8-Oct-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 bounced off towards the cafe, Dragging, or being dragged by Duan. It was hard to tell just who was in the lead.
Heero watched his koi go off and shook his head with a sort of crooked grin. He glanced down at Kenny and Tryan and Carter and said, "Well, better get moving ... Or else there won't be any left."
Kenny nodded, leading the other boys after Duan and Duo.
Wufei suppressed a silent sigh and followed Hero.
Wufan looked up at Wufei and pushed his glasses back on up on his nose. Then he tried very hard to match Wufei's stride and expression. He was in training to be big. It was obvious that the Ancestors had sent the older boy as his personal guide. He would try to be worthy.
In the cafe, the ever helpful Hyatt Arcadia staff were already putting a couple of tables together and conferring with Duo and Duan about the orders.
Heero picked a seat at the head of the table., right where he could see all the upcoming entertainment.
Tryan sat next to Carter, still unable to get a good grip on his new freedom. He had no clue what a hot fudge sundae was, but if Duo said to eat it, he was going to have one and make the most of it.
Wufan waited until Wufei sat before sitting himself . It was tradition. Taking his seat at the table, he glanced over at his friends and smiled, then back to Wufei and corrected his expression again.. This was going to be tough.
Duo noticed Wufan, and his gaze darted up to meet Wufei's eyes. There was a small frown teasing at the corner of his mouth, as he nodded his head almost imperceptibly at Wufan. Duo glanced back to Wufei and tossed him a significant look.
Wufei looked back at Duo blankly. He tilted his head slightly, trying to figure out what he was, apparently missing. He looked around the table, saw the kids, saw Wufan... looked at the kids... Duo... then a tiny crease furrowed his brow.
He figured out what the problem was... and he understood what Wufan was doing, and agreed, privately, with Duo's implication. But what... to do about it? Wufei had been drilled from the time he was Wufan's age... no, younger. How could he show this child by example that this rigid correctness... was not the only way to be?
He looked back at Duo and for the first time since Duo had known him, he seemed almost... as if he were silently asking for... assistance.
Duo blinked almost comically. He looked away quickly, before Wufan caught the silent exchange and thought furiously.
Wufei was also thinking.
"Wufan, you ok?" Duan asked.
"Huh?" Wufan answered. "Oh, yes. I am fine," he said.
Duan nodded. "Ok. You looked a little weird."
Wufei touched Wufan lightly on the shoulder.
Wufan jumped slightly, then looked up at Wufei.
"Do you... ahem... do you understand what is meant by.. 'off duty'?" Wufei said quietly, attempting not to sound as uncomfortable as he felt.
"Yes," Wufan replied. Would you like the definition?"
Wufei shook his head. Then he leaned close to Wufan and said softly, "You are now off duty... until I tell you that you are back on, or.. or until you reach your... 15th birthday."
"Okay," Wufan replied and committed that information to memory. He relaxed a little in his chair.
Wufei looked at Duo, like, okay, I did the best I could do.
Duo gave him a gentle, understanding smile, which he quickly masked behind a manic grin as he bounced to the table laden with a heavy, and full, tray.
With a triumphant caw of laughter, he started distributing the sundae glasses over flowing with ice cream, hot fudge, and especially whipped cream.
"Here we go," he said, setting the tray aside and plopping into the last seat and deftly sliding spoons to everyone.
"This, my dear fellows, is a hot fudge sundae. Hopefully the first of many. And yes, Heero, even you have to have some. Duo says," he expounded, tossing Heero a prim glance as he glanced around the table at the kids.
Heero glared for a moment... then saw the faces on the mini-me's... And he was doomed. Duo's eyes were bad enough. But all of them? Resistance was futile.
"Hn." He grunted at his lover, a small shade of defeat in his eyes.
Several pairs of eyes shifted from Heero to Duo. The kids had the utensils, but waited and watched Duo for signs on the proper etiquette of the hot fudge sundae.
Duo grinned fiendishly as he sat with spoon poised over melting ice cream.
