Author: Aja Golde

For summary and disclaimer, see chapter one.

And if you don't know what 3x4 or 1x2 means, perhaps you should discontinue reading this story. This story is light and charming, but does contain some mature themes, a little cursing and innuendo. If you're okay with that, then please read and enjoy ^_^

Chapter 2

Day 1 9:30 AM

Quatre held his breath, waiting for the green light, and after an excruciatingly long pause, his ticket was spit back out and he was allowed to go through the turnstile. Duo followed quickly behind him and they stood still together, breathing in the humid air.

"My first step into a Disney park," Duo wiped an imaginary tear from his eye.

Quatre giggled nervously, "I still can't believe I'm here. My father would have a cow if he knew!"

"Well, unless you really want a slobbering stinky bovine as your sibling, I suggest you keep that hat on."

Quatre pulled his cap lower, thankful for the anonymity and protection it gave him. The humidity made it difficult to breathe, almost as if there wasn't enough air around, and the sun burnt any visible skin. As fair as he and Duo were, they had been sure to pack lots of sunscreen.

They began their foray into Animal Kingdom, walking silently along the walkways shrouded by leafy trees. Along the way they stopped to watch some animals and explore a few paths, listening to the steady beat of drums coming from the speakers.

"You know Quatre," Duo said as he leaned against a wooden post, playing with the end of his long braid, "I think it's best if you don't mention your name to anyone."

"Why?"

"We don't want it getting out to the papers that the son of Senator Winner is visiting Disney. Your father will probably birth that cow and then come to collect you. Not only will that ruin our vacation, but another fight could seriously break your guy's relationship."

Quatre bit his lip, "Who should I be then?"

"For this week, you're…Watson."

"And you're who: Sherlock?"

"Right in one."

Quatre snorted, "Fine, I'll be Watson, but you still get to be Duo."

"What? Why?"

"Because a Sherlock and Watson are almost as suspicious as a Duo and Quatre."

"People will think it's cute!"

"People will think we're crazy. Let's just keep exploring the park."

Finally finished walking through the Oasis, they crossed the bridge to Discovery Island, where the massive Tree of Life rose above them. Duo and Quatre stood and tried, like many other visitors, to find all the animals carved in her bark.

"All I can see are squiggles," Duo scratched his head, frowning.

"I've already seen thirty eight."

"Who's counting?" Duo threw his hands up in the air and then pointed in the distance, "Oh. My. God. Quatre look! No not that way, turn around, you dunce."

"What Duo?"

"Um, hello, Mr. I-Can-Spot-Thirty-Eight-Animals, can you not see the towering orange mountain capped with snow that looks like it's a ride that desperately wants to be ridden by one anxious rider named Duo?"

"It's not orange."

"Oh whatever, let's go!"

Duo grabbed his wrist and sprinted off, leading Quatre straight through a tangle of tourists as they crossed another bridge and passed into Asia. The music changed, including all sorts of chimes and wind blowing effects. They stumbled through a musical demonstration, and disrupted a rather long food line before ending up standing next to the orange mountain Duo had seen earlier.

"Next time Duo, try avoiding the people instead of ramming into them, okay?" Quatre panted as he leaned on a railing overlooking a blue lake.

Duo was too busy studying the length of the line, which twisted around and through several mock-up Asian huts and outfitters, "Should we Fast-Pass this and do something else first?"

Fast-Passing was a way to get to the front of the line. There were machines that printed out Fast-Passes when you showed your entry ticket. The catch was that you could only Fast-Pass one ride at a time, and you could only redeem the Fast-Pass at the times indicated on the Pass.

"Let's Fast-Pass it and wait in line. By the time we've ridden once, it'll probably be time to use our Passes."

Duo saved them a spot in line while Quatre went to get the Passes. He was sweating as he slipped his and Duo's tickets into the machine, waiting while it printed their Fast-Passes. In truth, the sweat was as much from the heat as it was from his nervousness. He had been to Disney twice before, once with his father and once with his Uncle Rashid. Both times he had been young, and he had never been to Animal Kingdom. Nor had he ventured on a rollercoaster. After the machine was done he collected their Fast-Passes and entry tickets and made his way back to Duo, pushing past several disgruntled, smelly visitors.

