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"Time Walker"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,
sap, WAFF *g*, mild language, light lemons or perhaps more like mention
of lemons. Pairings: 1x2, eventual 3x4, unrequited Rx1, eventual
6x9, eventual 13xU (can’t really put 1 now can we? O.o), Summary: When a historic timeline is thretened
a celebrated Time Walker is called in to correct the problem. However,
when he meets a beautiful young thief everything he has ever believed
in begins to shift and change as he faces the adventure of a lifetime
and fights against the complexity of his own willful heart. " Time Walker" Ch 7
“Is this enough?” “Put it over there,” Hiiro instructed watching morosely at the young soldier deposited the barrel of coal he’d requested by the wall. “What’s that for?” the young man asked peering at the mixture Hiiro was testing. “Get out,” he snapped unwilling to allow anyone to guess the composition of his sin. He knew giving Dermail the amount of black powder he required to retain the crown would also enable him to attack Sadual but there was little choice. Without Trowa’s insight he had to rely on what resources were available to keep Zechs from taking control. Treize had been working diligently behind the scenes to the opposite though considering his firepower Hiiro knew he could easily force the issue if he wanted to. As of yet, however, he had refrained from arming Zechs with a force capable of overthrowing the monarchy and as much as it irritated him gave credence to Wufei’s claims that he and his friends were merely acting upon the same convictions as Hiiro. He thought more on the dark boy’s words than he wanted to while he worked. Acting on a prophesy was simply ludicrous but Wufei had seemed so sure of the validity of his claims. Hiiro couldn’t argue the fact that what he proposed was possible. If the timeline had indeed been altered then no one from the future would have any recollection of how things were before the shift but that was one of the reasons giving credit to fortunes was prohibited. If they chased every soothsayer’s whims the timeline would shift ever other day. Still, it wasn’t impossible and he wondered what sort of divination would make someone like Wufei act so irresponsibly. “Sir, Hiiro?” a soft voice cooed causing him to clench his eyes closed and pray for patience. “What does he want now?” he asked of the slender, young man that was slipping gracefully into his room. “Can’t I come just to see you?” Sadin, Dermail’s favorite, smiled leaning invitingly against Hiiro’s work table. Hiiro’s mind drifted back to a moment when Duo lay within his arms, soft skin and a scent that drove his mind to distraction just to remember it and he sighed. “Go back to your master.” “He’s not my master,” Sadin grumbled. “No,” Hiiro replied absently adding a bit more sulfur to the mixture. “Considering your station you’re more of a toy.” The boy’s eyes clouded but cleared as a smile graced his full lips. “Many people misunderstand just as you have,” he sighed moving fluidly behind Hiiro’s chair. “But I can leave whenever I like,” he smiled resting his fingertips on Hiiro’s shoulders. “Do not touch me,” Hiiro evenly intoned and the boy froze and slowly drew away. “You don’t care for boys,” Sadin sighed dejectedly. “More to the point, I only care for one,” Hiiro corrected turning to face him as he explained, “I harbor no longing for another because my desire for him goes much deeper than the depth of his skin.” “My Lord is hardly a young man,” the boy snorted. “If you think my affection for him is dependant upon a lovely visage you’re sorely mistaken.” “And what of his affection for you?” Hiiro countered regretting the shadow of pain he had caused in his eyes but it troubled him greatly that Dermail essentially raised and trained his lovers from birth. “He loves us,” Sadin insisted stubbornly but the darkness played about his downcast eyes. “Love is not solely contingent upon ones youth and beauty,” Hiiro countered gently. “What will become of you when he grows bored with your pleasantries?” “I will go to study abroad when I come of age,” the boy grinned triumphantly. “Talbert, my senior who left last year, will accept me as his apprentice.” “And what lord will you serve then?” Hiiro asked cleverly. Sadin began to reply but seemed at a loss for words. Hiiro could easily see he had never thought much on the matter, to question his master would be against his basic upbringing but once the question had been posed it was impossible to retract the blossoming enlightenment in the boy’s eyes. “I wonder,” Hiiro smiled kicking back in his chair. “Is there no one who brings peace to your mind?” Sadin’s eyes flashed in a way that made Hiiro’s smile widen but he replied, “I… don’t really know what you mean.” “A certain someone,” Hiiro pressed on. “Perhaps a maiden with the kind of smile that warms your heart. Or… have you never entertained thoughts of a woman’s warmth?” The boy’s face flushed so hotly Hiiro knew he’d struck a nerve. Just because Dermail raised them to accept him as a lover didn’t mean they actually preferred men. “It is possible,” he said turning back to his work. “If one works diligently and considers carefully, to remake the world into one of delightful contentment.” Sadin was quite so long he wondered if he shouldn’t just tell him to leave then he spoke as softly as a breeze, “Marion makes me wonder.” “A girl from town?” Hiiro asked turning his attention back to him but he shied and shook his head. “She’s the red headed dame in the castle stable.” A female in the same sort