15-Nov-2003
Title: Meeting Beatrice
Author: Sol (archived as Zefyr on FF & MM)
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Pairings: 1+R (past), 1+2, 3+4...
Rated: PG or PG-13 for mild cussing (maybe).
Warnings: Silliness and fun, mostly at the expense of two canon characters.
Archiving: Sure, just write me at zefyr@hereticstudios.com
Critiques: Always welcome, especially constructive.
Disclaimer: I just like to take them out and play with them. I promise to
put them back where I found them.
Spoilers: Takes place 3 years after EW, and may reference some events/past
history.
"Blue or white?"
Trowa shook his head at the blue shirt. "There's a stain on the cuff."
Heero frowned, and investigated the cuff. "I could roll up the sleeves," he offered. "I'm not sure the white looks nice enough."
"Try both on. Let's see." Trowa stretched out his long legs and yawned. "Where's Relena with the coffee?"
"Probably mooning over Wufei," Heero retorted with a flashing crooked smile. Trowa chuckled and shook his head, as the dark-haired man went back to regarding the clothes he'd laid out. "Are you sure blue jeans are okay?"
"You're getting married on a beach, Heero," Trowa pointed out amiably. "You won't even be wearing any shoes."
The other man paused to consider this, his fingers flicking nervously over the buttons on the white shirt before he pulled it over his head. He tucked it in and rolled up the cuffs to above his elbows, and turned around. "Well?"
Trowa shrugged. "You want real fashion advice, we need Relena and Quatre. Looks fine to me... if you don't mind the fact that the back is all wrinkles."
"It is?" Heero twisted around to see the back of the shirt, annoyed. "Damn. Blue shirt, then." He pulled the shirt over his head and stalked back to the bed. "I wish Duo were here to help with this."
"Ah, so that's what's got you all irked," Trowa said, staring at the ceiling. "I knew his traditionalist streak would come through eventually."
Heero snorted. "I'm not sure that's what I'd call it."
"Oh?"
"More like... " Heero paused as he pulled the white shirt over his head and began tucking it in. He recalled doing all the work on the handouts they 'd be giving the attendees, up until two in the morning, and no Duo to help, or even at least to welcome him to bed. "Rude, I guess... " His blue eyes took on a faraway look, and a flash of uncertainty crossed his face as he whispered, low enough that Trowa could barely hear him. "What if he's having second thoughts?"
"Duo?" Trowa stretched, and stood up. "I doubt it. He's been head over heels in love with you for years, even if you're an idiot, Yuy. I'm going for coffee."
There was a knock at the door, and Relena stumbled in without waiting for their response. She was juggling three cups of coffee, and she looked like death warmed over.
"Damn, Relena," Heero said, striding across the room to divest the young woman of two of the mugs before she spilled any coffee. "What the hell happened to you?"
"Nothing some aspirin and a baseball bat wouldn't cure," she retorted, but her voice was too weary to be sharp. She cradled her own mug of coffee and dropped into the chair Trowa had just vacated. Rubbing her eyes, she looked over Heero critically. "Looks good. But isn't that the shirt with the stain on the cuff?"
Heero shot Trowa an irritated look, and the taller man just shrugged.
"You going to be okay?" Heero cocked his head at Relena, assessing her appearance. Her hair was out of its braids, and she was still wearing a t-shirt and shorts that she'd probably slept in. "You're not even dressed. Or showered, I'd bet."
"Nope, nope," she said, waving one hand. "I'm waiting for the world to stop spinning."
The two men exchanged a glance.
"Stop that," Relena ordered. "I'm hung over, not blind."
"How did you get so hung over?" Trowa leaned against the door and grinned over his mug of coffee.
"Well... everyone was talking in the kitchen, and my wine glass kept getting refilled, so I had to do the same... " Her voice trailed off as she pressed the mug's warmth up against her cheek.
Heero frowned, trying to visualize, and glanced at Trowa, who nodded. They both recalled Noin, Conrad, Wufei and Relena in the kitchen, talking shop. Wufei and Relena were mostly silent, and sipping wine rather than contributing. Heero guessed both parties had decided to drink wine rather than broach a conversation. He turned away so Relena wouldn't see his grin, and his conclusion that the two idiots had stalled in the kitchen for more than a few glasses of wine.
Relena groaned. "Coffee isn't working."
"Aspirin won't cure what you've got," Trowa commented dryly.
The young woman shot him a look, then winced as the motion made her head hurt again. "Sure it will. I take the whole bottle, and it'll cure something."
"Will it make you talk to him?" Heero stared at himself in the mirror, and ran a hand through his hair. Nothing seemed to be working, his unhappy expression said quite clearly. "Damn," he whispered, and ran a hand through his hair again.
"Give it up," Relena said. "Your hair is impossible. And, for your information, I will talk to him." She shifted uncomfortably in the chair. "I just... can't think of anything to say."
Trowa hid another grin behind his mug. The attempt didn't work, as the young woman noticed the movement and sent him a glare.
"You're both incorrigible," she announced. "I'm going to go see what Quatre is doing."
"And take a shower," Heero ordered. "You're not showing up at my wedding still in your pajamas."
"Yeah, whatever you say, zero-one," she replied, waving a hand over her shoulder as she yanked the door open and stumbled into the hallway. The two men could hear her muttering as she made her way back to her own room, one hand over her eyes.
