3-Jul-2000
Title: Mission Arcadia
bonnejean & vonceia *present*Category: yaoi, AU
RavynFyre & Kateri Marie
in The B&V Guest Authors Series!
Duo - words, thoughts, actions - RavynFyre
Heero - words, thoughts actions - Kateri Marie
Rip & Jack, Their World and General Production - bonnejeanne & vonceia
Jack stood. "What first?"
"How long has Kenny been with you?"
Jack looked down at the boy.
"I have been here in Arcadia for two weeks. Quatre came... ten days ago," Kenny said, watching the two closely.
Heero did some plans quickly in his head, "That means whatever they're planning will probably launch soon."
Soon soon soon. Why did the word sound so sinister in his head? Like a death knell... Well, that was one thing Shinigami knew, it was death knells. And it sounded like he'd be ringing some soon. There it was again.
"Food. Food first, then we get stuff and go, ne? I'm hungry."
Heero cracked a smile like he knew Duo had wanted him too, "You're always hungry baka." The affectionate tone was still there under the soldier's voice, buried deeper, but still there.
Duo heaved an unconscious sigh of relief. Okay, things were looking up. He cracked an answering grin, ducking his head to include Kenny in on it. "Yeah, but I'm a growing boy! Right, Kenny?"
"Hmph," from Heero.
Kenny regarded Duo with a serious look. Then, almost cautiously, his expression lightened. "You think you're growing... what about me? I'm hungrier than you, I bet."
Oh God, Heero thought. Two of them.
Jack smiled.
"That sounded like a challenge to me!" Duo crowed.
"I hope you have plenty of food." Heero remarked, trying not to sigh in exasperation.
Ripper chuckled. "Of course they do... otherwise I would not come here. Kenny - what about Mama Ninfa's tamales?"
Kenny nodded.
Ripper grinned. "Come gents, first a room, then a meal."
Jack and Ripper led the two boys and the small child to a tall glass building. On the outside was a sign that was very old, but well kept. It said 'Hyatt Regency'. Jack and Rip led them inside. The once posh hotel was still posh... if a bit more like a small town square in the lobby area. Someone ran up as they entered.
"Controller, lovely to see you. Your room is ready of course. And would that be one room for your friends? Or two?"
Jack answered, "One. Put them in the Presidential Suite, please."
"Of course!" the man answered, and grinned at the two boys. "Special guests of the Controller."
"Phillip, please, call me Jack or Mr Jack if you must, you know the city has a current controller," Jack said.
"Yes of course," the man grinned. "Good to have you back, Controller."
"Controller?" Heero lifted an inquisitive eyebrow.
"Damn. Beat me to it." Duo remarked.
"The city of Arcadia' chief governmental officer is the Mayor," Jack explained. "The Mayor's main administrator is the City Controller. During the time of the Great Storm, I had the honor of holding that position," he said. "The great game... the game that brought life back to the world."
"Umm... okay. Shall you ask, or shall I?" Duo asked, glancing at Heero.
Heero didn't even bother voicing the question. His gaze made it plain enough that he wanted answers and lots of them.
Jack smiled. "It's a long story. But if you insist... but first, your room, and your meal. Phillip, have Mama Ninfa send up two full fiesta meals to the Suite."
"You'd best send up three." Heero said, jerking his head towards Duo by way of explanation.
Duo stuck his tongue out at Heero childishly, but didn't refute the logic.
Jack smiled. "Three. And the same to our rooms. Kenny you can eat with Ripper, won't that be fun?"
"Is that anything like asking if it'll be fun eating with a shark? Only you get to be the 'chum'?" Duo snickered, remembering their hike into the city.
Kenny looked at Duo, frowning at the word 'chum' which he didn't know. Ripper grinned. "I haven't eaten any small boys for just ages now honestly!"
Duo snorted. "Yeah, okay, sure, fine, whatever." His grin took any sting out of the words that may have been there. "Sorry, Kenny. I'm just teasing Ripper."
Kenny nodded seriously.
