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"The Negotiator"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, Angst, Fluff,
Sexual favors from a dragon? ^0^ (non graphic), Eventual Lemon, Mild
violence, My corky humor lol ^-^ Pairings: 1x2, 3x4, 5xM Beta’ed by the wonderful Mechante Fille *hugs*
You’re the best baby! ^__^ Summary: Duo Maxwell finds himself on the adventure of a lifetime when he is hired by the future king of Lagrange to aid in dealing with an encroaching Dragon. However, he quickly discovers that not everything is as it seems. Wizards, Dragons and magic abound in this epic tale of adventure and discovery when one young man finds himself between two worlds and suddenly the future depends solely on his skills as The Negotiator. View art work commissioned
by SkyLark and drawn by t_shirt for "The Negotiator" - Click
HERE "The Negotiator" Ch 13 The next few days were difficult for everyone. Duo refused to leave Hiiro’s side, his appetite and spirit waning with every shivering fit the mutated dragon’s frail human body endured. Wufei had risen on the second day with a horrendous headache and a pain in his stomach the healers couldn’t seem to ease but he appeared uninjured otherwise. The greatest oddity in his recovery being when he discovered that the could now understand the words Trowa spoke but Quatre had enchanted himself with a similar spell and in light of Hiiro’s continued suffering it seemed unremarkable. When he learned of the situation however, strict orders were given to ensure the dragon’s well being as well as Duo’s place at his side. Quatre was already working diligently to unravel the mystery of the spell gone awry but was frustrated both by Duo’s unwillingness to allow him to try to aid the dragon in his misery, the braided one’s resolve on the matter steeled by the dragon’s violent reaction to the presence of the wizard and by the lack of resources within the keep. Worse yet were the rumors that had already spread across the land. The news of the dragon’s fate brought doubt and unease to the nation’s leaders, many of whom sent letters questioning the validity of the alliance. Several of the smaller, more reluctant countries that had voiced skeptical opinions in the first place accused deceit on the part of Lagrange claiming the whole thing had been a farce and an attempt to gain power, the worse of which named the dragon a demon and demanded his immediate execution. Wufei had doubled the guard after this and sent out a call to bolster the army’s numbers. Within a week the castle had been transformed from the peaceful keep they had all come to know into a fortress of steel and iron determination. Duo was unaware in his misery, that the Chinese Lord had stepped up and taken control of the proceedings, refusing to allow the summit to fail as well as ensuring he and his dragon’s safety. “What’s wrong?” Duo whispered into the bedding beside his fitfully slumbering mate where his head hung so often nowadays. “Why doesn’t he improve?” “Because there’s nothing wrong,” Sally sighed heavily, her blue/grey eyes red with fatigue. “Please, Duo. Try and eat just a little…” but before she could coax any further Hiiro shuddered and Duo gasped and the whole, vicious cycle started all over again. Once the tremor had passed Duo sat back wearily in his chair, his hand clutching tightly to his mate’s as he stared at the ceiling with eyes that no long cared to hold back the tears. “Duo…” Sally began again, desperate to get the young man to eat something but a gently laid claw on her shoulder bid her leave him to Trowa for the night. “How is he?” the jade asked, taking a seat on the floor as his reptilian body was too large and misshapen for the chair. “He’s in so much pain,” Duo replied in a tone that wept with silent anguish. “Why is there so much pain?” he asked for the hundredth time, though he’d long since stopped expecting an answer. Or perhaps he just didn’t want to hear the truth that softly spilled from Trowa’s scaly lips. “He’s dying.” “We’re all dying.” Duo reasoned. “He’s no different than any other human.” “Save the fact that his soul is immortal,” the jade countered. “Duo, he has never known the feeling of mortality. This body he’s been trapped in, it’s dying all around him and he’s