15-July-2001
Title: Chasing the Crown, an Extended Family Fic
ExFam Authors:
RavynFyre - ravynfyre@hotmail.com
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.
Standing to one side of the dance floor, Wufei watched the performance, and frowned slightly. He forced the expression to smooth away, placing the drink which someone had placed in his hand on the tray of a passing waiter. He was standing by the dance floor only because Sallah had been earnestly attempting to persuade him to dance, though he had succeeded in refusing to give in to this request no matter how sweetly she framed the hint.
He felt a sense of weariness and yes, boredom begin to seep through him. He began idly forming excuses to retire from the party early, playing them in his head silently.
Sallah felt a tap on her shoulder and when she turned she saw Trowa Barton. "Ms. Po, would you honor me with a dance?" he asked.
"I'd be thrilled," she said. She smiled graciously at Wufei as she took Trowa's hand to move to the dance floor. She did not see the quickly suppressed look of relief Wufei threw at the green-eyed pilot, nor the wink he received in return.
On the dance floor, Trowa placed his hand at Sallah's waist, holding her securely. "You look lovely, tonight, by the way," he said, with a smile.
Watching the two move into the throng of dancers, Wufei considered. Perhaps this would be the best time to make a quiet exit.
Turning to edge away from the dance floor, his shoulder nudged that of another person coming from the other direction. He pulled himself away with a sidestep, then his eyes met the man he had bumped into, along with the woman on his arm, and he stiffened.
"Excu- Ah... Ex-Preventer Chang. So good to see you," Marcus McCormick said smoothly, gracing the Chinese pilot with a bare inclination of his head while his free hand came up and closed over Sally's hand on his arm. "I trust your civilian life suits you now? Less stressful, I imagine, wouldn't you say my dear?" the dark-haired man queried his wife archly.
Sally Po-McCormick looked over at Wufei, a small furrow in the middle of her brow. "Good evening, Wufei," she said, with a smile and an attempt to mitigate her husband's greeting.
Wufei's expression frosted over as Marcus McCormick began speaking and he favored the other man with an expression which at one time would have been a precursor to a deathmatch. His eyes flickered towards Sally as she added her comments. He met her look for a moment and the appropriate, detached, dignified response formed in his mouth but his lips refused to move.
Instead he allowed Sally a curt nod, and then turned to walk away from the couple in the opposite direction.
"Busy then, Chang? Perhaps we can speak later. That is, if your... family allows you time enough to socialize," Marcus called to the retreating pilot with saccharine sincerity and a wolfish smile.
Wufei stopped instantly and turned, his dark eyes firing with an uncontrolled heat. He walked directly up to Marcus, ignoring that the other man was several inches taller, and stopped only when he was four inches away. "What?" he snapped through his teeth.
Sally looked on with a horrified expression on her face. Clearly, her husband had just done an unwise thing at the least. He had provoked Wufei Chang for some unknown reason.
"Marcus!" she whispered.
The dark-haired Preventer contrived to look innocent as he looked down at his wife and wrapped a possessive arm around her waist. "I just thought, perhaps, that having five so very active and energetic young boys would keep you busy," he replied with a slightly wounded air. "That's all. I can see now why you felt it necessary to leave the Preventers with such an... eclectic brood underfoot."
Sally looked up at Marcus as if he had just grown a second head. She was too shocked to speak.
Wufei's eyes narrowed, and seemed to bore into the other man. He underwent a brief internal struggle as his hand clenched around the medallion hanging around his neck. After a second or two, he jerked it, breaking the cord, and dropped it at the Preventer's feet.
"You can return that when you become stronger. Until then, do not speak about my... family. Ever."
A short distance away Heero looked up, stopping suddenly. He glanced at Duo, then moved.
Duo followed swiftly in his partner's wake, eyes casting up ahead to whatever had caught Heero's attention.
