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
A short time earlier, if time can be so counted, and in another place...
Walking through the tents and attractions, Quatre spied a hotdog vendor at the circus.... knowing that Trowa would probably not want a hot dog, still... he could smell the chili.....
Surely, a quick hotdog wouldn't make him late, heck he was a little early, as usual. Tugging the leather jacket a little more firmly around his shoulders, he checked the way for passing elephants and trotted in the direction his nose led him.
Chili, cheese.. maybe some sauerkraut if they had it, mustard. He could feel his arteries hardening at the very thought and grinned a little wickedly at the small guilty pleasure.
Spotting the blond as he emerged from a tent, Trowa saw Quatre... saw the hotdog vendor... Trowa took off at a fast run. He saw one of the aerialists leaning over attempting to make time with one of the patrons and leapt into the air, using the man for a make-shift springboard. He landed next to the hot dog vendor and leaned against the stand, crossing his arms as Quatre approached. "Good evening, Mr. Winner," he said.
Busy keeping track of where he placed his well-shoed little feet, Quatre didn't see Trowa till he spoke. Pulling up shortly with a small startled exclamation - he was in disguise after all - his startled features fell into a warm bright smile.
"Good evening Trowa!"
He looked at the hotdog vendor behind the taller boy and bit his lower lip then looked back into bright green eyes and beamed and innocent smile. Who, him? After a hotdog? Naw... he was just, getting... mmm stale bread to feed pigeons?
"No offense to Fred here, but I think we can find you a healthier... snack, ne?" Trowa said, gently pulling Quatre from the line. "Come on, walk with me."
Quatre grinned impishly. "Ah, but will it taste as good as an ill-gotten hotdog?" He sassed cheerfully up at Trowa. Though he'd been in meetings since early in the day, being at the circus, basically unknown, and with Trowa helped make him feel wide awake and refreshed and he fell into lively step with the older boy, having no trouble keeping up with Trowa's longer stride. "My pleasure.... where we going?"
Quatre looked up and suddenly saw two people standing in front of him. One was tall, with bright red hair and a blinding smile, the other about his height with blond hair and cool green eyes. Suddenly it al came flooding back to him... about three weeks ago, another hot dog....
He turned his eyes away from Trowa's familiar features, looking upon the two strangers. His memory jarred and suddenly the two strangers became familiar as well. Quatre caught his breath and his hand snapped up to his temple as the memory-wipe lifted and the short visit tumbled back into his conscious awareness. He staggered a little against Trowa before catching his balance and looking at the pair.
"Ripper, Jack." He whispered, then his eyes became sharp and concerned. "Kenny?"
Trowa's hand immediately rose to steady Quatre as he felt him falter. He looked down at the blonde pilot with concern, hearing his words. "Huh?" he said, then looked in the direction that Quatre was looking. Seeing the two people there, he looked back at Quatre for clarification.
Quatre studied the pair, then he blinked and looked up at Trowa, his mouth opening to make the automatic introductions but his teeth closed with a click as he remembered Ripper's words from those weeks ago. 'Clean up after you.' He moved closer to Trowa, his eyes swinging back to Ripper and Jack warily.
Rip looked hurt, while still grinning. "So untrusting," he said. "Kenny is fine - at the moment. Better actually. We came because of a request from a friend of yours."
"Introduction?" Jack said, raising an eyebrow.
Quatre continued to watch the pair warily. He straightened his shoulders a little, giving the hem of his sweater a nervous tug. "Ah." He relaxed a little hearing that Kenny was well. His brows furrowing at the last of Ripper's words and his puzzled turquoise eyes remained on the red-haired young man while he politely reeled off names. "Trowa, may I introduce you to Ripper and Jack." He bowed a hand to each as he introduced them. "Ripper, Jack, Trowa Barton... another friend of mine."
Trowa looked down at Quatre, curiously and then turned his attention to the two men in front of him. The irony of the names was not lost on him. Stepping forward and a little in front of Quatre protectively, Trowa extended his hand in greeting. "Nice to meet you," he said simply, his eyes taking in each one for assessment.
