Love's Labours Lost Chapter 2 by Stella and Rose

[blackrose]

"You know it will take more than a hot guy with money to get me to settle down. I need a man with a large pe-"

"Portfolio?" Relena suggested absently...

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...none I can think of
Spoilers: It's AU. No spoilers.

Pairings: This chapter - only vague hints of the following: Vash x Marianne (Trigun Episode 2), Ran (Weiss Kreuz) + Relena, and Dorothy + Heero

(If you haven't read them yet, you can find the Prologue and Chapter 1 here)

Notes: This work of fiction is based on William Shakespeare's play of the same title, Love's Labours Lost. Not one of his most famous works, but one of our favorites, it is the story of the young King of Navarre and his three friends who swear an oath to remove themselves from wordly pleasures (women, alcohol and money among them), and
spend three years in the chaste pursuit of knowledge and wisdom. Their plans are thwarted by a surprise visit from the Princess of France and her three beautiful handmaidens. The four men must then
deal with their feelings and ultimately decide what is more important to them: pride or love. (If you ever get a chance to see the play, go and see it! If you're ever in the movie rental place and see Kenneth Branagh's version, avoid it like the plague!).

We've set our LLL in the present day using characters from our favorite anime series: Gundam Wing, Escaflowne, Trigun, and Weiss
Kreuz. It sounds like quite a crossover, but this fic was inspired by our desire to get all these characters together. And the story is AU to any of the series, so if you haven't seen all four of them, you'll still be able to enjoy it! Thanks for reading!

*********************************************
Chapter 2



Vash tapped his foot in time with the Sinatra music piping from the speakers above the cozy corner booth at their favorite Italian restaurant. A night out ? sort of a last hurrah before?

?Here?s the itinerary,? Heero said, his expressionless eyes glinting in the dim light as he distributed printouts to his three friends. Vash held the paper up to the candle in the middle of the table.

?Ooooh, we?re flying into Newark! We get to visit the corporate jet!?

Van exhaled through his teeth and fought the urge to lunge across the table and strangle Vash with his bare hands. ?Yes, Vash. Remind me again why it is that our jet?s been on the east coast for the last four months? And why we have to fly on a commercial airline? in coach class!?

?Hey, man. All I did was take a girl to dinner.?

?In France!? Van seethed, picking up a breadstick and waving it threateningly in the other man?s direction. ?And don?t forget that the hydraulics for the landing gear malfunctioned in Newark when you stopped to refuel, and it?s been there ever since!?

?She said she wanted French food?? Green eyes blinked up at his friend while long fingers bit at the paper itinerary, peeling little bits off of one corner and sprinkling the table with a fine dust of nervous confetti.

?Do you know how much that cost the company?? Quatre asked.

Vash could tell that the Financial Officer was mentally going over the figures and was getting ready to start spouting off numbers. ?Hey, you guys. You can?t put a price on true love.?

?True love? You dated her twice!?

Vash let out a long, heavy sigh and placed his hand over his heart. ?Marianne??

Van rolled his eyes. ?Oh give me a break. Did I mention that when I had to fly to that conference in Phoenix three weeks ago, I got stuck sitting next to Allen Schezar in first class!?

Vash stroked his chin, doing his best to look thoughtful. ?Yes, come to think of it, you have mentioned that ? about 60 billion* times! Why do you hate that guy so much anyways?? His blond eyebrows knitted together. ?And by the way, it?s not my fault that Mr. El-Cheapo over there refuses to fly it back even though it?s been fixed.?

Heero crossed his arms and sank back in his seat. ?I?m not going to justify the expense to fly it back empty. I?ll sell it first.?

?But I love that plane?? Vash said, sticking out his lower lip. His expression brightened, however, when four steaming bowls of pasta came into view. ?Yay! Food?s here!?

?Thank you, miss.? Quatre smiled as their waitress set a plate of marinara and cheese topped stuffed shells in front of him.

Heero barely noticed his lasagna; all his attention was fixed on the tall glass of water off to the side of his dinner. Resigned not to drink although the pact technically didn?t take effect until tomorrow, it had been a very long day - especially with all the final arrangements for their departure. At least Vash was quiet now, busy stuffing his face.

