Love's Labours Lost Chapter 1 by Stella and Rose

[blackrose]

?B-b-but? this is a little drastic guys, dontcha think? Three years? No booze, no vacations; no women!"

?No distractions,? Heero corrected.

?No mercy.?


Title: Love's Labours Lost
Author: Stella and the Black Rose
Category: AU. Romance. Comedy. Crossover (w/Esca, Trigun, and Weiss Kreuz)
Rating: PG-13 for now.
Warnings: ummmmmmmm...Vash is a hentai? (but then again, aren't we all? ^__~)
Spoilers: It's AU. No spoilers.
Pairings: In this chapter, some Vash x Meryl interaction.

Check out the totally awesome fanart by Luvspook! Heero, Quatre, Van, and Vash

Oh, and there's a Prologue , too.

This is loosely based on the Shakespearean play of the same name. ^__^ Thank you for reading!!!

Love,
Rose

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Chapter 1

Steel blue eyes narrowed venomously at the cowering man before them. He?d heard enough arguments and shouting, and now his friend was begging and pleading ? and procrastinating. But this was no laughing matter, not to him, nor the other two men in the room that had already signed on that same dotted line. ?Vash, just sign it.?

?Is he going to cry?? Van smirked and crossed his arms, earning himself a dirty look from the protesting blond.

?It?s alright, Vash. You can do it.? Quatre slid the paper back towards their friend.

The pen shook in Vash?s slender fingers, making a series of miniscule but non-committal lines on the document. ?Hey guys, remind me again - whose idea was this anyway??

The three other men standing in the office all stared at him and answered in unison. ?Yours.?

?Oh.? Vash furrowed his brow and read over the stipulations outlined in the final paragraph. The pen slipped from his grasp as he sunk into the chair behind Heero?s desk, glancing meekly up at the others.

He perused the final sentences and scratched his head. ?What ? was I drunk??

?I think so,? Van answered, inching the paper closer to the final signer. It seemed to keep creeping away as if the sheet itself and Vash were the same polar ends of a magnet.

?It was last week, the night after Version 7.2 went gold1. You?re the one who said we should take a break from all of this. We made a pact ? three years. Here it is in writing, we?ve already signed.? Quatre smiled kindly, reaching into his pocket to offer Vash another pen. The three men closed in around their spiky-haired associate. There would be no escape.

Vash?s lip quivered again as he reached out for the pen in Quatre?s hand. He stared at it longingly for a few moments, and then held the small tube close to his face, studying the writing implement more closely.

?Ooooh, is this the new company logo pen? Nice choice, Quatre! The blue plastic really sets off the gold lettering nicely. Though I did like the red one too??

Heero crossed his arms, glaring at the lone hold out.

His expression was not lost on Vash. ?Hey, stop looking at me like that, boss. You can be down right scary sometimes, you know that. Scary!?

?We?re all in this together.? Heero said. ?Since we were teenagers, our lives have been centered around this company, and nothing else. Here we are years later and they?re empty. Devoid of meaning. It?s time for us to focus on other things besides codes and drivers and corporate politics. To be? ?

?Better men,? Van finished.

?This is all we know,? Heero continued pointing to the computer perched atop his desk. ?You said it yourself, Vash.?

?I did??

Heero nodded slowly. ?Do you know anything about the great philosophers? Or nineteenth century British novelists? or the history of South America??

Vash shook his head.

?Well, neither do I. I think what we need is the very thing we tried to avoid.?

?This is our chance, Vash,? Van offered, picking up where Heero had left off. ?Things are pretty steady around here. We have a solid development team, competent managers. We can just? slip away.?

?B-b-but? this is a little drastic guys, dontcha think? Three years? A man has needs! No ? no booze, no vacations; no women! Let me say it again, you know, just in case you didn?t get it! No women?.? Vash moaned and turned pleading green eyes up towards the leader of their little group.

?No distractions,? Heero corrected.

