Quatre accepted a package from the Head Administer of the Other Souls Foundation and left the office. As the blond teen walked down the halls of the building, he heard the sounds of a struggle.
Quatre turned to see a pair of very muscular men carrying a struggling brown haired teen down the hall. The boy's face was impassive, but his emerald eyes were wild as he tried vainly to escape the muscular men that held him with some difficulty. The three disappeared around a corner, but not before the boy locked eyes with Quatre. The boy seemed to be asking for his help. Quatre began to head in the direction the group had gone, drawn by concern, curiosity, and something he couldn't name or explain.
A middle aged woman, a mage according to her arm band, saw Quatre as he passed her office and called out to him. "Don't worry about that little display, child, that was the new boy. You're Quatre, one of Mr. Winner's children, are you not?"
"Yes, Ma'am. Please, what do you mean by 'the new boy?'" Quatre asked.
"A group of hunters came across the boy in the Deep recently. He doesn't seem to have any language and appears to be feral. They caught him and brought him in."
"Feral? A wild child?"
"Yes. Not our normal breed of Other Soul, but we help them all here. The boy doesn't speak our language, so he has no idea we're trying to help him, not harm him. He won't be harmed, don't worry."
"Thank you, Ma'am," Quatre replied politely
and left to give the package to his father.
A few days later, Quatre was walking down the halls of the Foundation once again,
following an Interactive.
"We were happy to learn that you have chosen to volunteer as and Interactive here, Quatre. As you know, this foundation, set up by your father, helps Other Souls, humans raised by other peoples, such as dragons or elves, adjust well to their return to their own people. As an Interactive, you'll be assigned to aid an Other Soul in their transition, first allowing them to learn and become accustomed to one on one human interaction then in larger more complex situations. Because you are inexperienced - "
"Assign him to Cub of Barton," a female voice interjected.
Quatre turned to find a young woman, only a few years
older than himself, with long light brown hair, heavily highlighted with flame red.
Her sapphire green eyes held suggestions of danger that were strengthened by her
slim but muscular body and clothing similar in style to what warrior women wore in battle.
"He has no experience to handle someone so new," the Interactive stated, angered by the woman's authoritative tone. His angry expression didn't bother the woman in the least. Quatre thought of an angry squirrel chattering at a wolf. The comparison seemed to fit the pair. The Interactive was slightly over weight and far from fit, a harmless annoyance to a woman who appeared to believe in solving things physically, when necessary, and self assured in her almost animal dominance. "Cub of Barton could easily still prove violent in nature at this point."
"Cub of Barton isn't the violent type unless threatened. Your people that handle what you call 'potentially violent' would, with out a doubt, look like a threat to him at this point after the rough handling those hunters gave him. This boy radiates kindness, he won't be seen as a threat."
New. Hunters. This Cub of Barton must be the boy I saw, Quatre realized. "I can protect myself should he prove violent," he stated.
The Interactive glared at the young woman silently. The young woman smiled in victory and took Quatre's hand. "This way," she led him away from the Interactive.
"My name's Quatre," he introduced himself.
"I'm Safire, Hatchling of Flame," she
replied. Once they were out of the Interactive's hearing range she spoke again. "If
you really want to help Other Souls, Quatre, listen to us instead of most Interactives.
Your father has given us a chance to rejoin the human race rather than have our
attempts turn to tragedy, but he has not been able to eradicate the racism and contempt
people feel towards us. It's so inbred that even most Foundation
people treat us with less respect than we deserve. Other Souls, much of the time,
help Other Souls much more effectively than Interactives once the bare mechanics of human
society and interaction are learned. I can tell what kind of person one is just by
observing them for a short period of time, Quatre. I can tell you're just what Cub
of Barton needs for a nearly painless adjustment."
The pair came to a locked door and Safire spoke again. "He's just about finished recovering from the knowledge spell. He now knows the language and culture of this kingdom, so you've come at a good time. Just come each day and I'll let you into his rooms. He has to stay locked up, unfortunately, until the administration believes he's no longer a risk and is adjusting well." She opened the door and Quatre followed her into the small and sparse apartment.
Cub of Barton approached them from the kitchen and
stood a good distance out of their reach. He did not greet them. He seems to have
met Safire, Quatre noted. I don't think he'd come that close to strangers after the way
he was fighting the last time I saw him.
That's the boy I saw in the halls a few days ago. The one that looked concerned for me, he thought and silently waited for Safire to explain.
"Trowa, I'd like you to meet Quatre Winner. Quatre, this is Trowa, Cub of Barton," Safire introduced.
"Hello," Quatre smiled brightly. Trowa did not answer.
"You know why you were brought here, my friend. Humans must return to their own. The knowledge spell makes the process easier, but you must be able to interact and understand how being part of a human society is different from the one you were raised in. The first part of that is getting to know and interacting with a single person. Quatre has volunteered to help you with this part. This may not come easily to you, my friend, nor to Quatre, who is also new here. I'll leave the two of you to get aquatinted."
Trowa remained silent after Safire left. He watched the stranger carefully. He could sense the other boy's discomfort under his unwavering gaze.
"Lets sit down," Quatre suggested, breaking the silence.
The pair sat down on a set of chairs facing each other and Quatre attempted to get Trowa to tell him about himself unsuccessfully. When Trowa remained silent after several attempts, the blue eyed boy sat silently for a time regarding the Other Soul. Trowa had short brown hair and bangs so long one of his striking green eyes and half his face were hidden from view.
"I'll tell you about myself, okay?" Quatre
asked, believing Trowa would trust him if he knew him better. Quatre began to tell the
silent boy about his father and many sisters.
Days went by in the pattern of Safire letting Quatre into Trowa's apartment, Quatre trying
to get Trowa to say something unsuccessfully then proceeding to tell Trowa about
something. What he spoke about was anything from personal information to how the
government worked. Hours later Safire would return and Quatre would say goodbye.