"Lovesick," Trowa commented. "The plan would be succeeding nicely... if we could just get them to talk to each other."
"All in good time," Heero replied good-naturedly. "Can't rush some things."
"Like you getting dressed for your wedding?"
Heero scowled and ran his hands through his hair again. "Shut up. Got a comb?"
Quatre looked up from the handouts he was folding. Auda and Abdul had sat down, rather heavily, in two of the deck chairs. Both were wearing dark glasses, and still in the clothes they'd worn the night before. Quatre noted that both looked rumpled, as well as in pain. Auda proved his theory right by groaning loudly as the deck chair shifted under his weight.
"Good morning," Quatre said, offering them both a smile as he waited for some sort of explanation. He was pretty sure they were hung over, and he 'd heard rumors that Duo had brought them mead, but now... The blond Preventer sighed deeply and rested his chin on his fist.
"Hey, Master Quatre," Abdul said, and then paused. He held up his hand, and the other men dutifully waited. "We have some news that concerns you."
"Aspirin doesn't work," Auda added, letting his head drop against his arms.
"I could have told you that," Quatre replied. He folded several more bulletins. Trowa had brought them over from the city court's main office, and Heero had spent much of the night working them into a neat layout so people could read along and respond at the appropriate points. Quatre sighed again when neither man said anything else. "Anything else?" His blue eyes flicked from one Maguanac to the other, mildly curious. "I'm a little busy here, if you didn't notice."
"Sorry, Master Quatre," Auda said. "It's very important news."
"Yes, very... " Abdul nodded, then groaned and clutched his head.
"And?" Quatre blew his bangs out of his eyes, and went back to folding the handouts. Next, he thought, we need to figure out how to get food here, for the after-wedding feast. And Wufei's supposed to be picking up the cake. Must have cake, he thought. He realized Auda and Abdul were still silent. "And?" He asked a little more forcefully, the second time.
"Auda is an honest man," Abdul began. "He's been in your service for years."
"As honest as the day is long," Auda added. "Very important... oh, my head."
"Get on with it," Quatre warned. His fingers flew across the stack of handouts, blurring as he rapidly folded them. Auda blinked at the motion, and groaned again, dropping his head back on the table. "You're taking forever to tell me the news."
"He's a good man," Abdul said to Auda, who mumbled something incomprehensible. "Any other man wouldn't give us forever, you know that? He's... a good man," Abdul added, his eyes filling up with tears. "I remember when he was just a kid... and look how he's grown. Such a good man, you know?" He sniffled.
Quatre's eyes widened, and he stifled the impulse to snort derisively. Instead, he decided to simply throttle Duo at some point in the near future. He'd be willing to bet the two Maguanacs had also helped themselves to a little more, courtesy Duo's advice about hair and dogs. If only Rashid weren't in town getting flowers, he grumbled.
"Auda, Abdul," Quatre barked, satisfied to see them both jump to attention. Well, he thought, mostly to attention, considering that Auda doesn't seem to be able to focus on much, and Abdul is listing to one side. "Tell me the news and move on. I've got way too much to do right now, and unless you're going to help, you need to get out of the way."
"Right, sir!" Auda stood up, but Abdul yanked him back down.
"The news," Abdul hissed.
"We told him," Auda replied, his face a study in bewilderment. "Didn't we?"
"No," Quatre snapped. "You didn't!"
Abdul nodded, sitting up straight. "Last night three of the local Preventers apprehended two auspicious persons on your back deck, and we think you should talk to them."
The blond Preventer raised his eyebrows, puzzled. "Who? The Preventers, or the... two people?"
"Yes," Auda said, but didn't try to nod.
"The... " Abdul blinked. "Any of them. But you should," he added, then frowned. "Talk to them."
"That's what the local magistrate is for," Quatre said. "I presume the three Preventers took these two people there?" He figured it was more drunk local guests, which made sense. There were plenty of guests who'd come with the local Preventers, celebrating the wedding of two of the most famous Preventers ever.
"I think," Auda said.
"Good," Quatre replied smartly. "Now, if you don't mind, go take two aspirin, drink four glasses of water each, and let me finish what I've got to do. And make sure you're dressed and showered at ten. The wedding starts at ten thirty."
With mumbled replies, both Maguanacs headed for the house's back door, and Quatre stared after them, a little bemused. I really am going to give Duo a piece of my mind, he decided. Or just search his bags thoroughly the next time he comes for a party. Besides, Quatre added, a little petulantly, I never got any of the mead, myself.
Relena slid the door open, nodding to the two Maguanacs. Stepping past them, she called to Quatre. "Hey! My brother and his wife are here, escorting Duo. Everything ready?"
"Shit," Quatre muttered, finishing up the last of the handouts in record time. "Be right there. Is Wufei back yet? And Rashid?"
"Rashid just pulled up," Relena replied, as Quatre hurried past her, handouts in his arms. She swooped to grab two that had fallen free, and made a face at the action. "Man... remind me never to drink that much the night before... "
The two Maguanacs watched them go, and Auda turned to Abdul. "If Master Quatre is too busy, we should investigate this, ourselves."
"I agree," Abdul said, looking thoughtful. "Are you okay to drive?"
"As long as the road holds still, sure," Auda told him.
End Part 7
(:./sol/meeting7)