?No mercy,? Vash added, his expression sobering as if he had just been sentenced by the judge and jury to a life sentence.

?And that?s for all of us,? Quatre said, sounding unjustly cheerful, at least as far as Vash was concerned. ?No fancy new cars, no trips to computer conferences ? just concentrating on gaining knowledge and making ourselves more well-rounded. Think of how much more you?ll appreciate all those things when you?ve been without them.?

?But no women!?

The others glared at their vivacious blond friend. He recoiled.

?You?re really serious, aren?t you??

Heero stepped forward. ?Have you ever known me not to be serious??

A nervous laugh escaped Vash?s lips. ?Well, there was that time when you? or maybe, back? um, no, on second thought ? yeah, you?ve always been serious.?

?You?ve read the document. You know what happens if any of us breaks the pact.?

?We forfeit our share of the company. I know. I?m sure that was yours, too,? Vash mumbled, stealing a quick and noxious look at Heero. ?Harsh.?

?So, are you with us, Vash?? Van asked.

?It?s always been the four of us,? Quatre offered with a grin.

Vash bit his lip, eyes darting between the faces of his three childhood friends and business partners. He took a deep, painful breath and put the pen to the paper, looking away as he scribbled his name. ?I know I?m going to hate myself in the morning.?

?Well,? Van breathed, ?Now that that?s all taken care of?? He was cut off by the sound of the door opening, and the four men looked up to see Heero?s secretary, Millie Thompson standing in the doorway. She was tall, with shoulder-length brown hair and guileless light green eyes set in a heart-shaped face that leant innocence to her expression.

?Excuse me, Mr. Yuy? Oh, I didn?t realize all four of you were in here,? her girlish voice provided a sharp contrast to the masculine air in the room.

?Yes, Millie, what is it?? Heero asked as his secretary slipped her slender frame between the polished wooden panels.

?Meryl Stryfe from Bernardelli Financial Weekly is here for your interview, sir.?

?Interview?? Heero choked out.

Millie nodded. ?You agreed to be profiled in her ?Billionaires Under 25? piece for next week?s issue.? Heero stared at her blankly, but the secretary only smiled. ?She?s an old friend of mine from college, isn?t that funny? We used to hang out all the time; we were even in the same sorority! I haven?t seen her in forever, and here she is!?

?Fascinating. What do you mean inter-?

?Is she pretty?? Vash interrupted.

Van scowled at him and pointed to the paper he?d just signed. Vash frowned. ?It doesn?t technically start till tomorrow,? he whispered, earning a quizzical glance from Millie.

?Interview?? Heero repeated, exchanging bewildered glances with his friends. ?When did I agree to this??

Millie cleared her throat. ?Five days ago when she called, and I buzzed you, and you asked what she wanted, and I told you, and you said, ?Hn.?

?Okay??

?I took it as a ?yes.??

?Uh-huh? Hn?? Heero massaged his temples, silently swearing under his breath while he moved behind his desk, and nudged Vash out of his chair. ?Give us a minute, then send her in.?

?K,? Millie grinned, and closed the door behind her.

When they were alone once again, Heero stood with his hands flat on his desk, leaning over its surface while looking up at the room?s other occupants. ?I don?t think I need to tell you that word of this,? he said, pointing at their pact, ?doesn?t leave this office. I?ve arranged for this to be handled quietly, and of course we?ll still be available for any issues that may come up and require our attention. We?ll be studying at Columbia University in New York City, but on the whole, no one is to know what we?re doing. The shareholders would have a collective heart attack.?

?Absolutely,? Van and Quatre agreed.

Vash blinked. ?Oh, yeah ? sure. Well, I?d love to stay and see you get grilled by the lady-reporter and all, but I?ve got some work to do. I think my floppies need to be alphabetized or something,? Vash called out, placing a set of headphones in his ears and making for the door.

?Fine then,? Van said, holding the document. ?Give this to Millie on your way out and tell her to file it with all the corporate papers.?

