<cackles> It lives, it lives! Bwahahahahahahaha!
Duo: Yeeesh, a fic goes dormant for a month or more, and she goes nuts when it finally starts coming together again.
<cough> Uh, right. Yeah, I know it's been a while, but my thought died.
Fortunately for me and this fic, I know a fairly decent necromancer whose rates are reasonable.

AU, yaoi, ooc, fantasy, written after watching the last eight eps of FY and midnight...
Dedicated with lots of love to Trowa-bat.

Not mine, don't sue.

*I can't believe it... Trowa never plays for strangers!* Cathrine bit her lower lip hard to keep herself from exclaiming aloud. Instead, she watched her brother in his musical interaction with Quatre, desperate to understand why he had chosen to involve himself.

The two played on, seemingly unconcerned by how startled their unexpected duet had left the audience. Quatre's expression reflected the bliss of an artist enjoying his work. Trowa seemed to relax into the grip of the music, the tension that was unnoticeable until gone melting away from his lean frame as his fingers danced through the complex patterns of the notes he played.

*It would be one thing if he played duets often... but I have to beg to get him to play with _me_!* Cathrine frowned. *I don't like this... I don't like how this Quatre has monopolized Trowa's time. I don't care if he _is_ His Highness' personal emissary, I don't like what he's doing. It's dangerous....*

As the impromptu duet drew to a close, Cathrine's eyes narrowed. *So help me, Quatre... if you hurt Trowa, I will kill you.*

Sleep eluded him.

Restless, Trowa tossed aside the heavy blankets of the bed. It was no use tossing and turning if he weren't able to rest, so he pulled on a robe. Moving to the fireplace, he pulled a chair closer to the hearth and the banked fire, and sat.

So strange, this feeling... the comfortable sensation being with Quatre evoked. Such instant rapport with another human being...

He frowned. It wasn't like him at all. He never gave his trust easily, even to his own family. Why should it come so quickly now, with this stranger from the south?

A faintly bitter smile flitted across Trowa's face. *I ought to be more careful with how I behave... a person in my situation can afford to trust no one... I'm all too familiar with that danger.*

Still. Quatre simply didn't seem to wish him any harm. His sincerity in reaching out to Trowa was undeniable.

*What is it about him that gets to me so much? Why did I feel so compelled to play with him tonight? After I'd sworn to myself never to play for anyone but family again?*

Trowa closed his eyes wearily. *Why does _he_ have to be the first person I've met to share my interests not because of who I am, but because they are his own?*

Buried under his mountain of quilts, Quatre stared up at the ceiling, collecting his thoughts.

*So. He likes books. He likes music. We play well together, and not in the twisted way Duo would interpret it. He's willing to open up to me, at least a little bit. All in all, this isn't a bad beginning. I've known many marriages based on much less in common.*

He snorted softly. "Yes, but how many of those marriages were happy?" he murmured to the darkness.

*We share a few interests. We have a little in common. How will things change if I tell him the truth? How will he relate to me as the Crown Prince?*

Quatre winced. "Maybe coming here incognito wasn't such a wonderful idea."

*Will he be angry with me, for lying to him? Will it bother him that I was so mistrustful of this betrothal that I had to investigate before committing? Or will he just shut himself off, to the way he was when we first me, cold and reserved?*

Quatre paused in his thoughts.

*And when the hell did I start caring?*

Duo grinned brightly at Quatre, chirping "Good morning!" as the disguised prince stumbled to his seat at the breakfast table.

"Duo, you're too damn cheerful for this early," Quatre muttered. "Shut up."

The wizard blinked and smirked. "What's the matter, Quatre, not sleeping well?"

"No. Pass the coffee." Quatre glared at Duo blearily. "Just because you and Heero entertained each other last night doesn't mean you get to take it out on the rest of the world."

"Don't mind him, he's always a little cranky in the mornings," Duo told Trowa. "But I expect you can get used to that--just make sure he gets his coffee."

"Duo," Heero muttered, nudging his lifebond meaningfully. "Not everyone is as much of a morning person as you are."

His lover beamed. "I know, and you can't imagine how much pleasure I get out of that."

"Heero, can I kill him? Please?" Quatre asked plaintively.

The warrior seemed to consider it. "No. You're halfway through your coffee, the mood will pass. Then you'd regret doing it. Probably."

Quatre sighed and complained to Trowa. "They never let me have any fun."

The baron chuckled. "So, gentlemen, what are you going to do today?"

Duo opened his mouth.

"Don't even think about it, Duo."

Duo shut his mouth and sulked.

*Well, while I was wondering if things were going to be different today, I have to admit this is not what I expected,* Quatre thought, somewhat ruefully as he fielded another one of Cathrine's questions about the southern lands and the Eternal City.

Heero leaned over and whispered to Duo, "She talks even more than you."

"Now that's an achievement," Duo commented. He didn't add his private thoughts about the matter--Why would Cathrine be so suddenly vocal?--because he knew Heero was wondering the same. "Think it has anything to do with last night's ... performance?"