Marcus's eyebrows shot into his hairline in surprise as Heero and Duo suddenly materialized beside Wufei. "Apparently I've offended you, Mr. Chang. You have my apologies for attempting to commend you for your new vocation," he said, taking a single step backward to incline his upper body in a slight bow of contrition.
Wufei simply glared at the other man. With Heero and Duo flanking him, he stood his ground silently, rather than slip away.
Heero focused on the Preventer with a cold Prussian blue eyed stare. "Good evening, Sally," he said, deadpan.
Sally blinked and extricated herself from her husband's grip. She nodded to Heero.
"Guess they weren't kidding when they said it was an 'open invitation' party, huh? Nice to see you, Marcus," Duo said in an overly cheerful voice with a patently false grin. "Sally. You're looking well," he said with more sincerity, though it didn't dull the flash of fire in his violet eyes.
Marcus stiffened, his pale hazel eyes narrowing as he peered at the braided pilot. "Indeed," he murmured before glancing down at his recently vacated arm before giving Sally a meaningful stare.
Marcus felt a tug at his pant leg. Looking down, he saw a pair of eyes looking back up at him. "Hi," Duan said, with a big grin.
Slipping a politely interested smile onto his face, Marcus extended a hand towards the boy. "Hello, young man. My name is Marcus."
This was too much for Wufei. He snapped something in Mandarin and moved to intercept, his hand closing on Marcus's arm.
Another small figure, which had materialized next to Duan, closed a hand around the violet-eyed boy's braid. "Don't frat with potential targets," Kenny murmured in a soft growl.
Across the dance floor, the growing commotion attracted the eyes of another pair, halting the smooth motion of the dance. Zechs looked from the small crowd where an almost palpable defensive anger had built, to Noin. "Might be a good time to have that talk with Sally," he murmured, "Before her husband manages to get himself killed." The statement had an almost unspoken "again" attached to it.
Noin's eyes widened. "Looks like he's really working at it this time," she replied quietly. "I suppose I should make sure we don't lose a Preventer agent so foolishly..." she said, letting her tone of voice indicate that there was a certain amount of doubt on that. Tossing Zechs a slightly sardonic grin, she moved towards the small group.
Marcus froze, his eyes darting down to the hand gripping his arm tightly before coming back up to grace Wufei with a cool look. After a moment, he blinked, assuming a bored expression as he attempted to withdraw his hand again.
Wufei released the hand and scooped up Duan to settle on his shoulder, stepping back. Wufei was keenly aware that the rest of the kids had appeared as well, only a few steps behind their older guardians.
Noin approached from the less guarded flank. "Sally! There you are! I was just asking Zechs here if he had seen you tonight! Oh, Hi Marcus. So Sal, boy do we have some catching up to do..."
"Noin!" Sally said, interrupting her old friend and all but flying across the small space to greet her. She gave Noin a hug and leaned her head against her ear. "I'm so glad to see you here. I have no idea what's going on," she said in a rush, then leaned back with a smile that clearly read, 'Get me out of here.'
"Zechs, it's been awhile," Sally added, standing with the two of them.
Zechs gave the group a small bow before turning and smiling at Sally. "It has." he said, Looking at the others as well. "You wouldn't mind if we borrowed you two for some catching up?"
Sally's eyes widened as she glanced up at the former Lightning Count. She smiled. "I'm sure Marcus wouldn't mind, if *I* visited with my old friends, would you dear?" she said.
The dark-haired man blinked at his wife, momentarily caught off guard by the question. He covered it smoothly with a soft clearing of his throat before nodding with a polite smile. "By all means, my dear. I'm afraid I was feeling a little parched anyway, and wouldn't make good conversational company, Preventer Wind. You ladies enjoy yourselves, while I take my leave and track down something to sip on," he said, taking Sally's hand in his own to kiss the back of it in what was probably supposed to be a romantic gesture. It was somewhat spoiled by the fact that Marcus's attention was firmly fixed to Wufei's face, rather than that of his wife's. "Good evening, gentlemen."
