Author's Notes: Lately I've been getting back into Gundam Wing. I blame the fact that my friend sent me this amazing GW fanfiction archive a week or so ago and BAM. I'm lost in it, remembering why I, and so many other people, love this fandom. I've got them G-boys on my brain, yo.

…And then the other day I'm minding my own business, walking to class listening to music, and a song about an Arabian princess comes on, and I'm listening to it and enjoying it a lot, and then all of a sudden… the entire basis for this fic just hits me like a ton of bricks. It was my calling, nay, my DUTY as an avid Gundam Wish slasher to write this.

Mission accepted. XD

The disclaimer! Hahaha, if I owned the rights to Gundam Wing, there would be even more blatant underlying homoerotica themes than there already are. XD

Pairings: Trowa/Quatre main, hint of Heero/Duo on the side, and a teensie weensie bit of Zechs/Wufei, cause that boy needs love too.

Summary: Halfway around the world, in an exotic Arabian oasis, Trowa was merely intending to acquire a priceless addition to his circus, but he ends up getting much more than he came for… TrowaQuatre AU

Warnings: Boyxboy stuff, and me being totally n00btastic about Arabia. I feel all weeaboo writing about it, except I guess "weeaboo" isn't the right word. Arabia…boo? Whatever, just don't hassle me about any of the numerous cultural slaughterings I may or may not have typed out. XD Also, my apologies for semi emo!Trowa in the beginning. It's justified and not long lasting, I promise.

Other stuff: Music that influenced this fic is: "Princess of Egypt" by E-Type, "1001 Nights" by Ch!pz, and "Carillon", the Gigi D'Augustino and Gabre Ponte mixes. Honestly, do I write ANYTHING without music in mind these days?

.o.

.o.O.o

To Seek An Arabian Treasure

.o.O.o.

.o.

Trowa shifted uncomfortably atop his strange, humped beast. Camels always seemed to be some sort of faraway joke, a stereotype of the Middle East that was worth a quick laugh, but not dwelled upon. And yet here he found himself – in the middle of a desert, atop a most awkward creature, relying on it as his only mode of transportation.

Of course, it did help that he wasn't alone. Riding a few yards ahead of him were two other boys, both brunettes, both as shirtless as he himself was, and both on creatures as awkward as his own. One had a messy mop of messy chocolate locks plastered down around his face from the heat, the other had a length of waist-length chestnut hair tied into a braid, which was currently twisted up into a strange sort of messy bun to keep it off of his sticky, sweaty neck and back. Heero and Duo. His best friends. Only friends, really. Certainly the only two people in the universe who would be willing to travel halfway around the world with him on such a foolish endeavour.

They were in the middle of Arabia. There were occasional respites of civilization in the country – of plants or animals or water or any other indication of life – but at the moment it was just them, in a dry, never-ending sea of tan and beige and dull yellows. No water, no trees, no shade, just sand. Sand as far as the eye could see, as endless as the mind could imagine. Sand, sand, sand, and more sand.

Ahead of them, their guide and his steed – a magnificent Arabian horse of the finest blood and upbringing – plowed on. The guide didn't talk much, or express many emotions, which to Trowa should have been a familiar personality (given Heero's apparent emotional separation from the rest of the world) but with the Chinese male's sharp features and dignified aura it seemed like a completely new and unapproachable personality all it's own. Nothing like Heero's familiar stoic nature. The man was all business, and not very pleasant business, at that. At least in Trowa's highly biased opinion. Wufei, as he was called, was leading them in the exact opposite direction away from where Trowa wanted to be, where his heart still was. Left behind.

He'd gotten what he'd come for, though… hadn't he? Trowa cast a glance to the gazelle-like animal harnessed to his camel's saddle, dutifully trudging along with their wayward group. The Arabian Oryx, one of the rarest mammals in the world. Not only that, but this particular specimen was tamed – hand reared since birth in the Prince's palace.

With a wince he turned away from the captivating creature, not wanting to dwell on the association it carried. Flicking a strand of honey-brown hair from his unibang out of his eye, Trowa dug his heels into his beast's sides, urging it forward to join with Heero and Duo. The Oryx gave a plaintive bleat of displeasure, hurrying its trots to keep up.

"Yo, Tro!" Duo greeted with a grin as Trowa pulled up alongside the pair. "Me an' Heero were starting to wonder if you were running low on gas or something back there. Need to stop in at the next station and fill 'er up?"

"Ha ha ha." Trowa replied in perfect monotone, unable to help the slight upwards quirking of lips that Duo always seemed to have the power to bring about, no matter how dire the situation. "Very funny, Duo." Heero let out a snort of complete unamusement at the banter, urging his mount forward to escape from the idiocy which was Duo. The braided boy rolled his eyes, still grinning, and watched the slight bounce to Heero's retreating figure before turning his attention back to Trowa, his expression sobering slightly.

"But really, Trowa… you alright? Cause like… I know you've gotta be pretty hurting right now, but it's not showing and it's no good to keep everything bottled up inside until it explodes, you know?"

Trowa looked away, unable to keep his eyes locked on to Duo's searching gaze. He wasn't… he wasn't brooding exactly, he was just… keeping it to himself. "I'm fine, Duo." Trowa assured his friend, and although the younger male didn't look convinced, he let the subject drop and left Trowa to his thoughts by catching up to Heero, who didn't look pleased at the arrival of company.

The Latin male chose to lag behind again. Risking another tentative glance at the Oryx, looking gentle and cooperative even with its rope harness tugging it along whether it wanted to go or not, Trowa couldn't help but let his thoughts wander back to how this whole fiasco had begun, and how he never in a million years would have expected it to play out the way it did…

.o.

