Suffocation

Written By: Rage of BlackMist

Chapter Six: Petty White Fibs

Disclaimer: Gundam Wing does not belong to me, but is the property of the Sotsu Agency, Sunrise and Fuji TV.

Author's Note: The mysterious Ralph is not an OC! Ralph, along with Chris, who has not been reintroduced into the story, are key characters in Blind Target. I'm extremely sorry to those who have not read them/it yet. In the next chapters :hint hint: more about Ralph and Chris, as well as this new 'threat' will be explained. Again, I apologize!

Relena and Heero stood in utter shock as Hilde and Duo glazed into each other's eyes, the couple forgetting that the kitchen held, in actuality, four occupants. The awkward moment turned into more of a private reunion between the two friends, and Relena thought it best to remove Heero and herself from it.

Having heard Relena mention something along the lines of 'tour' and 'guest bedroom,' Heero followed the meddling Vice Foreign Minister down the hall only to disappear and become forgotten. Besides, he doubted Relena and himself would be needed anytime soon.

"Heero?" Relena asked, motioning for Heero to shut the door behind them.

"Yeah…" He replied, turning around after silently locking and closing it.

"You never did explain to me about your appearance here, not to mentioned Duo's." He smirked. And here Heero thought he'd gotten out of an explanation.

Slowly glancing to the oversized bed, then back at Relena, he shrugged and made his way towards the political icon. She could recognize one of Heero's seductive looks when given to her and the one that mirrored his face this very moment was among the few. She cautiously took a few steps back, than brought her attention back to the matter at hand- the explanation.

Clasping her forearms, pulling her closer to his strong frame, Heero ignored her questioning and sought out his previous intensions. Relena sighed, not fighting his embrace.

Between muffled "hmms.." and "ummm.." Relena pushed Heero's lips away from her sweet skin and pulled a chair in front of her as a means to separate them. "Don't even think about trying to change the subject, Yuy!" She complained.

Carefully, Heero slid the chair away from his target and uttered words meant to satisfy her questioning. "Lady Une. Threat. Trowa. Paper work. Didn't want…"

"Don't want what?" Relena shyly asked, satisfied with his answers, knowing that he wasn't sent to merely spy on her. Looking into his eyes, a smile played her lips, which she licked them just as a tease. Kicking off her heels, she started to unbutton her worn in cream-colored blouse, than thought better of it.

"… be stuck with the paper work…"

She rolled her eyes. "Oh! Is that all?" Relena suppressed a giggle, rolled her eyes, and pulled Heero closer to her heat. "Nevermind."

"Hnn…?" Heero groaned, as he smelt her fragranced hair.

"Do you possibly think that you could help me out of this damned thing?" She asked, gesturing with her hands to the blouse she wore. "It's getting rather hot in here don't you think?" She teased, while unbuttoning the heavy wool coat he sported. "

"I'm preoccupied at the moment." Heero whispered into her ear.

"Oh!" Relena gasped, understanding his words, watching in the wake as the matching silk skirt hit the floor. "Well, isn't this unfair…?" She hinted.

"Mission excepted." Heero replied while his lips searched her neck once more, while the remainder of his clothing found their way to floor as well.

Meanwhile…

"What are you doing here?" Hilde asked, still a little dazed from the sudden surprise. 'Duo's here, only a few steps away.' She couldn't believe her eyes; they had to be playing tricks on her. 'Wake up, damnit! Wake up!'

"I didn't tell you where I was going." She had meant for the words to come out softer than how they were spoken but the element of surprise wasn't on her side. She was rather agitated, yet thrilled at the same time.

"I had your flight schedule and itinerary printed out once I got David to confess were you left to." Duo replied while letting go of her. Her body tensed. He knew she was thinking about him checking up on her. 'I'm not,' Duo wanted to scream, but his senses came back before he got the chance to.

Moving to get a better look at the kitchen, he walked over the refrigerator and took a clean sweep of the room. The difference between the old and the newly refurbished one was startling. No more was the used cookware and garage sale furniture. Gone are the tacky orange counter tops that came with the kitchen set they picked out some time ago. Replaced is an oak wood table complete with four chairs, an expensive looking vase with an assortment of flowers, candles, plates, and everything a kitchen needed, plus more.

"You just decided to drop by and see how things were going?" Hilde inquired, somewhat confused. She dared herself not to ask such a question, but the urge to find out the truth got the better of her.

