08-Apr-2002
Title: The Crocodile Pool
Author: Ebonydove
Pairings: 1+2/3+4 later
Warnings: OOC, language, slight gore, mention of rape, some sci-fi.
Disclaimer: More money being made. If it were, I'd be sending it to charity anyway.
All thoughts of death and ghosts faded away until his only concern was embracing the passion he felt in Duo's arms and comfort found in his kiss and as they began to make love in the early morning hours. It shouldn'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.
By morning it seemed as if all the night's torments had been erased by the soft words spoken in hushed tones of love and the soothing kiss of a lover's embrace. Duo had slept until the early morning light poured in from the great, long window casting shadows from the wrought iron grillwork to the plush carpeting on the floor. He stretched carefully as not to wake his still sleeping lover, and slipped from the covers to go in search of coffee with chicory, his new favorite since he had arrived in New Orleans.
Heero was content to listen to the sounds of the house waking for a few brief moments before turning over and flinging an arm over his eyes as he fell back asleep. Duo kissed him lightly once more as he pulled on Heero's boxers that had been discarded on the floor beside the bed. Then he paced soundlessly in his bare feet out of the room and down the stairs to the rooms below.
Grace, one of the very few servants in the household up at the early morning hour, was brewing the rich coffee that Duo had come in search of and was piling banyeas on a large platter to dip in honey for breakfast. "Good morning Grace." He said as he stifled a yawn and stretched again.
"Good morning to you darlin'. I see you all decided to sleep in this morning. Late night?" She winked and smiled as she poured Duo a steaming cup of coffee and placed cream in front of him along with the plate of pastries.
"Something like that." He smiled back as he reached for the honey.
"Master Quatre is up and in his study if you'd like to join him there." She mentioned as she placed another cup on a pretty saucer complete with two more banyeas next to Duo's on the table. "I imagine he'll be wanting a cup of this. It was early when the gentleman showed up."
Duo frowned and looked at her expectantly but she didn't say who had arrived so he was forced to ask. "Who arrived this morning?" Vague images of Wufei sitting in a high back, chocolate-colored chair with Quatre in his office explaining how he had escaped from the Preventers grueling work schedule to visit them flitted through his mind making him smile.
"An old acquaintance of the household from years ago."
Duo quirked an eyebrow as she proceeded to sit down at the table beside him and whisper in a conspiratorial like tone. "He was the one who sold the place to Master Quatre's father a few years back. Looks like he wants the place back now." She served Duo two more pastries and glanced about the kitchen before inching even closer. "He showed up at the break of day to see Master Quatre. He's an odd sort and I would hate to see the place go back to him." She mock shivered as she shoved the saucer a bit closer to Duo and smiled her warm motherly smile. "Perhaps you could pop in on him and get the gossip for me?"
Duo laughed and placed a hand over hers. "I don't think you need to worry about having to go back into the employ of someone else. Quatre would take you with him where ever he goes. No one can make these thingies like you or brew coffee like this." He quipped as he stood and took the saucer and his own cup with him to seek out Quatre and the mysterious guest. As he walked past the library to the door to Quatre's office, he could hear Quatre's voice speaking to someone similar to a one-sided phone conversation.
"I'm afraid I can't help you there, Mister LaPuchez. I don't think my father would appreciate me giving away my sister's wedding gift."
A pause.
"Well, I'm sure we all have our reasons. Especially when it comes to family."
Duo paused outside the door and waited for the man to respond and when no answer followed Quatre's statement he proceeded to walk into the room clearing his throat as he did to announce his presence. "Uh, Quatre, I brought you some coffee."
"Oh, good morning Duo." Quatre took in Duo's state of undress and blushed slightly before smiling warmly as he glanced back to the visitor. The tall, lanky man rose and smiled as well and waited for an introduction. "This is Renaldo Xavier LaPuchez. He used to own this house."
Duo caught the stressed words: 'used to' and smiled despite how his stomach seemed to knot up from the moment he passed the threshold into the office. Quatre was always polite, but also very direct. There was no mincing words when it came to business or family. The man gave him an instant feeling of wariness, one he noticed Quatre had mirrored in his own expression despite the disarming smile and pleasant tone to his voice. "Nice to meet you. I hope I didn't interrupt anything."
"And you are... ?" A slight French accent laced the words as the man addressed Duo with cool gray-green eyes that took in every inch of Duo's exposed chest, bedraggled hair, bare feet and loose cotton boxers. He paused in his appreciation of Duo's body at the charm that hung from around Duo's neck, before he stretched out his hand in the familiar gesture of a handshake.
