It is one month after Marymaya’s coup de tat. Remnants of the White Fang have slowly risen. Vice Foreign Minister Relena Peacecraft has been kidnapped. The five ex- Gundam pilots have been enlisted for her rescue. After much troubles (and without their Gundams) the five boys manage to free. The White Fang, not being too pleased with the turn of events, set out a major search for her. The Sanq Kingdom is too dangerous for the wanted princess, so the boys have hidden her in one of their old safe houses they never got around to destroying.
WARNING: Icky language ahead! And Heero acts like a bastard(I couldn’t help myself!:) Disclaimers and stuff at the bottom... READ READ!!!!!
Your arms
Hold me aimlessly
I can feel you
Letting me go
Crash!
If anyone had been standing just outside the closed door, they would have heard many vulgar words being hissed. Unfortunately for the room’s occupant, someone had been passing by. The door eased open and a head full of chestnut colored hair popped in.
“Man, Relena. I never knew you had such a colorful language! And here we all thought you were a pacifist!” Relena sighed heavily and clutched her hand, rolling her eyes and turning away from the obnoxious pilot.
“Go away Duo.”
“Why? I was just passing by to go to my room and I heard a crash. I was coming in here to make sure you were ok! So much for trying to be nice.” He mumbled as he started to close the door.
“Duo? Matte. Please?” He paused, not sure if he heard right. Opening the door again, he looked at her. She had turned her head slightly, still clutching her hand. Duo wasn’t too sure, but he thought he saw the faint shimmer of a tear in her eye. Relena, crying? No way! But in a blink of an eye, it was gone.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing!” She said quickly. Too quickly. He thought. “Nothing. I just… It’s just…”
Now she’s at a loss for words? This is too weird! “Is something wrong?”
“No. I was just wondering… Would you… Would you mind…keeping me company?” She turned around to face him, looking at him, almost begging. “It’s so quiet, and I’m…a little lonely. There’s no one to talk to…”
“Sure! I don’t mind. I was kinda gettin’ bored myself!” A ghost of a smile crossed her lips. “So, what happened in here? What in the world didja do to the lamp?”
“Oh, that? I…uh…knocked it down. I was thinking, and pacing, which was stupid of me, and I bumped into it and it fell.”
“You bumped into it? By the sound of that crash, it would have taken more force than that.” She sighed and hung her head.
“Alright, alright. I knocked it over on purpose. I was mad, and I accidentally took it out on the first thing I saw.” Duo walked over to the fallen lamp and placed his hand on the over-turned shade.
“Well, it served its purpose well.” He said solemnly. “It provided us with many years of light. But don’t worry, it’ll rest in piece now.” He said looking up at her, smiling that famous mischievous smile of his. She looked back at him, half amused, half bewildered. “We’ll give it a proper burial tomorrow.” Relena snorted a laugh and shock her head, rolling her eyes again. She walked over to her bed and sat down with her legs folded under her. She motioned for him to pull up a chair.
“Sometimes, Duo Maxwell, you are just too much.” A small smile finally making it’s way onto her lips.
“Too much of what?” He humored back.
“Too much of everything!”
“Yeah, I tend to be that way. Too much of everything, and not enough of nothing.”
“Don’t say that!”
“Yeah, well, anyway…what were you thinking of when you crashed the lamp?” Relena sucked in her breath. Should I tell him?
Don’t sing me a lullaby
Don’t pretend to care
Finish up
And get out of here
Indulge yourself
“Heero, I-”
“Relena, don’t. It’s not worth it anymore. I can’t keep living a lie.”
“But Heero-”
I said no! It’s useless now. It’s over. I don’t feel the same way about you.”
“But we-”
“What we had, what we did was a weakness.”
Tears almost sprung to her eyes again, but Relena quickly checked herself and answered him.
“Just…things. Everything, I guess.”
Duo thought she meant the ordeal with the White Fang. “Yeah, I’m…sorry this happened. I guess the White Fang just doesn’t know when to lay down and die!”
“I’m sorry you have to be the one to watch me again while the others are out scouting. I know you’d rather be out there than here with me.”
