Kitty hopped down the last few steps to the ground and looked back up to Heero, who was busy looking over the masonry on the door.
"Heero!" she laughed. He turned and smiled weakly. He jogged down to her.
"Who built that door?" he asked. Kitty looked up at it and frowned.
"I did," she replied shortly, "now come on! We'll be late!" Heero stared at her, his eyes, which had softened and warmed over the past few weeks grew solid once more.
"You made them? All by yourself?" Kitty sighed, throwing her hands against her hips.
"Yes Heero, I did. Why do you think we have all those aircraft hangars around the mansion? They're my workshops! Oh, and ones an indoor arena but that's not the point..."
"Where did you learn how to make them?" he asked, cutting her off. Kitty was now going pink with impatience.
"I have a degree in computer mechanics, Heero. I did it last year over the summer. Can we go in now?" She began to walk away, but Heero clutched her wrist.
"Where did you get the idea for that sort of hatch?" he asked. Kitty writhed a little.
"Heero," she said weakly, "you're hurting." Heero paid no attention to her, tightening his grip if anything.
"Where?" he demanded, his voice growing louder. Kitty whimpered, twisting her arm.
"Let go, Heero!" she yelped, a few politicians turning to look. Heero pulled her close and whispered in her ear.
"Listen, do you want to make a scene? Do you want them to try and come and 'remove' me, and then watch me beat them up, huh?" Kitty was shivering. She shook her head. Heero yanked her wrist, making her cry out.
"Then tell me," he said coldly.
"I...I saw some plans... lying around. I just looked at them, honest! I didn't copy! I'm sorry; I shouldn't have looked at them. I'm sorry!" Something suddenly clicked in Heero's head and he released her wrist. Kitty didn't move away from him. She merely looked up into his Prussian eyes and whispered, "I'm sorry." Heero shook his head, blinking wildly.
"What am I thinking?" he asked himself quietly, "What am I doing?" He looked at Kitty and hugged her briefly. "I'm the one who's sorry," he said quietly, barely audible. Kitty pulled back and looked at Heero, long and hard, before speaking.
"What were you going to say about the doors?" She asked. Heero smiled.
"Don't you want to go to the party?" he said, changing the subject and walking away.
"What about the hatch, Heero!" Kitty cried after him. Heero turned and smiled.
"It's very good. Almost like one of those royal shuttle hatches," he called back, beckoning with his hand for her to follow. Kitty rubbed her bruised wrist and jogged after him, her heels clacking on the paving.
Quatre landed Wing Zero at the rendezvous point. Wu-fei was standing at Nataku's hatch, tapping his foot with arms folded. Quatre climbed down.
"Where is Maxwell?" Wu-fei asked harshly, "He's late." Quatre smiled.
"Don't worry. He probably just picked up some food on the way here. You know what the buffets at these parties are like." Wu-fei raised an eyebrow.
"Actually," he said, sliding down the hatch cord, "I don't. You're the diplomat, remember?" Quatre laughed.
"Sorry. I'm just used to talking to Kitty about these things." Suddenly a low rumble was heard nearby and Deathscythe materialized next to Sandrock. Duo got out of his cockpit, looking extremely angry.
"I got here before you did, 'fei! And I heard all those mean things you said! Fat! Cocky! Stupid! American... Hey, that last ones right! But I'm still mad at you!" He folded his arms and stuck his nose in the air. Quatre collapsed in hysterics. Wu-fei smacked him sharply over the head.
"Shut up, pole boy," he said coldly. Quatre pouted.
"You're never gonna drop that, are you?" he said. Duo grinned, alighting from the cockpit.
"Nope. I mean, at the time it was pretty bad, but now, well lets just say its one for the grandkids... one day, long ago, my old friend Quatre..." Quatre glared at Duo.
"You better shut up if you wanna meet your grandkids, Duo!" Duo immediately buttoned his lip. Duo frowned, watching the blonde walk away. Quatre was so tense all of a sudden. Then it hit him.
