Title: Stripped of Glory Part 1
Author: Cloudy Daze
Rating: NC-17
Category: AU, Angst, Sap, Yaoi, NCS, OOC (well of course since it's an AU)
Pairing: 3x4 and 2x1
Feedback: Sure, if you like it tell me. It makes my muses happy and that's always good because then they'll write more. Don't care for getting a flame though. But, if you feel inclined I'll have to show it to Lady Nagisa and we'll get a big kick out of insulting it. 'Then we'll put it up in the Flamin' Hall of Shame for others to laugh at.' (Nagisa's Note)
Warning: This is a lot like category but I can be repetitive. You've got angst and sap, which my two muses just love to write. Also, mention of rape. I'll be good though and not show it because then I would have to get the dark muse out and she can be a handful. It's also AU, so if you have problems with that well, then just don't read it.
Disclaimer: Do I have to say this? (Nagisa: Hai...you have to say it!) Blah, blah, blah. I don't own Gundam Wing. Writing fanfiction keeps me from being bored during my classes. I'm a college student so you know I don't have any money. If you really want to sue me you can get my college bill. ^_^
___________________________________________________________________

The young man stood silently as he watched his brother put his horse through her paces. They smoothly moved as one, gliding over each jump, as it was presented to them.

The horse standing beside him nudged his arm. He raised his hand and slowly stroked the horse's nose.

"Steady, girl. You'll be out in the field soon enough," he promised. The brunette turned back just in time to see his brother halt his horse, after a jump.

He smiled and started clapping. "Good show, Trowa."

Trowa swung his leg over to one side and slowly slipped off the horse, landing gracefully on the ground. He gave the animal a quick pat on the neck, before grabbing the reins and walking over to his brother.

"So how was your romp through the forest, Duo?" The young man asked.

Duo grinned and shook his head. Unlike the traditional form of jumping, he had chosen to do cross-country jumping instead. So whenever he had a show or went out to practice Trowa would always ask if he had fun with his "romp through the forest."

"It was fine. Lady is starting to slow down with age, though," The brunette ran his hand down the horse's side.

"It happens to every good horse. Even Blizzard here," Trowa said as he patted the dapple-gray mare again.

Duo laughed faintly, as he always did when the horse's name was mentioned.

"As if your horse's name is any better than mine," Trowa remarked.

Duo shrugged. His horse was named Lady Luck, or just Lady for short. Both animals had been obtained when they were both babies. In fact Duo had only been a month old at the time. Lady would have been sent to slaughter if their father hadn't saved her. That's how she got her name.

Blizzard had been wandering the countryside when the royal guard had found and brought her back to the castle. She had been named by their sister, Catherine, when she was about five years old. Both boys had been taught to ride almost as soon as they could walk. Their father had picked out the two horses for them and they had used them ever since.

Duo sighed and wrapped his arms around Lady's neck. "I suppose we're going to have to get new horses soon." He murmured.

Just then a man walked up to them, wearing a gray outfit, which indicated that he was a servant. He bowed before them.

Duo rolled his eyes and waved the movement the servant had made away. "You must be new. We don't make people bow before us. Don't really care for all that royal mumbo jumbo."

"Your father wishes to speak to both of you." The servant announced.

"Thank you. Could you please have someone clean up the horses and put them out in the field?" Trowa questioned.

The servant nodded and took both leads. He then led them away.

"So what do you think father wants?" Trowa asked his brother.

"Probably the usual. When are you two going to settle down and get married?" Duo commented.

Trowa sighed. Duo patted the other boy's back and grinned. "Don't worry about it. He won't make us marry someone just to make the family look good. Plus he knows that we have the same sexual preference as he does."

The taller boy nodded. The story was long and only known to a select few. However about twenty-two years ago, way before either of them were born, their father had fallen in love with one of the advisor's sons. This in it's self was not a problem since the advisor was from an aristocratic bloodline. The conflict in this relationship though was the fact that this individual happened to be male. His name was Zechs Merquise and he was only 13 years old at the time. Their father was 14 and had just inherited the throne only a few months prior.

Their relationship was one of innocent love. They would sneak away whenever they could to spend time together. Their encounters never went farther then a few kisses, but they were very much in love. Reality began to set in, however, and Treize was told to marry and produce an heir. He realized that it would have to be done, even though he was still in love with Zechs. Now both their father and Zechs were very intelligent and together they came up with a plan.

