5-Feb-2001
Greetings, mina-san!
Once upon a time there was a story called Mission: Arcadia. It was written by four authors together and some people seemed to like it.
The four who were writing had such a great time together that they decided to continue the story and the characters for a sequel. The sequel was to be called Chasing the Crown. Meanwhile, they wrote some extra pieces with the same characters - holiday-type ficcies mostly.
A fifth author was added and the writing sessions for Chasing the Crown began. Then some things happened. One of the original four did some things which led to the parting of ways. And those that remained were not certain for a while that the story would continue.
However, it has. So now we are four again, though happily, there will be yet another guest author coming in a bit later.
Chasing the Crown will cover the events surrounding the return of Heero & Duo from the mysterious universe of Jack and the Ripper. They have a mission to accomplish and a lot of adjusting to do, for Heero & Duo returned from Arcadia with five small boys, along with Wufei and one of the boys' mom, a lady who strongly resembles Sally Po.
This story is going to have a somewhat different feel to it. It is our sincere hope that you enjoy it, but the writing of it has been as much a journey for us as for the characters.
In the first several installments, Heero's part was written by Kateri Marie. After that, Von will be writing Heero's point of view.
Since I'm fond of titles and things, I have taken to calling this series with these characters ExFam, or the Extended Family Fics.
Timeline... um, this story takes place after Mission Arcadia, obviously (duh, bonne), part of it takes place before Trick or Treat and part after, and I will make that note as we go. All of this story takes place before the Christmas fics.
And now without further ado...
Title: Chasing the Crown, an Extended Family Fic
ExFam Authors:
RavynFyre - ravynfyre@hotmail.com
Diane Davis - fenwyck@radiks.net
von - sablexo1@yahoo.com
bonnejeanne - bonnejeanne@yahoo.com
*Guests to be announced*
Archive: GW Addiction - http://www.geocities.com/fenris_wolf0/ and if she chooses, Darkflame - http://nav.to/chibitrowa/
Category: yaoi, AU
Rating: PG-13 for now, that will change
Pairings: 1x2, 3+4
Spoilers: Series, Endless Waltz, Mission: Arcadia
Disclaimer: Gundam Wing characters and universe are the property of the copyright owners.
Kenny, Duan, Wufan, Tryan, Carter, Jack and the Ripper, and everything relating to Rip & Jack's universe are ours. No money being made here.
Feedback: Any and all comments, feedback, critiques welcome, be they short or long.
Please feel free to direct feedback to any or all of the authors!
WARNINGS: AU (Alternate Universe), Original Characters, LEMON in some sections.
Duo and Heero looked around, as they became aware that they had again completed the trip from one universe to another.
They found that they were standing in the same park from which they had departed.
Also with them of course were Wufei, Sallah and the five small boys.
Heero blinked a bit to reorient himself and then glanced around, counting mini-me's. He had a strange feeling that calling them 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 would be a mental habit.
He nodded when he saw everyone present and accounted for.
Duo made a strange face, nose scrunching up in displeasure, as he tasted the air.
"Dang. Definitely gonna miss that," he muttered peering around to get his bearings.
"Everyone okay?" he asked, glancing down to take his own tally. Not really concerned that Rip or Jack would have lost anyone in transit, but more out of newly formed habit.
Duan put his hands on his hips and looked around. "Well, it smells funny and it looks different... but I guess it's ok," he said.
Duo grinned down at the smaller boy and tossed him a wink.
"No matter what they do, they just can't seem to get the air clean enough out here in space. It's all that used and reused thing, I think."
"In... space..." Kenny said softly, his eyes widening.
Tryan bent down to inspect a blade of grass, then looked up as he heard the word.. *space*.
"This is space?" Wufan asked, looking around as well. He then looked up and all around and smiled.
"Yeah, this is space. Not that you can really tell right now. We're on a colony. It's like a giant town floating in an even bigger tin can, circling between the moon and the Earth," Duo replied, clasping his hands behind his head and looking pointedly up at the artificial sky.
