Authors' Note: This was an rpg/story line that the two of us had been working on together and we decided to make it a fic. Feedback is always welcomed and appreciated! We hope you have as much fun reading it as we have writing it!
-SkyLark and Snow Tigra
Beyond All Doubt Part 2
Sitting across from Kumi as they ate in silence along with Heero and Sette, Trowa did his best to banish the thoughts running through his head. Every so often, he would glance up from his place to look to Heero as he sat next to his sister. Just turned sixteen and he could be sent off to war. Other stolen glances fell on Kumi as she sat with her head somewhat lowered since she took her seat. Knowing the pain that his news would bring her was slowly killing the young Commander.
His attempts to put those thoughts away were in vain when Kumi looked up from her place to watch him as she asked, "So what was it that Wufei needed to discuss with you?
Flashing her a quick smile, he replied simply, "Nothing to worry about." Quickly, he looked back down to his plate. Lowering his fork, Heero frowned as he looked from Trowa to Kumi and back with curiosity in his eyes.
There was a knock at the door and their missing friend stepped in with an apologetic grin on his face as he waved to them and said, "Sorry I'm so late. We had a bit of trouble with a new mare that was brought in."
Sitting at Sette's side, he leaned over to peck her cheek tenderly. Frowning at him as she crossed her arms, the tomboy gave a half-hearted 'hmph.' She never was good at acting angry at him when she really wasn't. Her fiancé chuckled deeply and winked at her. Rolling her eyes, Sette's commented, "Oh don't you wink at me like there's nothing going on, Quatre! All you do is play with those horses."
"And it's all to help save enough money for that home you and I need to raise our children after we marry," the blonde young man grinned.
Muttering as she sagged in her seat, she sighed, "I hate when you use that excuse."
Placing another soft kiss on her temple, Quatre smiled and looked to his friends. Taking up with large bowl of stew, he began filling his plate as he inquired, "So have I missed anything?"
As a surprise to everyone present, Heero actually decided to speak first as he answered, "Apparently Wufei stopped by to talk to Trowa, then left." His voice held the same suspiciousness that his eyes held when he looked between the others at the table. He had reason to be curious since no one had informed him that Wufei was at the house to meet with his sister's mate when he was called for dinner.
Turning to face Quatre, Kumi smiled and spoke calmly, "Oh, you haven't missed too much, Quatre. I was just trying to get Trowa to admit that he plans to ask Heero if he wants to go away from home to fight a bunch of savages."
The reactions ranged differently from person to person, but they were all immediate. Trowa nearly dropped his fork as he blinked at her with shocked eyes. Quatre's fork stopped just before his opened mouth as he froze with wide eyes. Sette blinked innocently as she glanced over at the wall. Heero's normally unexpressive eyes were wide with disbelief as they fell on Kumi as she glared fiercely at Trowa.
Folding her arms, the silver-haired girl asked, "And when were you planning on telling me the truth, Trowa?"
Lowering his fork, he sighed and frowned deeply as he turned his head so she could see both sorrow-filled green eyes. "After dinner," he admitted, "when I got the chance to talk with you alone." Setting down his own fork, Heero listened intently as he watched the exchange between the two of them.
"Well I wish that you would have shared something that important with me right away," Kumi said softly, her glare fading as she watched him with small tears filling her piercing blue eyes.
Frowning in realization, Quatre turned to his fiancée as he stated more than questioned, "You spied for her again."
Quickly turning to him with wide eyes, Sette gasped, "Who!? Me!? Quatre! How could you accuse me of such a thing!?" Seeing that there was no convincing him otherwise as he just watched her with an unshaken certainty. Unable to think of anything else to say, she said in a near pleading voice, "I'm only looking out for our future children." Sighing deeply, Quatre rolled his eyes as he shook his head.
Pushing her chair out, Kumi rose and stormed from the dining room and out the front door with Trowa quickly on her heels. Picking his plate up as though he were going to wash it when the door closed after Trowa, Heero began to slowly rise from his seat. He stopped at Sette's stern voice telling him, "Sit down, young man." Narrowing his eyes, he glared at her but obediently took his seat again, lowering the plate and crossing his arms.
