Title: The Devil Has Blue Eyes
By: Aina Song
Fandom(s): Gundam Wing
Genre: Yaoi (with some Het thrown in)
Rating: PG-15
Warning(s): Contraband; Fusion; Language; Death; Murder.
Pairing(s): Heero/Quatre (constant mentionings of Het pairings)
Reviews: Yes, please.
Author's Note: (I'm afraid my usual Disclaimer will not be enough this time, so bear with me.) I, Aina Song, hereby acknowledge the illegality of the following fusion fiction, which is based very thickly upon Clara Wimberly's The Jeweled Heart of Rosemont Castle. I do not claim any rights or privileges her book may have earned her, nor do I claim credit for the book itself. This fanfiction follows her plot almost to the letter, with few changes tossed in here and there, but I must again press that it does so without the explicit permission of Ms. Wimberly, her editor(s), or her publisher(s). This fiction was not written for money; I do not profit from this in any way, shape, or form. Please excuse the illegality of it all, and I do hope my own readers will try to look past my unlawfulness and enjoy the fiction nonetheless. Thank you.
Teaser: He did not care that he was the lost heir to a winery fortune - especially since he couldn't remember that earliest piece of his childhood. He only wanted to reclaim the family that had been kept from him. But there was another who was determined to unmask him as an imposter. And, at the same time, a strange cold presence stirred again at his return, anxious to finish what it had started so long ago…
Chapter Eight
When dinner was over, Quatre got up quickly to move away from the table - and those disapproving eyes. Relena Darlian was coming toward him. She had stopped just short, and he wondered if it was because she had overheard part of his exchange with Heero.
She glanced at his clothes, but not at all in a critical way. "I had a suit from my brother's old wardrobe altered and sent to you. Did you not like it? I understand it might no longer have been in fashion…"
Quatre immediately felt guilty. "N-no, it was very fine. And I did like it. But…" He glanced at Heero, who was now engaged in conversation with Zechs Merquise.
Relena followed his gaze and leaned forward to whisper quietly, "Is Heero giving you a bad time? Don't worry about him; he'll come around. I suppose it's understandable that he would be surprised to find the estate he loves so well might have to be shared with someone else."
"I hadn't even thought of that," Quatre murmured, glancing again at the darker man. "I thought he disliked me because he thinks I'm lying… about who I am."
There was an immediate sympathy in her green eyes. "Oh, don't mind him; he's hard to understand sometimes. Besides, I believe you." She paused, "Speaking of that handsome man, did you know that Lady Khushrenada and my mother have conspired to arrange a marriage between us?"
"M-marriage?" Quatre stammered. "Between you, and… and Heero?" Why that idea bothered him, he could not say. "W-well, you would certainly make a striking couple…"
"Yes… we would, wouldn't we?" Then she giggled, "I'm only teasing. I know it's impolite to boast about oneself."
"If I looked the way you do, I'd probably boast too," he said, with a grin toward her bubbly good humor.
"Are you serious?" She gushed, standing back a little to look at him. "You have such a spark about you, Quatre Raberba… something I could not acquire in a hundred years. You fairly light up the room when you come in. Why, with the proper clothes you'd be the kind of man to bring the world to its knees."
"No," he shook his head, feeling himself grow warm beneath his collar.
"Yes!" She giggled, reaching her small hand forward to pinch him on the arm. "Don't you know that? Did you not see how Monsieur Merquise looked at you? I mean, he is older, but he's such a man of the world." She looked at him suddenly with surprise, "Quatre Raberba… Haven't you ever had a lady on your arm? A beau?"
Glancing aside, the blond shook his head again. "I-I was a gypsy. We traveled by caravan. There was never an opportunity…"
"Then we shall have to make the opportunity," Relena determined for his sake. And then she clasped her hands and laughed merrily, "Oh, this will be such fun. There's nothing I love better than shopping to entice an admirer. We shall transform you, Quatre."
He looked sharply up. "No. I intend to stay just as I am. I will continue to wear my own clothes. And if Heero… or anyone else… does not approve, then that's their problem, not mine."
She stared at him, then cut a glance toward the man with the arresting blue eyes. "It isn't that anyone would disapprove… oh, Quatre Raberba, perhaps it's not wise for you to challenge Heero. Doesn't he frighten you when he gets so angry?"
"He is hot-tempered," Quatre frowned. "But of course I'm not afraid of him." He was surprised by her reaction. She was not the first to warn of Heero's temper, and he had even seen it directed at himself. The man was certainly intense. Intimidating, even. But…
"Why?" He asked. "Are you frightened of him?"
"No, not really. But heavens, I can't imagine marrying a man like him. That's why I've told Mother to forget her matchmaking. I mean, doesn't he just make chills run down your spine? I'm not denying his attraction. I think Heero is probably the most handsome man I've ever met. But he's so… so physical. So intense about everything. I'm not sure I'd even be able to converse with him once we'd exhausted the weather and our families. No, I much prefer a man who's fun-loving and mischievous, not quite so serious."
