Too Lost Too Be Saved
by: WolfCry17
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing. I repeat...I do not own Gundam Wing.
AN: Hey, everybody...this chapter is going to start developing the story, I hope...So please read and enjoy. By the way, I failed to mention this earlier...the gang is around 17 to 18 while Noin and Zeches are 22. (Just in case, anyone wanted to know :p !)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------
Chapter 1 ~Unwanted Company
9:00 a.m., October 19, A.C. 197...
The clicking of high-heeled shoes resounded throughout the spacious office area as a young woman of eighteen carried a large file of paperwork as she weaved through the maze of open work stations towards an elevator. She pushed the top floor button and silently rode to the top of the massive E.S.U.N. Headquarters building. She exited into a hallway and strode to a door that led to a two- linked room office. She walked over to her own personal desk and pressed a button on her intercom while balancing the heavy file in the other hand. She waited patiently until her superior's face filled the screen of the empty vidcam.
"Morning Dorothy," Dorothy's superior greeted cheerfully with a huge smile, but that smile soon disappeared. "That's yet another file, isn't it," fear filled the voice of Dorothy's superior.
"Well, it certainly isn't an envelope," sarcasm evident on Dorothy's tongue. Her superior simply glarred out of annoyance and Dorothy's smile broadened. "I am coming in to give it to you. Be right there," Dorothy terminated the connection as she headed to a nearby door that joined their two offices. She juggled the file once again in one arm as the other opened the door. "Morning Miss Relena. Here's the file. I have already organized it per chronicle order," Dorothy explained as she closed the door and walked toward Relena's desk to set the file on the side.
"What would I do without you, Dorothy?" Relena smiled geniunely as she opened the file as if to confirm what Dorothy had promised. When she was satisfied, she focused back on her assisant and continually growing friend. "So, what's the schedule for today?"
Dorothy set herself comfortably on the edge of Relena's desk as she flicked one of her eyebrows. "Hmmm... I believe a short meeting with the Preventors Commander Lady Une at noon; at 3:00, a conference at the E.S.U.N. Parliament building, which is the closing of your seven-day conference on current bills and what not."
"Thank goodness... I was beginning to think this day would never come... I never thought a seven-day migrane could hurt so much."
Dorothy smiled at Relena's attempt of gripping. She knew deep inside, Relena never really minded all the argueing. She was always strong enough to handle it. "And after that meeting, you head home to work on your speech to the public for the final decisions made at the conference, which is scheduled a week from now."
Relena sighed, "Another long day." She spoke with a forceful smile and sarcasm dripped on every word. She was about to dismiss Dorothy when a realization hit her. "By the way, when did this meeting with Lady Une come up. I don't remember scheduling an appointment."
Dorothy hesitated. She was hoping Relena wouldn't ask about that, but knowing her, she knew the question was inevitable. "That's because she scheduled the meeting this morning. She sounded very urgent about it."
"She told you more than that. I know it. What are you trying to hide from me?" Relena eyed Dorothy urging her to spit it out.
Dorothy flicked her eyebrows once more, but her smile seemed fake. She knew Relena didn't want to hear the rest. "You don't give up. Something about a new personal bodyguard she wants to assign to you."
Relena's eyes fell to the papers before her, but she did not see them. She could handle all of the paperwork before her, she could handle old, bickering men, but she could not stand the claustrophobic feeling she always got when she was assigned a personal bodyguard. "Fantastic. Did you try--"
"Yes, I tried convincing Lady Une that you didn't need one, and that I could protect you just as well as any bodyguard. kYou know the preventers, though,"Dorothy explained as she opened the door to leave. "She must have a good reason..."
Dorothy assured as she left Relena to her own thoughts.
*~*
The fifteen-minute father clock stroke twelve with a song of joy in the Chief Preventer's office. Lady Une waited patiently for her appointment to arrive, but at the same time feared that Relena was able to drag the topic of this appointment out of Dorothy. The entrance door to her office sounded with a light knock as Lady Une breathed outwardly to prepare herself. Time to face the music. "Come in, Miss Relena."
The door opened slowly revealing an enraged Relena, though she held her emotion hidden well. Lady Une mentally winced as Relena walked forward. She had heard of the infamous conflicts held between Relena and her brother over this same issue. Not a comforting feeling.
"I demand an answer Lady Une," Relena quickly went straight to the point.
