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"Halfway to Sublimity"Written By: Kaeru Shisho Disclaimer: I don't own any part of Gundam Wing
or its characters, nor do I make any monetary profit off this story. Rating: NC 17 Warnings: AU, male/male pairings, language Pairings: 1x2x1 Summary: When Duo moves to a new town on the river,
he meets a young man running the river and a rich boy who seems nice.
Maybe he'll settle down for awhile, or maybe not. "Halfway to Sublimity" Chapter Thirteen Wufei, Duo, Heero (POV) Monday morning, Quatre's carriage dropped Trowa off at the dock where Heero was waiting with Duo. Duo would still rather be a worthless heap on the boat than remain at home and supervise construction workers. His words fluttered past Heero's ears, after making no impression on his decision to leave him behind. Mercifully, Wufei thought, he had missed most of Duo's ranting and only caught the tail end. "Aw, 'Ro..." "It's already decided. Ah, Chang's here, finally." Wufei had overslept. Having lain awake most the night before, thinking about or worrying about Hilde, he made up for it by sleeping the sleep of the dead the next, and nearly missed the boat. He fussed and apologized, but no one cared. "It's gonna be boring," Duo whined. Heero returned to reassuring Duo that he'd hurry back and Trowa was busy telling Quatre what amounted to the same thing. Wufei could have appeared in a cocktail dress and no one noticed. It was disgustingly adorable, so he huffed and he puffed and he jumped onboard, making plenty of noise in the process. He managed to rock the boat sufficiently so that Heero grabbed his pole, and with a few last words, the flatboat shoved off. The weather was hot and fine. Heero and Trowa were the quiet sort, not given to distracting conversation, or any at all if unbidden. So, as the current took them on their southern route fast and smooth, Wufei had plenty of time to think. He recalled his last hours with Hilde with fondness. Sometimes when Hilde would be telling a story Wufei noticed that she would pause and stare off into the distance, then start right back up where she'd left off. Sure, you might think that she was simply taking a moment to collect her thoughts. But he saw it another way: her mind was being overwhelmed by two processes that must simultaneously proceed at full steam. One was to deal with and live in the present world. The other was to re-experience everything on the mystical path to enlightenment. It was as though her lightness pulled her toward heaven, but the extra gravity of her powerful meditations forever kept her earthbound. Or was it that he thought too much? He shook away that thought and wondered what Hilde was doing. At this time, he supposed, Miss Hilde was out salvaging with her entourage of misfits, the Sweepers. Wufei had to admit that his plans to impress Hilde would eventually misfire like a wet pistol if he didn't come clean about his position in Sublimity. She was pretty down-to-earth. It was time to do the manly thing: to meet her without deception. He decided to present himself as the out-of-favor sword-master and poor school teacher that he was, who was also looking for a life mate. This seemed to be the honest thing to do. Especially after the letter he sent, which, most likely, was filled with gibberish; although, he couldn't actually remember what he'd finally written about himself. It probably kept him sane, forgetting his manic outbursts. It was the next step that flustered him. Possibly more than all the others. He didn't know if he wanted to invite Hilde to visit Sublimity until the "him-as-an-outcast-school-teacher-presentation-thing" was worked out. He really wanted to build on the sword-master persona he'd pulled off before. His racial makeup and class had passed muster, and his fighting ability had been striking. He had made that critical good First Impression, thankfully, but the "outcast, lost inheritance, and poor part" was something for a maturing relationship, not the very beginning. No, his humiliating past would be nice to drop over drinks on a third date, no, possibly after marriage. But he had come to invite her to his home and to Zechs party-- "Hold our position and I'll tie us up!" Wufei snapped to attention and did as Heero ordered. They had made an earlier stop in Tumbletown, which he didn't remember, eaten lunch, another forgettable stop, and now they were already at their destination. And yet, the first thing entering his mind was "I should see Hilde while I'm relatively clean, before I stink of loading tobacco." As it turned out, he wasn't given a choice. Heero was all work oriented. "Work-centric" Duo would have called him, Wufei thought with a smile. No, "workaholic". "Workamanic". "Chang, move out of the way!" Hilde must have had Howard on the look out for them, because the old man scuttled out of nowhere, dragging Trowa off and yelling