Forty-Eight

Decisions

      “What do you think their problem is?” Duo asked me, leaning against the table, his hands in his pockets. I looked at him a moment, he was wearing a red jacket, it was unzipped so you could see his black button-up shirt underneath. I vaguely noticed the top two buttons were undone...I refocused on the table as he leaned against it.
      I had decided to go bitch and ask Duo to take me shopping, the ulterior motive, of course, was to decide what to do about Heero and Kris’s increasing irritability at us.
      And exactly what we’d tell them.
      “Probably that we didn’t tell them.” I replied, setting a figurine back down, “And we still flirt...”
      He chuckled, “They don’t seem to realize that flirting with you is second nature.” he spotted something on the table, “Kris would like this...”
      I nodded.
      He picked up a dolphin one, “You think Kitty would like this one?”
      I nodded again, “She’d like anything you bought for her. It upset Heero, you know.”
      He nodded, his face going blank for a moment, still looking at the figurines. “That’s not surprising.” he sighed heavily, “We’ve been friends for a long time so it’s kinda a betrayal. More so than he knows...”
      I shook my head, understanding, “That’s true. It hadn’t even occurred to me...”
      “And it’s not like you two were a couple at the time...” he went on, showing his selections to the man, passing them over, defending himself even though he didn’t need to...to me, “I mean...sheesh...” he traded money for the boxes, “He’s acting like you cheated on him or something...it’ll be something else when he gets the whole truth...” he thought about it, “Of course, he had already let me know he wanted you...”
      “Which explains your hesitation.” I showed the man the figurine I’d chosen and he took it, “I was wondering about that.” I smiled, “You were the first to hold out that long...”
      He smiled largely at me, “Well, I couldn’t exactly hold out against that, but I tried...A man can only do so much...” he grinned. “I really did try...at first...”
      I laughed, exchanging money for the box.
      “Where to now?” he asked, his stomach growling.
      I grinned, “Let’s go eat.”
      He smiled appreciatively, not noticing I’d heard, starting to walk again. I smiled as I trailed behind him, remembering how much fun he could be. He stopped suddenly, and I nearly walked into him.
      “Duo...” I protested.
      He offered me an arm. “Do you have anywhere particular in mind to eat?” he asked gallantly, “Or can we go to my place of preference?” he grinned.
      As long as there’s no fish involved, lead on...”
      He nodded and we started walking again as I leaned on his arm.
      “He should have let me know too.” I decided, picking up our conversation.
      He nodded, “Probably, but none of them expected us to ever get together in anyway, ‘specially...”
      I nodded as he trailed off, grinning at me.
      I couldn’t help but laugh. “I’d nearly forgotten...”
      “Gee, thanks...” he murmured sarcastically, “I didn’t realize I was that easy to forget...”
      “That’s not what I meant...”
      He grinned at me again, “I know. But it came out wrong.”
      I winked, “I don’t think I could forget you.”
      He grinned at me much like Heero had when I’d said he had every right to be proud.
      And so it continued, us discussing how they shouldn’t be upset as we ate and shopped some more, not actually deciding on what to do.
      I was browsing through some clothes in one of the department stores when I noticed Duo getting agitated.
      “What...” I started after a while, annoyed.
      Suddenly, he was holding me, his mouth close to my ear, “We’re being followed.” he murmured.
      “Shit...” I wrapped my arms around him, “What do they want, you think?”
      “I have no idea...probably you...” he hugged me to him slightly, “You have your gun, right?”
      “Of course.” I replied, annoyed.
      “And you’re using my shoulder to shield your mouth, aren’t you?”
      I looked up to him, one eyebrow raised, his shoulder was about level with my eyes.
      When I met his eyes, he was slightly annoyed, after a second, I realized why. We were posing as a couple, which meant....I kissed him...not lightly and pulled away as a flirtatious lover would, lightly yanking at his braid and running.
      Smiling, he gave chase.
      Thinking quickly, I went toward a breezeway that led outside.
      We turned the corner and stopped.
      “Come on.” he said, grabbing my arm so I walked even with him, his eyes everywhere.
      “Slow down, Duo. You’re walking too fast.”
      He slowed down, “We need to get to the car.”
      “I know. But they’ll get suspicious if we’re running.”
      “Fine.” he was annoyed, “Anywhere you’d like to stop on the way? We have so much time you know...”
      I sighed, “Just act normal. We still need to decide what to tell them...”
      “Let’s just tell them the truth...” his eyes were still scanning.
      “You sure?”
      “Yes. I can’t lie to Kris, and wouldn’t even if I could.”
      “Have you told her then?”
      The only problem with her knowing, was that Heero didn’t know, and Heero would be upset. Very upset, that’s why I was surprised Duo said to tell the truth...sort of surprised, anyway, they were best friends...I wondered how long that would last...
      “No.” he looked at me, “I avoided the subject.”
      I nodded.
      We turned the corner into the parking garage, “Could you really lie to Heero?” he asked, glancing down at me quickly.
      I grinned, “No.” if it had been someone not in my close circle, I would have lied. “I’ve avoided it too, though he can tell some of it.”
      Duo smirked at my admittance.
      I heard someone behind us as we reached the car and a silhouette appeared to my right.
      “Duo Maxwell, Nicole Kaze...” a familiar voice called from behind.
      That voice...
      “Shit...get in.” Duo said and I did, glad he’d taken control. “I hate it when they know my name...” he muttered, putting the car in reverse, “Buckle.”
      I already had. I was in shock, “That was Nikol...” I muttered, feeling slightly panicked and sick to my stomach, “Nikol, Duo, Nikol...” I was rocking slightly in my seat, my eyes closed. “Why does it have to be Nikol...Duo...”
      Duo understood. His hand on my knee was a great reassurance. He removed his hand long enough to put the car in gear, “It’s all right, Nikki...everything will be fine...” he met my eyes momentarily, then refocused on the road.
      Gunshots rang out behind us and he took off with a squeal of tires.


