"Please, Heero. I don't want to go alone~."
Duo was being very persistent today and it bothered Heero. He didn't mind going somewhere tonight, but not when Zechs is there with them.
"I have to study for tomorrow's exam."
"Bullshit! We both know you don't need to study at all!! Come on, stop being a good little boy and let's go out and have fun!!"
Duo went to his closet and threw his jeans, shirts, and jackets on his bed. Heero glanced at them and titled his head.
"Isn't this a formal party?"
Duo undid his ponytail and brushed his wavy hair. He looked at Heero in the mirror and nodded.
"It is, but you know me. I don't like to dress up in formal suits. Zechs said I could wear anything I want. So I'm gonna go casual."
Duo started to braid his hair. Heero was not liking this at all. He pretended he was reading, but his mind was not with his eyes. He didn't want to see Duo and Zechs in the same room, but he didn't want to stay in his room alone, which was his nightly schedule. He should be used to being alone with no one bothering him or destroying his peace, but prefers it. But tonight, he actually felt like leaving the room and catch up on his social life.
"You talked to him?"
Duo nodded and headed to the bathroom.
"I'm not suppose to tell you this, but he actually came back a week ago. He wants everyone to think he just came back yesterday, but he called me from the shuttle on his way back here."
Duo closed the door behind and started to brush his teeth. Heero was very unhappy about Duo and Zechs being very close. He could not concentrate at all on his book, but he didn't really know why.
"...Jealousy?.... Hm.. pathetic..." But there was no other explanation. Heero didn't hate Duo like he used to when he first met him. He was annoying..... or is annoying, childish, and very distractive. Heero tried to avoid him, but he soon realized he couldn't even take his eyes off from him. He can't explain it in words but Heero knew Duo was very important in his life. A necessity.
He closed his book.
"Hey, hey. Jus' cause I'm annoying doesn't mean you have to leave... I'm leaving anyways... You have the room all to yourself. Like usual."
Soon as Duo opened the bathroom door, he saw Heero getting his jacket from the closet. Duo was in his khakis and a black sweater, thick brown jacket on top.
"Jeez.. Just let me get my keys.."
Duo grabbed the car keys and a muffler from the table and headed to the door. But right before he closed the door behind him, Heero's hand slid out and ceased it.
"... Relena is there. Right?"
_________________________
"HEERO!!"
Heero sighed. As soon as he walked in the huge mansion, Relena Peacecraft yelled and came running at him.
"I didn't know you're coming!! Come, I want to introduce you!!"
Relena smiled excitedly and pulled Heero's unwilling arm.
"Relena.. I came here with-"
"No, no. Go Heero. Don't mind me. I have some people I know over there."
Heero tried to pull back and snatch his arm away from Relena, but Duo pushed him back and bowed to Relena.
"Konbanwa, ojyousan. You look lovely this evening. Where's our hero?"
"He's upstairs with Treize," Relena returned a bow, "Zechs doesn't mind, but Treize wants everything perfect. He's probably telling him how to enter this ballroom."
Duo laughed and waved his hand to Heero and Relena as she dragged him to her guests. Duo knew those guests were girls from the same school because he recognized some of them. He could hear loud cheers and see blushing cheeks as Relena introduced Heero.
"I guess he's popular among girls..." "DUO!!"
Duo turned to the voice and saw three guys from his basketball team waving at him. They all came to nudge at him.
"Hey. Kinda late, aren't ya? Thought you'd never show up."
The tallest kid lightly punched his shoulder. The other one nudged his head.
"Yeah, good thing your prince didn't show up yet!"
Duo shoved them away and gave them a nasty look.
"Hey, I just braided them. Don't make me do it again.. You guys know how lazy I'm.... Anyways, why do you always call Zechs a 'prince'?"
"Not just 'prince'," the boy corrected with a smile, "your 'prince'."
Duo gave them a weird face. He looked as though he didn't even have a clue what they were getting at.
"Idiot. Why did you bring your little guardian with you?"
The tall boy glared at Heero's direction. Duo wondered why everyone called him an idiot and Heero his guardian. The other boys crossed their arms, angry as well.
"No kiddin'. Don't you know most of the girls at our school have sexual desires over him? Now you have to bring him here and let him take all the fun."
The boy pinched Duo's cheeks until they turned red.
"Owww! Cut it out!"
The boys laughed as Duo rubbed his rosy cheek and beamed at them with teary eyes.
Looking at Duo and the boys from the distance, Heero was not happy at all. He was surrounded by Relena's friends, who kept asking personal questions. Heero just nodded or shook his head in response, not even knowing the content of the questions. His eyes and mind was on Duo and it irritated him when the boys touched or even laughed with Duo.
"Finally, our handsome soldier is here!"
He heard some girl say, but he didn't know what it meant. He saw Duo turn his face towards the stairs and his eyes followed. He sighed annoyingly as he saw the two tall figures descending the stairs elegantly, triumphant music being played in the back.
