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-Six

By SilverLady

"It didn't work."

"I know."

"I swear he has more lives than a cat."

"Agreed. More drastic measures are going to have to be taken."

"You mean?"

"Yes. See to it."

"Of course."

*****

Trowa sat quietly, watching the still figure in the bed. The doctor had been by earlier and had pronounced it safe to let Quatre sleep as long as he wanted. He had recommended that the boy be kept in bed for a few days, though.

Trowa sighed. The vision of Quatre, standing in the middle of those falling rocks, kept flashing through his mind. He knew that the sight would haunt his dreams for a long time to come.

"You know you're going to wind up with a sore ass if you continue to sit in that chair."

Trowa jerked around in surprise. He hadn't even heard the door open. "At least it's just my ass that's getting sore," he retorted.

Heero smirked as he stepped into the room. "Meaning?"

Trowa snorted. "Meaning Duo is not silent. I think everyone in the inn now knows just a good a ..... lover you are."

"Just taking advantage of the down time."

"Sounded like up to me." Trowa turned his attention back to the sleeping boy. "I'm surprised he let you out of the room."

Heero grabbed a chair and set it beside Trowa's. "Even Duo needs to take a break now and then."

"Wore him out?"

"He got hungry. For food."

"And you took advantage of that to escape."

"I have no intention of escaping Duo."

"I suppose he is very talented."

"Jealous?"

"Envious. I'm glad you found somebody you can care about. He's good for you. And I don't mean just the sex, either."

Heero smiled slightly. "Thank you."

"And you're good for him as well. I would hate to think of what he would have become without you in his life."

"He would be dead," Heero stated flatly.

Trowa turned to look at him. "You say that like you're sure."

"I am. One way or the other he would be dead by now." Heero's eyes focused on something far away. "He still has nightmares sometimes about the things they did to him. And those are the times when...."

"When?"

"When I still see pieces of the scared, wild child I bought. It's hard to get close to him then. That's why it's special when he..."

"He wants to make love with you."

Heero shook his head. "When he initiates things. He's not the aggressor very often." Heero paused for a moment. "But it's more than that.  It's when he just simply lets me hold him. He couldn't stand that at first, even after we started having sex.  And I understand why he felt that way. He'd never been touched or held simply for the joy of being close. Everyone he'd ever known was trying to get something from him. Or take something."

"I'd say you two have a lot more things in common than most people would think."

"Probably." Heero glanced over at the bed. "What about him?"

"I don't know. He's like a kaleidoscope. Just when you see the picture it shifts again. Just when I think I've got it all figured out, something shakes it up again." Trowa sighed. "Now I'm not so sure he was behind the attacks. The only one there was any positive proof of him being involved was Wufei, but that could have very well been just a simple accident that we blew way out of proportion because of all the other things that had been happening."

"So you're going to relax the restrictions?"

"I think so. And see what happens." Trowa sighed. "We took this trip to help him feel better about the situation he has been put in. But at the first sign of any thing amiss, I clamped down on him. I was so angry that someone was trying to hurt my friends I jumped way ahead of myself. I shouldn't have reversed things so much. Just keeping a better eye on him and placing a few restrictions on him would have been much better than practically putting him in chains. And I know I should have never forbidden him to even talk with Duo. I think there are the beginnings of a very strong friendship there and I hope I haven't ruined it. I was just so afraid something else would happen to Duo and I know how much you care for him and how devastated you would be if something were to happen and it would be my fault...."

Heero reached out and placed his hand on his friend's shoulder. "I'd say you have a bit of baggage you haven't dealt with either."

Trowa looked at him. "Is it that obvious?"

"Not to most. I just know you better."

"Am I doing the right thing?"

"That's for you to decide. I can't be making all your decisions for you."

Trowa sighed again. "Welcome to the real world."

"It sucks at time, don't it?"

"Yes."

"Besides, look at this way. You might have just found someone that will be good for Wufei."

Trowa smiled. "She sure does get to him, don't she?"

"And she don't take any of his shit. It might be just the things for him."

"He'd kill us if he heard us plotting his love life."

"I know." Heero smirked. "But it's fun."

"Just don't let Duo get involved. There's no telling what might happen then."

"True." Heero rose to his feet. "You need to decided what you're going to do."

"And stick with it."

"Yes."

"I can't let him go."

"No."

"And I won't sell him. I shudder to think of what he might wind up with. That's why I bought him in the first place."

"True."

"So I guess I'm just going to have to live with it. He was doing pretty good before I went ballistic."

"Yes."

Trowa frowned. "Or was he. We were expecting a lot from him."

"Sounds like you still haven't found the middle ground yet."

"No. I haven't. I guess I'll just keep looking." Trowa looked suddenly grim. "But if he pulls another stunt like this I'll beat him black and blue."

