Unpredictable
***Author's note: So sorry about the long delay; hope you can bear with me! ^-^ I thought I would get to update it over break, but it looks like break was a lot busier than I expected. Anyway, this story is NOT over yet. I still have much planned, including much more romance, and fluff (Yaoi included, but read the second note below). There is a several-part event coming up so some chapters may be very long! ^-~ Unfortunately, our couples are in for yet another unpredictable surprise! ENJOY!
***Please read***Author's note: For those of you that noticed, Duo and Heero's lemon was more detailed than Trowa and Quatre's. This was for a very good reason. Trowa and Quatre's mild lemon was more of a sealing of their love; the way to break open Trowa's shell and it was mild because their conscious minds weren't really aware of what they were doing; they were following their hearts (and emotions). There is also one other very good reason. Trowa and Quatre are going to have a second lemon, whereas Heero and Duo are not. The second lemon will be a lot like Heero and Duo's in that it will be very detailed and focus on the lemon. Although Heero and Duo are not going to have a second lemon there will be some lime, fondling, shounen-ai, lovey-dovey stuff and more. ^-^ Trust me, I promise there is a reason for everything.
A/N: To make up for the delay this is a two-part chapter! ^_____^
Chapter 11: Cruise Ship (part 1)
The sand sparkled beneath his feet, covering his toes in the soft silky feel as he made his way across the glorious beach. Smiling cheerfully, with the crisp, icy drinks in his hand, Quatre brushed his soft, blonde hair out of his face as he walked past the crowds of people. He was clad in only his Speedo, luckily having put on sun block, and was carrying Caribbean Kiss drinks for him and Trowa.
They had found a perfect spot on the beach not surrounded by people, but still nearby some other couples and families, where they could relax. It was a huge spot so that Duo and Heero could join them. He and Trowa had arrived on the beach a half hour earlier, searching for the two, but couldn't find them so they opted to find a spot in case Duo and Heero were still out somewhere. In the meantime, Quatre had offered to get them cold drinks since it was deathly hot out (from the report it was over 90 degrees). The Caribbean Kiss drinks were a specialty, as he heard, and decided to get them. They contained only a smidge of rum and almond liqueur, along with cream, cinnamon and brown sugar. Although Quatre didn't usually drink alcoholic beverages, with the exception of an occasional half glass of red wine with dinners (which was said to help cholesterol), he figured since he had turned eighteen he could have something that had a very small portion in it. Trowa also didn't drink at all, minus water or juice, but since they were both on vacation Trowa said he didn't mind if there was a tad in it. Being since it was the Caribbean, Quatre knew there wasn't much without alcohol, so he settled for something small that was said to be very sweet but delicious.
He approached the spot where two towels were laid out on the sand, hidden by the shade from the large umbrella rooted into the sand. Quatre smiled as he came closer, watching Trowa as he rested peacefully on his back with his eyes closed. His face was hidden by the shade, but the rest of his body was glistening in the bright sun. Even after only a short period of time in the sun, Trowa's skin had darkened to a sultry tan, appearing a little darker than Duo after he'd been in the sun all day. It was a nice shade; not dark enough to hide his languid complexion, but enough to show his smooth skin.
Trowa's fervent eyes opened gently as if he could sense Quatre's presence. He looked up at him, taking his hand from his side up over his eyes. Quatre smiled, bending his knees to land softly on the towel next to Trowa's.
"Here, I brought your drink," Quatre smiled softly. "Tell me how you like it."
Turning the straw, Quatre lowered the drink to where Trowa could take a sip watching as he tasted it.
"It's sweet, but it's good," Trowa replied.
Quatre lifted his own to his mouth, sipping a tiny bit and felt his eyes water from the flavored sweetness. After the jolt subsided, a tangy, but semi-sweet taste was left in his mouth, cooling his burning senses.
"It is sweet," Quatre said, putting their glasses under the umbrella in the sand. "But it's not that bad."
Trowa nodded in angreement, stretching his arms over his head so his hands were lying in the warm sand. Quatre tilted his head, a subtle smile on his lips.
"May I join you?"
"Sure," Trowa said, preparing to scoot over.
Before he did though, Quatre bent on all fours and crawled on the towel with him, letting one leg rest between Trowa's and resting his head above his shoulder right next to his head. Since he was on his stomach, Quatre left one arm at his side and lay the other across Trowa's torso. Quatre sighed contently and closed his eyes, feeling the warm wind toss his hair gently. Trowa shifted slightly to allow Quatre a little more room on the small towel before relaxing again.
"Let me know if I'm blocking your sun," Quatre murmured lightly.
"You're not," Trowa answered calmly.
Quatre opened his eyes, lifting himself to a half-sitting position with his leg still between Trowa's.
"You tan nicely," he said, brushing his fingers across his arm.
Trowa glanced up at him with a small smile, "Thanks."
"How is it that you got so tan all ready?" Quatre asked.
"Heero and I used to be on the beach all day watching for poachers and anything else," Trowa said.
Quatre sighed, "That must be nice, even if it was doing your job. I can't tan at all. In fact, if I don't protect my skin from the sun I end up getting a very painful sunburn that makes me as red as a tomato for days."
"Some sunlight is good for your skin, but too much is bad for it, no matter if you tan or not," Trowa said. "Your skin is fine the way it is, Quatre."
Quatre smiled sweetly, "You think so?"
Trowa's lips curled lightly in response, "Yes. You don't have to be tan to be look nice."
Instead of voicing his thoughts, Quatre lay back down, snuggling closer to him despite the warmth. The leg resting between Trowa's wrapped gently around one of his legs, their smooth skin rubbing in contact. Quatre rested his chin on Trowa's shoulders, closing his eyes once more. They lay there in a peaceful daze, relishing in the beauty of the day and the comfort of each other. Quatre could hear children playing a short distance away, but finding that they were secluded enough he lifted his head and kissed Trowa's cheek. His eyes fluttered open afterwards as he brought his face inches above his.
Trowa's gentle gaze was on his as Quatre kept their eyes locked together. He adjusted his position so he was practically on top of him.
