Quatre stayed as close to Trowa as he could while they were led through the halls. Nothing would make him stop purring in the near future. He had listened to his family when he was younger ... believed when they had said that what he had felt for Trowa - then Triton - was a mere passing fancy. But several years passed and the ache Quatre had felt for the first person to ever kiss him only grew in intensity until it started to show in his appearance. He had grown pale and gaunt and his eyes had taken on a haunted look.
On the eve of his majority, he had told his family that he would leave in search of the only person who made him feel whole. They hadn't been happy, but his father hadn't argued with him. Instead, he had given Quatre a list of names of people who would help Quatre if needed. Quatre was grateful that his father had understood and often wrote to tell his family how he fared.
Now, as he entered the room appointed to Trowa and him, he felt complete again. He was still a tad too thin, and knew his face was still a little pale ... but none of that mattered anymore. He shuddered as he was pulled into a strong embrace and murmurred the name he had longed to speak. "Triton ... so long ... it has been so very long."
The answer was his beloved's own deep purr. "When we are alone, we can use our true names Raberba." There was a sigh. "Sweet, beautiful Raberba ... as terrible as the seperation had been for me, it must have been 100 times worse for you. You never were one to take any sort of heartache well."
Quatre sighed in contentment as he was drawn towards the bed. There would be no lovemaking tonight ... nor tomorrow night. The both of them had changed through the years, and they needed to get reaquainted. That wouldn't prevent them, however, from sleeping in each others' arms. They needed the closeness to know that they were not dreaming - that they were truly together again.
Milliardo smiled as he gazed across to Duo, who was blushing a very attractive pink. After the initial tasks of the day, Milliardo had suggested that he and Duo bathe together so the youth could get used to being unclothed with him. He knew that each step would be crucial to how Duo saw him.
He had taken the first minutes with Duo to have Duo's clothing measurements taken. The clothing Duo had at the moment was suitable for when in Talgeise and for when they were travelling. However ... once in Sanq, Milliardo wanted Duo wearing clothing of the proper size and coloring.
Duo cleared his throat. "So ... what now?"
Milliardo regarded Duo as the youth glanced carefully at him. "What do you mean? We have eaten and we are enjoying a nice soak before bed."
Duo gulped. "By bed ... do you mean ...?"
Milliardo sighed at Duo's tone. "Duo ... how long will it take you to accept that I have no intention of harming you? Nor will I seek any gratification whilst we are here. I may, however, pleasure you in order to let you get a taste for what I can do to your beautiful body."
Duo blinked. "You ... you'll be able to do that without getting any gratification yourself? I thought ... I thought that the whole point of having a pleasure slave or even a concubine was to get that gratification."
Milliardo threw his head back and laughed. "Oh Duo Duo Duo." He shook his head as he regarded the surprised young man across from him. "I hardly need another person to gain sexual release. If that's ALL I wanted, then I'd only need a free hand. What I want is someone to speak with and spend my free time with. I'll grant that the sexual side of things is a perk of having a concubine, but that won't be the only thing you're for." He motioned to Duo. "Please come over here for a moment." He smiled as Duo shyly waded across and sat down next to him. "Why are you so firm in the mindset that all I want you for is sex?" He wrapped an arm arond Duo and held him close.
Duo sighed softly and shrugged. "I guess ... it's because that's what I was trained to believe and, to me, it makes no difference if I'm a slave or concubine. My sole purpose is to please you."
Milliardo combed his fingers through Duo's thin braids, liking the texture. "And you think that only sex will please me? I'll grant that the act itself is one of the most pleasurable that I know of, but there is so much more that I enjoy. I enjoy reading a good book while sitting on a windowseat. I enjoy riding a horse through the fields. I enjoy swimming in the lake not too far from my father's palace ... and so much more." He smirked wickedly into Duo's astonished eyes. "And I believe I'll also enjoy seeing your face in the throes of passion while I bequeath undescribeable pleasure onto you. All I ask of you is to give me a chance. Now ... let's get out of the bath. If we tally any longer, we shall wrinkle up." He stood and helped Duo do the same.