Trowa never uttered a word once in the time period Quatre knew him, but was always
attentive, which was the only proof Quatre had that Trowa wasn't ignoring him. By
the end of the third week, Quatre was convinced Trowa hated him and would be better off
working with someone he liked.
Safire knocked on the door, signaling the end of another session. "You don't seem to like me Trowa," Quatre sighed and got up. "That can only hinder you while trying to learn to interact. I'll see if they can find you someone you'll like." Quatre headed for the door.
Trowa had been surprised to learn that Quatre thought he did not like him. However, it was the idea of not seeing the friendly boy again that caused him to break his silence. "I don't dislike you Quatre," he stated softly.
Trowa watched as the other boy whirled around, his face a portrait of shock. Other than his own voice and Safire's knocking, Quatre never heard anything while in Trowa's apartment. Quatre's shocked face slowly changed into a blindingly bright smile.
"You don't hate me?"
"No."
"Then why wouldn't you talk to me?"
"I'm a prisoner here. You are one of those keeping me here."
"The Foundation is trying to help you, Trowa," Quatre stated. "Terrible things have happened to Other Souls in the past when they didn't get help adjusting to human society. In other kingdoms they still do."
Trowa was silent. Quatre's face was full of confusion at why he thought himself among enemies and honest belief about what he had just said. His face is a portal to his soul. It shows what he truly feels, Trowa thought and remembered the first time he had seen Quatre. I was a total stranger, yet he was concerned about me. Quatre really does want to help me.
"Do you really believe that?"
"Yes, I do," Quatre answered.
"Then I'll take your word for it." There was another knock on the door.
"Goodbye Trowa. See you tomorrow."
As usual, he did not respond to Quatre's farewell. It didn't matter what tongue was spoken, he was a person of few words.
Though Trowa did respond to Quatre, Quatre still did most of the talking. Quatre excepted that Trowa was a naturally quiet person and respected the fact that he did not want to talk about his past.
"Good morning Quatre," Trowa heard from the hall beyond his door one morning months later. The morning was beginning as usual, with Safire's greeting to Quatre before letting him in.
"So this is why you volunteered, little brother," a voice Trowa had never heard before sounded over Quatre's response. "The Other Souls certainly include several beautiful young women. It's hard to believe little Quatre is growing up so fast."
"Honestly, Victoria!" Quatre exclaimed. "Can't you ever stop teasing me? The office you're looking for is further on, take a right at the intersection. It's the first on the left."
"See you later, Quatre."
"Goodbye Victoria." The door opened and Quatre became visible. "Good morning Trowa."
"Why did you volunteer?" Trowa asked halfway through the morning.
"I'm guessing you heard Victoria this morning," Quatre said with a small smile. "It wasn't for the reason she suggested. I volunteered." Quatre paused and looked Trowa in the eye. "I volunteered because it looked like you needed a friend."
"I did."
* * *
Safire interrupted a session a few days later. "Hey guys, I got the admin's assessment. Trowa, they've decided you've adjusted enough to be moved to the Community." Safire grinned at the younger teen. "Congratulations. I know I was glad to get out of the prison they locked me in."
"I'm allowed out?" Trowa asked, his voice as flat as usual, his face expressionless, but there was a spark of hope in his visible green eye.
"The Community is a set of buildings where all Other Souls live together. You most definitely will be allowed out! The Community sits on a large piece of property that accommodates almost every terrain any of us were raised accustomed to. Certainly not the least of which is a small forest, though I naturally prefer the cliffs behind it. You'll have an apartment of your own and, while you're not supposed to be working with Quatre, will be able to roam across the grounds as you please. Come on, you should be seeing it, not hearing about it. You too, Quatre. You're going to have to find Trowa's new apartment for tomorrow's session."
When they left the Foundation's main building and were out in the open, it looked as though Trowa might bolt. Yet something prevented Trowa from trying to go back to the Deep. Quatre let out an inaudible sigh of relief. He wasn't going to loose Trowa. 'Humans must return to their own,' he remembered Safire saying many months ago.
The Community proved to be all Safire had said and more when they arrived. The atmosphere was of a peaceful, closely-knit group. Many of the people they passed called out greetings to Safire and were happy to meet Trowa. Quatre excepted that they had good reason to be more than a little reserved when acknowledging him. As he had gotten to know the other Interactives he had seen what Safire had said about unconscious negative behavior was true. He could not blame the Other Souls for their reactions when he was introduced as Trowa's Interactive.
The Community was like no where else in the kingdom. Humans moved and acted in ways unnatural to those raised human. Men and women jumped from tree branch to tree branch, howled in languages Quatre had never heard before, shuffled from place to place, ran on all fours, some even flew, hovering just above the ground by magic, be it naturally theirs or given to them by those who raised them. It occurred to Quatre then, that he had no idea what Trowa's natural behavior was like. The small locked apartment had not given Trowa the necessary range of motion, it seemed, to express himself. Quatre was sure that this new environment would make his friend happy.
Safire suddenly roared, surprising Quatre. Safire, though without a doubt an Other Soul, was so well adjusted that Quatre never suspected she would take to her own natural behavior once within the Community.
Trowa began looking about for the one Safire called to. Though he did not know the language, he knew a call from a challenge when it came to roars.
A boy with a waist length brown braid and violet eyes sprang into the air in a gravity defying leap, pulling on a stoic boy's arm as he turned to bound over in a series of jumps similar to the way some species of dragons raced, his flying braid compensating for the lack of any tail. As the boy, grinning openly, landed on all fours in front of Safire, the stoic boy gracefully walked over. Trowa noted the boy could only have received his grace from unicorns, watching as a tiny wildflower the boy stepped on not only sprang back up, unharmed, but grew.
"You called, my fellow dragon?" the braided boy asked mischievously as he stood upright and fell three heads short of Safire.
"Duo, I'd like you to meet Trowa, Cub of Barton. He's just gotten out of confinement. Trowa, this is Duo, Hatchling of Maxwell."
