A/N: Chapter 11?! And I'm on Entry 14 on the lil' chapter counter thingy. Hmmm...might have to change that. So! We get to the dance now! Woohoo! I have to say, I've been looking forward to this for a loooong time. And, since 100 reviews is coming up pretty dang fast, I'll tell you right now that the final special will be at 150. If that'll ever happen. Why? I still love you guys and all, but specials, chapters, AND all my other non-put up stories? Consider me in a boggy area.
Warnings: Yet again, profanity, yaoi and I guess it's kind of yuri, as we'll see, 1x2x1, 3x4, 5xMeiran, fluff, little bit of OOC, Extreme AU, mild Relena Bashing (but not for long, I'm afraid), and citrus hinting (well, I guess it'd be a mini-lime, but hey, I'm not really worried about classifying it.)
Disclaimer: (Sigh) Guess what? They aren't mine. I know, I've been telling you all this time that yes, I owned them, but it turns out I don't. Color me surprised.
So, consider this my last disclaimer, and my last General Warnings. From now on, warnings will be only what is in a graphic nature (IE violence, citrus, Extended Semi-Boring Plotness; you get the idea).
Sea of Silence
Chapter 11
The Dance
x---x
Dorothy Catalonia sat regally in the cushioned red chair, silky hair draped casually over her shoulders. Tonight, she wore a simple burgundy dress. Of course, her rapier hung at her hip. Any self-respecting bodyguard would have their weapon in reach at all times.
"Dorothy, does this dress make me look fat," Princess Relena of Sanc asked, twirling in front of the mirror. Her bodyguard couldn't help but grimace. She looked like a pink bar of soap with someone's head stapled on top.
"Yes," Dorothy said, and Relena's shoulders slumped.
"But, that's the last pink dress I have," she pouted. Dorothy rolled her eyes, and stood up.
"Thank god. Try on a different color for onceâ€what," Dorothy asked. Relena was giving her a very sneaky, appraising look, and the other girl couldn't help but swallow. There was only one time to fear Relena, and that was when she actually looked like royalty.
"I can't help but notice you're wearing an actual color," Relena said coyly, and Dorothy clenched her teeth. It was true, she was normally found in black, white, or a shade in between, but was burgundy such a difference?
"I felt like a change," she said proudly. Dorothy Catalonia never had to explain herself. But, Relena smiled.
"You mean, you felt like looking pretty," she corrected. As true as it was, Dorothy strode over to the closet and pulled out a sky blue dress, throwing it to the princess.
"If you feel like looking pretty, that's your own business," she said, and sat back down in the comfortable red chair. Honestly, the shoes were killing her feet. It had been stupid of her to ask Relena for "matching" shoes. She'd never known matching meant straps all the way to your calf and three-inch heels. However, Dorothy would make do, as they were an equal to her dress.
Relena twirled in front of the mirror, and her bodyguard had to admit it looked good. But, the shoes were fuzzy blue slippers. Dorothy grimaced. Not only did they NOT match, it made her want to stab her feet. They were hideous.
"Change the shoes, and you're good," Dorothy stated. Relena frowned, but returned in plain, yet elegant matching heels. "Now let's get going." Relena giggled, and Dorothy shuddered. Relena giggling was just scary.
"You're really excited, aren't you? Who is he," the seventeen-year-old asked, bouncing down onto the horrific pink bed. Dorothy glared at her.
"We're going. NOW," she snapped, and the princess finally stood up and, sulking, walked out the door with her bodyguard in tow.
x---x
"Duo, we have to get out of bed," Heero grumbled, and the braided menace smirked. "Just untie me?"
"Now why would I do that? Come on, you know they put scarves in here for a reason," Duo demanded, and Heero sighed. Where was an invading Quatre when you needed him?
Well, not that Heero really wanted the blonde to come in. Nobody would want to be seen tied naked with a scarf to a headboard with their torso half-covered with melting ice.
"Trowa's going to be here in a few-stop that!" Duo looked up innocently, ice cube clutched between his lips. "Trowa's going to be here in a few minutes, and I refuse to be seen tied to a headboard." Chuckling, Duo untied his bodyguard.
