Well, guys, I finally got the next chapter to my "One Voice" fic up! ^^ See? I told you I'd get it out. I hope you all enjoyed the one voice fic...In this chapter, the prince of mischief meets the innocent princess. ^_~ Enjoy! R&R if you would like!
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"Silence Welcome"
She stared vacantly ahead of her as the young woman sitting next to her bed gently spoon fed her warm soup.
"Dear one, I'm glad you are awake and eating now." The young nun looked worried as she fed the little girl another spoonful of soup. "But sooner or later I will need to know your name."
Hilde finally blinked and moved her gaze toward the nun. She licked her lips, tasting the bland broth the spoon had left. The spoon was coming toward her mouth once again, but this time she pushed it away.
She scowled and gave a hard grunt and a cold 'I-can-feed-myself' look as she refused the spoon once again.. Sobbing had made her throat sore, so she didn't dare try to speak yet.. Thankfully, the broth was slowly taking away the pain.
"Okay then." The nun sat the bowl on Hilde's lap and gently placed the spoon inside it. "You can feed yourself for now." She got up from the chair she'd placed beside Hilde's bed and stood next to her, fiddled with her robes. "And you're awfully dirty, so later on, we must bathe you. Then we'll get you some nice clothes and let you rest for a little while longer."
Hilde could sense that this woman was frustrated by the way she fidgeted, yet she was being so kind and gentle. She didn't understand why someone who was so frustrated could be so nice. Sure, her mother had been nice before, even though she had been mad, but that was her mother. Hilde almost went back into her vacant stare as she thought of her mother, but somehow shook herself from the feelings and turned back to the nun.
She decided she'd tell the woman her name. Hilde owed her that much...she'd been sitting with her all night and almost all day, taking care of her and making sure she was well. Making sure that she was comfortable and now, she promised a bath... It seemed forever since her last bath, and if she had ever really needed one badly, this was one of those times.
Yes, she definitely at least owed her a name.
"My na-name.." her voice cracked, a burning sensation left over from sobbing filled her throat. "My name is...Hilde..." Her eyes wandered down to the woman's feet as she turned and looked at the her. Hilde took a casual sip from the bowl soothing the pain in her throat.
A sweet smile spread across the woman's lips. "My name, Hilde, is Sister Helen. I'm glad to finally know your name, child." Clasping her hands firmly in front of her, she sighed in relief. "Now that you are talking, maybe you'll join us for dinner out in the dining room tonight?"
Hilde looked back up at Sister Helen's smiling face. Kindness... She'd only known three people that had ever shown kindness like this. Her parents and that mysterious soldier...Of course, those are the only people she'd really ever known in her 6 years of life. Living where she had, she hadn't really been out much...
After a moment of silence, Hilde nodded softly and turned her attention to her broth.
Sister Helen nodded in approval. "For right now though, you finish your broth. Then I'll warm up a tub of water for you."
Hilde carefully slid under the bedcovers, still gripping her broth, as Sister Helen slipped out the door and softly shut it behind her.
Why was she here? Where's here exactly?! Hilde looked around, taking in the wooden features of the room as she thought on. Who were those soldiers? Why didn't she...die...along with her mother. She'd give anything to be with her mother and father again...why hadn't they taken her life too? It would've been so much easier that way. For her anyway...
A despondent sigh escaped her lips as she layed back, broth still in hand. There was nothing for her now, absolutely nothing. Her mother was dead, her father was dead. Well, she couldn't be positive that her father was dead, but she was pretty sure that he wasn't off somewhere having the time of his life either. Whatever the case, he wasn't with HER, and it meant all the same to her.
Dead...everything she ever knew and loved. And there was nothing she could do. Death...what a bitter end to life. Bitter and yet, such a fitting end for some...She could definitely think of a few people who it would be fitting for...
The feeling of helplessness was not one Hilde had welcomed, but it couldn't be stopped. It had slowly taken over her whole body as soon as her mother was being dragged away.
