Heero-Ella

Chapter Three: Duo POV;

I couldn't believe it. That had to have been the most embarrassing thing I had ever had happen to me. That certainly wasn't something I wanted to go through again. Hell, I'm certain Trowa and Heero are now in the process of hating me for the deception I had played on them. I really couldn't blame them. I hated myself at the moment.

"Wufei! How could you do that?! Couldn't you have acted with just a little more tact? I could have played it off if you hadn't of bowed before me and called me 'highness'," I grumbled. Wufei looked mortified, helping me into the limo that had just arrived in the far side of the parking lot. We had gotten away from the mob, but not knowing when Quatre would be returning, Wufei had been forced to call for the limo.

"Forgive me, my prince. You have every right to be angry with me," he answered dejectedly, almost as if he expected me to do something worse than order him fired.

"Oh, cool off, Wuffles. I'm not about to fire you. Your job is safe. It was more my fault than anything. You said we shouldn't go somewhere so populated, and I went against it. Let's just call it even, all right." Wufei nodded, watching as my expression saddened even more as I caught sight of the palace. Once again I would be in my cage. My Greek god would be left out in the world and free. I was envious of him.

"My Prince, we wish you would have told us you were going out," the head of the guards said as I got out of the limo, cap and glasses now missing so I could no longer hide who I was. I sighed.

"Go bite me, Rowland. I'm not about to tell you every time I fart, let alone when I want to be alone." He seemed to look at me darkly and I simply turned away from him, marching into the castle. My father's most trusted and loyal friend, Zechs Merquise, soon stopped me. Gee, small world. Here was the man who employed the man of my every wet dream. Who would have thought?

"Prince Duo, your father wishes to have a word with you," he said, his voice rich and deep. I nodded and waved off Wufei.

"Stay here with Count Zechs, Wufei. 'We' shall call for you once 'we' return from visiting 'our' father," I replied, falling into the annoying speech of the royal 'we'. Sometimes it was easy and other times I felt like killing the person who had come up with the whole rotten speech in the first place.

"Yes, your highness," he answered, bowing and stepping aside as I walked off, into the dragon's den. After all, the only time my father ever wanted to see me was when I was in trouble.

Wufei POV:

I watched my prince walk off, still mortified by what I had done. Duo had been enjoying himself, which I must admit is a rare thing to see. Then I had to ruin it by knocking over that blasted soda. If I had been him, I would have fired me and then ordered me to the dungeons. Yet Duo wasn't like that. He didn't hate anyone and he most certainly never truly got upset with them.

"So, little dragon, seems the prince had a bad outing," Zechs said softly, placing an arm around my shoulders. I leaned back into his embrace, knowing that for this moment it was safe to give in to what I felt.

"Yes, he did. I spilled my soda on him and caused him to get recognized. He had been enjoying himself rather well before things went bad."

"He was out with Quatre and you, wasn't he?"

"Yes. We had also met up with Trowa, and an employee of yours. One Heero Yuy by name." Zechs smirked.

"So, the two finally meet." I pulled away slightly and turned in the embrace, not breaking it. My eyes lanced his blue ones and I stared.

"What does that mean?" I question. Duo may be a pain and I rarely was able to remain calm when guarding him, but he was still my prince. Only I was allowed to mess with him.

"I've know Heero for a long time, Wufei. He's a good man yet he's sadly in need of friends near his own age. Trowa was the only one able to get near him; no thanks to that ungrateful woman he calls a mother and her two annoying daughters, of course. They work him ragged at home and then expect him to work a full shift at the store and get in his schooling."

"What kind of onna is this that she can't make her own children help? Especially if he's already pulling his own weight with a job and school." Zechs smiled and pulled me closer, urging my head down onto his chest.

"She wasn't always like this. Losing the man she loved did much to embitter her toward the world. Especially the royal family. She barely tolerates Hilde's obsession with Duo. If she were to know Heero and Duo had become friends, I do believe things would get decidedly worse for him." I shook my head; suddenly very sorry I had truly ruined the boy's fun. He seemed like a nice person, despite the over worked appearance he had.

"Then I shall have to make certain that this day isn't a total loss." That said I moved away from Zechs' warm embrace and graced him a small smile. "Shall you be joining our King and I this evening?" Zechs smirked.

"Of course. Just try to keep me away, I dare you."

"I only accept dares I know I can win. That one, I wouldn't." Zechs nodded, a smile on his lips.

"Until this evening, little dragon," he said and then left. I then heard my cell phone ring and I picked it up, instantly knowing it was Quatre from the ring that the phone had done. The song of 'Gentlemen Prefer Blonde's' played, which was my choice for the boy. Yet if one ever told that to anyone, I'd have to kill.

"Yes Quatre, what is it?" I asked.

"I've brought Trowa and Heero with me to the palace. Do you think you can get Rowland to chill with the third degree and come help us get inside?" I smirked. Rowland was a prick sometimes, but at least he was good at his job.

"I'll be right down, Quatre. Hand the phone to him."

