Note: This chapter has some definite sensuality, Hilde just gets all the attention, doesn't she…so, I'm warning you right now. No lemons or limes, but there are some romantic scenes. Just the kind I like.
Ch. 3-Possession
Hilde looked out the window from the kitchen counter, her head resting in the palm of her hand. Duo had gone out an hour ago to meet up with Heero and the other Gundam pilots; most likely to discuss the kidnappings, since he was a volunteer Preventer with the rest of them. She'd been worried at first, but so far there wasn't a sign of Gas'la anywhere.
Trailing her finger along the smooth surface of the counter her mind began to wander. All the things Duo had never told her ran through her mind. The truth about his parents and the Maxwell Church incident. Both were so horrible she couldn't imagine his pain, the way it must ache inside of him everyday. Had she not been worthy of knowing such dark secrets? Or did they hurt too much to talk about? Hoping it was the latter she stood and walked over to the refrigerator.
Opening the door she took out a pitcher of iced tea and poured a glass, cutting a lemon wedge and sticking it on the edge. After she'd taken a sip she turned back towards the counter to find Gas'la sitting there with his legs crossed, a grin on his face.
"Why hello, Hilde Schbeiker," he greeted, his tone oily. "Has Duo Maxwell left you again? What a pity…" He slid off the counter, standing right in front of her and causing her to look up at him. "Guess we can just have another one of our talks, ne?" He gracefully took the glass from her hands and set it on the counter behind him, his eyes never leaving hers.
She shook her head and tried to walk around him, but he wrapped an arm around her waist and held her in place. "Please, let me go," she begged him, looking back at him with pleading eyes. "I don't even know what you want with Duo…or me…so just leave."
"Don't you want to find out?" he asked, pulling her so close to them that she could feel his cold skin against her body. The touch made her quiver, chills traveling up and down her spine. "I'll tell you eventually…Hilde Schbeiker…" He ran his fingers along her facial features slowly, bringing the goosebumps out along her skin. If his skin was cold, his fingers were even worse; cold and clammy, feeling almost like he was dead. The thought made her jump slightly as she moved her face away from his eerie fingers. "What's wrong?" he asked simply. "You don't like my touch? Funny…you like his…"
Pulling away from him determinedly, she glared at him. "I'm in love with Duo, it's different," she told him harshly. "Besides, his hands aren't so…cold…" She covered her cheeks with her hands, trying to warm them up, but the cold wouldn't go away. He sneered at her action and her body went rigid. "What do you want with me?"
Gas'la rested his hands on the counter behind him and looked at her casually. "With you? Well, that's very different from what I want from Duo Maxwell…" he said easily, tilting his head back to look up at the ceiling. "A matter fact, this wasn't in the plan at all, feel honored, Hilde Schbeiker." He looked back down at her, his eyes taking on that hungry look again. "I hadn't realized he'd picked such a delicious looking mate…"
"Delicious? Mate?" she asked, slowly backing away from him. "Are you…going to…eat me?" She tried desperately to leave the kitchen, only to have him appear behind her and rest his hands on her shoulders. The touch made her turn to see him there, her eyes wide with surprise. "Gas'la…let me go…" she meekly demanded.
He chuckled at her words as he brushed her hair behind her ear. "Not eat you, my dear Hilde Schbeiker…" he informed her darkly. "Though, you look about the right age physically…to do something else for me…" Then he kissed her, not lightly like the day before, but deep and passionately. The kiss took her breath away and by the time he pulled away she felt faint from loss of air. "Though we don't do things the same way…I think I know a way…"
"To do what?" she asked weakly, trying to stand without his support.
Grabbing both of her wrists he picked her up and laid her down on the counter. The look in his eyes was stronger than ever and the sneer playing on his lips made her tense with fear. "We can just do it your way…since I can change my body to a more human shape," he thought out loud, his voice now slightly husky.
'Oh no! God, no, don't let this happen to me! Please!' she begged when she noticed what exactly was happening and how out of her control it was. "Don't touch me! Leave me alone!" she cried, trying to wiggle out of his grasp, but he held on tight to her wrists.
