It was too early in the morning for anyone to be up just yet. Any of the residents that is. That suited the servants and cleaners just fine. They scrubbed what was possible, dusting and the like, to make the house as spotless as probable for their gracious hostess until everyone woke.
Working for Relena Peacecraft had its perks. She was friendly, not over-demanding, the hours were nice, and she paid well. And in turn, each would try to make it their personal mission to see that things were taken care of in the quickest and most efficient time.
In one of the main halls, one such maid moved around doing her dusting. She paused for a brief second, head off-handedly tilted to one side with a curious expression on her face. After a quick, dismissive shrug, she went back to work.
Not even ten seconds later, she resumed the same curious, confused look. This time she didn't shrug, but slowly lowered her dusting wand with perked ears. It didn't take long to hear the suspicious, almost beeping noise again. It was a quick, five-second routine, and also interrupted her work. And being unable to continue due to the annoyance, she did what any curious human being did...followed the source.
Shoes softly clomped on the hardwood hallway as she nearly tiptoed in her search. The beeping was getting louder, a good sign that she was getting nearer. The wand remained in her hand, though it dragged in the air as her eyes remained straight ahead, ears constantly listening for the sound.
After about two more minutes of slowly ambling down the hall and into one of Relena's 'offices', she found the culprit. The vid phone on a dark oak desk flashed a light in time with the beeping noise she followed. Someone left a message, sometime when everyone was asleep no doubt.
Lips pressed together in split indecision, she stared at the phone. It would be a good idea to let one of the sleepers awake and answer it... But if it wasn't anything major, then she could delete it and save everyone the annoyance of having to listen to that sound.
When it beeped again, she strode over and pulled up the message. Instead of an expected human face showing up on the screen, it was plain bold words. Nothing major, just two lines. A brow immediately furrowed. "Urgent...DM. DM?"
What was this? Who was DM? Not able to figure it out, she quickly saved the message, saving the puzzle. Shutting the vid phone off, leaving the message to blink again, she left the room. This was an oddity she never dealt with in her entire time at the mansion.
She wouldn't handle it, someone ELSE would. Her eyes went to the wristwatch on her hand. But he wouldn't be up for a little while yet and she didn't want to disturb him for this. With a small shrug, she went back to the spot she left.
~*~*~
A little later in the kitchen with the chef during idle, morning talk, Pagan was approached. A young, short girl stopped in front of him and fiddled with the dusting wand in her hand. With a kind, disarming smile, he looked her way. "Can I help you miss?"
"Mr. Pagan...there's something I think you should see." She softly answered, timidly meeting his eyes.
His mustache twitched in confusion and small worry. "Is something wrong?" He wondered, taking a few steps to her.
"Oh! No. There's...well, um...there's some sort of odd message on the vid machine I found earlier."
"Will you show me?"
She promptly led him from the kitchen and to Relena's study, not thinking there could be any other phones that held the message. Even though there were plenty of phones on this floor, and a good more in the mansion, she wondered if this was Miss Peacecraft's private number. The thought didn't occur to her till just now, but this was out of her hands, so she didn't need to stress herself much. "I pulled up the message, but there was no face." She explained, letting the elder man take over.
He stopped in front of Relena's desk and expertly pulled up the same message. The red light hadn't shut off, and he was glad she had the insight to keep whatever it was. He watched as the same words flash on the screen and his eyes narrowed in confusion. "Is this what you saw?" He asked, never taking his eyes off the bold words.
"Exactly sir."
He gave a thoughtful hum and tried to figure out who DM was. Was this message for Miss Relena? The screen suddenly went blank and he startled. Was THAT the message? It was very cryptic...
Sounds suddenly cut through the silence, sounds of a telephone number being pressed. It was all the same note, but went in some odd pattern. They both listened, utterly baffled at what this meant.
Pagan leaned on the desk and listened to the entire thing, mind buzzing. This sounded extremely familiar, this odd code he was listening to. What did it have to do with the earlier message?
Mere seconds before the code stopped, he saved the message. He didn't understand it, so there was no point in letting it drag out anymore. This was most important if whoever sent it put it in the form of a secret language. Being in the war taught him that.
He ran the two letters in his head and tried to figure out what they stood for. What was DM? If he could figure out the systematic noise, he might be able to get it to whomever it was sent to. He didn't know if Miss Relena was meant to see this, since she would most likely be as puzzled as he was.
With a quick shake to clear his mind, he closed the vid phone down and sent the servant back to her duties. There was still much to do before Miss Relena woke up. He slowly left the office and went back to the kitchen, stuck in his thoughts. The message tickled something akin to faint recognition in his mind, the musical and the words. DM... It DID sound familiar...
As soon as it hit, he could've slapped himself. Of COURSE! DM! The complexity of the message! It had to've been something for Duo Maxwell. He pulled back the sleeve to his jacket and checked the time. It was still too early for young Maxwell to be up...but this was very important to risk letting him sleep in any longer.
Mind made up, his footsteps made an about-face from his trip and went for the stairs to the sleeping 'area'. He knew Hilde's room held a vid phone, mostly since Duo didn't want to leave her side. There were plenty of connectors for the phones and he had one moved in there for the youth.
