DISCLAIMER: Last Christmas, I asked Santa for a complete set of Gundam pilots. After some thought, I realized that might be a bit difficult and told him if there wasn't enough room in the sleigh, I'd settle for just one or two (specifically, 01 and 02). Santa coughed loudly, muttered something about copyright violation and unlawful confinement, and gave me a CD instead.

~*~

All In

The ripple and snap of cards echoed through the room as Trowa shuffled them and dealt out twenty-five. Duo picked his up and quietly looked around the table to register everyone else's reaction. Quatre flinched slightly as he picked his up. Bingo, Duo thought. The other three players showed no visible reactions.

Well, he thought. Let's see if I can't scare a couple of them off… The check went around the table and he picked up four coins. "I'll open," he said as he dropped them in the centre of the table.

Quatre was next. "I fold." He threw his cards down and walked out of the kitchen.

Wufei looked at Duo levelly. "I call." He added his money to the pot.

Trowa didn't even look up from his cards. "Call." The clink of money hitting money was music to Duo's ears.

After a heavy pause, Heero grunted "Call," and added his money to the pile. Duo tried to read his expression, but of course that's impossible when a person is expressionless.

Duo saw Wufei blink when he drew only one card. Wufei himself drew three, Trowa three, and Heero two.

Duo was left to open the betting again, and he did. "I'm feeling dangerous," he said. He pushed the rest of his money into the centre. "I'm all in." He smirked, then took off his black cap and tossed it in the pile as well. He grinned around the table. No way I'll lose this hand! Wufei was glaring at him murderously, but the other two boys stared blandly at their cards.

Wufei sighed. "I'm all in, too."

Trowa simply said, "Call," as he dropped his money into the pile.

Heero stared at an unknown spot on the table for a second before pushing all of his winnings into the middle of the table.

Wufei growled as he lay down his cards. "Pair of aces."

Trowa was next. "Two pair."

Duo laughed as he lay his hand down triumphantly. "Full house, read 'em and weep, boys!" He displayed the other two aces and three queens as he reached his hand out to collect his winnings. "Thank you very--"

"Just a minute." Heero was glaring at him. Duo's jaw dropped in shock as Heero lay down his cards: the 7, 8, 9, 10 and Jack of hearts.

Heero smiled a rare grin. "Read 'em and weep, Duo." He chuckled as he scooped up his winnings while Duo sputtered incoherently. Last of all, he picked up the precious hat and put it on his head. "Thank you very much." And he walked out of the kitchen.

Duo gaped at the other two boys. Wufei was smirking with satisfaction, his eyes dancing. The corners of Trowa's mouth were twitching.

Duo's whole face turned a brilliant crimson. "What are you two looking at?" he fumed. He got up quickly from the table and reached to adjust his hat, realized he wasn't wearing it and dropped his arm back to his side awkwardly. Wufei was shaking with suppressed mirth. He glared at the two of them, turned on his heel and stalked out of the kitchen. As he climbed the stairs to his room, he heard an explosion of laughter from behind him.

He sighed. I wonder if Heero would give me my hat back…