powerless to stop it. Please, believe me, if he stays in this form for long he’ll go completely mad.” “Then what!?” Duo snapped angrily. “Should he die simply because your wizard made a mistake!?” “No,” Trowa soothed kindly. “But Quatre can help…” “He’s terrified of him,” Duo sighed dejectedly. “He would trust you,” Trowa insisted. “Convince him to allow the barrier.” Duo fell silent for a time, his dark eyes watching the twitching of his mate as a steady rain of tears fell quietly down his cheek. Trowa waited patiently until the moment he nodded then slipped out of the room to go find Quatre. Duo steeled his resolve and leaned forward to speak gently in Hiiro’s ear. “Hiiro?” he called softly, woe to wake him and force him to endure the anguish of consciousness. “Hiiro, wake up. There’s something I need you to do.” “Duo?” the strange voice rasped as his hand clamped down tighter on Duo’s fingers. “Hey,” Duo smiled, brushing his fingers over Hiiro’s sweaty brow. The dragon grunted, squeezing his eyes shut against the misery of his human form and Duo clicked and cooed soothingly to help bring him into focus. “I need you to help me,” he told him, feeling like a first class heel for playing on his desire to protect and care for him. “I know you’re afraid,” he told him, feeling his body tense the moment Quatre stepped quietly into the room. “But he says he can help,” he explained, clenching his jaw against the sudden fear in the dragon’s glittering blue eyes. “Please,” Duo sobbed. kissing the corner of his mouth softly. “I can’t bear to see you like this anymore… please…let him try… for me,” he wept, the relief when Hiiro swallowed and gave a curt nod manifest in the sudden excitement in Duo’s eyes. “It’ll be all right,” he sniffed, pulling the blanket down as Quatre took his place at the bedside. “I swear,” he promised, holding Hiiro’s gaze. “If he hurts you,” he said as his expression shifted from desperate concern to pure, righteous determination and he turned to capture the wizard’s gaze, Quatre’s eyes widening slightly as the judgment was passed even before the deed was done as Duo evenly intoned, “I will rend him limb from limb.” Trowa’s claw fell softly on the Wizard’s shoulder, his reptilian brow falling over emerald eyes as he had never seen his sorcerer mate filled with nervous anxiety before. Even Hiiro’s blue gaze flickered over Duo’s face, his curiosity peeking through the blinding pain in the face of the incandescent light in Duo’s amethyst eyes. “Then I shall do my best,” Quatre finally smiled, stepping closer and turning his attention to the mutated dragon. “You’ll have to open your mind to me,” he told him then paused while Hiiro shook his head vehemently and Duo gently coaxed him silent again. “There is only one thing I can do for you at this point,” the blond explained in a clear tone. “I will build barriers in your mind, walls to fool your dragon spirit into believing this is all just some sort of odd dream.” Hiiro’s eyes closed and he swallowed hungrily at the idea. “I will do nothing you don’t allow,” Quatre promised. “But I need you to guide me to the places in your psyche that require indifference.” “Do not let him forget who he is,” Duo warned, ignoring the pain in his hand as Hiiro’s knuckles bled white. “The barriers are only to dull the pain,” Quatre explained. “He will not forget but there are certain truths that may appear distant and difficult to grasp. Like the size and stature of his form.” “If his memories of what his body was like before seem stilted then bearing what he has become should become tolerable,” Trowa elaborated. “And when he is returned to his true form?” Duo inquired. Quatre’s eyes fell away as he forced the truth from his lips. “If he should return,” he said ignoring Duo’s indignant glare. “Then his mind will be freed.” “Do it,” Hiiro rasped, clutching tightly to Duo’s hand. The braided one sat and silently watched while Quatre anointed Hiiro’s brow with colors that bled from the tips of his finger. He couldn’t read the writing but knew instinctively they were words. His hand rose to touch his shirt where the sapphire lay against his chest, the strange markings adorning his mates brow tickling something in the depths of his memory but no revelation came to pass. When the inscription