Disclaimer: Gundam Wing and its characters are the
property of Sotsu, Sunrise, TV Asahi, Bandai, etc. I don't own any part of it
and I'm not making any money out of it either. This is purely for entertainment
purposes, nothing more and nothing less.
Warnings: 2+R fic. Mild language
A.N: This will probably be the happiest fic I will ever write since it's almost (but not totally) angst free. I'm not the best at writing happy stuff. When you read this please remember that I tried my best.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
My Ojousan
Chapter 5: A Day Spent Indoors
By: veGie-kun
"Later, Trowa," Duo called out quietly, waving at the retreating form. The stoic youth wasn't one for words and decided to leave and check up on Catherine. If the enemy had seen him with Duo and Relena earlier at the circus and recognized him as a Gundam pilot, then, more than likely, they would go after the knife-thrower to get to him. He had to be there to insure the young woman's safety and the fear of losing her made him all the more urgent.
As the braided mechanic continued to wave he became conscious of a lithe body joining him at the doorway. The close contact made him quiver with a strange, indefinite feeling he'd been receiving all morning and yesterday. It was a warm sensation not unlike comfort and a sense of belonging. After debating with himself for some time, the former pilot decided he liked the feeling. Unconsciously he moved an arm to wrap around Relena's willowy shoulder, pulling her closer as the two continued to stare at their departing friend. One would think the two did such a thing on a regular basis from the way they stood together, leaning on one another for support.
When the circus performer was out of sight, Relena squirmed out of Duo's hold and moved into the living room to check out the bag Trowa brought, her curiosity getting the better of her. The abrupt action took Duo by surprise and he whimpered, missing that delightful body heat. With one last glance to make sure no one saw them, Duo closed the door and strode over to help the diplomat with her task. He stifled the urge to laugh upon seeing Relena rummaging without care like a typical child. He'd never seen her so carefree and serene as he did right at that moment.
"What are ya lookin' for?" Duo questioned, looking over her shoulder.
Grinning sheepishly, Relena tore herself away from the container and gazed at the youth. "Nothing really... just wanted to know what's inside... that's all," she replied innocently.
"Yeah, sure," he remarked, rolling his eyes and moving the bag away from the girl's prying hands. The mechanic settled on the couch and started to remove the items inside, appraising them one by one. "Oooo!" he articulated with much excitement, "He brought us popcorn... which means he's got to have brought us a movie as well!" With more fervor than before, he searched until he found the item in question, "Aha!" He held up the treasure of his hunt, a CD-like case that had the title of some non-descript horror movie that had been released some odd days prior. "I've been waiting forever for this movie to come out!" Giving Relena a mischievous grin he commented, "I'm sure you're gonna love this, 'Jousan."
"What's it about?" she queried trying to grab it out of Duo's hand while he kept it slightly out of her reach.
"That surprise will be saved for later when we actually watch it," the former pilot remarked then turned serious. "But first things first and that's making sure this place is secure and ready should the enemy discover your whereabouts."
"How do we go about doing that, Duo?" Relena asked as she removed more of the items from the brown paper container: some extra provisions, some electronic devices, and a few disks.
Shinigami become lost in thought, contemplating what to do to keep the Vice Foreign Minister protected. His aggravation caused him to pace around the ample living room as he swam in a sea of ideas. Glancing over to the door, then the windows he decided the best thing to do at the moment was to make sure no one would be able to enter without triggering an alarm. Knowing the German girl had yet to purchase a security system, not really needing one for the neighbor was fairly safe from intruders, meant he had to put together something with the bits and pieces that Trowa provided him. Groaning, he realized he was going to have a long day ahead of him and no one to help him save a girl with a bad record when it came to assassination attempts.
*****
"Oi," the mechanic called out from behind the curtains, "hand me the screwdriver and the small laser sensors."
Unsure of what he was asking for, the girl scanned the coffee table, going from object to object until she spotted one that she fathomed to be the laser sensors. Picking up the two items, Relena walked to were Duo kneeled and handed him what he requested. "Is this it?" she asked as he reached towards her hand.
Duo looked down at the object and nodded with a grin. "Yup! You sure know your equipment. Are you positive you haven't done anything like this before, 'Jousan?"
The young woman took his comment nonchalantly and giggled, "Yes, Duo, I have. In my spare time from all those stuffy meetings, I'm an international terrorist and I like to rig up my own security systems."
"Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, I knew it!" Duo exclaimed, pointing a finger at the wide-eyed girl. "Well, Madame terrorist, although you might know a lot, you don't know everything. Would you like me to show you how some of these things work?" His face remained impassive yet there was a hopeful look in his eyes.
Relena gave a shrug, "Why not? I don't have anything better to do at the moment." Sitting down next to the former pilot she moved her head close to his, until they almost touched, looking at the object in his hand.
"Okay, 'Jousan, we'll skip the basics and start with something more interesting," he exclaimed pointing with the tip of the screwdriver to a few of the wires inside the small, black, box-like object in his hand. "These wires are the most important parts of the laser sensor; each one controls a different function and are vital for it to operate correctly."
"How so?" the young woman asked, not sure what he was saying.
"Well, if you're not careful when you're setting these things up and accidentally damage or cross them, then you'll end up turning a harmless sensor into a deadly heat laser..." there was an apprehensive look to his face and he grimaced, "or worse."
Relena giggled at his expression, "It sounds as if you've experience what that worse thing is."
There was an indignant look on his face before it was changed into a lopsided smile. "Actually, I have, and believe me, it's not something you want to go through. It was even worse than the time I almost burned down my kitchen!"
"You're impossible, Duo. Hey, what's that button on the bottom do?" she queried pointing to a little red object.
"Hm?" He looked to where she indicated and indulged her curiosity, "Oh, that activates the program." He pressed the button and many neon green beams shot out of the device, connecting with the other sensors placed in different areas. The lack of light made the beams more vivid, like a network of radiant spider webs. "Now, you bet that you can sleep soundly at night. 'Jousan."
Enthralled by the astounding display, the young woman stared in awe. "Amazing," she breathed out, slowly whirling around, taking in everything before her. As she finished her sightseeing the lights were abruptly turned off and a slight frown marred her expression.
