Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ A Strange Fellowship ❯ Part three ( Chapter 3 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

This is a story from Duo's POV. Duo is a Kitco - a race of cat-people that are viewed as 'lesser people' and trouble-makers. Following his Sixth Sense (something all Kitcos possess) he finds himself foiling a kidnapping of a young noble. Little does he know that that was only the beginning, the encounter is going to change his life forever and lead him in a direction he NEVER expected.

Anime/Manga: Gundam Wing Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Fantasy | Type: Yaoi | Uploaded On: 08.30.2006 | Pages: 4 | Words: 6.2K | Visits: 896 | Status: Work In Progress

Strange Fellowship: Part Three
by Kai

Giftfic: for Enna (because she deserves it!)

Disclaimer: Nope, I don't own Gundam Wing and I get absolutely NO money for doing this.

Ratings: NC-17 (sexual content and language) this will likely be happening in the future so it'll be the rating for the entire fic

Warnings : AU, fantasy, action, yaoi, violence and language, etc.

Pairings : 2x5x6 (main pairing) and maybe a side order of 1x3x4 (not sure yet, we'll see...)

Summary: This is a story from Duo's POV. Duo is a Kitco - a race of cat-people that are viewed as 'lesser people' and trouble-makers. Following his Sixth Sense (something all Kitcos possess) he finds himself foiling a kidnapping of a young noble. Little does he know that that was only the beginning, the encounter is going to change his life forever and lead him in a direction he NEVER expected.

A Strange Fellowship: Part Three
by Kai

Duo's POV

I watched from where I sat on my chair as they left but Zechs clearing his throat delicately drawing my attention. He really was so very easy on the eyes. "Quatre is correct in what he says, Duo. If someone wishes to take on one of us they must take on us all. You were born a Guardian for a reason. As were all of us."

I watched as a breeze played with the loose strands of his long, blond hair. "And it doesn't bother you in the slightest that I'm a Kitco?"

"No." It was only one word but there was no doubting the sincerity of it.

My sixth sense had taken to jumping up and down on my insecurities. I could almost swear that I could hear it's derisive and maniacal laughter as it did. Annoyingly correct and smug little bastard.

The silence was getting a bit oppressive, and I found myself automatically trying to fill the sudden void. "So... uh, how long have you been together?" Both of them seemed startled by that and it wasn't until my Sixth Sense put in its two cents worth that I understood why my innocent question was a bit of a surprise. Apparently, Zechs and Wufei were lovers. Taken at just the words, my question wasn't about what I'd intended. My face burned as I rushed forward to clarify. "As Guardians, I mean. The five of you seem really at ease with one another."

Thankfully Zechs seemed to want to save me from further embarrassment. I could almost see my Sixth Sense rolling around on the floor laughing it's ass off... bastard. "Well, Quatre and I grew up together. Heero came to us first about seven years ago and then Trowa showed up not even a year after that. Wufei joined us four and a half years ago. Though, we'd known of the others the moment they were confirmed by the Oracle at Mount Magdun."

My ears twitched in the direction of the stairs as I heard the others starting to come back up. But instead of showing that I'd already heard them I continued with the conversation. Guardians or not, there was not point in reminding them about the skills that so obviously made me different from them. "Why weren't you brought together sooner?"

Wufei shrugged gracefully, long fingers picking at the hem of his jacket and making me itch to feel them scratching my ears. "Each of us has duties and responsibilities apart from those that come from being a Guardian and each of us had to go through training and schooling specific to our people and our countries if we were to act on their behalf."

I nodded and tried not to fidget. I could be still if I had to be but it was always a difficult thing. Luckily, Quatre, Trowa, and Heero stepped onto the roof seconds later, arms loaded down with blankets and pillows. Bouncing to my feet I rushed over to relieve them of some of their burden and without waiting for their input I quickly began making a comfortable nest, taking more from them as I ran out. When I was finished and standing relatively still, an amused silence greeted me.

Turning slightly I gave them a questioning look. "Something wrong?"

The five of them looked as if they were trying not to laugh but Quatre managed to force his mirth away long enough to answer. "We'd just planned on separate a sleeping arrangement, that's all..."