….…..o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o………

"Trowa… Trowa, where are you?"

The lanky male looked up from where he was sprawled across the floor, leaning back against the broad side of the circus's large, male lion. Getting up slowly so as to not startle the great beast, he made his way to the cage door, bringing his hands up to clutch at the bars on either side of his face, peering through them in the direction the voice had come from.

"In here, Cathy." He called back, seeing his sister figure come around the corner, looking confused at first before rolling her eyes in exasperation.

"Honestly, Trowa, you treat that cat like a… well, like a cat. He's a lion, he doesn't need coddling."

"Doesn't mean he doesn't enjoy the attention." Trowa returned, a slow smirk curling his lip. Catherine sighed, placing her hands on her hips.

"Yes, yes, alright." She conceded. "Just get out of there for a minute, I need to ask you something, and I feel weird talking at you through bars, like you're one of the monkeys."

Cracking the cage door open just enough to slip out, and looking behind himself to keep tabs on the great cat (who merely indulged in a wide, fang-bearing yawn), Trowa eased out, locking the door and leaning back against the bars as he prepared himself to listen to whatever it was Cathy had to say.

"So then." She began, flicking a brown curl out of her face. "How familiar are you with the Arabian Oryx?"

Trowa raised an eyebrow in interest. It was an interesting conversation starter, to be sure. "Not very. I know they're a gazelle-like animal, native to Saudi Arabia. Pretty rare, I think."

"The Arabian Oryx." Cathy began, in a voice that suggested Trowa was about to be filled in on more than he ever cared to know about the species. "Is one of the rarest mammals in the world, native to desert and steppe areas of the Arabian peninsula. They have long, ringed, straight horns, and it's said that the legend of the unicorn originated from these animals, given their luminous white coats, and the fact that – when viewed in profile – it can appear as though they have a single horn."

Trowa nodded, interested in what he was hearing so far. And it seemed as though Cathy was not done just yet.

"They're smart, too. They rest during the hottest parts of the day, and they can sense rainfall and migrate towards it because their ranges are huge, usually about 3,000 square kilometres. They were hunted to extinction in the wild by 1729, and even then, their in-captivity population wasn't strong. In short, this is a very rare, very special animal we're talking about."

Catherine seemed to be done speaking for the moment, finished with dishing out the facts and figures, but it was obvious she had more to say on the matter of the Arabian Oryx. Apparently she desired for Trowa to drag it out of her.

"So then…" he prompted.

"So." Catherine pointedly echoed. "It would be quite an opportunity to get ahold of one, wouldn't you think?"

"Ah." Trowa was starting to get an idea of where this was going, but before he could verbally deduce it for himself, Catherine was continuing.

"It just so happens that the prince of Arabia himself has a small, private, captive herd . And is also just so happens that he has heard of our circus, and as we are world renound, and have a reputation for keeping good care of our nearest and dearest… taking everything into account, he has offered to cut us a deal that would land us with one of them beauties."

The unibanged boy had known it was coming, but the news was still impressive, laid out like that. A nagging questioned still lingered in the back of his mind, though, and he had to voice it.

"So when you say 'cut a deal'…"

Catherine paused in thought, thinking of how to put it. "Well, the animal is essentially ours, right now as we speak. So bargaining for it isn't the problem…"

Trowa had a sinking feeling in his stomach. "Ah… well… How are we going to get it here?"

Catherine smirked, a mischievous glint in her eye that did not bode well for Trowa's immediate future.

"Trowa… how do you feel about traveling by camel?"

...o.O.o…

It hadn't taken much convincing to get Duo to accompany him on his halfway-around-the-world adventure, and someway, somehow, Duo had managed to persuade Heero along as well. Trowa honestly hadn't the slightest clue how Duo held so much sway over the stoic, dark haired boy, and sometimes he was pretty sure it was better not to ask. In any case, the three found themselves shipped off, flown to a distant landing strip in the Middle East, and offloaded onto the sparse desert sands. The area seemed to have a small settlment around it, a centre of trade and other business. There were a few clumps of ragged, undernourished palm trees, and numerous hitching posts with horses and donkies and camels tied to them. Men in flowing pants and loose, open vests, and headwear that hung down around their faces and over their necks to ward of the sun's harsh rays milled about, and mysterious women drifted here and there, their faces covered, but their eyes expressive as they attempted to discreetly observe the three boys who were so obviously out of place. Words none of the boys understood floated about, rich native tongues filling the area with culture and life.

Standing with vacant, culture shocked expressions, the three friends took in their surroundings, unsure of what to say. Eventually, of course, it was Duo who broke the silence, pointing and declaring rather loudly, "Oh man! Check out the humps on that thing!"

It wasn't difficult for their arranged guide to find them, as they stuck three fish out of water, gasping and flopping uselessly out of their element. A sharp Asian male, about the same age as themselves, sought them out, greeting them with a shallow bow and an introduction. His name was Wufei, and he served under the prince. He was to be their guide, as the trek to the castle was long, and few were allowed in or out, which meant that, as foreigners, they would have had a very difficult time getting there – let alone gaining entrance – by themselves. It struck Trowa that although Wufei should appear very out of place among the native people, he fit in considerably better than they did, for his knowledge of the culture, and the fact that he was wearing traditional garments.

They were led to a hitching post at the far end of the dusty little area, and again Duo was enthralled with the strange humped transport animals that were tied up there, just for them. Heero and Trowa were a little harder to convinve onto the camels, but when Wufei explained that it was the way arranged specifically by his highness himself, they realized that they had no room for objection.

