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"Here There Be Dragons"Written By: Honor Disclaimers: I own Gundam Wing (and its bishounen),
polka dots have pin stripe suits, and mermaids live in Arizona. Rating: R. Pairing: 3x4, existing 1x2 Spoilers: Nada. Warnings: AU, yaoi, lemon, romance, some angst,
sap, dragons, clairvoyants, and cats with attitudes. Author’s Insane Ramblings on Who Knows What: DEATH! DEATH I SAY! Off with all plot bunnies
heads! I’ll slaughter them all! Shigeki: Just ignore her. She’s always like
this. "Here There Be Dragons " Chapter Four: Mistakes Telling us to obey instinct is like telling us to
obey 'people.' People say different things: so do instincts. Our instincts
are at war... Each instinct, if you listen to it, will claim to be
gratified at the expense of the rest.
When I finally arrived at the castle, I was worn out. The entire day had been an up and down emotional curve and I just wanted sleep. Trowa led me silently to the west wing of the castle, toward his suite. Tired or not, I was ready to put up a fight if he tried to put me in the master bedroom, but he didn’t. It was the guest bedroom attached to the master room, made up in creams and pale yellows. “Rest,” he ordered softly. “You look worn out.” “I am,” I agreed with a sigh, letting Sandrock down. “But I need to contact my sisters, and a few friends to warn them of what’s going on.” “I better do that,” he disagreed. “Any contact from you can be construed as ‘consorting with a traitor’. It could mean more trouble.” Damn, I was tired if that was blindsiding me. “You’re right. Thank you.” I dredged up a smile for him. “Seriously, Trowa…thank you.” He snorted. “I’m the cause of this mess, remember?” After a moment of hesitation, he closed in the distance between us, stroking back my hair with gentle fingers. “I swear to you, that whatever you have lost will be replaced.” Maybe this was why I liked Trowa, despite his arrogance. Underneath, he was a good man. I caught his hand, and squeezed it lightly. “I’ll hold you to that, dragon.” With a slight smile he bowed himself out of the room, leaving me to crash on the bed. I was praying that everything would look better in the morning. + A good night’s sleep can do wonders. I was still a little worried about the future, but was able to put it into perspective too. Someone had put a clean set of clothes on the foot of my bed for me, and after a quick wash I changed into them. Hm. They fit just a tad too well. “Trowa picked them out for you,” Sandrock volunteered from her pillow. Figures. “And what else has our favorite green dragon been up to while I was sleeping?” “Just about everything,” Sandrock confided. “He and Chang Wufei went to the palace—I heard the howls of outrage all the way from here. They both swore that until you were cleared of the charges, that negotiations would be at a halt. And if you weren’t cleared of the charges in a month’s time, then they would personally smash the palace to itty bitty pieces.” I sank into my hands and groaned. “Then he went around to all of your sisters—the ones you actually like—and your old mentor, some of your colleagues and told them what was going on. I expect Sally to be here any minute to check on you.” Knowing my old mentor, probably. “Anything else?” “I do have orders to inform him the minute you wake up.” Sandrock started grooming her front paw with great dignity, silently proclaiming that she had no master and that I could inform Trowa I was awake. Well, at least there weren’t any casualties. Straightening my shirt, I squared my shoulders and went down to breakfast. I wasn’t about to tackle this day with an empty stomach. Guess what I found around the breakfast table. Trowa was at the head, Heero and Duo were on one side and Wufei on the other. I paused in the doorway, staring at them in confusion. They were all sharing the same castle? Why? Maybe Trowa’s hearing is better than I believed, because his head came up just as I came through the door. He was up and around the table in two seconds flat. “Quatre?” I held up a hand, forestalling questions. “I’m fine. A little…off-balance, but fine.” “Come eat,” Wufei offered quietly. I sank into the chair next to him and started piling food on my plate. I hadn’t eaten since lunch yesterday, and I was starving. They waited until I had slowed down a little, then the questions began. “Perhaps you can tell us why your own family is out for your blood,” Wufei invited with a casual tone that didn’t fool me in the slightest. I looked at Trowa. “You know part of the story. I was in line for one of the thrones when I was thirteen. Those three were part of the group that had it taken away from me, and given to my elder sister Serena.” Steam started rising off of Wufei. I kid you not. “I didn’t mind that,” I continued with a pointed look in his direction. Putting out a fire in the dining room was not my idea of a good time. “I had no desire to rule. But they are convinced that at some point in time I will come back to re-claim that lost inheritance. By the laws of this land, I have every right