08-May-2001
Title: Here There be Dragons 3/?
Warnings: Sappy, mild lime, but for those who think it's TOO sappy I suggest reading the last paragraph. *evil smile* The story is beginning but I had to build the set first.
Pairings: 1x2 5xOC OCXOC
Disclaimer: I don't own anyone who appeared on Gundam Wing and I do own everyone who didn't. This has been beta-read; again, let me know if I need to have her shot.
The bungalows were back a little ways from the beach, surrounded by high fences and swaying tropical trees. Heero had reserved two; one for the Changs and one for his own family. He sincerely hoped the twins hadn't learned to climb fences yet. He hadn't realize he had muttered that outloud until Jazz hissed back at him that if they couldn't go over it they'd figure out how to tunnel under it.
Wanting to make peace for their argument on the shuttle, Heero put his arm around his pledge-son's shoulders and was pleased when the boy didn't pull away. He loved Jazz deeply; this stubborn man-boy with the impossible hair and amethyst eyes held a grip on his heart equal to the one any flesh and blood son would have held. It had been something of a surprise when Jazz had adopted some of his own mannerisms and phrases, and there were times the boy eerily reminded him of himself. Especially when he was upset about something.
"Can we go down to the beach now?" Linra asked.
"Unpack first." Duo told her. "Then yeah. Take Rosemary and Luke with you, though."
"Pops..." Jazz complained.
"Jazz!" Linra pulled him close and whispered in his ear. "They want to be alone."
"Well, I want to be alone with you." Jazz whispered back.
"We don't mind taking the kids." Linra told Duo, ignoring Jazz's dirty look. "Come on, let's get unpacked." She led him toward the house. "You're going to be a good big brother today."
Heero and Duo followed along to their own room, setting down the bags. Duo whistled. "Very impressive." The room was huge, done in polished wood, with a big, soft-looking bed and an attached bathroom. He could see the hot tub from the doorway. He ran a hand over the thick quilt on the bed. "This looks comfortable." He flopped down on the bed on his stomach and laid his head against a pillow. "Yup. Very comfortable. I knew there were some perks to having an ambassador as a life-mate."
A heavy weight pushed him down into the bed and he felt someone straddling his back. Lips brushed against his left ear. "Are you trying to tease me?"
Duo did not look up, but shivered at the contact. "Uh huh."
"Good." He felt his hair being undone and it spilled over his shoulders. "That's what I was hoping you were doing." His T-shirt was slid up and removed. He heard it hit somewhere next to the bed.
There was a knock on the door. "Otosan, I can't find my swim trunks."
Heero groaned and rolled off of Duo, shaking his head. "Have you checked everywhere?"
"Yes."
"Ask Jazz to help you look." Duo called out, rubbing a hand down Heero's leg.
"He said he can't find them either and to ask you."
"Heero? I'm hungry. Luke ate all the snacks." Rosie's voice added.
"Did not! Jazz ate most of um!"
"Pops, Wufei wants to know if you have an extra can opener. The Brats just put theirs in the cooker and it's ruined."
"It's a conspiracy." Duo grumbled, picking up his shirt and pulling it back on. He yanked open the door and gave them all his most menacing look. Luke and Rosie giggled, and Jazz was smirking.
"Hey, Pops. Great look. Is that a new fashion statement?" the boy asked.
Duo glanced down at his inside-out T-shirt and his eyes narrowed even more.
He marched toward the kitchen, the kids following silently behind. Jazz found a can opener thrust into his hands and he was shoved out the front door almost into the arms of a startled Wufei. The door was locked behind him.
The smaller children watched as Duo went first to Luke and Jazz's room, and then Linra and Rosie's, calmly dumping out each suitcase on the floor. A pair of blue swim trunks were found among Rosie's things and handed unceremoniously to Luke. Among Jazz's possessions a box of Sugar Doodles was found and offered to Rosie, who accepted it gravely.
Duo almost tripped over Linra, who help up her arms to ward him off. "I swear, I don't need anything!" Seeing Duo calm and quiet was far more disturbing than seeing him ranting and raving. She saw enough of it in her moody boyfriend. "Shirt's cute, though." She had to add.
There was a tapping on a window and a plaintive voice called "Please, Daddy. Let me come home. I'll be good, I promise. Don't make me live out in the cold again."
"Do you want him to stay alive?" Duo asked Linra. The girl thought about it a moment and then nodded.
"Then take him, and the little ones, and go to the beach. If you value their lives you will keep them there for at least a few hours."
"Mission accepted." Linra bowed deeply. "We'll see you later tonight." She kissed him on the cheek and went to let Jazz in.
Duo made his way back down the hall to his own room. Heero had finished unpacking in the short time Duo had been gone, and lounged on the bed reading a book. "Everything taken care of?"
"At the moment." Duo flopped down next to him. "This is supposed to be a vacation, right? What do you say that to taking our family vacation minus a few members of the family?"
"Sounds like a plan to me." Heero agreed. They heard the front door shut and voices fading into the distance, arguing about something.
"They're gone."
"Quick, which way is the transporter? We'll be gone before they get back." Duo urged.