"Where do you think Heero and Duo are?" Quatre asked, staring at him deeply.
"I'm not sure," Trowa answered, staring up at him as well.
Quatre's smile changed to slightly worry, "You don't think they forgot, do you?"
Trowa blinked, bringing his hands back down over his head, his bare arms brushing across Quatre's bare back.
"It's not like Heero to forget. I'm sure they'll come in a little bit," Trowa said.
Quatre nodded, his smile returning, "I'm sure you're right. Actually, I don't mind being here alone with you. It's very soothing."
Trowa smiled, his eyes lighting up subtly, "I like being with you too."
Quatre's eyes softened as he adjusted himself so his hands rested on either side of Trowa's head. He kept their eyes focused, still hearing the screams and laughter rising from nearby. Not too many people were up early in the morning, even on vacation, so it gave them a bit of privacy. Quatre hoped Trowa wouldn't feel uncomfortable with showing their relationship in public, or showing any emotions in front of people, but he found he couldn't help himself as he lowered his head, keeping his bright blue eyes locked into Trowa's glimmering emerald gaze. Their lips brushed gently together before Quatre parted his mouth, covering Trowa's with his own. He meant to make it a chaste kiss in case Trowa was still uncomfortable but he felt Trowa's mouth open and lock tightly onto his in return. Quatre wrapped his arms behind Trowa's neck, moving his mouth softly as they kissed.
Quatre felt their lips begin to break from the angle and helped by placing his other leg around Trowa so he was half sitting, half laying on top of Trowa's stomach, allowing their kiss to deepen and last longer before breath was needed. Quatre dropped his head right next to Trowa's, pressing their cheeks together as he breathed deeply to catch his breath. He could feel Trowa's chest rising and falling beneath him. After a minute, Quatre lifted himself up again so he was sitting atop Trowa's stomach, his legs resting gracefully against Trowa's side.
"Sorry I didn't give you a warning," Quatre smiled shyly.
Trowa smiled at him, "It's fine."
"Trowa, I…," Quatre's smile faded. "I just want to apologize. I mean, I didn't really give you a chance to choose, you know…well, what I mean is I never asked you where your…preferences lie. I just felt so grateful that you saved me, and I felt a real connection between us like destined friends, and then I couldn't help but kiss you, then we…
"Anyway," Quatre kept his eyes downcast, "I'm really sorry I didn't ask you if you wanted a relationship, or even if you liked guys or…"
Quatre trailed off but couldn't find anything else to say, nor could he look Trowa in the eye. He felt a warm hand on his other arm and he looked up, feeling somewhat embarrassed.
"Quatre," Trowa said gently, brushing his hand across his until Quatre's fingers wound through his, "you don't need to apologize."
"But…I never asked you about your preferences!" Quatre repeated himself with more confidence.
"I never really had any," Trowa said, keeping their hands and eyes locked together. "Most of the time I was with mercenary soldiers, or in training programs. I rarely saw any women, and when I did I didn't feel any attraction. If anything I felt more comfortable with the guys I worked with and grew up with. Then when I met Heero I felt even more connected with him and shared with him my past and things I didn't even tell the men I grew up with."
"So…you're sure you still want to continue our relationship?" Quatre asked quietly.
"Yes, Quatre, unless you are uncomfortable," Trowa stated seriously, though his tone was kind and genuine.
"No, I'm not at all," Quatre smiled bringing Trowa's hand up to press it against his bare chest where his heart lie. "I wasn't sure what my preferences were either, since I grew up kind of secluded. I never went to any public schools since my father wanted me taught by the best tutors. The only women around me were my sisters, whom I looked up to. I had a couple boys as friends; ones I met when I ran away several times. We shared our dislike for our family obligations," Quatre said, smiling almost sadly in remembrance.
"Anyway, I didn't come on vacation to find love, and when I first saw you that wasn't what I thought. Of course my first thought was that you were amazing to have saved me, but as I saw you more I felt something between us…I don't know how to explain it. I just get these feelings about people. Sometimes I get pretty good reads on people's emotions. Duo teases me about being psychic," Quatre smiled, laughing lightly.
"But I'm not, don't worry. I just felt something, like we understood each other or that we were just meant to meet. Do you think I'm crazy?" Quatre looked up at him, a light smile still on his face.
Trowa shook his head, "No, I understand what you mean about feelings. I didn't express my feelings much before, but I could sense them like you except with animals. I can usually get a feel for a person, whether they have good intentions or bad by meeting them, but with animals I know exactly what's wrong. That's why when I joined the circus troupe I was automatically assigned to take care of the lions and tigers since no one else seemed to be able to take care of them."
Quatre's eyes had widened with immense curiosity and wonder. He still held Trowa's hand against his chest as he stared at him with admiration.
"I guess we really do understand each other," Quatre said, lifting Trowa's hand to his face. "But I think we have everything, Trowa. Understanding, trust, friendship, love. I feel I can talk to you about anything."
Trowa face had brightened through their talk and a noticeable smile lit up his features as he stated, "I feel the same way."
"Trowa, I wanted to tell you…" Quatre hesitated, feeling his cheeks beginning to heat up.
Why can't I say it? It can't be that hard! I can tell him anything, just like I said. I mean, we've even had sex.
Quatre felt his throat constrict as he nearly blushed and smiled at the memory of the passion they had shared. He took a deep breath, knowing how ridiculous it was not to be able to say something so simple especially after the deep discussion they had had. He opened his mouth, prepared to finally spit it out when a familiar voice interrupted.
"Hey, guys!"
Quatre turned, sliding off of Trowa's stomach but keeping their hands locked together, so he could see who was trying to get their attention. His eyes lit up as he spotted Duo running toward them, his braid looking messy as it flung in the wind. He had on only a loose blouse that appeared rumpled and he was carrying towels in his hand. Heero wasn't far behind him, though he chose to walk quickly instead of jog. Quatre could sense something was different, but he ignored the feeling and smiled at they approached.
Duo was panting for breath as he approached, throwing the towels down on the sand.