Being so young, Hilde was confused with the helplessness.. with the emptiness that was now slowly hollowing her out. A child was supposed to have a fun-filled childhood, right? One filled with curiosity and learning. Playing...learning from mistakes... And even though she'd been cooped up in that colony with her mother for the longest time, she had been able to learn much. Now, she had nothing and no one...no one to play with and learn from and nothing to call her own. She had no reason to live, but her mother...her mother had told her to live on. What other choice did she really have?
Hilde closed her eyes once again and let sleep take over her body.
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"Hilde."
Small eyes fluttered open as a soft voice called out to her again. A small groan came from Hilde as she turned over to face the voice.
She met a smiling face...
"Hilde, It's time to wake up and take a bath. You must be clean before we have dinner tonight." Sister Helen gently picked up the overturned bowl from Hilde's lap. "You fell asleep before you could eat all of your broth..." She held back a chuckle as Hilde almost jumped out of bed at feeling the sudden dampness.
"And you spilled it on yourself when you rolled over.." Sister Helen, still choking back her chuckle, began sopping up the broth with a cloth as Hilde crawled out of bed. "Now, go get in the tub. It's over there in the corner."
Hilde winced as her bare feet came in contact with the cold wooden floorboards. The weather had been nice when she arrived...but now it seemed to be dropping in temperature. Geez, how long had she been here?
It would've taken all she had just to get out of bed if not for the nice wet surprise she'd received. Those covers had been the only thing between her and the frigid air of the room and she hadn't planned on coming out from under those covers so quickly.
She rubbed her arms as she tiptoed carefully across the room toward the small iron tub.
"The water is nice and warm. There's a washcloth, a bar of soap, and a towel right next to the tub...make sure you don't stay in too long or else you'll wrinkle." Sister Helen had stripped the bed and now had a bundle of cloth in her arms obscuring her face from Hilde's view.
Hilde whimpered softly as she turned to face the nun. She wanted to tell Sister Helen to stay with her, to keep her company while she bathed. Her mother had always sat beside Hilde while she played in the tub...had always washed her hair and helped her wash behind her ears. Her face quickly changed from helpless back to her vacant stare.
Sister Helen pressed down the load in her arms to look Hilde in the eyes which were now just as lifeless as before. "What's the matter, child?"
"Nothing..." and with that Hilde turned and began to shed her clothing.
Sister Helen's lips twisted in a worried frown as Hilde stepped into the tub. How frail she seemed now...she'd looked so healthy the day she arrived. It had only been a day and a night since she came. The nun quickly shook off her uneasiness, finally deciding that so much stress really could do that to a person easily in a short amount of time. She was just a little girl for heaven's sake...all that stress could definitely take quick advantage of such a vulnerable little girl.
Hilde's back was to the nun, but she still heard her hurried footsteps as she rushed off for the washroom. She slid down into the tub further when she realized she was alone in the room.
Liquid warmth surrounded her body plunging her into a sleepy haze once again. She shuddered as she reached a hand over the tub to grab the soap and washcloth. The water was plenty warm, but the exposed parts of the tub sure didn't feel toasty yet. Especially not the metal rim... Well, at least the shock kept her awake...
Hilde straightened in the tub when she heard footsteps behind her. She would've called out to the person, whoever they were, but she really didn't care to know. It could've been an Oz soldier and she wouldn't have cared... But shouldn't she care? Her worst fears had now come true...Her mother had been killed, her father might just as well have been, and she had no one else...nothing else. If it HAD been an Oz soldier behind her, why shouldn't she have wanted to be able to pull a gun out of no where and blow his brains away like he was nothing...like his life was nothing. Just like they had done her mother.
No, no...THAT was too good for those soldiers. Instead, why wouldn't she have wanted to shoot his kneecaps off first, make him bleed. Then shoot him everywhere but his head and his small and hardened heart... Make him suffer. Then throw him out in the cold to bleed...to die a very slow and painful death...
Why shouldn't she want that?
Because, she felt almost nothing... No anger, no happiness, no sadness....only despair. Only helplessness. And even that didn't bring any expression from her. None whatsoever.
Plus, she was only six years old...she couldn't hold a gun much less fire it.
