fic - the faithful and the brave : 42 [novella]
Title: The Faithful and the Brave
Part: 42
Note: ~ finis ~
The Faithful and the Brave
Part 42
"Oh, that's a good one."
Sylvia beamed smugly at him before closing her eyes and rolling the flat rock in her hand, learning its edges and planes. Once she had its measure, she fitted it to her fingers with a light but steady grip, took a grounding breath, and opened her eyes. She sighted down the strip of dirt as best she could in the low lighting. She didn't need to, per se, but it was a good habit. They'd already scouted out the terrain while the sun was out, seen that it was reasonably clear of nooks and crannies, free of scrub brush if they exercised decent aim, and most definitely an unlikely spot for any innocent wildlife to wander into harm's way. Despite all of Quatre's mocking to the contrary, they really weren't out to deface the desert or maim an unwitting cactuar in the night. No self-respecting critter would come so close to a compound where so many humans lived.
With a smooth sweep of her arm and a flick of her wrist, Sylvia sent the rock skipping across the ground. She counted her success aloud. "Four this time!"
"I don't think I'd really count that last one."
She punched her brother's arm playfully. "We're tied, now."
"I've done better," Heero answered with an artificially careless shrug. He turned to look for another stone. "Oh."
Duo stood behind them, smirking at the pair of them. The Winner compound boasted a pond, but water was precious in the desert, particularly this far in, and neither felt it would be right to litter it with their pastime. Nor would either let a lack of water stop them. "Permission to enter the firing range?"
Heero nodded at him. "Granted."
"Is it late already?" Sylvia asked.
By their recent standards, perhaps. Duo watched Heero meander purposefully to the nearby stone bench and seat himself carefully upon it. Late enough for Heero to tire himself out just standing around skipping rocks. "Actually, I've got some news for the both of you."
Sylvia settled in next to her brother, leaning comfortably into his arm. "Oh?"
"We've finally had word through the Maguanacs of your Uncle Noventa."
"Is he alright?" she asked anxiously, clutching unconsciously at Heero's sleeve.
"Seems to be. No details on the fight, but no word of anything dire."
She exhaled loudly in relief, but Heero looked at him more critically. "But...?"
"But... Well, we know it was for a good cause and all, but the Church, of course... They've condemned him for assisting in the escape of a heretic. No actual charges that we're aware of," he hastened to add when Heero's mouth twisted sourly. "I doubt the Church really wants him talking about why he was out there. No one's spilled about the mossfungus and I'm sure they want to keep it that way. Gotta wonder what kind of deals have been made. But he's definitely out of favor. He's sworn loyalty to the new Queen, and she's accepted it, but he doesn't have a seat on her Council anymore. Guess she doesn't need to court controversy so soon after her coronation."
Heero sighed, but Sylvia cut him off at the pass. "I'm sure Relena will treat him fairly. Just as I'm sure Uncle has no regrets. He doesn't know the whole truth, but what he knows is certainly terrible enough. A seat on Council is a small price to pay in exchange for all the lives he saved, standing up to those people."
Heero was silent for a few moments. "Nevertheless --"
"He trusted you, no questions asked," Duo interrupted cheerfully. "Now, I'm thinking part of that is just him being a darn decent guy, and the other part of it is that he's just that much of a badass. He knew what he was doing when he chose to head on out there. He'd have probably been accused of being a heretic himself, if he'd gone off on his own, so really, you already being a heretic -- allegedly -- is probably even better for him, all things considered."
Heero looked at him, then at Sylvia, then sighed once more, though his time in surrender. He summoned a brief smile for the two of them. "I'm glad he's okay."
Sylvia patted his hand as if in praise. "Well, then. Here." She reached across him to pick up the mug he had left on the end of the bench. "I'll bring this back to the kitchens for you. And you..." She wagged the mug at Duo as she stood. "I trust you'll see him back safely to his room."
Heero made a faint, disdainful sound, but sat obediently for Sylvia to kiss his forehead. "Good night, Brother," she said. "Good night, Duo."
