Hi dee ho loyal readership and newcomers (I'm just so damn cocky, aren't I?). Well, English is a boring boring class, and this was spawned from watching a 20's mob flick called The Cotton Club. IT's really great, really funny movie, and I recommend it! *two thumbs up* Right. So, even though I know next to nothing about the subject matter, I was bored, and I really like the first part of this fic. Although, I need reviews to go on, so review if you'd like me to continue. ^_^ Or flame me, whatever, although if I get a bunch of stuff wrong, history-wise, please tell me. I'd like to correct myself. So, now one with the fic! ^_^
P.S. This is an Alternate Universe, if ya couldn't tell. I haven't decided if it'll be 1+2 yet, but most probably 3+4… as always. I can't resist.
Machine Guns and Tap Shoes
By Chibi Lurrel
"Hey! Hey, Yuy! The boss has a new job fer you." The man's New York drawl blurred his words. Heero looked up. "What is it?" "You gotta go to that new club around the bend, the one which everyone's been talking about. Look at what sort of people hang there, ya know? Recon-mission. Bring that trumpet player along, too, the boss says." "Reconnaissance." Heero murmured. "What?" asked the brash messenger. "Reconnaissance." "Yeah, that's what I said. Recon." Nervous, the man left. "It's a nice word, rolls off the tongue," he murmured to the air.
Heero poked his head into the hotel room next to his and stared at the young blonde who sat on the bed. He held a trumpet, and was fingering the keys without playing, making a soft metallic 'clack, clack' noise. "Hi there, Heero." "Tonight I'm taking you to a club." Quatre's melancholy blue eyes widened. "Huh? Heero, what're you talking about?" "Reconnaissance mission. Gotta keep an eye out for those crime lords and all that stuff and nonsense." His voice was devoid of any accent, which Quatre found odd, since he had lived in New York City all his life. "Where is this club?" "Real close to here. Just down the street, actually." He left, and Quatre shook his head. "Strange man," he said to himself as he brought the trumpet to his lips and began to play.
Trowa walked alone down the sidewalk as dusk settled in over the city, passing a nameless hotel on his way to the club where we worked. He paused, cocking his head to one side as mournful music notes began to pour out of an open window like a giant silk waterfall. He sighed and paused on his way to work, letting the notes embrace him fully. He gazed up at the open window as he sensed the end of the song. He squinted, trying to view the occupant of the room, and saw the silver glint of a battered trumpet, and a pair of large, melancholy blue eyes that seemed blind to the world. The curtains fluttered shut as the song ended. Trowa continued his walk.
***
Heero strolled into the club, past the bouncer with nothing so much as a tip of his hat and a wave of his hand. Heero's face was so well known around the city that the bouncer hadn't even bothered to check his list. But when he laid a hand on Quatre's should to stop him, Heero whirled around and stated, "The boy is with me. You should have realized." He continued walking as the bouncer stuttered an apology. Quatre sighed and hurried after him.
Heero quietly took a seat at a table on looking the stage. Quatre settled in beside him, his trumpet case banging against his knees. "Why do you bring that everywhere you go?" Quatre shrugged nonchalantly. "Old habit." "So why are we here, again? Is there some show you wanted to see? 'Cause knowing you, you'd normally just pop in here, do a quick sweep, and then leave. So what's the deal?" Heero frowned. "Hn." Quatre sighed and gave up. Heero was like a rock when it came to conversation skills. He looked around, scanning the room for any new and unfamiliar faces. "Hey, Heero, who's that guy?" Quatre tilted his head in the direction of the wizened old Chinese crime lord, and the young man standing behind her. "Hmm? The boy? His name is Chaing Wufei. He's new, but no threat. Not yet." Quatre swallowed nervously at this. "Ah. Anyone else new?" Heero's head pivoted, like a mechanical robot's would. "Nope." He settled back into the plush seats with a small sigh. Quatre goggled. "Then we're staying?" His partner nodded. "Best to wait the whole evening, see if anyone else shows up." Heero was never like this, especially for re-con missions…but Quatre wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth. He missed the thrill of performing in front of the crowd, making them respond to the music. He loved his old job as a stage performer, but financial troubles had forced him to deal with the devil, relatively speaking. He had been forced to take up a job with a local crime boss, who, unfortunately, had taken a liking to him. Quatre had been stuck, unable to quit under fear of death, or worse.
Quatre decided to take a cue from Heero, and relax and enjoy the show. But when the first act came on stage, he couldn't help but gasp. The piano player looked so…so… he realized he had no words, but the crisp white performance suit suited the man sitting near the baby grand perfectly. He risked a sidelong glance at Heero, who seemed normal. But Quatre knew better. He focused his attention on the tap dancer on the stage, and figured out why.
Heero didn't know why he was drawn to the club in the first place, and he didn't know why he kept coming back. But he did know that he couldn't stop himself. Because he had tried. His steely blue gaze lay transfixed on the boy dancing in front of him, looking like the fates themselves had personified Heero's every whim and fancy in him. The dancer was, in a word, beautiful, Heero mused to himself. And so, he returned every other night to watch the boy perform. Because it seemed as though he was dancing just for him.
The boy cracked a lopsided grin and spun a whiz on the tap shoes. He had his audience captivated, but that wasn't nearly as large an accomplishment as captivating Heero was. This he knew from the word on the street, as well as personal expirience. As he twirled and danced, his long chestnut braid swung around him. Trowa smiled at him from behind his bang and the piano, and the pace picked up. Shuffle, shuffle, hop, twirl, jump, shuffle. It was a tightly choreographed dance if there ever was one. The audience, of course, was laughing and clapping. But that was the expected result. He would be insulted if they had done anything other than that. He finally ended his routine with a little shuffle and a wave of his arms, and slid down to one knee. The audience shrieked with delight as he and Trowa took their bows. "He's here again." Whispered the dancer to the musician. "I know." Trowa whispered back. "Hn." They both smiled and waved then walked back stage to the dressing rooms.
In the back, Duo quickly stripped of his white performance suit into his usual black riding pants and black shirt with rolled up sleeves. He had long since given up the clergyman's collar, it had attracted too much attention that he simply didn't need. Not that he wasn't a hog for attention. In fact, quite the contrary. That was why he had decided to become a stage performer in the first place. He sighed and began stretching his legs out. It had been, after all, and excruciating work out. Just like every night. Trowa walked up to him, wearing his usual grim suit of a dull brownish gray, though even Duo had to admit it suited him. But most things did. Duo also had to admit that Trowa was an extremly handsome man. "So, what do you think about it, Trowa? He's been here almost every other night. Watching m…watching us, then leaving. Heero Yuy. You think it's something bad, maybe something that has to do with his line of work?" Duo's eyes were wide. Trowa smiled a faint little smile, and shook his head. "I doubt it. More like he's obbsessed. Do you know who the little blonde he brought with him was? I've never seen him around this place before." Duo shook his head, his loose bangs falling into his eyes. "Nope. Never seen him around before." He grinned up at his somber partner. "Why?" Trowa shrugged. "I don't know. But I'd like to meet him."
End Part I
Sooo, whatcha think? Tell me! ^_^ More to come, if you're goooood little readers and review! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA! *coughs* Right.