Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Gundam Wing on Mount Olympus ❯ The Feast of the Grape ( Chapter 8 )

Note: I don't know what happened. This chapter started out being about something else and it got hijacked somewhere along the way. So now it's kind of a long transition into the next chapter in which, I promise, something will actually happen.

-o-o-o-

Chapter 8: The Feast of the Grape

The Feast of the Grape was in full swing when Quatre arrived from his bath. He took a seat by Trowa and immediately had a goblet of wine shoved into his hands.

“You're a few cups behind, Quatre,” Trowa informed him gravely. “You need to catch up.”

“You know I'm not a heavy drinker.”

“Tough. This is the Feast of the Grape. Apparently, it's an insult if you don't get drunk off your ass and engage in embarrassing behavior that can be used to tease you later.”

“I see.” Quatre looked around. The room sparkled with the kind of excited conversation that came from people comfortably into the first stages of a good buzz. In fact, the only person who did not look ready to have a really good time was Iolaus, seated disconsolately between Duo and Hermes.

“Hey, Iolaus,” Duo said. “Cheer up. I hear Hercules finished his labor and should be on his way back soon.”

“In truth?” Iolaus perked up.

“I doubt he's had any time to put some coin together, however” Hermes interrupted wickedly.

Iolaus immediately drooped again. “That's true. Alas!”

“Don't be so down, man,” Duo said. He flung an arm around Iolaus' shoulders. “Roku's been after me to forgive Hercules' debt, so maybe I'll let him steal you back from me.”

“Hercules is no thief,” Iolaus replied in an uncertain voice, clearly torn between his faith in his cousin's honesty and a strong desire to be reunited with him.

“I'm sure he's not,” Duo agreed cheerfully, “so I'll let him give me some token for you. What has he got that he values but would still be willing to give up for you?”

“Well…” Iolaus paused doubtfully. “There is the hide of the Nemean lion. It's impenetrable and makes good armor.” Then he wrinkled his nose. “He didn't cure it all that well though and it reeks pretty badly. I wouldn't mind if he gave that up.”

“A smelly old animal skin?” Duo made a face. “That doesn't sound very good. Anything else?”

Iolaus scratched his head. “What about the lion's claws? Hercules made them into a necklace and I get scratched when we embrace. They lend him a fearsome appearance, which is why he likes to wear them.”

“I like that! A necklace of lion claws.” Duo grinned. “Will he have it on when he gets back?”

“Probably.”

“Good. When he comes whining to me about still having no money, I'll offer you in exchange for the necklace.” Duo rubbed his hands together. “I can probably sell that for a nice profit later.”

Iolaus blinked tears from his eyes. “You are a kindly gentleman, sir!”

Duo leered at him. “Feel like rewarding me?”

Iolaus paled. “My virtue is still not for sale!” he exclaimed worriedly.

Duo chuckled. “Don't worry about me. Worry about them.” Duo nodded at the happy-heading-toward-drunk gods, many of whom, Dionysus most notably among them, were casting lustful glances at the youthful Iolaus.

Iolaus shifted nervously. “Oh dear!”

“You should have let me put you in Roku's storage space.”

“Papa Duo!” Roku said sternly. “Don't tease Mr. Iolaus.” He put a large paw on Iolaus' knee. “Alexa and I will look after you, Mr. Iolaus. You can come back to the room with us when everyone starts getting really drunk. Mama will make us leave anyway when people start getting naughty.”

Duo's eyes brightened. “You think people are going to get naughty? It's hard to pick up anyone's thoughts in this crowd, but I'm getting some very interesting images.”

Roku rolled his eyes. “I was just assuming you'd start it, Papa Duo.”

Duo tried to look innocent. “Me? I was just planning to do a little drinking…”

Roku fixed knowing blue eyes on him.

“Well… Er… Ok, maybe I was entertaining a few naughty thoughts.”

“A few?”

“It's his fault!” Duo pointed quickly at Trowa. “If he'd quit reminiscing about this afternoon…!”

Trowa offered an unapologetic smile. “You're just jealous because you're not tall enough to get into that position with Wu-Fei.”

“Who says?! I can too!” Duo glared at Trowa, mortally offended.

“You guys talking about me?” Wu-Fei appeared beside them.

“Fei!” Duo exclaimed. “Trowa is impugning my prowess!”

“Your prowess at what?” Wu-Fei asked innocently.

“Guess!” Trowa laughed, his eyes sparkling.

