"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 9

“Are you certain we should be doing this?” Quatre asked moving stealthily behind Trowa as he guided him along in the shadows of the outer wall. “It is my duty to protect the citizens of Sadual. If my escape brings misfortune to those whom I serve…”

“Shhhh,” Trowa hushed him yet again indicating the presence of Dermail’s soldiers by the gate.

A quick flick of his fingers indicated that Quatre should move down a small hill behind a ridge of bushes that led them into the safety of the trees but once out of range of the danger the blond began again.

“We have to find Rashid,” he stated. “He’ll know what’s become of my forces and we can regroup for a counter attack.”

“There will be no more battle,” Trowa informed him leading him deeper into the woods.

“Is that what you’re history books proclaim?” Quatre asked skeptically.

“No,” Trowa replied turning so suddenly to face him he ran head long into his strong chest. “But it is the only contingency my heart will allow.”

Quatre lost his breath as he stared into his saviors emerald eyes and Hiiro’s words once again rang true. “You really do love me,” he breathed.

“More than you will ever know,” Trowa agreed giving into the need to touch his face gently.

“But how?” the blond boy whispered as his eyes fell heavily closed. “You don’t even know me.”

“I’ve seen your face a thousand times in my dreams,” Trowa confessed telling him, “We were meant to be together, you and I.”

“Trowa,” Quatre gasped softly melting beautifully into his arms when the taller boy pulled him close and kissed him warmly. It lasted only a millisecond as long as he longed for before the blond sucked in a breath and commented, “But you’re friend disapproves.”

Trowa smiled as he took his hand and led him onward through the dapple shadows of the night and replied, “Destiny is a powerful force not even the length and breadth of the centuries can withstand.”

**

“Come even one step further and I will carve your heart from your chest,” Zechs warned stepping from a shadow as Hiiro and Duo emerged from the tunnel that led into the heart of Morres Keep.

“Now, Zechs,” Treize’s smooth tone interjected. “Is that any way to greet our guests?”

“Noin lies at deaths door because of his hand,” the tall blond ground out eyeing Hiiro hatefully.

“An action I deeply regret,” Hiiro confessed. “I’m glad to hear she survived.”

“You said you couldn’t kill anyone!” Duo snipped.

“No one from this timeline,” Hiiro corrected. “Noin is my subordinate and had, at the time, turned against our cause,” he explained. “Still, I sincerely wish I had had the time to reconsider my action. Will she survive?” he asked Treize since Zechs was still trying to fry him alive with his gaze.

“She is recovering slowly but will live to see a ripe old age,” Treize smiled coming out of the shadows.

“And bear the children of a king,” Wufei added easing from behind the stair. His eyes crinkled mischievously when he greeted Hiiro then drooped seductively as he took in Duo’s lean form. “It’s good to see you whole and so very well presented,” he said chuckling when Hiiro stepped possessively in front of the longhaired boy.

“My commander has requested a hearing,” Hiiro told Treize steadfastly ignoring the smirk on Wufei’s lips.

“By all means,” Treize smiled moving with a flourish to a table that was adequate for the communication. “We have all waited quite long enough.”

Hiiro moved cautiously not understanding the gleam in the ginger haired mans eyes, his hand firmly gripping Duo’s and one eye on Wufei as he set the communicator up in the center of the table and activated it. A moment later a small, holographic image of Une appeared and a wide smile graced the lips of Treize Khushrenada.

“My Lady,” the man breathed bowing sharply at the waist.

It was insanely easy to see that Une was more than mildly affected by the greeting as she was having trouble retraining her arrogant poise. “General,” she forced a reply.

“My god,” Treize breathed stepping closer to her image. “Could it be possible that you’ve grown even lovelier over the years?”

It was necessary for her to clear her throat before she could continue but when she did her fist question was, “What have you done to my agents?”

“I?” Treize balked glancing affectionately at Hiiro and Duo as he asked, “Could I be the cause of such devotion?”

“Treize,” Une sighed impatiently.

“You know each other,” Hiiro accused.

“Most assuredly,” Treize smiled.

“That was a long time ago,” Une snipped. “What is your intention?”