of situation as himself. “And does she return your interest?” “I don’t know,” the boy laughed nervously. “We’ve never spoken but… when she catches my gaze I sometimes wonder…” The blush on his skin was enough to reveal what he had wanted to say and Hiiro laughed lightly taking the sting out of it. “Then perhaps a word or two would hasten your dreams,” he offered. Sadin grinned brightly then rushed from the room and Hiiro said a little prayer that he was not so foolish as to openly advertise his new found independence. ** “You’re still here,” Zechs commented startling the woman from her book in spite of his gentle tone. “Hmm,” Noin groaned softly rubbing the tired muscles of her neck. “Is it really so late?” “Past the witching hour,” he replied leaning lightly on the edge of the table where many other thick volumes were scattered about. He watched while she sorted and marked pages in her preparation to call it a night then gave into the question and asked, “Why do you work so hard?” Her cheeks pinked but her voice was steady when she replied, “If the proof of your sovereignty is contained in this library it must be found.” “You believe in me,” he stated catching her eye with a soft smile. The color on her face escalated but she found her tongue, “Of course,” she replied, “My family is sworn to serve and protect the rightful monarchy of Cherryton.” “Is your duty the only reason I have the pleasure of your company?” he asked daring to reach a gloved hand close enough to brush gently along her jaw. She gazed into his eyes feeling the distant pull that had gripped her heart the moment she first laid eyes on him become as demanding as a golden lead and could offer nothing less than the truth when she confessed, “No.” It was against code, a blatant betrayal of everything she had worked to achieve and as inevitable as the dawn that her heart pinned itself to his the instant he smiled and laid his mouth against hers. ** Duo lay in quite contemplation over how a door could work without benefit of a visible hinge when the door in consideration suddenly moved. It was a common occurrence but the time of night made him curious though he was only moderately surprised when Relena entered his room. “Good evening, Princess,” he smiled having long ago given up any pretense of the girl warming up to him. “There are no monarchy’s in this time period,” she replied haughtily. “Perhaps,” he nodded sitting up completely. “But royal blood runs deep. It’s in your nature.” “Flattery will not blind my heart,” she snipped easing into the room but staying close by the door as he grinned and informed her… “It wasn’t really a compliment.” Her expression hardened but she held her tongue until Duo began to wonder about the nature of her visit.” Is there something I can do for you?” “You were with Hiiro before you came here,” she began gaining confidence from his nod. “I want to know what his situation was. We haven’t heard a word from him since you arrived and Noin still doesn’t respond.” “As I have said,” he smiled relaxing. “His purpose was revealed to me only sparingly.” “Was he all right?” she pressed more anxiously. “Last I saw him he dangled precariously over a pit with our enemy,” Duo replied distantly. “But Trowa insists he is alive and well.” Her face pinched and he smiled understanding the source of her pain. “You really care for him.” “Of course!” she snapped wringing her hands. “I’ve loved him longer than I can remember. He should have taken the back up beckon. Now, we might never retrieve him.” “Send me back,” Duo enthused. “And I will find him.” Her eyes narrowed hatefully before she growled, “I wouldn’t even if I could! I’d never subject him to your depraved ambitions!” “It was he who laid claim to me,” Duo informed her. “That’s a lie!” she hissed. “Hiiro would never go against code! And he most certainly wouldn’t want anything to do with an upstart, little street rat like you!” Duo’s skin pinked angrily but before the retort could fall from his lips the fury ebbed and he smiled. “He doesn’t respond to your affection,” he stated guarding himself when she began to boil over. “He’s a gentleman!” she snapped. “Or perhaps he is simply not attracted to those of the opposite sex,” Duo pondered smiling inwardly as he recalled Hiiro’s tenderness. “You’ve already lost,” she countered smugly bringing him back from his reverie. “Hiiro has been on countless missions just like this and never once failed. Whatever you are to him rest assured it was in the best interest of preserving the timeline.” “Is that why he sent me here?” Duo evenly replied and her lips thinned dangerously but he didn’t give her time to answer. “I’m afraid you underestimate the determination of the heart.” “My heart loves him fiercely!” she snapped. “And I will have him as my own!” “Regardless of his will?” Duo asked calmly causing her to sputter and choke on her words. “Maybe that’s the difference between a true and selfish love,” he told her. “Because I would gladly release him if it would secure his happiness.” Trowa eased away from the door before Relena could stalk away barely able to control the growing excitement inside him. Another day, perhaps two and the time would finally come. For so long he had waited, given up everything, his station as Hiiro’s partner, his Time Walker status, everything that he held dear even unto abandoning his best friend in a timeline that was not his own but soon…very soon it would all prove worthwhile. ** Hiiro paused to survey his work. Dermail had been very pleased when he offered to speed his ambitions by making the powder in stead of waiting for a