?Yes, sir?? Vash froze instantly as the door opened once again, watching as Meryl Stryfe came into view. She strode confidently into the office, her short, dark brown hair smartly styled, and wearing a deep blue suit the same color as her eyes. He couldn?t help but notice how perfectly it clung to the curves of her petite frame. He pulled the headphones out of his ears in order to devote his full attention to new arrival.

She carried a small briefcase tucked under her arm and must have noticed his gaze because she stopped right in front of him, cocking her head to one side and staring at him the way people stare at an exotic bird or reptile at the zoo.

?Hello,? she said politely, her tone sharp and businesslike. She didn?t wait for his response, but instead turned her attention to the man behind the desk, and extended her hand as she walked to meet him.

?Mr. Yuy. Thank you so much for agreeing to meet with me today. Bernardelli Financial Weekly is thrilled to be featuring you and your company in our magazine.?

Heero nodded slightly, gesturing for her to take a seat while he did the same. Van and Quatre pulled up chairs and positioned themselves beside the desk. Quatre looked up at Vash, who was still standing in the middle of the room, eyes fixed on Meryl while a slight blush stole over his complexion.

?Will you be joining us after all, Vash??

?Ah, well gee? guess it couldn?t hurt to stay,? he replied with a chuckle, tucking the forgotten document into his coat pocket and sliding into the chair closest to Meryl?s with lightening speed. She watched him momentarily out of the corner of her eye before proceeding to remove her tape recorder and writing pad from her briefcase. Upon deciding that he seemed harmless enough, she commenced with the interview.

?Mr. Yuy, Mr. Fanel, Mr. Winner and Mr.??

?Vash. Just Vash.?

?Right, Mr. Vash? Well, I know you all are very busy men, so let?s get right down to business, shall we? I?d like to start with some history. Is it true that the four of you founded Gundanium Software when you were just sixteen years old??

Van sat up in his chair and smiled. ?Well, there?s only so much you can do in a city where it rains nine months out of the year. We all lived in the same neighborhood in west Seattle, so we used to just sit in Heero?s basement after school tinkering around with his Uncle J?s old computers. We started developing Zero in our freshman year of high school.?

?I see.? The reporter looked them all over in turn. ?What made you decide to write an operating system? I mean, there are any number of things you could have created, why an OS?

?The evolution of Zero was so gradual,? Quatre answered, pushing his hair out of his eyes. ?We didn?t sit down one day and say ?let?s do an OS? ? it just kind of? happened.?

?So, what was the division of labor back then? and what is it today? Who?s in charge of which aspects of the company??

Heero spoke up for the first time. ?I handle the development. Vash does the testing, and he helps me out? occasionally.?

?Awww, boss, I?m touched.?

?I can?t argue with that.?

?Ha ha. Oooh, Heero made a joke. Mark this day??

?Division of labor?? Meryl inquired again, watching Heero roll his eyes at Vash?s comment.

?Right. Well, Quatre?s our numbers man,? Van said, pointing a thumb at his friend. ?And I take care of marketing largely. We both add to the product by thinking up new features and helping development to keep the user in mind. Back in the day we?d sit there asking Heero if he could make the OS do this and that.?

Heero scowled.

?I take it that ?development? didn?t always appreciate that,? Meryl giggled.

?Yeah, he can get a little surly sometimes if we mess with his baby,? Vash laughed. ?But that?s enough about him, Miss Meryl. Let?s talk about us.?

?Us??

?I?m sure Vash means more about what it is that we do,? Van spat through his teeth, glowering at his friend.

?What?? the blond mouthed silently, toying innocently with his earring, all the while inching his chair closer to Meryl?s. Van shook his head and shot a pleading look at Quatre.

?Um, what we do with the company besides software?? Quatre guessed, hoping that the reporter would take the bait.