"Well, hello and good morning to you too, Miss Relena... I assume Dorothy has already informed you as to why I called this meeting."
"More or less. All I caught was the assignment of a new bodyguard. Lady Une, you know how I feel about that. Besides, Dorothy is more than sufficient to--"
"I know Relena," Lady Une paused for a breath, "but, I have my reasons and this man is more than qualified himself. He has an excellent record, skills with a gun, a martial arts degree, and is very friendly."
Relena sighed, "And a complete stranger."
"Well, I won't be for long if you would be so kind as to allow me the opportunity, Vice Foriegn Minister Darlian," a unfamiliar, masculine voiced echoed behind Relena.
Relena turned abrubtly at the sound of the young man's voice and found to her eye's appeal, a confident, gorgeous guy sitting in the black leather easy chair at the corner of the room. She hadn't even realized he was there when she first walked in. His eyes focused on her own as if they were trying to captivate her soul. His entire look was sharp as was every move he made. Every move out of curtisy, every word out of respect, and not once did his eyes leave her own. She watched as he stood and strode swiftly towards her. He brought her hand to his mouth to brush his lips against her ivory skin. She watched him carefully as shivers ran down her spine. His light brown hair was greased back with gel to complete his sharpness. His emerald eyes still not leaving her own in an intoxicating stare. "Carl Jackson, miss. It's a pleasure."
Relena suddenly felt uncomfortable the way Carl was eyeing, and she quickly reclaimed her hand from his grasp as if her virginity were in jeopardy. "I suppose I have no choice," she focused back toward Lady Une once more, "How
long?"
"You'll know that answer when I know it," Lady Une sighed. She hated displeasing Relena, and she could tell Relena didn't care for the young man chosen for the job in the least bit, but it was for her own good. "It's late now. I believe you are on conference at three."
"Yes." Relena seemed to accept the situation and turned on her heel to leave like an obedient dog on a leash with her guardian choking the air away. That claustrophobic feeling.
*~*
Somewhere within the colonies, a few days later...
Hard, desperate breathing filled the hostile air of the windless night. Golden, wavy tresses fell into a flowing cascade followed as a rogue stole away into the streets in madness. She had to get away from her present location before her mission was destroyed.
*flashback*
Endless data filled the screen as a old, worn out man downloaded all the information he along with a team of biologists had been working on for the past year. Beads of sweat watered his wrinkled forehead as the downloading prodedure was coming to a close. He had to get this information out of this place before something terrible happened. He wiped his forehead with a piece of cloth as a small silver disk popped out of the laptop. He quickly retrieved it and placed it into a locket that was held on a thin, delicate chain. "You must, you must get this information to the preventers immediately."
A girl of seventeen with blonde tresses and emerald eyes approached the old man hesistantly. "I can't leave you here. What if they find out you downloaded all of the test results. They will kill you."
The old man motioned for the young girl to come closer to him. When she obeyed, he grabbed her shoulders as to further emphasize his urgency. "If you don't go, who knows how many lives will be lost due to this data. You must do this, my daughter. I made a mistake coming here and bringing you into this mess. Please, let this be my way of repenting for my sins."
Suddenly, they heard a thundering sound as officiers on the other side of the door tried to get in. "Who's in there...come out immediatey!"
The old man began to panic as he led his daughter to a ventilation cover. He opened it quickly and pushed her in. "Go now, before it is too late. Get help. You are our only hope.
The girl screamed at her father when he covered the vent back up, "No father. You can't do this. I won't leave you." Tears filled the girl's eyes as her father wouldn't comply with her wishes. "Father!"
*end flashback*
As gunshots rung in her ears, she dashed into a nearby alley full of trash cans, litter, and hanging clotheslines in an attempt to lose her pursuers. She grasped the single locket that hung loosely aroung her neck as she stumbled down the alley, knocking down whatever she could to damage her path.
"There she goes! Down here!" a band of officiers followed the thief down the alleyway avoiding each particle of debris that was purposedly knocked down in an attempt to block their path. However, not one officier was able to get any closer to the girl.
The girl was beginning to lose focus and any sign of hope to allude the officiers in a different direction. Suddenly, an idea struck as she rounded the corner into yet another long, dark alleyway with plenty of clothesline about. Perfect. She hopped onto a nearby trashcan and then preceded to jump to barely grasp the
edge of the closest window ledge, but began to lose her grip. Just as her hanging body was about to fall on her incomers, she gained all of her upper body strength to thrust herself into a high back flip to gently land on a single clothesline. She stood motionless and lifted her arms to steady her balance. She quickly caught her breath as the officiers rounded the corner.
