24-Sept-2000
Title: Mission Arcadia
bonnejean & vonceia *present* RavynFyre & Kateri MarieCategory: yaoi, AU
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
Duo blinked awake, the sensation of security and safety wrapped in Heero's arms almost lulled him back into unconsciousness, but a growing unease slowly drove away his peace.
He turned in Heero's embrace and watched the Japanese boy's chest rise and fall for a few minutes before he felt his natural restlessness start poking at his brain.
With the stealth that was his trademark, he carefully eased himself out of his lover's arms and slipped off of the bed. Grabbing up some discarded clothing, either his or Heero's he wasn't entirely sure in the dark, he shrugged them on and quietly slipped from the room.
He drifted into the main part of the suite, his gaze unconsciously straying towards the children's bedroom doors. Tiptoeing over, he gently eased them open enough to peer within and convince himself that everyone was still safe, and more importantly, there.
After he closed the second door and heaved a small sigh of relief, he wandered over towards the huge window and gazed out over the pre-dawn city, staring fascinated as the occasional streak of lightning flashed through the clouds blanketing the land.
With a grace he didn't feel, he dropped to the floor and folded his knees up to his chin, watching as the clouds and thin slivers of sky slowly started to lighten with the coming of the sun.
In one of the rooms, emerald green eyes blinked open. Tryan swallowed and tried to get himself awake. He heard quiet breathing and looked over to see Carter still asleep. Quietly, he slid from the covers and walked over to the window.
For a moment or two, he looked around the city and then he yawned as he tried to gauge what time it might be. He didn't want to be late by one second or he would incur the wrath of his sister again. He padded quickly out into the main room trying to be as quiet as possible. He stopped when he saw Duo, then moved to where he was and sat down beside him.
"Hi," he whispered, looking up at the older boy with some fondness.
Duo blinked in surprise, having been so lost in thought that he hadn't even heard Tryan exit his room. He shook it off as he assumed his usual cheerful mask and tossed the boy a grin.
"Morning. Sleep well? It's barely even dawn yet..."
"I slept ok," Tryan said softly. He nodded at the news of the time of day. "I didn't wanna be late to feed the animals and clean up. How come you're up? Did you sleep ok?"
A wicked spark flashed through Duo's eyes for an instant before he replied smoothly, "Yeah. Slept great."
Tryan smiled a little, looking down. If Duo looked closely, he could have probably seen a little color in the boy's cheeks. Tryan looked back up at Duo. "It's ok. You don't have to be happy all the time... not around me. You were thinking, right? I do that sometimes, too."
Duo blinked again, so shocked at the insight of the young child that he let the mask drop for a moment. Then a rueful grin spread across his features as he peered at Tryan from under his unruly bangs.
"I keep forgetting how special all you guys are."
Tryan shrugged. "So, what are you worried about?" he asked.
Duo turned his gaze back to the lightening sky, resting his chin once more on his drawn up knees.
"The future, mostly. Carter, you, Wufan... Kenny and Duan... Us. Home. Tons of stuff. What do you think about when you think?" Duo asked, glancing back at Tryan inquisitively.
Tryan looked out of the window. "I think about what it would be like to have a home that doesn't move all the time. Umm, what my mother and father looked like... and sometimes about having some friends. Other times, I think about going away somewhere where Kati isn't," Tryan said, then looked back at Duo. "Is that bad?"
Tryan's words only served to shock Duo for a few moments again. They could give him that, Heero and he. If they ever got to go back to their own homes again, that is.
He shook his head both to clear it, and to deny Tryan's impending self-recrimination.
"No. Not at all... It just means... You're growing up. You want independence... stability... It's not bad. It's human. I-" he stopped himself, biting back the thought even as it formed in his brain.
It wouldn't be fair. Not to Katrina, or even to Tryan to offer him that. Would it?
Tryan sighed. He looked out of the window again. "I think I know what's happening to you. It happens to me sometimes. You and Heero are going to have to leave and you're sad, right?" he said, moving closer to Duo.
"Yes and no. It'll be nice to see our - To see the rest of our 'family'. But I'll..." he paused there, the temptation so strong within him. Too strong.
"Do you really want to leave sometimes?" he whispered.
