Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ The Choice of Death ❯ Chapter 6

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

C-Chan2: I know I take forever with these damn fics of mine and I should be punched for it.

Jim: Ooh! Me! Pick me! Can I do it?!

C-Chan2: No!

Jim: Aw.

Lloyd: Well, here's another chapter! We hope you enjoy it! ^_^

Jim: I know I won't.

C-Chan2 and Lloyd: Oh shut up!


Heero sat alone inside of the large throne room, having been there for at least an hour. He wasn't exactly sure, but he could have been sitting there longer. He was worrying over what were to him trivial matters. Though no matter how trivial, he could not be rid of them. It would seem that Trowa had convinced a healthy portion of the council that slavery was pointless and that it was about time to abolish it. At the meeting yesterday morning, he was surprised to find that the opinions had changed since the last meeting. Last week only four members of the council were against keeping the laws of slavery and this week exactly ten members were seeing things through the prince's eyes.

Of course Trowa was more than pleased. However, that meant that Treize, who was the representative of sorts for the pro-slavery half, was quite upset. Things were to be discussed today at another council meeting, where Trowa and Treize would go head to head. Heero, being the king, had no choice but to sit in and give advice or opinions when it seemed necessary. Though he hated sitting in on these trials. To him they were nothing but ostentatious arguments that wasted valuable time. There were more important matters to worry over. Such as tomorrow, which happened to be Duo's last day as his slave, according to their agreement. So in his opinion, he could care less if slavery was forbidden or kept. He would have no slave either way.

He leaned back into his throne, his eyes turning to the large windows that were heavily curtained, save one. He had ordered it to be opened so that he could gaze out at the blue sky. He had been thinking of joining the serfs once again to ask their opinion of the matter. He had been with them frequently as of late and he found that he enjoyed their company. Trowa was speechless and Treize was disgusted at this new fact, but he ignored either two. Now the prince and his slave had been joining him, though his stepbrother would barely say a word to him. He had been this way since the night of Duo's imprisonment to the royal chambers.

With that thought, Heero straightened himself on his throne. He had yet to return to Duo for some time now, having been too busy with the council meetings and his failed attempts of avoiding the council members. These past few days he had not slept in his room, taking refuge in the guest quarters at night and rising to be dragged into meetings immediately. So far none of the council members had found him, though he wasn't exactly hiding. He rose from his throne, taking the chance to walk out of the quiet room and into the halls where he would be susceptible to the council's encounters. And just as he had thought, someone had found him as soon as he pulled open the doors.

“Your Majesty.”, Treize greeted with a surprise, “So this is where you've been.”

“What is it, Treize?”, Heero asked him, though he wasn't interested.

As he began to walk away, Treize followed him, beginning to ramble away.

“I came in search of you, Your Majesty, only because the council meeting is soon to begin.”

“And?”

“Well, you see we can't have a meeting without you present.”, Treize clarified, noting Heero was heading in the wrong direction, “You will be present, am I right?”

“Actually I believe the meeting will have to be postponed.”, Heero declined, heading for the royal wing, “It's been days since I've held company with Duo and I must check on him. The council will have to wait.”

“You can't be serious.”, Treize laughed, both of them stopping, “Are you trying to tell me that you're going to brush the council aside to pay attention to that boy?”

Turning around to face Treize, Heero pinned the man in his spot with a threatening glare.

“That boy just happens to be my slave.”, Heero told him in a low voice, “And his name is Duo.”

Turning away, he started off to his chambers, waving Treize away nonchalantly.

“You shall inform the council that I will not be present if they decide to keep to schedule.”, he called back as he turned a corner, “And inform my brother that today the serfs will be eating beef stew for lunch. He had better not be late, I'll be expecting him.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”, Treize called out after him.

He was lucky that the king was not there to see his sneer of disgust. It would seem as if Heero was losing a few screws in his head. Ignoring the council for a boy who was worth nothing? He even chose to eat the fodder those peasants called food. The king had to be going insane. Treize was sure of it.


