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"A Moment in Time"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: Fluff, mild angst, mild language, squishy lemon (nondescript), prissy Relena Pairings: 1x2, 3x4, 5+M, Rx1 (unrequited) Summary: The lives of several guests at a plush resort are changed during Christmas with the unexpected arrival of a strange visitor from the far north. Authors note: This fic has some cannon moments embedded in it but that’s as far as they go. It is in no way a cannon fic lol. "A Moment in Time"
Part 3
“Duo!” Quatre exclaimed when his face appeared inside the multifaceted orb. “Where are you? We’ve been looking everywhere for you since Rudolph came home alone last night! Are you alright!?” “I’m fine,” Duo assured him. “But something wonderful has happened!” Quatre’s face puckered skeptically while Trowa appeared over his shoulder and asked, “What sort of trouble are you brewing up now?” “There’s no trouble,” Duo defended uncertainly. “Duo,” Quatre groaned. “No, now just listen,” he insisted. “I met someone and…” “This ‘someone’ being a human,” Trowa interjected causing his mates eyes to grow wide. “A human!?” Quatre gasped. “Well…yes, but…” “Duo Maxwell, you head for the nearest ice field right now!” Quatre barked. “I’m sending someone to pick you up and…” “Nothing…happened,” Duo assured him but the odd way his cheeks pinked drew Trowa’s scrutiny. “Duo?” he prompted suspiciously. “Well, nothing bad,” Duo amended. “What did you do!?” Quatre demanded petulantly. “Nothing you haven’t done,” Duo grumbled defensively and Quatre’s eyes went wider while his face flared red. “Has your origin been compromised?” Trowa inquired ignoring his lover’s plight. “No,” Duo sighed. “But we figured out what to do about Christmas.” “You talked to a human about Christmas!?” Quatre exclaimed. “It was just a casual conversation,” Duo explained. “But I’ll need your help to pull it off.” “Duo,” Quatre prompted sensibly. “Why don’t you just come home and we can all sit down and talk about this like reasonable adults.” “I’m not ready to leave him yet,” Duo pouted. “Him?” Trowa echoed and Quatre nearly fainted when he nodded happily. “I’m going to need a spell,” Duo told them. “A powerful one.” “Why?” Trowa wondered. “Because,” Duo smiled. “I finally know what the world is missing but I’ll need to be able to touch each and every mind on Christmas at midnight.” “That would require an enchantment of mammoth proportions,” Quatre sighed. “Then you better get to work!” Duo chirped. “Let’s humor him,” Trowa smiled earning an astonished look from his mate. “Maybe he’s finally got it right.” Quatre’s eyes bulged for a moment before something in Trowa’s gaze eased his mind and he sighed heavily before he conceded, “Alright.” “You won’t be sorry!” Duo gushed. “It’ll be perfect! You’ll see!” “If you’re discovered all we’re going to see is the end of our era,” Quatre grumbled. “Who’s gonna know?” Duo grinned and ended the call only to jump so hard he fell on his ass in the snow when Hiiro replied… “Me.” “Hiiro!” Duo gasped looking around frantically. “How long have you been there?” “Long enough,” Hiiro confessed offering him a hand up. “Why didn’t you just tell me?” Duo eyed him hard for a moment then snorted, “You believe in me?” “It’s hard to deny something that’s right in front of your face,” Hiiro smirked while he reached up and tweaked his pointed ear. Duo pulled his hat back on tight and explained, “Most people are more inclined to offer us white jackets and rubber rooms.” Hiiro chuckled and informed him, “If one of us is crazy I would think it’s me.” Duo laughed along and Hiiro wondered, “Is it all true then?” “Most of it,” Duo nodded. “Though we’ve lost so many people over the years we can hardly keep up.” “Even Santa Claus?” Hiiro smirked and Duo grinned. “Kris is an incredible person,” he confessed. “But even he’s only one man. He’s lucky if he can manage to reach all the kids who deserve a present each year which leaves no time at all for the adults so…” “You’re going to help him,” Hiiro surmised coming close enough to touch their noses together while Duo’s breathing shortened. “And I’m going to help you.” “Why?” Duo asked breathlessly. “Because,” Hiiro smiled. “You’ve given me the greatest gift of all,” he confessed then kissed him so warmly Duo dropped his crystal. “Wh…what’s that?” Duo stammered still shaken by