To Kill a Prince

AN: BE PROUD! Nyhaha! Okay, so we left off, Heero was trapped with the evil, pink, Relena at a Night Club called The Dream Catcher. Heero was just about to take a sip of his drink, when he spotted a familiar braid in the crowd. Ooh, how suspenseful! Tee hee.

Disclaimer: I'm getting tired of writing these. I don't own Gundam Wing.

Chapter 3: Second Meeting

Heero's POV

I couldn't believe my eyes. I had hoped and hoped to get the boy off of my mind, hoped to never see him again. Relationships were just a hassle all my life and I didn't want to start one now. I even had to keep telling myself that Duo was taken. It was insane!

Of course, I could understand why he would be taken. Just that day in the park was enough to show such innocent beauty. Duo wasn't trying to be a bishounen. He just naturally was. I realized that I had to forget about him. But here he was, showing up in my life, just when I started thinking it was going to be easy.

Duo was dancing, unlike any other on the floor. His hips moved dreamily from side to side, like liquid adrenaline, without effort. He was good at it. No doubt. He was wearing a black, tight t-shirt that showed off some of his stomach, and his belly button ring. He wore low cut jeans that were dyed a crimson red, topped off with big black army boots. His hair was up in a high ponytail that cascaded down his back and, from what I could see, he had black eyeliner adorned on his face.

His long, pale arms were wrapped around the neck of Wufei, his boyfriend, who was holding him tightly. Duo was smiling at him, getting a lazy grin in return from the Chinese man.

I blinked. This couple was certainly different from the one I saw in the park that day. Back then, Duo had been crying and Wufei was angry. But now, they both seemed content just being in each others arms. It confused me a great deal. See what I meant by relationships just being a hassle? They could be so fickle sometimes.

I turned back to the bartender, who had placed the small martini glass in front of me. I thanked him quietly and downed it in a gulp. I ran my hands over my face exasperatedly. This was going to be a long night. And according to the sign out front, the club was open until 4 o'clock in the morning. I groaned. Oh yes, a very long night.

The song ended, and the DJ decided to take a drink break. He headed straight to the bar along with the couples who also decided to take a break from dancing. Relena had, luckily, spotted someone she knew and started to chat with her, leaving me alone to stress about just how I was going to avoid Beauty and the Beast.

If I was caught by Wufei, he would probably think I was following them. And I didn't exactly feel like fighting right now.

Everyone else seemed to be having a good time. Me, I was just drowning in my own self pity. Again. It had become a habit since I turned 19. For two years, I would always gloom whenever I was alone. I couldn't stand to look at happy couples and it hadn't changed that day.

The DJ had taken a seat beside me and smiled brightly at the bartender. He was also a looker. Short, with pale white skin and platinum blonde hair. He had shining aqua blue eyes and a casual aura which I could feel.

"Hey Trowa!" He said cheerily. The bartender waved and smiled back at him. The blonde giggled. "Did you miss me?"

"The usual Quatre?" Trowa asked, trying to keep their conversation professional, even though he had turned a slight shade of red. Heero watched them avidly and curiously. It seemed disgustingly cute. It was clear that they fancied each other, and Trowa just didn't want to show it.

"Oh, Trowa, you know what I like, right. The usual!" The blonde teased, making the bartender turn another shade of crimson.

Trowa set to work on making the Quatre's drink without jumping him, turning away from the counter while pouring vodka into a glass.

A curious couple indeed.

My eyes traveled next to the man Relena was talking to. He had long gold hair and identical blue eyes to hers. I recognized him to be her brother, Zechs. In my own opinion, I liked Zechs. When he first heard about me from Relena, he immediately came to my apartment to apologize for her behavior. Then he bought me a drink. We weren't friends, exactly, but he was a nice guy. Almost the exact opposite of what Relena was and could be. It was like they weren't even related.

I hoped that Zechs kept his sister occupied for me. I didn't exactly feel like dancing with a girl who looked like an estranged octopus. Instead, I almost hoped Duo would notice me, and ask me to dance...

Through almost a reflex, I turned to find the pair I wanted to avoid. They were sitting at one of the tables, Wufei checking his watch often, Duo looking slightly worried. His boyfriend then abruptly stood up, kissed Duo deeply, then just walked out of the club and didn't even look back.

I blinked. Why would Wufei just LEAVE his boyfriend sitting there, in the club where any random sicko could come and force himself on him? Duo looked enough like a girl that any drunk could become mistaken.