After the waitress left them, Heero made his announcement. ?As you can see, our plane departs at 7:20 am - Cinq Airlines flight 001. The car will leave my place at 4:30. We?ll pick you up first Quatre, then you, Vash, then Van. Enjoy it. It?ll be your last limo ride for a while.?

?What to do you mean, boss?? Vash asked, slurping a spaghetti noodle into his mouth before looking up to meet Heero?s icy stare.

?Quatre, would you care to enlighten him??

Quatre set down his fork and took a sip of his water before breaking the news to their vivacious, money?s-there-to-spend-it philosophical friend. ?We?ll be living on a budget for the entire three year period of study.?

Vash froze, a shower of spaghetti dangling limply from the fork in front of his mouth, before they lost their delicate balance and sloshed down onto the plate with a barely audible splash. His saucer-eyed gaze shifted back to Heero. ?Budget?? He croaked.

Silence was the only reply.

His face finally cracked into a wide grin. ?Oh, that?s a good one, boss!? he laughed, sipping his soda gingerly. ?Two jokes in one day! Are you sick or something - wow!?

?I?m not joking, Vash. We?ll get a monthly draw from an account that Quatre set up for us. Your personal assets will be frozen until the three years are up.?

Their already red-faced friend sputtered, forcing himself to swallow the liquid. He coughed and tears sprang into his eyes.

?Vash, are you ok??

?I? no?bu-but?? Blood rushed to his cheeks, and green eyes darted about wildly as if the walls were suddenly closing in on their cozy booth. He coughed again and leaned forward over his plate, gasping for air.

The blond sitting beside him patted him on the back, concerned creases forming on his forehead.

?Vash, are you choking??

?Look at him, he?s breathing. I think he?s just in shock, Quatre,? Van offered. Getting bored with the melodramatics, he turned his full attention to the food in front of him.

Quatre tapped his friend lightly on the shoulder. ?Vash??

The red clad man huffed and wheezed, his hands coming up to his neck. Tears streamed down his cheeks until his eyes rolled backwards and his figure seemed to swoon over the table. An eerie silence settled over the occupants of the booth, broken only by the juicy splish-splosh sound of Vash?s face hitting the mess of noodles in front of him.

?Vash!?

?He just fainted. He?ll be fine.? Van said, momentarily regarding Quatre?s wide eyes as he cast a sideways glance in Vash?s direction. He took another sip of tea before continuing to eat.

Heero picked up his fork and speared a chunk of his dinner, also looking over at his unconscious friend. ?People are starting to stare. Will someone get him out of the spaghetti??

*****

Four sets of bleary eyes stared at each other within the confines of the limousine. Was this really happening? Would they really be gone for three whole years? Vash blinked and let his gaze float out the window into the hazy predawn light.

In the fleeting distance, he could just make out Seattle?s Space Needle, its shape the most distinct among the lighted silhouettes of the other buildings. He?d taken many a lovely young lady to have dinner in the tower?s revolving restaurant, but he had always liked going there during the day as a kid. On the rare occasion of a blue sky, he could see so far? the Olympic Mountains in the west, presiding at a distance over the shining waters of Elliot Bay. He would sit and watch the ferries lolling in and out of ports along the waterfront while site-seers meandered by the docks and the strange Olde Curiosity Shoppe that held the treasures of past seafarers ? complete with authentic mummies and shrunken heads.

He?d miss the deli downtown that made those lovely salmon sandwiches, and Broadway, where he found his most interesting clothes. Remorse tugged on his heart when the last glimmerings of the city disappeared behind him, shrouded by the dark hills on either side of the highway. He?d never been away from the northwest for more than a couple of days. Vash sighed heavily and turned around in his seat, having said his silent farewell, and watched the purple halos in the skies begin giving way to yellow as the sun rose over the Cascades in the east, reflecting on the jagged, snow-capped peeks. The familiar colossal outline of the dormant volcano Mount Ranier loomed over them as their car sped down the deserted 405.

?Good-bye, friend. Don?t go blowing your top while I?m gone now, wouldn?t want to miss all the fun.?

?Stop sniffling over a mountain, Vash,? Van groused, his dark eyes seething even at this early hour of the day.

