Disclaimer: Mobile Suit Gundam Wing is property of Bandai, Sunrise and Sotsu. Peter Pan is property of J.M. Barrie, Disney & Universal.
"Excuse me, sir? Is there anything I can help you find? Shopping for your girlfriend?" The salesgirl approached with a big, pasted on smile. She was taller than Duo by at least a foot which completely warred with the fact that she was of asian descent. Her jet black hair was pulled up in braided buns near the top of her head and her makeup was tasteful, instead of plastered on as so many girls were going for these days. She wore a soft yellow patterened mini-skirt with a matching solid top with cap sleeves and her choice of footwear was knee high green suede boots. Yeah, she could definitely help.
Duo fluffed his bangs and flashed her his winning smile. "Actually, it's for my little sister and I am completely lost."
Her pasted on smile turned genuine. "Well, we'll just see what we can do, won't we?"
"I'm ho-ome!" He wasn't greeted by the cheerful shout of, "Welcome Home!" He wasn't even greeted by the less enthusiastic, "Hn," that he was expecting. Instead, he was greeted by silence. "Love ya, too, guys," Duo mumbled, hauling in the seven bags of clothes and accessories he'd been talked into buying. Man, that Reilin was persuasive! He toed his shoes off and flopped his purchases onto the couch for safekeeping before searching the rest of the house for his guests. "Guys? Hello, anyone home?"
"Kitchen," he heard from the same location. Wufei was seated at the table, reading a printout and sipping a cup of tea. Oolong, from the smell of it.
"Anything of interest?" the American asked, indicating the printout. The response was a shake of the head and another sip of tea. "Angie sleeping?"
"Angelina. Yes, Angelina is sleeping. She passed out after her shower."
He couldn't avoid it. Duo grinned. "Woah, Fei! Didn't know you had it in you, man! I'm proud of ya!" Before he'd gotten the "I'm proud of ya," out, Duo found himself face to face with the pissed off Chinese youth, a hand tangled in his hair and something metal threatening the tender flesh of his neck.
"Say that again, Maxwell." The demand was quiet, but it burned with the intensity of the sun on a freaking hot day.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Peace! Damn, Fei! You know I'm only kidding!" He swallowed hard. "Is that a spoon?"
Wufei released his victim, placing the spoon on the saucer of his teacup. "I do not appreciate that type of kidding."
"I'm sorry," Duo repeated rubbing his throat. "I'll remember that." Why was it he could go up against twenty mobile dolls and not break a sweat, but when Wufei gave him that look and threatened his life with a dull, and bendable, piece of metal he practically died of heart failure. Okay, in all reality, it was the look that stopped his heart. Duo had never seen Wufei more than moderately unsettled. Pissed off beyond recognition was a new look for the Chinese boy. It was probably good for Wufei. Probably. But, why'd it have to be directed at him?
Because you're an ass, Duo Maxwell. Good answer.
The American fished out a cup and saucer, poured out some tea for himself and took the chair opposite of his friend's. "I picked up a few things for Angie-baby. Thought-"
"Angelina," Wufei interrupted.
"Sorry?"
Wufei put down his reading to catch Duo's eye. "Her name is Angelina or Lina. Call her Angie and die. Her quote, not mine," he offered.
Really? "Spunky little thing, ain't she?"
"You have no idea."
"So, fill me in, then." Wufei frowned. "Listen, I'm not trying to pry into anything you don't want to get into. I'm just curious and I'm bored. And you know that a bored Maxwell is a dangerous Maxwell." There was no response, except for the relief of the frown. "I just got stuck for four hours in a girl store shopping for girl stuff with a girl. Actually, that part wasn't too bad, but still. Four hours of girly girl stuff. Can't you feed my curiosity a little tidbit? Just an insy nibble? An itsy bitsy woo woo? A-"
"Alright! Alright, just shut up." The American complied by miming that he'd locked his lips together and swallowed the key. "What is it you want to know, O Doomed Cat?"
A joke? Wufei cracked a joke? Can it, Maxwell! You'll never get this opportunity again. "Why'd you bring her with you? You had to know she'd be nothing but trouble. I know that you know that woman from New Britain is going to come looking for her."
Wufei took a sip before responding. "I don't really know."
"Okay, then, why bring her here?"
"Where else should I have taken her?" he reasoned, looking down at the tabletop. "I have no idea where Trowa is right now, Heero would probably just kill her for good measure and I certainly don't have any place safe for her to live."
"What about Quatre? I'm sure the Maganacs have enough room for one more. It only takes a few hours to get to Earth from here."
Wufei mumbled something under his breath. "What was that?"
"I said, there's too many factors in the whole Maganac thing. I don't trust Quatre to keep her safe."
Duo finished his tea in one big gulp. "But you trust me?" Even to his own ears, he sounded stunned.
"Yes, Maxwell. I do."