Another drabble- Cali universe prompt: pirates, and haunted books for hellfire_angel. It's set a few days after the last Cali Halloween drabble.
Welcome, my friends, to our Christmas Delight.
Come witness a ghoulishly glorious sight.It's time for our holiday tale to begin
There's no turning back now
Please, come all the way in...
Haunted Mansion Holiday
Californication Halloween Drabble 4
Duo could just make out Heero's face in the dim light. He relaxed a little bit as he saw the corners of Heero's mouth curve up. Leaning close, he pressed himself against Heero's side, his attention focused on his lover instead of the stretching room around them.
Please, he thought, please let this work. Just a little... just enough to snap him out of it.
Heero slipped an arm around Duo's waist, pulling him closer as the elevator's doors slid open, and the ghostly voice invited them to walk down the short hallway to the doom buggies.
"I think we need a haunted mansion in the next book," Duo said as the doom buggy got underway. Heero's smile flashed for a moment and Duo felt a surge of hope. If he could get Heero thinking about plots.... surely that would be distracting...?
"You wanted to set the next book at a library, remember? How are we going to fit a haunted mansion in there?"
"Maybe there's a book about a haunted mansion and the main character gets pulled into it for a chapter or two? That would set the idea that the books are dangerous-"
"A haunted book...." Heero's voice dropped, his next words were so soft that Duo barely caught them. "Well, that's possible... all of mine have been..."
"Don't." Duo tightened his grip on Heero for a moment. "Don't think about it. Not now."
Heero turned, letting his lips brush over Duo's forehead. "Not now," he agreed.
But he was thinking about it. Duo could tell as he studied his lover out of the corner of his eye. He'd hoped the private investigator's report would settle things- Heero had been bad enough just waiting for the report... but now that he knew...
The ride ended and they walked out into the bright sunlight of an October afternoon in California. Heero looked at his watch and looked inquiringly at Duo. "What next? It's past one- are you hungry?"
Duo knew better than to ask if Heero was. "A little- what say we go on Pirates and then back to the hotel for lunch?"
"All right." Perfectly agreeable, just like he'd been ever since this morning when Duo had suggested a change of scene and dragged him out here, checking them into the hotel. He'd hoped the memory of there first time here would help, but... maybe this wasn't the best of ideas... Maybe he should've insisted on...
Duo moved a few steps and stopped, realizing that Heero wasn't with him. He turned and found Heero frowning slightly, a faint line between his eyebrows.
"Heero?"
Without speaking, Heero moved forward, catching Duo by the elbow and giving him a tug in the opposite direction. What was he doing?
Duo followed as Heero headed for the small refreshment stand. Maybe he was thirsty? Heero ordered two mint juleps and found a vacant table in a secluded corner of the patio.
The expression on his face made Duo's throat tighten. Please no...
Reaching out, Heero brushed his fingers over Duo's braid lightly. "Duo, I need to apologize to you- last night-"
Duo couldn't breathe. He wasn't...
"I didn't mean it, love. I didn't. I just-" Heero shook his head. "These last weeks- you've been so patient with me- between the nightmares and waiting for the report-"
"Heero-"
"I know it hasn't been easy- and last night- you looked so tired and worn out- you looked like you needed a break-"
Duo caught Heero's fingers with his. "But not from you!"
"I know," Heero squeezed his hand. "I know. It came out wrong- and I was too tired to be coherent- and then this morning when you suggested a change of scene- I thought you'd understood. But then- just now- I could see that you were worried still- and I realized- I'm so sorry."
Taking a deep breath at last, Duo squeezed back. "Apology accepted." He nudged Heero's cup closer to him. "Drink that, let's hit Pirates and then go back to the hotel."
His heart lurched a little at Heero's teasing smile. "For lunch?"
"Eventually."
OWARI
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