Ripper laughed delightedly. "How sweet!!!" he said. "Kenny... go with Phillip. Come, boys, I'll play bellhop. This way..."
"Bellhop? we're... hrmm... shall we say perilously short of baggage, good sir?" Duo chuckled.
Once they were in the elevator, a "glass" elevator from which you could see the vaulted lobby inside and the city outside, Rip looked at Duo smirking. "You both seem to have plenty of baggage, as far as I can tell."
Heero blinked, and looked at the man with a piercing gaze, that bordered on a glare.
Duo gaped at him, "Us? No way!? Perish the thought!"
Ripper simply smiled and let his eyes travel down Duo's body, pausing at an area just below his waist.
"I see."
Heero followed Ripper's gaze and the glare that threatened promptly solidified into something near deadly. Lesser men would have quailed at the mere thought of that glare. He wrapped a fist tightly around the end of Duo's braid and settled his stance firmly, every muscle proclaiming *Mine*.
Duo simply crossed his arms and smirked, trying to hide the flush that crept to his face as he'd followed Ripper's gaze at first too.
Ripper grinned, unfazed and looked Heero down from his tousled hair to his lower midsection. "I was only trying to be complimentary."
Duo's eyebrows shot up. "Complimentary? Hrm...."
"Compliments like that can be dangerous to your health with one of the two of us around," Duo warned good-naturedly.
Heero's look was less good-natured.
"You poor boy," Ripper said in turn. "You know me so little... such threats are enticing. I love danger to my health. The main problem with living forever is... boredom. See what I mean?"
"Hey... a little boredom sounds pretty novel to me right now," Duo sighed wistfully, his eyes darting unerringly towards Heero.
Underneath the power of that sigh, Heero had to turn and his hand curved inward, still holding the braid, to caress Duo's back in reassurance. He wasn't very good at expressions of affection but he certainly tried.
Duo leaned into the caress, suddenly becoming uncomfortable with Ripper's presence. "Damn! Where is this room? Mars? This is the longest elevator ride in history!"
The elevator opened onto the top floor. The view at the top was incredible - a tiny area of city and the wilderness in every direction.
Rip led them off the elevator to a door, which he opened with a plastic card key, dropping the card in Duo's hand.
"Room service with be up in five, and they'll knock and leave the cart outside if you put out the 'do not disturb' sign. Have fun, boys," Ripper said cheerfully, and turned, not back to the elevator but to saunter down the hall to another room quite a bit down and on the other side.
Duo had the audacity to attempt to splutter indignantly. He wasn't very convincing.
Heero waited until Ripper's back was out of hearing range and then tugged Duo inside by his braid.
"Itai! Always the hair. Why is it always by the hair?!"
The door shut, leaving Heero and Duo inside a large room. Looking around, they could see that it was indeed a huge suite, with a sunken conversation area, lots of furniture, doors leading off to a bedroom and a large bath with a huge sunken tub. There were flowers on a table and a wide vidscreen on the wall. A small remote device was sitting on a table. The "do not disturb" sign hung on the inside doorknob.
Duo sidled up to Heero, pressing himself close to the other boy in an almost desperately needy way. He heaved a long sigh and wrapped his arms around Heero's waist before peering at him through his long lashes. "So... what do you think about all this, Hee-chan?"
Heero didn't respond for a long moment. He looked into those huge eyes, devouring every glimpse of light and shadow. Then he pulled Duo even tighter against him, "I think... we've done all we can for now." He slid the gun out from his jeans and got rid of it without letting go of Duo. "Do you have something in mind?"
Duo chuckled heartily, melting into Heero's embrace and glancing at him coyly. "My, my... Was that a gun in your pocket?"
"Baka." Heero muttered, but his eyes didn't reflect the statement. They flashed with something else entirely, something that he felt all too much when Duo was around.
Duo chuckled again, his hands straying down Heero's back, coming around his slim hips to squirm between their bodies. He stroked Heero's jeans, giving the slight bulge he found there a firm squeeze. "Hmmm... nope. Not a gun.... Now what could that be, I wonder?" he asked, his eyes flashing wickedly.
