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 Four

By SilverLady

Heero was silent as he followed Trowa into his room. Trowa was limping badly, a sure sign that he was tired. Yet, as long as he was in the house, he rarely asked Heero for help. It was a fact that often had Heero wondering what was really running through his friend's mind. He would have thought it would be the other way around.

"So, what are you going to do?" he asked, sitting in one of the chairs.

Trowa sat down on the sofa opposite him. "About what?"

"The new slave."

"What about him?"

"He should have done what you told him the first time. You have to show him that he no longer has any say in what he does. You are the master of his destiny now. "

Trowa closed his eyes. He knew that Heero was right, that the only way to ensure obedience was to correct problems quickly.  And yet… "And what do you suggest I do?"

"A good lashing would set things straight, quick. You have to show these barbarians who is boss."

Trowa shuddered at the thought of marking that beautiful body with whip scars. "No. Nothing that will scar."

Heero nodded slightly. He should have known Trowa would say something like that. Trowa had never liked scars on anything, especially since he had so many himself. "I have something that you can use. I used it several times on Duo before he got the hint."

Trowa looked at Heero in surprise. "You will not touch him."

Heero blinked. "Of course not." He rose to his feet. "I'll be right back." He quickly walked out of the room.

Trowa frowned as he reached down to massage his left leg. There was no telling what Heero might bring back.

Sighing a bit in frustration he worked on the aching muscles. He had overdone it today, in more than one way. He should have never walked to the slave market for one thing. His leg was hurting so badly, he knew it would take hours for him to go to sleep.

Plus, he really should have waited a few days to show Quatre to his friends. It would have been better to break him a little before throwing him if front of that group. He had hoped that Duo would have briefed the boy enough to ensure a better reaction from him. He hadn't wanted to embarrass the boy, but he really hadn't expected him to react the way he had. Why were the Southlanders so embarrassed by the sight of a naked body? It was a sight to be appreciated and admired, not hidden away.

Just then Heero walked back into the room. "If you don't want to leave any scars, use this."

Trowa blinked. It looked like a board. "It looks like a board."

"It is. If you don't want to whip him, spanking works just as well. This way you won't hurt your hand."

"But won't it hurt him?"

Heero placed the thin board on the sofa next to Trowa and sat down on the floor in front of him. Reaching out he began to knead the muscles in Trowa's leg. "Of course. That's the idea." He frowned at the tightness of the muscles beneath his hands. "You overdid it."

"I know." Trowa leaned back and allowed Heero to work on his leg. "You really think its necessary?"

"You have to teach him quick. You let him get away with something once and he'll do it again."

"Was Duo really that difficult?"

Heero smiled as he remembered the wild boy he'd bought. "Worse. There is a point when discipline becomes abuse. Too many of his former masters went way beyond that point. I wanted to show him that I was in charge without hurting him too badly. It seems to have worked."

"Did he really kill them?"

"They don't call him Shinigami without reason."

"Did he try to kill you?"

Heero nodded. "He was very much like a wild animal when I bought him. It took time to train him. But like any well trained animal it was worth it."

Trowa remembered that Heero had been away for several months after he'd purchased Duo. "It took you quite a while to break him, didn't it?"

Heero shook his head. "I didn't break him, I trained him. There is a difference. I taught him to obey without breaking his spirit. Duo without his spirit would be worthless. The other's didn't understand that."

"And that is what you're suggesting I do with Quatre."

"Yes. I'll help you as much as you want me to, but in the end its up to you on how you want to handle him. I do think he needs some sort of punishment for his behavior today."

Trowa glanced at the board beside him "Punishment for disobedience, reward for obedience."

"Right. But punishment should be swift, don't let him forget what he's done wrong. Though not too fast. Let him think about what you could do. You might want to vary the punishment, to keep him guessing. After a while he'll make up things in his mind far worse than anything you could do to him."

"And rewards."

"Don't be too generous with them. He is yours, to do with as you please."

"Owning a slave isn't easy, is it?"

"Not if you want a loyal one that would walk through fire for you. Believe me, an unhappy slave is a dangerous one."