was complete it covered most of Hiiro’s oddly exotic face and Duo’s spirit was bolstered by the first clear breath the dragon had taken since his transformation. “Open your mind,” Quatre whispered, softly touching his forefinger to the centermost point of the markings on Hiiro’s forehead. Duo jumped fearfully when his mate suddenly gasped and arched back, his free hand poised to cease any and all activity in the young wizard’s form should something untold happen but then Hiiro’s body settled and began to softly glow. He took a moment during this lull to turn his eyes to Quatre and found that he was no better off than Hiiro, his brow knit in furious concentration, his eyes clamped tightly closed and every muscle in his body trembled with the effort of his task. “Quatre!” Trowa called fearfully as his mate’s shuddering began to rock the bed. “Please, Hiiro,” Duo urged, using his voice to help aid the dragon to complete the barriers, then there was a sudden burst of blue/white light that kicked Quatre back into Trowa’s arms and left Hiiro laying perfectly still. “Hiiro!” Duo gasped, falling on him, Trowa’s worried calls of Quatre’s name distant and irrelevant as he frantically checked Hiiro for signs of life. Three hours had passed. Sally had been summoned and declared both Hiiro and Quatre alive and merely sleeping off the enormous exhaustion such an endeavor would no doubt induce. She was unable to discern if the spell had worked but seemed optimistic since the markings on Hiiro’s face had faded and he now lay in the first restful slumber Duo had seen. “Quatre?” Trowa’s soft tone drifted on the air calling Duo’s numb attention to them. He watched as the wizard stirred, Trowa’s concern whispered in hushed tones as he pulled the young blond to him and held him close. Pain lanced Duo’s chest once again as he watched the pair wrap their arms around each other and just hold on tight, then Hiiro groaned softly and he forgot about them. “Hiiro?” he whispered anxiously, leaning over close to his mate’s face. He smiled when Hiiro’s eyes slowly blinked open, the residue from his blinding injury during the battle completely gone but there was the evidence of new tears in his eyes. “Hiiro,” he breathed again, seeing for the first time those beautiful blue eyes without the presence of anguished pain and confusion. His breath hitched as Hiiro’s arms slowly came up to close around him and he fell on him, clinging tightly as he sobbed and wailed into the dragon’s human chest. Hiiro let him cry for a long time, his own relief running freely from his eyes until he was certain their company had retreated and they were finally alone. “Duo,” he called, gently laying his hand on the cherished head, his eyes narrowing as a wondrous feeling filled his heart and he felt the softness of Duo’s hair for the first time with human hands. “Are you all right?” Duo asked, wiping his eyes shamefully on his sleeve before turning his gaze to find Hiiro openly gaping at him. “Hiiro?” The enormity of the moment came to him as Hiiro’s hand slowly rose to tentatively touch his bangs, his mouth curling in a childish grin when the long spike of hair bounced and waved at him. Duo snorted, feeling a strange elation at seeing the newborn fascination in his mate’s iridescent blue eyes but the slight amusement dissipated quickly when Hiiro touched his fingertips to his cheek. The contact ignited a slow, rolling burn inside him that started in his chest and slowly radiated outward as Hiiro’s fingers slowly slid down his face. Duo’s eyes slipped closed against the tremendous emotion that swelled inside him until he lost control and suddenly gasped when the touch brushed gently over his lips. Hiiro ignored it when he began to cry, letting his hand slide slowly back the strong, elegant jaw, relishing the feel of the thick roots of his hair hugging his fingertips and the rapid beating of his pulse beneath his palm as he drew him down. Duo’s eyes squeezed tightly shut in his effort to stop the sobbing breaths but it wasn’t until he felt the touch of Hiiro’s satiny, human mouth that the reality of what was happening calmed his heart and he fell into him heart, body and soul. “You’re ok,” Duo sniffed after a time, part of him wanting nothing more than to continue the