Stopping just before the closed door, Pagan checked the wristwatch again. His lips pressed together. It was ONLY a little after seven... He knew everyone was given strict instructions to keep the noise down in Miss Schebeiker's area. They were all aware of her problems over the past few months and did their best to allow her to sleep. But if this was something that had to do with Duo, he knew that waking the youth was the best in the end. This message was important BECAUSE of its secrecy.
Indecision coming to an end, he softly knocked.
~*~*~
Pulling a tousled head up from its buried, suffocation-possibility position, Duo immediately squinted in the morning light. "Somebody needs to pull those shades tighter at night or paint the WINDOWS black." He darkly muttered, entirely annoyed at being woken up.
The attitude softened a little as violet looked at the small ball curled into his front. A tender smile flitted across his face, and left as soon as another knock sounded. If whoever that was woke Hilde up, they were dead!
Slowly detangling arms from the small body, Duo quickly got from the bed and rushed to the door to halt the damn knocking. As soon as it swung open, not bothering to hide his annoyance, he glared at Pagan. "Pagan!" He hissed, gripping the doorknob. "You KNOW not to knock and wake Hilde up!"
"I know young Maxwell. I apologize, but this can't wait."
A brow furrowed, some of the anger immediately forgotten. "WHAT can't wait?"
"There is a message one of the staff found earlier this morning and it is MOST interesting."
Interest peaked, Duo forgot all about the rules regarding Hilde. "Why're you coming to ME then? I'm sure it's something for Relena-"
Pagan's head shook, stopping his tirade. "This was meant solely for you. I advice you to look at it now before any more time passes."
Duo's shoulders relaxed as the worry of waking Hilde left. This was totally unexpected, but also intriguing. What was so important it couldn't wait until eight...his ORIGINAL time to get up?
With a quick glance at his love to make sure she was still asleep, he let go of the door. "Okay...I'll follow you then." After a quick check, figuring boxers and t-shirt would suffice and be decent enough, he quietly closed the bedroom door.
The two padded to Relena's office once again and Pagan pulled the message up. He stopped next to the elder man and stared, wondering who wanted to talk to HIM. As soon as the words flashed on the screen, recognition sent warning bells in Duo's head and he leaned over the desk.
The words were a bold, plain black...utterly boring, and secretive. He knew one person like that and it was a major shock to know he was contacting Duo NOW. He knew Heero could contact him ANY time he needed help, but it was almost inconceivable that the perfect soldier needed HIS help. But being Heero's good friend and never being one to turn him away, especially on something of such importance as far as Relena was concerned, Duo listened to the message of that same repetitive pattern. His brow furrowed. Leave it to Heero to make everything so hard to figure out.
After it finished, Pagan saved the message. "Do you know what it means young Maxwell?"
Absently scratching the back of his head and still staring at the blank screen, teeth momentarily gripped his lower lip. "Not a CLUE Pagan. I know who it IS, but what he wants is a mystery to me..." With a sudden shake, knowing he delve into this further LATER, Duo gave the elder man a quick smile. "But thanks for telling me. I'm sorry I was so crass with you earlier."
Pagan's hand waved his apology off. "No need sir. I know you're overly protective about Miss Hilde," His eyes gleamed with a knowing smile, "and I debated on telling you due to your cautions."
"Well I'm glad you did man." One hand lightly clapped Pagan's shoulder. "And if you'll excuse me, I'll go back to see how Hilde is and ponder this newest turn of events."
~*~*~
Sitting back in the room at one of the tables, Duo stared at the screen and waited for the message to start playing. When the musical tune started, violet closed and he listened to the beeping with the occasional pause.
Duo gave a mental sigh, still listening. Why did Heero have to make everything so HARD? This was some sort of code, either old or something the professor hadn't told him about. Fingers touched his forehead, slowly rubbing the skin. It was WAY too early in the morning for this kind of thinking crap. Why didn't his friend make it EASIER?
When the message finished, Duo immediately replayed it a second time. There was DEFINITELY something recognizable about this system. What, Duo couldn't define, so he played it again. Listening to the notes a third time brought back more and his fingers absently tapped along with the rhythm, having it nearly memorized by now.
It lasted a few minutes, but was precise and there were no screw-ups in it. Whatever method Heero was using was one he knew well. A palm rubbed his chin in thought. If Heero knew this method, HE should too. The five professors and doctors trained them all very well. Apparently, he just forgot whatever this was.
Replaying the fourth time did more than bring Duo closer to deciphering it. Cornflower blue slowly peeked open at the noise. Quietly laying and listening, Hilde's brow tiredly furrowed at the familiarity of the notes, having heard something like that in Oz. It wasn't musical, but a system of taps and pauses.
Her tired brain registered 'Morse Code' and she slowly rolled to her back. Squinting against the light that ciphered past the bottom of the curtains, Hilde found Duo intensely concentrating. With weak muscles, equally tired arms slowly pulled her into a more vertical position. "Duo..."
Violet shot to blue and Duo immediately stopped the message to save it. "Sorry babe." He gave a meek smile and got up from the chair. Stopping next to the bed, he sat on the edge. "Did I wake you?"
"Yes, but what was that?" Hilde asked, giving a large yawn.