"It's... moving," Carter said softly. "I can feel it..."
"And the horizon is weird... Very interesting." Wufan added.
"It goes up," Kenny nodded.
Heero chuckled at their comments. He'd never looked at the colonies through those eyes before.
Duan walked over to Duo and hugged him. "Thank you, Duo. You brought us to a cool place!" he said.
"Hey, you think this is cool, just wait till I get all you guys out there in a shuttle or something. When you can see the whole world and all the stars and everything spread out like come huge cosmic carpet. Now THAT'S cool!"
"Ooooh," Duan remarked, obviously impressed.
Wufan looked up at Wufei. "Do you live here too?" he asked.
Wufei looked down. "Um," he said. "I live different places. I may live here for a while now."
"Do you go on the shuttle too?" Wufan asked, trying to work out transportation.
"Don't worry about it," Wufei said. "We'll work it all out."
"Ok," Wufan said.
Tryan nodded to himself. "The weight level is different here, too. Gravity." he said
"Artificial." Heero commented as he watched the kids absorb and dissect their surroundings.
Duo nodded his agreement as he peered around himself, looking for Rip and Jack. He'd hate to think that their guides into the nicer parts of paradise had abandoned them already.
Duo saw the two people in question, sitting on a nearby park bench as if waiting for the group sorting out process to take place.
Although they hadn't noticed in the park in Arcadia, Duo now realized that the two were dressed... a bit like colony people. Nicely dressed, in fact.
"Actual wardrobe change, or another useful little talent?" Duo asked amiably as he faced the two.
"Wardrobe change?" Jack drawled. "Ummm... from your point of view perhaps," he said. "We've actually been here a while..."
Duo cocked his head at the, affecting a curious look.
"Is this some weird magical scientific stuff that's likely to melt my brain, or is it just you two being yourselves?"
Heero snickered at the first part of Duo's sentence but wisely kept his comment to himself.
"Oh, both probably," Rip said amiably. "Having the ability to travel in time at will... is very convenient. For example..." the redhead tossed something small to Duo. It was a handheld minicomputer.
"Address and directions, as well a security code, for a little house we happen to now own on this colony," Rip said. "You may borrow it for a while until you find your own. Or you might be able to talk us into letting you stay as permanent tenants." He shrugged.
"Hm. Do I even wanna know what rent would be?" Duo asked with a leer.
Heero sighed and jerked his lover's braid. "Hn. Baka."
Rip grinned back. "If I thought it was an option," he said simply.
Duan jumped up and snagged Duo's braid from Heero's hand. He shook his head.
Heero grinned at the small boy slightly then reached down and grabbed Duan's braid and gave it a small tug before straightening with a slight smirk.
Kenny turned and took the end of Duan's braid with a mock-scowl at Heero. "You don't pull mine, I won't pull yours."
Heero blinked then nodded. "Ryoukai." He chuckled slightly under his breath and returned to tugging Duo's braid.
"Hey!" Duan protested.
"That's it. I'm planting joy buzzers in our braids, kiddo. Swear I am," Duo muttered to Duan as he reached around and snagged the end of his braid from his lover's hands.
Heero's eyes took on a wicked gleam. "And when it hits you in the face, baka?"
"Heero!" Duan called.
Heero looked down at the boy with mirth still lurking in his eyes, "Hai?"
Duan sighed and tilted his head. "You don't wanna hurt Duo, cause he might...get his hair cut off."
Heero's body shuddered slightly, which almost passed for convulsions in him, and he reclaimed Duo's braid and wrapped it gently around his hand. "Never," he said fervently.
Duan looked up at Duo and winked.
Duo winked back, his jaw twitching a little as he tried to contain the giggle tickling the back of his throat. After a moment, he turned his gaze back up to Jack and Rip.
"So. Feel like giving us the grand tour of the place, or do you have to flit off to other universes again?"
"You can find your way around," Rip said. "But we plan to be *here* for a while. Until we find what we are looking for."