The look on Duo's face was heartbreaking. He looked lost and forlorn sitting there, incense smoke drifting before his face. There was no smile, no light. Just a sad boy who looked too young to even be in a place like this. Miserable is the word I used. Looking at him made my heart fall, and that didn't happen very often. What was the matter with that Chinese son of a bitch? Obviously he wasn't very good at the relationship thing.

I suppose I must have been staring, especially when Quatre waved a hand in front of my face. I am easily on first name terms with people when I refer to them in my little stories.

Anyways, I snapped out of my reverie quickly so as not to cause a scene, and turned back to the bar.

"Can I have another martini please?" I asked stiffly. Trowa nodded and bustled about again, turning his back on his conversation with the blonde DJ. I could feel the heat rushing to my face. Nothing was as terrible to me as being caught staring. But the situation only got worse when Quatre started smiling at me tipsily.

"Hey lover boy." He said smoothly. "The pretty boy over there noticed you and is coming your wayyyy..."

Trowa shook his head and took away the half full glass of brandy that sat in front of the DJ, reminding him that he still had many more hours in which he was required to play music.

I turned to my new martini and downed it just as quickly as the first. My throat burned and my face was hot and I could feel him tap me on the shoulder.

I didn't want to turn around. I didn't want to look at him. It would only remind me of exactly what I couldn't have. And I hated not getting what I wanted.

"Is that you?" He asked me. That was sure an open question. But it for sure was him. I would recognize that voice anywhere.

"That is a vague inquiry." I said lowly. "It could pertain to anyone."

"Heero?"

I took a deep breath and turned around to face him. He was smiling slightly.

"Hey." I replied. "You remembered my name."

Duo nodded, his hair falling in strand over his shoulder.

"I didn't expect to see you here. You surprised me. I could feel someone staring. But it's okay because I know who you are."

I gulped. Was he being cute on purpose, or was he doing it naturally? Duo's head was tilted to the side and his eyes had regained their shine. It made me happy to see him happier than he was two minutes before. He said it was okay that I was staring at him. My face could quite possibly have turned a deeper shade of red with the way I was feeling.

"I saw Wufei leave. What happened?" I spoke the Chinese man's name with venom. If I was Duo's boyfriend...well I wouldn't leave him stranded in a club.

The longhaired boy looked down at the ground, finding the tiled floor quite interesting.

"He...ah...had some work to do..." came the quiet little answer.

"Oh."

I realized Quatre had gotten up from his seat, winked at us then at Trowa and went back to his equipment in the corner. Feisty little one wasn't he. I watched him put a CD in one of the enormous players and took up the microphone in his hand.

"Alright everyone, I've had my break with the wonderful bartender at my service." He giggled "And it's time for more dancing. We'll start off this round with something a little mellower. Sound good?"

There was a rally of cheers and assents as Quatre struck up the music, and the lights dimmed to an even greater extent.

The song played loudly over the speakers, the lights danced over the walls and the floor. The smoke billowed around dancer's feet, like walking on clouds.

The song was Enigma's 'Gravity of Love', an English song that I knew only out of boredom and a downloading spree one day. The soft voice sang along with the rather touching song in its beat between fast and slow. Gaining strength as the chorus came around.

I'd heard the song before, and it made me feel rather uncomfortable, now more than ever

'Don't think twice before

You listen to your heart

Follow the trace

Around the star (AN: I don't really know the lyrics to the song. Mostly, I just wrote here what I could make out from listening to the song. The singer isn't exactly clear and articulate when she sings and I have a hard time understanding. So bear with me.))

Duo looked at me then looked at the dance floor, asking a silent question without having to use words. As much as I wanted to dance with him, it would be wrong. I wasn't going to be able to get Duo out of my head if I even touched him. But it was a hard decision. He was standing there, glowing in the disco lights, surreal even, smoke floating around his ankles.

"I can't." I said quickly. "I mean...Wufei..."

Duo frowned. "I know, but...Wufei's not here. I know he doesn't like you, but it's not like we're doing anything wrong! I mean, my friend Hilde dances with people other than her boyfriend. And so does my cousin Noin. I'm sure Wufei won't mind if I just tell him the truth."

I sighed. This wasn't going where I wanted it to go. I would have thought him the type to understand.

"Okay then."

Duo's face looked like it would burst from glee. He clapped his hands and led me to a spot on the dance floor. It was awkward. I didn't know what to do; I had only danced fast songs before. Duo looked at me inquiringly.

"Haven't you done this before?" He asked. I shook my head.

"Then why are you here Heero?"

I pointed to Relena, who was still deeply involved with her brother, who was throwing me fervent glances whenever he could. He had always urged me to have more people skills.

