Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ A World in a Grain of Sand ❯ Departure ( Chapter 17 )

Author: Keiran

Title: A World in a Grain of Sand 17/?

Pairings: I can safely say that it's a tentative 1+2+1 in this chapter. Mentions past Solox11 as well as 13x11, 3xD.

Rating: R overall, for no reason really.

Genre: Romance, mild angst, historical sort of fantasy.

Warnings: Shounen-ai, a bit more angst.

Archive: Gundam Wing Diaries, Cali0cat's Archive, my homepage. If you want it, drop me a line. ^_^
Notes: I guess we won't be seeing Quatre much anymore, now that he's out of the way.

Thank you Sundaire! - Sundaire devotes her time to check and correct my mistakes. Keiran heh-p-eeeh…

***

The morning found Duo, still as bewildered as the previous night, sitting on the windowsill of his room staring at the fields that stretched all the way to the horizon. He couldn't get Quatre's last words out of his mind. They rang again and again through his dreams, calling to him, waking him up, finally, just a few moments before the sunrise.

'You do bring him peace. I can only hope he would do the same for you.'

What could he mean by that?

Duo sighed in frustration. It was just this man's talent to make tentative peace, and then throw in a remark that would haunt a person for ages. Now he could stop wondering just why Sanq barely fought wars anymore - all possible adversaries were probably too busy mulling over some well-placed comment that Lord Winner had made. Nevertheless, he felt relieved that they were on speaking terms now. He genuinely hated hating people, even if they asked for it. Duo sighed and stood up, reaching absentmindedly for a comb. Carefully he separated the honey-brown strands and continued on to untangle and straighten them.

Ten minutes later, he took several deep breaths to ease the frustration the brushing invoked. If it weren't for the fact that the masses of hair were the only thing that connected him to his mother, he would have gotten rid of them years ago. But then, he couldn't quite bring himself to abandon the feeling of freshly washed, still cool hair against his skin. Not many things made him feel as safe.

He donned some proper noble clothing and walked out of his room, heading for the chamber where meals were served. It was fairly early, but he had already learned that almost everyone got up early in this place, now that he was certain that Dorothy actually slept, not staying up all night plotting ways in which to control the court. He smirked taking his place at the table, noting that Lady Dorothy was already there.

"Didn't sleep well?" he asked.

The woman scowled. "You know I had the worst night of my life! How dare you even ask!"

"I figured that since I was scheduled for beheading three days ago, for hanging two, and yesterday I was to be thrown in the dungeon, I thought that today I'd take my chances and perhaps even get an answer," Duo replied, earning a scowl. "I am merely wondering about your health, milady." Dorothy furrowed her brows and glared, yet the healer withstood her glare calmly. Eventually the lady gave up and answered.

"I do not feel bad, I was woken in the morning by sickness," she replied quietly. Duo nodded to himself.

"That is nothing to worry about," he said equally softly. "In fact, I dare say that is a good sign," he added with a hint of an impish smile. The lady glared again, but this time the threat in the look was mixed with thankfulness. They sat in silence until the others arrived and the breakfast was served. With the arrival of children, the hall brightened up immediately, filled with chattering and conversations. Duo sat in the middle of the table, absorbed with listening so much that he often forgot that there was food in front of him. This wasn't exactly family, but the princess did her best to make everyone feel at home after a couple of weeks of living under one roof. Once everyone was seated and the meal set, the atmosphere was peaceful. The tension started once the food was finished.

Duo listened intently as his little nephew spoke excitedly of everything they recently did, the sword fighting lessons included. "…And uncle Duo said that tomorrow we can go for a trip into the forest!" he finished, nearly jumping onto the table in excitement. His step father smiled at him.

Well, I'm delighted that you're having such a lovely time here, but I'm afraid that we will be leaving shortly," Treize announced. Duo turned in his seat surprised.

"How shortly?"

"Within this week I'm afraid." Treize looked apologetic. The children looked disappointed. Lady Une was ignoring her husband in favor of Heero, who at the moment desired nothing more than to crawl under the table.

"So soon?" Duo asked again, his voice barely shaking. 'But it is unfair,' he berated himself, 'you knew it was going to be like this when you decided to stay out here rather than return to Albion. You knew you wouldn't see them too often.'

"Yes, I'm afraid we need to head to the capitol," the blue-eyed man said firmly, yet kindly, attempting to placate his children. "We stayed a bit longer than we originally planned anyway - I have yet to speak with his Highness and things at home won't supervise themselves, you know." Relena looked appropriately surprised, but collected herself immediately.

"It was a pleasure to have you as our guests here, and you have my word that I will make sure your stay in Sanq will be equally pleasant," she said formally. "I shall be heading home as well, if you don't mind my company," she added. Heero blinked at this. So suddenly everyone was going home? He shot his friends a questioning glance.

"Yes, we shall be heading home as well," Trowa answered the unspoken query. "It's high time we left anyway - any later and Dorothy would have to stay here for the next year." Dorothy glared at him furiously. Duo snickered delicately behind a grape. Fortunately for him the smirk escaped the woman's attention.

"Trowa…" she hissed dangerously. Treize caught onto the game and snickered himself. Pictures of Une glaring at everything and everyone entered his mind, especially amusing since they were cast over a very rounded belly. He and Solo used to joke about it all of the time, especially since it was about the same time that his own wife was with a child. Yet the memory of Duo's brother and Mariemaia's mother made him sigh softly. He doubted he would ever be able to recall their faces without the hint of sadness their respective deaths caused. But he knew he wouldn't want to.

