Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Shinigami's Gem ❯ Alexandrite ( Chapter 6 )

Warnings: Angst, blood (not much), magic, suspicion, much glaring and a bit of lime thrown in for good measure.

Disclaimer: I hereby assert that I don't own the Gundam Wing characters or any part thereof (mores the pity). I do also assert that I make no money off this, nor do I have any, thus suing would be fruitless.

Author's Notes: Uni bites the big one… -_- Back to the hard slog. I should be in bed… oh well… ;)

Chapter 6: Alexandrite.

"Q-quatre…?" Duo's voice cracked dryly and he gave a slight cough, shifting a little beneath the covers of his bed.

Wu Fei looked nervously at Duo. It was the first time over the last four weeks that Duo had woken without the little blonde being in the room.

"Quatre…?" Duo was slightly more hysterical at no reply, fingers twisting in the bed sheets.

"He… he has gone to get himself something to eat and rest for a short while. He should return in a little time," Wu Fei said softly, standing slowly and taking a step towards Duo.

"How long is 'a little time'?" Duo whispered, still ill and afraid. A tear slid down his cheek, tracing a silver path.

It was all Wu Fei could stand. He padded over to Duo and gently caught the tear on a finger, taking it away from Duo's face. The thief flinched away in fear.

"I… I don't know how long, Duo… I won't hurt you like that ever again. You have to believe me. I didn't mean-"

Duo cut him off, suddenly angry.

"How am I supposed to be sure of that? You nearly killed me!"

It was Wu Fei's turn to flinch and he closed his eyes, shaking his head slightly.

"I know… and there isn't anything I can do to prove to you that I won't hurt you again. But… you have my word and… I… I have something for you."

Duo, still weak, couldn't sustain his anger long and his eyes slipped shut.

"And what would that be, Wuffie…?" he asked softly.

Wu Fei closed his eyes again and concentrated slightly, lifting a hand palm-up. A soft blue glow appeared in the upraised hand, slowly resolving itself into a familiar, long, chestnut braid. The lordling let the end brush Duo's face and violet eyes snapped open.

"Sit up…" Wu Fei said, then realised belatedly he'd phrased that as an order and hastily added. "Please."

Duo raised a brow, but forced himself tiredly into a sitting position, his eyes fixed on the braid. Wu Fei slid an arm around him for support, making him flinch in fear again. The lordling apologised softly before undoing the twine that held the upper end of the braid confined. He carefully held the braid in place and let his eyes slip shut for a third time, murmuring softly under his breath.

A very pale yellow glow encompassed all of Duo's hair, whether attached or unattached to his head. As it began to fade, Quatre walked in and made a gargantuan leap to conclusion.

"Wu Fei! Don't hurt him anymore! Haven't you done enough?!" he cried.

It was fortunate he was nearly done before Quatre reappeared, Wu Fei reflected, as all that might have been left of Duo's precious hair would be a mess if the blonde's interruption had come any earlier.

"I won't hurt him ever again," Wu Fei assured him softly, stepping back to reveal Duo's re-attached braid. He helped the thief to lay back down and risked a surreptitious kiss to the tired youth's brow while Quatre was too busy being shocked and chagrined, mouth wide open, to notice. Duo didn't feel it either, having fallen asleep after a soft but heart-felt thank you.

"You look like a beached fish, Quatre…" came Trowa's amused voice from the doorway.

"T-trowa!" Quatre managed after a moment of fighting to speak.

Trowa smiled at his sweet lover and waved a negligent hand.

"I had thought… tonight you might leave Shinigami's side…" Trowa said hopefully, walking over to the blonde.

"I can't. He's too sick and-"

"And I can watch him," Wu Fei said from where he stood by Duo's bed.

"No!" Quatre almost snarled, shocking the other two into wide-eyed stares. They'd never heard such venom in the gentle blonde's voice before.

"Quatre-" Trowa started, but his lover cut him off.

"No! Trowa, he nearly killed Shinigami! I won't give him the chance to do it again!"

Every time someone called the braided slave 'Shinigami', Wu Fei had to remember his promise to Duo not to reveal his real name and bite his tongue to keep from making the correction.

"I'm not going to kill him!" he said instead, exasperated.

"You tried once, why not again?" Quatre snapped back, vehement in his protection of his friend.

Trowa, meanwhile, frowned a little. As he studied Wu Fei's eyes closely, he got the feeling there was something there he couldn't quite read. However, he knew instinctively Wu Fei meant it when he said he wouldn't hurt the thief.

