Behind Darkness' 3/?
Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2003 2:50 pm
GG: For once, I don't have much to say! *hears gasps* Ha, ha, hardy, har, har. You guys are SOOOOO funny.
Disclaimer: Do you prefer English, Japanese, Spanish, or French?
*~Behind Darkness' Mask~*
"You can't be serious."
"Ooh, I hope so. That suits you so well."
"Hold still, Heero! It's hard enough simply walking with a baby in my stomach. I don't feel like chasing you around the room."
Slowing, Heero sighed in defeat and kept where he was. "I have no idea what is in that head of yours, Sarah, but I doubt that I like it."
Sarah grinned mischievously. "Quatre always did."
"May I remind you," Quatre retorted, leaning against the doorjamb of their bedroom, "that YOU were the only woman teacher at that academy on L4, and sexier than any of your female students."
Sarah flipped her lovely hair over her shoulder. "Well, it's not my fault that the ESUN assigned you to check out the Preventer Academy in your own colony sector."
Quatre winked. "That's true, but it was your fault that I fell in love."
"Hey," Hilde piped up. She had commented on Heero's attractive attire. "What are you two doing on Earth, anyway? You came last week, but I thought you were still hung up in space, Quat."
Quatre nodded, golden hair waving slightly. "That's what happened at first, but since the baby's coming next month, I thought it would be better to have it be born where there's natural sunlight and an unlimited supply of oxygen."
"Good enough for me." Duo stretched his arms over his head and grinned. "Uh, by the way, Sarah. You may need something for Heero - sedatives would be best, I think. He looks like he's gonna keel over."
Sarah turned around to inspect her "masterpiece." She smirked in satisfaction. "Heero, you're stunning."
Heero shot her a slightly pained expression. "This is ridiculous."
"Not for a masque," Quatre told him.
The former pilot of Wing was dressed head to do in a shimmering black cotton. The pants fit loosely on him, to Yuy's relief, though the black long-sleeved T-shirt clung in order to not hide the muscles bulging from his arms, though that was partially hidden by a long, silk black cape that hung around his shoulder and clasped just below his neck. His hair was concealed mostly by a dark top hat he had borrowed from Quatre. On his feet he wore black leather shoes, snazzy-looking but comfortable enough to dance in (though Sarah didn't tell him this), and to finish off the efficient disguise, he had been given a spare pair of dark brown contacts that Sarah had used in her undercover days for Preventers.
Hilde clapped and let out a low whistle. "Hey, Sarah, do you think we can bid him off?"
"Traitor!" Duo exclaimed.
Hilde only laughed and held him to her. "Naw, you're so much cuter, dear."
Biting his lip, "He took my trademark color," Maxwell grumbled.
Heero approached the full-length mirror on the wall, and grunted. "I'm missing something," he said simply.
"I know," Sarah nodded. "I'll make your mask tonight while I put together my own costume. Just leave all that hear, and stop by an hour or so early tomorrow night. We'll help you get ready and I can put your mask on correctly."
"Roger that."
Duo frowned. "Don't let this shake you, Heero. Nothing is ever going to make you fight again, so go ahead and drop the blasted Perfect Soldier act."
Heero shrugged and headed to the bathroom to change back into his other clothes.
"That's it, then." Sarah dusted off her hands. "It is nine," she said, looking at the clock. She pressed a hand to her stomach. "I'm hungry."
Duo and Hilde laughed. "I can imagine. Later, I don't wanna be here to see Quatre fret about your food, Sarah," Mrs. Maxwell reported, and the married couple quickly took off.
"I'm leaving too," Heero said, reappearing and handing his clothes to Quatre.
"Rest up, my friend," Quatre said, giving him a small pat on the back.
"Yeah." Before exiting, he paused and turned back. "Hey, Sarah. You didn't invite. . .all of the Gundam pilots. . .did you?"
Sarah blinked. "Yeah, and they both called to say they were coming a little while ago. Wufei and Trowa I mean."
Heero refrained from grimacing. "So they're both gonna be there? Wufei and Trowa?"
"That would be the case," the former instructor said cautiously. "Why?"
Heero scowled and cursed. "Good night." He ran out for the door.
Sarah looked at her husband, puzzled. "Quatre?"
"It's okay, dear," he said, pulling her into his arms. "He, Wufei, and Trowa share a kind of. . .understanding."
"Understanding?" Sarah repeated bluntly. "Do they?"
"Yeah. . .kind of. . ."
"Quatre Raberba Winner, husband of mine, and representative of L6. What does 'understanding,'" she accentuated the word with a touch of warning, "mean?"
The Arabic man gulped. "Uh. . .they always laugh at each other if one of them goofs up and they rarely allow the other to live it down?"
"And that would include Heero failing to lasso Relena?" Sarah inquired.
Quatre nodded, pale.
"Hm. . ." Her eyes blazed as she stepped out, he at her heels. "We'll see about that."
The pilot of Sandrock followed her into the kitchen. Crap, she was SCARY when she was devious.
Trowa and Wufei were going to be cruel.
***
Noin walked into Relena's room and saw her shadow bouncing off the open door of her walk-in closet. "Relena?"
"Yeah?" she called, her voice muffled from the depths of her wardrobe.
"That was Sarah on the phone. Are you going to her masque, dear?"
"Uh. . .kinda."
Kinda. Noin rolled her eyes and walked into the closet to see her looking over her more elegant gowns. "Yes, no, maybe so?"
"I'm going with the maybe," Relena told her, frowning. "I can't seem to find anything to wear to that blasted thing."
Noin chuckled. "That is an age-old saying, Relena Peacecraft, especially with all that you have in this forest you call a closet."
A small smile tugged at her lips. "Perhaps, but it won't fit what I'm going as."
"Oh?" She looked over the paper Relena handed her and smiled at Sarah's quick sketch of a costume idea. "Cute. Well, let's go then," she said, grabbing her sister-in-law's wrist with and pulling her into the hall.
"Go?" Relena repeated dumbly. Noin smiled at her.
"Yes, go. We have to go shopping for something as exquisite as this. I need a costume, too." She waved to Zechs as they passed their bedroom. "We'll be out," she called. "I'll have my cell phone."
