April 21, 2001
Revised: August 9, 2001
Pairings: 6x2, 13x1, 4x3, 5xMeiran, D+R
Archive: GW Addiction, I guess. *gulps* This is my first solo story in
almost 6 months.
As it turned out, Dorothy wasn't too angry about the fact that she had to get a contractor into double D's to put in a new ceiling. After making Trowa and Quatre clean up the mess in the kitchen, all seemed to be forgotten. In truth, she was probably too busy worrying about her formerly waist-length hair.
"It was all Relena's idea," she snarled, looking at her reflection in the metal refrigerator. "She said it was the newest style in Paris." Dorothy had a thing about not looking like a hick; it was probably no coincidence that she was dating the owner of the town beauty parlor.
"What," said Duo, "half bald?"
"No," snapped Dorothy, "the perm. But she wasn't sure how long to set it for, so she only did half my hair as a test, and when it fell out, she didn't want to risk doing the other side." She ran her hand over what remained of her silky locks. "My hair..."
"It doesn't look that bad," said Trowa.
Dorothy reeled on him, her blue eyes flashing dangerously. "You'd think so. Look at *your* hair."
"What's wrong with Trowa's hair?" said Quatre to no one in particular.
"Your nails look nice," said Heero, bringing one hand close to his face for inspection. "French tips."
"My hair is completely natural," said Trowa. "Disaster strikes when you mess around with what nature gave you. I use only organic oils and cleansers."
"Oh yes, I love French tips, but I wasn't sure if I wanted to go nude or clear this time, and forgo the tips all together, or what." Dorothy shrugged. "I let Lena decide for me. She's a control freak."
"I like Trowa's hair," said Quatre.
"Organic oils?" said Duo. "You mean, like the oil from your face? The kind that gives you pimples? Man, that's disgusting."
"Excuse me?" The bickering five turned around to find Duo's blondie and another young man at the front counter. "I'd like some chocolate..." Duo quickly grabbed an apron off the rack and tied it around his waist, taking his time.
"Back for more?" he asked. Duo knew he was grinning. "Pralinés, I mean?" The two young men exchanged looks. "Try the marzipan," he offered, trying to keep his voice light. "It's delicious."
"I'm sure it is," said the blonde. "I'll take a box of them. My family's having a dinner party tonight," he added, leaning forward enough so Duo could catch the faintest scent of his cologne. "You're...?"
"Duo. Maxwell." Duo looked evenly at him.
"I'm Zechs, and this is Treize." He grinned wolfishly, showing off two rows of perfectly white teeth.
"We're the dreaded summer people," said Treize. He growled kittenishly. "Beware, year rounders, for we have come to steal your children and roast them on a spit." Duo snickered as he began folding a box.
"That's not how we see summer people," he said, looking at Zechs through his lashes. He began packing the box, nearly dropping one of the chocolates as he felt the blonde's intense blue eyes focused on his hands.
"That's good," said Zechs, then fell silent.
"You'll have to excuse my friend," said Treize, "he's lost his manners in lieu of your striking good looks." Duo laughed carelessly, frowning as he reached the end of the pralinés.
"Oh, it happens all the time," he said modestly. "I'll be back in a sec," he said, winking at the blue-eyed man. "Don't go anywhere." They could hear muffled noises and shouts in the kitchen, then a loud, "But Heero, I can't carry that tray!"
"So," said Zechs, "what do you think?"
"He's cute," said Treize. "Talks a lot. Maybe he'll teach you how to carry on a conversation with another human being."
"Bastard."
"I can't carry that tray!" said Duo, shoving the tray into Heero's chest. "I don't want him to think I'm stupid if I drop it. God, just do me a fucking favor, okay? I'd do it for you."
"Fine," growled Heero as he kneed the door open, "just don't ask me to do anything else."
"He's amazing," said Dorothy.
"Yeah," said Trowa. "Believe me, I wouldn't carry a tray for Quatre just because he wanted to impress a guy." Quatre rested his head on Trowa's shoulder, one hand snaking around to rest in the small of his back.
"Well, you're in luck, because the only guy I want to impress is you," said Quatre, kissing him quickly.
Dorothy groaned. "Saps."
Duo suddenly burst into the kitchen in an explosion of arms and legs and braid. "You'll never guess what happened," he said, laughing in spite of himself.
"What? Did he ask for your number?" Quatre smiled as Duo twirled in a little circle. "Are you guys going out tonight?"