"Actually, no." Duo whispered just barely loud enough for her to hear. "Believe it or not, but Trowa received a threat this afternoon back on L3. We came to throw off the targets." It wasn't a lie. Heero was proof enough if there was need, so why does Duo feel as if that didn't quite explain it all?

"I gather you and the boys have things under control for the time being?"

"Sorta, babe. We had an unexpected visitor for dinner tonight." He searched her eyes and watched, as her pupils grew larger in alarm. The action warmed him, if just but a little. "But, don't worry. The intruder was taken to the HQ for questioning."

"I'm hoping no one was harmed?"

"If you're implying one of us five? Nah, we 'boys' can take care of ourselves." He emphasized the word 'boys' as Hilde did and luckily, the jest brought a smile to her face.

But as quickly as the smile appeared, it disappeared without haste.

"Oh!" Was all Hilde said, while glancing to the door, which kept hitting the house siding. Leaves gathered at the threshold in an assortment of colors and shapes and she thought Jake wouldn't mind getting a look at them. She scooped them up and gently placed the textures in a basket, which hanged in the mudroom off to the right.

"Took a fancy to leaves?" Duo asked, smiling at the way she handled them, as if they were some type of rare mineral or jewel. He slowing made is way over to where she was standing near the mudroom entrance and leaned up against the trim of the door.

'Damn you look good,' he thought.

Hilde recognized the move and swallowed, quickening her breath by a little. "Actually, they're for…" She trailed off, forgetting about Duo's unawareness of the child. "Katta, Airia's daughter, she loves anything related to the outdoors. I figured she might want to get a look at the different colors and shapes the leaves formed."

If that wasn't a lie, then heavens help her. The petite dark haired women held her breath slightly and prayed her partner would take the petty white fib.

"Quatre lacks wilderness at his estate? But I thought he was surrounded..." Duo pondered, his eyes sparkling with mischief. He licked his lips and continued to stare directly in the eyes of the minx. His smile deepened and for just a trivial moment, Duo thought he had her cornered.

"Why yes, in fact, Quatre is surrounded by trees and bush, but he doesn't have any Long Furs and, well, you just can't go without them, right Relena?" Hilde stammered quickly, taking her eyes away from his. "Right Relena? Relena?" Hilde choked and grimaced.

"Gone." Duo laughed. "Heero too."

"Wha?" said Hilde somewhat shaky, while taking a glimpse around the room. "Traitor." She whispered to no one particular. Damn her luck. Of course, Relena just had to go all nice and polite, leaving the two of them to each other. 'Figures just bloody well figures.'

"Looks like we've been abandoned, babe." Again Duo laughed, tilting his head a little to the right, smiling, than moving away from the door trim and heading out into the living room. The windows were left slightly ajar, so he could feel the cool breeze that sought it's way in. The sun had long been hidden from the night's darkness, while the moon took residence with the clouds above.

All in all, the night is perfect. Not too cold, not too warm. Just perfect, and more than anything did Hilde want to get Jake and snuggle up in a ball in her nice warm comfortable bed. The illusion left her mind when she thought back to Duo and his sudden arrival.

"Speaking of babies, what's with the bottles stacked by the refrigerator?" And here it was, the moment Hilde had been waiting for. The Question! 'Quick', she told herself. 'Think of something, anything that would sound reasonable.'

"Babysitting." Hilde too quickly supplied. Duo froze in his tracks and lookedher squarely in the eyes.

"Who's?"

"Well, you see.. I I.."

"Me grandson, the baby be, that he is." Becca said, startling Hilde. She had crept up from behind her, staring the whole time at the man in front. Becca, from the first sight of Duo, knew that he was the reason why Hilde had left her previous life on Earth. She knew this man is the very reason behind those numerous nightmares of Hilde's. "I hope yous don mind, sir." Becca stated with a grim line for a smile, hands clasped behind her back. It wasn't a question, more like a 'you-better-not' remark.

"No, of course not. After all, yourself and Hilde live here, not me." Duo replied. "Not anymore, at least." The tension in the room doubled if not tripled. Unsure of what was going to be said next, Hilde sliced through the thick fog.

"Why don't you check on Jake, Becca. I'm sure he's fine, but just for safe measures you might as well."

"Yes, ma'am." Becca said. Duo thought it rather odd that Hilde would give an order, if not ever so politely, as for thegrandmother?Who is she?

"Beg your pardon?" Hilde asked, turning towards the sudden sound.