"Sorry we're late," he said, finally catching his breath.
"It's all right," Quatre smiled brightly. "Where were you two?"
Duo looked up, his eyes widening slightly, "Ah, you know, just hanging around…doing stuff. So, have you two been waiting long?"
Quatre bit his lip to keep from blushing, not wanting to give away that they had also been late and the reason why.
"Actually, we got here no more than a half hour ago," Quatre replied calmly.
Duo nodded, glancing back at Heero who was approaching before turning back toward them. His eyes caught sight of their hands locked together and slowly his eyes darted to Quatre's, raising his eyebrows with a knowing smile. Quatre smiled back, trying to conceal the faint blush on his cheeks. Duo suspected they had gotten closer, and he knew Duo couldn't read minds so there was no way he could've known they had sex, but he had never before kept something from his best friend. And until the time seemed right, or until he was sure he and Trowa were ready to tell them, he would keep quiet.
"Do you both want a drink?" Quatre asked, glancing up at Heero as well who stood next to Duo.
"Nah, I'm good," Duo said.
Heero nodded, "I'm fine, thanks."
Quatre nodded with a smile, adjusting his sitting position to make room for them.
"There's plenty of room," he said.
Duo glanced at Heero before looking back at them, "Actually…we were wondering if you both wanted to do something else."
Quatre blinked up at him as Trowa sat up.
"Like what?"
"Well…," Duo scratched the back of his head nervously with a grin, "I know about your previous encounters, Quat, but how about a cruise?"
"No way!" Quatre exclaimed, his eyes widening. "I am not going near another boat or far out in the ocean for a long time!"
"Come on Quat," Duo pleaded. "It'll be fun, I promise. It's a cruise ship. There's like hundreds of people going on it, and it's really tall with those rails to hold on to so there's a very rare chance you'll fall, unless you jump of course."
"Duo…I don't know…"
"Please," Duo begged, kneeling down. "I promise they have great rooms and they show us around the entire Caribbean! It's a great all-day event and they have fancy foods and everything."
Quatre rolled his eyes a bit, "All right, Duo. I have to admit you're making it sound tempting."
"All right!" Duo exclaimed happily.
Quatre smiled and shook his head, turning to Trowa, "Do you feel like going?"
Trowa nodded, "It sounds relaxing," he said, glancing up at Heero. "It is," Heero nodded in agreement. "Duo and I checked the cruise right before we came here. It leaves in forty-five minutes and it's about five hours long. You can stay overnight and pay for the second part of it that finishes the rest of the cruise, or you can just go back."
Quatre's eyebrows rose as he finished, surprised that Heero had said so much. The last time he had seen Heero, which was the night before, he had still been his usual quiet self. Now, he seemed different, like he had opened up. Duo only grinned back at Quatre's expressions. Trowa didn't seem surprised.
"We should probably get there early in case it's packed," Trowa answered back.
"Well, we can relax here for a few minutes and then head out. It's just half way down the beach at the other dock," Duo said, pointing behind him. "So scoot over," he smiled at Quatre, putting his towel down next to him and motioning for Heero to do the same.
Duo immediately started up a conversation about what he had learned about the island through the brochure. Quatre was amazed at how much both Trowa and Heero inputted as well. It was like they were all best friends having a casual conversation. The time passed by quickly and they all slipped light clothing on and headed in the direction of where the cruise ship was located. Quatre's heart was hammering in his chest as they approached the dock, the line for the cruise all ready getting long. He tried his best to keep his eyes away from the ocean waters.
"Is that the cruise ship!?"
"Oh my gosh!"
Quatre heard the sounds of surprise around him as more people approached and he stood on his tip-toes to see over the heads. Almost instantly, his breath was taken away, much like when he had seen the glorious suite Duo had picked out. The cruise ship wasn't just a cruise ship, it was the most gorgeous boat he had ever seen in his life, including the rich expensive ones his father used to buy for pleasure and relaxation. As they pushed through the crowd to get closer, Quatre was able to read the words on the boat. Royal Caribbean International was in small letters and in large, blue cursive words were: Jewel of the Seas. The ship looked like a jewel; one that owned the sea.
Duo whistled beside him, "She's a beauty! Much better up close than in the pictures, wouldn't you say Heero?"
"Yeah," he answered.
"They're boarding in five minutes," Duo announced.
They moved ahead to the near front of the line, lucky that they had come early. Minutes later a horn sounded, getting the attention of the large mass of people that had gathered in a somewhat orderly line.
"Attention passengers!" a voice, magnified by a microphone, spoke out.
Quatre assumed it was the captain of the ship, or one of the captains. The ship was way too huge to have only one. He was actually anticipating the ride. Ever since he laid eyes on it his fear had completely vanished. It truly looked like a vacation all packed into the large ship.
"We will be boarding shortly. This ship is the newest Caribbean cruise as of recently, called the Jewel of the Seas. She is 962 feet long and usually runs at around 25 knots," the captain spoke to everyone, who was listening intently. "The ship has thirteen decks with specialties of theatre, Italian restaurants, bars and lounges, a fitness center, spa and massage rooms, indoor Solarium and much more. Unfortunately, her capacity is just over 2000 passengers so once approximately 2,500 passengers board we cannot accept more.
"However," he continued at the sound of the disappointed groans in the way back, "another cruise ship that is recent is Serenade of the Seas. It has the same relaxing activities such as casinos, restaurants, shopping, everything and holds the same capacity. That ship will stop by within the next couple hours for those that couldn't get aboard this ship. If that doesn't work out you can always make a reservation for either of these ships after this cruise. For those of you joining us today I hope you have a wonderfully relaxing time.
"The first half of the trip is approximately four to five hours long, unless you're staying for dinner then it's seven hours or so before it makes another stop to let people off. For those staying for just the first half the rooms will cost half as much. Those staying over night in either an ocean view room or other we will be starting the second part of the cruise around seven in the morning. Breakfast can be served to the rooms or go to any of the restaurants or buffets. And remember, our staff is always available night or day to serve you in any way. Please enjoy your stay."