It turned out that the established area of commerse was the only realm of civilization for miles around, as Wufei led them across sanddunes and endless flat stretches of nothingness. It wasn't long before they had all taken off their shirts, tying them around their heads as makeshift headwear. Duo continued to complain loudly of the heat, which seemed to irritate Wufei, and as the man seemed to be in control of the formalities of their visit, Trowa was quick to intervine, distracting Duo into conversation while Heero silently rode alongside them, the perfect little trooper no matter the unpleasantness of their surroundings. And certainly, what could have been worse than stifling heat, glaring rays of sun, no shade, no water, only open stretches of sand ahead and behind and miles and miles to either side? Not to mention a loudmouthed American intent on blabbering his head off.

It took nearly all day, but by the time the sun was hanging low in the sky, casting an orange glow across the land, the grand palace finally came into view, standing proudly as an oasis of royalty and wealth that seemed to be flourishing with life and abundance in an otherwise desolate and barren wasteland. A tall, strong wall surrounded the palace, and there were guards at the gates, but with only a nod from Wufei, Trowa and Heero and Duo were let through with no questions asked.

The three travelers suddenly found themselves in a lush garden, and it was such a shocking and abrupt change in landscape that they were momentarily taken aback, gazing with wide eyes at their new surroundings. Thick, green grass carpeted areas of the open yard, and palm trees with deep green fronds stood tall and proud in little clusters. Vines crawled along the walls with bright, blooming flowers, some of which had shut for the night, and birds of paradise sprouted out of the ground, their elegant petals looking sharp and dangerously beautiful. It seemed that the area was designed to look mostly natural, but there were numerous fountains flowing into man-made creeks with pleasant bubbling, trickling, adding a touch of human intervention and refined civilization. As well, there were some hanging cages suspended from tree branches and wires, each filled with a few small, colourful birds that made quiet chirping sounds as the wayward group passed them by.

Led through pathways lined by manicured bushes, Trowa took in the sheer lavishness of the oasis that was the prince's palace. Long shadows cast everything into an air of distorted reality, casting shapes and colours in ways that were simply tricks of the light. Everything held a mystical allure in its uncertainty, and even as the three boys were ushered inside, Trowa sent one last look back over his shoulder into the one-of-a-kind gardens.

The moment he turned back to observe his new surroundings, the green eyed boy once again found himself astonished with the magnitude and beauty of the setting. Tall pillars stretched to the high ceiling, and gorgeous, detailed images and script that he didn't quite understand had been painted onto the walls. The floor had an intricate tiled pattern laid out, ceramic squares in deep reds and blues and purples. Ancient, valuable art pieces and vases and sculptures provided points of interest, and numerous hallways and stairways wound around the interiour, leading off into other, certainly just as interesting and wonderful places contained inside the palace. Trowa was speechless, and it appeared as though his comrades shared similar feelings, judging by the looks on their faces. Duo's mouth hung open, aghast, and even Heero's eyes were wide, taking everything in.

When the three comrades had been led into the centre of the grand entry, Wufei stopped and turned to face them, bowing low and announcing in an inspiring voice:

"Welcome to the royal palace of the prince of Arabia."

Trowa realized some sort of response was warranted, some sort of "thank you" or a "so nice of you to have us", but for the life of him he couldn't work up the sense of mind to voice what he was feeling. Growing up in a circus, Trowa had always had an appreciation of the mysterious, the fascinating, the beautiful, and the utterly impressive, but this… this was above and beyond anything he had ever before seen or even imagined in his wildest daydreams in the lion's cage. The discomfort and awkwardness of the day was immediately forgiven and forgotten, such was the reward for being in the palace. Just as Trowa was beginning to find his tongue, to express his utmost appreciation to Wufei for guiding them here, Duo was quicker to catch his voice up to his thoughts, letting out an impressed whistle, which sounded so crude and out of place in such a refined environment.

"Nice place you got here!" he observed, wandering over to a painted porcelain vase, leaning in only inches away from its glossy surface.

"Many thinks for your… appreciation." Wufei replied, wincing at the braided boy's close proximity to what must have been a priceless royal heirloom. "Now if you'll just follow me, I'll show you to your rooms, and…"

"Wufei?"

A clear, elegant voice drifted around the corner, questioning the identity of who had been speaking. The Asian male's eyes widened for a moment before he quickly went into action, dragging Duo away from the valuables, and straightening the three visitors into a line, straightening their rumpled, travel tattered clothing.

"Yes, you highness, in here." He called back, slicking his hair back and straightening up in a most presentable manner. Duo mouthed a confused 'what's going on?' to his two friends, and for a moment Trowa's expression mirrored the confusion, until the owner of the voice rounded the corner.

Wufei immediately sunk to his knees, and it was all Trowa could do to keep his jaw from dropping. The most enchanting, beautiful, exotic human being he had ever seen was approaching them, a serene smile gracing elegant features, and as Wufei glared back at them to join him on their knees, the unibanged boy was glad for the command, because he was feeling a little unsteady on his feet.

Sometimes, in the circus, exotic bellydancers would perform, meant to enchant and seduce the onlooking audience. They wore small strips of silk on only the most necessary of places, the rest of their bodies clad in light, nearly transparent scarves and wraps, little bells and other jingling trinkets hanging from the material, and attached to lengths of ribbon around their neck and ankles. Trowa had always found them to be quite beautiful, captivating, and culturally accurate, as far as he was aware.

But now, standing right before him, was the real deal, and there was no way Trowa could have prepared himself for having such an individual appear so suddenly before him.

