by Xirtam
Disclaimer: Don't own them. Sigh. Even if I were the last being on earth I'm pretty sure they'd still hide from me.
This fic is dedicated to WindsorBlue and D.C. Logan:)
Warnings: well..other that ignoring time lines, none really.
Notes: At the end. Just one.
Duo cautiously edged open the door of his latest hiding place. He still thought holing up in this huge apartment complex was a stupid idea, but he would only be there until nightfall. With any luck, no one would notice their temporary neighbour was one of the five most wanted men in the universe.
He checked his watch. 3am. Time to grab something to eat and then flake out for the rest of the night and the next day. After dark he would retrieve 'Scythe and get the hell outta Dodge.
But for now, there was this apartment. This really small apartment. Scratch that, this really really, teeny tiny, itty bitty apartment.
Holy Crap. He'd hidden under porches bigger than this.
Who lived here and why didn't they go insane doing so? Or maybe they already had, which would explain why it was empty.
The apartment was a box with 2 doors on the north wall. Duo opened them experimentally to discover a closet that could hold 2 coats, 3 if you crushed them and the world's smallest bathroom. The shower was directly opposite the toilet and the drain was in the middle of the floor. -I guess that's one way to keep the place clean- Duo mused shutting the door. The south wall of the place boasted a tiny sink, a stove top, a microwave and a bar fridge. Two small cupboards were above the sink.
The apartment itself had one chair, a tv resting on a child's desk and taking up most of the available floor space, a double futon piled high with colourful pillows of all shapes and sizes. And a stuffed horse.
-What's with all the pillows?- Duo thought, shoving a couple of stars out of is way and falling on the futon. He picked up a stuffed Garfield head pillow. -I was right, whoever owns this place had gone mad.-
A faint noise brought him up to one knee, gun drawn and aimed at the door. Rock steady he watched impassively as the door began to slowly open.
"It's me, Duo," a voice called softly.
"Q!" Duo holstered the gun, jumped across the room and dragged his friend inside. "I could have shot you!"
"Which is why I told you it was me dumbass." Quatre said grinning.
Duo laughed, "But how did you know I was here?"
"I got the same co-ordinates for this place but I didn't know you were here until I spotted that abandoned warehouse. I took Sandrock inside and stumbled over a scary black gundam that I think you're a bit familiar with."
"Just a little," Duo grinned. "I'm glad you're here, Cat. I wasn't looking forward to staying here alone."
"I can see why, "Quatre said, surveying the room. "I think I have mailboxes bigger than this."
He walked over and sat on the futon. "What's with all these pillows?"
"My thoughts exactly," Duo told him.
Quatre picked up a circular pillow. "This one has eyes on it," he flipped it over to show Duo.
Duo flopped next to him. "So does this one. Weird. Why just eyes? Why not a whole face? You know, like those Have a Nice Day smiley faces."
"They're soft though," Quatre said, squishing the eyed pillow. He reached over and picked up the stuffed horse. "Alice," he read off the collar around its neck.
"Oh Mr. Insane Pillow Guy has a sense of humour."
Quatre shook his head, "A guy didn't collect all these, its got to be a girl."
"No way Q. A girl's apartment would be better decorated. There'd be some pictures on the walls or something."
"Girls don't necessarily know how to decorate, Duo."
"Yes they do, they're girls."
"Excuse me, how many sisters do you have? Oh that's right, none. Therefore I am the expert." He grinned widely. "Now tell me why she has a sense of humour?"
"He has a sense of humour because he named his horse Alice.:
"So?" Quatre looked puzzled.
"Man Q, don't you know anything? Its that old kids song. Alice the camel has 5 humps, Alice the camel has 5 humps and so on and you count down until you get to Alice the camel has no humps so Alice is a horse."
Duo poked Quatre in his ribs. "Aren't you required to know any and all songs about camels?"
Quatre shoved Duo's hand away, thought for a second, nodded, and then pushed Duo over as well. "We're only required to know Rock the Casbah. Anyway, I remember that song but you've got the name wrong. Its not Alice, it's Murray."
"Murray?!" Duo started laughing, "Whoever heard of a camel named Murray??"
"The same people who wrote the song I expect."
Duo threw a pillow at Quatre who ducked and rolled off the bed. "C'mon. Let's see if there is any food in this place."