"Why? You should feel honored, I normally don't use humans for this," he replied and then kissed her deeply and passionately. "You're a first, this should be interesting…"
She continued to struggle, wriggling away from him only to be pulled back into position. He looked at her wonderingly, as if trying to figure out how it would work. Finally deciding, he started to remove her shirt, exposing her bra to his eyes. He fingered the strap in awe, studying every detail of it. "Please…no…I'm not ready for this kind of thing…" she cried, punching his chest desperately, only to have it have no affect on him.
Suddenly his eyes went wide and he grimaced. "Dammit, that Duo Maxwell is back," he stated angrily, his lip curling up into almost a snarl. "Fine, I'll leave for now. I'll be back at a more convenient time; I can't wait to get this job finished." He got off of her and stood by the counter as she sat up to look at him in shock. Just as he was turning to go he stopped and turned back with a grin. "Oh, and don't tell anyone about this. Remember, you mention me at all and I'll be very angry."
As he disappeared she slid off the counter and re-buttoned the first three buttons on her shirt. Just then the door opened and Duo walked in casually, looking around him and sniffing the air. Then he saw her and grinned. "Now, Hilde, I'm disappointed," he stated jokingly. "I thought you'd be fixing one of your delicious dinners."
Without thinking she ran over and threw her arms around his neck, so grateful for his sudden presence and the comfort of his body. 'Oh, Duo, thank God for you…' she thought. Shocked it took him a moment to hold her back, but then he picked her up off the ground and twirled her around. "Duo! Stop! I'm getting dizzy!" she giggled, kissing his cheek. Once he set her down she smiled and brushed some hair behind her ears. "Glad you're home," she said happily. "I thought I'd wait to see what you wanted to eat…" She hated having to hide it from him, but she was afraid if she didn't she'd lose him. That feeling made a pit form in her stomach.
"Gee, Hilde, I dunno…how about some of that 'meatloaf' or whatever you call it," he replied, scratching the back of his head in thought. "I'm hungry right now, so whatever doesn't take long." He walked over and flopped down on the couch. "Oh, and a soda would be nice too…"
She put her fists on her hips and she glared over at him as he turned on the TV. "Am I your slave or your girlfriend, Duo?" she asked with mock anger. When he didn't answer she sighed and dropped her arms to her sides in retreat. "Fine, what kind of soda do you want?"
"Whatever you grab first," he answered simply. "They found the first boy that disappeared." He paused and then his eyes narrowed angrily. "He was mutilated and dropped in a river. What is with these guys and rivers?" He sighed as she handed him the soda and he opened it. "There were no clothes on his body, but he doesn't seem to have been sexually abused. Odd…" He took a sip. "You still think this guy should live?"
"I don't know, Duo," she replied honestly as she walked back over to the kitchen to start making the meatloaf. "Anything interesting come up when you were with the other pilots?" She concentrated on making the meal while he blabbed on and on about Heero still being dead-beat and Wufei still calling him 'weakling' all the time. He didn't mention any missions, which made her feel more at ease. That meant he wouldn't be leaving for long periods of time, leaving Gas'la less to time to get his 'job' done. After she'd put the loaf into the oven she walked over and sat down next to him, wrapping her arms around his waist and resting her head on his shoulder. "I love you…" she whispered.
Duo looked down at her, his eyes slightly wide. "Where'd that come from?" he asked, a slight tinge of surprise evident in his voice. She looked back up at him, her eyes meeting with his and a little grin crossing her lips.
"I just felt like saying it," she told him honestly and then gave him a quick peck on the lips. Just as she was starting to pull away he grabbed her arm and looked into her eyes, his gaze intense. She felt like he could see right through her; the thought made her stop in her tracks to stare back at him. "Duo, is something wrong?" she asked.
A grin pulled slightly at the corner of his mouth as he pulled her back towards him again. "That wasn't a kiss," he stated simply and then kissed her intensely. Shocked at first, Hilde froze, unable to move or think. But then she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer to her. When she felt his mouth open slightly she took the cue and slipped her tongue into his mouth. Inside the warm cavity of his mouth, her tongue met his. She could taste him, and she liked it. It was Duo.
Pulled in by the passion, Duo slowly pushed her down onto the couch. When they pulled away she found herself opening her eyes only to look up at him. "Hey, Hilde," he greeted jokingly just before he pulled in for another kiss. The position made her slightly nervous, but she kissed him back, this time allowing his tongue to taste her. He briskly ran his hands down along her tiny frame and then the landed back up at her shoulders just before he pulled away again. The passionate kiss had left him slightly out of breath as he looked down at her again.