      The car Nikki and Duo had left in appeared down the road, somehow managing to appear wild. That was how Duo drove when rushed...
      It stopped and they got out, not waiting for the valet to open the door.
      Nikki had tears in her eyes...Duo hugged her briefly.
      What is going on?
      Without a word, he led her to me and turned to Kris.
      “What’s going on?” I demanded, unsure. I could tell she’d been crying.
      Fresh sobs racked her and she pulled me to her, burying her face in my chest. I wrapped my arms around her, still confused.
      When they’d left, she had been pissed at me...Duo taking her shopping was a direct result of that...and now...
      “Nikki?”
      “We met an old friend of hers...well, actually, we only heard him...” Duo informed me, coming up beside us with one arm around Kris. He ran his free hand through the length of Nikki’s hair, focused on her, “It was Nikol.”
      Understanding now, I pulled her closer to me. His hand subsided.
      I trusted her...and him...Why were these slight gestures of affection unnerving me? She’d said it was a fling, so it was...so why was Duo running his fingers through her hair?
      For some reason, Nikki accepting it silently was worse than her attitude toward Wufei.
            At least with Wufei, nothing would come of it...and I could be sure of that.
      With Duo, however, I didn’t really know how to react...


      Heero led Nikki in, she was crying...or had been, at least. Duo was with Kris about a step behind.
      They all looked worried.
      “What’s going on?” I asked, not sure what to make of it.
      Heero pulled Nikki to him slightly, “Nikol found them today.”
      “Is...” I focused on Nikki, “Are...” I wasn’t sure exactly what to say.
      He nodded, “They’re fine. Nikki’s just shook up.”
      I nodded as Sam came up beside me, “What’s the matter?” she asked Heero as I wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
      “Nikol.” Kris said simply.
      Sam understood, “Did he say what he wanted?” she asked.
      Nikki shook her head, “We didn’t talk to him. We got in the car and left. He only said our names.”
      Sam nodded, “It doesn’t surprise me that he’s with her.”
      Nikki nodded her own agreement.
      “So what should we do now?” Kris asked.
      Heero shrugged, “If he really wants to talk to us, he’ll call us. Let’s just wait, and see.”
      “We need to let the others know.” I didn’t really need to say it, but it allowed us to separate and let Heero deal with Nikki.
      “Can you go get Trow and Kitty?” I asked Duo, who nodded and started off, still holding Kris.
      Heero gestured with his head and started off, it didn’t take long for me to realize he was going to his room to comfort her.
      I turned to Sam, “Why is she so shook up?”
      Sam shook her head, “Nikol was...very integral in her life. He was like her brother away from home, you know?” she sighed, looking away, “Among other things...” that was almost too quiet for me to hear.
      I nodded, starting to comprehend something that had eluded me before.
      Nikol was Nikki’s first crush, and he’d more than likely used her...maybe he’d been the one her taught her how to succeed with her games...more fun for him if he won, after all.
      “How did she get over him?”
      “They grew apart as he and Suretta got closer...then Suretta died...sort of... and...well...” she shrugged.
      “Will Nikki be all right, then?”
      She shrugged again, “After she talks to Heero.”


