There were several openings to the roiling sky above, letting rain pour down and run away down the cave in small rivers. The noise of rain hitting rock made them both nervous. It could cover up so many other, more dangerous sounds.
"What?" Duo's light touched on something off to one side. He advanced cautiously and Heero covered him, watching up ahead, as he examined a cargo box. "This is new. It has one of those fancy print locks that scans DNA."
"Leave it," Heero told him, impatiently.
Duo ran hands over the box. "I could pick it. Every lock has it's weakness. What's inside could tell us who's on the island."
There was a sound up ahead. Duo's gun was up and nosing for a target along with Heero's. The box forgotten, they slowly made their way forward. The sound of wind and rain grew louder, but it didn't hide the definite sounds of nervous chickens.
"I smell rot," Duo announced.
It was strong, mixed with the smell of chickens and rain.
Duo's toe rammed into something. He shinned his light on it and then took a sharp step back, grabbing Heero and jerking him back at the same time. Something was decaying on the rock floor, ribs half exposed. His light found a few more mounds of decaying flesh.
"Pigs," Heero decided after crouching down, his shirt over his nose, and examining a corpse.
"Someone wasn't taking very good care of them," Duo said as he moved around them and found the chickens huddled on top of a rock, heads bobbing and eyes frightened and reflecting the light. "The chickens seem to be doing all right, though."
"Careful!" Duo snapped as Heero pushed past him to continue down the cave.
Heero looked back and shrugged, both irritated by Duo's concern and warmed by it. "If the pigs died, and no one bothered taking them out of here, then we have to assume that their owner isn't here to complain about the smell."
Duo rubbed the back of his neck and said, as he began to follow Heero, "Yeah, but still... just don't rush into things." His light played along a wall and found another opening. Air ruffled his bangs. "There's another opening down here. I can feel it."
Heero returned, hair sparkling with water. "The cave opening is blocked by a bamboo fence. The chickens were able to come and go over the top, but the pigs were trapped." His light played around the floor. "I am guessing, by the number of droppings, that our pigs starved to death."
Duo frowned, one hand fiddling with his cross. "So, why would our mysterious guy leave them? I mean, it was hard for us to get up here. Bringing pigs, who were probably not too crazy about the idea, all the way up here, must have been a bitch."
They found the remains of another bamboo fence in the side tunnel. This one had been broken, the rope bindings chewed through.
"The one at the entrance had wire bindings," Heero observed. "This one looks crude, slapped together."
"Maybe someone decided not to sleep with the pigs?" Duo guessed as he searched along the tunnel up ahead with his light."Our poor pig friends were definitely in here. Looks like they were munching on the supplies, too."
They sifted through what was left. Duo pulled a dead pocket computer out of the chewed remains of a duffel bag. "This guy had some credit flow," he said in appreciation. "I don't think even Preventers has enough outlay to afford this kind of tech. Charge it up in the sun, and it will probably tell us a hell of a lot."
Heero used the toe of his boot to nudge over scraps of paper and plastic wrap. "He had a dog. Freeze dried dog kibble."
"Pigs, dogs, chickens, and high tech," Duo snorted as he pocketed the computer. "What the hell was this guy doing?"
"Hiding?" Heero suggested.
"From what?" Duo wanted to know, not really expecting an answer. He wrinkled his nose and then looked troubled. "That doesn't smell like pigs."
"No, it doesn't," Heero agreed.
The air flow was bringing them the smell of human death, something they were both familiar with. Duo unconsciously took the lead, braid swinging as he moved around rough places on the rock floor. He had one hand a little behind him, as if warning Heero to stay behind and watch himself. It felt like something that an adult would do with a child; protective and caring. Heero wasn't expecting the rush of warmth and need that Duo's gesture caused in him. Is that what he truly wanted? Heero wondered. Did he want Duo to take charge and protect him? The feelings became so strong that he couldn't help saying "Duo?"
"Heero?" Duo responded.
Heero struggled, mind telling him that it was a very unprofessional impulse that he was following, while his emotions did their best to over ride and ignore that fact. Finally, Heero gained enough control to say, "Later."
