Seventy

Old School

      Nikki studied the letters she held uncertainly, “So, Sam, how much do you want to bet that there’s something dangerous here?”
      I shrugged, “I don’t want to bet. Who’re they from?”
      “Suretta and Tran.”
      I rose both eyebrows at that, “What’s the mark?”
      She turned the envelope so I could see. Her name and the address of the homebase were printed in clear handwriting, and in the top corner was a long dash.
      I frowned, not immediately placing it...
      She smiled slightly, “It means don’t show anyone.”
      I didn’t remember ever seeing that...
      “It was a rare mark to leave visible.” she dug a pen out of her nightstand and made two vertical lines on across the first.
      I recognized that, but still didn’t remember it’s meaning, even though she’d just told me. I knew, just didn’t remember.
      “Read’em.”
      She nodded, putting the point of the pen into the top and ripping it across, then pulling out the paper.
      I didn’t say anything as she read it, and a slight smile lit her face.
      “What’s it say?” I asked finally.
      She glanced up then back to it, “Nothing. Just hi and how am I, and congratulations on the great catch.”
      I rolled my eyes.
      She chuckled, “So let’s see what Tran has to say...”
      I waited patiently as she opened it and pulled out the paper.


      “So what did your letter say?” I asked Quatre, sitting on his desk.
      He shook his head, “I never opened it.”
      I thought that over, “You should.”
      He nodded, pulling the envelope out, “I just don’t want to get anyone hurt.”
      I looked around the room. It was only us, “I think it’s safe.”
      He frowned, thinking about that as he turned the envelope around in his hand, he sighed finally, “Fine.”
      I waited patiently as he ripped it open and read it over.
      He met my eyes after a seeming eternity, “It says that I killed...” he glanced it over, “Whoever it is who sent this’s brother, and that they’ll see I rot in hell for all the evil I’ve committed.”
      I was shocked at that.
      “It explains that the person I killed was stationed at the Lunar Base and that when we destroyed it they didn’t come out.”
      I averted my eyes.
      He shook his head, sitting back and throwing it beside me, “I hate that kind of mail.”
      I looked up to him, he was upset, yes. But it was obviously nothing new.
      He smiled, understanding my look, “All arrogance aside, who am I? I’ve been in business a short time personally, and comparatively speaking, I’ve done better than most. People resent me for that...and the occasional driving others out of business...” he sank into a kind of reverie, not seeming to realize that I understood, “I don’t do that on purpose, you know?”
      I nodded. I’d experienced the same thing many times. I’d moved up quickly in rank, which occasionally demoted others.
      He shook his head, clearing it, “Anyways, I get letters like that on occasion.”
      I chewed on my lip a bit, “I got two letters earlier.”
      He nodded, “I know. Who were they from?”
      I shook my head, “I can’t tell, but one says ‘time will be.’”
      He furrowed his brow, “What’s that mean?”
      I shrugged, “Things have yet to culminate on a certain situation dealing with an unmarked letter to our leader.”
      He glanced down at the paper on the desk, “Meaning that there’s more to that than I thought?”
      I nodded, “Yes, oh mighty leader...I think. I’m not sure who’s considered our leader...could be Heero, could be Zechs...unlikely as it is, it could even be Relena.”
      He thought that over, “Call Zechs.”
      I nodded, “I know.”
      He gave me an arch look.
      I giggled in a cute way, causing him to roll his eyes.
      I flipped my cell phone out in an intricate gesture and hit the memory button for Zechs’ cell.
      Quatre rose both eyebrows at me as I set the phone against my ear, then stood as I watched. In an even more complicated gesture, he pulled out his cell.
      Understanding his challenge, I grabbed his phone and repeated his move with my own twist and an added flip.
      He grinned, grabbing it back. We stood there a second, trying to out-do each other as I waited for Zechs to answer.
      “Yeah...” he sounded annoyed.
      “Hey, it’s Nikki...”
      “I know...listen, sweet-heart...call me back in twenty?”
      “Sure...”
      The line went dead.
      I met Quatre’s eyes, “He’s busy. He wants me to call him back.”
      Quatre nodded, then grabbed my phone and started to out-do me by using both.
      Eventually, we regressed to a semi-juggling match.