"This looks like the real deal, huh?" Duo glanced around at the building they were in which was decorated with mountain climbing gear and Yeti artifacts.

"What is this?"

"Expedition: Everest, a ride that transports a team of climbers into the Himalayas in search of the elusive Yeti."

"Wonderful," Quatre said dryly.

Duo grinned slowly, "Apparently the last team got lost in the snowy drifts of the mountains. Their ransacked campsite gave little clue as to their fate, except for a telling photograph of a massive hairy animal."

"And I suppose, since that mission ended badly, that it makes perfect sense to send another team up to meet the same fate. Great story line."

Duo peered up at him through his brown bangs, indigo eyes searching Quatre's blue ones. Quatre looked at the ground.

"Quatre, if you don't want to go on, you don't have to."

Quatre ground his teeth, annoyed that Duo had read him so easily. Yeah, it was his first roller coaster ride, and yeah Duo had scared him a bit. So what? He was eighteen and going to college! He could handle this. Nerves weren't going kick him off this ride.

"I'm only worried about you," Quatre said, "You have a habit of breaking rules. If you don't keep your arms and legs inside the coaster, I'm not going to help you get a lawyer the minute you lose one of them."

"Har har," Duo rolled his eyes as they inched forward, finally coming to the loading station.

A coaster resembling a beaten, rustic train shuffled up to meet them and behind it they could see the long uphill climb into the orange mountain.

"We are so requesting to sit in the front," Duo pumped a fist in the air.

They were moved to a smaller line, and after a pair of giggling girls, they were next up for the front.

"You two," one of the attendants called to them and they were directed to the front row. Quatre gulped. The gates opened and they stepped into the cart, placing their backpacks at their feet. Bars came down across their laps and Quatre felt better that at least this wasn't an upside down roller coaster.

"Whoo! Yeah! Get this baby rolling! Come on, hurry up and press the GO button, I've got a date with the Yeti!" Duo threw his hands in the air.

"I think you save the screaming for when the ride is in motion, Duo," Quatre jabbed an elbow into his friend's side.

"Welcome, foolish travelers," said the drawling voice over the speakers and Quarter looked up to see a boy talking into a microphone, "the rules on this ride are quite simple. You keep your arms and legs inside the cart. You may, however, scream all you want. The Yeti only eats the front seat passengers. Especially the annoying ones. Duo here, for example, is the perfect target. I suggest you let the Yeti eat him and save yourselves."

"I like this ride already," Duo whispered into Quatre's ear, sending a wink to the boy talking into the microphone.

"Why? Because someone noticed you were annoying?"

"Eye-candy," Duo licked his lips.

Quatre had to admit, the boy who had picked on Duo was quite fetching. Dark brown hair fell over his Prussian blue eyes, and even though he was short in stature, his toned leg and arm muscles more than made up for it. He had a slight Asian look to him, and his skin was a shade darker than olive.

"Exotic eye-candy," Quatre agreed.

"Can you read his name badge?"

"No."

"Guess we're going to have to ride again, then."

"Oh Duo."

"He sure looks good in those khakis. Like he's about to take off into the jungle and wrestle a jaguar. "

"I assure you, Duo, I don't wrestle jaguars. I have no need. I feed them annoying tourists like you to keep them happy," the boy glanced at them swiftly, "here's to hoping you survive the Yeti."

He smirked and pressed a button. The ride jerked into motion.

"Oh God," Duo crooned, but he wasn't looking at the track ahead. Instead, he was glancing back to the boy manning the microphone, "We're going to have to visit Animal Kingdom everyday!"

Day 1 11:30 AM

Quatre exited shakily from the coaster, sure his knees wouldn't hold him.

"Of course Duo would pick something like this as his first ride," Quatre grumbled to himself as he tried caching up to Duo who was already in the gift shop.

"Wasn't that awesome Quatre?" Duo called behind him, forcibly pulling Quatre to his side.

"Oh yeah, awesome. Except for the big drop, the Yeti, going backwards and going through the tunnels, everything was peachy."

"Let's do it again!"

Quatre stopped in his tracks, making Duo halt in mid stride, "Again? It's not even time to use our Fast-Passes yet."

"Oh come on, you know you want to! I mean, that was one of the smoothest coasters I've ever been in."

"Yeah, smooth. Also incredibly fast."