"Always glad to meet another Other Soul!" Duo exclaimed, his grin getting impossibly wide. "You'll like it here, Trowa. You can behave naturally and still have all the benefits of being human!"
"Duo was raised by faerie dragons, vegetarians. He
had never had meat before winding up at the Foundation," Safire told Trowa and
Quatre. "Trowa, the silent one coming up behind Duo is Heero, Colt of Yuy. Heero,
this is
Trowa, Cub of Barton."
"Hn."
Quatre felt a pang of envy as Trowa nodded his greetings to the other boys. These boys could be Trowa's friends, understand his position in relation to the rest of the human race, and spend social time with him that being normal and his position, the very office that allowed him to know Trowa, interfered with any such attempts of his own.
"And this is Quatre Winner, Trowa's Interactive," Safire introduced him.
Duo's wide grin never faltered, but the joy and carefree look left his eyes. "Hi. Interactives usually don't bring the Other Soul they work with down here. It's usually Safire or another. Is there a problem?"
"There's no problem, Duo," Safire interjected. "I invited Quatre to come along so he'd be able to find Trowa's new apartment tomorrow."
"That's unusual. What's up?"
"What do you mean?" Quatre asked.
"We never tell you Interactives where our apartments are, you have to find them. It usually takes about a week for you to do it."
"Is that how things normally work? Why?"
"Quatre's new. Trowa's his first assignment," Safire stated. "He's not like the others."
"We set things up that way so that the new guy gets a week off," Duo stated accepting what Safire had said, if not believing it.
"Do you want a week off, Trowa?" Quatre asked.
"He's offering him a week off!?!" Duo exclaimed and turned to Safire. "Interactives don't do things like that."
"Winners are generous and kind by nature. You don't believe a title would change that, do you?" Safire asked.
"You're part of the Winner family? Well that explains it then. I just thought you were part of another family named Winner. So many human families have the same names."
Quatre gave Duo an understanding smile and turned to Trowa. "Do you want a week off?"
Trowa looked about and nodded. I should get aquatinted with this area so that I can get away when I want to. I don't understand why I didn't head home as soon as I got out of that building. Something is holding me here.
"Well," Safire began. "Lets go see your apartment, Trowa."
"See you in a week, Trowa," Quatre said with a smile and a wave before leaving the other boy to his vacation.
Trowa did not respond, but watched the golden haired youth until he disappeared beyond some high bushes. Trowa set off to explore. He had been cooped up for too long to bare the sight of an apartment from the inside.
Trowa reached the forest and looked about to see no one. Trowa took off his shoes and with a sigh of release he let his magic flow free of constraint, feeling the sensation of his body's shape adjusting slightly. His face still expressionless, but his eyes alight, Trowa took to all fours, loving the feeling of grass and dirt beneath his now paw-like hands and feet. I'll never take this for granted again, he promised himself. Safire said I can act naturally here. She didn't lie when she spoke to me after my first session with Quatre. 'Quatre is a kind soul, you'll like him once you get to know him. I'm certain the pair of you will become good friends.' I trust Quatre, and Safire doesn't lie. I should be safe here. I've had such a hard time trusting since I came across those hunters. Sick creatures, if only they had sent me straight here. Trowa pulled his mind off it's current track and broke out in a run.
"Hey Trowa!" Duo called out two days later, bouncing like a cork bobbing in water. Trowa, who had been running through the forest, was surprised to find Duo, Heero and another boy come into view as their path brought them out from behind a bush and onto his own ahead of him. Trowa came to a stop before the group, remaining on all fours and looking up at the gravity-defying boy.
Duo regarded Trowa for a moment before continuing. "Hey, I wouldn't have pinned you as a morph! There really are no rules about who ends up with what abilities among us. Trowa, this is Wufei of the Chang. Wu-man, this is Trowa, Cub of Barton."
Neither boy spoke as they regarded each other, almost simultaneously giving the other a nod of acknowledgement. This one is a warrior, Trowa thought. He must have come from a group with a strong sense of honnour and justice. Trowa watched as Wufei's hair began to change colour several times.
"Duo! Duo can you hear me?" a voice cried out.
"Oh crap!" Duo exclaimed, the illusion of pink hair faded away just before Wufei could become aware of the Duo's spell. Duo grabbed Heero's shoulder as he descended to the ground. "It's Hilde! Hide me!"
"Hilde is the sister of Duo's Interactive," Wufei stated, sounding amused by his tormentor's distress. "She met Duo while looking for her brother and has been chasing him since."
Heero's stonic face never changed expression as he grabbed Duo and slung the boy over his shoulder, ignoring Duo's surprised protest, nodded to Trowa and Wufei and took off a speed a normal human would have to drive the average horse hard to achieve.
A black short haired girl came into view and rushed over upon seeing Wufei.
"Have you seen Duo, Wufei?"
"Yes, I have. It's hard not to see him if he wants to be seen, Onna."
"He promised not to hide from me!"
"He promised not to use his illusion magic to hide from you. As it is, he's not here. He's occupied at the moment with Heero. I don't know where exactly."
Hilde frowned for a moment, then noticed Trowa. "I'm sorry, you must think me rude. I'm Hilde."
Trowa did not respond. "Hilde, this is Trowa, Cub of Barton," Wufei supplied, hoping the information would send her on her way more quickly. "He's new and isn't much for small talk." Take a hint and leave, Onna!
"I know that name. Oh! So you're the boy that stirred things up a few months back. You must feel very privileged to have one of Mr. Winner's children for an Interactive."
"What?" Wufei asked. The founder of the Other Souls Foundation had thirty children, but the idea of any of them working in such a low position in one of the many Winner operations was ludicrous sounding.
"Quatre," Trowa stated with a nod. The smaller boy's face and blinding smile crossed Trowa's mind and he wondered what the blond boy was doing.
