Title: Exercising an Option
Author: Gina Lin Genre: Romance, Action Pairings: 13+6, 1+2, 3+4, 5+S Warnings: Citrus, AU, Language, Yaoi Rating: R Archived: S_E Updates, GWFF, FF.net
AN: The 5+S lemon/lime interlude 16B is posted at S_E Updates, and Gundam Wing Fanfiction, at the Yahoo Groups Gundam Wing groups. Done in respect for the FF.net ban on certain material. I thought that part went a bit past the R restrictions here. Doesn't interfere with the plot, though. Please read if over 18, if not, forget about it! /Goes off mumbling about chibi hentai readers./
Chapter 17
"Excuse me," said Relena to the flight attendant. "I need to make a call."
"Of course," said the woman, smiling down at her.
Relena dialed the number to the Green Mountain Inn and Spa, Green Mountain Montana and held her breath.
"Green Mountain Inn," said Millie's voice.
"Hello," she said, exhaling her nervousness. "I'd like to speak to Zechs Marquise, please."
"Who shall I say is calling?" asked the woman.
"Lena," said Relena.
"I'll ring the apartment," said Millie.
"Lena?" asked a familiar voice in an anxious tone.
"Mil," Relena whispered in a conspiratorial fashion. "It's me."
"Lena, where are you?" he demanded. Relena winced slightly at the tone.
"I'm in a plane that just took off from Denver International Airport at the moment," she said, a bit defensively. "I'll be in Butte in an hour."
"Lena, when you get here, call me," he said. "Don't let anyone else know who you are and where you are going."
"I won't" she promised, "if it makes you feel better."
"I insist," said Zechs. "I'll come get you, and we can minimize the damage from this stunt of yours as much as possible."
"Mil," she protested. "I only wanted to see you. I thought you'd be happy."
He hissed in exasperation. "Relena, you know damn well I asked you not to come here."
"Sorry," she said in a small voice, biting her lip.
"What's done is done," he said after a moment. "Now hang up, dear, and wait for me at the airport."
"I'll be waiting," she said, sighing. "Good-bye."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Sorry to wake you," Sally's voice came from above him, "But I have to go now, I have an appointment in 30 minutes. I used your shower."
Wufei opened his eyes and saw Sally standing in front of the large mirror over the dresser, re-braiding her now damp hair.
"You should have woke me sooner," he said in a voice rusty with sleep.
"You looked so peaceful, I didn't want to," responded Sally. She turned and smiled warmly at him.
He watched her silently.
"Nothing to say?" asked Sally. She fiddled with the end of one braid, waiting.
"I'm sorry you have to leave," he finally said.
"Actually, I was hoping for 'Sally, that was the single most fantastic moment of my life'," she said ruefully.
"Sally, that was the single most fantastic moment of my life," he repeated solemnly.
"Ah, really, you're not just saying that?" she prodded him.
"I wasn't joking," he said, serious. "I hope you weren't."
"Sorry," she said, "I'm just a bit nervous. I'm out of practice when it comes to post-coital conversation."
"What a shame," he said dryly. He pushed back the sheet covering him, reaching for his discarded clothing.
"Like me to get that for you?" she asked, before he was out from under the bed covers.
She handed him his pants.
"Thanks," he said, shaking them out and sliding into them. "This isn't going to be awkward, is it? You seem, um, nervous."
"No," said Sally, watching him without embarrassment now. "I don't regret a moment of it. I just took you for the modest type."
"I'm not, really," he said. "Want me to prove it?" he asked, suddenly grinning mischievously. He sat down on the bed, searching for his discarded tank top.
"Well, maybe later," she said, laughing. "Or I'll be late for work."
She went over and kissed him lightly on the mouth.
"Want to come over tonight?" she asked. "My house, dinner, one Pokemon obsessed child?"
"Sounds wonderful," he said, reaching up to cup her cheek and kiss her again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Hiya," said Duo, passing Sally in the hallway.
"Duo!" she said, sounding surprised.
"Um, did I just see you coming out of..?" Duo asked, tilting his head at her.
"You didn't see anything," said Sally archly.
"Your hair is damp," observed Duo. "And you're grinning like the cat who ate the canary. And your complexion has cleared up." He grinned at that last.
"What are you, a private detective?" she asked.
"No, just observant. And curious."
"Well, keep your observations to yourself, nosey," said Sally, punching him lightly on the arm.
"Me?" asked Duo innocently. "I'm the head of the 'Duo wants everyone to get some' club. Naturally, I would not say anything to screw things up for a fellow member. So to speak."
"Well, start the 'Duo wants to keep his mouth shut so Sally doesn't lose her job'club" she hissed at him.
