AN: Hello, again. Thank you for continuing with this story. Gundam Wing
characters aren't mine. Kellyn and some few others are. Thank ye kindly
once again, dolls. You've all been great. He he. ^_^
I especially wanted to thank JewelNadine and Raven's Light and Jack
Scarlett. *sob* ye're all so kind...brings tears to my eyes, it does. Thank
ye kindly!
* * * * * * * * * *
"Relena!" shouted Duo in a spasm of surprise. Glancing quickly at Kellyn, and knelt down next to her, grabbing Relena's slim wrist, groping for a pulse. "Oh, man, oh, man," he groaned in weak relief as he felt the weak thump of her life line. Leaning back on the balls of his feet, he surveyed Relena, and the frightened looks of the servants, fearfully looking down at the trio. "Is this Teranika's curse at full work again?" he asked a bit sarcastically.
"Nay, I couldna be, she's no a MacPherson, no even close," Kellyn said, shaking her head. "It was just an accident is all, nothing more," she added fiercely, refusing to allow the thin trickle of fear to course through her body.
Looking up, she flicked her wrist, causing a tall, muscular man to step forward hesitantly, and ordered, "Pick her up and take her tae the south wing. Make sure that she is safe; she's a verra important person. I'll go and call the medic." Turning around, completely forgetting about Duo in the process, her cousin in mind, she barked orders left and right.
Duo blinked in surprise and speculations, watching the servants fall over themselves to obey Kellyn's orders. Drawing his brows together, he smelt a secret brewing in the air, one that Kellyn had conveniently forgotten to mention. As the orders seemed to diminish one by one, Duo put a hand on Kellyn's arm and asked quietly, "Who are you?"
"Kellyn," she answered shortly, and tugged her arm from his grasp. Suddenly, she viewed him with cold eyes, "I'll have one of the men show ye tae yer room. Now, if ye will excuse me, I have tae tend tae my cousin."
"Cousin?" Duo asked quickly, his eyes widening slightly. "You don't look like her, even remotely. Different hair color, eye color...although, I should be blessed you don't look like her. I don't think I could take the trauma...I'd be so scarred," he stated. Shaking his head, he rolled his eyes, "I don't know why you would keep this from me, actually, I do. I would've been ashamed. I would've hung myself from the rafters, possibly shot myself...although, I've done that before, but that was an accident. Sort of. I've been shot at though, but that's hardly the point since we were at war and—"
"Shut up! Shut up, ye're rambling. What is the matter wi'ye? Cripes, ye have a motor attached to yer jaw or something," Kellyn interjected harshly. "No wonder people shot at ye! Ye were probably talking them tae madness! Do ye ken who I am? Properly? Aye, ye don't!" she snapped, before he could even answer. "I am," she began, straightening her back in a regal position, and somehow managed to look down her long nose at him, "Duchess of Beaucaire and Derbyshire. Satisfied?" she barked, but gave him no time to answer as she pivoted on her heels and marched off.
"Ah, no, I can't say I am," Duo murmured. "And is it just me or does she seem tad bit manic..." Shaking his head, he turned, running smack in to a guy who seemed to be made like a semi. "Fuck!" he yelped in pain, holding his nose, which had taken the brunt of the jarring impact. He found himself looking in to cold granite eyes. "Who are you?" he demanded.
"I am Faolan, the steward in charge of Mallory Hall," he answered, bowing his head ever so slightly in greeting. "I will see you to your room," he announced, and proceeded down the large front parlor and towards the long, carving stone steps. Without breaking a step from his walk, he raised a brow to Duo upon him pulling his sleeve. "Yes?" he asked a bit coldly, straightening his sleeve.
"How do you know that I am the one looking for a room?" Duo questioned curiously.
"I assume its because you are the one unfamiliar face in this house, and milady directed me to find 'the man with a ridiculous braid and wearing a black priest outfit,' and you are the only one wearing it. Ah, the power of deduction," Faolan replied with a hint of sarcasm tingeing his deep baritone voice.
"Oh," Duo said, feeling slightly foolish. "'Ridiculous braid,'" he muttered to himself, furrowing his brow as he followed in step with Faolan. "I'll show you 'ridiculous braid,'" he added, pouting slightly. Bringing his braid around his shoulder, he gnawed thoughtfully at the end of it. What was so damn wrong with his braid? Jeez, you'd expect he grew stuff in it or something. Which he didn't...
Turning sharply at the last corner of the right hall, Duo jogged to catch up, and walked in behind the room Faolan had opened. His jaw dropped. The room was made for royalty. There was a fireplace that took up one entire wall, big enough so that it looked like the mouth of a cave. A four poster bed was atop a two foot high podium, overflowing with satin, silk, and velvet pillows and comforters, and sheets. Luxurious furniture dotted across the room that was nearly as big as a normal living room and dining room put together in an average house. Shaking his head, Duo wandered further in, and held up his hand, crying out, "Wait! Aren't you worried about me getting lost in here? Won't I need a map?" when Faolan had made a move to withdraw.
"I think you will be fine," Faolan said, rolling his eyes as he closed the door behind him. "Foreigners," he muttered to himself. Ironically, he wasn't a Scot, but an Australian. (A very long story was behind that, which we'll get to later).
Exploring the window on the far side of the room, he noted with appreciation that there was a view of a large pond, almost the size of a lake. Turning, he spotted two doors and opened the one closest to him. It was a bathroom, if even that. A modern looking bathroom in the size of a bedroom. A large, claw footed tub fit for four intimate couples sprawled across the far wall, while a large shower was near it. There was a separate little door leading to the actual toilet, and there was the sink, which could be raised and then lowered by the twist of a knob to fit a person's height or comfort level.
He shook his head. Pfft, talk about a lap of luxury. This wasn't a vacation; it was more like coming to a resort of some sort. Retreating from the bathroom, and opening the other door, he found a walk-in closet. Another converted bedroom. He spotted necessities of women and men's clothing. Pants, shirts, shoes, hats, ties, belts, suits, jackets, etc...
Leaving the closet, he did a running start, and using the top of the podium as a vault, leaped on to the bed, and was surprisingly waved about like riding the waves of an ocean. "What the--!" Duo began, looking down at the rolling bed in disbelief. "A water bed. You have got to fucking be kidding me!" he shouted. Laughing, he twisted on to his back, and watched the ceiling move gently, "Quatre has officially been bested. After Relena made this place sound somewhat modest, I can't even imagine Kellyn's other houses, if she has any," he murmured to himself.
Alarmed, he looked down at his watch and frowned slightly. Should he call one of them to let them know that he was alive? As he battled with himself internally, he somehow drifted off to a deep sleep.
* * * * * * * * * *
Kellyn half stood at the sound of Relena's pained moans. "Are ye all right?" she asked as she helped her sit up in bed. Handing her a glass of water with a couple tablets of Advil, she sat on the chair she had pulled up long ago. Pursing her lips, she waited until Relena swallowed the pills and water, and set the glass back on the table next to her. "Why are ye here?" she demanded. "Wi'out my permission, as weel. This is no yer place tae be roaming about, ye ken," she chided, obviously displeased.
"I know," Relena answered wearily. "I was just worried about Duo. I remembered that I hadn't given him the address and I wasn't sure if he had any money or not. So, I came here in hopes that he had somehow made it."
Kellyn stared at her. "Ye ken one of those fascinating inventions we call a phone? Aye, it's verra fascinating. What ye do is ye pick it up, jab a few numbers on the little console, and ye wait. Miraculously, someone from the other side picks up, and then this is where the conversation picks up. Possibly with a 'hello, may I come over?' maneuver. Insane how the world has developed hasn't it?" she said, her voice rich with sarcasm. "It's a miraculous time we're living in now."
"How was I to know you'd be here?" Relena asked, cradling her head in pain at the blinding white lights flashing before her eyes.
Feeling no sympathy, Kellyn leaned back in her chair, rolling her eyes, "Weel, it serves ye right that ye got a chandelier nearly dropped on yer heid. Maybe that would've helped the wee brain of yer's tae work, aye? Jump start it a bit, if ye will," she said. Snorting, she stood up, and began pacing the length of the room. "How were ye to ken I'd be here?" she echoed outrageously, electric blue eyes boring in to Relena's skull. "Weel, could it be that's it's my house tae begin with?" she asked sweetly. "Am I tae announce my arrival at my own house?"