Rip bowed jauntily. Jack nodded slightly.
Rip said, "So in answer to your earlier question, I'll pose one back - where do you *think* you are going?" He winked.
"Hold hands, please," Jack said.
Quatre quirked up an eyebrow, but he remembered just how much success he had the last time he tried saying 'No thank you kindly' to this pair, so he just stepped towards them. He stopped at Jack's words, frowning a bit but he turned and held his hand out to Trowa. Offering.
Trowa watched the exchange with more than a little curiosity. Guess I'll pick it up as we go, he thought then took Quatre's hand.
Ignoring the other two for just a moment, Quatre smiled softly towards Trowa and very lightly brushed his lips across the knuckles of the hand that took his, then he turned and looked expectantly at Jack and Ripper.
Trowa lips parted in the barest of smiles as he, too looked up at Rip and Jack. "Are we going through the looking glass?" he asked, softly.
Rip smiled. "Exactly, he said, reaching for the air at his back. Jack made an identical gesture and suddenly there was a sound, a melody, a vibration and...
Something twisted.... and they were gone.
They found themselves in a different place. Outdoors, air cleaner than anything they ever tasted. Quatre, after a moment, recognized the park. They saw clouds over head and felt the cool air that accompanied a mild storm.
Rip trotted off quickly. Jack remained.
"Try not to be too surprised when we get to the Hyatt Regency Arcadia," Jack said, leading the two at a more sedate pace.
Quatre closed his eyes for the first few minutes upon arrival, letting the new 'minds' wash over him. It was easier than the last time and he opened his eyes in time to see Rip go trotting off. He was lightly aware of Jack's words, his attention turning quickly and focusing on the reserved young man at his side.
Trowa looked all around as they moved. He saw the buildings of the city and the structure of the skyline tickled the back of his mind. He took a deep breath, noting the difference in the air quality, then suddenly he stopped and looked down at Quatre. "Elephants?" he said, quizzically.
Jack smiled. "That would be the Carnivale."
Quatre surreptitiously was checking the soles of his shoes when Jack spoke up. Whew.
"Can't be all bad," Trowa said, shaking his head as he noticed Quatre checking his shoes. "It would be closer to the animal," he whispered and then winked at his fastidious friend.
As Jack led them down the street, in the direction Quatre remembered, they saw adults and quite a few kids, mostly of the same age, going about their business. Several people, of both groups, raised a hand and waved.
"Hi Quatre!"
Quatre kept his hand closed around Trowa's he caught the wink and wrinkled his nose comically back at the taller boy, whispering, "That's what you said, just before I tripped and landed in the camel heap that time." Grinning back, his head whipped around automatically as his name was called and he blinked a little, the faces unknown to him but he smiled brightly and waved back, keeping very close to Trowa's side.
"I take it you know these kids," Trowa said. "And it was only a little heap."
"*Little* is relative my tall friend and... not a clue. The only child I know from Arcadia is Kenny and...Millie of course.. two children." He kept the smile on his features with ease, he truly adored children and the ones he'd met on Arcadia tugged at his heartstrings.
"Arcadia," Trowa repeated. "This is Arcadia. There's someone named Kenny who is a child and a Millie. How long were you here?"
"A few hours. I guess... umm... well I guess it was at least three weeks ago. Jack and Rip caught me outside the building, um..." Quatre paused. "Umm.. eating my lunch." No need to go into what lunch was. "Anyway they, well they told me children were in trouble. So... I went with them. They can really be quite convincing." Quatre finished in a rush. "Then when we got here, I met Millie, she was playing and then Kenny. Kenny was... hurting." Quatre took a breath, remembering the nearly comatose child he'd found. His eyes dropped a little. "Anyway, they brought me back and I guess... blocked my memory till I saw them just a few minutes ago." He sort of winced as he said it and looked up at Trowa. It was the truth but he knew it probably sounded pretty lame.
