Chapter 8
Trowa wasn't a hundred percent sure of his plan, but he decided it was his best shot at getting Relena out of his hair. He only had to beat her and she would stick to her word and leave well enough alone.
'And no word on my leaving until this contest is over.' He added before they started officially.
'Alright. I'll have you listen to everything I have to say when I win anyway.'
'Confident are we?' he smirked as he poured himself a second shot. 'Well, let me tell you… When I win we'll never have to talk about it again.'
She watched him with a sort of amusement as he drank his fill then poured her another glass. 'We'll see.'
He could not help watching her as she went about the kitchen. She added carrots and courgette to the pot where she had placed the potatoes then put on the lid and turned up the heat. When she finally returned to the isle it was to dump a pile of things in front of him. 'What's all this?'
'Help me set the table in the dining room.'
'I thought I was your guest.'
'So?'
'Isn't it impolite to put your guests to work?'
Relena rolled her eyes at him, something he found quite amusing. 'Would you, please, set the dinner table while I prepare some hors d'oeuvre for us to nibble on? We cannot keep drinking on empty stomachs.'
Trowa stood up and carried the table cloth, place mats and silverware with him to the dining room. 'I will, but only because I want you to keep drinking.' He made sure to inform her.
'Wow… Thank you.'
As he set the table in the dining room, Trowa wondered if he hadn't underestimated the attraction he felt towards his cunning host… And if, in underestimating that attraction, he hadn't bitten more than he could chew. Had Relena noticed? Surely she would use that against him if she knew? She was a diplomat after all and a very smart one at that. Or maybe… Just maybe, she might reciprocate and then he too would be able to use their attraction as a weapon, recovering the natural advantage he knew he had. And if she didn't, perhaps he could seduce her…
Jackie sat at the foot of the sideboard, staring intently at him as if she knew everything that went through his head and were condemning him for his nefarious plans. It wasn't wrong of him, was it? He'd merely be acting upon an attraction he felt. Just a man trying to woo a woman like so many other men before him.
He returned to the kitchen, pretending he hadn't see the dog at all. Relena seemed to be done with the preparations for the time being and sat at the isle thumbing through an old cookbook. She tried to hide the page when he narrowed his eyes at it, but made a poor job of it. Trowa could not help the smug smile. He knew now he was on the right path and victory was only a matter of time.
'I just thought it'd be interesting to try something new next time.' She hurriedly justified, uncovering the desserts page as he took his seat. Her blush only confirmed his suspicions.
'I didn't say anything.' He shrugged, feigning disinterest, and reached for the bottle to pour them both another shot of tequila. 'I promise not to judge your skills too harshly though.'
'I never said I'd be cooking it for you.'
'You've someone else you're interested in, then?' Trowa sounded both curious and amused.
'I'm not interested in anyone.' Relena haughtily informed.
'Pity.' Now acting as if her answer was of little consequence, he filled the glass and realised there would not be enough for two shots to make them even.
'Why?' his host could not contain her curiosity.
'No reason.' Trowa pretended to be more concerned about the emptying bottle of tequila, but she could see he was hiding something… 'Is there another bottle?'
'No, I'm afraid not.' Relena allowed herself to be distracted. 'The tequila's just… In case of an emergency. Usually, I just have a glass of wine.'
'Why don't we play a game then? The loser takes the shot.'
'A game inside another?'
He shrugged. 'Why not? It'll be short.'
She sighed as if tired of his antics though they both knew better. Trowa wondered, for a second, if she could see past his deceptive moves the way he saw through hers… 'What kind of game?'
'Do you have a deck of cards?'
'No.'
'That's fine. I should have one in my backpack.'
'A deck of cards?' she asked, perplexed, as he stood to make his way to the living room where he'd left his belongings.
'You never know when you might need one.'
'A deck of cards?'
'Yes.'
'What for?' she was forced to enquire as he kept playing the fool and giving her short, generic answers. 'Gambling?'
Trowa could not help but laugh at her raised eyebrows. Did she worry about everyone the way she worried about him? Probably. They barely knew each other after all… The attraction he – maybe they – felt was simply the result of hormones and loneliness.