Zechs frowned at her, platinum hair framing his scowl. "You just want to spend my money."
Noin shot him a seductive grin. "Be a good boy, hon, and do what I asked you."
Relena looked questioningly at her as they climbed into her Taurus. (A/N: Heh, Taurus, get it? Taurus Mobile Suit, Taurus Car? Eh heh, I know I'm not but I TRY to be funny!)
"What did you ask him to do?"
Noin gave her a sly look. "Oh, don't worry. You'll see." Cackling, she drove onto the highway in the direction of New Port's largest shopping mall.
***
"You are so scary sometimes, that you frighten even me," Catherine called to her brother from her room in their trailer. "That costume is freaky."
Trowa shrugged, leaning back in the recliner to watch the Spaniard repeat - once again - his threat to the man with six fingers on his right hand. "Like yours is much better," he replied tersely.
"You need a girlfriend."
He snorted. "Remember why I said I needed you out Thursday night?"
Catherine folded her arms and sat down in her armchair next to him. "Pardon me for saying, but Krystal isn't a girlfriend. She's your personal teddy bear." She pressed a thoughtful finger to her cheek. "Though I've never seen anyone do things to a teddy bear like you do to Kystal. . .or Rachel. . .or Carla. . ."
"I see your point," Trowa noted. "But I prefer to be single."
"As long as your bed stays warm." She grinned, and then sighed. "Oh, dear. It's like only yesterday you came back wandering around in the rain with that loose screw in your head. Now my little brother still has that loose screw, but he's beginning to do things with it."
Trowa shot her a glance as Humperdink was tied up by Buttercup. The name of the prince was too suggestive for him at the moment and flipped the channel over "The Real World In Chicago." Standing, "I'm going to bed," he said simply.
"Without someone in it?" Catherine said with, mocking surprise. "My, my, my."
"Good night." He slammed the door behind him.
***
"GOOD MORNING, SANK KINGDOM!!!"
Heero's eyes shot open, and he instinctively reached for the gun on his bedside table. Some had dared to enter his apartment uninvited.
He silently pulled on a pair of jeans and crept out of his bedroom. What he found on the couch was worse than an idiot who had broken in.
It was a Duo Maxwell watching the early morning news on his couch with the volume on full blast.
"'Morning, Heero," he called over the noise.
Grabbing the remote control, he turned the TV to mute. "What the heck are you doing in here?" he demanded, his voice spouting hot coals.
Duo stretched his arms over his head and stood, his features lighted by the glow of the program. "Oh, ya know, just came by to drop off Sarah's lovely mask." He tossed a piece of cloth at him. Heero snatched at it and caught it with one hand. "Great, try it on."
Heero walked to a small table with a mirror attached that stood in his hall near the door. Pressing the mask to his face, he tied it in the back and nodded. "Tell Sarah it fits."
"You have to come over later," Duo reminded him. "Just bring your mask and that's it."
He shook his head up and down in response as his friend made it way to the door.
"See you later, loveless."
Heero frowned at the unintentional insult. Loveless? He wouldn't admit it, but that had hit the mark. Hopefully this charade of a game would work. . . that she would fall for him.
He ran a hand through his hair. "Relena. . ."
***
"It's five," Sarah complained later that day. "Where is he? I only have an hour."
Hilde laughed. "Didn't know you had a personal live doll." She shrugged. "I'll be in a guest room changing and helping Duo. Call out if you need us."
"'Kay." Once she left, she frowned. "Heero," she growled to the absent man, "where ARE-"
Suddenly Heero stumbled it, mask in a tight fist. He returned the glare she gave him. "I didn't feel like driving," he said. "Taxi."
"Sure, Heero," Quatre laughed, "blame the taxi driver."
Sarah threw her hands up in an obvious declaration of men's stupidity. She grabbed Heero's collar and lugged him to the bathroom. "Come on, lover boy, I still have to get myself ready. Quat, go on ahead."
"Yes, oh wife." He hastily, though obedient nonetheless, exited.
Turning, and apparently in a better mood, Sarah grinned. "All right. Let the games begin."
Heero inwardly gulped.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Quatre stood by the door as guests began to arrive. He'd been given a list of assumed names. It was like Halloween; no one was who they were:
Zeus, Aphrodite, Chon Wang, Witch, Boss, Ditz, Bell, Beast, Esmerelda, Ken, Prince, Gorgeous.
Following that was nothing but a bunch of aristocrats and politicians that had been idly added to the list. The final name of his immediate friends puzzled him, but Quatre was quickly informed as his wife, now dressed in a glorious maternity costume of the fictional gypsy from Victor Hugo's novel, explained.
"Trust me," she said, "once you see her, you'll know who it is."
Or. . .relatively explained.
Hilde and Duo soon entered, Duo in a fabulous football uniform, helmet and all, with Hilde at his side dressed as a cheerleader.
"Let me guess," Quatre grinned, "Boss and Ditz."
"That'd be us." Hilde smiled and grabbed her husband's hand. "Let's dance."
Sally and Wufei were easy to figure out. Sally was Witch, dressed as the Wicked Witch of the West. Wufei was dressed as Jackie Chan in "Shanghai Noon," Chong Wang.(1)
When Trowa and Catherine arrived, Quatre merely stared. They'd gone all out, with the help of the circus's costume designer, to be the main characters from Disney's Broadway production of "Beauty and the Beast." Trowa was especially funny in fur from head to foot.
"What'd you do?" Duo asked. "Kill one of your lions?"
Trowa glared. "I'd kill you first."
Catherine winked. "It's true. He loves his lions. Feeds them diligently every single day."
After a half-an-hour, people began to wonder about the others. "Heero stopped at his apartment first," Duo responded. "Said he needed to do something." However, no one could answer for Noin and Zechs, and especially not for whom the ball was planned for in the first place.
It wasn't long though, that Zechs and Noin arrived. Zechs, dressed in a real toga and golden braided belt, his platinum hair fluffed correctly, he looked every bit the king of gods described in Greek mythology - he also proved to be an obedient husband as he'd dressed up for at his wife's request. Noin was dressed in a tighter, pink toga and had put on a frizzed, blonde wig, the Goddess of Love, Aphrodite.
