Abandoned Reverence



Author's Note: Here I am! Just like I promised! I know that this probably won't actually be posted until Monday, but I thought that I'd go ahead and start on it anyway. I have been so EXHAUSTED lately. I don't know if you read my 'bulletin board' (check my bio for reference) but my school has been performing the musical 'Oklahoma' and I'm in the orchestral pit (I play the oboe part with my flute). Anyway, we have been practicing every day for the last two weeks from either three to eight, or from six to ten. Plus having to cram in at least and hour or two of homework and still go to bed on time, well, I'm beat. So be thankful that I've even mustered the strength to write more. Let me know how you thought this chapter went in your reviews, okay? Thanks to all of you who already have written one. Auf Wiedersehen!

-Veledore (veledore@hotmail.com-hey, I like email, so please drop me a line!)



Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing nor any of its characters, but Jeff and Mindy are my own originals, so please don't copy them.



Chapter 5: Out of my Interview (sorry, still got the 'Oklahoma' stuff spinning around in my head)



***

Hilde rushed trying to fit the sleeve of her shirt over her head and pull on her shoes at the same time. She groggily looked over at the bedside digital clock and cursed at the flashing red number showing 9:53. *Great,* she thought righting her shirt and slipping it on correctly. *Seven minutes to gather my material, find a safe place for the dog, round up Duo, and get to the café.* After a nightly excursion by the side of the ocean with Duo and Steve, she had called Relena and agreed to meet her at the same place they had met. *Hope she doesn't mind my bringing someone along,* she thought grimacing at her failure to remember to mention Duo's presence. *Oh well,* she sighed stifling a yawn.

"Oh crap," Duo's voice came from the living room.

"Yeah, and you're going to be in even deeper crap if you don't hurry," Hilde called back hastily tying her shoes.

"No, I mean Steve is taking a crap on the carpet," Duo replied.

"Well clean it up!" she said in exasperation. "He is _your_ dog."

"Ah, okay," Duo whined. She heard him rustle through the kitchen, shuffle back to the living room, and then go back into the kitchen again. "Alright, it's safe to come out now," Duo called as she grabbed her bag and trotted down the hall.

She briefly looked Duo's profile over. Good, he didn't look as disheveled as he normally did-his clothes were unwrinkled and his hair had been combed. She smugly noticed that his earlier wounds had recovered nicely not leaving a trace of their marks on his face. His own blue eyes twinkled in their cobalt depths as he scrutinized her with the same appeal. "You look like you haven't had your morning coffee," he informed her.

She said nothing in response, just rolled her eyes and stepped over to the table. "I guess the dog can stay here, but if he poops anywhere you're cleaning it up."

"The dog's name is Steve Hilde, when are you going to call him that?" Duo asked ignoring Hilde's remark.

"And if he tears up anything, you're paying for it," Hilde went on ignoring Duo in return.

"Fine," Duo relented giving the puppy a final pat before standing and declaring, "So are we going, or are we going?"

Hilde swept passed him, car keys in hand already feeling that it was a bad idea to take Duo, but saying nothing for fear the Duo would have some kind of a triumph. They left the building and proceeded to her car.

***

Hilde plopped down into the booth right after Duo. "It's so nice to meet you Mr. Maxwell," Relena said climbing into the opposite booth of the two already seated.

"Yeah, same to you," Duo replied somewhat harshly.

Relena, apparently used to this behavior, proceeded to another subject while Hilde fidgeted nervously in her seat. She didn't really consider herself a person with many friends and she would not tolerate it if Duo managed to change Relena's opinion about herself. "Where do you work if you don't mind my asking?" Relena asked him trying to nudge him into a conversation.

"All over the place," Duo replied smirking.

"Really?" Relena proceeded not at all phased by his attitude. "What is your occupation?"

"That's none of your business," Duo retorted and Hilde elbowed him in the ribs underneath the table. Duo made an "Oouf," and mumbled, "I don't take to politicians too well ma'am, sorry if I seem rude."

"Believe me, you're not the first person to tell me that," Relena returned in a dismissive manner.

Duo shrugged and Hilde took the opportunity to jump into the conversation. "So, Miss Peacecraft, I'm sure you've heard of the recent arrest of the Mr. Yuy, the alleged serial killer?" Hilde asked in an authoritative voice.

Relena wrinkled her nose as if mere words on the subject repulsed her to no end. "Yes, and I'm sure you'll want to hear my opinion on the matter," she responded.

Hilde nodded, "If you don't mind," she said pulling a notepad and pen from her bag.

