Author: Aja Golde

For disclaimer and warnings, see chapters one and two.

Notes: This is a 3x4-centric chapter. In my story "Disney Disaster: Interludes" I have posted chapter two and it focuses on what Duo and Heero were doing at the party in Magic Kingdom. As Disney Disaster! is from Quatre's POV I feel more comfortable posting 1x2-centric chapters as separate from this story. If you are interested, pop on over to the other story and give Duo and Heero some love!

More notes: If cars, planes and trains can crash, then so can monorails. For the first time in their 38 year history, there was a fatality involved in a monorail mishap. Two monorails crashed in Disney World, killing one person, the 21 year old conductor of one of the monorails. Reedy Creek was on the scene but the exact cause of the crash has not yet been released.

Chapter 10

Day 3 1:00 PM

Quatre and Trowa browsed the shops on Discovery Island; the smells of freshly made lunch and the sounds of chattering customers surrounded them. Quatre didn't want to buy anything, but it was interesting to see Trowa talk with the clerks. He was apparently familiar with quite a few people.

"People seem to like you," Quatre said. They hadn't said much of anything so far, and Quatre wasn't sure how to strike up a conversation.

Trowa shrugged.

"Hilde said your parents used to work here."

Trowa nodded, "Yeah. They loved Disney."

"I'm sorry they passed," Quatre said, and then mentally hit himself, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything. I killed the mood, didn't I?"

"Yeah," a smile wavered on Trowa's lips, "you seem to do that quite a bit."

Quatre nibbled his lip and couldn't ignore the pain in his chest, "What do you mean?"

Trowa sighed but said nothing else.

Feeling a strong urge to lighten the mood, Quatre dragged Trowa to a shop selling ice cream.

"Come on, I'll get you some," Quatre said, hand firmly clenched around Trowa's wrist.

"I have money," Trowa protested.

"It's the least I can do. I mean, with all the wonderful things you've done for me since I've arrived, and of course offering to spend the day with me-"

Trowa held up a hand to stop his chatter, looking slightly distressed, "You don't have to repay me. I didn't do those things hoping to get something in return."

"Would you like something in return?" Quatre asked, and then looked over the line, "Maybe ice cream is not the best thing. It's a rather hot day and everybody-"

"I think you worry too much. All you owe me is the pleasure of your company."

"Oh," Quatre said, and ducked his head into his chest.

"C'mon," Trowa led him away from the line, "let's find a shady place to rest. I think we've got a few things to talk about."

Quatre let Trowa pull him along, past the shops and onto Discovery Island Trails, a path that led around the Tree of Life and held many spots to view animals such as Galapagos turtles and lemurs. Trowa grabbed Quatre by the elbow and lead him into a secluded nook, safe from prying eyes on the trail.

Quatre picked at his shirt, "You're right, we do have to talk. I was hoping to ask you a few questions."

Trowa held his breath, and might have looked a little green, but Quatre ignored it and concentrated on distracting Trowa.

"You know these accidents that have been happening to me? Well, I think that they may be more than just accidents."

Trowa blinked.

"Okay," he said thickly after a few minutes.

"I need more details about the blond man that's been watching me. He's the only lead I have right now-"

"Wait, wait, wait a minute," Trowa rubbed his forehead, "hold on, you think someone's out to kill you?"

"Someone was holding me down in the wave pool-"

"Just, slow down for a minute, okay? Give me time to digest this, you don't simply tell someone that you're a walking target."

Trowa breathed in deeply, held it, and then breathed out, "Okay, Duo and Heero told me what happened at the pool and how the life guards didn't seem to notice that you were in trouble. But does that really spell murder?"

"I told you, someone was holding me down!"

"Did you get a good look at the guy?"

"No, that's why I'm asking for you for more details. You told me there was someone watching me at the Affection Section."

"Yeah, there was. He hasn't come around anymore though."

"Details, Trowa, I said I needed details."

"All right, all right. He was young, but older than us; he might've been older than Sally. He was tall and muscular with blond hair a little longer than yours. He was gruff looking and wore black pants and a brown jacket."

Quatre sat back, "Okay, so that tells us one thing."

