02-Aug-2000
Title: Mission Arcadia
bonnejean & vonceia *present*Category: yaoi, AU
RavynFyre & Kateri Marie
in The B&V Guest Authors Series!
Duo - words, thoughts, actions - RavynFyre
Heero - words, thoughts actions - Kateri Marie
Rip & Jack, Their World and General Production - bonnejeanne & vonceia
In a very short time, the five were out in the park, either flying or dealing with the intricacies of attempting to fly their own kites.
Since Duo was the only one in the group who knew the first thing about the process, a small instruction session took place.
The wind was good for it. The wind was almost always good for kites in Arcadia.
Kenny's kite went up rather easily, and he watched, his serious face almost enraptured as the blue bird became smaller and smaller, as it went higher and higher. He watched it with a concentration that suggested his heart was up there with it, finding a new freedom in the wind.
Duan watched with wide-eyes as his kite took to the wind. With a totally delighted grin on his face, he saw the skull kite soar high overhead as his hands adjusted to the pull of the string and the dancing breeze. Concentrating on the kite he wondered what it was like to fly that high.
Wufan frowned in concentration, wanting to do as well as the other two. He got a little tangled in the string at first but managed to get his kite aloft with some judicious help from Duo. Once he saw his dragon flying in the air, he got very excited and almost dropped his glasses from his nose. Pushing them up, he held tightly to the string, alternatively grinning, and then trying to have a more serious expression, which never lasted more than a few seconds.
Once Duo was sure Wufan had his dragon under control, he got his kite aloft with an almost negligent toss, carefully playing out the line with the same easy skill he'd once piloted Deathscythe with. As the kite soared gracefully up into the sky, he spared a glance behind him to see how Heero was faring.
Heero was scowling. No, that wasn't quite correct. Heero was giving the poor kite a glare of death so potent that it should have been vaporized on the spot. The kite lay limply on ground, the plain white surface glaring up innocently from the grass.
Heero felt Duo's eyes upon him and turned slightly, growling, "DON'T say it."
"What?" Duo asked innocently, his eyes sparkling and face far too calm to be Duo.
Heero's eyes narrowed at his lover as he debated whether or not he was being laughed at. It was hard to tell.
"Just because you were the pilot... Why should I say anything?" Duo continued, glancing back up at his own kite and adjusting the lay of the string in his hand minutely.
"I'm not the one who got himself captured." Heero grumbled as he returned to glaring at the kite, his shoulders slumping ever so minutely.
"Whoa. Low blow. eh.. Hm... Need some... help?" Duo asked, voice saccharinely sweet.
"Iie." Heero said shortly, turning completely back to the kite, refusing to cave.
Duo grinned a little to himself, carefully reeling the line on his own kite back in, and then gently bringing it down to the ground for a landing.
Heero took a break from glaring at the kite to spare a glare at Duo.
Duo simply tossed one of his patented Duo's Sexy Grins at his partner as he set his line reel down and wandered over to stand behind Heero.
"Sure you don't need any help?" he asked, his voice low and seductive as he sidled closer.
"Hn." Heero grunted, though the glare didn't seem quite so ominous.
Duo moved closer, pressing himself up behind Heero and molding his body to the Japanese boy's. He took Heero's hand in his own and guided his arm, carefully adjusting the grip and the tension.
"Now... all you have to do is give it a quick.. jerk," Duo purred, matching words to action, "And up she goes."
The kite leapt into the air.
Heero sighed under his breath and leaned back into his lover. "Arigato." The word had barely enough sound to be heard.
But then the kite caught the light. Silver glistened against the white as the faint tracings of a bird could be seen on the flat white plane of the kite. Heero nodded in appreciation as the sunlight twinkled off the thin metallic lines and leaned against his lover just a bit more.
Duo sighed happily, disinclined to retrieve his own kite just yet. He smiled up at the design flashing in the sun. So much like Heero. On the surface, it looked so unadorned and utilitarian. But in the right light... and...
"Beautiful," he whispered into Heero's ear.