"Quatre, he's one of our masters. We've got to do what he asks, like it or not. Come now. You need more rest," Trowa said softly, his eyes never leaving Wu Fei's, who in turn didn't look away either.

"He doesn't have your emerald and he doesn't have my diamond. There's nothing he can do. I'm not leaving Shinigami alone with him!"

"I'm sorry Quatre," Trowa sighed, and before Quatre could ask what he was sorry for, he lifted the smaller slave off his feet and carried him out of the room.

"Trowa!" Quatre cried.

"Thank you," Wu Fei called after him.

"Don't mention it. Not all my motives are unselfish…" came Trowa's reply, along with a tiny "meep!" from Quatre before they disappeared around a corner.

Wu Fei smirked to himself before turning his eyes to Duo's sweat-beaded face. Heero had done all he could and Duo had to do the rest. He wouldn't die, there was no chance of that, but it would be a fight to recovery. Wu Fei hesitated a moment before brushing Duo's thick bangs back from his forehead. They fell instantly back into their appealing disarray over his eyes. Wu Fei smiled slightly.

But it wasn't just his looks, Wu Fei knew. There was just… something about Duo Maxwell that he found utterly irresistible. Unfortunately, he wasn't sure what that something was and he had the unsettling feeling he wouldn't be able to bury his reactions to Duo for much longer.

His fingers ghosted over the braided thief's cheek before he settled back in the chair Quatre had put beside the low bed. He folded his arms comfortably across his chest and sat back in the chair. Two fingers soon lifted to toy with the sapphire suspended from his neck.

* * *

"No!" Duo screamed, snapping awake and bolting upright. Wu Fei was at his side instantly, as he had been for the last couple of weeks. Less and less had he seen of Quatre, more and more of Wu Fei.

"Shh… It's all right. You're awake now," he said softly, gently wiping Duo's sweat-soaked brow.

"I was dreaming again, huh?" Du murmured, his eyes fixed on the third button of Wu Fei's velvet jacket.

"Yes," Wu Fei replied, unable to think of anything better to say. He finished wiping Duo's face and tossed the cloth into a basket by the door for the washerwoman to pick up later.

Duo's fingers tangled instinctively in his braid and he grimaced at the contact. Weeks in bed hadn't done any favours for the masses of hair. It was terribly greasy and salty from his sweat. It was falling out of its confines, tangled, even matted in places. Following fast on the heels of the discovery of how uncared for his hair was came the realisation that the nagging smell was his own unwashed skin and he grimaced again. He needed a bath.

"I need a bath," he said, disgust colouring his voice.

"You're too weak to-" Wu Fei began, but Duo cut him off.

"I need a bath! I'm a big boy now and I can take care of myself," he said sarcastically.

Wu Fei sighed.

"You're not fully recovered and-"

"And I won't be for a long time. I'm not smelling like this for the rest of my enforced bed rest. I know I'm weak, Wuffie, but I can deal. Had to when I lived on the streets." Those big violet eyes widened in appeal and Wu Fei couldn't hold out against them. He gave a slight nod, then slowly helped Duo out of the bed. He nearly fell when he took just two steps, but Wu Fei's arm went instantly around his waist to hold him up. Duo smiled gratefully.

A lot of the enmity that had existed between them had faded slowly over the couple of weeks Wu Fei had spent taking care of Duo, although certain subjects caused it to flair again at odd times, especially on Duo's part. He was fragile and his emotions shot to pieces. He was volatile and flew off the handle at the strangest things.

Wu Fei's thoughts petered to a halt as they reached the baths and found them deserted, but for Zechs and Heero. The latter of the two sat curled in the former's lap, snuggled close to him, face buried in his collared neck. Zechs looked up and smiled broadly.

"Hello. Up and about? Well, well," he said, lifting an arm to beckon them over.

Heero looked up and regarded them, the dark shadows under his eyes a testimony to just how far he'd pushed himself to heal Duo. It had taken more than just that first effort and each time afterward, Heero had again pushed himself to unconsciousness, totally fixated on his self-appointed mission to get Duo well. Zechs hands ran idle trails up and down Heero's back as the two of them watched Wu Fei help Duo over. Zechs leaned down and murmured something into Heero's ear, gaining a smile and a nod in return.

Duo fought his way out of Wu Fei's grip, nearly fell but steadied himself, and began to undress. He was woefully thin, having not had the energy to eat much of anything, even when he was awake, and his spine was easily seen as he rid himself of his shirt with a grimace of distaste.