Relena sighed in annoyance over the coming speech. "I'm relieved that our police forces have been able to apprehend him, and I'm especially happy that one more life could have possibly been saved because of his capture. It disgusts me that such a character trait could have even derived from a human being, but I'm thankful that the trait shall never see the death of another innocent again." She paused. "Is that enough?"

Hilde smiled closing the pad and putting it away, "I know that this is getting a little personal, but are you going to follow his trial, and make sure that you get your justice? The police _have_ fingered him as the murderer of your uncle, aren't you going to push a little harder for revenge?"

Relena looked shocked, "Of course not, I know that Mr. Yuy will get what he deserves in the future, but it's not _my_ place to judge where my family's justice will come from." She guiltily closed her eyes and rubbed at her temples as though the subject were giving her a headache. "But, to tell you the truth my family has been at my heels over the case lately and I'm starting to feel the heat. I don't know how far they will go, but I have a feeling that if I _don't_ do something in the near future, my family is going to get ugly."

"So why not just do as they wish?" Hilde asked. "I mean, Yuy's killed so many other people, what's wrong with pushing to give him what he deserves?"

Relena sent a nervous glance over to Duo who was engrossed in the dessert menu. A battle raged in her mind for a few brief seconds before she leaned over the table closer to Hilde who in turn craned her own neck forward. With haunted eyes Relena murmured, "Because my uncle wasn't someone you could call a 'good man'."

Hilde frowned, "What do you mean?"

Again Relena sent a glimpse over to Duo before finishing, "He used to abuse me as a child. My mother and father were always out travelling to some country or another and I would have to stay with him. He would lock me in my own closet at night and take me out at random periods to beat me while he was drunk. When I was five, he and his wife got into a big argument. I was hiding underneath my covers and I heard a gunshot. A few minutes later he came in to abuse me more and I saw her body lying in the hall. When my parents returned for me he told them that his wife had died in a tragic car accident. He didn't even seem sorry."

Hilde felt at a loss. Never had she encountered such a situation with an aquatint and so could not know what words to say. Finally, she asked, "How could your uncle get away with beating you and murdering his own wife?"

"My uncle, as with the rest of my family, was very wealthy. He used his inheritance to build an isolated cabin in the middle of nowhere. The closest town was five miles, and he never let his wife go anywhere. I don't even think the town even knew she existed. The marks he left on my body were usually on my torso, and as I was a very independent child, I would always dress myself so my mother and father never caught sight of them. If ever I did get a mark on my arm or my leg, my uncle would tell them that I had cut myself playing outside because the surrounding terrain was very rough." Relena finished her explanation by saying, "So as you can clearly see, I am not after revenge myself. My family, however, feels that because of my political position, it is my duty to press for justice."

Hilde nodded understandingly. She looked over at Duo who had not said anything during the entire conversation. She wondered if he thought Relena was lying. His facial expressions betrayed nothing, and Hilde turned her attention back to Relena. The two talked on a different subject for a few more minutes before a waitress approached them for their orders.

The trio ate their meal, and Hilde thanked Relena profusely for both the food and the interview time. Relena laughed, "Really Hilde, it was nothing. I enjoy spending time with you; it's been a while since I've taken a break from the political world and really enjoyed someone else's company." Hilde thanked her again anyway and Relena reminded Hilde that she was only a phone call away from a chat.

Hilde nodded and left the café, Duo trailing along behind her. He was very quiet (for a change) as they walked across the street to where Hilde's car was parked. As he climbed in and she turned the key in the ignition, she asked, "So, what'd you think?"

He was silent for a few more moments before answering, "I think she isn't as bad as I expected."

"Yeah, that's what I thought too when I first met her," Hilde replied casually as she pulled out from her parallel parked position.

"I also think that if she were to take a look at the bigger picture instead of focusing on what her family wants, she would understand the greater motives in our world."

Hilde frowned over at him during a brief stop at a red light. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Duo shrugged precariously and didn't say anything else. "Are you telling me that you're siding with this Yuy character? A _murderer_?"

"Depends on what you consider a murderer," was another elusive reply from Duo.

"Okay, I give. I know you are way deep into this, but I can't figure out where you fit. I guess that I _won't_ know until you tell me, so I'm not even going to bother," Hilde said in annoyance.

They passed many blocks without speaking before Duo suggested that the two stop and for a movie. Predictably an action flick was showing, but Hilde didn't mind for once. Duo's company seemed to counter balance her dislike of many things (gore included). So, she and Duo parked and walked to the theater entrance to pay for matinee tickets. Duo approached the window with an irritatingly cheerful blonde ticket-worker. He reached into his own wallet and pulled out a ten subtly telling Hilde that he would take care of the expenses. The bouncy blonde smiled brightly at the pair as Duo paid. "I hope you and your wife enjoy the show!" she bubbly called when Duo stuffed his change in his pocket and grabbed their tickets. He opened his mouth to correct the misjudged woman, but she had already turned her back on him helping out the man next in line.