"You're no fun," he pouted. "It's funny you're just fine with the ice, though. And being naked in my bed. But nooo, you can't be tied up. You have some freaky priorities, babe." In a quick motion, Duo transferred the ice cube into Heero's mouth. Orally, of course. "I'm going to go get dressed. You just lay there and melt." Heero rolled his eyes, and the chuckling Duo walked into the separate room entirely filled with clothes made especially for him.
Half of it was black, and the other half was most likely never to be worn. The braided boy pulled out a random black pair of pants, a random black shirt (which, he noted, had shiny buttons), and a floor-length black coat (also with shiny silver buttons). They were all the rage in Algon, and Duo was figuring he might as well fit in with the people he was supposed to rule.
That thought made him shudder, and he walked into the bathroom. Miraculously, there was hot water waiting for him in the huge bathtub. The pirate couldn't help but be impressed. With a contented sigh, he drifted further down into the water, until his head was completely submerged.
Someone yanked his head sharply out of the water, and Duo was glaring at Heero again.
"What the hell was that for," Duo yelled, and Heero (whose chest was still damp, he noted) smirked.
"It's my job to protect you. You could have drowned," he said, and before Duo could start arguing again, Heero smoothly kissed his train of thoughts off the track. He then slipped into the water, and Duo was silently cursing his inability to stay mad at the boy. "Water's warm." Duo nodded, yet again enjoying the heat.
"It's like a mini Mr. Steamy. I hope the island is doing okay. The guys too. Not to mention my poor ship," he chuckled, eyes closed. They quickly shot open when Heero started nibbling on his ear. "Ah! Um, so-"
"Duo."
"Yeah?"
"Shut up."
x---x
The room was, to say the least, fancy. Red curtains adorned the floor-to-ceiling windows, and a chandelier the size of a rowboat hung from the ceiling, decked in diamond glass. The floor was black and white marble in an intricate swirling pattern, and the walls were a deep mahogany.
For the ball, half the floor was left exposed and shining, while the other half (which framed the dance floor) was full of orderly tables, chairs, and occasional chaises. At the back of the room, furthest away from the double doors that served as a main entrance, sat three chairs: A black armchair, a white armchair on the black's left, and a red armchair to the right.
Duo eyed the room suspiciously, and Heero seemed to agree whole-heartedly.
"It's too exposed. If, like you say, someone's going to try and kill him, he shouldn't have his back to windows," Heero said grumpily. Duo couldn't help but grin whenever he saw him, though; he was wearing almost the same thing as the heir of Algon, save white with shiny gold buttons, as opposed to Duo's black and silver. Normally, Heero looked good enough to eat (Duo smirked a bit), but now he looked just downright untouchably fine.
"Sir, it's the only placement we've ever used," the lord in charge of preparations, said taken aback.
"It's fine," Duo put in, grabbing his bodyguard's arm. "Who do you think I am, Relena? I'll be fine. I mean, let's not forget my, ah, previous line of work. I could kill anyone in three moves." Heero smirked.
"Sure you could," he said, and walked towards their "Royal" entrance. They had to wait at least an hour before going in, since the guests all had to be there first so Duo could look stylin' upon entry, and be instantly memorable.
"What do you mean, 'sure you could'? Listen, buddy, it was only my leg keeping me from beating you senseless," Duo said, almost accusing in tone. He jabbed a finger into Heero's chest.
"Heero! Duo! Where were you two? You didn't show up for lunch," Quatre approached, looking hurt in an aqua ensemble with beige trim. Trowa walked behind him in dark green and blue. Duo couldn't help but blush, and quickly withdraw his finger. "And then, when Trowa and I went to your room, you weren't there either!"
"We were," Duo began, and cleared his throat. "Ah, we were"
"We were tormenting Wufei," Heero replied smoothly, and Duo's face brightened. That was actually true! They'd caught Wufei and Meiran snuggling in the hall, and of course Duo had had to ruin his life.
"So, what's your protocol," Trowa asked, and Duo shrugged.
