AN: Heeeey, guys, whatcha up to? It's been a bit… *ducks flying ax*. Okay, yeah, it's been too long. Best excuse is that I unexpectedly worked all summer, moved, and did more work, so the creative well's been running a little dry. But hey, two chapters! That makes up for it, right? …Right?
Rather than include it here, the incident Zoisite refers to in this chapter is seen in the old one-shot "Care", in case you want all the details. It's also been alluded to every so often throughout the main series.
Disclaimer: Not mine, never mine, blah blah.
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Zoisite, as the youngest member of the Terran retinue, chose to hold himself back during the initial greetings between the courts. He said his part, of course, and carefully followed all of the royal etiquette that had been drilled into him since childhood, but he was quiet even past his usual reticence. He knew he would best serve his prince by observing and learning as much as he could about the others they were being introduced to.
The princesses of the inner planets were introduced to them as such, but during the discussion their more martial titles were mentioned as well. It was almost impossible to believe that four girls, particularly such small and fragile looking ones (with a notable exception) could be the greatest warriors of the planets. He heard mention of other Senshi, but was told when he ventured his only query that they were not often at court and that it was unknown if they would meet during their visit.
The meeting had gone on for several minutes before Zoisite realized that one of the princesses was watching everyone with the same careful eye he did. Mercury studied everything, seeming only to look on quietly until one noticed the endless calculation in her eyes.
Zoisite had never seen anyone so like him, both in power and in behavior. He barely avoided gawking like an overeager child, and could only be grateful for that small mercy. The general wanted to know her, more than he could remember wanting anything else. The intensity of the feeling bordered on terrifying.
The initial greetings took far too long and were over much too soon. Zoisite all but fled to his rooms before realizing he'd find no solace or distraction there. Instead, he volunteered to be his prince's chaperone and was pathetically grateful when Princess Serenity was accompanied by the fiery Sailor Mars instead of a quiet girl in blue.
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A few days later, Zoisite's entire world seemed to tilt out of control. A chance encounter with Mercury in the palace library had ended in his asking to be her escort to the ball, and she had accepted. He wasn't sure if he'd horribly broken some protocol or other, and he had never extended such an invitation before. With no idea how to proceed, he took himself to his leader's temporary office to ask for help.
He spilled the whole story in a rush, grateful that Kunzite would let him do so uninterrupted. He was at enough of a loss without having to constantly be stopped and questioned about random details.
Rather than address Zoisite's concern about potential flaws in etiquette or reprimanding his loss of control, Kunzite leaned back and asked a single question: "What do you want me to do?"
"Do?" he repeated, lost.
"You would not have come to me if you did not want a solution to your problem, so what would you have me do?"
"I should go home," he blurted. "We are already getting requests for help with various issues. I could handle any business there while the rest of you deal with the negotiations here."
Kunzite watched Zoisite long enough to make him nervous. "I could do that, and indeed it would resolve many issues at home." Zoisite opened his mouth, ready to thank his leader, but was cut off. "However, I will not do so."
"Why?!" the younger general demanded.
"First, because you are needed more here. You are our scholar, and know more of this world than the rest of us. Second, because you made a commitment and just follow through. Finally, because if you leave, it will be a cowardly act you will hate yourself for later."
Zoisite flushed and stared at his feet. "I do not know what to do."
The older man offered him a wry half smile. "You know, this is the first time I have seen you worked up over a lady."
His blush deepened to a searing crimson. "I am afraid I have no idea what you mean."
"Zoisite," Kunzite said implacably, "Lie to me if you must, but do not lie to yourself. You have been taken with Lady Mercury since you first saw her, and today's encounter has clearly heightened that attraction. It is nothing to be afraid of."
"Is that how you felt?" Zoisite asked awkwardly, because no matter how lengthy their history, Kunzite tended to keep his emotions to himself.
"Yes," Kunzite said simply.
"Really?"
"I would not lie to you."
"What do I do, Kunzite? I have never felt this way before."
The eldest Shitennou's usually piercing gaze was gentle. "I know, but Zoisite, you have to remember that you are more than good enough. Just try. Accompany Lady Mercury to the ball and see how it goes from there."
Zoisite took a deep breath to steady himself and nodded, leaving Kunzite's office to prepare.
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After seeking advice on women from his brothers, Zoisite was ready to give up again. He had no idea how to even try Jadeite's casual charm, and he clearly lacked whatever mysterious quality drew ladies to Nephrite with no effort. He was friendly enough with some of the noblewomen, but he'd never felt the same way about them as he did for the mysterious Senshi.
Endymion chuckled. "If you think much harder, you might implode your poor brain."
Zoisite tugged viciously on his ponytail, twining the strands around his fingers until circulation as all but cut off. "I have no idea how to act, Prince Endymion."
The prince let out an inelegant snort. "I can see that, but Zoi, you really are overthinking. I understand that you like her and are not sure how to behave, and it is making you oblivious to the clear answer."