Tryan nodded. "Yes," he answered. "I love the animals and I love my sister too, but sometimes I think I'm in her way. She needs a real family. I think she had one a long time ago, but not anymore. We aren't really brother and sister. She just takes care of me," he said.
Duo nodded, accepting that as if he'd been expecting it.
"Heero and I aren't from this world at all, ya know," he said conversationally as he turned to stare back out the window again.
"When Rip and Jack make it back, we'll eventually be going back to our own world. We're taking Kenny and Duan with us... family. Only problem is, it's a one way trip. At least I'm pretty sure," Duo said, glancing at the other boy out of the corner of his eyes slyly.
A soft voice behind Tryan said, "Take... me?"
Duo jumped a little, once again startled, and whipped his head around to stare at the small blond.
Tryan reached over and touched Duo's thigh. "Would that be too much trouble? Carter is kinda quiet and he's a good kid, too. I don't think that I want him to get yelled at by Kati... I'm used to her, but Carter... He likes you," Tryan said, hopefully.
Duo relaxed back, opening his arms beckoningly to Carter with a gentle smile.
Carter came over slowly, as if he was feeling his way, and just as slowly, he put his arms around Duo's neck and gave him a soft hug.
"Of course we'll take you, kiddo," Duo murmured comfortingly as he shifted the small boy into his lap.
"No trouble at all... I was... kinda hoping you'd ask us. I- " Duo paused and glanced over at Tryan.
"You want Tryan too," Carter said softly, looking at the green eyed boy longingly.
Duo chuckled softly, shaking his head at himself.
"Mental note to self. Never try to dissemble or sham a psychic."
Tryan's eyes grew wide as he looked up at Carter. He didn't dare look at Duo or he knew he would start crying or something embarrassing.
"What I had been about to say, was that Carter's no problem or trouble at all. In fact... another few kids besides Kenny and Duan wouldn't even be a problem... If they could stand living with a chatterbox like me, that is," Duo said with a cheerful wink.
Tryan felt his heart beat in his chest so fast that he thought he would pass out. He looked up at Duo. He said kids, he thought, That's more than one. Without another word, he moved fast throwing his arms around Duo's neck and hugging him hard on the side that Carter wasn't. He had to make sure that Duo was indeed real.
Duo chuckled, freeing that arm to wrap it around Tryan's slight frame and pull him in to return the hug.
"One way trip," he cautioned softly.
"You sure?"
"It's not," Carter said quietly.
"Don't care," Tryan said, burying his face in Duo's neck.
One eyebrow raised into Duo's hairline, eloquently expressing his query to the small blond.
Carter took a deep breath. "I had a dream once. I didn't think it was anything but a dream. I have lots of them. Like the dream where I saw.... Heero," he said the name carefully, "In some kind of ship or something, shooting a beam at a big piece of something falling on the Earth. In this other dream, I was bigger.
And there were others, my... my brothers," he said, his voice dropping to a whisper. "And we were all... going back to a place where... where there was a storm that had colored lightning... and I remembered that... the lightning was supposed to be white..." Carter looked at Duo. "It's never been white here... not since I was born."
"It's white where Heero and I come from."
"I know," Carter said in a whisper. "I didn't know until just now, that it... might not be just a dream."
Duo absorbed that carefully. Carter was so incredibly gifted. He finally glanced back down at the two boys in his arms and he tightened his hold for a moment.
"Ya know what my dream is? Taking all you guys home with us. Having a family. Being your family."
"I'm glad... that you and Heero are real," Carter said, blushing.
"Me too," Tryan said, looking up, sniffling a little. The emerald green eyes were shining with bright tears.
Kenny slipped out of his bedroom, leaving Duan sleeping. He saw the three at the window and practiced his blending into the background skills. He made it across the room and to the other door, slipping inside.
Once achieving his goal, he climbed up onto the bed where Heero was, watching him carefully.
"Hai?" Heero said before opening his eyes to look at the boy. A small smile slipped onto his face as he saw how carefully Kenny was sitting.
"Thought you might be awake," Kenny said. "Can we talk?"
"Of course." Heero sat up using only his stomach muscles to lift himself up. He cocked his head at Kenny in readiness and waited.
"It's gonna be soon, isn't it?" Kenny asked quietly.
Heero thought for a moment. "Hai." He said in a low voice. "Does it matter?"
Kenny shook his head. "And you are really sure?"
