Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Lord of War ❯ The Worst Day of His Life ( Chapter 1 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
A/N: If you get confused, it's because you learn things in the story as Duo learns them, though other characters will drop hints.
Chapter 01: The Worst Day of His Life
Duo woke up with a splitting headache, accompanied by the sickening taste of his own blood in his mouth. He lifted his head from the hard dirt floor and tried to blink his grogginess away, but found it impossible as he tried to sit up only to fall back down to the ground. The movement caused a small amount of bile creep up to his mouth along with more of his own blood, causing him to cough it out in disgust. If he were any less of a man, he would be crying from the pain coursing throughout his body, zeroing in on his shoulder, which he could tell, without even looking, was bleeding.
What he wouldn't give to just give up and pass out once again. But no, he needed to figure out where he was, and what happened to make his shoulder so sore. It was all a foggy jumble in his head. He knew that they had been attacked, //a sneak attack//. He remembered the sound of retreat, telling everyone to meet at their rendezvous point, and he himself getting some of the women and children out of the village. But that's where his memory stopped.
Duo reached up to feel his aching forehead for the offending wound that was making his head swim, but iron shackles weighed down his wrists. Ignoring the problem for now, he used more of his strength this time and his fingers met a seeping cut by his hairline. More of his memory came back. //That's right//, someone had hit him over the head during the battle.
Finally forcing himself to open his eyes, he blearily tried to focus on the ceiling of the makeshift building he was in. Duo absentmindedly pulled on the chains around his wrists; was he a prisoner? Did the enemy capture him alive? No, that wasn't it. //This building isn't to house prisoners//. The atmosphere almost reminded him of a market, from the sounds he was now picking up. He could hear people haggling about something, a price of something, for sale.
When he finally trusted his stomach, Duo sat up to take in the entirety of his surroundings. He wasn't the only man there. The whole place was populated by men, none of them being of his tribe, and even women chained to posts by irons. Some seemed just as confused as him, while others held themselves as dignified as possible, as if to make sure that onlookers would think that they were better than the rest of the captured souls around them.
Duo furrowed his eyebrows in confusion at the sight. //Where the hell am I?// People were walking around, eyeing the confined prisoners as if they were produce. Duo looked for some written sign to tell him of his location, but he couldn't read the language on them. He could understand the people around him, but they wrote apparently wrote it differently.
“You are awake?” A smooth voice asked him. Duo turned to see one of the prisoners looking at him. The man was dark, with ceremonial markings along his forehead, leading Duo to the conclusion that he was from one of the neighboring villages. Perhaps they had been attacked as well.
Duo opened his mouth to answer, but all that came out was a fit of dry coughing. “You are lucky,” the man announced. “You were run through, but they missed your heart. It will heal on its own.”
Duo finally regained himself. “You know what happened?”
The dark man smiled. “To you? No.” He gestured to Duo's shoulder. “I just know how serious your wound is.”
Duo looked down to see a makeshift bandage around his shoulder. The man must have been the one kind enough to at least try and dress it. Duo tried to give him the smile that the man deserved, but was pretty sure he failed miserably. “Thanks. Um…were you captured too…?”
“Zaiel. My name is Zaiel. And yes, in just about the manner you were. Though I wasn't as seriously injured,” Zaiel smiled.
Duo smiled back at him, happy to find someone who could tell him what happened and what the hell was going on. “I probably wouldn't be alive if you hadn't dressed this for me, thank you again.”
“You are welcome. Although, depending, you may not feel the same later.”
Duo was about to ask him what he meant when a pair of browsing onlookers interrupted them. “Ah, so this one finally woke up.”
One of the men reached down and tilted Duo's head up by grabbing his chin. “Quite a nice find once we get him cleaned up. Look at those eyes, such a rare violet color. He'll go for a lot.”
Duo jerked his chin out of the man's grasp and gave them both a dirty look. “Don't touch me ass hole!”
One of the two men waved and a big man holding a wooden club came over and lifted Duo up by the neck, pinning him against the pole he was chained to. “Do not speak, in anyone's presence.”
Duo just grinned. “Make me, fucker.”
The grip on Duo's neck tightened, almost causing him to pass out, until the man that called over the big lug told him to stop. Still gripping Duo's neck, the caveman tossed him to the ground, causing Duo to smack his already throbbing shoulder onto the hard dirt floor.