Everyone cheered and clapped as one beautiful lady handed Zechs flowers and he kissed her hand graciously. The whole ballroom seemed to be shaking with everyone's excitement.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Treize raised his hand to get people's attention, "would you please hold your drinks while I may make a toast for our great commander?"
Treize smiled and handed Zechs a glass of wine. Everyone followed and raised their drinks.
Heero was holding his drink, but did not have any intentions to listen to Treize's nonsense. His eyes were locked on Zechs who was looking about the room. His eyes stopped wandering and his face was filled with a warm smile. Heero followed his eyes and just as he thought, Duo was there, smiling back at him and giving him a victory sign.
"-To Zechs Marquise."
"ZECHS MARQUISE!!"
Everyone repeated and drank. The band started playing again and people's voices once again ruled the ballroom. Zechs was talking to Noin and Lady Une, Treize sipping wine and listening to generals from all over the colony. Heero turned his attention back to Duo and was relieved to see him munching on food. The usual Duo. Heero was afraid Duo would run up to Zechs immediately after the toast, but even he was not that impolite.
"Heero? Is something the matter?"
He was brought back to reality by Relena's worried voice. He quickly turned around and shook his head.
"... Well, he seems to be having fun.... I knew he liked Relena..." Duo glanced at Heero and Relena. They've been talking for quite sometime now, although Relena seems to be the one doing the talking. But Heero stayed in his seat by Relena, not even noticing Duo. Duo doesn't know why but he didn't like the sight, so he looked away and focused on the excellent amount and quality of the food in front of him. Duo munched on the cracker topped with lots of caviar. He almost coughed it out but held it down with his champagne.
"Aren't you a little too young for alcohol, Mister?"
Duo froze and turned around, thinking he was going to get in trouble, but was relieved to see the playful eyes of Zechs Marquise.
"Don't scare me like that! I almost dropped the glass."
Duo sighed and stuck out his tongue.
"I thought caviar was expensive for a reason... I'd rather eat cheap chicken's eggs than that..."
He wrinkled his nose and gulped his champagne to get the bitter taste out, but it wasn't enough. He signaled the waiter with the drinks to come to get some more champagne. The waiter came right of way and lowered his tray for him.
"Thanks."
Duo grabbed a glass of champagne, but Zechs took it away from him. He took a glass of apple cider in the other hand and held it in front of Duo.
"There are many under aged guests here, and I want you to tell Relena I'm keeping my eyes on her and her friends."
The waiter quickly bowed and headed to Relena's direction. Duo's eyes followed until a glass of apple cider blocked his view.
"... You never cared when I drank in front of you... Jerk.."
Duo eyed him and snatched the glass. Zechs chuckled.
"Kids don't appreciate how fine these beverages are."
Zechs shook his head, sipping the champagne he took from Duo.
"They just drink them to get 'wasted'. Isn't that right, Duo?"
Zechs tilted his head as if he was really expecting him to answer. Duo looked away from Zechs and sipped his apple cider. He made a face.
"Tastes too sweet. I'd rather drink soda."
Duo put his glass down. He turned back to Zechs and crossed his arms.
"I see our heroic knight is in a good mood tonight. What are you up to this time?"
Duo grinned. He knew the only time Zechs acted like this is when he has something in mind.
"What? I can't be happy to be back on Earth?"
Zechs smiled, a little wickedly. Duo gave him an unsatisfied look. Zechs was definitely up to something....
"What's with the disappointment? Did you want me to say I'm happy to see you?"
Zechs lowered his face to Duo's and wiped his lips with his thumb. Duo backed away from the sudden approach. Zechs smirked and showed Duo his thumb, which had some caviar on it.
"You're still a little boy if you don't know how tasty these are."
Zechs grinned and licked his thumb. Duo hated when Zechs treated him like this. Zechs wasn't exactly an adult either, but he was so mature and patient.... Very handsome, intelligent, kind.. The list goes on and on. Everything about this man made Duo feel small and childish.
Duo wanted to complain about his treatment, but there was a sudden change of music. Everyone formed a circle in the middle of the ballroom. On cue, people came out in the open with a partner and started dancing.
Duo watched until his hand was gently taken by Zechs.
"May I have this dance?"
Duo stared at Zechs for a long time. He couldn't move for a while. Then his cheeks turned red and pulled his hand away.
"Stop playing around, Zechs! I'm not in the mood to-"
Duo turned his body to the table to hide his embarrassment, but Zechs grabbed his arm and pulled him to the center.
"He.. Hey!! What are you!!-"
Duo yelled but Zechs was physically stronger than Duo. Before he knew it, he was already in the center of the circle. Everyone was surprised at first, but they all clapped their hands.
The power of Zechs Marquise.
"Zechs... Seriously..."
Duo whispered to Zechs and eyes were going left to right. Zechs smiled and held his chin to make him look up at him.
"I am serious. I just want to have one dance with you... but if you really don't want to, say so now."