"Good night, m'lady," Duo answered with a gentlemanly bow. He took his place on the bench at Heero's side, still favoring his left leg. "Isn't it standard practice to chug those brews back as quickly as possible? Not wander off into the night with one?"
Heero shrugged, keeping an eye on Sylvia until she was out of view. "It's a not a very potent brew. It tastes fine."
"She seemed pretty energetic today."
"She's recovering fairly well. More quickly than I am." His expression was faintly disgruntled. "I wouldn't mind a more potent brew."
"I was talking to Wufei 'bout that. Hey," he said, putting a hand up defensively against Heero's raised eyebrow. "I was doing him a favor. He was in the middle of a workout and it was obviously time for him to stop. He may have had the benefit of Quatre's healing, and he's got that chakra thing going for him, but that doesn't mean he's ready to be going at it like that."
Heero wanted to make light somehow, but he was far too grateful for Duo's subtle assistance. They'd been a rather sorry lot dragging themselves up to the monastery proper. He and his sister had been dead to the world, Quatre and Trowa bruised and battered. Quatre had a difficult time stopping Wufei's bleeding and stabilizing his internals through the pounding of his own head injury. Wufei in turn helped check the others over, evaluating Duo's wrenched knee and Trowa's fractured arm. It had been a rather inglorious crawl through the old palace. The one small mercy granted to them -- by Zeromus, they were somewhat sure -- was that they had simply woken up back on this side of the gates, the portal to that other place cracked. And so Heero simply nodded in appreciation of Duo's thoughtfulness.
"So Wufei said the whatever-it-was that mages have that regenerates their mage energy, it's like a muscle. More you use it, better it gets. And mages are constantly exercising it since they're casting so often, so they get pretty good bouncing back. And you, you aren't even a mage at all, so, honestly, your whatever-it-was totally sucks at it."
"Gee, thanks."
"So that's why you're still so worn out," Duo finished, proud of his explanation. Magecraft was not generally his interest, but he enjoyed learning random things. "Sylvia's more of a caster than you are, so she's better off."
"It hurt her more, I think. In the moment. But she also... had less taken from her." It took her a full day to wake after her ordeal. It took Heero three. Epyon had charged through her, fueled by all the power gathered by Dermail/Hashmal, but she had been a mere waystation. His transit was quick, impersonal. Heero opened the door for Zeromus on his own, and Zeromus brushed past him more closely, used him as a springboard into that place.
"Yeah... She doing okay in that regard, too?"
Heero nodded again. "Things are better, now that we've had the time to talk it over."
"Heh, knowing her, just having you back on your feet has probably done her a ton of good."
He shook his head this time. "I don't think she ever had a moment of doubt...."
"Yeah, well, she didn't watch us get our asses kicked. I'd sure as hell have doubted, if I'd had any time to, between the first 'holy fuck' and the second." A small exaggeration, perhaps, though not entirely. They weren't certain who stayed conscious the longest of them, but they were certain Duo stayed functional the longest. After the completely unexpected appearance of Zeromus and his second 'holy fuck', Duo stumble-hopped to Heero and dragged the both of them to the extremely dubious cover of a large nearby rock, and there he huddled in what he was not too proud to admit was pretty much primal terror of the god-like battle raging above their heads until some backwash of power knocked him out. No, there had not been any time for anything half so rational as doubt.
Wufei and Trowa were able to corroborate his impressions of tremendous blasts of light and sound and wind, but they hadn't lasted very long either. It was only upon waking that Heero could explain Zeromus' presence on the field, and confirm that Zeromus had won the fight. Of the fight itself, he had only the occasional flicker, shadows of images half-dreamt. But he had the feeling Zeromus touched him on the way back to his plane. And the greatest sensation from that final encounter was satisfaction.
"Perhaps one day we can get word to General Noventa, let him know what we..." Heero sighed and shook his head. "Perhaps the fewer that know, the better. It galls me to think that the Church's plot to seize power will go untold and unpunished, but our country needs to heal from this civil war. Tearing down an institution that grants solace at such a time, merely for our own satisfaction, would be just as unconscionable. But at least that was just a corruption of the Church leadership. What we know would destroy the faith itself."