"That would be you." Heero responded, a little in awe at the feeling of wonder within his own chest.
"Heh... Flattery will get you anything you want," Duo replied, amused.
The people of Arcadia left the five on their own for a while, but eventually, others got the fever and wandered into the library and out again. When Duo glanced around he saw other kites. There was enough room to spread out a bit... and this was Arcadia... they could fly kites in the streets if they felt like it. The wind between the buildings was tricky but not untried, and on the north and west sides of the park the ground sloped down to the bayou they'd crossed and to wider grassy areas beyond.
"Look. Started another trend, Hee-chan. Having fun?"
Heero considered the question for a moment, cocking his head unconsciously as he thought. It took him a moment to analyze but he looked back at his lover with slightly widened eyes, "Hai." He sounded like he didn't believe it.
Duo grinned widely, his eyes twinkling with mirth.
"How bout you guys? Kenny? Duan? Wufan? Having fun?" he called to the boys.
Kenny heard the words somewhere on the ground and had to come back from the air to hear them. He tilted his head, his expression almost like Heero's, not so much analyzing as opening to a feeling that was new and unfamiliar. After a moment, He took a breath and then said firmly, "I... am having... fun!"
Duan glanced over at Kenny, hearing his voice, and smiled. "I'm having fun, too!" he exclaimed, gleefully with a little giggle at the end. In fact, Duan had never had this much fun in his short life. He felt a part of things... of a family and the feeling was too precious to be able to speak in words. For once, he did not feel afraid.
Wufan attempted to bow, but stopped because his glasses slipped and he didn't have a free hand to take care of them. "Yes," he said clearly and re-focused his attention on the soaring kite.
"Well, that's half the mission accomplished," Duo sighed, pressing closer to Heero.
"Half?" Heero half turned against Duo so that he could see his lover's face.
"You had to think too long about that before you answered. Now all I hafta do is get you to have fun often enough that it doesn't surprise you when it happens."
Heero blinked, that was something he'd never thought about before. He was going to say something... but he'd used up far more than his usual allotment of words for the year so he settled for leaning his head on Duo's shoulder, just slightly.
Duo smiled tenderly, his arms tightening against Heero as he dropped a soft kiss on his temple.
"We'll have to put in for a larger vocabulary quota for you next year."
"Hn." Heero grunted softly, relishing the familiar feel of Duo's kiss.
"Hmmm... I'm surprised Rip isn't out here playing target practice... All these tempting targets flying around," Duo said, grinning as he eyed the skies around them.
A voice behind him said, "I prefer targets that squeal when I hit them."
"What was that old phrase? something about speaking not of the devil... lest he appear or something?" Duo retorted, glancing over his shoulder.
Ripper laughed merrily. Jack was beside him. They were not flying kites, but seemed to be watching the larger group in and around the park with some mild amusement.
"Would you like to know why the Arcadians love kites, Duo Maxwell?" Jack asked.
"Hmm... I smell another story... Yeah. sure. What gives?"
"After we had destroyed the artifact, this world was still poisoned. Something had to be done. Special help was needed then, as it was when you agreed to come here. There was a lady who came from yet another world. I doubt you'd believe the things this lady could do. She found a way to use a special life energy to cleanse the taint, but to provide enough of it, she created a storm. The storm became a medium for spreading life back into the world. In honor of her, the Arcadians love wind and sky and storms," Jack said. Then he smiled indulgently. "Sounds rather like a fairy tale doesn't it?"
"About as much as musical instruments that appear out of nowhere and transport the unwary to magical new realms," Duo replied smoothly.
Rip grinned. "Speaking of which... you did something this morning, didn't you?" This was to Heero.
Heero met his eyes solidly but said nothing.
They were joined by another person. Heero saw him coming. Gun was again dressed in yet another incredible suit, his hair perfectly groomed. Trotting beside him was a little boy who looked an awful lot like him.
He came up to the two. He nodded to Duo. He looked at Heero.
"This is my son, Raj," he said formally.
Raj grinned and stuck out his hand.
"Nice ta meetcha Raj," Duo said, smiling down at the boy.