Sally jerked her hand back and gave her spouse a small pat on the cheek. "We *will* talk later," she said, with a manufactured smile, then turned and walked back to her friends.
Noin threw Zechs a look that said, hey, nice try, and implied a shrug by lifting one shoulder slightly. Of everyone in the tense group, Noin actually seemed to be trying to hide a twinkle in her eye.
Wufei met Marcus's eyes as the other man made his excuses and did not look away until Marcus had broken eye contact.
With a final nod that bordered on barely polite, Marcus turned and strolled away nonchalantly, snagging a glass from the tray of a passing waiter as he sauntered through the crowd.
As Marcus left the group, Zechs mirrored Noin's gesture in his own fashion, returning with a comment low enough to be audible to the Preventer woman. "I leave the politics to Relena for a reason," he replied lightly, if slightly sardonically. Stepping back he said more audible. "I should let you two go ahead."
"Oh no you don't. You aren't escaping that easily," Noin said, grabbing his hand firmly. She grinned at Sally. "Come on. I happen to have scoped this place out thoroughly for the evening and I know where there are some open anterooms perfect for cozy conversation."
Sally smiled and moved to Zechs' other side. As she did, she caught sight of a small boy in a white tux close by and gasped as she noticed two things. The first was that he looked like a small version of Wufei and the other was that he was holding the hand of Mariemeia Khushrenada. "What in the world...?" she began, then stopped herself looking up at Zechs and Noin. "You both have a lot of explaining to do," she said, slipping her arm through Zechs' and thus guaranteeing that he wouldn't slip away without a struggle.
"Oh we do, do we?" Noin inquired. "Well we can sort that out over something that has a bit more kick to it than Relena's punch," she said and pulled the two in the direction of the anterooms.
Mariemeia frowned thoughtfully, watching as Marcus vanished into the crowd, her hand unconsciously tightening around Wufan's.
After a moment, she took a deep breath, shaking her head slightly before stepping up beside Wufei to take his hand in her own.
Wufei looked down, frowning slightly. He was angry that this occurrence had removed the happy expression he'd seen on her face earlier. With a suppressed sigh, he set Duan on his feet.
"Perhaps we should take some fresh air," he said, a little stiffly, but including all the kids as well as Heero and Duo in the suggestion.
Mariemeia nodded, refusing to relinquish either Wufei's or Wufan's hand as she smiled hesitantly up at the older Chinese youth. "It's stuffy in here," she observed quietly.
Wufan knelt down and picked up the medallion from the floor without calling attention to himself. He watched Wufei closely, observing his actions.
"Good idea," Heero said, making eye contact with Duo.
"Come on, guys. Last one outside is a soggy greenie," Duo said, grinning to make it a joke for them all before he leaned down and snatched Carter up from the floor.
Carter gasped and then giggled, holding on tightly.
Standing not far away, Sallah turned to look at Trowa. "What... was all that about?" she murmured, half to herself and half to the young man who'd been dancing with her until the source of the disturbance had become evident to them both.
"That was Sally Po's husband. I guess he has acquired a death wish or something in taunting Wufei like that," Trowa said, quietly.
Sallah looked him, her expression disturbed and a little shocked. He was merely confirming her own guesses about the identity of the two people, one of whom was so uncomfortably familiar. "So that was Sally," she murmured. "Um... can't say much for her taste, at this point." She shook her head as if trying to shake off the chilly feeling that had settled over her.
Quatre appeared close by, having been drawn to the area like the others. He placed a comforting hand on Sallah's arm. "It's an old conflict, one that never came out in the open because Wufei was always too honorable to do anything but avoid it. It seems he's found something that is making him stand his ground."
Sallah looked at the blond pilot and lifted her chin slightly. "Yes, he has," she said firmly. Then she managed to smile at each of the two pilots. "I think I'll wander out to get some fresh air as well."
Trowa bowed deeply. "Thank you for the dance," he said.
