But I'll kneel down, Wait for now
And I'll kneel down, Know my ground
And I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you
-Lyrics to 'I Will Wait' performed by Mumford and Sons
Elements of Great Design Part 65
Trent, Alex, Mueller, Meiran and Dorothy stood stiff as statues as they stared in disbelief at the smirking Fighter... the famed young man who was destined to bring the Keepers together.
For months only a myth passed on quickly by word of mouth stood before them all in the flesh. Like the sunlight peeking through the emptied tree branches, he was a piercing brilliance in the darkness that had been their existences in the last months.
After a long, stunned silence, the Queen broke it with a sharp sob as she ran to close the distance between her and the soldier. Taken aback for a moment when her arms held onto him tightly, Yuy paused for only a blink before he smiled and held her back. Sniffling against his shoulder, Relena whispered brokenly, "Heero... I knew that you would find us."
Swallowing roughly, Quinze took a step back in anxious wait to see what transpired in this reunion that he had both looked forward to and dreaded. In the past, there was no question of Peacecraft's longing for his friend. The unknown of how she would react to being back in his presence was something that stirred a bit of worry for him...
...and yet those fears were forever buried by the shine in Relena's eyes when she pulled away and sought out her lover's gaze right away. "Trent and I never had a doubt in you," she told the Fighter without so much as another glance back.
With that, the breath that the Cornerian soldier did not realize he had been holding was released in a quiet sigh as his whole body eased.
Nothing of what was exchanged had been missed by the Keeper of Life. Inwardly breathing a relief of his own in knowing where his Sovereign's heart now belonged, he offered a rare grin to his childhood 'brother.' Bowing his head as he stepped forward, he greeted, "It has been a long time, Trent. I am happy to see you again."
"Same to you, Heero," Quinze replied in sincere kind.
They shook hands firmly, wrapping their free arms around each other in a firm hug. "I just wish that we could have been reacquainted under better terms than this," he frowned as they pulled apart. Snickering after a brief thought, he shrugged, "Then again, I feel a hell of a lot better than I have in weeks now that you're here."
Dorothy was not about to stand in the background any more. All but running into the scene, the teary eyed Oracle held onto her dear friend with all of her strength. "The Creator was very wise in choosing you for your mission," she whispered. "I hope that you see that for yourself now."
Slipping from the embrace that he returned, she peered around, asking, "You do have the Keepers with you?"
The Fighter smirked and peered over his shoulder to watch the dark shadows of his family slipping out into the open. Trowa and Quatre stepped over the above-ground roots of the trees and entered the small clearing first. Anna was not far behind with Wufei pawing the earth at her side as always. Together, they all took in the shocked faces of their audience.
"Y-you all look no older than any of us," Mueller commented when he found his voice before the others, blinking his enlarged eyes. "I was not expecting that of the Keepers of Gaia." Then, there was the greatest surprise of all that he was not willing to bring up aloud, but he and his comrades all stared at the black wolf in curiosity.
Heero and his teammates smiled and kept their laughter to themselves. If anyone was aware of how old they truly were, of what they really were, they might have become faint upon learning it.
Clearing his throat, the Romefeller soldier held an arm out to the group one-by-one, introduction, "Everyone, this is Quatre Winner of Water, Trowa Barton of Air, Anna Fraise of Fire and Wufei Chang of Earth."
At the mention of their names and titles, the spoken Keeper dipped their head and or gave a wave of a hand. All the while, they had friendly and engaging grins on their faces. The wolf bent into a bit of a bow, wagging his tail with what the mortals could only consider a smile of his own.
Just when the rebels thought that their new arrivals had all been brought in, Yuy frowned back to the shadows. "It's alright, Duo," he reassured. "You're safe here."
Opening her mouth to ask who the soldier was addressing, Relena remained silent at the rustling of the bushes. Slowly, a darkly shrouded figure of the same average height of the Keepers emerged. Their hooded head lowered so that he could stare down at the ground as he neared, Relena's head tilted while her lover and their friends also looked on in confusion.
As soon as he was close enough, Heero wrapped an arm securely around the frailer form and told their onlookers, "And this is Duo Maxwell." He lightly squeezed the teenager in his hold by means of a silent urge.
Still hesitant, the Black Mage lifted his hands to grip the edge of his hood and pulled back until the cover fell away to reveal his long braid. Biting his lip, he timidly lifted his chin enough that his violet eyes caught the light enough that they almost seemed to glow.
Gasping and crying out, the frightened lot standing around all fell back a few paces. "Dear Creator," Alex managed in a breath, "a son of Shinigami." Already looking as though he wanted to run for his life, Maxwell shuddered and began to retreat within himself.
"He is an invaluable part of our fam- our team," Yuy informed, correcting his near slip and struggling to refrain from snapping at the initial reactions. His arm holding firmly onto his soul mate, he stated, "He deserves every bit as much respect and acceptance as any of us here."
Up until that moment, the Fighter had forgotten the closed-minded ways of the people of Gaia when it came to the children of Shinigami.
It physically pained him to see those frightened faces... knowing that they were directed at the one being that meant everything to him. Making their own feelings known, the Keepers closed in to huddle tightly around the braided immortal. At the Mage's free side, Anna rested a hand on the small of his back to steady him.
Prepared to send off remarks of the same in defense of their brother, the elements were stopped when a familiar voice called from behind the trees at the opposite side of the clearing, "The young man is right. He deserves those things and more."
To the eyes raising to watch him enter the space, Howard opened his arms with an elated, "Hello, my friends! So very good to see you all again!"
Hurrying to follow the Elder were Zechs, Noin, Treize, Lady Une, Sally and Firion. Eyes growing, they scanned the knot of youths that the old man had named as their sole hope. The Sovereigns of Corneria looked to each other in shock as the Queen whispered, "T-they are practically babies. My imagination of the Keepers was far from this reality."
Her husband could only nod his head.
Purposely moving for Duo first, the white-robed gifted pulled him into a tight embrace for the others to witness. "I have been checking into your progress in capturing the Elemental Stones," he said, bringing the son of Shinigami back at arms length with his hands on the teenager's shoulders.
Scanning all of the faces of the Alliance, he praised, "Absolutely amazing, the feats that you accomplished together."
Instantly relaxing over the displayed reception of him, Maxwell's features fell back into his characteristic smirk.
"Yes, well a little more of a heads up on your end to what we were going into would have been nice when we saw you the last time," he snorted. "We might have been here before mid-winter instead of making all of you wait so long, old man." Their heads falling back, his teammates laughed.
Raising a finger to wiggle it before the Black Mage's face, Howard grinned, "Well now, I was not about to spoil all of the fun you were in for. We Elders are not ones to give up every little detail lest we ruin the enjoyment of the journey." To the snickering around him, he patted Death's arm and turned to have a chance in greeting all of the Keepers.
Slapping Heero's shoulder, he concluded, "You were all more than worth the wait."
The exchange worked its magic over the rebels standing by. There was none more trusted than the old man. For him to be so happy in the son of Shinigami's presence, there was no reason for them to fear him.
More than that, seeing the subtle closeness that Heero had towards the braided young man by never dropping the arm holding him told Relena everything that she needed to know. Never before had the Fighter demonstrated the least bit of open fondness toward another. So, the extent of their relationship was made perfectly clear to her.
And any lover of Heero's was certainly going to be a dear friend of hers.
Stepping up to the Alliance, she headed right for the mysterious youth and peered into his blinking, violet eyes.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Duo," she told him with all the sincerity in the world and a curtsey before she hugged him. "Please forgive the initial reaction from my friends and myself," she requested by his ear, "I am afraid that we had forgotten to look past the stereotypes of those I do not understand."
Completely knocked back mentally by both the embrace and her humble words, the son of Shinigami took in his soul mate's equally wide eyes.
Quickly easing in her arms, he returned the hold and grinned back in kind, "No offense taken. I really was not expecting to be taken in so easily when we first arrived here. My people are pretty accustomed to the fear that we bring on."
A small lump forming in her throat, the Queen forced it down as she pulled back and lost herself in his beautiful eyes once more. Shaking her head, she frowned, "That still does not make it right." In a bold move for her comrades to see, she cupped the braided teenager's cheek with one hand and placed a peck of a kiss on the other.
"Thank you for bringing the Keepers through their mission... and for taking such good care of Heero," she whispered, winking with a giggle at the stunned faces of the pair.
Focusing on her Fighter, Peacecraft bent her head and winked in a way that made her knowing all the more clear. Yuy followed it up with a grateful smile and dipped his arm down so that he and Duo could lace their hands together at their sides.
It was as though a cloud of tension had forever been lifted, making the remaining rebels around comfortable to close in and come to know their most honored guests with eagerness.
Opening his arm in the midst of the rounds of handshakes and pleasantries, Howard gestured to a certain soldier to stand alongside him and looked to the Fire Keeper as he said, "Anna, allow me to introduce Trent, here. He is one of our brave Commanders and an archer in training."
At that, the redhead perked up and a hand fell over the thick string that fell diagonally across her chest to run her finger along it. Catching on fast, Quinze's back turned rigid enough that his whole frame nearly vibrated in anticipation.
The corner of his mouth tugging up, the Elder raised an eyebrow and informed, "He is very new at handling a bow and arrow. I wonder if you would not mind taking him on to teach the ways of your craft."
Simply the thought of being trained by a Keeper nearly had Trent feeling faint, his heart was thumping so hard and fast in his chest. Their jaws dropping, Alex and Mueller fully felt their fellow Fighter's excitement at the request.
A mischievous gleam in her blue eyes, Anna smirked as she fully took the Captain in. "I would be more than willing to help," she nodded firmly, Quinze's knees almost buckled on him. Tilting her head, she went on to warn, "But if you accept, do not expect me to go easy on you."
"T-that would be fantastic," was all that the Fighter could fumble in response, an elated grin brightening his face. "I am up for whatever you must do to make me the best archer possible."
Rubbing her hands together, Chang gazed down on the wolf at her side, murmuring, "Ooooh, I like him." Chang let out a sharp bark of a laugh and nodded to the wonder of their audience.
Rolling her shoulders back and holding an opened hand out, the thief locked eyes with the soldier and smiled, "Alright. Then I will give my solemn promise to assist you in reaching that goal." Mouth dry, Trent extending his quaking hand to have it wrapped in a strong grip for a firm shake.
Firion waved his hands in the air to call attention as he snickered, "This is all more than well and good, but I think that first things should come first."
Bowing to the Keepers, he commented, "You all have come a long way and experienced a great deal along the way. Please come with me so that you may be shown to tents that have been set aside for you where you can eat, rest and settle in. We can get to business when you are more comfortable."
Duo pointed at the Commander and complimented, "Now you are a man I know I am going to like." Laughter filled the clearing once more.
And that sentiment only proved all the more to the mortals how they were going to become fast friends with the son of Shinigami as well.
* * * * * *
The Macalania Woods were a wonder in and of themselves... a land of beautiful trees from evergreens and year-round weeping willows to oak and others that even in their states of slumber barrenness were majestic in their presence. Snow-friendly wildlife grew to add more green and a variety of colors amidst the light coating of white along the earth.
But then, that was not even the best part... the land literally glowed when night fell to cast a faint blue light over every stretch of the forest.
Going on better sleep and more fulfilling a meal than they'd had in weeks since their stay in the enchanted land of Cleyra, the Alliance took a bit of time on their own to enjoy their peaceful surroundings.
Perched on a cluster of the lower dipped branches of a glowing willow branch, the team was spread out in their respective pairs as they marveled at both the forest and the massive size of the encampment off in the clearing.
"This is one of the most beautiful lands I have ever been to," Quatre breathed. A sheepish grin spread across his face as he shrugged, "At least that it is as far as I can remember."
Anna leaned back against the wolf curled up around her from behind. "I think it's pretty romantic, too," she sighed wistfully. Grinning sadly as she looked over her lover's head lying beside her, she ran a hand over his muzzle.
Footsteps lightly crunched over the snow to call the lot to attention, their heads turning in the direction of the source. Recognizing the burly form and rugged face bearing a full beard, Heero lifted his head from where it lay in Duo's lap. Wide-eyed, he continued to stare at the soldier as he breathed, "Odin."
All but scrambling down from the tree, Yuy laughed along with his birth father in this existence as they ran to close the distance between them. Hugging tightly, the two Fighters took in the solace of knowing that their last living relative was alive and safe.
Strong hands gripping his shoulders, the Keeper of Life was pulled back at arm's length so that his guardian and mentor could have a good look at him. "I am so... damned proud of you, son," Odin breathed, head shaking and tears filling his eyes against his defenses as the emotions of their reunion caught up.
Unable to respond with his own voice, Heero released a deep sigh and embraced his father again. Biting his lip, Duo slowly stepped up when the warriors parted. Quickly wiping his face dry, Yuy turned and urged his lover close so that he could wrap an arm around his shoulders while introducing, "Father, this is-"
"Duo Maxwell," the tall man finished, a smirk on his face. Nodding his head back to the encampment, he snickered, "Word travels quickly around here." He lowered a calloused, scarred hand to the braided youth. Taking a deep breath, he said, "This is an honor. Thank you for being there for Heero when I could not. I am forever in your debt, young man."
More than any other kind reception that he had received that day, this was by far the most meaningful to the Black Mage.
Blinking up at the warm smile, he dampened his dry throat and replied in a small, "N-no thanks needed there. Heero has told me a great deal about you." Gladly taking the offered hand into his own for a firm shake, he grinned sincerely, "And I am just as honored to meet you, sir."
His lips turning up all the more, the officer insisted, "Odin will be more than fine." Raising the pointer of his free hand, he added, "As for the other rebels, you will have no trouble from them. If any are so foolish as to give you a hard time, they will have to deal with me personally."
From their places in the willow boughs, the Keepers looking on smiled upon the experienced Fighter and bowed their heads in gratitude before Duo could begin to react. Sputtering nonsense sounds, the son of Shinigami finally gave up on finding the right words and just hugged the Captain instead. The embrace was received with a deep chuckle and a series of fatherly pats to his back.
Turning their heads away to allow the little family a chance to connect in some measure of privacy, the four warriors in the tree spotted another guest coming towards them from the other direction. Amidst the glowing land, Howard's robe reflected the same pale blue shade as he grinned and waved up at the team.
Anna was scooped onto Wufei's back when the black wolf reared up to bring them down to the ground so that they could have a more proper reconnection with their descendant. Giggling when her feet rested on the frozen earth, the redhead was taken into a fierce hug from the old man. "I am so relieved that you managed to survive all this time," she commented as they stepped back.
"It was not an easy feat," the Elder frowned deeply, "and countless others were not as fortunate in our months of heading the rebellion." Brushing his long sleeves, he shrugged, "But I still have not lost the fight in me."
Smirking down to the anxious black wolf, he stated, "Now this simply will not do. No offense, but if I am going to have a conversation with my great great great great great grandparents-" A warning growl rose up from the beast at the same time that the thief gave their heir a glare of her own. Howard snickered, "Then I am going to have them both be able to converse back."
Quatre and Trowa were well ahead of the old man, bringing the Water Keeper out to drape Chang's Monk robe over his back. At that, the temporary fix to the curse was sent out and Wufei shifted back to his natural form. Whimpering, Anna threw her arms around her husband's neck before he had a moment to close the fabric around him.
Only too thrilled to hold her back in kind, the Earth Keeper rained kisses on the side of her face and burrowed his nose in her shoulder to take a deep breath of her scent. Turning his head up after a moment, he huffed to the old man, "You could have scaled back on a few of those 'great's, you know."
Laughter from all around filled the chilled air.
* * * * * *
The following morning...
"Keepers!" Firion's voice broke through the stillness that was the early hours of the day. Quickly racing from their tents, the Alliance rushed to finish pulling on their warmer clothes with frightened gazes when they found the Commander running to their little circle within the encampment.
Shaking his head, Heero asked, "What is it?"
The silver-haired man's mouth opened and closed before he shouted, "You just... please come with me!" Gazing on Duo in particular, he pleaded, "Especially you!"
Violet eyes shifting in confusion, Maxwell scanned the equally surprised expressions of his family and followed on the Commander's heels to lead their charge. Passing through thousands of people standing by who cleared a path for them, it was clear that there was a great deal of unrest amongst the rebels by how they whispered amongst themselves and eyed around warily.
When they reached the end of the army's backline, the team came to an abrupt stop with sharp gasps.
Yet another army of thousands met them... hundreds upon thousands of darkly shrouded figures with thick hoods pulled over their heads. Long scythes rested in hands at their sides, and every darkened face lifted up at Duo's appearance.
The creature standing at the head of the mass stepped forward and reached up to remove their hood. The face of a lovely young woman with long, springy curls was revealed... along with her haunting, violet eyes.
Never breaking her stare on the braided teenager before her, she smirked, "Duo Maxwell, favorite son of our father, we have come to stand alongside you to put an end to this war."
In conclusion, she dropped to a knee and lowered her head with the reinforcements behind her falling to do the same as one.
There was a long, stunned silence to follow. The words slowly set in. What was shown began to take hold.
And Duo began to laugh quietly... a sinister, chilling sound that his allies had never heard from him before. Gazing over at Heero, he smirked, "We are so going to kick Abaddon's ass."
TBC...
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