The newest arrival was the prince, Trowa gathered, (having heard Wufei call him "your highness") but looking at him, it was only barely discernable that he was, in fact, male. There was the matter of the upper body apparel – a deep purple, open-chested vest that was loosely tied with a length of braided silk rope in the middle – but for the rest of the ensemble… Everything was sheer layered silks and tied scarves, and belts and other various adornments of sparkling jewels and chains made of precious metals. Loose pants were fashioned out of the thin material, their colour a soft pink, and if it weren't for the deep navy sash tied around the waist, hanging in tendrils down the front and around the sides, tinkling bells tied to it's frayed edges, the prince would have had no sense of modesty for himself. Sleeves for the boy's arms were made of the same material as the pants, and fastened around his wrists and ankles were bangles and trinkets that made soft jingling noises as he moved. A velvet strip of cloth was tied across his forehead, light chains and jewels hanging down to rest just above and between his eyebrows. Upon his feet he wore a simple pair of white sandals, which clacked along the tiled floor as he approached them.

The strange part, Trowa noticed, even through his fascination with watching the other male as he moved with catlike grace, was that the boy's hair was the finest, lightest blonde, and his eyes were bright blue. He certainly didn't look as though he was native to the land, but far be it from Trowa to question royalty. Besides, the prince was almost upon him, and Trowa certainly wouldn't want the first words out of his mouth to be one that could be taken in a negatively accusing manner.

"There's no need for all of that, Wufei, I've told you before." The prince said with a smile, gesturing that they stand. "I take it these are our guests?"

"Yes, they are." Wufei replied with a bow, instinctively complying with formalities, even though it appeared as though the prince wouldn't have minded one way or the other. "They've traveled from afar to visit the palace and its prince, and I assured their safe arrival."

"Thank you, Wufei." Quatre gratefully acknowledged, a mirthful bubble of laughter in the edge of his voice. He turned his attention to the three travelers, all of whom barely resisted the urge to fidget, suddenly acutely aware of their state of dress and the fact that they were most likely quite dirty and gross from the day's journey. "I'm prince Quatre, thank you for coming. What are your names?"

"Duo! Duo Maxwell!" the violet eyed boy eagerly supplied, offering a hand out for an introductory shake. Wufei looked as though he was insulted at the overbearing gesture, but Quatre simply took the proffered hand, looking pleased.

"It's very nice to meet you." He kindly commented, before turning to Heero, who was next in line.

"Heero Yuy" the messy haired male informed the blonde in a strong, clear voice, giving a curt nod. Quatre's smile grew and he returned the nod before refocusing his gaze on the last boy in line.

"Trowa Barton." The brunet managed to get out in a quiet voice, and he couldn't think of how else to personalize himself to the introduction, not daring to extend a hand, but unable to bring himself to give something as stiff and impersonal as a nod. Quatre's expression softened, and in an equally soft voice he replied, speaking words just for Trowa.

"It's very nice to meet you."

They held eachother's gaze for a moment longer, Quatre seemingly trying to get a good evaluation of the person before him, before they broke the unofficial staring contest, Quatre looking over his shoulder to beckon Wufei to his side.

"Wufei, could you kindly see Heero and Duo to their rooms? I'd like to assure that Trowa finds his room by my own guidance."

The Chinese male nodded, gesturing that the two shorter brunets follow him, Duo immediately babbling as they headed off down one of the hallways.

"We get our own rooms! Hot dang! Usually I gotta share with Heero, and he gets all pissy. On the 'plane we had sit together, and holy crap, man, he elbowed me so hard in the stomach I thought my guts were gonna spill out the side. All I was trying to do was sleep on his shoulder, you know, cause there was nowhere else to rest me head, right? And he goes and…"

Trowa couldn't help but shake his head in amusement as Duo's incessant noise echoed loudly in the grand space. As soon as they were out of sight and out of hearing range, Trowa looked back to Quatre, who was gazing at him serenely.

"He's quite a character, isn't he?"

The words were soft, but they carried perfectly clear in the open entry. Trowa managed a sort of amused half-smile as he replied. "Yeah… he's a handful." Quatre laughed softly at that, the bells on his headpiece jangling merrily with the movement. Trowa couldn't help staring at the shorter male, and winced guiltily when he was caught.

"You're a little overwhelmed, aren't you?" the prince observed, turning to lead Trowa up a staircase, but not taking his eyes off of those of the taller boy.

"Ah…" Trowa faltered, unsure of how to respond as he fell in step. "I… I guess, yes. A little." Quatre looked pleased at the admission.

"It's alright. Everything here is pretty different from what you're used to, isn't it?"

"It is." Trowa replied, relieved that the prince was acknowledging some of the in-over-his-head feelings as being completely acceptable, and even understandable.

"Just be relieved that Wufei and I speak English." Quatre put in. "Otherwise you'd be flailing about with trying to accomplish even the smallest interaction around here. Not many people here are extremely responsive to outsiders, or people who look or act differently from them."

"But you…" Trowa began, before he could help himself. Upon realizing what he was saying he immediately caught himself, shutting his mouth and flushing in embarrassment of his slip-of-tongue.

"I what?" Quatre inquired, and out of the corner of his eye Trowa could see an amused almost-smirk. "I look and act different too, is that what you were going to say?" Trowa merely nodded, not trusting himself to speak, and Quatre continued with ease, not seeming at all uncomfortable with the topic of conversation.

"I'm the youngest of thirty, the rest are all girls." Quatre began, and Trowa's eyes widened at the greatness of the number Quatre had provided. The blonde seemed to read Trowa's thoughts, and chuckled as he continued. "It's a lot, I know. My father… he kept trying for a boy, and it seemed like luck was against him. But he desperately wanted someone to succeed the throne, a male heir. Finally I came along, born to a non-Arabian mother, but nevertheless, I was a male, and as such, first in line to inherency."