"Sorry, but we can't go on adding to Hilde's electric bill just yet," he smiled, walking over to the table and retrieving the last three items on it: transmitters. Getting back on his knees, he bent down until he was eye level with the furniture and stuck one of them on the underside of the tabletop. Back on his feet, he moved to the kitchen and placed another inside on the shelf of the medicine cabinet. Once he was done, he stilled a while longer and fingered the last of the tiny mechanisms in his hands, a pensive look on his face. //Only one left... let's see where I can put this one. Hm, if we were to be attacked by the enemy, what's the most likely place where they'll come after us? Geez, if I were given at least two more then I would have a better time figuring this out... They're obviously not after me, so I guess that the logical place to put this would be were Relena is at most of the time. I've already gotten the living room and the kitchen... The bathroom? Nah, that place is too near the living room, I don't need any there. The bedroom? Hm, it's pretty isolated from the other areas and she would be spending more than 8 hours there... so I guess that seems to be the most logical place.//
Returning to the living room, he strolled by Relena without a word and headed into the hallway leading to the sleeping quarters. Upon reaching the room, he carefully opened the door and walked inside, surveying the area. The mechanic couldn't put it in any of the cabinets or drawers, they'd muffle out the sounds too much, what with all the clothes stored in them. Duo was becoming aggravated when he finally saw the lamp, or more importantly, the lampshade. Taking into account all the options, he decided it was the best place and stuck it on the underside of the shade. Happy with his work, he dusted off his hands as if he were clapping off dirt that had gathered there.
"Uh, what are you doing, Duo?" Relena queried from the door's frame.
Looking a bit embarrassed, the self-proclaimed, ex-Shinigami slowly turned around and gave her an uneasy smile. "Nothing," he replied hastily, cupping the back of his head with his hands and whistling hysterically. "Nothing at all... Hey! You hungry, 'Jousan?" he asked enthusiastically, eager to change the subject.
The bewildered lass peeked down at her watch and saw that it was already well into the afternoon. "Gee, I'm surprised that your stomach hasn't growled yet considering the time for lunch has passed." She suppressed the urged to laugh when the youth gave her an indignant glower and snorted.
"Humph, it's not like I think about food all the time ya know," he remarked striding past with his nose upturned. He was about to make it out the door when a hand on his shoulder stopped him, turning his head around to meet jovial, marine blue eyes.
"I apologize, Duo," she offered still smiling, "I didn't mean to tease you like that, but you can't say that you haven't teased me just the same." Relena took away her hand and skipped in front of the young man, facing him as she gradually walked away. "I'd say," she began playfully, "that you're usually the one doing all the teasing, especially to poor, helpless young girls like myself."
"Who's a helpless young girl? Last time I checked, you had more than half of the Preventers covering your back. I'm not even going to get into that part about being poor, Miss Vice Foreign Minister of the Earth Sphere Unified Nation," he retorted, saying that last sentence in one breath. //Boy Relena sure has one long title. I wonder if that's what's on her nameplate...//
"You can stand there and call me whatever you want, but I, however, am going to get something to eat." With that said, she spun around and stalked towards the kitchen.
Duo blinked, taking a moment to catch up to what the young diplomat had said then ran after her. The mention of food had stirred that low, familiar rumbling in his stomach, his mouth watering at the thought of a warm meal. //All this work making this place safe sure did take my mind off of you... I just hope that it's enough to keep Relena safe.//
*****
A black limo turned round the corner of the drug store with moderate speed, as its passengers searched the streets for signs of their targets. In the front sat the two subordinates while the young man in charge occupied the back all to himself. He wore the same dark suit and sunglasses, and sported the same messy look to his hair. His arms and legs were crossed as his back leaned against the cushioned seat; he pondered on what course of action to take pertaining to the young woman. Through his shades, he eyed the two in the front and inhaled; this wasn't going to be easy. //How am I supposed to complete this task with those two idiots around? They'll be in the way and if worse comes to worse, I'll be the one to pay the price. That's not acceptable and I'm going to see to it that this goes off without a hitch. But what to do with HIM... he'll get in the way and I might have to end his life...//
"Hn," he signed to himself, unable to put into actual words, the emotions churning within him.
As they drove on, the one in the passenger seat, a man with dark blond hair, spoke up, "Sir, why not go to that circus they were spotted at yesterday and question that clown they talked to?"
"What would make you ask such a thing?" the young man inquired wearily.
"Wouldn't it make more sense to use him to get to Darlian? He probably knows where they're hiding and might even have made contact with them," the man reasoned, trying to ignore the building tension at the same time.
"Hn," the other snorted dangerously, "Things are never that simple. The clown was a Gundam pilot, and knowing Gundam pilots, they won't divulge information so readily, especially to strangers. He'd rather die than give us what we want and if that happens, we'll risk giving ourselves away."
"Then why not use one of his circus comrades as a bargaining chip, preferably his sister?" He countered, looking over his shoulder to see the other's reaction.
"I prefer the more direct approach," he began lowly, "besides we can't fully rely on such methods. Do you have a problem with that?" The look in his eyes was something not to be questioned and the subordinate quickly made to escape the conversation. Soon all was silent once more and they continued down the street, their eyes attentively searching the area.
After passing another block, frustration and impatience getting the better of him, the man in the back ordered the car to stop. The others looked on confused, while their man got out and took off his shades to glare at them with cold, dark blue eyes. "I can handle this by myself," he snapped before putting the shades back on, turning and briskly heading in another direction. "Don't come after me," he remarked sharply, his back to them, "they're mine."
*****
Upon entering the kitchen, Duo was rewarded with a truly endearing scene: Relena tying on one of Hilde's aprons. He leaned on the door's frame and chuckled to himself, wondering what the heck she was planning to do. "Do you even know what you're doing, 'Jousan?"
Relena didn't stop with her task, checking cupboards and draws for the cooking utensils. "What exactly do you mean by that, Duo?" Opening another cabinet she was able to locate a frying pan and a spatula, placing both onto the stove. "Why do you so hastily assume that I have no clue how to handle myself in a kitchen?" Moving towards the table, she retrieved the grocery bag she brought in from the living room. "Do you automatically conclude from my upbringing that I don't know how to cook? Is that it?" That was when she turned around and eyed him, expression both angered and hurt.
Duo was at a loss for words, not expecting the girl to say that to him. "Um, um," he stuttered, embarrassed with himself, "Actually... It sorta did pop into my mind the moment I saw you putting that apron on." He blushed, reluctant to make eye contact, muttering a 'sorry' under his breath. "Gee, I guess I'm not the only one who's quick to draw conclusions, ne? Pardon everything I said, onegai?" In between her work, Relena threw him a smile over her shoulder.
"I understand, don't worry. People always base their opinions on appearances, that is the way we are, human beings. To us, everything must fit some type of mold we set for one another; it's a way to help keep some sort of stability. It doesn't matter whether those pre-conceived notions are true or not, as long as people are familiar with them." The young woman stopped for a brief second, staring at the counter and the vegetables strewn about. "The real person doesn't matter, I don't think they ever have. As long as everyone stays within the confines of the boundaries set for him or her, then the people feel at ease, knowing that everything is as it should be. However, that means the person being judged is now locked into a role he/she cannot hope to escape."
