Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ The Choice of Death ❯ Chapter 2

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

Jim: Another chapter?


C-Chan2: Of course!


Jim: Why do you insist?


Lloyd: Why, you ask? Well people ask us for it, and it annoys the hell out of you!


Jim: I feel so special now.


C-Chan2: Enough with your sarcasm.


blah --> means Duo is using his mind speech thingy


/blah/ --> means it's Fei


::blah:: --> is Quatre


Tada! Now that we have that out of the way, read and like people!


Lloyd: And enjoy.


Heero sat at the small table that was positioned in his suite. Behind two wooden and painted doors, his bed was located. While out here, the table, and a few cushioned sofas decorated the area. It was simple for a king to have. Then again, Heero didn't need expensive and extravagant furniture, he really didn't want it. The sound of the door opening prompted him to turn his head and find Trowa walking in. He turned away, already not eager to hear whatever his stepbrother had to tell him.


It was a habit of Trowa's to tell him how he should run things, how slaves should be treated as if they were human instead of animals. Heero believed slaves were lower than animals. Although he did believe himself that Treize's own ideas of dealing with them did go a bit far at times. It was amazing that Wufei had managed this long. Then again, he wasn't human; that could be the key.


"I heard you called for your slave."


Trowa's voice interrupted any train of thought Heero had at the moment, as the taller man put himself into the king's view.


"I call all of my slaves. What's your point?"


Sitting in the chair across from Heero, Trowa stared into blue eyes. It was hard to try and speak to Heero. They had been friends since they were children. When they had learned that Heero's father and his mother were to wed, they had begun to have small disagreements. Then later when Heero was decreed king, they had grown even more distant. He was surprised that he could still call Heero his friend, let alone his stepbrother.


"You know what my point is.", he began, "You were thinking about bedding him."


The king stood from the table, Heero crossing the room to another small table, this one littered with various bottles of cider and wine.


"He needs to know who's the master and who's the slave.", he told his stepbrother, pouring himself a cup of wine, "It's for the cause of discipline, nothing less and nothing more."


"It's nice to hear that Treize is starting to rub off on you.", Trowa said in sarcasm, making his way over to the shorter man, "Bedding him is not going to break him. Not a slave who's as difficult as he is, no matter what anyone says. He'll grow to hate you and rebel against you. What good is a slave that you have to force to do your bidding? Look at Treize for example, he's going nowhere. Wufei has escaped palace grounds thousands of times. Sure he's caught, but he never stops trying to escape. The same will happen with your boy. He'll try his hardest to get out and return back to his own kind."


"Let him try!", Heero snapped returning to his place at the table, "I'll capture him-"


"And punish him.", Trowa finished for him, "Then what? When punishment doesn't work?"


Heero grew silent. He didn't know what he'll do at that point and not knowing made him angry. He turned, eyes glaring at the taller man now on the other side of the room.


"What gives you any right at all to tell me what to do with or how to treat my slave?", Heero growled out, "You treat your slave as if he was your equal. Ever since the day you bought him, you allowed him to weaken you. You fell in love with him. It's revolting to claim feelings for something so low. I'll do as I wish with him, now take your leave."


The king had spoken and Trowa decided it would be best to do as he wished. Walking to the door, he looked back at his stepbrother, whose eyes still danced with anger.


"You call me weak for refusing to hide my feelings for something as low as a slave.", Trowa murmured, opening the door to leave the suite, "Yet, isn't denying any feelings you have even weaker?"


Looking up, Heero watched as Trowa bowed to him before turning away.


"I'm sorry to have disturbed you, Your Majesty. I'll leave you to do as you please now."


As he watched the door close behind Trowa, Heero sat back into his chair. Trowa was right. He knew he was growing some sort of feelings for his slave and he had only purchased him earlier today. Slamming his cup down on the table, he swore under his breath. He hated when Trowa was right. Calming down, he stared at the small amount of wine that had spilled onto the table. The prince wasn't completely right. He had gained some sort of feeling, but it was nothing more then lust.


The sound of the suite doors opening pulled his attention toward them, his breath catching as he laid eyes on Duo. Now that the boy was cleaned and groomed to perfection, he was even more beautiful then before. The boy was too perfect to be human, so what was he? His eyes searched for something, anything that would give him a clue. His eye color was rare, but it was seen on other species. The hair? No, anyone could grow hair. As his eyes dropped to the floor, he found it. The boy was missing a shadow.


