26-Aug-2000
No warnings but Heero does have someone on his mind, so does Duo.
*Disclaimer* Gundam Wing and its characters don't belong to me, but
they do live in my pen.
Archiving - I'd be honored. Just let me know.
I apologize for this one, I think it is a little lame but it is a
lead up to the rest of the story (like Star Wars Episode 1 - now that
was lame!). There is a reference to a certain TV show and 2 movies
that I could not resist using, sorry.
If you agree this one is lame, it's ok to let me know.
Oh, yeah, had trouble with the title too, best I could do at 3:00
a.m.. Please excuse any spelling errors.
Note: This fic is one in a series of stories with the same continuing characters, The Belle of the Ball Arc, or BotB Arc for short.
It was 2 weeks until Relena's coronation. Heero had received a message from Dr. J: "There have been reports of a possible assassination attempt on Relena Peacecraft's life at the celebration following her coronation. Your assignment (should you choose to accept it) is to prevent this from happening and terminate the triggerman. We only know there is a possibility of an attempt but do not know who is behind it, or the identity of the assassin."
It did not matter that the first attempt had been by Heero's own hand. Dr J. had finally realized that killing Relena would be a terrible mistake and had finally forgiven Heero for refusing to carry out his assignment. But he still liked to remind Heero of his 'failure'.
The other pilots had received similar orders. Quatre contacted the others and invited them to his estate. That way they could plan their mission and hide their gundams in a secure environment.
They met in Quatre's bedroom & Heero was the first to speak. "We have this assignment but must first figure out how we are going to infiltrate the celebration. It is invitation only and the security guards will make sure that all who attend have one. At least the security will be tight in this area(but not tight enough apparently). So we are assuming that whoever the assassin is, he/she will have an invitation.
"We don't have to worry about that," replied Quatre. "The Winner family has all kinds of connections, I got invitations."
"Good," responded Heero, "Since we don't know the identity, or gender of the assassin, we'll have to be able to access all areas of the building, and I mean 'all' areas. Heero glanced over at Duo. (Why am I so glad to see him?)
"Why does this sound all too familiar and why am I suddenly getting a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach?" asked Duo.
"Oh, you're not the only one to wear a dress, this time," Heero replied. (Why can't I get him off my mind for more than 5 minutes?)
"This time?" Trowa and Wufei asked. A puzzled look on their faces.
"That's a long story," answered Duo. (Why do I suddenly feel like I've really missed Heero?)
"So just what are you saying, Heero?" asked Quatre.
"I'm saying that 2 of you are going to have to impersonate girls, we need to be able to get into the ladies room as well as everywhere else, and the only way to do that..." Heero started to say.
"Is for 2 of us to dress like girls," Trowa finished. "I think I'm disqualified because I'm taller than the rest of you. It might bring too much attention, tall girl, short guy."
"I refuse to dress or act like a girl," Wufei asserted. "That would be a sign of weakness on my part."
"Are you calling me weak?" Duo asked Wufei.
"Are you saying you've worn a dress, Maxwell?" Wufei retorted. "How did it make you feel, all girlish and feminine?"
"It was for a mission, and no, frankly, I felt stupid," replied Duo.
"It has to be either Wufei or Trowa," Heero said. "Quatre has to go as himself because his family received the invitations."
"And why can't it be you, Yui?" Wufei demanded to know.
"Because I'm going as the 'bodyguard'. I am the best shot of all of us and being the bodyguard will give me access to the back areas of the building, the kitchen, storage rooms, etc.. Any place an assassin might hide," Heero answered.
"Oh, and the 2 of you who get to be boys, you are going to escort the 'girls'. He added.
"I don't want to do this," Wufei objected.
"It's for the mission, Wufei, just think of it as extreme undercover work," suggested Trowa.
"Very well. I will do this for the mission." Wufei conceded.
"Oh, uh, Wufei," Duo started, "Of course you're going to have to wear a wig or something - I don't think we'll be able to do anything with that." Duo pointed to Wufei's hair.
"Very funny, Maxwell," Wufei retorted.
"It wasn't meant to be funny," replied Duo.
"Ok, now that it's settled on who will be the girls, we will need a couple of dresses. Quatre, can you raid your sisters closets again?" Heero asked.
"I'm sorry to disappoint you, Heero," he replied, "But somehow my sisters found out. I'm not allowed anywhere near their rooms, now.
"I'm sorry to hear that," Heero said. "I guess we're going to have to go shopping."
"I doubt if there is a dress to be had within a 500 mile radius of here," Quatre said. "Not only are the wealthy going to be in attendance, but also the mid-level at Oz and Romefeller. This is a very big event and everyone is going to be there."
"So what are we going to do?" asked Trowa, "You know we are also going to need tuxedos."
"Oh I have plenty," said Quatre, "I'll just get my tailor to alter a couple of them for you and Heero."
"I already have one," said Heero.