      “What are you two doing?” Sam demanded in an amused confused tone.
      I glanced at her, missing and dropping Quatre’s phone...I hadn’t noticed her entrance.
      Quatre burst out laughing, “Ha ha! I won...”
      I turned back to him, “No...”
      He nodded, “You need to be able to ignore distractions...”
      “Tcch...”
      He grinned, glad to have bested me.
      I stuck my tongue out at him and grabbed my phone.
      He tutted at me, “Bad loser...”
      “Nyaa.”
      He tried to stop his naughty chuckle and I turned to the door.
      “Hehehe...”
      I turned and threw my phone at him. He caught it with ease and flipped it a bit, then added his own.
      After a second, Sam decided to join and pulled out her own.
      I rejoined them as she added hers to the mix...then we were all juggling...it was fun, until one rang.
      I ended up with Sam’s and she had Quatre’s. He had mine, and it was ringing.
      “Yeah?” I asked, stopping myself from laughing when we finally figured it out.
      “Nik?” It was Zechs.
      “Hey, sorry about that earlier...”
      “Nah...don’t be. What’s up?”
      I made a gesture to Sam and Quatre, starting for the door, “Nothin’ much, you?”
      He chuckled, “I’m feeling really good just about now...”
      I laughed as I shut the door behind myself and started for my room, “Am I right in assuming...”
      He laughed an even naughtier laugh, “No...I was in a meeting...”
      I snorted, “So you just got what you wanted...”
      This laugh was a bit naughtier as I changed my mind and started for the front door instead of my room.
      I chuckled, “Oh well. None of my business...”
      He snorted, “No. It’s not. What can I do ya for?”
      “An hour.”
      He laughed that same naughty laugh, “Only? I had the impression you didn’t like minute men...”
      It was my turn to laugh naughtily.
      He checked his laughter, “No, really...what d’ya need?”
      I refrained from saying my first thought, “I’ve got a question....”
      “Yeah?” he sounded as if he half intended me to say something that fit our conversation.
      “Have you gotten any unmarked letters lately?”
      That stopped him, “No, why?”
      I sighed, “I’ll tell you next time you’re here. Do you know if Relena has?”
      “Uh-huh...nothing like that’s come up lately.”
      “Wouldn’t she have mentioned it?” I asked, shutting the front door behind myself and heading for the porch swing.
      I got the impression he was shaking his head, “Naw, she gets shit like that all the time.”
      “So when you comin’ over?” I asked as I sat down.
      There was a pause, “Later, probably. Dinner?”
      “Sure. We’re having...”
      “Naw, let’s just you and me go. Noin will be busy and we haven’t got to talk much since I got there.”
      I nodded, “Cool. Formal?”
      “No. I don’t want it to be noted.”
      “All right. I’ll make sure Heero doesn’t care.”
      “He shouldn’t...”
      I grinned, thinking over the last few days, “I don’t know...”
      He laughed at that, “Well, we know better and that’s all that really matters.”
      I grinned again, “Situationally, of course.”
      He chuckled, “Of course. All right. Be ready.”
      The line went dead again.
      I rolled my eyes, hanging up as Heero stepped onto the porch.
      “Hey, lover, what’s new?”
      He shook his head, “I’m being nosy. Who was that?”
      “Zechs. He wants to take me out to dinner tonight.”
      He frowned slightly.
      “I haven’t gotten the chance to talk to him much...”
      “But you had plenty of time for other things...”
      I gave him an arch look, “We haven’t really talked...”
      “Because of distractions...”
      I sighed in exasperation, “You gonna throw a bitch fit about this or what?”
      He grinned, sitting beside me, “Naw. Do you know where you’re going?”
      I shook my head, “I don’t think he does either.”
      “What do you think Noin’ll say? She doesn’t trust you alone with him...or, at least, she didn’t before.”
      I shrugged, “He said she’d be busy.”
      He nodded, “I don’t suppose...”
      I smiled at him and he stood, offering me a hand.
      We reached the room, then the bed...I started to set my phone down, but it rang.
      “Hello?” I asked, annoyed.
      “Nik...”
      I grinned, kissing Heero, “Listen, sweet-heart...call me in twenty?”
      He laughed at that, “I’m coming...” I couldn’t resist my naughty laugh as I kissed Heero again, “...and from the sounds of it, you are too...”
      I died laughing at that, “Not yet...”
      “Make it a quickie, I’m heading...”
      I laughed a bit harder as I hung up.
      Heero made a questioning noise.
      “He’s on his way...”