"I once heard this saying a long time ago," Duo piped up, "and it went along the lines of something like this, "People fear what they don't understand". Have you ever heard of that?" He looked to his right and saw Relena nod with a solemn expression gracing her delicate features. "I guess it's like how the people of the Earth and colonies can only see you as either their former Queen or the Vice Foreign Minister, right? I mean, how would the people react if you started acting like Heero Yuy? There would be world wide pandemonium and everyone would be shouting, "The world's coming to an end!" or things like that." He exclaimed trying to lighten things a bit.
"It's worse when you're in the public's eye, because then the things expected of you aren't just restricted to those around you but those you know or have heard of you." A tear escaped her eyes and a shiver passed through her spine; Relena was nearly on the verge of crying, bracing herself on the counter to avoid falling down. "Every single move you make is monitored and criticized, whether or not they like you. One mistake and then the entire solar system will shun you; your previous years then become non-existent and only that one moment of weakness counts. You're no longer human to the people since you're supposed to be flawless." Another tear escaped and suddenly, Relena felt a pair of arms enfold her, offering support, comfort, safety, and strength.
"It's okay," Duo whispered tenderly into her ear, "you're strong, Relena, you'll make it through this." He laughed as a thought came to mind, "You know what's funny though? Now that I think about it, compared to you, if I were to ever disappear, no one besides Hilde would really care while the world would be thrown into a fit of hysteria if you were gone for a few days."
"That's not true," Relena protested, leaning into his embrace, oblivious of the smile that lit his face with the action.
"Hah," Duo snorted, tightening his hold a fraction.
"There are lots of people who would worry: the Preventers, the Gundam pilots, your neighbors, your customers... and me. You may not have been aware of this, but you've come to mean a lot to me, Duo. I'd more than likely worry myself silly if anything ever happened to you..." she let the last words trail off into a whisper as her face flushed with embarrassment at the small confession.
"I appreciate the sentiment, even though you only said that to make me feel better," Duo spoke into her hair, savoring its delicate smell.
"I meant what I said, Duo." She tilted her head to gaze into his dark blue eyes, "Thank you for being there for me when I needed you."
The youth's cheeks reddened as he delved into the watery depths of her ocean blue eyes. "Uh," Duo stammered, finding himself somewhat uncomfortable now and a bit guilty at the same time. Relena was a friend and the lines of friendship should never be crossed for any reasons whatsoever. //Even if I like her, I shouldn't... I mean she likes Heero and only Heero... I don't care if she's kind, caring, and beautiful, and that she has the prettiest smile, and the sweetest laugh, or that she makes me feel warm inside. It doesn't matter if I can talk to her about anything and she listens to everything I say... and when I'm near her, holding her like this, all my fears go away... I'm just her friend and that's what she needs most right now, a friend.// "Hey, 'Jousan, why don't I help make dessert? How does chocolate pudding sound?"
*****
"Sorry I took so long, Trowa," Catherine apologized as she slipped inside the trailer. Closing the door behind her she located her brother sitting on a chair near the kitchen counter reading a book. He tilted his head and took in the sight of about one too many grocery bags and got up to relieve her of a few of them. "How are you holding up anyway?" She asked, setting down a bag.
"Alright," he answered quietly, already removing some of the contents his sister bought.
"Have you been keeping yourself busy while I was away?" She teased, placing a few of the provisions in the cabinets.
"... You can say that," he replied, his lips quirking up just a fraction, a hint of a smile.
"So are you hungry yet?" Catherine pivoted her head and saw a nod in affirmation. As she proceeded to extract the cooking ware from the drawers, a knock came at their door. "Could you go get that, Trowa?"
"Alright," he said and headed towards the trailer door and opened it.
"Hn."
*****
Duo had the most mischievous smile on his lips as he stared at the bowl he was making the pudding in. Swirling the spoon a few more rounds, he lifted it up to check on its consistency; it was smooth, not too thick and not too diluted. Concealing his grin, he spooned up a large quantity and straightened up, hiding the object behind his back. "Oi, 'Jousan!"
Relena tore her gaze from the salad bowl to face Duo, only to be met with flying chocolate pudding right between the eyes. "T-That... That was uncalled for, Maxwell!" she screamed and threw a piece of carrot in Duo's direction.
"Whoa," he remarked, ducking in time to just barely dodge the flying vegetable. He turned to see where the produce landed then turned his head towards Relena and got conked with half a head of cabbage. //What did I get myself into?// He pondered, rubbing the spot he where he was hit. "Eep," he squeaked when a cucumber was sent his way. His arms intuitively went to cover his face as the food item bounced off his arms and onto the floor.
After a quick scan of the counter, the youth acquisitioned a plate to use as a shield while he threw another spoonful of pudding at his assailant. "I thought you were supposed to be a pacifist!" he queried through a hail of sliced onions.
"That was when I was a Peacecraft! I haven't been one since the Sank Kingdom fell! So the rules of pacifism no longer apply, especially in this situation!" Gracefully dodging a couple rounds of the chocolate dessert, her hands roamed the counter until they brushed a bottle. Without a second thought, the diplomat swung her arm and her target was coated with light vinaigrette.
"Ack!" he squawked staggering back.
"So," Relena drawled out, hands on hips and a superior look on her face, "do you surrender, or do you want another round of vegetables to fly your way?"
"Shinigami," he rasped, "doesn't surrender to any enemy." With that he made to run, but slipped on the oily floor and fell forward, taking the stunned girl with him. For moments, his mind was black and all he could see were yellow starbursts, as he fought for coherency. "Ugh," he moaned, blinking back the haze only to gaze at the serene face below. Fascinated, he looked on in wonder as her eyes slowly fluttered open, focusing on his curious expression.
"W-What happened?" she asked, still dazed, grimacing when she tried to move her head.
"Um... um... Sorry 'bout that," he whispered, trying to steady himself before getting up and offering a hand to the fallen body.
"Looks like we can forget about the side dish and the dessert," Relena commented, taking in state of the kitchen. "You know that we have to clean this all up, right?" She looked at him through the corner of her eyes.
"Aw man," he groaned, running a hand through his hair, fingering a piece of onion. "Can't we think about this in the morning? Can't we just eat?"
"Sure, if you like burnt chicken," she said crestfallen, examining the remains that was to be their dinner.
*****
Dinner was half an hour passed and the two were much enthralled with the movie they were watching, a large bowl of popcorn positioned between the two of them. Relena sat clutching a pillow close to her while she grabbed handfuls of popcorn. The current scene they were watching included a girl, her boyfriend, and a dark alley with a shadow looming over the two. The diplomat leaned closer to the screen as the shadow got closer and closer with each step, the girl tightening her grip on her boyfriend's arm. She held her breath when the silhouette pulled out a knife, then with blinding speed, brought the knife down - "AAAARRGGHHH!!!" Duo screamed into her ear.
"AAAHHHH!!!!" Relena screamed in turn, throwing popcorn into the air. Out of breath, she turned, giving the joker the evil eye, literally fuming with anger. "Was that supposed to be funny?" she asked tightly, preparing to kill the mechanic.
