15-Jul-2000
Disclaimer: I do not own the Gundam boys, nor am I making nay
money from this. The idea of a Confessor is from Terry
Goodkind's Sword of Truth novels. I am doing this without
permission.
Warnings: AU, shounen-ai
Pairings: 1+2 3+4
"Where's Trowa?" Quatre asked one morning two weeks later. They had woken up to find the brown-haired archer gone and Heero standing his watch.
"I sent him on ahead to report our arrival." Heero said mildly.
Quatre didn't have to say anything. They had been sent to capture the confessor and bring it back alive. They were about half a day from accomplishing their mission. After they handed Duo over to Trieze, they were no longer responsible for what happened to him. Quatre had mixed feelings about that. On one hand, he would be happy to have this mission over with. It had been long and hard and had more than the usual share of trials.
On the other hand though, he had grown fond of the black-clad confessor and was anxious about what would become of him. Knowing that Duo was the last confessor, Trieze might keep him alive, but then again if Duo didn't cooperate Trieze just might execute him. Quatre didn't want that to happen.
He turned and watched Wufei and Duo sparring nearby. After the incident at the deserter's camp Wufei treated Duo with something near to respect. That was increased when Duo approached him one afternoon when they had stopped to rest the horses.
Wufei was sitting cross-legged cleaning his sword when a shadow fell over him. He squinted into the sun-haloed silhouette and identified Duo. He looked down again and resumed polishing.
Duo squatted before him and cocked his head to the side. He was trying to get up the courage to speak when Wufei, without looking up at him beat him to the punch.
"What do you want Maxwell?" He asked, slightly impatient.
"You really good with that aren't you?" Duo said as he nervously played with the end of his braid.
"Yes, I am the best there is. Is that it?" Wufei was getting suspicious that Duo might in some way be mocking him. If that were the case, that braid would be gone even if it did kill the confessor.
"I was wondering if you might teach me to use one." Duo mumbled.
Wufei actually stopped cleaning his gleaming blade, looked up and blinked. "You want me to teach you how to use a sword?" He started hard at Duo, trying to determine if he was serious or not.
"Yeah, would you show me?" Duo looked earnestly into Wufei's eyes. "I would like to learn, so if we ever get into another fight, I can help."
Wufei was floored. No one had ever asked him to teach swordsmanship before. He almost said no, but then he hesitated. The blademaster saw the seriousness in Duo's normally gleeful expression. Without really knowing why, he nodded. "Alright, I'll teach you how to handle a sword. I have an extra in my pack. We'll start tonight."
Duo grinned in delight. He had been almost too scared to ask, but the memories of sitting idly in a tree watching the others fight was too much.
True to his word, Wufei began teaching Duo that night. He taught Duo how to hold a sword and the proper stance. At first, he just corrected by watching Duo move through a predetermined set of exercises. He wanted to be absolutely sure that Maxwell was serious about this and wouldn't quit when he got tired.
The first night Duo didn't even touch his sword to another's. Even though he had taken off his cloak and outer tunic, he was sweating hard from exertion in the cold night air. Wufei for his part was impressed with Maxwell's speed and grace. Duo caught on quickly, which pleased the normally impatient blademaster. But what was more important, the confessor never once acted like he wanted to stop. When Wufei was satisfied that Duo was truly interested in learning, he began to show the confessor parries, ripostes and various types of mayhem to inflict on an enemy.
The others watched with a mixture of interest and misgiving.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Trowa asked Heero as they watched the swordplay a safe distance away. "Trieze won't thank you for letting a blademaster teach an already highly dangerous individual more ways to kill."
"Hn." Was Heero's reply. Wing's rider had the same doubts, but it was too late to do anything about it. "That's Treize's problem. We just have to deliver him."
Quatre was cooking some stew nearby heard the exchange and couldn't resist adding his two cents.
"I think it's great. Duo is staying out of trouble and Wufei almost looks happy. It's a win, win situation for both of them."
Quatre was right. After the hard sessions, Duo was too tired to eat, let alone make mischief. And, as for Wufei, Heero shook his head at THAT change.
Before, the blademaster had always been withdrawn and disinterested in things going on around him. He would only truly come alive during a battle. Any other time he remained aloof, spending hours polishing his sword. Now there was something different.
