Notes: #...# indicates thoughts/thinking.
Conversations IV
"You saw him. How did he look?" Relena asked anxiously."Not good. And it's not going to get better." Duo replied soberly. "I know that he's your brother, but I think that he's not playing with a full deck."
"Why do you say that?"
"Do you want the gory details? Or can you just trust me with the statement that Mirialdo or Zechs or whatever he wants to call himself now, needs a reality check and if he starts fooling around with Epyon, he's going to need a padded room, because that damn thing is evil."
"This is a scientific and modern age Duo. You can not call an inanimate object evil, like you were some superstitious peasant." Relena laughed lightly, trying to cover the uneasy feeling that Duo's report had invoked. She was upset that Une was hurt and on Balji she couldn't go to her. While Une may think of their affair as nothing more then a physical release, Relena did love her. Not that she wanted to settle down with her, but she was something that she needed right now.
"It fucks with your mind. Hard, fast and no lube." Duo said, his eyes haunted. "It hurts you. I don't know what your brother is going to see or hear from the damn thing, but it's evil. T-chan was nuts when he made that thing."
"T-chan? You call him T-chan. That is priceless." Relena laughed, but was blushing at Duo's language. He usually was very careful around her, Epyon must have shaken him more then he realized to make him forget who he was talking to that much.
"And what are you going to do with that information? Does the great pacifist have ulterior motives?" Duo asked embarrassed. Hell he had no secrets anymore, but that was slip that he really hadn't wanted to make.
"What do you think I'm going to do with that information? I'm going to blackmail him with it sometime in the future." Relena said, giving Duo a hug.
"Why?" Duo asked, "Your sitting high now, Queen of the World. Take the offer and see what happens. Dermail must be worried if he's willing to offer you that."
Relena laughed again. It was harsher and older sounding then her first one. Relena looked at Duo, her eyes cynical. "They hope to control me. They think I'm young and foolish. It was a mask, like your clown one. I may not be as smart as I think I am, but I know that they made this offer because they couldn't destroy me. So after you all make your narrow escape into space, I'll accept their offer. I had a hard time convincing Quatre that I would be alright."
"He's a nice guy, one that worries a lot, with a ton of sisters." Duo said. "And he bought what you were selling earlier. Chasing Heero was a good cover. I bought it myself."
"It was a hobby. And it annoyed Wufei to no end." Relena smiled wickedly. "I would have been at a loss if Heero actually responded to anything that I was offering. And it did convince the Romafellers that I was harmless."
Duo gave Relena a quick hug. "Take care. And if ya can..."
"I'll watch for T-chan. You take care of Une if you see her." Relena blushed a little. "Tell her I love her. And that I'll watch out for her Treize-sama."
Duo's jaw dropped. "You and Lady Une?" he managed to squeak out. He took a deep breath and continued, "Good. 'Neesan needed someone."
"It's not like Trowa and Quatre. Or may be Heero and Wufei. We're just passing the time." Relena said shaking her head. She didn't mention Treize. That romance was tragic, touching and seemingly doomed and she wondered if they would both be able to survive the war. She doubted it. Someone was going to pay the price for playing this game and she had a sinking feeling it would be them.
"It's something," Duo informed her passionately. "It might not be forever, grow old, have children relationship, but it's a warmth that you need right now. Don't knock it."
End Part 12
Christine
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