Relena's ball began at 7. Dorothy and Heero didn't arrive until a quarter to 9. Part of the delay was caused by Heero vehemently refusing to wear a tuxedo, claiming he hated having his breathing constricted and it was Relena's party, why should he wear one? She wouldn't mind.
Dorothy countered by stating that he could go to Relena's in his birthday suit, and Relena wouldn't mind; but Heero seemed to miss the point and continued ranting about the stupidity of the inventor of the tux and how tuxes were not conducive to a good mission and how James Bond was obviously a fake. There was no way you could perform half his stunts with a cummerbund as tight as a girdle wrapped around your waist. Dorothy mentioned spandex bike shorts, but Heero ignored her.
When Dorothy informed him that Relena was hosting a costume ball rather than any old, stuffy social gathering and that she had planned for him to go as a court jester, Heero shook his head and told her that she had just lost her escort. They argued for an hour, tossing clothing ideas back and forth, until Dorothy folded and allowed Heero to wear his everyday jeans... with the addition of a nice shirt, with sleeves.
Half an hour after that compromise, Dorothy stepped out of her room clad in a Civil War-era dress that Scarlet O'Hara would have been jealous of. Briefly complaining about the time it had taken her to get ready- and Dorothy pointing out that any other woman would have taken twice as long- Heero led her to her tank of a car.
As they walked into the ballroom of the Dorlian Estate, they were greeted by a scantily clad woman wearing a tall hat made of various fruits (along with a wrap-around skirt and halter top.) "Hey, Heero buddy, didn't think you'd show!"
The two stopped, confused, when the voice that issued from the woman's mouth was very masculine and very familiar. Taking a closer look, Dorothy recognized the woman for who she truly was: Duo Maxwell. The braided man had somehow gotten hold of an extremely padded bra, along with high heels and the rest of his ensemble. As she should say something since Heero had said nothing, Dorothy commented, "Love your hat, Duo."
Duo winked and said in a high-pitched voice with a horrible Mexican accent, "It's not Duo, it's Carmen!"
Heero scowled and asked, "Where's Relena?"
Duo shrugged. "Dunno. The only person here that I've recognized is Sally; she came as Juan Valdez. Anyway, good luck finding her. You'll need it, there's tons of people here if you haven't already noticed. Well, I'm off to the refreshment table. Sadly enough for me, my hat's made of wax..." His voice drifted off with him as he strolled casually away. Dorothy watched him enviously. Why couldn't she walk that well in high heels? It wasn't fair.
Heero tugged on her arm, and they went in search of Relena. They found her near the back of the room. Surprisingly, she was dressed as a French maid. An interesting choice, Dorothy mused. She glanced over at Heero to gauge his reaction to seeing Relena again- and quite a lot of Relena at that. His stance, breathing, expression, nothing changed. Brick walls would react to seeing the Vice-foreign Minister wearing a short skirt and low neckline, so he must show something. Perhaps he had, maybe it was so subtle that she had missed it. Maybe she just hadn't been around him long enough to be able to read him. She would have to remedy that.
Relena's face split into a grin as soon as she saw them, and she beckoned them over. "Heero, Dorothy! I wasn't sure you would be able to make it. Heero," she eyed his clothing amusedly, "love your costume."
Dorothy half-expected him to reply with a risqué compliment, but much to her disappointment, all he did was grunt. If he was any other man...
Relena's eyes danced with merriment, and she looked to Dorothy. "Any progress?"
Dorothy shook her head. "There doesn't seem to be anything in the tapes. I feel like we're just walking in circles."
Relena grimaced and squeezed her arm. "Something will turn up. If you want, I can send Trowa over to help you."
Heero broke into the conversation then. "No, he and Duo are watching you. Until we've found this assassin, it would be wise for you to have two bodyguards."
"But, Heero, he missed last time-"
"And he won't make the same mistake twice," Heero's tone of voice made it clear there was no room for argument.
Relena sighed, "All right, Heero."
A group of old men, clearly members of the ESUN senate, approached them, and Relena excused herself and turned to greet the men. Heero and Dorothy moved back towards the front of the room, Heero finding an empty section of wall to hold up and Dorothy mingling with the crowd and exchanging small talk with various aristocrats she had known growing up.
As she finished her second circuit of the room, Dorothy's eyes wandered over the party-goers, pausing on one un-costumed person in particular. It wasn't that he was plainly dressed, no, there were several people without costumes milling around, but this one was familiar. His hair was longer than she remembered, but she was sure she knew him. But from where? She had seen him talking to Cousin Treize- no, Mister Milliardo... on the Libra.
Suddenly, she remembered. That man was Killian O'Doul, chief gunman on the Libra. Why, of all places, was he here? The White Fang opposed everything Miss Relena stood for. Dorothy decided her next course of action. She should confront O'Doul to see what he was up to. Even if it wasn't him, it would be better for her to simply be mistaken in his identity rather than let him have an opportunity to kill Miss Relena.
She started through the crowd, the adrenaline already coursing through her veins, when Heero's voice near her ear stopped her. "Dorothy, let's go."
Dorothy glanced at him then back to O'Doul... only O'Doul was gone. Damn, he moved. She quickly scanned the revelers, but could find no sign of the gunman. She sighed. There was little chance he would try anything in such a crowded location where he couldn't really get a clear shot, besides she could always look him up in the Preventer database and see if there was any information on his current living quarters. Casting one last look at the crowd in the vain hope of seeing O'Doul, Dorothy followed Heero out.