"Face it, this is not the strangest thing you've caught me doing."

 

Duo looked at the man, blinking. He had an amused, if slightly awkward smirk on his face. “Idonno, man. The sparklers were one thing. But even I wouldn’t put fireworks there…”

 

Triton looked at him confused, “I see nothing wrong with this.”

 

He looked back at his master piece. It was a black inner-tube floating in the his swimming pool with a wooden board laying across it. There were sparklers at all four corners and then two boards leaning against each other in the center forming a tent of sorts. Inside the tent were several Black Snake and Firecracker fireworks and little piles of Snappers. Sitting on top of the tented boards was a chair which Triton agilely climbed up to and sat upon. He held in his hands two Fountain fireworks, he was hoping that the shower from the Fountains would light everything else.

 

“Besides if something goes wrong I can just dive into the pool. Launch me please.” He requested of Duo, hoping he wouldn’t shove his convenience too hard and knock it all into the drink instead of having it sail slowly into the center of the pool. He would light the fireworks in his hands once he was away from the edge. Triton squee’ed happily, “This is gonna be the coolest thing ever!”

 

Still smiling, but shaking his head, Duo shook his head. “All right. But y'know if yer sister catches us, she’s gonna kill me, act practice er not.” Duo waded over to where Trowa floated, holding a small box of matches over his head so they wouldn’t get wet. “You might need these.” He held them out. “So… You want me ta just flip ya, or….?”

 

“Oh right.” Triton leaned carefully forward and took the matches and set them in his green speedo covered lap. “No to flip anything, sheesh, that would ruin the whole thing. Just like, push the inner-tube enough to get me moving a bit.”

 

Duo sighed, and rolled his eyes. “Ah’ight. I ain’t gettin’ outta the water, though. This shit goes bad, I ain’t catching my ass or my braid on fire.” He moved to Trowa’s side, and gave the innertube a shove, moving Trowa out slowly to the middle of the pool.

 

Triton just grinned as Duo pushed him out into the water. Once he was close to the middle he pulled out a match and struck it. He lit one of the Fountain fireworks and then put the box of matches in his lap, he grabbed up the second Fountain and lit it off of the first before it started to actually go off. Then he held both of them over his head and waited.

 

Shortly after they began spraying he saw Cathy march out the backdoor towards them. He smirked and heard some of the poppers go off, hopefully that meant that the snakes and firecrackers would be going off as well. Everything beneath him exploded with sound and light just as Catherine made it to the edge of the pool. Triton grinned manically and laughed at her expression… well, what he could see of it through shower of sparks and fire that were floating down around him.

 

Once the fireworks were spent he sat the matches on the chair as he slid carefully into the water. He pushed his contraption to the edge and pulled himself out. “So, did we get it all on video? And what do you think? Was it epic enough to be considered as part of my finishing act?”

 

Just as soon as he saw the fireworks go up in sparks, Duo ducked under the water. The last thing he was gonna have was his braid catching on fire for a stupid stunt, no matter how cool it was gonna look. He watched from beneath the surface as burning orange flecks of the special paper from the poppers landed on the surface of the water, fading out soon after. It wasn’t the best view, but it was good enough to see the spectacular light show, and Trowa’s unnerving grin–no matter how distorted it was. Why he was smiling like that, heck if Duo knew. Probably was just as amused with himself as the braided boy was. Duo smiled as the sparks finished and Trowa slipped into the water. He mightn’t swam over and pushed him if he hadn’t been in such dire need of air. He shot up out of the water with a gasp and shook his head, his bangs slapping into and clinging to his face. He brushed them back as he spun around in the water to try and orient himself. “HA! Heh, that was pretty great from what I seen. We’ll hafta check the tape, though, if we wanna be shh-iiiiiiiiit.” His eyes widened as they fell on Catherine. “Heh-heh… H-hi, Cathy! Didn’t see ya there…” He nervously scratched the back of his head.

 

Cathy stood there with her arms folded and a mockery of a glare on her face, “You boys, I swear.” She shook her head and smiled at them. “I guess it couldn’t hurt as a finishing act. But Triton, I really do wish you would be more careful. And Duo. MUST you encourage him so much?” She asked exasperated.