Hilde couldn't help giggling as Duo shrugged and offered her an arm guiding her to into the theater at a ridiculous gait. Two and a half hours later, they emerged a little stiff because the chair had been rather hard. Hilde clambered into her car, but Duo leaned down over her open window. "Hey, listen, I've got some things I need to do. I'll see you at the apartment later okay?"

Hilde frowned. "Can't I take you? I'd feel a lot better than just leaving you here to go do God knows what."

Duo shook his head in reply and Hilde sighed. "Well, I guess I'll see you then. I'll be heading over to my office for a few hours to catch up on some work, so you can get a hold of me there if you need to," she told him.

He nodded started off down the street. Hilde briefly contemplated following him, but knew that she'd never get away with it. If there were one quality Duo didn't have, it was stupidity. She pulled out of the parking lot and drove to her work.

***

With an exalting final stroke of the key, Hilde leaned back to let her tense muscles relax. It had been two hours of continuos typing, but she finally managed to finish Relena's half of the article. Now, all she needed was Yuy's input to insert his part in as well. She stood and stretched concisely before doing a routine check of her email before shutting down the computer. She had one in-message and read it.

Hilde,

Interview scheduled for tomorrow, talked to Haverd's colleagues today, notes and a few pictures should be in my fax. Go ahead and get a head start on the article if you want.

Jeff

She rolled her eyes and shut off the computer. *So that's how it's going to be,* she thought. *You get to go and have all the fun, while I stay here and do the actual work.* She hurried down the hall and unlocked his door slipping inside. The room was dark and held a musty aroma, which made the flesh on her arms crawl. She quickly flipped on the lights and tiptoed over to the fax machine.

Just as expected, several sheets of paper covered in writing and pictures neatly lay out in a stack waiting for her. She picked them up and loosely leafed through them noticing the posed, phony faces of several official looking men in suits. *I could do much better than this,* she thought egotistically recalling Relena's admittance that her pictures had drawn the representative to the paper.

One picture at the end was a little fuzzy and Hilde held it up toward the light so she could have a better view of it. Her stomach in tightened in recoil when Jeff's body and Mindy's body jumped out of the picture. It was taken at an odd angle, which suggested that it hadn't actually been _taken_, probably an accidental shot. She didn't need to look very long to discern what the couple were doing-Mindy's shapely legs were wrapped around Jeff's torso, one of his hands had worked its way down her revealing blouse, the other had found its way up her short skirt. The two's faces were covered by Mindy's mane of perfectly styled blonde hair (which was at the moment a little disheveled). Anyone could've figured that the two were lip-locked in a flurry of passion.

Had it intentionally been sent, or had it been a mishap? The second choice didn't make much sense, one _could_ accidentally take an unwanted picture, but one _could not_ accidentally select it from a stack of pictures and fax it right side up just by coincidence. *He's trying to get back at me,* she concluded.

Anger burned at the base of her skull, held back rage released itself as she crumpled the paper into a ball. Tears collected at the corners of her eyes, but she fought them with all the strength in her body. She started shaking, but managed to keep her composure in check as she tossed her ball onto the floor and walked out of the office flicking off the lights as she passed.

Instead if heading home as she had planned, Hilde's car ended up driving along an open freeway going through rolling green hills for an hour. Thoughts buzzed lazily around her head, and she had the strangest feeling that her body and her soul had dismerged from one another. Finding that her gas tank was near empty, yet not up for pulling over and pumping more, she turned around and headed home.

The apartment felt terribly lonely as she opened the door and found it void of life. She tossed her keys across the table taking no heed to the clattering jangle as they skidded over the side onto the tiled floor. She shrugged off a jacket and draped it over the arm of her couch before reaching over to click on a lamp. A note in Duo's handwriting lay on the coffee table and Hilde examined it.

Hilde,

Took Steve out for a walk on the beach. Surprised you weren't here. Join us if you want.

Duo

She read it over a few more times mentally contrasting its content to Jeff's earlier message. Duo seemed so much more concerned about her-a quality lacking in Jeff's written voice. She carefully put the paper back on the table and wondered if she had enough energy left to walk along the shoreline. Deciding that the ocean breeze would do her more good than a stuffy apartment, Hilde pulled her coat back on and headed out the door.