“Naw! I don’t mind! Though, I do wish Heero would take his turn sometime soon!” Relena outwardly flinched, despite herself. She looked down at her mattress, avoiding his eyes. Uh-oh. Did I say something wrong? A small feeling of panic stung him.
Duo leaned down a little to get a look at her face. He saw that she had clenched her eyes shut, her mouth set in a thin line. “Hey, are you ok?” He asked softly, laying a gentle hand on her shoulder. She flinched again, and drew her head down even farther. What the Hell? He stared at her in shock when he heard the tiny sniffles start. “Relena?”
“I don’t know.” She whispered between shudders. “I don’t know what happened. What did I do wrong? What did I do?” She wailed the last part as she flung herself to him, balling her hands into fists, scrunching up his jacket.
Whoa. THIS is unexpected! He thought, clearly shocked, trying to slow down his rapidly beating heart. Reason returned to him and he put his arms soothingly around her back. “What happened? Do you wanna tell me?”
“Heero…” She mumbled into his chest. Something inside him twisted in pain and…anger? She trembled lightly against him as she sobbed more.
“What about Heero? What did he do? Did he…um…take advantage of you?”
“No.” He felt slightly relieved, till he heard her next statement. “I wanted to do it.”
“What??”
She ignored him and continued on. “I just don’t…think…that what I gave him meant anything to him. I don’t think anything I EVER did for him mattered!”
Whoa. I don’t think I wanted to know this! I can’t believe that she…that they… Well, I guess I shouldn’t be one to talk. Me and Hilde did, even though we didn’t-
“Love each other.” She mumbled against him.
“Eh?” Smart one Duo. You’re trying to comfort her, and you space out!
“I thought we loved each other. I thought I loved him. I thought that maybe, there was a chance that he did too. He never did show any emotions though. Even when we were alone. I was a fool to think…”
“No, you’re not. Heero doesn’t know a good thing when he’s got it.” Huh? Where did THAT come from?? “Hell, he wouldn’t know it even if it came up to him and shot him in the face. As long as it doesn’t concern his mission or his Gundam, he doesn’t care.”
Relena sniffled, calming herself. “But I thought all the Gundams were destroyed?”
Duo thought back to the morning after Marymaya’s coup de tat was stopped. It had been hard to push the button on the self-destruct switch… Ah, my friend. Rest in piece as well. May the lamp keep you company!
“They were. So, that’s just one less thing for him to worry about!” Relena pulled back, not finding the humor in any of it. She looked up into his bright violet eyes.
“He called me a weakness.”
“What?”
“He said...that I…was a weakness…and that…what we had…was a weakness…” Tears flowed down her checks again. That son of a- Duo checked his temper, deciding to save his tart mouth for Heero when he got back. Duo cupped her face, whipping the tears away with his thumbs.
“Don’t listen to him. Only a guy like the Perfect Soldier would call someone as pretty as you a weakness.” Ok, now where DID THAT come from?? Relena looked as shocked as Duo felt.
“You…think…I’m…pretty?”
“Yeah.” He answered quietly, his breath measured to steady his once more rapidly beating heart.
“Heero never said I was pretty. He…never actually complimented me at all.”
“Well, Heero’s an idiot. And anyway, what guy wouldn’t think that you’re pretty?” She opened her mouth, but he cut her off.
“Besides Heero!”
Relena smiled slightly. “Well, I don’t think Wufei would.”
“Yeah, well, Wufei’s a whole nother story! I don’t think he even considers females mammals! In his warped mind, he probably thinks they’re all a bunch of cold-blooded reptiles out to weaken men!” Duo joked, rolling his eyes. Relena giggled, finally enjoying his jokes. He joined in with her till they heard a door slam.
“I guess they’re back.” Relena stated, almost reluctantly.
“Yeah. I guess we should go out there and see if they found anything.” They both stood up, and Relena checked herself in the mirror quickly, rubbing at her face. Before they walked out the door, Relena turned to Duo and put her arms around him and hugged him quickly.
“Arigato, Duo.”
