Disclaimer: Still don't own anything. Sucks i know.
Note: This chapter is going on at the same time as the last one. This one explains what Andrika was doing while the boys are out preparing for their mission. Hope you like it!
Andrika sighed as she flopped back into Duo's vacant bed. Heero's disappearing act had caused the others to take Duo on the mission to help out. So now, she was left in an empty house, with no real agenda for the day until she had to go out with Zechs that evening.
The thought of Heero brought a frown to her face. He was acting so strangely lately and she was so sure she had figured out why. But his refusal to either accept what was happening or ignore it was making life very difficult. She had long wondered what was beneath his stoic exterior. How was it possible to be close to 5 people but yet remain at arms length at all times? Heero Yuy was a great mystery that she was determined to solve.
But right now above all else she was angry with him. Accusing her of trying to manipulate him, she would never manipulate anyone for selfish gain. Granted she could manipulate almost anyone but never just for kicks. There was something brewing in his mind that he was very unwilling to share. And when she pressed for it, he snapped. His accusations alone made her feel like a bad person but the way he looked at her…It was only for a moment and she didn't realize it until now, it almost resembled to cry for help. Like he wanted to her to rebuff any attempt of his to dismiss what she thought. She wasn't a fortune-teller damnit she couldn't read his mind and probably didn't want to. The mind of a 19 year old male was something she didn't really want to go prodding around in; Heero Yuy or not.
Rolling over she looked at the clock and decided that she would go shopping for the remaining time she had before her 'date' with Zechs. Girly yes, but she was a girl and needed to indulge every now and again. Just because she was constantly surrounded by men didn't mean she needed to act like one.
She got dressed and left the house. Once outside she obligatorily waved at their neighbor as she looked up at the clear sky. It was a beautiful day, not too hot not too cold; perfect for any activity. Admiring the gorgeous day she walked into town with a smile on her face. When she reached town she walked along the street watching all of the busy people that frequented downtown this time of day. As she stood at a crosswalk she got the distinct impression that someone was watching her. Sure enough there was a man standing next to her with a suit and sunglasses on. Probably the young professional type, she rolled her eyes and he approached her and pulled his sunglasses down to get a better look.
"What is a fine young lady like you doing all alone in a place like this?" He asked smoothly.
"Nothing that concerns you. But thank you for your concern." She said a little more harshly than she intended.
"Come on baby, I'll take good care of you. How about a date?" He asked reaching for her arm.
"I don't think so." She said as he grabbed her arm. She again rolled her eyes, only this time because her personal space was being so obviously violated.
"I just want to show you a good time. How about a little compassion here?" He asked being very persistent.
"Afraid I'm fresh out of that stuff," She said as she took his arm and twisted it behind his back, "Now if you don't mind I would like to continue my day in peace. Thank you." She finished as she let go and crossed the street with the mass of other people waiting. She continued down the street before reaching her favorite clothing store and began browsing when her phone rang.
"Andrika Valentine." She answered.
"Agent Valentine, how are we doing today?" Came Lady Une's voice from the other line.
"I am great ma'am, how are you?" She asked flipping through a rack of pants.
"I'm afraid I have some bad news. I am removing you from active duty as well as removing you from your current living situation at the Winner estate." Lady Une said matter-of-factly. Not one for small talk she always got straight to the point.
"I'm sorry?" Andrika said forgetting her formalities and a bit stunned.
"I decided that I need you behind the scenes now, I want you to become a part time trainer, full time interrogator and more involved in press related issues. I need you here at the headquarters more than I need you in the field." Her voice remained flat with no emotions.
"I understand that part ma'am but would you mind elaborating on why I am to leave my living situation?" She asked trying to keep the anger out of her voice.
"Well, I appears that you and Agent Yuy have been getting into quite a few arguments lately, and I decided that since I am pulling you from active duty with them that there is no need for you 6 of you to remain in constant contact. We have a very nice apartment set up for you in the outskirts of the city. A lovely place fully furnished and paid for." She began trying to sell the apartment to Andrika.
"Understood ma'am, when am I to be out?" She asked fighting back the wave of emotions that was crashing against her.
"We actually have some personnel over there now collecting your things. I would recommend staying out for the day until it is time to ready for you meeting with Agent Merquise." Lady Une said. The resentment in the young agent's voice, although restrained, hurt her to hear.
"Yes ma'am. Anything else?" She asked blankly.
"Do be careful of Agent Maxwell, I fear he is quite taken with you. Good night Agent Valentine and good luck tonight." Lady Une finished and hung up quickly before Andrika could get a word in.
Sighing Andrika gave up her futile attempt at shopping and went to her favorite coffee shop and sat reading the paper, just as Heero had done the night before.
"ANDY!!" Yelled a voice from the near the door.
Andrika put the paper down hearing her name and looked to the door to see Hilde coming her way. Andrika met Hilde through Duo and they became fast friends, although Andrika suspected she was the one who put the idea of Duo and Andrika together in his head. Hilde was smaller than Andrika in height as well as general build. Her eyes sparkled with genuine excitement. Hilde was really the only friend outside of the Gundam pilots that she had.
"How are you Hilde?" Andrika asked standing and embracing her friend before returning to her chair.
"I'm great. How are you doing? You look a little pissed off." Hilde commented while taking the chair across from her at the small table.
