Category: Angst, Adventure, AU, Slave/Master
Pairings: 1x2, 4x3 (eventually), 5x?
Rating: R (?)
Disclaimer: Standard. You know them all by now so I won't bore you with a repeat.
Archive: Darkflame's Gundam Wing Fanfiction, on the q.t. (<http://members.nbci.com/hfox36/ontheqt.htm>) Boys in Chains (<http://www.ravenswing.com/bic/>),The End (<http://www.oocities.org/maxwellcave/fanfics.html>) , Angel Ran’s Gundam Wing Fanfiction (<http://www.fortunecity.com/skyscraper/stevenson/1973/haven.html>) , The Best Yaoi/Fanfiction (www.bestof.iwarp.com <http://www.bestof.iwarp.com/>.), Shades of Color (<http://www.fanfictiongw.homstead.com/Shades_of_color.html>), Shattered Innocence (www.oocities.org/tenshi_calypso/Main.html <http://www.oocities.org/tenshi_calypso/Main.html>), Split Infinity ( www.dreamwater.net/stesha <http://www.dreamwater.net/stesha>), Silent Wind (my sister’s site check it out) (<http://www.angelfire.com/anime2/silentwind/>), maybe one or two that I haven’t gotten the name or address for yet, anyone else who wants it
Warnings: This story does show how a lot of people felt about the owning of slaves, a feeling that was very alive in this country not that long ago, as well as in many civilizations down through the ages. There are some good owners and some bad owners, like in everything. If someone owning another person bothers you, you might not like this fic. But then I'm not forcing anyone to read it. There are also M/M relationships in this fic (I'mvery much a 1x2/3x4 fan.) so if boys being together (and I do mean together) bothers you don't read. And thanks to my beta reader, Kit Door, for checking up on all my mistakes. We’ll get this right yet.


Golden Lights Part Thirty Five
By SilverLady

Fingers were the first thing that registered to Quatre as he opened his eyes. Long slender fingers coming towards him. "What are you doing?" he whispered.

Suddenly the fingers were snatched away. "Quatre?"

Quatre opened his eyes fully, finding himself in the familiar position of staring up at Duo's concerned face. "Is this beginning to become a habit?" he whispered.

Duo smiled a little as he leaned back. "Looks that way. How are you feeling?"

Quatre blinked a couple of times, realizing that he was laying on a bed. "Confused," he replied. "Where are we?"

"An inn."

"I don't remember getting here."

"That's 'cause you were out cold when we got here."

Quatre looked at Duo with a bewildered look on his face. "Why?"

Duo shrugged. "Don't know. We were riding along when all the sudden you just passed out. Trowa had a doctor look you over but he couldn't find nothing wrong."

Quatre closed his eyes for a minute, trying to see what he could remember. "I was thinking about some things when I just got kinda dizzy. That's all I remember."

"What things?"

"This and that."

Duo arched an eyebrow at the evasion, but didn't press. "Well, I guess you'd best not be thinking so hard no more. It's not good for your head."

Quatre managed a slight smile as he tried to sit up. He frowned when Duo reached forward and gently pressed him back down into the bed. "I what to get up," he complained.

Duo shook his head. "Not for a while. Doc said to make you rest for today. That's why I'm still here. So you stay right where you are."

Quatre frowned again. "Where are the others?"

"Don't know where Wufei and Sally went. Trowa and Heero went to see about booking us passage on the next ship back to Macir."

Quatre noticed the odd look on Duo's face. "What's wrong?"

"I'm a bit worried about them walking around the city with some killer out there. What if that bitch decides it's worth the risk and tries to take them out. I should have gone with them." Duo suddenly shot to his feet and walked over to the window. "I can protect Heero. I wouldn't let anyone get to him. Not now that I know someone is after him. I'd make them rue the day they ever came near Shinigami."

Quatre sat up and looked at his friend. "Duo?"

Duo turned and looked at him, a strange look in his eyes. "It's true, you know. What they say about me. I did kill my last two masters. They deserved it." He turned back to the window. "My first master was convinced everyone was out to kill him so he came up with the idea of training someone that no one would ever suspect to be his bodyguard. I knew more about killing people by the time I was seven than most people ever learn. The first person I ever killed was one of his compatriots. He was convinced the guy was plotting to take over his business so he had me kill him. I was only six at the time"

Duo closed his eyes. "I could have killed Michal that night. It wouldn't have been hard and it wouldn't have been the first time I've used my braid for that purpose." He gave a harsh laugh. "I even tried it on Heero once, right after he bought me. But he was stronger that I thought. He damn near ripped my hair right out of my scalp getting away.