something about meeting for drinks at someplace Wufei hoped Heero knew about, because not only didn't he catch the name, he wouldn't have known where to find it anyway. "Did you catch that? Chang! C'mon." Wufei grumbled in return, "Stop yelling at me," even though he knew he'd deserved it. Wufei's next contact with Hilde, which occurred a few tobacco-loading and "marching through the blistering hot, crowded streets in Yuy's wake" hours later, rapidly spiraled out of his control. His hopes seemingly determined to crash and burn, a total failure, with an explanation. Wufei and Heero met up with Hilde, Howard, and a dolled up Trowa-- "dolled up" as in dressed like a lady and tucked into a dark corner seat of the inn dining room. Wufei was mulling over his speech and drinking an astonishing quantity of ale to quench his thirst, when Hilde made some observation, which he half heard, but felt predisposed to comment upon. "How poignant," Wufei observed. "Aw, it's not really all that meaningful." Hilde was smiling anyway, as if she could be pleased that Wufei thought her remark was particularly penetrating regardless of how inane it had really been. "He meant the cheese." Heero looked away from his serving. He had already pointed out that he liked the sharp cheddar a lot and had asked Hilde whether he should take a piece home to Duo or finish it all now. Hilde laughed aloud. "Poignant! Oh, yeah, as in sharp. Sharp cheese! Ha, ha, ha! That's a good one!" Wufei was taken aback. Where did that sullen, sobersides Yuy come up with material like that? The feeling that he was losing to a glowering river rat knocked the stuffing out of Wufei. What did that make him, then? Wufei had to turn the conversation around to favor him. To be frank, Trowa was a huge distraction. In a short, dark wig, shawl, and one of Hilde's, he guessed, long skirts, he looked like Hilde's taller, skinnier, sister. He blended comfortably into the banquet, smoking one of his, now her, cigarettes like he'd, now she'd, belonged there all his, now her, life. Wufei stared owlishly at Trowa and drank more. "I don't suppose you received my letter?" Wufei blurted out. "Oh, yes, I did." Hilde patted her bosom, where the letter crinkled. "So, you never told me you were such close buddies with THE Quatre Winner. He invited me to his place for a visit and to some big shindig that Zechs Merquise is throwing. THE Merquise! I can't believe it! That true? 'Cause, if it is I gotta get me a new dress, and quick!" "There's no time for visit to dress makers," Heero said. "We go back tomorrow, with or without you." "What?" Hilde spun on him ready for a fight. To deflect the strike, Wufei put in, "It's a garden party. Merquise said it will be very casual. I'm sure anything you have will be quite adequate-" Hilde wheeled about and grabbed him by the back of the neck. "You have no idea how society works, do you? C'mon, my clueless stud. It's still light outside. You're taking me shopping in town. I know a place where the alterations take no time at all. Oh, and about your note... Cute. It's my first real love letter." "But!" Wufei didn't have money for fancy dress buying. This was one aspect of women he could do without and here he was shopping with Hilde, again. Strong little fingers gripped his arm and a soft chuckle tickled his ear. "Don't look so worried, sweetie. I have simple tastes and the money to indulge them." "You rascal," Trowa said under his breath, just loud enough that Wufei heard him in passing. "So, where's Duo?" Howard asked. "Left'im behind this time, did ya?" Before Wufei could participate in the answer, Hilde had him by the arm and on his way out the door, entering the world of Serendipity couture, such as it was. (o) Duo had sulked most of the day until he found his stride with the construction workers, was nearly back to his old self by the time Quatre dropped by with a late afternoon snack and an update, and was lonely and depressed by night with only Ruggles for company. It hurt Duo to be apart from Heero. He felt actual stomach pains. To fall asleep he visualized Heero walking in the door any moment. Heero was gone all the next day, too. Duo expected him by the afternoon, but by the time the shadows lengthened and the sun rays grew golden, he still hadn't turned up, and Duo began to worry. He made a list of everything that could possibly go wrong and convinced himself that between Heero, Wufei, Hilde and even Trowa they could take on any problem and solve it. So why wasn't Heero back? He paced the front porch with Ruggles worrying around him in circles. Just as he thought he could take the agonizing no more-- the nerve-whacking circular thinking, the churning of his guts, even the reoccurring threat of tears-Ruggles barked. "Is that a light? Is that Heero? Yes!" Duo rushed out the door and met Heero coming up the walk with a lantern in one hand. Ruggles nudged himself between the