By Spirit Wolf
Chapter 1
He sighed as he slowly traversed the hallways of his mansion on Earth. It was so quiet and peaceful, he would miss it - even if he was only gone for 2 weeks.
But Rashid and the others had helped him out so many times in the past, he just had to help them now. Their new hall was going to be great when it was finished - he could already tell. But the Maguanacs were so indecisive. They wanted him to help them make many of the decisions… the hall was partly being made in his honour, after all.
The blonde haired boy smiled to himself as he paused in front of a large roof-to-floor window. Bathed in the sunlight was his prized collection of flowers, each more beautiful than the last. He had some species that only grew in the colonies. They required constant maintenance, and he wasn't sure if they would be okay, being left alone for 2 weeks.
He pulled out the stool of his piano, sat down, and began to play. Someone would have to look after his plants, and the rest of his house for that matter. But who?
He smiled. It was so obvious. He finished the song on a high note and then reached for the phone.
Duo pressed the doorbell, which started playing a catchy tune that he just couldn't help jigging along to. The door opened, revealing Quatre, who had a big smile on his face.
"Duo! Glad you made it! Come inside." He led Duo to the living room where the other three Gundam pilots were seated in various chairs.
Duo stopped and pointed. "What are they doing here?"
"Take a seat," Quatre gestured to an empty chair. Duo did so, and Quatre raced out of the room, reappearing with a tray. He started to hand out cups of tea, while everyone else sweat-dropped. Finally, he took a seat himself.
"I've called you all here today because I have a favour to ask of you," Quatre began, sipping his cup.
Wufei cautiously sipped at his tea, stared hard at it, shrugged, and sipped it again. Everyone else just stared at Quatre.
"Rashid and the other Maguanacs need my help with something," Quatre continued. "And… I'll be away for 2 weeks."
Heero and Trowa started to sip their tea.
"I need some trust-worthy friends to stay here and look after my house - and my plants - while I'm gone…"
Duo started to sip his own tea.
"…And I've chosen you guys."
Duo spat his tea out into the air, and Trowa winced slightly as it landed all over his face. "WHAT? You're going to trust us with your mansion?"
Quatre nodded. "Yeah."
Duo was in complete shock. "You're joking. I mean, come on, Wu-wu?" He pointed in Wufei's direction.
Wufei shot him an angry glare.
"Yeah," Quatre repeated. "I really trust you guys." He smiled warmly.
Abdul of the Maguanacs raced into the room. "Master Quatre! We're running late!"
Quatre checked his watch and gasped. "Oh no!" He leaped to his feet and raced from the room, reappearing with a bunch of suitcases. "Water the flowers once each day!!! The spare bedrooms are upstairs, choose whichever ones you want!!! I'll be back in 2 weeks!!! Eat whatever you like, but don't make too much of a mess!!! If you need me, my cell phone's number is on the speed dial!!! I'll call every now and then to check up on you guys!!! Try to dust the house at least three times a week!!! Stay out of my room!!!" And with that, he and Abdul disappeared out the door.
There was a stunned silence.
"It's ours! It's ours!" Duo cried, jumping up and down. "It's all ours! Yay! He actually let us take care of his mansion! Us! His mansion!" He stopped jumping up and down, then took off up the stairs.
"Mission accepted," Heero said, nodding. He calmly stood up and also went up the stairs.
Trowa and Wufei stood up and looked at each other.
"We'd better choose a room before Maxwell gets the best one," Wufei sighed. He and Trowa headed up the stairs.
There were more than enough bedrooms, and Duo had already chosen two. Yes, two.
"Mine! Mine! Mine!" he cried, racing from one room to the other, and then back again.
Heero, Wufei, and Trowa selected a room each. Trowa shut his door to drown out Duo's, "Mine! Mine!" He smiled (gasp!), realizing it was the same room he had stayed in when he first met Quatre, back in the war.
Soon the house grew emptier, as the four pilots each left to get their things. Heero was the first to make it back, and he headed to his room to dump all his stuff (which mostly consisted of spandex). He stopped when he came across Quatre's flowers, and stepped closer to look at them. He couldn't help but stare at them; they made him feel… happy, somehow.
"BWWWAAAAA!!!" Duo cried, leaping around the corner and making Heero jump.
Heero sweat-dropped. "Go away."
"Were you looking at the flowers? Aaaaawwwww…"
Heero gave him a death glare.
Duo walked over to the flowers, with a big grin on his face. "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwww… Heero likes the flowers. Wait till I tell Trowa and Wu-wu!" He reached out to touch a bright red flower.
To his amazement, the flower suddenly bent forwards and closed its petals on Duo's finger. There was a nasty crunching sound.
"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!" Duo yelped, pulling his finger away.
"What is it?"
"It bit me!!!!!"
"It what?"
"THE FLOWER BIT ME!!!!" he cried, nursing his finger - which was now turning red. He raced off. "Where's the bandaids? WHERE'S THE BANDAIDS?!?!?!?!"
He raced into the living room and started going through the cupboards. But no. No bandaids. He did find something else, though.
"What's this?" Duo muttered, pulling out what looked like a piece of plastic. He looked closer. "Ooohhh… A credit card!" He grinned mischievously. "Heh heh heh…"
Weeeeeeell, that's the first chapter. Next one's coming soon! If you're wondering why it's called "Caring For Quatre" instead of "Caring For Quatre's Mansion", you'll find out very soon! ^_^ Please review!