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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 "
Because It Doesn't Matter The collar around Duo's neck sprang open with a hollow crack, and the world washed away in a wave of white. For what must have been forever, Duo lay in shock on the cold stone floor. His body was in so much pain he could barely move, but with each heartbeat the pain lessened into memory. The headache would probably persist for awhile, but the worst of it passed. That wasn't really what held his attention, anyway. The collar, that hated device that restricted everything but his breathing, was gone. It lay on the floor where it had fallen, a few handspans from him. It winked in the light, and where was the light coming from? Why was he bathed in a bright, warm glow? Through it all, above it all, power pulsed within him. A flow, a river, a flood, a tsunami the likes of which he'd never experienced. This must be what it would feel like, he thought dimly, if someone dropped a mountain the size of a moon in the ocean. He felt he could stretch and stretch forever and still not find the end of this flood of power roaring through him. Almost as if it exulted in freedom at last and wanted to show him how far it could reach. In reality, little more than a few seconds passed. The light winked out, rushing back into Duo where his body could contain it. The power sang in his veins, vibrating and resonating with the need to act. All around him, everything had stopped. Trowa had stopped breaking Relena's bones, Relena had stopped screaming-though she was still writhing in pain. How easy it would be, he realized contemptuously, to just reach over and end her life. No more taxing than blowing out a candle. Trowa, Relena, and Quatre were all staring at him. Heero lay almost within an arm's reach, eyes closed, skin so white Duo feared he'd died. But no, he could feel a weak thrum of life inside him. It was growing weaker. Slowly, Harboura's only Black rose to his feet. The mad glee seemed to have finally deserted Relena, for she stared up at him in white-faced horror. "I-impossible!" she gasped. "Only sorcerers can-" Her eyes darted to Heero. "Him?" Never taking his eyes off her, Duo held out a hand toward Quatre. "Give me the mindbreaker." The Voice of Nirande didn't hesitate. Duo's fingers closed around the tiny box, tingling to feel the magical device touch his skin. Sending out his magical senses, he probed for the source of the mindbreaker's power. It was as if a magical cord connected Relena to Heero. With no more effort than if he batted away a fly, Duo severed the connection, aware that this wasn't supposed to be possible. He didn't care to ponder it right now. Stalking toward Relena, he knelt by her side and held it out. By now it was a normal-sized spice box, plain with a little decorative carving. "Touch it," he ordered her, voice frozen as winter. Her eyes widened, and she tried scuttling away. "I'll die first!" Trowa stopped her, clamping his hands on her shoulders and squeezing until she yelped. "Do as he says," he warned softly. Almost sweetly. Duo heard an ominous crackling sound as if her bones were grinding and nearly at breaking point. Reaching out, he took her wrist in an implacable hold and dragged her hand toward the mindbreaker, wearing a frigid smile. "It's only fair, don't you think?" he murmured. "Don't you want the satisfaction of knowing how much you made Heero suffer? Now you'll understand firsthand." Her fingers made contact with the mindbreaker still secured in his hand. It would have been fairly easy to do this to her without the mindbreaker, but this way Relena was fully aware of exactly what was happening to her. Her fear misted over in that vacant, adoring look. It disgusted Duo more than anything else he'd seen from her. "Master," she simpered, reaching out as if to touch him. He stepped away from her, out of reach. "Don't touch me, worm," he said, voice cold and flat. "You don't deserve comfort from me. You are the lowest form of life on this world, Relena, and you will die knowing it." By the end she was sobbing, trying to crawl toward him. "Master!" she begged. "I'm so worthless! I never, ever meant to do anything to cause you distress. Please, Master, what can I do to earn your forgiveness?" "Nothing," Duo said. "But you can reflect on what you did to Heero. You hurt him far more than you ever could hurt me." She was weeping wretchedly by now, wringing her hands and seeming to want the pain being caused by the cuffs. "I was wrong!" she wailed. "I can see that now, Master. Please, punish me, I deserve it, I should never have done anything to hurt you!" Feeling unmoved, Duo simply stood and watched her weep and wail, knowing this was the greatest torment the mindbreaker could inflict. "You disgust me," he hissed. "The only thing you could do right now that would please me is die." "Master, Master," she