during sex. Only after, and he had always treated the experience as a nearly sacred one – after all, it was Duo's blood that allowed him to live.
Alexios, on the other hand, frequently mixed the two, and it was rare that his partners were anything but victims. Duo had disrupted enough of Alexios' attempts to rape Council servants over the years to know that the man cared little for the willingness of his food or his lovers. In fact, Duo was confident he preferred them to be unwilling.
That evening Alexios had managed to procure a young boy, clearly no more than eighteen or twenty, with golden hair and enormous green eyes that stood out on his pale face.
By the time Duo came upon them, Alexios had the boy stripped and was "nibbling" on him – taking shallow bites from the pale skin exposed to him. The boy was writhing in pain, but he wasn't crying out, and the look in his eyes wasn't fear or pain – but rage.
Those eyes had locked onto Duo's as he passed, and Duo had been frozen in place. A moment later he had been overwhelmed by sensations – pain, cold, and anger.
It took him a moment to realize that the emotions were coming from the boy, that he was an Empath, and that he was projecting them to Duo in a silent plea for help.
Duo couldn't believe that the boy was strong enough to be able to do it, or that he had so easily gotten through the mental defenses that Duo kept up at all times.
He was irritated and intrigued.
"Let him go, Alexios," he told the vampire.
The Greek looked up at him, his beautiful face smeared with blood.
"Go find your own toy, Maxwell," Alexios hissed and returned to his feast, taking a bite from the boy's inner thigh.
Duo hissed at the feeling of pain the boy sent him.
"Let him go," Duo repeated.
Alexios stood up and glared at Duo.
"Or what? You have no authority to intervene – I've broken no laws. Or would you like Noventa to return you to your silver box for another ten years?"
Duo winced.
Noventa knew that Duo was untouchable – Jason would happily order the execution for anyone who tried to kill Duo, let alone anyone who succeeded. But that didn't mean that Noventa allowed Duo free reign. Whenever he wanted to, Noventa took the opportunity to remind Duo that he was merely a servant at this court, and he punished him for any infraction. Most recently, Noventa had ordered Duo locked into a silver coffin for ten years after Duo had prevented Alexios from feeding on and raping a juvenile boy. Duo had only been out of the coffin for a month, and his skin still felt raw in places from the poisoning.
"You're a disgusting piece of filth," Duo responded and threw Alexios against the wall, hoping the boy would take the opportunity to try and escape.
As Alexios and Duo struggled, the boy did indeed try to escape, but he was apprehended at the door by no less than Noventa.
"Duo, I wanted to discuss something else with you," Noventa said, his tone mild. He used one hand to restrain the struggling boy. "But it seems that you, once again, have an agenda of your own. What happened here?" He asked Alexios.
"The Executioner tried to interfere with my eating, again." Alexios struggled under Duo's grip.
"Release him, Executioner," Noventa ordered.
Furious, Duo shoved Alexios away from him, taking pleasure when the man tripped and fell onto his ass.
"This is not the Old Council, and I am not enthralled with you as Jason was," Noventa said, his voice cold. "It seems as though you WANT to return to your coffin."
Duo glared at him.
"No," Alexios spoke up. "I want him in chains. This is the fifth time he has interrupted my meals since he emigrated. Clearly the coffin isn't working."
Noventa arched an eyebrow.
"Oh? And wrapping him in silver chains will?"
"He needs to understand just where his place is," Alexios explained, and the look on his face promised agony.
Noventa chuckled.
"Very well." He snapped the fingers of his free hand and his two servants appeared. "Take him to the dungeon and secure him well," he ordered the two.
As they escorted Duo from the room Noventa looked down at the boy, as though just remembering him.
"And who is this?"
"My new toy," Alexios hissed, directing a smirk in Duo's direction.
"He's an Empath," Noventa mused. "A damned powerful one too. I could feel him from upstairs."
Alexios nodded, a look of pride on his face.
"What's your name, human?" Noventa asked.
The boy remained silent.
Noventa dug his fingers into one of the open wounds Alexios had made with his teeth.
"Anthony," the boy hissed. "Anthony Quinn."
"Hm."
Noventa shoved the boy in Alexios' direction.
"Don't kill him. He may prove useful."