"Excuse me?"

"You said something." Hilde held.

"Oh, it was nothing." Duo smiled. "So tell me, any idea as to where Relena and Heero disappeared yo?" He asked, mischief returning to his eyes.

"I have a few ideas, which I'd rather leave be. Here," She said with the little energy left in her body. "It's getting late, and I don't know about you, but I'm exhausted. Why don't you take your old room just down the hall." Her hands were on her hips, and a yawn escaped her lips. She rubbed her eyes and then crossed her arms in front, just below her breasts.

Duo gulped and blinked.

"Isn't Relena using that room?" Duo asked. Hilde shook her head. "Then the baby and the old women.?"

"Nope." She snickered. "The house has four bedrooms, remember?"

"Oh!" He paused. "Yeah, I remember now." He didn't feel like sleeping just quite yet, but could tell that Hilde was already stretching her energy. If it weren't for her stubborn side, she'd probably be already curled up on a ball on the couch sound asleep. 'Wouldn't mind curling up with her.'

She guessed his thoughts, looking hurriedly away from him, while walking over to the windows, closing them, stopping the cool air from entering. Checking the front door, making sure it, too, was locked, Hilde tiredly made her way to the kitchen to check the windows and doors. Once secured, she returned back to the living room only to watch Duo's shadow fade into his bedroom doors, and then vanish completely.

With a prolonged yet expected sigh, the petite young women made her way to Jake's room, fetched him from his crib, and slugged back to her warm inviting bed. Like every night, Hilde anticipated the nightmares to come and was too tired when she awoke the next morning to notice that none came at all. Odd, but she actually got a full nights sleep, something she hadn't gotten since moving to L4 those many months ago.

The sun has risen early but Duo couldn't bring himself to crawl out of bed just yet. It had been almost two years since the last time he slept in this bed of his and was surprised he forgot just how comfortable it is.

The alarm clock next to his bed finally went off for the third time, and the sun slowly made its way through the window onto his face. He sighed with annoyance and in the end, lazily got out of bed. The clock read 10:30 a.m. Duo cringed at the thought of missing Hilde's morning breakfast.

Stretching his muscles, he found his shirt and jeans, put them on, than glanced to the door as if he expected someone to waltz right in. Content with the feeling that no one is going to, he yawned then walked over to the bathroom. Splashing some ice-cold water onto his face, putting his hands on either side of the mirror, he started at himself.

Three deep breaths at last got his mind to start thinking rationally. Two years ago he stood in this very spot and vowed to himself that by this time he'd confess his true feelings to Hilde. The former Gundam Pilot wanted so very much to do it then, two years ago, but thought the confession would frighten her.

They had only been with each other for four and a half years after the Eve Wars, then a year before that. He never expressed any type of love for her during those years besides the friendly kind, and regretted it badly. Duo is in love with his crazy dark haired dame for a partner, but cowardness over took his senses and he figured that sooner of later time would tell.

"What a joke." Duo whispered. "I should have told her all those years ago. But I didn't, and I'm a damn fool for it."

"You love her?" come a shadowed reply.

"Course I do… what the hell." Duo swirled around, waiting to find a pair of deep blue eyes starting into his. "God, a little warning man, I could have been"

"But you weren't." Heero smirked. "You gonna tell her?"

"No."

"Then you are a damn fool."

"You think I already don't know that. Besides, you haven't told Relena that you like her/"

"That's because I don't like her."

"Man, what a blow." Duo shrieked. "And you said I was the fool."

Heero snickered,but Duo didn't notice. "Hilde and the old women left for the market, Relena's with the baby, and I'm ready to eat your half of what the hostess cooked." He stalked towards the door getting ready to leave than stopped in his place. "I don't like her, Duo, I love her. And she knows it because I told her." With that, Heero letf the room, not closing the door behind him. Duo followedhis friendafter he fixed his hair, pulled on his shoes, and made his bed. With a final glimpse, he walked out of his old bedroom.

"Good morning, Duo. I trust you slept well?" Relena greeted him, while bouncing the tiny baby in her arms. Jake made some noises that any six-month old would until Relena gently put a bottle into his delicate mouth.

Duo just started at the baby in her arms, not moving, not speaking, and not doing anything besides gawking at the tiny body. His hair is dark brown, his eyes are a dull gray-blue, and his skin is slightly tanned. 'What a sight for sore eyes,' he silently thought to himself.

