Heero-Ella
Chapter Five: Duo POV;
He had just taken off like the hounds of hell were after him. "I thought only I ever wanted to run away from here," I muttered, a small laugh falling from my lips. I then whirled around. "Trowa! Q-bean! Front and center!" I yelled, staring toward where they were.
Quatre appeared first, a soft blush on his cheeks and his hair slightly disheveled. I wasn't about to ask what had been going on, at least not yet. There were more important things to deal with. "You yelled, your highness?" he asked.
"Duo," Trowa remarked, coming up behind him. It was good to see Trowa took to calling me Duo. That was a positive in my book.
"I'm going to pay a little visit to Heero tomorrow and I'll need your help." I then thought over his words. "Lady Une isn't very nice to him, is she?" I asked. Trowa nodded.
"Une wasn't always like that to him. After Heero's uncle died, she became embittered. It doesn't help that her two daughters are total freaks."
"Then he's most certainly going to be in trouble when he gets home, huh, Tro-man."
"More than likely," Trowa answered.
"Then I should stop by and apologize for making him late. Perhaps get Lady Une to lighten up."
"Good luck. She doesn't listen to anyone, perhaps not even a prince." I smirked, a look that made poor Quatre worry his bottom lip.
"My prince, please don't do what I think you're planning on doing," Quatre said softly. I picked up Shinigami, my white tiger, and nuzzled her nose.
"But Q-bean, you have no real idea of what I'm thinking." That said I headed toward my room. "Stay the night, Tro-man. Tomorrow we have much to do." I then vanished into my bedroom, Shinigami still in my arms. This was my one sanctuary from everyone. It was here that I allowed ideas to run through my mind like clockwork.
Wufei was more than just my bodyguard he was my spy. He was pretty good at it too. I had sent him on ahead of Trowa and myself to make certain Heero was home. Trowa had said he wasn't set to work today, so I knew he should be. Today I took special care with my appearance. I was dressed in a tailor made dark blue Armani suit. I was a prince, it's true, but uniforms went out with the 1800's. Now a day, Armani was the uniform of choice. My hair was pulled back in a simple ponytail at the nape of my neck. It was rather wavy, mostly due to my habit of always wearing it in a braid.
"The Wing is at home," Wufei remarked, using the code word for Heero. His words were quiet in the headset I was wearing, which consisted of a tiny microphone and earpiece. Trowa, Wufei, Quatre, and I all had a set.
"Copy that, Nataku. Heavyarms and I are on our way."
"Roger Deathscythe. Be careful. Lady seems to be in a rather dark mood. Pink is pestering Wing in the kitchen while Stalker is upstairs kissing a poster of yourself." I shuddered. I really didn't need that kind of information and I would have to get back at him for telling me something so twisted.
"Copy that, Nataku, even if it was a little too much information. Perhaps Tallgeese will commend your skills later." I heard him choke. Mentioning my father did that to him on a regular basis. There was most certainly something there besides hero worship; I just didn't know what it was. It was an easy way of getting back at him though, huh? I think so anyway.
"Just get here Deathscythe," Wufei growled. I loved it when I made him forget all protocol. "By the way, how's Sandrock?" I laughed. Sandrock, being, Quatre, had been left in the palace to keep Rowland busy. He was even dressed up to look like me. Rowland never saw Trowa drive me off grounds in one of the limos.
"I'm all right, Nataku," Quatre remarked into his own set. "Rowland's terrified Duo means to have him fired so a simple glare scares him off."
"Don't enjoy the power too much. Having that much power can corrupt," I told him. He laughed.
"I'm fine. Your life is waiting for you when you return. I don't want it. Just go and free Heero for a day."
"Yes, your highness," I called to him, listening as Wufei, Trowa, and Quatre all got a laugh out of that.
"We're almost there," Trowa said from the front seat.
"Good. Just don't enjoy this too much, Tro-man. I rarely let others do something for me that I can easily do for myself." I caught a smirk from him in the rear view mirror.
"Unless you hire me as your personal driver, Duo, there's no chance of that."
"Good point. Want a great paying job, Tro-man?" He laughed, brushing his hair back and under his cap. He couldn't remind Une of whom he was, so his hair had to be out of its usual style, showing off both eyes.
"We're here," he said by way of answer, totally ignoring my question. Butterflies flew in my stomach. I admit it I like Heero. When we had worked together in my kitchen yesterday we had worked together like a well-oiled machine. I wanted to grant him some happiness. I also wanted to enjoy myself before I was forced to marry.
"Your highness," Wufei said as he opened my door. I slid out and glanced toward the house. It was rather beautiful. A lovely two story building.
"See to it you let me know when she's lying," I said, stepping away from the car and standing a little straighter and taller. Wufei knew I was falling into all of the training that had been drilled into me all of my life. Heero wouldn't recognize me, which was for certain. Wufei walked up to the door and knocked, seeing as princes couldn't be bothered with such simple tasks. A woman with long brown hair answered, her blue eyes wide in shock. That was good.
"Prince Duo! To what do I owe this visit?" she asked. Lady Une recovered quickly, I see. We heard something fall upstairs and Wufei rolled his eyes. Hilde knew I was here. It would only be a matter of time before she was down to pester me.