How typically cheery, Duo thought. "Look, a fellow like High Pontiff J, or others among the leadership, who would hatch such a plan... I'm sure we can find plenty of evidence to take them down if we dig around a bit. We can wait for the dust to settle, and then bring down the leadership and only the leadership later. Leave the Church intact."
Heero gave him a long look with an incredulous and skeptical expression on his face. "I think you're being relatively serious?"
"Yeah. That mossfungus thing didn't happen by itself. Between supply and distribution, it'd have to be easy to find something. But if you wanted to stay away from that whole mess, well, there's no way this was their first offense. It takes connections to scrape together that much mossfungus. There's gotta be vice, favors, graft. I mean, look at Tsuberov, buying holy artefacts on the black market, and his dealings with the Kurt Trading Company. 'Course, he's dead now, and so's Kurt, but all that really means is being able to manipulate facts in our favor and they aren't in any position to argue. We could probably leverage what we know, easy. I'd bet we could even get some Templars to flip for us."
Heero stared at him some more. "Are you really plotting the takedown of the leaders of the Church of Glabados... to make me feel better?"
Duo grinned. "Told ya, my skills go way beyond a little thievery."
His brow furrowed as he tried to recall where the words came from. He smiled a little when he remembered that night, but then it faded and his expression became more solemn. "Duo. I wasn't able to commit to anything before, when... you last spoke those words. I would like to correct that now."
It was on the tip of Duo's tongue to say that it was hardly necessary at this point. Things hadn't progressed much physically between the two of them, given their still-recovering bodies, but Heero's acceptance of Duo's presence in his life was plain for all to see. Even Wufei had accepted it. But Heero had a look on his face, so Duo held his peace and let Heero say what he had to say.
"You have been very patient with me. And very generous. And now it is up to me to ensure it was worth it. And I shall, if you will have me. I shall support you in times of need, and strengthen you in times of weakness, and stand by you in times of difficulty."
Duo heard the echo of his own words from that night, but he didn't remember sounding quite so ponderous. "And squire for me, in times of dressing and undressing?" he added lightly.
"That, too," Heero answered with the slightest softening of his expression. "I hear I'm still a moody bastard."
Duo suppressed a smile. "That you are." He put a hand on Heero's knee anyway.
"And I'm still a wanted man."
"Damn straight, I still want you." He slid his hand up a little bit.
Heero's expression cracked with exasperation. "I am wanted by the Church."
"I got dibs."
"For crimes well beyond a little thievery."
"Heero. I got skills way beyond a little thievery. You don't get skills like that staying on the sunny side of the law."
He put his hand on top of Duo's to prevent it moving any farther. "They will neither forget nor forgive the murder of a Cardinal. Whether you destroy the Church leadership or not. I will not be able to live openly, once I leave this place. I do not yet know what I will do. Nor what I can offer you."
"Okay, you're thinking way longer term than I am."
Heero's hand slid off of his and he pulled back slightly.
It took Duo a second to process that. "Shit, not that I'm not... I just meant... don't go borrowing trouble, yeah? Yeah, I'd... I'd like to help you figure out what you're going to be doing. Maybe I'll happily help you do it. But... we don't have to stress out about it right the heck now, do we?"
Heero's hand landed back on top of Duo's tentatively. "I just want you to know what you're getting into."
Duo patted Heero's hand with his other hand. "I'm filing this under 'moody bastard' and not 'where the hell is life gonna take us a year from now'. It's not that I'm not taking your concerns seriously. It's just, I dunno, I'm plenty familiar with the ways and means of living a pretty normal not-open life. And I'd be more than happy to go over them with you. Supporting you, standing by you, and all that. Just... not right at this very minute."
Heero considered him for a few moments. "You're asking me to just kiss you already."
He nodded judiciously. "I am very much asking you to just kiss me already."
Alright, he'd waited this long, he could wait a little bit more. Just a little bit. He waited as Heero weighed the issue, waited as Heero went about setting his concerns aside for the moment. Waited through the last-second gut check. And when Heero finally leaned in to kiss him, it was worth the wait.
