Warnings: Language, Same-Sex Relationships, OOC, Cheesy Fairy Tale Plot(x2)


Chapter 3

- Duo -

I hurried until I was outside the palace gates. Once I had multiple directions I could run, I stopped long enough to put my holsters on and put my revolvers back where they belonged since I didn't feel comfortable roaming around town with them in my arms where everyone could see them. Once they were secure and my jacket was back in place I looked back at the guard standing a not so discreet distance behind me. I had sensed his approach, but he had stopped before getting in 'catching distance' of me. He just continued to stand there, not even pretending to do anything other than stare at me. I decided to pick a direction at random.


It took a bit of work, but I finally lost the guard. He had obviously been assigned to follow me, stay the exact same distance behind me as I walked. He clearly wasn't expecting me to suddenly break out in a sprint. A few alleys, sharp turns, and a quick jaunt up and over a building later and he'd been left behind. I still took a circuitous route back to 'my' warehouse where I promptly fell asleep.


There is a particular warehouse located closer to the docks that is often rented out for temporary storage. This particular warehouse also has a recessed rear door, a notably exceptional recessed door.

I made my way casually through the warehouse district. With a quick glance around to make sure no one was watching, I swiftly hid in the space provided by the recessed door. Knowing that no one could see me from this spot without being directly across from me, I didn't hesitate to wiggle my fingers around one particular flagstone in the door's threshold. Once I got a good grip, I lifted the stone and set it aside. Reaching into the revealed cubbyhole to dig through it's contents.

I decided on two pocket watches, one much more extravagant than the other, three sets of cufflinks, and a bracelet before situating the flagstone back over the hiding spot. I hadn't planned to touch my haul for a while, until the heat died down, but since they hadn't asked me anything about it yesterday, I felt somewhat confident in starting to use it now. "Having the crown prince want to marry you helps with not getting thrown in the dungeon," drifted through my head. Brain, I thought we discussed we were not talking about this?

Thought train locked down, I headed towards the center of town.


First I went to the spice merchant. Marlon did a lot of deals with many different trade ships to get his large variety of spices. He also had a gambling problem and thus was willing to exchange stolen goods for coin, at a cut of the profit. I went around to the side door and knocked 3 times. His young son, Branson, opened the door and ushered me inside, then ran off to inform his father. It was a quick, simple exchange. My coin purse was much heavier than when I started, and Marlon had new "products" he could use in his bargaining with trade captains or the loan sharks after his debt.

Next I went to the cobbler where I parted ways with a large portion of my coin. Then to the seamstress, where my coin purse once again was lightened. The remaining coins, minus 5 silver set aside, went to the cook at the Burnished Barrel who made the best meat pies in town. With those three establishments paid, I felt a load off my shoulders. There weren't many street kids in town, the lucky ones made a break at the docks, the unlucky ran afoul of those same docks, but now the few remaining could get their clothes and shoes mended, and a warm meal on occasion for a while longer at least.

I playfully tossed the remaining five coins into the air and caught them before heading out to the inn with the best baths in the city..


I had just climbed up to my loft area when I heard footsteps echoing from the stone floor of the warehouse. I slowly crept to the edge of my make-shift platform and saw a figure approaching. Based on the clothing, I'd say my unexpected guest was one of the boys that merchants hire for deliveries, but what would a post boy be doing in a (mostly) abandoned warehouse?

I tensed as the figure continued to approach until stopping just beneath me before removing their hat, allowing a flow of sun-gold silk to spill down their back, and I was met with an ice blue stare. Since there was no point in hiding, I jumped down to face the woman, for woman it was now that I could see her closely.

She performed a courtly bow. "Greetings, Your Highness. I am Dorothy Catalonia, member of the Vinge royal guard, and your assigned bodyguard for the time being."

I eyed her warily. "How did you find me?"

I almost flinched when she reached and gave me a pat on the cheek. "Oh, don't get your feathers all ruffled. You're good. You proved that when you gave Joseph the slip yesterday. That's why the captain assigned me. You're good, but I'm better."

"And why is a member of the Vinge royal guard assigned as my bodyguard?"

"Because you're a prince. Or possibly at least. We can't have a potential visiting dignitary come to harm on our fair soil."

"And what if I don't want a bodyguard?"

"This order comes from Prince Heero. Your lovely tush is getting watched whether you want it to be or not."

"...You're not here to arrest me?"

"No." She cocked her head, and in a mock inquisitive tone asked, "Should I?"

