Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ The Choice of Death ❯ Chapter 9

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

C-Chan2: Oi....it's been like forever hasn't it?

Lloyd: It has been long.

Jim: I thought you quit this thing ages ago?

C-Chan2: Nah, I couldn't leave these people hanging; they wanted more.

Lloyd: And here they have it. You'll have to forgive her really late update. At first she had no computer and then she had writer's block.

C-Chan2: ^_^' Yup, but now all is better, and the plot is spinning again. So you can go read and enjoy.

Jim: I-

Lloyd and C-Chan2: Just ignore him and enjoy! ^_^




Duo was silent the entire time he was led to his room, his eyes staring at the king's back as he walked ahead of him. Heero had done something unexpected tonight. He had taken away Treize's slave. Even though it was temporory, it wasn't beffiting of the king's usual behavior. Heero did not meddle in the affairs of other masters and their slaves. He could care less about any slave when it came right down to it. It would seem that the king had taken a change of heart and it all seemed to happen over night. Who was Duo to complain? At least the king was acting much more civil toward him. Then again, it made him worry.

Since he hadn't been paying attention he bumped into the king as Heero came to a stop. They had reached his suite faster than he was used to. Duo mumbled an apology as Heero turned to face him, a hand opening one of the double doors. Duo was waiting for the king to ask to be invited in, but it never came. Heero merely stared at him blankly.

"Good night, Duo.", he finally said after some time, leaving the boy standing in front of his door.

Duo turned to watch him leave, unsure if he should allow him to do so. Quatre had asked him to talk to him and he had to admit he was curious. With only a moment's hesitation, Duo followed after him his hand reaching out to grab hold of Heero's arm.

"Wait."

Heero stopped in his tracks, dull eyes looking back to his slave. Duo paused momentarily, unsure if he should go on or not. Perhaps Heero wanted to be left alone? Then again, he wasn't fighting the hold Duo had on his arm. Slowly Duo let his hand lower to take hold of Heero's, his eyes connecting with the chocolate-haired king's. Heero's eyes seemed to focus again, his brows furrowing in a frown as he looked down to their conjoined hands. Duo was holding his hand?

"Duo?"

"Won't you come in?", Duo nervously asked.

Heero's frown deepened and Duo waited nervously for his answer, his teeth worrying his bottom lip. If Heero declined he could easily just go back to his room alone and go to sleep. However, if Heero accepted, he had no idea where to go after that. Slowly Heero relaxed, his head nodding to accept Duo's offer. The braided shadow nodded as well, gently leading the king back toward the suite. Once inside Duo closed the door behind them, suddenly feeling nervous about the entire situation. Out of the times Heero had asked him to come into his room, Duo had always refused. This was the first time after the night Heero gave him his mother's suite that the two had been alone in here.

His heart was suddenly beating rapidly and he could feel his palms growing sweaty. One of those said palms were still locked with Heero's hand and he gently pulled it free. The king turned to him at the gesture, Duo merely looking away. He had to hide the newfound curse of his cheeks tinting at odd moments. If he didn't have this blasted human body it wouldn't be a problem. It was time to move this along, the faster he got Heero talking, the faster he got his room to himself again.

"Shall we?", he started, motioning to the balcony across the room.

He headed toward it, intent on being outside where he didn't feel so closed in. Where the fresh air would give him the feeling that he and Heero weren't so close. Besides, it was getting a bit warm in here. He was stopped however as he passed in front of the king, colbat eyes staring down at him.

"Duo, what's going on?", Heero asked suspiciously, "You never invite me inside, let alone touch me if you don't have to."

Duo looked up at Heero with a nervous smile, trying his best to pull free of Heero's hold and stopping when the grip gently tightened. Heero was looking for an answer and Duo wasn't sure if he was up to returning to the usual fighting he and Heero began with.

"What's going on?", the shadow echoed, his eyes connecting with his master's, "Shouldn't I be asking you that question?"

Heero tensed at the words, unsure of whether or not he wanted to answer it, whether or not he was able to. Lately it felt as if something had happened to him, like there had been something blocking him and suddenly it had disappeared. Alot of things he thought to be right weren't making sense. Few memories that he had forgotten were becoming known again. His eyes unfocused again and Duo watched him for a moment, feeling that at the moment Heero was lost inside his mind. It wouldn't do well if he allowed the king to suddenly become lost inside of himself. Quatre seemed worried and when Quatre was worried it seemed that Trowa worried. He did not want to be responsible for all that worrying, he was worrying enough as it was.

