Author: Merula
Pairings: 1x2
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Yaoi, Preventers
Disclaimer: Gundam Wing is not mine.
The Plan Part 1
It was yet another of Relena's parties. The champagne was cold, the air was warm, anyone who was anyone was there. Dorothy stifled a yawn. She found it all highly boring. She was there in her official capacity as Relena's personal assistant, and she had to be nice to these people. Miss Relena needed them. But, oh it was so tedious!
As much as some things had changed, Dorothy still craved mental excitement. Still longed to outmaneuver and outfox. But there were no worthy adversaries anymore. The last little skirmish with Mariemeia had been over four years ago. All she had now was this dry political maneuvering, which wasn't very hard. Most of the people she had to deal with adored Relena. It made them easy to manipulate.
Dorothy looked around the room, eyes scanning the crowd hopefully even as she chatted with the man opposite her. He was some little CEO of some little company somewhere. Boring. She ran a hand down her silky black sheath dress, smoothing a nonexistent wrinkle. The man's eyes followed her hand and she sighed internally.
A glimpse of pink caught her eye. Goodness, when was Miss Relena going to give up that awful color? A light blue would suit her much better. She watched the former Queen of the World work the crowd, her trusted bodyguard lurking behind her. Now there was a complicated young man. Dorothy admired Heero Yuy, one of the few who had mastered the Zero system, who had self-destructed without a second thought. She knew that he couldn't be happy as Miss Relena's bodyguard. He was meant for challenges, for danger and excitement.
Hmmm, now where were his glances going so often? She followed Heero's gaze and saw the flash of a tell-tail chestnut braid. Ah hah. No surprise there. That young man was danger, excitement and several challenges all wrapped up in one. And really, quite beautiful. She'd suspected that Yuy had been enamored with the other young man for years.
Why hadn't that silly boy done anything yet? She was positive the attraction was mutual. Sensing a good prospect, Dorothy decided to investigate. She excused herself sweetly and headed towards the braided preventer.
"Mr. Duo," she said, holding out her hand to the young man lounging against the wall. "What a pleasure to see you here."
"Miss Dorothy," Duo bent over her hand and kissed it lightly. He gave her a faint grin. "You know I'm only here because my gracious commander ordered me to be. I hate these things." Dorothy smiled.
"I know, but you do look very nice in the uniform," Her eyes scanned his figure and she was charmed to see him flush. "Besides," she turned and looked out over the crowd, "the view is nice, don't you think?" She inclined her head pointedly towards Heero, still a step behind Relena. Duo flushed more.
"Very nice," he muttered. Dorothy laughed. Ah yes, the attraction was definitely mutual!
"I do love that honesty of yours, Mr. Duo. Anyone else would have lied and said they weren't looking at anything."
"Looking is all I can do," Duo said softly, pain evident in his voice. Dorothy dropped her teasing pose to reach out and put a hand on his arm.
"Have you told him how you feel?"
"Don't be ridiculous. He's in love with the freaking queen of the world..."
"No, he's not." Duo blinked at her. "Trust me, Mr. Duo. I have been watching them together for awhile now, you know. He doesn't love her. Not like that." She assured him easily.
"She loves him." Duo shook his head. "And as long as she wants him around, he'll do what she wants." He didn't elaborate, but Dorothy saw his fear of what Relena might actually ask Heero to do.
"She's infatuated with him." Dorothy corrected cheerily. "If we give her someone else to be fascinated by, she'll ignore him soon enough."
"What do you mean we?" Dorothy regarded him thoughtfully for a moment.
"I want to help you and Mr. Heero get together." She said decisively.
"And what do you get out of it?" Duo asked, suspiciously. It wasn't like Dorothy to do things out of the goodness of her heart, no matter how much Relena insisted that Dorothy had changed.
"I'm bored, Mr. Duo. You don't want me to start another war do you?" She laughed at the way his eyes narrowed. "Relax. I'm teasing. I want to help you because you need my help. We'll find Relena someone new and get Heero for you."
"Just like that?"
"Look, I don't like seeing Miss Relena pine after someone who doesn't love her. I owe her, Mr. Duo. If I help you, I help her, you see? So, we'll get Mr. Heero for you."
"What if he doesn't want me?" That made her laugh harder.
"Trust me, Mr. Duo. He wants you. He's furious right now because you're over here making me laugh." Duo shot a glance towards Heero.
