Author notes: after Relena and Wufei speak to each other at the ball, marked by ####, the story splits into two parts. One part is what is happening to Heero and Duo, the other what is happening to Zechs and Wufei simultaneously. The two threads converge again at@@@@@.

~ * ~

Relena sent out the invitations to her ball. She was stalling a little, she knew. But she was worried about the response of her most desired guests.

Dorothy Catalonia stuck her head around the edge of the door and smirked.

"You want to come collect this mutt or what?"

Relena looked at Doro in confusion. "Mutt? What are you talking about?"

"Dog. Long hair, mushed in face. Belongs to Maxwell?"

But . . . what is Binky doing here?"

Dorothy laughed at Relena. "You sent her to the groomers with explicit instructions on what was to be done. They assumed she belongs to you. So they sent her back to us. She's whining like crazy. You better get her home."

Relena sighed, she really didn't have time for this right now. She had the final plans for her ball to complete. She started to say something to Dorothy then she changed her mind. She didn't have a personal assistant for nothing as said personal assistant, Dorothy Catalonia, was constantly telling her.

"Well, since I was remiss in making sure that the groomer knew where to send Binky, I guess I should take her home myself. Call the driver, please."

Dorothy nearly fell over, literally. This was the first time she could remember that Relena did what she wanted instead of what she ought. She plastered a smile on her face, called the driver then had a mini break down. She was going to have to hustle like crazy to get every thing done on time.

"Drat that girl."

~ * ~

Duo was laying on the floor of the conservatory, nibbling on his last piece of toast. Wufei had tried to go down to the gym and wound up dumped on the chaise lounge here instead. Zechs had pulled the ‘I'm bigger than you' card. Wufei was still sulking.

Zechs was trying to coax Wufei out of his sulks by offering him outrageous presents, which Wufei was scornfully refusing.

Heero was reading the paper, absently listening to the lover's quarrel with one ear. Duo poked his ankle with his bare toes and, when Heero looked at him around the paper, made a face at him. Heero simpered back at Duo, who snickered back and returned to his toast, Heero returned to his paper.

The door bell was answered by one of the footmen. He came to the conservatory to announce the visitor, but he was interrupted by the scrabbling of tiny paws and Relena's voice calling, "Binky, no."

Duo rolled over just in time to have a small bundle of white fur jump on his stomach. He laughed delightedly and caught the little dog to his chest.

"Hey, little girl. How are you?" Duo grinned up at Relena. "Hey! Relena. What are you doing with her? Lookin' good, by the way."

Relena did look good. She was wearing a pair of dark grey wool slacks and a steel blue blouse. The blouse was cut in the popular poets style, with an open throat and full sleeves. Her golden blond hair was done in a simple, elegant French roll. She dimpled at Duo and nodded to Wufei.

Relena settled at the small ice cream parlor table. "The groomer sent her back to me just this minute. They thought she was mine. So I thought I'd better bring her."

Heero gave the little dog a rather stunned look and stood up suddenly. Duo dumped Binky onto Wufei and rushed to him.

"Oh, ‘Ro. I . . . sorry . . . if you don't like her. I'll . . . find someplace for her."

Heero put his arms around Duo. Duo's disappointment was plain in his voice. Heero got himself together quickly.

"No. It's all right. I just . . . need a minute. She's nothing like Mary. I . . . just . . . you know, I never did find out what that little girl's name was? Kind of makes me feel . . . odd."

Duo held onto Heero until he got himself together. Then they went to see Binky.

Wufei was eyeing her with an amused expression on his face. Duo blinked at him for a second, he'd figured that Wufei would be highly indignant at having a lap dog dumped on him.

Zechs was just standing watching Wufei with a slightly stunned expression of his own.

Relena approached Duo and Heero carefully. She'd finally learned that it was dangerous to rush at them by seeing one of her Preventer body guards nearly get his arm broken. He'd put hands on Duo, Heero had objected.

"Heero, are you all right? Did I do something?"

Duo gave Relena one of his thousand watt smiles and Relena looked back in disgust. "Do not even start."

Heero patted Duo and just shook his head at Relena. "No, you didn't do anything wrong. Small dogs . . . upset me sometimes." Heero turned to Duo. "If you want Binky, we'll keep her. I . . . think I'd like to talk to Dr. Terry. Duo, love, don't look at me like that. I'll be fine. I'm going to phone now." Heero just walked out the side door into the hall, and disappeared.

Duo sighed happily, he'd been bracing himself against having to give Binky away. He really wanted to keep her. One of his childhood dreams had been to have a dog. He couldn't care less that a Maltese wasn't considered a ‘manly' dog. He was already in love. Trust Heero to put Duo's needs above his own.

~ * ~

Wufei was gently stroking the little dog and talking to her in Chinese.

"What kind of hair cut is that? I thought she was supposed to have . . . longer hair?"

Duo couldn't help but feel bad for the little dog. He'd known that her coat was in bad shape but he'd had visions of cutting off the mats and then combing her out.

Instead, the groomer had shaved her closely and right down to the skin in a few places.

"It's a ‘teddy bear' cut." Relena was happy to explain what the groomer had done. "She was so matted that they didn't have a choice. I gave her medicine to the footman. And I had the groomer send a fax of all the instructions. She's too thin, she's got sores where her coat pulled, and she has to be combed every day. You'll have to send your person to the groomer to be instructed." Duo started to say something but Relent interrupted. "I'd really recommend having someone else do it. Then give her treats when they bring her to you. That way she won't associate you with anything bad."

"If she doesn't like being groomed, isn't that a bad thing?"

Duo wasn't sure exactly what he wanted to know, but Wufei nodded, agreeing with Relena.

"She'll have to be medicated for a while, until the sores heal. That will sting. So have someone else do it. That way she won't associate you with being hurt. She's a very sweet little thing."

Relena nodded again and accepted a cup of tea from Zechs. ‘Thank you, Milliardo. Oh, and you know how I like it. Well . . . if you want to show her, she'll have to have a show ‘cut'. What you probably think of as the standard Maltese coat. That is difficult to take care of, so people who don't show their dogs, keep them cut short. The long coat needs combing every day. Every day." Relena repeated herself for emphasis. "But if you keep up with it it only takes a few minutes. Maybe ten or fifteen. You could do her right after gym. While you wait for breakfast. And don't let her sleep with you. That's . . ."

Wufei snorted. "A major disaster. Those two would roll over on her, or stab her. Mistaking her for a threat. She can't sleep with us either, for the same reason. I'll see about finding one of the maids to sleep with her. She'll need a kennel too."

Duo realized that Wufei knew a lot more about dogs than expected.

"Ok ‘Fei fess up. What's with this?"

Wufei didn't even bat an eye. "My mother had a Shih Tzu, very . . . fierce. She was called small lion. I loved her a great deal. I would have had a dog sooner, but with one thing and another. Especially Heero's . . . I can't say dislike of. . . Perhaps avoidance of small dogs I never did anything about it." Wufei turned dark liquid pleading eyes on Zechs. "We can keep her, can't we. Please. I know it's your house but. . ." Zechs put one finger against Wufei's lips.

"If you want a dozen dogs, you'll have them. This little princess is just fine. I'm sure any behaviors that are displeasing can be trained out of her."

Zechs smiled at Wufei then turned his smile on Relena and Duo.

After some petting and fussing they all got settled around the table. Tea was brought and they listened as Relena explained everything she knew about the care and feeding of the small animal. Duo took mental notes, Zechs watched his sister with shining eyes and Wufei smiled at them all.

Binky was in seventh heaven. She was clean, shaved down so that the mats didn't pull painfully every time she moved and she'd had a nice breakfast, with treats. Now she was on the lap of a kind handed man who was scratching her ear in just the right place. She sighed and collapsed into a puddle of doggy delight.

Duo poked Zechs in the ankle with bare toes and patted Relena on the hand. They all turned to look at Wufei.

He looked right back with a slightly offended expression. "What? She's a perfectly well behaved lady."

Relena sniffed slightly. "Chang, you are not bringing her as your escort to the ball, are you?"

Wufei shook his head. "No, I don't think Zechs will give up his place. Will you, My Ice Prince?"

Relena nearly choked on her tea. "Oh, you two are an item? For sure? Duo said something but I wasn't really sure. Are you planning any . . ."

Zechs held up a hand before Relena ran away with herself. "We are still negotiating our relationship. Don't put the horse before the cart or rush your fences, sister dear."

"Oh, well, all right. But I'm the first, outside your close circle, to know. Or else."

Duo narrowed his eyes. "Or else. . . what?"

Relena twinkled at him. "I'll pout." She stuck out her lower lip to demonstrate.

Zechs shuddered dramatically, making his braid quiver. Binky eyed it with interest. "Heaven help us, not the lip. Please."

"Very well, not the lip. But I promise you the lip, and raise you a wibbly chin, if you don't tell me first when you decide to . . . er . . . declare yourselves."

Promises were duly made, with Duo grinning like a fool and Relena sniffling a bit.

~ * ~

No one noticed the sound at first. Then Duo, always sensitive to anything to do with Heero, noticed the faint sound. He hissed softly "quiet" Relena started to ask a question, then she heard it.

Zechs had heard the sound at the same time Relena did. Wufei smiled, he'd heard it at the same time Duo did.

Heero was somewhere near, playing his whistle. He was playing a happy, jaunty tune called Paddy Breen's Jig. Duo sighed with relief, everything was going to be fine. Heero had reconciled himself to Binky.

