Seaside Laboratory/Cinq Kingdom Conservatory
The knock at her door made Trynity jump.
"Trynity, are you ready yet?" Sally Po sounded impatient, but then this was the fourth time she had been to her room so it was understandable.
Taking a resigned deep breath, Trynity went to the door. Sally was standing with her back to the door and when it opened, she turned smiling, but it faded when she saw her.
"Where is your comb?" she demanded as she swept into the room. "Why didn't you ask for my help sooner?"
Because Trynity had tried to tame her own hair several times, but the curls wouldn't behave. Besides, what did she know about such things? Now Sally forced her into a chair before a mirror, and armed with hairpins, she attacked the corkscrew mass with a vengeance that almost brought tears to Trynity's eyes.
As Sally worked, Trynity stared at herself in the mirror. She had spent the day in the Shadowhawk finishing repairs and reviewing data. Late in the afternoon, she received a call from the Coalition.
"Miss Stryfe, I am pleased to see you at work!" The commander's black eyes were cold.
"It is dangerous to call," she pointed out. Her systems indicated intense radar sweeps, and Trynity guessed some astute intelligence officer was close to discovering the energy fluctuations that kept her gundam cloaked.
"Don't worry, Miss Stryfe. I happen to know my sub-space communications will go unnoticed." He laughed coolly.
"What do you want? I am busy!" Trynity reached out to close the transmission.
"Your father could tell you better than I." His face remained passive as her father's image appeared on another screen. Two uniformed men were holding him.
"Ah, Trynity!" Ivan Stryfe grinned at her although there was a bruise on his cheek. "You are looking well! Yes, very well!"
"Father! What did they do to you?" Her heart felt as if it were being squeezed.
"Oh, this little mark?" He rubbed the bruise and grimaced. "They didn't…" He didn't finish as his face turned a shade redder.
Trynity clenched her fists. Some stupid accident! Again! "Please be careful, father."
He chuckled for a moment, then sobered. "Trynity, I do want that information about the zero system. I have been very interested in the data from the other gundams, but the last one uses a system similar to the one we put in the Shadowhawk. I would like to know more."
Trynity stared at him without blinking. Was that it? "I will try."
He returned her stare now. They could say so much to each other.
They said nothing.
Trynity looked down at the control panel. Why did she expect more from Ivan Stryfe? His work had always come first, and the only way she could get his attention was to involve herself in that work. Now he had nothing to say to her, no questions about her well being.
"Did you reprogram the defensive systems?" Strike that! thought Trynity bitterly. They could always talk about his only child. And they did, for several minutes, discuss her improvements to the gundam before the Coalition commander abruptly ended the communication with her father. In mid-sentence he disappeared from the screen.
"I expect to hear from you within the next two days."
Trynity sighed now as Sally pinned up the last curl. She had left a few hanging around her face. Trynity barely recognized herself. Between the elegant white gown and the new hairstyle, she did not look like the girl she saw on those rare occasions when she glanced into a mirror.
Looking at Sally, she saw her smiling. "You are beautiful, Trynity Stryfe!" There was surprise in her voice. "Now let's get down to Duo before he leaves without you!"
Trynity had half-expected him to cancel their plans after the trick she had played on them all. The five boys had been forced to clean the dining room when Sally discovered the mess, but she had not spoken to Trynity about it. Trynity concluded that they strangely enough had not revealed her role in it, and it gave her an odd feeling inside.
After a short argument over her glasses in which Trynity was ordered to place them in her handbag, Sally took up the shoulder wrap for her silk and satin floor-length gown, and they took the elevator to the main floor.
Duo was standing with his hands in his pockets. When she stepped from the elevator, his mouth fell open and the flowers he held dropped to his feet.
Trynity must have looked as foolish as he did. She could not help but gape at him. Duo Maxwell could not be more handsome! He was dressed in white except for a black tie.
After a moment of silence, Sally laughed. "I will get my jacket, and we can be off." She handed Trynity's shoulder wrap to Duo who stared at it as if were some hyper-technical device.
They stood without speaking for a moment after Sally had gone, then Duo said," "Hey, we match!"
Trynity had no response. She suspected Prince Miliardo ordered it.
Duo shifted uncomfortably then remarked as he stepped forward with the wrap, "Sally doesn't trust us. She is our chaperone."
