The Wedding Date Part 11
When Duo stood to leave his table, he found himself confronted by a blonde woman with rather sharp eyebrows, and a piercing set of eyes.
"Uh -- Dorothy?" he asked, hoping he recalled her name correctly from the night before.
"None other," she cooed, smiling with even, white teeth. "I've got to tell you, I've known Heero since, well, forever." She laid a gentle hand on his arm. "I hope he's treating you all right."
Duo looked down at the pale fingers on his sleeve. "Why wouldn't he?"
"Well -- I'm not one to tell tales," the woman demurred, looking away rather theatrically. "But some of his relationships haven't ended well at all."
"No kidding."
"You know, he and Relena were voted the class couple, back in the day. It seems like no matter how many other people he dates, he ends up back with her -- eventually."
"Back with --?" Duo echoed. Heero had very clearly told him he'd never dated Relena.
Dorothy saw the confusion on his face, and reached up to pat his cheek gently. "Oh dear. I hope I haven't said anything you didn't already know."
"I -- of course not."
"Oh good," she sighed. Her hand on his arm tightened briefly. "If you ever need someone to talk to -- just keep me in mind."
And then she glided away smoothly through the milling guests, while Duo stood staring after her and frowning.
"Whack job," he muttered, shaking his head and looking for the group of people gathering for the tour of the estate.
~*~
Silvia met Dorothy by the buffet table the servants were clearing. "Well -- how'd it go?"
"Perfectly," came the victorious reply. "He had the most dumbstruck look on his face."
"Oh good!" Silvia squealed, clapping her hands together in glee. "Now all we need to do is work on Heero a bit, and he'll see that he belongs with Relena."
"It won't be as easy as all that," Dorothy muttered, grabbing a bunch of grapes off a passing tray. "Heero was always playing hard to get -- remember? I don't know how the long-haired freak managed to snag him. But you saw the way they kissed. I think we'll have our work cut out for us prying them apart."
"Where do we even start?" Silvia wondered.
Dorothy's eyes lit upon Wufei, who was talking to one of the pastry chefs off to the side. "Why, we go right to the source, dear. Let's see what Milliardo's lovely little bride knows about Duo Maxwell, shall we?"
Wufei had just finished complimenting the quality of the morning's creations, and turned to head for the next matter requiring his attention, when he found himself confronted by two petite women.
He knew them both by name, as they'd been helping Relena with her duties as hostess to Milliardo's guests. "Dorothy. Silvia. What can I do for you ladies?" he asked politely.
Dorothy looked up at him with her most appealing gaze. "We've been just dying with curiosity," she said with a dramatic hand on her breast. "Heero brought that exquisite young man with him to the wedding, and yet we know virtually nothing about him!"
Wufei's expression darkened as he recalled the closed-door conversation the braided man had shared with his fiancé. "What's to know?" he said curtly. "He's Heero Yuy's date. Nothing more."
"But where is he from? And how did they meet?" Dorothy pleaded. "How long have they even been together?"
"Heero's like a brother to us," Silvia chimed in. "We go back so far! And he's being tight-lipped as a clam about his new acquaintance."
"You're -- worried about him?" Wufei asked a bit skeptically.
"Yes, that's it!" Dorothy said brightly. "We just want to know he's not being taken advantage of by some smooth-talker." She homed in on the flicker of emotion that passed through the Chinese man's eyes. "Is it true that Milliardo knows this Maxwell character from somewhere?"
There was a flash of anger in the dark eyes, and she knew she'd struck pay dirt.
Wufei's back stiffened, and his chin lifted almost imperceptibly. "Milliardo would hardly be acquainted with someone in Maxwell's line of work," he scoffed.
"And that is --?" Dorothy asked breathlessly.
"He's an escort," Wufei told her with a disdainful curl of his lip.
"As in -- a prostitute?" she gasped.
"I have no idea of the scope of his duties," Wufei replied. "I just know that for some reason, he's accompanying Heero to this function as his date." He gave an unconcerned shrug.
Dorothy was speechless with delight -- almost unable to believe her good fortune.
"If you'll excuse me," Wufei added coolly, "I've got guests to attend to."
"Of course," Silvia said politely, watching with Dorothy as he strode quickly away.