Heero sauntered in with his whistle still in his hand. He stuck it in his hip pocket and settled on the foot of the chaise Wufei was reclining on.

"Damn."

"What's the matter?" Duo reached out for Heero who just lifted his hip and pulled the whistle out of his pocket again.

"I bent another one. I wish I could find one that came in sections or something. You know, like the O'Brian one? Only shorter."

Duo eyed the bent whistle for a second. "Can I have that one?"

Heero handed it to him. "Sure, but it's bent and you can't straighten them. I tried, it just broke where the dent was."

Duo just accepted the bent whistle and put it aside. "Got an idea. I need that one for measurements. Don't know if what I have in mind will work, but it's worth a try."

Wufei eyed Duo with interest. If Duo had an idea, it was probably going to be interesting. Duo gave him a sparkling look.

"No, Wufei, it will not explode, shoot darts, or release gas."

Wufei put on a disappointed look. "Well, damn."

Zechs laughed, Relena looked puzzled and Heero had to get up to go give Duo a kiss. Binky tried to lick his face, which made him wrinkle his nose.

"What's the matter?"

Heero laughed. "Dog breath."

Relena let out a little squeak. "Oh, they have mints for that. And tooth paste."

Duo gave Relena a funny look. "Mints? And she'll suck on a breath mint. Right." He drawled out the last word. "You're foolin' me."

"Um. . . no. I'll give you a . . . no, I'll have Catalonia send you some." Relena looked at her watch. "I've got to go. You are all coming to the ball. Right? Don't forget."

Duo shook his head. "I got the invite. We just haven't gotten the tickets yet. When did you send them out?"

Relena gave Duo a puzzled look. "Tickets? Um . . . you don't need tickets to get in. All you need is the invitation."

Wufei just covered his eyes with his hand.

Relena suddenly understood. "OH! I send out informative emails to let everyone know that I'm having ball. They tell me they're coming, then I send out formal invitations. It's so much easier than sending out a bunch of paper invitations then getting RSVP's. It's not traditional, but it is much easier. Security likes it better too. You'll be getting your invitations this afternoon. See you"

Relena walked out the door, heels clicking on the hard wood floor.

~ * ~

Duo and Heero, Wufei and Zechs duly got their invitations. Duo, realizing that the ball was in two days, groaned. He needed to go into his office that Monday, he wasn't sure he'd be up for it if he partied late Saturday night.

Zechs snickered. "I don't think you'll find one of Relena's balls anything like a Sweeper Bash. If you get drunk I personally will whip your ass. Heero or no. Tux and patent leather shoes."

Duo gave Zechs a look that was pure Shinigami. "I'm not completely uncultured. I've been to a ball. The damn thing will go on and on. Probably until three or four in the morning. I don't sleep well after eleven and a nap? Not me. I can't sleep then either. So I'm gonna be a very unhappy puppy on Monday."

Zechs gave Duo an apologetic look. "I'm sorry. I didn't think. But if you get tired we can make our excuses at midnight and no one will think a thing about it. Could we just see how things go?"

Heero sighed, he wasn't looking forward to having Duo go into the office. Leaving him there alone. With a house full of servants to be sure but no Duo meant an empty house.

Duo nodded to Zechs. "That's good enough." Then he turned to Heero. "What's with that heavy sigh? You don't want to go to the office Monday?"

Heero blinked slowly as he processed this. "I'm going with you? But . . ."

"Sure are. I know you're better than I am at physical security. I'm a hackers hacker, and I'm good with explosives and stealth. But you're better at camera placement and sensors, buddy, we're an unbeatable team we play to each other's weaknesses. So . . . what? I'm gonna let ya stand around with your dick in your hand? Not a chance. You didn't think I was going to let you just sit around, did you?"

Zechs picked Wufei up and carried him out the door.

Heero ducked his head and looked at Duo from under his bangs. "I wasn't sure what . . . I mean . . . well. I'm still a felon. And Quatre . . ."

Duo dragged Heero to the chaise lounge and sat down next to him. "Ok love, find a thought and cling to it until it makes a sentence."

Heero just hung his head and shrugged. "I don't want to cause you or Quatre any trouble. And lettin' me into the facility will make trouble."

"The guy who gives you trouble will deal with Shinigami and I mean it. You're still in my custody and I don't intend to have you out of sight. You're being foolish. Quatre wants you on the team and you'd know that if you'd stop protecting everybody from whatever you're afraid of. So what the hell is your problem? You want me to call Dr. Terry again?"

Heero bit at his lip for a moment. "I want you to have the normal life I can never have. J screwed me up so bad, I have to be careful constantly not to . . ."

Duo put his hand firmly over Heero's mouth. "Listen. We've all been in therapy for months. Dr. Terry is really good. He evaluated us all again. And he says that we're all fucked up. The best we can hope for is functional, so I don't want to hear the ‘N' word again. Hear me? And don't protect me. I'll do that for myself, thank you very much. I need a partner, not a keeper. And so do you. So take a pill and get over it. Love you."

Heero nearly attacked Duo, he grabbed him and held on like his life depended on it. Duo just held back and kissed Heero until they both had to come up for air. Which was a while.

~ * ~

"Where are you taking me? And don't squish Binky."

Zechs just laughed. "Away from the love birds. Library?"

"Put me down, please." Wufei didn't wiggle or kick. It wasn't dignified for one thing, and he really didn't object to being carried that much. "I don't want to frighten the dog."

Zechs let Wufei's feet drop, carefully holding him by the shoulders until he got his feet under him.

"Under protest. I don't want you hurting your head."

"The operative word being head. There's nothing wrong with my feet. Library is fine. We need to find someone to be responsible for Binky when we can't. I don't want her wandering around the house alone. She'll protest that sort of thing by chewing and . . .making messes. Who would you suggest?"

Zechs shrugged and settled himself on the love seat. Wufei settled in a wingback chair and put Binky on the floor. She immediately began to explore this new room. Wufei called her to heal and told her to stay. She didn't, so he called her again. This time she stayed.

"Call the house keeper and we'll ask her who she recommends."

Mrs Brown was duly called and took one look at Binky. "Oh, how sweet. She's so cute. Who's going to take care of her when you're all not around?"

Zechs smiled at the woman's obvious delight, that was going to make things much easier. "I was going to ask you that. Who do you recommend?"

She smiled back. "Me. I love dogs. We had dachshunds when I was young. She's very obedient."

Wufei grimaced. "Not really. But it's just a lack of proper attention, not anything to do with her personality."

Mrs. Brown picked Binky up and cuddled her. "I'll take her away and get her settled. I need to go shopping for some things. How should I charge them off?"

Zechs shrugged. "House hold expenses. Anything she needs. And one of the footmen has medicine and there's a fax floating around somewhere."

Mrs. Brown left with the dog who was happily trying to lick her face, or hand, or whatever bare skin she could reach.

Zechs smiled at Wufei who wondered blankly what he was grinning about.

"Well, that takes care of that. Maxwell will have to be sure to spend time with her every day or she'll forget who she belongs to. Come here."

Wufei stood only to find himself scooped up and plopped into Zechs's lap. "What? You know Duo will love that dog to bits. Heero will tolerate her because Duo loves her. And I like her. I'm sorry if you don't. But . . . mmmmmff"

Zechs stopped Wufei's chatter the best way there was. Wufei didn't object at all, in fact his enthusiasm nearly knocked the love seat over.

~ * ~

The next day and a half went by in a fog of preparations.

Zechs refused to allow any of the pilots to rent a tuxedo. He sent for his tailor and had them measured. He apologized regally for having to rush the man but insisted that all three of them have tailor-made tuxes for the ball. Wufei shook his head and gave the man careful instructions on exactly what he wanted. Duo groaned and Zechs gave in. Especially when Wufei turned his liquid onyx eyes on Zechs in that special pleading look he reserved just for him.

There were also arrangements for Binky. She had to be walked on a regular schedule to prevent accidents. She had to be combed and played with. Duo enjoyed that a great deal and spent part of their play time training her. Heero rather grimly played with them.
Zechs watched that first morning and realized that Heero wasn't unhappy, he just really didn't know what to do. He'd never played with a dog before. Zechs wasn't even sure he'd ever touched a dog.

Mrs. Brown arranged for footmen to walk Binky every three hours. A different one each time so that no one was put out too much by the new pet. And she was careful to pick men who liked animals, rather than just telling someone to walk the dog. That was a sure way to trouble.

Binky was a very happy little dog. She had Duo to play with and Wufei to pet her. Nice men walked her and let her take her time. Her food was set out on a regular schedule. She wasn't much pleased with the medication as it did sting but there were cuddles and treats to make up for it. But the best by her lights was that she was loved.

Zechs was pleased with Binky too. He liked his dogs large, more on the working dog line, but Binky had made all three young men happy so he was pleased as well.

~ * ~

"Wufei, where is that infernal animal?"

Wufei looked up from were he was reclining on a couch reading some obscure manuscript. "Right here. Why?"

Zechs grinned at the two. Binky's head had popped up from behind Wufei's hip.

"Mrs. Brown is looking for her, it's time for her walk." Zechs scooped the dog up from the couch and patted her head. Then he handed her off to the waiting footman, who promptly scratched her behind the ear, tucked her under one arm and left to walk her.

"Did you need something else?"

"Yes. We need to get ready. I want to have one last fitting before we get dressed."

Wufei put his book on the side table and got up. He looked up at Zechs and shivered slightly.

"Fei? What's wrong?"

