Gundam Wing (Treize/Wufei)

[guiltyred.livejournal.com]

Title: The Firebird and the Dragon

Author/Artist: GuiltyRed

Beta: YohjiDeranged

Rating: G

Warnings: none

Word count: 404

Summary: Often, that which goes unspoken speaks the loudest.

Prompt: July 5 – #28. Gundam Wing, Treize/Wufei: The difference between victory and defeat - "Who knows where my dreams will end, I'll follow as they grow."

A/N: Kind of veered from the quote in the prompt – I let it write itself.
  I’ve always pictured Treize to have a Russian pedigree that he could trace back to the age of the Tzars, and with that background comes the legend of the Firebird. Its name literally means “ember bird” – aglow with flameless fire. It signifies fortune both good and ill, and is itself a symbol of power and wealth: large, strong, and shining like gold.

  As for Wufei, the connection to dragons is canon. A little research on top of that and I think his horoscope sign would be the Metal Dragon: strong-willed, inflexible, unbending, combative and ruthless. Metal Dragon proceeds alone if no one will follow, and he will fight until he wins for he will never bow to failure. 

 

 

1. Firebird

 

Dark eyes glare up at me, and I realize: I am the one defeated.

 

Though I hold this young man’s life in my hands – quite literally at the point of my sword, in fact – I know that this duel has just guaranteed my own destruction. What had been a very real possibility hours, minutes ago has become certainty: this war can only end when a meaningful sacrifice has been made.

 

Such fire. Such hate. This renegade is one of many, the righteous fury of the oppressed come home to burn.

 

But maybe, just maybe, I can teach him something.

 

He will have time to ponder this, of course. He will return to whereever it is he goes when he’s not wreaking havoc and perhaps talk with his compatriots. Perhaps not. Still, I can hope that my words have touched that part of him that knows it is better not to hate.

 

Were this an older time, with feudal lords and ancient ways, I would keep this one here, train him in my customs, make him mine. But this is now. Wars have become meaningless, lives cheaply lost. The honor of the past is waning, and my time with it.

 

But his time is just beginning.

 

 

2. Dragon

 

He dismisses me, just as he dismissed my people. I’m not even his captive: he doesn’t grant me the honor.

 

This arrogant despot mocks my vengeance with his sleek manners and crafty smile. What does he seek to prove by sparing my life? I will continue after him until he falls by my hand, for that is the way it must be – mustn’t it?

 

Why does he smile like that? Is that…sorrow in his eyes? No, he seeks to trick me – he is no mere man, he is a devil, and I must keep my wits clear.

 

He knows something I don’t.

 

There is no way I can force him to tell.

 

What does he want from me?

 

We have made a pact, he and I, though I don’t understand the terms. No matter; I shall pursue him until I catch him, and catch him I shall. My people will be avenged.

 

I should feel strong, knowing this; so why do I feel cheated?

 

Worse: I feel as if I am losing something.

 

I shake the feeling away as I return to the sea. I must make this war end, before any more of me is lost to it.

Comments

[galerian-ash.livejournal.com]

You really put a lot of thought into this, and it shows. I love the idea of likening Treize to the Firebird, it's just perfect.

This is one of those stories that I find to be haunting, the kind that will stick in your mind for ages after you've read it -- memorable in the best way possible. There's such a strong sense of regretful sadness to this; the knowledge of what their relationship could've been, had only the times been different.

Thank you very much for picking and writing this prompt, it's exactly the kind of story I was hoping for.

[guiltyred.livejournal.com]

You really put a lot of thought into this, and it shows.

I'm glad it came through. There's so much passion with these characters, I wanted to do them justice.

I love the idea of likening Treize to the Firebird, it's just perfect.

I have the St. Petersburg Tarot deck, and something about the firebird cards just remind me of him so strongly, I couldn't NOT go there.

This is one of those stories that I find to be haunting, the kind that will stick in your mind for ages after you've read it -- memorable in the best way possible. There's such a strong sense of regretful sadness to this; the knowledge of what their relationship could've been, had only the times been different.

Thank you very much for picking and writing this prompt, it's exactly the kind of story I was hoping for.

*bows* You're so very welcome. Thank you for the prompt, it moved me.

[thejennabides.livejournal.com]

I really like your use of split-pov narrative here, highlighting the differences (and the similarities) between the two of them, the echoes in their thoughts. This line in particular made my heart clench:

We have made a pact, he and I, though I don’t understand the terms.

So close to understanding, and yet not quite close enough, not yet...

Beautifully written.

[guiltyred.livejournal.com]

Thank you. ^_^ The two are bound by fate in an age-old tragedy. I feel honored to tell some of their tale here.

[ladyofshadow.livejournal.com]

*happy sigh* Lovely.

Were this an older time, with feudal lords and ancient ways, I would keep this one here, train him in my customs, make him mine.

That would make for an intriguing AU. ^_~

But this is now. Wars have become meaningless, lives cheaply lost. The honor of the past is waning, and my time with it.


It seems that honorable warfare really started to wane when there was less hand to hand combat. When people can just press a button and not see the horrors that they are wreaking - it really starts to make you wonder...

The images of the firebird and dragon are fitting. The firebird will always remind me a phoenix. Even though its life ends, it will rise from the ashes once again. Though Treize's life is waning, his memory will live on.

Time indeed begins when history chooses to repeat itself.

[guiltyred.livejournal.com]

That would make for an intriguing AU.

It would, wouldn't it? *ponders this...*

It seems that honorable warfare really started to wane when there was less hand to hand combat. When people can just press a button and not see the horrors that they are wreaking - it really starts to make you wonder...

Very true, and that itself is Treize's legacy: when you count losses in scrap and dollars rather than human names, then war has become an atrocity in itself.

Time indeed begins when history chooses to repeat itself.

That's giving me a sense of deja vu...?

[sans-pertinence.livejournal.com]

Yow. Just stunning. The imagery of firebird and dragon is so very fitting for these two.

[guiltyred.livejournal.com]

Thank you! ^___^ I may have to make icons of the firebird and dragon, just because.