"Consortium"

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: NC 17

Warnings: AU/Fantasy Adventure, BEWARE THE FLUFFINMIESTER! Hiiro POV, There might be a curse word here and thar. Oh and some Lemony type stuff too.

Pairings: 1x2, 3x4, 5+all

Summary: In a world desperate for peace a prince’s hand is promised in an attempt to unite the people and avert war. However, the agreement is complicated when he comes of age and finally meets his intended only to discover that the bride he had once dreamed of is, in fact, a man.

" Consortium"

Chapter 1

I had been prepared for this moment since my birth. My parents, who ruled this land, had told me innumerable times of the importance of the merger and the agreement that had brought about peace. It had come with the birth of a prince—my birth—but it was not to be a happy occasion, for when our enemies learned of it they acted without haste. A messenger arrived on the night of my birth bearing an offer of peace, the price of which would be the hand of the newborn prince. My parents had no choice but to agree or face years of war.

My betrothed is a child of the state. One hailed for her beauty and skill and had no doubt been well versed in the ways of governing the people. I do not resent my role and find myself eager to meet her at last. It is my duty and my destiny to ensure the prosperity and peace of our nations and I accept it gladly.

What more could anyone ask than to be the ruler of the known universe? To have a beautiful, intelligent Queen to rule by my side and to bring our nations together in peaceful harmony once and for all? I faced my fate with the utmost pride and prayed I could uphold my station with the dignity of a nation.

“Master Hiiro?”

Ah,. Sweet Sylvia, my chambermaid and servant since the time she was old enough to serve. She is a kind and beautiful soul that I fear holds me closer to her heart than I dare acknowledge. I granted her a warm smile and the touch of my hand on her cheek before she helped me to rise and prepare to greet my bride. Her sorrow was evident in her quiet ministrations and I soon discover it to be mirrored in the eyes of Middi, the kitchen aide that brings my breakfast. I hoped they would both learn to love their new Queen with such devotion in time.

“Good day, Master Hiiro!”

“Good day, indeed,” I smiled as my Lieutenant and best friend grinned with sparkling emerald eyes. Something about the way he smiled told me he was almost as joyous over this day as I was as we fell into step to go to greet my destiny.

“Was Sylvia crying?” he asked.

“She remained composed,” I grinned.

“More than can be said for half the castle staff,” he chuckled, flashing a chastising glance my way. “You’ll break a hundred hearts today.”

“Only a hundred?” I smiled, feeling the energetic light in my eyes as we entered the lower level and suddenly found ourselves at the mercy of the house staff.

“Master Hiiro, please take this, a gift… for your wedding day,” sniffled Dali, a housemaid.

“Master Hiiro, I made this for you,” Taren wept before dashing off and I found I was unable to restrain the joyous smile that blossomed on my face. I did not mean to mock them but it is a very nice feeling to know one is loved. There were more: a necklace from Nateli, a broach from San, little Pati made me cookies.

“A touching scene. Perhaps you should reject your betrothed and start a harem instead?” an all too familiar voice laughed heartily, calling a halt to the onslaught of forget-me-nots.

“I think perhaps it would not be too much to ask of you to take charge of such an organization,” I smiled as the group disbanded.

“Indeed, it would not,” Wufei grinned, gripping his sword hilt firmly as was his custom as he strode down the wide steps to join us. “Happily, by this time next week you will also know the joys of a woman’s affection,” he teased. He was larger than life, as usual, but with the addition of dress robes and two courtiers by his side, his presence was even more indomitable than ever.

“I would put more value on the unification of a nation,” I chuckled, leading them toward the great hall.

“Which is the only reason you’ve managed to thwart the advances of your multitude of admirer’s until now,” Trowa chided.

“I have heard your bride is one of ultimate beauty,” Wufei grinned.

“A woman trained in the affairs of state as well as the sinful delights of the night,” Trowa teased. “I daresay she will need time before such intimacies are considered,” I laughed.

