"What do you have?"
The blonde turned and glanced across the room, his lips barely touched by a mischievous smile. He didn't move from his place on the floor and turned away from her, shielding whatever he was holding in front of him from any further inspection with his light gray trench coat.
Noin cocked her head and swiped at her dark hair, her curiosity growing. She started across the room. "Zechs, really..."
Just then the bundle he'd been trying to conceal from her fell out of his grip with boneless grace, still chewing on his lapels. It turned in what would be considered physically improbable for any other creature, eyed Noin, and let go of Zechs's coat in order to charge toward her, tail wagging ferociously.
Noin stooped and scooped it up, smiling a bit at its enthusiastic affections. "Zechs," she looked at him closely as he stood up and came closer, "when did you get a puppy?"
He reached out and scratched it- no, her, Noin noticed- behind the ears and was rewarded by more vigorous tail wagging. "I'm just the baby-sitter for the afternoon. Lady Une will bring Mariemaia back later on this afternoon."
The roly-poly little husky puppy wriggled out of Noin's arms and came close to plunging headlong into the floor; then, unshaken by her near free-fall, she flopped down on Zechs's favorite pair of shoes and began gnawing.
Eyeing the dog carefully, he continued, "Relena said she'd take care of him but she got called away by some delegation. We were visiting anyway, so I said that we could handle it. And besides," he added as he saved his shoes and lifted the gray and white fur ball up for inspection, "she has my eyes." Two pairs of ice-blue eyes regarded her for a moment, before one pair and its accompanying mouth turned and applied itself happily to thick strands of near-white mane.
"Does she have a name?" She sat down on the couch with a smirk. She had a growing feeling that this afternoon was going to be quite interesting, and made no effort to try to help disentangle fur and teeth from Zechs's beloved mass of hair.
He growled softly and his face contorted. "Rosalinda..." sharp, hissing intake of breath, "...or Rosie." Noin heard a few soft growls- whether from Zechs or from the dog she didn't know- and watched the blonde pilot almost magically produce the husky out from under sheets of hair and dump her unceremoniously on the floor
Lightning Baron versus energetic puppy, Noin mused, still smirking. Rosie began playing tug-of-war with Zechs's pant leg. I have a lot of faith in you, Zechs, but I think you're out-classed and out-maneuvered this time. She watched them both run into the next room, then sighed and stood up. Well, it's just one afternoon. How much trouble can happen in one afternoon?
She finally located them in the kitchen, where Rosie was chasing her silver engraved bowl around the slick linoleum trying to eat and Zechs was perched on the countertop. She tilted her head and smiled. "She's too much for you."
"Nonsense." He frowned first at Noin, then at Rosie, who was now leaping enthusiastically for the feet that dangled temptingly from the countertop above her. "I capably handled Treize, and survived multiple run-ins with Heero Yuy just fine, and I don't think this little ball of fluff even comes close to that level of destructiveness and focus... OW! Don't you have some toys of your own to play with and chew on?"
Rosie yawned, shook herself, and wandered out of the kitchen.
"See?" Zechs raised brows at Noin who merely shrugged at him. She was so far succeeding in not laughing at him- albeit barely. "Just have to talk to them, that's all."
Noin glanced into the next room and came close to losing that small margin of control. "Well, um, Zechs," she cleared her throat and stood poised with one hand covering her widening grin, "you, uh, might want to capably handle finding some paper towels and carpet cleaner, and go and capably clean the mess out of the Lady's beloved navy shag carpeting."
Platinum blonde brows snapped down, and he grabbed a roll of paper towels and a spray bottle and headed into the next room, shooting Noin a tight-lipped look as he pushed past her.
"I'll get the leash and take her out for a walk," she volunteered, and stepped out into the foray. Rosie scampered around her feet, wriggling with excitement and sliding clumsily on the linoleum. She clipped the leash on, and smiled softly at the bowed head with its streamers of silken hair dripping toward the carpet in the next room. "You can catch up with us when you're done."
