24-June-2001
Title: Chasing the Crown, an Extended Family Fic
ExFam Authors:
RavynFyre - ravynfyre@hotmail.com
Diane Davis - fenwyck@radiks.net
von - sablexo1@yahoo.com
bonnejeanne - bonnejeanne@yahoo.com
*Special Guest Writer! Nixie the Pixie!*
Nixers - Nixerchan@aol.com
Category: yaoi, AU
Rating: NC-17 for now, that will change
Pairings: 1x2, 3+4
Spoilers: Series, Endless Waltz, Mission: Arcadia
Disclaimer: Gundam Wing characters and universe are the property of the copyright owners.
Kenny, Duan, Wufan, Tryan, Carter, Jack and the Ripper, and everything relating to Rip & Jack's universe are ours. No money being made here.
Feedback: Any and all comments, feedback, critiques welcome, be they short or long.
Please feel free to direct feedback to any or all of the authors!
WARNINGS: AU (Alternate Universe), Original Characters, LEMON in some sections. Kiddie-Angst.
Warily approaching her own door, Dorothy kept a close eye out for any braided ambushes, surprised when she made it all the way to closing her hand around the knob without event. Unlocking the door, she pushed it open, carefully staying out of the doorway itself until the portal was fully open and clear. No explosions, no eruptions, not even anything as innocuous as waterballoon greeted her. With one brow quirked up, she crept into her room, looking around quickly.
Everything was perfectly in order, from the carefully folded corners of her immaculately made bed, to the sheaf of papers across her desk, just as she'd left them. The only thing out of place was her laptop, sitting open on the center of her bed, waiting serenely. A simple note in scrolling handwriting sat across the keyboard. "Enjoy!"
There was a tap on the door, a familiar light, rapid pattern.
Returning to the door, Dorothy opened it and smiled wryly at Relena. "It seems as if we've been found out," she said, moving aside to admit the Vice-Minister with a small flourish of her hand "Or at least I have. I think you may still be somewhat in the clear."
Blinking, Relena glanced past Dorothy and saw the laptop sitting out and her mouth opened in a silent "oh!".
Then she came in and took Dorothy's arm. "I'll confess... I won't let you be in trouble by yourself... if... if they are..." she sighed. "Of course they will be angry. Oh well. It's not like I expected them to stay and enjoy themselves for long anyway."
"Don't be ridiculous, Miss Relena," Dorothy said quickly with a wry smile, "I was thinking about getting myself a new laptop soon, anyway. They stayed this long. Maybe..." she shook her head, daring to give Relena a quick hug, "Well, let's just see what I can salvage first. Besides... They might not have found all the copies at least."
"You made copies... already?" Relena said surprised, and then shook her head with a little grin.
"I had them made before I woke you up this morning, my dear, for just such an eventuality," Dorothy replied, winking at Relena as she pulled away and rummaged through a drawer quickly. With a triumphant smirk, she produced a disk. "That's why we set up in *my* room, and not yours. It's called 'plausible deniability', Miss Vice-Minister," she said saucily.
"Oh Dorothy... I told you..." Relena said, putting her arms around the blond and giving her a hug. "I'm going to face the music with you."
"Hush. Don't spoil my fun," Dorothy scolded playfully, pulling Relena over to the bed and dragging the laptop closer before keying in a quick command.
The screen flickered for a moment, bouncing between stark black and brilliant white snow before settling into an empty, black screen. Suddenly, the screen flared to life again, though rather than a scene of the other wing of the manor, it opened on Dorothy's own room. On her bed, in fact.
A bed which contained a calmly lounging, though sadistically grinning, Duo Maxwell.
"Naughty, naughty, naughty, Dot," Duo scolded cheerfully, waggling a finger at the camera. "I'd be surprised, but, ya know, looking back on it, I'm only angry at myself, because, in retrospect, I expected something like this."
Duo rolled up to his feet and started bouncing on her bed, his braid flopping against his chest as he intentionally mussed up the blankets and pillows as much as possible.
"Then again, I can't really say it would have altered my plans too terribly much if I *had* been thinking and remembered what a conniving little wench you were. Think on that, if you will," he said with a wink.
"Of course... You do realize this means war, right? And that vengeance will be ours? Wait!" he called, holding up a calming hand as he executed a beautiful flip off of her bed to land directly in front of the camera, "Don't run off screaming yet. I'm not going to blow you up. That would be rude. Then again, it's always a lot more fun to prolong the revenge... That way you never know when it's coming." He paused then and smirked dangerously.
