Thirty-Three

Disappearing Act

      No, he did not just accept my wrist from Heero...
      I tried to think of a quick protest that was more intelligent then ‘Hey!’, but he walked off.
      I would have thought of a better one if he hadn’t unbalanced me by shifting into me when I’d had my knee...he wasn’t supposed to encourage it...his fingers on my leg had also clouded my mind...he wasn’t supposed to encourage it...
      Quatre turned back to the bar.
      I was completely shocked...I stared pointedly at my wrist, which now rested on the counter...his hand still covering it.
      “What else is going to happen...” he muttered disgustedly.
      I glanced up at him.
      He looked at me a second, then looked down to where I was staring.
      “Oh! I’m sorry!” He let it go.
      I situated myself on the stool and moved my arm closer to me, deciding that that had been completely unintentional.
      We were silent a time.
      “I can’t believe he called me a slut...” I sighed, feeling sorry for myself.
      “A nineteen year old slut.” Quatre muttered without thinking about it.
      I looked at his face, still upset, “Thanks for the clarification, Quatre-dear.”
      He gave me a level look, “No problem. Any time.”
      I gave him a disgusted look.
      “I’m sure Heero appreciated your words too.”
      I looked away slightly, not really feeling bad...but a show of acquiesce might help him move on.
      “How many guys play games with you?”
      I turned to look at him, surprised by the abrupt change of subject. “None.”
      “Why not?”
      “Because the instant they start I have them so ready to...”
      “Mmm...what would you do if a friend started playing you?”
      Okay, he was in an odd mood...he must have noticed that I wasn’t sincere...that could bring up the topic... “Depends on our relationship. With Heero, I play back...and win, of course...with Duo...well, he knows better...”
      “What would you do if I did?”
      “You haven’t already?”
      This had gotten amusing...
      He grinned slightly, “I wasn’t serious...What would you do if I really started playing?”
      “Depends on how subtle you are.”
      He nodded, still thinking.
      “Keep in mind that the only way you win is to get layed.”
      He smiled, “That’s not quite fair.”
      I shrugged, “No one said it had to be. But think about it, if you can turn me on enough for me to fuck you, then I probably will. Guys don’t generally turn a girl down.”
      He thought about that, “Is it the same with Sam?”
      I nodded, “It’s the same with all of us.”
      He nodded, “Let’s go.”
      For a second I thought he meant into an alcove...I had no intentions of fucking him, but if he wanted to play that game, I would be sure to win. Instead, however, he led me to Katie.
      “Where’s Trow?” he asked as we reached her, she jumped slightly and turned to us.
      “Oh.” she smiled, “Hi, Quatre, he’s...” she looked around a second, then pointed.
      Trowa was dancing with Relena.
      “Let me cut in...” I hissed in his ear, starting away.
      He grabbed my wrist, “Girls don’t cut in, they huddle in corners feeling sorry for themselves...”
      I looked at his hand on my wrist and stepped close to him, “Don’t grab me like that again, or I’ll be sure you’re sorry for it.”
      He smiled at me, “How would you do that?”
      He reacted rather well to a hand suddenly being under his waist-band and slowly creeping lower. Moving a bit closer to me, he smiled larger, “Do it...”
      I pulled my hand out, meeting his eyes.
      He laughed.
      “You’ve had enough to drink tonight.” I informed him.
      He shook his head, “Not quite. Now, I’ll cut in and you get Trowa.”
      Kat had been watching us, and now grabbed my wrist as Quatre started away, “What’s going on? What was that all about?”
      I shrugged, “He’s managed to learn reverse psychology.”
      She nodded, “So why did you let him win?”
      I smiled, “I don’t want to break him too quickly...this could get fun...”
      She grinned and I started to Trowa again as Quatre cut in.
      Trowa stood back a second, looking around, then saw me approaching and bowed floridly, “Want to dance?”
      I smiled, offering my hand.
      “What’s going on?”
      I sighed, “He’s called another meeting.”
      “Mmm...”
      I grinned evilly, “Sounds familiar...”
      “Tcch...” he blushed, burying his head in my neck.
      I laughed again, “Sorry...Forgive me?”
      He straightened, not looking at me, “Like I could say no.”
      I kissed him and he pulled back, looking at me.
      “You’re too noble.” I informed him.
      “You want me to think of you as an object or something?”
      “I think I’m entitled to a kiss or two, don’t you? I did tell you you were a good kisser, didn’t I?”
      He laughed slightly, holding my eyes, “I vaguely remember you mentioning it...yeah...”
      “Do you object to me kissing you?”