I stared at her. She just smiled mysteriously. Well, if I couldn't tell her to leave, maybe I could convince her. "Ok, well, you can sleep wherever you like but I only have enough blankets for myself. You may want to find someplace high up so the stray dogs don't bother you. The rats will find you wherever though. Also, I'm not sharing my food." That last wasn't said in a petulant tone, honest.

She simply nodded, took a running leap past me, and climbed up into my loft. She turned to look down at me. "Coming?"

I huffed out a sigh before climbing back up. Guess I'm going to have to get use to company. She made her way over to where the boards met up with the wall and sat leaning against it, facing me. I curled up in my blanket nest and tried to ignore her eyes staring into my back.


I woke with a stretch and almost jumped out of my skin when I caught sight of Dorothy out of the corner of my eye. Luckily I remembered the previous evening before letting loose a yell. I watched her for a bit, still slumped sitting against the wall, but her breathing was shallow. Asleep? Heh, some bodyguard. I crept to the edge of my loft and lowered myself as quietly as I could. Just as I turned to creep towards the exit, Dorothy about gave me a second heart attack by suddenly dropping down next to me.

I glared at her. She just smiled mysteriously.

I hesitated for just a moment before shrugging and heading towards the docks to see if any ships came in this morning or were loading to head out later. Dorothy surprised me by actually helping haul crates, never letting me out of her sight. She surprised me even more when the first dockhand who pinched her ass ended up with a couple broken fingers. I kept a wary eye on her after that.


By the fourth day I was resigned to Dorothy's presence. She hadn't complained once about sleeping in my loft, if she even slept. I fell asleep to the woman's steadfast eyes and woke with her ready to follow me throughout my day. The third morning I even woke to find her in a new set of clothes. I hadn't even heard her leave or anyone else arrive.


I hadn't wanted the guards to know about my association with Martha, but I couldn't stay away much longer and I knew in my head that Martha wasn't guilty of anything. I had never told her of any of my exploits, never allowed her to be one of my fences, never wanted to get her involved in that side of my life. So Martha was safe. You can't be guilty by simple association, but still, knowing something logically and having that dark section in the back of your brain actually believing it were two different things. So I was somewhat nervous as I made my way to the uptown market.

"Duo!" She almost barreled me over in her haste to hug me, then she started smacking my arm. "I thought you were locked in the dungeon and I'd never see you again! Why didn't ya come visit me sooner!?"

I glanced back at Dorothy, calmly watching our interaction. In a somewhat loud whisper I hissed, "Hey! I thought you were suppose to protect me from attacks!"

"I thought you could handle this one." She smiled demurely and then turned to scan the few people browsing stalls around the market.

Martha was glancing back and forth between Dorothy and me. "Who is that? A friend?"

"Dorothy. She's part of the royal guard. Been following me around all week."

"Why are ya being followed by the royal guard?" She put her fists on her hips. "What did ya do this time, boy?"

"I didn't do anything! Well, nothing that I could help anyways." I gave a quick glance around to make sure no one was too close before leaning in to whisper, "I met the crown prince. He seems to think I'm the lost prince of Sanc. He asked me to marry him."

I pulled back again to see Martha was completely flabbergasted. Then she drew in a large breath and bellowed, "WHAT!?" She started hitting my arm again. "Ya had someone propose to you and ya didn't even bother ta TELL me!?"

"That's what you took from that whole explanation?"

She huffed out a huge sigh of exasperation. "Lad, how long 'ave I known ya? O' course I know ya don't lie. So while the rest o' that seems a bit of fancy, must be true. So, what'dya say?"

"I told him no of course."

"What'dya mean 'of course'?"

"We know nothing about each other. He didn't even know my name at first! So I told him no and left."

"So ya just said 'no' and walked out. Jus' like that. Didn't know you were the type ta make rash decisions."

"What are you talking about? Not agreeing to marry someone you don't know is the exact opposite of a rash decision!"

"Sayin' yes even though ya know nothing about 'im woulda been foolhardy, right? But ya also said no without even knowin' 'im. How do ya know he ain't a great guy? Hmm?"

"Wait, huh?"

"Ya coulda just turned down a veritable Prince Charming and ya didn't even know it just cus ya simply said no 'n left."

"Well, since he proposed in the common room of the guard barracks, I think I can at least rule that out."

She started to smack my arm again. "You're missing the point!"

"Hey! Oww! That kinda hurts!" I rubbed my arm for effect.

"Get your skinny butt back there and get ta know the guy before you give any definitive answers!"

"How do I even know the offer's still on the table?" She waved a hand to indicate Dorothy. "Alright, I think I get your point."

"O' course ya get my point. Jus' took havin' ta beat it inta your thick head."

