Oh, and the standard disclaimer: Don't own 'em, no money, don't sue.
Unresolved
(Prologue)
by Quelirain
Hilde hurled the picture frame at Duo viciously. He gracefully caught it in one outstretched hand, then set it gently on the night stand. Hilde shrieked in frustration, then leaped over the bed, her hands searching for blood. Duo held her wrists tightly.
"Let me go!" she yelled.
"Hilde, it's just a picture—don't tell me you're jealous of a picture," Duo teased lightly. "C'mon Hilde, calm down." She struggled a moment longer, but quickly realized that Duo had the upper hand. She went limp. "Are you done now?" She nodded, and he released her. She sat on the bed for a moment, then slid off, heading for the closet.
"What are you doing?"
She came back with a suitcase. "What I should have done when I found that picture in our bed." She opened up the top dresser drawer and began throwing underwear and socks onto the rumpled bedcovers.
Duo felt the blood drain from his face. "Damn it, Hil, don't do this, please, don't do this. I need you."
Hilde snorted and didn't even look at him as she dug into the next dresser drawer, her shirts flying toward the suitcase. "What for? To keep you entertained? Or distracted? Now, let's not pretend we don't already know who you want for that job."
The prospect of being alone again loomed in front of Duo, adding urgency to his pleas. ""Hilde, we can work this out.."
Hilde turned to face him. "Do you mean that?"
//I'll say anything you want, just don't leave me alone....// "Tell me what you want, Hilde."
She stared at him, as if evaluating how serious he was. Duo hoped he wasn't found wanting. He waited for her to speak.
"Tell me you love me."
Duo swallowed.
"Not that you need me, you want me, or you care about me, Duo." Her eyes bored into him. "Tell me you love me."
//I can't lie. Duo Maxwell never lies. What am I going to tell her?// He looked away. "Hilde..."
Duo felt strong fingers grab his chin, forcing him to meet her eyes. He could see the clouds forming in her eyes, dull with unshed tears and emotion.
"Duo Maxwell, the next words out of your mouth had better be 'I love you, Hilde Schbeiker!' " Hilde demanded.
Duo met her eyes, but said nothing.
She chewed her lower lip. "Please, Duo. Please say it. Tell me you love me, and I'll stay. Unconditionally. Just let me believe you love me, Duo, that's all I'm asking." Her tears spilled over. She was beautiful.
Duo's throat felt swollen, as if choked by imaginary fingers. He reached out for Hilde, but before he took her in his arms, he saw defeat in her eyes. //She knows...and she's going to leave.// He held her tightly, and she leaned into him, shaking as she wept. He stroked her hair, his hands shaking slightly. He would be alone. Again.
Sharply, she pulled away from him, then slapped him, tears still flowing. "I love you."
Duo hung his head in shame. "I know."
Hilde turned her back on him then as she spat out words designed to hurt. "But you still love him, after all these years—and even after how he treated you...what he did to you."
Duo felt like scum. Pond scum. The kind that grows green and thick, turning the water a sickly pale green and choking out life beneath it. He'd felt like dirt, he'd felt shame, but scum was new. But he didn't bother to correct Hilde. It was easier for both of them to believe that Duo still wanted Heero, rather than the truth they both knew.
Hilde snapped the suitcase shut, then picked it up, watching him. "You might as well go to bed," she said, resigned. "I've got packing to do."
Silently, Duo watched as Hilde and her suitcase left the bedroom. He heard her pulling items out of the kitchen cabinets. "Well, might as well get some sleep," he sighed. He lay on the rumpled bed and closed his eyes, listening to Hilde rummage around the house for her things. He listened until early the next morning, and when the front door slammed for the last time, then he slipped his hand under his pillow and pulled out a worn photograph.
//...Relena...//
***end prologue***
AN: If you read Unresolved: Part 1: Yes, this is another part of the Unresolved series. I had to do some reworking because as written, it was impossible to carry out the way it should have been. The revised part one will be out soon (within 48 hours of this posting), with parts two and three to follow. R&R please!!!
(Special thanks to those who reviewed the original part one—I appreciate your support, as it's been a while for me to be sitting at the keyboard.)
