Eternity In His Hand 6/?
Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2003 11:40 am
Whee, I'm back from Spring Break! I hope you guys didn't have TOO much fun without me!
KMF: Quick! Hide the liquour....
Rose: And the men! *stuffs Heero in a closet*
Berry: Err...what's going on guys?
Melville: Uhm, what? Nothing? *whistles*
Wicked: Just...you know, uhm, studying, yeah!
Berry: *raises eyebrow* Oh really? Then what's this? *lifts up a pair of boxers with tiny deathscythes on them* and this? *picks up an empty bottle of vodka*
Wicked: *looks affronted* I am appalled! Were you guys partying? This is an outrage!
Rose: *arches an eyebrow* Hmmm, that's funny. Weren't you just saying you wished Trowa was here?
Wicked: *blushes*
Tee hee! You know I love you guys! Enjoy the chapter!
Eternity In His Hand
Chapter Six
Duo Maxwell had always had a reputation, one that seemed to portray a man with not a care in the world, a man that took nothing seriously, a man women were drawn to like moths to the flame. But a reputation was something that was built and Duo had put every stone into place himself, carefully putting them together like seamless puzzle pieces. Some thought him less than intelligent and he himself knew he was no genius, but he had a knack for knowing things instinctively and Lady Luck had always been kind to him. A combination of chance and fate had led him to the Rose Seal and the Student Council and he held his position with distinct flair. He had never dueled before and wasn?t sure he ever would. For now, the Rose Bride was beyond his reach and he didn?t mind it at all. He had more pressing concerns than Revolution.
?I wonder what the color of Hilde?s dress is?? he asked aloud, twirling the end of his braid around his finger. Turning in her chair, Dorothy Catalonia draped a shapely leg over the arm of it, a clever smile on her lips.
?Thinking of dressing to match??
Duo grinned, ignoring the bite in her words as he always did. The Cat had sharp claws but he knew how to retract them, out of his own skin at least. ?Well, I hear girls like it when a man shows initiative.? His grin broadened as he walked closer to the Council table. ?Who?s the dead man that?s taking our little kitty to the ball??
Dorothy sniffed disdainfully. ?I don?t dress to please men, Maxwell, and I certainly don?t dance with them.?
His eyes took in the tight black and gold uniform she wore and he whistled between his teeth. ?Could have fooled me, babe.?
She growled, ?Don?t you ever think of anything important, Maxwell??
He leaned against the table on his elbow, his violet eyes calm. ?Like what? Like the fact that your pushing Quatre to duel cost him the Rose Bride? That our President seems to be keeping something from his own staff? Or perhaps that Heero Yuy just may be the one to bring the world Revolution??
After the first question, Dorothy had gone stiff in her chair and by the time he had finished her eyes were flashing. ?Quatre lost because he didn?t want it bad enough, and whatever Trowa?s hiding will come out sooner or later.? Her voice roughened. ?But Heero Yuy will never win Eternity, not if I have anything to say about it.?
Duo watched her for a moment before straightening, pushing his hands into his pockets nonchalantly. ?Be careful, Dorothy. I would hate for you to make Wufei?s mistake. His treatment of the Rose Bride has earned him disdain even in the Council not to mention in the rest of the student body. The next wrong move he makes will get him expelled.?
The Cat purred at him, ?Worried about me??
He laughed. ?I only worry about your next victim.?
Dorothy clicked her tongue in annoyance but didn?t say anything, her eyes focusing on the shadowed Arena Forest. He sighed and looked there too, feeling suddenly very tired.
?I thought it would be simple,? he said at last, gazing at something beyond what he was seeing. Dorothy glanced at him.
?What would??
?Revolution. But it?s all twisted.?
Dorothy?s voice was almost quiet when she next spoke. ?But in the end, every road leads to it.?
He closed his eyes.
?Yes, yes they do.?
* * * *
Heero had a headache. It had started in the space between his eyes but had slowly worked its way to the side until both his temples were pounding. It didn?t help that the main source of his irritation was Hilde who had bombarded him with romantic suggestions all day. She seemed to think that the ball that night was the perfect chance for him to confess his obviously undying love to Relena and she had a million ways he could do it. Unfortunately, her endless chatter had filled his head close to bursting and he had left his History lecture a bit early in order to get some peace and quiet.
Lying flat on his back on Relena?s bed (he hadn?t felt like climbing the ladder), with an arm thrown over his forehead, he stared up at the bottom of his bunk, trying to think of absolutely nothing. The past few days hadn?t been easy. After losing his duel, Quatre had withdrawn for about a day before coming to apologize to both him and Relena. Heero hadn?t expected it but it had restored a little of his faith in the other man and now they were on easy terms if not entirely trusting. Quatre seemed happy to play his piano with Relena every so often and Heero allowed it, knowing that the Student Council Vice President would never again duel for the power of the Rose Bride.