"Hai." Heero said, and his voice almost shook with the intensity of the word. "Are you?"
Kenny simply looked back at Heero steadily. "Yes," he said. "It's the only way I'd want to live."
Heero's blue eyes looked at the little boy deeply for a long moment. Then he nodded, "Me too." And slowly, he reached up his arms in offering.
Kenny moved across the bed closing the gap and put his arms around Heero's neck. He closed his eyes for a minute.
"After... Ma... all I wanted was to make them pay for what they did," Kenny whispered. "After that I didn't care. I love Duan but I didn't think it was that good for him to be with me. You and Duo..." he shook his head, unable to form words for a minute. "You give me reasons," he managed finally. "I didn't think there would be any."
Heero held onto the boy tightly before he even tried to speak. "I... I used to think that there were no reasons... That... That it was better not to be with anyone because of what had to be done..." He breathed in slowly, "Duo taught me a lot... But not everything..." Blue eyes looked down at the small boy. "Learn the rest together?"
Kenny nodded solemnly, wiping his eyes absently. "Will you... help me about the... the secret? I think... I think you can..."
Heero felt his throat tighten at the mention of the 'secret'. Then he nodded fiercely, "Hai. I... will help you. I..." He blinked a few times stubbornly. "I will help you."
Kenny released a breath. "Good. Sometimes... I worry about maybe hurting Duan. I don't want to. He's got too much already."
Heero nodded, brushing some of Kenny's bangs out of his face absently, "I can help you with that. It's... hard at first. But... eventually... It does get easier."
Kenny relaxed. He leaned against Heero's solid body, and for the first time, his own wasn't held up by inner tension. It would return, but in the moment, he felt it dissipate for a little while.
"Arigato," he said softly. Then he looked up into Heero's face and smiled.
Heero smiled back as he held Kenny close to him. "Any time you need me..." He hugged the boy a bit before the words got too awkward.
Kenny nodded, hugging back. "I know who you and Duo are now," he said. "I didn't think you were real before. Ma told me a story once, when I was... a lot smaller. It was out of a little book with big pictures. It said that kids had these protectors... angels... I didn't believe it later. You're our angels, right?"
"I'm no angel." Heero said gruffly, but then his blue eyes turned even more intense than usual, "But protector... I can do that. I... I can give you that."
Kenny listened, and didn't argue with Heero, but there was something in his eyes that said he didn't quite give up the angel idea yet, he just wasn't going to talk about it.
Heero shook his head slightly with a small chuckle of amusement. He'd seen that look before in Duo's eyes. "You can be my angel." He said suddenly, still smiling.
"Hai," Kenny said doubtfully.
Heero's eyes glinted with something like knowledge then he titled his head, "You don't believe it either? But I think..." He thought for a moment then nodded decisively. "I think you would make a good protector."
Kenny sat up and looked at Heero seriously. "I will protect you," he said, with no hesitation. "And Duo, and Duan, and... maybe Tryan and Carter? But I'm... kinda small..."
Heero looked at him every bit as seriously, "You already protect us all." He tapped at Kenny's chest lightly. "Your heart isn't small. There is more than one way to protect. That's what I've learned."
"Okay," Kenny said, then he smiled very slightly and then got quiet.
Heero raised an eyebrow in inquiry.
Kenny saw the eyebrow and looked a little sheepish. "Nothing! I'm done, that's all."
Heero didn't buy it for a second. His eyebrow arched up farther and he waited... He could outwait the universe if necessary.
Kenny smiled and looked down, then back up.
"Wufan," he said softly.
Heero sighed slightly. He had been thinking about that. He could guess at what had happened outside from the slice of conversation he had heard when Kenny slipped in the room. But Wufan... "He has a mother." Heero said softly, almost regretfully.
Kenny nodded, looking down.
Heero reached a hand and lifted the boy's chin.
Kenny looked up.
"You'll miss him." Heero stated softly. "But we can't just... take him away. Even if..."
"I know," Kenny said helplessly.
Heero pulled him in for another hug. He could understand; he'd already found himself missing the other boy, spectacles and all.
"It's not just me," Kenny said. "He'll... miss us. I know it."
Heero nodded. He didn't doubt it. The five of them... were as much family as the pilots were on earth. But there was still Sallah...
Meanwhile....
No one noticed as the main door opened and a braid slipped past quickly.
