by Hex
Notes: There are a few stories that I have planned out to happen between Stealing Home and this one but some how it ended up being written first. There are a few topics touched on in here that might leaving you going, "Now when did this happen?". Don't worry, I'll get to them... eventually.
Big Thanks to Anne for trudging through my grammar issues and to Ruth for posing questions and helping me fill-in the gaps when this thing was only half way there. *hugs them both*
I swung open the door and was taken completely aback. When I had called Une yesterday morning to request an agent to act as my bodyguard today I had not expected the woman who stood at my door. The artificial breeze on the colony gently ruffled her waist length blonde hair and made it a sparkle like spun gold. Dorothy smiled at me with her usual knowing grin. My surprise was obvious, so was her enjoyment of it.
"No one else was available," she said by way of explanation.
"That's fine," I replied, and slipped into my coat.
"I have to wonder at why you need a body guard at all though," Dorothy said, her voice condescending as always.
The blonde woman looked at my shoulder holster and an amused spark entered her eyes. Ice blue orbs seemed to say, 'why do you need me if you have that?' She pursed her lips and made an odd face but still managed to look elegant.
"But I suppose anything of value is worth guarding."
"Nothing has value simply because it is. Rather, value exists because others determine it to be so," I retorted. I gave a sharp glance towards the living room. I was still rather unused to this whole bodyguard business. But I had made a promise and I planned to stick by it.
"Dorothy," Trowa said as he walked into the front foyer. He gave her a curt nod and ran his eyes over me.
I leaned in and gave him a kiss on a section of cheek that wasn't riddled with Chicken Pox. The three of us had looked after my not visibly infected niece for the weekend, little more than a week ago. I, having already had the childhood disease, remained in perfect health. Wufei and Trowa had both broken out in spots a few days after Jasmine. I had stayed home from the office, mostly to keep them company and to help layer their skin with calamine lotion. Today however, was the day of the Colonial Economic Summit where proposals were going to be made concerning the recession colonies such as X-18999. It was something I could not avoid, nor did I really want to. I admit most summits bore me to tears but this was one I refused to miss. It was at this summit that the colonial minimum wage was decided and I would roll over and die before I missed it. It affected my business and it affected all the people that were currently struggling to survive in the postwar era.
Trowa and Wufei, however, still wouldn't let me leave the house without a Rambo style baby-sitter. I had relented in that department, no matter how annoying I found it. I had promised after all.
"Dorothy," Wufei said, appearing behind Trowa. He gave the woman a curt nod then gave me a soft kiss on the lips. Wufei would have looked down right regal in bearing if he wasn't streaked in pink Calamine lotion. [1]
Wufei and Trowa watched Dorothy stand by the door while I finished tying my shoes. They both seemed tense and not at all pleased. I was torn by two sensations - amusement and annoyance, at their antics. I was tempted to point out they were the ones who had insisted that I request a Preventer as my bodyguard for the summit. They had little to no trust for anyone else. The fact that it was Dorothy was a problem they would just have to deal with. I was also tempted to laugh at the fact that they held more animosity towards Dorothy for stabbing me then I did.
I let a small sigh escape me before I straightened up. I brushed my lips over each of theirs, then offered Dorothy my arm. She took my arm and we both left the house. I stopped short outside.
"Beautiful." I breathed.
I walked up to the car and ran my hand over the passenger side fender. It was a low ride with a curvy body and a wide wheelbase. It was black and sleek. It promised to be powerful, fast and controlled just like the feline it was named for. I loved Jaguars. I looked over to Dorothy, just barely restraining the urge to drop to my knees and worship the car, and saw her looking quite pleased with herself
"I could have taken a Preventer issue vehicle but I thought you might appreciate this more."
"In other words you wanted an excuse to use it as well as have someone who could truly appreciate the machine fawn over it," I teased, and licked my lips. I wanted to ask to drive it, but I wasn't sure if Dorothy would be willing.
"Of course, but I was always taught that selfish actions were wrong and one should veil them behind other, more well-meaning ones," Dorothy said, opening the car door and sliding into the driver's seat.
