Step Inside the Circle Part 14

Une was screaming. Leia knew it was happening, and yet she felt detached from it, frozen in place as God-born power flowed through her, like her own, personal wave of retribution. All she could do was watch -

The whip in her hand was glowing blue-white and, while the energy felt cool and reassuring to her, it was torture for Une. The woman was screaming as though she had been set on fire. Leia felt an almost clinical detachment as Une curled into a foetal ball, twitching, still unable to release her hold on the whip in her hands...

All the same, Leia knew she would have precious little time to escape. Someone would be there soon to investigate, and given her own injuries, she would not get far once the two Gods' power flowing through her ran out. She released the whip.

Une immediately stopped screaming and dropped it, herself, whimpering as she curled in, completely unaware of the world around her.

Leia wasted no time, she picked it up again and put it over one shoulder, then turned to grasp the chain connecting her leg to thebed-post-

She gave it a good yank and smiled, satisfied, as it crumbled.

Even with the Gods' power running through her, she was limping slightly as she slipped out the door and, sticking to the shadows, headed for the nearest exit and hopefully...

Freedom.

~*~

Heero and Duo opened their eyes at the same moment, both wearing satisfied looks that had their companions completely mystified, but there was no time to dwell on it. As Duo turned his attention to the Druid cradled in his arms, Heero turned away and pulled his phone from his pocket, hitting the speed dial.

"Relena, organize a war party - call in the druids, and send Morrigan as the Leader. We need to retrieve Leia Barton, and I know where she will be..."

The priestess' voice sounded startled. "Heero, how? She was nearly gone when I broke her hold on Mariemeia's mind..."

"I... I can't explain it, Relena, at least, not easily," Heero stammered, his eyes drifting to where Duo walked at Quatre's side, trying to calm the now hysterical blond, holding Trowa's unresponsive form. "Something Nuada and I did..." He tore his eyes away, and his expression hardened again. "The sister of the Druid Gwydion needs our help, Priestess Danu. Send the Morrigan to retrieve her."

Relena still sounded unconvinced, but dutifully replied, "As you wish, Lord Greine."

~*~

Despite the cold morning, Leia was shivering violently. She had no idea where she was, and she had almost lost the ability to care, anymore, as pain shot through her again.

Something else was behind her. Again.

She took comfort in the idea that it wasn't those demonic hounds Balor had become so fond of; Treize-Balor had been in such a delightfully foul mood when they were killed by Gwydion's new comrades. She'd already dropped the whip after she was attacked the first time. She'd still been running on a power-high at the time, but it was long-gone now. All she could do was pray she did not get caught.

Leia was wandering up a road, stumbling every few steps drunkenly, when she heard it. Claws scraping the pavement. Heavy, padded footfalls, as though from a large animal. And finally - an inhuman scream that sounded straight from the Underworld.

She cried out as she was knocked from her feet - whatever it was had leapt at her, but clearly miscalculated the jump. It rolled several feet away, snarling as it came back to its feet. It was bearing down on her, eyes glowing with madness and hatred... Teeth sank into the arm she attempted to use to shield herself, and she screamed.

As the beast shook her savagely, Leia knew she was dead. She began to black out-

She could dimly hear the roar of motorcycle engines and, looking over, couldn't help wondering what Trinity and her gang of anti-Matrix allies were doing in Scotland, of all places...

The beast released her and, she lost consciousness, she never recognised that it was the Battle Raven descending on her attacker like an avenging Dark Angel.

~*~

Heero was trying very hard not to smile or laugh, but Duo was making that very difficult for him. It felt pretty good, though, given the severity of their situation. If he allowed himself to be any more worried, he knew he would make himself sick.

The long-haired man had exchanged his jacket for a longer coat as they left the Orkneys, not wanting to frighten anyone who saw him carrying such a huge sword strapped to his back. That in itself was a source of amusement to Heero - in their haste to get a weakened Trowa to safety and to find out what the Lady was doing to find and aid Leia, no one had thought to teach Duo how to properly conceal his weapon, and therefore...

"I am Nuada Mac Dagda of the clan of the Dagda! In the end, there can be only one!" the braided man cackled in his best Scottish accent, which was actually surprisingly good. Standing beside him on the ferry deck, Heero finally lost his battle and smiled.

Duo turned a sheepish grin on him. "Let me guess - that's a fairly old joke around here, isn't it?"

