Abandoned Reverence
Author's Note: Wow you guys! I was soooooooo thrilled when I saw all of the reviews I received (and overnight at that). Really, I believe I got eight more in all! I was so surprised (and happy) that this sudden burst of inspiration overcame me and so, here I am, once again typing away at this continuously developing story. Thank you so very much (especially those of you who threatened writing _two_ reviews-you know who you are). And now, here's the next chapter. Enjoy! ~_^
-Veledore
Disclaimer: Gundam Wing and its characters are not mine to call my own, but Jeff and Mindy are, so please don't copy them okay? (By the way, I know some author's like to cross their stories with other author's, so if you're interested in doing something like this with my storylines or my characters, please e-mail me at: [1]veledore@hotmail.com. Maybe we can work something out.)
* Indicates thought
~ Indicates flashback
And now, without further ado, here is chapter 3.
Chapter 3: An Unexpected Twist
The smells of the café filled the surrounding atmosphere before Hilde made two of the four-block-walk. It mainly consisted of the strong astringent morning coffee, but whiffs of baking bread mingled with cinnamon strands wove throughout the fragrant mixture as well. The small café was certainly nothing special (you could even say that it was below quaint), but the air of coziness drew customers from all corners of the city. Apparently, Hilde was one of those drawn to the establishment because she breezed past the entrance with both security and confidence of one whom is familiar with the surrounding environment.
Today, two women were busily at work behind the counter rushing back and forth as a gerbil exercising in a small plastic cage. Hilde faintly knew one of the ladies and beamed at her when she plopped down in a stool behind the counter. Great throngs of people milled throughout the booths and filled the small tables. A low murmur underlined the subtle music drifting serenely from somewhere above Hilde.
"What'll it be?" the slightly familiar face asked Hilde after she had settled herself.
"I'll just have some coffee thanks," Hilde replied.
"And you miss?" the lady asked the woman to Hilde's right.
She was a most peculiar sight to Hilde. Stacks of folders and mountains of papers surrounded the lady's counter space. Her head was currently bent into the pile concealing her face as she examined a document of some kind. Upon hearing the voice of the waitress, the woman looked up startled and her eyes scanned the menu quickly before she answered, "Um, just a cup of coffee as well."
Shock coursed through Hilde's veins. "Ms. Peacecraft? Ms. Relena Peacecraft?" she asked comparing the stranger's aquamarine eyes to the ones portrayed in all the newspapers.
Once again that surprised look overcame the lady's face and she bowed her head slightly letting out and exasperated sigh. "Yes, that's me," she answered in a tired voice.
Hilde extended her hand. "Well, I did have an interview set up with you later, but now's as good a time as ever," she started.
"Actually, now isn't really all that good," Relena answered in a slightly annoyed tone and motioned to the great stacks of paper. "And I didn't quite catch your name..."
"Oh wow, I'm sorry. I can be so rude sometimes," Hilde began mentally kicking her self. "My name's Hilde. Hilde Schbeiker."
"Don't worry about it. Schbeiker did you say? That's an interesting name," Relena replied fluently extinguishing the earlier embarrassment.
"It's German," Hilde answered glad to have been forgiven for being so blunt before. Sometimes she found the attribute becoming second nature and blamed the problem on her career of journalism.
"Yes, it does have a Germanic ring to it. Were your ancestors immigrants?" Relena asked with polite interest.
"I'm pretty sure it was my great-great-great-grandfather's family that came over here first," Hilde responded. "If you don't mind my asking, do you always work in such...cramped confinements?"
Relena smiled making her overly aged face beam beautifully. "Believe it or not, I am always more relaxed whenever I work in the company of people. My own stuffy office is just too quiet for my liking. I really can't stand it."
Hilde smiled back at Relena before saying, "Well, I don't want to bother you..."
"Oh, don't worry about it," Relena answered taking the steaming mug from the waitress bringing her drink. "I was done anyway."
Hilde took her own and thanked the waitress. "I find that hard to believe," Hilde replied eyeing the colossal pile of paperwork.
"Actually I've overdone it a little," Relena told Hilde chuckling a little. "I admit, I'm a workaholic. I'm trying to cut back-my doctor says I'm doing my body no good."
Hilde laughed a little herself replying, "I wish I had your stamina. I would certainly be doing bigger things than just working for my crummy little newspaper."
Relena's brow raised in curiosity. "What newspaper?" she asked.
"It's really only a small thing, it's called the `West Jost'." Hilde answered indifferently.