"It's I who should thank you," she said, warmly. "I hope to see you both again a bit later, perhaps."
"Yes," Trowa said, with a smile.
Quatre gave her a courtly bow and a smile as she moved towards the wide open doors to the gardens.
Stepping closer to Trowa, he suppressed a sigh.
"We really have got to corner those guys for a talk," he said.
"You're right, we do," Trowa replied. Scanning the room, he looked back at Quatre. "I think I'm going to scout around a bit," he said.
Quatre smiled slightly and nodded. "I see Miss Relena over there is getting an earful from some of the guests. She's starting to look a bit alarmed, I think I'll go pay my respects and let her know the fireworks *inside* are over for the time being," he answered with a small grin. Then he added softly, "Be careful."
"I will," Trowa said, brushing his hand against Quatre's cheek.
The blond pilot blushed slightly but nodded, and then turned to make his way over to the Vice Minister, as Trowa disappeared into the crowd.
As the group slipped through the doors from the ballroom to the gardens outside, Duo shifted Carter against his side, holding him with one arm, while he reached out with his other and gently brushed his fingers against Wufei's shoulder. Amethyst eyes flashing with righteous anger and deep concern, he offered the Chinese pilot a small smile. "You okay?" Duo asked quietly.
Wufei closed his eyes briefly, struggling with internal fires aimed both outward and inward. He reached down and lifted Mariemeia and set her on one of several tables set out across part of the lawn, and then set Wufan beside her. His eyes touched on Kenny, Tryan and Duan in momentary reassurance before he turned to face Duo.
"That was stupid of me. I should have known better," he said in a low voice. He shrugged.
"How so?" Duo asked as he knelt to set Carter back on his own feet near Tryan. "The guy's a di- jerk."
Duan giggled. "That's what I was gonna ask him... if his name was Dick... cause that's how he was actin'!"
Wufei snorted softly. Kenny simply grinned for a brief moment before returning to a more serious expression.
"Which is why I should have known better," Wufei commented, his voice tinged with self-disgust. "How can I expect you boys to walk away from a schoolyard insult if I can't do the same?"
"But you tried that," Wufan said. "You were polite and you tried to walk away. He pushed it. Just like Bruiser Brody."
Wufei closed his eyes briefly, the comparison making his point better than he could have done, as far as Wufei was concerned. "Thank you, Wufan," he said simply, not trusting himself further.
Wufan sighed and looked down.
"Hey, guess what, Wu-chan?" Duo asked, hooking his thumbs in his black cummerbund as he leaned back and looked carelessly up at the stars. "No one's perfect. Expecting yourself to be will only lead to frustration and failure. Something tells me that if I'd been the one he'd been smarting off to at first, and I heard everything, I'd probably have laid him out flat on the floor. Good thing level heads prevailed, huh?"
Wufei glanced up at Duo and away. "I'm not one of the children, Maxwell," he growled softly. Then he shook his head. He looked at each of the kids, including Mariemeia. "I want you all to stay away from that man. Understood?"
"Why?" Duan asked.
"Is he a child molester?" Tryan asked.
Wufei looked at Duan. "Because I am asking you to," and to Tryan, "If I become aware that he is, it will not be a problem any more, he will be dead."
Wufan looked up and took a deep breath. "Wufei," he said, feeling his heart begin to beat in his chest, "We understand that you want to protect us, but if it is like Kenny said, this man becomes a target, then we will have to do what we have to do. That's why we're here."
Wufei regarded Wufan, his look direct. "If this man becomes a target, you will respect the fact that I have a claim that takes precedence over yours."
Wufan swallowed and looked down. He nodded. "He is a target already, then. We will honor that," he said, quietly, then sat back down.
Wufei rubbed his forehead. He glanced at Duo. "Perhaps I need to borrow your book. I don't think I am handling this conversation very well."