There was no stopping her blush. Duo didn't seem to notice as he draped the wrap over her shoulder. When he came to stand in front of her, Trynity looked up at his eyes and she was lost. Duo raised his hand to tuck back a curl that had already escaped its confinement. Trynity felt herself swaying toward him.
"Now we are ready!" Sally walked into the room, and Trynity snapped upright. Sally came to them, and without a word, she removed Trynity's wrap, turned it right side out, and raised a brow at Duo as she replaced it on Trynity's shoulders.
The ride to the ballroom could not have been more uncomfortable. Trynity's nerves wound tighter and tighter the closer they came to the Cinq Kingdom Conservatory where the Stardust Ball was being held. Duo stared out the window, and Trynity followed his gaze to the moon. Sally was doing something on her computer. Although she was dressed formally, she had cleverly hooked a microphone to her necklace and had a plug in her ear to receive messages. But tonight Trynity was too distracted to wonder what exactly were Sally Po's duties for the Cinq Kingdom.
The limousine finally came to a stop, and Trynity did not wait for anyone to help her out. When the driver opened the door, she bolted out, tangling in the long skirt of her gown and almost colliding with Wufei before she righted herself. He looked at her with surprise. Her foolishness drew the glances of others headed into the Cinq Kingdom Conservatory.
Duo was suddenly at her side, his hand on her elbow to help her gain her balance. He was looking at Wufei. "So, what do you think, Chang Wufei?"
Wufei raised a brow as he appraised Trynity, then replied, "Appearances can be deceiving." With that sharply delivered comment, he presented his arm to Sally Po.
The car drove away to make way for another and Trynity was left with Duo Maxwell. Despite the many well-dressed young men and women, Trynity felt as if she were alone with him. This was crazy! She had better things to do than try to dance with this buffoon! Instead of making a fool of herself, she should be in the Shadowhawk, soaring the skies in search of her prey.
The music from the ballroom drifted outside through the open doors other young men and women were entering.
Duo held out his arm like a gentleman.
She couldn't keep her gloved hand from trembling as she put it on his arm. But when he started forward, she couldn't move. She was frozen to the spot.
Duo turned toward her. "Are we going in?"
Trynity stared at his tie and then shook her head. A curl fell forward, and she bit her lip to keep back her tears. This was stupid! What was she doing here?
He laid his other hand over hers. "We don't have to go in right away."
"What will Sally Po think?" Was that her silly, quivering voice? Trynity felt an inch taller with a considerable loss of intelligence.
Duo chuckled as he moved them away from the entrance and toward a garden. "Don't worry about Sally. Chang Wufei has that covered."
Trynity hoped Sally wasn't so tasteless to actually be attracted to Wufei.
The doors to the ballroom were open to the garden so they could still hear the music, and Trynity glanced inside to see their elegantly dressed classmates dancing. Her heart hammered as she watched the effortless movement of their feet.
"You really can't dance," guessed Duo, his voice soft and without mockery.
Trynity shook her head. There went another curl. "When and where should I have learned?" she asked bitterly, and almost laughed as she imagined her clumsy father twirling her about. They would have broken their necks tripping over wires and scraps of gundanium.
Duo chuckled and led her onto the sidewalk that curved as it meandered through the tree-shrouded Conservatory Park. They came to huge willow tree standing near a pond, and he stopped. The moon was full and bright, and its reflection shimmered on the water. For a moment, they both looked up at the moon.
"Do you miss space?" he asked quietly.
Trynity looked at Duo and saw that he was as homesick as she was. "The moon is a small dot from L10," she told him, leaving out the statistical data of the exact distance. "When I looked out my window, I saw Mars."
"I see Venus."
He was looking at her.
Trynity could not help but laugh. "Is that one of Quatre Raberba Winner's lines?"
Duo grinned. "I will let him use it." He put his hands on her shoulders and turned her to face her. "I did not fail dance class last semester. I got a sixty percent on the final test!"
Quite the recommendation, thought Trynity.
"Now, I will take your hand like so." He took one of her hands in his and raised it. "Put your hand on my shoulder."
Trynity was nervous about doing so, but she gritted her teeth and laid her gloved hand on his shoulder. Her heart was beating so fast in her chest that she thought she would faint. When Duo put his hand on her waist, she almost jumped.
"Hey! I won't bite!" he teased. "At least not right now." And he grinned wickedly.
Trynity didn't want to speculate what he meant by that!
"Now, just move your feet and body with me."