The half-breed shrugged, his eyes still twinkling with amusement. "Maybe, but the people saying it usually aren't carrying around the kind of weaponry you've got. We really should have remembered to show you how to hide that properly before we got back to civilisation. "

Duo shrugged easily, glancing back out at the water and the island cliffs fading into the afternoon's haze behind them. "Don't worry about it. Trowa needed all our attention. Even Dorothy was worried and showing it."

Heero smirked at Duo's casual use of Scathach's given name (a privilege she gave to very few individuals) , but swallowed the smirk quickly as he thought back to the scene back on the Islands. Quatre had been nearly hysterical when he and Duo broke out of their trance, pulling Trowa back with them - the blond was almost keening in worry and fear. It didn't help, either, that Trowa did not wake, but fell into unconsciousness immediately, crumpled helplessly in Duo's arms.

Scathach had taken control of the situation immediately. She swiftly ushered them all back into her house; a growling Quatre had carried his much taller and bulkier boyfriend all the way to the house, and was now sitting on a sofa, cradling Trowa in his lap, speaking to him in soft tones. When the two Tuatha De Danaan walked in, he turned his burning gaze on them. "What happened?"

He'd explained quickly, and felt horrible about it as he watched Quatre's face going whiter and whiter. In fact, had it not been for the combined haranguing from Scathach and Wufei...

The two had somehow managed to pry Trowa out of Quatre's grasp so Duo could try and replace some of the Druid's lost energy and life force, while at the same time preventing Quatre from beating either Heero or the braided man to death. That was no small accomplishment! But then, they had all been so relieved when Trowa finally opened his eyes...

Heero had never felt close to Scathach although he, too, had earned the right to call her by her given name. He felt much closer to her now, though, knowing that she was still back there in the ferry passenger lounge, concerned enough about Trowa's welfare to accompany them back to the Residence. Trowa was, after all, still shaky and dangerously low in energy despite Duo's healing, and yet... Secretly, Heero believed her uncharacteristic willingness to venture into Populated Society might have had something to do with the handsome Chinese-American man with whom she'd developed such a good rapport...

"Heero?"

Abruptly brought back to the present, Heero gave his companion a small smile. "Pardon?"

Duo stepped a little closer, until their shoulders bumped, and gave him a concerned look. "You okay in there?"

Heero nodded. "Yes, I was just thinking... this morning scared me. The thing with Trowa and his sister."

"I know what you mean," Duo agreed, putting a hand on his shoulder. "I still don't really understand what happened back there. I didn't know... Shit, that poor woman!"

Heero reached over and gently steered Duo away from the others on the ferry's observation deck. Once they were truly alone, he turned the other man so he could look him straight in the eye. "Duo... we should not really have been able to do what we did. Reaching Trowa, yes. He was physically right there with us, but Leia... All I know is that alone, I would not have been able to help her, and you might not have managed it, either."

"What?" Duo asked, confused.

Heero tightened his grip on Duo's shoulders. "I think... I never managed this with Z-Zechs, but I think... somehow, you and I managed to merge our power for at least a short moment, and that's why it worked. I don't even know why I suggested it - I guess I somehow knew we could do it if we tried."

Duo lifted an eyebrow. "So in other words... we make a pretty damn good team, eh?" He gave another lop-sided grin. "I like that idea."

Heero couldn't help it - he'd been holding Duo's shoulders in a firm grip to keep the man's attention on him for their conversation. But as that little smile lit up the long-haired man's face, his grip lightened into something gentler and more familiar. They were naturally gravitating towards each other, and Duo's bright eyes had fallen to his lips. He sucked in a deep breath - there was a light flush to the man's face...

Lips met gently. Heero couldn't help the light groan in his throat - He'd wanted to do this for quite a while, and the feeling of Duo in his arms, kissing him so sweetly... He nipped gently at the other man's lips, releasing them slowly as he tried to calm the furious beating of his heart.

He simply held the other man, enjoying the scent of his hair as they stood there, arms wrapped around each other.

He felt the rumble of a chuckle in Duo's chest before the other man spoke, his voice slightly husky. "Wow."

Heero smiled. He couldn't have said it better, himself. Duo's arms tightened around his waist, and he closed his eyes, simply enjoying the feeling. He caught the braid of hair swinging in the wind and wrapped it around his hand.

After a long moment that neither truly wanted to end, they drew back to look at each other. Duo's hands came up to frame Heero's face - he leaned in and kissed him again, but this time parting his lips in invitation.

Heero felt almost light-headed with anticipation as he kissed back, tongue gently moving to explore the other's mouth, dancing with Duo's. His free arm pulled Duo closer against him while his grip on Duo's braid tightened possessively.

