Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Wilderness ❯ There's a HOLE in my BUCKET ( Chapter 8 )

 

Wilderness

By Dentelle_Noir

 

Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing, duh. Don't you find this as redundant as I? I hope so.

 

Warning: Eventual yaoi. Man bashing.

 

NOTE: I'm giving Wilderness a bit of a re-haul and edit! Mostly from the middle on arethe larger changes, but the earlier chapters have more format and minor wording changes. Look for new chapters soon, though!

 

 

Chapter eight: There's a HOLE in my BUCKET

 

Wufei stepped up behind Quatre. Still standing dumbstruck at Trowa's praise and poked his back to jumpstart him back to reality. Which he did. Jump that is. About fifteen feet.

 

About to try and formulate something to say to the Chinese boy with the questioning eyebrow and knowing smirk, someone else chirped in.

 

"Did I just hear what I think I just heard?" it was Milly, stepping up behind the group with Mr. Chang slightly behind. He looked fairly perturbed.

 

Oh hell, now the guide was even going to hate him because he found out Quatre was gay-- not that he even said it or anything!

 

"He was just hitting on you." Milly deadpanned, than locked an accusing glare to the scarred blonde. At that point, of course, Omar walked into the discussion, never one to be far from Mr. Chang for any length of time, just in time to hear his son was being hit on... By Trowa.

 

Oh dear God, the sky was falling!

 

Glaring for all he was worth, Milly took a menacing step towards Quatre. Milly stooped enough to be eye level with him, the look making Quatre want to run away. Very, very quickly. Damn Wufei for being in his flight path.

 

Then abruptly, Milly straightened and swiveled towards Wufei, his face heartbroken, "What does he have that I don't have? I'm an attractive man! I've asked and asked, and pleaded, and bribed. Hell, I've even got on my knees and BEGGED him to let me take him to dinner. I even said HE could take me to dinner if he so chose. And he turned me down FLAT each time! Each TIME! I thought he was Asexual or something for a while. Christ! He never hits on anyone, Not since he broke up with Troy four months ago. And then, all of a sudden, he's flirting! With Blondie! I want to know. What does he have that I don't?" Milly ranted, pointedly looking to Wufei, still wearing the tight black backless shirt and low hanging white pants.

 

"He's cute. You're dominating." Wufei answered deadpan to the drama.

 

"I can pretend to be all `damsel in distress' if that's what will get him to go out with me!” Milly proclaimed completely serious. It was quite disturbing to see.

 

"I mean LOOK at him!" He explained to the adults watching the scene Milly was making. "He's fucking HOT! He looks like a centerfold pin up! AND he does gymnastics! Do you realize what that means? He's a gymnast! And best of all is he's single, and gay. I mean what the hell else could I wish for!"

 

"How about someone who has actual interest in you?" Wufei snorted, rolling his eyes at the man's rather blatant display of feminism.

 

And Quatre looked on, only one thought going through his head: "These people are supposed to be manly?"

 

 

A bit less tired compared to the day before, Quatre sat with the rest of the group, (And Trowa!) sitting around the large campfire. Most people were absorbed in little conversations with the people next to them, others just contentedly watching the stars above.

 

To the onlooker, Quatre seemed one of the stargazers, but in truth he hardly noticed their twinkling. He was focused on Trowa, who was relaxing on a fallen log near the fire pit and silently watching the red and orange dancing flames. The light bouncing off his cinnamon locks played against the ruffling from the spring wind and all together he looked divine.

 

Not that Quatre hadn't thought so before, but he had never had his affection returned. Ever. The guys he had dated before (All two) he barely knew, and they just up and asked him out of nowhere and he ended up braking up with their answering machines after two weeks of not hearing from them after since their third date. And Trowa seemed like such a nice guy too. He seemed genuine, and sweet.

 

As if noticing that Quatre's gaze had drifted from pretending to be watching the stars to all out starring at Trowa, the object of his muse turned just enough to make eye contact. A little sheepish, Trowa smiled and let his eyes drop shyly away back to the fire.

 

Quatre went back to pretending to watch the sky again, actually getting interested in them for a while. They didn't have stars like that where he was from, it was a whole different world out there.

 

Then he felt a presence come near him and sit a few spots away. Close enough to talk, but not close enough to be even within reaching distance.