"Gotcha," said Duo, winking at her. "So, lets see. Would the lucky recipient of your affections be certain hot looking Chinese stunt man?"
"You really think he's hot?" asked Sally.
Duo grinned widely. "Gotcha!"
"Quit changing the subject," she flustered at him.
"It's okay," said Duo reassuringly. "I won't say anything. So, this guy is it, hm?"
"I love him, Duo," said Sally quietly. "I know it's been only a few weeks, but this is real."
"Never let it be said that Duo Maxwell stood in the way of true love," said Duo. He grabbed her hand and bowed over it dramatically, placing a light kiss on the back.
"You're an idiot," said Sally, rolling her eyes and giggling. "But a nice idiot."
"Oh, what kind words," said Duo, sarcastically. "I shall cherish them always."
"So," said Sally, "Since you know all about me, how are things with you and the lawyer?"
"Pretty damn good," said Duo, smiling in earnest now. "I actually got him to laugh yesterday. I alerted the media. Film at 11:00."
Sally laughed. "Well if anyone could accomplish that, it would be you, Duo. I'm glad you're happy, you deserve it."
"So does he," said Duo, quietly.
"Take care of him, Duo," said Sally. "You're good at that."
"It's easy when you love someone."
"No, it's not," said Sally mistily. "People take it all for granted until they lose it, don't they?"
"That must have been some roll in the hay, girl," teased Duo. "You're getting all weepy on me."
"Get lost," Sally said, grinning at him. "No begging for details. Sally Po does not kiss and tell."
"Darn," said Duo, mock pouting at her. "I am telling Hilde, though. She'll torture it out of me anyway."
"Got an appointment in 10 minutes, honey," said Sally to Duo, looking at her watch.
"Me too," sighed Duo. "Back to the salt mines."
"See you later. Hey, would you and Heero like to come over for dinner?" she asked.
"Yeah, sounds good. Matt can show me his Pokemon." He laughed.
"Oh, you heard about that, huh?" said Sally.
"It's all the kid talked about when you brought him here last time," said Duo.
"You were very patient," said Sally. "And you know all the Pokemon names, I'm totally impressed."
"I watched a lot of cartoons during a short period of unemployment," explained Duo. "Daytime television at its best."
"Come by at around 6:00" said Sally. "Bring dessert."
"It's a date," said Duo. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Reynaud." Her voice was cool as she addressed the tall, saturnine man sprawled on a chair. The languid pose was deceptive, she knew from experience.
"Une," he smiled. "I hope you are well?"
The pleasantries were important. It convinced Reynaud that he was civilized. He was not.
"I'm well," she said. She waited, standing at almost attention until she was invited to sit. Or speak further.
"Details," he finally said, sitting up expectantly in the wing-backed chair. "Sit," he indicated a smaller, straight backed chair across from the desk.
"Sanderson was all too eager to be our inside man," she said, sitting, but with an erect, attentive posture.
"Of course," said Reynaud. He had a vaguely European accent that was hard to pin down, but mostly giving the impression of upper crust boarding school influences. That was true. He came from money. Old money.
"He has important news," said Une, shifting forward slightly in her chair. "The younger sister is there as well."
Reynaud's brows raised. "How convenient," he murmured.
"I knew you'd be pleased."
"We will definitely be moving up our agenda, then."
"Monsieur?" Une asked.
"Why not, what is that expression Americans use? Kill two birds with one stone?" he said.
"Don't you mean three, sir?" Une asked deferentially.
"Kushrenada is your affair," snapped Reynaud. "As long as the objectives of Les Noire are fulfilled, do what you wish."
"Thank you," said Une, inclining her head slightly.
"Contact Sanderson, Lermat, and the others," said Reynaud in a sharp voice. "Tell them to increase surveillance. I want the exact, perfect moment for successful execution. There will be no errors."
"Of course," sir," said Une.
"I leave the details in your capable hands," he said to Une. "You have not failed me yet."
"Thank you," said Une.
"I expect your usual excellence," said Reynaud. He rose, walking over to her. Reaching out a hand, he tilted her head up with one finger under her chin.
"You understand I do this because I appreciate the fragility of beauty," he said in a low voice.
"Yes," she whispered.
"These rapists of the beauty of our mother Earth deserve their punishment, don't you agree, my lovely Une?"
She nodded, swallowing convulsively.
He released her chin, running a finger down her throat to the hollow between her collarbones.
"Beauty," he murmured. "Such a fragile thing."
He turned suddenly, and walked back over to his chair, slinging one leg negligently over an arm.
Une thought it was the deceptively casual pose of a predator, waiting for his prey to make that fatal mistake that would cause the coiled muscles to spring into action.