“Enough. We already have enough wounds to content with for this one.” The same guy that had called over the fucker in the first place scolded.
Duo, finally looking up, took in the sight of his captors. They were both portly men, wearing relatively fine robes and a few pieces of jewelry, and stank of old flowers. The way they looked at him made Duo's blood boil. They arrogantly looked at him like he was nothing, just something they could…could...//sell//. Wait. They were talking as if they were planning to sell him. A small shot of panic gripped his heart. Who the fuck are these guys? //Where the fuck am I?//. Duo looked around more now and noticed the way people were looking at the prisoners; like they were cattle.
Though slavery wasn't practiced in his tribe, Duo knew it was quite common in the outside world. The understanding of his predicament came flooding into him. He was in a foreign market and was going to be sold as a slave. That's what Zaiel meant. Now that Duo thought about what he had said, he wished he had rather died.
Duo shook the feeling of dread away and listened to the odd smelling men as they talked amongst themselves, like Duo wasn't even there. “He's very exotic. We could get a lot of money selling him as an Aiko, once he's broken of course.”
//An Aiko? Broken?// Duo didn't like the sound of that. His rage and anger finally boiled over and he stood up to lunge at them, only to be held back by the shackles around his wrists.
The decidably uglier one glared at Duo and waved for the caveman's attention once again. The man walked over and shoved Duo back down to the ground, then gave him a quick kick to the gut for good measure. “From his attitude he may have been a warrior. He may be hard to break. Perhaps it would be safer to sell him as a laborer or fighter for the Court.”
The other man smiled down at Duo. “No. Not this prize.”
Despite getting the wind knocked out of him, Duo was about to get and lunge at him again for that remark when a small boy came over. The tan boy with nothing but a glorified loincloth whispered into the uglier of the pair's ear. His face turned from annoyance into hurried anticipation. “He's coming here? You're sure?”
The tan boy nodded and smiled at them. The men shooed the kid away and followed him to the entrance of their `store'. Duo glared after them as he sat up, gingerly rubbing his stomach. Looking at Zaiel now, the dark man seemed rather sad after the overheard discussion. Duo tried not to think too hard on it, but there was one thing that bothered him. “Zaiel, what's an Aiko?”
Zaiel just looked up and blinked at him. “You don't know what an Aiko is?”
Duo shook his head as the same man from earlier came over and banged his club on the post that Duo was chained to. “Quiet!” the man hissed.
As soon as the man straitened out, Duo heard silence fall on the room. The two odd smelling men came hurriedly back in, leading two men around the room, yapping in an awestruck tone. Duo didn't care, as he stared at the floor, listening to the two men stumble over themselves. He had to think of a way to get out of here.
“These are the newest and best trained you will find this side of Lorlia, my Lord.” One of the salesmen announced.
“Are they? Some of them look half dead to me.” One of the `customers' stated.
“Beg pardon their state, my Lord. We have been traveling for half a week and just set up this morning.” Duo heard the jingle of irons. “Get up, get up,” the salesman hissed. Duo didn't even have to look up to know what was going on. “This one has never been owned, and was trained with the First Method, my Lord.”
There was a short silence. “I don't think he is my Lords type,” the same customer that spoke up earlier decided.
“Of course, of course,” The other salesman muttered through what Duo could tell was a fake smile. “This way then.”
The same muttering and dissatisfaction continued through the room as they stopped in front of random people, making them stand up for the `Lord' then sit back down in rejection. If Duo wasn't in the predicament he was, he would have been laughing at the two odd smelling salesmen; babbling around trying to sell to a, what it sounded like, uninterested customer. Duo tensed a little as three pairs of feet walked passed him. He was about to let out a sigh of relief when he saw a pair of sandals stop, in half stride, right in front of him.
Though the man wasn't actually turned directly towards him, Duo could still feel the man's eyes boring into him. He then saw the other sandals turn around and stride back to the man who had his attentions on him. “He is one of our newest, my Lord, not yet trained--”
“Such a rare sight…slender, but obviously strong.” The same customer who had always been talking pointed out. Duo could tell it was not the voice of the one standing in front of him.
