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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 18 * “Are you all right?” Duo nodded but took a deep, cleansing breath of the salty night air as he leaned on the stem rail and gazed out at the black sea. “You realize you’re asking a great deal of him,” Wufei began as the hourly bell sounded. “Is it so much to ask that he trust me?” Duo sighed sadly. “No,” Wufei chuckled, joining him at the rail. “But expecting him not to defend your honor is pushing it.” “He threw the man overboard,” Duo groused, mentally counting the tolling bell in the distance. “That’s not defense, its homicide.” “If he were himself he might have eaten him,” Wufei laughed but Duo didn’t seem to be in the mood. “The point is Muller is fine. A bit shaken and down with a fever but he’ll live and that is entirely because it would have displeased you if it had ended otherwise. He does trust you, Duo,” he assured him. “But a dragon’s heart loves fiercely, he’s become addicted to your touch and he’s starving without it.” “That’s the whole problem,” Duo whispered softly. “All he thinks about is me. What happens if he forgets himself completely?” Wufei’s brow knit as the truth began to shimmer in Duo’s eyes. “How will he see me when we’re no longer on equal ground?” “He accepted you as his equal the moment he gave you his heart,” Wufei reasoned. Duo was silent for a time just looking out over the briny sea as the last of the deep tones of the bell sounded and he finally sighed and smiled, looking much brighter than the moment before, he declared, “Eight bells, I suppose I will need to reward him for his patience. Where is he?” “What?” Wufei chuckled. “You intend to do it now?” “No,” Duo replied. “But I would prefer Zechs live at least until our guests arrive.” “What?” Wufei inquired, hurrying after his friend as he made his way back through the ship but Duo’s attention was on Zechs as he emerged from his cabin. “There you are,” the captain smiled, swirling two small glasses of brandy in his left hand. “Much longer and we’d have missed our after dinner game of chess.” “No thanks,” Duo replied to the offered spirits. A tiny frown appeared on Zechs’ lips but he banished it quickly. “Come, you shouldn’t be out in this night air…” “I’m afraid I need to see Hiiro,” Duo informed him, allowing the name to slither from his tongue in the dragon’s language. “Who?” Zechs inquired. “Me,” Hiiro informed him, dropping like a stone from above. Zechs jumped back at his sudden appearance but readopted his smug tolerance quickly enough. “Hiiro!” Duo hissed, turning to throw his arms around his mate. The man-dragon’s brow creased more deeply than Zechs’ but he wrapped him up instantly in spite of his confusion. “Duo?” “I missed you so much,” Duo whispered holding him tight and Hiiro let go a breath he felt he’d been holding for weeks. “Um, Duo?” Zechs interjected uncertainly. “Forgive me but you’ll confuse the man. Lest we forget he harbors some misplaced feelings for…” but his words died when Duo hungrily claimed a kiss that left Hiiro’s knees in danger of crumbling. “I’m sorry,” Duo whispered, clinging all the tighter to his mate’s trembling form. “I thought it would be easier if I wasn’t there to muddle your mind.” Hiiro took him by the cheeks to look into his eyes before he firmly informed him, “Nothing is easier without you,” and kissed him soundly. Zechs finally got the gist of the situation when Duo melted in Hiiro’s arms in such a way that was going to require the privacy of a room very quickly and the magic was suddenly spoiled. “It would have been better had you kept your distance,” he said, reminding the pair they weren’t alone. “Now I almost feel bad for having to separate you,” Zechs grinned but it wavered under the intense glare of Hiiro’s gaze. “You were wrong about one thing,” Duo told him, placing himself between his dragon lover and the captain as he informed him, “You are not a man of integrity.” “Duo,” Zechs gasped in mock horror. “You wound me…” “That is my right,” Hiiro growled softly, ending the white haired man’s game. “I see,” the captain nodded, backing away cautiously. Neither Duo nor Hiiro were unaware of the crew stirring to life or of the presence of their friends in the distant shadows. “I had hoped to keep this civil,” Zechs said, slowly raising his sword and though Duo made to face him Hiiro firmly pushed him aside and stood in preparation of the fight. The captain had just taken his position when a low, mournful sound rolled over the black ocean waves and a wicked grin spread over Duo’s lips as he in sprightly intoned, “Too late.” “Ship off the starboard bow!” Zechs paled as the sound echoed again. “She’s got silver sails, Capt’in!” “The Peacemillion,” Zechs breathed as he stared disbelieving into Duo’s shimmering eyes. “Duo?” Hiiro inquired as the sound shook the air, rattling the very bones of the ship and its crew but all his mate did was smile widely and defend Hiiro when Zechs’ sword suddenly fell. “Take them alive!” the captain yelled, narrowly avoiding getting skewered by Hiiro’s blade. “I will have your heart!” Hiiro snarled, lunging forward. “NO!” Duo barked. “Don’t kill him!” he ordered, cracking one of the men trying to subdue him on the back of the head as he shouted to Meriy, “Leave them alive!” The dreadful call of the Peacemillion sounded again, shaking the ship to its core as the massive vessel approached and Zechs was forced to pivot and dodge, barely blocking Hiiro’s attack while Wufei’s foot sang past his ear as he swung though the rigging and cried, “Gather under the banner of the Alliance! All will be welcome at the summit in Lagrange!” Several of the crew stopped a moment to hear the words but then the bow lit up with fire as the jade transformed and lifted into the air. A moment later white fire engulfed the ship, its members and a good portion of the sea all around as Quatre’s brilliant form stood in translucent light and all enemies save Zechs suddenly fell to their knees. The captain was momentarily startled by the magical display but regained his composure quickly enough to cut a line and sail into the rigging. Duo followed suit and landed not far below him as the massive, silver form of the Peacemillion loomed ever closer, its horrendous call piercing the air like a battle cry as Hiiro scrambled upward but the tumultuous shock wave had loosed Duo’s footing, his body twisting as he realized only too late that Zechs had been reaching to steady him instead of attacking before he began to fall. In a single instant of time the captain’s eyes changed completely, their one purpose coming clear as he glanced once at Hiiro and dove after him. Keeping his body streamlined to catch up swiftly he just managed to grab the slender body plummeting to the deck far below and jerk him hard enough to alter his path so that Hiiro managed to catch hold of his shirt and stop his fall. In that instant the man-dragon suddenly found some small shred of respect for the flirtatious captain and for a moment regretted the need for his sacrifice but just before he hit the deck a bolt of yellow light hit him full force, suddenly stopping his descent. All went quiet as Zechs’ startled form was slowly delivered to safety by Quatre’s benevolence until Duo smiled as he panted and held tight to Hiiro’s neck… “He is not an… evil man.” Hiiro saw fit to hold his sword at the ready just the same but Zechs’ attitude had softened with the certainty of his defeat. The binding spell used on his men slowly faded and they were gathered to their captain’s side to face judgment. Only when all was calm did Quatre understand how the longhaired man had escaped his enchantment, seeing the charms he wore around his neck. The man was not unschooled in the ways of magic which left him feeling less at ease than before, but Duo’s assurances that all was well was enough to convince his friends to give him the benefit of a doubt. “I would have lived with you,” Zechs chuckled wryly when Duo came to say goodbye. “For as long as I pleased you,” Duo laughed. “I wanted only your happiness…” “Happiness is not granted by force,” Wufei snipped before Hiiro could raise his sword. Zechs chuckled again and shook his head. “You’re right, of course,” he smiled, gazing longingly at Duo. “It would mean a great deal to me if you would accept my apology. Had I known your heart belonged to another…” “You would have tried to spirit me away anyway,” Duo laughed. “Yes,” Zechs admitted amiably. “I supposed I would.” “I owe you a dept not easily repaid,” Hiiro choked out, offering his hand and swallowing tightly when Zechs brightened and took it. The captain’s expression pinched however, when Hiiro firmly squeezed and leaned closer to warn, “But if you ever try to take him again I will not be so forgiving.” For the first time Zechs got a glimpse of the truth in Hiiro’s iridescent eyes and swallowed hard as he quickly regained his hand. A moment later the entire group started as a horrendous hissing sound followed the metallic clunk of a massive crack opening in the side of the Peacemillion. The ship was well ten times as high above the sea as the Tallgeese and rumored as being no more than a legend so every eye had grown wide except Duo’s. Hiiro instinctive placed himself between Duo the gaping hole opening up before them until an older man’s face appeared, his eyes shaded by dark spectacles and the most horrific tunic any of them had ever seen as he shouted excitedly… “Duo!?” “Down here ya old shark!” “Duo!” the man cried almost tripping over the strange, topless shoes he wore in his haste to greet his friend. “My God! It’s been decades! How’re doing, kid? Who the hell’s that? He giving you trouble?” he asked, narrowing his dark eyes over his glasses on Zechs. “Naw,” Duo laughed, clasping wrists with him. “Just a bit of horse play. Thanks for coming.” “Anytime,” the man smiled, eyeing Hiiro and his crew curiously but his attention stayed on