"So… your father…?"

"Is the sultan." Quatre supplied, turning into a dark hallway. "He lives in the palace in the middle of the more civilized social centre of the country. I prefer it here, though, out of the public eye, and as you can see I'm more than comfortable here in my humble little home."

Trowa was a little taken aback at the last comment. With that crooked, teasing smile on his lips, it seemed as though… Quatre was poking fun at the extravagance of his own palace? It wasn't something the brunet would have expected, and it gave the prince an interesting edge to his personality. They stopped in front of an elaborate doorframe, and Quatre pushed it open, easily navigating the room, even in the dark, and made quick work of lighting some oil lamps, which cast a warm yellow glow throughout the room.

"This will be where you're staying." Quatre informed him, searching for approval, which Trowa was more than happy to give. In this light, the young prince looked even more exotic and mysterious than ever, and the brunet's gut tightened inexplicably.

"Thank you very much, it's more than wonderful."

Quatre nodded. "You're welcome. Your friends are downstairs in the first hall in the west wing on the second floor, nearly directly below you. I wanted you on the fifth floor, however."

Puzzled, Trowa furrowed his brows in a silent question of 'why?'

"I understand, mister Barton, that you are the one from the circus who wishes to obtain one of my prized animals?" A nod, responded to with a smug almost-smirk. "Well then, my room is just down the hall to your left, and up another small flight of stairs. I'd like to keep you close to me, if I may be so forward to say. I'd like to see just who it is I'm giving one of my finest creatures away to. And I daresay, come morning I'm sure you'll appreciate the view."

Trowa opened his mouth to speak, but before he could get a single word out, Quatre was continuing. "I'll have some fresh garments sent to you and your friends in the morning, and after breakfast we'll have a tour of the grounds. Sleep well, Trowa."

It was all the green eyed boy could do to get out a responding "goodnight" of his own before Quatre was turning on his heel, exiting the room and leaving Trowa on his own. Shrugging off his clothing until he was in just his underwear, Trowa climbed into the luxurious bed, turning the lamp out and drifting off into dreams of sand and flowing, crystalline water and elusive Arabian princes.

...o.O.o…

Something was shining in his eye. A light of some sort. A very bright light.

Rolling over, Trowa finally woke up enough to realize that he was most certainly not in his own bed. His own mattress certainly wasn't this big and comfortable, and so… so…

So located in an Arabian Palace.

The previous day's events washed back over him in a wave of remembrance, and Trowa was a bit taken aback to find out it hadn't all been a dream. Sitting up, he brushed some unruly hair out of his eyes, taking in his surroundings, as he hadn't gotten a very good chance the previous night, given how dark it had been with only a few flickering oil lamps to serve as a light source. No surprise, the room was as lavish and visually appealing as the rest of the palace had been, and Trowa was struck by how very bright the room was during the day. It was only early morning, but the desert sun's first rays were shining in through the open window.

First things first, Trowa managed to find his way around the bathroom, intent of cleaning up after yesterdays long, sandy traveling. Feeling refreshed after a showering of cool water and a lather of scented oils, Trowa stepped back into the room to find that the bed was made, and a clean, new outfit was neatly folded and waiting for him. A bit surprised, he picked it up and let it unfurl, only to discover that it was culturally appropriate apparel – long, flowing white pants with a rich goldenrod sash, and a loose, light vest. Figuring out how to put them on took a little effort, but once it was all sorted out, Trowa discovered that they were quite comfortable to wear. Under the clothing had been a handwritten note, informing him of the time and the place when and where breakfast would be occurring. Trowa had woken up just in time.

Dressed and ready for the day, the brunet curiously headed for the open window, intent on having a look outside of it before heading down to breakfast. Pushing the thin curtains aside, he sucked in a breath at the sight that greeted him.

Quatre had been right last night, when he'd said Trowa might appreciate the view. His room was facing out towards the rising sun, and there was a balcony to step out onto. The desert sand was sparkling and glowing in the early morning light. Inside the castle walls, the gardens were astonishingly striking when viewed from above, and off to his right he could see a few stables and exercise pens containing some of the finest horses he had ever seen. Fruit-laden trees grew in small clumps here and there, decorative ornamental trees scattered in as well, and prowling among them were a few fine hunting dogs. Dogs who, Trowa supposed, also served as voraciously effective guard dogs, from the look of them. Just beyond the trees there was another enclosure of some kind, but Trowa couldn't tell what it was meant to contain.

Glancing at his watch, Trowa realized that he needed to hurry down to breakfast if he was to get there on time. It certainly wouldn't be a good idea to be late. No, that would be no good at all for a first impression.

Surprisingly, he only managed to get a little lost in his search for the dining hall, and upon arrival he was greeted with a very enthusiastically awake Duo.

"Trowa! Oh man, can you believe this place!" the braided boy asked, flailing his arms about in his excitement. "It's even crazier during the day! And holy hell, the rooms! Man, if yours was half as big as ours was… shit, man! D'ya think they'd let us move in?"

Trowa allowed a crooked smirk at Duo's enthusiasm. He noted that the violet eyed boy and Heero were also dressed in similar clothing to what he had been given, although their sashes were purple and blue, respectively. Heero looked a little rumpled, and slightly more irritated at Duo than usual, and it was then that Trowa realized something that had previously escaped his attention in Duo's analysis of the sleeping arrangements.

"Duo… when you say 'our' room… didn't you and Heero have separate rooms?"

"Uh… heh heh heh…yeaaaaah… About that…" Duo sheepishly began, trailing off and looking hesitant to continue as he picked at the end of his braid.

