Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Due South ❯ Chapter 8

Due South - part 8

by KatiKat


"So, what do you intend to do now, Captain?" Treize asked as the ship´s captain listed all the damage the ship suffered during the storm.

The storm itself was long gone, leaving the sky blue and cloudless. The Count stood together with the captain on the stern, overlooking the whole ship swamped with sailors who were trying to repair what they could with their limited resources. Fortunately, it was a nice day and since the ship sailed unceasingly south, the weather was getting warmer. Even the fourteen days they were on the ship were enough to leave the north, frozen with winter, behind and reach the warmer waters. The Peacemillion II was the fastest ship in the royal navy after all. Even in its battered state, it was able to achieve higher speed than most other ships in top condition.

"We have to stop at the first harbor. There is no way around it," the captain sighed, rubbing his tired face. It had already been a couple of days since the storm had passed over them and he hardly slept at all, trying to hold the pride of the royal navy above water. Even now they could hear the pumps under the deck working without pause.

Treize sighed too, then nodded. He thought so too. "The nearest harbor should be at El-One."

"Yes. We should reach it in the late afternoon or early evening." The captain, a tall, blackhaired man of middle age, turned to the Count. "I´m sorry that I must delay you further, General. I know that you´re in a hurry."

Treize patted the other man on the shoulder. "I understand, Captain, really. It can´t be helped. Better to repair the ship properly, than to go under."

The captain nodded, then excused himself when one of the sailors shouted from the rigging to get his attention. Treize was left alone. He sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly as he let go of his calm and confident facade. Everybody on the ship already knew about what happened to Milliardo, his mate. There was no worse fate for a soldier than to go blind.

Treize leaned against the railing, crossed his arms on his chest and let his head sink. He was so tired. He hadn´t slept properly since Mil opened his eyes to find darkness surrounding him. And even though Trowa sounded rather hopeful after examining the blond lifebearer properly, Milliardo´s state of health was weighing on them heavily. The healer tried to explain to them in calm tones what he thought must have happened, using an apple to demonstrate his theory.

"It´s rather easy," Trowa said as he smashed the apple against the table then lifted it and showed them the bruised spot. "This is what happened to your brain." He let Mil trace his fingers around the now soft and juicy area. "It got rattled pretty bad and the blood from the ruptured veins gathered in one place and formed a bruise inside your head. And it looks like all the blood is putting pressure on something in your head that is allowing you to see. The fact that you can distinguish darkness and light supports my theory."

"So, you think that Milliardo may recover?" Treize asked as he squeezed Mil´s ice cold hand. They were sitting on the bunk, the blond man bundled up in blankets, his empty eyes looking ahead without focus. Milliardo didn´t say anything during the whole examination, and even after that, he remained silent. Though Treize could feel the tension building up in him, his shoulders and arms tensing up with every one of Trowa´s confident words.

Trowa crossed his arms on his chest. "I´m sure of it. I´ve seen such things happen during my travels and almost all of them ended with a happy end."

This was the moment Milliardo finally snapped. "ALMOST all of them? Didn´t you say you were sure of my recovery?!" His voice was angry and quivering. It was starting to be too much for him. Way too much had happened in the last two weeks.

The healer remained calm though. "Yes, I did say that, but the cases I have seen..."

"You have seen," Mil sneered. "How old are you, really? Twenty-one? Twenty-two? How much could you have seen and how long could you have travelled during such a short time?!"

Silence settled over the small cabin. Only Milliardo´s loud breathing could be heard. Treize looked at Trowa, who remained leaning motionless against the table. The young man´s face clouded over and shut down, all expression disappearing. The Count opened his mouth to say something when the healer spoke again. "You would be surprised," he said in a soft, ice cold tone.

That seemed to cool down Mil´s anger, for he relaxed and slumped over. "I... I´m sorry... I didn´t..." he stammered, trying to apologize.

"It´s okay," Trowa reassured him, but left the cabin shortly after that, his calm and open demeanor closed off.

