Disclaimer: You wouldn’t think of suing a pretty girl like me, would
you?
Written By Desert Bloom
Author’s Note: This part is going to be very, very long. Slightly
mushy at one point, and maybe a little bit of lime, I’ll let you be the
judge. Basically Duo goes into battle and Hilde does her own thing
while he’s away. Is there any hope for America’s favorite couple? (At
least they’re my favorite couple) Mushy and fluffy at one point, if
that doesn’t scare you, please read!!!!!!
Part Three
“Please come this way, Maxwell.” Lady Une directed, leading Duo through
the maze of hallways.
Duo nodded, his smirk flashing. No one would have guessed how torn up
he was inside.
His head hurt from lack of sleep. Bus after subway after train after
shuttle after taxi had been last night, and that had certainly not been
very fun. He felt ready to keel over, not a good way to start a battle.
Not only that, but he felt guilt to what he had said to Hilde last
night. Sure, she had no right to butt in like that, after all he was a
Gundam pilot, and he had to fight when had to, but…she wasn’t just a
rest stop to him. She was something else, but he couldn’t figure out
what, and that scared him.
He mused to himself how white this base was. White, white, white.
Like a hospital. White walls, white tiles, white doors, white
uniforms…a sea of white.
They turned a corner and entered a large room.
“Hey, Wu-man! Heero!” Duo flounced into the room with a burst of pep,
grinning from ear to ear.
Wufei rolled his eyes and Heero scowled at him.
“Glad to see you guys too.” Said Duo, oblivious to this. “Oh, gee, just
like old times…”
Une silenced him with a wave of her hands and proceeded to inform them
of the battle plan.
Hilde lay in bed for quite a while that morning, waiting to hear the
familiar sound of Duo stumbling and cursing himself. It never happened,
and she was slow to remember the fight they had had last night.
But finally she did, pulling herself out of bed, grim and depressed.
Feeling groggy, she made for the appointment book at her desk.
Huh. Only one appointment today…Candy with that car again. I wonder
how she’s doing.
With that thought she sighed and headed for the shower.
“Hya Hilde!” Candy’s voice pulled her away from the book she was
reading. A smile portrayed on her Hilde’s face, she set the fantasy
down and got up from her desk.
The smiling face of her childhood friend shone down on her. Candy had
a personality to match Duo’s, always chuckling and giggling. She was
six years older than Hilde, 23, and already with 3 kids. It was no
wonder why – Candy was very pretty, with vibrant red hair cascading to
her waist and flashing green eyes.
Candy sat down Lilia, the two year-old, and detached Patrick, the
4-year-old, from her side. His twin, Katie, came bounding up behind
him, giggling as she went.
“Hello Hida.” She said shyly, mispronouncing Hilde.
Hilde grinned. “Hi Katie!” she turned to her mother. “The car again,
right?”
Candy nodded. “The bucket of bolts is always broken. Wish I had the
money to get a new one.”
“Well, come on out to the garage with me and we’ll see if I can do
anything about it.” She paused, peering at Lilia. “Be careful with
Lilia. Bad screws and whatnot.”
Candy smiled, picking the little girl back up and motioning to the
twins. “Come on.” She told them. “Mommy’s following Hilde, okay?”
Katie giggled again and Patrick followed quietly as they went through
the kitchen and into the garage. Candy’s old model was already waiting
for them.
Hilde opened up the back, studying the engine carefully.
“How’re you doing with Jack?” she asked as Candy took a seat on the
dirtied floor.
“I dumped him. I never liked him anyway. Too simple-minded.”
This came as no surprise to Hilde. Candy never stayed with anyone for
very long, indeed she had had quite an array of boyfriends in the last
couple years. Candy seemed happy with it, anyways. Hilde guessed that
her real love was her children. Candy always wanted the very best for
them.
Hilde nodded knowingly. “I met Ricardo again.” She told Candy, reaching
for a wrench.
“No kidding! I remember him. God, he was great-looking.”
