Gundam Wing

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

Reluctant Companion

Chapter 9

They slept completely through the night and woke to bird song and sun shining in the window. Directly into Wufei’s face and Milliardo found that Wufei could be a very grumpy dragon indeed.

“Milliardo, get up. Now.” Milliardo rolled out of the bed looking for their attackers. “Shut those damn curtains and come back to bed.”

Milliardo just did as he was told. The weather had turned decidedly sharp over the last week and it was cool in the room. As he crawled back into the bed he noticed that Wufei again moved his feet and legs away so that he wouldn’t touch them.

“I’m sorry. Did I hurt you? I didn’t mean to. Please tell me if it does and I’ll try to be more careful.”

Wufei shook his head rolling it back and forth over the pillow. “No. But ... they’re ugly and disgusting. You shouldn’t have to touch them.”

Milliardo growled, Wufei was small and amazingly delicate looking for as strong as he was. He was beautiful, like a sword was beautiful. Milliardo might be the slave but he wasn’t subservient, no matter what they might pretend.

When he threw back the covers Wufei said something rude in his naive tongue. When Milliardo grasped him by the ankles and dragged him to the edge of the bed, Wufei struggled a bit then stilled as Milliardo growled, “Do not!”

Milliardo sat on the step and examined Wufei’s feet in the light of day. He was missing part of the second toe of his left foot and most of the little toe of his right. The scars were stiff and resembled melted wax. Milliardo shuddered at the pain Wufei must have experienced. During the burning and after. He gently kissed one scared arch then the other.

Wufei tried to pull away again whispering ‘Don’t.’ Milliardo calmly licked Wufei’s ankle. Wufei moaned softly and gave up. Milliardo kissed his way from Wufei’s toes to his knees.

“Those scars are too hard. They’re stiff. Isn’t there some sort of cream or lotion that you can make to soften them?”

Wufei sniffed disdainfully. “I’m not some whimpering onna to need a cream.”

Milliardo pounced on Wufei taking advantage of his still fresh guilt. “Fine. Make it to please me. I’ll rub it in and make sure that you like it. Please.” Milliardo fluttered his eyelashes at Wufei in a decidedly feminine manner. Wufei had to laugh.

“Oh, very well. And I know other uses for it too.” Milliardo ran his finger nail up the bottom of Wufei’s foot. Wufei’s yelp was all that Milliardo could have hoped for. One, it meant that there was no or little nerve damage and two, it was amusing to hear the dignified ‘dragon lord’ yelp.

“Evil slave. I shall punish you sorely for that.”

Milliardo gave Wufei a sharp look but Wufei’s grin reassured him. “Yes, please. Punish me by keeping me in the bed all day.”

Wufei snorted, then sighed. “I would but I have things to do today. Things I can’t put off. Today I have to hold court. I put it off last week so there’s no putting it off this week. Come on, get upand get dressed.”

They both got up and grumbled around, finding clothing and getting dressed. Milliardo picked up the heavy belt, mitts and locks. He handed them to Wufei who calmly put them in a chest. There were other things in the chest that made Milliardo stiffen then smirk. Wufei just shut the chest saying, “I’ve still got the ben wa balls.”

Milliardo whimpered dramatically. “I’ll be good, I swear.”

Wufei sighed, smiled slightly and then said gently, “I am sorry. I know better than to judge someone without proper proof. Forgiven?”

Milliardo caught Wufei by the back of the neck and pressed their foreheads together. “I think ... what they did was exactly what I did to Duo. You both survived. Only I didn’t really mean for Duo to die, just to give me what I wanted.” Milliardo sighed. “I was so wrong. So wrong. Now all I can do to try to make it right is to stay where I’m put and keep out of trouble as best I know how.”

Wufei patted Milliardo on the shoulder and then touched the leather collar around his neck. “If that gets too tight tell me. I’ll ... make some arrangement. Now, come on we’ll be late and that doesn’t look good.”

Milliardo followed him out the door and across the court yard. He realized that Wufei was living in quarters rather than in the lord’s chambers like he should be.

“Master Chang?” Wufei gave him a sharp look, but Milliardo nodded his head to some bystanders making Wufei snicker a bit. “Why don’t you take the lords chambers?”