"Coolness," Duo replied, his expression switching from jovial to serious, "Any ideas yet?"
"Several," Rip answered. "The last person who would have known the whereabouts of the Crown would be someone known as Treize Kushrenada..."
"Hm. 'Dead men tell no tales'," Duo intoned quietly.
"And you are certain, he is?" Jack said in his usual bored tone.
Wufei's eyes flashed but he said nothing.
"Heh. I was certain Heero was dead once. Or twice. A few times... heh. Look where that got me," Duo quipped cheerfully.
"Do you have other information?" Heero asked curiously, looking at the two.
"We have... an understanding of how the thing works," Jack answered. "We believe that the Crown was physically sealed inside the mobile suit you call Epyon. Your historical records show reasonable indications of its influence on persons who have been in contact with that suit. Including you."
Heero nodded, his face stoic. It wasn't something he preferred remembering.
"The actions of this Treize were... unusual," Jack said. "Voluntarily giving it up..."
Heero frowned slightly. "He gave it up to gain... power. It wasn't giving it up... It was almost an extension." He settled back into frowning, his blue eyes dark as he remembered returning in Epyon.
"It's an interesting problem," Rip commented. "The Crown will not stay hidden for long. It will seek a holder... someone to further its influence."
"Zechs had it last," Duo suddenly interjected, "Right, Heero? Wufei?"
Wufei nodded. "While he was making war on the Earth."
Heero cocked his head, "But you said he lost it."
Wufei shook his head. "No. I said it wasn't where he left it. At least, it wasn't where he claims to have left it. He doesn't respond very well to being asked, either."
Heero snorted.
"Perhaps he could be persuaded to be more forthcoming?" Rip suggested, looking from Duo to Heero.
"Oh man, I think I'd pay money to see that," Duo replied, a wicked gleam lighting in his eyes.
Heero shook his head, tugging the braid still wrapped around his hand, and considered for a half second. "Iie. I don't think so."
"Yeah," Duo replied after a moment of thought, "That could be scary."
"In that case, since you seem to know the chap, what would your suggestions be?" Rip returned, grinning.
Duo held his hands up in deference to Heero and Wufei.
"Not my area of expertise. I started staying out of his way when he started blowing holes in the earth. Ask them," he said, pointing at his partners. "Unlike some Japanese guys I know, I HAVE a healthy survival instinct."
That remark earned Duo yet another braid pull before Heero's face went completely in soldier mode. He ran ideas through his head then realized the chance for overlap and turned to Wufei, "What have you done?"
"Well, I *have* talked to Zechs. I can't say I believe he told me everything he knows. I have looked for the suit, in the area of the battle. Searched resource satellites, talked to the Sweepers about the debris from the area. If it's been found, no one is telling," Wufei said, scowling slightly.
Heero listen to Wufei's recitation and then thought, "Have you checked his estate? Trieze's?"
Wufei shook his head. "It's... been declared off-limits by the Preventers. I'd been planning on trying to get in but it will take preparations."
Duo's eyes lit up at the prospect.
"Breaking and entering? Joy," he murmured gleefully.
Heero nodded, "That would be where I'd start."
"You do that," Rip said. "And let us know what you find."
"What? Leave a note on the fridge?" Duo asked cheerfully.
"No," Jack said. "Leave a message with our answering service. Gemini Ltd."
Heero nodded. "Ryoukai. How long?" He looked at them. "Time limit?"
"This is your world," Jack said. "Your time. The longer you wait..." he shrugged.
"In other words, time limit is preferably before world catastrophe. Again," Duo replied.
"Up to you, old man," Rip said grinning.
Heero's glare would have frozen glaciers in the Antarctic and his hand twisted Duo's braid as he transferred the glare to his lover with the word "later" clearly emblazoned in his eyes.
Duo tossed Rip a rueful 'thumbs up' and a mouthed, "thanks man."
Heero jerked the hair he'd been twisting.
"Itai," Duo hissed, "That's it. I'm cutting it. Snip snip snip. It's coming off," Duo growled to his partner.