Hiiro’s kiss while he gazed into his eyes and replied… “Hope.” Duo offered him a lopsided grin then enthused, “Come on!” as he bounded through the deep snow with Hiiro hot on his heels. They ran all the way back and were throwing snowballs at each other when they stumbled onto the elegantly decorated patio near the entrance to the resort when Duo suddenly stopped and shouted… “Wufei!” Hiiro laughed as he caught him around the waist and registered the fact that Wufei was standing beside an elaborately decorated gazebo with a young girl who looked almost as miserable as he did. His parents stood nearby and there were other people who were all dressed quite formally but it didn’t stop Duo from shouting… “Want to help us free some innocent souls from oppression!?” The people surrounding Wufei balked and whispered scandalously but his gaze had locked on the happy couple with their rosy red cheeks and bright smiles causing an elation to bubble up in his chest. When he looked back to the girl he was about to put a ring on the finger of the pleading light in her eyes sealed his fate. “Wait up!” shouted turning to hurdle a table as he beat a path their way. “GO, WUFEI!” the girl sang behind him and he grinned wildly while he and his friends dashed inside and headed for the lift. “I can’t believe I just did that!” he panted laughing merrily while the elevator took them away. “To freedom!” Duo exclaimed. “My fathers going to kill me,” Wufei groaned amusedly. “He’ll get over it,” Hiiro smiled while he wrapped Duo up from behind. “And you might just end up happy.” Wufei smiled while he watched them cuddle and hope sprang to life inside him but it withered somewhat when he stepped into their bathroom. “What’s going on?” he asked while Duo worked on filling a bucket with water and slightly hysterical shellfish. “He’s a vegetarian,” Hiiro explained. “They were going to eat them,” Duo elaborated while he tucked the last of them into the bucket. “You’re the one who stole the lobster,” Wufei surmised laughing out loud. “Why does everyone think it’s funny?” Duo grumbled. “We’re taking them to the ocean to set them free,” Hiiro explained stealing Wufei’s mirth away. “You’re kidding, right?” “No,” Duo groused. “All creatures deserve to be free,” he declared while he carried the bucket toward the door. Wufei’s smile softened until it matched Hiiro’s until Duo stopped at the door. “What’s wrong?” Hiiro inquired. “They’ll see us,” Duo grumbled. “How did you get them up here?” Wufei wondered but all Duo did was gaze expectantly into Hiiro’s eyes. “Let’s tell him the truth,” Hiiro suggested. “Tell me what?” Wufei asked cautiously. “You have to promise not to tell,” Duo told him. “If I’m discovered it could put an end to Christmas permanently.” “Chinese people don’t celebrate Christmas,” Wufei reminded them. “He’s a Christmas elf,” Hiiro grinned pulling his hat off to demonstrate but all Wufei did was stare at them. “You know, like Santa’s workshop and Kris Kringle?” Hiiro prompted but still nothing. “We try to keep a very low profile,” Duo went on. “But I had a little accident and smashed Hiiro’s car…” “Then the storm delayed his call home just long enough for me to…” “Needless to say,” Duo cut in tactfully while Hiiro laughed. “We don’t eat…animals,” he cringed, “so when I saw these little guys…” “Wait,” Wufei held up a hand. “You’re serious?” “Yes,” Duo replied. “But you have to promise not to tell because once you’ve seen the magic…” “Magic?” Wufei laughed. “Ok…where’s the punch line? Really.” Duo sighed and looked once more to Hiiro who was grinning unabashedly so he reached in his pocket, drew out some dust and sprinkled it on the bucket which instantly vanished and inspired Wufei to stumble back and trip over the couch. “Is your head okay?” Duo asked sheepishly while Wufei held an ice pack to his skull and they rode the lift to the lobby. “I think I bruised my brain,” he groaned glancing at the absence of a bucket in Hiiro’s fist. “Thanks for helping out,” Duo smiled. Wufei returned the expression and reasoned, “It’s only a couple of shellfish.” “Here,” Hiiro said handing Duo the ticket for his car. “Have them bring it around and we’ll get the rest.” “The rest?” Wufei deadpanned. “They’re in the restaurant,” Duo grinned. “All of them?!” Wufei gasped while he was dragged away and Duo laughed. It took a few minutes for the valet to get the car but it