"I'll keep him alive," Alexios promised.
A promise he kept. At twice a week for the next three years Alexios brought the boy down to the cell where Duo was kept and raped him and fed from him while Duo was forced to watch, forced to feel the pain and growing defeat of the boy.
Duo had never been very apt with empathy – he hated to share his thoughts and emotions, and resented having to experience those of anyone else, but three years of feeling what the boy felt started to hone his skills, and after the second year he and the boy, who he gradually started to think of as Anthony, started to communicate more than mere emotion. Somewhere in those three years of torture he started to care for Anthony, started to think of him as more than Alexios' latest victim.
When war finally broke out between the North and the South, Duo was freed from his prison and ordered to assist the Union in executing the Confederates necromancers.
Once the war ended and Duo returned to Noventa he saw that Alexios was still feeding from Anthony, and the day that Duo returned to the Council he made Anthony his human servant and threatened to kill Alexios if he ever laid a hand on him again.
The act had earned both Duo and Anthony another three years in the dungeons, Duo wrapped once again in silver chains, but no one had touched Anthony again, until his execution thirty five years later.
Duo shook himself, trying to send the dark, painful memory back to the recesses of his mind. Instead, the memory only seemed to grow, the emotions Duo associated with it became magnified, and they swelled within him until he felt ready to collapse from the sheer agony it caused.
And then suddenly it was gone, the emotions, the memory, the cloud of magic – all seemed to swirl into a vortex of pain, fear, and anger that spiraled towards Alexios.
The vampire cried out as he was assaulted with the combined memories of the entire Council. Alexios fell to his knees and clutched his head, screaming in pain.
"What's happening?" Hilde asked beside him.
Duo shook himself. He realized that she was likely the only person in the room who didn't have a memory associated with him. That thought made him look at Trowa, and he took in the grim satisfaction on his face as Alexios was tortured. He wondered just what the vampire had done to him.
"I think Quatre's projecting all of our memories at Alexios."
"What memories?"
"Painful ones. He's… basically he's torturing him with his own torture. He's making him feel all of the pain he made US feel."
Duo had always known that Alexios was a bully, but he was astounded by just how much pain he had caused so many powerful Old Ones.
Treize, sitting high on his throne, looked torn between amusement and terror. Duo knew that Treize thought that Alexios was a cretin – for the same reasons that Jason did – but Treize had to be intimidated by this show of power from Quatre.
Even Duo was impressed.
"Stop! Please stop!" Alexios finally cried out, little more than a quivering mass on the floor by this point.
Quatre drew in a deep breath and the magic seemed to vanish, leaving the hall dark and still.
"Oh my," Relena said, a look of admiration on her face. She looked over at Duo. "This one is ever so much more fun than your last one, Duo." She said. Her cheeks were flushed and she looked disturbingly aroused.
Duo rolled his eyes.
"It isn't finished," Noin suddenly called out. "Alexios still lives."
"There's no point in killing him, I've defeated him," Quatre pointed out.
"Indeed you have, Arbiter," Treize agreed, and there was a note of respect in his voice, "but while he lives his seat remains his."
Quatre scowled and looked back at Duo and Relena.
"Surely there is some precedent -?"
Relena shook her head.
"As the Executioner, am I allowed to do my duty?" Duo asked.
It was clear to him that Quatre simply did not want to kill the vampire. He knew now it had nothing to do with weakness – after all, Quatre had just tortured the man to within an inch of his life more efficiently than even Duo could have – the Ephemeral simply did not believe in taking the life of another living being.
Relena nodded.
"By all means."
He looked to Treize, and the vampire hesitated for only a moment before waving his hand in approval.
Duo approached Quatre and Alexios, drawing his scimitar as he did so.
He stopped in front of Alexios, and he felt disgust at the sight of the sobbing man. This was the vampire who had tortured Anthony and countless other victims. This was the vampire who had taken Martha's right eye. This was the vampire who had done something awful to Trowa, his own Soul Mate.
Duo made quick work of cutting off his head and removing his heart. He tossed both at Treize's feet and cleaned both his blade and his hands on Alexios' clothes.
"Will the Arbiter take his new seat?" Treize asked, and gestured to Alexios' throne, still flanked by Martha and a now pale and quivering human servant. Martha looked triumphant.