"Want to hold him?" Relena asked, knowing that Duo would say no. He shook his head and glanced at Heero for help. Relena laughed once Heero gave him the 'you're-on-your-own' look. "In that case, breakfast is in the oven, and fresh juice is in the refrigerator."

"Thanks."

"You're welcome." She laughed. "I had a hard time getting Heero not to eat your share. After having two plates full, plus half of mine, you'd think he'd be satisfied."

"Perfect Soldier, satisfied? Never." He winked at Relena, and she blushed. Heero started at him, but was unsuccessful. Something got in his way.

"Heero, you're standing on my foot." Hilde said calmly, waiting patiently with two large brown market bags in her arms.

"hnnn.." Heero grunted, stepping back a few feet. He blinked, a little confused as to when all of the sudden she appeared.

"Men." Relena stated, while looking at Hilde with apologetic eyes. "Heero, the bags." Relena gestured towards Hilde. When he made no move, she uttered impaitently, "The bags, Heero, she's gonna drop them." Laughing, Relena stared again at her friend. With the help of Duo on her right, and Heero on her left, the bags were lifted from Hilde's grasp. She sighed and wiped her hands off on Duo's shirt.

"Hey!" He teased. Hilde gave him one of those rare smiles then glanced at Relena and her son.

"Any one call for me while I was gone?" She asked.

"Brett Madison from AJ Squared did, and then shortly after, Quatre." Heero looked at Relena. "I forget to tell you, sorry. He said something about you two, and missing. I couldn't really hear, what with Jake and all."

"I'll call him back." Hilde said, while picking up the phone.

"Quatre?"

"Nah, Brett. Must have been something important. He never calls the private line."

Hilde started to explain to Duo about Brett but the connectiom took, and Brett answered the phone.

"AJ Squared. Madison here."

"Brett, it's Hilde with HighTech Inc. Division 9."

"Oh, good." He said somewhat relieved. "I have another call on the other line, could you hold on for a few moments?"

"Sure." The connection was transferred to some music station. "I'm on hold."

"Who's Brett Madison?" Duo asked.

"He's with AJ Squared. He's the-"

"CEO, ya, I know that. But who is he to-"

"Hilde?" The connection was transferred back to Brett. "Still there?"

She laughed. "Of course. How can I help you?"

"Sorry to catch you so early with Jake and all, but I needed to talk with you. You remember InnerSpace and Gregory Spacer?"

"Of course, he's the stubborn old goat that AJ Squared merged with some time back. What about them?"

"I can't talk now, got a meeting in a few minutes, but I would like to talk to you about it over dinner."

"Dinner? Sounds great. When and where?"

"Wednesday. I'll meet you at the Clam Shower around 6:30pm. Any problems?"

"None, see you then." The connection's signal flashed lost. Hilde put the phone back on the wall's station and turned around to find three pair of eyes staring at her. She shook her head, then smile sweetly at them.

Relena tried to form words, but nothing came out. Jake had a mischievous look on his face, and she took it as a hint that the baby needed to be changed. Heero followed suit, which left Duo and herself yet again, alone in the kitchen. 'I should consider putting some couches in here, with all the time I spend in this room.' She thought to herself.

"So, dinner with one of the most eligible men-" Duo started but was cut off.

"Dinner with Brett Madison." Hilde countered. "CEO of AJ Squared. Respected business associate and well known for the good deeds-"

"…in the Colonies and Earth." He finished.

"Honestly Duo, there's no reason to get all…"

"All what?" He asked angrily. "What?" He demanded.

"All protective and… and jealous." Hilde paled. She'd never gone this far with Duoand by judging the fire in his eyes, he didn't approve of her newfound bravery. Relena and Heero could hear the two of them from the nursery, Jake to, which started to get him crying.

"I'll be god damned protective of whoever the hell I want. And that includes my little run away partner who holds half of MY company's shares."

"Now wait just a moment, pal!" Hilde yelled. "YOUR company, like hell it is. I was under the impression that HighTech Inc. was the both of yours, every piece of paper to the material we use included."

Duo's jaw moved, his arms flexed, anger still boiling. He slammed his right fist down on the oak wood table. Hilde slightly jumped from the sudden action, clenching her fists in the wake. They could hear Jake's wails, which had Hilde even madder than before.

After a few minutes had passed, Hilde started to speak up, but Duo beat her to it. "He's crying." Duo said to no one particular. His voice was clam and his eyes were somewhat apologetic.