When he felt Duo's hand, even beneath the thick denim, Heero had to choke back the moan that surprised his throat. With his lover's eyes sparkling up at him, he lowered his head... slowly... Only to stop inches from his lips, "I think..." He murmured against the skin, "I think... you need a bath."
"With bubbles?" Duo asked, his voice almost childlike with entreaty.
Heero's eyes narrowed but not with anger as he started maneuvering them towards the bath. "Hn... Bubbles..." He muttered, lowering his lips the rest of the way.
Duo's heart skipped a few beats in his chest. What exactly was it about the Japanese boy that always got such a rise out of him? Well, besides his incredible sex appeal, that is. His tongue darted out, stroking Heero's lower lip gently, almost tentatively, as his fingers grasped Heero's hips of their own accord. "Mmmm...." he couldn't help sighing.
Duo's tongue entered his mouth lightly and Heero seized the chance, leaned further forward to devour his lover's mouth. Duo sighed, and the vibration of his voice against Heero's lips was almost more than he could bear. How they made it to the tub, he would never know.
It took more willpower than he'd known he possessed to pull himself away from those sweet lips, but Heero eventually managed to turn his head.
The tub was sunken and easily big enough for two... or four. On the marble counter were a number of hotel complimentaries, including a bottle labeled "Margarita Mambo Bubblebath" as well as a slim tube with the same packaging, that was plainly labeled "Margarita Mambo Edible Lubricant."
"Hmmmm... Hee-chan?"
Heero didn't respond but turned the knobs on the bath, starting a rush of water steaming into the tub.
Seeing that Heero's soldier-like will was focused on preparing their bath, Duo heaved a sigh and drew away a little. "Heero. The food?"
"Not that I'm trying to stop you here, or anything... but I know *I'd* feel a little weirded out if they just wheeled the cart in while we were... errmmm... busy..."
"Unless you WANT some... company. I'm sure those two would have been more than happy to...."
Heero interrupted the braided boy with a sharp tug on his hair and a glare that was only half in earnest. "Fine. Food first."
"No one said we actually had to eat it right now... It just might be... politic to wait for it to show up?" Duo replied, almost apologetically.
At that moment there was a polite tap on the door. "Room service."
With a slight exhale that passed for a sigh, Heero made his way to the door, customary glare in place. He opened it with somewhat more force than needed and peered out into the hallway.
The young lady on the other side of the door blinked at the glare, then smiled. She had a cart with covered dishes, which she promptly pushed into the room. She pushed it over to a large table and neatly and efficiently proceeded to spread the dishes out, (there were a lot of them) and also pulled a large pitcher of a light-greenish drink with ice and two glasses with something granular crusting the rims. She placed everything including napkins and utensils and poured the drink into the two glasses neatly, leaving about half left in the pitcher. Then she wheeled the cart out. While she was doing these things she had been getting as much of an eyeful of the two boys as she could manage.
Then she smiled brilliantly and wheeled the cart back to the door and out of it, grabbing the "do not disturb" sign from the back of the door and placing it on the knob. She winked at Heero and closed the door behind her. The room was now filled with the smell of well-cooked, spicy food.
Heero stared at the door for a brief moment, disconcerted by the wink, and then turned back to the amazing spread of food. "Is it enough?" He asked his lover, with a completely straight face.
"It'll do for dessert," Duo replied with a grin, kneeling down to run his hands through the water still filling the tub.
Heero relished the sight of his lover, gracefully poised near the water's edge, for a long moment before twisting the lock with a deft hand. "What did you have in mind for the main course?"
"I thought you'd never ask," Duo answered, his grin widening into a predatory smirk. He stood, and in the same motion, crossed the distance between them with a bound and a pounce.
"Hope she made it into the elevator," Duo muttered as Heero hit the door with a thud. "Cos I'm pretty sure I'm not ready for an audience here," he growled.
Eyes glued to his lover's lips as they moved, Heero shook his head with a growl. "I thought I told you, you needed a bath..." Only the softening in his eyes gave him away.
