Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Bonds of Love ❯ Chapter 9
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: Arigatomina 
Anime/Manga: Gundam Wing Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Drama / Hentai / Romance | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 07.08.2002 | Pages: 1 | Words: 3.3K | Visits: 943 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: Gundam Wing Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Drama / Hentai / Romance | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 07.08.2002 | Pages: 1 | Words: 3.3K | Visits: 943 | Status: Work In Progress
Author's Notes: This is a fusion with the book: So Worthy My Love by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss. While there will be no text reproduced here, the story line will follow the book's almost exactly, any changes made not too drastic.
Category: Yaoi, AU, Gundam Wing, fusion with a book
Pairings: will be 1x2, vague hints at 3x4/3+4, beginnings of 5+2
Warnings: shonen ai
Author: Arigatomina
Email: arigatoumina@hotmail.com
Bonds of Love
Part 9
It wasn't working, his lame attempt to distract himself. Just glancing at the sky had him imagining bright violet eyes and Heero gritted his teeth as he again tried to focus on hunting. So far, he'd yet to spot anything, and he'd been out for hours, having woken long before dawn. In fact, he'd barely slept and by the time the sun rose he was fully convinced of his own idiocy. There really wasn't an excuse for his behavior the night before, and he didn't know why he'd reacted so badly. While it was true that his lengthy abstinence was getting to him, he'd never before threatened to harm someone the way he had Duo. And even his harsh words to the boy had been a lie, it wasn't rape he'd had in mind.
If truth be told, he'd been about four seconds away from sweeping the boy into his arms and carrying him off to his bed. His own rush of lust hadn't been unheard of as he was young, but the pure strength of it made him glare down at the ground. He'd been consumed, pure and simple, and his mind hadn't even thought of what his actions would have meant if he'd done as he'd wanted to. As hard as he'd worked, taking such risks to sneak back into England, and here he was forgetting the one he had gone for. Until he'd found out his mistake, Relena had been the only one he'd thought of, and it was confusing that he would be so eager to replace her with the infuriating boy. It was true that Duo was attractive, but Heero had thought himself fully dedicated to his betrothed.
Wufei's words now came back to him with a vengeance and as much as he hated it, he was seeing that they had a certain merit. He'd said he was going for the girl out of love, but now he wondered, he really did. They hadn't known each other that long, and while the girl had been the epitome of the obedient bride-to-be, he couldn't really think of anything about her that he loved. She was beautiful, but his traitorous mind was quick to bring up images of a certain longhaired boy who's beauty rivaled hers. She was intelligent, but Duo's wits were evidently sharp and this too didn't help him any. No, he couldn't say why he loved her, and that in itself told him that it wasn't really love at all. Instead, he was growing certain that his motives had, indeed, been revenge.
Sine he'd known the man, Edward had spoken of his wonderful daughter and Heero hadn't found fault with him when he'd finally met the girl. But he'd noticed that her father did everything for her, bending to her every whim if it was possible. He knew this, because he'd been amazed that she wasn't spoiled by the treatment. This knowledge, however, told him that if Relena had truly mourned his death then there was no way Edward would have even tried to force her into another marriage. Even if the man had convinced her that Heero was indeed a murderer and a traitor, he didn't think the girl he knew would have thought to marry again so soon. Which meant, he didn't know her as well as he'd thought. Turning his black stallion back in the direction of the castle, Heero's expression was dark as he realized he'd always known.
It had been at the back of his mind, the possibility that the girl had betrayed him as much as her father. Somehow, he'd managed to keep this knowledge from himself, reminding himself of her vows of love. No, he didn't love her, and last night had proved it without a doubt. Even months of abstinence weren't an excuse for what he'd done, and he grudgingly admitted that he was drawn to the boy. While he wouldn't say it was fondness, since he wanted to strangle him more than hug him, he knew his feelings for Duo were more than any he had for Relena. And he'd threatened the boy with bodily violence.
Determined to somehow set things right with the longhaired spitfire, Heero reminded himself of his promise to the boy. It wasn't too late in the morning, and if he headed straight back, they could be to the town by noon. Hopefully, a shopping excursion would help to heal the rift, even if it couldn't take away what he'd said. Heero smirked at his pitiable thoughts, but it was really the only thing he could think of. He couldn't apologize; it just wasn't in him. Besides, he'd meant the warning. If Duo offered, he'd happily take.