"And what answer is that?" the younger man demanded.
"Don't do anything."
"…What?"
"You are so worried about how to act that it never occurred to you to simply stay the same. Try being her friend first, as you have done many times. Let anything more come as it will."
Zoisite pursed his lips and considered. "She has already shown an aversion to romantic overtures."
"All the more reason."
The general breathed a sigh of relief as his stress ebbed to a more manageable level. "Thank you, Endymion."
"Don't fret over it," he responded, waving the thanks away. "Now, come play chaperone so I can spend time with Serenity."
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Pausing outside the library where he was to meet Mercury, Zoisite drew a steadying breath and smoothed his suit. It had been agreed that this ball was to honor the Terran delegation as visiting royalty and nobility, not as military men, and so the dress uniform he usually would have donned was inappropriate. It only served to make him feel even more out of place than he already had.
Before he could lose his nerve, the general adopted the cool reserve he'd practiced his entire life and opened the door.
Mercury sat at a table just inside. Her pale blue silk gown was far simpler than the other dresses he'd seen in the palace, fitted through the plain bodice then falling in loose, shimmery folds to the floor. Her shoes, which he caught a glimpse of as she stood, were simple flats the same color as the rest of her ensemble. A sapphire set in a silver circlet served as the only indicator of her rank; she wore no other jewels and had only plain studs in her ears.
What truly caught his eye, though, was the odd blue visor covering her face almost like a mask. It vanished as she tapped an earring, blushing.
"My apologies," she said. "I did not expect you so soon."
"No apology necessary," he replied, bowing. "You look lovely, my lady. May I ask you a question, though?"
"Of course."
"What was that mask?"
"Mask? Oh!" She tapped the earring again, and the visor slid back over her eyes. "This? It's not a mask. It is a visual interface with my personal computer. It responds to eye movement and verbal commands, so it can be used even when my hands are otherwise occupied."
The conversation continued in a similarly technical vein, both of them relaxing as they focused on a topic that could occupy their full attention. It wasn't until they reached the ballroom doors and were announced that they remembered what they were doing.
Remembering why he'd offered to be her escort in the first place, Zoisite leaned in and whispered, "Is he here?"
The way her grip on his arm tightened answered the question faster than her words did. "Yes. He is standing near Venus."
He nodded, leading Mercury to the dance floor. "Then I hope my forwardness does not offend you, but we should try to dissuade him."
Zoisite slid them into the pattern with practiced grace, relieved when his partner did not balk at his lead. She was rigid in his arms at first, but she grew less stiff as the crowd hid them from her unwanted suitor.
"I appreciate your assistance."
He smiled a little. "You are more than welcome to it. It is unfortunate that some men feel the need to inflict their attentions on disinterested ladies. I had thought the Silver Millennium's laws granted equality to men and women."
Mercury sighed. "In general, yes, men and women are ostensibly equal. There are several planets, however, that still espouse sexist behaviors, especially when courting. It is ironic, since ultimately the powers that define our people tend to run most strongly in women, and the majority of the royal lines are matriarchal."
"Are they really?" he asked, fascinated. "I had thought the royal lines tended toward the gender of the progenitor deity, and the majority of those were male."
"Some of our worlds to adhere to whichever gender our gods were, but not all. Mercury, for example, has a male patron, but our royal family passes on the crown through whoever proves themselves suited to ruling. I am the only direct heir to the throne, but if I were to have a cousin or other relative who demonstrated a greater capacity for justice, the title would pass to them. Venus favors their queens most strongly, but if the queen dies before her daughter is of age, the king will act as regent. Venus, Pluto, Neptune, and Saturn are all strongly matriarchal. Uranus and Jupiter tend toward the women as rulers while the men are more militant, but they have some variation and currently have kings. The royal family of the Moon Kingdom is of course entirely female."
"So only Mars maintains a line of kings?"
"Yes, though that is to change soon. Princess Mars will be queen when the time comes."
"It seems so strange to me that magic is found more constantly in females."
"I do not doubt it, given how little you have been exposed to the wider universe, but it is even stranger to me that all the great powers of your kingdom are men. Your Star Seeds are nearly as potent as a Sailor Crystal, which tend overwhelmingly to favor women."
"I am afraid I do not know those terms."
She smiled. "A discussion for a different time, perhaps. The lecture would be quite tedious after a while, and this is supposed to be a party."
Zoisite sighed. "I am not much of one for parties."
"Neither am I, but we have certain obligations to our stations."
A charming grin slid onto his pretty face. "Well, it would be a shame to let said obligations return to the tedium they were before tonight."
Mercury ducked her head bashfully. "It would, wouldn't it?"
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AN: Why so much fluff? I am not a fluffer. Well, at least let me know what you think, reviews are nice, yadda yadda. Till next time! (Which should be like ten minutes from now.)