Mage vs. Guard Part 4
Duo's hand tightened around his knife as Heero straightened himself up in his saddle and glared at the other mage.
"You have violated the terms of your banishment. You were supposed to..."
"I know what I was supposed to do." The other mage's mouth twisted. "I didn't deserve my banishment- you know I didn't!"
Heero shrugged. "I don't know anything about it. I never really pay attention in those meetings."
"I remember."
"Look- if you think you were unfairly treated, I'd be happy to take a petition back to the School for you- put it before the Order."
"If I thought that would work, I'd let you." The other mage raised his hands. "Unfortunately though, I know better."
Heero's boot lashed out, kicking Duo's horse. Duo swore as his mount jumped away from the mage he was supposed to protect. A bolt of light shot out towards Heero, and Duo realized that the mage hadn't put his shields up.
Duo watched helplessly as the bolt hit Heero. His horse reared and Heero fell- striking the cobblestone street with a sickening crack.
Sliding off his horse's back, Duo tossed his knife at the enemy mage and ran for Heero.
He didn't make it. Somehow the mage dodged his knife and Duo found himself landing on the cobbles, an invisible hand wrapped around his feet. Another one grabbed his chest, pinning his arms to his sides.
Fighting for breath, he struggled to pull out another knife, but then the Mage was standing over him, his green eyes glinting with amusement. Duo struggled to breathe, his vision darkening at the edges.
"You're quite a fighter," the mage said quietly. "But now you need to give up."
"No."
"Stubborn too, bet you drive Heero crazy." The mage shook his head and then Duo couldn't breathe at all...
~*~
A sledgehammer had taken up residence in his skull. Heero groaned and lifted a hand to his head.
"Heero?" A familiar voice said his name in an anxious tone. He tried to open his eyes, but the light made him squint.
Gentle fingers brushed over his forehead. "Relax- you hit your head pretty hard."
"How?"
"Fell off your horse."
"Damn embarrassing." Heero didn't remember falling off his horse. How had he done that?
"Not when a mage tosses a lightening bolt at you."
Ah, that was right. Barton had done that before Heero could get his shields up. Damn, if he hadn't been drained from the porting and worried about...
He opened his eyes to find his guard leaning over him with a concerned expression.
"I told you to run!" Heero snapped.
"I wasn't going to leave you!" Duo snapped back. "Why did you kick my horse?"
"So you could get away." Heero sat up, one hand on his forehead.
"You should've put your shields up instead! I'm the guard remember? My job is to take care of you!"
"From a dark mage?" Heero tried to glare. "What were you going to do?"
"Well," Duo turned slightly red. "I did throw a knife at him. I was hoping to distract him so we could get away..."
Heero looked at him for a moment and then patted his arm. "And that might have worked- but Barton was in the circus for a while- as a target for a knife thrower."
"Damn it. Why do they never cover these kind of things in training?"
"It wasn't in mine either." Heero rubbed his head. "They never cover the important things."
He looked around the room, and blinked.
"I get the feeling we're in the cell he meant to put Quatre in."
Duo's brow wrinkled. "What makes you think that?"
"The anti-magic wards everywhere- and the mirror on the ceiling."
"I'm suddenly glad I never had guard duty with Mage Winner."
"Why not? That sounds like just your kind of thing."
"If you'd let me demonstrate my kind of thing, you'd know better." Duo shook his head. "So- I'm guessing you can't magic us out of here?"
"Not while the wards are activated. Can you break us out?"
Duo shook his head. "They took all my stuff when I was knocked out- even my extra set of lock picks- and I don't even want to think about what they did to find those."
Heero decided he wasn't going to ask. He put his head back on the pillow. "So- we're stuck?"
"I think so. I checked everything I could while you were out. If you can't spell us out, then I'm afraid we are. What do you think is going to happen?"
"Well, since we aren't dead- we must be bait."
"For Quatre?"
"More than likely. If I don't report back that's who Relena will send- but they may not think to look for us for several days."
Duo grinned.
"What?"
"Well, if we are going to be locked up... I have a wonderful idea of how to pass the time."
"I have a concussion." Heero countered.
"When you feel better."
"Or maybe he's planning to kill us and hang our bodies on the town wall as a warning."
Duo leaned close. "Then we should make good use of the time left to us."
"I still have a concussion."
"I'll be very gentle."
"Duo!"
The guard grinned and made himself comfortable on the bed beside Heero. "Do you really think he'll try and kill us?"
"No, or we'd be dead already." Heero frowned.
"Why does he want Mage Winner?"
Heero shrugged. "Well, it was on Quatre's word that he was convicted of the misuse of dark magic and banished."
"That would do it."
"I suppose so- though really it struck me as odd at the time."
"Why is that?"
"Well, Barton was Quatre's lover."
Duo blinked. "Why is that strange? He was in a good position to see it. He was probably horrified."
Heero laughed. "Quatre? Horrified? No way. That was the odd part- even if Barton had done something bad; I wouldn't have expected Quatre to turn him in. Try to turn it to his advantage, sure, but turn him in? Not likely."
"Makes me glad I'm not a mage..." Duo shook his head and reached out to brush Heero's bangs. "Speaking of- you can't do any magic in here?"
Heero tried to clear his head and muttered a quick incantation. Nothing happened. "Nope."
"Sure?"
"You're not a frog, so no."
Duo smiled. "Ah, so here you are. No magic, feeling a bit dizzy... and in bed with me."
"I don't need magic or a clear head to kick your ass."
"Why are you so stubborn about this?"
"Why are you?" Heero rolled his eyes. "Seriously Duo- once I say yes you'll be on to the next one. Why not just skip me?"
"Do you really think I'd do that?"
"Of course."
Duo's expression changed to one Heero couldn't read. "Then why not just say yes and wait for me to go?"
Heero considered this for a moment. His head hurt, he really wasn't up for verbally sparring with Duo anymore, and there was something about Duo's proposal that seemed... off. But...
He reached over and wrapped his fingers around Duo's braid, tugging him close.
Duo's eyes widened when Heero's mouth touched his, gently demanding access. He opened his lips and closed his eyes as the mage ravaged his mouth. Duo had never been kissed like this before, could hardly believe that Heero knew how to kiss like this... and who the hell had been giving him lessons?
When Heero pushed him away, it took Duo a moment to collect his wits and protest.
"Why did you stop?"
"The door..."
Duo whirled as the door opened and Barton entered, followed by several armed men.
"Take him," he said and two of them grabbed Duo.
Duo snarled and kicked them off. Several more piled on top of him and Heero struggled to his feet. There was something he needed to remember...
A moment later, he did.
TBC...
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