Heero's glare deepened into a frightening smirk, "Then you sleep alone for a month."
Heero became aware he and Duo were being watched by five pairs of little eyes.
Heero took a few deep breaths and calmed himself back into his normal stoic soldier state. "Hn," he grunted.
"Lesson number one, Kenny. Don't do that. Emotions are good," Duo said, glancing down at the kids as he jerked his head to indicate Heero.
Kenny looked at Duo and then back to Heero.
"Hn."
Duo threw his hands up in the air dramatically and heaved an almost defeated sigh. Almost.
Heero snuffed ruefully and while Duo engaged in his melodrama, winked down at Kenny.
Kenny looked back at Heero solemnly.
Heero looked back at the boy, concentrating for a moment, and then frowned ever so slightly. He just wasn't going to win this one. Heero sighed, "He's right, the baka."
Kenny looked back at Duo, then shrugged slightly.
Duan nudged Kenny and looked around to the other kids. "We gotta have a conference," he said, moving a little away from the bigger folk.
Wufan moved to where Duan was and Tryan took Carter's hand.
Kenny followed his friend.
"Ok," Duan said to the assembled. "It's obviously different here. So maybe we gotta make plans, huh?"
"What kind of plans, Duan?" Kenny asked.
"Yeah," Wufan asked, curiously.
Duan nodded. "Like plans not to get left out of this thing... They're like talking over our heads here and I'm seein' how we could get lost real quick... So, we gotta make some plans."
Kenny nodded. "Hn," he said. "First off, we need a surveillance schedule on the big people."
"Right," Duan said.
"I'll take first watch," Tryan offered.
"More complicated than that," Kenny said. "There's three of em to watch and they'll probably split up some time."
"True," Wufan added. "We need to figure out their schedules in this place. I'll keep an eye on Wufei, but anybody can help."
Duan nodded. "Ok. Let's all do that. Like I'll watch out for Duo and Kenny can do Heero.. We'll all help each other. I was getting kinda worried, there. We just got here and maybe it's the air or something, but it's different."
"We can add to the surveillance plans when we get to a house or something," Tryan said.
Carter said softly, "I'll help."
"Cool," Duan said. "I feel a little better. Dunno what I can do about the braid thing, but I'm workin on it."
Kenny patted Duan's shoulder. "Good," he said.
"Come on," Duan said, walking the party back over to the big guys.
Duo watched them approach from his casual sprawl across Heero's shoulders.
"Done plotting world domination again?" he asked casually.
"No," Duan answered. "Just figurin' out survival tactics."
"Survival?" Heero queried warily.
"Hn," Kenny answered directly.
"Hn," Heero grunted in reply, eyeing the smaller boys.
"Things are different here. So, we gotta see how different and work around it. Even you guys are different here," Duan said, with a shrug.
"Yeah. Things are different here. That's why we gotta trust each other," Duo replied.
"Would you leave on a mission without telling us?" Kenny asked.
"If I had a mission, then if I could tell anyone, it would be you guys and Heero. If I couldn't tell you all, then I'm not sure it would be a mission I'd wanna take," Duo answered.
"We heard you. You're already talking about one," Kenny said, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Hn," Heero commented. "Had we made definite parameters yet?"
"Dunno, but you guys weren't talking to us," Duan said.
"Yes," Kenny answered for himself. "There were two parameters. One, it's dangerous and two, you're going to do it."
Heero nodded, he couldn't deny that. He looked over at Duo. "Team?" he sighed.
"Well duh," Duo replied with a long-suffering sigh, "Like we have any other choice. How would you feel if we left you behind? Never mind, don't answer that. And, no. We hadn't said anything to you guys. Yet. Mostly because this is all still very hypothetical and stuff. We need to find this really bad thing and make it go away. Problem is, we have no idea where it is. When we do, and we have a better idea what's going on, then we start discussing concrete plans. Plans that do involve you. Sound fair?"
"Not if we're a team," Duan said. "We know you have to find Epyon. We can help ya. We're not just any kids. We're in training. That means you gotta train us."