That happened exactly five days ago. Treize turned around, propped his elbows on the railing and looked at the calm, dark blue sea. Trowa´s prognosis gave them hope but with every passing day during which nothing happened and Milliardo remained blind, the weight on their shoulders seemed heavier and the possibility of recovering farther and farther away. Hopefully, Trowa was right and everything would turn out well in the end. For if someone existed in this world who deserved for his wishes to be fulfilled, it was Milliardo. Treize´s mate suffered enough already.

*-*-*-*-*-*

"There," Duo said softly as he put the bottle away and helped Milliardo settle the baby with its head on the blond man´s shoulder, then sat down on the chair next to the bunk on which the Bearer and his child were settled. "Now rub his back and pat it a little."

Sightless eyes half closed, Mil used touch for his hand to find its way to the small, warm back, then he started to rub it gently in circles. The little boy mewled happily. "Thank you so much for your help, Duo. I know I said it already..."

"Many, many times," Duo interrupted him with a snicker. But then he sobered. "And I said it as many times - you don´t have to thank me. I like to help you with the little bit. He is such a good baby." He reached out and touched the covered head softly.

"I know, it´s just..." Mil sighed. "What if... what if I stay blind?" His voice broke and he closed his eyes tightly to hide the prickling tears.

"You won´t," the braided young man said firmly. "Trowa told you that your injury will heal, didn´t he?"

"Yeah, but..."

"No buts," Duo interrupted him. "Everything will be okay. Trowa wouldn´t have said something like that if he didn´t believe it. He is a very good healer and wouldn´t just tease you with a prospect that wouldn´t come true. You should know him that well already."

Mil sighed again. "I´m sorry to bother you with my whining, but you´re the only one with whom I can talk. Treize... Treize is hurting as much as I am, even more. I bet he blames himself again - even though I have no idea why. This time it really wasn´t his fault. And Trowa... Trowa is my healer. He is a good listener, but I don´t want to hurt him even more by doubting his prognosis."

Duo lifted his eyebrows at the words "even more". Did something happen he didn´t know anything about?

"Duo...? What will I do if I can never see again?" Milliardo whispered fearfully. "I´m scared," he admitted, then buried his nose against his child´s neck.

"What will you do? Live," Duo said, no doubt in his voice. Milliardo didn´t need his pity. He needed Duo´s strength to pull himself together. "You're not the first blind man on earth. You will learn to compensate and let people help you." The braided man leaned forward and squeezed his friend´s knee. "You have a son and a mate. They both love you and no matter what may or may not happen in the near future, they´ll always be there. Stop thinking about the injury and pressing the issue. It´s not helping you in the least and the little bit here-" Duo caressed the blanket covered back of the boy "-can feel your tension and it isn´t helping him either. Concentrate on the matters at hand and not on the possible future. Hold your son, listen to him as he sleeps, touch the soft skin on his little hands - you can do all these things and you do not need sight for it." Duo leaned even closer, his voice intense as if he wanted Milliardo to really understand him. "If - and I mean if - you stay blind, you will move on. You are not the suicide type, buddy, trust me. There will be regrets - I know all about regrets - but you will notice that there are things worth living for and you will grab them and hold onto them tightly." Then the corners of his mouth curled up in a teasing grin. "And if not, then I will kick your ass until you get it!"

Milliardo chuckled and at the same time, the baby burped as loudly as a sailor, which made the two young men burst out in laugther. It was refreshing to let the accumulated tension out.

That was when the cabin´s door opened and Trowa stepped in. Seeing Duo and feeling the merry atmosphere in the small cabin, he stopped in the door and lifted his eyebrows inquiringly.

"Hey, Tro," Duo welcomed him with a smile and a little wave.

"Am I disturbing you?"

The braided young man shook his head. "No, not at all, we were just feeding the baby and... talking." He looked back at the blond man who was still smiling gently, his whole face alight once again.