My gaze went from them to the nest I'd instinctively made and back. I could feel my ears dropping before I could stop them. "Sorry." It came out as a mumble as I moved to pull the blankets apart. Kitcos were always born as twins, triplets, or quadruplets. Always. And we slept in a nest with our families until we had families of our own. My family had been killed when I was young, so young that I couldn't really remember them... but there were things I did remember; like the nest. Honestly, I had no idea what I'd been thinking. I hadn't slept in a nest since I'd been at Lord Maxwell's Manor. Seemed that my Sixth Sense was trying to show me something, but what it was, was lost on me.

Before I could start pulling it apart, though, strong but deceptively thin arms wrapped around me from behind. "We weren't making fun of you Duo, and we weren't objecting to the arrangement... we just thought..." He seemed to lose his words.

Feeling a hesitant touch on my bare arm, I glance up into Trowa's green eyes. Though his face was still his eyes were warm and smiling. "We thought it was cute."

My Sixth Sense was laughing hysterically at my embarrassment. I hoped it choked on it's laughter. I fidgeted in Quatre's hold but couldn't make myself look away from Trowa. "Oh." I couldn't even work up any anger over being called cute; though, if I was honest with myself I actually sort of liked it. The last person to use that word in reference to me was Lady Helen. "Are you sure...? It wouldn't take long to change it."

I was a bit startled as Heero purposely strode forward, pulled off his sword-belt and boots, laid down in the nest of blankets and closed his eyes decisively. From behind me Wufei snorted before dryly adding his own comments. "Well, I don't fancy trying to move Yuy, the thick-headed ox is heavy enough when awake... limp, we'd have to have an extensive lever and pulley system just to roll him over." Heero's thin lips twitched slightly but other than that he didn't move.

Both Zechs and Wufei followed Heero's example. Wufei lay down with his back almost touching Heero's and Zechs' loosely held in his embrace. Seeing an opportunity to push the other three together, I gently but quickly pulled away from Quatre and jumped in behind Zechs, stubbornly refusing to play with the loose blond hair shifting enticingly in front of my face, as I did.

Quatre laughed quietly. "And none of you are planning to eat first?"

I sat up, ears tilted towards Quatre. "Food?" The blond strands of hair that had been teasing me were all but forgotten.

"We asked Sally to bring food and a change of clothing for you as well. She should be here in a few minutes but if you'd rather sleep..." The teasing light in Trowa's eyes convinced me that he was even more mischievous than Quatre seemed to be.

Jumping up from the nest, I shook my head vigorously. "No, that's okay. I sleep better with something in my stomach anyway." Quickly, I darted forward and snatched my hat back from where it was still clutched in Wufei's hand, cramming it on top of my ears just as Sally stepped onto the roof with two other servants each of which carried a tray with bread, cheese meat as well as three canteens of water. Sally had a bundle in the arm which I guessed was the clothing Trowa had mentioned. I was just glad I'd heard them coming and smelled the food early enough to cover my ears. Though the food had caught nearly my full attention, I didn't miss the looks the others exchanged. It was almost like they were upset that I had put my hat back on. I wasn't quite sure what to make of that reaction though, most people didn't like to see my ears and considering the reactions most people had concerning Kitcos, the smart thing would be to avoid those reactions.

"Duo?"

I glanced up at Sally's kind blue eyes and smiled because it was almost impossible not to. "Yeah?"

"I brought you a change of clothes for tomorrow. They should fit you but if they don't, just let me know and I'll find something else, okay?" She carefully handed me the cloth bundle. "I'm glad they finally found you. We've been looking for you for a long time."

I couldn't help but wonder if she would have said that if she'd seen my ears or my tail. My Sixth Sense remained quiet, though, giving me no hints in the matter. "Thanks Sal."

She winked at me. "No problem, cutie." With that she followed the two others who'd already left.

Setting the clothes next to the nest, I bounded over to the chairs they had left the food on and quickly started eating. If you didn't eat fast, food had a strange way of disappearing, like it's made of smoke or something.

"Duo, not so fast! You'll choke!"

Cheeks stuffed with food, making it difficult to chew, I turned to blink at Zechs only to find all five of them watching me in worry and... anger. I swallowed as smoothly as I could, using the water from a canteen to help me as I did. I shouldn't have assumed the food was for me but somehow... I felt like it was okay, being with them. It made me forget myself a bit. Carefully I put the food in my hands back and stood in one fluid movement. "Sorry. I'll go find something to eat and come back afterwards." I'd already started towards the edge of the roof at high speed but didn't get very far because I ran, head-first, into a solid wall of air. It knocked me right onto my rear, but no sooner had my bottom hit the floor, then I'd sprung up into a crouch - watching them wide-eyed; Heero in particular, since a wall of air was definitely elemental magic.