"No, Kellyn," Relena answered warily. "Look, I didn't come here to start a fight. I know we're both on different sides, and you're not always that fond of peace like I am, but—"
"Relena! Ye embarrassed my family by contradicting their choices in the battle! What do ye think I'd do? Not stand by my family?" Kellyn froze in her spot, hands fisting at her sides. "Are ye daft? Nay, dinna answer that," she snapped. "Git out of my house. Ye dinna deserve my hospitality," she amended coldly.
Looking up, she stared at her, horrified. "Kellyn! I am in no condition to be getting on a plane again! You know that! You're a healer—"
"A healer?" Kellyn interrupted with a snort of disbelief. Staring at her with a disgusted look, she shook her head. "Excuse me, ye dinna even ken my profession! It is no even close tae being a bluidy healer, ye dolt! Git out of my house, now!" she screamed.
"Kellyn calm down," Relena begged, blinking back the overwhelming headache. "I didn't mean to intrude, I just wanted to make sure my friend had shown up. I didn't give him any directions, and I became worried!"
"Ye dinna ken how tae pick up a bluidy phone?" she asked coldly. "Would ye like me tae describe the methods of the phoning and conversational skills to ye again?" Standing up, she paced the length of the floor. "While my father and mother lay rotting in prison, ye turned yer back on my pleas. I begged ye tae help, but—"
"I didn't do anything!" Relena cried out, jackknifing up in bed.
"Exactly!" Kellyn snapped. "Ye dinna do a damn bluidy thing! My parents died because of ye, ye bitch. What do ye think of that now?" she asked sarcastically. "Ironic how the peace thumper is suddenly a murderer as weel?"
"I'm not—"Relena paled. Slowly sinking back in to the pillows once more, she carefully studied Kellyn's outraged face, struggling to be kept in reign. Lucky for her. Sighing, she said, "I didn't mean for that to happen. I was having a tough time, Kellyn. The war was going on, there was nothing I could really do about it."
"Nothing, aye?" she repeated bitterly. "Tough time, my arse. What do ye think the people whose lives were ended, and families lines broken off thought the war was tae them? A picnic? I dinna think so, ye daft, clueless child." Laughing, she said, "Weel, then there is nothing I can do, cousin. Leave my house at dusk or face the consequences," she said sweetly, and turned on her heels, marching out the door, slamming it behind her.
Relena groaned in pain, despair and confusion. It wasn't supposed to have happened like this. It was the truth. She didn't respond or help out Kellyn for fear that it would blacken her reputation, and she ashamed about that. What could she do about it though? Kellyn wouldn't listen to her reasons, heck she didn't think she would've even listened if it were her.
She'd have to wait until Kellyn's temper cooled. Being of Scottish descent, she had a fiery temple that bested even Satan himself. Though she had a quick temper, Kellyn knew when to hold her fire, or how to mask it with a stunning ability. She could easily smile and laugh with you, while being pissed with you to no end. Frankly, it was terrifying.
Okay, she could admit that she could've used some of her power to release Kellyn's parents, but she couldn't tell anyone that she had believed they were guilty as well. Planning to overthrow the King of England was a very serious crime, and she had ashamedly believed in the tabloids, and scandalous words from every talk show host across the colonies. When they had been proven innocent, everyone was too late. The Duke and Duchess of Beaucaire and Derbyshire had been executed.
Now, Kellyn was powerful, probably more so than her, which frightened her a bit. Not to mention that she had a powerful long line of descendants. Her great-times infinity grandfather was Bonnie Prince Charlie, she was related to the Kennedy's, and her aunt was the Empress of some foreign country she couldn't bring herself to remember.
Kellyn had captured the attention of the prince of Great Britain, Spain, France, Italy, Morocco, and some very rich aristocrats in the colonies, all unintentionally. Relena thought herself a beauty, but somehow Kellyn captured attention. She assumed it was because of her fiery red hair, and equal temper, blue eyes every man seemed to drown themselves in, and her breasts. She looked down at her own modest ones, knowing they were no match for her cousin's. Pursing her lips, she shook her head, horrified at where her trains of thought were drifting towards.
Rolling over on to her side, she let the soft breeze caress her body in to a deep, and dreamless sleep.
* * * * * * * * * *
Curving her back along the couch in the living room, Kellyn looked outside the window upside down, her hair contrasting sharply upon the black, ultra suede material. Sighing, she absentmindedly stroked her protruding ribs as she thought to herself, wondering if she should really have yelled at Relena after that traumatizing event. Suddenly, pictures of her parents floated in to her vision, and her heart hardened. Damned if she'd look at her betraying cousin again. She was through with Relena; she pissed her off any way, so good riddance.
Kellyn sat up suddenly with a sharp gasp, crying out, "Damn ye, Zareh!" as her dog shoved a very cold, wet nose in to her bared belly button. Rubbing her stomach, she sullenly looked at her dog, which gazed back at her with all the innocence of a demon caught engulfing the soul of a pope. Shaking her head, she toed the dog's side with her boot, "Git on wi'ye, dog," she ordered.
Letting out a long, low whine, he sulked off, his toenails clicking a beat against the hardwood floor. Looking over its shoulder one last time, he lowered his head, and kept walking until he disappeared around the corner.
"What is going on with everyone today?" she wondered out loud, shaking her head in frustration.
"You just probably need to lay back. You're tense," Duo commented from behind her. "Why?" he asked curiously, setting his hands along the couch.
She scowled, sniffing slightly as she crossed her arms tightly across her chest. "'Tis none of yer business, man," she said stubbornly. "I dinna ken why ye are questioning me on such irrelevant topics," she commented, sighing deeply. Tilting her head back, she gazed at Duo. "No wonder I am sae tense, aye? I was nearly scairt out of my wits with my fool cousin showing up, and then I had a few words wi' her as weel."
Pursing his lips, he raised a skeptical brow. "What do you mean you had a few words with her? You're too sweet to be angry with someone like Relena...no, I take that back, it could be possible with her," he said thoughtfully.
Kellyn snorted, "Aye, ye're quite right. Any sane person couldna hold their temper with her, but 'tis no use," she sighed. "She is my cousin, but it doesna mean that I have tae hold my temper wi' her, aye? So she will be gone by dusk tonight, or she will pay for deceiving my orders."
"You're a bit hasty, you know that?"
She shrugged, and stood up. Resting her hands on the small of her back, she pushed her pelvis frontward, cracking her spine. Sighing, she looked down at her boot clad feet, and shorts. "Guess I better change fer dinner," she muttered to herself, and without even a farewell to him, walked out of the room, and out of sight.
"That's the second time she's done that!" Duo exclaimed, a bit annoyed. After changed his mind about following her, he decided to wander the grounds of Mallory Hall. As he wandered in and out of rooms, he quickly grew bored, and exited the house through a back door in one of the halls.
He blinked at the sudden light, and breathed in deeply, appreciating the fresh air, mingled with grass and summer. Hearing small commotions going on in what Duo assumed another division of the house, he headed towards it. He froze at the entrance, his mouth wide open. It was a stable with nearly two hundred horses housed, the barn stretching for what seemed like thousands of yards ahead of him. Azure eyes fastened on two stable boys about the age of sixteen bickering loudly with each other, aggravating some of the horses whickering nervously next to them.
"Hey, what's going on?" he asked, stepping forward as he did so.
One of the boys sullenly looked at him, as if hating the fact that he had just been interrupted in making a point. Tossing a lock of blond hair from his eyes, he said, "What's it matter to you?"
The other one elbowed him viciously, staring at him pointedly. "I beg your pardon for the insolence, sir. It was just that Brisbane suggested something quite atrocious, and I was in the midst of fervently disagreeing."
"What was it?"
The boy named Brisbane stepped in again, shoving his companion aside. "I was going to ride Donas, see if I could train him, sir," he emphasized sarcastically.
"Why can't you ride Donas?" Duo asked, ignoring the smart ass remarks.
"Because, sir, Donas is the most feared of all horses. Our Lady Kellyn was the one to retrieve him from a herd of wild mustangs," the other answered. "She was mighty hurt, when she caught him, and trained him herself, and now only she can ride Donas without getting hurt."
Duo nodded, "What does Donas mean?"
"Demon," Brisbane said, smiling, a malicious glint in his hazel eyes. Shrugging a narrow shoulder slightly, he said, "It's really no big deal, I can handle him," he boasted.
"You can't! You're a greenhorn, and you know it," his friend snapped.
"Shut up, Quinley! Like you know anything," he snarled. "I'm sick and tired of hearing you fuck everything up for me. Are you going to be the one riding the horse?"
"No, but I'm damn well not going to be responsible for you being headless," Quinley snapped back. Fisting his hands next to his side, his green eyes flared brightly in anger. "You're impossible!"