"Oh, I see," Trowa said, even though he didn´t understand at all. He stepped into the cabin he and his three friends used to share but that now belonged to the Count and his mate, since their large cabin was still uninhabitable.

"So," Duo got to his feet, caressing one last time the now slumbering baby. "I think you are here to do your healer thingies so I will leave you alone, gentlemen. Rufus promised to give me lessons in self-defense since Heero is still feeling dizzy."

Mil frowned in concern. "Is he all right?"

The braided young man waved his hand even though his friend couldn´t see it. "Sure he is. He is just fuming because he is still weak as a kitten. He hates bed rest." He grinned, then almost danced to the door. "But I love the grumpy bear anyway." With that remark and a wink directed at Trowa, Duo slipped out the door.

Milliardo chuckled to himself, then shifted the baby so that he was now lying in his arms. "He seems rather excited these last couple of days."

Trowa smiled a little. "He should be. Heero finally gathered his nerve and asked Duo to bond with him officially."

The blond man lifted an eyebrow. "Really?"

The healer smirked. "Oh yes. And it only took the biggest storm of the century for him to do it."

*-*-*-*-*-*

Heero frowned as he watched Rufus guide Duo through the first steps of hand to hand combat. He should be there with him. He should be the one teaching Duo. But every time he tried to get up from the empty barrel where Duo sat him down, Rufus glared at him, saying "down, boy" with this stern voice that didn´t leave him any choice but to comply. Which annoyed him even more. He was no lap dog to be ordered around.

And he was no invalid either. Okay, he did still feel dizzy when getting up. All right, and he did feel a bit unsteady on his feet too - he could admit this to himself at least. But there was still no reason for him to sit in the sun, wrapped tightly in a warm blanket. No, he was not sick. He was just... not feeling well.

"If you don´t stop glaring at them like that someone might think that you´re jealous."

Treize's voice that had sounded from above Heero, startled the Enforcer so much that he blurted out: "I´m not jealous!" But the flush that spread on his bruised face told another story.

The Count laughed, then climbed down from the bridge and leaned against the stairs next to which Heero was seated comfortably. Treize crossed his arms over his chest, then looked down at the younger man with an amused expression on his face. "Well, you could really fool me."

Heero tried to glare at him, but he had the suspicion that in his battered and bruised state and wrapped in the blanket he looked more pitiful than threatening. He still huffed indignantly and looked away since the amused smirk that settled on the aristocrat´s face only managed to cause him to redden even more.

Treize turned his eyes to the captain of his personal guard who was showing Duo how to lay the long knives against his forearms and use them in defense. They were using the empty space that was left from the broken mast for practicing. It was obvious that Duo was a quick learner. Even though the Count had heard him protest loudly against any kind of violence, Rufus' insistence on the fact that this way the lifebearer could protect his family in time of need obviously managed to change his mind. And now, from the smooth and quick moves it was obvious that Duo wouldn´t be a half-bad fighter. With a little exercise and practice...

Treize looked back at Heero, who was watching Duo with an annoyed but proud expression on his face. The dark bruises stood vividly on his face, the bandage still in place since the wound he received wouldn´t stop bleeding. "I don´t think I thanked you properly yet. You saved my life. If you hadn´t pushed me away when the mast fell..."

Heero shot him a glance, then fidgeted in place uncomfortably. He had never received any thanks for doing his duty back in the village, and now he didn´t know what to do or say. He saved the Count´s life without thinking, his instincts taking over. In the end, he settled for a shrug and an indecipherable "hn" sound. "I think it was mutual. Rufus told me that you cut me out of the ropes before the mast could drag me off the ship."

Now it was time for Treize to shrug. How could he not save his savior? Together they turned back to the practicing pair. Duo was now standing with his back to Rufus´ chest and slowly repeating the moves the larger man showed him. A slight frown settled on the lifebearer´s brows as he concentrated on his task.

"He is blaming himself," Heero said softly after a moment of silence and nodded towards Rufus. "He thinks he failed his duty towards you."

Treize shook his head and sighed. "Rufus is blaming himself for a lot of things that are not his fault."

