So now we see how it is...This fist begets the spear
Weapons of war... Symptoms of madness
Don't let your eyes refuse to see... Don't let your ears refuse to hear
Or you ain't never going to shake this sense of sadness
I could hold you in my arms... I could hold on forever
-Lyrics to 'Hold You In My Arms Forever' performed by Ray LaMontagne
Elements of Great Design Part 33
Relena stepped out of her tent, arms rising over her head as she greeted the new, bright day with a wide yawn. For the first time in weeks, she actually managed to get a decent night's sleep. Maybe it was the fact that she knew her civilians were well in safe care as they continued to press south. Perhaps it was the feeling of accomplishment that she experienced through her self-assigned mission.
But most likely, her sense of peace came from being surrounded by the masses of Fighters that she helped align to join her forces. If there was any soul safe in Gaia, the Queen of Romefeller certainly had the right to feel so, thanks to the soldiers of the dozens of lands she had encountered and recruited.
Smiling to herself, Peacecraft scanned the camp that had grown to stretch out for over a mile by that morning. A sea of varying colored armors, the men were already set to the task of preparing their breakfasts around small campfires.
Those same, laughing and conversing troops that had been leery Strangers in the beginning had quickly found their common ground and became close friends with their distant neighbors. It was by their examples that the Queen had learned to let down her own defenses when it came to people that she did not know.
Along with those differences, there were physical changes that had completed Relena's transformation into early adulthood as well. Long gone were her royal robes and crown, replaced by simple and understated clothes that helped her blend in with her surrounding company. Surprisingly, she had taken quickly to the more comfortable attire and did not miss the literal nor the figurative weight of the crown on her head.
Her responsibility was well ingrained enough in her to not need the constant, visual reminder.
So very many things to have shift in a matter of weeks. And still there would be more over the next as the multiplying army pushed on towards the darkness that seemed to have stopped spreading for the time being.
With a heavy heart as she stared off to that blackened corner of the sky, Peacecraft frowned deeply in worry for her brother and sister-in-law. That they were in the thick of the danger engulfing the world had torn the girl apart while all that she could do for the time being was pray that he would remain safe until they reunited.
"Good morning, Relena," a friendly voice called.
Turning to meet her best friend and Oracle's face as the gifted young woman approached, the Sovereign smiled, "Good morning, Dorothy." She rubbed her arms through the long sleeves of her pale pink tunic against the early morning chill as she asked, "Any new visions to report? Have you seen anything more regarding Zechs or Noin?"
Catalonia's grin faltered and she shook her head, "Unfortunately I have not. They must still be too close to the darkness for me to see how they are faring." Quickly, she reassured, "But that all could be a very good sign that they are fine. No news does not always mean bad news."
Unable to argue that, Relena sighed, "Very true." Rolling her slumped shoulders back, she took a deep breath and suggested, "We best find some food to eat before it comes time to set out again."
A proud smile spreading across her face, Dorothy bowed deeply at the waist, responding politely, "Yes, my Queen." Together, the two life-long friends laughed and descended the short hill of their perch to rejoin the rest of the army.
The moment they set foot on the flat ground, the Queen and the Oracle found one of their guards hurrying towards them on horseback. Bringing his black steed to a halt, the Fighter quickly descended and fell to a knee with his fist over his heart and his head low. "Your Highness," he greeted, winded from his swift jaunt across the encampment.
Blinking in surprise, Peacecraft greeted, "Commander Odin Lowe-Yuy. Please, there is no need for such formalities between friends."
Heero's father lifted his head and rose to his feet, smirking, "I thought it only best to make an example to the other soldiers, my lady."
Gesturing over his bulk of a shoulder, he pointed out the dozens of watching gazes from their places around the campfires. Slowly turning his head back to meet the young woman's gaze, he stated, "Even though we may be of different lands, they need to know you are to be respected as their own Queen so long as they are a part of this unit so that there is always some form of order here."
"Yes, I can certainly see the importance of that," Relena admitted, a small frown on her face. There was still so much she needed to learn when it came to matters of armies and warfare. Thankfully, she had loyal and fierce officers like the Commander to help her along.
Before the other Fighters saw her worry, she righted herself and cleared her throat. Lifting her head high to the tall man before her, she nodded firmly, "I take it that you come bearing important news given your haste in reaching me. Let us hear it."