"To our future, guys. And of course, there's only one last thing to say... Damn the torpedoes and full speed ahead!" he said, digging into his sundae with his usual food-centric abandon.
Heero gave a fatalistic sigh and took a spoonful. He lifted it in front of his face and stared at it for a long moment. He could feel little eyes on him and he gave it up, making a mental note to find "chibishields" sometime soon. Then he started to eat.
Duan followed Duo's example and dug in. His eyes widened at the first bite as he looked up at Duo. "It's... goood!" he exclaimed.
"It'll be even better in a little while when the sugar buzz hits, but yeah! Isn't it great?"
Wufei closed his eyes for a split second attempting to prepare his body for what he was about to do to it. Then he dug his spoon into the dish and took a large bite.
Tryan took a spoonful of equal parts fudge and ice-cream. He tasted it gingerly, working out consistency and taste. Finally, he decided it was good and began carefully working his way through the dish.
Carter was already almost high from the vibes coming off Duo. He went for the ice cream and syrup, and his eyes rolled up in bliss.
"Ooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhh........" he gasped, and reverently returned for more.
Wufan, who had been watching Duo closely for spoon placement, dug into the dish and scooped out a bite. Out of the corner of his eye, he had kept tabs on Wufei and saw him close his eyes. The older boy's expression, while subtle, gave the impression that perhaps this was not such a good thing for people like him. He sighed, then put the food into his mouth. A second later, his brown eyes grew large behind the glasses and a smile appeared on his face. He glanced over at Wufei. "It's good," he said.
Kenny smiled to himself and tasted the desert. He nodded. Then he dug in for more. This was 'sugar snacks'.
Duo glanced up suddenly, looking over at Kenny with a chagrinned expression.
"Drat. I shouldda gotten you a banana split, Kenny. Could have killed two birds
with one stone," he sighed, grinning.
Kenny smiled back. "Next time," he said simply.
"You mean I'll be allowed to get us all hopped up on sugar again?" Duo said, feigning incredulity.
Heero's eyes widened dramatically. "Iie! At least..." He looked over the kids and his eyes softened slightly, "Give a little break."
Duo's face fell with dramatic disappointment.
"You're no fun at all, Hee-chan."
"Hn." Heero said. "Baka."
Duo grinned happily as he cast his gaze over the table again. There was a smug satisfaction in his expression that clearly said ' mission accomplished'.
There was a soft sound outside the cafe, in the lobby. It wasn't very obvious at first, but it seemed to sweep towards the cafe like a slow, quiet wave of sound.
As it reached the cafe, people inside turned and expressions changed instantly. Smiles appeared or widened. Then people whispered softly to each other.
Carter blinked and looked up and his eyes went very wide as a young woman walked casually up to the table where they were all sitting. She was short, 5'2, and had shoulder length light brown hair. At her side was a teenage girl who was very cute, and had wavy blond hair. The teen was taller than the young woman but there was something about them that seemed to link them together.
The woman walked up to the table, looking around at each of the kids, and the young men sitting there.
"Hello," she said cheerfully.
"Hiya!" Duo replied, tossing the pair an inquiring look.
"I heard you were going to be leaving us soon, and I thought I'd come over and meet you while I could. You're Duo, right?" the woman said.
Duan's eyes got very big, as did Wufan's. Both looked up at the woman and Wufan raised his hand to clasp over his opened mouth.
Duan looked over at Kenny. It's her, he mouthed, then licked the chocolate from the corner of his mouth.
Kenny blinked, his eyes widening.
Tryan stopped eating and looked at the woman as well.
"Yup, that's me. And you are?" he asked politely, his expression cheerfully neutral.
"Call me Baun. Baun Dracontine. And this is Stormy, my daughter," she answered.
"Pleased to meet you," Stormy replied, her voice accented much like Rip and Jack's.
Duo blinked in surprise as the name sank into his brain. His gaze darted from mother to daughter and back again a few times before he seemed to come back to himself.
"Likewise," he replied enthusiastically.
