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"Custos"Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing nor any of
its characters. I only own the original characters. And nobody's paying
me to write this. Rating: NC 17 Warnings: AU, OC, Yaoi, Lemon, Language, Violence Pairings: 5x4, 1x3x1, 2x6x2 Summary: Just as things begin looking up for the
Gundam boys, Wufei disappears. " Custos" Chapter 13 Quatre ducked behind an old, obviously unused well as they moved into the compound. Trowa had been as near distraught as Quatre had ever seen him when he returned to the jet to tell them Heero had been taken. The hour wait for sundown had kept the shifter pacing the floor. No one really blamed him, especially after he told them of Heero's odd behavior just before they left Jason's island. Quatre looked to the right, barely making out the black panther sliding through the shadows in the pale moonlight. Trowa disappeared around the building and Quatre looked to Wufei, hiding not far away. 'Do you sense any vampires near by?' 'Yes. There are five in this building.' 'What about the other?' He shook his head. 'I don't sense anything from it, but it's large and far enough away that there could be some hiding that I can't feel.' Wufei looked back to the trees and motioned for Zechs and Duo. The two crept out and joined them, squatting down. Duo was fidgeting, clenching his hands in tight fists. “What's wrong?” Wufei whispered. He pressed his lips to a fine line and put a fist to his burning stomach. Wufei nodded. “Duo, remember what Trowa said. The humans that took Heero were obviously here of their own free will. They're the enemy. They're fine with having people enslaved and murdered. They need to die. It doesn't really matter how that happens.” Duo squeezed his eyes shut momentarily and nodded, but Wufei really didn't understand and Duo didn't want to explain it to him. “Let's go.” ****** Heero pressed his hand to the floor in front of his face. His heart beat roared in his ears and sweat dripped down his face. He pushed up to trembling arms and reached for the collar again. Pain jolted down his arm and he crumbled back to the cold concrete. A sinister chuckle echoed outside of the cage. “Go ahead and give up. You can't get free.” He clenched his eyes shut tightly as nausea rolled through his stomach. He'd already thrown up several times as the collar sent pain radiating through him like thousands of tiny knives. He sucked in a breath, curling to his side and pulling his knees to his chest. “What... do you want?” “My last pet died, unfortunately. I needed a replacement. And a faerie is much stronger than an elf.” He looked back up to through the bars. “What is it you want me to do?” He shrugged. “There are a lot of things I will let you do once you quit fighting me. I'll even let you touch your power again.” He put both hands to the floor and managed to reach a sitting position without passing out that time. How long had he been there? Hours? Days? It felt like years. Whatever spell the man had cast kept his mind slightly fuzzy and pain was a constant companion. It washed over him in waves, spreading through his bones like a wildfire. He'd been in pain before, but nothing like this. A voice in the back of his mind screamed for him to fight. He pulled Trowa's face to the forefront of his thoughts. He had a reason to survive. He couldn't give in now. “Let me go.” “Where would the fun be in that?” He clenched his fists and, summoning all the strength he had left, he jumped toward the bars. His hand almost reached the man on the other side before a blast of pure power slammed into his chest. He flew back and hit the other side of the cage with a pain-filled gasp. He slid to the floor and a fresh wave of excruciating pain poured through him. He gasped for breath and pressed his forehead to the ground as he clawed at the concrete. Reasons and duties left his mind and all he could see was the pain. “Make it stop.” He knelt down. “Try again.” Sapphire eyes squeezed closed and his body shook from the agony wracking it. “Please, make it stop.” The lock to the cage clicked but the door didn't open. “Almost there.” He took a tremulous breath and met the eyes of the man at the door. “Please, make it stop... Master.” A cold hand cupped his cheek and held him still as dark eyes bore into his own. He sucked in a breath as a cool wind seemed to wash over him, dousing the fire raging through his body. A gasp parted his lips as his mind numbed. “What is your name, faerie?” “Heero,” he whispered, nuzzled the palm on his face. “Who do you belong to?” “You, Master.” He grinned. Controlling humans was so easy. They were fearful creatures to begin with. But a human controlling a Mystic? It was the man's favorite past-time. It was exhilarating to control a creature so much stronger than himself. It gave him the power. The vampires found his hobby amusing but they saw him