Zechs met Noin's cool glance with a respectful nod before proceeding into the garden. The Royal Palace in Lesalia boasted several gardens. This one appeared to be the Queen's favorite. He doubted it was for the fruit trees or the ornamental grasses, but rather for the long reflecting pool that ran the garden's length. He disapproved, but did not let it show on his face.
He walked to her, stopping the appropriate distance behind her and to the side. "Your Majesty," he murmured with a slight bow. He waited for her to acknowledge him with a slight tilt of the head in his direction, though she did not remove her gaze from the water's surface. "I thought perhaps I might escort you to our first Council meeting."
Queen Relena stood silently for a minute, absently toying with the rock in her hand. "No. I think perhaps you should go before me. See what the other Councillors say when I am not there to listen. I shall enter on my own. And demonstrate that I stand on my own. That I am no one's pawn."
Zechs could do nothing but dip his head in acceptance. He heard the message in her mild but firm words. When he had worked to elevate her to power, he had not expected her to be so astute. He remembered her, innocent and trembling before Dermail and Tsuberov's casual malice. And now she could see through his own maneuverings. Well, there would be many other opportunities for him to cement the perception that he was Her Majesty's closest and most valued Councillor. "Is there anything else I might assist with?"
She moved as if to dismiss him, but reconsidered. "I would know where you stand on Lord Catalonia's bid for leadership of my armies."
He felt unexpectedly gratified that she still cared for his opinions. "Lord Catalonia does not have an extensive military background, but that is not necessarily a disqualifier if you have no intention of marching your armies to war. He is considered a strong leader, and he has many allies."
"The Church among them," she noted mildly.
"Yes. His daughter is a Divine Knight of Murond."
"I would know where you stand on Catalonia's bid for my armies."
Ah, how naïve of him to assume she was asking after his opinion when she was instead asking after his loyalties. He was done playing along with the Church's plans, now that he had what he wanted. There were still a few that remembered him, that expected him to wield his influence in their favor, but for him, the ideal outcome of telling Noventa of the mossfungus and telling the Church of Noventa would have been mutual annihilation. It didn't quite go as he'd expected, though he had prepared for a variety of outcomes. How Heero had somehow injected himself into the thick of things, he had no idea, but it had saved him the trouble of manufacturing the renown general's fall, so he couldn't complain. At least his primary goal of removing Noventa from Weyridge's side, thus clearing the way for the Duke's untimely demise, had gone quite smoothly.
Certain backroom deals had kept the mossfungus story from spreading too far, in exchange for a confession of meddling in politics, thus explaining the Crown's chilly disposition toward them while maintaining the country's stability. Zechs thought it likely that they would find their way back to power sooner or later -- perhaps later than he had first thought, given the Queen's developing sense for politics. But they still had their fingers in a number of pies, and he had no wish to publicly antagonize them. Privately, however, was a different matter. "I would recommend Lord Townsend in his stead, Your Majesty. His experience in the military was thorough and solid, if unremarkable, and he seems to have more interest in doting upon his daughters than in making war. I think you would find him amenable to your foreign policies."
"I see." She appraised him frankly, in a manner that seemed more unnerving than unseemly. She knew too much about him. His gut urged him to act against her. His head knew he had been too long in the cesspool of nobility and politics. No, she was necessary. He had power now, power he both embraced and despised, but he needed her as its public face.
She seemed to have embraced her own power. He wondered if she despised it, as well. Perhaps she also despised him for bringing her to it. But regardless, together, two commoners at the top of the hierarchy of the realm, they would bring about the change they both wished for this country.
She nodded eventually, and turned away from him. Her arm lifted to the side, and she sent the rock in her hand flying across the still water of the reflecting pool. It skipped three times before sinking beneath the surface of the water. "I need to prepare myself for Council," she said. "I will see you there."
He bowed, and once she had exited the garden, Noin trailing her faithfully, Zechs turned to the water. The ripples of her stone's passing had settled. He looked around and found a flat rock of his own. With a preparatory breath, he flicked the rock over the water. It sank unceremoniously at first touch.
He grimaced, and left the garden.
The end!
