Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Of Courtesans and Corsairs ❯ Chapter 2

Of Courtesans and Corsairs

Chapter One

"PRINCE WU-LONG!" the High King Wufei thundered as his five-year-old son darted from the throne room. The little boy was dressed in imperial yellows befitting his station as crowned prince, but his actions were anything but princely. His little face was red and streaked with tears from crying, and the sleeves of his tunic were saturated with tears and mucus from his little nose.

He ran with all the speed that such tiny legs could possess, running from the throne room and down the dimly lit corridors to a familiar apartment he could always find solace in. The angry, even footsteps of the High King followed him, the gait unbroken despite his obvious frustration. The prince did not care how angry he'd made his father, or how badly he could be punished for his actions. None of it mattered, really. Not now!

His slipper-clad feet carried him to a large door that he had no chance of opening on his own, so he did the next best thing. Throwing himself at the obstacle, he shrieked and wailed while pounding his baby fists against the door. "MAMA MAMA MAMA MAMA MAMA!" he screeched, sobbing uncontrollably.

Instantly the door flew open, and the Highest Concubine to the High King swept the prince into his embrace. "My son," he soothed, patting his little back and doing anything he could think of to stop his tears. "My child, my sweet, what has happened to you? What has brought my prince to such disharmony? Hush, my love, come inside and sit with Mama. Mama will remedy whatever it is."

The High King caught his lover's attention with a look begging for help, and then a stern glance to the sobbing prince. "Heero, do not coddle him," he growled. "He disobeyed me three times! And now that my betrothed is coming from Sanq after five years without a word from her, he is acting spoilt! I will not have it, I say!"

Heero felt a small part of him die. "Sh…she's coming from Sanq?" he whispered in disbelief. With the Queen coming, there was almost no chance of Heero ever hoping to see Wufei half as often as he did now. And not only that, it wasn't exactly a little-known fact that Queen Relena loathed the very idea of Heero being within a galaxy of the palace! "Oh…I'll go pack my things…"

"What on Earth for?! She's my betrothed, Heero, not a replacement!" Wufei pushed the door open with his mighty hand and muscled his way into his love's chambers, his almond-shaped eyes of the deepest jet set on the uncertain Prussian blue pools. "Truly, what has gotten into you two? You're acting as though you've been cursed!"

"Sire," Heero sat his son on his bed and bowed deeply at Wufei's feet, the sleeves of his flowing silk robe touching the floor like great wings whose tips brushed across the cold stone. "Please do not be troubled; I will see to the prince this instant…"

Wufei folded his arms over his chest and permitted himself a skeptical smile. "Do get up, Heero. Honestly, how can I be anything but troubled when you tell me not to worry?" The King helped the brunette teen to his feet and led him to the bed, then sat him down and settled beside him. "Tell me why the prince ran from my throne room in tears after I mentioned Relena. Perhaps we can determine what it is that is bothering the both of you."

Wu-Long crawled into his mama's lap and made himself comfortable, wiping his eyes and nose on his sleeves again. "Mama gonna get sent away," he whispered around his squeaky whimpers.

"By whose order?" Wufei demanded gently, running his fingers through his son's chocolate-brown locks. "I never made such a decree. Where did you hear such a horrible rumor?"

Heero took up a corner of his own robe's sleeve and cleaned up the prince's cherubic face. "The Queen of Sanq sends messengers to me to be certain I am aware of my status, and how it shall all change when she arrives. The latest was intercepted by Captain Mariemeia, and Wu-Long overheard the two conversing over the letter. Mariemeia refused to believe I would be dismissed to the Desert King Tuberov, and Wu-Long came straight to me with the news."

Wufei nodded solemnly, pensively. "When was this message received?"

"No later than a week ago, Sire," Heero answered.

At this, the High King stiffened, then scoffed and rested a hand against his lover's cheek. "The Queen has no such power to dismiss you, my love. I appointed you my High Concubine, and that is a position I think you shall be in for life. When Relena arrives, she will learn damn fast how things are run in my kingdom, and they are not run by any over-powering onna."

"So Mama no go?" Wu-Long happily piped up. "Mama stay?"

"Of course, you silly little monkey," Wufei teased, pressing his lips to his son's forehead soothingly. "Only I have the power to dismiss him, and he hasn't done anything yet to convince me to even consider it." Heero felt immensely better after speaking to his lover, which helped Wu-Long to manage a tiny smile. Both of these brought a sense of relaxation to the King; his family was no longer in danger. "All of this aside now, are either of you going to keep secrets like these again?"

Heero smiled awkwardly and blushed. "Sire, I had specifically asked no one to tell you of this matter. Compared to matters of the state and of your kingdom…"

Wufei stiffened and hushed his lover with a semi-firm glare. "Do not tell me what matters take precedence over others, Heero. No matter what might happen, you and Wu-Long shall always come first to me! And even when Relena arrives, that will never change! I am only one man, Heero! Being High King does not put me past human emotions!"

The concubine quickly apologized for his words, though the King's words were not entirely true. It was the duty of the High King to put his country's needs before his own, but Heero made no mention of this for fear of upsetting the King, and therefore upsetting Wu-Long. Speaking of whom, the brunette smiled gently and cradled his child in his arms lovingly. "My little Highness, your sleeves are soaked in your sorrows! Come with Mama and we'll get you bathed and in a fresh outfit…"

"No baff, Mama," the prince pouted, squinting his face into what he thought made a fierce scowl. "As Cwowned Pince I fowbid it!"

"You do?!" Heero gasped dramatically. "Oh good heavens! It's only a shame the High King's word outwieghs yours. Now stop fussing, love. Just a quick bath to get you clean and fresh…"

Wu-Long began squirming for all he was worth, fighting to break free. "No baff! I allewgic! Dewe's nasties in da watew! Baba doesn't take baffs! I'wl scweam!" As if to back his threat, he filled his lungs with air and opened his little mouth wide.

"Wu-Long," Wufei growled in warning, sending the air whooshing out of the boy in a great sigh. Satisfied, the King smiled to himself and nodded. "Much better. Now obey your mama and take your bath, or you'll be dipped in the moat and scrubbed with a river rat until your skin is as pink as a salmon!"

Heero shot a pseudo-glare at the father of his child and pat Wu-Long's little back. "Such a thing to tell the future High King! You'll frighten him to tears! And then what a mess you would be in!" The High Concubine whisked away grandly to the bathing chambers with his son in tow, kissing his pudgy face and assuring him no such fate would ever befall him.

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Hope you like so far! We're gonna meet the pirates in the next chapter! I'd love to see some fanart for this, but alas, I cannot afford a commission!