“Ah yes. You have a keen eye, my Lords,” The other salesman chimed in. “He will be quite the Aiko one he is cleaned up and trained. Especially once we cut that ragged braid.”
Duo's eyes finally shot up in anger. //There was no way in hell someone was going to…//
Duo's train of thought was lost in the dark blue eyes he was now staring into. Those deep pools shaded with chocolate colored bangs belonged to the man who had been looking down at him. They were full of so many conflicting emotions, those eyes…cold yet so warm when they looked at him. He had never seen such eyes.
“Cutting the braid would be a shame.” The man's voice even seemed softer than what Duo would have expected. The basic of the man's appearance was normal, a toga and cape, but his clothes were lined with bright patterns, accented with gold. As was his cape, which was dyed the same color of his eyes. Such a simplistic outfit, yet so regal on its owner, Duo couldn't take his eyes off of him. //Who is this guy?// Duo was snapped out of his reprieve when the other customer took him by the chin. “A very rare sight indeed. His eyes are even almost…”
“Violet,” the Lord added. The man let go of Duo's chin and looked at his companion with a smile. “You seem interested, my Lord.”
The Lord looked at his friend in annoyance. “More like amused. Are you done dragging me around for the day, Phinneaus?”
The Lord didn't wait for a reply as he walked away towards the entrance. Duo sighed in relief, but it was short lived as he saw the loquacious customer point at him and wink at the salesmen before he ran off after his Lord.
Duo was then pulled to his feet by the salesman and unhooked from the post, though the irons were still around wrists. “And to think, we'll get top dollar for him and he's not even broken yet.”
The same caveman that had been abusing him since he woke up came over and Duo was shoved in his direction. Duo felt strong hands clamp down on his shoulders, preventing any escape. The uglier salesman sneered at him. “Make him presentable for his new Lord.”
Duo felt his heart sink. This was, by far, the worst day of his life.
# # # #
Birthday shopping, he said. Phinneaus should have specified it as `people shopping'. Why the hell did he need an Aiko anyway? True, all the other lords had them…a few of them to be more accurate. But he was the Lord of War, for the gods' sake. He shook his head as he rode away from the bustling market, eyeing the rode as if it had just offended him, when he heard Phinneaus catching him up.
“Lord Yuy, wait!” Phinneaus shouted as he rode up next to him. “Was it really that bad?”
Lord Yuy kept his gaze ahead of him. “I do not need an Aiko, Phinneaus.”
Phinneaus looked behind him, making sure they were out of earshot of anyone nearby. “Look Heero, people of the court, well…find it strange that you don't have at least one.”
“And since when are you my public relations advisor?”
“Since you were born,” he smiled. Heero had to admit that he was right. Heero himself had never been very good with people, though they seem to like him anyway. But no, Phinneaus use to always help him in that area when he lived in Heero's House. Still did, when he really needed it. “Heero, you turn the age of adulthood in merely a week. The new Emperor's coronation is a month from now. Don't you think…”
“No. End of discussion, Phinneaus.”
“Fine. But I do need to go back and finish my shopping. So if you'll excuse me.”
Heero nodded. “See you back at the House.”
Phinneaus smiled and rode back to the busy market as Heero kept on towards home.
Riding up to the city center, Heero passed many of the citizens, each bowing as he rode by, along with children who chased his horse, giggling the whole time, for fun. They seemed to be having so much fun that Heero found himself smiling at the breathless giggles behind him. Heero was not very good with people, but the children of Lorlia always seemed to love him anyway, though he could never figure out why. Relena always said it was because children could sense what was inside of people. Whatever the reason, they followed him all the way to the front gates of his home, and waved as Heero disappeared into the grounds. Heero nodded to them and even managed a smirk before turning around the wall and out of sight.
As he reached the front steps of his home, a servant came and held the reigns as Heero dismounted. While the servants lead his horse away to the stables, the head servant greeted Heero at the edge of the steps with a bright smile and a low bow. “Welcome home, Lord Yuy.”
“Good afternoon, Sally.” They both walked up the marble stairs and into the building and made their way through the house full of stone columns, beautiful sculptures and marble floors lined with valuable furs. Servants greeted him at every corner along the way as Sally followed behind to his bedchamber. His room was lined with upright oil posts that illuminated the room at night, along with a large bed shaded by silk curtains, and a wall dedicated to dressers and clothing.