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This entry was originally posted at https://turnippatch.dreamwidth.org/163307.html.
Part: 42
Note: ~ finis ~
The Faithful and the Brave
Part 42
"Oh, that's a good one."
Sylvia beamed smugly at him before closing her eyes and rolling the flat rock in her hand, learning its edges and planes. Once she had its measure, she fitted it to her fingers with a light but steady grip, took a grounding breath, and opened her eyes. She sighted down the strip of dirt as best she could in the low lighting. She didn't need to, per se, but it was a good habit. They'd already scouted out the terrain while the sun was out, seen that it was reasonably clear of nooks and crannies, free of scrub brush if they exercised decent aim, and most definitely an unlikely spot for any innocent wildlife to wander into harm's way. Despite all of Quatre's mocking to the contrary, they really weren't out to deface the desert or maim an unwitting cactuar in the night. No self-respecting critter would come so close to a compound where so many humans lived.
With a smooth sweep of her arm and a flick of her wrist, Sylvia sent the rock skipping across the ground. She counted her success aloud. "Four this time!"
"I don't think I'd really count that last one."
She punched her brother's arm playfully. "We're tied, now."
"I've done better," Heero answered with an artificially careless shrug. He turned to look for another stone. "Oh."
Duo stood behind them, smirking at the pair of them. The Winner compound boasted a pond, but water was precious in the desert, particularly this far in, and neither felt it would be right to litter it with their pastime. Nor would either let a lack of water stop them. "Permission to enter the firing range?"
Heero nodded at him. "Granted."
"Is it late already?" Sylvia asked.
By their recent standards, perhaps. Duo watched Heero meander purposefully to the nearby stone bench and seat himself carefully upon it. Late enough for Heero to tire himself out just standing around skipping rocks. "Actually, I've got some news for the both of you."
Sylvia settled in next to her brother, leaning comfortably into his arm. "Oh?"
"We've finally had word through the Maguanacs of your Uncle Noventa."
"Is he alright?" she asked anxiously, clutching unconsciously at Heero's sleeve.
"Seems to be. No details on the fight, but no word of anything dire."
She exhaled loudly in relief, but Heero looked at him more critically. "But...?"
"But... Well, we know it was for a good cause and all, but the Church, of course... They've condemned him for assisting in the escape of a heretic. No actual charges that we're aware of," he hastened to add when Heero's mouth twisted sourly. "I doubt the Church really wants him talking about why he was out there. No one's spilled about the mossfungus and I'm sure they want to keep it that way. Gotta wonder what kind of deals have been made. But he's definitely out of favor. He's sworn loyalty to the new Queen, and she's accepted it, but he doesn't have a seat on her Council anymore. Guess she doesn't need to court controversy so soon after her coronation."
Heero sighed, but Sylvia cut him off at the pass. "I'm sure Relena will treat him fairly. Just as I'm sure Uncle has no regrets. He doesn't know the whole truth, but what he knows is certainly terrible enough. A seat on Council is a small price to pay in exchange for all the lives he saved, standing up to those people."
Heero was silent for a few moments. "Nevertheless --"
"He trusted you, no questions asked," Duo interrupted cheerfully. "Now, I'm thinking part of that is just him being a darn decent guy, and the other part of it is that he's just that much of a badass. He knew what he was doing when he chose to head on out there. He'd have probably been accused of being a heretic himself, if he'd gone off on his own, so really, you already being a heretic -- allegedly -- is probably even better for him, all things considered."
Heero looked at him, then at Sylvia, then sighed once more, though his time in surrender. He summoned a brief smile for the two of them. "I'm glad he's okay."
Sylvia patted his hand as if in praise. "Well, then. Here." She reached across him to pick up the mug he had left on the end of the bench. "I'll bring this back to the kitchens for you. And you..." She wagged the mug at Duo as she stood. "I trust you'll see him back safely to his room."
Heero made a faint, disdainful sound, but sat obediently for Sylvia to kiss his forehead. "Good night, Brother," she said. "Good night, Duo."
"Good night, m'lady," Duo answered with a gentlemanly bow. He took his place on the bench at Heero's side, still favoring his left leg. "Isn't it standard practice to chug those brews back as quickly as possible? Not wander off into the night with one?"