Heero entered his chambers with a nod to the two guards that stood watch at the doors. They were dismissed now that he was here and they left with a bow. His feet carried him to his bedroom door and he stopped as he noticed that it was unusually quiet. Not that it was noisy on any other occasion; it just seemed a bit odd. This silence was no ordinary silence. He looked over to the small table that stood in the room and he made his way to it. It was set with food and he figured that he had better take some to Duo. It had been days since the boy had eaten and he had to feed him. As he passed by the table with his liquors, he quickly snatched up a bottle of wine. He was feeling oddly guilty and he believed that Duo deserved something more than water.

Now that he wasn't empty handed, (he felt that he shouldn't be), he went to his bedroom. Pushing open the doors he slowly walked inside, his eyes looking to the corner where Duo resided. The braided youth was unaware of his entrance and Heero frowned at this. Duo was always aware when he was here. In fact he usually greeted him with a snarl. Today however, he had barely moved. To grab his attention, Heero cleared his throat but Duo did nothing more than curl up more where he lay. Now curious, the king moved forward, kneeling beside his slave as he reached him. The food and wine he rested down as his hands reached out to grasp Duo by the shoulders.

“Duo?”, he asked softly, “Are you alright?”

There was no answer and Heero sighed. Maybe this was another way that Duo was misbehaving. Though it was an odd way of acting out. Heero tried again, slightly shaking the boy and sighing in relief when the boy jerked away. So nothing was wrong. Well, something was wrong, he just wasn't sure what.

“Duo.”

“Leave me alone.”

Duo's weak voice alerted the young king that something was definitely wrong. So risking a few swears and maybe even a violent attack, he took hold of Duo, turning the young shadow to face him. Duo did nothing to stop him, though he made a sound of objection as he was moved. Now cradling the boy in his arms, Heero studied the heart-shaped face, watching as the violet eyes stared up blankly at him. Those eyes weren't as they usually were. They had grown dull and almost saddened. Something was wrong. He couldn't even begin to think what it was. His hand went to cupping Duo's cheek, the boy turning away.

“Duo, what is it?”, Heero asked him.

He received no answer, he only watched as the violet eyes brimmed with tears before they slowly slid closed. With an annoyed growl, Heero began the task of unlocking the boy's restraints. When that was done, he let the back of his hand feel the boy's forehead. There was no fever, but he still felt that a trip to the medic was in order. Standing from the ground with Duo in his arms, he headed out of the door just as two guards walked in.

“You two, find the council members and inform them that I will not be able to attend any further meetings.”, he informed them on his way out, turning back to face them, “You may have to repeat it multiple times for Treize. When you're done with that you can inform my brother that I have need of his company. I'll be in the infirmary, I expect him there in less than an hour.”

The two guards didn't have time to give responses, since Heero was already out of the chamber doors and down the hall. Though it took a little while for their stupor to fade, they did as they were told in haste, both going off in separate directions in search of the council members and Prince Trowa.

When Heero had reached the infirmary, he had caused the nurses and the palace's physician to go into alarm. The king had never rushed into the infirmary before and his presence had made them nervous. However, their shock was lost as they caught site of the limp body in his hand. Though it took a bit of urging, the physician took Duo away from the king to start treating him. He had found that Duo was sick after all, caused by a sudden bought of emotional stress. He was also malnourished and dehydrated. That verdict had caused Heero to begin admitting that it was his fault, blaming himself for everything. The medic had only shushed him, convincing him that it was nothing serious and that the boy would be fine. All he needed was food, drink and bed rest.

That was said half an hour ago and Heero now sat outside of the room which Duo laid in, his hands nervously toying with themselves. He was also a bit miffed that Trowa had yet to reach him. He had sent the guard with the message, had he delivered it? Maybe Trowa had no intentions of seeing him at the moment. His incessant worrying was stopped at the sound of the infirmary doors opening and he stood at the site of his stepbrother, two young blondes beside him. One was Quatre as was to be expected, the other however was Zechs, the young man's presence drawing questions he had no time to ask.

