All right, I have to tell you all that I'm
highly terrified at this moment. You see, I grabbed my original draft of In
Times of Peace, (which is, by the way, written in the same notebook as A
Shelter From My Storm) put in a Billie Holiday CD, and sat down to type when I
looked out my window and noticed that there's a huge wasp crawling on the
windowsill inside my room. Why!? I'm scared of you, scary insect of pain! Why
won't you and your brethren let me be! The same thing happened earlier this
week, except the wasp was on the screen and I managed to shut the window,
trapping it until it just died. Why won't this one die? Aagh! It's
looking at me, I know it is! Okay, calm down, Teresa. Maybe if I just type for
long enough, it'll go away or something. *whimper*
*****
In Times of Peace
Part 5
*****
Duo was becoming extremely frustrated with
Isanu's behavior. It seemed as though Quatre's temperamental twin could read
his mind and did exactly the opposite of what he expected in every situation
simply to confuse and torture him. For example, at that very moment he was
quiet and well behaved while he ate lunch across the table from Isanu, but did
she reward his efforts with even the smallest smile? No. Instead, she sat
talking to Trowa, who himself barely seemed to acknowledge her presence as he
ate. But she didn't seem upset that she was so obviously being ignored in favor
of food. They were the only three people in the dining room, so of course
she had to talk to Mr. Mute rather than Duo. This was ridiculous. Duo suddenly
slammed down his empty cup, eliciting immediate looks of shock from both Trowa
and Isanu.
"That's it, Isanu!" he
exclaimed angrily. Trowa grabbed his last bit of sandwich before hurriedly
leaving the room. He had no desire to witness some spat between the
unpredictable Isanu and the lovelorn Duo. Neither Isanu nor Duo took note of
his departure. It was almost as if he had never been there to begin with.
"Just stop it, okay? Leave me alone. I can't take this anymore!"
"What, Duo?" Isanu furrowed her
brow in confusion.
"Everything!" Duo exclaimed,
pushing his chair back before he threw his hands up in aggravation. "I
know that you just like to torture me, so stop making me think that you care.
It's frustrating!"
"Duo," Isanu's face softened as she
rose, a knowing smile spreading over her face, "don't you see? I was just
trying to make sure you could treat me right, and that you wouldn't take me for
granted. I really do like you." She slowly walked around the table
to him, but Duo was still suspicious. (1)
"How do I know that for sure? You never
say what you mean!" He argued.
"Oh, Duo, I didn't think I was being so
terrible to you. Trust me when I say that I do care for you." She spoke
with innocently wide eyes.
"But…you…really?" Duo watched her
approach warily.
"Of course, Duo." She leaned down
to face him, brushing her fingers through his bangs gently.
"But…the last time you did that, I ended
up on the floor." Duo narrowed his eyes, pulling back cautiously.
"Duo," she traced the middle of his
chest with a light touch as Duo's resolve crumbled under her simple gesture of
affection. "I'm sorry if I hurt you before. I won't play any more games
with you."
"Promise?" he barely managed to
make the word audible, his mouth was so completely dry. Isanu smirked slightly
as she climbed into his lap and snaked one arm to the back of his neck,
brushing the other through his hair. Duo felt like he was going to die of pure
bliss.
"Promise." Isanu affirmed as she
leaned in to kiss Duo firmly. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her
close. Isanu smiled just as they broke. Her fingers were firmly crossed behind
Duo's back, but he just smiled back at her happily and she kissed him again.
----------
Driana wandered down another long hallway in
Quatre's mansion. She had been spending the better part of her day simply
getting familiarized with all the rooms in this large building. It wouldn't
have taken her so long, but she kept getting lost and having to retrace her
steps. "What's that?" she suddenly wondered aloud as she heard the
beautiful tinkling of piano music reached her ears. As Driana made her way
slowly down the hallway, she could hear the music becoming louder until she was
sure that it couldn't be coming from more than ten feet away. Pressing her ear
to a door, Driana nodded in satisfaction that she had found the source of the
heavenly music before she opened it slowly. After peeking past the door, Driana
walked into the room, her look of curiosity melting into a fond smile as she
saw Quatre seated at a beautiful piano, his fingers dancing easily over the keys.
He looked up as she shut the door behind her, and he smiled a greeting as she
walked over to him.
Quatre eyed Driana nervously as she sat next
to him on the small piano bench. She watched in admiration as his fingers
adeptly moved for a while before she leaned in a bit. "Show off." She
whispered into his ear, smiling as her warm breath on the side of his face
distracted him enough that he stumbled over a few notes before recovering his
composure. "Very unprofessional, Quatre." Driana teased, laughing and
brushing her red mane over her shoulder. His injured look only evoked more
laughter.
