Exotic Loyalty

By: Gypsy Tollamer

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Gypsy: Hello! Bet you're glad to see me. I know the month of may can be so long. *gives up her charade* You probably don't even remember what the stories about or who I am. Seeing as it's May 14th now I'm hoping the rest of my vacation goes well. I have several projects including updating this fic and "Rebellion". It's been forever since I worked on that one but I'm having the worst time writing it. Damn writer's block. It's like syphilis for a whore, you can't work with it. Well you can but it sucks for your customers. *laughs at her own joke* My other projects are customizing my bowling shoes. (Yes I have my own pair) and painting my book shelf. Plain wood is boring to me. I also plan on sleeping and lounging. So far I've only done the last two things on my list. *scratches off sleeping and lounging and then writes them down again to give herself an excuse for doing so* ENJOY! Hope it doesn't suck much.

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Duo was pulled out of the pen and brought in front of his new "master". He sneered at him. The guy couldn't have been more then 17 years old. The one next to him seemed older and more responsible. This child had a new toy. Duo looked down at the floor as all hopes of being free to enjoy the world on his own fluttered out of the room.

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            Trowa sighed and removed his velvet cape. He wrapped it around the boy's body to cover him much better then he was. Heero had picked a very beautiful young man to be his companion but this look in the boy's eyes was something he ahd never seen in Quatre's. Was it despair or something much darker?

            "I'm sorry I didn't catch your name." Trowa said closing the two top buttons on the long cape.

            'Duo." The boy grumbled looking at the floor.

            "I'm Trowa." He said. Heero was over talking to Marko and occasionally looked over to Duo's way. "I'm the prince's cousin. I'll be at the castle for a short while."

            Duo didn't speak just adjusted the cape around his shoulders. Trowa heard the carriage pull out side.

            "Your majesty." He called. "The carriage is here."

            Heero held out his hand for Marko to lay a kiss on top.

            "Thank you sir." Heero said. Heero walked to the carriage where Trowa was helping Duo in. Trowa turned to face his cousin.

            "Ready?" Trowa asked.

            "Yes." Heero said getting in and sitting in the seat across from his new companion. The castle loomed up on the hill and Heero couldn't help but think what his father and everyone else would think.

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            Trowa stepped out the carriage first when they arrived at the castle. He helped Heero out and then Duo. He pulled the hood over the young man's face.

            "He can stay with Quatre while we're at dinner. During the after meal walk you and your father take you can tell him about Duo. Heero nodded and Trowa and he walked up the stairs toward Trowa's chamber. Trowa opened the door and took Duo inside with Heero close behind him. "Quatre!" Trowa called. Suddenly a small blonde came from under the bed with a stocking in hand.

            "I don't know how it got down there." He said. "I never do."

            Trowa helped Quatre rise to his feet.

            "Hello." Quatre said to the cloaked figure.

            "This is Duo. Heero just paid for him. I need you to clean him up and get him ready. The king is probably going to want to inspect tonight." Trowa pulled the hood off Duo's face. "Work your magic Babet."(1)

            "I'll try." Quatre said. Trowa pulled Quatre into a kiss. "See you later." And as quickly as they came Trowa and Heero left.

            Quatre looked at Duo and smiled. "Let's get you cleaned up." Quatre removed Trowa's cape from the boy's shoulders and smiled. "Don't worry, I won't hurt you."

            "Are you a slave too?" he asked in a firm voice.

            "Yes. I've been with Master Trowa for a while." He said. He led Duo to Trowa' bathing chamber and removed the kettle from the stove that was always hot. He filled the tub with the hot water from the kettle and the cool water from the pitchers on the dresser. Quatre stuck his hand in. "It's just right."

            Duo took a step forward and later as he sat in the tub with Quatre washing the dirt from his hair he looked at his reflection and resigned to his fate. The soap stung his eyes and Duo wept.

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Gypsy: End of chapter four! Sorry it's sad. REVIEW!

1- a French term for endearment. Learned that from my French friend Jaques…. Merci!