This is when Treize's childhood friend, Lady Une, entered the scene. They had known each other since they were both in diapers and continued to have a close relationship. They both thought well enough of the other but hadn't really had any fancies of starting a relationship. When Treize went to her and explained what was happening she had agreed to help him. A marriage would create a big bond between their kingdoms, even though she knew he planned to be with Zechs, later.

Treize wed Lady Une when he was 15 years old. She agreed to produce two sons for him; the second just in case the first became ill and died, which happened quite a bit back then. After that she would plan to return to her homeland and stay there, which would result in a divorce. Sometimes things just don't turn out the way they are planned, however.

The first child they had was a daughter, who they named Catherine. The years that followed included hardship and increasing frustration. The next child that Lady Une had was stillborn. After that they tried again, but without success. Treize had begun to consider that the infant's death had a psychological effect on his wife, which resulted in her not having any more children. He had almost given up hope when Lady Une announced that she was pregnant again. It was about four years after the birth of Catherine that Trowa was born. Only two months after that Lady Une was pregnant again. She ended up having twins, but only the male survived. He was named Duo since he was the second born of the two. This last birth had taken its toll on her however and she just never recovered.

Lady Une passed away three months after Duo was born. Even though Treize had originally planned for her to leave after producing two sons, he had been crushed with her death. Only with the help of Zechs and his children was he able to crawl out of the pit of despair he was in. A year after his wife's death, Treize announced to the people of his kingdom that in honor of Lady Une he would never be with another woman again. He then told them that Zechs' help in raising his children had deepened their bond and given him a companionship he thought he had lost. Treize then left his people to decipher what he had meant.

Most figured out what their king had indicated and it was met with mixed emotions. Even if they didn't agree with his choice, most honored him for sticking with his promise to not go with another woman. The fact that Zechs was liked by all for his polite manner and charisma helped people accept the pairing. The few that verbally fought against it were quickly driven out of the kingdom by Treize's loyal followers.

The three children grew up with the best tutors and lifestyle that money could buy. They were loved and cared for by both Treize and Zechs. In fact Trowa remembered a really funny thing that happened when Duo was four years old. Since both boys never really had a mother growing up, they really didn't know what one was. One day when Duo was on a play date he asked the other children what a mommy was. They told him that a mommy was a lot like a daddy. They both took care of them, played with them, would make sure that they weren't hurt, all those things. So after everyone left Duo though about this. Treize was his daddy and he knew that because that's what his brother and sister called him. So this would mean that Zechs was his mommy. The mind of a child was so simple, Trowa mused. For a full year Duo called Zechs his mommy and nothing the others could say or do would change this.

"Trowa? Are you in there? Snap out of it," Duo exclaimed.

The brunette glanced up at his brother.

"Come on. We have to go talk to father," Duo remarked.

Trowa nodded and they both made their way to the throne room.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"What did I tell you Trowa? No sweat at all. I knew father wouldn't pressure us into marriage," Duo stated. He sat straddling a chair, his chin resting on the back of it.

His brother nodded faintly as he continued to read the paper that was in front of him.

"What are you looking at?" Duo asked.

"After our talk with father, while you were goofing off with Zechs, I asked the advisors to write down the best horse breeder that they knew of in the kingdom," Trowa answered.

Duo nodded and jumped up from the chair. He walked over and stood behind his brother, looking over his shoulder.

"Oh I know where that is. I went hunting with some friends down there," the long-haired boy exclaimed.

"How far away is it?" Trowa questioned.

"About an hour on horseback I believe. It took me two hours the first time because, I kind of got lost."

Trowa sighed and shook his head. Duo had a bright mind but his emotions usually clouded all his good ideas and common sense. He forgot simple things on a daily basis.

"I think I'm going to get a map," Trowa remarked.

"I'm not going to get lost this time. I mean the way back I didn't get lost. Granted I took a detour in a nearby town and got rip-roaring drunk, but that's besides the point," Duo protested.

"Map it is."

Duo grinned widely. Just then the door opened and a familiar black haired young man entered.

"Hey, Wufei. How are you doing today?" The long-haired boy asked.