Heero shrugged, keeping an eye on Sylvia until she was out of view. "It's a not a very potent brew. It tastes fine."
"She seemed pretty energetic today."
"She's recovering fairly well. More quickly than I am." His expression was faintly disgruntled. "I wouldn't mind a more potent brew."
"I was talking to Wufei 'bout that. Hey," he said, putting a hand up defensively against Heero's raised eyebrow. "I was doing him a favor. He was in the middle of a workout and it was obviously time for him to stop. He may have had the benefit of Quatre's healing, and he's got that chakra thing going for him, but that doesn't mean he's ready to be going at it like that."
Heero wanted to make light somehow, but he was far too grateful for Duo's subtle assistance. They'd been a rather sorry lot dragging themselves up to the monastery proper. He and his sister had been dead to the world, Quatre and Trowa bruised and battered. Quatre had a difficult time stopping Wufei's bleeding and stabilizing his internals through the pounding of his own head injury. Wufei in turn helped check the others over, evaluating Duo's wrenched knee and Trowa's fractured arm. It had been a rather inglorious crawl through the old palace. The one small mercy granted to them -- by Zeromus, they were somewhat sure -- was that they had simply woken up back on this side of the gates, the portal to that other place cracked. And so Heero simply nodded in appreciation of Duo's thoughtfulness.
"So Wufei said the whatever-it-was that mages have that regenerates their mage energy, it's like a muscle. More you use it, better it gets. And mages are constantly exercising it since they're casting so often, so they get pretty good bouncing back. And you, you aren't even a mage at all, so, honestly, your whatever-it-was totally sucks at it."
"Gee, thanks."
"So that's why you're still so worn out," Duo finished, proud of his explanation. Magecraft was not generally his interest, but he enjoyed learning random things. "Sylvia's more of a caster than you are, so she's better off."
"It hurt her more, I think. In the moment. But she also... had less taken from her." It took her a full day to wake after her ordeal. It took Heero three. Epyon had charged through her, fueled by all the power gathered by Dermail/Hashmal, but she had been a mere waystation. His transit was quick, impersonal. Heero opened the door for Zeromus on his own, and Zeromus brushed past him more closely, used him as a springboard into that place.
"Yeah... She doing okay in that regard, too?"
Heero nodded again. "Things are better, now that we've had the time to talk it over."
"Heh, knowing her, just having you back on your feet has probably done her a ton of good."
He shook his head this time. "I don't think she ever had a moment of doubt...."
"Yeah, well, she didn't watch us get our asses kicked. I'd sure as hell have doubted, if I'd had any time to, between the first 'holy fuck' and the second." A small exaggeration, perhaps, though not entirely. They weren't certain who stayed conscious the longest of them, but they were certain Duo stayed functional the longest. After the completely unexpected appearance of Zeromus and his second 'holy fuck', Duo stumble-hopped to Heero and dragged the both of them to the extremely dubious cover of a large nearby rock, and there he huddled in what he was not too proud to admit was pretty much primal terror of the god-like battle raging above their heads until some backwash of power knocked him out. No, there had not been any time for anything half so rational as doubt.
Wufei and Trowa were able to corroborate his impressions of tremendous blasts of light and sound and wind, but they hadn't lasted very long either. It was only upon waking that Heero could explain Zeromus' presence on the field, and confirm that Zeromus had won the fight. Of the fight itself, he had only the occasional flicker, shadows of images half-dreamt. But he had the feeling Zeromus touched him on the way back to his plane. And the greatest sensation from that final encounter was satisfaction.
"Perhaps one day we can get word to General Noventa, let him know what we..." Heero sighed and shook his head. "Perhaps the fewer that know, the better. It galls me to think that the Church's plot to seize power will go untold and unpunished, but our country needs to heal from this civil war. Tearing down an institution that grants solace at such a time, merely for our own satisfaction, would be just as unconscionable. But at least that was just a corruption of the Church leadership. What we know would destroy the faith itself."
