Gundam Wing

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

Reluctant Companion

Chapter

Milliardo looked up from the book he was reading when the woman walked in the door. He rose and smiled at her. It was the cook from the keep. She was supposed to teach him how to clean. He thought for a moment of getting her to do it for him but, due to his new vow, he decided against it. A good thing for him because Cook wasn’t the kind of woman to fall for a pretty face, she’d had to deal with Heero, Duo and Wufei after all.

“Well, put down that book. Are you even supposed to be reading? Most slaves aren’t taught.” Cook braced her fists on her hips and looked up at Milliardo.

“I knew before I was enslaved. I somehow think that Master Chang doesn’t like ignorance.” Milliardo sighed. “Of any kind. And I’ll admit to ignorance of how to clean properly. So, you’re here to teach me, teach.”

Cook gave him a sharp look but led him to where the cleaning supplied were kept. She showed him how to mix a bucket of soap water and started him on cleaning the counters and tables. Milliardo never thought about it. He’d forgotten Wufei’s ban on touching anything on the tables. So Milliardo picked up all the dirty items on the tables and took them to the sinks, he scrubbed the tabletops with a brush and soapy water. He dusted, swept and did a general tidy of the sitting area. Cook stood over him nitpicking everything he did. He managed to keep his mouth shut by main force of will and fear of being gagged again. He made sure to remember everything she said.

When he was done with the downstairs chores, Cook led him upstairs and he started all over again. He gazed around the common area and started tidying before Cook could tell him what to do. Cook nodded to him when he glanced back at her.

“Good. Start here and do just like you did downstairs. But I wouldn’t disturb the master’s desk. He’s real particular about it. Don’t even tidy the papers.”

Milliardo snipped without thinking. “I wouldn’t dream of touching a scholar’s desk. Not for anything.” Cook gave him a sharp look but kept her thoughts to herself. She decided that Master Wufei was going to have his hands full with this one.

Milliardo cleared all the mess off the floor; stacking papers in neat piles and putting the books on the shelves. Wufei used a standard filing system for his books and scrolls so he knew where to put them. He dusted, cleaned and swept the area then moved on. Cook gave him some suggestions on how to clean the bed rooms and the bath but mostly she just watched as Milliardo applied the techniques she’d taught him to new situations.

The only thing he really needed help with was making the beds. This had him completely stumped. Cook good naturedly showed him how to miter corners and get a pillow into the case. Milliardo wiped at sweat and swore.

“I never thought house work could be as hard as the maids said. I owe each one of the poor girls an apology. Too bad I’ll never be able to deliver it. Oh, well. Onwards and upwards. Now what?”

Cook looked around and chuckled. “Haul water. Lots of it. The reservoir is empty. Master Chang doesn’t remember to have it filled when he should. And that’s a job. Come along, I’ll show you how to do it.”

Milliardo followed Cook into the depths of the cellar where she showed him a capstan. He eyed the heavy apparatus with misgiving.

“And what do I do with that?”

Cook nodded to one of the spokes that stuck out of the head. “Just push that around and around. It’ll fill the reservoir and gravity will let you run the taps. Too bad you’re not set up for hot like at King Heero’s castle. I’d like to see that some day. Now, turn the capstan. I’ll set the lever to fill. When the tank is full, the lever will flip over on its own. The water will start to come out of that spigot over there. If you keep going, you’ll fill the underground reservoir too. I wouldn’t if I was you. It hasn’t been cleaned since they converted this from a stable.”

Milliardo listened to cook as she reminisced while he turned the capstan to run the pump that lifted the water from the outside well to the tank on the roof of the building.

Many castles had arrangements like this. One reason they did was to have water readily available for washing and such but the other was to have a supply of water in case of siege. Milliardo didn’t think there was any chance of that but resolved to have the cistern cleaned anyway. He never thought that he was going to be the one to clean it.

When the lever flipped over Cook called Milliardo to a halt, for which he was very grateful. He was getting tired and hungry.

Cook noticed his look and smiled slightly. Milliardo was still young, not quite twenty, and in her experience young men were always hungry.

“Here, now. You’re gettin’ pale. Hungry, aren’t ya. Come along then and I’ll feed you something nice.”

