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"Spookems"Written By: Honor Disclaimers: Not mine. My psychiatrist assures
me that they never were either, although I specifically remember creating
them… Warnings: AU, questionable and evil humor, romance
with slices of angst (which I fix!) Rating: Ah…NC-17 or thereabouts, I think Pairings: 1x4, 5x2, 3+a box of stolen Pocky Author’s Notes: Okay, so I’m sitting
here one day, in the mood for a ghost story, and can only find ones
where one of the boys is a ghost and falls in love with one of the
other boys, at which point one of three things happens. Either a)
after some hot steamy sex the ghost crosses beyond, leaving the other
one to suicide *grr* b) he somehow is given a body or c) they have
to wait until the next reincarnation. C&C appreciated. Flames will be used to defrost
my windshield. Enjoy, peeps! Dedicated to Tricksy. I’m going to miss your
antics, love. //thought// *emphasize* " Spookems"
Chapter Five: Conquests
Duo was outside. Currently Madison County was experiencing the worst lightning storm of the decade. The winds were strong enough to bend pine trees nearly in half, tear signs off their posts and send tree limbs through windows. Most of the roads were impassable from flooding. And where was Duo? Outside. “That idiot!” The screen door slammed against the house as Wufei stormed off the back porch and into the elements. His eyes raked the yard, but the dark rain obscured his vision beyond five feet. “DUO!” No response. “Ma de dan!” He ventured another dozen feet away from the house. “DUO!” The wind was so strong that Wufei had doubts that Duo could even hear him. Why did the American have to be such an adrenaline junkie? From somewhere in the darkness there was a sound…a sound that reminded Wufei sharply of maniacal laughter. Well, at least the braided menace was alive. “Duo! Answer me!” “Wu-man!” Duo’s pale face appeared from around a blueberry bush. “Ain’t this FANTASTIC?!” “You idiot! You really don’t have enough sense to come in out of the rain!” Wufei advanced on his position steadily. “Come back inside.” Duo dodged the outstretched hand and flung himself out of reach. “No way!” “Duo!” There was a distinct growl of impatience twined with the name. “Uh-uh!” Duo danced back again as Wufei made another grab. “You gotta catch me first!” Wufei swore and dove. Duo anticipated him and spun away, disappearing among the trees and shadows. Wufei could swear that he heard laughter. Curse it, chasing the idiot around the backyard (which was filled with crawdad holes, fallen limbs, and puddles) at night, during a storm, was not a good idea. “Duo! Come back in!” “Nope!” Ah. To the left somewhere. “I’ll do anything you want!” “Reeeally.” The way Duo had drug out that word was not promising. Still, if this worked, it’d be worth it. “Well?” “Deal!” Duo burst out of a thick stand of shadows. “Race you back!” Wufei wasn’t about to follow that example. The ground was too slippery for a footrace. He followed at a slightly more dignified pace so that Duo was standing on the back porch, dripping when he came in. There was this impish light in Duo’s eyes which made Wufei distinctly nervous. Time to pay the piper. “Alright. What’s your price?” “That you don’t kill me in the next five minutes.” Only now did he catch the anxiousness beneath the smile. “Eh?” Duo approached with the same caution that you would use on a wild animal. When Wufei didn’t flinch back, he closed the remaining distance, sliding both hands to cradle the Asian’s face. At the first brush of Duo’s lips, something akin to live electricity shot through Wufei’s system. In something of a daze his head tilted sideways, meeting Duo’s mouth more firmly. The storm’s fury fell away as they tentatively explored the other’s mouth. Duo flicked his tongue against Wufei’s bottom lip, but didn’t press the point any further. They separated slowly, brushing a light kiss, then another before breaking contact completely. Duo drew back, breath a little ragged. Wufei watched him with wide eyes. Why had he done that? It was Heero that he wanted, wasn’t it—? He opened his mouth, although he had no idea what he would say— “There you are!” Quatre poked his head around the door. “You’d better come in and take a shower while we still have electricity.” Duo jerked a smile onto his face. “Sure thing, Q. Taking a shower in the dark ain’t fun.” Wufei turned his head away so that he wouldn’t watch him. It would confuse an already spinning mind to watch that enigma leave. Quatre’s head swiveled from Duo’s retreating back to Wufei’s confused expression. “I think I missed something.” Wufei simply couldn’t handle questions right now. His center had been badly thrown off, and he needed to find it again before he could confront what had happened in the past five minutes. “I think a hot shower is in order.” Quatre moved aside to let him pass. His eyes traveled to the water on the floor. By the puddles gathered there, it looked like two people had stood very closely for a few minutes. “Oh yes. I definitely missed something.” Something important, by the look of it. He went back inside, going up the stairs two at a time. Duo was still in the shower, so he settled outside of the door to wait. After five minutes, the water shut off. Quatre gave him another minute before knocking. “Duo?” “A sec.” Quatre barely let the door open before he slipped inside and locked it. Duo was standing there with boxers on and a towel around his neck. “Duo what did you do?!” Duo’s normal cheerful grin was strained, eyes stricken. “Is he…is he mad?” “No. At least, I don’t think so. He looked more confused.” “Confused.” Duo repeated softly. “Okay. Maybe I haven’t shot myself in the foot.” “Duo!” Quatre was becoming frustrated. He was only seeing the edges of what happened, and that wasn’t enough. He needed to know the whole of it to help. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to leave you hanging. I-I kissed him.” There was a slight thud as Quatre’s jaw hit the ground. Duo gently lifted it back into place and let his best friend come to grips with the bombshell he had just dropped. “I have no idea what to say.” “Yeah.” Duo snorted humorlessly. “I don’t think he did either.” “Why? I thought you weren’t going to push him yet.” “I wasn’t. I was just…still high on adrenaline, you know. And he looked so exasperated, and I just couldn’t…I had to touch him. I just HAD too.” Duo ran his hands shakily through his hair. “I’m not sure what I’ll do if it turns out I messed this up, Q.” “Duo—do you want me to talk to him?” Duo looked away, twisting his hair in his hands absently. “Yeah. That might be a good idea. I’m not sure if he wants to see me right now, y’know?” Quatre nodded. “Alright.” + Wufei didn’t move from the meditation mat when the knock came. He knew who it was. “Come in, Quatre.” The door opened. “Am I really that predictable?” “In these matters? Yes.” Wufei moved from the mat, standing fluidly. “I assume that you have the whole story from Duo.” “Yes. I thought you might want to talk.” “The thought is appreciated, but I do not need to discuss what happened.” “I didn’t say you needed to.” Quatre retorted gently. “I asked if you wanted to.” “Quatre.” Wufei shook his head slightly, a rueful smile touching the corners of his mouth. “The person that I need to talk to isn’t you.” Quatre nodded, eyes alight. “Good. I’m glad you understand that. Don’t let him stew too long, alright?” “Just one thing.” Quatre turned from the door. “Yes?” “He was never interested in Heero, was he?” Quatre blinked, baffled by the question. “Where on earth did you get that idea?” Wufei waved the question away. “Never mind.” Quatre gave him another confused glance before he left, shutting the door softly behind him. Wufei stared at that closed door for several moments without seeing it. It meant something to him. That kiss had meant something to Duo. Quatre would never have come here otherwise. Duo would have shrugged it off and fed him a line if it had been nothing more than a means of jerking Wufei’s chain. A soft laugh spread through the room. Meditation hadn’t been needed to find his balance again after all. “It appears,” he murmured thoughtfully “that I can have what I want. Why am I just standing here?” It was time to take what he wanted. With both hands. Wufei didn’t bother to knock on Duo’s door before he entered. He needed that moment of surprise on Duo’s face to know what to say, and how to act. He needed to see Duo with all of his defenses down for just a moment. Duo was wearing a path in the carpet, dragging a brush through his hair. When Wufei walked in, all of his trepidation flashed across his face for just a moment. Then the jester’s mask slammed into place. Wufei just knew that he would try to joke this off. Duo was too afraid of his own response to do anything else. Wufei held up a hand to stop whatever words that was ready to tumble forth. “I have a question.” “I might have an answer.” Duo replied, his smile forced. “Shoot.” “Let’s clear something up first.” Wufei walked to him, keeping his eyes steady on Duo’s. Duo trembled slightly as if he wanted to back away, but he held firm to where he stood. When Wufei finally stopped they were barely five inches away from each other. Wufei mirrored Duo’s previous actions precisely. He lifted his hands and cradled the face in front of him, bending slightly and grazing Duo’s lips. The hairbrush fell to the floor with a soft thud. Wufei pulled back so that he could see Duo’s eyes. “I think we’ve mis-communicated enough. I am not immune to you, Duo. I never have been. And if I have my way, then neither of us will sleep alone again.” Duo’s tongue had twisted itself into a series of complicated knots. It took a bit of concentration to untangle it enough so that he could reply. “I think I can go for that.” Wufei dropped one hand and put it at the small of Duo’s back, drawing him in tightly. “Glad to hear it.” Their mouths met, both of them frantic to cross the barriers of clothes and skin to become as close as possible. Duo flicked his tongue again at Wufei’s bottom lip, and this time he was granted the access he wanted. Wufei groaned as Duo’s tongue slid across his, searching every corner of his mouth and exploring hungrily. Wufei wrapped both of his arms around Duo’s back, molding the lithe body against his own. ::That is DISGUSTING.:: With a gasp they broke apart, eyes darting around frantically until they spotted Relena. She