Duan made it down the hall quickly, thinking hard. He pushed the button for the elevator and to the lobby. When the doors opened he looked around and spotted the person he was looking for... Faun.
The hotel do-everything girl smiled when she saw Duan.
"Hi!" she said. "You're up early! Looking for some breakfast?"
Duan shook his head. "No. I was looking for you. Are you busy?" he asked.
"Not too... most people aren't up yet," Faun said, smiling. "What can I do you for?"
Duan sighed, relieved that Faun had some time. "I wanted to talk to you, because you're a girl, so I figured you'd know about girl stuff," he said.
Faun covered her mouth for a moment, then composed herself. "Good guess," she said, winking. "Lets sit over here," she said, inviting him behind the front desk where there were a couple of chairs.
"Okay shoot," she instructed.
Duan frowned, taking his braid in his hands. He stroked it a few times, then tossed it behind him. "Ok. I know that girls have babies. Have you had a baby, Faun?" he asked.
The young lady nodded. "Yes, I have a daughter," she said. "She stays with her daddy in the Trose. You can meet her if you'd like, she comes in and stays with me during the day."
Duan nodded. "Ok," he said, "So, if your daughter found a bunch of other girls who became her friends, you would be real sad if she wanted to live them and leave you, right?"
Faun studied Duan thoughtfully. "Yes, I would be very sad," she said seriously. Then she said, "But if for some reason I thought it was best for her to do that, I would want what was best for her, over what would make me happy or sad."
Duan looked at Faun, hearing her words and decided that she wasn't lying to him. He nodded again. "So, what was best for her is what you would do, even if it made you sad and cry?" he said, thinking. Then, he looked up at Faun, suddenly understanding it on his own terms. "Oh," he said, "That's like if Kenny was about to be killed or Duo or Heero was gonna get shot, I would try and stand in front of 'em so that they'd make it out... Is it like that?"
Faun's eyes filled with tears and she reached out and caught Duan in an unexpected hug. "Oh... you poor thing!" she said, wiping her face. Then she sighed. "Yes," she said. "If a mother or dad loves their child, they want what's best for the child no matter what it costs them, even if it makes them sad or costs them something... yes, I would... stand in front of my daughter Felicia if something like that happened, Duan."
Duan hugged Faun back. She smelled nice and was soft. "Ok," he said, having some things settled in his mind. "Thank you, Faun. That helps. I don't know what's going to happen, but I know how a girl... a mother would look at it. It's not so different from a guy." Leaning over, he gave Faun a kiss on the cheek. He hoped that would help her feel better because he could see that she got sad for a moment.
Faun hugged Duan and brushed his bangs back. "Here, I want to give you something," she said. She lifted a small gold chain from around her neck. Dangling from it was a small charm - a golden heart. She put it around Duan's neck.
"Now, wherever you go, you'll remember Arcadia," Faun said, and kissed Duan's forehead.
Duan looked at the heart and smiled up at Faun. "Thank you," he said. "I think I will remember Arcadia forever though. I'll remember you and real good orange juice, kites, but mostly because it was a place that Heero and Duo brought us too."
Faun smiled back at Duan. "Now what are you going to do? Should I tell the kitchen to send up some breakfast for your room?"
Duan looked up and smiled big. "That's a great idea! Yeah!" he said. "Thank you again. I'm going back up now. Just needed to talk and I was right. You were the one that I should talk too. And you have been very nice to us. Thank you."
"It is my pleasure, Duan," Faun said. She gave him a little pat and picked up the phone to call the kitchen, giving him a wink.
Duan grinned back, the stood up. He then walked back to the elevator and went back upstairs.
Moments later, the door to the suite clicked open and Duan walked back inside.
"Breakfast is coming soon!" he called out, moving to pick up the remote.
Duo turned and glanced over his shoulder at the boy.
"Breakfast? Cool. What have you been up to?" he asked, curiously.
"Well, while everybody was getting together and stuff, I went downstairs to talk to Faun," Duan said.
Duo eyed the boy inquisitively as he loosed his near-deathgrip on Tryan and Carter and started climbing to his feet.
"Faun's a girl. I had to ask her questions about girl stuff and mother stuff," he said, glancing at Tryan and Carter.
Heero blinked in the doorway for a second then glanced down at Kenny, "I think we came in too early," he drawled.