Trowa listened carefully to what Quatre said and didn't say. "What was wrong with Kenny that you could help him?" he asked.
Quatre squeezed in a quick whisper. "His mother died... he was completely withdrawn."
"Time for catching up later," Jack said, leading them to a building on the other side of the street from the one Quatre had gone into. This large, black-glass building had a sign outside that said "Hyatt Regency Arcadia."
Jack showed them in, and led them to the lobby, where there was a large area set up with many chairs and couches, in front of the big main window.
Quatre automatically looked around, taking note of the inside of the hotel, it's features and people.
Trowa looked around nodding to the people who smiled at him. He didn't feel particularly threatened, but mostly curious. So far, he hadn't seen anything too jarring.
The little Arabian also vibrated like a live little wire beside him. Curious as a cat and obviously jazzed at being back and able to satisfy a little of the curiosity.
Out of the room, into the elevator, down to the first floor....
Rip gestured in the general vicinity of the large downstairs lobby.
As they approach the lobby, Heero and Duo saw two people they probably least expected to see... one blond, the other tall and green eyed.
"Quatre? Trowa?" Duo exclaimed.
Quatre and Trowa looked up to see two people they probably didn't expect, surrounded by... five small boys who...
Quatre slammed on the brakes with a stunned blink. "Duo? Heero?"
"Uh-oh," Duan said, peering up at the two somewhat familiar faces.
"How very reunion-ish," a wry voice said, and a young man who had been sitting quietly in the lobby stood up, walking over. The Chinese young man stood with arms crossed over his chest. "Interesting."
"Wu-chan!" Duo crowed, bouncing giddily.
Quatre's brows lifted even higher into his hairline and he beamed a happy smile at Wufei despite the Chinese boy's wry tone. "Of course it is! Because it's a reunion!"
He danced on the balls of his feet and grinned cheerfully up at Trowa, he still hadn't released the green-eyed boy's hand yet.
Trowa smiled, looking around the lobby. "It's a party," he said.
Tryan, Duan and Wufan looked at each other and then to Kenny. When Wufei stood up making his presence known, Wufan's mouth dropped open and he stepped behind Kenny.
Kenny looked from one to the other. Then he took Duan's hand and walked up to Quatre.
"Hi," he said quietly. "I'm glad you came back. This is my friend, Duan. Duan, this is Quatre - the one who helped me."
Quatre finally released Trowa's hand as he automatically reached for the young child, a move he quickly aborted as he reminded himself to behave, as well as took in Kenny's very serious demeanor and the other child as well. Sliding one hand behind his back, he held his right one out to Duan.
"Hello Duan, it's a pleasure to meet you."
Duan looked up and up, his large violet eyes moving from Quatre to Trowa then back. He stepped up and took Quatre's hand. "Hi, Quatre," he said, "I saw you on the vids. Thank you for helping Kenny out. He came back and got me. So, thanks a lot. He's my best friend. Do you like kids?"
Quatre returned the handshake firmly but not too rough, as he'd been trained all those years. Adult to adult. He listened to Duan without taking his eyes off the child, even though he was very aware of the presence of the other pilots.
"I'm glad I could help Kenny and he could in turn help you. " Quatre cleared his throat a little, having a hard time keeping the grin off his face as he studied both children a little closer, taking in the braid on Duan and the very... Heeroish expression on Kenny. "Yes Duan, I like children, very much."
There was perhaps something a little wistful in his smile, perhaps not, as he released the boy's hand and stepped back politely.
Before Quatre could complete his action, he found himself with Duan's arms locked around his neck. "Sugoi!" he exclaimed. "That's gonna make it a lot easier. You should relax some though.."
Kenny smiled fondly at Duan.
Quatre blinked surprised as he was suddenly hugged but he returned it immediately and unstintingly, holding the little body close to his own and on an impulse he rocked back a little. It was a rare sensation that he had someone shorter then himself that *he* could pick up.
