|
"Consponsata"Written By: The Plotting Housewife Disclaimer: Gundam Wing belongs to Bandai, Sotsu
and associated Parties. This work is written for pleasure not profit. Rating: NC 17 Warnings: Yaoi, Alternate Universe - Dark, Love
Triangles, betrothals, Arranged Marriage, Marriage of Convenience,
Romance, Angst Pairings: 4x1, 13x4, 3x4, 5x2, 6x9, 3x4x1 Summary: Prince Quatre convinces Heero, a peasant
from the neighboring kingdom to elope with him so that he can escape
his betrothal to General Treize. In return, Heero is assured that
his land and his people will be protected from the tyrannical rule
of Ghali. "Consponsata " Chapter 19: Coup The day was winding down, the evening fast approaching and Heero's stomach must have done about a few thousand somersaults throughout the course of the afternoon. He wasn't sure. He'd lost count. The rest of the group wasn't fairing much better. Trowa had stationed himself at the window, his eyes staring into the distance. He watched, waited. The concept of freedom just on the other end of the horizon, getting closer with each passing moment. He could taste it now and he was hungry. Quatre busied himself by showing Duo and Wufei around the castle and laughed when Duo asked where the kitchens were. They were currently being treated to a light supper of lamb and cous cous. Duo had already commandeered a suite just down the hall from Quatre and Heero's chambers, having fallen in love with the deep purple color scheme of the rooms. He was awe-struck by the silk bed covers, pillows, and drapery that laid elegantly over the bed. Wufei affectionately rolled his eyes and thanked Quatre for his hospitality. Quatre waved him off. "No need to thank me. I consider you both to be friends and you are always welcome here. Anytime." Wufei smiled, charmed by his friendliness. "I thought Heero was making the worst mistake of his life. I was wrong. I think marrying you was the best thing he ever did." "Careful, Fei. You're making me jealous." Duo's eyes peered around the bed drapes with a playful glare. "Oh, you know you're the only one for me, love." "Damn right I am." Quatre laughed and offered to show them the gardens. Their eyes lit up, being rather dedicated botanists themselves. Duo may, or may not have dug a few of the more exotic plants to take home with him despite Wufei telling him they probably wouldn't survive Sai's cooler climate. Heero was elated to find the three of them getting along so well, particularly Duo and Quatre. He smiled warmly when Duo linked his arm through the blond's and demanded a tour of the palace. Zechs had gone to check on his wife and the other guards and soldiers were busy cleaning up the mess left over from the fight, including a good two dozen bodies. Heero and Trowa both watched the removal of the General's corpse as it was carted out of his chambers. Heero's eyes were drawn to the blood on the floor and on the bed. He was just relieved that none of it had been Quatre's. Trowa shook his head as he stared down at the stain on the floor. "I still can't believe it. I knew it would happen, but now that it's over..." "It's not over. Not yet." Trowa looked up, then glanced at the bed, nodding absently. "He chained Quat to it. Raped him. Was going to do it again right in front of me." Heero's fists clenched from the rush of fury at the knowledge that Quatre had been attacked again. He breathed steadily through his nose, trying to quell the rage and clasped his shaking hands together. "What happened?" "One of the soldiers unlocked my chains at the last minute. I didn't even think about it. I just grabbed his sword and charged Treize. It was as if...I wasn't even in my own body at the time. He - he didn't make it. The soldier that released me, but he fought with us, for us." "You did well." "Taking a life...no matter what kind of life it was. It...changes you." Heero cocked his head. "Does it?" He honestly didn't feel any different. "It - it wasn't difficult to kill the General, but...it's hard to explain. I guess it made me hunger for blood, more than I hungered for it before I killed him. I've sparred with Quat many times, but I've never - I've never hurt anyone before. Now, I fear I may never be rid of the desire to kill." "You must have activated the soldier within you." Trowa snorted. "Something like that." He sat down on the edge of the bed and brought a knee up to his chest, looking deep in thought. Heero realized the elephant in the room, knew it needed to be addressed. "Trowa...I know you're worried about Quat." He paused when Trowa shot him an unreadable look. He threw up his hands, a harsh sigh escaping his lips. "I don't know what I'm trying to say, but - I guess, I'm just saying don't stay just because you're afraid of what I'll do. I hope you know by now that I'd never hurt him." Trowa's eyes softened. "I'll admit that was part of it. At first. I know you won't. It's strange. I barely know you, but I trust you." His eyes clouded over, expression pained. "But please understand...I can't leave him. I can't. Could you?" Heero knew the answer to that. There was no question. "No. Not now." "You went into danger knowing you might not survive because you knew he was in trouble. That's exactly what I wished I could have done, wished I did. I didn't go after the General for the longest time because I knew what would happen. I knew I'd be killed and that would have broken Quat's heart. It also would have left