"So whaddya gonna do about it?" Duo asked smartly, his eyes narrowed and challenging. Before Heero could answer, he leaned forward and seized Heero's mouth in a fierce, desperate kiss.
Heero met his lover's need with need of his own, pouring out from his heart through his lips, and pulled the boy to him desperately, as if by pulling tight enough he could hold onto him forever. Then with a strength belied by his slim limbs, he tightened his arms and lifted Duo up, so that his feet dangled off the ground and started walking him backward.
"Umm... Heero?" Duo muttered against his lover's lips.
The corner's of Heero's mouth turned up, which should have been warning enough to his lover, as he walked to the edge of the tub and let go.
"HEERO!"
SPLASH!
Duo came up spluttering, water running off of his now soaked black clothing in thick rivulets.
"Damn! Now what will we do until my clothes dry?" he wailed.
Fighting back a chuckle at the look of surprise on his lover's face, Heero perched on the edge of the bath and picked up one of the bottles. He slid out of his shirt quickly enough but stopped there, long enough to uncap the bottle and pour some of the bubble bath in. "I'm sure you'll think of something... inventive." He said in a low husky voice.
"You... You are a big... big jerk sometimes," Duo said, his grin making it a joke. "So don't hate me, but I mean this in the best possible way."
With that, he reached out and grabbed Heero's ankles and yanked, tumbling the other boy into the tub with him.
The water rushed in over Heero's head, but his reflexes hadn't lost much even in the long years of peace. His hand shot out unerringly through the splash and held on tightly to Duo wrist with an iron grip.
"EEP!" Duo's startled exclamation ended in a gurgle as he was dunked underwater for the second time. He fought his way to the surface, eyeing Heero with another smirk. "Ya know... One of these days, we're gonna kill each other."
"You told me you were destined to be killed by me..." Heero said, his voice still in that vibrating low tone. He moved forward, jeans clinging to his legs and outlining every shift of muscle, a look in his eyes like a hunter claiming his prey.
Duo's chest tightened... among other things. And he lost his breath. His eyes traveled down Heero's body, tracking the water as it dripped from the toned skin. He swallowed almost convulsively, a play of emotion so raw that no name could be put to it lighting his eyes as one hand absently reached up to smooth a tendril of his hair out of his face.
Heero was mesmerized by the movement of his lover's throat, the breath, the life, throbbing there. By pure act of will, he lifted his eyes to Duo's face, feeling somehow inexplicably naked, despite the clothing they both still wore. "Duo..."
Duo smiled softly, his hand reaching out to cup Heero's cheek. "What is it about you that makes every time I see you seem like the first time?" He leaned forward, his other hand reaching up to run across Heero's chest, flicking across one pouting nipple on its course up to the Japanese boy's shoulder. He pressed his body close, letting Heero feel his heat.
Heero relished the feel of that heat, grounding him, binding him to his lover, and gasped as the soft hands touched his nipples. His own hands ran down Duo's back, following the curve of his shoulder blades and the slant of his spine.
Almost mindlessly, he kissed Duo, trying to devour his lips and bring him into him or lose himself in Duo. As he kissed the other boy, his hands tugged at his shirt and he let go of his lips to speak, "You're wearing too many clothes."
Duo chuckled softly, batting Heero's hands away to strip out of the sodden mass dragging him down. "So're you, Hee-chan. Off," he said, motioning to Heero's jeans with a stab of his elfin chin.
In one swift movement, he freed himself from the clinging jeans and discarded them somewhere outside of the tub. He really didn't care where they landed. Then he turned back to his lover.
Duo smirked, taking his time peeling his outer shirt off, watching Heero through half-lidded eyes. He half turned away, his hips swaying seductively to some music apparently only he heard as he finished unbuttoning the last button and, with torturous slowness, let the shirt fall away from his shoulders. He wadded up the black material and dropped it just outside the tub, and then started working on the buttons of his white shirt.
He turned completely away now, peering at Heero over his shoulder as the white shirt finally opened and started peeling away from his pale skin.