"It's not that you're kids. It's- Hell, I don't even know if *I* can do any good looking for the damned thing, and I'm from this world. Ah.." Duo ran a hand through his bangs in frustration.
Carter said quietly, "I... I might be able to..."
Wufan pushed his glassed back up on his nose. "Maybe that's why we're here in the first place," he said.
"I don't like it. I don't really want your brain, your mind, your whatever, anywhere near that thing if it's even half as bad as Heero hints at," Duo said with a scowl.
"But I'm *used* to bad things," Carter said earnestly.
"He had his brain wrapped around a greenie," Duan added. "Maybe he's got more experience at handlin' weird stuff than you guys have."
"I don't doubt that, but a greenie didn't try and blow up the entire planet."
"No," Carter said softly. "They just tried to take it over from us..."
Heero grunted, still looking very much displeased with this option. He looked at the little boy for a long moment then repeated what he said before, "Last resort."
"I'm sorry," Carter said, looking at his shoes.
Tryan put and hand on his shoulder. "It's ok," he said. Looking over at Heero and Duo, he then said, "It's not something that anybody would want to do and we understand that you're trying to protect us, but who protected you guys when you had to do what you did?"
"No one, and that's the point," Duo replied.
He knelt suddenly, putting himself on their level.
"I'm sorry, too. I- This is going to be hard, and I'm going to make a lot of mistakes. One of which is... I know you guys aren't like regular kids. I know you're special. But- It's going to be hard for me to keep remembering that. I-" he paused to think for a second, and there seemed to be some specter of some deep pain in his gaze.
"Kids are special. I just don't want you guys to end up like we did, okay?"
"Too late, Duo." Duan said. "We're already weird. The kids in Arcadia are what you're trying to make us. We're just like you guys, though," he said, glancing over at Wufan. "If you want us to be different or you treat us like Arcadia kids, then we're gonna flip out. Wu already got unhappy cause he thought he had to act different than what he was. I just ain't gonna be able to do it. I know. "
"It's never too late," Duo answered with a ghost of his normal maniacal grin. "I don't want you guys to be like the Arcadia kids. If I did, I never would have suggested you come with us on that last base to get Carter. You aren't us. You each have your own unique talents, which, while they may be similar to ours, are still uniquely your own. That's what makes you a valuable member of our team. I just don't want you guys to miss out on being a valuable member of our family. There's more to life than missions and training. And, frankly, I make a lousy parent. So you're just gonna... hafta help me make it past all my mistakes..."
Duan placed his hands on Duo's shoulders and looked into his eyes. "Duo, I think you better take a deep breath," he said. "We look alike and we like some of the same stuff. You come from here. We come from somewhere else. How do you know I'm not you in a different place?"
"I know you probably are me... I just... don't want you... to be me," Duo replied, ending with a rather lame, and slightly helpless shrug.
Kenny looked at Duo seriously.
"Fine," he said. He took Duo's hand. "It's fine. The thing is, what will keep us from being you? Only if you are around to be our... our dads. If you get killed... that's when things will repeat. Get it?"
"Heh. Death can't die, kiddo. Didn't you know that?" Duo answered impishly.
Kenny's hand tightened on Duo's, hard. "Don't... say that," he said, his voice a low whisper. "I... I know death. I saw it. It's not... funny."
Heero came over and knelt in the little group. "Hai." He looked at Kenny's blue eyes. "We know. We were death."
Kenny released Duo's hand and rounded on Heero. His cobalt blue eyes were blazing. He put his hands on Heero's face.
"No, you're not!" he cried softly but with intensity. "You're NOT COLD."
Heero drew in a deep breath, "I was."
Kenny turned away, his back to both the older boys. He placed his hands over his eyes so the other kids would not see the water.
Duan stepped in front of Kenny to guard his back. He sighed deeply and looked down, taking Kenny's hand. "It's ok," he said to Heero and Duo. "Maybe there's stuff we can teach you guys too."