He smirked to himself, having figured it out. Of course, how could he have one if he was a shadow himself? Looking up at the guards he waved them away, the boy glaring daggers as they left. The two stared at each other for a moment, Heero eyeing the body in front of him and Duo reading as much as he could from the pitiful human before him.


"They say a shadow of Death can never be caught.", Heero remarked, stepping closer, "Yet, here I have one, standing right in front of me. My own personal slave as well."


"Don't get too happy about it.", Duo retorted holding his ground as Heero came closer, "You know what they say. Those who see Death's shadow won't live through the night. You had better be careful."


Smirking, Heero now stood face to face with him.


"What's your name?"


Duo kept silent, eyes diverting its gaze everywhere else besides Heero. He wouldn't give his name, even if it meant spending the rest of his life here. Well, now that he thought about it. . .


"I asked for your name, slave!", Heero snarled, Duo ignoring him even further.


It was times like this that he wished Treize had actually rubbed off on him. The man always knew a way to find out what he wanted. Well, excluding Wufei. Of course, that boy had always been impossible to control. Pehaps he'd try Trowa's method.


"May I please learn your name?", he tried, his voice still demanding.


Raising an eyebrow, Duo crossed his arms before turning away.


"I want to go back to the slaves' quarters."


Growling in frustration, Heero made his way over, grabbing Duo by the shoulder and roughly turning him towards him. This slave was starting to anger him. He needed more then a good bedding to break him. Duo glared as he pulled away from Heero's hold. What the hell did this man think he was doing?


"Don't touch me.", he growled out, still backing away, "You come any closer and I'll do more than hurt you."


Did that damn slave just threaten him? Heero stepped forward, his eyes locked with glaring violet; a very rare color. On other creatures, it never looked so damned remarkable. It was a contrast to the dark aura that surrounded the boy. He went to speak but the knock on his door stopped him before he could. Glaring back at the door, he decided to ignore it, he had to show Duo who was boss. The door was knocked on again as he stepped forward, and he growled in sheer annoyance.


"What is it!", he bellowed, hearing the small squeak of surprise from outside of the door.


It was one of the serving girls. What the hell did she want?


"Your Majesty, you're being waited on in the dining hall.", the small voice informed through the doors of the suite, "I was sent to inform you, I'm sorry to have disturbed you."


Sighing as he heard the girls footsteps run off, he turned back to Duo.


"You'll attend dinner with me.", he instructed, his voice telling Duo that he did not have a say in the matter, "You will behave as a proper slave before the court. If you choose otherwise, I won't hesitate to do as I will and punish you, Death's shadow or not."


"I'm not hungry.", Duo lied, eyes still glaring daggers, "I'd rather starve."


Heero did not have time for his stubbornness, he'd drag him there if he had to. Duo continued to glower at his royal Highness, as the man stood across from him, Heero's face impassive. He wasn't going anywhere, even if he was now technically human, he didn't need to eat anything for days. Besides, he wouldn't be here that long. His father. . .


His memory of a few hours earlier at sundown returned and he stopped the ache that started in the pit of his stomach. They had left him alone. His own father hand't come for him and he was his son damn it! No, he couldn't grow angry with him. Death would never leave his own in this world too long. He would go home. It may not come soon, but he'll go home. Even if he had to stay here as a slave for some damned king that was the biggest jackass he'd ever met. He wasn't happy about it, but he somewhat accepted it. However, it did not mean that he would answer to the man's every beck and call, nor did it mean if he wanted someone to help warm his bed that Duo would willingly jump in. He would never stoop that low. Go along with the duties of a slave? King's own to be exact. He shook his head.


"Never.", he said out loud.


/Don't./


The voice entered his head and he recognized the rough touch it had to it. It was Wufei.


Don't what?, he asked him.


/Don't make him angrier then he already is./, Wufei explained.


Why would you care about making this pathetic excuse of existence angrier or not?


/I don't, I'm trying to get Quatre's message to you. He's. . .occupied at the moment./


Duo didn't care to know with what. It didn't stop his own imagination to create what Quatre could be busy with. He'd fallen into his human's trap did he? It was nearly disturbing.


Wufei?, Duo called, after the boy had fallen silent.


Wufei didn't answer, instead Quatre's voice made its way into his mind. It was dripping with concern and Duo knew Quatre wouldn't get off of his case until he agreed to play along with this little game.