him alone." His voice was tiny, laden with guilt. "I'm all he had." His eyes begged Heero to understand why he hadn't acted sooner. "I hate myself for not doing what needed to be done before he was attacked the day of your trial." "You can't blame yourself for that. You were powerless to stop him and you did the right thing." He nodded when Trowa glanced at him, a desperate look in his eyes, a need for reassurance. "You followed Quat's orders like you were supposed to." Trowa sniffled and turned away. "I can't leave him anymore than you can." He looked down, shuffling his feet. "I know I'm in no position to make demands, but are you going to forbid us from being together?" His eyes were clouded with anxiety, pleading. Heero tipped his head back, sighing through his nose. Here was the conundrum. Could he tell them they could not be intimate? Part of him wanted to, but the rest of him knew he never could. They'd been together much longer, loved each other much longer. They'd been through so much together. Who was he to tell them they couldn't have that? It was difficult to say, his own possessive needs railing at him for it. "No." Trowa's eyes widened. "You won't?" Heero shook his head. "I'll be honest with you. It's not easy for me, but I realize I really have no right to come between the two of you, husband, or not. You love him and he loves you. I have to respect that and forbidding it would make him unhappy and I don't ever want to make him unhappy. And...despite our rocky beginnings," he grinned, "I actually quite like you." Trowa laughed, his cheeks pinking. He nodded and scratched the back of his neck. "I suppose you're not so bad yourself." He looked up, his eyes soft, full of gratitude. "Thank you." "I suppose we'll just have to find a way to make it work." Trowa stood up, an excited gleam in his eyes. "You mean that?" "Of course! I'm a man of my word. I don't like to share, but..." He shrugged. "I suppose I'll have to learn." Trowa looked uncertain. "Do you think you can?" "I care too much about Quat not to. I think, with time, it'll be fine. In fact, I'm sure of it. We'll work it out." Trowa's broad shoulders sagged with relief. "Thank you...Heero." *** "Quat, will you stop pacing?" The blond looked up and Heero could see the trepidation in his eyes. He shook his hands out and apologized then plopped down next to his husband, blowing out a harsh breath. Heero tugged his chin in for a kiss. "Hey, it's going to be fine." "I'm just...I can't believe what we're about to do." "You realize the worst is already over, love." "I know. But...tomorrow, we face Ghali as the new Kings and we will have to explain what happened." He nervously rubbed his hands on his tunica and glanced around, spotting Trowa near the window. "Trowa?" The servant turned, his eyes landing on Heero's arm that was wrapped around him. "Come here." He waved him over and Trowa came willingly, sighing in contentment when Quatre rested his head on his shoulder. "You are free now." Trowa turned his head into Quatre's neck. "I'm not leaving you. I cannot. I love you too damned much." Quatre glanced at Heero, his eyes pleading. Heero smiled and squeezed the blond under his arm. "We talked about it." Quatre cocked his head, questions in his eyes. "I told Trowa we'd find a way to make it work." He smiled when Quatre's eyes widened, realization dawning. "Really?" Heero nodded. "Oh! Thank you, Heero!" He leaned over and kissed his husband, pouring all of his gratitude into it. Heero chuckled against his mouth, elated by the blond's happiness. He pulled back, eyes playful. "You think you can handle both of us pawing at you?" Quatre smirked, winking one turquoise eye. "I can handle a lot more than you think." Duo leaned his elbow on Wufei's shoulder and whistled. "That sounds like quite an arrangement. Hey...Fei?" "No." Duo turned on the puppy eyes and Wufei kissed his husband's pout away. "You are more often than not, more than I can handle. And I like it that way." That cheered the braided boy up and he grinned from ear to ear. Zechs walked in, his eyes sober. "He's here." They scrambled to their feet. All traces of playfulness gone. Quatre nodded to the Lieutenant. "Let him in." Zechs dipped his head in affirmation and left the room. They waited quietly for the King, hearing his loud voice carrying across the castle, bouncing off the stone walls. He was confused, indignant when the guards did not bow to him. Quatre could hear him asking for Treize, who usually greeted him when he returned. The bellowing, demanding voice got louder the closer he got until he was ushered into the room where they stood in wait. The King paused in his tirade, coming to a standstill in the middle of the room, his advisers in tow, following suit behind him. He glanced around, taking note of not only the two Princes and the servant, but the two strangers who were also in the room. His incredulous eyes finally landed on Quatre, his brows forming a knot in the middle of his forehead. "What in the seven Hells is this?" He roared, fists clenched at his sides. "This?" Quatre's voice was light, casual as he stepped towards his father. "This is your abdication. It's your choice. You can either give up willingly, or we can take the throne by force. What do you say...Father?" The King sputtered, his face turning an alarming shade of red. "What?!" "You heard me. Your crimes will no longer go unpunished. General Treize is dead as are his