Royal Affairs Part 6
Duo ran to the oak trees and climb up the biggest one he could find. Relena was sure to tell someone. With his luck it would be Une. He didn't know why Une hated him, but she did anyways. The worst thing was at first the woman liked him. And then one day she changed. Now if he did something wrong she usually had him for that. Not enough for the King to notice but enough for Duo to understand his place. If it wasn't a beating she would tell him his place.
Finding a nice limb he stretched out. When did it all go bad? When did the people of the castle spot liking him? Trowa still liked him. But Trowa was different; they had been childhood friends who played all day together. Catherine still liked him. She saw him almost like a family pet. Though Duo didn't think that was intentional. Relena liked him, sort of. Well okay she tolerated him. And he didn't know where he stood with Zechs. And then there was Quatre who just didn't seem to know better. And finally Heero. The prince was totally different from anyone else Duo had met.
Duo closed his eyes. Instead of blackness he saw Heero. Duo groaned, what was happening to him? Why was Heero always on his mind? It's not like Duo thought he had a chance with Heero. After all a prince does not marry or fall in love with an animal.
"DUO!" Heero voice called out. Duo opened his eyes and looked down. Heero was right below him. "Duo where are you?" Now why was the prince looking for him? Duo found this odd. The only person to ever come looking for him was Trowa. "No one will hurt you Duo." Heero sighed and leaned up against the tree.
"Heero?" Duo looked to the voice. It was one of the people the prince came with.
"Yes Wufei?" Heero looked at his friend.
"Something the matter?" Wufei rose an eyebrow.
"Relena scared Duo away. He ran off in this direction. But I don't know where he is."
"That onna is annoying. Even Meiran can't stand her." Wufei crossed his arms.
"Meiran can't stand a lot of people." Heero said dryly.
"Still, I think even Sally is annoyed with her. Are you sure you want a treaty with these people?"
"My family and people have entrusted me with forming a treaty. I must do so." Heero sighed and tilted his head back. His eyes widened slightly. Above him, lying on a limb was Duo. Duo's tail swayed back and forth. Heero looked back at Wufei. "What do you think I should do?"
Wufei's eyes widened a bit. Then he noticed that Heero was pointing up. He looked to where Heero was pointing. He then looked back at Heero. "About what? The treaty or Duo?"
Duo's eyes widened and his eyebrows shot up. He perked his ears forward to hear the conversation better. Why were they talking about him? What could the prince possible want with him? He was an animal and nothing else.
"Both." Heero said.
"These people have a problem with Duo. I have a problem with how they treat him. I don't understand. That Lady Une is going to have him punished. He walked around the corner and walked by us. Apparently he's not to be seen by others. What kind of people are they?"
Heero's eyes narrowed at the news of Duo being punished. "I don't think the King knows about that."
"Excuse me?"
"Duo being punished. I get the feeling that the King has no idea that it happens."
"So his subjects are keeping it from him. Now why would they do that?"
"His Majesty treats Duo like the person that he is."
"And the others don't see him the same way. Maybe we should take Duo home." Wufei smirked, as did Heero. "There he would be treated well and like everyone else."
Duo almost fell out of the tree. Why would the prince want to take him home? It made no sense to Duo. Of course he didn't know why Trowa kept him around. However the idea of being treated like others was totally foreign to him. But he had thought about it, many times in fact.
"What do you think, Duo, does that sound good to you?"
Duo looked down in surprise. Heero was looking up at him with a smirk on his face. "How did? Not possible." Duo's eyes narrowed.
"We won't tell anyone." Wufei said.
Duo jumped to the ground. There was no point in pretending he wasn't there. He looked at Wufei and then turned to Heero. "I... I don't understand you. You should leave me alone and forget about me." Duo turned and walked away.
