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"In Plain Sight"(or “The Hardest Job Fate and Destiny Were Ever Handed”)Written By: Honor Disclaimers: I own Gundam Wing, pigs can fly,
people can breathe underwater, and it’s perfectly safe to blow-dry
your hair while in the shower. Pairings: 1x4, existing 2x3 Rating: R. Spoilers: Nope Warnings: AU, romance, yaoi, lemon, some language,
Heero panicking Author’s Insane Ramblings on no particular
topic: "In Plain Sight" (or “The Hardest Job Fate and Destiny Were Ever Handed”) Chapter Five: Saran Wrap and Whip Cream
When he walked into school Tuesday, reality began to intrude again. Last night he and Quatre had never stopped touching. As he walked to his locker, Heero came to the grudging realization that they couldn’t do that at school. And he wasn’t sure if Quatre would even want their relationship known in public. It was definitely something they needed to talk about. “Heero!” Quatre slid between two people and finally arrived at Heero’s locker. “Hey.” Heero smiled at him without even realizing it. “Ohayo.” “Apparently, I’m going to have to learn Japanese.” Quatre came in closer, letting one hand linger at Heero’s waist. It was so nice to be able to touch him. He felt a small thrill race through his fingertips. “What are you doing Friday?” “Hanging out with you,” Heero replied promptly. “I do love how your mind works,” Quatre laughed. “The guys want to do a sleep over, is that okay?” “Do I get to sleep with you again?” “Yup.” “Then it’s okay.” “You always get to sleep with me,” Quatre murmured, shifting closer. Heero recognized the way his eyes softened, and knew that Quatre wanted to kiss him. It was a mutual desire. He leaned in slightly and passed a chaste kiss over his boyfriend’s mouth. All motion in the hallway stopped. Everyone within sight froze in place, staring as the most popular guy in school kissed another guy. The weird Japanese kid, no less. Those who didn’t know what was going on were quickly filled in by someone who did. Quatre came back to reality, abruptly realizing that they had a very large audience. “Huh. I guess everyone knows now. Well, as long as we’re giving them a show…” He pulled Heero in closer and started kissing him. Heero jerked a little (what, here? Now?!) but he couldn’t resist it when Quatre kissed him. Slowly he sank into it, sliding both arms up and around the blond’s back. Quatre hummed happily and settled into a comfortable lip lock. They probably would have been there for a while if there hadn’t been an anguished female cry. “Dammit, all the best guys ARE gay!” They broke apart laughing. + “Okay, ‘fess up.” Heero wondered just how it was that he and Duo were the first to arrive at their spot for lunch. Then he wondered if he could make a clean break for it. He snuck a peek out of the corner of his eye. No, Duo wasn’t smiling which meant he was actually serious—any kind of escape simply wasn’t possible. Kuso. He focused on his lunch with almost desperate ferocity. “Don’t ignore me, ‘Ro. I know all about you and blondie so don’t pretend otherwise.” “Hn.” “Grunts are considered part of ignoring. Last I checked, you wouldn’t even admit that you two were friends, and suddenly you’re playing tonsil hockey in the hallway? What happened and when? Dish, dammit!” Nothing for it. Heero let out a sigh and looked Duo right in the eyes. “In case you haven’t noticed, Quatre can charm anyone into anything.” Duo quirked a brow. “You saying he just seduced you into being his boyfriend?” He didn’t have to. One look into his eyes and I was gone. “Sorta.” “So when did this happen?” “Last night,” Quatre answered as he joined them. “Duo, do me a favor and shut up. Heero looks ready to bolt.” Heero relaxed into the blond’s arms with a smile of relief. Finally! He could let his boyfriend deal with Duo. He snuggled in more comfortably, tugging Quatre’s hands all the way around his chest. “But I want to know what happened!” Duo whined. “Duo,” Trowa told him patiently as he walked up, “just leave it alone. I think we know enough just by looking at them, don’t you?” Duo gave his boyfriend a squinty eyed glare. “And it doesn’t interest you in the slightest how they got together?” “Trowa,” Quatre requested mildly, “distract him won’t you?” Duo recognized the gleam in his boyfriend’s eyes. “No. Nonononono. NO spinning!” Trowa pounced just as Duo made a break for freedom, dragging his squirming bundle up over his shoulders. “NO!!! I’ll be good! WUFFERS! SAVE ME!” Wufei, just on the