Striding over to his bed, Heero undid the clasp to his cape and laid it on the bed. Sally came up next to him and picked it up. “I thought you would have been gone longer, Lord Yuy, since you went shopping with Phinneaus.”
“The type of shopping he wanted to do held no interest for me.”
Sally sighed and hung her head. “I see.”
Heero's eyes grew in realization as he turned to her. “You were in on this too?”
“Um…”
“I can't believe the two of you,” Heero groaned. “No wonder you were so excited to see Phinneaus this morning.”
“It's high time you begin to act your age,” Heero was about to cut her off but she held up a finger to silence him, “and in more than just the professional sense.”
“How is having an Aiko `acting my age'?” He folded his arms, waiting for an answer. Sally walked towards his dresser, taking out a new set of clothing for him to change into from his riding garments. “Lord Varius has two Aiko, Lord Primitivus has one for practically every day of the week, and even Lord Crescentius has one, and they are just the elder sons of the Houses, my Lord.”
“I know very well of their so-called conquests, Sally. Primitivus never lets me forget. He's more interested in that then the duties of his own House.” Heero slid off his riding toga and put on the one Sally handed to him. “Just because every other lord has one, doesn't mean I must.”
“Perhaps.” Sally fastened the clasps on each of Heero's shoulders that were holding up off white toga, brilliantly embroidered with silver and gold inlays. Returning to the dresser, she pulled out a sapphire studded belt and handed to Heero. “But you are already considered…unique compared to the other lords. Must you boast of it even more so?”
Heero fastened the belt around him and turned to leave, Sally following close behind. “You are saying you wish for me to stick out less? Is that it?”
Sally scurried ahead of him and stopped him by placing her palm on his chest. “It is not only that, my Lord.” Heero's facial expressions softened as he listened to her. “I am worried that you work yourself too hard. You are always worrying about the kingdom and its people, and not of your own health…or happiness. I thought, perhaps, an Aiko could help you relax a bit. You carry too much alone, my Lord.”
Heero took her hand from his chest and lightly placed it back by her side. “I am sorry I make you worry about my sanity, but I assure you it has not run off on me. At least as of yet,” he smiled his usual quiet smile. The kind you could only catch if you knew him well enough. “I must go to the meeting at the palace now.”
“I will have dinner in your bedchambers for when you return.” Sally bowed and Heero watched as she walked away. He knew that she was just worried about him, she always was, like the older sister he never had. Heero shook the though out of his head as he headed towards the Emperors palace.
Dismounting in front of the palace from his horse about ten minutes later, Heero was greeted a very welcome face. “Lord Yuy, how have you been?”
“You tell me, Quatre. I am glad to see you back from your trip. I hope you enjoyed yourself.”
The kind blonde smiled at his question. “I had a wonderful time.” They both entered the palace together. “But you seem a bit frazzled, my Lord. May I ask why?”
“Perceptive as always. How do you do that?” Heero asked already knowing the answer. Quatre, a lower lord of the House of Humanities, was born with the power if insight. He could see into other people's hearts, no matter how buried inside it was. Ever since they met at a young age, Quatre had always been able to read Heero like a book. Sometimes it was useful, considering Heero was horrible at explaining himself, other times it made it impossible to hide. And damn that blonde, and his understanding blue eyes, right now Heero really felt like hiding.
“You know me. Now, what's eating at you?” Quatre asked with a smile.
Heero let out a sigh. “Phinneaus took me shopping today for my birthday.” Quatre still looked at him in confusion. “For an Aiko.”
Blonde eyebrows shot up and Quatre smiled. “I see.” A short silence followed. “Did you get one?” Quatre couldn't seem to help but ask.
“No, though Phinneaus seemed rather insistent. Even Sally was in on it.” That got a laugh out of him.
“I'm surprised you stood your ground if Sally was in on it.” Quatre managed after his giggles had subsided.
“Actually, so am I.” Sally seemed to have the power to get him to do anything, and Quatre was one of the few who knew it.
Quatre looked at Heero with those pure blue eyes for a moment, as if he could look right through him, then smiled quietly. “I understand how you feel. It must be hard not being able to explain it to anyone. Try not to let it bother you.”