"Search the perimeter. She couldn't have gotten too far," one officier barked. The group scattered to look behind and in anything that could serve as a possible hiding place. The light of flashlights lit the area for any sign of movement, but found none. Suddenly, a piece of clothe, a linen scarf, fell from above. With quick reflexes, all flashlights were aimed above only to find nothing, but clotheslines blowing in a sudden wind. "Dammit. She's gone."
*~*
Earlier that evening...
"Come on, Duo. We'll be late!" yelled an impatient Hilde who was dying to go see a special performance for her birthday celebration. She had spent the entire day shopping for the right dress to wear and delicately managed her time to allow herself two hours to get ready. The only flaw to her ingeniously-arranged schedule was the time needed for Duo to get ready. Hilde sighed heavily once more as she assumed her position on the couch once more and starred at her watch. It just had to be a sin for a guy to take longer than a girl to get ready!
"I still don't see why you insist on going to the circus for your birthday? I thought that's what three-year olds did?" a mumbling Duo said as he messed with the tie of his tuxedo as he walked down the stairs. He didn't much mind going to the circus. He could see a long time comrade and friend there. But the tux... the tuxedo was really pushing it. "I feel like a waddling penguin. How does Quatra wear these things?"
Hilde smiled at the sight before her. Duo dressed in a cobalt blue tuxedo as dark as the midnight sky, though a bit messy with each hand messing with one end of his tie. She approached trying to control her laughter, "Have you ever put on formal attire, before? Here... let me." She gestured toward the tie and worked her hands swiftly with the thin piece of fabric, "There, now come on!"
Within half an hour, the two found the perfect seats to oversee the entire circus performance. Elephants, lions, lion tamers, acrobats, jugglers, dagger throwers and all. It was so overwhelming, it even helped Duo forget about his present discomfort with a particular cobalt blue tux.
Then the performance that both Hilde an dUo had been waiting for, the amazing knife-thrower, Catherine Bloom, and her acrobat assistant, Trowa Barton. Duo hollered and whistled over the crowd in brotherly support. Just as he found his seat again, he heard Hilde drooling over a certain clown-budy of his, "Man, even to this day, I can fall for a clown like that."
Duo sweatdropped as her words flowed from her soft lips. Not again! He then realized the reason to his opposition of coming here. "You know, you are drooling over a close buddy to the guy who rescued you from the Mercurios and Vayate!"
Hilde finally averted her eyes from Trowa toward her close and best friend. She smiled brightly as she realized Duo's jealousy over his old comrade from the eve wars, whom help no competition over Duo. She would always only have eyes for Duo, though despite her out-going nature, could never openly admit her affection to the boy who stole her heart. At least yet, anyway.
The two seemed to enjoy the rest of the show enthusiatically and were content with each other's company. However, once the show was over, Duo never seemed so happy to stretch his legs in his life as he ran down the steps past the exiting audience to catch up with Trowa. Hilde slowly made her way down after him, trying to squeeze through the crowd of restless men and children. She could even hear some grumbling over how many times somebody was trying to get past them and going the wrong way to exit the tent. She finally managed to catch up with Duo just to find him already deep in conversation with Trowa.
*~*
A cold gust of wind blew open an ajar window in the R.V. trailer, chilling the dagger-thrower to the bone. She sighed as droplets of rain brushed against her skin as she attempted to close the window. She rubbed her hands together in a sense of achievement and went back to her previous chore.
The steaming pot of her famous, or rather infamous, soup set off a strong aroma that warmed the entire kitchen. Green orbs softened as she heard laughter in the room next to the kitchen. She smiled as she filled four bowls of soup and exited the kitchen into the tiny livingroom. "The soup is ready. I know its not the best, but it serves as something fast to make."
"Oh, don't worry about that Catherine, Duo will eat anything you place infront of him. By the way, we have never formally met. My name is Hilde Schebieker."
Catherine couldn't control her laughter as she passed the last bowl to her newfound friend. "I know all too well who you are, Hilde Schebieker. Trowa explained to me how you helped save the Earth's Sphere by stealing information on the space fortress, Libra."