"It appears as though someone has a problem sleeping by himself in new places, regardless of how lavish the accommodations are." Heero filled in, speaking in monotone. "He came running down the hall and into my bed about fifteen minutes after we had all been settled in."

"Hey, the rooms were really big and dark, okay?" Duo retorted, by way of defending himself, hand propped on a jutting hip. Trowa sensed an argument brewing on the horizon, but thankfully the situation was defused by Quatre's appearance at the head of the table. Today he was dressed similarly to the rest of the boys, although his garbs were noticeably more elaborate, and a deep red strip of loose cloth with golden dangling trinkets was tied about his waist, a matching headpiece nestled in his blonde waves of hair. Wufei wasn't long in following his prince, and Trowa took note that his sash was green. The tall male wondered if there was any sort of meaning to the colours, if they were chosen to compliment the wearer, or if they were simply chosen at random. Quatre met his eye across the table, and Trowa quickly looked away, embarrassed to be caught staring. Even though the prince's garbs today were much more casual than they had been the previous night, there was still something about him that was so appealing, and Trowa couldn't help but try to take in as much of it as he could.

Breakfast was a rather quiet affair, despite the elaborate dishes and sheer amount of food. Duo shoveled it into his mouth like a starving man, Heero clearly enjoyed it as well (although with a significantly higher degree of decorum) and Trowa alternated between taking careful bites and discreetly observing Quatre. A few times their eyes met across the long table, and Trowa was sure he saw a clever sparkle in the blonde's eyes, as if he knew exactly what the brunet was thinking. Which would have been quite a feat, as Trowa wasn't quite sure, himself.

When breakfast was over, Quatre elegantly stood, suggesting that they have a look around the grounds. Everyone was more than happy to comply, and with a smile the blonde led them around through the entrance, rounding the palace to take the side route to get to the back.

Trowa noticed that they were heading towards the stables that he had seen from his balcony window. The horses whinnied excitedly, their ears pointed up and their eyes bright as they snorted, getting excited over visitors. Quatre informed them that Wufei handled the horses, along with most of any personal affairs the princely duties might require assistance with. Wufei didn't even react to the evident praise in the small blonde's voice. He was a strange one, that was for sure.

Quatre stopped to pat his magnificent steeds, their nostrils flaring as they nuzzled their soft noses against his face and into his hair. The prince laughed, telling his guests their names and genders, and a bit about their personality. They were all of the pure Arabian bloodline, of course, and it was evident that Quatre loved them very much, and Wufei took very good care of them.

From within the stables, a tall, blonde male made an appearance, coming out around the side, and the horses went prancing over to him, nickering. He held a brush and special horse biscuits in his hands, and it was evident that the animals were about to be lavished with some special attention. Wufei stiffened, and Trowa caught the change in stature out of the corner of his eye. It was as if Wufei was trying very hard to look impressive and professional all of a sudden. Quatre also seemed to catch the minute change, and he playfully nudged Wufei, shoulder to shoulder.

"Wufei, why don't you go help Zechs care for the horses' morning grooming?" he suggested, a bit of forced innocence to his voice. With a quick, determined nod, Wufei strode purposefully to the far end of the pens, and Trowa caught the quiet 'thank you' he muttered under his breath. Quatre laughed as the Asian boy joined the taller man, and he shook his head amusedly.

"Wufei shares the caretaking duties of the horses with Zechs." He explained. "I think they have a bit of a friendly competitiveness to it, and Wufei's always trying to prove himself."

"Looks like there might be a little more to it than that…" Duo grinned, watching as Zechs greeted Wufei with a teasing nudge as he handed the boy a horse brush, and Wufei looked the slightest bit self-conscious at the touch. Trowa was a bit shocked that Duo would so openly suggest such a thing to the prince himself about one of his friends and business associates, but the Arabian male didn't look the least bit perturbed.

"Mmm." Quatre agreed in a content hum. "I've always thought so too. Anyways, let's keep going, shall we?"

As Quatre began explaining all of the many imported fruit trees he possessed, Trowa was lost in thought, not really hearing the blonde's words, simply listening to the pleasant tenor of his voice. Quatre seemed so happy with his things, and the life he led, and who could blame him? But he wasn't selfish, wasn't arrogant, wasn't any of the things Trowa had been expecting. He was kind and generous and beautiful. The previous nonchalance about such a potentially confrontational subject just showed how comfortable he was with people, no matter who they were or where they were from, or where their preferences lay. It was a noble trait, to be so accepting, and certainly not one Trowa would have expected from a ruler of a country. Or son of a ruler, in any case.

Trowa knew he was staring, but he just couldn't help it, there was so much to take in. The prince was every bit as captivating as his palace, and Trowa couldn't get enough. A strange fascination had grabbed hold of him, twisting strangely in his gut every time he though too long on what it could mean, and –

"Trowa?"

Snapping out of it, the tall brunet returned his attention to the smiling Quatre's words, realizing that he had been caught spacing out. Repressing a flush of embarrassment, he tried to remember what the topic of discussion had been, but failed miserably.

"Uh… yes? Sorry, I didn't catch what you said."

Quatre smiled. "I said I sent your friends off to go explore on their own, it's time to show you what you came here for."

Pure bafflement muddled Trowa's mind for a lengthy moment as he tried to remember what it was he had come for… oh! Oh, of course! The Oryx.

"Right this way…" Quatre commanded, a sway in his step as he led Trowa further into the trees, which soon gave way to an open, penned in field – the very same one Trowa had spotted from his window that morning.

