03-Mar-2002
Email: anakerie@cinci.rr.com
Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing.
Part: 37/??
Warning: Bad words.
It was one of the oddest dreams of Shan's life.
He lived on Earth, working in an inn. He had lived there as long as he could remember. And that was odd, because he wasn't used to not being able to remember everything. He was purely Irnao-born in this dream, and purely Chinese.
Besides serving bread and ale to the customers, he was also expected to serve himself if they expressed interest. And many did; there was always someone who found his exotic appearance too much to resist, and was paying off old Cort for a chance to fuck him. Shan never said no; no wasn't even a option. He hated Cort, but at least in the inn he had clothing and hot meals, and a bed. And if the price of his bed was to share it, then he paid that without question.
The day had not been going well, for fat Andrew had arrived a few hours before, and was in the process of becoming thoroughly sotted. Of all the men who came here, he was Shan's least favorite. He smelled as nasty as he looked, and he'd vomited on the boy more than once while venting his lust in him. He had a bag of vices bigger than his belly, and Shan was already dreading the evening and the pain that would follow.
He barely noticed the new visitor to the inn, other than the fact that the man was tall and cloaked. He took a table near the fire, warming his hands. Stena, the inn's serving girl, greeted him, pushing her bosom out for him to admire. He whispered his requests, and she hurried off to get him some bread and cheese, and mead.
In the dream, the fire held no fear for him.
Shan continued serving his own customers, but he was suddenly aware of the stranger watching him avidly, and he felt a flash of hope. All Cort cared about was money; if this stranger could outbid Andrew for him tonight, maybe the evening could be spared? He hadn't even seen the man's face, but surely anything was better...
The stranger lifted a hand and beckoned for Shan to come closer, and the boy obeyed, feeling oddly shy. He approached the table, and the man raised his head. His hair was covered, but his face was visible in the shadow; he had clean, handsome features and blue-grey eyes set deep under golden brows.
"May I get you something, milord?" Shan asked politely.
"Exquisite." The man pronounced softly. "Truly remarkable. I've heard how beautiful your people are, but this is my first real look."
"Thank you, milord."
"SHAN!" Andrew bellowed. "GET YOUR ASS BACK HERE!" He banged his mug on the table.
The boy gave the stranger a look of apology and started to back away, but a hand on his arm stopped him, and turned his arms over. Shan blushed as a long finger began tracing over bruises.
"Who did this to you?" The question was lethal.
"If they pay my master enough, anyone who wants to." Shan replied. "I can serve you too, milord, if you desire me." He was aware of Stena glaring at him now, but he didn't care.
"SHAN, YOU CURSED SON OF A JACKASS!" Andrew yelled again. "
"Is that oaf your master?"
"No, milord. But he has already paid for me to serve him tonight." Shan flushed. "I should attend him now."
"Do you wish to attend him?"
"My wishes don't matter."
"The hell they don't!" The stranger stood up. "Where is your master?"
Shan pointed.
"You sit." The stranger commanded. "Stay in that chair and wait for me." He walked across the room, pushing his hood back as he went.
Silence fell, and Shan saw that the stranger was close to his own age, with long white hair tied back carelessly with a leather thong. He didn't know him, but others seemed to. Andrew himself had turned white.
"Master Gage." Cort had immediately come forward. "An honor, sir. A true honor to have you here."
"Briefly. I've been given word that my father has fallen ill."
"Aye. Gravely so. We're afraid His Lordship won't be with us much longer. Will you be staying the night?" Cort continued. "I've noticed my young man there has caught your eye?" He pointed at Shan. Andrew did not look happy.
"No, I ride for home as soon as my horse is rested." Gage shook his head. "Tell me, are you a complete fool?"
"Milord?"
"To have something that magnificent in your care, and to allow him to be used and abused like a street whore?"
Cort did not reply.
"Name your price for him." Gage continued.
"By the hour or the evening?"
"I wish to buy him from you completely."
Shan could see Cort's mind working frantically. He'd been made offers for Shan before, but he'd always turned them. Shan would always make more being sold out periodically than one lump sale.
He also know who Gage was now, if only a little. He'd never seen Lord Milliardo, but he'd heard of him. A good man, they said, if a quiet one. He had one son, who was currently away in study. Or had been.
"Five hundred silver." Cort said at last, and Shan felt his brief hope deflate. Andrew was leering at him again.
"A deal." Gage was already opening his bags and counting out coins.
"Milord." Cort was in shock.
