Author's note: I do not own Gundam Wing or its characters. This is for the 30 Kisses challenge using list eta. This is AU. Theme 18: Nightmare.

His Lady Knight

Nightmares were nothing new to Zechs Marquise. He had been plagued with them for years ever since his family was massacred by Alliance forces. Given all the bloody battles and near misses he'd witnessed, it wasn't all that surprising. None of them were as bad as this. He was cornered by the punch bowl by five women who didn't seem to get the hint that he wasn't interested. And as it was his sister's New Year's party, he couldn't exactly be rude to get rid of them. Well, he could, but his sister would complain about it later.

"Milliardo," that was the blond who had draped herself over his right side, "why haven't we seen you at Dorothy's parties? You only ever come to your sister's."

The redhead on his other side pouted at him. "We miss you when you're not around."

They were the reason that he avoided these events, but he wasn't about to tell them that. Not that they would listen anyway.

"My work with the Preventers doesn't allow for much time to socialize."

"Have you ever thought about changing your line of work?" simpered the blond blocking his escape onto the veranda. "I don't know why you bother with the Preventers. You'd been such a good politician."

He'd be a lousy politician, thank you very much, and he had absolutely no interest in playing the diplomacy game. Zechs would leave that for his sister.

"The countdown has started." Another blond beamed at him. "Not long until the first kiss of the New Year."

"Ten…nine…"

"There you are. Did you forget to bring your cell phone?" Noin pushed her way through the crowd towards him. She was still in her Preventer uniform. "We do have an active assignment."

"…eight…seven…six…"

Disentangling him from the leeches, she tugged him towards the door. "We just got a solid lead, but we don't have much time."

"…five…four…three…"

Once again his lady knight was rescuing him from danger. He slipped an arm around her waist, stilling their progress towards the exit. "Just a moment, Noin."

"…two…one…Happy New Year!"

He swooped down to kiss her. Noin's arms came up around his neck and her lips opened under his. It was a good few minutes later when they broke apart for much needed air. Zechs smiled down at her. "Now, you said we had a lead?"