"Oh, I definitely need a bath…" he muttered, and promptly finished undressing before beginning to climb into the water, getting half way and falling the rest.

Wu Fei's eyes widened, but Duo popped back up looking sheepishly at the other three.

"How are you?" Heero asked, shifting in Milliardo's lap so he could talk to Duo without having to twist his head off.

Duo leaned against the opposite side of the bath and half-closed his violet eyes.

"I'm gettin' there. Thanks for everything you did, Heero. Wu, loosen up, strip down and get in. You're making the place look untidy."

Wu Fei blinked, then smiled slightly and just did as he told while Duo worked at freeing his hair from its lengthy braid.

"I never knew hair grew quite that rapidly…" Zechs murmured, the hand that had been stroking Hero's back disappearing under the water to dance up and down the advisor's thigh.

"Wu here gave it back, didn't you Wu?" Duo said, slinging an arm around Wu Fei's neck and pulling playfully. Wu Fei, who was only half way into a sitting position, lost his balance and ended up under the water. He broke the surface to the laughter of the other three and shook his hair out of his eyes before settling a little way off from Duo.

Heero suddenly shivered slightly, sending ripples through the water.

"No…" he whispered.

"No…?" Duo asked in confusion, blinking.

Zechs smirked and let his fingers drift along Heero's length for a second time, gaining the same shiver in response.

"No!" Heero said again, more forcefully this time.

Zechs only smiled, knowing Heero's 'no' was only because Duo and Wu Fei were there.

"We should be going. We have things to do…" Zechs said softly, helping his lover out of the water and wrapping him tightly in a towel before draping one around himself and leaving with a wave.

"Later," Duo said, still fighting with his hair. "And of course by 'things' he means 'each other' and - ah, shit!" the thief exclaimed, getting impatient with his hair and trying to throw the braid across the room. As it was attached to his head again, however, he was less than successful.

"Would you like my help?" Wu Fei asked softly.

"I guess…" Duo replied grudgingly, embarrassed at his inability to even un-braid his hair. He turned away from Wu Fei and folded his arms across his chest. The lordling snatched a brush from the row of implements that always sat by the edge of the baths and un-braided Duo's hair, then gently began to work out the tangles. After some time, and a lot of swearing, he managed to have it hanging straight down into the water. That done, he found a glass bottle of the stuff he liked to use on his own hair and drizzled some of it over Duo's head and began to massage it in.

"Oh… yeah," Duo purred, eyes slipping shut in ecstasy. "If there's one thing I hate almost as much as having short hair, it's having unwashed hair."

"Your hair is beautiful…" Wu Fei whispered, but the words were lost in a gentle moan that came from Duo as the lordling washed said hair.

"You should do this for a living, Wu. I mean really."

Wu Fei only smiled.

"Deep breath," he said.

Duo barely had time to say "huh?" before Wu Fei pushed him under the water and quickly rinsed the suds out of his hair.

"Ah!" Duo cried as he burst back up from under the water, energy renewed a little by having a clean body. He tackled Wu Fei and forced him under.

"Revenge is sweet!" he cried triumphantly and leapt away, soaking chestnut hair flying.

Wu Fei tackled right back and somehow Duo ended up with his back against the wall of the bath and Wu Fei straddling him.

"What now, braided wonder?" Wu Fei asked with a rare grin.

"I haven't decided yet," Duo replied, laughing.

Wu Fei lifted a hesitant hand and brushed it through Duo's fringe, watching as the bangs instantly fell back across his forehead. The thief started slightly, but didn't protest, giving Wu Fei some courage. Again he stroked back the hair, this time holding it there as he leaned forward to kiss Duo gently, lips just barely brushing the thief's. Duo's eyes slid instantly shut and one hand tangled almost violently in Wu Fei's own freed hair as he pulled the lordling closer for a deeper kiss. It was Duo's tongue that begged for entrance to Wu Fei's mouth and he gave it eagerly, his free arm going around Duo's shoulders.

Suddenly, Duo's eyes snapped open and he pulled away sharply, shaking his head.

"Oh, no! You - I can't - Not with - I won't!" he cried, before fainting dead away, his energy coming to an abrupt end and exhaustion reasserting itself.