From behind Kenny, Carter peered at the blond young man hugging Duan. He felt very strange around this person. He felt almost as if there were a little whisper in his head, like an echo.
"You're not that short," he said softly, before his could stop himself.
Quatre set Duan back on his feet and his bright eyes quickly sought out the speaker. He spied the small child and his eyes widened at the likeness as well as the words.
His mouth opened, shut and he did something, perhaps clumsily but curious. 'I'm am, too,' he thought.
Carter shook his head. "Uh uh... we're shorter than you," he said, still hiding a little behind Kenny, who was standing still to provide cover if needed.
Tryan took a deep breath. He looked down at Carter. "We should go over and meet them," he said, feeling equally as strange as the others.
Wufei meanwhile had spied the small Chinese boy, who seemed to be ducking him. He could tell this was going to be a general free for all, something he'd suspected much earlier. He sat down in a nearby chair and waited calmly. He also caught the small boy's eye and simply patted a spot on a chair beside him.
Wufan nodded, then pushed his glasses up on his nose. He walked over with a mixture of excitement and nervous admiration. Standing in front of Wufei, he bowed in respect, and then sat down on the chair nearby. "I am Po Wufan," he said.
Wufei looked sharply at the boy. "Po?" he said. Then, "Hn. Let's watch them for a while. Then we can talk."
"Fine," Wufan said, then settled in to watch.
Quatre dropped his hand from Duan's shoulder and he exhaled very softly.
Chewing a little on his lower lip, he studied the shy child, smiling reassuringly before he once again studied little Kenny, before shaking his head and looking up at Duo and Heero.
"Looks like you two have been busy."
Duo shrugged philosophically.
"Little mayhem. Little destruction. Little adoption. Ya know. All in a day's work," he replied with a grin.
Heero strolled up easily, "Yes, the one on the left's mayhem. The other one's destruction." He nodded a greeting to Trowa and another to Quatre.
Quatre blinked.
Rip sidled up behind Heero. "Well?" he said grinning. "Good as our word, hmmm?"
"Impressive." Heero gave him, with a slight incline of his head.
"Adoption?" Trowa asked.
Duo glanced up at Trowa and grinned as he leaned down and scooped Duan onto his shoulders once more.
"Yeah. Cool, huh?" he chuckled, spinning them both around so that their braids flew in a wide arch.
Though still stunned, Quatre laughed brightly at the picture that Duo and Duan made. He grinned at Kenny again and winked, then he dropped back till he was once again next to Trowa.
"Good move," Duan whispered into Duo's ear.
Duo turned his head enough so that he could wink mischievously up at the boy perched on his shoulders.
Tryan moved closer to the group, looking around. "I'm Tryan," he said, boldly. "This is Carter, my friend." Then he glanced up at Duo and Heero for moral support.
Carter stepped out from behind Kenny and moved next to Tryan, his hand sneaking out to take the taller boy's. He looked at Quatre and then at Trowa next to him and his eyes widened further, which was rather hard since they were big as saucers anyway.
Duo dropped a gentle hand onto Tryan's shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze.
Tryan relaxed, glancing up at Duo.
Trowa bent down to one knee to be level with Tryan and Carter. "I'm Trowa," he said, quietly. Then, placing his arms around both children, he gave them a little squeeze. "I know this is weird for you too. Don't worry. We won't eat you," he said.
"At least not without Ketchup," Duo commented dryly with a conspiratorial wink.
"You mean chili and mustard," Trowa replied.
Duo chuckled his agreement.
Trowa looked at Tryan. "You with the Carnivale?" he asked.
Tryan's eyes widened, then he nodded.
"Cool," Trowa replied, then looked over his shoulder at Quatre. "Yet another similarity."
"I quit counting them three days ago," Duo replied with a smile.
"Well this is fun, but is there some reason for it beyond the whole shock value thing?" Wufei said dryly from his chair.
Duan looked at Heero and Duo. "You should tell him," he said, to Duo.