Quatre inclined his head and sat in Alexios throne. He gestured to both Duo and Hilde, and then two moved to stand behind him. Martha stepped back to allow Duo room, and the human servant went to go and clean up the mess that was once his master.
"I still hate you," Martha whispered to Duo.
"Right back at you," he assured her. "But once again, this wasn't for you."
"Your pathetic servant has been dead for –"
Duo turned on her and glared.
"Anthony kept you alive when I would have gladly killed you, but he isn't the reason I'm letting you live now."
Martha's eyes narrowed, and she looked over his shoulder in the direction of Trowa.
"Keep your pack leader alive or I will kill you. What the hell were you thinking, allowing them to take him in the first place?" He demanded. "Have you seen his back?"
"It looks exactly like yours," she confirmed, her voice faint. "You – You. We felt the two of you together." She closed her eyes and shook her head. "How could he be so stupid? You'll kill us all."
"No," Duo assured her. "Just you – if you allow anything to happen to him again. You know what I did when they killed Anthony. You do not want to give me a reason for vengeance."
She looked shaken, but she nodded.
"Good. This war between us – it stops now. And this stays between the two of us."
"Agreed."
Duo held her gaze a moment longer before turning back to the Council.
"Well, to Jason's next point," Relena said, continuing as though an execution had not just occurred a few feet from her. "Since you were foolish enough to allow the humans the right to legislate your actions and recognize you, Jason feels that all Council punishments should follow human law, and as such, should be coordinated with your Arbiter."
"Never."
"Never? You say never to Jason, the master of the Old Ones?" Relena's voice had gone dangerously quiet.
"I am the Head of this Council and I decide the punishments for those who serve me. It has always been thus."
"Yes," Relena agreed, "it has. Until you allowed it to change. If you don't want to follow his orders, Jason did give me leave to challenge you for your seat." Relena examined her nails. "We both know that I'm not much of a fighter, but, as a member of the Old Council, I am allowed to name a champion. Tell me, who do you think will kill you quicker, my brother or the Executioner?"
Treize looked furious, and Duo saw Trowa wince as Treize no doubt clenched his fist around the leash holding him.
"Does Jason have any other demands?" Treize hissed eventually.
"Yes," Relena said happily. "He has heard that a child vampire was spared execution."
"As is my right," Treize snapped.
"Of course. He doesn't question your decision. He merely wanted to ask the Arbiter if he may assume custody of the child. He has missed his own children for such a long time, and he thinks his court has been empty of laughter for too long."
Quatre looked back at Duo.
"It's a good idea," Duo told him. "Jason will take care of her – and he'll be alive for longer than you will, so…"
"Very well," Quatre said. "I relinquish custody of Mariemaia to Jason."
Relena smiled.
"Wonderful." She sighed. "Well, now, that wasn't too terribly painful, was it Treize?"
The Head of the Council glared at her.
"How are your accommodations?" He asked.
"Perfect now that the assassins have been killed," she replied.
"And how long can we expect the pleasure of your company?"
She shrugged one shoulder.
"Jason gave me leave to stay for as long as I needed. Perhaps a few weeks?"
Treize looked ready to kill himself at the news.
"Do you require anything during your stay?"
She smiled. "You know me, Treize, my needs are simple…" she trailed off as several Council members laughed. Relena's sexual appetite was legendary.
"And have those needs been met?" Treize inquired, looking a little green. The man had never been attracted to women, and Duo knew that he found the entire thought of sex with a woman to be mildly distasteful.
"Now that you mention it, I could do with some company. Who is that gorgeous creature at your feet?"
"A new addition since your last visit," Treize told her. "A shape shifter."
"Hm. What kind?"
"A lion."
"And his name?"
"He goes by Trowa Barton."
"I want him."
Treize hesitated for a moment, but then inclined his head.
"It would be an honor to share him with Jason's emissary," Treize told her.
Relena smiled.
"Yes, I expect it is." She stood. "I'm sorry to call an end to this audience so soon, but the day's events have been exhausting. Arbiter, Executioner, please escort me back to my hotel."
Relena was breaking all of the rules, and the look on Treize's face was one of pure hatred.
"Fetch the shape shifter, please, Duo," Relena told him.