Duo had the decency to blush as he set the cups down on the nearest table. Quatre tossed him the robe he had been wearing, which he caught deftly and slung on before he crossed to shake hands with the elegant man. Glancing at Quatre who was sporting a soft pair of baby blue pj's, he grinned his most charming of smiles and allowed the man to take his hand. "Duo Maxwell."
"Charmed." Renaldo brushed a thumb over the top of Duo's hand as he squeezed gently, a bit too friendly in Quatre's observation, causing him to clear his throat when neither Duo nor Renaldo broke the handshake.
Duo wanted to shiver as he felt the firm grip wrap around his hand and his skin seemed to flush at the slight contact. "I'm sure." Duo mumbled as he pulled his hand back and smiled even broader.
There was an awkward bit of silence as the three stood in the office until Renaldo finally broke it to address Quatre once again. "My apologies for taking up your morning when you have such other charming and handsome guests to be attending to. Perhaps I will see you at the parade this afternoon? I'm staying at a hotel on Royal Street. There are many activities there and I would love to treat you and Mr. Maxwell to brunch."
"Thank you, that is very kind, but Mr. Maxwell and I have other guests and we had planned to see the Mardi Gras festival parade and tour some of the local sights."
"Ah, of course. You must be sure to visit the LaLaurie House then. It is quite historic." Renaldo nodded and picked his coat up from the chair it was slung over and shook Duo's hand once more before moving to the door.
"Grace will show you out, Mr. LaPuchez, through the next doorway and straight through the hall."
"Please consider my offer, Mr. Winner. I am available to you... and your guests... at any time."
He smiled and made his way out of the office to find Grace already there waiting for him. With a quick wink to Duo and Quatre she closed the door to the office and showed the man out.
Duo spun to Quatre. "What the fuck was that?"
Quatre slumped down in a chair and reached for the rapidly cooling cup of coffee beside him and took a small sip. "He just showed up here out of the blue. Everyone had thought that he left the earth to travel the colonies, or died, or who knows. I was more than surprised to see him on our doorstep."
"What did he want?" Duo frowned and put his hands on his hips.
"He heard my father had died and wanted to see if the place was going to be put up for sale. I don't think he was aware that anyone was staying here." Quatre put his cup down and looked at Duo as the boy seemed to drift off. "Duo?"
"Hmm?"
"Where did you get that?"
Duo glanced to his exposed chest where Quatre had pointed to the silver charm that was hanging there. He frowned and gave Quatre a slight shrug. "I don't know." What was more unnerving was that he realized his cross was missing, but he wasn't in a full blown panic attack mode that it was gone. For some reason he knew it was safe and not far away. He shook his head and gave Quatre an odd look. "I think... I think it was swapped."
"What?"
"I think... " He sighed and rolled his eyes. "I know you're gonna think it's nuts, but I think she has my cross and gave me this."
"The ghost?! When?"
"When she pulled me up out of the water. I had it in my hand. I thought you were pulling me up but... " He brushed his fingers over the small round charm. "I guess it was her. She must have done it then. There was a few moments when I wasn't quite with it."
Quatre didn't say anything but was visibly shaken.
"Q? Did you get that eerie, creepy feeling when he shook your hand?"
"Yeah." He huffed quietly.
Duo really didn't want to tell Quatre that it was more of a seductive, than eerie feeling that left him feeling very odd, but there was no reason to get Quatre more upset than he already was so he decided to change the subject. "What time is it?"
"Almost ten." Quatre replied half-heartedly.
"I told Heero that I wouldn't talk any more ghost shit today. I promised him we could just enjoy the parade and the festival and not get side tracked with ghost stories, but I can't help but think that this is all connected. I mean... who the hell shows up at his family's home after everyone he knew has died, just for a visit? Something's not right here. I think he did know the house was being used and came here to see if it was just tourists, or something else. I got the distinct impression that he's looking for something."
"Like what?"
Duo finished his coffee and popped another banyea into this mouth as the chewed thoughtfully. "I have no idea. But here just for fun? Bullshit."
"I agree. Let's go wake Heero and Trowa and get dressed. I think we could all use a distraction. Trowa hasn't said anything but I know he's feeling stressed too. I've been a bit of an emotional roller coaster with all this odd stuff going on."
Duo frowned and sat in a high-backed leather chair. "I'm sorry. I know I keep saying it; but I am. I never thought our vacation would turn out like some weird episode of Scooby-Doo."
"Scooby-who?"
"Never mind. Today is about having fun. Kicking back... eating good food and dancin'. No ghosts, no murders, just fun, k?"
Quatre smiled and nodded. "Sounds like a plan to me. I'll meet you and Heero in the garden at eleven. I can't wait to see the costumes Trowa and Heero picked for us."
Duo's eyes took on a wicked gleam as he and Quatre made their way out of the office and towards the stairs. "Me neither."
End Part 11
(:./ebony/pool11)