“No problem.” He breathed into her hair. They released each other and he opened her door.
“Though, I gotta say, I can’t believe that of all people, YOU’D be the one to console me!”
“Hey!! What do you take me for?”
They reached the four boys as Relena answered back. “A cold-blooded reptile!” The two sneaked a glance at Wufei and burst out laughing at their inside joke. All the four remaining boys could do was raise their eyebrows.
“Well.” Quatre said, the first to recover. “You two seem to be getting along quit well.” All Relena and Duo could do was nod in response through their laughs.
“Did…::giggle::…you guys…::snort::…find anything?” Duo gasped.
“We found the remains of the last of the White Fang.” Trowa provided.
“What? Really?” Relena asked.
Wufei nodded. “Yeah, they pissed off your brother enough. They never saw them coming.”
“Them?” The two asked in unison.
“Yeah. Zechs from one side, Miss. Noin from another…” Quatre started.
“Lady Une from another, and surprisingly, Dorothy Catalonia from the last.” Trowa finished, nudging Quatre as he said Dorothy’s name.
Quatre blushed a deep red. “But that’s not the point. The point is, they’re gone, you and can go home, Miss. Relena!”
Relena sighed in relief. “That’s good. I can go back to my own bed and sleep peacefully at night without hearing Wufei!”
“WHAT? Woman, what are you talking about?” He sputtered.
Ignoring him, she continued. “I appreciate EVERYTHING you’ve all done for me. “She looked from one boy to the next, her eyes lingering a bit longer on Duo. “But, if there is a next time, PLEASE don’t put Wufei in the room next to me! His snoring is so loud I was surprised the DEAD didn’t wake up to slap him!” Duo, Quatre, and Relena burst out laughing. Trowa managed to crack a smile. Heero ‘hnnned’ and proceeded to walk away, while Wufei was left to try and defend himself through his way of using every curse word he could remember in every language he could speak.
Stifling his laughs, Quatre managed to gasp out, “Hey, Duo…why were you in Miss. Relena’s room?” Heero momentarily stopped, turning around slightly to listen.
“Well…” He started, choosing his words carefully. He then flung an arm around her shoulders, giving them a tiny reassuring squeeze. “The poor thing was lonely! She wanted someone to talk to!”
Relena inwardly sighed in relief. Thank you Duo! “Yeah, and YOU,“ She jabbed a finger at Quatre. “Weren’t around. So I asked Duo to keep me some company!” Unnoticed to the others save Duo, Heero narrowed his eyes and continued to walk away.
Sanq Kingdom…
The next day
Bastard. That’s what he is. He’s a friggin bastard!! Those were Duo’s thoughts as he watched from a safe hidden distance as Heero and Relena talked in the gardens. From the look of things, it was NOT going well. Relena was sitting on a stone bench, crying her heart out, while Heero stood above her, looking down at her scornfully, his fists balled at his sides as if he were trying to hold himself back. After a moment, she grabbed two fistfuls of his shirt and looked up at him pleadingly. Something dangerous flashed across his face as Duo saw a hand start to rise. Oh shit!
Give in to your filth
You’ve always made love to yourself
Deflower my memories and
I’ll memorize your last breath
“Why Heero? Why?”
“Why what? And would you quit your crying?”
“Why are you doing this to me? What have I done to you to make you hate me so?”
“You weakened me is what you did.”
“How?? Didn’t we share a special bond…on that night…”
“That night was one of the biggest mistakes I could have ever made!” Relena gasped at his harsh words.
“What do you mean? When we made love-”
“We didn’t make love! We had sex! And it was a mistake. It was simply human nature.” Relena opened her mouth to say more, but Heero interrupted her. “I did not do it out of love. I did not do it out of compassion or sympathy or anything other than human nature.” Relena’s face scrunched up into a masked emotion Hero couldn’t read.
Heero faltered back as Relena grasped the front of his shirt, bawling her eyes out like the weak pathetic girl he thought she was. Anger rose in him and he unconsciously raised his hand to slap her away. As he brought it down, something caught his wrist before his hand came in contact with the girl in front of him. Before he could turn around to face the stupid person, Relena looked up and gasped.