?Oh yes. GLLC is very well-known for its generous contributions to charities. Children?s hospitals, cancer research, homeless shelters? the list goes on. But you don?t speak out about the causes you donate to ? do you have any personal ties to these organizations??

?Well, I have to say that?s mainly Vash and Quatre?s department,? Heero commented, his face holding no expression or interest for the topic at hand. Charities weren?t his concern; he let the others donate what they would for tax deduction purposes only.

?Mr. Vash??

?Well, it?s just that ? someone I cared about very much died of cancer. And in general, I just hate to see people suffering, especially children. Do you like children, Miss Reporter? I?d like to have a whole bunch myself; I think you?d make an excellent mother??

?Vash,? Heero warned, his face hardening into an angry scowl. It hadn?t been five minutes since they had all made their pact and signed it and the idiot was asking this reporter to have his children. He really was completely hopeless.

?Yes, boss?? Vash blinked innocently up at his friend.

?Well, we just like to put the money where it?s needed,? Quatre added with a gentle grin, attempting to alleviate the tension. It would only be a momentary respite, as the lone woman in the room smiled weakly at the company?s financial manager before flipping through her notes and stopping at a page with one word on it. A name.

?Let?s talk about Weiss.?

The room fell into silence, and Meryl noticed that even Vash sat up straight, rigid and grimacing as if the name itself was somehow causing him pain.

?So, gentlemen. How much of an impact do you feel the hacking incident had on GLLC??

Heero?s lips stretched in a colorless, thin line. The muscles in his jaw twitched in protest as forced them to open so he could give his answer.

?We had some issues we had to take care of with Zero. Though initially, it was a shock, we did our best to view it as a test. Zero had weaknesses. We fixed them.?

?And after the latest launch of 7.2 Server? the numbers were very good,? Quatre offered. ?I think we would all agree that the industry is behind us, and the public is responding well.?

Van forced a smile, though still brooding about the security breaches. ?Z/OS is the best that?s out there, and everyone knows it. That incident showed us that we weren?t perfect, but it also helped us improve an already great product. We?re confident that Zero is and will always be on top.?

?You?re quite the salesman, Mr. Fanel.?

Van flashed his most suave smile. ?Have to have some company pride, Miss Stryfe.?

With a chuckle, Meryl sorted through her papers. Noticing that her notepad was full, she made a quick search for a blank sheet. ?Oh dear, how embarrassing,? she said, color racing to her cheeks. I seem to be out paper. I thought I packed my extra??

?Have no fear!? Vash smiled, digging in his pockets. Sorting through foil candy wrappers and women?s phone numbers, within moments, he retrieved a larger folded page. ?Looks like there?s plenty of room on this one,? he said, offering it to the reporter seated beside him.

?Oh, thanks very much. I know I have my tape recorder, but also like to have things in writing.?

?That?s understandable, Miss Meryl. I feel the same way. I think you must be my soul mate.?

?Uh-huh. So, Mr. Yuy ? where do you think the software industry is headed in the next, say, three to five years??

Heero stopped glaring at Vash long enough to answer. ?It?s a synthesis of the hardware and software companies. Advances in software spur on improvements and innovation in hardware and vice-versa. I know that some of the software companies that have licensed Zero are doing some amazing things with servers.?

?Yes, we?ve heard some rumors about PCC and their latest product. It?s supposed to be revolutionary.?

?I?ll be really interested to hear about the premiere if they make it to the MO-II computer fair in New York City this year,? Van mused, his mind wandering to THE annual industry gathering that he would be missing for the next three years.

?Lastly, gentlemen, I just want to ask? having come so far at such a young age, do you feel you?ve paid any price in other areas of life for your success??

?Yes and no,? Heero said, his expression betraying nothing. But that will soon change.

?Everything has a trade-off,? Quatre said. ?I just like to think that the paths we?ve chosen are the ones that were meant for us. And we?ve been lucky.?

?Luck has nothing to do with it, Quatre,? Van stated with a smirk. ?We gave the world something it needed. We were in the right place at the right time.?