Duo glanced back at him as he continued to walk and said, "I will hold you to that, Buddy.", and then he was yelling and his light was flipping end over end before it blinked out.
Heero leapt forward to help Duo and suddenly found the cave floor dipping down sharply. His feet went out from under him and he slid down the natural ramp in a rush. He scrabbled for some sort of hold and his elbow slammed into rock hard enough to make his senses reel with the pain. He was falling, then, limbs flailing at air, as he took a long drop and then landed on his side on rock floor.
Heero gasped for air, pulling his injured arm, throbbing and shooting with pain, against his chest, as he struggled to sit up. His light, along with Duo's, had made the drop safely and their light was telling him too many things at once for his shocked mind to process.
Two decaying bodies were close by. Duo was unconscious or dead, on the ground beside them. They had fallen into a vertical cave, the lip far up above them, and there wasn't another way out that didn't include shrinking themselves to impossible sizes to fit through small openings in the rock. The air was flowing from those openings, chilling the sweat of fear on his skin.
"Duo?" Heero choked out and moved on his knees to Duo, still gripping what felt like a broken arm against his chest. "Duo?" he called more frantically and was rewarded with a groan as he reached Duo's side.
"What the fuck?" Duo said through gritted teeth. "I feel like a transport plane rammed into me."
"We fell," Heero explained. He reached for one of the lights and made Duo blink against it's brightness as he checked Duo over for head injuries. "How bad?" he asked.
Duo felt in his mouth with his tongue. "I think I broke a tooth." he slowly sat up and then grunted in surprise."I'm okay. Just had the wind punched out of me, I guess. Lots of bruises and scrapes,but... nothing broken. You?"
Heero tried to move his arm and hissed with pain. "Broken arm. Bruises scrapes."
"Shit!" Duo eyed the walls of the cave. "How the hell do we get you back up there?"
Heero motioned to the dead bodies, one obviously a dog. "Maybe the broken arm isn't the issue? He didn't climb out of here."
"Maybe he was injured, like you?" Duo pointed out. "or he died right away?"
Heero played the light over the two bodies and grimaced. "Not right away. I think he ate the dog."
___________________________
"Odds of cell working down here, even if the storm just blew over?" Duo checked his cell and then pocketed it again. "Zero. Why does technology always suck the most when you really need it?"
"They will be coming for us, once the storm blows over," Heero reminded him.
"But they won't be looking down here," Duo retorted as he slowly stood up and checked to make sure that his legs were sound. Satisfied that he was all right, he cracked knuckles and eyed the walls for a likely way up. "I'm going to believe that our mystery guy was too injured to climb out of here, or that he just didn't have the skill. I can make this."
When Heero didn't say anything, Duo snorted at him, "Not going to tell me not to? That I might get hurt? That I have a chance in hell?"
Heero shook his head with a grimace. "I don't like the stink. Get us out of here."
Duo grinned. "You got it." He leaned in close to Heero, dog tags and cross clattering together, and eyes wicked, as he asked, "No good luck kiss?"
Heero only had to lean the smallest bit to bring those wide lips against his. Duo's eyes dared him. They stood like that, poised, for what seemed an eternity, and then Heero was grunting and looking away as he urged, "Climb."
Duo sighed, giving Heero a long suffering look. "Yes, sir."
Duo kissed his cross, rolled his shoulders to loosen up, and then began to climb. Heero shone his light upwards to help him find holds. It was a long arduous task and Duo paused often, his panting breath audible to Heero. When he finally reached the top, Heero felt a wave of relief.
"Back in a minute," Duo called down to him.
Left with the corpses and the stink, Heero moved as far away as possible and leaned against the rock wall, his injured arm cradled against him. He was surprised at how sharp the rock was. It dug through his clothing and made him uncomfortable enough to straighten and pace instead.
"Problem," Duo finally called down.
Heero didn't want to hear that. "Problem?" he echoed.
"I unwound the lines on the barriers," Duo explained, "and tied them together."
"Not long enough?" Heero guessed.