Hilde felt a soft hand on her shoulder and almost jumped. "Hilde, would you like me to help you wash your hair?"
Hilde looked up at Sister Helen and blinked a couple times before once again silently turning her back to the nun.
Sister Helen frowned in disappointment. She had meant to get the little girl to talk, but that obviously wasn't going to happen. At least she was getting responses... Silent responses, but responses, nonetheless. At least, Hilde turning her back had SEEMED like a response...like a yes, maybe? Sister Helen decided that it had been.
She hummed sweetly as she squeezed the contents of the bottle into her hand and lathered up the little girl's hair.
She decided to try and brighten the mood a little by starting a small conversation, still gently scrubbing Hilde's head. "Hilde, you have such pretty hair. Do you think you would let me put it up before we have dinner?"
Hilde sighed. She wasn't being stubborn, she just didn't feel the need to talk. What was the use of words anymore? What was the use of anything? In spite of herself, she took a second to nod in response.
Sister Helen felt her response and smiled. She would get this girl to talk yet.
Of course she knew that Hilde had good reason to be so silent, but she also was going to make sure this little girl didn't stay that way. Children definitely should not be allowed to be THIS quiet. She rolled her eyes, amused at the pictures forming in her head.
ONE little child in this church certainly didn't think that silence was something to treasure...
Her eyes shot open in cheerful realization. If SHE couldn't get Hilde back to a playful child-like state...HE certainly could. Of course, he was the most playful little boy she'd ever been lucky enough to take care of. And he'd been through so much, just as Hilde had. This would definitely be a good thing for Hilde. She couldn't stay silent for long, not with such a vibrant young boy running around. Especially not with him teasing her and tugging at her pigtails.
At least, that's how Sister Helen had planned to fix Hilde's shoulder length hair.
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"PLEASE!! NO!!" the little boy violently squirmed in his bed, fighting the visions within his head. "Please..." he whimpered again, this time more softly.
A cold wind blew the woman's golden hair around her face...she was so beautiful. And in all this snow, she seemed to radiate the warmth that he needed so badly. But, there was something wrong...she was...crying?
Yes, she was crying. He needed to get to her so badly...needed to have her hold him, surround him with her warmth. Tell him everything was fine...everything was completely fine...and he needed to tell her the same. So she would stop crying...so his mother would stop crying...
But the dream always ended the same and he knew what was coming...but he did as he always did. He reached out his hand to her own outstretched one...and that's when the blood came.
Duo woke with a start, still shaking. "Momma..." he cried still half asleep. He felt a soft hand on his forehead, brushing his bangs back, and heard soft gentle familiar hushes. He collapsed into the figure's arms and sobbed in anguish.
He had let her slip away again...he didn't save her. All he needed to do was reach out and grab her...pull her out of the way. But he didn't...he couldn't reach her in time...
"Shhhh....Duo, you're alright now. Everything is fine...fine, my child." The young woman held the boy until his sobs died down into hushed gasps.
Duo gripped Sister Helen's robes tightly as he finally pulled away from her chest, looking up at her with bloodshot eyes. "f-Fine?" He blinked another stream of tears from his eyes.
Sister Helen nodded as she delicately wiped the little boy's tear streaked face. "Everything is all right, Duo. You were just having a bad dream, that's all."
Duo nodded. "It's the same one I've been having since I came here..." His frown melted away slowly as he peered up at his 'angel'...his friend. Everything seemed perfectly find when she was around. There was no way a bad mood could stay around in her presence.
Sister Helen smiled reassuringly as she swept some of his hair out of his face. "Duo, you'll learn to make the dreams go away. Don't worry, you will learn." She straightened out his collar and beamed at him receiving a beam in return. "And to help you along on that journey, you will have to make sure to make lots of friends and make--"
The now cheerful little boy happily interrupted, jumping off the bed and onto the floor. "--And make lots and lots of mischief!!"
Sister Helen threw her hands into the air in amused exasperation. When would he ever learn? She secretly hoped he never did. His happy and mischievous personality is what got him through so much...losing it would definitely be a death sentence. A smirk crossed her face as Duo ran happily out of the room and expectantly into the dining area....
