18-Jun-2003
Title: Crocodile Pool
Author: Ebonydove
Pairings: 1+2/3+4
Warnings: slight OOC, VERY SAPPY
Spoilers: none
Rating: PG
"Are you sure you're settled in then?" Quatre's bright blue eyes took on a childlike quality as he stood in the doorway waiting for Heero's answer.
Trowa was waiting patiently in the hall for him and trying not to interject that they really had stayed long enough and that Heero and Duo had just about enough company than they really needed after their not-so-relaxing vacation to New Orleans. "Quatre... " Quatre flashed him the look, and cut off anything further that he was about to say, so he stuffed his hands into his pockets and leaned back against the wall again waiting for Quatre to finish his goodbye.
"It's just, we can stay if you need us to."
"No. We're fine." Heero nodded and tried not to smile at Trowa's slight shake of the head and eye roll. "Really."
"I think what Heero's trying to say Q, is that we've had a bit too much togetherness for a week as it is. No hard feelings, though." Duo laughed from his spot on the couch where he sat shirtless and sporting a thick band of tape that was wrapped around his torso; securing the large pad of gauze for his recently stitched stab wound. "Besides, I think we need some... alone time. And I'm sure Trowa's thinking the same thing." He added with a petulant smirk and a wink.
Trowa cleared his throat and straightened. "Quatre... "
"Alright, I'm coming. Good night. We'll talk soon."
" 'Night Quatre. Trowa." Heero nodded and closed the door behind them, finally letting the smile escape as he listened to the two of them kibitzing to one another down the hall.
"What are you smiling for?" Duo asked as he sprawled himself out on the sofa. Heero had turned and was looking at him with the strangest expression on his face; the smile disappearing as quickly as it had come. "What's wrong?"
Heero moved to sit beside him, propping Duo's leg onto his lap and gently began rubbing his foot. "They just know eachother so well."
"And?" Duo asked as he closed his eyes and let the soothing feel of Heero's fingertip massage his toes.
"And... I doubted you." Heero said quietly, his fingers stilling.
Duo pulled his foot away and sat up a little, careful not to pull the stitches any more than he already had that day and gave Heero a level look. He took Heero's hand in his and thought about the crazy events that had happened in the past weeks. From that very first night at Relena's party he had been out of sorts and even with Angelina's murder solved and the ghosts all put to rest, he still had unfinished business himself. "I think... " He paused, frowning as he tried to choose the right way to make Heero understand where he was coming from. "I think you were right to doubt me Heero... "
"No, Duo I shouldn't have... "
"Wait. Let me finish."
Heero nodded; suddenly finding great interest in the lint from his sock as he curled his leg under him on the sofa and waited for Duo to continue. "You had every right to doubt me. I was irrational, emotional, drunk at one point... hell even I doubted my sanity! I can't imagine how you were able to stand by and watch me go through all of that, but you did. You never left me. You stuck with me right to the end, and I... I know that you did it because you... love me."
Heero brought his eyes up to Duo's and the look of regret in them was undeniable. "If you tell me that the world if flat and pigs can fly, I would never doubt it. I'd never doubt you again." He leaned across the short distance between them and kissed him softly. "Because I do love you, and I do trust you. With my heart and my life." He kissed him again brushing his fingertips gently over the bruised marks on his neck.
Duo gave him a brilliant smile and returned the kiss, only breaking it when the chuckle that had been rumbling in his chest finally let loose. "Heero, if I tell you the world is flat and that pigs can fly, I give you permission to call the guys in the white coats to come haul me away. 'cuz that's downright nuts!" He laughed until his stitches pulled, making him wince.
"Are you still in pain?"
He cocked his head to one side and chuckled. "I won't lie to you, it stung like a bitch, but it kept me from hanging myself the way it got wedged in that tree bark."
Heero frowned remembering how terrible it had looked when he had woken up beside the crocodile pool to find Duo hanging that way. Half-strangled, and half-skewered. It had taken the breath right out of his lungs.
"Hey... hey, did I lose you?"
"No. I almost lost you." Heero gathered him into his arms and gently adjusted himself to let Duo lean back against his chest. He smoothed Duo's long hair out of his face and laid a soft kiss on his bare shoulder, relishing having Duo safe with him after their ordeal. He felt Duo shift and tense against him. "What is it?"
"Can I tell you something that you might disturbing?" He answered quietly.
"You mean more disturbing than what we just went through?" Heero smiled, but not ignoring the seriousness in Duo's tone. "Of course, you can. You can tell me anything."
"When I had... blacked out. I found myself in this very safe, dark place. Angelina was there. She told me that I was... dying. Crossing-over. And I almost wanted to. For a split second, I thought that maybe it was for the best." He felt Heero's arms tighten slightly around him and took his folded hands into his, kissing them lightly. "But she told me that it wasn't my time. And that there was someone keeping me grounded in the living."
He turned around in Heero's arms and cupped his face with his hands. "It was you. It was your voice that brought me back; that brought me home. It was you, the other part of my soul. My life, my love." He kissed him deeply, lovingly and settled himself back against his chest.
"And you're mine. Heart and soul."{1} Heero wrapped his arms around him as they lay in silence for a while just relishing in the quiet and stillness of the moment. He would never let anyone or anything come between them again. Not man, or machine, or even the supernatural.
He looked to the mantel where they had propped up the painting for the time being and considered it for a long moment. When they had returned to the estate the next day after seeing Duo safely to the hospital, they had immediately noticed the change in it. It still showed the crocodile pool and the low hanging branches of the magnolia tree, but the waters were calmingly blue and the tree was flowering with soft pastel blossoms. The chapel and low stone wall was covered with wildflowers in yellows and golds and gave the whole clearing a look of tranquility and peace. Trowa had looked long and hard at it when they first saw it, but could only shake his head in disbelief. It would always serve to remind them all that beauty and truth can be found even the darkest and most cursed of places.
fini
Note:
{1} heart and soul... borrowed from another author. You know who you are! And thank you for the inspiration and for nudging me to finish this!
(:./ebony/pool15)