Following Kumi outside and closing the door behind him, Trowa's narrowed eyes bore into her as he asked, "Would you rather I blurt everything out at the table, in front of everyone?"
Looking up at him, she wrapped her arms around her slender waist and frowned sadly, "Trowa, something like this should have been brought to my attention the moment that you knew about it. You know how important Heero is to me."
"Which was why I was going to talk with you after dinner, out of his earshot," he explained with a deep sigh.
Nodding, Kumi bit her lip as she looked away from him as she said quietly, "You were going to have to tell him eventually. I wanted to spare you from having to tell him, yourself. That's why I brought it out the way I did."
At that, Trowa's eyes widened in realization that she had spared him having to be the one to talk to Heero first. Sighing deeply, his shoulders sagged and his head lowered as he rained his hands to rub his eyes. Lowering his hands, he spoke in a tired tone, "I suppose part of me was hoping he would remain blissfully ignorant to the change and still think he had to wait a few more years... even if that is against my training."
Rubbing her arms, she lowered her own head, Kumi whispered, "I was trying to be ignorant to the fact that eventually, he would most likely go when it was his time... I just never thought it would be so soon."
Trowa reached out to her, gently touching her shoulder. When their eyes met, he said her softly, "You know if I could change this..."
Placing her hand over his, Kumi squeezed it as she replied with her voice cracking, "I know, Trowa." Gently, he pulled her into a tight embrace as her own arms wrapped around his neck. As she buried her face in his chest, he could feel his shirt dampening with her tears. Kissing the top of her head, he rubbed her back gently as a small sob shook her body.
"Kumi, listen to me," Trowa whispered in her ear, "I promise, if he joins, I'll have him posted in my unit. I won't let anything happen to him."
As she pulled back enough to dry the tears that rolled down her cheeks, she nodded up at him, "Thank you, love. I know you'll look after him." Giving her a soft, loving smile, he gently wiped away the beginning of tears in her eyes. Kissing the hand, Kumi smiled up to him as she breathed, "You're both my world. You know that."
His smile grew as he told her quietly, "I know, and I swear I'll do everything in my power to protect you both." Leaning in as his eyes closed, he pressed his lips against hers. Wrapping her arms around his neck again, Kumi sighed in content as she returned the kiss as it deepened.
When they finally parted for air, they panted gently and just looked into their lover's eyes for a moment with loving smiles. Looking back to the house, Kumi suggested, "I suppose we better get back inside."
"Yes," Trowa nodded and chuckled, "I doubt that Sette will be able to keep Heero from rushing out of there much longer." Giggling at that, his mate led them back into the house.
When they entered the dining room, they found Sette sitting in her same seat across from Heero at the table as the two of them were still in the heat of their glaring contest. Clearing her throat, Kumi interrupted their skirmish as she called gently, "Heero?"
Glancing over at his sister and Trowa, silently relieved that the two of them seemed to have patched things up between them. Taking a deep breath, he asked, "I take it the age to enlist in the army has changed, right?" Frowning deeply in concern, Kumi nodded as she bit her bottom lip again.
Resting his hand on Sette's shoulder, Quatre's own saddened eyes fell on her as he said, "We should be going." Looking up to his friends, he smiled reassuringly, "Thank you for dinner, Kumi."
Nodding as they rose from their seats, Sette added, "Yea, thanks, you guys. We'll see you tomorrow."
"Thank you both for coming," Kumi said sincerely with a small smile. When the door closed and they were alone, she sighed softly and sat beside her brother.
Without looked over at her, Heero asked, "You're not going to let me go, are you?" He did look over to her when she took one of his hands in hers, squeezing it. The mix of emotions in her eyes was almost for him to witness. Knowing that she needed his strength now, he squeezed her hand back and watched her silently.
Taking a deep breath, she put on a brave smile as she replied, "You're old enough to make your own decisions. I can't look out for you all your life. Whatever you choose, I'll support your decision." Standing by the door, Trowa watched her with a small, sad frown of his face but refrained from joining in. Despite the pain that he felt for his lover, he couldn't recall a time when he was more proud of her.