"All right." I could hear the phone being passed and Rowland seemed to growl.

"What is it?" the head guard questioned. I allowed my voice to become icy as I spoke.

"They are friends of his highness, Prince Duo, and should be treated as such. If you wish me to tell him of how you are treating his friends, I can assure you that it can be arraigned." Rowland cursed under his breath, making me smile.

"I shall make certain they get the same treatment he would get, Wufei. Just come and collect them soon, would you," Rowland muttered before handing the phone back to Quatre. Quatre laughed.

"Don't you love it when your rank makes you more powerful than the head of the guards?" he asked, his voice bright. I couldn't help but nod, even though he couldn't see it.

"Certainly. I'll be down shortly, Quatre. Just hold on till then."

"Of course. We'll be perfectly fine now. Just make it as quick as you can."

"Understood," I answered and hung up. I closed my phone and headed toward the front gates. If Duo was upset with me for ruining his time outside, then Quatre's fast thinking of bringing them here and my quick work of the red tape would more than make up for it. For once, I was glad I wasn't going to remain on his bad side for too long. When Duo was pissed, he wasn't the best person to be around.

Duo POV:

I walked into the throne room and bowed before my father. He bowed his head in return, his deep blue eyes watching me. I hated it when he did that. He always saw too much. His brown hair was neatly cut and his clothes defined his station in life beautifully. No one would ever mistake him for something other than what he was. The ruler of his country and lord of all he owned.

"Duo, you grace us with your presence in record time," Treize said, his voice rich in culture and life. My father was every bit the royal, even without using the royal 'we'.

"Thank you father. 'We' try to accommodate as swiftly as allowed," I answered. He smiled and waved off my words.

"No need for formalities, my son. There is much to talk about and I don't feel like having to speak with much formality." I smiled softly. This was my father's way of saying I wasn't yet as skilled as he was and therefore wanted me to simply talk as I normally would.

"Of course, father. What is it you wished to speak with me about?" I asked, curious. He laughed softly at me.

"First of all, I wish you would let the staff know when you are leaving. If you only wish Wufei with you, then say so. At least then there wouldn't be a castle wide search called out for you." I laughed at that.

"Oops, I suppose I forgot, father. Forgive me." He nodded.

"Of course. Just remember next time." I nodded myself. "Then there is the matter of dressing down and covering up your looks." I swallowed deeply.

"But father, it is the only way I can be outside without being mobbed," I confessed.

"Be that as it may, if you want to go out, dress as is befitting your station in life. If you refuse to take more than Wufei with the threat of having hundreds chasing after you, then that is your decision to make." I rolled my eyes. Oh, that was one of his sly ways of saying take more guards or be mobbed. Plain and simple be damned. My dad was down right mean at times, although not many ever realized it.

"As you wish, father," I answered, knowing better than to tell him right out that I would simply ignore that wish of his. He already knew I was a rebel. What was a little more time going against him going to hurt? I really wanted to know.

"Lastly, I hope you have been thinking about your birthday ball, my son," he began. Oh, I knew what was coming and I truly hated it. I didn't want to marry. No, strike that, if I could have my little Greek god, then perhaps I would consider it. Knowing he possibly hated me now, though, cooled my thoughts. "You are almost eighteen and at that age you shall be taking over my throne. I can do no other than want you to me settled and married, my son. You know that is the law. We cannot hold it off. A week after your birthday ball you shall be coronated. Then you shall be running this kingdom." I sighed softly.

"I know father. Believe me I know. I've been learning all about this time since I was old enough to know what being a prince meant, perhaps even before that. I could do no less than as you ask. Yet I wish you would allow me to find love, father, instead of making me rush into something I am not of yet ready to pursue." Treize actually appeared sad, which was something my father never looked like.

"I know, Duo. I do. I just cannot grant it. I hope you can find love in the time before your ball. I shall make certain no one dissuades you from leaving. You can come and go as you please. Just remember to return for the ball. That is a royal command." I grinned, breaking royal tradition and rushing up to my father, hugging him.

"Thank you, father. I shall do you as command." He hugged me in return, almost as if he had wanted to do the same thing. I then heard a knock on the door and turned toward it, letting my father go and moving back to where I had been standing.

"Come in," my father called. A guard entered, his head bowed.

"Forgive me, King Treize, but the prime minister is here. Also, Prince Duo has some friends waiting for him in his lounge." I grinned. At least Quatre had come back. Perhaps Wufei was waiting with him. It was the only thing I could think of, seeing as almost no one really called Wufei my bodyguard.

"Thank you, Marcus. That shall be all. You may go." Marcus bowed and left. Treize then turned to me.

"Go greet your friends, my son. I shall deal with the politics of this land for a little while longer." I grinned from ear to ear.

"Thank you father." I then bowed deeply. "By your leave," I said. He waved me off and I rushed out of the throne room as quickly as manners demanded. Once I was out of my fathers sight I took off at a dead run toward my lounge, wondering what news Quatre would have for me.