Come here often? (Tags Quatre, Trowa)

[nevertellalie]

Since Quatre had helped him out when he first arrived, Duo always made sure to repay the favour as much as possible. He was settled in with the pack now and starting to find his own feet, so he was able to put aside a few things that Quatre might find useful to help out other down-on-their-luck people that stumbled to his door.
He gathered up the supplies and groceries that he'd picked up and headed over to Quatre's safe house. It was early evening, so he probably should have left earlier, but he knew the route like the back of his hand and he'd come far more prepared for a fight than he perhaps had the night he encountered a certain vampire.

Knocking on the door lightly as he arrived, he let himself in and peered around the hallway, trying to figure out which room to try first.

"Anybody home?" he called

Comments

[funambulism]

Unannounced guests were not uncommon to Quatre's household, but familiar faces certainly were. It's only a vampire's reflex that allows Trowa to quickly meld his brief moment of surprise into something neutral as he turns the corner to one of the few people he can prescribe a name to:

"Duo Maxwell."

It's not nice to see him again, or funny, or any of the other words that people usually assign to coincidences but it is definitely something. He searches for a moment for a way to describe what it makes his feel but only comes up with "annoyed." At the very least, he is annoyed to see Duo again, if nothing more than for the implications of his familiarity with the house. He'll have to look into that later.

"You shouldn't be here."

[nevertellalie]

Duo looks round sharply at the sound of his name, the voice at once familiar and unexpected, and his eyes widen when he sees the vampire. It was definitely the last person he'd expected to see here, despite the way the guy had walked him home the other night he just hadn't pegged him as the kind of person who would know someone as sweet and helpful as Quatre. Admittedly Quatre knew a whole lot of unsavoury people, but still, it was a surprise.

"I've got as much right to be here as you do, buddy," he pointed out defensively, straightening up slightly at the challenge. He felt a little more comfortable here, he was on familiar ground and he knew Quatre's rules, so he was a little more willing to stand up to the vampire.

[funambulism]

"Do you?" Although Trowa's words could be taken as a challenge, he speaks them thoughtfully, as if he's finally working out the clues of a great mystery.

He watches Duo for a considering moment before he shrugs and resumes his neutral countenance by leaning against the wall and crossing his arms. Okay, his almost neutral countenance: he is still an obstinate roadblock between Duo and the kitchen. He gives Duo an blatant look-over before a gesturing nod of his head at the bags of supplies he carries.

"What did he do for you?"

more real life fail, many apologies

[nevertellalie]

"Yea, I do," Duo replies firmly, not backing down whether the words were a challenge or not. He shifts the bags in his arms pointedly as he watches the vampire, wondering how easy it would be to just barge past him. Of course he won't, because Quatre wouldn't like it, and if a fight breaks out here he isn't going to be the one to start it.

"The same thing he does for everyone," he shrugs. He's not the only person Quatre's ever taken in and he's pretty certain the blonde isn't likely to stop any time soon. "Come on man, these ain't feather I'm carrying here..."

Re: more real life fail, many apologies

[colonially]

It's the sound of voices that brings Quatre down the stairs and into the kitchen to investigate. It's company isn't it? That's always interesting. The blond looks noticeably paler than normal -- and the reason for it is only just visible at the edge of his collar, the slightest glimpse of a bite mark at the juncture of his neck and shoulder -- and maybe just a bit rushed in getting himself together, but the smile that's already on his lips, that only widens when he realizes who his company is, is undimmed and warm as ever. "Duo! I didn't expect to see you today."

But it's a good surprise, clearly. Still Trowa's posture and the tension in the air is not lost on Quatre. He's too sensitive to emotions to miss it. He'd have to be dead asleep to miss it just now. He makes his way to the door that Trowa seems to be guarding. He reaches a hand out to settle lightly against the vampire's arm. "Trowa?"

What is this now? He glances between the two of them. "Have you two already met?" Guys. Come on. His friends need to be friends. He slips past Trowa, scooting quickly to see about taking some of what Duo is carrying off his hands.

X'D

[funambulism]

"Have you?" Trowa's question is accompanied by the slightest lift of his brow. There's a trace of sarcasm there, but it fades before it's even fully formed. He's not surprised Quatre knows Duo. Quatre has a habit of getting to know everybody, and a worse habit of bringing them home. It was only a matter of time before someone as lost as this Duo found his way there. Trowa gives a shrug, before he slides his hands into his pockets and moves position just enough to clear a path to the kitchen.

"Looks like your luck has improved," he says, a bit slyly to Duo.

Re: X'D

[nevertellalie]

Well, it doesn't take a genius to put the dots together, Duo had been quite protective of Quatre ever since the blonde first took him in (not dissimilar to the loyalty exhibited by, say, a pet dog, but nobody would dare point out such a comparison to a werewolf), so when he appeared looking paler than usual it was almost automatic to gove him a once over - and spot the bite marks. Even if he hadn't spotted them, the unusual paleness combined with Quatre's gentle familiarity would have given him some pretty strong suspicions, he had plenty of experience with that sort of thing after all.

"Just thought I'd drop round some groceries, in case you needed them," he held up the bags, ignoring Trowa momentarily in favour of flashing Quatre a grin. He can't ignore the question though, so he just adds a simple "we've met" before heading into the kitchen.

The comment made him glance sidelong at Trowa and he shrugged, giving him a cheeky smile "guess it has." He agreed.