She stepped out into the bright sunshine, and began walking, noting the comfortable expressions on the people's faces. It's refreshing to be on Earth again, and to see the happy and contented expressions on people's faces. She stopped and stretched out, then began to jog. Rosie followed in a perfect heel along side Noin, her vaccination and ID tags jingling to their rhythm. There was something about this that pleased Noin greatly; she smiled at people she didn't know and kept her breathing steady to the percussion of her footfalls and the jangling time of free-swinging dog tags.
Sometime later, she noticed that the tags weren't quite keeping the time that they were earlier and glanced down. Rosie had fallen a bit behind, but was doggedly determined to keep up. "'S'ok," Noin said and slowed down to a walk again, "there's a park just a little further if I remember correctly." She paused and looked down at the adoring furry face. "And you have no idea what I am saying, so why am I talking to you?"
Noin's memory had served her correctly, and they got to the park within a few minutes. The only water was available from fountains, so she held the puppy up to the spigot and depressed the button with her hip. Rosie snorted water out of her nose and shook her head, then tentatively began lapping some up. She set her down and leaned over to take a drink herself, when a voice declared happily near her ear: --
"Well, if it ain't our good friend, the ex-Lieutenant Noin!"
Noin jerked back with a startled expression just in time to see a glimpse of black, braid, and dancing eyes bellow, "QUATRE! COME AND SEE WHAT I FOUND!" She winced.
"It's nice to see you again, too, Duo." She leaned back against the fountain. "I don't recall you shouting in my ears any of the last times we met, so I'm assuming you are glad to see me. What are you doing on Earth?"
It's always nice to run into familiar faces." He grinned broadly. "And I'm just here on a sort of vacation. Hilde's taking care of the salvaging, so I thought I took some free time to visit Quatre, and since he was coming to Earth... voila! Here be Duo!" He gestured grandly, then turned, flailing Noin with the thick length of chestnut braid. "QUAT... oh, hi," he finished lamely as the Arabian pilot jogged up.
"Miss Noin! How are things going on the moon?" He hugged her quickly and smiled, then cocked his head quizzically and stooped to pet Rosie, who basked in the attention.
"Things are going well, but we wanted to discuss a few ideas with the head committee and thought we could argue our case better in person. I was also looking forward to seeing Relena again- and Zechs was too." She smiled down at the younger blonde and the excited puppy. "And the dog isn't mine. She's Mariemaia's and her name is Rosie, and Zechs thought it'd be a good idea for us to watch her this afternoon while Lady Une took Mariemaia out for some appointments and shopping. Speaking of Zechs…" she shaded her eyes and glanced around.
"So it's Zechs now?" Duo beamed at Rosie and picked her up out of Quatre's arms, but she wiggled out and returned to the blonde. "Not Preventor Wind or Millardo, but Zechs? He's finally settled out of his identity crisis?"
A hand fell onto his shoulder. "You know, Maxwell," a deep voice said near his ear, "Heero's right. You talk to much for your own good."
Duo nearly leaped out of his skin. "Ack! Zechs... uh, hey, how's it goin'?"
Zechs's lips thinned and his increased his grip on Duo's shoulder a moment before letting go.
Quatre shook his head. "Seems like you two are both doing well, Miss Noin. How long are you going to be staying on Earth?"
"We talk to the committee tomorrow morning, so we should be back in space by mid-afternoon."
"Oh," he sighed, "I wish we could have more time to talk. Sometimes it get so boring and stifling handling papers all the time and sitting in board meetings..."
"And obtaining some free time is a lot harder than obtaining peace," Duo cut in with a rueful laugh.
Noin smiled back politely. "So where's Heero these days? Have either of you seen him? And is Trowa still with the circus?"
"I see Trowa more frequently than Heero..." Quatre eyed the way Rosie wound in circles around Duo's legs, but refrained from commenting. "...since the circus occasionally stops in my colony, and he visits now and again with Catherine when they aren't touring. I've only seen Heero once, and he was with Miss Relena."
"I haven't seen him at all." Duo sighed. "Ya know, all the times I helped him out and I never even got a thank you and he never stops to say hi to his old pal. I guess that's Heero for you."
"If he's with Relena..." Noin paused thoughtfully. "Well, at least she's in good hands."
"Yep, you betcha she is." Duo grinned again and winked. "And it's getting pretty late. Quatre, does this conversation remind you of something?"