The camera followed him, panning as he turned and started strolling through her room, picking up some of the little trinkets and knickknacks sitting around. "I guess I oughta thank you. I mean, this will make a beautiful start to my new library. It's a fairly high quality recording. Then again, that was a very pricey, advanced piece of equipment you were using to film it on. Thanks for the camera, too, by the way," he said with another wink.
A familiar Siamese cat sauntered on screen, and Duo leaned down and scooped her up in his hands. "Hello, Bast. Your mommy was a naughty naughty girl. She's corrupting the poor innocent Vice Minister," he said, scratching the Siamese cat behind her ears. Bast leaned into the caresses and purred happily.
"And Relena..." he sighed, shaking his head as he carefully deposited the cat on the trampled bed, "I'm shocked. Utterly shocked. An upstanding young lady such as yourself? I just can't believe it," he said with a dramatic sigh, "I can't believe it took Dot this long to corrupt you like that. I mean, come ON! No one's THAT polite!"
He hopped back up on the bed and started bouncing again, scaring Bast who had been calmly bathing herself on the mound of pillows. "Oops! Sorry Bast. Geeze, 'Lena. You need to get out and live a little! As I told the boys, 'All work and no play makes Duo have a psychotic episode.' I mean, come on... I've met some of those geezers you have to work with on a day to day basis! How you can deal with them and stick to your pacifistic guns, if I may totally blow THAT metaphor all to hell, I have NO idea! Obviously you have to have SOME sort of secret stress relieving technique, otherwise, I would have expected you to have gone ape-shit long before now."
He paused, coming to a stop and staring full on at the camera with a thoughtful look on his face. "Is there something you two ladies would like to share with the rest of the class?" he asked with wicked curiosity. He smiled widely then, hopping down off the bed to pace throughout the room again. He paused by the closet and turned to wink at the camera before walking in.
"When DO you guys get to have any fun?" his voice drifted out of the open closet, "I mean this whole Vice Minist- whoa... I never figured you for the red lace and silk variety, Dot," he called as a scrap of scarlet fabric came flying out the closet door. "Velcro gloves and a strap on?" he squeaked, "Dear god, Dot! If the ASPCA ever gets wind of that..."
There were a few moments of silence, punctuated by the occasional thump, and an odd pair of panties flying through the air, when Duo came stumbling out of the closet holding a Cat-O-Nine-Tails. "Kinky, Dot. Very kinky. Think I'll add this to my shopping list," he said, tossing it to somewhere near the base of the camera tripod.
"Anyway... The disks are gone. Or rather... They're still there but... Well, watch em. You'll see," he said with an evil smile. "We did, however, decide to leave you a little present. This little... exposition," he said, waving his hand towards the camera dismissively, "Will wipe itself from existence as soon as it's done playing, so don't think you have any evidence of anything here. As for the recording that used to be on your laptop there..." He smiled darkly, his violet eyes flashing with feral intent.
"A couple of weeks ago and you might have been staring down the barrel of a pistol at that little stunt. You owe the ole' Maxwell Charm. Big time."
He turned and strolled over to the open balcony doors and peered outside. "We're letting you keep this copy. It's been compressed for time, since you probably don't need an hour or so of nothing to fast forward through every time you wanna watch it. It's also been.... Modified."
He turned back and stalked towards the camera until he was standing very close, his eyes flashing dangerously as he spoke. "If you ever attempt to copy this file to any other medium, or save it to any other machine, it will not only catastrophically melt itself down, but your whole machine, and anything else it happens to be networked to. The settings have also been adjusted so that if you even attempt to film it directly from the viewscreen, you'll get a nice blurry blob of crap, and not much else. I wouldn't advise attempting to bypass my hack job. Heero may be the computer expert, but I'm not half bad myself. The security is set so that if it detects any tampering, you, and any other computer you're connected to, will wish you'd never even heard of Duo Maxwell."
He turned and sauntered away to throw himself backwards onto Dorothy's bed carelessly, arms flung out far and legs absently kicking against the floor. "Never say we never gave you nothing." He sat up abruptly and tossed the camera another calculating smile. "But if you ever try another stunt like this again..." The smile slipped into a darkly evil smirk, "I won't tell you what'll happen. I'll leave that up to your imagination," he purred.
He bounced back to his feet and saluted jauntily. "Ja ne!"
The screen went dark.
Relena's hand crept up to her mouth as she watched the message play, and her cheeks turned very pink. After it finished, she took a deep breath, composed herself, and then said brightly, "Well that wasn't too bad..."
Dorothy, who's face had turned bright red as Duo started pawing through her closet, stood and stalked over, yanking the closet door open.
"There is an inflatable sheep in my closet," she stated blandly. "Tell me why there is an inflatable sheep in my closet."
