Elements of Great Design Part 6
As fate would have it, Heero was correct in his theory that no in Onrac would pay a great deal of mind to the hooded figure navigating through the loud and busy streets of the central marketplace with him. Every step that they took side-by-side, the Fighter felt his braided counterpart relaxing and growing more confident in being surrounded by people that would likely try to eliminate him.
The citizens of the elite certainly liked to flaunt their wealth, dressing in fine fabrics and gems. Scarves of transparent silk covered the tops of their heads, noses and mouths. Even the merchants were adorned with regal clothes that any peasant in Romefeller would never have been able to afford. Elephants were used for transportation as commonly as horses throughout the city and throughout the massive square, voices were raised in calling the amounts of the trades and items that the sellers hoped to trade off for coin.
Whistling through his teeth, Duo leaned his head close to his partner's and muttered, "Are you sure we're going to be able to get out of here with any supplies? Some of the prices I've heard being haggled over the goods here are worth more than some people's homes in Doma."
He held tight to Wing's reins as the beast walked close behind as if sensing the kind teenager's anxiety. The offering of those leather straps had been made by Yuy to help the mage feel better in knowing that their way of escape was close at hand.
"I hate to think of what a night's stay at an inn is going to run," Maxwell winced. His violet eyes grew behind the shield of his hood at the sight of two men- or women for that matter since their heads and faces were covered by colorful scarves- look up from their discussion to outright stare at him out of the crowd of market visitors around.
Also spotting the attention that had been drawn to his friend, Heero shifted all the nearer to him until their arms and shoulders were brushing. The moment their appendages touched, an odd sensation came on for the soldier.
It all felt oddly... intimate. Unlike the time when he woke to having Duo's hand on his head which ended too abruptly for him to really feel the touch of his skin or the light wrap of the mage's arms around him when they rode together out of necessity, this touch was one the Fighter initiated voluntarily.
Stiffening at the contact for a moment, the braided youth smiled and leaned against his travel mate's side. The gesture was caught by their curious onlookers and they turned away to resume their conversation over the purchases they had made. "I have to hand it to you," the son of Shinigami smirked to the cobalt eyes that faced him, "you made a brilliant call in attempting this visit."
"Thanks," Heero grinned back sincerely. "And don't worry about the cost here. I have plenty on me to get us whatever we need here." To the raised eyebrow that spurred him on, he shrugged, "I am friends with Queen Relena of Romefeller. She made sure that I did not need to worry about expense in my journey."
A flash of... something that the Fighter could not read ran over Duo's face before he smiled, "Ah. Well, good to know that we are operating on a Sovereign's tab. It might not be a bad idea to purchase some weapons while we're here as well, since they can provide the best of the best. They make their blades and other means of defense with the best of the best materials."
Nodding firmly, Yuy replied, "That was my thought as well." His cobalt eyes resuming their scan of the carts and treys of wears, he commented, "Get an idea of what you want now so that we can get in and out quickly when we return first thing in the morning before this place crowds over again. The less foot traffic we have to get around the better chance we'll have of leaving unnoticed and followed on our way back out of Onrac."
"Works for me," the Black Mage responded, violet eyes raking over the items that interested him best. Regardless of how much more comfortable he felt at the moment, he was not about to lose his desire to be back on the road and away from the hoards of people crowding them.
Little did either of them know that despite their best efforts, they had caught the focus of one individual. And he was not about to be deterred by the fact that one of them happened to be a Fighter.
* * * * * *
Dorothy's closed eyelids shifted her in concentration.
Blocking out the sound of the birds, the leaves rustling, the running water of the brook beside her and the voices of the Romefeller refugees talking off in the distant camp that they had set up easy enough for the Oracle. It was actually seeing clearly what her gift was revealing to her that proved to be a challenge. Pushing her ability as far she could, she tried to direct her vision to answer the concern building in her.
Then, with a sharp gasp, her clear blue eyes snapped open.
Pale in her face, the gifted covered her gaping mouth with a hand as she breathed, "Dear Creator. King Zechs... Queen Noin... get out of Babil now."
* * * * * *
"That's the last of them that decided to press on," a blue-and-gold armored Fighter announced to his Sovereigns with a smart salute when he came to a stop before them. Frowning, he gestured back to the city that they were about to leave and said, "The others are of the same belief as the Noventas that they will be safe here because of the treaty." By the way his words were bit out, it was more than evident that he thought those individuals as fools for taking such a chance after the close call they had all endured in Coneria.