“Heero comes up every spring for a vacation. It would be more trouble than its worth to move out then back in every year. Besides, I like these quarters better. They’re more convenient to my calling and warmer. Don’t you like them?”

Milliardo thought about it for a few strides. “Yes. I just wondered. I guess I’m defensive about your station. Why, I couldn’t tell you.”

Wufei just laughed lightly. “Get over it then. I like my apothecary. Now, I’m going to hold court. If you have anything to say, just say it. As long as you’re respectful to me, I won’t say much. If you get snarky it better be with some fool who can’t get the facts straight.”

Milliardo vowed to himself that he was going to keep his mouth shut. And he managed for all of thirty minutes.

Wufei had settled at a small table before the throne Heero used when he was there. He’d told Milliardo to get himself a chair, which he did and sat beside and slightly behind Wufei.

When the first petition was submitted Wufei took the scroll and read it. Then he handed it to Milliardo telling him to read it too. Milliardo hissed in Wufei’s ear, “What? I’ve never read a petition before. Why?”

Wufei didn’t bother to keep his voice down. “Because you should have. That’s one of the reasons you threw over the traces so badly. You were never trusted with anything more than the ‘traditional’ male role. You’ll be helping me now. You’re my slave and you’ll act like it. Unless you’d rather be eating your meals off the mantle piece for a while.”

Milliardo realized he was being groomed by Wufei for a much more responsible position than he’d ever had before.

Milliardo read the scroll and snorted. “This is the stupidest piece of crap I have ever read.”

Wufei nodded. “But we still have to adjudicate it. So what?”

Milliardo gave his opinion which Wufei agreed with. The petitioners were called in and each man gave his side of the story. Wufei gave his opinion, listened to objections confirmed his decision and watched as the men left. Milliardo didn’t like the ugly look one of them sent Wufei’s way.

The rest of the morning was much the same. Wufei read a scroll, handed it to Milliardo and listened as Milliardo gave his decision. Wufei was happy to see that Milliardo had a good grasp of law and an insightful mind. He still couldn’t reconcile the Milliardo that had doomed Duo with this man. He found himself staring at Milliardo with a confused frown on his face.

“What? Did I make the wrong decision?”

Wufei shook his head. “Not in this case. But ...” Wufei took a deep breath to calm himself. It didn’t work, instead he used it to blurt, “What the hell were you thinking?”

Milliardo didn’t pretend not to understand him. “I’m an idiot. I let sycophants who were only trying to advance their own fortunes talk me into something so stupid that I have doubts about my own sanity. I was too arrogant and haughty to see that they were just out to line their own pockets. Then I compounded my stupidity by trying to cover it all up. I had an epiphany in that pit. I realize that I was just ... I’m not sure exactly how to explain. I’m going to change if you have to beat me half to death. I swear it.”

Milliardo watched as Wufei’s always slightly stiff shoulders relaxed. “Thank Anchora or who ever you worship. I promised Duo that I’d take you in hand and break you into a real man. Seems that you’ve done it for yourself.”

Milliardo knelt at Wufei’s feet. “No you did it. And, while it was painful, I thank you. And I’ll continue to thank you for the rest of my life. A life with you, right?”

Wufei’s heart expanded at Milliardo’s hopeful look. “Yes, your sentence is real. I’m sorry, but you are exiled and in disgrace. But I hope you’ll ...” Wufei didn’t get any farther. Milliardo swooped down on him and kissed him thoroughly. Wufei finally mumbled. “Court ... we’re supposed to be holding court.”

Milliardo picked up the scroll, examined it for a second then said, “The woman should prevail. Tell the herald to tell the plaintiffs. We’ll have lunch then finish. And don’t make that face at me. Relena would have court until she was exhausted and making decisions at random. That’s one of the arguments that convinced me to be stupid.”

Wufei nodded, he was hungry and feeling a bit cranky.

Milliardo told a page to bring food to the court room. They’d use the small table to eat on.

When the page came Milliardo took the tray from him and served Wufei himself. He’d learned when he was a page and he hadn’t forgotten a thing. He served a plate and set it before Wufei. Wufei examined it and nodded.

“Get your own plated and sit down. We’ll talk things over while we eat.”