"We aren't mad at you, Duo." Quatre's voice was soft and calm but the hint of pain in voice held me in place. My Sixth Sense was remaining stubbornly silent, but I had the impression that it was shaking it's head slowly and rubbing the bridge of it's nose in exasperation.

Slowly I straightened, watching them. "Then who are you mad at?"

He seemed to flounder slightly, but Heero quickly answered for all of them. "We're angry at the situation and condition we've found you in. You're a Guardian and a living creature, the way you've been treated is deplorable."

I just shrugged. What else could I do? "So you don't mind if I eat then?"

Wufei's dark eyes drilled into me, "Of course not. We just want you to be more careful or you may accidentally hurt yourself." My face burned slightly and then his lips twisted into a smirk as I felt my hat leap off my head and fly to his fingers. "And you don't need that. You have no reason to hide from us."

I let out a startled yelp as I felt my tail thread itself through the hole at the back of my pants and stared wide-eyed at the smirking and slightly smug Elf. I couldn't figure out what my reaction to that action should be but Zechs didn't give me a chance to figure it out. The taller man took a couple of long strides to my side and then basically carried me back to the food. Mind still reeling, I just stared at the tray until Zechs plucked a piece of cheese from it and held it to my lips, gently but firmly pressing it against them until I opened my mouth to let it in. I tried really hard not to notice the long fingers that brushed lightly against my mouth. In order to avoid a repeat performance, I sunk into a cross-legged position next to the chair and started eating again but slower this time.

I was just starting to feel a bit self-conscious at having them watching me so intently as I ate, when they finally began eating themselves. With the five of us it didn't take long to clear the trays and as soon as the food was gone I scrambled to the nest and made myself comfortable, my black tail twitching lazily back and forth as the others did the same. I was happy to see that Quatre ended up between Heero and Trowa, with myself in the same position I'd been in last time because Wufei and Zechs had settled into their previous positions. It was easy to fall asleep after I was comfortable, far easier than I'd expected.

***************************

I didn't want to get up, I was warm and comfortable and that didn't happen very often. Besides, the nest smelled really good. So I tried to bury further into the warmth in front of me, only to hear a deep masculine chuckle in response. The strangeness of it made me blink my eyes open to find two sets of eyes: blue and black, looking down at me in amusement. Gradually I came to realize that I was cuddled into Zechs' chest and wrapped in his long blond hair. I was suddenly grateful that I had left my hair in it's braid for the night. If I hadn't, the two of us would have been combing through knots for hours.

Face burning, I started to pull away and was surprised to find that Zechs' strong arms were holding me in place. Confused I looked at him and Wufei for a long moment before I finally saw the lust lingering behind their amusement. My Sixth Sense choose that moment to 'poof' into existence and wallop me hard with it's clue bat, so hard I was sure I'd have bruises for days. I really should have expected it... the exotic and naughty factors were great temptations after all, but... I couldn't bear the thought of that being all there was. For the first time since Lady Helen and Lord Maxwell, I found myself truly wanting to have someones respect. I wanted the Guardians to respect me and I knew from past experience that having sex with them wouldn't accomplish that.

Carefully, but firmly, I pulled out of Zechs' arms and away from their heated gazes. Stepping out of the nest I noticed we were alone. "Where are the others?"

Slowly they got to their feet and Zechs started finger-combing his hair, grimacing when he hit a snag. "They went to bathe and make arrangements for our departure. Do you think you'll be able to go back to our rooms inside the Inn if the windows are open?"

I took a minute to think about it before answering. "If I climb down the wall and enter through the window I should be fine. I'm usually alright as long as I'm close to an exit that leads directly outside and I don't feel trapped. Why?"

Wufei stretched and my eyes were drawn to his firm stomach and the smooth skin there as his shirt rode up slightly. "We need to take a bath and change before meeting them at the stable."

My ears dropped and my tail went still. "Bath... horses..."

The two of them glance at me in unison before Wufei spoke carefully. "Are you afraid of water and horses?"