The minute he finished shouts of excitement and laughter rang through the air as they started taking people aboard. Quatre could tell they were within the first one thousand people, which meant they'd definitely make it in.
He felt someone tap him on the shoulder and turned to see Duo smiling at him, "Hey, Quat, uh, I was wondering if you could sort of…uh, you know…"
"Pay?" Quatre offered with a knowing smile.
Duo laughed partly embarrassed, "Yeah."
"Of course. You've done so much for me. Besides, I have tons of money saved up for stress-relieving vacation and I've never used it before. Might as well start with this vacation," Quatre smiled, pulling out his checkbook.
They approached even closer until the fancy, white-uniformed captain assistants smiled at them.
"Why, good morning," the man beamed.
"Good morning," Quatre said politely with a smile.
"Will you be staying overnight?"
"Afraid not," Quatre smiled genuinely. "We're just staying for the first half through dinner."
"Wonderful!" the man smiled brightly. "And there's just the four of you?"
Quatre nodded, "Yes."
"What kind of rooms would you like? We have the suite, ocean view, balcony and interior?" he asked, looking from Quatre to the rest of them.
Quatre turned to Heero and Duo, "Would you two like your own separate rooms? That way you can get whatever room you'd like."
"Sure," Duo chirped. "What room would you like Heero?"
"Whatever you want," Heero said.
Quatre turned back to the man, "Is there a way we could get separate rooms that are nearby each other or at least on the same deck?"
The man nodded, "Of course. If you chose the suite, it usually comes with multiple rooms. That means that there will be a door that leads into another room. And both of the rooms can either have two queen sized beds, one queen size bed or a king-size bed. Most of them offer a balcony and if you get the Royal suite there's a small grand piano included," the man winked.
Quatre's eyes lit up at the sound of a piano, "Actually, the suite sounds perfect. So we can get a suite with two separate rooms, correct?"
The man nodded.
"And the rooms can have one king-sized bed," Quatre said looking to the others for approval.
Heero and Trowa just nodded while Duo grinned. Quatre smiled back and nodded, continuing on.
"And for one room I'd like the Royal suite," Quatre said. "And both of them with balconies. The balconies overlook the ocean right?"
"Yes, of course!" the man said, nodding.
"And what's the top suite besides the Royal Suite?" Quatre asked.
"The Owner's Suite," he answered. "It usually comes with a queen-sized bed but I can make an exception for you gentlemen. It comes with a mini-bar like the Royal Suite and except it only has a two-person sized tub unlike the Royal Suite that has a whirlpool bathtub fit for four. There are double showers in each as well. And I can get you a Royal Suite and an Owner Suite that are right down the hall from each other," he answered with a smile.
"That'd be perfect," Quatre said, opening his checkbook. "And does this include all the meals?"
"The meals are separate if you're going to restaurants or if you're ordering room service in which there's a menu by the TV. There really isn't a fixed price," he answered.
"Great, so what's the total?"
"the Owner's Suite is $404.50 per person, plus , and the Royal Suite is $525.00 per person, for staying for half of the trip. Your total comes to…," he paused to calculate, "exactly $1,859.00, and because this is the first cruise this new edition has been out on there's no tax."
Quatre wrote the total on a check, oblivious to how wide Duo's eyes had gotten at the price of only a one-night trip, even without spending the night. He handed over the check and saw the man's eyebrows raise in surprise.
"Well, welcome aboard Mr. Winner," he greeted with a small bow.
Quatre smiled politely, knowing the man was just being respectful and bowed in return as he walked up to the humungous ship beside Duo, Heero and Trowa. They followed the people in front of them to the main deck inside the ship. The ship was incredible, even just taking in the main deck. There were lounges with fancy couches and chairs, a beautiful chandelier with gleaming crystals shining above. The patio doors were open, leading to on top of the ship to watch as it sailed.
"It's incredible," Quatre whispered aloud, voicing his thoughts.
"You're telling me," Duo said, looking around in awe.
Heero and Trowa were also looking around, but didn't seem as surprised to see what a gorgeous and expensive interior the ship had. Quatre wondered if they had been on a cruise before and decided to ask Trowa later.
"Are any of you hungry?" Quatre asked. "There are plenty of places for lunch and we can even eat out on the ship's deck."
"Sounds good to me. I'll go get the food, if you'd like and meet you all on the deck. First I need orders," Duo said, glancing at them.
"If they have any unhealthy sandwiches or lunch meals just get me that," Quatre smiled.
"I'm sure that won't be too hard," Duo winked. "And for the rest of you?"
"Pasta is fine," Trowa said.
Heero folded his arms casually, "I'll come with you."
Duo smiled and nodded, taking that as 'I don't know' and turned back to Quatre, "So, we'll meet you two on the ship's deck in, say, twenty minutes."
Quatre nodded, "Great."
Duo and Heero took off together and Quatre and Trowa walked through the long entryway toward the open balcony doors leading to the ship's deck. They had to push past several people, luckily missing the crowds of new on-boarders.
The air outside was fresh and beautiful overlooking the vast ocean. Since most people were either checking out their rooms or getting something to eat, there was a lot of space on deck so Quatre and Trowa stood at the railing at the farthest point on the deck looking out at the waters. Quatre could see they were beginning to untie the ropes and bring them in which meant they would be leaving shortly. There was still a crowd of people outside who hadn't gotten the chance to get in, but Quatre guessed they'd come back for the second ship.
He felt entirely grateful that Duo had set all this up and went through the trouble to find every possible means of relaxation. Quatre knew he'd get so used to it, or begin loving it so much he wouldn't want to go back home, which was the feeling he had had since the previous day. He guessed Duo had hoped that would happen; hoping that perhaps Quatre would quit his job and concentrate on doing things he liked.
Maybe I will do that. The job I have now takes up too much time and energy and Duo's right that most of the time I'm doing the work. I'm still young, much younger than any of the other men and women working there and I need to live my life. Besides, I really don't need to work. My sisters work and there's still father and mother's fortunes that are saved up, along with what I have saved from the years of working. So why do I work?