How typically cheery, Duo thought. "Look, a fellow like High Pontiff J, or others among the leadership, who would hatch such a plan... I'm sure we can find plenty of evidence to take them down if we dig around a bit. We can wait for the dust to settle, and then bring down the leadership and only the leadership later. Leave the Church intact."
Heero gave him a long look with an incredulous and skeptical expression on his face. "I think you're being relatively serious?"
"Yeah. That mossfungus thing didn't happen by itself. Between supply and distribution, it'd have to be easy to find something. But if you wanted to stay away from that whole mess, well, there's no way this was their first offense. It takes connections to scrape together that much mossfungus. There's gotta be vice, favors, graft. I mean, look at Tsuberov, buying holy artefacts on the black market, and his dealings with the Kurt Trading Company. 'Course, he's dead now, and so's Kurt, but all that really means is being able to manipulate facts in our favor and they aren't in any position to argue. We could probably leverage what we know, easy. I'd bet we could even get some Templars to flip for us."
Heero stared at him some more. "Are you really plotting the takedown of the leaders of the Church of Glabados... to make me feel better?"
Duo grinned. "Told ya, my skills go way beyond a little thievery."
His brow furrowed as he tried to recall where the words came from. He smiled a little when he remembered that night, but then it faded and his expression became more solemn. "Duo. I wasn't able to commit to anything before, when... you last spoke those words. I would like to correct that now."
It was on the tip of Duo's tongue to say that it was hardly necessary at this point. Things hadn't progressed much physically between the two of them, given their still-recovering bodies, but Heero's acceptance of Duo's presence in his life was plain for all to see. Even Wufei had accepted it. But Heero had a look on his face, so Duo held his peace and let Heero say what he had to say.
"You have been very patient with me. And very generous. And now it is up to me to ensure it was worth it. And I shall, if you will have me. I shall support you in times of need, and strengthen you in times of weakness, and stand by you in times of difficulty."
Duo heard the echo of his own words from that night, but he didn't remember sounding quite so ponderous. "And squire for me, in times of dressing and undressing?" he added lightly.
"That, too," Heero answered with the slightest softening of his expression. "I hear I'm still a moody bastard."
Duo suppressed a smile. "That you are." He put a hand on Heero's knee anyway.
"And I'm still a wanted man."
"Damn straight, I still want you." He slid his hand up a little bit.
Heero's expression cracked with exasperation. "I am wanted by the Church."
"I got dibs."
"For crimes well beyond a little thievery."
"Heero. I got skills way beyond a little thievery. You don't get skills like that staying on the sunny side of the law."
He put his hand on top of Duo's to prevent it moving any farther. "They will neither forget nor forgive the murder of a Cardinal. Whether you destroy the Church leadership or not. I will not be able to live openly, once I leave this place. I do not yet know what I will do. Nor what I can offer you."
"Okay, you're thinking way longer term than I am."
Heero's hand slid off of his and he pulled back slightly.
It took Duo a second to process that. "Shit, not that I'm not... I just meant... don't go borrowing trouble, yeah? Yeah, I'd... I'd like to help you figure out what you're going to be doing. Maybe I'll happily help you do it. But... we don't have to stress out about it right the heck now, do we?"
Heero's hand landed back on top of Duo's tentatively. "I just want you to know what you're getting into."
Duo patted Heero's hand with his other hand. "I'm filing this under 'moody bastard' and not 'where the hell is life gonna take us a year from now'. It's not that I'm not taking your concerns seriously. It's just, I dunno, I'm plenty familiar with the ways and means of living a pretty normal not-open life. And I'd be more than happy to go over them with you. Supporting you, standing by you, and all that. Just... not right at this very minute."
Heero considered him for a few moments. "You're asking me to just kiss you already."
He nodded judiciously. "I am very much asking you to just kiss me already."
Alright, he'd waited this long, he could wait a little bit more. Just a little bit. He waited as Heero weighed the issue, waited as Heero went about setting his concerns aside for the moment. Waited through the last-second gut check. And when Heero finally leaned in to kiss him, it was worth the wait.
