~W~

Duo followed Hilde outside, throwing a quick grin back at myself and Yuy. The door creaked shut behind them. Heero moved to a window.

Duo's back was to us, completely obscuring our view of Hilde, but I watched Heero stiffen as her arms slid around him and leaned down to.. we couldn't see...kiss her?

I turned away. It was none of my business.

I shot a sideways glance at Heero as he moved past me to sit heavily on the couch. He looked slightly ill.

Duo and Hilde re-entered moments later, Heero straightened.

"Have you guys eaten? 'Fraid we don't have much in the kitchen. But Hilde's volunteered to cook if we go get something."

"I what!? I didn't!" Hilde stammered

"I will cook." I stepped forward. "Duo, take Heero. He can buy our supplies as it's his fault we're imposing on you unannounced. Hilde, if you could show me your cooking facilities."

Hilde shot a worried glance at Duo, who brightened his smile and said

"Guess it's you and me 01!" and started out the door. Heero raised an eyebrow in my direction but turned wordlessly and followed him.

Hilde stared at the door they'd exited through a moment longer than turned away from me.

"This way."

I followed her.

"There isn't much to it." Not much was an understatement. The galley style kitchen was windowless and not much bigger than a walk-in closet. A two-burner stove and half size oven squeezed in between a refrigerator and a single basin sink. Against the other wall sat a card table and mismatched stools.

All three pieces had been artfully painted.

"The pots are under the sink."

"Did you do the painting?" I nodded towards the table set.

"Most of it. The feathers were Duo. Wings are sort of his thing."

I nodded.

"What are you doing here, Wufei?"

The girl was direct.

"We have an assignment."

"So go do your assignment. Why come here and upset Duo?"

Upset him? The girl wasn't making sense. Why would our presence upset him?

"Explain your meaning."

"Explain?" she looked at me with disdain before taking a melodramatic breath. "Don't you get it? Duo's totally in love with that jerk Heero. But that guy picked the Peacecraft girl instead. Duo's nursing a broken heart. You guys showing up here must hurt like hell."

"What do mean by Heero 'picked' Relena?"

"What do you think I mean? He signed on to be her knight in shining armor didn't he. A part of her private security force."

I shook my head.

"Heero declined to join Relena's security detail. He's just a Preventer."

"He what?"