The Wedding Plotter Part 2
Duo leaned back against the wall and tried to stay out of the chaos. Between Quatre's sisters and their families, the Maguanacs and their families, the room was full. Did they all need to be here for the rehearsal? Were there this many people involved in the wedding? Why did he think the wedding rehearsal was going to be an easy thing? How hard could it be to practice getting married? He eyed the mess in front of him and decided that if he ever got married- and not much chance of that- he was going to elope. He hoped his future spouse- again if he found one- would agree.
Heero appeared out of the crowd, looking slightly breathless. "There you are!" He said. Duo fought down the silly grin that wanted to rise up on his lips. Heero looking for him was not something to feel that happy about.
"This is crazy!" Duo shook his head as Heero leaned against the wall next to him.
"No kidding. I think there's a lot to be said for eloping." Heero drew in a deep breath. "You had the right idea- getting yourself out of the mob."
Duo laughed. "I'm still trying to see this mess as a rehearsal."
"Well, it's not." Heero smiled. "Trowa said they decided to feed everybody first and get them out of the way before doing the actual rehearsal with just the people involved. That way no one would be hanging around waiting to eat."
Duo eyed the crowd with interest. "Soooo, there's food out there somewhere?"
"Supposedly."
Duo looked at the crowd and then back at Heero. "Did you actually see any?"
Heero shook his head. "I found you first. I thought we'd try together."
"Always better to have backup on a mission, huh?"
"Of course." Heero smiled back. "Remember how to do this?"
Duo rolled his eyes. "Please. You forget- my job is still somewhat dangerous- unlike yours."
Heero frowned a little. "I thought Howard always made sure you guys stayed safe."
"Oh yeah, but you know, out in space like that, doing what we do- it's not always safe. Not as safe as sitting at a computer anyway." Duo shrugged. "I should've gone that way when I left the yard, but..."
"You still could," Heero pointed out. "My company has a lot of openings. I could put in a good word for you."
Duo fought down a blush. "Thanks, I think I'd like that." Course if he worked with Heero everyday he'd more than likely spontaneously combust, but it be a good way to go.
Heero was watching the crowd. "So- plan?"
Duo took a breath and focused himself. "Okay. Stay right with me. We're going to head right for that big knot of people on the other side of the room. I'm thinking food has to be there. We'll grab some plates and then duck back out again. Meet here if we get split up."
"Mission accepted." Heero grinned at him and ducked into the crowd.
~*~
Wufei sighed internally at the crowded room as he followed Relena through the crowd. It was near impossible to stick close to her with people elbowing him in the ribs and children continually appearing by his knees.
He'd already tripped over two.
"Wufei?" Relena had stopped and was waiting for him. "How are you doing?"
"Do you suppose all of these people are in the wedding?"
Relena shook her head. "Doubt it- Quatre said the service itself was going to be about fifteen minutes. I don't think it would be possible." She smiled. "I keep seeing people with plates- do you see food here somewhere? I'm starving!"
Wufei looked out over the crowd. "More than likely over there somewhere- the crowd is thickest on the right."
"Maybe that's where Trowa and Quatre are?"
"No, they're over by the windows on the left."
"Are there people with plates on the right?"
"Yes."
Relena grabbed his wrist. "Come on then, let's go get some food!"
Wufei could only follow her helplessly into the crowd.
~*~
Trowa stood in front of Quatre, his hands on Quatre's, smiling slightly as the minister spoke.
"So, we did the prayers, did the vows, exchanged the rings, at this point we're done. I'll say a few more words, you'll kiss and then I'll present you to the crowd..." the minister gestured at the empty room. "And we're done. So you go back down the aisle..."
"And we run like hell," Trowa said and Quatre snickered.
"No chance of that," Duo said from his place next to Quatre. "You're going to have to run the gauntlet man- all of Quatre's sisters will want to congratulate you and tell you that if you hurt their little brother- you're a dead man."
Quatre snorted. "I'm quite capable of doing that myself."
Heero put his hand on Trowa's shoulder. "Let's hope you weren't getting cold feet."