"Where is Relena?" Sarah asked impatiently.
"Nerves," Noin told her. "Don't worry, she's on her way."
Zechs jumped in with, "Yuy's not here, is he?" There was a dark tone to her voice.
Sarah efficiently hid a smile. "No, does it look like he is? Heero's not going to be here." It was the truth. Heero would NEVER go to a masque.
But the Prince of Darkness would do anything to be loved by the one person he cared for the most.
Duo met with Heero in the back entrance. "Where've you been, buddy?" he interrogated. "Never mind, forget it. Hurry up and let Sarah know you're here though. You lucky freak, Lena hasn't come yet."
Sighing and ignoring his endless chatter, Heero crossed the ballroom and spoke with Sarah momentarily before Quatre swept her away. With nothing to do but wait for the Sank Kingdom's princess, he took up his customary position against a dark corner.
He felt her presence before he saw it. Looking up at the massive staircase, he saw a slight, slender woman hand her shawl to a passing servant to hang it up for her. Her face, though concealed by the mask she'd donned, was still as gentle as ever, and she gracefully made her way down the stairs.
She wore a gown; new by the tight fit of its bodice against her waist and chest. Though it fell off her shoulders, her arms were almost invisible, covered by the long white gloves that ran up just past her elbows. The skirt billowed from the waist down, and though you couldn't see them, there was still the fact that there was a great pair of legs striding across the floor and heels that clicked off the tile. Her hair, those wonderful golden tresses, has been piled up onto her head and bobby-pinned in place, a golden crown accentuating it, while the golden glitter scattered among the strands glinted beneath the chandelier light from both her head and her cheeks that were flushed from the body heat of the room, partially concealed by lovely tendrils falling in her face.
However, this wasn't the best thing about the costume designed in Sarah's ingenious mind. At her back was a pair of paper, translucent wings.
The first thought that came to Heero's mind was fairy, but that word was instantly replaced with angel.
"Let me guess," Quatre said, spotting her. "Gorgeous."
Sarah nodded, smile in place. "Or maybe drop-dead sexy, by the look on Yuy's face."
"She shouldn't have worn that," Zechs muttered, dancing with Noin. "There is definitely too much chest."
"No, that's fine," Noin said appreciatively. "Not enough led in my opinion. We can't even see her thighs."
Zechs glared, and she laughed. "You obviously have no complaint on my costume," she joked, gesturing to the high riding slit on her toga. He only sighed.
"Not really, no."
She sat down, he could see from the distance, and unbeknownst to him she was debating calling Pagan right then. Relena folded her hands delicately in her lap. He found himself wincing and thinking how comfortable that secluded corner was. He moved further back. . .
"Oh, no you don't," Sarah hissed dangerously, and pushed him forward. "I've worked too hard for you to back out now."
Heero half-stumbled out of the shadows, and took a deep breath. He was going to have to talk to her.
Crap.
Gulping, he began to toward her.
***
Relena sighed. This was odd. Every other one of her friends had come with a dancing partner. Even Trowa and Catherine were together so they wouldn't have to head off with a politician. And she REALLY did not want to dance with those old men. They stepped on your feet. . .
Growling in frustration, she clenched her hands in her lap. This had been a bad idea after all. She's only gotten a brief word with Sarah before she'd left for God-knew-where with Quatre. This was going to be awkward, calling home only after ten minutes into the party.
The bright lights of candles and crystal chandeliers were suddenly shadowed as a tall man loomed over her seated form. Underneath the bottom edge of his black mask, the man in the top hat smirked slightly.
"May I have this dance?"
Relena eyed him with a distrusting gaze. True, it was a masque, but a man dressed in black had assassinated the king of Denmark at a ball. Perhaps. . .
No, that was silly, she was being paranoid. Still, Wufei and Miliardo had taught her never to take any stranger lightly. He was thoroughly enjoying himself.
"Excuse me, miss, I didn't catch your reply."
She hadn't formed one, but then she realized it was only common politeness to press forth the answer in such a dignified manner. "I'm not too sure," she murmured quietly. "May I at least ask your name?"
"How can you ask for one, madam, when you aren't the first to offer?"
She crossed her arms, unrelenting. "Each person deserved to know what creature they come into contact with - especially if that creature wishes to be their dancing partner." The figure visibly sighed.
"If you need to know, I am a creature a land where no light reached me. I unfortunately rule that land. The Prince of Darkness."
She looked at him warily. "The Prince of Darkness? I'm sorry, I've learned not to trust dark things. . ."
The tall man held out a seemingly friendly hand. "Shouldn't light be shed on the darkness?"
Relena couldn't resist a smile between her cream-colored mask. What harm could there possibly be? And after all, she wasn't the Vice Foreign Minister tonight. No, she was the Princess of Light. Might as well loosen up. That phone call could always wait.
Standing, she took his hand. "Then I accept your offer, sir, for I am the Princess of Light and I will do what I can to relieve you of your black chains."
She grinned, very into the game now as he led her to the floor, his grip on her hand comfortably loose, but hard enough to hold her correctly.
She was going to be a lot of fun, she decided.
***
Heero cold hear his heart pounding in his ears - red alarms went off in his head, signaling danger. No one had described this to him. He felt dread in his stomach, as though something would go wrong. But as she as she set her hand into his palm and the other on his shoulder, all he knew was her.
He swung her around the other couples gracefully, past Duo and Hilde, and then Wufei and Sally. He kept well away from Zechs and Noin as the mythical man would slit his throat if he knew what he was doing. It pained him to know that the entire time he'd been protecting her from him was so that SHE didn't hurt HIM, though he had always claimed it to be the other way around. Zechs had failed his mission.
However, it was to Sarah he owed gratitude, otherwise he wouldn't be holding the princess in his grasp right now. The moderate dance ended and was quickly replaced by a gavotte - a waltz too spirited for talk as a succession of leading partners snatched her from him before she was finally returned to his arms so that he could whirl her around another time before the music changed to a slow sarabande. Nervously, he pulled her closer.
Relena recognized the dance and willingly moved toward him. He was a nice dancer, she noted, this. . .Prince. She grinned to herself. Someone dress him over golden steel over those muscles and you have a knight in shining armor.