Kenny glanced at Heero, not getting it. He came into the room and walked over to Duan, and suddenly gave his friend a hug. Then he smiled slightly and stood back.
Duo snorted mirthfully at his partner and then sauntered over to lean on the doorway beside him.
"Hentai. Behave," he murmured quietly, tossing Heero a small wink.
Heero caught the wink with a small smile and raised an eyebrow at Duo meaningfully, "You taught me well."
Duan blinked, looking over at his friend after the hug. Then he smiled. "What'd I do?" he said, quietly.
"Nothing," Kenny said, taking the remote from him and climbing onto the couch.
Duan's eyes grew very big. He looked at his friend meaningfully. This was the most relaxed that he had seen Kenny in a long, long time. He sat next to him and didn't quibble about the remote at all.
Carter looked at them and smiled shyly. Then he looked over at Tryan. "Should we go take care of the animals?" he said.
Tryan's eyes widened. "Yes," he said. "Let's get dressed and go. It won't be so much to do, because it's kinda rainy."
Duo piped up from where he stood next to Heero, "Breakfast first. I'm not sending you out there without a good meal under your belt. It'll be here anytime now, so you still won't be late."
Kenny said, "Yeah, and Duan and I will help too."
"Me too, if you think it's safe," Duo said, winking at Tryan.
Carter was on his way to the bedroom to get dressed when he glanced at the vid-screen and stopped cold.
Kenny had found a channel showing vids of recent events. This set of news clips showed something that had taken place about two weeks before. A young man was seen walking through the city streets accompanied by the familiar Jack and Ripper. This young man was short and had blond hair.
Carter stared at the picture and his face went pale. He pointed and then turned and looked around the room.
"Wha... who...."
Duan looked at the screen and then turned and peered over the top of the couch at Carter. Tryan looked in the direction of Carter's finger and his head tilted.
Kenny glanced at Heero and Duo.
Heero walked over towards the boys and watched the TV for a moment. "Quatre." He murmured, glancing back at Duo.
"Hey cool. Quatre," he agreed, and then glanced down at Carter's confused face.
"He's part of our family where we come from."
A moment later, someone knocked insistently at the door.
Duo tossed a challenging grin at Duan for an instant before he dove towards the door.
Duan looked up at Duo and darted for the door. This time, he was a second late and Duo beat him.
"Gotcha," Duo said, grinning as he leaned up to peer out the peephole.
At first, Duo didn't see anything but an empty hall. The knocking persisted and looking down, Duo caught sight of the top of Wufan's head.
Duo laughed cheerfully as he opened the door and beckoned the boy inside.
"Wu-ch werr.. Wufan! We were just waiting for breakfast to get here. Join us?"
"Yes, sure. I.. I came to help with the animals, but did you see what's on the vid? There's a guy and he looks a lot like Carter! You know him, don't you?" Wufan said all in a rush.
"Yeah. He's a friend of ours from back home. Maybe you'll get tom meet him too," Duo replied amiably as he closed the door behind the young boy.
The minute the door was closed, there was a quick knock.
"Really?!" Wufan said, then moved out of the way of the door.
Duo blinked as he opened the door up again.
It was Faun with the breakfast cart. She winked at Duo and swept in, laid out the spread, and swept out, managing to ruffle Duan's bangs on her way out.
Heero eyed the spread for a moment then looked to the two braided ones. "Ichi... nee..." He counted under his breath. "San..."
Duo tossed another conspiratorial glance at Duan, and then threw himself towards the table in a quick sprint.
Duan moved towards the table, this time, going for the win. "Gotcha!" he cried out, tagging it a half second before Duo.
"Oh really?" Duo said, popping a sausage link in his mouth before Duan had a chance to grab anything.
"You have much to learn, grasshopper," he quipped, as he plopped into a chair and started reaching for a plate.
Mid-grab, he paused and glanced up at everyone else.
"Heero knows the drill, and Kenny's pretty familiar... But if you guys don't get over here and stake your claim, you'll starve."
Kenny ghosted under the radar, got a plate, eggs and other stuff and moved away before Duo stopped talking.
Duan tapped Duo on the knee. "We got a big family here," he said, smiling as he saw Kenny make off with some provisions. "We gotta let 'em eat too or they'll die and we can't have 'em anymore, ne?"