"You distracted me, Driana. It wasn't
fair." Quatre protested after he ended his song.
"A good musician must be prepared to
ignore distractions." She replied in a mock-solemn tone. Quatre's ashamed
pout deepened and Driana collapsed in a fit of laughter. "I'm only
kidding, Quatre." Driana told him after recovering. "You play
wonderfully." She put an arm around his shoulder and patted his back,
momentarily forgetting how innocent he was. Quatre blushed slightly at the
gesture, smiling down at his hands nervously. Driana smiled mischievously,
running her fingers through his hair slowly.
"Has anyone ever told you how terribly
adorable you are, Quatre?" she asked, smiling broadly as his blush
deepened and he shook his head no. She picked an imaginary piece of lint off of
his shoulder, "Yes, very good looking. Quatre?" she barely masked her
wicked grin as he turned to face her.
"Um…huh? What is it?" he gulped as
he noticed how close together they were sitting.
"Do you have a girlfriend, Quatre?"
Driana asked.
"N…no." he answered, licking
suddenly dry lips.
"Have you ever had a girlfriend,
Quatre?" she wanted to know.
"No." he replied, realizing
suddenly that he was holding his breath. What was he so nervous about? This was
just Driana. She was beautiful, true, but it wasn't as if he'd never talked to
a girl before. But then, he couldn't recall a girl with eyes that deep shade of
violet, hair so shining and so bright red, so thick and lustrous…
"Quatre, I'll bet you've never really
been kissed, have you?" Driana asked, lifting the hand resting on his back
until it was at the nape of his neck, letting her fingers twine through his
platinum blonde hair.
"No, no I haven't." he replied
swiftly, his eyes wandering down to her full, pink lips before he caught
himself and lifted his gaze to meet hers. He couldn't think right. Driana was
so close, and she smelled so nice. She kept looking at him with her face, her
lips, her eyes. And her hair. It was tumbling down her shoulders and back like
a thick sheen of red silk. His fingers itched to feel that hair, to see if it
could possibly be as soft as it appeared. And he could feel the warmth of her
arm around his neck, her soft fingers twisting through his hair casually,
sending tingling sensations down his spine. He could feel his hands trembling
with the effort not to feel her hair, her skin, her lips.
"I thought as much." Driana
replied, nodding slightly. Her free hand brushed over his hands, stilling their
tremors easily. Her hand rubbed his soothingly, lifting it up to the side of
her face as she smiled encouragement. "If…you want to…you can go
ahead." Driana blushed at her own unease. Smiling nervously, Quatre slid
his hand over her cheek and into her hair. After a bit, he ran his fingers
through her mane, fascinated by the play of the light on her shimmering crimson
length, amazed to find that her hair was even softer than it appeared.
Tentatively, he brought up his other hand and brushed his fingers over Driana's
cheek as Driana closed her eyes. His grin faded as he traced one finger over
her soft, pink lips, causing her to smile slightly.
"Your lips…they're very soft."
Quatre commented. "Like your skin and your hair, but different."
Driana nodded, enjoying the tingle she felt as his hand brushed over the nape
of her neck. Quatre's brow furrowed before he continued. "Driana,
would…would it be all right if…I…if I kissed you?" Driana nodded slightly,
leaning forward in anticipation as Quatre slowly leaned toward her, his eyes
closed as his hand behind her neck pulled her head toward him at the same time.
He could smell the shampoo in her hair, the soap on her skin, and sweet breath
drawing him in.
"Quatre, are you in here? Where did you
put the duct tape? I—" the couple flew apart as Trowa stood frozen at the
door, his lip twitching slightly.
"Oh, ahem, hello Trowa, how are
you?" Driana coughed in the awkward silence.
"Ah, um, the duct tape is in the third
bathroom because of the time Heero broke the mirror." Quatre explained.
Trowa nodded.
"Just…just wanted…duct tape…" he
muttered uneasily as he turned and left. There was a long, awkward pause before
Driana spoke up, standing and blushing in embarrassment.
"I…I'd better go." She told Quatre
before practically flying out of the room. He rose as she left, but he couldn't
make himself follow.
As soon as she was out of the room, Driana
stopped, feeling a powerful urge to turn around. He was still there, she knew,
waiting for her. She had been so close to him. If it hadn't been for Trowa…but
it was too late now. Maybe Quatre would come for her. Suddenly she remembered
two weeks ago, when they had first arrived. Isanu called her prude. She had
said that Driana wouldn't be able to make a move on her brother. "I'll
show her." Driana balled up her fists in determination and turned, dashing
through the still open door, right up to Quatre, who was still standing. His
expression was surprised at her return, and perhaps a bit hopeful. "Quatre?"
she begun.