shipment from across the sea. Preparations were well under weigh for the invasion of Sadual and though the Walker knew this shifted history somewhat he believed it would secure the king’s seat thereby preserving the mainstream of the timeline. It was Treize’s intention to usurp the monarchy and insert Zechs as the new leader and that he could not allow. Empowering Dermail for a short while was the lesser of the two evils even if it meant an attack on Sadual. He consoled his tumultuous mind with the thought that perhaps there had been an assault at some point and the southern kingdom was hardly defenseless, it was possible they would thwart the advance in spite of the small bombs he had created but the objective remained the same. Dermail must remain in power. He closed his eyes willing away the sounds of the army gathering outside and clamped down on the rising sickness inside him, the guilt and shame that always accompanied such a deed slowly gnawing at his bowels but this time it was different. This time it was his heart that ached to the point of gritting his teeth painfully as he prayed to the only one that had ever prompted him to truly question the integrity of his mission. “Duo.” ** “You’re very clever.” “Huh?!” Duo gasped spinning in stunned exasperation to face the commander where she stood in the dark quietly regarding him. “It’s uh… all in the wrist,” he replied nervously recalling the deadly look in her eyes when he had been on the receiving end of her weapon upon his arrival. “How did you escape your room?” she asked moving closer to the console he had been working at. “Trowa said I have an uncanny understanding of electrical devices,” he replied honestly. “And a natural ability with locks,” she smirked chasing away some of the apprehension in his eyes but he wasn’t stupid enough to believe there would be no reprimand when she’d caught him messing with their machines. “You understand this?” she asked seeing that he had almost figured out how to bring up the programming that would initialize the gateway. “It’s easy enough to read,” he shrugged. “It’s encrypted,” she pointed out leaning over to browse through this work. “The meaning is cleverly hidden,” he nodded backing away cautiously in case something he’d done angered her. “But it’s easy enough to read if one can find the…” “Key.” She finished turning a sly grin upon him that made his cheeks flush. “You’re ability is rare, Master Thief.” “Sola says I have no equal,” he smiled puffing up just a little as he relayed the praise but his shoulders slumped thoughtfully when she absently replied… “In this time or any other.” He waited while she looked over his work growing more anxious by the moment until he finally asked, “Should I return to my room?” Something on the screen made her chuckle softly then a sad sign escaped her lips as she softly intoned, “Mongolia.” “Excuse me?” “If you had stepped through the gate using these settings you would have arrived in Mongolia at the height of Gangues Kahn’s reign.” “Who?” Duo inquired innocently. “A barbarian that will someday take over half the world,” she explained. “This equipment is very sensitive,” she told him. “Without proper training the only thing you would accomplish would be to trap yourself in a strange timeline from which we would not be able to extract you.” “I still have Hiiro’s beckon,” Duo sniffed. “What you have is a shiny trinket of silver and gold,” she countered bringing a thoughtful crease to his brow. “The active ingredient in a beckon can only be used once,” she explained. A shadow passed through his eyes as he drew the useless beckon from his pocket and examined it. Une could easily see his frustration and knew his need to return to Hiiro’s side intimately but until they heard something from him or Noin they were stuck waiting because there was no way she was letting the situation get any more out of control. For a moment she thought perhaps she had reached him, that he had come to accept his fate but then he sighed and tossed the trinket on the counter and the light of determination returned to his eyes. “Can I go now?” She took a deep breath but lifted her communicator and called Walters to come see him safely back to his room. The addition of an external lock was to be installed that night but she knew it would only be a matter of time before he found a way around it. He was truly a master thief and she knew the longer he remained the more dangerous he would become. Not only to their cause but the more he learned of modern technology the more dangerous it was to place him back in his native timeline. She said a little prayer that Hiiro or Noin would contact them soon as she shut down the terminal Duo had been working on and tried to cope with the memory that Duo had so casually revealed in his report the haunting name of Treize Khushrenada. ** The march south had taken three days but Hiiro finally found himself standing on destiny’s doorstep. There was only one way to know the outcome of the battle so he mounted his steed and took his place General Septum’s side. No one was sure what had happened to Noventa and his men as runners between the two factions had yet to report back to the king and though Hiiro was certain the stern man by his side would do all in his power to ensure the kings victory he liked him a great deal less than Noventa which made it even more difficult to fight at his side. Still, it was imperative that Dermail retain his rule so when the battle horn sounded he roared into the fray with victory on his mind. He knew for every man that fell that day the future of their families would