Yeah, so giving up fanfiction for Lent was definitely a bad thing. Don't do it; you'll go insane. Another thing you shouldn't do—eat pickled watermelon ::blech:: Never again will I try something merely because it sounds interesting and "the Russians do it." Just because I'm a Russian major, it does not mean I have to eat what they eat… So yeah, don't do that either. Borscht is killer though! ::yummy yummy yummy::
At any rate…Chapter 6
"So how long do you think it'll take them to realize we left?" Quatre set his cognac on the table beside his chair and leaned back relishing the feeling of the plush cushions surrounding him and happy to have his sore feet propped up. "They were pretty involved in whatever they were discussing."
"Yes, we were." The three figures seated in the room Heero had occupied before joining them in the music room, turned at the new voice with no small amount of guilt and amusement. "So, my question is—why didn't you just tell us we had been spinning around for an hour and it was time to take a break?" Duo lifted his eyebrows, an annoyed but amused look marking his features.
"Well, to be fair," Trowa defended, "I tried to get your attention, but you were so engrossed in your conversation that you never responded."
"Uh huh," Duo crossed his arms, still maintaining his accusatory look and made his way to the liquor cabinet. "Funny how I never heard a thing…" He reached up to the top shelf and pulled down a decanter, using his other hand to pull a snifter from the bottom shelf.
"That's the point, Duo," Wufei leveled an annoyed look of his own at him, "Neither of you heard us."
"Which is really odd," Quatre smiled innocently and picked up his glass, "because I've never known either of you to be so oblivious. I mean usually you are fully aware of your background in terms of every aspect." He took a sip and eyed Duo mischievously from the corner of his eyes. "Perhaps you're losing you touch," he gave Duo another appraising glance, and quirked his eyebrows suggestively, "or maybe you were just distracted?"
Taken aback by the implications of that statement, the hand pouring the drink jerked and a considerable amount spilled onto the surface of the bar, "By what?" Duo reached back into the first shelf and pulled out a washcloth. He mopped the liquor up distractedly and slowly, as though trying to avoid the topic, and refused to look at them as he did so. The other three stared at his back dumbfounded. They looked at each other with no small amount of confusion, the same question written in their eyes. Quatre had meant the remark as a joke; he was supposed to have shot back a smart comment of his own. In truth, their preoccupation was understandable. They had been the closest of friends during the war, but since the end, they had had no contact for almost six years. It only seemed natural that they would be distracted by their reunion. They certainly had not expected this reaction.
"Um… Duo? Are you trying to remove the stain from the wood, because I assure there's a much easier way to do so."
The hand abruptly stilled, and Duo tossed the cloth into the shelf. "Sorry. Lost in thought." He gave a small chuckle and turned back around. They noted with no small amount of relief that he was somewhat more at ease. Though, the whole episode still confused them, they decided to drop it. Having an aloof Heero was enough, but to add Duo to that group would definitely be too much. A withdrawn Duo was by far harder to deal with. The unanimous, unspoken agreement was to let it drop. So they did. Wufei resumed his reading, and Quatre continued to work over the puzzle he and Trowa had spread out on the table in the center of the room. But he stopped after a few seconds and turned back to Duo, a question written on his face.
"By the way," Duo lifted his eyes, an indication for him to proceed, "where is Heero?"
"He said he had to make a phone call or something. He said he'd be back." Duo waved his hand toward the door and shrugged, "And no, I don't know who or why?" He gave Quatre a sly grin, "Nor is it any of your business." He turned back around and picked up the snifter. Lifting it, he swirled the liquid around a bit and sniffed it before taking sip. He choked, a deep, guttural sound emitting form the back of his throat. He clapped and hand to his chest and tried to remember how to make his lungs work. When he was sure he'd regained the function, he held the glass up and sniffed it again. He grimaced and gave an exaggerated shudder, "Jesus, this is terrible. How does he drink this stuff?"
"A gulp at a time."
"You drink this in gulps?! Are you insane?" Duo gaped at him, as Heero strode through the room and took the snifter from his grasp.
"No. Are you?" He quirked his brows and turned around, walking past Wufei who was seated on the sofa, grabbing the book from his hands as he did so, and sat down on the cushions next to him. He spared a brief glance at Wufei's outraged expression, before he opened it, "It is mine, and I was reading it." He turned a page and started reading.
"What do you mean, am I insane? I'm not the one who drinks that… that… that," he gestured emphatically at Heero's glass, "in gulps!" He folded his arms over his chest and glared, daring Heero to contradict him.
"It's called brandy," he turned another page. "And you drink vodka straight. I think that qualifies."
"Yeah, well if the blasted commies[i] can do it, then so can I, damn it."
"Duo," Quatre looked up from the puzzle and gave him a patronizing smile, "They're not communist anymore. That dissolved a long, long time ago." Duo's look asked him exactly how stupid Quatre thought he was. Quatre chose not to answer that one, anticipating that he wouldn't like the answer.