* * *
Blood and knives and needles were blazing their way through Duo's mind, but his thoughts had nothing to do with the man who'd angered him the night before. No, he was thinking about the dream as he'd had it again before waking up. While he didn't believe dreams actually foretold the future, the horrible images were so realistic he found himself shivering and moving closer to the fire. He'd woken as the sun had risen, and he now found himself alone in the castle. Oh, Wufei's chef was somewhere, but Duo didn't want to bother him, and Quatre and Trowa had disappeared. They'd been working so diligently lately, that Duo hadn't had the heart to ask them to stay and keep him company as he waited for Heero to come back. Before he'd left, Trowa had told him that the man had ridden out hours before, and Duo was convinced it would be a long time before he returned.
He'd tried to hold himself on the threat Heero had given him, rather than focusing on his father, but for some reason, he couldn't do it. Actually, he thought he knew the reason and this revolved around an odd conviction he had that Heero wouldn't really hurt him. This was stupid, since he knew the man had fought for the Queen in the past and that violence was no stranger to him. Add to that the fact that he'd threatened to rape him and Duo found himself wondering where his certainty came from. But whether or not he knew why, he was sure Heero had spoken out of anger and that he didn't really mean what he'd said.
Duo smiled suddenly as he realized his mind had managed to divert itself after all, and he stretched slowly. Pondering his odd captor was a much better way to pass the time, and it was with a sigh that he walked the length of the hall and paused at the door. It wasn't snowing, and the air wasn't accompanied by the usual biting wind. Throwing on the rough cloak Trowa had lent him, he decided to go for a quick walk. The cold reminded him of Heero's promise, and he found himself wondering if the boy would still be willing to take him to town. He really wanted some better clothing. Also, if he could, he wanted to try and find Wufei. The black-haired man hadn't brought his money when he'd visited, but Duo knew he had it on his ship. The thought of Heero's not returning for the excursion made him frown, and he left the castle so he could walk through the surrounding brush.
Duo still didn't know what he'd done to set the man off, and that bothered him as he liked to know such things. It was helpful in predicting future reactions. But as far as he could tell, he hadn't done anything wrong. They'd been arguing, yes, but no more than they'd done since they'd met so that didn't explain it. Sighing, Duo pushed his way through some brown bushes, then he stopped abruptly with a grimace. He raised his hand and glared at the small spot on his finger before looking down. They were thistles, so many that he was amazed he hadn't managed to hurt himself pushing through them so thoughtlessly.
As it was, inspection revealed that his dark cloak had managed to catch a number of the nuisances and he picked them off with a distasteful face. Then his expression changed, a slow smile rising as he suddenly let out a sharp laugh. While he'd already gotten over his fright from the night before, he reminded himself that Heero hadn't had cause for his words and the man *did* deserve some sort of retaliation. //And I'm so ingenious when it comes to retaliation.// Duo snickered again as he pulled off the cloak, and he was very glad that the castle was deserted at the moment. Luck was definitely on his side, and he ran the rough cloth over the bushes, watching with bright eyes as the little burs caught and stuck to it. As he worked, his thirst for revenge grew and it was with a light step that he made his way back to the castle, the precious bundle wrapped in his cloak. Even the cold couldn't put a damper on his spirits.
Trowa and Quatre still weren't in sight when he got back to the castle, and Duo ran up the stairs quietly. It took him less than a minute to reach Heero's room, and his grin nearly split his face as he took the time to sit down on the man's bed. For a rude person, Heero was rather neat, and it was made well, no wrinkles evident. Still, Duo knew how to make beds, and he didn't worry about unmaking it as he pulled the covers back so that the mattress was revealed. It wasn't until he started to pick the burs off the cloak that he found a problem as it was difficult to keep from getting pricked by the sharp things. Then his eyes moved around the room and halted on the comb that sat on the dresser. Sure enough, the burs combed off easily and Duo made certain the mattress was evenly coated before he remade the bed. His smirk bordered on evil when he left the room, but he was convinced his actions were deserved.
* * *
The horse was ancient, and Heero frowned as he slowed his stallion even more, not wanting the boy to get too far behind. Duo had yet to complain about the steed, but the man wondered if that were because he didn't mind, or because he didn't want to speak to him. He'd yet to say a word, and while he'd moved quickly to join Heero on the trip to town, Duo hadn't so much as looked at him. Well, he had once, but that had been because Heero'd laughed at him. He hadn't meant to, but the boy's expression had been hilarious when Duo had seen the horse Quatre brought out to him.
