Category: Angst, Adventure, AU, Slave/Master

Pairings: 1x2, 4x3 (eventually), 5x?

Rating: R (?)

Disclaimer: Standard. You know them all by now so I won't bore you with a repeat.

Warnings: This story does show how a lot of people felt about the owning of slaves, a feeling that was very alive in this country not that long ago, as well as in many civilizations down through the ages. There are some good owners and some bad owners, like in everything. If someone owning another person bothers you, you might not like this fic. But then I'm not forcing anyone to read it. There are also M/M relationships in this fic (I'm very much a 1x2/3x4 fan.) so if boys being together (and I do mean together) bothers you don't read.

Golden Lights Part Three

By SilverLady

Quatre sat staring at the wall of the room he would now call home. Duo had told him to sit there and wait for him to return.

Quatre's body was still red, as much from embarrassment as from the through scrubbing Duo had given him. Apparently Duo had found him very dirty.

He couldn't believe that Duo had not only insisted on washing him, a invasion of privacy that would never have been allowed if he had been at home, but that he'd undressed and climbed right in the tub with him. Angil would have fainted if he'd seen that happen.

Tears sprang to his eyes at the thought of home, a place he would probably never see again. Was everyone dead or had some managed to survive the attack? It had come so suddenly and had been so violent that no one had really had any chance to react.

Maybe someone had survived and was even now searching for him

"Crying won't change anything," Duo informed him sharply as he walked back into the room, carrying a bundle of clothes. "Be glad you got a decent master."

"But men aren't supposed to own other men," Quatre protested.

Duo's eyes widened. "You'd best never let anyone hear you say that. If you're lucky all they'll do is beat you." He laid the clothes on the bed. "Besides. Things work just fine."

Quatre couldn't believe that Duo could calmly accept his status. "And you call my people barbarians!"

"Living in tents. Hiding in caves. No running water."

"Our freedom. To come and go as we please. With no master but ourselves."

"No one to take care of the weak. Scraping by, barely able to eat."

"Doing what you want. Choosing your own path on the Road of Life."

"Homeless women and children, begging on the streets."

Quatre threw up his hand in exasperation.  "How can you be so complacent?"

"How can you be so naïve?" Duo picked up a shirt. "Put this on. I'm sure Trowa will want you to look your best tonight. I understand several guests are expected."

Quatre snatched the shirt away. Please, Great One, deliver me from this land of heathens.

Duo nodded as he watched Quatre dress. "Just remember this. Outside this room you are Quatre, slave and the property of Lord Trowa of Batona. You do what you are told, when you are told. Trowa's orders always supercede all others, but any one above you can give you orders. That is just about everyone, since you are new. "

Quatre nodded but said nothing.

Duo turned and headed for the door. "Follow me."

*****

Duo lead Quatre to another richly decorated courtyard. This one had tables and chairs scattered about, either under the shade of trees or the man made shade of a large cloth draped structure. Nearly a dozen men, including Trowa and Heero, lounged about. They had apparently just finished eating.

Duo walked over and bowed to Trowa. "I have done as you commanded."

Trowa nodded as he looked beyond Duo to Quatre. "Excellent. Heero, he is prompt as always."

"I still want to know how you turned that little hellion around," one of the other men said with a shake of his head.

Heero gave a slight smile. "And you will continue to wonder."

"Is this the one the called Shinigami?" a portly looking man asked, looking Duo up and down.

"The one and only."

"Pray tell me who is the other one. I don't believe I've seen him before."

Quatre blinked as the young man that spoke rose to his feet and walked over to him. The man was no taller than he, with black hair pulled back into a tight tail. His skin was golden bronze in color. His eyes were so dark they appeared to be black and had a slight slant to them. His clothing was all white, but of a style Quatre had never seen.

"That's my new purchase," Trowa replied. "I bought him at the slave auction today."

"If I had known they were selling creatures like this I would have gone."

"And still not got him. I was quite willing to pay more than I did."

"How much? I'll double it."

Trowa shook his head. "He's not for sale, at any price."

The man sighed. "To bad. I'd be the talk of the court if I came back with such an exotic creature."

Quatre bite his tongue, trying hard not to say anything. He hated the way they talked about him as if he wasn't even there. Or too stupid to understand them.

"I'm sure you would be. And earn quite a few points in your father's book as well, right Wufei," Heero commented dryly.

Wufei laughed. "Perhaps." He looked at Duo. "Though that one would sure be worth something." He studied Duo. "Why call him Shinigami? I thought that meant Death God."

"It does. Let's just say that his last two owners didn't live long after buying him."

"He killed them?"

Heero smiled slightly. "So they say. No one ever proved it."

"I would think not. He wouldn't be standing here if they had." Wufei paused. "Did he?"

Heero smiled again. "What do you think?"

"You know?"

"Maybe."

Wufei laughed. "Fine. Keep your secrets. May I see him, though? I've heard stories."

"I'm sure you have." Heero looked at Duo. "Strip."

Duo instantly began to remove his clothes. Within moments he stood before the men, completely naked.

Quatre didn't know what stunned him more. The fact that Duo had willing bared his body to these men or the way they stared at him.

"Very nice," Wufei commented, returning to his seat. "I can see why you were willing to tame him. Have him take down his hair."

Heero's eyes grew cold. "No."

Wufei blinked at the frost in Heero's voice. "Why not?"

"No one but I ever see his hair loose. Not even Trowa."

Wufei sighed. "Very well." He looked over at Quatre again. "Trowa, why don't you show us what you got? I'm curious to see if he really all he appears to be."

Trowa looked at him for a moment. "Quatre, remove your clothes."

Quatre stared at him. "Wh….what?"

Trowa stared at him. "I said strip. Now."

Quatre's mouth fell open in shock. Bare his body to these strangers.

Trowa's eyes grew hard. "Now. Or Duo will do it for you." There was a threat in the tone that promised Duo wouldn't make it a pleasant experience.

"Need to work on training him properly," Wufei commented.

"Duo…." Before Trowa could say any more, Quatre was reaching for his shirt. Two minutes later he had removed all of his clothing. He instinctively began to cover himself with his hands.

"Hands behind your back," Trowa snapped. Quatre quickly complied.

Wufei nodded. "Very nice. I'm sure he will be quite impressive once he is properly trained."

"That is the inherent problem in purchasing a slave brought in from the south lands," Trowa commented. "I think he will be worth it, though."

"I could work with him…. It wouldn't take long."

"No, thank you. I would prefer to do it myself."

"More's the pity."

Trowa laughed slightly. "For you, perhaps."

"True." Wufei looked at Quatre again. "At least there is no denying he is truly blond. Such an unusual coloring."

"With hair like golden light," one of the other men, who had been silent during the exchange, commented.

Wufei turned to him. "Pardon?"

"It's from a poem I read once. That's the only line I can recall though."

"Quite descriptive." Wufei turned back. "If you ever consider selling him."

"You'll be the second person to know," Trowa promised him solemnly.

"And who will be the first?'

"Me."

Wufei laughed. "Very true."

Just then several scantly clad women walked into the courtyard. They all carried trays of various sweets.

Trowa looked at Quatre for a moment. "Duo, take him back to the room."

Duo glanced at Heero, who nodded slightly. "Then report to my room. It needs cleaning."

"Yes, master." Duo gathered up his clothing and turned to leave.

Slowly Quatre reached for his own clothing, then followed Duo.

"You did it this time," Duo whispered as soon as they were out of hearing.

Quatre swallowed hard, but said nothing.