Disclaimer: I do not own the characters I just borrowed my favorite characters to give them a new life. The story is mine but the people are not, so please do not sue as you will get nothing but pocket fluff.

Warning: Mature themes, romance, horror, alternate universe, drama, thriller, action you have been warned

Pairings: Heero x Duo mention of others

Story: Famous horror novelist Duo Maxwell had ventured to the island retreat of Summers Folly to try and overcome his writers block. When things begin to happen though, Duo will find himself in something far worse then a horror novel…

Summers Folly

Part I – Salts Hill

He gasped at the crack of some underbrush somewhere to his right. His heart pounding, he could almost feel the bile rising in the back of his throat. Why was he out here? How could they have convinced to come out here. "Hello?" came the soft call from, he barely recognized his own wavering voice as it fell away in a puff of vapor in the chillily fall evening. He waited for a reply, only silence…eerie quiet that felt oppressive and heavy. He moved faster now just had to get to lake, look in…that was all he could go home.

He shivered wrapping his arms tighter around himself trying not to think about the story he had heard no more then an hour ago. An hour before being turned out here into the dark and cold. His rational mind knew there would be no body floating in the water, no women in a blood soaked dress, her face rotting away, picked away by the small animals of the lake. Still his flesh crawled at the thought, the slimy decayed hand creeping over his side. Reaching for him…

"And it pulls him under the water and the terrible bloody women gets him," with a groan he all but punched the delete key on his Mac. Frustrated he got up from his desk prowling his small, but rather comfy condo. He moved to the balcony, pushing aside the doors and stepping out to the extremely hot and muggy, New York air. The city vibrated with life at the late hour, even with the impending lighting storm he could see coming. He felt a cool breeze ruffle his long hair, stray ends that where coming loose from his braid.

Leaning forward he rested his forearms on the railing, closing his eyes enjoying the breeze. The tall figure on the balcony clad in a white beater, and black boxer briefs was at a loss, he knew it…his publisher knew it…he just flat out refused to admit it to himself. As if detecting his thoughts the phone rang, and he just knew who was on the other end. Sighing he moved back into the condo snagging the phone off the cradle. "Hello?" he asked with no small amount of trepidation. "Duo!" came the happy cry at the other end of the line, "Hello Quatre," the man named Duo sighed, he knew what the happy, petite blonde was after. "How's the book coming," unusual purple eyes, closed in a grimace. "Not done," he muttered knowing what was coming next. That adorable blonde exterior hid a will of forged steel, and right now Duo was almost a month over deadline.

"Duo its almost June and you where supposed to have had the manuscript in by the beginning of May." Duo closed his eyes leaning against the wall, eyes closed he gently beat his head against the wall. "I can't finish it…I just it sounds so tripe, and overdone." The tall violet eyed man on the phone was famous horror novelist Duo Maxwell, his name had become synonymous with terror, and a good scare. While relatively young novelist at the age of 25, he had broke out at 21 with his first novel Run simply titled, and hailed by all the critics as the most terrifying novel written in a long time. His second and third novels had also been big hits, but in Duo's mind Run was still the best.

The man on the other end of the line was his agent and publicist Quatre Winner, and he was none to happy with him at the moment. Duo had been working on his fourth book, and it had been due in May, but for whatever reason he couldn't seem to finish it. Everything he wrote sounded cliché and over done. He had writers block pure and simple but he just couldn't seem to admit it to himself. His publicist knew though, "Duo…what can I do? What do you need?" those eyes flashed in the darkness, lit by the lightning striking outside the high buildings despite the storm the air was still ridiculously hot for this time of year, and that did not bode well for a sweltering summer spent in the city…in his small condo…"Vacation…" he whispered more to himself then the other on the phone.

"Duo that's brilliant!" the man in the hot condo looked surprised, as the idea took hold in his own mind it seemed like a better idea. "I know this great place, Trowa and I went there last year it was beautiful island community." Duo looked at the receiver in his hand, "Its off the Eastern coast, called something like Summer's Launch, or Landing or something like that. Big tourist hot spot in the hot months, with public beaches but I could get the real estate agent on the phone who helped us." Duo smiled slowly, "I think that would be a good idea Quatre, I want a place from June till Labour Day." He said, "I want something secluded, and quite so I can work." The blonde bubbled away talking about how much Duo would enjoy the small town, the quaint people, and a chance to get out of the city.

With promises to call the realtor first thing in the morning, and get back to Duo, they said their goodnights. He hung up the phone moving back to his Macbook and closing the silver cover. He knew he would work no more tonight. Long, lean muscular legs strode back to the balcony just as the rain came. "A vacation…" he muttered closing the door with a snap and moving to his bedroom. He better get some sleep he had packing to do hopefully in the morning.

