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"From the Shadows"Written By: Honor Disclaimers: The boys are not mine (curses!) however all the other characters are, and the story, and the idea, and my evil muse. You can have my evil muse. Pairings: 4x5 Spoilers: Nope Warnings: AU, soooo AU, maybe a hint of OOC, violence,
lemon, language, political scheming and fantasy elements. Oh, and
unicorns. ^_^ Rating: R Archived: Gundam Wing Diaries Betas: Velvet and Caitilin *emphasized* =thought= ::mental communication: :
" From the Shadows " Chapter 10 “It’s that devil’s distinction between
being in charge and being in control; I’m in charge, you’re
in control. You can imagine how much this thrills me.”
Wufei dredged up patience and didn't snap back. "I'm not taking him from you." Chaelane lost some of her anger, blinking rapidly. "What? You mean you're going to stay here?" "We don't have any choice," Quatre pointed out. "Lowan, think about this. I'm a magic user; it would be a death sentence to live in Chahir." The full picture dawned on her and Chaelane slowly sat back. She had momentarily forgotten about that little rule. If Quatre couldn't go there, that meant she had just gained a very good general. A small, evil smirk grew on her face. "Dermail, because of his narrow-minded policies, has just handed over one of his favorite subordinates. Oh this is priceless." Quatre sighed and rolled his eyes. "Lowan, try to contain yourself." "Never! I'll get to rub this in for years." She giggled in something like maniacal glee, rubbing her hands together cheerfully. "Right. Wufei—I can call you Wufei, can't I?—have you written letters yet to explain the situation?" "No, Lowan, not yet." "Right. Do that first, I'll make sure that Wyrack has them delivered for you. In the meantime go be sappy somewhere else." That was what Wufei wanted to do in the first place. He maintained enough decorum to bow himself out, then dragged his mate directly back to bed. They had unfinished business to attend to. + Sometime late that evening, Quatre and Wufei were stretched out on the bed, comfortably sated and in no hurry to move. Eventually they would have to, because there were duties to be done (besides they would have to eat at some point) but for now they were perfectly content to be exactly where they were. That was why, of course, there was a brisk knock on the door. “Quatre, Wufei, are you two decent?” Wyrack called through the door. “I need to talk to you both urgently.” Quatre rolled over enough to glare at the door. “Hold on a moment Wyrack!” Grumbling he hefted himself up a little, observing to Wufei dryly, “I think it’s safe to assume that Duo has told the entire palace about us by now?” “He’s had six hours,” Wufei pointed out wryly. “…you’re right. He’s probably told the entire city.” Quatre threw on a robe while Wufei pulled on a pair of pants. When they were both semi decent, Quatre opened the door, glaring at the sorcerer. “This had better be important.” “Of course it is.” Wyrack came into the room, taking in their disheveled appearance with something like amusement. “I take it congratulations are in order?” “You know it is,” Quatre sighed. For a moment his expression grew serious. “Thank you, Wyrack, for the advice you gave him. Things would have been much harder otherwise.” Wyrack inclined his head, accepting the thanks. “All part of my job, dear Quatre. Now, let’s get down to business. I’ve sent the letters Wufei wrote to everyone. We’ve received something of a reply.” Quatre shook his head in disbelief. “Already?” “We have several ways of relaying information quickly,” Wufei explained. “We’ve had to develop them since magic isn’t open to us. I’m guessing that they used a courier pigeon to send a message to the border, and then it was magicked here?” “Precisely so,” Wyrack confirmed with a faint smile. It was such a pleasure working with an intelligent mind, it saved on tedious explanations. “The message said to hold position, and that Dermail would be here within a week. Apparently he doesn’t like the fact that he just lost one of his favorite generals.” “He doesn’t like having any of my family out of his direct control,” Wufei muttered. He rubbed the back of his neck in agitation, thinking quickly. “He’ll probably come in and demand that the bond be separated.” Quatre immediately bristled. “He can demand all he wants, but if he tries something like that his life expectancy isn’t going to be much more than a few minutes.” Wufei rather felt the same way about it. He crossed to his mate, rubbing the small of Quatre’s back in a soothing circle. Quatre leaned into the touch, lifting up to nuzzle briefly against a firm jawline. “It wouldn’t matter what kind of demand he made, a Sanguine bond cannot be removed or broken, not without killing both partners.” Wyrack shrugged. “Nothing to worry about. Now, Chaelane is scheming on how to use all of this to best advantage. I suggest going and talking her out of the more outlandish plots. Quatre, you might also want to call in all of your Hearken and explain what’s going on. There have been some very…interesting rumors.” Wufei snapped around, eyes narrowing. “What rumors?” “Everything from the two of you simply enjoying each other’s company until you find your mate, to you’ve forced the bond to connect with Quatre.” Wyrack made sure to say this as neutrally as possible so that Wufei wouldn’t get mad at him. Having an irate Chahiran after him wasn’t on his To Do List for that evening. Wufei shared a quick glance with Quatre, both of them rather indignant at the malicious turn of the rumors. “We’ll handle that,” Quatre agreed grimly. “Please go back to Chaelane and try to keep her under