It was obvious that the blonde man thought to either please Duo or cheer him up, because the old white horse's mane and tail had been decorated in small ribbons, the braids very cute despite the animal's looks. Personally, Heero thought Quatre had done it in an attempt to make Duo laugh, but it didn't really matter as the boy had thanked him for the effort. He didn't know if the boy had meant the soft comment to be sarcastic, but it had sounded honest enough. Glancing over again, he met Duo's eyes for a moment before the boy looked away again and Heero faced forward as they neared the town.
He was embarrassed to be riding the ridiculous looking horse, but Duo really didn't know what to do about it. Quatre's expression had seemed hopeful when the blonde had led out the gelding and Duo didn't want to risk hurting his feelings. Also, he was sure that Heero got a kick out of his riding the creature and he wasn't willing to let the man know how uncomfortable it made him. If Quatre had gone to the trouble to try and make the horse look better than it had when they'd bought it, then Duo wasn't going to complain. He'd just have to remember to take the man aside sometime in the future and explain to him about males riding horses with ribbons. Actually, Duo smiled a bit as he imagined telling the man that, and he suddenly wasn't bothered by the odd looks he and Heero were drawing from the people they passed.
The town was as small seeming as ever, and Duo kept his eyes alert as he watched for the dock he'd found before. Unfortunately, Heero seemed to know exactly where he was going and there wasn't time to do any exploring before the man stopped before a small shop. It was with a carefully masked wince that Duo looked down at the snow-trodden ground and the mud that had been mixed. He was very glad he'd be getting new clothes, and boots would be the first thing on his list.
Heero noticed Duo's look as he dismounted, waving a boy over to take the horses. His own boots were high enough so he didn't have to worry about the thick mud, but he could see why Duo would be hesitant to walk in it. The boy's shoes were more than inappropriate. Stepping to him, Heero barely kept himself from smirking when the boy looked up with a wary expression. "Here, I'll help you to the walkway. The mud is thick."
He didn't move as the man's hands touched his waist, and Duo was ready to say no. Unfortunately, he doubted he'd be able to get new shoes that day, and he really didn't want to walk around in muddy ones. Besides the fact that his pants would also get ruined. Instead of arguing, he sighed and placed his hands on Heero's shoulders as the man pulled him out of the saddle, catching him against his chest. Then Duo gasped as Heero took an unsteady step and he closed his eyes tightly, waiting for the man to fall.
With a smirk, Heero watched the boy's closed eyes, noting the strong grip on his neck as Duo's face was a portrait of expectation. Nearly a minute passed before those violet eyes opened a bit, and the boy's confusion made him want to laugh. Then a light blush reached his cheeks, and Duo turned his head, his grip loosening a bit. Still smirking, Heero carried him to the wooden walkway and set him on his feet, noting that the long-haired boy had yet to glance at him.
Duo cursed himself as the man stepped by him and opened the door to the shop, then he quickly cleared his face and followed him. The woman inside smiled brightly, and it was obvious she'd met with Heero before as she seemed honestly happy to see him. //This is probably where he buys *his* clothes. I'll bet she just loves the fortune he spends here.// Then his thoughts were shoved aside as he focused on what the cobalt-eyed man was saying.
"I'll be back in about an hour," Heero murmured, glancing at Duo's frown. "I'm sure you'll find plenty to keep him occupied. It would be better if he didn't wander around alone, so I will come back to pick him up after I've taken care of my business." The woman nodded quickly, and Heero knew she wouldn't let the boy out of her sight. Duo obviously thought the same thing, and Heero's eyes glinted as he turned to face the boy. "Here," he said, handing him a small sack of money. "I'm sure this should be plenty. I'll see you in an hour."
Duo's eyes nearly filled his face as the man suddenly kissed his cheek, and he flushed furiously when the woman smiled, no doubt thinking it was cute. Obviously, she thought he was a younger relation of Heero's, and the way the man practically patted his head before leaving made Duo feel as if he *were* a child. Then he saw him riding his horse off, and he shoved his anger aside, turning to the woman sharply. "I'm afraid I must ask a favor of you. I need you to send someone to fetch a Captain Chang Wufei for me. He'd be in the shipyard, I'm sure."
