The Wedding Date Part 7
"I -- um -- was really hoping to hear more about Mill's fiancé," Heero blurted, resisting her gentle pull. "And maybe catch up with some old friends." He glanced around looking for familiar faces.
Dorothy Catalonia was there, of course; she'd been Relena's closest friend back in grade school, and a devoted hanger-on throughout high school.
Silvia Noventa, her partner in crime back in those days, was at her side, her curious gaze focused on Heero and Relena.
There were others in the room as well -- Alex, Heero's arch rival from prep school, as well as Mueller, Trant, Otto, and a few people Heero didn't recognize. He thought they might be Wufei's friends, or perhaps co-workers. But certainly he could take long enough meeting them all that Relena wouldn't have time to drag him off alone.
She gave a pretty pout, and began ushering him around the room, making introductions and re-introductions as needed.
Dorothy and Silvia didn't wait for the pair to get to them, but headed on an intercept course.
"Heero! Good to see you!" Dorothy gushed, her smile a bit wolfish. "And don't you and Relena look adorable together? Like old times."
"We were never --"
"She's right!" Silvia chimed in. "You two are picture perfect together." She slid a sly glance to the blonde. "Maybe you'll catch the bouquet, 'Lena."
Relena blushed, and cleared her throat uncomfortable. "Did I not tell you two that Heero has a guest along?"
Dorothy waved a hand dismissively. "Everyone brings a guest," she sniffed. "Doesn't mean anything. You're still available, aren't you, Heero dear?"
"Of course he is!" Silvia asserted. "There's no ring on his hand."
"I'm -- ah --" he stammered, unprepared for their direct approach.
"Yuy?" came a cool, masculine voice.
He turned to find Alex holding a drink and giving him the same patronizing smirk he remembered from high school.
"Harris," he acknowledged, giving a curt nod.
There was no love lost between Heero and Alex. They'd been rivals throughout school, each seeking to outdo the other in everything. And the animosity hadn't waned with time. There was a clear challenge in both sets of eyes.
"So where's this gorgeous date of yours everyone's talking about?" Alex asked.
"Resting," Heero said with a scowl, mentally cursing the lightning-fast rumor mill. "The flight over was a bit tiresome." He pointedly looked at the woman standing next to his long-time enemy, noticing the way she kept her eyes slightly downcast and seemed rather ill at ease.
But Alex didn't even offer to introduce her.
Heero wasn't surprised. Alex had been a player back in prep school, dating one girl after another. Towards graduation day, there'd been some allegations made; a young woman claimed he raped her, and supposedly a couple of others came forward as well.
Only Milliardo and Heero knew the whole story, since Alex was a distant relation to the Peacecrafts, and Heero's father had known the judge in the case. But apparently the girls' families had been paid to let the matter drop. Instead of going to jail, Alex graduated and went on to a prestigious law school, which he flunked out of rather spectacularly. The last Heero had heard, the man was working for the family business, which he'd no doubt inherit upon his father's death.
"When might we get to meet him?" Alex demanded, breaking into Heero's errant thoughts.
"He'll be down for dinner," Heero said testily.
"I can hardly wait," Alex smirked. "I've just got to see the guy who turned Heero Yuy gay."
"He didn't --" Heero stopped himself, realizing they were about to get into a sniping match that might upset the other guests.
Dismissing his old rival, Heero turned back to the others, and when he spotted another former friend across the room, he headed that way, hoping for a less confrontational meeting.
He stayed at the gathering just long enough to make the rounds, smoothly avoiding Relena, whose attention was split between him and her other guests. And when Mill and Wufei left to change for dinner, Heero figured he could do likewise.
He'd almost made it to the wide marble staircase in the main hall, when the patter of feet alerted him to Relena's approach. Gritting his teeth, he turned to face her. "Yes?"
"Heero -- I really was hoping we might find a -- private moment," she said hesitantly, her blue eyes pleading.
"Not right now," he said brusquely. "I need to wake Duo, so he'll have time to freshen up before dinner."
"How did you meet him?" Relena asked, a faint frown creasing her forehead. "And when?"
"It's rather a long story," Heero replied truthfully. "Perhaps I could tell it another time?"
Relena's shoulders slumped a bit, and she sighed and nodded. "Of course," she said politely. "I should be getting back to the other guests --"
Heero gave her a brief smile and nod. "We'll see you at dinner."