"Heero? Could you undo my braid?" He asked innocently, knowing full well what effect his hair had on his lover.
Heero had watched entranced as Duo had undressed, agonizingly slow, causing heat to flood his body. But when Duo asked him to undo his braid, he had to close his eyes for a moment against the sudden rush of emotions. His hands moved for him though, reaching for the end of that tantalizing braid even before he opened his eyes again.
With a gentler touch than anyone would have thought possible, he undid the cord that bound the end of the braid. Slowly, he ran his fingers along the braid, loosing the tight twists, easing the hair from its confinement.
Finally he had the length of it freed and it spilled over his hands like the water ran off their bodies. He ran his hands through it again and again, letting his fingers dance through the strands, touching the flesh beneath.
Duo took advantage of Heero's fascination with his hair to peel out of the sodden mess of his pants. He ducked his head, a delicious sigh escaping his lips as Heero's fingers danced through his hair and tickled along his spine.
"Damn. I'm dead. That's what this is, ya know? We died. Back in the war."
His words gave Heero pause, and he inhaled deeply, the scent of margaritas and mangos mingling with Duo's heady smell. Gently, he laid a kiss on Duo's shoulder, "I think.. it was more that we came to life."
"Yeah? Well, all I know is that the only place I could ever picture you, this much water, Margaritas, and all the Texmex food I could eat... is in heaven. How'd I rate?" he asked wonderingly, turning against his lover to cuddle against Heero's shoulder.
Heero nipped at the exposed neck before replying, "I never believed in heaven... But I believe in you... And you rate... everything."
Those words broke something within the American pilot. His breath hitched in his throat for a moment before he looked up, eyes suspiciously moist, and claimed Heero's mouth with a growl. He devoured the other boy's mouth as if it would be his last meal, pressing himself so close to Heero that it was a wonder he didn't simply climb into Heero's skin. His hands wrapped possessively around Heero's back, fingers kneading the muscles in his lower spine, and nails leaving very faint red marks.
A gasp slipped from Heero's throat at the onslaught but he mustered himself quickly. With the single minded determination that had made him the Perfect Soldier, he let his own hands wander, touching every part of Duo's body like it was the only thing between him and some unnamable madness.
With strength held back just barely he pushed his lover against the side of the tub, his mouth ravaging every piece of skin that he could reach without straying far from Duo's mouth.
Duo moaned softly, sinking back against the tub. His eyes closed, leaving him to drift in the sensations Heero was arousing within him. His tongue darted out, moistening his lips and absently stroking Heero's mouth, before he turned his head and started kissing his way down to the hollow in Heero's throat. With a playful little growl, he nipped gently at the flesh there, taking it between his teeth long enough to make the skin flush, but not to bruise.
With another growl, he worked his way up Heero's jaw to his ear. It never ceased to amaze him that the Perfect Soldier had such sensitive ears. It was yet another weakness that Duo had learned to exploit. And exploit it he did.
Sensation jolted through Heero's body like a lightning strike as Duo skillfully worked his advantage. His hands twined themselves in Duo's hair, cradling his head. But his senses could only take so much, so he pulled Duo's mouth away from his ear to bring it back to his own, pressing their bodies together in the process, and groaning into Duo's mouth as he felt the lean hardness of his partner's body.
"Hmmm... like that?" Duo murmured against Heero's lips, his hands dancing along Heero's spine, and then dipping lower to cup the firm buttocks. He twisted a little, pressing his chest against Heero, his wet skin sliding over his lovers sensuously, and coming away with a faint sucking noise.
Heero could feel Duo's heart beating rapidly against his chest and the loss when he pulled away was almost like a wound. He pulled his lover back to him with a noise that could only be called feral, and ground his hips against his lover in entreaty.
Duo's head fell back, his hair sliding over Heero's hands as the sensation of Heero's hips against his own washed over him. "Oh gad... what are you doing to me?" he whispered throatily. His hands closed convulsively against Heero's flesh, fingers grasping at his partner like a lifeline amidst the wave of mind numbing pleasure he was drowning in.
