Runaway Part 11
Once Duo had finished resting, and had been given a good meal, he followed Wufei and Heero to a small conference chamber. The only people who were to be present were Milliardo, Relena, Sally, Duo, Heero and Wufei. Milliardo because he was the high priest, Relena because she was the Oracle, Sally because she was the commander of the mercenaries, Duo because he was the one who was giving information, Heero and Wufei because they wanted to provide Duo with morale support. Duo was gripping the end of his braid as it was and struggling to keep his lunch down.
Wufei paused and turned to Duo to pull the youth into a warm embrace. "It's all right, koi. No one in that room will hurt you or judge you for what you say. You know Heero and I will be there to support you. Take as much time as you need. We understand, as will Milliardo and Relena."
Duo sighed and relaxed a little. "I don't suppose one of you can hold me while I talk."
Heero took Duo from Wufei and hugged him tightly. "If it helps, you can sit on my lap and rest your head on my shoulder like you did yesterday."
Duo gave Heero a shy smile. "And Wufei can massage my feet?"
Wufei laughed. "If you think it will help. We won't leave you, and we will be with you tonight if you get nightmares from your memories."
Duo leered at Wufei. "Just exhaust me! My sleep is always dreamless after a good workout!"
Heero laughed. "If we feel that's what you need... that's what you'll get." He gave Duo a deep kiss before releasing him, only keeping an arm wrapped around Duo's waist.
Duo felt infinitely better as he was led into the room. He blinked as Relena offered him a goblet. "What is this?"
Relena smiled. "It's a potion to detach emotions right now. I thought it might help you tell your tale." She glanced at Heero and Wufei. "They'll hit him later when you three are alone. There will be a meal waiting for you, as well as a warm bath... so take him directly to your chambers when we are done here. His family members already know that they won't be seeing him today."
Heero and Wufei nodded. Considering how nervous Duo felt, they knew the potion was the best thing for him or they would be there all day.
Duo took the goblet and drank the contents down quickly. "How long until it starts working?"
Relena took the empty goblet. "Only a few minutes. All emotion will be detached. Just tell me when you don't feel anything."
Duo nodded and sat on Heero's lap when he was lightly pulled. He rested his head on Heero's shoulder and waited.
After a few minutes, Duo sat up a little with a blank look on his face. Relena nodded. "Duo?"
"Huh?" Duo looked around. Everything was blank for him. The warmth he felts towards Heero and Wufei... it was all gone. A part of him knew that later, he'd be in tears because he knew he wouldn't like being emotionless. At the moment, though, he just couldn't care. Right now. He had a job to do. "Where do you want me to begin?"
Relena braced herself. "Start from your earliest memories."
Duo nodded. "My first memory was of a kid whose designation was Thief 8743-02. He called himself Solo because he wouldn't let anyone near him... until I showed up."
Heero blinked. "SOLO? As in..."
Duo nodded. "That's why we became best friends in the troupe. I had remembered him. It turned out he was a plant by Treize. THAT hurt me more than anything."
Wufei frowned. "Is THAT why you were upset? I though he had tried to..."
Duo shook his head. "Solo knows what us kids go through. He would never have done that to me."
Wufei shook his head. "But..."
Duo shook his head. "I was willing until he told me why he had been in the troupe. He had fed Treize information as to my whereabouts. It was basically his fault that I was nearly raped. He had thought Treize just wanted me back... but I wasn't sure whether I could believe him anymore."
Milliardo interrupted. "Perhaps we can skip all these details and go straight to the point. Why DOES Treize want you dead?"
Duo turned to Milliardo and nodded. "I know what he does with the children." He allowed himself to be pulled into Heero's arms. "You would think, in a land that believes children born of criminals become criminals, that criminals of different genders would be forbidden to interact with each other. Not only is it not forbidden, it's encouraged."
Relena gasped. "But WHY?"
"Because the children provide cheap slave labor."
"SLAVE LABOR!?!?!?!?" The chorus of voices were shocked and a bit disgusted.
Duo nodded. "People pay less for children of criminals because they feel they don't have to treat us as well. Some are used for manual labor. The more attractive ones become sex slaves... trained by the guards from an early age to take whatever our masters dish out. There has never been a slave sold that was still a virgin."
Wufei was aghast. "What about you? I could tell you were still a virgin!"
"They couldn't get near me."
Relena frowned. "That still doesn't explain why Treize wants you dead!"
Duo turned to her. "I was to be his, and I refused him. Actually... I hit him where it hurts the most with a hot poker. It rendered him impotent, from what I heard. From that point on, anything that had to be done that would be painful, I would be called to do it. They didn't want me to escape... because that would mean that their dirty little secret would get out."
Heero held Duo close. He had to know. "How far did he get?"
Duo tilted his head. "Let's just say that if his grip hadn't slipped at just that second, I would not have been a virgin when you met me."
Wufei and Heero met each other's eyes. Both made a silent vow that Treize would die by their hands. The act would have killed their sweet lover in one way or another.