Hesitantly he reached a hand out, letting it rest against Heero's cheek. The unexpected touch was a shock and it brought Heero back with a jerk, Duo quickly pulling back his hand. Or at least he had tried to, Heero had already lifted his hand to cover it, holding it in place against his cheek.

"Heero-"

"Everything made sense until you came here.", Heero began, stopping Duo before he could begin, "Things ran smoothly, there were barely any problems and I never felt guilty about any decision I made. You've upset the perfect balance of my life, Duo. Everything I thought to be right, suddenly seems foreign to me, as if I had never truly believed it."

Duo didn't understand what Heero was telling him and he had no clue as to why the king thought it neccessary that he know. He stiffened as Heero's lips placed a soft kiss to his hand and Duo could think of nothing else to do but pull it away. He cradled it as if he had been burned, wide eyes looking to Heero for an explanation. This was not the behavior he had expected from the king, he was prepared for shouting and ranting; not this. He had no idea what this meant, but he knew damn well he wasn't going to find out.

Heero looked at his slave apologetically, unsure what had gotten into him. Perhaps it was Duo's sudden change in behavior that had caused him to react in such a way? Either way it was uncalled for and he apologized a second time, turning away to head for the swan back couch that had been his mother's favorite. He was aware that Duo was watching him and he merely ignored it. The boy had every right to be suspicious, he was beginning to question his behavior himself. Things were not as they seemed.

He was soon looking in Duo's direction, the shadow turning violet eyes away as he did so. He didn't know how, but Duo was connected to all this. He was the root to his confusion. He just wasn't sure if he should be pointing his finger in blame or showing his gratitude. As violet eyes raised to look at him again, Heero beckoned Duo forward, the braided slave hesitating before doing as told. When he stopped directly in front of the king, his nervousness was well hidden behind his frown.

"May I be honest with you?", Heero began in a soft voice, his eyes locking with Duo's.

Duo only nodded, not sure why he was unable to speak for the moment. He would question it later, for now he had to pay attention, there was no telling what the young king would do.

"When I first laid eyes on you I was amazed.", Heero continued, "I'd never seen a slave like you and I wanted to tell you that but I couldn't. When you first spoke, even if you were rude, I was dumbstruck. No one ever thought to speak of me in such a manner. You held this fire in you that I couldn't help but be drawn to. Duo, I would be lying if I told you that I didn't fall in love with you."

Duo's gasp was audible and his mouth hung open in mere shock. It snapped shut however, the muscles jumping as his jaw tightened in anger. Just where exactly was the king going with this? What did he expect Duo's reaction to be? That he fell into his arms and they'd live happily ever after? That would most certainly never happen.

"I couldn't tell you this before.", Heero admitted, before Duo had a chance to begin, "I was somehow trapped in this idea that you were nothing more that an object that could be broken into submission, you didn't need me to tell you that I loved you. You should be honored enough that I owned you as my own. And ever since the night I took you to the medic, I feel sick just thinking of the ways I've treated you. I must admit that I feel very much like my old self again, much as I used to before. . ."

He trailed off, his face frowning as he tried his best to remember. Before what exactly? The furthest thing he could remember were his mother's death. It was odd because there were events after it he could barely recall. His mind was drawing a blank between the memory of his even his stepmother's death and his proclaimation as king.

"You've changed."

Duo's voice brought his attention back to his slave, who was frowning down at him. He had no answer for Duo's observation and he wasn't sure if the young man was looking for one. So he sat silently and waited for Duo to continue; if he planned on doing so.

"I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing.", Duo explained, Heero offering him a small smile, "I just know that it means that things around here will start to change, too. They already have."

Heero said nothing, but motioned that Duo clarify, the braided shadow happy to oblige.

"You took an interest in the well being of a slave other than your own tonight.", Duo explained to him, "You gave me my own room, you even speak to the labor slaves as if they're your equals. Let's not forget earlier tonight when you punished that man for his. . . well you should remember. When I first laid eyes on you, you were nothing more than a prude spoiled bastard."

"And now?", Heero asked, an amused smirk on his face.

"Well, you've changed.", Duo answered simply with a shrug, "It's almost as if you're a completely different person."

Heero stood then, his smile still on his face. He watched Duo take a step back and he followed, his hands reaching out to still the slave before he could back away any further.

"And you like this new me?", he asked innocently enough, though his eyes held the smile his face was trying to hide.

Duo could only open his mouth to have no sound escape. He was suddenly nervous and unsure of himself. The king being so close to him wasn't helping. It was rather distracting in a way. In what way Duo wasn't sure, but it was difficult to think of words to speak with. So he opted for answering with a shrug of his shoulders and a nod of his head.