Wufei smiled "Nothing. I was just thinking that you'll look so elegant in a tux. Do you favor tails or more modern?"

Zechs snorted. "I don't wear tails. With my height I look like a giraffe. An albino giraffe, to quote an old school . . . chum."

Wufei took in Zechs's look and decided the chum had better not say any thing to Zechs to upset him or he'd be chum indeed, as in fish bait.
"Well, I hope you don't mind that I decided to wear traditional robes. I thought it might placate the elders of the clan. I don't want to have to turn their demands against them. But they are getting rather . . . pushy."

Zechs was well aware that, even though Wufei was now the head of the clan, some of the older members of the clan council were becoming demanding. Wufei was holding them off with dignified refusals. Zechs was afraid that they were trying to take Wufei away from him. He couldn't tolerate that.

Wufei thought of the elders as he followed Zechs up to their rooms to try on his robes. He knew that Zechs already had a tux. The elders were demanding that he take his place as head of the clan. They wanted him to marry, produce heirs and manage the clan businesses. Wufei didn't.

Unfortunately for the clan elders, they'd never considered the amount of sheer hard headed stubbornness it had taken to become the pilot of Shenlong, also called Nataku. Wufei was quite willing to manage the clan's business, but he wasn't about to acquire a wife, never mind the concubines he'd been offered. The whole thing smacked of feudalism. So he refused, again and again. He was going to start getting nasty soon.

Zechs had to smile at the traditional robes, they enveloped Wufei, making him look smaller than he really was. Zechs thought the robes were a very bad idea, but refrained from telling Wufei so.

Wufei eyed himself in the mirror and snorted, he looked about six smothered in yards of silk brocade. He rejected the traditional hat with its coral button with every sign of loathing.

"If you don't like them, why wear them?"

"I'm hoping to get the elders off my back for a while. I don't think it'll work, but it's worth a try."

Zechs just grunted. He wasn't fond of the elders.

"What are you going to do if this doesn't work?"

Wufei turned narrowed eyes on Zechs. "Get really nasty really quick. I'm tired of putting them off. I've been as polite as I'm willing to be. They are being quite dishonorable. I am, after all, the eldest of the eldest. And every penny of the money from L5 Chang belongs to me. So they better watch out."

Zechs sucked in a breath. He'd never really thought about it. But Wufei was not only the eldest of the clan but sole heir of it as well. Wufei was probably richer than he was.

"Well . . . um . . . that puts a different light on things."

Wufei realized what Zechs was really talking about. "No, it doesn't. This is your house. Not mine. I don't have a home anymore. I was hoping that we could make this our home. We need to sit down and have a real talk soon. All this dancing about is giving me a headache."

Zechs flinched, he wasn't sure if Wufei was talking about residual effects of his accident or stress or what. He realized that his mind was skittering around like a mouse in a basket, so he just stopped.

"Real or imagined." Wufei gave him a blank look. "Headache."

Wufei rubbed at his temples. "A little of both I think. I'm not a baby making machine. I'm not creating lives then turning them over to the elders. If we decide to have children, we're going to raise them ourselves. But that's a long way in the future. Neither of us is ready just yet."

Zechs nearly fell over. Wufei was talking about children! *holy shit*

"And how are we to accomplish this feat of magic?"

Wufei looked exasperated. "Oh, grow up. For heavens sake, you're smart. Where the hell do you think all Winners sisters came from? We could do the same thing. Donor egg. Stripped DNA from our sperm, simple. Just not yet, if you please."

Zechs nodded. "I see. You really want to keep me?"

Wufei's head jerked up. "Keep you? I thought we already had that out. I don't have casual sex. Nor do you, as far as I can tell. So . . . I love you. I'm keeping you. You want to have the safe, sane and consensual talk now?"

Zechs shuddered, a cold chill racing across his skin. He was really going to do this. Trust someone again.

"I wrote . . . well . . . I thought. . . oh, god."

Wufei took the belt off his bathrobe and gestured to Zechs. "Fetch what you've written and come here. . . let down your hair."

Zechs blinked once, then went to fetch his papers. He handed his notes to Wufei, who simply placed them on the nearby table. He motioned for Zechs to turn around. Zechs obediently rotated and, when Wufei reached for one wrist, he put both behind him to be bound.

Wufei tied the offered wrists carefully. This was the beginning. He made sure that the tie was firmly knotted, but not tight around the delicate joints.

"Kneel." Zechs sank onto his knees, then bowed his head. "No. Look at me. I want to see your eyes."

Zechs looked up, his eyes shining with love and hope.

"I will never humiliate you, ever. I want you to think of what you forgot while I read this."

Zechs bit at his lip, what had he forgotten, and how bad was it?

Wufei settled to read, smiling slightly. He frowned at the paper then realized, "Zechs, I've forgotten my glasses. They're on the night stand, fetch them please."

Zechs stood then hesitated. Wufei realized the problem immediately. "In your hand."

"Yes, beloved."

Zechs fetched the glasses by walking to the night stand, his braid slapping against his back. He turned around, picked up the glasses and returned to Wufei. He turned around and waited while Wufei took them from his hand, then he knelt back at his feet. Zechs watched Wufei's face as he read the paper.

"Well, that's quite comprehensive. Now we'll see what you really want."

Zechs blinked, he'd put down every thing he and Treize had done. He didn't think he'd forgotten anything.

"I know this is what you did, with Treize. But, is it what you like, or what he wanted?" Zechs frowned. "Don't bother to answer, your face gives you away. First, most of this is stuff that I wouldn't do to a dog. You are very precious to me. I don't mind punishing you, if that's what you need. But not in that fashion, I might spank you, or even use the cane. But most of my punishments are much more subtle, and enjoyable."

Zechs looked at Wufei with a new awareness of him. This commanding figure was nothing like his tender lover. He shuddered suddenly. His life was changing and he was sure it was for the better, finally.

"Now, I believe I told you that you forgot one of the things I asked you to do. What was it?"

Zechs shook his head frantically trying to figure out what it was. "I don't know. Truly, I don't. Wufei. Please."

Wufei smiled so gently that Zechs relaxed. "Your hair . . . I believe I asked you to let it down . . . This is just for us. You are never to be seen in public with your hair down again. Baring accidents, of course. Now, I'll forgive it this time. Things are moving a little fast for you, I think."

Zechs put his head on Wufei's thigh. "I'm sorry. Forgive me?"

Wufei smacked Zechs on the shoulder. "I said I would, didn't I? Turn around and I'll take it down." Wufei waited while Zechs rose to the balls of his feet and swivelled around to kneel again with his back to him. "You have such beautiful hair. It's so soft and . . . so very blond."

Zechs sighed as Wufei unbraided his hair. It was going to be a mess to brush out after they were done doing whatever Wufei had in mind, but he wasn't worried. Wufei would take care of it.

"Thank you. I'm sorry I forgot. I'm so . . . nervous. I . . . feel. . ."

Wufei smiled at Zechs as he stammered, trying to express his feelings.

"Like a sixteen-year-old virgin?"

Zechs snorted. "I'm neither sixteen nor a virgin. But yes. Very much so."

"We're not going to do much right now. We don't have time. I just want you to understand that I take all this very seriously. I love you and I will . . . cater to your needs. But there are lines which I will not cross. You understand that."

Zechs nodded, "Yes. I understand. What are you going to do now?"

Wufei shuffled the papers around and then started reading out loud. After reading a passage he told Zechs whether it was acceptable to him or not. Zechs was surprised to realize that Wufei was neither offended nor disgusted by anything he'd written. He was however, very firm on what he would and wouldn't do. Almost everything he wouldn't do was something that Zechs wasn't truly fond of. He wondered how Wufei could tell he didn't really like something without looking at his face.

Wufei smiled as Zechs shifted from one heel to the other. He'd been reading for a while now and knew that Zechs had to be tired of kneeling. His shoulders were getting too stiff to read.

"I'm getting hoarse and you're getting tired. We'll stop now. I think I have a good idea of what we'll be doing. Lean forward a little."

Zechs dutifully leaned and Wufei untied his wrists. He let them fall forward, then shook them out. His shoulders were a little stiff and the skin around his wrists was reddened.

Wufei stripped out of the robes and hung them on the stand. "Come on. I want a bath and you need a good shoulder massage. They're stiff. I'll brush out your hair and braid it for tonight."

They settled in the tub and Zechs started to wash Wufei's hair. Wufei had to stifle a snicker, Zechs had wrapped his hair into an odd bird's nest, twisting it around his head and sticking long pins into it to hold it out of the water.

"What? I know it looks stupid, but I don't have time to wash and dry it before we have to start getting ready. Do you think the tailor has been in yet?"

Wufei shrugged. "Don't know. Yuy would let you know if the guy didn't show on time. So he must have been here."

"Well, I'm not going to worry about it. Yuy and Maxwell are big boys. They can take care of themselves. And it's not as if we're under fire."

Wufei settled with a snort.

Zechs finished washing Wufei's hair and they washed each other, fooling around and teasing each other.

They spent the rest of the afternoon reading poetry to each other. Sappho turned out to be a favorite.

~ * ~

Heero studied Duo and Duo glared back.

"You look good."

Duo snorted. "But . . ."

"No but. You look good. Fit's nice. Smooth across the shoulders and the holster doesn't show."

"Well, ok . . . if you're sure." Duo gave Heero a doubtful look.

"I'm sure. Stop worrying. I don't now what's wrong with you."

