Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ The Silent Series ❯ Silent Night ( Chapter 3 )

Author's Notes and Warnings: Hello!! *waves* Thank you for coming back, no da! This chapter will introduce the original character, Azir. Not much intrigue, just characters getting to know each other and in most cases, reacquainted.

Hugs and blessings to my reviewers ! Special thanks to Hitari-chan for the beta work!!!!

Disclaimer: I don't own them, just borrowing their names and likenesses for the purpose of entertaining fans! I hope I'm at least doing that right, ne?

Enjoy!

The Silent Series - Chapter 3: Silent Night

By Moonraven

"That was one of the most preposterous proposals you've ever come up with, Minister Peacecraft. How can you expect the mining colonies to agree with such demands?" Hans Jorgensen, the representative of mining colony MN107 demanded, red-faced. "I cannot condone this!"

"You don't have to, representative Jorgensen." Relena smiled pleasantly at the angry man. "But you must know that many of the mining colonies have been talking about similar treaties for some time now. They are completely prepared to accept it."

"You LIE!" Hans Jorgensen was nearly shouting and his associates each grabbed an arm to steady him as well as hold him back should he decide to leave his wits behind and lunged at the serene Minister of Foreign Policies. That would indeed prove to be stupid since Relena was flanked by 4 top Preventers Agents as well as her very grim looking brother, Milliardo Peacecraft.

The former Lightning Count glowered at the representatives of MN107 darkly while they collected their wits and bowed, then dragging their comrade sputtering behind them.

Relena sighed and turned irritated eyes towards her smirking brother. "Milliardo, please! If you keep scaring them away, I can't play."

Zechs threw back his head and laughed at the petulant expression on his sister's face. "Sorry, Relena, but Heero's going to have my head if I allow you to hurt them. He feels that it would give him a bad reputation if you prove to be more competent than your bodyguard."

Relena rolled her eyes and elegantly smoothed down the front of her blue evening gown. "Speaking of which…where is he?"

"Around, I'm sure. He's never far, you know that."

"And…Wufei?" Relena asked.

Zechs glanced sideways at Relena but she was too busy picking imaginary lint from her slender gloved hand to pay any notice. Or so it appeared. Zechs smiled and shrugged. "Wufei sends his regrets; he has duties elsewhere that he must attend to, but will be by presently. Didn't you see him in the audience when you made your speech?"

"No, I didn't." Relena frowned as she tried to recall. She saw Heero standing next to the stage and she even saw Duo leaning casually against the wall by one of the doors. He may seem relaxed but from past experiences, Relena knew that his attention was completely attuned to his surroundings. Trowa was in his usual place, standing ever vigilantly behind Quatre's chair, out of sight, but never quite far enough to be out of reach… Relena had wondered extensively about those two… They almost seem like one person at times… yet…

But she digressed. Wufei, she was thinking about the Chinese man. Where was he? What other duties did he have at the trade conference besides security? "He didn't mention any other duties to me." She murmured half to herself.

"Was he supposed to?" Zechs asked with one fine eyebrow raised.

"It would be nice to know why he just disappeared, that's all. Not that I care, of course." Relena continued to inspect her gloved hands as she walked. "He is a very rude man."

"I find his candor to be quite refreshing." Zechs mused. "Anyway, I'm sure you'll see him in the ballroom, Relena." Zechs told her as he stepped in front of the large double door, barring her way. He looked at her with undisguised amusement and Relena frowned up at him.

"What is it, Milliardo?"

"Are you ready, your highness?" He asked her softly as he offered her his arm.

"Oh." Relena smiled genuinely at her brother and took his arm graciously. "Why yes, thank you, your highness."

One of the Preventers agents opened the double doors and the doorman inside announced the royal siblings grandly. Relena smiled and nodded politely to the crowd and as always, she started to wonder how long they had until bedtime. Maybe at twenty-one, she was getting too old to put up with small talks and all the fawning that was usual for the social period after speeches. She didn't know how Quatre could stand to be smiling so brilliantly still; hers were definitely forced.

"Zechs."

Relena's grip on her brother's arm tightened at the sound of Wufei's voice. So… his duties allowed him to visit her after all, how gracious of him!

"Wufei… or should I say representative Chang."

What?