as little more than a witch who came in handy from time to time. “Evan.” He looked over to the door. “What?” The woman looked down at the faerie. “Finally gave in, huh? It only took you four hours.” She snorted. “I can't believe it took you so long.” He pursed his lips. It had never taken as much time to break them before, the longest before Heero had taken almost thirty minutes. Four hours... He grinned. That only meant he'd managed to capture a very strong new slave. This one would feed his life force for a long time, perhaps centuries. Immortality was a wonderful thing he was loathe to part with. He caressed Heero's cheek. “Try to last longer than the elf, Heero. Mystics are becoming hard to come by.” He looked back to the woman. “What do you want, Yvette?” “I was just checking on your progress.” She squatted down to study the Mystic. “He's very pretty, Evan. Can I play with him?” He shook his head. “No. He has a more important purpose than being tainted by your sick pleasures.” She raised an eyebrow. “And what is that?” He dropped his voice. “I don't need Merrick anymore. I want to leave and I'm taking the Seer with me. Heero is going to help get rid of the brainless lackey's who would stop me.” He ran his hand over Heero's hair as if he were some animal. “Aren't you, Heero?” “Yes, Master.” Heavy footfalls sounded above them and they heard a muffled scream followed by a hideous animal roar. ****** “Galen.” A weak hand gripped his and he kissed the top of his lover's head. “It's begun.” He nodded. “Yes.” Aidan pushed up on shaking, too thin arms and gazed down into pale green eyes. “I love you.” He kissed him as a roar split the night air. ****** Trowa slid through the shadows of the building until he reached the large center room where many people were gathered. A fire raged in a pit in the center. Laughter and talking accompanied a large banquet and wine. In a huddle in the center of the room sat five children, all appearing under the age of ten. They were naked and chained together, crying and trembling in fear. Anger rolled through the shifter as a man grabbed one of the children by the throat and jerked her up, slapping her hard. “Shut up, brat. You've been specially chosen. You should feel honored.” The little girl wailed louder and he punched her again. Trowa growled low and jumped into the throng of people. The man barely had enough time to scream before Trowa wrapped his jowls around his neck and ripped his throat out. He spit the bloodied chunk of muscle and skin to the floor and leaned his head back, howling in rage. The others ran into the room, falling into the fight that was quickly turning ugly. There was at least twenty against the five of them. Duo beelined for the children, intent on freeing them from their chains to get them out of the middle of the battle. Zechs, Quatre, Wufei, and Trowa managed to keep most of the people back while he worked at the locks. He gave the children an encouraging smile. “It's gonna be all right.” He tuned out the sound of the battle, fighting against the burning ache in his stomach. He had two locks free when the scent that had been muffled suddenly became sharp. He doubled slightly, covering his nose as one of the children screamed and pointed behind him. Two pairs of hands fell on him and he shoved back, knocking both to the ground. He grabbed the arm of one of the humans who'd grabbed him and sent him sailing into the cement wall with a crashing thud. Another man grabbed him from behind. He reached over his shoulder and dropped to a knee as he pulled the man over him to land flat on his back in front of Duo with enough force to break several bones. He stood and slammed his foot into the man's chest. He turned and time seemed to slow as he came face to face with two vampires. One of them smirked. “What do we have here? A youngling? How old are you? A week?” Duo took a slow shuddering breath and jumped. The vampire who'd spoken stared up in shock as he found himself pinned beneath the braided man, unable to move. His mouth dropped as the youngling jerked the second vampire to his chest and opened his mouth to sink his fangs into his neck. He closed his eyes as the blood flowed down his throat. It was far better than any animal's. It was like a drug. The vampire on the floor shook his head. “No, let me go! What the hell are you!” His cries fell on deaf ears as the brunette threw the body of the first vampire aside and jerked him up by his collar. He moaned in appreciation as the sweet tang of blood filled his stomach and sated the aching burn. Zechs slit the throat of the man he'd been fighting and turned, pale blue eyes falling on his lover. It wasn't just satisfaction playing across the brunette's beautiful features, but utter euphoria. It was a strange thing to see Duo feeding... especially due to the fact he was feeding on a vampire. Zechs turned, throwing himself back into the fight as more