Chapter twelve. This is the last I have of pre-written story. That means the next update won't beimmediate. It will be a while. Review! Oh, I'm kind of worried that this chapter might be kind of cheesy...I hope not...review about it.

Disclaimer: I, Sutoomu(Storm), do NOT own Gundam Wing in any way. None at all. This fanfiction was made purely for fun and does not get me money in any way. Besides, it's not as though I have any money to be sued for...

Hiryonin Ichimei

Slave Life

Storm

Quatre had immediately told Trowa all about how Duo liked Heero the second he was in the room. Trowa had replied by telling how Heero liked Duo. Quatre had been beaming after that, overjoyed. Then again, Trowa was glad his little one was so happy. His little one? Where had that come from…

About twenty minutes later, when the lights had been blown out and they were in bed, Quatre had giggled, waking up the almost sleeping Trowa. Trowa had mumbled a half awake protest of 'go to sleep' but Quatre had ust stared up at the ceiling, smiling crazily, letting out so many happy sighs Trowa couldn't sleep longer than a half second. Then the sighs ahd changed from happy to sad, and Trowa finally turned to look at Quatre ito ask about them. He found Quatre staring at him as he turned, insecurity in his eyes.

"Trowa?" he had said as soon as Trowa settled in on his other side, facing him. "Am I a good slave?"

"…!" Trowa had opened his mouth in surprise at the question but nothing came out.

"It's just that, you give me food and clothes and shelter and everything, but I don't do anything for you. I know I…I can't do what a personal slave is supposed to," Quatre said in almost shame. "But I could at least help you or something. Somehow. I'm sure I'm not supposed to just sit and read all day, and go have fun riding."

Emotions almost unrecognized floated up in Trowa. He felt loyalty and compassion and happiness and love…what? "Quatre, you're a personal slave. Personal slaves don't have to work. They're supposed to be companions, that's all."

"But I can't be a companion, I told you," Quatre whined. "And I don't want to stay here, bored all day, while you do whatever it is you do."

Trowa chuckled. "You're very cute when you pout, little one," he said, only to have Quatre glare at him. His glare was twice as cute as his pout. "When I say companions, I don't mean just bed companions. I mean friends. Will you be my friend, little one?"

Quatre shifted for a moment on the bed, ending up a bit closer. He looked up into Trowa's green eyes. "Friends…Trowa, why do you call me little one?"

Trowa blinked. "Do you not want me to call you little one?"

"No, that's not what I meant," Quatre explained. "I love it when you call me that. I just want to know why."

He loved it when he called him little one. Trowa smiled inside, then thought about his end question. Why did he call Quatre little one? "I don't know," Trowa replied softly after a moment. "When I saw you for the first time, small and scared, I thought 'Here is my little one to protect.' I don't know why…"

"I'm your little one?" Quatre asked. "Only yours?"

"Yes. Only mine," Trowa said, wondering why he was talking like this.

"And you'll protect me?"

"Yes. I'll protect you, little one."

"And will you love me?" Quatre dumped the last question on Trowa and hoped he wouldn't sink.

That was why he was talking like this. Love. Wait, love? Trowa blinked. Would he love Quatre? The realization hit him square in the forehead, and, being the always logical one, he listened to what the inner Trowa told him. And now, inner Trowa told him something very simply. He loved Quatre. He had loved him ever since he had seen him. He corrected something he had missed earlier.'Here is my little one to protect and love…'

Trowa couldn't help smiling, not only on the inside, but on the outside too. "Yes."

Quatre had been holding his breath, and when he heard Trowa speak, he began speaking without understanding. "I know it's only been one day since I met you, but I've never met anyone who made me feel this safe before. I know it's silly, but you protected me and you treat me well and you're nice and you haven't hurt me. I know you never would, and I really do trust you, Trowa, which is why I love you, and…what?" Once again, something clicked, and Quatre looked up from fiddling with the blankets, confused.

"I said, yes." Trowa said, still smiling. "But…"

"But?" Quatre froze.

"But, I won't love you…"

"What…?" Quatre was thouroughly confused now. The confusion was accompanied by hurt as well, lots of it as he looked down at the blankets again, thinking hard. A tear dropped down his cheek as he closed his eyes.

"Quatre, stop interrupting," Trowa chided, placing his finger under his chin and lifting his head so Quatre would look at him. "Yes, but I won't love you. I do love you. You asked me if I 'will' love you. I love you now, Quatre."

"Re…really?" Quatre stuttered, and Trowa nodded firmly. Quatre breathed an extreme sigh of relief and buried his head in Trowa's chest. "Thank you, Trowa, thank you." He looked up with a blush rising on his cheeks at the sudden closeness. "Actually, I've never loved anyone before," he said. "But I love you, Trowa."

"That must have taken a lot of bravery for you to say, little one," Trowa said. He wanted to hold Quatre, but he was unsure how the light blonde would react.

"I'm not brave," Quatre said sadly. "I was so scared that you would hate me and then sell me and I would be beat like Duo was. I'm always scared. I was scared when I was captured and scared of everyone except you and Duo and Heero and Milli, uh, Zechs. I'm scared of being a slave, and scared of people. I'm scared…"

"Yes, but even though you were scared, you still said it," Trowa interrupted. "Bravery isn't having no fear. It's being able to overcome your fear, and you did. You are very brave to me, little one."

Quatre was ecstatic that Trowa thought that of him, but he still felt inside that it wasn't true. He was a small, scared boy with twenty nine sisters who had gotten cuddled and coddled by them since he was younger. Twenty nine sisters didn't make him very masculine in any way. The only male figure in his life had been his father, but he had never truly bothered with Quatre. Milliardo had been his only friend.

But Trowa thought he was brave. Surely that meant something. Maybe he should test his bravery. He reached his hand up and tapped Trowa's nose. Trowa looked surprised, then smiled. "I like it when you smile, Trowa."

"I only smile for you, angel," Trowa said. Quatre looked at him for a moment, then wriggled closer until he was resting against Trowa's tall frame. Trowa felt warmed by the close contact, and was glad Quatre wasn't afraid to cuddle. Quatre looked like the most cuddlish person alive.

"Yeah," Quatre mumbled into his warmth.

"You are my angel, little one," Trowa whispered into his soft hair. "Mine."

"You're a good snuggler," Quatre breathed. His breathing slowed, becoming deep and even, showing he was asleep. Trowa began thinking. What was love? Well, he knew that he and Quatre loved each other…he knew he would protect Quatre from anything…and he knew he would love Quatre in whatever way he wanted. Quatre probably wasn't ready to kiss, yet, but at least Trowa could hold him now. Trowa could hold him.

That is it. Review, constructive critisism is welcome, please don't burn me with the flames... If anyone wants to be on the emailing list /I email you when I update/ just say so in the review or e-mail me.

Storm