Duo sighed. "I don't want to look like a street rat dressed up like a mink."

Heero shook his head. "How do I look?"

Duo looked Heero over from head to toe. The tailor hovered in the back ground. This was the true test of his skills. Heero was smaller than average, like all the pilots except Trowa. But he was muscular and solid. That caused some trouble getting the suit to fit correctly. It couldn't be too loose or too tight, but it had to hang properly when Heero was relaxed and still allow room for his muscles to expand as they flexed.

"Well, it looks really good. . . and you're holster doesn't show either. . . so I guess we're good to go."

The tailor nearly fainted in relief, this could have ruined his reputation. Sending the ever more popular Gundam pilots to Lady Relena Peacecraft's ball less than exceptionally well dressed would have been a disaster. He'd never had to deal with two slender, youthful individuals who insisted on carrying the sort of arms they did before.

After tipping the tailor and sending him on his way, the two young men removed their suits and hung them in the closet. They spent the rest of the afternoon resting, reading and playing video games.

Binky shuttled back and forth between rooms and men, happily licking hands until someone petted her.

~ * ~

They met in the large foyer, examined each other then went out the door to climb into the car and head for the palace.

Their car added itself to a long line of similar cars and idled up the drive. Duo was astonished to see that the palace was a stark, modern structure made of form poured concrete and steel. It was rather ugly and squatted in the surrounding parks like some gray toad.

"Holy hell. That thing is awful. How can Relena stand it?"

Zechs just eyed the building with mild disfavor and shrugged. "She doesn't like it much. But the original palace was damaged badly in the second invasion. The government decided to tear it down and build a new building to symbolize the downfall of the old and the creation of the new. I, personally, despise the thing. But I don't have to live here. Thank god."

They finally made the portico and the entry. Heero took one good look and cringed. The place was all glass and crystal and steel. It was so open that he grumbled, "Might as well have the party in a foot ball stadium. All that glass. Hn!"

The entire front of the vestibule was window from floor to ceiling and wall to wall, with huge wide doors right in the middle.

Zechs gazed around with disgust. The place was nearly industrial in its sparseness. Everything was angular and hard. It was too; too bright, too hard, too cold.

He just hoped that Relena's quarters were more to her taste than this.

The Preventer who ran the security wand over then stiffened then pushed a button on the Saf-t on his belt. They were surrounded in a moment by armed security guards. All of whom looked extremely nervous.

Zechs shrugged and started to put up his hands but Heero tugged his elbow down again. "No, don't give them the satisfaction. We'll be in, in a moment. Hold onto Duo for me . . . Wufei?"

Wufei just nodded grimly. "Zechs do not let him make a scene. Please."

Duo eyed the head of security and sneered. The man was sweating already. And no one had done a thing yet. He muttered to Wufei. "Our people are much better trained. Look how every one of them has his piece at the end of his extended arm. Way too much vid."

Wufei snorted his agreement. "Frankly, I'll be glad to get back to the office. I want to review some of our training methods."

Heero and Wufei parted ways then. Heero moved left and Wufei went right, Duo took center with Zechs behind him. If things went sideways there would be at least two of them still on their feet.

The sharp voice made everyone in range in a uniform cringe. "I'll have a report on this at once."

The commander of the group hurried to Une and saluted. "They're armed. And quite heavily. I . . . that's the Lightening Count and . . . I don't recognize the others. But . . . ma'am, they've got enough arms between them to start a small war. And they're not registered. At least I don't think they are."

Une gave the man a look of such disgust that he stepped back a step.

"And why not?"

"Um . . . no one checked?"

Une made a sharp ‘chk' with her tongue. "You're on report. And the wand handler as well. I'll handle this."

Une approached the group with all guns blazing, figuratively speaking. The first thing she did was dress the wand handler down with a look, then she turned to eye the group of pilots.

"Well, I'm glad you've got more self-control than my men." She nodded her head at Zechs. "Milliardo." Zechs gave her a flat look that convinced her to continue her greetings. "Yuy. Chang. Pleasure to see you again. Maxwell. . ."

Duo was nearly hiding behind Zechs. He didn't want to talk to Une or even be near her. Somehow being sociable with someone who'd tried to have him executed was just beyond him.

"I'd like to talk to you sometime tonight. If you don't mind."

Duo found himself clutching Heero's offered hand in his. "I do mind."

Une gave him a surprised look. "Excuse me?"

Duo got himself in hand when Heero gave him an encouraging look. "Not a chance in hell, babe. Ya wanna take this outside? Or do ya wanna make a scene right here in the foyer. Cause I got somethin' I wanna get offa my chest."

Une stiffened then led Duo and Heero to a room hidden behind a sculpture.

"Very well. Say what you have to say. Then I'll say what I have to say."

Duo took a deep breath. "You stupid bitch. Leave me alone. Not only are you a psycho, you ain't got the sense of a flea. First ya turn me over t' a bunch a great big guys that hate Gundam pilots on principle then ya try ta shoot me for doin' my duty. And chase my sorry ass all over hells' half acre for days. Not to mention lettin' that ass assistant of yours interrogate me. If beatin' the shit outa me with his belt counts. Now ya won't let it rest. What . . ya wanna apologize? So ok, you're sorry, so what? Don't care! Leave me alone! Go away! Fuck off! Take a hike, off a cliff for all I care. Now . . . what!"

Une gave up. She'd hoped that Duo would work for Preventers and draw the others into the fold. Now she knew that it was impossible. Chang had turned her down, saying that he had to take care of Maxwell. Heero wasn't eligible until he'd completed his sentence, Milliardo/Zechs was in the same situation. Winner and Barton were much too busy with WEI.

"Well, that answers all my questions in one . . . er . . . rant. I'm sorry you feel that way. I do understand, however. I just want to say that, with my current medication, I'm not a psycho. And I never knew how you were treated until I saw the replays. Heads did roll over that. Not that it's much comfort. I won't bother you again. Please enjoy the ball. And register those guns."

Heero dipped his hand into his jacket pocket, opposite to his fire arm. He presented Lady Une with his carry permit, smirking and remarking that it was wonderful what throwing a bunch of money at something could accomplish.

"We all have corporate carry permits. Wonderful thing, money. Excuse us. We need to rejoin our party before Zechs has an aneurysm."

Duo turned in the door and rather childishly stuck his tongue out at Une. She wondered for a moment what exactly Winner was up to, then gave it up.

They rejoined their party and watched as the guards scrambled away to hide themselves wherever it was they popped out from.

Wufei immediately went to Duo. "You ok? What the hell did that evil onna want?"

Duo told the story in a short hand so clipped that Zechs barely understood him. After he translated Duo's explanation into English, he shook his head.

"I don't know what she's thinking. After your history . . . I don't even want to work for her. She's too unstable for me. Medication or not . . . we better get in there."

Zechs dipped his hand into his outside jacket pocket and retrieved his invitation. Wufei tucked his hand into his wide bell-shaped sleeve and did the same. Heero and Duo already had their invitations in hand. They'd retrieved them on the way back to the group.

"Well, come on. Let's go." Zechs squared his shoulders and headed for the ballroom proper.

When they got to the door they joined a line of people waiting to get in. The men were all dressed in tuxedos. The ladies all in evening gowns and jewelry, some even wearing tiaras. Duo was wide eyed, wondering why some of the women wore crowns and others didn't. Quatre hadn't covered this.

When they reached the door there was a soft chime then a voice announced. "Prince Milliardo Hans Gunter Alberto Zechs Merquise Peacecraft. . . and party."

Zechs made a face and started down the stairs, head held high. There were a few whistles, boos, and catcalls, which were quickly shushed. Zechs ignored them like they didn't exist.

Heero glared around the room so hotly that it was a wonder the drapes didn't catch on fire. Duo made note of those he could and vowed that they'd suffer before the night was out. Wufei just took Zechs's hand and held it tightly in his.

A footman approached them almost at once. He asked them to follow him, which they did, weaving their way through the crowds quickly.

Zechs sighed his relief when he saw who they were meeting.

Relena held out her hand to Zechs. "Milliardo. I'm so glad you came. Ignore the . . ."

Zechs bowed over Relena's hand and then kissed it. "Ignore who, my dear. I thought I heard some birds croaking. A bagatelle."

Relena plastered a pleasant, white bread look on her face. "I know who most of them are. They won't get away with it. I promise."

Zechs looked Relena in the eyes. "Don't cause yourself political trouble for my sake. Please."

Relena narrowed her eyes slightly. "I won't. But social intervention is one thing. Political another. I'm cold shouldering every one of them. You're my brother for heavens' sake. They're . . . nobody."

Duo smirked at Relena. He bowed over her hand and kissed it with a flourish. "We need to compare notes. I had a different vantage point."

Relena just smirked slightly. No more than the slightest quirk of her lips, but it was there.

Wufei and Heero made their obeisance and were greeted with every evidence of delight. Relena even went so far as to allow Heero a quick peck on her cheek, in fact she insisted.

Heero obliged and complemented her on her perfume. Relena replied just a little too loudly. "Why thank you, Heero. It is so very nice of you to notice." Then she turned to Duo, turning her back on the man who'd been slithering up to her. "Oh, Duo. What do you think of my new perfume. Heero says that it suits me."

Duo leaned over and sniffed her shoulder. "Not bad. A little fruity for my taste, but it does suit you."

Relena let out a little yip and smacked Duo on the shoulder. "You fiend. Stop that."

Duo laughed softly. "I know, shame on me. But you should have seen that man's face. I thought he was going to bust."