      “What’s going on, Trowa?” Kitty asked me, watching Heero’s tense expression.
      “I’m not sure. They didn’t explain when they called.”
      She nodded, “This can’t be good.”
      I nodded.
      We were still waiting for Wufei, so I let my mind wander, “Duo said he offered to take you to the movies once and you laughed at him.” I was idly curious of how she saw that.
      She nodded.
      Evidently, she didn’t realize he’d been serious at the time.
      “Was Duo like that...” I asked, watching as he rubbed Nikki’s back reassuringly, “Before?”
      Kitty sighed, “Yes. Heero didn’t start noticing ‘til recently though.”
      I hadn’t noticed ‘til Heero had... She was quiet a time.
      “You know, he’s like a big brother to us...except Kris.” she looked at me briefly, “There are times when he’s suddenly a man, but usually he’s just Duo...” she trailed off.
      I met Duo’s eyes a moment.
      He seemed as upset, if not more than, Heero.
      Something Heero’d said about association crossed my mind but was gone, Kitty’s explaining he was like a brother replaced it.
      He knew them.
      He had taught her how to use his gun...something he’d only do for someone he cared for...I reminded myself of her explanation.
      Something inside me just wouldn’t let me accept that.
      Heero knew them too, and he’d been around more...well, not Kitty as much...but the others...
      I tried to puzzle it out, reaching no conclusion. Duo was like a brother, and Heero a friend...maybe it was the way they related to the others...I really couldn’t tell.
      She was probably right, and she could judge situations...she knew...
      So...then...why couldn’t I simply accept her assessment?
      Before I could think anymore on that, Wufei came in, “What?” he asked, then his eyes fell on Nikki, and understanding lit his face. Without another word, he crossed the study to sit in his chair.
      Again it struck me how different he acted toward her.
      He’d been pissed at her for some reason when Sam’d cut our hair, then we found out he was with Sally, and now he treated Nikki like a...friend....instead of a potential fuck.
      Heero’d also noted this so a lot of tension had drained from the two...I wondered how much was going on here that I didn’t know about.