Quatre stared up at the sky feeling the warm breeze blow over him. He knew why he worked. It was because he was always lonely, having barley anyone his own age to talk to when he was growing up, and he felt shoving himself in a pile of work would keep him so preoccupied he wouldn't worry or notice he was alone. That all changed when he met Duo. He couldn't concentrate on work and dreaded each minute of it. Before, work was always mechanical and he just did it because he could. And now, after having met Heero and Trowa alongside Duo, Quatre was ready to call it quits and find something else that interested him; something that didn't take up most of his life.
Maybe I'll teach a class of students how to play the violin. I've always loved playing it. Or maybe I can work part time with my sister Iria in the hospital and help her out. Then again, I could work for any of my sisters. Many of them work in the same colony and enjoy their jobs. I never realized how many opportunities there were for me. This has definitely been a meaningful and fun vacation.
Quatre smiled softly. He had made up his mind. He would call Rashid and let him know he was going to quit his job. They could work on building the new colony and the emergency colony, but Quatre wasn't going to be their guinea pig anymore. He was going to live his life to the fullest. Even Trowa enjoyed the place he had originally been placed as an undercover job.
Relief flowed through him at the thought of having much more free time to focus on continuing to support the colonies and prevent wars, but at the same time find what he loved to do. He turned to Trowa, finding a peaceful smile on his face as he too looked at the beautiful ocean. Quatre heard the sound of the horn, knowing they were getting ready to take off. He watched in fascination as the ship pulled away from the dock, going at a nice enough speed especially for such an enormous ship.
Quatre turned back to Trowa, feeling a smile come to his face as he watched him, "It's beautiful isn't it?"
Trowa tilted his head to face him and nodded, "Yes, it is. The ocean has always been something very soothing to me."
Quatre propped his arms on the railing and scooted closer to him, "Have you ever been on a cruise before?"
Trowa smiled and shook his head, "Not like this. It was a smaller ship, but it was very fancy as well. It was the third mission Heero and I got. We had to find out who was planning to sink the ship out of the number of suspects we were watching."
Quatre's eyebrows rose, "Like the titanic?"
Trowa's lips curled slightly, "Something like that."
Smiling, Quatre moved closer until he was leaning up against his arm, "Did you save anyone?"
"If you mean was the mission successful, then yes," Trowa's timid smile shone. "If you mean an individual, then no."
Quatre brushed his bangs out of his face as the wind blew them and looked up at him, wrapping his arm around Trowa's.
"You saved me."
Trowa looked down at him and smiled serenely, his eyes brightening, "I did," he nodded. "You were the first person I've saved."
"Am I the first person you've ever given CPR?" Quatre asked, his eyes twinkling with mirth.
A much larger smile covered Trowa's serene expression, "Without a CPR device, yes."
"I feel very fortunate then," Quatre smiled up at him, keeping their eyes locked together.
Trowa's eyes seemed to glisten even brighter as his smile softened at Quatre's words. They were staring at each other for what felt like forever. Quatre was ready to lift up his head to kiss him when a voice interrupted.
"Excuse me?"
Quatre turned around, breaking his eye contact with Trowa to see a young woman dressed in the staff's formal outfit for the ship. A badge upon her breast read: Staff of the Jewel. Quatre's eyes ranked over her slim body, wondering why this woman in particular had a slightly shorter skirt than most of the other older women. She was dressed in all white with a formal jacket on and was smiling brightly.
"Yes?" Quatre offered politely remaining close by Trowa's side.
"My name is Silvia Noventa, a staff member on the Jewel of the Seas to welcome you on this trip," she smiled. "Have you been helped yet?"
Quatre blinked, "I don't think so," he said, glancing up at Trowa.
"Oh, well that's all right," she smiled brightly. "The staff members are here to serve you. If you'd like I can show you to your rooms. It's actually a requirement for us to go through any emergency procedures for your convenience and we also show you some handy exits in your rooms in case the ship is filling with water, which is most unlikely," she added with a wave of her hand.
"Oh, well, do we have to do that now? We're waiting for some friends," Quatre said politely.
"Perhaps one of you could wait for your friends and the other can explain what I've said," she suggested.
"Well…," Quatre started, not wanting to disappoint her.
"I'll go," Trowa answered.
The girl's eyes brightened immensely and she clapped her hands, "Wonderful! We'll be back in a jiffy, and um…your friend…," she gestured to Trowa.
"Trowa," he answered.
"Right, Trowa, can explain to you what I've said after," she chirped. "Enjoy your stay."
Quatre watched wordlessly as she practically dragged Trowa away, feeling a tad jealous. No, it wasn't jealousy because he trusted Trowa completely and he had never been jealous before. There was no need. It was more of a feeling of weariness. The girl was too cute, too…girly-looking, like one of those girls who flirts with every cute boy she sees. Quatre hoped Trowa wouldn't get uncomfortable if she started hitting on him.
Quatre sighed softly and turned back around to look at the ocean until Trowa came back. Hopefully he wouldn't have to wait there long alone. Propping his elbows up on the railing he leaned his chin on his hands and closed his eyes, willing himself to relax and enjoy the breathtaking atmosphere. The air was warm, but luckily not smoldering hot. He knew once it was past one the sun would be getting hot, but until then he could enjoy the weather wearing his jean shorts and his new silky-white tank top.
"Pardon me?"
Quatre's eyes fluttered open and he turned around to find a young, attractive-looking man standing behind him. He looked not much older than Quatre with black hair and piercing golden-hazel eyes. He wore a loose blouse that looked like a shirt that could be worn under a tuxedo. The first few buttons were undone, most likely because of the warmth and he had on dressy-looking black pants.
"Can I help you?" Quatre asked, hoping the man didn't recognize him from the colony papers.
The last thing he wanted was the press or anyone who knew him all ready. The man only smiled, walking forward a bit to extend his hand.
"My name is Eli."
"Oh, Quatre," he smiled back taking hold of the man's hand.
"I hope I wasn't interrupting at a bad time," Eli smiled, tilting his head a bit. "I saw Silvia and thought something had happened."