Wu-Fei paled. “You're not talking about…?”

“Being naughty,” Roku reported gravely.

Wu-Fei stared at Duo in dismay. “I'm not doing anything painful or excessively kinky!”

“It's not excessively kinky,” Duo said brightly. “After all, Trowa thought of it.”

Trowa leaned forward with a wicked grin. “I'm an acrobat.”

“Your scales should keep you from getting bruises on your butt,” Quatre said with a straight face.

Wu-Fei sat down abruptly. “I should have stayed at the beach.”

“You went to the beach?” Roku exclaimed.

“Yeah, to see Poseidon. He lives in a mansion under the sea.”

“Cool!”

“It was pretty neat,” Wu-Fei said. “Although his sea monster collection was a little intimidating. I didn't think any of those creatures really existed.”

“Why? You met a dragon once,” Quatre said dryly.

“You are a dragon!” Duo chuckled.

“I am not!” Wu-Fei glared at him. “And I'm Chinese. Of course I believed dragons existed. But sea monsters are another story.”

“You're splitting hairs.”

“Oh, shut up!”

“Have some wine.” Trowa handed him a goblet. “It's the Feast of the Grape.”

Wu-Fei eyed the dark red liquid uncertainly. “I'm not a big wine-drinker.”

“I was told it's an insult not to consume large quantities of it at this feast, though,” Quatre said. He blinked innocently at Wu-Fei.

Wu-Fei's eyes narrowed. “You guys aren't trying to get me drunk for some reason?”

“No more than the usual,” Duo assured him cheerfully. “Drink up and I'll explain what I want to try with you later.”

“I'm really sure this is a mistake,” Wu-Fei said, but he took a long drink from his goblet anyway. “Hey, that's not bad!”

Duo leaned forward with an eager grin. “So this is what I want to try…” he began and he lowered his voice so Alexa wouldn't overhear.

Wu-Fei alternately went pale and flushed as he listened to Duo's explanation. Then he shook his head furiously. “No way! I am not doing that!”

“Quatre did it,” Duo said with a pout. “Are you saying that Quatre's a better Gundam pilot than you?”

“What does being a Gundam pilot have to do with… with...” Wu-Fei's mouth worked silently for a moment. “Doing something like that and being a Gundam pilot have nothing in common!”

“Maybe it's something only Zero pilots can do,” Duo speculated, stroking his chin. “I believe Zechs is going to try it.”

“Don't involve me,” Zechs murmured, but he was leaning against Treize with a seductive smile on his face. “I haven't tried anything yet.”

“Yet…” Treize echoed.

Wu-Fei began to shake. “Zero pilots are no better than other Gundam pilots! Just nuttier!”

“Did he just say I was nuts?” Quatre asked Trowa.

“I think so.”

“I think I should be offended.”

“That's not what I said!” Wu-Fei waved his fists in the air. “I'm just saying…”

“That you're too chicken to try a little creative coupling,” Duo finished.

Wu-Fei's shoulders slumped. “You're all nuts!” he muttered. He downed the rest of his wine in a single gulp and held out the empty mug. “Why not? Let's all go nuts! Fill `er up!” A passing servant re-filled Wu-Fei's goblet.

“That's the spirit!” Duo cried.

Wu-Fei reached for a honey-cake. “At least there's food I can eat.”

“Your arrival is well-timed,” Hermes said suddenly. He sat up straight and started to applaud. Other gods also began to clap as music started to play. “Here come the virgins to entertain us!”

A dozen maidens flowed into the room from a side door, swaying to the music as they moved through the crowd to a space cleared at the center. Artemis led the group, managing to look virtuous in a floating white dress that revealed a fair bit of leg and bosom. The young women formed a circle at the center of the room and paused for a moment, absorbing the appreciative applause of their audience. Then they flowed into an intricate dance, weaving around each other with graceful arm movements and delicate footwork.

Alexa was entranced. “They're so pretty!” she exclaimed. “I want to dance like that!”

“I'm sure they would be glad to teach you, Alexa,” Zechs said. He smiled lovingly at his daughter. “We'll ask Lady Artemis when they're finished.”

“Thank you, Mommy!”

Everyone watched the dancers happily. The maidens performed several dances, transitioning from piece to piece with slight pauses in between so the audience could show their appreciation. When they finished, several young men got up to show off their wrestling skills as the maidens moved to take seats among the crowd.

