Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ A Strange Fellowship ❯ Chapter 6

[ 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 was going to change his life forever leading him in a direction he NEVER expected.

Anime/Manga: Gundam Wing Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Fantasy | Type: Yaoi | Uploaded On: 10.03.2006 | Pages: 5 | Words: 7.4K | Visits: 931 | Status: Work In Progress

A Strange Fellowship: Part Six
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 was going to change his life forever leading him in a direction he NEVER expected.

A Strange Fellowship: Part Six

by Kai

Duo's POV

I woke up to arguing; blinking from my curled up position under blankets, I tried to de-fog my brain, a process that was going undeniably slow. Due to that fact it took me a few minutes to recognize the voices of the people arguing, the fight had already escalated far beyond the point a reasonable point. From what I had managed to hear, both Wufei and Zechs were set on letting me sleep for as long as I wanted, Quatre was torn between allowing me to sleep and waking me up like I'd wanted, while Heero and Trowa were like two matching and immovable solid rock walls when it came to doing what I'd asked and waking me up.

Considering how long they'd known each other, that they were good friends, and that they were Guardians this argument was just very wrong in my current world view. So, despite an aching head and a slightly disoriented feeling, I slowly sat up in my mound of blankets clutching my braid in one hand and rubbing my eyes with my other. "It's alright, I'm awake." It was a bit hoarse sounding but it got instant results; silence and a canteen of water thrust into my hand. Concluding that they had stopped arguing for at least the moment, I gratefully drank down the cool liquid before giving it to the hand that had reached out to take it. As I gave it to Heero, he smiled at me in so slight a manner I almost missed it.

Both Zechs and Wufei had retreated to the very edge of the tent, like they were trying to avoid me but at the same time unwilling to leave completely. Quatre didn't seem to notice though, as he knelt down next to me. I swear if we hadn't been about the same height, he would have tried to pull me into his lap, as it was; he reached out to rub my head. I was in instant bliss, automatically leaning into the touch - though, thankfully, I managed to keep from purring again. My reaction seemed to amuse him and I found myself blushing when I realized that both Wufei and Zechs were glaring at him which appeared to entertain both Trowa and Heero. Quatre smiled at me - again, not that I minded since he had an amazing smile, but it did cause me to wonder if he ever frowned. My Sixth Sense was insisting that seeing Quatre frown would be extremely bad news for someone. "Are you feeling any better, Duo?"

The true answer was no but Quatre was already worried so I improvised. I didn't outright lie. I just smiled and shrugged before changing the subject to a less troublesome one. "Trowa, did you tell them about the storm tomorrow and the mudslide?"

Heero answered before Trowa could. "I don't sense a storm or a place along our route that may be susceptible to a mudslide. Are you certain you haven't made an error?"

He said it without judgment but it still made me bristle slightly. I had to bite my lower lip to keep from saying something nasty. Instead, I focused on letting my Sixth Sense flood me like it had earlier, trying to hold the information I received to what was going to happen during our trip. It wasn't easy. So many things were pushing forward, trying to be seen and heard. Things from weeks into the future and of places and people I'd never seen. Doing this, opening myself to everything my Sixth Sense could tell me, to find a single answer was extremely exhausting because I had to constantly find my way through it all, it also made my head hurt a great deal. Lady Helen had warned me never to do it unless it was an emergency, though she never told me why.

Despite her warning I felt like I had to do it, to prove that I was useful and needed. I still wasn't entirely sure why the respect of these five was so important to me especially when I had begun not to care what others thought of me; so long as they left me alone. Maybe that was my problem; I didn't want them to leave me alone this time.

My eyes were closed as I spoke. "We change our course due to an attack."

Quatre's voice was sharp, "What attack?"

Zechs' question came right after Quatre's and just before Wufei's and Heero's. "Who attacks us?"

"How many are there?"

"Why are they going to attack?"

Trowa's voice echoed after them, "No! Don't! He's a true Seer...."