Then there was Duo Maxwell. He and Hilde had been growing closer and Heero was pretty sure he knew exactly what they would be doing after the dance that night. He only hoped Maxwell would keep his end of the silent bargain they had made the day of the picnic. If he so much as made her shed a single tear?
?Master Heero?? He turned his head slightly to see Relena step into the room, her books under her arm. She saw him lying there and closed the door softly behind her as if inherently aware that a loud noise would bother him. Setting her books on her desk she came to his side and knelt daintily by the bed, tilting her head at him, her hair catching the light. ?Your head hurts,? she said after a moment, her hands gentle as she cupped them over his temples.
?It?s just a headache,? he murmured, mesmerized by her nearness. She only smiled and closed her eyes, a look of concentration settling over her face. He watched her closely, completely surprised when he felt his headache begin to drain away, slipping through her fingers like water through a sieve. By the time she opened her eyes it was as if his headache had never been. She smiled at him again and as she took her hands away he reached up and encircled one wrist with his own hand, halting her. She blinked but stayed still, obedient to anything he wanted. That thought no longer disgusted him though he was still unhappy about it. The Rose Bride was bound to her Champion, but Relena Darlian was not and somewhere deep in those sea-green eyes the real Relena lay waiting for an end to the duels, for Revolution. He understood that now.
?Thank you,? he said quietly, gazing up at her. He wasn?t sure what she had done or how she had done it but he had learned that the woman next to him held many secrets, some even she didn?t know the answers to. It was better not to ask and just accept.
Relena touched his temples gently once more, her eyes soft. ?You?re welcome.? He dropped his hand away from her wrist, his Rose Seal glinting as he did so, but Relena did not move away. Instead she ran her fingers lightly through his hair, the rhythmic movements making him feel slow and sleepy. He let his eyes drift shut without a qualm, for once not thinking about anything other than Relena?s touch.
?Go to sleep, Heero. I will be here.?
He was on the very edge of dreams when he realized she had not called him ?Master?.
* * * *
Hilde?s room looked like the aftermath of a hurricane and would have given her roommate fits if she had seen it. Clothes were scattered everywhere and every smooth surface was covered with bottles of perfume, nail polish, tubes of lipstick, hairspray, and every other instrument of perfection known to woman. Two dresses hung from the bedposts, one navy blue, the other aqua green. The air itself smelled of a dozen fragrances and light seemed to be reflected from a handful of mirrors that had been uncovered for the occasion. Hilde pursed her lips and blotted her dark lipstick on a tissue before eyeing her reflection critically.
?Do you think there?s too much glitter in my hair?? she asked, turning her head so that her short curls seemed to twinkle with stars. Sitting at Hilde?s desk, Relena turned slightly to regard her.
?You look beautiful, Hilde. I?m sure that Mr. Maxwell will think so as well.?
Hilde grinned. ?I want to knock that boy?s socks off.? Relena blinked and Hilde turned away from the mirror to arch an eyebrow at the other girl. ?Oh come on, Rel, don?t tell me that you don?t have plans to tackle Heero in the garden after the last dance.?
A pretty blush stained the blonde?s cheeks. ?I could never do that, not unless he told me it was alright.?
?Well, you might be waiting awhile if that?s the case. Heero doesn?t talk about his emotions much, if at all.?
Relena looked down at her folded hands. ?Yes, I know.?
Hilde looked at her for a moment, trying to figure out just what was going on. Heero and Relena?s relationship was anything but normal. Relena seemed to think she had to adhere to Heero?s every command and Heero, being the stoic guy that he was, would never command her to do anything so, of course, their relationship never went anywhere. Relena was much too gentle to do anything on her own. Maybe it was Heero that needed a push?
Slipping out of her chair, she went to the other girl?s side and touched her friend?s delicate golden curls with her fingertips. They had worked on Relena?s hair for an hour, the long locks taking more time to curl than Hilde?s. Hilde, herself, had pinned some of Relena?s curls back with little silver pins tipped with fake diamonds that sparked whenever the girl moved her head. Neither of them wore much make up, Hilde putting on her favorite shade of lipstick, while Relena settled on a pale pink gloss. Of course, it would soon be time to put on the dresses and then everything would have to be checked over again, but Hilde was very confidant that they would make a few men?s jaws drop when they entered the ball room in a few hours.
?I heard that Trowa Barton is bringing his sister tonight,? Hilde said, changing the subject as she slipped Relena?s dress off the hanger. The shimmering blue-green folds rustled as she unzipped the back and waited for Relena to shed her school uniform.