"What's that?"

"He has no fashion sense. Black jeans and a brown top? C'mon."

Trowa watched him carefully, "Are you pulling my leg? Is this all a joke?"

"No!" Quatre quickly laid his hands on Trowa's arm, "I'm sorry, I really am. It's just, that doesn't give me much to go on."

Trowa blew hot air out his lips, making his bangs drift slightly away from his face, "Watson, I think you're overreacting. So you and Duo get in an accident on a ride. Stuff like that has happened before; anyone could've been in your place. It doesn't mean someone is out to get you. A harmless snake is found in your backpack-"

"How much more do you know about that snake?" Quatre leaned forward, wishing he had a notepad to write all his clues down.

"It's a mole King snake, nonpoisonous; although sometimes King snakes are mistaken for venomous coral snakes."

Quatre frowned, "That sounds pretty sketchy."

"That a nonpoisonous snake found its way into an open backpack filled with food?"

"No, not that. The fact that it could be mistaken for a lethal snake."

Trowa sighed, "So you think someone might've slipped the snake into your backpack without Duo noticing?"

"He's a heavy sleeper."

"Why didn't anyone else notice?"

Quatre shrugged, "No one cared. Or the guy who did it was sneaky. Maybe he feigned to wake up Duo, getting near enough to slip the snake into my backpack, maybe-"

"Watson, that was a pretty big snake. You just don't carry those things around, unless, of course, you're a really good snake handler."

Quatre ran his hands through his hair, "Okay, so the snake theory I'm still working on, but I know someone was trying to drown me. I took a good knock to my side and to my head and I was grabbed by my arms. Someone wanted me to die."

"That's a pretty serious accusation."

"I just need more information. Can you at least keep your eyes peeled for the blond man you saw?"

"I can do that. It's just…I find this hard to believe. Someone tinkered with a ride so that out of all the dinos, the one holding you collapsed? Then someone managed to tail you, grab a snake, and slip it into your backpack? After that, the same person figured out you went to Blizzard Beach, found you in the wave pool and tried to drown you?"

"Okay, okay, I get your point. My theory is outlandish and what I really have is a case of some serious bad luck."

"Hey," Trowa said softly, gently stroking his hand, "give yourself a break. You've a right to be paranoid after these scary things have happened to you. I just wanted you to realize that your theory has many holes."

"Great, I'm spending an afternoon with Mr. Devil's Advocate."

"I didn't intend to sound mean or like I didn't care, I just think you're overreacting a little. But," Trowa smirked, "if you need someone to protect you, I'll volunteer. I wouldn't mind being someone's knight-in-shining-armor."

"You'll need a noble steed," Quatre said, feeling just a tad lightheaded.

"I have a car."

Quatre chuckled, "That'll do."

Trowa leaned closer and they stood not even centimeters away from each other. Trowa was still stroking his hand.

"I had a great time last night Watson," Trowa said huskily. Quatre shivered.

"Me too," he squeaked.

"The fireworks were my favorite." The stroking stopped. Trowa gently clasped his hand.

"They were magnificent," Quatre felt his face flush.

Trowa sucked in a breath, "When I said we needed to talk, I wasn't thinking of the accidents. I was thinking about last night. And when you said you had some questions for me," here Trowa paused, and Quatre could hear him chew the inside of his mouth.

"When you said you had some questions for me," Trowa repeated, "I thought they were of a different variety."

Quatre's heart began to flutter, and he knew instinctively where Trowa was heading. He dreaded getting there and yet he was so relieved. Quatre clasped Trowa's hand in return.

"You don't have to say it," Quatre whispered, "if you are."

Trowa let out a long sigh, before saying quietly, "This is kind of awkward. Here we are, hiding away, holding hands and I don't even know if you're-"

"Well, I haven't tried to kick your ass, right?"

"Like you could."

"I could get Duo to kick your ass."

"He'd end up kissing it."

"Not likely."

"Want to bet?"

Quatre chuckled and shook his head, "Not a big fan of bloodshed."

They both released raspy laughs at the same time before Trowa squeezed his hand.

"So I wasn't just imagining the signs you were giving me. I thought it might've been wishful thinking."