      Sam was standing in front of my desk. As I watched, her entire bearing changed.
      “What’s the matter?” I asked, wondering.
      She turned, brandishing a piece of paper.
      I looked at it for a moment before recognizing it. It was the letter Nikki had made me read.
      I rose both eyebrows, tilting my head slightly as I approached her.
      “What’s this?”
      I shrugged, taking it from her and setting it on the desk.
      “When did you get it?”
      “When Kris took Zero.”
      She nodded, then I wrapped her in my arms, relaxing. I’d had fun earlier, out doing Nikki with the phone flipping...it was funny to see her so put out.
      I heard Heero come back into the house and wondered what he was going to do. Nikki was going out with Zechs for the night.


      Kris sat back onto the bed, sighing.
      “What should we do now?” I asked, sitting beside her.
      She shrugged, “I have no idea.”
      I sighed, “Shall we go out?”
      “Where to?”
      “That’s not to helpful.”
      “You didn’t ask for help.”
      “Nyaa...”
      “You’re not Nikki.”
      I grinned, “Nyih.”
      She shook her head, “You’re not Sam either.”
      “Hmm...” I thought about that, turning and knocking her back as I lay on her, “So what should I say?”
      She shoved me off, “Make up your own word.”
      I stayed collapsed back, sighing, “Ih?”
      “Ih.”
      I grinned at her and sat up, “Let’s go to a movie.”


      Kitty squealed a bit as I lay on her, “What?” I started tickling her.
      “Nothing!” she gasped through her laughter, “Nothing...”
      “Say it!”
      “Never!”
      “Say it!”
      Suddenly she was tickling me.
      We went back and forth like that for a while until there was a knock on the door.
      “Yeah?” I asked, sitting up.
      Duo came in with a smirk on his face, “Took you long enough.”
      “What?”
      “I’ve been knocking for the last five minutes.”
      I chuckled, regaining my breath, “Really?”
      “No, I’m lying to you.” he grinned, then shook his head, “Me and Kris are going to the movies, wanna join us?”
      I looked to Kitty. If she wanted to...
      She hopped up, happy. “Sure! We’ll get ready.”


      Sally smiled at me as she shut the bathroom door. Duo had just come in and asked if we wanted to join him, Kris, Kitty, and Trowa. They were going to the movies.
      I’d deferred to Sally’s wishes and she was now taking a quick shower so we could join our friends.
      I wondered, briefly, if he was going to invite Heero. Heero would be alone with all of us couples...Duo was now asking Quatre...so I doubted Heero would agree. But you could never tell, with Heero...he probably would go with us.
      I wondered if I should change...probably, from everything I gathered we were all semi-dressing up...
      I sighed as I picked myself up from my seat.