"Hey Quat," he called over his shoulder, "you told Kit yet?" Quatre froze. How did he know. He sighed and walked back to Sandrock's feet. He slumped against the right one and sighed. Duo sidled up to Wu-fei.
"Guess not," he whispered. Wu-fei frowned.
"If he had any respect for her, a fine figure of a woman, if I do say so myself, she would have been the first to know." Duo looked at Wu-fei and sniggered. Wu-fei's cheeks grew pink. "And what, may I ask," said Wu-fei coldly, "do you have to laugh about?" This just made things worse. Quatre looked up.
"Duo?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. Duo sighed, still giggling.
"'A fine figure of a woman'!" he quoted, "You think Kitty's fit!" Wu-fei suddenly felt that if there was any justice in the world, the ground would swallow him up and he would never return. Quatre looked ready to explode.
"What… was… that?" he growled. Duo suddenly looked rather worried.
"Talk about Mister Over-protective!" Duo laughed weakly. Wu-fei, who usually stood his ground, looked ready to bolt. Quatre got to his feet and pulled out a small pot of smelling salts and sniffed at it. He sighed heavily, but did not make eye contact with Wu-fei again for a very long time. Wu-fei smacked Duo hard over the head.
"Stupid American," he muttered, straightening out his suit. Kitty had given him a Chinese embroidery kit for his birthday in February, and it being from Kitty, he had had to try it out. It was actually really good. He had embroidered one of his plain white typical suits with some of the patterns. On the front was written 'Chang Wu-fei of the Dragon Clan' in Chinese glyphs and on the back was a huge embroidered dragon, reaching from the collar to the hem. It had taken him weeks, but he was proud of it. He clutched the hatch cord and climbed back up to his cockpit.
Duo sat for a while, rubbing his head. It was far too silent. Quatre was in a dreadful mood, partially because he felt guilty about not telling Kitty he was leaving in three or so hours, and partly because some cocky Chinese twit had been drooling over his little sister for goodness knows how long, right under his nose. Quatre snuggled down on the top of Sandrocks foot. He had discovered that there was a little alcove on the foot that was perfect for sitting in, and this was where he was settled. Wu-fei on the other hand was in his cockpit with the hatch locked, swearing away to hearts content and fearing the wrath of Quatre, as ridiculous as it may sound. There was a noise behind the gundams. Duo turned to see a large aircraft carrier jet landing nearby.
"Hey guys!" he called, "Trowa's here! Let's get moving!" Quatre solemnly climbed up into the cockpit, glaring at Nataku the entire time, a distasteful look of malice igniting his eyes. Wu-fei didn't bother to confirm that he had heard Duo. He simply turned on the engine, trying to escape Quatre's penetrating glare. The three gundams made their way into the hull of the jet and the pilots went up to meet Trowa in the cockpit.
"We're all accounted for then?" he said quietly. Duo sighed.
"Sure are. Heero paged me to tell me he and Kitty were landing at the conference about 5 minutes ago. Quatre suddenly yelped. Everyone stared at him.
"Nothing," he wheezed, clutching his wrist. The others sighed and Trowa started the ignition. To be honest, he was sure he ahd sensed that something was hurting Kitty, and a complete lapse of emotion coming from Heero. He fell back into his chair and frowned. He caught a glance from Wu-fei, tutted and stormed out of the room. Trowa smiled.
"Let me guess, you pissed him off?" Duo pouted.
"I did nothing! It was hiiim! HIIIIM!" He said, making an x symbol at Wu-fei. Wu-fei spun his chair around and faced the back of the cockpit. Trowa laughed.
"Okay, Wu-fei, what did you do? Or has Quatre been at the Zero System again?" Wu-fei turned and glared at Trowa.
"Possibly both," he replied bluntly. Quatre walked back into the room.
"I heard that," he hissed. Wu-fei stuck his nose in the air.
"I'm glad for you," he said childishly. Quatre copied the movement. Trowa groaned.
"What happened?" he asked. Big mistake. The pair started babbling away at each other, trying to outdo each other in volume.
