To Save the Wind

To Save the Wind
Chapter Two

Blue eyes fluttered open and things slowly came into focus. ‘Wha…’ The blond tried to get is brain working, but it felt like it needed a jump start or something.

His mind was still trying to come out of its sleepy state. It had definitely been a forced slumber, Zechs realized that. Actually, it was probably the first thing that had really registered in his mind.

He never had trouble waking up, he had always been able to go from dead asleep to fully alert in less than a second… Well, maybe not always. When he was a kid, before the tragedy, he had been able to sleep blissfully unaware. But that had all changed, he’d never be able to go back to that.

And that is why he knew it had been a drug induced slumber.

‘Why me?’ Zechs thought groggily as he looked around the cell.

The place was surprisingly clean and comforters had been laid down around him. The fluffy, albeit cheap, blankets made things more comfortable at least… Well, as comfortable as one can be when they are sitting on their knees while chained to the “wall” of the cage.

The platinum blond looked around. He could see on all sides, save for behind him, due to the open nature of his prison. It was little more than an overgrown, portable dog pen. It was obvious to him that the cage was only temporary though, a sure sign that the kidnappers moved around a lot. The only thing really keeping the prisoners from toppling them over and escaping was the fact that they were chained to the damn things. If one were to topple the cage over… they’d be pinned one way or another…

The kidnappers were pretty smart, and that was slightly worrisome.

‘This would explain why Preventer HQ is having trouble pin-pointing their location.’ He thought, filing the information away for later.

He planned to take advantage of this situation. Every bit of information he could learn, the better. As soon as he got out of here and was rescued, the Preventers could use his collected data to their advantage. They would be able to take these guys out in no time… Or so he hoped. But he had to wonder…

‘How the hell do I get out of this?’ Then his brows furrowed as he thought of an even more important question. ‘How the hell did I get INTO this?!’ That was the million dollar question right there.

Fact of the matter was, last thing Zechs remembered was talking with Lady Une. She’d been telling him that she had a special mission she wanted him to take on and that it would help take out the “Flesh Trade” once and for all. She wanted him to meet her in her office after lunch for specifics. She’d even brought a homemade lunch just to bribe him. The food had been delicious and…

‘She wouldn’t have!’ He thought, eyes wide. ’Would she?’ He knew Une was pretty desperate to catch and dispose of these kidnappers but… would she really go as far as to practically hand him over to them?

Looking around, Zechs’ mind couldn’t help but think a resounding “Yes.” He should have known something was up when she had her hair up. That woman was all business when she had an “up-do”. The fact that she was nice, had made him a lunch, while she had her hair up was…

Yeah, that SHOULD have set off warning bells and red flags everywhere. Une had a split personality. Nice “Lady” Une when her hair was down and flowing, and unfeeling bitch “Une” when she had a bun. Unfortunately, it looked like he was the target of her unfeeling objectives…

‘Lucky me.’ Zechs thought with a groan.

“Wow, you’re lucky.” When Zechs realized that the words hadn’t been his thoughts but, rather, someone was speaking to him he looked to his right.

Judging from the red head’s wide green eyes filled with admiration, it was safe to assume the voice belonged to him. The red head was just a little thing really. Maybe five foot even, if that. Zechs couldn’t help but be reminded of when the gundam boys had been young, yet this boy was small, fragile, and innocent… unlike the pilots…

‘Except Quatre…’ Zechs noted.

Out of all the pilots, strong and tainted due to fighting and killing, Quatre always kept an innocent air about him. He had always seemed fragile and innocent, even after the Zero system got a hold of him. Though Zechs knew better than to underestimate the blond. Quatre might be the kind, caring, empathic type but if it came down to it… he could kill as well as the rest of the gundam boys.

‘Wonder if this kid is the same…’ The blond looked the red head over and laughed mentally. ‘Yeah, I doubt it. But I wont underestimate him nonetheless. He might even have some valuable information for me.’ He smiled at that thought.

“How so?” Not the best way to start out a conversation, but … Zechs really couldn’t figure out how someone could consider him lucky when he was in a situation like THIS…

Then again, no one here knew he was the “Lightning Baron”… and he hoped that things stayed that way. Heaven forbid they learn his real identity… he so didn’t want Relena dragged into all this in any way, shape, and or form. She would freak out.

And he wouldn’t blame her.

“You’re getting the royal treatment and everything.” The red head stated as he nodded toward the comforters under the blond. It wasn’t like the cute little thing could point after all.

‘Ironic that he should mention royal…’ Zechs couldn’t help but find some humor in that. ‘And why does he think the blankets are… oh.’

Upon further inspection he realized he was the only one with blankets in their cell. Or at least, the only one he could see.

“Why am I different?” The blond wondered aloud.

He’d stayed out of the public eye, so few even knew “Milliardo Peacecraft” even existed, save for the gundam pilots and his sister. The “Lightning Baron” always wore a mask, so he couldn’t be recognized there, and Wind? Well, no one knew anything about Preventer members except… well, Preventers.