The first try, she stumbled, and the second, he stepped on her feet and they both laughed. They didn't seem destined to dance together until halfway through the seventh try. Then Duo was sweeping her around on the dewy grass, and she felt as if she were floating in his arms.
As he swung her around and around to the music, Trynity dropped her head back and smiled up at the moon. She had died and gone to heaven.
But he suddenly stopped and she came up against him. No, Trynity decided as she looked up at his face, that this was heaven. He was looking into her eyes, and Trynity returned his gaze with a smile. He made a strange sound and leaned forward. She closed her eyes as his lips touched hers.
This was heaven!
Trynity ceased to think as he kissed her, and when he released her, she was dazed. She would have fallen had he not kept an arm around her waist.
"Is that part of dancing?" she heard herself ask breathlessly.
"Only with you, Trynity Stryfe." He reached into the inside pocket of his jacket. "I have gift for you." He took her hand and dropped in it a gold chain with a small charm.
Trynity stared at it for a moment. No one had ever given her a gift! She hardly dared touch it, but he was waiting, so she lifted the chain and dangled the charm to see it by the light of the moon. It appeared to be golden scythe. Her brows drew together in confusion, and then she remembered his sad attempt at poetry for Mrs. Drivel's class.
She glanced at him. "Mr. Maxwell, just what do you know about reaping?"
Duo took the necklace and went behind her. When he had finished clasping it around her neck, she reached up to touch the scythe.
He put his hands on her shoulders and turned her gently around. "You might be surprised, Miss Stryfe."
Trynity swayed into his arms, and Duo was kissing her again. She didn't care about the dance or the mission. She wanted to stay here in the moonlight in Duo Maxwell's embrace.
"Duo!" They both heard Quatre's call and moved apart.
"Duo! Trynity!" This time it was Heero's voice from a different direction.
Suddenly Trowa appeared from the dark. "Over here!"
The other two as well as a disgruntled Wufei appeared.
"Sally noticed that you two didn't follow us in," stated Wufei, his glare accusing them of spoiling his evening.
"So she sent us on a mission," said Heero.
"Mission accomplished," giggled Quatre and he looked from Duo to Trynity. Trynity was embarrassed by the knowing lift to his brows.
But Duo took her hand and squeezed it. She was surprised the small gesture had the power to reassure her. "I was giving Miss Stryfe a dance lesson."
"Failed dance class as well as cooking?" asked Heero with a frown. But there was amusement in his eyes, and she saw the others viewing her with the same camaraderie.
There was a strange feeling in her heart as they looked at her. And she realized she belonged, that they accepted her. Trynity had found a home.
Trynity smiled at the group, and suddenly their smiles faded and their faces became foolish. They looked dazed. What was their problem now?
Duo frowned at them, then put his arm around Trynity's waist. "We are going in so Sally doesn't have to send out an Aries reconnaissance force to look for us."
The pack followed them silently, and Duo held Trynity closer to him. Did she have to smile at them? Damn! He wanted to keep her smiles to himself. Now the secret was out!
When they stepped inside the ballroom, he immediately swept Trynity into a dance. After an initial stutter step, they flowed together with the music. Duo didn't like to dance, didn't do it very well. One of Hilde's complaints was that he refused to dance with her, and if she ever did get him on the dance floor, she regretted it later as she soaked her sore feet. But with Trynity, he felt as if he were dancing on air. There were no disapproving, annoyed frowns on her face. She was smiling up at him as they went around and around, and the happiness on her beautiful face made the rest of the room fade away. They were dancing alone on a cloud.
Suddenly he felt a tap on his shoulder, and Duo turned to see Trowa waiting politely for him to surrender Trynity. It was always the quiet ones! Duo had no choice but to step aside, but he muttered to Trowa, "Beware the god of death."
Trowa took his place, and Duo watched a moment to be sure he wasn't dancing too close, then drifted away to find the punchbowl. He was thirsty, and Trynity would be too after all the dancing - and the kissing. Duo couldn't wait to get back to the latter. He had never felt like that when he kissed Hilde.
When he reached the punch, Duo glanced around the ballroom. He spied Relena and Heero dancing and chuckled to himself. There was nothing funnier than watching Heero Yuy caving to Relena Peacecraft. Nothing, maybe, except seeing Quatre dance with Hilde. Dorothy was cutting in. Poor Hilde! Poor Quatre! Dorothy was leading.