"That type of disguise doesn't suit us," I said, after slipping into the passenger side.
"No it doesn't."
"But old habits die hard I suppose," I mused and rubbed my chin gently.
"More like hardly ever die,"
I examined the inside of the car critically. It was still gorgeous. All leather interior, as many accessories as possible, a state of the art sound system. It may as well have had frivolous luxury vehicle painted across the hood. I gazed down the hood and examined the hood ornament. It was always the best part of the car, or at least in my opinion, the cat poised on the top of the hood.
"Silver?" I queried, shocked that Dorothy might have lost her taste for gold.
She looked at me, that smug, knowing smirk firmly in place. "White gold."
"Ah." I couldn't help but return the smirk.
There was something about Dorothy Catalonia that I found ... enticing. It wasn't a sexual thing, but rather the appreciation of a sharp, quick, rather vicious mind mixed with a different perspective and natural posture that challenged everyone, and everything. In truth, I found Dorothy to be one of the most stimulating people ever created, or born, for that matter. She was an enigma that I understood and yet did not, all at the same time. That and I found something inherently attractive about people who could brandish swords and words with superior skill. I suppose that explained my choice of bedmates.
"I'm surprised they let you go with me," There was a spark of amusement in Dorothy's eyes.
"They didn't have much choice now did they?" I replied. Dorothy let out a small laugh at that.
"Yes, they're rather at a disadvantage at the moment aren't they?"
Dorothy started the engine and put the car in reverse. She gunned it, made the car whip around and then popped it into drive to squeal out of the driveway. I would have laughed but I thought it might encourage her. I knew she was doing this more to irritate the ill men with their noses pressed to the front window glass, than to impress or frighten me but that didn't mean I wanted her purposely ruffling Trowa's and Wufei's feathers. They were both ill, cranky and feeling more over protective than usual. It was fraying my patience and maybe the break would do us all good.
I had been wondering over the past few months if the problem was really me. I had grown so used to being alone; did I still know how to be with people? I had become good at being alone. I was finding that I was stumbling quite a bit with this relationship thing. Was this how relationships were supposed to go? With stumbling, bumbling and general stupidity?
Yesterday the three of us had had a ridiculous fight. I had been the first to wake up. I stumbled out of bed and into the bathroom and made myself somewhat presentable before going downstairs. Actually, I had simply brushed my teeth because my mouth tasted like something had crawled into it and died, then combed my hair so that I didn't look quite so much like a ragamuffin. I was still rather muddle headed at the time and had squeezed the toothpaste in the middle, mangling the poor tube cruelly.
It was an old habit, one that drove Wufei insane. He had come down for breakfast and made a passing remark about it. I had flown off the handle and told him to stop being so damned anal-retentive. Wufei was defensive, for good reason, and clamed up automatically. Trowa had called me on it, declaring pointedly that what I said was uncalled for. I had snarked back with something along the lines of putting on his own damned calamine lotion and to leave me the hell alone. I had been edgy, maybe even more so than the both of them. Trowa and Wufei had both chalked it up to the attempt on my life, but there's something more. I'd been trying to avoid dwelling on it. It was as though the very thought would bring it into reality.
I shook my head away from the thought and watched neatly planted, perfectly arranged, trees whip by the window. I let the drive go on in silence. Dorothy wasn't inclined to strike up meaningless conversation and I was not inclined to discuss my thoughts.
I was beginning to think that I wasn't cut out for a relationship. In-between what Wufei and Trowa wanted from me, and pressure from my sisters, I was beginning to feel panicked. Like I could never do enough or that my choices were all wrong, no matter how strongly I felt. I felt my usual resolve beginning to buckle. I was starting to feel weak and self pitying. Mostly though, I was just annoyed. I wanted it my way damn it. I was used to walking away from things almost one hundred percent victorious. This whole meeting people halfway thing was making me impatient. I suppose it was time to admit it. I was just feeling bratty and pulled in too many directions. I wanted to run away to Earth, rent another house and memorize Trowa and Wufei's bodies with my tongue. Once they were Chicken Pox free of course.