"Want to join us for some hot fudge sundaes?" he asked, motioning around the table.
Baun grinned. "Sure," she said. "Thanks, that would be nice."
Duo bounced to his feet and dragged over a couple of extra chairs, pausing to pop by the bar and order a couple more ice creams as he returned.
Heero glanced at his lover when he returned, "How many did you order?"
Duo clutched at his chest dramatically, feigning effrontery.
"Two! I'm not that bad!" he replied with a 'wounded' sniff.
Heero shook his head at the melodrama. "It's started already." He moaned lightly under his breath.
Baun's mouth twitched as she listened to the exchange. When the ice cream came she helped herself and smiled, enjoying the treat.
"Nice. Been a while." She looked at Heero. "You are Heero Yuy?"
"Hai." Heero inclined his head in affirmation.
While eating, Baun looked around at the kids. She also looked at Wufei inquiringly.
Wufei noticed the look and said stiffly, "Chang Wufei," with a slight inclination of his head.
"Pleasure to meet you, Wufei," Baun said.
Her eyes lingered on Carter, then swept from kid to kid.
"You guys have names?" she asked.
"I'm Duan, ma'am," Duan said, wiping his hand on his shirt, then offering it to Baun.
Tryan stood and walked over. "I'm Tryan," he said, offering his hand and bowing.
Baun shook hands, nodding. "Pleased to meet you, Tryan."
Wufan stood and pushed his chair back under the table. He walked over and bowed deeply in respect. "I am Po Wufan," he said, formally.
"Wufan," she repeated politely, bowing from her seat.
"Did you really make the storm?" he asked.
Baun smiled and nodded, with her finger placed to her lips.
"Oh.. All right," Wufan said, quietly, then went back to his chair.
Stormy looked at each of the children and smiled. She picked up her chair and placed it near Carter, Tryan and Wufan and sat. It gave her a good view of the people at the table and the older boys as well.
Baun's mouth twitched but she didn't say anything about her daughter's move.
Duo finished up his sundae and carefully slid the empty dish away. Resting his chin on his hand, he peered at Baun with a dreamy, almost wistful expression.
"I was kinda hoping I'd have a chance to thank you, ya know," he said pleasantly.
Baun looked surprised. "Um? What for, pray tell?"
He smiled as he motioned towards the smaller boys around the table with his free hand.
"My new family."
Baun smiled, blue-grey eyes warming.
"In that case... you're welcome," Baun said. She tilted her head slightly. "I heard you like kites."
Duo's face broke out into a merry grin as he nodded enthusiastically.
"Absolutely!"
"And you're a pilot...? All... three of you, yes?"
Heero's eyes glanced over from where they had been surveying Stormy and he nodded, "Hai."
"Once upon a time," Duo agreed.
"Is flying mecha... really like flying?" she asked, leaning her chin on her hand.
"Flying... like as in a bird kinda flying?" Duo asked, cocking his head a little.
Baun nodded.
He frowned a little, considering it.
"Flying in the mobile suits was more like... Being in a box that bounced a lot. Not like flying like a bird. Except in space. That's pretty cool. Course, Heero was the one with the flight type," Duo replied.
"Flying in space," Baun said, with a slight wistfulness. "Sounds... fun."
"It's beautiful out there," Duo agreed dreamily.
Baun's eyes took on a gleam. "Hmmmm."
"It was peaceful." Heero put in wryly, looking almost pointedly at Duo for a moment before his eyes softened.
Stormy looked at Baun, her blue eyes crinkling slightly at the corners.
Duo peered at Baun curiously, eyebrows raised in silent query.
Baun looked back. "Hmm? Oh... mmmm... there are... let's just say there are damn few things I haven't tried yet and I think I just found one."
Duo smiled and nodded.
A small line of worry appeared in the middle of Stormy's forehead. She glanced up at Heero, then back down.
Heero raised an eyebrow, "Yes?"
"Gomen," Stormy replied, quietly. Then, "I didn't mean to stare."
Heero shrugged slightly, though he blinked at her start. His eyes narrowed slightly and a question appeared in his eyes.
