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 Twenty-One

By SilverLady

Trowa sat looking out the window at the city. He knew that Heero and Wufei would be showing up soon to discuss what had happened today and what to do about it.

Trowa was torn. He didn't want to believe that Quatre would deliberately try and hurt any of them. And yet…. things were definitely getting odd. Why had Quatre stepped away at just that moment? After he'd told the boy to stay with him.

And then there was Heero's slightly strange behavior after the incident. He'd insisted that he was fine, but that they bring Duo back to the inn, stating that he felt Duo had been more shaken up by the incident than he was. Then Heero had disappeared down the street, acting as if nothing had happened.

Trowa sighed and leaned his head back.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Before Trowa could respond, the door swung open and Wufei stepped into the room. He was followed by Heero and Duo. "Sorry for just barging in, but we need to talk," Wufei stated as he walked across the room and sat down in the chair next to the desk.

Heero nodded his agreement as he guided Duo to sit on the edge of the bed.

Trowa sighed again. "I figured you'd show up sooner or later. I really don't know what you expect me to do. There's been no real proof that he's behind any of this."

"What is it going to take then?" Wufei demanded angrily. "One of us getting killed. It's not just Duo he's after."

Duo looked bewildered. He wasn't sure why Heero had insisted he join them in Trowa's room. He'd promised Quatre to teach him a game of cards Quatre had seen some men playing earlier in the day. "Who's after? What in the world are you talking about?"

"Quatre."

Duo blinked. Then he began to shake his head as understanding came. "You think… You're crazy. Quatre would never hurt me or Heero."

"He found the burr under your saddle blanket."

"After he saved my ass. It was his riding that stopped the horse."

"Made it look good. He wasn't with us when that stall fell over."

"He said he was buying potatoes."

"He didn't have any when he came up."

"He probably didn't have time to buy them. He came to see what had happened."

"He didn't go back."

"You wouldn't let him. Besides, why would he want to kill any of us? And if he did, why not Trowa? He's the one that owns him, not me and not Heero."

"Hurt Trowa by hurting his friends."

Duo turned to Heero, his eyes pleading with him to disagree with Wufei. Heero looked calmly back at him.

Duo shook his head again. "You're being ridiculous."

"No matter what," Trowa spoke up, "it's obvious that a decision has to be made. I didn't decide to take this trip or invite you along, to have you attacked and almost killed. I won't risk any of you like that."

"So what are you going to do?" Wufei asked.

"You are, of course, free to leave if you wish."

"And leave you without protection," Wufei snorted. "Not bloody likely."

"I was thinking of hiring a guide. The next portion of the trip is through the Carpathian Mountains. It would be a good idea to have a competent guide along."

"And what good will that do?"

"I doubt if anyone will want to try anything with an outside witness present."

Wufei opened and closed his mouth for a minute. Then he exhaled sharply and crossed his arms across his chest.

Duo was looking from one to the other. "What about Michal?"

Trowa looked at him. "What about my cousin?"

"Maybe he's the one behind the accidents. Maybe he's the one that's been trying to kill us."

Trowa shook his head. "Don't be ridiculous. My cousin would never try anything like that. What reason would he have? And what would he gain by it?"

Duo blinked. "What reason? How about hating your guts."

"That's inane. Michal and I get along just fine."

Duo couldn't believe it. They were willing to believe a quiet, frightened, hurt slave boy was capable of killing one of them and not that lunatic cousin of Trowa's. What, is Quatre going to have to be hurt for them to realize it ain't him?

"Any way, I talked to the inn keeper and he says the best way to get a guide is go down to the Guild House. They should be able to help us hire a competent guide."

"I still don't see how continuing this trip is going to help things out," Wufei grumbled.

"This trip was taken under the pretense of health reasons. It would look odd if we return after only a couple of weeks. And as I already told you, until I have positive proof otherwise, I will continue to believe that Quatre is innocent."

Heero watched his friend closely. He knew the underlying reason for Trowa's reluctance to believe Quatre was capable of hurting anyone of them. He hoped his trust was not misplaced. He would keep a close eye just to be sure. He wasn't letting anything else happen to Duo.

The others had all kept saying how he could have been killed this afternoon, but Heero saw it differently. If Duo had been walking his normal two paces behind him, it would have been Duo that would have been hit by that falling stand. It would have been Duo that could have been killed. He wouldn't rest until he found out who was trying to kill his lover, be it Quatre, Michal, or someone else.

