I know! Its late, I thought it might happen but. . . . wow. No update last week, this weeks is short and I have no idea how long next weeks will be! I AM SO SORRY! All my chapters could be compressed into like 8 total, with a decent sized length. I AM SO SORRY! And thank you for hanging in there. If ya have time check out my profile and the notes on this story. IF not its okay. THANKS SO MUCH!!!
Dedication: LYNDS! WooP! YAY!!!
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CHAPTER 22
The door opened, and there appeared the Vice Foreign Minister, the most famous politician, and woman, in the world and colonies, wearing ripped open jeans, her hair down, and a long loose shirt hanging off her slender frame. Faint shadows rippled under her eyes, but a bright smile spread across her face and she held out a slender hand to Duo. "Hello, I'm Relena Darlian. Pleasure to meet you."
Duo jauntily shot
his hand out and took her soft one into his calloused one. "Nice
to meet you too. I'm Duo Maxwell," A mischievous grin ran
across his face, but melted into a more polite one.
"Won't you come in?" Relena motioned with her arm. Duo walked in, feeling somewhat overdressed in his suit. Heero followed behind him, closing the door. "Sit."
Duo sat, trying to get in a comfortable position on the enormous poofy sofa. He kept sinking in and he looked as if he was about to fall asleep. He settled on sitting on the edge and leaned forward.
Relena smiled, and Duo sensed some passing nervousness in her; he couldn't help but wonder if her reason for nervousness was the same as his. "So, what do you do for a living?"
"I'm a mechanic," Duo said proudly and with some urging launched into the story of his career. Relena was surprisingly easy to talk to, she made everything you said seem like the most important thing to her. That was probably a factor in her success as a diplomat. Duo was seemingly a very open person, but he kept to himself most of his story. His childhood, his career, his current interests were really only known to selected, trusted group of people. Despite his jocular attitude, he really was quite serious; and was very private. Then Relena began answering Duo's questions, but Duo noticed she was rather vague on the details of her life. He felt a bit angry that he had opened himself up to her, but she couldn't trust him yet. With an inward sigh, Duo accepted her vagueness as habit, and only hoped it didn't come from dislike.
Heero had sat to the side the entire time, watching with interest the two people between him. Neither of them were sure of the other yet. Both slightly suspicious and neither knowing what to expect. Heero was pleased with there reactions though, and felt a comforting feeling that they were both acting this way in concern for him. He sighed, and the extended conversation halted, both heads turning to him. Relena glanced at her watch.
"Oh my! Look at what time it is! I am so sorry Mr. Maxwell, I have to be somewhere in 20 minutes! I was just so immersed in our conversation," Duo stood and bowed.
"Don't worry about it, I completely understand," Duo nodded to Heero and smiled fondly. "See you tomorrow." Tomorrow, before he left for a week. Duo walked to the door, followed politely by Relena who saw him out. Heero escorted him to the front entrance, and left him there with an apology, admitting he couldn't leave his duties for too long.
Duo mounted his motorcycle, not exactly sure what he thought of Relena Darlian. She seemed nice, but he wondered if he had really met her, or a puppet she had made for the outside world.
~*~*~
15 WEEKS
Heero left yesterday. Duo was already missing him, knowing it would be at least 6 more days before he could see him. It seemed the longer he knew Heero the more Duo wished he was with him. Heero made him feel special, the way his eyes softened when he saw him, how he was protective of him. Duo shivered in delight and loneliness. The singularity of the occupants of his apartment was much more pronounced without anyone to call up and talk to, or have over. He had called Quatre and later this week they were doing something. For now, he was spending most of his day at work, trying to keep his mind focused on something other than Heero's absence. It worked out alright, he was able to accept more jobs with his extra help, and he noticed a definite increase in his customer variety. He had a feeling that it was due in part to Charity and Sams 'family.'
Duo was working under the hood of an
old Mercedes, when Sam arrived. Duo stood and waved to him, and with
a pleasant surprise he saw Charity sidle in after him. Sam shrugged
in apology, "I needed to take her with me today, I'm really
sorry. She promised to be good."
Duo smiled and waved it off. "Its no bother. Nice to have a woman to add class," With a sincere promise, Duo looked straight in Sam's eyes, "Bring her in whenever you want."
For the rest of the week, Charity accompanied Sam to work. Sometimes Duo would buy a book, or a toy and place it on his desk. There, Charity, in great delight, would play, keeping herself thoroughly occupied for the day. Sam's held more than respect for Duo now, but also gratitude. Duo was able to ease off on the cool, aloof employer bit. Sam had also loosened some and Duo saw emerging a young smart man, determined to better life for himself and his sister. He was quiet, but witty. Duo was happy he had him working with him, and felt a bit of pride in his decision to find a worker from Charity's clan.
This week had been surprisingly enjoyable, despite the constant desire for Heero's company. He'd had lunch with Quatre and Trowa, which was an eye opener, he had learned a bit more about Heero and his personality. But now his week's wait was over. Duo sat in his apartment, watching late night television, waiting for the phone to ring and to hear Heero tell him he was home.
Duo had thought halfway through the week of leaving a surprise for Heero at Heero's home, but he realized in a disturbing revelation that he didn't really know where Heero live. They had never met over there, and it had never been a big deal. Now though Duo decided he should at least question the issue. Heero probably wasn't hiding it from him intentionally, it was probably more of an instinct than anything and he could understand that.
The phone rang, startling the braided
man, and he grabbed up the cordless and answered, "Hello?"
"Hello?
Mr. Maxwell? This is Becca, from downstairs, I was wondering,"
She stuttered, "That is, its been on my mind lately. . . . The
girl? Charity? Well I have been bothered by her situation and I
feel like I need to do something to help," Her voice came out
rushed and he could sense a small amount of desperation in her plea.
All thoughts flitted out Duo's ear and exited through the nearest window at that moment. A bright grin drew across his face and he smiled, an exclamation of agreement bursting forth into the phone. The fact that she had been moved by Charity and her situation gave him hope for the rest of the world. He had always had an irksome feeling that he was the only one that cared in the world, and Becca's opening up like this gave him great hope. The helplessness that she began to express mirrored his own, and excitement coursed through him.
It was only two hours later, after Duo had hung up the phone and hastily written down some ideas on a piece of paper, that he realized he hadn't heard from Heero yet. . . .
tsuzuku
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Thank you so much to all my reviewers! Later I will put arigatous in! I promise, so check back in later! ^^* THANKS!
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Annie!
