Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ 1 Blood on the Window ❯ Demented ( Chapter 10 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

I grinned at Heero as he pointed out another bible to Wufei, "How about this one?"

Wufei gave him the same disgusted look as previously, kneeling down and digging through magazines.

"You don't have a bible, Wufei…and if you're going to start going to mass…"

I wanted to laugh again, because Wufei had brought this one onto himself. We were in a department store with Relena, Kayla, and Hilde. Trowa was moving around with the ladies and his daughter, and Miguel was standing off behind me, not saying much. At any rate, Wufei had informed me with a troubled expression that he didn't have a bible and asked if he should buy one. I'd said no and he'd pressed the issue slightly as he normally did, then spotted one and asked me about it.

I was, by no means, an expert on the bible or any of the different versions. I hadn't even noticed which bible the church Wufei and I went to used. Before, though, I'd only come a handful of times, so it didn't really matter.

"Oh my god, is that Tailor?"

I snapped my head around at the girl's voice, blinking in disbelief at Valerie before diving onto Wufei's arm and snatching my ring off his finger.

"Mr. Johnson!" she called, running toward me with Amanda and Sarah. All three of them pounced me as my friends stepped back to stare in confusion.

"Oh my goodness, girls!" I muttered, taking a moment to hug each one, "How have you been? I'm sorry I didn't get to tell you good-bye!"

From the corner of my eye, I saw Wufei frowning at me.

Valerie giggled and hugged me again, pulling back to meet my eyes, "We've been fine, though it'd be nicer if you were still there!" …and the gossip started. The three of them led me, and thus the others, to the food-court area of the store. In ten minutes I was told every break up and every make up between the ten high-school age girls I'd been helping study and tutoring. I was informed with giggles that Megan had cried when she realized I was gone, and with even more giggles that Valerie herself had been making me a necklace that hadn't turned out when she realized I was gone.

Miguel and Heero were sitting back, looking openly amused by this incessant chatter, but Wufei was still frowning.

"What are you ladies doing here, anyway?" I asked when the chatter finally broke long enough for me to do more than nod or make a listening noise.

"My mom and dad brought us," Valerie explained, "I have an aunt who lives here and my mom wanted to visit her. I know that it can be boring here without people you know so…" she flashed me her trade-mark naughty grin, "I got my way."

"Valerie," I admonished, giving her a look, "You know you shouldn't do that."

"But I would have been bored!" she protested, pouting at me.

She was really cute.

I gave her a look.

She giggled, looking down, "Okay, okay. I know. I won't do it again…what are you doing here?"

"I live here now," I explained, gesturing to my friends, "I moved in with some war-buddies."

"You were in the war?" she asked blankly.

I nodded at her, shrugging, "It never seemed important to talk about."

"You were really young, weren't you, Mr. Johnson?" Amanda asked.

I nodded again.

They gave each other impressed looks.

"So, Tailor," Wufei asked finally, "Are you going to introduce us to your harem?"

Valerie, Sarah, and Amanda all gasped at him in a disbelieving fashion.

I gave him a level look, "I was an assistant school teacher. I was tutoring these ladies."

"In what?" Heero asked, smirking at me.

"History," Amanda replied, happily, "He knows all about history."

"And math." Sarah agreed, just as innocently.

I gave Heero a dirty look and shrugged, "Whatever they needed help in."

He rubbed his nose and I could tell he was forcing himself not to say something.

"They only had to ask," I added, smirking slightly at him, "Anything they wanted to know."

I saw him bite his tongue to keep from laughing as Miguel sat forward and drew their attention to him, "Are you part of a club?" he asked curiously.

Valerie nodded, "We were all…sorta failing," she explained in an embarrassed fashion, "We didn't know how to study, really. We would get distracted anyway, so Tailor arranged with our parents that we meet at his place twice a week."

Wufei snorted, looking away.

Valerie gave him a confused look.

"How have you been doing since I left?" I asked quickly, drawing their attention away from Wufei.

Valerie smiled at me, "I completely passed! The teachers were amazed with how well I did! They all told my mom that they knew it was because of you. Everyone thinks it's too bad that you left."

I smiled at her, shrugging, "Sometimes life doesn't offer exactly what you want."

"Yeah…" Valerie agreed, looking saddened.

"Oh my god, Val," Sarah gasped, then blinked at me, "Sorry, Tailor."

I waved it off.

