A/N: Apparently there was an issue with Chapter 3 onward having some awful errors. Hopefully this fixes all of them. Thanks for giving me the heads up, Wraith Five


True to his promise, Heero brought the suit he planned on wearing to the dinner. Quatre was not impressed.

"You need to get it tailored," he insisted.

Heero groaned. He just asked for help dancing. How had this evolved into cultural immersion, cuisine, self-esteem coaching and now fashion advice? "It already fits."

"It might fit, but you need the pants to be tailored so you don't step on your hems when you dance, and also have some definition in your waist.

"I have no intention of wearing a leotard to an international trade event."

Over in the corner, Duo looked up from his mobile game. "I'd pay to see that."

"You don't need something like leotards," Quatre insisted. "It's not a dance competition, but you do want to be unencumbered by your clothes. Which means you need to have the waist on the coat taken in, the sleeves hemmed, and the seat of the pants taken in as well. Trust me, you'll feel better, which will add to that confidence and posturing we've been working on when we dance."

Heero exhaled harshly through his nostrils

"After we get done today, I'll have Rashid drive us to my tailor and get your measurements. Your suit will be ready to go back with you tomorrow night."

Duo stood and took the garment bag out of Heero's grip. "I'll take it to Rashid to get washed and pressed so you can get it fitted as soon as practice is over." He knew if Heero had truly wanted to keep it, he wouldn't have let go; he was also one reluctant to accept help, but knew when to take the advice of others.

"Thank you, Duo." Quatre nodded at him politely before turning his focus back on his mentee. "Are we ready to tackle some spicier combinations today?"

The paso doble and salsa built a solid foundation that Quatre was able to then add the cha-cha and the Rumba. It was another two weeks however that Quatre realized that Heero's discomfort was extending beyond just learning the steps.

"I saved the Samba for last. It's the most complicated and the most…intimate."

Heero raised an eyebrow. "Intimate?"

"If you look at the other dances, especially something like the cha-cha, you and your partner stay apart and don't have to move as a single unit, you just have to move in unison. In some ways, that's easier because your movement isn't restricted by your partner, but the samba is very intense and very sensual, and since you and your partner are together more frequently it's both more difficult to dance and to emote."

"The Samba also has some very…engaging lifts for your partner."

Heero's focus shifted from Duo to Quatre. "Lifts?"

"I know I probably weigh more than Relena, but if you learn to support my weight, Relena will be no trouble at all. Here, stand with your dominant foot ahead…farther." He took Heero's hands and leaned forward. "Now bend your knees and get ready to support me." He lifted his leg and crooked it around Heero's, not expecting the bodyguard's reflexes to kick in and get thrown to the ground. Realizing he overreacted, helped Quatre to his feet.

"I thought you were trying to trip me," Heero grunted, the closest thing his dancing teacher was going to get to an apology.

"That's ok. No damage done," Quatre said, dusting himself off as a demonstration he wasn't hurt. "We can try again."

A second try to do the lift led to Heero pulling away and Quatre being dropped again. After the third time he called a break even though they hadn't even been on the floor for fifteen minutes yet.

"You seem really uncomfortable. Would you rather have a female dance partner?" Quatre offered. "My sister Iris has a daughter that's taken lessons, and she's about the same height as Relena."

"Yes, please," the bodyguard replied a little too quickly.

Quatre pulled out his phone and showed Heero a picture. "She's only fifteen, but she's every bit the dancer I am."

Heero looked at the picture. She did indeed look 15, but not the mature kind of fifteen he was when he was sent on secret missions, breaking out of hospitals, participating in mecha battles in space, committing espionage, and threatening to kill his girlfriend. She looked like the kind of fifteen that was still wrestling with having to wear "grown up "clothes and hadn't mastered how to apply makeup effectively. Worst of all, she looked exactly like Quatre. Platinum gold hair cut in a short pixie cut with teal-colored eyes and an open, innocent glow on her face.

"On second thought, why don't we just keep this between us." Heero said. Dipping and holding onto Quatre's hips were bad enough, but underaged, teenage, girl Quatre seemed even worse somehow.

He later affirmed this refusal as the right course of action as the entire lesson involved Quatre leaning into him, crooking his legs around Heero's, and bending over in a way that Heero would have graciously appreciated had it been Relena, but coming from Quatre it was not as appealing.

"Let's start fresh then. Review what we know for the warmup and then move into the more complicated steps after." Quatre posed in perfect posture waiting for Heero to join him. Taking Quatre's hands in his, Heero followed the music solidly keeping up with his teacher.

"You've practice," Quatre smiled, "I can tell. Your posture and lines of motion are almost perfect."

A short "thank you" was all the soldier offered, not divulging the hours he spent every night after work watching videos, then watching again and again until he could repeat the combinations. The muscles in his liges and core burned with the slightest movement, but he'd been trained to ignore the pain and muscle soreness was nothing compared to having to reset his own dislocated femur.

"Much better. Solid footwork." Quatre was genuinely pleased.

Heero nodded but kept his focus on the dance steps as they warmed up. Even as the choreography grew more complex, he was able to follow along. It wasn't perfect, but he was able to follow and recover when he made mistakes.

