11-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
After the others had left, Duan looked at Kenny, then looked up at Tryan. "So, where are you guys from? You from a base too?" he asked, stroking the lioness' side.
Emerald green eyes looked down at Duan. "No," Tryan replied. "We travel around a lot. "In fact, we just came from a base."
Kenny looked up from the lioness, sharply. "You came from a base? How far from here?"
Tryan thought for a minute. "About a half a day," he replied, remembering the trip.
Duan looked at Kenny. "Think that's the one they're goin' to?" he asked.
Kenny nodded shortly. He looked at Tryan. "Was it dangerous?"
Tryan nodded. There was a glint of something like hope in his eyes, but he wanted to be cautious. "We almost didn't make it out. There's a guy there. He's real... special. He helped us."
Scowling, Kenny thought furiously. "They had guns right?"
"Yeah," Tryan said, remembering. "They had lots of guns. Why?"
Duan looked up at Kenny. "Sounds just like our base," he said, quietly. "Did you see any big machines? Like way big with legs?"
"Yeah," Tryan said. "They gave us a tour."
"This means Heero and Duo might get into trouble," Duan offered.
Kenny looked at Duan. "Means it's dangerous. They'll... they might... try to leave us behind," he said in a low voice.
Duan nodded. "I was thinking about that, too." he said, quietly.
Kenny glanced at Tryan. "That guy who helped you - was he a grownup or a kid?"
"He was a kid," Tryan replied. "He had yellow hair and his name was Carter. He knew things and he was nice. You think, your friends will go to the base?"
Kenny nodded. "If it's dangerous, yes."
Tryan nodded. "I have to do some more stuff, but I can let them know some things Carter told me before we had to go. Think they'll listen?"
"Yeah," Duan said. "They could use information. He looked up at Kenny. "You think they'll leave us behind?"
Kenny remembered quite clearly how reluctant the two had been to take him along the first time. He nodded. "They'll wanna protect us," he said.
"But we can take care of ourselves," Duan said, even though he knew it was a slim chance that they'd be invited along.
Kenny said softly, "If they go and something bad happens, we would never know what it was."
Duan frowned. "I don't like that," he said. "We should go."
Kenny looked up at Tryan. "Do you know where it is from here?"
"Yes," Tryan said. "We came from along the coast, but I remember it. It had two, big buildings that looked like giant ant mounds."
Kenny looked at Duan and then at Tryan. "After you do the stuff, you'll talk to our guys. After that... would you talk to us?" He said to Duan, "They have maps and stuff on the computers here. If Tryan can help us mark the map, we would know where they were going. Then we'd have to get transportation."
Duan's eyes lit up. He nodded. "Yeah!" he said, excitedly.
"We got some maps too. I've got some maps of my own with spots that Carter showed me. I'll bring those later," Tryan said.
Kenny looked at Tryan. "Thanks," he said. "If you have work, we could help you if it's something we can do, like cleaning up."
Tryan smiled. "Sure, that would be great. We could talk some more," he said.
"Good evening," a fourth voice called. Wufan walked over carefully. He saw the other boys with the lioness and the performer and was duly impressed.
"Hi Wu," Duan called. "This is Tryan and his lioness is called Sheeba."
Wufan bowed to Tryan and then to the lioness. "I am honored to meet you." he said.
Tryan nodded back.
"Wufan's ok," Duan offered.
"Wufan is a good fighter," Kenny said quietly.
Tryan looked over at the bespectacled Chinese boy with some interest. He didn't look like a fighter at all. In fact, Tryan thought that Wufan looked the type to be more at home in a book that slugging it out. "Hi, Wufan," Tryan said.
Wufan looked down and blushed slightly. He felt very proud that Kenny, who he had thought to be the most perfect warrior of them all, would consider him so highly.
"Thank you, Kenny," he said, softly.
Kenny shrugged. "It's true," he said. "You just don't brag about it. Wufan... we might... we might need your help."
"There is no honor in bragging about a skill that one uses to defend oneself," Wufan said, reciting what he'd been taught. "What do you want me to do? I'll help," he said, moving closer. He glanced up at Tryan, then reached a hand out to touch the lioness.
"Hey, we'll talk about it later," Duan said. "They're comin' back."
Duo sauntered up to the group of assembled boys, a small grin playing at the corners of his mouth.
"Plotting mayhem and world domination?"
Kenny looked guilty for a split second and then blinked at Duo innocently. "Sure."
Duo's eyes narrowed suspiciously as he peered down at Kenny.
"Really, now... Hn. Is that all you were plotting?"
Duan looked up at Duo and grinned. "No," he said.
From behind Duo, Heero shook his head ruefully. He'd never believed that look on Duo. It was only barely more convincing on Kenny.