"It's already five!" Sarah added, rising to her feet.

The flurry of sudden movement confused me a moment until Valerie threw her arms around my neck and hugged me again-so I hugged back. She kissed my cheek before Sarah took her place, then Amanda…they all beamed and waved at me before darting to the front of the store.

They were gone in moments.

I offered the ring to Wufei again, studying his eyes to see what he'd say, to see if he'd ask.

"That was highly entertaining, Duo." Miguel informed me.

I flashed him a grin as Wufei took the ring slowly from me.

"Now," Heero muttered, gaining my attention, "I know how those schools work…in the colonies. Those girls wear uniforms, don't they?"

I gave him a warning look.

He brushed his hair back, thinking about that, "I'd imagine that they're a bunch of the stereotypical type, too…high skirts and all." he grinned at me, "I saw the pictures…and…" he looked me over, "if I'm not mistaken, you'd have several girls over at a time…right after school."

I didn't reply to that, knowing he was going to make something dirty of it-I had done it myself for a joke.

"They all seemed extremely innocent." Miguel noted, looking to Wufei, "They didn't seem to catch our little jokes."

Wufei was studying me, his expression thoughtful.

"Of course," Heero muttered, "If one or two of them needed a little extra special attention…well, we all know you. You'd love to help."

"You're a sick fucker." I informed him, turning and starting away from them.

"I didn't say anything!" Heero called after me before starting to laugh.

.

"What's this I hear about little girls?" Kayla asked Duo, crawling on top of him without acknowledging the fact that I was still on the bed, "I hear that you taught them things you shouldn't have."

"What?" Duo protested instantly, looking confused a moment before starting to laugh, "I told you that I helped up at the high school," he explained, "A couple of the girls I was tutoring are here. They found us in the store today."

"Oh." she giggled, kissing him, "To hear Heero speak, you were all sorts of nasty."

Duo snorted, kissing her again.

It didn't take me long to realize that Duo had forgotten I was there and that Kayla didn't care.

I sighed, sliding off the bed and starting for the door.

"Where are you going?" Duo asked.

I stopped, turning to meet his eyes in shock.

His look was confused.

Kayla started giggling.

Duo thought a moment, then laughed, focusing on his girlfriend and forcing her off himself, sitting up, "We'll stop."

"I don't think he really wants us to," Kayla whispered.

"Kayla." I muttered, giving her a look.

"Oh, you want to join us?" she asked, smirking at me.

"Kayla." Duo didn't sound all that amused.

She sighed, "Oh fine…"

"I'm just gonna go downstairs," I muttered, meeting Duo's eyes again, "I'm getting kinda hungry so I'm gonna see if Relena wants help for supper."

"Okay." Kayla smiled at me, starting to kiss Duo's throat.

He grinned down at her and then met my eyes, "Sorry."

I laughed at him, moving into the hall, "No you're not."

.

"Mr. Johnson!"

I turned instinctively to the voice, searching out the faces of people around me until I met eyes with Jess Fallon. The blond beamed as he caught up with Wufei and I, shifting his bible to shake my hand, then Wufei's, "It's great to see you both here." he said enthusiastically, "I was just arranging a barbeque at my place for anyone who wanted to come. Are you going to make it?" he looked around, "Where's Mr. Vanderin?"

Hearing Heero's made up last name made me smile, "He's not the type to attend mass, Mr…?"

"Fallon," he replied easily, "I find no need to use a different name."

I nodded, "I thought I'd make sure."

He laughed, giving us both hopeful looks.

Wufei sighed, nudging me slightly.

"I…suppose?" I muttered, meeting Wufei's eyes.

He nodded.

Why did he want me to go? Why did he want to go? I didn't want to get sucked into this guy's clutches.

"Wonderful!" Jesse said exultantly, shaking our hands again, "Meet at my place at about three, all right? Bring anything you want! Or at least chips." he beamed at us as he started away, accosting an elderly couple with that same buoyant charm and another "excellent!" when they'd replied.

"We have nothing else to do today," Wufei shrugged, grinning at me.

"Bring a suit, Mr. Johnson!" Jesse shouted suddenly from across the building, "It's not going to get any cooler this afternoon!"

I smiled at him and the elderly couple approached Wufei and I, smiling, "It's so wonderful to see you again," the woman muttered, taking my hand in hers.