"This is perfect!" Dorothy said with a relieved look. "If all Maxwell's here for is to help Heero save face, it should be no trouble at all separating them."
"Save face? How can hiring a date help him save face?"
"You mean, aside from the fact that we're the only people here who know about his little farce? It's obvious, dear. Heero hasn't got anyone. And when he received the wedding invitation, he was probably too embarrassed to show up alone. So he hired someone to tag along."
"A male someone? Why on Earth would he do that? It's got to be more embarrassing than just coming alone!"
"Not for a proud man like Heero Yuy," Dorothy argued, heading for the hallway even as she spoke. "He's trying to put on a brave face and make Relena believe he's unattainable."
"Well, if he's gay --"
"Don't be silly! Of course he isn't. He's just going overboard on the act, that's all."
"And you know this how?"
Dorothy waved a hand dismissively. "I'm never wrong about these things. Trust me, Sil. And watch me work --"
~*~
Heero sighed for perhaps the thousandth time as the tailor made yet another minute adjustment to the shoulders of his jacket. "Are we almost done?"
"Momentarilyˇmomentarily," murmured the woman, picking at a loose thread.
"I think you said that about fifty 'moments' ago," Heero pointed out.
The woman clucked her tongue, tugging at his sleeve. "These things can't be rushed, Mister Yuy. Everything must be just so."
"Just so" annoying, Heero decided.
He'd spent literally hours being measured, fitted, and adjusted. Lunch had been brought for them at some point in the process, and Heero had wolfed it down, eager to break free of the dull occupation.
He wondered, not for the first time, if Duo was enjoying the palace tour and the garden luncheon. He suspected the adaptable young man would find it all very interesting. Anyone with that much "joie de vivre" would soak up new experiences like a sponge.
From the moment they'd met on the plane, Duo had taken everything very much in stride -- willing to adapt to a male date, instead of a female -- being thrown into a very formal, royal setting -- and even dealing with the hoards of new faces, incessant questions, and being thrown the curve of realizing his old friend Zechs was actually Prince Milliardo Peacecraft.
Yes, Duo had more than pulled his weight in their little charade. And on top of that, he was very good company.
Heero blinked at the realization. While he'd never been the most social of men, he had a few close friends whose company he enjoyed. And not one of them was anything like Duo Maxwell.
Quatre was probably the closest, in that he was friendly and charming. But he didn't have Duo's outgoing nature. He was a little bit shy among strangers.
And Trowa, Quatre's significant other, was easily as taciturn as Heero, but with a wry sense of humor and an occasionally biting wit.
Duo was -- like an irresistible force. He'd breezed onto the plane with a rushed apology for his lateness, and then promptly acted like they were old friends instead of total strangers. He'd given Heero his water, after the near-panic attack upon takeoff.
And why did that stick in Heero's mind?
It had been a very kind gesture, given to someone who'd done nothing but snap since they'd met.
Yes, Heero could imagine staying friends with Duo once this wedding was over. In fact, he had a hunch it would be unavoidable.
"Ah, you like the fit now, sir?" asked the woman, smoothing his lapels.
"Hm?" He broke out of his thoughts to fix a questioning look on her.
"You're smiling," she noted.
So he was. Heero put a self-conscious hand to his mouth, and ducked his head. "Yes, the fit is fine," he assured her.
"Then you're free to go," she replied with a smile of her own. "Leave the suit hanging in the dressing room, and we'll have it brought to your room when it's been cleaned and pressed."
"Thank you."
Heero made his escape, suddenly eager to find out how Duo's day had gone.
But he only made it as far as the stairs up to the guest wing, when he heard his name called.
"Heero!"
He sighed, turning, to see Relena scurrying across the marble floor. "Yes?" he asked curtly.
She paused, looking a bit uncertain. "How was the fitting?"
He refrained from rolling his eyes at the lame attempt to start a conversation. "Boring as hell," he said flatly. "And I'm very much looking forward to a shower and a bit of rest before leaving for the bachelor party."
Her lips twitched in a tiny smile. "Oh yes -- the 'decadent display' Wufei is so set against."
"He is?"
She gave a short laugh, putting a guilty hand over her mouth. "Totally," she admitted. "He's a very reserved gentleman, you know. Not given to public displays or 'unseemly behavior,' as he puts it. Haven't you noticed Mill doesn't even kiss him on the cheek in public?"
