lavandarlizard2 | ...and you thought the partlets were finished...

Sadly, the partlets go on forever... Or so it seems... Here we have a bit of herbal humor; amazing what you can accomplish with a bit of greenery.

Part 081a – Herbalism 101

Duo bounced into the office carrying a tray of houseplants. The philodendron next to his desk was lonely, so he had gathered some companions for the green monster.

“Hey, big Dron,” he said brightly to the dark green crown of foliage. “I brought a whole bunch of friends for you.” He began arranging the assortment of greenery. “We’ve got Spidey and Nephertiti for this side, and Jade and Minnie for that side. You think you guys will get along okay?” He patted the big philodendron’s glossy leaves. “They’re small now, but with you for inspiration, they’ll grow fast.” He dusted his hands and took the tray to return to Master Khushrenada.

Enrique wandered in a few minutes later, noted the increase in plant life and nodded to himself in agreement. He approved of the carbon dioxide scrubbers. He gathered some parchments and wandered out again.

Moira passed through a bit later, also noting the plants in passing, but didn’t pay much attention. She wasn’t an herbalist.

Inazuma rushed in, scrambling to hang on to his armload of paperwork, and flung himself into his chair, totally missing the new additions.

Q poked his head in, trailed by a couple of new clerks, announced that this was the office of Magical Investigations, and took them away again, with a promise of formal introductions when everyone was available.

Trowa ambled in, nose in a parchment, and seated himself, still reading. The handwriting was old and crabbed and difficult to decipher. His eyes kept trying to cross.

Duo came back and settled at his desk with a bottle of iced tea, dropping a casual, “Hi, guys.”

“Hey, Duo,” returned Inazuma absently.

Trowa grunted distractedly.

Duo opened a parchment and began reading. He was currently responsible for any preliminary investigations involving non-Magical animals, due to his particular talent. Word was apparently getting around about his ability; anytime ordinary animals began acting extraordinarily, he got the first reports. He began making notes; arranging his priorities.

Trowa came up for air and to rest his eyes, stretching expansively with a heartfelt groan. Neither of the other young males looked up.

Ah, dedication, he thought with a smile. He noted the bottle of tea on Duo’s desk and decided that something cold would taste pretty good about now.

“Going to the dining hall; anybody want anything?” he asked generally. No one did.

Passing Duo’s desk, he noted that the Banshee smelled quite nice today...

He made the same mental note when he came back, a little more strongly. Duo smelled *great* today! He drew a deep breath as he passed the Banshee's desk. Delicious!

“Duo,” he asked as he sat down again. “Are you wearing new cologne?”

The Banshee shook his head. “I never wear cologne.” He hesitated. “May be my pheromones; I’ll try to rein them in. Sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry; whatever it is, it smells great!”

Duo looked puzzled. “Um... Okay...” He glanced at Inazuma. The River Elf just shrugged; he hadn’t noticed anything unusual.

The intriguing scent continued to tease Trowa. He tried to ignore it, but soon every other thought was of that delicious, delectable odor. And then his thoughts turned from the scent itself to the source.

He had on jeans today, those tight ones that made Heero all rumbly and narrow-eyed. The ones that made the females in the offices blush and cough and squeak. The ones that caused Wufei to hyperventilate. The really *tight* ones...

It was really too bad that Duo fell for Heero... He and Wufei barely had a chance to even try, before Heero had swept the lively Banshee off his feet. But that was kind of Wufei’s fault, too... Snarky Dragon... A person needed finesse to win a creature like the Banshee. Bluster and snarls would never impress someone like Duo... In fact, it was a little bit of a mystery how Heero managed it. The Wyvern never blustered, true, but he was otherwise nothing but snarls, growls and homicidal glares. Whatever possessed the bright, lively Banshee to fall for that prickly, hardassed, anal-retentive...?

Trowa shook his head; what brought *that* on? He glanced over at Duo, now standing in front of the files. The light was just right, highlighting his auburn hair. It was braided just enough to keep it out of his face; from mid-back down to his knees, it flowed loose and full; a waterfall of rubies melted in amber, wafting gently in the currents of air from the vents.

Back and forth; forth and back. It was teasing him; inviting him to come and play...

But that would be... a bad thing? Wouldn’t it?

Surely, that delicious, intoxicating, gut-tightening scent was calling to *him*. Why else...

~ Go on, ~ urged the little voice in the back of his head. ~ He’s calling to you. ~

::No... He couldn’t be... Could he?::

~ Sure he could. Look at that smile. ~

Duo was indeed smiling at him.

Duo looked up to find Trowa gazing at him rather glassy-eyed, and smiling wistfully. After a moment, he smiled back; a wide-eyed grin that vanished into an exaggerated grimace as he turned away. Trowa must be daydreaming again. He did that occasionally, usually while watching the Banshee. If either of the Dragons were here to catch him, there would be snarls and rumbles for hours. And it was kind of weird to think that Trowa might be daydreaming about him; almost like cheating on Heero. At least the Dragons were out for this round.

::Yeah... He *is* smiling...::

~ He’s hoping you’ll come over there... ~

::...Nah...::

~ Yes... ~

::Maybe...::

~ Sure he is... look at those jeans... Go on... ~

Feeling almost lightheaded, Trowa oozed across the room to pause at Duo’s elbow. The Banshee looked up with a start.

“Oh! Geez, you startled me, Trowa!” He eyed the Were-Puma as the Were-Puma stared at him. “Um... Can I help you with something?” Had Trowa been drinking? Or worse yet, had he sampled one of those Human medications? He looked... fuzzy...

“You smell so good...” Trowa breathed huskily. Duo stared at him, at a loss for how to answer that.

And then...

Trowa pounced.

...tbc...