"Now I'll use everything I ever learned to protect him. He is the most important thing in this world to me and I won't let some fucked up bastard that thinks he's god's gift to the world hurt him."

Quatre watched silently as Duo seemed to close in on himself. If I hadn't passed out then he wouldn't be so upset. "Duo. I'm sorry. I...."

Duo turned around and gave him a half smile. "It's not your fault." He walked back over to the bed. "I know Heero is perfectly capable of taking care of himself. I just worry about him."

Quatre reached out and placed his hand on Duo's arm. "And he worries about you. Which is probably why he left you here to play nursemaid to me. So that you'd be out of harm's way."

Duo smiled ruefully. "You're probably right." He watched Quatre for a minute. "It don't bother you?"

"What?"

"Knowing you're friends with a killer."

Quatre tightened his grasp on Duo's arm. "You plan on killing me?"

"No. I don't do that stuff no more. Not unless I have to."

Quatre smiled. "Then I don't see anything wrong with us being friends. You are what you are. I can't hate you for that. I can hate the people that did this to you, made you into what you are. But even knowing it, it doesn't bother me. I come from a long line of people that could be called killers. They did what they had to. I just wish that people didn't see it as a necessary thing. And I can't understand the mentality of someone that would teach a child to kill."

Duo returned the smile. "Thanks."

"Anytime. I just hope there doesn't come a day when people make their children fight their wars for them."

Duo shrugged. "In this fucked up world, anything is possible."

"I know. That's the sad part."



*****



"Okay so you take this card and lay it on this card. If the card you....."

Heero arched an eyebrow as he walked into the sitting area of the suite of rooms they had rented and heard Duo's voice through the slightly open door. "I thought Quatre was supposed to be resting."

Trowa frowned as he followed Heero in. "He is. Why?"

"Because it sounds like Duo is teaching him to play cards."

Trowa closed his eyes for a minute. "He is becoming a bad influence."

Heero snorted. "I could say the same about Quatre," he retorted as he moved across the room.

"So if this card is worth more than this card then...."

"Duo, what are you doing?"

Duo jumped about two feet in the air at the unexpected voice. Turning, he looked guiltily at Heero. "Nothing."

Heero eyed the cards spread across the bed in front of him. "Doesn't look like nothing to me."

"It's my fault," Quatre whispered looking down at his lap. "I was bored and asked him to show me a card game. Don't be mad at him."

"Duo, Quatre is supposed to be resting."

"He is. He hasn't moved from that spot once."

"I did go to the bathroom," Quatre reminded him.

"Okay, then once. But only that once, 'cause I sure didn't want him wetting the bed and he would have if I hadn't taken him but that really......."

"Duo."

Duo blinked at Heero. "Huh?"

"It's time to leave. Let Quatre get some rest now."

"Oh. Okay." Duo looked at Quatre. "I gotta go now."

Quatre smiled. Duo sounded just like a little boy that had been called home by his mother.

Duo stood up and began gathering up the cards. "I'll show you some more later."

Heero glanced at Quatre, quietly assessing the blonde's condition. He noticed that there was more color in the boy's cheeks than there had been earlier. Whatever had caused his collapse didn't seem to be anything too serious.

Duo waved slightly to Quatre as he left the room. He really hoped Trowa wasn't mad at him. He'd just wanted to keep the blonde from getting bored while they waited for news about what was going on. Besides showing Quatre the card game had kept him from worrying so much about Heero.

Trowa was sitting on the sofa when Duo entered the room. "I hope you're not teaching him how to gamble."

Duo managed a grin as he placed the cards on the side table. "Not yet."

"Duo." Heero came up behind him. "Just because you can beat just about anyone at card games doesn't mean you can drag someone new in."

Duo pouted at Heero. "You never let me have any fun. I can't help it if all your cronies are mad 'cause they can't beat one stupid slave at cards."

Trowa shook his head. He never could understand how Duo, who couldn't even read, always managed to win at card games. He was so good, in fact, most everyone refused to play with him anymore. "Maybe you should use the cards to teach Duo how to read."

Heero shook his head slightly as he walked over to Trowa and sat down. "Don't even go there."

Duo grinned as he took a seat on the floor next to Heero. Although Heero didn't expect such behavior from Duo, he liked being as close as he could. With a sigh he leaned against Heero's leg, sighing again when Heero immediately reached over and began rubbing his hand through Duo's hair.

Trowa looked over at the two. He could swear it sounded like Duo was purring.

Finally Duo looked up at Heero. "When are we leaving?"

"Day after tomorrow. "

Duo managed a weak grin. "Good."