"They're long enough," Duo replied, paused, and then admitted, "Pulling you up is going to be the problem. There's nothing to tie the rope off to and you're going to be a dead weight with your injured arm."
"And?" Heero wondered, knowing that this shouldn't be enough to stop his rescue.
"I cut up my hands pretty bad climbing up. The rock is like glass shards," Duo admitted.
Heero looked at the corpses, knowing the only safe course of action. "After the storm is over, go to the beach and wait for Preventers to come. I'll.... I'll have to stay down here until then."
"Like hell!" Duo retorted. "I'm not leaving you with that shit down there. It might take them days to get here, depending on how bad the storm is. There has to be something that I can use..."
Duo went away again and sounds echoed down to Heero as the man searched.
Heero plucked his shirt up over his nose, but it hardly cut the stench or the feeling that it was bad enough to eventually kill him. He was being irrational, he told himself. He was perfectly safe. He could wait. Duo didn't have to risk them both trying to get him out of there.
It warmed him, thinking of Duo desperately trying to take care of him. It occurred to him, that this might be the thing that he really needed, not control, not someone taking charge of him, but someone who cared enough to make certain that he was safe. Heero couldn't remember a time in his life where that had been true of anyone that he had known. They had all thought him capable, or had simply not cared about him at all.
Heero blushed and ducked his head in embarrassment as he realized the ramifications of his new self awareness. Did he need a mother? A father figure? Was he looking for a strong man to show him a parent's love? If that were so, then why would he also have a powerful sexual need for Duo as well?
Confusion made Heero start guiltily when Duo reappeared."I used the barriers to make a carry bar for you," Duo called down to him and began letting down a crude rope with bits of lashed together bamboo at the end of it for Heero to sit on.
"You still don't have anything to tie the rope to," Heero reminded him. "How will you pull me up without any leverage and injured hands?"
"I have it worked out," Duo called back to him irritably. "You just sit tight and let me handle it."
Heero grabbed the rope and put the bar under him. "Ready!" he called back up, though he wasn't certain what he was ready for.
The rope went tight. Heero couldn't see Duo above him, but he heard the man say, through gritted teeth, "This may take some time. I know you're arm hurts like hell, but if you can use it at all, now is the time, Baby!"
Baby? Heero felt that warmth again mixed with his surprise when the rope started inching him upwards.
___________________________________________
His arm wouldn't lift and his hand could barely close. Heero tried with his good hand and pushing on the rock with his feet, to make up for that lack, every time he inched upward. He could hear Duo panting and groaning and Heero had to wonder how he was accomplishing the feat. By the time he reached the lip of the hole, and the laborious task of pulling him to safety was done, his incredulous mind had worked it out.
"Idiot!" Heero growled as he ignored pain and managed to sit up. Duo was seated in front of him, rope wrapped around his waist and feet digging into bamboo that he had made into a brace across the width of the cave. His hands were bloody and rope burn marks were livid from his arms to his elbows.
Duo grinned weakly at him and then let himself collapse backwards in exhaust ian, to stare up at the rock ceiling and recover. Heero fumbled to untie him from the rope and then saw that it wasn't only attached to Duo. The man had tied the end to a fetid pile of pig corpses.
"Just in case," Duo panted. "Wouldn't want you falling again, because I didn't measure up."
"Measure up?" Heero echoed in disbelief., but then looked down into Duo's face and said softly, "Thank you."
Duo's grin warmed, but he was trying to sit up again and saying, "Let's get the hell out of here. I don't care if it's still storming, or not. I'm sick of the smell."
Heero nodded in agreement and they both struggled to stand.
"How are you?" Duo wanted to know as they began a hobbling walk back down the cave, leaning on each other for support.
"Dizzy... in pain...," Heero replied."You?"
Duo was quiet for a long minute and then he replied, as they passed the curious chickens, "Sprained wrist from pulling you up, hands are cut pretty bad, some of the bamboo splintered and went through my boot into my left foot, rope rash galore."
"Climbing is going to be difficult," Heero said worriedly.
Duo thought about that as they made their way back into their part of the cave. "Maybe we could just wave from the entrance? They might see us."
