Forty-Two

While Away

      That night, Nikki, Kris, Kat and I decided to sleep in the study so that Nikki could monitor the console for incoming messages.
      We tried to make it fun for each other, like a slumber party, but it was no use.
      We were too worried about the boys.
      We slept fitfully, Nikki wouldn’t let us take turns so she could rest. Why she was refusing was beyond me...she was really tired...There was a message at one thirty saying they’d be home around noon or one o’clock.
      Morning came.
      So did Relena. She stalked in purposefully, eyes on Nikki.
      “I know you have a...relationship...with Heero.” she began.
      “Wow, guys, she has eyes...” Nikki broke in sarcastically, “I was starting to think she was blind.”
      Nikki was short on sleep and sick with worry, and Relena had just realized Heero might not be hers anymore. This could be an interesting argument--and dangerous.
      “So don’t sleep with Wufei.” Relena grated.
      Nikki just laughed, “Why would I?”
      “I don’t know. Why did you?”
      “Hear that?” Nikki turned to us, “I slept with Wufei!”
      “Really?” I asked, knowing I shouldn’t encourage this, “When was this? Was it good?”
      “I don’t know. Let me check.” she turned back to Relena, “When, where, and how hard?”
      Relena looked confused, disgusted, and shocked speechless. The usually composed minister stood with her mouth gaping.
      “Listen, Miss Relena,” Nikki said in a low voice, dead serious now, “I have never slept with Wufei, I will never sleep with Wufei. In fact, I will never sleep with anyone other than Heero.”
      “And have you?” Relena asked venomously.
      “Slept with Heero?” Nikki smiled, “That would be telling.”
      I prayed she would leave it at that, and when Relena stalked out, I released an explosive breath I hadn’t realize I’d been holding.
      Nikki didn’t like Relena, and she could say so much to hurt her...so could I, but I didn’t feel the particular need to do so...Relena was smart in simply leaving.
      Nikki glared at the door a minute.
      “The boys will hear about this, Nikki.” I warned.
      “Who’s going to tell them?” she scoffed, her anger re-directed.
      Three hands went in the air simultaneously.
      “You see?” I asked, “Now it’s just a up to you, which of us gets to tell Heero.”


      The five of us left our Gundams on the Lunar Base and “borrowed” a shuttle to take us to the nearest colony.
      We found a shopping mall and went in. And stopped.
      “Where to?” I asked.
      “Depends on what you want to buy for her.” Heero told me.
      “I want to get Kat a necklace.” Trowa put in.
      “Right,” Duo said decisively, “To the jewelry store.”
      “Which one?” Wufei asked pointedly, skeptically eyeing the list of jewelry stores on the directory.
      “The nearest one.” I offered, pointing to a store off to our left.
      Trowa was already headed that way, and the rest of us caught up quickly.
      He searched the cases for a likely necklace while the rest of us stood around staring off into space or at all the shiny things in the store.
      Something in a case caught my eye. It was a set of wedding rings, plain gold with an inscription in Arabic. I looked up to see a sales woman behind the counter.
      “Can I help you with something, Sir?”
      “I need an engagement ring to go with that set,” I said, pointing. Now why had I said that? She was pointing at all sorts of diamond rings, and I stood there bemused.
      “Duo!” I called, “Come here.”
      “What?” he asked, appearing beside me.
      “Help me find a ring...” I trailed off, seeing his expression. He was completely shocked, not exactly judging, but shocked.
      “A ring,” he blinked. He took a moment to think that over, then shook himself and looked down at the counter.
      “It’s not...maybe not for...” I trailed off again, “I probably won’t give it to her right away. Maybe never...but I’m thinking about it...”
      “I think...” he paused, staring at a ring. “That one. It’ll go with a pair of earrings she wears a lot...Are you sure?”
      I told the woman I’d take the rings, and looked at Duo while she took them out of the case.
      “You think it’s a bad idea?” I asked him.
      “What sizes, Sir?” the woman asked.
      “The men’s ring’s a twelve. Duo, what size does she wear, do you know?”