Heero's smirk left his face. Duo had rejected him. Well maybe not totally. Heero figured Duo just wasn't used to the attention. After all, Heero doubted anyone had ever sought for Duo's affections. What Heero didn't know was how he was going to gain Duo's affections. Especially with Relena following him. And quite frankly Relena was getting on his nerves. He didn't even like girls.
"Perhaps he's right Heero." Wufei shocked Heero from his thinking. "The boy doesn't seem thrilled with the attention you've been giving him."
"I was so close before Relena disrupted us. All I had to do was lean in a few inches and I could have kissed him."
Wufei placed his hand on Heero's shoulder. "By the way you talk, I think you may have fallen for him. Heero be careful, you don't even know him. He's just a pretty face."
Heero shock his head. "Iie, it is different. I've seen pretty faces Wufei. I've been with pretty faces. He's different."
~*~
Trowa, Quatre and Catherine stood at the entrance of the garden. Trowa and Quatre had been about to go for a walk when Catherine joined them for a moment. She had a few questions regarding the ball. Mostly about what Quatre would be wearing and weather or not Duo would be coming as well.
Duo didn't go to the balls very often. He was usually too skittish and would sit by the throne huddled into a ball. He wouldn't look at anyone. Nor would he talk to anyone, not even Trowa. It was something that greatly upset Trowa. He always wanted Duo to be happy. It was something that Duo was getting less of.
"Your Majesty!" The three turned to see Relena running towards them. "Your Majesty!" Relena stopped and curtsies.
"What is Relena?" Trowa asked. Something had to be wrong if Relena was running. She never ran; it was unladylike.
"Your pet, Your Majesty."
Trowa's eyes widened. "Duo? What's happened to him?" Panic seemed to etch into Trowa.
"He tried to bite Prince Heero."
Trowa blinked. "What?" He had never known Duo to bite anyone. Well maybe when they were younger and Duo didn't know how to defend himself. But now? Duo would rather punch than bite. "You have to be mistaken Relena."
"No, Your majesty, I saw it. His highness and Duo were sitting on a bench. Duo was leaning real close to his highness. He looked like he was going to bite him."
"He was not." Heero said flatly from behind Relena. "Duo and I were simply talking." Heero stood in front of Trowa. "I am terrible sorry for causing any trouble or grief to Duo."
Trowa raised an eyebrow. For the first time someone was sorry for what had happened to Duo. Not his pet. Not the animal. But never Duo. "I'll relay the message to him. Do you know where he went?"
"He ran off into some trees."
"Oh Heero." Relena grabbed a hold of Heero's arm. "Are you all right? He didn't hurt you did he?"
"Relena, he just said that Duo didn't do anything." Catherine huffed. Ever since the prince arrived Relena had been acting stupid. She was throwing herself at the prince and even Catherine could see he had no interest in her.
"I know what I saw. Duo was going to bite him."
"Iie, he was not." Heero glared at Relena. How was he going to get it through her thick head that he didn't like her?
"I'll go find Duo." Trowa said; he was officially disappointed in Relena. She was acting like a child. "Quatre would you care to join me?" There was no sense of ruining the whole day.
"I'd be happy to. Do you think Duo's okay?" Quatre may not have known Duo long but Duo was his friend and he worried about his friends.
"I'll go get Lady Une." Relena said.
Wufei all but growled. He had a feeling what this would been for the braided cat-boy. Heero glared, after what Wufei had told him, he knew that Duo would probably be punished. And it was his fault. If he hadn't talk to Duo none of this would be happening.
"And why would you be going for Lady Une, Relena?" Trowa had stopped and looked at Relena. His emotionless eyes bore into her.
She stopped to look back at Trowa. "So he can punished for his mistakes."
She said it so simply. So matter of fact like. It was like it was no big deal. An everyday occurrence that everyone knew about. Everyone but Trowa. Trowa, who was king, knew nothing about his best friend being punished. He calmly walked up to Relena, who had the good graces to cringe a bit.