Quatre's breath hitched but his stomach had gone cold, "Trowa. I didn't mean to send you signals. I mean, you're very attractive, but I don't do summer flings. I just came here to have some time away from my family and enjoy myself before college starts."

Trowa went stiff beside him and his voice came out hard and cracked, "So you led me on."

"No!" Quatre gasped before he groaned, "Why is this so difficult? I mean, Trowa, we barely know each other! Being friends would be nice, but I'm not like Duo who is perfectly content to-to-to. I get attached very easily, and I want a real relationship and not just-"

"So that's why you wouldn't kiss me last night?" Trowa sounded affronted.

Quatre pulled at his hair, "Yes! No! Maybe! I didn't mean to offend you, but I really don't know you and-"

"So let's get to know each other," and suddenly Trowa had his hands pinned on either side of Quatre's body.

"Trowa," Quatre groaned, "listen to me!"

"I think I've done enough listening and you've certainly done enough talking," Trowa leaned in close so that Quatre could see the freckles on Trowa's nose. If he had had the guts, he could've poked out his tongue and tasted Trowa's lips.

"You said you wanted to enjoy yourself at Disney, right? Why can't that include a fling? You never know, these accidents might actually be an omen. Maybe a higher power is trying to tell you to start living your life before it's too late."

Quatre could hear the blood pumping through his veins. That's what he had thought this morning, right? When he had been drowning he was lamenting all that he had not yet experienced in life.

"I haven't had my first kiss," Quatre confided, his voice trembling.

"I can rectify that," Trowa answered, bringing a hand to caress Quatre's ear, slowly tracing the veins that went down his neck before brushing lightly over a nipple.

Quatre began to get dizzy and he heard himself say, "Okay. But my first kiss has to be perfect."

Trowa gave him an impish grin, "I happen to think I'm a pretty good kisser."

Quatre shook his head to clear the haze that had settled over his brain, "I mean, we have to make sure that we don't bump noses," Quatre took the liberty to adjust the tilt of Trowa's head; his fingers lingered on his smooth, warm jaw.

"And," Quatre said as he tried to pose his own head, "we have to make sure that we don't miss. I want this to be perfect, no kissing the corners of the lips or the cheeks. Just the lips."

Quatre grabbed one of Trowa's hands and placed it on his waist, "Yeah, keep that there. The other one you can do whatever you want with, just make sure it doesn't get in the way."

Trowa rolled his eyes, "Should I calculate the angle at which I'm supposed to press my lips to yours? Or perhaps I should go home and change my shirt so it complements the mood?"

Quatre huffed, "I just want to this to be perfect."

Trowa chuckled, "Trust me; if it's not perfect the first time, then we have the rest of the afternoon to get it just right."

And with that, Trowa pecked Quatre on the lips; his lips were a soft warmth that covered Quatre's own mouth for a few seconds. Trowa leaned back, their noses gently resting against each other, before Trowa leaned back in and kissed Quatre longer, harder. Quatre's entire body had pooled into his groin, and the rest of him felt tingly, yet tense with anticipation. He ran his hands over Trowa's arms, before throwing his arms over Trowa's back. Trowa was so warm, alive with lust and passion. Quatre felt himself burning up as Trowa kissed him a third time, a fourth. His tongue grazed the part in Quatre's lips, licking it as he kissed Quatre once more.

Quatre turned his head to the side, breathing heavily. Trowa's own gasps brushed against his face, loud in his ears. He felt Trowa's own heart beat next to his.

"Look at me," Trowa said breathlessly and Quatre obeyed.

"How was that?" Trowa asked with rosy lips, a drop of spit adorning the corner of his mouth.

"Perfect," Quatre whispered.

Day 3 2:00 PM

Trowa had held him after they kissed, crushing Quatre to his chest as he ran his hands through Quatre's hair. They had stood there for another ten minutes, before walking down the rest of the trail, elbows bumping. Quatre felt giddy, and his lips tingled, and he was pretty sure his blood was not making it all the way up to his head. He had not been ready for some tongue action, but if kissing was Trowa's idea of getting to know each other, then maybe tonight when Quatre's blood finally cooled they could continue. Right now, he needed a breather. He had never held hands with any one, or been on date, let alone received five very wonderful kisses in the space of a few minutes. He had never been touched before either; not like the way Trowa touched him. Quatre couldn't wait to tell Duo.