“Why,” he grinned turning once again to fully face her shimmering image, “to be forever by your side, of course.”

“You’re saying you contaminated an entire timeline just to try and make up with me?!” Une snapped.

“Oh, good lord,” Duo grumbled.

“As much as my heart would love to embrace that romantic notion,” Treize replied. “I fear it was your brave Time Walker who shifted the past.”

“What?” Une gasped while Hiiro’s reaction was a simple…

“Shit.”

“You?” Duo questioned. “But you’re like the proverbial tin soldier.” He smiled when Hiiro cocked a brow and explained, “Trowa read me this book…”

“What do you mean?” Une cut him off.

“He means,” Wufei stepped in. “That when your noble Time Walker decided to capture the heart and steal the virginity of one Duo Maxwell…”

“Maxwell?” Une gasped making Hiiro’s brow crease curiously.

“…he altered the timeline in both this and your own world,” Wufei went on.

“Who are you?” Hiiro demanded of his lover but all Dou could offer was a dumbfounded shrug.

“He…” Une began realizing only then the significance of what was happening. “He was the father of modern technology,” she reveled knowing that it had been Hiiro’s transgression that had made it so. If he had not fallen in love with Duo the longhaired boy would have died under the keep instead of being sent into the future.

“Me?” Duo grinned happily.

“Yes,” Treize smiled. “And the driving force behind the unification of eastern Europe in your lifetime.”

“Well, hot damn!” the longhaired boy crowed. “When can I start?”

“Une,” Hiiro said in such a tone that it stole Duo’s jubilation away but the braided boy didn’t understand until he asked, “Is there anything in the history books… about me?”

Duo’s face paled when he suddenly realized what could happen and he was suddenly clinging to Hiiro for all he was worth. “There is, right?”
he asked anxiously. “We did it together, Hiiro and I?”

Une was about to answer when everything changed at the sound of an old woman’s graveled tone. “Of course,” she said smiling gratefully as she leaned heavily upon Trowa’s arm and he led her from the tunnel into the light. “You must always stay together,” she told them.

“Grandmother,” Zechs scolded gently. “You shouldn’t be here. You’re not well.”

“Oh, pish,” she shushed him letting him take over Trowa’s chore. “I wouldn’t’ have missed this for anything in the world.”

Hiiro eyed his friend knowing that at least his secrets were to be reveled as he went back to Quatre’s side and stood to quietly listen but his gaze was stolen away when he saw a distant light in the old woman’s eyes that sent his heart into double time and stole his breath away.

“R…Relena?” he breathed incomprehensively but when she smiled there was no longer any doubt in his mind.

“Hello, my dear Hiiro,” she replied.

“Is that really you?” Duo asked eyeing her critically but she merely smiled and reached to pat his cheek affectionately.

“You’re more beautiful than I recall,” she told him.

“I don’t remember you’re ever having praised me,” he blushed.

“Oh, no,” she chuckled allowing Zechs to hand her into a chair. “I was sooo jealous of your beauty,” she laughed but it faded into a sad sound as she gripped Hiiro’s hand. “And your ability to bring Hiiro happiness.”

“What happened to you?” Hiiro asked kneeling down to gaze into her aging eyes. There were deep wrinkles in her face and the shadow of years gone by in her blue eyes but the memory of her youthful beauty still lingered in her face.

“I was a fool,” she told him. “Such was my obsession with you,” she smiled, “that I willingly fell prey to the will of a loving heart.”

Trowa’s face crisped to the point he had to avert his eyes when she cast a glance his way but her gaze was not judgmental and bore the weight of forgiveness.

“Trowa set you up,” Duo surmised and Hiiro’s gaze did not prove so forgiving but a word from Relena settled him down.

“He’s in love,” she defended smiling warmly at the couple. “And it was my own selfishness that sealed my fate.”

“Grandmother,” Zechs said softly kneeling by her chair. “I don’t understand. How do you know these people.”

“They are my friends,” she told him warmly.

“Relena is the daughter of our benefactor,” Une clarified. “She was lost in an unknown timeline a few days ago.”