Heero poked Duo in the side. "What did you do?"

Relena made a disgusted sound. "He pretended to lick my shoulder. I thought Baron Langerfeld was going to explode. Not that I mind."

Relena turned to Wufei, "I'm so glad you came. Um . . . you might want to be a little careful. Some of the elders are here. I'm not really happy about it. They gate crashed, but my people didn't know any better. They said they were here under your invitation."

Wufei gave her a sour look. "They presume too much. I'll deal with them if it's necessary. Next time either turn them away or call me and I'll handle them. I would never presume to invite someone else to a party. It's tacky."

Relena gave him a sympathetic look. She was well aware of his troubles and would help him anyway she could.

####

Zechs led Wufei away to stand in a small alcove. They both watched the crowds for a few moments.

Zechs snarled. "Damn. Here comes Connaway."

"Connaway?"

"The giraffe guy."

Wufei sniffed, it resembled one of Relena's disdainful little sniffs, only the look that accompanied it couldn't have been accomplished by someone with blue eyes. Wufei's eyes turned from warm onyx to obsidian chill.

"Hey it's the albino. How's tricks?"

Wufei stepped between Connaway and Zechs before the man could slap him on the shoulder. Connaway withdrew his hand with a stung expression.

Wufei didn't let him get too far away. He stepped into the man's personal space and chested him.

Connaway stepped back again, which put him in sight of most of the near by guests. He put out a hand in a natural reaction and pushed Wufei away.

"Hey, girlie. What's your problem?"

Wufei snarled. "I'm not a girl. I'm Chang Wufei. I claim insult. You laid hands on me."

The man backed up with a startled expression on his face and made the fatal mistake. "Hey Giraffe, what the hell is wrong with your girlfriend." Heads turned. "Albino, you better get her off or I'll do something I shouldn't."

Wufei caught the man by the thumb and twisted his hand backwards, turning his thumb against his wrist and his wrist away from his body. He fell to his knees with a shrill yelp. Wufei eyed him in disgust.

"Don't touch me. Go away."

Zechs hauled the man to his feet, dusted his knees off and shoved him into the crowd. "Do go away, there's a good chap. Wufei is slightly sensitive about insults. Dragon Clan, ya know."

Connaway scrambled for something to save the situation, but after looking around for help realized that it was irretrievable. He'd just committed social suicide.

He'd touched someone who was well known by reputation to be untouchable and he'd insulted the Prince of the House of Sanq. Never mind that he was an old school friend. He was in so deep that he was never getting out.

As he walked away, he watched as a man he'd been drinking with the night before turned his back.

Wufei saw it too and smiled, Zechs realized that it was really nasty. He smirked.

"Thank you."

Wufei inclined his head. "You're welcome."

They stood on the edge of the room and watched as people coalesced, separated, orbited and wandered by, in random glittering patterns. Wufei realized that they stood shoulder to shoulder with their backs to the wall. They were just far enough away from the wall that they invited conversation.

Many of the people who stopped to visit with Zechs asked for introductions to Wufei. When they were introduced, the reactions were almost equally divided between people who knew him as the Eldest of the Chang Clan, and those who knew he was Pilot 05. Either way, he was somewhat insulted that their first remark was either ‘you're so young' or ‘you're so small' it grated on his nerves.

He never realized that he looked incredibly small with Zechs standing so near.

Zechs was watching the dancing crowd and enjoying a glass of wine, he despised champagne, but enjoyed a nice glass of white wine. When Wufei said softy but quite clearly, ‘Mother fuck' he turned to see what the matter was.

Wufei was staring at four men bearing down on him from the very center of the room. One of the men handed Wufei a paper.

Wufei opened it and read quickly. Right here in the middle of Lady Relena's spring ball four members of the council of elders were trying to take Wufei into custody as a runaway. Wufei just handed the paper to Zechs.

Zechs eyed the thing like it was slimy.

Wufei snorted. "You can't do this."

An elderly man reached out to pat Wufei, who slipped out from under the touch. "Now, now my boy. We have your best interests at heart. You're the ward of the Eldest of the Elders. All we're going to do is take you to him."

Wufei ground his teeth. "I'm the Eldest. Since I am, I'm already in my own custody. Idiot."

The other three were eyeing Wufei with narrowed eyes and sullen expressions.

"You're too stubborn for your own good. You know you're too young to know what's best for you. The council will decide what you should do and who you should marry. You have responsibilities. "

Wufei backed up against Zechs who motioned to someone out of Wufei's line of sight.

"I know exactly what responsibilities you're speaking of. I tend to them quite well thank you."
"You don't understand."

Wufei turned to the three middle-aged men. "Yes, I understand quite well. What do you really want?"

Zechs started to say something but Wufei held up a hand saying softly. "Let's hear them out. I want to know exactly what I'm dealing with"

Zechs dipped his head. "Very well. We'll listen"

Wufei shot him a grateful look.

The man in the middle stepped closer to Wufei. "If you sign these, we'll arrange for you to be the ward of someone else. The eldest isn't interested in you, only in these stocks and bonds. We need them, for reasons you wouldn't understand."

Wufei raised one eyebrow and took the papers. He flicked through the pages and nearly screamed in pure frustration. Not for himself but for the council of elders. They wanted all the most worthless stocks the clan owned. They'd looked purely at the number of shares owned.

"And the other stocks?"

"We don't want them. You're free to keep them. They should supply you with a reasonable income."

"And if I sign, you'll go away and leave me alone forever?"

The man started to say yes, but one of the others shook his arm. "The DNA, don't forget the DNA."

Wufei stiffened. They couldn't have that, not for any amount of money, pleading, or threats. His children would never fall into the hands of the council of the Chang clan. That he would never allow.

"NO! Absolutely not. That is black mail of the worst sort." Zechs loomed over the smaller, older men like an avenging angel. Wufei thought absently that he looked wonderful.

"Please, love. I can handle this bunch of ghouls." Wufei turned his gaze back to the men. "Do you have a print pad with you?"

One of the men produced the four-inch square, computerized finger print scanner. He held it out to Wufei.

"Put in on search mode. Full scan for personal ID."

The man did as Wufei requested and held it out again. Wufei placed his right index finger on the pad and waited for it to scan. When it was done scanning Wufei ordered the men to read the identification, with a picture, that appeared. He got a trio of stunned looks and one filthy one.

"Now, I do believe that you know who you're dealing with."

Zechs loomed a little more pointedly.

Wufei examined the list of stocks and bonds again. "I'll sign all these over to you gladly." Wufei produced a sheaf of papers from somewhere in his robes. "You sign here . . . here . . . and here. I assume that you are truly representatives of the Clan Council. I would be so disappointed if you were not." Wufei gave them a fierce look. "And you wouldn't like me when I'm disappointed. I don't handle it well."

Zechs twitched. "‘Love, you don't have to sign anything over to them if you don't want to."

Wufei shot him a warning look. "I'm willing to acquiesce to some of their demands in order to rid myself of their annoyance. Allow me to know what I'm doing, please."

Zechs frowned but quieted himself. He glared at the four men with such icy fury that they began shifting uncomfortably.

Wufei signed papers where he was told. He also made sure that all four men signed his papers where they were supposed to. Then he bowed, barely nodding his head.

"Thank you. Please go away now. I have no further use for you."

The DNA man started to say something but was jabbed in the side by another of the men who hissed, "Not now. That is Peacecraft. We'll have to make other arrangements. The Chang primary blood line ends with Chang Wufei. Enough!"

They turned away, but Wufei was afraid that he hadn't heard the last of the chubby man he already thought of as "the DNA Freak."

Zechs sighed and Wufei turned to him. "I know you only want to help, but you won't do me any good by undermining my position. I think you need to be punished."

Zechs blinked. "I'm sorry. But I need to see what you signed. You can claim duress and I'll back you up."

Wufei handed Zechs the papers and shrugged. "See for yourself. I think the stocks and bonds I traded for my freedom from the demands of the clan were well spent."

Zechs eyed the papers, what Wufei had said finally penetrating his brain. He decided that any amount of punishment was worth making sure that Wufei hadn't been cheated.

Wufei plucked a glass of wine from a tray, then leaned against the wall. Zechs opened the papers and scanned the list of stocks and bonds. What he saw left him vacillating between amusement and outrage.

The Clan Counsel had made the mistake of looking at the number of stocks and the purchase price, instead of the dividends they paid. They had taken the majority of the stocks, and left Wufei with bonds and a few stocks. But the bonds were high interest bearing bonds and the stocks were utilities and WEI. The stocks were fairly expensive, but there weren't that many shares of any one stock. Zechs realized that they were all preferred and/or voting shares, which made them much more valuable.

Then Zechs turned the page and nearly choked. Wufei had let the council have all the high profile companies the clan owned. He'd kept the smaller and much more lucrative companies for himself. Again the council had looked at the short term bottom line, the quarterly reports, instead of the long term projections. The council had shortsightedly given Wufei all the best of the investments and taken the high profile, low interest, troublesome ones. The same with the companies

Zechs realized that while Wufei had effectively given away more than half his ownings, he was still extremely rich.

Zechs handed Wufei back his paperwork and just looked at him, waiting for his explanation.

Wufei decided what he wanted and motioned Zechs to step out into the terrace.

"I gave them everything that I don't like or find less than lucrative. I don't like supervising some of the companies, so I let them have those too. I kept all the best stocks, all the bonds and the companies that don't need close supervision. I'll never spend even the interest from the bonds, the dividends from the stocks Quatre is investing for me. And the companies nearly manage themselves. Satisfied?"