He gently brushed her bangs out of her eyes and grinned. "You're beautiful," he told her matter-of-factly. "Did you know that?" His voice had gone suddenly soft and gentle, and she almost didn't recognize it as his.
His words made her heart flutter in her chest and she could feel her cheeks warming. She simply shook her head, an embarrassed smile on her face. "N-no…nobody's ever told me that before…" she replied quietly. Trying to calm her down, Duo gave her a quick peck on the lips and another on her nose. That made her giggle, breaking the tight feeling in her chest.
"Well, you are," he stated once more before he kissed her again. This kiss was even more passionate than before, taking more of her breath away. It lasted a long time; they only paused a few seconds for breath. Tongue played with tongue, hands wandered along the curves of the other's body. Sparks were flying beneath each touch, their passion growing.
Without thinking, Duo's hands gently inched her shirt up. A little farther each time until it was stuck under her armpits. She lifted her arms above her head, allowing him to pull it away from her and expose her skin. Wandering at its perfection, he trailed a hand down along her stomach before he continued the kiss her. He wrapped one arm around her waist and the other rested in the curve of her neck, supporting him above her.
She kept both hands up on his shoulder blades, but her fingers slowly bunched up the fabric of his t-shirt until it all rested under them. He paused for a short moment, allowing her to completely remove the fabric. Gazing at his chest, she flicked her gaze back up to his face. Sure, she had seen it before, but never like this, it never made her feel like this. She ran her hands down his back slowly, rubbing them along his smooth, warm skin. Then, she kissed him again, pulling him even closer to her, not wanting to let him go.
He moved his lips from hers and down to her neck, giving short pecks along the smooth skin and creating a trail down to her shoulder. Taking a leap of courage, he slowly moved his lips down to her collar bone and nibbled slightly on it, making her giggle. "Does it tickle?" he asked, his voice soft but husky with the passion flowing through his veins.
Hilde nodded and then sighed slightly as his lips continued down to the valley in between her breasts. Once his lips touched the delicate skin she felt herself push up slightly from the couch, a slight moan coming from deep in her throat. She had never felt this before, this burning passion that was raging through her body. It was going so slow, it was almost painful.
When Duo heard the sound he stopped and looked up at her. Her expression frightened him. What was he doing to her? She had wanted to wait, hadn't she? Remembering this, he started to pull away, only to have her pull him back to her. "Duo, it's okay…" she whispered, running her fingers through his hair. That simple action alone made him close his eyes to block away the pleasure. "I want to do this too…" Her voice was so soft, so soothing. She saw his closed eyes and giggled. "Do you like that?"
He opened those beautiful indigo eyes of his and grinned his careless, reckless grin, the one that made her heart skip a beat. "Wouldn't you like to know?" he asked jokingly, giving her a quick peck on the lips. "I'm afraid I'll keep that one a secret."
She pouted, jutting out her lower lip and making fake tears form in her eyes. "You're mean," she replied in a very convincing tone. This made him grin before he kissed her again.
"Stop pouting, Hilde," he scolded and kissed her neck. The touch was feather light at first and then he bit slightly on the skin, sucking to bring the blood to the surface. The sensation was new to her and it made her heart race as her skin warmed under his lips. When he pulled away, ever so slowly, he looked at her and smiled. "You liked that, huh," he stated and gave her a peck on the lips. "It'll be sore tomorrow, just to warn you."
Hilde grinned and stroked the mark with her finger. "Whether or not I liked it will remain a secret," she told him. "Until you tell me yours, I won't tell you mine."
He narrowed his eyes and brushed his bangs out of his face. "Fine, be that way," he replied with mock anger before he bent down to kiss her again. The kiss was full of fire and passion as their hands ran along each other's bodies, taking in every sensation, every touch. When they pulled away he looked at her with question in his eyes. "Are you sure about this, Hilde?" he asked gently. "We don't have to…you have to decide now. If we take this any farther…I won't be able to stop."
It took her only a second to decide. This burning desire was in her stomach and slowly consuming her. She knew the only way to make it go away was to fulfill it. "Yes, Duo, I'm sure," she said, no nervousness in her voice. "I'm ready…"
This answer made him smile, thankful she had said yes. He wasn't sure if he could've stopped then either. Slowly he pulled himself down so that his head was just above her chest, then he moved to kiss her stomach. Each kiss was feather light as he made a trail down to her belly button, tickling it with his tongue. When she giggled he felt the movement under his lips and smiled. She tasted so good, he had to have more. More of her. Looking up one more time to make sure it was okay, he unbuttoned her jeans and pulled down the zipper.