“Duo?” Heero turned around only to face Duo’s angry face. Absolute hatred seethed in his darkened violet eyes.
“Don’t you even THINK about hitting her.” Duo breathed steadily through clenched teeth. He turned his head towards the sitting girl, his eyes softening. “Are you ok, Relena?”
“Yeah…I think so…” she said surprised.
“Let me go.” Heero said.
Duo snapped his head back in Heero’s direction, the anger back in place. “Why, so you can hit her?” He practically shouted.
“This is none of your business Maxwell!” The raised voices caught the attention of the other three pilots, and they came rushing out to see what was happening.
“This IS my business Heero. I can’t let you go around slapping the hell out of an innocent girl whenever you feel like it!”
“Innocent?!? She’s far from innocent! She’s as much into this as I am!”
“Into what? The sick games you play in your warped mind?” By now Relena had released Heero’s shirt and was sitting back on the bench, hands clasped in front of her, worried. Duo and Heero had faced off.
“What do you care anyway? It’s not like she’s yours!”
“I do care, more than you! And I’m not afraid to show it! And Relena is NOT mine nor anyone else’s cause she’s not a piece of property to be bought and traded! The only time I’d use my and be talking about her is if I were telling someone she was my girl!” Relena gasped outwardly.
Heero lowered his head, his eyes narrowing into deadly slits, his voice dropping low and calmly. “She will NEVER be your girl. I won’t let you have her.”
Duo’s voice mimicked Heero’s to a point were only the other pilot and Relena could hear them. “You won’t LET me have her?? How dare you talk about her that way.”
“Why are you defending her? She’s just a weak useless tramp.” Relena’s eyes widened in shock. Duo’s narrowed, into similar slits of Heero’s.
“How dare you! Take that back.”
“Why should I? It’s true. SHE came on to me. It’s her fault.”
“Take. It. Back.”
“No.”
“Fine then.” Duo then proceeded to launch himself at Heero, his clenched fist making contact with his face, snapping it sideways harshly. He was stunned for a second, but reality came back as he retaliated, fully jumping on top of Duo, knocking both of them down.
“Oh my God!” Quatre shouted as the three remaining pilots rushed forward. Quatre ran to Relena to console her as Trowa and Wufei tried to sift through the mass of fists, arms, legs, and hair. They finally got a hold of the two boys and hauled them apart, Trowa hanging onto Duo as Wufei got Heero in hold by his shoulders. Both boys were breathing heavily and looking at the other with daggers for eyes.
“What the Hell is wrong with you two?” Wufei shouted, jerking Heero a little for emphasis.
“Jealous Maxwell? You know what I said is true, and you’re jealous because it was ME she came to, not you! It’s me she wants!”
“You bastard! You Goddamn sick bastard!” Duo spat at him. “She came to me yesterday crying her eyes because of the shit you put her through!”
Up to this point, all Relena could do was sit there and look from one boy to the other. But now, she finally had had it. “Enough!” She shouted, leaping up from the bench. She walked between the two restrained boys. “I want you both to quit it! Stop acting like babies!”
“But Relena-”
“No, Duo. Don’t. I can take care of myself now. Thank you, though, for all your help.” She turned away from him and walked towards Heero. Duo hung his head, not wanting to see the smug look of victory on Heero’s face.
Get your business done
Show me your lowest low
Toxic waste
Isn’t this fun
Prey on this
Well I’ll be damned
“Relena walked up to him, a sweet smile plastered to her face. “And Heero.” She sang in a sweet sing-song voice. “My dear, sweat, uncaring Heero.” She started. The smug looked dropped from his face as she quickly raised her hand and whipped it across his check. His head snapped to the side. His eyes widened in surprise as he looked back up at her, the sweat smile still plastered to her face. “So, you think I’m a piece of property, ne?” She raised her hand again, but hesitated, thinking for a moment. “No, I shouldn’t. I AM a pacifist, right?”
“But…you slapped me!”
“Did I?” She asked. “As I recall, we all saw you lunge for Duo and started hitting him.”
