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"In My Master's Arms "Written By: Jewel of Hell Disclaimer: Don't own nothin' but these words Rating: NC 17 Warnings: Yaoi, lemon, violence, slavery, cruelty, possible OOCness, AU/Fantasy/Drama Pairings: 1x2 Summary: In a society where sorcerers are feared
and hated, Duo is given as a slave to a powerful warrior in order
to keep his tremendous power under control. All he wants is freedom
from his cruel master, but nothing is as it seems . . . "In My Master's Arms "
A Fleeting Dream Quatre was the last to arrive at the Council chambers when Relena called a meeting, and he felt the eyes of the other eight acutely. He ignored them all, Trowa included, as he took his seat. His skin felt too hot, his core felt too cold, his head was pounding and he felt nauseous. His hands wouldn't stop shaking so he clasped them tightly in his lap, and he knew his face was too pale. "Are you all right, Quatre?" Relena asked, frowning in concern. Quatre swallowed a vicious reply. "I'm fine. Why are we here?" She dithered, obviously working herself up into a state over his condition. Treize cleared his throat, giving her a Look. "We've been asked to meet with someone," he replied. "Or rather, someone requested an audience with us. Come!" He raised his voice at the end. Two men walked in. One was broad-shouldered with a well-kempt beard and dark brown hair. The other was only a little shorter but a good deal leaner, almost scrawny. Around his neck gleamed a collar, the unmistakable slave collar of sorcerers. It was red. Quatre hid a wince. The most powerful color after black. What in Gridanja's name were they doing here? They definitely weren't from Corai. The bearded man gave a respectful bow. "Thank you for seeing me," he said. Treize smiled. "You have interesting and concerning news, Graime. Of course we would see you. Please tell the rest of the Council what your sorcerer discovered." "Thank you, Lord Treize," the man named Graime said. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am High Lord Ovandric Graime of Navrane. Not four days past the Tower detected an unidentifiable surge of magic in the Southern Forest in Corai. Sandon, tell them why this concerns us so." The skinny sorcerer bowed, light glinting off the red collar. "Every sorcerer on Harboura is fitted with a collar that lets normals know how powerful they are," he began, "but it also creates an identifiable sorcerous residue when they use magic. We are able to determine if the individual using this magic is safely collared or not. The surge we felt in the Southern Forest was not from a known source, therefore there is an uncollared sorcerer somewhere in Corai. As I'm sure you agree, this is unacceptable." Quatre frowned. Nirande had told him that the magic he used, her magic, was untracable by any sorcerer on Harboura, and he believed her. He hadn't used magic in some time, any way. So what had they sensed at the Tower? "How could someone have escaped your notice?" he asked. Sandon looked at him and inclined his head. "It could be a child or young adult, my lord," he said. "It was also a strange magic used. It seemed to be a magical gateway opening and closing. Not one being created, but one already in existence being opened." Strange. Quatre had never heard of such a thing. "There's nothing in the Southern Forest," Relena said after a moment. "Why would someone go in there?" The sorcerer inclined his head to her now. "I have no idea, my lady, but Cera is the closest city to the forest. We would like to search for this rogue and collar him or her as is proper." Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Quatre thumped a hand lightly on the table. "You need the king's permission for that," he said. "Or in this case, his regent." Relena stirred. "He needs no such thing, of course. Permission granted, Lord Graime. Take your sorcerer and find this rogue. How could our king but approve? It's for his own safety, after all. Uncollared sorcerers are dangerous things." Quatre didn't argue or object. For one, he lacked the energy. "Perhaps an escort?" Wufei spoke up. "I would be happy to show you around, Lord Graime." The lord nodded. "Thank you, Councilor. Would you be so kind as to show us to a decent inn?" "Nonsense!" Relena said. "You'll stay right here in the castle as our honored guest. And please keep us apprised of your progress." "It would be my honor, my lady," the man all but purred, taking her hand and kissing the back. Quatre didn't miss how she slid him a coy glance as though to see if he were jealous or not. He gave no outward reaction. It had only been two days since Trowa last touched him. It would be far longer until his love touched him again. At the moment, those thoughts were all he had the energy for. Wufei escorted Graime and his sorcerer out, and the others began leaving. Quatre rose to go, but Relena snaked out a hand and grabbed his wrist. "A word?" she murmured. "All right," he agreed, swallowing a sigh. "Briefly." As soon as the others were gone, she took both his hands and stroked the palms, eyes searching his. "You look so unwell, love," she said softly, now smoothing fingertips over his brow. "And you have a fever. You should be in bed resting." He pushed her hand down, it was too warm. "Was there anything else?" Hoping he didn't sound too cold. Apparently not. She smiled. "I am expecting something tomorrow," she said. "A package. It's a little something a friend of mine found in Lark. A wonderful little thing." "What is it?" he almost snapped, too weary for her games. Her smile deepened. "Have you ever heard of mindbreakers?" Quatre blinked, momentarily forgetting his discomfort. "Yes. Sorcerers