soon arrived and Duo set to securing the invisible bucket in the trunk but just as he was preparing to seek out his companions a sweet voice greeted him. “You’re Hiiro’s friend,” Relena smiled. “Hello again,” he returned. “You seem very close,” she smiled sweetly. “He’s incredible,” he enthused. “I can imagine,” she snorted then asked, “Would you mind helping out with this?” “Sure,” he smiled going to lift the large bag that was sitting by a long, black car into the trunk for her. “Anything else?” he smiled when the task was done. “Just this,” she smiled then pushed him so he tripped and fell in then slammed the trunk shut. “Oh, valet!” “Yes, miss?” “Return this to the garage,” she instructed. “And don’t mind the noise in the trunk. Father said he’d have it fixed tomorrow.” “Very well,” the valet nodded accepting the keys but his brow knit when he heard banging coming from inside the trunk. “Be quick,” Relena insisted and he nodded again then drove away just as Hiiro and Wufei came out of the resort. “Where is he?” Wufei wondered while he deposited a large, plastic container of live lobsters in the trunk of Hiiro’s battered car. “I don’t know,” Hiiro replied having a look around but all he saw was that annoying blonde girl coming toward them. “Good evening,” she greeted smugly. “Hello,” Hiiro replied amiably then asked, “Did you happen to see Duo out here?” “Who?” she inquired innocently. “My companion,” Hiiro reminded her. “Perhaps he decided to go home,” she mused. “He was supposed to meet us here,” Wufei informed her sternly. “Well, he seemed like the fickle type to me so, who knows?” she chuckled then offered a smug, “Goodnight,” as she went inside. “Something’s not right,” Wufei stated as he watched her go. “What could have happened?” Hiiro wondered while he tried to work out if someone from the workshop might be responsible but, Trowa and Quatre agreed to help them so…his thoughts stalled when he saw one of the valets returning from the parking garage and stopped him. “Pardon me,” he greeted. “But did you happen to see a young man dressed like a Christmas elf here a moment ago?” “Yeah,” the guy nodded looking around but he didn’t see him. “I brought up his car but…” “Did you see where he went?” “He was here a few minutes ago,” he said looking around curiously then his head suddenly snapped around to stare at where the limo had been while he exclaimed, “No way!” “What?!” Hiiro demanded. “She wouldn’t,” he gasped. “Wouldn’t what?” Hiiro growled seizing him. “Come on!” he exclaimed dashing into the garage with Wufei and Hiiro following quickly behind. “Man, I knew she was spoiled but this is going way too far!” “What’s going on!?” Hiiro demanded as they skidded to a halt behind a long limo but the valet didn’t bother to stop long enough to answer. “Duo!?” Hiiro gasped when the trunk came open and revealed his sad looking lover inside. “How did you get in there?” Hiiro asked lifting him up to cradle in his arms. “I’ll inform her father,” the valet snipped but Duo stopped him with a quiet…” “Don’t.” “But, Duo,” Wufei objected. “She must be upset,” he argued. “That’s why she does these things.” “But we didn’t do anything to her!” Hiiro growled while he set him on his feet. “I don’t think it’s us she’s angry with,” Duo told them. “Is he for real?” the valet deadpanned and they all laughed. “We’ll deal with her ourselves,” Hiiro told him. “All right,” he sighed. “But you’re going to ruin her game.” “What game?” Wufei wondered. “She’s always causing trouble. I think she does it just to piss her old man off.” Hiiro glanced at Duo who glanced at Wufei before they thanked him and returned to their task. The trunk of Hiiro’s car wasn’t big enough to hold all the containers though, so Wufei got to ride in the back with the ones that wouldn’t fit and baby sit the refugees. “So, why’d you fly the coop?” he asked after a time. “I didn’t,” Duo replied. “I got caught in the storm and ran into Hiiro’s car. “How did you hit him if you were flying in a sleigh?” Wufei asked skeptically but the presence of invisible lobsters in the trunk helped keep his mind open. “It was dark then we hit a tree…” “You were flying a sleigh in the dark?” “Rudy has a cold.” “Rudy?” “Rudolph,” Hiiro explained seeming to be getting a major kick out of the conversation. “Right,” Wufei sighed. “But if he was pulling your sleigh why couldn’t you see?” “Because his nose