Author's Notes: The issue with the other fic has been solved and settled. She's sorry to have ruffled feathers and I'm sorry to have flown off the handle. I apologize. I also recommend that as both fics are quite different, that you read them both. ^_^ Thanks.

part4


Hilde grinned at the man across from her.

Getting out and doing something completely unrelated to work had been the best idea she'd had in a while.

Relena was always saying that she took her duties as a mechanic too seriously, that she needed to live a little. And in the past few months, her friend had been steadily pushing her towards Duo. That probably had a lot to do with the racer's own interest in the man's more taciturn twin. After all, it would be harder for Heero to avoid her if the two people they spent the most time with were going out.

She laughed to herself at the thoughts of Lena's deviousness. The taller woman had been manipulating her like that since they were children.

Not that Hilde minded this time.

Duo was gorgeous and had a fun personality to go along with it. Not something she'd noticed in many guys. Heero, for example, was too serious. Cat made her nervous with the games he played with others lives. Though she knew he'd never be purposely malicious, she often wondered jut how far he'd go for his own amusement. She knew other guys- she worked, after all, in a predominately male oriented career- but the ones she found even moderately attractive physically tended to be real jerks.

Arrogance and narcissism were, unfortunately, a common combination down in the pit.

Which was why the violet eyed man in front of her was such a refreshing change.

Smiling, she thanked the waitress for her food before popping a French fry in her mouth and chewing slowly. With an appreciative murmur, she quickly turned her full attention to the meal. Usually, she was just in too big a hurry to do more than pop a Hungry man dinner into the microwave or stop in at a fast food joint. Howard's freshly cooked burgers and fries were excellent.

The pair ate in silence for a minute.

She washed her last bite down with a large swig of cola and sat back in the chair to look up and see that Duo had done the same. "So."

"So."

They stared at one another for a long moment before they broke out laughing at their sudden speechlessness. "I'm sorry," she gasped out through her laughter. After a second, she had enough control over herself to continue. "It's just weird, ya know?"

Duo nodded in agreement. "Sometimes it's hard to separate the mechanic from man.. or woman." The pair shared a smile. "So, what do you do when you're not on the track or working on cars?"

Hilde shrugged and sipped on her soda. "I usually just hang around with Lena and make sure she doesn't get herself killed." When her companion raised a brow in askance, she elaborated. "I told you before, Relena is obsessed with speed. Fast cars, fast bikes, she'd fly jets if they'd let her. And everything's a race that she's just got to win."

"Sounds like she's got some sort of death wish to me," he replied, but she just smiled and shook her head.

"Not really. She just... She tried to explain it to me once. I didn't really understand, but she says she just doesn't feel alive if she's standing still. I guess she thinks the world will pass her by if she slows down any." The old jukebox in the corner started playing a catchy country tune, and grinning, Hilde slid out her booth seat. "Why are we talking about Relena anyways? I don't suppose you two-step?"

The braided man laughed and self consciously scratched at his head. "Honestly? No, I never learned that one." Despite that, he took her hand and let her pull him to his feet. "I'll try anything once, though."

"Really?" she through a mock-leer back at him as she led him to the dance floor that was set up to one side. "I'll have to remember that."

With a laugh, she patted his pink-tinged cheek and showed him the easy two-one pattern of the two-step. It didn't take long to realize that Duo was never going to be joining a professional dance troupe, but what he lacked in skill, he made up for in sheer enthusiasm and determination. Hilde had never had such an energetic dance partner before and she was delighted. It was fun having someone besides Relena, who could keep up with her.

It took three or four songs for Duo to get the hang of the quick-stepping dance and they stayed on the floor through several more before a slow song came on and he pulled her closer with a grin. "Now this, I already know."

Hilde wound her arms around his slim waist and smiled. Eyes closed, she leaned in and rested her head against his chest.

Warm air brushed across her cheek as he moved to talk softly in her ear. "I think I could get used to this."

Lips pressed first against the outer shell of her ear and then against her temple.

A tingle started somewhere around her gut and spread throughout her body. She didn't even try to stop herself as she turned and met those tempting lips with her own.

It was a soft first kiss, barely the brushing of lips, but it touched something in Hilde. Something that had never been touched before.

She sighed happily and snuggled up closer. "So could I, Duo. So could I."