gentle rolling of their first kiss but he needed to know that Hiiro was truly all right. “I’m here,” Hiiro smiled, claiming another slow kiss. Duo laughed into his mouth and blushed at the grin he found on his mate’s lips when he pulled back. “I never thought I’d get to kiss you,” he said, suddenly fighting back tears again. Hiiro pulled him close and kissed him again before holding his face in both palms and gazing intently into his eyes as he swore, “I would suffer a thousand times more to know this miracle only once in my life.” “No,” Duo choked. “I can’t stand to see you hurting like that.” “There is nothing more that can be done about that right now.”“You’re still in pain?!” Duo barked, almost pulling away but Hiiro refused to let go. “It is tolerable,” he smiled, insisting that he be granted another kiss. Duo whimpered under the intensity of his affection, his mind recalling how it had felt to be lavished with the dragon’s hungry tongue but it took little thought to determine that he much preferred this to its paraphiliac counterpart. Hands he’d never dared dream could ran slowly down his back, calling forth a desire in him he wasn’t ready to cope with and he shook inside as he slowly pulled away. “You must be exhausted.” “Mmm,” Hiiro agreed, sliding his hands up the back of his shirt and Duo gasped and shivered with the touch. “This body is so frail and weak,” the man-dragon went on, easily pulling his mate into the bed with him. “It seems to require an enormous amount of sleep,” he groaned as he chewed along Duo’s jaw, reducing him to a mindlessly writhing heap until his hands began to disrobe him. “Wait.” “I want to feel you next to me,” Hiiro breathed, forcing the issue. Duo tried to retain his pants but contrary to what Hiiro had said his human body was apparently a good deal stronger than his size dictated. “You need to rest,” he reasoned nervously as something in his heart froze and confusion invaded his mind. For so long he’d wished and wanted it to be so but now that it was happening his heart was filled with apprehension. “Yes,” Hiiro hissed, moving on to rid him of his shirt. “But I need to feel your body,” he confessed pulling Duo’s naked form close, his arms and legs wrapping firmly around him and Duo’s heart began to settle as he realized all he wanted was to hold him. He smiled and sighed as he wrapped himself just as tightly around Hiiro and held on for a very long time. Day and night came and went with Duo rarely leaving Hiiro’s bed, only when one or the other needed a comfort break or to call for food did they venture above the blanket that suddenly encompassed their entire world. Much to Duo’s surprise Hiiro never pushed the opportunity to couple with him, seemingly satisfied with the soft caresses and playful nips that had filled them with laugher and breathless desire. Unable to comprehend what was happening between them, Duo offered him his soul and his gratitude by lavishing the mutated dragon with all the hugs and kisses his body could stand, which was what they were doing when Wufei entered their room one sunny afternoon. “Ahem,” the Chinese Lord sounded, averting his eyes from the wriggling mound of bedding. “Oh, hi, Wufei,” Duo giggled, popping his head out of the tangled sheets only to burst a laugh and abruptly disappear again. “If you could find a moment,” Wufei commented, once again averting his eyes when the entire top half of Duo’s blatantly naked body wriggled free. “What do you want?” Hiiro’s strangely human tone growled but the sound held no malice save a bit of frustration over his reluctant mate’s return. “I thought perhaps you might join us for dinner.” “What?” Duo softly inquired, losing all manner of mirth as Hiiro fell silent. “You’ve been down here for days,” Wufei informed them. “I should think you would miss the sun,” he smiled kindly, letting the gentle insinuation sink in slowly. “But we’ve only just…” “Now?” Hiiro cut in without revealing his head. “Within the hour,” Wufei replied, adding another gentle prod by means of suggesting, “The baths are empty this time of day… if you would care to bathe.” Duo’s mouth dropped open to protest but Hiiro chose that moment to poke his head out and grin, “Are you saying we stink?” “Hiiro!?” Duo gasped, trying to hide his