W A L T Z U P T O M E
- - -
you've been flirting again- - -
+ + + denote POV change
- - -
It was lunchtime. I had spent the rest of the day throwing mental daggers at Zechs during the entire morning, but had failed to damage him as I'd wished.
*It's just because he's so damn impenetrable. Like Troy or something. With the walls. Oh, but I will be your Trojan Horse, Merquise. Just watch. When you least expect it...POW! I will own you!*
And so now, before heading out to the lunch room I was fulfilling my oath of vengeance and putting up THE poster.
I took it out from my side of the closet, carefully taking it out of the protective artist's portfolio I'd put it in at the end of last year. I removed the wax paper I'd placed on top of it lovingly, still admiring the handiwork that I had put into it. Two hours it had taken me to construct. Two hours of painful cutting with an x-acto blade, of matting it with the precision of a dutiful art student. It was bordered in 10 centimeters of black all the way around, making its total dimensions 55x85 centimeters. The picture itself had taken me even longer to get. This masterpiece of subdued genius, of calm stare and perfect half-formed frown had taken two weeks of hounding and pleading. And for one of my first tries at developing film, the outcome has been a crystal-clear image of Heero Yuy, the PERFECT roommate with zero scratches, zero dust and all class.
Truly, it was a beautiful thing.
I smiled. Zechs was not going to like this. In fact, he was going to hate it. He had hated it last year when I'd first put it up after he'd lost up nearly 500 DPD points because he'd been caught out of grounds after he had gone missing for two consecutive days. The memory of that incident made the twitch above my eye start up again and I had to inhale deeply before continuing on. God, that was horrible. And because of that idiot it had taken us nearly an entire term before we were able to climb back up to the top rank. I was almost sure that my first year at the Academy would end with my being in second place.
*Well, second place isn't so bad, is it? What am I talking about? Of course it is!*
And with that memory returning for a brief revival, I hung the poster back up. The bold words beneath the picture proclaimed in all caps "HEERO YUY, THE PERFECT ROOMATE."
Zechs was going to piss his pants.
And the fact that he would be angry and thus, most likely not speak to me for the rest of the day, had my hopes rising as I walked to the cafeteria with a smile on my face.
- - -
The cafeteria was already filled with second and third years when I walked in through the double doors. The first years, being cocky and domineering enough so that they didn't have to get in early. And what I mean by that is that they tended to kick people out of seats and harass those who didn't keep their hold tables empty.
The chefs gave me several dirty looks, indicating that they were not happy that a lowly second year was even attempting to come in late and actually expect to receive any decent food. Tough luck. I grabbed my silver tray of twice-cooked chicken, steaming rigatoni and romaine lettuce salad and walked over to the table Trowa and Zechs were already sitting at.
I sat across and greeted them. "Hey, Trowa." I smiled. Then I nodded in Zechs' general direction, certain that he would probably get the hint that I was attempting to be polite and yet ignoring him as he was indeed deserving of some heavily needed ignoring.
Trowa picked up his fork and turned towards Zechs, using it as a pointing device. "So, Zechs, I hear that the Diadem is recruiting you as President."
*He's not ignoring me, is he? Wait...Diadem is recruiting who for what?!*
Diadem was the nickname for Lake Victoria's honor club, whose members consisted only of the top ten students in each year. Traditionally, only first years were officers. I had been lucky enough and nearly sold my soul to the devil to get the position of Treasurer, while Gai Hausachi, the President of Diadem was practically stalking Zechs to hand over his position to him. Apparently he had the stupid idea that Cotton-For-Brains would suit his high position much better than he does. What kind of drugs are people taking these days!? A second year as Diadem leader? Gah...that's blasphemous enough without tossing in such a pathetic slacker like Zechs in...
Alright, no worries. Relax. Relax. Let. Go. Of. The. Butterknife. I let out a quiet breath, convinced that Trowa's brushoff was nothing more than his way of showing affection. Surely. Surely that's what it is.
"Trowa, I like your tie." I smiled sharply, mentally punching myself in the face because that had been the best I could come up with it. He in turn, continued jabbering away to Zechs, who was...ignoring him? What?
Blue eyes were attempting to catch mine, but as I was resolute in not speaking with him, I looked away suffering his menacing glares.
"Noin. I asked you a question."
+ + +
Was she ignoring me?
"Noin. I asked you a question."
I glared at her, nudging her leg with my foot. But instead of squawking and wussy kicking me like any good Noin would do, she just scooted further away on the bench. How annoying.
"I heard that the fencing squad will be competing this weekend against Lake Victoria Africa, is that true Trowa?"
Alright, what a complete bitch. Asking motherfucking Trowa about fencing when the fucking team captain is sitting across from her. Moronic asshole, does she really think that ignoring me will dissuade me from speaking? Hah. I laugh at her pathetic attempts to overwhelm me with psychological warfare.
"So Zechs, Colonel Khushrenada is back on campus. Will you be meeting with him again?"
Don't you get that I don't want to talk to you, stupid hormone-pumped idiot? Have you been fucking flirting again? Is that why you're so off? She said something stupid, didn't she? I knew it! You've been flirting again! And it's blown up in your face!
+ + +
Why is he ignoring me?
There is NO reason why he should be ignoring me.
If anything, Noin should be the one apologizing to me instead of ignoring Zechs. Like that's going to help put 'The Plan' back on schedule. God, two-timing whore. Heero Yuy, huh?
"So Zechs, Colonel Khushrenada is back on campus. Wil you be meeeting with him again?"