      He looked me over slightly. I fought not to tense, he was being a little obnoxious, “I just don’t want to start seeing you as walking pleasure...”
      I smiled, “I know how to keep that from happening.”
      “Mmm...” That one was feigned.
      I giggled in an obviously fake manner, “I like it deep...”
      He laughed, looking a bit embarrassed as the double meaning hit him...of course, it was a naughty laugh.
      I made myself look innocent, fighting to keep from laughing, “Deeper?” it was more a command than a question...and a bit airy.
      He laughed again, leaning to my ear...and growled.
      That sent a shiver through me...an unexpected shiver.
      I pulled away and looked at him a second, “Do it again...”
      He laughed and indulged me...then saw something, “He’s passed Relena off and he’s dancing with Kris...”
      Suddenly Duo was beside us, “He told me to dance with you...” he looked a bit pouty as he cut in.
      “Go tell Katie?” I asked Trowa and he nodded.
      I smiled at him, then made myself look hurt as I focused on Duo.
      “No, I do want to dance with you. Yes, I love you, and no, you’ve been busy.”
      I smiled, “Okay, smart-ass. What did I ask?”
      He shrugged, making his eyes wide and using a falsetto voice, “‘You don’t want to dance with me...’, ‘Don’t you love me?’, and ‘You didn’t dance with me earlier.’”
      I laughed, “Close, but that last one...”
      He grinned, “You’d say it in such a way that you would be asking for the reason. Now why did Quatre take Kris away from me?”
      I smiled, “He’s calling another meeting.”
      “Sam is with Wufei?”
      I nodded.
      “And they’ve managed to forget what that ringing from those black thingies with buttons means?”
      I nodded again.
      “And Heero went to get them?”
      I sighed, “That pretty much sums it up.”
      He shrugged, “I pride myself on knowing my friends.”
      I smiled at him.
      “Now to you, what’s up?”
      I shrugged, “Same shit, different bird. I don’t want to talk about it right now. Let’s just dance.”
      He nodded, respecting my decision.
      The music stepped up and we started dancing accordingly...dirty.
      After a while, I noticed he was watching something. He focused on me with an appraising look, “What did you do to Trowa?”
      I laughed, a little embarrassed. It wasn’t that I’d done it, it was Duo’s tone, “Nothing...”
      He laughed, “Oh, a favor. All right. Now it makes sense. Look.” he situated us so I could see Trowa. He was actually dancing with Katie...a lot like I was with Duo, only they didn’t have four year’s practice together.
      I laughed, “I want to dance with him...” I made to move.
      Duo laughed, grabbing my arm, “Nuh-uh. I want to have some fun...”
      Before the next song could start, Quatre came up to us, “Let’s go.”
      Kat was flushed and laughing as we headed into the hall, “Where’d you learn to dance like that?” she asked Trowa.
      He smiled at her and shrugged, “Here and there...”
      She laughed some more and it was a relief to hear her happy conversation.
      She ended up on Trowa’s back...it wasn’t that she was tired, she wasn’t...it was that she liked Trowa...a lot. She’d be a bit upset with me if she realized I’d done him a favor...but he still saw her as a child...sort of. Not really. But she was underage, so he wasn’t allowing himself to get too interested.
      Kris and I exchanged a look, ‘So?’ she mouthed to me. I grinned at her and shrugged. She knew I did him the favor.
      “What?” Trowa asked as we turned a corner.
      I laughed, “Nothing, Trowa-dear. Nothing at all...”
      He looked to Kris, then met my eyes, raising an eyebrow.
      I nodded.
      He leaned forward and growled in Kris’s ear.
      She shivered and jumped, “Don’t!”
      I started laughing as Trowa shook his head defensively, “Nikki told me to...”
      Quatre gave me a raised eyebrow look, then Trowa one, then laughed, shaking his head.
      “Hey!” Kat protested.
      He looked back at her, “I’d have to put you down.”
      She shrugged and he set her down...then he repeated the gesture to her, she shivered too and giggled, meeting his eyes with a smile.
      Duo sighed in mock remorse, “I could never make any of you shiver...”
      I smiled at him, “That’s because you haven’t tried, Duo-dear. Like you said, you know us. You could do it, if you really wanted to.”
      He grinned at me as we reached the study door.
      Quatre opened it and stepped through, he wasn’t in as high of spirits as we’d all managed to reach...I figured he didn’t want to bring down the mood...but he seemed to be catching more of it.
      Duo made the gesture of ladies first and I stepped in front of him before it occurred to me what that twinkle in his eyes meant...he ran his fingers up my spine and I shivered bad, turning on him.