They broke apart for air, both wide-eyed. As they released each other, Heero's hand came up to touch his lips, and he shot a warm smile at the other man, his deep blue eyes almost glowing.

Duo smiled in return and, as he stepped closer, lifted Heero's hand to replace the end of his braid in it. Heero closed his fist around it, fascinated. This was... he didn't have words for how good this felt to him.

Smirking impishly, though, he gave the long rope of hair a slight tug. "Come on - the others must be getting ready to search the ship for us."

Duo squawked indignantly, but clearly didn't mind from the silly grin on his face. "Lead on!"

Heero released the hair to take hold of Duo's hand, instead. Hand in hand and both trying to hide pleased grins, they set out in search of their companions.

~*~

The kennels were a site of mass mayhem, but Howard loved it, nonetheless He had to admit, though, that the red-headed child the Lady sent out into his care was a real handful. She'd barely walked in the door when it seemed every beast in creation started yapping for her attention. And bless him - Lord Nuada's dog, Kahn, was among the worst of them.

He'd never met another animal whose expressions seemed quite so human and so... endearing. Then again, given who his master was, it wasn't entirely surprising.

Mariemeia looked up, though, forgetting about Kahn in an instant as she felt the approach of a familiar mind. She stood, wiping her hands on her jeans. "Mum..."

Hoawrd intercepted her before she could run out the door. "Just a moment there, Miss Red!"

She scowled up at him. "My mother is here. I need to go to her."

"No, you don't," Howard insisted sternly. Several of the nearby dogs quickly found somthing else to do and walked away - they knew what that tone of voice meant. "You need to stay here with me for just a little while longer."

"No! I... She needs me!" Mariemeia's eyes welled up with tears, and her bottom lip trembled.

Howard had to hand it to her - the kid was good! But he was old enough to know that trick very well. "No, she needs the healer. If she's as good a Mum as you've said, she might want you there, but she wouldn't want you to see what she's been through. Give her some dignity, child. The Goddess knows, she deserves it."

"What she went through..." Mariemeia's eyes narrowed. "How do you know?"

He snorted and tapped his temple. "I am the all-powerful Kennel Master, child! How do you think? The Lady told me."

She stuck out her tongue at him and tried to dart around on his right, but the old man was still surprisingly agile. He caught her gently and once again stepped between her and the door. "The Goddess Knows, I'd let ye go if I could, Miss Red. The Lady forbade it, though. She just wants the best for the both of you."

She looked out the doorway - there were motorcycles pulling up, and she knew her mother was with them. Mariemeia tried to get around Howard again, but he wrapped her in a secure hug and refused to release her when she struggled. She began sobbing as she watched the scene out on the main driveway, unable to tell who was where...

"There now, child," Howard said soothingly, petting her hair as though she were a cherished granddaughter, his other hand rubbing soothing little circles on her back. "She will be just fine - The Lady will take good care of her, and you will see her soon."

There was a low whine, and Mariemeia jumped as a cold, wet nose nudged her arm. She looked down - Kahn's huge doggy eyes were staring at her, gentle and kind...

She slipped out of Howard's grasp and threw her arms around the dog's neck and began sobbing against him. "I want my mummy!"

Howard just shook his head. The bloody dog was apparently much better at this than he was. Throwing Kahn a wry look, he carefully levered himself down on the ground next to them, and wrapped an arm around both girl and beast. "I know, child, I know. And I promise you - we'll take you to her as soon as she is ready for it."

The little girl looked up at him with red eyes and a runny nose. "Promise?"

He pulled out a handkerchief and gently wiped her face with it. "Promise."

To their left, Kahn put a paw on her leg and barked, as though he, too, was making the same promise. Mariemeia giggled despite everything, and hugged the dog again.

Howard snorted and mock-glared at him. "Show off."

~*~

Quatre hovered protectively behind his lover as Trowa entered Mariemeia's room that evening. The girl was finally asleep; she had been fussing all afternoon about her mum until Relena finally took her in hand personally.

There was just something about the Priestess - no one stayed angry at her for very long - ever - and Mariemeia was no exception to that rule.

Trowa was still pale and a little shaky, but he'd already been in to see Leia. The Healers had done their best; still, she had been pale and exhausted...

And still asking to see Red.

The druid sat and carefully shook his niece's shoulder. "Red? Wake up, Red."

Her eyes blinked open slowly, and it took her a moment to realise who she was looking at. "Uncle... Trowa? You're..." She sat up and rubbed at her eyes resolutely. "Will you take me to see my mummy?" Her lip trembled, as though another tantrum was about to begin.