"Duo," Heero began, but Duo snorted.
"It was a joke," Duo told him, but then more seriously, "I don't want to chance you falling, but we're going to have to. I wish there was another way down from here."
"Duo..." Heero stopped them short of the entrance. Duo looked at him curiously. Hero struggled to form what he was feeling into words. Finally, he settled on, "I am... interested... in you. I do want..."
Duo smiled and slid an arm around his waist, holding him firmly, as he said, "Heero, love you, but this really isn't the time, okay? Save it."
Heero felt a flush of embarrassment and nodded tightly. Love you, Duo had said, and Heero held on to that for comfort, wanting it to be more than just a flippant response.
After binding their injuries as well as possible with ripped parts of clothing, belts, and lengths of broken bamboo for bracing, they made their way to the entrance. There, they found that the storm had passed. Sun was shimmering through holes in dark clouds, and a devastated jungle stretched out before them. Pools of water sparkled everywhere, peeking through where the trees had been knocked down entirely and foliage stripped by the force of the winds.
"Shit!" Duo swore as he stepped over the fallen palm tree in the entrance and then surveyed the way down the rocks. "Preventers won't be coming right away. Turbulence has got to be hell." He pulled out his cell and called, almost with an air of hopelessness. They were both surprised when Preventers answered the call.
"Evac," Duo told them. "Both injured, though nothing is life threatening. We'll be at beach coordinates for bug out."
Preventers confirmed that turbulence would keep them grounded for hours longer.
Duo ended the call and looked at Heero with an expression of resignation. "Ready for this?" When Heero nodded, he added, "Let me go first. If you start falling... I might be able to help you."
"And we'll both fall together?" Heero felt a flutter of trepidation, but he leaned over and gave Duo a feather light kiss on the lips. "No. I'll go first."
Duo's eyes had gone wide and startled, but that was quickly replaced by concern. He began to argue, but Heero was already easing himself slowly down the rocks.
Duo had wrapped his hands in cloth to protect them as much as possible. That made him as awkward as Heero with his broken arm. His punctured foot and sprained wrist were also liabilities. He exuded an air of confidence though, an almost manic grin on his face, as he followed Heero down. Wind whipping his braid and short bursts of rain from the dregs of the storm making his skin look slick and shiny, he seemed an unstoppable force; a fearless part of nature.
Heero couldn't help looking up and admiring the man. It seemed incredible that he didn't have a dozen lovers, waiting for him back on the mainland, that he had been trying to gain Heero's trust and attentions for a long while now. Heero didn't know what there was in himself that was worth that level of interest.
Duo looked down and the smile changed to warm concern. "All right?" Duo called down.
"No," Heero replied, "But I'll make it."
His truthfulness got him a laugh. He could tell that Duo was riding on adrenalin and he could feel it in himself, giving him the strength he needed and helping him ignore the pain.
Reaching bottom was more of a joint collapse. Feet touching rock and sand, allowed knees to buckle in safety, and they both lay in a heap, breathing hard, and letting a light drizzle of rain cool them off.
Duo turned his head and grinned at Heero. "We made it," he said unnecessarily.
"We did," Heero replied, staring up at the height that they had managed. Very faintly, he could make out a chicken, staring back down at him. A small cluck reached his ears.
"Fucking chickens," Duo muttered, seeing it as well.
Heero levered himself up. "We should get to the beach."
Duo nodded and it was a combined effort to get them both onto their feet. They staggered, supporting each other, as they navigated the mangled jungle. When they reached a clean pool of water, though, Duo pushed off of Heero and began stripping.
Heero began to protest, but then imagined a long jump ship trip back to the mainland stinking of sweat, blood, and dead things. He started stripping as well, too weary and in pain to even care about modesty or his attraction to Duo.
Duo struggled out of his last bit of clothing and then simply allowed himself to fall into the water. Heero followed more carefully. The water stung wounds, but it felt wonderful on his skin as he allowed himself to float.