Heero snorted. "You think? Protective, maybe?"

Duo grinned faintly at Cathrine, who was ensconced between Quatre and Trowa like a zealous chaperone. "No maybe about it."

Safe. Were he given to smiling easily, Trowa would have, relieved as he was by Cathrine's presence. Perhaps it was weak of him to let her defend him against... the strange threat Quatre presented. Regardless, it was easier than facing another morning with the other, having questions tossed at him, all for the sake of informing His Highness. It was much simpler to let Cathrine ply Quatre with question after question than it was to allow the emissary to pry at him, somehow worming past his defenses.

Yes. It was much easier to let Cathrine defend him.

*This won't do at all,* Duo decided, as it became apparent after lunch that Cathrine intended to entertain the group of them all day long. *Of course, leave it to the wizard to get you out of your messes, Quatre, he doesn't mind.*

Duo excused himself briefly, the twinkle in his eyes letting Heero know that nothing was actually wrong and he was only off to cause a little mischief. A few minutes and spells later, Duo wandered back in, radiating contentment.

Heero wasn't surprised at all when, a few minutes later, a harried servant hurried in, whispering desperately to Cathrine. She seemed annoyed, but rose from her seat between Quatre and Trowa anyway. "I apologized, but it seems there is a small, er, situation... I'll be back." And she swiftly left the room.

Quatre looked at the wizard, who was smiling serenely. *Oh, God, what did he do?* "That was very sudden, wasn't it?"

"Yes, very," Duo said offhandedly, casually inspecting his fingernails. "I certainly hope it isn't anything that'll tie her up all afternoon."

"That would be terrible," Heero agreed. "Speaking of tying up..." He stood, pulling Duo along with him. "I just thought of something that requires my attention." He and Duo also hurried out of the room.

Quatre glanced at Trowa quizzically. "It must be something in the water up here." The line, delivered in perfect deadpan, was rewarded with Trowa's laughter. Momentarily stunned by the unexpected sound, Quatre could only gape before his own smile turned into chuckles.

"They must be interesting travel companions," Trowa observed, still smiling faintly.

"You have no idea." Quatre shook his head. "You'd think they'd wear themselves out eventually, but it never seems to happen."

Trowa hesitated. "It must be nice to be that deeply... in love."

Quatre sobered. "Yeah. I guess so."

They were quiet together for several minutes, neither having anything to say to that. Eventually Trowa spoke. "Cathrine has been gone for quite a while."

"Mmmm. If I know Duo, she'll be busy till dinner time," Quatre said absently.

Trowa stared at him. "Duo?"

Quatre nodded, looking faintly embarrassed. "He's impulsive that way. Probably thought she was keeping me from accomplishing my task and took it upon himself to 'help.' He's like that."

"How kind of him," Trowa murmured drily.

"Isn't it?" Quatre smiled sardonically. "Sometimes he forgets to ask himself how welcome his help really is."

"So you've learned all you wanted?" Trowa asked. Somehow Quatre got the sense that the noble was offended.

"No, it's not like that..." Quatre stopped, not quite able to articulate how he felt.

"I make you uncomfortable."

"...yes. A little. Sometimes I wonder what possessed me to take this trip." Quatre shrugged. "It's hard to explain."

"I tend to make many people uncomfortable." Trowa seemed distant.

"Is it ...easier... for you that way?" Quatre asked slowly.

Emerald eyes traveled around to meet his. After several heartbeats, Trowa replied. "Yes."

Quatre nodded. "I see." He looked down. "I must bother you."

"Yes. No." Trowa sounded hesitant. "A little of both. Very few people take the trouble to care about me."

"Me too... most people only see my political power, and that's the only thing they concern themselves with. They'd prefer getting closer to the throne than me."

They lapsed into silence again, thoughtful. Quatre, after a few minutes, found himself staring at Trowa, studying the soft fall of hair over his face and the fine chiseled lines of his jaw. "Beautiful," he said, unthinking.

"What?" Trowa looked at him, startled.

Quatre flushed red. "Sorry... that wasn't something I should have said." *And when did I learn to appreciate masculine beauty, anyway?* "I'm sorry."

"Why did you say it?"

Quatre thought about discretion, but mentally shrugged it aside. Too many lies had been told already. "Because it's true."

"...thank you." Trowa also seemed a bit pinker than usual.

Quatre blurted it out. "Have you ever thought about what it'll be like to be married to another man?"

Trowa seemed even more taken aback. "That's a very personal question."

Quatre flushed again. "Sorry. It just slipped out."

"Why?"

Quatre floundered. "His Highness... never really thought about men in ... that way. He understands the theory and mechanics, of course, but... it never seemed to move him. So I was just wondering."

"Ah." Trowa looked away. "I've tried not to think about it. Whatever my destiny is... I follow it." He was quiet, then, shyly, added, "Will I... please him, do you think?"

Quatre smiled. "Yeah, I think so."

<blink> You know, I don't remember writing half that... <shrug> But oh well. Feedback, please?

Lys ap Adin