"You didn't know?" Hilde asked Wufei. "It was a big stir among the Interactives months ago. Quatre volunteered shortly after Trowa's arrival. It was a real big stir, not just because he volunteered, but because Safire argued Alistair down about what Quatre's assignment would be. You know how the Interactives feel about all the interference she causes and the authority the Dragon Girl has taken upon herself within the Foundation. And not even the strongest person in the Foundation would ever be crazy enough to confront someone as deadly as Safire." When her news was met by silence she sighed. "Nice to meet you Trowa. Now I can appreciate what my brother says about Quatre's skills. I can fully believe you didn't say a single word for weeks and after that it was months before you'd say a word to anyone but Quatre. Bye Wufei."
Hilde left and Wufei regarded Trowa with an appraising look. "Not a single word in any language?" Trowa did not respond. "The only one I know who could beat that would be Heero." The pair fell into silence for several minutes before Trowa gave Wufei a nod and took up his run.
* * *
The week ended and Quatre found Trowa waiting for him in his apartment as if he was still in his last set of rooms. "Good morning, Trowa." Quatre smiled, happy to see the taller boy. "Do you like it here?" Trowa nodded and went to sit down. "Would you like to have the session outside? Now that you live here, it is defiantly and option." An option you're bound to like considering you prefer being outdoors, Quatre thought. Trowa nodded a defiant yes to the suggestion.
Quatre didn't say anything when Trowa chose to go out barefoot and managed to keep his response to Trowa's slight change in form down to an astonished gasp. I never suspected he possessed magic, but then again, most Other Souls do, Quatre thought.
Trowa's arms and legs were the same length giving balance and grace on all fours others could never achieve, his hands and feet, while undeniably human-like in their appearance, resembled paws complete with claws. Trowa possessed a visible feline grace as he started to move towards the forest.
In the sessions following Trowa's move, Quatre began to
see another side of Trowa. During a session, Trowa acted as close to normal as he
could, but before and after, Quatre saw Trowa moving about in his slightly inhuman form.
The way the silent boy moved and responded told Quatre that his friend had been a
powerful hunter in the Deep.
Quatre watched silently as Trowa tensed. They were not on the grounds of the
Community, but approaching the edge of a busy market place. The next step in Trowa's
adjustment to the world he had come into was to move about in it. Trowa had never
seen so many humans, Quatre knew. There were more people in the market place on a
fair weather day than there were Other Souls. As usual, Trowa was silent as he moved
into the market place.
Quatre suppressed a grin as Trowa's tense body moved in such a way to make him think of a cat, with it's fur standing straight on end, alert but unable to track everything.
"Relax, Trowa. Very few people will even notice you. People are far too wrapped up in what they're doing."
As they moved through the market place, Trowa spoke more often than usual. Trowa had never been to a market place, to Quatre's knowledge, and had plenty of questions.
Trowa began to relax as time went on. He watched as Quatre bought things and obediently used Quatre's money to buy others as part of the session. Quatre was sure that Trowa would adjust well to the markets. The other boy was moving about the market without causing a disturbance and was interacting with the merchants beautifully.
Quatre's theories of an easy adjustment were torn to shreds when Trowa sounded a vicious growl. A startled Quatre followed the other boy's line of sight and saw a man selling the skins of animals. He was holding the skin of a large lion for the passerby to see.
Trowa snarled and people began to move away from the pair of boys. Flexing his fingers like claws, he began to move towards the merchant who remained oblivious to Trowa's presence. Quatre grabbed Trowa's arm to stop him.
"Trowa, no!"
Trowa whirled around like a tiger who's tail had been pulled. The snarl on his face faded away when he saw who held him, but the anger did not leave his eyes.
"We'd better go, Trowa," Quatre told him. Quatre's touch was light, but it remained to guide the other boy away from the merchant.
I could have thrown Quatre a good distance off and taken that man's throat in my jaws in a matter of seconds, Trowa thought. I could have, and if Quatre had been anyone else, I would have. It's the same as when I think of going home. Quatre is what keeps me here. My captors did not loose me from that apartment, they bound me with an even stronger force. I could never hurt Quatre.
"I was told you were raised by animals, Trowa," Quatre said as they left the market and started the walk back to the Community. "I'm sorry you had to see something that upsets you so much. But Trowa, that's a common sight. We eat meat and use the furs of what we kill to keep warm. You don't have to buy or endorse the selling of skins, but you can't stop it."
"Have you ever bought furs?" Trowa asked, his voice as flat as ever.
"Yes, Trowa." Trowa felt betrayed by the admission. "I won't lie to you. I've bought furs and have had them given to me as presents. Humans can find many uses for them and the fact we like the feel of fur is a big part of its appeal. We don't steal the fur off of everything around us, Trowa. We're not savages." Quatre fell silent.
Quatre, your power over me is incredible. What you have admitted to is absolutely sickening, but I'm forgiving you. And because I'm forgiving you, with time I know I'll have to forgive humans in general, Trowa thought.
Trowa learned to control his anger when he saw skins and interact in the market place. He only slipped up when someone tried to rob him, and Quatre did not mind in the least, telling Trowa the fright might encourage the pickpocket to find some other employment.
* * *
"So, this is the boy that takes up all of Quatre's time!" One of Quatre's many sisters exclaimed when Trowa was introduced.
"He doesn't take up all of my time," Quatre informed her. I get a day off each week and being with Trowa feels more like a vacation than a job.
Trowa looked past the young woman, introduced as Amy, to get a look at his surroundings. He was in a large hallway that lead to the large open doorways of two large rooms and ended in a grand staircase. The place was large and tasteful, lacking in any excessive shows of wealth.
"Dinner will be served in half an hour," Amy told the boys and left.
Trowa followed Quatre into the room on the left side of the hallway and found the room, like the hall, did not scream wealth save in its size. The room was decorated in portraits of the family at various stages of their lives.