      “Six, seven, eight.” he replied.
      “Huh?”
      “Clothes, ring, shoes. Six, seven, eight.”
      “Oh. Seven.” I told the woman.
      “How would you like to pay for these, Sir?”
      “Credit.” I replied, reaching for my wallet. I put a handful of credit cards on the counter because I didn’t know which ones the jewelry store accepted.
      Her eyes opened wide at the name printed on all of them, and I tried not to groan.
      “Uh...which one, Mr. Winner?” she asked, rifling through the pile of plastic before her.
      “Whichever you like.” Duo was wearing a self righteous grin that I’m almost positive was designed to annoy me.
      It didn’t quite work, but came very close.
      “Hold on a moment...Trowa, have you found a necklace yet?” I called.
      “No.”
      “Hey, Quatre, what about these?” Heero pointed to a pair of earrings he’d been studying for a while now.
      “I’ll take those, too.” I told the sales woman. “And could you gift wrap the earrings?”
      “Of course, Mr. Winner, what would you like on the tag?”
      “‘To Nikki, from Heero’.”
      After a few moments, she handed me a package and a handful of plastic cards, and we left the store.
      Duo found some bubble bath for Kris in a girlie type store that had an almost cloying perfumy smell about it--the store, not the bubbles. They smelled pretty good.
      Wufei wouldn’t tell me who the jade bracelet was for at the third jewelry store we went to, but Trowa finally found a pearl necklace at the fifth store. It was just a single pearl on a delicate gold chain.
      I saw a white teddy bear in a toy store and bought it for Sam. I also found a copy of Shakespeare’s Sonnets for her at the book store.
      We kept getting distracted by other stores, so we ended up with a bunch of crap for ourselves as well as little trinkets for the girls...we all ended up choosing little things for all of them...this was getting a bit out of hand.
      I was trying to find somewhere to draw out some cash, because every time I set a card down, eyes went wide and people stammered...it was really annoying, like I was a celebrity or some shit...a few times, lesser employees even fetched a superior...I was sure that every item I bought at every clothes store in this damn mall would end up in the paper...I was almost positive a few corporate headquarters would be calling and asking me to model their clothes...it’d happened before.
      Then we saw the adult shop.
      “Hey, guys,” Duo alerted us to the shop.
      Heero rolled his eyes.
      “Come here, Quatre. I’ve got to show you something.” Duo gestured to it with his head, starting in that direction, a sly grin on his face.
      Heero was laughing now.
      I raised a skeptical eyebrow and followed him in.
      He led me to a display of bottles and jars and...toys.
      Heero’s voice came from just behind me. “I told you she likes sticky stuff.”
      “So...” I picked up a bottle and read the label. ‘Vanilla flavored edible massage oil’. One jar was labeled only, ‘Strawberry’ “What exactly does one do with ‘Strawberry’?”
      Duo looked up from the fur covered handcuffs he was holding, “Be creative. I’d go with massage oil or a lubricant, though, if I were you. For the rest, just raid the kitchen.” He pointed to a set of glow-in-the-dark foreplay dice and said, “Those are fun, but don’t buy them.”
      “Why not?” I was curious.
      “She’s already got a set.” he smirked.
      “Oh. Are you ready to go?” I took the vanilla oil and set the ‘strawberry’ jar back on the shelf.
      To my surprise, Duo took the handcuffs to the register, and Heero had three boxes of condoms. They didn’t explain. We paid in cash, and the clerk put our items in nondescript floral bags with the tops stapled shut.
      We left the store.
      On our way out of the mall, I saw a sock store. There was a pair of pink leopard print toe socks in the window, so I bought those before we left too.
      Duo got the bright idea as we left...he was looking into one of the many fashion clothes shops, eyeing the little outfits and more than likely imagining Kris in a few of them...of course, we were all doing that...
      “Hey, L-1 isn’t that far from here. Why don’t we pick up their clothes and stuff?”