"Mother, who's at the. . ." Relena trailed off as she saw me. For a moment I got the once over from her. Obviously, even though she wanted Heero, she wasn't afraid to look at other men.
"Lady Une," I began, bowing my head only toward her. "May 'we' enter?" I asked, still standing outside.
"Of course, your highness," Une said, moving aside to let us enter. Wufei walked in first, making certain all was clear before allowing me to enter. I followed behind him and eventually found myself seated in a lounge that obviously Relena had decorated. I wanted to be sick from the overload of pink in the room.
"Prince Duo! I knew you cared for me!" Hilde exclaimed, entering the room. One glance to Wufei and he had stopped her in her headlong rush toward me.
"'We' did not come for you, woman," I growled, Hilde obviously getting on my bad side. I then turned back to Une. "'We' came to apologize personally for having kept Heero out late last night." Relena glared darkly.
"Told you," she muttered.
"Quiet," Une hissed. She then turned back to me. "It's quite all right. He wasn't too late," she said, acting as if Heero hadn't been punished for his tardiness.
"In any case, 'we' wish to see Heero," I said. Relena went pale and Une seemed nervous. I already knew she didn't want me to see that she'd been working him all night.
"Um, Heero isn't here right now," Une finally said. Wufei looked me straight in the eye. She was lying. Just then a noise sounded in the kitchen area. Wufei gave an almost unnoticeable nod and I knew Heero was there. I stood to my full height, watching Une flinch.
"My lady, 'we' are not amused by your lies. 'We' know Heero is home and if you plan on lying to the crown, then please know you risk your life. 'Our' dungeons look rather empty this time of year. You would certainly liven them up." I caught Trowa and Quatre's laugh. They were enjoying this. Une paled visible and Hilde almost passed out.
"He's in the kitchen," Relena said, rushing to her mother. I caught her hushed words. "He's not worth you dying over, mother. Not at the moment." I smiled.
"Thank you, Lady Relena." I then turned and headed for the kitchen. I opened the door slowly, my heart in my throat. Heero looked like the most exotic thing I had ever seen, while down on his hands and knees scrubbing the floor. He was dressed in old, shabby work clothes, dirt rested on his nose, and he was obviously tired. "Heero," I called softly.
He looked up in surprise, his Prussian blue eyes locking onto my violet ones. "Duo," he replied softly, almost as if it was a dream. I could tell he wasn't fully recognizing me and I couldn't blame him. I wasn't quite like had I been when we met. I gave him a bight smile before turning back to Une.
"Lady Une, should 'we' find out that you've overworked him again, the dungeons will be the least of your worries." I then reached out a hand and helped Heero to his feet. I then took about five one hundred dollar bills and placed them in Une's hand. "Hire a professional to clean today. 'We' require Heero's presence elsewhere." I returned my gaze to Heero, but my question was to both of them. "Do you object?"
"No," Heero answered, his eyes still wide from my display of royal attitude.
"No, your highness," Une said, even though her words were said through clenched teeth. I smiled sweetly and took her hand, kissing it softly. I watched her melt just like any other woman. When I turned on the charm, no one remained standing.
"Thank you, my Lady," I whispered. I left then, Wufei and Heero following behind me. I vaguely heard Relena and Hilde begin to pester Une before we were safely in the back of the limo. Wufei took a seat beside Trowa.
"You didn't have to threaten her," Heero said with a small smile on his lips. "But their expressions were worth it." I laughed, lowering the partition between the front seat and the back.
"I know, Hee-chan. I couldn't help it though. She was lying to me and I hate liars. Hey, Tro-man, do you have those clothes?"
"Of course." He smiled and turned to face us, handing over a set of clothes. Trowa smiled at Heero's stunned expression. "Don't get used to it. The two eye look is only temporary." Quatre's laugh came over the headset.
"I'll try not to, Trowa," Heero remarked with a grin.
"See that you don't," Trowa came back. Heero began a quick change while I removed my wallet and place my five hundred dollars back into it, much to Heero's surprise.
"How did you manage that?" Heero asked. Wufei was the one who answered.
"Our prince is a man of many talents. Most of all is slight of hand and stealth."
"Thanks Wuffles. Most would have called it theft," I joked, getting a laugh out of everyone. "Get out of there, Q-bean. Time to meet up at the place we're heading too."
"Understood. See you soon," he answered. I then turned to Heero and carefully rubbed off the smudge of dirt from his nose.
"Where are we going?" Heero asked after a moment of silence.
"We are going someplace where we can have the time of our lives, Hee-chan. I promise you that."
Une POV:
I stared at the envelope that had been left in my pocket in the place of the money the prince had handed me. The prince reminded me too much of my lost love, right down to his oh-so-proper attitude and his calling me 'my lady'. Inside were four invitations to the ball. FOUR!! That meant the prince wanted Heero to go as well. Well, it would be a cold day in hell before that happened. Take what's mine, fine. Try to keep it and all hell will break lose.
Heero was mine. In the end, threat or no threat, I would keep him. It was only a matter of time before Heero realized this himself. Hilde would have to work harder on the prince's attention. In the end, if I couldn't be happy, then no one would be.