Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Gundam Wing and the Gods of Thunder ❯ A Typical Day ( Chapter 5 )

Chapter 5: A Typical Day

Roku was up before dawn, exploring. He returned to Frey's house covered in dew and streaked with grass stains. There was also a suspiciously reddish stain on the fur around his muzzle.

Quatre regarded him with a stern expression. “What have you been up to, young man?”

“There are rabbits!”

Quatre put a hand over his face. “How many did you eat?”

“Just a few.” Roku licked his whiskers. “But they run really fast, so they were hard to catch and sometimes they would hide in holes and then I would look for another one to chase instead of digging them out so I wouldn't get my paws dirty, and I saw some deer too and I think I'm almost big enough to catch one without being a dragon.” He plopped down on his butt. “When's breakfast?”

Quatre sighed. “I don't know. Whenever Frey gets up, I guess.”

“And I am up!” Frey announced with a dramatic flourish as he swept grandly into the large hall. He clapped his hands. “Breakfast for everyone!”

Frey's house consisted of a large central hall with a kitchen in a separate room in back accessed through two large archways. There were smaller private lounges on either side of the main hall, some with enclosed gardens which were open to the sky. Covered walkways led from the central hall past flower-covered trellises and vine-covered arbors to several smaller cottages containing comfortable sleeping quarters.

At Frey's clap, several servants appeared from the kitchen carrying platters and bowls of food.

“Sit down! Sit down!” Frey cried. “There's no need to wait for the others. Anyone who wants to join the heroes in combat will need to make an early start.”

“That would be me,” said Heero, who entered the hall just then trailed by a yawning Duo and a frowning Wu-Fei.

“What's the matter, Fei?” Trowa asked. He had not strayed far from Quatre's side since the night before.

“I itch,” Wu-Fei growled darkly.

“That's a bummer.”

“Do you want your oil, Papa Wu-Fei?”

“Yes, thank you.”

Roku shimmered into human form so he could hand Wu-Fei his oil.

Frey giggled delightedly. “That is such an amazing thing to witness! I have disguised myself as many things over the centuries, but I have never truly shape-changed. Incredible!”

Freya entered the hall at that moment, looking even more beautiful than she had the night before.

Frey greeted her with a kiss on the cheek. “Good morning, dear sister.”

“Good morning, brother.” She favored their guests with a stunning smile. “Good morning to you all. I hope you slept well. I fear we were not properly introduced last night, although this kind gentleman,” and she bowed to Duo, “favored me with such kind words that I will not soon forget.” She beamed at him and held out a slender hand.

Duo took her hand and kissed it. “I spoke nothing but the truth, fair lady.” His eyes were twinkling.

“Geez!” Wu-Fei muttered. “He's been listening to Zechs too much.”

“Are you talking about me?” questioned that very gentleman. Zechs entered the room with Treize and lifted an eyebrow at Wu-Fei.

“Nothing.” Wu-Fei scratched his back. “Duo, do you mind putting a little oil on my back before you eat? I'm really uncomfortable.”

“Sure. Take your shirt off.”

Wu-Fei stripped off his shirt as Duo poured oil into the palm of one hand. He smeared a liberal amount on Wu-Fei's scales.

Wu-Fei let out a long sigh. “Oh, that's much better!”

Freya stepped close and leaned over to examine Wu-Fei's scales. “How beautiful!” she exclaimed. “Look at the colors! I've never seen anything so exquisite.” She pressed gentle fingers against the scales. “They're so soft! Like skin! What a beautiful decoration!”

“See, Fei, I told you!” Duo said. “You could totally be getting lucky all the time if you flaunted your scales in front of the ladies.”

“Dear sister,” Frey said, “there are many new and wonderful things we can learn from our guests. That is only the beginning. For example, feast your eyes on this beautiful gentleman here.” He rested a hand on Zechs shoulder, earning him a sharp glare from Treize. “This gentleman is expecting a child.”

Freya turned to stare at Zechs. “What's that? Expecting?” Freya marched over to Zechs and put a hand on his stomach. Her eyes went round. “How can you be having a baby?! This is so unfair! I have tried for centuries to become pregnant and now even a man has achieved what I cannot!” She glared sharply at Zechs. “What god was it that did this to you?”

“No gods were involved,” Zechs said uncomfortably. His eyes flicked quickly to Quatre and he moved closer to Treize. “My lover and I had once discussed the possibility of becoming parents…”

Freya looked at Treize. “This man is your lover?”

“Yes…”

“This man is the father of your child?”

“Yes but…”

Freya fixed Treize with a sweetly seductive smile. “Dear sir, perhaps you will have a moment later to… discuss with me how you achieved this amazing feat.”