"Why don't you just let him ride it?" Duo asked nonchalantly.
Two gazes swirled upon him sharply. Quinley was already shaking his head, "No, sir, it's too dangerous. If he gets hurt, then—"
"It won't be your fault," Duo shrugged. "Look, the way I see it. You've tried your best to try and talk him out of it, now, it's only live-and- learn. If he does get hurt, he gets an earful, and he'll learn his lesson with a bruised pride and ego. You have your defense. If he's so intent on learning, then he should."
They hesitated, wondering if those words were actually real, but before they could answer, Kellyn walked in after hearing everything. "Weel, as much as I'd be amused by the entire event, I suggest ye no do it, aye, Bris?" she drawled out lazily.
The two boys snapped to attention after bending a knee at her. Duo looked behind him and froze once again. She was in knee high tights, following her every curve, and he swore that she was wearing no underpants. You could've seen the lines of them, but no, they were smooth...his head started to buzz. Her top looked like she had tied a handkerchief around her ample breasts. If there were going to be any more surprises to her wardrobe, he would have a heart attack by then, he mused to himself, but hell, he would die a happy man.
"Yes, milady, I agree, but I still wanted to try," he answered sheepishly.
Smiling, Kellyn bordered Quinley's neat 6'1, and slung an arm along both the boys' shoulders. "Ye're sae cute," she teased, and laughed with delight when they blushed. Ruffling their hair, she gently pushed them away. "Go and clean one of the stables that ye most likely forgot, aye?" she suggested.
Duo watched them disappear and glanced over at her. "How'd you do that?"
"Do what?" She asked, startled.
He gestured. "Make them feel...I dunno, like tall and mighty, and then order them away so easily without making them feel condescending?"
Kellyn grinned, and slipped an arm through Duo's waist, leading him towards a particular stable. "Weel, laddie, its called skill, aye? Sometime, ye just need tae ken that men have sensitive feelings behind their tough exterior."
Duo grunted, and pulled her closer to his side, playing along with her openly flirtatious attitude. "You know, you have some English words and then old Scots words mixed in. What's with that?"
She shrugged a slim shoulder. "'Tis because I had verra many tutors verra particular about my vocabulary, aye? Sometimes it was quite overwhelming, but then other times it was no so much. Now," she said, pulling away from him. Caressing the silvery nose bared to them, she crooned to the horse. "This is Dougal, named after a cantankerous uncle for his unstable personality."
"You're not helping," Duo said, but nonetheless stroked the nose, starting slightly when Dougal snorted viciously. "You have animals every where you go?"
"Aye, I'm verra fond of them." Smiling, she looked up, bumping him with her hip. "He doesna bite, but is sure that he has something to prove, so he is always quite grumpy," she explained, digging in to her jacket pocket. Revealing several sugar cubes, she held it out for the horse, which he eagerly took. Patting the slim neck, she worried her full lower lip. "Do ye think it was an accident?"
"What was?" he asked, alarmed by the sudden change in the conversation.
She poked him gently in the chest, rolling her eyes. "The chandelier and having it fall on Relena? It just seems sae damned convenient, aye? The moment we step in, the thing falls down? That was a damn sturdy piece of furniture, sixteen bolts, eight screws, four eyepieces, and had it survive two earthquakes as weel. It would have taken a lot of man power tae have it become like that, aye?" she asked him, staring at him deeply.
Duo shrugged. "I guess it was convenient, but who would want to harm Relena?"
She shook her head, "I dinna think it was all about Relena," she murmured to herself, a tight knit forming between her brows. Upon asking what she had just said, she looked up and smiled. "Nothing, lad. 'Tis a bit cold, aye? Let's go inside," she said and pulled him along after a final pat to Dougal.
Once inside the immense house, they were faced with Relena. Duo noted the obvious chill factor as soon as the two women were face-to-face. Actually, Relena seemed to take on the look of a panicked and cornered rabbit, and Kellyn to look like a starved and very rabid wolf. He felt a moment's pity for Relena, and must have made a noise somewhere along that line when he felt the iciness of Kellyn's glare directed towards him now. Considerably alarmed, he smiled, and patted her arm reassuringly, letting her know that he was 100% on her side.
"I presume ye were tae be leaving then?" she asked coolly.
"Ah, actually, I was wondering if I could have a moment of your time to ask you a few questions..." Relena fidgeted.
Kellyn raised a brow, a humorous smile curving one side of her lips. "Why do ye sound like a damn reporter? Thinking of interviewing me in order tae relieves yer conscience? Weel, my dear, I willna do anything for that tae happen. Believe ye me, darling, I will make sure ye live in a life of purgatory."
Relena looked up quickly, and back down with even quicker speed. Flushing, she shook her head frantically. "No, that wasn't it! I just wanted to ask if I could maybe spend another night here, seeing as I don't—"
"Nay," Kellyn answered flatly.
"Bu-But, I don't have any way to get out of here! My plane isn't due here for another week, and I've never really been here so I don't know my way around, so—"
"I am no interested in excuses. Git out of my house by dusk tonight, which is in four hours. You have four glorious hours tae do what ye wish. By ten o'clock, I want ye out, Relena, and this is my last time saying it."
For the second time, Kellyn stormed out of the room with Relena in it, fuming silently to herself. How dare she have the gall to ask her for hospitality? There was now bad blood between them, and she wanted to spend another night? She was damn lucky she didn't have a rusted axe hacking her in half. As she shook her head in disgust, she was brought up short by someone grabbing on to her arm and swinging her around. Instantly, so was her roundhouse punch, landing on someone's jaw with a grunt of pain from her would-be attacker.
"Ow! What the hell?" Duo scowled, rubbing his jaw.
Kellyn grinned sheepishly. "Oops?" she suggested, raising both her palms up in an odd gesture of mistake and peace.
"Are you always going to try to maim someone when they try to talk to you?" he demanded, wondering if a bruise would set in.
"Only when they swing me about like a damn pinwheel wi'out giving me fair warning," she said back, smiling innocently. "Did ye need something, lad?"
"Why do you hate Relena? Most people don't feel so...hostile towards her, well accept for one person," he confessed, thinking of Heero and Wufei both, granted Wufei had interesting allergic reactions to women. "Usually they feel annoyed, but never hostile," he continued. "Why?"
"Duo, dinna get involved in something that ye have every opportunity tae stay out of, 'tis a blessing, take it," she answered. Lifting a hand, she frowned at the slowly forming bruise on his jaw line. "Let's go have dinner, mo caran, it will cheer both of us up considerably."
"Dinner?" he chirped, feeling better already. "Well, if you insist," he said, knowing that she had changed the subject to something else to avoid explaining her cryptic explanation. He vowed that he wouldn't forget, but keep pestering her until she told. There had to be a logical explanation why she always seemed to go on a sort of rampage when Relena was brought up.
* * * * * * * * * *
Duo leaned back in to his chair, groaning in pain and pleasure. "Oh, my Gaaw~" he moaned, patting his stomach. "I think I'm going to explode."
"Weel, no wonder, lad, I've ne'ver seen someone eat sae much in one sitting!" Kellyn exclaimed, chuckling to herself as she watched Duo in physical pain. Comfortably full herself, but not quite, she waited as dishes were cleared while she sipped her red wine, savoring the taste.
"How do you stay that thin?" Duo demanded. He snorted, "I know why. Miniscule servings. A sliver of everything, and a half tablespoon of all the rest. That's how. Miserable bitch," he muttered, rolling his eyes back in hopeless defeat. He seriously pondered on the possibility of exploding because of a full stomach...full didn't even do him enough justice right now. It was quite possibly the understatement of the millennia.
Kellyn chuckled, "Weel, at least I dinna suffer, aye? And ye are no fat, Duo, ye're muscular, quite different, aye?"
"You have muscles too," he said, and his eyes rounded as he watched Kellyn gently pull her already low cut shirt, revealing a black bra that he knew had to have been made by blind, virgin nuns. It was too enticing. His jaw dropped as she reached between her two breasts, and all coherent thoughts melted in his brain. My God, was she making a pass? When he was sitting on the other side of the table like a beached whale? He panicked.
Pulling out a cigarette, she frowned as she flicked on her lighter, and puffed, watching Duo's forehead drop on to the table with a thunk. "What is it? What's wrong? Ye mind that I smoke? Do ye want me tae go somewhere else then?"