"Just like you?"

The Count shot Heero a quick glance but the younger man´s eyes were still fixed on his mate. "I don´t know what you mean," he said cautiously.

This time Heero did look at him, a knowing look in his blue eyes. "You´re blaiming yourself for Milliardo´s blindness," he said. "Mil told Duo. This may not be my business..." he trailed off as if waiting to see if Treize would jump in and tell him to keep out of their affairs. When the aristocrat stayed silent and actually seemed interested in what Heero might tell him, the Enforcer continued. "What happened to your mate was not your fault. And you should set it straight in your head before returning to him. He needs your help and not your pity, which is the only thing you´ll be able to give him if you don´t stop wallowing in self-pity. There is one thing you should realize - this isn´t about you. No matter how bad you feel, it´s much worse for him. Trust me, I know what it feels like." His voice was not condemning, but reasonable.

Treize stared at Heero for a while, obviously not used to people who would talk to him so openly. Then he blinked and started to laugh. "Heero, this is probably the longest speech I´ve heard from you since I´ve met you."

The younger man ducked his head and blushed hotly, throwing Treize a dark glare.

When his laughter trailed off, Treize smiled genuinely at his companion. "But I thank you for your advice. I think you´re right. This isn´t about me and I should stop thinking in those terms."

That was when the watch in the crow´s nest cried out: "El-One in sight!"

*-*-*-*-*-*-*

As soon as the call sounded, Duo dashed to the railing, the practice forgotten. Rufus opened his mouth to say something, but then just shook his head indulgently. He would never turn Duo into a well disciplined soldier.

"El-One, that´s a weird name for a town," Duo said, as he leaned against the railing and squinted into the early afternoon sunlight to see the small speck on the horizon that was quickly growing larger.

"Actually, the name of the ship that discovered this small peninsula was El I," Rufus explained as he sheathed his knives and nudged Duo to do the same before he lost the precious weapons or hurt himself or somebody else, "but that would be an even weirder name for a town, don´t you think? So, people changed to El-One. It really does look better on the maps."

Duo sheathed his knives, then pulled the sleeves of his warm black shirt over the leather sheaths Rufus helped him attach to his forearms. "El I..." he muttered. "Who does actually think up the names of the ships anyway? I have never heard something so stupid."

Rufus did his best to hide his smirk. "Actually, it´s the King´s privilege to name all the new ships."

"Oh, no wonder then. A guy with the name Noventa XXXIV. can´t have any imagination!"

This time Rufus did laugh out loud. "Well, I think you might be right."

Duo turned to him and grinned.

The soldier looked back at the town on the horizon. "The remains of the ship El I still lie scattered on the cliffs. The townspeople turned them into a sort of memorial place."

"Now I´m not sure if I should be happy that we will harbor in this port. I mean, they named the town after a ship they wrecked while trying to cast anchor there. Should I be afraid?" Duo threw the taller man an amused glance.

"I don´t think you need to worry," Rufus assured him. "Since the townspeople started to worship Nataku, the God-Bearer, no ships sank here. Actually, El-One is the first town along the coast where people worship Nataku and his son Shinigami. That´s why it would be better if you didn´t call your dog by his full name from now on. The people might get offended."

"But he does resemble the warrior god," Treize said as he and Heero approached the pair at the railing. "At least in his fierceness. I think that was the reason why you gave him the name, am I right, Heero?"

The Enforcer nodded, then stopped next to Duo and laid his arm around the lifebearer´s shoulders. It was as much a gesture of affection as an attempt to stay upright, since he was feeling a little dizzy again and the ship´s movement didn´t help his balance either.

Duo leaned into his love´s embrace then looked at Rufus. "You know a lot about this town."

The soldier nodded. "It´s my hometown. I was born here."

The lifebearer beamed at him. "Really? Will we have enough time to meet your family?"

A shadow fell over Rufus' face and he looked away. "They are all dead," he said in a soft voice.