"Uh," Duo stuttered nervously, sweat dripping from his forehead, "that was the intention... I guess... that it didn't work all that well, ne?" Whatever higher power existed must have really loved the former pilot for at that moment, a knock came from the back door. "I'm gonna go get that," he hastily muttered, sprinting for the door as if his life depended on it.
"Whew," he exhaled, wiping the perspiration from his brow before turning the knob. "Nani?" he choked out as he stared into midnight black eyes. He took in the sight before him: a Chinese youth about his height, maybe a few inches shorter, hair in a tight ponytail, khakis, white T-shirt, and a leather jacket, carrying a backpack. "Wufei? You're our contact?!"
"Hasn't anyone ever told you that it's impolite to stare, Maxwell?" The Chinese agent remarked, letting himself into the house.
"It's nice to see you too, Wufei," Duo replied dryly, closing the door. "So, what's going on?"
"I can't stay long so I'm going to make this as quick as possible," he snapped, leaning against the kitchen table. "The enemy is Taylor."
"Who?"
"Representative Fredrick Taylor of the small country a few kilometers away from the former Sank Kingdom. Darlian knows who he is; in fact, she and he had quite an argument the morning prior at the symposium," Wufei informed.
Duo held a perplexed face as he tried to contemplate the motive behind the man's actions. "Well, why the hell is he after Relena anyways?"
"You see, his country is currently in a struggle with its neighbor over some territory northeast of them," he began but got interrupted.
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"I was getting to that and if you would let me finish, you'll know!" There was a moment of silence as the Asian youth re-composed himself, "They're fighting over the land because they just discovered that it contains abundant amounts of natural resources: metals, fuel, water, and rich soil. It was previously a part of the Sank Kingdom, but ever since that nation was destroyed, they assumed all of the land had been rendered worthless. Now that they know otherwise, both are very eager to get their hands on it, especially considering that natural resources are getting harder and harder to come by."
"So they want Relena dead because she's in the way," the braided young man seethed.
"Correct," Wufei confirmed, "Relena Darlian is the one most set on the two countries trying to work things out. The previous morning, she explicitly protested against the use of force from Taylor's country. Since her influence spreads throughout the majority of the Earth Sphere, the members will automatically back anything she says. If Darlian was out of the way while the proceedings were held, the members won't be as set against the idea of war, maybe even thinking that they can benefit from it."
He took a deep breath before continuing, "I guess it was lucky for her that she ran into you; we've just discovered that her hotel room was rigged to explode last night. If she'd gone there instead of to your shop, she would not be alive right now, which I am very thankful for."
"Grrr," the youth growled, fists clenched tightly, "so when are we going to take this guy out?"
"We can't," the Preventer briskly remarked, "we can't touch him right now since he has diplomatic immunity. Besides, there's no evidence to suggest he had anything to do with Darlian's assassination attempt; for all the public knows, it might have just been some random terrorist organization. No; all we can do right now is keep the Vice Foreign Minister safe until we salvage sufficient info to nail the guy."
"How long?"
"Maybe a few days," Wufei replied exhaustedly, "The security surrounding this guy is very rigid. We have reasons to believe that he has a special team working for him."
"I might not be able to protect her for that long," Duo exclaimed, "Can't you call the others for help? What about Heero? Can you guys get a hold of him?"
"Winner is away on business and Barton can't leave the circus, he has to be there in order to keep them safe. As for Yuy, we lost contact with him a year ago," the Chinese agent explained.
"A year? I thought he left the Preventers two years ago?"
"That's how he wanted it to look, he was still gathering information for us then. That's all he really did, saying that he preferred to work alone and out of the light of day. I was angry at first but then I realized why he did so, I guess he was following Zechs' example. A man who no longer exists has a much easier time getting to places without disturbance."
"Yeah," Duo sighed, "that sounds like Heero all right. Did I ever tell you the time he stole my name once to use as an alias at a school?"
"That's Yuy for you," Wufei agreed shaking his head, "For all his skills as a soldier, you'd think he'd have some common sense and change his name into a less conspicuous one already."
"So I'm by myself for this mission?" the mechanic asked dejectedly.
"No, I'll try to help you as best as I can. I still have to gather information about Taylor's scheme, but I'll see what I can do to ease your burden." Pushing himself off the counter, he took off the backpack and threw it into Duo's hands. "In case anything goes terribly wrong, there's the necessary items you'll need to leave the colony and go somewhere safer: a gun plus a few clips, new identification cards, disguise equipments, and a few credits."
"Do you really think... it might actually come to that?" Duo asked frantically seeking an answer in obsidian colored orbs.
"It has in the past; at least now, we're equipped for whatever they'll throw our way," the shorter youth replied calmly. "I'll be taking my leave now, Sally Po's expecting me to check with her in half an hour," he spoke up, "but before I leave, could you tell me how Darlian's doing?"
"Huh?" the former pilot blinked, "Uh, aside from being a little shaken up, I think she's holding up well, although, more than once, she's let her real feelings surface... and she's scared. Of all the things in the world, I'd never imagine that she'd be scared."
"There's nothing wrong with being scared," Wufei said reassuringly, "we're all scared at some point in our life."
"Yeah, I know," Duo, replied, rubbing the back of his skull, "I guess I'll see ya later."
"Goodbye, Maxwell." With that the Preventer was out the door and walking into the obscurity of the night, his form becoming a part of the shadows.
//Thanks Wufei, I'm glad you're on our side, although, I wish he could've stayed longer.// He thought as he entered the living room. //I'm sure Relena would've enjoyed meeting him... Hey, where'd she go?// His mind became frantic as his eyes darted back and forth, searching the living room. //Oh, God, where is she?// Rationality gone, he started to scrutinize every inch of the room, looking for clues, when he saw the door, slightly ajar. Panic filled his mind, no longer able to think lucidly.
"What are you doing?" Relena's voice broke through his uncertainty. The gentle tone jolted him back to reality and he was at the girl's side in the blink of an eye. Words left him as he took stock of the girl's condition, taking hold of her as if she would evaporate right before him. Tears stung his eyes and his breath came short when he tried to speak. "I-I..."
"Duo, what's wrong?"
"W-Where did you go?" he gasped out finally.
Relena was puzzled, but lightly wrapped her arms around his slim waist answering, "I was in the bathroom picking popcorn out of my hair... Is something wrong?"
"N-No, nothing's wrong... nothing really," he released the young woman and gently patted her hair, finally calming down. "Uh, why don't you get ready for bed, it's getting late, hmm?"
"Okay, I'll be right back when I finish... I want to ask you something," she said timidly, a blush tinting her cheeks.
"Sure," he replied, flashing his trademark smile. Giving the former pilot a thankful expression, she headed for Hilde's bedroom. With her out of the room, he went over to shut the door, still wondering how it got open. The moment he reached it, the door was thrown open and Duo was unexpectedly staring down the barrel of a gun.
