|
"A World In A Grain Of Sand"Written By: Keiran Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing or its characters...
Shame about that. Pairings: 1+2, minor 4x5x4 and odd het pairing
(that’s a surprise ^_^) Rating: … I always have a problem with that.
Maybe PG-13, for the mental pictures, moving to R possibly as this
progresses. The author needs to get a good line to express her thanks to Sundaire, for putting up with her creepy use of commas and other mishaps. The author is very happy to have such a good beta. "A World In A Grain Of Sand"
Chapter 17 The morning found Duo, still as bewildered as the previous
night, sitting on the windowsill of his room, staring at the fields
that stretched all the way to the horizon. He couldn’t get Quatre’s
last words out of his mind. They rang again and again thorough his
dreams, calling to him, waking him up finally, just a few moments
before the sunrise. ‘You do bring him peace. I can only hope he would
do the same for you.’ What could he mean by that? Duo sighed in frustration. It was just this man’s talent, to make tentative peace and then throw in a remark that’d haunt a person for ages. Now he could stop wondering just why Sanq barely fought wars anymore - all possible adversaries were probably too busy mulling over some well-placed comment that Lord Winner has made. Nevertheless, he felt relieved that they were on speaking
terms now. He genuinely hated hating people, even if they asked for
it. Duo sighed and stood up, reaching absentmindedly for a comb. Carefully
he separated the honey-brown strands and continued on to untangle
and straighten them. Ten minutes later he took several deep breaths to ease
the frustration the brushing invoked. If it wasn’t for the fact
that the masses of hair were the only thing that connected him to
his mother, he would have got rid of it years ago. And then, he couldn’t
quite bring himself to abandon the feeling of freshly washed, still
cool hair against his skin. Not many things made him feel as safe. He donned some proper noble clothing and walked out
of his room, heading for the chamber where meals were served. It was
fairly early, but he has already learned that almost everyone got
up early in this place, now that he was certain that Dorothy actually
sleeps, not stays up all night plotting ways in which to control the
court. He smirked taking his place at the table, noting that lady
Dorothy was already there. “Didn’t sleep well?” the woman scowled. “You know I had the worst night of my life! How
dare you even ask!” “I figured that since I was scheduled for beheading
three days ago, for hanging two and yesterday I was to be thrown in
the dungeon, I thought that today I’d take my chances and perhaps
even get an answer,” Duo replied, earning a scowl. “I am
merely wondering about your health, milady.” Dorothy furrowed
her brows and glared, yet the healer withstood her glare calmly. Eventually
the lady gave up and answered. “I do not feel bad, I was woken in the morning
by sickness,” she replied quietly. Duo nodded to himself. “That is nothing to worry about,” he said
equally softly. “In fact, I daresay that is a good sign,”
he added with a hint of an impish smile. The lady glared again, but
this time the threat in the look was mixed with thankfulness. They
sat in silence until the others arrived and the breakfast was served.
With the arrival of children the hall brightened up immediately, filling
with chattering and conversations. Duo sat in the middle of the table,
absorbed with listening so much that he often forgot that there was
food in front of him. This wasn’t exactly family, but the princess
did her best to make everyone feel at home and after a couple of weeks
of living under one roof once everyone were seated and the meal set
the atmosphere was peaceful. The tension started once the food was
finished. Duo listened intently as his little nephew spoke excitedly
of everything they recently did, the sword fighting lessons included.
“…and uncle Duo said that tomorrow we can go for a trip
into the forest!” he finished nearly jumping onto the table in
excitement. His step father smiled at him. “Well, I’m delighted that you’re having
such a lovely time here, but I’m afraid that we will be leaving
shortly,” Treize announced. Duo turned in his seat surprised.
“How shortly?” “Within this week I’m afraid.” Treize
looked apologetic. The children looked disappointed. Lady Une was
ignoring her husband in favour of Heero, who at the moment desired
nothing more than to crawl under the table. “So soon?” Duo asked again, his voice barely
shaking. But it is unfair, he berated himself. You knew it’s
going to be like this when you decided to stay out here rather than
return to Albion. You knew you won’t see them too often. “Yes, I’m afraid we need to head to the capitol,”
the blue-eyed man said firmly, yet kindly, attempting to placate his
children. “We stayed a bit longer than we originally planned
anyway - I have yet to speak with his Highness and things at home
won’t supervise themselves, you know.” Relena looked appropriately
surprised, but collected herself immediately. “It was a pleasure to have you as our guests here and you have my word that I will make sure your stay in Sanq will be equally pleasant,” she said formally. “I shall be heading home as well, if you don’t mind my company,” she added. Heero blinked at this. So suddenly everyone was going
home? He shot his friends a questioning glance. “Yes, we shall be heading home as well,” Trowa
answered the unspoken query. “It high time we left anyway - any
later and Dorothy would have to stay here for the next year.”
Dorothy glared at him furiously. Duo snickered delicately behind a
grape. Fortunately for him the smirk escaped the woman’s attention. “Trowa…” she hissed dangerously. Treize
caught onto the game and snickered himself. Pictures of Une glaring
at everything and everyone entered his mind, especially amusing since
they were cast over a very rounded belly. He and Solo used to joke
about it all of the time, especially since it was about the same time
that his own wife was with a child. Yet the memory of Duo’s brother
and Mariemaia’s mother made sigh softly. He doubted he would
ever be able to recall their faces without a hint of sadness their
respective deaths caused. But he knew he wouldn’t want to. *** The trip to the forest went without a hitch - the children
returned barely conscious but happy and went to sleep immediately
after. The time flew by and very soon the party was ready to depart.