Duo lowered his eyes, his expression sobering. "Oh. I´m sorry, I didn´t..."

The soldier shook his head. "You don´t need to apologize. It´s not your fault and besides, it happened a long time ago. Years ago."

A grim silence settled on the small group. In an attempt to break the uncomfortable atmosphere, Duo pointed out into the distance at the small object on the water that caught his attention. "What a strange ship. It has no sails," he said.

Everybody turned to where he was pointing. On the calm surface of the sea, a ship was heading in their direction. It had no masts and the hull of the ship was bound with high polished copper that was glistening in the sunlight. Like the legs of a centipede, there were oars sticking out of the hull of the ship, the device that was enabling the ship to move forward.

"A galley!" Rufus sneered, his relaxed posture stiffening.

"A galley?" Duo turned to the soldier, but the taller man´s eyes were fixed on the approaching ship. He was radiating hatred.

"Slavers, Duo," Treize explained quietly, watching the captain of his personal guard with a worried and sorrowful gaze.

Before Duo could say anything, Heero frowned darkly, his voice growing cold. "I thought they weren´t allowed this far north."

The Count sighed. "Most slavers come from the south, from the deserts. It´s their livelihood and they don´t see anything bad or disturbing in enslaving other people. The King is trying to stop the slave trade but it´s complicated."

"Right!" Rufus spat into the water and glared at the Count. He turned on his heel and crossed the distance to the door leading under the deck where he then disappeared.

Treize watched him go with a sad expression on his face.

Now it was time for Duo to frown. "How can it be complicated? He is the King, right? He could simply forbid the slave trade and people would have to obey him, wouldn't they?"

The aristocrat leaned against the railing and watched the ship come closer. They could now hear the regular thumping sound of a drum. "As I said, the slavers come from the south. If the King simply forbade the slave trade, it would start a war with the desert clans. You can´t imagine how horrendous a civil war can be, Duo. It would leave the traders free hand and they could capture and sell anybody they wanted. Don´t fool yourself into believing that people wouldn´t be interested in a cheap workforce even if it came from their own brothers. People are not so altruistic." He sighed. "But now the King has the control over the slave trade in his hands. He has already forbidden enslaving children and castrating the captives. I know that these are only small changes, but it´s all he can do at this moment."

Duo still didn´t like it though. "But what about the slaves? Their lives must be horror on earth."

"Unfortunately, you´re right. They do suffer a lot. But look at the whole thing from the other side."

"There is an ´other side´?" Heero asked, his voice venomous. He had lived through his own sort of enslavement when he was a child, forced into the role of Enforcer, to serve the village until he got killed because that was the way all the Enforcers died. In the end, all of them met someone - or something - who was better than them.

Treize looked at him, his expression grim. "Believe it or not, there is. The slaves work for the Empire too. They are doing the work nobody is willing to take on themselves. They build roads, work in the mines... the Empire would collapse without them. It´s not ready for such a change. And what would happen with the people should they get released? They would win back their freedom but they would have nothing - no money, no way to return home... Can you imagine thousands of people without hope, only the desire for revenge? They would start a slaughter..."

Heero turned away. He didn´t know what to say to that because unfortunately - and even though he didn´t like it at all - he understood Treize´s reasoning. He just really hoped that he would never have to have anything in common with those abhorrent people.

The galley was now passing their ship, there were no shouts of ´ahoy´ from the Peacecraft sailors though, since everybody despised the desert people and what they stood for. The cracking of the overseer´s whip, the groaning of the oars and the moans of the slaves reached their ears and they all shuddered in horror. Nobody dared to breathe until they left the slavers´ galley well behind.

TBC

Author´s notes: Err, sorry about the gloomy tone with which this chappie ended but I really needed to introduce the slavers and this seemed the right place to do so. You don´t have to worry though, they won´t play any important part in this story nor do I have any intentions to turn this story into a master/slave kinda fic. But the existence of slaves is important for the future Quatre-plot and it will allow me to bring back Wufei and Solo too.