'I don't have a gambling problem.' He assured her still chuckling. 'Sometimes you need a disguise, a diversion…or an ice breaker. A magic trick can do that for you, for example. But there's nothing a professional can't achieve with a decent stack of cards.'
XXX
Relena tried not to get distracted by Trowa's smile. It was a smug, cunning smile, but it was still wider than she'd ever seen on his face. She refused to let herself be swooned by it though. If he really wanted to beat her he would have to work a lot harder.
'You use card tricks to pick up women.' she tediously resumed his colourful explanation.
'Sometimes.' He shrugged, but it was clear to her now that that was the actual reason why he carried a stack of cards with him at all times… Was that what he was trying to do to her too? No... He couldn't possibly be interested in her now, could he? No. He was trying to fool her, to win their bet and get out of having to think about the decisions he'd made. She wondered if she should just ask… Would it unsettle him? Relena doubted it. He had accused her of trying to get in his pants and hadn't even blushed.
'So what is this game you want us to play?'
'Let me get my cards and I'll show it to you.'
She exchanged an exasperated look with Jackie as Trowa left the kitchen and went to check on the food. It would all be ready by one o'clock, she figured. Could she beat him by then? Or would she need more time? What should she do? The dog watched her every move attentively, but offered no advice. Not that Relena thought Jackie could read minds… And she wouldn't dare speak up and risk Trowa overhearing.
By the time he returned she was back at the isle, looking as if she hadn't moved at all. She put away the old cookbook as he shuffled the cards, his fingers moving fast and nimbly like an old croupier's. Relena was quite sure that little show was all for her benefit.
'Is that how you woo them?' she wondered sceptically.
'Why? Is it working?'
She could not help but laugh at him, though the expert way he handled those cards and the fact that he'd said he did magic tricks with them were gnawing at her… She knew a couple card games, but didn't have much practice… Could he cheat? Or, rather, would he?
'How about…' she cut in when he moved to hand out the cards and saw him freeze, his hands midway towards her side of the isle. 'We play chess?'
'Chess?' Trowa frowned though it only took him a moment to follow her line of thought. Relena feared he might be offended, but as usual he seemed to be amused. 'Think I'll cheat?'
'Well… Yes, actually.'
'You don't think I'm good enough to beat you fair and square?'
'Oh, I'm quite sure you are.' She dismissed his concerns with feigned exasperation, hoping he would prefer to agree with her rather than to chance her losing her patience. She forgot he wasn't one of her employees… Not exactly. He sat there, eyebrows raised, and waited for her to elaborate. 'But I also think you're good enough to cheat without my noticing and that it would be too good an opportunity for you to pass up… Especially, seeing as you have so much to gain from your victory.'
Trowa cocked his head as he considered her words. Relena thought he looked a lot like Jackie and smiled to herself. At last his mouth made a quick twist, a kind of shrug of the lips, as he shook his head in agreement. 'You've got a point.'
'So…chess?' she beamed hopefully, her final strike at convincing him, yet he still hesitated. 'Are you afraid you'll lose?'
That did it. Just as she knew it would.
Trowa put down the deck of cards and crossed his arms, managing to somehow lean back without falling off the backless stool. He stared challengingly at her down his nose. 'Bring it on.'
She made her way to the dining room and found the old chess set abandoned in one of the sideboard drawers. It had belonged to her dad, a present from her biological father according to Pagan, and she treasured it way too much to leave it out in the open. When she laid it on the kitchen isle, very carefully, she noticed Trowa had found the wine bottle she had left on the counter the night before and poured them both a glass.
'No need for us to stop drinking while we duel.'
Relena ignored him, though she did sip on the wine between laying down the chess pieces and nibbling on the hors d'oeuvre she'd prepared earlier. Trowa did the same.
'You start.' She informed him, sitting back to watch his first move.
'I thought white was your colour.'
'You did, did you?' fighting back a smug smile she too made her first move. He was underestimating her. Men always did. It just wasn't something they could help doing and when Relena had realised that fact she'd stopped feeling angry and learned how to take advantage of it instead.
