Author: Tenshi-chan
Warnings: AU, Angst, Bishie-torture, Some Sap and some fluff.
Pairings: 1+2, 3x4, 5xHarem (hey... he has his duty to his clan)
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: Don't own them... wish I did.
Treasure From the Sea Part 1
Heero scowled as he walked down the street. His family had the WORST tastes at times. He hadn't minded it when Trowa had him help transport a tree to their home in order to save it from being chopped down. Quatre was rather sweet and not as mischievous as nature sprites were wont to be. It sometimes surprised Heero... considering how they met Quatre.
~FLASHBACK~
"Trowa... what's wrong?"
Trowa held up a hand. "Listen!"
Heero tilted his head and frowned. "I don't hear anything." Then it hit him. They were in a forest filled with magic. There were always hundreds of sounds blended together. The silence was eerie. "I don't HEAR anything!"
Trowa nodded. "Let's go... this forest is sacred, and hunting in it is punishable by death."
They ran towards the Father Tree... pausing to look, in horror, at the grove they had played in as children. All the trees had been hacked down and broken into pieces. The Hamadryads lay dead around them.
"Come on, little one! Your elder siblings didn't put up this much of a fight!" There was a snap as the owner of the voice broke a tree limb. A weak cry followed the sound. "Come on out. We'll make you feel real good before we destroy your tree."
Heero felt sick to his stomach. There was a group of bandits around a young sapling. Several branches were snapped and there were leaves all around the ground. The once proud father tree had been splintered into firewood.
Trowa growled. "GET AWAY FROM THAT TREE!!!!" With that, he charged forward... tackling the main instigator.
While Trowa battled the small group, Heero examined the tree. He winced in sympathy when he saw that they'd been cutting the bark with a knife. He saw an untouched area and gently patted it as if the tree were a small child. "I'm sorry. The forest was supposed to be safe!"
Trowa returned and gazed at the sapling. "How badly is it hurt?"
"Almost all of the branches have been broken, and there are knife marks all over it. I... we can't take care of it here, and it'll die if it's left all alone."
Trowa took a knife and started cutting strips from his shirt. "I'm sorry." With that, he gently started to bind the branches, one by one. He paused whenever he heard a weak whimper. When he was done, he stood up. "Heero... help me dig up its roots. We're taking it home so we can have Sally look at it."
Together, the two of them carried the injured tree towards the estate. When they entered the palace, one of the guards saw the injured tree and ran for Sally.
Sally took one look at the weakened tree and barked orders. "YOU! Go dig a hole near the lake so we can plant it! You! Go to the stables and get as much dung as you can so we can fertilize it. HURRY! You two follow me." Sally led Heero and Trowa into the estate grounds and nodded when she saw the sizable hole. "Ease it in... there you go." She nodded to the guard carrying a sack of manure. "Get it on the root system and we'll cover it with soil."
Trowa held the tree upright while the guards started gently packing the soil down. "Can you save it?"
Sally nodded. "This tree is very young. It'll mend. The poor hamadryad must be in a great deal of pain." She carefully removed the bindings, one by one and smeared a sort of paste over the breaks before re-binding the limbs. "The paste will speed the healing and promote reinforcement of the limbs." She spread more of the paste on every cut on the bark. "How could anyone be so cruel?"
A guard came up with wheelbarrow filled with buckets of water. Trowa patted one of the very few uninjured areas before removing his shirt and plunging it into the first bucket. Using that method, he started watering the area around the tree. He repeated the process until all the water had been used. Then he wrapped his shirt around the base of the trunk.
After two weeks of tending to the injured tree, Trowa received a shock when he saw a pale, beat-up looking blonde creature watering the tree itself. He approached slowly, making noise so the petite creature could hide if it was so inclined. What he got... was a glare and a scratch on his cheek before the creature melded with the tree. He ignored the sting on his face and checked one of the bindings while holding the branch. "These will be ready to come off soon." The branch trembled. "I won't hurt you. You have every right to lash out at anyone that approaches you after what you've been through." He replaced the binding and removed the wrappings from the main trunk. He smiled when he saw that all the marks were gone, and the leaves were starting to grow back. "Such a beautiful tree." He patted it before going. He stopped once to look behind him and almost smiled when he saw the petite creature watching him with a confused air. He couldn't tell the creature's gender from his distance.
Trowa visited the tree daily after that. Sometimes he would sit quietly and read. Sometimes he would tell the tree and it's inhabitant what was going on. Sometimes he would just content himself with sitting in the shade the leaves provided. It didn't escape his notice that they grew faster in one area so his spot was shaded. One day, he approached and smiled. "I hope you like music, because they got sick of my practicing." With that, he sat in his spot and started playing. True, he was a little off in a few spots... overall, he felt he played pretty decently. When he got no objections, he started playing another tune and was shocked when he heard a violin join him. He almost stopped, but he figured the hamadryad might think Trowa didn't want the accompaniment. When he was finished, Trowa opened his eyes.