"That blonde girl over there?" Duo questioned. I nodded. "Your date?"

"Er...no, she's my...best friend's sister. See that boy with her. Yeah, my friend. They both kinda dragged me here." I lied.

"Oh, that's okay then." Duo took both of my hands and placed them lightly on his hips. I bit my lip. "Relax Heero." The long haired boy soothed, or at least tried to. My hear t was racing a million miles per hour. The close proximity was driving me insane. What if Wufei came back and caught us like this? What if Relena caught us? I smiled. Now THAT I wouldn't mind, but that's not the point.

Duo then placed his long slim arms around my neck, just like he had with Wufei. It felt to wrong to be doing this behind the Chinese boys back. It didn't matter to me how many people Duo knew did this, it still felt off.

Since the music wasn't upbeat, Duo wasn't dancing too excitedly. We just swayed softly, and he kept shifting, bringing his arms almost all the way around my neck, our bodies closer than I ever imagined that could have gotten without touching. His body heat radiated off of him, and his smell filled him senses. Cherry blossoms and cinnamon. I was much taller than he was, and the closer he got, the more he had to stand on almost tiptoes.

He felt so right against my body, like he was made to be there. But, he belonged to someone else. No matter how close he was now, he would always be out of reach. Unless, he broke up with the current boyfriend...it was possible with the way Wufei had been acting.

I banished that thought. What kind of a person was I that I wished for a couple to break up? A selfish killer that's what.

Over to the side of the dance floor, we both heard a sort of a high pitched yelp. Like a dog whose tail just got stepped on. Relena had no doubt spotted us. I tried not to laugh as I saw her stricken face which was red with anger. I could hear her exclaim to Zechs

"He doesn't dance with me, but he dances with THAT whore!!?" Zechs wasn't holding back his chortle and received both thanking and hateful looks.

The song ended, but Duo didn't seem to want to let go of my neck. I had pry him off, apologize then make my way back to the bar, ordering my third martini before leaving. I dashed out the door and called a cab quickly, Relena shouting behind me, trying to make me stop.

"Heeeeeerrroooo!" She called in an annoyingly screechy voice "Heero! Come back here! Who was that boy??! Was that person EVEN a BOY? Heeeerrrrooo!!"

I opened the door to the cab as she tried to dash to my side in her expensive pink high heels. Shutting the door behind me, I turned to the driver. "Komoko Apartments please. And quickly!"

The driver gave a quick nod and stepped on the gas pedal as if his foot were made of lead.

As we pulled away from the club in a scream of angry rubber, I didn't bother to do up my seatbelt. I sunk to the floor of the taxi, my head in my hands, practically rocking back and forth. I knew at that moment I was falling harder and harder for the longhaired boy, even though I shouldn't have been. I had only seen him twice. We knew nothing about each other. I growled at my own incompetence. No no no! That's what I could remember telling myself. Over and over again under my breath. NO! I wouldn't see him again. I wouldn't let myself. I wouldn't give into the temptation because I knew I was stronger than that!

When I reached my apartment finally, I slumped inside, and for the second time that day, slid off my shoes and flopped onto my couch. Wing jumped into my lap and started to bite my finger impatiently. She wanted to be petted and lavished with attention. It wasn't exactly something I wanted to do at the moment. I threw her off of me, and stocked into my bedroom, clicking on my laptop and checking my email.

Goodie I though bitterly as I saw the message from Dr. J, giving me my new assignment.

Dr. J's niece had just inherited a billion dollars from her father, and I was to go and get it, in a manner of speaking. Sally Po was her name, and she was a doctor at Tokyo Hospital. I had to get her from afar, as it said in his email, and make it quick and unpredictable.

I highly doubted my ability to do my mission correctly this time. What with Duo on my mind...

I shook my head and typed a quick reply to my employer, telling him that I was accepting the mission and would try my hardest to get him what he deserved. It was always good to add something like that on the end of a message because it meant a few extra hundred dollars on my pay.

I clicked off my laptop and lunged at my bed, burying my face in the pillows and snuggling into the soft blankets. Before I knew what was happening, I was sleeping, dreaming...about the dance, about just how good it felt to have Duo in my arms. I hugged my pillow, wishing silently that it was him...

TBC!

Mistress Shinigami: I hope you, my fans, liked this chapter. I made them dance for you! Awe. Plot is moving along. I plan to make it go slower, so you all SUFFER! Muhahahaha flamesburndevilness

Chibi-Duo: MEANIE!

Mistress Shinigami: REVIW OR ELSE! flamesburndevilness