smile. “Within the hour,” Wufei grinned, leaving them. “I miss the way you used to bathe me,” Duo sulked, woe to leave their comfortable cocoon. “I can still bathe you,” Hiiro grinned, standing to pull him close as he purred, “It’ll just take a little longer,” and began licking behind his ear. “We’ll miss dinner.” “Where is this bath?” Hiiro asked relenting. ~ Duo laughed so hard he almost drowned at the sight of the silly man-dragon chasing a bar of soap all over the floor. It had taken only one encounter with the slippery substance for Hiiro to decide human hands had only one endearing quality and without Duo’s body being involved they were quite useless in their clawless state. “How do you grip anything!?” Hiiro panted, once again loosing his grip on the elusive soap. “T…try both hands… at once!” Duo gasped, doubling over again when the soap shot back through Hiiro’s legs as he made a grab for it and splashed in the huge communal bath. “I think,” Hiiro heaved, sucking in a deep breath as he sat on the edge of the bath and Duo cracked up again when he evenly intoned, “It won.” Duo was still laughing heartily when Hiiro slipped into the water and took him in his arms, the laugher slowly fading as his warmth seeped into his body and he flushed, remembering how warm he could be. “It really is you,” Duo smiled, wrapping his arms lightly around his mate’s neck. “If there is any doubt of that then we need to discuss the presence of this,” Hiiro grinned pushing his hips into Duo’s. The evidence of his own arousal was not a surprise but the fact that Hiiro was suddenly stiff and ready made him gasp and instinctively try to pull away. “Relax,” Hiiro chuckled, refusing to allow him to go. “I don’t even know how this body works yet,” he confessed, bringing a relief to Duo’s mind he hadn’t understood he needed. For all his reluctance and confusion some part of him had been hurt by his mate’s lack of aggression. “You’re lucky I can make this body walk,” Hiiro laughed kissing his jaw. “You seem to be doing all right,” Duo chuckled, relaxing into him again. “We could try the old way,” Hiiro offered, softly nipping and licking down his chest. “We’ll be late,” Duo laughed, moving away and Hiiro paused to let the awkward moment pass before climbing out after him. Wufei had arranged for their meal to be served in private quarters with only their closest friends in attendance. Hiiro seemed oddly nervous about being out and about and used his clumsiness as an excuse to cling to Duo, his eyes finding Quatre first as the wizard watched them enter then shifting to take in the rest of the company. Trowa was curled in a spot next to the blond Sage with Wufei at the head of the table. Captain Meriy smiled from a chair along the opposite side from Quatre leaving two chairs at the far end from Wufei open for them. “Welcome,” Wufei beamed, motioning that they should sit. “You look refreshed,” he smiled, nodding to the attendant by the door who bowed out and quickly returned with a pitcher of wine. “Your bath house is most accommodating,” Hiiro replied politely, letting Duo help him into his chair. “You’re feeling better then?” Meriy asked, sounding a bit uncertain, a bit nervous as he sipped his wine. “I am clean,” the man-dragon replied. “Well, that’s always an improvement,” Wufei pointed out and Duo’s brow knit when he replaced his cup without drinking. “At least I’ve managed to stand,” Hiiro chuckled. “Then perhaps you might aid in the search for a cure for your condition,” Trowa commented quietly, earning him a hiss and muttered reprimand from his blond mate. “I realize it was your mistake,” the jade hissed his reply. “But you can’t keep this up! He is a dragon still and perfectly capable…” “I would gladly join the search,” Hiiro cut in. “Quatre?” Duo inquired, getting his first good look at the glassy eyed blond. “My god, man. haven’t you slept at all?” “No,” Trowa stated before any sound made it out of Quatre’s mouth. The wizard glared indignantly at the uncommonly chatty jade but relented. “This is all my fault…” “That is irrelevant,” Hiiro interjected. “Hiiro?” Duo gaped at his suddenly charitable mate but Hiiro ignored his confusion for the time being, directing his attention to Wufei. “What’s happening with the summit?” he asked, laying a hand