"Same here!" Raj said happily. Then he ran over to Duan and Kenny and Wufan, and began talking to them about kites and kite flying.
Heero nodded as he shook the boy's hand. Then he turned expectant blue eyes to Gun. Gun looked back. "You were successful, I hear," he said. "Good work. We're grateful. And you brought back some good people." He looked from Heero to Duo and back. "I also hear you might have to go again. But until you do, and unless it's necessary..." he held out his hand.
Heero gave him a slight nod, in acknowledgement, and then his hand flicked to his jeans and brought out the gun in question. "It won't be necessary." He said simply, as he returned the gun to its owner.
Gun took the gun, held it briefly, and then looked sharply at Heero. His brown eyes met Heero's blue ones for a long penetrating moment. Then he put the gun away. His expression was quite clear. He was deliberately not asking something and further more did not want it to come up.
A glint of amusement passed through Heero's eyes but he didn't break the silence.
Nodding, Gun cast a glance around at the kite fliers. "Jack tell you about Lady Dracontine?"
"Yup. Sounded pretty cool... Well, I'm guessing that's the Lady they were talking about," Duo answered.
Gun smiled. "She hated being called that. Feisty bint," he said, using a term he had not dredged up in a long time. "Good with wind though. You may need my help for the... next problem. We'll see. I do some transport. Aircraft. About all there is of them here any more anyway."
"Next problem? What's on our plate next?" Duo asked, glancing from Gun to Jack and Rip.
"One of the people you brought back confirmed something for us. The woman, Lev." Gun said. He glanced at Jack. "I'm going to do a survey trip. If it works out, we have the location of another... base."
"Places to go... People to kill... Bases to blow... All in an afternoon," Duo quipped, mayhaps a little too lightheartedly, although he kept his voice low enough that it wouldn't carry beyond their small circle.
Gun smiled very slightly, revealing the potential for a very wolfish expression that might once have been habitual.
"Daddy, you going on a trip?" Raj said, coming back.
Gun looked down and nodded. "Short one. Back soon."
Raj nodded seriously. "Dangerous?"
Gun looked at his son a moment. "No," he lied.
Raj shrugged.
"Back to the Mayor's office for you," Gun said. Raj grinned and ran off, waving to Kenny, Duan and Wufan.
Gun watched him, then looked back at Duo and Heero. He let his glance slide to the kids. Then back.
"You are good people." he said. Then he nodded and moved off, following his son.
"He dun know us very well, do he?" Duo quoted, grinning at Rip conspiratorially.
Rip grinned back. "When Reg, Gun was fifteen he could have taken either of you in a cardboard box."
Duo eyed Rip thoughtfully for a long moment, glancing over at Duan and Kenny and then back.
"You could have taken that base," he guessed.
Rip shrugged. "Not my thing. I could have killed em all, sure. Wouldn't have come back with the survivors you did. The right tool for the right job, dear boy."
Duo's gaze darted back to the boys before nodding to Rip.
Heero glanced up at Rip suspiciously, "How did you know?"
Rip grinned.
Jack said, "They talk to each other."
One of Heero's eyebrows raised, "Rip and the gun?"
"Mmmm... not exactly. Our instruments and the gun came from the same place. They talk to each other."
Heero considered that for a moment. "Will it grow?" he asked curiously, figuring they would have more experience than he.
Jack laughed. It was a deep throaty sound. "I should imagine so... we had no idea it could do what you got it to do. It does set an interesting precedent. It will take energy, I am certain. The question is where it will get the energy to complete."
"What kind of energy?" Heero asked, moving into soldier mode without missing a beat.
"Almost any kind. They take energy from nearly any source, and in such minute quantities it's undetectable. I suspect they can use the energy from gravitational fields for power, but as I've mentioned, I am not a scientist," Jack remarked.
Heero considered for a moment, memorizing the words, and then nodded, "Good."
Rip chuckled. "Gun will make his survey trip this afternoon. He prefers to travel at night for this. We expect him back by tomorrow. At that point we'll know something... more. Till then, you may as well enjoy yourselves."
