Sometimes Cold

She laughed when he arrived, stumbling on too high heels, into his arms. Her lips rested against his neck. Hilde snickered and muttered a hello. Duo smiled, placing his hands on her waist. "You're pissed Hilde," he said, grinning as she nodded in drunken agreement.

"You're late," Hilde murmured, still able to string some words together without slurring. She dragged him over to a couch, which was thankfully empty. "Late again."

"Just work, nothing exciting," Duo said, taking off his jacket. Some snow fell on the carpet, slipping off his shoulders.

"Work, huh? Nothing to do with a certain Heero Yuy!" She giggled. Hilde took a cap off a bottle of beer and handed it to him. Duo took a sip. It was still cold.

Duo stilled and shrugged. "Nothing like that, Hilde, just work. We're partners, it's inevitable that we spend time together, work late and none of that kinky business that you dream up on."

However, Hilde fixated on the word 'kinky'. "Ha! You're the one dreaming. Of Heero coming over, kissing you under the mistletoe and fucking you senseless." She giggled. "You're such a romantic!"

"Yeah, right," Duo grumbled, swigging a mouthful of the beer down.

Hilde looked up, "Here's your opportunity then. He arrived just now." She smiled as Heero entered the room.

"You didn't tell me you invited him!"

"Oh, well," she shrugged, "You're no fun any more. You're not the moping type Duo."

"I was not moping!" Duo exclaimed.

"Yeah right," Hilde grinned. "Go get him, Duo! Remember, I want pictures!"

"No! There is nothing to mope about," Duo insisted. "We're co-workers, friends and that is all!"

"Is that so? Hmm," Hilde leaned back, a thoughtful expression on her face. "Nah! I don't believe you. Hey! Heero, come over here!"

"Traitor!" Duo hissed.

"Mmm, name the first kid after me, okay?" She paused, "On second thought, don't. No one gets Hilde right." As Heero walked over, she stood up and bounded off to fulfill her hostess duties.

"Hi," Duo murmured.

"Hello," Heero said back.

Silence reigned supreme.

"So... I didn't know that you were... aquatinted with Hilde." Duo muttered.

"She is insistent. She is determined to get what she wants." Heero said diplomatically.

"Pushy woman," Duo confirmed. "Yeah, we seem to attract them."

Heero shrugged. "Do you come to these parties often?"

"Not really," Duo murmured. "Just sometimes."

"Yes. Do you want to go some where else?" Heero asked. "Both of us have been overworked on the Jenkins case, and what with it being concluded last week, I thought - "

"Where do want to go?" Duo interrupted.

"Ice cream?" Heero suggested.

"In winter?" Duo smiled at the idea.

"Is that bad? I live near this place and they sell - "

"Yeah, let's go." Duo stood up, grabbing his jacket. He waved goodbye to a winking Hilde. "So, what flavours do they have?"

"All types. I'm particularly fond of cherry." Heero replied.

"They make cherry ice cream? I'll have to try that."

Heero nodded, blushing slightly. "We can go again, if you want, Duo."

Duo stopped, they were near his car and he noticed Heero's car up ahead. "Yeah. That's what I want." His breath was coming out in white puffs, obscuring his view of Heero but he still noticed how Heero's eyes seemed to light up.