Title: The Goldfish Part 2
Rating: PG
Pairings: None really, maybe hints of a 2x5...but it is just hints
Warnings: None
Spoilers: Not really
Disclaimers: I don't own them, and I make no money from them. So please, don't sue me!
Author's Notes: Another small spoofy/cute fic that comes from the endless pit of my mind. This one is set about a year after EW, although no mentioning of any specific events so not to ruin it for anyone who hasn't seen it. As always, feedback is adored and worshipped!
Wufei glared at the fish tank as if the evil look he was giving it would make it spontaneously combust. Duo, on the other hand, was crouched low on the ground, his face eye level with the tank as he tried to pick a fish out of the several hundred that seemed to be swimming in the semi-clean water.
"Hey Wufei, what do you think of that one?" Wufei tried to find the fish Duo was pointing at, but trying to follow Duo's finger while following a fish was like trying to watch a small black bird amongst hundreds of flying crows. Wufei just shrugged and made a small grunting noise.
"Duo, this is the fifth pet store we've visited, and I'm getting hungry." Duo looked at him and pouted.
"But I need to find the perfect fish!" Wufei 'hmphed' and bent down next to Duo to study the fish in the tank. Duo glanced over at Wufei, blinking a couple of times in surprise. Wufei was actually going to study the fish with him?
"That one." Wufei said, pointing to one of the larger fish in the tank. It was white with orange splotches across its back. It seemed to stare at Wufei, its mouth making small kissing motions. Duo's grin went from ear to ear as he motioned for one of the attendants to come over and get the fish from the tank.
After several heart-wrenching seconds as the fish was without a way to breath, Duo was clutching the small plastic bag with pride in his eyes. Wufei again wondered what the fish was for, but after seeing the way Duo treasured the animal, he wasn't going to ask. It was only a goldfish after all.
They went to the nearest drive-thru, Duo afraid that "Larry," the fish, wouldn't want to be left in the car. Duo paid for the meal, which was only two hamburgers, fries and drinks, and then Wufei drove them all home, his eyes glancing at his braided friend as he talked quiet words to the fish.
When they walked into the apartment, Duo instantly took Larry and the supplies he had bought to his room and closed the door behind him. Wufei was almost upset that Duo hadn't invited him to help him set up Larry's new home, but Wufei squashed down that thought almost the moment it had popped into his mind. Why should he care if Duo didn't want his help anymore?
After several hours, Wufei found himself helping Heero to make dinner. The two worked quietly together, Wufei chopping up the vegetables and Heero stir-frying them to a crispy-brown. Wufei tended the rice on the stove while Heero took the pre-sliced chicken from a package and placed it with the cooking vegetables.
"Mmmm...Dinner smells good!" Duo waltzed into the kitchen, holding a small glass bowl with a plastic lid, Larry floating inside. Wufei frowned, noticing the plastic cap, and he took the bowl from Duo before Duo could do anything. "Hey! Larry's mine, Wufei!" Duo tried to reach for the bowl, but Wufei held it out of reach.
"Duo, you baka! You can't put an airtight lid on a fishbowl, otherwise the water will receive no oxygen and the fish will die." Wufei reached into the silverware drawer and pulled out an ice pick. With three quick jabs, he placed three small holes in the top, big enough to allow oxygen but not so much to spill all the water very quickly. Duo watched Wufei, his face in awe, and then he took the fishbowl when Wufei handed it back to him.
"Thank you, Wufei." He practically hugged the fishbowl to him, talking to Larry again in soft quiet words.
"You're welcome." Wufei mumbled quietly, watching Duo retreat back to his bedroom, still talking to the apparently traumatized fish. After a couple of seconds, Heero rolled his eyes and sighed loudly.
"Are you going to finish the rice or are we going to have to scrape it off the bottom of the pan?" Wufei squinted his eyes and muttered some colorful words in Mandarin before going back to the rice, stirring it up and carefully scraping whatever had started to stick to the bottom. He glared at the smirking Heero, daring him to say anything about the rice. Heero, wanting to be able to move for the rest of his life, remained silent, although a grin was on his face for the rest of the cooking.
About 20 minutes later, Duo re-entered the kitchen, still holding the bowl and placing it on the counter while he set the table. After he had the plates down, he grabbed the bowl and set it next to his plate, stroking the glass as if the fish inside could feel it. Wufei groaned inwardly and rolled his eyes. Hopefully, he thought, this attachment would end soon and Larry would become just like a normal pet that got fed three times a day and was forgotten in between. Hopefully.
And, as many weeks flew by, Wufei's hopeful thoughts disappeared completely as that fish became more and more of a nuisance to him and all the other pilots.