+ + +
This was ridiculous. The three of us. Trowa ignoring me---
*And what the hell for? Like I actually did anything? Argh.*
---Zechs ignoring Trowa, me ignoring Zechs...
Wait, no. Not me ignoring Zechs. I have good reasons, dammit!
"Fuck..." I muttered under my breath, shoving away my tray in disgust at the whole thing. This was so stupid. Part of my brain stood to attention as Zechs continued to glower at me, most likely placing a hex on me, as Trowa kept his head turned so that I could only see his profile. And that part of my brain was screaming at me, saying things like; 'How did you ever sucked into this, Noin? Crushing over a boy moody as hell who's best-friends with your freaking NEMESIS! Snap out of it dumbass, go molest Dem Paquin or something!
What the hell? I must be worst off than I had thought. Dem Paquin? Dem PAQUIN?! God, I rather KILL myself than have another thought like that about that moron. That walking, towering, pompous, ass---
---'Nice piece of ass.' My stupid brain smirked.
*'Nice piece of ass?' Alright, time to stop sniffing floor cleaner, Noin.*
I placed head on the table, risking the contraction of germs and who knows what else, and folded my arms over it. When did my life begin to suck so much that part of me had actually fallen to such a low level as to become a fan of Dem Paquin's non-existent charms? That guy, that aggravating...
"Noin. Man, does it do my heart good to find you. Listen, I need you tonight."
Duo Maxwell. The sound of his always jarring voice snapped me out of my little slump and I sat back up, fixing my gaze onto him. His long braid was coming out again, the black ribbon he used to tie it off lost once again.
*He was probably groped in the halls again. Those stupid Joshua Club kids are so freaking repressed or something.*
He actually looked relieved to see me for once, eyes wide with questioning and since I was too busy focusing on why the hell his hair wasn't flying everywhere since he'd lost the hairtie, I didn't notice when he placed a warm hand on my thigh, the other busy gently shaking my shoulder.
"Noin, what the hell? Are you even listening to me? Am I really that gorgeous that my stunning and obviously stupefying beauty has momentarily stunned you?" He smirked and since I had finally managed to focus on what he was saying rather than his physics defying hair, I blushed and had to have him repeat everything he'd just said.
*If you weren't so pretty, you wouldn't be so arrogant. Man, if I were that pretty I'd probably he shouting it from the rooftops...wait, what the hell am I talking about? Why would I do that? Might break an arm or something...*
He rolled his eyes, using the hand he'd been shaking me with to push back his bangs. "I wanted to know if you were available tonight. Y'know, I need practice. And you do to. Don't lie, Noin. You're so fucking stressed, lately. And your little Duo-inspired comatose state proves that you've deprived of my presence. I don't want you getting another partner or anything just because I haven't asked you to do this for two weeks."
I nodded. "Yeah, I'm free today. But only for an hour. I'm totally loaded down with work." I sighed. "And I have to study for the military battles test we have tomorrow."
He smiled. "When we're finished you won't even be thinking about all of that shit. Just you wait." He stood back up, winking at me. "We'll do it in my room. I told Wufei that I needed to 'study' so he's agreed to stay out of the room until curfew." He turned to leave, but immediately turned back. "I almost forgot to ask. You want to do this on the bed or on the floor?"
+ + +
Trowa's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates as he gave up his guise of ignoring Noin to stare at her and Duo in horror.
They couldn't---
Duo---
Noin---
Duo plus Noin? No. NO. What the---?
He turned back briefly to Zechs, punching him swiftly in the stomach.
"And don't you think it would have been a good fucking idea to let me know this was going on?!" He seethed, standing up to leave. He refrained from looking at Noin, but snarled at Duo before stomping off.
"Idiot Maxwell," he muttered. Now he'd have to go and rearrange everything in his damned planner because of his meddling! 'The Plan' would probably be off by months at the rate this was going! Goddammit!
+ + +
Zechs barely registered the sharp pain of Trowa's blow before the other boy was already walking away.
He couldn't believe it. Duo and Noin practically talking about...he shook his head. And then Trowa completely ignoring her until someone else comes along who could potentially court her.
Fucking hell. Was everyone at this fucking academy crazy?
- - -
Yes, I know this wasn't 1/2 as good as the last two chapters. Yes, I know that I didn't properly conclude this chapter. Yes, you have no idea who the hell Dem Paquin is...but you will. I LOVE that boy. And yes, I didn't manage to squeeze Dorothy or Heero in as promised, but I just wanted to get this chapter out already! SO please forgive any grammar/spelling/continuity mistakes as well.
Chloe Peacecraft: you have NO IDEA how much your review encouraged me and made me think better of this fic [as it wasn't one of my favorites at first]. Thank you so much! ^_~ And even though your guess was wrong, I'm offering you a commission for a one-shot. If you want it, just tell me what pairing, what genre and I'll try. ^_^
Lady Deathstrike: you took a stab at guessing as well, so the same goes for you commission wise.
Terra_khushrenada: your comment about the essay amused me, although I doubt Zechs, being the pompous asshole he is in this fic, would even bother writing anything. And Treize...well he'll show up later on.
Thank you to all of my reviewers and people reading this fic. I hope the huge gaps between chapters aren't driving people away. I know I'm freakishly inconsistent when it comes to posting. I apologize for that and will try to be better about it, although writer's block is a daunting curse.
Enormous thanks to Crary who helped me out with this chapter and who suggested Duo's attitude as well as bribed me with ten pages of her own infinitely better and much more sophisticated writing. You're the best m.l.m.n. anyone could ever ask for. ^_^