The woman looked wary, and she shook her head quickly. "But lord Yuy didn't say anything about that."
"No, he didn't. But you see," Duo gave her a light smile, knowing the airs he was assuming had her cowed. "I'm afraid I intend to spend a great deal more than this," he hefted the bag with glinting eyes. "And at the moment the Captain has my funds. So I really must ask you to send someone for him. I will, of course wait here. I wouldn't want to be walking around alone." This seemed to reassure the woman as he wasn't planning to go against Heero's words, and she finally nodded. Duo watched as she called a boy over, and he smirked at how quickly his orders were followed.
* * *
Wufei was more than happy to assist him, and Duo was actually seeing benefits to the man's liking him. Of course, he didn't think he'd asked for anything a friend wouldn't have done, but the black-haired man was more than happy to help. Since he didn't want to be indebted to Heero, Duo had given the Captain the man's money to invest, and he spent his own instead. It was actually a good thing he had his own money because, as he'd truthfully told the woman, he planned to spend a great deal more than Heero had given him. Whether he ended up staying until spring, he knew his eventual return to England would be better if he had appropriate clothing. Besides, he was eager to dress better than he'd been doing, especially since he could wear men's clothing. It had been a while since he'd had the pleasure of shopping for himself, and unlike some men, he did have pride when it came to his appearance. Wufei evidently approved as he was quick to tell him if his choices were good or not.
In the end, the woman was unable to keep him in the shop, and Wufei reassured her, saying to simply tell Heero that he and Duo would be in the nearby inn at the end of the hour. With that, he escorted the boy out of the shop and to the next one where he could put in an order for new footwear. He'd never considered himself a fancy dresser, but Wufei had a good eye when it came to what looked good and what was worth buying, so he saw to it that the boy wasn't cheated. Of course, Duo had a way of haggling that made him smirk, and he doubted if his help was really needed.
He was pleased that the boy had sought him out, even if it was only because he had his wealth. The fact that Duo had felt comfortable seeking him was, to him, a step forward. The smile on the boy's face was also a step, and he took pleasure from it, knowing that had he not been there, Duo wouldn't have been so happy. He didn't even seem to mind resting his hand on Wufei's arm, and the black-haired man was careful not to push the boy. The contact was enough for the moment, and the ease with which the boy addressed him was satisfying. Duo was comfortable with him, and that was something Wufei didn't intend to take for granted.
* * *
TBC
Category: Yaoi, AU, Gundam Wing, fusion with a book
Pairings: will be 1x2, vague hints at 3x4/3+4, beginnings of 5+2
Warnings: shonen ai
Author: Arigatomina
Email: arigatoumina@hotmail.com
Bonds of Love
Part 9
It wasn't working, his lame attempt to distract himself. Just glancing at the sky had him imagining bright violet eyes and Heero gritted his teeth as he again tried to focus on hunting. So far, he'd yet to spot anything, and he'd been out for hours, having woken long before dawn. In fact, he'd barely slept and by the time the sun rose he was fully convinced of his own idiocy. There really wasn't an excuse for his behavior the night before, and he didn't know why he'd reacted so badly. While it was true that his lengthy abstinence was getting to him, he'd never before threatened to harm someone the way he had Duo. And even his harsh words to the boy had been a lie, it wasn't rape he'd had in mind.
If truth be told, he'd been about four seconds away from sweeping the boy into his arms and carrying him off to his bed. His own rush of lust hadn't been unheard of as he was young, but the pure strength of it made him glare down at the ground. He'd been consumed, pure and simple, and his mind hadn't even thought of what his actions would have meant if he'd done as he'd wanted to. As hard as he'd worked, taking such risks to sneak back into England, and here he was forgetting the one he had gone for. Until he'd found out his mistake, Relena had been the only one he'd thought of, and it was confusing that he would be so eager to replace her with the infuriating boy. It was true that Duo was attractive, but Heero had thought himself fully dedicated to his betrothed.
Wufei's words now came back to him with a vengeance and as much as he hated it, he was seeing that they had a certain merit. He'd said he was going for the girl out of love, but now he wondered, he really did. They hadn't known each other that long, and while the girl had been the epitome of the obedient bride-to-be, he couldn't really think of anything about her that he loved. She was beautiful, but his traitorous mind was quick to bring up images of a certain longhaired boy who's beauty rivaled hers. She was intelligent, but Duo's wits were evidently sharp and this too didn't help him any. No, he couldn't say why he loved her, and that in itself told him that it wasn't really love at all. Instead, he was growing certain that his motives had, indeed, been revenge.
