Twenty-Nine

Pride Play

      “Damn. You look tired...” Sam muttered as she took her breakfast plate.
      I sighed, “I know. I am.” I’d had a long night...not that I wouldn’t do it again...
      Her brow rose skeptically and she held my eyes.
      “What?” I asked, I was too tired to even try coming up with a good story.
      She shook her head, looking away, “Nothing...”
      I accepted that, passing a plate to Quatre.
      We all sat down, beginning to eat.
      “So what’s going on today?” Krystal asked Quatre.
      “Nikki and I are going to a meeting...then it’s basically free time until dinner.”
      She made a face.
      “It’ll be a smaller party tonight.” he grinned, “What kind of host shows up with a black eye?” he laughed, “And since Heero has a similar affliction...” he shrugged.
      “Why does it have to be so early?” I asked petulantly.
      He gave me a searching look, “I thought you had enough sleep...” his eyes flicked to Heero and I could see him hiding a grin as something occurred to him.
      I nodded my agreement, he had thought I’d had enough sleep, “I know. But I don’t like mornings...”
      We were quiet as we finished eating and he didn’t ask me anything as we left.
      After a short time he casually lay an arm around my shoulder, he was thinking so I decided not to say anything.
      When we were so far into the maze of hallways that I wouldn’t have been able to find my way back if my life depended on it, he finally came back to the real world, “You really shouldn’t let him look so smug, you realize?” he asked, sighing heavily and starting to walk a bit faster.
      I laughed, “He’s proud of himself. There’s nothing I can do about it...”
      “Does he have the right to be proud of himself?” he was all too amused.
      I met his eyes, “Every right.”