doesn’t work when it’s stopped up,” Duo explained. “Of course,” Wufei nodded. Duo told them more about his home and all the years they’d been working to make Christmas bright while they drove and they laughed till their sides hurt at all the trouble he’d caused through the years. It seemed like no time had passed at all when they arrived at the seashore and unpacked their load but Duo refused to let even one of the lobsters enter the water until he’d laid a gentle kiss on their shell which shimmered and glittered embedding the exoskeleton with red, green and gold. “Share the love,” he told them as he placed them one by one in the rocks by a seawall and Hiiro pulled him close while they watched them glitter in the water as they marched determinedly out to sea. “Maybe,’ Wufei smiled while he turned his face to the stars, “Everything will be alright after all.” “Just love them,” Duo advised cuddling deeper into Hiiro’s strong arms. “And everything will work out just fine.” The return trip was a bit more subdued but no less enjoyable because Wufei decided to drive leaving ample time for Hiiro to snuggle with Duo in the back seat. It wasn’t long before they were comfortably ensconced and Duo decided to favor them with a song. “That’s so beautiful,” Wufei commented as it came to a close. “It’s my gift,” Duo told him. “What happens,” Hiiro asked sounding somber while he nuzzled his neck, “when it’s done? What will you do?” Wufei glanced in the mirror while he listened for an answer but nothing ever came. Instead, Duo rolled over and cuddled a little closer while Hiiro held him tight. Wufei was almost sad when they arrived and they were forced to part but the excitement in Duo’s eyes buffered the melancholy. “I need to call Quatre,” Duo told them eyeing the woods. “We don’t have time for a trek into the forest,” Hiiro told him checking his watch which displayed fifteen minutes to midnight. “The roof!” Wufei suggested leading them toward the lift. “Wufei!” He stopped as he pushed the call button at the sound of his fathers stern tone but had drawn himself to his full height by the time he turned to face him. “Hello, Father.” “Where have you been!?” he demanded. “Wufei!” Fei Wen gasped rushing over when she saw them. “Are you alright?” “Of course,” he sniffed wrinkling his brow when he glanced at Duo because he was sort of gaping at him. “You’re behavior today was atrocious,” Keung growled. “The Brighton’s were furious!” “I’m sorry for having upset them,” Wufei told him glancing nervously at Duo again. “But my decision is made.” “It most certainly is not!” his father snapped. “Keung,” Fei Wen soothed. “I regret that it has caused you any trouble…” Wufei began but Duo cut him off with a heartfelt… “Who’re you?” “What?” “You,” Duo reiterated indicating his whole self. “A minute ago you were Wufei but now…” “I…” Wufei began then stopped while he looked into his eyes and laughed. “You’re right,” he sighed. “I guess there’s no way they’ll understand until they see the real Wufei.” “He’s a great guy,” Duo grinned. “Wufei,” Fei Wen breathed. “What is going on?” “I’ll explain everything later,” he promised surprising her by kissing her forehead. “I promise.” “I,” she stammered then saw something in his eyes that warmed her heart. “Alright,” she smiled. “I’ll be back in a little while,” he told his father who was set so off balance by his casual attitude he couldn’t find his tongue before the lift took them away. “You need to hurry,” Hiiro told Duo when they arrived on the roof. “Quatre!” “You sure like to cut it clos…AH!” he barked when he saw Hiiro and Wufei. “Relax,” Duo soothed. “They’re with me.” “Trowa!” “Now you have two?” Trowa chuckled. “I’ll explain later,” Duo promised. “Is it ready?” “Of course, it’s ready,” Quatre snipped balling up something in his hand. “And you’d better not make a mess of it because Kris is too busy to save you tonight.” Duo opened his mouth to retort but got a face full of snowball instead. “Thanks!” he grinned when he discovered a small, blue crystal inside. “Make it count,” Quatre told him. “Come on!” he crowed heading for the lift. “We’ll never make it by midnight,” Hiiro observed. “Sure we will,” Duo grinned reaching into one of his many, multicolored pockets. “There’s a reason Kris can make it all over the world in one night,” he told them then blew the bit of glitter in his hand on the elevator buttons. “Whoa!” Wufei