"Take it easy, guys!" Trowa cried, "We can't hear what your saying! One at a time!" Quatre decided to start.
"He started it." He began. Wu-fei flushed pink.
"Did not," he whined. Duo jumped up and stood between them.
"STOP IT!" he yelled! "I'll tell Trowa! You two are too blatantly pathetic to utter a word without reverting back to 2-year-old mode!" Quatre looked hurt. Wu-fei spun his chair around again. Duo sighed. "Basically," he said, "Wu-fei admitted to liking Kitty, and Quatre's acting like he's got a rat up his arse over it." Quatre started squealing protests. Duo groaned. "Make that a very large rat." Trowa sighed.
"Look, we're going to battle aren't we?" he said. The pilots all nodded. "Then can you please wait until then to kill each other? For one thing, I had to hire this thing with my wages, and if I mess it up, I'm toast, and two; we are going to a conference ball. Quatre, you for one should know that there are several conditions on which you can't go in, including a black eye."
"Then can I punch him in the stomach?" Wu-fei asked coldly. Quatre looked ready to forget he was a pacifist and spill some blood. Trowa handed Duo the controls.
"Can't you two behave for just one night? I can understand you're a little over-excited, but this isn't a time when we want violence within the ranks, OK?" Quatre hung his head in his hands.
"A little over excited," he said blankly, "ha! You have no idea." He looked strangely like he was about to cry. Wu-fei was silent for a time, sensing that he had made his point. Trowa returned to the controls and landed the carrier behind the conference hall.
Kitty and Heero were slowly walking down the hallway in silence. Heero felt awkward. His soldier insticts were still as clear as day, and every time he so much as glanced at Kitty now, he felt like he was split into. One half of him wanted to snap her neck. She had seen Sandrock's plans. She could be accounted as a security risk. The other half wanted to smile sweetly at her and tell her how great she looked. It was the way her hair bobbed on her shoulders, the way she walked, the elgant grace with which she moved, it made him think of someone else. Someone who was just about to bump into them.
"Lady Winner!" a loud shreik said. Kitty froze and laughed.
"Miss Relena, what a surprise!" she said, turning to face the other girl. Relena glared at Kitty.
"Do you have any idea how much of a nuisance you are?" she growled. Kitty laughed again, her voice dripping with sarcasm, in a chill tone that sent shivers up even Heero's spine.
"No Miss Relena, I don't," she said finally, "but I'm sure your going to bore both me and my guest with the details. Let me guess... does it have soemthing to do with my aplication for the posistion of Defence Minister? Or is it about those letters of complaint?"
"Complaint?" Heero whispered. He still hadn't turned around. Relena groaned.
"You need to grow up, Cuatro!" she began. Kitty laughed again.
"Oo! Big scary foreign minister is using my full name! Oh, I'm shaking in my stilletoes!" Relena stormed over to Kitty.
"How dare you!" she boomed, "First, you send threatening and rude letters to me at the commons, and now you insult me at the peace conference!" Kitty sighed.
"The same way I dare to do this, Relena." And with that, she turned shrply on her heel and linked arms with Heero. "We can go in now, Heero," she said quickly. Relena froze.
"He...Heero?" she said quietly. Kitty turned again, her eyes a blaze of blues. She frowned.
"My school friend. I invited him along. Is that suddenly a disgrace too?" Relena stretched out a hand gingerly, and then withdrew it twice as quick, like some small animal, pawing at floor.
"Heero, if that is you, look at me," she siad quietly. Kitty scowled.
"I don't have time for this, Relena. If you wish to speak to my friend, you may catch him later. I have yet to make my entrance, and as YOU know, appearance is everything," she said, smirking. Relena was frozen to the spot. She hadn't seen Heero for so long, and now he was right there, or at least she thought he was. Kitty began to walk towards the door, but Heero didn't move. He turned and stared at Relena for a moment and then caught up with Kitty. Relena suddenly felt anger overcome her.