to do so as one of the few male heirs.” “These guys don’t strike me as the loyal type,” Duo interjected thoughtfully. “So why are they sticking up for your sister?” “Her land has the only usable port in three hundred miles of them,” I replied sourly. “If I were to rule that area, I could quite easily bankrupt them by refusing to trade.” “Sneaky bastards,” Heero observed coldly. “Quatre, there is something else I wish to know. You have the potential to be a dragon’s mate, do you not?” Grudgingly I admitted, “Yes, I do.” Duo apparently is quick on the uptake. He started grinning slyly. “Oooh…wait, let me guess. Trowa and Wufei both know about you, right? And they’re arguing about it.” I just scowled at him. The idiot started laughing, absolutely delighted. “Oh, this is rich. OW! Heero, stop it with the braid!” This is going to be a loooong day. + Sally showed up an hour later, horse lathered and covered in dust. She hugged me tightly as soon as I was within range. “Quatre! You’re alright, they didn’t harm you?” “I’m fine,” I assured her. “I had the good fortune to have strong allies nearby when they pulled their trick. But Sally, it isn’t wise of you to be here.” She waved this away as unimportant. “That dragon who stopped by didn’t tell me much. Now, let’s go out in the garden so I don’t destroy Iria’s hard work with all my dirt, and you can tell me the full story.” Sally is one of those people that doesn’t take the word ‘no’ all to well when she has her mind set on something. Besides, honestly, I wanted to talk this out with someone. I led her out into the garden and we sat underneath a shady tree, getting comfortable. “How much do you know about dragons?” “Not a great deal,” she admitted. “It’s why we never really covered it when I was teaching you. Sandrock probably knows more than I do.” “Hm. Well, this all started about a week ago, when I was helping Iria on this castle.” I fell into an easy rhythm, just talking with my old mentor and friend. I was absurdly pleased by her surprise at my story, and the outrage on her face. It was nice to know that I wasn’t making a mountain out of a mole hill. When I was finished she humphed. “Well, isn’t this just lovely. What do you plan to do now?” “Wait,” I replied honestly. “In a month’s time, if the charges still aren’t cleared, then I will consider moving to another land and setting up my life there. I don’t think it will come to that, however. As stupid as my brothers and sisters can be, they don’t dare alienate all five dragons for a petty grudge against me. It will be political suicide.” “Or just plain suicide,” Sally replied thoughtfully. “I’m not sure if you realize just what your position is, Quatre. You are a potential dragon’s mate. You have a great deal of influence on those two dragons. And once you are a dragon’s lifemate, then you share equal power with your mate. If your brother and sisters knew that, they’d be scrambling all over themselves to get back into your good graces.” “Sally, I have no intention whatsoever of becoming anyone’s mate.” She quirked a brow at me. “Why? I’ve seen both of them, and they’re completely sexy.” “And stubborn, and obstinate, and arrogant…can you imagine trying to live with someone like that?” “Can you imagine their delight in meeting someone like you?” she countered. “Quatre, they don’t want someone that is going to agree to every little thing they say. They want someone like you—someone with a strong opinion and will of their own. Why do you think they are so very interested in you?” “Well…there aren’t that many dragon’s mates…” “These beings are immortal, remember. I imagine that they view time differently than we do, and would be willing to wait until they find the right mate. Can you imagine what a disaster it would be if they mated with the wrong person?” I blinked at her stupidly as that processed. Ye gods…that wasn’t a pretty picture. “Uh, point made.” “They obviously think that you would be the right mate, if they’re both pursuing you.” She smiled at me ruefully. “Maybe they’re arrogant, and stubborn. But Quatre, you’re just as stubborn. I’d think everything over very thoroughly before you start making snap decisions. Are those the real reasons why you are refusing them? Or is it something else entirely?” + There was something of an upside to this. I had plenty of time on my hands to work on my music. I grabbed a ton of paper, a few pencils, and retreated to the piano in the music room. That’s where Trowa found me several hours later, nearly ready to bang my head against the keyboard. I just couldn’t get the music to come out the same way that it sounded in my head. Argh. “You had a visitor today?” I looked up, almost grateful for the interruption. “Yes, Sally Po. She wanted to see how I was doing. Any word on what’s happening in the palace?” Trowa shook his head. “They’re as stubborn as you are.” “Ah. Well, it does run in the family.” It had only been a day. I’m sure they were still arguing about what to do at this point. He came all the way in, door swinging shut behind him. I tensed a little when he sat right next