Title: Freedom is Slavery
Summary: His engagement to the daughter of the Peacecraft estate was the best situation for everyone involved -- except Heero. Apathetic about the arranged marriage but powerless to stop it, he'd never really given much effort to stopping it... until he met Duo, the new slave at the Peacecraft estate.
Warnings: AU, Shounen ai/Yaoi, Slavery, Adult language/content
Rating: PG 13 - R
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing, nor do I claim to own it. This plot is my own and that's about it.
Freedom is Slavery – Chapter Four
Final Straw
Ever so gently an unconscious boy was laid down on the bed in Wufei's quarters. Duo has passed out from the pain, still clinging to Heero, just a few minutes earlier. Heero was already working at taking care of Duo, Wufei having quickly obtained some first-aid.
"Sir? You requested me—" Quatre's soft voice stopped abruptly, eyes widening as he stared at Duo.
"What happened?!" The question escaped without a care, concern flooding his heart. Heero said nothing, trying not to let himself beat Wufei to a bloody pulp. Wufei sighed casting a guilty gaze on Quatre.
"It was an order, and, well.." Wufei trailed off, meeting Quatre's eyes which eyed him distrustfully. Wufei looked away. He knew Quatre would never trust him, ever. He knew the young slave would always, always fear him. Who could blame him? After what happened… Wufei was snapped out of his thoughts as he felt himself being dragged out, Quatre having taken over temporary care for Duo. Heero shoved Wufei back against the wall, pinning him there as his fist landed beside Wufei's head.
"You're lucky I don't KILL you, Chang." Heero hissed dangerously. His blue eyes were livid with a burning anger.
"Heero, stop it. You know I didn't want to do it!"
"Then why the fuck did you do it?!" Heero growled out. Wufei bit down on his bottom lip. He couldn't think of a time he'd ever seen Heero this angry. It honestly was scary to an extent.
"I had to, Heero. Relena threatened to have my father fire me. You know I'm ONLY doing this job because my family needs the money! I can't lose thi—"
"Bullshit, Chang. Bullshit. You know damn well I'll give you however much you needed. You're just too stubborn to accept it!" Heero half-shouted, struggling to keep the volume down in case someone came by.
"You know how my family is! We have too much pride to accept charity, Heero. Besides, did you think of who they'd find to replace me? What if they were worse than I was? What if they were abusive to the slaves they're overseeing?" Wufei watched Heero, the boy's fist had dropped and his grip had loosened. Heero sighed dropping his gaze.
"You're right." Heero muttered.
"I really am sorry, if I had known…" Wufei fell silent when Heero turned away. His glare was on the ground now, and he shoved his hands in his pockets.
"What am I supposed to do now? I have to get out of this." Heero was slowly pacing back and forth, a hand moving to run through his unruly hair. This was Relena's doing, he knew it but what could he do?
"You'll figure something out, Heero, you've always been good at that sort of thing."
A soft groan escaped past his lips and weary violet eyes opened. Duo felt someone beside him and tried to shift so he could see who it was, softly calling out Heero's name.
"Sh, Duo, he'll be right back." Quatre said gently. Duo closed his eyes again, not daring to move.
"Nnn, Quat, it hurts." Duo mumbled, turning to bury his face in the pillow. Quatre sighed sadly, gently brushing Duo's bangs away as he murmured a soft, 'I know.'
"No… you don't. It hurts. So bad." Duo whimpered, a hand fisting in the bed sheets. Quatre only looked away, staying quiet for a moment.
"I know, Duo. I know exactly how badly it hurts… I… was punished before, too." Quatre whispered, he pulled a knee to his chest. His soft eyes were staring into space as the memory returned. Duo had mumbled something incoherent but it held a questioning tone and Quatre assumed Duo wanted him to explain.
"It's a long story." Quatre said with a slight shrug. Duo peered out at Quatre questioningly.
"That's why you're so tense when Wufei is around. Quatre? What happened?" Duo murmured softly. Quatre closed his eyes for a moment.
"Before you came here, the boy who worked in the stable's name was Trowa. To make a long story short, he and I were in love. God, I loved him so much. I don't know how it happened but I think Relena found out. I'm pretty sure that's why they sold him. I don't believe the reasons they said at all. She wanted to break us apart. When I found out… I tried to run, and, you can guess the rest. Ok, so it wasn't as long of a story, but still…" Quatre shrugged slightly. "Wufei was really different after it, though. I think it bothered him, but, I don't know. I really don't. But it's in the past now. No use talking about it, right?" Quatre glanced back at Duo who only nodded quietly, face buried in the pillow. Quatre sighed gently before asking,
"Do you need anything, Duo?"