"First she takes my dignity, then my pride and now... oh I'll get you for this Kitty Winner, I swear I will!" she hissed to herself. Kitty waved a hand gently and Relena slapped her hands over her mouth. How could Kitty have heard her? She was at least twenty metres away, and Relena had been whispering!
The four Gundam pilots entered the hallway at the same time. Everyone looked up. Suddenly butlers and doormen and security guards and waiters were flying at them from every direction, crowing the three latter pilots, but leaving a clear gangway for Quatre to pass through.
"Mr Winner! What an honour!"
"I wasn't expecting you so soon, or I would have put on a fresh apron!"
"It's so great to see you well!"
"You look fantastic! Is that a new tie?"
"Marvellous to see you again, Master Winner, you and your sister!" At this Quatre tensed up and glared at Wu-fei. The followers began to part company, realising that Quatre was not in the mood to reply, all but one young waitress.
"Please sir, who was that handsome young man your darling sister came in with?" Quatre looked at Wu-fei sharply, and then at the maid.
"He is a close friend of ours," he replied with a smile. The maid blushed furiously and dashed away. Wu-fei pulled a face of distaste at the girl.
"Weak Onna. She should be ashamed to be so pathetic." Quatre glared at Wu-fei.
"Not half as ashamed as you'll be if you even so much as look ay Kitty tonight." Quatre stormed off towards the doors, leaving the other three pilots behind.
"Is he still mad at you? Sheesh!" Duo cried. Trowa sighed.
"You guys just don't get it," he said, "Quatre has a lot on his mind. We're the lucky ones. We don't have to go saying goodbyes, and no one is going to know we've gone. But Quatre's got a lot on his plate, being the head of Winner Corps and being a minister of Pacifism. We cna only try and be supportive of him right now. And you," he said, turning to Wu-fei, "better stay clear of Kitty tonight, or he's going to blow a fuse." Wu-fei frowned.
"I have no intention of going near her. But if she comes near me, I won't have a choice, will I?" duo rolled his eyes.
"Incorrigable," he hissed at Trowa. Wu-fei grinned and walked towards the doors.
"I surprised a word that longs in your vocabulary, Maxwell," he said snidely, and entered the hall.
"Heero!" she laughed. He turned and smiled weakly. He jogged down to her.
"Who built that door?" he asked. Kitty looked up at it and frowned.
"I did," she replied shortly, "now come on! We'll be late!" Heero stared at her, his eyes, which had softened and warmed over the past few weeks grew solid once more.
"You made them? All by yourself?" Kitty sighed, throwing her hands against her hips.
"Yes Heero, I did. Why do you think we have all those aircraft hangars around the mansion? They're my workshops! Oh, and ones an indoor arena but that's not the point..."
"Where did you learn how to make them?" he asked, cutting her off. Kitty was now going pink with impatience.
"I have a degree in computer mechanics, Heero. I did it last year over the summer. Can we go in now?" She began to walk away, but Heero clutched her wrist.
"Where did you get the idea for that sort of hatch?" he asked. Kitty writhed a little.
"Heero," she said weakly, "you're hurting." Heero paid no attention to her, tightening his grip if anything.
"Where?" he demanded, his voice growing louder. Kitty whimpered, twisting her arm.
"Let go, Heero!" she yelped, a few politicians turning to look. Heero pulled her close and whispered in her ear.
"Listen, do you want to make a scene? Do you want them to try and come and 'remove' me, and then watch me beat them up, huh?" Kitty was shivering. She shook her head. Heero yanked her wrist, making her cry out.
"Then tell me," he said coldly.
"I...I saw some plans... lying around. I just looked at them, honest! I didn't copy! I'm sorry; I shouldn't have looked at them. I'm sorry!" Something suddenly clicked in Heero's head and he released her wrist. Kitty didn't move away from him. She merely looked up into his Prussian eyes and whispered, "I'm sorry." Heero shook his head, blinking wildly.
"What am I thinking?" he asked himself quietly, "What am I doing?" He looked at Kitty and hugged her briefly. "I'm the one who's sorry," he said quietly, barely audible. Kitty pulled back and looked at Heero, long and hard, before speaking.