"Well, damn," Quatre teased with a grin. "And here I thought I was safe talking to you."
She giggled again, giving a delicate, feminine push at his arm. "How brash of you, to employ such language before a lady!"
He bowed, grandly, a bit of his gypsy's spirit rising to the fore. "Do forgive me, milady. A fool is as a fool does."
"I suppose he must be," Relena mused, smiling. "But of course, you see what I mean?"
"Yes," he sighed, his good humor dissolving in an instant. "I see."
Her words about Heero did indeed make chills run down his spine, for he could not imagine a woman preferring anyone else when having such a man was even the remotest possibility. Quatre's thoughts were a revelation to him - all along, he'd thought his response to Heero was fueled by dislike. And finding himself wrong was very puzzling.
Missus Darlian started toward them. With barely a glance to Quatre, she took Relena's arm. "You should be talking with Heero," she said, nodding in his direction.
"Mother…" Relena began with obvious annoyance.
"Well, have you spoken to him tonight? Did you tell him you'd bring a picnic tomorrow just for the two of you?"
"No, Mother, I'd prefer-"
"Then I'll tell him." She turned with a wave of her hand toward Heero, even though Relena still protested. "Heero," Missus Darlian called. "Come here a moment, love."
With a nod of his dark head, he left Monsieur Merquise and came toward them. "Good evening," he said to Missus Darlian and her daughter. His deep, serious voice sent a ripple of pleasure up Quatre's neck.
His conversation with Relena had left the blond confused, and now he was seeing Heero in an entirely new light. He could not stop staring.
Missus Darlian linked her hand through the man's arm. "Heero, dear, I was just telling Relena how lovely it would be if she were to bring a picnic tomorrow, just for the two of you."
He smiled, very wryly, and looked at Relena with amusement. "Tomorrow?"
"You haven't forgotten, have you? The charity picnic for the orphanage? The children will be here at the castle all afternoon tomorrow." Missus Darlian seemed fairly breathless with excitement.
"Ah," he said with another smile. "I'm afraid I had forgotten." Then, with a teasing grin at Relena, he challenged, "Well, 'Lena? Are you planning to prepare my lunch with your own little hands?"
The look he riveted on her was powerful. And even though Quatre sensed he was teasing her, the blond could see how nervous it made her and did not doubt that Heero had done it deliberately. Quatre was beginning to understand a little of what she'd meant. Heero was so blatantly masculine with women, whereas Quatre was like a boy playing childhood games. Heero used his attraction like a weapon, and Quatre could see how much he enjoyed it.
That realization made the blond very curious. He wondered how it would feel to have a man like Heero Yuy look at him in just that way. Just the notion set his heart racing.
Relena actually blushed beneath that teasing blue-eyed gaze. "No, of course not. I wouldn't be caught dead in the kitchen."
"Relena!" Missus Darlian scolded, trying to disguise her frown at her daughter with a little laugh. "Pay her no mind, Heero. We'll be here at noon tomorrow with a picnic lunch." She quickly took Relena's arm; "I hate to leave so soon, but there's a storm coming, they say, and we need to get back to Darlian House if we don't want to be caught in it."
"Certainly," Heero said with a chivalrous little bow. "I'll look forward to lunch tomorrow, Relena… and to seeing you again."
With a look of chagrin, Relena moved away with her mother. Quatre smiled and waved at her as she gave a shrug of resignation.
"You shouldn't tease her like that," the blond hissed. "I was simply playing with her earlier, but you…"
Heero turned slowly to him with a lift of his brow and a spark in his fierce blue eyes. "What makes you think I was teasing?"
"You were. And you know you intimidate her."
"But I don't intimidate you." His lips quirked humorously to one side, "Do I."
"No," Quatre said truthfully, meeting his gaze unfalteringly.
The darker man studied him for a moment, still smiling. "Then I suppose it would be a good idea if you came with us tomorrow. I'm certain Relena would be delighted with your company. And perhaps… less intimidated."
"Do I have to wear a suit?"
There was only a moment's surprise in his eyes, before he threw back his head and laughed. He was smiling at Quatre as he shook his head. "No, warabe. You have my permission to dress as you wish."
The blond smiled back at him, pleased that he had made Heero Yuy laugh. And there was the slightest hope in his heart that they might one day be friends.
The low rumble of thunder sounded through the castle, and someone mentioned the approaching storm. As the guests began to leave, Treize Khushrenada came to where Heero and Quatre stood.
He looked ill and his skin was very pale, but he was smiling as he drew near. He wrapped an arm around Quatre's shoulders, and the blond felt a tremor go through the older man. He looked up, startled. "You're cold… Are you feeling all right?"
"Yes, my boy, more than all right. I'm only a bit tired. This has been a big evening for me, but an exciting one. Now, however, I think I will go up to bed. Heero, will you see my Quatre Raberba to his room?"