Looking back up at Heero, she smiled slightly. "My mother is something of a test pilot herself," she said, then looked at Baun. "Space is a vacuum, mum." she said.
Baun grinned wickedly. "Test pilot... heh heh, san plane. And as for the vacuum... theoretically that would not be a problem... I've never tested it over five minutes but..." she shrugged.
Stormy sighed. "I'll ask around. Perhaps, I can come up with something to deal with the breathing problem," she said.
Duo shoo his head, glancing from mother to daughter and back again.
"I'd be more concerned with the whole decompression thing, myself," he said.
"And the freezing cold." Heero observed dryly..
Baun smiled.
"There would not be much of a problem with the cold, I think. Decompression is something that I hadn't considered. Thank you both," Stormy said.
"You're good, but don't try and outthink your mother yet, Arcadia," Baun said. "I got the decompression thing licked. Just use an energy cocoon."
Stormy snapped her fingers and nodded. "That'll work," she said, then turned to Heero. "Freezing cold is not much of a worry for her. She's got the constitution of a Sherman tank."
Heero's lip twitched in response as he bowed his head.
"Fortunately for you, kiddo," Baun added, smirking at her daughter.
Stormy looked around the table at the other kids. "Yes, I know," she said, with a slightly embarrassed flush.
Baun grinned. "Quit gawking at the boys - go give daddy a pinch. See how he's doing moving back into his office."
Stormy blushed and stood up. "I will," she said. "But I'll tell him the pinch was from you." Looking around, she said, "It's been a pleasure."
Duo stood as she did and offered her his hand.
"Pleasure was all ours," he replied with a pleasant smile.
Stormy took Duo's hand and nodded, smiling fully. "I'll be back," she said, looking into the violet eyes for a moment.
Stormy took Duo's hand and nodded, smiling fully. "I'll be back," she said, looking into the violet eyes for a moment, before turning to leave.
Baun shook her head. "Try and forgive her," she said. "She's a tad on the spoiled side. I don't think she gets that there are beings who might be immune or unavailable to her allure...."
"I heard that!" a call came from the lobby area.
Heero arched an eyebrow. "Very unavailable."
Baun grinned back. "No problem here," she said. "I have my hands full with daddy."
"Daddy?" Duo asked, curiously as he took his seat again.
"You'll meet him before you leave, I imagine," Baun answered. "He's in the process of executing the transition so Ronnie can finally go on the well deserved vacation he's been waiting for. Anyway, none of that concerns you guys. You're almost out of here, right?"
"So says the almighty Rip, I guess," Duo replied.
"Would you rather stay a while?" Baun asked.
Duo blinked, his gaze darting towards Heero and Wufei as he contemplated that. He shrugged noncommittally, his expression carefully neutral.
Heero met his lover's eyes but made no comment. He glanced to Wufei and then at the kids and shrugged again. "Vote?" He asked.
Wufei crossed his arms over his chest. He looked from Duo to Heero and back, refusing to get involved.
"Hey, don't we gotta train?" Duan asked.
Heero inclined his head - this was true. "Ready?" He asked his lover.
"For anything," Duo replied with a typical manic grin.
Heero snorted. Then he turned to glance at Baun, "We're going home."
Baun smiled.
"We'll be back, though," Duan added.
"I suspect you all will, at some time or another," Baun said. "Arcadia has adopted you."
She stood up and said, "Thanks for allowing me to spend a little time with you. I may see you before you leave, but if not, thank you for what you've done here. For helping keep the city safe, and for bringing Reg back. You've done more than one great service for us. Perhaps some time I can return the favor in some way."
"You already did, ma'am," Duo replied softly, sweeping his gaze over the children before looking back up at Baun.
Baun nodded. Then, she said, "Keep it in mind any way. My real specialty is genetics. You might be interested to know that there isn't a person sitting at this table who could be considered original homo sapiens. Anyway, it may never come up. As we say here in the city, see ya!"
"Bye," Duan said, with a grin.