Duo cocked his head curiously at Duan, the question evident in his eyes.
Heero raised his eyebrows and grunted inquisitively, "Hn?"
"You know," Duan said. "Or did ya forget you and Duo are gonna take us home with ya?" he added.
"Forget schmerget. But I guess, in typical Wufei fashion, he wasn't paying attention when I told Trowa and Quatre," Duo said, grinning wickedly at Wufei.
"I was paying attention," Wufei said, throwing a look at Duo. "I just don't see why we all had to be here for the announcement."
"Well... actually... The original plan was to let you guys know where we were, in case we either A) didn't make it back, or B) were delayed in getting back. But that isn't really a concern now... But now..."
"It isn't?" Jack said from slightly outside the circle.
Duo glanced over at Jack and cocked his head.
"Is there something I don't know? Or am I just being obtuse again?"
"Sounds as if you've been making plans," Jack said. "Perhaps you will share them with us... sometime soon?"
Duo's expression grew slightly fierce and his grip on Tryan's shoulder, and Duan's leg grew possessive.
"We're taking them back with us, if you let us go."
Trowa stood and looked at Duo. "Um, Duo... Don't you need something like parental consent for that? Something official... or they call it kidnapping," he said, moving back to Quatre.
Heero looked every bit as determined as his lover as he glanced at Trowa, shaking his head slightly, "Only Tryan..."
Duo's expression suddenly seemed to crumble a little as his gaze darted over to Wufan.
"And Wu," he whispered, almost inaudibly.
Wufei's eyebrow went up.
Quatre had retreated behind Trowa a little, looking a little paler then when he first arrived. He stepped back forward.
"Also..." he stopped as if his thought process had been thrown off. Reaching up he rubbed at his temple, then started again. "Also... the similarities here... these children might be needed in this world, as we are in ours." Quatre looked like he wanted to say more, but instead he winced and once again retreated behind Trowa.
"Then go home without us, because I gave my word, and I'm not breaking it," Duo said with a growl.
Jack simply said, "Why don't you sit down... that's what all these lovely chairs are for..."
Duo shuffled off towards the chairs sullenly, choosing a large one so Duan could share it with him.
Quatre caught at the back of Trowa's shirt with fretful fingers.
Trowa looked down at Carter and Tryan. "Come on guys," he said, then took Quatre's hand moving them all to the chairs.
Kenny sat on the floor between Duo and an empty chair.
Heero walked over to the empty chair and cocked his head towards Kenny.
Kenny patted the chair.
Quatre grasped Trowa's hand tightly but as soon as he came into the circle of the chairs, he eeped softly and jumped back and away, retreating till he was outside the circle and frowning darkly at the floor.
Jack walked up to the blond, facing him, very close. Cool green eyes looked into Quatre's teal ones.
Quatre was squinting, like a man with a migraine.
"Let me in and I'll make it easier for you," Jack said in a voice that was calm and not pushy.
Quatre took a deep breath and concentrated, lowering the rudimentary and makeshift *walls* he'd been desperately trying to erect in an attempt to soften the cacophony of noise in his head.
He felt a cool touch in his mind, light, barely there, not telepathy but something else, something subtler. It touched something very specific. Will. But only briefly. Then the cool presence seemed to fade quietly into silence.
The silence that now fell over Quatre's mind. He no longer felt the intrusions of emotions or thoughts around him. It wasn't unpleasant and he could tell those feelings were still there somewhere - just quietly beyond a cool barrier that held them effortlessly at bay.
Jack tilted his head and stepped back, sitting in a chair with a wide fan back. "Better?"
Quatre exhaled slowly and he reached up, brushing his hand through his hair, nodding. Looking up he gave the others a sheepish grin and moved carefully back into the circle of chairs, sitting down next to Trowa.
"You're not trained!" Carter said suddenly.
Quatre looked across Trowa's lap towards the small child and he smiled gently. "No, no I'm afraid I'm not."