Relena gasped and then clapped her hand over her mouth. It didn't work. Her face turned red, her shoulders shook and then she collapsed on the bed laughing hysterically.
Dorothy scowled, glaring over at the girl having a fit across her bed. "I can't wait to see what he left in *your* closet," she muttered, before the utter absurdity of the situation got the better of her. Without warning, she burst into laughter herself, crossing to the bed to flop down on it next to Relena. "There's an inflatable sheep... in my closet," she choked out between giggles.
That set Relena off again just as she was starting to subside. A good five minutes later she was gasping for breath. At last she managed to gasp out, "If I don't have one too, I want yours... I'll call him... Hermie!" The last word was a squeal as she started laughing uncontrollably again.
"Hermie?" Dorothy gasped incredulously. "Hermie!?" Dorothy burst into laughter again, pausing only once to do a credible imitation of a 'baa', before dissolving into incoherency again.
The 'baa' sent Relena off shrieking and gasping. She rolled on the bed, pounding the mattress with her fists, until she collapsed, gasping for breath, quivering, with tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Of course," Dorothy managed to stammer as she struggled to get her breathing under control again, wiping away a few tears of her own, "It makes you wonder... where he got an inflatable sheep... on such short notice..."
Relena merely whimpered softly, shaking her head. After lying there bonelessly gasping for a while, she managed, "How... am I going... to go down and play hostess... now....?"
"Umm.... baaary carefully?" Dorothy asked, all innocence.
Relena squealed again, whimpering as she could not help from going into another fit of giggles. She wrapped her arms around her ribs, which were starting to hurt. Unable to answer, she simply looked at Dorothy with wide, blue eyes crinkled at the corners, streaming tears.
"So, I'm guessing the wool suit is out for the night, yes?" Dorothy asked wickedly.
Whimper... closing her eyes, Relena pressed her face into the bed, shaking slightly.
Hands reaching out to carefully massage Relena's shoulders, Dorothy shook her head and sighed, coughing a little as she finally settled herself back down a bit. "Well, we could always watch their other present to put everything into perspective," she suggested.
Relena relaxed slowly, and finally shaking her head. "No," she whispered, swallowing to moisten her throat. "Later... after... the party. Reward..." She smiled up at Dorothy, still unable to move.
"Agreed," the light blond replied, her hands working further down Relena's back, loosening the tension accumulated from the day.
Finally Relena reached up and pulled Dorothy down beside her. Sighing, she said hoarsely, "I need a shower. And I need to be downstairs five minutes ago."
"I could... help," Dorothy offered, watching Relena closely.
The Vice-Minister brushed a lock of Dorothy's amazing mane back. "Why not," she said, her mouth curving slightly.
Dorothy smiled, uncharacteristically shy, as she pulled away and stood, taking Relena's hand to pull her to her feet too. "Let me gather up my clothing. You have a bigger bathroom," she said.
Relena's expression became tender. "Of course," she said fondly. Then she grinned. "And we can check and see what is in *my* closet... though I doubt Duo had as much fun with it as yours. Um... sometime will you let me borrow those little red panties?"
Dorothy blushed about the same shade of brilliant scarlet as she ducked back into her closet. "That young man has far too much time on his hands," she muttered before reappearing with her arms full of deep blue satin. "I'll get you a pair for your birthday."
Relena grinned. "Oh that would be sweet," she said, opening the door for the blond.
"Sweet? Oh, does that mean you want me to get you the edible kind?" Dorothy asked innocently before ducking out.
Relena gasped, and laughed before putting her hand over her mouth and following the other girl.
The large ballroom was actually starting to look comfortably occupied, as about two thirds of the guests expected had arrived. The wide archways at the back of the room were wide open and the festivities spilled out into the well lit garden where a second band was playing.
Spotting the new arrivals with uncanny accuracy, Relena politely excused herself from the people she was talking to and caught up with Dorothy a few feet away. Making a gay apology to the people the Attaché was with, she took Dorothy's hand in a firm grip and pulled her away, moving through the crowd towards the distinctive figures she had spotted.
"May I help you, Miss Relena?" Dorothy asked with mild good humor.
"No, this time I'm going to help you," Relena announced. "We're going to get this over with for everyone's sake, so it won't be hanging over anyone's head all night." With that she made her way unerringly to the two young men who had come in with the rest of their small group only a few moments before.
"Heero," she called, softly, but distinctly enough to be heard by the person in question.
Heero looked up, hearing his name called. His cobalt blue eyes locked on the approaching figures of Relena Peacecraft and Dorothy Catalonia. The expression on his face was a neutral one. Without looking away, he nudged Duo who was standing next to him.