He trudged up the stairs and through the maze of corridors to the ornate door of the room he and Duo had been assigned, feeling bone-weary. Between the traveling and the meeting with Milliardo and Relena, he was downright spent. And there was no time for rest, either.
He stepped inside and closed the door behind himself. "Duo, time to wake up," he said flatly, crossing the room and turning on the lamp on the dresser.
There was no sound from the bed, save a quiet snore, and Heero turned and walked over, prepared to shake his companion awake. They only had an hour to get ready for the formal dinner.
Duo was curled up in a ball, the quilt pulled up under his chin, and his head burrowed into a plush pillow. He looked very young like that, mouth slightly open, and face relaxed in sleep. His braid trailed over one shoulder, and had come unraveled halfway down his back; apparently the hair tie had slipped off while he napped.
Heero found himself reaching out to run his fingers lightly through the loose chestnut waves, and barely checked the impulse, shaking his head. "Maxwell!" he said a bit louder.
Duo shifted restlessly, rolling half over and throwing an arm out to the side. He murmured quietly, and then settled back into sleep, his breathing steadying and slowing again.
"For crying out --" Heero sat on the edge of the bed, leaning in closer. "Duo?"
The braided man's forehead creased in a frown, and he snuggled into the quilt. And then he let out a soft moan, writhing under the blanket and murmuring incoherently.
Heero blinked, sitting back in surprise as the other man groaned again, moving around as if he were dreaming. If he didn't know better, he'd almost think Duo was having an -- erotic dream of some kind.
The next moan nearly made him jump up from the bed, certain his assessment was right. But one of Duo's hands brushed across his, and settled around his wrist. It felt like fire against the skin of Heero's arm, and he swallowed hard, his throat suddenly going dry.
"Mmm," Duo murmured sleepily. "Heero --"
The Japanese man twitched in surprise, nearly jerking his arm away. But instead, he settled for reaching his other arm to give Duo a firm shake. "Duo -- wake up!"
"Oh, Heero --" Duo groaned again, his hips rocking upwards against the blankets and his grip on Heero's wrist tightening. "Mmm -- yeah --"
Then his eyes opened, and he looked up with a rather perplexed expression. "'Ro?"
Heero could feel the blush suffusing his face, torn between pulling away and leaning in to try out another kiss.
Then Duo smiled impishly up at him. "Psych!"
"What?" Heero demanded.
"You totally believed I was havin' a wet dream about you, didn't ya?"
"No!" Heero snapped, standing up and moving away from the bed. "I was trying to wake you up, idiot! We have an hour to get ready for a formal dinner, and I thought you might like time to freshen up a bit." He turned his back on the other man, trying to gain control of his breathing again.
He heard a rustle and the thud of feet hitting the floor, and then felt a warm hand settle on his shoulder. "Sorry," came a rather subdued voice. "I just couldn't resist kidding around."
"Whatever," Heero replied, shrugging the hand off. "Get ready for dinner."
"Yeah, I'll do that." Duo headed towards the bathroom, pausing at the door and looking back with a rather wan smile. "Sometimes I'm an ass, Heero -- kidding around about the wrong things. Forgive me?"
"What's to forgive?" came the curt response, as Heero rummaged through his luggage to find the tie that matched his dress jacket. "If you want to be a smart-assed joker, that's your prerogative. Just don't do it in front of the guests tonight. You're being paid not to embarrass me, remember?"
"Yeah, I remember," was Duo's cool reply. "I'll be the perfect date, Mister Yuy, I promise." He shut the bathroom door with just a little more force than was strictly necessary.
Then, from behind the closed door, Heero heard a whoop of delight. "There really is a Jacuzzi!"
"Not right now!" he called back, unable to suppress a faint smirk that wanted to force its way through his scowl.
"Aw, please?"
"There's no time," he replied, walking closer to the door so he could lower his voice. "Besides, didn't we agree you have to watch your language for the whole evening in order to earn 'dibs' on it?"
"You agreed. I was still suspended in disbelief," Duo retorted.
"Well get un-suspended, and make it a quick shower. You can have the Jacuzzi all day tomorrow while I'm being fitted for my suit -- remember?"
"Oh yeah! While the cat's away --"
TBC...
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