"I'm not sure.", he finally responded at Heero's confused look, "I guess it's better than the you I met back at the old man's prison."

Duo tried to pull away, but Heero had a firm grip on him though if he struggled hard enough he'd be able to break free. One of the king's hands gently took hold of Duo's chin and the braided slave paused as he looked up into colbat eyes.

"Hold still.", Heero gently ordered, his voice calm.

Duo found he was doing as bid and he fought the urge to pullaway. What was Heero planning? His eyes widened as the King moved forward, lips gently pressing against his in a chaste kiss. Heero was. . . he couldn't have. . . why was he doing this? Duo was aware when the king pulled him closer and his body unwillingly relaxed. He did have to admit that he was feeling oddly dizzy, but in a good way. That's when he pushed Heero away, the room being filled with the sound of flesh meeting flesh.

Duo stood frozen in awe, his eyes locked onto Heero, whose head was still turned away, left cheek brightening from the slap. Slowly Heero turned back to look at Duo, who was either panting from anger or loss of breath. Heero smiled softly at the braided slave before he was bowing his head in apology. Perhaps he had been too forward?

"I'm sorry.", he offered, Duo only turning away, "I shouldn't have overstepped my bounderies. I'll take my leave."

Duo watched as Heero bowed to him, making sure not to show any reaction to the gesture. With a single good night, Heero left leaving Duo alone in his suite. When he was sure that the king was a safe distance from the door, Duo let himself flop onto the swanback couch. What had just happened? He felt the damn burning in his cheeks start again and he tried to convince himself that he was angry. Then how could he explain the sudden rapid beating of his heart and the butterflies in his stomach. He groaned as he laid back onto the couch, burying his face in his hands. He was glad that there had been no one around to see it.

This was all Quatre's fault. If he hadn't suggested that he talk to Heero it never would have presented the opportunity for the king to. . . He didn't want to think about it. Then again how couldn't he? His hands lowered, one hand tracing fingers over his lips. It was almost as if he could still feel Heero's lips against his.

"No.", he told himself sternly, sitting upright, "This is going to stop before it starts. As long as I'm in this human body, there'll be no falling in love of any kind. Besides, who could fall in love with him?"

He turned to look in the vanity mirror, finding his reflection smiling back at him in a teasing manner. He knew it was another shadow, since he most definately didn't have a smile on his face. His reflection melted to his true expression of a slight frown as the shadow slithered toward him. Its screeches were close to mocking laughter and Duo glared down at it as it danced near his feet.

"You're lucky I can't hurt you now, but wait until I'm back to my original form.", Duo threatened standing from his place on the couch.

It was time he head to bed, he had had enough excitement for one night and maybe his father's servant would get the hint that he wasn't in the mood for teasing.

"I'll get enough of that from Quatre if he ever finds out."




Trowa sighed as he sat in a chair, having taken refuge in his room after Heero's dismissal of the court. His stepbrother, though he was proud of the way things were handled, was causing him a lot more stress. Treize would not so willingly let his slave be taken from him, although Wufei was most definately still in his possesion. However, Heero had taken away the right for a master to choose a fitting punishment for his slave. He was glad it had happened as he was sure that Wufei would have received a punishment as cruel as the one that had stolen his voice. Treize, being the arragont and stubborn bastard that he was, would bring this up with the council tomorrow. He was not looking forward to sitting through hours of the Captian of the Guard's whining.

He felt hands begin to gently message his shoulders and he relaxed into the touch, his eyes falling shut. He was thankful for Quatre's presence, he'd have probably dropped dead from stress if it weren't for the blonde mage. Without opening his eyes, he reached up to rest a hand on top of Quatre's, pausing the massage.

"You're worrying too much.", Quatre began, his free hand rising to stroke Trowa's hair, "You'll make yourself sick."

Trowa opened his eyes then, pulling Quatre to the front of the chiar so that he could smile up at his lover. He pulled the small blonde onto his lap, his hand pulling Quatre's to his lips to rest a gentle kiss to it.

"And what about you?", he asked him, letting Quatre relax in his arms, "Am I to allow you to be the only one worrying? You have enough on your mind as it is. Another unacknolwedged mage is walking around and has the opportunity to figure out that you're unknown as well. You're risking being sent miles away into exile just to help me, to help Heero and our new friend."

"Trowa-"

"Yes, Quatre. I know you can't help it, but I can't help it either. I can't help but worry, I can't help but feel like I must do something. The events that happened tonight will cause a bit of a disturbance tomorrow, I can't help but feel that I should get a head start with my headache."