forever be altered but was forced to consider the greater danger of a known monarch being ousted before his time. Killing citizens of a historic timeline was forbidden however, so he was forced to leave as many of the enemy disabled as possible and did so with blind rage as he cut through the field. He was well aware of the sound of the bombs he’d supplied Dermail’s men with sounding off in the distance but when the impact shifted slightly his head turned to see the proof of his suspicion rising in a black plume from the scorched earth. The Sadualian’s were not as defenseless as it would seem. The fact that Dermail’s forces had just been attacked with the same sort of force that Hiiro had supplied did not bode well indicating the presence of a futuristic infiltrator in their ranks. It stood to reason Treize would be behind such a plan but he couldn’t reason why he found Noin among the enemy. “What in the hell is going on!?” he roared flipping a man that had meant to attack him over his shoulder and nailing him in the back of the head so he laid still. “I’m sorry it had to end up like this!” she shouted piercing the shoulder of an oncoming foe and Hiiro’s eyes went wide with shock when he fell writhing to the ground. “What’re you doing!?” he snarled stepping in to bounce her next victim out of the way before he was gouged. “Following my heart!” she shouted. It was the glance of her dark eyes toward another soldier down the line who was expertly dividing the enemy line, his tall form easily cutting through the fray while his platinum, blond hair streamed out behind his advancing form that reveled the truth. “You’ve betrayed us all,” Hiiro breathed unable to comprehend the magnitude of her crime. “This is how it should be,” she told him turning once again to gaze upon Zechs mighty visage. “He is the true king,” she insisted. “And I am sworn to serve and protect the Peasecraft monarchy!” “So be it,” Hiiro replied stepping forward so quickly she had no time to react before his sword impaled her thin frame. Her eyes were still wide with shock when Zechs roared from down the line and bulled toward them. Hiiro had never faced the sort of berserker rage he saw in his eyes as he pulled his blade free and let the woman slump to the ground just in time to block a vicious blow from Zechs sword that knocked him back ten feet to tumble along the ground. When he stopped he quickly regained his feet and prepared for the attack but the aspiring king had fallen at Noin’s side and held her gently in his arms. They spoke softly to one another causing a pain in Hiiro’s chest the likes of which he had never known but it wasn’t about him or the woman he had attempted to silence. There was a job to do and he would see it through no matter what the cost so when Zechs laid her gently on the ground, his pristine jacket rolled and tucked behind her head and a makeshift dressing on her side he stood ready for the fight. ** The entire situation was ridiculous. Everything was completely out of control but she knew somehow Hiiro would put it all right. It didn’t matter what that dirty, little urchin had said. Hiiro wouldn’t betray her feelings any more than he would willingly turn against the Society. She’d had enough of Duo’s lies and grew ever more impatient to hear from the missing Time Walker but there was little more she could do that night. Une had posted a guard in the control room after Duo’s idiotic attempt to flee so she couldn’t even console herself by watching Hiiro’s life signs so she retired to her room. Her gaze shifted instantly to the oddity of an ancient book resting upon her desk. She was sure she’d never seen it before and wondered over it’s origin as she slowly opened the cover. It was clearly very old, the pages showing signs of their years with yellowed parchment and delicate lines but the words were clear to read and brought slow terror to her heart when she recognized her own hand. Enraptured by the gift she sat absently in her chair and began to read. The tale was sorrowful, a telling of things she refused to believe. About halfway through the volume she came upon the picture of a boy, his bright, blond hair shimmering in the sunshine and a smile of sweet warmth and gasped softly when she read the passage beneath. There was more, so much more but it was all lies! There was no way any of this could have possibly happened! Duo! He must have done this somehow! He’d broken in and planted this heinous monstrosity! It was the only explanation but as she read on and leaned of later events her heart began to break. It couldn’t be true. She was supposed to marry Hiiro and they would live a long happy life together. The book fell to the floor when she stood, her feet backing away from the pages as if touching them might give validity to the contents within then ran with tears in her eyes from her room. ** Trowa gazed back at the unconscious form of Tony where he lay slumped over the table; the cup of coffee the tall boy had brought him still clutched in his hand and closed his eyes. The time had finally come. So long he had waited for this moment but Hiiro was finally in position and though he had wanted to jump the gun and rush to the blond boy’s side so badly he knew that wherever Hiiro was it was his actions that governed the events of Trowa’s ambitions because no matter where they were he and Hiiro existed in the same timeframe. He checked the settings one more time making sure the programming to alter the gate was intact and functioning before taking one last look around and disappearing into the shimmering surface of his dreams.
~ * ~ tbc... |