two boys, begging for Heero's attention. Duo took the knapsack from Heero's other hand, leaving it free to pet the needy little pooch. Duo could wait until they were home, but Ruggles needed his master's reassuring touch right now. "Hey, you're kinda late. Trouble?" "Not really. It just took longer dropping Trowa and Hilde off. Chang..." Whatever he was going to say, Heero deemed less important than just getting inside. He climbed the steps to their cabin and opened the door. "It just took longer than expected to drop them off." "You look bushed. Want something to eat? A beer?" "Yes." Heero collapsed on the sofa. Since Duo knew he hated that particular piece of furniture, it was a clear indication of how exhausted his lover truly was. Heero rarely complained, so this was his way of protesting life in general. Duo put together a plate of crackers, cheese, and dried plums and grabbed a cool beer from the insulated storage carved below the flooring. He delivered the plate and bottle to Heero, removed Ruggles from the sofa, and sat in the freed-up space. "What about 'Tro?" "He's back and okay. We wasn't recognized. Hilde dressed him like a woman and Howard carried him like a bride to the boat." "Ha! I wished I coulda seen that!" "Yeah. Hilde made a fuss about arranging a wedding for her cousin to Winner. It convinced a few shocked onlookers. . Trowa was a cool character. He makes a very convincing...ah... young lady." "Would have loved to have seen 'Fei's face." "Pretty funny. He hadn't expected all that, but he played along fine, for him." "'Fei always looks pissed off." Duo batted Ruggles "you greedy thief's" muzzle away, stole a cracker himself, and munched. "If you can't convince them, confuse them, I always say. So, word's out that Trowa Barton's on the move?" "Howard's on it, though, I expect Winner's been busy, too." "He's really interested in protecting that guy." "I've never seen Quatre Winner willing to go out of his way to help one of his infatuations." "You want more to eat? I got deja stew." To Heero's quizzical look he explained, "leftovers." "Ah, no thanks. I'm okay now." "Quat's in love. That's what he says. He told me, 'Duo, I'm in love with him. He's not perfect, but that's what makes him perfect for me.' Yup, that's what he said." "That's stupid. He can't know the guy well enough to know that." "I knew how I felt about you right off. I'm still finding out about your dark secrets." Duo smiled and punched Heero's arm. "'Sides, they're not sleeping together-" "Yet." Heero smiled slightly. "Quatre's not shy." "Tro's a good sort, if you would just get past his last name." "I can do that. I'm not that shallow." Heero took another swig. "How's the construction coming along?" "Marvy-poo. Pour enough money into something and eventually it gets done, but with me on it gets done faster, better, and with half the funds. I don't let the workers get away with anything and they respect me." "Good. And the addition?" "Coming along. Foundation is complete. Plumbing done except for the fixtures. Structure goes up inna few days. Then roof, windows, and..." He paused. "Heero? Let's get you to bed and talk in the morning, okay?" Heero grunted and let Duo pull him to his feet. "'Kay. What's the matter?" Duo tried to deny anything was wrong but Heero gripped his shoulders, holding him still. He couldn't budge. When Heero's fingers dug deeper, he gave in to the pressure. "It's just... well ... Love's not what I thought it would be. Don't get me wrong! It's great! Most of the time... I thought it would be like, you know, walking on air and feeling happy all the time. But, Heero... it hurts! It just about tore me up inside missing you and it was only a couple days! Last night was hell! It's like love turned inside out!" At that moment Duo was certain he'd said too much. He'd scare Heero away with all that neediness. He turned away to gather himself and make a joke. He could think up a joke, couldn't he? "Idiot," Heero murmured in his ear as he wrapped him in an unyielding embrace. "That's how you know we're real. Dream lovers are just that, perfect dreams." "You don't think someone can love someone else too much?" "You can never love too much." "Aw, you're such a romantic, 'Ro." "Hn." Heero tried on a scowl and failed. "C'mon, I need the real thing. Maybe we can try something new, yeah?" "New?" Duo decided he'd regained enough of his flexibility to try some bed gymnastics. "How about we suck each other off at the same time?" "Is that possible?" "Yeah, babe; at least, so I've heard. Never tried it." "Good." And then Duo kissed him, pouring as much passion as he could into it. If Heero didn't think he was obsessed with him, then he'd suffer the consequences. (o) The week passed with Wufei going north with Heero a couple times, delivering freight to Tumult. Duo supervised the house progress on the addition and entertained Hilde, sometimes alone and