Relena had intended to ignore her truant bodyguard a bit longer but she couldn't help herself. Her head turned sharply on it's own accord and she found herself staring into the dark eyes of Wufei Chang.

The arrogant man was dressed almost completely in black. His long sleeve, waist length coat was meticulously donned with small gold buttons down the middle. The high collar of the jacket was trimmed red and so was the intricate dragon that adorned the front of his jacket. His narrow black pants hung splendidly on his slim hips and powerful thighs, managing to make him appeared even more predatory than any dragon image ever could. Around his waist wrapped a red silk sash and inserted between the silk and his trimmed waist was his katana. Wufei had his long hair loose, framing his chiseled face and hung like strands of black silk to fall a little ways past his shoulders. She had never seen Wufei like this before and all she could do was stare.

"Relena." Wufei said as he took the hand she didn't even know she'd offered and bowed over it. Relena couldn't completely identify the feelings dancing around in her chest as her fingers touched his forehead. She wasn't aware that Chinese people greet nobility that way but whichever way Wufei decided to use was quite all right with her. She blinked at him as he straightened up and dropped her hand then turned to say something to Zechs. Relena stared at the young man she had spent all of yesterday with and couldn't help but wonder why she hadn't noticed how attractive he really was.

"I must go then." Relena vaguely heard Zechs told Wufei. Her brother turned to smile apologetically at her. "I'm sorry 'Lena but Noin's looking for me. Wufei will continue his duties here, so I leave you in good hands." He turned to Wufei and nodded then off he went towards the door.

Relena turned to look at the man in front of her again and found him staring right back at her. Well, he may have looked different but his manners sure hadn't improved much.

"Representative Chang?" Relena asked stiffly. "Why have I not heard of you before tonight? Or should I have a word with my staff for neglecting to include you in my briefings?"

"Ah… no, don't have a word with them." Wufei held up a hand and smiled weakly. "I'm not really representing any colony, more like a last minute substitute. My uncle, Fei-Hung Wong, is the real representative of New L5. When he heard that I was going to be here, he'd ask that I take his place while he quells a small rebellion on the colony. Quatre has a letter from him, if you need to see it."

"No… I… Why didn't you say anything?" She asked. "I thought…" Relena bit her lips. What was the matter with her? So what if she'd thought he had left? Before yesterday, she hadn't even expected to see him let alone have him as her temporary bodyguard. So why should she care if he had other things to do?

Wufei's piercing onyx eyes watched her struggle and Relena thought she's seen a hint of a smile touched those usually stern lips.

"You thought…?" He was definitely not helping, damn it!

Relena lowered her eyes to inspect her hands coolly. "It really doesn't matter."

Wufei's hand appeared suddenly next to hers and Relena pulled her hands back in surprise. She looked up quizzically at the serious young man in front of her and stared as he bowed low.

"Would you do me the honor?" Wufei asked when he looked up.

"…" Blink. Blink.

"Dance. Would you like to dance?" Wufei straightened while his eyes remained fixed on hers.

"Oh." Duh! Relena, poise and elegant princess of the pacifist Kingdom of Sanq, could have merrily kicked herself had that not been one of the things princesses don't do. "I'd love to." She replied and placed her hand in the warm and capable hand of Wufei.

Wufei pulled her close against him and whirled her across the floor. Wow… she hadn't thought he could dance.

"Why ever not?" Wufei asked, his eyes twinkled with curiosity.

"Excuse me?" Relena briefly thought about the various dishes she'd had for dinner. Which one was turning her into an imbecile?

"Why would you think I don't dance?" He looked as if he'd expected an answer… Oh, wait a minute… Did she say that out loud? Think, Relena, think.

"Well…" She started slowly. "Soldiers don't usually make graceful dancers…"

Relena trailed off awkwardly as Zechs breezed elegantly by them with Noin poised in his arms.

"Milliardo is always the exception, of course, he is a prince after all. It is only appropriate that he knows his way… around the… floor." Relena hated herself with a vengeance. No, she hated Wufei with a vengeance. He was making her… babble! Princesses do NOT babble.

"Yes, I suppose Zechs is the exception." Wufei said quietly though Relena did not miss the amusement in his voice. "Quatre must be another exception."

