A.N.: Just a random idea I had. No idea where it came from… Maybe from History classes since we were studying ancient Egypt and Greece. Anyways, I decided to write a first chapter just as an experiment, you guys tell me if it's interesting enough to be continued. ;)

Chapter 1

He was standing at his private garden, admiring the way the green grass and trees could grow even within the heat of the desert. They adapted to new situations, they had adapted to the desert, just like he had done, but still he couldn't live completely without the green and that's why he loved that garden, he was just sad he didn't have any flowers in it, they didn't adapt as easily as the other plants.

The sound of steps broke through his train of thought, and he smiled. He was an important person in that small town, so the sound of steps usually meant business if not trouble, but not that day. That day it meant his dear friend had arrived.

Leaving the garden behind, he walked into the corridor that would lead him to the hall, he could hear the steps approaching already. Duo had never been the patient kind.

"Quatre!" the long haired brunette waved when they finally spotted each other in the long corridor.

"Duo!" the blonde smiled. "You're late."

"You know the guest of honor always has to be late."

"Then you're always the guest of honor."

"Of course." Quatre chuckled as he took in the appearance of his friend, the American never changed… He had forever had that long hair tied in a braid that hit his hips, and that genuine smile which could only belong to those who are always planning new ways of getting their friends in trouble. "I brought you a present."

"I wonder why that doesn't sound like a good thing…" the blonde muttered as Duo led him back to the hall.

"Oh, come on, Quat'! Give your old buddy here a chance."

"I didn't say I wouldn't accept the present. I just worry because, last time, you bought me these delicious looking chocolates and you didn't tell me there were drugs in them…"

"How could I have known?" the long haired man protested looking innocent.

"The point is…" Quatre eyed him sternly. "You should be careful about what you buy and where."

"I am careful! You'll see, this time I acquired something highly in fashion." He pushed the door open, there standing in the middle of the hall was the blonde's tutor, Rashid, a black haired strong man who also acted as a kind of butler coordinating the whole house staff, but he wasn't the one who captured Quatre's attention for beside him was a handcuffed brown haired man wearing nothing more than a pair of cheap white pants, his eyes cast downwards. A slave. Duo had bought him a slave… He could've laughed at the whole situation, instead he seized the braided man's arm and pulled him closer.

"What is the meaning of this?" he pointed towards the two other men, he could see the knowing expression on Rashid's face.

"As I told you, the latest fashion in the biggest Arabian towns."

"A fashion we were hoping never got here!" the blonde hissed.

"Why not? I'm sure you'll take good care of him."

"I'm completely against slavery, Duo. Doesn't matter what the other nobles say."

"Come on, Quat'. You should've seen how the guy was being treated… He might have been dead now if it hadn't been for me." They mentally counted the many whip marks on the man's back, some of them were still fresh. Quatre sighed rubbing his eyes tiredly before allowing the careless smile to return to his lips.

"You do have a good taste, you know…" he commented getting a laugh from Duo as they finally approached an annoyed looking Rashid.

"Master Quatre…" the bearded man started but the blonde shook his head raising his hand for silence. Then he turned to the other man, he wanted to see his eyes but he refused to look up and even though Quatre was a little shorter than him he wasn't short enough to see the man's face.

"Could you lift your head for me?" he asked being too kind hearted to order. "Please?" nothing, no sound, no movement.

"Quatre, I think you should…" the long haired man didn't have to continue.

"Look at me." The blonde ordered authoritatively but had to take a step back when the coldness of the other's glare hit him, those dark blue eyes were completely empty, devoid of all hope, devoid of all feelings but rage and hatred. "Does he… Does he have a name?"

"I don't think so…" Duo scratched his head lightly. "I've been calling him Heero after a horse I had when I was a child."

"You named him after your horse?" Quatre laughed, finally able to look away from those piercing blue eyes.

"It was a good horse."

"Rashid, find Heero a room, please? We'll be in my study."

"But, Master Quatre…" he stopped the blonde. "You're really going to keep him?"

"Yes, I am."

"But your father…"

"I'll deal with my father." Quatre placed a comforting hand on the taller man's shoulder and smiled gently. "Don't worry." He turned back to Duo but seemed to remember something. "Oh, and, Rashid? Be nice to him."

"I don't like his eyes." The older man offered as if that was a good enough excuse to treat Heero badly.

"I'll be careful." The blonde assured him, his eyes locking with the dark blue ones again before Rashid led the younger man away, and even when they were gone it still took Quatre a few seconds to break out of his trance.

"Q., man, you alright?"

"Yeah, I… I think so."

"What happened?"

"I'm not sure." He shook his head, regaining the smile and placing an arm around his friend's shoulders as they walked to the study.

"You think Trowa will be angry? 'Cause I bought you such a good looking souvenir?"

"No, Duo. I don't think he will, especially because the last time he was here was almost six months ago." Quatre sighed, he knew Trowa and him had been in love a couple years before and they had decided to try having a relationship even though one of them had a job that required traveling a big part of the year. It had worked, it still worked, he just wasn't sure if the love was still there… "I don't blame him, he needs the job and he loves it."

"Maybe you guys should give it a break… Try new things, new people." Duo gave him a mischievous look.

"Maybe." The blonde agreed. "But if I'm going to discuss that with him I wanna do it in person."

"Just make sure you do it soon." They turned to see Quatre's father, the patriarch of the Winner family standing proudly in front of them, he had always had that threatening presence about him, that air of authority which made him a great leader to his people. "I can't wait to see you married, and my grandchildren all around me."

"You have dozens of daughters to give you grandchildren, father."

"That's supposed to mean you haven't given up those homosexual ideals of yours?"

"I wouldn't use those words but that's pretty much it." They watched each other in silence, Duo knew quite a fight was going on then, he was wondering if he should leave when Mr. Winner's gaze softened and he shrugged.

"I'll never change your mind."

"No, you won't."

"Right. Anything else?"

"Actually, we got a slave from…" the blonde felt his friend tense beside him. "one of those nobles you helped when you last were on Cairo."

"A slave? Have Rashid sell it immediately."

"But, father, don't you think maybe we could help this man? Restore his freedom."

"Once a slave, forever a slave. You know it's against our beliefs to keep slaves."

"What if I refuse to sell him?"

"I'm traveling tomorrow morning, I'll be away for two weeks. That's how long you have to get rid of it or I'll take matters in my own hands." He would have no more of his son's insolence, so he just gave him a menacing glare and disappeared down the corridor. Quatre turned to Duo, releasing a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding, the braided man looked genuinely regretful.

"Shit, Quat'! You were right about my presents… I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I could just sell him but there's something about that guy that makes me want to help him."

"I know how you feel…"

"Maybe I should talk to him. I'll take the first aid kit with me…"

"I'll go with you."

"No, Duo. I think I may get more out of him if he doesn't feel threatened by someone else's presence."

"You're probably right. I'll take my things to my bedroom then."

"Do that." The blonde waved him away. "I'll be right with you."

"Quatre! Catch!" Duo turned around to throw him something, the key to Heero's handcuffs. Quatre looked at the key suddenly feeling apprehensive.