Duo nodded. "That would be good. I'll wait here."
Quatre tossed a look over his shoulder, "You're a better cook than me."
"Not." Duo leaned up on his elbows.
Crouching in front of the fridge the blonde laughed, "Wish Wufei was here. He's the best cook of the lot of us."
"Yeah, Tro makes a mean stew though." [1] He paused, "Heero's cooking is total shit."
"You can say that again," Quatre muttered into the fridge. "but..."
"Yeah I know, Perfect Soldier, not Perfect Chef. So what do we have?"
A big sigh answered him, "Not much I'm afraid."
Duo knelt next to him, "garlic, always good, bit of whipping cream? And what's in this? bacon... huh. Feel like pasta with Alfredo sauce, Cat?"
The other pilot raised an eyebrow, "You know how to make alfredo sauce....and from scratch no less."
"Tro taught me," Duo shrugged. He flipped open the cupboards and started rummaging.
"Why is my boyfriend teaching you to cook and not me?"
"Duh! You just answered your own question. I may like Tro and all but he and I don't go running off to have Hot Hot Nookie every time we see each other."
Quatre smirked. "When you put it like that, I think I'm getting the better part of the deal."
"Yes you are, and since I haven't gotten any in far too long, I'm going to tell you to shut up now."
Duo slid pasta into boiling water and started frying bacon. Glancing at his friend he handed him a grater and a hunk of Parmesan cheese on a plate. "Here, Quit looking so smug and grate that."
Quatre flipped on the tv and sat on the edge of the futon as he worked.
"Hey look, we're on tv! At least I think its us, the drawing they have suck."
"Cool, what are we up to?"
"Apparently we're still at large."
"Oh, that's good to know." Duo took the cheese and dumped it along with the now crumbled bacon into his sauce.
Quatre nodded, still watching, "Although OZ is closing in on us everyday."
"Of course they are."
"Also we're armed and dangerous."
"Are we? Well, I'll remember that should I meet us."
Quatre glanced over watching Duo drain pasta. "If we see us, we shouldn't approach us but inform the nearest OZ authority."
Duo laughed, poring sauce on noodles. "Ok, I'll just waltz into Treize's office, Hello General, I think I've spotted 04...whaddya mean I don't get a reward?"
Quatre snickered too, "Oh hey, they also say if we find our gundams not to go near them as we may be nearby."
"Going to be tricky to pilot them then."
"I'll say. Thanks," Quatre added as Duo handed him a full bowl.
They ate in silence watching the newscast until it ended. "So they have vague ideas about 'Ro, 'Fei and me. They haven't a clue about you and Tro other than there are 2 more pilots out there some place."
"And nothing about the Maguanacs, Thank Allah."
Quatre took the bowls to the sink.He turned to catch Duo yawning. "Bed?" he suggested.
Duo nodded stripping down to his boxers and tshirt. He crawled onto the futon shoving pillows out of his way.
"You want the wall side or the edge Q?"
"Edge please."
Duo nodded and flopped by the wall, pulling covers and pillows over himself. He felt Quatre settle down next to him. Yawning, he yanked his braid out from under his back and closed his eyes.
*tap*
Duo felt the light nudge on his leg. Apparently Quatre was still settling down.
*tap*
Duo wrinkled his nose, wishing Q would just relax.
*thud*
Duo's eyes shot open. He could have sworn Cat spoke that time. Glancing over the blonde boy was all but buried under blankets and pillows.
*thud* "kick." There it was! Muffled but now he was sure Cat was messing with him.
*thud* "kick"
*thud* "kick"
*thump* "ki...ow Duo!" Quatre shoved the pillow off his head and rolled over giggling. "Took you long enough to catch on."
He picked up the red heart shaped pillow, hugging it to his chest and resting his chin on it.
Duo shoved a couple more brightly coloured cushions towards his feet. "Who can sleep with all these?"
"I'm kinda liking them. Like this one. You can rest your chin on the buttcrack of the heart."
Duo choked, "Butt...crack..of the...heart??? Q!" he howled, laughing.
Quatre turned red, "I didn't mean it like that! Damn. You are horny!"
"No shit Sherlock. We've established that."