Vash seemed to read the dark-haired man?s mind. He knew that look. Van was just perturbed at the fact that Starbuck?s hadn?t been open at five a.m. when they left his house. ?Someone needs a latte, geez? You are so not a morning person,? he yawned, doing his best to swallow the lump in his throat. ?I think I still have some spaghetti sauce up my nose from last night.

?I really needed to know that,? Van snarled, shooting his friend another cross look.

Vash reached across Quatre?s sleeping form, hunting for a box of tissues.

?Aren?t you going to miss home, Van??

?I?m sure I will, but that big house by the lake? it never felt like home.?

Van stole a fleeting glance at the passing landscape before sinking back into the plush leather seat and assuming the same position as Heero - with arms crossed and eyes closed.

Vash studied his friends. Van and Quatre ? he had always been able to read them. Van with his temper and Quatre, so gentle and sensitive? all he had to do was look at them and he knew how they were feeling. But Heero was another matter. Vash fixed his green eyes on his friend?s stoic face. Heero could be quite a mystery? But he knew they were all searching for something; an elusive sense of completeness, answers to questions they had only just begun to ask themselves. Whatever they were looking for, Vash hoped they would find it.

The car slowed, making a lazy turn off the exit ramp, snapping Vash out of his thoughts. ?Hey guys,? he called out, noticing the airport signs. ?We?re here.?
Let the adventure begin?

******

Peacecraft Computer Corp. (PCC) Tower
New York City, NY



Morning?s brightness was deeply dimmed by winter fog blasting in on chilly air. The lofty tower of the PCC building rose above the cloud-like smog that lay like a woolen blanket over the city ? warming the busy streets until they steamed with activity. The office tower was not new, but recently purchased to run the growing company?s operations along the eastern seaboard. Most of the interior was fairly fashionable, but the carpet lay almost thread bare in patches along the hallways. Regardless of the overuse, the structure gleamed with elegant antiquity. The building was something they could renovate with time, but business had to come before luxury.

Brass elevator doors clanged open and Relena smiled at the blond woman that stepped inside the otherwise empty car. Dorothy Catalonia?s ice blue eyes glittered in response as she thrust a slick magazine into her friend?s hands.

?Not Cosmo again. Dorothy, I told you - I?m not taking another one of those ridiculous sex quizzes??

?Who has time for that?? She asked, her mouth twisting into a slight smile. ?Relena Peacecraft, meet the new love of my life.?

Relena arched an eyebrow and turned the magazine right side up. She read the title of the feature article on the cover of the Bernadelli Financial Weekly. ?The Kings of Gundanium?? She tilted her head in a thoughtful pose, her mind immediately making the connection between the piece and one of their most lucrative client/vendors. A smirk slowly took shape on her pink-tinged lips as she studied the photos of the two men her friend had just ?introduced? her to. She pointed to one of the faces peering out of the glossy pages, and held it up to the confident blond corporate attorney.

?I think he?s definitely your type,? she said, her blue eyes glinting beneath wispy bangs carefully plucked from amongst her upswept hair.

Dorothy rolled her eyes. ?No, not the freak. The other one. Heero Yuy.?

Relena turned the magazine around again. The contrast between the two ?Kings of Gundanium? was startling, almost comical. Of the two software geniuses, the first wore blond spikes and had twinkling green eyes partially hidden behind a set of bizarre looking yellow glasses. His features were graced with a goofy grin that was rivaled in absurdity only by his bright red coat. The other face on the cover was undoubtedly handsome, but the angular jaw was locked in a hard-set expression. His sapphire-colored eyes were beautiful, but steely and serious under a mop of chocolate brown hair. ?The dark-haired one is Heero Yuy??

Dorothy nodded. ?Uh-huh. A total hottie. Definitely do-able.?

Relena scrunched up her face as she studied his likeness. ?You can have him,? she said and quickly handed the publication back to its owner.

Dorothy?s jaw dropped. ?What? You don?t find him attractive? My God, you are dead. Or a lesbian.?

Relena threw her friend a warning look. Persons of the masculine persuasion were not a topic she liked to discuss. ?I?m still alive, and most definitely attracted to men, thank you. It?s just?? Her gaze strayed back to the cover of the magazine in Dorothy?s grip. ?His eyes are so cold; it gives me chills to look at them. And you?ve heard the stories.?