Zechs nodded. "I'm sorry. I just didn't want you to be cheated. I hope I didn't make too much trouble for you."

"Not enough to worry about, I think. But you interfered after I told you not to. That deserves a punishment, don't you think?"

Zechs could do nothing but gulp and nod.

Wufei produced a cord from somewhere in his robes and motioned for Zechs to step into the heavy shadows at one side of the terrace. Zechs gave him a puzzled look but went where Wufei pointed.

Wufei quickly opened his fly and with quick fingers wrapped the cord around Zechs. Zechs moaned as he felt the cord constrict him, Wufei had wrapped it around the base of his sex then up the shaft. The knot he'd tied just behind the glans was going to be torture.

"Please." Zechs didn't know if he was pleading for mercy or more.

Wufei wrapped the cord down to Zechs's scrotum, crossed it between his testes, separating them, the next knot was rather large and pressed into his perineum. Then Wufei carefully rearranged Zechs clothing.

"Come. We should go back before Maxwell suspects something."

Zechs checked his clothing with trembling hands and followed Wufei.

#####

Duo grinned at Relena. "I think Wuffers can handle himself. But if he can't, Tall, Blond and Icy can."

Relena gave Duo a sharp look. "Zechs would never dream. . ."

Heero sighed. "Relena, they're in love, he'd dare quite a bit more than facing off against the elders."

Relena thought for a moment. "I do believe you're right. I just hope they can work something out. Zechs has . . . interesting tastes."

Duo nearly spit out the sip of something green he'd taken. "Excuse me! I mean. . . you're not supposed to know about things like that."

Relena snorted. "I had to learn a great many things that a girl my age shouldn't. When it has to do with my brother, I'll know about it. I don't want things getting out of hand."

Heero could see by Duo's face that he was censoring himself into a panic.

"Very wise. But don't worry. Duo and I have our eyes on both of them. I don't think there's going to be trouble of any kind."

Duo wisely kept his mouth shut until they got away from Relena.

"Heero, how the hell . . . who . . . I mean . . . I'm gonna kill someone. Really."

Heero sighed. "I'm sure she was very discreet. Catalonia would do the research then tell her whatever she needed to know. I don't think she knows the dirty details. Just the generalities . . . I hope. Good lord!"

Duo rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah."

After recovering from that shock they decided to circulate and be ‘socially available'

Heero realized that the green drink that Duo was drinking was called a Shirley Temple. Some sort of reference to nonalcoholic beverages and a child movie star. He decided to ask Duo about it later.

"Um. . . do they have any other flavor? I don't like lime."

Duo smiled. "It's not lime, it's kiwi. But they have cherry and orange. Made with real juice."

Heero signaled one of the servers who came over with a tray of drinks. "Drink, sir?"

Heero nodded. "Cherry Shirley Temple, please."

The man handed Heero a glass off the tray. "There you are. . . um . . . " Heero just looked at the man. "Thanks for not making me refuse to serve you."

Heero shrugged. "I don't like alcohol and crowds. I'm too high strung to . . . loosen my inhibitions."

The server shuddered slightly, Duo snickered. "I think Wufei got a glass of wine."

Heero looked at him for a second. "You want some?"

Duo shook his head. "Not really. I just think it's stupid. We're old enough to get our asses shot off but not old enough to get drunk off our asses."

Heero laughed. "Well that's one way of looking at it."

They stood and watched the dancing for a while and finally Heero asked Duo to dance with him.

Duo grinned. "Oh, yeah. The Perfect Soldier dancing. Give me a break."

Heero just grinned at Duo. "I was taught. J made sure I knew everything I needed to, to go under cover at those boarding schools he was so fond of hiding me in. So I learned to dance, ride a horse, fence and . . . um . . . other things."

Duo snickered. "Like?"

"None of your business, Mr. Nosy Pants."

Duo resolved himself to find out sometime, but not tonight. He didn't want to spoil the mood by nagging at Heero.

"I've just marked myself, haven't I?"

Duo lay his head on Heero's shoulder and hummed in his ear. Heero smiled and they waltzed. No one much paid any attention. Homophobia had been conquered decades ago, except on a few colonies. Mostly in the L4 cluster.

Heero breathed in the special scent that was Duo Maxwell. He smelled like coconut and Sandalwood and thyme. And Duo.

Duo grumbled. "Oh, hell. What now."

The music had stopped and there was a small scuffle near one side of the ball room. Heero held Duo back. "Let ‘Fei handle it himself. We're here if he needs us, but Zechs is positively hovering."

Duo nodded and turned instead to the musicians and signaled that they should resume playing. They did and most of the attention turned back to the music and dancing again.

Heero led Duo through several more dances, then they headed for the refreshments. All that dancing had made them both thirsty.

Duo took the glass Heero offered and they wandered around the edge of the room people watching. Duo noticed that Heero kept between him and the room, he had to smile at that.

"‘Ro, you know I'm just as deadly as you are, don't you?"

"Yeah, but . . . I just . . . " Heero sighed. "I can't help it. So just go with the flow, ok."

Duo squeezed Heero's hand. "Sure, love. I just didn't want you thinking you got some other Duo Maxwell by the hand. Ya know?"

Heero grinned. "Idiot."

Duo lifted his drink in a cocky salute and sipped at it.

They made a complete circuit of the room and wound up back near Relena.

Relena was watching the dancers with a sour expression on her face. Duo couldn't believe that she wasn't enjoying her own party.

"Hey, Princess. Why the long face?"

Relena gave one of her disdainful little sniffs. "I'm tired of dancing with stinky old men who only want to dance with me to try to further their political ambitions. If I hear one more word about the WEI colony, I think I'll scream."

Duo blinked. "The . . . excuse me?"

"Quatre has . . . er . . . well. He's building a new colony, you knew that. Right?"

Duo and Heero both nodded. That was why their two comrades weren't at this ball. They were at the colony.

"Well, a few older men seem to think that he needs some sort of permits or permission or something. He doesn't. All he needs is the money to build the thing. But they're all agitating for some sort of sanctions. I'm sick of it all. Couldn't I just dance one dance where my partner wants just me?"

Duo looked at Heero. Heero shrugged. Relena said a very unladylike word.

"If that nasty man tries to kiss my hand again, I'll puke. I swear, it's like being licked by a St. Bernard. And his hands are . . . clammy doesn't quite describe it."

Duo immediately pounced on the man. "Hey, buddy how ya doin'"

The pudgy politician automatically offered Duo his hand. "Oh, man. Sticky. Whatcha been eatin'"

"I'm sorry?"

Duo quickly steered the man toward the men's rooms. "Your hands are all sticky. Make's a real bad impression. You ought to go wash them. Go on."

The man headed for the men's room wondering what had just happened. He'd had Relena in his sights, but somehow he was out of range again.

Duo grimaced in distaste. "Oh, man. Yuck! His hands are just plain wet."

Heero handed Duo his handkerchief without comment. Duo took it and wiped his hand off. Relena breathed out a sigh of relief.

"Well, thank you Duo. That was quick thinking."

Heero bowed to Relena then took her hand and led her onto the dance floor, where the orchestra was just striking up a quickstep.

Heero led Relena through the graceful, bouncy steps with a serene expression on his face. Relena lit up like a space port on a dark night. When the music stopped Heero led Relena off the floor and to the bar.

"Would you like something?"

Relena nodded, fanning herself with a small folding fan that was dangling from her wrist. "Something sour and not pink. I'm so tired of those syrupy things people keep pressing on me."

Duo joined them. "I'll get you something really good. It's called a Virgin Sour."

Relena watched Duo head for the bar. "What's that . . . oh, he didn't take your order."

Heero offered Relena his arm to they wouldn't get separated in the crowd and to discourage interruption. "It's a Whisky Sour without the whisky, it's good. That's what Duo's getting me. He knows I like them." Heero looked around, another politician was headed their way. He veered off when Heero glared at him.

Relena snickered. "Heero?"

"Hn?"

"Has anyone ever measured the Kelvin level of that glare?"

Heero shrugged. "Somewhere about minus two, Duo says."

Relena started to say something but was interrupted by Duo, who walked up, handed around drinks, and remarked, "I say a lot of things. Which thing is this?"

Relena explained what they were talking about and then asked, "I'm tired and I can't think. What is zero Kelvin in Celsius?"

"273.16C . . . absolute zero."

Relena snickered. "I remember now. And Heero's glare is minus two? Oh, dear."

They all laughed and Heero managed a slightly shamefaced look.

Relena looked around, then sighed. "I wish I could just sneak away. I'm supposed to dance with every dignitary here. Which I have done. See?" she lifted her skirts slightly and showed them the toe of her shoe. It was badly soiled and scuffed. "I swear every one of them stepped on my toes, or my hem. They either clutch me like they're afraid I'll fly away, or they act like I'm made of spun glass. I'm so tired of it all. All I want to do is dance. Like a real girl. Just watch. They clear a space around me and any partner like they're . . . I'm sorry, I'm ranting. I'm just tired." Relena reached out and the nearby server pressed a glass off his tray into her hand.

Duo nodded sagely. "I bet. Come on." He took Relena by the hand and tugged. Heero gave him a warning look but followed.

Duo led Relena up a hidden flight of stairs and into a room on the next floor.

