Curiosity

Ch. 3

Everything happened so fast, a whirlwind of dreaded excitement. A strong grip grabbed him by the braid and flung Duo off the bed onto the floor, where he was promptly surrounded. He could hear them barking orders at each other, trying to figure out what was wrong with the prince, and waiting for orders to execute the human. He watched them gather power holding it ready for action, trembling with the desire to obliterate him right then and there. It all left him dazed, his head reeling and his body trying to cope with the unexpected influx of power, though he had no clue what do about it. He couldn’t seem to clear the remaining static of power from his mind, and could only watch as the scene unfolded.

Sitting dazed on the floor, Duo was unable to even be properly scared. His life was definitely on the line and he could do nothing. A few of the guards were getting anxious, yelling in some dark language and shoving him to the ground and pulling him around by his braid when he didn’t answer; resorting to backhanding him in an attempt to draw blood, or a response of some kind. Duo didn\'t know why, but he felt no pain. No matter how many times the guard hit him, there was no blood, only more and more confusion as he tried to sort things out.

Just then the guards tending to Wufei called out in panic, and Duo rolled his head over to lazily look to the bed where Wufei lay. Had his mind been with him, he would have been shocked at the sight, the Demon covered in blood and bruises as if beaten by an unseen hand.

Utter chaos erupted for a moment, Duo getting beaten further for whatever he had done to the prince, and Wufei continuing to bleed and sputter. It was then the leader of the Guards came in, bellowing out and putting a stop to the near riot.

“Silence you idiots! What\'s going on? Report NOW!” Tall Demon loomed over the guards, his long white blond hair swirling about him amidst the power flooding from him. Bending to the obvious display of raw power, the guards holding Duo released his braid and let him slump to the floor.

“Master Zechs.. We came in to retrieve the human as ordered, but he had done something to the prince... Master Wufei is unconscious, and as soon as we tried to wake him he started spitting up blood... We tried to beat it out the human, to see what magic he used, but it only made it worse...“ The guard kept his head down as he trailed off, knowing all to well that Zechs would not be pleased that they had managed to botch such a simple mission.

Turning toward Duo, Zechs narrowed his icy blue eyes, stalking slowly toward the boy as he sized up the would be attacker. His expression tightened as he got closer. Crouching down before him, he gently grabbing Duo’s still flawless chin and tilting it to the side to expose his neck. With a sad sigh he spoke, his voice sounding tired. “Wufei you fool... what have you done...”

“Sir?” The guard watched their leader cautiously, wondering what Zechs had seen that they missed.

“Strange that a human lasted through more than one of your blows don’t you think lieutenant? Did you even stop to wonder as to how his neck isn\'t broken right now? Or why he probably hasn’t even called out from the pain?” Zechs was glaring at them over Duo’s shoulder, his gaze dark and heavy. “He’s been Bound(1) you idiots. My god, you didn’t even notice the mark?”

Carefully Zechs moved Duo’s braid to the side, bearing his neck and the bloody wound to the men. There was a series of gasps and hushed whispers throughout the squad, as each man saw the seal that so obviously marked the human. The swirls of black flowed across the pail skin, weaving ancient symbols together perfectly. It was obvious even below the slick red blood. Had any of them spared even a second glance at the human, they would have known. The demons sat in silence, fearing Zechs’ wrath at their ignorance.

“Out of my sight you incompetent INSECTS! All of you! Send for Master Quatre, and get your sorry asses to the briefing room and stay there until I can bear to look at you! Breath so much as a word to anyone and I’ll rip your mouths off your ugly faces!” Motioning to Duo, Zechs spat the words with venom, sending a chill down each of his men’s spine. Since it was in their best interests to obey, the Guards quickly and quietly filtered out of the room, leaving their captain to deal with the human and Wufei.

Zechs watched them leave, his anger making him clench his teeth hard enough to make his jaw ache. Taking a deep breath, he looked back down at Duo, still all but oblivious to what was going on.

“What\'s your name human?” Zechs tried to stifle his anger, not wanting to scare the human and make things worse.

Duo looked up slowly, trying to understand what had been asked. A moment later, he shook his head as if to clear the fog, and muttered a response. “Duo...I’m Duo..”

“Well Duo, Master Wufei has gotten you into quite a mess...” Zechs picked up Duo’s limp form, easily carrying him to a large couch across the room and depositing him gently.

Duo shook his head again, confusion drawing his brow. When he spoke his voice was slurred, as if drunk on the sudden taste of power. “M’heads all fogged up...”

“That\'s normal.. it will pass. For now lay down and rest. We will deal with this later.”

“Whadda’bout Fei? Is’e gonna be alright?”

Zechs was taken aback by the nick name, almost laughing despite his bitter mood. He was fairly certain the prince would kill anyone who tried to call him ‘Fei”. Storing the tidbit for later use, Zechs continued. “Master Wufei will be fine.. sleep now and I will see to him.”

Duo followed the order blindly, closing his eyes and falling asleep without needing any of the persuasive magic. Zechs could only shake his head, not knowing where to vent his rage, but having a good idea where to find 12 likely candidates.

With the human out of the way for the time being, Zechs grabbed towels and a pitcher of water from the adjoining bathroom and began the process of cleaning up the mess. He knew Wufei was strong, and that he looked far worse than he really was, but he’d rather spare Quatre the shock if he could. Seeing the prince caked in blood would send the petite blonde healer into a fit.

No sooner had he cleared away most of the blood, he heard the door to the room practically fly off it’s hinges as Quatre rushed in.