sobbed, flinging herself at his feet, "I have to tell you something before I die, which I'd do gladly for you, Master. Just yestermorning I was torturing Heero, because it pleased me-but now I see I was so wrong-and I forced him to tell me what you had done in the Southern Forest, that he falsified his father's death and that he has magic in his blood, and I sent a messenger pigeon to the Tower, so it probably won't be all that long before a sorcerer comes, and they'll want to put a collar on him, and I know that would hurt you-" "Be silent!" Duo snapped, feeling like all his blood had been replaced by lightning and fire. He wanted to burn her to cinders, to crush her, to annihilate her! "Death isn't good enough for you, Relena. Trowa, take her down to the dungeons. Don't bother trying to treat those injuries you've given her, and don't remove those shackles. She'll get her chance to confess her crimes before the entire royal court, and this way she can incriminate every member of the Council who ever schemed with her." He could see the Voice of Jhatahj wanted to say something else, but Duo silenced him with a look. Later they could talk and he would listen if the man wanted something else. But for now he wanted her to suffer. And right now, the only thing he wanted was to get Heero out of here and heal the terrible open wounds on his back. "I'll come with you," Quatre said, laying a hand on Duo's shoulder. Perhaps sensing his seething anger. "Fine," Duo agreed, now moving back to kneel beside Heero. He cast a brief glance at Trowa to make sure the man obeyed him, then he teleported himself, Heero, and Quatre to the king's bedchambers. At first, he completely ignored Quatre. Healing the king took all his concentration, and how easy it was now. Creating spells was as easy as breathing. Living power formed a bright blue glow around his hands as he ran them over Heero's body, slowly and gently closing the open wounds and smoothing away the scars. The infection and fever in Heero's blood he cured without a second thought. The lost blood he could do nothing about for now, but rest and the right foods and liquids would fix that, too. As he healed the man he loved, he realized just how close he'd come to losing him. Relena had very nearly killed him. It took probably just over an hour, and when Duo sat back he barely felt the effects of his magic-working. Once, this would have left him feeling drained. Heero's face, while still too pale, looked peaceful now. No longer pinched and drawn with pain. He smoothed unkempt hair off Heero's brow. A soft whine came from his left, and he looked down to find Frost watching him with obvious concern. He will be all right now? she queried. Duo reached down and stroked her soft ears. Yes. He'll be fine with rest and time. Trusting his word, Frost brightened considerably and licked his hand. That left only Quatre. Sighing faintly, Duo turned to look at the Voice of Nirande. The blonde man had remained still and silent, watching Duo work. Now he blinked to have Duo's attention, and Duo noticed how pale Quatre looked. "Are you all right?" he asked. Quatre smiled a bit. "I will be. What ails me is nothing you can fix. Will he be all right now?" Duo just nodded. For a time Quatre didn't speak again. Then, "Have you long known Heero had magic in his blood?" Hesitating, Duo considered how much to tell this man. Not that he didn't trust Quatre, but . . . perhaps the fewer people who knew the truth, the better. "Some time," he said at length. "I sensed it. I was the one who put the shields around him so no one else would sense it." "That means at least one of his parents had to have it, as well," Quatre hedged. "Yes," Duo agreed. Quatre waited, but when Duo didn't go on he changed the subject. "His father is truly still alive?" "Yes. I'm the one who formed the illusions. That night when we went into the Southern Forest, it was to send Kazuhiko somewhere he would always be safe." Though Quatre's eyes burned with curiosity, he didn't ask anymore questions. "I could just as easily reveal Relena's co-conspirators," he offered. "I want Relena herself to do it," Duo declined. "That way she will disgrace the whole Council. I would like you, Trowa, and Wufei to remain Heero's advisors, though. I know he can trust you." That made Quatre smile faintly. Then he reached out toward Duo, and the sorcerer saw he was holding the black collar. Duo recoiled, wondering for a wild moment if the man actually meant to put it back on him-or at least try. But Quatre merely held it out. "If sorcerers from the Tower are on their way," he said quietly, "you know they won't stop until this is back around your neck." The words made Duo want to panic for a moment. He may be a Black, but there were many sorcerers in the Tower. Enough of them could overpower even him. Then he smiled. "Let them come. They won't put that back on me, and they won't put one on