Hilde's eyes furrowed slightly as she tilted her head in rememberance of that day. "Yeah, well, it was stupid. However, it was the only thing I could think of to do to help Duo." Hilde tasted the tangy soup before her and tried hard to shallow it out of respect, but her mouth didn't seem to register the comment. When she finally succeeded in doing so, she slowly set the spoon down.
Cathy once again found herself laughing uncontrollably as she watched Hilde try to stomach the unpalatable soup. "Hey, don't worry! You don't have to eat it. It may tastebad, but it is good for you!"
"Are you sure?" Hilde questioned as she played with the soup in examination. She suddenly looked at Duo who was gulfing it down and smiling brightly when Trowa offered him his share. "How does he do it?"
"You should know," Trowa sat in the easy chair next to the girls and laid back to rest his muscles, "You live with him!"
Hilde gave a hard glare in Trowa's direction, but her expression softened into relief as Duo came over and finished her bowl off as well. At least he's good for something! "Hey, hey Duo... that was mine!"
Duo smiled with a goofy look full of soup sauce smudged everywhere. "All well, you snooze, you lose!"
Hilde was about to slap the hell out of him when a loud thud stopped her. All four occupants focused their attentionat the door, which had slammed open. A single, dark figure in a cloak stood motionless in the heavy rain as lightning flashed across the sky.
Trowa stood glaring at the intruder as Cathy and Hilde gasped in fright and Duo wiped his face off. "Who are you?" Trowa's hand lay alertly at his side where his gun was hidden. He motioned over to Duo. Duo seemed to understand as he positioned himself in front of the girls with his own gun handy.
The figure slipped into the shelter the trailer provided from the pouring rain. "You haven't changed much," the figure took the hood off to reveal feminine features of golden hair and desperate pools of emerald green. "No-name, or should I say Trowa Barton."
Trowa's features changed for a spilt second in a state of shock and surprise before they hardened once more into a deadly glare at the girl before him. "Hello, Middie Une."
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AN: Hey guys, sorry it was so long, but I really wanted to end this chapter here, and not sooner. I hope you guys liked it!
Chapter Two Preview: Next time, Trowa finds out what Middie has come for and the truth to a difficult past. Will Trowa forgive all that Middie has done and help her, or throw her back onto the street?
by: WolfCry17
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing. I repeat...I do not own Gundam Wing.
AN: Hey, everybody...this chapter is going to start developing the story, I hope...So please read and enjoy. By the way, I failed to mention this earlier...the gang is around 17 to 18 while Noin and Zeches are 22. (Just in case, anyone wanted to know :p !)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------
Chapter 1 ~Unwanted Company
9:00 a.m., October 19, A.C. 197...
The clicking of high-heeled shoes resounded throughout the spacious office area as a young woman of eighteen carried a large file of paperwork as she weaved through the maze of open work stations towards an elevator. She pushed the top floor button and silently rode to the top of the massive E.S.U.N. Headquarters building. She exited into a hallway and strode to a door that led to a two- linked room office. She walked over to her own personal desk and pressed a button on her intercom while balancing the heavy file in the other hand. She waited patiently until her superior's face filled the screen of the empty vidcam.
"Morning Dorothy," Dorothy's superior greeted cheerfully with a huge smile, but that smile soon disappeared. "That's yet another file, isn't it," fear filled the voice of Dorothy's superior.
"Well, it certainly isn't an envelope," sarcasm evident on Dorothy's tongue. Her superior simply glarred out of annoyance and Dorothy's smile broadened. "I am coming in to give it to you. Be right there," Dorothy terminated the connection as she headed to a nearby door that joined their two offices. She juggled the file once again in one arm as the other opened the door. "Morning Miss Relena. Here's the file. I have already organized it per chronicle order," Dorothy explained as she closed the door and walked toward Relena's desk to set the file on the side.
"What would I do without you, Dorothy?" Relena smiled geniunely as she opened the file as if to confirm what Dorothy had promised. When she was satisfied, she focused back on her assisant and continually growing friend. "So, what's the schedule for today?"
Dorothy set herself comfortably on the edge of Relena's desk as she flicked one of her eyebrows. "Hmmm... I believe a short meeting with the Preventors Commander Lady Une at noon; at 3:00, a conference at the E.S.U.N. Parliament building, which is the closing of your seven-day conference on current bills and what not."
"Thank goodness... I was beginning to think this day would never come... I never thought a seven-day migrane could hurt so much."
