For rochan01- Mage vs Guard, All Hallow's Eve
Mage vs. Guard Halloween Drabble 6
Why do you always end up doing the dangerous spells?"
"Because no one wants Relena risking herself." Heero finished putting the last of the ingredients into the cauldron. "And no one else volunteers."
"But you do!"
"I don't volunteer. I get drafted."
"You could say no!"
"I suppose I could," Heero shrugged as he opened his spell book. "But then who knows who they might send to do this? Better me than some of the idiots on the council."
"I still don't understand why they want this tower... cleaned." Duo frowned at the shadows gathering in the corners.
"We're getting quite a few new students- apparently they need places to sleep. And even though a haunted tower always looks good on a tour of a mage school, it's not good for the students to have to live in one."
"I think it would help build character."
"That's what I told Relena, but..." Heero sighed, "she said it was the wrong sort."
Duo sighed too. "So she sent you right up here to do the cleaning."
"Since this is the one night of the year the spirit world gets close, we have to do it tonight."
Duo watched Heero make a few more preparations. "So how does this go?"
"I summon the spirits, have a little chat, open a door to the next world and let them use it."
"What if they don't want to leave?"
"Ah," Heero lifted an eyebrow, looking faintly amused. "Then I do a little persuading."
"Why do I think that's not as easy as you make it sound?"
"Well, you sound pretty pessimistic. Maybe I'm just trying to stay positive."
Duo snorted. "Has anyone else ever tried to clean out the tower?"
"Of course," Heero pointed to a circle that he'd chalked on the ground. "Stand there would you? And no matter what- don't leave the protection circle once I get started."
"Who tried?"
"According to the records? Mage Richard." Heero was chalking another circle on the ground- this one around the cauldron.
"How far did he get?"
"Don't know. No one saw him again." Heero finished and stood up, brushing the chalk dust off his hands.
"Is that the protection circle you are going to be in?"
"Yes- wait- what are you doing?"
"Guarding your back. I can't do it from that circle all the way over there."
"Duo-"
"Not negotiating."
"Fine. Just stay close- not even a foot out of the circle."
"All right."
"Not that close."
"I've been closer."
"I need to concentrate."
"Spoilsport."
"We're trying to persuade the spirits to leave, not give them a show."
"Maybe it would put them in a good mood."
"Them or you?" Heero snorted. "Be quiet, I need to get started."
"Can I get close to you afterwards?"
"If it makes you stop talking now, then yes."
Duo closed his mouth and mimed zipping it shut. Heero sighed in relief and started the incantation.
~*~
The sky was just starting to lighten when Duo assisted the exhausted mage out of the tower. "Was it supposed to be that difficult?"
Heero yawned. "I don't know. It's not like it's been done before." He swayed on his feet and Duo took a firmer grip on him.
"We need to get you upstairs."
"I can sleep right here."
"I don't think so." Duo swung the nearly unconscious mage up in his arms with a sigh. "You know, this wasn't exactly what I had in mind when I said I wanted to be closer.... "
OWARI
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