25-May-2002
Title: Harem Of Quatre part 3
Author: Phoenix
Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing or any other series in this fic. I am poor and that is proof enough.
Pairing: In this part... mentions QuatreXDuo
Warnings: Mention of NCS, evil people, cussing, I wrote it
Rating: R? Maybe NC-17 for the NCS mention
Archive: CkoS, WWOMB, GW Addiction if they want it...all others please ask
Summary: Duo is now a "bride" but can everyone live with that?
Duo awoke slowly, the drugs from the previous nights still circulating in his system. The first thing his eyes met was the unwelcome, unhappy face of Rashid.
"It's about time boy." The huge man grumped. "We have to get you settled in and sleeping all day is no help." A motion of his hand sent the pair with him to pull the covers down.
A thousand cutting remarks came to mind, but Duo couldn't find the energy to say them. Nothing seemed worth bothering over. Shifting to get up caused pain to lance along his back. The slight gasp he uttered caught the attention of the three men. As one they flinched.
"The pain will fade in time." Rashid told him, doing his best to keep his voice even.
When no comment was forthcoming, he continued with his duties. A suitable set of clothes had been laid out for the Master's new bride. Nothing too complicated as the boy was only being moved to his new room, not being presented to the court. That particular event would take place after all the marriages were arranged. There was plenty of time to build up the youth's wardrobe later.
Instead of the fight all three men were ready for, Duo dressed quietly. If they moved close to him, he shied a few steps away. Guilt and shame washed over the guards. None saw the satisfied smirk on his face when he turned from them.
Once the dressing was done, Rashid motioned for Duo to follow. The young man fell in and the others trailed behind. Those in the halls did their best not to stare at the silent procession. The further they walked, the more their prisoner appeared to shrink into himself. After far too long in Rashid's opinion, they reached a violet colored door with two men wearing concealing robes flanking the door.
"This is your room, Duo." The Captain of the Guard began. "The color of the door is different for each member of Master Winner's harem." He'd given the lecture to many before. The dejected air about the boy now receiving it did nothing to make the matter easier. Pushing aside his personal feelings, he led the room's new inhabitant inside.
Only two doors led to the room and he would tell the youth where the other led last; the news wouldn't help the lad feel safer. The main furniture consisted of a huge bed set against the middle of the far wall. It was a four- poster bed covered in violet silk. Beside it was a small table on the right and a large, oaken wardrobe stood on the left. The walls were bare with only one small window looking out onto the city.
"You may decorate the room in whatever style you like; with Master Quatre's permission of course. You will be notified in the morning should the Master wish to grace you with his attentions." Rashid turned to his charge; the boy stood before the window, a look of unbearable longing on his face. "If you do manage to escape, you should know you're Bonded to the Master. No matter where you go in the world, we will be able to track you down. Then you will be kept in a tower room and chained to the bed."
Duo didn't respond; all his attention was on the place he'd last known freedom. Rashid walked up and placed a hand on the smaller man's shoulder. The reaction was not one he expected.
The chestnut haired bride jerked away as if burned and all but dove into the nearest corner, back to the wall. All the guardsmen knew a street fighter, when cornered and desperate, would use such a stance.
"Don't touch me," Duo gasped, almost pleaded. Violet eyes darted around the room, counting enemies and his chances. "I don't want to be touched."
"Very well," Rashid said and backed away. "Yet there are things you must know. Pay attention." When the lithe thief nodded, he continued. "The guards outside your door will be there always. For your protection. Tonight, the Royal Tailors will come to measure you for new clothes. There will be no outbursts. They will also show you where the bath is. You are to bathe every morning and every night."
Moving slowly in order to not startle Duo, the Captain made his way to the second door. "This door leads to the harem. Here you will find your fellow brides." Once more he motioned for the boy to follow. "Neither door is ever locked. You are forbidden from denying your husband access to your person."
Duo shuddered at the statement but moved as instructed.
"You are to spend most of your days in the harem waiting to see if the Master has any use for you. All meals will be served in the harem unless the Master otherwise instructs. Should you be called for and not be in the harem, the punishment is most severe. It is forbidden to share yourself with another member of the harem unless the Master is present. You are only for him and his pleasures. Do you understand?"
While no verbal answer was given, the boy hugged himself, shivering as if suddenly cold. It was enough for Rashid.