 

"Sorry about what I said earlier, Quatre. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable." Trowa voice was almost sad as he apologized.

 

Quatre gave a bit of a start, to engrossed in his musings to even notice that the person who moved was, in fact, the object of his thoughts. Trowa was casually leaning his arm on his crossed legs, wearing a nice tight shirt that stuck to his rippling muscles and showed off those hunks of arms so protective and strong that Quatre knew form experience could just pick someone up and wrap around them. He wasn't drooling, really.

 

"I don't usually just go out and say anything like that just because this sort of thing happens. I'm very sorry I upset you. It just came out. It shouldn't have, and it was very unprofessional of me. I hope you won't lose your trust in me." Trowa seemed to run out of words after that, but Quatre didn't mind. Trowa never struck him as the type who relied on words much anyway; his eyes told how sorry he was right away.

 

The overwhelming urge to comfort him bloomed inside Quatre, and he slid across the log to rest a hand on Trowa's shoulder. "I'm not upset, Just surprised is all. I wasn't even the one making the fuss; that was Milly. I never thought you swung the same way I do." Quatre crafted the last part to give Trowa the thumbs up as to his orientation. "I didn't mean to bother you by not saying anything back, I was just surprised and then Milly started his drama and then my dad… and Wufei… and everything just got in the way. And I didn't get a chance to..."

 

Trowa looked into the blonde's baby blues to see him nervous as ever and almost trembling. “...to thank you." Quatre finished.

 

Relief flooded through Trowa, a bright smile replacing the grim line, washing away Trowa's trepidation and relaxing his nerves.

 

Seeing the desired reaction, Quatre grinned, and shifted back to his spot, but not before letting his fingers trail lightly down from Trowa's shoulder and ghost across Trowa's well-muscled arm. He needed a drool cup.

 

"So, are you from here, Trowa? You seem friends with our guide and you're a ranger here, right?" Quatre sparked up conversation.

 

"No, I'm not at all. I'm from a lot of places really, my father was in the army and we moved around everywhere. I came here through a program that the government has out. Between High School and College, they send out students to be rangers in the provincial parks, which this trip goes through in the next few days. I got to know Zechs- that's what his brother and sister call him anyway, you call him Milly- when I came here about a month ago. I also knew him before, though. He's the best friend of my canoe mate Treize, who I met while we lived in Utah for a while. Zech's also my Best friend, Heero's, stepbrother. It was Heero that got me into this outdoors stuff." Trowa hadn't actually spoken so long about himself in awhile, and he found he didn't mind when it was Quatre he was talking to. He seemed enraptured by Trowa's rather dull tale.

 

Just about to ask Quatre to share now, he saw movement behind the boy and the tired and cold looking Chinese boy plopped down directly beside Quatre, between the two.

 

He moved his loose strands away from his eyes and looked at Quatre, seeming less hostile than he had in the last few days and actually a little depressed more than anything. Then the rudeness of it all smacked Quatre in the face! First, he was still wearing Wufei's sweater that he had lent him after he fell in the water, and second he hadn't introduced Trowa to Wufei.

 

About to do intros, Trowa beat him. "How' the trip so far, Fei?"

 

Wait a minute. When did Trowa meet Wufei?

 

"Dull. We're not even going to be taking on the class four and fives in the river off-shoots on this trip. It's a straight amateur run that's only taking this long because of the "adventure stops" as they so call them. They actually made me wear a harness to get up that cliff, you know. Zechs and you both came up bareback, and do you think they let me. Hell no. I'm an insurance risk while in this stupid little tour group."

 

Wow. Quatre was surprised at how easy Wufei spoke with Trowa, as if he'd known him. But the Zech's thing also kicked in. If Wufei called him Zechs too, then they knew each other. And if Wufei knew Zechs, and Trowa knew Zechs then Wufei could've known Trowa too because Trowa knew him. Quatre wasn't quite sure on the logic there, but it sounded good and explained the ease of speaking. At least he thought it did.

 

"What's bothering you Fei?" Trowa cut in sharp and quick, not letting him dot around. Almost immediately, Wufei bristled and twitched, his face tightening. But he refused to speak on the topic.

 

So now Quatre knew something WAS bothering Wufei. He was all agitated ever since they left the main lodge. But Quatre couldn't think of anything happening there that would bother him.