scene, smirked. “Go Trowa, go.” Trowa did back up a few feet so he wouldn’t run into anyone or anything, then he started spinning around in tight circles. Duo screamed, cursed, cried and begged to be let down as his world started revolving in mad circles. They went round and around for several minutes before Trowa finally dropped his dizzy passenger carefully to the grass. “I’m gonna puke…” Duo groaned, laying his head against the nice and cool grass. Trowa just grinned at him. He did love doing that. Best of all, the objective was attained. Duo was so dizzy now he wouldn’t remember his original goal until much later. Trowa especially liked it when he could rationalize things like this. + Days passed in a blur. Heero never spent more than five or ten minutes in his Aunt’s house. He didn’t think she even noticed his absence. In between her career and her rocky relationship with a boyfriend, she didn’t have time to notice some teenage kid that had been foisted off onto her by her idiot sister. Quatre was ecstatic to have Heero all the time, and so was Iria, once she put together what was happening. At first she was just confused by this very polite (and drop dead gorgeous) boy that seemed to hang around all the time. Then Quatre pulled her aside and explained the full situation and her confusion melted into relief. She wasn’t home often, and when she was, she was usually asleep. Iria knew that Quatre was lonely and wanted someone at home—apparently Heero filled in that missing gap. The issue was cinched when she discovered that Heero was a pretty good cook. Friday rolled around, and one by one the others came over. They ordered pizza for dinner, since no one wanted to cook. While Heero was fighting off Duo’s questions (he still wanted that full story) Quatre ducked into the kitchen to grab plates. Everyone paused when sounds of crashing dinnerware and glass came from the kitchen. “Ohh…shit!” Heero sighed. “Not again…” He went directly to the kitchen to see what his boyfriend had broken this time. Trowa was grinning as he followed Heero out of the room. “He must have broken more than one thing—he always cusses if it’s more than one thing.” Actually, it was three. Heero paused in the doorway to see Quatre up on the counter, staring down at the floor in dismay. From what Heero could discern from the remains, he had broken at least one plate, the sugar bowl, and a glass. “You keep this up,” Heero told him as he walked forward to rescue his boyfriend, “and I’ll forbid you from entering the kitchen.” Quatre glared at him, even as Heero swung him up into his arms. “And who was the one who dropped the flour?” “That was an isolated incident,” Heero retorted with great dignity. Duo let out a low whistle. “Hey ‘Ro, you’re stronger than you look if you can tote Q-bean around.” “Actually,” Quatre confided, “he’s really built. It’s the baggy clothes he wears that makes him look so scrawny.” “And I’m short,” Heero added sarcastically. “So’s Wuffers. You don’t see people calling him scrawny.” “That’s because they don’t want a black eye,” Wufei retorted comfortably. “Quatre, how is it that whenever you’re in a kitchen, you break something?” Quatre stuck his tongue out at Wufei as Heero set him down, clear of the glass. He went hunting for his shoes by the front door and put them on before helping Heero clean up the mess. After the pizza was devoured, a debate was started on what they should do. Some were in the mood for a movie, some weren’t…and while they were debating, Duo was prone on the couch growing more impatient by the minute. “Guuuuuysss~!” Duo whined. “I’m bored.” “So?” Trowa was the picture of disinterest. Duo glared at him. “There’s a slumber party going on at Katie’s house.” Three sets of ears immediately perked up. Quatre bounced over, a truly evil smile on his face. “Are you contemplating what I am contemplating?” Duo smiled beatifically. “What are you contemplating?” Heero questioned suspiciously. Four evil (one might even say maniacal) chuckles answered him. “Maybe I shouldn’t have asked…” + If Heero had possessed any suspicions that the four were up to no good, it was clinched when he saw the ‘toys’ they brought out in preparation for going out. Four walkie talkies (Quatre managed to rummage around and find another set so Heero could have one as well), black sweaters with a pullover hood, several air soft guns, some small hand mirrors (the better to check around corners with), binoculars, and a tin of grease paint (to be used liberally on certain faces). “Duo, see