Sine he'd known the man, Edward had spoken of his wonderful daughter and Heero hadn't found fault with him when he'd finally met the girl. But he'd noticed that her father did everything for her, bending to her every whim if it was possible. He knew this, because he'd been amazed that she wasn't spoiled by the treatment. This knowledge, however, told him that if Relena had truly mourned his death then there was no way Edward would have even tried to force her into another marriage. Even if the man had convinced her that Heero was indeed a murderer and a traitor, he didn't think the girl he knew would have thought to marry again so soon. Which meant, he didn't know her as well as he'd thought. Turning his black stallion back in the direction of the castle, Heero's expression was dark as he realized he'd always known.
It had been at the back of his mind, the possibility that the girl had betrayed him as much as her father. Somehow, he'd managed to keep this knowledge from himself, reminding himself of her vows of love. No, he didn't love her, and last night had proved it without a doubt. Even months of abstinence weren't an excuse for what he'd done, and he grudgingly admitted that he was drawn to the boy. While he wouldn't say it was fondness, since he wanted to strangle him more than hug him, he knew his feelings for Duo were more than any he had for Relena. And he'd threatened the boy with bodily violence.
Determined to somehow set things right with the longhaired spitfire, Heero reminded himself of his promise to the boy. It wasn't too late in the morning, and if he headed straight back, they could be to the town by noon. Hopefully, a shopping excursion would help to heal the rift, even if it couldn't take away what he'd said. Heero smirked at his pitiable thoughts, but it was really the only thing he could think of. He couldn't apologize; it just wasn't in him. Besides, he'd meant the warning. If Duo offered, he'd happily take.
* * *
Blood and knives and needles were blazing their way through Duo's mind, but his thoughts had nothing to do with the man who'd angered him the night before. No, he was thinking about the dream as he'd had it again before waking up. While he didn't believe dreams actually foretold the future, the horrible images were so realistic he found himself shivering and moving closer to the fire. He'd woken as the sun had risen, and he now found himself alone in the castle. Oh, Wufei's chef was somewhere, but Duo didn't want to bother him, and Quatre and Trowa had disappeared. They'd been working so diligently lately, that Duo hadn't had the heart to ask them to stay and keep him company as he waited for Heero to come back. Before he'd left, Trowa had told him that the man had ridden out hours before, and Duo was convinced it would be a long time before he returned.
He'd tried to hold himself on the threat Heero had given him, rather than focusing on his father, but for some reason, he couldn't do it. Actually, he thought he knew the reason and this revolved around an odd conviction he had that Heero wouldn't really hurt him. This was stupid, since he knew the man had fought for the Queen in the past and that violence was no stranger to him. Add to that the fact that he'd threatened to rape him and Duo found himself wondering where his certainty came from. But whether or not he knew why, he was sure Heero had spoken out of anger and that he didn't really mean what he'd said.
Duo smiled suddenly as he realized his mind had managed to divert itself after all, and he stretched slowly. Pondering his odd captor was a much better way to pass the time, and it was with a sigh that he walked the length of the hall and paused at the door. It wasn't snowing, and the air wasn't accompanied by the usual biting wind. Throwing on the rough cloak Trowa had lent him, he decided to go for a quick walk. The cold reminded him of Heero's promise, and he found himself wondering if the boy would still be willing to take him to town. He really wanted some better clothing. Also, if he could, he wanted to try and find Wufei. The black-haired man hadn't brought his money when he'd visited, but Duo knew he had it on his ship. The thought of Heero's not returning for the excursion made him frown, and he left the castle so he could walk through the surrounding brush.
Duo still didn't know what he'd done to set the man off, and that bothered him as he liked to know such things. It was helpful in predicting future reactions. But as far as he could tell, he hadn't done anything wrong. They'd been arguing, yes, but no more than they'd done since they'd met so that didn't explain it. Sighing, Duo pushed his way through some brown bushes, then he stopped abruptly with a grimace. He raised his hand and glared at the small spot on his finger before looking down. They were thistles, so many that he was amazed he hadn't managed to hurt himself pushing through them so thoughtlessly.