The conversation they had was enlightening to both of them. Milliardo went over his reasoning in trying to replace Relena and Wufei pointed out all the holes in his reasoning. Wufei then went over exactly how Milliardo could have comported himself. Milliardo found that the food tasted like ashes in his mouth.

“When it’s all explained to me like that, all I can think is that I must be the stupidest man alive and lucky to be so. Now all I have to do is figure out how to apologize to Duo, without King Heero biting my head off.”

Wufei shook his head. “Best leave that til next spring when they come up for their vacation.”

Milliardo bowed his head. “As you wish. More wine?”

Wufei accepted another glass of wine.

When they were finished and Milliardo had cleaned up their dishes Wufei gave Milliardo a speculative look. He wondered whether Milliardo was really reconciled or was he up to something. He sighed. His paranoia was showing.

There were only three more cases and they were easily taken care of. Wufei looked judicial, Milliardo looked official and they handed down decisions. The plaintiffs where grateful to have their complaints settled and everyone was happy.

“Well, that’s that. Come on.” Milliardo pulled Wufei up from his chair. He handed the clean up to the scribes who had recorded the proceedingsand dragged an uncomplaining Wufei out the door.

“We are now going back to the apothecary and you are making that salve you told me about.” Wufei protested faintly. “And no excuses. If we’re going to do this, we’re going to do it right. I’m not one to do things by halves. And don’t wonder at my about face. I mean it. I’ll prove to you that I can be reliable. I made a lousy prince. But maybe I can make a good servant. I was a good fighter but not such a good soldier. I’ve never been good at following orders. But ... I’m going to. I ...”

Wufei just laughed. “What did you smoke while I wasn’t watching?”

Milliardo sighed, making Wufei give him a worried look. “It’s not what I just smoked, but what I was smoking at the time of my rather suicidal decisions. Some of my friends smoke herbs that ... frankly I don’t think they are friends and that herb can’t be good for a persons’ mind.”

Wufei nodded. “If you were smoking what I think you were, it’s a wonder you didn’t do something even more foolish. And if I ever catch you smoking herb, or poppy. I’ll beat your ass till you can’t sit and chain you to the bed until you gain better sense.”

Milliardo’s gaze was decidedly lustful as he said, “I don’t fancy a real whipping, but you could spank me for being naughty and chain me to the bed, if you like.”

Wufei smirked back. “You’re a pervert. I swear.”

“And you’re not? You like my ass. You liked caning me.”

Wufei shook his head. “No I didn’t. It was no fun at all. I had to hurt you too much. Stop being a perv and come on.”

Milliardo pouted but realized that they were on rather shaky ground so he followed Wufei into the apothecary.

Wufei went to one of the tables and started to rummage around one it. Milliardo stopped him and insisted that he go up stairs and change his fine silk garments for something better suited to working with messy herbs and grease.

When he was changed into linen trousers and a neat tunic Wufei went back to his labors. Milliardo followed him back down and began to stack dirty equipment.

When Wufei set aside what seemed a perfectly clean mortar, Milliardo just asked as calmly as he could, “What is wrong with that? It looks clean to me.”

Wufei just pointed to the mess on the table. “Some of these things react ... oddly to each other.”

“But you’re putting them all in the same mixture.”

Wufei just shrugged. “Well, you could help a little more, if you like.”

Milliardo accepted the mortar from Wufei and pointed to a pile of herbs. “Shall I pulverize that?”

Wufei glanced at it and then nodded. “Yes. I need that soon. Paste, if you please.

So Milliardo added the herbs to the mortar and accepted the pestle with a complaisant air. He knew that it had been used but it was clean enough, the different components were going into the same product, after all. Then he glanced up suspiciously. “This isn’t going to explode, is it?”

Wufei smirked to himself. “No, it won’t explode.”

Milliardo got the herbs crushed to a juicy state and found out why everything was washed after one use. The juice mixed with the powder.

“Oh, hell. Dammit!”

Milliardo turned his face away from the noxious smell. Wufei just snickered. Milliardo gave him an accusing look. “You did that on purpose.”

“I teach as I was taught. Lucky it was just a smell. But now you see.”

“Yes, master, I see. Is it ruined?”

“No, just stinky. Continue please.”

Milliardo finished turning the herbs into a smooth paste. Thankfully the smell abated quickly.

“And now what?”