I could tell the hand-holding thing was an issue to Wufei, who mostly kept his arms at his side, but I was too used to it for it to bother me. I chatted with the woman and her husband a good five minutes before another couple joined us. We were gaining quite the ring of people…and if someone left they were reassuring themselves that I was going to be at the party at "Sweet Mr. Fallon's" place.

"How do you do that?" Wufei muttered to me as I finally extricated us from the suffocating press of people excited to hear I was indeed joining the church.

"What?" I asked, pretending not to get what he meant.

"All those people," he muttered as he unlocked his car.

I slid into the car, meeting Wufei's eyes, "You're the most popular bartender in your bar…and you're bothered by that?"

He shook his head as he put the car in gear and backed out-I thought it was rather amusing that he peeled from the parking lot.

.

"You're doing what?" I demanded of Duo in dismay.

"He invited us to a church pot-luck," Duo replied calmly, as if this would be soothing, "It's not like I could tell him no when Wufei was nudging me pointedly to say yes."

I turned to glare at Wufei, but he wasn't standing near the end of the stairs anymore.

"You didn't tell me you were going to mass," Miguel muttered petulantly to Duo, "You know I like to go too."

"Well, come to the barbeque and know that next week I'm going again."

"You are not." I snapped at him, "What about Kayla?"

"What about Kayla?" he returned, meeting my eyes with a frown.

"You're screwing her! That's a sin!"

This got me a look I'd never seen before. It was vaguely amused and annoyed.

"Heero, what are you all upset about?" Relena asked, moving in to kiss my cheek.

I gestured at Duo, not sure what to say.

She studied my eyes a moment, then giggled and met Duo's eyes, "Can I come?"

"What?" I snapped at her.

"He has a pool, Heero, which we do not."

I was struck speechless.

"I'm sure sweet Mr. Fallon won't mind," Duo muttered with a smirk.

I looked between the two of them in dismay.

"I'll go put my suit on." Miguel muttered, turning and disappearing into the living room, "Hey, Trowa!"

I couldn't believe how quickly the house was buzzing. I didn't get why everyone but me was more than willing to go deal with Jesse.

"Are you coming, Tio?" Alexia asked me twenty minutes later, coming into the room alone, holding a pair of my swimming trunks.

They'd sent her in so I couldn't shout at her.

"I don't want to." I informed her.

"Why not?" Alexia asked, moving up and extending her arms so I'd pick her up, "Tia 'rena said it has a pool." she showed me the swimming trunks, "And Tio Duo is going to buy pudding-snacks."

I studied her innocent eyes, "That's nice…I'll…just…"

"Please?" she begged, her large brown eyes even larger than normal, "I want you to come swim with me."

I sighed, setting her down and taking the shorts from her.

"Really?" she squeaked at me excitedly, then ran from the room shouting that I'd said yes.

I sighed, disgusted with my brethren for such a dirty trick.

At least I'd get to swim.

.

It amused me endlessly that Heero had consented to come. He'd been so outraged by the fact that Duo was willingly going to Jesse's house to begin with that I didn't think even sending in little Alexia would help. Trowa had insisted that we try, however, and Duo had gotten the bright idea.

I was more than willing to let the jackass stay at the house and stew in the semi-heat. We had an air conditioner, after all.

Heero was, however, driving us to the store, then to Jesse's house. He hadn't actually spoken to us when he'd come out after Alexia had come told us he was coming. He hadn't even responded when Duo told him to hit Safeway first. We were pulling into the Safeway parking lot now, though.

It amused me, how childish he could get sometimes.

He didn't say anything to me as I slid out of the car, Alexia unbuckling quickly to tail after me and make sure her uncle bought her the pudding cups he'd promised.

"Is he going to do this the entire time?" Duo asked me, turning to smirk at Heero.

I smacked him in the stomach, "Don't piss him off worse. I don't want to have to deal with him later."

"Just shove him off on me."

"You don't understand," I returned, "I sleep in the same bed with him. When he stays pissy like this it makes for along quiet night, because he doesn't sleep, but he doesn't talk to me, either."

He grinned at me.

I gave him a look, "If that happens tonight, I will so kick your ass."

He laughed, falling behind me as we entered the store.

"Tio, are you getting pudding?" Alex asked him earnestly.

"Of course we are, love." he muttered, catching her up into his arms, "Help me find them, okay?" he disappeared around a corner.

"You're spoiled here." Miguel informed Trowa, watching Duo disappear.

"What?" Trowa demanded.

