A very long minute passed as the two boys stared at the empty doorway in shock.  Then they seemed to remember each other at the same time, eyes
meeting.  With an angry blush, Duo dropped his gaze, glancing out the window rather than at Heero.  Shaking his head, he looked at the other boy.  

"I'm going to bed," Duo said, voice dull as he passed Heero on his way to the door.  Heero caught his hand and he turned, stilling himself for reproach.

"Do you still want to learn how to dance?"  

Duo's eyes widened in surprise as he met Heero's gaze.  Looking over Heero's straightforward expression, he gave a silent sigh, a small smile playing over his
lips.  "I'm not sure," he said wryly.  "I can't get all that fancy foot-work down."

"A slow dance then," Heero said softly, pulling Duo to the center of the room.  "It's easy.  I never bothered to learn the actual steps, but they're all the same."  
Taking Duo's hands, he placed them on his shoulders, his own hands moving lightly around the boy's waist as he pulled him a bit closer.  "Now, all you do is
take small steps, like this."  Looking down at his feet, Duo gave him an uncertain smile.  "You don't have to concentrate so hard, just follow my lead."

"So we just...shuffle and turn?" Duo asked, smiling at Heero.  

"Mmm, something like that."

Not sure he liked the intensity in Heero's eyes, Duo looked down abruptly.  Then Heero touched his cheek and his eyes widened till they filled his face, his
breath speeding up.  Swallowing sharply, he looked up, confused by the feelings that threatened to overwhelm him.  

Stroking Duo's soft cheek, Heero moved his other hand to pull him closer.  Looking into his wide violet eyes, Heero didn't think, he acted.  Closing the space
between them, he brushed his tongue over Duo's lips, slipping it inside when the boy gasped and opened his mouth.  Heero moved his tongue against Duo's,
tentatively at first, then more hungrily as he felt the boy's hands move behind his head.  When he pulled back, both were breathing heavily.  One look at Duo's
stunned expression and he was moving forward for another taste.

"Well, isn't this interesting."

Releasing Duo, Heero turned, barely suppressing a groan when he recognized Relena in the doorway.  Glancing back at Duo, he was surprised to find the
long-haired boy staring at *him* and not Relena.  Blinking in obvious shock, Duo slowly dropped his eyes to the floor and left the room in a daze, not sparing
Relena a single glance.  Worried about the boy's reaction, Heero started to follow him only to have his way blocked by a smirking Relena.

"Really, Heero.  You are simply unbelievable.  Seducing clergy?"  Shaking her head, she turned on her heel.  "We'll discuss this later," she called over her
shoulder.

Relieved, Heero was about to resume his chase of the violet-eyed boy when a man cut him off.  Irritated, he started to brush him off but paused, eyes
narrowing as he saw who it was.

"I've been meaning to talk to you, Yuy."

"I've told you before," Heero ground out, voice deadly.  "I won't fight your war."

"You may not have a choice."

* * *

//What was that...?//  Still unable to understand what had just happened, Duo sat on the edge of his bed, the fingers of one hand over his lips as he stared at
the floor.  When a knock came at his door, he was too confused to be embarrassed.  Even when he found Relena in the doorway, he didn't immediately realize
why she would want to see him.

Looking the boy over, Relena pushed him aside lightly as she entered the room, glancing around before perching on the edge of the bed.  Waiting for him to
shut the door, she took in his expression.

"I must say, Duo, I was surprised to find you kissing my fiance."

Duo reacted as she'd expected, flinching as if she'd slapped him.  Eyes wide, he shook his head a little before crossing the room quickly.  "Fiance?"

"Well yes," Relena said, "I thought you knew.  But don't worry, dear, I don't really blame you.  Heero's a very sexy man.  And you're young."

"I didn't know...I didn't mean to..."  Duo was slowly panicking as verse after verse flew through his mind, the ramifications of which were hitting him one after
another.

Nodding sharply, Relena caught his eyes.  "And you know Heero.  He's definitely hot-blooded when it comes to sex.  After all, he's a young man with raging
hormones.  It is to be expected."

Choking at the word, Duo stood shaking his head, unable to speak.

Standing, Relena laid a light hand on the boy's shoulder.  "I just wanted to let you know that I *don't* blame you.  Even if you *did* kiss the man I plan to
marry."  Smiling sweetly, she breezed out of the room.

Staring after her, Duo bit his bottom lip.  He felt cornered, caught, but the worst thing was that he didn't really regret kissing Heero.  The worst thing was that
he'd liked it.  

* * *

Still furious after his run in, Heero made his way upstairs.  It galled him that the man had the nerve to threaten *him*.  Shaking aside his anger, he knocked on
the door to Duo's room, preparing himself for whatever greeting the boy would give him.  Getting no response, he knocked harder, frowning as he wondered if
Duo had gone to his room after all.  Turning the doorknob, he found it unlocked, and pushed it open.  Scanning the room, he was about to search elsewhere
when he noticed the open window.

* * *

"Are you really just going to sit there and do nothing?"

Glancing up from where he sat at his desk, Heero glared when he saw Zechs standing in the doorway.  "Get out of here.  Now.  Leave me alone."

Shaking his head, Zechs looked at the boy in disgust.  "You're not even going to ask Relena why he left?  I should have known.  You deserve her."

Eyes narrowing, Heero sat up abruptly.  "Relena?  What does *she* have to do with this?"

Rolling his eyes, Zechs scowled.  "Everything, of course.  I saw her go into his room minutes after he did.  And as we both know, he didn't come out.  If I were
you I'd find out *why* he left before giving up on him *because* he left."

Standing, Heero shoved Zechs out of his way, moving down the staircase and through the people.  The party didn't need *his* presence, but it did need
Relena's.  Sure enough, he found her in the center of a small mob of people who were hanging on her every word.  Sidling to her, Heero leaned close to her
ear, talking low enough so the others wouldn't hear.  Giving her excuses, she followed him out of the room.

"Well, darling, you wanted to speak with me?" Relena asked, still smiling that knowing smile.  "I would think you'd be too riddled with guilt to want to speed up
this confrontation."

"What did you say to Duo?" Heero asked, eyes narrowed as he glared at her.

"Really, Heero.  You're not even going to apologize for cheating on me.  Well, if you must know, I felt sorry for the boy.  I merely conveyed my forgiveness to
him."

"Forgiveness?"  His confusion was obvious, but it didn't seem to bother her any.

"Yes.  Don't you know that adultery is one of the biggest sins?  I *had* to let him know that I forgave him.  After all, I couldn't just leave the poor boy wondering
if he was damned, now could I."

"Damned..."

"He's a priest, remember?  Well, not yet, but it's just a matter of time.  And he *did* kiss my fiancé."

"You.  We were never officially engaged.  You know that!"

"As I said, Heero, it's just a matter of time.  You know I always planned to marry you."

"Not now.  That's over."

Sighing, Relena shook her head.  "So what are you going to do?  He ran away.  What kind of coward runs away?"

"He ran because of you," Heero spat, "because you lied to him."

"Yes.  But do you blame me?  I had to try.  I couldn't just stand back while you left me without trying."  Frowning at Heero's angry expression, she shook her
head and glanced out the window.  "Well, if you're going to go after him, you'd better hurry.  It's awfully dark out there for a boy to be walking all by himself."

.-.

PART 9

.-.

FEEDBACK

FANFICTION INDEX