made them a long time ago to bend normals to their will without the constant usage of magic. Supposedly destroyed centuries ago by the Tower." She nodded. "Yes, supposedly." He frowned. "What do you mean?" She clapped her hands like a delighted teenage girl, letting out an almost-giggle. "I found one, my love. It's on its way here, and I will use it to control Heero. He'll do anything I ask, and you and I will finally get what we deserve! All of Corai, can you imagine it!" You deserve a lot, all right, Quatre thought venomously. He was quite sure what she felt she deserved and what he felt she deserved were two different things. "How can you be sure it's the real thing?" "I guess we'll find out," she all but sang. "Don't worry, love. I know this seller. She would never try to swindle me. We'll finally be rid of that pernicious boy!" The sick feeling returned, stronger than ever. Why hadn't she told him of this before? Then I guess I'm out of time. Nirande, give me strength. I'm going to have to tell Heero I'm on his side. After a moment, he rethought. Duo, maybe. Perhaps I could get through to him. Though how will he feel about helping me aid the master he hates? This was too much too soon. It was slipping through his fingers, she was being too aggressive and too forceful, he would never gain control of this situation before it spiraled out of control- "Quatre?" she queried. "What's wrong, my love?" "I . . . I need to lie down," Quatre said faintly, staggering toward the door. Maybe I should have just stayed in bed . . . no, I needed to know this. I need to figure out what to do. It wasn't easy shaking Relena off, insisting he needed rest now more than her company. He eventually convinced her she still needed to plan for the mindbreaker's arrival, how to smuggle it into the city. Heero and Duo would undoubtedly be back by then. He was halfway to his chambers when Beria appeared from nowhere right in front of him. "A word?" she demanded. Quatre stopped short. He and Beria seldom spoke outside the Council chambers. "I don't know what you think you're doing," she hissed, "but Lady Relena loves me. I won't let you steal her from me!" Quatre pinched the bridge of his nose. "I can't help the way Relena feels, Beria," he snapped in an unnatural surge of temper. "If you're so concerned about it, talk to her, not me." He brushed past her. He could feel her molten gaze until he disappeared around a corner. o8o o8o Trowa waited until Beria turned and stalked away before leaving the corridor. Scorned women, he knew, could cause trouble. He would have to watch her closely to make sure she laid not so much as a finger on Quatre because of Relena's fickle emotions. Ghosting through the halls, he went to the huge library where he knew Zechs would be. The Lord General Regent didn't even notice him until Trowa was right beside him. "General Marquise?" he said softly. "May I speak with you a moment?" "Of course," the general replied, looking startled. They walked to a sheltered corner where they were unlikely to be overheard. "The Council spoke with a Lord Graime from Navrane," he began without preamble. "He is here with his sorcerer slave, claiming to have felt a surge of unidentifiable magic in the Southern Forest." Zechs' storm gray-blue eyes blazed. "And I was not made aware?" Trowa inclined his head. "Treize made sure he was not announced when they arrived so the Council would be the first to greet them," he admitted. The shame of the Council knew no bounds. "I know Relena had no intention of sharing this information, and I apologize. Her presumption is appalling." "To put it lightly," Zechs muttered, but Trowa got the feeling he wasn't supposed to hear that so he pretended he didn't. "Thank you for telling me, Councilor. You are the second one who has approached me I feel I could come to trust." "Indeed?" Trowa said, knowing the other could have been only one of two. "I'm glad I'm among them. I want nothing to happen to our king." "Nor I," Zechs agreed. "Does this Graime have any idea from whom this unidentifiable surge came?" "No," Trowa replied, "but they're starting their search in Cera." "When did this surge occur?" Zechs asked. "Four nights, so it would have been the night of the king's death." Then he frowned, wondering at the significance of that. "And there's no chance they're simply detecting Duo's magic?" Zechs asked. Trowa shook his head. "Not according to the sorcerer. Relena has offered to let them stay in the castle, and Wufei offered to escort them through Cera on their search. I thought you should know." For a moment, Trowa saw the man struggle with his anger, then it was gone. "Please see if they've left, and if they haven't bring them to me. All three of them, Wufei included. I believe as regent, I should be making the decisions about their stay in Corai." Inclining his head, Trowa turned to go. "I'll bring them to the audience hall at once so they may be announced, as is only proper." He heard Zechs give a soft snort of what might have been amusement. o8o o8o The moment Duo brought him and Heero back to Cera, he felt something was . . . off. A strange emotional energy charged the air, setting his teeth on edge. Something had happened. As he followed Heero into the castle, Zechs descended on them at once. "My king," he said, bowing, "a sorcerer and his master have arrived from Navrane. They've been searching Cera all day for a rogue sorcerer, whom they believe is sheltering somewhere in the city or near it." Heero blinked, looking mildly surprised and annoyed, but a bolt of fear shot through Duo as powerfully as if a crossbow had launched it. What did they want here? There could be no possible way they suspected