sometimes accompanied by Trowa and Quatre. Trowa had to keep a low profile, always dressed as Claire, Hilde's cousin, and kept to the Winner estate. The first day Heero was gone, Quatre took both Hilde and him to see Duo, and they all watched the new framing go up for the new bedroom. Trowa told them about his stay at the cabin, before Duo's arrival, the terrible mouse-ridden mattress, and how he snagged and cooked a 'possum in the fireplace for his dinner. When he offered to stay and keep Duo company that night, though, Duo didn't know how to react. "W-what?" Duo blanched. He couldn't look Quatre in the eyes. He felt terrible for his friend and angry at Trowa for even suggesting something like that with Heero gone and Quatre standing RIGHT THERE. Hilde (kiss her axe) saved them all from making asses of themselves. "Why that's so sweet of you, Trowclair, especially knowin' how fond you are of your current lodgings, but that won't be necessary. I know, I know! I tol' Heero-dear I'd rather sleep in your sweet Quatre's barn than sleep on this nasty old sofa, but I've changed my mind. I see just how impossible it is for Quatre-sweetcakes to part with you, and you are far too tall to fit on this thing, and I know Heero-dear would make lampshades out of your worthless Cajun hide if you so much as touched his bed. So, I'll stay. That's all I was tryin' to say. We wouldn't want Duo-dear to stay out here on his lonesome." "Dat's fine, real fine, Hilde. Ah am grateful," Trowa said. He did look relieved, too, but not more so than Quatre. "You mean Heero asked you guys to baby sit me while he's gone?" Duo shouted. "That's...that's just so..." Quatre was grinning, now. "How thoughtful of him!" "But don't be too hard on your little sweetie-cums, okay? He was so worried about you being here all alone. I guess he drove Wufei nuts on their last trip. Wuffy told me that they nearly came to blows. He made Heero promise to talk to us and get us to take turns staying here at night." "He did?" Duo looked around at Quatre and Trowa's nodding heads. "Shit. Well, okay. Hilde can stay. The bed's real big andWuffy- God I love that nickname. Do you think he'd let me call him that? No? Hmmm. Well, Wuffy will love knowing I got to sleep with you before him. Heh, heh." Hilde punched him for that and with sleeping arrangements and snack complete, Quatre and Trowa bid them adieu and left. Duo was in a fine mood. He was touched by Heero's caring, even though he knew he should stand up for his manhood and object to such pandering of his fears. Heero cared and that mattered more. And Hilde's cheerfulness lifted his spirits, too. She seemed to be enjoying her first vacation in the resort-like estate of Quatre Winner. Stepping down to Duo's "hut" wasn't so attractive, Duo bet, but for a night or two if she was game it would actually help distract Duo from his lover's absence. "So, how's if feel being a rich girl again?" Duo asked, kidding her a little. "Wonderful! Why it's so fun staying with little Quatre. It's like reliving my childhood. With a brother. He is so cute, too bad he's a swish. I mean, you wouldn't guess unless you watched him with his dashing Cajun. Oh, man, now there's a fellow a girl could fall for, except for the fruity part. It's just amazing, isn't it, how you couldn't find a man and now you are one of four guys that like other men? They don't call it Sublimity for nothing, eh? Duo? Duo, are you listening?" "Yeah, Hilde. I'm sorry I ever told you I liked guys. I really am." "Duo, you are such an ignoranus!" "I think you said that wrong. It's ig-nor-a-mus." "Oh, no I didn't. I meant ignoranus - a person who's stupid atboth ends!" And Duo thought that was very funny and they got along swimmingly like the old friends they were. And Duo wasn't so lonely. And neither was Hilde. The rest of the week passed quickly after that, and soon Heero and Wufei were home for the weekend. (o) The day began as bright and warm as any other day, the sky no more or less blue, the grass as green. They were lying side by side on the mattress, silently together, drowsing in the summer warmth. Heero was watching Duo's eyes as he gazed upwards, his violet-blue eyes following the birds flitting in and out of the sunbeams in the trees. Heero laid his hand on Duo's chest. Duo smiled without looking. "Hmm?" Duo asked, his voice soft, relaxed. Heero leaned over him and smiled down at his friend. Duo raised his eyebrows, grinning. "Okay?" Duo asked, his voice now playful. "Glad to be home still?" Heero thought he heard a hint of summer sun in his cheerful voice, and the sounds of Duo were, to him, the sounds of happiness. He had never known this kind of happiness before meeting Duo, so he knew Duo was the sole cause. Heero traced a finger down the side of Duo's face, marveling at the softness of his skin and the heat it still gave off an hour after passionate love-making. As his emotions swelled