Title: The Crocodile Pool
Author: Ebonydove
Pairings: 1+2/3+4
Warnings: OOC, language, slight gore, an over abundance of sap, and some sci-fi thrown in for fun.
Disclaimer: More money being made. If it were, I'd be sending it to charity anyway.
"Tomorrow we're going to the Mardi Gras parade. There's going to be all kinds of food, and music, and costumes. I think a distraction from all this ghost stuff would be good for everyone. Quatre's a little hyper too and I need him to step back and catch his breath."
"I know, and I'm sorry man. For getting him all wound up."
"Doesn't really take that much to get Quatre wound up, Duo. You know that." Trowa opened the door to the hall to see Heero leaning against the opposite wall. "He cares about you too. Just be thankful that Wufei isn't here or he'd be hauling your ass to a shrink faster than you could cry injustice." With a nod to Heero he left the two alone.
The slow dripping sound of water was the only noise in the room as Duo sat on the edge of the four poster bed waiting for Heero to move, or speak, or do anything other than stand in the hall and stare at the floor frowning. Despite the warmth in the air and the mad dash he had made after his outburst in the gardens, he was beginning to feel a little chilled as his damp skin and soggy clothes began to dry in the slight breeze coming from the open window.
Heero finally pushed off from the wall in the hallway and silently closed the bedroom door and walked to the chest of drawers opposite the bed. He lifted his eyes up in the large mirror to glance at Duo who was looking forlorn and uncomfortable behind him; fiddling with the fringed trim of the pillow sham on the bed, as he dug around for clean, dry clothes. Grabbing enough for both of them he moved wordlessly over to Duo and tossed the items on the bed beside him.
"You look wet and tired, and smell like you've been swimming in a swamp, Duo." He said quietly without any hint of mirth in his even toned voice.
Duo didn't look up from his fixed stare of the burgundy colored fringe on the pillow sham to his right, which in turn prompted Heero to resume speaking.
"I was worried, Duo. Can you blame me?"
Duo noted the edge of frustration and the small huff from him as Heero pulled his cotton pants off to replace them with a pair of loose boxer shorts. He was torn between watching his partner change and maintaining his vigil on the sham, but having Heero so close to him was too much for him not to raise his eyes to Heero's face after the slow admiration of Heero's body.
Heero's face was neutral, but in his eyes Duo could still find the traces of fear, confusion, and weariness Heero was usually so good at keeping hidden from view more than apparent. And despite how tense Heero seemed as he stood over him, he still couldn't bring himself to find anything to say to him to ease that tension.
Once dressed in his boxers, Heero breathed a deep sigh and sat beside Duo on the bed. He reached over and gently took Duo's hand in his own; keeping his gaze straight ahead as he brushed his thumb over the back of Duo's clammy skin. He had been trying to find some way to bridge the gap that seemed to have grown between them ever since Duo's first outburst at Trowa's art exhibit, but the near drowning had pushed Heero's limits to the point of exhaustion. "I never meant to make you feel like you followed in my shadow. Or compare you in any way to Relena. I thought we had gotten past all that. I thought that by my being patient you would be able to work out these things... if it's attention you need or something else... " He heaved a heavy sigh and shook his head slightly. "I wish I knew what to do for you, Duo, but... I just don't."
Heero sounded so sad and for some irrational reason beyond Duo, he suddenly felt his heart begin thumping painfully in his chest.
"I told Trowa and Quatre that I would stay, but I think it would be best for both of us if I return to help Wufei with the caseload he has. You can stay here and try to sort things out and come back when you're ready."
Duo was bordering on panic. Heero had given up on him. It was almost worse than Heero thinking he was crazy. "Come back?" He finally managed to choke out as he laced his fingers with Heero's. He turned and stared at Heero's calm expression and felt his stomach twist. Then he suddenly lunged at Heero wrapping himself around him, and pressing his lips against Heero's neck as he sputtered and stammered out what few little thoughts he could articulate. "Don't leave Heero. I'm sorry for the things I've said and done. Please stay... just a few more days. I'll get this all figured out and then we'll go home together. I see whoever you want me to... and talk to... however many shrinks and doctors you see fit."
Heero smiled sadly and held on to Duo as he tried to keep the trembling of his chin from becoming worse. He hadn't meant to make Duo more upset. "Duo... "
Duo silenced him with a bruising kiss that was desperate and needy, hoping he could communicate all the torment he himself had been feeling in that simple gesture.
When Heero broke the kiss and pushed Duo back enough for him to brush away the errant tears from the wide, panicked eyes, he couldn't help but give Duo what small smile he could manage. "You should get changed and get some sleep. We'll talk about his in the morning."
Duo knew when Heero was brushing him off and this was definitely that. He frowned and was about to protest just that, when Heero leaned forward and gave him a slow, lingering kiss before helping to divest him of his soggy clothing.
Duo's eyes slid closed and he breathed a sigh into Heero's mouth as he allowed his clothing to be slowly removed and tossed to the floor in a damp, little heap. He toed off his shoes and wrapped his arms back around Heero's neck savoring the feel and taste of Heero's warm lips on his own. He could feel the tension that had been building between them suddenly vanish like a wisp of smoke to be replaced by a deeper, more passionate urgency. When the last of his damp clothing had been removed, he undid his hair and laid back against the soft comforter as he gave Heero a slow, lazy smile and looking at him through heavy lidded eyes. "Does this mean you're going to stay?" He purred quietly.
Heero stretched out beside him and traced the lines on Duo's cheeks that had been glistening with tears only moments before and breathed a sigh of defeat. "Hai." He pressed his lips again to Duo's and cursed himself for being so weak against his charms. He needed to be stronger if he was ever going to get Duo the help that he needed to be well. He could feel Duo smile against his mouth and leaned back to look at the beauty next to him. "Tomorrow, just you and me, Duo. No more ghosts, no more plots or mysteries, just us agreed?"
Duo opened his eyes and frowned. Then he looked away and bit his lip slightly before turning back to speak. When he saw the hope in Heero's tired features he smiled again and kissed him tenderly. "I'll try."
Heero nodded and eased the covers back, slipping in beside Duo and clicking off the light on the bedside table. The only thing he was aware of then was the way Duo's skin felt under his fingers; the damp, slightly earthy scent of Duo's hair, and the way the pale moon made his eyes glow with purple fire as they began to touch and kiss. All thoughts of death and ghosts faded away until his only concern was embracing the passionate comfort he felt in Duo's arms and kiss and as they began to make love in the early morning hours.
It wouldn't be a surprise to anyone how he could have failed to notice the silver charm hanging around Duo's neck in place of a golden cross while being so otherwise enraptured.
End Part 10
(:./ebony/pool10)