?The Student Council President?? Relena questioned as she stepped into the dress and allowed Hilde to lace up the back.
?Yes. His sister doesn?t go to school here because of her illness, but I guess she must be feeling a bit better if she?s coming tonight. I hear she?s very pretty.?
Relena said nothing as she returned the favor and helped Hilde into her sleek gown, zipping up the back with a quick movement. Both girls paused to look at their reflections, twirling slightly to see how their dresses moved.
?Well,? Hilde puffed after a moment, ?If we don?t make our dates drool then I?ll run around the school in my underwear.?
Relena smiled and touched her hair with something like wonder on her face. ?I?ve never been to a ball before. I wonder what it will be like??
Hilde squeezed the other girl?s hand. ?Just stick with Heero, he?ll take care of you.?
?Hilde, dear Hilde, let down your?errrr?long hair!? A pebble pinged against the glass of Hilde?s window and then another before Hilde could unlatch the sash and pull it open. Down below, illuminated by one of the sidewalk lamps, stood Duo and Heero, both wearing their dark blue dress uniforms with gold scrolling on the sleeves and folded collars bearing the school crest. Duo had a hand raised with another rock to throw when she called down to him.
?I see you finally made it.?
Even from the second floor, Hilde could feel his grin. ?We got kicked out when we tried to come up. Apparently the rules don?t change just for the ball.?
She laughed. ?Well, don?t worry. We?ll be down in a few seconds. Wait right there.?
?Yes, ma?am.?
She grinned and closed the window, grabbing her coin purse from her desk quickly as Relena shut off the room lights. They locked the room door before hurrying down into the lobby and out into the night, Hilde giggling excitedly as she breathed in the fresh air.
Duo whistled appreciatively. ?You ladies are looking absolutely breathtaking tonight.? He bowed with respect to Relena before taking Hilde?s hand to kiss the back of it. ?Man, I?m going to have the prettiest girl on the whole campus dancing with me tonight.?
Heero stepped out of the shadows. ?I?m afraid not, Duo,? he said quietly, his eyes taking in the sight of Relena in the moonlight. ?I will.? Relena blushed but linked her arm through Heero?s when he offered his. Hilde leaned over and slapped her oldest friend on the shoulder good naturedly.
?Just for that you have to save a dance for me and I will make sure to step on your feet at least twenty times.?
Heero cracked a half-smile and Hilde beamed. The night was definitely going to be interesting.
* * * *
Dorothy Catalonia swirled her glass of bubbling cider with a practiced grace, her cool gaze frosting the room as she took in the lavishly decorated walls. The theme of the dance was based on fairytales and so twinkling lights hung from the ceiling, giving dim illumination to a room that was filled with flowers and paper trees and even a real fountain in the corner. To any other eye, it was an enchanted forest filled to the brim with beautiful lords and ladies. To her it was only a disgraceful attempt at ignoring reality. Unfortunately, in order to fulfill her objective it was necessary to mingle with the student body.
A small commotion by the door drew her attention and she smirked to herself upon seeing Duo, Hilde, Heero and Relena enter, the two girls wide-eyed at the extravagant decorations. Duo and Hilde wouldn?t be a problem. In fact, she was quite sure they would be too wrapped up in each other to even remember that she had been there. Relena would never suspect anything, it wasn?t in her to see plots. Heero, though, might be suspicious, and not only that but she had a feeling of anticipation in her bones, a kind of shiver that vibrated within in her. It was an old signal that meant hers were not the only plans beginning that night.
Setting her goblet down on a nearby table, she slipped smoothly through the throng, smoothing her black dress as she went. Though she had told Duo she didn?t dress for men, she did know what a tight dress did to male hormones and she would need every trick in her book to make sure she would never be connected with the results of her scheme. Quatre already suspected something but he was too busy trying assuage his guilt to really question it. No, tonight was the night. She had never backed down from a challenge and she wasn?t going to start now.
?Mr. Yuy,? she purred, slinking closer to the Champion. He turned upon hearing his name, his dark eyes sending a shock through her entire body. She physically gasped at the force behind them and was immediately shamed when she felt a stab of quick fear. Those eyes, they saw too much. They would see right through her?
She tightened her hands into fists and forced her traitorous body to relax, her face to smooth of any identifiable emotions. She would not be undone by a single glance. She would not!