"Think we're about to get thrown out for breaking and entering?" Duo asked sotto voce, never breaking the pleasant smile situated on his face.
"They would've had to have seen the evidence first, " Heero replied. "Besides, I don't think the scandal of throwing out war heroes from their own party would sit well."
"Point," Duo agreed cheerfully. "Good evening, Relena, Dorothy! Everything looks great!" Duo said as the two women approached.
Relena took a deep breath and nodded to the braided pilot. She stepped a little closer to the two and pitched her voice to be heard only by them, keeping her expression pleasant and polite.
"Heero... Duo... I just wanted to apologize. I want you to know that I'm sorry we intruded on your life the way we did. It was unforgivable and I won't blame you for whatever you feel about it. And I want to thank you for being incredibly nice about things as far as everyone else is concerned. You could have reacted much differently and been perfectly justified. And... I'm just... I'm sorry," she said, dropping her eyes for a moment with a slight flush creeping up her cheeks. She looked up again and said, "I won't ever ask anything of you again. And... don't blame Dorothy."
Heero took a step closer to Relena. He glanced briefly at Dorothy, including her in his regard. Taking Relena's hand, he then leaned his face close and brushed his lips against her cheek. "Relena," he said in a voice reminiscent of another time, so long ago. "Relax," he said. "Duo's right. Everything looks great. Enjoy yourself."
"Pink really does look good on you," Duo observed with a wink, "And besides... balconies aren't exactly the most private of places." He shrugged philosophically.
Relena blinked and looked from one to the other, her eyes shining just a bit. "I really mean it," she said softly. "I know I've probably wrecked any chance of us being friends, and I won't bother you any more, but I wanted to tell you face to face." She smiled a little tremulously and then gave both boys a deep, deferential bow.
Duo nudged Heero gently with one elbow as he sighed dramatically. "She's not gettin' it," he said in mournful tones before turning back to Relena. "Life's too short to sweat the small stuff. Enjoy it."
Heero watched as Relena bowed. "Hn," he remarked as Duo spoke. Reaching out, he took Relena's hand. "We're not angry," he said. "And after all that we've been through, I don't see how this could end our friendship.. That is unless you two don't consider us having enough status for your positions."
"Oh Heero!" Relena said. "You know that someone else's ideas of status don't mean anything at all to me." She looked again from one to the other and then smiled tentatively. "Then... perhaps someday... we might be forgiven? Don't answer that, really. I'm not asking. But... thank you. You are both amazing." She squeezed Heero's hand gently and then turned to plant a soft, quick kiss on Duo's cheek.
"Yes, we are," Duo agreed with a lewd wink, "But we're young and athletic."
Relena's smile widened and a twinkle appeared in her eyes. "And amazingly beautiful," she said very softly. Stepping back, she added, "Oh and thanks for the sheep. I specially love the pink bow - it was a thoughtful touch and means a lot to me," she said, giving Duo a little wink.
The braided pilot shook his head and laughed, smiling widely at the Vice-Minister. "Be careful... I may just start a tradition of gifting you with inflatable farm animals," he warned playfully.
"Well the bears will now have someone to play with," Heero said, with a private smile to Relena.
She giggled and then said, "There's something so special about new traditions, don't you think?"
Dorothy smiled and nodded her own agreement. "Although, you must admit that it does say something when one of them gives plush teddy bears, and the other gives inflatable sheep," she observed dryly.
"Dorothy," Heero said, looking at the young woman. "Your birthday is coming soon. I think we can extend a tradition or two to you as well."
"Not the one including high explosives, I hope," she replied with a quirked up eyebrow.
"Naw, I save those for bar mitzvahs and stuff," Duo quipped back.
"Of course, that feathered boa thing was quite nice too," Heero added.
Dorothy's cheeks flushed slightly and she glanced away. "Didn't leave a stone unturned, I see," she mused with a soft cough.
"Well, I think we're all pretty even. We weren't exactly dressed for success on the balcony," Heero said. "Course, the nice red underwear was good too."
"I thought you seemed very successful," Relena mentioned very softly, with a slight crinkling around her eyes.
Duo opened his mouth to retort, then snapped it shut again, snatching up the tip of his braid as he shot a glance at Heero.
"Well, I don't want to monopolize you both," Relena said, trying to dampen her smile just a little to be more suitable. "I hope you enjoy the evening. Let me know if you need anything at all and I will make sure you get it."
Heero bowed, this time it was to cover a grin on his own face. "Thank you, Vice Minister, Miss Catalonia," he said, politely.