“Look at you, you’re gorgeous. You’re for high class only, a special auction.” The cute little red head was blushing and Zechs had the sudden urge to do something naughty to him. “You’ll get a buyer in no time.” The male’s emerald green eyes were downcast as he spoke softly.

“Auction? Buyer?” Time to play dumb and get more information.

Not that a fellow prisoner would know a whole lot, but anything was better than nothing at all. Besides, acting like he knew what was going on might blow his cover and he wouldn’t want that. He would remain clam nonetheless, just because that was the type of person he was.

“Where are we anyway? And why are we chained and…” He felt a sudden draft and looked down. “Why am I naked?!” Okay, so much for the whole remaining calm thing.

“Sssshhhhh, you don’t want to draw attention.” The red head urged, his large eyes pleading.

If the young man’s hands had been free, Zechs had a feeling the male would be praying. Or at least doing the motion. Really, the guy was too cute. Zechs made a mental note to try and free this young man as soon as possible… he just had to think up how.

A few minutes passed with Zechs lost in thought and nothing happened. The red head nodded to himself sheepishly, as if confirming to himself that they would be okay.

“I don’t know exactly where we are…” That snapped Zechs out of his musings and he focused his attention on the other. “I know this place is the “Flesh Trade.” They sell people as slaves and…” He trailed off, a look of pain crossing his delicate features. “Some are kidnapped, like you, and others are sold to these people…”

“People have no right to sell others.” Zechs growled as he stated his feelings on the matter. This was truly barbaric.

“Yeah. It’s probably the worst feeling, waking up to find that someone you trusted sold you as if you were… I’m sorry.” Tears were falling from the red head’s eyes and Zechs felt the need to comfort him.

“You’ve nothing to apologize for.” Zechs said soothingly. ‘Gods, I hope Une has a plan for getting us out of here.’ He didn’t want to see this fragile male suffer any more than he already had. ‘The whole betrayal thing doesn’t phase me, but him? He’s not used to that. He doesn’t deserve it.’

It was apparent that the young man would need some therapy to heal the emotional wounds this whole experience had caused.

“Damn it!” Someone yelled on the other side of the room and both males looked towards where the sound was coming from. “There were supposed to be two for the special auction tonight! We can’t sell him while he’s sick, that’s bad business!” A man’s voiced boomed throughout the room and from the tone it was easy to tell that it was a higher-up yelling at some lackys.

“Sorry Sir, we’ll pick out a replacement for the special auction.” One lacky replied.

“What about the red head cutie next to the blond we’re putting on the special auction. They’d make a cute pair, maybe …”

There were three men so far, Zechs had to wonder if they’d show themselves so he’d have descriptions for his report. It was obvious that he was the blond the men were talking about, so they’d have to come to get him sooner or later. And at least one of the three was somewhat important, so if he could identify one in a line up then they could lead him to the higher-up.

“There is nothing special about him. I don’t know where you get off calling him a cutie…”

“He’s got a cute face and bottom…”

“That’s it, he’s useless…”

“Put him in it anyway.” The “boss” commanded. “Even if he’s not anything extraordinary, get those two ready and get them on stage ASAP.” And with that Zechs could hear the man storm away.

“Oh no, they can’t mean… I can’t be… I’m not special, I…”

Zechs turned to look at the red head, who appeared to be having a minor panic attack. ‘Poor thing.’ The blond thought worriedly. “It’s okay, you’ll be fine, um…” He had no idea what the red head’s name was. He’d been ogling the cute little thing not too long ago and he hadn’t a clue what the young man’s name was.

“Peter…”

“Huh?” Zechs had been lost in his musings, strangely enough, and had barely caught what the man was saying.

“My name… it’s Peter. See, even my name is plain. You can thank my mother…” Well, at least this was distracting Peter and he was no longer panicking. “She had an obsession with Peter Pan, the Disney version, and she thought I looked like him or something when I was born.” The green eyed boy chuckled, but there was no humor in it.

“You’re a lot cuter than Peter Pan.” Zechs smiled reassuringly.

“But we’ll be happy to send you to Neverland!” Grunt number two’s voice came from behind Zechs and, before he knew it, he felt a sharp pain in his arm.

He caught a glimpse of the terror on Peter’s face before his world went black.

~*~*~*~

A/N: Cliffy… sorry… already in the process of writing the next chapter, though I am a review/comment whore soooo… I’m waiting on 10 reviews before I post the next chappie~ *^.^* At the rate I’m getting reviews, it will give me time to finish typing it XD lol

Shoutouts?

YojiKatO ~ You're funny... I like you! *^.^* tee hee *hugs*

RaeLyn ~ I can't wait for Quatre and Zechs to meet up too! *drools* Trust me =D

OriginalCeenote ~ Thankies! *purrs on you* :3 ~