CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: Confessions

The weather-worn grey stones were cool in the late evening air. He traced his fingers over the line of ancient mortar holding two of them together, feeling the rough texture, such a contrast to the smoothness of the stones.

He darted a glance at the auburn-haired boy sitting next to him, wondering when - and if - Trowa was going to say something. It didn't bother him if Trowa decided he didn't want to talk - he had nothing against a companionable silence - but the other boy looked like he had something important to say, and wasn't sure where to start.

Well, he didn't mind waiting, either. It was nice, sitting here in the twilight with the Earth Talent. He liked spending time with Trowa, and he didn't bother to wonder why. He just assumed it was part of being with one of his Others.

"Wufei?" The soft voice broke in on his drifting thoughts, and he lifted serious dark eyes to his companion's face.

"Yes?"

"Um... do you know - has Duo told you anything about me? I know he told you about himself, and Quatre, and you know about Heero..." Trowa trailed off, uncertain.

"No. He said you would tell me - or that he'd let you tell me. I saw you when Heero and I Joined, but not a lot." Wufei frowned with concentration. "In a very colorful outfit, on top of a wire... very high, and people watching. Then, with the Others - and getting some apples..." he trailed off.

Trowa sighed. He'd hoped for a bit more than that - he wasn't very good at talking, or telling stories, but he felt that his Fifth needed to know his history before he made the confession Duo was forcing him into. "I'm... I'm not the story teller that Duo is, but I'd like you to know... about what I've been."

"All right," Wufei said, his dark eyes lighting up with interest. He waited, but Trowa had gone silent again, fiddling with the hem of his shirt. "Trowa?"

The taller boy blushed. "Sorry. I'm just not sure where to start."

"Oh." Wufei was silent for a moment. "Start in the middle, and work your way out from there."

Trowa smiled at him. "All right. Do you know anything about traveling minstrel shows? Did any ever come to that village?"

Wufei shook his head. "Haven was too small for them. I've heard of them - some people used to go to Ash Township when they were coming through. They would talk about them when they got back. I would have liked to see one - I think. Sometimes the things they did with the animals sounded cruel."

Trowa nodded, pleased at the fact that Wufei would care how an animal was treated. "Some of them were. I was with a show like that, for years. It was a good show, though, they were very careful of their animals."

"What did you do? When I saw you on that wire - that was your act?"

"That was one of them. I worked with the animals, too, and was the target for the knife thrower."

Wufei looked rather horrified. "Someone threw knives at you?! But that's dangerous..."

"So is walking the high-wire, or doing an act with lions. But it's not as bad as you might think - things are very carefully practiced."

The smaller boy didn't look convinced. "It still sounds bad. How long were you there?"

"A few years. And it wasn't so bad - it wasn't really bad at all. The show part, anyway. It was what went on behind the act that I didn't like."

"What do you mean?"

"Well - I wasn't under Old Law, like you were. I was an orphan, and I was cold and hungry... that's what I remember. I'm not sure where I was - I was too young to remember it now - when the show came through the Township. The man who ran the show saw me and some other kids. He offered us food, and shelter - as long as we did exactly what he said. Some of the older kids were smart enough to say no, but seven of the younger ones went with him."

"And you were one of them?" Wufei asked, his mind already calling up visions of Harris and memories he'd been extremely glad the Joining hadn't shown to Heero - he wondered if that was what Trowa's life had been like, too.

He really hoped it hadn't.

Trowa was nodding. "Me, and a girl I called my sister. She was a bit older than me. Her name was Catherine."

"Where is she?" Wufei asked softly, wondering at the odd expression in Trowa's eyes.

"She's still with the show."

"Do you miss her?" The question came out slow and hesitant. Wufei felt like there was something deeper, that Trowa wasn't telling.

"No, not really. I - she's not my sister, but it's more than that - she's different than she used to be. When we were little, we were loyal to each other. Now the only person she's loyal to is the owner of the show."

"Why?"

Trowa shrugged. "She says it's because he 'saved' us, took us in and gave us food, shelter... but I don't know. He didn't do it for free; there were things he wanted in return."

"What kind of things?" Wufei unconsciously folded his arms around his middle, dreading the answer.

Trowa hadn't noticed how uncomfortable his companion was. "He wanted thieves."

"Thieves?" Wufei blinked.