and pushed at the gates to his heart, he drew his breath. He hesitated to express how he felt, but Duo's sparkling eyes reassured him. Heero threw open the stronghold and let in the sunshine. "I love you, Duo." Heero leaned down and kissed Duo on the lips gently but firmly, the softness of those lips sending shivers down his trim body. His heart opened, leaving him exposed and vulnerable as a bird's egg. Heero leaned in again and pressed his lips to Duo's cheek. The touch of his lips against the skin warm and filled with life sent a shuddering pleasure through Heero. "I love you so much." "Yeah, well it won't get you out of going to Zechs' party." "No, but this might delay it," Heero murmured as he proceeded to find a way to satisfy both their needs at once. Heero didn't complain when Quatre showed up at their door only an hour later, offering them the use of his facilities to bathe. He suspected Quatre didn't trust them to show up, mostly because he knew why Heero wanted to avoid meeting Relena. "A woman scorned," and all. Everyone cleaned up and changed into their nicest clothes at Winner's house except Wufei, who had an operational washroom of his own. Wufei walked over the Winner's later that afternoon to join Quatre, Duo, Wufei, Hilde, and Trowa for the short ride up the hill to Zechs home. As they climbed out of the pair of carriages it took to carry them all, Quatre reminded everyone, "Remember who you are and the roles you're playing." Trowa tugged at his high-throated blouse designed to cover his Adam's apple. "Dat's your idea of a joke, right?" "C'mon cousin Claire. Pick up your skirts and... was that a drop of rain I felt?" Hilde asked. "Yeah, got it," Duo replied. "Hey! Look at the princess in pink over there." "That," Heero growled. "Is Relena and she is a princess, more or less." What had started out a beautiful sunny day, turned dark with ominous clouds the moment they arrived. It was no surprise to Heero, who had spent most of his life out of doors observing nature, when the rain began. They passed close to the princess on their run indoors. "The idea of a garden party was stupid anyway," he overheard Relena tell her older half-brother. "You don't even bother to plant flowers or keep a gardener." "I'm not here enough to enjoy this place much. When I do have time I prefer boating and staying closer to the river." "Well, I'm going in," she snapped. Heero shook his head and watched the men part for Relena, their own dripping black umbrellas synchronizing to cover her bright pink one. "See that?" Quatre pointed at the extraordinary umbrella display. "It's like watching something from as old musical routine." He and Quatre shared a smile and a common past, having both turned Relena away because they were homosexuals. So far, she had kept their secrets as promised, but that didn't mean she was particularly friendly toward them. Zechs' fortress looked marble cold and cavernous, more the crumbling remains of a house of banished royalty than a home. He lived alone, or that was the impression Heero had gotten from Quatre. Once inside, Heero crossed to the sofa and far away from where Relena had sat. There was nothing behind his shoulder but the high Gothic window, out of which, when he twisted around, he could see a sadly neglected garden. Sublimity was touted as a land of great natural beauty, but he could see none here. Why did the great Zechs Merquise live here alone, he wondered? Lucrezia Noin graced his arm as if she belonged there. Why didn't they marry and share this house? Why did the distant mountains, the rocky land, the deserted garden strike Heero as plundered and tormented? Well, not totally alone. There was the ancient doorman, cook, maid, and scattering of basic serving staff, but that was all. No fine woman or children or coachman, games keeper, and the usual assortment of staff required by Sanc's elite. The man in question himself strode to the huge fireplace set with a raging fire. "Thank you all for coming here today. For those of you who know what I'm about to announce, keep it to yourselves. It's my news to tell." A few chuckles circled the room. "For the sake of brevity, you are here to celebrate my good fortune. I just received a commendation and reassignment from the rank of Lieutenant to a full Colonel." His news was met with a round of applause and cheers. He signaled for champagne to be distributed and glasses were raised and emptied in his honor. After a few minutes, the conversations returned and the guests clustered like ducks on a lake. Heero wished to be back home with Duo, and was picturing them swimming out the door, when Heero felt Duo nudge his elbow. "Look over there. Our Miss Claire is drawing suitors." Heero skimmed the room for the Cajun and when he located him, uttered a short aborted laugh. The tall, lissome stranger had attracted the attentions of several young men that even he recognized