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"Taking Care "Written By: t-shirt Disclaimer: Gundam Wing and its characters are
copyright to Sunrise, Bandai, Sotsu Agency, and associated parties.
I make no money with this fic. Rating: NC 17 Warnings: AU/Romance, Mild angst, fluff+sap=sticky/puffy
Gundam pilots nee? *ggggg*, mild language, mention of lemon Pairings: 1x2, 3x4, background 5x6x13
(mentioned) Summary: The new assistant caretaker of a local
orphanage and school finds his post a little more than interesting
when the resident demon livens up his life "Taking Care " Ch 2
‘You coming?’ ‘Yeah,’ Hiiro replied shoving the strange thoughts from his mind. It was a bit off color but not really unacceptable so he really had no reason to complain. At least nothing had leaked, exploded or turned colors so far. That was a major improvement. Duo picked Tia up and held little Lin’s hand as they slipped through the turn style. Lin had been with them for ten months and was just coming to a point where the councilors believed him ready for possible adoption. He was immensely fond of Duo, as were all the little ones, but Lin’s attachment went much deeper than most. Hiiro presumed it to be because the pictures of the four year olds lost mother proved she also wore her long brown hair in a thick braid. Jose (6) found the rotation of the turn style much too interesting going through three times back and forth before Sandra (7) informed him he was being childish and pushed him on through letting Ean (6) and Hiiro bring up the rear after the Japanese boy had finished providing for their entry to the smiling gate keeper. The day wore on in blissful uneventfulness considering the fact that Duo was with them. Hiiro was feeling quite relaxed as he watched the giant python lazing quietly on a branch in his cage while they cooled off in the reptiles climate controlled habitat. ‘Hey, Bo,’ Duo said softly coming to stand beside him as he taped gently on the glass. The little ones were gathered nearby gazing in fascination at the odd array of snakes, lizards and amphibians. ‘You’ve named it?’ Hiiro asked. Why did he smell like flowers? ‘I didn’t pick it,’ Duo explained tucking a stray stand of long chestnut hair behind his ear as he leaned in to smile at the seemingly oblivious snake. He was wearing an … earring? ‘Carter named him when they brought him in,’ he went on. ‘Carter?’ Hiiro inquired examining the small stone that adorned Duo’s all but perfectly shaped ear. Amethyst. Very appropriate. ‘Their keeper,’ the longhaired boy explained turning his deep violet gaze on him as he relaxed against the glass and took inventory of their lot. Tia was with Ean watching the turtles swim, Jose had a fixation with the iguanas and Lin and Sandra found the spotted toad interesting enough to spare a moment of their lives. Hiiro hadn’t a clue if they were even still on earth or not. What oddly fascinating eyes this boy had. A color like no other human he’d ever encountered. Actually, no other creature alive bore that particular shade of violet. He’d been taken with the uniqueness of them since the first time he’d laid eyed on the boy but up this close it was down right… hypnotizing. Especially when he gazed so evenly into his own. ‘Duo!’ Lin’s little voice broke in shattering the thin veil that had descended upon them. ‘I gotta go pee,’ the boy whined doing his best to hold it as he had waited too long to inform his escort of his condition. ‘Oh... can you take him?’ Duo asked glancing at the others. ‘No! You!’ Lin insisted latching onto his hand. ‘He wants you,’ Hiiro smiled coyly. ‘Go on,’ he added. ‘I’ll look after them,’ he promised taking a moment to locate the rest. They ended up at the restroom for a good twenty minutes as one after the other the children decided they too needed to relieve themselves. Duo and Hiiro took the opportunity to do the same before taking them to get something to eat at the lunch bar in the center of the compound. It was a bit crowded making the kids impatient to get their food and eat. Tia wanted to be held so Duo obliged but the others were beginning to bicker with each other due to tired feet and empty bellies. By the time they were next in line the people in front of them had all but lost patience with the childish banter. ‘You’d think people would teach their kids better manors,’ the middle aged man grumped to his overweight wife when Jose bumped into him due to one of Sandra’s more volatile reprimands. ‘Jose,’ Duo called. ‘Apologize,’ he told him bringing a smile to Hiiro’s face. So the boy could be reasonable after all. ‘Sorry,’ the young boy said obediently in his thick Hispanic accent but the man barely granted him a glance apparently embarrassed that his obviously overheard comment had been addressed. Hiiro started to pursue the matter but the line moved putting the couple to their left to await their order while Duo and the kids placed theirs. Hiiro did his best to make sure all the children got what they wanted while Duo played with a small