"The `West Jost'?" Relena asked flabbergasted once again. Reaching into a brown leather shoulder bag propped against the inside wall of the counter near her feet, she pulled out the week's issue. "I have a copy delivered to my office every week."
It was Hilde's turn to be astonished. "Really?" she squeaked not able to think of anything else to say.
"Yes, really. I was drawn to the pictures first-they are so...I don't know, artistic. Then I began reading the articles and I was hooked," Relena started. "What is it?" she asked looking at Hilde's large-as-saucers eyes.
"_I_ take all of the pictures," Hilde began looking out of a far window into the street were cars and people milled. "No one has ever said anything about my photography skills, I always thought they were mediocre."
"You took those?" Relena asked.
"You don't sound very surprised," Hilde responded.
"I'm not, to be quite frank," Relena responded. "You have this artistic aura," she explained making a grand gesture with her hands.
Hilde smiled in reply, and then glancing at the clock above the kitchen, she realized that her break was long over expired. "Wow, I really have to go," she stated and rose from her seat. "It was nice meeting you Ms. Peacecraft. I look forward to meeting you again at our interview."
"Just Relena okay? And here," Relena said pulling out a loose sheaf of paper. Tearing a corner she scrawled down a number. "My cell phone," she explained handing the paper to Hilde. "I don't ever usually do this, but I don't usually ever meet anyone anymore that I enjoy speaking to. Please, call me and we can have coffee again sometime."
"Are you sure that I won't be getting in the way?" Hilde asked unsure. Relena was, after all, a big political figure.
"Positive," Relena replied.
"Okay then, I'll talk to you later!" Hilde called as she walked out the door.
***
The remainder of the day went by smoothly. Hilde stayed out of Jeff's way opting to hide out in the copy room where she _finally_ went through the stack of papers in her office and pulled out the ones that needed to be shredded. It was a long, tedious process that took up the rest of the day, but by the time Hilde locked up the building for the day, her room was tidy and about twelve bags full of paper scraps stood in a recycling dumpster in an alley down the street. Hilde hopped into her car and drove home.
When she got there, the room was silent-empty. She quickly located the pad of paper where messages were written, and found an explanation...or at least half of one.
Hilde,
I've gone out for a while. Be back later.
Duo
Hilde frowned as she read the note. *What could he be doing?* then she scolded herself, *He could be doing _anything_ Hilde! He's a full grown man; he can take care of himself.*
She went into the kitchen and filled a pot with water to boil for tea. It was going to be a long night-she had much work to catch up on. She sat down at an old rundown computer situated next to her table in the dining space and flicked the switch in top of the modem turning it on. Right at that moment a knock pounded on her door.
Getting up, she warily made her way to the door wishing to high heaven that she had a peephole. Keeping the chain lock fastened, she unlocked the doorknob and opened the door.
A _very_ large man with black hair stood just beyond the entrance. Muscles rippled heavily across his arms, torso, neck, and legs. He wore black slacks and a white button down shirt-Hilde thought he looked prepared for an interview. Black shades covered his eyes and made Hilde especially uneasy. "Can I help you?" Hilde asked through the cracked doorway.
"Yeah, perhaps you can," he replied in a low gravelly. Hilde heart leapt in her throat-it was the man scouring the ground the other night! "I'm looking for an escaped convict. He comes to my shoulder, he's very skinny and has long brown hair he likes to keep in a braid."
As he spoke Hilde's eyes grew wider, but not because of the accusations from the man. A cheerful looking Duo was currently strolling down the hallway. "A...a convict?" Hilde stammered trying to keep the man from looking in Duo's direction. "I...heard something last night. It was a loud thump. I went outside to look and see what was going on, but I didn't see anything. Just the night sky."
The man said nothing as he gave her a critical look. She couldn't tell from his expression whether he bought her story or not because the sunglasses covered his eyes. "Your sure that was all you heard? A _thump_?" he asked.
"Y-yes." Hilde replied. She didn't dare look away from the face for fear that he would look back and see Duo. Out of the corner of her eye though, she saw Duo freeze, then quickly jump into the shadows of the wall.
"Do you know where the sound came from?" the man asked.
"I think it came from somewhere on the ground, to the left," Hilde responded motioning with her left hand.
"Thanks miss, if you do happen to see him, stay inside and lock the doors. Here's my card. Give me a call and I'll be here quicker than anything," he told her handing a small white card with a number in black print.
