Gundam Wing

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

Reluctant Companion

Chapter

Then next few days were calm. Wufei puttered in the lab, making potions, lotions and creams for his healing. Milliardo cleaned up after this with as good a grace as he could manage and helped when he was allowed. Milliardo kept things clean, chopped whatever he was given and generally did his best to stay out of trouble. He managed fairly well. There were some disagreements over this and that but nothing major.

Wufei worried that Milliardo was planning some sort of rebellion. He wasn’t sure how Milliardo could cave so easily. He was a bit leery about what might happen.

Milliardo on his behalf, was doing his level best to cooperate. He constantly battled his pride and smart mouth. Sometimes he wondered if Wufei thoughthim sullen when all he was trying to do was not make some snarky comment. His natural sarcasm was going to earn him a punishment if he wasn’t careful. And he didn’t want another trip to the pit.

It was becoming more and more difficult for both men to go about daily business. Wufei finally gave in.

“Milli, what the hell are you plotting. I swear if you’re intending to run, I’ll put a curse on you.”

Milliardo looked up from the pile of distilling apparatus he was cleaning and snapped, “I have no intention of escaping. Where the hell would I go? Back to Relena? She’d probably castrate me. Out into the wide world? Not a chance. I’m a prince, not a commoner. In case you didn’t think about it. I have no way to make a living. Who wants a prince who fomented a rebellion of ... say ... twenty men? And failed on top of it. No, I thank you. I’ve got one last chance of being good for something and I don’t intend to waste it. Now, if you’ll excuse me. I have the labors of ... I forget his name ... to complete.”

Milliardo went back to his work, grumbling about ‘suspicious, hardheaded boys’’ never noticing Wufei’s arrested expression.

Wufei stopped to think carefully about some things. He came to the conclusion that Milliardo was indeed going to stay and do his best to be a good servant. Wufei disliked the slavery aspect in one way and contemplated it as a mixed blessing in others. He still wondered how this was all going to blow up next.

Milliardo realized that nearly two weeks had passed and he’d never reminded Wufei that the cistern beneath the converted stables needed cleaning out. He grumbled, ‘well, shit’ because he knew without a doubt who was going to be doing the cleaning. But he went to Wufei and told him about the needed chore.

“And who’s going to go down into that thing and clean it?”

Milliardo blinked for a moment then snarked, “Well,I doubt it will be you. I seem to be the only slave around.”

Wufei gave him a sharp look then turned that look to the gag still prominently displayed on his desk. “Watch your tone. Although,in this case, I’m not sure I blame you because you are the one who will have to do it. I’m not about to.” Wufei pinned him with an examining glare. “Are you going to be able to do it?”

Milliardo thought for a moment. “I think so. As long as it isn’t dark. And I really could use some help. I need someone on top to haul up the buckets so I don’t have to scramble up and down the ladder. I’ll wear out too quickly and there’s always the chance I’ll fall off the ladder. No sense in setting myself up for a fall.”

Wufei shrugged. “I’ll send for one of the stable boys to come help. Do you want to start this morning or tomorrow?”

Milliardo was tempted to say tomorrow but no sense putting off as the old saying went.

“Today if you can manage it. I’ll go set up for the job right now. If you can’t get me help today at least I’ll be ready for tomorrow.”

Milliardo walked off to find buckets, rope and a shovel.

The stable boy came while he was still gathering his equipment.

“Why anyone ‘ud wanna clean out that ol’ cistern is beyond me. We don’t need it for nothin’.”

Milliardo gave the boy a sour look. “You want to go tell Master Chang that you don’t want to do it?”

The boy gave him a disbelieving look. “Me? You got rocks where your brain should be? I’m not about to tell Lord Dragon anything. We’ll do the job and do it right. I’ve no taste for one of his ass reamin’s. Thanks so much. Come on.”

Milliardo let the boy take the shovel and rope, he took the buckets as there were four of them.

The stable boy didn’t complain until he realized that he was going to be hauling them up by hand. Then he let his displeasure be known, loudly. Milliardo didn’t say anything until the boy got a little too personal.

“I don’t know why I have to do it. You’re the slave after all. Why don’t you do it? You’re the strong one. I’m just a kid.”

Milliardo just shrugged as he grabbed his temper with grim determination. “I don’t care, boy. If you want to go down into the cistern and shovel the buckets, that’s fine with me. I’ll stand around up here for half a mark at a time. All that’s needed is to haul the buckets up and dispose of the contents.”

