Disclaimer: We DO NOT own Gundam Wing, nor do we profit from.
Summary: Duo takes Quatre out camping to see a opossum, but everything goes wrong. Then the opossum comes... 2x4, sequel to Christmas Secrets
Authors: Cltcmistress and Foxy Mcgee, more on the profile page.
Quatre continued to stare at the roof of the tent. It was getting brighter outside and he could hear the birds chirping happily to greet the dawn. Figured. They had something to be happy about. "Pffffffff....." He took a deep breath and blew a lock of hair out of his eyes. Stupid birds. They probably got some last night.
At first he hadn't been so sure about this camping trip Duo had convinced him to go on. But things turned up. If you ignored the whole slicing his fingers, choking on pop, getting a papercut and the terrible mosquito bites that seemed to be all over his body.
Yeah, things had started to get better. The s'mores were great. Then the two of them moved away from the fire and into another clearing so they could look up and watch the stars. Turned out 'watching the stars' to Duo meant 'make out with the back of Quatre's ear and get him all worked up, hike back to camp and then pass out.' So, there he was, lying on his back and staring up at the roof of the tent like he'd been most of the night. Duo lay on his stomach snoring softly behind him. Figured. He didn't have anything to keep him up all night. With another sigh, he stood up and decided he might as well go start morning coffee. That is if he could get the fire started again.
Duo rolled over, scratching his arm and glanced around for the blonde. He could hear mumbling from outside the tent and peaked out, watching the blonde struggling with fire. He rubbed a hand over his eye, giggling a bit. "Mornin'."
"Hmm. Morning." Quatre scowled at the tiny bit of flame he got going. "Stupid fire..."
Duo rolled half out of the tent, resting his chin on his arms. "You look tired. You should nap."
"I'm making coffee. I will be fine." He turned and flashed the braided, sleepy-eyed pilot a quick smile before grumbling at the wisp of flame that simply refused to grow to a fire. "That is if this stupid fire will work." Finally, the flame took to the kindling and he was able to get enough fire going to put the coffee pot on the cooking grate.
"Hm. Want to go swimming again? It's suppose to be hot today." He smiled as he watched Quatre struggle with the coffee.
"Sure. A cool swim sounds fun." He gave the fire one last glare before turning to look at Duo. "Sleep well?"
Duo smiled. "Pretty good. I just died."
"Good." Quatre gave him another small smile then focused his attention on the coffee pot. "What do you want for breakfast?"
Duo looked momentarily nauseated. "As long as it's not cookies, chips, or honey buns. I may get a granola bar or something."
The blonde couldn't help the snicker that escaped his lips. At least he wasn't the only one with a rough morning. "Too much junk food, yesterday, hmm?" He lifted the pot from the flame and poured them each a cup, offering one to Duo.
"Yeah." Duo leaned up on his elbows to take the cup. "I'd kill for a salad. How'd you sleep last night?"
"Fine." He knew better than to lie to Duo, but he couldn't just tell him that he had been up all night. It had taken hours to calm down and then he was in no mood to go to sleep. Quatre spaced out as he thought back to the night before and how delicious Duo's breath hot on the back of his neck had felt when he realized just what that memory was doing to him. He shook his head and downed the coffee in one gulp then reached for the pot to refill his cup.
Duo sipped his coffee staring off into the trees, oblivious to what the blonde was thinking. "We need to opossum hunt today."
"Hm, what? Oh." He snickered. "Yeah, I guess we do need to find that thing you keep telling me about. But first, I want that swim."
Duo smirked. "Want boxers this time? Or do you want to skinny dip again?"
"Skinny dip." His blue eyes glittered at the prospect of potentially turning his bad day around. "You said this trip was all about nature, so we're going au natural." Laughing he reached for the coffee pot for another refill and cursed when the handle slipped from his fingers. Hot coffee went everywhere, covering the front of his pants and putting out the small bit of flame he'd been able to conjure up. "Damn." He put his cup down and stood to wipe off. "Yeah. Skinny dipping sounds fun. I've already ruined enough clothes this morning." Giving the offending coffee pot a glare he kicked it with his toe and shook his head.
Duo couldn't help but laugh and sat his own coffee down. "Alright, lets go get au natural before you break something." He grinned at the blonde. "We'll eat some granola bars on the way."
Quatre enjoyed the cool water on his skin as he floated along on his back. Duo had warned him that the old rope swing they found nearby didn't look so safe, but he hadn't listened. It seemed like a good idea at the time. His stomach still hurt at the thought of how hard he had crashed to the water in a belly flop when the rop snapped. How he missed Duo who had gone in just before, he had no idea. What he did know was that this belly hurt. But no where near as bad as where his shin connected to the rock that was waiting under the surface just to cause him more pain. He sighed and closed his eyes, pushing the pain to the back of his mind and letting the cool water help him relax. "This is much better..."