Baun blew a kiss to the group and sauntered out of the cafe.
Duo blinked in confusion as he watched her leave.
"What do you think that meant?" he murmured to no one in particular.
Heero shrugged philosophically. Curiosity was not his strong point.
Wufan touched Wufei on the arm.
Wufei looked down inquiringly.
"Is Stormy too old to pair with me?" he asked.
Wufei blinked. Then he looked at Wufan. "For now, yes," he said.
"Oh, ok," Wufan replied, filing the information away for future use.
Heero looked at the drying and sticky plates and the minor disaster of a table. He shook his head in pity for the waiters and looked at his family, "We should be going."
Duo turned to glance at his partner, setting his confusion away to toss everyone a cheerful grin.
"Yeah. Before we start sticking to the seats. How was it everyone?"
"Good," Duan replied.
"Tasty," Tryan said.
"Delicious," Wufan added.
Duo sighed melodramatically as he bounced around the table.
"Wonderful," Carter sighed, looking a little drunk.
"Now all I have to do is come up with something to top hot fudge sundaes. Should have started out with something a little less hard core," he lamented.
"Hard core?" Duan asked, quizzically.
Kenny was still weirded out by Wufan's desire to partner with a girl.
Duo grinned, paused to ruffle Duan's bangs as he passed.
"Pixie sticks. That's what I can introduce you to next," he said, smiling fiendishly as he tossed Heero a challenging look.
"Kami." Heero breathed, his imagination painting easily the picture of his lover and his minime on that concentrated sugar.
He looked to Kenny and groaned slightly.
Kenny shrugged, unaware of the dangers of pixie sticks.
"You'll learn." Heero forewarned. "Hn."
"Well, is there anything anyone wants to do while we're still in Arcadia? Anyone, anyone wants to see or say good-bye to? We're outta here at sundown, ya know."
Wufan looked at Kenny and Duan. "We should say goodbye to the base kids," he said.
Kenny nodded.
"Can we all go?" Tryan asked. "And I wanna say goodbye to Sheba."
Kenny stood up and looked to Heero. "We go? And meet you... here or in the park?"
Heero thought for a moment. "The park." He said firmly. "But do not be late."
Kenny nodded. "We'll be early. It's a nice park."
"Come on!" Duan said, and led the way.
Wufei watched the kids go. Then he stood up. "I'll meet you as well. I'm sure I can find this park."
"Where ya going, Wu?" Duo asked, cocking his head curiously.
"To look around. In case *I* don't make it back. Also to walk off some of this... sugar," he answered.
Duo chuckled, a short bark of rueful laughter.
"Only you, Wufei, could make 'sugar' sound like some wicked, evil drug."
"It might as well be," Wufei said testily. Then his expression softened. "But... no one should have to be correct... all the time." His expression was unemotional but the simple absence of expression said a great deal about how his own childhood had been.
"Heh. Better be careful, Wu. You hang out with me too much longer, and you might start enjoying yourself once in a while," Duo replied with a wink, trying to lighten the mood a little.
"I suppose some things can't be helped," Wufei returned with a slight twitch of his mouth. Then he bowed cursorily and walked out of the cafe.
Duo watched him leave with a wry smile.
"Should be interesting, ne Hee-chan?" he asked his partner with a slight shake of his head.
Heero watched Wufei walk out of sight then turned back to his lover, "Hai, Duo-koi. That it should."
Duo's eyebrows shot into his hairline as he turned his gaze back to Heero.
"Well, guess it's just you and me then. Now what?" Duo asked his partner with a wry smile.
Heero's eyebrow raised for a split second as his face took on an aspect of determination. "I can think of something."
"Kites?" Duo guessed innocently.
Heero wrapped Duo's braid in his hand securely. "No." He tugged on the braid till Duo stood up with him. "You owe me."
"Itai! Damnit. The hair again... Owe you? What for?" Duo yelped.
Heero leaned in, brushing the loose tendrils of Duo's hair with his cheek, "Hai... old man."
