06-Feb-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. Doesn't follow the story lines of the series though.
Heero watched him sit on the sofa for a few minutes before bringing him the glass of warm wine. Handing him the glass he watched as Duo continued to stare blankly out the window at nothing. Duo took the glass without even blinking, causing Heero's frown to deepen. He went to the fireplace and put another log on to keep the room warm and then moved over to where Duo was sitting. "Are you sure you're alright?"
Duo seemed to snap out of his trace and looked at the glass in his hand to Heero's worried expression. "Please don't ask me that again. I'm fine." His brow creased in concentration as he looked up at Heero who was watching the flickering flames. "I was thinking about the painting I saw tonight."
"Which one? There were several." Heero chided.
Duo smiled brightly relieving some of Heero's growing concern. "The pastel piece." Duo cocked his head slightly and took a long sip of the warm, red substance. "What's the special occasion?" He asked after realized Heero broke out one of his very best wines from his growing collection.
"I thought we could celebrate your birthday early." Heero smiled and sat next to Duo on the sofa, wrapping an arm affectionately around his shoulders and took a sip from his own glass.
Duo's smile faded a bit as he considered what Heero was getting at. They both knew that his birthday was never one of his most favorite topics, seeing that he really didn't know when it was. He had kind of made up a date just to be able to say he had one. That, and it was still about two weeks away. A bit early to be celebrating even for him, who was always up for a good excuse to get presents and such. "What did you have in mind?"
"Well Quatre and I were talking tonight about the four of us taking a trip to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. We could stay in the estate he has there and it would be a nice change of scenery for you. It would secluded, quiet... "
"Out of the public eye you mean." Duo interrupted with a bit of heat in his words. He knew that he had made yet another scene in a social setting and was well aware of their quick and hasty exit after he had dropped the glass at the exhibit. His defenses must have been screaming, because it prompted Heero to soften his voice and slowly stroke his fingers through Duo's long bangs.
"It's not because of what happened tonight, Duo. I thought you could use some time away from these four walls." Heero sipped his wine and waited for Duo to respond, but Duo was silent for many minutes. "It was just an idea. I'll tell Quatre we already have plans."
"Since when do you feel the need to lie for me Heero?" Duo looked at him expectantly with a small scowl of his own appearing. "I didn't say I didn't want to go. I do. I just feel... " He shook his head in frustration.
"What?"
"I don't know. I can't explain it. Apprehensive I guess."
"About what?" Duo just shot him a glare that screamed 'if I knew I'd tell you.' So Heero let it drop. "So should I tell Trowa and Quatre we'll go?"
"Yeah. I've never been there before. And Mardi Gras does sound like fun." Duo let out the first laugh he had all evening, making Heero smile. "Does Quatre have a mansion everywhere?"
"Probably. He might even have one floating on an asteroid in the middle of space in case he needed a pit stop between galaxies." Heero joked.
"I wouldn't doubt it." Duo said laughing and finishing his wine.
"Mardi Gras sounds just like your type of party. Costumes, masks, dancing in the streets, live music, lots of food and drinks. I figured you'd be thrilled." Heero poured them each another glass of the expensive wine and tinked the glasses together. "To your birthday." They toasted and then Heero kissed Duo tenderly, tasting the wine on Duo's warm lips and smiled a contented smile to himself.
They sat on the sofa and listened to the crackling of the fire in the fireplace. Duo watched the flames and sipped his wine glad for the small comforts he had grown to love about his life with Heero. Their life was so much simpler than he thought it would be. Now if only he could get himself together. The moments of distraction were growing in their frequency and he knew Heero was becoming concerned about his mental health. Not too much escaped the Perfect Soldier, even now that he was in domestic mode. Maybe New Orleans would be a good idea.
End Part 3
(:./ebony/pool3)
