Thank you!<center>False Engagements: Prologue
by Kysra</center>
? . . . And in the news this beautiful Friday night, an announcement from Milliardo Peacecraft, but first . . . ?
Noin turned her head to look questioningly at her husband, situating herself more comfortably as he held her in his arms.
He just shook his head, smiling down on her enigmatically while tightening his hold on her.
Footsteps could be heard from the hall, and Relena shortly entered the living room only to cross into the kitchen, waving to Noin when the older woman smiled at her.
It was a quiet night, and Relena blessedly had finished all the paperwork for the week. She was officially off duty for at least two days, and she intended to catch up on everything she had missed out on, namely companionship, sleep and junk food (not necessarily in that order).
Her arms full of chips, jars of salsa, sodas, cups, and plates, Relena exited the kitchen but paused to watch her brother and his wife for a moment, the two illuminated by the television. They were so cute. Relena couldn?t help the wistful smile that touched her face.
?RELENA! We?re gettin? hungry up here!? Hilde yelled from upstairs, and Relena giggled, turning to go upstairs once more when . . .
?Earlier today, Milliardo Peacecraft, older brother of Vice Foreign Minister Relena Darlian, announced that Miss Darlian is officially a bachelorette and --?
Milliardo aka Zechs Merquise, once revered and feared as a fierce and deadly soldier, glanced toward where he knew his younger sister was standing with something akin to dread. He could see her outline framed by the door way, her shoulders tense, the muscles contracted so tightly she was actually trembling. This did not bode well for him, but the fact that she hadn?t dropped all the food she was holding was a good sign . . . Wasn?t it?
?MILLIARDO!? Uh oh. That wasn?t Relena?s voice. It was too near him. It was Lucrezia. Forgot to watch out for her. Damn.
Shifting his gaze from Noin to Relena then back again, Milliardo wondered what would be the wisest course of action. He could run of course, but Noin was weighing him down, her body pinning him to the couch. He would have to get past her, and then, he would have to get past Relena who had several jars of hot salsa in her hands which constituted as liable weapons.
Double damn.
?RELENA! Did you see what?s on the news! Oh my GOD! Why didn?t you tell us?!!? Hilde ran down the stairs, Dorothy and Catherine following close behind. ?Relena? Hello, Relena?! Are you in there?? Hilde waved a hand in front of Relena?s frozen face while Catherine looked on, a worried expression on her face, and Dorothy smirked at the scene brewing between Zechs and Noin.
?How COULD you!? What were you THINKING!??? Noin was livid enough for both herself and Relena, Milliardo mused as he winced at his wife screaming in his ear.
?Well,? he looked at Relena who was still sort of . . . paused, ?there have been any number of nice young men calling for her, but she never takes the initiative so I thought if I made a public announcement that she was free . . .? He trailed off when he noticed Noin glaring at him furiously.
?Relena, c?mon SAY something will ya? You?re freaking Catherine out!?
?Mmmmmm--?
?Whoa, she moved. Amazing.?
?LLLiiiiiiiiiiiii--?
?Hilde, I think you should get away from her . . .?
?AAAAARRRRR--?
?Oh my goodness! Her eyes! I?ve never seen her so furious before . . .?
?Yes, such bloodlust. It?s so beautiful!?
?DDDDDDOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!?
?ACK!?
*WHAM!*
~applause~
Milliard groaned and rubbed the bump developing on his head, grimacing as he touched the newly sore spot, ?Damn. Did you have to throw that jar so hard??
Relena promptly threw down all the food and eating implements to the floor in favor of tackling her brother. Of course, Noin saw what was coming and calmly moved out of the way while Relena throttled her brother.
?This is better than Pay-Per-View.? Dorothy commented, opening a bag of corn chips and taking a seat on the floor.
Hilde just watched the whole scene with an amused look in her eyes, thinking of the story she would have for Duo when she went home, and Catherine looked somewhat mortified that no one was stopping Relena from killing Milliardo.
?It hasn?t even been a WEEK!!! And you?re already trying to find a boyfriend for me???!!!? Relena hissed through clenched teeth while shaking her brother, his shirt clutched tightly in her hands while straddling his stomach.