The ride to the building where the summit was being held was short. I would have walked but I knew some would argue that would be presenting too much of a target. At least that meant I could ride in the Jag. As we both stepped out of the car, Dorothy reached into the back seat. She pulled out a leather belt with a rapier sheath attached to it. I couldn't help but smile at the picture she presented, a pants suit with a sword dangling at her side. On any other woman the ensemble would have looked laughable, but it suited Dorothy.
"You're planning on wearing your sword to the summit?" I asked as Dorothy finished adjusting belt.
"Well, you can't expect a woman to walk around naked now can you?" Dorothy retorted. "Besides, nearly every guard in the place will be armed to some degree. Allow me my idiosyncrasies."
"Who am I to argue?" I lent her my arm as we entered the building.
I tried, once again, not to squirm in my chair but the man was incredibly boring. Even Relena, who possessed the capacity to remain interested and focused on almost anything, was practically nodding off. I managed to smoother the urge to laugh out loud at the image of Relena face diving into the desk and all out snoring.
Relena looked a lot less worse for wear than she had only three months ago. The bags under her eyes had faded and the sparkle was back in her eyes. When I had seen her three weeks ago she had not looked quite so well. The resource dispute between two colonies in the L1 cluster had been a rather taxing job for her. I was happy to see her looking healthier, although the sparkle in her eye might of had more to do with the way her gaze kept flitting towards one of the windows. Relena might not have appeared to have a bodyguard with her but I was positive that she was the only person at the summit as well protected as I was.
I let my eyes wander around the room and caught Dorothy's gaze out of the corner of my eye. She smirked at me and gently stroked the handle of her sword. It was then that I realized exactly who Dorothy was. She was a devil sent to tempt me. And it was a tempting idea, to let her run the man through so that we could all just go home, but I shook my head. Dorothy gave a barely there shrug and went back to looking painfully bored. Dorothy and I were probably the few people at the summit who hoped something would explode.
Finally, the man stopped talking and the end of the day was declared. It wasn't a moment too soon for me. Actually, it could have happened a few moments earlier. Dorothy and I made a beeline for the exit. I would have stayed to exchange pleasantries with the other people at the summit but I was restless and annoyed. This was not a good combination when I needed to be at my most congenial.
I melted thankfully into the Jag's seat. Dorothy slipped into the driver's side. She opened up the throttle and had us whipping out of the parking lot...... in the opposite direction of the house.
"Um... Dorothy, where are we going?"
"You needed to be out of that summit, but I don't think you're ready to go home yet," Dorothy replied, and pulled a 180 with the emergency break in the middle of the street. It got us more than a few honks and rude words thrown in our direction. "Would you like to have a few drinks, Quatre?"
"Are you asking me to get drunk with you?" I asked. I was torn by suspicion and amusement.
"Actually, I'm asking you to pay for a few drinks....... Boss," Dorothy said, parking the car.
I actually managed not to laugh too loudly at the "boss" comment. I nodded and slipped out of the car.
"You parked illegally you know," I said, shooting her a look.
She gave a nonchalant flip of her hair over her shoulder. "I know."
I was tempted to say more but Dorothy was already through the door to the small bar. Incognito's. I had heard the name before. It was a place frequented by the upper class. It was no wonder Dorothy volunteered to have me pay. It was most likely a bottled water would cost nearly fifty credits in this place.
"Take a seat, Quatre." Dorothy gestured to the chair.
"I can't believe how idealistic I was,." I muttered, dragging my finger tip down the side of the glass. "It doesn't seem like we're getting anywhere any more. The petty arguing is starting again, the information control, the oppression. Did you hear the L2 delegate? 'The need for proper media spin on the current economic crisis is necessary.' I couldn't believe it. What an ass."
"Yes, that would be the best way to describe him," Dorothy replied.
I was nearly positive I had out drunk Dorothy by at least five glasses. And I was definitely feeling it.
"And yet you still go to those summits and try," Dorothy murmured.
I blinked bleary eyes at her.