A sob escaped Duo's lips before he shot up in his chair. "Damn you!" he shouted, pointing an accusing finger at her startled face. "What is the matter with you? You have a guy sitting across from you that is," he broke off, theatrically checking for a pulse, "yes, yes, indeed is alive! You pull down your shirt, which by the way, I have a great view of your breasts, and then you show me your bra, you reach in... and pull out a cigarette! Are you a stripper?! Are you deliberately trying to tease me?" he screamed shrilly, thoroughly rattled.
Kellyn stared at him for a moment, her vocal chords screaming to work, and then promptly burst out laughing. Shaking her head, she wiped the tears from her eyes carefully. "Duo, ye are such a good entertainment fer me," she said, giggling occasionally. "I wasna meaning tae put on a strip show, and I am most definitely no a stripper, thank ye kindly."
He snorted, "Well, then stop doing that next time." Rolling his eyes, he leaned forward, starting intently in to her dancing blue eyes. She was off guard, a good time to see her reaction. "What is Abdicrax, Kellyn?"
She calmly put out her cigarette by the twist of her boot. Smiling, her expression completely veiled, (much to Duo's admiration), asked, "I have no idea what yer talking aboot, lad. Would ye mind telling me what ye are getting at?"
Duo smiled slightly, a glint in his eye. "During the war, there had been rumors that a foreign body was helping us. Our side of the war, which thankfully we won. No body could figure out whom this foreign body was...you know what my job was? To find out, and to kill as many people as possible behind enemy lines, to sniff out traitors. This mysterious angel donated millions of dollars, sent in anonymous recruits, and a lot of pretty new toys for the military. All very useful. Well, anyway, I found out what the foreign body was called. Abdicrax. I was in the middle of figuring out who it was, but they've been pretty elusive, slippery as eels, when I decided to take this vacation. Now I find the file Abdicrax on your computer. It's not just a small file either. It's pretty big," he said.
Kellyn raised a copper brow, her eyes coolly veiling any means of evidence if she knew what he was talking about. "Ye looked on my computer, did ye?" she asked, her voice icy.
"My dear, you allowed me to, don't you remember?" Duo grinned. "You said that I could look on your computer, and I commented on the files on your computer. A tip, love, don't put something important on your desktop...or did you mean to be found?"
She snorted, crossing her arms. "Dinna make me laugh, my boy. I still dinna ken what yer talking aboot."
Duo looked at her with an odd expression, "Are you retarded?" he demanded. "I saw it on your computer! Why are you embarrassed about helping...you know something, don't you?" he asked. "Why the war ended so abruptly, and the missing leaders on the other side, don't you? Is that why you pretend to have no idea what's going on?" he asked.
Kellyn narrowed her eyes, and leaned forward as well. "Dinna meddle in something that ye canna handle, Duo. It's a verra dangerous business that if ye canna seem tae ignore, than ye will be forced tae," she warned.
"Are you threatening me?" Duo asked incredulously. "Look, I can help you, I know people. For one my group is on alert about this, they've been working on this with me."
She shook her head, throwing her hands up in despair. "Why can't ye listen tae me?" she cried out.
"Because this is dangerous work that—"he cut off as she stood up suddenly. Misthinking her action as her beginning action of running away, he stood up as well. "Look, I know that you're probably not used—where the hell are you going? We're not done with this conversation!" he insisted as he followed her out of the kitchen. "Hey!" he shouted, and broke off in to a sprint as well. "You're insane," he muttered as he followed her outside, the cold wind slapping him full on the face, leaving him almost dazed.
"What are you doing?" he queried, shaking his head as they stopped just outside the barn. "Have you seriously gone insane? It's freezing out here!"
"There's something wrong," she said in a low voice, looking around the barn. "The horses are restless, the dogs quiet. The birds have stopped—"
"What birds? This is the middle of winter. Any bird still here is stupid, and probably dead," he interrupted, agitated.
"Shut up," she commanded fiercely. "There are enemies within us right now."
Walking over to one of the empty stables, she whistled Duo's attention and threw him a .45 colt. Tilting her head, she said, "Be cautious, and check around." Pursing her lips, she revealed her own weapon, a .45 ACP. Standing up slowly, she scoffed as she saw that Duo still stood there. Walking to his side, she pressed her back to him, her eyes slowly looking around the barn.
"Ye canna follow directions verra weel, can ye?" she asked him.
He shrugged, "Not when there's a damsel—ow!" he said, rubbing the sore spot where her elbow jabbed in to his side. "Okay, so maybe you're not exactly a damsel in distress—"
"Maybe," she snorted.
"—but we're still in this together, so I'm not going to abandon you," he finished.
"Enough chit-chat, more killing," she said, uncomfortable by his helpful words, which she was not used to. "There's someone here, or something's going to happen. I feel it," she whispered. "There's something wrong," she insisted with herself, as if reassuring her conscience.
Tensed silence washed over them as Kellyn broke off and walked down the aisles, petting some of the worse case horses distractedly. Looking around, her long red hair moving with her every action. Worrying her lip, she gave up, and began turning towards Duo with a shrug when she felt the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. As she began turning, a muffled explosion rang through, shattering the deafening silence, followed by a blinding pain ripping through her side.
Even as red exploded throughout her vision, she aimed towards the source of the bullet, and fired. Black was enveloping her body and senses, and she struggled to surface, but gave up, lulled by the numbing sensations the darkness brought with it.
"Shit! Kellyn!" Duo shouted, watching as her body fell to the ground, and with her last ounce of consciousness, hit a man from the loft, having him tumble down. Ignoring the enemy, he ran towards Kellyn's side, cursing once more at the bloodied side, and the blood forming a lake around her. "Damnit!" he cursed.
A hand ran in to the barn at the sound of Kellyn's gunfire. "What's going on?" he asked, frightened.
Turning, Duo saw that it was Quinley. "Go call a doctor! Or one of the nurses or someone who knows medical attention! Kellyn's been shot bad," he said. Unbuttoning his shirt, he shouldered it off, and pressed it tightly against her wound, wincing slightly when she groaned with pain. Looking up, he saw the culprit lying on his side, facing them, his eyes glazed with death. A hole was dead center in between his eyes, his gun lying inches away from his open hand. "Is he the only one?" he whispered to himself, quickly looking up.
He sighed harshly. "What a total mess," he muttered.
Soon the doctor was there, and every one was delirious with worry and concern. One or two of the older women who had obviously known Kellyn since she was little, they cried and clung to each other as if she had already passed to the other side. Men teared up, obviously besotted with the queen of the household, and the rare children who dotted the estate looked uncertainly at each other, wondering what was going on.
Duo sat on a chair, scrubbing his face. He was in his room after feeling like he was going out of his mind at the weeping and the buzzing in the foyer. Pursing his lips, he glared at the door as someone knocked on the door. "What?" he asked.
The door opened slowly at Relena peeped in, pale. "Duo? Do you know who the man was?" she whispered.
He shook his head. "No, no one does."
"I know who it was," she answered, stepping further in to the room. She looked hesitant, as if she was mentally debating with herself if she should tell.
He straightened in his chair. "Who is it?" he gently urged.
"It's one of the hitman who works for the man who wants to own Abdicrax. She's in possession of several important disks that can destroy several powerful leaders. Obviously you know that she's in danger. They say she might not even survive. We have to help her, Duo. We have to find the disks and open up Abdicrax...Do you think Heero can do it?"
Duo's mind reeled at the information. "The dictators of the organizations who supported the war...she knows where they are?" he asked through numbed lips.
Relena nodded. "She was caught up in bad business...she-she was engaged to one of head honcho's son of the Mafia, which was how she got sucked in to the bad crowd. She found out some deadly secrets, and stole some of the disks, and they caught their parents, accusing them of trying to kill the King of England, which wasn't true. I-I turned her back on her, and wouldn't help, afraid that I would get a bad reputation," she blushed. "So, her parents, died, and she found herself rich beyond belief. So she started her own organization called Abdicrax. There were a lot of people who weren't very happy with it, including her step-brother. He tried to have her killed numerous of times," she answered. "Do you know who her brother is?" she asked quietly.
He eyed her wearily. "Do I want to know?"
"Treize."
