Title: Catalyst of Change
Author: Karina
Rating: PG
Pairing: Duo + Milliardo
Notes: Challenge 194. Baby Series 4 #39. Takes place immediately following Playing the Blame Game.
Spoilers: None
Warnings:
Many thanks to ShenLong Deb for her work betaing this set of fics.
Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing or the Characters from the series but the baby is mine.
Title: Catalyst of Change
"Creature comforts are always nice when you can access them. Hard to get used to when you are unfamiliar with them, though, but it takes considerable time for the novelty to wear off, thankfully."
Duo snorted softly as he stretched, feeling the welcome pain in the small of his back as he worked on the kinks. "I thought the orphanage at the Maxwell Church was the lap of luxury after being on the streets on L2 for as long as I could remember. I'd never had a real bed before, and it was just a narrow cot with a threadbare blanket and lumpy pillow; but it was really something, you know? An actual bed and a blanket to call my own. It was worth having to have a bath to just lie in it."
Crystal blue eyes watched him for a long moment and Milliardo finally forced himself to stand straight and begin to saunter along the narrow walkway between the covered treasures they had been exploring. He would never get tired of seeing that gleam in bright eyes.
"The night Sanc burned my world changed. The Sisterhood rescued me, took me in for the first week. I don't recall much about that time. Everything was unreal, the world was not right. Six year old boys don't really understand much about political upheaval, assassination and 'necessary' war being waged on pacifists. I should have died in the attack on the palace, I would have, if not for the Sisterhood. I owe them more than I can ever give, when all is said and done. They protected me during that turbulent time and I have no doubts about trusting them to keep Stephen safe now. War is the catalyst of change, the bringer of death and the harbinger of hope. Contradictory, one might think, true, but strangely enough the two go hand in hand."
Duo pursed his lips, falling into step behind the tall blonde. It was uncommon for Milliardo to talk about his childhood, and twice now he had mentioned a Sisterhood. Duo had a vague recollection of Pagan mentioning something about a Sisterhood, and there were suggestive whispers in the back halls of the palace. He needed to learn more, and perhaps this might be the moment?
"War is a terrible thing," the King continued "A truly terrible thing. Yet it is in the pursuit of peace, in the name of peace, that most wars are fought. Can one have peace and know what it is, without first having war? And can peace last without there being conflict of some form or other? After all, wars need not necessarily be fought on the battlefield."
Duo snorted softly. "I know a few battles that took place in the bedroom."
Milliardo snickered softly. "Ah yes, I know of a few of those, myself."
End
Karina Robertson 2012