"Good point, kiddo," Duo replied amiably, holding out plates towards Tryan and Carter, and Wufan.
Duan looked over at Heero and winked as if to say, See, we can be civilized sometimes.
Heero smiled at Duan with his own plate already full, ransacked while the boy had been speaking. "They'll learn." He said simply.
Carter took the plate absently, glancing back at the vid but it had changed to another clip.
He almost bumped into Wufan and then smiled shyly. "Hi," he said.
Wufan pushed his glasses back up on his nose and smiled. "Hi," he said. "I brought some tea with me. Are you feeling ok?"
Carter blinked and nodded. "I'm fine," he said. "Thank you. What's tea?"
Wufan opened his mouth, then closed it. "Umm, it's a drink you make with leaves. I'll show you later, ok?"
"Okay," Carter said.
Tryan took his plate and got some food.
Duan got a plate for himself and then walked over to Carter. "If you wanna know about that guy, talk to Kenny... He met him," he said conspiratorially.
"He's nice," Kenny said briefly.
Looking up at Wufan, Duan sighed. Impulsively, he gave Wufan a hug, managing not to spill food.
Wufan blinked. "Uh.. hi, Duan," he said.
There was a quick, energetic rap on the door.
Duan looked up towards Duo, one eyebrow arching as he passed his plate to Wufan. He smiled evilly.
Duo grinned in return as he sprang up from his chair, determined to beat the little minx fair and square this time.
Duan launched his body for the door, legs pumping big time.
Duo realized his quandary a split second after he dove for the door. Having been seated had given Duan the advantage. The boy didn't have the obstacle of the chair to deal with.
Of course, he made that realization from the tangle of braid, limbs and chair legs he found himself in as soon as he'd started for the door.
From his sprawl on the floor, he saw Duan beat him to the door.
"Little fink. You planned that, didn't you?" he muttered.
Duan giggled, extending his hand towards the door, but not touching it to signal his victory.
"Little tease," Duo growled as he disentangled himself from his chair and strode calmly to the door to peer out the peephole.
A wide brown eye looked merrily back, as if the person on the other side was peering into the wrong end of the peephole.
Duo flung the door open with a chuckle.
"Dude!" he exclaimed, holding out his hand for a high five.
Rip slapped Duo's hand deftly and strolled in. "Homey!" he said, making his way to the table and snatching a piece of French toast... some sausage... an apple....
"How is everyone this morning?" Rip inquired cheerily.
"Well fed," Duo commented as he peered down the hallway for Rip's shadow.
Rip saw the look and said, "Oh he'll be along presently. Taking care of something. I thought I'd come ahead and check on the kiddies..."
Kenny glanced at Rip and nodded in greeting, but didn't say anything further.
Duo nodded as well, closing the door again, but not shutting it completely. He reached down and picked Duan up, flinging the smaller boy onto his shoulders as he strode back towards the table.
Duan squealed with pleasure, having fun on the ride.
Duo chuckled as they reached the table again, and then carefully reclaimed Duan's plate from Wufan, handing it up to the boy still perched on his shoulders.
"Don't make a mess up there."
"I won't," Duan reassured him, balancing the plate. He leaned over and kissed Duo's cheek.
Duo smiled and then turned to toss a cheerful grin at Rip again.
"So what else brings you to our humble abode?"
"Mmmm... thought I might quickly tie up any loose ends if you have questions. If not..." he shrugged. "I'll help clear your table."
"Hmm.. Loose ends.. Oh yeah! I forgot to give Gun back his gun last night when we all got back!" Duo exclaimed, slapping his forehead melodramatically.
Heero materialized by his lover's side holding said item. "It's not good."
"Gun is much better, thanks for asking," Rip said wickedly. Then he looked at the inert weapon. "I see!" He tilted his head, looking at Duo with a slightly enigmatic expression.
"What? Wha'd I do?" Duo asked, glancing all around the room before meeting Rip's gaze again.
"Nothing, yet," Rip said. He looked at Heero. "Take it, Duo."
Heero looked at Rip warily before he relinquished the gun.
Duo eyed Rip suspiciously as he cautiously took the proffered weapon.
"Gun says you can keep it," Rip said. "That is, if it wants you. Ask it."
Duan finished his food and handed the plate to Duo. "See," he said. "Hi Rip," added matter-of-factly.