"It looks like it's coming together good," Duo said casually, his attention divided between the dance partners and a Rubik's Cube.

It seemed Heero was not nearly as excited about his progress as his teacher was. Quatre chattered and gushed about how well he was doing all through lunch, even going so far as to invite the entire maganac corp to come watch their afternoon practice session. Heero gave a scowl and grunt of disapproval.

"Of course, Master Quatre," Rashid said as bussed the table, "I'll have all the available staff and corp in the studio as soon as lunch is taken care of."

Duo found the situation amusing, but Heero's scowl had deepened into a frown almost akin to a snarl. "Why did you ask them to come?" he asked as they re-entered the studio. He knew Quatre was impulsive, but he always had a reason for his actions.

"There's probably going to be people watching you in Cuba. I thought if you needed to get adjusted to an audience here, you'll be more confident at the actual event."

"Remember when I said he doesn't emote?" Duo teased. "I'm not sure he gets nervous."

Quatre didn't reply because while he knew Due was probably right, he had the vaguest sense of apprehension from Heero every time he came to practice. Maybe there was something he wasn't saying.

"I don't know. He's just been so distant the past few weeks." Relena put her tea cup back on the saucer and sighed. "I know him, and he's being even more withdrawn than normal, but he won't tell me why. It's making me worry"

Sitting across from her, Hilde had to use every ounce of self-control to keep a straight face, Their lunch date had been planned well in advance, as soon as Relena I learned then she and Duo were going to be in the L2 cluster for some Preventer intelligence work. Both only had a narrow window of availability, but able to arrange for Hilde come eat at the embassy.

Being privy to the shenanigans her boyfriend and Heero had been up to, Hilde had been sworn secrecy. "Maybe he just knows and this is his way of your busy staying out of your hair," she offered.

"He's been researching 'security protocols'" Relena used quotes air as she spoke, "for the past four weekends. I only see him at work,"

Hilde shrugged. "Quiet, distant, and obsessed with your security all sound like the Heero I know."

"What about Duo? Have he and Heero spent any time together since you arrived?"

She had to be careful, or Relena would get more suspicious, not that anyone's safety or well being would be in jeopardy if she let it slip, but Hilde wanted to keep the surprise. Heero and Duo had asked her not to tell and she was determined not to ruin it. She chose her words carefully: "I know they went for drinks the day after I got in, but Duo didn't say anything about him acting out of the ordinary."

"Heero doesn't drink," Relena said flatly.

"Duo's the one who wanted to meet at a bar, I don't know if he drank anything, The young activist scanned the face of her friend "Are you sure you're not just getting worked up about the trade summit or whatever?"

"I would say you're sounding almost paranoid, Miss Relena," interjected a passerby.

Relena simultaneously smiled and sighed. "Dorothy, you didn't tell me you were coming to the colonies."

"It was a last-minute trip," Dorothy said with a dismissive hand wave. "How have you been, my dear? I hear you're heading back to the surface soon."

"Oh yes, next week," Relena replied congenially. "Hopefully I'll be able to establish trade between the colonies and the Americas. It may even lead to them establishing their own colonies. We could use some diversity out here." Her enthusiasm, measured as it was, always managed to make her even more endearing. She had big dreams, but was willing to work hard to achieve them; it's what made her a good diplomat.

"Ever the idealist," Dorothy replied. Even after five years, her voice retained the uncomely tone of a condescending upperclassman at a fancy high school.

Hilde's lips curled into a scowl as the blondes made idle chit chat. She couldn't decide what about Dorothy was more invasive: her eyebrows on her smug face or her presence at their luncheon.

They had encountered each other on rare occasions, the nature of their job as Preventers and their mutual acquaintances made it inevitable, but Hilde could not abide Dorothy Catalonia. Every time they were in a room together, Hilde found some excuse to either leave or ensure she didn't have to talk to her. While Duo and Quatre chocked it up to a personality clash between the two, Hilde's disdain ran deeper than merely not seeing eye to eye.

No.

Dorothy had a weird, sadistic need to talk ugly to Quatre every time they were in a room together. From insulting his physique, marital status, administrative choices, suggestions, and even his religion, the verbal abuse never ended. Not one pleasant thing came from her mouth whenever she spoke to Quatre, who, like the pure and flawless cinnamon roll he was, just took it and was never unkind in return.

And Hilde hated her for it. She had a soft spot for Quatre and seeing him put up with her sharp tongue as often as he did made her blood boil.

She knew she couldn't scrounge enough polite words to string together to make a three word sentence, so she immersed herself in her sponge cake while the frienemies caught up.

"Well, I'd love stay and visit, but I've been invited to luncheon with the majority senate leader."

"I hope you have a pleasant time," Relena said, smiling sincerely.

"I will," Dorothy said nonchalantly "And Relena?" The Italian paused to ensure she had her full attention. Few things in this life are a certainty, Heero Yuy's devotion to you is one of

those things. I wouldn't worry about any of his behavior. He lives and breathes to make you happy." She dismissed herself with a "It was lovely seeing you; let's do lunch," her hair fanned dramatically behind her as she turned to leave.

The comment left Relena stunned.

She's not wrong," Hilde said, picking up her teacup. She took a few sips before adding, "I hate her, but she's not wrong."