Hilde giggled. “I know.”
“Why’d you break up in the first place?”
“Well, I was in OZ with him, and when I quit, we just lost touch, I
suppose…”
Candy’s next choice of words surprised Hilde. “What about that Duo
guy? Is he here today?”
“No, he’s out of town. Why?”
“Oh, I don’t know. He was always cool.” Candy paused. “You guys were
cute together.”
Hilde paled, yanking her head to face Candy. “What –?!” she said
loudly, her face a rose red.
Candy giggled. “Don’t be so shy about it, Hilde! You know, all those
pillow fights, those cute looks – you guys are made for each other.”
Hilde started, her breathing ragged. Her – and Duo? She had never
really thought of it that way before…and why not? The way her heart
pounded when she was close to him, the worry she felt every time he was
out in the battlefield…
She dismissed these thoughts, shaking her head in exasperation. Her
and Duo. No, that didn’t make sense.
Duo grimaced as he felt another blow come towards him. A rush of anger
ran through him – he raised his scythe – and the mobile doll was no
more.
It felt good to be back in his Gundam again. It felt natural – battle
was where he belonged. Nothing wrong with the actual battle, it was the
before and after that he loathed.
“Come on.” He murmured to himself as he plowed into another enemy.
Behind him Wing Zero and Nakatu were doing just as well.
He sensed an attack above him – he raised the scythe again, and it
crashed into an enemy shuttle. Then a roar of engines and Deathscythe
took up a fight with another suit.
His eyes flashed as he scanned the battlefield. Wing Zero was
somewhere above him – Nakatu behind him. Another enemy fleet was
coming, this doubling their attack. No matter, it could be dealt with.
Duo let a battle cry as he forced an attack on another mobile suit
clump, four or five at once. He defeated each one in turn easily.
He was not ready for the mad rush that happened next, however. Perhaps
the minds behind the dolls decided that they needed to take out the
talented pilot as quickly as possible. Perhaps Maxwell just was having
a really bad day. Whatever the reason, about ten mobile dolls seemed to
come out of nowhere, charging Deathscythe.
Heero turned, blocking an attack with his light sword, and crashing it
down on the doll. His face thick with sweat, he landed another attack
skillfully, grunting as he dodged a mobile doll.
The damned enemy had doubled their forces. They could still take them
down, but it would be hard.
His eyes shot to below him where Maxwell sat. Maxwell and his classic
grin. For whatever he lacked in personality, the braided pilot made up
for with his talent. Heero stopped for a moment, watched Deathscythe’s
handiwork. God forbid Duo should learn of Yuy’s secret admiration,
however.
They would never hear the end of it!
Heero’s eyes flashed as he watched a gang of mobile dolls charge Duo.
Maxwell handled it skillfully, kicking out at one while dodging another
and hitting a third with his scythe. It was only minutes before the
attack was a bunch of rubble. Easy.
The Deathscythe paused for a moment, probably catching his breath. It
only took a moment, however, for it to happen.
“Duo!” Heero let out a yell of rage as the blow came.
Hilde sighed, leaning deeply into the couch. She had fixed Candy’s car
a couple hours ago, and was still digesting what she had said about her
and Duo.
Its not like it matters, anyways. She thought to herself, picking up
her fantasy book. I don’t even know if he’s going to come back.
She sighed, twirling a bit of hair behind her ear, trying to get the
pilot’s smirk out of her head. She was just getting into the book,
however, when the doorbell rang.
With a growl she lifted herself up and walked to the door, opening it
sullenly.
“Yes?”
“I’m sorry Hilde – did I come at a bad time?” Hilde mentally slapped
herself. In front of her stood Ricardo, sweet as ever, looking very
apologetic.
Hilde shook her head quickly. “No – I’m sorry.” She grinned sheepishly.
“Please. Come on in.”
Ricardo nodded, stepping into the kitchen. Hilde closed the door
behind him, watching him the whole time.