A warm and pleased smile curled Odin's lips as he reported, "Our scouts have returned with word of other forces, like ours, forming in the eastern as well as the western lands that we will not be able to reach in our journey to the north."
Folding his massive arms across his chest, he grinned, "Apparently, the message that you are sending through your lead in these realms has spread and inspired other Sovereigns to follow in suit. All of those linking divisions are traveling towards the darkness to join us and the rebels that have already taken the helm in the fight."
Her jaw falling open, the Queen's eyes grew wide in surprise before an elated smile lit her face. This was far more than she could have ever have hoped... to know that there was an even bigger difference she could make besides simply reaching the lands that she could come in direct contact with. ..
...and she had done it on her own.
Heero was going to be so proud of her.
* * * * * *
Cobalt eyes blinking open that same morning with a familiar weight on his right shoulder, Heero stared up at the ceiling of his tent... actually, the tent that he and his current company called theirs.
Smiling wistfully to himself as he took in Duo's peaceful face nestled against him, the Fighter gently ran a hand through the Back Mage's long bangs. At the touch, the braided youth mumbled in his sleep and tightened the loose hold of his arm around the soldier's torso. Chuckling softly to himself, Yuy pulled his partner closer and leaned in to hold a soft kiss against Maxwell's forehead.
That was when Howard's words of warning... that terrible vision that revealed the fall of one of the Alliance came crashing to the forefront of Heero's mind.
Since leaving the Epyon Ridge three days before, he had done all he could to banish the dark thoughts surrounding the nightmare of what was to come. Despite the Elder's urging that there might be more to what had been revealed, there was the terribly reality that the images he had seen truly were just as they appeared and one of the six would be lost forever.
Duo had vowed to make a bargain with his father, Shinigami, if he had to. And there was no doubt that he would do everything in his power to preserve the Alliance... but what if it was Maxwell to be taken away?
Shuddering at that, the Fighter bit his lip to contain the whimper that tried to burst from his lungs. Perhaps their long past together was all but forgotten, leaving them with only the few weeks that they had known each other in these lives, but it was all enough time for Heero to know that he would be shattered if the braided creature that had so easily and wholly captured his heart were the one to be taken.
With everything catching back up, Yuy decided to follow what his emotions were telling him. Completely abandoning his fears, he leaned in to press his lips against his partner's.
His violet eyes blinking open rapidly as sudden alertness filled them, Duo quickly placed himself when the familiar scent and feeling of the bearer of Life hit his senses. Sighing into the kiss, he closed his eyelids once again and returned the gesture just as it deepened.
Without breaking their contact, Heero moved himself while guiding the braided teenager down onto his back. Once he felt himself lower flush against the lithe body beneath him, his actions became bolder as well as more intense in how his hands roamed over every inch that he could touch so that he could revel in the sensations that shot through to the core of his being.
Groaning deeply, Maxwell panted between their continued kisses and was all too happy to take in the fine muscles beneath the thin tunic and sleep trousers that the Fighter wore.
When he felt the hem of his own black top being lifted until its collar slipped over his braided head, the dark gifted gasped and his eyes shot wide open. Unconsciously stretching his arms up so that the offensive article could be tossed aside, a flash of raw desire flashed in his mystic-hued irises.
In a rush, Duo surprised the boy that had him pinned to the ground by turning the tide and throwing him off balance. Hands moving frantically in his wanting, he all but ripped away the red tunic from the stunned young man under him. Regaining his senses, the panting and flushed officer sat upright and pulled the beauty close for another heated kiss as their exposed flesh all but ignited in their coming together.
Using every bit of willpower he could muster once he finally came to his senses enough to question what was happening, the Black Mage reluctantly pulled back gulping air with swollen lips. "H-Heero," he managed in a breath, locking onto the confused and heavy-lidded gaze of the other boy.
Only then did Duo realize that they were both beginning to dampen with sweat... and that there was a hand dipped beneath the waist of his pants in its halted attempt to remove the last of his clothing. Inwardly shivering at how very close they were to taking their relationship further, he rested their foreheads together. "If we go any further, I won't be able to stop. Are you sure-?" That inquiry was hushed by the intense kiss that answered before he could finish.
"I am more than sure," Yuy replied in kind, gasping for air when they resurfaced. Gently cupping the side of his partner's face, he rocked his hips so that the evidence of both their desire could rub together. Moaning along with the son of Shinigami, he looked up into those violet eyes that were clouding over with need as he urged, "Please... let me love you, Duo."