as hungry. Feeling their eye's on him, perhaps, Trowa stared in Duo's direction and began to pry one of the more ardent men off him. The man, still seemingly unaware of the situation, brought his face down to his and slowly brought his lips forward for a kiss. From out of nowhere, Winner appeared, a cup of punch in each hand, jostled the forward man, and interrupted the tender moment. Duo laughed. "Wonder what he said to him? That man's streaking off now." "Knowing Winner, it was something novel, like 'be careful, she's got a medical problem that's cost her the use of one leg already.'" "Naw, too weird. Probably something slicker like: 'hands off my girl or I'll buy your inheritance out from under you'. Ha! Hilde's on him now. C'mon. I gotta hear this." Heero followed close, but not too close. He wouldn't want the other guests to suspect he and Duo were anything but work mates and friends. "She looks nice." "Which one?" "Hilde, of course. I'm curious about how she likes Sublimity. Chang's been dancing on nails all week." Hilde wasn't giving away anything of her innermost thoughts; instead, she was nagging Trowa, the Miss Claire, about his health care. "...And you traveled all the way to Serendipity when you should have been resting!" "And lived to tell about it," Trowa admitted. His soft, husky voice added to his allure. The eyes that Hilde leveled on him would have been ice cold blue had they not been flashing. She stood and smoothed her new dress, crisp in a steely blue fabric that matched those eyes. Hilde was off now, hands on her slim hips. "Claire! You're my favorite cousin and I care about you. You promised that doctor that you wouldn't exert yourself in any way, that you wouldn't go out, that you'd stay in bed as much as possible." "Ah lied." Well, that flummoxed her. She was gathering up her argument, getting it into full gear, which of course demanded a fellow arguer, and Trowa wasn't doing it. He smiled, fractionally. Hilde had to search around for another tactic. "It's not very considerate, that's all, I mean to me and Mr. Winner. As all we do is worry, wondering if you're okay. Is there much pain still from you, ah, accident?" At this point Quatre made his presence known again. "She's right. You're tiring yourself out; you should be relaxing--" "Now there's a word I'll bet Tro would be happy to shoot where it stood, along with 'share'," Duo commented to Heero only. Quatre continued, "-so, maybe you'd like to share your thoughts in private, Miss Claire?" Heero laughed aloud, louder than his other friends had ever heard. Quatre was teasing his friend, but he had had to watch several men fondle him before he stepped in to chase them away. Now Trowa would pay, and from the glint in Hilde's eyes, Quatre should, too, for leaving his 'intended' alone in a sea of strangers. "Only if you'd like to share the story of your last romance with everyone," Hilde dared Quatre. "Um, we didn't hit it off." Heero thought Quatre's smile was rather vicious. It was as if he didn't know who or what to train his anger on, so he kept it up in the air like a spinning plate. Trowa added a wry smile. "At least you found out befo' tings went too far." "Yes, thank you... Claire. I dropped her like a hot potato. Oh, look! It's our host coming across!" "Zechs?" Heero muttered, looking around. No Miss Noin. "He looks serious." "You'd think he was crossing the Styx and not the living room," Wufei said, joining the group. "Did I miss anything? One of my nasty little pupils' equally revolting parents is here and demanded an update." "Only Quatre and Hilde trading insults." Heero smiled and turned back to Quatre, who had changed topics. "What's six inches long, two inches wide, and drives women wild?" Quatre was asking her. "I'll tell you-- money. What did you think I meant? Sex? Women don't want sex. Women want money. Men, now, they want sex. They're the ones with the money." Heero overheard two young ladies comment about Quatre. "He's such a martinet. No girl's good enough for him." "Okay, maybe he's a bit of a perfectionist, but he's a dishy one." "He's rich." "And, apparently, taken." "He's right, too. About women wanting money." "I hear Miss Claire comes with plenty herself, so maybe it's true love this time." The ladies shared a significant sigh, and then whispers and snickers followed, so Heero turned back to his own group. By this time, Zechs had wound his way through the crowd to stand beside Quatre. "You're all standing here in a knot and having too much fun. None of you appear to be taking the occasion seriously." "Which is why you are here," Quatre said. "Where the fun is." "Absolutely." "I have some introductions to make," Quatre said. "Hilde, may I introduce the honorable Zechs Merquise. And this is Wufei Chang's guest, Lady Hilde Schbeiker." Zechs bowed and kissed her hand, "Miss Hilde-" "And Miss Claire-" At this time, Heero caught sight of Relena