"God damn, you're handsome!" Duo exclaimed softly by Heero's ear. Heero stopped floating and stood up, chest running with water, as he turned to face Duo. Duo stared up at him, impish smile and sparkling eyes defying pain and exhaustion for strong desire. When he stood up as well, water cascading off of him, that desire was evident.
Heero began to move away, blushing, but Duo caught his hand and stopped him. He slowly pulled Heero to him, cautiously, until their bodies met and pressed together. Duo nuzzled Heero's neck and breathed warm air against his pulse there. "Stop running away," Duo begged.
"I want..." Heero struggled to say, to express what he needed most.
"I know," Duo sighed and nuzzled along Heero's jaw line until he found Heero's lips. A hand went to the back of Heero's neck, holding him firmly for the deep kiss. It wasn't controlling. Domination wasn't part of it. It was confident ascertain, strength, and the will to lead Heero where his battered soul was too timid to go.
Take me, Heero thought, and knew at last exactly what he wanted, what he needed. He had needed someone to care enough, to show him that he could be trusted to take that lead, and not hurt him. How could he not trust a man who had been willing to suffer pain and death for him?
Heero opened his mouth to the kiss, and leaned into Duo harder, feeling his own response. Duo chuckled and slid his injured hand to the small of Heero's back. He began to say something, but was interrupted by a low growl.
Both of them turned their heads as one and saw the three skinny dogs skulking around their pool of water. They were all hounds, and not overly large, but as a pack they were capable of bringing a man down.
"Goddamit!" Duo exclaimed. "Now what?"
"They aren't feral," Heero said, "The man in the cave hasn't been dead that long. They don't know us, but they may not attack if we are careful."
"Show no fear?" Duo guessed. When Heero nodded, he glared at the dogs and asked Heero, "I almost had you, didn't I? One more lousy second and I would have been...?" When Heero nodded, agreeing, Duo's glare intensified and he snarled, "Okay, I think I've worked up enough hate for those fucking dogs. Let's face them down and show them who's boss."
________________________________________________________
"I think being firm, yet not threatening, will be a lot more effective," Heero protested. "I've dealt with dogs before."
"Yeah?" Duo frowned at the circling dogs. "You try it, but if one of them bites you, I'm eating them for dinner."
Heero wasn't as certain as he sounded, but he knew his theory had been tested on at least one group of dogs. He slowly moved out of the water, Duo one step behind him and alert for an attack.
"Come on, puppies," Heero wheedled. "Good dogs. Good Puppies." He leaned down in a play gesture, one hand out.
"That doesn't sound very firm," Duo commented skeptically as the dogs slunk uncertainly, sniffing for Heero's scent, as if trying to recognize him.
"Come on, puppies," Heero continued, ignoring him. One slunk forward, sniffed his hand, and then sprang away again.
"Hungry?" Heero tried. "Puppies want some kibbles?"
"You sound stupid," Duo complained. "I don't think this is work-"
Two of the dogs started wagging tails and slinking to Heero's feet, submissive and eager for something to eat. Another came forward, still nervous, but the others hung back, one of them barking as if to ask the others what they thought they were doing.
"Quatre was better at this," Heero sighed as he kept calling to the other dogs.
"I think you turned enough of them from the dark side," Duo replied. "Let's get out of the water before I turn into a permanent prune."
Heero rubbed behind ears and patted the dogs soothingly. When one licked his hand, he decided it was safe enough, and moved out of the water. One of the dogs ran into the jungle, afraid, and one continued to bark and growl, but the others that had been won over were enough to sway the pack.
They dressed and limped to the beach, the dogs in tow.
"Crap!" Duo swore as they saw how much the storm had changed everything. Their temporary camp was completely gone. "Good thing we didn't stay on the beach."
Heero nodded and sat down on the sand. After eying the dogs nervously, and assuring himself that they were going to behave, Duo sat beside him. He snaked an arm around Heero and pulled him until Heero could lean again him. Now that their adrenaline was running out, they were both feeling their wounds.
"Shouldn't be too long," Duo said, but he was thinking, eyes sliding sideways to study Heero's exhausted, pain pinched face. "When we get back," he said. "You aren't going to forget about all of this?"