"What were you going to say about the doors?" She asked. Heero smiled.
"Don't you want to go to the party?" he said, changing the subject and walking away.
"What about the hatch, Heero!" Kitty cried after him. Heero turned and smiled.
"It's very good. Almost like one of those royal shuttle hatches," he called back, beckoning with his hand for her to follow. Kitty rubbed her bruised wrist and jogged after him, her heels clacking on the paving.
Quatre landed Wing Zero at the rendezvous point. Wu-fei was standing at Nataku's hatch, tapping his foot with arms folded. Quatre climbed down.
"Where is Maxwell?" Wu-fei asked harshly, "He's late." Quatre smiled.
"Don't worry. He probably just picked up some food on the way here. You know what the buffets at these parties are like." Wu-fei raised an eyebrow.
"Actually," he said, sliding down the hatch cord, "I don't. You're the diplomat, remember?" Quatre laughed.
"Sorry. I'm just used to talking to Kitty about these things." Suddenly a low rumble was heard nearby and Deathscythe materialized next to Sandrock. Duo got out of his cockpit, looking extremely angry.
"I got here before you did, 'fei! And I heard all those mean things you said! Fat! Cocky! Stupid! American... Hey, that last ones right! But I'm still mad at you!" He folded his arms and stuck his nose in the air. Quatre collapsed in hysterics. Wu-fei smacked him sharply over the head.
"Shut up, pole boy," he said coldly. Quatre pouted.
"You're never gonna drop that, are you?" he said. Duo grinned, alighting from the cockpit.
"Nope. I mean, at the time it was pretty bad, but now, well lets just say its one for the grandkids... one day, long ago, my old friend Quatre..." Quatre glared at Duo.
"You better shut up if you wanna meet your grandkids, Duo!" Duo immediately buttoned his lip. Duo frowned, watching the blonde walk away. Quatre was so tense all of a sudden. Then it hit him.
"Hey Quat," he called over his shoulder, "you told Kit yet?" Quatre froze. How did he know. He sighed and walked back to Sandrock's feet. He slumped against the right one and sighed. Duo sidled up to Wu-fei.
"Guess not," he whispered. Wu-fei frowned.
"If he had any respect for her, a fine figure of a woman, if I do say so myself, she would have been the first to know." Duo looked at Wu-fei and sniggered. Wu-fei's cheeks grew pink. "And what, may I ask," said Wu-fei coldly, "do you have to laugh about?" This just made things worse. Quatre looked up.
"Duo?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. Duo sighed, still giggling.
"'A fine figure of a woman'!" he quoted, "You think Kitty's fit!" Wu-fei suddenly felt that if there was any justice in the world, the ground would swallow him up and he would never return. Quatre looked ready to explode.
"What… was… that?" he growled. Duo suddenly looked rather worried.
"Talk about Mister Over-protective!" Duo laughed weakly. Wu-fei, who usually stood his ground, looked ready to bolt. Quatre got to his feet and pulled out a small pot of smelling salts and sniffed at it. He sighed heavily, but did not make eye contact with Wu-fei again for a very long time. Wu-fei smacked Duo hard over the head.
"Stupid American," he muttered, straightening out his suit. Kitty had given him a Chinese embroidery kit for his birthday in February, and it being from Kitty, he had had to try it out. It was actually really good. He had embroidered one of his plain white typical suits with some of the patterns. On the front was written 'Chang Wu-fei of the Dragon Clan' in Chinese glyphs and on the back was a huge embroidered dragon, reaching from the collar to the hem. It had taken him weeks, but he was proud of it. He clutched the hatch cord and climbed back up to his cockpit.
Duo sat for a while, rubbing his head. It was far too silent. Quatre was in a dreadful mood, partially because he felt guilty about not telling Kitty he was leaving in three or so hours, and partly because some cocky Chinese twit had been drooling over his little sister for goodness knows how long, right under his nose. Quatre snuggled down on the top of Sandrocks foot. He had discovered that there was a little alcove on the foot that was perfect for sitting in, and this was where he was settled. Wu-fei on the other hand was in his cockpit with the hatch locked, swearing away to hearts content and fearing the wrath of Quatre, as ridiculous as it may sound. There was a noise behind the gundams. Duo turned to see a large aircraft carrier jet landing nearby.
