In this fun and lively Arabian tale told by Quatre everyone is a prince. In the time honored tradition of 'A Thousand and One Arabian Nights,' the Princes Trowa and Quatre spend a night regally the tale of Princes Zechs, Heero, Duo and Wufei. Prince Zechs is the baddie but he's still oh so good. Rated M to be on the safe side. There is some standard and non-standard pairing.

Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing other more talented people do and they would never want them to be in such pathetic tales. Please don't sue me, this is just a fan fiction written in the spirit of fun not profit.

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Quatre Tales

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"She knew?" Trowa asked. "Does she see things that happen everywhere?"

"I don't know but I believe her powers are only over her city," Quatre confessed worried he may lose his audience yet not willing to lie. "There are things about the ancient arts, I don't know about."

"She should have know where the thief was and where Prince Heero was?"

"She knew that wing was in the city and I am sure she sensed the prince but she wasn't able to locate them since they did not use magic," Quatre told him. "It is said that magic attracts magic."

"Magic attracts magic," Trowa repeated softly.

"Yes, unless a magic user knows how to hide themselves," Quatre explained. "Initially that is about all the prince and the thief could do."

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Refuge

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They were hunting him. Many thieves had been caught and now their thin ragged bodies hung from beggars gate. Most had fled and those that stayed knew they risked execution. At first, Duo didn't realize that the increase policing was about him he thought it was he had gotten away and Berker felt the fool but now he knew the truth. It was because of Prince Zechs, Berker's threat of having someone to give to the prince was real. Berker and his ilk were hunting him and any thief foolish enough to get in the way.

This made getting anything and everything very difficult. Duo had to avoid his less fortunate brethren ever time he went out. Even desperate men have their limits and Duo's head was worth quite a lot of limits. A slow and bitter hatred for Prince Zechs started to build inside of him, yet Duo knew he was also at fault.

"I really did it this time," Duo mumbled out loud. They had even put up posters with a rough picture and it had his description written below. "I can't even get out, they blocked the city gates."

Duo's whisper echoed back at him. The empty warehouse had a tendency to amplify sounds. Most likely one of the reasons thieves never used such places as a hide out. The fact that the place was empty didn't help. No, it wasn't empty, Duo looked at the young man he had rescued from the beach. At first he thought the young man was dead but after a few pokes he had gotten a moan.

The young man's clothes were well made and only slightly tattered from his mis-adventure. Such good material was actually very valuable only it was obviously from a Far Easterner's outfit. The people of Roma were not that welcoming to strangers, especially to Far Easterners.

"These clothes could get you killed," Duo told his sleeping guest.

Duo had needed to purchased a swathe to cover him. That swathe was now covering his naked form. Duo plied his needle and thread expertly to the soft and well made material. Sewing was a good thief's number one skill, he thought as he broke the thread with his teeth. That and good hygiene, he grimaced to himself. It had been a long time since he had a bath and he knew he wasn't seeing one in the near future either.

Duo turned around and looked out the large windows that punctuated the second level of the warehouse. Another good reason why a thief wouldn't choose a place like this, he thought again.

Of course Solo hadn't wanted this place as a thieves den, Duo thought sadly. He fought back tears and blinked hot wet eyes. He sighed and glanced back at his quiet companion startled to see the other staring back at him with dark blue eyes.

"You're up" Duo said with a smile. He hopped up and went over to the meager supplies he had purchased from the magistrate's purse. "I was worried you might need medical attention."

"Where am I and where are my clothes?" he asked raking a hand though dark messy hair. He gave his benefactor a lingering stare, "…street rat."

"Roma and the name's Duo," Duo said taking no offensive at the stranger's tone. He was glad the man spoke the common tongue. "Here eat while it's good and here is some fresh water too."

Duo was dreadfully hungry but this stranger probably hadn't had food or water in days so he figured to let him eat his share first. The small soup was luke warm since he couldn't keep anything bigger than the smallest of flames to warm his food and the bread was a day old, still it was better than nothing.

Prince Heero wanted to ask him more questions but the smell of the food distracted him. He grabbed the water and drank it all then bolted down the bread and soup.

"Slow down you probably hadn't eaten in days," Duo said carefully masking his disappointment at the lost meal.

