The Wedding Date Part 9
Meanwhile, Wufei had almost caught up to his betrothed and the braided man, breathless from dashing down the long corridor to Mill's private office. But the door closed and locked before he got there, and he couldn't bring himself to knock. So he settled for placing his ear against the smooth wood surface and listening in.
"What's wrong?" came Duo's voice, muffled by the door.
"Nothing, Duo," Milliardo replied, his tone more moderate than before. "You just -- surprised the hell out of me -- that's all."
"How?"
"By using a name I haven't been called since college."
"You're Milliardo Peacecraft?"
"Afraid so," came an amused response.
"Prince Milliardo Peacecraft?"
"The same."
"Holy shit."
"Indeed."
There was a quiet moment, in which Wufei's imagination ran wild, wondering what was going on behind those closed doors. And then he heard Mill's steady tread and a squeak as he probably threw himself into the plush chair behind his desk.
"It's good to see you again, Ze-- uh -- Milliardo."
"Likewise." There was a pause and an audible sigh. "This is awkward as hell though, Duo. What are you doing here?"
"Same thing I did back in college to help make ends meet."
"You're an escort? For Heero Yuy?"
"Yep. Seems he's a little afraid of your sister," came a teasing voice, that made Wufei want to burst in there and demand to know what had transpired between the two men in the past.
"Relena?"
"Long story," sighed Duo. "Suffice to say, he didn't want to come here alone. I guess I'm supposed to act as a sort of buffer -- to give him an excuse not to romance her."
"So Heero's not gay?"
"Jury's still out on that one, pal," came a chuckling response. "I really can't get into the whole story. We'd be here all night. And considering how you dragged me out of the dining room, there'll already be a bunch of awkward questions to answer."
Again a long moment of silence tore at Wufei's nerves.
"So -- why the big lie? Why Zechs Merquise?" The braided man's voice sounded a bit -- hurt.
"I never meant to deceive you," Millardo replied. "That was the name I used for anonymity's sake back then -- so I could attend school without a flock of security guards and attendants hovering about."
"So you were a prince all along?" Duo wondered.
"Yes."
"Huh. Who'da thought I'd be able to say I dated royalty?"
Dated?!
Wufei ground his teeth together, fisting his hands in his hair. His fiancé had dated the good-looking brunette?
Was that the "one who got away?"
Milliardo had mentioned once that he'd been quite enamored of someone with ginger-colored hair, back in college. But he hadn't talked about the braid -- or those dazzling eyes!
Wufei was debating whether to burst in and demand some answers, or head for his room to start packing, when he heard steady footfalls approaching in the hallway and turned to find Heero stalking towards him.
"Are they in there?" Heero asked curtly, and none-too-quietly.
Wufei made a shushing gesture, but Heero passed him and knocked firmly on the door. "Mill? Are you in there? What the hell is going on?"
Milliardo jerked the door open, looking a bit flushed and uneasy, and his gaze went from Heero's determined face, to Wufei's pale one. He raised a hand in a placating gesture. "Nothing to worry about," he assured them both.
Duo stepped up beside him, a lopsided grin on the too-pretty face. "No biggie," he said soothingly. "Mill just had to explain a couple things to me about the proper way to address a prince."
Heero frowned, looking between them. "You know each other?"
"We've met," Milliardo said tersely, his gaze seeking Wufei's, and having trouble finding it. "A long time ago," he said firmly. "I went by a different nickname back then -- one I'd prefer Duo not mention again."
"You got it, blondie," Duo said teasingly, giving a friendly punch to Mill's arm as he stepped out into the hallway next to Heero. He slipped an arm through his date's. "Wanna take me back to the dining room, hon? I think there are a few dozen people I've yet to meet."
Heero gave Milliardo a long, suspicious look, and then noticed the hand on his arm, and placed one over it, turning his attention to Duo. "Come along then," he instructed, leading his companion away. He'd get his answers later.
Wufei turned an accusing look to his betrothed. "Something you need to tell me?" he asked coolly.
"Not really," Milliardo said with a sigh, running a hand back through his platinum hair. "As I told Heero, I met his -- boyfriend -- some time ago, very briefly." He caught Wufei's hand, lifting it to place a tender kiss in the palm. "It was nothing you need to worry about, love."
Dark eyes searched his, and found nothing but warmth and sincerity in their depths. No matter what he'd overheard, Wufei couldn't help but believe that whatever had transpired between his fiancé and the braided man was a thing of the past. He finally nodded, letting the issue go, for the moment.