...But instead of meeting the dining area, he ran unexpectedly, right smack into a pair of deep cornflower blue eyes...
Duo didn't know what actually made him fall. The shock of seeing those eyes, or the emotionless gaze that they cast upon him..
Agh, what was that, Duo thought to himself as he recovered from his fall. He shook off the fall and then looked up curiously at the odd creature. The thing seemed almost mean because of it's lack of expression. Like a monster...
Monsters didn't usually have pigtails, did they?
Dark pigtails tied up with red ribbons?
And Duo was almost sure that he'd never seen the monster in his closet wear a flowery dress....
Duo squirmed backwards, his eyes going wide with horror...
No, this was worse than a monster, Duo finally concluded.. Much worse...
This was a ....
...GIRL!!!
Duo scrambled up to his feet, running past the young girl and into the dining room yelling as though he'd seen a ghost. "Father Maxwell!! Father Maxwell!!"
Hilde peered curiously down the hall as the boy's cries became more distant. Who WAS that boy? And why was he yelling so loud...
Sister Helen watched Hilde from behind... Hilde had been leaning down the hall as if to try and get a glimpse as Duo had run away. It was definitely a hopeful sign considering she'd been reluctant to even show interest in her bath earlier.
The nun chuckled softly. The way it had happened had been so awkward that it was amusing. Two wide eyed children stared at each other in silence, and then out of the blue, Duo jumped up and ran down the hall yelling all the way. And Hilde had so curiously leaned in to catch a better look...it was too cute not to laugh at.
Sister Helen only hoped that Duo wouldn't act this way all the time. Certainly having someone to finally tease and poke at would tempt him too greatly to ever stay away from her for too long. Yes, they'd certainly have to confront each other sooner or later.
And Sister Helen just knew that they'd somehow become very important to each other. Whether it was the sooner point in time... or the later...
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Review if you like! The next chapter will be out soon! What happens in the next chapter?: Hilde warms up a little...And to make Duo feel better about the 'total girl invasion', Sister Helen decides to give him his cooties shot. What will happen when Duo finds he's now 'immune' to cooties? ^_^ Find out next chapter!!!
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"Silence Welcome"
She stared vacantly ahead of her as the young woman sitting next to her bed gently spoon fed her warm soup.
"Dear one, I'm glad you are awake and eating now." The young nun looked worried as she fed the little girl another spoonful of soup. "But sooner or later I will need to know your name."
Hilde finally blinked and moved her gaze toward the nun. She licked her lips, tasting the bland broth the spoon had left. The spoon was coming toward her mouth once again, but this time she pushed it away.
She scowled and gave a hard grunt and a cold 'I-can-feed-myself' look as she refused the spoon once again.. Sobbing had made her throat sore, so she didn't dare try to speak yet.. Thankfully, the broth was slowly taking away the pain.
"Okay then." The nun sat the bowl on Hilde's lap and gently placed the spoon inside it. "You can feed yourself for now." She got up from the chair she'd placed beside Hilde's bed and stood next to her, fiddled with her robes. "And you're awfully dirty, so later on, we must bathe you. Then we'll get you some nice clothes and let you rest for a little while longer."
Hilde could sense that this woman was frustrated by the way she fidgeted, yet she was being so kind and gentle. She didn't understand why someone who was so frustrated could be so nice. Sure, her mother had been nice before, even though she had been mad, but that was her mother. Hilde almost went back into her vacant stare as she thought of her mother, but somehow shook herself from the feelings and turned back to the nun.
She decided she'd tell the woman her name. Hilde owed her that much...she'd been sitting with her all night and almost all day, taking care of her and making sure she was well. Making sure that she was comfortable and now, she promised a bath... It seemed forever since her last bath, and if she had ever really needed one badly, this was one of those times.
Yes, she definitely at least owed her a name.
"My na-name.." her voice cracked, a burning sensation left over from sobbing filled her throat. "My name is...Hilde..." Her eyes wandered down to the woman's feet as she turned and looked at the her. Hilde took a casual sip from the bowl soothing the pain in her throat.