Then Heero locked his blue eyes with Duo's, "And I promised to show you who's going..." He licked his lips briefly, "soft."
Duo eeped softly, swallowing uncomfortably as he took in the predatory gleam in Heero's eyes.
"Heh. Joke?" Duo asked, voice a little higher than normal and tinged with a hint of almost panic.
A slow smile spread over Heero's face, almost a grin, "Iie. You need... to be punished."
Duo suppressed the shiver that raced down his spine, and a wicked twinkle lit in his eyes.
Heero looked at his lover with an almost sinister gleam in his eyes. If Duo was shivering already... then this was going to go well indeed. He brushed past Duo lightly, not leaving go of the hair, just close enough to feel Duo's heat.
"Come on, Duo-koi."
Duo stumbled after his lover, tossing him a schmarmy salute.
"Yes sir, Mr. Yuy, sir!" he said with an almost nervous giggle.
Heero stopped abruptly with a grin on his face as it brought Duo within a millimeter of him. His eyes seemed to glow with anticipation.
"Hn... We may have to do something about that mouth..." He grinned slowly, "That's what got you into this in the first place."
"What? My mouth getting me into trouble again?" Duo asked with mock surprise, "Perish the thought."
Heero's eyes tracked on Duo's lips as they moved, watching them intently, almost hungrily.
"Such a surprise," he agreed.
Duo smiled to himself as he moistened the lips Heero was staring at so intently, his tongue darting out briefly.
Heero watched that tempting tongue dart out but shook his head before it could enthrall him.
"No, koi. Not this time," he chuckled as he laid a callused hand against Duo's cheek. "This time... it's your punishment."
"Whatever do you mean?" Duo asked innocently as he leaned his cheek into Heero's hand and closed his eyes with a small sigh.
Heero chuckled low under his breath as his lover closed his eyes. He slid his hand down Duo's jaw, his other hand sliding down the braid at the same time, until he slipped away from Duo and strode toward the elevator.
"Maybe you'll find out, Duo-koi." He called back when he was almost there.
Duo's eyes snapped open, finding himself suddenly bereft of his partner. Glancing around, he saw Heero step up to the waiting elevator.
That left him two choices: stroll up slowly and calmly like he wasn't going out if his mind for his surprisingly openly sensual partner, or jog after him, trailing behind like a hyperactive, and devoted, puppy.
His pride demanded the former, but his libido was screaming for action now.
He compromised. With a childish grin, he skipped towards the elevator, as if it had been all his own brilliant idea, rather than his raging hormones spurring him on.
Heero smiled to himself as he turned and stepped into the elevator. He hadn't doubted Duo would come... His smile grew slightly. This was going to be fun. Nimou ryoukai. He thought to himself.
Duo bounded into the elevator behind him and started bouncing up and down on the tips of his toes, toying with the end of his braid absently as he watched his partner with a cheerful grin playing across his face.
Heero stepped up to Duo and walked his fingers slowly up Duo's spine, "Duo-koi..." he murmured in his sotto bass.
Duo's eyes slipped closed and his expression softened.
"Yeah, Hee-chan?" he asked, his own voice just above a hushed whisper.
Heero leaned forward slightly, so that his cheek was mere centimeters away from Duo's and breathed on his ear, "To quote you, 'you are in deep trouble'."
Duo felt his chest tighten in anticipation and a soft groan bubbled up unbidden from his lungs.
"Aren't I always?" he asked quietly, his lips turning up in a rueful smile.
Despite the temptation that smile presented, Heero managed to pull himself back, his hand sliding once more down Duo's back with tantalizing slowness, "Hn," he murmured.
Duo's eyes opened slowly, casting a heated gaze over Heero's face, devouring his partner's expression, as he unconsciously pressed himself against Heero's roaming hand. With a small grin, he leaned forward to capture Heero's lips in a kiss.
Heero leaned away slightly, turning to the side so that he stood just slightly behind his lover. He chuckled briefly.
"No. Punishment," he reminded, letting his hand dip just slightly.
End of Part 29
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.