people came running into the room. All fighting paused, though, as Duo raised up, tilting his head back and closing his eyes. Rapture covered his face as he slowly licked the blood from his lips. The room was tense as all eyes watched him. He took a long breath through his nose and blew it out through his lips as his eyes opened. Four humans were drawing near on every side. He rose fluidly, violet eyes calculating each in turn. They stopped within three feet and he smirked. “I can smell the taint of your mates on you. Who wants to be the first to die?” His voice was like silk sliding over satin and the mate he gazed at fell to her knees, mouth slightly open and eyes glazed. The other three stood transfixed as he glided toward her and took the long knife she offered. He tipped his head in thanks and turned to the three as they charged. In a single, graceful swing, all three were sliced through the middle. The female hunter shook her head, as if released from a trance. She pulled another knife and jumped, but was stopped short as Duo thrust the long knife backwards and ran her through. He released the hilt, letting her crumble to the floor. A rumble shook the building and knocked those remaining on their feet to the floor, except for Duo who seemed to come back to himself with a shake of his head. He looked to Wufei, mouth working soundlessly. A loud crash echoed and it threw them all into motion as chunks of the ceiling began caving in. He returned to the children who were watching him with wide frightened eyes. “I'm not gonna hurt ya.” He made quick work of the remaining chains and ushered them out of the collapsing building. He could still smell the faint trace of a vampire nearby, outside of Wufei, but the hunger was sated enough that he didn't feel the compulsion to find them. Fire burned from the building but it was momentarily drowned out by a bright blue light. He shielded his eyes against it, squinting as he searched for the others. He saw Trowa lightly bounding across debris, chasing down an errant human. Quatre and Wufei were making their way toward him. He stood. “Where's Zechs?” “Here,” his voice called from the edge of where the roof had collapsed. Duo raised to him and knelt down. He was sitting up, leg caught under a large block of stone. “I think it's broken.” Duo grimaced and hooked his hands under it, easily lifting the chunk and tossing it to the side. Zechs grunted as his shin was freed and then cringed at the exposed bone. “Yeah, it's broken.” Loud laughter echoed through the area and they looked up as a man stepped out of the rubble. Their eyes widened as they saw the figure next him. He ran his fingers through Heero's hair. “Beautiful, isn't he?” A roar echoed and Trowa raced toward the pair. To everyones shock, Heero's hands raised and blue light shot from them, hitting Trowa square in the chest as he jumped and throwing him back a good twenty feet. A grunt of pain escaped him as he hit the ground and rolled several feet. He raised up to his paws and shook his head before shifting. “Heero?” “Oh, do you know my pet?” He grinned. “I really must thank all of you. I was trying to find a way to destroy this place, and now you've done it for me.” He trailed a finger down Heero's cheek and he leaned into the touch, blank sapphire eyes staring straight ahead. “Unfortunately, I can't let you live.” Heero's hands raised again and Duo shook his head. “Heero! Don't! What are you doing?” Blue lightening coalesced around his hands again and shot toward Duo. The braided man dodged, rolling to the side. The spot where he'd been standing boasting the charred remains of grass and a good sized hole. “Damn it, Heero, are you trying to kill us?” “He's controlling him,” Quatre said quietly. He looked to Wufei. 'What do we do?' He pursed his lips. 'I've fought vampires... Not wizards and Mystics. I don't know how to break spells like that.' Trowa stood slowly. 'Don't let me be lost.' He stepped toward his lover, chest aching so painfully from the blast he'd received he could hardly breath. He closed his eyes briefly. “Heero.” Glazed blue eyes looked to him with mild curiosity. “I won't let you be lost.” Dark brows drew together in confusion. “Kill him,” the man ordered and his confusion dissipated under a direct order. He tilted his head back and raised his hands into the air. Thunder rumbled and lightening shot from a clear sky. Trowa shifted, dodging the bolts as he ran toward the pair. One grazed his shoulder and he growled but continued running. The man next to Heero jumped out of the way, not wanting to get caught in the fight. Trowa shifted as he reached Heero and ducked low to wrap his arms around his waist. “Heero, come back to me.” A glowing fist caught him in the cheek and he flew to the ground. Heero stepped over him and pressed his palms together, drawing them apart slowly. Trowa squinted at the bright light between them, and felt his