Before anyone could move away, Dorothy suddenly leaned forward to whisper quietly in Duo's ear. "Miss Relena can apologize if she wishes... I'm not. What you made possible for me last night, I'd trade even my life for. I won't be sorry for that," she murmured urgently before brushing her lips against Duo's cheek for a gentle kiss. "No, thank you, Mister Yuy, Mister Maxwell. Enjoy the evening," she spoke in normal tones to include them both as she returned to Relena's side.
Duo blinked in surprise, his fingers coming up to brush absently at his cheek. "Umm... Sure. Ladies... Good evening."
Heero looked from one to the other for a long moment, then lowered his eyes. He had a very pleased expression on his face.
Smiling brightly, Relena moved away, guiding Dorothy towards one of the tables where she retrieved two glasses of sparkling punch. Taking a drink of hers, she took a deep breath and said, "That went much better that I even hoped."
"Agreed," Dorothy replied, accepting the glass with a gracious nod and taking a sip. "You're right, though. They *are* amazing."
Relena nodded, beaming. "And so are you, Dorothy. So are you."
Dorothy flushed brightly, stepping slightly closer so she could nudge the Vice-Minister unobtrusively with an elbow. "Baaa."
Relena burst into giggles and stifled them as best she could.
Meanwhile, Duo turned to Heero with a slightly bemused grin. "Ya know what I said before about Dorothy setting herself up for a lonely life? Scratch that," he said, glancing over at the two now giggling women near a table a little ways away.
Heero looked up. "Hai," he said, softly, then looked at Duo. "So, now I feel embarrassed, but not. I also feel it's time to stop running from the vid when she calls."
Duo's eyes warmed as he peered at his partner, a slow smile spreading over his features. "You never cease to amaze me, koibito," he murmured quietly.
"Hn?" Heero remarked, then smiled. "I guess we did that right, then," he said.
"For a minute there, I was afraid I'd come down too hard on 'em after all," Duo replied, taking Heero's arm and guiding him over to one of the tables to snatch a couple of glasses up for them. He paused, looking around instinctively for the kids in the crowd.
"They are both very strong and vulnerable at the same time, but don't underestimate them." Heero said, taking a glass.
"Tell me about it. I'm still trying to decide if my joke backfired or not," he said, "'Something to share with the rest of the class', indeed."
"Let's just say that there was no clear victor," Heero replied, glancing around the room for the kids.
"Deal. We'll get 'em at Christmas," Duo retorted with a snicker, "See 'em yet?"
A small body appeared at Duo's elbow. Kenny's tux was intact but he'd somehow managed to lose his tie already. "Hey, we found a place over by the big window over there - there's some plants and a window seat, so we staked it out," he mentioned to the two older boys.
"We're organizing some food too," Duan said appearing at Heero's elbow. His tux was still intact as well.
"Excellent work," Duo said in an officious tone, saluting with his glass before softening it with a grin, "Need some help?"
"Hn," Kenny remarked. "We got it covered. Just wanted to let ya know where to look. Go ahead and do... whatever you're supposed to do at one of these."
"Yeah," Duan replied, cheerily. "And don't worry. We've all got our knives and stuff, so you're covered that way too."
"Hai," Heero replied. "We'll rendezvous in a few minutes, okay?"
"Hai," Kenny acknowledged, and melted into the crowd.
Duo smiled as he watched the two boys vanish into the mass of other party-goers. He turned to regard Heero, "What a damn lucky boy I am."
"Hn," Heero said.
Just then, Duo was tapped on the shoulder.
He turned and glanced around.
A woman dressed in traditional robes from a foreign nation, smiled warmly at him. "You have such lovely little sons," she commented in a thick accent.
He returned her warm smile with a wide one of his own. "Thank you! I was just commenting to my buddy here about how incredibly lucky we were to have found them," Duo replied, indicating Heero with a wave of his hand even as he nodded politely at the woman.
The woman blinked in some confusion, then she smiled broadly and nodded. "Found them, indeed, " she said, laughing at the joke. "Well, of course you are dear, boy. I am certain that your son will grow up with your marvelous sense of humor as well." Turning, she moved away.
"Hmmm.... Should I be flattered or annoyed that I apparently look old enough to have a seven year old son?" Duo murmured to Heero with a chuckle.
"I'd say flattered," Heero replied taking a sip of his drink.
Duo sighed dramatically, wiping his hand against his forehead in an old "southern belle" fainting motion. "Just an old fogey now, I see... Won't be too much longer and I'm not going to be cute enough to arouse your interest any more," he complained.
Heero drained the glass, then sat it down on the table with a distinctive thud. Turning back to Duo, he looked directly into the braided pilot's eyes, holding him for a moment. "Never happen," he said, clearly. "If you doubt me, then we can go somewhere and I'll show you."
