For hellfire angel- a drabbly part of Something Furry... *hugs* (I know, I know, it's short- drabblish length? But Heero and I are negotiating still... he's pissed. More soon.)
Something Furry Part 14
Duo followed his grandmother cautiously into the place of challenge. The tiers of seats were empty at this time, the dirt ring in the center deserted. The challenge was still an hour away, but Duo felt a shiver all the same. He had seen terrible things here... and soon, Heero would be here- facing Relena...
"What are we doing here so early?" He dared to ask and Une snorted softly.
"I need to get you safely into place, grandson. The tigers would be only too happy to hold you during the fight- and though I understand you have formidable protections, if your protections damage some of them, then they will try and claim satisfaction. If you are already in place, then they can do nothing but wait."
"But- I'm a gift- she can't claim me-"
"You are now the spoil of this challenge- and she can." Une stopped before a silver cage that had been placed on a small platform beside the dirt ring.
"I'm the- but YOU took me! Not her! You told me this would help Heero-!"
"It will help him." Une nodded towards the cage. "Get in."
That was an order, and so Duo stepped into the cage. He placed his wrists into the shackles and tried not to shiver when Une snapped them shut.
When his grandmother stepped away, he touched the ring the fae had given Heero with the tip of his thumb. He could turn it if needed- the realization was comforting.
"You are still blocking the psychic?" Une asked and Duo blinked at her.
"I am," said a familiar voice behind him and Duo's eyes widened in surprise. "She will not sense anything until they step into this place."
"How is the magician?"
"How do you think he is? He's had a night and most of a day to imagine all of the things that might have happened to his mate. He's furious. Nearly beside himself with rage."
"If he's too angry, he won't be able to fight."
"The magician is not one that grows insensible when enraged. He grows not hot- but cold. His fury is sheathed in ice- and that's what makes him truly dangerous."
Duo drew in a sharp breath. So that's why he was here? To make Heero angry? But- why?
"Heero will win this fight if he's angry enough," the familiar voice was at his ear. "We've seen this- he can't hesitate- and if he's in his senses, he would hesitate- and he'd lose."
Turning his head, Duo frowned into the familiar face beside him. "Is that why you-"
"Shh." A cool finger touched his forehead. "Forget you saw me. Forget how you got here." A cloth covered his eyes, another one bound his mouth.
"You are in the hands of your enemies- and you are afraid."
~*~
Une settled herself in her seat- close enough to where her grandson was caged to make sure that the tigers surrounding him didn't do anything... inappropriate.
It was nearly time. Relena was already in the circle, in human form, calm and cool, a faint smirk lingering on the corners of her mouth. It was a position Une had seen her in many times before. Relena had won all of her challenges in this place, she was no doubt assuming that she'd win this one as well.
It wasn't wise to be so overconfident, Une thought with an inward smile.
The clock struck the time and she saw Relena's mouth open, no doubt ready to declare the magician a coward- when the doors suddenly exploded inward in a rush of blue light.
Those closest to the doors scrambled to get out of the way as the magician stalked into the place of challenge, the two dragons on his heels. The psychic wasn't there and Une was glad. A mere human- even one as gifted as Po was- would be in danger here.
Yuy stepped into the ring and Une saw his expression change when he caught sight of Duo. Sheer fury- and for a moment, she wondered if it had been too much.
TBC...
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