Sitting on his heels in front of Wufan, he reached up almost hesitantly and took the boy's hand. "Wufan... this is peacetime. A peace we are trying to preserve. That is why even *he* is not a *target*... not without something more than a slight to my honor. I would rather you simply honor my request because you respect my judgment."
Wufan pushed his glasses back up on his nose with his free hand. "I respect your judgment and will honor your request... because I love you and I care what happens to you," he said. Reaching in his pocket, Wufan took out the medallion. "And because you are my brother," he added, handing the dragon to Wufei.
Wufei looked at the small medallion and then knotted the broken cord and slipped it around Wufan's neck.
Wufan looked down at the medallion and then at Wufei. "I'll keep it safe," he said. Then, he looked at the ground, blinking back unshed tears. Dragons didn't cry in public.
Wufei closed his eyes briefly, and stood up, reaching out to brush Wufan's cheek with a featherlight touch before he clasped his hands behind his back and looked out at the garden.
"Well," Heero said, pushing off a wall he was leaning against, "I think we did well for our first party. Nothing's broken."
"Yet," Duo retorted devilishly, "The night's still young."
Tryan shrugged. "They haven't kicked us out or threatened us," he said.
"This is true. Course, that'd be a hell of a scandal. Tossing out the family of the guests of honor, or the guests themselves? Hmm... Sounds like fun, now that you mention it..." Duo replied, his voice trailing off thoughtfully as he glanced back towards the brightly lit manor with a speculative twinkle in his laughing violet eyes.
Wufei turned around. "I think I've had all the fun I can handle," he said.
Duo sighed dramatically. "Such a waste of a perfectly handsome suit, then, if you ask me."
Wufei glanced at Duo, his eyes momentarily confused before he snorted softly.
"There you all are," Sallah said, coming up to the small group. She checked each of them over visually, and decided the mood was sober but not tragic.
"You're looking stunning tonight, Sallah," Duo said cheerfully, dropping into a fancy bow as she approached.
She smiled back. "The same could be said for all of you..." she said. "But thank you, Duo. I'm glad you like the dress. I've never worn or even seen anything like what most of the women are wearing tonight. I owe a small debt to Quatre Winner and his companion for this."
"So that's where you all vanished to earlier today!" Duo remarked with a nod.
"Have they started the fast dancing yet, Sallah?" Duan asked, hopefully.
She grinned. "Now that you mention it, I think that Ripper was talking to the person leading the band as I came out. I'd make a bet they'll be starting pretty soon."
Duan's violet eyes lit up. "Um, may we be excused to the dancehall room?" he asked Duo.
The braided pilot smiled widely, reaching out to ruffle Duan's bangs playfully. "Let us know if you guys decide to head anywhere else, okay?" he said, nodding permission.
"Ok!" Duan said, looking around. "Come on! We can do that dance I was talking about!" he said.
"Hn," Kenny said, with a slightly suffering look. He heaved a sigh and followed his friend.
"And sometime tonight, we've gotta have a briefing," Duo called, just loud enough for the retreating children to hear before turning to the older members of the group. "And why does the thought of any 'that dance' of his fill me with a sense of foreboding humor?"
Sallah smiled. "I don't know, Duo. If I were you I might consider keeping an eye on them though. Actually, I came to tell you guys that my feet are killing me in these lovely but non-functional shoes, my chance for getting a dance with Zechs has apparently evaporated into an anteroom with a couple of his friends, and I am going to retire to my room and have a long hot soak in the bath. Let me know if you need anything. And don't keep the kids up too late, hmmm?"
"We won't," Heero replied. "You look nice, Sallah," he added.
"Thank you, Heero. You look amazingly divine," she said serenely. "Good night, boys."
"Night, Sallah," Duo replied, dropping into another bow.
Sallah waved and moved off in the direction of the mansion and freedom from high heels.
Heero moved closer to Wufei. "You ok?" he asked.
Wufei regarded the Perfect Soldier. "Fine," he said. His mouth twitched at the corner.
