A while ago I got a bunny from a certain someone for Banshee. This is the result. No Duo/Heero here... this is Trowa/Quatre- and the fallout from Heero's vanishing act.
Banshee Sidefic 1
There was a bruise on his wrist. It was mostly hidden by his sleeve, but I could still catch the faint purple curve on the soft underside of his wrist- and it made me angry.
Ridiculous, I know. It might have been from an accident, might have been something he did himself- a fall, a bump-
But there were shadows in those blue eyes- and once, when he'd turned to answer a question from a waiter, his sleeve had moved enough for me to see the shape of the bruise- a fingermark- and the hint of another one beside it.
Someone had hurt him- grabbed him hard enough to leave a bruise- and who knew underneath that long sleeved shirt how many more marks there were?
We were at the bar- in the curve where it met the wall- not far from his office door. I wanted more than anything else to pick him up and take him behind that door to get some answers.
But I couldn't. Quatre and I hadn't been together long- hadn't done more than flirt and kiss a bit. We hadn't shared a bed, hadn't shared any secrets. He was gorgeous- but he was also elfkin- so I had been careful.
I didn't feel like being careful at the moment.
Who had dared hurt him? Inwardly snarling, I studied him, noting the dark smudges under his eyes, and decided that the responsible party was going to be lunch...
"Trowa?" He reached out and touched my cheek gently, a caress of fingertips that didn't remotely soothe my anger. "What's wrong? You're frowning."
I caught his wrist before he could pull away, letting my lips touch that purpled skin. His eyes widened, but he didn't try to free himself.
"What happened?"
"An accident," he said and his gaze slipped away, out over the dance floor.
"Don't lie. What happened?"
"I'm not." He returned his attention to me and smiled. "It was an accident- a misjudgment on my part." He shook his head as I opened my mouth. "Nothing to worry about."
I weighed the consequences for a moment before speaking. "Does it have to do with Heero's disappearance?"
Quatre started, jerking himself free of my grip. I saw something trembling on his lips, but then he took a deep breath and gave me a cool smile. "Oh, so you noticed that he doesn't play here anymore? It was very inconsiderate of him- he didn't even give notice- just didn't show up for work one night."
"So you don't have any idea what happened to him?"
"No," Quatre's voice dropped and I barely made out the words: "thankfully, no."
There was a stirring by the door and I saw an all too familiar figure step in, surrounded by a small entourage. An expression flashed over Quatre's face, so fast I nearly didn't catch it, one that he quickly covered over with practiced dismay.
It was fear. The moment I saw it, I knew who had been responsible for Quatre's bruise. Not that I hadn't suspected it already... I bit down on a growl, even managed a faint smile for Quatre.
"It looks like our leader has arrived. Would you excuse me for a moment? If I don't greet him personally he gets annoyed-"
"I understand," I replied and leaned back against the wall as Quatre slid off his chair and headed towards Zechs and his minions. If that blond asshole so much as frowned at Quatre, he was going to be toast.
Heero had been hidden and safe among us for over a week. Zechs was no doubt furious over his disappearance, and was taking it out on anyone in range. Most of the elves with him looked like they wanted to be someplace else, not that I could blame them.
I wondered again what exactly he'd wanted Heero for- Duo hadn't been sure when I asked him, and though I was dead sure the Matriarch knew, I wasn't going to ask her. Maybe tomorrow I'd be able to join Duo when he met Heero for lunch- and get some answers. Maybe I'd tell Heero about that bruise on Quatre's wrist and see if he could enlighten me as to the cause.
I'd discovered, after a week of watching my cousin and the banshee, that underneath the scowling cover, Heero had a very caring heart. I was sure I could convince him to help me- especially if Duo took my side.
Zechs leaned over and put a heavy hand on Quatre's shoulder, his mouth twisting as he said something that made Quatre turn pale.
Or maybe I'd just go to the Matriarch and see if she'd let me flame broil Zechs for her next meal...
Quatre nodded and slipped out from Zechs' grip. He was still pale, but there was a burn of red across his cheekbones and I could see that his hands were clenched as he stalked away from Zechs' table.
