Disclaimers: Don't own any part of Gundam Wing nor it's characters. It's a loan.

Warnings: Shounen-ai, OOCs, AU (what else do I write?)

Circle of Destiny

Part 12

Odin knew that he had to find a way to break this love spell that Duo had put him under before he fell more deeply in love with the elf. He had been living with the elf for almost two weeks and he heart was undoubtedly ensnared. He was someone that pride himself of withstanding many emotional attachments but this time, he didn't blame himself. He blamed the horrible magicks that the elf threw at him. Why the stupid elf wanted to make a male fall in love with him, Odin didn't know.

He also knew that his time was running out. He needed to report to his father either on his success or his failure. He wasn't sure when he realise it but he knew he couldn't bear to steal from Duo. This Silver Myst thing that everyone wanted, he couldn't take it, he couldn't lie to Duo. It could be a side effect from the spell, but he just couldn't. It would probably cost him his family's fortune but he believed he could rebuild his lands if given the freedom. Unfortunately, there was no freedom for him, he lived under the painful yolk of his monarch's whims. He had treasonous thoughts of what he would accomplish if he were somehow, one day, King of this land.

The elf opened up a whole new world of something Duo called, democracy to him. It was in the very least shocking but it was a logical step. Then again, Odin questioned the elf how their community had democracy when there was still a monarchy, an elf King sitting on the throne? Duo merely smiled, looking extremely pleased about something and also extremely proud. Odin wasn't sure what he just did though, all he did was challenge the elf before him.

He sat up from bed, looking out the window. Despite the constantly overcast sky, there was a certain beauty to the woods around him. He had been sleeping in Duo's bed for two weeks and he wondered where the elf slept at night. He felt vaguely guilty for taking up Duo's space but he was told that 'injured' people needed a proper bed. However, he thought, testing his foot, he was 'injured' no longer. That meant he would have to leave soon. But did he want to leave? Damn the stupid spell that was screwing with his mind. After changing into some rather foreign looking clothes that he now identify as 'elvish', he went looking for Duo.

He found the object of his affection standing on a hill near the cottage. Duo was facing east, his eyes faraway. Odin found it odd that almost everyday, the elf would stand at that exact same spot, his eyes trained to a horizon far away. He was always lost in thought and a million miles away. It was times like these that Odin found himself staring intently at the elf, wondering how something so perfect could exist in this dark and filthy world. Duo had on a simple white shirt and soft dark leggings, his long hair whipping around him, the gold and red in the brown flashing and reflecting off the sun. A soft breeze lifted the long mane of hair, carrying like a shining banner in the morning sky… Until a cross breeze flicked some of that long mane into the elf's face.

Odin swallowed a laugh at the sight of a spitting Duo, trying to get stray strands of hair from his mouth.

"I don't understand why I need this stupid length of hair," Duo snarled, pulling his hair from his mouth and trying to tuck it behind elegantly pointed ears.

Duo swung around, glaring at a laughing Odin. "It is so not funny!" He gathered his fluttering hair and tried to tame it while stalking back into the cottage, to the safety of the windless living room.

Odin smiled, stifling any further laughter in fear of being beheaded by the indignant stare of the elf. He watched as Duo angrily stamped into the cottage, picked up a brush and started pulling it through the soft length of hair roughly. He made a small sound of distress and moved in behind Duo.

"Stop it," Odin ordered gruffly, snatching the brush from Duo's hand. "It's already dead, you don't have to kill it any longer."

Duo turned and shot Odin another glare. "You try having hair that falls almost to your waist and have a wind ruffle it."

"You do look like a dog that has run through the field and have…" Odin picked a stray leaf from the elf's long mane, "…all manner of weeds…" He cut himself off when he felt a killing aura rising from the elf in front of him. To avert potential death, the man started brushing the elf's hair for him. There were two reasons he did this. One was because he had found himself fantasising running his fingers through the heavy hair for days now, and second, one cannot commit murder to the person pulling his hair. He noted the elf slowly relaxing slowly into the chair as he ran the brush through the slightly snarled hair. There was so much of it, and it was so soft.

"You are pretty good at it," Duo breathed softly, almost purring like a contented kitten. He couldn't remember the time when someone brushed his hair like that. He absolutely hated people touching his hair, even his little brother but he was willing to sit through this from Odin now.