A sweet smile spread across the woman's lips. "My name, Hilde, is Sister Helen. I'm glad to finally know your name, child." Clasping her hands firmly in front of her, she sighed in relief. "Now that you are talking, maybe you'll join us for dinner out in the dining room tonight?"
Hilde looked back up at Sister Helen's smiling face. Kindness... She'd only known three people that had ever shown kindness like this. Her parents and that mysterious soldier...Of course, those are the only people she'd really ever known in her 6 years of life. Living where she had, she hadn't really been out much...
After a moment of silence, Hilde nodded softly and turned her attention to her broth.
Sister Helen nodded in approval. "For right now though, you finish your broth. Then I'll warm up a tub of water for you."
Hilde carefully slid under the bedcovers, still gripping her broth, as Sister Helen slipped out the door and softly shut it behind her.
Why was she here? Where's here exactly?! Hilde looked around, taking in the wooden features of the room as she thought on. Who were those soldiers? Why didn't she...die...along with her mother. She'd give anything to be with her mother and father again...why hadn't they taken her life too? It would've been so much easier that way. For her anyway...
A despondent sigh escaped her lips as she layed back, broth still in hand. There was nothing for her now, absolutely nothing. Her mother was dead, her father was dead. Well, she couldn't be positive that her father was dead, but she was pretty sure that he wasn't off somewhere having the time of his life either. Whatever the case, he wasn't with HER, and it meant all the same to her.
Dead...everything she ever knew and loved. And there was nothing she could do. Death...what a bitter end to life. Bitter and yet, such a fitting end for some...She could definitely think of a few people who it would be fitting for...
The feeling of helplessness was not one Hilde had welcomed, but it couldn't be stopped. It had slowly taken over her whole body as soon as her mother was being dragged away.
Being so young, Hilde was confused with the helplessness.. with the emptiness that was now slowly hollowing her out. A child was supposed to have a fun-filled childhood, right? One filled with curiosity and learning. Playing...learning from mistakes... And even though she'd been cooped up in that colony with her mother for the longest time, she had been able to learn much. Now, she had nothing and no one...no one to play with and learn from and nothing to call her own. She had no reason to live, but her mother...her mother had told her to live on. What other choice did she really have?
Hilde closed her eyes once again and let sleep take over her body.
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"Hilde."
Small eyes fluttered open as a soft voice called out to her again. A small groan came from Hilde as she turned over to face the voice.
She met a smiling face...
"Hilde, It's time to wake up and take a bath. You must be clean before we have dinner tonight." Sister Helen gently picked up the overturned bowl from Hilde's lap. "You fell asleep before you could eat all of your broth..." She held back a chuckle as Hilde almost jumped out of bed at feeling the sudden dampness.
"And you spilled it on yourself when you rolled over.." Sister Helen, still choking back her chuckle, began sopping up the broth with a cloth as Hilde crawled out of bed. "Now, go get in the tub. It's over there in the corner."
Hilde winced as her bare feet came in contact with the cold wooden floorboards. The weather had been nice when she arrived...but now it seemed to be dropping in temperature. Geez, how long had she been here?
It would've taken all she had just to get out of bed if not for the nice wet surprise she'd received. Those covers had been the only thing between her and the frigid air of the room and she hadn't planned on coming out from under those covers so quickly.
She rubbed her arms as she tiptoed carefully across the room toward the small iron tub.
"The water is nice and warm. There's a washcloth, a bar of soap, and a towel right next to the tub...make sure you don't stay in too long or else you'll wrinkle." Sister Helen had stripped the bed and now had a bundle of cloth in her arms obscuring her face from Hilde's view.
Hilde whimpered softly as she turned to face the nun. She wanted to tell Sister Helen to stay with her, to keep her company while she bathed. Her mother had always sat beside Hilde while she played in the tub...had always washed her hair and helped her wash behind her ears. Her face quickly changed from helpless back to her vacant stare.
Sister Helen pressed down the load in her arms to look Hilde in the eyes which were now just as lifeless as before. "What's the matter, child?"