Wu Fei blinked. He removed himself from Duo's lap and thought cold thoughts to calm himself even as he rang the bell close by and asked the two slaves who came running to dry Duo, redress him and re-braid his hair. He also asked them to be sure Duo's bed had been changed before they put him back in it. Orders given, he climbed from the water and dried himself, then padded to his room wrapped in a towel to think.

* * *

Duo awoke with a start to an empty room, breath catching fearfully in his throat. His violet eyes darted around, confirming again that he was no longer in the bath kissing Wu Fei. His bedclothes were clean as was his body and his hair, which was neatly braided. The sheets and blankets on his bed smelled of lavender and were soft to the touch. He revelled in all the clean for a few moments before forcing himself back to what had happened.

"Oh… he was so gentle and so… mmm… sweet," he whispered, closing his eyes, back arching slightly in remembered pleasure. He licked his lips before snapping back to reality. He'd been afraid. Afraid because Wu Fei was his master and masters… one master had raped him and it had made more of an impact than Duo had been willing to admit at first. He'd thought it hadn't marked him, but it had, denying him something he knew was wonderful.

Duo wasn't fussy about what sex his bed partners were, never had been, but now… Duo shook his head. He wasn't going to let the prick win like that. It wasn't someone who was going to hurt him, it was Wu Fei, who, Duo was sure, only wanted to pleasure and be pleasured in return.

Then again… it was Wu Fei's fault he was a slave in the first place.

"I should hate him… but I can't. Not anymore. He… he… just… tastes too damn sweet!"

"What tastes sweet, Shinigami?" came Quatre's voice as he trotted in and plopped down in a chair beside the bed.

"Oh! Uhh… you know. Food. Speaking of which, I haven't had any in a while…"

"I swear you read minds, Quatre," Trowa said as he entered the room balancing three plates in his arms.

Quatre blushed a little.

"Well it was pretty easy to figure out he'd be hungry, Trowa," Quatre replied, dashing over to help his lover with the plates.

Duo grinned and licked his lips, eyes fixed on the steaming plate Quatre set on his lap.

"Ooh, I love you!" Duo breathed to Quatre, still not looking away from his plate.

Quatre blushed again and shook his head.

"It was really nothing," he said before tucking into his food. Trowa laughed softly and began to eat as well, while Duo ate faster than was really wise. For a short while, he only had to concentrate on the food and not think about anything else, which for the moment, suited him fine.

* * *

"Please… oh, Wu Fei…" Duo gasped, his fingers twisted tightly in Wu Fei's black hair. He arched up off the bed as Wu Fei leaned down to kiss him deeply, his tongue meeting and dancing with Duo's.

He drew back to whisper Duo's name before beginning slow, sensual movements within the braided youth.

Duo made an affirmative sound, legs lifting to wrap about Wu Fei's waist.

"Duo… gods…" Wu Fei breathed.

"Duo!" he cried, jolting out of the dream and being left with a feeling of emptiness. Wu Fei ran a hand over his face and through his unbound hair, cursing the dream that had plagued him for the last three weeks, since the encounter in the baths. He had to struggle to uncoil himself from his blankets to get comfortable beneath them again, and he curled up a little.

He didn't like wanting Duo. He didn't understand why he wanted Duo. He couldn't deny that he did want Duo. He didn't want to want to Duo.

Wu Fei would take charge of everything his father owned when it came time, and he knew a diplomatic marriage would have to be arranged - probably by his father - before that time came. No one but Duo knew Wu Fei held no interest in women, although the lordling had a feeling Zechs and Heero had intuited it. There was no way Wu Fei would ever be allowed to even hint that he didn't fancy women. In this, he envied Zechs, Heero, Quatre and Trowa. Being what they were, they were free to love and have any person they chose. Wu Fei didn't have that luxury.

He sighed and quickly realised he couldn't sleep anymore. He rose, threw on clothing, then snatched up his sword from where it rested in its stand and made his way swiftly down to the training areas. He would have preferred an opponent, but as everyone slept, he had to be satisfied with exercises. He lit only enough lamps so that he could see and they cast flicking, dancing shadows onto the walls with their muted red-yellow glow.

Wu Fei stood in the centre of a circle imprinted on his mind, sword raised. He murmured a short, ritual prayer, then began his dance with the firelight and flickering shadows.

Eyes closed, Wu Fei didn't notice the silent shadow flitting into the room. Nor did he catch the telltale flash of flame on sword-blade that winked momentarily before it was quelled. He was unaware of anything amiss until the ring of steel on steel and abrupt halt of his blade against another forced his eyes open.