His skin was warm. Well, she couldn't really blame him as he wore those thick black clothes. She smiled up into his brown eyes before closing her own blue ones and resting her head against his chest. He smelled nice. . .
Sarah sighed from Quatre's arms. "Too cute," she whispered as thought she was afraid they'd hear her.
"I agree," Quatre replied. "They always looked nice together. I was positive it would work out. . ."
"We all did," she interrupted, "it wasn't just you." Softly she pecked his cheek.
Heero claimed his protective hold on her waist. She was an angel after all, he decided after a minute of her closeness.
God, he loved her. Why did these things have to be so complicated? He inhaled the scent of her hair. Lemon and rosemary. Just like the delicate perfume she'd sprayed herself with during the war. It was her scent, he thought, but she wasn't his.
"Are you all right?"
Her soft voice pulled him from his reverie and he glanced down at her questioning face. "You look stiff," she explained.
"I'm fine," he assured her gruffly. "Fine. . ."
A small dazed look formed on Relena's face, the light music distant in the back round. He looked wonderful in that costume, whoever he was. There was a thought:
"What's your name?" she asked quietly.
Heero started. She wasn't supposed to ask that, it was a masque. That was against the rules, right?
"I'm. . ." His mind racked for a word before shutting down completely as his gaze had strayed to look at her lips. Why did she have to be so glorious? "I'm the. . .Prince of Darkness. . ." He exhaled shakily. That would have to do.
"Relena. . ." she returned absently.
He nodded, his thoughts numb and concentrating on her closing eyes. "Relena. . ."
When their lips met, he felt a surge through him, and in his mind's eye, lightening struck them both. Relena's posture slackened, and he gripped her arms to keep her upright. She turning to a puddle on the floor would pull her lips from his.
When they had no choice but to pull away for air, she looked on through a mist of unclear puzzles. Suddenly, her common sense cut a light through the haze. "I'm sorry," she began, her fingers raised to her lips as she stepped back slightly. "I shouldn't. . . I mean-"
"It's fine," he assured her. "We've met, Relena. I'm Prince."
Relena's stomach dropped. "You won't tell me you're real name, will you?"
He smirked. "I know that there is a lovely woman before me who I'm about to kiss again."
This time the contact was more demanding, but Relena pulled away to smile at him. "It's late," she said to him. She raised her hand to stroke his cheek and was pleased when he leaned into her touch. She didn't know the man had longed for this. "I should be going." She paused, her breath on his neck, and Heero struggled to concentrate. "I'm think I've. . ."
Suddenly desperate, he pressed, "What?"
She blushed a deep scarlet. "It's hard to believe." She laughed nervously. "I've fallen in love with a Prince." Relena kissed his cheek a final time before rushing toward the staircase without so much as another shy glance.
Heero stood rooted to his spot on the floor. She loved. . .him? Suddenly, his features darkened once she had vanished like the magical being she was. This was wrong.
It took him only five seconds to get across the large dance floor to Sarah. "It's screwed!" he exclaimed.
Sarah's eyes widened as Duo and Hilde joined them. To avoid attention, they all sat down at a table.
"What is?" Mrs. Winner asked worriedly. "She dazed out and left, but that's fine. People will be going in a few minutes."
"I thought the plan was to get her to love me," Heero gritted out.
She looked at him warningly. "Don't you dare start with me. No, the plan was to make her understand that she can fall in love with you and like it. So. . ." she smiled wryly. "What happened?"
His voice remained stoic. "She fell in love. . ."
Hilde and Sarah high-fived, though Quatre and Duo stood at rapt attention.
". . .with the Prince of Darkness."
Sarah froze, and looked at the table as thought it was speaking. "Oh. . .damn."
Hilde's eyes were wide. "You mean. . .you didn't tell her? You didn't let her know-"
"I, I couldn't" he insisted lowly. "We were in the moment. She's be mortified, and her brother's right there. . ."
Duo's mouth had formed a round O. "Jesus, almighty." He crossed himself. "Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, witch I hope includes the angry man NOT physically harming anyone but Zechs. . ."
He was ignored. "This is fine," Quatre said. "All you have to do is drop by her house and explain the whole thing. . ."
"Oh, that's right." He nodded solidly. "I'll go over there and say, 'Oh, hey, Relena. I just have one thing to say. No, no, don't speak, I already know you don't love ME. You love that idiotic costume I wore to Sarah's ball tonight!'"
Sarah's bottom lip protruded. "I thought it was a cool costume. . ." She caught the icy glare and corrected herself with, "I mean, no. . . I mean, tell her it was a mistake. . .tell her it was my fault - wait, no, don't tell her that. I don't know!"
An eerie silence filled the group. Hilde's jaw had dropped. Sarah Tanacky- Winner didn't know something. Oh, God.
"The world's ending, isn't it?" She turned to her religious husband sorrowfully. "Oh, it's Armageddon!"
"No, honey, I think God decided against that after seeing the movie. . ." Duo sighed. "I'm taking her home to sleep."
Heero snorted and he glared.
"Good night," he called over his shoulder, leading Hilde out.
Sarah stood. "We have to tell everyone goodbye. Heero. . ." She hesitated. "I don't know what to say. Just. . .try to get some sleep, and remember, we can fix this."
"How?"
She shot him a depressed glance. This wasn't good for the baby. "I'm not sure, Heero. Just remember, if you pulled off the part of her loving the Prince of Darkness, then there's hope of her loving you."
As the married couple walked away, Heero stood. Walking to the driveway that was more like a parking lot, he climbed into his car. Fortunately, it wasn't the same one he'd driven to Relena's house the day before, just in case she'd noticed it while outside or something.
After the half-hour drive back to his building and the three-flight ascension to his apartment, he collapsed in the chair near the door. He could see his reflection in the table mirror he's used to try on his mask earlier that morning. Now in full get-up, he sighed. He really did hate that costume. . .
Especially now, Heero thought, since she loved the image of him as the Prince of Darkness, not Heero Yuy.
"Relena. . ."
**************************
GG: Whee! Chapter 3 is all done. Unfortunately, I won't be around this weekend to post any of the other chapters, so please bear with me.
