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"Crimson Ties"Written By: SkyLark DISCLAIMER: I do not own Gundam Wing, or its characters.
I just love playing with them. Pairings: future 1x2x1, 5xOC, 4XM Warnings: Serious AU, Vampire Fic, Angst, Violence,
Sap, Romance Betaed By: ShenLong Deb Archives: http://www.gundam- wing-diaries. 150m.com/
gw/SkyLark/ gwSkyLark. htm and http://www.mizunoam y.bravepages. com/skylark/
skylarkfics. html "Crimson Ties" [I'm on your side when times get rough
An anxious pack of Companions and Hunters were
seated in the Bartons' main living room when their hosts appeared
carrying large trays of warm beverages and homemade soup. They were
also sporting a fresh pair of bite marks in their necks following
the recent private moment to join in a desperate connection once
more before the attack. Laughing softly, she vowed to her friends, "I promise
that when you've returned I'll have a feast waiting for all of you
with anything you want." Snickers, quiet applause and
more grins spread throughout the room at that. Weary eyes glanced amongst themselves as her designated
crew began to fidget nervously. Swallowing roughly, Chang eased as best as he could.
Meanwhile, the Bartons watched their cousins in confused concern in
those quickly passing seconds. Before either of them could raise their
questions, they were answered when Yuy closed the distance between
himself and the redhead. What should have been one of the happiest days in announcing
the arrival of a new member to the family had been shattered by that.
A gust of air rushed from the Infected as though he had received a
sharp blow to the chest, his body contorting from that shot before
he stammered softly, "Oh, Anna, I... I'm so-" Shoulders shrugging, he stated, "We need the fastest
and the boldest Vampires running. You know as well as I do that Anna
is one of the fastest and most daring Infected in our
ranks." Defeated, Heero's whole posture sagged and his eyes
began to shimmer as he continued to stare at the expectant mother.
Her own eyes watering, the Siren cupped his face in
her hands as she whispered, "We all have to do our parts in this
siege, big brother. This is mine. Not only do I accept it, but I want
it because I have something to offer in saving Duo." At that, Wufei sniffled and bowed his head as the tears
began to roll down his scaly face. Trowa and Midi flanked him in an
instant to wrap their arms around him in support even through their
wracked emotions. Moving as one, they wrapped each other tight and pressed
their cool lips together in a sweet, innocent kiss. For
a silent moment, they just clung onto their sibling, burying the sides
of their damped faced against a shoulder. Anna nodded against his shoulder, unable to trust her
voice, but tightening her hold on him to convey her deep appreciation.
Cupping her face in his hands when he began to back away, Trowa rested
their foreheads together and said, “You be our anchor in the
waters and we’ll be your bridges over them.” He was given
a bright smile in response. With a brief pause, he sighed, "I'm looking forward
to becoming an uncle, so make sure that the both of you
come out of this." Whimpering, the redhead ran a hand through
his unruly hair. All but jumping to his feet, the Original scooped
her up in a bear hug and kissed her cheek as he settled her back down. Catherine had been running ragged throughout the night in dispersing every weapon that she had to provide to the soldiers that came and went from her station. Once the last of her tools was handed out, she collapsed into her office chair with a deep sigh. Running the back of her hand over her damp brow, she smiled up at her assistants, “I appreciate the help clearing this place out.” “Glad to be of service,” Quatre grinned as he sat at the edge of his classmate’s desk. Eyeing the empty display cases and shelves that filled the room, that grin faltered at reality setting in once again to what was unfolding. “This is just eerie,” he commented softly, trying to ignore how his voice echoed off the metal casings around the empty room to only emphasize the hollowness. Shivering at the cold feeling that had settled over her, Relena rubbed her arms and leaned against the scientist as she sat beside him. Her lips curled up in a small smile when Winner draped an arm around her shoulders and kissed her temple. Bloom shook her head, giggling, “It’s about time the two of you worked your feelings out.” At the deep blush that colored her fellow living’s face and the embarrassed duck of the Councilwoman’s head, her head fell back with her loud laughter which she cut off the second she picked up on the echoing ring of the sound. Once more, the chilling truth of their situation set in… Within hours, the estates would all be this empty and the three creatures that sat together now would be forced to wait and hope for their army to be successful in their attack on Solo’s lair. And there would not be as many soldiers returning as how many were about to leave. Biting her lip, Peacecraft stared ahead without really seeing what was before her as she muttered, “I need to see my family and friends before they’re off.” Quatre and Catherine were on their feet along with her in a silent agreement to the sentiment and followed her upstairs. Many clusters of Vampires, Companions and Hunters were gathered throughout the mansion when they reached the first floor. Perry, Tilly, Anthony and Josh made up one of the circled groups. As expected, the handsome English patriarch of the Clan was the one surrounded by his family as they all came to grips with