30-Jan-2002
Title: The Crocodile Pool
Author: Ebonydove
Pairings: 1+2/3+4 later
Warnings: OOC, language
Disclaimer: More money being made. If it was, I'd be sending it to charity
anyway. I don't own 'em, just play wit' 'em.
Spoilers: Not really. It's a thriller so I'm trying to keep things
interesting without letting the plot comes screaming through.
Author's note: takes place at the end of the wars. About two years after
defeating Dermail's plot to go through with OM.
"Hello Heero." Relena looked radiant in a white gown that accented her slim figure. Her light colored hair was done up in an array of ringlets and pinned fashionably to her head, and she wore simple jewelry that matched the color of her blue eyes.
"Hello Relena. You look lovely." Heero said pleasantly.
"Thank you. I'm glad to see you and Duo made it. Quatre and Trowa must be very glad as well."
Heero didn't say anything and turned to keep his eyes focused on Duo. "I haven't seen either of you since last year. How is he doing?"
"He's fine." Heero growled out.
"Well, I see that it's not something you wish to discuss. I'm glad that you are both well. Please tell him I said hello." She gave him a sad smile and kissed his cheek before moving off to speak with some other guests.
Heero watched her stroll away and felt badly that he'd been short with her. It wasn't her fault at all about last year's incident. He continued on to where Duo was standing in front of a huge oil painting.
It was done in deep, rich shades, and showed a dark pool of water surrounded by the crumbling remains of a stone wall. It was overgrown by a garden with huge crimson colored flowers and lush green vegetation. In the background there was an iron-gate that led to the sandy dunes of desert. The sun was setting and the sky was painted in shades of blues, pinks and purples.
All the hairs stood on the back of Heero's neck and his senses immediately told him something was very wrong as he approached Duo from the far side of the room. He pushed his way through the crowd to find Duo shivering uncontrollably and staring wide-eyed at the painting as if he was seeing something else. He put himself in between the painting and Duo, and took a hold of his upper arms shaking him slightly. "Duo? Duo? Are you all right?" He glanced to where Wufei was chatting with a young woman nearby, catching his eyes. He didn't need to say anything and he watched as Wufei excused himself from her and hurried over.
"What's wrong?" He asked Heero seeing Duo's state. Neither of them wanted to make a scene, so they just stood on either side of Duo talking in soft tones to him.
"Duo, love, answer me. Are you all right?" Heero was beginning to show his rising fear and shot another look to Wufei. Wufei acknowledged it and moments later had Quatre and Trowa with him.
Quatre saw the vacant look in Duo's eyes and repressed a shiver himself. It was the same look he had had when he attacked Relena last year. "Duo, can you hear me?"
Duo suddenly seemed to snap out of his trace and looked directly at Trowa. In a soft, low voice he began to speak. "Trowa, what is this painting of?" He looked confused and was frowning, waiting for an answer.
"Duo baby, are you okay?" Heero gave him another little shake and watched Duo look from Trowa, to the painting, to him.
"Heero, I'm fine." He looked at Heero's face and then saw the looks the others were giving him and sighed deeply. "Did I space out again? 'Cause you only call me that when you're worried." Duo gave him a lopsided grin and looked sheepishly at the other guys. Everyone relaxed visibly and helped themselves to more champagne as the waiter made his rounds. "What's this painting of?" He asked Trowa again, taking a sip from his tall flute.
Trowa gave Quatre a quizzical look then shrugged. "It's called The Crocodile Pool."
The glass from Duo's hand went crashing to the floor. The sound of breaking glass brought everyone's attention to the five young men, four of whom were looking intently at Duo. He stood wide-eyed staring at the painting for a few minutes before turning to Heero. "I'm sorry... I uh... " He raked a hand through his bangs and let out a nervous chuckle. "It uh, slipped."
Quatre looked at him with concern. "Don't worry about it, they'll clean it up, no harm done. Duo are you sure you're okay?"
"Yeah." He looked at Heero and something flashed in the dark violet eyes that put Heero back on edge. He saw fear glimmer in the instant Duo had made eye contact with him and decided that it was time for he and Duo to make a polite withdrawal for the evening.
"I think Duo and I are going to get going. It's getting late and we're both tired." Heero took Duo's upper arm and led him through the crowd, nodding and saying goodnight to a few of the other guests as they made their way out.
"Well, that was weird." Quatre muttered taking a long sip from his glass.
"Perhaps Maxwell isn't doing as well as everyone seems to think he is." Wufei added.
Trowa just watched Duo leave and then turned back to the painting. "What would have unnerved him so about this painting?" He said under his breath.
"What Trowa?"
"Nothing, Quatre. Let's get back to the guests."
End Part 2
(:./ebony/pool2)