***

The trip to the forest went without a hitch - the children returned barely conscious but happy and went to sleep immediately afterward. The time flew by, and very soon the party was ready to depart. Heero stood watching the carriages being prepared, although if one was to follow his gaze he would found it stuck to the figure of a certain young man, rather than anything else. Une was leaving, so that meant he would finally be able to move around the mansion without looking around each corner, but on the other hand, Duo would return to the temple. He couldn't decide which was worse.

"General." Heero froze hearing the voice. Sure enough, it was Lady Une. He turned and bowed respectfully, trying inconspicuously to check if she was holding any weapons. "Would you walk with me please?" she said, and without waiting for a response she turned and walked in the direction of the gardens. They walked in silence until they reached the shade of the trees, Heero throwing curious looks at his companion from time to time. Finally the woman spoke.

"I was thinking about what you said," she admitted softly and continued, "and you might be right."

"I meant no disrespect milady," Heero answered quietly, wincing as he recalled his harsh words. They might have been true, but even truth could be phrased so as not to hurt anyone.

"Oh, but you did," the woman chuckled. "At the time. I can understand that. Well, I will not tell you stories about Duo, since they are his to tell, when he decides you should know. However there is something I can tell you."

"I'm listening, milady."

"I was his brother's wife, you know that, I assume?" When the general nodded she continued, "I knew them both most of my life, although I rarely saw Duo. He was taken early on to the East for teachings. I admit that he might have felt slightly uncomfortable in my presence - I never wished him wrong, but ensuring that my husband was happy was more important. You probably do not know, but Duo looks just like his mother, with his violet eyes, pale skin and chestnut hair. He doesn't remember or probably wasn't ever told, since he was about four at the time, but his mother committed suicide after she was ravished. It was mostly because of that Duo was constantly being sent away - Solo couldn't bear to look at him too long before breaking down. Yes, I continued to send him away for my husband. I am probably to blame for everything that has happened to him. No matter how it may seem, however, I care for Duo. I will not stand to see him hurt, do you understand?"

"I wouldn't dream of hurting him, milady, I promise," Heero said very quietly, holding her gaze. The woman offered a tight smile in return.

"I will trust you not to," she said. "But trust me on this general, should you break this promise, not even death will grant you peace, I'll make sure of that." Heero smirked. He understood the lady well. He assumed that it was all, but the woman had not finished yet. But it did seem like she finally accepted him.

After all, she virtually told him that Duo above all else needed someone to be with him. Always.

***

Duo stared after the disappearing carriages. Heero stood by his side, his gaze also drifting to the coaches, but the further they were, the more his eyes returned to the slender figure of the healer. The general was cursing internally, seeing that Duo had already changed into his white robes, which meant that he was going back to the Temple.

"Heero?" Duo said, cocking his head to the side rather - Heero thought - adorably. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, why do you ask?"

"I don't know." The healer blushed faintly, averting his eyes. "You weren't speaking and you had that strange look in your eyes…" The statement made Heero blink. He felt a wave of smugness envelope his person. Duo was concerned for his well-being. That was a victory in itself.

The blush just made it sweeter.

"I'm fine. But I am glad you are concerned." The blush took on a slightly darker hue. "Would you like me to see you home?" His satisfaction grew as Duo nodded shyly.

They didn't speak much afterwards. Wing and Deathscythe were already saddled and waiting for them in the stables. The duo started on the road without a rush, in fact, it even seemed like they were slowing down the closer they got to their goal. Duo smiled looking at his companion. They were silent for a long while, but when they eventually started talking they couldn't bring themselves to stop - he found they had so much in common and yet at the same time they differed so much…

Being with Heero alone like that was more and more becoming. He never really had anyone he could speak with like he could with the general. In fact, he barely met people that were likely to converse with him equally. He sighed happily after the older man countered his statement vehemently. Only now he began to understand how much he longed for such a partner. He knew Heero wanted him as a partner, of that he could be sure. He just wondered if he would be able to let him close enough.

The blue-eyed general felt as if he would cry when the white building of the Templecame into view. He'd been having such a wonderful time! But his disappointment diminished quickly when the small figure of Sally ran out to meet them and flung herself into the healer's arms crying her eyes out.

"Hilde is dying, healer! Master said she won't see the next sunrise!" Heero looked on as the violet eyes slowly filled with pain and anguish. Duo tried to say something, but he couldn't seem to find the words. "She won't die, will she?" Sally demanded. "She will be fine!" she cried, pulling herself away and staring imploringly into the healer's eyes. He, however, was unable to return her stare. "Won't she? Won't she?!" The child's desperate sobbing sounded hollow in the empty country yard as her hopes were torn apart by the soft words whispered into her ear.

Heero felt despair enter his own heart as he watched the golden head snuggled into Duo's embrace. He felt sorry for Hilde, even though he barely knew her. They spoke briefly a few times, enough for him to know that she was kind, cheerful and easy to talk to. But that girl was his Duo's best friend. If she died… if she died, how would that affect the long-haired man? Would he stop caring? Would he change?

…Would he push everyone else away, just not to get hurt again?