Duo looked around the room as he entered, moving to the empty space across the table from Heero. He'd yet to be late for breakfast, but it was always a
close thing. He had trouble getting up in the morning. Pulling his chair back, he smiled at Heero who was watching him expressionlessly. Sitting lightly, Duo
glanced around the table at the children. It had been days since the water incident, and neither Wufei nor Dorothy had pulled any more pranks on him. Of
course, they weren't talking to him either, but silence was preferable to having to watch one's back all the time.
Eating silently, Duo looked at Heero and Zechs who was sitting to the dark-haired boy's right. //How can they live like this? It isn't just the quiet...no one's
happy. There's no reason for them to live like this.// His eyes moved to the children then moved back to
Heero. //They're kids. They should be out having fun, enjoying their youth while they still can.// Duo's eyes sparkled suddenly. //And that goes for mister
sour-puss too. And I//, a wry smile curved his lips, //I am just the one to make that happen. After all, Une's always saying I act too much like a kid to be a priest.
Well, I can teach them how to be kids too. Especially him. I love a challenge.//
Heero scowled suddenly, catching him staring. Grin widening at Heero's raised eyebrow, Duo blinked at him, holding both eyes closed for a few seconds
before turning back to his food. He continued to eat despite the way the persistent silence grated on his nerves.
Then he looked up abruptly as Heero cleared his throat.
Looking around the table, Heero waited until he had everyone's attention. "I'm leaving for the Sanc Kingdom tomorrow. I should be gone for a few days."
Hilde scowled, glaring at him, and Sally's face dropped. "You're going to see *her* again, aren't you?" Hilde demanded, expression dark. "You spend more
time with her than you do with us."
Heero gave her a sharp quelling look and she dropped her eyes, still fuming. "I will be bringing Relena back with me." There were several groans, but when he
shot looks around the table, the children all had their eyes on their plates. Frowning at their behavior, he glanced at Duo. The longhaired boy was looking at
the children in obvious confusion over their reactions to Heero's statement. "Treize will also be returning with me." This was met with smiles by all of the
children except Wufei, who was scowling worse than he had when he'd heard about Relena's impending visit. Heero smirked when he saw Zech's eager
expression, causing the blonde man to look away suddenly.
Heero pinned Duo with his eyes. "I expect them to follow their regular routine while I'm gone. Zechs will be here. He can inform you as to what is expected."
Duo fidgeted, wanting to ask who the two people were but not willing to. //I'll just ask the kids later.// Heero stared at him for a minute before Duo realized he
wanted some sort of response. "Okay. Whatever you say."
* * *
Duo waited a full hour after Heero had left before he went searching for answers. He'd thought about asking the children first but quickly dismissed the idea. If
he nailed Zechs, he could compare the man's answers to those of the children. Duo had an idea that they were more likely to give him straight-forward
answers.
Finding Zechs was easy, the blonde man was in Heero's office. Reclining in the chair with his feet propped on the desk, he looked set to enjoy Heero's
absence to the fullest. The smile that claimed his face when he gave Duo permission to enter the room was absolutely brilliant. "Come on in, Duo," he called,
pulling his feet off the desk and sitting up in the chair. "I *can* call you Duo, can't I?"
From the devilish look on his face, Duo got the impression that the man didn't really care if he had permission or not. "That *is* my name," Duo said with a grin,
not to be outdone in the teasing department. "What else would you call me? On second thought," Duo suddenly looked wary as he remembered some of the
less than kind things he'd been called. "Don't answer that." Being called 'Maxwell's Demon' by an enraged nun was bad enough. He didn't want to think about
the sort of things a man with Zechs's wicked grin might come up with.
The man in question laughed at the abrupt correction. "Well, Duo, what can I do for you on this happy day of Heero's departure?"
Sitting in the chair across the desk from him, Duo wondered how he should start. He decided to go with the direct approach, that being his specialty. "Who're
Relena and Treize?"
Zechs's eyes widened momentarily, then he smiled. "You don't waste any time, do you? Well," He looked at Duo with a strange expression. "Treize is a close
friend of the family. He, Heero and I used to work together. As you can probably guess, I've retired so there is someone besides hired-help to stay with the
children." Seeing Duo's smirk, Zechs realized what he'd said. "Not that there's anything wrong with hired-help," he put in quickly.