Duo smiled at how cute she was before giving the phone his attention. "A message from Heero. I can't figure it out, and I've listened to it four times now."
"Morse Code." Hilde mumbled, trying to bury into the pillows and get some more sleep.
"WHAT did you say?" Duo nearly whispered, eyes flying open. That sounded RIGHT. But how Hilde knew it was a mystery.
"I said your message is Morse Code." Hilde repeated, regrettably turning around.
Duo looked in confusion. "How did you know THAT?? You only heard it ONCE right?"
"Yea, but Oz used it since Morse Code is so old and a LOT of people don't even know what it is anymore. Plenty of people don't even know what the alphabet is." Hilde went to snuggle back to her side and go back to sleep, but Duo quickly kissed her...and woke her up.
"Hilde...you're BRILLIANT!" Duo sputtered, kissing her again in his gratitude. Pulling back with utter glee in his eyes, he shot off the bed and hurriedly sat in the chair. Fingers went to pull the message up, but he went to her nightstand and grabbed the notebook and pen with a quick idea.
Duo knew of Morse Code, but not the alphabet, as Hilde said. But if SHE knew it from being in Oz's clutches so long ago, it was a bet she knew the code. Starting the message one final time, pen poised, he scratched down small lines in time with the beeps and gave a small space when the notes paused. After it finished, Duo saved the message for safety sake and went back to her bed.
Nearly shoving the book and pen in her face, he planted himself on her bed. "Can you read that?"
"I knew I should've kept my big mouth shut." Hilde mumbled, mostly to herself. She yawned again and slowly moved to a more upright position. Taking the book and pen, a knee painfully rose and rested the notebook on it.
While staring at the scratches, they slowly became words. After finishing, Hilde put the pen in the spiral wire and handed the notebook back. "That should be it. If I'm a letter off, you should be able to figure it out anyway."
Duo scanned the message and violet widened.
Things are worse off than I thought. Come to Shanghai and find me. I...need your help.
His jaw dropped. Duo was RIGHT... Heero DID need his help. But why was almost unknown, since Heero always worked alone and loathed ANY help from ANYBODY. Even when they were together on the boat after first meeting Relena, Heero denied ANY of his help. But...
Come to Shanghai and find me.
He would sure try to do his best.
"Leave it to Heero to be so secretive, he makes me search the entire CITY." Duo gave a mental groan and dropped the book at the edge of the bed at a sudden thought. He WANTED to go to Shanghai and help Heero, since this had to be bigger than even HEERO could handle. If the perfect soldier needed help, then Shinigami would endeavor to do his best.
Chestnut swung and met Hilde's form, now fast asleep. Duo didn't want to leave her during this, but he NEEDED to get to China. Hands covered his face as he mulled over the decision. "To stay and probably let Heero kill himself. Whoever the assassin is has to be GOOD. Especially if Heero is asking for MY help."
That last line was distanced like it was on purpose. Heero was stuck and he knew it, but that didn't make asking any easier. It touched Duo to know his friend would ask this. It also made him want to laugh in disbelief.
On the other hand... Violet peeked through fingers and stared at his beloved. "I could go and miss out on Hilde's therapy. I won't be able to be there for her." He muttered.
He knew Relena, Noin, Sally, and all the medical doctors and servants would be. That didn't dissipate the helpless feeling that he wouldn't be there to aid her if something SHOULD happen. He was the reason she was so badly injured, yet AGAIN. It was his responsibility to see this through until she was fully healed. But that might take MONTHS. It already had, but she was making good progress.
Duo stood from the bed and gave the tie to his braid a frustrated yank and grabbed a brush. Smoothing out the sleep ruffled locks in agitation, Duo knew he was stuck. "I need to get out of here and help Heero, but I LOATHE the idea of leaving Hilde here. Who's going to stand in front of her and catch her if her leg muscles give out?"
Relena would try and replace him in that aspect, but it just wasn't good enough. Duo wasn't demeaning Relena, or implying she couldn't handle Hilde's treatments, but HE wanted to be there and HE wanted to be the one to help her walk. It was a totally selfish motive and while he was here no one bothered to get in his way. They all knew he was capable of handling Hilde's emotional outbursts and following Sally's directions to the letter when it came to her getting better.
Retying his hair for the day, Duo tossed the brush on a nearby chair and stopped at the edge of her bed. "I HAVE to go. Helping Heero is more important than being there for Hilde. I hate to admit that, but it's true." He looked at the sheets in mild depression. "The others will be able to help her, and I know HILDE would want me to go and help Heero. She knows he's gone anyway..."
Duo didn't want to wake Hilde up just to explain things, especially since she looked so damn peaceful. But he had to tell her this and get going if he wanted to be out of Sanc before ten.
Sitting on the bed, a hand hovered over a shoulder. It would be so easy to write down a quick note right under the code Hilde deciphered and explain that he was going.
No, he had to tell her. Taking the coward's way out and leaving without saying goodbye, without looking into her eyes again, would leave him with a want to do so until he got back. He wouldn't be able to focus on the mission if he didn't kiss her goodbye. "Hilde...come on babe, I need you to wake up for a minute."