"I hope so, kiddo," Duo replied solemnly.
Kenny wiped his face and turned around, looking from one of them to the other.
"You think I didn't hear you both talking?" he said in a low voice. He looked at Heero. "You think I don't know what you mean? Self-destruct, right? I heard Duo say that. It means you did it to yourself. M-Ma... Ma fought... hard... as hard as she could to st-stay with me.... what if... what if you do it again, huh?"
Heero's eyes flashed with pain. "I won't." He looked down, remembering that battle... and others like it. "I self-destructed because it was my duty. Because that was all I had." He looked up, his eyes sweeping over Duo and the kids. "I have more now."
"Then don't act like it doesn't matter!" Kenny said, and then he turned half away, looking out at the strange colony horizon.
Heero thought for a long moment, his mind going over everything that had been said. Then he reached a hand out for Kenny, settling it on his shoulder.
Kenny didn't flinch or move away but he didn't look back either.
"It matters to me very much," Heero said, his voice low and intense. He looked over the kids until his eyes rested on Carter. "That's why I wanted to keep you safe. Epyon... almost destroyed me. I don't want it to hurt you too."
Kenny turned and glared at Heero. "If it did that, then that's a good reason why you shouldn't try and do this without all the help you can get!"
Heero looked at Kenny and then finally nodded. "All right." He glanced back at Carter and the rest of the kids and nodded again. "We can do it together."
"We know you don't like it," Wufan said. "But strategically, it makes sense. We'll try not to get in your way, though," he added, then looked down at his shoes.
"It's not about you guys 'staying out of our way'," Duo said with a sigh, "We... really do need your help. In a lot of things."
"You need our help, but you don't want us to get hurt. I'm seeing that we're gonna be doing rescue duty until we're old as you guys. That means we'll just have to be sneaky and not tell you everything we're doing, cause we wouldn't want to upset you guys.... If we told you, then you'd be afraid and try and lock us in a room and we'd really, really have to be sneaky and not talk to you guys anymore and worry when you leave us, cause we might not see you again. That's a lot of sneakin' but we can do it. And, by the way, if you'd left us in Arcadia when you went to the base, we still would have made it there. We're like that... like you," Duan said.
Duo frowned at the smaller boy, his expression and posture radiating pain and almost a sense of betrayal.
"Is that what you think we're doing?" he asked softly.
"I think you think we're you. You don't want us to miss anything, but you didn't ask us what we missed? Maybe we got all that already. You're just being like a lot of big people we already know. Like Katrina... she didn't want Tryan to get hurt either," Duan said.
"Yeah? Well there's a difference there," Duo said softly, looking away.
"What?" Duan said, interrupting.
"I may not want you guys getting hurt, but I also know better than to try and keep you from being who you are."
Duan sighed again. "Ok. I believe you," he said. "So, if you're not keeping us from being who we are, then you gotta let us help... like a real team. If you don't then you're just trying to make us feel good... and that's kinda like lying."
"All right, Mr. Smarty Pants," Duo said, softening it with a grin, "Where do YOU think Epyon is?"
Duan leaned against Duo's shoulder. "If I were you, I would ask Carter. He's the guy with the brain stuff."
"Do we have to scramble his brain today? Or can we save that for breakfast tomorrow?" Duo asked, shaking his head.
The blond in question was watching and listening and *feeling* all of the exchanges of emotions with his arms wrapped around his body. He had moved up quietly to Kenny and then softly touched him on the arm.
Kenny looked up suddenly at Carter and his eyes widened in surprise. Carter kept his hand on Kenny's arm and then touched Heero.
For a very brief few seconds, both the older and younger boy got a clear view of what the other was feeling. Kenny understood the pain and determination Heero was feeling and his soul-deep desire to protect the kids. And Heero felt and realized that although Kenny had been functioning with every appearance of efficiency, he was still a very small boy who had the death of his mother as a very, very recent memory. Heero realized that Duo's joke and his own words had simply and literally terrified Kenny and he had no way to deal with it.