The creature was, oddly enough, male. Trowa felt a twinge of sadness. 'The next Father Tree.' He had short blonde hair and large eyes that shone with a bit of fear.
Trowa kept his voice soft. "Hello. My name is Trowa. Do you have a name?"
"Quatre."
That had been the beginning of a wonderful friendship. The pair had gone quickly from friends to lovers, and Heero was happy for them.
~END FLASHBACK~
What annoyed him was his guardian making plans to send for eligible maidens. Heero rolled his eyes at some of the portraits he'd been sent. He had commissioned Wufei for just that purpose. Wufei did NOT paint a fantasy. IF he had to choose someone, it wouldn't be on the basis of a portrait, although he did examine each ones eyes. He had yet to find a pair that he liked.
He started looking around the various shops. He wasn't looking for anything in particular, but he'd know when he wanted something. When he entered a pet store, he scowled. 'I do NOT need a pet!' Before he could leave, he spotted what looked like a large glass case. 'What the...' All he could see was what looked like seaweed floating. He tapped on the glass a couple of times and frowned when the center of the mass jumped a little bit.
"Ahhh... you are interested in seeing our newest acquisition, milord? Give me a moment, and I will get the light in." The owner started lighting candles and opening curtains.
Heero walked around and watched as light filled the case. His eyes widened as the shadows started taking shape. "How...?"
The owner smirked as he cleared his throat. "It probably got careless and wandered off. A fisherman brought it in two weeks ago."
"How may times have you fed it?" Heero felt a surge of anger towards the shop owner before turning back. He tapped on the glass again. 'Come on... look at me.' He hadn't expected an answer.
**Don't wanna! Go 'way and let me die!**
Heero jumped and peered at the creature. He never knew his tutoring in telepathy would come in handy. Rather than a thought, he focused words to the creature. **I want to see your eyes.**
Surprise registered as the creature looked up. **You... you can HEAR me? You can mind speak?**
Heero smiled as the pale thing swam close. **Useful when talking to a merman, don't you think?**
Said merman ducked his head. There was a shy smile on his face, which died quickly. **You're very cruel, you know. Finally giving me SOMEONE to talk to if you don't plan on buying me.**
Heero frowned in thought. Near Quatre's tree there was a lake that could easily be converted to saltwater unless the young merman could adapt. **Could you live in fresh water?**
The merman nodded. **Yeah! It's only a myth that states we only like saltwater. The oceans and seas are much bigger, and allow freedom for all of us. Matter of fact, my tail is starting to itch because this guy used too much salt in here... plus it's getting hard to breathe and the top is barred, so I can't surface for air. Plus the water is getting pretty gross now.**
Heero patted the glass and nodded in understanding. He turned to the owner. "I'll take him. Write to the estate and bill them." He climbed up and pulled the bars out, one by one. "And send for a carriage... I don't want him to be gawked at." He reached down and pulled the trembling figure against him. **It's all right!** He wrapped the merman in his cape and held him securely. **The water was too cold for you! You're shivering.**
After the slender figure spat out all the water, he gave Heero a weak grin. "I CAN talk, you know. It's just not that effective under water."
"Save your strength and rest. When we get to the estate, we'll get the saltwater off you and into the lake. How'd you get caught, anyway?"
The pale merman rested his head against Heero's shoulder and sighed. "It's a long story. I'm too tired to tell it now."
Heero scowled when he noticed a mark on the creature's shoulder. "You're injured! And the water wasn't clean!" He stood and climbed down as quickly as he could.
The merman nodded. "My wounds are part of why I was able to be caught."
"Shh! Rest now. All else can wait." He glared at the owner again. "He's been injured, he's half-starved and he's sick due to your neglect!"
"My lord... I have no knowledge on how to care for merfolk."
"Then give me one reason why I should not have you shut down for not releasing him! He could have gone back to his people for assistance."
"I offered. He said that he didn't want to go back."
Heero frowned in concern as he carried his precious burden to the now-waiting carriage. He did what he could to soothe the whimpering merman. He didn't really believe the shop owner, but the merman was in no condition to solidify his doubts. When the creature was fed and tended to, he'd verify the owner's story. Although he wondered why the merman was blocked from all light and barred in if he had no wish to escape. Heero shook his head again. Too many questions... he'd ask them later.
*****
"SALLY!!!!" Heero ran through the estate and found the physician tending Quatre's tree. The hamadryad was standing nearby. "Hello, Quatre. What's wrong?"
Quatre smiled at Heero. "A squirrel tried to make a den in my tree. Luckily, Trowa was with me when it started. Sally placed it in a more suitable tree. There's only some surface damage. See?" He showed the tiny scratch marks on his arm.
Sally finished tending the scratches on the tree. "Milord! What have you got there."