Trowa: *gets naked*
I didn't mean... Oh hell, you can stay naked. Thanks for reviewing all! Please don't be stingy in doing so again...
Disclaimer: Do you prefer English, Japanese, Spanish, or French?
*~Behind Darkness' Mask~*
"You can't be serious."
"Ooh, I hope so. That suits you so well."
"Hold still, Heero! It's hard enough simply walking with a baby in my stomach. I don't feel like chasing you around the room."
Slowing, Heero sighed in defeat and kept where he was. "I have no idea what is in that head of yours, Sarah, but I doubt that I like it."
Sarah grinned mischievously. "Quatre always did."
"May I remind you," Quatre retorted, leaning against the doorjamb of their bedroom, "that YOU were the only woman teacher at that academy on L4, and sexier than any of your female students."
Sarah flipped her lovely hair over her shoulder. "Well, it's not my fault that the ESUN assigned you to check out the Preventer Academy in your own colony sector."
Quatre winked. "That's true, but it was your fault that I fell in love."
"Hey," Hilde piped up. She had commented on Heero's attractive attire. "What are you two doing on Earth, anyway? You came last week, but I thought you were still hung up in space, Quat."
Quatre nodded, golden hair waving slightly. "That's what happened at first, but since the baby's coming next month, I thought it would be better to have it be born where there's natural sunlight and an unlimited supply of oxygen."
"Good enough for me." Duo stretched his arms over his head and grinned. "Uh, by the way, Sarah. You may need something for Heero - sedatives would be best, I think. He looks like he's gonna keel over."
Sarah turned around to inspect her "masterpiece." She smirked in satisfaction. "Heero, you're stunning."
Heero shot her a slightly pained expression. "This is ridiculous."
"Not for a masque," Quatre told him.
The former pilot of Wing was dressed head to do in a shimmering black cotton. The pants fit loosely on him, to Yuy's relief, though the black long-sleeved T-shirt clung in order to not hide the muscles bulging from his arms, though that was partially hidden by a long, silk black cape that hung around his shoulder and clasped just below his neck. His hair was concealed mostly by a dark top hat he had borrowed from Quatre. On his feet he wore black leather shoes, snazzy-looking but comfortable enough to dance in (though Sarah didn't tell him this), and to finish off the efficient disguise, he had been given a spare pair of dark brown contacts that Sarah had used in her undercover days for Preventers.
Hilde clapped and let out a low whistle. "Hey, Sarah, do you think we can bid him off?"
"Traitor!" Duo exclaimed.
Hilde only laughed and held him to her. "Naw, you're so much cuter, dear."
Biting his lip, "He took my trademark color," Maxwell grumbled.
Heero approached the full-length mirror on the wall, and grunted. "I'm missing something," he said simply.
"I know," Sarah nodded. "I'll make your mask tonight while I put together my own costume. Just leave all that hear, and stop by an hour or so early tomorrow night. We'll help you get ready and I can put your mask on correctly."
"Roger that."
Duo frowned. "Don't let this shake you, Heero. Nothing is ever going to make you fight again, so go ahead and drop the blasted Perfect Soldier act."
Heero shrugged and headed to the bathroom to change back into his other clothes.
"That's it, then." Sarah dusted off her hands. "It is nine," she said, looking at the clock. She pressed a hand to her stomach. "I'm hungry."
Duo and Hilde laughed. "I can imagine. Later, I don't wanna be here to see Quatre fret about your food, Sarah," Mrs. Maxwell reported, and the married couple quickly took off.
"I'm leaving too," Heero said, reappearing and handing his clothes to Quatre.
"Rest up, my friend," Quatre said, giving him a small pat on the back.
"Yeah." Before exiting, he paused and turned back. "Hey, Sarah. You didn't invite. . .all of the Gundam pilots. . .did you?"
Sarah blinked. "Yeah, and they both called to say they were coming a little while ago. Wufei and Trowa I mean."
Heero refrained from grimacing. "So they're both gonna be there? Wufei and Trowa?"
"That would be the case," the former instructor said cautiously. "Why?"
Heero scowled and cursed. "Good night." He ran out for the door.
Sarah looked at her husband, puzzled. "Quatre?"
"It's okay, dear," he said, pulling her into his arms. "He, Wufei, and Trowa share a kind of. . .understanding."
"Understanding?" Sarah repeated bluntly. "Do they?"
"Yeah. . .kind of. . ."
"Quatre Raberba Winner, husband of mine, and representative of L6. What does 'understanding,'" she accentuated the word with a touch of warning, "mean?"
The Arabic man gulped. "Uh. . .they always laugh at each other if one of them goofs up and they rarely allow the other to live it down?"
"And that would include Heero failing to lasso Relena?" Sarah inquired.
Quatre nodded, pale.
"Hm. . ." Her eyes blazed as she stepped out, he at her heels. "We'll see about that."
The pilot of Sandrock followed her into the kitchen. Crap, she was SCARY when she was devious.
Trowa and Wufei were going to be cruel.
***
Noin walked into Relena's room and saw her shadow bouncing off the open door of her walk-in closet. "Relena?"
"Yeah?" she called, her voice muffled from the depths of her wardrobe.
"That was Sarah on the phone. Are you going to her masque, dear?"
"Uh. . .kinda."
Kinda. Noin rolled her eyes and walked into the closet to see her looking over her more elegant gowns. "Yes, no, maybe so?"
"I'm going with the maybe," Relena told her, frowning. "I can't seem to find anything to wear to that blasted thing."
Noin chuckled. "That is an age-old saying, Relena Peacecraft, especially with all that you have in this forest you call a closet."
A small smile tugged at her lips. "Perhaps, but it won't fit what I'm going as."
"Oh?" She looked over the paper Relena handed her and smiled at Sarah's quick sketch of a costume idea. "Cute. Well, let's go then," she said, grabbing her sister-in-law's wrist with and pulling her into the hall.
"Go?" Relena repeated dumbly. Noin smiled at her.
"Yes, go. We have to go shopping for something as exquisite as this. I need a costume, too." She waved to Zechs as they passed their bedroom. "We'll be out," she called. "I'll have my cell phone."
Zechs frowned at her, platinum hair framing his scowl. "You just want to spend my money."