"Hi munchkinhead," Rip answered.
Duo, long used to multitasking from his days as a Gundam pilot, absently reached up with his free hand and took Duan's plate from him. He set it on the table as he shifted his gaze from Rip to the weapon held carefully in his hand.
He recalled Gun's instructions to Heero about thinking everything at the weapon, and with a fatalistic shrug, did just that.
Duo felt nothing at first.
Heero however suddenly felt his own weapon warm slightly.
Heero took out the egg gun with an expression of mild alarm crossing his features before disappearing. He moved closer to Duo and looked at Duo's gun.
Duo suddenly felt something. There seemed a little buzz in his hand. Then a tingle in his wrist. Then something seemed to move through his body briefly.
Suddenly he felt that he was holding something alive and aware. It seemed to be seeking something. The sensation was strangely familiar. Suddenly Duo felt that the gun was asking him if he... wanted it...
Duo blinked, surprised by the sensation, and strangely flattered. If? If he wanted it? Of course he wanted it!
The answer was received with a sensation of satisfaction. There was another little flash of warmth, then the gun settled down to a less active mode.
Duo stood, staring down at his hand with a dumbfounded expression for a long moment before he glanced back up at Rip.
"Why?"
Rip looked back, his grin settling to a slight smile. However his eyes said that there would be little mercy if the following information was taken lightly.
"Reg is... getting too old. When the base soldiers discovered him, he killed quite a few of them and damaged several large weapons but his energy failed.... therefore the gun did also. It shut down to save his life."
Duo stared back down at the weapon, his expression serious and thoughtful as he contemplated both the information, and the gun. He looked back up at Rip and asked softly, "So what will he do now?"
Just as softly, Rip answered, "Raise his children. And, possibly, live a nice rest of his life in peace..." Rip shrugged. "That part's hard to be sure of."
A slight knowing smile flitted across Duo's face.
"Sounds good to me," he replied, thinking the gun into a safe place in his waistband for now.
Heero smiled ruefully at Duo as the gun disappeared. "Nice trick." He commented as he tugged his lover's braid.
Duo shot his partner a dangerous grin.
"Learned from the best?" he said.
Duan's hand shot out and clasped around the base of Duo's braid to keep him from maximum hair pull torture. He looked over at Heero with an expression that said, naughty, naughty.
Heero looked up at the boy for a half a second and then his hand snaked around to Duan's braid and tugged it the same. "Hn." he said with a smile.
Duo scowled, twisting his body and reaching out to disentangle Duan's hair from his partner's grasp.
"Braid Patrol Infraction!" Duo exclaimed, admonishingly.
"Hn, Baka." Heero commented with a smug smile.
Duan giggled at Heero then glanced around for Kenny. "I guess I'm unprotected way up here," he said.
Kenny simply shook his head, preferring to stay out of the braid wars.
Carter suddenly sat up. He looked around and then pressed his fingers to his forehead.
"Something's... funny," he said softly.
Rip smiled slightly. "You are all through with your breakfast aren't you? Of course you are. Think you better come down to the lobby with me. It's going to be way too crowded for this room in a minute."
Duo glanced over at Rip suspiciously, frowning.
"What are you up to now?""
"Just fulfilling a request, dear boy," Rip said, grin widening. "You asked... or more specifically, your 'koi' did. Come, come come," he said, making shooing motions.
Rip felt a tap on his leg. Looking down he saw Wufan looking back up. "Hi Rip. If you want some green tea later, I can make you some." he said, remembering that no one invited him to eat.
"Thank you, little dragon," Rip said. "Now all of you... downstairs!"
Duo swung Duan down off of his shoulders, still eyeing Rip warily. A thought suddenly occurred to him as he looked around frantically for a clock.
"Oh crap! She'll kill us!" he exclaimed, seeing how close to 9am it was.
Tryan walked over to Duo. "Don't worry about it." Taking Carter's hand he led him to the door where Duan was standing, waiting to go.
"You going to tell her yet, Tryan?" Duo asked softly before the boy could slip away.
"Yeah," Tryan said, without conflict.
Rip reached for the air at his back. "In ten seconds I am going to play a bass note that will open every sphincter in this room unless I see movement..."
Heero snorted and glanced down at Kenny, jerking his head towards the door.
End of Part 26
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.