10-Dec-2005
Disclaimer: I don't own nor do I make any sort of profit from Gundam Wing or its characters. It is the property of Bandai, Sunrise and Sotsu Agency. I also apologize profusely to Bullfinch, who is probably spinning like a whirling dervish in his grave because of the way I'm butchering Greek mythology.
Title: Cupid's Breath, part 4
Author: KwyckSylver
Pairing: 1 x 2 eventually
Rating: Adult material (eventually)
Spoilers: None
Warning: Past life deaths of our boys
Notes: I know each part is small and once the whole fic is finished it could just be one long oneshot. But when the writing ends up at a good stopping place, I am not going to overrule what the fic wants. It wants part 4 to end where it did, so it did.
Duo pressed his hand against Heero's temple then jerked it back, surprised by how quick Morpheus could delve into a human mind.
"Just relax," Morpheus said gently as he placed Duo's hand back on Heero's head, "And don't be surprised or shocked by what you see. The human mind is a strange place to visit sometimes."
Duo nodded, took a deep breath then dived in.
Heero was running through the snow, chased by a boy on a bicycle yelling "I want my two dollars".(1) The scene changed and Heero was standing naked in a classroom, the other students ignoring him as if he wasn't there while he frantically asked what their assignment was. Duo was chuckling hard when he suddenly felt he was spinning in a dizzying twirl. Heero's dream had changed again.
A young woman exited a tower and walked to the edge of the grass and looked down at the rocky shoreline below. There was a storm raging and she was drenched in an instant, but that didn't stop her from looking out over the wind tossed sea as if she were searching for something on the waters. She looked over her shoulder at a window i! n the tower and gasped as she watched the heavy rains douse the torch that had burned bright like the beacon it was.
She heard a cry that was quickly cut off by the sound of heavy waves as they crashed against the rocks, showering her with their spray. She lay on the grass and waited until daylight came and the storm abaited. She looked down at the rocks and saw a drowned youth had washed up on the rocks. The now gentle waves rocked his body and lapped at loose strands of the long hair that was wrapped around him like a shroud.
She screamed then threw herself over the cliff. Everything went black when her body smashed against the rocks.
Heart racing and breathing hard, Heero abruptly sat up and sent the small cupid tumbling through the air. Morpheus stretched out his hand and caught him then set him back down on Heero's bed. Still breathing hard, Heero turned on the light next to his bed and stared at the wall. Beads of sweat dotted! his forehead and upper lip and he looked visibly shaken. He rubbed his face then got out of bed and staggered to the kitchen for a glass of ice water.
He gulped the water and it went painfully down, it was so cold. He wiped the glass across his forehead and exhaled, then he moved and stretched as if to work out a soreness in his muscles. The nightmare was worse than it had ever been; perhaps because he'd never gotten that far before or prehaps he just didn't remember. At least the superstition wasn't true, he was still alive. He had felt as if his bones had been crushed when he had hit the rocks in his dream.
He slowly sat down when he realized he had dreamed he was a woman. He shook his head as if shaking off the remaining cobwebs of sleep and wondered why he'd dream such a thing.
"What was that?" Duo asked Morpheus, "It didn't feel like the other dreams. It felt . . . real."
"I am sorry but I must leave. I have spent too! much time here as it is," Morpheus responded then disappeared without saying another word.
Duo had the distinct impression Morpheus left to avoid answering his question.
Eros spent the next few hours meeting with various cupids and giving them their next assignments. Eros wasn't surprised Duo missed his appointment since he knew where every cupid was at any given time. And Duo was where he shouldn't be. Granted, he'd always been stubborn, head strong and too independent for his own good but this was the first time he'd ever purposefully disobeyed a direct order.
Eros leaned back in his chair and tapped the tip of his finger against his lips while he thought of an appropriate punishment. He wanted it to be something Duo would take to heart so he'd never have to punish him again, but on the other hand, Eros didn't want Duo's spirit crushed either. He decided to ask his mother for suggestions.
Heero dra! nk an herb tea he'd made that was supposed to help him sleep then went to bed. Only he found he couldn't sleep. He tossed and turned but he couldn't find a comfortable position. He gave up and lay flat on his back and stared at the shadows of moonlit leaves as they brushed against the ceiling.
Duo took the opportunity of Heero's lying still and settled on the pillow in the space between Heero's neck and shoulder. He remembered how comfortable that space was the first night he'd stayed only this time he used Heero's shoulder as his own pillow. Heero finally fell asleep only half aware of the faint smell of roses tickling his nose.