"Okay," Hilde replied taking the card from his hand. He nodded curtly and started off down the hall. Hilde watched in gut-wrenching apprehension as the stranger passed Duo's hiding place and continued down the corridor turning right and going toward the elevator. She let out a shaky breath and pushed the door closed fumbling as she tried to unlock the chain bolt.
When it finally came undone, Hilde threw back open the door and motioned to Duo letting him know that all was safe. He quickly scampered down the remaining length bolting through her door. She closed it and reinitiated the locks wishing briefly that she also had a bolt.
Finished with the task she turned and found Duo rummaging through a bag in his hand. "Duo," she started, "I don't know what's going on, but I think I deserve at least a very small hint."
He didn't answer as he walked to where she was standing and plucked the card from her hand. "Hey!" she said in response to the offensive gesture.
"It's bugged," Duo replied gravely. Turning, he walked to the balcony, opened the door and threw it out into the wind.
"It is?" Hilde asked meekly. "Duo, he told me you were a...a convict. Is that true?"
"Maybe to him I am," he answered and Hilde instantly felt uneasy. He turned and faced her. "Don't worry, I'm not gonna kill you."
Hilde still felt suspicious. "Are you going to leave?" she asked.
"Are you going to interview this guy?" Duo asked instead holding up Heero Yuy's file. She had brought it home in hopes of getting a good start on the story.
"Yeah, why?" she answered.
"Because I need to go with you," he responded almost pleadingly.
"Why?" Hilde asked. "Wait, never mind. You can't tell me, right?"
"Yeah," Duo replied.
"I'm not going until next week," Hilde warned him.
He thought it over. "That should be enough time," he finally answered.
"Will you ever tell me what's going on?" Hilde asked him suddenly very exhausted.
"Maybe someday," was his elusive reply.
A sharp whistle came from the kitchen causing Hilde to jump. She made her way back into the kitchen while Duo settled his self happily on the couch.
***
Author's Note: So? How do you like it so far? I must say, it is going a whole lot better than I had expected. The pieces are really falling together. Please, please, please write me a review and let me know how I'm doing. They really help me move the story along. Another thing is that for the next five days I'm going to be gone, so nothing is going to be posted until after that. Thanks again! Tschüs!
-Veledore
References
1. mailto:veledore@hotmail.com
Author's Note: Wow you guys! I was soooooooo thrilled when I saw all of the reviews I received (and overnight at that). Really, I believe I got eight more in all! I was so surprised (and happy) that this sudden burst of inspiration overcame me and so, here I am, once again typing away at this continuously developing story. Thank you so very much (especially those of you who threatened writing _two_ reviews-you know who you are). And now, here's the next chapter. Enjoy! ~_^
-Veledore
Disclaimer: Gundam Wing and its characters are not mine to call my own, but Jeff and Mindy are, so please don't copy them okay? (By the way, I know some author's like to cross their stories with other author's, so if you're interested in doing something like this with my storylines or my characters, please e-mail me at: [1]veledore@hotmail.com. Maybe we can work something out.)
* Indicates thought
~ Indicates flashback
And now, without further ado, here is chapter 3.
Chapter 3: An Unexpected Twist
The smells of the café filled the surrounding atmosphere before Hilde made two of the four-block-walk. It mainly consisted of the strong astringent morning coffee, but whiffs of baking bread mingled with cinnamon strands wove throughout the fragrant mixture as well. The small café was certainly nothing special (you could even say that it was below quaint), but the air of coziness drew customers from all corners of the city. Apparently, Hilde was one of those drawn to the establishment because she breezed past the entrance with both security and confidence of one whom is familiar with the surrounding environment.
Today, two women were busily at work behind the counter rushing back and forth as a gerbil exercising in a small plastic cage. Hilde faintly knew one of the ladies and beamed at her when she plopped down in a stool behind the counter. Great throngs of people milled throughout the booths and filled the small tables. A low murmur underlined the subtle music drifting serenely from somewhere above Hilde.
"What'll it be?" the slightly familiar face asked Hilde after she had settled herself.
"I'll just have some coffee thanks," Hilde replied.
"And you miss?" the lady asked the woman to Hilde's right.
She was a most peculiar sight to Hilde. Stacks of folders and mountains of papers surrounded the lady's counter space. Her head was currently bent into the pile concealing her face as she examined a document of some kind. Upon hearing the voice of the waitress, the woman looked up startled and her eyes scanned the menu quickly before she answered, "Um, just a cup of coffee as well."