Zechs frowned.

“Conversation is not what's she's after,” Duo muttered to Wu-Fei. “Maybe a demonstration.”

“You can hear what she's thinking?”

“Not really. The gods' thoughts make a lot of noise, but I can't really understand them. But it doesn't take a rocket scientist to guess what she's thinking.”

“That's true.”

“I'm done,” Heero announced. “I'm going over to the great hall to meet up with the heroes. You coming, Wu-Fei?”

“Yeah, I have a little excess energy I want to work off.”

“Don't get killed,” Quatre said quickly. “Since you haven't died before like the heroes, dying now might get you stuck here.”

Heero looked insulted. “Who do you think you're talking too?”

“Sorry!”

He left the hall grumbling to himself. Wu-Fei chuckled as he followed him out.

Roku slipped back into tiger form. “Mama, may I go watch the fighting? I promise not to get in the way.”

Quatre looked worried, but he nodded. “All right, but be careful.”

“I will!” Roku dashed out to catch up with Heero and Wu-Fei.

Trowa smiled. “You're starting to let go a little, Quatre. I'm proud of you.”

Heimdall shuffled in looking significantly hung-over.

“Good morning, my friend!” Frey greeted him cheerfully. “Did you sleep well?”

Heimdall rubbed his eyes. “How can you all be up already? And so damned cheerful? My head feels like it's splitting in two.”

“You never could hold your liquor!” Frey agreed brightly. “Come, have a bite to eat. It will settle your stomach.”

“Thanks, but I think I'll go home and take a bath.” He looked around. “Did Wu-Fei leave already? He said he might visit me.”

“He went to fight with the heroes,” Duo said. “But I've got nothing to do. I'll come over and teach you to play poker.”

“Don't bet your house, Heimdall,” Trowa said dryly.

“And don't let him talk you into strip poker,” Quatre added.

“What's strip poker?” Heimdall asked.

Duo grinned broadly. “I'll teach you. Let's go!” He grabbed Heimdall's arm and dragged him out of the house.

Trowa shook his head. “So much for Heimdall's innocence. Now his head and his butt will hurt.”

Frey looked from one to the other in confusion.

“Never mind,” said Trowa. “Let's finish eating. I think I'd like to look around the valley a little bit and see the animals before Roku eats them all.”

“I would be happy to show you around,” said Frey, “but Quatre did promise me several explanations about his magical powers.”

“Uh, right.” Quatre managed a sickly grin.

Freya was still hovering close to Treize and Zechs. “Pray tell me, when is your child due?”

“I'm not sure,” Zechs replied “A few months, perhaps?”

“Indeed?” Freya studied Zechs closely. “You are very handsome; as handsome as my dear brother. It is no wonder this handsome gentleman finds you irresistible.” She turned to Treize. “But has not a woman ever drawn your eye?” She blinked at him innocently.

“In my youth I might have dallied with a woman once or twice,” Treize replied carefully. Zechs frowned. “But it's been a long time.” He put his arm around Zechs. “This is the only person whose companionship I desire now.”

“How unfortunate,” Freya murmured. But she continued to bat her eyes at him seductively.

Zechs glared at her.

Treize looked at Frey. “Maybe we should all go for a walk together.”

“A wonderful idea!” Frey agreed.

The entire party strolled out into the magnificent morning sunshine, leaving the servants to straighten up.

“I was wondering,” said Trowa. “There are a lot of servants in Valhalla. Who are they?”

“They are persons who were killed in battle who were not warriors. Odin decided it was unfair for innocent persons inadvertently caught up in combat and slaughtered to wander eternity in torment, so they are brought here to serve the gods instead.”

“So where does the food and mead come from?”

“It is grown by other such persons on farms outside the valley.” Frey grinned. “In truth, Valhalla is not too different from Midgard, except the weather is better and one must usually die first to get here.”

“I'm glad we skipped that part,” Trowa said.

They strolled through the beautiful green pastures and across the clear swift-flowing streams. Trowa's staff stirred restlessly.

“Master,” the staff hissed. “This place calls out to my spirit. May I answer?”

“Sure.” Trowa lifted the staff from around his shoulder and dropped it on the ground. It slithered away happily.

“That creature is a forest spirit!” Frey exclaimed delightedly. “However did you come by it?”

“I got it from some people who worshipped forest spirits.”

“Wonderful! Just wonderful!”

“I need to rest for a moment,” Zechs said. “This extra weight tires me.”

“Sit here,” Treize said, guiding Zechs to a fallen tree. Zechs took a seat and Treize sat next to him. Freya immediately sat down on Treize's other side and looped her arm through his.