Poor Hilde looked at him after being released by Quatre. Sighing, Duo set aside the punch he had poured and made his way to his ex-girlfriend. Just for tonight he would be chivalrous.
As they danced, she smiled at him gratefully. "Thank you, Duo," she said, then added, "Where did you learn to dance so well?"
Duo chuckled. "Miss Stryfe taught me."
They danced in silence for a moment, then Hilde said, "I forgive you Duo."
He wasn't paying attention to her. He saw that Trowa was a little too close to Trynity. Perhaps he needed to reacquaint him with his fist.
"Duo?"
Duo looked at Hilde. She was batting her long lashes at him. What the hell did she want now? "What did you say?"
"I said that I forgive you."
After a moment, understanding dawned on him. "What about Quatre?"
"He belongs to Dorothy Catalonia," she said. "And he's not worth losing blood over." She moved closer to Duo. "I know what we can do after the dance tonight."
"I am escorting Trynity," he reminded her.
"Sally can take her home."
Duo wanted to dump Hilde in the punch bowl they now sailed past. "I am taking Trynity home."
"Go ahead then. But I can pick you up later." She was looking intensely at him. "Remember, Duo? You, me and a blanket under the stars."
"In your dreams, Hilde." He suddenly released her and she stumbled into Quatre and Dorothy. As Dorothy swore, Duo walked away chuckling.
When the music came to an end, he got to Trynity with the punch. Trowa suddenly had Catherine attached to him, so Duo thought he might give Trowa a reprieve from his knuckles.
Trynity barely finished the punch before the music began again. Duo turned to set aside their empty crystal cups, and when he turned back, Trynity was gone. He saw her dancing already with Quatre. That meant Hilde was on the loose, but she was no where in sight.
"Duo Maxwell."
He turned to see Dorothy glaring at him. His knees began to quake. "Dorothy Catalonia."
She held out her hand.
He wished he had a beam scythe.
Dorothy's smile was anything but pleasing. "Do I see the god of death trembling like a newborn kitten?"
"Yes!"
She seized his hand, and a slight altercation ensued as they fought for control, but Duo wasn't about to be lead around the dance floor by this wicked witch. He finally managed to subdue her, and forced her to dance with him in the lead.
Dorothy snarled.
Duo growled back at her and squeezed her waist. Hard. That would teach her! Duo Maxwell was not in the same league as Quatre Raberba Winner.
"OOOOhh!" Dorothy smiled wickedly. "The god of death is stronger than I thought!"
My God, she was frightening! But Duo forced himself to glare at her. To his disgust, she began to soften before his eyes until he could actually hear her purring. He had to get away. Now!
He looked away to see Trynity dancing with Chang Wufei. Wufei?! Were they now in some alternate universe? She was laughing at something he said! Wufei dipped her to the music!
Dorothy followed his gaze and tried to dip Duo. They ended up on the floor in an embarrassing tangle. Quatre ditched Hilde to run to Dorothy's rescue, but she chased him off with a hiss. Duo tried to escape, but Dorothy seized his braid and jerked him back.
"Dance with me Duo Maxwell!"
"Dorothy!" whined Quatre.
Hilde stood by, tears in her eyes, her fists clenched as she sobbed.
Duo was saved from Dorothy Catalonia when Sally Po suddenly danced to a stop before them, and they were all treated to a scowl from her partner, Zechs Merquise.
"What is going on here?" demanded the prince. He was pissed, thought Duo.
Dorothy released Duo and stepped away.
Sally sighed. "Duo, I can see now why I get so many calls from …Duo?"
Duo had ducked into the dancers, weaving this way and that until he came to a stop before Trynity and Wufei. He did not like the way Wufei was looking at Trynity Stryfe!
He reached out to tap Wufei on the shoulder, but the music came to an end. Wufei seemed surprised to see him hovering over them.
Before Duo could do something that would embarrass them all, Trynity put a hand on his arm. "Where is that punch?"
Duo looked at Wufei. "Get us some punch."
Wufei hesitated, but then Trynity smiled at him, and Wufei turned and left.
"Nice trick," commented Duo as he watched Wufei make a direct route to the punch bowl. He turned back to Trynity with his most charming smile as the music began again.
Unfortunately it was wasted on Relena Peacecraft. "Wipe that stupid grin off your face!"
Duo looked past Relena to see Trynity dancing with Heero. Damn! If he didn't dance with her soon, he was going back to the lab for Deathscythe to clear a path to his own date.