      He died laughing, dancing back out of my reach, then looked at Quatre, “I thought you guys made a good choice earlier with that dress...but now...I know you did.”
      Quatre grinned at that, “Heero mentioned that she might be a good girl in a backless...I’ll have to try that...” he started to me but I backed up.
      “Nuh-uh...”
      He laughed, then grinned, then went pouty, “Please?”
      “No.”
      He acted hurt and turned from me.
      I laughed and turned too, heading for his desk. It hadn’t completely registered that he hadn’t finished his turn...
      I shivered again as Quatre copied Duo’s gesture, turning on him and missing him too.
      They were quick and quiet...I knew that...but once in a while it slipped my mind.
      He laughed the same naughty laugh that Duo and Trowa had...and Heero...but stayed out of reach.
      I pretended to pout as I sat on his desk.
      Trowa smiled at me from across the room, then sat down on the couch.
      “Sorry...” Quatre was still proud of himself, not exactly sincere, either.
      Before I could reply, the door flew open to reveal Heero with Sam, “Why did you have to do that!” he demanded of me, he was pissed.
      I blinked, remembering what’d happened before he left...with Milliardo...Zechs... which was what he was referring to.
      “Or is this something else you’re going to avoid answering?”
      “Kiss ass! Oh my God! You just ruined my good mood.”
      “Like I care. You ruined my entire fucking night!” he was touching the bruise on his throat gingerly and I lost the question that tried to surface before it registered. “I asked you to stop.” he thought about it a second, “Leave Zechs alone.”
      I met his eyes, disgusted...and surprised. Definitely surprised. Why was he so pissed about this? He’d encouraged me with Trowa...and thought it funny with Quatre... but now, with...Zechs, he was...was...
      Wufei appeared behind them, confused.
      “Heero, you’re digging a hole...” Katie started.
      “Shut-up, Kat. Not right now.” Heero didn’t even look at her.
      “Heero.” Trowa’s voice was ice.
      I also glared at him, where did he get off telling Kat to shut-up? Kat!
      “You should have known that wouldn’t work, and as for Zechs, he wanted to know, after all...” Sam detached herself from his arm.
      He looked at her a second, then turned to me, “And tomorrow will you show him again and let it get carried away? Make sure you’re in a room with lock on the door? Handful of condoms? Did you see his face? Do you realize...if I hadn’t come in...” he was searching for words.
      I shook my head, not wanting to deal with this, as I slid off the desk.
      He was treating me like I was easy again.
      The dumb-ass was acting as if I didn’t realize that I’d gone too far tonight...he was right...Zechs had been way too into it...but couldn’t he wait ‘til we were alone?
      Of course, none of them were really happy with him right now, so going to argue with him alone wouldn’t settle with most of them...even though we had made it clear that we were better...except he still seemed to think he was my keeper or something...or that we were together, but he probably thought I was still just playing mind games with him again...and...Oh...I hated this! He was too confusing! I couldn’t read his fucking mind!
      Quatre came up beside me, leaning against his desk also. Kat sat next to Trowa on the couch, a hurt expression on her face, and Duo sat next to her. He lay a hand on her knee in the typical Duo comfort gesture. Kris had sat in my seat between Duo and Quatre’s stunts. Sam now started toward us and Wufei stopped a step behind Heero.
      “Do you realize, Nikki, that...”
      “We can discuss this later, Heero.”
      “Later?”
      “Later. We don’t need to ruin everyone’s night by arguing again.”
      “Let’s go.” he held out a hand, stepping toward me.
      “Later, Heero.”
      He leveled me with his cool cold gaze as Wufei moved passed him into the room, leaning against the back of the couch on the other side of Duo.
      “Don’t look at me like that.”
      “I want to discuss this now, Nikki.”
      “Discuss?” I demanded, thinking fast, “You mean argue...we don’t discuss shit, or hadn’t you noticed?”
      He didn’t say anything to that.
      I shook my head, “Why?”
      “Because if not now, then we won’t.”
      “I don’t really have a problem with that, Angel.”
      His eyes flared and he walked toward me.
      “Hey, Heero, calm down.” Trowa said, an edge to his voice as he stood.
      He stopped and looked to his comrade, “Trowa, everything is fine.”
      “Just like everything was fine last time?” Trowa returned, not even budging.
      Heero seemed to deflate, then closed his eyes a second.
      With raised eyebrows, Sam and Quatre exchanged a glance...and Quatre turned greenish.
      I looked Sam over quickly, before realizing that she had a hickey...it hadn’t been there earlier.
      That was bad. Quatre was interested in her for more than sex, and...well, Wufei wasn’t.