The sliding tendrils of Duo's hair weaving through his fingers awakened Heero's mind to the sensations overloading his body. A million strands of hair clung to his body, fused on by water, feeling like a million tiny caresses on his skin.
His breath left his lungs in a rush only to be sucked back in again as Duo's hands grasped him.
He was going to go mad, so much sensation, so much heady emotion, it was almost too much for a boy who'd never allowed himself to feel.
"Heero-" Duo choked out, his mouth leaning in for a desperate kiss. He drew away long enough to duck his head again and leave a trail of small, openmouthed nips to Heero's throat. "I- I need you.." He scooted lower in the water, worshiping the smooth expanse of Heero's chest with his mouth. "Inside me... "
His teeth took one pouting nipple and worried it gently, tongue toying with the flesh absently. "Now," he murmured, his voice but a bare whisper.
"Nimou Ryoukai." Heero whispered back, reaching for the remaining bottle with one hand, while his other clutched the ends of Duo's hair.
His hand slid to Duo's shoulder, relishing the glide over wet skin, while he thumbed off the cap with his other hand. "Koi..." He managed to whisper, pulling Duo slightly to make it easier on them both.
"Say it again," Duo whispered, eyes wide and vulnerable. "Please?"
The look in those eyes touched Heero in parts he'd never known he had and he couldn't resist lowering himself to those parted lips. "Koi... ai shiteru." He whispered, letting go of Duo's shoulder to trail his hand between them.
A soft moan escaped Duo's lips as he melted into Heero's embrace. If they didn't have a mission soon, he would have been perfectly happy to die right then. There was little left that could make his world any more complete than it was in that one, perfect moment, cradled in the arms of that one, Perfect lover.
They both knew what they were ignoring and Heero could feel the oncoming mission hovering just beyond the steam of their bath, waiting to overwhelm them if they let go for even a moment. So he held to Duo tight, the small spark of danger firing a need and a passion in him that no one but Duo could ever hope to match.
"Please?" Duo whimpered, his hands snaking around to stroke Heero's firm length. "Make me forget..."
The words tore at him and Heero kissed his lover with everything in him, taking his passion and his pain and using it to drive back the shadows a little longer. Prolonging the kiss, not caring about breathing, Duo was enough, Heero squeezed some of the lubricant out of the tube and let his fingers trail it down Duo's back.
Duo squirmed a little, both in anticipation, and because it tickled! If there was one thing Duo was, it was ticklish. Well, that and manic, but right now, mania was the last thing on his mind. All he could think/feel was the sensation of that hand creeping its slick way down his back. He arched into the touch, hand closing over Heero and stoking firmly.
"Hmmm... more."
Heero never had been able to deny Duo anything, so when he heard that beloved voice, clouded with desire, he gave in and slid his fingers to the sensitive opening.
Duo arched back, teeth clenched to bite back the gasp of pain/pleasure. His entire body tensed up, a tin sheen of sweat starting to break out over his flushed skin. His eyes squeezed shut, drowning, swirling away in the heat.
Heero could almost melt in the heat radiating from his lover's body. Duo arched into his hand and he felt desire roll over him, far too strong for him to resist. He didn't even want to try.
Carefully, not wanting to ever hurt the amazing boy in his arms, Heero positioned himself, leaning his head on Duo's shoulder, "Ready?"
"Been ready forever," Duo managed to gasp, his eyes flicking open to dart over Heero's face. He devoured the sight of the angel crouched before him, eyes half-lidded, and mouth slightly agape. He felt his chest constrict again. "Now."
The flash of violet eyes undid him, and Heero slid inside his lover with a gasp. Tight and hot and a million other sensations flew across his mind, too rapidly to separate, too strong to deny, as he thrust into his lover again and again.
A harsh cry burst from Duo's lips as Heero thrust against him. He spared a moment to reach behind him and grab the silken waterfall of his hair, bringing it around to drape over the both of them. And then he gave himself over to the wave of sweet agony Heero was forcing into him.