"You say that like it's a bad thing! Quatre, you're in Disneyworld: lighten up!"

"Stop shouting my name, okay?" Quatre hissed, "I thought the point was to not let everyone and their dog know that I'm here on vacation. Besides, I don't think it's the rollercoaster you're interested in. I think you just want the name of the hunk with the microphone, though I can't understand why. He insulted you within in barely two seconds of meeting you!"

"He's got fire," Duo whined, pulling Quatre towards the line with no avail.

"No, I am not waiting in line again. When it's time we will use our Passes, until then I think it's my turn to pick something to do."

Duo sagged, "Fine, fine, but if he's no longer on duty when we come back I am so not talking to you ever again."

Quatre pulled out his map, looking for what he wanted to do, not the least bit worried about Duo's threat. Duo needed to talk almost as much as he needed to breathe air.

"Look, there's a train near Africa that goes to Rafiki's Planet Watch," Quatre said.

"And what do they have there?"

"A petting yard."

Duo just blinked at him, "Quatre. We're in Disneyworld. Not a zoo. You can cuddle cute animals later; I want to go on more rides!"

"Well I need to calm down from that last ride; besides, it's my turn to decide what to do."

"All right, all right, let's walk all the way over to Africa to board a train to see some animals I could probably find in my backyard."

After a while of walking they finally were able to get to the Wildlife Express Train, a cute red train with benches that were arranged parallel to the train's length instead of in rows.

"Well this is different," Quatre said as they sat down and began their ride.

Duo grunted, still a little put out that he didn't get to go on the Everest ride again. Quatre figured Duo should be grateful. After all, Quatre had probably saved him from doing something embarrassing, like jumping the young Disney employee right as he got on the ride. Like he did last time he was at an amusement park. Luckily, the man had only called security and banned Duo from the park. He could have pressed charges.

Finally, the train stopped and they stepped into Rafiki's Planet Watch, a place for kids to learn about saving the planet. Quatre wasn't interested in any of the interactive displays or the veterinary areas. All he wanted was the petting yard. In the back of Rafiki's Planet Watch was a sheltered enclosure, roped off by blue coils. Inside he could dimly see the outlines of playground equipment.

"There, right there!" Quatre pulled on Duo's sleeve, "come on, I want to pet some animals."

"All right, all right, calm down, they won't disappear."

As they got closer, Quatre edged away from the kids hogging the majority of the animals and tried to call one of the goats over. The one he was aiming for was dark brown with a cream chest. As it had no horns, Quatre supposed that it was a doe.

"She's pretty," Quatre said, "doesn't her face look like freshly mixed hot chocolate?"

"Freshly mixed hot chocolate? Sheesh, Quatre, you and your analogies…."

Stretching from the doe's nose to her eyes was a strip of cream colored fur, while the rest of her face matched the dark brown color of her back.

"Come here," Quatre stuck his hand past the ropes like many of the younger children, "I won't hurt you."

The doe looked at him and bleated.

"Sheep," Duo cringed, "I came here for sheep?"

"She's a goat, Duo! She looks nothing like a sheep!"

"Fine. I came here for goats?"

Quatre was about to suggest that Duo leave, but another voice cut off his retort.

"She's just not any goat; she's a San Clemente goat."

Quatre looked up to see one of the Disney employees standing beside him, albeit on the other side of the rope. Making an odd clicking noise he held out his hand and the doe trotted up to him, letting the employee rub her face.

"The San Clemente goat was nearly bombed out of existence on their original home, San Clemente Island. The U.S. Navy has used San Clemente Island as a training ground since the 1930s, but unfortunately their activities endanger many animals who call the island home, including the San Clemente Sage Sparrow and the Island Night Lizard. Their training also affects the archeological study of the remnants of an ancient society preset on the island."

Duo and Quatre stared at him, processing the knowledge that he recited flawlessly, as if from a textbook. He was dressed in the usual khaki shorts and t-shirt as the rest of the crew, but his hair was far from normal. A shock of auburn hair fell over one eye, arching over his face as if it defied gravity. Due to the unusual hair style, only one of his eyes was visible, and it was currently watching the goat. Quatre felt himself swallow, his throat suddenly dry as he watched the boy with the emerald eye survey the animals affectionately. He estimated the man's age to be close to his own; his jaw line was strong and his chin was sharp. He had high cheekbones and his olive skin was dusted with light freckles, obviously acquired from working with animals in the Floridian sun.