Quatre smiled down at his master, lifting a hand to brush aside Trowa's bang to reveal his entire face. He coudln't help but fall in love with this man every time he looked at him. It hurt to think that he could easily be taken away from him one day. And now with this mage on the loose. . . he let the thought stray from his mind. There was no use in thinking about it. The only thing he could hope was that he recognized this new mage's seal before he or she found out his own.

"We should go to bed.", Trowa advised, holding back a yawn, "We'll need an early start tomorrow."

Quatre rose from Trowa's lap, the prince taking his example and standing from the chair. The two walked toward the double door that led to the seperate room holding the bed, Trowa's arm wrapped securly around his lover's waist. As they reached the bedroom, Trowa's eyes widened as Quatre released a scream of pain. The blonde fell limp and would have fallen to the floor if Trowa hadn't caught him. The green-eyed prince watched as Quatre began to writhe in his arms, his face twisted in obvious pain. Another scream tore free from Quatre's throat and Trowa panicked, calling out for whatever guard or servant was close by.

"Quatre!", he cried, scared eyes looking down at his lover, "Quatre, what is it?"

The mage was unable to speak, his eyes rolling back into his head as his body began to convulse. That was the final straw and Trowa soon cradled him in his arms and was running out of his room and down the halls. His cries for help attracted much attention, servants trailing after him as he rushed for the medical wing of the castle. When he finally reached, Quatre was now violently shaking, Trowa barely managing to catch a grip on him; his tears threatening to fall from frightened eyes. The medic came as quick as he could, helping Trowa hold onto the slave so that he wouldn't drop him.

"Come Your Highness, bring him over here."

The nurses were given orders, many of them frozen still as the blonde was placed on a nearby cot, his jerking body shaking it so that it began to slowly move across the floor.

"I'll need some primrose brewed at full strength.", the medic commanded to the nearest nurse, her head nodding eagerly, "Quickly now, he's already in shock."

"Shock?", Trowa questioned, his voice weak and cracking, "Shock from what? What's wrong with him?"

"I'm not sure.", the medic admitted with a frown, "A fit like this could be anything. Primrose will help calm him, I just have to figure a way to make him drink it. With the way he's moving, he could choke on it."

Trowa's grip on his tunic caused him to regret his words, but he calmly detached the prince's hand from the fabric of his clothes.

"Please Your Highness, I'm trying to help him."

Their attention was turned back to Quatre, who had suddenly stopped moving, eyes widening for a quick moment as he gasped as if he couldn't breath. It was only when his face began to turn pale did they figure that he couldn't. Trowa was now shouting for something to be done, the tears falling whether he wanted them to or not. The medic wasn't sure what he could do, never having seen symptoms like this. He was lost as to what could have caused it, but since it seemed that Quatre couldn't breath he'd have to get him breathing again. Trowa was in the way however, and he doubted that the prince would leave Quatre's side.

"Please, You Highness you'll have to step outside."

"I'm not leaving him!", Trowa cried, the medic wincing at the volume of his voice, "Not until you do something!"

"I can't do anything if you're in my way. Please, I need room to work."

Even though he didn't agree to it, Trowa was dragged away from the bedside by two guards, his effort to fight them fruitless. He watched as nurses and the medic busied about his lover, who still seemed to be sturggling to breath. He was dying, he knew it and there was nothing he could do. Nothing he could do.

The guards were caught off-guard as Trowa pulled free, running out of the infimary and down the hall. He had one place in mind and he wouldn't allow anyone to stop him.




Duo was startled by the sound of his suite doors banging open and when he exited the bedroom into the main room of the suite, he was shocked beyond words at the sight of Trowa in his doorway. The man looked as if he had seen Death. He stood panting, obviously winded from having run here and his face was streaked with tears. Something was wrong; very wrong.

"Trowa?"

Duo had no time to question him further, Trowa was moving forward, holding the braided young man by his arms in a desperate grip.

"Please, Duo.", he begged, choking back a sob, "He's dying."

Duo didn't need to ask who and he needed no further provocation. He took hold of Trowa's wrist, running back to the infimary with the prince. When he reached, the medic was still struggling to do the best he could, trying to breathe air into Quatre's lungs unsuccessfully. Duo rushed forward and none too gently pushed the man aside, lifting Quatre up so that he was somewhat sitting up. He felt a pain stabbing at the back of his mind and he knew exactly what was going on. Some was murdering him slowly and painfully; he could sense the magic just with the contact.