 

Ready to go back to his conversation with Trowa, Quatre opened his mouth and was just about ready to speak when he heard the oddest sound from the trees behind him.

 

It sounded like an echo, but gurgled by the sounds of the forest creatures, the people talking, and the river running. But after a few seconds, most of the camp quieted to hear, the noise coming clearer, rhythmic; like a song.

 

Then a few mumbled words could be made out. It was defiantly a voice that seemed to be singing, "Wet ...Henry. Dear, .... Wet it..." Quatre made out.

 

A few seconds later, the sound got closer and a bit clearer, "...What shall I ...Wet... Elisa. What..."

 

The voice was clear now, and the rustling of trees was visible. No one was really scarred by the person (obviously, what else could sing) and most were just watching to see the look of mortification when whomever realized they had an audience.

 

"With your, bucket! ... Henry...With your Bucket, Dear Henry, Dear Henry, Wet it." With the last sentence, the shrubbery parted and a figure emerged, the light of the fire shadowing it until the last few steps were taken.

 

It was a boy, about Quatre's age, with dark pants --save the bright yellow reflective stripe down the side-- and a dark shirt with the imprint of a cross on the front in glittering silver. But the most distinctive part of the boy was the long braid trailing behind his swaying form.

 

He was silent for a minute, probably digesting that his singing had been broadcasted to them for over five minutes now. Quatre knew he' be mortified if that happened, he felt sorry for the boy. But all of a sudden, the boy took a deep breath and opened his mouth loud and clear, "But there's a HOLE in my BUCKET. Dear Elisa, Dear Elisa. There's a HOLE in my bucket. Dear Elisa, A hole!" He belted out. Seeing that no one was joining, and he started waving his hands in the air, "C'mon! You all know this one... There's a HOLE-" He stopped suddenly.

 

Violet eyes widened in pure joy and the boy practically trembled in happiness.

 

"YOU'RE ALIVE!!!" he screamed and bolted across the clearing and vaulted over the fallen logs in his path to leap up and onto Trowa's lap, grabbing his shoulders in a hug and plastering himself against Trowa, nuzzling his neck like a pleased kitten. He was even making mewing noises to accompany the act.

 

Trowa just sat there, his expression softened and lips lightly smiling. “Hello, Duo.”

 

That was it; Quatre was heartbroken. Why did it always happen? The guys he started to like turned out to be taken, normally by girls. But this little twist just served to add another layer to the disappointment.

 

Quatre felt a surge of indignation. Milly had said that Trowa was single. He said he had been single for four months. Did he actually set Quatre up like that! What a JERK! Quatre tried to ignore the braid that was practically slapping him as its owner kept moving all over Trowa. Quatre was disgusted, mostly with Milly. And Trowa. They must've BOTH been in on it to work so smoothly! And Trowa, looking all sincere, apologizing and all that! What a Crock! He was going to give him a piece of not speaking!

 

A few more minutes of Quatre stewing angrily and tapping his foot on the ground where he sat, silently showing anyone who noticed he was determinedly "not angry" and something caught his eye. The bushes across from him, a right angle from where the braided guy-thief came from, moved.

 

Soon emerged another boy, roughly the same height as the first mysterious addition with hair about the same color. But his was short, and unruly, as if the wind had taken it and tangled it in a bush.

 

But once he emerged into the firelight's reach all humor about him died in Quatre's mind. He looked ready to kill the first thing that moved with noting more that his glare. Quatre sure didn't want to mess with him, all right.

 

"I figured something drastic must've happened to shut that baka up." The boy's voice was cool and hard, but hinted with something like amusement maybe. Or as close to amused as this guy probably got.

 

"Heero." Trowa greeted quietly, sending the many curious eyes from the newcomer to Trowa, then back to the newcomer. Was Heero a word in some language, or his name? Wait. Trowa had said Heero was his friend.

 

"Would you mind removing your boyfriend from me? He's getting heavy." Trowa finished, only a light smirk to the boy to indicate he was joking.

 

The braided one jumped up, overly indignant and milking it for all it was worth. "Are you calling me FAT? Hmm, Trowa Barton!" His hands soared to his chest feigning hurt and playing the wounded girl, hiding his face and everything.