Heero sighed as he shifted the merman's weight. "A merman I found in a pet shop in town. He's sick and he's injured."
Sally frowned. "He's also half-starved! How long has he been out of water?"
"About thirty minutes. Why?"
"He should be dry enough for his tail to have become a pair of legs." She peeled the cape back a little and nodded. "There was too much salt in the case he was kept in. He has sores all over. We'll get all that salt washed off of him and tend to his injuries."
Quatre followed behind. "Will he be staying in the palace or in the lake?"
"It's up to him. Like you, though, I think he'll choose to stay in his element... the lake." Heero grinned at Quatre. "You'll have someone to talk to. His people have telepathy."
"Oh good! Autumn is approaching, and I'll have to stay in my tree for a month. It'll be nice to talk to someone knowing they can hear me."
Sally grinned and carried the merman to the bathing room and eased him into a large tub of warm water. She held firmly to him when the clean water hit his wounds.
Now fully awake, the merman screeched in pain.
Heero jumped into the bath and held the thrashing creature. "Calm down! The water will clean the wounds!" He met the creature's soulful eyes and smiled in reassurance. "Sally knows what she's doing."
Sally grabbed a nearby bucket and started rinsing the merman's head.
Heero distracted the creature's attention. "What's your name?"
The creature shook his head. "My name is way too long for you to pronounce."
"A nickname then. I can't call you merman all the time. For instance, my name is Heero. Now you don't have to call me human." Heero washed the merman's hair carefully. "Now don't breathe the water. It's soapy."
"My... my friends used to call me Duo."
Sally got up and left to retrieve her herbs as well as some food from the kitchens.
"Duo? Whatever for?" Heero rinsed Duo's hair, careful not to jostle the injuries.
"My friend and I... we used to be inseperable. Grownups called us the dreaded duo because we were always getting into trouble. He... he got speared by a whaler when he got too close to the surface."
Heero paused his movements. "I'm sorry."
"It was my fault. That's how everyone else always saw it. I'm not really welcome anymore... I'm just a sea slug."
Heero decided it was time to broach the subject of what the shopkeeper had said. "Is that why you didn't want to go back?"
"What? What do you mean?" Duo was genuinely confused.
"I asked the shopkeeper why he hadn't released you back to the sea so your people could care for you. He said he'd offered, but you said you didn't WANT to go back."
Duo frowned. "He never asked me anything. From what I remember of the conversation, he was looking forward to the profit he was going to make with me and then tossed me into that tank." He winced at the memory. "My back still stings with the memory."
"How'd you get injured?" Heero started carefully detangling Duo's hair and absently started braiding it so it wouldn't get in Sally's way.
"The ship was going after a few stingrays. I got nicked with a harpoon. I was in so much pain from the salt water hitting my wound that the fishermen were able to snag me." Duo smiled weakly as he realized that his back was no longer burning in pain. Then he noticed his hair and tilted his head. "What are you doing?"
"I don't want your hair to get in Sally's way when she's tending your wounds... and it's too nice to cut off. Braiding it seemed the best option."
Sally returned and smiled. "All right... if you're cleaned off, let's have a look at the slash." She reached down and hefted Duo up. "After I tend to your back, I'll let you eat what I brought."
"Food? You brought food? Oh can I eat first? PLEASE? I'll behave while you take care of my back!"
Sally nearly wept at the desperation in Duo's eyes. "Compromise. You eat WHILE I tend your back. Heero can feed you. Deal?"
Duo nodded as Sally carried him to a soft bed and set him down. He let Sally push him onto his stomach and prepared for the first sting as Heero knelt beside him. He bit into the orange cube Heero offered him and blinked in surprise. 'This is the type of food humans eat? WOW!'
Heero chuckled as he fed the various pieces of fruit and cheese to Duo, who seemed so tense as if waiting for the sting. "It won't come, Duo. The medicine Sally is putting on your back is meant to soothe, not to cause more pain."
Duo frowned as he paid attention to what Sally was doing. He blinked again as he felt the gentle strokes spreading something that cooled the sting. "Oooooh! That's nice." He relaxed against the softness and closed his eyes. He fell asleep within moments.
Sally smiled as Duo's breathing evened out and she wrapped some clean linen bandages around his torso to cover the wound. She gently turned him onto his back and covered him with a warm blanket.
Heero placed a hand on Duo's forehead. "He has a fever."
Sally nodded. "If he's really been in a filthy tank for two weeks, I'm amazed he isn't dead. He'll be all right now that we're caring for him. What do you plan to do?"
Heero frowned. "When he's well... I'm going to give him the choice he should have gotten from the shop keeper. He can stay here, in the lake, or go to his home in the sea. It's not my right to make that choice for him." Secretly, he hoped Duo would stay. He'd been searching for a pair of eyes like Duo's... open and honest with nothing to hide. Still... if Duo would be happier in the sea, Heero would oblige him.
TBC...
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