"Oh, yeah!" He nodded. "I'm sorry we couldn't talk longer, and I'm sorry you aren't staying longer, or you'd probably get to see Heero."
"Why's that?" Zechs glanced up, eyes gleaming with curiosity.
"We decided to throw a birthday party for Heero!" Duo started to bounce in excitement, then suddenly tripped over the leash wrapped around his ankles.
"Heero has a birthday?" Noin reached to help untangle Duo.
"He does now, because we made one up for him, and Trowa too." Quatre shrugged almost guiltily. "We wanted some kind excuse for a reunion now and again."
"And a party." Duo sprang to his feet again. "But I dunno how good of a party it could possibly be with Heero and Trowa there. One won't talk and the other will be giving us death-glares. I don't know whether Wufei being too busy was a good thing or a bad thing. It's a party for the Unstoppable Force; we really don't need the Immovable Object too, even if it'd be nice to have a complete reunion type thingy."
"You guys can come if you're still here," Quatre said. "I know Miss Relena was very disappointed that she got called away today because she wanted to spend some time with you..."
"Quatre..." Duo pulled out the name like warm taffy and bounced.
"...and this way she could see you for a little while at least. We'll be in this park tomorrow at one in the afternoon."
"Quatre...."
"I do hope you can make it."
"Quatre..."
"We'll see if we can." Zechs nodded and wrapped an arm around Noin's waist and escorted her off.
She glanced up with a startled expression, but let herself be escorted. What...?"
"If I didn't get away from that inane braided wonder," he growled softly, grinding his teeth, "I was going to have to hurt him."
Quatre turned to Duo with a smile. "They really are so nice together. I wonder if they're..."
"I don't care!" Duo grabbed the blonde's arm and dragged him back onto the sideway. "We gotta find a present for Heero before tomorrow, and it's gotta be something good!"
Quatre shuddered to think of what Duo's idea of a "good" present for Heero might be.
They passed a few shops and Duo walked with his head permanently tilted upward to read the signs aloud for Quatre's approval whether or not to go in to look.
"Aunt Betty's Antiques."
"No."
"The Perfect Cut Hair Care-- hey, I could use some..."
"No."
Duo pouted and pulled fitfully on his braid.
"The Complete Gun Shop."
"NO!"
"Sweet Delights Candy and Bakery. Hmm... do we have a cake?"
"Trowa said he'd take care of it."
"Bunkle, Bunkle and Smith."
"No."
Duo stopped with a smirk in front of a large sandwich board outside of the next shop. He glanced inside, then back at Quatre. "Q, my dear compatriot, I think I have an idea. I have been... inspired."
"Do you really think that's a good idea?" He tilted his head. "I never thought that Heero would- er, could- ah..."
Duo draped an arm around his shoulder. "Think of it as a good gag gift." He pulled Quatre into the store.
Zechs sat down in an overstuffed chair and Rosie tried to climb his legs. He reached down and pulled her up into his lap. "Well...?" He looked at Noin expectantly.
"Well, what?" She stretched out on the couch with her book. "Are you asking me what I think of tomorrow?"
"Yes." He hand fell in a soothing rhythm on the dog's fur. "I want to see my sister, and it sounds strange, but I want to see Heero as well. Do you think we can work this into our schedule?"
"We might get there late, but other than that I don't see a problem. We can always reschedule our shuttle."
He nodded, and Noin didn't pursue the subject but turned to her book and began reading.
She was brought out of her reverie sometime later by the sound of the front door opening and Lady Une and Mariemaia's voices. She marked her place and glanced at Zechs, then smiled broadly. She walked out into the front room and gestured.
"How did things go? I hope she wasn't any trouble for you." Une set her bags down and looked at Noin curiously.
"Where's my Rosie?" Mariemaia looked up with wide blue eyes.
"She was no trouble at all, don't worry. I hope you two had a good day." Noin nodded toward the sitting room. "Come here. I wish I had a camera."
Une and Mariemaia peered into the next room, and Une stifled a laugh with the back of her hand.
Zechs slept sitting up in the chair, his one hand holding his head up with elbow on chair arm and the other resting on the small bundle of fur asleep in his lap.