Heero. I said I was going to put an anti-magic barrier around Cera. Now is as good a time as any, don't you think?" Quatre grinned. "Indeed." "Will you stay with Heero? I need to be in a better location than this, but I'll be back shortly." Quatre nodded. Frost jumped up on the bed and curled protectively around her sleeping master. Smiling, Duo turned and left the room. Out into the halls he glided, ascending the steep spiral staircases up into the highest tower. Climbing out the window, he used a trickle of magic to climb up beside the spyre and stand on air. From this vantage point he could see most of Cera. Dark and silent it spanned before him, unaware of the drama that had played out in the castle. It would stay that way. Opening his senses, he let them reach out as far as they would. In moments every life in the city showed up in his mind like a little light, a small fly on the vast web of his magic. The metaphor made him snort in dark amusement. It wasn't very late, and many of the people felt uneasy. They didn't know what was happening with their beloved, hated Black King. They didn't want anything to be wrong with him, because who would take them back to glory if not him? Rest easy tonight, Duo thought, beginning to form his barrier. Your king is safe at last, and now that I am free, nothing will ever threaten him again. Like weaving together a tapestry he formed threads of magic and intertwined them. He could, of course, simply create a shield-like barrier. It would be easier and faster. But it would be weaker, more vulnerable to destruction from the outside. And this way, he could infuse it with the same refracting trick Celae had inadvertently taught him with her shields around Heero. That way, when the sorcerers came they wouldn't notice the barrier until they were inside it. Then when they went outside it to attempt destroying it, it would be nearly impossible to find. I won't let anything happen to you again, Heero, he thought as the barrier touched the earth on all sides around the city. Not so long as I breathe. o8o o8o Trowa stood outside the bars of the dungeon cell for several minutes, watching Relena blubber and weep on the stone floor, seemingly unaware of her own pain. Apparently nothing was worse to her now than her master's displeasure. Though he felt thwarted that she wasn't dead yet, it was still immensely satisfying to see her in such a pathetic state. He hoped part of her was still aware of her true self so that she was disgusted with herself. She is no longer any threat, Jhatahj's voice suddenly murmured in his mind. Leave her here, Trowa, and go hold your Quatre. You need not waste anymore effort on this worthless little girl. But she is not dead, Trowa thought, a half-hearted protest. I promised myself I wouldn't touch him until she was dead. She is as good as, Jhatahj pointed out. She will not escape Duo's justice. Go. You've both suffered enough because of her. The fact that Relena would once again make a liar out of him tempted Trowa to just open the door and slit her throat right now. But what his god said was true, she may as well be dead. She was only marking time. And suddenly that promise to himself didn't matter. All he wanted was to take Quatre to his bed and love him until they both collapsed, and then sleep. The sleep of healing. As if some black cloud had swathed him in darkness too long, it simply faded away, leaving only peace. Turning his back on her, he strode back up into the castle proper. Quatre would still be with Duo and Heero, he knew. His gentle-hearted lover would want to make sure they were both all right before devoting any effort to himself. The Council had made him cautious and wily, but it hadn't changed him at his core. Deep in that place where only Trowa could touch. He reached the door of Heero's chambers in time to see Duo returning, carrying a tray of food. The lack of the collar around his neck seemed especially noticable, but Trowa made sure not to stare. He wasn't afraid of the young sorcerer, no matter his power. Just as he knew Quatre was a good person, he knew this boy was gentle to his soul. And further he knew Duo trusted him. Respected him. Even relied on him. He planned to make sure Duo knew from now on Trowa wouldn't let him or the Black King down. He could be anything they needed of him, including a pillar of strength. He nodded to the tray. "Is Heero awake?" he asked. Duo shook his head. "No, but I'm hungry, and I didn't want to stay away from him too long." Made sense. Trowa held open the door for him and followed the slim boy inside. Magical lights bobbed on the ceiling, casting a warm, soft glow around the room. Heero seemed to be sleeping deeply, and his great black-and-silver hound lay curled around him, her head resting on his chest. She looked up and growled faintly when she saw Trowa, but at a glance from Duo she subsided with a little sigh. Quatre smiled up at