Sure enough, the graceful blond was twirling Dorothy past them and around the dance floor like they were Fred and Ginger! (1)

Relena decided that the only way for her foot to stay out of her mouth was for her to keep quiet so she pointedly ignored Wufei's last comment and concentrated on plucking… something… anything from his coat. Her fingers found instead the complex design of the red dragon and she absently traced it with the tips of her fingers.

They danced in silence and Relena found that she was enjoying the feel of this man much more than she should. Aside from Heero, she hadn't felt any real romantic interest in anyone and when she found that her relationship with Heero was even less romantic than she had once thought, she became disillusioned with the notion of romance in general. If the princess wasn't supposed to fall in love with her knight in shining armor, who was she supposed to fall in love with?

Unconsciously, she looked up and found Wufei's dark eyes regarding her. She blushed and looked down quickly. Not the dragon…

Relena's eyes dropped down to the impressive beast on Wufei's coat. "Your dragon is exquisite."

"Thank you. The design is from the family crest." Wufei's voice rumbled under her fingertips and she couldn't resist pressing her whole hand lightly on his chest.

Wufei's arms tightened slightly around her waist and Relena closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of his closeness.

"I'm sorry about yesterday." She offered softly. "You're not still angry, are you?"

"No. I'm not angry."

"But you were."

Wufei hesitated then said, "You took me by surprise. No one's done that in a very long time."

Relena wondered if it was a good thing then decided that it was. "But you're not… angry… anymore?"

Wufei leaned back slightly and looked down into her face. "No, Relena. I'm not angry anymore."

Relena sighed. "Good. Then I should probably tell you that… I was angry that you hauled me back to the hotel…"

Wufei smiled and Relena had to consciously tell herself not to drool. "I knew that. You're not still angry are you?" He mimicked her last question.

"Er… no… but I was. I really was. Just like you were." She added quickly.

Wufei narrowed his eyes suspiciously at her. "Relena?"

"I'll straighten it out with the authorities, I promise!"

"What did you do?" Wufei's grip tightened as he pulled her flushed against him.

"Hey Wufei!"

Both Relena and Wufei looked toward the voice that hailed him; Relena with visible relief and Wufei, complete irritation.

"What is it, Lang?" Wufei asked the Preventers agent who looked about as happy to talk to Wufei as Relena was a second ago…

"Well… Lady Une wants to know why there is a warrant for your arrest." Lang whispered to the still Wufei.

"What?!"

Relena gulped and disengaged herself from his arms. "I think I hear Heero calling me." She made her escape when Lang told Wufei that the lady in question was waiting for him on a videophone and that he was wanted immediately for explanations.

"Relena!!!"

The dignified princess dashed out the balcony door and disappeared into the night, not leaving so much as a glass slipper behind. (A/N: Gomen *sweatdrops* I couldn't help it, no da!)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Quatre Raberba Winner. It's been a long time."

Quatre looked up from the teacup and smiled at the tall young man in front of him. "Excuse me?"

"Azir Rasha. Surely you hadn't forgotten?" The dark blue eyes twinkled from beneath dark lashes at Quatre's blank look.

"L4, maybe 6 years ago, music class, Maestro Tenko?" Azir prompted. "Anything ring a bell?"

Quatre gasped and quickly put the cup down on the small table. "Azir! Of course, I'm so sorry!" He took the offered hand readily and pumped it enthusiastically. "I just… it's so unexpected. How have you been? What are you doing here?"

Azir laughed and pulled Quatre into a warm hug. Quatre's eyes widened at the sudden gesture but he recovered quickly and embraced the taller man back. When Azir finally let him go, Quatre was a little more than flustered. That hug was just a tiny bit longer than he had anticipated.

Azir watched him as he composed himself making Quatre even more unsettled. His childhood friend had grown into a tall man. His sandy hair was meticulously combed and trimmed. His black tuxedo fitted him to perfection and Quatre couldn't help noticing how elegant and handsome he looked. Quatre flushed even more at the direction his mind was taking and he cleared his throat nervously.

"So… you didn't tell me what'd brought you here." He smiled up at the twinkling blue eyes and try to still his rapidly beating heart. He felt… desire…? He looked around uncertainly but there was no one around them aside from the bodyguards Trowa has stuck him with and he was pretty sure it didn't come from them. He looked back at the intense eyes that were staring at him and swallowed. It couldn't be… Azir? He quickly picked up his cup, hoping for something to occupy his hands. He'd been shielding all night, if he could still feel that, it was very strong indeed.