He blinked in surprise at that, having not expected to hear those words. In so many words, she showed and announced his coming into adulthood. After waiting for this for so long, it was as relieving as it was surprisingly frightening. Nodding slowly with a solemn expression on his face, he spoke quietly, "Thanks, sis."
A smile of pride for him lit Kumi's face as she nodded before releasing his hand and rising from her seat. After taking up the dishes from the table, she turned from her mate back to Heero and told him, "I'll leave you two be so Trowa can tell you what is going on." At that, the tall Commander nodded to the two of them.
When Kumi left the room, Trowa took the seat next to Heero as the young stable boy watched him intently. Taking in a slow, deep breath, he met his eyes and began, "As you're aware now, Wufei came to me with some very disturbing news..."
* * * * * *
Late that evening, Heero laid in his bed silently, staring up at the ceiling with his hands folded over his chest. His bedroom door was cracked carefully as he listened closely to every stir in the house. After having waited patiently since entering his room, he could hear his sister and Trowa sleeping peacefully in his sister's room.
Waiting just a bit longer, he held his breath and climbed from his bed. Gathering the bow and quiver of arrows waiting against the wall as silently as he could, he climbed out his window and raced off into the forest near the house.
Following the same path he had walked since he was ten years of age, Heero took a slower pace when there was no longer sight of his home. A deep frown on his face, he calmed his steps to a lazy walk through the tall trees and thick grass. Kicking a few loose rocks on the nearly hidden path as he wandered, he allowed himself to ponder the change of events that would affect not only his life and the lives of those he cared for, but the entire kingdom. In a matter of hours, the world he had known would be tossed into uncertainty and turmoil with no sign of how to sort through it all.
When he finally did break from his confused thoughts, Heero took a moment to pause and gazed at his surroundings. By the light of the full moon overhead and his memory, he noted that he was almost an hour's walk into the wood. He was so lost in his thoughts that he lost track of the time he spent wandering about.
As he moved to make his way back towards the house, he heard something move in the bushes just ahead of him, and well off the dirt path. Turning rigid at the rustling of leaves, Heero quickly removed his bow from his shoulder and readied an arrow as he watched the wide stretch of shrubs in the moonlight.
There was another movement and he narrowed in on the source. As he suspected, it was not the wind that caused the leaves to move. Hunching down to hide behind the tall bushes, he stalked past the path and quietly towards the brush as another stir was made.
Nearing the cover of leaves, Heero picked up on what sounded like a deep moan and metal scraping together. Crouching down even further as he moved closer, he knocked his arrow and began pushing some of the leaves and branches away to see into the beyond the bush. His cobalt eyes widened with a suppressed gasp as he took in the sight.
Sitting on the ground a few feet ahead of him was a boy who looked to be his age. A long braid of brown hair, by what he could tell under the moonlight, ran down his back and his clothes were tattered badly. Grunting in pain, the stranger was hunched over trying to free his right leg as it laid motionless, pinned between the jaws of a snap jaw trap set for a bear. At the sight of the wound and the blood running from it as the boy worked desperately to free himself, Heero's eyes widened further and he began to step forward.
Forgetting to stay quiet, he stepped on a branch and cursed softly as it snapped loudly under his foot. With a sharp gasp, the wounded stranger's head snapped up and Heero stared into wide, frightened, violet eyes.
Blinking at the intensity of such a rare shade, he was broken from his wonder only as the braided boy whimpered and began crawling back away from him, despite the agony that was clear on his face when he moved. Without tearing their eyes away from each other, Heero slowly lowered his bow and arrow, settling them down to the ground with the same caution as approaching a frightened animal.
As Heero took another slow step towards him, the trapped boy whimpered in pain and not fear this time as he attempted to move away again. Quietly, but firmly, Heero told him, "Stop moving, you're only making it worse." Biting his bottom lip, the other youth frowned nervously, all the while still looking into the cobalt eyes watching his own.
Lowering himself to his knees, Heero kept their eyes locked as he carefully moved closer still. When he was able to reach the trap, he moved his hands forward as he said, "I can help you get it off, but you need to stay still, all right?"
The braided boy swallowed hard as he hesitated to answer. Finally, he replied quietly with a small nod, "All right."