Shock coursed through Hilde's veins. "Ms. Peacecraft? Ms. Relena Peacecraft?" she asked comparing the stranger's aquamarine eyes to the ones portrayed in all the newspapers.
Once again that surprised look overcame the lady's face and she bowed her head slightly letting out and exasperated sigh. "Yes, that's me," she answered in a tired voice.
Hilde extended her hand. "Well, I did have an interview set up with you later, but now's as good a time as ever," she started.
"Actually, now isn't really all that good," Relena answered in a slightly annoyed tone and motioned to the great stacks of paper. "And I didn't quite catch your name..."
"Oh wow, I'm sorry. I can be so rude sometimes," Hilde began mentally kicking her self. "My name's Hilde. Hilde Schbeiker."
"Don't worry about it. Schbeiker did you say? That's an interesting name," Relena replied fluently extinguishing the earlier embarrassment.
"It's German," Hilde answered glad to have been forgiven for being so blunt before. Sometimes she found the attribute becoming second nature and blamed the problem on her career of journalism.
"Yes, it does have a Germanic ring to it. Were your ancestors immigrants?" Relena asked with polite interest.
"I'm pretty sure it was my great-great-great-grandfather's family that came over here first," Hilde responded. "If you don't mind my asking, do you always work in such...cramped confinements?"
Relena smiled making her overly aged face beam beautifully. "Believe it or not, I am always more relaxed whenever I work in the company of people. My own stuffy office is just too quiet for my liking. I really can't stand it."
Hilde smiled back at Relena before saying, "Well, I don't want to bother you..."
"Oh, don't worry about it," Relena answered taking the steaming mug from the waitress bringing her drink. "I was done anyway."
Hilde took her own and thanked the waitress. "I find that hard to believe," Hilde replied eyeing the colossal pile of paperwork.
"Actually I've overdone it a little," Relena told Hilde chuckling a little. "I admit, I'm a workaholic. I'm trying to cut back-my doctor says I'm doing my body no good."
Hilde laughed a little herself replying, "I wish I had your stamina. I would certainly be doing bigger things than just working for my crummy little newspaper."
Relena's brow raised in curiosity. "What newspaper?" she asked.
"It's really only a small thing, it's called the `West Jost'." Hilde answered indifferently.
"The `West Jost'?" Relena asked flabbergasted once again. Reaching into a brown leather shoulder bag propped against the inside wall of the counter near her feet, she pulled out the week's issue. "I have a copy delivered to my office every week."
It was Hilde's turn to be astonished. "Really?" she squeaked not able to think of anything else to say.
"Yes, really. I was drawn to the pictures first-they are so...I don't know, artistic. Then I began reading the articles and I was hooked," Relena started. "What is it?" she asked looking at Hilde's large-as-saucers eyes.
"_I_ take all of the pictures," Hilde began looking out of a far window into the street were cars and people milled. "No one has ever said anything about my photography skills, I always thought they were mediocre."
"You took those?" Relena asked.
"You don't sound very surprised," Hilde responded.
"I'm not, to be quite frank," Relena responded. "You have this artistic aura," she explained making a grand gesture with her hands.
Hilde smiled in reply, and then glancing at the clock above the kitchen, she realized that her break was long over expired. "Wow, I really have to go," she stated and rose from her seat. "It was nice meeting you Ms. Peacecraft. I look forward to meeting you again at our interview."
"Just Relena okay? And here," Relena said pulling out a loose sheaf of paper. Tearing a corner she scrawled down a number. "My cell phone," she explained handing the paper to Hilde. "I don't ever usually do this, but I don't usually ever meet anyone anymore that I enjoy speaking to. Please, call me and we can have coffee again sometime."
"Are you sure that I won't be getting in the way?" Hilde asked unsure. Relena was, after all, a big political figure.
"Positive," Relena replied.
"Okay then, I'll talk to you later!" Hilde called as she walked out the door.
***
The remainder of the day went by smoothly. Hilde stayed out of Jeff's way opting to hide out in the copy room where she _finally_ went through the stack of papers in her office and pulled out the ones that needed to be shredded. It was a long, tedious process that took up the rest of the day, but by the time Hilde locked up the building for the day, her room was tidy and about twelve bags full of paper scraps stood in a recycling dumpster in an alley down the street. Hilde hopped into her car and drove home.
When she got there, the room was silent-empty. She quickly located the pad of paper where messages were written, and found an explanation...or at least half of one.
Hilde,
I've gone out for a while. Be back later.