Wufei pointed to a small pot. It contained wool grease which needed to be refined.

“Melt that carefully over the alcohol burner. Stir it constantly or it’ll scorch. After it melts, pour it through this cloth.”

Milliardo stirred the melting stuff carefully, but it didn’t take that much attention so he watched Wufei instead.

Wufei’s hands were small but strong, long fingered and delicate. Milliardo remembered the strength of them on his body and had to drag his attention back above his belt.

“What are we making, unless it’s a secret?”

Wufei pointed to a greenish jelly. “Sap of the Aloe Vera plant.” He pointed to the melting lanolin. “Wool grease, also called lanolin.” He pointed to several other things and named them. “Tell them back to me.”

Milliardo longed to demand an answer but obeyed Wufei. He repeated each ingredient back to Wufei. “Now think. What could they make?”

Milliardo nibbled at his lip thinking carefully. He didn’t know what some of the ingredients were but he knew aloe vera was used to treat burns, it was even called burn plant by some people. One of the herbs was used for skin conditions in animals, he’d learned that when he was learning to care for horses. So ...

“A cream or lotion for your scars?”

Wufei nodded. “Yes, very good. You’re very quick.”

Milliardo smiled, an easy open smile. Wufei smiled gently back.

“So, what next? This is strained and cool. Still liquid though.”

Wufei dipped a small glass spoon into the bubbling mass in his copper pot. He smelled it then rubbed a bit between his fingers. “It’s nearly ready. When it is, I’ll add the lanolin then the wax. The Aloe goes in last.”

Milliardo looked around at the contents of the table. “What wax?”

Wufei pointed to a large yellow bar. “That wax. Get it down for me and cut off about half a weight. Then chop it into bits. They don’t have to be regular or particularly neat. Just make them about half the size of a pea.”

Milliardo chopped the wax then handed the resultant chips to Wufei. Wufei nodded his approval and started adding them to the mixture a small handful at a time. He stirred each addition until it was well melted meanwhile lecturing Milliardo on how to make the salve.

Milliardo sighed and shifted. Wufei gave him a sharp look.

“What?”

“I wish I had a note book so that I could write this all down. I’d like to make a receipt book. This isn’t written down anywhere is it.”

Wufei pointed to a scroll. “I’ve written all my recipes down on that.”

Milliardo reached for it. “May I?”

Wufei shrugged. “If you like. You won’t be able to read it though.”

Milliardo looked the strange writing over for a moment. “What sort of writing is this?”

“It’s the writing of my people. It’s called hanzi or kanji. Each symbol is a word.”

Milliardo chased the thought around his brain until he’d captured it. “That ... mark on your stomach. It’s a word, isn’t it?”

Wufei examined the compound in the pot with careful attention. “Yes.”

Milliardo gave a snort of derision. “Can we please not do this?”

Wufei started to say ‘Do what’ but realized, just in time, what Milliardo was saying. “Sorry. Ask, I’ll answer as best I may.”

“It’s a word. What does it say?”

“Sorcerer. And not a nice form of the word. It implies all kinds of ... bad things.”

“I see. I’ll be sure to put plenty of cream on that one. How did they do it? It doesn’t look like a ... an iron? A ... I’m not sure what I’m trying to say. Here, as you might know, criminals are branded. I’m lucky Relena didn’t have me branded on both cheeks. But the irons are made in their shape by a blacksmith. That ... scar doesn’t look like a made iron.”

Wufei shook his head, “It’s not. It was made with a running iron.”

Milliardo clenched his teeth so hard they squeaked. A running iron was used to change or complete brands on cattle. It was nothing more than a branding iron with a small flat paddle on the end. They had actually made the mark one line at a time. He winced, there had to be at least ten.

Wufei noticed the wince. “Are you all right? You look a bit pale.”

“I’ll be fine, just a ... pain. It’s nothing.”

Wufei gave Milliardo a considering look but let it go. He’d just keep an eye on Milliardo for a bit.

“Gather up the utensils and start washing them. Don’t over do. I don’t want you fainting or something.”

Milliardo made a rude noise and started picking up the mess. He didn’t feel so resentful now that he knew what might happen if things were used more than once before washing. He had no desire to be treated to another stench like the last one. Or have something more serious happen.