Heero gave him a quick smile of thanks as they finally reached the conference hall, Quatre and Heero split up, each taking their respective seats, Heero's being right by Trowa and Catherine. “Good afternoon Trowa.”
Trowa nodded politely as the room fell into silence as the emperor and his sister took their seats. The Emperor Prisca was a righteous man, but not incredibly intelligent, being eight years Heero's senior. The man had chestnut hair, held back in a small ponytail, and beady green eyes. He was, as Phinneaus had put it in a drunken stupor, `only as good looking as his money'. Though, that was a bit harsh.
The emperor's sister, being Heero's age, was the opposite. Many people had commented that the Empire would be better off if she would lead it, considering she helped with all of the Emperor's decisions anyway. Heero had to admit, Relena wasn't a woman to contend with.
The meeting went along as it usually did. The same droaning as every week, until Crescentius of the House of Humanities gave his report. “On the eastern boarder of Lorlia, we have been having problems with drought.” Crescentius made short eye contact with Heero. “Though it is likely we will have rain in the next few days, the farmers have already lost half of their annual crops due to the problem.”
The leader of the House of Magic, Primitivus, stood up. “I'm sure we can find a way to increase rainfall without any…” Primitivus looked towards Heero, “…extreme uses of magic.”
The Emperor nodded, giving consent for them to investigate it, and the meeting was adjourned. Crescentius made it a point to seek out Heero afterward. “I did not wish to worry you, if I did.”
Though the man did make Heero's heart almost skip a beat when he had looked at him during the report, he didn't want to admit it. “I was more surprised that I hadn't heard of it sooner. If it's not much trouble, would you mind if I accompanied you next time you visit the east?”
“It isn't but,” Crescentius gave him a smile, “the chief of the village said he didn't want you coming out.”
Heero was a little taken aback, which just made Crescentius's smile widen. “What can I say, the people of Lorlia are just as protective of you as Chang is sometimes.”
“I see,” Heero nodded. Crescentius pat him on the back and walked away as Heero made his way over to Trowa and Quatre. “Quatre said that he had a wonderful time on the trip. Do I have you to thank for that, Trowa?” Hero couldn't help but tease. The blonde blushed a pretty pink while Trowa gave Heero a playful glare.
“I take that as a yes?” Heero smirked.
The look Quatre was giving him gave Heero the instinct that the blonde was holding back sticking out his tongue. “You may be quiet and distant with others, Lord Yuy, but you are beyond playful around us.”
“Sorry to tease. I am happy for you two, truly.” And he was. Quatre and Trowa were made for each other, and since neither of them were the direct heir of their family, they could marry. Which they had, about a month ago. Quatre had thirty older sisters, (sex was of no importance in Lorlia for positions), clearly defining him as not the heir. But in his family, everyone of the house was supposed to go to the meetings.
Even though Trowa's older sister, Catherine, was the heir for their family, Trowa still came to the meetings and such. Heero was pretty sure he did so just to be with Quatre as much as he could. “How is your home coming along?”
“It should be done in another month or so,” Trowa answered. “Speaking of which, we must be on our way. We need to go check on their progress.”
Heero nodded and walked to the outside gate with them, then watched as they rode off together. After they had ridden out of sight, Heero mounted his own horse and headed towards home.
His home was lit by oil posts and candles when he got home, making Heero feel even more tired than he already was. He slowly made his way to his bedchambers, collapsing very uncharacteristically face first onto his bed. He was allowed to enjoy a moments rest until Sally entered with his dinner on a golden tray, and adorning a very wide smile. “How was the meeting, my Lord?”
“The same,” he answered. Sally placed the tray on the bed next to Heero; still smiling what Heero decided was a creepy smile. “What is going on?”
“Nothing,” Sally answered with a cheery voice.
Heero glared at her. “Hn.”
“Don't blame her, it was totally me,” a new voice answered. Phinneaus stepped into the room holding a rope in one hand and wearing the same smile that Sally was. Heero's eyebrows furrowed, then shot up…//he didn't//.
Sure enough, Phinneaus pulled on the rope and in stumbled the man Heero had seen in the market earlier; slender yet still muscular body, long hair, though not in a braid now, violet eyes and…gagged with a cloth. Heero couldn't help but cock his head at the sight. What could he have said to cause Phinneaus, of all people, to gag him?