Not able to trust his voice, Death swallowed roughly to dampen his parched throat and nodded. At that, Life moved in and picked back up where they had left off in engulfing themselves in each other. Finding the end of the long braid that had pooled in his lap, Heero removed the tie at the end and worked in unweaving every stand until the silken tresses were freed and pooling around his soon-to-be lover.
After a moment of soaking in the absolutely exquisite picture that Maxwell made, hair-draped and blushing in the light of his hungry roaming eyes, the Fighter swooped in for another passionate kiss.
He took advantage of having his best friend taken off-guard to spin himself and carefully lower the Mage onto his back. Licking and nipping his way down the rising and falling chest below him, he made his way to the waistband of those dark pants that had been in the way for far too long and removed them.
With a strangled cry, Duo's eyes drifted closed as he arched into the warmth of the mouth that enveloped his hardened passion. Acting purely on instinct, the other teenager sucked and consumed him to the tune of pleasured moans and sighs that vibrated over the sensitive skin to send shockwaves in their wake.
"Dear Creator," the gifted panted, burying the fingers of a hand into the unruly head of hair that slowly bobbed up and down.
Slowly but surely preparing his counterpart, Heero eventually slipped a couple of fingers into the tight passage that he longed to enter with his own aching erection.
Only when he was convinced that he could progress without hurting Maxwell, until he heard the whimpered pleas from the Mage to have him inside, did the soldier position himself between the spread legs while dampening his member with a wet lick to his hand.
Hot and more than ready, Duo gasped sharply in feeling himself steadily being filled with his soul mate. Arching and rocking along to make the experience as comfortable as possible, he ignored the slight discomfort when it came on periodically. Then, he felt their hips meet when he had taken the whole of the long shaft.
Consumed at the overwhelming emotions charging through them, the two moved as one. Thrusts were met with pumps, steadily growing in both their depth and speed as the worldly entities brought their bodies closer to the brink. Kisses locked between sighs and groans. Fingertips ran over the very last bit of flesh that they could reach.
And after a blissful eternity that they had hoped would never end, the once assumed unlikely pair screamed out in their simultaneous orgasms. Collapsing in a spent, sweat-soaked heap onto the equally trembling form beneath him, Heero closed his cobalt eyes as his soul mate looped his arms around him.
Greedily pulling in air to fill their deprived lungs, the newly forged lovers contented themselves to cling onto one another while allowing what had transpired between them to take hold. Ignoring their messy states, the Fighter did all that he could to remain linked with the Black Mage and burrowed his head into a firm shoulder.
"Dear Creator, I do not ever want to let go of you," Yuy whispered, his voice muffled but the words clear. Simple as the sentiment was, it was enough to make everything that he held back in his heart understood perfectly.
Blinking his violet eyes open, Maxwell fought the shimmer in them as he breathed, "Heero." He squeezed onto the soldier as tightly as he could, murmuring, "I love you, too, Heero... more than you could ever know."
Much as he despised showing his vulnerability, the soldier lifted his head just enough to have his watery gaze fixate on his partner's. "Promise me you will never leave me" he all but pleaded outright. To the confused frown that crossed Duo's face, he took a deep breath and explained, "I know that you would never let anything happen to the rest of us, but you are in just as much danger of being the one who..."
Voice hitching where he could not continue, Heero shook his head, "Just... promise that you will fight every bit as hard to keep yourself safe. If something were to happen to you, I..." His lower lip quivering, he whispered brokenly, "I would not want to go on in this world if you are not always by my side."
"Heero," the Black Mage whimpered. Moved beyond the ability to express his gratitude and adoration for having that profound of a consideration for his well-being, he leaned in to show how he felt through the deep kiss that he initiated. Gripping onto him tightly, the Fighter poured all that there was within himself into the kiss as well.
When they separated at last, Maxwell smiled and vowed in a breath, "I promise." Lacing the fingers of their hands draped across his chest, he held them against his pounding heart and commented, "You do realize that pact needs to go both ways now. I am not about to walk away from this war without you. Who else in all of Gaia would I have to taunt with as much enjoyment as I have with you?"
Laughing, the last of Heero's tears subsided. Composing himself, he returned the warm grin as he promised every bit as earnestly, "I swear it." And so their agreement was sealed with one last, sound kiss.