* * * * * * * * * *
AN: (O.O) Well, well, well, look at the twist here! Lol. I didn't know exactly where to go with this so while I was just sitting on my bed, zoning in and out of reality, I still didn't get it. Lol. So, literally, my boyfriend and his friends kidnapped me and took me to Lord of the Ring: The Return of the King, and to dinner, which was bizarre, and the idea came in just as the supposed 'King' (steward, was set on fire because he was WACK-O and hurled himself from the main tower. It was such a beautiful moment... hilarious. SO beautiful...*sobs* I'm rambling once more, I have a serious problem with that...I'm trying to fix it because I seem to annoy everyone, but—see, there I go again. I'm done. Anyways...please tell me what you think. Reviews, flames...blah, I don't care. Just some kind of feedback, people. I want some reviews!!..please? ^_~;
* * * * * * * * * *
"Relena!" shouted Duo in a spasm of surprise. Glancing quickly at Kellyn, and knelt down next to her, grabbing Relena's slim wrist, groping for a pulse. "Oh, man, oh, man," he groaned in weak relief as he felt the weak thump of her life line. Leaning back on the balls of his feet, he surveyed Relena, and the frightened looks of the servants, fearfully looking down at the trio. "Is this Teranika's curse at full work again?" he asked a bit sarcastically.
"Nay, I couldna be, she's no a MacPherson, no even close," Kellyn said, shaking her head. "It was just an accident is all, nothing more," she added fiercely, refusing to allow the thin trickle of fear to course through her body.
Looking up, she flicked her wrist, causing a tall, muscular man to step forward hesitantly, and ordered, "Pick her up and take her tae the south wing. Make sure that she is safe; she's a verra important person. I'll go and call the medic." Turning around, completely forgetting about Duo in the process, her cousin in mind, she barked orders left and right.
Duo blinked in surprise and speculations, watching the servants fall over themselves to obey Kellyn's orders. Drawing his brows together, he smelt a secret brewing in the air, one that Kellyn had conveniently forgotten to mention. As the orders seemed to diminish one by one, Duo put a hand on Kellyn's arm and asked quietly, "Who are you?"
"Kellyn," she answered shortly, and tugged her arm from his grasp. Suddenly, she viewed him with cold eyes, "I'll have one of the men show ye tae yer room. Now, if ye will excuse me, I have tae tend tae my cousin."
"Cousin?" Duo asked quickly, his eyes widening slightly. "You don't look like her, even remotely. Different hair color, eye color...although, I should be blessed you don't look like her. I don't think I could take the trauma...I'd be so scarred," he stated. Shaking his head, he rolled his eyes, "I don't know why you would keep this from me, actually, I do. I would've been ashamed. I would've hung myself from the rafters, possibly shot myself...although, I've done that before, but that was an accident. Sort of. I've been shot at though, but that's hardly the point since we were at war and—"
"Shut up! Shut up, ye're rambling. What is the matter wi'ye? Cripes, ye have a motor attached to yer jaw or something," Kellyn interjected harshly. "No wonder people shot at ye! Ye were probably talking them tae madness! Do ye ken who I am? Properly? Aye, ye don't!" she snapped, before he could even answer. "I am," she began, straightening her back in a regal position, and somehow managed to look down her long nose at him, "Duchess of Beaucaire and Derbyshire. Satisfied?" she barked, but gave him no time to answer as she pivoted on her heels and marched off.
"Ah, no, I can't say I am," Duo murmured. "And is it just me or does she seem tad bit manic..." Shaking his head, he turned, running smack in to a guy who seemed to be made like a semi. "Fuck!" he yelped in pain, holding his nose, which had taken the brunt of the jarring impact. He found himself looking in to cold granite eyes. "Who are you?" he demanded.
"I am Faolan, the steward in charge of Mallory Hall," he answered, bowing his head ever so slightly in greeting. "I will see you to your room," he announced, and proceeded down the large front parlor and towards the long, carving stone steps. Without breaking a step from his walk, he raised a brow to Duo upon him pulling his sleeve. "Yes?" he asked a bit coldly, straightening his sleeve.
"How do you know that I am the one looking for a room?" Duo questioned curiously.
"I assume its because you are the one unfamiliar face in this house, and milady directed me to find 'the man with a ridiculous braid and wearing a black priest outfit,' and you are the only one wearing it. Ah, the power of deduction," Faolan replied with a hint of sarcasm tingeing his deep baritone voice.
"Oh," Duo said, feeling slightly foolish. "'Ridiculous braid,'" he muttered to himself, furrowing his brow as he followed in step with Faolan. "I'll show you 'ridiculous braid,'" he added, pouting slightly. Bringing his braid around his shoulder, he gnawed thoughtfully at the end of it. What was so damn wrong with his braid? Jeez, you'd expect he grew stuff in it or something. Which he didn't...
Turning sharply at the last corner of the right hall, Duo jogged to catch up, and walked in behind the room Faolan had opened. His jaw dropped. The room was made for royalty. There was a fireplace that took up one entire wall, big enough so that it looked like the mouth of a cave. A four poster bed was atop a two foot high podium, overflowing with satin, silk, and velvet pillows and comforters, and sheets. Luxurious furniture dotted across the room that was nearly as big as a normal living room and dining room put together in an average house. Shaking his head, Duo wandered further in, and held up his hand, crying out, "Wait! Aren't you worried about me getting lost in here? Won't I need a map?" when Faolan had made a move to withdraw.
"I think you will be fine," Faolan said, rolling his eyes as he closed the door behind him. "Foreigners," he muttered to himself. Ironically, he wasn't a Scot, but an Australian. (A very long story was behind that, which we'll get to later).
Exploring the window on the far side of the room, he noted with appreciation that there was a view of a large pond, almost the size of a lake. Turning, he spotted two doors and opened the one closest to him. It was a bathroom, if even that. A modern looking bathroom in the size of a bedroom. A large, claw footed tub fit for four intimate couples sprawled across the far wall, while a large shower was near it. There was a separate little door leading to the actual toilet, and there was the sink, which could be raised and then lowered by the twist of a knob to fit a person's height or comfort level.
He shook his head. Pfft, talk about a lap of luxury. This wasn't a vacation; it was more like coming to a resort of some sort. Retreating from the bathroom, and opening the other door, he found a walk-in closet. Another converted bedroom. He spotted necessities of women and men's clothing. Pants, shirts, shoes, hats, ties, belts, suits, jackets, etc...
Leaving the closet, he did a running start, and using the top of the podium as a vault, leaped on to the bed, and was surprisingly waved about like riding the waves of an ocean. "What the--!" Duo began, looking down at the rolling bed in disbelief. "A water bed. You have got to fucking be kidding me!" he shouted. Laughing, he twisted on to his back, and watched the ceiling move gently, "Quatre has officially been bested. After Relena made this place sound somewhat modest, I can't even imagine Kellyn's other houses, if she has any," he murmured to himself.
Alarmed, he looked down at his watch and frowned slightly. Should he call one of them to let them know that he was alive? As he battled with himself internally, he somehow drifted off to a deep sleep.
* * * * * * * * * *
Kellyn half stood at the sound of Relena's pained moans. "Are ye all right?" she asked as she helped her sit up in bed. Handing her a glass of water with a couple tablets of Advil, she sat on the chair she had pulled up long ago. Pursing her lips, she waited until Relena swallowed the pills and water, and set the glass back on the table next to her. "Why are ye here?" she demanded. "Wi'out my permission, as weel. This is no yer place tae be roaming about, ye ken," she chided, obviously displeased.
"I know," Relena answered wearily. "I was just worried about Duo. I remembered that I hadn't given him the address and I wasn't sure if he had any money or not. So, I came here in hopes that he had somehow made it."
Kellyn stared at her. "Ye ken one of those fascinating inventions we call a phone? Aye, it's verra fascinating. What ye do is ye pick it up, jab a few numbers on the little console, and ye wait. Miraculously, someone from the other side picks up, and then this is where the conversation picks up. Possibly with a 'hello, may I come over?' maneuver. Insane how the world has developed hasn't it?" she said, her voice rich with sarcasm. "It's a miraculous time we're living in now."
"How was I to know you'd be here?" Relena asked, cradling her head in pain at the blinding white lights flashing before her eyes.
Feeling no sympathy, Kellyn leaned back in her chair, rolling her eyes, "Weel, it serves ye right that ye got a chandelier nearly dropped on yer heid. Maybe that would've helped the wee brain of yer's tae work, aye? Jump start it a bit, if ye will," she said. Snorting, she stood up, and began pacing the length of the room. "How were ye to ken I'd be here?" she echoed outrageously, electric blue eyes boring in to Relena's skull. "Weel, could it be that's it's my house tae begin with?" she asked sweetly. "Am I tae announce my arrival at my own house?"
"No, Kellyn," Relena answered warily. "Look, I didn't come here to start a fight. I know we're both on different sides, and you're not always that fond of peace like I am, but—"
"Relena! Ye embarrassed my family by contradicting their choices in the battle! What do ye think I'd do? Not stand by my family?" Kellyn froze in her spot, hands fisting at her sides. "Are ye daft? Nay, dinna answer that," she snapped. "Git out of my house. Ye dinna deserve my hospitality," she amended coldly.