Duo inclined his head, and as Hilde and Quatre moved to follow Relena from the hall, Duo approached Treize's throne.
"If I learn you had anything to do with tonight's disaster, I will kill your servant," Treize hissed as he stopped in front of the throne.
"You think I want to be the Executioner again?" Duo spat. "I'd rather be put into a coffin than serve you. I promise this had nothing to do with me."
Treize sneered.
"It always has something to do with you. Jason –"
"Is the master of the Old Ones," Duo reminded him, echoing Relena's words.
Treize snapped his jaw shut.
"May I have him?" Duo asked, gesturing to Trowa.
"He won't be of any use to her," Treize assured him.
Duo froze and looked at Trowa in terror.
"What –"
"He doesn't find women attractive," Treize explained, and Duo let out a sigh of relief. He had been terrified that Treize had seen fit to punish Trowa even more for his actions.
"Sometimes she simply likes to look," Duo reminded Treize.
Treize scowled but handed Duo Trowa's leash.
"I can't walk him through your lobby in this," Duo said instead of accepting it.
"Very well, remove it."
Treize smirked.
Duo steeled himself to touch the silver collar. He drew in a deep breath and removed it as quickly as possible, barely biting his tongue in time to prevent himself from crying out at the pain of it eating into his skin.
He tossed the collar to one side.
Trowa's neck was a massive open wound, and it was clear that he had been wearing the collar for some time. He looked up at Treize.
"I didn't want him wandering off again," Treize explained.
Duo nodded, not trusting himself to speak. He started to walk away, and Trowa fell into step just behind him.
When they reached the elevator the others were waiting for them. They all piled in in silence.
"Well, wasn't that entertaining," Relena said.
"You need to get out more," Duo told her. He moved away from Trowa, because this close he could smell the other man and his fingers itched to touch him.
"Perhaps Quatre could show me some of the delights of Las Vegas during my stay?" Relena teased the blonde Ephemeral.
Quatre smiled slightly.
"You did good tonight," Duo told him.
"Thank you." Quatre drew in a deep breath and looked over at Relena. "You didn't tell me I would have to kill him."
She shrugged. "I simply assumed you knew."
"Wait," Duo interrupted them, "you knew what she was going to do?"
Quatre nodded. "We discussed it before you and Heero arrived this morning."
"Did anyone else know? Did Jason tell anyone else about this?"
"No," Relena told him.
"And this spy at Treize's court, did he know?"
Relena frowned. "What are you implying?"
"I'm implying that the reason someone wanted Quatre dead was so he couldn't become a Council member. Who else knew?"
"My spy would never betray me," Relena assured him.
"Is it your brother? Because Zechs –"
"It isn't my brother," she interrupted. "I'm not an idiot. I know that he and Treize are lovers and that he cares little for me save that we are the last of our father's children." She looked over at Trowa. "Can you talk?"
Duo followed her gaze.
"Yes," Trowa said, his voice gravely with disuse and pain.
"Son of a bitch. I am going to kill–"
"Duo," Hilde interrupted at the same time that Trowa did.
"I don't need you to kill anyone for me. I am –"
"I know, I know. You're the son of a god. Whatever. How fucking long has he been keeping you on that leash?"
Trowa was silent for a long moment.
"How long?"
"Since last night."
Before Duo could respond to that, Relena spoke up.
"I'm going to assume that this is your Soul Mate?" She asked, an amused lilt to her voice.
Duo turned to her.
"Er, yeah."
"Your Soul Mate belongs to Treize Khushrenada? Duo." She shook her head.
"It wasn't like I had a choice," he muttered.
"Hm. I bet the three of you are magnificent together," Relena said, her voice dreamy as she looked at Trowa.
Duo flushed and then paled, thinking once again of Heero.
Relena seemed to follow his thoughts.
"How is he?"
Hilde shook her head.
"We haven't heard anything since we left the hospital."
Relena nodded and brushed her hand over Duo's cheek again.
"Your Heero is very strong," she assured him.
Duo let out a sound that was caught between a laugh and a cry, but he couldn't think of anything to say to that.
"Well," Relena said as they exited the elevator on the ground floor. "I can't very well expect your Soul Mate to keep my bed warm unless YOU are also in it, so I'll just leave him with you, shall I?" Relena asked, flicking her gaze over Trowa.