Now Quatre and Trowa were going to get something to eat at the Pizzafari. It was a bright, multicolored building with outdoor tables and umbrellas, and the chairs had butterfly wings on the back of them. They sat and ate their pizzas, shoving dripping cheese into their mouths as the afternoon ticked by.

"So, you said you're going to college," Trowa said, folding his pizza and taking a bite, "what do you want to study?"

"Music," Quatre answered, and then was hit with the realization that he didn't know anything about Trowa, not even his last name or his age.

"What about you?"Quatre asked.

Trowa sighed, "I don't know. I'm heading off to college this fall too, but have no clue what I want to major in. I'd love to be a vet, but that takes quite a bit of schooling and I don't know if I'm up for it."

"If it's your passion then you'll be more than up for it."

"The cost is so high though. I'll have to apply for scholarships and loans. My parents created a college fund for me before they died, so I've got a start. My sister, Catherine, says she'll help out, so I want to make sure that I don't waste her money. I want to pick a major that I'll enjoy, that'll make me money and that I won't completely fail at. I'm worried about letting Cathy down."

Quatre felt shrunk into himself a little. He never had to worry about education; his father would take care of anything.

"You should listen to yourself, Trowa. Just by the way you talk I can tell that you'll do fine. You sound very pragmatic."

Trowa's eyebrows shot up, and he gave Quatre a small smile, "Pragmatic? I've never heard a teenager use that word before."

Quatre rolled his eyes, "Just give me the rest of the week, you'll probably hear other 'fancy words' come out my mouth. Duo says I'm full of them."

They drank their sodas, and after thoroughly infused with sugar, Trowa sat back and sighed satisfactorily.

"So, why Disneyworld?" Trowa asked.

"It just seemed like the right place to visit. Duo has never been here before, and I have happy memories from when I vacationed here as a child. So, to celebrate our last days of childhood and to celebrate our hopes and dreams for the future, we came here."

Trowa laughed, "That sounds very…"

"Idealistic?"

"Thought out. I pick vacation spots based on how many zoos, nature parks or thrill rides are in the vicinity."

Quatre smiled, "Disney seems like the perfect combination of all three of those."

Trowa blinked, "Huh. Guess so. So what did your parents think when you told them you were going off to Disney?"

Quatre squirmed, "Um, surprised. My uncle didn't believe me at first."

"Your uncle, huh?"

"Yes, he helped me pay for the trip, actually. I have money from when I taught music lessons, but he agreed to help me out as long as I pay him back."

"What about your parents? Or are you raised by your uncle?"

"I have a dad, he thinks I'm with Duo. And I am, actually."

"Just not where he thinks you are, right?" Trowa leaned forward, smirking.

"Yeah," Quatre gulped.

"Don't worry," Trowa whispered, "I won't tell."

"Well good," Quatre huffed.

They finished their meal and wandered around some more, relaxing in the sunshine, winding up in DinoLand USA, which Quatre didn't have many fond memories. He didn't really notice they crossed into the Land until he spotted the TriceraTop Spin, and stopped dead in his tracks.

Trowa looked behind him and frowned, "Something the matter?"

Quatre wrenched his gaze away from the flying dinos, though his head spun for a moment and he felt his stomach drop down to his toes. The pavement beneath him moved and swirled. He closed his eyes quickly, and his mind stopped whirling.

He felt a hand carefully brush against his arm, "Watson?"

Quatre opened his eyes and stared resolutely at the fabric of Trowa's shirt, "I'm fine. Must be vertigo."

Trowa frowned, "Are you sick?"

"No," Quatre groaned, "I was just remembering something, that's all. Can we head to a different part of the park, now?"

"Remembering something?" Trowa asked, and then he turned around and paused for a grand total of two seconds before he cursed.

"C'mon, let's go. You must be experiencing some sort of post-traumatic stress. I'm so sorry."

"It's okay, I almost forgot about it myself," Quatre lied.