[colonially]

The blond glances from Trowa to Duo and back, silent for a moment as he considers. It's obvious he's thinking; Quatre Winner has no real poker face at all. And he does wonder if the blood is really that bad between them. Of course Trowa is a vampire and Duo a werewolf which doesn't exactly predispose them to being the best of friends. But still they're in the same room. And talking instead of fighting, tense though it may be -- and calling it a conversation would probably be overly generous. He can work with this.

His smile resurfaces and he nods to Trowa's question. "Mmhmm! Duo is a friend," he acknowledges, sounding fairly proud of this fact. Once he's snagged some of the groceries Duo is carrying with a pleased thanks for the thoughtfulness, he heads for the kitchen. "I guess that means I don't need to do introductions then. But... now I'm curious."

A glance towards Trowa. Should he be curious here? Does he want to know? "I guess it's a small world anyway. You two haven't become sworn enemies or anything, right?" His expression threatens to morph into a pout at the thought.

my bad

[funambulism]

The shrug Trowa offers back is ambiguous at best. Technically, they're already sworn enemies just by the nature of what they are. He holds no grudge though, if that's what Quatre means. It's not his business to get personal, especially with strangers. The fact Duo has show up again is a mild inconvenience at best, but he's content to let that run its course. Should he prove to be a problem, Trowa will take care of it, and that will be the end of it. He's not particularly worried.

He ignores the glance Quatre gives him as he passes, but does follow the other man to the kitchen. As Quatre stops to unload groceries, Trowa skims an apple off the top of one of his bags and makes a retreat to sit on the kitchen counter. His scrutiny of the situation isn't subtle, but he chooses not to comment at this time. He's too busy appraising Duo's actions.

No worries :)

[nevertellalie]

Since Trowa doesn't appear to want to answer, Duo vaguely wonders if he did accidentally become mortal enemies with the vampire. Their encounter had been a little odd, Trowa had actually helped him out in the end, but he'd also stolen his ID, so Duo had honestly not been sure what to make of the whole thing.

"Sworn enemies?" he scoffed "Nobody would be enemies with me, I am far too entertaining and likeable." He was partly boasting to see if it annoyed Trowa, but mostly it was too try and keep Quatre from worrying too much, he didn't want to be a source of negativity for his friend.

[colonially]

The blond looks between them again. Oh there's something that he's not being told here, but that's fine. He'll get the story at some point, one way or another. Quatre Winner can be exceptionally persuasive when he wants to be, behind the innocent face. For now though, he'll let the matter rest and instead laugh at Duo's assessment.

"That is a point isn't it? Far too likable for that."

He'll start putting away the supplies that Duo brought, focusing on that, or at least looking like he's focusing on that. "I'm glad then. It'll be easier that way. I won't have to cast any creative spells," He's probably joking anyway.

Probably. But you can't really be sure, now can you? And then, added with another flicker of a playful smile over his lips as he glances to Trowa and his pilfered apple. "Still hungry?"

[funambulism]

"Likable?" Trowa mouths to Duo from behind Quatre's back.

Maybe it's a tease; a rare glimpse at a subtle sense of humor. Duo seems likable enough, by social standards or what not, but if he's looking for validation, he's asking the wrong vampire.
Trowa flourishes his tease with a raise of his eyebrow, short-lived as it is, for by the time Quatre turns back to him with his question, it's already gone, and he's looking back down at his apple.

Hm. He hadn't planned on going back out that night. Usually when he comes over to the farmhouse, he tends to stay for the evening (and sometimes the morning too). He's learned the invitation is always there, especially when Quatre starts talking like that. Duo, though, adds a complication, and one that Trowa's not quite sure yet how to solve. In a lot of ways he seems quite different than Quatre's regular customer, and Trowa's not quite sure what to make of that just yet.

"I don't know," he finally says, shrugs and looks to the clock on the wall. "Maybe I'll head back out."

[nevertellalie]

"Deal with it," Duo mouths back, but he's grinning as he does it. He's confident enough to not need Trowa's approval, but he does appreciate the fact that the vampire's attitude seems to have thawed just the tiniest bit. Maybe. Well, it looked like it anyway. Give him time and Duo would wear him down eventually.

"Don't worry about any fights. If you vouch for him Quat, he must be ok." he added to Quatre with a grin. He toyed mentioning giving the ID back, but he wasn't going to rat this guy out to Quatre just yet - no, he'd save that in case he needed it.

"I'm hungry," Duo nudged into their conversation again, giving Quatre puppy eyes. That was part of the reason he brought food around - sure he brought plenty to last, but he actually quite liked Quatre's cooking, it was better than his own and it always made him feel better. Possibly because it reminded him of that first time.

[colonially]

Quatre's gaze follows to the clock along with Trowa's. Hmm. Making an escape then? Well, he won't get in his way if that's what the vampire wants to do; after all, he's learned by now that there's something to be said for not holding too tightly. Still, that doesn't mean he won't try to coax him into changing his mind.

It would be nice, if Trowa and Duo could be friends. The witch is an optimist, deep down. And also not so deep down. His hand lifts to settle atop Trowa's arm, barely a touch at all, followed by a quiet murmured request, "Stay?"

And then a laugh follows as he glances back towards Duo. Oh no, Duo. If someone actually likes his cooking... but he does try! "Then I'll make us something to eat."