He gave her a smile, and relaxed a fraction as she met his eyes and instantly calmed down with a small mental urge. He held out his hands-

Quatre sputtered as Trowa stood with a six-year old in his arms. "Trowa, you're still not..."

"Quatre." He didn't have to say anything more, or even raise his voice. The blond fell silent, though he was still frowning.

They could hear voices in Leia's room. Trowa's lips curved in a grateful smile, recognising Duo's; if anyone could help her, it would be him. He knocked, and they walked in.

"Mum!" Mariemeia never knew how close she came to seriously injuring her uncle as she struggled to get free and run to her mother's side. Quatre was there, though, gently lending strength when Trowa's legs gave out and he started to fall-

Heero caught him on the other side and, between the two of them, they steered Trowa to an empty seat.

"Oh, my darling girl," Leia's voice trembled as Red leapt on the bed, somehow twisting underneath both Duo and Relena's hands to land squarely on her mother's lap.

Both mother and daughter had tears on their faces as they clung to one another, and Relena swiped at her face, just watching. It was so sweet and sad! But they were both safe...

She stepped over to Trowa's side and sat back on her heels so she could look him in the face. "How are you feeling?"

He tore his eyes away from his sister's happy face and looked at her, the echoes of his smile still evident on his face. "I'm... tired. Very tired."

"Trowa..." She leaned forward and gave him a gentle kiss on the forehead. "Go to sleep, then. We'll have plenty of time to talk tomorrow morning."

"But..."

"No but's!" Relena said, suddenly appearing far more regal and Priestess-like than before. "I need you to be well again. Nuada will attend to you as soon as he is done here."

Trowa nodded obediently. "Yes, my Lady."

Her replying smile was sweet. "Good. Quatre? You will take care of him?"

The blond nodded silently, and all three turned to look aver at the scene across the room-

Heero had one arm wrapped around Duo's shoulders as they watched Mariemeia's exuberant re-telling of her stay with her uncle. Leia, for her part, seemed content to listen and soak up the presence of her little girl.

~*~

"How is she?"

The Healer cringed, carefully keeping his eyes directed at his own feet. "My Lord... I... I have never seen anything like this, and I don't know..."

Treize Khushrenada snarled as the man before him continued to babble. "Damn it, man, answer my question!"

The Healer jumped, terrified, and finally looked up. Treize had once again assumed his true shape and form as Balor, King of the Formorii. Thankfully, his eyepatch was in place. "My Lord, it is as though a fire has burned through her, a bit as though she were struck by lightning. Her eyes are by far the worst damaged..."

Treize clenched his fists. "Go on."

"Sir, her eyes have lost all pigmentation and abiliity to track movement." The Healer gulped heavily. "It is likely that Lady Une will be blind for the rest of her life."

"What does that mean, lost pigmentation? " Treize asked quietly, seething with anger.

"It means... her pupils are heavily dilated, and her irises are barely visible," the Healer said quietly, "All that remains is an extremely pale blue, so pale, it's almost white. I don't know how to reverse this damage - it goes beyond any knowledge I possess."

"And the rest of her?"

The Healer twitched - this quiet Balor was in many ways more menacing than any raving lunatic. "She has suffered nerve damage and severe mental trauma. Much of it has dissipated, though; I think she will recover fully from that in time."

"Anything else?"

"I don't know, my Lord. Until she wakes..."

Treize growled. "Look me in the eye when you speak to me, you fool!"

The man looked up-

He fell dead instantly, features frozen in horror.

Treize stared down at him for a long moment before he reached for the telephone on his desk. "This doctor was... unsatisfactory. We are in need of a new one... yes, see that it is done."

He looked down at the dead man again in disgust, his lip curled into a snarl, then he headed for the door.

Just before he left, he flipped his eyepatch back in place.

~*~

"So how was it?"

Duo looked up from his solitary breakfast, and promptly blushed bright red as Wufei slid into the seat next to him with a knowing look on his face. "I'll have you know, I kept a nosy Amazon, a concerned Druid, a pestering Priestess with three gossiping bodyguards, and a hyperactive banshee away yesterday to give you time to make out with your new boyfriend to your heart's content, so you'd better spill."

Duo turned even redder, if such was possible. "Jesus, you make it sound like he asked me to have his baby, or something! It was just kissing!"

"If that was just kissing, then it looked like damn fine just kissing," Wufei said, casually shovelling eggs into his mouth.

Duo lifted an eyebrow. "You perv - I don't even want to know how long you were there watching."

"Oh, long enough," Wufei replied, his eyes glinting with amusement.