But it was already too late. Countless things bombarded me, not in answer to each question but in answer to each of the words, the tones, the urgency, and the implied things all of it could lead to... everything. It was too much. I think I screamed, though I was certain I grabbed my head in agony. Nothing was real, everything was real, I wasn't real, I was an old man, a child, I was nothing. The universe was connected to others, many worlds, giant metal beasts... Gundams, I was Shinigami; Quatre was crazy and trying to kill Trowa, Wufei was a fire mage, Quatre and I were a couple, I was drifting among the stars in a metal... ship with corpses, Heero was bonded to a white horse, Wufei was in love with Heero but Heero was dead, I was an Imp and with Wufei and Trowa, Wufei was married to a girl named Meiran, I was with Heero and Wufei was in a world without a God of Death, a freaky blond girl with terrifying forked eyebrows stabbing Quatre with a sword, I had wings, a girl wearing an absurd amount of pink in a pink... limousine, Trowa on a high-wire, Zechs was a King with a son...

<< Duo! Focus on me and what I'm saying to you... what we're saying to you.>>

<< Quatre?>>

<< That's right Duo, but I'm not the only one. Listen.>>

So I did, and I heard something that ripped through the chaos swirling around inside me, something solid and stable that I was able to cling to.

<< Duo! By Nataku, I'm so sorry for all of this...>>

<< Wufei...>>

<< YES!>> I didn't just hear him, I felt him and what he felt for me. I never imagined someone could ever feel that strongly about me. The emotions and his mind-voice were faint but they were there.

<< Come back to us, Saekki.>>

I could feel my eyes blink slightly, but I still couldn't see anything other than the constant flashes flying at me from all directions. << Trowa...?>>

<< That's right, Saekki. I should have said something earlier but I wasn't entirely sure I was right. So, I wanted a chance to speak to you before I said anything - to make sure I was right. The clues from what you told me seemed to indicate as much; calling your instincts your Sixth Sense, the details and certainty of what you'd said, and the way you'd collapsed afterwards...>>

<< Indicate what?>>

<< Sixth Sense is layman's slang for True Sight, Duo. You're as much a Seer or Oracle as the one we're going to see at Mount Magdun. The reason it was never as detailed or specific before was because you're never actively used it.>>

At first I wasn't sure how he knew those things but my Sixth Sense was only too happy to supply the answer. I'd told them telepathically when I thought about my Sixth Sense; it'd been unintentional but in his desperation to keep me from being lost in my own mind to all the possibilities that my Sixth Sense was showing me, Quatre had forcefully pulled me into their telepathic net. As soon as he'd done that the others had latched onto me Numinally and something else...

<< Don't! Duo, don't look for answers now. Wait until you're back with us or we might loose you... and we only just found you.>>

I could almost see Heero in front of me, Wufei and Zechs next to me - having finally given into the need to be near me. Quatre and Trowa were just behind Heero, each with a hand on his shoulder. Heero sounded almost desperate. << Heero... but it could be important...>>

<< It's not important enough to risk your life for.>> He was angry now, but it was anger born of worry, concern and fear for me... for all of us. He felt responsible for us. We were all so young and he wanted us to have full lives so badly; we were his family, the only one he could remember having.

<< Family? Really?>>

I could feel Zechs' grip tighten on my arm. << Of course we are.>>

My head hurt and my body felt funny. << But you don't know me. How can you consider me family after so short a time?>>

<< But we do know you, Duo.>> Scenes projected slowly into my mind, pulling me safely away from the chaos. There was an image of when I'd jumped from the roof to the alley to try and help him, another of when I shook his hand, another when we spoke in the Inn before I'd bolted, an image of when I was in the cell shaking and bleeding, one where I'd managed to calm down a little and begin thinking clearly again, one when I'd made the nest, one of me sleeping - curled into Zechs, another of when I'd rushed into the stable with my hair in disarray, another after my bath, one of me eyeing the horse in distaste, an image of me taking a stand for my independence... and still more but it wasn't the events in the images that were important, it was the way I was seen in them. He showed me someone I wouldn't have recognized without the distinctive braid, ears, tail and eyes. A person who was beautiful, full of life and energy, a strong and fierce protector and yet someone who had obviously known pain and survived in spite of it. Someone who was worth loving and caring about... a brother... family...

I smiled and fell forward into their arms, but not before I answered as many of their questions about the attack as I could. I couldn't answer the who but 'what attack', 'how many' and 'why' I managed.

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

When next I woke, I was still in my nest of blankets but I wasn't alone as the other Guardians were with me. Zechs and Wufei were on either side of me - it was simple enough to identify them through their scents - while Trowa and Quatre were by my feet and my head was resting on Heero's chest.

