EVE (AC 197-198)

Wufei had abandoned the stuffy ballroom in favor of the balcony. Certainly, the crowd would follow him in a few hours, but for now, the chill, food and drinks kept them inside. He had neglected going by the way of the reception area in the hall, thus forfeiting his coat, and the cool air was beginning to get to him - not that he'd ever admit that to anyone.

It had long since gotten dark, and beyond the lights from the ballroom, only the stars and the moon reflecting sunlight shone upon him. He gazed up at them as if waiting for an answer - but instead, he got a question.

"Wufei Chang?"

Scowling, he turned to see who had interrupted his solitude. It took him a moment to recognized the blonde. "Miss Catalonia," he offered, making a curt nod.

She smiled, raised her eyebrows. "Leaving miss Relena's party so soon?"

Wufei snorted. "I haven't left, I just needed a breath of fresh air."

Dorothy came closer, one hand still hiding behind her back. "So you say - yet, you've been absentminded all evening." At his slightly widening eyes, she continued. "Yes, I noticed, and I probably wasn't the only one. Your friends seem concerned."

He returned to his scowl. "Then let them be. I don't care."

She chuckled, took a final step, halting a good six paces away. "Funny - to leave you alone was the best they could think of, too." She paused, and as she brought forth her hidden hand and threw one of the two objects at him, she stated "I thought differently!" And then, she grabbed a firm hold of her rapier, and attacked.

On mere reflex, Wufei caught the rapier Dorothy had tossed at him, and got down to a kneeling parry just in time, deflecting the blow, ignoring the sparks. "Are you crazy, woman?!"

She laughed, one step back, parry, riposte. "I keep hearing that..."

Wufei frowned, sidestepping the counter-attack. "If you keep this up, I won't hold back."

Smirk. "Good. I would be disappointed if you did."

Their rapiers clang together again, and the duel continued, moon and stars the only specators as the crowd in the ballroom went on oblivious.

-------

"You fight good," he quietly offered amidst his panting, leaning back against the stone wall below the balcony patio. The party guests had finally come outside, awaiting the fireworks. That had cut the duel short, despite how long the stalemate had already lasted.

"Why, thank you - and so do you," Dorothy replied, equally exhausted.

"Why?"

She thought it over. "Because you needed it."

Scowl. "That's no answer, you vile temptress."

She laughed, unconcerned they might be heard. The murmur of the crowd drowned all anyway. She leant in a little. "They say the way to a man's heart goes through his stomach. Sometimes, however, it goes through his head - upper or lower, depending on the man." Another potent chuckle. "For you, it is the upper. A show of strength seems to appeal more than apples or beauty to you." She shrugged. "I merely picked the proper bait."

Decidedly uncomfortable - for a variety of reasons, Wufei straightened up. "That's still no answer."

She sighed, looked up at the sky. The first rocket was screaming towards the sky now, and the crowd cheered in awe. "I saw where you were looking - and I believe I know why. I was there, not long ago." She inched closer, and kissed his cheek. Into his confused face, she whispered "Happy new year, Wufei."

Wufei was truly dumbstruck now, and while his jaw worked to speak, not a word came out.

"I do not know for who or how many you are mourning - but surely you have paid your respects by now?" She began walking away. "Let the dead rest, Wufei - or you'll live with them forever - and them alone. Respect their memories, but live on your own, not through them."

She was gone. Wufei frowned as the crowd laughed, smiled, cheered as more of the fireworks splashed against the night sky. He looked up; saw his heritage on a backdrop of ancestry. With clenched teeth, he got up, and went after Dorothy.

This eve was not going to be a solitaire one.