The cascade of hair surrounded them both in a protective cocoon and Heero felt safe like he never had before in his life before he met Duo. He could feel his lover around him, surrounding him in every way as they joined together, fused at the very soul.
Duo gasped as Heero struck that spot within him that made the whole world explode into motes and sparks. This was their culmination. Not even the memories of two bloody wars could find purchase inside his mind now. Everything faded away except the feel of Heero in his arms, and within his body. He could feel a wave of something hot, visceral, and joyous, like life personified, but transcending even that, rising within him. He wasn't sure how much longer he'd be able to stand it before he passed out from purest nirvana.
Duo's gasp fell on Heero's ears like the cry of an angel. He never felt so close to flying as he did inside of his lover. They were soaring, spiraling into something beyond him, beyond everything he had ever known. Something primal, something that tasted almost like joy filled him until he thought he would burst, leaving behind nothing but ashes to float back towards the ground. He was losing himself in Duo, draining out and being refilled until he didn't know anymore. All he knew was Duo, and he filled himself to the brink of ecstasy.
A hoarse cry ripped from Duo's throat as the wave crashed over him, drowning him in a riptide of emotion. The world lit up, and dropped away from him, until all he could feel was Heero. After a moment, even that thin tie was lost in the sweep of sensation overwhelming him. He felt his whole body tighten with a spasmodic shudder, and then collapse limply against Heero, spent and drained.
Heero felt Duo's body spasm beneath him, tightening around him like he would never willingly let him go, and he let the wave of emotion carry him off. His body shook, his entire being melted into flame as his came into his lover. Duo collapsed against him and his own strength seemed to be deserting him for he sank down slightly, buoyed up only by the solidity of the tub.
Duo's consciousness slowly seeped back into his mind. He was aware of nothing more than his own labored breathing at first, his chest heaving as he drew in great, shuddering pants of air. And then Heero's arms around him registered, making his chest tighten with a throaty, satiated moan.
"Oi, Hee-chan," he grunted almost inaudibly, "I can die happy now."
Heero felt the words against his chest more than he heard them and he smiled slightly at his lover's tone. "Not without me you can't."
"Ch', no more of that," Duo admonished languidly, drawing himself back up Heero's body until he could look his beloved in the eyes.
"I thought we discussed that."
The violet eyes scanned his and Heero couldn't speak for a moment. Those bright eyes held his life and he knew it even as he pulled Duo down for a soft kiss. "I thought you were hungry."
Duo's head snapped back, a bark of laughter almost startling him. "Who'da thunk it would be YOU bringing up food first?"
He turned his body against Heero's, pressing his back up against the other boy's chest and maneuvering him across the tub until they were resting against the opposite side. "The food's not going anywhere... and the water's still hot. And I thought you said I needed a bath," he said coyly, turning his head just a little bit to glance at Heero from the corner of his eyes.
A glint appeared in Heero's eyes as his lover spoke and he reached out with one hand to snag a bar of soap left innocuously in a dish. With the softest hint of a chuckle he soaped up his hands and twined his arms around his lover. "I did say that."
Duo smiled, tilting his head back to rest on Heero's shoulder. He relaxed into Heero's arms, content simply to stay cradled there in the water. A soft, almost wistful, almost content, but not really either, sigh escaped him. He settled his weight back against Heero more comfortably, and then lay still.
Heero heard the sigh and heard a million things in it that Duo would never say, no matter how much he talked and he stopped washing his lover, looking down at the chestnut head. "We won't lose this, Duo." He held on tightly to his lover, not even sure himself whether he was talking about the battle or them. "I promise you, we won't lose this."
Duo closed his eyes, a smile spreading across his face. "I'll remember you promised," he whispered. His arms slid down, resting over Heero's arms on his midriff. He gave them a quick squeeze and then snuggled back even further.
Heero felt a feeling steal over him as Duo tucked himself further in his embrace. It was a feeling he hadn't experienced before Duo, it was something akin to happiness, something that even the word love couldn't encompass. He felt Duo's hands squeeze his arms and closed his eyes, remembering something Duo had said during their lovemaking. "Heaven..." he murmured. "Maybe I can believe in heaven after all."