“Why you-”
Relena held out her hand to stop his next words. “Save it, Heero. I don’t want to hear it. I’ve already wasted too much of my time on you.” She turned and walked over to Duo, who, when had heard Relena’s hand make contact with Heero’s face, looked up. He was now watching wide-eyed. Making sure he wouldn’t go after Heero, Trowa let go of him and stepped back. “I think it’s time I moved on. And I think I know who I’m moving to…That is, if he wants me…” She reached Duo’s side and looked up expectantly at him. He looked down at her for a moment, then smiled gently, happiness he had not known he had filling him.
“Of course I do. What guy wouldn’t?” He saw her start to respond. “Eh…don’t answer that! I think I already know!” Relena smiled broadly as Duo gathered her in his arms. “Though, I only have two rules, that I HOPE you follow.”
“Rules?!”
“Yeah. One; please, please, PLEASE don’t make me cut my hair, and two; do NOT make me watch sappy romantic movies unless you have a previous ulterior motive.” He finished with a wide grin.
“Alright, agreed, only if you never consider me a cold-blooded reptile out to weaken all men!” The happy couple burst out laughing once more.
“What is it with this reptile stuff and why do I fell it is a reference to me?!?” Wufei shouted from behind Heero.
All the couple could do was laugh hysterically.
Sanq Kingdom…
Later that night (but nothing like THAT you icky minded people!!!)
“Duo, I want to thank you again.” The couple stopped walking outside Relena’s bedroom door.
“Now for what?” He said lightly.
“Just…for everything. You really helped me. I never thought you’d be one to help me. I always thought you hated me or something!”
“You thought that?! Why?”
“I don’t know. You were always playing your pranks and jokes. I thought…”
Duo slapped his hand to his forehead, smiling broadly. “Those jokes and tricks were my little ways of telling people I cared. It’s one of my ways of showing affection.” Relena looked slightly panicked. “But not always! I have other ways too!! It’s just that alota people take humor for granted, and they don’t ever laugh enough. I try to make people laugh as much as possible so people will feel more happy.”
Relena smiled thoughtfully. “Yes, that s true. I must admit, I have not laughed this much in a very long time.”
“Yeah, that’s me! I’m here for everyone’s enjoyment!”
A sly smile appeared on her face. “I hope so.” And she stood on her tiptoe to peck him on the cheek. “Goodnight Duo.” She said with a smile and continued into her room. Duo stood for a moment, shocked. A tiny smile began to grow on his lips until it reached its full capacity, grinning like an idiot. Me! Outta all people, SHE wants ME!!!
“Night Relena!” He called happily and bounded into his own room.
Behind the closed door, Relena smiled, shaking her head. What am I getting myself into? She humored thought.
‘Something wonderful.’ Another voice inside her head answered.
You’re right. She thought smiling. She left the door to get ready for bed, pulling out her night things. Her smile left her face. But do you think I was right when I let Heero stay?
‘Well, you DO still need protection! The White Fang might still be out there. His job isn’t finished.’
True. She reasoned. She stepped back into her room, and nearly jumped out of her skin as she spotted a figure leaning up against her wall. She stopped a minute and checked her emotions, calming her racing heart.
“Heero, what are you doing in here?”
I would like to visit you for awhile
Get away and out of this city
Maybe I shouldn’t have called but someone had to be the first to break
We can go sit on your back porch Relax
Talk about anything
It don’t matter
I’ll be courageous if you can pretend that you’ve forgiven me
Heero walked over to where she was standing in the middle of her room. He looked down at her, vacant eyes almost pleading. “Relena. I…don’t know how to say this. You know I’ve never been good with words.”
“That’s quit obvious.” She spat back.