heart pound in his chest as a sword of pure lightening settled in his lover's palm. He looked up to Heero's eyes. “Don't do this.” He choked slightly, the metallic taste of blood in the back of his throat. He felt dizzy and was beginning to wonder exactly how much damage the earlier blast had caused. Heero paused, brows drawing together as he stared down at the shifter. There was something he was supposed to know about him. Something important. Wufei took advantage of the man's distraction as he watched Heero and Trowa fight, if it could even be called that. He slid around and grabbed him from behind, pulling him to his chest. “Release him,” he growled in his ear, putting pressure on the man's neck. “I will not.” “I'll break your neck right now.” Evan ground his teeth. “There's no way to release him. He's mine. The spell is absolute.” “And if you die?” Evan closed his eyes. All his plans. They'd been so perfect. How had they messed up so quickly? “What is the shifter to Heero?” “His lover.” He snarled. That would make sense. If they truly did love each other, he couldn't completely erase that from the faerie's heart. “Heero! Kill him now!” A smirk came to his lips as he saw the sword descend. Then a sharp pain snapped his neck and he knew nothing. Wufei dropped the man and launched himself at Heero. The faerie rolled to the ground with a grunt and then a yelp. Wufei raised off of him and looked down into the pained face. Heero rolled to his side and crawled several feet, one of his wings bent in half. He sucked in gasping breaths before looking up to Wufei. He blinked owlishly several times and then it all came rushing back. He stumbled to his feet and raced to Trowa. “No, no.” He put his hands to his lover's pale face. “Oh, gods, I'm sorry. I'm sorry.” Trowa shook his head. “It was-” He cut off coughing and turned his head to the side to expel blood from his mouth. Heero put his hands to Trowa's chest, frantic to discover the level of damage. He groaned as he felt the sluggish heart beat. It wasn't a matter of ripped and torn. His insides were crushed and the sword had nicked his heart and lung. “Just... hold on.” Blue light flared to life under his hands and Trowa groaned, tossing his head to the side. “T-too... m-m-much... you c-can't.” “Shut up,” he whispered through his teeth, pouring every ounce of power he had into his lover. There was only so much healing could do, and if the injury was bad enough, the pain of trying to heal it could stop the heart anyway. But he had to try. He couldn't live with himself knowing he'd killed Trowa. Duo sat next to Zechs, watching as Heero ground his teeth and the light brightened. Tears slid down the faerie's cheeks silently and Trowa moaned in pain as the organs were forcefully mended back together. He raised a shaking hand and gripped Heero's wrist. “Enough.” Heero growled and leaned down, pressing his lips to Trowa's. “It isn't enough until I know you'll live,” he whispered before kissing him. The light exploded in brightness and engulfed the two. A strangled scream came from within and the light slowly dissipated. Wufei knelt next to the pair. The shifter was out cold, but his chest raised and fell with unlabored breaths. Heero was fighting to get his breathing under control, hands still pressed to the now mended chest. He cut his eyes to Wufei. “Galen... is in... the other building.” His eyes rolled and he slumped over Trowa, wings fluttering softly in the breeze blowing through the area. Quatre and Wufei looked to Duo and Zechs. “We'll go get them. Will you be all right by yourselves?” Duo rolled his eyes. “We're not kids, Quatre. Go fetch the vampire and his mate. I need to get Zechs' patched up anyway.” “There is no need to fetch us. We were freed with Evan's death.” They turned, all of them somewhat surprised. Somehow they'd envisioned Galen as being a large, strong warrior. The vampire before them was petite, probably no more than five and half feet tall. His shoulder length golden waves framed a delicate face. Pale green eyes gazed at them with a wisdom far beyond the years his face suggested. A sheet wrapped around him and the unconscious form in his arms. He looked over the group, gaze falling on Duo. The braided man stared at him for a long moment before standing. “Do you accept your destiny?” He closed his eyes briefly, clenching his fists at his sides. Did it matter if he accepted or not? Did he have a choice? A small hand gripped his and he opened his eyes to look down at one of the children they'd saved. The little girl smiled sweetly and he tousled her hair before looking back to Galen. “Yes, I do.” His back seemed to explode in fire and he dropped to his knees. It wasn't exactly painful, more like a burning itch climbing up his spine and across his shoulders. Galen lowered to his knee and bowed his head. “Hail, to the Custos.” TBC....
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