Duo smiled suddenly and patted Duan on the head.
"Oh good. I was starting to get worried there for a minute!"
Duan laughed and then hugged Duo tightly. "We were also petting Sheeba and talking to Tryan. He's gonna help us!" he said.
"Good evening, Heero... Duo," Wufan said, bowing.
Heero nodded to Wufan in greeting before turning blue eyes on Tryan. "Help?" He inquired with eyebrow raised.
"Hn," Tryan remarked, with a slight nod. "Would it be all right if Duan and Kenny help me with the animals?" he asked.
Duo nodded.
"Yeah. Sure. If they want. Heh. What am I saying? Yeah. When you're all done... could we ask you some questions about that base? Katrina thought you might know some stuff that could help us," Duo said.
"Yes," Tryan said. "Kenny and Duan can show me where you live, or we can meet up there on the steps," he said, shrugging.
"Sounds good. How long do ya think it'll take you guys?" Duo asked.
"It usually takes me about an hour," Tryan said.
"Can Tryan and Wu come to the room?" Duan asked, then glanced at Kenny for confirmation.
Kenny nodded and looked to the older ones.
"Yeah, sure! Right, Heero?" Duo said cheerfully as he grinned over at his partner.
Heero looked over the kids quickly and nodded, "Hai. Sounds good."
"Then, we'll see ya in an hour," Duan said.
Duo nodded at the boys and then met Duan's eyes squarely. He tossed the smaller boy a look that clearly said "I know you're up to something. We'll talk later," and then glomped Heero's arm playfully.
"Shall we?"
Working out quickly the amount of damage the four kids could do in an hour, Heero nodded. "Let's go." Time with Duo was going to be a rare commodity he could see.
"Whew! That was close. Duo knows something's up," Duan said.
Making sure the bigger boys were out of range or trying to, Kenny said quietly. "That's fine. We'll come clean when they do."
"Good plan," Tryan said.
"Excellent," Wufan replied in agreement.
Tryan got Sheeba up and walked the group towards the animal enclosures.
Heero glanced at the small knot of kids over his shoulder briefly before turning back to Duo. "They're up to something."
"Yeah," Duo agreed absently as he stared at the party still rolling on around them.
"Wonder if they have any cotton candy around here?"
A smile flickered onto Heero's face. He might not like parties, but Duo... that was another story entirely. Blue eyes scanned the party quickly. It couldn't hurt. "We'll get some." He said, ignoring entirely the how of the question.
"Sugoi!" Duo chirped, scanning the crowd for the appropriate booth, stand, or vendor.
"OH! There!" he said, pointing off to the near distance and hauling Heero along in his wake.
Heero sighed in mock exasperation, letting his lover pull him along. "Why do I have the feeling I'm going to regret this?" He muttered to himself as they arrived at the booth.
"Maybe because it's pure sugar?" Duo supplied with a wicked grin.
Heero groaned in a low voice and entertained a few plans of hijacking Duo away from the party and spending the hour on more... entertaining pursuits.
But one look at Duo's face speared those plans. "Get your.. sugar." He shuddered.
"Okay," Duo said innocently.
Without warning, he spun around and grabbed Heero in a tight embrace, locking his lips over the Japanese boy's in a fierce kiss.
The kiss surprised the breath right out of Heero's chest and he wasn't sure what made his heart trip like it was. But the surprise was brief, quickly melting into the sensation of Duo's talented mouth.
He tore himself away with difficulty and not a little reluctance, "Get your candy. Or you won't have another chance."
As the two boys parted, a bit of applause broke out from those around them.
A few cheers.... some whistles...
"Man... I could get used to this public display of affection thing," Duo sighed happily.
He turned and gave the surrounding crowd a bow with a deep flourish and a mischievous smile.
"Thank you, thank you... "
It took Heero a moment to decide who he wanted to glare at more: the crowd, or Duo. He settled for sweeping a blanket glare over all of them, tugging on his partner's braid when he bowed. "Come on baka."
The reaction to the glare was not what Heero was used to. No one shrank away or even looked taken aback. They looked at him admiringly. Duo's bow was greeted with smiles and grins.
The cotton candy vender handed a cone swirled with the pink spun sugar to Duo and looked inquiringly at Heero.
"Yes. He'll take one too," Duo answered for his partner, taking a second cone and forcing it into Heero's hand.
Heero's eyes widened slightly, a threatening look coming into them. He stopped glaring at Duo long enough to glance at the vendor, "You have no idea what you've done."
Then he looked at the cone Duo had given him. His head cocked as blue eyes regarded the fluffy pink substance like it was some new kind of neurotoxin. He raised a finger and touched it gingerly.