I heard Dorothy snicker and shot her a glare, but she was still facing the rest of the market.


The guards flanking the gate gave me an appraising glance, seeming less than impressed. A lifetime of thievery has given me a healthy aversion to guards and I was about to turn around before they decided to arrest me again but Dorothy grabbed the end of my braid and kept walking forward.

"Hey! That's not a leash!"

"You sure?" And she gave it a slight yank, just enough to make me hurry up a bit to avoid tripping and get her point across.

"Some way to treat a prince," I mumbled under my breath, but she heard anyways since she corrected it with a "supposed prince" before dragging me further into the palace.


Seemed I ranked higher when it came to treatment this time. Instead of being dragged under guard to the barracks, I was left in a cushy sitting room with the only guard being the ever-present Dorothy. I even had a servant ask if I needed any refreshment while I waited. Which I accepted, because why turn down free food?

The servant hadn't even returned yet with my refreshments when Heero hurried into the room. He must've dropped whatever he was doing to rush over.

"Duo! It is so nice to see you!"

"Uh… likewise…"

"So… do you want anything to drink or…?"

"Oh, umm thanks but they're already getting me something." The following awkward silence was luckily interrupted by the arrival of a pair of servants, one carrying a tray with small sandwiches and cookies and the other with a tea set.

I had made my tea more sugar and cream than tea and loaded my little excuse for a plate with sandwich triangles by the time Heero started his second attempt at conversation.

"Have you reconsidered my proposal?"

I almost choked on my tea-flavored cream. Doesn't beat around the bush, does he? "Sorta."

His face seemed unable to decide what expression he should make. "Sort of?"

"Well, I'm not sayin' yes." His face fell. "But, I'm also not sayin' no either. Figure I can give you a chance, get to know you, ya know?" You could see the exact moment what I said fully sank in as a slow smile spread across his face.

"That's ...great! I'll have the servants prepare you a room. You are planning on staying at the palace, right? And you're welcome to make use of any amenities you wish. I'll have them prepare you a bath right away ...well that is, if you want to use the baths. If not, that's ok too-"

"Heero! Slow down!" He gave me a sheepish look. It was oddly adorable. "Sure, I'll stay at the palace, and a bath sounds heavenly."

He instantly jumped up and hurried to the door to call for a servant, sending them bustling off to prepare everything for my stay. Almost before I could even blink, I had an assigned set of rooms, just across the hall from Heero's, and was soaking in a nice, warm, large bathtub, with an invitation to dinner afterwards.

I took my time, trying out the contents of all the different little bottles. I finally got out once my skin started to get all wrinkly and made use of the brush I found on a counter nearby, brushing out all the tangles in my hair then tying it up into a ponytail.

I wrapped a towel around my waist and headed into the sitting room of my suite to get my clothes, only to find Dorothy standing sentry by the door. "What the hell are you doing in here!?" I gripped the towel tight.

She gave a languid look, starting at my toes and slowly rising. I could feel my whole body blush. "Guarding you, of course."

"Do you have to be in the room?"

She smirked. "Nope."

"Can you leave?"

"Well, I could…" And continued to just stand there and take in the sight.

I sighed. "Will you leave ...please?"

She bowed. "Of course, Your Highness." As she stepped out the door, she called over her shoulder. "I've been told to inform you that you are welcome to any of the clothes in the closet."

Once the door was firmly shut I finally let go of my death grip on the towel and went to see what I could find in the closet.


I was led to what I would call a large dining room, but I could only assume for a palace it was 'cozy'. There was a wooden table that could seat eight with Heero already sitting at one end. The table was positively covered in food.

Heero stood as I entered the room. "Duo! I didn't know what you would like so I had the cook make a few different things."

A few things? There's more here than I could even eat in a month! I probably stood staring a bit too long since Heero started to get nervous.

"...If there's something you want that isn't here, I could ask the cook to make it."

"No!" I said it a bit too sharply and he gave a small jump, his whole body stiffening. "I mean, this is fine. This is more than fine! There's plenty here." I hurried over to sit down in a chair just to his right. As I was trying to identify what food was in front of me, I was partially aware of Dorothy entering the room. When she went to stand alongside the wall, I glanced over at her and saw Wufei standing there as well. "Why aren't Dorothy and Wufei eating?"

"They're on guard duty."

I gave Heero a questioning look. "They can't eat while on guard duty?"

Heero took a moment to think over his response. "I don't see why not. Do you want them to join us?"

"Just seems weird to eat in front of them. And we have so much food."

Heero waved them over. Wufei gave me a small bow with his head as he took a seat across from me. Dorothy smiled and said, "Thank you, Your Highness," as she took a seat next to him.