Zechs called out to Artemis. “Lady Artemis, may I have a moment of your time?”

“Of course.” Artemis came over and sat with their group. She accepted a goblet of wine from a smiling Treize and sipped it delicately. “That's refreshing after a brisk performance like that.”

“You looked lovely, Artemis,” Zechs purred, causing the goddess to flush. “My daughter would very much like to learn to dance like that. Would you teach her?”

Artemis smiled at Alexa. “I would love to! I've been looking for an excuse to spend time with your pretty little girl.”

Alexa giggled.

“Would you like to come to my temple tomorrow? That's were my maidens and I practice.”

“Yes, please.”

“In the morning, then!” Artemis saluted Alexa with her wine cup. Alexa returned the salute with her cup of milk and the two tipped up their cups to take long drinks.

Alexa giggled again when Roku licked the milk mustache off her upper lip. “That tickles!”

“Oh right!” Quatre complained. “Her face he keeps clean! What about his own?”

“Huh?” asked Roku, apparently unaware of the milk dripping from his whiskers.

“Never mind.”

The party really started to swing after that. The musicians cut loose on their instruments and went wild. The wine flowed freely and drunken tomfoolery became the behavior of choice. Two very handsome young men wrestling with great earnestness but not a lot of skill were generating a fair amount of betting.

“You don't know anything about wrestling!” Hermes proclaimed loudly to Duo. “The blond will pin the redhead. I'm sure of it!”

“That's what you think,” Duo replied. He tapped the side of his head. “But the redhead isn't thinking about pinning that blond on his back.”

“What?” Hermes was confused.

Duo grinned. “Think, man!”

Hermes blinked at him for a moment and then turned to stare at the wrestlers in astonishment. “They're not going to…? Right there?”

“They will if the redhead wins.” Duo thought about that for a second. “Oh wait!” He turned to Zechs. “Maybe it's time for Alexa to go to bed,” he said quickly. He tipped his head toward the wrestlers and lifted his eyebrows.

Zechs nodded. “I understand. Alexa, dear, it's time for bed.”

“Already?”

“I'll go too,” Roku said. He stood up and tapped Iolaus with one paw. “Do you want to come too, Mr. Iolaus?”

“Yes!” Iolaus quickly scrambled to his feet.

The three of them made a hasty retreat and only just in time. The redheaded wrestler had the blond pinned to the floor on his chest and was eagerly pushing up the short skirt of his tunic to reveal a pair of white round buttocks. The blond struggled, but it was no use. The determined redhead violated his virtue to a chorus of loud cheers.

“Ha!” Duo exclaimed. “Cough it up, Hermes! I win!”

“Damn!” Hermes exclaimed. He pulled a shell bracelet off his wrist and handed it to Duo. “Although technically, since the redhead did not pin the blond in the approved victory position for wrestling, he didn't really win.”

“Under the circumstances,” said Duo sagely, “I think the guy on top can be declared the winner.”

“Yeah, yeah…”

But that momentary lapse of wrestling etiquette broke the dam and an all out orgy ensued. Disgusted, Artemis shooed her maidens from the room to shield them from the amorous clutches of horny gods.

Duo leaned toward Wu-Fei. “Let's go outside. I want to try that new position.”

“Right now?”

“Yeah, right now!” Duo grabbed his hand. “There's sex happening on every side! I want some too!”

“So use one of them!” Wu-Fei waved a shaking hand vaguely in the direction of some nearby gods. “I'm sure any one of them would be willing.”

“Maybe later.” Duo looked directly into Wu-Fei's dark eyes. “I want to start with you. You're my favorite!”

“A… Are you trying to seduce me?”

“He calls that seduction?” Zechs scoffed softly.

“Come on, Fei!” Duo whined. “Let's go! Think how good it will feel!” He rubbed a suggestive hand up and down Wu-Fei's thigh. “Can't you just imagine the long, slow, deep thrusts and you in no position to even try to hold back? Doesn't that sound good?”

Wu-Fei's eyes softened and he blinked dreamily. “Long, slow, deep thrusts, you say?”

“Very deep.”

“Oh, well, maybe…” Wu-Fei cleared his throat. “Maybe I wouldn't mind that.”

“You'll be glad you did it,” Duo said encouragingly.

“Ok, maybe just once.”

“Yippee!” Duo leaped to his feet, pulling Wu-Fei to his feet as well. “Let's go!” He dragged the unresisting Wu-Fei out the nearest door.