men." "You little - you are nothing without me! Do you hear me? I made you what you are!" "I made myself. You had no hand in that." The King lifted his chin, his lip curling. "I see. So now you're going to do exactly what you are trying to shame me for. You are no better than me." "That's where you're wrong," Heero interrupted. The King turned his condescending sneer on him. "Was I speaking to you, peasant? Who do you think you are?" Heero arched a brow. "The Prince, soon to be King of Ghali." "You little bastard! How dare you! I will die before I allow a filthy Saian peasant rule my land -" "It's not your land, Father. It's the people's land. And the people are sick of your tyrannical, murderous ways. It's time to join the rest of the kingdoms in the new world. A world without invasions and senseless violence." "You know nothing about the world." "I know more than you think I do. And I know how to bring our nations to peace and prosperity." "I will have all your heads for this -" "You have no power anymore. The army of men you've used to control us is gone, the rest are on our side. They also believe it's time for a change." The King squared his shoulders. "You are no son of mine. You are dead to me." Quatre shrugged, seemingly unaffected, but Heero had the distinct sense that the words had hurt. Had hit a nerve somewhere deep inside in the blond. How could it not? Heero couldn't imagine his own father speaking those words to him. Just the thought made him ache. But Quatre was nothing if not a good actor. "I thought I already was." The King sneered. "That's right. And you will never rule this kingdom. Neither of you." "We already do. You are no longer the King." "I will always be King." "Just what do you plan to do? You're outmanned. Outnumbered." Quatre stepped closer, his eyes uncharacteristically dark, his voice low, vicious. "How does it feel, Father? How does it feel to be helpless? Under the control of those stronger than you and being powerless to stop it? That's what you did to me my entire life. It's what you've done to Trowa and to so many others. How does it feel?" The King shook with fury, his teeth clenched together. He unsheathed his sword and lifted his arm in a high arch. "I will kill you." Heero and Trowa adopted an offensive stance, ready to defend. Quatre held them back, turning to Trowa. "Give me Treize's sword." Trowa hesitated. "Quat -" "The sword, Trowa." The servant reluctantly handed it over. Quatre grasped the hilt and test the weight in his palm. It was an older style, vintage as Treize had a love for antique things. He snorted and tipped the blade then faced his father, moving into position. Zayeed swung his blade forward and Quatre blocked it, pushing it away and thrusting his own forward. Zayeed ducked and took another swing. Quatre spun out of the way, feeling the wind as the sword came dangerously close to lopping off his ear. He turned and made another strike which was easily blocked and stumbled slightly as his father shoved him back. He righted himself quickly and blocked another blow. He brought his arm around, his blade intent on the man's neck and Zayeed effectively dodged it, thrusting his sword forward, aiming for Quatre's torso and Quatre swung his arm back around, deflecting it. Heero and Trowa watched the fight with baited breath, their own hands gripped the hilts of their weapons with white-knuckled tension, ready to strike if and when the need arose. Quatre had been taught by Trowa, whose skill was nearly unmatched despite having never used it with deadly force before last night. He watched with a mixture of fear and pride as Quatre easily held his own against his father and got close to killing him a few times. He tensed when an attack from the King nicked Quatre's head, his heart pounding painfully when blood seeped from the wound and spilled over his temple and down his cheek. He kept a close eye on not only their fight, but also on the advisers who watched with fascination and a tinge of smugness, certain that their King would undoubtedly win. Heero was impressed by Quatre's skill, but he watched the King intently, looking for any wrong move, anything underhanded that he might try. He was ready to slice the man's head off at the first indication that Quatre was about to be hurt, or killed. He clenched his teeth, hand squeezing the hilt of his sword when a close call cut across Quatre's forehead. He stepped forward, determined to end it before his husband was incapacitated. He was stilled by Zech's hand on his arm. He glanced at the Lieutenant who was staring at the duel, his eyes almost gleaming. "Just watch," he whispered. Heero raised a brow at him. "You seem confident." Zechs' lips curled up. "I am." He turned back to the fight, heart stopping in his chest for a brief moment when the King turned into a side spin to dodge a blow and went in for Quatre's head. For a split second, it seemed as if Quatre was doomed before Heero realized the King had made a deadly mistake. He'd left his right side vulnerable and Quatre had caught it even before Heero did. He sidestepped his father, easily deflecting the hit and then swung his arm up as he pivoted on his heel and Heero instinctively cringed as his sword cut swiftly and cleanly through the man's neck. He came to a stop behind him and lowered his weapon, at rest. It was done. The room was quiet but for the gurgle of the King's severed throat. A moment later, his head