Duo. “Damn boy! You haven’t changed a bit. How long’s it been?” he asked, leading him back across the long hatch with the others trailing along. “Twenty years?” “Has it?” Duo laughed, not really catching the surprised expressions on his friends’ faces. The Tallgeese and its crew were released under the command of their captain with a promise that they would spread the word among the privateers and lead the way for sea-faring people to join in the Alliance. Hiiro was glad to be rid of them but uncertain about the role this new man would play in his lover’s life as Duo appeared happy to spend his time chatting with the older man while Hiiro sulked in his loneliness at his side. Duo made no effort to avoid him, going so far as to lean close enough that Duo’s old friend, Howard got the drift of the nature of their relationship fairly quickly. Trowa had retained his dragon form as Howard and his crew had already seen it and he was less taxed in doing so while Wufei and Quatre marveled at the great metal beast that had swallowed them up. “I’ve never met a wizard that could maintain this sort of magic,” Quatre commented wondrously. “I’m not a wizard,” Howard snorted, setting his coffee down. “I’m a mechanic.” “A mechanic?” Quatre chuckled in amazement. “You mean to say this was all accomplished through clever ingenuity?” “Well,” Howard replied, looking around at his creation. “I don’t know how clever it is but I made it with my own two hands.” “Thanks a lot!” someone yelled from down the hall and Howard laughed. “Guess I had a little help,” he confessed, sipping his coffee. “Remarkable,” Quatre breathed. “May we look around?” “Sure,” the man smiled, yelling, “Beasley! Come give the newbies a tour!” “Wonderful!” Meriy chimed in excitedly. “Duo?” Hiiro whispered softly, leaning in close enough to feel him quiver in the heat of his breath. “Actually,” Duo smiled. “It’s been sort of a rough trip. If you wouldn’t mind we could use a bunk and a hot bath.” “You have a bath on board?!” Wufei gasped. “Several,” Howard smiled proudly. “With indoor pluming and all.” “Indoor…?” Quatre repeated, breaking out in a wide smile as he leaned back into the jade and asked, “May we see that first?” “Yeah, Boss?” Beasley, a tall, lanky man with thinning hair, asked upon his arrival. “Hey, Sat,” Duo smiled. “Heard it was you,” the man grinned. “Howard wouldn’t turn this tub for just anyone.” “Don’t go giving him a big head,” Duo laughed. “He still owes me.” “That’s the truth,” Howard nodded, adding, “Looks like they’re uh… tired,” he grinned, flashing Duo a coy glance that turned his face crimson. “You can give this lot the rooms on either side of Duo’s.” “You have your own room?” Wufei chuckled, getting up to follow. “As long as they don’t need it,” Duo replied, but he seemed infinitely more interested in whatever Hiiro was doing to his ear. “Sounds like you’ve known these people a long time,” Meriy surmised. “I suppose,” Duo shrugged, snagging a bottle of sweet oil from the bar as they went by. “I used to spend a lot of time here.” “On board?” Hiiro softly inquired, pocketing the oil with a hungry smile. “As far as I can remember.” “How far back can you recall?” Quatre asked. “I don’t know,” Duo replied. “It gets a bit sketchy the further back it goes.” “What’s the first thing you remember?” the blond wanted to know but they had come to their deck and neither Duo nor Hiiro were at all interested in the conversation anymore. “I don’t…know,” Duo breathed, letting Hiiro take him in his arms and pull him inside their cabin. Wufei rolled his eyes while Quatre sighed and Trowa eyed the next door down with a huge, devilish grin on his scaly face. “I missed you,” Duo breathed, letting Hiiro cover him in wet kisses as he quickly divested him and demanded… “Show me.” “I’m sorry,” Duo persisted, though his body rolled and wriggled to ease his lover’s efforts until they lay skin to skin and breathless from the touch. “Do we have to talk about this now?” Hiiro groaned, reacquainting himself with some of the finer nuances of his mate’s savory form but Duo managed to choke out a breathy… “Who are you?” before things got too serious. Hiiro paused in his explorations, taking a moment to gaze into his eyes where he found the bulk of his lover’s fears plain to see. Duo gasped softly when he pushed between his legs and pressed his body firmly against him and confidently recited, “I am the East.” Duo gasped again as the sound of his tone washed over memories of lazy days by hot springs and nights of passionate flame in a cozy cave on a mountain top. “Please,” he begged, wrapping his arms and legs around his lover tightly but Hiiro understood what he needed went far beyond the physical. “I am the beloved child of the rising sun,” he went on, holding his trembling mate tightly as he claimed his place within his body and grunted. “The right arm of the Dragon Lord.” Duo arched back deliciously beneath, him stealing his thoughts for a moment and he bent to taste the pulse