* * * * * *
Leisurely reemerging from their tent, cleaned and freshly dressed from their morning love-making session, Heero and Duo found the Keepers along the bank of the wide stream where they had purposely set of camp. The location was chosen for one very specific purpose. And the reason for their stay was already in effect.
Standing on the beach close enough to the running water that his feet would occasionally be licked by a choppy wave breaking on the rocks, Quatre glared at Anna to his right and Trowa at his left while Wufei looked on from the dry grass with keen interest. The Fighter and Black Mage came to a halt beside the wolf to watch whatever was about to unfold.
A dark smirk curling her lip, the redheaded thief raised her right hand and set forth a burning stream of flame aimed right for the blonde. Right behind her, the Dragoon cast off a burst of air that intensified the fire and caused it to rise more than twice its already impressive size.
His eyes growing at the oncoming surge, Winner stretched a hand out to the water behind him. Casting off a glow, he pulled forth a great wave that he 'threw' over his head to befall the wall of roaring tongues.
Wincing in his effort, he continued to call forth more from the stream until every flame was extinguished. With a plume of vapor rising as the only tell-tale of the successful defensive ploy, there was little time to celebrate before Anna and Trowa 'disappeared,' the first into a ball of fire that darted forth and the second becoming as invisible as the air around them.
Quickly removing his twin curved blades, Quatre spun and swung in intercept every strike made against him. Sensing where his lover was attempting to sneak upon him, he growled and counter attacked while also fending their 'sister' off when she tried to make a bold move for him. Wide-eyed, Heero and Duo watched the dazzling display of their long-time friends' abilities as they used them against one another.
Weeks before, the Water Keeper was easily the least experienced in his powers and tactics of fighting in general. Now, after all of the tireless work and support from his 'family,' he was much more of an equal to them in every aspect. Already showing Trowa's patience, Anna's spirit and Wufei's courage, the White Mage looked as though he had been born to survive in combat.
The dizzying flail of the three elements continued for some time before the two mentors materialized once more. Covered in sweat and panting from their relentless efforts to best their pupil, they gave the blonde proud smiles. "I'd say you're more than ready for anything Mariemaia might throw at us now," the newly named Chang giggled as she caught her breath. Unable to quite find his own voice, Barton nodded fervently and straightened his slouched frame.
Brushing the back of a hand over his drenched brow, Quatre beamed tiredly, "Well, I have the both of you to thank for that." Walking beyond the reach of the stream that had once again become a calmly lapping stretch, he reached the thief first to give her an appreciative hug which she gladly reciprocated.
Gently kissing his temple as she held him back, she grinned, "Are you excited to be with your Elemental Stone soon?"
"I am," Winner smiled widely, pulling back to lean against his lover when Trowa reached his side. "Since I would only become stronger with its help, I cannot wait to see what else I might be able to do."
The three Keepers looked up to catch the rest of their team walking up. Sitting before the blonde, Chang gave him a firm nod from his furry head and a grunt that could only be taken as a word of approval.
Laughing, the Mage replied, "Thank you, Wufei. You've taught me a lot in a short amount of time that I will be able to use on the battlefield, as well." At that, the wolf seemed to smile as his long tail swished back and forth behind him. Chuckling to herself, Anna ran a hand through the thick hair at the back of her husband's neck.
Duo praised, "That was pretty damned amazing to watch." His grin fading, he shrugged, "But as much as I enjoy watching your abilities at work, I hope that you will not need to use them when it comes to collecting the stones. It would be a nice change to have something go easily for us."
* * * * * *
Blood-red eyes grew as they stared upward to the island that they were sailing for. Through the mist that shrouded the whole of the land, jutting rock rose in the form of steep ridges from where there appeared to only be water in the grayed daylight.
And at the top of the tallest peak, the bowed abstract image of a mortal arched around the top of an otherwise hidden cave. To an eye that did not know what it was beholding, the mosaic would have seemed little more than a paint-like substance that had been splashed onto the surface of the rock.
However, the ogre looking on was able to make out the head, extended hands and feet of the Elder that had given their life to becoming a display for the Keepers. And that chilling remainder of what had once been a mortal glowed a brilliant white through the haze.
The corner of its slimy mouth curling up in a sinister smirk, the monster rumbled to himself, "Oh, our Mistress will be most pleased with this news."
TBC...
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