"Th-that's not necessary," he stammered. "I am perfectly able to find my room alone."
"Of course you are," Treize smiled. "But it's a stormy, windy night, and this old place can be a bit frightening if you're not used to it. There are all kinds of noises and sounds on nights such as this. So indulge me on this, my boy, and let Heero walk you to your room."
Heero had said nothing during this exchange. In fact, his look was one of disinterest, as though he did not care one way or the other.
"All right," Quatre sighed. "If it will make you feel better."
"Quatre Raberba," his father whispered. "Your being here makes me feel better - better than I have in years. And now that you're here, I intend to get well again, take better care of myself. It's something Heero has plagued me about for years. Isn't that right, son?"
Heero's smile of agreement was quiet and studied as he looked with affection at the older man. "That's right, Treize."
"Then, I'll say goodnight." He looked again to Quatre, "And I'll leave you in Heero's capable hands. Tomorrow I hope we can talk more."
"Yes," the blond nodded. "I'd like that, too."
Wufei came forward out of nowhere to help his employer, as did Lady Khushrenada. She looked quietly at her son, then took her husband's arm and walked with him through the door.
Quatre turned to Heero. "You don't have to…"
"Come along, warabe," Heero said quietly. "Let nii-san tuck you in."
He smiled, despite that he could only guess at the translation behind the darker man's foreign words. He already suspected 'warabe' was a mildly insulting nickname, the way Heero used it so frequently.
As they left the dining room and went along the dark corridors, Quatre was glad he had agreed to let Heero accompany him. The thunder had grown louder, and they could see the flash of lightning through the various windows along the way. The hallway to his room was dark, and there was a windy draft which whispered and sighed and set the candle flames to dancing eerily behind their glass chimneys.
He paused outside his room, but Heero ignored him and pushed the door open, walking in with his usual confidence. He turned back to Quatre where the blond stood uncertainly at the entrance.
"You may come in now. Just making sure there are no ghosts." His voice was all innocence. "And you have my word I'm perfectly harmless."
Quatre doubted that but said nothing, walking casually into the room as though the other's presence did not bother him in the least. And then his mind suddenly remembered something, completely out of the blue. "Heero," he wondered, "is it true about the black wolf, that he's an omen of some kind?"
"Who told you that?" Heero demanded, turning to look at him sharply.
"It doesn't matter, does it? Is the animal real, or is it supposed to be some kind of spirit…?"
"The animal is quite real. But this talk of omens and demonic witchery is nonsense."
"You sound so certain."
"I'm a practical man," he said. "And I've lived here most of my life; the castle and its surroundings hold no terror for me. It's my home."
"You love it here, don't you?"
Heero's eyes grew shadowed, and he glanced at Quatre warily, moving slightly away to stand near the windows. "Yes," he admitted quietly. His hands were in his pockets, and his back was toward Quatre as he gazed out at the storm-filled sky.
"You said you had lived here most of your life," Quatre said. "How long is that?"
"Oh, I don't know. I was probably three or four when we came here. I'm twenty-five now."
"Then you must have been here when… when my mother left," he prompted, his voice dropping to just above a whisper. "Do you remember her?"
Heero turned and stared at him for a moment, and his eyes changed, grew colder. "I was here when Leia Khushrenada disappeared, yes. And I certainly remember her. She was not the kind of woman one forgets, even a young boy who had yet to learn the local language."
Quatre hesitated, "I-I wondered… about your mother. Why was she… why were you living here? And how did it happen that she married Treize?"
His lips tightened as he looked coldly at Quatre. The blond knew he had hit on something the darker man did not want to discuss. "I really must bid you goodnight now," Heero said, turning to go.
"Wait," Quatre cried, catching the other's arm as he passed. "What is it? If I said something I shouldn't, tell me."
"Look, Quatre… Quatre Raberba, whoever the hell you are. Treize is convinced you're his son only because he wants to believe it. I, on the other hand, will believe it only when my man Lowe returns with a report showing me absolute proof. Until then, I have no intention of supplying information which you can use to further ingratiate yourself into Treize's life. We can be pleasant to one another, as we were tonight. As long as we both know it's purely a pretense. And let me make it perfectly plain to you: I would not even do that were it not for Treize Khushrenada. Do I make myself clear?"
Quatre could not believe the change in him, or the cold gleam of his eyes in the candlelight. That look sent shivers straight to Quatre's toes, and he wondered how he could imagine they might be friends, even for a moment.
"Yes," he muttered, releasing the other's arm and stepping back. "You've made yourself perfectly clear."
"Good." Heero spun around and, without another word or look in the blond's direction, left the room.
Quatre locked the door behind him, just before his knees gave out and he collapsed to the floor. He told himself it didn't matter, even as he wrapped his arms about himself to silence his pounding heart and cease his trembling. All that mattered was finding out about his mother. And if Heero Yuy would not tell him, he would simply find others in the castle who would.