Heero outwardly flinched. “I know I deserved that. But I came in here to…” He took a deep breath and grabbed her hands. “To…say I’m sorry.” Relena, startled, could only gape at this new development. Something inside her stirred, but whether it was hope or contempt, she could not tell. “I’ve been thinking about this all day. I know I acted wrongly…” She snorted. “But please believe me when I tell you that I am sorry. I have always admired you. I just...never knew how to deal with my actual feelings. I was never taught how to act human, and little by little you showed me, and it scared me.” He pulled her reluctant body into a tight embrace. Too shocked to order her body to move away, she raised her hands to his shoulders and loosely held them there. “I need you. I just can’t stand to see you with anyone else.” He breathed into her neck and shoulder.
Is he…trembling?? And why can’t I move my body away? Before another thought could cross her mind, he pulled back and seized her lips hungrily. Again, too shocked to tell her body otherwise, she absently began to respond. That is, until she felt his roaming hands reach into her robes. Oh my God! I can’t do this! This is wrong! She began an attempt to push him away. This is wrong, this is wrong!!!
“This is wrong!” She screamed, finally shoving him away. She wrapped her arms around herself and looked away.
“It’s wrong?! What’s so wrong about it?” He shouted back.
Oh no. Here we go again. Duo, where are you?! She thought. “I can’t, Heero. It’s not right. Not anymore.”
Suddenly, the door burst open. “Miss. Relena, are you alright? I heard screaming next-door and-“ The blonde pilot stopped mid-sentence as he viewed the scene before him. “Heero, what are you doing here?”
“We were talking, Quatre. So go mind your own business.”
“Just talking?” He asked doubtfully. He went over to the trembling girl and wrapped her in a tight friendly embrace. “I think maybe you should leave, Heero.” Quatre spoke with all the venom he could muster.
“Fine. But just answer me this, Relena. Why?”
The trembling princess sniffled and picked her head up, silent tears flowing down her cheeks. “Wasn’t it you that was always taught to follow your emotions? Well, I’m finally following mine, and they point me towards Duo.”
“But why? He never takes anything seriously. He’ll just throw you away when he’s bored with you!”
“Like you did?” Heero stepped back, aghast. “And NEVER talk about him that way. You didn’t see him the other night, when he was comforting me. He was so warm and friendly. And he held me so gently. You NEVER held me at all! You can NEVER give me the things I need! You can never show me that you care! Now matter how much you learn!”
“But Relena-”
“Just get OUT! Get out of my room!” She yelled, collapsing into Quatre for support. He lowered them to the floor, tightening his grip around her. The last bit of shouting had brought the other two pilots running. Trowa and Wufei now stood outside the door, looking surprised and questioningly inside. The dam behind Relena’s eyes finally burst as she bawled unstopping into Quatre.
“I think you should leave Heero.” Quatre steadily said once more. Heero’s eyes disbelievingly narrowed, and he turned and stalked out of the room. After a minute, Quatre turned to the two still standing at the door. “Can one of you go find Duo?”
Wufei nodded. “I’ll go. Last I saw him he was in the kitchen.” And he dashed away, leaving a bewildered Trowa standing alone. Minutes later, he returned, running at the heels of a panicked Shinigami. Duo dashed into the room to find Relena curled up, silently shaking violently within the Arabian’s grasp. He rushed over to her and enveloped her, freeing Quatre.
“What happened?” Relena could only shake her head and sob into his shirt. Duo looked up at Quatre, his eyes asking for answers.
“I don’t know exactly what happened, but I heard yelling coming from Miss. Relena’s room, so I came in, thinking that maybe she was in trouble. I found Heero in here.” Duo’s eyes narrowed into slits. “I think Miss. Relena should tell you the rest.” Quatre then turned and walked out the door. “We’ll wait in the hall for you. We’ll keep Heero away should he return.”
“Thanks man.”
“No problem.” And Quatre closed the door, leaving the two in privacy.
“Relena? Do you wanna tell me what happened?” He asked soothingly. “I mean, you don’t hafta if you don’t wanna…”
“He kissed me.” She said, muffled into his shirt.
“He what??”
“He came in here, and said that he was sorry, and that he couldn’t stand to see me with someone else. And then he kissed me. He tried…he tried to…” She sputtered into his shirt, curling herself tighter against him, wrapping her arms around his waist.
