Love Thy Neighbor Part 5

10:00 a.m. Sunday morning and Duo was still wondering what to wear for his and Heero's trip to The Hamptons. He didn't think there was a certain style for visiting a nearly completed house but the property was located in a very ritzy area and he didn't want to look out of place.

Several outfits lay on the bed. He had narrowed his choice down to two; tan trousers and a pale blue knit shirt or nicer blue jeans and his favorite black cotton tee shirt with the Ocean Pacific logo on the pocket.

*Don't ever apologize for who you are.* echoed in his mind.

"Heero's right," Duo addressed his reflection in the vanity mirror, "I'm the only person I have to please." The blue jeans and OP tee shirt were finished off with lace up black boots and a blue denim jacket.

When Duo answered the knock on his door he found that Heero had also opted for the casual look with jeans, a green and white polo shirt and athletic shoes.

"Ready?" Heero wondered.

Duo made sure he had his wallet and apartment key then pulled the door shut behind him. "If you rented a car I want to pay half." He insisted as they stepped into the elevator.

"I have the use of a company car for the weekend," Heero replied, "but thank you for offering."

*********

"Fancy wheels." Duo commented taking a moment to admire the silver BMW with "Barnes & McKinley Architectural Design" printed on both doors.

Heero shrugged, "The firm has five of these." he stated, opening the driver's side, "Personally I think it's a waste of money but I suppose they have an image to keep up."

Duo settled into the soft leather passenger seat and buckled his shoulder harness. "Do you have a car?"

"No, don't really need one. The subway goes everywhere and if I want to travel I fly or take the train."

"I'd like to have a car someday." Duo said marveling at state-of-the-art consol with CD player, a satellite tracking system and several buttons that he couldn't identify. "Too bad I didn't bring some CDs; I bet the speaker system is great."

Heero checked the rear mirror then blended into the traffic flow. "You're welcomed to use the radio. Just don't blast out the windows." he teased.

Duo tuned in an easy listening station and set the volume at a pleasant level. At the third intersection Heero turned right and headed out of the city. "Is there any place in particular you'd like to have lunch?"

"Anywhere is fine."

*As long as we're together.* Duo finished the sentence in his mind.

*********

After a satisfying meal of turkey and cheese sub sandwiches, potato chips and lemonade at a roadside diner, Heero and Duo set course for The Hamptons.

The sky was a dazzling shade of blue. Fluffy clouds, that reminded Duo of marshmallows, drifted lazily on the warm spring breeze. The hard cityscape faded away into expansive areas of green grass carpeted with wild flowers. Rows of trees lined the highway and grouped in woody patches.

"This looks like Central Park without the park." Duo declared, then grinned as he realized how silly he sounded. "I mean...."

"Without the joggers and muggers and dog shit." Heero added with a grin that matched Duo's.

Gradually modest homes with swing sets, decks, barbecue grills and two car garages were replaced by larger estates with stone walls and security gates. Luxurious houses with tennis courts and swimming pools were tucked away amidst acres of flawlessly manicured lawns and forests of trees. Horses grazed in fields next to equally grand stables.

Duo gazed out the window at the splendor and wondered what it would be like to live that way. But he also had to wonder if the people who hid behind the walls and gates and security systems were truly happy in their self-imposed isolation.

He recalled growing up in Brooklyn surrounded by family and friends. Sitting on the front pouch in the cool of the evening talking and eating ice cream or playing stick ball in the vacant lot next to Smith's Market.

Sure he and his brother and sisters would argue and sometimes fight but they never stopped loving each other. His bluish-purple eyes stung. He sighed and blinked back the welling tears that threatened to spill over his long eyelashes.

Even though Heero couldn't see Duo's face he could read the slump of his shoulders and hear the unmistakable exhalation of a heavy sigh. "Something wrong?"

Duo straightened back against the seat but didn't look directly at Heero, "I was just thinking about home. I miss my family."

"Yeah I know." Heero responded not only with empathy for Duo but his own admission that he also suffered from being separated from his family.

*********

The next five or six miles were spent in silence. Duo continued his nature study out the side window. Occasionally, when shadows caused the glass to become opaque, he would catch a glimpse of his reflection. When he thought Heero was concentrating on his driving, he would steal a glance at the handsome architect.

Another sprawling estate...more multi-million dollar seclusion. Twin stone columns supported a black metal arch. "ROSEMONT" was scrolled across the apex; the letters intertwined with flowing vines and roses that were forever frozen in perpetual blossoms.

Equally ornate double gates, that matched the arch's graceful curve, were also decorated with three-dimensional vines, roses and what Duo guessed were weeping willow trees.

"This is it." Heero announced as he turned right and pulled up to the closed gates.

A square box with an electronic "eye" and a speaker was mounted on the left column. "Once the house is occupied a visitor will have to buzz the house or the family will use a remote control to unlock the gates but I have the entry code so we can get in now." Heero explained as he produced a small unit from his pocket.

"You have the code? I'm impressed."

Heero offered a thin-lipped smile, "As soon as the family moves in they'll change the code and most likely hire a guard. We just get to pretend we're rich for today."

With the touch of a button the gates swung back. Heero drove through then the same remote magic closed up the entrance.

Recently planted trees, with dome-trimmed bushes evenly spaced in between, flanked the wide driveway that ran a quarter of a mile. Beyond the trees Duo could see the house's third story looming against the sky.

A bit further along the lane and the rest of the Mediterranean style mansion came into view. High stone walls hid the actual entrance but Duo had no doubts of its grandeur.