Duo swallowed hard, a faint tremor overtaking him as he let himself drown in Heero's Prussian gaze. "Don't tempt me, koibito... If these damn tuxes weren't harder to fumble into than a flight suit..." he let his voice trail off as his hands brushed absently at the black cummerbund under his short coat.
"It wasn't meant to be a challenge, but.. you tempted first," Heero said, quietly. He then stepped closer to Duo and placed, what appeared to be, a friendly arm around his shoulders. "Let's walk," he said.
It was from the first entrance of Trowa and Quatre to the main ballroom that the pair were discretely crowded by those of high status or wide connections. The talk always seemed polite enough, though more often than not the taller pilot was left slightly in the cold while there were subtle hints of propositions for business, as well as other, less subtle hints.
At the moment, a rather pug-nosed woman draped in far too many layers of what was most assuredly fine cloth when it was still on the bolt was rather persistent in her company.
"... And I was just telling Frances, that's my brother's daughter you know, a lovely girl indeed, that it was high time she started looking for a companion as well," the woman was saying, now giving less than subtle looks at both men. "Though the same could be said for you two. If I was your age again, I wouldn't dally so long while I have my youth.."
Quatre blinked, desperately trying to keep the smile on his face from turning into a grimace. "I certainly wish your niece luck," he said brightly, "though as for me, work does really keep me busy these days." He glanced out of the corner of his eyes to Trowa, trying to somehow communicate 'I don't mean you' in his own gaze.
Trowa looked down at the woman and favored her with a slight smile. His cool green eyes twinkled dangerously as he said, "But madame, I've not yet finished sowing my wild oats. My friend and I are far too wild to tie down to one young thing, at this point. It would make the legions of others so very jealous." He winked, then lifted the lady's hand to his lips. "Like yourself, of course," he added.
Fanning herself with one hand, she smile coquettishly. "You rake. My dear husband would have a say or two about that, otherwise." Clucking her tongue she bustled over to Quatre's side and laid a hand on his arm. "And don't you be working yourself to death at such a young age. A missus might be just what you need." Turning to both of them she waved as another 'victim' caught her eye. "Now remember, if either of you are free, my holdings will be having quite the lovely little gathering this November, hmmm?"
"Your invitation is very kind. I'll certainly see if I can attend," the blond pilot said, inclining his head in a slight bow.
"Good, good," she replied, then with a wink at Trowa she added, "Maybe a little wildness will attract you the right lass." With a whirl of draped fabric, the socialite began tediously working her way back into the milling crowd, a few coos of greeting were audible, but were quickly swallowed by the common noise of the large room.
Quatre finally let his social smile slip, wincing. "Oh... dear. You know, I can't help but have the feeling I'm going to be busy the night of her event. Very busy."
Trowa glanced over at Quatre. He patted the blond pilot on the back. "Relax," he said. "I don't think she was that serious. I don't really believe her type of family would welcome a pair of murdering, ex-Gundam pilots into the family."
"True," Quatre replied, then grinned suddenly. "I have to admit, I had the strongest urge to tell her that I didn't so much need a missus as a mister... it's so tempting to not be tactful sometimes."
Trowa's eyes swept the room and he spotted a few familiar faces in the crowd. "So, why don't you try... wait a minute? Isn't this the same Gundam pilot who blew up a Colony and blew me out of a mobile suit during the war? I'd hardly call that tactful, Quatre."
"Ooops..." the blond said, blushing. "I, ah, generally try not to be that way, you know. It's rather frowned on at most social events...." He sighed, blinking up at Trowa. "You know I am sorry about all that, right?"
Trowa took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Yes," he said. "I have no doubts about that and I know that those were extenuating circumstances, as well." Turning to Quatre, Trowa searched his face for a moment. "What are you worried about Quatre?" he asked.
"I...I'm not sure, actually," the blond said. "I just have an odd inclination to go hide along the wall for some reason." He gave an embarrassed grin, shrugging, "I'm just a bit jittery, I think. People don't usually bother me."
Trowa looked down at Quatre for a moment, then nodded. "Hn," he said, "Come on, then. Let's jump in. There are so many people here, you'll forget the jitters in no time." Taking Quatre's arm, he guided them into the wash of people.
Quatre peered around through the throngs of people. "Have you seen any of the others yet? I've been wanting to at least say hello."
As Quatre spoke, he saw Duo and Heero, the Japanese pilot's arm around the braided pilot's shoulder, just a short distance away.
"Aha! Target acquired," the blonde said, nodding his head in the other pilots' direction. "Shall we?" He gave Trowa's hand a gentle squeeze.