Gage handed him the coins, and Cort accepted with trembling hands.
Smiling, Gage approached the table again and took the other seat, looking at Stena, who was speechless.
"Double my order. Bring enough for my friend here as well." Gage commanded.
Neither of them spoke as they ate. Shan was conditioned against talking to his betters without permission, and Gage appeared ravenous from his journey. Shan felt a tickle of fear as well. The inn was horrid, but it was all he knew. Now he belonged to this man, and his life would change completely. What if he was like Andrew? An Andrew a few nights a week was surely better than one every single night.
"I need to be off." Gage said suddenly. "Go fetch your things."
"My things?" Shan was confused.
"Belongings. Possessions. Treasured items. Your things." Gage smiled.
"I have nothing."
"We'll have to fix that, then." Gage stood up and put an arm around him. "Come on." He led the boy outside into the sunlight, where Gage's horse was waiting.
"Do you know how to ride?"
"No, Master." Shan was embarrassed. He looked up at the large bay stallion Gage was stroking. He knew how desperate his new master was to get home to his ailing father, and the fear returned.
"Easy." Gage reached out and touched his face. "You don't need to be afraid. I'm not going to hurt you."
"I will serve you well, Master." Shan promised shyly. "I know many bed tricks."
"Indeed? I know a few myself. We'll have a grand time teaching each other. One of the things I meant to acquire for myself on this trip was a good manservant. My last one expired last year. He'd been with my family since before my birth. I loved him, but between the two of us, he was a bit of a spoilsport. I have a feeling you're going to be much more fun." He laughed. "I'm known to go on a bit, but you'll get used to it. It's been a while since I've had someone to talk to." He pointed at horse. "He's strong enough to carry both of us. Climb up."
Shan nervously mounted the horse, and felt Gage settle behind him, holding him tightly. "I won't let you fall." He whispered in Shan's ear. "You and I are going to be great friends."
The horse took off at a cantor, and Shan leaned against his Master, trying not to look at the ground below.
"Master?"
"Humm?"
"What's his name? Your horse's name?"
"Foxfire."
The name seemed to echo in Shan's head as they rode. Foxfire. Foxfire. The horse's hooves seemed to drum it on the ground.
The rumbling grew louder. The day grew warmer. So warm. Shan was sweating, and he wondered how his Master could possibly be comfortable in his heavy cloak.
Foxfire, foxfire, foxfire... what a pretty name, he thought hazily. Fox...fire...
He suddenly sat up in his bed, gasping for air. The horse, the path, and Gage were gone and he was alone.
The room was unbearably hot. The girls must have forgotten to turn on the air conditioner before they left for the beach, or else it wasn't working. He noticed that his headache was gone as well, but from somewhere he could still hear rumbling.
The dream had charmed him, and he smiled, grabbing his backpack off the floor and stuffing his swim trunks inside. He had to go tell Gage before he forgot about it; Gage would absolutely die at the image of Shan as a tavern whore and himself as the handsome savior. He'd probably want to VR it with Shan as well.
Imagining what they could add to the scenario, Shan opened the door of the bedroom.
Only to be faced with a wall of almost solid flame.
"Will you quit worrying and have some fun?" Tabitha teased Gage. "Go play volleyball or something." She pointed a knot of teens a little ways down the beach.
Gage shook his head no, sand running off. He'd taken a short nap in the sunlight, expecting Shan to have joined them by the time he woke up, but there was no sign of the other boy.
"I had THE most fucked up dream a few minutes ago." Gage rubbed his eyes.
"Yeah?"
"I had a dream that I was some kind of lord's kid, and I found Shan working in an inn. He was being sold to these sleazy men, so I bought him for myself."
"Gage, not even Freud would be willing to touch that one." Kelly said drily.
"It was a good dream. He was really happy when I took him away with me. We went riding off on my horse."
Both girls cracked up. "To your castle in the clouds, Prince Charming?" Tabitha quipped.
"Very funny." Gage snorted. "I knew I shouldn't have told you guys. Shan will like it, though."
"You might want to go back to the house and check on him." Kelly winked. "I heard his stepmother is on her way with a bag of apples."
"Or his wicked stepsisters might lock him up."
"Or a witch could trick him into pricking his finger on a spinning wheel!"
Gage suddenly smirked. "My father was in line to the throne, you know. So if you want to be technical, I am a prince. And a handsome one at that."
He stood up. "And I am going back to check on my beloved."