::Just come to dinner and try to do your best at behaving. You don't have to like it, Wufei doesn't like it-::


But you do?!, Duo spat venomously, How could you allow yourself to fall so low?!


::I didn't fall anywhere. I learned to except what my position was. I'm not only a slave, I'm a lover. I don't care if it's to a human and I don't care what you think. I know my place, I don't like it, but I do what's expected of me.::


You'll be their whore!


::I'm not a whore and I never will be. If you must know my personal life, Trowa never touched me until I gave him permission to.::


Right. You two are in love.


::Don't start to turn against me, Duo. Please, just try for your sake to listen to him. Come to dinner and that's all. You won't have to do anything else.::


Duo stood silent for a moment before he found that he would go along with what Quatre wanted. Something about the boy or whatever he was, made him feel as if he was right. Was he some kind of mage with some sort of mind control? Duo cleared the silly notion from his head. It was something that a child would come up with really. He'd just leave it as a gift that the blond possessed.


Heero had been standing and watching as the boy stared off into space, growing angrier at something. He didn't know what the boy was thinking and he didn't have time to try and find out. He was late enough already. He was the king and although he should make an entrance after everyone else had arrived, it was just tardiness to show up even later.


"Slave-"


"Are we leaving or what?", Duo asked, letting his anger take leave into the farthest corners of his mind.


If he was to go along with what Quatre wanted, he'd have to store it somewhere. Heero stared at the boy, stunned at what he had heard. Was the boy actually doing as told or was this a load of horse-


"I'm sorry to seem impatient, Your Majesty, but your court is waiting for you in the dining hall."


Straightening himself, Heero motioned for Duo to follow him before turning to the door. He noiced that the boy stood in his place as he turned to leave and Heero growled motioning again.


::That means follow.::, Quatre's voice informed, Duo reluctantly doing as he was signaled to do.



He was led to a giant dining room that was filled with people who didn't even look as if they lived in the palace. Of course, there were no peasents, as the humans would call the amount of their kind that weren't rich. Nearly every person had a slave. It was pathetic. The majority of the slaves were human, a few either an elf or some other woodland creature. Duo found himself wondering how they were caught. Were they like him? Had they been left behind? Were they separated from their own race? His eyes traveled over to a table were Treize sat with Wufei. The boy had a metal collar on his neck, the chains that represented the leash coiled around Treize's hand. Treize's eyes met his and he glared as the man gave him a mocking smile. He didn't like that man, not at all.


He continued to follow Heero to the main table that looked over the rest of the dining room, and Duo found Trowa seated there already. His hand absentmindedly petting Quatre's hair as the blonde sat on the huge cushion that rested on the floor next to his chair. The blue eyed slave looked back to him in approval of his, so far, excellent behavior. He wasn't so sure if he could keep on like this. If one more lord or lady looked at him as if he was some concubine that Their Majesty would willingly share, he'd go crazy.


He found that he had his own giant cushion and he threw himself down onto it, Heero taking his seat in his own cushioned chair. The room grew silent and Duo wondered what exactly everyone was waiting for. They had their food and their wine. What was the delay?


::They're waiting for Heero.::, Quatre's voice explained, Duo scoffing.


If these humans have to depend on their king to tell them when they're able to eat, I'm surprised they haven't starved as yet.


Quatre had began to giggle but a nudge from Trowa and an intimidating look from the king cut him short. Heero's eyes traveled from Quatre onto the rest of the room, in which he indicated to carry on with a wave of his hand. The silence was broken as the room started to buzz with whatever conversations that were held, and Duo watched as everyone began to dine on whatever was in front of them.


Now that he thought about it, he was pretty hungry. That old bastard that he stayed with gave him stale bread and water, which he had refused to eat. He wasn't even fed as he was dragged here, not even when they had stopped at the inn. Violet eyes looked down at his stomach as it growled in demand for nourishment. He noticed that he didn't have food in front of him like everyone else. So how in the world was he supposed to eat? At that exact moment, he was presented with a piece of bread that Heero held out for him. His eyes traveled up to look the man in the face with a look of disbelief on his own. There was no way in hell he was going to eat from Heero's hand.


::Well?::, Quatre voice intruded, Duo scoffing.


Forget it, I'm not a dog. I don't want to and will not eat from his hand.


