Part 31
Birdsong.
The warm, earthy smell of a fall day. Sunshine. A gentle breeze. The faint buzz, far off, of a leaf blower. The minute crunch of tiny feet on fallen leaves.
Contentment.
Duo sighed and smiled in his sleep.
Don't want to wake up. Happy now. Home safe.
Outside sounds began to intrude on his contentment.
People. Voices. Not Banshee voices.
Duo frowned.
::I don't wanna get up.::
A familiar voice, very softly.
"He's still asleep. Don't bother him now. Any questions can wait."
::I know that voice.::
"Sleep as long as you like, Duo. Everything's okay now."
::Heero.::
Duo rolled over, onto his side, relaxing at the sound of Heero's voice.
::Heero'll protect me...::
Something tickled his nose. He wrinkled it a few times, looking very much like a rabbit. The tickle came back, though. Duo opened his eyes a slit, noting that he was lying on grass. One arm was stretched out in front of him. A couple of feet away lay Heero, also on his side, watching Duo intently.
Duo blinked and smiled. "Hi," he said softly.
"Hi," echoed Heero. "I'm sorry we woke you."
"That's okay." He noticed blood on Heero's sweater, and a few scratches on his face. Events came rushing back to him. "Heero. Thanks. I knew you'd save us," he whispered.
Heero's gaze sharpened. His fingertips brushed Duo's lightly.
"I didn't do it, Duo. I couldn't get through the barrier."
"But..."
"You did it. You destroyed it. You saved yourself and Detective McLain." He saw confusion in Duo's purple eyes, and said quickly, "You blew it apart, Duo; I saw."
"No... How would I do that...?" He swallowed. "I don't have that kind of Magic..."
Heero brushed Duo's hand. Duo curled his fingers around Heero's hand.
"Maybe you do, and you just didn't know. Or maybe it was a stress reaction. It doesn't matter now. It's gone, and you're safe. We're all safe." Heero smiled, giving Duo's hand a squeeze. "Good job, Duo."
Sudden warmth invaded Duo's face. Heero didn't hand out "Good jobs" for just anything. And he was still holding onto Duo's hand.
"Oh..." Duo looked down at that strong, tanned hand wrapped around his thinner, paler one. "Am I blushing? I suddenly feel awfully hot."
"So do I," said Heero softly, as if just realising it. He reluctantly released Duo's hand and sat up. There was a time for play and a time for work. Damn.
Duo pushed himself upright as well. He leaned back on his hands for a few minutes, waiting for his head to settle.
"Dizzy?" asked Heero in concern.
"Just a little," Duo admitted. "It's gone now." He looked down at himself. "Ick! What's this?!"
Heero couldn't help grinning. "You blew it up. That's the... um... fallout?"
Duo's hands went immediately to his hair. "Oh, shit! It's all over me! Yuck!" He scrambled to his feet. "Can we go home? I've gotta get this -- this stuff off me!"
Heero chuckled at Duo's expression. The Banshee was one of the most fastidious creatures he'd ever met. "I'll check with the Forensics teams. They may need some more information."
Duo looked up sharply. "The cops! What happened to the cops? To Ryo?"
"They're fine. I told you that you saved yourself and Ryo."
"Yeah. Where are they?"
Heero pointed to one of the official Mundane vehicles. "Over there."
Duo headed toward the detectives, while Heero went in search of the Forensics officers.
Ryo sat on the trunk of a police car, wrapped in a blanket and his partner, Dee. He was drenched in the same nasty yellow stuff as Duo. Paler than parchment and trembling like a plucked bowstring, he looked up as Duo approached.
"Duo! You're okay?" he called anxiously.
Duo shrugged. "Yeah, except for this stuff." He wrinkled his nose distastefully.
Ryo gave him a sickly smile and nodded.
"Hey, um... Duo..." Dee began. "Thanks for... whatever you did."
Duo waved it away. "I don't have a clue what happened. I'm just glad you're okay. And I'm sorry I didn't get you out of the way in time."
"Not your fault," said Ryo. "How could you know?"
"Yeah. It's not like your toad friend said 'Monster Alert!' or anything, right?" Dee's anger and helplessness had evaporated as soon as he knew that Ryo was okay.
Duo lifted one shoulder. "Well, actually... that's pretty much what he said... That's why I wanted you out and away." He looked at Ryo. "I didn't see it until it was too late to just grab you. I'm sorry."
Ryo offered his hand and Duo took it. "Don't apologise. It worked out. What is it that pilots say? 'Any landing you can walk away from is a good one.' I'd say this was a good one."
Dee took Duo's hand with a firm squeeze. "Yeah. I'm still not crazy about this spooky-weird stuff, but you can do your thing with us again anytime. Well... Maybe not too soon again." He suddenly reddened and began fumbling in his pockets. "Crap! I need a cigarette!"
Heero walked up next to them, flicked into existence a lit cigarette, and handed it to him. "Try this."
Dee sucked in a lungful of smoke, coughed and nodded. "Thanks," he squeaked.
"We're free to leave," Heero said to Duo, Jake trailing up behind him. And to Dee and Ryo. "A pleasure working with you both. Mimsette says to send your dry cleaning bills to the Bureau. Or replacement bills, if that... stuff won't come out." Heero smirked slightly, and his eyes sparkled.
"Thank you," Ryo murmured in relief. A cop's uniform maintenance allowance didn't go very far for suits and sport coats. "Maybe we'll do this again sometime..." he began, trailing off as he saw the looks on the faces around him. "Or maybe just coffee the next time you're in New York City."
"I think I'd like that better," Duo replied dryly. "See you guys." He lifted his hand in farewell as Heero took hold of his arm.
They winked out of existence.
Dee blinked. "Ryo..."
His partner and lover smiled and leaned against him. "Just go with it, Dee. Just go with it."