Duo moved in quietly behind the blonde and leaned over him. "I could make it better-er." He smiled down at the blonde.
One eye opened cautiously as Quatre looked up at those violet eyes. "Oh really?"
"Mhm." He traced the blonde's jawline with a finger. "I don't want to interrupt your swimming though."
"Hmm." He took hold of Duo's wrist and pulled his hand over so he could gently suck one of his fingers into his mouth. "I don't mind," he muttered as he moved on to the next fingertip.
Duo made a small choking sound before turning red. "You're evil."
"That's one word to describe me." He smirked and raised an eyebrow, continuing to the next fingertip. "Now what was it you were saying about making things better?"
"God, Quat." He bit his lip. "You don't have to look so seductive while you do that."
"I'm not even trying yet." Keeping his hand on Duo's he flipped over so he could stand and face him. With a wicked grin Quatre held the braided pilot's hand in both of his, pressing his lips into the palm and trace his tongue over the lines on Duo's hand. "And you still haven't told me what you were going to do to make things better."
Duo groaned and closed his eyes, watching Quatre's tongue was doing horrible things to him... " You're doing a good job of figuring it out."
He chuckled and released Duo's hand finally. "I take it you're done with swimming and would rather head back to camp then?"
"You've guessed correctly." He pulled Quatre closer to him and gave him a quick kiss before pulling away and heading to shore.
Quatre grinned and waded after Duo. Sounds of rustling in the bushes made him look up. "Aww, no!" He rushed toward shore and waved his arms as the two raccoons scampered away dragging his pants and underwear with them. All that was left was his t-shirt, and it was covered in mud and had holes ripped through it. In his rush to get back to land he slipped on the slick rocks beneath the surface,stubbing his little toe, and fell face first into the water. His hands flailed out as his already injured shin bashed into another rock and something sharp caught his fingers on his left hand. Sputtering, he pushed himself up and glared at his hand. "AH! GET IT OFF!" He shrieked as he shook his hand where a crawfish had clamped on to the end of his finger. Finally, the critter flew off and the blonde rushed to land, spewing curses about water scorpions and how much he was starting to hate 'nature.'
Duo watched the scene unfolding before him with a look of disbelief and amusement. As Quatre passed by him chasing the raccoons Duo lost it. He doubled over in laughter feeling tears in his eyes.
It took him a few minutes to regain his composure, but Duo slipped on his boxers and tee-shirt before slinging his shorts to the blonde. "You need 'em more." He took one look at Quatre and fell over laughing again. He'd seen a lot of funny things in his life, but seeing the blonde CEO of WEI running out of a river while nude and screaming about water scorpions would be forever at the top of the list.
"Thanks." Quatre snagged the shorts out of the air and slipped them on quickly, still grumbling about the 'damned racoons' and 'stupid nature.' Embarrassed and frustrated he stomped off in the direction of camp, dragging what was left of his t-shirt with him. Thankfully the raccoons had dropped his shorts, but his underwear was currently still in their possession at the top of a tree. He gave the bandits a seething glare before tossing his clothes in a plastic bag and tying it off. Ducking back into the tent he emerged with a honeybun and flopped on a log, glaring at nothing as he nibbled at the snack.
Duo came up behind the blonde and hugged his shoulders gently. "I'm sorry I laughed at you." He rested his head on Quatre's shoulder. "You were just so cute running butt naked through the forest yelling at the local wildlife."
He glowered at no particular spot on the ground and took another bite of his honeybun. "Hrmph."
Duo bit his lip to keep from laughing. "Come back to the tent with me, I'll make it better." He kissed the blonde's jawline.
"Promise this time?" He raised an eyebrow and squirmed to turn and face the braided pilot, remember just how last night ended after Duo kissed his jaw like that.
Duo scrunched his face up and sat down next to the blonde. "Sorta, maybe...?"
Quatre smirked and took another bite of his honeybun. Figured. Nothing had happened so far, and every time he got close, something happened to stop that direction of action. He returned to staring at the mess they'd left from his coffee incident this morning. "I probably should clean this mess up before we attract any more animals to ruin things."
Duo rested his heand in his hands. "Quat... it's not like that."
"No, don't worry about it. It's just like you said yesterday swimming. You do things to me and sometimes it can be hard to handle." He grinned and finished off the snack, brushing crumbs off his lap.
"Just come snuggle with me... whatever happens, happens. Okay?" Duo turned towards him and held a hand out. "Please?"
Quatre raised an eyebrow and looked at him. "If I say no will you try harder to get me in that tent?" He smirked and glanced at the open tent flap and back to Duo.
"Maybe." He grinned and scooted closer. "You know you want to."