"Heero…" Duo whimpered softly, hands fisting tightly in the sheets, "I need Heero…" That was all he said before he lapsed into silence again, not letting the tears fall, not letting the anguished scream escape his throat. Still, he didn't dare move, not wanting to cause any more pain than he was already in. Quatre nodded raising from his seat and stepped out of the room.
"Excuse me?" Heero looked up at Quatre questioningly. Quatre smiled gently, nodding to Heero.
"He's been awake for a while now, and he wants to see you, sir." Quatre said softly, glancing back at the room behind him. Heero nodded brushing past Quatre inside. Kneeling beside Duo, Heero gently took the American's hand. Amethyst hues slowly opened, glancing at Heero, then fell shut again. His hand tightly gripped Heero's, clinging to him like a lifeline.
"Duo… I'm so sorry… I didn't think this would happen. It's entirely my fault." Heero uttered softly. Cobalt eyes focused on the ground, not daring to look at Duo. Duo only weakly tugged on Heero's arm. Heero stared questioningly at the braided boy.
"Shut up and hold me… please, Heero?" Duo whispered. Heero smiled a bit, laying down next to Duo, carefully cradling Duo against himself. Duo's eyes slipped shut and he thankfully fell asleep.
Two months had passed since then, Duo had finally healed up and was put back to work again. In that time, Relena had been using every excuse she could come up with to make Heero spend time with her, much to both Heero and Duo's annoyance.
Duo sighed contently as he rested his head on Heero's chest, cuddling closer to the Japanese man.
"You know, Heero," Duo murmured, "You don't have to make things up to me with sex." Heero opened his eyes slightly, staring curiously at Duo. A slim eyebrow rose questioningly and Duo grinned up at him.
"Not that I mind the sex… though I am sore for a while after." Duo grinned cuddling closer to Heero, letting his leg wrap around Heero's.
"You just make it seem sometimes, like you're trying to make up not being with me a lot with sex. I don't mind just sitting with you and talking or anything, just thought I'd let you know." Duo shrugged slightly, fingers entwining with Heero's as he stared down at them.
"Would you prefer not to have sex?"
"No!" Duo glared slightly at a smirking Heero. Duo shifted pressing his hips against Heero's, grinning at the soft groan he drew from his lover. "I happen to enjoy it very much, thank you. I just don't want you thinking we have to have sex." Duo smirked rolling his hips against Heero's, grabbing Heero's hands and pinning him down slightly as he trailed kisses along Heero's neck. Heero glared as he allowed a low moan to escape his throat. Heero smirked slightly at Duo, wrapping a leg around Duo's and easily reversing their position, receiving a startled cry from Duo as he did so.
"How do you know I don't make love to you because I want to?" Heero whispered, mouth moving to Duo's chest to ravish at a perk nipple.
"Mmmm," Duo moaned, arching into Heero's mouth, "I was… just… letting you know." Duo let his hands move to Heero's body, running over Heero's back. Heero smirked as Duo again arched off the bed when he started to move lower, moaning deeply.
"Mm, seeing you like this makes me want to come again, Duo…" Heero breathed against Duo's skin. The American wrapped his legs around Heero's waist, grinning a bit.
"We have all night, Heero."
"Yes, we do… I have all night, and you're all mine," Heero whispered as his hands moved over Duo's body, "My koi… my only koi…"
"Good morning, Miss Relena!" An ever chipper female voice called as she walked into the bedroom. Relena glanced up at the girl only a year or two younger and nodded.
"Good morning to you too, Akaisha." Relena smiled slightly at the girl. The girl's bright red hair was pulled back in a bun, and light green eyes danced with life as always. Akaisha's face was sprinkled with freckles from spending time outside. Akaisha was an indentured servant, rather than a slave, and was known the be very bubbly and giggly, oftentimes considered immature, but was good friends with Relena nonetheless.
"How are you this morning, Miss Relena?" Akaisha asked as she opened the door to Relena's large walk-in closest, carrying the basket of laundry with her. Relena looked back in the mirror as she brushed her hair.
"I'm good, and you? You're not always this cheerful in the morning." Relena glanced towards the closest at the sound of the stifled giggling.