"Duo?"

I glanced slowly to my left to meet Wufei's dark gaze, smiling shyly as I did. "Yes?"

He swallowed hard, looking suddenly miserable. "I need to apologize for how I behaved earlier..."

"No. You don't. Trowa spoke to me and helped me sort out some things. Things I have to talk to you and Zechs about, though, I should do that when we have a moment alone..."

I felt Zechs press closer to my side before I heard his voice in my head. << If you want to speak privately, you only need to think to us and want only the two of us to hear it.>>

My chest tightened slightly as I realized that I was really going to have to explain to them what was happening. I'd known before, of course, but it had been in the future - something that I'd have to do eventually but not right away. Still, they needed to know and if what I felt from both of them had been true, how could I not try to explain. << Okay. But...I have to warn you that there's a lot I don't really understand or know. I suppose that sounds a bit stupid, I mean, I'm a Kitco and I don't really know what that means or who I am. Lady Helen told me a few things and I'm beginning to think that some of what she believed was true, wasn't entirely... I think she did her best but, being human, she couldn't speak from experience or even first-hand knowledge. The end result is that sometimes, when I do things or I go through... changes... I don't actually know what's happening to me and sometimes I don't even understand why it's happening. My Sixth Sense tends to pick and choose what it will tell me and often it refuses to tell me much about my own life or about things that occur because I'm a Kitco.>>

I waited, staring at the roof of the tent, but for what, I wasn't certain. When their arms went around me, cradling me gently, the tightness in my chest eased and it was easier to continue. << I knew that I was going through something... at least, a part of me did... but I was so confused by it all that...>> I took a moment to try and organize my thoughts. << I wasn't necessarily lying when I said I wasn't a kit but I wasn't being entirely truthful either. I'm sixteen... at least, that's going by what Lady Helen told me when I was younger. According to what Trowa said, sixteen is when most Kitcos go through sexual maturity and that's what's happening to me.>> I felt them pull back slightly and panicked a little.

<< But I've already had sex so it's no big deal! Really! I remember Lady Helen explaining that both Kitco genders go into their first heat around the same age and that they mark the people they instinctively want to be with... I marked the two of you, but I know you're a couple so I don't expect anything. If you want to sleep with me and leave, I'll understand and we can all just pretend it didn't happen - if you want.>>

Their arms tightened around me slightly but it was far from sexual. It felt more like over-protectiveness, something I was quickly getting used to…perhaps a little too quickly.

Zechs' voice seemed far too calm when it caressed my mind, but I was so thankful that he was still talking to me that I overlooked it when I probably shouldn't have. << You've had sex before? Do you mind telling us about it?>>

I continued to stare at the ceiling of the tent. << It wasn't that great, actually. Everyone is always talking about how good it is and how wonderful it feels but it just... hurt. But they said that if I wanted to be with them that I'd have to have sex with them eventually...>> I shrugged slightly. << They lied. As soon as they had slept with me, they left me. When I wouldn't just go away, they told me that they'd only had sex with a dirty Kitco to see what all the fuss was about and that I hadn't been a good lay anyway. They twisted my tail... when they were screwing me; it hurt worse then when they were inside me because my tail is really sensitive, just like my ears.>> My eyes burned but I swallowed my tears down. Crying never did any good besides it was one thing to cry in front of Trowa and another entirely to cry in front of Wufei and Zechs. << If you tell me what you want to though, I'm sure I can do better for you...>>

<< How old were you then, Duo?>> Wufei's voice seemed barely contained and I wondered if he was upset with me. My Sixth Sense offered a token protest at that but it was pretty quiet otherwise. It seemed that it backs off considerably after I let it flood me with everything, like I had, but it had only happened twice so I wasn't really sure if that would be consistent or not.

