Pausing inside the door, Heero stood, breath coming in furious gusts. Suddenly he stiffened, eyes widening at the sounds that filled the hall. Taking a step
forward, he saw Treize and Zechs coming out of the music room. Seeing him, they halted, taking in his suspicious expression.
"What is that?"
Glancing at Treize, Zechs nodded his head toward the door he'd just come out of. "The kids are singing a song Duo taught them for Relena. They're actually
quite good."
Mouth opening in disbelief, Heero shoved them out of his way, pushing the door open and staring at the scene that greeted him. It was true. They were lined
up according to height in a semicircle in front of Relena who was seated in a soft-backed chair, watching the show with a very pleased expression. Eyes
moving over them, Heero felt his anger leave him, replaced by dawning humor as he took in the children's disgruntled expressions even as they sang
beautifully.
//I can't believe they would sing for her.// Forgetting that music was forbidden, even though he'd been the one to forbid it, he found his eyes falling on Hilde
who was positively glaring at Relena and singing like an angel. //What would make them sing for her? They *hate* her...// His face fell as he realized it wasn't
a 'what' but a 'who'.
* * *
Fury blazing through him, Duo sat on a bench behind the house, glaring at the door Heero'd gone through. //He doesn't care about anyone but himself. As
much as I hate to leave the children, I don't want to be around anyone so cold and heartless.// Shoulders stiff, he stood and made his way to the house. Not
glancing at the music room he'd redecorated with the children just days ago, he walked quickly across the main hall to the curving staircase. Not hearing the
approaching steps, he whirled in surprise when a hand gripped his arm. Seeing Heero, his eyes narrowed.
"I'm just getting my stuff."
Uncertain what to do, Heero watched the sparks practically shooting from Duo's eyes. "I want you to stay," he said softly.
"Is that right?" Duo said sarcastically, jerking his arm out of Heero's grasp. "Why? So you can treat me like what I think doesn't matter? So I can watch those
kids get more and more buried inside themselves? Sorry, *Captain* Yuy, I don't want to see that."
"And if I...changed?"
Looking at him, Duo raised an eyebrow, his anger slowly draining out of him. "You really want me to stay, don't you."
Clenching one hand into a fist, Heero gritted his teeth for a moment. "You brought music back," he said finally, forcing the words out. "I thought it would just
make the loss greater but...it doesn't. It helps and if you leave we will lose it again."
Looking him over, Duo suddenly smiled wryly. "On one condition."
Heero raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"No more yelling at me or the kids. And you have to listen when I talk."
"Not if you're disrespecting me, I won't," Heero said, eyes widening at the boy's words.
"Oh, you won't have to worry about that," Duo said. "As long as you don't make me mad I'll treat you with plenty of respect." Looking down suddenly, Duo
grinned. "I'm wet again. What is it with this family, every time someone throws a tantrum I end up soaked." Laughing as he shook his head, Duo turned. "I'm
going to change. I'll see you at dinner."
Not having really noticed the boy's dripping state, Heero's eyes widened as he followed Duo's progress up the stairs. He didn't move until the boy
disappeared around the corner.
* * *
Eating slowly, Duo eyed Relena where she sat beside Heero. Having been around her only a matter of minutes, he could see why the children didn't like her.
It wasn't that she was mean to them but that she acted as if they weren't even there. In fact, except for a comment or two to Treize and Zechs, the only one
she paid any attention to was Heero. Which seemed strange to Duo, because Heero didn't seem to be listening. It was as if he were lost in his thoughts. Yet
Relena continued to chat amiably as if she were used to not getting a response. Shaking his head at her, Duo turned his attention to Treize.
It was obvious that he and Zechs were more than just friends with the way they kept exchanging significant glances. The man seemed nice enough and except
for Wufei, the children seemed to like him. But then, Wufei didn't like anyone much. Looking at the children, Duo smirked at the way Hilde and Catherine were
glaring holes into Relena's head. Catching their eyes, he looked at Relena for a moment then gave the girls a wink before looking down as he finished his
food.
