AN: Hey all this is the last day of Christmas vaca and I'm trying to cram typing the next five chapters of this story in one day. OI! I hate this part.
Warnings: Shonen ai, and language…that's about it.
Italics: Denotes thoughts
***: Denotes scene change
//italics// Denotes flashback
Spoils of War: Ch. 9
Duo stifled another yawn as the meal progressed. At least they were to the main course, and he had reasonably good entertainment. He went back to his people watching. Many of the guests at the table had a slave seated on a large cushion at their feet. Duo looked down at Heero and snorted softly. The boy seemed to resent the situation and was sitting ramrod straight on the soft pillow. He was dressed to match Duo to some degree. The advisor wore his usual black with royal purple trim and silver jewelry. Heero's vest was black, trimmed with bright crimson and silver. The sash was embroidered as well while the pants were simply black. Silver adorned his wrists and neck. Duo had tried to give Heero some food but the dark-haired boy had refused it with an indignant scowl. Duo sighed, I wonder if Trowa is giving Quatre as much trouble.
Quatre glanced down at the boy next to him. Trowa had never sat so stiffly before. Speaking of stiff, Quatre tugged at his shirt's collar. He hated the heavy formal wear these events called for. His outfit was pure white with royal blue and gold trim. A gold circlet was settled on his head, most probably lost in his hair as it was the same color, and he also wore several other pieces of jewelry. Trowa wore a daring shade of dark red, almost burgundy, trimmed with gold and white threads. His pants were white and his sash was also embroidered like his vest. To match his outfit he wore gold slaves jewelry. When Quatre had enter with Trowa and Duo with Heero many whispers had rippled through the crowd like water. After a moment remarks of approval and compliments had been tossed from all directions. Trowa and Heero had closed off almost immediately. With a sigh, Quatre realized this was not working.
"Excuse me a moment," he stood, cutting off a Sank delegate. "I must speak with Lord Duo."
As he left he beckoned for Trowa to follow. Duo saw Quatre approaching and stood up as well. He had a feeling it had something to do with their slaves, so when he got up he motioned for Heero to follow. They stepped out into the hall then turned to their respective slaves.
"I know you don't like this but would you please at least act like a slave?" Quatre whispered to Trowa and Heero.
"You night wanna act the part. I know it's annoying but at least it's not real. Trust me I know how you feel." Duo added solemnly.
"You want me to act like the other slaves in that room?" Trowa asked Quatre directly. "You're sure?"
"Yes! Please!"
Trowa shrugged, "It's your choice."
"If you think I'm going to…" Heero growled.
"Chill! Geez, I don't care what you do. The court already knows I don't give a rat's ass about their opinion but you don't have to be so stiff. Relax, yeesh!"
They soon returned to the dining hall and their vacated seats. Duo smiled as Heero's posture relaxed against the pillow in a slightly reclined position. Trowa's posture didn't change at first. He used his height to look around the room. Trowa smirked as he observed the seductively sprawled figures of other slaves, men and women both. He seriously doubted Quatre really knew what he was asking for. I guess I am his first slave…then this should be interesting.
Stretching He laid down on the soft cushion. Shifting about he settled, lying on his side, propping himself up on one elbow. All in all he looked like a relaxed cat. Quatre hadn't looked back at him yet. Most slaves had cute or interesting ways of attracting their master's attention. Trowa preferred to wait. Patience, after all, was a virtue. When Quatre did glance at him, Trowa couldn't help smiling. The prince did a double take with wide eyes and an open mouth; Trowa merely raised an eyebrow in response. Quatre closed his mouth and turned to a man who had asked him a question.
As the mean progressed, Quatre wondered if Trowa was hungry. He had no intention of letting Trowa go hungry. He fully planned on requesting a dinner for Trowa as they left for their room, but that wouldn't be for a while. Perhaps Trowa should eat something to tide him over. Quatre reached into the bowl of fruit next to his plate and extracted an orange section. Quatre reached down to hand it to Trowa when another delegate called for his attention. He turned to them a moment. Suddenly something warm, soft, and slightly moist brushed against his fingers. He gasped and jerked his hand back.
"Is something wrong, sire?" The man he was talking to asked.
"Uh…no, I'm fine, thank you Marquis Wayrigde." Quatre assured the man glancing back at Trowa who was innocently eating the orange. After he finished talking, Quatre picked a few grapes from his bowl, repeating his earlier action only this time watching Trowa. A mischievous smile crossed the slave's face as he leaned toward Quatre's hand. The light blue eyes widened as Trowa deftly lifted each piece of fruit from his fingers using only his mouth. There was a distinct twinkle in Trowa's bright green eyes.
"Trowa, why are you acting so strangely?" Quatre whispered.
Trowa smiled mysteriously and beckoned Quatre closer. The blonde leaned down far enough for Trowa to reach his ear.
"This is how most slaves act, master…" Trowa purred quietly, blowing warm air over Quatre's ear.