"Ninmu ryoukai," Duo quipped.
Duo returned his attention to the dipping kite in the sky, and his partner still enfolded in his 'tutoring' arms. He trusted Jack and Rip to go entertain themselves as they saw fit. Leaning back into his partner, he dropped another small kiss along Heero's jaw line, automatically adjusting his arms along Heero's to guide the still soaring kite.
Duo lost himself in the feel of the boy in his arms, and the shifting silver and white kite in the clear sky. All thoughts of time and responsibility evaporated from him and he was content to simply "be".
Kenny watched his kite dance in the air, but his thoughts were now divided. He glanced at Duan, wondering if his friend was also thinking along the lines he was. If so, it might be comforting. If not... he did not want to spoil Duan's fun.
Duan looked up at the sky, his expression somewhat subdued. Glancing to his right, he saw Kenny looking at him and nodded. Then, he took a deep breath and sighed.
Wufan, who had been concentrating on the kite, the string, the wind and keeping his glasses from falling off, suddenly realized that he was getting very tired. He glanced over at other boys, then sighed himself. Finally, he fell down to the ground landing solidly on his butt, but still managed to keep the kite aloft.
Heero chuckled softly as he watched the exchanges between the kids. He stroked Duo's arms softly and motioned with a jerk of his head to where Wufan sat.
"Looks like it might be time to call it a day," Duo murmured.
"Think you can handle this bad boy on your own for a bit?" he asked mischievously.
Heero turned his head slightly to nip at Duo's ear, not hard enough to hurt...much. "Go." He ordered as he slowly started to reel the kite in, sighing slightly as the silver disappeared, losing the angle of the sun.
Duo grinned as he disengaged himself from his partner and wandered over to kneel beside Wufan.
"Tired?"
"Yes," Wufan replied. "My arms are tired a little. I can still make it, though. I'll get up in a second."
"Hmm... Actually, I was kinda thinking about heading in to find some lunch soon. We've been out here a while," Duo said conversationally as he watched the dragon looping lazily through the sky above them.
"Yes," Wufan said, "Could you please tell me how to get it down? I.. we have to return the kites to the library."
"Sure thing," Duo answered, carefully instructing Wufan on the proper technique to bring the kite in for a gentle landing. He was sure to pitch his voice loud enough that it would carry to Kenny and Duan as well, but he was equally as careful to let the proud young boy bring down the dragon on his own.
Kenny had already begun to reel in his string, taking his cue from Heero.
Duan did as instructed, carefully reeling the string in, watching the kite come slowly down to Earth.
"Thank you," Wufan said, watching as his kite landed safely. He stood and turned to Duo, bowing deeply.
"No. Thank you. You're a good kid, Wufan. It's been a pleasure."
Wufan smiled, then pushed the glasses back up on his nose. "Excuse me. May I ask you a question?" he said, looking up at Duo.
"Go fer it," Duo replied, nodding.
"How old are you?" Wufan asked.
"I'm 17. Why for?"
Behind the glasses, Wufan's eyes grew very round. "Really?" he said in some wonder, then immediately schooled his features to neutral... or at least tried to. "Please for... wow. Your age. There's no one that age anymore." he said.
"Yeah. That's what Rip and Jack told us."
Wufan shook his head. "No, I mean there are people who are old, like twenty and older, but not many. Then there's the kids... us. Most of us are 6. What does that feel like?"
"What? Being 17?"
Wufan nodded.
"Heh... Maybe you should ask someone who's a little bit more mature than I am. I'm still a six year old myself, at heart," Duo replied with a grin.
"Oh. Ok," Wufan said.
Kenny came closer.
"Heh.. Sorry. I can't take too terribly much serious. Lemme try again..." Duo said, his voice trailing off as he considered the question.
"What kind of feel do you want to know about? In here?" Duo asked, pointing to his head, "Or here?" Duo asked again, this time pointing to his heart.
Wufan blinked. "I would like to know both."
Kenny edged even closer.
Duan moved towards Kenny.