how many cans of whip cream we have.” Duo flashed Quatre a thumb’s up and sprinted for the kitchen. “Trowa, can you carry the tape?” Trowa smirked. “Of course.” “Good.” Quatre stared at the ceiling thoughtfully. “I feel like I’m missing something…” “Saran wrap?” Wufei finished off his face, handing the can over to a bemused Heero. “Mm. Knew I was forgetting something. Wufei, would you?” “Okay. I assume we’re taking my Tahoe.” “Are you sure we need to? Katie’s house is only about four streets over.” Wufei shrugged. “Good point. It’s safer to walk over there. Heero, don’t just stand there, grease your face up.” Heero reluctantly complied, mind whirling. Just what was he being dragged into? + “I love skulking,” Quatre commented as they crept closer to Katie’s house. He was practically rubbing his hands in glee. “Now remember guys, no names. Code names only. If we can pick up police bands, then they can certainly pick up our conversations.” “Yes mother,” Duo muttered. Quatre blithely ignored him. “Now, that being said, does anyone have a preference?” “Sonia,” Duo said immediately. “Brook.” Trowa was already eyeing the glaringly yellow Mustang. “Charlene,” Wufei snarled. He was glaring at a little red Miata so hard it was a miracle that the car hadn’t melted. Heero finally lost all patience. “Just what are we doing?!” “Katie has a slumber party at her house about every month or so,” Trowa explained quietly. “And we take the opportunity that presents to pay her, and quite a few of her friends, back for all of the stupidity they subject us to at school.” “…okay, I can see that, but what’s the connection of payback and whipcream, tape, and saran wrap?” “We know what cars they drive,” Wufei stated succinctly. Heero considered this seriously. For all of about a tenth of a second. “What does Jill drive?” “The pink Hummer.” “Gimme the saran wrap.” “I get to help!” Quatre protested. “Of course you do.” They split into different directions, and using every available cover they snuck quietly and stealthily toward their targets. Wufei wielded two cans of whip cream with true prowess, completely coating the Miata. When he was done, the only thing missing was the sprinkles and a cherry on top. Quatre and Heero used up several rolls of saran wrap, going around and around the Hummer until it was impossible to open up any of the doors. Then they taped it in place for good measure. Trowa and Duo switched off using tape and saran wrap, wrapping up their targets as well. Duo added his special touch of spray on glitter; a bright fluorescent orange that glowed in the dark and would, in fact, harden overnight all over the windshield. They had nearly completed their objective when there was a double click on the walkie talkies. <Cop car!> Wufei hissed. Swearing, they all ran for cover, which happened to lead them in different directions. Heero and Quatre dove between a large hedge and a big truck, scrunching themselves behind the tires and praying the cop would just drive by. Duo and Trowa dove to the side of the house, using the brick wall as their main point of coverage. After a moment of panic, Wufei finally crawled into a large bush right behind the mail box. The cop slowed a little as it passed the house…everyone’s breath halted in their chest. Would he notice anything, as dark as it was outside? Finally he passed completely and went to the stop sign. <<Move out,>> Quatre whispered urgently along the line. <<You think he suspects something?>> Duo hissed back. <<All I know is, he’s not going anywhere and he went by here very slowly. No chances. Move now.>> The cop’s lights changed and he started backing up. <<CRAP!>> Duo yelped. Five boys scrambled to their feet and ran to the back of the house. Quatre grabbed hold of Heero’s hand, not wanting to lose him and pulled him up on the cinderblock wall and along the top. They raced just far enough to find an empty lot then dropped back to solid ground to continue running. Duo and Trowa also jumped onto the wall and started running, Wufei only a beat behind them. They however stayed on the wall and ran as fast as they could on the narrow surface. “Hey guys,” Duo panted as they ran, “I think we better split up.” “Good idea,” Wufei agreed. Duo found it unfair that he didn’t even sound winded. Duo spotted a clear yard with no back lights on and decided that looked like a good place to escape through. “That being said—bye, guys!” He hopped lightly off the wall and landed easily in the yard. *clink, clink* “I don’t like clinking