-#-#-#-

It was the insistent ringing of the phone that woke him, a large tanned hand shot out the figure in the bed groaned as he felt his fingers close around the phone. "Hello?" he asked his voice thick with sleep. "Yuy you not up yet?" came the growled voice of one Change Wufei, "I'm up Wufei what the hell you want at…" he glanced at the clock on his bedside table. "At 6 in the damn morning." There was a chuckling, "Someone is renting the Salts Hill," Heero sat up suddenly wide awake, "Your fucking with me aren't you Wufei?" there was another deep chuckle from the local realtor on Summers Folly. "Not at all, some big shot writer from New York, wanted to rent somewhere from June through to Labour Day, he wanted it secluded and quite so he could write." Heero whistled through his teeth, "Anyone I know?" there was a rustle of paper then, "Maxwell, Duo Maxwell…" Heero's eyebrows raised in disbelief no way, Heero definitely knew that name he loved those books, Maxwell was currently number one on his read list he was dying to read a new one but he had not yet heard of an upcoming one. He knew the movie based on his first book was due out this summer.

"Salts Hill hasn't been rented out in a decade…and the history…" Wufei made a clucking noise. "It's a story Heero, the place is just old and rundown which is why I am calling you." The man still in bed sighed, at last they got to the crux of it. "Oh yeah?"

"Yes, you have a week to get the place in shape, before the tenet arrives,"

" How much?"

"Your contracted out for the entire duration of his stay for 100,000." There was a choking sound as Heero swallowed his own spit in surprise. "Your kidding me? Who in their right mind…" Wufei cut him off again, "His agent, he's very worried about his golden goose, he needs to finish his book and he wants to make sure that this Maxwell is bothered by nothing. I assured him that we have a very capable handyman on the island and wanted to make sure you would be on call for the duration of his stay." Heero rubbed a worn and callused hand across his face, "So I have a week to get the place in shape, then for the rest of the summer if he needs anything he calls me." There was an affirmative sound at the other end, "Yes and you'll look after the lawns."

There was a dry chuckle, "Yes of course," he said and Wufei sounded more irritable then usual today. "Anyway Heero, this is good business for the island, and for you so just lets get through this summer." Running his hand through his hair he gave Wufei a non-committal grunt, and said he had better get going if he was to get that place in order.

-#-#-#-

"You have everything?" Quatre was looking worried again as he helped Duo load the last of his bags into his truck. "Yes Q, stop worrying so much I got this and all will be well." The smaller man was dressed smartly in a blue power suit that Duo had no doubt cost him more then his truck. "Mr. Wufei is the realtor, and he said the handyman…a Heero Yuy had got the place going," he pulled out a piece of paper with numbers on it. "The place is called Salts Hill, and if you have any issues your to call the handyman. Wufei will be there to meet you, get your key and make sure you don't need anything." Duo tucked the sheet away, and gave Quatre a quick hug before sliding behind the drivers seat, "Call me when you get there ok?" Duo nodded excited to be away, "Have a good vacation Duo," and with that he was off.

The drive was long taking up the better part of the day, and when he reached the ferry it was late afternoon. Parking he got out of the truck, making his way to the railing to watch the island approach, it was an hour ride. Soon he would be there, "For better or worse…" he muttered a slow smile spreading across his face.

Across the blue water in the shady drive way of a large house, sat Heero Yuy handyman, lawn mower, landscaper, to name a few. He was settled comfortable as he could being in the presence of Salts Hill, his cap turned back he sat on the tailgate of his truck reading a paperback and waiting. Mr. Maxwell was due to arrive this afternoon, his agent had called Wufei to meet him, and Wufei being busy had sent him to meet him. Sighing he looked back at the house feeling a rash of goose bumps break out across his arms. It had been a bizarre and sort of creepy week in Heero's life, he was a horror nut he would be the first to admit it. Books, movies, and games he had a great many and he didn't scare easy. This house though…he hadn't taken chances and still….

He had started work on the house everyday at 9 in broad daylight, and knocked off at 5 before it got even remotely dark. He looked at the gauze wrapped across his forearm, now slightly yellowed with age, and stained green from his yard work. Under the white filmy strip was a neat little row of stitch's, about 20 or more. The new pane of glass he'd been installing in one of the busted windows and magically slipped from the window he was working on and had cut his forearm. It had bled like no tomorrow he'd had to go down to the clinic to get it stitched up.