Knowing what he was doing, Hilde moaned slightly and closed her eyes. She was ready for this moment, for this moment with Duo. It couldn't be with anybody else.
Then, just before he could pull her jeans down, the timer went off. Beeping its loud shrill beep and shattering the moment in a matter of seconds. Hilde sat up and looked over at the stove and then back at Duo. His expression was one of intense disappointment, and it only got more intense when she stood up and re-fastened her jeans. "Hilde…" he whined, his eyes pleading her.
But, it was no use, the moment was gone. Over. The passion had dissipated with the beeping that was still ringing in his ears as he watched her pull her shirt back over her head to cover the bare skin his lips had touched only moments before. "Time for dinner, Duo," she stated as she fixed her hair and turned to look at him. "Your favorite; meatloaf." Then she walked over to turn off the timer and take out the meatloaf, resting it on the stovetop so she could slice off pieces for both of them.
Knowing he had been beaten, he stood and sighed, picking up his shirt and putting it back on as well. Then he flopped back down on the couch and looked over at her, watching as she put two thick slices on his plate and one on hers. She poured two glasses of Pepsi and then brought it over, setting one in front of him and the other next to it.
"Duo, are you okay?" she asked as she sat down next to him. He took a bite of the meatloaf and didn't reply, his eyes gazing at the empty TV screen. "Duo…?" She placed a hand on his arm gently.
He sighed and rested back against the couch, his hands propped up behind his head. "I'm okay, it's that damn timer that's the problem," he answered, looking over at her. "I was really in the mood, Hilde." His honesty made her eyes widen slightly. "Don't look so surprised. I warned you about that."
She looked down at her untouched plate and picked up the fork, still having no want to bite into the loaf. "I'm sorry, if I hadn't felt so strange…I would've stopped it…" she told him. "I just felt like it was the time, but it obviously wasn't. I'm glad it didn't happen, I'd feel so stupid." She shook her head and finally took a bite. After she had finished chewing and swallowing it she looked back over at him. "I'd just never felt that way before, I didn't know what to do."
Duo nodded and sat forward again, taking another bite out of his meatloaf. "In that case, I'm glad it didn't happen either. If you weren't ready, you weren't ready," he replied and shrugged. "It's worth the wait, and since I'm with you, I can wait too." He grinned before he took another bite.
"Thanks, Duo," she said and picked up the remote to turn on the TV. "Wanna watch some news?" She turned on the TV and the screen came to life. "Another one of the missing boys found. The twelve-year-old one…he was nude but…doesn't seem to have been sexually assaulted. That's very strange." She narrowed her eyes as she tried to contemplated the facts. "First we have a line of missing boys from ages five to eighteen, and now we start finding them all in a row. This one was found in a creek." She sighed and took another bite. "It's too strange…"
"They're also appearing in the order they were taken in," Duo piped in as he finished his first slice and took a sip of his Pepsi. "This guy really wants to freak us out, doesn't he?" He took another bite of his meatloaf. "They have no suspects, no forensic evidence to go on. Isn't that strange?"
"That's impossible. How can somebody leave no forensic evidence? It doesn't make any sense!" Hilde explained before she took a sip of her Pepsi. "They don't even know the cause of the death. What ever it was, it wasn't physical. There were no marks on the body aside from the ones that had been on them before they were kidnapped."
Duo shrugged. "Whoever this killer is, he isn't human. He can't be." Those words made Hilde stop her fork in mid-air as Gas'la ran through her mind. The killer wasn't human? Gas'la definitely wasn't, and he was definitely dangerous. The thought of him being the killer made her quiver slightly. He had been so close to her earlier in the day. Then another thought struck her. All the missing boys had brown hair and indigo eyes. Duo. Was that why Gas'la was here? To kill him? "Hey, Hilde, you okay?"
His voice broke into her thoughts and she finished bringing the meatloaf to her mouth. "I-I'm fine," she responded shakily and put her fork down on her plate; she had lost her appetite. "Are you finished? I'm gonna go wash the dishes…" He nodded and she took his plate, heading towards the kitchen.