"I –" Duo was on the verge of telling her to take him anyway, but he realized just how much of an asshole that would make him.
"Perhaps Quatre can keep me entertained instead?" Relena suggested, giving the Arbiter a heated look.
Quatre flushed and stammered.
Relena laughed and looped her arm through his.
"Excellent. Duo, please join me for dinner tomorrow evening. Bring your servant and your Soul Mate as well. Oh – and news of Heero."
Duo nodded and watched as Relena practically dragged Quatre with her towards the valet station.
"Duo," Hilde spoke up, sending Trowa a wary look, "do you want me to come back to the hospital with you?"
Duo was on the verge of saying yes, but then he caught Trowa's frown of confusion. He realized that the other man had no idea what was going on, and that he was likely as furious with Duo as he had been the previous night. Duo didn't feel like fighting at all right now, but he especially didn't want to fight with Trowa with Hilde present.
He shook his head.
"No, can you discreetly ask about Dorothy? Call me if you learn anything – and please be careful."
Hilde nodded solemnly.
"I will," she promised before taking the elevator back upstairs.
He started to walk to the parking deck, trusting Trowa to follow him –although a part of him hoped that Trowa would simply walk away.
"Is your car here?" Duo asked when they reached the deck.
"Duo, what the hell is going on?"
He sighed and tried to think of how to explain to Trowa why he couldn't deal with fighting him today.
"Duo –"
He grabbed the back of Trowa's head and brought the other man's lips against his own, smashing their mouths together hard enough that their teeth clicked. Trowa instantly stiffened and tried to pull away, but Duo kept his grip firm.
It only took a moment for the golden magic of their bond to swell up and overwhelm them both.
As soon as Trowa started to respond to the kiss, opening his lips and darting his tongue into Duo's mouth, Duo allowed all of his defenses to fall.
All of the anger, fear, and depression that had been building since he first cradled Heero's lifeless head in his lap – he released it, allowing it to overwhelm both himself and Trowa.
The other man tensed again, and Duo could feel Trowa's instant response to his own pain.
After a few moments Trowa gentled the kiss and then eased away from him. Duo allowed it, dropping his hands from Trowa's head and stepping back.
"What happened?" Trowa asked, his voice free from the tension and bitterness he had previously displayed.
"Someone tried to kill Quatre this morning and Heero got between him and the bullet. They used some kind of silver bullet that disintegrates on impact – so there are shards of silver in his heart and lungs. Because of… because of me his blood is reacting to the silver like it's poison. His immune system is shutting down and the doctors are trying to repair the damage – but it's just spreading. And his body is trying to heal itself, which is forcing the silver even farther into his blood."
Trowa reached out and placed one hand along Duo's jaw.
"This is not your fault. You are the reason he's alive at all."
Duo shook his head.
"If Gavi –"
"Stop it. This is pointless." The force behind Trowa's voice made Duo meet his gaze. "He would have died at least thirty years ago if Gavi hadn't taken your blood. And he NEVER would have met you. What hospital is he at?"
"Sunrise."
"I'll drive us there."
Duo opened his mouth to argue – to point out all the reasons why he and Trowa shouldn't even be talking to one another, but then he decided to just let it be.
With everything that had gone wrong, he didn't feel like sabotaging the one thing that was going right.
Up Next: Is Heero even still alive?
Definitions:
Council: the body that presides over magical creatures and users in the US. The Old Council refers to the European Council.
Dryad: A nature spirit, like a Sprite. Another Old One. Usually associated with a tree, and different 'families' of Dryads are associated with different trees.
Ephemeral: a human who can use magic. Used interchangeably with witch.
Jinn: alternately Djinn or Genie. They are spirits, supposedly created by God (if you're Muslim), and can be good or bad.
Old Ones: the powerful magical races. Vampires, Shape shifters, Faeries, and a few more to be named later!
Old Ways: reference to the way that the European Council ran things or the way things were before magic was legal. Sally Po refers to the old ways – a reference to the practices of Native American Shamans, and NOT the Council.
Null: a human without magical ability.
Shaman: A Native American mystic or holy person. Used in this context to mean an Ephemeral.