The stable boy gave him a filthy look. “And where do you think that stuff has to go? All the way over to the refuse heap. That’s where. An’ I don’t have a cart.”

Milliardo gave the boy an arrested look. “Well, dammit, boy. I didn’t think of that. You lower me down into the cistern and I’ll start filling buckets. You get yourself a cart or whatever. But don’t dally. I’ll be done faster than you think.”

Nathan just snorted. “Yurs you’ll do. I don’t think.”

Milliardo gave him a puzzled look, the boy had slipped into the local dialect. “I’m sorry?”

“Said, I don’t think so. It’s a lot harder to do than you think. Runnin’ a shovel. But have it your way. And my name is Nathan.”

Milliardo nodded. “Very well, Nathan. I’m sure I’m up to doing the job. Go find a cart.”

Nathan helped Milliardo into the cistern and went to find a cart. When he got back, Milliardo had filled all of one bucket and was swearing luridly. “Nathan, now that you’re back, go find a pickaxe. This stuff is ... really very hard.”

“Told ya. It’s hard cause it was dumped in there by rain an’ lazy people. No tellin’ what the hell is in there. I’ll be back with a pick in a few minutes. Don’t strain yourself.

Milliardo settled down on one overturned bucket to rest a moment. This wasn’t as easy as he’d thought it would be. And he was beginning to feel a bit odd. There was plenty of light so he shouldn’t be feeling trapped. The rope the boy had dropped down the side of the cistern was still there. He could climb out any time he wanted to.

But he still felt as if he was being suffocated.

Instead of dwelling on his predicament Milliardo began chopping at the compacted debris with his shovel. It passed the time and kept him occupied enough that he didn’t continue to feel trapped.

As he dug, he found bones, and broken pottery. He wondered how anyone had let this happen. The cistern was large enough to allow the keep to stand for at least a month all by itself. He also found bits of cloth, barrel staves and hoops and much to his surprise several gold coins, a chain and a ring. He wondered how they’d gotten there. He put them into his pouch to give to Wufei later.

He actually managed to fill another bucket while he was waiting. However, Nathan had a good excuse for making him wait. He came back with help.

The two stable men pried up several more of the cover stones. These stones were supposed to keep trash out of the cistern and made the top of it look like normal floor but they were held up by wooden supports. When they were lifted, it made it easier to get into and out of the hole.

Milliardo looked up and then covered his eyes to keep dust out. The men dropped into the pit, sliding down the extra ropes they had brought.

“Here, give me that shovel and start hauling the buckets out of here. Go up and keep an eye on that boy. You bring up the buckets and he’ll haul the stuff away. Go on now.”

Milliardo started to bristle up but realized that he was going to cut off his nose to spite his face. He hauled himself out of the cistern and stood ready to pull buckets up from the depths.

They worked at it all day and found that the deeper they went the thinner the layer of filth. After lunch, it was easier and they finished by mid after noon.

Milliardo thanked the men and sent them all on their way telling them that he would tell Master Wufei that they had worked hard and done a good job. Their smiles told him that he’d done the right thing.

Wufei picked up Milliardo’s discarded belt and pouch. He was going to rip him a new one. The tunic and pants were next on the floor and they made a direct line to the bathing chamber.

He knew that Milliardo had to be filthy from the amount of detritus that the stable boy had hauled out. He was probably sore too.

Wufei dropped the clothing into the hamper and tossed the belt and pouch onto Milliardo’s bed. He paused for a moment then went to pick it up again. He weighed it in his hand for a bit then opened it.

Dumping it out on the bed he examined the contents. Milliardo didn’t have much, just a fire box, a small tin friction top container with a piece of flint and a striking steel. It also contained some char clothe and tinder. There was also a bit of jerky and some dried fruit wrapped in a bit of oil cloth. And a very dirty draw string bag. He opened the bag and gasped. The glint of gold sent Wufei into a fury.

Milliardo was carrying around food, fire and money. He was planning an escape!

Wufei caught his temper with both hands. If he did what he wanted to do he’d be no better than his people. Instead he waited until Milliardo had finished his bath then called him to come to him in his bed chamber.

Milliardo entered bare chested and damp.

“Yes? I’m sorry if you wanted me earlier. I was filthy so I bathed and took the opportunity to clean the bathing chamber first. There’s some water on the floor where I dripped so if you go in there soon be careful. “

Wufei waited until Milliardo finished talking then motioned him over to the far wall of the chamber. He pointed to a chain that Milliardo was sure hadn’t been there that morning. He wondered where it had come from as he hadn’t heard any sound of anyone putting the ring into the wall. Then he realized what it was.