-to be continued-
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
O.o, another cliffhanger... Don't you just love 'em?
Warnings: 2+R fic. Mild language
A.N: This will probably be the happiest fic I will ever write since it's almost (but not totally) angst free. I'm not the best at writing happy stuff. When you read this please remember that I tried my best.
My Ojousan
Chapter 5: A Day Spent Indoors
By: veGie-kun
"Later, Trowa," Duo called out quietly, waving at the retreating form. The stoic youth wasn't one for words and decided to leave and check up on Catherine. If the enemy had seen him with Duo and Relena earlier at the circus and recognized him as a Gundam pilot, then, more than likely, they would go after the knife-thrower to get to him. He had to be there to insure the young woman's safety and the fear of losing her made him all the more urgent.
As the braided mechanic continued to wave he became conscious of a lithe body joining him at the doorway. The close contact made him quiver with a strange, indefinite feeling he'd been receiving all morning and yesterday. It was a warm sensation not unlike comfort and a sense of belonging. After debating with himself for some time, the former pilot decided he liked the feeling. Unconsciously he moved an arm to wrap around Relena's willowy shoulder, pulling her closer as the two continued to stare at their departing friend. One would think the two did such a thing on a regular basis from the way they stood together, leaning on one another for support.
When the circus performer was out of sight, Relena squirmed out of Duo's hold and moved into the living room to check out the bag Trowa brought, her curiosity getting the better of her. The abrupt action took Duo by surprise and he whimpered, missing that delightful body heat. With one last glance to make sure no one saw them, Duo closed the door and strode over to help the diplomat with her task. He stifled the urge to laugh upon seeing Relena rummaging without care like a typical child. He'd never seen her so carefree and serene as he did right at that moment.
"What are ya lookin' for?" Duo questioned, looking over her shoulder.
Grinning sheepishly, Relena tore herself away from the container and gazed at the youth. "Nothing really... just wanted to know what's inside... that's all," she replied innocently.
"Yeah, sure," he remarked, rolling his eyes and moving the bag away from the girl's prying hands. The mechanic settled on the couch and started to remove the items inside, appraising them one by one. "Oooo!" he articulated with much excitement, "He brought us popcorn... which means he's got to have brought us a movie as well!" With more fervor than before, he searched until he found the item in question, "Aha!" He held up the treasure of his hunt, a CD-like case that had the title of some non-descript horror movie that had been released some odd days prior. "I've been waiting forever for this movie to come out!" Giving Relena a mischievous grin he commented, "I'm sure you're gonna love this, 'Jousan."
"What's it about?" she queried trying to grab it out of Duo's hand while he kept it slightly out of her reach.
"That surprise will be saved for later when we actually watch it," the former pilot remarked then turned serious. "But first things first and that's making sure this place is secure and ready should the enemy discover your whereabouts."
"How do we go about doing that, Duo?" Relena asked as she removed more of the items from the brown paper container: some extra provisions, some electronic devices, and a few disks.
Shinigami become lost in thought, contemplating what to do to keep the Vice Foreign Minister protected. His aggravation caused him to pace around the ample living room as he swam in a sea of ideas. Glancing over to the door, then the windows he decided the best thing to do at the moment was to make sure no one would be able to enter without triggering an alarm. Knowing the German girl had yet to purchase a security system, not really needing one for the neighbor was fairly safe from intruders, meant he had to put together something with the bits and pieces that Trowa provided him. Groaning, he realized he was going to have a long day ahead of him and no one to help him save a girl with a bad record when it came to assassination attempts.
"Oi," the mechanic called out from behind the curtains, "hand me the screwdriver and the small laser sensors."
Unsure of what he was asking for, the girl scanned the coffee table, going from object to object until she spotted one that she fathomed to be the laser sensors. Picking up the two items, Relena walked to were Duo kneeled and handed him what he requested. "Is this it?" she asked as he reached towards her hand.
Duo looked down at the object and nodded with a grin. "Yup! You sure know your equipment. Are you positive you haven't done anything like this before, 'Jousan?"
The young woman took his comment nonchalantly and giggled, "Yes, Duo, I have. In my spare time from all those stuffy meetings, I'm an international terrorist and I like to rig up my own security systems."
"Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, I knew it!" Duo exclaimed, pointing a finger at the wide-eyed girl. "Well, Madame terrorist, although you might know a lot, you don't know everything. Would you like me to show you how some of these things work?" His face remained impassive yet there was a hopeful look in his eyes.
Relena gave a shrug, "Why not? I don't have anything better to do at the moment." Sitting down next to the former pilot she moved her head close to his, until they almost touched, looking at the object in his hand.
"Okay, 'Jousan, we'll skip the basics and start with something more interesting," he exclaimed pointing with the tip of the screwdriver to a few of the wires inside the small, black, box-like object in his hand. "These wires are the most important parts of the laser sensor; each one controls a different function and are vital for it to operate correctly."
"How so?" the young woman asked, not sure what he was saying.
"Well, if you're not careful when you're setting these things up and accidentally damage or cross them, then you'll end up turning a harmless sensor into a deadly heat laser..." there was an apprehensive look to his face and he grimaced, "or worse."
Relena giggled at his expression, "It sounds as if you've experience what that worse thing is."
There was an indignant look on his face before it was changed into a lopsided smile. "Actually, I have, and believe me, it's not something you want to go through. It was even worse than the time I almost burned down my kitchen!"
"You're impossible, Duo. Hey, what's that button on the bottom do?" she queried pointing to a little red object.
"Hm?" He looked to where she indicated and indulged her curiosity, "Oh, that activates the program." He pressed the button and many neon green beams shot out of the device, connecting with the other sensors placed in different areas. The lack of light made the beams more vivid, like a network of radiant spider webs. "Now, you bet that you can sleep soundly at night. 'Jousan."
Enthralled by the astounding display, the young woman stared in awe. "Amazing," she breathed out, slowly whirling around, taking in everything before her. As she finished her sightseeing the lights were abruptly turned off and a slight frown marred her expression.
"Sorry, but we can't go on adding to Hilde's electric bill just yet," he smiled, walking over to the table and retrieving the last three items on it: transmitters. Getting back on his knees, he bent down until he was eye level with the furniture and stuck one of them on the underside of the tabletop. Back on his feet, he moved to the kitchen and placed another inside on the shelf of the medicine cabinet. Once he was done, he stilled a while longer and fingered the last of the tiny mechanisms in his hands, a pensive look on his face. //Only one left... let's see where I can put this one. Hm, if we were to be attacked by the enemy, what's the most likely place where they'll come after us? Geez, if I were given at least two more then I would have a better time figuring this out... They're obviously not after me, so I guess that the logical place to put this would be were Relena is at most of the time. I've already gotten the living room and the kitchen... The bathroom? Nah, that place is too near the living room, I don't need any there. The bedroom? Hm, it's pretty isolated from the other areas and she would be spending more than 8 hours there... so I guess that seems to be the most logical place.//
Returning to the living room, he strolled by Relena without a word and headed into the hallway leading to the sleeping quarters. Upon reaching the room, he carefully opened the door and walked inside, surveying the area. The mechanic couldn't put it in any of the cabinets or drawers, they'd muffle out the sounds too much, what with all the clothes stored in them. Duo was becoming aggravated when he finally saw the lamp, or more importantly, the lampshade. Taking into account all the options, he decided it was the best place and stuck it on the underside of the shade. Happy with his work, he dusted off his hands as if he were clapping off dirt that had gathered there.