"I don't have any other choice. I gave up my Gundam. I have to fight another way." I propped my head up with my hands..
"Sometimes I wonder if that was such a wise choice," Dorothy's voice suddenly sounded far away, in a place I knew but wasn't sure I wanted to return to.
"I would do it again." I tried to force some conviction into my words. "I would."
"But, now we don't have them if we need them," Dorothy said, slowly. She knew she was treading dangerous ground with me. "What will we do if we need them again and they're not there?"
"We'll find another way. Just because we don't have the Gundams doesn't mean we're helpless." I stabbed the air in her direction. The Gundams were gone but we would never roll over and just let a war start.
"That's true I suppose," Dorothy said and sighed at her drink. "I'm just wondering if we're any farther ahead than the day we first met. People have changed so little, grown so little, in their mass way of thinking that I can't help but think the worst is yet to come."
"We won't let it get that far. Duo, Heero, Wufei, Trowa and I will never let it get that far,"
I could feel myself swaying slightly in my seat. Suddenly I wanted to see them. I had a certain level of fuzzyheaded impatience nagging at me. I wanted to be curled up in-between Wufei and Trowa right then. I needed to be home right away. I stood and nearly stumbled down from the barstool. I wasn't much of a straight drinker. I sipped wine or champagne. I didn't drink doubles while sitting at a bar.
"I would like to go home now."
Dorothy smiled at me. This one was genuine. It wasn't a smirk and held no sign of mocking me. "I think that might be a good idea. There are people waiting for you."
A thought occurred to me and could not stop myself from voicing it. "Is there anyone waiting for you?"
I had never considered what type of person Dorothy would spend her free time with. The notion appealed even when I was looped. Who would Dorothy spend intimate moments with? It was a curious thought.
"Yes, actually there is." Dorothy replied and the genuine smile grew.
"Really?" I was never at my most sly when I drank, so I suppose I shouldn't have been insulted when Dorothy laughed in my face.
"Yes. And no, I won't share details." Dorothy laughed.
"How un-stimulating," I huffed as I stumbled out the door. "I suppose we should get me home so that you can go join your mystery person."
"Quatre, you're too drunk to spar. Leave it for another time," Dorothy said as we both slipped into the car.
"She didn't even walk you to the door?" Wufei growled. He leaned out the door to scowl at the retreating car's taillights. He ran his eyes over me quickly and sniffed. "You're drunk?"
"She's not like you two. She respects the fact that I can go to the bathroom on my own." I said, leaning back against Trowa's chest. "And yes, I'm drunk."
"Quatre, we don't mean to crowd you. It's just......" Trowa trailed off.
Trowa had his arms wrapped around me from behind and he was holding me in that 'I want to talk' way. When Trowa wants to talk it's not in his tone or written across his face, it's in his posture. He stands close, like he wants to whisper in my ear and he tilts his right ear towards me.
I could tell that they were both exchanging a glance over my shoulder. Wufei was chewing his lip slightly and seemed to be searching the air for a way to begin the discussion. This had been a hot button topic for all of us for the past four months.
"I know. You just follow in the hopes you can hold it for me,." I said.
I blinked once, trying to clear my head. This was the first time that I could remember being fully aware that I was drunk and talking out of my ass. I reached up to wrap my arms around Trowa's head to draw his lips to my neck. I grinned salaciously at Wufei and tugged at my necktie. I loosened the offending garment and unbuttoned my collar. A little skin would distract them.
"Let's run away to Earth." The idea suddenly struck me and I couldn't help but feel excited. "We can stay with Rashid at the Oasis estate. It would be fantastic!"
"Quatre...." Trowa began.
Wufei shrugged, leaving Trowa to decide how to handle my inebriation and overwhelming enthusiasm for, well, everything.
"I want to go play outside," I slid down Trowa's body and sat on the floor. Shifting my gaze to the ground, I began to pick at the cuff of my pants. "It would be nice to go somewhere where you could both relax. You're both always tense. Just a little, not so much so that you're completely wound up. But you're both never perfectly calm either. It's like you're both never quite switched off and I feel the same way. I want to relax somewhere. Just us. I want you both to be able to relax."