"Understatement," Duo remarked, giving Wufei an appraising look before meeting his gaze with something of a sultry smirk, "But that's just me..."
Wufei glanced from Duo to Heero and back. "There are... things I don't begin to understand about you, Maxwell," he said. "And I thought I understood Heero for the most part but I'm starting to think you've managed to unlock some hidden potential for incomprehensible behavior in him."
"Now all I have to do is work on you," Duo agreed.
Wufei shook his head, crossing his arms over his chest. "I won't argue that there may be some work to be done, but I don't think I am ready to find out what that would entail coming from you."
"Patience is a virtue, Wu-chan," Duo replied merrily, turning to saunter back towards the manor and the dancehall within, his arms clasped behind his head as he peered up at the stars. "Course, lust is a sin, and I'd rather be a sinner than a saint," he called over his shoulder.
Wufei allowed a genuinely perplexed expression to flicker over his face, and could not quite prevent himself from glancing at Heero. As he walked a few paces behind the braided pilot, he finally said, "Why is your lover flirting with me? He is doing that, correct?"
"Wufei, have you ever looked into a mirror?" Heero asked. "And yes, Duo is flirting with you. He thinks you're handsome and so do I, but have you done the mirror thing?"
Wufei scowled slightly, shooting Heero another look. After a moment, he said, "I used to understand you. I thought I did." He stared intently at the ground as he walked further. Then he said, "What mirror thing?"
"Hn," Heero remarked, then he continued. "The mirror thing is where Duo and... well he did it with me, so I guess it could be all three of us or something. Anyway, you stand naked in front of the mirror and Duo points out your good points. The objective is to get yourself looking at you in a different way. I found it effective."
Wufei stopped walking around the point where Heero said 'three of us' and stared at Heero's retreating form as if trying to determine if he were having an aural hallucination.
"Toldja he said yes," Duo sang back with manic cheer.
Wufei's face went white, then flushed as his eyes widened. He blinked several times and then scowled ferociously, walking quickly to catch up.
"Duo no baka," he growled, lapsing into Japanese from the war days. After a moment he added, "Heero no baka. It's.... ridiculous," he added, as they found the dance area where, indeed, "fast" music was being played and a number of the younger guests including most of the kids were gyrating happily to the throbbing beat.
"Why? What's so ridiculous about it?" Duo asked. "You think I was only kidding? Heh. I may run and hide, but I never tell a lie, Wu."
"No Duo," Heero said, placing a hand on Duo's arm. "I don't think you get it. He said that because it's going through his mind and he's working it through.. Doesn't mean he's not considering it."
"Heero, shut up!" Wufei burst out in a low but intense voice. The second flush was a bit darker than the first had been.
Duo took up a position along the wall, picking out a spot where they had a good view but could blend into the background. He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back against the wall before giving Wufei a mild look. "So... what's so ridiculous about it?"
"What isn't?" Wufei hissed. He leaned against the wall as well, closing his eyes for a few moments, seeking some composure. The odd thing was the fact that as much confusion, embarrassment and turmoil as he was feeling, it was in every way different from the scene earlier in the evening with Marcus McCormick. He felt as if something was tethering him to the two pilots with restraints that somehow didn't evoke either the urge to run or fight.
"What isn't?" Duo echoed, turning his gaze out over the room again as he drew his arms away from his chest to slowly tick off one finger after another on his hands. "Let's see... You're incredibly sensitive. Honorable. Intelligent. Sexy to begin with, and man... White is just your color. What's so ridiculous about that?" he asked mildly.
Wufei swallowed. He opened his eyes and deliberately looked at Duo. What he saw didn't ease his confusion a great deal. Taking several deep breaths, he avoided answering immediately.
"It's us, right?" Duo asked, jerking his chin at Heero while maintaining eye contact with Wufei. "The fact that it is an 'us'."
Wufei's brows drew together as he attempted to translate this to something he understood. After a moment, the frown eased slightly.