      “Back off.” Trowa said through clenched teeth. He looked pissed. He didn’t know how Heero and I argued...face to face, maybe an inch separating us when we weren’t yelling and calling each other names...not many people did...
      Heero stepped back, surprised at his comrade’s ice...so was I, but Trowa had a way of being protective.
      “Heero, she doesn’t want to talk about it right now.” Samantha started. Her tone cold and annoyed, “Go ahead and go back to your room. She’ll be there later.”
      That sounded fairly condescending...
      “Sam...” his tone was sharp, but he checked it, focusing on me, “Please?”
      “No, Heero. I’m not going to fucking discuss it with you ‘til I’m ready to.”
      His eyes flared again.
      At one point in my life, I would have been scared of him, but now, I knew him... and even if I had been, Quatre standing beside me was a reassurance...okay, so I was a bit unnerved by him...he was really pissed.
      He stopped so close I could smell him...and Quatre moved back slightly...he always smelled good...and if I weren’t so annoyed, that would have distracted me, I glared up at him.
      He started to lean toward me, but thought better of it, “Let’s go.” he grabbed my wrist, his grip firm but gentle. I was most of the way to the door when someone grabbed my other wrist and yanked me away.
      I turned, shocked to see Wufei’s angered face, “She doesn’t want to leave, Heero.” he pulled me out of his way and let me go, advancing further, “You need to show her more respect...”
      Things went a little...off...then.
      Words were exchanged. Sam joined me as the two argued.
      They circled each other as they spoke and I was surprised they hadn’t started fighting yet.
      “Hey, you two, calm down. Back up...” Quatre stepped close to them.
      Annoyed, Heero and Wufei separated, pacing like caged animals.
      Kat and Kris were standing on our side of the couch. Trowa and Duo were behind Quatre.
      “He doesn’t even know half the shit...” Heero started, gesturing to Wufei.
      “Hey...” I pushed past the three, stepping between Heero and Wufei as he also focused.
      “That doesn’t matter. Maybe if you would...” Wufei started.
      I gave him a look, silencing him.
      Heero looked down at me a second before I was promptly removed from in front of him by a gentle pull on my arm...the hand, the pull was too strong to resist.
      Trowa shook his head once before letting me go.
      “Leave her alone!” Heero was still pissed, pushing Duo and Quatre to one side slightly as he approached us. “Oh my God! Do you honestly think I’m going to hurt her or something?”
      Trowa nodded, “Something like that.”
      Heero shook his head, looking as if...he decked Trowa before I could say anything.
      Then they were both fighting...Duo and Quatre moved in quickly, trying to pull them apart...this was nothing like Quatre and Heero’s fight. In that fight, they’d both been tired...not to mention over-stressed...now it was cold anger from Heero...complete, cold, raw anger...and I couldn’t tell with Trowa.
      Wufei pulled me away from the four quickly, backing us all up a good five feet. He had both arms out so we couldn’t go around him and was completely focused, ignoring me as I tried to push around him...to an extent. He wasn’t letting me by.
      Duo finally managed to pull Heero back as Quatre got a better hold on Trowa. Heero wasn’t even struggling, but you could see in his eyes that if Duo let go then he’d be at Trowa again in an instant.
      Trowa was struggling a little, not much.
      “This is bull-shit.” Quatre informed them, “You two...”
      “That was my fault.” Heero replied, still glaring.
      “Not entirely.” Duo looked annoyed. I couldn’t quite tell at what, though.
      “That’s not helping, Duo.” Quatre informed him
      He shrugged, letting go of Heero.
      Heero straightened, eyeing Trowa as Quatre gave Duo a look of daggers and let Trowa go too.
      I was moving before I knew it...before Heero could put his entire weight on that foot...he’d started to step forward. I stopped directly in front of him. It occurred to me how efficient a block that was when Trowa’s movement also stopped quickly. They might want to hurt each other, but they wouldn’t hurt anyone else to do it.
      Heero was shocked.
      He flinched slightly as I touched his cheek, but allowed me to direct his face wherever I wanted it. He didn’t seem too upset, but he avoided my eyes. He was glaring across at Trowa, completely focused...if Trowa moved wrong Heero would be ready...and I’d probably be on the floor a few feet away...I turned and glanced at Kat, who was standing there in a sort of shock.
      She nodded slightly and moved to Trowa. Kat stood directly in front of him and gave him the same treatment I was giving Heero.
      The threat of more fighting was gone...for now.
      “You can stop now.” He informed me.
      I pulled his face down so he was meeting my eyes.