?Yeah yeah. Ruthless, robotic, never cracks a smile. You?re probably right. A guy like him would be a cold fish in bed.?

Relena looked up at the ceiling. ?Uh-HUH. Well, I am sorry to ruin your wedding plans.? She rolled her head to where she stared at Dorothy head on. ?But you?ll thank me later.?

Her blond friend grimaced. ?Ugh, I wasn?t talking about marrying the guy. You know it?ll take more than a hot guy with money to make me settle down.? She huffed out a breath of air as she glanced up at the elevator display to see how much further they had to go. One more floor.

?Right,? Relena answered in a harsh tone as the elevator finally came to a stop on her level.

Dorothy grinned. ?I need a man with a large pe-?

The elevator chimed, cutting her off as the doors shushed open. ?Portfolio?? Relena suggested absently, stepping out of the car and heading towards her office. It was still pretty early, but there were a smattering of employees milling about.

?I was going to say something else? but a portfolio is important, too.?

?DOROTHY!? Relena gasped out, halting in her tracks and turning to stare at her supposed friend. She gulped at the wicked smile currently displayed on the blonde?s delicate features, knowing she had given the girl the reaction she wanted. The young Vice President of Peacecraft Computer Corporation frowned; she couldn?t back down. ?Are the size of a man?s? assets all that matter to you??

?Well, that?s not all. But it?s necessary that he be? well endowed, or else I wouldn?t even think of dating him.? Her thin lips pressed into a smile as the two women stopped off at the small break room to grab a cup of coffee.

?How would you know?? Relena asked, turning wide eyes up to meet her friend?s gaze.

Dorothy raised an eyebrow and turned up the corners of her mouth. ?All I have to do is look at him and I can tell the size of a man?s-?

Relena could feel the blood rising to her cheeks as she realized that at least half a dozen of their co-workers were gathered around the coffee maker, listening intently to their conversation. Her friend must have noticed the young vice-president?s intense blush because she continued the morning goading that had become almost routine between the two young women. Relena grabbed her coffee cup and continued at a brisk pace towards her office.

?Uncomfortable discussing the male anatomy? This is a surprise. But tell me, how did you make it through high school? Our biology teachers made us shout it out loud every day for three weeks straight.?

?I went to an all girls? school. Besides?. it?s not something that should be shouted out in this office.?

?Ah, come on Relena. Say it just once?

?No,? she seethed as she paused just long enough to throw open her office door and turn to shoot her friend a black look. Seemingly oblivious, Dorothy followed right behind and stretched out in one of leather executive-style chairs in the room.

?It?s a scientific term.? She continued once Relena had shut the door. ?I mean it?s not like I?m asking you to say co-?

?That?s quite enough.? Relena moved to open the blinds on the window behind her large oak pedestal desk. She had her back turned to the room, and it helped to hide her expression.

Dorothy snickered. ?Do tell me how you plan on handling it when you finally get into that situation with a man.?

Relena visibly stiffened. ?I?m sure that when it happens, I won?t be required to call said appendage by name.? The VP spun around.

?You do if you want any sort of relationship with it.?

?I would ask how you handle it, but I?m afraid you might tell me.?

?We?re a bit testy this morning. Perhaps handling it is what you need.? Dorothy huffed and crossed her arms.

Relena?s mouth slanted up into a crooked line as her eyes narrowed at her friend. ?I don?t have time for a relationship, you know that.? She sunk down into the chair behind her desk, and shuffled through some paperwork, glancing at the desktop calendar that lay beneath the documents.

?Who?s talking about a relationship??

Relena stopped and glared across the desktop. ?Dorothy??

The blond leaned forward in her seat. ?Relationships are dull. They?re too much work and too much bother. I?m talking about getting yourself a sexy guy that can make you feel good for a little while.? She sipped at her coffee, smiling around the edge of the Styrofoam cup.

?Not really my style,? Relena argued, and stood up from her chair.

Dorothy shook her head. ?So disappointing.?