Heero frowned, confused.
"I mean, " Duo explained, "Island paradise. Naked, sexed up, damned drop dead gorgeous, ex gundam pilot and Preventer agent, sun surf, danger... It might all be chalked up to 'nice while we were here', but back in the real world..."
Heero felt a sharp pain in the location of his heart. "Is that what you want?" he asked. "I've heard other agents talk about this sort of thing. If this is going to embarrass you, if you'd rather just forget it ever happened, I... I don't think that I would like that." Heero confessed honestly. "I would honor your decision, though."
Duo blinked at him and then grinned. His hand was out of commission, but he rubbed Heero's cheek as gently as he could with his wrist. "Stupid!" he growled. "If you're okay with this, I'm not about to forget about it. I intend to lock you in a room and not be interrupted again. All you have to do is say the word."
"Word?" Heero echoed.
"Yes," Duo chuckled. "Just say, yes."
Heero smiled. "Yes."
Duo leaned into him and kissed him. The wrist kept Heero firmly in place for it. Not controlling, just strong, assured, and protective. Heero felt safe in that hold, Duo's lips telling him how much Duo desired and loved him.
A dog licked Heero's face and Duo caught some of it. He recoiled and glared. "A locked door," he growled. "That's all I want. A gundanium lock that nobody can get through, not dogs, not chickens, not hurricanes."
"I'll arrange it," Heero promised as he fended off the dog.
The dogs settled and Heero felt pain and exhaustion trying to pull him under. His eyelids drooped and he battled against going to sleep completely, every instinct telling him that there might be more danger to guard against.
"I'm on point," Duo told him, pulling him close. "Let it go, Heero."
Heero did let go, then, Duo's voice, full of confidence, reassuring him that Duo was alert to their surroundings, that he was ready to defend Heero, and himself, against anything.
Heero awoke some time later, knowing that they weren't alone any longer.
Duo's voice was telling him, "Stay still and let these guys do their job, Heero."
"You two look comfy," a voice, Heero recognized as Quatre's said in amusement.
"You can can the shitty jokes," Duo retorted.
"I wasn't going to joke," Quatre replied, more seriously. "We were worried about you two, but you survived, and you seemed to have figured some things out, as well."
"I don't know that we have," Duo replied, sounding uncertain. "You know Heero... Mr. Clam Up. Things might change once we get back to-"
"Won't change," Heero slurred. "Not Mr. Clam Up."
Heero tried to get his eyes to open, but he couldn't convince his exhausted body to comply. He felt hands on him and heard other men moving around them. The revving engine of a jump ship filtered into his consciousness and he realized that he had to be very far gone, for that not to have registered earlier.
Duo said in his ear, "Sorry about that. You're not Mr. Clam Up. That was stupid to say."
Heero felt himself lifted onto a stretcher and Duo was suddenly not there, his warm presence gone. Heero felt panic begin to rise. These men would expect him to be invincible, unfeeling, able to stand anything. He reached out a hand, blindly, and called with desperation, "Duo!"
Duo sacrificed his own pain, from his injured hand, to take Heero's hand in a strong reassuring grip. "I'm not leaving your side," he promised, but then, as a medic piled equipment on top of Heero's legs, he shouted angrily, "Watch it, you Fucker! He's not made out of metal!"
The equipment eased off and Heero couldn't help a wide grin. He didn't care if it made him look foolish. His feelings were too strong, too overwhelming to contain. He had finally found someone who cared about him, who understood him, and who loved him.
"Love you," Heero managed.
Duo's dog tags and cross rattle together as he bent low and kissed Heero's lips. He said against them in reply, "Love you, too."
There was a pause and then Duo said, "Hey, no chickens, dogs, or hurricanes interrupted us. Things must be looking up."
"Chickens?" Quatre repeated, dumbfounded.
Duo's reply was lost in the sound of engines as they moved to load Heero into the jumpship. Back to civilization, Heero thought. Once he was healed, he promised himself, he would show Duo just how much he loved him and that he would never hold back what he felt ever again.
End