Bowing his head in appreciation, King Zechs replied, "Thank you, Trent. Please have the rest of your fellow soldiers make sure that those from Babil who have chosen to come with us are treated with the same respect as our own." After the painfully eye-opening revelations to how fickle such decencies were in Gaia, he was not about to follow in the footsteps of the Noventas.
The handsome young man bent at the waist as he vowed, "It will be done, Sire." Hurrying off, his armor clanged softly in his steps to follow after the remaining members of the exodus. Mass groups of men, women and children that were staying behind had indifference in their expressions as they watched their neighbors and guests file through the opened gates of the main wall protecting their homeland with whatever necessities they could carry on their backs.
Some waved. Most shook their heads in disbelief that anyone would willingly step out into the Unknown when there was nothing to worry about in their minds. Standing on one of the high balconies of the nearby castle, the Babil Sovereigns looked on with a coldness in their gazes... the coldness of stubborn pride and the void of remorse.
Noin turned away from those faces that would surely fall at the hands of Mariemaia's army. Feeling her husband drape an arm around her shoulders, she leaned heavily against his side. "Come along, love," Merquise urged softly. The Queen swallowed roughly and allowed him to push them forward to bring up the end of their caravan.
"Wait!" a girl's voice cried. Spinning, the royal couple blinked in surprise at the slight form rushing for them.
The emerald-hued cape and raised hood that she wore covered her face and her clothes beneath as she struggled to keep the straps of her pack on her shoulders in her run. "Please wait! I wish to come with you!" At those words, she may as well have charged herself as dead to the crowd watching when they began to turn and disburse to return to their lives.
Coming to a stop before the Coneria King and Queen, the young woman lowered her head and caught her breath. "You are more than welcome to join us," Noin smiled while Zechs took up the girl's pack for her. Frowning sadly, she asked, "Is there no one from your family that will be traveling with you, dear?"
Her small frame trembling, their new recruit shook her hooded head. "No," she answered with tears in her voice. "There is no one I could reason with, but I wish to live.... if you will still have me."
Merquise rested a hand on her shoulder to squeeze it. "No one would ever reject you," he reassured. "You are a very brave child for making this decision on your own. Lucrezia and I will personally see that you are looked after over the course of our journey." Sniffling the girl reached up to wipe at her face as tears dripped from her chin. Unable to trust her voice, she bowed her head in appreciation.
Biting her lip, the Queen wrapped an arm around the youth's shoulders and led her through the doors with Zechs right behind. No sooner had they set foot outside did they hear the shouts of the soldiers at the walls to close the entrance once more. Gears and levers squealed and heavy wood creaked in its locking back in place with a loud thud.
The girl paused to peer over her shoulder at the blockaded kingdom. "This is already the furthest that I have ever been from Babil," she said quietly, the fear in her timbre. "Do you suppose that it will remain standing by the time these terrifying days are behind us?"
"We both certainly hope so," Zechs sighed as he also looked back on his friends' land. "But for now, we must take our survival into our own hands as opposed to relying on the word of others." There was a shallow nod of agreement from the young charge and together, they all walked on to catch up with the rest of their band.
* * * * * *
Propping his braided head back on his folded arms, Duo sighed as he sank into the cushy mattress and blanket beneath him. As he stared up at the ceiling of the room that he and Heero would be sharing until the morning, his hooded cape lay in a heap on the floor beside his bed. Everything about the space was ordained with the most elaborate of materials from the gold-flecked paint that detailed the trim to the finely woven carpet of the most stunning colors.
Though it was the least expensive place at the inn, even the monetarily tightest of visitors could feel like they lived like Sovereigns.
"So, this Relena," he opened up in a sing-song at the thought of Kings and Queens, "you and her sweet on each other?"
Nearly choking on the sweetened water that he was drinking, Yuy coughed for breath before he stammered, "W-what?!" Brushing a hand down his dampened red tunic, he shifted uncomfortably in his chair at the round table at the center of the room to glare at the grinning Black Mage. "Not that it is any of your business, but no, we are not 'sweet on each other.'" His repeating of the words came out in a frustrated snap. "What would ever make you suggest that?"
His violet blinking in surprise, Maxwell turned to lie on his side so that he could face his companion and shrugged, "Gee, I don't know. There's the satchel filled with gold coins that could keep us fed and housed for weeks for one." Raising an eyebrow, he smirked, "Then you have a very pink handkerchief that keeps poking out of the pocket of your trousers that smells of perfume."