      “You gonna take a nap?” I asked Nikki as she collapsed back onto the bed.
      She made a noise of confirmation, stripping off the dress she’d worn.
      I dug around for some clothes for her to change into, thinking about last night.
      I hadn’t expected her to...
      Duo had noticed, and so had Quatre, but I wasn’t sure if the others had, and I wasn’t sure why I wanted to know...I mean...yeah, there was an element of pride...and the bit that would shove it in Wufei’s face...but it really didn’t matter if anyone knew or not.
      ‘I’m not as tired as you might imagine...’
      I smiled, when I’d asked her, I’d thought she’d either turn me down sweetly... she’d been in that mood all day...or she’d...turn me down sweetly. She wasn’t being a bitch anymore.
      Duo’d been bugging me all day confirm his suspicions...but I’d asked him what he was talking about...until Quatre came in with a grin and told me Nikki was in the room.
      We’d been in Duo’s room.
      Quatre and Duo had shared a glance, and Duo’d died laughing. Patting me on the back and laughing some more. Shortly there-after I’d been shooed out of the room because Nikki was waiting.
      I rolled my eyes, “What did you tell Quatre?”
      “Mmm?”
      I turned to look at her, she’d pulled one of my shirts on...it had been laying on the bed since I’d decided not to wear it earlier...even though I wore it most of the time. I decided it looked better on her. She was curled in a ball half asleep already.
      “What did you tell Quatre?” I repeated, closing the drawer.
      “About what?” she asked, yawning.
      “He’s gossiping with Duo, you realize?”
      She yawned again, “I told him you had every right to be proud of yourself.”
      I couldn’t help but smile at that, “Really?”
      “Mm-hmm...” she’d pulled the covers over herself.
      I jumped onto the bed, landing on my back beside her, bouncing her into the air and waking her completely.
      She gave me a level look, “I want to sleep. I’m tired.” she said every word clearly as if talking to a small child...which I couldn’t help but agree with...but she’d just signifigantly boosted my ego, I wanted to know what she’d said to him.
      “What else?”
      She yawned, then laughed at me, “Nothing, we moved on.”
      “How did you start talking about it?”
      She laughed a little harder, “He told me not to let you be so smug...now let me sleep.” she turned her back to me.
      I smiled, laying close to her and wrapping my arm around her.
      “Heero...”
      I laughed, “What? I’m not doing anything...”
      She laughed as she looked over her shoulder at me. I couldn’t resist, I kissed her lightly. She wasn’t sure how to react, I could tell. I felt sort of foolish for doing it. But hell...we’d had a few interesting nights, so one more kiss wouldn’t change anything. I kissed her again, deeper, but then lay back.
      Without saying anything, she turned into me and cuddled closer, falling asleep.
      She really was as tired as I thought now. But last night...
      It had taken every ounce of courage I had to ask her, and even so I hadn’t expected her to say yes...I couldn’t figure out why it was easier to ask her for favors than actual sex, though...I found it amusing...and ridiculouse...that I’d ask her if she were tired.
      She slept most of the rest of the morning, but I couldn’t sleep, I just lay there thinking...holding her...
      We had both changed these last few days...Not in our mannerisms, but in the way we dealt with each other. Before I would never call her a bitch like that, and well...I thought about it, she would never tell me not to have sex with someone.
      I was relieved now, that Relena had been so innocent...and that I’d noticed.
      It could’ve been interesting if I hadn’t...
      My mind switched to tonight’s dinner plans...the after party...it was going to be really small. The only guests who weren’t staying here at Quatre’s were the ones who were coming to visit Relena.
      There was a quiet tap on the door.
      Nikki wasn’t sleeping all that hard, so I picked up a pen from my nightstand and threw it at the door.
      There was a startled hesitation, so I threw one of the other pens.
      Quatre peaked in, a confused expression on his face, then looked at Nikki. I started to move, he wanted to say something...
      Nikki stirred and I stopped, not wanting to wake her.
      Quatre was grinning broadly at me when I did finally make it out.
      “That’s cute.” he informed me.
      “Tcch. Shut-up. I don’t want to wake her...”
      “And seeing as you kept her up all night I have to agree.”
      I laughed, “No. We got some sleep...”
      He shook his head, still grinning, “Anyway, about tonight. You don’t have to go, if you don’t want to. Neither does she.”
      I smiled, deciding just to accept this graciously, “Thanks. I’ll see what she wants to do.” I couldn’t help but grin.
      We laughed.
      “You two are bad.” Nikki said from the door and we jumped.
      “You look comfortable.” Quatre said, giving her an appraising look, then he looked at me, “That shirt looks better on her for some reason.”
      I grinned, “I noticed that myself...I think it’s the curves...”
      Nikki gave us a level look and shut the door.
      We laughed again and I glanced down the hall, noticing Wufei go into his room in seeming disgust.
      I met Quatre’s eyes, “I won, by the way...”
      He shook his head, “For now, at least. I figured you’d get that eventually.”
      I shrugged, “We’ll come tonight.”
      He nodded, “Dress nice. I mean really nice.”
      I grinned as the door opened again and Nikki came out in pants and socks as well as the shirt.
      “I’ll put her in a backless...” I said, smiling at her, “Maybe she’ll be good for once.”
      She laughed at me, leaning up and kissing me like she had the day before.
      “Oww...” Quatre noted as I pulled back.
      “Who’s the one who’s going to be good now?” she asked sweetly.
      “I think you should both be good.” Quatre informed her, looking back and forth between us, then remembering something, “Oh yeah, Sam needed to talk to you...she’s in her room.”
      I looked at Nikki curiously and she smiled that innocent smile, “We both want the same guy but can’t have him...”
      I had to laugh at that. I sobered quickly as something occurred to me, “I have to be nice to her, you realize?” I hated to call her on it in front of someone, but if I didn’t then she wouldn’t be as good as she should be.
      She made a sour face, “Yeah, I know...little miss innocent...” she met Quatre’s eyes, “You realize that she was giggling at everything he said?”
      Quatre shrugged slightly, “She had a sheltered life and has to be a good girl for public appearances...”
      I sighed, “And I was only trying to get her to dance...”
      Nikki grinned, “You can be very convincing when you put your mind to it. I’m impressed that she actually held out...”
      I shrugged, “I wasn’t trying to convince her as hard as I do you sometimes. She doesn’t know how to dance...”
      “Dirty, I take it.” Quatre replied, then grinned at Nikki, “We should do that tonight, you look like a fun partner.”
      I grinned, “She is. But you’ll have to forgive me if I monopolize all her time with songs like that...”
      He grinned, “Oh, I’ll get a turn...don’t worry about that...you’ll just have to dance with Sam on that one...”
      “Duo and Wufei will get their turns as well,” she informed us primly, “And Trowa, if he wants one...Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some plotting to do...” she started down the hall in a mock lofty manner.
      “Too bad this hall wasn’t longer.” I informed Quatre loud enough to make it sound like she wasn’t supposed to hear, “I like this view...”
      Quatre nodded, also watching, “I think I might have to move you two further down and send her to Sam more often...”
      Nikki turned and gave us a look, “You two are bad.” then she turned into Sam’s room.
      I grinned at Quatre and started for the room, “I know the perfect dress...”
      “I have an idea for one too...let’s compare and decide...it should be one she wouldn’t pick for herself...”
      “And backless.” I informed him, “Definitely backless.”
      “Any particular reason?” Quatre asked with a raised eyebrow.
      I grinned at him, “She’ll be a good girl...in the right kind of dress.”