Duo
Hilde frowned as she read the note. *What could he be doing?* then she scolded herself, *He could be doing _anything_ Hilde! He's a full grown man; he can take care of himself.*
She went into the kitchen and filled a pot with water to boil for tea. It was going to be a long night-she had much work to catch up on. She sat down at an old rundown computer situated next to her table in the dining space and flicked the switch in top of the modem turning it on. Right at that moment a knock pounded on her door.
Getting up, she warily made her way to the door wishing to high heaven that she had a peephole. Keeping the chain lock fastened, she unlocked the doorknob and opened the door.
A _very_ large man with black hair stood just beyond the entrance. Muscles rippled heavily across his arms, torso, neck, and legs. He wore black slacks and a white button down shirt-Hilde thought he looked prepared for an interview. Black shades covered his eyes and made Hilde especially uneasy. "Can I help you?" Hilde asked through the cracked doorway.
"Yeah, perhaps you can," he replied in a low gravelly. Hilde heart leapt in her throat-it was the man scouring the ground the other night! "I'm looking for an escaped convict. He comes to my shoulder, he's very skinny and has long brown hair he likes to keep in a braid."
As he spoke Hilde's eyes grew wider, but not because of the accusations from the man. A cheerful looking Duo was currently strolling down the hallway. "A...a convict?" Hilde stammered trying to keep the man from looking in Duo's direction. "I...heard something last night. It was a loud thump. I went outside to look and see what was going on, but I didn't see anything. Just the night sky."
The man said nothing as he gave her a critical look. She couldn't tell from his expression whether he bought her story or not because the sunglasses covered his eyes. "Your sure that was all you heard? A _thump_?" he asked.
"Y-yes." Hilde replied. She didn't dare look away from the face for fear that he would look back and see Duo. Out of the corner of her eye though, she saw Duo freeze, then quickly jump into the shadows of the wall.
"Do you know where the sound came from?" the man asked.
"I think it came from somewhere on the ground, to the left," Hilde responded motioning with her left hand.
"Thanks miss, if you do happen to see him, stay inside and lock the doors. Here's my card. Give me a call and I'll be here quicker than anything," he told her handing a small white card with a number in black print.
"Okay," Hilde replied taking the card from his hand. He nodded curtly and started off down the hall. Hilde watched in gut-wrenching apprehension as the stranger passed Duo's hiding place and continued down the corridor turning right and going toward the elevator. She let out a shaky breath and pushed the door closed fumbling as she tried to unlock the chain bolt.
When it finally came undone, Hilde threw back open the door and motioned to Duo letting him know that all was safe. He quickly scampered down the remaining length bolting through her door. She closed it and reinitiated the locks wishing briefly that she also had a bolt.
Finished with the task she turned and found Duo rummaging through a bag in his hand. "Duo," she started, "I don't know what's going on, but I think I deserve at least a very small hint."
He didn't answer as he walked to where she was standing and plucked the card from her hand. "Hey!" she said in response to the offensive gesture.
"It's bugged," Duo replied gravely. Turning, he walked to the balcony, opened the door and threw it out into the wind.
"It is?" Hilde asked meekly. "Duo, he told me you were a...a convict. Is that true?"
"Maybe to him I am," he answered and Hilde instantly felt uneasy. He turned and faced her. "Don't worry, I'm not gonna kill you."
Hilde still felt suspicious. "Are you going to leave?" she asked.
"Are you going to interview this guy?" Duo asked instead holding up Heero Yuy's file. She had brought it home in hopes of getting a good start on the story.
"Yeah, why?" she answered.
"Because I need to go with you," he responded almost pleadingly.
"Why?" Hilde asked. "Wait, never mind. You can't tell me, right?"
"Yeah," Duo replied.
"I'm not going until next week," Hilde warned him.
He thought it over. "That should be enough time," he finally answered.
"Will you ever tell me what's going on?" Hilde asked him suddenly very exhausted.
"Maybe someday," was his elusive reply.
A sharp whistle came from the kitchen causing Hilde to jump. She made her way back into the kitchen while Duo settled his self happily on the couch.
***
Author's Note: So? How do you like it so far? I must say, it is going a whole lot better than I had expected. The pieces are really falling together. Please, please, please write me a review and let me know how I'm doing. They really help me move the story along. Another thing is that for the next five days I'm going to be gone, so nothing is going to be posted until after that. Thanks again! Tschüs!
-Veledore
References
1. mailto:veledore@hotmail.com