 

Triton just grinned as he pulled his contraption carefully out of the water, “We weren’t really in danger Cathy. We took every precaution.”

 

“Yeah, except for you sitting bare to the world under a shower of potential burns.” She was quick to point out.

 

“But I’m fine, so it’s not as bad as you’re imagining it could be.” Triton moved over and gave her a hug, “I’ll need to practice it more so that I can’t burn myself by moving wrong or something. But it’s going to be great!”

 

When Catherine turned her attention to him, Duo half sunk his face into the water, his guilty smirk distorted by the ripples. He tipped his head up just enough to mumble through bubbles, “Yes.”

 

“He’s right, though,” he pipped in in Trowa’s defence, “We were real careful settin’ up the explosives an’ he made sure he was steady ‘for he lit ‘em on fire.” Only after he finished, did he realize he probably should have stopped after, “Yes.”

 

Catherine shook her head but smiled down at the boy still in the water as she hugged her brother back. “Oh, alright. Get out and get dry, Zechs is done grilling the steaks so this dinner party is officially ready.”

 

Triton let her go and nodded before heading over to the towels they had set out before they got started. He was glad his sister held these monthly ‘dinner parties’, it was the only time he really got to see any of his friends.

 

At that, Duo’s face lit up. “All right!” He paddled for the ladder, and was out of the pool in seconds with a towel around his head, his braid slapping his sides as he bounced over. “This is great. I’m starving.” He looked over at Catherine and Trowa as he walked by them. “Heh… So, we ain’t in trouble, right?”

 

Catherine grinned at him as she walked back into the house, “No you’re not. Come eat.”

 

Triton grinned over at Duo as his sister disappeared, “That was fun. Though I’m not really sure how I’m gonna get a pool into my act. But I guess Cathy doesn’t need to know that.” He winked and tossed his towel over a shoulder before heading for the house. He was starving and hoped that Zechs actually knew how to cook steak and it wasn’t just him and Lu saying he could.

 

At that, Duo smiled and straightened up. “Ya don’t gotta tell me twice!” Duo happily followed Trowa, braid still dripping. “If ya want, I can help with the setup. Though, might be a little hard ta get somethin’ deep enough around.” He rubbed at his chin thoughtfully before waving it off. “Eh, we’ll think of somethin’. Kinda hard to come up with good ideas on an empty stomach, anyway.”

 

Triton chuckled, “True, I’m starving too.” He tossed Duo another towel as he made it to the back porch, “You might want to ring out your braid, I’m pretty sure Cathy’ll pitch a fit over puddles in house.”

 

Duo blinked, then chuckled and took the towel and began wringing out his braid with it. “Heh. Sorry. Hey, thanks fer havin’ me over again. Been nice ta get out fer a bit.”

 

“No problem,” Triton completed drying himself off and looked over at his friend with a wry smirk, “You’re always welcome. It’s not like I’m ever doing anything but training. Cathy keeps telling me to get a life.”

 

Duo chuckled with a grin. “Well, I’d be happy ta help with that ‘f ya’d like.” Duo turned his nose up and took a deep inhale. “Mmmm… MAN, somethin’ smells good.”

 

Triton nodded, it did smell good, he just hoped it tasted as good. “Help with what exactly? Coming over, training, or me getting a life?” He finally moved into the house winking at Duo as he passed through the doorway. He wrapped the towel around his waist, he didn’t need a ton of people staring at him in his speedo while he ate dinner. That would just be really awkward.

 

Duo started nosing around, trying to sniff out the food. He kept talking as he did. “Heh. Is all three an option?” He followed the man inside with a playful bound. He grabbed the t-shirt he’d brought along and slipped it over his head, also not wanting to be half-naked in front of everyone.

 

“Sounds like a pretty good option to me.” Triton smiled as he watched Duo throw his shirt on, “Come on, table’s this way. Zechs supposably made steak… we’ll see.”

 

He moved through the mudroom and the kitchen to see the dining room table spread with dishes to eat off of and a large pile of steaks on a plate in the center. There was also a large bowl of what appeared to be mashed potatoes, a dish of gravy, a bowl of green beans, and a large bowl of salad. “Looks good.”