"Are you, Carter?" Trowa asked.
Carter nodded seriously. "Of course. That's... what they made me for."
Trowa's eyes flashed with emerald fire at the words and then he glanced up at Heero and Duo with understanding. He smiled at Carter and then nodded. "Perhaps you can teach Quatre," he said, cooling down the sudden rage that he felt constrict his heart. He wanted to speak with Heero and Duo alone. Clearly, there was more than met the eye.
Quatre also frowned at the child's words, more snippets of his past visit sneaking back to his mind and he quickly looked towards Duo and Heero. They were not exactly pushovers. It would take something pretty serious to get both their protective instincts, not to mention paternal, flowing.
Jack raised a negligent hand. "That's not entirely correct, Carter," he said. "You were not told the truth. You were not made. Your sisters... yes. Not you. You were a lovely accident, a true child of the Storm. Bad luck you ended up where you were," he finished, glancing at Heero and Duo.
At the word accident, Duan looked to Kenny and then down.
Duo's arms tightened against the small boy in his lap.
"Don't even think it. You weren't mistakes," Duo murmured comfortingly.
Carter stared at Jack. "But... I... he stared into Jack's cool green eyes and then stopped. "It's true.... Instructor told you that."
Jack nodded.
Quatre watched the little telepath with curious eyes. He leaned forward and grinned at Carter. He looked like he wanted to say something but couldn't figure out exactly how to word it so he sat back.
Tryan looked up at Duan and around to his other new friends. Things didn't seem to be going as smoothly had he had first hoped, but he was willing to stick it out. At worse, he figured he'd be mucking out animal cages until was as tall as Trowa.
Heero caught the green-eyed boy's eyes and chuckled lowly under his breath, having some idea of his thoughts. But with a serious gleam in his eyes, he shook his head, denying any chance of that possibility.
Quatre went back to studying his teammates and then Jack. "O-kay. Let me see if I have this, straight. Something caused you to go get Duo and Heero. They met up with Kenny and Duan while here and adopted them. Mayhem, destruction, the usual Maxwell streamers ensued. Now, we're all here, with our cosmic doubles and something is still not right and it's not just Duo's willingness to carve my heart out with a dull grapefruit spoon if we try to separate he and Heero from Duan and Kenny." He looked quickly at all four, holding up his hands.
"Not happening, not going to happen, just trying to get a clear picture in my mind." He smiled.
Duan's features darkened and he looked up at the bigger boy through his unruly bangs. "Look, we were here already. Heero and Duo saved us and then we met Tryan. Then we went and rescued Carter, cause he was in a bad place. We're.. not doubles! We're people! And just because we don't have ... moms anymore.. well, it's not their fault and it's not Jack's fault. They were just trying to help..so .. don't be mad at them," he said, then looked up at Duo and down to Kenny, before dropping his head.
Duo pulled Duan closer to him, settling the boy against his chest and murmuring to him comfortingly again. He fisted the smaller boy's braid and stroked it much the same way he did his own when he was nervous or antsy.
"They can be mad if they want," he whispered, "But you're still staying with us, one way or the other."
"Charming," Jack said with no inflection. "The question came up... about destinies... and it's an interesting one. However, there are only two people here who could answer it."
Duo's gaze unconsciously darted towards Carter.
Quatre decided for the moment that silence was the best course of action and he leaned back in the chair, covering his mouth with his hand.
Carter noticed this action by Quatre and in spite of himself, he smiled suddenly.
Wufan, who had been sitting quietly next to Wufei, noticed several things. First, he noticed that Wufei remained quiet throughout the whole exchange. He looked over at the older boy with warring emotions and feelings. He was amazed that there was actually a "him" in this and Wufei's sheer presence held him totally enthralled.
Glancing over at his friends and then to Jack, he decided to remain quiet as well, but to remember his allegiance as well. Technically, he still had a mom and had not exactly been asked to join up. Secretly, he had hopes, but he found that he was more afraid of embarrassing himself in front of Wufei than speaking out freely. He sighed, contenting himself with future plans of growing muscles as big as Wufei's.