"Hey guys!" he called, "Trowa's here! Let's get moving!" Quatre solemnly climbed up into the cockpit, glaring at Nataku the entire time, a distasteful look of malice igniting his eyes. Wu-fei didn't bother to confirm that he had heard Duo. He simply turned on the engine, trying to escape Quatre's penetrating glare. The three gundams made their way into the hull of the jet and the pilots went up to meet Trowa in the cockpit.
"We're all accounted for then?" he said quietly. Duo sighed.
"Sure are. Heero paged me to tell me he and Kitty were landing at the conference about 5 minutes ago. Quatre suddenly yelped. Everyone stared at him.
"Nothing," he wheezed, clutching his wrist. The others sighed and Trowa started the ignition. To be honest, he was sure he ahd sensed that something was hurting Kitty, and a complete lapse of emotion coming from Heero. He fell back into his chair and frowned. He caught a glance from Wu-fei, tutted and stormed out of the room. Trowa smiled.
"Let me guess, you pissed him off?" Duo pouted.
"I did nothing! It was hiiim! HIIIIM!" He said, making an x symbol at Wu-fei. Wu-fei spun his chair around and faced the back of the cockpit. Trowa laughed.
"Okay, Wu-fei, what did you do? Or has Quatre been at the Zero System again?" Wu-fei turned and glared at Trowa.
"Possibly both," he replied bluntly. Quatre walked back into the room.
"I heard that," he hissed. Wu-fei stuck his nose in the air.
"I'm glad for you," he said childishly. Quatre copied the movement. Trowa groaned.
"What happened?" he asked. Big mistake. The pair started babbling away at each other, trying to outdo each other in volume.
"Take it easy, guys!" Trowa cried, "We can't hear what your saying! One at a time!" Quatre decided to start.
"He started it." He began. Wu-fei flushed pink.
"Did not," he whined. Duo jumped up and stood between them.
"STOP IT!" he yelled! "I'll tell Trowa! You two are too blatantly pathetic to utter a word without reverting back to 2-year-old mode!" Quatre looked hurt. Wu-fei spun his chair around again. Duo sighed. "Basically," he said, "Wu-fei admitted to liking Kitty, and Quatre's acting like he's got a rat up his arse over it." Quatre started squealing protests. Duo groaned. "Make that a very large rat." Trowa sighed.
"Look, we're going to battle aren't we?" he said. The pilots all nodded. "Then can you please wait until then to kill each other? For one thing, I had to hire this thing with my wages, and if I mess it up, I'm toast, and two; we are going to a conference ball. Quatre, you for one should know that there are several conditions on which you can't go in, including a black eye."
"Then can I punch him in the stomach?" Wu-fei asked coldly. Quatre looked ready to forget he was a pacifist and spill some blood. Trowa handed Duo the controls.
"Can't you two behave for just one night? I can understand you're a little over-excited, but this isn't a time when we want violence within the ranks, OK?" Quatre hung his head in his hands.
"A little over excited," he said blankly, "ha! You have no idea." He looked strangely like he was about to cry. Wu-fei was silent for a time, sensing that he had made his point. Trowa returned to the controls and landed the carrier behind the conference hall.
Kitty and Heero were slowly walking down the hallway in silence. Heero felt awkward. His soldier insticts were still as clear as day, and every time he so much as glanced at Kitty now, he felt like he was split into. One half of him wanted to snap her neck. She had seen Sandrock's plans. She could be accounted as a security risk. The other half wanted to smile sweetly at her and tell her how great she looked. It was the way her hair bobbed on her shoulders, the way she walked, the elgant grace with which she moved, it made him think of someone else. Someone who was just about to bump into them.
"Lady Winner!" a loud shreik said. Kitty froze and laughed.