Once the driveway reached the house it looped around a white marble scallop-edged fountain topped off with a Greek or Roman woman holding a stone jar. The lady's carved toga draped in delicate folds and bared a single breast. Her hair hung in soft tresses about her smooth pale face.

Water bubbled from the jar, cascaded down her body, washed over her sandaled feet then filled the bowl to be recycled back through the system.

A circular planting of tiny pink and white flowers with shiny leaves was a nice contrast to the fountain's hard base. The floral color pallet was copied in flowerbeds lining the courtyard, which served as another barrier to the house.

More wrought iron roses topped the courtyard walls and interlaced in the single iron gate. To the left and right large expanses of green lawn dotted with boxwoods and mature trees offered a breathtaking panorama.

Heero climbed out of the BMW and stretched his travel-weary legs. Duo came around the car's rear end and paused to gaze up at the glistening lady who returned only a stony stare. "Damn." he muttered as he took in the opulent surroundings.

Heero nodded in agreement. "You think this is something wait until you see the house. Come on." He searched on a Barnes and McKinley key ring until he found the correct key to open the gate and moved aside to let Duo go in first.

The courtyard floor and interior walls were covered with lemon yellow, brick red and tan tiles. More mulched beds framed the outdoor room but this time lilies in vibrant hues of yellow and orange lent a bold splash of color. Stone urns were filled with variegated vines and in the right corner a slender four-foot obelisk and a round ball made of the same marble as the fountain added the finishing touches.

A covered porch supported by thick wooden beams protected the stained glass paneled front door. Another key was selected and Heero and Duo stepped into an atmosphere of splendor that was totally opposite of their intercity lifestyle.

Their footsteps echoes on the foyer floor set in a checkerboard pattern of black and white marble squares. A massive crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling's center. Undressed windows that ran from floor to ceiling let in an abundance of natural light.

Straight ahead sets of stairs with brass banisters branched off on either side and formed a semi-circle exposed hall at the top. Under the elevated hall an archway led to the rest of the living areas.

The house had not been furnished but thick carpet eliminated the echo as Heero and Duo continued to explore Rosemont. As they entered the great room with its vaulted ceiling, Duo used a low whistle to accent his asset of the square footage. "This is bigger than half my house in Brooklyn."

The tour moved on. The dining area was as large as the great room. The library with it's mahogany book shelves had a fireplace trimmed in what else---rose patterned tiles. Then there were three more rooms that Heero had no idea of their intended usage and a guest bathroom with a separate sitting area.

"Would you look at this kitchen!" Heero exclaimed.

More black and while tiles, gray granite countertops, polished stainless steel sink and appliances. Dark oak cabinets specially designed for every conceivable function covered each wall. There was even a temperature-controlled wine cellar.

Duo was beginning to wonder if there were any tiles left anywhere in the world. "At least the decorating theme is consistent." he commented craning his neck up at the skylight over the center island.

The second story contained six rooms, each with a full bathroom; three had a private balcony. The third story had a matching number of rooms, bathes and balconies. From any balcony the view was spectacular. As far as the eye could see the landscape was beautiful. The breeze was sweet and birds warbled in every tree.

"Let me show you my favorite place." Heero announced excitedly as they descended the last few steps.

Extra wide French doors off the great room opened to the covered patio. More urns were filled with brilliant flowers. A smaller three-tiered fountain added a soothing sound. Four wicker chase lounges sat in a row. A round glass-topped table with a blue umbrella was ringed with four chairs upholstered in blue and white striped material.

But it didn't take a genius to figure why this was Heero's most desired space. A huge swimming pool dominated the yard. The afternoon sun shimmered on the water like a thousand diamonds, the sparkle made even more intense by the deep blue tiles lining the entire underwater surface.

Heero's pleased smile was all the proof Duo needed to know that the former swim team member was in his version of heaven. The sun's reflection danced over his tanned face and glittered in his cobalt eyes.

"Wow!" Duo whispered in awe of the sheer volume of water.

Heero nodded, "Can you imagine doing laps in there?"

A vivid picture of the first time Duo saw Heero swimming suddenly replayed in his memory. *Bulging biceps...muscular shoulders...a streamline body slipping through the water like lube on his....*

Duo closed his eyes and shook his head to dislodge the enticing images before his imagination shut down his brain and spurred his lower anatomy into inappropriate actions.

When Duo opened his eyes he was startled to discover that Heero had turned his attention from the tempting pool and had redirected it squarely on him.

Another shock quickly followed as Duo detected a subtle gleam in Heero's wide pupils. "I have an idea." the liquid-addicted architect declared.

The spark escalated into a full blaze that put Duo on notice that Heero had mischief on his mind. "Let's go swimming."

"Swimming?"

"You do know how to swim, don't you?"

"Yeah, I grew up with a community pool but...."

"But what?" Heero interrupted. Again his sight centered on the water.

Duo cast a quick glance at the pool then back at the man he now believed was beyond all rational thought. "We don't have any swim trunks." Surely Heero would understand his argument for common decency.

"Don't tell me you've never gone skinny dipping?"

It was official...Heero Yuy had dropped over the edge, plunged past the point of no return. Not to mention the pool did not belong to them and if they got caught they'd be in big trouble.

Now Duo felt he was the only voice of reason. "No I have not gone skinny dipping."

Heero leaned closer as if to share a secret. "Well, there's a first time for everything." he stated as he freed his shirt's hem from his waistband.

TBC...

 

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