"Yes, I do. But if we go cuddle in there, I'm not sure I can guarantee I'll stay on my best behavior." Quatre stood and looked around. "How about a walk instead? There are some beautiful flowers and such around that I want to look at, and the day has finally cooled down. It might be nice to go for a stroll and unwind from my short stint as a nudist this morning." He smirked at Duo and offered his own hand to help him up. "Sound ok to you?"
Duo smiled and took the blonde's hand. "Sure." He bit his lip as the image of Quatre ran through his head again. "You know, it was pretty funny from where I was."
"Your clothes weren't the ones being run off with by the local wildlife." He chuckled himself though at the thought of what he must have looked like. Quietly they strolled through the woods stopping here and there at different animals and plants. "Hey, look here!" He turned to look a small patch of daffodils growing wild among a number of other flowers. "Aren't they beautiful? It's just like the one from my pillow." He smiled and bent to smell one of them.
Duo raised an eyebrow. "The one from your pillow?"
Carefully he picked one of the flowers. "Yeah. You know. Back around Christmas." He stood and looked at Duo, holding the flower in his hands. "Anyways, isn't it just lovely?"
Duo gave him a strange look. "I didn't know you kept flowers on your pillow, but I do like it."
Quatre opened his mouth to say more, but stopped. Duo would have remembered if he had done that, wouldn't he? He frowned, then shrugged it off to think about later. "Hmm. Let's head back to camp. It's starting to get darker and we should get the fire started for dinner soon."
"What do you want for dinner?" Duo skipped a head picking flowers as he went. "I'll make the fire this time."
"Please do. I was thinking those hotdogs you had packed. Sound good to you?" He smiled as he watched Duo flit ahead.
"Sounds great." Duo turned around and smiled at him. "If you like, I could serenade you again..."
"I wouldn't be opposed to that." He smiled and started digging for the hotdogs and buns. "What song were you thinking of this time? I hope it's not some verbal rendition of Dueling Banjos."
Duo busted up laughing again. "Oh man, Quat... with the luck you're having..." He began to sing as he started the fire with better success than the blonde had, occasionally chuckling between verses.
Quatre relaxed and listened to Duo's singing as he set out the fixings for dinner as well as some chips and pop. When Duo had the fire stoked up he handed him a spear with two hotdogs on the end and took a seat beside him with his own spear. Slowly turning them over the flames he smiled. "This really was a good idea. I'm glad you talked me into coming. Despite all that's happened." He chuckled and swatted at his neck. "Except these stupid mosquitoes. I'm still not ok with them." He frowned at the darkening sky and returned his attention to the hotdogs, pulling them away from the flame just before one of them caught fire. "Hrm. Figures. I knew things were too good."
Duo followed the blonde's vision to the sky and shrugged. "Don't worry about it Quat. That's what the tent is for." He winked and pulled his hotdogs out of the fire. "Did I ever tell you how hot you are in my shorts?"
That elicited a laugh from Quatre. "No, you haven't told me that. But I'll keep that in mind for the future." He grinned and deposited his one and a half hotdogs on his plate, passing another plate and the buns to Duo.
Duo took the offered items and made up his hotdogs, sneaking a glance to Quatre before holding one up to the blonde's lips. "Try it."
Quatre choked on a guffaw at the proffered hotdog. When he recovered he gave Duo a sly grin and wrapped his lips around the food. He kept his eyes locked on the other's violet eyes and took a bite, pulling away slowly with a smile. "Mmm. Perfect."
Duo's eyes widened and his mouth dropped open as Quatre started to eat. "Damn, Quat... wow. I'll never see a hotdog the same way ever..."
"You asked for it." He gave him a proud smile and took a bite of his own hotdog.
Duo scooted away and readjusted himself. "No I said, 'Try it' not 'Please arouse me by having oral sex with my phallic food item.'"
Quatre shrugged and finished off his first hotdog and started into the second. "With you I never know what you really mean." He smirked and gave Duo a look over. "But if it's working..."
Duo found himself blushing as he finished his hotdog. "Well I've learned some new things about you. You're not innocent, in fact you're a deviant, you're a nudist, and kinky." He grinned at the blonde. "I didn't think you the type at all..."
"Did you forget?" He fiddled with the necklace he had been given. He rarely took it off and was very fond of it. "I told you I just let you all think I'm cute and innocent. It usually works to my advantage. But I can do what is needed to get what I want when I want."
"It's scary how well hidden your devious side is... it's always the innocent looking ones, though." Duo smirked. "You always yell at me for being vulgar in front of Relena, I didn't think you were so..." He thought back to Quatre's little moment in the karaoke bar. "I just never though I'd hear some of the stuff that comes out of your mouth."
He grinned and finished off the last of dinner. "I yell because you choose to be vulgar in front of Relena at some of the worse times. A diplomatic conference is not the time for the latest fart joke you've heard. And as for my language, it's gotten worse the more time I spend with you. You corrupt me."