The vice president turned to stare out the window again, eyeing the dark clouds that hung just outside, seemingly within her grasp. ?I have work to do,? she said, the hint obvious in her tone of voice. But her friend just ignored the subtle message.

?Oh, speaking of sexy guys?Still got that meeting with Red today??

?Yes.? She turned around and leaned over her desk. ?And his name?s not Red, it?s Ran.?

?Whatever. He?s the kind of guy I?m talking about would be good for you.? A slow grin spread across Dorothy?s face. ?Definitely hot, definitely someone who can make your toes curl.?

?He?s a business associate.? Relena?s voice rose, though she tried to keep up a calm fa?ade. Dorothy could get under her skin, but if she let her know, the corporate attorney would never stop. ?We have a business relationship.? She stood up and walked to the other side of her desk, pretending to be interested in something on the bookshelf along the opposite wall.

?Tell me you have noticed his godliness, Relena, or I really am chalking you up as lesbo,? Dorothy replied and took another sip of her coffee. Her intense eyes studied Relena?s every move.

The young VP turned to scowl in her direction. ?We work. We negotiate. He?s attractive, but?? Relena stopped shuffling volumes, her hand clutching a Using the Alliance-ware OS** for Dummies book in a white-knuckle grip. ?Why are we even having this conversation?? She turned back to the bookcase shoving one paperback after another to the side until she finally came upon the object of her search.

?I think you should sleep with him.?

The legal reference guide on intellectual property law dropped to the floor with a loud bang. ?WHAT??

Before the attorney could reply, the door hedged open, and another familiar, feminine face peeked into the room. ?Excuse me, Relena? Oh, hi Dorothy, I didn?t know you were in here.?

Relena took a deep breath. She had been about to lose her cool in front of Dorothy. ?Hitomi.? Her smile wobbled as she greeted her friend. ?Thank goodness; someone who?s hormonally balanced.?

The short-haired girl stopped just as she was about to shut the door all the way. ?Uhhhh?Maybe I should come back later,? she said, and began to open it again in order to leave.

?Oh, no, stay Hitomi,? Dorothy called out, motioning for the athletic-looking marketing manager to come in. ?I was just giving Relena a pep talk before her big meeting with Red.?

Hitomi fanned herself with the file folder she was carrying, her short brown locks feathering in the self-created wind. ?Oh. Well, some girls have all the luck.?

Relena blinked, her eyes darting from one to the other. ?What??

Dorothy wagged a well manicured finger at the young VP. ?See, told you, he?s hot, Rel. You?re dead if you don?t want to sleep with him.?

?Well, I don?t know if I?d go that far,? Hitomi said, a small frown forming above light green eyes. ?But he is very sweet. And good looking.?

Relena stooped to pick up her book. ?This is ridiculous.? She walked the heavy, hard bound volume over to her desk. ?It?s a business meeting, and that?s final.? She turned back around, strained lines appearing around her eyes as she spoke to both women in a voice that was rising with every second. ?I?m not sleeping with him, I?m not attracted to him.? Her hands wrung themselves together as she strode towards the door, the idea to throw them both out forming in her mind. ?I?m not anything but a business associate, and he our possible future client,? Relena?s voice had escalated to the point where she was practically yelling. She jerked hard on the office door and the three women were jolted by the sight of the unmistakable flaming red hair belonging to the man who was their current topic of discussion. The blond VP froze as she stared at him, her eyes slowly traveling down his well chiseled form clad casually in a v-neck sweater over fairly tight-fitting jeans. She caught herself and willed her mouth to speak.

?Hello, Ran? Relena flashed him an unnaturally wide smile, doing her best not to sound flustered, despite the fact she knew he probably could hear every word through the door. She blinked as her right hand came up and grabbed tightly to the oak barrier, embarrassment tying her empty stomach into knots as she fought down her body?s instinctive urge to turn her cheeks a bright red. ?Can you give me just a moment??

The crimson locks nodded and he turned to take a seat in one of the chairs located just outside her office. Relena caught a rather nice view of his backside before she mentally slapped herself and effectively stopped her hormonal appraisal. She whirled around and leaned back against the door, unable to keep from blushing any longer as her heart pounded loudly in her chest. Her friend?s smug smile brought her crashing back down to earth. She stood up from the door and glared at the corporate attorney.