again. He turned away from his friends to meet Relena face on and get the awkward reunion over with. He hadn't tried to approach her, preferring to keep a low profile and avoid confrontation or bringing up old and not so pleasant times with the corresponding memories. But she appeared to have other ideas. "Heero." "Relena." "What are you doing here?" "Zechs invited me-- us." "Stop staring at me like that. I did stopping chasing after you." "I know, although I tried to forget." "I can't forget," Relena said. "Women don't forget. We suffer from the deepest feelings." "I thought that was elephants that don't forget," Duo said, yawning and joining their tête-à-tête. "Maybe you should have," Heero said to Relena. Her look, when he said this, was not at him, but at Duo. What surprised Heero was that she still harbored those feelings after several years. Then he thought, how predictable. Feelings, he well knew, could last a life time. Anyone who thought time healed all wounds must have sustained only the most minor lacerations. "Cats seem to remember every fault done them," Duo mused. He brought the others with him like an entourage. In particular, Zech towered over him, luminous like a specter. By Relena hovered another man and woman Heero didn't know. The doughy-looking man remained close to Relena at all times, probably an admirer or her beau. The woman, whose ordinary features matched his, was possibly the man's sister or relation. The man cut off the plainer woman's chatter with a sharp look Heero didn't like, and then attended to Relena's conversation, clinging to her every word. "I don't like cats," Relena said. "They are sneaky." "On the contrary," Zechs said, "they are perfectly open about flouting rules or stealing fish bits off your plate." Relena looked to Heero for support. "You know what I mean." Actually, Heero didn't. It irritated him to death that she really thought "you-know-what-I-mean" was an answer. He decided to tell her about his own household. "We have a dog and a cat," Heero said tonelessly. "You and--?" she prompted. "Duo--" Before Heero finished, the man at Relena's elbow cut in as if he were conversing with the other woman at his side. His voice was louder than polite, and his point sharp and unmistakable. Obviously, he'd come prepared to have his say and had only been waiting for an opening. "I believe the use of the word 'faggot' in reference to homosexuals is a bit more gruesome than the one you were thinking of, my dear sister. 'Faggots' are kindling, and homosexuals when burned at the stake, are considered the kindling, tossed as so many branches onto a fire. In reference to witches, I have also heard the explanation that homosexuals were burned with suspected witches; the homosexuals being the kindling for the witches. Isn't that true, Colonel Merquise?" "We are no longer in Sanc Royal, and these are no longer the dark ages. I would like to think we have become more civilized with time." Zechs turned his smile to the beautiful young man with the long braid. "And Duo Maxwell, we meet again, or should I call you Lord Maxwell ?" "Lord... eh? Duo's fine, just fine." "Then you must call me Zechs." "Yeah, sure, Zechs." Relena took a renewed interest in the handsome, young man Heero was cohabitating with. "Lord Maxwell? You are not from around here, for surely I would know you." "I'm from Serendipity, but originally from L2." "L2?" It might have been the moon. "Never been there." "L2," Zechs repeated, as if the rest of them hadn't got nationalities worked out. "Has its share of successful families. Now, Mr. Winner tells me Lord Maxwell recently inherited his father's fortune. Does this mean you will be leaving us and returning to your properties in L2?" "Ah, no. Don't think so. Still got stuff to do at the house, you know." Heero could tell this part of the act hadn't been scripted and Duo was thinking on his feet. He searched out Quatre, hoping he could bail Duo out, since he certainly couldn't. It did seem to silence Relena and her chums. Yes, Relena was gorgeous, quite prepared to astound any newcomer, but she was being outshone by Duo, who was a new comer with a title. Relena was like a floral centerpiece, but Duo was the guy the party suddenly revolved about, the one with the money, the title, the land, and the privilege-all possibly attained by foul means, but wasn't it always at some point by someone? She seemed not to know whether to disdain all that or try to get her hands on it, and this amused Heero as he watched her. "Winner tells me you've been arguing the workmen at the cabin out of wasting time and overspending, Duo." Zechs was ready to provide Duo with all the cues necessary, it seemed, while Winner busied himself hand-feeding Trowa hors d'oeuvres. "Well, if you know what you're talking about fine, but when you don't a little bullshit sometimes saves tons of explanation. I can win an argument on any