Looking up, she stared at her, horrified. "Kellyn! I am in no condition to be getting on a plane again! You know that! You're a healer—"
"A healer?" Kellyn interrupted with a snort of disbelief. Staring at her with a disgusted look, she shook her head. "Excuse me, ye dinna even ken my profession! It is no even close tae being a bluidy healer, ye dolt! Git out of my house, now!" she screamed.
"Kellyn calm down," Relena begged, blinking back the overwhelming headache. "I didn't mean to intrude, I just wanted to make sure my friend had shown up. I didn't give him any directions, and I became worried!"
"Ye dinna ken how tae pick up a bluidy phone?" she asked coldly. "Would ye like me tae describe the methods of the phoning and conversational skills to ye again?" Standing up, she paced the length of the floor. "While my father and mother lay rotting in prison, ye turned yer back on my pleas. I begged ye tae help, but—"
"I didn't do anything!" Relena cried out, jackknifing up in bed.
"Exactly!" Kellyn snapped. "Ye dinna do a damn bluidy thing! My parents died because of ye, ye bitch. What do ye think of that now?" she asked sarcastically. "Ironic how the peace thumper is suddenly a murderer as weel?"
"I'm not—"Relena paled. Slowly sinking back in to the pillows once more, she carefully studied Kellyn's outraged face, struggling to be kept in reign. Lucky for her. Sighing, she said, "I didn't mean for that to happen. I was having a tough time, Kellyn. The war was going on, there was nothing I could really do about it."
"Nothing, aye?" she repeated bitterly. "Tough time, my arse. What do ye think the people whose lives were ended, and families lines broken off thought the war was tae them? A picnic? I dinna think so, ye daft, clueless child." Laughing, she said, "Weel, then there is nothing I can do, cousin. Leave my house at dusk or face the consequences," she said sweetly, and turned on her heels, marching out the door, slamming it behind her.
Relena groaned in pain, despair and confusion. It wasn't supposed to have happened like this. It was the truth. She didn't respond or help out Kellyn for fear that it would blacken her reputation, and she ashamed about that. What could she do about it though? Kellyn wouldn't listen to her reasons, heck she didn't think she would've even listened if it were her.
She'd have to wait until Kellyn's temper cooled. Being of Scottish descent, she had a fiery temple that bested even Satan himself. Though she had a quick temper, Kellyn knew when to hold her fire, or how to mask it with a stunning ability. She could easily smile and laugh with you, while being pissed with you to no end. Frankly, it was terrifying.
Okay, she could admit that she could've used some of her power to release Kellyn's parents, but she couldn't tell anyone that she had believed they were guilty as well. Planning to overthrow the King of England was a very serious crime, and she had ashamedly believed in the tabloids, and scandalous words from every talk show host across the colonies. When they had been proven innocent, everyone was too late. The Duke and Duchess of Beaucaire and Derbyshire had been executed.
Now, Kellyn was powerful, probably more so than her, which frightened her a bit. Not to mention that she had a powerful long line of descendants. Her great-times infinity grandfather was Bonnie Prince Charlie, she was related to the Kennedy's, and her aunt was the Empress of some foreign country she couldn't bring herself to remember.
Kellyn had captured the attention of the prince of Great Britain, Spain, France, Italy, Morocco, and some very rich aristocrats in the colonies, all unintentionally. Relena thought herself a beauty, but somehow Kellyn captured attention. She assumed it was because of her fiery red hair, and equal temper, blue eyes every man seemed to drown themselves in, and her breasts. She looked down at her own modest ones, knowing they were no match for her cousin's. Pursing her lips, she shook her head, horrified at where her trains of thought were drifting towards.
Rolling over on to her side, she let the soft breeze caress her body in to a deep, and dreamless sleep.
* * * * * * * * * *
Curving her back along the couch in the living room, Kellyn looked outside the window upside down, her hair contrasting sharply upon the black, ultra suede material. Sighing, she absentmindedly stroked her protruding ribs as she thought to herself, wondering if she should really have yelled at Relena after that traumatizing event. Suddenly, pictures of her parents floated in to her vision, and her heart hardened. Damned if she'd look at her betraying cousin again. She was through with Relena; she pissed her off any way, so good riddance.
Kellyn sat up suddenly with a sharp gasp, crying out, "Damn ye, Zareh!" as her dog shoved a very cold, wet nose in to her bared belly button. Rubbing her stomach, she sullenly looked at her dog, which gazed back at her with all the innocence of a demon caught engulfing the soul of a pope. Shaking her head, she toed the dog's side with her boot, "Git on wi'ye, dog," she ordered.
Letting out a long, low whine, he sulked off, his toenails clicking a beat against the hardwood floor. Looking over its shoulder one last time, he lowered his head, and kept walking until he disappeared around the corner.
"What is going on with everyone today?" she wondered out loud, shaking her head in frustration.
"You just probably need to lay back. You're tense," Duo commented from behind her. "Why?" he asked curiously, setting his hands along the couch.
She scowled, sniffing slightly as she crossed her arms tightly across her chest. "'Tis none of yer business, man," she said stubbornly. "I dinna ken why ye are questioning me on such irrelevant topics," she commented, sighing deeply. Tilting her head back, she gazed at Duo. "No wonder I am sae tense, aye? I was nearly scairt out of my wits with my fool cousin showing up, and then I had a few words wi' her as weel."
Pursing his lips, he raised a skeptical brow. "What do you mean you had a few words with her? You're too sweet to be angry with someone like Relena...no, I take that back, it could be possible with her," he said thoughtfully.
Kellyn snorted, "Aye, ye're quite right. Any sane person couldna hold their temper with her, but 'tis no use," she sighed. "She is my cousin, but it doesna mean that I have tae hold my temper wi' her, aye? So she will be gone by dusk tonight, or she will pay for deceiving my orders."
"You're a bit hasty, you know that?"
She shrugged, and stood up. Resting her hands on the small of her back, she pushed her pelvis frontward, cracking her spine. Sighing, she looked down at her boot clad feet, and shorts. "Guess I better change fer dinner," she muttered to herself, and without even a farewell to him, walked out of the room, and out of sight.
"That's the second time she's done that!" Duo exclaimed, a bit annoyed. After changed his mind about following her, he decided to wander the grounds of Mallory Hall. As he wandered in and out of rooms, he quickly grew bored, and exited the house through a back door in one of the halls.
He blinked at the sudden light, and breathed in deeply, appreciating the fresh air, mingled with grass and summer. Hearing small commotions going on in what Duo assumed another division of the house, he headed towards it. He froze at the entrance, his mouth wide open. It was a stable with nearly two hundred horses housed, the barn stretching for what seemed like thousands of yards ahead of him. Azure eyes fastened on two stable boys about the age of sixteen bickering loudly with each other, aggravating some of the horses whickering nervously next to them.
"Hey, what's going on?" he asked, stepping forward as he did so.
One of the boys sullenly looked at him, as if hating the fact that he had just been interrupted in making a point. Tossing a lock of blond hair from his eyes, he said, "What's it matter to you?"
The other one elbowed him viciously, staring at him pointedly. "I beg your pardon for the insolence, sir. It was just that Brisbane suggested something quite atrocious, and I was in the midst of fervently disagreeing."
"What was it?"
The boy named Brisbane stepped in again, shoving his companion aside. "I was going to ride Donas, see if I could train him, sir," he emphasized sarcastically.
"Why can't you ride Donas?" Duo asked, ignoring the smart ass remarks.
"Because, sir, Donas is the most feared of all horses. Our Lady Kellyn was the one to retrieve him from a herd of wild mustangs," the other answered. "She was mighty hurt, when she caught him, and trained him herself, and now only she can ride Donas without getting hurt."
Duo nodded, "What does Donas mean?"
"Demon," Brisbane said, smiling, a malicious glint in his hazel eyes. Shrugging a narrow shoulder slightly, he said, "It's really no big deal, I can handle him," he boasted.
"You can't! You're a greenhorn, and you know it," his friend snapped.
"Shut up, Quinley! Like you know anything," he snarled. "I'm sick and tired of hearing you fuck everything up for me. Are you going to be the one riding the horse?"
"No, but I'm damn well not going to be responsible for you being headless," Quinley snapped back. Fisting his hands next to his side, his green eyes flared brightly in anger. "You're impossible!"
"Why don't you just let him ride it?" Duo asked nonchalantly.