Duo sighed mightily, turning to look at Jack.
"I know this falls like totally outside of the normal modus operandi, but... Can we just be plain about it for once?"
"Certainly," Jack said.
"After you, dear," Rip added, grinning at Duo.
"Fine. When we go home, we want to take the kids. All of them if we can get away with it. That's about all there is to it."
Jack smiled. Though it wasn't a habitual expression, it was a remarkably sweet one.
Then he glanced over at Wufan, sitting next to Wufei. The older Chinese boy lifted an eyebrow. Jack looked across the room outside the circle and Wufei followed the look. His face froze and then he stood up.
"Sally?" he said.
It was enough to draw everyone's attention. They all turned and saw Sallah standing at the edge of the lobby.
"Is that... your mother?" Wufei said softly.
Wufan stood and nodded to Wufei. "Yes," he said, bowing slightly. "Pardon me." Turning, he walked over to Sallah quickly. Once there, he took her hand. "Ma, look," he said, breathlessly. "That's Chang Wufei. You should meet him."
However, Wufei had moved across the room behind the child. He came up to her, his eyes very large.
Jack watched as the three moved out of immediate earshot. He looked back at the other four pilots. "Perhaps you were unaware that in your world, he was once in love. The person he loved, however, viewed him in a different way. She eventually married - someone else."
The pilots all remembered that in their world, Sally Po had been married just a few months before to another Preventer agent. They had all attended the wedding. Wufei had not.
Jack continued, as the three talked quietly to each other out of range of the group.
"You see, Duo, things have an interesting way of working themselves out with only a few well placed nudges."
Duo's face broke out into a merry grin.
Quatre frowned gently but made certain to keep it hidden behind his hand.
Trowa turned to Quatre. "What's the frown for?" he asked, looking into teal eyes.
Quatre quickly lowered his hand and grinned at Trowa. "Just me thinking to much." He reached over and gave Trowa's wrist a pleading squeeze.
Trowa's green eyes settled on Quatre's like a hawk to prey. "Oh no you don't," he said quietly. "Try it again."
Quatre knew that look, he squirmed under it, then he leaned forward and whispered quietly in Trowa's ear, while at the same time sort of trying to block his 'thoughts' from sensitive small minds.
Trowa leaned back, looking at Quatre seriously. "I think you should tell them. It's important and it's how you feel. Besides, you can't keep things from the kids as well."
Quatre took a deep breath and he studied Trowa's eyes, then slowly he turned and leaned forward, looking at Jack.
"When you brought me here, you impressed upon me, how important children are to this world. The fact that humans were nearly wiped out and that these children are a gift that all Arcadians, or at least most of them I guess, cherish." He looked directly at Duo, though he knew he was speaking close to heresy at the moment. "Now, you want to take these children away from here because you don't like their lives and what's happened to them? Duo, I doubt many people would have been too comfortable with *our* lives but that's beside the point." He looked back at Jack and leaned back into the couch. "Since you seem to be encouraging this, all I can figure is, you accept it."
"You might stop figuring for a moment... and I will answer you," Jack said calmly.
Trowa reached over and took Quatre's hand, squeezing it in his own.
"You are correct in everything you have said, and yes, it *is* 'all' Arcadians," Jack said. "And there is a bit more to it than that, but you just returned. You are not yet aware of the emotional ties that have grown between these children and your friends. But there is something else to consider. It is quite simply this. They are not leaving forever. They will be learning many things in your world. And then, they will return. Not very soon, as you count time. A flicker of a moment as I count it. When they... 'grow up'.... they will come back. Because by then, they will be needed. Desperately. For reasons I have no intentions of sharing with any of you. Simply understand this. By leaving, they will be doing the best for this place, at a later time. If they stay instead... they will not have the opportunities to become the people that will be needed when that time comes."