Milliardo clucked his tongue as Duo walked over to lay down on the bed, but accepted that this was part of Duo's testing phase. Actions did, after all, speak louder than words. So Milliardo simply put on his sleeping shift and approached the bed to study his young concubine. With a single hand, he began to stroke Duo's skin - still warm and moist from the bath, water beading in some places. Milliardo smiled as he regarded the beads and wiped them off absently with his fingertips. Another time, he would drink them from Duo's skin like he used to sip dew off of flowers.
Milliardo's fingers trailed up Duo's ribcage, and he watched as the muscles of that taut stomach rippled as a small giggle escaped Duo's lips.
"Sorry ... I'm a little ticklish." Duo blushed and looked away.
"Don't be sorry. Did you know that tickling someone was a great form of foreplay? It's not sexual and relaxes your partner. Like so ..." He spent a few minutes lightly running his fingers where he guessed Duo would be the most ticklish and smiled as Duo squirmed under the onslaught while giggling madly.
Milliardo's insides warmed as Duo slowly relaxed into his touches. He was very careful to use either his fingertips or the back or his hands. He didn't want to frighten Duo by grabbing him, and he knew the youth would appreciate the small semblance of control he had. If Duo felt the need to scamper away, he would be able to do so. He was also learning what Duo would flinch from. Duo did not like having the inside of his knees stroked. A quick look made Milliardo scowl a little. Someone had hit Duo there hard enough to scar. He left them alone after giving each tender area a gentle kiss as if to erase any remembered pain. Then he ran his fingers up the insides of Duo's thighs ... remaining quiet as Duo let out a soft moan. Speaking now would only break the tentative spell he had over Duo.
With the faintest touches of his fingertips, he began to pleasure his small concubine. He kept his voice low and seductive. "I want you to keep your hands behind your head as I do this. That is all you have to do except relax and hopefully enjoy this." He saw the confusion and unease in Duo's eyes. "Shhhh ... if at any time you feel you MUST run from me, you may. I promise to not get angry with you." He continued his gentle onslaught ... running his fingers along Duo's hardened length as Duo's cries slowly grew louder until the youth screamed in what had to be terror since he scrambled up and ran away.
Milliardo watched with a sad sigh as Duo ran to the adjoining bathing room. He waited a few minutes before turning down the covers and following after his young concubine. He entered the bathing chamber and saw the Duo was curled up and shivering while letting out soft whimpers. He walked a little towards Duo and knelt down. "What did I do to frighten you?"
Duo shook his head. "It wasn't you ... it was the feelings ... they were too much ... I couldn't ... too much."
Milliardo fought the urge to sigh in relief and simply retrieved a blanket to wrap Duo in. "Hush, Duo ... I understand and I'm not angry with you. Come along and let's go to sleep."
Duo nodded and quietly allowed Milliardo to lead him. "Uhm ... before ... before it got too much ... I ... I liked what you were doing."
Milliardo smiled and pressed a kiss to the top of Duo's head. "Then I'll have to be sure to go slower next time. Perhaps the buildup was too fast for you." He eased Duo to lie down and smiled as he joined Duo in bed. He merely pulled Duo into his arms. "Go to sleep now, Duo. Tomorrow is another day and who knows what wonders it will hold." He smiled as Duo did as he said, then closed his eyes to follow his concubine into the realm of dreams.
Trowa's ear flicked at the sound of someone else breathing a mere instant before he noticed the warmth of the weight resting against him. He opened his eyes and smiled happily as he looked down at the golden head of his childhood love. 'Ahhhh ... it wasn't a dream.' He leaned down and kissed Quatre's forehead gently, only to frown at the intense heat pouring off of him. 'Poor Raberba ... you always were one to run yourself ragged if someone wasn't there to stop you. Always took the weight of the world onto your shoulders.'