Quatre released his hand from the grip and leaned against the rail, "Do you know her…personally I mean?"
Eli laughed lightly, "Only because I've been on this cruise for a couple days all ready. It actually started in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where I was and I've been with it since. The Caribbean has always been a place I've wanted to explore by cruise. Anyway, Silvia was the woman who helped us out as well. She's the captain's niece; Captain Noventa," he explained.
"I thought she looked a little young," Quatre voiced, feeling his worries disappear now that he had someone to talk to. "Is this trip a treat for yourself?"
"Not completely. I helped pay for the rooms, but it's actually just something my friend and I have been planning. I'm staying here with him actually and we're sharing a room on the six deck."
"I'm here with some friends too. Actually, we've been here in the Caribbean for a couple weeks now. It was a birthday gift from my friend who's here with me."
"Oh really? Well, happy birthday!" he said politely. "How old are you now?"
"Thanks. I just turned eighteen," Quatre replied.
"Still young, huh?" Eli smiled, crossing his arms. "I'm twenty-two, though my friend says I look younger. Hey, you know something, my friend and I were planning to go out to dinner tonight. Would you like to join us? I'd like to get to know you before you leave."
Quatre's heart skipped a couple beats. The man, Eli, seemed incredibly nice and friendly, but he also appeared to be asking him out, despite it being a dinner date with his friend as well. Quatre figured Eli must've seen Silvia walk away from Quatre with Trowa by her side, but hadn't seen Trowa with Quatre.
"That's really sweet, but we're only here for one night. We're not even spending the night. I kind of all ready had dinner plans," Quatre said gently, keeping a soft smile on his face.
Eli nodded, "That's fine. Maybe I'll see you around."
"Well, we're leaving around nine p.m. You could see us off," Quatre suggested.
A thoughtful look crossed his face and Quatre felt his senses stir, but was interrupted by Eli's response.
"I guess so. Wish you could stay longer though. You're the only real person I've wanted to talk to since I came on this trip," he said.
Quatre smiled, "Well, thank you. I'm glad I got to meet you. We might see each other for dinner."
"If your friends agree to it, you could come to the Portofino Italian Restaurant. It's the only one on this ship. I believe it's on deck four, along with the dining rooms. Hopefully I'll see you there," he smiled, his lips curling slyly before he turned and walked away.
He stood transfixed, watching even after the young man had left surprised that he had met someone so quickly. Before he could contemplate their conversation, he thoughts were interrupted.
"Hey, Quat!"
He turned to see Duo coming toward him with platefuls of food, followed by Heero who had a couple plates as well.
"Sorry, the line was long," he said, handing over a plate toward him. "Where's Trowa?"
"He went with our staff woman, Silvia Noventa in order to hear all the emergency procedures and be shown our rooms," Quatre said casually, taking a bite out of the grilled chicken sandwich.
"Noventa? As in related to the Captain Noventa?" Duo asked surprised.
Quatre nodded, "Yes. That's what I've heard. How did you know?"
"It makes sense that you wouldn't know since it's your first time on Earth," Duo said as he leaned up against the rail beside Heero, who was eating quietly. "Captain Noventa is well-known here since he's been in charge of many cruises. I think he's getting pretty old now, but I heard he was aboard the Titanic, I think in the early 1900's, maybe 1915...I can't remember. Anyway, he was a young boy and managed to get off safely. Ever since then he's been fascinated with boats. I personally would've been traumatized."
"Me too," Quatre agreed, taking a sip of his drink.
Duo shrugged, "Well, he's pretty well-known and Silvia I think is his niece. She's like…fifteen or something and he gave her a job aboard his ship."
Quatre nodded, but didn't respond and instead stared out at the ocean once again.
"Hey, for dinner I was thinking of the Italian restaurant we passed. It looked good!" Duo chirped, elbowing Heero as he spoke.
Quatre glanced up at him surprised but nodded, "Sure."
Duo grinned and nodded, "Hey look! Trowa's back!"
Quatre turned watching as Trowa approached, smiling brightly. Trowa nodded toward him as well as Duo and Heero and began to eat. It was peaceful, though a little quiet with the exception of Duo's occasional chatter. Quatre wanted to ask him what Silvia said, but he knew Trowa would tell him in time. There was a strange feeling in his gut; the same feeling he had had at one point during his conversation with Eli. He wasn't sure what it was but for the moment he allowed his body to relax, forgetting about all his worries about going back home or anything else and focused only on having a good time.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Part 2: Trouble Aboard
The dining hall was spectacular with the several chandeliers and the groups of people dressed nicely. The Italian restaurant was just across from the dining hall, so they had to pass through the large ball-room type dining hall in order to get to the restaurant. Duo had suggested they leave early in case the lines were long. He was essentially right.
For most of the day they had either explored the ship or watched the sights as they passed. Occasionally a staff aboard the ship would talk about certain destinations if they were important to the beauty of the cruise. Duo discovered there was an inside pool on one of the lower decks and had convinced Quatre to take a dip with him. Trowa and Heero hadn't felt like it so they had hung out in one of the game rooms idly sitting together.
Quatre had to admit the cruise was fun. He and Duo managed to get a free half-hour massage courtesy of one of the women in charge who thought they were extremely adorable. They had also played games in the rec rooms and ran on the track to keep in shape. It felt like old times just hanging together. Still, Quatre felt a little disappointed that they hadn't hung out with Heero and Trowa much and they only had several hours left before dinner. Duo reminded him that they'd loosen up during dinner and not to worry. Once the cruise was over they'd just find something else to do. For some reason, Quatre's stomach did a strange flip when Duo said that. The feeling in his gut was still there, but he pushed it back down thinking it was just his nerves.
Now, it was dinner time and the Italian restaurant was full, but luckily not overcrowded. They managed to get in after a twenty minute wait and a nice table close to the window so they could look out at the ocean view. The waitress had given them menus and at the moment they were pouring over their choices.
Duo blinked several times, "Uh…does anyone know how to speak Italian? I have no idea what any of these dishes are."
"That's veal," Heero pointed to the choice Duo was staring at. "It's common in Italy."