"YOU brought me here." Azir said softly and smiled when Quatre gave a startled cry and nearly dropped his cup. "You organized the conference, remember? My father is the representative from MN205."

Quatre put his cup down hastily lest he dropped it completely. "Oh. Of course." Get a grip, Quatre. He's just a man. A very attractive man, but just a man. "I didn't know that Representative Tamar is your father."

Azir smiled and took out his handkerchief. He took Quatre's hand and gently pressed the cloth to the back of it, wiping the liquid that spilled from the teacup. Quatre stared at his hand in mute horror. How embarrassing, he hadn't even noticed the spill was there! Quatre quickly doubled his efforts to strengthen his emotional barriers. At this rate he was going to be a complete mess by the end of the night. What was wrong with him?

"We didn't discuss our family much, as I recalled. Mostly we were just trying to get the notes right. Well, I was anyway. You were always exquisite when you played, Quatre. Just exquisite." Azir tucked his handkerchief away with one hand while the other still held on to Quatre's.

Quatre swallowed and tugged gently at his hand. The strange sense of need and craving still hung around them like a tantalizing mist, making Quatre even more aware of the man in front of him. Azir let go with an embarrassed little laugh.

"I'm sorry. I was just thinking how you haven't changed much. I'd recognize you anywhere. You look almost exactly the same as the last time I saw you; when you came to the spaceport to say goodbye."

Quatre laughed. "I don't know if that's a good thing. I'd just turned fifteen when you moved away."

"Believe me, it's a good thing." Azir said softly as he stared fixedly into Quatre's eyes. "The two things I'd missed most in all of L4 were your brilliant smile and the sounds of your violin. L3 was a dreary place without your sunny disposition, Quatre Winner. I'd really missed you."

"I'd missed you too." Quatre wondered if someone had turned up the thermostat in the ballroom. It was decidedly very warm.

"I called." Azir said quietly. "I wrote. But you'd left."

"Oh." Yes, well… with the war and the Gundams… blowing things up and all… "I'm sorry, I was… unavoidably… detained."

Azir took his hands and squeezed them gently. "I know. I was very proud of you." He told Quatre softly. "I wanted to shout to everyone that I knew you and that you were one of my good friends but I wasn't sure how you'd feel about that."

Quatre frowned up into the warm blue eyes. "You didn't mind that I'd… killed people? You were proud of that?"

"It was war and regrettably people lose their lives. But what you'd fought to protect, what you'd saved, what you'd risk your life for; I am very proud of that."

"Azir." Quatre couldn't meet his friend's eyes. He'd lost touch with most of his friends on L4. Some of them that he'd met after the war weren't very warm towards him. Many blamed what happened on L4, right around his father's death, on the Gundams and Quatre had given up any hopes of reconciliation with them. Aside from a few of his wartime friends and a couple of current diplomats; Quatre Raberba Winner was very much alone.

"It's a bit warm in here, can we talk outside?"

Quatre nodded briefly and Azir took his arm and led them out the side door leading to the garden. Heat radiated form Azir and traveled up his arm to settle undesirably on Quatre's face. Times like this, Quatre wished he wasn't as faired skin as he was and more tanned like Wufei. The refreshing coolness of the night air brushed against his flushed face, making him even more aware of how warm and mucky it was inside. He tilted his face up to meet the moonlight and allowed his bangs to fall back, cooling his forehead.

A small choking sound from Azir brought Quatre back to his companion and he turned his face toward the man worriedly.

Azir was staring at him with undisguised desire and Quatre took a sharp breath as Azir's needs hit him in waves.

The problem with feeling someone else's lust, you really can't help but respond. Quatre felt the desire rise up in him and he couldn't - wouldn't move away as Azir pulled him in his arms and devoured his lips. Quatre sighed into the kiss and allowed Azir's tongue to enter and danced with his. It had been a long time since anyone had gotten this close. Too long…

Quatre didn't know if the next thing that happened was good or bad, all he knew was that at the clicking sound of a gun cocking next to their heads, Azir slowly let Quatre go, and the blond wasn't sure what to think of the feeling of loss that echoed hollowly in his chest.

