Mobile Fighter G Gundam: Of Roses and Red
Chapter 5: Ball
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Chibodee: Hiya everyone!
DarkDragon: Chib, that's MY line! *holds hammer and threatens to hit Chibodee over the head with it*
Chibodee: *inches away* Oops, hehe.
DarkDragon: *glares at Chibodee* George, you get to do the Disclaimer this time.
George: Yes, mademoiselle DarkDragon. Disclaimer: DarkDragon doesn't own G Gundam or any of the characters in it. She does, however, own Cade, Falk and Gundam Deathscythe.
DarkDragon: *snuggles up close to George* Good job, George.
Chibodee: I thought you liked ME! *Pouts*
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Cade watched as the servants rushed around, trying to get everything done at once. The King had decided to hold a formal dinner--or as otherwise known, a ball. Important nobles and rulers from other countries were going to be there. Cade had never been to a ball before and she was very nervous. She had nothing to wear and she didn't like dresses much. Though people said she looked gorgeous in black, silver and white.
"Cade?" came George's voice from behind her. Cade turned slightly.
"Yes, Frenchie?" Cade asked.
"Are you alright?" George asked. Raymond, who was passing, stopped a couple feet away to listen. Why is George so interested in this girl? he wondered.
"No, not really. I've never been to a ball before, and I have nothing to wear," Cade admitted.
"That's not a problem," George said. He pulled a thin wallet out of his back pocket and pulled some Neo-Francs out of it. "Here."
"George!" Cade exclaimed. "This is way too much!"
"No, keep it. Think of it as athank you gift," Then he walked away.
"Thank you gift?" Cade echoed. "Whatever does he want to thank me for?" Then she shrugged and strode out of the palace. She walked to the closest Jessica McClintock and sorted through all of the dresses. She pulled out a black dress with black elbow-length gloves. The right-hand glove had a picture of a white rose in full bloom. She smiled and tried it on. The top was low-cut and rather formfitting, with long, flaring sleeves. The bottom trailed down her legs, loose but not "fluffy." She tried on the gloves, then twirled around. She curtsied to the mirror. Then, with a smile, Cade went to pay. Next, she stopped at a shoe store and bought high-heeled black sandals. Her next stop was a jewelry shop, where she picked up a set of pearl stud-earrings, a bracelet and choker-like necklace. Finally she walked back to the palace, enjoying the evening breeze.
"Good evening, Miss Malloy," The guard said as he let her in.
"Good evening, sir," Cade answered. She wondered how the guards would know her, but shrugged it off. She went up to her room and to get ready.
***
George sighed and leaned on the terrace rail. He swished the champagne around in his glass before taking a sip. He looked up at his Gundam Rose and again sighed. What had he to fight for if not for his Princess? His country, certainly. But even as he had said that in the last tournament, he knew he was only fighting for Maria-Louise. And now, what did he have? He turned around as he heard the gasp from all of the men and women in the ballroom. What he saw took his breath away. He saw Cade coming down the stairs in a black evening gown, with black gloves. Around her neck she wore a pearl necklace, with matching earrings and bracelet. Her eyes sparked with their own light and her hair glimmered as the light reflected off of it. She had removed her armbands, and a rosy blush spread across her cheeks as the men left their partners for the new lovely lady that had entered the dace hall. She smiled at them. But what he heard her say surprised him.
"And why do you want to dance with me, hm?" she asked. The crowd looked at each other in confusion.
"Because you are the most beautiful woman here, mademoiselle," George heard one man say. Cade shook her head with a grin.
"Go away. Your partners--who wish to dance with you more than I--are waiting. I don't want to dance simply because you think I'm beautiful," She said. Then she pushed through the crowd and into the next room. George watched her with an unmatched curiosity. He left his leaning position at the balcony and followed her. When Cade heard the door shut, she answered without even looking up.
"I don't wish to dance with a man who takes a woman for her beauty," Cade said.
"I am not here to dance," George said in response. Cade turned around in mild surprise.
"I thought you'd be out there dancin', Frenchie," Cade said.
"There is no one to dance with." George answered simply.
"I'm sure many beautiful young ladies would love to dance with their French knight," Cade said, trying to hide her bitterness.
"Yes, but I wouldn't want to dance with them," George said. He gazed off into the distance. "I would dance with Maria-Louise, if she were still here."
"I see," Cade said, her gaze straying to his face. She stared for a while at his profile before she noticed that he was staring back, out of the corner of his eye. Cade blushed a deep crimson and looked away, very embarrassed. It was then that George caught sight of the white rose embroidered on her glove. He took that arm and slipped the glove off, to inspect the rose better. He still couldn't see it, so he moved closer to the light in the room. He smiled as he saw the intricateness of it. As he moved it, the shadows embroidered in seemed to move as well.
"This is a very beautiful rose," George complemented. "Just like you, mon chaton."
Cade blushed, and George turned his head, so she wouldn't see his. Never mind that Cade probably didn't know what he said, he knew and he shouldn't have said it. Cade gently took her glove from him and slipped it on just as the door opened.
"Mademoiselle?" the man asked.
"Yes, sir?" Cade said, taking a seat.
"You said you do not want to dance simply because we think you are beautiful. Then may I get to know you?" he asked.
"Yes, of course," Cade said with a smile. The man sat down next to her and they began to chat.
"My name is Falk Windsor, mademoiselle," The man said.
"I am Cade Malloy, Gundam fighter for Neo-India," Cade answered.
"Gundam fighter?!" Falk exclaimed. "It's a pleasure, miss."