"Right…so can you just go through this entire menu for me?"
Quatre smiled, shaking his head slightly and turned his attention to Trowa. He was sitting casually while sipping his water, having made his decision all ready.
Trowa hasn't said much. I just feel he's avoiding me or something. I wish I knew what was bothering him, if anything. Heero even seems talkative now, especially with Duo. I wonder if he knows what's bothering Trowa.
Quatre cleared his throat, "So, Trowa, how do our rooms look?"
Trowa turned to him, staring at him calmly, "They're very nice," he answered simply.
Quatre's smile faded a little on the inside, though he made sure not to show it. He could tell Trowa had closed himself up a bit more and he wanted to know what the reason was.
"Are you kidding?! They're huge! They've got everything from a leather sofa to a forty-inch screen TV and even a mini-bar! You have to take a look at it, Quat," Duo said, having lifted his head from where Heero was reading the menu to him.
"We should spend some time in them before we leave, since we're having an early dinner anyway. Maybe we could all hang out and talk, or play a game later on," Quatre said, trying to cheer up the mood. He had a feeling it was just his mood that was dampened.
"Sounds good to me! After we check out the theatre. I heard there's some pretty funny plays that are going to be put on, including some Shakespeare ones. I remember those from when I was younger," Duo grinned, trailing off into another story as Heero and Trowa listened intently.
Quatre felt his chest constricted, the feeling making him feel slightly claustrophobic. They had a little while to wait before dinner anyway and he really needed to leave. He stood up carefully, putting down his napkin as he did.
Duo halted in mid-sentence, catching his eye, "Where are you going?"
"Just to check out the rooms, I'll be back in a bit," Quatre smiled reluctantly.
He walked out of the restaurant, heading toward their rooms. He glanced inside, noting the gorgeous interior and the lovely polished door that separated his and Trowa's room from Duo and Heero's. He had hoped to spend a little quality time with Trowa as well, since he had hung around with Duo and Heero more, so far on the cruise. He saw the piano and went inside sitting at the bench and flexing his fingers. A soft melody played out, slow at first but gaining tempo and strength. Quatre was lost in the song, pouring his heart into it and his present feelings to relieve some of his worry.
The ship suddenly shook violently and Quatre was thrown off the bench with a high yelp. He scrambled to his feet, looking around fearfully. Quickly, he ran outside the room, looking down the halls. Other couples and families were outside their doors looking around as well. They too had fearful expressions.
Oh, please! Not again…Don't let it be something horrible.
"Attention passengers, there is no need for alarm," a sudden voice boomed over a loud speaker that echoed down the hallways. "The ship has unexpectedly run out of gas and we will need to anchor here for the night. Unfortunately, no helping ship can come to our aid until around five a.m. Those that are staying for half of the trip, sorry for any inconvenience. You will not be charged for the overnight expenses. Those without rooms can get temporary places to stay in our spare bedrooms. Again, I am terribly sorry for any inconvenience, and we will keep the restaurants, game rooms and Jacuzzis open all night long for this sudden glitch. Enjoy your stay."
Quatre hadn't realized he had been holding his breath until he released it. He leaned against the door, afraid he would breathe too fast he'd pass out. Again another problem had occurred, though luckily it wasn't as big of a deal. And he wasn't complaining about staying overnight, though he hadn't planned on it. Hopefully, he could find some time to sit and talk with Trowa and spend some time together before the cruise ended.
Maybe this is a good thing.
Quatre took a deep breath and made his way through the doors toward the balcony. He entered the cool evening air and sighed with relief while leaning against the rail. He hoped Duo, Heero and Trowa were all right. He was sure they were. And he was also sure that their food would be coming any minute.
"Are you all right?"
Quatre turned suddenly at the unexpected voice and found a surprising face staring at him. The man who he had met earlier, Eli, was standing nearby dressed in the same outfit he had seen him in before, except for the loose tie hanging around his neck.
Quatre blinked, realizing he hadn't answered his question.
"Oh, yes, I'm fine. I was just a little startled is all. Do you know what happened?"
"The ship must've gotten a hole in the gas tank so it leaked. That's what I gathered," Eli said, coming up to lean against the rail nearby. "As the captain said it should be fixed by early morning. Maybe even before six."
Quatre nodded in return, relishing in the cool breeze that swept over his face.
"On the bright side you get to stay overnight on one of the most beautiful cruise ships," Eli said with a smile. "And for free."
A light smile highlighted Quatre's features, "That's true."
Quatre was about to say he needed to get back to dinner when Eli approached the doors he had entered through leading to his room. Quatre opened his mouth, following inside. Eli whistled lightly.
"Wow, the Royal Suite. Very fancy," he said smiling. "Was that you I heard playing that beautiful tune?"
Quatre blinked. He hadn't noticed that he had been nearby and he hadn't told Eli where his room was.
"Uh, yeah, it was," Quatre answered somewhat uneasily.
"Would it be too much trouble if I asked you to play?" his asked with raised eyebrows, smiling widely.
Quatre inwardly sighed and approached the bench again, beginning the same tune as before. He continued on, letting his fingers flow gracefully across the keys as he did. His fingers faltered as he jumped from the warm hand on his shoulder.
"You play beautifully," Eli said quietly from behind him.
The hairs on the back of his neck rose and Quatre quickly stood, "You know, I should probably be getting back to dinner. I've left my friends waiting."
"What's the rush? You have all right now," Eli said, placing his hand back on his shoulder.
Quatre pulled back slightly from the touch, "Look, Eli, I'm with someone."
"Oh? Who?" he asked, pulling his hand away.
"Um, Trowa. You might've seen him before. He's tall with brown hair, and he was nearby me when you saw Silvia…"
"Oh, that guy," Eli's smile came back. "Yeah, I saw him with Silvia. I think she really likes him. She was definitely flirting with him in this very room…"
"Stop it!" Quatre exclaimed, pushing his hand away suddenly. "I don't know what you're trying to pull, Eli, but I don't want to hear any more. If you'll excuse me, I need to get back. Duo will be wondering where I've gone and he'll be looking for me."