"Anyway, commies and alcohol aside, what are we doing tonight. Are we doing anything? Or were you just holding us hostage here until the gala?"
"Duo, I told you, you don't have to go if you don't want to. If you're that set against it, just leave with Heero. I'm sure he wouldn't mind making a quick stop to drop you off wherever the hell it is you're staying."
"Calm down. I was just kidding. Besides, why would I want to go back any earlier. I have two papers, an exam, and a presentation waiting for me. I'll stay as long as I possibly can." He paused for dramatic effect and grinned, "Even if it means having to go to some stuffy, boring gala."
Quatre's glare could have melted ice, but before he could turn the full force of it onto Duo, Wufei interrupted, "Duo, you have been here almost two weeks, and you are planning on staying for a third, right?" Duo nodded slowly, his face showing his curiosity about the direction Wufei was going, "so how is it that you are allowed to miss all these classes? I can't imagine that you just happened to hit upon a three week break at the same time that Quatre planned for this."
Duo grinned widely, flipping a glass from its place on the bar, and rolling it around in his hands. Quatre winced and he detected a hint of trepidation in Trowa's eyes. "It's funny you ask that, because you're right. I didn't coincidently have a three week break pop up in the middle of the month." He tossed the crystal glass into the air, noticing with satisfaction how both men flinched. "My professors were nice enough to grant me the time off, with the condition of the papers, the presentation, and the exam I had coming anyway." He shrugged and set the glass back down, much to Quatre and Trowa's relief.
Wufei blinked at him, "They just let you go for three weeks."
Duo shrugged, "Yeah well, when you're three or four years younger than every one else in your class and you do better every time, you get to enjoy some perks."
"You're smarter than the professors and you never fail to let them know that." Heero spoke without looking up from his book.
If it were possible, Duo's grin widened, and he nodded. "You know me to well, buddy." Heero snorted. Duo shook his head, "Anyway, they couldn't have been happier to be rid of me." He picked the glass up again; Trowa sucked in a wary breath. Duo raised an eyebrow, "Relax; I'm getting a drink." He was silent a moment as he pulled down the Smirnoff and poured himself a liberal amount. Trowa watched him like a hawk the entire time. "Hey someone turn on the TV, let's get some sound it here."
One of them just so happened to be in possession of the remote control, so within seconds of his request, the screen had flashed on. The screen immediately filled with quick-paced motion as the people on it moved quickly about, speaking loudly. Questions were being thrown out one after another; most overlapping the one preceding it. It was clearly a news report, and the press was obviously impatient for whoever they were waiting for to appear. Moments later, the figure did, but it was a few more seconds before he could be seen clearly through all the bodies crowding the cameras. "Hey, look. It's Relena." Duo turned to Heero, "Why are they bothering her with such fervor. Has she done anything particularly important recently."
Heero stared stonily at the screen, "No."
"Then why are they making such a big deal. I mean, I know she's the Vice Foreign Minister and all, but they've never cared about her this much." He paused in thought. Abruptly he jerked his head back to Heero, struck by realization, "Unless it somehow pertains to you."
Heero didn't comment. His gaze remained riveted on the screen, disgust clearly visible in his eyes. They all watched the screen, half-listening to the questions being hurled out. Duo was right, the questions were about Heero. More specifically, they were about his relationship with her, why he wasn't with her now, and why he hadn't been since the beginning of the week. "Are they really that consumed with the whole deal? I'd have thought that your continued silence would have put them down." Quatre shook his head at the reporters on the screen.
Wufei snorted, "It does not seem to matter what he does or does not say. Relena continually refuels their convictions whenever she speaks." He glared at the woman on the screen, willing her to spontaneously combust.
"Can't you just make it absolutely clear to them and her that the idea is unappealing to you?" Duo swirled the clear liquid around in his glass, watching the tiny whirlpool that formed in the center.
"If they have not gotten the idea by now, they are never going to," Wufei could not keep the disdain from his voice. "They are hungry for something exciting. The potential, yet questionable, union between Heero and Relena fulfills that need."
"Still isn't there anyway to get them to wake up to the reality? I mean at some point they're going to have to come to the realization that he's never going to propose, right? She can only keep passing it off as being in the negotiating process for so long."
"The real question you should be asking," Trowa cut in, watching Heero closely, "is whether or not he wants it to happen." He turned away and looked at each of the others in turn, "You're assuming he doesn't" The observation caught them by surprise, and they all turned to stare at Heero expectantly. They didn't even try to hide their hope that their assumptions were correct. "Heero?"
Heero watched the screen a few seconds longer before pulling his gaze away. "Shut if off, Wufei. I can't say I have any interest in what she has to say." That seemed to be answer enough, and all four released breaths they hadn't realized they'd been holding.
"Glad to see you still have some common sense, buddy." Duo downed what was left in his glass and took down the bottle for a refill. "So what are you going to do to get her off your back?"