Trowa thought about what Heero said for a moment, then nodded. Reaching over he pulled on the rope that would ring the bell in the sleeping quarters. "Hadn't you best go make sure Duo cleaned your room properly?" He stressed the word cleaned a little.

Heero smiled. "I'm sure I should. He still can't seem to make the bed right." Rising to his feet, he headed to the door. "Enjoy."

Trowa laughed softly after Heero had left. "I should be saying that to you."

After a moment a door that was partially hidden by a wall hanging opened and Quatre walked tentatively into the room. "You sent for me?"

Trowa looked calmly at him, waiting.

Quatre blinked. "Master?"

"Come over here."

Quatre walked slowly over to where Trowa sat, giving Trowa plenty of time to admire his purchase. He still wasn't sure what had possessed him to buy the blonde but he was please that he had. He was sure he could have a loyal manservant when he was done with him. Though not in the manner that Duo served Heero.

Finally, Quatre stood before him. Trowa looked him over calmly for a minute, causing the boy to fidget nervously. "You were disobedient tonight," Trowa finally said.

Quatre blinked in surprise. "Master?" he choked out. He hated having to address this man in such a manner. Why had this happened to him?

"I gave you an order. You are to obey any order I give immediately, without question. But I found myself having to repeat the order three times before you obeyed. Didn't Duo explain things to you?"

"Yes, Master."

"And yet you ignored what he told you. Why was that?"

Quatre swallowed. "It isn't right to bare yourself before strangers!" he blurted out.

Trowa looked at the blonde and hardened his heart. "It doesn't matter what you think or feel. You will do what I tell you to. You're only duty from this moment on is to serve me and my wishes. Is that understood?"

Quatre looked downward. "But…."

"Is that understood?" Trowa's voice was cold and hard.

"Yes, Master," Quatre whispered.

Trowa nodded. "Good. We'll start your training now. Bring me that stool." He indicated the low stool that was on the other side of the room.

Quatre began to turn when Trowa's voice stopped him. "Before you do, strip. Until I say so you are not to be clothed in my presence. That is the first part of your punishment for disobeying me today."

Quatre immediately began to remove his clothing. He didn't want to find out what would happen if he were slow about doing so.

When he was completely nude he walked over to fetch the stool Trowa had indicated.  Trying to hide the blush he could feel rising in his cheeks, he brought it to Trowa.

"Place it here." Trowa commanded, indicating the spot before him.

Quatre place the stool where he was told.

"Much better. I think you are beginning to learn. However, there is the matter of your slow response earlier." Trowa paused as if in thought. "Lay across the stool, face down."

Quatre did as he was told, trembling in fear at what Trowa might have planned for him. Although he'd never lain with another person, he did know the basics. Angil had warned him that there were men who would try and take advantage of him. He hadn't quite believe it was possible for two men to do such a thing, until Angil had described, in very vivid detail, just how such a thing was possible.

Trowa admired the view before him for a moment, then picked up the board that Heero had left him. Without any warning he brought it down on Quatre's bared buttocks.

Quatre jumped when the board connected, as much because of the resounding crack as the pain. The first hit was rapidly followed by a series of stinging hits, no two falling in exactly the same place. Tears ran down his cheeks as he sobbed in pain and humiliation.

Finally, after about thirty or so hits, Trowa stopped. He looked at the now red bottom before him for a moment before he spoke. "Stand up."

Quatre rose slowly to his feet. His butt felt as if it was on fire. He couldn't believe that this man had just spanked him.

Trowa watched the play of emotions on Quatre's face. "Now return to your room. You are to sit on the edge of your bed until I ring the bell. When it rings you may go to bed, but not before then. While you are sitting there I want you to think about what I said."

"Yes, Master," Quatre choked out. He carefully made his way to the door.

"Slave." Trowa spoke up.

Quatre paused. "Master?"

"And I mean sit on the bed."

"Yes, Master." Moving slowly, he walked out of the room.

Trowa waited until he was gone before sighing and leaning back. He hoped he never had to do that again.