Hilde regrettably did so and almost smacked Duo, but one look into his serious, sad eyes stopped her. Duo was so excited and happy just before she fell asleep... "Duo? What is it?"
"I need to go Hilde." A hand went through his hair, ruffling his bangs. Duo gave a deep sigh. "Whatever Heero's facing...I can't let him face it alone. He needs my help. He's NEVER asked for it before. Whatever this is, WHOEVER this is, is more than a match for even the perfect soldier."
Hilde's jaw clenched as she sat in a minute vertical position. "You're really going to go?" That was a stupid question; of COURSE he was going. The look in those eyes told her THAT much.
Hilde knew very little from what Duo and Relena told her about China. If Duo woke her up to say goodbye, she should at LEAST wish him good luck and that he return safely... "Be careful Duo. I don't want to lose you like I almost did in the war..."
Duo gave a wry, disarming smile and leaned closer. "Hey, I promised to be there for you babe, don't you remember? I may be GONE, but I'm not going to leave you."
Hilde sullenly nodded. She suddenly wished this China incident never happened. "I know." She whispered, tears burning blue. Her nose pricked, but she WASN'T going to cry! Duo needed her strong, so she would endeavor.
"Can you tell Relena for me?" Duo slowly leaned closer, staring into her eyes, memorizing them to get him through the next few days. Her strength and love would help him return alive. "The less I spend here, the quicker I can get to Shanghai."
Hilde nodded, heart wildly pounding from that sexy stare. She knew what Duo wanted and kissed him before he finished leaning down. Her lips devoured his, more out of want and sadness than lust. Hilde poured all the love into their kiss. If she was lucky, he would change his mind for a while and stay to keep her company for even a few more minutes.
Duo breathlessly pulled away and gasped for air. Hilde was going to kill him with that kiss. It already ate at him to have to leave, but those soft lips were gnawing at his soul. Duo knew she didn't want him to leave. He could see it in her eyes, hear it in her voice. The kiss also told him she didn't want him to go, but she would have to deal, as did he.
No one wanted to keep Duo by her side more than him. But fate had different things planned. Looking into blue, fingers trailed down her skin before deplorably getting off the bed. If he was going to leave, he had to do it before he regretted doing so.
As Duo walked to the door with nothing but the clothes on his back, teeth nibbled her lip with a sudden thought. "Duo," Hilde called, "how do you intend on GETTING there??"
Duo gave a wry grin and turned. "There're things you don't quite know about that rest inside these walls Hilde. ...Let's just say that I'm taking express air there."
A brow furrowed as Duo blew her a quick kiss and left just as quickly. Hilde didn't take offense, since she knew he didn't want to leave. His shoulders were stiff, one indication right there. His stance seemed jaunty and cocky, but his steps were off.
Blue scanned the nearest clock and found it almost eight. She would be up soon, and Hilde had to tell her where Duo went. "I just hope she doesn't fly off the handle." Hilde prayed, wearily rubbing a hand against her forehead. "The only thing I can do is pass the time and get some more sleep..."
Just as she snuggled into the covers and closed her eyes, a quiet, VERY familiar rumbling sounded. Blue jerked open in panic. Limbs sent jabs of pain from abruptly turning to the windows, having been thrown open by Duo sometime ago.
Eyes widened in disbelief at what she was seeing. A white Mobile Suite hovered in the air for a split second before turning a 180 and flying away from Sanc. Her jaw dropped, eyes watching until it was out of sight. WHAT THE HELL?! Did RELENA know about that suit?! Where did it COME from? Why were there mobile suits on Sanc GROUNDS?!
Entirely stunned and exhausted at such quick movements, Hilde sank into the pillows and closed her eyes, not wanting to think about it. If it needed to be explained, maybe she could find answers to some questions of her own...
~*~*~
It felt GREAT to be in the air, the feel of the control sticks in his hands again. That stupid grin just wouldn't leave. Duo knew his last comment to Hilde was a trifle odd, if not revealing, but he couldn't resist that tempting statement.
Duo knew of the Mobile Suits in the lower, hidden grounds of the Sanc Kingdom. He stumbled across the main entrance to the small 'factory' after Hilde continually shoved him out of her room. It was only natural to find something to do, so he looked around the immense structure.
Finding the room sidetracked Duo long enough and he forgot about Hilde at that moment. Picking the lock was child's play and he was pleasantly surprised, if not baffled, at what he found. There was no point in asking questions since they hadn't been used for whoever knew how long. The layer of dust on the nearest suit told Duo that. He wondered if anyone even REMEMBERED them down there.
Duo was glad he found them so long ago; it would eat up the time and suspicion of getting to China. If he kept over the water and avoided land, unless he stayed too far up for air control to spot him, he would be able to get there in a few hours. Oh, how he wished for Deathsycthe's cloaking device. Then he wouldn't HAVE to take such precautions.
Duo never knew how much he missed being in the cramped cockpit of ANY Mobile Suit until he ran to the white Tauruses and took off out of the bay doors. So great was his rush to get to Shanghai and excitement to fly again that he didn't leave much room for subtly. Walking the suit far into the forest would've been better, but instead, he immediately took to the air.
