Author's Note: Dedicated to Lord Ma-koto and SlvySoleAlchemist as well as all Yzak/Dearka fans!

Disclaimer: I do not own nor claim to own Gundam Seed and/or its characters. They are property of Yoshiyuki Tomino.

Chapter 3 - On Love Lessons and Eavesdropping

"Yzak?" Nicol knocked on door 503. The door violently flew open, a glaring Yzak standing just beyond it.

"It's about time!" he growled. "We're late."

Nicol looked at his watch. "No we're not. We have five more minutes."

"Too close for comfort," Yzak replied, stepping out and pulling the door shut. "In case you haven't noticed, it'll take more than five minutes to get down this gargantuan hotel." He strode down the gilded corridor so fast that Nicol ran to catch up. The younger boy couldn't help but laugh.

"Say Yzak, dare I say you seem excited about this?"

Yzak turned and glared at him. "Bite your tongue. I am not."

Nicol shrugged, a small smile on his lips.

"I happen to find her a very talented singer, that's all," the ill-tempered youth spat defensively.

Whom you're not going to meet, sorry. Nicol felt a small pang of guilt at the deception they had planned, but he shrugged it off. For our health and sanity! Nicol cheered himself on.

Xxxxxxxxxx

"Athrun," Dearka whined. "I'm sleepy."

Athrun rolled his eyes and pulled the blanket off Dearka. "Gimme a break Dearka! You've been sleeping since we got here!"

"Can I help that I'm a growing guy?" Dearka swiped at his blanket but Athrun held it high above his head. Graoning, he buried his head under his pillow.

"You're a growing guy? Yeah, you need to grow up," Athrun replied, snatching the pillow as well. "Get up, get up, get up!"

"Fine, fine! Sheesh you sound like my mother!" Resigned, Dearka rolled out of bed. "How'd you get into my room anyway?" he asked peevishly. The four youths had separate bedrooms in the hotel.

"I have my ways. Go. Prep up now." Athrun waved him off.

"Dude, you sneaking into my room, how do I know your intentions for me are pure?" Dearka asked cheekily.

Athrun resisted an urge to wrap the blanket around Dearka's neck and strangle him. "You don't. But you might find yourself in a nice little crime scene if you don't hurry up and. Get. Dressed. Now." How does Yzak manage to put up with this guy! Athrun thought in exasperation.

"Fine, keep your pants on, I'm going." The blond trudged into the bathroom.

Xxxxxxxxxx

At the hotel bar, Nicol and Yzak were seated in a booth at the back. They had been waiting for an hour already, with no sign of Lacus Clyne anywhere.

Nicol was getting fidgety. Twice the waiter had brought cocktails to the table and twice Yzak had ignored them, stating he doesn't drink, settling on munching on the hors d' oeuvres instead. The tray was almost empty. The sparkling colorful glasses of alcohol were not.

I should get Yzak to drink or else this plan won't move, Nicol thought desperately. He took a glass and held it up.

"Hey Yzak, let's toast!"

"Toast to what?"

"To…meeting Lacus Clyne!" Nicol replied cheerily.

Yzak snorted. "She isn't here yet, dumbass. So we haven't met her yet."

"No, I meant to meeting her soon!"

Yzak checked his watch disdainfully. "It's past an hour already." He tried to keep a bored expression but he was getting worried. He adored Lacus Clyne and really wanted to see her. Although he abhorred waiting, he'd wait for Lacus Clyne. His patience was wearing thin though.

"I'm sure she's coming. Maybe she was mobbed by fans." Nicol tipped his glass towards Yzak. "Toast?

"No thank you. I'm going for a walk." And before Nicol could stop him, he stood and strode off to the other end of the bar…

…ending up a few feet away from a dimly-lit booth where a wavy-haired blond and a blue-haired youth sat, facing him. Dearka and Athrun.

Yzak's eyes narrowed at the sight of the blond's smiling mug, and he was about to march away when Dearka put his arm around Athrun's shoulders.

Yzak goggled. He blinked twice and rubbed his eyes. Still that arm was around Athrun. He felt his blood start to boil and he slipped behind a huge potted plant, watching them. He couldn't hear what they were talking about, but boy they were getting comfortable! Laughing so hard that the other diners were frowning at them!

And why is that arm still around Zala? Yzak seethed. He saw Dearka stroke and squeeze Athrun's shoulder. Athrun made a face and patted Dearka's hand, then squirmed out of his arm.

Bastards! Both of you! How dare you! Jealous rage filled Yzak to the point that he was shaking, and he kicked the plant with all his might. It teetered precariously. I hope it cracks your heads, Yzak growled, stalking back to his table and pushing past a surprised waitress with nary an apology.

"I'll have that drink." Yzak snatched a glass up and downed it, ignoring the astonished look on Nicol's face. He reddened and coughed fitfully, but already he was reaching for his second glass.

"All right!" Grinning, Nicol raised his glass and sipped. Whatever happened to Yzak he didn't know, but if it made him drink, yay for it!

Xxxxxxxxxx

Like Yzak, Dearka ignored the cocktails the waiter brought. But unlike Yzak, Dearka was quite the drinker. He ordered tequila shots instead.

It was on his sixth shot that he yawned. "I'm bored."

Athrun checked his watch. "It's past an hour already. I don't know what could've kept her," he replied, pretending to be mildly distressed.

"Dude, are you nervous? She's your fiancee, for crying out loud." Dearka rolled his eyes.

Athrun sipped the bright-blue liquid in his glass. "Nervous? Not really. Well, okay, maybe a bit." After all, that was his reason for forcing Dearka to come with him on this "date".

"What's to be nervous about? She's a girl. You know, female of the species. Those pretty little things with big tits and butts," he chuckled.

Athrun laughed. "Dearka, keep your voice down. People will think you're a pig."

Dearka snickered. "Like you aren't. I bet we're in this isolated, dimly-lit booth hardly by chance." He waggled his eyebrows suggestively at Athrun. "You're planning to make the moves on her here!"

Athrun laughed harder. "No way would I make the moves if you were here! You're not getting a free show!"

"Aha!" Dearka crowed. "I'm right! You ARE planning something dirty! You perv!"

"I am NOT!"

"Are too! Something like this, maybe?" Dearka put his arm around Athrun. "Oh Lacus honey, you're feeling cold? I know a better way to get you warmer. It involves you, me, a bottle of champagne and a hot tub!"

Athrun guffawed. "Dearka, if that's a sample of your pick-up lines, no wonder you don't have a girlfriend!"

"I don't have a girlfriend because I have girlfriends!" Dearka chortled. Other diners were now turning to look at them. "So, Lacus honey, I've got a bed with your name on it. What say I introduce you two?" He squeezed and stroked Athrun's shoulder.

"Uhm. Dearka. People are staring." Athrun made a face, patted his friend's hand, then squirmed out his grasp. "Thank you for lessons on how to make a move on girls!" Athrun said loud enough for people to hear.

Dearka gave him a weird look, until Athrun tromped on his foot. "Answer, damn it," he hissed.

"OW-oh! No sweat my geeky friend! Call Dearka the expert anytime!" Dearka hollered back. They burst into laughter again, neither of them noticing Yzak at all.

-to be continued-

Reviews are appreciated! Chapter 4 coming up soon! ;p