in his neck before the words came again. “I am the catalyst,” he groaned, kissing him deeply. “The binding thread.” Each word brought his lover closer to contentment, every syllable freeing him of his fears that Hiiro would forget himself completely should they continue on this path. “Hiiro,” Duo whimpered, clenching his eyes shut as he clung on and rocked in time. “Yes… Hiiro,” he breathed, unable to stop his lungs from gulping for air as the tension between them quickly grew. “What are you?” Duo hissed, pushing harder, his spine automatically bending to meet his lover’s heat. “I am the sky,” Hiiro grunted, increasing the pace until it was hard to breathe, much less form words but he managed to grind out, “The Blue Dragon of the Eastern Wind.” “Yes!” Duo cried his body slick with sweat and begging for satisfaction Hiiro was eager to grant as he brought them to heaven’s door. They held one another close as the gentle winds of reality slowly cooled their fevered bodies, hands touching softly and mouths locked in and endless kiss until their breath finally became even and Hiiro pulled back to smile at him as he softly intoned… “But above all this... I am yours.” Duo swallowed his tears as he pulled him close and held on tight. “I can’t lose you,” he confessed and it took a moment for Hiiro to pry him loose so he could smile down on him again. “Do you really think I would die so easily?” he asked, brushing the salt from the corner of his mate’s amethyst eye. “You better not,” Duo sniffed sulkily. “Wufei’s going to be in a world of shit if you don’t show up at that summit.” “I promise,” Hiiro grinned, bending to kiss him. “I won’t let Wufei down.” “Trowa can do it.” “Yes, he can,” the man-dragon chuckled. “And he’s merely a messenger.” “But he was born there,” Duo sighed. “I am not going to leave you,” Hiiro told him firmly, bringing a sappy grin to his face when he delivered a chaste kiss to his forehead. “Ok, Mom.” “Mom?” Hiiro snorted, banishing all thoughts of maternity from his mind as he kissed him soundly and proceeded to rock his world again. * “Quatre!?” “Trowa! Down here!” came the exuberant echo that told the jade his lover was once again buried in the bowels of the goliath, metal monstrosity that had swallowed them up. “What’re you into now?” Trowa chuckled, transforming as his dragon form wouldn’t fit in the tight hall he was required to slither through to join his mate. “You know, you’re much more attractive like this,” Beasley teased, grunting as he worked on a stubborn screw he apparently had to lace his arms into the console to get to because he looked very much like the ship had tried to assimilate him. “That is a matter of opinion,” Quatre grinned but that was all he could manage as he was equally entangled. “What?” the man chuckled. “You like all those teeth?” He had made it no secret that Trowa’s dragon form left him ill at ease. “They serve their purpose,” Quatre smiled. “Thank you, my love,” Trowa grinned, bending to kiss his lover’s upside down lips. “Seems like they’d be a hindrance,” Beasley smiled coyly. “’Tis what’s behind the teeth that make them interesting,” Trowa grinned. flashing gleaming, catlike emerald eyes as he flicked his long dragon tongue. “GEEZ!” Beasley barked, almost hanging himself in his haste to pull away. “Trowa!” Quatre admonished though the chortles in his throat took the edge off the reprimand. The jade laughed along while Beasley pulled himself together then asked, “Why are you molesting this mechanical beast this time?” “It’s something called a sensor array,” Quatre beamed, disentangling himself. “It detects and analyzed all sorts of information and sends it to a screen to inform the Captain.” “Like a seeing orb?” “Yes!” the blond beamed. “Why doesn’t he just use the orb?” Trowa grinned. “They don’t have magic and you know it,” Quatre grumbled. “But look how they’ve compensated! See this? This material is sensitive to temperature so they use it to gauge the state of the weather outside the ship.” “Why not just stick your head outside?” the jade smirked. “That is not always convenient,” his lover countered. “Besides, it does much more than that. It can hear and see and even sense things deep under the ground or far off in space…” “So,” Trowa hummed, moving closer as he laid a hand on his lover’s pinking cheek. “All this,” he said, indicating the massive array, “is to compensate for what you can do with a single spell?” “Well, yes,” Quatre breathed uncertainly. “But that’s not the point.” “At least he appreciates our efforts,” Beasley groused from his perch several feet away. “It’s brilliant,” Trowa smiled, leaning closer to his flustered mate. “I’m for anything that can light this sort of fire in his eyes.” “Tro…” Quatre gave a little chirp when his mate softly claimed his lips. “Get a room,” Beasley grumbled and Trowa suddenly snapped the smaller blond into his arms. “An impeccable suggestion,” the jade smiled, spiriting his lover away for an afternoon alone.
tbc... |
