Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Life Happened ❯ Surprises ( Chapter 5 )

Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing. I am not making money. I am totally penniless, so please don't sue me.

Life Happened 5/??

Author: shinigami2174

Rating: PG-13

Warnings: Relena's POV, yaoi, yuri, het, language

Pairings: Past R+1, 3x4x3, 1+2+1, 4x5x4, future 1x2x1

Timeline: After Endless Waltz

Spoilers: None.

Genre: Romance.

Archive: mediaminer.org and http://www.fanfiction.net/~shinigami2174

Feedback: Yes please! shinigami2174@Argentina.com

I know it's been a long time. I have been having a serious block. Besides, RL's been a real bitch. Anyway, thanks to CYT for beta reading.

Life Happened

Chapter 5: Surprises.

The first gift that Duo Maxwell ever gave me was my freedom. It was in the form of a black-haired wig and a pair of hazel-colored contacts. Right after he decided I needed to loosen up, have some fun and get a new wardrobe, we went to Preventers HQ to get said items to disguise me.

It made sense. I would be perfectly safe if nobody recognized me. He intended to take me shopping, so obviously the idea was to change my appearance drastically.

It was just a security measure at first, but after I saw my image in the mirror, I knew that my new appearance would allow me to do whatever I wanted without compromising my security, my public image or my credibility in any way.

I felt like I was getting out of jail. For the first time, I didn't have to behave my best, to pretend I was a lady or act as the mature person I was supposed to be. The feeling was intoxicating. Yes people, I was on a freedom high.

Immediately after our short stop at Preventers HQ, Duo took me to the store where he shops for his "fun clothes". Well, how can I describe it? It was…err… unorthodox, to say the least.

My first impression was that the only fabrics that store sold were denim and leather. Of course, I was wrong. There were all kinds of synthetic materials in store.

As soon as the salesman recognized Duo, he approached him and they started talking like old buddies. It was obvious that Duo was one of their best clients. I was fascinated, looking around the clothes. I had never in my entire life seen those kind of clothes. Damn, I liked them. A lot.

I was completely distracted. I didn't even notice when Duo asked the salesman to show us some of their finest pieces of clothing. The guy went to fetch them while Duo approached me, asking:

"Well, Lena. What do you think?"

"This place is incredible. I totally love it!" I answered, quite enthusiastically.

"I just knew you'd like it." He told me, grinning mischievously.

"I gather you shop here frequently." I commented offhandedly.

"Well, you could say that. All my party clothes come from here."

"So, you party very often?" I asked him while I continued to check the clothes.

"Not as often as I'd like." He told me. "I go clubbing once in a while, when I have time. I love dancing and it helps me to relieve some stress, you know?"

"Does Heero go with you sometimes?"

"No. I've never been able to persuade him." He answered, with a bit or sadness in his voice.

"Oh! You can't have expected any different," was my reply. What else could I tell him? I tried to change the topic of conversation, so I asked him:

"Where are we going tonight, Duo?"

"There's a very private place I go sometimes. Don't worry; there'll be no reporters there. It's not even a club. It's like a mobile party."

"A mobile party?" I asked, intrigued.

"Yes, the organizers move the party every time. It never takes place twice in the same place. Somebody has to invite you and tell you where the party is going to be. People are very careful about who they invite. It's a privacy issue. What happens there stays there. Nobody wants the outside world to know about it."

"It sounds mysterious. Is it like a cult or something?" I was curious. I told you, curiosity always gets the best of me.

"Well, not exactly. It's just a place to lose your inhibitions without worrying about your image or your prestige. Most people just go there to dance. They just don't want to be seen by the public."

"Oh, I understand." I said. "Are there any rules?" I asked.

"As I told you, what happens there stays there. Nobody comments who attends those parties or what happens there. It's a closed circle. You may meet people you know there. You can talk to them there, but you can't talk about those parties outside, even with people who attended them."

"Not even with you?"