"I hope you'll enjoy this evening, Trowa," Quatre broke the silence as Trowa studied a picture of a five year old Quatre smiling angelically as always. "The training is supposed to allow you to be able to interact within society, but does not consider weather or not you'll enjoy yourself. This isn't a session, Trowa, you're here as my friend. Please tell me if you are not enjoying yourself and we can bring the night to an early close." I want you to be able to enjoy yourself and relax among us, Trowa. So many Other Souls can not enjoy functions among normals, such as myself. I don't want you to be like that, Trowa. I want you in my world.
Bring the night to an early close? Quatre, this is the first gesture of friendship you have made towards me that didn't involve your job as my Interactive. Even if I don't enjoy a social evening with your family, I wouldn't bring an early end to this night and what it represents, Trowa thought.
Dinner was a very vocal one. The dinning room, large by the standards of any human, was filled with Mr. Winner's thirty children and members of the extended family. Trowa, sitting beside Quatre, would not have said much even if he had been as talkative as Duo. Many curious Winners were asking him polite questions, in rapid-fire succession, not giving him a chance to respond to any of them. Quatre was managing, in some way Trowa could not figure out, to answer all the questions directed at him and most of those directed at Trowa, with ease.
The appetizers were interrupted by the appearance of a late arrival, who's presence seemed to greatly surprise everyone. "I hope I'm not too late to join in," the young man stated.
"Jarvis," Mr. Winner stood up from his place at the head of the table. "What are you doing here?"
"This is the annual family gathering, for all who can make it, is it not? I am family, Uncle."
"You chose to disown yourself a long time ago by joining the King's service. You no longer belong here," one of Quatre's older cousins stated from beside Quatre and Trowa.
Jarvis turned to face his cousin and noticed Trowa. "Well 'ello, who's this?" Jarvis began to walk over to Trowa. "Did someone get married without my knowing and bring in new in-laws? I'm afraid I don't know this lad."
Quatre stood and placed himself between Trowa and Jarvis, glaring silently, as Jarvis neared.
"Quatre's friends are none of your concern," Mr. Winner stated. "Now get out."
"Must be one heck of a friend to get invited to a family dinner," Jarvis mussed. "Alright Uncle," the man threw his hands up, as if to ward off the older man's glare, mockingly. "I'm gone. But I'll be back." With that the man left, accompanied by a servant.
"That rat didn't come in through the front door," Juliet stated to Quatre.
"He's become clever enough to sneak in here, like
a thief. Never mind Jarvis, Trowa. He's just bitter his schemes and plans of
betrayal backfired and got him disowned instead of rich. The brat believes our
father should have inherited leadership of the family, just because he was the first born.
I couldn't believe it when he was caught dealing with the King against the family. And
with some crazy idea that with father dead he ought to be the one leading the family.
He deserves what he got and worse." Juliet shook her head. "The
idea of money turns some men greedy then dangerous. But I'm going on about a topic we
should be forgetting. Have you seen the gardens? Quatre should show them to you.
They're stunning."
The social activities after dinner carried long into the night and surprised Quatre once
things slowed down enough for him to realize the time. I can't send Trowa home this late
at night. "Rashid," Quatre called.
"Yes, Master Quatre?" the mammoth servant asked.
"Please see that my guest quarters are in order. It would be wrong to send Trowa home so late."
"Yes, Master Quatre."
"Trowa, it's getting late," Quatre said to his friend. "You're more than welcome to stay the night." Quatre broke out in another blinding smile at Trowa's nod. In some ways I wish the night would never end. It's nice to be with Trowa without my position as an Interactive defining what I can do and can't. Sometimes I worry our friendship might end with the completion of Trowa's adjustment, and that's the last thing I want.
The two boys turned in for the night and Quatre was just drifting off when a vicious snarl awoke him. Growls, punctuated with snarls and thumps came through the walls from the guest quarters beside his room. Quatre barely took the time to grab his housecoat before rushing out of his room, putting the robe on, and barging into Trowa's to stop whatever was attacking him.
Quatre found Trowa kicking and slashing out blindly in his sleep, shredding the bed sheets into a state to match his pillow - that's contents were floating through the air - with his claws, as he fought a nightmare.
"Trowa," Quatre called out, not quite capable of getting close to the other boy without being turned into a bloody mess, first. "Trowa, wake up."
Even in his sleep, Trowa registered Quatre's voice and
his adjustment training kicked in. As the boy continued to fight his phantoms, he
changed languages and his body became fully human in shape. "Away! Get away, you
sick monsters! Return my freedom! Let me return to my people. I am Cub of Barton!
You can not break me! Torturous creatures with nets! Get away! Get away! Get
away! Don't touch me!" Trowa let out a desperate mew as Quatre tried to shake him
awake. "Oh, please stop!"
"Trowa!" Quatre cried out in distress as the other boy awoke, a look of pure terror on his face before he was totally awake. His face lost all expression as he became aware of his surroundings. "You were having a nightmare, Trowa," Quatre stated, his face contorted with anguish. "Oh, Trowa. The hunters.They - they didn't - "
Trowa gave the smaller boy a single nod.
Quatre trembled with the pain Trowa could not show while he was awake. The hard truth of the matter was there would be no justice for Trowa. The kingdom's laws would not protect an Other Soul's rights in such matters. The King, himself, hated Other Souls vilely and tolerated them only so that he could avoid a confrontation with the richest family in the kingdom - richer than the royal family itself.
* * *
"Hey Trowa," Derk, son of Dom, Trowa's next
door neighbour called out the next afternoon. "I didn't see you come home last night.
That Interactive of yours keep you out all night?" Trowa's lack of response didn't
faze the
loudmouth who had grown up among cold ice drakes. "That's one weird Interactive you
have. He sure does like to work at all hours. Boy, won't you be glad when you
can drop him at the end of your adjustment. Normally Safire's got a real gift for putting
agreeable personalities together - just look at Heero and Duo! They're a real pair, never
would have seen the possibility of them even getting through a conversation! - But she
messed up with you and that Interactive. I don't know how she ever thought an Other
Soul and an Interactive could be friends - Hey! Where you going?"
