Summertime Love

"This summer that I'll spend with you is going to be twice as hot!
Feel my heart
The unending, scorching heat
Feel the eternal rhythm
My soul~"

Summer Time Love by EXILE

~o~

Relena Darlian had no idea how this came about. Just that, one minute she was supposed to ride in her car to go to work. And in another minute a Preventer agent stood in front of her and informed her that there was a change in her schedule. A big change, to be exact. Like, all of her meetings for the day had been cancelled? No friggin' way. When she refused to believe such a thing, her Prussian-blue-eyed Preventer agent pulled her back into the house and instructed her to pack her things. Change of schedule was in order. No questions asked.

In the next minute, she found herself back in the car, then later on in a plane flying off to somewhere, and finally being chauffeured in front of a huge white, two-storey mansion which had a terrific view of the beach filled with people sunbathing, playing beach volleyball, and swimming in the open sea. As she stepped out of the car, bewildered at the location, she recognized someone coming out of the mansion's sturdy doors.

"Princess!" called Duo Maxwell, who was waving with a wide smile on his face, and was wearing a white shirt, a pair of gym shorts, and slippers. He gave her a tight hug as soon as he approached her. "Glad that you made it. You look great as always."

Relena took a quick inventory of her white tank top, pink skirt, and flip-flops. Heero wasn't kidding when he told her to change into something far less formal and much fitting for summer. "It's nice to see you, Duo." She gave him a suspicious grin. "What's all this about? What are you doing here? Did I miss an occasion?"

Duo gave a sheepish grin and scratched his head. "A little get-together is kinda nice, don't you think?" He turned his attention to the Preventer who now stood by the Vice Foreign Minister, carrying two suitcases and a duffel bag. "Right, Heero?"

Heero Yuy, who's wearing a white flannel shirt and linen pants, motioned to the mansion with his head. "Head inside."

"It's nice to see you, too, man," Duo chuckled, stood beside Relena, and bent his arm. "Shall we, Princess?"

Relena giggled and looped her arm around Duo's and headed inside.

~o~

"This is beautiful, Quatre," Relena remarked as she sipped her tea. Across the coffee table sat the owner of the mansion, former Gundam Pilot, and one of her trusted friends, Quatre Raberba Winner. Apparently, it wasn't only Duo who was a part of her changed schedule. And she was not complaining at all. They were in the balcony of the second floor, which overlooked the beach. The sun was high, the sky an azure blue, and the breeze warm. How long had she not seen the sun like this? Nor have felt the warm breeze fan her cheeks?

"My family used to regularly spend summer here in this rest house when we were kids. It's about time at least one of us got to take a break from the real world and just relaxed," answered Quatre. It had already been seven years since the Eve Wars and Quatre took over his father's company, which was predominantly active in the Colonies. Sometimes he would drop by her office or table whenever they met in an Earth Sphere-wide conference, but other than that they hardly saw each other.

Relena smiled, taking note of the young heir's features. Nothing seemed to have changed in Quatre's features, his handsome face still exuded the cheerful and youthful glow like he had already possessed when they met seven years ago. "You're handling it well, though. You look fine."

"Well because I'm not as busy as you." He stretched his arms and folded them behind his head. "But business is going well. Still, when Duo mentioned something about having a short break with friends, I'm all up for it. How about you? And Heero?"

"The Terraforming project is progressing. It's slow, but progressing. And Heero, well, he's still him."

"I bet." Quatre chuckled. "The most protective Preventer in the Earth Sphere."

Relena rolled her eyes. "You have no idea."

Quatre was about to reply when Duo's voice echoed all the way from the kitchen downstairs. "Heeeey, lunch is ready! Hilde cooked her specialty!"

Quatre and Relena looked at each other. "And Duo is still Duo." Some things really do never change.

~o~

"So how's Trowa doing?" asked Duo as he helped himself with a half-sliced watermelon.

"He has a circus tour so he couldn't make it today. He said to give his regards to everyone," answered Quatre, who sat beside the former Deathscythe pilot, as he took another slice of watermelon from the platter at the center of the table while the househelpers cleared the rest of the dishes after their scrumptious lunch.

Duo spit out a couple of watermelon seeds. "Good to know he's doing well. Their shows have always been sold-out. And I bet Wufei's still working his ass off at the headquarters."

"Ha! Stubborn as always according to Miss Sally. But still a good follower," Quatre added, waving at a househelper to get his dish. He looked around the dining area, making sure that Hilde and Relena were still in their bedrooms, changing their clothes. He then faced Heero, who was sitting in front of him, drinking his tea. "It's a good thing that you managed to clear Miss Relena's schedule today. She's all over the Earth Sphere. One minute she's in Earth and the on the same day she's already flying for the Colonies. And even Mars."