"No, Lena." He said, firmly.

"Okay, my lips will be sealed." I assured him.

The whole moving-party thing was just strange. It really intrigued me. I started to wonder if I'd come upon someone I knew there. It would be kind of weird, but at the same time, it was exciting. I just couldn't wait to see what dirty secret I might find there.

Although Duo was sure of the privacy of those parties, I decided I was going to keep my disguise, just to be safe. I'd be free to do or observe whatever I wanted.

I was thinking about the whole thing, when the salesman came back to us, carrying some outfits. When I saw them, I almost fainted. They were outrageous. Very different from what I usually wear. But then again, that was exactly the point. I wanted to be different, to try new things. I wanted to be adventurous for once in my life, so I decided to try them on.

After trying on several outfits and modeling them for Duo, he declared that I looked my best in black leather. It was a very short mini skirt complemented with a very revealing top. I call it "the bite me outfit," because you could read those words on the chest and on the butt.

In other words, wearing that outfit was equivalent to have a big luminous sign hanging over my head that says "available and easy". Yes people, it was `that' slutty.

It was funny to think that nobody in the universe would believe that Relena Peacecraft would wear something like that. Ever. I was still looking in the mirror when Duo suggested:

"I think you need high-heeled boots to go with your outfit, Lena."

At that exact moment, the salesman was near us and heard Duo calling me Lena. He fixated his eyes on me, like I looked familiar to him, but just wasn't sure who I was.

"Lena?" He asked. "Like in Relena?" He insisted.

I was shaking. One word to the media and there would be a scandal. Duo, however, looked cool and collected. He just smile at the guy and said:

"Lena, like in Helena. She's a friend of mine. Sorry to disappoint you buddy, but I didn't recommend your store to the Vice Minister Peacecraft."

The guy looked disappointed, but convinced. We paid for the outfit and a pair of boots, and hurried out of that place. I was silently relieved and honored. I'd read about Duo's past and knew who Sister Helen was. The fact that he used her name combined with mine to cover my back told me he considered me a friend and cared about me.

"Crap! That was freaking close. Thanks, D." I said.

"Don't mention it, Len." He sounded kind of nervous. "After all, this whole thing was my idea."

We never talked about that incident again. But I'm sure he knows that I understand the meaning of that particular name.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Once in the car, Duo decided I needed some make-up. After applying some kohl to my eyes and red lipstick to my lips. I was ready to party. I also looked like a real `pro', if you know what I mean.

After that, we headed to the party. We finally arrived at what seemed to be an abandoned warehouse. Let me be more specific, would you? That place looked like a dump from outside. The most hideous guy I've ever seen was keeping the door, controlling who could enter and who couldn't.

The gorilla seemed to know Duo very well, because we didn't have a problem getting in. So far so good. Once inside, I took a careful look around the place. I was damn right, it was a dump. You could say it was a stylish dump, but a dump nonetheless.

The music was loud; the whole place was almost in total darkness. There was just a bunch of lights near the bar and some more on the dance floor. It was totally crowded, but you can hardly see anything, so I couldn't recognize anyone.

After the initial shock, I started to feel I was in my element at that place, the loud music, the crowded dance floor. Everything seemed perfect to me. I wanted to dance all night long and have the best time.

We headed for the dance floor and I swear I could feel the rhythm of the music running through my body. Duo and I must have been quite a couple, because after a few minutes, everybody's eyes were on us. Some guys were looking at me like they were hungry wolves and I was a piece of fresh meat. I don't know if I liked it.

But even if it hurts my vanity, most people were absorbed in watching Duo. Man, D could get more ass than a toilet seat if he wanted! I, never the one to keep my mouth shut, teased him:

"Hey Duo, you seem to have a big fan club."

He actually blushed, so I insisted a little more.

"Do they just watch or want to touch?"

"Well, some of them have tried to touch, but their health is no longer good enough to come to these parties."