Heero had magic coursing through his veins. "And I suppose they feel Corai is a fine stomping ground for their circus?" Heero said, low and cold. Zechs looked leery, obviously caught off guard by his king's demeanor. "Shouldn't we be grateful?" he suggested carefully. "Surely it can't be a good thing to have a sorcerer on the loose in our country?" Heero's eyes blazed as he glared at Zechs. "The only thing 'on the loose' is your mouth," he said, still in that low tone. "Wherever they are, bring them right back to the castle. On whose authority have they been tramping all overy my capital, going wherever they please without restriction?" Duo watched the color drain from Zechs' face. "Mine," he said, but his voice wavered only the slightest bit. "Yours," Heero repeated silkily. "I see. Then it shall be on yours they're called back here, and on yours they're thrown out like the vagabonds they are." The words gave Duo savage pleasure. "My king-?" Zechs tried. "If you make me repeat myself," Heero cut him off, voice like velvet, "I'll have you flogged. Bring them back to the castle, Zechs. I'm not in a patient mood." "Yes, Majesty," Zechs said, bowing deeply and sprinting off. Face like a thundercloud, Heero swept through the corridors. Servants squeaked and scurried to get out of his way. Heero didn't stop until he'd reached his private chambers, and he slammed the door behind them with no small amount of force. Duo immediately checked his wards against scrying and eavesdropping, but they were still in place. None of them had been tampered with. Heero leaned against the door and closed his eyes, a dark laugh bubbling up from his throat. "I will fucking kill her!" Startled, Duo searched his face. The Black King was in a full rage, eyes frozen wastelands that blazed with blue fire. A shiver started at the base of Duo's skull and raced all the way to his heels. He never, ever wanted to see this glacial fury directed at him. Reaching out, he carefully tested his shields on Heero. They were in place so tightly there was no way anyone on this planet could break them. And fortunately, Duo had plenty of perfectly legitimate reasons to have them there. After all, what monarch wouldn't want his secrets to be safe within his own mind? He moved to Heero's side, placing a tentative hand on his shoulder. "She may not have had anything to do with them being here," he said softly. "Don't lose sight of your objective." Heero grabbed his shoulders in a crushing grip that made Duo cry out, whirling and slamming the boy up against the door where he'd just been. "Don't lose sight of my objective?" he growled. "This has been the driving force behind my life since my birth and all you can offer is don't lose sight of your objective? I'm more aware than anyone what's at stake! I've given everything for this Gridanja-be-damned country, I have nothing left to give!" "Heero!" Duo yelped, tears of pain stinging his eyes. "Y-you're hurting me!" "I've been hurting my whole life!" Heero snarled, dragging Duo closer, hands tightening even more. "Every day I wake to this twisted, tormented kingdom, this perverse pleasure and need of the people to cause as much suffering outside our borders as possible, almost as if they want to spread their own black evil all over the world, I hate them, I hate Corai, I wish it would just sink back into the hell hole wherever it crawled out!" He abruptly crushed Duo to his chest, releasing his arms to wrap him in a tight embrace. "God Duo, I'm so sick of this. All of it." Barely a whisper at the end. The tears streaked down Duo's cheeks, hot and stinging. "I'm sorry," he whispered, practically choking on emotion. "I'm so sorry, Heero." He clung to the man, trembling, able to feel the fine tremor in Heero's frame, as well. "What are you sorry for?" Heero said quietly. "I'm the one who's sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you, Duo." "I know," Duo mumbled, turning his face into Heero's neck. The arms around him tightened until he grunted. "I feel like you're all I have in the entire world," Heero breathed, the warmth of the words falling over Duo's ear. "I think you're the only thing keeping me sane, Duo." Heero's lips were right against his ear, and it was distracting. And . . . arousing. It was a strange moment to feel the sudden warm pulse of desire, something he'd never felt for anyone in his life. It hadn't been all that long ago he'd believed he would rather die than let his master touch him. Now, in a twist he never could have foreseen, his master's touch was at this moment all he wanted. It was easy to turn his head a little to press his lips into Heero's throat. "Heero . . ." Little more than a sigh. Heero's hand trailed under his braid to thread into his hair at the base of his skull. "Duo . . ." he murmured, gently forcing Duo's head back to look in his eyes. His pupils were huge and dark, and that was equal desire burning soft in his eyes, too. "How did I fall in love with you so easily? I once thought I never would." The air stuttered from Duo's lungs in a startled gasp. You love me? he wanted to ask, but he was too incredulous to form the words. Normals didn't fall in love with sorcerers. Want them and lust after them, certainly. Sorcerers were good enough to fuck. But not good enough to love. Then again, he's not exactly normal. Not in any way. He's not even human . . . He felt another tear breach his defenses and trickle down his cheek. Heero's thumb brushed it away. "What's wrong?" Heero whispered, concern tempering the desire. Closing his eyes, Duo shook his head. "Nothing."
Nothing at all. In this moment, for the first time in what
felt like forever, everything was perfectly right.
tbc |