slid off his neck and tumbled to the floor, rolling across the room and coming to rest at Quinze's feet, the rest of his body collapsing a moment later. The little weasel of a man stared at his King's head in shocked silence, then uttered a high-pitched, almost womanly scream. Quatre raised his sword arm, pointing it at the stunned advisers, his eyes hard, fierce. "Prison, or death?" One by one, their arms rose up in a show of surrender and Quatre nodded, tossing the sword down onto the floor near his father's body. He glanced at Zechs, his voice stilted. "Arrest them." Then he turned on his heel and left the room without another word. Zechs dipped his head. "Right." He motioned the guards in and they quickly surrounded the advisers and ushered them out of the room. Duo and Wufei stood with wide eyes, their arms around each other. Wufei turned to Heero, his jaw hanging open. "I - can't believe it. I never thought he had that in him." But Heero was too worried about Quatre's state of mind at the moment to respond and swiftly left the room, Trowa on his heels. "He'll be in the courtyard. It's where he goes when he's upset." Heero nodded and the two headed through the winding corridors and down the stairs until they reached the courtyard. Quatre was seated on a bench and Heero's heart clenched as his eyes took in the slumped form, the head lowered, face in his hands. They rushed over to him, kneeling down in front of him. "Quat?" Trowa wrapped his fingers around the blond's wrists and gently pulled his hands away from his face. Quatre's expression was deeply pained, his cheeks streaked with tears, running over the dried blood on his face. "Quat...love, it's okay. You did good." He swiped at a damp cheek with his thumb. "You did good." Quatre's voice was ragged, broken. He sniffled. "I just killed my father." Heero placed his hands on Quatre's knees and leaned forward. "You should have let me..." But Quatre was shaking his head. "No. No, it -" He took a deep shaky breath. "It had to be me. There was no other way." He nodded, almost as if he was convincing himself. "It could have only been me." His face contorted into one of intense pain and he tried to stifle a sob, but failed. Heero and Trowa pulled him off the bench and into their arms, soothing him as best they could while he wept out his grief, his despair, likely his anger and guilt. They held him for a long time until he'd cried himself out and lay limp and pliant in their arms, exhausted. He shivered in the cool night air and Trowa swept him up into his arms. "Come on, love. Let's get you inside." He carried the blond back into the castle, snarling at anyone who came too close with the exception of Heero. They brought him up to their chambers, Trowa disappearing behind the doors without a word to anyone. Heero smiled apologetically at his friends, his face belaying his worry. Their eyes were sympathetic, understanding and Wufei placed a hand on his shoulder and nodded towards the doors. "Stay with him. He needs you. We'll be fine. We'll see you in the morning." Heero squeezed his hand. "Thanks." He stepped into their chambers and closed the doors softly behind him. Trowa had Quatre on the bed. He'd already stripped him of his tunica and slipped a nightshirt over his head. He gently laid the blond down and cleaned and bandaged the cut on his forehead and treated the injuries on his wrists. Quatre was limp, pliable, his eyes distant. Trowa pulled the covers up over his body and caressed his face as Heero dressed into his own nightclothes. He stepped over to the bed as Trowa straightened, looking down at Quatre with sad eyes. "We never should have let him do that." Heero shook his head. "No. He wanted to. He felt he had to. We had to respect that." Trowa's face was agonized. "But, he's hurting -" "He'd be hurting either way. He did what must be done. It was as personal for him as Treize was for you." Understanding burned in Trowa's eyes and he glanced down, nodding. He turned to leave, back to his own chambers, but Heero stopped him. Trowa stared at him in surprise as Heero gestured to the bed. Trowa's mouth worked over words he couldn't form, then said in a husky whisper. "Are you sure?" "Of course I am!" Heero climbed in on his side and settled down beside the blond, gathering the pliant body into his arms and resting his chin on the soft curls. He smiled up at Trowa who boggled at him with wide eyes. Heero arched a brow. "Well?" Trowa grinned sheepishly and lifted the covers on the other side of Quatre and slid in behind him, curling himself around Quatre's back, his arms draped over both of them. His green eyes closed in contentment, a happy sigh escaping his lips as he nuzzled the back of Quatre's head and drifted off to sleep. Heero could feel the fluttering of Quatre's lashes against the skin of his neck, knew he was still awake, and pressed his lips to the crown of his head. "Sleep, love. We'll sort this all out in the morning." He felt when the blond's eyes drifted closed, his breathing slowing down, the tension in his muscles smoothing out. Heero closed his own eyes and inhaled the scent of his husband. Quatre would need some time, but he had no doubt he would come around. Quatre was strong, resilient. He would come back from this stronger and better than ever. And he and Trowa would be there with him, for him through every step of his grief. There was nowhere else Heero would have rather been.
~ * ~ |