Kelly tossed him the keys to the house, and he strolled back along the beach, humming to himself. What would he have done with Shan after getting him back to his castle? First he would have taken away those awful clothes and dressed him properly. Silk, satin, velvet. Then he would have just as properly undressed him, laying him down on a huge feather bed. They'd spend days at a time in that bed, servants bringing them meals every now and then so that they could keep their strength up.
He might not have a castle, and he might not be a real prince, but if nothing else, one day he'd be able to give Shan a week in a nice hotel with room service. That would be the next best thing. The end result would be the same; they'd never have to leave the bed.
As he got closer to the house, he squinted at the red sunlight reflecting off the living room window, and the frowned.
The sun was on the other side of the house. Weird. What was that glow?
He walked faster, saw the glow move and flicker, like it was dancing.
And he smelled smoke.
For a split second, his world stopped, and then he began to run, run faster than he had ever ran in his entire life. He fell in the sand but righted himself quickly, reaching the back door of the house.
It was locked. He searched for the keys, and then realized he must of dropped them when he fell. He cried out in frustration and rage, and then saw the small glass window next to the door.
His fist shattered the glass, and the glass in turn shattered the skin on his fist. Blood gushed out, but he didn't care, didn't even notice. He fumbled with the lock and the door sprang open.
The smoke filled his lungs and he coughed. He could barely see anything through the thickness, only a glow here and there as the flames licked anything they could find.
"SHANNNNN!!!!"
The roar of the fire swallowed his words. "SHANNNNNNNN!!! ANSWEEERR MEEEE!!!" He choked again.
Bedroom. Shan had been in the bedroom. He covered his mouth and headed toward it, stumbling as sparks fell around him, blistering his arms and face. He was dimly aware of the pain, and that his hand hurt, but it didn't matter.
He jumped over a line of fire on the floor, wincing as the heat hit his crotch.
Gage be nimble, Gage be quick.
Gage jumped over the candle stick.
He was in the bedroom now, and he could see something in the corner, hunched in a ball.
"SHAN!"
Shan raised his head, his black eyes glassy with terror.
Gage stumbled forward, falling down in front of him.
"You're okay." His voice was nearly gone. "Come on, We've got to get out of here!"
"I can't." Shan whispered.
"What do you mean you can't?" Gage fought down hysteria. "Come on!" He grabbed Shan's hand.
"I can't walk." Shan shook. "I can't...move... Run, Gage. Go. Get out!"
"Shan!"
"It's come for me, don't you see? It was cheated last time, but now it has me again. This time it's going to get what it wants."
Gage was nearly in tears by this point, and the flames were getting closer to them. He looked at the windows, but they were far too small to fit through.
"Shan, if you do not get up and get out of here, you will die!" Gage choked out. "And so will I. Because... I'd rather die in here with you than live outside the rest of my life without you."
Shan stared at him in horror, his mouth moving, but saying nothing. His muscles jerked once, then twice, and he lurched to his feet.
"Yes!" Gage cheered, putting an arm around him. "Come on." They dodged the flames the best they could, Gage shielding his lover's body with his own. He felt his skin burn and peel, but it didn't matter. Only Shan mattered.
Then suddenly, when Gage thought he could breath no more, it was over. They were outside of the house, choking, supporting each other. A crowd had gathered, and he could see medical workers, fire workers. People in uniforms holding back a screaming Kelly as she tried to break free.
Then people were around them as well, but Gage was unable to release his hold on Shan.
"We need a medic!" Someone yelled. "He's losing blood fast!"
Gage sank to the ground. "No hospital." He whispered. "They'll find us."
Shan was crying. "Hold on Gage, you're going to be okay. Just stay with me here. Oh God, you're burned everywhere."
"Be okay." Gage muttered, and he knew that he would be. After all of this, there was no way he was letting Shan get away from him. "I want..."
"What? What do you want?" Shan asked.
"I want... my mother." Gage's head slumped forward.
"Son, you have to let us help him." A medic was pulling Shan back, kneeling at Gage's side and then Tabitha and Kelly were embracing him.
"He's going to be all right." Kelly whispered.
"I know." Shan nodded. "They'll find us now, though. The hospital will tell them where we are." Medics were coming for Shan now as well, and he realized he too was burned, but not as badly as Gage had been.
But he was okay with being found. He understood now. No one had the power to separate him from Gage, nothing was that strong.
They would go home together.
He looked at the man examining his burns and whispered hoarsely. "I want my mother, too."
End Part 37
(:./lasha/two37)