“Do you hear that?” Frey said suddenly. “The heroes have begun today's battle.”

In the distance, the clash of arms and the roar of battle cries could be heard.

“I hope Heero and Wu-Fei are careful,” Quatre said worriedly.

“I just hope they leave enough people alive to carry back the dead and wounded,” Trowa remarked. He looked up into a tree and chirped something at a squirrel that was clinging to the trunk. The squirrel chattered back at him excitedly and then scampered farther up the tree out of sight. Trowa chuckled. “Apparently, Roku made an impression. That squirrel says he's never leaving the tree again because of the striped terror that was chasing the rabbits this morning.”

“You can talk to animals?” Freya asked. “I thought only the gods could do that.” She snuggled a little closer to Treize.

“I was given the ability to speak to animals as a gift,” Trowa said.

“That is a mighty gift,” Freya said. She leaned her head on Treize's shoulder. “If only some kind person could give me a gift of similar magnitude.”

Zechs stood up abruptly. “I'm rested now,” he snapped. He stomped away and Frey hurried after him.

“Now don't overexert yourself, lovely Zechs!” Frey exclaimed. “These paths sometimes have stones and we wouldn't want you to turn an ankle or fall.” He put his arm through Zechs'. “Let me be your guide.”

Treize glowered at Frey's back as he followed them with Freya still clinging to his arm.

“There looks to be trouble in paradise for our handsome friends,” Trowa commented.

“Beauty is a curse,” Quatre agreed.

“Yes it is,” Trowa frowned suddenly. “And you better watch yourself around Odin. I don't trust him.”

“Don't worry.” Quatre grinned at him. “I'll make sure he keeps his hands to himself.”

“Roku said he didn't think your transformation spell would work on Odin.”

“Really? Maybe I'll just set his clothes on fire, then.”

Trowa put an arm around him. “That's the kind of talk I like to hear.”

“Oh yeah? You're always telling me not to use magic on people.”

“I can make exceptions now and then.”

When they returned to the house from their walk, Zechs immediately went to the room he was sharing with Treize to lie down. Treize disentangled himself from Freya so he could go with him.

“You seem to like Freya's company,” Zechs pouted. “She's not fat.”

“Zechs!” Treize groaned. “You're not fat either! You're just pregnant. Once you have the baby, you'll get your figure back.”

“How do you know that? I might stay fat like this.” He put his hands on the little round bulge in his tummy. “You won't want me anymore. You'll want some tall pretty blond woman with a flat tummy and big tits.”

“I already have a tall pretty blond!” Treize said through gritted teeth. “You! Now would you please stop this nonsense? You're not fat and I only want you.” He put his arms around Zechs and kissed him. “We're having a baby together. We're going to be a family. You're stuck with me forever, so quit being silly.”

“Do you mean that?”

“Yes!”

Zechs snuggled close. “Ok, I'll try not to be jealous. But if she keeps trying to get into your pants, I'm going to rip out her hair.”

Treize rolled his eyes and sighed.

In the main hall, Freya pouted while Frey grilled Quatre about his abilities.

“You promised to explain how you gave birth to a tiger with the help of four fathers,” Frey said eagerly. “Please spare no details. I want to hear everything.”

Freya sat up straight. “What?” she cried. She pointed an accusing finger at Quatre. “He had a baby too? Another man gave birth while I sit here still barren?” She jumped to her feet. “I'm taking this up with Odin! I am a goddess! I deserve better!” She stormed out of the house.

Frey shook his head. “Ignore her! She's been insufferable since the Valkyrie Brunhilde had a son a century or so ago.” He leaned forward and rubbed his hands together. “Now, give me your story. We have the whole afternoon.”

Quatre cleared his throat uncomfortably. “Well, you see…” he began.

Over on the battlefield, Heero and Wu-Fei were having a great time. The heroes had divided themselves up, more or less at random, into two more or less equal sides and had picked a front that ranged along between a series of low hills. The two groups had then retreated to their own sides of the battlefield to plan an assault strategy. After about an hour of preparation, battle was joined. The fighting lasted well into the afternoon, with the side that Heero and Wu-Fei were fighting on emerging victorious by virtue of having killed two thirds of the men on the other side. The survivors on both sides congratulated each other with hearty slaps on the back and shouts of “Good fight!” Then it was time to gather up the dead and wounded and return to Odin's hall.

“Ho there, youngster!” a burly man shouted at Heero. “Grab that head there, would you? I've got the rest of Siggurd here and he'll be wanting that.”