“You used the portal without permission?” Hiiro scolded but she merely laughed.

“Yes, indeed,” she confessed. “And ended up precisely two generations too soon to do myself any good.”

“Which is exactly where Trowa meant for you to be,” Hiiro surmised.

“It’s what she wanted,” the tall boy explained.

“Yes,” Relena nodded. “I was quite clear on that subject.” No one but Trowa seemed to understand until she pulled a heavy book from beneath her many skirts and laid it on the table. “My life’s work,” she smiled happily. “And the answer to all your prayers.”

They all gathered around as she turned the pages and everything started to make sense.

“Where did you find it?” Hiiro asked Trowa when they reached the middle where Quatre’s portrait smiled back at them.

“In that chest,” Trowa told them indicating an iron vessel that sat along one wall.

“Hiiro,” Une evenly intoned calling his attention and for a moment they were back at the beginning, Time Walker and Commander and each knew the one thought going through the others mind.

Hiiro looked to the book then to Relena’s eyes and knew that she too was aware of the significance of the moment. He could take the book and destroy it and none of this would have ever taken place. He would never have met Duo nor taken him as his own. Trowa would never have found the book and Relena would not have been trapped in a historic timeline in order to write it to begin with. He could wipe it all away with nothing but a match but as his hands reached out to gather it in his arms only one thought dominated his mind.

“Duo.”

“We could have it all,” the braided boy breathed suddenly clinging to his arm. “I know it’s against the rules but I don’t care! Please… stay with me… we could have it all, Hiiro.”

It was all too much and he clutched the book to his chest as he twisted and backed away, the uncertainty and pain shining brightly in his eyes.

“Whatever you chose,” Une offered, “We will honor. There’s no way to tell if the previous timeline was better or worse.”

“I can stay?” Hiiro asked still fighting against training that was embedded deep into his psyche.

“Of course you can,” Relena smiled softly. “Please,” she added on a saddened thread, “Don’t make my sacrifice in vane. I realized a long time ago that the only way to truly love you was to let you go.”

“And what about you?” Hiiro rasped clearly grappling with his decision. All those people had died in a battle he had caused but… people died in battles throughout history didn’t they?

“Did you know,” Relena chuckled bringing some form of peace to his heart. “That I happened to come out on the door step of Roberts castle.”

“Who?” Hiiro inquired.

“King Robert Peacecraft,” Duo explained. “The last known, true king of Cherryton.”

“Until my grandson was born,” Relena smiled.

“You… married the king?” Hiiro stammered still trying to put it together.

“Yes,” she nodded adding, “And a stubborn man he was. He absolutely refused to give up on me even though I pined after you for I don’t know how many years.” Her eyes shifted dreamily as she spoke further grounding Hiiro as he listened. “But the fates will have their way,” she sighed. “And Robert was my destiny… just as Duo is yours.”

“Where is he now?”

“Buried in the royal cemetery where he awaits me with open arms,” she smiled.

“You would rather lie in the grave with him than live on in the future?” Hiiro asked.

“I have lived happily with him in this life,” she replied. “And I will go to my grave and die happily by his side.”

“Hiiro… please,” Duo pleaded and all fell silent as the Time Walker made his choice.

Duo’s heart stilled as he took the torch from the wall and he didn’t take another breath until he toed the lid of the chest open and dropped the book inside. The moment the lid shut Duo was in his arms kissing him madly and everyone let go a collective breath as Hiiro used the torch to melt a candle over the lock sealing it inside to await its fate.

“Live a long and happy life,” Une smiled before winking out.

“We leave you to your good fortune,” Treize said bowing with a flourish before stepping through the portal that had shimmered to life behind him.

“If you ever have second thoughts,” Wufei grinned tossing the communicator to Duo. “Give me a call,” he smirked tossing Hiiro a cocky salute before following Treize.

“Come away with me,” Hiiro smiled holding Duo tightly in his arms.

“Mmmmm,” Duo moaned happily then suddenly balked and pulled away.

“We have to dethrone Dermail!” Hiiro sighed. “Zechs! Where’d you go? Here,” he said ushering the tall blond into the circle. “Lend me your sword.”