"It's the small ball room. It's still big enough to house a shuttle but it's smaller than that monstrosity below." Duo disappeared into the gloom followed shortly by snapping sounds and light.

Heero looked around with appreciation. The walls were decorated with swags of brocade material to hide the fact that there were no windows. The chandeliers were simple slabs of crystal which dangled from a frame work in an ever decreasing spiral. The light glowed golden.

Relena smiled happily, they could still hear the music but it wasn't as loud so they could actually talk without screaming in each other's ears.

"Oh, my. This is nice. Duo this is wonderful. Thank you." She put her glass down on a small table nearby.

Duo grinned. "I could tell you weren't really happy. Why the hell do you have such big parties if you don't enjoy them?"

"Social and political obligations. It's a royal pain in the ass. I'm sick of it. And don't give me that look. I'm not some mealy mouthed, missish, girl anymore. I grew up."

Heero smacked Duo on the back of the head, loosening his braid.

"Hey! Be careful." Duo stuck his tongue out at Heero and both young men were delighted when Relena laughed at their antics.

Duo had forgone his usual tight braid and just braided it loosely for about a foot, then tied a large black velvet bow below the braid, just below his shoulder blades.

The orchestra struck up a Viennese waltz and Relena held out her arms to Duo. "Dance with me. I know you won't walk all over my feet."

Heero exclaimed. "Hey! I didn't."

Relena waltzed away with Duo calling over his shoulder. "No, you didn't, but you're one of the few . . . "

The rest of the remark was lost as Duo twirled her around the floor. They waltzed, then there was a polka. Heero snickered slightly, Duo was in trouble but he didn't know about it, yet.

After the polka there was a small pause. Heero pocketed his cell phone and waited. The musicians started another quickstep. Relena happily bounced across the floor, guided by Duo who as nothing if not enthusiastic.

Suddenly the bow on Duo's braid flew across the floor and his hair fell down with a silken sigh. Relena yelped, as they were in the middle of a twirl and Duo's hair wrapped around both of them covering her face with a sweet-smelling veil. Duo just started laughing. Heero joined him and then Relena, they all laughed heartily as Duo fumbled trying to gather his long hair into some sort of order.

Heero snickered. "Just leave it. You'll never get it fixed without help."

Relena mock wailed. "I wanna dance. Heeeerrrroooo, dance with me. Please?"

Heero winced slightly but offered Relena his arms. She danced away with him as Duo grumbled about his hair and wondered where he was going to get a new tie.

The music ended just as Relena and Heero came abreast of Duo again. Relena reached out and grabbed Duo by the hand.

"Dance with Heero. I want to watch you. You are such a cute couple." She picked up the glass she'd brought with her and finished off her drink.

So Heero grabbed Duo's other hand and pulled him into his arms. They danced away to the modern waltz. Duo's hair swirled around them like a living cinnamon-colored cloak. It wrapped around them then swung out in a curtain of silk.

Relena smiled, they were cute. There was a loud bang and suddenly, cute was deadly. Duo dropped and rolled away from Heero, drawing his gun. Heero was suddenly between Relena and the doors. Relena flattened herself on the floor, completing the ruin of her shoes and tearing her dress.

A heavy set man slammed the door against the wall again, this time keeping it open with one hand as he peered into the room.

"Lady Relena? Are you in here? Oh." He suddenly realized that his actions might not have been the wisest.

Relena let Heero help her up with one hand as he holstered his gun with the other. Duo just gave the man a nasty snarl, holstered his gun and swung the now tangled mass of his hair behind him.

Relena sighed and straightened her torn and slightly dirtied dress. She gave up on her slippers and stockings. She'd torn the knee out of one somehow.

The man bustled over to Relena and grabbed her wrist. "You shouldn't be in here socializing with these . . . boys. There are very important people waiting to speak with you."

Relena gave Heero such a look, so full of despair and sadness that he could only come to the rescue, with Duo riding shotgun.

Duo caught Relena by the elbow and Heero gripped the man by the wrist.

Relena pulled away from ‘Tubby', Heero squeezed his wrist and Duo got between Relena and any further groping.

Relena broke. She slowly cracked from top to bottom, side to side, and one single tear trickled down her white cheek.

"Heero! Make him go away. Please. Make them all go away." Relena sniffled, trying so hard not to cry. "I was having such good fun. Now it's all spoiled. I don't want to dance with some clammy handed old man. I want to dance with boys. I want to eat . . . eat . . . pizza. And . . . and . . . pop corn and hot dogs and crisps and and . . . damn."

Duo started to lead Relena farther away from Heero and his captive. She dug in her heels and shattered. Heero ducked her shoe.

"Take the damn things. They pinch my toes and they're ugly. I want fuck me sandals with rhine stones on them. And take this too." Relena pulled the delicate tiara off her head and hurled it after the shoe. Then followed it with the other shoe. "It's stupid. I . . . get out. Get Out! GET OUT!!"

Heero ducked the flying objects, released the man, and went to try to help Duo calm Relena.

@@@@@@@@

The door opened again only it opened slowly. Wufei stuck his head in with Zechs above and behind him Zechs didn't wait a second he opened the door the rest of the way and hurried in followed closely by Wufei

Zechs took in the scene with a quick flick of his eyes. He reached out and grabbed the officious little man and shoved him into Wufei's arms, Wufei shoved him again, right out the door.

There was some sputtering involved but everyone ignored it. Wufei stuck his head out the door and ordered, "No one comes in. No one." Then slammed the door.

Zechs joined Heero and Duo in trying to calm Relena. "What the hell is going on? Relena calm down. How can I help you if I don't know what's wrong?"

Heero quickly explained what had happened while Relena wet the shoulder of Duo's jacket with hot, bitter tears.

Zechs took things in hand swiftly. With Wufei in tow he found the Master of Ceremonies and told him that Relena was exhausted and had retired for the night. The Master made the announcement and the crowd immediately started to leave. Zechs ‘did the pretty' in Relena's stead. Shaking hands and taking complements with aplomb suited to his station, Wufei seconded him with serenity and grace.

It took only twenty minutes or so to nearly clear the room. The remaining guests would party well into dawn.

While Zechs and Wufei were doing that, Heero and Duo took Relena in hand.

"Relena, we want to take you to your quarters. Where are they?"

Relena snarled. "I hate them. They're all pink. Pinkpinkpink. I outgrew pink months and months ago . . . I don' wanna go. I wanna dance. An' . . . an' . . . Duo. I'm . . . sick. . . oh my."

Relena quivered then bent over and was sick. Not a ladylike wet hiccup. But really sick. Duo muttered, "God, can you say projectile? Not a drop on her. But, yuck."

Heero snarled, "Shut the fuck up. We got to get her out of here."

Duo shrugged. "Tell people I barfed, I don't care. . . .go sneak a peek out the door." Duo just scooped Relena up in his arms and started for the door.

Relena rolled her head back and forth on his shoulder. "Not that way. Go other way. "

Duo spun on his heel and headed for the back of the room, half a foot ball field away.

Heero hurried ahead and found the door behind the curtains there. He opened it and looked out into a wide hall. No one was there, so he motioned for Duo to give Relena to him. Duo handed her off to Heero and went ahead of the pair, checking to be sure that no one would see them. Relena sniffled and hiccupped into Heero's shoulder mumbling something about ‘tired' and ‘cowardly.'

Heero shushed her and carried her gently.

They reached her rooms and Duo cringed. Even Relena couldn't stand that much pink. The carpet was pink, the walls were blush, the over stuffed furniture was dusky rose and the desk was Louis something or other, white and painted with roses and vines. The entire suite was the same, everything was some shade of pink.

Heero took Relena into the bath room. "Get her a robe or something."

Duo went to find a robe and only came up with a slinky, silken bit of lace. "Heero, there's not a thing in here worth the name. Dammit. Someone's banging on the door."

Duo let Zechs and Wufei in without comment, then got on the phone, rebraiding his hair while he talked. "Catalonia? Yeah, Maxwell. Look . . . no I don't care. You do what I tell you to do or you'll get a visit from Shinigami in the middle of the night. . . no, I'm not threatening you. I don't threaten, I promise. We need some things and don't argue. First, a real bathrobe, not one of those slick cold pieces of shit, flannel or terry. Soup, rich beef broth or veal. Tea, spearmint or peppermint. And jammies. Not . . . yeah . . . jersey or flannel. And if anything is pink I'll make you eat it. Bye"

Duo tossed the phone in the general direction of the cradle and walked into the bathroom. He shamelessly rummaged a drawer for a new hair tie. He snapped it around the end of his sloppy braid then noticed what Heero was doing.

"‘Ro, you can't just strip her down and stuff her into a shower like that. She's a lady. Dammit!"

But Relena was far beyond resisting or complaining. She was sobbing her heart out and trying to apologize and explain. Heero finally told her to shut up.

Zechs returned from where he'd been turning down the bed and snapped. "That's my sister you're molesting Yuy."

Relena hiccupped, then giggled rather wetly. "Couldn't get him to strip me if I begged him to. Gay. Um . . . queer. . . what ever. Not that I mind exactly but . . . we could have had such beautiful children. I'm not gonna have any now. Not with the guys I've been offered. Ugh. Not gonna do my duty by my country. Sucks. ‘M drunk. . . why ‘m I drunk. I don't drink. Wh' gonna be sick again.. . . Heero."

And Relena was indeed sick again, several times in fact.

Duo sniffed at it with a disgusted expression. "She's not drunk. Doesn't smell of alcohol. Zechs. . I ordered what you'll really need to take care of her. You and ‘Fei be all right while Heero and I find out what happened?"