Wufei smiled more. He had smiled more in the past week than he had in the three years Heero had known him. He wasn't jolly by any means, but he was more inclined to take part in conversation around the campfire at night. Heero thought it might be because the blademaster had discovered an unexpected capacity within himself.
Wufei could teach. Moreover, it seemed that he liked to teach. He showed more patience with Duo than anyone who knew him would have thought possible. The only time he got mad at the braided confessor was when Duo made some smart remark about worshipping his sword.
In fact, everyone seemed more relaxed. Trowa commented on it to Heero who agreed. They worked together easily with very little bickering. It was like they were a real team. A complete team. Heero was the head, Trowa, Wufei and Quatre were the body and Duo provided the heart.
"I hope Trieze lets him live." Quatre murmured to himself, but Heero heard it and looked thoughtfully at the small blond mage who was packing his pack carefully. He learned the hard way that Duo liked practical jokes and it had taken him a week to get the smell of skunkweed out of his clothes. Even Wufei hadn't been spared. Heero had to repress a smirk at the sight of Wufei's face when he had seen Shenlong. The embarrassed-looking mare's mane and tail were delicately braided and curled, with various wild flowers peeking out here and there. How Duo had gotten near enough to the sour-tempered gray to do that was beyond any of them. Laughing would have only aggravated the enraged blademaster, but they were turning red from repressed mirth.
"It's out of our hands in any case."
They rode out earlier than usual, the sun shining down from the cloudless sky. Heero wanted to get to Virimonde, the capital of Oz as soon as possible. He wanted this mission over with. Never had the young captain dealt with such complex emotions that had accompanied it and he was hoping when Treize took the confessor he could forget about them. But every time he looked in Duo's general direction they came flooding back. Somehow the violet-eyed creature had burrowed its way into his heart, and now he was going to lose him. So Heero did the only thing he could think of, which was not look at Duo.
Duo, for his part, was starting to feel a bit nervous. He knew that his fate was in question now. Up until two weeks ago he didn't care if he lived or died. His life had no purpose really. Hated by his own countrymen and hunted by an invading army, he almost welcomed the prospect of dying. But after the night he had confessed his own sins to Heero, who hadn't turned away from him in disgust and actually touched him with bare skin, Duo had felt like he mattered. That someone cared. It was a nice feeling.
So they cantered towards the metropolis that was Virimonde. Duo had never in his life seen such a huge city. It sprawled out in every direction as far as he could see. And dominating everything was the palace in the center. Tall white spires and turrets towered over the buildings; below the proud banner of Oz, Trieze's personal ensign snapped in the breeze.
As they rode towards the palace, they noted an unusual amount of military personnel visible on the streets. Most were from Oz's army, but some of the uniforms denoted other kingdoms being represented. Heero discreetly signaled the others to surround Duo so no one could get near the confessor. Duo didn't notice, he was too busy taking in all the sights and sounds. Then they were at the palace gates.
A contingent of armed guards was waiting for them.
The heavyset sergeant, sweating profusely despite the cool breeze saluted Heero and then spoke in a brisk, slightly arrogant voice. "Captain, I have orders to relieve you of your prisoner." He looked leeringly at the chestnut-haired confessor who was still surrounded by the soldiers.
Duo looked around, trying to locate the prisoner the sergeant spoke of. Wufei noticed and poked him "He means you, idiot." he hissed.
Puzzled, Duo hissed back. "I'm not a prisoner, I'm here on my own free will!"
Heero heard the exchange and favored them both with a glare. They subsided. "That is not necessary sergeant. He will be staying with us."
The fat sergeant mopped off his forehead with a handkerchief and did a delayed double take. He stared hard at Duo, "I thought all of them were female."
"Never mind, sergeant. That is not important. Who gave you these orders?" Heero was concerned now.
The sergeant shook his head. "I'm sorry sir, but my orders are from General Treize himself." His eyes took on a predatory gleam as he looked at Duo again.
Heero knew he could not disobey a direct order. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Quatre and Wufei well not happy about the situation either, but they too had no choice. "Very well, but I will speak to the General shortly about this."
Duo started feeling a bit alarmed and tried to disguise it with annoyance. "Hey, I said I was here on my own free will. I am NOT a prisoner. I am not going with them." He crossed his arms and looked stubborn.
"Yes you are, Duo." Heero didn't like the look on the confessor's face. The mixture of anger and alarm did not bode well for anyone stupid enough to push him. And that sergeant looked like the type that might just push. He could feel his stomach start to sink.