She would not make a mistake.
Author: Gina Lin Genre: Romance, Action Pairings: 13+6, 1+2, 3+4, 5+S Warnings: Citrus, AU, Language, Yaoi Rating: R Archived: S_E Updates, GWFF, FF.net
AN: The 5+S lemon/lime interlude 16B is posted at S_E Updates, and Gundam Wing Fanfiction, at the Yahoo Groups Gundam Wing groups. Done in respect for the FF.net ban on certain material. I thought that part went a bit past the R restrictions here. Doesn't interfere with the plot, though. Please read if over 18, if not, forget about it! /Goes off mumbling about chibi hentai readers./
Chapter 17
"Excuse me," said Relena to the flight attendant. "I need to make a call."
"Of course," said the woman, smiling down at her.
Relena dialed the number to the Green Mountain Inn and Spa, Green Mountain Montana and held her breath.
"Green Mountain Inn," said Millie's voice.
"Hello," she said, exhaling her nervousness. "I'd like to speak to Zechs Marquise, please."
"Who shall I say is calling?" asked the woman.
"Lena," said Relena.
"I'll ring the apartment," said Millie.
"Lena?" asked a familiar voice in an anxious tone.
"Mil," Relena whispered in a conspiratorial fashion. "It's me."
"Lena, where are you?" he demanded. Relena winced slightly at the tone.
"I'm in a plane that just took off from Denver International Airport at the moment," she said, a bit defensively. "I'll be in Butte in an hour."
"Lena, when you get here, call me," he said. "Don't let anyone else know who you are and where you are going."
"I won't" she promised, "if it makes you feel better."
"I insist," said Zechs. "I'll come get you, and we can minimize the damage from this stunt of yours as much as possible."
"Mil," she protested. "I only wanted to see you. I thought you'd be happy."
He hissed in exasperation. "Relena, you know damn well I asked you not to come here."
"Sorry," she said in a small voice, biting her lip.
"What's done is done," he said after a moment. "Now hang up, dear, and wait for me at the airport."
"I'll be waiting," she said, sighing. "Good-bye."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Sorry to wake you," Sally's voice came from above him, "But I have to go now, I have an appointment in 30 minutes. I used your shower."
Wufei opened his eyes and saw Sally standing in front of the large mirror over the dresser, re-braiding her now damp hair.
"You should have woke me sooner," he said in a voice rusty with sleep.
"You looked so peaceful, I didn't want to," responded Sally. She turned and smiled warmly at him.
He watched her silently.
"Nothing to say?" asked Sally. She fiddled with the end of one braid, waiting.
"I'm sorry you have to leave," he finally said.
"Actually, I was hoping for 'Sally, that was the single most fantastic moment of my life'," she said ruefully.
"Sally, that was the single most fantastic moment of my life," he repeated solemnly.
"Ah, really, you're not just saying that?" she prodded him.
"I wasn't joking," he said, serious. "I hope you weren't."
"Sorry," she said, "I'm just a bit nervous. I'm out of practice when it comes to post-coital conversation."
"What a shame," he said dryly. He pushed back the sheet covering him, reaching for his discarded clothing.
"Like me to get that for you?" she asked, before he was out from under the bed covers.
She handed him his pants.
"Thanks," he said, shaking them out and sliding into them. "This isn't going to be awkward, is it? You seem, um, nervous."
"No," said Sally, watching him without embarrassment now. "I don't regret a moment of it. I just took you for the modest type."
"I'm not, really," he said. "Want me to prove it?" he asked, suddenly grinning mischievously. He sat down on the bed, searching for his discarded tank top.
"Well, maybe later," she said, laughing. "Or I'll be late for work."
She went over and kissed him lightly on the mouth.
"Want to come over tonight?" she asked. "My house, dinner, one Pokemon obsessed child?"
"Sounds wonderful," he said, reaching up to cup her cheek and kiss her again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Hiya," said Duo, passing Sally in the hallway.
"Duo!" she said, sounding surprised.
"Um, did I just see you coming out of..?" Duo asked, tilting his head at her.
"You didn't see anything," said Sally archly.
"Your hair is damp," observed Duo. "And you're grinning like the cat who ate the canary. And your complexion has cleared up." He grinned at that last.
"What are you, a private detective?" she asked.
"No, just observant. And curious."
"Well, keep your observations to yourself, nosey," said Sally, punching him lightly on the arm.
"Me?" asked Duo innocently. "I'm the head of the 'Duo wants everyone to get some' club. Naturally, I would not say anything to screw things up for a fellow member. So to speak."
"Well, start the 'Duo wants to keep his mouth shut so Sally doesn't lose her job'club" she hissed at him.
