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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 "
After three weeks of travel through barely-livable conditions, it took all of Duo's strength not to either burst into tears and refuse to move, or lose his temper and go at Heero with a sword. Though he knew the Black Prince better now, the man was unbearably cold and cruel to him. True to his word he never physically hurt Duo. But his vicious tongue and frozen gaze were enough to shrivel up in Duo all that remained of his hope for a decent life. The only boon came in the form of magic. After six miserable days, he became more used to creating spells. The ones he'd done many times now came quicker and easier, leaving him less worn-out at the end of the day. He stopped getting sick. Of course, then Heero made him do more things with magic. Such as warming the water for the entire camp both in the morning and at night. Forming barriers against the rain for the horses and pack animals, and then eventually the entire camp. And always continuing to make the road solid for their travel. Then, halfway through the kingdom Lark, came the next reprieve. Heero decided they needed to pass through civilization (which he disdained on account of it slowing them down) in order to restock for the animals. They traveled into the large tradeport on the kingdom Syhnvar's western border. He esconced his men in a huge inn with the apropos name Weary Soldier. Heero left them to their own devices, warning them to be ready by dawn of the following morning. Then he took himself to a finer inn with a few of his officers. When they were alone in the room with the door closed and barred, Heero's mask fell off. Duo literally saw it crack and fall away. Leaving a weary young man behind. It was, Duo realized, as hard for Heero to maintain his icy veneer as it was for Duo to live with it. It once more calmed his deepening anger toward him. Heero sank into a chair by the cold hearth and beckoned. "Come here, Duo," he said quietly, as if he hadn't the strength to speak up. Duo went without more than a slight hesitation. At Heero's direction he sank down at his feet facing half away from him. Heero took hold of his thick braid and pulled free the tie. With slow but sure movements he unraveled it until Duo's hair was free. For his part, Duo sat perfectly still. He'd always hated people touching his hair. It was his only vanity, and it held many memories in its long tresses. He couldn't very well deny his master, now, could he? But as minutes passed in silence, he found himself relaxing in spite of himself. Heero seemed not to want to do anything with Duo's hair, as if touching it helped relax him. He simply combed his fingers through the locks, each gentle tug sending tingles across Duo's scalp. It felt good. After many years of callous treatment, sudden gentle physical attention felt very good. Shifting, he folded his arms and laid them on Heero's thigh, resting his head on the pillow they created. "We're almost halfway to Corai, now," Heero said after a long time, startling Duo out of a light doze. "You may not be aware of this, Duo, but within my soldiers you're already developing for yourself a repuation for being ill-tempered and haughty. That the only person you fear is me. I want you to play up that image. Don't hold back with the soldiers. Speak your mind when I'm not around. They're too afraid of me to either punish you for it or complain to me about you." Duo stared absently at the opposite wall for awhile. "Why?" he asked, more out of curiosity than a desire to be obstinate. "Because when we get home, they will be questioned carefully by the Council. They will be curious what kind of sorcerer I brought home. A meek one? A cunning one? Eventually they will approach you when I'm not around." Those words reminded Duo of something he had not considered until now. When they got home to Corai, Duo would be suddenly alone in a foreign country. Not a single friendly face would be around, not one person willing to help him adjust. And he would have to face the Council of Nine? That thought was more terrifying than any-except perhaps a truly wrathful Heero. "What . . . should I do then?" "Let them think you hold nothing toward me except fear and hatred. It is very possible that they will attempt to use you against me. I'm making something of a target of myself by bringing you to Corai. By myself I'm not a huge threat. With you, I've suddenly become so. They will perhaps let things slip if they think you can be trusted to betray me-and if they offer you freedom when I'm out of the way." It had never occurred to Duo that Heero might want to use him as that kind of weapon. Political intrigue seemed more daunting than . . . physical force. "You said they would never give me freedom." "No, they wouldn't. But you're a naive boy from the country. What reason have you to suspect that an advisory council of religious leaders would lie to you?" That was true, Duo thought sourly. He closed his eyes again and concentrated instead on the feeling of Heero's fingers carding through his hair. It was far more pleasant. "There's another thing I want you to start learning to do," Heero said. "Ward against eavesdropping. There are many magical items out there that can allow their users to magically spy on other people. I want you to make sure that can never happen in the safety of my bedchambers. That may be the only place where you will have reprieve from this life." Heero's concern for him struck him as strange. He'd never met a Normal who cared in the slightest for a sorcerer's comfort. "One last thing," Heero went on. "This collar-" he fingered the black band-"will restrict the magic you can use without my permission, but on one thing I will give you total freedom. You will always be able to protect yourself using magic. If anyone threatens either me or you, the collar will not restrict your efforts to protect me or yourself." Duo nodded to show he understood, silently thanking the man. o8o o8o "How far from home are they now?" "Less than a hundred leagues." "What news from Navrane? Did he go through with it?" "Indeed. He purchased a sorcerer from the Tower." "How old?" "A mere boy. It is believed perhaps seventeen or eighteen." "What a fool! What threat could a child pose?" "It is the talk of the kingdom. The child purchased was deemed too dangerous to sell because of a vicious disposition. Apparently he kept attacking the trainers at the Tower." "What color is his collar?" "Black." tbc |