My time with Quatre is nearing an end, Trowa thought
uncomfortably as he walked away from the clueless young man. That was what last night was
about. Quatre doesn't want our friendship to end with the completion of his
assignment. Quatre binds me to this place, but I could not stand it without it.
Trowa broke out in his usual afternoon run. His friendship is everything to me.
I must return his gesture. I must show him I want him around, that I always
want him with me.
Quatre was surprised one evening a week later when Trowa invited him to stay for the evening. Interactives, as an unspoken rule, were well clear of the Community by nightfall. His presence could put Trowa in an awkward position with the others. Trowa would have realized that long before he gave the invitation, which only strengthened the gesture of friendship.
The late summer sun was setting and a harvest moon was rising, escorted by a light blanket of mist, as the quiet pair of boys walked through the forest. When the two had left Trowa's apartment after dinner, they had met with almost an instant challenge by a slight woman by the name of Siliva. Trowa had not expected a confrontation so early on. He had pounced on the woman, knocking her to the ground roughly. As the pair neared the cliffs, the words he had growled at Siliva echoed in his mind. 'Quatre is my closest friend. He means the world to me. You'll leave him alone.' He had not thought before he had spoken and he doubted Quatre had heard his soft words. Now that they had been spoken, he had to examine the revelations they carried about how he truly felt about Quatre.
Quatre was his world. At some point in those first few weeks, trapped in that set of rooms, he had grown to like Quatre. He had spoken to Quatre to prevent the loss of the only positive thing he could grasp. After that a friendship began. It had become so strong that had not ever gone home. Or that had been how it had seemed. Deep down, Trowa realized, something else was beginning to grow. Something else that lay hidden, now, under the guise of friendship.
Trowa became aware of something in the bush ahead of
them. He realized what was there and crouched, readying for the pounce. Quatre
stopped and turned, but failed to ask his question before Trowa sprang on the bush,
sending a cloud of Monarc butterflies, gathering for their migration south, into the air.
Quatre smiled and laughed with amusement as Trowa darted in different directions,
chasing after the insects, batting at them, with
paw-like hands, playfully like a kitten.
Follow your instincts, follow your feelings, if you want to know how you truly feel about Quatre, Trowa thought as the last of the butterflies escaped and Quatre walked forward, smiling.
Trowa moved towards Quatre and jumped so that his arms landed heavily on Quatre's shoulders. A surprised Quatre was knocked to the ground before he could utter a word.
Quatre pushed himself up on his elbows, shocked to find himself trapped under the weight of the taller boy. Even more shocking was the fact that Trowa began butting his head against his face like an affectionate cat. Had Trowa been physically capable of it, Quatre was sure the boy would be purring. Trowa licked his cheek and pulled back to bring himself face to face with Quatre.
Quatre found himself falling into the green of Trowa's eyes, as if he was losing himself in the Deep itself. He leaned forward and caught the other boy's mouth in a clumsy kiss. This is right, he thought. By the stars, this feeling couldn't be wrong. I didn't want to admit to myself even the suspicions that I loved him, but I can't deny it with him so close.
The kiss broke as the pair came up for air. There was a gleam in Trowa's eyes that didn't come from the dying light and a faint smirk on his usually expressionless face. "You do care," the Other Soul stated softly.
"More than I can say," Quatre replied, learning the depths of his love for the Other Soul as he responded.
"When your assignment is complete."
"I'll still be here, if you want me," Quatre breathed as he reached out to touch Trowa's face. Trowa leaned into Quatre's hand.
"I want you near," Trowa told him softly. "Now and always."
Safire, sitting on her favorite ledge on the cliff, one that reminded her of her home with Flame, smiled at two figures below, who soon became lost in the mists. It's about time, she thought. She arched her back and bat-like glossomer wings appeared. Safire let out a roar that echoed across the Community and took to the moonlit sky, leaving the two boys to their privacy.
* * *
Trowa felt a pang of pain as Quatre went through the official congratulations and final instructions. This was their last session. Quatre would not be around as often, and he would start to work. He had applied at one of the many stores run by Quatre's family and had been hired. He did not believe he would enjoy 'making a living,' but what was necessary was necessary. He was no longer supplied by the Foundation.
"Do you know who your next partner is?" Trowa asked.
"There's a woman who has been nothing but trouble
the six months she's been here, named Une the Flightless. I'm to try to help her.
The poor woman was raised by harpies and apparently suffers from a split
personality because of it. One is, with out a doubt, a harpy in behavior. The
other is sweet and kind, possibly her natural temperament." Quatre hugged Trowa.
"I'll be around if you need me and I'll visit as often as I can." Trowa
kissed
Quatre and the Interactive left for home.
Trowa's job at the store, selling a variety of goods, supplied him with the money he needed to keep up his lifestyle, but left him wanting only to escape back to his world in the heart of the Deep. All thoughts of leaving for his childhood home were washed away by the least reminder of Quatre.
Quatre's work with Une was slow and dangerous. Magicless, Une had somehow survived among the harpies by being as cruel or crueler than the harpies themselves. As a result, Quatre was endangered by her cruel and devious side. The few times the kinder personality surfaced were laced with the danger of the harpy within surfacing suddenly and violently.
Neither boy enjoyed the new turn in their lives and took every advantage they could to be together after work. The pair were happy together and found Quatre's place as an Interactive caused less and less aggravation among the Other Souls. Derk, a hard core believer in the there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-good-Interactive philosophy let it slip that Safire had said a few well placed words in the right areas of the Community to quell those who would protest Quatre's more than frequent visits. The boys did not object in the least to the most influential of the Other Souls interceding on their behalf, especially when she proved to be discreet.