"Step away from him."

Quatre's heart nearly stopped as Trowa's chilling voice instructed Azir. Trowa! Oh boy, this wasn't going to be pleasant at all. Trowa WAS the reason that he'd had no love life… for two very good reasons, one of them was pointing at Azir at the moment. The other…? Well, wasn't he in love with Trowa? And if he was in love with Trowa, what was he doing kissing Azir?

But Trowa didn't love him… Trowa would never love him.

"Trowa… no." Quatre moved in front of Azir, putting himself between his friend and his bodyguard but he couldn't really look Trowa in the eye. "I'm all right. He wasn't… hurting me."

"Step away from him." Trowa repeated, his eye never leaving Azir. Trowa's face was expressionless though the dangerous glint in his visible eye should be enough to move any army. Azir moved slowly from behind Quatre and Trowa reached over and pulled the blond behind him, his pistol still pointing unwaveringly between Azir's eyes.

"Trowa." Quatre protested. "He's my friend. Please put the gun away."

"Touch him again and you'll die." Trowa's quiet promise was delivered in a tone so cold it nearly froze Quatre's heart.

"Trowa…" Jumble of thoughts ran through Quatre's mind and he struggled to find one that he could voice. He knew that Trowa could be overprotective but this? What did it mean? Trowa had never shown any interest… not in so many years…

"I don't think you were listening." Azir narrowed his eyes at Trowa as he gave the brunette a small smile. "Quatre asked you to put the gun away."

"Please, Trowa." Quatre tugged urgently at Trowa's arm.

"You don't like something, Trowa, you can come at me like a man. Don't hide behind your gun." Azir looked at Trowa with contempt and before Quatre could warn him, Trowa's fist slammed into Azir's jaw, knocking the man off his feet and into the stone railing.

"Trowa!" Quatre's cried out in shock as he pushed past Heavyarms ex-pilot to kneel next to Azir. He looked up in horror at his long time friend to see Trowa staring down at him coldly.

"He shouldn't ask for it if he couldn't handle it." Trowa's voice was unyielding and unrepentant.

"I'm sure he didn't think you would hit him then! I didn't!" Quatre supported Azir's shoulders as the man nursed his jaw and moved to get up.

"It's all right, Quatre." Azir turned and caressed Quatre's cheeks. "He's just a common soldier. That's what they do, he doesn't know any better."

This time Azir found three guns pointed at his head as Trowa's men took offense on their leader's behalf.

"Trowa! Call off your men!" Quatre scolded angrily and rather unfairly since Trowa didn't call on his men.

"Isn't pulling a gun on a colony representative on a peace mission a major offense?" Azir asked Quatre innocently as he leaned back against the blonde's shoulder.

"Trowa, please!" Quatre did not want Trowa to get in trouble and if Azir decided to press charges, the penalty could be very severe.

Trowa nodded to his men and they holstered their guns. He turned and said something to one of them briefly before turning on his heels and stalked back into ballroom without so much as a backward glance.

The aching in Quatre's chest intensified but he couldn't identify the feeling or the source. The only thing he knew was that it hurt.

Trowa…?

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Duo..." Heero's hands trailed across his chest and dipped lower while his lips and tongue caressed the back of Duo's neck.

"Duo...!" The desperation in Heero's voice made Duo's length throbbed and the braided young man pressed his naked body urgently against the impossibly hard form of his lover behind him.

"DUO!"

Duo came awake with a jerk and promptly fell off his chair, landing in an undignified heap. He blinked up blearily at the rude individual that had woken him from a god sent dream and groaned when he realized that he was staring right into the deep blue eyes of Heero Yuy; the very man he was dreaming about.

"Nani, Heero?" He grumbled as he gingerly got up and carefully dust off his pants while thanking all existing deities that his erection had somewhat subsided with the fall. "What the hell were you doing, scaring me like that?"

"You were sleeping."

Duh! 100 credits for the observant Yuy! Duo rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. "And...?"

Heero glared at him. "Lives depend on our being alert and you're sleeping." Heero managed to look disapproving yet uncaring at the same time.

"I'm not on duty tonight, Heero. I'm a guest. I thought you'd figured that out since I'm not in uniform." Duo retorted as he sat back in his chair, crossed his legs and hoped that Heero didn't see the woody he was sporting before he was so rudely awakened.