The scenery outside was as close to perfection as Hilde had ever seen in all her time living in the area. The gale was neither too harsh, nor too airy applying just enough pressure to sweep tendrils of her dark locks out of her eyes. Its smell was laced heavily with the salty water. Along the horizon, blue waves lapped at a smooth bronzed sandbar. A yellowed sun lit the sky in colors ranging from exotic pink to majestic violet. Rays from the dying light gently touched the tips of the sea sending golden sparkles of reflections back up to the emerging heavens.

Five minutes into her walk, Hilde noticed two new sets of footprints. One dog, one man. Before long, a hyper yapping echoed over the roar of the sea to her ears. Coming around a bend Hilde paused one moment to admire the pup's adorable clumsiness as he tripped over his overgrown feet trying to chase a stick Duo had thrown for him.

She approached the pair, and Duo soon enough noticed her aura. She gave him a half-hearted smile before turning to watch the dog again. Silence enveloped the two as Steve frantically followed the waves pulling his stick farther out into the water. He danced around the puddles avoiding them as though they were the plague and whining mournfully as the twig rode further out on the tide.

Duo elbowed her. "Hey," he said, "You okay?"

"Of course," she replied not meeting his gaze. "Why do you ask?"

"You seem a little down, that's all," he replied.

The quiet coursed the distance of a few moments before Duo asked, "So, where were you?"

Hilde shrugged. "Around," she replied mimicking Duo's mysteriousness.

Duo (taking the hint) didn't respond. "Say Duo," Hilde said out of the blue. "Something's been bothering me."

"What?" he asked.

"Why are you still here? You're obviously _running_ from someone, and they are obviously hot on your trail. If I were in your predicament I'd feel a lot safer moving from place to place instead of holing up in one spot."

"Where else can I get free food and good company?" he joked.

She turned to face him tearing her nonexistent attention away from the puppy. "I'm serious Duo. You know I have problems with Jeff, if you're trying to take advantage of me…"

"Whoa Hildey, hold your horses," Duo stopped her taking hold of her arm. "Whoever said anything about Jeff? That jerk is far away from here. You don't have anything to worry about with him. Besides, I was being serious, about the good company."

She examined his tone thoroughly and decided that her mind had been made up long before this moment. She had known Duo was a kind soul from the instant his cobalt eyes had opened. He wasn't the kind of person who was capable of harming her.

"Hildey?" he asked bringing her back down to Earth. He watched her carefully afraid that one wrong move on his part would break something very delicate. Hilde felt captivated by his eyes; that anyone could ever feel such compassion towards her filled her with an inexplicable feeling. It made her heart soar.

His demeanor changed as her eyes never left his. She hollowly felt years of pent up pain and heartache in the endlessness of his azure depths. Profound wisdom and a childlike innocence rimmed the curves of his sapphire orbs. She knew if she looked deep enough, his heart would probably shine of pure gold. She wasn't aware of anything as their faces closed the remaining gap. Time seemed to come to a brief stand still as the two drew nearer till their noses almost touched. Hilde felt that her body was being driven on some kind of autopilot going at an agonizingly lethargic pace. She tilted her head slightly forward leaned up to meet him as he bent down-then felt something crash into her legs sending her sprawling onto the sand.

Cold shock played with her heart; what had she been doing? Duo was not something tangible-by the end of the week he would be gone. What was she doing, expecting him to fill the void in her soul left by that heartless Jeff? She shook her head to clear it of both thoughts and sand grains before taking Duo's offered hand. "Are you okay?" Duo asked pulling her to her feet.

"Yeah," she answered in a slightly wavering tone. She chuckled down at the almost grinning sopping wet puppy sitting with one hindquarter tucked under his rump. The magic from before seemed to dissipate as the last emissions of blazing orange light dipped below the horizon. Duo called to Steve and the trio trotted back through the growing cold to the apartment in a slightly awkward hush.

***

Author's Note: Wow! I surprised myself! Duo and Hilde took a sharp turn, where is it going to lead? Oh, sorry if the above portion sounded corny, I tried my best to make it seem real and wholesome, not just some sudden sparks of romance leaping up into a fiery passion (which is how many romantic fanfic author's like to write their stories). Please, tell me how you liked this chapter in a review, I love getting them. And please, if you don't have anything else to do, you're completely bored (and even if you're not) email me at: veledore@hotmail.com. I absolutely love getting emails (especially from people who read my work). I'm not saying that I'd prefer you send emails instead of reviews, but if you've got the time and you feel like it, drop me a line. Tschüs!

-Veledore (veledore@hotmail.com)