January 9, 2001
Sequel to 'Have You Ever...'
Standard Warnings and Disclaimers apply.
About the same time the space ship Shooting Star was leaving Peacemillion, another ship was approaching the battle ship Libra.
"I know you'll be angry, Duo," Hilde said softly to the empty cockpit of the 'borrowed' cruiser, "but I need to fight in my own way too..."
~~~Flashback: 2 days ago~~~
Duo woke up feeling strangely lethargic. Okay, well, no, that's untrue. Duo *usually* woke up lethargic in the morning, but this morning was still... different. Maybe it was the sweet smelling sheets that weren't the ones normally on his bed, or the weird, erotic dream he'd had of him and Hilde--yeah, now that was *definitely* strange...
"Wake up, sleepy-head. I have breakfast ready--unless of course, you don't *want* blueberry pancakes..."
Two violet eyes popped open automatically with the promise of food--and the braided teenager nearly jumped out of his skin.
The reason why his sheets smelled different was because they *weren't* his sheets--they were Hilde's. And he was in Hilde's bed. And he was naked. And Hilde was standing by him, dressed, staring down at him.
Duo's stomach did funny little flip-flops as the realization that that strange, erotic dream *wasn't* a dream...
"Come on, Duo," she bossed, tugging at the sheets that were his only shield against complete, utter, and total embarrassment. "I need to wash the sheets and I can't do that with you still in 'em. Besides, you've slept the morning away. Didn't you want to help the sweepers clean out sector 36?"
Duo sat up, a hand smashing his face in before pushing his bangs back. "Um, yeah, yeah, I'm up, I´m up," he mumbled, trying to think of a way to get downstairs to his room and into clothes without having to walk around the small house naked. "Where are my clothes?" he asked, looking around at the spotless floor.
"In the dryer," Hilde answered, tugging at the sheets again. "Now, up!"
He 'eeped' and jumped up, dragging the flat sheet with him. Hilde sighed and turned to look at him.
"Duo..."
"Um, Hilde, do you, ah, mind?" he asked, fumbling to wrap the sheets around him.
She just looked at him, frowning. "Duo, what do you think you're doing?"
"I'm, ah, just going to go and get dressed," he replied, smiling, winking, and flashing her a 'V' sign before ducking out the door, leaving the dark-haired girl alone in her bedroom.
Hilde sighed again, muttering to herself. "Unbelievable. It's not like I haven't seen him naked already..." She shook her head. "And they say *women* are body-shy..."
Duo ate his pancakes--drowned in syrup--in silence.
"I was thinking," he said suddenly, his voice erupting into the quietude as he pushed the last blueberry square across his plate. "I need to get back with the others. I mean, there's still a war going on and all and I need to get back into the fight before I miss all the fun."
Hilde placed the plate she was drying back in the cupboard. "I was wondering how long you were going to stay away from the front lines."
His head shot up and he looked at her sharply, looking for any hidden meaning behind her comment. She sighed and tossed the dishtowel on the table, leaning back against the counter.
"Duo, you're a gundam pilot, and the gundams are needed on the front lines--not that we don't appreciate your help here, but, let's face it. This war can't last forever--no matter how it seems. You're needed... and I'll come along to help."
"Huh? What? Oh, no," Duo's mouth caught up with his brain. "Uh-uh, no way," he said, pushing to his feet and taking his plate to the sink. "You ain't going anywhere near the front lines, Hilde. You're gonna stay right here like a good girl."
"Like hell, I--"
"Hilde!" Duo turned, catching her shoulders and shaking her. "Listen to me! I have to fight this war. You don't. I have to fight this war and I need to do it in my own way. I have to fight as a Gundam pilot protecting the colonies. If you come along I'd just be Duo protecting Hilde."
"Duo..." she whispered.
He sighed and dropped his hands, pushing past her. "I'm going to be heading back to Peacemillion," he said, pausing at the doorway. "Don't try and follow me, Hilde, I mean it."
She pulled the disk free from the computer port, taking it safely into her vest as she began making her way back to the hanger bay. Now all she had to do was highjack another cruiser, blast out of here, and get this data to Duo. Surely they would be able to use this data--making their job all the more easier.
"Heero?" a girl asked softly.
The name stopped Hilde's thoughts. Why did that name sound familiar? She remained hidden behind an outcropping, listening easily to the other two girls.
"I wonder which one would win?" the second girl asked, something in her voice making Hilde's skin crawl. "The Gundam... or the mobile doll with the same pilot's data?"
'Gundam...?' Hilde gasped, but the first girl's voice masked her slip.
"Heero will not lose" the first girl asserted. Silently, Hilde agreed. After all, if he was a Gundam pilot...
"Yes, he is strong," the second blonde girl was saying. "Well, I must be going, I have work to do. Please do take your time to look around."
Hilde waited until she was sure the second girl was gone before she approached the first. "Do you know a Gundam pilot?" she asked. Seeing the look on the other girl's face, she had her answer.
The sandy-blonde girl had led her to a private room--Hilde was surprised. Apparently the girl had some type of status on the enemy ship, but if she knew a gundam pilot...
"It's dangerous to be here," the girl said calmly. Too calmly, Hilde thought. "You should get out soon."
"Yes, I'll do that," she replied, checking the corridor. "I have to give them this data I gathered on Libra." The door slid shut again and Hilde looked at the other girl, studying her. She *seemed* nice... maybe she was just, deceived by White Fang or something. Trapped here.
"Why don't you come with me?" she asked the girl. "You want to meet that pilot, don't you?" 'Just as much as I want to see Duo again, I bet,' she added silently.
"No, I can't do that," the girl replied and Hilde frowned. "I have something I need to do."
"Really?" she asked. 'So do I--and I can't wait around here all day trying to change you're mind.' "Well, I'm off!" She paused. They'd never introduced... and if she *did* get to Duo, she could at least tell him that this girl was here, right? "What's you name?" she asked, and watched amusedly as the other rose to her feet.
"Relena Peacecraft," the girl replied evenly, regally, even.
Hilde's heart stopped, and then began racing. 'The Queen,' was her first thought. She swallowed, forcing a small smile to the girl who was probably younger than herself. "Take care," she whispered.
"You too."
And then she was gone.
End of Part 20: Aboard Libra
Andrea Readwolf
Please send comments to: andrea_readwolf@hotmail.com