Carter then moved away, biting his lip.
Kenny's reaction was quite simply to throw his arms around Heero's neck and cling for dear life.
Heero's arms wrapped around the small boy tightly as he held onto him as much as he dared.
His hand moved on Kenny's back, slowly, almost awkwardly, and he murmured tentatively, "Daijobu," in his low voice.
Kenny just clung for a little while and then slowly climbed down. Before he disengaged, he whispered in Heero's ear, "I *love* you." And then he tried to compose his face and get a grip on himself.
Heero held onto the boy for an extra second, shock flowing through him for a moment, but he gave Kenny another hug and bowed his head slightly to touch the little boy's as he whispered back to him, "I love you. Arigato."
Kenny blinked moisture away and nodded, his eyes wide, vulnerable and accepting.
Tryan walked over and stood by Carter.
Duan glanced over at Wufan and the two exchanged a look.
"Do we get a place to stay, or do we camp out?" Duan asked.
Duo, who was still kneeling, reached down and plumped a tuft of grass approvingly.
"Heh. Not too bad. Slept worse places than this," he replied with a conspiratorial wink at Duan.
"Yeah, me too," Duan said.
"Bakas," Heero said gruffly as stood. He pointed towards Duo's hand. "House?" He asked, rolling his eyes just slightly.
Duo obligingly handed the mini-computer over with a playful grin.
"But camping out could be so much fun! Just think, a little fire, some marshmallows... We could have smores and tell campfire stories, stay up all night drinking way too much soda, and wake up in the morning with huge headaches!"
Oh Heero could see it - marshmallow embedded in long hair... chocolate smeared over everything and everyone... soda hyper children going completely nuts... And what really made him groan slightly was the fact that he didn't mind the thought at all. "Another time," he drawled, flipping open the computer and fiddling with the buttons.
"Yeah. We can call up Quatre and Trowa, get all the Maganacs together again, and make a long weekend of war games out of it!" Duo suggested gleefully as he hopped up to his feet.
Heero shuddered just slightly before retrieving the directions from the computer. Then he glanced over his shoulder to where their two guides had been.
The bench was empty.
A single eyebrow arched but Heero wasn't too surprised. He glanced around the park for Wufei or Sallah.
They were occupying another bench, simply waiting and watching, Wufei with an impassive expression and Sallah wide-eyed.
"Coming?" Heero asked, extending the invitation.
"Yes, my Ma is coming. I'll go and get them," Wufan said, moving quickly.
Wufei stood up gracefully and Sallah joined him.
The door opened with a slight click as several pairs of eyes peered inside. Everyone looked to Heero and Duo to be the first to cross the threshold.
Heero snorted at their cautiousness and moved forward, pushing the door the rest of the way open and sliding into the room quickly, a vestige of his own training. "It's safer here," he commented as he moved into the house.
"Ok," Duan said, moving in behind him. "Hey, everybody, stand down!"
Kenny moved in behind Duan, looking around. He glanced at Heero, noting that while it might be 'safer' here, the Japanese boy had not really changed how he was doing things. He simply nodded. He looked at Duan and indicated the big staircase with his eyes.
Duan nodded, having gotten the point and taken in the staircase as well.
Tryan gripped Carter's hand a little tighter and moved inside.
Wufan looked up at Sallah and waited until she had moved inside, then followed her.
Sallah went in, then reached down and took her son's hand, sitting on her heels. She looked into his eyes.
"I did not come... all this way to have you mincing around me like this," she said. "Go! Explore! Be with the boys! I'm fine."
Wufan nodded. "Ok," he said, then hugged Sallah hard. Turning, he then moved forward and looked around the house.
Carter allowed himself to be towed, but his small hand slipped from Tryan's and he moved inside more quickly than any of the others, passing them to skip into the interior of the first floor, running from room to room with wide eyes.
The house was reasonably large, especially for L2, and had 3 floors. Many of the rooms were furnished, but about a third of them were completely empty.