"Yes?" he asked, his voice as sweet
and innocent as she remembered it. She raised herself on tiptoe, reaching
forward and pulling his head forward until their lips met in a soft, sweet
kiss. Quatre's eyes went wide in surprise before slowly closing as he wrapped
his arms around her waist, unconsciously pulling her against him. Driana felt
her knees go weak. For such an innocent young man, Quatre seemed to be quick to
figure out this business of kissing. Finally, they broke, breathing heavily.
They stood together for a long moment before Driana finally turned to go.
"That…that was…so…" Quatre stumbled
over his words as Driana turned back and smiled foolishly.
"I know." She agreed, feeling a
warm flush color her cheeks. "I think…I need to go get some dinner."
"I'll join you." Quatre followed
her quickly.
----------
Heero entered the dining room as everyone
else sat eating their dinners. He looked around nervously before grabbing a
chair and joining them, doing his best to look inconspicuous.
"Hey, Heero," Duo smiled viciously
at his friend after a while. "Where've you been all day, buddy? No, no,
don't tell me. I can guess. Were you fixing Relena's security system again?
You've been doing that a lot lately. Maybe it's time for an upgrade or
something. You look a little tired, Heero." Duo laughed as Heero glared
daggers at him. "Did you have a little fun with Relena? You know, mix a
little business with pleasure? Like maybe she invited you in and you showed her
your perfect—" Duo was cut off as Isanu thwacked the back of his head
sharply.
"Watch it, Duo. We're at the dinner
table, here." The black-haired young woman scolded him. He rubbed his head
tenderly.
"But sweet—ah, I mean, Isanu, I was just
talking to Heero about his day. And you didn't even get to hear my great joke.
It was gonna be really funny, because he's Mr. Perfect Soldier, you know? You
didn't need to cut off the best part by hitting me so hard." He
complained.
"It was uncalled for and
inappropriate." Isanu countered. "Just eat your food and be good."
"Why should I?" he pouted. Isanu
leaned over, whispering something in his ear. Duo's face lit up. "Oh, okay
then." He turned his complete attention to devouring his food.
"Where's Trowa at?" Heero ventured
the question.
"He wasn't hungry." Wufei explained.
"He said something about not needing a free show, whatever that
means." He shrugged as Quatre and Driana felt their cheeks coloring
slightly.
"So, how long will you two be staying
with us?" Quatre asked, hoping to change the subject so no one would connect
his blushing face with Wufei's comment. He smiled hopefully at Driana and his
sister.
"Probably not more than another week,
unfortunately." Isanu told her brother. Suddenly, her eyes went wide with
fury. "Duo Maxwell! That had better not be your hand on my leg or
you're in for some serious pain!" she slapped at her thigh and Duo pulled
away quickly.
"What?" he shrugged innocently.
Isanu hissed a few words into his ear and Duo's face fell. "Ah man, no
fair." He shoveled his food down dejectedly.
"Ah, yes, about one more week at the
most." Driana spoke up, hoping to switch the subject back to something
safe. Wufei and Heero both looked like hungry wolves, grinning viciously at Duo
and Isanu. "I have a lot of responsibilities to see to, a lot of studying
and a lot of explaining to Sukon." She explained. "I've really been
gone too long already, and three weeks will get me in a lot of trouble with
that man. I'm surprised Sukon hasn't already hunted me down and dragged me out
of here himself."
"Huh, I'd like to see this 'Sukon' try
to get past us." Wufei kept his vicious grin as he made this comment.
Everyone looked at him in surprise. "I…I don't mean that I care at
all if he wants these weak women to leave. I just meant that if he thought of
being disrespectful or forceful toward one of them, I would not allow it."
"Thanks…I guess." Driana smiled at
the odd young man. She wasn't really sure about Wufei. He was difficult to
understand. Nonetheless, he was starting to grow on her.
"It's sad that you must leave so
soon." Quatre spoke up. "We'll all miss you." Duo snorted
incredulously at this and everyone turned to stare at him.
"What did I do now?" he asked
innocently. With that, everyone went back to their meal.
*****
The End (Of Part 5, That Is)
(1) Okay, I know this has no relevance to the
story, but at this point in the typing of said text, I stood up and with a wad
of Kleenex, proceeded to mush the wasp to death. It twitched for an hour and a half, but my roommate was proud of
my bravery
Also, I think you guys should know that I
have a lot of homework right now, so the likelihood of this post-a-day thing
continuing past THIS post are slim to none. But I'll try to get something up on the weekend at least. Maybe I'd post faster if anyone would review
my story. Hint hint.