control until I can get there.” “Understood.” Wyrack paused in the doorway, looking back. “Before I forget, I’ve had another message from Costoch. He’s going to arrive tomorrow, somewhere around noon he thinks. Be prepared to meet him.” Quatre nodded in acknowledgement. As the door shut, he shucked off the robe and went hunting from some clean clothing in the chest of drawers. “Who is Costoch?” Wufei asked as he followed suit, digging through his bags. He was grateful now that they’d taken a few minutes to grab all of his stuff from his old room and “moved” him into Quatre’s. Wandering around in the halls all mussed like this would have been a little embarrassing. “A friend of Wyrack’s. He used to be a teacher at the Mage Academy. Wyrack called him in to see if he could explain what my ability really is and where it comes from.” Quatre yanked a shirt over his head before adding deadpan, “Oh and he’s a unicorn.” Wufei paused with one foot in a pant’s leg to stare at him incredulously. “I thought unicorns were legend!” “So did I, but apparently they’re just very reclusive.” “…wonders never cease.” Wufei shook himself back into reality and continued to yank the pants on. “Alright, so we meet a unicorn tomorrow. Do you have a quick way of calling in the Hearken?” “I usually get the pages to do it.” “Ah. Then we’d better grab a page.” As Wufei stuck his head out of the door and called for a page, he had the feeling that this would prove to be a very long night. A unicorn? + Sally held up a hand, expression a little strained. “Wait, I think my ears are going bad or something. Say that again?” It had taken a half hour to gather all of the Hearken. Even that late in the day, some of them had been out gathering information, correcting mistakes, trying to beat sense into bureaucrats, and doing the general duties of Hearken. When all of them had arrived Quatre had settled them in the formal gathering room, the only place outside of the dining hall big enough to comfortably settle everyone. He had been somewhat amused to see each person’s expression as they came in—there had been varying degrees of shock and confusion when they entered and saw their boss so comfortably ensconced in Wufei’s lap. Of course, once they were all settled they had demanded an explanation. Quatre did his best to explain, but it wasn’t exactly easy. Questions kept popping up. “Which part isn’t making sense, Sally?” “All of it! I thought a Sanguine’s mate had to be female.” Wufei stirred slightly, shifting Quatre in closer to him. “That is usually the case, but there have been two previous cases where they were male.” “Oh.” Sally blinked, trying to process this. “So who will be chosen as Quatre’s replacement?” Heero asked quietly. “I am correct in assuming that you will take Quatre back to Chahir?” “He can’t do that,” Zechs corrected instantly. “Chahir has a law that forbids all magic. Quatre would be executed as soon as he stepped a foot inside their borders.” There were quick, alarmed glances at Zechs from everyone. “He’s correct,” Wufei confirmed. “We cannot go to Chahir. I have every intention of staying here, and simply joining the Hearken.” Cathy let out a low whistle. “Wow. No wonder you pulled us in to explain all of this—hey boss, quick question. Does Chaelane know about this?” Quatre twisted to look at her. “Yes, we told her this morning.” A slow, wicked smile grew on the redhead’s face. “And she’s crowing about getting her own general to play with, right?” Quatre’s smile was a little twisted. “Right.” Cathy shot Wufei a sympathetic grin. Wufei glowered right back at her. “If we can move on?” he growled. “Dermail is on his way here now, probably to throw a temper tantrum and demand the bond be broken.” “Can it be?” Rashid held up his hands defensively at the twin glares he got for that question. “Its information we need to know, I’m not suggesting you should!” “It can’t be,” Quatre answered shortly. “And even if it could, I’ll take Dermail’s head off and hand it back to him if he tries to.” Rashid nodded, and wisely didn’t say another word on the subject. “Alright, is that all of the information you need?” When there were no other questions, Quatre rapped his knuckles on the table in front of him. “Then go get some sleep, you all need it. The next two weeks I think will be very diplomatically frustrating.” “That,” Wufei grumbled under his breath, “is an understatement.” “Let’s try to remain optimistic about this, shall we?” Quatre muttered back. “You be optimistic, I’ll be realistic.” + Costoch was not at all what Quatre was expecting. When one thought of a unicorn, one thought of some tall elegant creature with a long horn. What showed up was a crotchety old man, wizened with age and nearly lost behind a big bushy white beard. At least he looked like an old Mage instructor in those enveloping robes. Wufei went with Quatre of course when the summons came to meet at Wyrack’s study. There was no way that he would pass up the opportunity to meet a unicorn, and besides he wanted to know about Quatre’s ability as well. They entered the study together, hand in hand. Touching was something they did nearly constantly now—it was as much from the stress of the situation and the need to reassure as from the fact that they just enjoyed being in contact with each other. Costoch took one look at them and shot his colleague a sharp look. “Thought you said the boy was single.” “He was,” Wyrack drawled, “until yesterday morning.” “Hmph.” Costoch stood creakily to his feet and approached. “Quatre Winner?” “Yes sir,” Quatre replied respectfully. “This is my husband, Chang Wufei.” Costoch’s eyes darted sharply to the silent Chahiran. “Chang family are all Sanguine.” Wufei