"Perhaps," he said quietly. Then his eyes moved from Duo to Heero and back again. "But... perhaps not... exactly." He took another deep breath and continued to meet Duo's eyes. Without changing expression, years or layers seemed to peel away for a moment. "The real reason it's ridiculous is that I haven't been... available... for... anything like that for... a while," he said, his voice quiet, barely audible against the music. "I guess I... forgot..."
"Forgot?" Duo asked gently.
Wufei shrugged a little helplessly, dropping his eyes finally. "I *didn't* think you were serious," he murmured. "I don't know exactly what... to think about it."
Duo nodded thoughtfully, crossing his arms again. "You're part of the family, Wufei. We want you to be happy... Just as much as we'd like a little happiness of our own. Tell us to stuff it, if it's not your bag... Just know that if you don't, we can be pretty persuasive, 'specially with such incentive," he observed placidly, although there was a flash of visceral heat in the depths of his eyes.
Heero sighed, shaking his head a little. "Hey," he said, leaning against the wall next to Wufei. "Even I'm not that new. I think what Duo is saying is that he finds you very attractive, as do I, in a ... sexual manner." He looked over at Duo. "Part of the family?" he said and shook his head. "That's not what you were thinking when we talked about how great he was, right?"
Duo smiled lazily. "Most of what I was thinking wasn't repeatable in polite company, and I think I've embarrassed poor Wufei enough already," he agreed. "But he *is* part of the family, and I *do* want him to be happy, and if that means telling me to leash my libido..." Duo shrugged, then glanced back over at Wufei.
The Chinese boy had leaned his head back against the wall and was examining one of the ornate chandeliers. After a moment more of silence, he said, "If this... if it was anyone else saying... I would kick their ass off the planet." Then a slight curve appeared at the corner of his mouth as he continued to study the dangling cut glass pieces. "Since it's not anyone else... I guess... I suppose... I'll be honest and say... I thought about something like this a long time ago. Hmm... maybe," he said, with a soft, odd laugh, "Maybe you're... slow... but... maybe..." Glancing at the dance floor, he said, "If we're still going tonight, I suppose we need to get underway rather soon."
Sally sat down on the sofa with a relieved sigh. This felt much better than a few minutes ago. Leaning back against the cushions, she glanced around at her friends. "You know, it's been entirely too long," she said, "And we just saw each other.. when? A few weeks ago?"
Noin opened the bottle and poured liquid into three glasses. "Well, since you mentioned it, yes, we saw each other exactly five weeks, three days and some odd hours ago... if you call waving from across the room at a general meeting seeing. It's been a bit longer since we had any real conversation. It appears to be slightly overdue... if I can judge by your expression."
Sally reached out for a glass from Noin. Taking it, she downed half of the liquid in one gulp. "All right, now someone tell me who that adorable little boy who looks like Wufei is and if anyone has a clue who stole my husband's brain and good sense?"
Zechs had taken one of the glasses from the table and found a comfortable armchair to settle into. "It's more his survival instincts I worry about. No offense, Sally." he replied, taking a generous sip as well. "And the boy was introduced to me as Wufan, and has quite the interest in modern military history."
"No offense taken, Zechs," Sally said wearily. Looking up at Noin, she shook her head. "Is the boy related to Wufei? He isn't his son, is he? Wufei's not old enough to have a son that age... brother?"
Noin shrugged and looked at Zechs. "I have no idea... although Une seems to be familiar with them. Preventer Wind?"
"Not by blood, though all the boys seem to have been adopted by Duo, Heero and Wufei," Zechs replied. He paused a moment before giving the next statement a resigned, mental shrug. "Wufan's mother is a woman named Sallah. You might have seen her already."
Sally downed the remainder of the liquid in her glass and shook her head again. "It was rather difficult to see anyone out there, while Marcus was offending one of the people responsible for us all being here in the first place. I think I was a little involved and embarrassed to notice much at all."