 

Then, pretending to dash away weeping, he ran right into the serious looking boy. Without a second thought, he wrapped himself around the boy's waist and curled to his chest, nuzzling the stoic boy's neck for all he could. "Trowa said I was fat, Heero." He tattled, “Go kick his ass. I'm too lazy to."

 

The angry boy, Heero must've been his name, wrapped his arms around the braided boy and smirked lightly, almost predatorily. "You're not fat, Duo. And only the anorexic gymnast would think so."

 

"And Maxwell is too afraid to even try to kick Trowa's ass. He knows he's no match." Wufei's voice cut into the scene.

 

Almost immediately, Duo jumped out of Heero's arms and bounded over and up in to Wufei, clinging like a turtle to him, just as he had to Trowa seconds earlier.

 

"FEI!!!" He wailed in delight, "You're here too!!! Hey, the whole gang is here! What're the chances of you vacationing with Zechsy AND finding Tro? That's Nuts! How's your trip? Did you miss me? Bet you missed Tre-OWW!!" Duo whined after the sharp knee to his calf shut him up.

 

"Yuy, Get him off me and shut him up before I do." Wufei ground out incredibly pissed, glaring daggers at Duo.

 

"Man, Fei-baby! Who pissed on your energy bar this morning?" Duo grumbled despite the snarl Wufei was developing as the boy continued to remain cuddled to his chest, his glare darkening in intensity and face reddening with rage every second.

 

Heero strolled up, and wrapped his hand around the cling's braid and began to pull. Slowly and surely he made the boy twist with it upside down, his hands stubbornly remaining around Wufei's waist so the long-haired boy was almost completely doubled back. "HEE-KOI!!! You sadistic Bastard! Let go of the hair!!" He whined loud enough to wake the dead, and certainly loud enough to make Quatre's head hurt with the high-pitched shriek.

 

It seemed everyone agreed with a wince. But at least Heero solved the problem. With a quick bend he covered Duo's complaining and noisy lips with his own and began to kiss him so heatedly that even a voice as demanding as Duo's stopped and he let go of Wufei to twist around and deepen the kiss standing. Hell, the two were going at it like wild chipmunks!

 

"We are in mixed company. Break it off." Trowa demanded softly, but it was obviously enough to be heard because they did the second he finished, Heero remaining his cool self, and Duo grinning like an idiot.

 

"Glad you're alive. It's slow paddling short one person." Heero greeted Trowa with a subtle nod.

 

"Love you too, Heero." Trowa responded, his smile sarcastic and lopsided as he reclined against one arm on the log. Quatre was reminded of the English men in those Sherlock homes movies. Cunning and beautiful in repose. "Why is it everyone seemed to doubt me breathing?"

 

"We found your pack." that caught Trowa's full attention. "It was in fairly good condition, I'm sure all of your gear and things are there. But the whole side pocket was thrashed." Heero said.

 

"Looked kinda' like a bear claw actually. We thought maybe you got cornered before you made your way back to the meeting spot." Duo said, his voice cheerful, but serious at the same time.

 

Taking a sideways glance at the ample amount of people around him to hear the exchange, Trowa chose his answer very carefully, "I got what I was looking for, but Nichol isn't stupid. Then Milly found me on the east river bank unconscious just this morning. How long have I been gone?"

 

"If you remember last night, then you were only out for the day. We found your stuff by the offshoot bank, very far from here. We knew we had to stay mobile and hopped you would catch up to the schedule or meet us at the station." Heero answered back, equally cautions of the many ears around him.

 

Milly started in, "You found one, but Nichol got to it first?"

 

Trowa nodded solemnly to the exchange. Milly was clarified, but they obviously were the only ones to understand. Stupid opaque language. Quatre hated not understanding what was going on around him.

 

At least his extreme jealousy was gone, seeing Duo obviously greeted everyone in the same way. And he was obvious taken by Heero, seeing as he was still hanging on him, at ease and comfortable at Heero's side with the older boy's arm lightly resting on the small of Duo's back.

 

Not that he had been Jealous to begin with. Quatre hadn't cared, really. He didn't. Not at all. Nope.

 

Okay, maybe he did.

 

But he didn't have much more time to contemplate his newfound internal knowledge when the bushes began to again rustle signaling the entrance of someone else.

 

This was just starting to turn out to be a party. Whee.