Milliardo didn’t argue with her but he wondered if he should go. Wufei hadn’t said that he had to stay in the building but he hadn’t said he could leave either. Cook just gave him a gentle push.

“Come along. If you weren’t supposed to come to the kitchens Master Dragon would have said.”

So Milliardo followed Cook to the kitchen, where she gave him a meat pie and a mug of small ale. He ate the pie with appreciation, but made a face at the sour beer.

Cook noticed his grimace and remarked, “No help for it in this heat. The next batch will be better.”

Milliardo bit at his lip the ventured, “At the temple they put the brew house in the dungeons. It’s cool there all year round.”

Cook gave him a considering look. “I’ll think about that. See if I can’t get something done. It’d make more room up here too.” She eyed the sun. “Best you get back now. Master will be looking for you.”

Milliardo knew he was in trouble the minute he walked in the door. Wufei was swearing. He couldn’t understand what he was saying but the tone of voice was unmistakable.

He opened the door and slipped in. Waiting until Wufei stopped for breath, he announced his presence with a soft, “Here I am.”

Wufei turned on him and snarled, “Didn’t I tell you not to touch the tables? Is your memory that short, or your mind that weak?”

Milliardo gave Wufei a shocked look. He really had forgotten. In the confusion of learning something new he’d obeyed Cooks directions and forgotten Wufei’s.

“I’m sorry. Really. But what difference does it make? The table’s are clean and organized.”

Wufei’s slashing gesture shut him up. “Silence. I’m going out. I’ll be back in a few minutes. I expect you naked and bent over that table when I get back. You can do it yourself or you can force me to have you bent and tied. It is up to you.”

Wufei left, leaving Milliardo standing in the middle of the sitting area wondering what to do. He decided that he was going to have to submit. The silent threat of the pit hanging over his head made his decision easier.

When Wufei came back, he was stripped and bent, waiting for whatever was to come.

Wufei stopped to admire the long lean body and luxuriant flaxen hair. He didn’t like doing this but Milliardo had to learn that he couldn’t mess with the lab.

“I’m very disappointed in you. After you take your punishment I’m going to have a serious talk with you. Believe me when I say this isn’t pleasant for me. But you will learn that every action has consequences.”

Milliardo just waited until Wufei touched him. His hands were cold which made him flinch. He muttered, ‘sorry’ and forced himself to be still.

Wufei picked up the plug of hot root and touched it to Milliardo’s anus. Milliardo gasped once then held his breath waiting. Wufei eased the plug into Milliardo. Then he took up the cane. It was a five-foot long hickory limb about as big around as a man’s finger. It was limber and carefully oiled to keep it from splitting.

Wufei brought the cane down on Milliardo’s backside with a sharp crack. The welt he raised stung but what was worse was that the hot root burned. If Milliardo clenched his muscles to keep the caning from hurting so much, the hot root burned worse. If he relaxed his muscles to keep the hot root from burning, the caning hurt worse. Milliardo clenched his teeth and endured, he even counted. Twelve blows of the cane which were usually referred to as a dose of hickory.

“Enough. Come here and kneel before me.” Milliardo started to reach behind him to take out the root. “No, you’ll keep that in until I’m though talking to you. Kneel.”

Milliardo just went to Wufei and knelt at his feet.

His entire body ached now. His muscles were sore from the unaccustomed work, his buttocks stung from the stripes and his anus felt like it was on fire. The juice from the root penetrated the tissues and he knew that he would burn long after the root was removed. He hoped that Wufei was merciful enough to take it out soon.

Wufei looked at Milliardo for a moment then decided. “Turn around and present yourself.” Milliardo gave Wufei a surprised look. “Refusal will result in the root remaining in you until you submit.” Milliardo scurried to turn around, lifting his buttocks to Wufei’s gaze. Wufei removed the root and noted that the tissues were inflamed and a bit swollen. He knew that Milliardo was going to burn for at least two more candle marks. He hoped it made the proper impression.

“Now. I told you not to touch the things on the tables. Would you like to explain to me why you immediately disobeyed me?”