"Is it that obvious? I just got a bad phone call. Not what I wanted to hear." Andrika said plainly.
"What happened?" Hilde asked excitedly, she was always interested in the goings on of the Preventers and curious to see how Duo was doing in his little quest to win Andrika's heart.
"Well, I just got a call from Cornel Une saying that I am being pulled from active duty and from my house." Andrika began.
"Wow, kind of a double whammy huh? So what happened? Does that mean you were like demoted or something?" Hilde asked trying to piece things together.
"No, she says that my skills are better suited for behind the scenes work. And the housing situation is because Heero and I have been fighting and he walked out this morning and didn't show up for the mission. So they kicked me out. Makes sense right?" Andrika said letting her emotions get the best of her.
"Bummer." Hilde said simply.
"They have people at the house collecting my things and bringing them to my new place right now." She said sipping her tea.
"Where is it? Can we go see? That would be fun?" Hilde said trying to console her friend.
"I don't even know where it is. I figured I was going to stay here for a bit, go back to the house and make sure that I have everything, head to my new place, check it out and then get ready for my mission this evening." Andrika said not wanting to do any of it. She suddenly really wanted to go home and be in Duo's arms.
"Ooo, what kind of mission?" Hilde asked; her interest peaked.
"Don't get so excited, it's just a goodwill mission. You remember Zechs Merquise right?" Andrika asked her friend.
"Of course I do Andy. I tried to sabotage his operation near the end of the war and almost got killed. That is something you don't really forget." She said chuckling at her friend.
For someone who had supernatural human interaction skills like Andrika, Hilde feared she was clueless sometimes. But nonetheless she loved her, and couldn't wait to be the maid of honor in her and Duo's wedding.
"Yeah, I guess so. Anyway he just came back from god knows where and Corneal Une wants me to assimilate him into the peaceful world. She fears he won't be able to fit in during peaceful times without some help."
"So a date?" Hilde asked quite acutely.
"Pretty much yeah. But I didn't have the option to say no." Andrika said smiling knowing the next question she was going to be asked.
"So how are things with you and Duo?" Hilde asked with a devilish grin.
"Well, you will be very happy to know that I went out on a date with him last night."
"And?" Hilde asked practically salivating at the idea of Duo actually not screwing something up for once.
"It went very well." Andrika said keeping the details to herself.
"Did he kiss you?" Hilde said getting ready to jump out of her seat.
"Not that it's any of you business but yes." With that Hilde nearly hit the ceiling she was so excited.
"I knew it, I knew it, I knew it. I'm so glad you finally gave him a chance. You two are so cute together and he is head over heels for you." Hilde exclaimed so excited for her friends.
Duo and Hilde realized pretty early on that they weren't ever going to be a couple. They were too much alike, they settled on good friends, and after watching Duo's failed attempts at getting girlfriends for the time they were staying together on L2 before he got the Preventers job, she knew she needed to intervene. As soon as she met Andrika she knew that this was the girl for Duo, so she planted a few ideas in his head and her hard work was finally paying off.
"Calm down, Hilde. I just decided that it was time to give him a chance, and I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. But, now that we won't be seeing each other as much it is difficult to say what will happen." Andrika said as she shrugged and slunk back into her chair.
"Well, then it appears that you two will just have to date like normal human beings. Oh my god; what a concept!!" Hilde said mocking her.
"Hey. Nothing about Duo is anywhere near normal." Andrika said throwing a straw wrapper at Hilde.
"Yeah, and it makes your heart melt doesn't it? He's so dreamy." Hilde cooed, Andrika however was not amused.
"Yeah, yeah laugh it up," Andrika said looking at her watch, "Oh, I have to go. I have to hit up the old house and find my new place and then get ready for a date with Zechs." Andrika said finishing her tea.
"What are you guys going to talk about? Doesn't his sister hate you?" Hilde asked.
"Yeah, but what are you going to do? I didn't do anything personally to his sister, we just don't see eye to eye. I think he can respect that. He is a good man after all." Andrika said gathering her things strewn across the table.
"Yeah, yeah. Oh by the way, you never told me what you and Heero are fighting about." Hilde said eyeing her friend as she stood.
"It's complicated and I don't have the time right now. Sorry about unloading everything on you like that. It is very seldom that I get any female interaction anymore. I appreciate the company." Andrika said as she stood next to Hilde.
"Well, now that you have your own place we can have slumber parties. You can tell me about Heero when I come over the check the place out ok. Give me a call when you are settled." Hilde said rising to meet Andrika.
"You got it. Thanks Hilde, it was nice to see you." Andrika said embracing Hilde.
"Anytime Andy." Hilde said as she waved to Andrika who was scurrying out of the coffee house.
Ok here i wanted to bring in a female friend fo Andrika to kind of let all of her feelings out on. As i am sure all the girls know it is all well and dandy to have guy friends and talk to them, there is no substitute for female friends. You can just talk to differently to them, much easier and they tend to understand much better. All right so there it is. I also wanted to set up a bit about Andrika and Relena's relationship to make way for the date that she and Zechs will have. I have ideas for all of it. And believe it or not but that part about the guy a the crosswalk actually happened to me! Crazy huh. Hope you liked it and thanks for the support! - Tessra