"Chang, did you ever return my message?" Heero looked away from Duo, seeming to ignore his question, and focused on Wufei, "I haven't seen my office in weeks, so I haven't actually been able to check."
Wufei stared back, an almost horrified expression on his face. "No, I did not. Sally mentioned that you had called a while back, but I was hung up with some lengthy reports, and then I got Quatre's invitation, and everything else went out the window." He paused as he considered Heero's reason for it, "Do you need our help with and upcoming function or something? It is no trouble; I am sure Une would be more than willing to help with the security…."
"No, I just wanted to ask you some questions about how it functions in terms of the officers—if you don't mind."
"I do not mind, but there is not really much to say. I never find myself over loaded with work, and most of it is deskwork anyhow. Any fieldwork is relatively easily, and we usually get through those without a hitch. Vacation benefits are nice—obviously." He looked at him questioningly. "Why? Are you researching the department for Relena? Is she curious about where all that money is going?"
Heero shook his head, "No; I was considering a transfer actually." He noticed the others staring at him with rather perplexed expressions, "What?" They merely shook their heads.
"Would you mind my asking why?"
"That," he gestured towards the now black screen. "I don't want anymore interviews, I'm tired of the damned news coverage, and I sure as hell am not proposing."
"Umm… how exactly would that help?" Quatre placed another piece and turned back to the conversation.
"They believe I'm her body guard because I want an excuse to be near her—with her." He snorted in derision, "It never actually occurs to them that it's what I'm paid to do."
Duo snickered into his glass, "How sweet. You're quite the romantic there, aren't you, Heero."
"Hopelessly so I'm afraid," he smirked. He once again noticed the bewildered expressions on the other's faces. "What?" They just shook their heads again.
Quatre twirled a puzzle piece between two fingers, watching the colors blend and mesh in the cycle, "I know you've never been one to run away from a problem without actually having confronted it. And I know this is going to sound insulting, but I have to ask anyway." He stopped the motion of the puzzle piece and looked back up at Heero, "Have you ever considered the word 'no'?"
"'Not a chance in hell', 'who the hell are you', 'leave me alone', 'why do you care', 'I'm not interested', 'get out of my face', 'this is harassment', 'I don't care what you think', and 'no'." Heero ticked them off, a frown marring his forehead as he considered how often they hadn't worked.
Quatre sighed in defeat, "I thought as much. I'm sorry, Heero."
"Of course, pulling a gun on them works. It's more effective at any rate. Granted I now have two citations, five warnings, and about seven restraining orders—but at least those ones leave me alone." Duo laughed into his glass, choking on the clear liquid, and nearly spilling it in the process. Trowa smirked, Quatre blinked at him, and Wufei nodded in satisfaction. Apparently they all approved of his methods.
"Have you ever tried telling Relena 'no'?"
The look he shot him told Wufei exactly what Heero thought of that question, "Who do you think I said 'not a chance in hell to'?"
"So now you are just going to run away from it?"
"No," Heero's glare returned, "I told you; part of the problem with all the hype is that I am her body guard, and that somehow means that I want to spend the rest of my life with her." He sighed and closed the book; he was not going to get back to it anytime soon. "I'm hoping that a transfer to the Preventers will at least give the reporters a hint." He shrugged, "If not, then I'll just try something else. She'll have to realize that I'm serious sooner or later." He eyed Wufei's dubious expression in annoyance. "However, removing attention from the proposal is not my only reason for seeking a transfer. I truly am tired of politics and evening wear." He paused and flicked a brief glance towards Duo, "Being here has confirmed that. Somehow I had imaged being her bodyguard involving just that, guarding. I never intended to play escort."
"So you need a change of pace."
He looked up at Duo, "Yes."
Wufei rolled his eyes, "Well, why didn't you just say that?"
"I didn't know that's what I was trying to say."
"Oh…"
"Well," Duo slammed the glass down on the bar and stepped away, "Now that we have all that straightened out, let's go do something. I'm up for a walk around the city, what say you guys." They all exchanged glances, trying to find any traces of disagreement. "I thought so. Trowa or Wufei has to drive; Quatre, Heero, and I are kinda inebriated…" The house was empty within ten minutes.
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So? Am I forgiven, yet? I know it took me so long to get this chapter out, and I'm really sorry. But was it worth the wait?
I'm not sure, they seem a little out of character to me, but maybe I'm just too harsh. I don't know. ::shrug::
Feel free to chew me out all you want—I deserve it for taking so long. And any and all criticism is welcome.
And remember—don't eat picked watermelon. Bad things can happen…
Rykaine
[i] I know they're not still communist. It's a joke amongst my small circle of friends because I'm a Russian major. My name for the rest of my college career is Commie. Can't say I'm too proud of it, but hey, you just gotta work with it right. And if you were wondering—yes, that's precisely why Duo drinks Vodka.