 

Moving over he sat in his usual seat across the table from Catherine, Zechs and Lucrezia were seated to her left, meaning they took the two seats to Triton’s right. Though normally there was only a single chair there, as there was to Triton’s left where a space was laid out for Duo. He’d been only slightly disappointed that no one else could make it this time, but he enjoyed Duo’s company the most, so it was really fine.

 

Duo smirked at Trowa’s response as he followed him to the table. Be took in  a deep breath and his grin spread to show his teeth. “Oh, MAN this looks as good as it smells.”

 

Duo took his place beside Trowa, more than happy to share a meal with all of them. As much as he wanted to tear into the food, he waited for the others to start before helping himself. He turned to Trowa as they sat. “So what you been up to since last time we saw each other, anyway? It’s been awhile since we did anything together ‘sides work an’ stuff.”

 

Triton smiled at him as he passed dishes along the table so that everyone could get what they wanted, “Not much really. Trying to figure out something new and different for my act in the Circus, practicing Cathy’s knife throwing act with her… I go free running on occasion, it’s good for my acrobatics. Quatre’s been trying to get me to go in for my pilot’s license for commercial planes. But, it’s just not the same. What have you been up to?”

 

Duo nodded, especially at the last part. “Yeah. Hilde’s been doin’ the same to me with construction equipment. It’s fuck as heck. But, yeah. It ain’t the same.” Duo started digging into the food he took. As eager as he was, he did try to at least kind of mind his manners. “Just been doin’ odd jobs. Kinda scrapin’ work together. Miss workin with you guys more often, though.” Duo turned to Trowa, putting a hand over his lips as he talked with his mouth full. “You doin’ any work with the preventers?”

 

Triton chuckled lightly, “I miss you guys too. I’ve done some work with them, but I haven’t taken Une’s offer of full employment yet. I’m not sure that’s what I really want to do for the rest of my life. Do you do anything for them?”

Zechs was twitching on the other side of the table from them, since one of his goals in coming to Cathy’s little get-togethers was to convince Triton to join them. He had yet to be successful, which is why he had offered to cook this time. Yes he was petty enough to try and win over former Gundam Pilots with food!

 

Unfortunately for him, Triton wasn’t really paying attention to what he was putting in his mouth, more excited to talk to Duo than compliment on food.

 

Duo continues putting away the food, noticing Zechs’ twitching and responding only with a raised eyebrow. He then turned his attention back to Trowa. “Yeah, sometimes. They only call me in when then really need me though. Soemthin’ bout me bein’ too much trouble er something?” He gave. Zechs a dirty look, not like it was his fault. Pretty much everyone has contributed to the “Rules for Handling Agent Maxwell” list. Yes, it was a real list. Duo was both proud of and frustrated by that. “So I basically only get called in when shit hits the fan.”

 

Triton nodded his head, “I do mostly undercover work. So I still get to go around punching friend and foe alike.” He smirked over at Duo before turning his gaze to Zechs, “Is there something the matter?”

 

Zechs shook his head, “Not at all, how are you liking the meal?”

 

Triton paused a bite in his mouth, an ‘oh shit’ look entering his eyes. He sat back and actually took the time to taste his food. It was actually pretty good. “It’s good, thank you.”

 

Zechs’ eyes twinkled and he returned to eating while Lucrezia beamed at them all, “I told he he was good with a grill.”

 

Duo chuckled, and continued doing so when Trowa and Zechs started exchanging words. His tight-lipped smile grew wider and he held his food in front of his mouth to hide his laughter.

 

Duo just grinned at Noin. “He is, actually. I half expected charcoal.” Duo took another big bite of his food, looking quite pleased.

 

She sat back looking very pleased with herself and Cathy chuckled, “It is very good. But food is not how you’re going to get my brother to officially join the Preventers.”

 

Zechs choked on his food, “Was it really that obvious?”

 

“Yes.” Both siblings said at the same time, making the man blush.

 

“Well, it was worth a shot.” Zechs shrugged and went back to eating his food.

 

Triton shook his head and smirked over at Duo winking at him. He could see the stifled laughter, “Don’t choke Duo.”

 

Duo put down the food in his hands and continued laughing, trying to swallow his food so he could open his mouth. Once he finally cleared his mouth, he laughed out loud. “I need to come over here more often. You guys are fun ta watch.”