"No good. Jazz knows how to trace the records." Heero sighed.
"You just had to go and teach him that." Duo shook his head.
"Humm." Heero glanced at Duo. "Your shirt is on inside out, you know."
"Yes, I know. That has been mentioned to me."
"Take it off."
Duo grinned and stripped the garment off once more.
Heero leaned back on the pillows. "Now the rest of it." He commanded.
"What about you? This isn't fair." Still, he complied with his maclen's orders and was bare in minutes.
"You look beautiful in the sunlight like that." Heero said softly. "God, you take my breath away. Come here." He held out his arms and pulled Duo close. "This is our time. No kids, no responsibilities. Just you and me and we're going to enjoy every second of it."
Duo tried to reply but found it rather difficult with two tongues in his mouth. He finally gave up and just lost himself in the mindlessness of loving Heero.
"Are you there?"
"Shhh, keep your voice down. I'm over by the door. Come on."
The girl moved through the dark living room toward the darker blur against the wall. A hand wrapped around hers.
The door was quietly eased open and they slipped outside, shutting it just as silently behind them.
"Good, The Wardens are still asleep. Come on."
Jazz's hand was still holding Linra's as they ran from the house toward the deserted beach, laughing as soon as it was safe to do so.
The stars sparkled overhead and their bare feet left tracks in the same below them. Linra stumbled once and Jazz lifted her up, swinging her around and kissing her deeply before letting her go again.
His violet eyes glittered under the starlight and he suddenly tapped her on the shoulder. "Tag. You're it."
She immediately began to run toward the water, hearing him thumping along behind her. Just as she reached the edge he tackled her from behind and they went down together into the surf.
They wrestled playfully in the lapping waves before moving away to lay back on the sand. Linra's head was on Jazz's chest as they gazed up at the stars.
"I love you." She whispered.
"I love you too. Loved you even when you were skinny and ugly." he teased.
"I wasn't the skinny one! You were scrawny I could almost see through you!"
"Hey, I made up for it."
"You sure did. I was so proud when we were out here earlier. The best looking guy on the beach was with me." She kissed his chest and her hand tangled in his damp, grainy hair. "All mine, Jazz Maxwell."
He kissed her forehead. "You better believe it. You're still the best friend I've ever had, you know that? You're part of me, and if I ever lost you..."
"Why would you lose me?"
"Stupid. Sometimes I still think about my ancestor. How much Sem loved Sashi and then, just like that, she was gone."
"Well, I'm not going anywhere." She raised his hand and entwined their smaller fingers together. "I pinky swear."
They kissed again, and Jazz pulled her tighter against himself, enjoying the way her body fit perfectly into his own. A moment later he was aware of something warm and wet lapping on his cheek, and it wasn't Linra's tongue.
He rolled over and saw with some surprise a medium-sized brown dog of mixed heritage.
When trade had first began between the Seta, Dera, Earth, and the Colonies animals were forbidden. The reasoning was that an alien species of animal might wreck havoc on the ecosystem of a new world.
However, like most smuggling rules it was ignored, and now, for better or for worse, Colony children played with cotrefils and dogs and cats were smash hits on Dera. There weren't many on Seta yet, and tended to be expensive.
"Osmar, get back here!" A voice called.
The teenagers parted to see a middle-aged man gasping for breath, a leash in his hand. "Sorry about that. He got excited to see new people and got away from me."
"No problem." Jazz scratched the dog's ears, enjoying the silky fur. Although Linra still had her animals, he hadn't had a real pet of his own in a few months, not since his beloved Lali had died of old age. He still missed the cotrefil terribly.
Osmar ran back to his owner and Jazz got a good look at the other man. He was small and wiry, with long brown hair on the sides and missing in the front. He gave the teens a friendly smile. "Sorry to ruin your evening there."
"Don't worry about it. We should be getting back to the house anyway before we're missed." Linra stood up and brushed sand off of her dress. Jazz patted the dog again and rose himself.
"You kids here on vacation?"
"Yeah, we're renting the houses over there." Jazz pointed. "You?"
"Business trip mostly, but I couldn't resist sneaking in a little time for myself. Jaf Arron." He offered his hand. "I'm staying about a quarter of a mile down that way. Well, Osmar and I are staying, I should say."
"Jazz Maxwell." Jazz shook the hand. "And this is my friend Linra Rynt." Hand shaking was another thing that the Derans and Setans had taken a shine to, as opposed to the traditional hug. Jazz was privately glad of this; he had no desire to embrace strange men on lonely beaches at midnight. Or any men, for that matter. He whole-heartily approved of his father and Heero's relationship, but girls were much softer to cuddle.
"We've got to go. Any second our Wardens are going to wake up and sound the alarm."
"I understand." Jaf laughed. "Be careful, now."
"We will." Jazz nodded. "Nice meeting you. Maybe we'll see each other again."
Jaf knelt in the sand, watching them vanish in the distance in the shadows of the house. One hand absently scratched Osmar's ear and the dog gazed adoringly up at him.
"Oh, yes, Jason. We'll definitely be seeing each other again." He said softly.
End Chapter 3
(:./lasha/dragons3)
