The Wedding Date Part 16
Heero woke to the delicious sensation of a warm body wrapped around his, legs intertwined, and chestnut head nestled on his shoulder. He decided he could get used to that very quickly.
"Morning already?" came a sleepy voice as Heero sighed in contentment.
"Afraid so," he admitted, peeling one eye open to glance at the bedside clock. "And it looks like it's time to get up and get ready."
"Five more minutes?" Duo pleaded, snuggling closer.
"Well --"
"C'mon -- let's wait until the maid comes for us again --" Duo begged, his warm breath tickling the fine hairs on the side of Heero's neck.
"That was Relena," Heero reminded him. "And it was probably one of the single most embarrassing moments of my life."
Duo chuckled teasingly. "Aw, you haven't been around me long enough," he warned. "I've been way more embarrassed than that."
"I don't think I want to know." Heero ended the speculative conversation by shifting so he could reach Duo's lips for a lingering kiss.
"Mmmm --" Duo hummed happily, entwining their bodies a little more intricately -- something involving Heero's knee between Duo's legs, and one of Duo's calves draped around Heero's, bringing them into even closer contact. "Skip th' wedding?" he suggested hopefully.
"Wish we could --"
There was a tap on the door, much like the previous day; but it didn't open to admit a blonde-haired princess this time.
"Wake up call!" came a maid's cheery voice. "Mister Yuy?"
"I'm awake Marie," he called back. "Thank you."
"Breakfast will be served in one hour," she replied, before pattering off down the hall.
"You heard the woman," Heero said firmly to his bedmate.
"Doesn't mean I want to listen to her," Duo pouted, making Heero be the one to forcefully disentangle them so they could get up.
"I promise you," Heero said, leaning over and brushing wisps of loose hair from Duo's face. "We will pick this up where we left off -- in the very near future."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah." He stole another all-too-brief kiss. "I don't think I'm going to have the self-control to wait."
"Good. How 'bout I meet you right back here tonight around, say, eight?"
"It's a date."
They got down to business then, taking quick showers -- separately because it would save time, according to Duo, who swore that if he had Heero, limitless warm water, and soap all together in one place, he might never leave -- and then dressing for the big event.
Less than an hour later, they were making their way downstairs along with the other guests and members of the wedding party, including Quatre and Trowa, who kept exchanging the most annoyingly knowing looks, in Heero's opinion.
He just knew he'd let himself in for some serious teasing, once they got home and back to work. Life at the office with Quatre was probably never going to be the same.
"Listen up, people!" Dorothy called, entering the dining room and clapping her hands for attention. "As soon as everyone's had a bite to eat, we'll need the wedding party to assemble at the front steps for the limousines to take you over to the chapel. Guests will have an hour after that before their transportation begins. The wedding will be promptly at eleven, followed by the reception here in the grand ballroom and gardens."
Duo leaned in closer to him. "Drill sergeant, isn't she?"
"She likes to be in charge," Heero conceded. "She was always a bossy little -- uhm -- person."
Duo chuckled. "Careful. Wouldn't want to jeopardize those Jacuzzi privileges." He smirked teasingly. "Especially since I'm on my best behavior so I can share it with you."
"Tease."
"Just call it incentive."
They ate a quick breakfast, and all too soon Heero was off to fulfill his groomsman obligations, leaving Duo in Quatre and Trowa's keeping.
~*~
Ordinarily, Heero would have enjoyed the spectacle of Milliardo's wedding. But having recently fallen head over heels, he was a bit distracted throughout the lavish ceremony. He kept stealing glances at the packed audience, hoping for a glimpse of his long-haired boyfriend, only to be disappointed.
He did manage to focus on the proceedings enough to indulge in a warm smile when he saw the expression on Milliardo's face as he slipped the ring onto Wufei's finger. But then he was envisioning himself in his friend's place, and Duo in Wufei's, and he nearly caught his breath at the choking rush of emotion.
He hadn't known Duo nearly long enough to be thinking like that, and yet between the romantic atmosphere, and the adrenaline flowing through his veins, he could hardly avoid it.
The final pronouncement of marriage woke him from the half-formed fantasy, and he clapped along with the rest of the guests as Milliardo and Wufei shared a very public and very beautiful kiss.
Then there was the final procession, followed by the receiving line and what seemed like a million pictures, and at long last they were in the limo and on their way back to the palace for the reception.
As Heero had known from the start, he was seated with the others from the wedding party; but at least he knew the table where he'd find his friends when things began to wind down.
With that comforting thought in mind, he was able to enjoy the grand splendor of the Peacecraft ballroom. Bedecked in flowers that would have virtually denuded the prized gardens, had they come from that source, the room was spectacular. By not going overboard on garland or glitter, the staff had managed to take simple elegance to a new level.
Of course there was a dance floor in the middle of the huge hall, and with the tables arranged along the perimeter, it left room for many couples.
Heero wondered if he'd dare ask Duo to dance. He'd never enjoyed dancing before, though he could more or less stumble his way through a waltz -- yet another thing he held against Relena. She'd always snagged him in dance class in gym, plastering herself all over him while ignoring the way he squirmed with discomfort.
Oh God! What if she expected him to dance with her here? And with the weekend so close to being over!
If they danced, she'd no doubt talk -- and he'd have to listen. He wasn't sure he could stand another "wouldn't we be a lovely couple" talk; especially now that Duo and he really were a couple.
Relena would just have to deal with the truth, if it came to that.
By the time the toasts had been made, and the happy couple had done the cake-cutting and the obligatory first dance, Heero was ready to make his break for Quatre and Trowa's table.
