We didn't have to wait long to put our plan into motion. Duo, for some reason, particularly disliked working in the barn, but he didn't have a logical reason to be excused from the chore, so he wasn't. It wasn't more than four days later that Duo and Master got into another of their screaming fights, and I decided that it was time to implement my plan.

"And what are you going to do about it, huh?" Duo screamed down the hall.

"I'm going to kick your butt the entire way around the house if you keep shirking your chores! And watch your language!" Master screamed back, advancing on Duo, who backpedaled into the hall.

"Well screw you!"

"Watch your freaking language!"

"You're a good role model!"

"When you're my age you can swear as much as you like, while you live here you'll watch your mouth!" Master hissed.

"Sorry, but I don't think I'll ever be that old!"

"This is your last damn chance! Now I'm telling you, go pull down the boards on the left wall of barn or I'm going to punish you severely!"

"Ooh! What are you going to do? Are you going to ground me from the TV again? Oh no! I'll die! Anything but that!" Duo mocked with a sneer. Master was pissed, glaring fiercely, and he advanced on Duo until the both of them were down the hall and at the back door. He closed the space between them until they were nose to nose.

"If you were strong enough to take it, I'd whip you until you screamed," he growled. It was the first time in that conversation that I actually saw Duo look frightened, but, as usual, it was quickly replaced with anger. Duo covered his fright with anger, putting a dark glare on his face.

"Screw you," he growled, then fled out the back door. Master gave a strangled growl and made to follow, but I grabbed his arm.

"Master, I think it's time."

"Ah..." he started, surprised. "I... Are you sure?" he asked. I nodded.

"We can't continue like this. This behavior wouldn't be acceptable even if Duo weren't a slave," I told him. "You can't allow this level of disrespect to happen. If Duo's behavior got out to the other masters... you'd lose all standing in the Collar circles," I stated. Master looked pensive, deep lines of stress showing in his face. He brought his hands up to rub his eyes, as though he had a headache, then finally sighed and dropped his hand.

"Alright. Let's go."

Duo was in the yard, his back to the barn and facing the house. I... I could barely stand to look at him. He was tense, nearly shaking with anger and fear, and yet he still managed to stand his ground. It gave me a new respect for him, and I couldn't stand to look at his, knowing the pain we were about to cause him. I wasn't worried about my own pain. I trusted Master, and his reluctance only reassured me. I didn't relish facing the whip again, but I had already faced it in the gauntlet, and this couldn't possibly be any worse than that.

Instead of staying to witness the ensuing fight, I hurried to the barn and retrieved Master's whip. By the time I came Back, Duo was backed up against the house, spitting and snarling like a wolverine. Master was in front of him looking composed by comparison, fully recovered from his earlier outburst and back in control of himself. I was glad. I had been slightly worried that Master might be angry enough to lose control of the whip. I didn't want any more scars.

"...Then just fucking do it!" Duo yelled, looking toward me. "One of your pets brought you your weapon and I'm about as helpless as a person can get, so go ahead!"

"I've told you already, you're not strong enough for that. I can't beat you."

"So..." Duo hesitated, angry but confused. "So what's with the whip?"

"Heero... Heero has offered to take your place."

It was Duo's turn, this time, to freeze in shock. It seemed a trend lately, I mused as I watched the two square off. Master was composing himself, prepared to keep his temper at all costs. Duo, on the other hand, was working himself into a full frenzy.

"There is nothing you can do to change my mind," Master stated calmly.

"I don't want to change your mind, you asshole! I want to change your face!" Duo screamed.

"Regardless of you physical condition I will defend myself if you attempt tp attack. I will assure you, though, that any attempt at violence on your part would be futile. I will put you down."

"Duo," I interjected, "Please, stop."

I don't think I could have shocked Duo more if I had turned green and grown another head. He just stared at me like he couldn't believe the words that had come from my mouth.

"Heero..." he panted. "I... This is crazy! Don't you see? This-... This is just sick!" he reasoned, moving closer to me. "Look, the others are gone. If I," he said, dropping his voice and swinging his eyes toward Master, "...Then you could get away, alright?"