to me on the bench, eyes grave on my face. “Quatre, I can offer little protection right now. As long as you stay within my castle, then you are safe but I have no power in this land, only diplomatic immunity. If you were my mate, then I could protect you completely. You would have the power to extract your own revenge.” “I realize that,” I told him carefully. “But I won’t be your mate for those reasons, Trowa.” His eyes snapped in frustration. “Then what? What more do you want from me?” I wanted him to love me. I sat there staring at him as if he weren’t even there as I realized that was the problem. He didn’t love me. He wanted me, for a variety of reasons, but he didn’t love me. I’m not even sure if he really liked me; half the time we were arguing. “How can you want someone that you don’t even like? How can you think of being their mate when all you do is argue with them? I don’t want that kind of relationship with my husband for the rest of my life, Trowa. That’s what’s missing.” For the first time in our acquaintance, he didn’t have a comeback. For the longest time he sat there, studying me with those penetrating green eyes. “You really think that, don’t you?” “Yes,” I responded quietly. “I really do.” He stood and walked toward one of the windows, staring out. His body was rigid, one fist clenching and unclenching. “I wouldn’t be pursuing you if I didn’t like you. I know we argue—I know we disagree. But I won’t have you say that I don’t respect and admire you. It’s not true.” He’s never given me the impression that he thought little of my opinion. I hadn’t really thought of that until now. I felt…like a heel, really. He’d done nothing to gain that opinion. I had phrased it all poorly, and had hurt him in the process. Abandoning my seat, I went to him and hesitantly caught his hand up in both of mine. “I didn’t say that right. I know you respect me, Trowa. You never would have sought my help in the negotiations otherwise. But I’ve never shared a conversation with you without us ending up in an argument. I hate arguing with people. I don’t want to do it for the rest of my life, and I don’t want to marry someone that I can’t get along with. That’s what I meant to say.” “We only ever argue on one issue,” he pointed out wryly. I smiled at him ruefully. “That’s true.” Smoothly he turned toward me, eyes smoldering as he whispered huskily, “If you just gave in, we’d stop arguing.” A sharp desire to be in his arms, close to him, pierced through my heart. I was a second too late in stepping back, in saying no, and he took advantage of my hesitation. Sweet heat and fire swept through me—for a second I let it. Surely just a moment of enjoying this feeling wasn’t wrong. I’d step back, in a bit. I’d pull away in a minute. Just let me enjoy this. Both hands slid up his back, into his hair, even as I turned my head at a better angle, hungrily exchanging kisses. He groaned low in his throat, tongue slipping into my mouth. Mmm… My back hit the couch, and reality came crashing down around me again. My moment had come and gone, and now I really had to pull away before I couldn’t. It was hard to focus, especially with dragon fire singing along my nerves. The fire started to change. When that really registered, it panicked me enough to pull me out of the pleasure haze I had been in. Trowa’s mouth moved to my neck, and it was then that I saw clearly what he intended to do with that fire. He meant to claim me. I started struggling in earnest. “No. Trowa, stop!” His hands on my waist tightened, pushing me back against the couch. Gods above, he wasn’t listening to me! “Trowa! I said stop!” I kept wriggling, pulling away from him. My chin was caught and turned forcefully back to him. Any further protest I might have offered was muted by his mouth. Oh god, he wouldn’t stop. I couldn’t agree to this, but he apparently wasn’t going to give me an option anymore. I had to stop him in any way that I could. I maneuvered around until I could get an arm free, drawing it back tightly. Then I punched him as hard as I could. His head snapped back as he crumpled onto the floor. I wasted no time in scrambling off the couch and sprinting full speed for the door. “Quatre!” I couldn’t let him catch me. I couldn’t let the plea in his voice distract me. Trowa had proven I couldn’t trust him…or was it that I couldn’t trust myself with him? I nearly tripped on the stairs I ran down them so fast, and hit the door hard enough to bounce it on its hinges as I raced outside. Shield…I have to shield, or he’ll be able to find me easily. Even as I ran, I slammed it down around me. In the night air, the sound of an anguished and frustrated cry echoed hollowly. Humorlessly I smiled. Well, I guess the shield was working. I lost all track of time and distance as I ran. Countryside sped past me, then the crowded back streets of the city. I retained enough common sense to stay out of the heart of the city, keeping on the outskirts. I had no idea where to go. I couldn’t turn to Sally or Iria. I was still branded as ‘traitor’ and it would only endanger them. Besides, Trowa