As it was, inspection revealed that his dark cloak had managed to catch a number of the nuisances and he picked them off with a distasteful face. Then his expression changed, a slow smile rising as he suddenly let out a sharp laugh. While he'd already gotten over his fright from the night before, he reminded himself that Heero hadn't had cause for his words and the man *did* deserve some sort of retaliation. //And I'm so ingenious when it comes to retaliation.// Duo snickered again as he pulled off the cloak, and he was very glad that the castle was deserted at the moment. Luck was definitely on his side, and he ran the rough cloth over the bushes, watching with bright eyes as the little burs caught and stuck to it. As he worked, his thirst for revenge grew and it was with a light step that he made his way back to the castle, the precious bundle wrapped in his cloak. Even the cold couldn't put a damper on his spirits.
Trowa and Quatre still weren't in sight when he got back to the castle, and Duo ran up the stairs quietly. It took him less than a minute to reach Heero's room, and his grin nearly split his face as he took the time to sit down on the man's bed. For a rude person, Heero was rather neat, and it was made well, no wrinkles evident. Still, Duo knew how to make beds, and he didn't worry about unmaking it as he pulled the covers back so that the mattress was revealed. It wasn't until he started to pick the burs off the cloak that he found a problem as it was difficult to keep from getting pricked by the sharp things. Then his eyes moved around the room and halted on the comb that sat on the dresser. Sure enough, the burs combed off easily and Duo made certain the mattress was evenly coated before he remade the bed. His smirk bordered on evil when he left the room, but he was convinced his actions were deserved.
* * *
The horse was ancient, and Heero frowned as he slowed his stallion even more, not wanting the boy to get too far behind. Duo had yet to complain about the steed, but the man wondered if that were because he didn't mind, or because he didn't want to speak to him. He'd yet to say a word, and while he'd moved quickly to join Heero on the trip to town, Duo hadn't so much as looked at him. Well, he had once, but that had been because Heero'd laughed at him. He hadn't meant to, but the boy's expression had been hilarious when Duo had seen the horse Quatre brought out to him.
It was obvious that the blonde man thought to either please Duo or cheer him up, because the old white horse's mane and tail had been decorated in small ribbons, the braids very cute despite the animal's looks. Personally, Heero thought Quatre had done it in an attempt to make Duo laugh, but it didn't really matter as the boy had thanked him for the effort. He didn't know if the boy had meant the soft comment to be sarcastic, but it had sounded honest enough. Glancing over again, he met Duo's eyes for a moment before the boy looked away again and Heero faced forward as they neared the town.
He was embarrassed to be riding the ridiculous looking horse, but Duo really didn't know what to do about it. Quatre's expression had seemed hopeful when the blonde had led out the gelding and Duo didn't want to risk hurting his feelings. Also, he was sure that Heero got a kick out of his riding the creature and he wasn't willing to let the man know how uncomfortable it made him. If Quatre had gone to the trouble to try and make the horse look better than it had when they'd bought it, then Duo wasn't going to complain. He'd just have to remember to take the man aside sometime in the future and explain to him about males riding horses with ribbons. Actually, Duo smiled a bit as he imagined telling the man that, and he suddenly wasn't bothered by the odd looks he and Heero were drawing from the people they passed.
The town was as small seeming as ever, and Duo kept his eyes alert as he watched for the dock he'd found before. Unfortunately, Heero seemed to know exactly where he was going and there wasn't time to do any exploring before the man stopped before a small shop. It was with a carefully masked wince that Duo looked down at the snow-trodden ground and the mud that had been mixed. He was very glad he'd be getting new clothes, and boots would be the first thing on his list.
Heero noticed Duo's look as he dismounted, waving a boy over to take the horses. His own boots were high enough so he didn't have to worry about the thick mud, but he could see why Duo would be hesitant to walk in it. The boy's shoes were more than inappropriate. Stepping to him, Heero barely kept himself from smirking when the boy looked up with a wary expression. "Here, I'll help you to the walkway. The mud is thick."
He didn't move as the man's hands touched his waist, and Duo was ready to say no. Unfortunately, he doubted he'd be able to get new shoes that day, and he really didn't want to walk around in muddy ones. Besides the fact that his pants would also get ruined. Instead of arguing, he sighed and placed his hands on Heero's shoulders as the man pulled him out of the saddle, catching him against his chest. Then Duo gasped as Heero took an unsteady step and he closed his eyes tightly, waiting for the man to fall.
