Chapter 4

Wufei stared out of the window as he soaked in the bubble bath some servants had prepared for him when he got back from the hunt. The sky was a brilliant display of soft pink and orange as the sun slowly set on the horizon. The clouds darkened and the stars began to appear as the moon poured its milky lights upon the land. He shivered slightly as the cold set in. I should get out of here before I start turning into some kind of withered prune. He stood up and grabbed the towel off the chair beside the tub. He wrapped it tightly around his waist and walked over to the main room and began to search through the closet.

He pulled out a burgundy velvet dress that was a deeper shade than his riding habit and nodded. It was perfect for dinner. He suddenly stopped and blinked. Oh lord, I'm starting to think like a woman...Okay, my new goal is to at least put on some male clothing for at least an hour! He shook his head and slipped the undergarments and petticoats that women had to wear before slipping the dress on. He smoothed it down and stepped in front of the mirror. He picked up the scarves and stuffed it down his shirt, arranging them till they were perfect. After making sure there were no problems with his breasts, he walked over to his vanity table and began to work on his make up. He was relieved and disgusted at the fact that he was getting better at applying the stuff to his face.

He pressed his lips the last time, satisfied to see the color had smoothed out and placed the lip paint down on the table. He slipped on the jewelry that he was suppose to wear and began to hide the weapons again. There was so much trouble to getting dressed for him but he had to deal with it.

When everything was set he picked up his fan and left his room. He was half way down the hall when he met up with Duo.

"Lord Duo," Wufei said, smiling slightly while he dropped a curtsy like any other woman.

"Oh, no, don't do that," Duo said, shaking his head. He held out his arm and Wufei smiling placed his hand in his crook. "Off to dinner?"

"Yes," Wufei said, nodding. This was his first dinner in the palace and he was a little nervous about it. He knew that dinner was a big thing every night. Most of the lords and ladies would be there on a long dinner table in the dining hall. He had to be perfect in order to fool everyone. Thank god he remembered how to talk and eat at the table. He didn't want to screw anything up. Gods, maybe I should have paid a little to Quatre though... He ran through his head everything he could remember and found himself somewhat comforted to know that he remembered a lot.

"Nervous?"

Wufei looked up and managed a "shy" nodded. Hmm, I should become a thespian. I'm doing a good job acting for sure. "Yes, this is the first time I've eaten in the Hall."

"Don't worry, it's like any other dinner party," Duo said reassuringly.

"I've never been to dinner parties," Wufei said quietly.

"Never?"

Wufei shook his head.

"Your father must have pitched a fit when you came out here then," Duo said dryly.

Wufei laughed and shrugged slightly. "Yes, well, he thought the men out there are too influential."

"In other words he's afraid someone might convince you to toss your skirts?" Duo said with his teasing directness.

Wufei nodded. "Yes, exactly that."

"Well, no fear fair lady, I'll protect you," Duo said with great drama.

"Sure you will, Lord Duo," Wufei said, rolling his eyes.

Duo laughed and tightened his hold on Wufei's hand. Wufei looked up at Duo and smiled slightly, he really did like Lord Duo. He was a good man. Even if he did think Wufei was a girl. But then, that's the whole point, right? Suppressing a sigh, Wufei continued to walk with Duo at a good pace until they reached the double doors of the Hall. He took a deep breath and followed Duo through the door to the long table where many of the lords and ladies were seated, talking and laughing with each other. He unconsciously clutched Duo's arm tighter.

"There's nothing to worry about, Lady Celeste, just relax," Duo whispered.

"Relax. Sure," Wufei said, nodding.

Prince Heero suddenly appeared, smiling at Wufei and Duo.

"Lady Celeste. Lord Duo," he said politely, nodding at the two. "Please, come take your places. Dinner is about to start." Heero reached out and gently took Wufei from Duo, giving the other man a cold smile before turning a warmer one to Wufei. "Lady Celeste, you'll be sitting next to me for dinner tonight."

Wufei looked up at Heero and nodded before smiling his thanks to Lord Duo. "Yes, Your Highness."

Lord Duo bowed flourishly to Heero, flashing Wufei a quick smile before he moved off to talk to Lady Catherine.

"Come, Lady Celeste," Heero murmured.