Noin shot him a seductive grin. "Be a good boy, hon, and do what I asked you."
Relena looked questioningly at her as they climbed into her Taurus. (A/N: Heh, Taurus, get it? Taurus Mobile Suit, Taurus Car? Eh heh, I know I'm not but I TRY to be funny!)
"What did you ask him to do?"
Noin gave her a sly look. "Oh, don't worry. You'll see." Cackling, she drove onto the highway in the direction of New Port's largest shopping mall.
***
"You are so scary sometimes, that you frighten even me," Catherine called to her brother from her room in their trailer. "That costume is freaky."
Trowa shrugged, leaning back in the recliner to watch the Spaniard repeat - once again - his threat to the man with six fingers on his right hand. "Like yours is much better," he replied tersely.
"You need a girlfriend."
He snorted. "Remember why I said I needed you out Thursday night?"
Catherine folded her arms and sat down in her armchair next to him. "Pardon me for saying, but Krystal isn't a girlfriend. She's your personal teddy bear." She pressed a thoughtful finger to her cheek. "Though I've never seen anyone do things to a teddy bear like you do to Kystal. . .or Rachel. . .or Carla. . ."
"I see your point," Trowa noted. "But I prefer to be single."
"As long as your bed stays warm." She grinned, and then sighed. "Oh, dear. It's like only yesterday you came back wandering around in the rain with that loose screw in your head. Now my little brother still has that loose screw, but he's beginning to do things with it."
Trowa shot her a glance as Humperdink was tied up by Buttercup. The name of the prince was too suggestive for him at the moment and flipped the channel over "The Real World In Chicago." Standing, "I'm going to bed," he said simply.
"Without someone in it?" Catherine said with, mocking surprise. "My, my, my."
"Good night." He slammed the door behind him.
***
"GOOD MORNING, SANK KINGDOM!!!"
Heero's eyes shot open, and he instinctively reached for the gun on his bedside table. Some had dared to enter his apartment uninvited.
He silently pulled on a pair of jeans and crept out of his bedroom. What he found on the couch was worse than an idiot who had broken in.
It was a Duo Maxwell watching the early morning news on his couch with the volume on full blast.
"'Morning, Heero," he called over the noise.
Grabbing the remote control, he turned the TV to mute. "What the heck are you doing in here?" he demanded, his voice spouting hot coals.
Duo stretched his arms over his head and stood, his features lighted by the glow of the program. "Oh, ya know, just came by to drop off Sarah's lovely mask." He tossed a piece of cloth at him. Heero snatched at it and caught it with one hand. "Great, try it on."
Heero walked to a small table with a mirror attached that stood in his hall near the door. Pressing the mask to his face, he tied it in the back and nodded. "Tell Sarah it fits."
"You have to come over later," Duo reminded him. "Just bring your mask and that's it."
He shook his head up and down in response as his friend made it way to the door.
"See you later, loveless."
Heero frowned at the unintentional insult. Loveless? He wouldn't admit it, but that had hit the mark. Hopefully this charade of a game would work. . . that she would fall for him.
He ran a hand through his hair. "Relena. . ."
***
"It's five," Sarah complained later that day. "Where is he? I only have an hour."
Hilde laughed. "Didn't know you had a personal live doll." She shrugged. "I'll be in a guest room changing and helping Duo. Call out if you need us."
"'Kay." Once she left, she frowned. "Heero," she growled to the absent man, "where ARE-"
Suddenly Heero stumbled it, mask in a tight fist. He returned the glare she gave him. "I didn't feel like driving," he said. "Taxi."
"Sure, Heero," Quatre laughed, "blame the taxi driver."
Sarah threw her hands up in an obvious declaration of men's stupidity. She grabbed Heero's collar and lugged him to the bathroom. "Come on, lover boy, I still have to get myself ready. Quat, go on ahead."
"Yes, oh wife." He hastily, though obedient nonetheless, exited.
Turning, and apparently in a better mood, Sarah grinned. "All right. Let the games begin."
Heero inwardly gulped.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Quatre stood by the door as guests began to arrive. He'd been given a list of assumed names. It was like Halloween; no one was who they were:
Zeus, Aphrodite, Chon Wang, Witch, Boss, Ditz, Bell, Beast, Esmerelda, Ken, Prince, Gorgeous.
Following that was nothing but a bunch of aristocrats and politicians that had been idly added to the list. The final name of his immediate friends puzzled him, but Quatre was quickly informed as his wife, now dressed in a glorious maternity costume of the fictional gypsy from Victor Hugo's novel, explained.
"Trust me," she said, "once you see her, you'll know who it is."
Or. . .relatively explained.
Hilde and Duo soon entered, Duo in a fabulous football uniform, helmet and all, with Hilde at his side dressed as a cheerleader.
"Let me guess," Quatre grinned, "Boss and Ditz."
"That'd be us." Hilde smiled and grabbed her husband's hand. "Let's dance."
Sally and Wufei were easy to figure out. Sally was Witch, dressed as the Wicked Witch of the West. Wufei was dressed as Jackie Chan in "Shanghai Noon," Chong Wang.(1)
When Trowa and Catherine arrived, Quatre merely stared. They'd gone all out, with the help of the circus's costume designer, to be the main characters from Disney's Broadway production of "Beauty and the Beast." Trowa was especially funny in fur from head to foot.
"What'd you do?" Duo asked. "Kill one of your lions?"
Trowa glared. "I'd kill you first."
Catherine winked. "It's true. He loves his lions. Feeds them diligently every single day."
After a half-an-hour, people began to wonder about the others. "Heero stopped at his apartment first," Duo responded. "Said he needed to do something." However, no one could answer for Noin and Zechs, and especially not for whom the ball was planned for in the first place.
It wasn't long though, that Zechs and Noin arrived. Zechs, dressed in a real toga and golden braided belt, his platinum hair fluffed correctly, he looked every bit the king of gods described in Greek mythology - he also proved to be an obedient husband as he'd dressed up for at his wife's request. Noin was dressed in a tighter, pink toga and had put on a frizzed, blonde wig, the Goddess of Love, Aphrodite.
"Where is Relena?" Sarah asked impatiently.
"Nerves," Noin told her. "Don't worry, she's on her way."