      Eyes went wide as Nikki entered.
      She was wearing this dress...I smiled. She would never have chosen that dress on her own...and the smug look Heero and Quatre had suggested louder than words that they knew very well that she would never have chosen it herself.
      The fact that she and Heero matched, was not lost on Relena.
      Wasn’t lost on me either, but I knew something only Quatre knew...out of our group, that is. I grinned, “Well, well, well, I’m so glad you decided to grace us with your presence, Majesty...”
      She grinned at me, “I have ever been a...generous queen, Duo-dear...”
      I laughed.
      “Miss Nicole, Welcome...” Relena’s voice had only a slight hint of ice.
      Nikki smiled at her, a deceptive gesture, “Why, thank you, Miss Relena. How are you this fine evening?”
      Hmm...This could lead to trouble...
      “I’m fine. Thank you for asking. Yourself?”
      “I’m great,” she glanced at Heero, “Albeit a bit tired however.”
      The bitch factor implied in that glance made everyone a bit shifty...Nikki laying a hand on his chest possessively only enhanced it... She could play sweet very well.
      I forced myself not to flinch.
      Heero’s eyes flickered to me, amused but not, at the same time.
      Taking a breath, he focused on Relena, “I trust you’re well?”
      Relena had a worried look, “What happened to your face? Are you all right?” she glanced at Quatre, something seeming to occur to her, “Whatever happened?”
      Heero almost smiled, “We had a bit of a disagreement. It’s all right now, though.”
      “Why?”
      He smiled then, glancing away from her, “Events...”
      He couldn’t very well tell her it had all started with her. Because it had. Nikki had been fine until she showed up, and most of the rest was Nikki.
      They carried on a light conversation until Quatre looked at his watch and decided it time to go into the dining room.
      Wordlessly, we all stood and followed the Arabian into the hall.
      Zechs and Sally exchanged a look as we started walking.
      Kat and Kris walked beside each other a ways, holding a whispered conference, then Kris fell back beside me and Kat caught up with Trowa.
      Kat fell back to walk on Trowa’s right. I gave Kris a look, wondering what that was all about, she only smiled at me. Heero escorted Nikki on his left arm, right behind Quatre and Sam, Relena on the other side of him. Trowa and Kat were in front of me. Behind me, Wufei walked with Sally and Zechs. They were silent.
      Confused, I looked around. Where was Noin?
      She showed up suddenly and gestured Relena to her. Relena crossed to her friend and listened as she whispered, then nodded and focused on Heero, “They want me to attend a summit here.” she explained.
      He nodded, “Be sure and let them know you’ll have two...”
      She was confused, “Two?”
      I noticed Nikki noticing his suggestion of a grin that Relena didn’t see.
      “Yes, two. Myself and Nikki.” he said it very normally, like she should have known...and for a second I thought she should have, then remembered that she hadn’t been around for the last few years to note his change of interests...
      The vapid cheeriness she used as a shield returned, “Well, the meetings are very boring. Couldn’t Miss Nicole wait here?”
      Wufei resisted snickering, “That wouldn’t be a good idea.”
      Relena focused on him, “What?”
      “Nikki would have to be left with me. I’m not up to it yet.”
      There was a long silence.
      Relena was trying to look confused, everyone else, though, was amused. He wasn’t up to it yet...my ass...
      Kris and I exchanged a glance, then looked to Quatre.
      “Are we ready then?” he asked, before Relena could ask for any further explanation...even if he were telling the truth, Nikki could remedy that with a glance... which I noticed her actually doing...so did Heero. But with her on his arm like some great prize, his eyes laughed at Wufei.

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Kyeian