"Call me Cade. Everyone else does," Cade said.
"If you would excuse me, but you do not look Indian." Falk observed.
"I was originally from Neo-America, then my parents and I moved to Neo-India," Cade explained.
"Interesting. Once, I lived in Spain," Falk said.
"Spain! How amazing! Do you know Spanish?" Cade questioned, excited.
"Si, señorita. Porque?" Falk said with a smile.
"Yo hablo Español también." Cade answered. "Pero, yo no hablo Francés."
"That's perfectly fine, señora." Falk assured her. "Most people here speak Inglés."
"So I've graduated from Miss to Misses?" Cade asked with a sly smile.
"Si, señora. You better believe it," Falk said with his own smile.
George watched as they talked, almost like old friends. He sighed sadly, and silently excused himself. He thought Cade didn't notice that he had left, but she had. And as she watched him exit, she saw his eyes glance toward her, down to her rose, and then close. She looked at him sadly as something deep down inside of her stirred, and wished she could dismiss herself and talk to him. But instead she put on her polite face (one she didn't use very often) and continued her talk with Falk.
***
George one again stood staring at his beloved Gundam Rose. He remembered the first time he had met Domon Kasshu, and how he had stood on that same balcony, on a night much like this, while he told Maria-Louise that he would fight for her and his country.
*FLASHBACK*
"Maria-Louise, look." George said to her, turning to his majestic Rose, golden-orange in the sunset.
"Oh!" Maria-Louise gasped.
"I never tire of its beauty." George said, looking up at the great monolith. "It fills me with immense pride, being given the chance to fight aboard this Gundam Rose."
"Would you fight for me?" Maria-Louise had asked.
"Hm?"
"In your battles, you would not fight an affair du muir for my sake?" the Princess asked, concerned her knight would never fight for her sake. "George?" she prompted.
"For you? Yes, of course," George said. Maria's face brightened. "It is also for my country." Maria's face fell. "Yes. Neo-France, the empire that in one point in history shone so brilliantly. The Gundam fight bestows us the opportunity to rekindle honor and dignity. And now it is my duty to bring the championship to this nation." When George turned, he found the Princess gone. "Princess?"
*END FLASHBACK*
He had said he would fight for her and his country. But that was knightly honor, pride in his home nation. He only fought as long as she stayed by his side. He foughtfor her. And again he wondered, in this coming tournament, what--who--did he fight for? He had been very angry when she had staged the kidnapping, and now he believed it was more than just concern for the Princess of Neo-France. But that was past, and though he didn't want to admit it, she was as well.
"I will always be with you, George." Maria-Louise's voice echoed in his head. He downed the champagne in his glass and went inside to get more. There he found Cade dancing with that man, Falk. His thirst left him. George knew the musicians and had memorized their song layout perfectly. Next was a slow song. He placed his empty glass on a table and waited for the dance to end. When it did he walked up to the two, ignoring the jealous glances the other men gave Falk. He walked up to them and politely tapped Falk on the shoulder.
"May I cut in?" he asked nicely. Falk nodded, though you could tell he was disappointed. He left the dance floor went to sit at a table. George looked over Cade once. "You are absolutely stunning," he observed quietly. And another word slipped out before he could stop himself. "Chaton."
"Are we gonna dance or not, Frenchie?" Cade asked, tweaking his long orange-red bangs. You could tell she was embarrassed.
"Of course, chaton," George said with a bow. Cade did a slight curtsy and they held hands. Soon the dance began. The clocktower chimed 1 o'clock as the song continued. Cade was tired. She moved her feet automatically as she leaned her head against George's strong chest. George thanked the darkened lights as they hid the blush that burned his face. When the song ended, he knew for certain by how the other men looked at him that he and Cade looked like a couple--a couple that had known each other for a while.
"Cade?" George whispered in her ear.
"Go 'way. I wanna sleep." Cade murmured, not realizing that she was still on her feet, in a ballroom, in her dress and leaning on George. George reddened further, but picked her up; one arm supporting her shoulders and head, the other under her knees. He could feel each single man's jealous stare in the back of his head as he carried her up the stairs and out of the room. There he carefully walked up to her room, enjoying the feel of Cade's warm body against his. His thoughts came to an abrupt end as he realized just what he was thinking, and hurriedly deposited Cade on her bed, pulling the sheets to her shoulders.
"Good night, chaton." He said, and kissed her on the forehead. Then he slowly, quietly so as not to wake the sleeping girl, closed the door.
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How was that? Good, bad, mediocre? What you want to happen next chap? Gimme your feedback, I wanna know!
"Si, señorita. Porque?" means "Yes, miss. Why?"
"Yo hablo Español también." means "I speak Spanish, too."
"Pero, yo no hablo Francés." means "But, I don't speak French."
"Senora" means "Misses."
"Inglés" means "English"
Avalon Forever: Errr I can't get Dead or Alive. My mom won't let me.
Natalie: Glad you like the story. And I know what you mean. I don't like how some make ML all bitchy and horrid. True, that's only what she deserves (I DO NO supports G/ML, but some fics catch my interest), but it's usually way OOC.
Qui-ti: Congrats on the black belt. And yes, everybody LOVES Chib. Actually, I think more peeps like George, but hey Mesa loves Chib and that's all that matters.
I hope I got all of the Spanish translations correct and the Spanish itself right. Tell me if I didn't, if you would. And "chaton" means "kitten" in French. Just thought you'd like to know.
~*DarkDragon*~