Relena was glaring at him, so with a sound of disgust, he drew her into a dance.
"This is your fault!" she complained. "Heero Yuy is supposed to be dancing with me, Trynity Stryfe with you."
Duo was as annoyed as Relena. He tried to keep an eye on Heero and Trynity as he danced with the princess. Heero spun Trynity and pulled her against him.
"He's a dead man!" muttered Duo.
"I get first crack at him!" added Relena.
Duo grinned at her. "Agreed!" There wouldn't be much left after she finished with Heero.
After a moment, she smiled at him. "You certainly look charming tonight!"
Duo lost track of Trynity and Heero. He noticed Wufei standing with two cups of punch and snorted with laughter. Relena laughed too.
"Where's Heero?" he asked. Relena had her own personal radar, so why should he bother straining his eyes to find him and Trynity?
"Who cares?" She was giving him a smile that made the contents of his stomach curdle. Relena suddenly flung herself against him, and he almost stumbled. "I never noticed how romantic you could be!"
"Who? Me?" Her arms were around his neck.
"Yes, Duo Maxwell, you!" She was stretching to kiss him. He leaned his head back away from her puckered lips. They were struggling.
Fortunately he felt a tap on his shoulder.
"Thank God! Get this wench off me!" But he turned and had to raise his head upwards before he was looking at the very annoyed face of Miliardo Peacecraft.
Duo got away fast.
"Duo! Duo Maxwell!" He heard Relena call after him.
He was stuck in another dimension.
**********
"Would you care for something to drink?"
Noin looked at Benton. "A glass of wine, thank you."
Her escort for the evening walked away, but she wasn't alone long before Sally Po came to stand beside her. "So here you are. Benton has been keeping you busy. How are you doing?"
Noin smiled at her friend. "Holding up very well although my plans have been shot to hell."
Sally laughed. "I see Zechs dancing with his sister."
"Yes, I believe he is scolding her. I noticed her inappropriate behavior with Duo Maxwell." Noin laughed. "Poor Duo."
"Duo can take care of himself," commented Sally. She was watching the dancers. "Does Miliardo know?"
"About what?" Noin knew exactly what she was asking but pretended otherwise.
"A certain iron maiden."
Noin looked at Sally. "Is it at Seaside already?"
Sally nodded.
Noin sought Miliardo in the crowd of dancers. He was difficult to miss as his platinum blond head was above all others. He was a king among men. She sighed. Lady Une had been monopolizing him all evening. Roxie Rivera was no wallflower, but she was tired of faceless young men falling over themselves to get the prince's leftover. Even sweet Benton was becoming tedious. Noin wanted to be in Miliardo's arms, moving with him to the music, but every time he started to approach her, some other woman, usually the vice-minister, stepped in his path.
"Having a good time, Miss Rivera?"
Noin didn't have to look to recognize Lady Une's voice. As she turned to look at her, Noin caught a sympathetic smile from Sally Po. "I am," she lied.
Lady Une held out her hand. "We have not been formally introduced. I am Vice-Minister Lady Une."
Noin did not take her hand. She took malicious pleasure that Lady Une did not recognize her. Benton arrived with the wine, so Noin took a sip and continued to stare directly at her.
The other woman stared back.
Benton cleared his throat. "Vice Minister, may I have the honor of dancing with you?"
She looked at his outstretched hand, then raised a brow at him. "I don't settle for second best." Her contemptuous gaze slid to Noin, then came to rest on the frowning Sally Po. "Miss Po needs a partner."
Although neither wanted to leave, Benton had no choice but to take Sally onto the dance floor. Noin finished her wine and set the glass aside near her handbag.
"Those are lovely jewels," commented the vice-minister.
Noin smiled as she reached up to touch the rubies and diamonds at her throat. "They are Peacecraft jewels."
Lady Une re-turned her smile, but hers was false.
"Borrowed for the evening? They are very striking with the gown."
"Thank you," murmured Noin.
"Of course, they will look much better with my darker coloring." Lady Une turned to watch Miliardo Peacecraft dance with his sister. "You might amuse him for now, Roxana Rivera, but he needs more than a witless bimbo to keep him satisfied."
Noin forced herself to laugh. "Some men prefer witless bimbos."
"I suppose Miliardo Peacecraft does have a weakness for such women." Lady Une laughed. "Lucrezia Noin, for example. She was quite promising as a soldier for OZ but her own agenda took precedence over any loyalty to OZ."