"Thieves and spies." Trowa answered, nodding again. "No one really suspects small children, especially when they are in a place they're supposed to be. Rich people relax while watching a show, a child in costume bumping against them is never noticed. Even when they find their purse gone later, they assume it was some pickpocket who was in the crowd, not the performers."

"Oh. I guess that's true... what did you mean by 'spies', though?"

"It was sort of the same thing - business people discussing trade routes in a tavern are wary when an adult walks by, but they pay no attention to a child. He sent us out to listen, then we would meet up with the trade caravan, later, and travel together for 'safety.' When we would camp for the night, then the older performers would kill the merchants and steal the goods and money." He paused waiting for Wufei's reaction.

"Did you kill people?" Wufei asked softly, not looking at him.

"Not then. I was too good at changing my appearance; the owner didn't want to risk losing me. But, Fire... you know we're WarCraft. We fight, and other people die. That's the way it is in war."

Wufei nodded slowly. "I know. I don't like the idea of hurting or killing someone, but I don't want to die, either. If we don't win, they kill all the Talents. That's what Heero said... right?"

"Right," Trowa agreed, half-relieved and half-sorrowful. "I wish it wasn't that way, but all we can do is try to change it."

"It's the right thing to do. They would kill innocents." Wufei's voice sounded faint and far away. "Those who cannot fight should be protected by those who can."

Trowa was certain Wufei was thinking of his own family - he yearned to put an arm around the smaller boy and comfort him, but he didn't dare do that. Not yet.

Wufei decided to change the subject. "Did being a Talent make it harder for you? Did he make you use your Earth?"

"No! No - I never let them know I was a Talent. Not even Catherine knew! I - I saw too many other children being used because they were 'special'. By the time the Owner took us into the show, I knew to keep things secret."

"Why did you stay?" Wufei couldn't stop the question and hoped it wouldn't hurt Trowa's feelings. "I stayed with Harris because I had to - Old Law gave him the right to beat or kill me if I tried to run away."

Trowa shuddered slightly. He almost asked how many times Wufei had been beaten, but he stopped himself. Now wasn't the time to dredge up more bad memories.

Wufei had dealt with enough over the past two days.

"When we agreed to go with him, he made us put our Marks on some contracts. They weren't binding, under Old Law or New, but we didn't know that. In exchange for the food and a place to sleep, we were to 'belong' to him until we were adults. Whatever he told us to do, we had to obey. I know it wasn't a smart thing to do, but we were cold and hungry..."

"I would have done it, too."

"...what?"

"I would have signed something like that in a heartbeat, if it would have taken me out of Haven. So don't feel stupid."

Trowa gave Wufei a hesitant smile. "Thanks."

Wufei smiled back, slow and shy.

They just sat there for a moment, looking at each other.

"Why so quiet?" another voice broke in.

They both looked up sharply, and were less than pleased to see Tania watching them.

She didn't seem to realize she was intruding, just moved to sit on the wall, a few feet away. "It's a beautiful evening, isn't it?" she asked, beaming at them.

They both nodded politely, and remained silent.

Wufei shifted a little closer to Trowa, his fingers going out to wrap around the same spot on his belt, as if he was making sure that the other boy wouldn't vanish. He barely seemed to realize that he'd done it.

Trowa smiled, again.

Tania continued to prattle about the nice evening, the coolness of the breeze, how pretty the stars were. She didn't seem to mind that her audience remained silent.

*

Duo did seem to mind, when he came skipping down the walk half an hour later. If his glare was anything to go by, he was furious. He kept his grin, though, and only his Others saw the sharpness in his eyes.

He looked a question to Trowa, one eyebrow raised. Trowa knew he was asking if he'd come clean to Wufei about his interest, and shook his head, glancing at Tania to give a reason why.

Duo fought down a scowl. Damn interfering woman! Why couldn't she mind her own business?! Even if her new Others were asleep, she could still be in the room with them, enjoying their presence. Not down here, trying to ingratiate herself with Talents who were already taken.

"Hey, Trowa - Quatre bought us some fruit - grapes and stuff. Want some?"

Trowa looked at him in some slight surprise. Why was Duo asking that? Didn't he want him to wait and talk to Wufei once Tania was inside?

"They're back in the room - the grapes, I mean. 'Ro and Q-chan are in the Great Hall, looking for what 'Ro calls 'real food.' Q's making sure he doesn't fall asleep and smother to death in his mashed potatoes."

"Why would he..." Tania tried to interrupt.

