Relena's party was small informal get together at her work. Only two or three hundred co-workers and close friends had been invited. She was celebrating some big legal deal with some of the colonies. Duo wasn't actually paying attention when Quatre tried to explain it to him. He did notice that most of his friends were attending
"Duo you came!" Smiled a transformed Heero Yuy. "I've been trying to get a hold of you for weeks. We almost thought you weren't coming." Heero was talking with his fellow preventors Wufei, Sally and Director Une.
Taking mental note of the changes in his best friend, Duo found he was at war with himself. A part of him wanted to be happy for Heero. Being trained to be the 'perfect soldier' always gave everyone the impression that Heero's humanity had been scoured away. Occasionally, and with more frequency after the war, people close to him would see little glimmers of his true nature surfacing. It was kind of like watching a skittish animal coming out into the open after a long winter's hibernation. Here he was now all cheerful smiles thanks to his lovely girlfriend Relena. Duo felt ill. His skin itched from being here with all these happy people while he was miserable.
Pasting what he hoped was a friendly smile on his face he Quatre, and Trowa walked over to his friends.
"Hey everyone it's good to see you. Sally, Une, your looking gorgeous as ever. Wufei, Heero, well personally I think you're both ugly as sin, but you're looking well." Duo had to get away. He knew he was going into overkill trying to be his same old fun loving self. "Yeah of course I came. You know I never say no to free food. Speaking of which, I think I'll go find myself something to eat." And he fled from his friends.
"Who in the world was that?" Sally asked taken aback by Duo's retreat.
Heero who had been looking forward to catching up with his best friend turned to Trowa and Quatre. "What was that all about?" he asked them.
"Duo is suffering from a broken heart." Trowa answered quietly.
Wufei scoffed "How bad could it be? That baboon's relationships don't last past the three hour mark."
"I wouldn't laugh Wufei." Quatre added seriously. "He's quite devastated by it." Quatre quickly outlined the story of Duo's mystery woman.
"So he hopes to find her on earth?" asked Sally. She saw she wasn't the only one trying to picture Duo in love. "Impossible as it probably is, it's also kind of romantic."
The topic of their gossip chose that moment to return. Duo didn't need to be a genius to know their sudden silence and stares meant they were talking about him. He figured it would be better if he left. The pricking sensation he associated with their stares was getting to him. Fortunately they all became distracted by Relena's arrival who hugged Trowa, Quatre and himself. He was just about to make his excuse and leave when she looked at him intently.
"Duo, are you okay? You don't look so good. You live in L2 don't you? Sam Fox just got back from there and she looks dreadful. I hope there's…"
Duo rudely overrode her "Who was there?" but he didn't need the answer. He knew who it was. The prickling sensation he was feeling told him. Shelby was near. Focusing on the sensation he could tell she was above and behind him to the left. He turned toward the stairs.
"Duo where are you going?" Heero asked grabbing Duo's arm. The sudden change in his manner put the soldier in Heero on alert.
"She's here" Duo broke free of the hold and made a beeline for the stairs ignoring Quatre's comments about the chances of it being Shelby.
Following his senses, he found himself standing in the doorway of and office. The woman in the office was looking out the window, and giving holy hell to whoever had the misfortune of being on the phone with her. Quietly creeping in he hid behind a side door in the office so he could watch her for a few moments.
"Look just cut the bullshit routine. Draw up the papers and send them to me by next week." She turned around and slammed the receiver into its cradle.
Watching the woman who'd haunted him for the past month from his hiding place; Duo had to clamp down on the exultation he felt. She looked so…so… terrible. She'd lost weight, she was pale and there dark circles under her eyes. Maybe it was small of him, but he was glad to she had also suffered during their forced separation. He watched as she engaged her vid phone. The image of a man in his fifties appeared.
"Well hello Ms. Fox what can I get for you?" the man piped cheerfully.
"Hi Val, I'd like whatever the soup of the day is. I'll pick it up on my way home. Say thirty minutes?" She was rubbing her temples with her hands.
"It's not that I don't like your business, but you should be at the party there. A pretty woman should be out having fun, not at home by herself."
Duo left his hiding spot and came up behind Shelby.
"Thanks Val but I just don't…"
"I think he's right." Duo said behind her.
Shelby spun around and squeaked out his name. Shock and alarm were written all over her face.
"You shouldn't be alone." Never taking his eyes off of her Duo spoke up. "Add an extra soup to that order, plus two of your house specials, and two of her favorite dessert."
Seeing that he was going to get no response from Ms Fox, Val ended the call with a "Yes sir."
"Duo" Shelby said backing away from him. "Duo you shouldn't be here."
Duo closed in on her. "Shut up."
"Please Duo just leave. Forget you ev--" that was as far as she got.
"I said shut up." Backing her into the wall Duo added "Don't ask me to leave, don't tell me to forget that I found you, and don't even think about suggesting that I ignore the way we feel about each other. I don't know why you ran, I don't know what trouble you're in, but I do know you will tell me. Cause I'm not leaving 'til I find out. "
Too tired, and too miserable to argue she simply said "All right Duo."
"Good" cupping her face, he kissed her passionately telling her how much he needed and missed her.