"I didn't forget! How could I forget that you were in an accident only a day ago? I just didn't think you would experience any after effects."

Quatre growled, frustrated. He just had a little scare, it wasn't like he was traumatized or anything. He just hadn't been prepared.

As Trowa literally towed Quatre out of DinoLand, a very familiar shout made Quatre dig his heels into the ground. At the exit of the Land was an intricate playground called the Boneyard; it had several levels of tunnels, walkways and slides that little kids could climb all over. It was modeled after a dig site, and had a place where kids could pretend to be archeologists and uncover dinosaur bones.

Quatre ran his eyes over the people in the Boneyard, and had to stare in shock as a long brown braid of hair disappeared into one of the tunnels on the second level of the playpen.

"Duo's playing in the Boneyard," Quatre explained to Trowa.

"But the Boneyard is supposed to be for kids under ten."

"I have a feeling Duo will always be a kid at heart."

"Let's hope he doesn't get stuck in the tunnel."

"Knowing our luck, he probably will. But where's Heero? I thought he was with Duo…?"

Just then, a shout rang out through the playpen, "Duo, I WILL kill you. Get back here right this instant!"

"No way! You have to catch me," was Duo's merry answer.

Quatre and Trowa watched with gaping mouths and blinking eyes as they saw Heero emerge from a tunnel, looking thoroughly ruffled, stepping over several small children as he used a ladder to ascend to the next level.

"Heero Yuy is playing in a playground," Trowa said, voice hoarse with disbelief.

Quatre couldn't think of anything to say as he watched two young adults crawl through spaces meant for small children, jumping over toddlers and squishing in alongside various curious kids.

"I guess Heero's a kid at heart too," Quatre said faintly when he saw him go down a slide, hot on the heels of one Duo Maxwell.

"If only I had a camera. This would be wonderful blackmail material."

"Should we mortify them?"

"Please, do the honors."

Quatre raised his hands to his lips and shouted, "Duo! Heero!"

Heero, in the midst of climbing up a net to get to another level of the playpen, froze in his actions. From above him, Duo caught sight of them and shouted back.

"Hey Watson, Trowa! Come on up, the weather's fine!"

Even from the ground, Quatre could see Heero mouth the word 'shit'.

"We'll stick to the grown-up rides, thank you," Trowa crossed his arms and smirked, "come on, Watson, we should leave the kiddies to their fun."

"Well I don't know about that, Trowa," Quatre pointed to a sign, "it says here that kids must be supervised at all times. I don't think we should leave them alone, do you?"

"I suppose it would be unwise to let them play by themselves. After all, if one of them falls and gets a boo-boo, someone will have to be around to kiss it better."

"Alright, alright," Duo chanted as he clambered down to the ground, "you guys are just jealous that I can fit in those tunnels. Now what did you want? You're interrupting my playtime."

"Usually your playtime isn't as innocent as this," Quatre smirked.

"Hey now, there are children present!"

"Clearly."

Heero slowly made his way down to the ground, as if he were a man about to face his own funeral. When he finally reached them, Duo and Heero stood side by side; Heero was sulking, glaring at the ground, while Duo was grinning without a trace of shame.

"Having fun Heero?" Trowa teased.

"I do not have to defend my actions."

"I never took you one for playpens with slides, but I guess I was mistaken."

"I was trying to get him to come down!" Heero snapped, his glare now moving to Duo.

"That worked out real well, didn't it?" Quatre joked, thinking that he and Trowa sounded like a pair of interrogators.

"Yeah, yeah, slap my wrist, whatever," Heero grumbled, stalking off, "going to the bathroom."

Quatre turned to Duo, "I didn't know the Boneyard was a part of Heero's personalized tour."

"Nah, this is the Duo Maxwell tour, where the only thing that matters is F-U-N, fun."

"You're showing Heero how to have fun by climbing through a playpen?"

"Well, every other ride was off limits. Heero wouldn't even let me go on the Primeval Whirl, a kiddy ride! I convinced him the Boneyard was harmless."

"How did you do that?" Trowa asked.

"Oh you know, it's the-"

"Maxwell charm," Duo and Quatre said together, grinning.