"Not a chance." Trowa laughed. "They can't be more terrifying than a squad of Leos... right?"
Quatre merely smiled and Duo shook his head. "That poor man has no idea, does he?"
"Don't feel too bad for him- don't forget he has a knife throwing sister willing to defend his honor." Quatre smiled at the small group that was left. "Thanks for agreeing to be part of this. You're free until tomorrow morning."
Once they were alone, Trowa turned to him and smiled. "I saw Relena had quite a grip on Wufei earlier..."
"And Duo and Heero spent most of the time in that one window seat." Quatre laughed. "Things are going well don't you think?"
Trowa slid his arms around Quatre's shoulders. "I do- in quite a few ways. Your family is enjoying themselves, the Maguanacs are rehashing every battle, and tomorrow will be the best day of my life."
Quatre leaned close and kissed him. "And you wanted to elope..."
~*~
Relena looked toward the small sofa when she walked out of the bathroom. Wufei was curled up, his knees close to his chin. He looked miserably uncomfortable and yet something in the set of his jaw told her that he had decided to make the best of it.
She sighed and slid into bed. She really should've remembered to say something to Quatre about the sofa...
"Good night Wufei." She said softly and turned out the light.
"Good night." He said and she heard him shift a little. Relena bit her lip. He wasn't a teenager anymore- he was going to hurt tomorrow if he slept like that and the floor couldn't be much better.
"Are you sure you're comfortable?" She ventured.
"Well enough, thank you."
She frowned. "If you're sure... there's plenty of space in the bed- I don't mind sharing..."
"No thank you."
Well, that had been uttered in a downright icy tone. Relena wondered over it for a moment and then mentally shrugged. If the man wanted to be uncomfortable...
She closed her eyes and drifted off...
A loud crash from the direction of the sofa jolted her awake. What happened?
"Wufei?" She peered into the darkness.
"It's nothing. Go back to sleep."
"But I heard a crash... are you all right?"
"I... fell."
Relena switched on her light. Wufei was in a tangle of blankets on the floor beside the sofa. He blinked at the sudden light.
She looked at him for a minute and shook her head, flipping back the blankets on the empty side of the bed.
"Whenever you decide to get smart, my offer still stands." She smiled sweetly, flipped off the light and laid back down, starting a countdown in her head.
By the time she reached 30, he slid in beside her, his back towards her, body rigid and tense.
She smiled wider, knowing he couldn't see it. "Good night Wufei."
~*~
Heero was already in bed when Duo finished up in the bathroom. He was curled around his pillow, eyes closed, his breathing regular and deep.
Duo slid into bed beside him, giving himself just a moment to admire his best friend before turning out the light and snuggling down himself.
"Good night Heero," he said softly and nearly jumped out of his skin when Heero replied.
"Night Duo. Don't steal my pillow."
Duo laughed. "Wouldn't dream of it- really. But keep an arm on it anyway," he added honestly. "Never know what I might be tempted to do in my sleep." He bit his tongue- why had he said that of all things?
"Now you tell me," Heero chuckled. "Do you normally do bad things to the people you share a bed with?"
"Well, I don't share at all," Duo said and then nearly strangled himself. What was he saying? "You know- on a sweeper ship we all have bunks, you don't share unless you really want to..." He stopped himself.
"So..." Heero's voice was very soft. "I'm the only one that's had to watch out for my pillow, hm?"
"Yeah, guess you could say that..."
Heero didn't answer right away and Duo shivered a little. Had he admitted too much? How had they even gotten on this topic anyway?
"Well then," Heero's voice was right by his ear. "Why don't you just share my pillow? Just in case?"
Duo felt Heero's hand touch his hip, lightly- a gentle invitation. He couldn't answer, his mouth was suddenly very dry. Instead he scooted backward, pressed himself against Heero.
Heero wrapped his arm around Duo's waist, pulled him closer still. "Much more comfortable," he yawned against Duo's shoulder. "Good night Duo."
Duo closed his eyes, relaxed into the embrace. "Night Heero."
TBC...
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