Wufei followed Heero to the head of the table and took his seat to the left of His Highness. He smoothed down his dress and waited as Heero took his seat.

"It looks like you're doing all right. No troubles?" Heero asked quietly.

Wufei shook his head, his dark eyes completely serious and having none of that amused light in them when he was with Duo. "No troubles at all."

"Lord Duo is nice, isn't he?"

"Yes, he is," Wufei said. "Although, I hope he doesn't get any ideas."

Heero nodded and lifted his wine glass, slowly drinking the thick liquid as he watched Wufei from over the brim of his cup. He could see the cold, defiant bandit that he had first met, nothing like the carefree "girl" that Wufei was around Duo. He almost sighed out loud. True, Wufei was civil to him but there was no warmth in it.

Fingering his cup, Heero wondered what was he doing. He admitted that he liked Wufei, the exotic boy was very beautiful and filled with so much defiance. But, why was he wasting his time with someone like Wufei when he had someone like Relena begging him to bed her? He wished he knew the answer.

Wufei tried not to fidget uncomfortably under the prince's scrutiny. He wish he knew what was going on inside of Heero's head. In the end, he just stared at his napkin, trying to disappear. He hated this. He hated wearing a dress, he hated having all this make-up on his face, he hated all the noise. He wanted his old clothes back, he wanted his sword back and he wanted to be back with his friends and with Tian. But right now none of that seemed possible.

Picking at the napkin Wufei wished the food would come so the dinner can be over with and he could disappear back into his room. He looked up and immediately met Heero's Prussian blue eyes.

"What?" He finally asked in annoyance while twisting the napkin nervously in his hands.

Heero looked down at the mangled napkin in Wufei's hands and then back at Wufei's face. "Nothing." He reached over and pulled the napkin from Wufei's hands, brushing against the sword callused yet soft hands. "You're going to need this later. You can't have it in shreds."

Wufei blinked. "Oh. Okay." He looked away from Heero, trying to ignore the sudden heat that had filled his body at the warm touch of Heero's hand against his own. He couldn't have these feelings about Heero, can he? No! Of course not!!

Heero nodded at Wufei before standing up to address the rest of the crowd. "Sit down, all! It's time for dinner!"

Everyone smiled and nodded towards Heero before they took their seats and waited for the servants to come through the many doors to serve them.

~*~

Wufei watched as Heero talked easily with the men and flirted with the ladies. He was amazed at how ease Heero was with everyone. He laughed and joked with all of them, no matter their status. Of course, he's not wearing a dress, Wufei thought dryly as he picked up his wine cup and drank a bit from it. He watched as Heero made yet another girl to blush with a sly comment while he talked about politics with another man. He was a total crowd pleaser, just like how the rumors went.

"Prince Heero, when are you going to get married? Your brother Trowa is already engaged!" A woman said, smiling flirtatiously.

"Oh, but Sophia I can't tear myself away from you wonderful ladies," Heero said with a charming smile. "If I find myself a wife I'd never be able to have just as much fun."

"You're absolutely wicked," Sophia said, giggling.

Wufei resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

"But," Heero said with sudden regret. "I have had my eye on someone."

"Who?" Sophia demanded, leaning closer to Heero and giving him a pretty good view of her full breasts at the same time.

"You really don't know her," Heero said, still smiling at Sophia but he casted a quick glance over to Wufei who was busy staring into his wine and didn't notice it.

Sophia gasped and her eyes danced with absolute pleasure at being let in at such a delicious piece of gossip.

"But of course it's only a possibility," Heero said easily, shrugging as he finished off his wine and raised his cup for some more.

"Of course," Sophia said, nodding breathlessly as she looked over to Lady Celeste who had set her cup down and now was staring off at nothing. Lucky woman. But look at her! She isn't even looking at His Highness. What does he see in her anyways? I could be a better wife! I'd give him the attention he needs.

Wufei noticed he was being stared at and turned his head to meet the bright blue eyes of Lady Sophia. He nodded slightly and flashed a small smile at her who smiled back but there was something off about her smile. Strange onna. He looked down and stared at his wine cup again. Suddenly he looked up and turned to Heero. It was a dinner party, no one was going to kill Prince Heero right now!