him, eyes shadowed and weary. "Relena's safely put away?" Not quite a question. Trowa nodded. "Until Duo has need of her." "She'll stay there until Heero is recovered and can formally charge her with treason," he said in answer to that not-question. He reached under his tunic and pulled out the chain to which the now-tiny mindbreaker was attached. "You two will not mention this device to anyone. You may confirm, should anyone ask, that Heero was under the influence of evil magic, but say no more than that. And that Relena has been imprisoned. Everything else Heero and I will decide on when he wakes." Trowa inclined his head in respect. "Of course. I will see to it any rumors and speculation are quelled. What would you like us to say about Heero's condition?" The boy hesitated. "Just that the magic made him a little ill. Right now all he suffers from is weakness from bloodloss. It won't take him long to recover." Beckoning Quatre, Trowa headed to the door. "We'll leave you in peace to rest. I will on the morrow begin preparations with the chamberlain for Relena's trial. If you would allow, we will see to everything so all you and Heero need do is show up." "Fine," Duo said softly, sitting on the edge of the bed. Then, "Thank you, both of you." Trowa nodded and Quatre smiled, then Trowa led his love out of the room and closed the door. He could feel the magic seal go up behind him. Taking Quatre's hand and putting it on his arm, he headed to their chambers and barred the door. Quatre watched him, the question obvious in his eyes. "I know Relena isn't dead," he began, low and soft, advancing on his love, "but as Jhatahj pointed out, she may as well be. Duo won't deny me the pleasure of actually killing her, but her days are numbered." Quatre remained still, and Trowa could see he was trembling. "She'll never come between us again," Trowa murmured, closing the last gap between them and holding out his arms. With something that sounded a bit like a tormented sob, Quatre lurched into his embrace. Trowa held him tightly, eyes closing and breathing in the warm, familiar scent of his lover. Quatre always smelled like summer darkness. Warm but mysterious. Quatre's hands dug into Trowa's shoulders, hard enough there would be bruises. "If you make me wait any longer, Trowa," Quatre hissed, "I will kill you. You've punished me for my mistake long enough!" Chuckling softly, Trowa leaned back far enough to seize his lover's angry mouth in a fierce kiss. It didn't seem necessary to remind Quatre it had been punishment for Trowa as well. They tumbled down onto the bed in a tangle of limbs. Quatre laid sharp, biting kisses along Trowa's neck, not a trace of apology in him any longer. Trowa didn't mind. Maybe he even deserved this ire. He'd been harsh with Quatre, wishing to remind his lover he was not a docile man who could be ruled. And neither is he, Trowa thought with an inward smirk as a particularly vicious kiss brought blood to the surface of his skin. There was no foreplay. They were naked with dizzying speed, and every time Trowa tried to move Quatre snapped at him to hold still. Fire burned in his lover's eyes, a mix of desperation, anger, and love. It was a peculiar mix. But for once there was no mask. Nothing hidden lurking behind those aqua surfaces, casting back the light as though trying to deflect study. It was just Quatre, taking what he wanted just as Nirande took from Jhatahj. Quatre's preparations were sloppy and rushed, and when he straddled Trowa's hips and slid down onto him it must have hurt. He obviously didn't care. His spine arched beautifully, face going slack with passion. Trowa used his distraction to advantage and reached up to stroke Quatre's arms. "With the Council gone," he murmured, "we'll not have to pretend anymore." We can just be ourselves. For a moment he thought Quatre hadn't heard, then his love's aqua eyes met his. The anger and desperation were gone, leaving only a soft, warm love. "We'll make Heero into such a wonderful king," he replied softly, leaning down to brush his lips over Trowa's. "He'll be strong and wise and fair. Like his father might have been." "And once we've saved Corai," Trowa added, rolling his hips upward, "we can turn to the rest of the world." Quatre let out a lilting whimper. "I-I can't believe he freed Duo," he gasped. After that they didn't speak, and Trowa could sense Quatre was happy for Duo. He was too, and he hoped Heero would do more than just free the young sorcerer. Duo was clever for such a young boy, able to see things due to his unique position that others missed. He would make a magnificent consort. And he deserved to be happy. For now, though, he let all those thoughts wash out of his mind as pleasure colored his world. Right now all he wanted was to feel Quatre until he'd had his fill. It was a long, long time before he was satisfied.
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