AN: Sorry, I've been meaning to type I just can't stand doing it though. Well here it is more. Please any feedback would be most welcome.
Warnings: nothing really maybe some language but nothing real serious for now.
Italics: denotes thoughts
****: Denotes scene change
Spoils of War: Ch.8
Trowa watched Quatre and Duo playing chess absently. He was really thinking about Quatre's hug from a few days ago. He hadn't quite known how to react. Quatre had released him after a few moments and then gone about like nothing had happened. Trowa supposed that Quatre was just an affectionate person, but still, Trowa wasn't used to being hugged when he'd done something he wasn't technically supposed to. He had, after all, instigated the fight. Perhaps he was just reading too much into things.
"Checkmate," Quatre's voice brought Trowa back to earth.
"Geez, Quatre have you ever lost a game?" Duo groaned from his seat across from the small blonde.
"Yes, when my father used to play I would lose spectacularly every time without fail until three years ago, I won for the first time. We haven't played since. He said I didn't need to."
"Hey, I'm tired, could either of you play him?" Duo yawned, looking at Heero and Trowa who were seated on a couch a few feet away. Heero shook his head.
"I don't know how to play chess, but Trowa does."
"Only a little." The banged boy protested mildly.
"Great, I can't do anymore heavy duty thinking." Duo chirped cheerily, hopping up.
He dragged the still protesting boy to the game table.
"You don't have to play if you don't want to." Quatre smiled at the boy across from him. Something about that smile seemed…mocking. Trowa settled himself more comfortably into the chair.
"I accept your challenge." Trowa said watching Quatre carefully.
"And I'll just sit here and vegetate." Duo sighed happily as he sank into the cushion next to Heero.
The near silent game that ensued continued for quite some time. Eventually…
"Checkmate." Trowa stated quietly.
"Amazing! Oh Trowa, that was wonderful, and such a challenge! I felt as if you were two steps ahead of me the whole time." Quatre was beaming.
"You were a challenge too." Trowa admitted quietly. "It was nice to play against someone who knows the game."
Quatre nodded then turned to look at Duo and Heero. A snort of laughter peaked Trowa's curiosity so he turned as well. Smiling slightly at the sight he saw. Duo had obviously fallen asleep during their chess game. The advisor's head was cradled in Heero's lap, the cloak he wore draped over him like a blanket. The braid trailed from his shoulders to dangle near the floor, Heero's fingers absently brushing Duo's hair.
"Congratulations Trowa." Heero nodded to the taller of the two. Trowa raised an eyebrow in response and looked pointedly at Heero's hands. Following his gaze Heero jerked his hands back. Reaching out he poked Duo's shoulder. When he didn't get a response he shook lightly. Duo simply snuggled into Heero's lap further.
"Duo, wake up." Quatre called softly.
Duo's face twisted into a frown and he rolled over before nuzzling closer. Heero's face burned as he felt Duo move.
"Why won't he wake up?' Trowa asked curiously.
"He's stayed up late and woken up early for several days." Heero sighed. "He's apparently had a lot of work to do."
Heero shifted and lifted Duo's shoulders, turning him on his back before pulling Duo forward. When he had Duo completely in his lap he wrapped the cloak around the sleeping boy and stood.
"I'll just carry him to our room." Heero shrugged maneuvering Duo's braid to rest in its owner's lap.
Quatre opened the door for Heero as the dark-haired boy carried his slumbering braided master to their bedroom. Duo sighed and leaned closer to the warmth Heero gave off. Upon reaching their door, Heero opened it with minor difficultly, kicking it closed behind him. Pulling down the covers on Duo's bed Heero eased him down. With an efficiency born of years of experience he stripped the cloak away then laid Duo down to remove his boots. Lifting his legs, Heero turned him to lay correctly before covering him with the blankets. Duo smiled and squirmed into the covers a moment before turning to a still sleep.
Heero watched him a moment appreciating the way Duo's face relaxed to look like the teenager he was instead of the adult life had forced him to become. Reaching out he ran his fingers through the fringe in front of Duo's face, marveling at the soft texture. Turning from the bed something spread out on Duo's desk caught Heero's attention. Walking over he picked up the parchment. His eyes widened as he read the announcement.
"Now I understand…" he breathed.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
After two weeks under Duo and Quatre, Trowa and Heero had learned that being nobility was not all it was cracked up to be. They had become used to passing long hours alone in their masters' bedrooms while said masters attended meetings, classes, discussions, and ceremonies. Quatre and Duo often stumbled into the room dead tired at horrible hours. Trowa would help Quatre slide into bed, but Heero could only watched helplessly as Duo would insist on finishing up the paperwork. The blue-eyed boy would wait until the braided boy had passed out on his desk to carry him to his bed.
Trowa stretched as he got up from his sit-ups. There were only so many things he could do without Quatre. And in the absence of his master he was confined to the bedchamber.
"Quatre? You in here?" Duo's voice drifted through the door.