A servant brought plates for Wufei and Dorothy and filled our cups. I started piling food onto my plate. It was delicious.

The dinner table was silent other than the sounds of eating. Heero kept sending glances my way but then quickly averting his eyes. I swallowed the bit of spiced meat I had tried, cleared my throat, immediately regretting the action when everyone turned my way, and asked, "So, what are you offering as a dowry?"

The complete lack of a response made me wonder if I somehow forgot to actually say that out loud, until Heero turned to Wufei and asked, "Dowry?"

Wufei once again set his fork down beside his plate and picked up his cloth napkin to press against his lips before replying. "It's a tradition among the lower and middle classes. The one proposing marriage is expected to provide a dowry to put towards starting their new life together, such as purchasing a new residence."

"Well… we won't need to buy a new residence since we could always live in the palace or one of my family's country manors." He turned to me, and indecise look on his face. "I could have a new crown commissioned for you and offer you a portion of the treasury?"

It was certainly ironic how I went to so much planning and effort to steal a few items of jewelry nearly a week ago and now am being offered a small pile. I tried to set aside the mental tally of how much that would be worth to think of a suggestion of my own. There really wasn't all that much I needed. I had a roof over my head. Perhaps not the most luxurious, to be sure, but I was use to it and it was more than adequate. I was a good enough pickpocket and thief to provide for myself… mostly. And there were enough people willing to help me out with a meal here or there if I hit a run of bad luck, but that usually didn't happen unless I didn't set enough of my haul aside for myself before using it on the street kids. ...The street kids!

I glanced up to see Heero's slightly hopeful, slightly inquisitive expression as he quietly waited on my response. "What about an orphanage?"

A crease formed between his brow which I took as a bad sign, but he didn't immediately turn me down. "Why would we need an orphanage?"

"For the kids living on the street to have someplace to stay. To help keep them safe and fed."

"Kids living on the street? But this city is prosperous. It doesn't have any of those." He once again turned to Wufei. "Does it?"

It was Dorothy who ended up answering. "I'm sorry, Your Highness, but I have actually seen them myself during this last assignment."

"There are children that live on the street? Why was I never informed? Was my father ever informed?" He shook his head. "That is unimportant at this moment." His eyes, when turned my way, were incredibly earnest. "I will build you an orphanage. This will be my gift to you, but you didn't have to barter for it, it was something that should have been done already." He nodded to himself then calmly resumed eating. I stared open-mouthed before catching myself and went back to sampling the things on my own plate. I couldn't help the small smile that graced my lips.


I leaned back in my chair. I had never been so full in my whole life.

"Are you done?" I nodded in response to Heero's question. Heero stood, followed closely by Dorothy and Wufei. I felt awkward being the only one sitting down so I stood as well. "I am going to retire to the study. Would you like to join me?"

I remembered Martha's suggestion that I get to know him, but didn't want to be intrusive by spending all my time with him to the point of being an annoyance. "Uh... sure... If you don't mind company."

"Great! Follow me?" He stood up and started to head to the door.

I hurried to follow him. But before we reached the doorway, I gripped his sleeve to stop him. He turned to see what I wanted. "What's going to happen to the food?"

His eyes shifted to the table, still covered with ample amounts of food. "I believe the servants take leftovers home to their families. I can ask to be sure, if you'd like?"

"Can you make sure it isn't just thrown away?"

"Of course." His smile then made me wonder if he'd attempt to give me anything I asked.

I gave a smile of my own in response. "Thanks, Heero."


I followed him to what I would have called a library. The walls were completely covered in books, only broken in a few places for large windows to allow in light, and a large fireplace, unlit at the moment since it wasn't the season for it. There was a large couch situated to face the fireplace and some uncomfortable looking but surely antique (and expensive) chairs located about the room. Heero sat at one end of the couch. I sat uncomfortably on the other end.

"That's an awful lot of books." I cringed at my own conversation starter. Way to go Duo. Impress him with your skills of observing the obvious.

"It's not as many as there are at the university, but they do cover many different subjects. Biology, etiquette, history, geography. There's probably at least one book on any subject you could think of. Is there anything you'd be interested in seeing?"

I hadn't thought there was when I entered this room, but then when I heard 'history' it hit me. "Do you… do you have anything about the late King and Queen of Sanc?"