Quatre and Trowa were running through the forest in the late fall, enjoying an Indian Summer. Quatre running ahead, turn his head to see Trowa leisurely following with the grace of a jungle master and laughed. He put on a burst of speed and moved further ahead. Taking the challenge, Trowa also sped up and caught the blond, slipping under his legs so that they fell together in a heap.
The pair affectionately sat together at the base of a tree as Quatre tried to catch his breath. Quatre's breathing slowed and he smiled at Trowa. A faint smile replied as Trowa's eyes spoke volumes that neither his face nor voice ever could express. Trowa butted Quatre's shoulder with his accustomed cat-like behavior before leaning in to kiss him.
As the boys were absorbed by the passion of their kiss, a net was dropped, effectively trapping them. Trowa let out a howl and began to slash at the ropes. No! Let me out! Not again! Don't steal me from this too! Several men moved in, two raising clubs. Everything went black.
Cold stone. The sensation was the first thing that registered as Quatre awoke. He lifted his throbbing head to look about at his surroundings. He was in a windowless room lit by lamps. There was no furniture or anything to hide the plain marble of the chamber's floor and walls.
"Well, look who decided to join the livin'!"
Quatre turned to look behind him, head protesting painfully, to find Jarvis grinning at him malevolently. "Where am I? Where is Trowa?" Jarvis expression turned pure evil as he looked at his younger cousin.
"I'm no lowly servant that will meekly tell you what you want to know."
At that point, guards escorted Trowa into the room and roughly pushed him so that he stumbled, before leaving. Trowa moved over to Quatre, ignoring Jarvis, and checked the smaller boy for injuries.
"I see you decided to cooperate, animal," Jarvis smiled evilly. "You've got your pet well trained, Cousin. He'll do anything for your sake. Even betray those that raised him."
"Trowa, what's going on?"
"King Travole is using you to force me to show the way to the Enchanted Kingdom."
"Enchanted Kingdom?"
"He doesn't know?" Jarvis asked with a laugh. "Cousin, you should learn a thing or two about someone before suckin' faces with them the way the Purple Guard described seeing the two of you!" The laughing man ignored the dangerous look in Trowa's visible eye. When he calmed down, he continued conversationally. "In the heart of the Deep lies a kingdom of animals, known in the ancient days as the Enchanted Kingdom. The King told me about the legends. All knowledge of them is lost beyond the palace. These talking animals are capable of creating the rarest of gems in a matter of moments. It's said that the first King of Chaz gained his fortune and power from a mere peasant of this kingdom. A kingdom lead by a lion. A lion named Barton."
Quatre looked to Trowa, who nodded.
"Now your pet is going to lead us there."
"How did you find out about Trowa?" Quatre demanded.
"I doubt this will surprise you, if you have any intelligence that hasn't died from lack of use in your luxury riddled world. It's no secret that King Travole hates Other Souls and your father. Of course he gathers all the information possible on both. The name of your first successful assignment would, of course, draw attention. Rest well animal. Tomorrow you'll show us the way to our fortunes." Jarvis left, locking the door behind him.
"Rest," Trowa told Quatre.
"Trowa," Quatre began. "If you take them to this kingdom - "
"They'll have to face fate through my people. Rest. I could not convince the king not to bring you on this journey." Trowa gently forced Quatre to lie back down. Trowa lied down beside Quatre, who slowly fell asleep to the sound of his beloved's heat beat.
Trowa remained awake. Forgive me, Barton, he silently begged. The King of Chaz and all who follow him into the Deep will regret it if they are lucky enough to have that much time. I, Cub of Barton, swear it. Trowa head butted Quatre softly. Please forgive me, Angel. I agreed to this to protect you, but we may not survive this yet.
So this is the Deep, Quatre thought as the group moved into the forest on foot. Trowa had told them they would be passing over terrain that horses could not handle. This is the forest so deep that no one has ever reached the other end of it. At least no one who's returned to tell of it.
Weeks later, Trowa let out a sigh, his breath visible in front of him in the dying light. He was back in the territory surrounding the actual kingdom, which was riddled with traps and deterrents to keep outsiders out of the kingdom. He could feel the boundary spell as he passed thought it. No one from Chaz would, though. The boundary spell was for the people of the Enchanted Kingdom alone. This will end soon. One way or another.
A day and a half later, Trowa called a stop in a clearing. The Kingdom was only accessible in the human world during certain phases of the Moon, Sun or Seasons. One of those phases would start that night and the kingdom would become visible in the clearing. The guards set up camp as the King paced, impatient for the Sun to set.
Trowa sat down beside Quatre where he had been bound, hand and foot, and left by a tree. The guards had grown lax as it was proven that Trowa would keep his end of the bargain.
"Just before Sunset, I will free you and when I say you must run as fast and as far away from here as you can. Quatre I - "
"I won't abandon you, Trowa. I love you, I can't."
"You must," Trowa pressed a small emerald into Quatre's hand. "No harm will come to me, but I can't be sure of your safety here come nightfall. Hold on to that. It will keep you safe beyond this clearing."
"Trowa."
"If you'll not leave for your safety, go for mine. I will place myself between you and any danger that arises."
A clawed hand swiped through Quatre's bonds as the Sunset. Quatre looked about for the danger Trowa feared. "Go!" Trowa pushed Quatre towards the trees.
A guard saw Quatre escaping and raised the alarm. As the guards headed towards the blond, Trowa ran off towards the trees in another direction.
"The animal!" Jarvis cried out. "The animal is the one we need."
The guards quickly captured Trowa, sparing him too much damage, aware that the creatures they were about to face were ruled by the one who raised the boy.
The Sun disappeared beyond the horizon and the clearing filled with mists lit by mysterious multicoloured lights. The group watched in awe, the guards still holding Trowa in a viselike grip. The wall of mists disappeared slowly, revealing the buildings of a civilization decorated, in moderation, with precious gem, and streets lit by torches. As the humans stared in wonderment at the magical civilization, with streets peopled with casually strolling animals, a group of kangaroos, hopping in a military formation, came towards them. The kangaroos attacked the humans, taking them prisoner and roughly separating them from Trowa.
