| �Duo!?� Heero cried out as he shot awake but only the dark answered him and he felt tears stream down his face. �What can I do? I�m alone here without anyone, not even Duo. But who is he? Any why does my insides hurt when I think about him?� he thought in between gasps. �Stop that! You belong to a mistress now! You can�t go running off looking for this Duo person�� With a start, Heero realized that his mistress wasn�t sleeping beside him but he�d been covered with a blanket that was now a crumpled mess on the floor. �Where is she? Did she leave me? Or maybe she just hasn�t gotten back yet�but I have to check.� Sliding out of bed, Heero padded bare foot to the door and opened it slightly. Darkness greeted him but his eyes adjusted quickly and he continued down the short hall until he peered around the corner to the living room. His mistress was lying on the couch, asleep in a white tank and breeches and Heero shook his head. �Why would she want to sleep out here rather than with me? Does she perhaps prefer female partners to male ones? But then again, I saw something spark in her eyes as I got out of the shower and if she likes girls better, why did she buy me?� With questions swirling in his head Heero walked over to his mistress and kneeled, and reached out a hand to touch her sleeping face� *** Noin had to see Zechs, and the waiting was killing her. �Doesn�t he realize that this is important? Heero�s life could be on the line and he�s taking his own sweet time in the bathroom,� she thought angrily and cleared her throat. �Any time now, Zechs,� the lieutenant called out and heard a chuckle from the closed door. �I�m coming Noin, don�t worry,� she heard him say and rolled her eyes. �Yeah, and when he comes out I�m going to-� �Stand here and look like an idiot,� Noin finished mentally. Zechs stepped out the bathroom, mask in hand, his piercing ice blue eyes finally visible to the world. Long platinum bangs framed his face and rest of his long hair was tucked evenly behind his ears. Zechs� button down shirt was the same incredible color as his eyes but his pants were black, loosely slung on his hips. �I hope that�s a happy look,� Zechs said smiling, tossing his mask on the couch where it landed with a soft thud. Blinking, Noin nodded. �Why are you�?� she started but couldn�t finish and just gestured at his change in attire. Zechs bowed his head slightly. �Because that mask isn�t who I am�Zechs Merquise is dead,� he said softly. Still in shock, Noin shook her head. �I don�t understand�� she said, looking the person that she thought that she knew so well standing in front of her. �You don�t have to understand�just listen,� the man who used to be Zechs said and walked over to her. Noin looked up, still confused but he just smiled at her. �This can�t be�this feels too real�� she thought as Zechs caressed her face gently with a calloused hand� Next |