?Dorothy Catalonia, I swear I?m so going to kill you. No more of these ?pep talks??? Her hands flew up to either side of her head as she paced back towards her desk, agitation evident in every movement. She paused and stared at the door, her mind betraying her as it conjured up the vision of his very masculine body. Her voice dropped to a low whine. ?Why on earth did he have to wear jeans that fit like that?? She moaned and slumped down into her chair. ?It should be a crime.? Her head came up and met two amused pairs of eyes. ?Damn it!?

Dorothy and Hitomi snickered quietly. ?Guess she?s not dead.?

Relena fixed them both with a withering stare before working on her relaxation techniques ? techniques that she had learned from a professional for the sole purpose of dealing with Dorothy every day. ?Okay, deep breath, and focus. Both of you out of my office now.? She shot them both another scathing look. ?I?ll deal with you later.?

?All right,? Dorothy conceded and turned to go. As her hand came up to grip the doorknob, she glanced back over her shoulder. ?But don?t do anything I wouldn?t do.?

?I?m not going to do anything you WOULD do.?

The attorney turned to face her friend once more. ?You?re no fun. Geez. There go all my hopes and dreams of living vicariously through you in the form of spoiling your children that I?d never be saddled with. Who will call my Aunt Dottie, now?? Her hands came up to rest on her hips, in what Relena deemed mock indignation. It was the blond girl?s way of defusing the situation and letting the others know she hadn?t been serious. Hitomi grinned and Relena visibly relaxed.

?Get your butt out of my office, Aunt Dottie. And I never said I was going to have children.?

Dancing blue eyes dimmed. ?Relena, trust me.?

?Your white knight will appear one day, sweep you off your feet, and marry you. He?ll be the only one forever, and you will have children and a normal, happy life.?

?That?s very sweet, Hitomi.?

?It?s your horoscope in today?s paper. That was what I came up here for ? to read it to you.? The marketing manager held out the daily edition towards her friend.

?Oh.?

Dorothy snatched the paper from Hitomi?s hand, bringing it close to her face, and pretended to pour over it. ?What, and I can?t believe it!? Dorothy teased. ?At the bottom it says, ?and for Relena, this man is Ran Fu-??

The sound of the vidphone ringing thankfully cut off the rest of Dorothy?s sentence. ?Out,? Relena mouthed at her two friends as her brother?s pale features came on screen. ?Milliardo,? she greeted him with a genuine smile. ?Can you hold on one second??

?Could you get him some coffee and tell him I?ll be just a minute?? Relena asked the women who were finally in the process of exiting. ?And don?t touch.?

?My my,? Dorothy chided. ?Possessive already??

?No, I just know you. And you have some contracts to go over for my brother?s meeting tomorrow and shouldn?t be fawning over Ran?s ass.?

Hitomi shot Dorothy a wicked smile. ?I wonder if he?s a natural redhead?.?

?OUT!?

?What was that all about?? Milliardo asked, his familiar voice filling the room.

Relena let out a heavy breath. ?Nothing.?

?Well, I?m calling because we?ve hit a small snag.?

?What kind of snag? Are you feeling all right?? Concern etched her features into a serious expression.

?I?m fine. It seems, however, that Gundanium?s officers are out in New York City, so I?ll be flying in tonight ? if my luck holds.?

Relena frowned. ?Brother, are you sure you should be traveling??

?Everything will be fine.? He smiled at his only sister. ?I?ll call you when I get in, we?ll have lunch, then I?m meeting with Yuy for dinner.?

Relena?s eyebrows shot up and she sat back in her chair. ?Ah, Heero Yuy himself, huh? That?s a good sign.?

Milliardo nodded. ?I told you we went to high school together.?

?Oh yeah. Well, I guess it?s good he remembers you.?

The Chief Executive Officer?s face darkened at the mention. ?We?ve both changed??

Relena nodded. ?I?m sure that?s true. It?ll be good to see an old friend. You can tell me about him at lunch tomorrow, okay? I?m sure Dorothy will want the full scoop on the new love of her life.?

?Hn. I won?t ask.?

?It?s probably best.?

A short laugh escaped his colorless lips. ?Yeah, I?ve learned with Dorothy, the less I know, the better off I am.?