noises…” Duo looked around the yard with wide eyes. “Clinking noises are bad…uh…oh…” There was a reason why the owner of this particular house hadn’t felt it necessary to leave security lights on in his back yard. The reason was staring at Duo right in the eyes, growling softly. Considering that it was the biggest freaking German Shepherd that Duo had ever laid eyes on in his life, it was a pretty good reason. “Trowa?” Duo called nervously. He tried to keep his voice soft, because he didn’t really want to attract attention, and because well…he was fairly sure that German Shepherds didn’t like strange guys yelling in their territory either. “T-Trowa~!” Trowa, by a miracle, heard that faint call. Feeling a little fission of anxiety he back tracked until he spotted Duo. What he saw was not comforting. Duo apparently had chosen the only back yard in the entire neighborhood with a killer dog attached. “Duo. Stay put.” “I’ve got a better idea. Get me outta here!” Trowa looked around for Wufei to help him, but the Chinese teen wasn’t in sight. “He runs too bloody fast…” Sighing, he shifted to his knees and offered a hand to Duo. “Grab on. I’ll pull you out.” “Good plan. I like that plan much better.” Duo edged away from the dog and grabbed Trowa’s hand. Between one pulling and the other scrambling against the wall, they managed to pull Duo back up onto the wall. Duo gave Trowa a shaky grin. “How about I just stick with you?” “I’d prefer that over rescuing you from attack dogs, yes. Let’s go.” “Right after you, man.” + Heero and Quatre managed to make it to the small city park without being spotted or running into trouble. They sat near the gazebo, waiting for the other three to arrive and just catching their breath. As Heero sat there he caught the glimpse of headlights heading their way. His eyes widened as he saw cop lights sitting on the roof of the car. “Quatre, down!” Quatre went flat against the building instantly. “What?” “That stupid cop is here!” Quatre stared at Heero incredulously. “You’re kidding!” “I wish.” “Did he follow us?” “I hope not.” Heero slid out his small mirror and used it to peek around the corner of the gazebo. “Kuso. He’s parking.” Quatre looked around in dismay. “There isn’t a lot of cover here. If we run for it, he’s going to spot us easily.” “So sit tight. I don’t suppose there’s any way of crawling under the gazebo, is there?” Quatre looked at it carefully. No, everything was pretty tightly closed. “Nope.” “Drats.” They went silent as the cop came closer, flashlight making a sweep of the area. Heero heard little scuffling noises near his hand and looked down in curiosity. When he finally made sense of what he was seeing, his eyes nearly bugged out of his head. “Quatre…” he rasped. “Yes?” Quatre hissed back. The cop wasn’t getting closer, was he? “Skunks have a white stripe down their back, don’t they?” “…Heero, why the heck are you asking me nature questions right now?” “’Cause I think we have one right next to us.” “OH CRAP!” Heero clamped a hand over his mouth. “Don’t yell, idiot! I don’t want to get sprayed.” Quatre started taking deep, steady breaths. Mustn’t panic, mustn’t panic… “What do you do when confronted with a skunk?” Quatre pried Heero’s hand off his mouth. “I don’t know, play dead?” “I thought that was a grizzly,” Heero breathed. “Maybe we should just edge away…quietly…” “I’m all for moving away.” A beam of light fell only feet away from them, abruptly reminding them that they had a very good reason for staying put. Quatre started an internal debate worthy of Congress in his head. Stay and get sprayed, move and face a cop and being in jail overnight… Well, Iria would surely understand about bailing him out of jail… The cop abruptly turned and walked away. Heero lost no time in scrambling away from the skunk, pulling Quatre with him. He went straight for the only other thing that offered decent cover, which was the line of water fountains nearby. As soon as they were sure that the cop was gone and the skunk hadn’t followed them, Heero clicked his radio on. “Position is compromised. Report back to base.” <<Compromised by what?>> “05, it’s better if you just don’t know.” ~*~*~*~ Honor: Just in case you’re wondering…most
of this chapter is based on true stories. My brothers actually used
to do this. One of them really did run into a skunk while a cop was
looking for him, and the story of the German Shepherd can actually
be blamed on Velvet, who told me the tale.
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