Red Ink
by Banshi
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Duo felt his eyelids start to droop again and pried them open with an immense force of will. He seemed to recall that lifting replacement gundanium sheets for Deathscyth had been less of a struggle.
The lesson in basic Chinese grammer swam on the textbook page in front of him. He cursed as his eyes unfocused and his lids drooped again. He ended with his body sprawled over the table.
How was he supposed to surprise his crush if he couldn't concentrate?
"Duo, you're not going to learn anything when you're this tired. Go get some sleep. The book will still be here in the morning." Hilde stood in the kitchen doorway. looking at him with that soft-exasperated expression that she was so good at. Though, as far as he could tell, he was the only one she ever aimed it at.
"I know, but I don't have that much time. Quatre's invite said that the reunion was in a month. I wanna surprise Wu when I get there." He was pouting and he knew it. Fortunately he also knew it was an adorable expression and Hilde rarely turned it down.
The exasperation left Hilde's expression, leaving a sisterly softness that warmed Duo's heart. He surrendered and went to bed, leaving the textbook and his written work on the table.
Hilde glanced at the clock and smiled.
When Duo came back to his work the next morning, his jaw dropped.
Someone had gone through his exercises and corrected them in bright red ink. Sifting through the papers, he found the one where he had been writing out what he was planning to say to Wufei.
It had also been corrected, and at the bottom of the page, written in that same red ink was a message in return.
Wo ai ni.
Duo's breath caught and he re-read it over and over, until he saw the message continue in English.
Meet me for lunch at the Scarlet Dragon Cafe. Noon. -Wufei
And there was no way Duo was going to turn him down.
Watching Duo from the living room Hilde smiled again as she spoke to Sally on the vidphone.
"You were right about the reaction Wufei'd get. I don't think I've ever seen Duo smile that brightly."
"Good. It's about time."
They said their good-byes as Duo raced through the house muttering something about clean laundry. Hilde was still smiling as the braid disappeared through the front door.
"Ninmu kanryou. Happy birthday Duo."