"Heero, you simply *must* have a party for me," Relena said, loudly enough that the entire table heard her. Glancing up, Duo smirked when he noticed that
Heero didn't react. "Heero," Relena repeated, smiling sweetly when he finally looked up, raising an eyebrow at her. "I was saying that I would *love* for you to
throw a party in my honor. It would be such a nice way to welcome me, don't you agree?"
"Hn." Looking at the girl, Heero finally nodded. "Okay."
"Great," Relena said smoothly, "Don't you worry about a thing, I'll take care of all the arrangements."
"Fine."
* * *
Frowning, Duo looked in the mirror as Quatre helped him dress. As the children's governor, he was expected to make a brief appearance. That meant
dressing 'appropriately.'
"I still don't see why I have to go down there. It's not like I'll be there for more than a minute or two and it's taken forever to get dressed. It's such a waste of
time," Duo complained as Quatre tied a long cloak around his shoulders. "And what's with the cape? I look like an idiot."
"No you don't," Quatre said, stepping back and smiling at his work. "It's all the rage. Trust Zechs to find it, he's such a clothes horse."
"Really?" Duo asked, looking at himself doubtfully. "Well, rage or not, I still think it's stupid to get dressed up just so some rich people can look at me and then
treat me like scum."
"They wouldn't dare," the blonde boy laughed. "You look too dashing. Black certainly is your color. Trust me, once they get a look at you, you won't have to
worry about returning to your room. They won't let you go so easily."
Smirking at the boy's praise, Duo raised an eyebrow. "And what will *you* be doing while I'm down there making a fool of myself?"
"Well, since Relena said we're all too young to go to the party, Trowa's meeting me outside." Quatre blushed lightly, eyes aglow with pleasure.
"Be careful," Duo cautioned, "With so many people around you might be seen."
"I know, but Trowa said he'd run away with me if Heero tried to keep us apart. He's so romantic." Quatre blushed darker.
"You're young, are you sure you want to risk it?" At Quatre's vehement nod, Duo smiled. "Well then, I wish you all the luck in the world. Now if I could get
some luck myself, I can be down there and back without feeling too much like an idiot."
Smiling, Quatre shook his head at the older boy. "You'll be fine. I'll see you in the morning."
* * *
As the waltz ended, Zechs grinned at Treize and excused himself. He couldn't help noticing that he hadn't seen Duo yet. The boy wouldn't have *not* come
down, but he didn't see him anywhere. The party was taking place in the main hall of the mansion, but the surrounding halls had been opened to allow
conversations to take place without interfering with the dancing. Beginning in the middle, Zechs began looking for the missing boy, determined to find out why
he hadn't shown up. He'd worked hard to find an outfit guaranteed to send Heero's libido racing and he didn't appreciate the boy hiding so it couldn't be
seen. //At this rate, Heero'll end up marrying Relena despite the fact that he isn't attracted to her. And that'll be the end of me. I refuse to live with that girl.//
Making quick conversation with the people who stopped him, he finally made his way to the music room, a wide grin crossing his face as he spotted his prey.
Sidling into the room, he made sure to leave the door open behind him as he snuck up on Duo who was looking out a window in the small room. Moving as
quietly as he could, he suddenly grabbed the boy around the waist, causing him to yipe in fear and turn, his back pressed against the window.
"Zechs!" Duo cried in shock, "Don't do that! You nearly killed me." Still breathing fast, Duo suddenly froze as he realized he'd been found.
"What are you doing in here?" Zechs asked, arms folded over his chest as he eyed the boy, waiting for an answer.
"Well," looking away, Duo frowned. "Some guy asked me to dance."
Eyes narrowing, Zechs frowned. "What's wrong with that?"
Still not looking up, Duo shrugged. "I don't know *how* to dance. It's not the sort of thing a priest needs to know so I never learned."