"She needs this." Heero brought down the cup on its saucer.

"Lady Une must have had scrambled a bit to adjust these, too."

Heero nodded. "She was hesitant at first, but agreed later on."

"That's Heero for you. If there's anyone in the world who cares the most about the Vice Foreign Minister's welfare, it's none other than Heero," said Duo in between mouthfuls of watermelon. "It's been years though and he's yet to make an actual move consideri-"

"Who's supposed to make an actual move on who?" Hilde interjected as she stormed into the room, and Duo choked on his watermelon as Heero glared at him.

Quatre handed over a glass water to Duo, laughing together with Hilde as he did so.

Wiping the fruit's residue with his shirt, he began, "Great timing, Hilde. Actually we were talking abou-" Duo looked up at the dark-haired female, and his jaw dropped. Sure he had already spent nights living under the same roof with Hilde, but never had he seen her in a bikini. And a baby blue one at that.

Fully aware and feeling confident with the way Duo had looked at her; Hilde put her hand on Duo's chin and closed his gaping mouth. "You were saying?"

Duo shook his head, hard, and grinned from ear to ear. "I was just about to say how much I am enjoying summer right now."

Satisfied with his answer, Hilde smirked and let go of his chin. "Yeah and we should be enjoying. Thus, Miss Relena and I will just take a stroll at the beach."

Duo frowned. "Wearing only that?"

Hilde raised an eyebrow. "Good guess, Einstein."

"Smart mouth. I'm coming with you."

"Back off. How are we going to pick up hot guys if you're tailing us?"

"You're on a man-hunt? What if you land yourself a maniac, or worse the Vice Foreign Minister's life can be put to danger?"

"I thought the Maganacs are guarding the whole area?"

"That's not the point."

Quatre and Heero watched the two bicker back and forth until Relena's voice echoed into the room. "Hey, Hilde. Let's go?"

Four pairs of eyes turned to the doorway which separated the dining room and living room, where the Vice Foreign Minister stood wearing a pink bikini. Once again, Duo's jaw dropped; Quatre smiled with wholesome appreciation, while Hilde smirked, knowing perfectly well at how Heero caught his breath for a second, his eyes never leaving Relena's.

Relena felt her cheeks flush at the attention. It was her first time to wear such a thing. Heck, it was probably her first time to ever go to the beach. Not since she was about five years old when her parents still had the luxury of time to take vacations. Did she look okay? Was it too revealing? What did Heero think?

Slowly turning to look at her closest Preventer agent, Relena felt the room get even hotter - or was it just the summer heat - as she locked eyes with Heero's sharp, penetrating ones, despite his nonchalant casual sipping of tea.

It was Duo who broke the awkward silence. "Nice, Princess."

Relena blushed at the compliment, and uttered a grateful reply to her friend, when Heero stood up. When he did, it was only when Relena noticed that his flannel shirt was completely unbuttoned, hence giving a leeway to view his perfectly sculpted torso, which was complemented with a solid eight-pack. It couldn't possibly get any hotter in the room. Or so she thought until Heero walked towards her.

Duo and Hilde continued fighting in the room, arguing the good security in the premises and how they were capable of defending themselves, while Quatre excused himself to go to his room for a nap, obviously enjoying the riot in his rest house.

When Heero stood in front of Relena, she felt a bit self-conscious as his eyes settled on her face, so she looked away only to see the couple bickering, which bordered on playfulness. As much as how "serious" their banter sounded like, they were clearly seen suppressing their smiles and enjoying it even. They looked cute together, if she may so. It was then when Relena wondered on who confessed first to whom. If it were Hilde, then maybe, just maybe she can ask how she can also have the guts to confess what she felt towards a certain someone. A certain Preventer. A certain attractive male who was making her hard to breathe right now. She wanted to go out with Hilde now, just to be anywhere without Heero so she can have her regular supply of oxygen back. But it seemed that it will take long before she can remove Hilde with Duo.

"You still want to go?" His voice snapped her out of ogling. Relena turned to him and saw him still looking at her, his eyes unreadable. Only that, his hand was raised, palm up, and patiently waiting.

Taking one last look at the bickering couple before turning back to Heero, Relena smiled. With you? "Always," she answered, lifting her hand and accepting his proffered one.

~o~

Author's Note:

Hi all! So I'm back after a long time. A year, perhaps? So yeah, this is my offering for the summer season and I hope you guys liked it so far. I don't plan to make this long. This will be just short. Really short. Like 2-3 chapters worth? I'm not sure yet. All I know is that this will be short and sweet. :D Why? 'Cause I have anothe story coming up… probably. Haha. But really, I just missed writin and I'm wondering if th fans are still around. :) I hope you guys are. :)

Alright, until the next chapter! Ja! :D