Noin was clenching her fists. Her handbag was on the table behind them, and the gun was loaded. She couldn't really shoot Lady Une, but fantasizing about it gave her pleasure.
"And what agenda do you believe Commander Noin had?" she asked calmly.
Lady Une smirked. "You didn't know her, did you? No, I suppose not with her suffocating Prince Miliardo so much that he had no chance to look elsewhere."
Noin congratulated herself on her self-control as Lady Une continued.
"Lucrezia Noin thought she could get Miliardo's attention by throwing herself in front of him and letting him walk on her. She made a fool of herself in her pursuit, but in the end, all she was to him was a subordinate, the babysitter of his sister, the one who would do his dirty work. Perhaps she had attained the status of a dear friend."
The other woman's words hurt her deeply. It was true that Miliardo had never shown her more than gratitude. And it was true that she would do anything for him. She would give her life to protect him and his dreams. But Noin had to believe in her heart that he felt more for her than dear friendship. He had to! She loved him!
Lady Une was smiling at her. "I'm sure a woman like you knows how to take care of herself when the party is over. I will be spending the night at the palace, my dear Miss Rivera. Don't bother waiting up for the prince."
Noin seized her handbag and walked away swearing, and she could hear the vice-minister laughing. Benton tried to talk to her, but she pushed past him and headed to the door to the garden. She needed air. She needed peace. She needed Miliardo.
There were young men and women hiding in the shadows of the park cuddling and kissing. There really should be some chaperones, she thought with annoyance as she kept walking. She did not stop until she could barely hear the music and she was standing at the edge of a pond. She watched the moonlight glimmer on the water, rippling with the gentle breeze. This is what she needed. The music was far away. Lady Une was far away.
"I didn't get a chance to tell you how beautiful you are tonight."
Noin turned to see Miliardo stepping from the shadows. He was wearing white like his wards. She wondered if they had planned it. Of course they had! Everything he did was carefully planned. Even her "death" had been used to his advantage, and Noin had done what he wanted then, sacrificing her dignity so that he could plot and plan in peace while the press had a field day watching her parade around half-naked. What did she get in return?
"Aren't you afraid Lady Une will find us together?" she asked although she had to fight tears. She was a fool!
"She won't find us," he said as he reached her. Even through she was looking through her tears, she saw Benton lurking further back, no doubt standing watch.
Noin turned away. "Go away," she whispered hoarsely.
"I am sorry the night isn't what we expected," he began.
"It's what I should have expected," she whispered, then to him she said, "Go back to Lady Une. She can be useful to your future plans."
"Lucrezia…"
"Go away or I will shoot you!"
Miliardo laughed. "You couldn't shoot me." But he heard the click and his gaze went to the gun she held in her hand, and his laughter died away. "Put that away! What are you doing with a gun?"
"Protection," she said bitterly. "Your protection."
"What has gotten into you, Lucrezia?" He ran a hand through his hair. "This isn't what I had planned for tonight."
"I am sorry I am foiling your plans."
"You should be."
Noin put the gun away. "I don't feel like shooting you tonight. I am going home. I have a headache." She stopped beside him. "Don't worry about me. I know how to take care of myself when the party is over." She looked up at his face. "Be careful with Lady Une. She is a threat to your Cinq Kingdom."
Then she left him behind.
Benton touched her arm when she reached him standing just out of hearing. "Well" he asked expectantly.
Noin reached into her purse and took out the small case. Then turning, she threw it and was pleased to hear it plop in the water of the pond. "Good night, lieutenant. Thank you for bringing me."
Benton saluted her.
**********
"This hair is a mess!"
Trynity was just adjusting her gown in the restroom after finishing with her own hair when she heard Catherine Bloom's voice in the outer power room. "That jerk brought me here on his motorcycle and I haven't been able to do a thing with my hair all evening."
"And to think he's been spending the evening stalking Trynity Stryfe." Trynity recognized Dorothy's voice. Trynity would have felt foolish walking out now as they talked about her, so she stayed put.
"He's just being nice to her!" cried Catherine. "He is not stalking her!"
"I'm sure Sally Po told them all to dance with her." Trynity heard Relena say. "Why else would Wufei dance with her?"
They all giggled. Trynity didn't care what they thought. She was enjoying herself for the first time in her life. Trowa, Heero, Quatre, Wufei and Duo were treating her with more than mere tolerance. They were accepting her.