"You're responsible for your daughter, of course, but you don't always have her with you. You don't even ask them where they're taking her. I'm hurt that you trust us so little." Miguel gave him a mock-pained look.

Trowa laughed, "I always know where they're taking her, Migelito, that's the difference."

I grinned at Miguel, who rolled his eyes and fell back to walk next to me as Trowa also disappeared.

"I think…I'll like it here." Miguel informed me.

"I hope so." I replied, smiling at him again, "We have no intentions of excluding you."

"Trowa did say he was taking me all the way to the bottom," he agreed, grinning at me, then past me a moment.

"What?"

He smiled at me and bowed slightly, "I apologize, I talk to much." he disappeared.

I blinked after him in amazement.

"I think we should bring soda," I jumped, turning to look at Heero as he moved to stand behind me, "Don't you think?"

I caught my breath and gave him a smiling dirty look since he'd startled me.

He grinned at me, grabbing a bag of chips from an end display, "Maybe some steaks too, huh, ai?"

"Yeah…" I agreed, leading the way, "Sounds like a plan."

.

"Mr. Johnson!" Jesse laughed in delight as the entire troop moved into the already buzzing backyard, "I'm happy you found so many willing victims!"

I smirked at him and winked.

"Heero." he greeted cordially, shaking Heero's hand.

Heero showed him the cube he'd brought.

"Over there on the table would be nice," Jesse muttered, then focused on Relena…and fell into a low bow, "My lady queen," he muttered.

Relena smiled at him, "If you do that again I'll have to do something about it."

Jesse righted himself instantly.

She smiled more, "I brought salad," she informed him, showing him the bowl she'd gotten together.

"There's ice in that pool there," he replied, pointing at a child pool at the end of the table, "And another bowl there…" he studied her a moment, then took it from her and gestured a man over, "Put this on ice." he muttered.

Heero rejoined us, wrapping an arm around Relena's shoulders and grinning at Jesse.

"We brought pudding snacks," Alexia said, moving to get the guys attention.

"Why thank you, sweetheart!" Jesse muttered, looking around at all of us in confusion as Alexia showed him the hefty bag of the child's treat.

"She's mine." Trowa muttered, stepping forward and extending a hand, "I'm Trowa Barton. This is my little girl, Alex."

Jesse suddenly looked nervous as he focused on Wufei, then Miguel.

"This is my brother-in-law, Miguel." Trowa went on, "We've recently moved into Heero's house. I take it you're Jesse Fallon, so I'm pleased to make your acquaintance."

"The pleasure is mine, sir," Jesse muttered, shaking his hand, then Miguel's. He stood there a long moment before hesitantly offering a hand to Wufei.

Wufei shook it, smiling at him.

"Please, feel free to mingle…or take over the pool." he gestured to the thing.

"We've brought steaks," Miguel added.

"Oh," Jesse thought a second, then turned to look around and gestured another man up, "Take this to the grill," Jesse muttered, turning to smile at us all again as Relena flashed him a grin and moved passed…Wufei followed her, and Miguel him. After a moment, Heero joined them and Trowa tagged along, informing Alexia that they should put the pudding on the table by the spoons.

"I appreciate your doing this," Jesse muttered sincerely to me.

"Doing what?" I asked blankly.

He stared at me a long moment, "I've waited years to meet the sovereign of our nation…it's an honor I won't soon forget."

"Relena?" I asked blankly.

He nodded, frowning at me.

I grinned at him and shrugged, "I'm glad to have made it happen."

"Anything you want…I'll do it." Jesse added, leading me toward his umbrella-covered sanctum, "Passes to Burn…passes to Viva…La frawn…any small thing."

I studied his eyes a moment, "Heero'd never introduced you?"

"Are you kidding me?" Jesse's eyes were huge now, "First time I met him was in the middle of the night and he was holding a gun to my head."

I laughed at how very…Heero that was.

"He's only come around a few times since then, and never once even offered to let me meet her majesty."

"Imagine if he marries her," I muttered, smirking.

Jesse blanched.

I laughed again, shaking his hand, "There's nothing I need at the moment, but maybe in the future."

"Fine, anything you say…"

"I'm going to swim," I added, looking to the pool where Relena was giggling as Heero raised her above the water level much like Trowa was doing to Alexia, "Are you going to join us?"

"You want me to?" he asked instantly.

I blinked at him, then smirked again, "Yes, I think I do."