beetle he’d plucked from the bush beside the counter. Once finished they moved down as well receiving their order on trays and preparing to find a table while the older couple argued with the servers over an apparent mistake involving an unwanted pickle. Hiiro almost laughed out loud when Duo flashed him an impish grin and inadvertently slipped the beetle down the mans drinking straw before they left. They struck out again with full bellies, rested feet and a good deal less tension between the two eldest boys. After the African exhibit came the petting zoo where Tia just about pulled a poor little goats tail off and Jose learned that geese are not a means of transportation before they headed for the bathroom again and ended up at the butterfly garden. This was a highlight for Hiiro as the entire enclosure was filled to the brim with exotic plants and butterflies. He was amazed by how much Duo knew about them. It wasn’t every day he found someone he could talk to that understood his fascination with the leafy greenery but Duo really seemed to comprehend the delicate importance and beauty of the foliage. It wasn’t until they were about half way through that he realized they were surrounded by a thick swarm of butterflies of every shape, color and size, each and every one seemingly intent on lighting on their braided friend. Hiiro backed away in wonder as the boy walked out onto a small wooden bridge, the children at his feet reaching out to catch the colorful bits on their outstretched fingers as they fluttered ever thicker in their efforts to touch the long haired boy. It was the most amazing thing he’s ever witnessed, seeing Duo there, his skin softly radiant, his hair sparkling in the refracted sunlight, his eyes glittering like violet lights on the water as he became the resting place of hundreds of beautifully colored butterflies. Hiiro couldn’t break away, he was just so ...beautiful. Tia laughed when one of the insects decided to light on her nose causing a tremor to roll through the others including Duo that set the rainbow of brightly colored wings swarming in the air again. They were so pretty, enchanting even but all the Japanese boy could see at that point was the resplendent smile on Duo’s cherub face as he laughed lightly and glanced in his direction. Suddenly, he could fully understand why no one could ever carry any anger for this boy. Duo never ceased attending the amazed children but he never let Hiiro drift too far away either keeping him locked in place with steady glances and welcoming smiles. It wasn’t until they had already moved on that he realized while standing next to the boy on the bridge over the tigers lair why the butterflies had interacted with him like that. He reasoned it out when he once again noticed the strong scent of flowers. ‘You’re wearing perfume?’ he asked prompting the longhaired boy into an admission. Duo smiled smugly then turned his head away then back. ‘Cologne,’ he corrected. Hiiro actually blushed. Duo just seemed so damn feminine all of a sudden the word just fell from his lips. Girls were perfume, guys wear cologne. Geez. ‘It was very effective,’ he went on letting the slip die an inconspicuous death. ‘The kids got a kick out of it,’ Duo chuckled doing his check again. Tia and Lin by the fence, the other three searching the spot of woods below for any sign of the second big cat that was supposed to be housed there. ‘It was amazing,’ Hiiro agreed, his voice sounding much softer than he’d intended but his analysis was quickly forgotten when Duo responded with a smile. An odd thought suddenly flashed into his mind. ‘How many have you seen pass through the orphanage?’ he asked. ‘I don’t know,’ Duo sighed turning to lean on the cement wall and peer down into the habitat. ‘Too many,’ he side softly then snorted wryly. ‘Not enough,’ he amended. ‘There’re still too many forgotten,’ he explained. ‘Is that why you refuse to leave?’ the Japanese boy asked noting the flash of Duo’s eyes as he glanced at him. The expression was gone the moment it appeared but it was too late, he’d seen it, and he knew he was right. ‘Never found anyone that could cope,’ the braided boy evaded. Hiiro let him not wanting to push his luck and take a chance on closing him off again. ‘Lucky for them you’re such a devil,’ he smiled instead going along with the flow of the conversation. ‘The devils luck can have a hell of a lot of perks,’ Duo grinned impishly. Hiiro was just about to retort to that one when they heard Tia crying and went to investigate. ‘Hey... what’s wrong sweet pea?’ Duo cooed picking the little girl up in his arms. A quick glance identified Jose, Ean and Sandra coming their way but … ‘Where’s Lin?’ ‘Fell down,’ Tia sobbed pointing at the fence. Duo pushed the little girl into Sandra’s arms and leaned out over the tiger’s enclosure, his heart pounding in his chest when he saw the young boy laying unconscious by the cement wall fully exposed to the huge, adult male tiger that was lazily drawing itself to its feet to go and investigate. ‘Duo!’ was all Hiiro managed to shout before the boy leapt over the fence and landed between the large cat and Lin’s silent form. People were noticing what was happening now, one woman screaming while a crowd started to gather. ‘Look after them!’ Hiiro shouted at a woman with two other kids by her side gaining a quick nod from her before he too leapt the fence landing just behind the big cat and startling it into turning around. It appeared docile enough but it was bigger than both the boy’s put together. They could hear people shouting for the keepers and the sobbing cries of Tia as they stared down the big cat together. For what seemed like a lifetime nothing seemed to move. Duo stood firm between Lin and the tiger but it was Hiiro who had captured the cats gaze. He kept making little clicking noises in an effort to hold its attention, so far it didn’t appear to be hostile but he wasn’t taking any chances. Things seemed to be under control until Lin stirred and began to cry. If the boy had been able to understand that his sobs were drawing the tigers attention he might have known to keep quiet but he was only a child, a child with a huge knot on his head that hurt like a son of a bitch. The cat turned its attention and made to move around Duo to investigate but the longhaired boy refused to allow it pass. His aggressive demeanor quickly agitated the tiger into growling then roaring which only made Lin scream more intently. It was pretty obvious where this was going when Hiiro saw Duo’s right toe dig into the earth as he prepared to battle the large cat in Lin’s defense. ‘HEY!’ he’d barked it before he even knew what his plan might be but once the challenge had been made it was too late to back out. He just barely got out of the way as the tiger rounded and pounced at the sharp noise. He heard the clank of a gate opening close by and the shout of a man that told him the keepers had finally arrived but he had no time to ponder their plan, he was much too busy trying to keep his skin. Luckily, the cat was doing little more than rough play and only half heartedly chased him ending up neck deep in the pond where it decided to stay when two of the keepers stepped up with tranquilizer riffles and tazers in hand. Several others guided Duo with Lin in his arms out of the enclosure with Hiiro close on their heels. ‘Lin?... shhhh... calm down,’ Duo soothed sitting him on a table so he could have a look at his head. Just a bump, his eyes looked ok… ‘Shhh its ok... you’re ok,’ the longhaired boy comforted him holding him tight. Lin’s sobbing slowly subsided as he clung to him holding tight to his neck and his braid. ‘Excuse me,’ a soft spoken woman addressed them once the boy was calm again. ‘The doctor would like to have a look at him,’ she informed them. ‘K’ Duo breathed. ‘You OK?’ he asked pulling back from the boy who nodded obediently and wiped his soggy eyes. ‘Alright,’ he went on, Hiiro could see the shaking in his hands even though he did his best to hide it. ‘Miss…’ ‘Kate,’ the woman supplied smiling kindly. ‘Miss Kate is going to take you to see the doctor,’ he told him. ‘Be good and let them look at your bump ok?’ the boy nodded again then sniffled as the woman took his hand and led him away. ‘Duo?’ Hiiro ventured unsure of just how to help. He was shocked and appalled by his own uselessness when Duo suddenly began to sob. ‘I cant loose another one,’ the longhaired boy rasped clutching his hand to his mouth as his shoulders shook in sorrow or pain or fear or perhaps just the enormous emotional overload was the cause. ‘Duo?’ Hiiro called his name again daring to reach out and touch his shoulder, an action that caused the boy to suddenly whirl on him, his arms slipping neatly around his neck as his slight body folded into him but Hiiro was having a really hard time getting past the fact that Duo was now kissing him full on the mouth. He had no clue what to do, the impact of what was happening slamming him upside the head like a tidal wave, his hand dangling limply at his sides as he felt the warm heat of the longhaired boy’s tongue exploring his mouth, drawing him into responding in kind. His head swimming with a thousand images, thoughts and sensations until finally Duo slowly slipped away like a sweet drop of summer rain. ‘Sorry,’ he breathed looking highly embarrassed by his actions but the intense situation seemed to be enough of an explanation to cover it as he added a quick ‘Thank you,’ before turning away to go find the doctor and his injured charge. Hiiro stood looking after him for a very long moment before giving up on analyzing it all. He’d try again later, when his head was a bit more clear, and his pants weren’t quite so tight. Duo was taken off weekend outing duty. The accident hadn’t been his fault but in the end his actions had ended up endangering three lives instead of one. It had also spurred a full inspection of St. Helen’s by the state. At first Hiiro had been delighted that he was completely prank free though the usual shenanigans