::Then just take it from him.::


Chancing a glare at the blonde who smiled back at him with a shrug, Duo reached up to snatch away the bread from Heero's hand. The man only turned away with a smirk of approval and Duo used whatever willpower he had left to stop himself from wiping it off. This was worse than being dragged for miles. Well, it could be on the same level. His stomach protested again, and he chose not to ignore it, starting to nibble on what he was given. He expected it to be stale and inedible, but he was proven wrong. The bread was actually good. Moist, hot, and he found himself accepting the second piece that was handed to him.


"Good evening, Your Majesty."


Duo's ears caught the greeting and he looked up as he accepted whatever piece of meat he was handed. His eyes first caught the long blond hair and he would have mistaken the person for a woman if it wasn't for the voice and masculine features. So who was this now? Another lord that wanted to borrow him for the night?


"Zechs.", Heero acknowledged with a nod.


Crystal blue eyes looked over to where Duo was seated, giving the boy a slight bow. Duo stopped in shock by the way he was greeted, eyes staring at the man in disbelief. Well, he wasn't a man yet. He was only a boy in his late adolescence. He looked to be a lord, most likely a knight.


"I see my uncle has already given you an early gift in tribute to your birthday.", he commented as he looked back to Heero, "I guess he'll never fail to believe that a slave isn't the answer to everything. Your slave is a rare find none the less; beautiful."


As Heero continued to bask in whatever praises he received, Duo continued to study the young man in front of him. Who was he?


::That's Treize's nephew, Zechs.::


How is it that you have an answer for every question I don't ask out loud?, Duo asked as his eyes quickly glanced over to Quatre.


::It's a gift.::, the blonde simply told him looking up at Zechs himself, ::He's also Treize's heir since the man has no sons of his own. Besides his uncle's position, Zechs wouldn't want any of his possessions.::


Why not?


::He doesn't practice the act of slavery. He's against it.::


Of course Quatre's information didn't help him to understand why Zechs had bowed to him. It only heightened his curiosity. Unless he knew that Duo wasn't human, there wasn't any reason to bow. Maybe it was a custom to bow at the king's slave.


"If you'll excuse me, I must force myself to converse with my uncle."


With those parting words, Zechs bowed one last time before heading off to where his uncle sat only a few paces away. Duo watched as he bowed to Treize before partially bowing to Wufei with an amused smirk. Wufei simply glared back at the blonde before turning away from him. It wasn't noticeable if you didn't try to look for it, but it was there. It was hard to miss the way the two looked at each other. Or rather, the way Zechs looked at Wufei. Something was growing there; it could be hate. Hopefully it was. Duo had just met Wufei and he already knew that love was one emotion that the boy did not possess.


"If I'd known you were a nosy slave, I would have left you at the slave trade."


Heero's voice caused Duo to look up at him and the boy glared as the king only mocked him with another smirk.


"You-"


The food that was stuffed into his mouth shut him up before he could even retort and his glare grew colder. Heero could call it whatever he wanted, he wasn't nosy; just curious.


How are you on this lovely evening?, he asked Wufei, his words coated with sarcasm.


/I'm stuck here with an ass of a man. What do you think?/


I know how you feel. Is this a nightly thing? Being put on display to see who has the better slave?


/Isn't it obvious?/, Wufei asked as his eyes glanced across the way to Duo, who sat reluctantly chewing the food that had been stuffed into his mouth, /What's the real question you wanted to ask me?/


This Zechs, what's with the bowing to us?


/He does it to pick at Treize's nerves, although he probably does it out of respect./


What do you mean? It's not like you and Quatre are royalty.


His violet eyes glanced up to find a small moment of hurt flash over Wufei's face before it was replaced with a frown. So Wufei was royalty? Most likely Quatre was, too. What race were they anyway? Wufei seemed as if he was just like him, trapped in this form and not able to turn back. He'd call him a shadow, but Wufei didn't have the presence of one. And another thing, his eyes were black, shadows like himself had bright eyes. They needed something to brighten living in an underworld and a life full of death. He caught site of Zechs glancing over to Wufei and he raised an eyebrow at the small smile that adorned the man's lips before he turned back to his uncle.


Why does he look at you that way?, Duo questioned.


/Who knows? I just hope that he stops./


Well you know humans and their emotions. Just make sure you don't get dragged in., Duo warned.