"Sit around in here for an hour with Heero, then walk out and look cool, and sit around in the fancy black chair and look cool," Duo shrugged, and then couldn't help but smirk. "Heero has to stand behind my chair." The blue-eyed boy was being a good sport about it, too. Well, as good a sport as Heero Yuy can be.
Said boy crossed his arms. "It's my job," he muttered to himself.
"We have to meet and greet in twenty minutes, along with Wufeiâ€hey, where is Wufei, anyway," Quatre asked, looking around. Their question was answered by a nearby yell.
"WOMAN! Get off me," Wufei yelled.
"STOP CALLING ME WOMAN," Meiran responded. There was the loud crash of a vase against the wall, and Wufei stormed into the room, Meiran not far behind. Meiran was wearing a lovely flowing dress, even though her hair was still in its normal two pigtails, and Wufei was wearing red, although it was only his coat. The rest was a loose pair of white pants and a dark blue shirt.
Wufei scowled at his wife. "Act like a wife for once, and stop jumping me in the halls," he threatened. "Or, I send a letter to your parents finally and tell them we're married!" Meiran gasped.
"You WOULDN'T," she said haughtily. "You don't have the guts!" Wufei smirked, and Meiran glared. "Fine. But you OWE me, Chang."
"Aww, isn't that romantic? They've made up," Quatre whispered to Trowa, who just shook his head. It was going to be a long night.
x---x
Atropos glared. She glared at her sister and Zechs, walking side by side and avoiding each other's eyes. She glared at the clock, which said the whole damn party had started an hour and a half ago. She glared at the guards ogling her. OGLING her! God, she was going to kill something.
And most likely that something would be Noin. She looked great in her dark blue dress, and Zechs looked spectacular in his own outfit, but noooo. She just wouldn't admit they'd been eyeing each other since BIRTH probably, and lord knows how Zechs could do anything about it, the nervous wreck, and Atropos was stuck following them from behind, seeing their awkward glances at each other. When they both accidentally looked at the same time, their heads had swung back faster than lightning. She couldn't help but wonder why they weren't that fast being sensible.
They approached the huge double doors, and (as his rank was higher) Zechs went first. Sure, he was announced, but it was too loud inside for anyone to hear his name yelled out by the crier. So, Atropos followed Noin up to the top of the stairs, where she stood, horrifically uncomfortable in the tight green dress, while they were announced.
"Lieutenant Lucrezia Noin, and Miss Atropos Noin," the crier yelled out boredly. Atropos cringed at her name. They'd actually called her miss. Dorothy would hate her till the end of time.
That thought sent her brain backwards. They'd met amicably, when Lady Une had brought the girl along during a mission request. Of course, Atropos had been dressed in her usual outfit, and she hadn't bothered to correct Dorothy's assumption she was male. Sometimes being flat-chested was great. That had been one of those times.
They'd been friends immediately. The aristocrat seemed absolutely thrilled to know someone without any real interest in politics, and the assassin had been intrigued by the girl's brutal honesty. Hell, Atropos had even done a few jobs for the blonde woman. In return, Dorothy had explained to her the intricacies of the Algon-Sanc war, which most people completely ignored nowadays.
So, they'd started to go out and do things together, like friends do. Go on walks, out to eat, see a play, kill Atropos' targetâ€the usual stuff. Dorothy had never asked for anything, save doing a couple quick and paying jobs, and Atropos had never asked her rank or title. Of course, she'd always been dressed in pants, and Dorothy had never caught on. It had been great.
Then, it happened. Four days ago, Dorothy came to the Noin apartment, muttering about her cousin. That was actually a normal thing; as the resident confidant, Atropos had heard many stories about the manipulative, mysterious cousin. Like usual, Atropos had comforted her friend, taken her out for ice cream, and then they'd talked about it. Dorothy said she was about to rise in power, which Atropos had congratulated her forâ€until the blank look in the girl's blue eyes.
"I don't want to," she'd said, eyebrows creased. "I already hate my rank, and I've honestly been considering asking to be your partner, since we made such a good team." Atropos had nodded. The cleanest and easiest assassination she'd ever done had been with Dorothy as backup. They'd joked about it constantly. "But, I can't. He'll be angry. He wants me to..." Dorothy had started to do the over-swallow that meant any normal girl would have been sobbing blood.