Glancing out the door, Zechs grinned as he saw Treize looking in and nodded his head toward Duo who was still eyeing the floor. Nodding, Treize left.
Turning back to Duo, Zechs's lips curved into a wicked grin. "I had no idea. Well, I can show you how." At Duo's surprised and slightly wary expression,
Zechs acted as if he were insulted. "Unless you don't want to dance with me."
Getting the feeling he was being tricked, Duo eyed him for a minute before sighing. //I would like to know. It sure looks like fun.// With a long-suffering sigh,
Duo finally nodded. "Alright, but I don't know how good I'll be."
"Fear not," Zechs said loftily. "When you dance with me you'll look as graceful as a swan."
Duo stared at him for a minute, eyes wide, then he suddenly burst out laughing, hands held over his mouth and he bent over slightly from the force of his
laughter. Staring at the boy in confusion, Zechs raised an eyebrow.
* * *
"Heero, now that I've met all of your friends won't you dance with me? I'd love to dance with you." Smiling at the morose boy, Relena touched the back of his
hand lightly.
"Relena..." Looking at her, Heero sighed. "I don't want to dance. I don't like dancing."
Pouting, Relena eyed him with reproach. "That's not very nice."
"Excuse me."
Glancing up, they looked at the man who stood before them, Heero's brow raising as he noted the way the man's eyes latched onto Relena eagerly. "May I
have the next dance, Miss Peacecraft?"
Looking at the man as if he'd just asked her if she wanted a dish of generic caviar, Relena turned to Heero, eyes telling him to get rid of the man.
"Yes, you may," Heero told him, taking Relena's hand and laying it in the man's, ignoring her angry gaze. Smiling slightly, he nodded to her. "No reason you
should go without dancing." As the man thanked him and pulled her out the room and onto the dance-floor in the main hall, Heero smirked and shook his
head.
"That was smooth," Treize said, laying a hand on Heero's shoulder.
Eyeing him, Heero raised an eyebrow. "Why aren't you out there dancing with Zechs?"
"Can't," Treize sighed, sipping his drink as he turned and started to walk away. "He's in the music room dancing with Duo."
* * *
"God! Do you have to squeeze so hard?"
Stopping dead in his tracks, Heero stared straight in front of him for a moment, eyes widened in outrage. Stepping forward quickly, he looked into the room,
eyes narrowing on Duo and Zechs, fury building as he spotted Duo's disgruntled expression and Zech's hands curving around the boy's narrow waist.
Stopping just inside the door, he cleared his throat loudly causing Duo to look up, startled for a second before he blushed and looked away in embarrassment.
Not letting go of Duo who tried to pull away, Zechs tossed a grin over his shoulder to Heero. "Hi Heero. Duo wanted to learn how to dance," smiling at the
embarrassed boy, Zechs released him. "I couldn't refuse." Seeing Heero's furious expression, Zechs cheered mentally.
"Treize is looking for you," Heero said, voice telling him to run. Fast.
"Oh! I'm sorry Duo." Looking at Duo who was still not meeting anyone's eyes, he reached out and pushed his chin up. "I'm afraid I have to go. I'll teach you
how to dance some other time."
Angry at the man for embarrassing him even more, Duo glared. "No thanks." Rubbing his waist, he frowned. "If that's how a person dances, I can do without
it."
Zechs blinked at the boy for a moment, taken back, then he slowly smiled. Glancing at Heero out of the corner of his eye, he leaned down and brushed a
quick kiss over Duo's lips, grinning when the boy's eyes widened in fury and he shoved away, staring at him in disbelief. Turning, Zechs's grin widened even
more as he took in Heero's expression. The boy looked as if he was about to explode. Blowing him a quick kiss, Zechs beat a hasty retreat, fully intent on
getting Treize and dragging him off for some private time. Duo had very soft lips.
.-.
PART 8
.-.
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