“What?” Zechs gaped but could not stand against Duo’s enthusiasm.

“We’ll have to make some adjustments but it should do,” the longhaired boy commented looking the hilt over. “How do you tolerate the affects of lightening?”

“What?!” Zechs balked looking pleadingly to Hiiro who offered him little more than a sympathetic shake of his head.

It took the following six months to put things right in Cherryton but with Duo’s undaunted determination along with his new understanding of electricity and explosives Dermail didn’t stand much of a chance. The people of Cherryton had aiding them greatly because they were quite fed up with the man’s totalitarian ways and welcomed Zechs as their true king with open arms. He and Noin announced their wedding the following spring and with the help of Quatre, who had legally bound himself to Trowa the first chance they got, were well under weigh to joining their two kingdoms as one. Duo was not satisfied with this however, and insisted he and Hiiro hit the dusty trail in order to invite other countries to join in their peaceful and prosperous life. The fact that he had a number of new inventions, many of which Hiiro could not keep up with because he wasn’t sure exactly how much his help would hurt, aided them greatly in their endeavors making it ridiculously easy to make new friends. Before two years had passed the whole of eastern Europe was living in perfect harmony and the prosperity they shared was growing by leaps and bounds.

**

Une looked out over the beautiful expanse of the briny sea and wondered if there had ever been anyone, anywhere that didn’t smile when confronted with its timeless beauty. For so long the world had been happily at peace and she smiled knowing full well how it had come to be.

“You’re reminiscing without me again,” Treize chuckled slipping in behind her and offering her a glass of red wine.

“I read their story today,” she smiled sipping contently from her glass.

“Again?” he laughed softly kissing her temple.

“Mm,” she nodded chuckling along.

“And were they as happy this time as every other time you’ve read it?” he asked softly nuzzling her hair.

“Yes,” she snickered almost spilling her wine. “But I like to remember their faces. This is all because of them,” she reminded him.

“I’ll have a hand in that too if you don’t mind,” Wufei grinned slipping from a shadow on the veranda.

“Of course,” Une smiled tipping her glass to him. “If it weren’t for your daring intervention and protection things might very well have changed for the worse.”

Treize smiled raising his glass to toast the dark boy who had appeared to him with no more than a scrap of paper torn from an ancient book and a thousand questions. Having been confronted with a being from the extreme future had opened Treize’s eyes and prompted him to delve deeper into the mystery of his name appearing on a text that had been written hundreds of years before his birth, the ending result being the long lasting peace and prosperity of mankind.

“I shall continue to watch over them diligently, my Lady,” Wufei promised bowing respectfully.

**

“Hiiro?” Duo whispered as he lay contentedly by his lover’s side, their current mission to persuade the queen of England to join their cause having been a great success.

“Hn?” Hiiro sighed pulling him just a little bit closer.

“Do you ever miss it?”

“No.”

Duo laughed having predicted the answer then crawled up onto his chest to lay his full weight upon him. “Not even toilet paper?”

Hiiro cracked an eye to peer at him and Duo laughed when he replied, “Ok… maybe some things.”

“Do you think their all right?” Duo asked more solemnly.

“Wufei would inform us if anything changed,” Hiiro reminded him.

“If he realized it had,” Duo grumbled and Hiiro laughed. “What?”

“It’s ironic don’t you think?” Duo considered but appeared at a loss. “In the future man has acquired the ability to travel through time but he still has no control over his future.”

“The present is all we really have,” Duo grinned letting his legs fall open to straddle Hiiro’s thighs.

“And so should be celebrated with every breath we take,” Hiiro smiled sliding his hands down and around Duo’s firm body to pull him tightly against his growing interest.

“Let’s celebrate today,” Duo breathed kissing him deeply and Hiiro rolled them over digging deeply into the succulent heat of his lover’s passion as he replied…

“Today and everyday… until the end of time.”

Wufei smiled and leaned back into the shadows making a note of the time and day. He’d have to visit this moment again sometime but for the time being he decided to leave them their privacy as they slowly stepped forward together in perfect time.

owari :)

 

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