At that moment Duo placed his hand over his mouth, trying to fight back a yawn. "Excuse me," Duo said softly, his voice sounding tired.

Heero was instantly on his feet, noting the weary look on Duo's face and the dark smudges under his eyes. "Time for bed," he stated calmly.

Duo arched an eyebrow at him, but rose to his feet.

Heero looked at Trowa. "Let me know when you plan on going in the morning. I want to go with you."

Trowa nodded. "Fine."

Wufei smirked a little as Heero reached out, snagged Duo's braid and led the tired boy from the room. "One of these days, he's going to yank too hard on that braid and snatch Duo bald."

Trowa looked at Wufei. "And you hope to be there if it happens."

"Of course." Wufei rose to his feet and bowed to Trowa. "I hope you know what you are doing. Know that I will back you up in any way necessary." With another bow, Wufei left the room.

Trowa ran his hand through his hair. "I hope we're going in the right direction."

*****

After firmly shutting the door behind him, Heero led Duo over to the bed. With a small push, he made the longhaired boy sit down on the bed.

"What are you doing?" Duo mumbled as Heero sank to his knees in front of him.

Heero smirked up at him. "Just relax. I'm going to take care of you for a change." He began to remove the boots Duo was wearing, carefully setting them beside the bed.

Duo watched Heero through half lidded eyes, fighting to stay awake. He felt as if someone had suddenly drained all the energy from him. "That's nice."

Heero smiled as he stood up and began unbuttoning Duo's shirt.

"Uh, Heero. I don't think I'm…."

Heero placed a finger on Duo's mouth. "I'm not looking for that tonight. Let me take care of you." Carefully he slide the shirt from Duo's body and turned his attention to removing the tight pants encasing Duo's legs.

When he was finished he gently pushed Duo back, reaching to draw the covers over him.

Duo sighed as he leaned back against the thick pillows. It was nice to be pampered now and then.

"Before you go to sleep I want you to see something," Heero whispered softly.

Duo looked at him sleepily. "What?"

Heero pulled a small package from beneath the pillows. "A gift,"

Duo took the carefully wrapped gift from Heero. Turning it over in his hand he could only stare at it.

Heero noted the odd sheen that had appeared in Duo's eyes and was suddenly nervous. Had he done the right thing? "Duo?"

Duo looked up at Heero, fighting back the tears that threatened. It was a loosing battle.

Heero reached out and gently wiped away a tear. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you cry again."

Duo smiled a little through his tears. "No one's ever given me a present before."

Heero cupped Duo's cheek with his hand. "Then I'll have to remember to buy you gifts more often. You deserve them."

Duo blinked. How did I manage to get so lucky?

Heero gave him a small rare smile. "Open it."

Looking down, Duo carefully opened the paper. Something made him want to savor the moment for as long as possible.

He suddenly gasped as the paper fell away and the gift was revealed. "Heero!"

"It's the right one, isn't it? It's the one the man said you were looking at."

Duo could only stare in stunned disbelief at the knife he held in his hands. He had never expected Heero to go and get it.

Heero touched Duo's shoulder. "Duo? It's all right, isn't it?"

The uncertainty in Heero's voice penetrated Duo's stunned mind and he looked at him, a smile blossoming on his face. "Oh, Heero. It's perfect."

Heero sighed in relief. He hadn't been sure about the gift at all, though the knife did seem to be the kind he thought Duo might like. "I want you to keep it with you. I want to know you have a way to defend yourself, should anyone try and hurt you." He reached out and ran his finger down the symbols etched in the blade. "I didn't ask what this means."

"I did," Duo whispered. "Shinigami."

Heero smiled. "Perfect. I know it will keep you safe."

Duo sighed as he carefully set the blade on the nightstand. Then he leaned back into Heero's arms. "Not as safe as you do."

Heero laughed softly as he placed a kiss on the top of Duo's head. "Go to sleep, my wild child. I'll watch over you."

Duo sighed again, but closed his eyes and burrowed his head under Heero's chin. With in moments he was asleep.

Heero shifted carefully, getting more comfortable before closing his eyes. "I won't let anyone take you from me," he promised quietly, before sleep overtook him as well.