Duo grinned, leaning forward to prop his elbows on the desk. "Don't worry. I wouldn't take offense, I agree with you. Besides," he tilted his head with a cocky
smile. "As I explained to Heero, I wasn't hired. I was posted here by the church." Zechs gave a sharp laugh at the boy's attitude "Well," Duo continued, "What
kind of work is Heero in? I understand he's a general?"
"Yes, well actually he's more like a soldier for hire." Zechs looked uncomfortable, not meeting Duo's eyes.
"You mean a mercenary." Duo pinned him with his eyes.
"I really can't go into it," the blond man said quickly, moving his hand as if to brush the subject aside. "Why don't I tell you about Relena." His expression went
to a teasing one again, small smirk firmly in place.
Realizing this was something the children were more likely to give more information on, Duo nodded. "Alright."
"Well, she's the princess of the Sanc Kingdom which is a kingdom devoted to total pacifism. Heero had a mission to guard her a couple of months ago." He
stopped, eyeing Duo. "They've kept in touch since then." He waited for Duo's reaction. Duo nodded, looking as if he weren't paying much attention.
//While he's gone, I can work on the children.// Duo smiled then glanced at Zechs. "What's this schedule Heero was talking about?"
Zechs frowned for a moment, then he shrugged. "I don't actually care if you hold them to their routine. So long as they get exercise daily and keep up with their
studies, I usually let them do whatever they want while Heero's gone."
Duo raised an eyebrow, "How would you feel if I took them out of the house?"
"Well, it would depend on where you want to take them. It'd have to be someplace safe, otherwise you'd have to have guards accompany you."
Duo grimaced at the idea of being followed around by a bunch of guards. "I wasn't thinking of anyplace dangerous, I just thought I might show them Maxwell
church." Smiling his most innocent smile, Duo waited.
Zechs blinked in surprise. "Oh, I think that would be fine. I doubt if Heero would complain either, after all, religion counts as studies." Duo grinned suddenly,
pushing back his chair and standing.
"Great. I'll take them tomorrow." He was just turning to leave Zechs stopped him.
"If you're going to take the children into public, you'll have to dress appropriately for your position as their governor." Duo turned, eyes glinting dangerously
close to a glare. "No offense," Zechs said quickly, laying a restraining hand on the shorter boy's shoulder. "It's just that if people saw you it'd get back to Heero
and he'd take it badly." With an irritated sigh, Duo frowned, dropping his gaze. "I'm sure I can find something for you until we
can get more clothes made. Don't worry about it."
When Duo left, Zechs stood watching the doorway for a minute before his mouth curved in a large grin. //Just wait until Heero gets back. He thinks he looks
good now?// Zechs let out a sharp laugh as he moved to sit behind the desk again. //By the time I'm done, Heero won't know what hit him. Until then,// picking
up the phone, he dialed a number. //I have to find some black silk.//
* * *
Still fuming, Duo stood in front of the mirror in his room, glaring at his black priest's uniform. //God! Like it matters what I wear.// Shaking his head with disgust,
he turned and left his room. The children had disappeared after Heero's final words of warning before his departure. Moving down the hall, he paused outside
the first door on the right. He still didn't know where each of their rooms were. Knocking softly, he silently hoped it wouldn't be Wufei's room. God must have
been smiling at him, or smirking.
"What do *you* want?"
Barely suppressing a groan at Dorothy's hostile expression, Duo forced a tentative smile. "Hi. I wanted to talk to you. All of you, if you aren't busy."
Rolling her eyes, Dorothy smirked. "Too bad because I *am* busy." Turning to go back in her room, she missed seeing something that didn't happen very
often. Duo snapped.
"No," Duo growled, violet eyes sparking, "*that's* too bad." Reaching out, he grabbed the girl's arm, jerking her around till her shocked eyes met his. "You
have a problem with authority, Dorothy, and I can understand that. *However*," pulling the girl after him, he stalked to the next door, not knocking softly this
time. "I'm sick of putting up with this spoiled act of yours. I'm going to talk to all of you, like it or not."
Quatre opened the door, eyes going wide as he spotted Dorothy's stunned expression. "Duo?"
Still angry, Duo nodded to him sharply. "Help me get the others, will you? I want to talk to all of you." Quatre looked hesitant, and Duo's anger calmed slightly.
"Don't worry, Quatre, I've actually got good news." Smiling slightly, Quatre moved to the other side of the hall, knocking on the first door as Duo moved, still
dragging Dorothy behind him, to knock on the next door.
.-.
PART 5
.-.
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