Dorothy smiled at Relena's attempt of gripping. She knew deep inside, Relena never really minded all the argueing. She was always strong enough to handle it. "And after that meeting, you head home to work on your speech to the public for the final decisions made at the conference, which is scheduled a week from now."
Relena sighed, "Another long day." She spoke with a forceful smile and sarcasm dripped on every word. She was about to dismiss Dorothy when a realization hit her. "By the way, when did this meeting with Lady Une come up. I don't remember scheduling an appointment."
Dorothy hesitated. She was hoping Relena wouldn't ask about that, but knowing her, she knew the question was inevitable. "That's because she scheduled the meeting this morning. She sounded very urgent about it."
"She told you more than that. I know it. What are you trying to hide from me?" Relena eyed Dorothy urging her to spit it out.
Dorothy flicked her eyebrows once more, but her smile seemed fake. She knew Relena didn't want to hear the rest. "You don't give up. Something about a new personal bodyguard she wants to assign to you."
Relena's eyes fell to the papers before her, but she did not see them. She could handle all of the paperwork before her, she could handle old, bickering men, but she could not stand the claustrophobic feeling she always got when she was assigned a personal bodyguard. "Fantastic. Did you try--"
"Yes, I tried convincing Lady Une that you didn't need one, and that I could protect you just as well as any bodyguard. kYou know the preventers, though,"Dorothy explained as she opened the door to leave. "She must have a good reason..."
Dorothy assured as she left Relena to her own thoughts.
*~*
The fifteen-minute father clock stroke twelve with a song of joy in the Chief Preventer's office. Lady Une waited patiently for her appointment to arrive, but at the same time feared that Relena was able to drag the topic of this appointment out of Dorothy. The entrance door to her office sounded with a light knock as Lady Une breathed outwardly to prepare herself. Time to face the music. "Come in, Miss Relena."
The door opened slowly revealing an enraged Relena, though she held her emotion hidden well. Lady Une mentally winced as Relena walked forward. She had heard of the infamous conflicts held between Relena and her brother over this same issue. Not a comforting feeling.
"I demand an answer Lady Une," Relena quickly went straight to the point.
"Well, hello and good morning to you too, Miss Relena... I assume Dorothy has already informed you as to why I called this meeting."
"More or less. All I caught was the assignment of a new bodyguard. Lady Une, you know how I feel about that. Besides, Dorothy is more than sufficient to--"
"I know Relena," Lady Une paused for a breath, "but, I have my reasons and this man is more than qualified himself. He has an excellent record, skills with a gun, a martial arts degree, and is very friendly."
Relena sighed, "And a complete stranger."
"Well, I won't be for long if you would be so kind as to allow me the opportunity, Vice Foriegn Minister Darlian," a unfamiliar, masculine voiced echoed behind Relena.
Relena turned abrubtly at the sound of the young man's voice and found to her eye's appeal, a confident, gorgeous guy sitting in the black leather easy chair at the corner of the room. She hadn't even realized he was there when she first walked in. His eyes focused on her own as if they were trying to captivate her soul. His entire look was sharp as was every move he made. Every move out of curtisy, every word out of respect, and not once did his eyes leave her own. She watched as he stood and strode swiftly towards her. He brought her hand to his mouth to brush his lips against her ivory skin. She watched him carefully as shivers ran down her spine. His light brown hair was greased back with gel to complete his sharpness. His emerald eyes still not leaving her own in an intoxicating stare. "Carl Jackson, miss. It's a pleasure."
Relena suddenly felt uncomfortable the way Carl was eyeing, and she quickly reclaimed her hand from his grasp as if her virginity were in jeopardy. "I suppose I have no choice," she focused back toward Lady Une once more, "How
long?"
"You'll know that answer when I know it," Lady Une sighed. She hated displeasing Relena, and she could tell Relena didn't care for the young man chosen for the job in the least bit, but it was for her own good. "It's late now. I believe you are on conference at three."
"Yes." Relena seemed to accept the situation and turned on her heel to leave like an obedient dog on a leash with her guardian choking the air away. That claustrophobic feeling.
*~*
Somewhere within the colonies, a few days later...
Hard, desperate breathing filled the hostile air of the windless night. Golden, wavy tresses fell into a flowing cascade followed as a rogue stole away into the streets in madness. She had to get away from her present location before her mission was destroyed.