But now Trowa was able too see what the pen contained. Beautiful, mysterious creatures, and suddenly the brunet understood why Catherine had said that they were probably the animals that started the legend of the unicorn. Silvery white beasts with dark legs leading down to pointed hooves, captivating markings around the eyes, flicking tufted tails… and the horns. Trowa had never seen anything so impressive before in his whole young life. Twisted, perfectly straight horns shot out of the tops of their heads, jutting up proudly, a few metres each in length. His awe must have showed on his face, because he felt a soft nudge to his side, and looked down to see Quatre's smiling face.

"You like them."

It wasn't a question, merely an observation of the obvious. Trowa had an eye for the fascinating, the unique, the rare, and this… this went above and beyond any standards he had set for what it would be like to see one of these fantastic beats in person.

"I… they're wonderful." He breathed. "Thank you so much for offering me... er, us, the circus, one of them. I assure you, it –"

"I know, Trowa." Quatre cut in, effectively silencing the older boy, the warm use of Trowa's name glossing over what could have been interpreted as a rude interruption. "You'll take good care of what I give you. I know of your circus, and I've heard wonderful things about it. But… I must admit…" here the prince trailed off, eyes downcast. "I am going to be quite sad to lose one of them, even if it is to your fine collection of wonders. I… I'd like for you and your friends to stay a little longer, a few days maybe, so I can… so I can get to know you. It would make me feel a lot better, knowing the people who I was sending off one of my living treasures with."

Trowa was taken aback by the level of compassion that the Arabian held for his Oryxes. True, they were rare, but it seemed as though he had a deep emotional attachment to them as well, not just on a materialistic level. It made Trowa feel slight guilt at taking one from Quatre, but his heart yearned to be in possession of something so fine, something he could care for and enjoy all for his own, something almost no one else had.

"Of course." Trowa quietly replied. "I understand. We will stay as long as you request, and leave as soon as you see fit." Quatre looked back up, blue meeting green with pleased determination.

"Thank you." The smaller boy replied with a nod. They stood there for a while, not breaking the eyelock, until Quatre for once was the one to blush, averting his gaze and letting it drift out over the open field. "Would you like to interact with them?"

Trowa's eyebrows raised in interest. "How do you mean?"

With a smug little look, Quatre pulled out a whistle on a chain from around his neck, placing it to his perfect lips and blowing. It didn't make much noise to either of their ears, but the creatures on the pen quickly perked up, turning their heads and ears in the direction the sound had come from. Seeing that it was their master, some of them began meandering over, others trotted eagerly, and some others simply went back to grazing, not being bothered to move.

Trowa's breath caught in his chest as they neared, their size and majesty overwhelming. Sniffing out with their velvety noses, Quatre cooed and petted his pets, reaching into the folds of his clothing to pull out some little snack pellets, offering a handful to Trowa as well.

Their hands touched as Quatre passed along the Oryx treats, and Trowa felt a tingling spark shoot through his skin at the contact. Pulling back, he selected a few of the treats, offering them to the nearest animal, who gently took them from the brunets open palm with whiskery lips. Trowa couldn't help but smile.

"Quatre, they're amazing." He breathed, heart racing at the elated wonder he was feeling in the moment.

"I'm glad you like them." The prince returned, pleased that his prized possessions were so very appreciated.

...o.O.o…

After a time, Quatre suggested that they get back to everyone else, and as reluctant as Trowa was to agree, he had to admit that turning Duo loose in a prince's palace for any great length of time was probably not the best idea, even with Heero tailing after him to do damage control. So they two wandered away from the Oryx pen, and Quatre led them around the palace grounds, both in an attempt to find where Duo and Heero could have wandered off to, and an excuse to stroll through the lavish gardens.

Neither of them spoke for some time, but Trowa found it to not be an uncomfortable silence. They were content to simply peruse the grounds, Quatre occasionally pointing out a spot of interest, and Towa merely nodded or gave small affirmative sounds in response. The outside area within the palace walls was simply breathtaking. Native plants flourished under the immaculate care they no doubt received, and Quatre's presence seemed to add so much more to the surroundings, his smiling boyish face heightening Trowa's sense of awe and wonder. The blonde's slim physique shifted lithely beneath his garbs, and even with the natural beauty surrounding them, Trowa couldn't look away.

Of course it was only a matter of time before the prince became aware of the eyes so intently focused on himself. Turning to meet Trowa's gaze, he gave the lean male a curious glance.

"What is it?"

Snapping out of his focused stare, Trowa flushed, looking guilty for being caught, and struggled to come up with an excuse. "Sorry, I… was just wondering over your change in attire for today." He came up with, thinking back to the provoking image of the previous night, of Quatre dressed in silken sheer scarves and other such gauzy, sheer material.

"Ah." Quatre replied with a smile. "You're referring to the dressings you met me in last night, compared to today… yes?"

Trowa nodded eagerly, remembering the prince's curves and smooth skin that the revealing apparel allowed the notice of.

"I had a rather important meeting with one of Europe's most influential thinkers." Quatre explained. "There was potential for some very prosperous outcomes from the meeting, provided it went well. I wanted to, ah… dress to impress, as it were."

"I see." Trowa replied, and he did. Although the outfit might not have been what the prince normally spent his days wearing, it was certainly impressive and exotic, and would have been a subtle way of appealing to an outsider's favour. Visually, it made Quatre look stunning and regal, and stereotypically royal, as far as Arabian standards were set.

"You must think me manipulative and deceiving…" Quatre commented, cutting in to Trowa's thoughts. Seeing the slight frown on the boy's face, it was easy to see that he had misinterpreted Towa's thoughts, mistaking the silence for keeping such remarks to himself.

"No, not at all." Trowa quickly replied. "I find it was a rather clever move on your part. You weren't being deceptive, you were simply playing into what would be most impressive for your audience, even if it wasn't entirely natural or genuine. It was a matter of knowing what expected and what would be met with the most approval. I admit, when I first saw you, I was rather impressed as well."

To say the least… Trowa's mind silently added, sounding a bit smug.

Quatre looked pleased at this response, and a corner of his lips quirked up into a knowing almost-smirk.

"Your heart is truly in your work." He commented. Trowa was a bit throw by what seemed to be a completely non-related comment, until Quatre began to elaborate, intending on making a connection between what Trowa had said, and how he himself had responded.

"You work for the circus." Quatre stated. "You do an act involving knives being thrown at you, am I right?"

"That's right…" Trowa replied, his response sounding almost like a question as well. He had no idea how Quatre had known that.

"I looked into you, and what you do." The blonde explained. "That's the only reason I was willing to offer you one of my animals – because I thoroughly researched your circus, you and your sister figure in particular. I wanted to know where something so precious to me would be going, and I was pleased by what I found."

Trowa couldn't help but feel slightly proud at Quatre's praise, and he eagerly listened for what else the prince had to say on the subject.

"I knew you cared deeply for your work, especially for the animals your business keeps. But in meeting you… it's become obvious to me that what you do is more than just a job, just an act… it's your passion, isn't it?." Trowa didn't know how to respond, but Quatre shook his head in amusement, and he realized he didn't have to. "I can tell. The way you looked at the Oryxes, and with what you said just now… You truly have the heart of someone who lives and breaths the circus life. You see fine, rare, exotic things, and you appreciate them… What others would call deception, you call creative showmanship…" Quatre's eyes were glowing with intensity as he spoke, boring deep into Trowa's very being. "You're a very interesting person, Trowa Barton."

Trowa honestly couldn't work up a reply to this. Never before had someone paid him such an honest and flattering comment before. The prince's words were not overly admiring or flowery, but the subtle hint of praise for his work was not undetected. He realized that some sort of 'thank you' might have been in order, but it seemed strange to thank someone for such a roundabout compliment. So Trowa just kept his mouth shut, and Quatre seemed to be done talking, which left them both simply staring at one another, in what should have been a very awkward silence. But for some reason, neither boy felt uncomfortable.

They were having a moment, Trowa realized, a true and honest connection. There was something in him that Quatre was drawn to, fascinated by, just as in return, he couldn't get enough of the Arabian. Gazes locked, blue into green, they stood very close, and Trowa's chest clenched in some sort of unrecognizable expectation. Quatre's lips parted and a pink tongue slipped out to wet them… Trowa found himself transfixed. Quatre delicately opened his mouth to speak, looking hesitant, when a sudden explosion of sound came barreling at them.

Blonde and brunet heads whipping around, the sight of Duo sprawled out on the ground, looking horribly guilty at the now ruined statue laying in pieces beside him. The spectacle was shocking, but not completely unexpected. Heero's jaw was set as he stood back from the wreckage, aiming a deathly glare at the clumsy braided boy. "Duo…" He growled, low and threatening.

"Uh… uh… I'm reeeeeally sorry?" Duo offered, his violet eyes big and horribly sad looking as his lower lip jutted out into a pout. It was one of his oldest, simplest tricks for getting out of trouble – the Duo Maxwell Sad Face – and it hadn't failed him yet. Sure enough, Quatre was already shaking his head with an amused smile.

"I suppose you're just lucky that was a newer piece. Easily replicable. Otherwise father would have you in as many pieces as that now ruined piece of art."

With a gulp, Duo eyed the remaining rubble of marble that was strewn in pathetic broken hunks all around him, and his relief was almost corporeal. "Yeah, that uh… that is good news… heh heh…"

Trowa shook his head, at a loss for what to make of Duo. "We can find a way to pay for it, Quatre, it's –"

"No, no, no." the blonde insisted. "It's really alright. It's no problem. Honestly, I'm glad it's broken, it was a bust of one of my least favourite aunts. Frightful woman, really…"

They all laughed at that – or in Heero's case, allowed a minimal smirk – and the accumulated tension from the accident dissipated nearly completely. Duo stood up, brushing himself off, and the next thing Trowa knew, the shorter brunet was latched on to him, dragging him off to see a peacock that had been spotted wandering around in the eastern gardens. The unibanged boy was reluctant to be parted from Quatre, but as he glanced back over his shoulder, seeing the prince waving him off with a small smile, Trowa thought that maybe getting away for a bit might be a good idea after all. He needed some time to think.

.o.

-o- -o- -o- -o- -o- -o- -o- -o- -o- -o- -o- -o- -o- -o- -o- -o-

-blinks- Well dang. I'd fully intended for this to be a quick little oneshot, but it looks like it's getting out of hand and turning into a short chaptered fic. Maybe two or three chapters at most. I'm really enjoying writing it, though, because I got to do a lot of fun research about the Arabian Oryx, and Arabian stories and attire, and I really enjoy the setting.

So yes, usually I let myself get a few chapters ahead before posting, so that in case of an unexpected problem I have some already finished chapters to post, buuuuut… I'm kind of posting this on an impulse, because I'm excited about it and don't want to wait. X3 I'm already working on the next bit, though, so it shouldn't be too long in coming.

And I swear, the reason for Trowa's little emo fit in the beginning will be explained. I wouldn't just make him all bummed out and then provide no explanation for it; that would be lame.

Seeya next chapter!

ps. I don't like begging for reviews, but they are very nice to get. If you have the time, I'd love to hear from you!