Heero regarded him silently for a few moments then he said quietly. "Preventers officers are not on the clock, Duo. You know that."

"Can it, Superpreventer, I had a late night, okay? Er... make that morning and I sure as hell don't need this right now." Duo looked at the other man through half closed lids. "Everyone's accounted for; Relena's with Zechs, Quatre's with Trowa… Hey! And you're with me, babe!" Duo's spread his arms mockingly at Heero.

"Don't call me that." Heero said very softly. His cold blue eyes narrowed slightly as he regarded the other man.

"Che! Don't get your underwear in a bunch, Heero; I call everybody that, ah… especially that hot brunette last night..." Duo whistled and smiled at Heero. Actually, he'd spent last night going over the last minute plans with Trowa - and technically, Trowa is a brunette, and very hot - but Heero didn't have to know that. And whatever sleep he could have had after that was bombarded with images of Heero. Since Heero was the reason he was sleepy, now, Heero really shouldn't complain!

Heero stood staring at Duo silently, his jaw muscles clenching and unclenching at a frightening pace. Duo didn't really care if Heero thought he was the Preventers slut, so long as Heero didn't think that Duo was still in love with him. It wouldn't do for Heero to find out that even after two years, he could still make Duo's heart skip a few beats.

Duo ignored the stirring in his heart and closed his eyes. If he didn't see Heero, maybe he wouldn't want him so much. Yeah, right.

"Heeeero!"

At the annoying sound of Heero's little pink princess, Duo grimaced and snorted in disgust. He waved his hand in the general direction of the voice without bothering to open his eyes. "Go to you princess, Heero. Leave Quatre to Trowa and me. Even YOU couldn't possible protect two people at the same time. Go."

"Duo." Heero's deep quiet voice nearly made him groan. Duo opened his eyes with what he hoped was his best 'fuck off' look. Obviously it wasn't because Heero was still there, staring at him.

"What is it now, Heero?" Duo asked impatiently. "You want me up?" He stood up and straightened his tie. "I'm up. So please go to her before she comes to you."

"Duo!" Too late.

Duo glared at Heero then turned and gave Relena his patented smile. "Relena."

The Sanq princess looked flushed and out of breath as she practically skidded to a halt in front of Duo. Looking behind her, Duo saw four agents panting nearby, clutching their stomachs. He turned and raised his brows quizzically at her.

"Someone chasing you? Or are you doing the chasing?" He glanced sideways at Heero and found the man glaring at him. Surprise. Surprise. He turned back in time to see Relena look back at the mansion nervously before she moved a tad bit closer to him.

"What is it, Relena? Where's Zechs?" Heero frowned and motioned for one of the agents to speak.

"Nothing! I was looking for you is all. Zechs with Noin." She added quickly and gave the agent a hard look.

"Where's Wufei?" Heero asked.

"Wufei?" Relena fluttered her lashes at him and Duo had to bite his lips to stop himself from laughing.

Heero narrowed his eyes at Relena as he sensed that there was no danger to the princess… yet.

"Yes, Wufei. Zechs would not have left you unless he was relieved by Wufei or myself. Where is Wufei?"

"Talking to Lady Une." She said softly and moved a bit closer to Duo.

"Why?" Heero pressed.

"Well… she IS his boss." She pointed out innocently.

Duo burst out laughing; he couldn't help it. As much as he wanted to hate Relena, he couldn't. She was just so much fun to watch, especially when she's trying to outsmart Heero. So she'd given Wufei the slip; good for her. Maybe he should help her out after all…

"Ne, Relena. Let me give you my best wishes since that bozo there just blinked at me when I offered it to him yesterday."

Relena turned and gave him a grateful smile then frowned at his offered hand. "Best wishes?" She asked.

"Yeah… on your engagement." Duo hesitated. What the hell was the matter with these two? Couldn't they let him get this over with without dragging it out? Didn't they know this was killing him?

"Oh no!" She turned to Heero and put her hands on her hips. "Heero! Tell him the truth." She was so angry she could throttle him… if it wouldn't damage her hands, that is. Heero apparently hadn't learned that friends don't keep things from friends.