was hovering near the door, eyeing them with obvious repulsion. Wufei’s brows snapped together as he snarled at her. “Woman, I am in no mood to play games with you. Leave.” ::I will not. I’m not going to allow something like to happen in my house.:: Duo hadn’t let go of Wufei. Seeing how taut his boyfriend was, he cuddled closer, nudging his head to rest under Wufei’s chin. “Not much you can do about it, Rel.” ::Stop calling me by those disgusting names of yours! And there is a great deal that I can do about it.:: The abandoned hairbrush rose in the air and hovered for a moment. Then it sped and hit the wall with terrific force, leaving a dent in the wall. Wufei snarled at the implied threat and tightened his arm around Duo’s waist. “You’ll not harm him.” He hissed at the smug spirit. ::Who can stop me?:: She retaliated sweetly. Wufei took hold of Duo’s hand and started walking out of the bedroom. “Come. We have some research to do.” Relena sped to block the door. ::What kind of research?:: Wufei ignored her and walked through the apparition without missing a beat. Since he had a firm grasp on Duo, the braided man didn’t have any choice but to follow his example. “Sure Wu-baby. Where we goin’?” “The library, I think.” As they went down the stairs, they discovered Quatre and Trowa were lying in wait for them. To any normal observer, it appeared that they were enjoying a quiet game of chess, but their two housemates recognized an ambush when they saw one. Quatre looked up as they approached, took in their joined hands, and beamed at them. Trowa gave a silent round of applause. “Shut it.” Duo wrinkled his nose at them and stuck out his tongue. “We reserve the right to be relieved.” Trowa told him, quiet humor tweaking at the corners of his mouth. “You’ve been moping over him too long.” “We were almost planning on getting you both drunk.” Quatre added. Wufei arched a brow at this and looked at his slightly blushing boyfriend, who wouldn’t meet his eyes. Had he really been that oblivious as to what was going on? Hm. Tucking it away to ask Duo later, he turned back to the matter at hand. “We’re going to the library to do some research.” “It turns out,” Duo rolled his eyes “that she’s homophobic and won’t give us any peace. We’re going to have to find some way of keeping her out.” “Her presence can be….inconvenient.” Trowa noted sardonically. Quatre studied the three with puzzlement. “She’s been in your rooms?” “Oh yes.” Duo gave the upstairs a withering look. Wufei, on the other hand, was watching Quatre. “Do you mean to say that she hasn’t been in yours?” “No, she hasn’t.” Duo’s head snapped back around. “Why? I mean, she’s been in everyone else’s…” “Actually, she seems to like Quatre.” Trowa murmured thoughtfully. “Well, she’s not really that mad at you either.” Duo told him. “But she’s followed you in a few times.” “You’re right.” Wufei looked up the stairs thoughtfully. “Quatre. Do you mind if I look at your room?” “Oh…no, that’s fine.” All four wound up going upstairs, curiosity driving them forward. Three of them held back at the doorway to Quatre’s bedroom, watching Wufei prowl around the room. The Chinese man was the closest that they had to an authority on ghosts, and they let him have his space to work. Wufei was aware of his audience, but he didn’t let it bother him. Quatre’s bedroom reminded him somewhat of Heero’s. Music lying around, clothes neatly put away, the colors in muted shades for the bedcovers. There was a print or two of some kind of artwork, but nothing extraordinary. Wufei examined everything carefully, but couldn’t see anything that would serve to keep a ghost out. As he turned away from the dresser, a flash of cream on the back of the door caught his eye. With a frown, he pushed the door forward so that he could get a better look. There was a scroll hanging on the door, with Arabic lettering covering the length of it. “Quatre.” Wufei waited until the blond came around the door. “What does this say?” “Oh. That’s a prayer of protection. My sister made it for me.” “Prayer of protection.” Wufei repeated thoughtfully. A slow smile spread over his face. “It’s done its job. This is why Relena can’t enter.” Duo and Trowa had followed Quatre inside to see what Wufei was talking about. “So, Q, can we copy that?” Wufei shook his head. “It’s not that simple, I’m afraid. This works because Quatre *believes* that it will work. But we can come up with our own equivalent.” “Well, that’ll work for you and me.” Duo agreed. “But what about ‘Ro and Tro here?” Trowa frowned. He really didn’t like what he was hearing. “Perhaps I’ll come with you to do that research.” Quatre shook his head. “Not tonight. I know you’re all anxious to resolve this, but going outside right now isn’t a good idea. It’s bad enough that Heero is out there.” Wufei nodded reluctantly. “You’re right. Very well. If Relena does become unbearable, however, don’t be surprised if you wake up tomorrow to find us on your floor.” Quatre sighed ruefully. “Understood.”
Footnote: For those of you who do not know what a crawdad is, it’s a fresh water lobster. Kinda. And yes, they really do exist in people’s backyards in Louisiana and Mississippi. They are the gophers of the Deep South. ~ * ~ |