Zechs met Noin's cool glance with a respectful nod before proceeding into the garden. The Royal Palace in Lesalia boasted several gardens. This one appeared to be the Queen's favorite. He doubted it was for the fruit trees or the ornamental grasses, but rather for the long reflecting pool that ran the garden's length. He disapproved, but did not let it show on his face.
He walked to her, stopping the appropriate distance behind her and to the side. "Your Majesty," he murmured with a slight bow. He waited for her to acknowledge him with a slight tilt of the head in his direction, though she did not remove her gaze from the water's surface. "I thought perhaps I might escort you to our first Council meeting."
Queen Relena stood silently for a minute, absently toying with the rock in her hand. "No. I think perhaps you should go before me. See what the other Councillors say when I am not there to listen. I shall enter on my own. And demonstrate that I stand on my own. That I am no one's pawn."
Zechs could do nothing but dip his head in acceptance. He heard the message in her mild but firm words. When he had worked to elevate her to power, he had not expected her to be so astute. He remembered her, innocent and trembling before Dermail and Tsuberov's casual malice. And now she could see through his own maneuverings. Well, there would be many other opportunities for him to cement the perception that he was Her Majesty's closest and most valued Councillor. "Is there anything else I might assist with?"
She moved as if to dismiss him, but reconsidered. "I would know where you stand on Lord Catalonia's bid for leadership of my armies."
He felt unexpectedly gratified that she still cared for his opinions. "Lord Catalonia does not have an extensive military background, but that is not necessarily a disqualifier if you have no intention of marching your armies to war. He is considered a strong leader, and he has many allies."
"The Church among them," she noted mildly.
"Yes. His daughter is a Divine Knight of Murond."
"I would know where you stand on Catalonia's bid for my armies."
Ah, how naïve of him to assume she was asking after his opinion when she was instead asking after his loyalties. He was done playing along with the Church's plans, now that he had what he wanted. There were still a few that remembered him, that expected him to wield his influence in their favor, but for him, the ideal outcome of telling Noventa of the mossfungus and telling the Church of Noventa would have been mutual annihilation. It didn't quite go as he'd expected, though he had prepared for a variety of outcomes. How Heero had somehow injected himself into the thick of things, he had no idea, but it had saved him the trouble of manufacturing the renown general's fall, so he couldn't complain. At least his primary goal of removing Noventa from Weyridge's side, thus clearing the way for the Duke's untimely demise, had gone quite smoothly.
Certain backroom deals had kept the mossfungus story from spreading too far, in exchange for a confession of meddling in politics, thus explaining the Crown's chilly disposition toward them while maintaining the country's stability. Zechs thought it likely that they would find their way back to power sooner or later -- perhaps later than he had first thought, given the Queen's developing sense for politics. But they still had their fingers in a number of pies, and he had no wish to publicly antagonize them. Privately, however, was a different matter. "I would recommend Lord Townsend in his stead, Your Majesty. His experience in the military was thorough and solid, if unremarkable, and he seems to have more interest in doting upon his daughters than in making war. I think you would find him amenable to your foreign policies."
"I see." She appraised him frankly, in a manner that seemed more unnerving than unseemly. She knew too much about him. His gut urged him to act against her. His head knew he had been too long in the cesspool of nobility and politics. No, she was necessary. He had power now, power he both embraced and despised, but he needed her as its public face.
She seemed to have embraced her own power. He wondered if she despised it, as well. Perhaps she also despised him for bringing her to it. But regardless, together, two commoners at the top of the hierarchy of the realm, they would bring about the change they both wished for this country.
She nodded eventually, and turned away from him. Her arm lifted to the side, and she sent the rock in her hand flying across the still water of the reflecting pool. It skipped three times before sinking beneath the surface of the water. "I need to prepare myself for Council," she said. "I will see you there."
He bowed, and once she had exited the garden, Noin trailing her faithfully, Zechs turned to the water. The ripples of her stone's passing had settled. He looked around and found a flat rock of his own. With a preparatory breath, he flicked the rock over the water. It sank unceremoniously at first touch.
He grimaced, and left the garden.
The end!
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This entry was originally posted at https://turnippatch.dreamwidth.org/163307.html.