?I don?t believe we?ve been introduced,? she said, standing closer than necessary to him, looking up at him through her lashes. Any other man would have swallowed at the tone in her voice, the way she brushed against him when she spoke. She had been taught to deal with men at a young age, it was what had helped her to become a member of a Council comprised totally of men, but Heero Yuy showed no reaction at all. Instead, he did nothing but watch her, those ice cold eyes revealing none of his thoughts. Her heart raced a bit and she licked her lips. Here was a man worthy of conquering, perhaps even worth of her. He was not fooled by her, she could see that. It would be a joy to break him and then wrap him around her finger. It might take longer than she had planned but Eternity would be hers.
?I?m Dorothy Catalonia,? she said silkily, ?I believe we share a common bond.? She casually flicked her fingers through her hair, flashing him the Rose Seal on her ring finger. Next to him, Dorothy saw Relena go still like a deer caught in headlights, her eyes wary and almost frightened. Dorothy smiled at her, the look born of hatred and condemnation. Relena read it and her face turned white.
A hand grabbed her wrist suddenly and Dorothy took a step back as Heero?s grip on her tightened fractionally, holding her in place. She glared at him but his eyes were pure midnight. ?I don?t share anything with you,? he said, his deep voice holding a ring of danger. He released her suddenly, pushing her back a little. ?Now leave us alone.? He turned his back on her and drew Relena away, never sparing a glance backwards over his shoulder. Dorothy gritted her teeth and kept herself from snarling. Her plan had just become harder but she would see it through to the end.
She always did.
* * * *
He could feel Relena shaking next to him and he didn?t need to see her face to know what was wrong. That fact that he had never seen her afraid before fanned his temper and he almost turned back to confront the female Council member before realizing he couldn?t possibly leave Relena alone. If Dorothy was waving her Seal around, the others might too and he had no plans to even think of dueling that night. He swore silently to himself, angry that they had just arrived and already the night had been ruined. And Hilde had told him that Relena had been so excited.
?Relena,? he said quietly for her ears alone, ?Let?s go outside. I need some air.?
She nodded a bit unsteadily. ?Of course, Master Heero.?
The rose garden welcomed them, the many-hued blossoms closed for the evening. The night was perfect, the air filled with fragrances, the sky alive with diamond-like stars. Muted laughter and music from inside the ballroom drifted around the flowers and Heero relaxed as Relena knelt among her roses, touching the soft petals with a smile. Only in her garden was Relena ever truly at peace and, though he hated to admit it, roses suited her. Looking at her in the moonlight, she was almost too beautiful to be real.
Turning his gaze to the stars, he put his hands into his pockets, letting his mind roam for a moment. At the corner of his eye, a silver streak raced down to earth with a quick flare and he took a breath.
?Relena.?
She looked up from her position in the grass. ?Yes?
?Make a wish.?
?What?? Her tone was honestly startled. He glanced at her.
?A shooting star. Make a wish.?
Her eyes were wide as she looked at him and, for a moment, he wondered if he had done something wrong. He knew only a few of the dueling rules and there was still so much about the Rose Bride that he might never figure out. But Relena?s eyes filled with very real tears and she looked to the sky, her fingers linking together as if she were praying. He went to her side, drawn there by a power he could not ignore and had no desire to. He offered her a hand in the darkness and she took it, letting him draw her to her feet.
?You?ve never made a wish??
She shook her head, tears glittering in her lashes, and he reached up to cup the side of her face in one hand, her smooth skin warm under his palm. She stilled with his touch, watching him with liquid turquoise eyes, the pins in her hair reflecting the light like a crown of stars.
?What do you want, Relena? Is there anything you wish for? Anything you dream of?? he asked softly, wiping a tear from her cheek with his thumb. She made a small sound in her throat.
?I dream sometimes of a place far away from here, where everything is different. The sun is brighter and I?m no longer? I?m no longer?? She couldn?t say it but he knew what she yearned to tell him.
?You dream of freedom.?
She trembled under his fingers. ?Forgive me, Master Heero. I?m the Rose Bride, it?s not my place to wish for something other than my fate. Please forgive me.?
Growling under his breath, he reached out and pulled her to his chest, his arms wrapping around her shoulders to keep her there. She did not resist, she could not, but the breath in her throat hitched with surprise, the tears on her face soaking into the breast pocket of his coat. He held her tightly and after awhile she relaxed into his embrace, resting her head against his chest, her sun-spun curls tickling his skin as he laid his head against the top of hers.
?No one can tell you what to wish for, Relena. Not a ring, not a duel, and definitely not a Champion.? She moved in his arms but he gently held her still. ?Your dreams are your own. No one can take them away.? Fireflies danced around them, a symphony of silent light as they stood together for a few long but precious minutes. Heero whispered into Relena?s ear, ?Relena?
?Yes?? Her voice was muffled by the fabric of his coat, but he could hear her smile.
He closed his eyes.