Quatre jerked back as if he'd been struck, shivering slightly. Looking a tad flushed he continued his meal. Every now and then Quatre would glance at Trowa who always smiled that mischievous, mysterious smile making Quatre blush a sweet becoming shade of pink. He didn't know why, but Quatre felt as if Trowa were teasing him. The dinner came to an end so the whole company moved to another hall for dessert and dance. Quatre and Duo sat on a couch together, their slaves on another set of cushions at their feet. Heero sat up straight while Trowa was leaning against the couch, his head resting on Quatre's thigh. The royal heir didn't quite know how to respond to Trowa's sudden enthusiasm for closeness.
Quatre was pulled from his thoughts by a servant who set a small bowl of strawberries cut into halves next to him.
"Thank you," Quatre acknowledged automatically. The servant set a similar bowl next to Duo and with a bow left them.
"Heero, would you like one?" Duo turned to the boy at his feet. Heero's scowl deepened and he shook his head.
Duo sighed, "Heero, you haven't eaten anything. Just one little strawberry?"
Another scowl and shake of the head. Duo frowned himself. He selected a large juicy piece from his bowl. Leaning down he gently pressed against Heero's bottom lip.
"Open." He commanded. Heero's eyes widened in shock. Duo increased the pressure slightly. "I said, open."
Heero complied and Duo slid the fruit in, closing Heero's mouth with the same finger he'd used to open it. Heero ate the berry quietly, almost reflexively.
"See, was that so hard?" Duo smiled, Heero scowled in response.
Quatre glanced down at Trowa noting his intense interest in the bowl of strawberries.
"Uh, would you like one, Trowa?" Quatre asked slightly unnerved by the strange light in Trowa's eyes. Trowa nodded slowly not bothering to hide the wicked smile that crossed his face. Quatre carefully selected a ripe berry from the cluster in his bowl and held it out for Trowa. Never breaking his gaze from the large cerulean orbs above his, Trowa slowly consumed the small pink fruit. Quatre blushed when Trowa's lips brushed his fingers, his mouth falling open in a sharp intake of breath as Trowa's teeth bit down gently. His pulse accelerated wildly as Trowa cleaned away the last traces of juice on Quatre's fingers with his tongue. With a final almost playful nip, Trowa drew back winking at Duo's dumbfounded expression.
Suddenly Trowa spotted a flicker of light to his left. A quick glance at Heero showed he'd also noticed it. Nodding at each other they readied themselves. The flash of daggers being thrown sent Heero and Trowa into action. Trowa reached up and expertly caught the blade. Heero, lacking Trowa's unique skills, simply dragged Duo onto his lap so the murderous implement landed harmlessly in the couch's cushions. With a growl Duo pushed away from Heero and ran after his fleeing assassin. Trowa followed close behind. In the empty hallway, Trowa saw they had little hope of catching the assassin. Flipping the dagger in his hand around so he was holding the blade instead of the hilt, Trowa took careful aim.
The man cried out and stumbled as Trowa's dagger pierced his leg. Increasing his pace, Duo rammed him from behind. Trowa watched the man turn as he fell, pulling another dagger, he last by the looks of it, from his belt. Duo shrieked in anger and jumped back, the weapon only catching his clothes. He landed in a one-knee crouch, pulling a dagger from what looked like thin air. Trowa blinked, he'd never met anyone who could do that except…
//SNAP! A dagger appeared in a pale hand.
"Now's our chance!" A soft husky voice whispered. //
Trowa watched as Duo lunged, the dagger posed for a single deadly strike. The two small weapons slid against each other. Duo's dagger was larger and heavier, perfect for close combat, whereas the assassin's was small and light, too flimsy for any real defense. But the man had strength. He pushed Duo back and rushed Trowa. Unprepared for the attack, Trowa just managed to evade the blow without serious injury. He could still feel blood trickle down his cheek from the cut on his temple. Grabbing the blade, Trowa held it so he wouldn't be cut and twisted in such a way the man was forced to release it. Duo's lips parted in surprise, he'd never taught anyone his dagger techniques, save one…
//A quick twist was all it took to make the large man release the dagger. The fighting knife fell obligingly into the long-fingered tan hand. //
Desperate the man made a wild grab for Duo's trailing braid. Wrapping his fingers in the long chestnut locks he pulled hard. Duo screamed and wrenched away.
//Large hands wrapped themselves in a tangle of chestnut and pulled. A child screamed in pain. //
Duo's braid was half unraveled by the man's claw-like grip. Seeing Trowa directly behind the man, Duo took a chance. This had only worked once. It had saved his life and condemned another's. Running forward, Duo rammed the man with all he had.
Trowa grabbed the man's shoulders and dropped back almost instinctively. Rolling on his back he kicked the man over his head to land behind him as he somersaulted backwards into a crouch, looking up at Duo.
The violet eyes were so forlorn behind the cascade of tangled sun-kissed brown, just like…
The emerald orbs pleaded with him behind the curtain of an auburn forelock, exactly like…
// "Go, just go!" The small boy struggled under the large man's hands, green eyes begging.
The large violet eyes filled with tears behind his loose chocolate locks.
"Goodbye," he mouthed to a boy who had no name. Then he simply disappeared, just like his own namesake. //
"Nanashi?"
"Shadow?"
AN: Well folks there you have it. Chapter 9. Let me know how I'm doing k?