“You don’t mean to neglect her!” Wufei mock gasped.

“Alas,” Trowa sighed theatrically, “The harsh truth is plain to see. Our dear Prince is uninterested in the soft caress of a woman.”

“You should take her quickly,” Wufei smiled and I rolled my eyes.

“Or perhaps you would prefer a stable boy to her sumptuous curves?” Trowa teased.

“Is there one that you have not already desecrated?” I shot back and then we were there and I fell into the role of leader and King and took my place upon the throne. My mother sat smiling quietly beside me and I knew she was comparing me to my father as she gazed upon my image. She still missed him terribly and felt a great deal of guilt over my fate though I had many times assured her I was more than happy with it.

I had just enough time to reassure her once again before the announcement came and my heart settled into the steady thrum—calm and prepared—as I awaited the first glimpse of my destiny and she was lovely. I was relieved to find that she was of a proper age for me as the thought of having to wed a child had weighed heavily on my mind. However, my first impression as she walked with her entourage down the isle was that she was pretty. Not the beauty that had been so fervently gossiped over, indeed, the footman by her side possessed a good deal more exotic beauty than she did herself, but she was pleasing to the eye. I was prepared to receive her wholly when she stepped before me; however, I had not counted on the crudity of her footman when he chose to speak in her stead.

“Is this some sort of joke?” he asked of a young maid behind him.

“Master Duo, please,” another of the group pleaded nervously and I held the searing comment that was waiting on tongue. Master?

“Don’t you Master Duo me,” he snipped, spinning to face his company, each flinching under his gaze and I noted the oddity of a three-foot long braid trailing down his back. “What in the hell is going on here?” he demanded, before turning back to face the throne. “This woman is nowhere near her nineteenth year!”

“Master Duo…” my bride pleaded quietly but I had had quite enough of his insolence.

“Is it your custom to insult the mother of a King?” I snapped.

“King?” he retorted, matching my dander admirably before rounding on his people. “Did you know about this?”

“What?” I asked and found myself as confused as I was ignored.

“It’s not as bad as it seems…”

“Not as bad!?!” he shouted. “That’s a GUY up there if you hadn’t noticed!?!” he bellowed, jabbing a finger at me and I felt my heart sink right down into my toes.

“Yes, but…”

“But nothing!” he roared. “How damn long have you known about this!?”

“……….”

“Son of a bitch!”

“Duo…”“Not you too?!” he half yelled half groaned at a young blond girl whom I was suddenly shocked to realize was a boy. “Ah man, I do NOT believe this!”

“What is going on here?” I demanded in a tone that has been known to make grown men crumble. It failed to frighten him but I did manage to gain his attention.

“We’re fucked! That’s what!” he bellowed.

“Master Duo, if you would only allow us to expl…”“Enough!” This was ridiculous. “Whatever your problem is it will wait until after I have received my bride,” I told them, standing to go and join her. Her pretty blue eyes widened considerably as I walked up to her and took her hand, whereupon she jerked it away and ran to hide behind this Master Duo. Who in the hell was this guy?

“You don’t get it,” he grinned.

“Perhaps you could explain,” I ground out, having had more than enough of this circus for one morning.

“She’s not your bride,” he smiled, seemingly very much amused by my confusion as he grinned wickedly and informed me, “I am.”

“Excuse me?”

“They tricked us,” he told me while I grasped for some shred of reason.

“We meant no deception!” the man Duo had been shouting at insisted.

“The deal was made before your birth,” the blond boy in his company explained. “No one could have known you would be born a man.”

“Well, it was a fifty, fifty chance wasn’t it?” he laughed and it all suddenly clicked. This wasn’t a joke.

“You’re serious,” I commented aloud, more to bring the reality of it home than anything else. My first thought was to wonder if my Mother had known but from the look of utter horror on her face, I thought not. My second was how this turn of events would affect the treaty and future of our nations.

“Damn it, this is not good,” Duo sighed heavily and I knew he was thinking along the same lines as I was.