She smiled and then glanced down at the time stamp in the bottom right hand corner of the screen. ?Oh, shoot. Well I?m really glad I?ll be seeing you tomorrow brother dear, but I have to go. I have a meeting scheduled with Weiss right now. Take care of yourself, and I?ll see you soon!?

?You take care, too, Relena.?

?Love you, Milli.?

?Love you too, squirt.?

Relena made a face. ?Argh. When will you stop calling me that??

?When you?re older than me.? He chuckled. ?Never.?

She stuck her tongue out at his image.

?Go to your meeting,? he said in his deep tone of voice reserved for times when he decided to act like a big brother.

?Yeah yeah, I?m going.?

?See you tomorrow squirt.?

?See you tomorrow pinhead.?

*****

Seattle International Airport
Cinq Airlines Terminal



?Van, we don?t have time for coffee,? Heero growled, looking at his watch and then back at his friend whose bloodshot eyes were staring longingly at the espresso carte just beyond the security checkpoint. ?When we get through here, we are going to have to run to the gate.? He scowled as Vash walked through the metal detector and beeped for about the fifth time.

?Did you take everything out of your pockets, sir?? the burly female guard asked, eying him warily.

?I promise!? Vash whimpered, glancing back at the long line of people behind him, most especially Heero.

?Please step to the side.?

?Anything you say, ma?am. Hey, just so you know, our flight leaves in-?

?Take off your shoes and lay your jacket on the table.?

?Are ya gonna have to strip search me??

Heero rolled his eyes, tuning Vash out and instead, listening to his fellow travelers whispering behind him.

??yeah, searching that freaky blond guy??

?? was definitely acting weird??

?We can?t take him anywhere,? Van hissed. Their spiky-haired comrade was in the process of being patted down by security - and appeared to be enjoying it a little too much.

?Ma?am, if it?s not too much to ask? a little more around the shoulders ? I think I slept funny last night and I??

?You can go.? Her small black eyes shone menacingly from beneath her bushy eyebrows.

?That?s it? After all we?ve meant to each other??

?I said, you can go!?

?Yes?m??

?Vash, get over here!? Van barked from a few feet away.

?Gotta go. You have a lovely day now, Miss Security Guard.?

?Hmph.?

?Vash!?

He wove his way through the crowds, finally catching up with the others.

?We have three minutes to make it to the end of the terminal!? Quatre breathed, looking at his watch.

Vash leapt ahead, leading the sprinting men. ?Well, we would have been at the checkpoint sooner if we didn?t have to make three trips to the car for all of somebody?s suitcases.?

?Hey!? Van heaved, barely evading a luggage cart and leaping over someone?s duffel bag. ?You never know what you might need!?

?Riiiiiiiiight?.?

?Attention passengers. This is our final boarding call for Cinq Airlines flight 001, non-stop service to Newark International Airport.?

The four disheveled men stumbled to a halt before the gate, handing the attendant their now rumpled boarding passes. The large metal door closed behind them as they trudged down the jetway towards the plane. The sound echoed in their ears, all silently lost in their own thoughts as they squeezed their bags into the overhead compartments and settled into their seats.

There?s no going back now?



Vash did his best to arrange his long legs comfortably in their confined space. ?I really miss that jet,? he mumbled aloud, earning another withering glance from Van. ?But there is an upside to all this,? he added with a grin.

?And what could that possibly be?? Van growled from his place in front of Vash.

The red-clad man smiled, watching a tall, buxom, and very blond flight attendant hurry passed. Van followed his friend?s gaze. ?Aren?t you forgetting something??

Vash scowled at the thought of the ?no women? clause in the pact. Hey, but this wasn?t cheating? well, not really. He turned away, but his eyes lit up when he saw her heading back his way. ?Oh miss?? He looked up at her with wide green eyes upon her return. She stopped.

?Can I help you, sir??

?I can?t seem to get my seatbelt to buckle, would you mind??

?Certainly not,? she smiled, her hands brushing against his thighs as she fastened the buckle for him.

A buffoonish grin consumed his features.

?Could I also trouble you for a pillow, and maybe a blanket??

?Of course.?