?Don?t call me Master anymore.?
TBC
KMF: Quick! Hide the liquour....
Rose: And the men! *stuffs Heero in a closet*
Berry: Err...what's going on guys?
Melville: Uhm, what? Nothing? *whistles*
Wicked: Just...you know, uhm, studying, yeah!
Berry: *raises eyebrow* Oh really? Then what's this? *lifts up a pair of boxers with tiny deathscythes on them* and this? *picks up an empty bottle of vodka*
Wicked: *looks affronted* I am appalled! Were you guys partying? This is an outrage!
Rose: *arches an eyebrow* Hmmm, that's funny. Weren't you just saying you wished Trowa was here?
Wicked: *blushes*
Tee hee! You know I love you guys! Enjoy the chapter!
Eternity In His Hand
Chapter Six
Duo Maxwell had always had a reputation, one that seemed to portray a man with not a care in the world, a man that took nothing seriously, a man women were drawn to like moths to the flame. But a reputation was something that was built and Duo had put every stone into place himself, carefully putting them together like seamless puzzle pieces. Some thought him less than intelligent and he himself knew he was no genius, but he had a knack for knowing things instinctively and Lady Luck had always been kind to him. A combination of chance and fate had led him to the Rose Seal and the Student Council and he held his position with distinct flair. He had never dueled before and wasn?t sure he ever would. For now, the Rose Bride was beyond his reach and he didn?t mind it at all. He had more pressing concerns than Revolution.
?I wonder what the color of Hilde?s dress is?? he asked aloud, twirling the end of his braid around his finger. Turning in her chair, Dorothy Catalonia draped a shapely leg over the arm of it, a clever smile on her lips.
?Thinking of dressing to match??
Duo grinned, ignoring the bite in her words as he always did. The Cat had sharp claws but he knew how to retract them, out of his own skin at least. ?Well, I hear girls like it when a man shows initiative.? His grin broadened as he walked closer to the Council table. ?Who?s the dead man that?s taking our little kitty to the ball??
Dorothy sniffed disdainfully. ?I don?t dress to please men, Maxwell, and I certainly don?t dance with them.?
His eyes took in the tight black and gold uniform she wore and he whistled between his teeth. ?Could have fooled me, babe.?
She growled, ?Don?t you ever think of anything important, Maxwell??
He leaned against the table on his elbow, his violet eyes calm. ?Like what? Like the fact that your pushing Quatre to duel cost him the Rose Bride? That our President seems to be keeping something from his own staff? Or perhaps that Heero Yuy just may be the one to bring the world Revolution??
After the first question, Dorothy had gone stiff in her chair and by the time he had finished her eyes were flashing. ?Quatre lost because he didn?t want it bad enough, and whatever Trowa?s hiding will come out sooner or later.? Her voice roughened. ?But Heero Yuy will never win Eternity, not if I have anything to say about it.?
Duo watched her for a moment before straightening, pushing his hands into his pockets nonchalantly. ?Be careful, Dorothy. I would hate for you to make Wufei?s mistake. His treatment of the Rose Bride has earned him disdain even in the Council not to mention in the rest of the student body. The next wrong move he makes will get him expelled.?
The Cat purred at him, ?Worried about me??
He laughed. ?I only worry about your next victim.?
Dorothy clicked her tongue in annoyance but didn?t say anything, her eyes focusing on the shadowed Arena Forest. He sighed and looked there too, feeling suddenly very tired.
?I thought it would be simple,? he said at last, gazing at something beyond what he was seeing. Dorothy glanced at him.
?What would??
?Revolution. But it?s all twisted.?
Dorothy?s voice was almost quiet when she next spoke. ?But in the end, every road leads to it.?
He closed his eyes.
?Yes, yes they do.?
* * * *
Heero had a headache. It had started in the space between his eyes but had slowly worked its way to the side until both his temples were pounding. It didn?t help that the main source of his irritation was Hilde who had bombarded him with romantic suggestions all day. She seemed to think that the ball that night was the perfect chance for him to confess his obviously undying love to Relena and she had a million ways he could do it. Unfortunately, her endless chatter had filled his head close to bursting and he had left his History lecture a bit early in order to get some peace and quiet.
Lying flat on his back on Relena?s bed (he hadn?t felt like climbing the ladder), with an arm thrown over his forehead, he stared up at the bottom of his bunk, trying to think of absolutely nothing. The past few days hadn?t been easy. After losing his duel, Quatre had withdrawn for about a day before coming to apologize to both him and Relena. Heero hadn?t expected it but it had restored a little of his faith in the other man and now they were on easy terms if not entirely trusting. Quatre seemed happy to play his piano with Relena every so often and Heero allowed it, knowing that the Student Council Vice President would never again duel for the power of the Rose Bride.