"Quatre, why don't we talk about it in the morning?" Trowa asked. He crouched down and began to stroke my back gently. His posture had changed; he had decided now wasn't the best time to talk. I would have agreed, if I wasn't bombed.
"Am I doing this wrong? I mean the lover thing. You both have experience at it and I have no idea what I'm doing. Am I doing it right? Am I being too selfish? I love you both very much you know. But I'm scared." I was babbling. This was why I didn't drink. Things just flew out of my mouth as if my ability to control what I said took a vacation as soon as my blood alcohol was raised.
"Let's let the sheets decide," Wufei said as he offered me a hand up.
I smothered my dorky laugh with both hands. Whenever Wufei and I got into any sort of debate about politics, theology or any topic for the matter, he "let the sheets decide." Which meant we'd stumble our way up the stairs and determine dominance in bed. There was never a clear winner but in the after glow Wufei and I would always find some sort of middle ground. It was a blatant excuse to get each other wound up and work off the extra energy.
I continued to snicker as I stumbled up the stairs to our room. I managed to wiggle out of my clothes and not fall over on the bed. I can tell just how drunk I still am by the fact that I can't tell if it's myself or the room that is tilting. I flopped gracelessly onto the bed and made myself comfortable under the blankets.
I was sandwiched in-between Wufei and Trowa. In my mind there was no better place to be than resting, surrounded by their body heat. I knew, that no matter what, I could never give either one of them up. I needed them both in a way I wasn't sure was entirely healthy.
I threw an arm over Wufei's waist. Usually I respected the fact that neither one of them was particularly cuddly. It just wasn't the way they were. Tonight however, I wanted to hold and to be held close.
"Can I ask you a question?" Wufei whispered, brushing his fingers down my naked side.
I grunted some sort of affirmative. I was too interested in getting comfortable and dragging Trowa in close behind me.
"Why are you scared?"
So I said it. Told them what had me chaffing at the bit with them protecting me. What had me chaffing at the bit at the summit. The thing that was making me feel useless and helpless and all those less than myself things.
"Dorothy and I were talking about the Gundams. Things aren't getting better. They were, just after the war, but now they've stagnated. Tempers are flaring again. I'm afraid of another war. I'm scared there's going to be another war. That the peace we fought so hard for is going to be broken so carelessly." I took a deep breathe before continuing. "If there is one, you both have to promise to stop protecting me and to do what has to be done. Because, I.... I will fight again if I have to. I can't turn my back on Earth and the Colonies because I have both of you. I love you. Nothing will change that but I will still fight if I must."
"That's what has been bothering you?"
"Yes. I know I should have thought it out and explained it better. Explained it while I'm sober, but I run off at the mouth when I'm drunk. And a part of me is scared that if I think or believe it can happen, it will happen."
"Quatre, I promise I won't stop you from fighting if it comes to that." Trowa whispered the words into the back of my neck. It tickled the short hairs there and made me shiver.
"I'll give you the same promise, Quatre. But I wish you weren't so eager to leave us behind." Wufei said and ran his hands up and down my arm in an effort to chase away the shivers.
"Isn't that where backup is supposed to be?"
"Quatre, don't be difficult" The tone of Trowa's voice suggested that he was dealing with a difficult child. I would have turned to stick my tongue out at him but I was too busy nuzzling at Wufei's chest. It was difficult to nuzzle when you were drunk and trying to avoid Chicken Pox.
"I was actually counting on both of you to be there with me." I pulled away from Wufei and cringed "Or was that too presumptuous?"
"If it came to that, we'd stand beside you." Trowa moved to whisper gruffly into my hair. "Not behind you."
"Good."
"But for now, we're still going to act as your bodyguards," Wufei said, firmly.
I sighed. "I know. Good night."
"Good night." They both whispered.
I just gave a happy sigh and basked in their body heat. Even if all my fears were realized, I would still have Wufei and Trowa with me.
[1] Just for you Ruth.
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