Quatre laughed, "So tell the truth Duo, Heero or Wufei?"
Now Duo turned red, "Um...do I have to chose?"
Quatre sat up and looked down at his very red friend. "You serious?" he asked.
Duo nodded and placed an eyed pillow over his face.
"The three of you," Quatre mused. "Hmmm...I think...maybe...I think that could work."
"Really?" Duo's voice was muffled by the pillow but still hopeful.
"Yeah." He rubbed a hand over his heart. "I just feel like you guys could balance each other."
"It'll never happen Q-est."
"Don't say that Duo-est. You don't know what the future will bring." He lifted the pillow off Duo. "Right?"
Duo blew out a breath, "Right."
They settled down again. Duo thinking about what Cat had said. His fellow pilot was once again buried under a ton of pillows and blankets, only 2 tufts of hair showing.
Just 2 little tufts.
Sticking straight up.
Curling just a bit at the ends.
Shining like spun gold in the approaching dawn light.
Duo's grin in the fading darkness would have sent most people running for cover. He reached out carefully and tugged the blonde curls.
Quatre sat up quickly, scanning the room. Nothing. Duo was asleep, one arm around Alice. He lay down again, preparing for sleep.
Duo cracked an eyelid checking his prey. Slowly, cautiously, he brushed the pale strands, not tugging this time, just mussing them. Like a shot Quatre was up again. Duo could feel him staring at him from behind his closed eyelids so kept still, feigning sleep. A rustle told him Q was settling down again. He waited now, biding his time, knowing his target was suspicious.
Finally barely breathing he reached out and...
"AHA!"
Laughing Duo looked up at the other boy his had his wrist in a strong grip. "I couldn't help it Cat. It was like your hair was tempting me."
"Yeah? Well this pillow is tempting me to do this!" Quatre swung at Duo who blocked with his other arm.
"OH IT'S ON NOW!!" Quatre yelled, snatching up two pillows. Duo defended himself with an eyed pillow, then managed to grab the Garfield head as it swung past. Quatre rained squishy pillow death down upon Duo who fought back by snagging pillows out of Quatre's hands. Finally Quatre made a dive to the end of the bed, reaching for the biggest cushion, a gold and blue monstrosity that looked more like a small bean bag chair than a pillow.
"Cat! You wouldn't..."
*THUMP*
"Oof! Ok, you got me but I'll only tell you my name, rank, and serial number," Duo mock-glared at his "captor".
Quatre snickered, "Unt dey are?" he menaced in a bad accent.
"My name is Shinigami, my rank is God of Death, my number is 02 and my cereal is Fruit Loops."
Quatre laughed outright, tossing away the bean bag. He flopped down next to Duo and they giggled themselves to sleep.
Duo woke very late the next afternoon. Have to be going soon. he thought. Rolling, he noticed he now had one corner of a sheet over his left knee and one big eyed pillow. Everything else was tucked securely around or under Quatre.
And I'm supposed to be the thief. Every single time he does this. Poor Trowa.
He nudge the pile of blankets beside him. "Cat, we gotta get out of here."
Quatre woke up immediately. They gathered their few belongings and returned the apartment to its original state. Quatre pulled a couple of ration bars from his backpack. They ate in companionable silence, waiting for the sun to set.
All too soon it was time to go. They slipped unnoticed to the old warehouse and climbed inside their gundams.
Duo booted up his com link. "You go first Q-est. I'll make sure you aren't followed."
"What about you?" Quarte asked.
Duo smirked audibly. "They can't follow me if they can't see me."
Quatre checked his monitors in time to see Deathscythe disappear.
"Alright then." Quatre said. He paused. "Duo."
"Quatre." Duo answered.
Sandrock left the warehouse and disappeared into the night sky.
Duo waited until he was sure no one was tracking his friend. He looked at the pillow calmly looking back at him. "Guess its our turn," he told it. Then he too left, flying into the dark, explaining to the wide eyed pillow where they were going next.
[1] Trowa really does make a mean stew! Check out D.C. Logan's story Deep Autumn Stew at www.gwaddiction.com Both the story and the stew are fabulous. Fair warning though. You may end up with your husband or SO following you around the grocery store every week saying, "You're making stew right? You got the ingredients? I did tell you I wanted stew right?" ;)
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