"Jerk."

There was a moment of silence before: "So really... you two okay?"

Duo wore a goofy grin as he though about it. The two had managed to slip out of the Residence for a little more alone time the night before... He'd never before believed in the romantic power of moonlight. But that silver glow reflected in Heero's endless eyes...

They'd just been holding each other, not even making out (well, not as much as Wufei thought they were, at least!). He could still feel Heero's warm, solid body like a buffer against the chilly night, strong arms around him, smell the scent of his hair...

Wufei chuckled, breaking Duo from his reverie. He scowled at the Chinese man. "What?!"

"Oh, nothing." Duo scowl just made it funnier.

Quatre and Trowa thankfully chose that moment to walk in together. Duo was out of his seat like a shot, and met them halfway across the room. "Morning, Tro. How are you feeling?"

The druid gave him his habitual half-smile. "Much better today. Thank you, Duo."

Quatre was wearing a full-up grin, though, as he faced the Tuatha De Danaan. "I hear you had a pleasant evening, eh?"

"Goddess, not you, too." Duo threw his hands in the air. "Is my love life an item of interest to everyone here? Haven't you people ever heard of privacy?!"

Trowa and Quatre both laughed before the druid replied, "If you didn't react so well, it wouldn't be half as amusing. But seriously," he continued, his smile more subdued, "we have all been concerned for Heero for a while. Even before Zechs died he was a lonely person, and since... You have been very good for him. Take our harassment as a sign of our approval."

Duo snorted. "If this is approval, I'd hate to see what would happen if you dis-approved! " he remarked, laughing a little.

Quatre's eyes bled to blue in a second as an ebony-clawed hand came up and crooked a finger at him. "Disapproval can be... rather un-pretty." He seemed to flow back to normal just as quickly, finishing with a sweet smile, "Why do you think Lady Relena is still single after so long?"

Duo stepped back. "Man, that is just... creepy. Seriously creepy."

Quatre just laughed merrily, upping the creepiness factor by half again.

"Quatre, Trowa, stop picking on my friend. And you," Wufei said, still from his seat, but pointing directly at Duo, "Get back here and finish your breakfast before it gets cold."

"Yes, sir!" all three chorused.

Duo smiled and shook his head as he walked back to the table. His friends... well, they were definitely abnormal, but he would not have traded them for the world.

~*~

Seated comfortably behind her desk, Relena frowned at the two people across from her. "Are you certain of this?"

Heero and Scathach shared a look before the young man nodded. "The taint is already there. I took the liberty of sharing my impressions with Scathach, and she concurs. Balor might have wanted them close by, but distance should not make much of a difference."

"Damn," Relena stood and walked to her window. She scowled darkly. It wasn't that she was angry with Heero for bringing his observations to her; she quite probably would have done the same thing in his position. But that she was now the one to have to pass this knowledge on...

She turned back to her visitors, this time directing the full intensity of her gaze at Scathach. "Can any of our artefacts 'heal' the taints, so to speak? Is there any way of doing that recorded in your histories?"

Scathach looked pensive. "I will of course go back and check, Lady, but I doubt it. The 'taints', as we've labelled them, are on their very souls; the missing pieces belong there are surely as their arms or legs belong attached to their bodies."

"As we've labelled them?" Relena asked. "What does that mean?"

Scathach looked away, knowing that the Priestess would not like to hear what she was about to say. "Like it or not, they are who and what they are, Lady. Labelling them as 'tainted' is a bit like condemning them for the act of breathing - it isn't something they control, it simply is. Their kind would probably label Heero and Duo both as 'tainted', from their perspective."

Heero bristled at that, but said nothing.

Relena's scowl deepened. Scathach was pointedly not meeting her gaze. "Yes, and I suppose that being upset with you simply because you're being rational is the same kind of blind idiocy, isn't it." She sighed as she sat back down. "What are our options, then?"

"If I may?" Heero said, looking between the two women. "Most importantly, we need to talk to Trowa and the others. And we need to let them know that they will not be friendless, no matter what happens. Scathach is right. In their souls, they are Formorii, but that does not automatically make them evil. We should not condemn anyone until they earn that condemnation, as Balor has."

Relena pinched the bridge of her nose. "Trowa will not know how to take this. It's going to hurt him badly."

Scathach replied, "He is a Druid - he is the High Druid. He will do what he has to."

Relena looked away. That was a large part of what scared her. What would happen if his duty and calling came into direct conflict with his heart?

For that matter, how would any of them deal with such an ordeal? Her Goddess-given foresight could not answer that question.

TBC...

 

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