Treize wrapped loving arms around Zechs. “Duo may not have much technique, but he knows his target audience.”

“Wu-Fei is easy,” Zechs replied.

“And you're not?”

“No!” Zechs tried to push out of Treize's arms. “And if you're implying that I am…!”

“Never!” Treize tightened his grip and nuzzled Zechs' ear. “At least not for anyone but me.”

“Hmph!” Zechs snorted. He struggled to break free of Treize's embrace. “Let go! I'm going to bed!”

“Alone?”

“Yes!”

“So you're saying you don't want me to undress you slowly and savor your bare skin with my lips and tongue?”

“That's right!”

“Nor caress your sensitive places with my fingertips?”

“That's what I said!” But Zechs' voice wavered a little.

“So I don't get to explore your pretty bottom until you're quivering with arousal?”

“Uh… yeah…” Zechs was starting to pant.

“That's too bad, because I was really looking forward to spreading your legs and, ah, appreciating your manhood, too.”

Zechs went pale and he blinked at Treize. “I… ah…”

Treize touched a finger to Zechs' lips. “Don't say anything. If you're going to bed without me, I need to kiss you goodnight.” He pulled Zechs against his chest and kissed him deeply. “Good night, Zechs,” he murmured when he was finished.

“If you let me go to bed without you,” Zechs moaned against Treize's lips, “I'll never speak to you again!”

Treize chuckled. “Very well, my love. Let's go together.” The two men rose and drifted from the room with their arms around each other.

“I think Treize won that exchange,” Trowa remarked.

“I would have to agree with that,” said Quatre. He looked at Hermes. “So what do you plan to do the rest of the evening, Hermes?”

“I'll wait for Duo to come back.” Hermes rubbed his hands together, eyeing the other gods speculatively. “Duo holds his liquor better than anyone and he can hear their thoughts. I'm thinking I can have a very successful night.”

“You don't mean to take advantage of your fellows while their reason is impaired?”

“I most certainly do! What better time is there? If they're sober, they know better than to trust me.”

“He has a good point,” said Trowa.

“It's still dishonest,” Quatre said with a frown.

“Gamblers are, by their nature, dishonest,” Hermes said cheerfully. “I think I'll start a dice game while I wait. Dionysus already looks too drunk to accurately see the spots on the dice.” With a cheerful wave, Hermes trotted off to greet the rotund god.

“That fellow has way too many bad traits in common with Duo,” Quatre remarked.

“True, but Duo has his good points. You know he's always got your back in a fight and he's utterly fearless.”

“That's true.” Quatre leaned against Trowa with a sigh. “This is my first orgy, you know. It's sort of giving me ideas.”

“Oh really?”

“Well, look at those two over there, for example. They certainly seem to be enjoying themselves.”

“Yes they do.”

“And those three over there are showing some incredible creativity. They have an audience.”

“Um hmm.” Trowa put his lips by Quatre's ear. “If I start doing what's on my mind right now, we'll probably end up with an audience too.”

Quatre flushed. “Just what are you thinking? Not the stunt from this afternoon…?”

“Nothing so energetic.” Trowa touched his lips to the side of Quatre's neck. “But you have such a cute bottom, everyone will want to have a look.”

“Not with all the bruises…”

“The bruises just make your little cheeks rosier,” Trowa chuckled. “And anyway, there aren't any bruises.”

“Says you…”

“Which of us has the better view?”

“Well…”

“Anyway, unless you want to get ravished in front of all these people, I suggest we adjourn to someplace private. I want to get you naked.”

“Again?” Quatre blushed prettily. “Didn't you get enough this afternoon?”

Trowa chuckled. “I'll let you know when I've had enough of you. But trust me, it won't be anytime soon. So what's it going to be? Here or in private?”

“In private, please.”

“As you wish.” Trowa stood up and helped Quatre to his feet.

“You know,” said Quatre thoughtfully. “Since we started making these trips into the past, we seem to spend an awful lot of time having sex.”

“You think so?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Well, it does keep us from doing anything that might change the future.”

“Fathering countless offspring and destroying the world notwithstanding.”

“Maybe the offspring were supposed to exist and we did fix the world after it was destroyed.”

“That's just making excuses.”

“But they're still valid points.”

Quatre laughed. “I concede!” He looped his arms through Trowa's. “Let's go engage in future-preserving sex.”

“Now that's the kind of suggestion I can get behind.”