Heero looked at him. "Are you all right?"

"Yeah. I've just.... never been on a boat before."

Trowa blinked. "You'll be fine. It's nothing to worry about."

Heero looked at him for a minute. "I'll hold you to that."

Duo looked up at Heero in surprise. "You've never....."

Heero shook his head. "Not that I remember. Never had a reason to get on one before. Guess there is a first time for everything."

Trowa looked at his friend. "We could still change plans and ride back."

Heero shook his head. "No. We need to get back the quickest way we can. And that's by ship. It will only be for a couple of days."

Duo blinked. "Really. That's all?"

"Macir is about two and half to three days sailing down the coast from here," Trowa informed him. "A straight ride is about ten days."

"Partially because a boat makes better time and you don't have to stop," Heero added.

Duo nodded. "True." He paused for a moment. "So we are going to be here all day tomorrow?"

Heero looked down at him. "Yes."

"With nothing to do but wait?"

Heero's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Yes."

"So, could we go to the Boardwalk and to the beach." He looked up at Heero with pleading eyes. "Please. I want to see what all the shops look like and Quatre's never been to the beach before and it would be really neat and I'll make sure no one can hurt us and....."

"Duo." There was a very clear warning in Heero's voice.

Duo lowered his eyes. "I just...."

Heero reached over and ran his finger across Duo's cheek. "Let's see what the doctor says and see how things are. Maybe we can walk around for a little while tomorrow."

Duo smiled up at him. "Thank you."

Heero looked over at Trowa. "If you don't mind."

Trowa shook his head. "Sounds like a plan to me." He rose to his feet. "I'm going to go in and see how Quatre is doing. Why don't you see about ordering us some dinner or finding out where a good place to eat might be."

Duo jumped to his feet. "Food. Good. I'm starved."

Heero laughed as he too stood up. "You're always starved."

Duo grinned. "Gotta keep my strength up."

Heero just shook his head. "Let's go see what we can find out."

Duo bound over to the door and opened it. "After you, Master."

Heero walked over. "Finally, you're starting to learn." As he walked through the door, Duo reached over and smacked his ass.

"Duo!"

"Or not," Trowa commented as he watched the door shut.



*****



"Quatre?"

Quatre blinked sleepily at the soft voice. "Who?"

"I just wanted to see how you were doing," Trowa's whispered softly as he sat down on the edge of the bed.

Quatre looked at him, eyes still foggy from sleep. "Master?"

Trowa bit back a sigh. "Do you feel up to eating?"

Slowly Quatre nodded. "Yes, Master. I..." He started to sit up, not noticing that Trowa had leaned closer to hear what he was saying.

He was startled when he realized how close Trowa was to him. "Master?"

Trowa looked at Quatre for a moment. "Are you all right?"

"Yes, Master. I just got a little dizzy. Probably from the sun. I'm fine now. I should..."

Trowa leaned in a little closer. "You should rest. I don't want a repeat of this afternoon. You could have hurt yourself."

"I know, Master. I'm sorry."

"You shouldn't be. Just be more careful. You scared me."

"I didn't mean to, Master. I..."

"Quatre?" Trowa's green eyes were looking calmly at him, a strange look in them.

"Yes, Master?"

"What is it going to take to get you to stop calling me Master?"

"Master?" Quatre licked his suddenly dry lips. He was so close they were practically breathing each other's air.

"Maybe this will work," Trowa whispered.

Quatre's eyes went wide when Trowa leaned that last little bit of distance and gently pressed his lips to Quatre's. Oh Great One, he's kissing me. What should I do?

Quatre felt Trowa's hand slid into his hair and gently press him forward, firming the kiss. So startled by the feeling, Quatre gasped, opening his mouth and letting Trowa's tongue in to explore.

For what seemed like an eternity, Trowa explored the warm cavern of Quatre's mouth, learning the unique taste and feel that was Quatre.

A low moan from Quatre finally brought Trowa back to the present. With a low muttered curse he pulled away, staring in shock at the small blonde. His lips were swollen from the force of the kiss and there was a strange look on his face.

With another silent curse Trowa jerked himself to his feet.

Quatre looked up at him, bewilderment plain on his face. "Master?" he whispered.

Trowa stepped away from the bed. "I'm sorry. I don't know what happened. I had no right to do that. I promise it won't happen again. I..." He turned and limped quickly from the room, his emotions in a turmoil. Oh god, what have I done. I kissed him. I can't believe I did such a thing. How could I have done such a thing?

Quatre slowly raised his hand to his lips. "But Master," he whispered. "I think I would like that to happen again."