“The treaty is broken,” my mother softly intoned, the despair in her tone telling a tale that I thought I would never have to entertain the thought of. War between our nations would cause untold devastation.

“Why in the hell didn’t you tell me about this?” Duo asked.

“You are the last hope for our people,” the blond boy replied.

“What hope?!” he snapped. “I’m the last in my line. They want me wed to the ruler of the universe to create a unified nation! How in the hell is that going to happen now?!”

“You can still wed.”

For a moment I thought perhaps my mother was attempting a joke but the steady gleam in her eyes indicated she had simply lost her sanity.

“Forgive me, but are you nuts?” Duo voiced my very thoughts, however ineloquently contrived.

“There is no law forbidding it,” she countered hopefully.

“Only the laws of nature,” he snorted.

“She’s right,” the blond boy interjected quietly, earning a dark flash of Duo’s sharp gaze and I was distracted for a moment by the odd color of his eyes. “Legally, the treaty may still be honored.”

“Oh no,” Duo chuckled darkly. “You’re talking about marrying me to a guy!”

“Man or woman the agreement remains the same,” the taller man he kept addressing commented.

“You son of a bitch,” Duo said softly and I suddenly got the feeling I should step back out of the way. “You planned this.”

“There was no other way,” the man defended nervously.

“Did it ever occur to you that King Yui here might not WANT a damn guy for a bride!?” Duo snarled and I felt the tug of adrenaline in my veins as the larger man backed away.

He was certainly a brave sort. And obviously as concerned for our nations as I was and as much as I hated to admit it, I began to see the reasoning of the others’ insistence that this could still work. I got my first good look at the color of Duo’s eyes as they went round when I stood firmly and proclaimed…

“I will accept.”

They are blue/violet. A color I had never seen in the eyes of a living being before and a true sign that he was indeed a member of the Heradian race. The confirmation brought a sense of reverence and remorse to my heart as it was clear I stood in the presence of the last of the noble race that had sacrificed itself in their efforts to bring about unity and peace. Mankind had resisted to the point of their near extinction and now only Duo remained. It seemed a cruel twist of fate that his line would forever be vanquished by the very deed that would finally achieve peace. However…

“You’re as crazy as she is,” was his response.

“They’re right.” As odd as it seemed. “The legalities of the agreement remain unchanged as long as we follow through.”

“This is ridiculous,” he laughed.

“Duo, please,” the blond boy entreated, laying a calming hand on Duo’s shoulder and I felt oddly like I would have it removed. Man or woman, should Duo agree, he would become my mate and I wasn’t comfortable with this boy’s familiarity.

“You’re asking me to marry a guy,” Duo sighed.

“It is only an agreement,” the taller man braved. “A partnership that will save thousands and unite the people,” he tossed in temptingly and I saw Duo’s resistance crumble and fall away.

“Remind me to kill you for this later,” he grumbled and I felt the joy in his companions circle around and bite me in the ass.

For whatever the method, his acquiescence sealed the deal and brought with it a change that was desperately needed. He had, in the short time I had known him, displayed the courage and determination that would be needed to bring about a successful merger of our lands. Perhaps my dream had been altered, forgoing the possibility of romantic intimacy, but that had never been the purpose of the consortium to begin with. We only needed to be able to work together; anything more was irrelevant.

“Are your people going to accept this turn of events?” Duo asked and I had to think about it for a moment.

“I believe they will understand the necessity,” I replied, though I was uncertain of the claim. My followers expected a Queen, someone they could fawn over and love, someone who would grant them young nobility to praise. How would they react to the news of my… husband? Would he be a prince when we were wed? He certainly couldn’t go around calling himself the King. A regent perhaps?

“Sire?”

“Hn?”

“I believe the meeting is adjoined.”

Duo was striding purposefully out the door when I turned my attention back to him, his company scampering along behind him in an effort to keep up. The girl I had thought to be my bride was doing her best to gather the dancing tail of his cloak as any good servant would do, but it didn’t strike me until he had almost reached the doors that I had yet to dismiss him.