"Excuse me, Your Highness?" he asked in that soft voice he had trained himself to use now.

Heero turned and smiled at Wufei. "Yes, Lady Celeste?"

"I'll be going to my room now. I'm tired, Your Highness," Wufei said as he stood up and nodded deeply at Heero before he turned and disappeared through the doors. He wanted to be back in his room where he could be left alone.

He breathed a sigh of relief as he walked down the cool halls of the palace. No matter how many tapestries were hung up on the walls and the carpets laid on the stone grounds. Why did anyone want to live in such a cold place? He missed the old wood hideout that he lived in the mountain with so many other men, his friends. It was warm and filled with warmth as beer was drunk and jokes were shared. It was nothing like this cold place.

Shivering slightly, Wufei wrapped his arms around his body and scowled as he cursed the interior of the damned palace. He wouldn't be cold if he was home right now with his friends and with Tian. A sharp ache made itself known as Wufei stepped into his room and closed his door behind him. He truly missed his lover. Although they were never serious Tian was always there for him, even when they decided to go their separate ways occasionally and took up other lovers.

Stripping out of his dress, Wufei changed into a warm nightgown and dove underneath the blankets. He wrapped them tightly around his shivering body and fell asleep.

~*~

The next morning Wufei was up and early, dressed in a white and yellow dress with his hair done back in a braid again. He tapped his fan against his hand as he walked to the breakfast room where he would eat with Heero. He remembered he had to ask Heero for permission to go out with Duo to the city.

Heero was already in the room with the ever present Quatre with him.

"Good morning, Lady Celeste," Heero greeted Wufei with a quick smile. Quatre also smiled warmly and bowed slightly.

"Good morning Prince Heero, Sir Quatre," Wufei said, nodding as he took his seat and placed his fan on the table beside his hand.

"I'll leave you two to breakfast," Quatre said, bowing slightly before he left the room.

"Are you all right? You didn't look so good when you left the dinner last night," Heero said, his voice slightly concerned as he lifted his teacup and looked at Wufei.

"I think I just had a little too much wine," Wufei joked.

"Celeste," Heero said seriously. "Are you sure you're all right?"

Wufei nodded, just slightly irritated. "I'm fine, Prince Heero. I just didn't like all the noise and all the people around me."

Heero nodded understandingly. "You'll get used to it."

"I doubt it," Wufei said dryly.

Heero smiled crookedly. "If you feel like that then you're allowed to excuse yourself at anytime during the dinner. There's no point on forcing you to stay where you don't want to stay. Just make sure you eat." Heero raised his eyebrow at Wufei. "You're slim enough as it is."

"I eat," Wufei said defensively as he looked self-consciously down at his rather slim body. Okay, so he was too thin. Living the life of a bandit didn't give him time to fatten up. Although, now that he was living as a palace body guard he might gain a bit of weight.

The servants came in after a moment and quickly served breakfast. They left as quick as they came.

Wufei picked up his fork and began to eat, enjoying the good meal he always had now that he lived in the palace. He still missed his friends and his freedom was severely restrained but at least he now had a decent bed and decent food. That was good, wasn't it? Somehow, it didn't seem as good as it sounded. And he was forced into a dress! What kind of justice is that? He swallowed the last of his breakfast when he noticed Heero had been staring at him for some time.

"What are you going to do with your day?" the prince asked casually as he poured some more tea into his cup.

"Actually, Your Highness, I wanted to ask permission to go out into the city with Lord Duo," Wufei said slowly, unsure if the prince was actually going to let him go. Technically, he was a prisoner.

Heero looked up from his task and stared at Wufei. "You want to leave palace grounds?"

"Yes," Wufei said, nodding.

"Are you sure I can trust you not to run off?"

Wufei stiffened indignantly and he narrowed his eyes slightly. "You have my word I will not try to escape. Besides, you have my friends' lives dangling in the balance. I can't very well allow them to die because I wanted freedom."

Heero was silent for a moment, looking intensely thoughtful. "For how long?"

"I don't know. When do you want me back?"

"Before dinner."

"Very well. I shall be back before dinner."

"Have fun," Heero said, lifting his tea cup in salute.

Wufei had no idea what to make of it.

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