"We can talk more about it later, if we must," Milliardo offered, sensing the hesitation. "Right now we've got a roomful of dinner guests, and it would be rude to keep them waiting any longer." He offered his arm. "Shall we?"
With a polite inclination of his head, Wufei took the proffered arm and let himself be led back to the dining room, trying all the way there to convince himself he should not take Milliardo up on the offer of a later conversation. What sort of mistrust did it imply, if he demanded lengthy explanations for something his fiancé had assured him was of no consequence?
Chang Wufei was nothing if not proud, and he was deeply in love with his betrothed. He vowed not to fall prey to insecurities that were beneath him. But he clutched the muscular arm a bit more tightly as they walked.
They arrived to find Duo and Heero the center of attention, as Dorothy, Silvia, and Relena pelted the couple with questions about how they'd met, how long they'd been together, and what their future plans were.
Wincing in sympathy, Milliardo raised his voice to carry over the hubbub. "If everyone could take a seat -- it would be my pleasure to welcome you to Peacecraft Palace, and the pending nuptials of myself and my beloved Wufei."
Heero breathed a sigh of relief that the inquisition was over, and took a seat well away from Relena and her two gossipy friends, wondering how hard it might be to escape after dinner without another round of questions.
Duo slipped in beside him, sharing a wan smile. "Bit overwhelming," he admitted, before setting his napkin in his lap and digging in to the first course of the meal.
"Indeed." Even while enjoying the respite from making conversation, Heero found his thoughts drawn continually back to the fact that Duo and Milliardo had met before -- somewhere.
He wondered where, and how. Judging by Mill's extreme reaction to their meeting, they had some sort of history; more than just a passing acquaintance.
And why did that thought raise a specter of jealousy?
It wasn't like Heero was actually dating Duo. It was strictly a business arrangement -- even if the braided man's kiss had been what awakened Heero's realization of what his sexual preference might be.
"You okay, man? You look a little -- like maybe you've got indigestion," Duo whispered, leaning in close.
"I'm fine," Heero said curtly, frowning as he speared a forkful of salad.
"You sure?"
"Just a little tired."
Duo reached over and patted his hand in a rather intimate gesture, and Heero sensed several sets of eyes taking it all in. "Let me know if there's anything I can do, hm?"
Heero settled on a grunt of acknowledgment, still simmering over his suspicions.
To add insult to injury, he'd managed to completely overlook the fact that Mill had been dating men in college -- or at least one man. Not that they were at the same school, but they'd kept in touch better back then. Heero wondered how he could have been so dense about that sort of thing. And it did nothing to improve his mood.
He graciously waited until they were on their way back to the room after dinner to demand answers from Duo. But once they'd left the other guests and turned down the corridor towards their room, he leveled a piercing look on his companion.
"You and Milliardo?"
Duo sighed, running a hand back through his bangs. "Long time ago -- like he said."
"You dated?"
Indigo eyes shot him a challenging look. "What if we did? What's it to you?"
Heero paused. What, indeed, was it to him? "I was just wondering," he finally muttered, torn between uncertainty and anger.
"Well stop," Duo ordered. "First off, it's really none of your business. And secondly, it's old, old news." He gave an expansive shrug. "I mean, shit -- the guy's getting married in two days. We're here for his wedding. Should be pretty obvious there's nothing between us."
"Was there?"
"Again -- not your business," Duo said firmly. He pulled open the door of their room. "Couch or bed, Yuy? You pick."
"I told you I'd take the couch. It's only fair, since you didn't plan on ending up in this situation."
"Fine then," Duo replied, his tone almost as curt as Heero's had been. He pulled the heavy comforter off the bed, grabbed a pillow, and tossed both on the couch. "Need anything else?" he asked, busily unknotting his tie and setting it over the back of a chair so it wouldn't wrinkle.
Heero frowned, watching the other man unbutton his dress shirt while heading for the bathroom. He was half-tempted to make a comment about Duo not getting the Jacuzzi, since he'd said "shit" out in the hallway. But it felt like the teasing mood of earlier in the evening was long gone, and Heero wasn't quite sure how to get it back.
"Good night," he said stiffly, sitting on the couch and bending to unlace his shoes.
"'Night."
Heero had stripped down to his boxers and curled up in the comforter on the couch long before Duo emerged from the bathroom and walked silently over to climb into bed. And even after he switched the light off, it took an inordinately long time for sleep to finally claim either of them.
TBC...
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