With a nod in return, Heero took the trap into his hands, careful not to cause any more pain to the wounded leg. Holding the trap jaws tightly, he slowly pulled them apart enough to reach the latch. Pushing the latch roughly, the trap fell open completely, falling to the ground with a loud clatter. Releasing his held breath in a deep sigh, the stranger went nearly limp with relief.
Moving in closer after moving the trap away, Heero began to examine the wounded leg, wincing at the sight of how deep the cut actually was. How the bone wasn't snapped in half was a miracle. The wounded boy began to sit up, hissing in pain with a pinched face at the slightest movement from his leg. "We really need to wrap this... it doesn't look safe to stand on," Heero commented as he tried to apply pressure to stop the bleeding.
Taking up the small pack that laid beside him, the braided teenager removed some bandages and cloth for wrapping. Working together, they managed to cover the wound securely and stopped the bleeding. Looking up at his savior, the smaller boy smiled nervously, "Thank you."
"How in the world did you manage to get stuck in that trap?" Heero asked.
Shaking his head, he answered, "To be completely honest, I don't know. I was stumbling around, trying to get a sense of where I was and the next thing I knew, I stepped in that thing." Looking to the remains of the offensive, blood-covered trap, his violet eyes narrowed fiercely.
Unable to help smirking at the sight, Heero nodded, "Next time, you might want to stay on the paths. A lot of people get hurt in these woods."
The other boy rolled his violet eyes and snorted, "Gee, I couldn't imagine why." Struggling to rise, he managed to hobble and balance himself his good left leg.
Rising to his own feet, the Asian stable boy frowned, "Where are you headed? It's not safe to travel out here at night injured."
Looking around aimlessly, the injured stranger's frown deepened as he replied, "Right now, I'm not heading in any specific direction. If you could point me the right way out of these woods, that'd be more than enough."
Not liking the sound of that, Heero shook his head, "That might not be a good idea with your leg in that shape. I don't live far from here. You could stay for the night."
His violet eyes widened in disbelief as he stuttered, "Y-you really don't mind? You really don't have to. I can manage."
Crossing his arms, Heero asked, "You have somewhere else to go in the meantime? Your pack isn't big enough to have camping supplies, and it gets colder as the night goes on."
Shuddering visibly at the thought of that, the braided teenaged smiled and chuckled nervously, "You got me there. Looks like I'll be joining you, then." Hoping towards him, he extended his right hand and grinned brightly, "Name's Duo."
Taking the offered hand, he shook it firmly and nodded, "Heero."
Duo's smile widened the littlest bit as he repeated quietly, committing it to memory, "Heero." Picking up a large stick that laid beside him, he placed the end under his right arm to serve as a crutch as he worked to balance himself. "I really appreciate all of your help," he said sincerely.
Glancing back at him as he picked up his bow, Heero slipped it back over his shoulder to fall beside his quiver as he inquired, "Can you walk all right like that?"
"It has been a while since I needed a crutch," the other boy admitted, "but I should be okay." With another attempted step, he stumbled slightly, but recovered quickly. Through his unruly bangs, the Asian youth's eyes turned skeptical as he frowned, only to be met with a sheepish grin when their gazes met.
Waking up towards him, Heero shook his head and offered, "Here... lean on me, it'll be easier." Duo watched him with uncertain eyes, not moving as he regarded the other boy carefully. "A stick can't catch you if you lose balance," he commented. Hesitating only a moment more, the braided boy nodded and lowered the stick lo lean against him.
Placing an arm around his slender waist, the stable boy helped him stand, then led him through the bushes back onto the path. They kept a slow, easy pace for Duo to keep his balance as he held onto his aid's shoulder. There were a few times, as they walked in silence, Heero could feel the eyes of the boy beside him watching him.
Finally, he heard him ask with a nervous smile, "So... are you in the business of helping complete strangers that you stumble across?"
Smirking slightly, Heero answered, "Assuming they don't attack me first, yes." One thing about Duo that was confusing him was the fact that he regarded him so skeptically. With the condition that he was in, it seemed strange that he would so analytical to trusting someone willing to help him. Anyone else would have been relieved and all too ready to accept such an offer.