Trowa's eyes searched for Heero as he walked into the room, finding his stepbrother as the young man stood. He walked over, seeing the worry in colbat eyes and he felt for the first moment that Heero was almost afraid. It was confirmed at the sudden onslaught of words that came from Heero's mouth and he took hold of the king by his shoulders, trying his best to shush him.

“Heero, calm down.”, he pleaded, the man complying, “What is it? What happened?”

“It's Duo.”, he replied, nervous eyes looking into calming green, “He's not well. It's entirely my fault, Trowa. I've been so busy with the council and I've been so stubborn and-”

He was stopped as Trowa shushed him again, the prince's grip on his shoulder tightening comfortingly. Green eyes looked back to Quatre momentarily, who only nodded before heading forward. He stopped beside Trowa, the king looking back at them a bit confused.

“Quatre is going to help you calm down.”, Trowa explained, “You seem to be on the verge of a panic attack.”

Heero could only nod and he watched as Trowa stepped aside to allow Quatre to stand in front of him. He flinched as the boy raised his hands and muttered an apology when the blond boy pulled back. Trying again, Quatre raised his hands, gently resting the tips of his fingers against the king's temples. As the young slave's eyes closed, Heero found he did the same. His heart that he hadn't even known was racing began to slow to a steady pace. His body relaxed as well and his mind slowly began to grow at ease. He had no idea what was being done to him, but it was working. As Quatre pulled away, Heero opened his eyes.

“What are you?”, he asked him.

“A mage, Your Majesty.”, Quatre answered, Trowa retuning to his side.

“Mage's are held in high regard.”, Heero told him, “Why are you a slave?”

He found Trowa's hand take hold of Quatre's as the blonde boy smiled at the king. Heero didn't need an answer, he already knew. As a mage Quatre was required to be taken away from civilization. Though held in high regard, mages were also thought to be dangerous and were sent off to a retreat where they were to be held until their talents were needed. As a slave, mage or not, it was against the law to take Quatre away from the one who owned him. It was the only way that he and Trowa could have stayed together and he had kept his being a mage a secret as added security.

Heero could say nothing else and he was glad that the doctor chose that moment to enter the room. The man smiled in greeting to the new comers before he turned to the king.

“How is he?”, Heero asked impatiently.

“He's doing just fine, Your Majesty.”, the man answered with a smile, “It's like I told you. All he needed was food, water and a bit of rest. However, it seemed as if he has had a bit of emotional trauma. You can see him if you like, but I ask that you try your best to keep your temper as he's being stubborn.”

“I don't have a temper!”, Heero snapped, the nurses jumping at the sudden noise.

“Heero.”, Trowa called, gaining his attention, “Please.”

Okay. So maybe he did have a temper, but he could control it. They didn't have to tell him what to do. Clearing his throat, Heero apologized to the doctor.

“I'll go in just a minute.”, he said, finally looking again to Zechs.

The young man somewhat stiffened under the king's gaze and he waited for whatever it was the king had in store for him.

“Why are you here?”, was all the young man asked and Zechs felt relief.

“My uncle sent me in his stead.”, he answered, Heero frowning.

“But I didn't ask for his company.”, he told him, the young man shrugging.

“Yes, but he believes that you are always in need of his company. He would have come himself, but Wufei has gone missing and he went off to find him.”

At the mentioning of the slave's name, Heero couldn't help but wonder what he was. Quatre was a mage, Duo was a shadow and he had yet to know what Wufei could be. His sudden bought of curiosity was pushed aside and he looked to Zechs once more.

“Find your uncle and inform him that when Wufei is found he is not to be harmed.”

He stopped himself at his own words, everyone else just as shocked as he was. He had never shown interest or even concern in any other slave, let alone his own and his new and odd behavior was questioning. He let it go. He'd figure it out later.

“Go now.”, he told Zechs, breaking the boy from his shock.

With a nod and a bow, Zechs rushed off, giving the prince and his slave a quick good bye. Heero then turned to Trowa, who he knew was ready to ask him a thousand questions he had no time to answer.

“Later.”, was all he said before he was headed in the direction of Duo's room.

He didn't hesitate to open the door and he stepped in closing it behind him.