A thought suddenly crossed Quatre's mind. "Wait here," he said, "I'll be right back.". He rushed out of the room.
As they were waiting, Duo spoke up, "Heero, since you seem to already have made all the plans, who is going to be my escort?" (why couldn't it have been you?)
"Quatre," Heero replied. (why do I feel more comfortable about him being around Duo? Why do I care?)
"Well, Wufei, it looks like you are going to be my 'date'," said Trowa. Wufei couldn't tell how Trowa felt about that, Trowa said that as if he were making a statement no more important than saying "The sky is blue.". You just never knew what was on Trowa's mind.
Quatre returned, holding papers in his hand. "I just remembered, I saw these laying in the printer tray in the library." Quatre was holding what appeared to be small scale patterns and designer sketches of 2 evening gowns.
"One of my sisters must have been planning on having these 2 dresses made," he said. "The designer is a good friend of hers, she buys all her dresses from him so he is always sending previews of his most recent designs. I'll just have these made for Wufei and Duo. My sister can live without 2 more dresses anyway."
"I need to get my tailor here so he can get started on making these dresses and altering Trowa's tux," he added.
"Do you think he'll be finished in time?" Trowa asked.
"Sure," said Quatre, "I'll just offer quadruple his normal fee, and insist he and his assistants work around the clock until they are done. But first Duo and Wufei need to pick out which one they are going to wear."
They looked at the dress designs. One was Grecian style with one bare shoulder and a closure on the other. It was white trimmed in gold.
The other dress was indigo with short sleeves, a sweetheart neckline, tight bodice and a lace overlay covering the full skirt.
"I guess I choose the white dress," Wufei said. "I'll feel more comfortable in this situation if I can wear white."
"Well, I guess I'm stuck with the blue," Duo said. (I know I'll look good in that color, but do you think HE'd notice?) (It will bring out the color in Duo's eyes - Heero thought-Now why should I care?)
Quatre called his tailor to come to the estate, and was transported back to the estate in record time, Quatre's driver was already parked in front of his shop when Quatre called. Of course he felt honored to be of service to the young Master.
He got the boys measured and got his assistants started on the dresses. He had no problems matching the material, he had a supplier who could get him anything on a moments notice. Quatre talked his sisters into allowing the boys to borrow the matching accessories needed to complete the outfits.
The week went by quickly and the dresses were finished the morning of the coronation. Quatre's sisters decided to join in the fun and offered to dress Duo and Wufei as well as do their hair and makeup. Neither liked the idea of Quatre's sisters seeing them in their underwear so they insisted on allowing them to only do the hair and makeup, but only after they were dressed.
The sweetheart neckline proved to be a bit of a problem as there was usually some cleavage poking out, which Duo had none of. Quatre's sisters came to the rescue and showed Heero how to help Duo gather and push up some skin and tape it, so that there was some 'natural' cleavage to go along with the bra and falsies he was wearing. Heero had an unexpected reaction to being in such intimate contact with Duo. (Am I becoming attracted to him?) Duo noticed, (Heero, is that for me?) and joked, "Is that a gun or are you happy to see me?" with an impish grin on his face.
"Shut up," was all that Heero said. (He just 'had' to notice. What the hell is wrong with me anyway?)
Everyone was finally ready and it was all they could do, short of threatening murder, to keep Quatre's sisters from taking pictures. They rode in Quatre's limousine, with Rashid driving. He would also serve as an extra set of eyes and ears and if needed, an extra gun.
A short time later, they arrived at the celebration, got out of the limo and made their way to the line of guests that had formed. Relena was standing in the receiving line, along with other Romefeller dignitaries and shook hands and chatted with each arriving guest. The procession was slow but finally the boys reached the receiving line. They went from handshake to handshake on down the line to Relena.
Heero stood in front of her and offered his hand. She cautiously took it, "I'm sorry", Heero whispered. "I understand and forgive," Relena replied.
She then shook hands with Quatre, Trowa and Wufei. When it was Duo's turn to shake hands, Relena just stood there, a shocked look on her face. She finally let out a loud gasp, the others in the receiving line turned to look and they too, along with the guests who were near let out a gasp.
Relena stood there, looking Duo over from head to toe, toe to head, she could not believe her eyes. Duo had this sudden wish that he could disappear or at least turn tail and run. He was looking Relena over too, and took note of the stunning dress Relena was wearing, one of 2 by a famous designer, a designer who had a very good friend, and customer, who had begged him to let her get a sneak peak at what the new Queen would be wearing to her coronation, a good friend who's last name happened to be Winner and wheedled him into letting her see the designs and patterns of the shortsleeved dress with the sweetheart neckline, tight bodice and lace overlay that covered the full skirt, the dress that was indigo in color and was the exact duplicate of the one Duo was wearing.
To be continued....
Let me know what you think.
KwyckSylver
Please send comments to: kwycksylver@yahoo.com