With a smirk, Heero watched the boy's closed eyes, noting the strong grip on his neck as Duo's face was a portrait of expectation. Nearly a minute passed before those violet eyes opened a bit, and the boy's confusion made him want to laugh. Then a light blush reached his cheeks, and Duo turned his head, his grip loosening a bit. Still smirking, Heero carried him to the wooden walkway and set him on his feet, noting that the long-haired boy had yet to glance at him.
Duo cursed himself as the man stepped by him and opened the door to the shop, then he quickly cleared his face and followed him. The woman inside smiled brightly, and it was obvious she'd met with Heero before as she seemed honestly happy to see him. //This is probably where he buys *his* clothes. I'll bet she just loves the fortune he spends here.// Then his thoughts were shoved aside as he focused on what the cobalt-eyed man was saying.
"I'll be back in about an hour," Heero murmured, glancing at Duo's frown. "I'm sure you'll find plenty to keep him occupied. It would be better if he didn't wander around alone, so I will come back to pick him up after I've taken care of my business." The woman nodded quickly, and Heero knew she wouldn't let the boy out of her sight. Duo obviously thought the same thing, and Heero's eyes glinted as he turned to face the boy. "Here," he said, handing him a small sack of money. "I'm sure this should be plenty. I'll see you in an hour."
Duo's eyes nearly filled his face as the man suddenly kissed his cheek, and he flushed furiously when the woman smiled, no doubt thinking it was cute. Obviously, she thought he was a younger relation of Heero's, and the way the man practically patted his head before leaving made Duo feel as if he *were* a child. Then he saw him riding his horse off, and he shoved his anger aside, turning to the woman sharply. "I'm afraid I must ask a favor of you. I need you to send someone to fetch a Captain Chang Wufei for me. He'd be in the shipyard, I'm sure."
The woman looked wary, and she shook her head quickly. "But lord Yuy didn't say anything about that."
"No, he didn't. But you see," Duo gave her a light smile, knowing the airs he was assuming had her cowed. "I'm afraid I intend to spend a great deal more than this," he hefted the bag with glinting eyes. "And at the moment the Captain has my funds. So I really must ask you to send someone for him. I will, of course wait here. I wouldn't want to be walking around alone." This seemed to reassure the woman as he wasn't planning to go against Heero's words, and she finally nodded. Duo watched as she called a boy over, and he smirked at how quickly his orders were followed.
* * *
Wufei was more than happy to assist him, and Duo was actually seeing benefits to the man's liking him. Of course, he didn't think he'd asked for anything a friend wouldn't have done, but the black-haired man was more than happy to help. Since he didn't want to be indebted to Heero, Duo had given the Captain the man's money to invest, and he spent his own instead. It was actually a good thing he had his own money because, as he'd truthfully told the woman, he planned to spend a great deal more than Heero had given him. Whether he ended up staying until spring, he knew his eventual return to England would be better if he had appropriate clothing. Besides, he was eager to dress better than he'd been doing, especially since he could wear men's clothing. It had been a while since he'd had the pleasure of shopping for himself, and unlike some men, he did have pride when it came to his appearance. Wufei evidently approved as he was quick to tell him if his choices were good or not.
In the end, the woman was unable to keep him in the shop, and Wufei reassured her, saying to simply tell Heero that he and Duo would be in the nearby inn at the end of the hour. With that, he escorted the boy out of the shop and to the next one where he could put in an order for new footwear. He'd never considered himself a fancy dresser, but Wufei had a good eye when it came to what looked good and what was worth buying, so he saw to it that the boy wasn't cheated. Of course, Duo had a way of haggling that made him smirk, and he doubted if his help was really needed.
He was pleased that the boy had sought him out, even if it was only because he had his wealth. The fact that Duo had felt comfortable seeking him was, to him, a step forward. The smile on the boy's face was also a step, and he took pleasure from it, knowing that had he not been there, Duo wouldn't have been so happy. He didn't even seem to mind resting his hand on Wufei's arm, and the black-haired man was careful not to push the boy. The contact was enough for the moment, and the ease with which the boy addressed him was satisfying. Duo was comfortable with him, and that was something Wufei didn't intend to take for granted.
* * *
TBC