She watched his smile melt as they played, replaced by the poker face of a focused player, but by the time he started taking her seriously she had already wound her trap around him. Trowa conceded defeat with a smile, that was both amused and resigned, as well as the usual shrug.
'Best out of three?' he tried half-heartedly for they both knew she wouldn't relent. Relena merely pushed the glass of tequila towards him and he downed it without a second thought. 'Where did you learn to play?'
'My family's butler, Pagan, was my mentor in many things.' She smiled fondly at the memories. 'He worked for the Peacecrafts before their downfall and taught my brother as well. Not just chess, of course.'
'I'll remember not to underestimate him…or you ever again.'
'You'd do well not to.'
They played a second match after that, which Trowa won, and then he taught her a couple of his card games. All that while they avoided any and all touchy subjects, focusing on discussing politics and drinking. Around half way through her third glass of wine Relena stood to take the roast from the oven and finish the vegetables. It was when she realised she was already tipsy. She glanced at Trowa and wondered if he'd noticed… Surely he had to be worse than she was? They had had exactly the same amount of alcohol except for that one extra tequila shot he'd taken… He'd had more cheese than her though…
'How do we tell who's won?' she asked before she could stop herself.
'Whoever falls first loses.'
'But then shouldn't you stand whenever I stand and vice versa?'
He paused. 'Yes, you're right.'
Relena watched him stand. She paid close attention to his hands, noticing how they clung to the top of the isle. So they were at least even, she mused, turning around to sauté the vegetables. 'Isn't whoever falls first a rather…dangerous criterion?'
'Maybe.'
'How about…' she stopped when the spoon fell from her hand and hit the floor with a slap. Her eyes met Trowa's. Should she try to pick it up? Or would she fall? Before she could make up her mind, Jackie was already there, lapping at the spoon with her tiny pink tongue. 'Well.'
Trowa chuckled. Relena did not get it, but she ignored him and reached for a clean spoon instead. 'What were you saying?' he asked and appeared to be only vaguely aware that she'd been saying anything at all.
'I…' she turned to him with assuredness, but froze and frowned when she couldn't recall what she had been saying. It took her a long minute but, at last, the conversation came back to her and she beamed victoriously at him. 'How about we try to walk on a straight line?'
'What for?'
'To determine who's won, of course! Whoever makes the more mistakes loses.'
'Right now?'
'What do you think?'
'I think something's burning.'
'Damn it!' Relena turned hurriedly back to the stove, pushing the vegetables around with her spoon before she took the pan off the burner. Because she'd whipped her head around too fast the world, or the kitchen rather, swam dangerously around her for a long moment. Thankfully, however, she managed to stay on her feet and save her side dish. She thought she deserved to win this thing already. Trowa was laughing at her so heartily, she didn't think he'd be able to stop. 'I say we end this now.' She shouted afraid he might not hear her otherwise.
When he finally managed to stop laughing he seemed to wobble on his feet and had to use the isle to steady himself. His face immediately gained a serious, scrunched up look. 'That's some strong wine you've got there.' He complained.
'It's Marsala. You use it for cooking rather than drinking, but it didn't think it was polite to tell you.'
'I think we should eat before we end this.'
'That's because you know you're going to lose, isn't it?'
XXX
Trowa had overestimated himself. That much was true. It had been a while since he had had any alcohol besides the occasional beer, but he was not ready to throw in the towel just yet and that was why he needed to eat a little more before they decided who'd won. He had had a much larger fill of appetizers than Relena, but he wasn't sure they had been enough to even the score between them… It seemed he'd have to risk it tough or he'd be admitting he was already too sloshed to walk on a straight line.
'That's because I wish to give you a chance, but if you still feel like deciding the winner right away…' he shrugged. The ball was back with Relena now, which gave him just a little more hope that the decision might be postponed.
'If we do this after we eat…' she started and had to stop to collect her thoughts. Maybe Trowa had a chance after all. 'And we fall…'
'What?'
'We might vomit.'
'Don't you think we'll vomit anyway?'
'Then why eat at all?' Relena asked with a frown.
