Chapter 4

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"Stupid Heero, why'd he have to go and fall in love with Camilla!" Duo fumed as he quickly retrieved his bag for emergencies.

Hilde had suggested it, in case he had to change quickly or he needed to fix up makeup or something- a large, purse-like bag to have checked at the entrance. And right now, Duo was just thankful that he'd stashed a set of normal clothes in it.

Quickly making his way to the restrooms, he noticed Wufei standing nearby.

"Hey, do me a favor," He whispered to the black-haired man.

"What's wrong, Duo?"

"Nothing," He lied, not in the mood at the moment to explain further, "I just need to change quickly. Can you see if the guy's bathroom is clear?"

Raising an eyebrow, yet deciding not to press Duo for answers at that moment, Wufei shrugged and went to check the bathroom as asked.

Returning to where Duo waited, he whispered back to him.

"It's all clear. I'll wait outside and divert anyone's attention until you come out."

"Thanks, I owe ya one."

The blaze of the red dress and the flourish of brown hair as it disappeared into the room caught the corner of Heero's eye and he quickly made his way across the dance floor.

Stopping beside Wufei, he glanced about before speaking to him.

"Did you see which way that girl went?"

"The one you just kissed?" Wufei said casually.

"You're observant."

"I'm just doing my job. Why do you need to find her?"

The two young men looked out at the dance floor, both of them noticing Relena casting a worried glance towards them.

Heero mouthed four words to Relena, confirming what she already suspected.

"I know it's Duo."

Taking a few steps, Heero leaned up against the bathroom door.

"I think the girl got the wrong idea, Wufei. You see, that kiss wasn't meant for Camilla."

The sound of something dropping inside the room caught Heero's ears, and he glanced over his shoulder at the door behind him.

"You've still got it bad for Maxwell, don't you?" Wufei remarked as Relena walked over to them.

"You could say that," He replied, noting the sudden silence from the room behind him.

"What happened?" Relena asked as she approached.

"He kissed her," Wufei explained.

"And I think Duo took it the wrong way," Heero finished, once again glancing at the door behind him.

Relena nodded, then reached out and placed a hand on Heero's shoulder.

"Then you'd better go get this straightened out."

"I'm guarding the door, but since you're the other guard I guess I can let you in," Wufei said with a smirk.

"All right, but you'd better fill me in on what this whole thing's about later."

Heero said, looking between the two before turning and slowly opening the bathroom door.

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Duo had been listening through the door, and with each new part of the conversation- his anger slowly dissipated into shock. As he hastily twisted the strands of his hair back into a braid, he noticed the door opening in the reflection of the mirror. It was Heero.

"Can we talk?"

Turning with a shrug and slouching down against the wall, Duo muttered a reply, "I guess."

Heero glanced down at the bag, the red dress still poking out through the top zipper. Looking to Duo, he noticed how flustered the other young man seemed. His jeans and black shirt obviously quickly pulled on, and his braid was far from smooth.

"You were listening through the door, weren't you?"

"…Yes."

Sitting down beside Duo, Heero glanced over at the bag once more.

"Can we talk about something now that Camilla left?"

Duo glared out of the corner of his eye, "Oh fine. Go ahead and laugh at me for being an idiot and thinking I could fool you with a disguise."

"You were that worried about me dancing with someone else?" Heero asked, his face and voice both sounding somewhat touched at the thought.

"Yeah well… it was Hilde's idea."

The room fell awkwardly silent, and hesitantly- Heero reached over and took Duo's hand. After a second, Duo intertwined his fingers and leaned his head over on Heero's shoulder.

Taking a deep breath, Duo decided that he'd take the first step forward.

"So, are we dating?"

Heero started at that, turning to look at him.

"Are you asking me out?"

"…I guess so."

Heero clutched Duo's hand tighter and took the second step forward.

"So, you're my boyfriend then."

Duo smiled, the laughter back in his voice, "Yah, and you're mine."

Shifting, Heero started to stand up.

"You want to go someplace else. I'm not fond of these fancy dances."

"Me either."

Extending a hand down, Heero helped Duo stand. As he got his balance, he paused to let the whole situation sink in. Nervously rubbing the back of his head, Duo diverted his eyes.

"So…can I kiss you now that I'm not wearing lipstick?"

Heero smiled, "Sure."

Leaning towards one another, their lips met in a second kiss.

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"You know, emerging from the bathroom disheveled is not exactly how I planned to end this night," Duo said laughingly as they walked back out to the ballroom.

"You're the one who came in a dress," Heero replied.

The two paused a moment to look at the dance floor.

"Is it all right to leave Relena?"

Heero pointed to where the young woman was with Wufei, "I'd say Wufei will take care of her."

Duo's eyes widened and he grinned, "Well, well. Looks like we aren't the only two sneaking a kiss around here tonight. All right, since Wufei's taking care of Miss Peacecraft- let's get out of here."

The two slowly headed towards the doors and headed out down the stairs to hail a cab. Midway down the stairs, one of the red shoes fell from Duo's bag and Heero paused to pick it up.

"Heero, promise me that you'll never make me wear a dress ever again."

Handing the shoe back to him, Heero smiled, "Okay, it's a promise."

THE END