Odin's hands stilled. "My… my mother had the most beautiful hair. I remember brushing her hair for her and making a mess out of it." A bittersweet smile curved his lips as he resumed pulling the brush gently through Duo's hair. "She would just smile and repair the damage after telling me I did a wonderful job."

Duo remained silent, staring surreptitiously at Odin from the corner of his eye. There was more to this story.

"She… died." Odin closed his eyes reflexively. His mother died when an epidemic swept through his homeland and they didn't have enough money to source for the proper medication needed to cure her. That was another reason why he needed this alliance, this marriage. So other children wouldn't lose their mothers like he did. But at what cost? To lie to this wonderful person? To betray him? He found pain squeezing his heart at the thought of it. But what choice did he have? He needed this alliance with this woman he has never met before. He hated the thought of it, but he needed it. He ran a soft hand down Duo's hair, confused. Can he do it? Can he steal this thing and run away? Yes, his mind affirmed. No, his heart whispered. He didn't have a choice in the matter anyway.

"I'm sorry," Duo eyed the man. The elf was rather confused. He couldn't deny the healthy dose of attraction he felt for Odin anymore than he could ignore the myst. He didn't know what drew him to Odin but he knew that if he wasn't careful, he was going to fall for the Man, if he hasn't already. He was getting used to the Man calling him Duo until he was thinking himself as such. This Man was really not good for him.

Odin smiled, nothing more than a forced quirk of his lips. "How about a braid?"

"Bread? Are you hungry?"

Odin suppressed a sigh. "A braid, a plait."

Duo grinned mischievously. "I knew that."

The man shook his head in resignation and started separating the elf's hair. His hands worked methodically, remembering his mother's quiet instruction while he did the same for her years before. He tied off the end of the long rope of hair with a piece of twine.

Duo pulled the braid to rest on one side of his shoulder. "Not bad at all." Then he flicked it onto his back.

Odin stood behind the elf, staring intently at his now naked nape. Just one, he told himself. He needed to know how the elf tasted. Throwing caution, his mind and whatever else to the wind, Odin bent forward, pressing his lips softly against the pale neck at the same time inhaling the scent of the elf's that was a mixture of the trees and the sweet smell of a fresh spring. He heard Duo gasp and coming back to himself abruptly, Odin moved away.

"I'm sorry," Odin quickly babbled an apology, though he wasn't all that sorry truthfully.

Duo stood stiffly, turning around to face the human, his hand lingering on the spot that has been kissed. That area of his neck felt hot and it slowly travelled down the length of his body. "No, don't be," the elf smiled, finally accepting what his heart was telling him from the moment he saved this man.

Master, this is a mistake.

I can't help it.

And he couldn't. Love had no reason, no meaning.

XXxxXX

Duo had tried to explain what exactly the myst was to Odin, but most of the time, that conversation was held in the comfort of their bed and to be brutally honest, there were more interesting activities to be carried out there then talking. So most of the time, Odin could only let what Duo was saying sail over his head. Also, he was uncomfortable with Duo sharing the elves' deepest secret with him. From what he gathered, this jewel was nothing like anyone has seen before. He was meant to guard this 'thing' for all eternity and no one was supposed to know what it looked like except for him… and he was willing to share it with Odin. It made Odin feel all the more horrible to know that one day, he would have to leave here, possibly with the jewel, possibly without it. He was now caught between loyalty to his father and love for this wonderful being.

Over the past two weeks he learned more and more about the mysterious beings that lived within the Silver Myst and found out that they weren't exactly that mysterious after all. In fact, they were just as human as he was. They had the same feelings, the same desires as he did. The only difference was that they lived seemingly forever. Was it because of the treasure they had?

"Odin, where are you?" Duo poked his head in, his braid, draping over one shoulder. Ever since Odin tied the elf's hair in this fashion, Duo hadn't seen it necessary to wear it any other way. Besides, it was less a pain. No hair flying into his eyes and mouth, no strands getting caught in his buttons or various crevices, none clogging up the plumbing or forming large evil hairballs everywhere.

Odin snapped out of his stupor at the sound of the elf's call. He stood up, smiling softly as Duo walked in, looking like he had been running through the fields of flowers – again. If he had learned anything from Duo all these weeks, it was that he did know how to have fun. Duo was after all, still a child in the eyes of his people.