Deciding that her husband had had enough punishment for one night at his sister?s hands, Noin pulled the struggling Relena off of Zechs, allowing the blond man to get up, the offensive jar of salsa in his hand. His eyes held a look of repentance.
?I?m sorry Relena. I shouldn?t have done such a thing without your permission.? He held out the jar as a peace-offering. After a moment of hesitation, she accepted it much to Milliardo?s delight. He gave her a tentative smile, and she looked uncertain before saying,
?You?re going to tell them it was all just a misunderstanding tomorrow right??
The smile disappeared, and Hilde whistled under her breath. This was like a soap opera. You could just feel the tension in the air as Milliardo?s features formed a sheepish look. Catherine bit her lip, anxiety building in her gut as they waited for whatever news Milliardo hadn?t told them yet. Dorothy just kept munching on her corn chips, enjoying the show.
?I can?t. You already have every night booked for the next two weeks.?
?WHAT!?
Dorothy laughed outright. She wondered if Noin and Relena even realized they had screamed simultaneously. Hilde?s eyes widened even more. Catherine looked shocked. It was obvious Zechs was just digging a deeper ditch in which to bury himself in.
Gritting her teeth tightly and clenching her fists in an effort to calm herself, Relena glared up at her brother, ?Cancel them.? She could see the expression on his face clearly meant he couldn?t. Her suitors must be young politicians or the sons of politicians looking to make an alliance of some sort. Great, first Heero dumps her and now she was a slab of beef set out for the dogs.
Tight lipped, the blonde girl turned to face her guests and forced a smile, ?I guess I?ll be occupied for the next few nights.?
Dorothy looked a little disappointed that Relena hadn?t killed Zechs, opening a soda and hoping a little caffeine and sugar would cheer her up. Hilde just smiled, admiring the way Relena was handling it all. Catherine frowned, knowing Relena wasn?t happy about this.
With one last glance in her brother?s direction, Relena picked up the things she had dropped in her haste to attack him, and resumed her march to her room, not bothering to make sure her friends were following her.
Dorothy smirked at Zechs, ?You really are a fool. Don?t you know how to treat a lady even if she is your sister?? She popped another corn chip into her mouth, giggled at Zech?s disgruntled expression, and ran up the stairs after Relena.
Running an hand through her short, dark hair Hilde smiled, the amusement clear on her face, ?Wait till the guys hear about this.? She turned and slowly ascended the stairs.
Catherine didn?t say anything but glared at Zechs reprovingly while shaking her head as if to say he should be ashamed of himself. The red-head followed after the others, and then he was alone . . . with Noin.
Noin who was looking at him like a shark looks at an unexpected meal.
Uh oh.
<center>***</center>
He couldn?t, wouldn?t stop laughing. It was just too rich, too hilarious, too . . . unreal.
?You *snort* hafta *chuckle* be kidding *chortle*!?
Hilde shook her head with a smirk, ?Nope. She tackled him then started shakin? him like this.? She reached out to take hold of the Duo?s shirt front, and began to shake him like Relena had shaken Zechs the night before at the news she was now an ?available bachelorette?.
Duo, red faced from laughing so hard at the thought of Relena attacking anyone, wiped a tear of mirth from his eye as they both calmed down, ?So who?s the first date??
Sobering, Hilde thought a moment before answering, ?I think she said it was a Frederick something-or-other . . . I?m not really sure. All she knows is that he?s the son of some rich guy who has good family ties and ancestry and all that.?
?Hhhhmmm . . . Think Heero?s heard??
?He would have to be blind and deaf not to. It?s all over the newspapers AND the news. It?s all anyone can talk about: the Untouchable Princess is now Reachable. Besides, Heero broke up with her remember? They decided to keep it platonic.?
?Yeah, I know.?
Hilde smiled, standing, ?Well, I guess I?ll be headin? over to Relena?s. She asked me and Cathy to help her look her worst.?
Duo snorted at that, then grinned, ?Want a male opinion??
Nodding emphatically, Hilde took his hand, pulling him to his feet and out the door. They would help Relena all right, help her scare away every male who dared to step up to the plate.
To be continued . . .