Heero glanced over the house, nodding to himself as he noted the exits - doors, windows, and the like - as well as the furnishings in the house. Then he glanced to his lover to see what Duo thought of the house.
Duo bounced through the doorway, his sharp eyes also making note of all the exits, windows and strategic features of the house. Tucking away his terrorist mentality, he peered at the house through the eyes of a child, next, satisfied with the room and comfortable surroundings. He could see himself raising a family here. At least for a while.
He shook his head briefly, still vaguely awed by the thought of having, let along possibly raising, a family, no matter how warped they all were. He let the chuckle dancing on his tongue out and looked around for his smaller shadow.
Duan streaked by in his attempt to run to every room in the house. "Hey Duo! This place has got a bunch of rooms and they're all big!" he said, the aimed himself at Duo's legs, hugging the older boy.
"Sugoi!" Duo crowed happily, reaching down to ruffle Duan's bangs, "Picked out your room yet?" he asked, his eyes sparkling with mischief, but with a serious shadow to them, deep down.
Duan looked up with a puzzled expression on his face. "My room?" he asked. "You mean our room?"
"You mean to tell me that given all this space, you wouldn't want some privacy?" Duo asked with mock confusion.
Duan looked down for a moment, thinking.
Kenny leaned on the banister at the foot of the stairs, watching.
Heero glanced up and saw the boy, "How many rooms?" He asked with mild curiosity.
"Counting the attic? 23," Kenny answered.
Heero nodded. "Then you each should pick one." He said simply.
Duan looked up at Duo and then to Heero. Turning, he looked over at Kenny, then back to Heero and Duo. "Ok, if we gotta," he said, quietly, then moved towards the staircase.
Duo stopped him with a light hand on his shoulder.
"Okay. Group lesson number one. Here, if you have something to say, or if something's bugging you, say it. You have permission here. Sound fair?" he asked.
Duan looked up with a big grin plastered on his face. "Sure, Duo." he said.
Duo nodded, releasing Duan's shoulder.
Looking down, Duan moved to where Kenny was on the staircase and stood next to him. "If I gotta have a room alone, you can come in... We'll work it out," he said.
"Hn," Kenny said, scuffing one foot briefly.
Heero's eyebrow raised, "I didn't say you had to room alone. I said to pick."
Duan looked up at Heero. "Umm, where do you want us?" he asked.
Heero blinked. Then he shook his head slightly in amusement. "You can chose."
"So if we wanted to stay in one whole room, that would be ok?" Duan asked.
Heero nodded once. "Hai."
"Hn," Duan remarked, looking up at Kenny.
Kenny looked at Duo. He glanced around.
Duo arched an eyebrow in inquiry as he crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the nearest immovable object. Which happened to be Heero.
"You said this place was safer, right?" Kenny said, glancing from Heero to Duo.
"Safer than the bases," Duo agreed amiably.
"Hope so," Kenny said. He looked at Duan. "There's a room upstairs, at the end of the hall... you look at it?"
Duan nodded.
Kenny raised his eyebrows, asking for Duan's opinion of that room.
"It's ok," Duan said.
Wufan came over to Kenny. "I think the room next to the one at the end of the hall is a good one too. This place has a lot of rooms. We can probably rig something if we have to for security," he said.
Kenny nodded.
"Where you going to be?" Kenny asked the 'big boys'.
Heero contemplated then looked to Duo. He didn't really care so long as it was defensible... two exits at least.
Duo glanced back at his partner and stifled a slight, albeit amused, sigh.
"Yes. There will be a window for you... Just remember that doors do have a purpose, too."
"Hn."
Tryan looked up at Kenny and Duan. "That room next to Wufan's looks good too. That means that Sallah can be in between all of us, which would make it safer for her as well," he said.
"Sounds like a plan. We'll take the one across the hall from you guys," Duo answered Kenny finally, pointing to the room on the other back corner of the house.
Heero nodded in satisfaction, "Hn. Good."
The extended family had found a home.
TBC
End of Part 1
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ravynfyre@hotmail.com,
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