      “You should come...” Kitty weedled in a tone so close to innocent that I didn’t want to tell her no.
      “Katie...” I protested.
      She grinned, quickly schooling her face to match her tone, “Please! You can’t stay here by yourself...”
      I sighed in exasperation, “I’m not going because I’ll be the third wheel on a two wheel bike. I’ll be fine, just go have fun...”
      “Heero...” she grinned, “Don’t make me use the eyes...”
      “You wouldn’t!” I said it before I thought about it so it was more sincere that I’d intended.
      Her eyes went wide and matched her tone, “Please?”
      I gave her a level look.
      The entire reason that tone worked was because I didn’t want to hurt their feelings...the tone increased the vulnerability.
      She tilted her head, “Please? We all want you to come...”
      “You guys are all going as couples. Nikki’s not here so I’ll pass. It’s all right, really.”
      She smiled, “You know you want to go.”
      I did, but not when we were all teamed up. Not when I would be the only one without my partner...
      “Just come on...” Katie stood and tugged on my arm, substantially weaker than she really was, but it all added to the effect she was succeeding in making.
      I would be safe as long as...
      “You comin’ Heero?”
      Sam.
      Damn.
      I could give in gracefully...I could. But I wouldn’t.
      I shook my head, “Naw, you guys go ahead. Have some fun.”
      “We’ve only got one more night here. You’re coming with us, and tomorrow we’ll all go.”
      I shook my head, “No, don’t worry about me.”
      She looked to Kitty and surprise registered vaguely on her face. She turned back to me, “So it’s come to that...” she muttered as if I weren’t supposed to hear. She opened her own eyes wider, “Please?”
      I took a deep breath, trying to not be swayed.
      Suddenly Kris was standing behind them, her head tilted, “You’re going.” she informed me.
      I shook my head in negation and relief. I could resist now.
      Kris squatted in front of me, her eyes going wide like Kat’s.
      “Please? You can’t stay here and mope all night...”
      “Oh all right!” I gave in after she’d stared at me for a few seconds, “Fine...” I shook my head, “Honestly...” I muttered on about girls who wouldn’t leave me alone when my girlfriend was gone and I just wanted to go to bed and rest up...even as I stood and started gathering an outfit to wear, turning to them for decisions and not even thinking about it as I started to change...
      Someone cleared their throat politely...someone I didn’t recognize...I turned to see Sally watching with a tilted head.
      As always, with Sally, I moved quickly to a show of modesty...embarrassment, really...it was only because she was old enough to know...
      She laughed a delightedly wicked laugh, “Heero, really, why are you changing in front of them?”
      I shrugged as I turned my back to her and pulled my pants the rest of the way up, “I didn’t think about it.”
      She repeated her laugh, “Yet you blush like a virgin when I point out I’m here.”
      I grinned at that and turned to face her as I straightened my shirt to put it on, looking the others over. Their grins were naughty.
      “I can’t imagine why...”
      She snickered, “Okay, I’ll go so you can get back to your peep show.”
      That brought a few protests and suddenly I was alone in my room.
      I shook my head as I finished changing, Nikki would have a time with that. Especially when I told her my reasoning...she would get the story from the others, and ask me about it.
      I sighed, wishing Nikki were here...that she hadn’t wanted to go out with Zechs. I wasn’t worried about anything going on between them, at one point it had occurred to me that I should...but I was worried about if they were armed or not...if they’d be attacked...
      “Let’s go, Stripper...” Duo had leaned in the door and knocked twice as he spoke.
      I gave him a level look and he laughed.
      “Don’t worry, they told me all about the peep show...”
      I rolled my eyes, “Damaru, Chikushoume, I wasn’t giving a peep show...”
      “No?” he asked with a naughty snicker, “Sally said...”
      “Yeah, yeah, yeah, I haven’t seen you change in front of her, little boy. Don’t say shit to me until you’ve experienced it yourself.”
      I followed him out of the room as he laughed and joined the others, who were waiting at the door.
      It was a lonely drive, since we all rode in our own cars. I hadn’t driven alone in ages...

<--

-->

Kyeian