"No," said Duo, glaring at Dorothy, "I'm closing tonight, remember? But you'll never believe what I just saw."
"What is it?" said Trowa.
"Heero gave him a Look." He waited for a response, and made a guttural noise of disgust when he didn't receive any. "Zechs-- blondie--brought a friend with him, right? So Heero walks out, and he's carrying this fucking huge ass tray--"
"Language," said Quatre.
"Sorry. Um, right, he's carrying a tray and all of a sudden, he just stops. And I'm like, 'Heero, what the fuck are you doing?' And he and this guy are just staring at each other like they've never seen another male in their entire lives. It was classic." Duo jumped up to sit on the counter. "They're still talking."
At that moment, they heard the bell over the front door ring and Heero came striding through the kitchen door, eyes far away.
"Told you so," whispered Duo.
Wufei groaned. "What the hell is your problem, woman? I went out for a few drinks with the guys--"
"A few drinks?" she shrieked, hurling another shoe at him from the other side of their bedroom. "Is that what you call it? The police officer had to bring you home in a *cop car*, Wufei! Do you know what that did to me, having a police officer at my door at four in the morning? Do you know what the man did to my family?"
"I know," he said, holding out his arms as if to calm her or keep her a safe distance away, "we all know."
"Then I would expect you to be a bit more sensitive!" she said, wiping her streaming eyes on her hand. "Why didn't your *buddies*," she bit off bitterly, "take you home?"
"They asked, but it was my choice to stay at the bar. Don't you bring Duo or Heero into this." She screamed again, hurling a wool sweater uselessly at her husband.
"Duo and Heero! It's always about those two! What," said Meiran, stamping her foot, "do you have a crush on them or something? Do you know them in the Biblical sense, Wufei?"
"Meiran!" He rubbed his temples slowly, willing away the first vestiges of a migraine. She had suddenly exploded after dinner, throwing down her silverware and flouncing off to their room. "Just because Duo is gay doesn't mean that I am too. You'd think you'd trust your own husband."
"Yeah?" said Meiran, picking up a copy of 'Gulliver's Travels' and held it over the flame of the votive burning on her dresser. "You'd think I would be able to trust my own husband. I know all about Sally, Wufei."
"What about her?" He felt his face go slack, a lie springing to his lips.
"Don't fuck with me," said Meiran, and then, page by page, she burned the book, beating the flame out every time with a thick blanket. "Don't you dare fuck with me, Wufei. I'll burn every book in your precious library."
"Hello?"
"Duo?"
"Yeah." He felt a smile spreading over his face and didn't try to stop it. Zechs couldn't see him; it didn't matter. "Is this Zechs?" His voice sounded unusually tinny; maybe the connection was bad, or maybe...
"SOLO, GET OFF THE PHONE!" he yelled. "How many times have I told you not to listen to my conversations?"
"Hmmph," said his little brother, and hung up.
"Who was that?" asked Zechs in his usual monotone. "Your brother?" Duo flopped back against the bed, kicking his boots off.
"Yeah, Solo. He's usually pretty harmless."
"I see."
"Not in the mood to talk?" Internally, Duo was rolling his eyes. Even Heero (though not by much) made better conversation than this guy. "That's cool," he said, "'cause I like to talk. Especially about me." He waited for a moment, then said, "That's a joke."
"Oh," said Zechs, chuckling a bit. "Well, actually, I'm in the middle of my parent's living room, pretending to be on the phone with my broker. You know, tech stocks are crashing, right?"
"Yeah," said Duo. "It seems relatively severe, but it's really just a market correction."
"Exactly. But my parents, financial geniuses or not, are still worried. But it's the summer, and I'm keen on having some fun." Duo smothered a laugh, but he obviously didn't do a very good job of it, because the next thing Zechs said was, "Are you laughing at me, Duo?"
"Of course not."
"Right." Zechs yawned. "Duo, I've got to go say goodbye to our guests and make sure they aren't stealing any of the fine china. You'd think being the most recent ex-President and having a wife in the Senate would mean having a little class and dignity, wouldn't you?"
"Yeah," said Duo. "Are you going to buy some more chocolate tomorrow?"
"I might invest," said Zechs, and Duo knew he was smiling.
End Part Two
^_^ You like?
Heero: No. You put me with Treize again.
Duo: *purr*
Bianca
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