Then there was Duo Maxwell. He and Hilde had been growing closer and Heero was pretty sure he knew exactly what they would be doing after the dance that night. He only hoped Maxwell would keep his end of the silent bargain they had made the day of the picnic. If he so much as made her shed a single tear?
?Master Heero?? He turned his head slightly to see Relena step into the room, her books under her arm. She saw him lying there and closed the door softly behind her as if inherently aware that a loud noise would bother him. Setting her books on her desk she came to his side and knelt daintily by the bed, tilting her head at him, her hair catching the light. ?Your head hurts,? she said after a moment, her hands gentle as she cupped them over his temples.
?It?s just a headache,? he murmured, mesmerized by her nearness. She only smiled and closed her eyes, a look of concentration settling over her face. He watched her closely, completely surprised when he felt his headache begin to drain away, slipping through her fingers like water through a sieve. By the time she opened her eyes it was as if his headache had never been. She smiled at him again and as she took her hands away he reached up and encircled one wrist with his own hand, halting her. She blinked but stayed still, obedient to anything he wanted. That thought no longer disgusted him though he was still unhappy about it. The Rose Bride was bound to her Champion, but Relena Darlian was not and somewhere deep in those sea-green eyes the real Relena lay waiting for an end to the duels, for Revolution. He understood that now.
?Thank you,? he said quietly, gazing up at her. He wasn?t sure what she had done or how she had done it but he had learned that the woman next to him held many secrets, some even she didn?t know the answers to. It was better not to ask and just accept.
Relena touched his temples gently once more, her eyes soft. ?You?re welcome.? He dropped his hand away from her wrist, his Rose Seal glinting as he did so, but Relena did not move away. Instead she ran her fingers lightly through his hair, the rhythmic movements making him feel slow and sleepy. He let his eyes drift shut without a qualm, for once not thinking about anything other than Relena?s touch.
?Go to sleep, Heero. I will be here.?
He was on the very edge of dreams when he realized she had not called him ?Master?.
* * * *
Hilde?s room looked like the aftermath of a hurricane and would have given her roommate fits if she had seen it. Clothes were scattered everywhere and every smooth surface was covered with bottles of perfume, nail polish, tubes of lipstick, hairspray, and every other instrument of perfection known to woman. Two dresses hung from the bedposts, one navy blue, the other aqua green. The air itself smelled of a dozen fragrances and light seemed to be reflected from a handful of mirrors that had been uncovered for the occasion. Hilde pursed her lips and blotted her dark lipstick on a tissue before eyeing her reflection critically.
?Do you think there?s too much glitter in my hair?? she asked, turning her head so that her short curls seemed to twinkle with stars. Sitting at Hilde?s desk, Relena turned slightly to regard her.
?You look beautiful, Hilde. I?m sure that Mr. Maxwell will think so as well.?
Hilde grinned. ?I want to knock that boy?s socks off.? Relena blinked and Hilde turned away from the mirror to arch an eyebrow at the other girl. ?Oh come on, Rel, don?t tell me that you don?t have plans to tackle Heero in the garden after the last dance.?
A pretty blush stained the blonde?s cheeks. ?I could never do that, not unless he told me it was alright.?
?Well, you might be waiting awhile if that?s the case. Heero doesn?t talk about his emotions much, if at all.?
Relena looked down at her folded hands. ?Yes, I know.?
Hilde looked at her for a moment, trying to figure out just what was going on. Heero and Relena?s relationship was anything but normal. Relena seemed to think she had to adhere to Heero?s every command and Heero, being the stoic guy that he was, would never command her to do anything so, of course, their relationship never went anywhere. Relena was much too gentle to do anything on her own. Maybe it was Heero that needed a push?
Slipping out of her chair, she went to the other girl?s side and touched her friend?s delicate golden curls with her fingertips. They had worked on Relena?s hair for an hour, the long locks taking more time to curl than Hilde?s. Hilde, herself, had pinned some of Relena?s curls back with little silver pins tipped with fake diamonds that sparked whenever the girl moved her head. Neither of them wore much make up, Hilde putting on her favorite shade of lipstick, while Relena settled on a pale pink gloss. Of course, it would soon be time to put on the dresses and then everything would have to be checked over again, but Hilde was very confidant that they would make a few men?s jaws drop when they entered the ball room in a few hours.
?I heard that Trowa Barton is bringing his sister tonight,? Hilde said, changing the subject as she slipped Relena?s dress off the hanger. The shimmering blue-green folds rustled as she unzipped the back and waited for Relena to shed her school uniform.