Good. He was angry. I loved it when my mild mannered elfkin got angry- he couldn't flame of course- but it was arousing all the same.
I watched as he stopped near the hostess stand and said something to one of the assistant managers. Then he headed my way. "Trowa?" He stopped by my chair and nodded towards the office. "Please?"
I followed him back, aware of Zechs' attention, wondering what was going on. Once the door was closed behind us, I watched as Quatre took several deep breaths, obviously fighting to get himself under control.
"What-?"
He shook his head and I could see his lips tremble. He stepped behind his desk and slapped his hand against the wall. A moment later, a blue outline etched itself into the surface and a small dimensional gate opened. Gaping in surprise, I followed Quatre through. I hadn't thought he was powerful enough to build a gate.....
I half expected a meadow, or a fairy ring, or a tree. Quatre is an elf after all. I wasn't expecting something that looked like a condo- full of overstuffed furniture and photos on the wall. The gate closed behind us and he dropped into the closest chair.
"Where-"
"My domain. It's small- but Zechs can't spy on us here." He was clenching his fists, carefully avoiding looking at me. "We- I- can't see you anymore. I'm sorry."
"What?"
"I can't." He closed his eyes and shook his head. "It's not safe for you."
"Safe for me?" I repeated and dropped to my knees in front of him. Reaching out to take hold of his shoulders, I was surprised when he flinched away from me. "Quatre- I don't understand-"
"It's Heero. Zechs is after him. I don't know where he is- and I don't want to know- but Zechs suspects the dragons. He knows about Duo's interest in Heero- I had to tell him about the visits- everyone saw the two of you- and he knows they had dinner together the night that Heero vanished."
We had expected as much, of course. I wasn't surprised by Zechs' knowledge. "So how is this not safe for me?"
Quatre looked at me, his eyes blazing. "He wants me to seduce you- to get answers from you- see if you know anything. I told him no-" his fingers brushed over the bruise, "but he's not listening. Tonight- well, I think he was ready to question you himself if I didn't pretend to agree. I can gate you away from here- but you can't go back to the club. Not where he can find you- not until he gives up-"
I pulled him close, let my lips touch his forehead. "And what will he do to you when he finds out that you let me go?"
Shaking his head, he tried to pull away. "That's not important. I've dealt with his punishments before. It's you that I'm worried about."
Wrapping my fingers gently around his bruised wrist, I joined him in the chair. "Was this one of his punishments?"
Quatre shook his head as I pushed his sleeve up, revealing the group of bruises on his wrist.
"Oh no. Zechs is usually more creative than that. He just lost his temper with me when I told him that Heero hadn't been spotted anywhere. I was luckier than the ones he'd set to watch Heero's apartment."
"He can't be popular among your people- why don't you-"
"Rebel? We can't. When a new leader steps in, the oaths are sworn to him. We can only act if he breaks his oaths to us." Quatre tried to pull his sleeve back down. "Let me send you home. I can go back and make something up- tell him that you refused me-"
"Why don't you just seduce me?"
He sagged against me, his face pressed against my shoulder. "Don't tempt me. It's safer-"
"Not for you."
"Trowa-"
"Seduce me. Tell him everything I tell you." I raised his head up enough to press a brief kiss on his mouth and then murmured against his lips: "He can't punish you if the information I give you isn't accurate after all-"
He inhaled sharply and a sound escaped him that sounded like a chuckle. "In that case-" his mouth sought mine and I opened my lips for him, deepening the kiss.
He gasped as I got to my feet, lifting him up with me. "Where's your bed?"
"Through that door-"
It took us awhile to reach the bed- longer still before we had breath enough to talk. Quatre curled against me, his eyes half-closed, and I wanted nothing more than to take him home with me. I didn't want him to return to Zechs with the lies I'd fed him- didn't want Zechs 'getting creative' if the information wasn't what he wanted to hear.
But I didn't dare- we'd already had a spy in our ranks once. That wasn't going to happen again. I wanted to trust Quatre. I truly did. But... Quatre himself had said he was oath bound to obey Zechs- and perhaps this whole evening had been simply a way of getting me to trust him.
Damn it all.
OWARI
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