Trowa looked down at her. His eyes narrowed. "What do you mean 'so he can punished for his mistakes'?" His voice had a sense of power in it. Power that you didn't mess with.
"Um... you know cousin."
"No I do not. Explain."
"When Duo steps out of line, Lady Une insures that he is punished. To make sure he remembers his place."
"And what place is that, Relena?"
"As you pet."
Trowa's hands were balled up into fists. How could this have happened without his knowing? Surely his friend would have told him. But no, Duo hadn't. But why? "You go find Lady Une, Relena. Tell her to wait in the throne room for me. You may wait as well." Trowa turned on his heel. He looked at Heero and Wufei and then continued walking into the garden.
Quatre walked quickly behind him. Trowa's long legs made it hard for him to keep up. They hadn't said a word since entering the garden. Trowa was upset and Quatre knew it. He was upset himself. Duo didn't deserve the treatment he got. However now it made sense why Relena petted him. Why Lady Une had no problem giving him Duo's bed. Why he was skittish around others in the castle.
"Trowa wait up!" Quatre ran to catch up with Trowa.
Trowa stopped and looked behind him. Quatre was running towards him. "I'm sorry Quatre. I didn't mean to leave you behind."
"I know." Quatre smiled.
If had been any other time Quatre's smile would have melted Trowa's heart. But it wasn't. "How could this have happened Quatre?" Trowa looked to the ground a shock his head. "When my parents were alive this never happened. Duo ate with us at the table. He slept in my room where we'd stay awake and talk. We were inseparable. Now he's being..."
Quatre put a hand on Trowa's arm. He was sure he was feeling a lot like Trowa. But even he knew it wasn't quite the same. Trowa and Duo had been friends for a long time. Duo and him only a few weeks at best.
"I don't know what to tell you." Quatre whispered.
"He should've told me."
"Maybe he didn't want you to worry. Or maybe you should ask him."
"Yeah. Come on the orchard is this way. He likes to hide in there because no one ever thinks to look up."
~*~
Meiran and Sally came out to the garden to see Heero and Wufei talking with Catherine. They liked Catherine; she wasn't like some of the other royalty they had met. She was stubborn and had no problem getting into someone's face. The image of Catherine arguing with a courtier one day always came to mind. They hadn't had a lot of time with her. As Relena was usually the one to show them around.
"Something happen?" Meiran asked as she took her place next to Wufei.
"Yes and no." Catherine said. "It's not my place to say."
"The King just went looking for his friend. It seems today he was given information that he didn't like." Wufei said.
Meiran glared at him. "Why do you have to talk in riddles? I hate riddles."
"Your Highness, are you all right?" Sally asked. She was noting the pale look to Heero. And his eyes seemed dull.
"I'm fine." Heero walked away from them.
"I don't think he's fine." Meiran whispered taking a hold of Wufei's arm.
"No I don't think he is either." Wufei agreed and took a hold of her hand.
~*~
Heero sat on the windowsill of his room. It over looked the gardens. He sat hoping to catch a glimpse of Duo. He was thinking about what Wufei had said. That Duo was just another pretty face. But that was wrong. Heero had sought pretty faces before. They warmed his bed, but not his heart or soul. Duo, Duo did something else to Heero. Something wonderful that, something that was missing at the moment and made him want to scream.
How did Duo get to be so important? Heero never really thought about it. He saw him in the garden and was bewitched. Duo was all he could think of. Duo still was all he could think of. Maybe it was Duo's innocence. Or perhaps it was his... Heero shook his head. He was thinking too hard on this.
Perhaps why he was attracted to Duo so much was because Duo was unique. Heero had always had a thing for unique things. That's probably why he got along with Wufei so well. He was unique as well. Or he had been before Heero had met anyone else from Wufei's clan. But still Heero found Duo to be more. What that more was he didn't know.