Milliardo hung his head. “I forgot. Really I did. Cook was teaching me how to clean and she said to take all the dirty equipment to the sinks and wash it. I also washed the table tops and cleared away any mess. I don’t understand what I did wrong. I didn’t bother any of your experiments or the distilling equipment that is set up. It’s clean, looks neat. Please. I’m sorry you’re angry but I don’t understand.”

Wufei sighed. “I see. Stand up and come over here.” Wufei led Milliardo to a table. He picked up a jar and showed it to him. “This is a powder made of the root of a flower. It’s deadly poison. There’s enough powder in here to kill everyone in the keep twice over. It’s also used, in very small quantities, to aid a weak heart. And this...” Wufei pointed to another container. “Contains a solution that can take the skin off your body in a most painful way. It’s used in some of my alchemical experiments to dissolve metals. It can only be contained in glass. What if you’d gotten some on you? Some of either compound could have done you a great deal of damage and you wouldn’t have known how to help yourself. I was on the other side of the village and there wouldn’t have been time for me to arrive before something serious happened. You’re not to take chances with yourself. Do you understand me?”

Milliardo gazed at Wufei for a moment then shook his head. “I’m sorry? But ... I don’t think I do. What difference ... beside the inconvenience ... would it make to you whether I injure myself or not?”

Wufei blinked once, a slow, almost sleepy, closing then opening of his eyes that made him look like a dragon for real. “I care. You are mine and I take care of what is mine. If you won’t take care of yourself, for whatever reason, I’ll take care of you. I prize all my few possessions. Now.” Wufei reached out to touch Milliardo to get him to raise his head, which he’d bowed when Wufei said ‘I care’. There were tears on his face. Wufei studied him for a moment. They couldn’t be tears of pain as Milliardo hadn’t made a sound or shed a tear until just now. So something he’d said had caused this. Wufei waited for a moment then eased into a kneeling position in front of Milliardo

“Has no one ever told you that they care simply because they do?” Milliardo nodded his head, too disturbed to speak. “I see. Well, I do. Simply because you are mine. Now. Here.” Wufei handed Milliardo a handkerchief. “Wipe your eyes and blow your nose. Stop that at once.” Milliardo apologized disjointedly. “Yes. No crying. It spoils your looks. You’re too pale to cry prettily.”

Milliardo managed a somewhat watery smile at that and handed Wufei back his handkerchief. Wufei tossed it onto the desk and sighed. “Well, this didn’t go well at all. So, now what?”

Milliardo looked at Wufei for a moment. Then shrugged. “I don’t know. You look over what else I’ve done and tell me what a good boy I’ve been?”

Wufei allowed that that was a very good idea and did exactly that. He was actually very favorably impressed with the work. Milliardo had done a great job on everything he’d done. The bed chambers were spotless, the bathing chamber the same. The only thing he found exception with was the state of his desk and books.

“ And who told you to mess about with my books?”

“Cook. She was all for me cleaning up your desk. But, as I like my head where it is, I refused. I tried to choose a happy medium. I just put up what was on the floor. I put them all away using the standard filing system I was taught at the temple.”

Wufei noticed Milliardo’s weary sigh and looked him over carefully. “I’ll discuss that with you at another time. You look ready to fall over. Come lay down on the couch and just tell me what else you’ve done.”

Milliardo couldn’t hide his grateful look. “Thank you. I really do feel worn out.”

After arranging himself as comfortably as he could on the couch, Milliardo told Wufei about the capstan in the cellars and how he’d filled the reservoir and the need to clean out the cistern. Wufei watched as he shifted around trying to get comfortable.

“Will you be still?”

“I’m sorry. I can’t. I ... my ... it burns. Please?”

Wufei took pity on Milliardo and went to fetch a cream that could ease his discomfort. Milliardo was surprised when he came back with the pot of cream.

“Kneel on the floor, with your chest on the couch. I’ll ease you this time. But don’t think I’ll just buckle every time you flash those beautiful eyes at me. But I can tell that you’re in real distress. There is a real difference between punishment and torture. I think perhaps I pushed the limits just a bit.”

Milliardo couldn’t believe it. Wufei was admitting that he could have been wrong? He had to think about that one. He realized that he had a lot more to think about. Things about himself, Wufei, many things.