Zechs jumped in with, "Yuy's not here, is he?" There was a dark tone to her voice.
Sarah efficiently hid a smile. "No, does it look like he is? Heero's not going to be here." It was the truth. Heero would NEVER go to a masque.
But the Prince of Darkness would do anything to be loved by the one person he cared for the most.
Duo met with Heero in the back entrance. "Where've you been, buddy?" he interrogated. "Never mind, forget it. Hurry up and let Sarah know you're here though. You lucky freak, Lena hasn't come yet."
Sighing and ignoring his endless chatter, Heero crossed the ballroom and spoke with Sarah momentarily before Quatre swept her away. With nothing to do but wait for the Sank Kingdom's princess, he took up his customary position against a dark corner.
He felt her presence before he saw it. Looking up at the massive staircase, he saw a slight, slender woman hand her shawl to a passing servant to hang it up for her. Her face, though concealed by the mask she'd donned, was still as gentle as ever, and she gracefully made her way down the stairs.
She wore a gown; new by the tight fit of its bodice against her waist and chest. Though it fell off her shoulders, her arms were almost invisible, covered by the long white gloves that ran up just past her elbows. The skirt billowed from the waist down, and though you couldn't see them, there was still the fact that there was a great pair of legs striding across the floor and heels that clicked off the tile. Her hair, those wonderful golden tresses, has been piled up onto her head and bobby-pinned in place, a golden crown accentuating it, while the golden glitter scattered among the strands glinted beneath the chandelier light from both her head and her cheeks that were flushed from the body heat of the room, partially concealed by lovely tendrils falling in her face.
However, this wasn't the best thing about the costume designed in Sarah's ingenious mind. At her back was a pair of paper, translucent wings.
The first thought that came to Heero's mind was fairy, but that word was instantly replaced with angel.
"Let me guess," Quatre said, spotting her. "Gorgeous."
Sarah nodded, smile in place. "Or maybe drop-dead sexy, by the look on Yuy's face."
"She shouldn't have worn that," Zechs muttered, dancing with Noin. "There is definitely too much chest."
"No, that's fine," Noin said appreciatively. "Not enough led in my opinion. We can't even see her thighs."
Zechs glared, and she laughed. "You obviously have no complaint on my costume," she joked, gesturing to the high riding slit on her toga. He only sighed.
"Not really, no."
She sat down, he could see from the distance, and unbeknownst to him she was debating calling Pagan right then. Relena folded her hands delicately in her lap. He found himself wincing and thinking how comfortable that secluded corner was. He moved further back. . .
"Oh, no you don't," Sarah hissed dangerously, and pushed him forward. "I've worked too hard for you to back out now."
Heero half-stumbled out of the shadows, and took a deep breath. He was going to have to talk to her.
Crap.
Gulping, he began to toward her.
***
Relena sighed. This was odd. Every other one of her friends had come with a dancing partner. Even Trowa and Catherine were together so they wouldn't have to head off with a politician. And she REALLY did not want to dance with those old men. They stepped on your feet. . .
Growling in frustration, she clenched her hands in her lap. This had been a bad idea after all. She's only gotten a brief word with Sarah before she'd left for God-knew-where with Quatre. This was going to be awkward, calling home only after ten minutes into the party.
The bright lights of candles and crystal chandeliers were suddenly shadowed as a tall man loomed over her seated form. Underneath the bottom edge of his black mask, the man in the top hat smirked slightly.
"May I have this dance?"
Relena eyed him with a distrusting gaze. True, it was a masque, but a man dressed in black had assassinated the king of Denmark at a ball. Perhaps. . .
No, that was silly, she was being paranoid. Still, Wufei and Miliardo had taught her never to take any stranger lightly. He was thoroughly enjoying himself.
"Excuse me, miss, I didn't catch your reply."
She hadn't formed one, but then she realized it was only common politeness to press forth the answer in such a dignified manner. "I'm not too sure," she murmured quietly. "May I at least ask your name?"
"How can you ask for one, madam, when you aren't the first to offer?"
She crossed her arms, unrelenting. "Each person deserved to know what creature they come into contact with - especially if that creature wishes to be their dancing partner." The figure visibly sighed.
"If you need to know, I am a creature a land where no light reached me. I unfortunately rule that land. The Prince of Darkness."
She looked at him warily. "The Prince of Darkness? I'm sorry, I've learned not to trust dark things. . ."
The tall man held out a seemingly friendly hand. "Shouldn't light be shed on the darkness?"
Relena couldn't resist a smile between her cream-colored mask. What harm could there possibly be? And after all, she wasn't the Vice Foreign Minister tonight. No, she was the Princess of Light. Might as well loosen up. That phone call could always wait.
Standing, she took his hand. "Then I accept your offer, sir, for I am the Princess of Light and I will do what I can to relieve you of your black chains."
She grinned, very into the game now as he led her to the floor, his grip on her hand comfortably loose, but hard enough to hold her correctly.
She was going to be a lot of fun, she decided.
***
Heero cold hear his heart pounding in his ears - red alarms went off in his head, signaling danger. No one had described this to him. He felt dread in his stomach, as though something would go wrong. But as she as she set her hand into his palm and the other on his shoulder, all he knew was her.
He swung her around the other couples gracefully, past Duo and Hilde, and then Wufei and Sally. He kept well away from Zechs and Noin as the mythical man would slit his throat if he knew what he was doing. It pained him to know that the entire time he'd been protecting her from him was so that SHE didn't hurt HIM, though he had always claimed it to be the other way around. Zechs had failed his mission.
However, it was to Sarah he owed gratitude, otherwise he wouldn't be holding the princess in his grasp right now. The moderate dance ended and was quickly replaced by a gavotte - a waltz too spirited for talk as a succession of leading partners snatched her from him before she was finally returned to his arms so that he could whirl her around another time before the music changed to a slow sarabande. Nervously, he pulled her closer.
Relena recognized the dance and willingly moved toward him. He was a nice dancer, she noted, this. . .Prince. She grinned to herself. Someone dress him over golden steel over those muscles and you have a knight in shining armor.
His skin was warm. Well, she couldn't really blame him as he wore those thick black clothes. She smiled up into his brown eyes before closing her own blue ones and resting her head against his chest. He smelled nice. . .
