Episode 20: A Comforting Gesture

A/N: Sorry it took so long to put this up but i had serious writers block.

Relena swiftly and efficiently put Day Star against the wall. Wing was placed just as quickly beside her gundam. Deathscythe was across the way. The gundam looked like he had seen better days. There were mud splatters all over the gundam. She knew that something was defiantly wrong if Duo didn't take the time to wash his partner of the dirt.

"Heero?" Relena called.

The pilot of Wing looked up at her. Knowing that was going to be his answer she continued. "Something really bad must have happened for Duo not to take care of Deathscythe."

He nodded his head in understanding. The two of them made it to the upper levels to go speak with Relena's father.

"Dad?" Relena called.

"Come in Relena," he called back.

The two went into the office. Her father was talking on the phone with someone. He motioned for the two of them to sit but only Relena sat in a chair in front of the desk. Heero opted for leaning against the wall by the door. Once the conversation was over with and her father hung up the phone he looked at the pair.

"What was so important that you called all the pilots back? Sakura said it was urgent."

"Yes, it was, but you will have to wait until the rest of the team has returned."

Relena nodded and got up. Heero had already left the room. "And Relena don't go looking for Melanie you won't find her."

Relena nodded her head knowing how Melanie was when she didn't want to be found. The blonde pilot retreated to her room to unpack her bags. Deciding to take a nap she lies down and fell asleep. She woke up sometime later to someone shaking her shoulder.

"Relena get up," she heard the person say.

"What Skye?" she asked groggily.

"You're father has summoned us to make a report about our findings."

"I'll be there in a moment."

Relena got up once the girl had left the room. She quickly dressed and headed towards the meeting hall. Every one of the pilots was there except for Melanie, which she expected if something was wrong with the older assassin. Duo was leaning against the wall mostly covered in shadows. His head was down and his eyes were closed as if deep in thought. The meeting went on with everyone making their various reports about the action they had met along the way. Once Duo put out his information he left the meeting not caring if he was needed or not.

The one happy-go-lucky pilot walked down the halls towards his room. When he opened the door Melanie wasn't in the room. He wasn't concerned for the moment. His first thought was the hanger. His instincts proved him right. Melanie was sitting in the cockpit of Deathscythe. Normally, the thought of someone else sitting in the cockpit of his gundam would have annoyed him, but it seemed fitting that Melanie was sitting there.

"Deathscythe needs a bath Duo."

"Yeah I know. Want to help me?"

"In a moment."

He scaled the scaffolding and sat in front of the cockpit watching her with amusement gleaming in his eyes. Even though she was pale and worn looking he still thought she was beautiful. She looked up and caught his gaze.

"Something you like Mr. Maxwell?"

He just smirked as he moved forward. She put down the computer in her lap and accepted his warm kiss. Her arms wrapped around his neck dragging him down. A soft chuckle came from behind him making the pair jerk apart to see who would be laughing at them. It was Theron much to their annoyance.

"Don't mind me."

He had his duffle bag over his shoulder and left the hanger. Melanie shook her head hating her brother at that moment.

"We should start cleaning Deathscythe up so he looks well taken care of. If your dad saw him this way he'd murder."

Duo laughed nervously.

"Move and I'll lay this bad boy down so we can clean him up."

"I have a better idea."

He looked at her in confusion. She got up and pushed him back into the pilots seat.

"Melanie?"

"There is a lake no far from here."

He realized what she was saying.

"Don't we need our swimming gear? Or would you prefer skinny dipping?"

"I'm already to go."

Duo's mind went wild at the thought. Melanie chuckled at him as she took off her shirt to reveal a bathing suit. The thoughts ceased as he saw his battered lover's body. There were bruises and cuts all over her body. Right there he swore vengeance. Melanie looked at him sadly before moving forward and sitting on his lap. To get his attention she pulled his head down and kissed him.

"He's not worth it Duo."

"He hurt you."

"It's only physical pain Duo, and that heals."

"But he…"

"It's okay. We better get out of here before I get bombarded by questions from the other pilots."

Duo only nodded as he closed the cockpit. Deathscythe walked from the hanger and then jetted towards the lake. The water was crystal clear and there wasn't a person is sight. Deathscythe wasn't stopped until he was submerged under the water completely. The gundam moved out of the water until it was waist high. Melanie exited first and climbed up on the gundam. There were still a bunch of mud splatters all over the gundam. Taking a washing brush she began to wash the gundam down. Duo was beside her helping her scrub the gundam down. Once it was squeaky clean Melanie rested on Deathscythe's shoulder. The sun beat down on her. Duo watched her for a moment before moving up and leaning over her. Her arm came up to shadow her eyes so she could look at him.

"Something wrong Duo?" she asked softly.

Leaning forward he kissed her. His hands traveled down her sides and she pulled back and hissed. Duo jerked away from her.

"Melanie…"

"Shut up and kiss me. I missed you."

"I'll hurt you again."

She pushed him till he was lying back on the gundam's shoulder. Melanie sat on his stomach and ran her hands down his chest rememorizing what she had forgotten while he was away. She could feel the shivers run through him. Melanie laughed softly at him. His amethyst eyes opened and looked at her lovingly. His hands came up and stopped her wandering hands. He sat up quickly making her slid down into his lap. For a moment he wished he hadn't done that.

"Melanie I don't want to hurt you."

She leaned forward and kissed him. Suddenly a loud beeping came from the cockpit. Duo groaned in annoyance. Melanie moved away from him and allowed him to slid down and answer the message.

"What?" he growled.

"Sorry to interrupt your little make out session Duo," Skye said. "But you're needed back at the palace."

"Right."

A loud splash made the pilot scramble forward cutting the call off. He looked up and Melanie was missing from his Gundam's shoulder.

"Melanie!" he yelled.

She broke the surface with a huge smile on her face as she swam towards the open hatch and hauled herself up onto the platform. Duo pulled her against him and whispering soft nothing against her ear.

"Duo you have to go."

He sighed and let her go before sitting in the pilots' seat and beckoned her to come to him. She sat down on his lap and they headed back towards the palace to see what was so important.