?Sounds like luck to me,? Vash snorted.

Meryl chuckled. ?Well, thank you all so much. Speaking of luck, I really had my share today being able to talk to all four of you. I know it will really add to this story ? I?ll send over next week?s issue before it even cools from the presses.?

?Do you have to leave so soon?? Vash pouted, following the reporter as she reached for the door handle. ?I was thinking that we could get to know one another? you know, discuss our future-?

?Vash, we still have to finish our meeting,? Van called out as he and Quatre returned the chairs to their original positions.

?Have a nice evening, Mr. Vash,? Meryl mumbled, trying not to be too obvious while she stared at his hair. ?Bizarre??

?Well, that was fairly painless, I guess,? Van said, glancing over his shoulder to make sure that just the four of them remained.

?Hey, Vash. Make sure she?s gone before you give the pact to Millie.?

?The pact ? oh yeah. Oh?? Vash?s fingers toyed with only gum wrappers and the lint that remained in his empty pocket. The paper! The reporter! ?Uh-oh??

?So, how did you get us into Columbia, Heero?? Quatre asked, filling his tea cup.

?It?s a long story.?

?Hey, Vash! You?re going to be in the Ivy League. Don?t you want to hear this?? Van called after their rapidly departing friend.

?Actually? there?s something I gotta take care of ? see ya later! Bye!? He cried out over his shoulder, letting the door slam behind him.



?Oh, hellooo, Mr. Vash!? The secretary greeted him with a pleasant smile.

?Helloooo. Millie! Where did your friend the reporter girl go??

?Why, she just headed towards the elevator. She couldn?t stop talking about how interesting things are around here, especially you. Though I don?t think ?interesting? was the specific word she used for you, it was more like mania-?

?Which elevator, Millie?!?

?The one by the east entrance.?

?Reporter girl! Uh, Miss Meryl!? Vash caught his breath after a record-breaking hallway sprint, leaping into the elevator after the departing woman.

?Mr. Vash, I didn?t expect you to see you so soon. Going down??

?You have no idea??

?What was that??

?Uh-yeah, down is fine, thanks. I was wondering, if you wouldn?t mind? That piece of paper that I gave you back in Heero?s office? I, uh, kinda need to have it back.?

?Oh? well, I have some of my interview notes on it and I?m in a huge hurry right now. Can I drop it back here tomorrow after I copy my notes??

?No, I?m afraid I REALLY need it.?

?I?m afraid I really do, too, Mr. Vash. I have a deadline; this story is due in by midnight, and the nearest copy machine is now five floors away. I don?t have time to go back up, I really have to??

He couldn?t help it, he reached out and grabbed her shoulders, turning her to face him. ?Miss Meryl, I cannot stress to you my utmost crucial and dire need for that little piece of paper.?

Her eyes widened. ?It?s that important? Is it some top-secret new idea for GLLC??

?I guess you could say that,? Vash said and released his grip on her small frame.

Meryl rummaged in her bag, retrieving the notebook with the single sheet wedged in the middle. She slipped it out of its confines and glanced at her notes, then quickly flipped it to the other side.

?No! Please don?t!?

She grinned. ?Just a little peek! I?m a? ?We, the undersigned, do hereby agree to this pact; that from three years on from the indicated date, we shall henceforth devote ourselves fully to the pursuit of knowledge. We shall abstain from romantic relationships with women, the consumption of alcohol, attendance to computer conventions and shows and daily practices of business and anything deemed as ?distracting? from our studies. There will be no vacation time allotted???

?Oh, this is bad,? Vash groaned and wanted to melt into the carpet. Heero was going to kill him for sure. He?d never get to see the sun rise again in the morning, he?d never get to finish that last level of Devil May Cry, or complete the Metal Gear Solid II mission. He was never going to see the rest of the Star Wars epic. And we?re so close to the Episode II release! He was doomed?.