Heero got up and headed to a set of shelves near the corner of the room. "My father maintains a large collection of books covering the history, politics, and family lineage of the ruling and other influential families for the nearby kingdoms. You never know what information will help you during trade negotiations." He pulled out three books and headed back to join me on the couch, sitting in the middle. "This one is a family tree for the Maxwell line and offshoot families." He set down a reddish-brown colored book with gold metal decorating the corners on the small space on the couch between us. "This one is a history of Sanc." A navy blue, almost black, joined the first. "And this one has images of different places in Sanc." The third book joined the pile. "That one is a favourite of mine." It was green and decorated with silver filigree.

I pulled the first book out from underneath and started skimming through the earlier pages. It went back many generations and had more than just the birth, marriage, children, and death type information I was expecting. Some had brief descriptions of personality or even interests. One of the earlier Maxwells was apparently into rose breeding and had even developed a new color of rose. I suddenly wanted to read the whole thing, but knew it would take me awhile. "May I borrow this?"

"You can borrow whichever you want. And feel free to come back for more as well. Just hand the ones you're done with to a servant for reshelving."

I set the lineage book on the small table next to the couch, and placed the history book there as well. I picked up the silver filigree book. It was lighter than I expected. There was a metal clasp holding it shut. I opened the cover to find a lithograph picture of a busy port. There were all different types of ships and smaller boats and people bustling about. "This is the southernmost port in Sanc." Heero scooted over next to me to point at the image. "You can see here the very tip of city hall for Notrora. It's located on the bit of land that wraps around to form this cove." I turned the notably thick page to find another lithograph image. This time it was a mountain scene. There was a trail leading up the mountain. A cart full of some lumpy looking objects was travelling down the trail being pulled by a mule. There was a building at the bottom of the trail. Some wooden planks in the form of a trough lead up beside the building and something was pouring out the end. "This is one of their ore mines." He pointed to the wooden trough. "The sluice is where they pan through the smaller rocks to make sure they have all the ore pieces. This water is being redirected from a river a mile away." He turned the page, displaying a lithograph of a copse of trees in oddly straight lines. "This is the rosewood tree farm in central Sanc. They use the timber in things such as wooden handgrips for their gunworks." He turned yet another page, and had yet another story to go with it. I was amazed by how much he knew, and it wasn't even his country. I sat looking at the pictures and listening to the low timber of his voice late into the night.


I awoke slowly, noticing a crick in my neck first, before registering I wasn't even lying down. I opened my eyes to find myself in an elaborate, book-lined room. Memories of the night before surfaced and with them the knowledge that I could take my time coming awake. I yawned. My pillow groaned.

What the!?

I jerked upright and turned to my left, nearly slamming my nose into what was now apparent to me to be Heero's shoulder, not a pillow. He was blinking sleepy eyes my way. "Did I fall asleep on you?"

"I think we fell asleep on each other." I could feel him eyeing my sleep-mussed hair and felt myself blushing.

He stood and stretched. My eyes riveted to the inch of skin where his shirt hiked up. "Well, would you like some breakfast?"

He held out his hand to help me up. Seemed he was going with the 'pretend this isn't embarrassing at all' route. I decided to follow his lead. "Sounds good." I placed my hand in his. His thin, warm fingers gripped my hand firmly while he helped pull me forward. I overbalanced, having to place a hand against his chest to stop myself from falling. I promptly pulled my hand away, but a quick glance at his face showed a small smile. I felt my blush darken and quickly swung around to head to the door. "Well, come on. Or I may eat all your share."

I entered the hallway to find both Wufei and Dorothy stationed there, smug looks on both their faces. "Oh fuck the both of you."

Wufei had the decency to at least pretend to look contrite. Dorothy lazily replied, "I'd be up for it, but I'm not sure His Highness would be agreeable to the arrangement."

I don't think I'm ever going to win against that woman.


-x-


-Author's Note-

Sorry it took me so long to get this chapter out. It was being a complete pain in the ass and I still am pretty unhappy with it. No matter how many times I rewrote scenes, they kept coming out all OOC. -.- Then I had a (thankfully minor) life crisis pop up, but it's (mostly) dealt with now.

Enter Martha, the Fairy Godmother of Weird Logic.

(I've been a huge fan of Ever After ever since it was released. So when I hear "fairy godmother", my first thought is always Leonardo Da Vinci and his advice and insightful questions and not of the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo type.)

I'd like to stress that I'm not trying to make Heero look bad. His father is a good king, and Heero was being raised to be a good king. Duo's perspective is just helping him become a great king.

I realised I never mentioned that I messed with their ages, which could lead some to believe Treize was either a child war prodigy or a pervert, so here they are.

Age at Sanc fall: Zechs 19, Relena 8, Duo 2, Treize 25

Current age: Duo 19, Heero 22, Relena 25, Zechs 36, Treize 42