Gundam Wing

Disclaimer: I don’t own Gundam Wing;. I just borrowed some of the characters. Rated: NC-17

Reluctant Companion

Chapter

Milliardo stood for a moment then went back to his work. He’d done all the glass ware, carefully so as not to break anything. Now he had all the pots, pans, distilling equipment and some things he had no idea what they were to wash. He set to it, grumbling sourly under his breath.

He was thirsty by the time he got done with his task so he tried to get a drink. Only he couldn’t figure out how to get the water into his mouth. He had no trouble swallowing but the way the gag was made he couldn’t get the water under it. He tried every way he could think of.

“Just exactly what do you think you’re doing?”

Wufei eyed Milliardo’s wet chest and the cup clutched in his hand and sighed. “Thirsty? I should have thought of that. Damn. Come along then.”

Wufei led the way to the sitting area, fetched the key from his desk drawer and unlocked the gag. “If you think you can contain yourself I’ll leave it off. But be warned, I’m not going to put up with insolence from you, or anybody.”

Milliardo worked his jaw for a moment then croaked, “thank you” in a rather sullen manner. Wufei started to say something then just handed him a jug from the side table. ‘Here, drink all you want. Then you will either give me your vow of obedience or be gagged again.”

Milliardo drank two cups of water then gave Wufei an assessing look. Wufei just gazed back at him with a stony expression. Milliardo gave back the cup and started to rise.

“Will you give me your vow?”

Milliardo just shook his head, “No! And you’ll not get that gag back on me either. It took three of you, now it’s only you.”

Wufei just shook his head. “I swear you don’t have the brains Anchora gave a goose. If you don’t let me do this I’ll compel you and you really won’t like it.”

Milliardo just sneered. Wufei pushed his sleeves up a bit, made a few Ingea, the mystical hand gestures that were needed for some magic, chanted and suddenly Milliardo found himself inserting the gag into his own mouth. He struggled against it but he only wound up hurting himself. When he got the gag back into his mouth Wufei did up the buckles then sat back down.

“I dislike doing that very much. So now you’ll have an extra chore to do. And you will do it won’t you.”

Milliardo nodded. He ached all over from the strain of trying to keep his rebellious muscles from accomplishing their appointed task. He couldn’t find the strength to be defiant just now so he agreed.

“You will write one hundred times ‘I will not force Master Chang to compel me again.’ do you understand?”

Milliardo nodded again, accepted the cheap paper and the pen. He motioned to the nearby, smaller, student desk and raised his eyebrows. Wufei nodded majestically, Milliardo just settled in the chair, arranged his materials and began writing.

When he finally finished his fingers were ink stained and cramped. He was also hungry, and thirsty again. He got up and handed the papers to Wufei. Wufei examined the first sheet, several from the middle of the pile and the last one. The writing on them was neat, uniform and rather stilted.

Wufei tossed the pages into the fire then told Milliardo, “Well done. Come to the table. I’ll feed you as soon as Cook brings the tray.”

Milliardo followed Wufei obediently enough. He knelt next to Wufei’s chair and waited to be fed. He was beginning to wonder if he was losing his mind. But if he wasn’t obedient he didn’t get fed and he was very hungry.

Wufei held the piece of chicken in front of MIlliardo’s lips and waited. Milliardo carefully took it, using only his lips. He wondered if it was something or just that Wufei was afraid he’d bite. He was careful to keep his teeth well away from Wufei’s fingers.

Wufei watched Milliardo carefully, he wouldn’t put it past him to bite, which was why he said no teeth. He fed his slave with his fingers and didn’t fancy losing one.

Wufei sighed and shifted in his chair. He was tired and his feet ached.

When Milliardo had been fed and given not only water but a cup of tea, Wufei handed him the tray and told him to take it back to the kitchen.

“And be careful. Don’t drop it and don’t annoy Cook. She won’t care who you are. She took a spoon to Heero’s butt so you’re definitely not safe.”

Milliardo took the tray and headed for the kitchens. It was only a short walk across the back side of the keep but it took him a bit of time to make it. It was difficult to walk in the running chains and carry something at the same time. He had to keep the tray close to his body at his waist so that there was enough slack to balance it properly.

He finally managed to get to the kitchens and announced, “I’m here. Where do you want this?”

The large woman at the central table turned around and stared for a moment. Milliardo preened, women found him irresistible. He didn’t realize that it was his money and title that made him so. He waited for her to come take the tray but she just cleared her throat and pointed, “Put it there. I don’t guess you could wash the dishes what with those chains and all. Best get back to Master Wufei. He’ll have one of his rages if you tarry too long.”

MIlliardo gaped at the woman for a moment which made her snort. “Well, are you simple? Put the tray on the sink. One of the scullions will wash the dishes. You go on now.” Cook sighed when Milliardo didn’t show any sign of doing anything but stand and blink. “Here. Give that to me. I’ll see it taken care of. Now, you get back home again.” Cook took the tray from Milliardo, handed it off to a scullion and turned him around by pulling gently on one arm. She steadied him for a second then sent him on his way with a gentle push. Milliardo was so stunned by her disregard of his gorgeousness that he let her do it and didn’t react until he was nearly back to the apothecary. Then he stopped walking for a moment, swore then continued back to his master.