"Uh, what are you doing, Duo?" Relena queried from the door's frame.
Looking a bit embarrassed, the self-proclaimed, ex-Shinigami slowly turned around and gave her an uneasy smile. "Nothing," he replied hastily, cupping the back of his head with his hands and whistling hysterically. "Nothing at all... Hey! You hungry, 'Jousan?" he asked enthusiastically, eager to change the subject.
The bewildered lass peeked down at her watch and saw that it was already well into the afternoon. "Gee, I'm surprised that your stomach hasn't growled yet considering the time for lunch has passed." She suppressed the urged to laugh when the youth gave her an indignant glower and snorted.
"Humph, it's not like I think about food all the time ya know," he remarked striding past with his nose upturned. He was about to make it out the door when a hand on his shoulder stopped him, turning his head around to meet jovial, marine blue eyes.
"I apologize, Duo," she offered still smiling, "I didn't mean to tease you like that, but you can't say that you haven't teased me just the same." Relena took away her hand and skipped in front of the young man, facing him as she gradually walked away. "I'd say," she began playfully, "that you're usually the one doing all the teasing, especially to poor, helpless young girls like myself."
"Who's a helpless young girl? Last time I checked, you had more than half of the Preventers covering your back. I'm not even going to get into that part about being poor, Miss Vice Foreign Minister of the Earth Sphere Unified Nation," he retorted, saying that last sentence in one breath. //Boy Relena sure has one long title. I wonder if that's what's on her nameplate...//
"You can stand there and call me whatever you want, but I, however, am going to get something to eat." With that said, she spun around and stalked towards the kitchen.
Duo blinked, taking a moment to catch up to what the young diplomat had said then ran after her. The mention of food had stirred that low, familiar rumbling in his stomach, his mouth watering at the thought of a warm meal. //All this work making this place safe sure did take my mind off of you... I just hope that it's enough to keep Relena safe.//
A black limo turned round the corner of the drug store with moderate speed, as its passengers searched the streets for signs of their targets. In the front sat the two subordinates while the young man in charge occupied the back all to himself. He wore the same dark suit and sunglasses, and sported the same messy look to his hair. His arms and legs were crossed as his back leaned against the cushioned seat; he pondered on what course of action to take pertaining to the young woman. Through his shades, he eyed the two in the front and inhaled; this wasn't going to be easy. //How am I supposed to complete this task with those two idiots around? They'll be in the way and if worse comes to worse, I'll be the one to pay the price. That's not acceptable and I'm going to see to it that this goes off without a hitch. But what to do with HIM... he'll get in the way and I might have to end his life...//
"Hn," he signed to himself, unable to put into actual words, the emotions churning within him.
As they drove on, the one in the passenger seat, a man with dark blond hair, spoke up, "Sir, why not go to that circus they were spotted at yesterday and question that clown they talked to?"
"What would make you ask such a thing?" the young man inquired wearily.
"Wouldn't it make more sense to use him to get to Darlian? He probably knows where they're hiding and might even have made contact with them," the man reasoned, trying to ignore the building tension at the same time.
"Hn," the other snorted dangerously, "Things are never that simple. The clown was a Gundam pilot, and knowing Gundam pilots, they won't divulge information so readily, especially to strangers. He'd rather die than give us what we want and if that happens, we'll risk giving ourselves away."
"Then why not use one of his circus comrades as a bargaining chip, preferably his sister?" He countered, looking over his shoulder to see the other's reaction.
"I prefer the more direct approach," he began lowly, "besides we can't fully rely on such methods. Do you have a problem with that?" The look in his eyes was something not to be questioned and the subordinate quickly made to escape the conversation. Soon all was silent once more and they continued down the street, their eyes attentively searching the area.
After passing another block, frustration and impatience getting the better of him, the man in the back ordered the car to stop. The others looked on confused, while their man got out and took off his shades to glare at them with cold, dark blue eyes. "I can handle this by myself," he snapped before putting the shades back on, turning and briskly heading in another direction. "Don't come after me," he remarked sharply, his back to them, "they're mine."
Upon entering the kitchen, Duo was rewarded with a truly endearing scene: Relena tying on one of Hilde's aprons. He leaned on the door's frame and chuckled to himself, wondering what the heck she was planning to do. "Do you even know what you're doing, 'Jousan?"
Relena didn't stop with her task, checking cupboards and draws for the cooking utensils. "What exactly do you mean by that, Duo?" Opening another cabinet she was able to locate a frying pan and a spatula, placing both onto the stove. "Why do you so hastily assume that I have no clue how to handle myself in a kitchen?" Moving towards the table, she retrieved the grocery bag she brought in from the living room. "Do you automatically conclude from my upbringing that I don't know how to cook? Is that it?" That was when she turned around and eyed him, expression both angered and hurt.
Duo was at a loss for words, not expecting the girl to say that to him. "Um, um," he stuttered, embarrassed with himself, "Actually... It sorta did pop into my mind the moment I saw you putting that apron on." He blushed, reluctant to make eye contact, muttering a 'sorry' under his breath. "Gee, I guess I'm not the only one who's quick to draw conclusions, ne? Pardon everything I said, onegai?" In between her work, Relena threw him a smile over her shoulder.
"I understand, don't worry. People always base their opinions on appearances, that is the way we are, human beings. To us, everything must fit some type of mold we set for one another; it's a way to help keep some sort of stability. It doesn't matter whether those pre-conceived notions are true or not, as long as people are familiar with them." The young woman stopped for a brief second, staring at the counter and the vegetables strewn about. "The real person doesn't matter, I don't think they ever have. As long as everyone stays within the confines of the boundaries set for him or her, then the people feel at ease, knowing that everything is as it should be. However, that means the person being judged is now locked into a role he/she cannot hope to escape."
"I once heard this saying a long time ago," Duo piped up, "and it went along the lines of something like this, "People fear what they don't understand". Have you ever heard of that?" He looked to his right and saw Relena nod with a solemn expression gracing her delicate features. "I guess it's like how the people of the Earth and colonies can only see you as either their former Queen or the Vice Foreign Minister, right? I mean, how would the people react if you started acting like Heero Yuy? There would be world wide pandemonium and everyone would be shouting, "The world's coming to an end!" or things like that." He exclaimed trying to lighten things a bit.