Finishing is own glass, Zechs lowered his head for a moment. "I've been away from the headquarters for a while," he began, lips quirking wryly at the mention, "But I can't recall him before being so..." He trailed off, the warmth of the drink stealing an easy or polite adjective.
"Rude? Crass? Bone headed?" Sally offered. "Well, I can't say I've seen him quite as bad as this, before either, but..." she said, ending with an audible sigh. Standing, she smoothed her red sheath dress down and moved to where she saw Noin put the bottle back. Taking it back out, she poured another drink for herself.
"You know, I have to tell you this," Sally said, looking over at Noin. "This hasn't been exactly what I'd thought at first."
Noin watched her old friend, not taking any of her own drink. "You mean marriage? Or Marcus?"
Sally looked up at Noin. "Well... both," she admitted. "For instance, I got the impression that a couple was supposed to do things together... or at least talk to each other. I guess I shouldn't complain, but Marcus is busy a lot. He's good to me... he says the right things, but... I don't know."
Noin listened, nodded, and then glanced at Zechs. "Sounds like you need to take a little time off from the situation," she said. "I'm on duty until 3am. Why don't you just relax for a while."
Sally nodded and settled back on the sofa. "I think I will," she said. "It's good to see both of you, anyway."
She lifted her glass and touched it to Zechs' and then to Sally's. "Water, Wind and Fire," she said with a slow smile. "Together again, for the moment anyway."
Zechs tilted his own, empty glass speculatively before nodding to Noin and Sally. "Here's to the moment lasting, then."
"Salut," Sally said, raising her glass. This felt right. Taking a sip, she looked over at Zechs. "Oh yes, you asked if I had seen the little.. Wufan? is it? His mother? What does she look like? I'd be interested in speaking with her."
"You might want to have another of those before you do," Noin murmured. "She looks a lot like a certain Preventer agent and doctor I know."
Sally frowned slightly, then looked a bit confused. "Who?" she asked.
Noin glanced at Zechs for assistance.
Refilling his own glass first, he said, "Sallah looks remarkably like you," after making a good effort to empty the same container. "It seems all of the ex-pilots' guests bear a likeness to someone else, in both name and face."
Sally looked at Zechs for a long time, without speaking. "You aren't joking are you?" she said, watching the tall blond man, closely. "But how is that possible? Oh, you must mean we resemble each oth...."
Sally stopped herself and sat back, allowing the implications to sink in.
With a slight smile Zechs pointed at Noin. "I'll remind you that of the two of us, Noin is the one with the refined sense of humor."
Noin smiled at the tall blond and shook her head. "I don't think anyone ever accused me of being refined, that's definitely more in your arena than mine, Zechs. But I have a feeling you know more about this particular mystery than you are willing to reveal at the moment. Go ahead, be mysterious for now. I'll bide my time. In the meanwhile, Sally, I suggest you just let it go for the moment. Something tells me a lot of things are going to be a bit clearer in the light of the day after."
Sally nodded and settled on the sofa once again.
TBC
End of Part 32
And because I said I would, for those who are curious about such things...
Cast/Writer List:
Heero - Von
Duo - Ravyn
Trowa - Von
Quatre - bonne (before Pt 30, Diane)
Wufei - bonneKenny - bonne
Duan - Von
Tryan - Von
Carter - bonne
Wufan - VonSallah - bonne/Von (before Pt 30, Diane)
Zechs - Nixie the Pixie
Relena - bonne
Dorothy - Ravyn
Mariemeia - Ravyn
Lady Une - Von (before Pt 30, Diane)
Treize - Ravyn
Noin - bonne
Sally Po - VonMarcus McCormick - Ravyn
Paragan - bonne/Von/whoever's handy
Jack (Mr. Bates) & the Ripper (Mr. Ripley) - bonne
Please feel free to direct feedback to any or all of the authors!
ravynfyre@hotmail.com,
sablexo1@yahoo.com,
bonnejeanne@yahoo.com, Nixerchan@aol.com.