Okay, I really have to apologize for this one. Both Raz and Jaefire asked for guard vs mage, sweet (halloween drabble). Problem? I'm only in the second chapter of that one and have no real idea where it is going, so I can't drabble in the future so to speak. Instead, I wrote out the third chapter (and it was nice to do a chapter sort of thing!), and threw in some sweet moments. It's for both of you since it is double the drabble size!
Guard vs. Mage Part 3
Heero followed his mage down the hallway, noting the set line of Duo's shoulders. It was good to know that he'd judged Duo correctly- the mage had been trying to drive him off with that 'bed warmer' angle. The look on his face when he'd realized what was going on this morning had been priceless.
But the look right before... when Duo had first woken up and looked at him- before his brain had caught on- sheer desire. What Heero wouldn't give to see that look again.
'Business,' he reminded himself with an internal sigh. Besides, his father had warned him for years about getting involved with mages. 'Flaky and irresponsible', he'd called them, though Duo didn't seem to be either. His father had also said that taking a lover who could possibly turn you into something nasty when they were peeved was not the smartest thing to do.
He reached up automatically and touched the small metal ax he wore on a chain around his throat. Father usually knew best, he reminded himself.
Duo yawned and Heero frowned, looking out the window. The sun was close to the midday point- for someone who had gone to bed at dawn, it wasn't nearly enough time for a good rest. He'd have to make sure to get his mage back into bed if he could.
Squashing the mental image that thought brought to his mind, he focused instead on the task ahead of them.
They were stopped at the doors to Lord Chang's chambers and bidden to wait. "Glad to see he tightened security here too," Duo said, half under his breath. A few moments later, Relena appeared.
"There you are," she said and waved them in. "I'm sorry Wufei isn't here to talk to you, he's down checking the town's defenses. We got such a strange message right before he left- I told him I'd handle it..."
"From the Sand Enclave?" Duo asked.
"From Barton," Relena shook her head and handed Duo a sheet of paper. Heero scanned the room as Duo read. If they were truly at war, no place would be safe.
"So, he doesn't want a rescue- he can negotiate his own release?" Duo sounded unbelieving and Heero could see why.
"That's what he says- and you can see the seal?"
"Yes," Duo frowned and then closed his eyes and blew gently across the paper. A shimmering silvery light rose up from the page and formed itself into a small winged creature. Another elemental, Heero thought- an air sprite.
"Mage Maxwell," it said in a breathy voice.
"Who sealed you into this letter?"
"Mage Barton. He said to assure you that he was under no coercion to write this message. He truly is trying to persuade Mage Winner that he means no harm and a rescue attempt will just prove the opposite- even if successful."
"Was he speaking the truth? Did you feel any spells on him?"
"Yes. There was only one- binding him to the enclave- and I think he could break it if he chose."
"Thank you. I free you of this duty." Duo traced a shape on the paper and the sprite vanished in a small whirlwind. "So now what?"
Relena lifted her hands in a helpless gesture. "That's just it. I'm not sure! If Chang sends you down there and Barton has made progress with Winner... but on the other hand, what if something goes wrong?"
Duo frowned at the paper for a long moment and Heero wondered what he was thinking.
"Maybe," he said slowly, "instead of sneaking down there, I need to go openly. To negotiate a truce or whatever Chang can come up with in the diplomatic line- like we would have if Chang had agreed to let you go as cover."
Relena nodded. "That might work- though we'd have to delay your journey a bit to get permission- if we want you down there openly, we can't just have you arrive on his doorstep."
"That's fine. I wouldn't say no to more sleep at this point." Duo smothered a yawn. "I'd have to travel in daylight too- and as showily as possible."
"I'll send the idea off to Wufei." Relena said thoughtfully. "If he agrees, I'll send the first message off to Winner asking him to allow us to send someone to negotiate for Barton's release."
"And if he doesn't- then we're going to have to come up with something else. Barton may not think he's in any danger, but who knows what Winner has up his sleeve?"
"Very true. Somehow we need to get you in there- let's hope the negotiating gambit works." Relena smiled a little. "Why don't you go back to bed? I don't need you to start the negotiating- and it might take a bit."
"That sounds good. Call me when you need me."
Heero followed Duo out of the room and watched his weary mage make his way back down the hallway. Duo was rubbing at his temple as he walked, his eyes slightly unfocused. Heero wasn't sure if he was thinking hard, or trying to stay awake. Maybe both?
Much to his surprise, halfway back to the rooms, Duo's gaze lighted on him. "What do you think?" The mage asked him.
"What do I think?" Heero repeated.
"Yes. I know you do, despite the idea that most guards are more brawn than brain. What do you think of all this?"
"Well," Heero paused. He wasn't used to being consulted about things that didn't have to do with guarding. "I think it's sort of odd. I mean, Mage Barton is captured, the Sand enclave declares an end to the truce because they think you sent a spy- but they still let the spy send a message back to his enclave. Either they are very confident of catching any information he might try to send, or very foolish."
"That is odd," Duo agreed. "And it bothers me. They had to have known he sealed the sprite in the letter- and they had to know that he sent one. You can't hide that sort of spell- so either he took a stupid risk- and he's not a stupid man- or they knew he sent it. The sprite can't lie- they had to know someone would ask it for the truth."
Heero wasn't sure if he was supposed to reply. Still, Duo seemed to be waiting.
"Then maybe he truly thinks he can negotiate a truce- and maybe the Sand enclave is willing to let him try? Or at least let him think he could?"
"I think the last is more like it. Winner's reputation... well, let's say it wouldn't surprise me if this was his way of playing with all of us. Make a show of anger, then make a show of willingness- and then smack us when we least expect it."
Heero opened the door to Duo's suite and made the mage wait for a moment as he scanned the front room. "So, you think it's some sort of trap."
"Yes." Duo tossed himself down on the couch as Heero moved around, performing his customary check. "I do. Course, I think everything's a trap."
"Nothing wrong with that."
Duo snorted with laughter as he curled up on his side. "Glad to see I finally have a guard who agrees with me."
Heero didn't answer. In his opinion, all the guards should've felt that way. When he finished his check and returned to the sofa, he found Duo fast asleep. He debated carrying the mage up to bed, but after his reaction this morning, decided against it. Instead he fetched a few blankets from the bed and spread one carefully over Duo.
Taking the other one, he curled up on the floor beside the couch. It wasn't as comfortable as the bed had been, and he missed the feeling of the mage by his side. Mentally scolding himself for an idiot, he closed his eyes.
TBC...
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