Wufei watched as his slave jingled his way back into the room. He hated listening to the racket but he knew that Milliardo hadn’t learned much yet. He sighed and called, “Milli, come here.” A wordless snarl was his answer.

Milliardo clenched his temper with both fists. His mock surrender wasn’t going to be effective if he lost it.

“I’m coming, just a moment.” Milliardo walked to stand in front of Wufei’s desk.

“Have you brought in the water yet? If not, do you know how to use the yoke?”

Milliardo shook his head. “No and no.” Milliardo couldn’t believe it. This brat was actually telling him he had to haul water? All his good intentions flew right out the window. “I’m not some dumb ox to carry trays and haul water. I’m a prince and don’t you forget it.”

Wufei stood up, slapped Milliardo so quickly and so hard that he tangled in his chains and fell. Wufei towered over him in a rage. “You’re an idiot, that’s what you are. And less useful than an ox. At least an ox knows its place and can be depended on to do its work. You’re so useless that even your sister doesn’t want you around. Fomenting rebellion!?” Wufei put his foot on Milliardo’s chest to keep him from rising even to his knees. Milliardo was forced to lie on his back staring up at Wufei’s furious face. “Your kingdom has been an unbroken matriarchy for more than fifteen hundred years. UN-broken. You were pampered and spoiled as the older son. Your role was well defined. You were supposed to be Relena’s right-hand man. Commander of the armies. Her shield and support. Instead you turned out to be a vapid, spoiled, self-serving, self-centered, weak minded ...” Wufei seemed to run out of insults. He stood panting in fury for a moment then grabbed Milliardo by the hair. “Get up. I’ll have to remove the chains so you can haul the water, but they go back on the second you’re done. And do please fight me. I’m in the mood for a fight and you might as well be my whipping boy. I’m sure yours got quite a work out.”

Wufei unchained Milliardo but dragged him to the door where the yoke was kept. Milliardo tried to fight, to pull back, something but Wufei kept tripping him jerking on the chains or sticking a foot between his feet. Milliardo knew he had to get himself together quickly or he was done for but he didn’t seem to be able to do it. Wufei slammed him against the door frame hard enough to stun him. He felt the weight of something on his shoulders and tried to throw it off. Instead he got a hard punch to the solar plexus that left him gasping for air. By the time he sucked in enough air to make his brain work again Wufei had locked the yoke around his neck and was waiting for him.

“I’ll show you how to do it once. And don’t think I don’t know exactly what I’m doing. I was punished by having to do exactly this when I was a young priest. Come.”

Wufei’s sharp hand gesture angered Milliardo all over again. He followed Wufei to the pump and stood as he showed him how to work the pump. It was difficult with the yoke still around his neck but it could be done.

He had to work the pump to fill the overhead tank. Then all he had to do was pull the cord to the filling pipe and wait for the buckets to fill. It wasn’t easy but it was simple. Wufei let him back to the apothecary and showed him how to dump the buckets into the cans.

“It will take you several trips to fill all the cans and fill them properly. No shorting them or over filling either. Do it right or I’ll have the stable boys take the water to the horses and you’ll do it all over again. I’m not going to mess around with you. Your easy days are over. You’ll either learn to be useful or you’ll learn to like the lash.”

Milliardo couldn’t help he next remark. Not even if he tried. “What if I do like it?” He couldn’t believe he’d just said that. Wufei gave him a sharp look then raised an eyebrow.

“There’s a lot of difference between erotic play and punishment. Haul water. Go.”

Milliardo hauled. It took him nearly all the rest of the morning. He was tired, irritable and sweaty by the time he was done, so when Wufei unlocked the yoke he struck without thinking. His palm cracked across Wufei’s face. Wufei didn’t even blink. Milliardo started to smirk at him. Wufei struck back.

He slapped Milliardo across the cheek and his return blow cracked loudly as his knuckles impacted on a cheekbone. Milliardo’s head snapped from one side to the other. But Wufei didn’t stop there. He twisted Milliardo’s arm up behind his back and pinned him against the wall. He wedged his knee between Milliardo’s and pried them apart.

“I could take you, you know. And no one would protest it. But I won’t because you’re not worthy. I wouldn’t, as Duo says, fuck you with someone else’s dick. That wasn’t wise of you. I could have your hands cut off, have you branded on each cheek, or perhaps fucked to death by every guardsman in the keep. Only they wouldn’t have you on a bet.”

Wufei called the guards and gave them his orders. Milliardo was dragged out into the stables, put belly down over a barrel and tied in place. One of the stable men commented, “Master told us we could do anything we wanted. Be glad that we’re all lovers of women. And that none of us have a taste for cruelty. I’m sure you know what was done to young Duo. Think about it. If you don’t get yourself under control, Master Wufei might sell you. Believe me when I say, that’s not a good thing. Not at all.”

Milliardo struggled for a while then stopped as it wasn’t doing him any good and all the stable crew were laughing at him.