"Ouch! So you beat the crap out of them, I understand. Have you ever… you know… gone out with one of them?"

"I've been tempted, but I've never gone out with one of them. Sometimes I really feel lonely… anyway I don't go out, period."

I felt so sad for him, but then again I was in the same position, without anyone to share my life with. At least he had an illusion, he was in love. I, on the other hand, well… let's just say I had no prospects on sight.

We were dancing and after a while, I turned my eyes towards the door, and guess what? I was on for the first surprise of the night. Quatre and Wufei were making their entrance, holding hands. They were very discrete, even in that place where everything seemed permitted.

I followed them with my eyes and then Duo noticed them. He seemed also a little bit surprised, although he knew about them. I believe he hadn't seen them `together' before.

After some time, he told me:

"Lena, I need to talk to Quatre for a sec. Do you want something to drink? We can meet again at the bar."

"It's ok, Duo," I answered, "I'll see you there."

We parted ways. I went over to the bar and asked for a soda. After thirty seconds, one of the very top government officials I usually work with made a pass at me. I was astonished, since that man is fifty and married. He didn't seem to recognize me when he dropped the line "I can make all your wishes come true, baby." Oh my God! What a pathetic loser.

Anyway, I have to make him disappear before he could figure out who I was, so I said:

"Really?"

"Sure, babe," he answered.

"Well, here's my first wish. Get lost."

He showed some signs of intelligence and went away. After I got rid of him I started to look around the place.

Something caught my attention. Not very far from the bar, sitting on a large couch, there was a couple making out like it was the last day of their lives. After a few seconds of observation, I realized they were both girls. That's ok. I was totally cool with that. Sometimes I ask myself if I swing that way. You know, love is love.

I was thinking about it when I noticed something else. Those chicks looked very familiar to me. I was concentrated on trying to figure out who they were when Duo came to meet me again.

"What's up, Lena?"

"Uh? Oh! I was trying to figure out who those girls are," I answered, still looking towards them.

He looked at them and started laughing hard.

"Oh my God, Lena! Please don't tell me you didn't recognize them."

"Well, I think I know them, but I just can't say who they are."

"Please, Lena," Duo told me, "look at them carefully."

I really concentrated, and then I finally recognized them.

"Holly shit!" I gasped, "Is that… Une and Noin?"

"Oh yeah. Sure they are." Duo said, with some degree of amusement in his voice.

"You knew about them." It wasn't a question. I was such a fool. Never in my life would I have imagined they were a couple.

"Yep. I gather you didn't."

"Well, obviously. I still had hopes about Noin and my brother. I even wanted Une to find a good man to share her life. I suppose I'm still a little bit delusional."

"Does it bother you, Lena?"

"Of course not. Why would it bother me?"

"Well, they are both… you know… girls."

"Duh, of course they are. So?"

"I mean, are you okay with that?"

"Well, it doesn't matter. It's their business. But yes. I'm okay with whatever makes them happy. I care about them."

"That's great, Lena."

"I have to admit, it was a surprise to me. But you know, as I was looking at them, I was wondering if I could swing that way."

"Really?" He actually looked surprised.

"Yes. Weird, isn't it?"

"It would be funny."

"What? If I liked girls?" I asked him, curious.

"No. Let me tell you the whole story. When I went to live with Hilde I was convinced that Heero and you were going to end up together. I really tried to avoid reading or watching about you and your work, because it always involved Heero."

"And?" Now I was intrigued.

"Well, at that time, Hilde actually developed a big crush… well… on you. She kept everything that was published about you. She watched every single news program just because of you. It really made me feel sick."

"You aren't kidding, right?"

"Nope. She's like a sister for me. I would never joke with something like that."

I went silent. Oh my God. Hilde? All this time, longing for someone to care about me. All that time chasing an impossible dream, and there was somebody in the universe that actually cared about me. It was really surprising.