"Duo, huh? Is he the dark-haired boy or the braided one?"
Quatre froze. Eli couldn't have known that unless he had been watching them while they were seated at the table. It was the same restaurant Eli said he'd been in. Before Quatre could even open his mouth he heard a soft chuckle.
"Well, whichever one, my friend has certainly taken a liking to that braided friend of yours," Eli's smiled widely.
"He's taken," Quatre said darkly. "We're not here as only friends, but we're both here with our boyfriends."
Eli's smile turned into a smirk, "I should warn you my friend doesn't like it when he doesn't get his way. In fact, it was because the captain made him pay for some really expensive glass he accidentally knocked over that he knocked out one of the staff members and put a hole in the gas tank. I thought it was a stupid idea at first, but then I remembered that you were leaving, and I couldn't just let you go without saying goodbye…," he said reaching a hand up to touch Quatre's face.
Quatre pulled back in disgust, his eyes narrowing, "You mean…it's your friend's fault why this cruise has been ruined."
"It's not ruined, just prolonged," he answered simply. "Now, come on. I really do like you, Quatre. I know if we got to know each other you'd like me too."
"You're wrong. I couldn't possibly like someone who thinks they can get whatever they want, nor someone who hangs out with friends like that," Quatre said angrily. "If you know what's best for you, you'll leave us alone before I report y— "
Quatre was cut off as he grabbed his chin roughly, pulling his face forward. Quatre's body froze as fear lit in his eyes, as well as the anger that still coursed through him. He knew he should've listened to his sixth sense when it was giving him strange vibes about the guy. But he had thought it was just his nerves.
"Don't threaten me, Quatre. That's not a safe move," Eli whispered to him, his lips curling in another smile. "We would've done it whether or not you were on this ship. You see, we work for scavengers who take goods from ships that have either sunk or been lost at sea. Most of the time the people are dead, sometimes we have to kill the people in order to seize the ships. My friend and I are out here to seize one of the biggest and most expensive ships there are right now, and that's this one.
"And you," he breathed in his ear, "aren't going to get in my way. Of course, now that you know the truth I can't very well let you go, now can I?"
Quatre made a sound through his clenched cheeks still held captive in Eli's strong grasp. Eli released his grip so that Quatre could talk.
"You won't get away with this! My friends will realize that I've been gone and they'll report it to the captain if they can't find me!" Quatre exclaimed. "Besides, do you really think you can take this ship? There's just the two of you against thousands of people!"
Eli laughed, "You'd be surprised at what people can do, especially if you threaten to blow up the ship. We're hoping to scare everyone into the safety life-boats and paddle away, leaving us with the ship. We won't even have to kill anyone, because you're right we'd be outnumbered. In order to make them do what we want we need…innocent civilians such as yourself and your friend," he said, moving closer and backing Quatre into the piano. "If any deaths occur this ship will no longer sell. So as long as I have you, and soon your friend, this ship is ours."
Quatre bit down his fear, glaring at the man, "What do you mean about soon my friend?"
"Like I said, my friend has had an interest in your braided friend, much like I have for you. I didn't think I'd actually like the person I was going to threaten to kill in order to seize the ship, but perhaps…this is better. We could have the ship together you know," he said placing his hand on Quatre's shoulder, rubbing up and down his arm.
"Leave Duo out of this," Quatre said firmly.
"Ah, so Duo is the braided one. Well, I'm sure John will love to know the name of his soon-to-be-captive. Now, cooperate with me, Quatre, or I'll see to it that your friend is thrown overboard."
Quatre's eyes lit up with fear as he realized he was trapped. He should've seen yet another problem arising and again people would be in danger. This time though, he and Duo were really in deep trouble. He only hoped Heero and Trowa were trained enough to stop Eli and his friend, John.
TO BE CONTINUED…
*** I hope to update this asap!! I made this a two-part in case there's another temporary wait. I usually don't wait TOO long to update stories, but I do have a few others I'm working on right now. I kind of fell behind. *sighs* But it shouldn't be too long. In a few days check my profile, I usually have estimated dates on when stories will be updated. ^-^
Future Warning: Like I said, Trowa and Quatre will have their actual lemon! And Heero and Duo will have limey moments. Much shounen-ai and fluffy moments coming up as well as suspense! Be prepared! ^-~
To Reviewers:
Chambers: *grins* Well, our poor boys are in for another round of trouble. Yes, I'm trying to keep up both couples! I do tend to focus more on 3x4 so you can look forward to that. I will not forget Duo and Heero though. I'll update as soon as I can!
Ashen Skies: hey! Yes, you're right! Duo and Heero's lemon was more detailed, but that was because Quatre and Trowa didn't really have their actual lemon yet (as I stated in the author's note at the top). That was to bring them together as a couple. They will get their actual lemon and Duo and Heero are still going to have very intimate and limey moments! But thank you! I will definitely continue with the fluff; that's coming up as well as the lime and lemon! ^-^
Shinigami4ever: ^-^ Thanks! I'm glad you liked Duo and Heero's lemon. I won't forget them! I know I didn't really focus on them in this chapter but I will in the next and they will still have very passionate moments! ^-^
Shin-Chan: *grins* You're right! Duo and Heero were late, and Quatre worried for nothing. Ah well, now he has something else to worry about, right? ^-~ I'll try and update asap!
Sxybichic18: *grins* Yep! More trouble on the way! And I updated, see? Now you have to tell me what you think. ^-^ Hehehe…And get working on your stories missy!
Fire of Phoenix: Thank you! ^__________^ there's still much more romance coming up, but first a bit of suspense. I'll update asap!
Nerd slut: *nods* I'd love a guy like Trowa as well. *sighs dreamily* Well, I'll just have to make him extra good for Quatre so that we get a dose of the sweetness through him. ^-^
Laney1: I'm glad you like the relationships! Oh yes, yes, more twists coming up indeed. You're right on the dot! This isn't over yet. ^-^ now that they've finally gotten together it'll be more fun. I posted as soon as I could, sorry about the delay! ^-^