"It is good to see you again, Your Highness," the lead kangaroo stated to Trowa.
* * *
No one is following me, Quatre confirmed and turned back the way he came. I have to help Trowa.
Quatre stared at the Enchanted Kingdom from the trees surrounding the clearing. The place was beautiful, but he had no idea what had become of Trowa, and in his concern, could not appreciate it.
As Quatre stood just beyond the edge of the clearing, the group of kangaroos approached. The kangaroos spread out in a semicircle around Quatre's position and the one in the center of the line stepped forward. "Are you Quatre Winner?"
"Yes."
"Come with us," the kangaroo instructed. Quatre stepped into the clearing and followed behind the kangaroo as he turned and headed into the kingdom. The remaining kangaroos formed two lines flanking Quatre. The party walked through the streets, drawing stares from the varied species of animals that made up the kingdom's populace.
The kangaroos took Quatre to a cave made of emerald. All but the lead kangaroo remained outside as Quatre was escorted into the cave.
It was painfully bright inside the cave after being outside. The cave was lit by a single torch, the light of which was reflected off the emerald walls. Sitting on a ledge in the back of the cavern was a large, emerald-eyed lion with a regal air. The lion wore no crown signifying his rule, but the magnificent beast did not need so mundane a statement.
"I am Barton. Humans might say King. You are Quatre?"
The one who raised Trowa. "Yes, Your Majesty."
"Then you have the stone. Place it in your mouth. If you are Quatre Winner, nothing will happen. If you are not Quatre Winner, you will be poisoned."
They know my name and about the stone only Trowa knew about. They must have spoken with Trowa. Where is he? Is he okay? Quatre wondered. There's probably very little doubt about who I am. This is a test of something else then. Obedience? Bravery? Quatre put the stone he had been holding tightly since Trowa gave it to him in his mouth and waited for permission to take it out. The kangaroo grunted his approval.
"You can take it out now, you've passed the test. Dry it off and give it to Da'Roo. It was meant to protect you from the traps surrounding this land. You will no longer need its magic. Cub of Barton has made it known to the kingdom that you are a friend and the traps shall not harm you."
Quatre wiped off the stone and handed it to the kangaroo. As Da'Roo took the stone, Quatre became aware of a second lion. In what Quatre had originally taken for the shadow of the ledge Barton sat on, there was an exit from the cavern, leading deeper into the cave. The young lion was smaller and skinner than Barton, not yet full grown, and part of his mane hid one of his emerald eyes. I've seen that lion before.
The lion lowered his head to the ground before Barton.
Barton dipped his head and the young lion barely stood up before enthusiastically
walking over to Quatre. Upon reaching Quatre, the lion jumped so that his forepaws
brushed Quatre lightly, but hard enough that the boy was knocked over. The lion,
purring happily, head butted the startled boy and licked him.
"I'm glad you're safe."
"Trowa!?!"
"Yes," Trowa answered, changing forms and becoming the boy Quatre knew.
"It's me."
"You thought Cub of Barton was human?" Da'Roo asked in surprise.
"He had every reason to," Trowa stated,
watching the expression of the boy pinned under him. "We can not hold our true
forms beyond our territory, and I did not risk the kingdom by stating what I am. I
did not discourage
anyone's belief about what I was."
"You even had us believing you couldn't speak our language, yet everyone here can," Quatre mentioned.
"This is an enchanted kingdom," Barton stated. "No matter what language you speak, you'll be understood."
"Then Safire was wrong about why you were at the Foundation. You really were a prisoner." Quatre's expression of amazement turned to confusion. "Why didn't you go home as soon as you were let of your first set of rooms?"
"By that time you had already gained control of my heart."
"Why did you leave this kingdom in the first place?" Quatre asked the question Trowa had expected next.
Trowa shrugged almost indiscernibly. "To see what I would find."
"And you found yourself inescapably entangled with a human youth," Da'Roo stated.
An entanglement I never want to escape. Only Quatre can sever this connection and, thankfully, he won't.
"A body-mother can be found when my son is Barton and must produce an heir, since his chosen mate can not give him one," Barton told Da'Roo.
Trowa watched Quatre with a sympathy his face did not reveal as his father and the kangaroo spoke, excluding the two boys. Learning what he has about me would come as a shock, and he has not had the opportunity to come to terms with it. Now he's listening to my father and Da'Roo planning out details of our futures.
"Father," Trowa broke into the conversation of his seniors. "Might we be excused?"
"Of course, my son," Barton replied. Trowa stood up and helped Quatre to his feet. The prince then proceeded to lead Quatre deeper into the emerald maze.
"Normally, you are the talkative one," Trowa informed Quatre as they walked.
"I haven't quite digested everything that has just happened," Quatre replied. "You are certainly more vocal here."
"Within the Emerald Cave, it is sacrilege to speak anything less than the whole truth. And as one of the Emerald Lions I am incapable of not being open and completely truthful here."
"What happened to King Travole and his men?"
Trowa did not answer right away. "It's best if you don't know, Quatre. There was nothing you could do for them." Trowa turned and entered the entrance to a small cavern. "These were my chambers when I lived here," Trowa stated as Quatre followed him in. Trowa turned to Quatre. "They are to be ours until winter ends and we return to Chaz."
"You're not going to stay here now that you're home?" Quatre asked.
Trowa shook his head. "I will return to Chaz so that I can be with you as long as possible. When it is time to come back, I hope that you will choose to come with me." Trowa closed the distance between himself and Quatre. "This is not your world, Quatre. It is very different, but I believe you could be happy here with me."
"With you, Trowa," Quatre began as Trowa drew him into an embrace, "I could be happy anywhere. We are meant to be together, now and always."
Trowa gave Quatre a faint smile, his visible eye
sparkling, and proceeded to give Quatre a tour.
* * *