      He had both eyebrows raised and shook his head, pulling it out of my grip before I could say anything.
      I sighed, leaning against him.
      He seemed surprised, for some reason...He was hesitant as he wrapped his arms around me...as if unsure....
      “You scare me.” I muttered as I lay my head against his chest.
      “What?” He asked quietly...he sounded surprised...but not by my words...
      “You scare me...you know it...every time you fight...”
      “Nikki...”
      “You need to stop.”
      “Why?”
      “I don’t want you to get hurt...” I said it before I thought about it. I was supposed to be pissed at him...but when he actually fought it always scared me...
      He was definitely surprised... “What?”
      His tone...I took a breath not sure how to reply.
      “I didn’t mean it!” Trowa’s voice had risen and I turned to look, glad for the distraction.
      Katie had obviously been lecturing him...
      “I know him better than that...”
      Kat muttered something.
      “I just said it...”
      I turned back to Heero, who had also looked up, we now met eyes.
      “I didn’t expect him to get that pissed...” Trowa was still talking to Kat.
      “It was sort of obvious he was pissed when he threw the door open.” Quatre cut in, “How could you not realize that telling him he’d hurt her would piss him off?”
      Trowa sighed heavily, looking to Heero.
      Heero returned the look without any emotion...not his normal emotionless look... the one I could read...it was completely emotionless...
      “You meant it.” Heero informed him flatly.
      Trowa looked away a second, then refocused, “Yes. I did.”
      “So don’t pull the bull-shit that you didn’t mean it...”
      “I meant it...but I didn’t feel it...”
      Heero gave him an appraising look, “I really don’t give a fuck.”
      Which explained the unreadable look.
      Trowa didn’t reply. They glared at each other, each equally pissed.
      “What I do care about, is that you guys don’t trust me.” his arms tightened slightly.
      “No.” Trowa broke in, “We do trust you. You’ve just been pissing us off with some of the shit you pull...”
      “I pull? I hate to break it to ya, buddy, but that innocent look...” he shook his head, “Nuh-uh...”
      I decided not to say anything...it was true, after all.
      Trowa was watching me, waiting for my protest. I met his eyes without saying anything.
      “I know you’re gra...” Heero started, but I turned back to him sharply. He did not need to share what he knew.
      He met my eyes, not happy, but conceded.
      “So if you all trust me so much, then why...”
      “Because you’re pissing us off.” Quatre re-stated, “We know that something else will happen to piss us off if you two are alone again...whether or not it’s your fault,” he added before Heero could protest, “Is an entirely different question...
      “No.” Wufei’s voice was flat, “I don’t like the way he treats her.”
      Heero looked at him without saying anything.
      “I just don’t understand how you can...”
      Quatre made a ‘stop’ gesture, turning from Heero.
      “Don’t stop me. You know I’m right...he doesn’t show her nearly enough respect...”
      They started arguing...not about proper respect, but about stopping...well...they were still arguing about proper respect...just not completely dealing with me.
      Heero joined back in, the main gist being ‘I know her limits’ against ‘respect her’ and ‘calm down’. There was a spattering of ‘trust’ and ‘scared’ thrown in along with gentle squeezes...which I assumed were to illustrate a point...If I didn’t trust him, then why was I letting him hold me? He was gesturing a lot with his left arm and there were a few names...‘few’ being an understatement...I only understood a couple of the other language ones...Quatre’s and Heero’s...sometimes. It was more tone than knowledge...and of course, I understood the ones in English. As it progressed, there was little to understand.
      A lot of this conversation...argument...wasn’t in English.
      “Nikki, don’t you agree with me...” Wufei’s voice sounded odd...suddenly being understood and all...
      I couldn’t say one way or the other because I had no idea what was being said.
      Heero snapped something I didn’t quite catch in Arabic, followed by “...she doesn’t matter right now...” in English.
      It was almost amusing to hear the clipped languages. Almost.
      “Heero...” I started, wanting clarification, annoyed. “Jesus...” he wasn’t paying attention.
      Aggravated, I exchanged a glance with Sam and pulled away from him...he didn’t notice.
      I started for the door.
      No one stopped us as we left the room and started down the hall.
      No one followed.
      We turned a corner and ran into a unit of Quatre’s guards, but something was... definitely not right...
      Suddenly, we were being grabbed for.
      Finally, at some point, I met Sam’s eyes and made a pointed gesture to my ring.
      Neither of us ever took them off.
      Understanding, she pulled hers off and dropped it. It landed with an unnoticeable kling.
      I did the same.
      Blind-folds were placed over our heads...
      If Heero found them, then he would know...
      If...

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Kyeian