He stayed there for the rest of the day. By the time he was released he was hungry, thirsty and in fierce need of relieving himself. He darted for the jakes the minute he was loose. No one tried to stop him as it was evident where he was going. He took the few moments of real privacy to have a bout of the shakes. This wasn’t going the way he thought it should. Master Wufei was much better at hand-to-hand than he had any right to be. Milliardo was rapidly realizing that his first impression was true. He was here. And he was staying. Master Wufei had the upper hand and was probably going to keep it. He hung his head at the thought.

Wufei waited for the stable master to come tell him how things had gone. The man smiled at Wufei. “Stubborn one, that he is. Over that barrel all afternoon. Made a run for the jakes the second we cut him loose. No one touched him of course, but you could see he was afraid someone would. Dunno why you’re puttin’ up with him. You could do so much better than him.”

Wufei just sighed. “Do you really think anyone weaker than he could stand my temper?”

The Stable Master considered this for a while then shook his head. “Guess not. But you’re goin’ to have a time with him. No doubt about that. Best treat him like an out of control war horse. That’s my advice.”

Wufei nodded. “I know. But I still haven’t found the carrot. I’ve got the stick. Well, see that he makes it back here, would you?”

“Certainly, Lord Dragon. Wouldn’t do for him to get lost, now would it?”

The stable master went to make sure that Milliardo didn’t ‘get lost’ on the way back to the residence. He didn’t have to go far to find him. Milliardo was struggling in the grasp of two guards.

“Whot’s this now?”

“We caught him wandering around here. Isn’t he supposed to be in the master’s house?”

“He is but Master sent him down stables as a punishment. He was supposed to be on his way back.”

One of the guards nodded. “Well, that’s what he said and he was pointed in the right direction. We wasn’t sure what was goin’ on so one of us was gonna stay here and the other got to the master to ask what was should do. We was decidin’ who was gonna do what when you came along.”

“Well, just take him where he belongs. Master Wufei sent me to make sure he would up back there. You’re savin’ me the time it ‘ud take.”

The two guards tugged their forelocks to the stable master and hustled Milliardo on his way. He objected vigorously, tugging at their hands as best he could with the running chains back on. They ignored him and when they got back to the dwelling just shoved him in the door. He stumbled and managed to bump into one of the tables. Wufei looked up from his research and said, “Don’t bother anything on those tables, if you please. Or even if you don’t. Some of the solutions are not safe for the ignorant to tamper with.” He rose to his feet and motioned for Milliardo to come with him. “I need this chopped. I’ll show you exactly how it must be done. And don’t foul it up. It won’t do me much damage. These are just common, cheap herbs. But I’ll punish you for any disobedience. In case you haven’t figured that out yet. So ... here’s the knife. There are the herbs. Chop. Fine mince, no stems.”

Milliardo dragged his aching body to full height and looked down his nose at wufei. “Exactly what do you think I am. A scullion? I don’t chop ...” Milliardo didn’t get any farther Wufei smacked him in the mouth.

“You are the stupidest, most stubborn ... do you have a death wish. Or are you just incapable of learning? Chop those herbs or I’ll have you returned to the pit. With a beating.”

Milliardo thought as he chopped the herbs, exactly as Wufei had shown him, and he came to some very bitter conclusions. He had hoped that this was just another of Relena’s attempts to ‘get through’ to him or that he was somehow going to come out on top of the situation. Now that he’d had five days of journeying in chains and he knew not how many days in the pit, he realized that he was never going back to Sanque, he was never going to be free and he was never going to get used to it. He’d made his bed, now he had to lie in it, no matter that it was full of thorns. He’d bend but he was damned if he’d break.

Wufei came back to check on Milliardo and found him just standing staring at the herbs he was supposed to be chopping. He took one look at Milliardo’s face and refrained from comment. The tears trickling down his cheeks told Wufei his thoughts were bitter, so he just turned around and left.

He came back making noise enough that Milliardo heard him. Milliardo swipped the tears off his face and began chopping again.

Wufei checked on his work, measured the amount he’d done then told Milliardo that he needed at least four times that much. Milliardo took another swipe at his eyes with his sleeve.

“I’m sorry. I got distracted. I’ll ... do better.” Milliardo nearly choked on the words but he managed them.

“You’re doing fine. I’m sure it’s hard to learn a new skill. When you’re done come to me.”

Wufei walked away with a feeling of relief, he hoped Milliardo’s epiphany lasted at least a little while.

Milliardo couldn’t believe how good the simple praise made him feel. He couldn’t remember when he’d last gotten praise for anything.

Milliardo sighed. He was sleeping on the floor again. He’d managed to get the chopping done without cutting himself or spoiling the product, but he still couldn’t control his mouth. So the gag was back in place. He wearily put his head down and tried to sleep.

Wufei settled in his bed and stared at the ceiling. He was going to strangle Duo then beat Heero to death with Duo’s braid. This was a disaster. The only thing that kept him going was the simple fact that he’d promised Heero to give it his best. But was his best going to be good enough? He wasn’t sure yet.

Wufei pulled the covers up to his shoulder, grumbled ‘And he almost forgot the bath water’ and fell asleep.