Quatre exhaled as he listened to Jack, closing his fingers around Trowa's hand. At the end of it, he bowed his head slightly to the argument.
Jack smiled. His words had not been entirely for Quatre's benefit alone. He looked at Heero, then Duo to see if they understood what he had said.
Heero nodded as Jack's gaze alighted on him. "Hai." He murmured, his hand finding it's way down to Kenny's hair.
Duo frowned a little, contemplating what kind of... maturing, or training they would not be able to find in Arcadia that he and Heero would be able to provide them back in their own world. He finally nodded solemnly. He'd just have to make sure there was plenty of time for kites and video games in there too.
Trowa looked around the room at his friends. "Looks like we have a mission," he said, softly.
Heero looked up at his friends and then his eyes swept over the kids. "Nimou ryoukai."
Duo looked up suddenly and met Jack's eyes.
"Maybe two," he said, remembering what Jack and Rip had promised them from the beginning.
Rip grinned. "Oh certainly. It wouldn't be fair to the kiddies to let you take them to a place where we hadn't finished the little cleanup yet."
"Were you still interested in help?" Duo asked, jerking his head to indicate the ex-Gundam pilots.
Jack tilted his head. "Yes... but there will be some time for you before such help is needed. I will explain when the time is right."
Quatre leaned a little closer to Trowa, whispering softly for just his ears. "More like, down the rabbit hole, with just as much control over the situation." He sat back with a bemused expression on his face, not looking 100% positive with this.
"Well, I wouldn't wait too terribly long. Heero's getting all soft in his old age," Duo said with a snicker.
The braid was in Heero's hand in a split second. "Baka."
"Itai! Braid Patrol infraction! You're racking those up today," Duo complained.
Duan turned in Duo's lap. "Sorry," he said, looking up at the older boy.
"Heh. Don't worry about it, kiddo. Even *I* can't keep up with him and I've got a few years experience at it!"
Heero gave the braid one last tug and a glare that promised later as he muttered, "I'll show you soft, bakayoro."
Trowa leaned back in his chair and leaned towards Quatre. "So exactly what did you mean by 'down the rabbit hole'? Was that an invitation or what?" he asked quietly.
Duo clapped his hands over Duan's ears in a comical fashion as he gasped at Trowa. "Trowa! There are children present!"
Heero snorted.
Looking directly at Duo, Trowa nodded. "You're right... and I'm not talking about the kids either."
Duo nodded happily as he dropped his hands again. "Good. Just so we got that straight!"
"Ok, so ignore me at your peril." Trowa said, turning his head slowly around and down at Quatre. He winked at the blonde pilot, before looking back.
Quatre squeezed Trowa's wrist gently with a smile.
"So. When do we leave?" Duo asked cheerfully, glancing up at Jack and Rip with a grin.
"In due time," Jack said. He turned to Heero. "You wanted to speak to them - are you satisfied?"
Heero considered for a moment, then nodded. "Hai. This will do."
Then he cocked his head. "Arigato."
Jack smiled.
Rip grinned. "Don't mention it, old man."
Heero glared.
Jack rose and gestured to Quatre and Trowa. "Any last thoughts before I return you to your places?"
Quatre stood, gracefully but quickly. "No."
Trowa sighed. "I don't think so. Maybe sometime one of you guys can tell more about Arcadia, but I'm fine for now," he said, glancing at the children in turn.
Quatre reached back and closed his hand on Trowa's shoulder gently.
Jack reached out and the keyboard materialized under his hands. Rip did the same with his bass.
Quatre and Trowa found themselves standing in the clear space behind one of the circus tents, not far from where they'd left.
In the lobby of the Hyatt Arcadia, the group saw and heard something they would never afterwards be able to describe, and four figures faded from view, leaving the rest behind.
Duan looked up at Heero and Duo.
Duo met Duan's eyes and he cocked his head.
"What's on your mind, kiddo?"
End of Part 27
*Quatre's appearance was written by Laekin. Von handled Trowa, at Laekin's request!
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.