“Where are you going?” I shouted, unaccustomed to such insolence.

“To say farewell to my dignity,” he replied before bursting through the outer doors and leaving me to contemplate his words.

Why I could not comprehend his state of mind did not occur to me, the chaos of the day robbing me of my good sense to the point I found my feet wandering back towards my chambers.

“Hiiro.”

Trowa? “What?”

“Are you alright?” he asked, uncharacteristically concerned. It was more his habit to chide me than ask seriously about my state of mind.

“I…” Was I? I wasn’t sure until I saw the broad grin spread across his face.

“At least the tales of his beauty were offered in truth,” he chuckled and it helped to put it all in perspective for me.

“There is always the option of the harem,” Wufei added and I laughed out loud at the teasing in his tone.

“Certainly better than a stable boy,” Trowa added, relaxing considerably.

“And forbidden to your particular brand of debauchery,” I reminded him, altering my path to take us outside.

Trowa was no average confidant by any means. I had never met a more self assured, determined individual until I happened upon Wufei. Unlike the Dragon Clan heir however, Trowa had been a nameless waif I inadvertently befriended while he awaiting execution for the murder of three men before our thirteenth year. Through an odd series of events that led me down into the dungeons, I stumbled across the boy, silent and resigned and managed to gain his trust enough to tell me his tale. When all was said and done, there wasn’t a person anywhere that would go against my wishes when I demanded his full pardon and induction into my house. I would no sooner see a boy die for no more that protecting his virtue than I would jump from the spire myself.

Wufei? I suppose I amused him. There seemed to be little other reason for his continued presence by my side. His clan lived to the west, an ancient family bound by tradition. It had crossed my mind many times that perhaps he remains for no more reason than to escape the strict order for a time.

The morning had taken far less time than I had anticipated, the strange events leading to my engagement to another man wriggling uncomfortably in my gut as I neared the stables. I had thought to spend this day welcoming my bride but under the circumstances it seemed a good idea to simply ride.

“Are we to know our destination?” Trowa asked, winking at one of the blushing stable boys that couldn’t seem to keep their eyes off of him.

“To hell for all I care,” I grumbled, accepting my favorite stallion from another of the suddenly shy servant boys.

“Then we will need an extra flask of water,” Trowa grinned and I laughed as I watched him chase a giggling Phillip around the corner where the well was located.

“You’ve a masher in your midst,” Wufei chuckled, checking the saddle on his steed.

“He means them no harm,” I laughed along.

“That you are aware of.”

I was about to counter the accusation when Phillip and Davy giggled loudly, their tousle with my Lieutenant bringing them within sight as he plucked the two smaller boys up and began to alternately chew on their necks sending them into a frenzy of tumultuous laugher. Trowa was dubiously flirtatious with the boys and had been known to take liberties from time to time, however, I knew well enough he would never do anything that would sincerely harm them.

“It’s only a game,” I smiled, my brow furrowing incredulously when my second decided to steel a kiss from Davy while Phillip filled the flask.

“Perhaps he would be willing to teach you the rules,” Wufei chuckled, bringing my attention and my ire back to him.

“I believe lessons in the sword would be more helpful should anyone suggest to Duo that we play that game,” I laughed, pulling myself into the saddle.

“Surely you do not intend to remain celibate for the rest of your life,” he replied, following suit.

“The blond in Master Duo’s company seemed sweet,” Trowa interjected, rejoining us. “A concubine would ease some of the tension,’ he grinned, mounting as well.

“This from a man who spends his time romancing stable boys,” I rolled my eyes.

“The girl is not a slave,” Wufei pointed out.

“Who said I was talking about the girl?” Trowa grinned wickedly before suddenly bolting out onto the open field. I spared Wufei another roll of my eyes before we joined him and abandoned ourselves to the thunderous invigoration of the ride.

~ * ~

chapter 2

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