?The Student Council President?? Relena questioned as she stepped into the dress and allowed Hilde to lace up the back.
?Yes. His sister doesn?t go to school here because of her illness, but I guess she must be feeling a bit better if she?s coming tonight. I hear she?s very pretty.?
Relena said nothing as she returned the favor and helped Hilde into her sleek gown, zipping up the back with a quick movement. Both girls paused to look at their reflections, twirling slightly to see how their dresses moved.
?Well,? Hilde puffed after a moment, ?If we don?t make our dates drool then I?ll run around the school in my underwear.?
Relena smiled and touched her hair with something like wonder on her face. ?I?ve never been to a ball before. I wonder what it will be like??
Hilde squeezed the other girl?s hand. ?Just stick with Heero, he?ll take care of you.?
?Hilde, dear Hilde, let down your?errrr?long hair!? A pebble pinged against the glass of Hilde?s window and then another before Hilde could unlatch the sash and pull it open. Down below, illuminated by one of the sidewalk lamps, stood Duo and Heero, both wearing their dark blue dress uniforms with gold scrolling on the sleeves and folded collars bearing the school crest. Duo had a hand raised with another rock to throw when she called down to him.
?I see you finally made it.?
Even from the second floor, Hilde could feel his grin. ?We got kicked out when we tried to come up. Apparently the rules don?t change just for the ball.?
She laughed. ?Well, don?t worry. We?ll be down in a few seconds. Wait right there.?
?Yes, ma?am.?
She grinned and closed the window, grabbing her coin purse from her desk quickly as Relena shut off the room lights. They locked the room door before hurrying down into the lobby and out into the night, Hilde giggling excitedly as she breathed in the fresh air.
Duo whistled appreciatively. ?You ladies are looking absolutely breathtaking tonight.? He bowed with respect to Relena before taking Hilde?s hand to kiss the back of it. ?Man, I?m going to have the prettiest girl on the whole campus dancing with me tonight.?
Heero stepped out of the shadows. ?I?m afraid not, Duo,? he said quietly, his eyes taking in the sight of Relena in the moonlight. ?I will.? Relena blushed but linked her arm through Heero?s when he offered his. Hilde leaned over and slapped her oldest friend on the shoulder good naturedly.
?Just for that you have to save a dance for me and I will make sure to step on your feet at least twenty times.?
Heero cracked a half-smile and Hilde beamed. The night was definitely going to be interesting.
* * * *
Dorothy Catalonia swirled her glass of bubbling cider with a practiced grace, her cool gaze frosting the room as she took in the lavishly decorated walls. The theme of the dance was based on fairytales and so twinkling lights hung from the ceiling, giving dim illumination to a room that was filled with flowers and paper trees and even a real fountain in the corner. To any other eye, it was an enchanted forest filled to the brim with beautiful lords and ladies. To her it was only a disgraceful attempt at ignoring reality. Unfortunately, in order to fulfill her objective it was necessary to mingle with the student body.
A small commotion by the door drew her attention and she smirked to herself upon seeing Duo, Hilde, Heero and Relena enter, the two girls wide-eyed at the extravagant decorations. Duo and Hilde wouldn?t be a problem. In fact, she was quite sure they would be too wrapped up in each other to even remember that she had been there. Relena would never suspect anything, it wasn?t in her to see plots. Heero, though, might be suspicious, and not only that but she had a feeling of anticipation in her bones, a kind of shiver that vibrated within in her. It was an old signal that meant hers were not the only plans beginning that night.
Setting her goblet down on a nearby table, she slipped smoothly through the throng, smoothing her black dress as she went. Though she had told Duo she didn?t dress for men, she did know what a tight dress did to male hormones and she would need every trick in her book to make sure she would never be connected with the results of her scheme. Quatre already suspected something but he was too busy trying assuage his guilt to really question it. No, tonight was the night. She had never backed down from a challenge and she wasn?t going to start now.
?Mr. Yuy,? she purred, slinking closer to the Champion. He turned upon hearing his name, his dark eyes sending a shock through her entire body. She physically gasped at the force behind them and was immediately shamed when she felt a stab of quick fear. Those eyes, they saw too much. They would see right through her?
She tightened her hands into fists and forced her traitorous body to relax, her face to smooth of any identifiable emotions. She would not be undone by a single glance. She would not!
?I don?t believe we?ve been introduced,? she said, standing closer than necessary to him, looking up at him through her lashes. Any other man would have swallowed at the tone in her voice, the way she brushed against him when she spoke. She had been taught to deal with men at a young age, it was what had helped her to become a member of a Council comprised totally of men, but Heero Yuy showed no reaction at all. Instead, he did nothing but watch her, those ice cold eyes revealing none of his thoughts. Her heart raced a bit and she licked her lips. Here was a man worthy of conquering, perhaps even worth of her. He was not fooled by her, she could see that. It would be a joy to break him and then wrap him around her finger. It might take longer than she had planned but Eternity would be hers.