"Miss Relena, what a surprise!" she said, turning to face the other girl. Relena glared at Kitty.
"Do you have any idea how much of a nuisance you are?" she growled. Kitty laughed again, her voice dripping with sarcasm, in a chill tone that sent shivers up even Heero's spine.
"No Miss Relena, I don't," she said finally, "but I'm sure your going to bore both me and my guest with the details. Let me guess... does it have soemthing to do with my aplication for the posistion of Defence Minister? Or is it about those letters of complaint?"
"Complaint?" Heero whispered. He still hadn't turned around. Relena groaned.
"You need to grow up, Cuatro!" she began. Kitty laughed again.
"Oo! Big scary foreign minister is using my full name! Oh, I'm shaking in my stilletoes!" Relena stormed over to Kitty.
"How dare you!" she boomed, "First, you send threatening and rude letters to me at the commons, and now you insult me at the peace conference!" Kitty sighed.
"The same way I dare to do this, Relena." And with that, she turned shrply on her heel and linked arms with Heero. "We can go in now, Heero," she said quickly. Relena froze.
"He...Heero?" she said quietly. Kitty turned again, her eyes a blaze of blues. She frowned.
"My school friend. I invited him along. Is that suddenly a disgrace too?" Relena stretched out a hand gingerly, and then withdrew it twice as quick, like some small animal, pawing at floor.
"Heero, if that is you, look at me," she siad quietly. Kitty scowled.
"I don't have time for this, Relena. If you wish to speak to my friend, you may catch him later. I have yet to make my entrance, and as YOU know, appearance is everything," she said, smirking. Relena was frozen to the spot. She hadn't seen Heero for so long, and now he was right there, or at least she thought he was. Kitty began to walk towards the door, but Heero didn't move. He turned and stared at Relena for a moment and then caught up with Kitty. Relena suddenly felt anger overcome her.
"First she takes my dignity, then my pride and now... oh I'll get you for this Kitty Winner, I swear I will!" she hissed to herself. Kitty waved a hand gently and Relena slapped her hands over her mouth. How could Kitty have heard her? She was at least twenty metres away, and Relena had been whispering!
The four Gundam pilots entered the hallway at the same time. Everyone looked up. Suddenly butlers and doormen and security guards and waiters were flying at them from every direction, crowing the three latter pilots, but leaving a clear gangway for Quatre to pass through.
"Mr Winner! What an honour!"
"I wasn't expecting you so soon, or I would have put on a fresh apron!"
"It's so great to see you well!"
"You look fantastic! Is that a new tie?"
"Marvellous to see you again, Master Winner, you and your sister!" At this Quatre tensed up and glared at Wu-fei. The followers began to part company, realising that Quatre was not in the mood to reply, all but one young waitress.
"Please sir, who was that handsome young man your darling sister came in with?" Quatre looked at Wu-fei sharply, and then at the maid.
"He is a close friend of ours," he replied with a smile. The maid blushed furiously and dashed away. Wu-fei pulled a face of distaste at the girl.
"Weak Onna. She should be ashamed to be so pathetic." Quatre glared at Wu-fei.
"Not half as ashamed as you'll be if you even so much as look ay Kitty tonight." Quatre stormed off towards the doors, leaving the other three pilots behind.
"Is he still mad at you? Sheesh!" Duo cried. Trowa sighed.
"You guys just don't get it," he said, "Quatre has a lot on his mind. We're the lucky ones. We don't have to go saying goodbyes, and no one is going to know we've gone. But Quatre's got a lot on his plate, being the head of Winner Corps and being a minister of Pacifism. We cna only try and be supportive of him right now. And you," he said, turning to Wu-fei, "better stay clear of Kitty tonight, or he's going to blow a fuse." Wu-fei frowned.
"I have no intention of going near her. But if she comes near me, I won't have a choice, will I?" duo rolled his eyes.
"Incorrigable," he hissed at Trowa. Wu-fei grinned and walked towards the doors.
"I surprised a word that longs in your vocabulary, Maxwell," he said snidely, and entered the hall.