Duo dropped his hand and frowned at the couple in front of him. "What are you talking about?"

Relena turned back to Duo and smiled apologetically. "Wufei told me that everyone thinks that we're engaged. We're not."

Duo's heart lurched violently in his chest as he stared from Heero's stony face to Relena's apologetic one. He blinked a few times as he processed what he'd heard. They were not engaged. He looked at Heero again and thought he saw pain in Heero's eyes but it was gone before he was sure. Was Heero hurt that they weren't getting married?

So many thoughts, yet "Why?" was the only thing that came out of Duo's mouth.

Relena tilted her head to one side as she watched him. "The usual reason, I suppose. We are not in love." She smiled and placed a hand on Duo's arm. "I'm sorry. Heero doesn't pay attention to these rumors so he doesn't think about how it can affect other people, especially his friends." She turned to Heero and glared at him as she said the last part.

Then she froze.

Duo was trembling under her hand and Heero was near panic. Heero did not panic but if he did, this was the near panic look. She gingerly took her hand off Duo's arm and turned to look at him. Duo was pale and staring intently at Heero. Relena blinked back confusion then looked back to Heero. He was staring at Duo.

She felt invisible and to them at that moment, she probably was. What was going on? What was this tension she felt in the air?

"Heero?" She called tentatively. Her voice broke the spell around them and Heero quickly composed himself.

"You're not… in love?"

Relena turned at the odd tone in Duo's soft voice. There was something inherently significant about that question. How could he make it sound so much more than it really was?

Heero did not answer but continued to stare at Duo.

Relena swallowed and shook her head. "No."

"When…?" Duo was asking Heero, his eyes never leaving the man. He'd been talking to Heero all this time but Heero never answered him.

So Relena did... again.

"Since always, I think. We are just really, really good friends. He's like a brother to me." Relena said softly. She was beginning to understand what was going on. She couldn't believe she'd been so blind, couldn't believe the things that were so apparent now, couldn't believe Heero…

She looked at the solemn young man standing a few feet away. He was silent and still. Nothing. The man was like a statue.

Then he blinked and touched the communicator in his ear. He frowned as he listened to something only he could hear, then grabbed the pin on his lapel and spoke into it. "Chang, find Trowa!"

Duo adjusted his communicator - it seemed like they ALL had them in their ears - and listened intently.

"Aw, shit, Trowa." Duo groaned. "Dude, you DO NOT pull guns on ambassadors, not in front of witnesses anyways. Hadn't I taught you anything?" Duo made for the mansion but stopped in front of Heero. He looked angry enough to hurt Heero but all he said was, "We're not done, Yuy. You and I are gonna have words." With that he sprinted towards the main house, leaving Relena and Heero to stare after him.

Then Heero turned to Relena's four guards and told them to follow Duo. They left and Relena found herself alone with her best friend and bodyguard.

"Is Quatre all right? Shouldn't you be there too?"

"He's fine. Trowa's a bit… strung."

Heero looked uncomfortable and Relena guessed that it was because of what happened with Duo.

"Heero, why didn't you tell me?" She asked.

"Tell you what?"

"About you and Duo."

Heero shrugged. "Nothing to tell." He took her elbow and escorted her towards the mansion.

Relena jerked her arm from his grip angrily. "How can you say that? Even I can tell there was something between you… and still is. I can't believe I hadn't seen it before. And if Duo hadn't been caught off guard, I would never have seen it!"

"It doesn't matter." Heero said and took her arm again.

"Heero!" Relena tugged hard but Heero was prepared so she wasn't going anywhere. "Did you see the pain in his eyes? How can you say that?" She asked again.

"It's better this way, Relena. Trust me." Heero sounded cold but Relena knew him well. He only sounded that way when he didn't want anyone to get close.

"Better for whom?" Relena asked as she was tugged along at an alarming pace.

"Duo. All for Duo." Heero said in a voice so soft Relena had to strain to hear. He was doing this for Duo? That didn't make sense.

They'd reached the door before Relena could ask more questions and a frantic Noin ran out to meet them.

"Heero! They've found a bomb!"

TBC…

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

*bows* Thank you for reading!

Note: (1) for those of you who may not know who Fred and Ginger are… they are Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Very famous actor/dancer pair circa 1930's.

Feedback is always welcome and most appreciated.