"I just finished proposing a bill to the other advisors. I think it will pass," he answered.

"Another anti-slave act?" Duo remarked.

Wufei nodded.

Trowa said nothing but inwardly he figured as much. Wufei was after all an ex-slave. He knew first hand just how bad it was. The brunette sighed softly. He just couldn't figure out how a person could life with themselves or their conscience well owning a slave. So many bright and intelligent people would be burned out from hard labor before their gifts could even be determined. Take Wufei for example. When Trowa had chanced across the plantation he worked on, his owner was getting ready to sell him. Wufei was just a shell of a boy then, too weak to work yet. refusing to eat anything. Trowa calmly asked the owner who he thought would want the slave, hiding his outrage at the current condition of the boy. The owner stated that he knew the slave was worthless as a worker but he might make a good sex slave. Trowa had, had enough and on the spot bought Wufei.

Wufei, like most slaves just liberated, was skittish and withdrawn. He didn't really talk that much at all. Which wasn't that odd because most slaves were whipped if they said the slightest thing wrong. After much coaxing, the boy finally started to open up and then things that he said shocked Trowa. They were so insightful and intelligent. Wufei had to be one of the brightest people that he had ever known. It's just that no one really knew because his previous owner had him work in the field. That had been a test of physical strength and not mental prowess.

It had been two years since Wufei had joined them and he was one of the most important and prominent members of the king's advisors. Plus, he was a close friend to both Trowa and Duo.

"Wufei, we're going to pick out some new horses tomorrow. Do you want to come with us?" Duo asked.

"Where is it and which ranch?" Wufei questioned instead of answering the long-haired boy.

Trowa handed the piece of paper with the information to the black haired young man. Wufei glanced down at it and his eyes flashed in anger. Duo missed this quick emotional outburst but his brother didn't. Wufei handed it back to Trowa.

"I can't," Wufei stated firmly.

"Why not?" Duo asked.

Trowa said nothing. Duo didn't seem to realize how cold Wufei had gotten.

"I'm busy then. Now if you'll excuse me I have to go," the boy stated and with that he walked out.

"I wonder what's gotten into him?" Duo asked.

Trowa frowned faintly. He asked himself what usually upset Wufei. Well there was only one thing really because Wufei mostly didn't let anything bother him.

"I'm thinking that this horse breeder uses slaves still," Trowa stated.

"You're probably right. You'd think that with all these anti-slave acts we're putting out these people would get it into their thick heads that owning slaves is wrong," Duo remarked.

"People are stubborn like that," his brother said quietly.

"Yeah, well, so are we. Slavery is getting abolished sooner or later," Duo exclaimed.

Trowa nodded. As each new bill or act was introduced, more and more individuals were giving up owning slaves. When about seventy-five percent of the population was against slaves their father could then have it abolished.

"I mean you would think that the slave owners would realize that it's now cheaper and easier to use servants and pay them, then to actually have slaves. Look at all the rules they have to follow. They have to pay a tax for each slave they own. They have to feed slaves two meals a day. They also have to provide shelter for them. Granted it's not that good, but you know its got the basic four walls and a roof. Plus, a bed so they don't have to sleep on the floor. Owners can also no longer sexually assault or rape slaves. Which is good because that was just so wrong."

Trowa sighed inwardly and proceeded to block out Duo's ranting. When he got like this there was just no way to shut him up until he finished.

The brunette could understand why Wufei was frustrated. They had passed countless numbers of laws against slavery. They had even gone from town to town telling everyone how they felt that owning another human being was wrong. However they just couldn't reach some people and those individuals didn't care to follow the laws. Duo and he had taken many slaves away from owners that were mistreating them but there were only so many that they could save.

"You spacing out on me again? We really should get that looked at. It can't be too healthy for you," Duo remarked.

Trowa rolled his eyes and glanced at his grinning brother. "You're just impossible. You know that, don't you?" Trowa exclaimed.

"Yeah and that's why everyone loves me."

Just then the chiming of a bell sounded through the room to interrupt them.

"Alright! Dinnertime! Race you downstairs!" Duo announced as he bolted out of the room.

Trowa watched him go and smiled faintly. "Hard to believe that he's 16 years old," Trowa mused. The brunette glanced down at the paper once again before exiting the room.
_________________________________________________________________

TBC…