“It's not as though he used it well today!” someone else shouted and raucous laughter followed.

Heero picked up the indicated head, still dripping blood and gore from the severed neck, and tucked it under one arm. The heroes exchanged stories about the battle and made jokes about the unfortunate dead as they returned to the great hall. Those among the wounded who could talk participated just as boisterously, making no excuses for their injuries. As they crossed the threshold into the great hall, the previously dead Siggurd was set on his feet, where he stood waving his hands about searchingly.

“He wants his head,” someone said to Heero, so Heero stepped over and shoved the head into Siggurd's hands. Siggurd promptly jammed the head onto his neck, where the separation quickly knit closed. Siggurd rolled his head about as if checking the fit and then his eyes fell on Heero.

“And here he stands, just as I last saw him!” Siggurd cried. “The very fellow who ended the day for me!” He clapped Heero soundly on the back. “Good man! Let's lift a tankard together!” He turned to the nearest heroes with his arm draped proudly around Heero's shoulders. “No one ever lopped my head off so quick and clean before, I'll tell you. This fellow is a genius with a sword. Next training day, we must have him show us his technique. I warrant we have a thing or two to learn from him.”

“Training day?” Heero questioned.

“Aye,” said Siggurd. “We have battles for four days, rest for a day and then have a day of training. This is mostly so newcomers to Valhalla can learn from those of us who've been here awhile.”

“Or so we can learn new techniques they've developed in Midgard,” added another.

Heero nodded. “Sounds good. When is it?”

“Tomorrow's rest day, so it's the day after.”

“Come now, let's go drink!” Siggurd cried. “We'll lift a toast to our new friend.”

Shouts of agreement echoed from the walls as the heroes headed for the tables and the waiting tankards of mead.

Sitting at the table where they'd sat the night before, the rest of the Gundam pilots, except for Duo, who was not there yet, saw Heero and Wu-Fei arrive.

“Oh good,” said Quatre, “They're all right.”

“You knew they would be.”

“Where's Roku?”

“I'm right here, Mama.” A small hawk swooped in for a landing on the bench beside Quatre and turned into Roku in tiger form. “Can I have a bowl of goat milk, please? I'm thirsty.” A servant appeared a moment later with a bowl of milk for him. Roku lapped it up hungrily.

“Have you been a bird all day, sweetie?”

“Yeah. I thought that was the best way to stay out from under foot and I could get a better view.”

“Good thinking.” Quatre patted him on the head.

Roku finished his milk and a servant tossed him a haunch of mutton. Roku snatched it out of the air with claws and teeth and tore into savagely.

“He acts more like a tiger every day,” Trowa remarked.

“Only when he looks like one,” Quatre replied.

“Where do you suppose Duo is?”

“Good question. Oh, wait, there he is.” Quatre pointed toward the distant entrance, where Duo could now be seen trotting toward them, trailed by a tired-looking Heimdall.

“Hey guys!” Duo exclaimed when he reached them. He snatched up the nearest tankard of mead and emptied it down his throat in one long gulp. “Man, I needed that!” He wiped his mouth on his sleeve. “Heimdall's got nothing but water to drink at his house.” He plopped down on the bench and grabbed a thick lamb chop. “And no meat either!”

Heimdall sat down gingerly beside Treize.

Quatre lifted an eyebrow at him. “You're not going to sit with the gods today? I'm not taking up a seat at the high table tonight.”

“That's all right,” Heimdall said. “I don't want to have to explain why I can barely move.”

“I told you not to play strip poker with Duo.”

Heimdall turned scarlet. “I had no idea he would…do… that… when all my clothes were off.”

“Duo!” Quatre groaned.

“He's got a cute butt!” Duo giggled around a mouthful of food. “I just couldn't restrain myself.”

Heimdall got even redder.

“An unrestrained Duo,” Trowa said almost reverently. “I'm surprised you can even walk, much less sit and move about, Heimdall.”

“Hey, it's not like it was with the blind duke's daughters or anything,” Duo said. “I kept it down to a reasonable number of times.”

Quatre put a hand over his face. “Reasonable for Duo…” he moaned. “Poor Heimdall!”

“Oh come on!” Duo exclaimed. “I admit I lost track, but it couldn't have been more than six or seven times. Eight, tops.”

“It was ten,” Heimdall muttered.

“Poor Heimdall,” Trowa sympathized.

“But I didn't win all his money or his house!” Duo pointed out self-righteously.

“Just his virtue.”

“Yeah, but nobody really needs to hang on to that.”

“Nor are they likely to, with you around.”

“I'm not that bad.”

Everyone stared at him.

“Well, maybe sometimes…”