He spotted the King and the blond walk out of the garden with Duo. The blond walked slightly behind King Trowa and Duo. Looking at Duo tore at Heero. Duo's head was bowed and his shoulders were slumped. He looked pitiful. Trowa walked beside him. His shoulders a little slumped. As king he couldn't show how he truly felt. But from the reaction Heero had seen earlier he figured the king was upset.
~*~
"Duo, please tell what's been happening." Trowa pleaded. They found Duo on the ground curled up under a tree. Trowa was surprised and sadden by it. Duo always climbs the trees. So far Duo hadn't said a word since they found him.
"Nothing." Duo whispered.
"Nothing? Please Duo don't lie to me. What happened today? Prince Heero said he was sorry for having upset you." The mention of Heero's name made Duo flinch a little. Trowa stopped and put his hand on Duo's shoulder. "He didn't hurt you did he?" Trowa didn't think the prince would do something like that. But better to ask than assume.
"No!" Duo shook his head. "He just... it's nothing Trowa."
"Nothing huh, I don't believe that Duo, but I'll let it drop for now. Now you want to tell me about your punishments and why you never told me?"
Duo went ridged; he never wanted Trowa to know about that. It was humiliating at first and now it seemed to be an everyday thing. "It's nothing for you to worry about Trowa." Duo whispered. Une was going to kill him now. She hated him and if Trowa knew about it he was going to be blamed and have to suffer the punishment.
Trowa stood shocked. Duo didn't think his punishment was his business. "Of course I should worry. You should not be punished."
"I step out of line..."
"How!" Trowa cut Duo off. "By acting like a person. Like the wonderful person I know you to be? I don't agree. You are not an animal or my pet; you are my friend. A friend I've seem to have failed." The last part was whispered.
"No Trowa, you haven't failed me."
"Yes I have, and now I'm going to fix it."
"How? Trowa please don't worry yourself about it."
"Lady Une is in the throne room waiting for me. I'll have to think of a reasonable punishment for her actions."
"Wha....what do you mean?"
"I mean her actions were inappropriate and I won't have it in my court." Trowa dropped his hand and turned to Quatre. "Will you accompany him back to the room?"
"Yes of course." Quatre stood next to Duo. Trowa nodded and walked away.
"How can he do this?" Duo whispered.
"Do what? Fix a mistake?" Quatre and Duo headed back to the room.
"He wants to take me home with him." Duo mumbled as they walked into the room.
Quatre cock his head and narrowed his eyes. "Who?"
"The prince. His friend said I'd be treated like everyone else." Duo curled up on the bed. "I wonder what that's like."
"Maybe you should tell Trowa." Quatre sat down.
"I won't go. Animals should remain with their masters."
Quatre flinched. "You're not an animal."
"Ha."
"All right I'll prove it. Go to the ball tonight and if Heero asks you to dance then you're not an animal."
"Quatre, how does that prove anything?"
"If you were an animal then a prince would never ask you to dance with him."
"Quatre, I'm a boy. Why would a boy want to dance with another boy?"
"I want to." Quatre blushed, Duo raised an eyebrow. "Just... you know I'd like to. I... I can't explain it. I just think it'd be nice."
"And whom would you dance with?"
"I don't know, maybe Trowa."
Duo snorted. "Trowa doesn't like balls. He hates dancing even more."
"Yeah I heard that rumor. But I still want to dance with him. So take me up on my deal?"
"Yeah sure Quatre, but you're going to lose. The Prince will be busy with Relena. She's obsessed with him. I kind of feel sorry for him." Duo's eyes closed.
Quatre sat looking at Duo as he slept. He felt bad for his new friend. However Quatre had a plan. He'd go see the prince and ask him for help. Quatre wasn't stupid he saw the prince's reaction to everything. He liked Duo and Quatre was going to see to it that Duo was happy. Even if Duo's happiness meant sadness for Trowa. As much as he liked the king, Duo didn't deserve how he was treated.
TBC...
Feedback is much wanted. I crave for it.
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