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"A Hidden Heart "Written By: Hemlock Inyx Disclaimer: This chick does not own any of the
Gundam Wing characters because they belong to Bandai and Sunrise.
I am borrowing them for this fict and will return them in good (if
somewhat sticky) condition.This fict is written out of love and not
for profit, don't sue. Thanks and enjoy! Rating: NC 17 Warnings: yaoi, lemon, midieval alternate universe,
some angst, violence Pairings: 5x2, 4xH, 13xS Summary: They called him Milliardo's Dragon. A warrior bold as the Chinese legend, his temper as fiery; Lord Chang Wufei was the prince's right hand. Men of power quaked at word of his arrival, for he was the sword to carry out Milliardo's judgement. 'Twas rumored he'd do any deed at the prince's bidding, avenge any slight to his master's name. Only Milliardo had the might to direct the Dragon's fury, to shape thr form of his vengeance. Or so the prince believed. But shrouded deep beneath that scaly hide, the dragon's true nature slumbered. Obscured by fire. Hidden from harm. Burried beyond reach of pain. Until he met him. The boy with the power to free the heart of the Dragon.
"A Hidden Heart "
By midnight, Wufei felt rather drunk on ale but no closer to finding Duo. His feet heavy on the tower stairs, Wufei sought the cool night air. He needed to clear his head before deciding what to do next. After a night spent gaming and drinking, the only useful information he had was that no one had seen Duo leave. So either Milliardo had lied to him, or the guards at the gate had all gone blind. In his present mood, it was all Wufei could do to prevent himself from confronting his princely overlord and demanding the truth. //That would gain me nothing.// No one had seen Duo outside, but there were bound to be passageways throughout the castle that Wufei didn’t know about. A smart man always left himself an escape route; Wufei would return to Duo’s cell and investigate further. There wouldn’t be a better time. No one had any business in the cellars at this time of night. Wufei moved quickly though the shadows and retrieved a shuttered lantern and his cloak from his chamber. He saw no one as he slipped into the cellars and closed the door behind him. As for as Wufei knew, none of the cells held prisoners. //I should be able to search to my hearts content.// A rabbit warren of corridors lay deep beneath the castle. Wufei had never had reason to explore them before, so he set about it in a methodical fashion. From the number of undisturbed spider webs he found, Wufei knew that some areas hadn’t been occupied in a long time. But several passages could have been used recently. Wufei chose the widest one and set off. He had only gone fifteen paces when the corridor ended in a wall. Wufei smiled. //Only a fool builds a passage way leading nowhere.// Wufei set the lantern on the floor and felt around the edges of the wall, pushing and prodding at the stones until his patience was rewarded. Just as Wufei had suspected, the wall was actually a door. Surprisingly silent, it opened inward. Picking up the lamp, Wufei pushed on. The air had a sweetish smell, overlaying a dank, earthy odor, as if something had died. The stench, combined with the ale Wufei had consumed made his stomach roll in protest. But he kept walking. The ceiling dropped so low his hair brushed against the splintery planks above him. Crouched low over the lantern, Wufei almost missed the two doors to his left. "Duo?" he called, banging on the first door with his fist. "Are you here?" Wufei heard the sound of footsteps, then pounding on the other door. "Dragon?" Wufei couldn’t mistake that haunting voice. And no one else called him Dragon. Holding the lantern high, Wufei turned toward the door. "Yes, Duo, it’s me." He tugged on the door, but the lock held firm. Scanning the area for a key, and finding none, Wufei prepared to use his dagger on the lock. When he lowered the lamp to the floor, Duo called out, "Don’t take away the light." Wufei could understand Duo’s plea; it must be pitch black inside the cell. He hooked the lantern on a wall bracket and drew out his dagger. The blade scarcely fit into the lock, but Wufei took his time. If he snapped the knife off, he’d never get Duo out on his own. And Wufei had no intention of seeking help, now that he saw where they’d put Duo. //Locking him away down here could only be a deliberate attempt to keep him hidden. Most likely from me.// Slowly, gently, Wufei wiggled the blade until he felt the lock give. He pulled the dagger free, shoved it back in its scabbard and yanked the door open. Duo leaped into Wufei’s arms, with an inarticulate cry. Wufei gathered his quivering body close and held Duo tight, smoothing his hands over tangled, chestnut locks. "Hush, " he whispered. Duo tried to speak, but the words came out in a jumbled rush. "Slowly, Duo. Hush. It’s all right now, I am here." Wufei held Duo as he would an injured child, trying not to notice the way Duo’s body fit so well to his, nor the softness of his hair beneath his cheek. But his body would not listen, heat rose in Wufei’s blood, intensifying Duo’s scent, magnifying the feel of his pliant body pressed against his hardness. Carrying Duo with him, Wufei stepped back into the corridor, into the light. Wufei framed Duo’s face with his hands and stared into the eyes that had haunted him, asleep and awake, for the past day. Duo met his gaze stare for stare, until, with a muttered curse, Wufei crushed his lips to Duo’s Duo’s mouth didn’t move, but neither did he try to push Wufei away. He kissed like a child, lips pressed to lips. Wufei gentled his hold and showed Duo another way. He outlined Duo’s mouth with his tongue, then nibbled at his lips until they opened enough to allow him access. Wufei spent a long moment exploring the taste