his being named as one of the Runners. His arms around his trembling wife of centuries, there was a calm about him in light of the perilous situation he was up against. The scene was a similar one throughout the whole of the Khushrenada home- including a ring of Kristy, Sharon and Jacob huddling around Amara. From one group to the next, there was nothing but arms being looped around a loved one and soft words of reassurance. It was a horribly heartbreaking sight to take in. Lady Une, now well beyond the spell of Anna’s singing, finally gave into the tears that had wanted to fill her gold-and-brown eyes earlier. Sniffling, she turned to bury her side into Treize as she whimpered, “I hate this.” She was pulled into a tight embrace, feeling her husband nod against the top of her head as he couldn’t trust his own voice at that moment. A smile that was both sad and relieved spread across Zechs’ face at seeing his sister walking up towards him. Kissing her cheek and hugging her tightly, he whispered by her ear, “I am not about to say ‘goodbye’ to you. I’ll only tell you that I see you again soon, love.” Laughing through the shimmer in her gaze as she returned the fierce embrace, Relena replied in kind, “You had better. Your home won’t look the same if you take too long and I become like Midi in fretting so badly that I start redecorating.” Her brother snickered and pulled back to place a quick peck against her lips when Noin stepped up to wrap them both in her arms. * * * * “You don’t have to do this,” Dorothy insisted, her face wet from the drops that continued to fall from her eyes as Solo finished the last tight knot of the ropes binding her wrists behind her. Peering over her shoulder, she all but begged, “Duo’s friends and family may know of a way that you can be saved. If not, I can’t imagine them not working to find something to help-” Solo cut her off with a loud, animal snarl when he whipped around to face her. Fangs growing in, he leaned close to her wide-eyed face, snapping, “You expect me to believe that after everything that I’ve done they would care at all about me? They’ll be all too happy when I am dead! Anything that you may have picked up from my dear brother as kindness was nothing but lies to win you over!” Raising a finger between their nearly touching noses, he warned, “They’ll see you as every bit as much a monster as they see me. You’ll likely be taken before the Vampire Council for trial to either be sentenced to death or to rot the rest of your days in that icebox of a prison they have in Antarctica. And that Rosshe you think so highly of will never give you so much as a thought. He’ll never lift a finger to help you.” Catalonia held her tongue to keep in the harsh words she wished to say. But her silvered eyes still narrowed in a heated glare as she took in a deep breath to calm herself as best she could. Duo had only spoken the truth to her in the little time that she had spent with him. It was Solo who had nothing but lies to offer. They were all that he had to try and keep his control over his puppets. Of course he would resort to trying to make her afraid that there was nothing in the world for her beyond what she had known with him. After a failed attempt to wiggle her fingers, the Seer was silently grateful that her blood was not circulating the same in her body now that she was an Other. Tight as her wrists were bound, her fingers would have been tingling painfully at having their blood cut off. However, she could feel the bruises setting into her flesh. Whatever more Dorothy wished to say was silenced by the gag that was roughly forced between her teeth and tied at the back of her head. Stepping up to the railing of the catwalk that they were standing on, Solo peered down to the hundreds of Others and Wilds that were waiting for his final words before the strike. “What happened with the arrival of those two Vampires cannot happen again!” he bellowed in a thunderous voice, keeping his fangs in plain sight. Deep in the audience, Kristin and Manuel ducked their heads. “Those Infected are only out to finish what their own had started with each and every one of you!” the Reformer shouted. “Your lives would have been forfeit had I not intervened and I will not be able to do so again if you let those creatures anywhere near you and this base! Failure will literally be the end of you! Kill or be killed! It’s as simple as that!” Some of those beings watching and listening swallowed roughly. Many wrapped their hands tightly around their weapons. Some shivered in building worry. But all bore grim expressions of understanding and acceptance of what was being told to them. Every one of them truly believed that they were being hunted. If there was to be any chance for them, they had no choice but to use everything within their power to destroy the Vampires that were coming. Drawing a deep breath when he was content that he had said all that he needed to say, Solo gave a firm nod and ordered, “Get to your stations!” A deafening roar of battle cries rose and his army charged from the facility, coming out of every nook and cranny of the refinery to spill from the lair. And deep within his cell, Duo blinked widely at the muffled clamor beyond his cell door. His back straightening where he sat on the floor, he whispered to himself, “It’s beginning.” * * * * Anna made quick work to pull her long red hair in a high ponytail. With a fresh pair of bite marks in the nape of her neck, she searched through her dresser. Pulling out a pair of socks, tight, black running pants that bore a thick white stripe down either