Trowa stood and opened the door. Troubled violet eyes met his.
"Trowa did Quatre ever come back here?"
"No," Trowa shook his head, spotting Heero standing behind his master.
"Damn, he's disappeared again…" Duo muttered. "Occasionally, Quatre gets sick of all the formalities of court life and he disappears for a few hours. Normally I wouldn't be this worried but I have an urgent message for him." Duo explained seeing Trowa's confused expression. "Can you help us look for him?"
Trowa nodded and stepped into the pair of light sandals, Quatre and Duo had given their slaves so they didn't always go barefoot. They walked out the palace doors and Trowa and Heero, who hadn't been outside in two weeks, were temporarily blinded by the bright noonday sun.
"Sorry," Duo sighed, "I know you haven't been outside in a while. It's really our fault. We've been neglecting you. That will change, everything's just busy right now."
Duo waited until Heero and Trowa's eyes had adjusted before leading them around the side of the castle. A stable soon came into view. Duo marched right in with Trowa and Heero close behind. Moving to one of the last stalls Duo peered in. Its only occupant was a small boy who was mucking out the soiled bedding.
"Excuse me, but has His Highness gone riding?"
"He might have, I wouldn't know Lord." The boy replied, leaning on his rake. "He came in here earlier to see Sandrock. I told him I'd released the horse in the pasture and I think he went to find it."
"Which pasture?" Trowa asked urgently.
"There's only one." The hind sniffed looking at Heero and Trowa with distaste.
Trowa, Heero, and Duo ran out of the stable and towards the pasture as fast as they could. Climbing over the fence they looked around.
"Where are they?" Duo cried out in frustration.
"Is this the entire pasture?" Trowa asked.
"Uh…No, there is a small patch of trees on the far left side…Hey wait for us!" Duo shouted at Trowa's retreating back before he and Heero raced after him.
Nearing the small grove, Trowa spotted his horse nosing the limp, lifeless body of Quatre Rebarba Winner.
"Oh Hell! Trowa your psycho horse killed Quatre!" Duo gestured wildly to the boy.
"No wait look." Heero commanded. As they watched Quatre stirred, stretched with a wide yawn.
"He was sleeping!" Duo hissed incredulously.
"Shhhhh…" Trowa hushed, watching Quatre closely.
"Hello Heavyarms." Quatre smiled up at the massive animal.
It snorted at Quatre ruffling the blonde's bangs. The petite prince laughed softly as if the animal in front of him were harmless.
"Oh!" Quatre exclaimed and reached into a small bag at his waist. From it he extracted a large red apple.
"Here." Quatre lifted the ripe fruit to the horse's lips.
Heavyarms sniffed the bright red offertory before slowly lifting it from Quatre's pale fingers. It ate the fruit while Quatre gently touched its neck. By the time Heavyarms was finished with the apple Quatre was brushing the horse's dark red mane with his fingers.
"Do you know where Sandrock is?" Quatre asked the horse not really expecting an answer.
He was surprised when the chestnut nickered softly, walking towards the trees. He nickered again and a small horse emerged. The palomino's coat shone in the sun like gold and silver.
"Sandrock!" Quatre cried wrapping his arms around the horse's neck. Reaching into his bag, Quatre removed another apple, this one bright green. "Here, I remembered you too. There's a good girl."
Heavyarms looked up and spotted Trowa. With a soft whinny he started for the tall boy.
Quatre looked up as well and smiled. "Where you looking for me?"
"Yes, and we had one hell of a time finding you." Duo grumbled.
"I'm sorry, is there something I'm needed for?"
"Yes I just received word that the Sank Kingdom delegation with Relena herself is coming and should arrive tomorrow."
"WHAT!?!?!?!" Quatre cried. "We've got to get back to the castle. There's so much to do! Can we ride? It'll be much faster." Quatre directed the last question to Trowa.
"Uh, well Heavyarms can carry another person, but he may not want too." Trowa regarded his horse calculatingly.
"I think he'll let me ride if you ask him to. Heero and Duo can ride Sandrock."
"Um, that horse can carry both Duo and me?" Heero sized up the horse skeptically.
"Sandrock is stronger than she looks." Quatre replied walking up to Heavyarms.
Trowa whispered a few words to Heavyarms then backed up to his flank. As Quatre stepped up, Trowa held out his hands as a mounting block. Quatre rolled his eyes and passed by the waiting boy. Threading the fingers of one hand through the dark mane, Quatre placed this other hand on the whither. With a jump, pull, and twist the small blonde was seated comfortably on the horse's broad back. Trowa gaped at the small prince a moment before jumping up behind the blonde. Looking over at Sandrock showed Duo and Heero perched comfortably on her back. Duo was steering her with her mane, Heero seated behind him, holding on to Duo's waist.
Quatre looked back at Trowa when he wrapped his arms around Quatre to hold onto Heavyarms' mane. Steering the horses toward the castle they rushed to ready for the approaching guests.
AN: Whoa another chapter done…remember to let me know what you think.