Duo honestly didn't know WHAT to expect when he got to Shanghai. Hiding the suit would be priority number one to keep suspicion down. The only thing worse than having to help Heero was getting charged with owning and using military equipment right after the war was over!
If necessary, he could blow up a leg or arm and make it look like a downed suit. If he was lucky, someone stupid enough to believe that would. Duo didn't know WHAT to do when he reached the city's limits. He was improvising the second he took off from the basement. Finding Heero and getting updated onhis mission was the next step. "Assuming I'm able to FIND him."
Night fell by the time Duo reached the city. He wasn't planning on reaching it at that point, or think about time zones when traveling across continents, but it eventually worked out. The edge of Shanghai was so dark; it was a hassle just to land the suit.
Duo planted it among a dense part of dead trees, away from any type of road. Figuring no one would bother to come all the way out here, he opened the hatch and jumped from it. The fall was short, only a few stories. It didn't faze him in the slightest, which was a good thing due to the amount of the city he had to investigate. For once, he thanked his Gundam training.
At least he was in the boundary of the city and not in the center. Taking off in a set run for the faraway glow of lights, hands slapped his cheeks in effort to stay awake. "It's going to be a looonnngg night." He drearily muttered, forcing violet wide open.
He didn't have one clue to go on, not even a number to trace before he left. Knowing Heero, the perfect soldier wouldn't keep one. Duo probably wouldn't even keep a stable address. All he had, was Heero's word that he was in Shanghai.
"This...is going to be...a REALLY long night." He huffed, picking the pace up. The sooner he got to it, the sooner he could get ON with it. "Easier said than DONE." He darkly muttered, nearly reaching the lights. "One good thing about being a Gundam pilot...ya just can't beat the STAMINA."
~*~*~
Jumping from the rooftop he was on to the next, he quietly skidded to a stop on the gravel top and silently walked to the edge of the building. Leaning down to keep from being spotted, he watched one of the main roads and looked for his...partner. It was getting a TEENSY bit easier to stomach that word, saying or thinking.
He watched the nighttime partiers meander through in the area below and suddenly felt cut off from the world. Even though he was among thousands of Chinese, a distant cousin to his nationality, he felt severely alone. Was that why he asked for help? Any OTHER mission doctor J ever sent him on, even the more...'challenging' ones; he simply redid his strategy or used more guns. Or self-destructed in a moment of failure. Having tried all three routes still left him with no other alternative.
It was embarrassing to ask Duo to travel so far on such a hazy notion. He didn't even know if Duo RECEIVED his message. Yet here he was, scanning the streets. It wasn't inconceivable that Duo might not have the code or it deciphered by now. He was one of the few that knew Morse Code; one reason he used it. If ANYONE at Sanc knew it, he doubted Duo would take it to them. Knowing who sent it should've been evident enough.
'If he gets here tonight, he'd be LUCKY.' Knowing he sent such a vague letter due to safety reasons on that one chance didn't give Duo much leeway. But Maxwell was smart, not as smart as he was, but still pretty good...more than he gave everybody CREDIT for.
Searching the city among the people was out unless he wanted to be spotted by The Blur's henchman and taken out. He didn't wait this long to come and be so easily wiped out. Sticking in the shadows and watching was the best he could do. All he hoped was they found each other SOON. Wasting time was never his strong point.
With outright looking being out, staying to the rooftops was the closest he could compromise on...WITH cautious glances to make sure there was no one else up here with him. Having a confrontation when he didn't expect it, and didn't want one, wasn't high on his priority list.
Spending maybe another ten minutes in the same spot, he crept to kneeling position and backed to the center of the building before standing. Making sure no one saw him, he took off for the next building over at high speed. He was able to jump any distance about twenty or thirty foot across, but having the buildings so arm's length close just made things easier. Didn't mean he was going to oh-so-casually hop across and be spotted though.
Silently leaping off the brick edge and rolling across the other gravel top, he stood and took off again for the next. He wasn't doing any good sitting here and checking the main road. He could watch the city as best he could while Duo looked for HIM. He didn't know how long it would take Duo to travel here, or what he'd travel in. Knowing the Deathsycthe pilot, he'd be as discreet when it came to such a serious matter. Though pegged as the jokester of the whole Gundam bunch, Duo could be even more serious than Trowa when it came to taking on a job of this extent.
He was forced to the ground when he ran out of buildings and started getting into the 'suburbs'. Alleyways and slums was a more appropriate term. The Blur basically ran this city and whom they didn't like, lived amongst the trash. He halfway pitied these people for the higher-up they were slaves to, angry because they didn't have enough guts and pride to stand up and fight. All because they were afraid to die.
Didn't these people learn ANYTHING from the war? Death was no big deal! He faced death every mission he took, every decision to self-destruct, every day of his life. And if he was fortunate, he'd work with death if that long braid of his companion would come to eyesight!
After an hour, he was beginning to think it wasn't going to happen. He nearly covered half the city and waited on rooftop after rooftop, just in case Duo happened to pass through. The fact that Duo was traveling on the ground and he a story or two above everyone was supposed to help. It wasn't. If anything, it just made traveling a little easier than having to hide in shadows and alleyways or wearing a disguise so The Blur wouldn't find him as easily.