Trowa nodded and headed in the direction of the pilots.
"Heero!" Trowa called over the crowd.
"K'so!" Heero hissed, stopping in his tracks. He looked up at Duo with a classic Heero Yuy glare.
The braided pilot blinked at his partner in a moment of disappointed confusion. One brow quirked up as he peered at his partner. "Ah, so you were actually accepting that challenge," he murmured with a wicked smile.
Cobalt blue eyes looked into Duo's eyes and glinted with wicked fire. "Hai," he said, glancing up at the source of the interruption. The scowl did not dim as he spied Trowa and Quatre approaching.
"Quatre! Trowa!" Duo called cheerfully, smiling widely at the approaching pair. "Man, it's been a while!"
"Hi guys," Trowa said, not too fazed by the death glare.
"Hi!" Quatre smiled, then pulled away from Trowa to embrace Duo. "Meant to do that last night, but I never got the chance," he said with a grin, stepping back and looking at Heero. Pausing a moment at the glare, he embraced the other as well. "I'm so glad to see you both."
Heero's eyes widened for an instant, as Duo was pulled away and then as he was suddenly hugged by Quatre. "Hn," he remarked, glancing up at Trowa.
"Yeah, same here," Duo replied with a wide grin. "Last night was a little bit... umm... interesting?" Duo asked with a sardonic smirk.
"Enlightening, to say the least," Trowa replied. "At least, now we remember where the kids came from."
"What a charming reunion," a deep voice drawled just beyond the small group of pilots.
"We're just missing one for a complete set," a wry feminine voice replied from the same direction.
The voice sent a slight shiver of recognition through Quatre and Trowa, bringing to mind a pair of hypnotic, jewel green eyes and something just at the edge of conscious reach.
Quatre's eyes widened, and he looked back for the source of the voice, stepping a bit closer to Trowa as he did so.
Turning in the direction of the newcomers, Trowa smiled. "Jack," he said, remembering the green-eyed man from Arcadia.
Heero glanced over and felt some of the tension in his body subside. A moment later, he scowled, noting Dorothy Catalonia on Jack's arm. "Hn," he remarked.
"Mister Bates, may I present to you Heero Yuy, Duo Maxwell, Quatre Raberba Winner, and Trowa Barton, four of the Gundam pilots. Gentlemen, may I introduce Mister Bates, one of the CEOs of Gemini Ltd., and one of the wonderful benefactors and supporters of Miss Relena's efforts," Dorothy said smoothly to the assembled group.
Heero blinked at the introduction. His eyebrow arched high as Relena's name was mentioned. Something was off. "We've met," he said.
"Loquacious as ever, Mr. Yuy," Mr. Bates remarked with a slight smile. He turned to Quatre. "It has been a while, hasn't it, Mr. Winner... perhaps you don't remember me?"
Quatre blinked as more puzzle pieces of the past seemed to fall into place. "I... no, I remember you," he said, smiling, albeit still a bit dazedly as he extended his hand. "It's good to see you again."
The slightly taller blond took Quatre's hand in a grip less like a handshake and more like a brief caress. "I'm pleased to hear you say that," he replied, smiling. His lips were frosted with a touch of lavender gloss and his eyes were darkened with subtle hints of kohl. Letting Quatre's hand slide out of his fingers, he turned to smile at Dorothy. "They know me better as Jack."
"Really," Dorothy observed, quirking one brow up in contemplative amusement. "Such interesting company you've kept, then."
"Indeed, a tradition that I maintain," he answered, placing his hand over hers on his arm.
Heero glanced around the room as his eyes searched for the other half of pair. Seconds later, he saw the one he knew as Ripper across the room with Relena on his arm. He stiffened slightly.
Duo followed his partner's gaze, smiling slightly at the sight of the manic redhead, while he reached out and laid an unobtrusive hand on Heero's arm. Glancing back at Dorothy and Jack, he nodded a polite greeting. "Jack. Keeping yourself busy, I see... Benefactors?" he asked, cocking his head in inquiry.
Jack inclined his head modestly. "Nothing really. Just monetary contributions. Large ones. Very large. But hardly significant."
Dorothy sniffed in polite denial, although she held her tongue.
Jack looked at Dorothy and his green eyes seemed to twinkle with a slightly wicked expression.
"It's very little to support the so worthy efforts of the Vice Minister to maintain peace and bring this world into a new era," Jack mentioned.
"Hn," Heero remarked, looking from the green-eyed man, to his partner across the room. "Convenient," he said, quietly.
Jack inclined his head as if receiving a compliment. Turning to Quatre and Trowa, he said, "Everything quite clear again, then?"