Chuckling deeply, Duo shook his head, "I didn't realize that there were any genuinely nice people out there anymore." Well if anything, that quickly explained why he was so skeptical. Perhaps where he came from, he must not have had many pleasant run-ins.
With a small shrug, the Asian boy said, "Sometimes it's just a matter of looking in the right place, I guess."
The braided boy nodded, "I guess." As they neared the clearing from the trees, he suppressed a yawn. Regarding that from the corner of his eye, Heero carefully quickened their pace so he could rest soon.
As they stepped out of the woods, Duo's eyes widened as he took in the sight before them. Standing atop the tall, grass-covered hill, they gazed down over the beautiful city below. Even under the light of the moon and stars, the town was breathtaking in its majesty. After standing there for a moment without a word between them, Heero heard Duo whisper breathlessly, "Wow."
"This is the Shay Kingdom," he told his injured guest. "And that's the main city. I live here on this hill just over there," he explained as he pointed to the right.
Duo's gaze followed the direction that he pointed and spotted the small cottage just a short walk away. Regarding the house, he smiled, "Nice place. It looks cozy."
Nodding, Heero started down the path that curved a bit towards his home. Stepping carefully, he advised the other, "Watch your step. It's not as smooth here." Moving just as tenderly, Duo nodded and stepped more surely with his good foot.
Walking into the house, Heero closed the door behind them. Able to see through the darkness, Duo took in his surroundings and peered around the living room, finding it just as welcoming at the outside. "They're sleeping," the dark-haired boy whispered. "Best not to wake them."
"They?" Duo asked as he turned to face him. "Your parents?"
Heero shook his head, "No. My sister and her mate." Forgetting the courting rituals of humans, Duo blushed at the familiar word 'mate'.
Whispering back, he replied simply, "Oh. Okay."
Taking him back to the small guest room besides his own, Heero lit a candle waiting on the dresser before helping Duo over to the bed and sitting him down before stepping out. Grabbing a washcloth and a bowl filled with water from the cooking area, he returned to the guest room quickly. The braided teenaged watched him nervously as he said gently, "We should clean that out so that it doesn't get infected."
Nodding, Duo leaned forward to remove the bloody rags over his wound, wincing and hissing in pain as they came off. Bringing the candleholder with him, Heero knelt before him and gently began cleaning the deep gashes.
Biting his lip tightly, Duo closed his eyes and suppressed any whimper or moan, making sure to stay silent as the other boy worked. Finally, he felt fresh bandages being wrapped around his leg and he sighed deeply in relief.
When the stable hand rose to his feet again, Duo smiled up at him sincerely, "Thank you again, Heero." Lowering his head as he pulled his legs onto the bed to lie down, he said, "I'll make sure to head out first thing in the morning."
Frowning a bit, Heero replied, "You don't have to be in a hurry. You can at least stay for something to eat. It'd be pointless for me to invite you in and them kick you right out."
Duo smiled and shook his head, "That's all right, I've already been too much of a problem to you." Seeing the frown remain on the other boy's face as he watched him, he relented with a small grin, "All right. I promise I'll stay only as long as I need."
Satisfied with that, Heero nodded and rubbed his eyes a bit. Removing his bow and quiver, he leaned them against the wall. Taking a seat in the corner across from the bed, he leaned against the wall besides his weapons as he made himself comfortable.
Raising an eyebrow at him, Duo smirked, "You don't have to sleep like that, you know. You should go to your own bed."
"Men in the guard don't always sleep in beds so I'll have to get used to this," he replied. "Besides, I find this more comfortable."
Tilting his head to the side, the braided boy commented, "You're awful young to be a soldier, aren't you?"
Without raising his head as he stared at the floor, Heero answered quietly, "Not anymore."
Frowning deeply at that, Duo nodded slowly, "I see." Lowering himself fully on the bed, he covered himself with the blanket as he said softly, "Well... good night, then."
His cobalt eyes closing as physical and mental exhaustion finally took their hold, Heero yawned faintly, "Night." Subsuming to his fatigue, he fell into a peaceful slumber after a very long day.
Watching the human across from him to make sure that he was asleep, the fey sighed deeply and looked up to the ceiling. "Nice going, Duo," he frowned to himself. "Now how am I going to get out of this?"
TBC...
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