By Eve
Warning: Um, bloody? It's pretty bad, this time guys… There's even some sexual content. Blame still resides on both my Angel Sanctuary, X, and RK DVDs. I apologize and author's notes at the end.
Disclaimer: Due to the disturbance in my daily dosage of Claritin, the occasional hallucinations that I do own GW will occur. Thank you for your time.
Dedication: To the following wonderful people in my life, Ani-imouto, oneechan, and Starlight-oneechan, this part is for you and your support. *sniff* I love you guys!
**
Chapter 10: Shades of Grey
He who trusts in himself is a foolBut he who walks in wisdom is safe
Proverbs 29:26
**
"Hilde," he breathed, her name sounding so foreign to his ears now. She stood behind him, expression blank and holding him motionless. Her eyes were barely open, signaling her fatigue. It was the first time since she had 'died' that he had really gotten look at her face. Worn, the strongest woman he thought he knew was worn.
"What are you doing here?" He asked, nervously shifting from foot to foot. There was that gaze of hers again, undermining him to the brink of insanity. He had seen that look twice in his life, once after she was hurt during the Libra and the other… Duo sighed. He had met the other when she turned.
"I should be asking you, nino."
He slumped against the wall in defeat, numbness behind the past weeks' events finally catching up to him. "I killed a woman," he spoke wearily. "I killed a woman."
Hilde stepped forward. "You only believed you did."
"She's dead because of me. Lana's dead because of me."
Hilde shook her head. "Pathetic. You really don't get it, do you?"
"I couldn't protect her…"
Hilde hissed and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, throwing him against the wall. Her face was only inches from him.
"Listen to me," she whispered dangerously. "You're going to drive yourself insane if you continue with this nonsense. You can't afford this, you will hurt the people around."
"Why did you come then? To play my knight in shining armor? If you're into role reversal and dominance, then I'd be more than happy to comply. I enjoy games."
Her fist connected with his jaw, causing him to spit up blood. Ignoring the oozing liquid trickling down his throat, she tightened her grip on his sweat-stained shirt. The air began to smell like rotting corpse as Duo's eyes darkened to a degree that she didn't recognize.
"She was dead long before she met you, Maxwell. Get over yourself goddamn it! I cannot afford to help you when you fall in this type of war-"
"You mean you can't afford the emotional attachment."
She growled and threw him to the ground, straddling his pelvis with her hips. She leaned over him, eyes blazing with an intensity she was undoubtedly ready to match. Her hands lay on either side of him, hair deep as midnight brushing his nose. She began to grind her hips against him and he was powerless to stop the ever so painfully reminder of his maleness. He groaned softly, grabbing her thighs roughly against his own body.
"I… can," she moaned, throwing her head back. "I just haven't found the person who can keep up with me."
He flipped her over and pinned Hilde underneath him, holding her arms above her head. He chuckled darkly watching her eyes blaze with an unbelievable amount of passion.
"I'll play your game," he said, lowering his face inches above hers. Her hands broke free and she grabbed him by the shoulders, arching her back to meet his slow thrusts. She ran her tongue over her bottom lip, causing him to let out a feral growl.
Hilde laughed softly, nipping at his bottom lips.
"I'm game."
**
"You look tired."
Dorothy whirled around to be greeted by the gentle expression belonging to Quatre Winner. She sighed. The man had impeccable timing. She hated his empathic abilities sometimes.
"I am," she replied, never tearing her gaze away from the glass window. "I am."
"You need to rest… Dee." She shivered. Her name sounded so foreign on his lips. She bit her lip, raising her hand to the icy glass. What she wouldn't give…
"Ma grand-mére est sympa. The only person in my life who really pushed me and cared… It didn't matter that my mother… my mother killed my father, my papa in cold blood. She helped me fight away the nightmares, but she could never help with the memories though. No one could ever help with the memories, they're some things that are just meant to be fought alone."
He sighed, knowing that he could never get Dorothy to budge. All he could do was offer his support. He was beginning to understand… Quatre placed a hand on her shoulder, surprised but pleased that she made to movement to back away or to shrug off from his touch.
"Brussels was attacked today," she spoke softly.
"Casualties?"
"The whole city with only ten thousand escaping. No one had expected the west side attack."
He sighed. "Then that confirms Noventa is dead."
"Oui how's Heero?"
"Shocked, angry, hoping Miss Relena comes back safely."
A faint smile crossed her lips. "She is the strongest out of all of us…"
"I know…"
"And the most dangerous…"
**
"It seems like nearly forever since I've talked to you. Lady Une won't even let me know what's going on."
He wanted to reassure her. He wanted to say everything was going to be okay. He even wanted to say that he'd coming home soon, but he knew he would never bring himself to lie. To Midii and to himself, but most importantly he could never leave Catherine.
"Trowa, please…"
He sighed softly. "You know I can't…"
He heard her huff in frustration. Midii spoke bitterly, "Are you ever coming home again?"
Before he could respond, he found himself locked into a deep violet-eyed gaze.
Catherine…
She stood against the doorframe with her arms crossed, an air of complete authority encasing her. Slowly, the corners of her lips turned up into a smirk.
"Meeting."
He nodded, numbly. Words couldn't even begin to come out of his mouth.
Oh god, this is who she is…
"Trowa?"
She's the…
"Trowa!"
Darkness.
**
Only ten thousand had survived, he thought with his hand clenched at his side. Not even a third of the city was what ten thousand meant. He kneeled down in front of the fresh grave before him, laying the roses he held in his hands.
I'm say goodbye to you, Sylvia. You deserved happiness and yet, I deserve mine. And I have that chance. I'm not apologizing for the fact that I couldn't love you the way you wanted me to, but I'm happy you taught me how to feel something, anything in this war-torn body of mine.
I will not lose her. I refuse.
He reached out to touch the damp concrete's engravings. She was free now, Sylvia. She was free…
Sylvia Noventa
A.C 178-A.C 202
'I praise you, Lord for you raised me up and did not let my enemies rejoice over me.'
**
"Doctor?"
The old woman raised her head from the mountains of papers she was searching through. There had to be something, anything she could find.
"Yes?"
"There's been another plane hijacked by Larson's men, led by Colonel Harpers."
She held her breath. "And?"
"Chang Merian is on that plane, ma'am."
"Shit," she hissed slamming her hand onto the desk.
"Shit."
**
Author's Notes: Just to give you a heads up, the war will be starting in three chapters. I won't give away how I'm going to do it, but it's coming in about three chapters or so. And for you Relena lovers again, she's coming just not yet. I need her away for just a little longer, plus Heero's role is about to expand so you need to wait. In addressing why I killed Sylvia, well I like Midii and I needed to kill *someone* so she was perfect for the job. And no, I'm not going to pull an Obi-Wane I refuse.
The next chapter, dear readers is going to be all out blood and *cough* sex. It fits for some reason and the length is kind of, well it's rather long so it might be cut so I can focus more on developing.
The biggest question and due to the overwhelming response, how do you all feel about a sequel? I'm curious to know… I'm also kind of curious to know how you all think I'm going to end this story. I've gotten so fun responses but nowhere near what I have planned. Maybe I'll offer a prize or something for whoever gets closest. I write a fic of your choice…
Review, please. They make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside!