Author: Caroline
Rating: PG mebbe? NC-17 eventually >:)
Pairing: 1+2
Warnings: AU, OOC, a tad angsty at times, fantasy, magic, an insane author with too much time on her hands
Archive: Anyone who's been archiving my stuff, sure. Anyone else, email me. ^_^
Disclaimers: for some reason I can't quite fathom, I don't own Gundam Wing. I know, strange isn't it? I don't make any money off it. I make money teaching bratty children. And believe me, you wouldn't be getting much if you sued.
Notes: Crap. I sat down to write a nice, PWP fic to recover from Shall We Dance? and this came out instead. Oh well... there goes all my free time.
Before we get started, I'd like to explain a few things first. This is, for all intents and purposes, a fairy tale. Yup, the G-boys as little fairies, complete with wings. I had this idea long before I started Shall We Dance? and am happy to be able to finally work on it. I'll be using all kinds of concepts/ideas/words from Shakespeare, Disney, Mercedes Lacky, Laurell Hamilton... This is intended to be a simple love story. Hopefully it won't be as long or as complicated as Shall We Dance? But you know what they say about the best laid plans...
The title, Sì Beag, Sì Mûr, comes from my favourite Celtic music piece. It was written by Turlough O'Carolan in the late 1600s. Sì Beag, Sì Mûr (pronounced Sheebeg, Sheemore) translates as Little Fairy Mound, Big Fairy Mound, and was written about two warring fairy clans. Other Gaelic words used in this fic are Seleigh (Seelie), Unseleigh (Unseelie), and sidhe (shee). I use some Japanese words too... just pretend they're part of the fairy language. ;) I think that's it. I'll let you know if there are more.
Ok, I'll quit rambling now. Here's part one. I hope enough people are interested in it for me to continue. ^_^

Sì Beag, Sì Mûr + Part 1

Heero Yuy was pissed. It was bad enough that he, the King's cousin and one of the finest warriors of the Seleigh Sidhe, had gotten his wings entangled in a common spider's web. He'd been patrolling the borderlands when an overly zealous falcon decided the soldier would make a tasty meal. He'd managed to fight off the large bird of prey, sending it back to the sky with an injured talon, but a final blow by one of the bird's wings had sent him backpedaling straight into the sticky web.

It was bad enough that he'd momentarily forgotten one doesn't struggle against a spider's web. He'd thrashed around blindly, causing his drab brown wings to become hopelessly entangled in the sticky strands. It was bad enough that he'd dropped his sword so he couldn't cut himself free. It was bad enough that the rest of his patrol regiment was no where near this sector. It was also bad enough that the one to find him had to be a member of the Unseleigh Court, his people's ancient enemy.

Heero could have withstood all these things and maintained both dignity and composure. But the fact that the braided baka on the ground below him was actually laughing at his predicament had thoroughly pissed him off.

Heero glared down at the sidhe who was clutching his sides in mirth. 'If anyone should be laughing it should be me,' he thought as he took in the Unseleigh sidhe's appearance. The baka's clothing - if he could call the gauzy tunic-like garment he was wearing clothing - was ridiculous. No one in Heero's clan would ever be caught wearing something like that, not even the Royal Family. The Unseleigh sidhe's garment looked as though it was made from spun silk and dyed a myriad of vibrant colors - purples, greens, and golds... totally unsuitable for camouflage. Should he ever have to hide, his clothes would give him away in an instant. His wings weren't much better. Like his own, they resembled butterfly wings. But the Unseleigh sidhe's wings were actually dyed to match his clothing! Not one member of the Seleigh court would ever dream of sporting any other wing color than brown or dark green. It was too frivolous a thing to waste magic on and it just wasn't done. But the thing that galled him the most was the baka's hair. Until the other sidhe had started laughing, Heero hadn't been sure if he was male or female. A long braided rope of golden chestnut hair slithered down the boy's back, waving at him tauntingly as he laughed. Heero clenched his teeth.

Gradually the boy's laughter died away, leaving him clutching his sides as if in pain. He sat down on a small piece of stone, grinning madly up at Heero.

"Are you quite through," Heero growled, glaring down at him. "I'm not sure," the long-haired sidhe answered. "I've never seen anyone get that tangled in a spider's web before. Just how did you manage that?"

"Enough! Kill me and be done with it."

"Kill you?" the boy laughed. "Why in Danu's name would I want to kill you?"

"Unseleigh coward! It is enough that you kill me while I cannot defend myself. Do not mock me as well!"

The boy looked up at him, head cocked in contemplation. After a moment, he picked up Heero's sword and flew up to face the Seleigh warrior.

"If great Danu has granted you any mercy, make it quick," Heero said, looking into the boy's violet eyes. He would not close his own. There was more honor in facing his death with eyes wide open.

The long-haired sprite stared at him for a long moment before drawing back the sword. Heero prepared himself for the final blow... which never came. The boy plunged the sword into the web, severing the strands holding him trapped. Heero's eyes grew wide. He hadn't expected this!

The last strand was cut, sending Heero plunging to the ground. He tried to open his wings, but they were still tangled in the sticky silk. He hit the ground with a grunt, then rolled over so he was lying on his back, wings bent uncomfortably beneath him.

"Blessed Mother! Are you alright?" The violet-eyed boy flew back down to the ground and leaned over him. "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to drop you like that!"

Heero sat up, hissing as pain flared through his shoulder. Carefully he got to his feet, checking for other injuries. The Unseleigh sidhe remained kneeling on the ground before him, watching him with worried eyes. Heero casually reached over and took his sword out of the boy's hand, watching carefully for any sign of attack. None came.

The sidhe just sat there, watching him. Heero shifted uncomfortably under the boy's watchful gaze. He sheathed his sword and began picking the sticky spider silk off his wings.

"You'll never get it off like that," the long-haired sidhe said, still watching him.

"Hn. And how would a child like you know that?" Heero asked, glaring at the boy.

"Child? I've seen sixteen summers! You can't be much older than me!" the boy replied indignantly. His expression turned sheepish. "Besides... you're not the only one who's ever gotten caught in a spider's web before."

Heero laughed at the sudden mental image of the boy caught in a web, struggling to get out without messing up his prissy clothing. The Unseleigh sidhe scowled at him and turned away in a huff.

"That's a fine attitude to have for someone who just saved your life," he said, crossing his arms. "You wouldn't have lasted five minutes against the first predator who found you all trussed up and waiting like that."

Heero stopped pulling at the sticky strands to stare at the boy. "Why did you save my life? Am I now your prisoner?"

The Unseleigh sidhe opened his eyes and looked at him with surprise. "My prisoner? How could you be my prisoner? You're the one with the sword, and I am unarmed. If anything, I would be your prisoner now. I saved you because it was the right thing to do."

Heero glanced away. All his life he had been taught that those of the Unseleigh court were his mortal enemies. And yet this one had saved his life. He glanced back at the boy. He didn't seem particularly menacing or dangerous. Perhaps not all of the Unseleigh clan were like those old stories.

"You have saved my life. I am... in your debt." As much as it pained him to say the words, his honor demanded it. Until he could return the favor, he was in the boy's debt.

The braided sidhe hopped up and beamed at him. He stuck out his hand and said, "My name's Duo. What's yours?"

Heero looked at the proffered hand for a moment before clasping it. As they touched, a jolt akin to a static shock surged through his body. He jerked his hand away and drew his sword.

"What kind of magic did you use on me?" he demanded, taking a defensive posture.

The boy - Duo - was too busy nursing his own hand to pay much attention to the sword threatening him. "Ow, dammit! That hurt!" He glanced up at Heero before rolling his eyes. "Oh, put that thing up before you poke someone's eye out. I didn't do anything to you."

Heero watched the boy carry on about his "wounded" hand for a few more moments before deciding he was telling the truth. Only an idiot would carry on as much as this baka was about a simple little magical jolt. Nothing harmful seemed to be happening to either one of them, so Heero chalked it up to being a reaction of their two different magics connecting. He'd worry about any side effects later. Right now, he just wanted to get this damnable stuff off him. He wouldn't be able to fly until he got it off his wings.

Fortunately, there was a stream nearby. He turned his back on the braided baka and walked as quickly as he could to the edge. He unselfconsciously stripped off his sticky clothing and flung it aside. He could get those cleaned later. His wings had to come first. Gritting his teeth at the chilly water, Heero waded out into the stream until he was waist deep. He dunked his wings in the water and proceeded to peel the stuff off.

"You won't get it off like that either," piped an annoyingly familiar tenor voice from the bank of the stream. Heero turned to see Duo sitting on a leaf, watching him. Sadly, the youth was apparently correct. He was having no more luck getting it off with water than he had when he was dry.

Growling in frustration, he turned to face his savior. "Are you, in your infinite wisdom, going to tell me how to get it off, or do I have to play guessing games until I get it right?"

Duo sighed and rolled his eyes. He hopped off the leaf and walked a little further down the bank. Heero watched as the boy picked several stalks of a green plant growing near the water's edge. Walking back to where Heero was bathing, Duo held the plants out to him.

"What is it?" Heero asked, taking the plants from the long-haired sidhe.

"Soaproot." He broke one stalk in half to reveal a clear, sap-like substance. "Rub this on the webbings. It should come right off with water."

Heero looked doubtful, but he was willing to try anything to get the stuff off. He rubbed a bit on the tip of one of his wings. Surprisingly, the Unseleigh sidhe had been telling the truth. The sticky strands peeled right off, leaving no trace behind. He quickly cleaned off one wing, then reached around for the other. His injured shoulder spasmed, causing him to gasp in pain.

"For the love of Danu, why didn't you tell me you were hurt?" Duo said, looking at him in concern.

"Never mention your weaknesses to an enemy," Heero replied gruffly as he tried in vain to reach his wing without hurting his shoulder. He frowned. This was just not his day.

"I'm afraid I must seek your help again," he said through clenched teeth. "I can't seem to reach my wing."

Duo looked at him incredulously. "You want me to come in there with you?"

"What's the matter? Can't you swim?" he all but sneered as he watched the boy flutter nervously near the water's edge.

"N... no, it's just that... well I... you're too..." His face was turning an interesting shade of red as he stammered his excuses. Finally he settled down and took a deep breath. "Turn around."

Heero blinked. Had the Unseleigh brat just given him an order"

"Why?"

"Oh for the love of... just do it."

Heero didn't move.

"Look, I'm not coming in there until you turn around. I have to... take off my clothes," the long-haired sidhe explained, turning even redder.

Heero rolled his eyes and decided to humor the baka. He turned around, indulging the boy's modesty. He heard the whisper of silk sliding over skin, followed by the sound of water rippling as Duo entered the stream.

"Danu's hair, it's cold!" the braided sidhe exclaimed as he walked closer to Heero. The Seleigh warrior turned to see Duo wrapping his long braid around his head to keep it dry. He felt the boy use the tiniest bit of magic to hold it in place. Heero winced inwardly. Using magic was draining. How could this boy use it so frivolously?

Duo held out his hand for the soaproot. Heero slapped the plant into his hand as he turned back around. How glad he was that his men weren't there to see this. Being attended to by an Unseleigh baka was beyond humiliating. And why was he even trusting this boy in the first place?

The violet-eyed sidhe worked quickly. As he did, Heero noticed that whatever had shocked them the first time they had touched wasn't affecting them now. Duo's hands were moving quickly and efficiently across his wing.

'Must have just been our magics meeting for the first time,' he thought as he stretched his dark brown wing for Duo.

"Ugh, this stuff's in your hair, too," Duo said as he peeled the last strand from Heero's wing. "Hold still."

Turning his head, Heero could see Duo working up a lather using the sap and a little water. Nimble fingers reached out and began working the lather through his unruly, short brown locks. Heero closed his eyes and allowed Duo to wash the strands out of his hair. To his amazement, he began to relax under the boy's ministrations. The gentle fingers rubbing across his scalp were soothing. No one had ever gotten this close to him before. He's always been something of a loner, even amongst his friends. This close contact to another sidhe, even if he was an enemy, was somewhat... comforting.

Duo eased Heero back into the water to wash the soapy substance from his hair as the last of the sticky web was pulled free.

"There. That should do it," the braided sidhe said, helping Heero stand up.

"Once again I thank you," Heero acknowledged grudgingly. "You didn't have to help me."

"Yes I did. You needed me. I couldn't turn my back on anyone who needed my help." He stepped forward, hands outstretched.

"What are you doing?" Heero asked warily, taking a step back.

Duo's wings twitched nervously as his face turned pink. "Relax. I just want to check your shoulder to make sure it's not... oh!" The loud exclamation burst from the violet-eyed boy's lips as he slipped on something under the water, sending him sprawling. Heero reacted instinctively, reaching out his arms to catch Duo.

Both sidhe froze as bare skin came in contact with bare skin. Heero felt a blush creep across his face as his body reacted to the intimate contact. He could see Duo's face turning just as red as the boy looked up at him with those big, expressive violet eyes. Violet eyes - how come he hadn't noticed how beautiful that color was before?

Heero hauled the boy to his feet, ignoring the pain in his shoulder. "Are you alright?"

Duo nodded, swallowing hard. The Seleigh warrior had yet to let him go. "You ah... you should have one of your healers look at that shoulder," he said, flustered.

They stared at each other for a few more moments until Duo gave Heero a mighty shove, sending him sprawling under the water. By the time he sputtered his way to the surface and shook the water from his eyes, Duo was back on the bank, pulling his multicolored tunic back on.

Heero stalked his way to the bank, glowering at the Unseleigh boy. "Kisama! What did you do that for?"

Duo had the decency to look sheepish. "I... I'm sorry. I..." He trailed off as he noticed Heero's state of undress. He spun around, his braid snaking loose of the small spell he'd placed on it to hold it on top of his head.

"What are you doing, baka?" Heero asked, perplexed by Duo's strange behavior.

"I... er, well... aren't you going to get dressed?" Duo stammered, refusing to turn around.

Heero sighed as he grabbed his still sticky clothes. He slipped them on, careful not to let his wings touch the garments. He didn't want to get them sticky again. As long as he was careful, he could wear his clothes until he got back to his home to change.

"Surely not all Unseleigh are as self-conscious as you?" he asked as he indicated that Duo could turn around.

"It's called modesty," the braided sidhe said, still blushing. "Do all those of the Seleigh court parade around naked?"

"Of course not. But we don't consider our bodies shameful." He picked up his sword and refastened it around his waist.

"Neither do we," Duo muttered as he watched Heero. "We just like to leave some things to the imagination."

Heero glanced up at the sky. Wincing as he noticed the sun's position, he turned back to the Unseleigh boy. "Again I thank you. You've done me a great service. I am in your debt."

"Oh, hey..." Duo paused, blinking in confusion. "You know, you never did tell me your name."

"Heero Yuy."

Duo smiled. "Well, Heero, since I doubt we will ever see each other again, I hope you won't mind if I take partial payment right now."

Before Heero could ask what Duo meant, the braided boy leaned forward and pressed his lips to Heero's. The Seleigh warrior's eyes opened wide as he felt Duo's petal soft lips move over his. The kiss lasted only for a moment before the smaller sidhe turned around and zipped away.

Heero stared after him, dazed from the sudden kiss. It had been his first. His lips still tingled from the contact. He brought his hand up to touch his lips, wondering why the boy had done it... and if he'd ever see him again.

[part 2] [back to Caroline's fic]