Heero stood watching the carriages being prepared, although if one
was to follow his gaze he would found it stuck to a figure of a young
man, rather than anything else. Une was leaving, so that meant he
would finally be able to move around the mansion without looking around
each corner, but on the other hand Duo would return to the temple.
He couldn’t decide which was worse. “General.” Heero froze hearing the voice.
Sure enough, it was Lady Une. He turned and bowed respectfully trying
inconspicuously to check if she’s holding any weapons. “Would
you walk with me please?” she said and without waiting for a
response she turned and walked in the direction of the gardens. They
walked in silence until they reached the shade of the trees, Heero
throwing curious looks at his companion from time to time. Finally
the woman spoke. “I was thinking about what you said,” she
admitted softly and continued, “and you might be right.” “I meant no disrespect milady,” Heero answered
quietly, wincing as he recalled his harsh words. They might have been
true, but even truth could be phrased so as not to hurt anyone. “Oh, but you did,” the woman chuckled. “At
the time. I can understand that. Well, I will not tell you stories
about Duo, since they are his to tell, when he decides you should
know. However there is something I can tell you.” “I’m listening milady.” “I was his brother’s wife, you know that I
assume?” when the general nodded she continued, “I knew
them both most of my life, although I rarely saw Duo. He was taken
early on to the East, for teachings. I admit that he might have felt
slightly uncomfortable in my presence - I never wished him wrong,
but ensuring that my husband was happy was more important. You probably
do not know, but Duo looks just like his mother, with his violet eyes,
pale skin and chestnut hair. He doesn’t remember or probably
wasn’t ever told, since he was about four at the time, but his
mother committed suicide after she was ravished. It was mostly because
of that Duo was constantly being sent away - Solo could bear to look
at him too long before breaking down. Yes, I continued to send him
away, for my husband. I am probably to blame for everything that has
happened to him. No matter how it may seem, however, I care for Duo.
I will not stand to see him hurt, do you understand?” “I wouldn’t dream of hurting him, milady,
I promise,” Heero said very quietly, holding her gaze. The woman
offered a tight smile in return. “I will trust you not to,” she said. “But
trust me on this general, should you break this promise, not even
death will grant you peace, I’ll make sure of that.” Heero
smirked. He understood the lady well. He assumed that it was all,
but the woman has not finished yet. But it did seem like she finally
accepted him. After all, she virtually told him that Duo above all
else needed someone to be with him. Always. *** Duo stared after the disappearing carriages. Heero stood
by his side, his gaze also drifting to the coaches, but the further
they were the more his eyes returned to the slender figure of the
healer. The general was cursing internally, seeing that Duo already
changed into his white robes, which meant that he was going back to
the Temple. “Heero?” Duo said cocking his head to the
side rather - Heero thought - adorably. “Are you alright?” “Yes, why do you ask?” “I don’t know,” the healer blushed faintly
averting his eyes. “You weren’t speaking and you had that
strange look in your eyes…” The statement made Heero blink.
He felt a wave of smugness envelope his person. Duo was concerned
for his well-being. That was a victory in itself. The blush just made it sweeter. “I’m fine. But I am glad you are concerned.”
The blush took on a slightly darker hue. “Would you like me to
see you home?” His satisfaction grew as Duo nodded shyly. They didn’t speak much afterwards. Wing and Deathscythe
were already saddled and waiting for them in the stables. The duo
started on the road without a rush, in fact, it even seemed like they
were slowing down the closer they got to their goal. Duo smiled looking
at his companion. They were silent for a long while, but when they
eventually started talking they couldn’t bring themselves to
stop - he found they had so much in common and yet at the same time
they differed so much… Being with Heero alone like that was more and more becoming.
He never really had anyone he could speak with like he could with
the general. In fact he barely met people that were likely to converse
with him equally. He sighed happily after the older man countered
his statement vehemently. Only now he began to understand how much
he longed for such a partner. He knew Heero wanted him as a partner,
of that he could be sure. He just wondered if he would be able to
let him close enough. The blue-eyed general felt as if he would cry when the
white building of the Temple came into view. He’d been having
such wonderful time! But his disappointment diminished quickly when
the small figure of Sally ran out to meet them and flung herself into
the healer’s arms crying her eyes out. “Hilde is dying, healer! Master said she won’t
see the next sunrise!” Heero looked as the violet eyes slowly
filled with pain and anguish. Duo tried to say something, but he couldn’t
seem to find the words. “She won’t die, will she?”
Sally demanded. “She will be fine!” she cried pulling herself
away and staring imploringly into the healer’s eyes, he however
was unable to return her stare. “Won’t she? Won’t she?!”
The child’s desperate sobbing sounded hollow in the empty country
yard, as her hopes were torn apart by the soft words whispered into
her ear. Heero felt despair enter his own heart as he watched
the golden head snuggled into Duo’s embrace. He felt sorry for
Hilde, even though he barely knew her. They spoke briefly a few times,
enough for him to know that she was kind, cheerful and easy to talk
to. But that girl was his Duo’s best friend. If she died…
if she died, how would that affect the long-haired man? Would he stop
caring? Would he change? …would he push everyone else away, just not to
get hurt again? ~ * ~ |