???who breaks this oath forfeits his shares and interest in Gundanium Limited Liability Company! Mr. Vash ? what is this???

?Nothing,? Vash tried to laugh it off, but he knew she wasn?t buying it. ?Can I have it ple-?

?This is a bet.?

Vash winced. ?Well, it?s more of a??

?Pact.?

?I was going to say ?cruel and unusual punishment for some offence I must have committed in a past life,? but if you want to use the word ?pact...??

?Forget the ?Billionaires Under 25? ? this will be my cover story! Unbelievable! Three years? Studying? No dating? No alcohol? No daily involvement in GLLC??

?Rub it in, why don?t you! But you can?t say a thing! It?s supposed to be a secret! They?ll kill me ? do you understand? I?ve seen Heero and Van play ?Doom;? they handle those weapons just a little too well, thank you very much. Please, lady, I?m too young to die!? He sunk down to his knees and affixed his best puppy dog look. But it didn?t seem to have any effect on its intended recipient.

?Mr. Vash, I am a reporter. It?s my job to keep BFW?s readers informed about what?s going on in the business world. The four key men in one of the most powerful software companies in the world taking three years off is a pretty big newsworthy item.?

?Just my luck, the one time I really need an air headed sympathetic type female around, and I?m stuck with this no-nonsense career woman. It?s just not my day!?

?What was that??

?Well, I was just trying to? you see? we?ll be away, but not out of touch.?

?Right. You?ll be away. That?s sure to affect the company.?

?Please! I?m begging you!? He dove to the floor and hugged her feet. At least she has nice legs?

?I?m sorry, Mr. Vash. Nothing you can say will change my mind. You?re on the record.?

?Can?t you take me off the record?? He gripped her ankles tighter as his eyes traveled up her calf to the curve of her knee.

?No.?

?You?re killing me here!?

?I?m sorry, but-?

?Please?? He whined, still trying to sound pathetic as his gaze continued to travel up her leg, trying to get a glimpse of her panties. I wonder if she?s wearing a thong. I didn?t see a line?

?Mr. Vash, get up. Stop groveling - you?re embarrassing yourself and you?re drooling on the carpet? Are you looking up my skirt??

Uh-oh. Caught.

?No?? He scrambled away from her legs and tried to cool the blush heating his cheeks. She glared down at him, and he looked away, towards the floor. ?Well, maybe? Gee, you must work out.?

?I do actually. Four days a week at the? HEY!?

The doors opened with a smooth ?shoosh? and Meryl wasted no time in stepping over Vash and heading for the exit. Through the lobby?s glass exterior she could see the gray sky and mist obscuring the mountains in the distance. She hastily buttoned her coat and opened her umbrella as she stepped out into the drizzling cold. Vash was hot on her heels.

?Miss Meryl!?

?Mr. Vash, I have nothing else to say to a big-mouthed, wild-haired pervert who just happened to screw up. I have an obligation to the readers. That?s all! Good day!?

His mind kicked back into gear, momentarily forgetting the pleasing sight of her slender, well-muscled legs and pink panties. Definitely a thong?

He chased her out into the abysmal Seattle afternoon. ?What if I gave you exclusive rights to the story ? you know, after the fact?? He grasped desperately for another solution.

?What??

His teeth chattered and water-droplets clung to his blond spikes and dripped off of his bright red coat. ?We won?t talk to anyone else but you. Whether we make this work or all fail miserably at it. Just think ? it?ll be more than a boring financial story, it?ll be one of those big deal human interest things that everyone goes crazy for. And you?ll have the exclusive, Miss Meryl.?

?Well, I have to admit that it?s an interesting offer.?

?I?ll even call you with updates from New York.?

?Oh, so you?ll be in New York??

?Dammit.?

?I?ll think it over, Mr. Vash.?


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1 ? The term ?going gold? in respect to software, means ?to be released?. It is our understanding this term is used by Seattle based software companies?.