"Nothing..." and with that Hilde turned and began to shed her clothing.
Sister Helen's lips twisted in a worried frown as Hilde stepped into the tub. How frail she seemed now...she'd looked so healthy the day she arrived. It had only been a day and a night since she came. The nun quickly shook off her uneasiness, finally deciding that so much stress really could do that to a person easily in a short amount of time. She was just a little girl for heaven's sake...all that stress could definitely take quick advantage of such a vulnerable little girl.
Hilde's back was to the nun, but she still heard her hurried footsteps as she rushed off for the washroom. She slid down into the tub further when she realized she was alone in the room.
Liquid warmth surrounded her body plunging her into a sleepy haze once again. She shuddered as she reached a hand over the tub to grab the soap and washcloth. The water was plenty warm, but the exposed parts of the tub sure didn't feel toasty yet. Especially not the metal rim... Well, at least the shock kept her awake...
Hilde straightened in the tub when she heard footsteps behind her. She would've called out to the person, whoever they were, but she really didn't care to know. It could've been an Oz soldier and she wouldn't have cared... But shouldn't she care? Her worst fears had now come true...Her mother had been killed, her father might just as well have been, and she had no one else...nothing else. If it HAD been an Oz soldier behind her, why shouldn't she have wanted to be able to pull a gun out of no where and blow his brains away like he was nothing...like his life was nothing. Just like they had done her mother.
No, no...THAT was too good for those soldiers. Instead, why wouldn't she have wanted to shoot his kneecaps off first, make him bleed. Then shoot him everywhere but his head and his small and hardened heart... Make him suffer. Then throw him out in the cold to bleed...to die a very slow and painful death...
Why shouldn't she want that?
Because, she felt almost nothing... No anger, no happiness, no sadness....only despair. Only helplessness. And even that didn't bring any expression from her. None whatsoever.
Plus, she was only six years old...she couldn't hold a gun much less fire it.
Hilde felt a soft hand on her shoulder and almost jumped. "Hilde, would you like me to help you wash your hair?"
Hilde looked up at Sister Helen and blinked a couple times before once again silently turning her back to the nun.
Sister Helen frowned in disappointment. She had meant to get the little girl to talk, but that obviously wasn't going to happen. At least she was getting responses... Silent responses, but responses, nonetheless. At least, Hilde turning her back had SEEMED like a response...like a yes, maybe? Sister Helen decided that it had been.
She hummed sweetly as she squeezed the contents of the bottle into her hand and lathered up the little girl's hair.
She decided to try and brighten the mood a little by starting a small conversation, still gently scrubbing Hilde's head. "Hilde, you have such pretty hair. Do you think you would let me put it up before we have dinner?"
Hilde sighed. She wasn't being stubborn, she just didn't feel the need to talk. What was the use of words anymore? What was the use of anything? In spite of herself, she took a second to nod in response.
Sister Helen felt her response and smiled. She would get this girl to talk yet.
Of course she knew that Hilde had good reason to be so silent, but she also was going to make sure this little girl didn't stay that way. Children definitely should not be allowed to be THIS quiet. She rolled her eyes, amused at the pictures forming in her head.
ONE little child in this church certainly didn't think that silence was something to treasure...
Her eyes shot open in cheerful realization. If SHE couldn't get Hilde back to a playful child-like state...HE certainly could. Of course, he was the most playful little boy she'd ever been lucky enough to take care of. And he'd been through so much, just as Hilde had. This would definitely be a good thing for Hilde. She couldn't stay silent for long, not with such a vibrant young boy running around. Especially not with him teasing her and tugging at her pigtails.
At least, that's how Sister Helen had planned to fix Hilde's shoulder length hair.
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"PLEASE!! NO!!" the little boy violently squirmed in his bed, fighting the visions within his head. "Please..." he whimpered again, this time more softly.
A cold wind blew the woman's golden hair around her face...she was so beautiful. And in all this snow, she seemed to radiate the warmth that he needed so badly. But, there was something wrong...she was...crying?