He wondered if it would be better or worse if they ate… There was a very reasonable scientific explanation in his head somewhere, but he just could not find it. His thoughts were in a muddle, so he shrugged. Something dinged on the background and he watched her turn around very slowly to take the roast out of the oven, she fumbled with the mittens a little too long.
'Let's do it now.' He said. 'And then have water with the food.'
'You really think we should eat?' his host was still worried about getting sick. Their contest seemly forgotten.
'I'll eat.' Trowa shrugged again. There was a voice deep inside his head that told him it'd be wise to eat a little more… He wasn't sure he could trust it completely, but he wasn't quite as afraid of retching as she was. In fact, considering the amount they'd drunk, that might not be so bad for their health either… 'So where…?'
It took Relena a moment to understand what he meant. He wanted to know where they'd be testing their sobriety – or lack thereof – or what straight line they'd be facing. She didn't seem to know, had clearly not thought things through. So he glanced around, feeling sorry for her, however briefly, and noticed the kitchen floor was covered in square shaped tiles, the width of his foot, that formed straight lines everywhere.
'Let's do it here.' He said still looking at the floor.
'Here?'
'There's a straight line of tiles leading from the door to the sink. Can you see it?'
'I think I can.' She said squeezing her eyes at the spotless white floor. Jackie watched them from the foot of the refrigerator where she lied, only her eyes following them as if she was only half interested.
'Let me go first and you'll see.'
'See you fall?' Relena smirked, but then went serious as he dragged his feet to the door. 'Stop, Trowa. You might hit your head! There's the isle, and the fridge, and…'
'I'll be fine.' He waved his hand dismissively and nearly lost his balance for it. 'I've walked the tightrope many times.' And, even though he'd never done so drunk, he was willing to take his chances.
When he let go of the threshold he immediately missed it. The whole room seemed to tip sideways, but his goal was only ten or so steps away and with enough focus he was sure he'd make it. Relena said nothing and he knew she hadn't noticed a thing. Time moved a lot faster for her as she watched than it did for him as he moved. He set out to reach the sink, opening his arms as he did on the tightrope when he needed to steady himself. It worked better than he'd thought it would and, even though the kitchen still rocked around him, he still beelined to the empty spot beside Relena.
Like a pro.
'See?' Trowa could not help the smug smile. Not only had he made it but he felt victorious already.
'I saw that out of ten steps you took, six were off.'
He frowned, not quite believing her, but she was so serious when she said it that could only mean she was worried about her own performance. Besides she wasn't exactly the kind of person who would lie themselves into a victory.
'I'll make the reverse way.' She informed him, preparing to set off. Then explained: 'Because I'm here already.'
Trowa scooted over so she could take his place. She looked confident and he could only hope she was as deluded about her drunken capabilities as he had been. With some reluctance, Relena pushed away from the counter and took a couple unsteady steps forward. It was when he noticed the spoon lying there, on the floor, right by the line she was threading. Would Relena see it? What if she tripped? She might hit her head on the isle, or the refrigerator, or…
'Watch out!' he moved as fast as his numb limbs would carry him and the spring was still quick enough to knock him completely off balance. The floor rushed up to meet him and, as he stumbled forward awkwardly trying to avoid the inevitable fall, he hit Relena, who had turned around after hearing his shout, and dragged her down with him.
It took his brain at least twice as long as usual to make sense of where he was and what had happened. He could hear Jackie's hysterical barking mixed with Relena's inebriated laughter. The dog had avoided being crushed and stood to their side clearly unhappy about the fright they'd given her. Then he turned to check on his amused host and found she was right underneath him, legs entwined with his, bellies flush together, their noses nearly brushing as he tuned his head... And in his stupor he thought she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
She too seemed to suddenly realise just how close they were and, as their eyes met, the laughter died in her throat. 'Shhh!' she turned to Jackie for a second and the dog let out a few anxious whines as she settled down. Then Relena turned back to Trowa as if ready to give one of her mind-numbing apology speeches.
So he kissed her before she could start.
A.N.: Another big thank you to everyone who reviewed the previous chapter. Your kind words gave me the push I needed to go back to this chapter and finish it. Took me a whole bloody month! But here it is now and I hope you liked it. :)
