Beauty's Beast

Chapter 9-Breakfast at Gus's

"Wait!" she yelled. Her bare feet thumped against the dirty wooden floor as she ran after him. The halls were dark, the meager sconces not enough to light her way. She had tugged the shirt on hastily, and it rubbed against her as she ran, straightening itself out.

Duo heard her calls, stopping several feet in front of the dimly lit doorway. He felt Trowa stop behind him, and grimaced slightly. He turned, meeting a sea of blue, which was in fact the taller pilots shirt. Trowa, for once giving in, stepped to the side, letting Duo stand at the bottom of the staircase.

Minako sighed as she staired down the twenty some steps at him, "So, about that breakfast offer?" Minako said hopefully. Her toes wiggled in the dirt, and her body willed itself not to crawl out of it's skin. As a result, a prickly sensation overtook her skin, working her nerves up.

For the first time, he genuinly smiled. It was not a half smile, and by no means a sad smile. Duo Maxwell beamed handsomly at her. "Tomorrow morning? At that cafe?" he asked.

Minako smiled, "Sure. Rei and I don't work tomorrow. I'll have her drop me off."

Duo's smile turned into a slick grin, "Bring her. I'll bring a friend." The blonde matchmaker flashed an identical grin.

"A tall dark and handsome friend? Perhaps with blue eyes and brown hair?" she cracked from atop the stairs.

"That's the one," he chuckled. Minako nodded, and something warm radiated from her. Catching a feeling of this warmth, Duo wanted nothing more than to surround himself with it.

He stayed put though, "Nine," he called as he turned to the door.

"Nine," she repeated, staying put at the top of the staircase. Her top teeth nibbled her bottom lip as she watched the door swing shut. Her small smile crept across her face, as she slowly sauntered back to the apartment. She shut the door softly behind her, still pleased with herself for taking the lead.

Unable to hide her grin from Rei, she blushed, staring down at her dirty feet. She rubbed one with the other, hoping to clean them. She gained nothing but dirt transfer though.

Rei raised an eyebrow, smirking. She had cleaned up the bowls from dinner and washed them already, and she had just folded the blanket Minako slept with.

"What?" Rei asked finally, as she laid the pillow down atop the blanket.

Minako beamed, "We have a double date tomorrow. For breakfast."

"The two that were here?" Rei asked casually.

Minako shook her head, "Duo and Heero."

Rei's face fell slightly, and she grumbled a bit, "Naturally, the weird one," were the only audible words to Minako. Ignoring the other girls comments, Minako flopped on the couch, still grinning.

"I'm going to bed," Rei said finally, through the pillow and blanket atop Minako and leaving the room.

Needless to say, Minako barely slept that night.

Later that morning...

"You can't even say your a little bit excited?" Minako asked, nearly jumping out of her skin.

"No." Rei said, her hands gripping the steering wheel as she stared firmly ahead.

"But Rei, Heero looks like one of those brazillian soccer players. The ones with the muscles, and the tan and the shaggy hair. I'd take him for myself if Duo wasn't a million times better looking," Minako said jokingly.

Rei sighed, grumbling. She didn't deny Minako's statement that Heero was cute though.

Settling with herself, Minako pulled her door open, shutting it and smoothing her skirt and flyaway hair. She turned for a glance at Rei, frowning.

Rei hadn't really dressed for a date. The girl looked like a porcelain doll out of place in blue jeans and a plain red tank top. Minako herself had worn an orange sundress with a new pair of pumps. Yellow leggings peeked out from under the sundress.

Rei crossed her arms, walking through the door Minako had opened. Spotting Duo and Heero, Minako slid into the seat beside Duo, leaving Rei to sit beside Heero awkwardly.

From the corner of her eye though, she noticed that he also had glanced out of the corner of her eye. Gus smiled, winking from being the counter.

"Good morning," Minako chirped to the two boys. Heero grumbled something over a cup of coffee, as the waitress set down a cup for Minako and Rei.

Accepting, Rei let the drink warm her up from the cool fall air. It hadn't been very practical to wear a tank top. There was a good three or four inches between her and Heero.

Minako and Duo chattered away while Rei quietly sipped her coffee. She rubbed her arms instinctively, trying to warm her chilled skin.

"You shouldn't have worn that,"Heero said quietly. Rei turned to him, looking him up and down before nodding.

"This coffee's cold," she said quietly. Before she had finished though, Heero had poured a bit of coffee into Rei's cup. The waitress had just refilled Heero's cup seconds before.

"If you drink that it'll warm your core temperature up," he said, taking a drink from his now half empty cup.

"Thanks," Rei said, her violet eyes blinking at him. She took a gulp of the hot coffee, letting the burning sensation slide down her throat.

Heero was quiet, his head bowed as he stared at something on the table. Shifting Rei sighed. She turned to him, glancing though. He had the most beautiful eyes she had ever seen.

"You shouldn't let your hair grow out so much, it hides your eyes," she said finally. Her mind halted after this sentence. How long had it been since she'd been out on a date? Years? Apparently so. She sounded like her late grandfather after her last comment.

"I like my hair," Heero replied, glancing to her. He shook it out of his eyes though, revealing the brilliance to Rei. She pursed her lips, nodding.

"Why do you wear that ring around your neck?" he asked suddenly, glancing to Rei's neck. From his view, a silky hand grabbed at it, covering it from his view. It had been a simple silver ring, with a smoothly cut amythyst stone upon a graceful silver chain.

"It was my moms," Rei said quietly, before admitting, "It's too big for my fingers."

Heero nodded. Her comment had directed his attention to her hands. Her hands were perhaps nicer than her legs.

Minako and Duo were still happily flirting away, as Rei checked again. She begged for Minako's attention to save her from Heero's company.

Aesthetic attraction was nothing if he couldn't keep a conversation.

"That sounds perfect, doesn't it Rei?" Minako asked breathlessly, beaming at her friend.

"Hm?" Rei grunted.

"If we went over to the house the guy's are staying at tonight," Minako repeated impatiently.

"Hotaru," Rei said before she was interupted.

"Is welcome to," Duo finished, grinning at Minako.

Defeated, Rei nodded as Duo and Minako perked up their conversation once more.

"I can fix your ring tonight so you can wear it. If you want," Heero said quietly, nearly inaudible.

Her hand rose to the ring again, and she looked at him.