AN: Ack! Checking through this I'm sorry to say that I'm going to have to retract my spoiler comment! However, it is from the series and I'd like to think that most people would either know about it or not care. You'll get over it right? That's right... Thanks for the reviews! You guys really boosted my confidence in this fic! Oh, and cliché? Of course! But life it cliché is it not? I love writing it so much I'm going to be sad to finish it. Sob. Well, I have a little way to go yet. So far there are five chapters completed and the sixth is in the making! Enjoy!
Chapter One:
"So how long have you known Mr.Yuy?"
The question came from a very fat, very middle-aged woman opposite and along the table from Duo. He forced a fake smile. As he was forced into doing this he'd have fun doing it.
"Well, I'd reckon about..." He put the spoon he'd been using to stir his coffee to his lips, "Six or so years. At the beginning of the war..."
"Oh, so quite a time then. How did you meet him and Miss Relena?" The woman waffled, her many chins wobbling.
"Let's see now. I met Heero when he was about to kill Miss Relena, I tried to stop him by shooting him in the arm and Relena had a go at me." He took a sip from his coffee-cup and waited for the reaction. Heero kicked him in the ankle under the table and Relena gave him a horrified look.
"Oh... Oh I see." The expression on the woman's face was timeless and worth the immense pain.
"I'm only joking, ma'am." Duo grinned devilishly and the woman chuckled cautiously. Heero simply glared.
"Oh, Duo, stop joking around." Relena said light-heartedly, but Duo noticed an edge to her voice, "He'll be telling you that they were Gundam Pilots next!"
There was a spatter of laughter and then conversations continued.
Duo laughed falsely then excused himself from his seat. Heero followed not long after. He caught up to him in the foyer of the restaurant.
"Where are you going?"
"Nowhere," Duo replied touchily and then added when Heero gave him a dubious look, "I'm not leaving. Don't you worry about that."
"So what are you doing then?" Heero folded his arms across his chest.
Duo sighed, "Getting some air. For two orphans you certainly have a large following."
"They're all Relena's acquaintances. A lot of them are colony representatives which makes it even more important that you don't cock this up."
"Oh geez, I'm sorry!" Duo said sarcastically, scowling, "I wouldn't want to mess this up for you would I?"
"Duo..." Heero growled in dangerous warning tones.
"Relax, Yuy, I'm not that evil."
"That's what they all say..."
"Heero! Duo!" cried a voice from the entrance of the venue and before they could turn to see the owner they were held in a tight embrace, "Oh it's so good to see you two again!"
"Hi, Quatre." Duo laughed into the blonde mop of hair that was all he could see. He clapped him on the back and held him at arms length to look at his shining face. Heero was already shaking hands with Trowa and receiving a brief hug.
"Where's Wufei?" Duo asked them both.
"Parking the car." Quatre replied, "It took us ages to get here. How are you both? Is everything running smoothly?"
"Good-" Duo smiled.
"-And mostly." Heero finished.
"And yourselves?" Duo asked.
"Running quite smoothly." Trowa said, smiling as much as he ever did.
"We're fine, thank you." Quatre corrected, giving him a sideways glance, "Were you waiting for us long?"
The two stared blankly at him.
"Oh, you mean out here? Well, we were just-" Heero started, but was interrupted mid-sentence.
"It's completely bucketing it down out there!" Moaned a very sodden Wufei, coming in from the downpour.
"Fei!" Duo cried glad of the distraction. He crossed over to him and made to hug him but was halted by a raised hand.
"Don't touch me." Wufei said and Duo stared at him, a little miffed. Wufei sighed and continued, "You'll get soaked. I had to park about a hundred yards down the road because the car park is full. And don't call me Fei, I'm not a woman."
"No. You're Wu-man!" Duo grinned so Wufei promptly rung out his sleeve on Duo's trouser leg.
"Baka!"
The others laughed accordingly. They soon trailed off into the seating area again and found their places. They introduced Wufei before he escaped to the washroom to dry himself off as much as he could and then return. Conversation set off immediately.
"Mr.Winner! We expected you sooner!" A gentleman addressed Quatre as the person in question reached for the basket of bread. Duo subconsciously tuned himself in to their conversation after finishing his own.
"Ah, yes...well. We were a bit caught up in traffic, Mr.Tatsuha. The weather is awful."
"Isn't it just? You came altogether you say? Bodyguards?"
Quatre laughed and Duo noticed a slight blush creep across his young face. He looked past Quatre and met Trowa's gaze.