would probably look there. “Quatre?” I knew that voice. Stumbling to a halt, I stared in absolute disbelief. Zechs was in front of me, head cocked in puzzlement. Of all the people to run into, why did it have to be another dragon? He gave me a head to toe scrutiny, and his brows drew together in growing concern. I couldn’t blame him—I was gasping for air, my body was soaked in sweat, and I was without a jacket or cloak in the cold night air. “What’s wrong?” A mirthless laugh spilled from my mouth. “What isn’t?” My answer didn’t appease him in the slightest. “My house is just down the street. Come inside. You can explain there, and I’ll see if I can offer you some assistance.” I wanted badly to take him up on the offer, but I couldn’t in all fairness do so without giving him a little warning. “If you do that, Trowa will not be at all happy with you.” Cold blue fire erupted in his eyes. “Trowa. I should have guessed. If he is at fault, then I insist you come.” I really do like Zechs. Maybe the fates were trying to make up for my lousy night, and sent him to help me out. Too weary to argue the point, and too grateful to try and dredge up the energy, I just nodded and silently followed him to his house. ‘House’ was actually a misnomer. ‘Small mansion’ came a lot closer. I barely noticed any of it as he led me into a comfortable den. As I sank into a heavenly comfortable couch, he fetched something from a side board. “So? What did Trowa do?” “He wouldn’t stop,” I whispered. A sudden chill raced down my spine and I shivered. “Here.” I accepted the glass he offered, sipping it cautiously. Apple brandy? It was sweet on the tongue, and nirvana on my parched throat. I swallowed a healthy measure of it and tried to relax. “Is he searching for you?” “Yes. I have a shield up right now—he won’t be able to detect me.” Zechs nodded thoughtfully. “It certainly explains why I didn’t sense you. Just rest, Quatre. I can see that you’re exhausted.” “Thank you.” + Zechs waited in an armchair near the window. He wasn’t in the least surprised to see a dark blue dragon landing softly just in front of his house. He’d been expecting to see Duo and Heero, especially after the story that Quatre had told him. Quietly he went to answer the door, letting Duo inside. “Softly. He’s asleep.” Duo nodded curtly, going further into the house until he spotted Quatre. The blond was curled up on a low couch, a soft quilt thrown over him. He looked too pale, and his hair was still stuck to his skin with sweat. “How is he?” “Shaken,” Zechs answered in a low murmur. “He’s honestly scared of Trowa right now.” “Did he tell you what happened?” “Some. I didn’t press for details. I didn’t think it necessary.” Duo snorted humorlessly. “No, I can see your point. Heero and I will take Quatre back with us.” Zechs arched an eyebrow. “Is that wise?” “We won’t let Trowa anywhere near him. And…honestly, we have a better chance of stopping Trowa without this escalating into a clan war.” Zechs wasn’t as close to the other four as they were to each other. It was a valid point. “Very well. If the situation changes, do not hesitate in bringing him back here.” + Quatre stayed asleep the entire trip back. Heero was even more cautious than usual in flying, and setting down. Duo had never seen or done a more gentle landing. Wufei met them on the roof, coming forward to take Quatre from Duo so the other could dismount. “How is he?” “Exhausted. Shaken. Zechs found him on the road.” “We’re damn lucky no one else found him,” Wufei growled. “I’ll put him in your room.” Duo could have sworn he heard that wrong. “I thought you would insist on keeping him?” “I’ll make the situation worse. Trowa won’t trust him with me, and I’m not entirely sure if Quatre would be willing to stay in close quarters with another dragon who is interested in him. Besides,” Wufei cast a scathing glance towards the inside of the castle. “It will probably take both of you to stop him.” Duo had to admit that he made sense. In fact, he’d planned on keeping Quatre with them from the start. He had just expected to fight with Wufei about it first. “Where is Tro?” “Downstairs. Pacing.” “Figures. I’ll handle him.” Duo squared his shoulders and marched down, checking rooms until he finally found the green wyvern. He was in the music room, and was indeed trying to wear a hole in the very expensive carpeting. “We found him.” Trowa jerked around, eyes lighting up with relief. “Where is he?” “In my room,” Duo responded flatly. “And that’s where he’s going to stay.” “…I need to see him.” “Whatever rights you had with Quatre you lost. He’s staying with me and Heero until he decides what he wants to do. You don’t enter the picture.” Trowa flinched, feeling like something had socked him in the gut. “Duo…please.” Despite how mad he was at the moment, Trowa was one of his oldest friends. He couldn’t let go of that just because of his behavior that evening. “He’s sleeping right now. I’ll tell him you want to talk to him tomorrow.” Trowa forced himself to accept that. “Alright.”
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