"And where would I go?" I snapped, enraged at his stupidity. "You think that would help me? You think running would make things better?"

"Look at him Heero! He knows how to use a god damned whip!" Duo screamed, beginning to get frantic. "He'll kill you! He'll kill you, you fucker, and just to make a point to me!" he screamed, going from panicked to nearly insane.

"He won't," I replied calmly, trying not to let him upset me. "He won't, and you and I both know it. Please, don't make this any worse for me," I said. My words had a sobering effect on Duo, his eyes cleared and he moaned, then fell to his knees.

"Please," he begged in a whisper, then, gaining no response from me, turned to Master. "Please!"

"Duo... there must be consequences for your actions." Master said.

"These aren't consequences to me, damn you!"

"Aren't they?" Master questioned, and all Duo could do was huff.

"Look," Duo tried again. "Look, I've learned my lesson," he said, moving closer to Master. "I'll... I'll behave, I promise. I'll do anything you want," he said, barely an inch away from Master, peering up at him with tear-rimmed eyes.

I saw Master beginning to waver, but I knew better. Duo had made similar promises when Master had punished him before. It was never exactly a lie, but Duo had a way with twisting words. Master had on several occasions asked him to clean the barn only to find that he had "wanted" Duo to watch TV. And always with a perfectly rational explanation from Duo.

I knew Master was ready to call this off, and I knew that if he did Duo would think he was only bluffing. Master was reluctant, but with Duo testing his limits like this there was no room to back down. So I pulled my shirt off and placed my hands against the wall.

"Enough of this. It's time," I told them. For a moment I wasn't sure which I was punishing, both Duo and Master looked stricken. Tears spilled from Duo's eyes and Master looked slightly ill, but Master recovered more quickly. He shook himself, still looking sick, and approached me.

"Stand back, Duo," Master ordered.

"No!" Duo screamed, jumping up from the ground and throwing himself behind me. His chest was a mere inch from my back, successfully preventing Master from hitting me. "It's not his fault!"

"Duo, stop it!" I hissed, trying to push him away.

"I won't! I won't lose you!"

"Duo, enough!" I snapped, pushing Duo to the ground. "Master won't injure me. You know that. Now behave yourself."

Duo stared at me from the ground, looking like he was torn between crying his eyes out and yelling at me. Master took the choice away from him, striking me with the whip. I gave an annoyed grunt. He could have warned me.

Master gave me six hits, all barely hard enough to bruise. It was much lighter than Duo should have received, but I wasn't sure it was lighter than what he would have received. Master didn't like using the whip on his slaves at all, so it was likely that he would have administered the same, lighter hits to Duo, at least the first time. By the time it was finished, I was panting, but Duo was sobbing brokenly.

"It's over," Master said softly after the last hit. He sounded tense and upset. "Duo, I want you to go to your room."

"But..." Duo protested, pausing in his crying, though his face was still soaked from previous tears.

"Go to your room, damn you!"

Duo gave a panicked sob and jumped to his feet, running for the house. Master sighed and I heard him wrap up the whip before he approached me. I did not turn and he did not speak. Instead, he came up slowly and placed his fingertips on the first of my new bruises, tracing it to the bottom before moving to the others. When he had traced them all, he stopped and rested his cheek against my hair.

"We're not doing that again," Master whispered hoarsely. I nodded. It.. It was too much. I hadn't thought that it would affect Duo or Master this strongly. I didn't want to hurt either of them.

"I think he'll behave now," I assured.

"I don't give a damn if he behaves or not," Master snapped, "You're not going through this again. I'll sell his ass first."

"You don't mean that," I said, more of a question than a statement. I didn't want to believe that Master would sell us. To my relief, Master sighed and shook his head.

"No, I wouldn't, but I will send him away. There are others who can keep him in line while I train the rest of you."

"Yes, Master," I replied, reassured. Master chuckled.

"Great. I didn't want you more obedient. You're too obedient as it is."

"Ah... I'm sorry?" I wondered teasingly. Master only laughed and pulled me away from the wall, picking up my shirt as he lead me toward the house.

"Come on," Master laughed, "Let's put something on those bruises, hmm?"

"I would like that very much."