"It's worse when you're in the public's eye, because then the things expected of you aren't just restricted to those around you but those you know or have heard of you." A tear escaped her eyes and a shiver passed through her spine; Relena was nearly on the verge of crying, bracing herself on the counter to avoid falling down. "Every single move you make is monitored and criticized, whether or not they like you. One mistake and then the entire solar system will shun you; your previous years then become non-existent and only that one moment of weakness counts. You're no longer human to the people since you're supposed to be flawless." Another tear escaped and suddenly, Relena felt a pair of arms enfold her, offering support, comfort, safety, and strength.
"It's okay," Duo whispered tenderly into her ear, "you're strong, Relena, you'll make it through this." He laughed as a thought came to mind, "You know what's funny though? Now that I think about it, compared to you, if I were to ever disappear, no one besides Hilde would really care while the world would be thrown into a fit of hysteria if you were gone for a few days."
"That's not true," Relena protested, leaning into his embrace, oblivious of the smile that lit his face with the action.
"Hah," Duo snorted, tightening his hold a fraction.
"There are lots of people who would worry: the Preventers, the Gundam pilots, your neighbors, your customers... and me. You may not have been aware of this, but you've come to mean a lot to me, Duo. I'd more than likely worry myself silly if anything ever happened to you..." she let the last words trail off into a whisper as her face flushed with embarrassment at the small confession.
"I appreciate the sentiment, even though you only said that to make me feel better," Duo spoke into her hair, savoring its delicate smell.
"I meant what I said, Duo." She tilted her head to gaze into his dark blue eyes, "Thank you for being there for me when I needed you."
The youth's cheeks reddened as he delved into the watery depths of her ocean blue eyes. "Uh," Duo stammered, finding himself somewhat uncomfortable now and a bit guilty at the same time. Relena was a friend and the lines of friendship should never be crossed for any reasons whatsoever. //Even if I like her, I shouldn't... I mean she likes Heero and only Heero... I don't care if she's kind, caring, and beautiful, and that she has the prettiest smile, and the sweetest laugh, or that she makes me feel warm inside. It doesn't matter if I can talk to her about anything and she listens to everything I say... and when I'm near her, holding her like this, all my fears go away... I'm just her friend and that's what she needs most right now, a friend.// "Hey, 'Jousan, why don't I help make dessert? How does chocolate pudding sound?"
"Sorry I took so long, Trowa," Catherine apologized as she slipped inside the trailer. Closing the door behind her she located her brother sitting on a chair near the kitchen counter reading a book. He tilted his head and took in the sight of about one too many grocery bags and got up to relieve her of a few of them. "How are you holding up anyway?" She asked, setting down a bag.
"Alright," he answered quietly, already removing some of the contents his sister bought.
"Have you been keeping yourself busy while I was away?" She teased, placing a few of the provisions in the cabinets.
"... You can say that," he replied, his lips quirking up just a fraction, a hint of a smile.
"So are you hungry yet?" Catherine pivoted her head and saw a nod in affirmation. As she proceeded to extract the cooking ware from the drawers, a knock came at their door. "Could you go get that, Trowa?"
"Alright," he said and headed towards the trailer door and opened it.
"Hn."
Duo had the most mischievous smile on his lips as he stared at the bowl he was making the pudding in. Swirling the spoon a few more rounds, he lifted it up to check on its consistency; it was smooth, not too thick and not too diluted. Concealing his grin, he spooned up a large quantity and straightened up, hiding the object behind his back. "Oi, 'Jousan!"
Relena tore her gaze from the salad bowl to face Duo, only to be met with flying chocolate pudding right between the eyes. "T-That... That was uncalled for, Maxwell!" she screamed and threw a piece of carrot in Duo's direction.
"Whoa," he remarked, ducking in time to just barely dodge the flying vegetable. He turned to see where the produce landed then turned his head towards Relena and got conked with half a head of cabbage. //What did I get myself into?// He pondered, rubbing the spot he where he was hit. "Eep," he squeaked when a cucumber was sent his way. His arms intuitively went to cover his face as the food item bounced off his arms and onto the floor.
After a quick scan of the counter, the youth acquisitioned a plate to use as a shield while he threw another spoonful of pudding at his assailant. "I thought you were supposed to be a pacifist!" he queried through a hail of sliced onions.
"That was when I was a Peacecraft! I haven't been one since the Sank Kingdom fell! So the rules of pacifism no longer apply, especially in this situation!" Gracefully dodging a couple rounds of the chocolate dessert, her hands roamed the counter until they brushed a bottle. Without a second thought, the diplomat swung her arm and her target was coated with light vinaigrette.
"Ack!" he squawked staggering back.
"So," Relena drawled out, hands on hips and a superior look on her face, "do you surrender, or do you want another round of vegetables to fly your way?"
"Shinigami," he rasped, "doesn't surrender to any enemy." With that he made to run, but slipped on the oily floor and fell forward, taking the stunned girl with him. For moments, his mind was black and all he could see were yellow starbursts, as he fought for coherency. "Ugh," he moaned, blinking back the haze only to gaze at the serene face below. Fascinated, he looked on in wonder as her eyes slowly fluttered open, focusing on his curious expression.
"W-What happened?" she asked, still dazed, grimacing when she tried to move her head.
"Um... um... Sorry 'bout that," he whispered, trying to steady himself before getting up and offering a hand to the fallen body.
"Looks like we can forget about the side dish and the dessert," Relena commented, taking in state of the kitchen. "You know that we have to clean this all up, right?" She looked at him through the corner of her eyes.
"Aw man," he groaned, running a hand through his hair, fingering a piece of onion. "Can't we think about this in the morning? Can't we just eat?"
"Sure, if you like burnt chicken," she said crestfallen, examining the remains that was to be their dinner.
Dinner was half an hour passed and the two were much enthralled with the movie they were watching, a large bowl of popcorn positioned between the two of them. Relena sat clutching a pillow close to her while she grabbed handfuls of popcorn. The current scene they were watching included a girl, her boyfriend, and a dark alley with a shadow looming over the two. The diplomat leaned closer to the screen as the shadow got closer and closer with each step, the girl tightening her grip on her boyfriend's arm. She held her breath when the silhouette pulled out a knife, then with blinding speed, brought the knife down - "AAAARRGGHHH!!!" Duo screamed into her ear.
"AAAHHHH!!!!" Relena screamed in turn, throwing popcorn into the air. Out of breath, she turned, giving the joker the evil eye, literally fuming with anger. "Was that supposed to be funny?" she asked tightly, preparing to kill the mechanic.