His lip curled a little when it melted on his finger, leaving a thick sticky sugar substance behind. "I am not eating this."
Duo happily munched on his cone, glancing up at Heero with a grin as his lover regarded the confection warily.
"Why not?" he asked, his chin covered in pink and red goo.
"It can't be safe." Heero said flatly.
Suddenly, Heero felt a tug on his hand.
Heero glanced down. "Hn?"
A little girl looked up at him. "Hi! Remember me? Shelly?"
Heero nodded slowly, almost hesitantly, "Hai. Shelly." He didn't know what else to say to her. He glanced up at Duo briefly for help.
"Can I have some of your cotton candy?" she asked politely, looking at the pink stuff with adoration.
Eyes still widened slightly, Heero looked at the cotton candy, then down at the girl. Then he held out the cone, offering the child the confection.
Shelly smiled hugely and picked a handful of pink fluff from the cone and then put most of it in her mouth. She looked up at Heero and said formally, "Ah ree gato!" Then she scampered off.
Heero blinked after the child.
Duo started to laugh, watching the consternated look flash across his lover's normally passive face with glee. He took advantage of Heero's stunned distraction and popped a wad of cotton candy in Heero's mouth.
"Ha!"
Heero jumped as the sugary substance melted instantly on his tongue making extrapolation impossible. The thickly sweet taste permeated his mouth almost immediately and he found himself blinking again in shock.
"Of course it's not safe. That's the point, silly," Duo said smoothly as he watched Heero's reaction with amusement.
Heero swallowed a few times, and licked his lips, the taste lingering long after the... substance was gone. He cocked his head and looked at Duo. "Sweet." Was all he could manage to say.
Duo blinked.
"Man, I have GOT to get you out more. Come on. Let's head back to the room. If I introduce you to anything else today, your brain might go into sensory overload!" Duo said, shaking his head with no little surprise of his own.
Heero snorted at the implication that the Perfect Soldier's mind could not handle something. But he didn't argue.
As they maneuvered through the crowd, Duo glanced over at his partner.
"Heero? Who are you right now?"
Heero looked at Duo in surprise, "Myself of course."
"Which one of you?"
The question surprised Heero only slightly, enough to slow him to a stop so he could look at his lover in silent question.
"Oh, come on. Even you admit that there's more than one of you in there sometimes, ne, 'Perfect Soldier'," Duo said, pointing to Heero's forehead with his cotton candy cone.
"So who are you right now?"
Heero contemplated for a moment, looking at Duo's eyes, somehow serious despite their bright sheen. Then he wrapped his hand around Duo's wrist, pulling the braided boy close and leaning their foreheads so that they just barely touched. "I'm the me that loves you." He breathed into Duo's skin, before releasing his hold on his lover.
Duo blinked. He blinked again.
A slow smile spread over his face, warm, inviting, and sensual, not much like his cheerful and manic grins.
Heero saw Duo's smile and growled in the back of his throat. "No fair." He shook his head adamantly. "Not here."
"Then where?" Duo asked, voice low and suggestive.
Heero turned away, before that tone could take his vaunted control and throw it out with the leftover party favors. "Hn." He grunted before starting to walk briskly.
Duo jogged to catch up, dancing around Heero like an annoying puppy.
"Whatcha thinkin bout, Hee-chan? Huh? Huh? Whatcha thinkin' bout?"
Heero sighed briefly, wondering if it would be wise to tell Duo that he was thinking about how long it would take to reach the room and how long until the kids would drift to sleep. He shook his head. No way was he going to allow his partner the pleasure. But... turnabout was fair play.
With that thought, Heero wheeled about and pounced on his partner, propelling Duo against the wall just short of bruising force. Without giving his partner a chance to draw a breath, he leaned in and stole Duo's lips, stealing the breath from his lungs while he was at it.
For one long endless moment, Heero indulged himself, drinking of his lover's lips so deeply it felt almost like time had stopped. Then he wrenched himself away, letting go of Duo, and bringing his breath back under control by sheer force of will. He smirked slightly, "All's fair..." He growled with a feral grin, before turning on his feet once more and resuming walking.
Duo remained, leaning against the wall with a dazed look on his face for a very long moment. He slowly blinked sense back into himself as his breath returned as well. As he saw Heero's retreating form weaving through the crowd, he shook his head and dashed off after his partner, just catching up once more at the main doors to their hotel.
"Hmm... Now that's what I call a secret weapon! Can I see more of the arsenal?" he asked coyly as he slipped past and bounced up to the elevator.
Heero looked at Duo with smoke in his blue eyes. "Perhaps." His voice was neutral but there was an undertone of heat to it that carried.
TBC
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.