Fidgeting, I shrugged. "I can't swim but it's not so much that I'm afraid of water - more that I don't like it. As for horses... well, most horses tend not to like me... though, they are awfully far from the ground and they're so heavy that if you fall they'll squash you plus... they bite..." I glanced up just in time to see Wufei hiding a smile. Crossing my arms over my chest I glared at him, trying not to pout but failing. "Well, they do! They may not be carnivores but they can take a nasty chunk out of you if you're not paying attention to what they're doing."

Zechs elbowed Wufei in the ribs without looking. "Mount Magdun is a week's ride away from here and that is without resting or stopping. We can't walk there, we don't have the time to do so, but I'm sure that we can find you a docile animal that has no interest in sinking her teeth into you. I assure you, the five of us are all accomplished riders and we won't let anything happen to you."

He said it neutrally but it still made me bristle anyway. "Well, like you said... it's not like we have any other options. I'll meet you in Quatre's room so I can have a... bath." Despite my best efforts, the word came out like the curse it was. "I just need my hat first."

Wufei shook his head decisively. "No."

I stare openly in amazement. "Look, I understand you'd prefer me not to wear my hat when I'm around you guys and I won't, if it's just you, but I have to climb down the Inn wall to the window and it's broad daylight My ears will be really noticeable without the hat. So I need it back."

Again Wufei shook his head. "No. You're a Guardian, Duo, and people need to know and accept that you just so happen to be a Kitco who's a Guardian. If we don't let people know now they'll never believe it later."

What he said made sense but still... "I can see where you're coming from Wufei, but I don't feel like getting shot by an arrow on my way down to a bath."

From the look on both their faces, they thought I was being overly paranoid. "No ones will shoot you, Duo. We'll meet you downstairs, don't be too long or the water will get cold." With that they left me on the roof, entering the building without a second thought to the situation I was in.

I stood there a moment, hoping they'd come back. When they didn't, I gathered the clothes Sally had brought me and rigged it with some rope so I could hang them over my shoulder when I climbed down.

For a moment I hesitated, feeling exposed but maybe Zechs and Wufei were right. What were the chances that someone would look up, or that that person who looked would have a bow and arrows with him or her, or that they'd be a good shot? Not likely, at least, I hoped not. I waited a little while longer to see if my Sixth Sense had anything to offer but it didn't indicate anything either way. With a sigh I lowered myself over the edge, using the bricks as hand and foot holds as I easily made my way down towards Quatre's window. The window was exactly where I'd remembered it would be, one of the perks of a memory like a steel-trap. I remembered everything. The Inn was of average size; four floors and Quatre's open window was on the second floor.

I was between the third and second floors when Zechs looked up at me through the open window. He'd been smiling at first but the smile had disappeared into a worried frown as he noticed that I wasn't using a rope. Rolling my eyes at the stupidity of using a rope, I strongly considered giving him a lecture on being overly burdened and carrying around obvious evidence on your person. After all, rope only had so many uses and if you were caught in an area where a tall building had been robbed, while carrying a rope... well, it wasn't like they would wait for you to have a fair trial. And with a rope so readily available, chances would be in favor of a hanging. And as much as I despised being so blasted short, I didn't hate it enough to try and rectify it that particular way.

I chose, instead, to give him a cheeky grin. He wasn't a thief or ever likely to be one, he didn't need to know.

Zechs was just about to open his mouth, likely to berate me for doing something so reckless, when my Sixth Sense flared and had me twisting away from the wall so that I was clinging to it with only my left arm and leg. In my right hand I'd caught something. Something that looked a great deal like an arrow shaft. And it wasn't alone, it'd brought friends. Even with my Sixth Sense, there was no way I could catch or dodge them all and still hang onto the wall. So, I did the only thing I could, I let go.

Even as I started to fall, I was automatically twisting my body to avoid arrows as I did. I hadn't bothered trying to jump to the roof of the neighboring building; there was no shelter there.

I rolled as I landed on the ground and ducked quickly into the Inn's stable. Only to find a number of people staring at me, some who were obviously not happy with my appearance.

Quatre frowned as he stepped towards me, a hand hovering over his heart. "Duo, what's wrong? I felt..."

I didn't bother trying to answer as I edged back to the door and peered out, feeling my eyes change so I could see better. Whoever they'd been, they were gone, but whatever reason they'd had for trying to outright kill me in daylight hours - I highly doubted it was because I was a Kitco, and my Sixth Sense adamantly agreed with me on that.