"Does the doe have a name?" Quatre asked the employee who seemed content to just stand there, as if satisfied that he had said his piece and was left with nothing else to talk about.

"Clementine," he answered and pointed to some of the others, "that's Poppy, over there is Red, the black runt is Cheesy and sleeping on the playground bridge is Bridget-"

"Named because she likes the bridge?" Quatre had to ask.

The employee gave him a bemused smile, "No."

Quatre felt his cheeks burn.

He felt Duo bristle beside him, either from impatience or annoyance Quatre couldn't guess, "You're just full of information, aren't you? What are you, some goat guru?"

"I like animals."

"Hey Duo, I heard they have a veterinary exhibit. Maybe you can go and see if they have any medical procedures going on?" Quatre suggested.

"Most surgeries are performed in the early morning hours before eleven," the helpful animal assistant informed them, "you're a little bit late."

Quatre shot him an annoyed look. Honestly, he had just wanted to get rid of Duo for a few minutes.

"Yeah?" Duo put his hands on hips, "Well maybe I'll go check. It has to be better than sitting around here and smelling goat piss anyway."

And with that Duo stalked off, leaving behind a very embarrassed Quatre.

"I'm sorry. He didn't really want to come here, but I insisted. He prefers rides to animals," Quatre apologized to the Disney crew member.

The boy just shrugged. Quatre reached a hand to pet Clementine and finally was able to stroke the top of her head, the hair coarse under his palms.

"So do you know all of the animal's names?" Quatre asked.

The boy nodded.

"Do you work here full time?"

"No," the boy answered, "Just part time during the summers."

"Do you enjoy it?"

"I guess. I really love the animals, and my older sister works here as a trainer, so I get to see her do that. It's fun even if the pay isn't amazing," the boy glanced at him petting the goat, and then walked over to a grain dispenser, "here, feed her some of this."

Quatre giggled as the man emptied the grain into his hands, "Will I gain her eternal love and affection?"

"Something like that."

Clementine's lips were soft and ticklish against his palms.

"So I know all the goat's names, but not the name of goat herder. What do you go by?" Quatre glanced up at the attractive man beside him.

"Trowa."

"Pleased to meet you Trowa," Quatre said as the goat nipped his fingers, "and pleased to meet you Clementine."

Trowa leaned against the post, "So, are you from around here or just visiting?"

"Just visiting," Quatre smiled, "I'll be here for a week."

"You're traveling with that other guy?"

"Duo? Yeah, he's my best friend."

"You guys staying at one of the Disney hotels?"

"Yep, All Star Sports." Quatre blushed, realizing how much information he was giving away.

"I've never been to that one."

"Oh!" Quatre blushed deeper, having caught himself almost inviting the young man over. Sure Quatre, why don't you just give him your room number? That will go over real well.

"It's nice, especially considering its price. But this is our first day here."

"Well, if you're into shows I'd recommend seeing the Festival of the Lion King; the last and first shows are the best to attend as there are less people. If your friend doesn't mind sitting for a half hour, it's well worth the wait."

"Thanks," Quatre smiled shyly, "got any other tips?"

"There's a show tomorrow night in Magic Kingdom, it's supposed to be a real party. There's going to be dancing, music and fireworks. It's aimed towards the older crowd, as all the high school kids are out of school and the college students are coming back for the summer holidays."

"Now that sounds right up Duo's alley," Quatre glanced behind him, "speaking of Duo, he looks ready to leave." Duo had just come out of a building, hands in pockets, walking towards Quatre.

Quatre stood up, and after giving a parting pet to Clementine's head, he held out a hand to Trowa, "Thanks for your time, Trowa. Maybe I'll see you at that party, eh?"

"Maybe," Trowa's lips curved into the first smile Quatre had seen from the boy, a minuscule lifting of the corners of his lips.

Quatre waved goodbye, hearing Duo call his name, but was stopped by Trowa's voice.

"Wait, I'm afraid I didn't catch your name."

"It's Watson."

The smile grew wider, "See you later, Watson."

Quatre let Duo drag him off, chatting about Fast-Passes, but Quatre only wished he could have heard Trowa say his real name.