His curiosity only lingered for a short while until it was replaced with annoyance lined with anger. “Phinneaus…”
“I said I was going to get you an Aiko, and I got you an Aiko,” he said proudly.
Heero still glared at him through narrowed eyes.
“The great Lord of War isn't going to reject a gift, is he?” Phinneaus added with a mock scolding tone. Heero cut his glare in defeat. Rejecting a gift, even from a lower class, was a great dishonor. Phinneaus smiled at Heero in victory.
“Though I must say, you have interesting tastes,” Phinneaus commented, trying to reel in the new Aiko and only being met by struggle. “He's not trained in the least, and I mean not in the least.”
The long haired Aiko spat something back, but all Heero could make out was muffled curses. Phinneaus wasn't kidding; the man was definitely not born into slavery.
“Shall I?” Sally interjected, holding up two sai rings. Defeated, Heero waved at her to give the go ahead and she locked one on each on the Aiko's wrists. Phinneaus, finally pulling him close enough, untied and un-gagged the man, but didn't let go of his arms. “You can try and run away, but I doubt you'll get far with those. It's your funeral, kid.”
The new Aiko glared at him, them pulled away to inspect the sai rings. Clearly lost on what they were, he looked up and met Heero's eyes. “What the hell are they?” he demanded.
Phinneaus shrugged. “I warned you. Well, have fun, I gotta go!” And with that, Phinneaus slipped out the door.
“One of these days, I'm going to decapitate that man,” Heero announced, shaking his head. Sighing, Heero met the eyes of his new Aiko once again. There was such a strong wildness in those violet eyes; Heero had never seen anything like it. But there was a fire of disobedience behind those eyes as well, which Heero couldn't tolerate. He was too tired today. He would deal with it later.
“Sally, take him to the servants quarters and give him some proper clothes…and a bath,” Heero added, noting the matted mess that was suppose to be hair.
Sally gave him a small bow. “Will you need him tonight?”
Heero felt like throwing something at her, just to get that grin off of her face. “No.”
“Very well.” Sally led the bewildered Aiko out by the arm with some difficulty.
Finally alone, Heero ate his dinner and fell asleep, his head spinning with the day's events.
# # # #
Duo had to admit he was glad to be rid of the gag and ropes, but the mystery of the bracelets that the woman had put on him knawel at his brain as he was lead, //more like drug//, down to the servants quarters. Whatever they were, at least now that he was alone with a servant, he may be able to finally get some answers. “So, your name is Sally, right?”
“Yes, and yours?” The woman had a pleasant smile. Duo liked her, so far.
“Duo,” he smiled. If there was one thing Duo could be, it was charming. Though, his sarcasm did have the tendency to leak out at times.
“A pleasure, Duo. This way.” Sally led him into a bathing room and instructed him to undress. He did so, but felt a little weird in the process. Was she going to stay in here with him?
Duo sank into the water of the bath and couldn't help but sigh as the warm water soothed his sore muscles. The so-called bath that he got earlier under the watchful eye of the cave man was a quick rinse with cold water and a harsh scrubbing with a wool rag. This was definitely a step up. “Umm…so, Sally, Where are we?”
“What do you mean?” The woman did generally look confused.
“Here, what is here called?”
“You're in the Lord Yuy's House, in Lorlia,” she said in a matter-of-fact tone.
“Lorlia? Never heard of it.”
“Never--,” Sally shook her head. “You must be from very far away. Then again, that explains why you talked in such a brazen tone to Lord Yuy.”
Though it was hard, Duo bit his tongue. He wanted information right now, not a fight. “Yea, I'm from pretty far away…I don't even know what an Aiko is.”
Sally sat down at the edge of the bath. “You don't even know your own station?”
“Uh, no. What's an Aiko?”
“It's a word from the old language,” Sally started. “I guess a term you may know is…well…love slave.”
Duo's eyes grew wide as he stood up in the bath. “WHAT!! I'm a...a…what! Oh no, no, no. I'd rather die.”
Sally picked up a pail of cold water and splashed it on Duo. “Quiet! And quit using such brash language or I'll drown you myself!”
Duo sank back down into the water in a stupor. “I'm some guys fuck toy…”
TBC…
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Yay! My first alternate universe fic! Please review so I know if you are interested!