"Come, let us sit outside and partake of the warm sun Helios was so kind to provide us today." Aphrodite said as she poured some wine for Eros and herself. She transported them to her garden and the air was filled with the aromas of carnation, forget-me-not, gardenia, coriander and roses.(2)
"Sit. I think i! t's time I told you that story you asked for earlier."
Eros took his place next to his mother and sipped at the wine, "I'm listening."
Aphrodite took a few sips herself before she began.
"First off, let me start by telling you the Fates didn't tell you the whole truth. It is true that the human is not to be pierced with a cupid's arrow and it is true that it is so he will fall in love unaided. What they didn't tell you is he is meant for a cupid, but only a certain cupid. Now let me
explain."
"There once was a maiden of Sestos, a town located on the western shore of the Hellespont, who became one of my priestesses at her parents' urgings. Her parents wished her to remain virgin until she married though, so she lived in the tower of my temple and gave honor to me through sacrifices rather than carnal acts," Aphrodite began.
"I know it sounds ridiculous, a virgin as one of my priestesses. But her family was after the prestige her position wo! uld bring them and I acquiesed because she had the kind of grace and beauty I required of those who maintained my temples. Even though she had many suitors, she stayed a virgin since none of them inspired love within her heart."
"One spring Sestos decided to throw a festival to celebrate and honor me and Adonis. People came from all around to attend, for that part of the world was at peace during that time. In attendence was a young man from Abydus, a town on the eastern side of the Hellespont. If one stood on the shores of Sestos, they could see the lights of Abydus at night."
"Naturally, my priestess was at the festival as it was her duty to officiate over the sacrifices made to me. When she wasn't officiating, she kept herself within the tower lest she be seduced into giving up what her parents held so dear. There was a lot of carnal knowlege being shared and the lust was thick enough to cut with a knife. Sestos made me proud, it was a great celebration."
"! When it was the young man's turn to make his sacrifice, he took one look at her and he fell hopelessly in love. And with no help from me, I might add. He spent the rest of his time at the festival wooing her. She was a tough nut to crack at first, partly due to her dedication to me but mostly due to the fear of displeasing her parents, especially since he was a foreigner. But she finally admitted to herself and to him that she had fallen in love with him at first sight as well."
Aphrodite paused long enough to ask her son to pour them more wine and to comment how Dionysus had outdone himself with his latest vintage before she continued.
"They knew they had to keep their love a secret, so after the festival was over the young man returned to Abydus. But their love affair was not over and they had worked out a plan. On the nights it was safe for them to be together, she'd light a torch and hang it outside the window of her tower since the temple overlooked the waters ! of the Hellespont. With the torch as his beacon, he would swim across because he was a very strong swimmer and because a boat would be too easy to spot. He would stay most of the night and they would make love. He would then swim back to Abydus before Eos brought the dawn."
"This worked well through the spring and summer and their love grew stronger as they spent many nights together. Even when the colder weather of fall came, and despite her protestations, he was able to handle the chill of the water and he continued his nightly visits, always leaving her before the sun rose."
"One night a fierce thunderstorm formed and the waves became rough and choppy as the tides swelled. The young man had already swam half way to Sestos, his lady's torch guiding his way when a a great wind swept down and extinguished its light. The young man fought the waves as best he could but without a beacon to show him the way, he became lost and confused. My priestess had waited for him ! all night, standing as close to the edge of the cliff as she dared. She found him the next morning washed up on the rocks below her tower, drowned. In her great grief the priestess threw herself off the cliff and died lying next to him."
Aphrodite grew quiet while large tears welled in her eyes then flowed down her cheeks. She picked up her glass and sobbed into it as she took a few sips then dabbed her eyes with the sleeve of her gown.
"I'm sorry," she smiled sadly, "Even after all this time, I still cry when I think of them."
"Mother, that's the story of Hero and Leander," Eros said irritated. "You've been telling me that old myth as long as I can remember. What could it possibly have to do with Duo and that human?"
Aphrodite sighed, "It's not a myth and there's more to the story. Now be quiet and let me finish."
Eros poured them another glass of wine, "I'm listening."
(1) Stolen from Better O! ff Dead released in 1985 and starring John Cusack.
(2) These flowers and herbs as well as others, represent love in some form. http://www.pioneerthinking.com/flowerlanguage.html
(3) http://homepage.mac.com/cparada/GML/Hero.html This is a good telling of the story of Hero and Leander. I've made alterations to it where it was needed for my plot.
~ TBC ~
End Part 4
KwyckSylver
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