"I can't wear this filthy rag," Heero said tossing the empty bowl away his blue eyes full of contempt.

"No of course not that is why I mended your clothes," Duo said proudly showing him the mended garments.

Heero didn't answer. He just snatched his clothes and proceeded to dress. He sniffed at the stale smell of them. That wasn't the only thing he found smelly. He glanced at his benefactor and glared.

"Well I'm sorry your majesty but that's all I could do," Duo huffed at Heero's glare his patience had finally run low.

"How do I get out of here," Heero ordered.

"The door's that way" Duo answer jerking his thumb in the direction mentioned. Without any more ado Heero turned to leave.

"Well how do you like that not even a, 'thank you for saving my life', I should let that ungrateful bastard walk right out here," Duo mumble at Heero's retreating back but being malicious was not a common trait for him.

"Wait, don't go," Duo said racing after the man he had found on the beach. He quickly caught up with him since the guy had stopped and was reading one of his wanted posters.

"The gates are all blocked and there has been a curfew imposed recently," Duo told him.

"Your doing?" Heero said indicating the poster.

A thief, Heero thought as he gave a closeer look at his unwanted benefactor. He wasn't surprised, he was only a little shocked that such a small and petty looking thief would warrant a poster.

"Yes, but I really didn't steal anything…that time," Duo confessed as the stranger leveled a look at him. "Besides, the people of this city would never help a foreigner especially an Far Easterner like you."

"So why are you helping me?" Heero asked.

Now that Heero knew who his benefactor was he wondered what he wanted with him. He didn't trust strangers and he especially didn't trust thieves. He had been raised not to trust people.

"I'm not native to this city," Duo answered honestly. "And being lost and homeless is something I can relate to."

"Well I'm not homeless and I need to get back home as soon as possible so show me where the gates are," Heero practically commanded him.

"Well look your majesty," Duo started to say but Heero corrected

"I would be highness I'm not a king…yet. There are no countries with a king so young," Heero spoke mistaking Duo's sarcasm for ignorance since no one had ever been sarcastic to him before.

"Yet…You must have brain fever or maybe you swallowed too much sea water," Duo answered harshly. "The gates are blocked."

"I heard you the first time and I'm not stupid," Heero snapped.

He never had anyone talk to him that way before and felt was wave of anger towards the street rat. He glared at the other, only it didn't seem to have any effect. Usually his glares would cause a person to tremble in fear.

"Follow me," Duo said leading the way.

As they walked through the city, Duo slowly started rambling on about the city and its people. They got to a more brightly lit street and before Heero could venture out Duo grabbed his arm and pulled him back.

"Don't touch me," Heero snarled shrugging Duo off.

Duo felt his face heat up with shame. Cleanliness is a luxury that can be expensive especially to a street rat but Duo always tried to keep himself as clean of possible. Only, recently with things being so difficult he had to forego a few ablutions.

"I wanted to give you this," Duo said in a pained voice as tossed Heero the swathe of clothe

Heero caught the cloth and glance at the other. He noticed that Duo had wrapped himself in a similar clothe making it hard to see him. Heero wrapped himself as best he could.

"Should I cover my face also?" Heero asked. Duo just shrugged suddenly withdrawn and silent.

Duo then led him to the gate and when Heero looked he saw that he was right, it was well guarded.

"Is this the only gate," Heero asked.

"No but the others are guarded even better," Duo replied.

"I want to see them," Heero commanded.

Duo just shrugged and replied, "fine."

Heero sighed in frustration as he looked at the third gate. The thief had been right the other gates were guarded even heavier. He turned to follow Duo but suddenly his legs seemed to turn to jelly. Heero collapsed.

Duo hurried over to his side, "I knew I should have said something earlier." He reached down pulling one of Heero's arms over his shoulder. Heero tried to shrug him off but he was too weak. "Look we need to get back and you are not going to make it in your condition so you're just going to have to lean on me."

Heero resisted for a moment then he leaned into him and allowed Duo to take him back to his hiding place.

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TBC

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Comments

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This story does move a bit slowly but I believe there will soon be plenty of action. If you are enjoying it please let me know, I don't believe I'm good at romance and I hope this story will be great practice since it will have lots of action, adventure and of course romance.

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Ani