I didn't know what to think or what to feel about Duo's revelation. I was genuinely confused. I asked him to take me home. I needed to be alone to digest the news. I must have gone very silent, because when we were arriving to my home he asked:

"Lena, are you okay?'

"Yes, Duo. I'm just a little bit surprised and confused, but okay."

"That's good."

"Yeah, that's good. Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Do you think she is still interested?"

"What?!"

"You know. Would she go out with me?"

"I… I don't know." He really sounded surprised by then.

"Would you ask her, please?"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, Duo."

Why did I ask him to do that? I honestly don't know. Even to this day, it's a mystery to me. I wasn't even sure I liked girls that way. However, the idea of having someone who really cared about me was very enticing. I was willing to give it a shot.

We finally arrived to my house. I was exhausted, not just physically, but emotionally as well. I was willing to go to bed and sleep a little bit. We opened the door, the whole house was dark. All the service had gone to bed so I assumed we were alone.

"Duo," I told him, "thanks a lot. I had a wonderful night. You're the best."

"It was nothing, Lena," he answered, cheerfully.

I gave him a kiss on his cheek. When I noticed a pair of cobalt blue eyes looking at us I let out a small shout.

"Heero!" I said.

"You came back early," was all Duo said.

"Where were you?" Heero asked with an icy voice. He was glaring at me like he wanted to kill me right there.

"We went out." Duo answered.

"Where?" Heero asked impatiently.

"She was safe. I was with her the whole time," Duo answered.

"Where?" Heero insisted.

"We went to one of the `private parties'."

Was it my imagination, or was Heero Yuy actually red? I can't tell you. But he looked really pissed off.

"Are both of you stupid?" He asked us, furiously.

"No. We were safe. I made sure of that. Besides, nobody recognized her." Duo pointed out.

Then, Heero looked carefully at me. He was very angry. I could tell.

"Relena, you look…" Heero began.

"Fantastic, I know." I interrupted.

"…like a whore," he finished.

Shit, that stung. If he said that on purpose just to hurt me, he actually did it. Duo decided to intervene before things got out of hand.

"Fuck, Yuy. There is something called tact. You should get some."

"You know, Heero…" I stepped in, "it's your opinion and I like to think this is a free world, but honestly I don't give a flying fart about what you think. I actually like how I look. I had the time of my life tonight. I don't know what this big fuss of yours is about. I was safe. I was with Duo."

"You didn't tell her." Heero looked disapprovingly at Duo.

"I didn't want to worry her."

"Worry me?" I didn't know what they were talking about.

"Yes, Len." Duo answered me. "There have been threats to your life. That's why we moved you to Preventers HQ."

"What do you mean? There was no failure in the climate controls?" I was getting upset by the minute.

"No, it was just an excuse. Security reasons." Duo said, sounding a little bit mortified.

"That's a mountain of B.S. and you know it, Duo. Was our friendship part of the plan to protect me? Were you my bodyguard or my friend? Please, tell me."

The idea of Duo just distracting me, not really wanting sincerely to be my friend, really hurt me. I know he never lies, but I was truly afraid of being betrayed.

"Lena, you know me. I really care about you." He said, sounding a little bit hurt by my sudden doubts.

"Okay, Duo. I believe you. I'm sorry. I just… it's confusing. Anyway, how serious is this? Do you believe there's a real danger?"

"We're not sure. That's what Heero was investigating." Duo said, looking at Heero for information about the status of the situation.

"There's real danger. We have to reinforce security. That is why I came back sooner."

"Ok, let's make a plan. Time to work." Duo said, turning very serious.

"Never the one to waste time, huh Duo?" A different voice came from the shadows, making me aware of another presence in the house.

Duo and I turned our heads towards the newcomer. His eyes were looking at me with curiosity. I swear I saw some amusement in them. Finally, addressing me, he commented.

"Never mind Heero, Ms. Peacecraft. You look good in that outfit."

Oh my God! The last surprise of the night was there. Heero hadn't come alone.

He had brought Trowa Barton with him.

tbc