“Would you like something to eat?” She hurried into the array of
cupboards, looking frantically for crackers – anything.
“No, that’s all right.” Smiled Ricardo.
“Anything to drink?”
“Maybe a soda or something.” Ricardo paused. “Where’s that Duo fellow?”
Hilde paled, pouring first Ricardo and then herself a tall glass of
cola. “Out of town.” She told him, handing him his glass.
He nodded, and they tipped glasses. Ricardo took a large swig, asking,
“Are you okay? You seem a little shaken.”
“We sort of had a fight.” She led him into the lounge, setting her cup
down on the coffee table. Next to it sat Duo’s laptop.
That idiot. She sighed, moving it to his personal desk.
“I never thought he was any good.” Confided Ricardo. Hilde turned to
him, her eyes flashing. She gasped as she felt the Duo’s locket jangle
uncomfortably about her neck. Her hand reached for it, relishing its
cold and smooth touch.
A sudden unbelievable sadness washed over her briefly, and an emptiness
rose in the pit of her stomach. “We just disagreed, that’s all.” Hilde
said quietly, taking a seat next to Ricardo on the couch. “So – tell me,
what brings you here?”
Ricardo gulped down the last of the soda, setting his empty glass on
the coffee table. “This is going to sound odd,” he began, a sheepish
grin playing at his lips, “But I was thinking…Hilde, are you really
happy up here in the colonies?”
Hilde started at the question. “Why…I suppose. Why?”
“Well, I had this idea – about you and me – we could go down to earth,
and forget all this war stuff, and…” His voice drifted off. “I know it
seems crazy.” He said.
Hilde paled. “I – I don’t know, Ricardo…I would have to think about
it.” His intense gaze brought her eyes down, and she set her glass
besides his. She felt him grab her arm forcefully, and a shiver ran
through her.
Slowly her eyes lifted to his, and then her lips to his, and then they
dissolved into a passionate kiss. It felt good – but wrong, somehow.
She felt an odd sensation to run away, but she just couldn’t…his arms
wrapped around her small frame, and her hand ran along his neck, and so
forth…into an endless sea of want, except she wanted none of it. She
felt herself pushed back deeply into the sagging couch. A shiver passed
through her as his kisses worked deeper and deeper down her neck, and
his fingers searched into and under her shirt. She responded with a
pleasant gasp and began work on his shirt buttons. And even as she fell
into another kiss, his hand running along her hip, a single name chimed
in her head.
Duo.
Wufei braced himself as an attack came, dodging it smartly, yelling as
his katrana rammed into the enemy doll. Then a leap in the air, another
explosion, and a second was gone.
He was about to charge another when he heard Heero yell out.
“Duo!”
Wufei turned with a flash of his warm black eyes, to Deathscythe.
Maxwell had never seen it coming. Another suit came crashing in,
landing a devastating blow onto Deathscythe. Deathscythe tried
frantically to dodge the next, but to no avail, the new suit was
merciless.
Wufei felt his breath catch in his throat.
“Come on!” he cursed at Nakatu, urging it forward. Above him Wing Zero
was doing the same.
They simply couldn’t be fast enough, however.
More blows came, and a shower of sparks. Wufei grabbed at the
communication link, yelling Duo’s name into it. All he got was static.
His eyes widened, and he felt a rush of helplessness as Deathscythe
came crashing to the ground.
Duo let out a hoarse yell as a huge jolt ran through his Gundam and his
seat lurched. His hand flew over the control board as he tried to turn
around to face the new enemy – but he was too slow. Another hit,
another massive sensation of pain…
He tried again to turn his Gundam, but a last blow silenced his
efforts, and another hit after that…
His head reeling now, he tried to switch the evacuation button, but he
couldn’t, as one more hit derailed his entire body. He was now one huge
ache…
This is it. Thought the braided pilot bravely.
Out of all the things he thought he would think at this moment, the
moment he had fought all his life, it was not this…all he could see were
her eyes, violet eyes, sad and empty, a flash of dark hair, an aching
want…
“Hilde…” he breathed as his Gundam hit the ground.
Heero couldn’t believe it. It was right in front of him, but he
couldn’t believe it. How could he? This wasn’t supposed to happen to
him…he wasn’t supposed to care! The Perfect Soldier wasn’t supposed to
care, and he did, and emptiness filled him as he watched the broken
devastation on the ground.
The suit – that damned suit – moved in for another attack. Well. He
wouldn’t let that happen. Wing Zero plowed into the maddened doll,
blowing it away.
“Wufei!” Heero yelled at the pilot of 05. “I’m going to defend Duo –
you get him the hell out of there!”
Wufei didn’t answer him in words, but a silent understanding formed as
Nakatu went down to help their fallen ally.
Wufei’s heart beat quicker and quicker as he descended to the ground of
the battlefield. Softly his Gundam touched down, and Wufei leaped out
the cockpit, trusting Heero to defend Nakatu while he worked.
“Maxwell…you better be okay.” growled Wufei, running to the fallen
Gundam. He searched for the cockpit – and found it, opening it in
frenzy.
Inside was a hell. Broken wires hung down from the roof of the small
space, sparks flying. But perhaps worse was Duo’s crumpled form –
seated in the corner, bloodied and defeated.
Cursing the enemy, Wufei undid Duo’s seat restraints, gasping as Duo
limply fell onto him. Thank god, he was still breathing…a last heave
and the two were free of the destroyed cockpit.
Gazing out into the horizon, Wufei searched for a place to hide them.
A forest bordering the battlefield…without further thought Wufei
immersed him and the other pilot into the sea of trees.
He then set Duo down, grabbing his communicator from his pocket. A
push of a few buttons and he had contacted the Preventer’s main base.
“Hello?”
“Sally!” said Wufei quickly, recognizing the woman’s voice. “Duo’s
hurt. Get help. We’re at these coordinates.” He punched in the correct
numbers.
“Duo’s –”
“Just get help woman!” With that he ended the call.
“Would you like juice?” called Hilde from the kitchen the next morning.
“No thanks.” Called Ricardo back as he lazily flipped on the
television.
“Well, I’m thirsty.” Hilde came into the lounge sipping a glass. She
seated herself next to Ricardo, and he immediately reached for her hand.
Hilde shivered. God. Why couldn’t she get used to his touch? Why
didn’t it feel right?
She smiled sheepishly up at him. “What’s on the tube?” she asked
quietly.
Ricardo shrugged. “News.”
Hilde nodded, and was about to change the channel when something caught
her eye.
They station was filming a battle – maybe the one that Duo had went
to. It looked horrible. Oil and blood stained the ground, and fires
raged in other various spots. The broken remains of many dolls and
suits lay scattered around.
Like hell. She thought with a grimace. God.
“Hey,” Ricardo interrupted her thoughts, “Isn’t that a Gundam?”
Hilde started as the screen flashed to a machine, massive and
completely destroyed. She paled as she realized what it was.
“Y-yes…” she stammered, standing up immediately.
“Hilde – what’s wrong?”
Hilde didn’t answer him. In a burst of frenzy she leaped for the door,
running through the kitchen, Ricardo on her tail.
Finally she stood before the door, her hand firmly on the doorknob. A
final turn and it was open, but before she could leave, she felt a hand
at her arm, a burst of pain.
Hilde twisted to see Ricardo, who had a tight and painful grip on her
arm. His eyes flashed in the doorframe. Not a single word was spoken –
a million understandings flew through them, and a million questions as
well.
Then Hilde let out a deranged sob, Ricardo loosened his grip, and she
was gone.
Last Word: So there you have it. Questions? Reviews? Please! I know
it would have been better for drama’s sake if Duo had died, but as I
said, I’m too sensitive. Sorry. I hope it was good anyways. Part 4 is
on the way.
Part II or Part IV