"Not for long," Duo muttered wickedly.
He spun in Heero's embrace, a familiar, almost evil glint in his eyes ad he grabbed Heero by the shoulder.
"Know what, Hee-koi? You're.... IT!" He crowed, giving Heero a shove and dunking the other boy under the water before he kicked away and thrashed through the water to the other side of the tub. Before Heero had a chance to surface, Duo had sprung out of the water and was bouncing, buck naked, and dripping wet, across the room.
Heero surfaced, sputtering slightly, the words 'Omae o korosu' on his lips. And he was treated to the sight of his lover's backside as he pranced into the main room.
With a quick roll of the eyes, Heero sprang out of the tub and strode into the room behind him, fully expecting half to food to be gone before he even arrived.
Duo saw the exasperation in Heero's eyes, and it almost made something twist in his heart. At least it would have if he hadn't already downed half of his first glass of margarita. With a smirk, he handed Heero his own glass and chuckled.
"Hey.. I'm not that bad, am I, Hee-koi?"
Duo felt a warmth as the margarita slid down his throat, tart and deceptively tasty. As the glass left his hand, he felt a soft warm fuzzy blanket begin to creep up from his toes, inside his body, easing tensions he had no realized existed.
"Niiiiceee..." Duo murmured, his appreciative gaze wandering all over Heero's likewise naked body. "You look..... nice."
One look at his partner's inebriated state and Heero put down his glass. At the sound of the slurred voice, he shook his head, "You're going to fall down soon."
"Fall down? Hrm... Not good. I think I can fix that," Duo said pleasantly, and then, simply folded his legs and sat down on the floor. "There. No fall."
Heero blinked. And then he blinked again. Then he sighed, "I think you would be more comfortable on the bed." Without waiting for his partner's consent, he lifted the slight boy up and carried him to the massive bed.
"We're gonna get the blankets wet..."
"What does that matter?" Heero muttered as he deposited Duo on the bed. It was a struggle to keep the affection from overwhelming him at seeing his partner so... mellow.
"Guess it doesn't," Duo replied happily. He wrapped his arms around Heero's neck and drew him down onto the bed beside him.
"Stay?"
"Hn." Heero grunted slightly but let himself be drawn down onto the bed. "Baka."
"Bet you say that to all the cute guys."
"Heero?"
Heero just stared down at him, memorizing the dreamy cast of his lover's eyes to remember another time. The drink had softened Duo's features, making him look like nothing so much as a contented cat. Heero had the strangest suspicion that if he stroked Duo's hair, he'd start to purr.
"Can I have some more?" Duo asked, voice slightly fuzzy.
"I think you've had enough." The tenderness in his voice surprised even Heero and he couldn't resist reaching out to play with a few tendrils of hair, letting them slid through his fingers and back onto the bed.
Duo's eyes slid shut and he sighed. There was just about nothing that he liked more than Heero giving in to his fascination with Duo's hair. There was something private and sensual about hair. Especially Duo's coveted locks.
"You spoil me."
Heero laid his head down, resting on a small portion of Duo's hair. "Hm. I thought it was the other way around..." He let the words trail off, feeling as if somewhere he'd said too much.
Duo smiled, scooting closer to Heero. "I think I'm getting sleepy..."
"Sleep, koi." Heero said, his voice lower than its usual bass. His hand wandered up to stroke Duo's forehead. He gathered the boy to him, loving the feel of him there and brushed some hair out of his face. "Sleep."
"Hmm... koi," Duo murmured, "Like that..."
With a gentle sigh, Duo drifted off, contentedly napping in Heero's arms.
"Me too, koi." Heero whispered into Duo's hair as he settled in to watch his lover until his eyes would stay open no longer and he too fell asleep.
End of Part 3
bonnejeanne & vonceia present
RavynFyre and Kateri Marie
Please feel free to direct feedback to any or all of the authors!
ravynfyre@hotmail.com,
HematiteSalaris@aol.com,
vonceia@yahoo.com,
bonnejeanne@yahoo.com.