Zechs nodded distractedly while he coped with Relena, clad only in some skimpy, lacy underwear and her stockings. "Yes, once we find out what she was slipped we'll be better able to care for her. Oh, and when you find out who did this, I get them."

Duo cornered the wait staff supervisor and asked if anyone had taken off without warning. The supervisor said no, but he also said that someone had been messing with some of the drinks earlier. Several people had gone home early, feeling ill. Heero questioned the security teams, who didn't like it much. How dare this kid suggest that they weren't doing their job properly?

Heero stared Lady Une down without compunction. "She's sick. It's not alcohol. She wouldn't get drunk, you know that better than I do. So. . . . examine all the tapes and find out who did it. She could have been poisoned instead of ruffied." Heero turned away then looked over his shoulder. The temperature dropped about ten degrees. "Stay away from Duo. If you upset him again, I'll have a little talk with you after hours."

Lady Une raised one eyebrow. "Are you threatening me?"

"No." Heero walked away without looking back. Heero looked for Duo and finally ran him down in the Preventers van.

After glaring at the resident lab tech, he demanded, "What the hell are you doing? You scared me. I couldn't find you anywhere."

Duo looked up from the test tube he was holding. "Analyzing this. Zechs sent it to me. Heero this van is amazing. I want one. It has a complete lab, capable of analyzing almost anything not radioactive. Really neat."

Heero glanced around. "So, what have you found out?"

"She got a good dose of the latest date rape drug. How, I'm not sure. I think it was in that last drink she had. I sent a guy up to see if the glass is still there. Probably not. They're too fanatical about picking up all the glasses as soon as they're set down. But I suppose they need them. Well. . ."

Heero felt like he'd been kicked, why would anyone slip Relena a date rape drug?

"Heero . . . Heero?" Duo waved his hand in front of Heero's face. Heero blinked and turned to him. "Run interference between me and the bitch queen. Ok?"

Heero just nodded, ignoring the tech's snicker. "Already taken care of." He settled back to go over everything with Duo.

Heero's cell rang and then Duo's, they both answered their phones. Heero talked to Lady Une and Duo to Zechs.

Duo snapped his phone shut first and started cleaning up his mess. Heero pocketed his phone.

"Leave it. We need to meet with Zechs and Wufei. Come on."

Duo snorted. "It won't take me but a sec. I don't want to leave a mess for him." Duo nodded to the tech. "I don't do that."

Heero snarled slightly but realized that Duo was right. Duo quickly put the chemicals he'd used in their places and started to put the glass into a small dishwasher.

The tech took over, efficiently pointing Duo towards the door. "Hey, I got that. Lady Une is about to pop her cork. You better get going or she'll cut you a new one."

Duo just thanked the man, handed the last of his cleaning chore over and left the van.

They dodged Une easily enough and found Wufei waiting for them just inside the door. He led them to a large study in the back of the ground floor. It was one of the rooms that dignitaries were led to when they had to wait for Relena.

Zechs was standing by a large table set against one wall. He looked tired, furious and strained.
"Gentlemen, I'm not in the best of moods. This evening started out far different than it has ended up. What do you have to tell me?"

Duo reported first, then Heero. Wufei left to question one of the hosts assistants, she would know who had left early. And most likely why.

Zechs shifted slightly. Duo eyed him for a second, then smirked slightly. Heero looked from Duo to Zechs then back. Duo shrugged and started fiddling with the end of his braid.

Zechs looked at Heero who just looked back, finally Zechs snapped in exasperation, "If you've got something to say, say it."

Heero thought for a moment. "You indulging in power exchange games with Wufei, or what?"

Zechs turned so red Duo thought he might faint from lack of blood to his brain.

"That's not . . . well . . . dammit. Is it that obvious?"

"No. I'm just well aware of your needs and Wufei's abilities. Are you operational?"

Zechs realized that he was getting an up close and personal of the Perfect Soldier.

"Yes. Just uncomfortable."

"Don't worry. Chang won't leave you hanging. We'll get you both out of here within the hour."

Zechs was indignant. "I'm not shirking my duties to my sister, just because I'm horny. I'll be fine"

Duo snorted, Zechs was floundering in guilt and embarrassment.

Heero shook his head. "I have absolutely no desire to deal with a frustrated Chang Wufei…" Duo groaned dramatically. " . . . Nor you in a snit. You can't do much anyway. Conflict of interests. And we're not getting paid for this one so we have to be careful."

Duo beamed at Heero, he'd remembered everything that Duo had ever written him in his emails about company policy.

Duo took over then. "Zechs, I want you and Wufei out of this. You're too close and we really don't need conflict of interest complaints on top of the uproar that we're going to get from taking over from Preventers and Heero being involved. Ok?" Zechs looked doubtful. "Go. Have some fun. Leave this to Heero and me. We'll find out what went on and get our hands on the perp. You know you can't do anything to him, no matter what you want to do. Right?"

Zechs looked unhappy but nodded. "I know you're right. But I don't have to like it."
"No, you don't, but you know we're going to get the pisser. And I meant that literally. If Heero can't do it, I can. Scat."

So Zechs agreed to leave just as soon as Wufei came back.

~ * ~

Wufei entered a few moments later with a list of people who'd left early, several had claimed to be ill. Duo took the list glanced at it and sighed, they were all young ladies and their escorts or a family member.

"Ok, I'm turning this list over to Preventers. They can run down each person, get a sample. . . stomach contents or blood. Then they can do the analysis. I bet each one of these girls got doped with the same stuff as Relena. So . . ."

Heero grunted. "We need to find out if it's a plot aimed at Relena personally, young blond girls in general . . . or just a nasty prank that got out of hand."

Wufei started to say something, cleared his throat and tried again. He said exactly what Heero had said, finishing. "I'll take Zechs up to check on Relena again, then I'm taking him home. He's got to be . . . uncomfortable in the extreme. He's got very good self-control, but by now he's on the edge. We'll see you in the morning. . . late. Unless something comes up. Knock and wait. Good night."

Wufei gathered Zechs up with a look and headed back into the residential wing of the palace. Zechs smiled at Duo and Heero and followed.

They went back into the building and down the corridor into Relena's quarters. Zechs snorted softly. "I think I'm taking little sister shopping soon. This is atrocious."

Wufei nodded. "That could be fun. Check on her quickly while I call the car."

Zechs stuck his head in the bedroom door, after getting Relena out of the shower Zechs had turned her over to her waiting maid. An elderly Austrian woman who'd referred to Relena as Little Lady and taken her in hand.

She'd approved of the flannel pj's and robe. Remarking that Relena hated to hurt anyone's feelings so she wound up with things she hated to wear and nothing she liked.

Now Zechs caught the woman's attention and motioned that he wanted to talk to her.

She rose from the chair she was nodding off in and went into the sitting room with Zechs.

"How is she?"

"The doctor saw her while you were gone. She's going to be fine. Master Duo sent up information on the drug and the doctor said that all we had to do was wait until it wore off. She'll be fine in the morning." The woman shifted from foot to foot. "Please Herr Peacecraft. Talk to her. She's wearing herself out. She needs to be a little selfish from time to time."

Zechs nodded. "And that wardrobe needs a great deal of help. I want you to go through it while she's asleep and get rid of every thing she really hates."

The woman nodded, then smiled. "That will be more than half of it. But Ja, I'll get right on it. And I don't have to worry about her fussing at me. I'm just following orders." She gave Zechs a twinkling eyed look and opened the closet to get started.

Wufei nodded to Zechs and quietly left the room. He was waiting in the hall when Zechs got done with his last look at Relena.

"Are you ready?"

Zechs nodded "yes, the woman is very good. She obviously loves Relena. I just wish that I could help more."

Wufei just patted Zechs on the arm. "We can't and you know it. Come on the car is waiting . . . stop worrying. It's Duo and Heero."

Zechs drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I know we can't, but . . . it's my sister. Who did this, and why? And how. And . . . a thousand other questions. And I'll worry if I want to. Heero and Duo are the best there is, but . . . dammit."

Wufei got Zechs into the car and settled. He climbed in after, directed the driver to take them home and settled down to wait out the drive. He hoped that it would allow Zechs time to calm down and get his mind on other things.

~ * ~

Duo bit at his lip. "You thinking what I'm thinking?"

Heero flipped through the pages of the report. "I'm thinking that someone tried to drug Relena and take her away. The other girls were just a smoke screen. We need more information. Dammit!" Heero tossed the report onto the table. "We can't do much more than we have. The server swears he didn't know anything. I think . . . I'm not sure what I think."

Duo thought hard swinging back and forth in the swivel chair. The click of his heels as he rocked his feet loud in the silence.

"I think we're at a dead end. We don't have the resources we need to do much more. WEI could mount a search, but we're not hired to do the job. We really have to tread carefully on this one. We can't afford to step on toes. Although I'd really love to show Une up. So . . . we give Une all the information we've got and let her do her job."

Heero agreed with Duo snarling about it a little. He wanted to find that fuck himself, but now was definitely not the time to poke a stick in the Preventers ant hill and stir.

They handed everything they had over to Une, or Heero did. Duo wouldn't go near enough to her to shout.

Then they found someone with enough stripes to help them and asked for a ride home. It was well after midnight and there wasn't a cab to be had.

They headed for home and bed.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Chesting someone, for those of you who don't know, is where you stand in someone's way and they either have to go around or bump into you.