Title: The Little Cinder Boy
Author: Angst Faerie
Rating: T
Disclaimers: I don't own Gundam Wing or Cinderella written by the Grimm brothers.
Notes: The second part of my side story, I would like to thank Episode Zero and playing way too much Assassin's Creed to inspire me to write this. This was only going to be a two part story but I got a little carried away with Heero's chapter so it will now be a three parter. I hope you all enjoy it. R&R please.
Side Story: The Knight and the Servant Boy (Part 2)
Heero Yuy had always lived for the mission and followed orders to the exact. He was trained to never question what was asked of him but to make sure he followed through, failures were not an option. Heero was trained extensively in self-discipline; he had extreme body control and ability to reason. All in all he was a perfect soldier, even at such a young age.
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Heero had no memory of his past just fire and death; his first memories really consisted of a man known as Odin Lowe. Odin Lowe was an assassin and a good one at that, his name alone brought fear to many. Heero wasn't even sure if Odin was his real name or if he just took it after the Norse god who was associated with battle and death. The name suited him very well. The orphaned Heero was found by Odin and the man took him along, they traveled a lot and in that time Odin trained Heero.
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Heero learned to use an awry of weapons his demeanor was hardened and he became more cold and stoic. Odin would not feed Heero unless he accomplished his training each day, Heero could not cry as well. If he cried, he went hungry, Odin was kind but strict he often reminded Heero that he was only doing this so he could help the boy survive. Odin brought Heero along on his assassinations and Heero even participated in the killings.
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Along with his past Heero had no memory of his name or his age, Odin guessed he was about six or seven when he found him and just referred to him as 'boy'. It wasn't until Heero's latest assignation of a corrupt Nobel that had been known to kill his prostitutes, that Odin truly congratulated Heero for his work.
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"It has been four years boy since I took you under my wing. I feel you have earned the right to have a name, one for which you will one day be known by. I have picked a name that I feel you will bring fame to once more." Heero said nothing just waited for Odin to finish.
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"From this day fourth you shall be Heero Yuy. Named after the Heero Yuy, a fallen Lord who had spoke of nothing but pacifism. An idealist who once envisioned a Kingdom with no wars and asked to disarm our armies, Lord Yuy was a bit out there but his visions were something everyone could hope for."
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"What happened to him?" Heero finally spoke.
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Odin just let out a breath and his face saddened. "Heero Yuy was killed for his vision; there were those who felt threatened. His death, no doubt, changed the entire course of history itself."
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"Did you mean you wish he wasn't killed? A pacifist world isn't a great place for an assassin." Heero said casually as he began to build up their dying fire.
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Odin said nothing in response as he pulled out his dagger to sharpen it. That was the end of their conversation about the original Heero Yuy.
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It was months later after receiving his name when Odin woke Heero earlier than normal. "We have a job." The sky was still black and Heero sat up and began to pack. "We have to head to Lynnet. I will tell you the more once we have arrived."
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After a long journey they had made it to Lynnet and checked in as a father and his son at some high class inn. It was then that Heero asked, "Why have we come to this city, we never had a need to come here before?"
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"As I said we have a job to do and when we are done I will be abandoning you here. After this mission I will have taught you everything you need to survive alone."
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Heero turned to the man. "And who do you plan to kill this time?"
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"Lord Septem a member of Duke Dekim's Royal Court. This will be my last job as an assassin. You are about eleven years of age Heero; you should settle here and find someone to take you in as an apprentice. Your knowledge of weaponry and forgery would be an asset to any blacksmith they would be stupid to ignore."
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Heero unsheathed his sword and ran his thumb along the edge. "I'll decide what I am going to do." Odin just laughed softly to himself at Heero's response.
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Odin and Heero stood in an alleyway prepping for their job a few days later. "Septem is staying at the Red Manor during his visit in Lynnet; he is here along with Dekim and the rest of his court to discuss some issue with the King himself. Septem prefers to be alone that is why he is at the Manor rather than the Castle during his stay, bad for him good for us."
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"How is his guard?" Heero asked as he hid a dagger in his boot. "Not as intense as the guard of the Castle but it's not going to be a piece of cake, we have to be careful. It is finally time for our final lesson Heero. It is nothing big just some good advice. No matter what happens, follow your feelings. Don't be the idiot to change to course of history because the money is good. Don't make the same mistakes I did."
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As Odin said this, two soldiers turned into the alleyway, "Hey you two, what are you doing over there?" One yelled as Odin pulled a hidden blade and threw it. The blade plunged deep in the man's chest and he collapsed, before the other guard could respond Heero had kicked his feet from under him and the guard fell backwards. His head made a cracking sound as it hit the stone slabs below.