He could see Relena, deep in conversation with Dorothy, so he smoothly excused himself from the table and slipped into the fringes of the tables to make his way down to where he thought his friends would be.
But when he got there, he found only Quatre and Trowa, sipping after-dinner wine and chatting with another couple who'd been assigned to the same table.
"Where's Duo?" he asked without preamble.
Quatre looked up and gave a derisive snort. "Nice to see you, too," he chided.
"That's not what I --"
Heero stopped trying to explain, when Trowa broke in with a laugh. "It's okay. We understand your obsession, Yuy. We were young and in love once, too."
Quatre mock-scowled at him. "What do you mean were, Trowa Barton?"
"Oops! Are! I meant are!"
"Now you'll have to dance with me again to make it up to me," Quatre sniffed, trying not to smirk as he gave his lover the ultimatum.
Trowa stood and offered his arm, which Quatre obligingly took. But Heero stopped them before they could swan away.
"Ahem. I believe I left a gorgeous brunette in your care," he reminded them. "Are you going to tell me what's become of him before you waltz off? Or am I going to have to chase you across the dance floor?"
"As amusing as that would be," Trowa said dryly. "No. Your beloved Duo went to the bathroom to get a bit of wine off his shirt."
"Wine?"
"Silvia was making the rounds," Trowa explained. "And she slipped on a wet tile or something -- spilled an entire glass of red wine all over Duo's white shirt. He went to rinse it before it could stain."
"Club soda would have worked better," Quatre piped up. "I'm sure the kitchen staff would have been able to find him some."
"Yes, but the bathroom was closer, and Duo didn't want to wander around. Although --" Trowa glanced at his watch. "He has been gone quite a while. Wouldn't surprise me if he got lost; I know I would've if he hadn't been there to show me the way yesterday."
"The bathroom?" Heero asked, already looking towards the exit. "I'll go find him."
"You do that," Quatre called after his departing friend. "God forbid he make an unattended pit stop!"
Heero barely heard him, his attention focused on watching for a slim, braided figure in the sea of people, as he made his way towards the hallway leading to the bathrooms.
"Heero, dear!"
He froze as a bejeweled figure intercepted him. "Yes, Silvia?"
"Looking for your lovely little boytoy?" she asked sweetly.
"I'm looking for Duo," he said in a frigid tone. "He's not a toy, of any sort!"
She put a dainty, gloved hand over her mouth. "I beg your pardon! I was just teasing a bit, love. No insult intended."
"Perhaps you should think before speaking next time," he suggested with a deadly glare. "Now if you'll excuse me --"
"Oh -- not that way!" Silvia said sharply, catching his arm and turning him in the direction of the gardens. "He went this way."
"Why? The last I heard you'd spilled wine on him and he had to clean it off," Heero snapped irritably.
"Yes, but the main bathrooms are terribly full. He'd have had to wait in line until the stain was practically dried on for good! He said he'd just cut across the garden and head for the kitchen."
Heero hesitated for a second, and then figured he might as well check out the kitchen, as Silvia suggested. If Duo wasn't there, he could always detour to the bathrooms on the way back.
~*~
Duo had been more or less able to get rid of the unsightly red stain on his dress shirt. But blotting out the dampness had taken a bit longer. He couldn't very well return to the formal reception in a soggy shirt.
When at last he stepped out of the bathroom, he nearly bumped headlong into Dorothy. "Oh, excuse me!"
"No need, dear. Not at all," Dorothy purred, catching his arm with hers. "As a matter of fact, I was looking for you."
"For me?"
"Yes, of course," she said scoldingly. "Why dear one, you must know how fond I am of you?"
He blinked in surprise. "Um, actually, no." He glanced around them a bit warily. "I mean, you've been very nice -- don't get me wrong. But I hardly know you. So I certainly wouldn't expect you to be fond of me, as you say."
"But I am!" she asserted. "And I tried to tell you before -- about Heero -- his, well, bad habits."
"Look, Miss Catalonia --"
"Dorothy, dear. Just Dorothy." She tugged at his arm, pulling him towards the hallway that led from the ballroom to the garden. "And you must believe I have only your best interests in mind, when I tell you Heero is just no good for you!"
"Okay -- this bullshit stops now!" Duo asserted, jerking his arm free and planting his feet. "Stop badmouthing him, and stop trying to drive a wedge between us. It won't work."
"I'm not trying anything," Dorothy assured him. "I'm just hoping to open your eyes, and protect you from getting in any deeper." She frowned intently. "Heero has been trying all weekend to set up a tryst with Relena. I know this for a fact. And just moments ago, I saw them slipping off to the garden together."
"I find that hard to believe --"
"Believe it!" she ordered. "And if you won't take my word for it, perhaps you'll believe your own eyes."
Duo crossed his arms stubbornly.
"Just take a little stroll down this hall," she suggested. "Peek around the corner, and you'll see what I mean."
Duo narrowed his expressive eyes at her, wondering what she thought he'd find. He knew Heero had absolutely no intention of letting Relena get him by himself, let alone setting up a romantic tryst.
Dorothy waved a hand dismissively. "Go take a look!" she urged. "Or don't. It's entirely up to you." She made a motion as if dusting off her hands. "I'm through trying to help you, if you won't even help yourself. I wash my hands of you."
She turned and stalked regally back towards the ballroom.
Duo hesitated, looking from her retreating form to the hallway leading to the gardens.
"No harm in looking," he finally shrugged, figuring once he'd humored the psychotic bitch, he could laugh in her face and put the incident behind him.
TBC...
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