"Now your duties have begun. Enter the harem."
Moving like one going to his execution, Duo passed through the door. Rashid closed it behind him.
"Have one of the sympathetic brides watch over him." He told the other two.
"He's changed so." One commented.
"That's what worries me," Rashid sighed.
Inside the room, Duo paused just past the doorway. He faced a large round room filled with cushions and people lounging on them. Cloaked figures lined the walls. All eyes turned toward him. The other men seemed unhappy and sullen; dark glances dismissed him. The women looked mostly uninterested, but one, a young blue haired girl rose to greet him with a smile.
"My name is Yukina," she enthused and moved to hug him.
Duo flattened himself against the door, a look of terror crossing his fingers.
"Don't touch me," he growled. "Stay away from me."
The smile on her face faltered then returned somewhat dimmer. "If you wish. Would you like to know everyone's names?"
Duo shook his head and slid along the wall until he came close to one of the guards. Stopping, he scanned the room again. A small, barred window was unoccupied five feet to his right. Never taking his eyes off the guard, he made his way there. Perching on the small ledge, the newest bride began surveying his fellows. He began to observe them without appearing to.
Six women and six other men. The women were all young and pretty but of different ages. Listening carefully, he could hear Yukina talking with them. Relena was a honey blonde who sounded a bit whiny and demanding. Selphie had a bouncy personality and hair that defied gravity. Tifa spoke like a fighter; her spirit shining through brown eyes. Kaoru made an unflattering comment about his behavior toward their "sister." The last woman, Tira, had pink hair and thought he needed someone to look after him.
Part of Duo tried to listen to anything the men said but found they didn't talk much; in fact, after only a few minutes of watching them the former thief suspected they were drugged. For the rest of the day, he huddled in the window looking for all world like one of the condemned. The women spent a great deal of their time gossiping and sharing. However, eventually the activity paid off; all the names and a little information about the other "brides" were revealed.
The men consisted of a varied bunch; none of who wanted to be part of the harem. Aya was a lithe red head and former master swordsman. His clan had been forced to turn him over in lieu of taxes. Zell, a young blond with a tattoo covering half his face, was a famous warrior from a land three weeks journey away. The youngest male "bride" went by the name Goku. Most of the women worried over him as the small man usually bounced around the room wildly. Marron, more beautiful than many of the women Duo knew, looked paler than normal, though silence tended to be the pretty man's norm. Cloud, another blond, slept curled up in a shadowy corner to Duo's right. The last male, another beauty, had long red hair, a shade or two lighter than Aya's. Kurama spent his day staring at the walls.
All things considered, the longhaired youth considered himself lucky not to be in the same stupor as the other men. Of course, his little performance might be why no one thought to drug him. As long as Rashid was convinced Duo presented no threat, his mental freedom would not be stolen from him as his physical had been.
There had to be a way to thwart the Bond. There had to be. The thought of spending the rest of his life trapped in two rooms, imprisoned, waiting to be taken against his will, pushed the boy to the limits of his sanity. Yet, if Quatre had told him the truth, no further visits would occur. If. Could he afford to take that chance?
Which led to yet another problem. Should his "husband" be allowed to live? Knowing the agony of a broken Soulbond kept Duo from breaking Quatre's neck after everyone left. Well, that and the drugs they had forced down his throat. Now though, the matter needed to be resolved.
A large part of him cried for revenge. The man had ripped his virginity and freedom away. Taken by force a boy who wanted nothing to do with the ruler. What excuse could be offered to justify such an act? What could keep him from killing such a monster? Simple. The Soulbond.
It was that which the other part of him used to keep the fury at bay. Could Duo truly say he would not have acted the same to keep his Soulmate? No. To save Solo, he would have done anything. So how could he blame another for trying to keep the precious gift? He couldn't.
So, at last, he decided to wait. Sooner or later, Quatre would show his true colors. Then the matter would be ended. In the meantime, a plot to escape could be created. Bond or no, nothing could keep him here. Even if it meant running for the rest of his life, freedom would be his again. And if there was no way to escape the palace, death was the ultimate way out.
'Yes,' Duo thought silently, as a breeze rustled his hair. 'Freedom or death.'
End Part 3
Phoenix
Please send comments to: lina.inverse@verizon.net