"It wasn't a fart joke, it was a sex joke. And she laughed, didn't she? And if I remember correctly she DID say that she was bored and I should entertain her." Duo crossed his arms. "Well since you are so corrupt now, you won't mind if I tell more jokes at your business conferences, right?"
"Not at all!" He laughed and pushed the pilot's shoulder. "You still have to behave when you come to those. But you can tell the jokes after when I'm done with meetings. I need a good laugh after a day of dealing with some of those people." He rolled his eyes, just thinking of the pile of work that waited him when their trip was over.
"Or maybe your meetings need comic relief." Duo stood up and stretched. "It's starting to get dark, let's get in the tent before the local banjo players find us."
"Sounds good." Quatre stood and doused the fire before packing up the food so no critters could find their way in. Following Duo into the tent he yawned. "This trip really was a good idea. Even if we never saw that elusive opossum creature you told me about." He chuckled as he got ready for bed and slipped under the blanket.
Duo scooted as close to Quatre as he could, wrapping himself around the blonde before he froze and gave him a horrified look. "Please tell me that's your leg and that you are hairy like a beast..."
"No...." He shifted his legs to figure out just what it was Duo was talking about when he felt something move down by his feet. "What is that?"
A sudden hiss could be heard from the covers just as Duo threw them back to reveal a large, grey rat creature with beady eyes and sharp teeth. As soon as he saw it, the braided pilot screeched and flailed backwards half rolling out of the tent flap.
Quatre had just enough mind to grab a blanket as he scrambled out of the tent after Duo. As soon as he was outside he zipped the flap closed and scuttled away from the tent. "What in the name of Allah was that thing!?" He tossed the blanket to Duo and stared at the tent, afraid of the creature clawing it's way out for revenge of some sort.
Duo stared at the tent with wide eyes before he started to laugh. "You just locked it in the tent with my gun. I hope you have yours or we're leaving the tent here... and that my friend, is a opossum." He doubled over laughing.
"That overgrown rat is what you're afraid of?" He stared at the tent as an idea struck him. "Hold on, give me another hotdog."
Duo stared at him. "Hey, might I remind you that you zipped the little bastard in, so you're just as scared!" He handed Quatre a hotdog. "If you're going to tempt it, you're on your own."
"There's a dog flap in the back. Glad to know Mr. Big Brave Gundam Pilot can face danger in any form. Even the big, hairy, wild ones." He snickered as he went around to the back of the tent and carefully undid the small flap. Breaking up the hotdog he put the pieces just outside, leading back into the bushes. "There. Now we just make it want to leave."
Duo rolled his eyes, then smirked. "Mr. Big Brave Gundam Pilot who ran naked from the river screaming about 'water scorpions?' That Mr. Big Brave Gundam Pilot?"
"I meant you, jerk." Quatre shot Duo a look as he cautiously opened the front flap. He suppressed a shudder and started shaking out the blankets and praying that the thing took the bait rather than biting his arm.
Duo peeked in from behind the tent flap. "I won't talk of your water hobbies if you don't mention this little opossum thing."
"Deal. Do you see it? Go check the back and see if it's gone." He continued to shake out the blankets as he looked for any sign of the evil opossum creature.
"Fuckkkk that." Duo shook his head. "I'm not getting back there alone and unarmed. No way."
Backing out of the tent Quatre gave him an exasperated sigh. "Oh for goodness sake!" He walked around and looked were he left the hotdogs and smiled. "I think it's gone. Why don't you go back inside? We'll just pack up and head home. I'll save you from the scary opossum and we'll go get real food at some diner and stay at a hotel in a real bed."
"Those things play dead, it could be any where." Duo leaned in and grabbed his gun before he enter the tent. "Did you see it's freaky little eyes? It'll try to kill us if we stay."
"I'll take that to mean you would like to leave then." Quatre chuckled and began packing up things outside the tent. "You have your gun again. Though why you brought it camping I didn't understand until just now. Get the tent taken care of and we'll head out."
"Because I had my face posted all over the Earth Sphere on wanted posters. I still get recognized some times." Duo started folding the blankets before he made short work of the tent. "Just can't be too careful, especially when there are Gundam-Pilot-Eating-Opossums in the woods."
Quatre rolled his eyes and laughed. "I just hope you know where you put that map. I do not want to haul all this stuff through the woods in the dark with no idea where we're going." He finished cramming the rest of the left over food into the bags and cooler and gave the site a look over for anything left. At least they'd eaten most of the food the past two days so things would be lighter to carry back. He turned and looked at Duo who had stopped taking down the tent and stood with his back to him. "Duo? You do still have the map right?"
"About that..."
The end!! Thanks for reading, please review! There is another story coming in this series that will feature a longer plot line and all the pilots will cameo. Also it ties up loose ends from FoD.