"Miss Relena, may I ask a very personal question? Please, ma'am, I don't mean to come off as forward." Akaisha asked as she emerged into the bedroom, sitting herself beside Relena.
"What is it?" Relena looked curious but turned back to the mirror as she brushed his hair, watching the red-head's reflection.
"Well, what is sex with Heero like?" Akaisha grinned at the question- she was also one for gossip. Relena's eyes widened as the hairbrush slipped from her fingers and she spun around to face the giggling Akaisha.
"What makes you think we've slept together?!" Relena looked away, blushing furiously.
"Oh, please, it's not like this is the first time Mr. Yuy's sheets have been soiled." Akaisha giggled again, but the laughter ceased at the look on Relena's face.
"What do you mean?" Relena frowned crossing her arms.
"…you mean, you haven't slept with him?" Akaisha's eyes widened when Relena and she clapped a hand over her mouth, quickly standing.
"Akaisha! What were you saying? His sheets… soiled?" Relena frowned as the red-head meekly nodded.
"Forgive me, Miss Relena, I must have been mistaken. I just assumed that, but, oh… I… I have work to do. Good day, Miss Relena." Akaisha quickly backed out of the room, disappearing down the hall. Relena frowned, picking up the hairbrush again.
"Heero has slept with someone? But… who? …No," Relena's eyes narrowed dangerously, "That… that little tramp. Who does he think he is?!" Relena slammed the hairbrush down on the dresses, quickly pulling her hair back and leaving the room.
It was pitch black that moonless night. The slaves were all fast asleep when the door opened quietly. Duo woke when he was jerked to his feet. He mumbled sleepily, blinking a bit through the darkness. He heard the clang of metal and felt the shackles being replaced around his wrist and ankles, much like the day he'd arrived. Duo seemed more awake then, and started struggling against the older man.
"What the fuck?! Put me down you bastard!"
"HEERO!" Wufei growled as he again threw himself against his friend's bedroom door. The door finally opened, revealing a sleepy-eyed Heero Yuy.
"What is it, Chang?" Heero muttered leaning against the door slightly.
"Something's going on in the slave quarters. I saw Treize heading in that direction earlier, but I didn't think anything of it until I heard the shouting, it was Duo's voice." Wufei watched as Heero immediately seemed to be wide-awake.
"Treize? What the fuck is he doing there?"
"I don't know! Just come with me!" Wufei rolled his eyes and raced off down the hall. Heero ran after him without a moment of hesitation.
"I said, LET GO! Put me down, damnit!" The shouting could still be heard, and Duo was still putting up one hell of a fight when the door was thrown open again.
"What is going on in here?!" Violet eyes darted towards the door almost immediately.
"Heero!"
"Quiet." Treize sighed in annoyance, tired of fighting, and quickly knocked the braided teen unconscious in one swift movement. Heero's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Don't you dare touch him. Release him at once, that's an order, Treize." Heero growled softly, cobalt eyes glaring dangerously at the ginger-haired man before him.
"I'm sorry, but I can't do that, Yuy."
"Yes, you can!" Heero growled out, stepping closer. Wufei's eyes stared at Heero a moment before looking towards Treize. Treize Kushrenada was the man in change of the sales and purchases of slaves, who Wufei often found himself working with. Wufei sighed slightly, suddenly having a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.
"Damnit, Treize, an order is an order. I can have you fired for disobeying me. Put the boy down." Heero hissed softly. Treize only eyed Heero a moment.
"Your orders do not over power those of Mr. Peacecraft, himself. Now, if you'll excuse me," Treize easily brushed passed Heero, "this boy is now under my charge seeing as he is to be taken to the market."
~*~*~*~*~*~
Well… *eyes chapter* I didn't like this as much. It's kinda short, ne? Oh well… uhm, not much to say, except the same thing I've been saying. I'm evil. *Shrugs and walks off* Chapter 5 will be up soon enough.
Tia - *rolls eyes* -_____-; I really should stop sending you stuff ahead of time. You're so spoiled. …or at least start making you proofread for me. Hm, I think I will. ^_^
Wolf – Yes… Relena will get what she deserves… I hope… *eyes muses* ^_^ And, this goes out to everyone who has asked, I don't know if Trowa will come back or not yet… I have an idea that might include him, but we'll see what happens.
Everyone else – Thanks so much for your reviews and I hope you continue reading and enjoy this fic!!! ^____^
Reviews are very muchly appreciated!!! So, yeah, PLEASE review? Please? ^____^ They keep the muses from dying, after all!
~Kate~