/Trust me, I won't./


The tug on Wufei's collar forced him to glance up at his owner who gave him a look he'd seen too many times to count. Of course, Wufei didn't care what the man wanted, he wasn't going to get it from him. He owned plenty of slaves who would do what he wanted, surprisingly enough, some were more than willing. His eyes looked over to Zechs before turning away completely, only to catch another he knew all to well. Quatre gave him a look that begged him to not react as usual.


/I'm not his concubine./, he reminded Quatre.


::I not saying that you are, just don't do this here. You're only giving him what he wants if you do.::


Rolling his eyes, Wufei then gave a soundless scream as his neck was painfully arched back, ebony eyes meeting blue. Treize's glare burned down on him as the grip he had on ebony locks tightened.


"Uncle, must you punish him in front of everyone?", Zechs asked low enough for only his uncle to hear.


He was ignored as Treize looked down at his most prized slave. He saw the defiance in Wufei's eyes, no matter if he had the upper hand. It made him angrier by the second. He'd have to teach Wufei another lesson now. A small lesson, but a lesson none the less. He'd teach him of manners later on in his chambers.


No one had seen the small whip that had pulled out from wherever he was hiding, only heard the harsh sound of it cracking against Wufei's skin. Duo watched in near horror and he looked up at Heero who only looked on unaffected and not caring about what was happening in front of him. If he did give a damn, he sure as hell wasn't showing it.


::Duo, wait!:: Quatre's plea was ignored as Duo stood from his feathered cushion quickly going to stop what no one else tried to.


As Treize's hand raised again, he was stopped as the whip was snatched from his hand. His eyes met blazing violet and he growled as the boy flung the whip to the side.


"Stand down, slave.", Treize growled out, not yet daring to move toward the boy.


"Make me.", Duo taunted, cautiously making his way over to Wufei.


So the boy wanted to play hero did he? Just how valiant would he be after Treize taught him a lesson he'd never forget?


"Hold your ground, Treize!", Heero's voice boomed as he caught the man's hand move to strike the braided boy.


His blue eyes met Treize's for a short moment, the man reluctantly doing as told. He was the king after all, and the boy was his. There would be other times when he'd teach that boy a thing or two. He told the boy he'd do whatever it took to break him if Heero failed. From the way things were going, he was going to keep his word.


"Take your slave and leave."


That voice was Trowa's, and even though he wasn't king, he was still higher in power than Treize would ever dream to be. Since his mother had been Heero's stepmother, it made Trowa a prince of some sort.


"Leave now!", Trowa commanded, his voice daring him to do otherwise.


"As you wish, Your Highness.", Treize mockingly said with a bow before leaving.


Wufei being dragged away from where Duo was looking at whatever wounds he had managed to get. It wasn't a lot, mostly welts. That came as a surprise to Duo. It was almost as if he had the skin of dragon, it took a few blows before it broke. Maybe he was. . .Duo's eyes looked up to where Wufei was being dragged off and he smirked to himself. A dragon, no wonder he acted the way he did.


"Slave!"


Duo knew that the label had to be directed to him and he turned to look back at a now seething king. Now what did he do?


"Not here.", Trowa reminded his stepbrother, who only became more infuriated with the fact that to take Treize's way of punishment would only prove Trowa right. Fine then, he'll deal with him later.


"Guards, take him to my chambers. I'll deal with him there."


Crying out in objection as he was dragged from the dining room, Duo looked over to where Trowa stood, Quatre standing at his side.


You can tell your king I will never bow down to him! Never!


With his last words, that only Quatre was able to hear, Duo was dragged off completely. Heero looked down from his place at the various men and women who stared back at him. He didn't have time for them. He only gave a wave of his hand that dismissed them before deciding to take his leave as well.


"Heero, wait.", Trowa stopped him, grabbing onto his arm, "I know you could care less about what I say, but please don't do what I know you'd usually do. You have to actually think this time."


Heero stared back at his brother before glancing over to Zechs who gave him a look that said he agreed with the prince. Was the entire court against him? Fine, he'd listen to Trowa. If it got everyone off of his back, he'd be more than happy to. He pulled away from Trowa with a slight nod, before heading into the direction of his room. He had a slave to take care of at the moment.


T.B.C.


C-Chan2: Well, there's the third chapter. It's crap but there's a chance you think differently. -_-'


Lloyd: Aw, they liked it Chan.


Jim: No they didn't.


Lloyd: YOU'RE NOT HELPING!


Jim: Whoa. Pyscho much?


Lloyd: Go away, Jim. Please leave reviews.