Chapter 3: SURPRISES
Author: Lucrezia Noin-Peacecraft
"See, that's what you get for sticking your neck for a dead man." Zechs said, pointing out and touching the slightly faded scar on Noin's chest. He was talking about the wound she got for pushing him out of the way when some lunatic started hollering, 'You bastard! I shall kill you for my family!' and then shooting them to no avail, while they were supposedly having a quiet walk in the park in a colony near Mars after they had left Earth, and before they went on with the Terraforming project.
Noin smirked at him and shifted on the sofa, dipping two of her slender fingers on the cream in the small, flat, and round container. "Well, at least I was there to save you from your demons once again." She joked, rubbing the ointment on that part of her skin where the bullet had got her. Well, at least it was pretty effective. The scar would be gone in just a few more days.
Zechs smirked at her and helped her rub some of the cream. "I don't know how you do it but you amaze me."
"And oh, I am so honored of the attention and the compliment, your Highness." She replied sarcastically as she pulled up at the right strap of her tank top and closed the container.
She sighed and got to her feet and walked towards their mini kitchen. She placed the mug she drank tea in, above the Formica.
Zechs stood up and followed her, letting out a small groan as he stretched his arms upwards. Noin was rummaging through the contents of the refrigerator and found the bowl of chips they weren't even able to finish eating last night while watching the evening news on TV.
He wrapped his strong arms around her and kissed the nape of her neck. "I love you, Noin." he whispered, "I don't know how I could have possibly ignored such emotion before, but I know deep in my heart that this is true."
Noin smiled softly, reaching backwards with her hand to touch his cheek, sighing, "I love you too, Zechs." Then she kissed him lightly on the lips.
Then again, there was a sharp rap on the door.
Noin broke out of Zechs' embrace and ran to the large, carved oak door of their hotel room, going, "Coming!"
* * *
Duo grinned as he waited for the door to be opened for them. He waved at the peephole and smiled, "Hey there!"
"Hello, Duo!" Noin greeted as she opened the door and let him, Sally, and Hilde in. "So, you're a Preventer, eh?"
"Yup," Duo nodded, "and loving it."
"Hey, me too." Hilde chided, showing off her badge. "Sparks?" Noin said as she looked closely at the words engraved on it.
"Pretty cool, huh?"
Noin shrugged and simply went, "Yeah."
"So, what brought you people here?" a low voice that came from the kitchen asked. They all looked up and saw Zechs standing there, hands in his pockets.
"Oh, hi, Zechs!" Sally greeted, "Uh, we just decided to drop by and give you two a visit."
"Well, that was quite a surprise." Noin muttered as she began to head for the kitchen again, "You guys make yourselves comfortable. I'll just go get something for you to drink."
Sally nodded as the three of them sat down on the couch with Zechs. "So, nice suite you two got here." Duo commented as he looked up to the ceiling.
"Yeah," Zechs replied, "we'll be staying here until we find an apartment."
"Why spend money --?" Duo said, but then stopped as Zechs looked at him threateningly, knowing where his word would likely be going: 'Why not stay in the mansion with Relena?'
Knowing that too, Hilde gave Duo a slight pinch on the arm, and the boy gave a little yelp.
"Now, behave, you two." Sally chided, acting like their mother.
"Where's Wufei?" Noin asked as she walked towards them with a tray of juices in her hand. She settled it on the center table and sat beside Zechs.
"Oh," Sally started, rolling her eyes, "he's busy at the office."
Noin raised an eyebrow momentarily and started laughing, "I don't expect him to be here, anyway. Or else we'd have a rematch."
Sally joined her bout of laughter as well.
Duo and Hilde looked at the two older women askance then shifted their gaze on Zechs who just shrugged and smiled down at Noin.
* * *
Chang Wufei sighed as he placed another stack of papers on the table. That was the third he had to work on while Ann attends some meeting... and Sally, Duo and Hilde visit Noin and Zechs.
He grumbled as he sat down on his swivel chair and opened his laptop. But as soon as he did so, an image appeared.
Heero Yuy.
"Wufei," he started, "is Duo around?"
Wufei smirked and shook his head, "No," he replied, "he and Hilde went with Sally to visit Zechs and Noin."
"Zechs and Noin?"
The Chinese boy nodded, "They came back yesterday. Heard they're getting married."
Heero grinned and shook his head, "Well, it seems that that's good new."
"What did you call for?"
"Oh, yeah," Heero started again, "look, I have something important to say."
"Obviously." Wufei muttered, "You'd never pop out without anything important to say or something."
Heero looked away for a couple of seconds then looked back at him again, "I need your help - I know this would sound a little pathetic, but as of now, you and Duo are the only ones I can turn to now."
Wufei frowned and leaned forward, "What is it?"
Heero sighed and replied, "You and Duo - meet me tomorrow at the airport - east block. I'll tell you there."
Wufei nodded with acknowledgement and pressed his back against his seat. "I'll tell him."
Heero bowed, muttering his silent gratitude before the screen went blank.
"Guess I'll be back to 'work' soon." The boy mumbled as he tacked on the keyboard.
TO BE CONTINUED