Atropos had put a hand on her friend's shoulder comfortingly, and smiled. "Hey, you'll be okay. I'll watch your back," she'd reassured, and then the girl had lunged at Atropos' lips with her own.
"Don't lie," she'd whispered, and blushing- BLUSHING! - walked out the door. Dorothy had never blushed. Ever. Not when Atropos had pointed out she'd been sitting in dog poop, not when she'd suggested they spend the night together (platonically!), never.
Then again, she'd probably never kissed a girl dressed as a guy before.
Atropos shook her head to clear her brain finally, and walked down the stairs with Noin. Nobility everywhere stared at her. It was probably the scar. She had a white line that curved from right below her left eye down to her jawline, making almost a half-heart design. It had come from her first real job as an assassin. She'd miscalculated, and barely avoided losing an eye to the man's knife.
A man grabbed her bare elbow, and Atropos whirled to see a shocked-looking boy with black eyes and black hair (and a rather clashing ensemble) staring at her. There was something familiar about him, but she couldn't quite explain it.
"Hilde? Is that you," the boy asked, scrunching his eyes as if it would change her face. Atropos gave him a look that said 'you're an idiot, but I'm trying to be polite'. But, before she could tell him how wrong he was, the boy was pulling her through the crowd, towards the three tall chairs. The red one was occupied by a ginger-haired man in dark blue, who had Lady Une standing by his side in a gray dress. The middle chair was empty for the moment, and the white chair to the right held a mostly-blonde woman in a light blue dress, looking as pleasant as possible.
Behind her was Dorothy, looking really, REALLY pretty.
The boy jerked her again. "Come on, Hilde, I need to make sure you're you," the boy said as if it made perfect sense. Atropos glared at him.
"Get off me, you fashionably challenged brat," Atropos yelled, yanking her arm away. "I want to go talk to Dorothy!" The room went silent, only to be interrupted by three simultaneous shouts.
"HILDE!"
"ATROPOS!"
"DIE!!!"
Atropos flew across the room, the boy who had her arm cursing and running after her. Cursing the dress, she pulled out one of her many daggers in transit towards the shattered window behind the black chair. A somehow familiar boy in black was sprawled on the floor bleeding, while a boy in white was both watching him and fending the assassin off.
She frowned. This wasn't an amateur. He'd attacked long before the shout.
People were screaming and running, most of them towards the door. She could see a few trying to make their way to the scene, but Atropos was closest.
She threw the dagger, and it sliced into the hooded man's side. With a muffled yell, he swirled his sword again, but the boy in white took the moment to imbed his own blade firmly in the assassin's ribcage. Blue eyes glinting dangerously, he pulled the bloody sword out and immediately turned back towards the fallen boy.
"ATROPOS," a familiar voice hissed loudly, and she turned around to see Dorothy, thin rapier in hand, glaring at her. "What are you doing in a DRESS? Were you a part of this?" Her dark blue eyes scowled at the blonde.
"Do you really think I'd be in a dress while working," Atropos demanded, and when Dorothy didn't sheathe her weapon, sighed. "Dorothy, I'm a girl. You never asked, so I didn't say anything." The blonde rolled her eyes.
"Thanks, I couldn't guess from THAT," she said, gesturing to the annoyingly low neckline of Noin's chosen garment.
"Dorothy, help me," a pitiful voice whimpered, and the other girl quickly scrambled across to the white chair.
"Atropos," the boy in white said clearly, and she turned, thankful her hair was up in a small bun tonight. He held the boy in black in his arms protectively. "Goddess of death. Interesting." She shrugged.
"Well, it's what I am," Atropos said casually, and noticed the boy who had been following her was now busy making out with a girl in a red dress. "He going to be okay?" The boy in white nodded.
"Heero," he said simply, readjusting his grip on the boy who had an astonishing length of braid falling down his back. "I pay my debts. Just look for me, and I'll find you." Atropos nodded, immediately respecting the man. He skipped the pleasantries, and seemed genuinely honorable.
