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"Banished"Written By: t-shirt Disclaimer: Gundam Wing and its characters are
copyright to Sunrise, Bandai, Sotsu Agency, and associated parties.
I make no money with this fic. Rating: R Warnings: AU/Fantasy Adventure, Angst, fluff,
mention of lemon, sap, masturbation (once) Pairings: 1x2, 3x4, past 1x4 (one
time deal) Summary: When the Prince Regent is dethroned he and his captain discover a new and wondrous world.
"Banished" Ch 4
It was during one of Abduls visits that Duo reappeared in their lives. They were out in the garden taking their morning tea when he and two others arrived. Hilde on one side and Tom, a young man they’d seen Duo dancing with on the night of their arrival on the other. ‘Good day to you, Your Majesty,’ the long haired youth smiled avoiding Hiiro’s eyes. ‘Hello, Duo,’ Quatre returned rising to accept a small kiss on the cheek from both him and Hilde. Tom didn’t push his luck since he was neither a girl nor familiar with the Prince. ‘Welcome... please... join us,’ he offered motioning for more chairs and wares to be brought. ‘You know Abdul?’ ‘No food thanks. Good day, Abdul,’ Duo nodded accepting the chair with his companions. ‘You’ve been away too long,’ Quatre admonished. ‘I beg your pardon, Sire but my duties have kept me busy,’ the boy made his excuses flashing an involuntary glance at Hiiro who sat immobile and unreadable as a stone. ‘What duties, prey tell, are so important you would deny your prince the pleasure of your company?’ the blond boy teased. ‘Preparations for our annual fair,’ Duo explained lighting a blue/green fire in the back of Quatre’s eyes. ‘A festival?’ the prince exuded happily looking Hiiro full in the face. One could almost see the dread in his blue eyes as the boy cupped him on the shoulder and enthused, ‘A festival Hiiro! Just think of the food alone!’ Duo laughed at his enthusiasm. ‘I’m glad you approve,’ he smiled. ‘Hilde is in charge of the food so if there’s anything in particular you’d like to…’ ‘Pocky,’ the prince broke in. ‘It’s a cream covered cookie from Hiiro’s home land and most delicious but it’s impossible to find outside their boarders.’ ‘You have a recipe?’ the girl asked. ‘Hiiro can explain it better than I,’ the prince told her. ‘You won’t mind writing down an explanation for her will you?’ he asked smiling devilishly at his captain. ‘I’ll do what I can,’ Hiiro replied monotone bringing a disappointed light to his masters eyes. He’d hoped to draw him into the conversation but held no further hope for that now. He knew him too well. ‘Yes... well,’ Duo moved past the awkward moment. ‘Tom will be helping me with the entertainment.’ ‘Oooh, will there be dancers?’ the prince gushed. ‘Duo dances,’ Tom supplied adoringly making the braided boy both blush and roll his eyes at the same time. ‘Really?’ Quatre grinned glancing at Hiiro again but the only reaction was a slight flicker of his blue eyes. ‘That’s wonderful,’ he smiled at Duo. ‘I’m very much looking forward to it,’ he told him kicking Hiiro under the table hard enough to make any other man cry but the Japanese boy showed no evidence of having felt it at all other than a slight nod of his head to appease his Prince. It didn’t work. Quatre was down right frustrated with him now. ‘It’s nothing,’ Duo smiled demurely ‘There will be many other performers as well.’ ‘May I add to the list?’ Quatre asked bringing a curious wrinkle to Duo’s brow. ‘I’m quiet an accomplished violinist,’ the prince smiled. ‘It would be fun to participate. Don’t you think, Hiiro?’ he asked making it very obvious he expected a verbal response. ‘Yes,’ was all he got. ‘Of course, Your Highness,’ Tom smiled penciling a note in his book on the subject. ‘May I accompany you?’ Abdul asked the blond boy. ‘Of course, I’d like that,’ Quatre smiled. He wasn’t sure what to make of the man but he didn’t feel he needed to fear him in any way so in reality he was probably the safest date he could take. ‘When is the festival to take place?’ he asked Duo. ‘In two weeks time,’ the long haired boy replied, his habitual glance at Hiiro becoming more irritating by the minute. ‘Perhaps Hiiro could assist with your security measu…’ ‘I wont have the time,’ Hiiro broke in standing suddenly. ‘If there is to be a festival security at the Keep will be my first priority. I’m sure Duo already has some else he can entrust that to.’ ‘Yes,’ Duo replied coolly, his violet eyes narrowing slightly as he spoke his chilly thread ‘There are many... honest men here to do the job.’ ‘Honesty and truth often disagree depending upon whom one chooses to believe,’ Hiiro countered evenly before bowing to Quatre and taking his leave. ‘I’m sorry,’ the prince began ‘I don’t know what’s gotten into hi…’ ‘If you’ll excuse us,’ Duo broke in moving so quickly from their midst it was all the others could do to say a quick goodbye and catch up. ‘Did I miss something?’ Abdul asked dumbfounded by the entire conversation. Quatre could only chuckle and shake his head some more. He’d wanted to explain things to Duo a number of times but Hiiro was adamant about him keeping his silence. He didn’t understand his reasoning but he respected his wishes just the same. It seemed like such a shame though. It was difficult even for Hiiro to maintain his somber air with the growing excitement that over took the little township. Everywhere you turned there were preparations being made for the long awaited festival. Bakers and seamstresses worked diligently on the food and costumes, minstrels practiced their favorite songs while young an old primped and pruned themselves to look and feel their very best. This was the one time of year that outsiders were openly welcomed within the city boarders. Many performers and traders alike would come to show their skill and sell their wares. The two weeks preceding the event went by quicker than anyone could have imagined. Even Quatre found himself wishing he had more time to practice. This was to be his first performance in his new home and he really wanted it to be a good one. Hiiro, as well, had been so busy with securing the Keep and overseeing the volunteer police squads that were to police the town during the three day festival he was surprised to find the day had arrived. If it hadn’t been for Wufei’s acceptance of his position as head of the police he wouldn’t have been able to pull it off. It was amazing how many talented young people crowed the streets that day. They’d had no idea Shawn and Dalli, two of their own servant boys, had been practicing a juggling act until they saw them performing on a street corner late in the afternoon. The boy’s were delighted to show off for their masters as Quatre beamed proudly at them. Even Hiiro offered them a small smile that actually made Shawn drop one of his oranges and blush furiously as he retrieved it. The confounded crease in Hiiro’s forehead made Quatre laugh out loud as they moved on toward the crepe sellers wagon. ‘You should slow down,’ Hiiro warned his Prince. ‘That’s the fourth snack you’ve had this afternoon.’ ‘You’re right’ Quatre giggled trying not to drop too much of the crust as it flaked away. ‘But it so good,’ he laughed pausing when he saw Hilde waving at them. ‘Hello, Your Majesty,’ the girl smiled as brightly as a sun beam. She was really quite cute when she smiled like that. ‘Good evening, Hilde,’ Quatre returned kissing her cheek fondly. ‘Have you seen Duo?’ she asked more of Hiiro than anyone else. ‘I’m afraid not,’ Quatre replied for him since he was apparently not going to himself. ‘Oh,’ she half smiled half grimaced looking around as if she might spot him. ‘It’s almost time for the show’s to start,’ she explained. ‘I wanted to check his costume before he went on stage.’ ‘When will he perform?’ Quatre asked glancing at his bodyguard as Abdul returned offering him the lemonade he’d wanted. ‘I think he’s third up,’ she replied. ‘His act requires the sun be set. Oh, here,’ she said pulling something out of her pocket for him. ‘I hope its close enough,’ she smiled handing the small package to him. ‘Everyone seems to like it very much,’ she added as the Prince unrolled the clothe to find it full of sweet smelling strawberry pocky. ‘It’s wonderful!’ Quatre beamed tasting a piece. ‘Here, Hiiro,’ he insisted ‘Have some. I believe they’ve gotten it just about right,’ he smiled. Hiiro reluctantly obeyed but seemed pleasantly surprised by the baker’s success. ‘It’s so popular the bakers have decided to keep it as a regular ware in their stores,’ Hilde grinned. ‘You can have some whenever you like.’ ‘I should like that very much,’ Quatre smiled eating another piece but Hiiro took the rest of it from him and wrapped it back up. ‘Would you like your stomach to sour during your song?’ the stoic soldier asked his disappointed young charge. ‘Alright,’ Quatre agreed. ‘But don’t break it,’ he ordered. They ran into Wufei who looked so damn good in the tunic specially made for the temporary police Quatre about swallowed his tongue just looking at him. It still amazed him that the boy could harbor such power in so slight, and elegant a body. His visit was quick however, only lasting until just after nightfall half an hour later as he had other duties to attend to. He was just about to leave them when the sonorous sound of a sultry tremor cut through the air sinking deep inside his bones and melting his feet to the Earth where he stood. Slowly the entire body of people within the sounds range were standing silently in anticipation as an energy grew among them, something primal and honest milled about that connected them all together and refused to allow them to turn away. ‘What it is?’ Quatre asked softly afraid anything louder would damage the delicate threads of the spell being cast. ‘Duo,’ Wufei breathed moving to get a better view of the stage as several torches suddenly burst in to flame around the edge of the circular dais. ‘Duo?’ Quatre whispered bewilderedly also milling about to get a clear view. ‘Hoooly Saints… Hiiro look,’ he hissed clamping one hand down on the blue eyed boy’s arm but he needn’t have bothered. A heard of wild horses couldn’t have drawn Hiiro’s gaze from the slight form that moved gracefully into sight. It was the most beautiful thing he’d every seen in his life. He was adorned in white and violet ribbons and clothes that wrapped around his long limbs and spun with his motions so fluidly one might have believed he was deep under the surface of the sea. His hair wasn’t in his usual confining braid but done up in many smaller weaves, some of which were wrapped and pinned to the side of his head while others were left to dance with the flowing ribbons and thick, loose tresses of gleaming chestnut that cascaded down his back and shoulders. Hiiro knew this garb and the melody as well. It cut through him drowning his mind and body, permeating everything that he was or would ever be with each decadent note, every poetic movement searing his memory for all of time. He didn’t have it in him to wonder how Duo had known of the dance or its meaning or even why the boy had chosen it but he knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that Duo was dancing solely for him. So many other’s in the crowd fell prey to the boy’s enchantment but none so completely as Hiiro himself. Had Duo done it on purpose? The song and dance no doubt had been chosen specifically for the Japanese boy. There was no other way to perceive it but had he known the strength of the chain he was forging? There was no way to avoid it now. By the time the dance was over he knew they were inexorably bound. ‘Tell him,’ Quatre whispered in his ear as the music ended with Duo folded into the most angelic vision any of them had ever witnessed at center stage. All at once life suddenly returned to the blue eyed boy’s body, his heart hammering hard as his blood rushed in his ears. It only got worse as Duo rose and left the stage all but ignoring the tremendous applause and avoiding so much as a glance in Hiiro’s direction. His feet were in motion before his mind even realized he’d moved. He caught up with him just after he exited the stage in the small alleyway and the first notes of Quatre’s song blanketed the Earth. Habit made him glance over as the blond boy now on stage, his slight figure pumping out a lively melody as three of the visiting troops clowns danced a merry circle around him but he gave it little more than a thought before turning his full attention back to Duo. For an instant no words would come to him as the boy stood there staring at him, his wide, violet eyes full of uncertain fear and anxiety looking like some fallen angel awaiting a verdict from God but the sudden movement of Duo’s flight brought him back to reality quickly enough to him to snag the boy by the wrist. ‘Duo!’ ‘Let go!’ ‘Damn it!’ Neither of them really had any idea how to deal with the situation but their bodies appeared to have it all under control as Hiiro snatched him into a fierce embrace and kissed him so profoundly he felt the Earth herself tremble beneath his feet. ‘Please don’t,’ Duo cried desperately following Hiiro to the ground as both of their bodies betrayed them, the intensity of the moment robbing them of their strength leaving them kneeling in each others arms in the shadow of a neighboring tent. ‘Duo,’ Hiiro rasped feeling yet another of his carefully constructed threads of denial snap as he kissed him again. The sweet taste of him dripping down his throat infusing him with a song more powerful than anything Quatre was playing at the time. ‘Don’t... please... I can’t…’ Duo sobbed, tears of frustration and pain spilling from his eyes. ‘You lied to me,’ he choked piteously clinging tightly to the exotic boy’s clothes. ‘Did I?’ Hiiro asked turning his face back up to look into his eyes. Duo searched those eyes for a long moment, his fear and confusion clouding the delicate colors and depth of his own amethyst orbs before a small flicker of light burst to life in their depths. ‘No,’ he replied sounding a hell of a lot more stable for the utterance of the one word. ‘Thank the Gods,’ Hiiro gasped crushing their mouths together once again. The short encounter had left them both feeling considerably weakened and now that things were starting to lighten up a little they felt themselves awash with a giddy kind of exuberance neither could explain. ‘So what really did happen between you two?’ Duo half giggled snuggling into Hiiro’s chest. ‘He was lonely,’ Hiiro explained. ‘That led to our becoming lovers once but I vowed when we were caught that it would never happen again,’ he told him liking the way it felt to smile so honestly as he held him close. ‘I spent that night in his room because he didn’t want to be alone.’ ‘I’m sorry,’ Duo sighed and just let Hiiro hold him for a good long moment listening to the happiness of Quatre’s song. ‘Duo?’ ‘Hm?’ ‘I’m hopelessly in love with you.’ ‘Hn hn hn,’ the long haired boy chuckled smiling coyly as he kissed him gently. ‘’Bout time you caught up,’ he told him moving in such a way in his arms Hiiro felt his need rise in about two seconds flat. It was all he could do not to hyperventilate when Duo moved in and whispered in his ear. ‘Show me.’ ‘Ah gods... mercy... please…’ Hiiro rasped leaning back in a half hearted effort to escape that Duo used to his advantage by crawling up over his hips. ‘I have to…work,’ the Japanese boy breathed feeling his loins burst into flame as Duo’s slender legs straddled his hips and his sweet lips brushed the tender skin of his neck just below his ear. ‘May I come to your chambers later?’ Duo asked working on the sensitive spot right behind his ear. ‘If you don’t I will hunt you down and take
you where you stand,’ Hiiro promised rolling them back to their
knees as he hugged him tight then kissed him once again before pulling
the giggling boy to his feet.
~ * ~ tbc... |
