Twenty-One

Meeting

      “So...Kris...did ya get me anything?” I asked as we headed to her room, grinning. Nikki had told me to come back in the not too distant future...
      I had let her know I saw the open condom packages on the floor...now I wanted to know what happened last night...no details of course, but a general outline...or a simple yes/no would suffice...
      Kris rolled her eyes, “You’re as bad as a five year old, Duo.”
      I shrugged, “Oh well, did ya?”
      I was in high spirits...I’d noticed something that no one else seemed to have...did he finally have sex with her? If he had...wait...they’d been arguing again this morning before breakfast...
      “Yes, actually.” she replied, opening her door.
      “What?” I asked, happily curious, putting those thoughts to the back of my mind.
      She had thought of me...
      She dug into a bag, “I wasn’t sure if you’d like it...”
      I waited as patiently as I could.
      She pulled out a small jewelry box.
      “What is it?” I asked eagerly, sitting on her bed.
      She studied the box, sitting next to me, “Just a little trinket to make up for birthdays and holidays...well, you’re birthday and Christmas...”
      “Well?” I didn’t want to push, but really...
      I looked at her face and recognized the look hidden behind her eyes.
      “You’re evil!” She was baiting me.
      She laughed, pretending not to hear that, “I thought you might like it...”
      “We’re going to meet in the study in ten minutes, you two, make it fast...” Nikki said from the door, grinning naughtily...exchanging a look with me.
      That was a ‘Don’t say anything.’ look...I grinned at her.
      Kris looked up to her, wrinkling her nose, “Really cute, Nicole.”
      Nikki laughed and walked away.
      I reached over to grab the box from her.
      She moved it out of reach, focused on it, “We were in the store, and I couldn’t decide between this and...”
      “Kris!”
      “And a gold one. But then Sam reminded me you like silver better...”
      “Krystal!” I grabbed for it again.
      She moved it, “So I picked...”
      I jumped for the box, knocking her over and landing on top of her, knocking her breath away and still managing to miss it.
      She started laughing and I was stopped dead a moment, looking down at her...she was so beautiful...I rolled off quickly.
      “Here...” she threw it to me, not seeming to notice my pause. She was still laughing. “I forgot you have the patience of a five year old as well...”
      I ignored that, opening the box, pushing aside my distraction.
      A simple silver chain bracelet.
      The links were large enough to be masculine, but obvious enough to be a gift from a female.
      “Damn...”
      “Do you like it?” she asked, propping up on her elbows.
      “Damn...” That’s all I could say.
      She reached for it, “If you don’t like it...”
      I resisted the urge to pull it away from her reaching hand, “No! I mean, no, I love it...” I met her eyes, “Thank you...”
      She smiled.
      I pulled it out of the box and tried to clasp it, not succeeding.
      She chuckled as she watched, “Here, let me...” she pulled my wrist to her and fiddled with the clasp as I watched her.
      She was focused on the bracelet, so didn’t notice. She was beautiful as ever, and still just beyond my reach...
      “There...” she looked up to me, meeting my eyes, and froze a moment.
      I cleared my throat, looking away, “Uhh...thanks...” I mumbled. That had to be one of my more intelligent lines...
      She stood, “Well, we’re meeting in the study...” with that, she walked away.
      I sighed as I stood, studying the bracelet. Krystal was confusing. Little things would lead me to believe that she really liked me, but other things would make me think it was all my imagination...
      She was always a friend, however, and always willing to listen.
      Krystal, Nicole, and Samantha were the only reason Heero and I hadn’t killed ourselves or each other...and the guys too, of course...to a much lesser extent...but it’d happened.
      She was willing to be the shoulder to cry on, and the person to yell at. She never held a grudge...I...we had cried on her shoulder...well, all three of them...except Heero and Krystal...she still didn’t fully trust him... They never teased us about it.
      I wondered about that as I walked down the halls. They never brought up any of the times we’d scared them by losing our tempers and our control...they over-looked the holes that resulted in the walls, as long as we fixed them...They never talked about or mentioned any of that, but were more than eager to tell of their games...I shook my head.
      As I put my hand on the scan plate, Heero and Nikki came up behind me.
      “Nice bracelet...” Nikki said, grabbing my wrist and pulling it towards her, “I’ve never seen it before, where’d you get it?”
      The door opened, “Kris...” I replied as she leaned close to my ear.
      She had pulled her body closer to me, resting a hand on my stomach, still holding my wrist and leaning fully against my arm, “What’d ya see?” she whispered.
      That was confirmation in itself...
      I grinned down at her, “Something you didn’t want me to, I’m sure...” I whispered in reply.
      She smiled and moved her hand a bit lower...I tried to think of an easy out...
      “Be careful, Duo.” Heero warned and we walked through...he evidently didn’t notice that I’d seen something...and wasn’t listening to our conversation...but had great timing...except for that look in his eyes...he knew...
