"Hello, Raia. I've brought Duo Maxwell to see Q," I said to the guardian of Q's time. "But I need a moment with him first, please." I wanted to know if Q knew about the love potion pump.
"Oh, sure, Heero!" she trilled in return. Raia is every bit as bright, bubbly and cheery as Q, but she is also a frustrated field marshal. No one gets past her without Q's okay, and I've seen her nail obnoxious visitors to the wall one-handed.
Q was kicked back, with his feet on his desk, playing with a Game Boy.
"The busy executive, I see," I said with a smile, and perched on the edge of his desk.
"I'm told that non-magical execs do this all the time," he smiled.
"That explains the state of the Human world."
"Did you smile at him?"
"Yes. He was not impressed," I said dryly.
"He's a little shy, Heero."
"He's a pheromone factory, Q. Tongues were hanging out all up and down the platform, and drool was collecting into pools. And that was just from me."
Q looked up sharply. "Is he! I didn't know that! Did you ask him about it?" He made a pass at the tablet on his desk and words began to appear.
"I considered and discarded the idea. The pheromones dissipated once I introduced myself, so I wasn't sure if he was even aware of it. It could be involuntary. I wanted to know if you knew."
"No, I didn't," he said thoughtfully. "Hmm... This is interesting... Thank you, Heero."
I was dismissed.
Duo waited quietly, his gaze on the floor and his hands folded neatly in his lap. I paused briefly in front of him.
"I'm pleased to have met you, Duo," I said warmly, and his eyes met mine -- wary, slightly anxious, gorgeous purple eyes -- and his lips twitched.
"Pleased to meet you, too, Heero. Thank you for meeting me and for lunch."
"You're very welcome, Duo."
(:./plaiddragon/bfb6)