I just kept staring at the fabric of the tent. It made talking about everything a lot easier to deal with. << I was ten, too young to have known better. But I'm not a stupid, naive kit anymore; I know exactly what I'm getting into. So you don't have to worry about me clinging to the two of you afterwards.>>

Wufei's voice was even more controlled. << And what if we want you to cling to us?>>

That made me blink and stare at him. There was no hesitation in his eyes, no regret in his movements or scent, nothing to indicate that he'd misspoken. There was, however, a lot to prove that his words were true. His scent, the fierceness and honesty in his gaze, the way he continued to hold me - like I was something precious -, and there was a promise in his face and body language that I desperately wanted to believe in. << I'd say that you can't speak for Zechs and that, when you say such things you should be certain it's something that you both would want.>>

Zechs brushed hair from my face and when I turned my attention to him, I found him looking down at me, eyes soft as he did. << In this he can speak for me - for us. You're a treasure, Duo. Both of us recognize that and we're not foolish enough to throw away such a precious gift as your affection.>>

I'd learned to be weary of silver tongues - especially those that resided in such a pretty package, but looking up into his earnest blue eyes; I knew that for better or worse, I believed him. Still, it seemed far too easy. Especially considering what I'd done to them without their permission. Marking someone was a highly intimate act, something you only did with people you claimed as your own - either as family or as something more. << You aren't upset about me marking you?>>

Out of the corner of my eyes I saw Wufei flush deep red and next to my ear Zechs chuckled - a sound that seemed to come from deep in his chest and made my body hum a silent purr in answer. << Oh, trust me, both Wufei and I found the, er, marking, rather pleasant. I for one wouldn't mind if you wanted to mark me numerous times - in private - of course. Well, the more intimate marking should likely be left until we're in private, to spare those people with more, er, delicate dispositions, but less intimate touching in public would certainly be acceptable.>>

Wufei was absently stroking my arm with his thumb. << Damn 'delicate dispositions', as far as I'm concerned you can do whatever you feel comfortable with - privacy or not.>>

Zechs' eyes showed he was teasing. << And you'd be able to handle that General Chang?>>

Wufei snorted. <<If I can deal with your well meaning, pink-embodied, sister as well as your sister's forked-eyebrow Amazon lover, then I'm positive I can grow accustomed to more public shows of affection between the three of us.>>

I blinked in surprise. No one who knew that I was a Kitco had ever insisted that I feel free to be as demonstrative in public as I wanted before. In fact, they usually insisted that our 'relationship' remain a secret. Even Lady Helen - for my own safety and the safety of those under her care - had made certain that I kept my ears and tail hidden in public. And that prompted my next question. << But if I do, you'll want me to hide that I'm a Kitco, won't you?>> There was no anger or emotion in the question. I was simply clarifying the situation.

I ended up on the receiving end of a very fiery stare. I should have been terrified and instead, all I could think about was how utterly striking Wufei looked, leaning over me with that particular look in his eyes. << I would never ask you to hide yourself - any part of who you are - and neither would Zechs. If someone cannot accept all of what makes you who you are, good and bad, then they do not deserve you.>>

Next to him, Zechs' blue eyes were just as serious and immovable as Wufei's. It made me really start to believe what they were trying to tell me. << So you won't mind if I'm a bit touchy-feeling then?>>

<< Of course not!>>

<< No.>>

I found myself smiling up at them. << Good.>> With that I pulled them down on top of me, burrowing into their joined arms and the mound of blankets as I did. I was more than a bit satisfied when they snuggled right back against me.

Just as I was about to go back to sleep I caught a pleased thought from Trowa. << Good work Saekki.>>

I couldn't help but smirk into my living blankets as I agreed with him. << Hey Tro?>>

The nickname seemed to amuse him. << Yes?>>

<< What does Saekki mean?>>

<< It's short for Saekki Kyong i or kitten in Elvish.>>

<< Hm. I like it... Tro?>>

<< Yes?>>

<< You know what you have to do, now that I've talked to Zechs and Wufei, right?>>

<< What?>>

<< You have to talk to Quatre and Heero.>>

<< I will, eventually.>>

<< I'll give you two days and if you don't talk to them by then, I will.>>

<< That's perilously close to blackmail, Duo.>>

<< So?>> I knew I was being a bit of a brat but that seemed to be part of a little brother's job, at least, based on my observations it was - and Trowa was older than I was.

I could feel him sigh near my feet. << Alright. Happy?>>

<< Much... hey Tro?>>

<< What?!>> Yep, I was starting to annoy him. It almost made me laugh out loud.

<< Night, big brother.>>

The new title seemed to catch him off-guard, though it still appeared to please him. << Night, Saekki.>>