that kept the school in general on its toes never slowed down. He didn’t really realize until he sat down one day in the cafeteria and chuckled as he heard a snapping sound and his rice suddenly decided to crackle and bounce around on his plate how much he missed the odd happenings in his life. Many of the other patrons of the lunch room where also laughing though a couple were clearly horrified by the idea of dancing rice. Lady Une, for instance, found it less than amusing. ‘DUO!’ she shrieked slamming her fist full of fork down on the table, every eye in the room turned, some lips twitching in fearful anticipation and the Lady’s lips thinned. ‘Mr. Yui!’ she growled snapping to her feet. ‘You’re with me’ she commanded not waiting to see if he obeyed as she stormed from the room. Hiiro was close on her heals when they arrived at Father Maxwell’s study. He’d never seen her in such a rage before. It was a little … frightening. ‘Yes? What is it?’ Father asked as he opened the door, his warm expression melting into something more along the lines of sudden alarm when he got a look at his Head Caretaker. ‘This!’ the woman snarled shoving her hand forward and opening it setting the bouncing rice granules free. Father stifled a laugh that made Hiiro almost smile... almost. ‘This is no laughing matter,’ the Lady reprimanded them both. ‘What if something like this were to happen during the inspectors visit?’ she pointed out sobering them. ‘Something must be done,’ she demanded sternly dropping the rest of the rice on the floor where it bounced merrily around their feet. ‘I sincerely doubt that Duo would do anything that might endanger the school,’ Father began then held up a hand to stay the execution in Une’s brown eyes. ‘However,’ he said extending his life a little longer. ‘I supposed a formal request for order would prove wise,’ he agreed. ‘Mr. Yui?’ he inquired offering them the path into his office. For a moment Hiiro really didn’t know what to say. He saw no harm in the practical jokes. They were never malicious and usually brought more laugher to the school than anything else. He also had to fight against the rising urge inside him to stand on Duo’s side no matter what the circumstance. It was becoming very difficult to see things objectively when it came to the longhaired imp. Still, he had to think of the school and what was best for them all. ‘I agree,’ he replied finally taking a seat next to Lady Une on the black sofa. ‘It would be unwise to have this sort of thing happen during the inspection,’ he went on ignoring the smug look of satisfaction on Une’s face. ‘We should speak to him.’ ‘Talk has never worked before,’ Une spat indignantly glancing at the slowly dwindling dance of the rice by the door. ‘He should be punished,’ she insisted. ‘I’m afraid there is little we could do that would have any effect,’ Father countered. ‘Then confine him,’ the Lady suggested. ‘I would not presume to imprison anyone that has the audacity to stand between a tiger and his prey’ Hiiro interjected as he tired of the conversation and stood. Une’s expression softened for the first time since her lunch had started doing the cha cha. ‘I agree with Father Maxwell,’ he told them inclining his head to the man. ‘Duo wouldn’t do anything that would hurt these kids,’ he reasoned offering Une, who looked much more rational now, the same before taking his leave. ‘Hey, Duo,’ Midii smiled slinking up beside the soda machine the longhaired boy was tinkering with. ‘No,’ he replied. ‘You’re so suspicious’ Mariamaia crooned listening to him clink and clatter around inside the machine. ‘We only wanted to ask a question,’ Midii went on solicitously. ‘No,’ Duo repeated as his hand snaked out to retrieve a screw driver from the tool box. ‘Then the owner won’t be visiting during the inspection?’ Midii asked in a superior tone. Duo grew quiet for a moment. ‘Hm,’ he replied finally as the tinkering resumed. ‘I suppose he probably will,’ he mused more to himself than the girls. ‘And that means you know who will come with him,’ Mariamaia grinned watching her partners eyes light up. ‘Probably,’ Duo agreed extracting himself from the machine and closing it. ‘Do you really think so?’ Midii sighed as stars sparkled in her eyes and she gazed dreamily off into the distance. ‘Give it up,’ Duo advised sniggering at the love sick girl as he dropped several coins in the machine. ‘No way!’ Midii retorted stubbornly. ‘I’ll make him see reason one day. You’ll see,’ she promised as the machine hummed and clanked and eventually spit out a bottle of soda. ‘The only reason he’s interested in has big, pretty, blue/green eyes,’ Duo chuckled handing the girl the bottle before picking up his tool box. ‘Do yourself a favor and stick to the jocks in the park,’ he advised walking away. Midii huffed defiantly and leaned back against the machine. ‘I will make him see,’ she promised
again popping the top. ‘AGGGGHHHH! DUO!’ they both screeched
together finding themselves drenched in the spray of the agitated
soda.
~ * ~ tbc... |