Sally gasped. "How could he? You were only what... 5 or 6 years old, weren't you?" Not much upset her, but the fact that a grown man had been about to molest a child of that age was enough to make her want to strangle Treize.
Duo snorted. "Think HE cared? I was pretty. That's all that mattered to him."
Milliardo swallowed to keep the bile from coming up his throat. "How often are the children sold off?"
Duo shook his head. "Every child is either sold, given away, or killed on their tenth birthday. Whatever children don't get masters then are given to the guards until midnight. The night before Father Maxwell helped me escape, the guards raped a girl to death."
Sally was pale at the moment and Relena looked as if she were about to be ill.
Milliardo took a deep, steadying breath. "I think that's enough information. Commander Po... do you agree to protect this boy and take action against Treize for his crimes against the innocent?"
Sally nodded, not taking her eyes off the boy. He was well liked, and always cheerful. He was also very helpful and willing to lend a hand whenever one was needed.
Milliardo turned his gaze to his sister. "Relena... does the Goddess give her blessing to the actions that Commander Po will take to ensure no others suffer as this young one, and others before him, have suffered?"
Relena nodded once in that sage way of hers.
Milliardo smiled at Heero and Wufei. "Treize will be dealt with, and he will be brought here. I saw the look the two of you had. Duo is your lover, and a part of you. A crime done to him, regardless of how far in the past, is a crime done to you. You will be allowed to deal the finishing blow."
Relena nodded again. "You are doubly entitled to the final blow as you were hired to kill him. Disposing of Treize will release you from your guilt." She rose smoothly. "Take him to your chambers. As soon as the three of you are alone, the potion will wear off."
Sally followed Relena's lead and stood. "I will have a guard posted so that you will not be disturbed."
Heero lifted Duo into his arms and held him close as he headed for their chambers. He doubted Duo would be in the mood for anything besides a cuddle. All that mattered to him was that Duo would be upset and would need both him and Wufei as support.
Wufei walked beside Heero. One of his hands was caressing Duo's hair and upper arm. Touches meant to soothe and project the knowledge that they were there. He smiled grimly as he recognized the guard that stood in front of his room. It was the leader of the Maguanac, Rashid. He nodded to the tall man and stopped as Heero went inside. "We will fill you in on the basics later. Do not open this door."
Rashid nodded. "I vow that none shall disturb you, not even myself."
Wufei stepped inside the room and closed the door. He took a deep breath... praying to his ancestors that they would help him... and put the latch in place.
Heero sat down and held Duo close as he heard the sound of the latch falling into place. "All right, Duo... you're safe."
Duo was blank for all of two seconds before he turned green. He was barely aware of being bent over before he lost his breakfast. He let out an anguished scream as soon as his stomach was empty and clutched at the warmth that presented itself as he sobbed.
Wufei rubbed soothing circles on Duo's back, feeling his heart break at each of the sweet youth's sobs. "It's all right now, koi. You're safe now. We won't let anything harm you."
Heero cradled Duo as he trembled almost violently. "It's over now. I have you, koi. You never have to go through that again. You'll never have to see Treize again. Shhhhh." Heero picked Duo up and carried him to the bed. He gently started to massage Duo's shoulders while Wufei started on Duo's feet. "We're here, Duo. We haven't left you. You're safe with us."
Wufei was worried as he massaged Duo's muscles. As soon as he got one group relaxed, they'd tense up again. Still, he kept at it and kept his voice soothing as he worked.
After what seemed like an eternity to the two mercenaries, Duo started to relax. And he finally spoke, which was music to their ears. "'Fei? Hee-chan?"
Wufei let out a sigh and pulled Duo into his arms. "It's us, beloved. We haven't left you." He stroked Duo's sweat-soaked bangs away from his face... which still held a slight pallor. "I think you should take a soothing bath to rinse the sweat off of yourself, eat something light, and go to sleep sandwiched between Heero and myself."
Duo sniffled and hugged Wufei back. "That sounds like a prescription I wouldn't mind taking."
Heero smiled as he gently removed Duo's soiled garments and carried him into the bathing area.
Wufei gathered the bedclothes and garments together and unlocked the door, smiling as he met with a concerned Rashid. "Take these to the laundry, please. We have a spare set of bedclothes and I can manage. He'll be fine after a good long rest. Relena has an herbal tea here that will assist in letting him sleep." Wufei watched Rashid leave then set about making the bed up with the spare sheets. When Heero re-entered the room carrying Duo, Wufei offered the mug of warm liquid. "It will settle your stomach and promote dreamless sleep. You can eat something after you drink this."
Duo was familiar with the tea. He'd needed it when he had first arrived. He drank it down gratefully and let Wufei feed him a few crackers moistened with a fruit preserve. After he was done, he felt his eyelids grow heavy. He was asleep before Wufei and Heero could get him in his usual sleeping position.
TBC...
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