simply nodded, answering the almost question. “Interesting,” was Costoch’s only reply. He focused once more on Quatre, blue eyes sharp and darting in quick observation. Whatever it was he saw made his eyes flare wide. “Boy, where are you from?” Quatre had no idea what that had to do with anything, but he figured that if he answered enough questions he might get a few answers himself. “Elfoure, sir.” The old unicorn nodded slowly. “You intend to stay here?” “Of course.” For one thing, Quatre had no idea of how to get back to his hometown. He’d barely made it here in one piece, he wasn’t about to tempt fate by going back. Besides, he’d built too much here to just casually abandon it. “Then I can answer the question.” Costoch gave them no room to question that cryptic remark, just reached out and yanked Quatre’s shirt up until it bared his chest and abdomen. Quatre’s eyes could see the shift in the air around the unicorn’s free hand, how the air was shivering with potential and energy. He sucked in a breath, recognizing it as something he could do—before he could breathe out again that energy hit him straight in the chest. He expelled in a rush of air, feeling something tingly and shattering at the contact. Alarmed he looked down at himself, but there was no broken skin. The tingle spread… Something deep within him had been unlocked. He could distantly feel Wufei’s alarm, but he could spare no attention toward his mate. Every cell in his body was alive in a way that he had never felt before and his head dropped under the force of the feeling. The spark of power and energy was strongest at his forehead. There was a voice in his head, soft and gravelly…it reminded him of Costoch. ::Like this, boy.:: Quatre looked up, watched with his other sight as the old man shifted into the form of a unicorn. Ah, so that was how he did it. Almost unconsciously Quatre mimicked him, and a hidden instinct he hadn’t even been aware of took over. Within seconds the change was complete. Quatre blinked open his eyes, looking at Costoch in confusion. The once old man was now a very striking unicorn—the only concession to age were white whiskers at his nose, and the heavy way he moved, speaking of old muscles and bones that didn’t particularly want to work. ::Look at yourself.:: Quatre turned his head—wait a minute. He was looking directly into a very large mirror hanging on the wall, and simply couldn’t believe his eyes. There, staring right back at him, was a very white, graceful unicorn. But it was him! Those were his eyes, and when he shifted a hoof, the image shifted as well. …what? Abruptly Quatre shook his head, making himself look away from the reflection and to Wufei. His usually composed mate was kneeling on the floor, leaning against the wall as if it were the only thing holding him up. His eyes were so wide they nearly consumed his face, and he didn’t seem to be breathing. Quatre took a tentative step forward. ::Wufei?:: Wufei swallowed hard. “It…really is you, isn’t it?” ::Yes. I…I’m a little confused about this. I’m a unicorn?:: “It looks that way…” Wufei looked to Costoch for an explanation. “How can this be?” ::A little over a hundred years ago, there was an argument among our kind. We had retreated from the main countries and avoided most humans because we were tired of having bounty hunters coming after us. But some of the younger generation wanted to stay with the humans—they had made friends there, started families even. A compromise was made after a year or so of debate. We would form a capsule and send them to the moon so that they could live in peace. There was a side effect, however. Something in that planet seals all magic energy. They would never be able to resume unicorn shape again. To them it was an acceptable price.:: Costoch snorted. ::Fools. I think it was a stupid choice, personally. Anyway, Quatre is one of their children. He only regained the ability here because he was away from the sealing power. I just had to awaken his memory of what he truly is.:: Quatre was a little disturbed by this news. ::Is it really that dangerous for me?:: ::Boy, I doubt you have much to worry about. You’re under the direct protection of the queen, and besides, I’d feel sorry for anyone that tried to take you away from your Sanguine mate. He’d make them into squinch.:: Wufei smiled in feral agreement. “Very true. Still, I wouldn’t think this is something we need to advertise.” ::No,:: Costoch agreed. ::But you should realize something, Chahiran. Once awakened, a unicorn must have at least a few hours a week to be in his true form. He’ll become ill otherwise.:: “Understood.” Wufei started making mental plans to find some nice, deserted place that Quatre could stretch out in. Gingerly he reached out, stroking the side of Quatre’s neck. The fur was so smooth, so very soft. Quatre bumped his head gently against Wufei’s chest, careful not to catch his horn on anything. “I never imagined…” Wufei breathed. ::It is a little overwhelming, isn’t it?:: “I think that’s an understatement.” Wufei shook his head in wonderment. “A unicorn…the gods have indeed blessed me.” Quatre rubbed his head against that firm chest, and simply glowed in contentment. ::Let’s get comfortable, boys. I have quite a few questions, as I’m sure you do.:: Quatre scooted around until he could fold himself comfortably on the floor. Wufei shifted until he was leaning against Quatre’s stomach, rather like a foal tucked in against the side of its mother. When Costoch was sure they were settled he fixed Quatre with a pointed stare. ::Let's start with how by the stars you managed to get down here, shall we?:: ~*~*~*~
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