"I have to go to him." Was all Hilde said as she moved away from the table, a single tear falling down her face. "Excuse me." And she left.

Duo pulled out a chair and slumped into it. His hand was swollen and red, but it didn't hurt what so ever. On the surface of the table, he left a dent, and cringed a little because of it. His temper never got to him as it had a few minutes ago. He watched as Hilde backed away from him. He clenched his teeth.

'I'm an idiot.' Duo thought.

"You're an idiot." Heero said. He hesitated, then said, "We have to leave. Quatre got the results back from the HQ on Rlaph."

"Ya, sure. Let me go say bye to Hilde and Relena."

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Heero countered. Duo froze in his tracks. He looked to the closed nursery door, heard the muffled wails of the baby and walked back to the kitchen.

"You're right. That kid sure has some lungs." Duo stated while walking out the back door, eyes down cast.

Silently, Heero smirked, "That's not what I meant."

Thirty minutes later Heero and Duo pulled up to the Preventor L4 Head Quarter at exactly the same time as the others did. Chris Lanvens, former Secretary in General to Vice Foreign Minister, stood still as she watched the five men gain the steps leading up to the buildings front entrance. She greeted the men with the sincerity she often masked, showing them inside the building.

The office was bristling with much gusto; people walking here and there, papers scattered about in heaps of piles, numerous amounts of shouts and conversations happening all at the same time. They were too busy taking in all the new improvements and neglected to notice Chris's nervousness and her constant looks; she was a brilliant actress, unfortunately they weren't aware of that.

Duo sighed, grimacing at the noise, wanting nothing but mere silence. He looked at his former partner to find out that he was thinking the same thing. Wufei Chang mumbled something along the lines of organization and the lack there of, only to have silence over come once Sally Po came into view.

Former Military Doctor Po, clad in a formfitting deep navy blue Preventor's pantsuit with a red blouse underneath smiled at Quatre Winner, clasping his hand with hers. The smile she bestowed upon the others was genuine, her eyes sparkling with life.

Wufei studied her perfectly posed stance, her elegant movements and deepening smile. Gone was the flirtatious red lipstick and curled pigtails she once marred before. Sally bore simple mature makeup blends and sported a straight dirty blonde stylish haircut above the shoulders.

Preventor Po was sight to see Wufei declared, and watching as men passed, noticed that every other male thought so as well. That irritated Wufei but he didn't let the others notice. He was older now, not the teenage boy she first met him as. He's an adult of twenty-one, not the skittish fifteen year old he was those many years ago.

"I gather you all are here? No one else is expected?" Sally asked to Quatre looking at the others for confirmation. Trowa nodded and took lead behind Sally as she walked to the nearest elevator. He casually studied the expensive marble ceiling and rich leather seats as they passed the many offices of the appointed Preventor's in this sector. Funny how time changes everything.

The elevator chimed in caution while the door slid open. Politely the group waited for the occupants to file out, and then took their place inside. "We're heading to DR6, located on the third floor." Sally stated just for reference.

DR is the abbreviation for the questioning rooms, which were named Dark Rooms due to the lack of light that was used while interrogating the suspects. There are six total, the remaining five already in use.

Preventor Chris Lanvens watched from the security room as the group of six entered DR6 were her former partner Ralph Fangal awaited. He was under surveillance, metal chained his wrists together, and with the suit he wore labeling him dangerous. Her eyes tensed in frustration and she cursed Ralph for getting himself into trouble again. She was only a Class B Preventor and had no authority or clearance on floors three and up. Damning her luck, she sat and watched patiently as the interrogation began.

"Preventor Lanvens, what brings you to the Security Breech?" A co-worker asked, taking his seat next to hers, sipping the coffee that was placed before him. "Aren't you supposed to be listening in on the lecture Superior Clarkens is giving?"

"Yes." Chris replied never taking her eyes away from the screens, listening closely as her co-worker drank.

"Then why are you here-" She turned her glaze toward the man and gave him a quick smile. His eyes, before they rolled to the back of his head, knew of the deception, and then weightlessly he slumped down into the soft leather. The mug slid from his grasp and hit the floor, shattering into a million fragments.

"Why Mister Gibbs, didn't you know? I'm replacing you, for the time being." Chris said in a hushed voice, amusement in her eyes. "Now, what did Heero just ask Ralph?……/"

TBC

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