“Shh…don’t. You don’t hafta say anything else. I get the idea.” She sobbed uncontrollably into his chest. All he could do was press her closer to him, running a soothing hand through her hair and over her back. After a few minutes, her cries began to subside. “So, how would you like me to kill him? Slow and painful or fast and even more painful? I mean, either way’s fine, just as long as it’s painful, ne?” He joked lightly into her hair.
Relena couldn’t suppress the laugh that rose in her throat. “Doesn’t matter to me, just as long as I get to see it!”
“Relena!” He gasped in mock surprise. “And here I thought all the time you were a pacifist! What’s the next surprise I should be forewarned about? Let me guess, your brother is really your sister, right?”
“Well, then I guess Noin has a few surprises of her own heading her way if that’s true!” After about a minute, their laughter died down. Relena snuggled deeper into Duo’s embrace, sighing in content.
“You feeling better now?”
“Yeah. Much better, thanks to you, again. You keep making me feel better.”
“Well, that’s good, and you’re welcome. I like making you feel better. I don’t like it when you look sad. You look much prettier when you smile.” Relena stifled a yawn behind her hand and granted him with a tiny smile. “Guess you’re tired eh?”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
“Well, then lemme get you into bed, so you can rest.” He quickly pressed a light gentle kiss to her forehead before helping her up. He led her to her bed, where she proceeded to drop her robes(revealing a sleeveless nightgown that covers everything you hentai people! This isn’t a lemon! THAT comes later!:) and climb under the covers. Duo grabbed the sheets and tucked them in around her. He started to turn to leave, but was stopped when he felt her tug his hand back.
“Don’t go, please? Stay with me, until I at least fall asleep?” Sitting down on the edge of the bed he leaned over her and smiled warmly.
“Alright. I just hafta go tell the boys that everything’s fine and that they can go back to their rooms.”
“Alright.” He smiled again and planted another kiss on the tip of her nose. Then he got up and went out the door. A minute later, he returned, closing the door firmly behind him. He then resumed his seat on the edge of her bed, staring down at her as the moonlight from her window played over her troubled features. Thinking she was asleep already, he lightly ran a hand through her hair. Why me though? Of all people, why me? And exactly when did I start having feelings for her other than friendship?? Relena felt the light strokes in her hair and slowly opened her weary eyes. She granted him with a wan smile that he immediately returned.
He’s so adorable! Why hadn’t I seen it before? Was it because I was too absorbed with Heero?
“Are you really ok now?” He asked, genuine concern dripping in his voice.
“For the moment, I’ll be alright. I’m so…mixed up. I feel like I want to keep crying, but I feel I have no tears left.”
“Cry if you need to. Don’t bottle it in. It’s not healthy.”
“I know.” She smiled again. “That’s why we girls cry more often than guys. We out live guys because of it.”
“Hey now! That’s not fair! I do my fair share of crying…at times…sometimes…”
“Riiight!” She said disbelievingly.
“Ok, fine, don’t believe me then!”
“Ok.” Her smile turned said, and her face took on a more serious look. “Why us, Duo?”
“Eh?”
“Why us? Why are we suddenly so…uh...buddy-buddy? I mean, please don’t take this the wrong way, but I never thought I’d ever end up…liking you…as more than a friend…” She finished quietly, turning her head slightly away, embarrassed by her little confession.
Duo smiled, turning her head back to look up at him. “I don’t take it the wrong way cause I feel the same way. Fate deals everyone different hands. I should know. I’m Shinigami! I guess I’m sorta a kin to her, though, I don’t remember much of my mythology studies…” He said, scratching his head in confusion. Giving up on trying to remember, he shook his head and turned back to her, smiling again, a bit sheepishly. “Anyway, I don’t know how we started to like each other or why or even when! All I know is that right now, I do care for you, a lot. And I wanna help you no matter what. You deserve so much better than what Yui could’ve given you.” He said, while gently rubbing her cheek.
“I thought you two were best friends. I feel…horrible now. I feel as if you two wouldn’t be fighting if it were not for me. I’m so sorry Duo!” She cried and flung herself into the American pilot’s arms. He smiled wistfully and hugged her body to him.