?I?m Dorothy Catalonia,? she said silkily, ?I believe we share a common bond.? She casually flicked her fingers through her hair, flashing him the Rose Seal on her ring finger. Next to him, Dorothy saw Relena go still like a deer caught in headlights, her eyes wary and almost frightened. Dorothy smiled at her, the look born of hatred and condemnation. Relena read it and her face turned white.
A hand grabbed her wrist suddenly and Dorothy took a step back as Heero?s grip on her tightened fractionally, holding her in place. She glared at him but his eyes were pure midnight. ?I don?t share anything with you,? he said, his deep voice holding a ring of danger. He released her suddenly, pushing her back a little. ?Now leave us alone.? He turned his back on her and drew Relena away, never sparing a glance backwards over his shoulder. Dorothy gritted her teeth and kept herself from snarling. Her plan had just become harder but she would see it through to the end.
She always did.
* * * *
He could feel Relena shaking next to him and he didn?t need to see her face to know what was wrong. That fact that he had never seen her afraid before fanned his temper and he almost turned back to confront the female Council member before realizing he couldn?t possibly leave Relena alone. If Dorothy was waving her Seal around, the others might too and he had no plans to even think of dueling that night. He swore silently to himself, angry that they had just arrived and already the night had been ruined. And Hilde had told him that Relena had been so excited.
?Relena,? he said quietly for her ears alone, ?Let?s go outside. I need some air.?
She nodded a bit unsteadily. ?Of course, Master Heero.?
The rose garden welcomed them, the many-hued blossoms closed for the evening. The night was perfect, the air filled with fragrances, the sky alive with diamond-like stars. Muted laughter and music from inside the ballroom drifted around the flowers and Heero relaxed as Relena knelt among her roses, touching the soft petals with a smile. Only in her garden was Relena ever truly at peace and, though he hated to admit it, roses suited her. Looking at her in the moonlight, she was almost too beautiful to be real.
Turning his gaze to the stars, he put his hands into his pockets, letting his mind roam for a moment. At the corner of his eye, a silver streak raced down to earth with a quick flare and he took a breath.
?Relena.?
She looked up from her position in the grass. ?Yes?
?Make a wish.?
?What?? Her tone was honestly startled. He glanced at her.
?A shooting star. Make a wish.?
Her eyes were wide as she looked at him and, for a moment, he wondered if he had done something wrong. He knew only a few of the dueling rules and there was still so much about the Rose Bride that he might never figure out. But Relena?s eyes filled with very real tears and she looked to the sky, her fingers linking together as if she were praying. He went to her side, drawn there by a power he could not ignore and had no desire to. He offered her a hand in the darkness and she took it, letting him draw her to her feet.
?You?ve never made a wish??
She shook her head, tears glittering in her lashes, and he reached up to cup the side of her face in one hand, her smooth skin warm under his palm. She stilled with his touch, watching him with liquid turquoise eyes, the pins in her hair reflecting the light like a crown of stars.
?What do you want, Relena? Is there anything you wish for? Anything you dream of?? he asked softly, wiping a tear from her cheek with his thumb. She made a small sound in her throat.
?I dream sometimes of a place far away from here, where everything is different. The sun is brighter and I?m no longer? I?m no longer?? She couldn?t say it but he knew what she yearned to tell him.
?You dream of freedom.?
She trembled under his fingers. ?Forgive me, Master Heero. I?m the Rose Bride, it?s not my place to wish for something other than my fate. Please forgive me.?
Growling under his breath, he reached out and pulled her to his chest, his arms wrapping around her shoulders to keep her there. She did not resist, she could not, but the breath in her throat hitched with surprise, the tears on her face soaking into the breast pocket of his coat. He held her tightly and after awhile she relaxed into his embrace, resting her head against his chest, her sun-spun curls tickling his skin as he laid his head against the top of hers.
?No one can tell you what to wish for, Relena. Not a ring, not a duel, and definitely not a Champion.? She moved in his arms but he gently held her still. ?Your dreams are your own. No one can take them away.? Fireflies danced around them, a symphony of silent light as they stood together for a few long but precious minutes. Heero whispered into Relena?s ear, ?Relena?
?Yes?? Her voice was muffled by the fabric of his coat, but he could hear her smile.
He closed his eyes.
?Don?t call me Master anymore.?
TBC
buy please dont hes fine as he is - 
There's a difference?
Go Berry Go