Two gazes swirled upon him sharply. Quinley was already shaking his head, "No, sir, it's too dangerous. If he gets hurt, then—"
"It won't be your fault," Duo shrugged. "Look, the way I see it. You've tried your best to try and talk him out of it, now, it's only live-and- learn. If he does get hurt, he gets an earful, and he'll learn his lesson with a bruised pride and ego. You have your defense. If he's so intent on learning, then he should."
They hesitated, wondering if those words were actually real, but before they could answer, Kellyn walked in after hearing everything. "Weel, as much as I'd be amused by the entire event, I suggest ye no do it, aye, Bris?" she drawled out lazily.
The two boys snapped to attention after bending a knee at her. Duo looked behind him and froze once again. She was in knee high tights, following her every curve, and he swore that she was wearing no underpants. You could've seen the lines of them, but no, they were smooth...his head started to buzz. Her top looked like she had tied a handkerchief around her ample breasts. If there were going to be any more surprises to her wardrobe, he would have a heart attack by then, he mused to himself, but hell, he would die a happy man.
"Yes, milady, I agree, but I still wanted to try," he answered sheepishly.
Smiling, Kellyn bordered Quinley's neat 6'1, and slung an arm along both the boys' shoulders. "Ye're sae cute," she teased, and laughed with delight when they blushed. Ruffling their hair, she gently pushed them away. "Go and clean one of the stables that ye most likely forgot, aye?" she suggested.
Duo watched them disappear and glanced over at her. "How'd you do that?"
"Do what?" She asked, startled.
He gestured. "Make them feel...I dunno, like tall and mighty, and then order them away so easily without making them feel condescending?"
Kellyn grinned, and slipped an arm through Duo's waist, leading him towards a particular stable. "Weel, laddie, its called skill, aye? Sometime, ye just need tae ken that men have sensitive feelings behind their tough exterior."
Duo grunted, and pulled her closer to his side, playing along with her openly flirtatious attitude. "You know, you have some English words and then old Scots words mixed in. What's with that?"
She shrugged a slim shoulder. "'Tis because I had verra many tutors verra particular about my vocabulary, aye? Sometimes it was quite overwhelming, but then other times it was no so much. Now," she said, pulling away from him. Caressing the silvery nose bared to them, she crooned to the horse. "This is Dougal, named after a cantankerous uncle for his unstable personality."
"You're not helping," Duo said, but nonetheless stroked the nose, starting slightly when Dougal snorted viciously. "You have animals every where you go?"
"Aye, I'm verra fond of them." Smiling, she looked up, bumping him with her hip. "He doesna bite, but is sure that he has something to prove, so he is always quite grumpy," she explained, digging in to her jacket pocket. Revealing several sugar cubes, she held it out for the horse, which he eagerly took. Patting the slim neck, she worried her full lower lip. "Do ye think it was an accident?"
"What was?" he asked, alarmed by the sudden change in the conversation.
She poked him gently in the chest, rolling her eyes. "The chandelier and having it fall on Relena? It just seems sae damned convenient, aye? The moment we step in, the thing falls down? That was a damn sturdy piece of furniture, sixteen bolts, eight screws, four eyepieces, and had it survive two earthquakes as weel. It would have taken a lot of man power tae have it become like that, aye?" she asked him, staring at him deeply.
Duo shrugged. "I guess it was convenient, but who would want to harm Relena?"
She shook her head, "I dinna think it was all about Relena," she murmured to herself, a tight knit forming between her brows. Upon asking what she had just said, she looked up and smiled. "Nothing, lad. 'Tis a bit cold, aye? Let's go inside," she said and pulled him along after a final pat to Dougal.
Once inside the immense house, they were faced with Relena. Duo noted the obvious chill factor as soon as the two women were face-to-face. Actually, Relena seemed to take on the look of a panicked and cornered rabbit, and Kellyn to look like a starved and very rabid wolf. He felt a moment's pity for Relena, and must have made a noise somewhere along that line when he felt the iciness of Kellyn's glare directed towards him now. Considerably alarmed, he smiled, and patted her arm reassuringly, letting her know that he was 100% on her side.
"I presume ye were tae be leaving then?" she asked coolly.
"Ah, actually, I was wondering if I could have a moment of your time to ask you a few questions..." Relena fidgeted.
Kellyn raised a brow, a humorous smile curving one side of her lips. "Why do ye sound like a damn reporter? Thinking of interviewing me in order tae relieves yer conscience? Weel, my dear, I willna do anything for that tae happen. Believe ye me, darling, I will make sure ye live in a life of purgatory."
Relena looked up quickly, and back down with even quicker speed. Flushing, she shook her head frantically. "No, that wasn't it! I just wanted to ask if I could maybe spend another night here, seeing as I don't—"
"Nay," Kellyn answered flatly.
"Bu-But, I don't have any way to get out of here! My plane isn't due here for another week, and I've never really been here so I don't know my way around, so—"
"I am no interested in excuses. Git out of my house by dusk tonight, which is in four hours. You have four glorious hours tae do what ye wish. By ten o'clock, I want ye out, Relena, and this is my last time saying it."
For the second time, Kellyn stormed out of the room with Relena in it, fuming silently to herself. How dare she have the gall to ask her for hospitality? There was now bad blood between them, and she wanted to spend another night? She was damn lucky she didn't have a rusted axe hacking her in half. As she shook her head in disgust, she was brought up short by someone grabbing on to her arm and swinging her around. Instantly, so was her roundhouse punch, landing on someone's jaw with a grunt of pain from her would-be attacker.
"Ow! What the hell?" Duo scowled, rubbing his jaw.
Kellyn grinned sheepishly. "Oops?" she suggested, raising both her palms up in an odd gesture of mistake and peace.
"Are you always going to try to maim someone when they try to talk to you?" he demanded, wondering if a bruise would set in.
"Only when they swing me about like a damn pinwheel wi'out giving me fair warning," she said back, smiling innocently. "Did ye need something, lad?"
"Why do you hate Relena? Most people don't feel so...hostile towards her, well accept for one person," he confessed, thinking of Heero and Wufei both, granted Wufei had interesting allergic reactions to women. "Usually they feel annoyed, but never hostile," he continued. "Why?"
"Duo, dinna get involved in something that ye have every opportunity tae stay out of, 'tis a blessing, take it," she answered. Lifting a hand, she frowned at the slowly forming bruise on his jaw line. "Let's go have dinner, mo caran, it will cheer both of us up considerably."
"Dinner?" he chirped, feeling better already. "Well, if you insist," he said, knowing that she had changed the subject to something else to avoid explaining her cryptic explanation. He vowed that he wouldn't forget, but keep pestering her until she told. There had to be a logical explanation why she always seemed to go on a sort of rampage when Relena was brought up.
* * * * * * * * * *
Duo leaned back in to his chair, groaning in pain and pleasure. "Oh, my Gaaw~" he moaned, patting his stomach. "I think I'm going to explode."
"Weel, no wonder, lad, I've ne'ver seen someone eat sae much in one sitting!" Kellyn exclaimed, chuckling to herself as she watched Duo in physical pain. Comfortably full herself, but not quite, she waited as dishes were cleared while she sipped her red wine, savoring the taste.
"How do you stay that thin?" Duo demanded. He snorted, "I know why. Miniscule servings. A sliver of everything, and a half tablespoon of all the rest. That's how. Miserable bitch," he muttered, rolling his eyes back in hopeless defeat. He seriously pondered on the possibility of exploding because of a full stomach...full didn't even do him enough justice right now. It was quite possibly the understatement of the millennia.
Kellyn chuckled, "Weel, at least I dinna suffer, aye? And ye are no fat, Duo, ye're muscular, quite different, aye?"
"You have muscles too," he said, and his eyes rounded as he watched Kellyn gently pull her already low cut shirt, revealing a black bra that he knew had to have been made by blind, virgin nuns. It was too enticing. His jaw dropped as she reached between her two breasts, and all coherent thoughts melted in his brain. My God, was she making a pass? When he was sitting on the other side of the table like a beached whale? He panicked.
Pulling out a cigarette, she frowned as she flicked on her lighter, and puffed, watching Duo's forehead drop on to the table with a thunk. "What is it? What's wrong? Ye mind that I smoke? Do ye want me tae go somewhere else then?"
A sob escaped Duo's lips before he shot up in his chair. "Damn you!" he shouted, pointing an accusing finger at her startled face. "What is the matter with you? You have a guy sitting across from you that is," he broke off, theatrically checking for a pulse, "yes, yes, indeed is alive! You pull down your shirt, which by the way, I have a great view of your breasts, and then you show me your bra, you reach in... and pull out a cigarette! Are you a stripper?! Are you deliberately trying to tease me?" he screamed shrilly, thoroughly rattled.