      Annoyed, Nikki turned on him, letting me go, “You’re impossible.”
      I blinked, glad she hadn’t been able to finish that, “Thanks, Heero...”
      “You owe me...” he said, watching her warily as if she’d attack him or something.
      Instead, she stuck her tongue out at him and walked in the general direction of Kris and Kat.
      I met his eyes with a questioning grin.
      He grinned at me in confirmation and jogged to her side, murmuring in her ear, glancing at me. She grinned naughtily at him in return, glancing back at me too, looking as if she were considering...her hands started toward the fly of his pants. Heero grabbed her wrists before she could go through with that.
      She laughed.
      Holy shit...they’d been arguing last night when they’d left...and when Quatre had called...how had he managed...why were they arguing...I shook my head
      “What do you think she’ll do tonight?” Trowa asked me, watching her as she tried to get her wrists from Heero. He was grinning in return now, not letting go.
      I turned and met his eyes a moment, “I don’t think she’ll do anything tonight...” I replied, thinking over what I’d just learned...she wouldn’t do anything to us tonight at least...but who knew about later with Heero...
      I grinned, Heero should still be in a good mood in the morning.
      The door opened again and Relena, followed by Noin, Sally, and Wufei entered.
      “Hello.” Relena said happily, not seeming to notice the annoyed look on Nikki’s face, she stopped and focused on Heero as Nikki went ice and jerked her wrists from him...and with that look in his eyes, I could understand why Nikki was annoyed.
      He’d just fucked up.
      He turned to her quickly, confused and I managed not to grin...
      “Hi, Relena.” Kat spoke up happily.
      Relena returned the smile, “Hi, Katie.”
      The door opened again and Zechs came in, closing his cell phone.
      Amused by how Mighty-Bright had just fucked up, I walked around and sat on the couch.
      Wufei was a few steps behind and sat in his usual chair...my thoughts wandered to what she’d been like earlier...what had he done? It didn’t make sense...not with what she’d told Sam...
      Trowa followed shortly, sitting beside me, a grin on his face, “Does she always get like that?” he asked, meaning Nikki’s reaction to Relena.
      “She doesn’t normally have this much of a problem with his girls...they usually tend to...but...” I shrugged.
      Kat walked up and pushed the coffee table away, then sat on the floor between Trowa’s legs.
      A movement caught my eye and I looked up to see Nikki sitting in the chair next to Wufei and Heero settling in front of her on the floor, his face slightly troubled.
      Relena walked around the other side of the couch and sat next to Trowa, Noin beside her, and Zechs behind Noin on the back of the couch.
      The look Relena directed at Nikki...I smiled. If she only knew...I found it horribly amusing.
      Quatre carried his desk chair around and set it to my left as Sally sat in the area between Wufei and Noin, then Wufei moved to the floor and Sally sat in his vacated chair with a smile of gratitude. He nodded.
      Sam sat next to Quatre on the floor.
      Suddenly, Krystal was beside me. Shocked, it took me a moment to figure out what she was doing. She sat like Kat in front of me... From across the room, Heero grinned at me and we exchanged a look that included his...actions with Nikki and Kris’ actions with me...we grinned.
      “So why did you call us?” Relena asked.
      “Because, we tried this earlier but couldn’t focus.” Zechs responded, looking us over.
      Heero smiled again, leaning his head against Nikki, who was leaning against one arm of the chair, and had her legs over the other.
      “Couldn’t focus?” Sally asked, amused.
      “Yeah. We were distracted.” Heero replied, losing the grin.
      She laughed.
      “So, what now?” I asked, focusing on Kris...she smelled good...
      “Now,” Heero replied, “We discuss.”
      Exchanging glances, we waited expectantly.
      “Discuss what?” Nikki asked when the silence became confusing.
      “Romefeller.” Heero began, “Then what we do next and if we can trust Quatre’s guards.”
      “Of course we trust the guards.” Noin said, surprising us, she rarely spoke with the girls around. “They deserve at least that. Most of them have, and will, be loyal to Quatre.”
      “But...” Trowa started.
      “I’m not saying they all are definitely trustworthy. I’m just saying we give them the benefit of the doubt.”
      “How do we know which to trust?” I asked.
      Noin shrugged, “I don’t know, Duo.”
      I sighed, “That’s helpful...” I murmured to Kris, she snorted slightly.
      “So we can trust some, but not all of my guards...” Quatre started, “But we don’t know which...”
      “So...pull up some files, figure out who’ve been hired recently, then find all the people that secretary had continuous contact with.” Sam sounded...well, very Samanthaish.
      Quatre watched her, momentarily wide-eyed, then turned to Nikki.
      Nikki had been expecting this, and now stood, heading for the console.
      I noticed she had a slight smugness in her manner...
      “Thomas Blake. Five, four, two, nine, o.” he told her.