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"You never know if some fool is going to change the course of history, so you may do as your heart tells you, so you won't regret it later. That is the right path Heero," Odin said as he began to strip the one guard who hadn't made a bloody mess of his uniform. "For people who live life in the present." Odin continued to dress and pulled a guards helmet over his head. "Okay, this is goodbye Heero."
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"Don't overdo it Odin your old now." Heero said as he readied his crossbow.
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"Don't get killed." Odin told Heero as he turned and walked away heading towards the Manor where Septem was staying. Heero held the crossbow down by his side and ran off in a different direction, intending to reach the Manor from the side road and remain out of site.
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Septem didn't see Odin coming as he walked down the halls with a few of his most trusted guards and his advisor. Odin came around the corner and crouched down behind the group as they walked away from him. "Septem!" he called out to the man.
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The man dressed the most elegantly of the bunch was the first to turn around his face turned white in shock. "O-Odin Lowe! You bastard!" Septem yelled, knowing the man was here for his life. As Septem and the others were distracted by Odin's presence Septem was oblivious to his advisor quietly slipping away.
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Without a word Odin had pulled his knife and with a flick of the wrist it was heading straight for Septem. Odin wasn't planning for one of Septem's guards to step in front of him and take the knife killing him instantly and saving Septem.
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Odin turned to run knowing the mission was failing and heard Septem give the order to kill him. As he ran he felt the arrow slice into his calf but kept moving forward.
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Outside in a nearby tree Heero held steady, he waited in case Odin failed to kill Septem. The manor had a room for the Nobel's to hide in case of an attack. The only way to get to that room was passing by the window and if Septem passed it Heero was to get him. Hearing the yelling from inside approaching Heero pulled the crossbow up and aimed it.
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"When you find that rat I want him killed on sight." Septem yelled as he and a few of his men made their way to the safe room in the manor. 'I don't get it? I thought Odin was done with this after I hired him to take out Heero Yuy.'
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Septem didn't have another thought on the matter because as he passed the window the arrow went through the side of his skull and he dropped dead to the floor. By the time the guards realized what happened and looked to the window, Heero was gone. All that was left was an old splintered crossbow that laid abandoned under the tree.
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Odin hid behind some crates in the kitchen area while he tied a cloth around his arrow wound after pulling the arrow out. It wasn't bad he would live if he managed to get out. Odin just hoped Heero had finished the job.
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"Are you alright?" Came a voice from the side of the crate as the Septem's advisor came around it.
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"Oh it's you." Odin let out a sigh of relief. "Don't worry I am sure my associate has taken care of Septem." Odin added.
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"I see," said the advisor as he pulled out a small blade from his side sheath.
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"If you wished me silenced for your act of treason there is no need." Odin spoke
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"No this is revenge." The advisor said as he pounced on Odin and the blade sunk into his lung.
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"Did you plan to do this ever since you hired me, how ironic." Odin gritted out as he collapsed and the advisor ran off. Odin now knew why he looked so familiar, he was sure the man had worked for Lord Heero Yuy, the man Odin mistakenly killed when Septem himself hired him to do so.
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"Odin!" Heero yelled as he ran to the man after finally finding him.
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"You are right Heero I have gotten too old." Odin coughed a bit chocking on his blood.
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"Hang on; I will secure an escape route." Heero said as he looked around but Odin weakly grabbed his hand. "It is too late Heero. Don't forget what I told you…before we left. It is the last lesson…this old fool can give you. The years we spent together…w-weren't so…bad…"
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Heero watched as Odin struggled to take his last breath before falling silent. "We finished the mission Odin." He whispered to the silence, hearing more guards approach Heero slipped out of the Manor leaving Odin behind without a single tear falling.
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Heero didn't make it far as he ran into Lynnet's Royal Guard as he made his way into the city and was apprehended. "The Captain wants this kept quiet from Dekim. We have no proof the boy was a part of the assassination of Lord Septem." One guard ordered as Heero was then taken away.
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His weapons were confiscated and Heero was put into a cell, he remained silent for the most part and only revealed his name to the guards. It wasn't like the name was originally his so Heero felt he didn't have the right to keep it quiet. Heero spoke nothing more that was until he met the King's advisor, Doctor J.
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"So this is the young legacy the great Odin Lowe has left behind in this world." The old man with long hair and dark glasses said as he approached the cell. "Don't be so shocked I know of him, I had met Odin once, though an assassin he wasn't a bad man. I am amazed by the work you two did on Septem, a few of my colleagues couldn't agree more. Septem was bad news and needed to be dealt with now things can proceed as the King wishes."