topic, against any opponent. People who know this steer clear of me at parties, which explains why you're still listening. Often, as a sign of their great respect, folks don't even invite me, ha, ha, ha!" Duo was on a roll now. "All it takes is knowin' the rules. For starters, get plastered. Then, when some hotshot pointy-head is shootin' the breeze 'bout the economy of Sanc, a subject you are totally clueless about, you're not afraid to hop right in with your opinion. See, if you were drinking something tame like...like apple juice, you'd hang back afraid to display your stupidity, while the hotshot enthralls your date. But if you drink several large shots of white lightening or...what's this crap?" "The finest champagne in all of Sanc?" Zechs provided, adding a refined hand gesture. "Right, well, then, well shellacked, you'll discover you have STRONG VIEWS about the Sanc economy. You'll be a WEALTH of information. Your argument will be so kick-ass, offering searing insights and possibly upsetting furniture. People will be impressed. Some may leave the room." "Some already have." "Only Relena," Heero supplied. "Go on. What remarkable things do you say about the economy?" "More importantly, how does one pull that off, you ask? Simple. Make things up. Suppose, in the Sanc economy argument, you are trying to prove that the Sanc common folk are underpaid, a position you base solely on the fact that YOU are underpaid, and you are not going to let a bunch of Sanc good-for-nothing loafers be better off than you. DON'T say: 'I think the Sanc commoners are underpaid.' What kinda punch does that have? You sound like a damned whining sniveler. Say instead: 'The average commoner's pay in the current currency adjusted for the revised tax base is three hundred pounds, 30 shekels, and one pim per annum, which is one hundred pounds, ten pims before the mean gross poverty level.'" He grinned. "Fucking impressive, huh? It only works if you make up exact figures. Who can remember crap like that anyway? And certainly not when you're plotzed!" "But let's suppose this...hotshot... who's after your, ah, date asks you where you got your information?" Zechs asked. Heero thought he appeared to be enjoying this game and the charming Lord Maxwell, his charming Duo. "Hell, make THAT up too. Say: 'This information comes from Dr. J's study for the Gundam Commission published in the June issue two years ago. Didn't you read it?' Say this in the same tone of voice you would use to say, "You left your dirty socks under my bed." "That part's important," Heero deadpanned. It was difficult to tell if he was teasing Duo or being part of his joke. "It's all important, didn't I say that already? Especially the end. Always end your arguments with some meaningless but weighty-sounding words and phrases. What was that one you told be about 'Fei? Q.E.R?" "Q.E.D." "Yeah, that's short for 'I speak Latin, and you don't.'" "I think another example would be helpful," Zechs said with a beguiling smile. "Oka-ay. So, you want to say: 'The Sanc citizenry would like to take boat rides more often, but they don't have enough money.' Man, you'll never win arguments talking like that. But you WILL win if you say, 'If it were that, in terms of excursions, vis-à-vis Sanc citizens qua Sanc citizens, they would like partake of it on boats more often, so to speak, but they do not have enough money per se, as it were. Q.E.D." "Only a fool would challenge that statement," Zechs said, chuckling. "But you left out your most cunning tactic." "Whazzat?" "The use of snappy and irrelevant comebacks. You use an arsenal of all-purpose irrelevant phrases to fire back at your opponents when they make valid points. I've seen no better attack on the battle field!" "Oh yeah? Okay, so, if I say 'The king was saying last month that'-" "But he died last year!" Hilde cut in. "Then Lord Maxwell would say 'That's begging the question,'" Zechs deadpanned. "I see. Okay, then... Pirates are upstanding citizen of Sanc," Hilde said. "They're the worst creatures on earth! What are you thinking?" Wufei said, a grin spreading. "You're being defensive," Heero snapped. "No, you're trying to compare apples to oranges." Quatre started to laugh, having fun with this game. "You're all talking nonsense! Stop it!" Relena cried out. "I thought you had gone." Heero looked her over as if to assure himself of her continued existence. "You are so... cold!" Relena cried out, and then stomped away with her entourage following in her wake. "That took longer that I'd hoped," Zechs said, watching the others leave. "Still, I'll have to have you give me a few pointers, Duo and Yuy, too. Cold and calculating. Anyway, so far so good. We have your identities established and your faces known to important people that matter in the area's society. Now, down to business. This way is my private office."
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