Releasing a deep growl, the Fighter peered down at his person to see that the flower-stitched hem of his Queen's gift was indeed peeking out in the open. With an indignant expression, he roughly shoved the offensive cloth away once more. "It was a gift from her," he admitted begrudgingly, meeting those haunting eyes that were watching him. "She would love for there to be something between us, but I assure you that we are nothing more than friends."
There was another mysterious spark of something that crossed the mage's face... almost akin to relief, but that did not exactly make sense to Heero so he ignored it.
"Ouch," Duo winced, "So she's in the 'friend' category. Not a good place for her to be since she's clearly smitten with you enough for it to be obvious." With another shrug, he smiled, "But you're right, that's none of my business." Flopping onto his back, he stared up at the ceiling again.
A thought crossing his mind, Yuy folded his arms on the table edge and leaned towards his handsome friend. "Fair is fair," he declared. "Since you know about my non-existent love life, what about you? Do you have anyone waiting for you back in Doma?"
Maxwell kept his gaze up, snorting, "I never actually stayed in Doma long enough to make any real connections there. I only stayed long enough to understand what I was capable of when I realized what I was and have been on the move since. You're the first person in years following the time I'd spent with my mentor that I have been around for more than a couple of days."
Frowning deeply, the Fighter commented, "Pretty risky, considering your birthright." He paused before adding, "I doubt that you earned those scars on your body from your training."
The Black Mage closed his eyes and snickered. "Observant," he muttered. Running a hand over the top of his black shirt, he said, "Then again, they do stand out."
Slowly lowering his arm, he craned his braided head to the side and took in his friend. "I never really was one for confirming to what others say I should and shouldn't be. I'm my own person and I will live as I choose regardless of the risks. And until the darkness came, I was perfectly content living off the land of Gaia alone."
Heero thought aloud, "As chatty as you are, I'm surprised that someone like yourself would prefer to be on your own." Tilting his head, he inquired, "What about your parents? You must have a some sort of fam-"
"You've been getting to know an awful lot about me," Duo cut him off, suddenly spinning to sit up on the edge of the bed. A smirk on his lips, he commented, "You haven't really shared much about yourself. Why not indulge me a little on your past?"
Briefly taken aback at the turn of the tide, Yuy's back straightened. Never one to talk much about himself before, he couldn't argue that it was only right to even up the focus a bit. "There's not a whole lot to talk about with me," he shrugged honestly. "My father was a personal guard to King and Queen of Peacecraft so I grew up along with Relena and Dorothy while being taught by the castle scholars. Not long after I physically turned twelve, my mother passed."
At that, Maxwell frowned sadly. "I'm sorry. I never meant to stir up a loss like that."
Waving a hand, the Heero reassured, "It's alright. Enough time has passed now that I've mended from that. Losing her only made me all the more determined to make my father proud by following in his footsteps. Throughout training, I pushed myself until I thought I had nothing more to give... then I pushed even harder. In the end, I managed become one of the youngest Fighters to ever serve Romefeller."
In hearing his own voice and the slight damper on the pride that should have been there, he gazed to the floor and chuckled softly, "I was pretty impressed with that before... but I'm quickly coming to realize how insignificant I am compared to someone like you who's really lived."
Duo blinked widely, a deep frown marring his face. "Hey," he urged gently, "don't say something that isn't true."
Quickly rising to his feet, he pulled out the chair next to his companion's and turned it so that they were facing each other when he sat down in it. "I happen to believe that every person and creature in this life is significant... especially you, 'Ro." Lifting his head, the soldier met the violet eyes on him with doubt in his own.
"I hardly think that the Creator would send just anyone on a mission like the one you're on in uniting the Keepers of the Elemental Stones to save the world," the mage grinned. "And I personally have a lot of respect you for beating any expectations that were set upon you to reach your goal of becoming a Fighter."
Taking a deep breath, he concluded firmly, "So, no more thinking of yourself as anything but unique and important. Okay?"
Much to Heero's wonder, he believed that those encouragements were heartfelt... and they did help him feel much better about his own position in life. Perhaps he hadn't seen the world on his own and maybe he did not have a thread of magic flowing in his veins, but there was a purpose for him that he had to achieve...
...and ironically that would come with the aid of a Black Mage, the likes of whom he never would have dreamt of meeting, let alone work alongside.
What also took Yuy aback was how much he appreciated hearing Maxwell say that he was important. Through all of their taunts and prodding, to have such a thing said of him held so much more meaning than if it came from Relena or his even father.
Clearing his throat, his lips curled in a small grin as he managed a quiet, "Thank you." He ignored the slight tingle in his cheeks to keep them from burning at the strange warmth that filled him in seeing his friend's attractive smile growing.