“Out of my way!” The smaller demon all but pushed Zechs off the bed, which both shocked and amused the captain. Most in the House feared and respected him as second only to King Triez, but to the little healer, Zechs might as well have been a passer by. It was one of Quatre\'s more endearing qualities; somehow he managed to forget the intricate rules of proper interactions within the demon hierarchy no matter who he was talking to - his mate the only exception. It even made King Triez smile from time to time.

“My god Zechs.. what did your band of monkey’s do to him and what the hell were they thinking?!” Quatre mumbled as he worked, gently prodding Wufei’s swollen jaw and judging the damage. “How did they do this? Wufei should have beat the snot out of them...did they attack him asleep or something?l”

“Technically yes. The guards found him unconscious.”

“And they beat him? Struck the prince while he was sleeping?” Quatre looked up at him briefly, a look of disbelief across his childlike face before he returned to his task of assessing Wufei. “Did they want you to kill them that badly?”

“It would appear so....” Zechs slid off the bed, giving Quatre room to work.

Closing his eyes, Quatre summoned his powers and let his outstretched hands hover over Wufei’s prone body, slowly moving over him. His gifts as a natural empath making it possible to detect the exact location and causes of injury, and made him the best healer the clan had ever known. Zechs had no doubt that the prince would be just fine after the little blondes efforts.

“Well I guess you don’t have to kill them... a good maiming will do.” Quatre opened his eyes, climbing over Wufei and kneeling on the bed by his side. “It’s not too bad.. bruising and superficial cuts mostly...but his jaw is broken and a few ribs are cracked. By the way your messenger was shaking I thought he’d be on death’s door right now. What I don’t understand is why he’s so utterly exhausted. His strength is gone.. he’d have gotten himself beat even if he’d been awake!”

“That would be the effects of the Binding if I’m not mistaken.” With sigh Zechs leaned against the bedpost, waiting for the look of disbelief to make its way back to the healers face.

Quatre froze, not even turning to look at the taller demon. “The what?”

“Binding. The arrogant little shit bound himself.” Zechs rubbed his temples, not wanting to think about the implications of Wufei’s little stunt.

“To who? “ Quatre whipped his head around to stare wide eyed and slack jawed. “Why on earth would he do something that stupid?!”

“Well his chosen is the human on the sofa...and as to why, the only thing I can assume is that he didn’t want him executed.” Pinching the bridge of his nose, Zechs closed his eyes. This was really not going to go over well. “Master Triez finally figured out what Wufei was doing held up in his room these past few nights, and ordered the guards to remove the human. We had no idea that Wufei would go to such great lengths to protect him...No one in this House will dare touch his pet now though.. I’ll give him that.”

Quatre couldn\'t speak, his eyes glued to Duo’s slight form sleeping quietly on the other side of the room.

“Just heal him and keep this secret for now.” Zechs straightened up and turned to leave, trying to escape before Quatre inevitably got started. “And if you have the strength, tend to ‘Duo’ over there too.. I’ve never heard of a human being bound before, he’s probably a mess...”

Nodding slightly, Quatre snapped out of his daze. “I can’t believe it worked... yet there’s the mark... Your idiots attacked the human and Master Wufei took the damage...I’ve heard of it.. but never thought I’d see it...”

“Just fix it... undo it if you can...but at least try to put his face back together before his father gets a chance to rearrange it any further.”

“Wufei’s injuries will be fine..” Quatre continued to stare, letting the tall captain get away with the slight prod at his healing abilities. “But Bindings are forever Master Zechs, you know that...”

“I was hoping for a loophole...”

“Bindings have been abandoned for centuries because they can never be undone! I can’t believe he’d do this! And to a HUMAN of all things!” Quatre was starting to get worked up, his words gaining speed and pitch with each syllable. “What would ever posses him to voluntarily absorb the injury of something so weak?! He’s going to be broken damn near everyday! I’ll never get any rest! And what about the day time! The human could tromp around and fall off a cliff for all we’ll know and Wufei will die because of it! This has to be a joke.. tell me your joking!”

“Quatre! Get a hold of yourself!” Zechs had no patience for the healer to overreact this time. He wanted to leave him there talking to himself, but was afraid that if he left, the blonde would forget the task at hand, or pass out himself from lack of oxygen-induced speed talking.

”I can see it now.. He’ll be sleeping safely in his bed one minute, and his neck will be snapped the next...” Quatre was on a role, talking to himself more than Zechs as he gathered the power to heal Wufei. Without missing a beat he began to mend the broken and bruised flesh, a task he could do in his sleep with all his superior skill. “Now Master Triez will have to set guards on him too...our enemies would have a much easier time getting to Wufei through a human...A human! I cant believe he bound a human! I cant believe he even brought a human here! I can’t believe Trowa let him! This is absurd...”

“Quatre!”

“Now Trowa is in trouble...Master Triez will probably have him killed... I’m going to be alone for the rest of my life, healing wufei over and over again.. all because he picked a human...” A sharp slap across his face ended Quatre’s verbal tirade. a

Slowly and calmly, Zechs forced his voice to remain steady. Sounding as upset as he felt would only make the excitable healer even more upset; if that was possible. The little blonde had a tendency to be an emotional train wreck at times. “If your done with Wufei, check on the human.”

When Quatre spoke again, his own voice was again calm, the sharp edge of hysteria literally slapped away. “Thank you... I needed that...”

Ignoring the snickering voice in the back of his mind that suddenly understood Trowa’s usual lack of words, Zechs tried to bring Quatre back to business. “ I’m going to round up the others, so we can try and make sense of this before Wufei wakes, which better be soon considering the amount of explaining he’s going to have to do...”

Quatre just nodded, cautiously crawling off the bed and moving toward the sofa and new source of all his worries.