"What are you doing in the house on such a… nice day?" Duo grinned sheepishly at the foggy morning.

The man looked out of the window and had to admit that despite the almost perpetual gloom, it was a relatively beautiful morning. It had been an even more beautiful night. Odin didn't want to say something lame and insipid like their love making was mind-blowing and wonderful. It was different but because he truly loved the elf, it had felt like they were creating something beautiful together, but last night…

Last night something changed. He finally realised something, that everything that he did with Duo was all him, whatever he felt was his own emotions entirely. There was no love spell, no love potion, nothing. At first, he felt vaguely sick. Then he understood what Duo had been saying to him about love having no meaning.

"Come on," Duo grabbed his hand and started pulling him outside.

"Where are we going?" Odin protested, but allowed himself to be pulled along.

"To see something special." Duo kept pulling Odin along. The elf was determined to show the human something and Odin knew when Duo's mind was set on something, he didn't let go of the idea so easily.

Odin laughed, happy to see Duo wriggling excitedly like a puppy. "I've seen every inch of this place. You made sure of that," he resisted the playful tug of the hand and pulled the elf into his arms. "I've a better suggestion of what to do," he nuzzled Duo's neck teasingly, a tongue flicking out to lick a sensitive spot. He felt Duo shiver with anticipation but was pushed and held at arms length.

"No, not yet. I want to show you what I've been ordered to guard for the rest of eternity!"

Odin stilled. "What?"

Duo tripped to a halt, one hand clamped over his mouth. The colour drained from his face as he realised he had said something wrong. He knew it was probably hovering beneath the surface, wanting to share his secret with someone, especially Odin, the first person he had more than familial feelings for. He had been alone for such a long time, and it felt good to have someone to speak with. But he hadn't expected this to pop out. Besides, he had the biggest mistake of falling for a human, a mortal and someone that had the life expectancy of an ant. More than anything, he wanted to be with Odin for as long as he lived, but what if he can make Odin live longer? Was it so wrong that he wanted to be with the person he loved forever?

Odin turned Duo around to face him. There was something wrong with the elf for a while now. He always seemed to have a secret he wanted to say or something. "What do you mean?" He looked around the deserted forest. "Have you been banished here to guard something?" He had a sinking feeling he knew what it was. He knew that it would be around here, but he never guessed the person he would have to cheat it from was so close… to his heart.

"I… have… a… a…" Duo looked away, now uncertain. It felt good that he was on the verge of telling his secret but he was now also afraid. He was the key to the most sought after price in all the known lands. "…dog."

Odin was stunned. No, it can't be. Despite hearing it from Duo's mouth, he still couldn't believe it. He needed to steal it right from under this person's nose? His mind tried to banish the look of betrayal that would surface on the elf's eyes when he finally realised what Odin would do.

"That way…" Duo forged on despite the pole-axed expression on Odin's face. "That way we can both have eternity." He grabbed Odin around the arms. "You are the first person that I want to be with forever but you… you don't have forever, I can give it to you!"

"What happens if you lose it?" Odin asked, unable to believe his goal was so close.

"We die, we all die. We lose eternity," came a soft and horrified tone.

XXxxXX

Why are you telling him this? The myst had a heavy undertone of admonishment.

I don't want to be alone anymore. Nefros defended, trudging along, holding Odin's hand. His lover was still rather shocked.

This is a mistake, master. I see in him the destruction of our kind.

You are just imagining things. It takes more than one man to bring down elven kind, Nefros countered flippantly, though he did fear the words of the myst. However, he was stubborn enough to believe that Odin would never betray him.

The myst remained silent, as if it has said all it needed to say.

Nefros smirked at the bug-eyed expression on Odin's face as he took in the home of the myst, which had air so thick it took concentration to breathe. Ghostly fog swirled along everything. While a normal fog would choke life out of the trees, the life here grew greener and more vibrant than ever. From the stunned expression on Odin's face, Nefros could see that this fact was also registering in the Human's mind.

"What is all this?" Odin asked in a small, weak voice.

"This is the Sylver Myst, our greatest treasure," Nefros said with a dramatic sweep of his arm.

Odin stared up that the almost impenetrable fog with only one thing going through his mind: He was supposed to steal this?

tbc