Heero paused where he was wrapping up his kite, curious to hear his lover's reply.
Duo smiled at the other two boys, repositioning himself until he was sitting on the grass and opening his arms in a clear invitation for them to gather close.
Kenny moved around strategically between where Duo was sitting and where Heero was standing.
Duan merely leaned against Duo's leg, waiting for the answer.
Duo took a long breath, staring up at the sky for a drawn out moment before he gazed at the three boys.
"It's a lot like being your age. But... Sometimes I think too much. I have about ten more years of stuff to think about. And sometimes, I don't think enough. I have another ten years of stuff I wanna forget."
Kenny reached out, very slowly, and touched Duo's braid. He looked at the older boy and said softly. "It hurts, doesn't it? And then it feels good, sometimes. It's like... harder... but you're stronger."
"Yeah. It hurts sometimes..." Duo replied thoughtfully. Then his expression turned mischievous.
"But then we found you guys," he laughed, gathering the three of them into a hug.
Duan giggled all the way, holding on to Duo like a barnacle.
Wufan was startled beyond belief. He had never imagined that he would be included in such a group. It was nice.
Heero smiled as he saw the group hug and he walked over to lay a hand on Duo's braid.
Duo glanced up at his lover and smiled back, purring a tiny bit in the back of his throat.
"Yeah... but he's stronger than me," Duo said, answering Kenny's earlier reply as he nodded up at Heero standing behind him.
Heero shook his head as he crouched behind his lover, "I thought we already discussed who was stronger than whom."
"We did? Hmm... You spouted some nonsense about that... But I don't recall any discussion," Duo answered innocently.
Heero tweaked the braid, "Baka."
Duo chuckled in answer and then loosed his deathgrip on the boys long enough for them to breathe.
Kenny said, very softly, "Both stronger together."
Duo glanced sharply down at Kenny, his expression surprised by not only the statement, but how true it rang in his heart.
"Yeah. I guess yer right... And that's what it feels like, here," he said wonderingly as he touched his fingertips to his chest.
"Whole." Heero said, offering the word but not explaining it.
"More than whole," Duo countered, gathering the kids back up into another hug.
"Together!"
Duan continued to giggle.
Kenny took and exaggeratedly deep breath, smiling very so slightly. He was making a small joke.
"Hmm... Maybe we should have you tutor Heero, Kenny," Duo said, chuckling down at the small boy as he loosened his hold again.
Heero glared at his lover for just a moment before deliberately sticking his tongue out at the braided boy. "Hn."
Wufan saw Heero stick his tongue out and covered his mouth as he started to laugh.
Kenny's eyes widened and he too clapped both hands over his mouth to cut off a startled giggle.
Duo clutched dramatically at his chest, feigning a heart attack as he flung himself backwards in a collapse.
"My heart..." Duo gasped, as he threw his arms out to the side and faked death.
Kenny regained his composure, looking up at Heero with very shining eyes. "I guess," he said thoughtfully, "If he's dead... I get his lunch."
"Hai." Heero said, with a smug smile spreading over his lips.
Wufan clapped a hand over his mouth to suppress a giggle.
Duan scrambled on top of Duo and put his ear to his chest. Looking up at Heero, he said, "He's fakin' I can hear his heart. But I'll take his dessert."
"Oh you think so, do you!" Duo crowed, rising suddenly and catching Duan up in his arms. His nimble fingers unerringly sought out Duan's ticklish spots as he retaliated against the thought of losing his food.
"Spoilsport!"
Duo said, sticking his tongue out at the boy as he tickled him mercilessly.
Duan squirmed and gasped for air as he was hit by the onslaught of tickle-fingers. There was no good defense, so he simply endured.
Kenny darted up and ran around behind Duo and tapped his shoulder.
Duo paused in his attack long enough to glance behind and meet Kenny's gaze.
"Yes?"
"Run Duan!" Kenny yelled, and darted around, grabbing his friend's hand and pulling him up.
Not needing to be told twice, Duan took off.