"Sally didn't say anything!" Trynity heard Quatre's voice. What was he doing in the ladies' powder room? She wasn't surprised though. "Dot, give me some powder. My nose is shiny!"
"Don't call me Dot or I'll twist your arm."
"Ouchies!"
The girls laughed and Trynity smothered her own laughter. She was about to enter the powder room, but she heard the outer door open.
"This ball sucks!" Hilde was obviously upset.
"You should have hung on to your own man instead of trying to steal mine!" snapped Dorothy.
"Shut up, you bitch!"
"Girls!" cried Quatre. "We can work this out!"
"No we can't!" they shouted at the same time.
So much for his garden! Again Trynity reached for the door handle, but she paused when Hilde spoke again. "I never realized Duo could be so polite. He certainly is taking his duty seriously tonight."
What duty? Trynity's hand fell away from the door.
"He had me fooled," commented Relena. "Cinderella is completely clue-less."
"Trynity is wearing a scythe," commented Quatre. "I saw it when we were dancing."
Trynity touched the charm at her throat.
"He never gave you a scythe, Hilde."
"Shut up, Dot!"
Trynity heard a slap.
"Girls!" Quatre again. Seemed the rose and the lily were fighting.
"Sorry Hilde," she heard Dorothy say snidely. "I doubt Duo would find a black eye attractive!"
"So how far is Duo going to carry his duty tonight?" asked Catherine. "I wish he would just take her home."
"She is spoiling my night," agreed Relena.
"Someone should tell Duo to get her out of here," agreed Quatre.
"Jealous?" asked Dorothy.
"Of who? Duo?" Quatre laughed nervously. "Why should I be jealous of him?"
"Because he has guts," stated Dorothy. "I like a man with guts, a strong man who could tame me."
"I never realized that about you, Dot!" Then Quatre screeched in pain.
"So, who is going to tell Duo to dump Cinderella at the lab? I can't stand the sight of Miss Stryfe anymore," said Hilde.
"Rock, paper, scissors," suggested Quatre.
The girls groaned. "This is what got Duo into this mess in the first place," whined Relena.
Unable to stand any more, Trynity pushed the door open and stepped into the powder room. They turned to face her. "What are you talking about?"
There was no response as they stared at her dumbly.
Trynity clenched her fists and gritted her teeth. "What did you mean?" she demanded of Hilde.
Relena answered. "My brother thought you should attend, so I had to find you an escort. It was between Chang Wufei and Duo Maxwell."
Trynity was trembling as she stared at them. "And?" She knew the answer before Hilde gave it.
"Duo lost."
Trynity couldn't believe it! How stupid could anyone be to lose to Chang Wufei? Duo Maxwell stupid, a new low in intelligence!
She shoved past them and marched out of the ladies room. Duo was standing near Trowa, Heero and Wufei who were, of all things, doing rock, paper, scissors! For what? she wondered bitterly as she approached. To see whom had to dance with her next?
Duo grinned at her.
"So," she demanded furiously, "did you lose already?"
The others stopped to look at her. "What do you mean?" asked Duo.
Trynity couldn't stop herself. She slapped his grinning face. "Paper beats rock, you stupid ass!" And she spun to run away. She was trembling with rage. Why were tears rolling down her cheeks? Duo was calling for her, so Trynity ran into the shrouded gardens, then managed to hide behind a tree as he went by.
"Trynity," he called.
When he went further into the park, she returned to the ball. She avoided Trowa, Heero, Wufei and Quatre. The girls were looking at her spitefully. Sally Po asked her what was wrong, but Trynity shoved past her and ran out the front doors. Unlike Cinderella, she didn't leave a shoe behind.
There was only one motorcycle in the parking lot. Trynity hot-wired it with ease and sped away. Catherine owed her some thanks for this. Trynity ditched the motorcycle not far from the cliff where Shadowhawk was resting.
When she was finally seated in the cockpit, she burst into tears and sobbed into her hands. Why did she trust Duo Maxwell? Why did she think any of them would care about her? She wasn't one of them. She was just the unwanted ugly orphan from L10! She wished she were back on the scientific colony. She would never go back to Seaside. Never!
Trynity found some spare clothing and immediately jerked off the dress, tearing it in her anger. She thought about throwing Duo Maxwell's ridiculous gift into the sea, but she thought she would keep it to remind her not to trust anyone! Then Trynity stepped into her space suit. She was going home after this mission. Back to space.