legs’ side, a simple lilac workout T-shirt and a deep purple, long sleeved hoodie, she tossed them into a short pile beside her bodice and weapons on the strewn bedding. Clicking the roof of her mouth with her tongue, the Irish Vampire appraised her outfit for a moment. It was the perfect attire for a run… one that she would have worn for a brisk jog on any given morning. Now she would be wearing it for the run of her existence. When she reached for the corset, her hand was intercepted from behind just before she was spun to face her husband. Locking into a passionate kiss, the couples’ eyes closed and they wrapped their naked bodies together as tightly as they could. Slowly coming apart at last, Wufei sunk to his knees and ran a hand over his wife’s abdomen. Biting his lip, he leaned in to press a soft kiss there. “You stay as brave as your mama, tiny one,” he breathed. “She’ll make sure to take good care of you and bring you both back to me.” “Damn right I will,” Anna smiled, her voice soft and thick as a couple stray tears rolled down her face. Running a hand through the scaly Infected’s loose hair, she sniffled and dried her eyes with the other. She did not have a second to blink when she was suddenly lifted off her feet by his strong arms for another heated kiss. Their matching bite marks illuminated in the brightening natural light from the sunrise beyond their closed drapes, Chang lowered his lover back to her feet and their foreheads rested together as they whispered at the same time, “I love you.” Snickering, they closed their eyes and simply reveled in holding each other for a moment. Reluctant as they were to break away, they knew that the time to leave was quickly approaching. Replacing their weapons and changing in a companionable silence, their minds swirled with all of the possibilities of what may or may not come to pass. Careful not to allow those drifting thoughts drive them mad, they were banished so that the Infected could focus on what it was they needed to do. Dressed in a simple pair of black pants and a deep blue, long-sleeved shirt that clung to him, Wufei pulled his hair back with a form nod in appraising Anna’s wise choice in her sporty outfit for its functionality. Clearing his throat, he reached a scaly hand out that she quickly accepted. Without another look back at their room, they stepped out into the hallway and descended the stairs until they stepped out onto their front porch. Freezing just beyond their front door, their growing eyes took in the masses gathered out on the enclosed street. Even though they knew they had nearly two hundred beings living in the great estates, it was a sight to behold all of those soldiers at one time. And this was just a scratch of the surface to how many would actually be coordinating the transport to Solo’s secluded island. Standing at the top of their steps were Heero and Trowa. Wearing the Gundanium armor that covered his chest and back with its wings folded neatly from sight, Yuy sighed in relief at his siblings’ arrival. He pulled his sister into a tight embrace and kissed her cheek while Barton rubbed the small of her back and wrapped his free arm around Chang’s shoulders. Midi, Relena, Quatre, Sally and Catherine hurried up to offer their embraces and tearful wishes for a safe fight to their family and friends that they were saying farewell to. Even Doctor J came to offer firm handshakes. The Bartons in particular took as much time to embrace, whisper their love and reassure each other as they could. Peacecraft had a hard time pulling away from Anna as the last to reach her, knowing the danger that her dear friend would be one of the first to face. Bloom handed over the Gundanium helmet that they had just finished touching up together to Heero. And Winner gave Wufei a tight hug when they made the end of their rounds. At that moment, Treize’s voice spoke to the lot through their minds by means of Noin’s gift. ‘Everyone, be sure to link arms with each other as our Teleporters will be focusing on our destination,” the Commander began. “Shields, you are all spread out enough that your protective barriers will overlap one another to keep a firm blanket barrier. Have your powers up the moment we begin to materialize on the beach. Runners, you know your roles and will have that measure of safety until you see an opening to act on. The rest of you cover the rock formation with as much fire as you can to keep those charging ahead of us safe.” Lady Une’s voice took over to advise, ‘We are coordinating with our other camps to leave in two minutes. Those of you Vampires that are exposed beyond the shelter of a Shield, take to the water right away and wait for a break in the strike on the sands to come in.” For those two minutes, everyone stood in complete silence. Both as long as a brief eternity and as short as a blink, that time passed by before Khushrenada announced softly through his agents’ minds, ‘This is it. Everyone link up. God speed to you all.’ Their hands linking in a line across- Heero, Anna, Wufei and Trowa- the family took a deep, collective breath. Yuy muttered sincerely, “It is an honor fighting alongside all of you.” “I love all of you. Keep courage on the other side,” the redhead whispered. Softly, Barton commented, “May be all be standing together like this in the end, only with Duo when the fight is over.” Chang murmured, “And for countless more centuries after all of this.” The family closed their eyes and lowered their heads as the world began to fade away in a brilliant display of color.
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