Title: 016 - Strawberries

Author: schyra

Rating: ?

Pairings/Characters: Lucia, Haru, Cattleya, Gale

Warnings: heheheheheh

Summary: [AU] Small, cute... and deadly.

Author's Note: ......*runs*

--~~~-oOo-~~~--

016 - Strawberries

Small, cute... and deadly.

"So," Gale asked casually. "Who'd you pick?"

Lucia leant against the wall, arms crossed. He was dressed smartly in a black and white suit, looking quite the handsome bachelor. He gestured at Cattleya's door. "Catt-nee's taking care of it."

Gale nodded and tried to read the newspaper. They waited, a comfortable, pondering silence between them.

A short while later, the door opened, and out stepped a slim, lithe body dressed in a short, black mini-dress made out of shimmering fabric. There was a crystal choker around her slender neck, and her hair was put up in a simple, yet sophisticated way. Most of her bangs were clipped back with hairclips, leaving a few strands to lightly veil her face. She wore red lipstick, not too much make-up, which matched her blood-red stilettos. In her hand was a small, cream purse with a plain, yet pretty design. She topped the look off with a severe look on her face.

Gale looked up from his paper, and grinned. "Heh," he smirked over the rim of his coffee mug. "Got yourself a nice girl there, eh Lucia?"

The girl turned to look Lucia in the eye. "You're doing my chores for a week."

SPLURT!

Coffee went flying.

Gale looked up in bewilderment. "...H...H-H...Haru?!?!," he croaked.

Haru looked at him disinterestedly. "What?" Cattleya stepped out of the room Haru had been in, a smile on her face. She looked quite proud of herself.

Gale felt his jaw hit the floor.

The younger Glory sighed as he and his sister took a seat at the table. "This sucks." he stated blandly to the square of wood before him. "It's not that bad," Lucia rested his hands on the back of Haru's chair, smirking. Haru propped his elbows on the table and rested his forehead on the back of his hands. "It is."

Cattleya smacked Haru's wrist lightly. "Don't do that! You'll smudge your make-up!" she scolded. Haru dropped his hands and pouted.

"Well, then," Lucia stepped back. "Shall we get going? Snow dropped by earlier to give us the briefing." He held up a thin, paper file. "We can read it in the car."

Haru sighed again, and stood. Both turned and headed for the door, Lucia falling back to loop his arm around Haru's waist. Haru glared up at him through his bangs, not liking the way the blonde's smirk widened. They looked back at Cattleya.

"See ya later."

Cattleya waved after them cheerily, "Be careful~!" The door closed softly with a click.

Gale was still gawking.


Deep Snow was waiting outside, also dressed sharply in a black and white suit, though less striking than Lucia's. He was to drive them to the party, and a shiny black limo was parked behind him. He gazed appreciatively at Haru's new 'look', and the corner of his mouth lifted lightly in what may have been deduced as a leer. For Deep Snow standards. Haru shot him an unimpressed look and unhappily got into the car.

Deep Snow watched him get in, enjoying the way the black dress pulled against that slim shape to reveal just a little bit more of pale legs. He looked back up to meet his brother's possessive, prideful gaze. 'Hot stuff, isn't he?' those burning golden irises seemed to say. 'He's mine. Back off.'

Deep Snow put on a pair of dark sunglasses.

"Shall the mission commence?"

Lucia smirked, and got in the car.


They had been driving for about an hour.

Nothing had been heard except the quiet pur of the engine, the vehicle's occupants distracting themselves with the scenery flashing by outside. "I hate this," Haru said. Deep Snow's eyes flicked towards the back seat. Lucia placed a hand on Haru's knee. "It's not so bad," he said, smiling. Haru gave him a baleful glare. "And I hate you!" he snapped.

Deep Snow smiled, observing the pair through the rear-view mirror.

Lucia gestured at the thin folder containing their mission details. "You were the best choice."

"I'm not an actual girl!"

"The invitation said 'The Heir of Rareglove, and a Lady Friend'. You and I both know that Catt-nee was out of the question, and we're not dragging either of our mothers into this."

"Why not one of our dads then?! This is all for Demon Card anyway, they should take the risks for their own damn company, dammit!"

"Can you imagine either of our fathers in drag?" Deep Snow piped up.

There was a pause filled with revolted shuddering.

"Point," Haru said quietly. Lucia suddenly found himself wanting to bash the smirk off his adopted brother's face very badly. Soft snickering from the driver's seat.

"Why couldn't it have been you?" Haru complained, crossing his arms over his chest.

Lucia turned back to his partner.

"Because you're shorter than me. I'd break my legs in heels. I'd look horrible in make-up. I can't fit into your sister's clothes. And," he leaned in closer. "I'm not so femmy-looking."

Haru snarled. "But you have a girl's name!"

"So do you!" Lucia shot back.

"Do not! It's.. it's appropriate for either gender!"

"Hah!"

"....Shut up."

They both fell silent. Deep Snow kept his eyes on the road and on their surroundings, keeping an eye out for an ambush. It was unlikely they'd been discovered, but Deep Snow always played it safe. A lot of people were after the members of their families. The two families behind the world's richest and most powerful company.

The blonde heir to one of them looked over at the other, noting the way Haru's hands were clenched tightly on his arms, the way the boy worried his bottom lip. He was tense. Nervous, worried. Anything could go wrong, had gone wrong in the past. Assassinations. Poison in the champagne.

Anything could happen to them, and Haru didn't want Lucia to get hurt.

"Hey," he said.

Lucia reached out with one hand and held Haru's chin between his index and thumb, turning his 'date' to face him. "It's alright," he said, and leant in for a kiss. He expected wine, but tasted strawberry. The car slowed to a stop, the gossiping crowd becoming louder and more audible from beyond the tinted car windows.

"I'll take care of the files," Deep Snow said. He would burn the documents later. He pressed a button on the dashboard, activating the automatic doors. They began to swing open, not a moment too late as the Rareglove heir drew back. The crowd outside began to gossip more loudly, and people pointed their flashing cameras at the widening doorway.

Lucia held Haru's gaze.

"I'll be okay," he smirked confidently. "Everything will be just fine."

He offered his arm and his partner took it, resting his palm delicately against the crook of Lucia's elbow.

Haru followed Lucia out of the car and into the extravagant ballroom, hoping the blonde would be right.

- - -

END.