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 Ten

By SilverLady

The sight that met Quatre's eyes when he walked into the small bedroom was one that was becoming very familiar. Duo had his head stuck down in the chest at the end of his bed, his butt stuck up in the air.

Normally, this would no longer give Quatre pause, but this time there was something different about Duo's pose. This time he was bare butt naked.

Quatre blinked. He blinked again. He'd been trying really hard to forget the scene he'd walked in on two days before. It was hard for him to understand why Duo would willingly (and it had been pretty obvious he'd been very willing) submit himself to such an awful act. It went against everything he'd been taught.

But you have to admit, it did look rather like they were enjoying themselves, a tiny voice whispered in the back of his mind. Wouldn't you like to find out what all the fuss is about?

Quatre shook his head, firmly silencing the voice. He was not that kind of a person.

Suddenly Duo looked up. "About time you got back. If you don't move it, you're going to be late."

Quatre was puzzled. "For what?"

"Ah ha! I knew you were hiding down there somewhere." Duo pulled out a rather ornate looking chain and rose to his feet. Tossing the chain on the bed with the clothing that was spread across it, he looked at Quatre. "In the bottom of your chest you should find a box. You need to put on the clothes that are in it." Duo glanced at the clothing on his bed and made a face. "I hate formals."

Quatre walked over to his chest and opened it. He easily found the box Duo had mentioned and pulled it out. Inside was the nicest set of clothes he'd seen since arriving here. Carefully he pulled them out. "Formals?"

"You didn't hear?"

"About what?"

"We're to attend Heero and Trowa at a party tonight. Crown Prince Michal is throwing it and that means formals."

Quatre frowned as he studied the clothes he would have to wear. Why did these people insist on wearing such tight things with so much junk on them.? If this was what the slaves would be wearing, what in the world did the nobles wear?

"You'd best get moving. Trowa will want you to help him with his clothes."

Quatre nodded and began dressing. "Why are they going to this party?" He'd not known either one to attend any party.

Duo huffed as he finished getting his shirt on. "You really are out of the loop, aren't you? Michal heard that Trowa was going away for awhile and decided it was a good excuse to throw a party."

"Going away?"

Duo paused and stared at Quatre. "Have you paid any attention to what Trowa's told you?"

Quatre ducked his head. "Not really." Everyone seemed to be talking down a long tunnel to him, any more. Especially Trowa.

"Trowa decided he wanted to get away from the city and take a vacation. From what I know it's the first time he's done so in years. Him and his father used to go away a couple of months every year." Duo picked up the chain and wrapped it around his waist. "I have a feeling his father was trying to get away from the memories of Trowa's mother. She got sick a few months after he was born and died right after his first birthday."

Quatre frowned, but didn't look at Duo. He didn't want to hear about Trowa's family. It made him more human and Quatre didn't want to start liking the man.

Duo continued talking, not noticing Quatre's lack of response. "The last time the went on a trip was literally the last time. There was an accident and Trowa's father was killed. It was in that accident that Trowa was so badly hurt. He's never gone again."

"But why would the Crown Prince want to throw him a party?"

Duo laughed. "You didn't know? They're first cousins. Trowa's father and Michal's father are siblings. Trowa's second in line to the throne."

Quatre was stunned. He'd never realized just how important a person Trowa was. Then why can't he circumvent the law and let me go.

Duo turned around and surveyed Quatre critically. "The chain goes around your waist and that one goes around your neck. They mean you are a slave."

Quatre picked up the two chains. After staring at them for a minute, he slowly put them on.

Duo rummaged around inside another box and pulled out two ornately carved bracelets. They were wide and made of silver, with several odd patterns carved on their surface. Attached to each one was a small half ring, also apparently made of silver. "Put out your hands and I'll put these on."

Quatre put his hands out in front of him, watching silently as Duo snapped the bracelets around his wrists.

"They indicate who owns you." Duo pulled out a second set. Though similar to Quatre's, the symbols carved into them were different. "Please put these on me."'

As Quatre put them on Duo, he realized that the rings in the bracelets were so that chains could be attached.

Duo nodded as he took a step back. "Good. You'd best go help Trowa now. There is such a thing as being fashionably late and then there's just plain late. We don't want to be the second, especially since Trowa's going to be the guest of honor."

"Are you going on this trip?" No matter what Duo did when he was with Heero, Quatre had to admit to himself that he liked the boisterous young man.

Duo smiled. "Sure am. Trowa don't go too many places without Heero."

Quatre couldn't stop himself from arching an eyebrow at that comment.

Duo laughed. "Not for that. Trowa and Heero have been best friends a long time. They help each other through the bad times. I'd say they are brothers in everything but blood." Duo sighed. "And there have been a lot of bad times. At times I would say that Heero had a worse childhood than I did." A sad look crossed his face, then was gone, replaced by his usual expression. "I'll see you later." Turning, he practically dashed out the door leading to Heero's quarters. 

Slowly, Quatre headed towards Trowa's rooms. He had a feeling this was not going to be a pleasant night.