      We stopped at my apartment to eat and get my necessities...like my lap top and Nikki’s perfume...she’d been upset when I hadn’t brought it to her before I came back the other night...Wow, that was two weeks ago...it didn’t seem like that long. She’d pouted for me to bring it over...of course, I’d gotten too paranoid to remember it when we left. I’d completely forgotten about it until we’d arrived at Dr. J’s again. I smiled.
      I was given looks as they noticed the perfume.
      “What?” Trowa asked, mildly amused.
      It was obviously feminine.
      “She’s wanted me to take this back to her house since the day before we left.” I explained.
      “You have her perfume?” Wufei asked as we headed out the door.
      I made a face at him, “You have no idea how much of Nikki’s shit is in here...” I nodded back at the door as I checked the lock and set the alarm.
      We were silent as we headed out of the building...Nikki’s was only three blocks away, so we didn’t call a cab.
      Wufei grinned, “You’ve always had a shit load of female stuff in your apartments...I’d wondered about it, but you pawned it off as a girlfriends...”
      I shrugged, “She was a girl, and my friend. I wasn’t going to tell you that she spent as much time at my place as I did at hers...” I decided not to mention that his visiting me stopped me from seeing her.
      “See...” Duo said, grinning, “I told you they’ve been together without knowing it forever now...”
      I wasn’t sure who he was saying it to, but I decided it best to ignore it.
      “Were you worried I’d take her away?” Wufei asked, an evil cast to his eye...as well as sincerity...he knew.
      I shrugged, “I didn’t want you to get too interested in her. Remember, you slept with all the other girls I introduced you to...even my girlfriend...”
      Wufei laughed, “I told you I was sorry about that. She was something...” he trailed off, remembering.
      “What was her name again?” I honestly couldn’t remember.
      He looked at me, trying to remember, “I have no idea...there was that one chick... uhh...Kristen?”
      I shook my head, “No...”
      “Callie?” Duo asked helpfully.
      I looked at Wufei, “Was it?”
      He thought a second, shaking his head as Nikki’s apartment building came into view, “I don’t think so...”
      “Megan? Jessica? Katie...not Kat...that one blond chick...”
      I shrugged, “Oh well, it doesn’t matter.”
      Wufei smiled, “You have the one you want now. If you ever sleep around on her I’m gonna kick your ass.”
      I looked at him, “Like I would do that to her...” I shook my head.
      Duo and I were recognized by the security usher at the doors and he let us pass without question...the fact that they had one of the most expensive apartments in the building helped with that.
      Duo took the lead, happily, taking the steps two or three at a time, he had a little too much energy.
      “You remember which apartment don’t you?” I called, amused.
      “Of course, Mighty Bright.” he replied, not losing his mood, “It’s the only one on that side this high up.”
      I grinned.
      “So we’re just gonna jimmy the lock?” Quatre asked as the door came into sight.
      “Nope. I have a key.” I replied, surprised as Duo jingled his own key-ring in his pocket...he did, too.
      They all turned to look at me and I reached into my pocket, passing them all. I grinned again, “I also know how to turn off the alarm system...”
      I couldn’t figure out why that’d surprised them...they’d all come to visit me...and Quatre had all her information...and they’d all come in without question when I’d unlocked it before...
      “Yeah, easy as getting to Nikki in the bathroom...” Duo joked as I opened the door.
      I laughed, “No. I actually know the code.”
      Duo chuckled, stepping around me and putting the code in himself.
      “Why?” Wufei asked, watching the pair of us in mild surprise.
      “Because it’s Nikki...” Duo replied. “Of course Heero’ll know the code and have a key.” he grinned.
      “Saying nothing about you.” I noted.
      They laughed as we entered.
      A mixed smell of Nikki, Sam, and Kris met our noses. Faint light filtered in the scattered windows and everything seemed dim.
      I looked over the room and up to the loft, then headed to the right to get Nikki’s things.
      “Umm...” Quatre started, he hadn’t stepped over the threshold, Wufei and Trowa behind him.
      “Come on, Quatre, her stuff’s up here.” Duo replied as he started up the stairs.
      “Where’s Kat’s stuff?” Trowa asked, stepping in and looking around.
      “The dorms.” I replied, “Do you remember where they are, Wufei? You were there often enough...” I grinned to my comrade.
      He smiled in return, “Yeah. But I don’t know her room.”
      “I know. It’s one-sixty-four.”
      They nodded and disappeared back into the hall.
      Carelessly, I began throwing clothes onto the bed and half listening to Duo and Quatre as they talked.
      We’d arrived on L-1, at Dr. J’s facility. Quatre had ordered some boxes to be sent here. They were discussing when the boxes would arrive, among other things...such as what shouldn’t be left to the movers and if they would want to stay at Quatre’s or get their own apartments again...
      I started to get annoyed after a while. I couldn’t find her damned tank top. She wore the thing all the time...and it looked really good on her...
      I vaguely remembered her folding it and dropping it into a drawer...
      I pulled the sock drawer open and smiled. The shirt was piled on top of her socks. I threw them in the pile and set the tank on the dresser.
      “Hello?” A voice called from the door and I turned to see a man holding boxes, looking unsure.
      “Hey, finally.” I heard Duo reply.
      I stood and met him at the door, accepting the boxes with a nod.
      He asked for Quatre to sign his clipboard and I realized how tense we were.
      Quatre passed the clipboard back and I noticed Duo standing ready just out of sight.
      The man looked unnerved as he passed a tape dispenser to Quatre. He accepted it and handed it to Duo, “Thank you.”
      “No problem...Mr. Winner. Have a great day...”
      Quatre smiled, “You too.” he shut the door as the man started away.
      We let out an explosive breath.
      “We’re too tense...come on, let’s go face the bathroom...” smiling slightly, I headed in that direction...their bathroom was always amusing.
      Quatre trailed behind me. Duo tossed the tape dispenser on Nikki’s bed and followed.
      Flipping the bathroom light on, I grinned, turning to see Quatre’s face.
      His eyes opened wide as they focused on the line of bottles under the mirror, bottles marked “Peaches’n’cream” and “Sex Grease”. Most of them were half empty; none were completely full.
      “Who’s...” he started.
      “Those are Sam’s.” Duo replied, smiling.
      “Nikki doesn’t play with sticky stuff.” I replied, “Kris doesn’t really talk about it.”
      Duo snickered, “Nikki doesn’t?” he reached above the cupboard, pulling a purple basket off the top shelf. He grinned at me, a naughty grin...
      He continued grinning as he pulled a bottle marked ‘Grape’ out of the basket.
      I was shocked, “How do you...”
      “Know it’s Nikki’s?” he grinned, “We went shopping once...”
      “Glad to know I’m not the only one who’s shocked today...” Quatre muttered, refocusing on the line of bottles under the mirror.
      “If you think about it,” Duo said thoughtfully, tossing me the three-quarters full bottle, “It’s not really surprising about either of them. Grab’em all, Quatre, Sam might want to play with them. I’m gonna go pack Kris’s stuff.” he turned and walked away, looking a little self-conscious or something...like he was avoiding something.
      Quatre met my eyes a moment, shrugging it off.
      “You know they used to date, right?” I asked, knowing he didn’t.
      “Sam and Duo?” Quatre was surprised.
      “Yeah. Surprised me too, at first...”
      Quatre thought about it a moment, “No, it’s really not that surprising...some of the others, maybe, but...not so much Sam and Duo...”
      “Not so much?” I asked, amused. Obviously he’d been around Sam...her phrases were easy to pick up, like ‘Watch me care...’
      He grinned at me, and started grabbing bottles, “Not so much.” he agreed.
      I chuckled, looking at the bottle of ‘Grape’ in my hand. “Not so much...” I repeated quietly, “Duo must’ve talked her into buying this...”
      I hadn’t said it quietly and suddenly we could hear Duo laughing. Laughing very hard.
      I looked out the door, “Or maybe Duo bought it for her...”
      He laughed even harder, and I felt relieved. I was right, and Duo’s laughter only confirmed it. Nikki didn’t buy sticky stuff.

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Kyeian