CHAPTER THREE
Trowa entered the bar, deliberately training his green eyes around the interiors, looking for the two girls he was supposed to join in celebration. Instead he found a crowd gathering around one table. With a slight feeling of suspicion he walked over, and found his gut feelings true.
"Trowa! Thank god you're here! I tried to talk her out of it, but she went on ahead!" Catherine looked positively distressed as she hurried to her brother's side.
"What's happening?" he asked as he saw Nilca sitting across a large burly man. They had several bottles between them, and they both looked very drunk.
"Give up, me bonny lass!" Ye cannae take another!" the strange man slurred.
"The first one who passes out loses... Trowa, she made a bet to outdrink him to force him away, but also agreed that if he wins, he'd take both of us home!" the knife thrower said, fear in her beautiful eyes.
"I won't let you...uhh...win!" she shot back, struggling to keep her eyes open as she reached for her refilled shotglass.
The crowd fell silent. They are even now. If she passes out, he wins. If she drinks her shot, she'll be one ahead. After a long excruciating moment, she set her glass down, empty. Everyone turned to see the other drinker...
He was slumped on the table, snoring.
"Hn! Loser..." the green-haired girl snorted derisively as she stood up.
Trowa caught her in time when she lost both her balance and her consciousness. He turned to his brown-haired sister, "Catherine, let's go home," to which she nodded.
"Thank you, Trowa. You came just in time," Catherine said, relieved, when they got home.
"I wish I've gotten there sooner," he replied, looking at the girl he's carrying.
Catherine hesitated, but needed to know the truth, "You went back to the Preventers' headquarters, right? What was so urgent that you had to rush back there?"
He thought about the terrible possibility of another war. He decided to change the subject, "Go on to bed, I'll carry her up to her room."
When he laid her down, Nilca stirred and held on to him, "Mmm... what happened? ...Trowa?"
"You lost consciousness right after he did. We brought you home," Trowa replied.
"Aaw, you carried me all the way here? Dat's sooo sweet!" she cooed, still tipsy.
Feeling her arms circle around his neck, he quickly said, "Good night, Nilca."
She giggled coyly, "Mmm, leaving already? Please stay..." she whispered.
He softly said "Nilca, n-no..." but found himself not resisting as she pulled him down to her bed and laid on top of him, resting her head on his shoulder. He closed his eyes as he felt her lips against his neck...
A few seconds passed before he eventually opened his eyes again, when he realized she has stopped moving. Gently rolling her to lie beneath him, he saw that she fell asleep. He raised his hand, unconsciously, to touch her face, when he heard steps on the stairs.
In a quick, graceful motion, he noiselessly vaulted himself off the bed without disturbing its occupant, just in time as Catherine opened the door. "Everything ok?" she asked her brother, standing by the door.
"Yes," he replied, face expressionless, "She's sleeping."