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Heero stood up and looked at the man quizzically. "You have great potential Heero Yuy I see why Odin gave you that name, he never could forgive himself for that fateful day. The report reads you had nothing to do with Septem's assassination and we will be releasing you shortly. No need to thank me, you did us a great favor. Before I let you out I have to ask first, want to become a Royal Guard?"
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"Sure," Heero responded the words of Odin reflecting in his head. 'Do as your heart tells you. That is the right path.'
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"That is what I was hoping you would say Yuy, your training will begin tomorrow morning I shall see you then. I have great hope in you Yuy try not and disappoint me."
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Heero stayed in the Castle from then on out, he had his own quarters but wasn't that impressed. Living so many years in the wild Heero learned not to care about the materialistic things. He woke early and worked hard with Doctor J's training. He was far above everyone else starting in the guard and moved up quickly.
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Less than a year later and Heero was out on the field with Lynnet's Royal Army. Heero even helped lead battalions occasionally as well as follow the Captain's orders. Doctor J spoke highly of Heero and was proud of the boy's growing accomplishments. However as Heero grew as a warrior his emotions seemed to be at a standstill. Heero showed no emotion over his actions and this worried J.
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There was an incident when Heero lead his battalion into a town being controlled by some rebels that would change Heero. He met a civilian girl outside of the town playing with her dog and told her that he was going to help her village by freeing them from the rebels. The battle was nasty and after getting the village back in control many of the innocent civilians were killed. While checking for survivors Heero found the dog and the little girl, they were now another causality of the battle.
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Heero blamed himself for the calamity and the many lives lost in the battle. He felt he had made the wrong decision on how to handle the situation involving the rebels which lead to the deaths of many innocents. Innocents like the little girl with the dog. Doctor J witnessed Heero break the emotional shields he had erected over the years. Heero understood Odin's words from years ago, being emotional on the battlefield only ever results in heartbreak. He knew why Odin didn't want him to feel anything but Heero began to see he was missing something from denying himself to experience these emotions.
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"Heero I feel you have achieved all the skills you can from our army and have reached bounds many men could only wish for. You are the best and because of this the King wishes to give you a new job." Doctor J spoke these words to Heero one night. Heero was now around the age of fourteen and had just gotten back from his patrol of the village.
"The King has decided you will be the personal bodyguard of his son the Prince Trowa. The Prince is of an age where he likes to go out without the company of an entire army for protection. He would be more comfortable with just a single person and you are the only one that holds the skills for such a job."
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"I accept the mission." Heero said as he listened to his new instructions for his everyday life. He was happy to hear this after beginning to grow discontent with his current work, feeling with his heart that this was what he should be doing.
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Heero didn't have much of an opinion about the Prince, but it seemed Trowa disliked him instantly. He thought it was a joke a boy the same age as him was to be his guard and was even more annoyed Heero seemed to block him out whenever he tried to address him.
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Days after Heero took on the job of guarding the Prince he followed Trowa to the outskirts of Lynnet and entered the woods. He kept his distance while the Prince enjoyed a bit of hunting never saying a word. As Trowa walked along the trees he didn't see the figure crouched in tree branches above. Trowa didn't see him, but Heero did. Before Heero could yell out to the Prince about the danger he was in, the assassin jumped from the trees above landing behind Trowa and startling him.
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Heero was already moving before the man made his jump and was only a few feet when the man landed. He watched as the assassin punched Trowa, successfully knocking him to the ground. Heero saw the assassin reaching for his sword and pulled his out as well. The assassin heard his approach and turned to face Heero. The assassin blocked Heero's swing and Heero gave him a cocky smile. "You are good but you are no Odin." With a kick to the assassin's stomach Heero knocked him off balance.
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With the assassin stumbling Heero's sword crashed down on the man's shoulder, Heero brought it down and pulled it out of the man disabling his sword arm. By then Trowa had recovered and had his sword pulled as well, aiming it at the man.
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"Who hired you?" Heero asked but the assassin just grinned and with his good arm brought a vile of poison to his lips and swallowed it. "You will never know." Were his dying words to the duo as they watched his life end. From that day out Trowa trusted Heero he soon saw the kind hearted boy that Heero was even though he hide his emotions.
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Heero and Trowa became friends and Heero found himself finally opening up to people. Guarding Trowa was unlike any other job Heero had and he soon began to see the Prince's concerns about his Uncle's motives. Whenever the Duke was in Lynnet Heero found himself leaving Trowa's side and following the man to make sure he stayed out of trouble.
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It was a good thing he did to when one day he stopped the man's attack to some boy in the village with a long braid. The boy had done nothing wrong just stopped the Duke from harassing another villager and Heero hated when the man treated those of a lower class with such disrespect. After saving the boy he followed the Duke back to the Palace almost certain he would never see this braided boy again. Heero would be very wrong.