"Listen to me," Heero caught the violet gaze and held it with his own. "You will go with the sergeant and you will behave yourself. Do you trust me?" He hated the betrayal he saw in those eyes, but there was no option. Silently their wills clashed.
Duo glared at Heero and thought about making a break for it. He really didn't like the way that sergeant looked at him and even though he knew that he could easily handle himself if there was any trouble, the whole place would come down around his ears. But then, when Heero asked him to trust him, he remembered the night he had spent in the captain's arms. He capitulated. But he wasn't going to let Heero off that easily.
"Sure, whatever you say Captain. I'll go with the nice sergeant." He grinned evilly and was rewarded with a suspicious look from Wing's rider.
The sergeant smirked in triumph. He motioned for the confessor to dismount and Duo slid off of Shinigami's back. "You didn't restrain him." He noted with a sniff of disapproval, somehow managing to look down his nose at Heero even though the captain was still mounted.
"Boy, nothing gets by you sergeant! I'll bet." Duo never got the chance to finish his observation. Wufei who was nearest kicked him in the shoulder and the confessor gave him a reproachful look, but refrained from continuing. But it was too late.
The sergeant flushed from the snide tone and the insolent look on Duo's face. Duo just looked back at him innocently. Heero knew the situation was going downhill rapidly. Deliberately he maneuvered Wing between the embarrassed sergeant and the object of his ire. He fixed the sergeant with a deadly glare and was satisfied to see him pale slightly and take a step back.
"Sergeant, if any harm comes to him while in your custody, I will hold you personally responsible. Am I, in any way, being unclear?" The sergeant shook his head. "Good, now take your prisoner and see that he is not mistreated." The sergeant jerked his head at his underlings who surrounded the confessor and lead him away. Heero watched them go, they were out of earshot but he saw Duo turn his head and say something to the sergeant, who flushed beet-red. Dammit Duo, he thought. Quit provoking him. But the cobalt-eyed captain knew that it was impossible for Duo not to do so, it was like asking the wind not to blow. That was his nature.
"I'd better see Treize as soon as possible." Quatre and Wufei nodded solemnly.
Two hours later, an immaculate Captain Yuy stood at attention in front of his commanding officer and national leader. General Treize smiled a welcome.
"Captain, I'm glad you're back. I see you have completed your mission as usual. Your reports were fascinating reading. And well done about the deserter business by the way."
"Thank you, sir." Heero responded. He had reported everything that happened the past weeks they had been gone. Except for the fact that he had spent one night holding a sleeping confessor in his arms. That he told to nobody.
"I am puzzled, though about the confessor himself. I thought they were all female."
Heero explained in a few brief sentences about how males were killed at birth. Except for Duo.
"Hmm, very interesting. Thank you captain. You have done an exceptional job, as usual. So I'm going to take this opportunity to notify you on your promotion to major." Treize sat back waiting for a response.
Heero was thrilled, but the only reaction he allowed himself was a slight smile. Major! He was the youngest person to attain that rank, ever.
"Thank you sir!" He saluted briskly.
Treize returned the salute. Then he sat down behind the desk. Suddenly he looked about ten years older.
"I'm going to need good men like you." He held up a stack of reports. "Do you know what these are?"
Heero shook his head.
"This is a notification that the kingdom of Chaska has surrendered. I am now ruler of all the kingdoms in the midlands as well as Oz." Treize did not appear very happy about it however.
"All the kingdoms have sent representatives for a summit meeting today. I want you and your men to attend. That is all, Major Yuy." Treize returned to the reports littering his desk.
Heero however had one more piece of business to attend to.
"Sir?"
"Yes Major?" Treize did not look up.
"What is to happen to the confessor?"
Treize thought a moment, and then said offhand "Since you determined that it had nothing to do with Padua's massacre, there is no point in questioning it. It will have to be destroyed, though. It's too dangerous to have running around loose."
Heero felt the room start to shrink. No! He quickly brought his emotions under control.
"Sir, he did come with us on his own free will. I don't think it is a danger to the population." He kept his face as impassive as he could.
"I can't take that chance, major. You saw yourself how dangerous it can be. Making that man eat his own." Treize shuddered at the mental picture. "I'm sure that he deserved it, but my decision stands. Dismissed."
Major Heero Yuy saluted and quietly left the room.
End Part 8
(:./annabell/confessor8)