*flashback*
Endless data filled the screen as a old, worn out man downloaded all the information he along with a team of biologists had been working on for the past year. Beads of sweat watered his wrinkled forehead as the downloading prodedure was coming to a close. He had to get this information out of this place before something terrible happened. He wiped his forehead with a piece of cloth as a small silver disk popped out of the laptop. He quickly retrieved it and placed it into a locket that was held on a thin, delicate chain. "You must, you must get this information to the preventers immediately."
A girl of seventeen with blonde tresses and emerald eyes approached the old man hesistantly. "I can't leave you here. What if they find out you downloaded all of the test results. They will kill you."
The old man motioned for the young girl to come closer to him. When she obeyed, he grabbed her shoulders as to further emphasize his urgency. "If you don't go, who knows how many lives will be lost due to this data. You must do this, my daughter. I made a mistake coming here and bringing you into this mess. Please, let this be my way of repenting for my sins."
Suddenly, they heard a thundering sound as officiers on the other side of the door tried to get in. "Who's in there...come out immediatey!"
The old man began to panic as he led his daughter to a ventilation cover. He opened it quickly and pushed her in. "Go now, before it is too late. Get help. You are our only hope.
The girl screamed at her father when he covered the vent back up, "No father. You can't do this. I won't leave you." Tears filled the girl's eyes as her father wouldn't comply with her wishes. "Father!"
*end flashback*
As gunshots rung in her ears, she dashed into a nearby alley full of trash cans, litter, and hanging clotheslines in an attempt to lose her pursuers. She grasped the single locket that hung loosely aroung her neck as she stumbled down the alley, knocking down whatever she could to damage her path.
"There she goes! Down here!" a band of officiers followed the thief down the alleyway avoiding each particle of debris that was purposedly knocked down in an attempt to block their path. However, not one officier was able to get any closer to the girl.
The girl was beginning to lose focus and any sign of hope to allude the officiers in a different direction. Suddenly, an idea struck as she rounded the corner into yet another long, dark alleyway with plenty of clothesline about. Perfect. She hopped onto a nearby trashcan and then preceded to jump to barely grasp the
edge of the closest window ledge, but began to lose her grip. Just as her hanging body was about to fall on her incomers, she gained all of her upper body strength to thrust herself into a high back flip to gently land on a single clothesline. She stood motionless and lifted her arms to steady her balance. She quickly caught her breath as the officiers rounded the corner.
"Search the perimeter. She couldn't have gotten too far," one officier barked. The group scattered to look behind and in anything that could serve as a possible hiding place. The light of flashlights lit the area for any sign of movement, but found none. Suddenly, a piece of clothe, a linen scarf, fell from above. With quick reflexes, all flashlights were aimed above only to find nothing, but clotheslines blowing in a sudden wind. "Dammit. She's gone."
*~*
Earlier that evening...
"Come on, Duo. We'll be late!" yelled an impatient Hilde who was dying to go see a special performance for her birthday celebration. She had spent the entire day shopping for the right dress to wear and delicately managed her time to allow herself two hours to get ready. The only flaw to her ingeniously-arranged schedule was the time needed for Duo to get ready. Hilde sighed heavily once more as she assumed her position on the couch once more and starred at her watch. It just had to be a sin for a guy to take longer than a girl to get ready!
"I still don't see why you insist on going to the circus for your birthday? I thought that's what three-year olds did?" a mumbling Duo said as he messed with the tie of his tuxedo as he walked down the stairs. He didn't much mind going to the circus. He could see a long time comrade and friend there. But the tux... the tuxedo was really pushing it. "I feel like a waddling penguin. How does Quatra wear these things?"
Hilde smiled at the sight before her. Duo dressed in a cobalt blue tuxedo as dark as the midnight sky, though a bit messy with each hand messing with one end of his tie. She approached trying to control her laughter, "Have you ever put on formal attire, before? Here... let me." She gestured toward the tie and worked her hands swiftly with the thin piece of fabric, "There, now come on!"
Within half an hour, the two found the perfect seats to oversee the entire circus performance. Elephants, lions, lion tamers, acrobats, jugglers, dagger throwers and all. It was so overwhelming, it even helped Duo forget about his present discomfort with a particular cobalt blue tux.