"Actually no. These are just my old friends. Duo Maxwell and Heero included." He smiled politely.
"So you're on the groom's side. I automatically assumed you be on Darlian's." They man seemed somewhat disgruntled by his conclusion. Duo couldn't help but scowl: This man reeked of politics and aristocracy.
"Didn't your father blow himself up with the satellite he ran?" The man's whole attitude seemed to have changed at the drop of a pin. Quatre visibly tensed up and Duo reached for his arm under the table.
"Yes." Quatre said and cleared his throat, "Rather than let it be turned over to OZ for improper use he destroyed it."
The man nodded slowly, "So you consider your father a martyr?"
Quatre was left speechless. Duo opened his mouth to speak to this impertinent old fool to ask him how he dared to speak to Quatre in that way, how he could bring up obviously tender subjects at a dinner table and generally how much of a cock he was, but he was stopped by a reply that came before him.
"Quatre's father sacrificed himself and his whole family's reputation to do what he thought was right. He stood up for what he believed in, and rather than let his whole life's work be taken from him and used as a tool of destruction he didn't give OZ the chance. If that's not the definition of a martyr, Mr.Tatsuha, I don't know what is." Relena Darlian spoke. Duo stared at her in awe. He had ultimate respect for this strong young woman, perhaps that was what was making everything so much harder. He wished he could hate her, hate her with everything he had, but he had no reason to and he had many reasons why not to.
Mr.Tatsuha shut up after that. He did not speak to Quatre for the rest of the evening. A more amiable atmosphere proceeded but Quatre was not himself again until much later. Duo watched him shelter himself in Trowa's conversations and occasionally speak in a low voice only to his older companion. Those two were still as close as ever, at least that hadn't changed, Duo concluded, smiling to himself as he took a sip of red wine. It was good stuff, he was not a wine fan but he had to admit that the hosts had provided their guests with pleasing beverages. The food was good as well.
Heero squeezed his hand under the table and brought him back to reality. He almost choked but the Heero on the outside ignored him and continued to talk to Relena's mother. She'll be his mother in-law, Duo thought bitterly. The wine didn't taste as good as it had moment before. He entwined his fingers in Heero's own and willed himself not to think of it anymore.
"So what are we doing for the Stag night later then?" Quatre had turned to Duo for the first time since they had sat down. His good mood was obviously returning, Duo almost sulked about the fact that he could not speak to him before now, as if he had to be in a good mood to be able to tolerate him.
"Oh, you know. The usual typical Stag night things." He winked at Quatre who looked bemused. Wufei laughed. Due to the pressure on his hand Duo knew that Heero was eavesdropping on their conversation so he drew circles on his palm with his thumb and continued mischievously, "Give me a list and I'll tell you yes or no."
The very thought of listing out certain things sent Quatre bright red, let alone saying them aloud at a dinner table.
"I'm only messing with you, Cat." Duo laughed, "You'll find out later. For now it's a secret! You've got what I asked you to bring 'though, right?"
Quatre nodded, "I have to admit, you have me a bit worried about tonight..."
Heero's grip tightened and Duo gave him a brief smile and forked a carrot into his mouth as the dark haired boy looked at him suspiciously out of the corner of his eye.
"How are Milliardo and Noin? Are they coming tomorrow?" Duo asked Relena past Heero. She looked startled to be spoken to by him. Duo felt this was fair; he didn't often address her directly.
"Um... Yes, they were busy with work today but they said they'd make sure they were there tomorrow." She replied nervously, "Oh, and they're both well. Lucrezia's expecting!"
It took a few moments for Duo and the others to realise what she'd said.
"That's wonderful!" Quatre beamed.
"Oh, awesome!" Duo agreed.
Heero smiled but looked a little pale.
A brother and sister-in law, Duo thought, a nephew...almost a whole family. Another thing I could never give him.
He loosened his hold on Heero's hand and tried to pull it away but the recipient held it fast. He was looking at him intently. Those eyes were dark, endless pools and Duo loved to drown in them but he would have to learn to swim soon. He tore himself away: there was the first stroke.
Desert was being served but Duo was feeling sick inside, normally he'd never pass up dessert of any kind. Lately he'd been passing up more desserts that usual. Questions ran through his mind, disturbing him: Is he holding her hand too? Will she truthfully wear white? Does she know? Can she tell? They kept on coming and the more he was left to think the more sick he felt.
Heero was running his hand up the inside of his thigh. Duo almost retched. What the hell did he think he was doing? Does he think this is funny? Does he enjoy causing me pain?
Duo's hand began to shake inside Heero's.