"Riiight. He's not even looking over here."
"He's glaring at that poor old lady Miss Relena is talking to, I think that's a clue right there."
"Maybe he sees the little old lady as a threat." She grinned mischievously.
"Want to test my theory?"
"How?"
"Come dance with me. You're allowed, aren't you?"
"Yes." Dorothy took a hold of his arm.
"Come with me then, Mr. Duo, and I'll prove it to you." They moved out to the dance floor and began to dance. Dorothy made sure that she was smiling up into Duo's eyes.
"Okay, I'm still not agreeing with you," Duo swept her gracefully around the floor, "but tell me who are you planning on throwing to Relena?"
"Mr. Duo," Dorothy scolded. "She's not a lion. Miss Relena is a sweet, romantic ally-minded girl. Mr. Heero is well, not tall, but dark, handsome and mysterious. Of course he appeals to her."
"So we need to find a tall, dark, handsome, mysterious man for her to start chasing after?" Duo laughed, good humor reappearing. "And where are we going to find one of those?"
"Right there," Dorothy nodded towards another corner. Duo looked and almost tripped over his own feet. He caught himself in time and looked down at Dorothy, who was trying not to giggle.
"You've got to be kidding."
"Not in the slightest."
"Okay, tall, dark, handsome and mysterious- he is all those. But he hates women! Especially women like Relena!" Duo shot another glance towards where Wufei was scowling in the corner. "There is no way..."
"Oh, Mr. Duo, there's always a way." Dorothy replied. "Mr. Wufei does not hate women. He only says that to protect himself. You heard about his wife?"
"I did- but how did you..."
"I have my ways. I think Mr. Wufei longs to find another woman like his wife. Strong, yet idealistic." Duo looked back towards Relena.
"She is that..."
"Yes, she is. I think they'd be lovely together." Dorothy smiled, noticing a familiar figure heading towards them, and leaned closer to Duo. "So, will you help me?"
A hand landed on Duo's shoulder. "You're supposed to be watching the guests, not dancing with them." Dorothy raised her eyebrows meaningfully at her dance partner.
"Une said it was okay," Duo replied and saw Heero's frown deepen. Dorothy intervened, her eyes twinkling with repressed laughter.
"It's all right, Mr. Duo. You'll think about my offer?"
"Actually, Miss Dorothy, I think I'll accept it." Duo's eyes twinkled back at her as he picked up her hand and kissed it. "We'll talk soon?"
"Oh, very soon," she promised and had to hide a smile as Heero practically dragged Duo away from her.
"Oi, Heero," Duo complained after a moment. "What did you do that for? Une said we were to make nice with the guests." Heero was still frowning as he led Duo back over to his post.
"That was too nice," he snapped and dropped Duo's arm. "I don't trust that Catalonia woman."
"You don't trust anyone," Duo replied automatically, returning to his former pose, leaning against the wall. "Dorothy's not that bad."
"What did she offer you?" Heero asked, point blank.
"She offered to help me with a little problem of mine," Duo prevaricated. He couldn't outright lie to Heero.
"What could she help you with?" Heero raised an eyebrow.
"It's- a personal problem." Heero's eyes narrowed at the hesitation in Duo's voice. The baka was trying to hide something from him.
"What?"
"Heero," Duo's eyes flicked around the room and suddenly lightened with relief. "Relena wants you." Heero didn't move, didn't turn around to look towards the girl.
"Duo," Heero's gaze sharpened. "Tell me." Duo pressed himself back against the wall a bit more and tried to think fast.
"Heero- it's kind of personal. I don't want to talk about it here." Duo was surprised to see something almost like hurt flash in Heero's eyes.
"You talked to her about it."
"She already knew about it." The look of hurt increased. Heero opened his mouth to say something else, but Relena suddenly appeared at his elbow.
"Heero," she scolded, "I've been trying to get your attention for several minutes!" She gave Duo a quick smile. "Is something wrong?"
"Oh no, Miss Relena," Duo assured her. "Heero and I were just discussing some stuff. You can have him back." And Duo made his exit as quickly as possible.
Heero frowned at Duo's retreating form. What personal problem was he having that he couldn't discuss with Heero? Gods knew the baka talked about everything else. Relena was tugging on his arm.
"Come on Heero, I have to go talk to some more guests." Heero allowed himself to be dragged away, silently vowing to get to the bottom of the problem.
TBC...
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