Heero snorted. "I'll see you later."

Trowa smiled. "Hoping he's recovered."

"Nah, I feel like a good cuddle. Bye."

Trowa shook his head as Heero left. That was certainly not something he'd ever expect to come out of his friend's mouth.

*****

It was late afternoon before Quatre finally woke up. He lay there for a minute, not wanting to open his eyes. His head hurt something awful and the pounding was making his stomach roll.

He vaguely remembered being awake a couple of time before. Most of the memories were of pain and feeling very sick. In fact he would guess, by the slightly acidic taste in his mouth, that he had been sick a couple of times.

"Quatre."

Quatre scrunched up his face at the sound of that voice. He had been hoping that Trowa would have turned him over to Sal or, even better, some stranger.

"Quatre, please open your eyes."

No. Go away.

"I have some soup. The doctor says you need to eat."

Quatre swallowed hard. The thought of anything in his stomach made him feel even sicker. "Not hungry," he croaked out. "Master," he added, belatedly remembering who he was addressing.

Trowa sighed. "You have to eat."

Quatre slowly opened his eyes. The light hurt, but not too bad. Turning his head slightly, he looked at Trowa. "Is that an order, Master?"

Trowa shifted slightly, careful not to disturb the bed. "No. But you'll only get sicker if you don't get something in you. Especially fluids." He studied the boy for a minute. "If I'm careful do you think you could sit up for a few minutes?"

"Why Master?"

"So that you can drink this soup without spilling it down the front of you."

Quatre closed his eyes again. "My head hurts Master."

"There's some medicine in the soup that will help it stop hurting so bad. The doctor said it would be easier for you to take it this way."

Trowa sat on the edge of the bed and carefully lifted Quatre into a sitting position. After placing several more pillows behind Quatre, Trowa gently eased him back.

Quatre moaned as his body protested the move, but he was able to keep his stomach from rebelling.

He was a little surprised when he felt Trowa slip on arm behind his neck to help support his head as he lifted the mug to Quatre's mouth. "Just a little sip."

After a moment's hesitation, Quatre reluctantly took a sip of the offered soup. Surprisingly, the warm liquid actually felt good as it slide down his throat and settled in his aching belly.

"More?" Trowa asked softly.

Quatre nodded. "Yes. Please."

Trowa smiled as he held the cup back to Quatre's lips. "Take your time. There's no need to rush it."

After what seem like a very long time, Quatre sighed and leaned back against the pillows.

"Enough?" Trowa asked.

Quatre nodded. So far his stomach didn't seem to mind the warm liquid and Quatre hoped it would stay that way.

Trowa carefully brushed the hair that had fallen into Quatre's eyes out of the way. The doctor had said to check Quatre's pupils now and then to make sure everything was okay. Leaning forward, Trowa brushed a finger across Quatre's closed eyes.

Quatre suddenly opened his eyes, startled to find Trowa leaning in awfully close. "Master?" he whispered, blushing as his attention focused on Trowa's mouth. It was awfully close, so much so they were practically touching. What would it feel like if he actually kissed me? He gasped softly, wondering where that thought had come from.

He saw Trowa's eyes grow soft and unfocused as he leaned in closer. Is he? His body began to tremble slightly. Trowa was so close that their breaths seemed to be mingling. To Quatre's shock, his groin tightened and began to ache.

Trowa suddenly jerked away. What the hell? Trowa could feel Quatre trembling in his arms. He was stunned to realize just how close he had come to kissing Quatre. Am I out of my mind? What just happened? He struggled to bring his body back under control. "I... I need to check your eyes."

Quatre blinked. He couldn't understand why being this close to Trowa made him feel this way. What's wrong with me? He's just checking to make sure I'm okay. I don't why though. It's not as if he really cares. But him being this close makes me feel all hot and funny. Is there something wrong with me?

"Quatre?"

"I'm sorry, Master." Quatre whispered. "I'm just suddenly very tired."

Trowa nodded. "Get some rest. You need it."

"Yes, Master." Quatre's eyes slide closed and soon he was asleep.

Trowa carefully pulled away and laid Quatre back down on the bed. His body was still tight and achy and his mind was in turmoil. He had been so close to actually kissing Quatre. And if he was honest, his body wanted to do a lot more than just kiss. He'd never felt like this about anyone. Why now? Why him? What's going on here? You know what would happen, he'd just let you do it because you are his master and must be obeyed. He's not that kind of person. He's so innocent. I won't destroy that too. Get a grip and don't let it happen again. Oh, god, what was I thinking.

Rising swiftly, he headed out into the other room. Maybe it would be best if I get someone else to take care of him from now on. Besides, even if the situation were better, he'd get one good look at you and run off screaming. Just like..... No, I won't think about that.

Trowa raked a hand through his hair. Things had just gotten even more complicated.