He caught site of the shadow that slithered nearby and he glared at it threateningly. This was not the time and he was not going to let this one go. Quatre's death wasn't meant to happen yet, this was interfereing with the natural order. He hated when things interfered. Whoever was casting this magic was strong, stronger so than the mage in his arms or Quatre would have been able to ward himself against it. However, Duo was a magical creature of sorts and though he rarely dabbled into his gifts, he felt something had to be done. His hand gently turned Quatre's face so that he could look into his eyes, trying to break past the magic that was blocking any other outside intrusion. He fought against it; whoever this mage was, they weren't going to win.

Trowa watched on anxiously as Duo continued to stare at Quatre. That's all he did. He was beginning to wonder if the shadow was helping Quatre at all. Was he wrong in asking a servant of death to stop what he usually performed? His doubts waned a bit as Quatre suddenly inhaled, his gasp loud enough to bring Trowa a few short lived moments of ease. Short lived only because his breathing again made way for the violent convulsions of his small frame. His lover was still suffering and there was nothing he could do but watch.

Duo tightened his hold as Quatre began to wildly jerk in his arms, his teeth gritting in annoyance. Damn the mage who threw this hex. Quatre was wanted dead and the mage was going to make sure that he ended up that way.

"Not while I'm around.", Duo said through clenched teeth, his eyes closing as he focused.

It was difficult entering Quatre's mind, but he had managed finding the trace of magic that was foriegn and held on to it. It jerked as if surprised, before it grew taught to strengthen its effort; it was not to be stopped. Duo wouldn't stand for it though, with as much strength as he could muster he began to slowly disconnect the tie of Quatre's mind to the mysterious mage. On a physical level he felt Quatre's body finally still and heard when the boy's howl of pain was filling the room. He was close, but the mage was stubborn. Finally having had enough, he violently ripped Quatre free, the mage jeking one last time as his eyes widened and an inaudible scream of pain marked the end of his suffering. Duo held onto the link a bit longer trying his best to figure out just who this mysterious mage was. It was lost however before he could really see anything, his mind only catching a shadowed picture.

When he opened his eyes, he looked down to find Quatre now trembling wildy, eyes wide and blank as tears slowly leaked from them. He was still in pian, Duo could feel it. Unfortunately, he had no idea how to heal Quatre's "magical wounds", that would be the responsibility of a mage healer. There was nothing they could do if Quatre's secret was to be kept as such. Trowa was soon in front of him, taking his blond lover into his arms and cradling him as if he were a child.

"Quatre."

At the call of his name the boy stirred, his eyes focusing onto the prince though they still seemed distant; blank. He could only make a small sound in response, his hands clutching onto the fabric of Trowa's tunic. Trowa pulled him closer, burying his face into the crook of Quatre's neck, unable to stop the sob that escaped his throat. Duo watched the scene unsure of how to react. He had seen this before, but he had never experienced it in his human form; which seemed to possess empathy. He caught Trowa's gaze as the green-eyed man looked to him.

"I don't know how to thank you properly.", the man began and Duo merely shook his head.

"You don't have to.", he answered truthfully, "I'd do anything for a friend."

Trowa gave a small laugh, before he was hugging onto his now sleeping lover. When the blonde had closed his eyes no one was sure, but they would allow him to rest. He would need it.


Dorothy howled in pain as she writhed on the dirt floor of the cave she had taken refuge in. Someone, no something had intruded and said intrusion had caused a backlash of magic. As the pain slowly began to subside, she took to righting herself, her body trembling as she tried her best to stand. She didn't know who the mage was, but she had easily targeted him. She had no time to decipher his seal so that she would be able to match it to whatever Treize found. She had taken the opportunity to rid herself of a threat as her prodding brought her across a mage in the palace. Her plan was working until that thing decided to ruin the fun. She was only able to fall back to the floor, her body lightly twitching as the remenats of the backlash ran through her. It would last a few minutes and if she was lucky none of the Adept mages would not have heard her screaming.

Her curiousity was now peaked. She would not be so easily dicouraged by the threat of magic stronger than hers. The mage who had broken her spell was going to be dealt with accordingly and when she found the creature that had dared to stop her plans. Her mouth that was still twitching tried its best to smile. She would have fun twisting its mind full of pain. She couldn't wait.


T.B.C.


C-Chan2: Sorry if it's kind of short, but I figured after like six months I needed to hurry and post something.

Lloyd: Don't worry though, she'll post sooner than six months later.

Jim: Yeah, probably like in five.

C-Chan2: Oh hush you. Don't listen to him, just read and review and I shall be happy and inspired to write more! Ja!