Crouching on yet another building, keen eyes directed below, he was almost surprised to hear someone landing on the roof and trying to keep it quiet. Irritation buzzed, but was drove back by his instincts. It was time to fight, regrettably enough. He didn't think he could scour the while city and NOT be seen by little miss perfect assassin.
He waited on top of a few of their club hangouts; it was bound to happen. She probably did her lightening speed as usual and rocketed it to the roof for another round, maybe to finish him off this time.
Listening for her footfalls, he distanced the speed it would take for him to move and get his gun. He wasn't going to go down quite that easily, especially without a fight. If he was lucky, he could pop a low shot and wound her enough to be able to kill her. His gun hand itched for a second before he jumped and whirled around, gun already in plain sight...and aimed at Duo.
"ACK! Don'tSHOOTme,IjustcametoHELP!" Duo quickly rambled, hands defensively waving between them. Even though Duo figured he had a gun on him, he didn't expect THAT for an initial meeting!
The gun pulled back and was put away. "DUO?" He asked. What was Duo doing up HERE? He expected him on the ground!
"Whoa...that's the first time I think I've ever seen you openly SURPRISED!" Duo joked, that stupid grin on his face. A second later, he received the normal glare. "There...better." All amusement left as if it was wiped off. "Now, how bout you explain your damn good reason for taking me away from Sanc grounds and Hilde's REHAB?" He darkly asked, arms crossing in a doubting stance. A foot started tapping in impatience.
Hilde was awake and in therapy? That was good news, but he didn't bother to ask how she was doing. There was something else that just came to mind, and it wasn't over details of the MISSION. "What were you doing up HERE?" He queried, giving his partner a skeptical look. A hand waved behind them to the open area below. "I figured you'd be on the ground."
"Yea well...that's what you get for trying to figure me out." Duo joked, giving a wry smile. "But I figured YOU'D be somewhere out of sight. Since you gave me so little to go on for my search, helping me locate you seemed the only decent thing for you to do. Doing it in dark corners kinda cramps a good city-wide search, so this left the only other spot." Hands spread to the roof around them. "So, the details?" Duo reiterated, body going back to its previous stance.
Not giving an answer, but knowing Duo'd FOLLOW, he walked to the edge of the roof and jumped. Not even a minute after landing, he heard a resounding spray of gravel behind him and turned to Duo. "It's not safe anywhere near here. I have a place a short distance from here."
"So...we're roof dodging it then?" Duo queried, looking at the 'road' before them.
He didn't need to look down to the streets to know it was still hustle and bustle. The sounds emanating from below were loud enough. "If you wanna continue it down THERE," A finger pointed over the side, "you're more than able to. I've been exposed to The Blur and they know my face. I don't know how many people they've got right now, but it grows every day." He turned and started for the edge. "I'm not taking that chance."
Duo watched Heero jump across to the next building, a hand rubbing his chin. "The Blur? Interesting name. Have ta ask about that LATER." The next question set up, Duo took off after his new partner.
~*~*~
"He did WHAT?!"
Hilde grimaced at the interesting vocal pitch from such an even-keel person and fought to plug her ears. The dumbfounded look on her face was too funny for words and if Hilde wasn't trying to sit up without the pain, she'd start laughing. "That's what I said Relena. Duo left earlier this morning."
Not knowing how much to tell, principally since she knew about the entire situation in Shanghai, Hilde blurted everything out as soon as therapy was over. She assumed it was the pain in her body that acted as a catalyst. If she told everything to her hostess, maybe she could get relaxed enough to get some SLEEP. Too bad she didn't count on Relena's need for details.
Pacing in front of the bed, she nearly glared a confused hole in the carpet. "But WHY?? What would Heero need him so BADLY for?" She suddenly stopped and swung toward the bed. "And he left YOU here." She hollowly stated, as if it was an incredible feat.
Hilde knew that, and had to agree. "Don't I KNOW it." Arms crossed over her chest as Hilde playfully pouted. "I'm so damn lonely now. You're not as much fun to whine to. You almost let me sit DOWN today." She joked, giving a quick wink.
Some of the tension left as she smiled and sat at the edge of the bed, mindful of Hilde's legs. "I know, I know, I'm just too soft. Good thing Sally intervened and took over." When Hilde pouted even harder, she laughed. "I'll never forget the look of outright childlike frustration on your face." She kidded, giggling even more.
"Ha, ha." Hilde darkly retorted, fighting a smile. She was a baby every day Sally forced her awake and out of bed to the double metal bars. But such was the price for being able to use her legs again.
She got up from the bed and walked to the window, pulling the curtains aside to look out. Being reminded of so many dangerous scuffles such as these involving the people she cared about was NEVER easy to deal with. She could already feel her blood pressure rise, even as she tried taking deep breaths to calm her shocked mind.
It was near impossible to believe Duo was gone from Sanc. And the fact that he left HILDE?? Even more implausible. The boy was basically duty-bound to her bedside with a remorseful guilt like none other. Now gone, Duo left her with a lot more responsibility of taking care of Hilde's treatments.