"No need for thanks," the child of Shinigami said with a wink and a slap to the soldier's arm. Climbing back to his feet, he raised his arms overhead for a wide stretch as he grunted, "We better try and get some shut-eye so that we can hit the market and get the Underworld out of-" Stopping himself short with a gasp, his eyes widened for a heartbeat before they narrowed in a fierce glare at the closed door.
It was a look that Heero had never seen on his travel mate before... and it sent a cold rush down his spine, bringing his hairs to stand on end. Automatically reaching for the small bag at his hip to reach the orb of his armor, he watched Duo's arm snap behind his back to retrieve his long staff. The Black Mage moved so quickly with the flick of his wrist that before the Fighter's body glowed in its change, the ring of his scythe's blade filled the air in its appearance.
Jumping to his feet while removing his long blade, Yuy only briefly glanced from the door to look on his alert partner to ask in a whispered, "What is it?"
Never breaking his focus from the only thing separating them and whatever was waiting on the other side, Maxwell growled lowly, "Someone who is conjuring up a lot of magic. It's prickling my skin." Upturning his free left hand, his eyes glowed a brilliant violet as a large black ball hovered over his palm. Raising his voice, he demanded with an echo to his voice, "We mean no harm in being here. What do you want?"
From the other side of the door, a higher voice called back, "I want you out of my homeland, Demon. We are alone on this floor at the moment, but know that I have no reserve in exposing you for what you are if you and your friend don't leave. Now."
A dark snarl tugging his lips, the mage chuckled deeply, "Big threat for someone who's trying to play here on his own. I could take you out without breaking a sweat, pal." Making the black ball in his hand disappear, he held his free hand out to the door and shot a gust of power forth that pushed the barrier out of the way.
Standing on the other side was a slight-framed teenage boy with short blonde hair covered by a transparent veil of a scarf that fell to the middle of his back. Dressed in loose white-and-silver clothes that were a stark contrast to what Maxwell wore, the young man's aquamarine eyes grew with terror when he took in the glow of the glaring eyes on him. A long and wide sword in one hand and a sphere of blinding light in the other, sweat rolled down the sides of his face as he trembled.
A White Mage. Yet another being that Yuy had only heard of, but he recognized what they were thanks to that white, swirling power.
"D-don't make this any more difficult than this has to be," the Onrac native requested weakly when it was clearly meant to come out as a much more stern demand. "I will not put any other lives at risk to your vile gift. "Just... leave us be..." Swallowing roughly, he added in a near whimper, "Please." The brilliance of the ball in his hand spread to outline his whole body in a protective shield.
Lowering his raised blade, Heero's cobalt eyes widened. "One bathed in light," he breathed.
Duo grunted in acknowledgment. Grinning, he raised his left hand once more to cast forth a rope of black smoke that curve around the shell that guarded the other mage like a hook. Curling his finger towards himself, the son of Shinigami had his power surge back towards him in a rush as though he had tugged on the line. A sharp cry broke from the blonde, only to be silenced as soon as it came on by the slam of the door behind him.
Bringing the stricken boy close enough that only the shield separated their noses, Maxwell reached up to touch the tip of his finger against the light between them. At his touch, the barrier dissipated as though it was nothing more than a mist. In that same flash, his hand shot forward to close around the opening mouth before the muffled shout from his prey could reach the open air.
As he looked on in a profound fright of his own, Heero gulped at seeing just how fierce a predator his same partner who had just been smiling and laughing could be.
Calling off the glow in his eyes, the braided gifted pressed the tip of his nose against his shaking prisoner's and asked in a threatening rumble, "Your gift can sense if what is being told to you is the truth, right?"
"The White Mage nodded vehemently, his enlarged eyes unblinking.
Visibly relaxing at that, the braided gifted smirked, "Good. Now before you call in the guards, we need to have a little chat."
* * * * * *
Rubbing the bottoms of his sore feet, Zechs sighed deeply in relief. Gazing around the valley where he and his charges had set up camp for the evening, he noted the equally tired expressions and hunched bodies huddled around the campfires.
'This is absolute madness,' the King's thought to himself. How much longer would they have to run? How much further *could* they run at the rate that they were currently moving? What if Sovereigns and people of every land they came to from here out treated them the same as those in Babil?
...What if the Noventas had been right in saying that there was nothing to fear in their city thanks to that treaty?
As fate would have it, he did not have long to wait for the answer to that question.
TBC...
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