Wufei scooped a finger full of the cream out of the pot and spreading Milliardo’s nether cheeks with the other hand, slathered it on the abused ring of elastic muscle. Milliardo sighed his relief so Wufei gathered up more of the cream and slipped his finger into the burning orifice. Milliardo nearly sobbed in relief. His groan made Wufei withdraw quickly.

“Did that hurt you?”

“No, it ... feels so good. Thank you. I ... no one ever did anything like that for me before. Not just because I needed it. There was always some ... other reason. Currying favor, or wanting some benefit.”

Wufei returned to massaging the cream into Milliardo. “Well, I can see a benefit.” Milliardo made and inquiring noise. “Yes. I get to touch you.”

Milliardo stiffened just a bit. “I’m ... not good at that. I never liked it. If you ... want me, I ... would rather not.”

Wufei just continued his ministrations. “We’ll worry about that later. If you truly don’t like it, I won’t insist. But I would like it if you’d try. Frankly, I prefer to penetrate rather than be penetrated. I’m too small for most men around here. And ... I ...”

Milliardo interrupted, saving Wufei from himself. “I ... this is most awkward ... I can’t relax. It hurts. I don’t remember a time when I enjoyed my ... knight’s attentions. My father sent me to a friend of his to be fostered. I didn’t get along with him very well. And he was old school. I ran away so many times that he sent me back and then they sent me to the temple. It was good there. My rank gave me the privilege of refusal and ... I ... kept to myself.”

Wufei stood up. “I see.” and Wufei did see. He saw a boy who had learned at an early age that he couldn’t depend on his own family to defend him. A boy who only knew that his rank was a shield and sword. “We’ll work things out as we go. Now. ... I think we’ve both earned a treat. What would you like. ... within reason?”

Milliardo eased himself back onto the couch. “Pie! Cook told me about hand pies. I want one. She said there was apple.” Milliardo’s child like wistful expression made Wufei smile.

“Very well. I’ll send someone to see if there are any.”

Wufei sent a page to see if there were any pies. The boy returned with a tray covered with a cloth. The tray had a plate of pies and a jug of milk on it. The boy had crumbs on his lips as well as a smile.

“Here you go, sir. She said that you should have tea and give that ‘poor young man’ a cup of that herbal for aching muscles. She said he turned the pump without a complaint. So . . . here you go and I’m for my bed. It’s later than it looks. The sun is still strong.”

After wishing the page good night Wufei set the kettle on the hob and turned to see that Milliardo had set the plate and jug on the small knee high occasional table and fetched cups from the shelf behind the desk.

“There. All set out. And there’s cherry and apple. And the apple has nuts in it.” Milliardo gave Wufei a slightly shame faced look. “I could help breaking one to see what it was. And this has to be cherry. The juice is red.”

Wufei accepted the half a pie that Milliardo offered him but refused the milk saying that it didn’t agree wit him. He was pleased with Milliardo’s attitude and said so.

Milliardo replied simply. “If we’re going to be stuck with each other for the rest of our lives, we need to get along. I’m willing to try. So I am. I know it’s going to be hard. And we won’t always succeed. But I’m willing to go more than half way. Especially as it’s clear that you’ve somehow gotten the upper hand. Which I really don’t understand and I’m babbling.”

Wufei realized that Milliardo was so tired that he was actually silly with it.

“You’re so tired that you’re blithering. Eat your pie or even two. Drink the milk then go to bed.” He glanced at the time candle burning in its alcove by the door. “It’s fourth mark of the third candle. Late. The sun is still strong so it doesn’t seem as late as it is.”

Milliardo sighed over his pie then agreed that he was stupid tired. He finished the pie he was eating, drank all the milk then gave up. “I’m going to bed. I’d eat another pie but I’m afraid I’ll fall asleep in it. Wish I could have another.”

Wufei covered the plate with a glass bell usually used to cover cheese. “We’ll be very bad boys and have these for breakfast. Go to bed. I’ll be in in a moment with some tea for you. It’ll help you sleep.” He gave Milliardo a stern look. “Don’t get used to me waiting on you either.”

Milliardo staggered off to his bed without comment. Wufei followed shortly thereafter with the promised tea.

The tea duly swallowed Milliardo managed to drift off to sleep without a thought to the fact that Wufei had let him have a bed. And had left off the running chains and gag.