She washed the dishes by hand, her mind wandering over the memories of the boys' disappearances and Gas'la. Then Duo came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her slim waist, making her jump in surprise. "Hilde, are you sure you're okay?" he asked right into her ear. She turned around and saw that it was him. Grateful, she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Don't do that, you startled me," she scolded, resting her head in the crook between his neck and his shoulder. Thank God he hadn't disappeared. Gas'la hadn't gotten to him yet. He was still there, she could still touch him, hold him.
"I'm not dying, Hilde," he stated in surprise, stroking her back with one hand. "Calm down…you don't have to hold me so tight…I'm not going anywhere…" He kissed her hair and smoothed it down with his unoccupied hand. "I'm not going anywhere…it's okay…" His voice was deathly quiet and soothing as he rocked her back and forth in his arms. "It's okay…"
A tear slid down her cheek as he held her tight. If only she could tell him. But, she couldn't, she didn't want Gas'la angry. If he was angry he might kill Duo. That thought made another tear slide down, following its companion. She tried to keep the tears in, to keep them silent so that Duo wouldn't worry. But, like before, the dam burst and she began to sob on his shoulder, her shoulders heaving with the tears. "I just don't want to lose you," she told him between sobs.
"Hilde, what are you talking about?" he asked, his expression full of worry. "You won't ever lose me. I won't leave you, I promise." He pulled her away and looked into her tear streaked face, wiping a stray tear out from under her eye with his finger. "Cross my heart, hope to die, stick a needle in my eye."
She laughed slightly and wiped her eyes with her fists. "I'm sorry, I don't know why I'm such a mess," she told him, laughing at herself for her emotional breakdown. "I don't have a reason to, do I?" She turned back to the sink and finished washing the plates; then dried them with the towel and put them back in the cabinet.
When she turned back around she saw Duo still standing against the counter, watching her. His eyes were very intent and she felt like he could see through her once more. "Duo, what is it?" she asked timidly. "I told you, I'm fine." She wiped her wet hands on her jeans and started to walk out of the kitchen.
"You don't look fine," he responded as he caught hold of her arm. "Something's wrong, and you're not telling me…" His expression was a mixture of accusation and hurt, making a lump form in her throat. Trying to force it down, she pulled out of his grasp and looked away, pushing a lock of hair behind her ear. "Hilde, I want you to trust me. You can tell me anything." His tone was begging now, making the lump bigger in her throat.
Trying to keep her voice steady, she avoided his eyes. "I know that, but this is something I can't tell you," she explained quietly. "I want to, but it would only hurt you. I-I'm sorry." With that she hurried out of the kitchen and down the hall to her room, shutting the door behind her. Her breath was coming out in choked sobs as she tried to keep the tears in once more. She was getting bad at it now, the holding back emotions thing. They came pouring out again and she threw herself on the bed, stuffing her head in the pillow to stifle the sound. The last thing Duo needed now was to hear her crying. She had worried him enough.
Feeling a hand on her shoulder she stopped sobbing for a second, thinking and hoping it was Duo she pulled her head out of her pillow only to look into the bright green eyes that belonged to only Gas'la. She tensed at the sight of him and sat up, clutching onto the pillow. "You were crying," he stated simply, reaching out his fingers to touch the still clinging tears. "Humans are strange…" He lifted his finger to his lips and tasted the salty tears. "They can be so emotional…" He flicked his eyes up from where they had been focused on his finger. "But, you've been a good girl. Remember, you want to keep me happy, Hilde Schbeiker."
"You're the one who killed those boys," she stated accusingly and backed away from him against the wall at the end of her bed. "Are you here to kill Duo?" Her voice was shaking in fear and she knew he could see her body quivering. "I won't let you kill him."
Gas'la chuckled slightly and leaned in closer to her. "I won't kill him, if he follows directions. And, if he's truly what I'm looking for," he told her, his voice icy cold. "And, you couldn't stop me from killing him, he'd die from the process if he were human." This made her eyes go wide and he sneered at her surprised expression. "Don't look so surprised. I'm here on a mission, and that's to awaken him."
"Awaken him?" she asked. "W-what do you mean by that?"
The door opened behind him and he froze, his eyes looking behind him to find the braided American standing in the doorway. "Looks like we'll find out soon enough, won't we?" he replied, his voice sharp as a dagger.