      “You want to fly him?” I asked, surprised.
      “No...just make him move a bit...” she replied.
      “Are you sure?” It would be nice to have a distraction from Nikol and how upset it’d made Nikki...
      She nodded.
      “I have to be in there too. You’ll have to sit on my lap...”
      She shrugged, “So?”
      I smiled and grabbed the tow, “Come on.” I held out my other arm.
      She wrapped her arms around my neck as I held her to me by the waist. When we started up and she tensed.
      “It’s all right...” I muttered, tightening my arm slightly.
      “Hey, what are you doing?” Trowa demanded, slightly alarmed.
      “I’m runnin’ off with your girl..” I smiled, “Actually, she just wants to work Deathscythe a little...” I tried to figure out what was bothering him. No...I grinned as it hit me, “Don’t worry, Trowa, I’ll be good...”
      “You guys are dorks.” Kitty informed me.
      I grinned at her, setting her on the platform, “But that’s okay because you get to use a Gundam...”
      She smiled.
      I sat down in the cockpit, shifting so she’d be comfortable. She was nervous as she sat down. The call button was flashing and I hit it as I closed the doors and started up my machine.
      It was Trowa.
      “What are you doing, Trowa?” she asked, smiling.
      “I just want to see.” he replied.
      She smiled, “I would have asked you, but Heavyarms...well, you told me how hard he is to work...”
      He nodded.
      “All right, we’re all ready. What do you want to do first?” I asked.
      Her hair was in my face a moment, then up in a bun. “I don’t know, something simple.”
      “Simple to him, or...” Trowa started.
      “Simple for her, Trowa.” The dumbass...now that Heero’d started it, they were all getting a bit possessive...jealous and guarding...It hurt my feelings, knowing that they didn’t trust me...with my friends...with Kat...She was mine before she was theirs...and if I’d had any intentions of doing anything with her, I’d have done it by now. I just wished they’d realize that. “I wish you guys would get over it. It’s not like I don’t have a woman...”
      “Not now, Duo...” Kitty murmured.
      I sighed, “Fine. Shall we then?”
      “What?” Trowa demanded, “I’m not supposed to get jealous when my girl chooses another man to teach her things?”
      “Do you have any idea how much I’ve taught her? For God’s sake, Trowa, she’s seventeen fucking years old!”
      “Duo!” she elbowed me slightly.
      “Sorry, Kitty...” I apologized, feeling bad.
      She gave me a look.
      I smiled at her, giving her puppy dog eyes, “Forgive me?”
      She continued to give me the look.
      “Please?” I begged.
      “I’m not a child.” she replied.
      “No, you’re not...Kitty...that’s not what I meant...and you know it.”
      She smiled then, rolling her eyes and focusing on Trowa.
      “Duo, she’s seventeen...”
      That really wasn’t a very effective argument...I wasn’t sure why he tried to use it.
      “Yes, Trowa...she’s seventeen, and you’re not. By all my calculations you should be twenty-one in about three months.” I shook my head, “Don’t lecture me on her age, because I haven’t slept with her, and she’s not my girlfriend. I do know her parents and they trust me...it’s disgusting to think that you think I’d fuck her.”
      “Do you have a problem with her?”
      “No, Trowa, I don’t. I love her. But I also love Sam...and Nikki. No one seems to think I’m gonna try and seduce them...”
      “You can’t seduce them.” he reminded me.
      I gave him a look, “Yes you can, you just have to know how...”
      “Are you saying I don’t know?” Kat demanded before I could finish, her ire rising, “You seem to continually forget that I’ve been their friend for a year and a half now...I do know when a guy tries to seduce me, and I do know how to get out of it. How do you think you came to be my first?”
      Trowa subsided a bit as I started showing her, then he refocused on me, “Can you just back off a bit? At least until all this shit with Nikki clears over?”
      I looked at him, “I’m not going to back off.” I informed him, pissed he’d even asked.
      “Are you saying...”
      He just couldn’t understand...wouldn’t let it lie...
      “Trowa...” I shook my head, disgusted, gesturing for Kat to wait. “I’m saying that I’d do anything for her, and I’m saying she’s a little sister to me. And, Trowa, if she ever, I mean ever, gets hurt, whoever hurt her will be in deep shit. Just ask someone about Kyle...”
      I started to ignore him and showing Kitty what else to do.
      She was a little angel...and it was so easy to teach her things...she was a good listener...very little explaining was necessary...
      It occurred to me that Trowa’d stopped talking and I glanced at the screen.
      He was glaring.
      “Damn Heero...” I muttered, ending the call.
      “He just doesn’t want to lose Nikki...” Kitty told me.
      “He doesn’t realize that he won’t lose her...there’s no way to make her want to leave him.”
      “That’s the type of thing that unnerves the others, Duo.”
      I sighed, “I know. But it’s true...it’s not my fault I know you guys...”
      She nodded, agreeing, “Something happened that put him on edge.”
      “I know. And I don’t know why. It’s not like I told him what hap...” I trailed off as she turned to look at me from the corner of her eye. “Nevermind...”
      “So you two had sex...” she muttered, not really surprised.
      I watched her a moment, annoyed with myself, then nodded, “Yes. We did. But, Kitty, don’t say anything. Nikki and I need to do it.”
      She nodded, “I understand...well, I don’t understand why, but...”
      I smiled slightly, “That’s how I thought you’d react. But I’m sort of worried how Sam will...”
      She gasped slightly, “You didn’t...”
      I nodded. “We did.”
      “She’s gonna kill you when she finds out, you know.”
      “At least it won’t only be me...”
      “Poor Duo.” she said in singsong, “What sort of flowers do you want on your grave?”
      “Ha. Ha, ha, ha. Very funny. Thanks for your support...”
      That did not help my anxiety.
      Her grin didn’t help either, “Anytime, Sweet.”

<--

-->

Kyeian