gasped when the lift suddenly dropped like a stone but all Hiiro could manage was an Earth shattering… “AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!” “UFF!” they all grunted when they hit bottom and the lift recoiled so they wouldn’t get squished but they had to pick themselves up off the floor before dashing into the main lobby. “Where?” Wufei breathed. “That’ll do,” Duo grinned heading for the Christmas tree where Hiiro and Wufei lifted him up and placed him on one of the giant presents that surrounded the base. \ “Sir!” “Shh!” Hiiro and Wufei shushed the hotel attendant who fell silent when she recognized Duo. A small crowd was already gathering when he cupped the small, blue crystal in his hands and everyone ground slowly to a halt when he opened his mouth and began to sing. Hiiro couldn’t take his eyes off him while the melody grew and expanded as the crystal began to glow and rose into the air. Outside the people turned toward the melodious sound and stopped to listen as the cadence grew. It was the most beautiful sound, a voice as true as the purest heart and seemed to resonate with bells and the crisp tang of an angel’s strings while it spread out and touched the minds of the people of the world. “Kris?” a young elf inquired when the sound reached their ears. “Is that…Duo?” But all the jolly old man did was laugh heartedly and spur his reindeer into flight. Young and old alike stopped to listen to the song all over the world as each was lulled by its enchanting melody until not one heart was darkened by fear, no hand was raised in anger and for one short moment in time the world was truly at peace. “Duo?” Hiiro breathed having felt the significance of the moment as the last notes of the song fell from his lips. “I did it, Hiiro,” Duo smiled letting his tears fall in happy droplets down his face. “They heard me.” “Oh, Duo,” Hiiro enthused accepting him gratefully into his arms where Wufei wrapped them both up and squeezed them tight. “Daddy?” They looked up at the sound of Relena’s voice but she was too busy gaping at her father to notice them. “Where did you run off to?” he asked coming to take her hand. “I was looking for you.” “You were?” she asked glancing warily at Duo but he only smiled. “Why do you always run away?” Mr. Darlian asked. “I wanted to give you my gift.” “You did?” she asked while she followed him. “Yes,” he chuckled. “But we’re together now and I’m not letting you get away again.” “Really, Daddy?” she smiled. “This trip was for us after all,” he reminded her. Duo smiled for a moment then gasped as his face fell and he dug his crystal out of his pocket. “The roof!” he crowed dashing for the elevator with Hiiro and Wufei fast behind. “What’s going ON!” Hiiro asked but was suddenly plastered to the floor when Duo dusted the buttons and they shot skyward. The lift compensated for the sudden stop at the top but they still got bounced before they were dumped onto the roof where a large man in a bright red suit stood in front of a brightly colored sleigh. “Kris!” Duo crowed as he launched himself at him and hung around his thick neck. “I did it! Did you hear! Was it right?!” He calmed somewhat when Kris leaned his large head to the side and peered at the two astonished humans who where still sprawled all over the roof. “Oh, um, this is Hiiro and Wufei,” Duo explained backing off to a more respectable distance. “They helped me but…” “It’s an honor to meet you,” Wufei offered having gained his feet. “Duo is a remarkable person,” Hiiro added hopefully. “Everything he does is…” “With a pure heart,” Kris smiled while his eyes twinkled merrily. Duo smiled and blushed but held his ground when Kris leaned his big face into his personal space and smiled. “You did well.” “We did it,” Duo countered flashing a grateful glance as his partners in crime but he was wholly unprepared when Santa scooped him up, hugged him tight and offered a soggy… “Thank you.” Duo’s arms slowly wrapped around his thick neck where they held him tight until a smaller sleigh suddenly appeared out of nowhere and almost swept everyone off the roof. “Sorry!” Quatre offered while he and Trowa crawled out and stumbled into the group. “Hi, Quat!” Duo chirped giving him a big hug. “It worked,” Quatre smiled happily. “It was amazing,” Duo agreed. “You made it perfect.” “We made it,” Quatre smiled at Trowa who wrapped an arm around