Sarah sighed from Quatre's arms. "Too cute," she whispered as thought she was afraid they'd hear her.
"I agree," Quatre replied. "They always looked nice together. I was positive it would work out. . ."
"We all did," she interrupted, "it wasn't just you." Softly she pecked his cheek.
Heero claimed his protective hold on her waist. She was an angel after all, he decided after a minute of her closeness.
God, he loved her. Why did these things have to be so complicated? He inhaled the scent of her hair. Lemon and rosemary. Just like the delicate perfume she'd sprayed herself with during the war. It was her scent, he thought, but she wasn't his.
"Are you all right?"
Her soft voice pulled him from his reverie and he glanced down at her questioning face. "You look stiff," she explained.
"I'm fine," he assured her gruffly. "Fine. . ."
A small dazed look formed on Relena's face, the light music distant in the back round. He looked wonderful in that costume, whoever he was. There was a thought:
"What's your name?" she asked quietly.
Heero started. She wasn't supposed to ask that, it was a masque. That was against the rules, right?
"I'm. . ." His mind racked for a word before shutting down completely as his gaze had strayed to look at her lips. Why did she have to be so glorious? "I'm the. . .Prince of Darkness. . ." He exhaled shakily. That would have to do.
"Relena. . ." she returned absently.
He nodded, his thoughts numb and concentrating on her closing eyes. "Relena. . ."
When their lips met, he felt a surge through him, and in his mind's eye, lightening struck them both. Relena's posture slackened, and he gripped her arms to keep her upright. She turning to a puddle on the floor would pull her lips from his.
When they had no choice but to pull away for air, she looked on through a mist of unclear puzzles. Suddenly, her common sense cut a light through the haze. "I'm sorry," she began, her fingers raised to her lips as she stepped back slightly. "I shouldn't. . . I mean-"
"It's fine," he assured her. "We've met, Relena. I'm Prince."
Relena's stomach dropped. "You won't tell me you're real name, will you?"
He smirked. "I know that there is a lovely woman before me who I'm about to kiss again."
This time the contact was more demanding, but Relena pulled away to smile at him. "It's late," she said to him. She raised her hand to stroke his cheek and was pleased when he leaned into her touch. She didn't know the man had longed for this. "I should be going." She paused, her breath on his neck, and Heero struggled to concentrate. "I'm think I've. . ."
Suddenly desperate, he pressed, "What?"
She blushed a deep scarlet. "It's hard to believe." She laughed nervously. "I've fallen in love with a Prince." Relena kissed his cheek a final time before rushing toward the staircase without so much as another shy glance.
Heero stood rooted to his spot on the floor. She loved. . .him? Suddenly, his features darkened once she had vanished like the magical being she was. This was wrong.
It took him only five seconds to get across the large dance floor to Sarah. "It's screwed!" he exclaimed.
Sarah's eyes widened as Duo and Hilde joined them. To avoid attention, they all sat down at a table.
"What is?" Mrs. Winner asked worriedly. "She dazed out and left, but that's fine. People will be going in a few minutes."
"I thought the plan was to get her to love me," Heero gritted out.
She looked at him warningly. "Don't you dare start with me. No, the plan was to make her understand that she can fall in love with you and like it. So. . ." she smiled wryly. "What happened?"
His voice remained stoic. "She fell in love. . ."
Hilde and Sarah high-fived, though Quatre and Duo stood at rapt attention.
". . .with the Prince of Darkness."
Sarah froze, and looked at the table as thought it was speaking. "Oh. . .damn."
Hilde's eyes were wide. "You mean. . .you didn't tell her? You didn't let her know-"
"I, I couldn't" he insisted lowly. "We were in the moment. She's be mortified, and her brother's right there. . ."
Duo's mouth had formed a round O. "Jesus, almighty." He crossed himself. "Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, witch I hope includes the angry man NOT physically harming anyone but Zechs. . ."
He was ignored. "This is fine," Quatre said. "All you have to do is drop by her house and explain the whole thing. . ."
"Oh, that's right." He nodded solidly. "I'll go over there and say, 'Oh, hey, Relena. I just have one thing to say. No, no, don't speak, I already know you don't love ME. You love that idiotic costume I wore to Sarah's ball tonight!'"
Sarah's bottom lip protruded. "I thought it was a cool costume. . ." She caught the icy glare and corrected herself with, "I mean, no. . . I mean, tell her it was a mistake. . .tell her it was my fault - wait, no, don't tell her that. I don't know!"
An eerie silence filled the group. Hilde's jaw had dropped. Sarah Tanacky- Winner didn't know something. Oh, God.
"The world's ending, isn't it?" She turned to her religious husband sorrowfully. "Oh, it's Armageddon!"
"No, honey, I think God decided against that after seeing the movie. . ." Duo sighed. "I'm taking her home to sleep."
Heero snorted and he glared.
"Good night," he called over his shoulder, leading Hilde out.
Sarah stood. "We have to tell everyone goodbye. Heero. . ." She hesitated. "I don't know what to say. Just. . .try to get some sleep, and remember, we can fix this."
"How?"
She shot him a depressed glance. This wasn't good for the baby. "I'm not sure, Heero. Just remember, if you pulled off the part of her loving the Prince of Darkness, then there's hope of her loving you."
As the married couple walked away, Heero stood. Walking to the driveway that was more like a parking lot, he climbed into his car. Fortunately, it wasn't the same one he'd driven to Relena's house the day before, just in case she'd noticed it while outside or something.
After the half-hour drive back to his building and the three-flight ascension to his apartment, he collapsed in the chair near the door. He could see his reflection in the table mirror he's used to try on his mask earlier that morning. Now in full get-up, he sighed. He really did hate that costume. . .
Especially now, Heero thought, since she loved the image of him as the Prince of Darkness, not Heero Yuy.
"Relena. . ."
**************************
GG: Whee! Chapter 3 is all done. Unfortunately, I won't be around this weekend to post any of the other chapters, so please bear with me.
Trowa: *gets naked*
I didn't mean... Oh hell, you can stay naked. Thanks for reviewing all! Please don't be stingy in doing so again...