“What? What did I do? I didn’t do anything wrong. I swear.”

Wufei just pointed at the anklet. “Put it on. Or I’ll put it on you.”

“NO! I didn’t do anything to deserve this.”

Wufei just jumped him. Milliardo defended himself by slamming Wufei into the wall. Wufei bounced off with no seeming ill effects. His blow to Milliardo’s solar plexusbent him over with a huff. It didn’t take long for Wufei to have Milliardo on his belly on the floor. He sat on Milliardo’s ass and twisted his arm behind his back. Milliardo wriggled but couldn’t break free. In order to put the steel circle on Milliardo Wufei had to reach back and pull his ankle to him. This was accomplished by reaching behind him grabbing his foot and forcibly bending his knee. This made it possible for Wufei to snap the circle around Milliardo’s ankle, stand up and be out of his reach before he was able to do anything about it.

“And that little attack has earned you double the time. I might even put you back in the pit. I haven’t decided. I’m too angry right now to make any decision.”

Milliardo froze at the threat of the pit. He stayed frozen until Wufei had left the room then he just dropped onto the narrow cot against the wall and curled up in a miserable ball. He wasn’t sure what had brought that on but his reaction had only made the situation worse.

And he still didn’t know what brought on Wufei’s strange actions.

Wufei settled in his chair and went through a meditation routine to calm his nerves. He had given up sitting siza as it made his feet hurt too much to concentrate. So now he meditated sitting in his chair. Only his meditations weren’t helping.

He sighed and got up. He was going to check the things from Milliardo’s pouch one more time. There had to be a reason for Milliardo wishing to run, he just couldn’t figure out what it was. Milliardo himself had said there was no place from him to go.

Wufei brought the things to his desk and went over them again. The fire kit he could understand Milliardo was responsible for keeping the fire places in order. The food was problematical but not completely out of reason. Perhaps he had gotten the habit of keeping a bit of food on him for some reason. But the gold. That couldn’t be explained away. He had to have stolen it from somewhere. Wufei put the fire kit back in Milliardo’s pouch, the food he tucked away in his desk. The gold was another matter entirely. He had to figure out who it belonged to and get it back to them.

He sent for the captain of the guard and handed him the coins, chain and ring.

“Find out who this belongs to. My slave had it in his possession. If you need to question him, I ask that you don’t cripple him. He’s upstairs, chained to the wall ... for now. Send for him if you need him.”

The captain just accepted the things from Wufei. The expression on his face told the captain that he was on the verge of an explosion. He made his escape telling Wufei that he didn’t have any questions for now. First he was going to ask around to find out who was missing the things. Then he’d make a decision of what to do next. Wufei just nodded absently and stuck his nose in a scroll.

Milliardo lay on his cot and worried at his predicament. He had been good. He’d tried hard and Master Wufei seemed happy with him. He’d managed for quite some time not to make sarcastic, rude, or snide remarks. Now this. Wufei was insane.

After what seemed like forever Wufei came up the stairs and glared Milliardo to his feet.

“I’m keeping you right here for a while. I ... have needs. You will see to them. I have decided this as your punishment. You won’t run from me. I’m tired of losing everything ... everyone ... you will not escape me. Do you understand?”

Milliardo looked at Wufei for a moment. “I don’t understand anything. But if you think I’m going to lie down and take it up the ass just because you say, you’re crazier than I thought. You won’t ... I’m not ... you can’t just use me.”

Wufei just shrugged. “I can do whatever I like. You’re mine. Mine. Just like my horse, my robes, mine. Get that through your thick head. And you will service me. And like it. You’ll beg for it. You’ll see.”

Milliardo snarled, “I will not. If you can convince me I want it that bad, I’ll bend over. But it won’t happen. I’m not a bottom. Go away.”

Wufei just went.

Milliardo went back to his bed and settled in to brood. Very well, what had he done lately that might have brought this about. He went over everything he’d done in the last four or five days. Nothing. He went back a week. Still nothing. Wufei had said that he was trying hard and doing well. Milliardo scoured his memory until his head ached.

He finally decided he just had to give up, let Wufei do whatever he was going to do and deal as best he could. He fell asleep on his renewed vow to make this work no matter what he had to do. He had his stubborn up now.

When his meal came he didn’t think anything of eating. The wine was also excellent.