"I -- guess I hadn't."
"Unlike you and Duo," Relena added, her blue eyes searching his face. "You both are much more -- expressive."
He tensed, waiting for a reprimand or accusation.
"You surprised me at breakfast," she continued, glancing away as if uncomfortable. "I never figured you for the demonstrative type."
"I'm not."
She gave a rather unladylike snort.
"Look -- as I said, I need a bit of a break," Heero said impatiently. "Could we talk about this some other time?"
She frowned, looking displeased. "There was something I wanted to discuss with you --"
"It will have to wait."
"But, Heero --"
Just as he was about to open his mouth to retort, he heard a welcomed voice hailing him, and Duo came down the stairs two at a time, throwing himself into Heero's arms with just a bit more force than seemed necessary.
"Missed you!" Duo blurted, hugging him tightly. "You should have seen the gardens --!"
"He's seen them before," Relena spoke up rather tartly. "They haven't changed much in the past ten years."
Duo lifted his head from Heero's shoulder, meeting the blonde's chilly gaze with a totally disingenuous smile. "Gardens are always changing, your highness. 'What blooms well one year, might languish the next,' to quote your delightfully knowledgeable tour guide."
She rolled her eyes. "Be that as it may, Heero has been to this palace many times in the past. I'm sure he recalls the lovely gardens."
"Yes, but --" Duo looked up imploringly at Heero. "This time maybe he'd appreciate what a romantic setting it is."
Heero pressed his lips together to keep from smirking at the playful look in Duo's eyes. "Later, love," he said in a warm voice. "Right now we've got to get ready for the bachelor party."
"Wufei called it a 'decadent display,'" Duo told him cheerfully. "I heard him going on and on about the injustice of it when he and Mill made the rounds at the luncheon. He's really kinda adorable when he's ranting."
Heero caught a startled look from Relena, and the faintest trace of a suppressed smile. She shook her head in a helpless gesture. "I see you have your hands full, Heero. We'll talk later -- yes?"
"Later," he said with relief.
She gave a polite nod to both of them, and walked briskly away, back to whatever hostess activities required her attention.
Duo heaved a sigh and slumped against Heero. "This has been the longest fucking day!"
"Language," Heero reminded him.
"She's gone."
"Yes, but I'm not. And you're close to losing those Jacuzzi privileges."
"Oh no you don't!" Duo argued, pulling back, but keeping Heero's hand firmly gripped in his, tugging him in the direction of their room. "After all the aggravation I put up with today, I'm totally owed a luxurious soak in that thing."
"What aggravation? You had a tour of the palace and lunch in the gardens. I half expected to find you in the hot tub when I got back to the room. But since you're not -- I say the first one there gets it!" He quickened his pace just slightly, as if he might sprint off at any second.
"A race? In a fancy palace?" Duo said in a scandalized voice, hanging back and trying to hold Heero back as well.
"Why not?"
"For one thing, I'm beat. We must've covered every square inch of this palace on the tour. And then I got cross-examined by two of Relena's co-harpies off and on all day," Duo huffed.
Heero glanced aside at the braided man as they walked. "Dorothy and Silvia, I suppose?"
"Yes! And why do they seem to have a grudge against you?"
"You mean, aside from the fact that I never dated Relena, and they were her biggest proponents?"
"According to them, you did date Relena."
"What?" Heero stumbled to a halt, forcing Duo to do the same or relinquish the hold on his hand.
"According to Dorothy and Silvia, you two were practically inseparable in high school."
"Look, just because she followed me around like a lovesick puppy --"
Duo jerked a thumb back over his shoulder to indicate the foyer where he'd found Heero and Relena. "Hasn't changed much, has she?"
"Doesn't look that way." Heero continued on the way to their room.
"I think her two buddies are trying to hook you two up," Duo commented, his expression pensive. "Or at least scare me off."
Heero tightened his grip on the slender fingers. "Don't let them."
"I won't." Duo gave him a cheeky grin, pulling free and stealing the lead in their race to the hot tub. "After all, you paid for me for the whole weekend."
If he'd had an inkling that any other ears were listening, he might have chosen to rephrase his joking comment.
TBC...
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