him. “I must go,” Kris informed them as he climbed into his sleigh. “See that he is well cared for,” he smiled. “We’ll see him home safe,” Trowa promised but stalled when Duo simply said… “Wait.” “What’s the matter?” Quatre asked sensing the turmoil inside him. Duo turned to Hiiro with such longing in his eyes he instantly drew him close and held on tight. “I don’t want to leave,” Duo confessed pushing back so he could see Hiiro’s eyes. “I don’t want to leave you.” “You can’t stay!” Quatre gaped then fell silent when Trowa laid a hand on his shoulder that revealed the great sorrow his comment had caused. “I can’t leave him,” Duo told them looking as if he might fall apart until Kris smiled and informed them… “You don’t have too.” Hiiro’s eyes grew wide when his hand rose over Duo’s head but before the glitter in his palm could fall he snatched him out of the way and commanded, “Don’t!” “Hiiro?” Duo breathed. “It doesn’t have to be that way does it?” he asked desperately then turned his attention to the big guy with the red hat. “I know I’m not worthy but…couldn’t I come with you?” “Hiiro?” Duo repeated excitedly. “I’ve done horrible things in my life,” Hiiro confessed gripping Duo’s arms firmly. “I didn’t know what else to do but now I see! You can’t beat evil be becoming it, the only way is to shine so bright there’s no room for shadow!” “You’d do that…for me?” Duo asked wondrously. “For us,” Hiiro told him. “For them,” he added indicating the world at large. “It’s all I ever wanted but I’ve been doing it all wrong. Please,” he begged the big man on the sleigh. “Let me come with you.” Kris smiled and raised his hand over his head whereupon Duo stepped back and smiled while he informed him, “Purity of heart is not judged by deeds alone.” Hiiro took a deep breath when the glittering dust began to fall and smiled when his clothes began to shift and change but before the transformation was complete Wufei hit him in the side and held on tight while he soaked up the shimmering light. When the illumination faded and he released him they were dressed in the most outlandish outfits complete with bells and candy stripes and laughed their jingly butts off when Duo tackled them in a fit of hysteria. Quatre and Trowa were pulled into the mix when Duo nabbed him by the ankle and he subsequently pulled Trowa down and they giggled and wallowed around until they were all winded and quite drunk. A quick snap of the whip in Kris’s hand spurred his reindeer to flight and inspired the night to open its arms and carry him off to some other place leaving the five giddy elves to sort themselves out. “What about your family?” Duo wondered of Wufei. “I doubt my sexuality will be any major concern when we have this conversation,” he chuckled indicating his new outfit. “But you’re immortal now,” Quatre reminded him. “Won’t you miss them?” “All children out live their parents,” Wufei reasoned. “And this way my fathers name will be eternal. That’ll make him happy, believe me,” he grinned. “Don’t get the idea you can’t die just because you can’t grow old,” Trowa warned. “We’ve lost more elves that way.” “Let’s go have desert!” Duo crowed. “In there!?” Quatre balked. “Oh, just pull your hat down,” Duo grumbled trying to do it for him while the others fell into step and laughed. ** Epilogue The ground was crisp with freshly fallen snow while Bernie made his merry way into the workshop. This season had gone quite well and with Duo off on his grand adventure nothing had fallen apart or exploded even once! He was anxious to get started on next year and grinned while he opened the door but his eyes widened in horror when he heard a wailing screech and was suddenly blown back out the door where he landed in a snow bank when Duo ripped a righteous rift from his new guitar. “Sorry!” he called from the door while their foreman dug himself out of the snow. “Duo!” Quatre called. “Come on, we have five more songs to write!” “And we need to have them ready by October if we’re going on tour,” Hiiro smiled snaking an arm around his waist to pull him close while the foreman gaped at them. “Sorry, Bernie!” Duo shouted out the door promising, “We should be finished by April!” “Maybe June,” Wufei smirked and Duo laughed as Hiiro kissed him and closed the door while Bernie huffed and marched straight into Kris’s office. ~ * ~
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