"Uh," Duo stuttered nervously, sweat dripping from his forehead, "that was the intention... I guess... that it didn't work all that well, ne?" Whatever higher power existed must have really loved the former pilot for at that moment, a knock came from the back door. "I'm gonna go get that," he hastily muttered, sprinting for the door as if his life depended on it.
"Whew," he exhaled, wiping the perspiration from his brow before turning the knob. "Nani?" he choked out as he stared into midnight black eyes. He took in the sight before him: a Chinese youth about his height, maybe a few inches shorter, hair in a tight ponytail, khakis, white T-shirt, and a leather jacket, carrying a backpack. "Wufei? You're our contact?!"
"Hasn't anyone ever told you that it's impolite to stare, Maxwell?" The Chinese agent remarked, letting himself into the house.
"It's nice to see you too, Wufei," Duo replied dryly, closing the door. "So, what's going on?"
"I can't stay long so I'm going to make this as quick as possible," he snapped, leaning against the kitchen table. "The enemy is Taylor."
"Who?"
"Representative Fredrick Taylor of the small country a few kilometers away from the former Sank Kingdom. Darlian knows who he is; in fact, she and he had quite an argument the morning prior at the symposium," Wufei informed.
Duo held a perplexed face as he tried to contemplate the motive behind the man's actions. "Well, why the hell is he after Relena anyways?"
"You see, his country is currently in a struggle with its neighbor over some territory northeast of them," he began but got interrupted.
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"I was getting to that and if you would let me finish, you'll know!" There was a moment of silence as the Asian youth re-composed himself, "They're fighting over the land because they just discovered that it contains abundant amounts of natural resources: metals, fuel, water, and rich soil. It was previously a part of the Sank Kingdom, but ever since that nation was destroyed, they assumed all of the land had been rendered worthless. Now that they know otherwise, both are very eager to get their hands on it, especially considering that natural resources are getting harder and harder to come by."
"So they want Relena dead because she's in the way," the braided young man seethed.
"Correct," Wufei confirmed, "Relena Darlian is the one most set on the two countries trying to work things out. The previous morning, she explicitly protested against the use of force from Taylor's country. Since her influence spreads throughout the majority of the Earth Sphere, the members will automatically back anything she says. If Darlian was out of the way while the proceedings were held, the members won't be as set against the idea of war, maybe even thinking that they can benefit from it."
He took a deep breath before continuing, "I guess it was lucky for her that she ran into you; we've just discovered that her hotel room was rigged to explode last night. If she'd gone there instead of to your shop, she would not be alive right now, which I am very thankful for."
"Grrr," the youth growled, fists clenched tightly, "so when are we going to take this guy out?"
"We can't," the Preventer briskly remarked, "we can't touch him right now since he has diplomatic immunity. Besides, there's no evidence to suggest he had anything to do with Darlian's assassination attempt; for all the public knows, it might have just been some random terrorist organization. No; all we can do right now is keep the Vice Foreign Minister safe until we salvage sufficient info to nail the guy."
"How long?"
"Maybe a few days," Wufei replied exhaustedly, "The security surrounding this guy is very rigid. We have reasons to believe that he has a special team working for him."
"I might not be able to protect her for that long," Duo exclaimed, "Can't you call the others for help? What about Heero? Can you guys get a hold of him?"
"Winner is away on business and Barton can't leave the circus, he has to be there in order to keep them safe. As for Yuy, we lost contact with him a year ago," the Chinese agent explained.
"A year? I thought he left the Preventers two years ago?"
"That's how he wanted it to look, he was still gathering information for us then. That's all he really did, saying that he preferred to work alone and out of the light of day. I was angry at first but then I realized why he did so, I guess he was following Zechs' example. A man who no longer exists has a much easier time getting to places without disturbance."
"Yeah," Duo sighed, "that sounds like Heero all right. Did I ever tell you the time he stole my name once to use as an alias at a school?"
"That's Yuy for you," Wufei agreed shaking his head, "For all his skills as a soldier, you'd think he'd have some common sense and change his name into a less conspicuous one already."
"So I'm by myself for this mission?" the mechanic asked dejectedly.
"No, I'll try to help you as best as I can. I still have to gather information about Taylor's scheme, but I'll see what I can do to ease your burden." Pushing himself off the counter, he took off the backpack and threw it into Duo's hands. "In case anything goes terribly wrong, there's the necessary items you'll need to leave the colony and go somewhere safer: a gun plus a few clips, new identification cards, disguise equipments, and a few credits."
"Do you really think... it might actually come to that?" Duo asked frantically seeking an answer in obsidian colored orbs.
"It has in the past; at least now, we're equipped for whatever they'll throw our way," the shorter youth replied calmly. "I'll be taking my leave now, Sally Po's expecting me to check with her in half an hour," he spoke up, "but before I leave, could you tell me how Darlian's doing?"
"Huh?" the former pilot blinked, "Uh, aside from being a little shaken up, I think she's holding up well, although, more than once, she's let her real feelings surface... and she's scared. Of all the things in the world, I'd never imagine that she'd be scared."
"There's nothing wrong with being scared," Wufei said reassuringly, "we're all scared at some point in our life."
"Yeah, I know," Duo, replied, rubbing the back of his skull, "I guess I'll see ya later."
"Goodbye, Maxwell." With that the Preventer was out the door and walking into the obscurity of the night, his form becoming a part of the shadows.
//Thanks Wufei, I'm glad you're on our side, although, I wish he could've stayed longer.// He thought as he entered the living room. //I'm sure Relena would've enjoyed meeting him... Hey, where'd she go?// His mind became frantic as his eyes darted back and forth, searching the living room. //Oh, God, where is she?// Rationality gone, he started to scrutinize every inch of the room, looking for clues, when he saw the door, slightly ajar. Panic filled his mind, no longer able to think lucidly.
"What are you doing?" Relena's voice broke through his uncertainty. The gentle tone jolted him back to reality and he was at the girl's side in the blink of an eye. Words left him as he took stock of the girl's condition, taking hold of her as if she would evaporate right before him. Tears stung his eyes and his breath came short when he tried to speak. "I-I..."
"Duo, what's wrong?"
"W-Where did you go?" he gasped out finally.
Relena was puzzled, but lightly wrapped her arms around his slim waist answering, "I was in the bathroom picking popcorn out of my hair... Is something wrong?"
"N-No, nothing's wrong... nothing really," he released the young woman and gently patted her hair, finally calming down. "Uh, why don't you get ready for bed, it's getting late, hmm?"
"Okay, I'll be right back when I finish... I want to ask you something," she said timidly, a blush tinting her cheeks.
"Sure," he replied, flashing his trademark smile. Giving the former pilot a thankful expression, she headed for Hilde's bedroom. With her out of the room, he went over to shut the door, still wondering how it got open. The moment he reached it, the door was thrown open and Duo was unexpectedly staring down the barrel of a gun.
-to be continued-
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
O.o, another cliffhanger... Don't you just love 'em?