Duo looked up at the sound of someone entering and he found Heero at the door. Colbat eyes looked back at him and he found Heero stepping forward. He only turned away; he wasn't in the mood to argue. Heero saw when Duo turned away from him and he had to remind himself that he had been warned to keep his temper down. A chair sat beside the bed, most likely where the physician had been sitting and he took a seat in it, his hand reaching out to rest itself on Duo's shoulder.

“How are you feeling?”, he asked, noting Duo's shrug.

That was most likely the only answer that he was going to get and he sighed before pulling his hand away. He rose from the chair only to reseat himself on the bed. That caught Duo's attention and the boy turned to look back at him.

“What are you doing?”, he asked suspiciously and Heero only shrugged in reply.

Glaring up at the king, Duo sat up, distancing himself as much as he could.

“The doctor told me that your illness was on account of my neglect.”, the king started, Duo scoffing.

“It's alright.”, Duo muttered sarcastically, “I don't really need food and water, I can survive on air. Besides, I was on punishment, remember? No food unless it was from your hand. You were far too busy.”

“Duo-”

“If anything had happened to me, it's not like you couldn't get a new pet. You are the king after all.”

Though it did sting, Heero knew he deserved it. He had left Duo to die basically and his being busy was no excuse.

“I'm sorry.”, he apologized, Duo's body growing limp at the words, “I should have paid more attention to you. It wasn't fair of me to brush you aside as if you were nothing more than a toy. It was wrong of me and it won't happen again.”

Duo had no idea what to say or do at those words. He had never expected to gain an apology. He had braced himself for an argument. He was prepared for Heero's usual pigheadedness and loud reminders of who was the slave and who was the master. That he was ready for, but never this.

He felt Heero take his hand and he looked down at it before he was looking up into suddenly mesmerizing blue.

“Though I only have one more day, will you give me the chance to try again?”

At Heero's question, Duo felt his mouth open but no sound emerged. He watched Heero smile at him and that sent a small jolt down his spine. He also felt his cheeks flush as Heero's free hand gently raised his jaw, closing his mouth in the process. He had no idea why he was acting in such a way and he tried his best to pull himself together. He had to answer Heero's question and the answer that he would give, he wasn't sure if it was what he really wanted to say.

“Yes.”, he blurted out, his eyes widening.

He couldn't believe his ears. He was just giving in to this man. Even after everything that he had been put through? He watched as Heero rose from the bed, gently letting his hand go.

“Thank you.”, the man gently said, “Maybe in that one day you'll change your mind.”

“You have two weeks.”, Duo said, wanting to hit himself after.

“Really?”, Heero asked, now intrigued, “You're willing to give me two more weeks?”

Duo nodded, not wanting to explain the real reason why and he was glad that Heero didn't ask him about it.

“I see.”, was all the king said, before he was walking to the door.

As he opened it, he turned back to Duo, the young shadow watching back at him. He gave the boy another smile and he watched as Duo looked away with a blush. He would make the best of these two weeks.

“In two weeks, I'll try my best to convince you to stay here.”, Heero said watching Duo look up at him again, “I will not make the same mistakes as before. I assure you that I'll do my best to make the decision of leaving quite difficult. For now you'll rest. I'll come for you in the morning.”

With a nod, Duo watched as Heero finally left, gently closing the door behind him. He let himself fall back into the bed and he covered his face with the pillow. He suddenly felt embarrassed and he was also quite annoyed with himself. He had nearly acted like a silly maiden, blushing at every word Heero said. He had no idea what had gotten into him and Heero's sudden change in character wasn't helping any either. He removed the pillow from his face and rested his head onto it, turning onto his side so that he could will himself to sleep.

He would spend another two weeks here with the king. It wasn't as if he had any where else to go. His father wasn't coming for him yet. Though now he didn't mind, he was almost curious as to what the young king had in store.


T.B.C.

C-Chan2: I know this took so long to write and I'm sorry that it was short, but I will try harder to update as often as possible and I don't really get a lot of opportunities. Until next time.

Lloyd: Bye!