Duo wouldn't let her. "So, you two might as well go get some, before I get back and eat them all, huh? Room's empty right now." He plopped down beside Trowa and leaned close, whispering. "Nice and private, ya know? I'll take care of her."

Trowa nearly groaned.

He should have known he couldn't get out of this.

He glanced at Wufei, who was watching Tania suspiciously, soft dark hair laying like black wings against his skin.

He really wanted to kiss him.

If Wufei chose not to kill him, maybe he'd get a chance.

After he confessed.

Suddenly, going back to their room didn't sound so bad.

*******((Traveling with an Army))*********

"So you want to go to Cordia Township?" The General studied Zechs calmly. "May I ask why?"

"My WarCraft is there."

"Ah," the man looked interested, "I've heard of your WarCraft. May I ask how you know they are there? and why they can not simply meet us along the way?"

"Hee... my WarCraft Spirit Spoke to me earlier. He told me where they are."

"From here to Cordia Township? Your WarCraft is even more powerful than I have been told, if they can Speak that far! Are they still UnFinished, or...?"

"No, sir, they have found their Fifth."

"Ah, excellent! And how far has the Joining proceeded?"

"I don't know, sir. The Spirit broke off contact while we were still Speaking, and hasn't resumed it yet. I worry that something has happened to them."

The General nodded thoughtfully. Even if the young Commander's WarCraft was powerful, there were a million and one things that could have caused a block in their MindSpeaking, and few of them were good. He also knew that, despite their stellar record and experience, Zechs' WarCraft was painfully young. Some of the other Generals thought them too young for the responsibility they carried - but war forced children to grow up fast.

"Very well. We'll only be changing our course slightly if we go through Cordia Township. If your WarCraft contacts you, inform them that we should be there within the next two days."

"Yes, sir." Zechs shifted slightly, wondering how to bring up the subject of Haven Village. The General was already going out of his way for them - literally - he had no idea how the man would react to his request to leave the division and hold a Truth-Speaking over a years-old crime in that gods-forsaken little hovel.

"What is it?" The General asked, easily guessing that the younger man wasn't done speaking to him.

"It's - well, the Spirit shared something else with me. I'm sorry to ask - but after we reach Cordia, may I take a short leave? My Others, my Healing, and my WarCraft?" Zechs flushed a little at the audacity of the request.

"Why?"

"It's because of the something that was shared with me... some memories learned during Heero's Joining with his Fifth. We wouldn't be gone too long, and we would meet up with you before you engage the enemy."

The General eyed him speculatively. "May I share the memories?"

Zechs blinked. "Well - I suppose so. They're... rather terrible. And... well, I did promise not to mention them to the Fifth until his Spirit has a chance to explain why he shared them. If you'll agree to the same promise..."

The General looked mildly surprised. "You'd ask me to do such a thing?"

"If it concerns the well-being of one of the Talents in my care, then, yes, sir, I would."

"A Talent you have yet to meet?"

"Yes, sir."

Now the General was grinning. "Good man. I knew I liked you. Very well, I promise. Share the memories with me."

So Zechs did.

********((Inn of the Dancing Dog))*********

Wufei looked down at the bowl of fruit. There were grapes and some very red apples, a few peaches. "I've never had some of these. Just the apples."

Trowa understood completely. "I never had grapes until after I found my Others, either. Try them, and the peaches. They're both good."

Wufei obediently took a small bunch of grapes and started nibbling on them. After a second, he smiled. "You're right."

Trowa beamed at him.

Then his smile faded a bit.

"Um... Wufei... there's something else I need to tell you."

"About your story?" Wufei asked, still munching happily on the grapes.

"Not exactly. Um... well... I'm not sure how to say this."

Wufei sat on the edge of the bed and gazed at him solemnly. "Is it something bad? I won't judge you, I promise."

"It's not bad - at least, I hope you won't think so."

"Oh. Then just tell me." He popped another grape into his mouth.

"I like you."

He blinked. "Huh?"

"I like you."

"...I like you, too...?"

Trowa sighed. "No. I really like you."

Blink, blink.

"I like you as more than one of my Others."

"...like friends, then?"

Trowa resisted the urge to pull his hair out. "Wufei - you know how Duo and Quatre like each other?"

"Yes...?"

"That's how I like you."

Now he got a stare.

He sighed again, and taking calm control of his dancing nerves, marched across the room and knelt on the floor in front of Wufei. "Fire... this is how I like you."

He took a deep breath, cupped Wufei's face in his hands, and gave him a very thorough kiss.