She also held the outer job of being a politician...which was hectic ENOUGH. This added stress was getting harder to calm down and put on the back boiler. 'I never knew just how much Duo watched over Hilde when he was around.' She marveled, absently staring at the morning sky. 'Not to mention put UP with.'
Knowing Duo left to fight and put Hilde in her care meant she would be the one in his place. A small sense of being needed flowed unlike the needs of serving the people. If Duo trusted her to take care of Hilde, then she would do her best.
"Relena? You okay over there?" Hilde quietly asked, inattentively rubbing one of her thighs. The pain was slowly lessening as her muscles were constantly being put to use. Soon, hopefully soon, Hilde would be able to manage the bars without ANYONE'S help.
She looked back to the bed and gave a small, almost sad smile. How did she say what she was thinking; how could she put it into words? So much invaded her mind just after Hilde's news; a thousand questions and worries that refused to go away. Even asking did nothing to resolve the trepidations in her heart.
Every possible and utterly worse scenario, involving Heero of course, came to mind; the worse was him being dead. All the others just concerned him in the most horrible state of physical, not to mention MENTAL, health she could picture.
The phony smile grew a little more. "It's nothing Hilde." Quickly glancing at her watch, deep blue widened. "Oh man, I'm going to be late!" She walked to the bed and swiftly grasped Hilde's hand, giving it a little squeeze. "I know I'm no Duo when it comes to pampering your needs, but Sally will be here, and most of the doctors and servants." A wry grin sprouted. "Who knows? Maybe you'll be able to BREATHE now that he's gone."
Hilde giggled. "Don't I KNOW it."
She was waved aside, not wanting to leave Hilde so bedridden without ready assistance. But if she procrastinated any longer, she was going to make a whole group of people unhappy by being tardy.
"You go on Relena. I'll just catch up on some more sleep. Like I don't get ENOUGH of it." Hilde murmured, scooting back to horizontal position. "One thing though. Can you close the drapes before you leave?"
She grinned and backed up a few paces. "Sure thing. I don't sleep well when light shows through either."
"That would account for you waking up at DAWN, wouldn't it?" Hilde joked, the swish resounding in the room.
She playfully glared through a smile. "Oh HUSH." The time ticking, she hurriedly walked across the large room to the door. "Now, be good while I'm gone and don't harass anyone more than necessary." She playfully ordered, wagging a finger.
"You make it sound like a BAD thing." Hilde joked, tiredly grinning. When she clicked the door shut, cutting off the laughter at her joke, Hilde was left in the quiet, with no Duo to hover around.
Getting used to the lack of mindless chatter and bedside nurse would take more than just a few hours. That was clear by how loud the silence buzzed. A finger idly tapped against the mattress as Hilde waited for sleep to come.
~*~*~
How long does it take a person to get bored with the same routine, even if it's vital to one's life? The way she was going...a week TOPS.
Getting up every accursed sunrise due to the sun's rays waking her up didn't allow for any extra time to sleep in. By the time she was awake and up to start the morning, she was ready to take Duo's place in front of Hilde for training. They started at eight sharp every morning, and getting up an hour or so early allowed for enough time.
Listening to the frail girl's whining morning after morning was wearing on her nerves. She TRIED to put herself in Hilde's position and think of how much pain the girl was in...how much Hilde just wanted to sit down in bed and not walk. It wasn't easy; she just couldn't picture being an invalid the rest of her life.
A few harsh lectures to Hilde, from both her AND Sally, silenced her friend for another morning and finished up the few steps. With Hilde's daily rehabilitation done, she and Noin nearly high-tailed it to her ride to the first meeting, or wherever she needed to be, while the doctors took Hilde back to her room. If she was lucky, Noin would have the cook make something she could eat on the way in the car.
Work normally lasted all day, sometimes WELL past sunsets. A standard night she got to leave was around six to seven...eight if people wouldn't let her leave. There were plenty of breaks in between, most of them she used to catch a quick bite Pagan so gratefully ran to get while she was occupied.
By the time she arrived home, supper was already set up in Hilde's room, with Sally and Noin in there to eat with her. The four females usually made it a habit to eat together whenever they could for the companionship. Shortly after it was finished, the three left Hilde to sleep and she went to bed around that time as well. Most times, she didn't get to bed till nine, or even ten on occasion. It was so EXHAUSTING. Mostly since she had to get up with the next sunrise and do the whole thing all OVER again. But...oh, the life of a politician...
"I can't STAND this!" She complained, currently pacing a hole into the carpet in Hilde's room. Both hands gripped each other so tightly behind her back; she was to the point of physical pain.
The past week was HELL. She was NEVER going to be able to do this; she didn't realize how much emotional strain was on Duo when he was in her place with Hilde! It was a trial to bite her tongue and not step away, making Hilde walk those steps instead of encouraging her to do it with help.
To get through a morning without a lecture to just get it OVER with?? Even HARDER. That whole daybreak, topped with her life of politics, was going to make her go CRAZY. She was essentially doing two jobs and not getting enough sleep to deal with EITHER.
"Relena...calm down and take a few deep breaths." Hilde mused, watching her pace from the bed. "It's not as bad as you're making it to be."