Trowa eased himself out of bed and tucked the blanket around the smaller blonde even as Quatre curled over to Trowa's side of the bed. With a chuckle, Trowa pulled the length of velvet beside the bed. He'd get some warm broth sent up ... and maybe a loaf of honey wheat bread that he knew Raberba had a liking for. He chuckled as he remembered watching the blonde noble risk breaking a limb to snatch a loaf cooling on the window ledge.
After he had put his request in with the maid, he took his opportunity to study the youth now called Quatre ... only to find that he was unhappy with how ill Quatre looked. His cheeks were a little sunken in and his face was too pale. His golden hair was dull, straggly and looked as if it needed a decent wash. 'As soon as you're fed, you'll have a nice long soak in the tub. Then you'll get some more rest.'
There was a knock on the door and Trowa openned it, expecting the tray he had requested. Instead there was a young messanger. "Can I help you?"
The girl nodded. "His highness, Milliardo Peacecraft, Prince of Sanq Kingdom, requests your presence."
Trowa glanced over to Quatre. "If it isn't urgent ... would you tell him I will be there shortly?" He simply watched as the girl curtsied again and walked away, passing another servant carrying a tray. He smiled as the scent of honey tickled his nose. "Thank you." He took the tray and was pleased that there was enough for both Quatre and himself.
The servant bowed with a smile. "If you don't need anything else ..."
Trowa shook his head. "I don't need anything else. Thank you, though." He watched the servant leave before turning back into the room. He set the tray down on the bedside table and rubbed Quatre's shoulder. "Come on, lovely one. Wake up so you can eat something."
Quatre's glassy eyes blinked open and his eyes widened as a smile lit up his face. "Triton!" He pushed himself up and threw his arms around the taller feline as he trembled. "I was afraid ... so very afraid ... that finding you had been a dream!"
Trowa purred softly as he rubbed Quatre's back. "I know. I felt the same when I woke up." He piled several pillows up and helped the smaller blonde recline against them. "Now ..." He took the spoon from the tray and dipped it into the aromatic soup. He blew on it a little and help it up to Quatre's mouth ... he was so intent on caring for the ill feline that he nearly missed the low growl that had started in Quatre's throat. He blinked at the glare Quatre was giving him. "What's the matter?"
"I don't need to be fed as if I were a newborn kitten."
Trowa felt a slight wave of grief fill him. He remembered a time when Quatre loved being pampered when ill. He brushed it away as best as he could, understanding that Quatre didn't want to appear weak. He managed a small smile. "Well, then ... I'll leave you to eat while I see what Prince Milliardo wants." He was almost to the door when he hear a sound of distress behind him.
"No! Wait! Please! I'll eat this quickly and I can go with you. PLEASE don't leave me alone!"
Trowa turned and watched as Quatre started to eat quickly ... too quickly. He ran back to the bed in alarm. "Shhh! Okay ... it's okay, Quatre. Slow down or you'll make yourself ill. Calm down, now." He picked up his own bowl with a calming smile. "I have my own meal to eat ... so we'll eat together and then I'll take you to see our new lord, all right?" He caressed Quatre's cheek as the blonde gave him a look filled with sorrow and hope. "Do you think I would leave you now that I've found you?" He chuckled as he shook his head. "No, fair Raberba. There's bound to be differences in us now. You were always a little headstrong ... but being on your own has brought that trait to the front."
Quatre looked miserable. "I didn't mean to snap at you like that, though."
Trowa shook his head. "But you had every right to. I took a liberty that, as a stranger, I do not have." He held up a hand. "We ARE strangers to one another. We are no longer Raberba and Triton. We are Quatre and Trowa ... and those two don't know each other." He smiled. "I'm looking forward to getting to know you anew. Now ... eat your soup."