over Duo’s fingers in soothing apology. “It remains on schedule,” Wufei replied in a tone that belied the effort it was taking to make it so. “No thanks to the Camerians,” Meriy snorted, confirming Hiiro’s suspicions. “Maldan is riding the fence,” Wufei sighed. “We’ve managed to convince most of them that the rumors are hearsay but the lack of any proof of your existence on our part weighs heavily on their minds. If we have to push the summit back I’m not sure he’ll be willing to wait.” “We have more pressing problems,” Duo snipped, laying an arm around Hiiro’s shoulders. “Our problems are one and the same,” Hiiro reasoned gently, leaning close and Duo sighed in resignation as his lips softly caressed his cheek. They were, each of them individually, completely unprepared for Quatre to suddenly interject, “Then we must journey to Oasis.” Wufei took the edge off the suggestion by spiting wine out of his nose and echoing, “Oasis!?!” “Why?” Meriy added, looking just as unnerved at the idea. “No offence,” Quatre replied, waving a hand over the stained table, “but the resources here are abysmal.” He sighed, seeming to have to concentrate on the simple task before the wine finally faded. Trowa laid a comforting claw on the exhausted wizard’s arm and Quatre smiled for him before continuing. “If we are to succeed I need to return to Oasis and he must come with me.” “What?! Why?!” Duo snipped, unconsciously leaning protectively closer to his mutated mate. “We have no time to waste,” Trowa explained. “But…!” “No one has ever returned…!” “What about the boneworms!” “And siabrie!” “No!” Duo suddenly growled, standing beside his mate. “He’s in no condition to face the dangers of such a journey.” “Duo,” Hiiro soothed, pulling him down onto his knee. “If there is no other way…” “Why do you have to go?” Duo asked pleadingly. “He can go and come back when he’s found a cure. Then you can stay here where it’s safe…” “It is a two week journey by land,” Hiiro cut in. “I can make it in less than a day once I’ve regained my wings.” “Every moment we wait brings us closer to failure,” Trowa agreed. Duo closed his eyes and leaned in to touch his forehead to Hiiro’s before he told him, “I’m coming with you.” “As am I,” Wufei added sternly before anyone could begin to argue. Meriy also insisted on accompanying them along with fifteen of his best men, however, Wufei cut their number to five reasoning that the large party might draw unwanted attention. The foreign powers knew something was amiss but the fact that the dragon had been transformed into a mortal man was sketchy and unclear. There were those, Maldan of Camera for one, who would use the mishap to gain power; the chance to assassinate the dragon would not go unheeded so Wufei wasn’t taking any chances. Three men of his personal choice and two from Quatre’s personal guard would make up the honor guard while the remainder of the wizard’s entourage took an alternate route to help deter any would be aggressors. However, the affairs of state took a momentary backseat in all their minds when Duo stepped out into the morning sun with a cross bow strapped to his back and a broad sword at his side. “Duo?” Hiiro breathed, picking his jaw up from amidst the scattering of his fellows as he hurried to catch up to his mate. “What?” Duo smiled, turning to face him, seemingly completely at ease in the strange attire. Hiiro gave him a once over, noting the blades strapped to his bare forearms, a belt of bolts for the bow around his shapely right thigh and the presence of a saw tooth wire binding his long braid. The apprehension in his eyes belied any attempt to refrain from offending his slight, delicate looking mate so he finally gave up and simply smiled. “You are… skilled in the ways of battle?” he asked tactfully, searching for some evidence that Duo wasn’t jumping into the fire. “Well, someone has to protect your scrawny ass out there,” Duo grinned, shifting smoothly under the weight of his new equipment before he turned and sauntered away. Hiiro blinked after him as confounded by this turn of events as the rest of them but no one actually knew what Duo’s capabilities were so they were forced to trust in the mysterious judgment of the Negotiator.
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