of Duo’s most cavern, enjoying the soft murmur coming from Duo’s throat. Duo sighed and took a step back, his eyes wide. Then grabbing the front of Wufei’s tunic in his fists, he pulled Wufei close again. But this time he burrowed his face against Wufei’s chest and clung to him. "Why did you send me here?" "How could you think that? Wufei drew back enough to see Duo’s face. That Duo believed what he said, Wufei could not doubt, not after searching his eyes. "No one else knew about me." Duo eased his hands from Wufei’s cloak and smoothed the wrinkled fabric. "And you’d locked me away already." "Only because I didn’t know what else to do with you. I’ve never found a boy scaling the castle walls to see Milliardo before," Wufei said, his heart pounding harder in remembrance. "I did not send you here." Wufei held his gaze until he thought Duo believed him. A shiver coursed thought Duo; his skin felt icy beneath Wufei’s hands. He drew his cloak off and wrapped Duo securely within its warm folds. "They didn’t give me a chance to take this," Duo said, his voice faint. Wufei pulled Duo into his arms again, just to warm him, he told himself. Never mind that holding Duo brought him a measure of comfort, as well. "Who brought you here? And when?" Duo closed his eyes, as if trying to remember—or to forget. "Two men burst into my cell, before midday, I think. They bound my arms and gagged me, then dragged me here. It was too dark—I could not see. Before I realized what they were about, they untied me and shoved me in here." Wufei could feel the effort it took for Duo to recount the tale so calmly. But his voice stayed even, almost emotionless. He knew Duo was frightened, but he hid it well. Few men he knew had Duo’s courage. Wufei brushed a kiss across his brow and held Duo close a moment longer. "We must leave," Wufei told him. "You’ll be safer away from this place, while we decide what to do." Wufei released him slowly, reluctant to let go. Duo grabbed his sleeve. "If you didn’t send me here, who did?" "I’ll tell you later, once we’re away from here. Come, don’t you want to leave?" Wufei would rather wait until Duo had a chance to eat and get warm before he told him his suspicions. Besides, he wanted to learn more before he leveled his accusations against the man Duo had come to for help. Milliardo. Wufei drew his dagger again, weapon enough in such close quarters, should he need it. Duo stared at the blade, then his face, for what seemed forever, thinking Wufei knew not what. But he must have found what he was sought, because Duo nodded once. "Lead the way, Dragon," he said. Duo unhooked the lantern from the wall, then tucked his hand in the crook of Wufei’s arm. "I trust you." //I might be the only person he can trust here.// Wufei vowed do whatever he must to prove himself worthy of Duo’s trust. ~~~(***)~~~ Duo clung to the Dragon’s arm, his grip barely short of desperation, as Wufei led him though the labyrinth of passageways. He expected Toad—or some other creature like him—to slither into their path at any moment. Even with enough light to see, it was a frightening place. The relief he felt at the knowledge that Lord Chang hadn’t sent him into the cryptlike cell was near overwhelming. //But if not the Dragon, then who? Toad said he knew who had sent me there, and much else, besides. But how can I trust him? Nothing he told l me made any sense. And he certainly didn’t appear to be someone a prince would confide in.// No, Duo would simply have to be patient. The Dragon would tell him what he knew, when the time was right. Duo knew Wufei would keep him safe. He knew the Dragon was worthy of his trust. When the corridor seemed to end, Wufei gently eased Duo’s hand from his arm and took the lantern. "In case anyone’s watching," he said, extinguishing the light and plunging them into complete darkness once more. Before Duo could ask him what he was about, the Dragon pushed on the edge of the wall and a door opened. Wufei stood silently for a moment—listening, Duo concluded—then handed him back the lantern. "Come—no one will see us now," Wufei whispered. Grasping Duo by the elbow, he led him though the corridor. "Where are you taking me?" he asked. //He better not be taking me back to the other cell.// "To my chamber, for now. We’ll decide what else to do in the morning." They skulked around the dimly lit boundary of the courtyard with far more stealth than on the previous night. But except for the fact that this time Duo was able to walk, instead of riding slung over the Dragon’s shoulder, it felt must the same. Lord Change Wufei seemed most comfortable lurking in the shadows, from what he’d seen of him thus far. Duo could feel a darkness within him; perhaps it was why Wufei sought the shadows instinctively. But although Duo should probably fear that side of him, it intrigued him. Especially since the Dragon had kissed him. Duo sensed Wufei had held himself in check—his touch had been quite gentle—but he’s felt a wildness simmering on the edge of his awareness. That might have been nothing more than a reflection of the heat that bubbled though his veins at the mere thought of the Dragon’s lips touching his. Wufei drew him in by means of some invisible thread—a look, a touch, was all it took to make Duo want to return to his arms. No doubt he’d be horrified if he knew. Duo was a stranger to him, and a male, ignorant of men and women, no one of importance. And he was Milliardo’s Dragon. Duo would know better the next time his emotions threatened to overwhelm him. The first time, he could pass off as an accident; if he did it again, Wufei would know him for a fool. With luck, he’d find out what he needed to know soon, perhaps in the morning. Then Duo would be on his way. And the Dragon need never know how he’d singed his heart.
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