Then the performance that both Hilde an dUo had been waiting for, the amazing knife-thrower, Catherine Bloom, and her acrobat assistant, Trowa Barton. Duo hollered and whistled over the crowd in brotherly support. Just as he found his seat again, he heard Hilde drooling over a certain clown-budy of his, "Man, even to this day, I can fall for a clown like that."
Duo sweatdropped as her words flowed from her soft lips. Not again! He then realized the reason to his opposition of coming here. "You know, you are drooling over a close buddy to the guy who rescued you from the Mercurios and Vayate!"
Hilde finally averted her eyes from Trowa toward her close and best friend. She smiled brightly as she realized Duo's jealousy over his old comrade from the eve wars, whom help no competition over Duo. She would always only have eyes for Duo, though despite her out-going nature, could never openly admit her affection to the boy who stole her heart. At least yet, anyway.
The two seemed to enjoy the rest of the show enthusiatically and were content with each other's company. However, once the show was over, Duo never seemed so happy to stretch his legs in his life as he ran down the steps past the exiting audience to catch up with Trowa. Hilde slowly made her way down after him, trying to squeeze through the crowd of restless men and children. She could even hear some grumbling over how many times somebody was trying to get past them and going the wrong way to exit the tent. She finally managed to catch up with Duo just to find him already deep in conversation with Trowa.
*~*
A cold gust of wind blew open an ajar window in the R.V. trailer, chilling the dagger-thrower to the bone. She sighed as droplets of rain brushed against her skin as she attempted to close the window. She rubbed her hands together in a sense of achievement and went back to her previous chore.
The steaming pot of her famous, or rather infamous, soup set off a strong aroma that warmed the entire kitchen. Green orbs softened as she heard laughter in the room next to the kitchen. She smiled as she filled four bowls of soup and exited the kitchen into the tiny livingroom. "The soup is ready. I know its not the best, but it serves as something fast to make."
"Oh, don't worry about that Catherine, Duo will eat anything you place infront of him. By the way, we have never formally met. My name is Hilde Schebieker."
Catherine couldn't control her laughter as she passed the last bowl to her newfound friend. "I know all too well who you are, Hilde Schebieker. Trowa explained to me how you helped save the Earth's Sphere by stealing information on the space fortress, Libra."
Hilde's eyes furrowed slightly as she tilted her head in rememberance of that day. "Yeah, well, it was stupid. However, it was the only thing I could think of to do to help Duo." Hilde tasted the tangy soup before her and tried hard to shallow it out of respect, but her mouth didn't seem to register the comment. When she finally succeeded in doing so, she slowly set the spoon down.
Cathy once again found herself laughing uncontrollably as she watched Hilde try to stomach the unpalatable soup. "Hey, don't worry! You don't have to eat it. It may tastebad, but it is good for you!"
"Are you sure?" Hilde questioned as she played with the soup in examination. She suddenly looked at Duo who was gulfing it down and smiling brightly when Trowa offered him his share. "How does he do it?"
"You should know," Trowa sat in the easy chair next to the girls and laid back to rest his muscles, "You live with him!"
Hilde gave a hard glare in Trowa's direction, but her expression softened into relief as Duo came over and finished her bowl off as well. At least he's good for something! "Hey, hey Duo... that was mine!"
Duo smiled with a goofy look full of soup sauce smudged everywhere. "All well, you snooze, you lose!"
Hilde was about to slap the hell out of him when a loud thud stopped her. All four occupants focused their attentionat the door, which had slammed open. A single, dark figure in a cloak stood motionless in the heavy rain as lightning flashed across the sky.
Trowa stood glaring at the intruder as Cathy and Hilde gasped in fright and Duo wiped his face off. "Who are you?" Trowa's hand lay alertly at his side where his gun was hidden. He motioned over to Duo. Duo seemed to understand as he positioned himself in front of the girls with his own gun handy.
The figure slipped into the shelter the trailer provided from the pouring rain. "You haven't changed much," the figure took the hood off to reveal feminine features of golden hair and desperate pools of emerald green. "No-name, or should I say Trowa Barton."
Trowa's features changed for a spilt second in a state of shock and surprise before they hardened once more into a deadly glare at the girl before him. "Hello, Middie Une."
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AN: Hey guys, sorry it was so long, but I really wanted to end this chapter here, and not sooner. I hope you guys liked it!
Chapter Two Preview: Next time, Trowa finds out what Middie has come for and the truth to a difficult past. Will Trowa forgive all that Middie has done and help her, or throw her back onto the street?