"You're good, Wuffie, but can't outdo me for class…" Duo said with a playful smirk. Then there was no time for talk as the thief backed off and Wu Fei went after him. A short exchange and they spared a moment for words as they circled.

"First blood," Wu Fei stated.

"Always," Duo replied, though no affirmation had been needed or really expected. It wasn't the first time they'd done this.

"This morning you refused to get out of bed," Wu Fei pointed out, eyes darting to Duo's dancing feet before fixing again on the violet orbs across from him.

"So I pulled a sick day. Who would want to work when they can squeeze another day in bed? I'm fit as a fiddle."

As if to prove his point, Duo darted in suddenly and came close to drawing the required first blood, but Wu Fei just managed to halt the thief's sword's flight with the aid of his own blade.

"Once a layabout, lackadaisical thief…" Wu Fei murmured.

"Always a layabout, lackadaisical thief!" Duo finished proudly. "Man, you use some long words, Wu…"

Duo darted in again, just missing Wu Fei's hip as the lordling spun out of the way and struck back, also narrowly missing Duo.

"Besides," he added as they drew back again. "You still deserved to feel guilty."

His last comment had the desired effect. Wu Fei dropped his guard and began to speak, giving Duo ample opportunity to slip in and run the finely honed point of his sword across Wu Fei's chest.

"First blood!" the braided thief crowed, and commenced capering about the room, waving his sword in the air.

"That was dirty!" Wu Fei protested as he examined the destruction of his shirt, glad it wasn't one of his better ones.

"Yup! Dirty as they come. Your point?" Duo replied, grinning.

Wu Fei shook his head, smiling despite himself.

"I am sorry, Duo… Heero… told me what I did to you… I didn't understand very well, but he said something to the effect that I used your collar to amplify my power and hurt you… You… frightened me, I suppose. Father cannot know about my… uh…"

"Utter lack of interest in women and total attraction to men?" Duo supplied, eyes glinting mischievously.

"Yes… For what I did, it wouldn't surprise me if you did go to him. You have every right, and-"

Wu Fei's words cut off as Duo put two fingers to the lordling's lips. He shook his head slightly.

"I'm not like that, Wuffie…"

"Wu Fei!" the youth in question insisted, exasperated.

"Wuffie sounds better!" Duo laughed, and danced back before Wu Fei could raise his sword.

"Duo," Wu Fei spoke across the room to the thief, who was bouncing on the balls of his feet, ready for another round. But Wu Fei didn't want to spar anymore. "Duo, why do you call yourself Shinigami?"

Duo's dancing feet stuttered to a halt and his arm drooped until the tip of his sword trailed in the thin layer of sawdust and sand on the floor.

"I can't tell you…" he said, his eyes becoming misty and unfocussed, but shuttered all the same.

"Yes, you can. I haven't told anyone your real name and I won't tell them this either. You can trust me."

Duo laughed ruefully, eyes still containing a faraway look.

"Trust he who was nearly my 'shinigami'? That's ironic…"

Wu Fei flinched.

"Very well then… I won't order you to tell me, it wouldn't be right. But… if you want to tell me, at any time, I'll listen…" With that, Wu Fei turned and walked out of the room, leaving Duo staring after him, alone with the twin darkness of his shadows and his thoughts.

"I really hate him…" Duo muttered lightly, then called out to Wu Fei. "'Fei! Can we go somewhere else? This is gunna be hard enough without the depressing surroundings…"

Wu Fei smiled to himself before turning and nodding to Duo. The thief hurried quickly after him and they walked side-by-side back to Wu Fei's rooms.

* * *

The two of them were soon settled cross-legged on Wu Fei's bed, firelight burning merrily and lighting the tasteful furnishings of the room. Each had a mug of warmed ale clasped in their hands and Duo stared into his for what seemed like an eternity before he started his story…

* * *

Author's Notes: Oh look at that! Another cliff-hanger. How did that get there? Heh. Oh, and alexandrite? What is it? This chapter presented several problems in the naming. Do you think I could come up with a gemstone to fit? Damned if I could. So Kuy and I went to the University library and faithful ol' World Book Encyclopaedia offered us the answer. Alexandrite is a gemstone that actually changes colour. It's a sort of grass green in natural light, and a dark magenta in artificial light. So, since Duo moves from hating to being friends with Wu Fei through the course of this chapter, Kuy and I thought it fit well. *grins* Thus, this chapter is dedicated to Kuy!