Seeing his lover's distraction and the kid's escape, Heero decided to help them out and he pounced, bringing deadly accurate fingers to bear.
Duo eeped loudly, his voice rising to an unhealthy octave before he started giggling.
"Wufan! Help! ACK!" he managed to gasp between laughs.
Wufan looked up with wide eyes. The whole scene before him was the most fun he'd ever had. At the call for help, he moved to action. Standing behind Heero, he moved bringing both hands up to try and tickle the pilot as he had observed.
But before he could, Heero whirled around, switching targets with a frightening fluidity.
Unable to help himself, Wufan succumbed and giggled and squealed delightedly.
Duo, freed from his torment, struggled to get his breath back. After a moment, he surged to his feet, slipped past Heero, and then grabbed up the small boy Heero was torturing. Heaving Wufan onto his shoulders, Duo sprinted off after Kenny and Duan.
"Don't worry, Wu! I'll protect you!" he yelled, trying, in vain, he already knew, to get away and stay away from his partner.
Heero watched them go and grunted, giving them roughly a four second head start. And then he was off. "Baka!" He called ahead, just loud enough for Duo to hear.
However, Heero had reckoned without Kenny and Duan. Having gotten a considerable start, they had circled back around and as Heero waited the four seconds, he heard Kenny say, "Now!" and Kenny and Duan dived for Heero's ankles, tripping him onto the grass. Then, in a prepared attack strategy, they both landed on his chest. Kenny did not attempt to tickle Heero, he realized it would not work. He settled for a secondary goal - pinning him with his and Duan's weight across his main body mass.
Duo had heard Kenny's attack command, and had halted his headlong flight to glance behind. Seeing Heero sprawled on the ground with the two boys sitting comfortably on his chest brought a burbling, genuinely happy laugh to his lips, unlike most of his manic chuckles and giggles. He set Wufan down on the ground and started sauntering back towards his trapped partner.
Heero growled up with mock severity, but there were lights dancing in his eyes.
"Terms of surrender," Kenny said seriously. "No more tickling and lunch now."
"Yeah!" Duan piped in.
"Hai." Heero agreed, feeling his own stomach growl beneath the weight of the two boys. Then he stole a glance up at Duo. "For now."
Duo laughed again, although this time is was lower, full of promise.
"Fair enough," he agreed.
Nodding Kenny jumped up, but stood close by, instead of running behind Duan. He waited with arms crossed, to see if Heero would honor the surrender.
Heero got up and held his hands palm up in the classic "unarmed" position. Then he held one out to Kenny as he started walking towards lunch.
Kenny took the offered hand, grabbing Duan's with his other.
Duan closed his hand around Kenny's nodding at his friend for the good job he had done.
Wufan looked at all of them with genuine fondness and excitement. He nodded as well, thinking that the negotiation had gone very well. Then he gasped. "The kites," he said.
"ERK! Oh yeah!"
The next moment, a figure walked past the small group. "Don't worry about it. I'll get 'em. You guys go and eat," Mayor Shane said, going to retrieve the kites.
"You don't have to do that. We can get them," Duo said, a little guiltily.
Ronnie Shane stopped and turned to them. "I know," he said, easily. "Just try and relax. You've done enough in your life to warrant a little R&R. Arcadia is all about rest and relaxation. Besides, I like to walk the City."
Duo's brow creased slightly as a small frown flitted across his features.
Maybe it was just finding the kids, a new and wonderful addition to his life, but somehow, Duo just didn't feel worthy of everything that the Arcadians had been doing for them. He shrugged to himself.
Heero knew a little of what his lover was thinking. After a lifetime of thinking of himself as disposable, this was quite strange. To go once more from weapon to... human. Just like the first time, it felt strange. Like being in someone else's skin.
End of Part 15
Let is know what you think!!!
for the writers....
bonnejeanne & vonceia present
RavynFyre and Kateri Marie
Please feel free to direct feedback to any or all of the authors!
ravynfyre@hotmail.com,
nacl3salaris@hotmail.com,
vonceia@yahoo.com,
bonnejeanne@yahoo.com.