Kellyn stared at him for a moment, her vocal chords screaming to work, and then promptly burst out laughing. Shaking her head, she wiped the tears from her eyes carefully. "Duo, ye are such a good entertainment fer me," she said, giggling occasionally. "I wasna meaning tae put on a strip show, and I am most definitely no a stripper, thank ye kindly."
He snorted, "Well, then stop doing that next time." Rolling his eyes, he leaned forward, starting intently in to her dancing blue eyes. She was off guard, a good time to see her reaction. "What is Abdicrax, Kellyn?"
She calmly put out her cigarette by the twist of her boot. Smiling, her expression completely veiled, (much to Duo's admiration), asked, "I have no idea what yer talking aboot, lad. Would ye mind telling me what ye are getting at?"
Duo smiled slightly, a glint in his eye. "During the war, there had been rumors that a foreign body was helping us. Our side of the war, which thankfully we won. No body could figure out whom this foreign body was...you know what my job was? To find out, and to kill as many people as possible behind enemy lines, to sniff out traitors. This mysterious angel donated millions of dollars, sent in anonymous recruits, and a lot of pretty new toys for the military. All very useful. Well, anyway, I found out what the foreign body was called. Abdicrax. I was in the middle of figuring out who it was, but they've been pretty elusive, slippery as eels, when I decided to take this vacation. Now I find the file Abdicrax on your computer. It's not just a small file either. It's pretty big," he said.
Kellyn raised a copper brow, her eyes coolly veiling any means of evidence if she knew what he was talking about. "Ye looked on my computer, did ye?" she asked, her voice icy.
"My dear, you allowed me to, don't you remember?" Duo grinned. "You said that I could look on your computer, and I commented on the files on your computer. A tip, love, don't put something important on your desktop...or did you mean to be found?"
She snorted, crossing her arms. "Dinna make me laugh, my boy. I still dinna ken what yer talking aboot."
Duo looked at her with an odd expression, "Are you retarded?" he demanded. "I saw it on your computer! Why are you embarrassed about helping...you know something, don't you?" he asked. "Why the war ended so abruptly, and the missing leaders on the other side, don't you? Is that why you pretend to have no idea what's going on?" he asked.
Kellyn narrowed her eyes, and leaned forward as well. "Dinna meddle in something that ye canna handle, Duo. It's a verra dangerous business that if ye canna seem tae ignore, than ye will be forced tae," she warned.
"Are you threatening me?" Duo asked incredulously. "Look, I can help you, I know people. For one my group is on alert about this, they've been working on this with me."
She shook her head, throwing her hands up in despair. "Why can't ye listen tae me?" she cried out.
"Because this is dangerous work that—"he cut off as she stood up suddenly. Misthinking her action as her beginning action of running away, he stood up as well. "Look, I know that you're probably not used—where the hell are you going? We're not done with this conversation!" he insisted as he followed her out of the kitchen. "Hey!" he shouted, and broke off in to a sprint as well. "You're insane," he muttered as he followed her outside, the cold wind slapping him full on the face, leaving him almost dazed.
"What are you doing?" he queried, shaking his head as they stopped just outside the barn. "Have you seriously gone insane? It's freezing out here!"
"There's something wrong," she said in a low voice, looking around the barn. "The horses are restless, the dogs quiet. The birds have stopped—"
"What birds? This is the middle of winter. Any bird still here is stupid, and probably dead," he interrupted, agitated.
"Shut up," she commanded fiercely. "There are enemies within us right now."
Walking over to one of the empty stables, she whistled Duo's attention and threw him a .45 colt. Tilting her head, she said, "Be cautious, and check around." Pursing her lips, she revealed her own weapon, a .45 ACP. Standing up slowly, she scoffed as she saw that Duo still stood there. Walking to his side, she pressed her back to him, her eyes slowly looking around the barn.
"Ye canna follow directions verra weel, can ye?" she asked him.
He shrugged, "Not when there's a damsel—ow!" he said, rubbing the sore spot where her elbow jabbed in to his side. "Okay, so maybe you're not exactly a damsel in distress—"
"Maybe," she snorted.
"—but we're still in this together, so I'm not going to abandon you," he finished.
"Enough chit-chat, more killing," she said, uncomfortable by his helpful words, which she was not used to. "There's someone here, or something's going to happen. I feel it," she whispered. "There's something wrong," she insisted with herself, as if reassuring her conscience.
Tensed silence washed over them as Kellyn broke off and walked down the aisles, petting some of the worse case horses distractedly. Looking around, her long red hair moving with her every action. Worrying her lip, she gave up, and began turning towards Duo with a shrug when she felt the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. As she began turning, a muffled explosion rang through, shattering the deafening silence, followed by a blinding pain ripping through her side.
Even as red exploded throughout her vision, she aimed towards the source of the bullet, and fired. Black was enveloping her body and senses, and she struggled to surface, but gave up, lulled by the numbing sensations the darkness brought with it.
"Shit! Kellyn!" Duo shouted, watching as her body fell to the ground, and with her last ounce of consciousness, hit a man from the loft, having him tumble down. Ignoring the enemy, he ran towards Kellyn's side, cursing once more at the bloodied side, and the blood forming a lake around her. "Damnit!" he cursed.
A hand ran in to the barn at the sound of Kellyn's gunfire. "What's going on?" he asked, frightened.
Turning, Duo saw that it was Quinley. "Go call a doctor! Or one of the nurses or someone who knows medical attention! Kellyn's been shot bad," he said. Unbuttoning his shirt, he shouldered it off, and pressed it tightly against her wound, wincing slightly when she groaned with pain. Looking up, he saw the culprit lying on his side, facing them, his eyes glazed with death. A hole was dead center in between his eyes, his gun lying inches away from his open hand. "Is he the only one?" he whispered to himself, quickly looking up.
He sighed harshly. "What a total mess," he muttered.
Soon the doctor was there, and every one was delirious with worry and concern. One or two of the older women who had obviously known Kellyn since she was little, they cried and clung to each other as if she had already passed to the other side. Men teared up, obviously besotted with the queen of the household, and the rare children who dotted the estate looked uncertainly at each other, wondering what was going on.
Duo sat on a chair, scrubbing his face. He was in his room after feeling like he was going out of his mind at the weeping and the buzzing in the foyer. Pursing his lips, he glared at the door as someone knocked on the door. "What?" he asked.
The door opened slowly at Relena peeped in, pale. "Duo? Do you know who the man was?" she whispered.
He shook his head. "No, no one does."
"I know who it was," she answered, stepping further in to the room. She looked hesitant, as if she was mentally debating with herself if she should tell.
He straightened in his chair. "Who is it?" he gently urged.
"It's one of the hitman who works for the man who wants to own Abdicrax. She's in possession of several important disks that can destroy several powerful leaders. Obviously you know that she's in danger. They say she might not even survive. We have to help her, Duo. We have to find the disks and open up Abdicrax...Do you think Heero can do it?"
Duo's mind reeled at the information. "The dictators of the organizations who supported the war...she knows where they are?" he asked through numbed lips.
Relena nodded. "She was caught up in bad business...she-she was engaged to one of head honcho's son of the Mafia, which was how she got sucked in to the bad crowd. She found out some deadly secrets, and stole some of the disks, and they caught their parents, accusing them of trying to kill the King of England, which wasn't true. I-I turned her back on her, and wouldn't help, afraid that I would get a bad reputation," she blushed. "So, her parents, died, and she found herself rich beyond belief. So she started her own organization called Abdicrax. There were a lot of people who weren't very happy with it, including her step-brother. He tried to have her killed numerous of times," she answered. "Do you know who her brother is?" she asked quietly.
He eyed her wearily. "Do I want to know?"
"Treize."
* * * * * * * * * *
AN: (O.O) Well, well, well, look at the twist here! Lol. I didn't know exactly where to go with this so while I was just sitting on my bed, zoning in and out of reality, I still didn't get it. Lol. So, literally, my boyfriend and his friends kidnapped me and took me to Lord of the Ring: The Return of the King, and to dinner, which was bizarre, and the idea came in just as the supposed 'King' (steward, was set on fire because he was WACK-O and hurled himself from the main tower. It was such a beautiful moment... hilarious. SO beautiful...*sobs* I'm rambling once more, I have a serious problem with that...I'm trying to fix it because I seem to annoy everyone, but—see, there I go again. I'm done. Anyways...please tell me what you think. Reviews, flames...blah, I don't care. Just some kind of feedback, people. I want some reviews!!..please? ^_~;