She tucked the pillow gently behind his head, and unfolded the blanket for him.

?Oh, thank you miss. You just made my day.?

?I?ll bet,? Van spat.

?And can you please get my friend some coffee? He?s a real dragon*** without his caffeine fix.?



Quatre blinked, waking to the sound of lulling jet engines and bright light reflecting off the clouds and pouring into the small window by his seat. I wonder how long I?ve been asleep? As his eyes re-adjusted, he could see Heero paging through the Columbia course book, pausing every so often to look over descriptions and requirements.

?So, have you given any thought to what you?re going to study, Heero?? Quatre asked with a yawn, peering through the space between the seats in front.

Heero shook his head and handed the catalog back to Quatre, who eagerly flipped it open. ?I thought I?d like to learn about art ? maybe music? or philosophy.?

?Well, gee. If you?re studying art, we could always take an educational trip to Paris and see the Louvre!? Vash offered. ?The jet will be there after all.?

?No vacations,? Quatre reminded him.

Van?s eyes narrowed at the mention of the plane. ?Heero, I think we should just sell it.?

?Hey!? Vash cut in. ?Don?t I have any say in this? I happen to have a lot of fond memories on that jet.?

?Oh, cool it, Vash. No one wants to hear about your adventures in the Mile High Club.?

?Mile High Club?? Quatre blinked, his blue eyes questioning his friend from across the row.

Streaks of red crept onto Vash?s cheeks.

?Trust me,? Heero said. ?You don?t want to know.?

?Oh?? Quatre mumbled.

A woman?s voice crackled over the intercom.

?Ladies and gentlemen, we are preparing to make our final descent into the Newark area. To your right, you can see New York City. Please prepare for landing.?

The four friends were quiet for a moment, listening to the sounds of the other passengers shifting in their seats, buckling seat belts, and putting away tray tables. A stewardess walked passed and Vash's head turned as his eyes followed her figure down the aisle.

Quatre?s face suddenly darkened to a deep, rich red.

?Mile high cl-... Oh, not in the jet, Vash!? He gasped.

Vash could feel his ears burning. He turned and smiled sheepishly at his scandalized friend.

From the seat in front, the unmistakable and exasperated "slap" of Van's palm connecting with his forehead resounded as the black hair shook from side to side.

?I told you, Quatre,? Van mumbled, face shielded by his hand. ?You didn't want to know.?

?Hey look you guys!? Vash shouted, nearly crawling over Quatre and pressing his face against the tiny window. ?There's the Empire State Building! We're here. We're really here!?


*******************************************

Rose?s guide to Stella?s somewhat corny, somewhat tongue-in-cheek fare:


Stella: HEY!

Rose: I call it like it is. :razz:



* 60 billion. Vash says that Van mentioned 60 billion times how much he (Van) hates Allen Schezar (with good reason?DAMMIT HITOMI, no kissing anyone but Van!!!!). *ahem* Anyway, the reference to 60 billion coincides with the 60 billion double-dollar bounty (reward) offered for the arrest and capture of the outlaw, Vash the Stampede in the anime series Trigun. 60 billion double dollars is denoted as $$60,000,000,000.



*** Dragon. Vash says that Van can be a real dragon without his caffeine fix. (sheesh, no kidding). The reference to a dragon is a direct reference to the fact that Van?s Guymelef (aka mobile suit for Gundam fans) named Escaflowne is also a dragon (it transforms from dragon to guymelef and vice versa).


And now, Rose?s actual, real reference of her own:


** Alliance-ware OS. As in: Relena picked up the Using Alliance-ware OS for Dummies book off the shelf.


The best real life example I can give you is to sort of associate the Zero Operating System with Windows, and the Alliance-ware Operating System (Operating System is denoted as OS for short) with Linux. That?s for you software-savvy people.

For the not-so-software savvy?it?s okay. We try not to go into too much detail on stuff that will boggle the mind - so basically, all you NEED to know about this is that Alliance-ware is for all intents and purposes a competitor to Gundanium?s Zero Operating System (Z/OS) software.

We will get more into that later, but I wanted to make note now, so that everyone will know what the manual Relena picked up was for. ^__^




<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: blackrose on 2002-05-23 10:21 ]</font>