The whole thing had left him rather, weirded out especially since he knew he had installed the window correctly. He looked back to his book, when suddenly he heard the crunch of gravel down the drive and a truck was bumping along the long path. Heero stood setting the book aside he flipped his hat around letting it sit far back on his head. He lifted his hand slightly in welcome, as the truck came to a stop in front of him.

He wasn't sure what he'd pictured the elusive author as…an old man, a geeky nerd, what stepped out of the truck threw him for a loop. "Hello!" came the surprisingly deep voice, it was sort of husky and quiet. A long denim clad leg, stepped out of the tuck, a beaten black Chuck Taylor on his foot. It was followed by a long, lean frame that Heero was sure was all sinewy muscle. The plain black t-shirt, the Ray-band aviators, and the long deep chocolate braid that swung about his hips. It was the longest hair he had ever seen, and the young man with the wide smile was not someone he would picture as a bestseller horror novelist. "Mr. Wufei?" came the husky rich voice again, shaking his head to clear it Heero, spoke up, "Ummm, no I'm Heero Yuy, sort of the caretaker," Duo flashed him a winning grin settling the aviators on top of his head. "Nice to meet you Mr. Yuy," he said stepping forward to shake his hand, Heero gripped the long slender fingers in his own. "Please call me Heero," there was still a winning smile, "And I am Duo." Heero had noticed his eyes, they where a deep blue…purple if he wasn't off his guess.

"Welcome to Salts Hill," Heero said softly, feeling his own lips curling in a smile. Fumbling in his pockets he pulled out a key, with a Summers Folly fob on it. "This is your key, can I help with your bags?" Duo nodded moving to the back of his truck, they each grabbed some of the bags. "So Quatre tells me you're the resident handyman on the island?" Duo asked making small talk,

"Quatre?"

"My agent,"

"Ohhh, yes I guess I am." They moved to the door, "Lived here all your life?" the author asked, Heero nodded, "Yup," Duo waited for him to continue, when he didn't, the other shrugged apparently Heero was not the talkative sort.

Sliding the key in the door he opened it pushing through the door into the entryway, Heero followed and they deposited his bags in the front hall. "Kitchen," Heero gestured off to his left, "The dinning room, living room, and family room are all on this floor. There's a porch out back as well that looks onto the ocean." Duo's eyes looked around listening as Heero explained, he liked listening to the voice it was deep, and smooth, and calming.

"Upstairs there are three bedrooms and a study," He gestured up the large staircase, "I'm done most of the work in the house, I have to finish the roof though I hope you don't mind I didn't get it done it is taking longer then expected it was pretty rotted. More so then I thought." Duo blinked, "Yes that's fine, not a problem," the other man blushed a little, "I know you want peace and quiet to write I am really sorry I couldn't get it done," Duo waved away the apology, "It's no problem at all I don't want a house with a leaky roof." He smiled a genuine smile at Heero, there was a sudden slightly awkward silence before Heero's cell phone started to ring. "Excuse me," he mumbled moving back down the hall and out to the front porch answering his phone as he did.

Duo watched him go, Heero was a pleasant surprise, Duo had imagined an older gentleman, someone uneducated and…rural, hell he'd been expecting a redneck if he was being honest. Heero defiantly wasn't, yes he was wearing dirty jeans, and work boots, his white t-shirt had also seen better days. His faded green John Deer cap sat back on his shaggy brown hair. He was very tanned, probably from working outside and the t-shirt didn't hide his very wide shoulders, and strong forearms. Duo was very curious to see what he looked like without the t-shirt. He smiled ruefully to himself that would teach him he shouldn't make assumptions.

He turned back to the house, it was oddly dark inside, although the walls where white, and the furniture airy. "Odd…" he muttered looking around, there was a cool breeze that seemed to almost move through him. Shivering he whipped around, he felt as if someone was watching.

"Sorry about that," Heero walked back inside, "I have to get going though Mrs. Rescheck has a clogged drain again," he smiled shyly, "I will be back tomorrow though for the roof," he added softly. Duo blinked at him blankly for a moment, before he came back to where he was. "Ahh yes! Yes thanks so much for your help, and for looking after the house for me." Heero nodded looking pensive for a moment, deep blue eyes looked around the entryway briefly he looked about to say something, opening his mouth before shutting it again. "If you need anything," he said finally pulling a white card out of his pocket, "My home number is here and my cell…call me." He smiled once more and with a little wave headed out the door and to his truck.

Duo watched him until he was gone down the lane, wondering what Heero had wanted to say to him, he looked at the small card and shrugged he had no idea what it was and he guessed it really didn't matter. Later he would regret not pushing Heero to tell him.

TBC…