“Don’t worry bout me and Heero. I can take care of him. Ya know, I’d be lying if I said that this didn’t involve you. But….I just don’t want you to worry yourself over it. I’m sure me and him’ll work something out.”
She leaned back a little in his warm grasp. “Are you sure?”
He touched his forehead to hers. “Absolutely.” He breathed. Relena leaned her head back again and looked up into his soft violet eyes. There she saw something dancing in those purple orbs. Something only meant for her privately, something she never thought she’d ever see directed towards her. Her eyes widened in shock at the realization. Does he-? No…I won’t think about that now. Deciding to wait and see where everything took them, she sighed happily and leaned in again. If he wants to tell me, he’ll do it when he feels ready to. I can wait. For him, it’ll be worth it.
Duo, in turn, gripped her harder to him and sighed as well, but for a different reason. Ok Maxwell. It’s now or never. Determination and a new sense of boldness coursed through him as tilted her chin up so that she faced him. Through heavily liddled eyes, he looked at her own questioning turquoise ones, and smiled softly, bending his head down to softly touch his lips to hers in a ghost of a kiss. Her eyes widened with shock for all of about two seconds before she closed her eyes and slightly deepened the kiss. Whoa. He thought shocked. Though, her next bold move put him in a stupor. She brought her hands up behind his head and entwined her fingers within his bound hair, deepening the kiss even more. Oh my God. He thought before all coherent thought left him completely. Regretfully, what seemed like hours later, they had to break for air. Both looked at each other, gasping for breath, and smiled.
“Wow.” Was the first logical thing Relena could say.
“Agreed.” After finally catching their breath, Relena looked back up at him, and leaned in for another round. Duo, however, stopped her by placing a finger on her mouth. She looked up questioningly at him.
“Relena-doll, I know where this could lead, and I don’t want to rush things. This time around, I wanna take things slowly.”
She smiled appreciative behind his finger. Placing alight kiss on it, she continued. “I know. I was just going to give you a goodnight kiss. Believe me, I don’t think I could handle anything more tonight on account of I am so tired. If we did anything, it might just kill me!” They both chuckled. Duo brought his hand down and placed it behind her back along with the other hand.
“Alright then.” He agreed and leaned down for one more kiss. He was so lost in the sensation of her soft lips on his that he never noticed she had pulled him down into the bed to lay with her till her moved a hand and felt the sheets on the backside of it. Abruptly breaking the kiss, he stared down at her in panic. “Relena-”
Smiling tiredly, she placed a finger on his mouth to silence him. “Duo, when I said I didn’t want to do anything, I meant I didn’t want to do anything but sleep with you by my side. Will you stay with me tonight and keep me warm?” Smiling behind her finger, he nodded and kissed it, kicking off his shoes and gently rolling them over at the same time. Pulling the covers around them, they wrapped each other in a warm, tight embrace and soon fell into a comfortable sleep, each happy to be in the others arms.
Disclaimers and stuff:
1. ::Gets down on knees:: Please don’t flame me!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
2. But comments would be nice ::gives reader puppy dog eyes::
3. I DONOT OWN GUNDAM WING AND ANY AND ALL THE CHARACTERS USED IN THIS STORY…wow..I think that’s big enough…..
4. I dun’t own the song I used. It’s by Leah Andreoni…umm..I forget the name of the song right now …it’s really pretty though…..It’s off her Veiled cd. Oh yeah, I used a tiny bit of Savage Garden song. Can’t remember that name either...It’s the last song on their Affirmation cd….
5. I know I kinda ended it abruptly….I wanted to continue it, but I hit a bit of writer’s block...stupid thing::beats up baka block with her Time Staff:: It won’t break though!!!!!!!! I sorta have an idea of what I wanna do...but if anyone wants to give me ideas and hints, please please please send em in!!! I’ll give ya all credit if I use your ideas!!!!
6. My regular e-mail addy is GodesDeathscythe[ AT ]aol.com.
7. If ya got down this far…ometedo, and domo arigato (Mr. Roboto…sorry, couldn’t help it:)