"Yes," Trowa said. "So, you're the Jack that... altered our memories?"
The eternally young blond raised an eyebrow. "I suppose... I wasn't aware of another, but if you know one, please introduce us..."
Dorothy cocked her head and regarded Jack for a long moment, obviously intrigued, although she once again remained quiet.
"Although altered is not quite correct," Jack corrected, stroking Dorothy's hand on his arm. "Blocked for a while would be more accurate. Altered... no need for that."
Quatre swallowed and shook himself out of a slight daze that he seemed to have fallen into during the conversation. His hand reached out, unconsciously seeking Trowa's to clasp. "And now the blocks are gone," he murmured softly. "It's nice seeing you again," he said. "I... hope we'll have a chance to talk sometime. Right now I'm parched... um... Trowa, do you think you'd be interested in a drink?"
Trowa looked down at Quatre, then nodded. "Yes," he said, "A stiff one."
Quatre blinked at Trowa's response, blushed slightly and then smiled. "Talk with you later, then," he murmured, nodding to Jack, but his eyes catching Heero's and then Duo's before the pair moved towards the refreshment tables.
"Dear Dorothy, would you show me the gardens? I imagine they are quite lovely by moonlight," Jack drawled.
Dorothy smiled, nodding politely. "But of course, Mister Bates. Heero, Duo. As always, a pleasure," she said by way of parting.
Duo grinned and nodded at them both. "Baaack at ya, Dorothy," he replied, stifling a snicker.
The woman's only response was an utterly bland look, before turning and leading the British businessman away towards the garden exit.
Heero watched as the two moved away. There was a deep scowl on his face as he turned to Duo. "Does this seem just a little too perfect to you? Or is it just me?" he asked.
"What? Them being here and being involved in just about everything?" Duo asked dryly.
"That'll do for a start," Heero replied. "Relena is about the most influential person on the Colonies and Earth now. And Jack mentioning being involved in financial matters. What do you think?"
"I think they enjoy meddling. It keeps them amused... Particularly where It is concerned, which It is, in a roundabout manner," Duo replied, taking Heero's arm to meander through the crowd.
As they walked, they heard a bit of a murmur in the crowd at one side, and through a shift in the bodies, saw Wufei coming in with Sallah. The Chinese pilot was dressed in a nice suit, vest and shirt, all white. Instead of a tie, he had a red cord with a small medallion hanging from it.
Sallah was dressed in a long shoulder- and sleeveless gown of a deep gold, a dress neither of the young men had ever seen before.
The murmuring seemed to come from an area just outside the two, as if they were being commented on behind discretely raised hands.
Duo paused in his slow amble to toss an appraising look over the pair. "They clean up nice, huh?" he commented to Heero.
"Hai," Heero commented, his former thoughts suspended for a moment.
At the refreshment table, Trowa placed his hands on Quatre's shoulders and turned him slightly. "Excellent, don't you think?" he said.
Quatre looked up into Trowa's eyes. "Hmm? What is?"
"Sallah," Trowa said, raising his glass in salute.
Quatre looked up and then smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Absolutely," he said, his voice warm. "I'm glad we took her shopping today, aren't you?"
Trowa nodded and took a sip of his drink.
Sipping his drink, Quatre looked back at the banged pilot. "Trowa... I feel so very odd. I think I remember everything now..." He tilted his head. "Is this... at all how it was for you? I remember that it didn't seem like you got it all back at once... until you got in Wing Zero."
Trowa looked down at Quatre, his expression warming. "Something like that, yes," he said. "... but this is also a little different. Are you worried?"
Quatre looked down and took another drink to give him time to formulate an answer. "Not... yet," he said slowly. "But I haven't had time to think it through - the implications. And I think... I think there's something more. Not a memory... just a sense... that there is something more that is... still out of reach right now." He blinked up at Trowa. "I guess that sounds pretty crazy, doesn't it?"
Trowa shook his head. "No," he said. "It doesn't sound crazy at all. I think we need to corner Duo or Heero while we're here. I get the feeling they know what's going on. Maybe they can fill in some gaps."
Quatre nodded. "I have much the same feeling. Like there's a mission going on. I'd think *that* was crazy except that it was a mission that they went on when they went to Arcadia... and... just because they came back... Trowa, it doesn't, necessarily, mean the... mission... is over." He took a deep breath, thinking about the words even as they tumbled out of his lips.
"I agree," Trowa replied. "Then we have our own mission, it seems. Find out what they know."
Quatre took a deep breath and nodded. "And... find out if they need help."
"Oh, definitely," Trowa said.
TBC
End of Part 30
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