"Gotcha," said Duo, winking at her. "So, lets see. Would the lucky recipient of your affections be certain hot looking Chinese stunt man?"
"You really think he's hot?" asked Sally.
Duo grinned widely. "Gotcha!"
"Quit changing the subject," she flustered at him.
"It's okay," said Duo reassuringly. "I won't say anything. So, this guy is it, hm?"
"I love him, Duo," said Sally quietly. "I know it's been only a few weeks, but this is real."
"Never let it be said that Duo Maxwell stood in the way of true love," said Duo. He grabbed her hand and bowed over it dramatically, placing a light kiss on the back.
"You're an idiot," said Sally, rolling her eyes and giggling. "But a nice idiot."
"Oh, what kind words," said Duo, sarcastically. "I shall cherish them always."
"So," said Sally, "Since you know all about me, how are things with you and the lawyer?"
"Pretty damn good," said Duo, smiling in earnest now. "I actually got him to laugh yesterday. I alerted the media. Film at 11:00."
Sally laughed. "Well if anyone could accomplish that, it would be you, Duo. I'm glad you're happy, you deserve it."
"So does he," said Duo, quietly.
"Take care of him, Duo," said Sally. "You're good at that."
"It's easy when you love someone."
"No, it's not," said Sally mistily. "People take it all for granted until they lose it, don't they?"
"That must have been some roll in the hay, girl," teased Duo. "You're getting all weepy on me."
"Get lost," Sally said, grinning at him. "No begging for details. Sally Po does not kiss and tell."
"Darn," said Duo, mock pouting at her. "I am telling Hilde, though. She'll torture it out of me anyway."
"Got an appointment in 10 minutes, honey," said Sally to Duo, looking at her watch.
"Me too," sighed Duo. "Back to the salt mines."
"See you later. Hey, would you and Heero like to come over for dinner?" she asked.
"Yeah, sounds good. Matt can show me his Pokemon." He laughed.
"Oh, you heard about that, huh?" said Sally.
"It's all the kid talked about when you brought him here last time," said Duo.
"You were very patient," said Sally. "And you know all the Pokemon names, I'm totally impressed."
"I watched a lot of cartoons during a short period of unemployment," explained Duo. "Daytime television at its best."
"Come by at around 6:00" said Sally. "Bring dessert."
"It's a date," said Duo. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Reynaud." Her voice was cool as she addressed the tall, saturnine man sprawled on a chair. The languid pose was deceptive, she knew from experience.
"Une," he smiled. "I hope you are well?"
The pleasantries were important. It convinced Reynaud that he was civilized. He was not.
"I'm well," she said. She waited, standing at almost attention until she was invited to sit. Or speak further.
"Details," he finally said, sitting up expectantly in the wing-backed chair. "Sit," he indicated a smaller, straight backed chair across from the desk.
"Sanderson was all too eager to be our inside man," she said, sitting, but with an erect, attentive posture.
"Of course," said Reynaud. He had a vaguely European accent that was hard to pin down, but mostly giving the impression of upper crust boarding school influences. That was true. He came from money. Old money.
"He has important news," said Une, shifting forward slightly in her chair. "The younger sister is there as well."
Reynaud's brows raised. "How convenient," he murmured.
"I knew you'd be pleased."
"We will definitely be moving up our agenda, then."
"Monsieur?" Une asked.
"Why not, what is that expression Americans use? Kill two birds with one stone?" he said.
"Don't you mean three, sir?" Une asked deferentially.
"Kushrenada is your affair," snapped Reynaud. "As long as the objectives of Les Noire are fulfilled, do what you wish."
"Thank you," said Une, inclining her head slightly.
"Contact Sanderson, Lermat, and the others," said Reynaud in a sharp voice. "Tell them to increase surveillance. I want the exact, perfect moment for successful execution. There will be no errors."
"Of course," sir," said Une.
"I leave the details in your capable hands," he said to Une. "You have not failed me yet."
"Thank you," said Une.
"I expect your usual excellence," said Reynaud. He rose, walking over to her. Reaching out a hand, he tilted her head up with one finger under her chin.
"You understand I do this because I appreciate the fragility of beauty," he said in a low voice.
"Yes," she whispered.
"These rapists of the beauty of our mother Earth deserve their punishment, don't you agree, my lovely Une?"
She nodded, swallowing convulsively.
He released her chin, running a finger down her throat to the hollow between her collarbones.
"Beauty," he murmured. "Such a fragile thing."
He turned suddenly, and walked back over to his chair, slinging one leg negligently over an arm.
Une thought it was the deceptively casual pose of a predator, waiting for his prey to make that fatal mistake that would cause the coiled muscles to spring into action.
She would not make a mistake.