She turned and nearly glared, getting a small, embarrassed wince. "Easy for YOU to say!" Hands fisted her hair and pulled. "This is driving me NUTS! I've been worrying about Heero since he LEFT! Duo's gone and I can't help but worry about him TOO! My life doesn't give me ONE ounce of comfort, since I have to cater to everyone ELSE'S schedule... I don't get to sleep IN, I don't get to even go to BED early! I'm going STIR crazy!"
Hilde tapped a finger on the comforter. It was true, there was a rapid decline in the old carefree Relena since she first woke up. It WAS getting to be too much for her to handle. Even a PEACECRAFT could only take so much before showing pressure and going postal. "Then why don't you DO something about it?" Hilde suggested.
She stopped and plopped down in the nearest chair, rubbing her head. Pacing was just setting off the 'motion' headache she was getting; staying still was the only way to keep it at bay. "Like WHAT?" She tiredly muttered, eyes squeezed shut.
Hilde grinned, as if it was that hard to figure out. "Three words; take a vacation."
Her head shot up and wide eyes looked to blue. "You KNOW I can't DO that! I've got too many responsibilities right now with the senate and trying to placate everyone. Not to mention if I left you-"
"Oh pushaw." Hilde negated, waving her off. "Like you CAN'T reschedule your meetings or have someone ELSE go in your place. Or even take your meetings to a better location." Blue started twinkling with an idea. "I'm pretty sure there're a few people who'd be really happy to meet up with you again."
The cat-like smile on Hilde's face was getting at something she wasn't seeing. But she wasn't in the mood to play guessing games. Her eyes curiously narrowed. "Okay...you've got my attention. What are you TALKING about?"
Hilde's smile widened and a hand propped her head up on the bed as she moved to a better sitting position. "Why don't you go visit QUATRE? See how he's doing, but disguise it as business."
Her eyes widened. That was the best idea she heard since she arrived home. With the schedule she had, even ongoing for the past few months, she hadn't been able to talk or see Quatre, period! She knew getting in touch with his business and all his co-workers was equally eating up his time. This was PERFECT! If they could swing it, the two could work together and see each other. "My GOD Hilde, you're RIGHT!" She breathed, jumping up.
"I know." Came the smug reply.
"But how did you think UP such a thing?"
A sardonic raven brow rose. "When you're by YOURSELF for hours on end, with no chatterbox to drive you to distractions...and nothing to do, you tend to come up with a few things you'd never THINK of before." Hilde cracked. "Has ANYTHING been done to the Mobile Suits in space from the final battle? I'm pretty sure the stratosphere's loaded. Quatre's father once owned a targeted station that had the capabilities to build Mobile Suits, right? Well...surely he has the means to DISMANTLE them as well..."
"Hilde Schebeiker...You. Are. BRILLIANT!!" With a gleaming smile, she ran to the girl and gently hugged her, mindful of jarring the injuries. Ruffling the boyish hair, she sat on the bed, excited by such a prospect. "What would I do without you here?"
"Go crazy?"
She smirked. "If I weren't a pacifist, I'd give you a bop for that comment." The two laughed. It felt utterly good to laugh for no real reason. She hadn't felt this good since she found Heero on Sanc grounds!
There was so much to DO now. She had to pack, arrange the details with Noin to see if she COULD do what Hilde was suggesting, and most importantly...call Quatre. "But...what am I going to do with YOU here? I can't LEAVE you! Duo'll KILL me! And I'm not EXAGGERATING!"
Hilde laughed. "Relena...I have about half a dozen doctors PLUS Sally; the servants if I ever need something; and if it'd make you feel better, I can talk to Noin to take your place. You need a BREAK. And I have to admit," Eyes shot from deep blue with a small measure of remorse, "I haven't made it easy on you this past week with Duo gone." Hilde gave a small smile and embarrassed grimace.
She smiled and patted Hilde's hand. "I can't BLAME you for being in pain and not wanting to endure it day after day. That doesn't really sound appealing in the SLIGHTEST. I know I would've probably given up at some point in time. You have to remember, your body was badly damaged when Duo took you from that Mobile Suit. YOU didn't know this would happen. All you can do is continue your morning routine and get better for whenever Duo arrives." She smiled and winked. "Knock him for a loop when you RUN to greet him."
Hilde laughed. "Too true." With a quick wave, Hilde shooed her off the bed. "Now, go tell the details to whoever you need to Relena. Get out of here and go ENJOY yourself! I'll be fine! Who KNOWS, maybe I'll have the freedom I need to go wheel myself around the mansion!"
The two shared another laugh. They BOTH knew Duo was so protective of Hilde and wouldn't let her out of his sight. Using the provided wheelchair just made his paranoia worse. "Don't worry, I'll have SALLY keep me company if you think I won't be able to handle myself in the wheelchair."
She sighed through a grateful smile. After a quick reminder that she'd be back, she shut the door and hurried to her room. Good friends were hard to come by in a politic's life; SMARTER friends were even harder! What would she do without Hilde to think up such fantastic, sporadic ideas such as these?
With mentally crossed fingers, she hoped she didn't have to find out. It was a shame Hilde couldn't go with her in her condition, but this was just the ticket she needed for some FUN. Her veins bubbled with a spark of life she didn't know she possessed as she nearly burst into her room to figure what she'd need.