Yes, she was crying. He needed to get to her so badly...needed to have her hold him, surround him with her warmth. Tell him everything was fine...everything was completely fine...and he needed to tell her the same. So she would stop crying...so his mother would stop crying...
But the dream always ended the same and he knew what was coming...but he did as he always did. He reached out his hand to her own outstretched one...and that's when the blood came.
Duo woke with a start, still shaking. "Momma..." he cried still half asleep. He felt a soft hand on his forehead, brushing his bangs back, and heard soft gentle familiar hushes. He collapsed into the figure's arms and sobbed in anguish.
He had let her slip away again...he didn't save her. All he needed to do was reach out and grab her...pull her out of the way. But he didn't...he couldn't reach her in time...
"Shhhh....Duo, you're alright now. Everything is fine...fine, my child." The young woman held the boy until his sobs died down into hushed gasps.
Duo gripped Sister Helen's robes tightly as he finally pulled away from her chest, looking up at her with bloodshot eyes. "f-Fine?" He blinked another stream of tears from his eyes.
Sister Helen nodded as she delicately wiped the little boy's tear streaked face. "Everything is all right, Duo. You were just having a bad dream, that's all."
Duo nodded. "It's the same one I've been having since I came here..." His frown melted away slowly as he peered up at his 'angel'...his friend. Everything seemed perfectly find when she was around. There was no way a bad mood could stay around in her presence.
Sister Helen smiled reassuringly as she swept some of his hair out of his face. "Duo, you'll learn to make the dreams go away. Don't worry, you will learn." She straightened out his collar and beamed at him receiving a beam in return. "And to help you along on that journey, you will have to make sure to make lots of friends and make--"
The now cheerful little boy happily interrupted, jumping off the bed and onto the floor. "--And make lots and lots of mischief!!"
Sister Helen threw her hands into the air in amused exasperation. When would he ever learn? She secretly hoped he never did. His happy and mischievous personality is what got him through so much...losing it would definitely be a death sentence. A smirk crossed her face as Duo ran happily out of the room and expectantly into the dining area....
...But instead of meeting the dining area, he ran unexpectedly, right smack into a pair of deep cornflower blue eyes...
Duo didn't know what actually made him fall. The shock of seeing those eyes, or the emotionless gaze that they cast upon him..
Agh, what was that, Duo thought to himself as he recovered from his fall. He shook off the fall and then looked up curiously at the odd creature. The thing seemed almost mean because of it's lack of expression. Like a monster...
Monsters didn't usually have pigtails, did they?
Dark pigtails tied up with red ribbons?
And Duo was almost sure that he'd never seen the monster in his closet wear a flowery dress....
Duo squirmed backwards, his eyes going wide with horror...
No, this was worse than a monster, Duo finally concluded.. Much worse...
This was a ....
...GIRL!!!
Duo scrambled up to his feet, running past the young girl and into the dining room yelling as though he'd seen a ghost. "Father Maxwell!! Father Maxwell!!"
Hilde peered curiously down the hall as the boy's cries became more distant. Who WAS that boy? And why was he yelling so loud...
Sister Helen watched Hilde from behind... Hilde had been leaning down the hall as if to try and get a glimpse as Duo had run away. It was definitely a hopeful sign considering she'd been reluctant to even show interest in her bath earlier.
The nun chuckled softly. The way it had happened had been so awkward that it was amusing. Two wide eyed children stared at each other in silence, and then out of the blue, Duo jumped up and ran down the hall yelling all the way. And Hilde had so curiously leaned in to catch a better look...it was too cute not to laugh at.
Sister Helen only hoped that Duo wouldn't act this way all the time. Certainly having someone to finally tease and poke at would tempt him too greatly to ever stay away from her for too long. Yes, they'd certainly have to confront each other sooner or later.
And Sister Helen just knew that they'd somehow become very important to each other. Whether it was the sooner point in time... or the later...
********
Review if you like! The next chapter will be out soon! What happens in the next chapter?: Hilde warms up a little...And to make Duo feel better about the 'total girl invasion', Sister Helen decides to give him his cooties shot. What will happen when Duo finds he's now 'immune' to cooties? ^_^ Find out next chapter!!!