"Oh, Dorothy, it was HORRIBLE," a woman whimpered. The screams had subsided, and almost all of the guests were gone. Zechs and Noin were approaching, and two other boys hurried over. "All that shattered glass."
"Relena, you're okay," Dorothy stated, and Atropos couldn't help but grin. The girl had to be near annoyed to death. "Can you stand up?"
"Atropos! Are you okay," Noin asked quickly, scanning the younger woman's face for any new injury.
"God, Noin, what took you so long," Atropos asked, and noticed her adopted sister tightened up a bit. "Relax, relax, I'm okay. No worries. Just doing what you asked." Noin nodded.
"I wish you weren't so noble sometimes," Noin said, ruffling the girl's hair. "You're going to get yourself killed one of these days."
"Heero! Is he okay," a very fashionable blonde asked. It was obvious why he'd been late; his coat was ripped, and it looked like he'd been nearly trampled. The other boy was the same. Heero nodded.
"He will be. If you'll excuse us," Heero said cordially, bowing his head to Atropos and the others, and walked out the Royal entranceway. The tall boy in green froze at the sight of Atropos.
"Hilde? Is that you," he asked, striding forward, and Atropos sighed.
"What is it with you people and calling me names? I'm not this Hilde person," Atropos snapped. "My name's Atropos. NOT Hilde. God, people nowadays. First the coordination genius, and now a trampled tree." The tall boy smiled.
"I know it's you, Hilde," he shrugged. "Whenever you want to talk, we're always here. I'm Trowa if you can't remember, and this is Quatre." The shorter blonde beamed at her.
"It's an honor to meet you! When you get the pirates to talk about you, they're nonstop," he said confidentially, and Atropos frowned. PIRATES?
"I...I have to go" she muttered, sensing Dorothy's eyes on her back. When she turned, Dorothy stared straight at the assassin, and Atropos couldn't help but feel something foreign clutch her. "I-"
"Attie, don't avoid it," Noin said calmly, but Atropos shook her off.
"NO! I'm NOT HILDE," she screamed, and ran out the door.
The remaining seven stared at each other, but within a moment Dorothy tore after the girl, hiking her burgundy skirts up almost indecently to catch the running woman.
x---x
A/N: OOOO! Cliffhangery! Will Duo survive? (Well duh.) Will Wufei bite Meiran's tongue out? Will Trowa and Quatre EVER have some action? And what's going on with Dorothy and Atropos now? Ohh, this is gonna be gooood!
Well! Let me just take this moment to say this was so late because I got sick AGAIN, and to make up for it this is pretty long, and lots of goodness! Yay.
Rekkaboziegirl: I've always thought Quatre's capable of being really, really creepy, and never innocent. Well, then again, none of them are too innocent. Thanks for reading!
Miaka Kennyuuki: Okay, last response? Kind of got cut apart mid-sentence. Soo, if you were a tad bit confused that's why. And lack of telekinesis? I'll just say it may not be permanent. Muwahahaha!!!
Myca: I'd thought you were always onto my sadistic twist ;) Ugh! Chapters. Can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em. Darn. Wow, look! I have such a clean mouth today! Go me.
Mlaine: You ever notice brothers have a bad habit of knowing you too well? Yeah. Mine's onto me. I'm thinking I might have to (ahem) "eliminate" his motives for prying. I love blackmail, don't you?
Windy River: I'm TRYING!!! It never works! Waaah
TrenchcoatMan: Ha. Foreshadowing? Literary devices? ME?? (Innocent look) Nah, I never do that. But oh yeah. Relena vs. Quatre? My money's on Q any day. Scratch her eyes out, and she's down for the count.
Silver Cateyes: I forgive you! I had to go on those once, too! Agh, vacations. You're supposed to enjoy them, but all I end up doing is writing on (gasp!) paper instead of my computer. Then my parents yell at me. It's fun. Glad you're back!
Thank you all so much for reading! And please, review. It means so much to me. No, really.
I'm gonna go watch Kill Bill now. Bye!