      She nodded and we watched her expectantly. I tried to stay focused on things other than Kris.
      “Would you look at this...” Nikki’s voice was triumphantly shady, I looked up as she looked to Quatre, “Mr. Winner, you have recently hired three new units with advice of one, Blake, Thomas. Five, four, two, nine, o.”
      She refocused on the screen her hands still moving. “Two of which were sent to...” she looked up to Heero, “The Lunar Base to refurbish areas to be opened for...” she met Quatre’s eyes, “Public use. It’s a community effort that seems to have attracted many workers.”
      Quatre nodded, “Yes. He thought it would be a good idea and I agreed. It’s relatively in-expensive...and created a number of jobs...jobs that were needed in that area...” Quatre shook his head, “Where’s the last unit?”
      She studied the screen, “Here. They work in the metal wing.” she looked at him, “The small portion you have that make arms.” she paused, “Quatre,” her voice was falsely light, “Why do you have a weapons factory?”
      Everyone stared at Quatre.
      “My arms facility specializes in mobile suits...Gundams, to be precise...”
      “And space Taurus suits...” Nikki added, “With a focus on dolls. Mobile Dolls, Quatre, Mobile Dolls. Why the hell do you make Mobile Dolls?” Nikki dropped the facade of innocent curious, she was upset, to say the least.
      Quatre blinked, “No. I never gave an okay for dolls. Taurus space suits, yes, in moderation. But not mobile dolls.”
      Nikki chuckled as she looked over the screen, “Oh, but, Quatre-dear, your dolls are top rate. The finest in systems.” she looked at him again, “Nearly the same quality as Commander Milliardo’s...”
      “Zechs.” Heero admonished quietly.
      Zechs had tensed very slightly.
      “I’m sorry, Zechs...” Nikki muttered, instantly noticing.
      “That’s fine.” Zechs replied, thinking fast then grinning slightly, “You’ll just have to find a way to make it up to me...like satisfying my curiosity...”
      Noin turned to look at him and he flinched slightly.
      “Anyways...” Heero muttered, also annoyed.
      He really did not like this curiosity Zechs had acquired...understandably.
      I hid my grin, so Heero wanted to sleep with Relena...but didn’t want his friends moving in on Nikki while he did it...but now that he had Nikki, he still wanted Relena. So he was fucked any way you looked at it...unless Nikki had...shit...she may not be with him...she may have just...which could explain some of...
      Holy shit...
      For some reason I doubted that he’d gathered the balls to let Nikki know the extent of his feelings for her...the dumb-ass...and Nikki wouldn’t say it because he wouldn’t believe it...she played games...some of them head-games...like saying she loved you and wanted you...I pushed that away.
      I really needed to get them together...Nikki was waiting for him to make the next move and he didn’t think she’d respond right to that move...
      Damn it...they’re stupid.
      Nikki smiled, very amused. “Yes. Anyways.” she refocused on Quatre, her seriousness returning, “They are almost to par with those Zechs had. I think we’ll have to do something about them. Soon.”
      Quatre nodded, “Cancel the dolls project and the refurbishing project.”
      One of Relena’s eyes quirked slightly, “She can do that?”
      Zechs grinned, “That and more, I’m sure.”
      She smiled at him, shaking her head slightly. He really knew how to build things up to get his way...
      “She knows how to do that?” I asked, curious. She’d had no problems showing Heero and I her skills, but I didn’t realize she was that advanced...
      Kris snorted, “That and more.”
      There was scattered chuckles.
      “All right. Canceled, but you just put a hundred and fifty people out of a job.” Nikki said, looking to Heero.
      Quatre thought it over, “So...reassign them.”
      Nikki made a face. “Open reassignment...” she muttered, focusing on the console.
      “It’s easier to simply reassign them.” Quatre commented.
      It only took a moment for me to realize he was testing her.
      “I’m aware of that, Angel, but I’d rather not be responsible for assigning people jobs they hate and are stuck in for months.”
      Quatre smiled, “Please work for me!”
      Nikki grinned, “I told you I probably will. After you really know me, you might not want me to work for you.”
      Quatre looked thoughtful a moment, “Well, you’re Sam’s friend, so you can’t be all that bad.”
      Sam snickered, “You’d be surprised.”
      There was scattered laughter.
      Quatre gave her a level amused look, “Not to mention that you just did a job that normally takes a day or two in under five minutes. I can work around personality quirks.” his voice was directed to Nikki, “It’s hard to find a person who can do block changes...”
      “You’re already done?” Relena was surprised.
      Heero chuckled, “She was a bit slow this time.”
      Relena’s eyes were wide, “If Quatre wasn’t already trying for you, I would offer you a job.”
      Nikki gave Relena a seemingly shy smile.
      I exchanged a startled glance with Heero.
      Was Nikki feeling all right?
      “You should do it anyway...” Zechs said with a grin.

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Kyeian