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- Chimera of Life -
Story One: Mutual Conquest
~*~
Hilde and Duo turned just as
a body crashed against glass, shattered it like sugar pane, and then dropped on
the floor with a sickening sound. Two pairs of shocked, wide eyes stared from
the unconscious body, up to… a mop of golden hair, leaning over a table to
check his handiwork.
The blonde looked up and
gave the couple, still in each other’s arms, a tentative smile. “Sorry I’m
late.”
“Q-man?!” Duo gaped as he
stared from their gentle mannered friend to the guy on the floor then back
again.
He got there just in time to
stop the man- thank Allah! Now… Quatre looked behind him to the other groaning
man then checked the table. He saw the button he was looking for, smiled, and
then pressed it. A light turned from green to red. “I’ll explain later, but I
think you two should hurry up and follow me.” That said, he dropped to the
floor and tried to trace a wire…
Duo and Hilde looked at each
other. A blush slowly formed upon Hilde’s cheeks just as it did on Duo’s.
Quatre grinned as he found the end of the wire, straight into the container he expected.
Hilde cleared her throat.
“Uhm…”
Duo swallowed.
“We need to talk…” They said
at the same time.
Quatre pressed a button and
a small disk popped out. “Got it.” He carefully placed the silvery disk inside
his research team’s disk container while he placed the other in his pocket.
Duo’s and Hilde’s record was much more important besides, his team would
provide him another disk if he needed it.
“Quatre… what are you doing
down there?”
Hilde’s voice nearly made
him jump. Should he tell them? Should he…? “Uh… I… uh… dropped something…” He
looked away, afraid that they would see what he’s been up to. “Are you guys
ready?” He noted the distance between the two as they nodded but decided to not
think about it for now. “Good. Follow me. We’ll take the back way.”
“Why?” Duo pushed one of the
men out of Hilde’s way with his foot.
“I told you. I’ll explain later.” Quatre checked the hall outside
the door then motioned for the go.
They didn’t meet anyone as
they went through their route. A slight flicker of surprise appeared on the
couple’s faces when they saw a limousine, with Rashid, waiting outside just as
they exited the door. They didn’t need any more prompting as they scooted
inside the limo with Quatre right behind.
“Rashid, Serad, did you
finish what I asked you to do?”
“The other reporters only
came in a few minutes before us but Channel 340 might pose a problem.”
“Why?” Quatre leaned over to
one side, grabbed the phone, and then hit a programmed number in the process.
“They were able to record it
from the beginning. They might have a back up in their station. We were able to
destroy their tapes but anyone who was watching 340 saw it.”
Quatre nodded as he tried to
think of any way to stop another broadcast. “Hello, Jasmine? I’ve got a big
favor to ask.”
Rashid turned to look at the
couple with a confused look on their faces, and sitting quite far apart from
each other.
“Yes, I know. Dinner? Sure. I’ll
be there for the gathering. Okay, there’s a little situation over here. Could
you please contact whoever’s in charge of Station 340 and tell them to destroy
all tapes with Duo and Hilde’s pictures around seven fifteen p.m. Hartwater
time. Got it?” A pause and the three could only watch as Quatre nodded. “Yes.
Duo Maxwell and Hilde Schebecker-” Quatre’s eyes widened. “You saw the whole
thing?!”
Duo and Hilde frowned.
“You will?” Relief replaced
shock and Quatre finally smiled. “Thanks, sis.”
The moment he got off the
phone, Duo cornered him. “What the hell is happening here?”
“I think Duo colorfully
stated the question I wanted to ask.” Hilde added as she frowned at Quatre.
Quatre sighed. “Well… I’m
just happy that both of you are seated… Ready for the news?”
Hilde nodded while Duo shrugged and so, Quatre began to recount the earlier events. A few minutes later, the blonde looked from a slack jawed Hilde to a disbelieving Duo. “So… you guys basically humiliated Lawrence Morley worldwide.”
“The crowd outside the hotel
was cheering for both of you.” Rashid added with a hint of a smile.
“Oh… my…” Hilde swallowed.
Duo weakly leaned against
the backrest of his seat. “I… I don’t know what to say…”
Quatre laughed merrily. All
he wanted to say was- ‘Bring out the champagne!!!’ Of course, with the tension
he could feel emanating between the two, maybe they shouldn’t… “Well, that’s a
first.”
Duo stepped on Quatre’s foot
but the blonde didn’t mind at all. Already thinking ahead, he laid out his
plan. “Duo, Hilde, right now, I think it would be best if you guys leave
Hartwater. You can use my shuttle and you can go anywhere you wish. Then, I’ll
arrange to have your luggage delivered to your home. Is that acceptable?”
Quatre didn’t wait for their answer as he motioned for Rashid to contact their
staff.
Duo shyly glanced at Hilde,
who was focusing all her attention to the hem of the coat she stole from one of
the men. She couldn’t look at him… not yet…
Silence encompassed the
limousine until they stopped… Rashid was the first one out and held the door
for them. Quatre waited until Rashid closed the door then motioned for them to
follow him. “I’ll walk you guys to the shuttle. You can wait inside.”
“Wait… what about you?” Duo
sped up and started to walk alongside Quatre.
“I’ve got a meeting
tomorrow.”
“That explains why you’re
here.” Hilde piped from Quatre’s other side.
“Yes.” Quatre’s quick eyes
zoomed to one of his staff and he walked faster. He does not want anyone to
know that Duo and Hilde were in the airport. He wants them out of sight. “We’re
here.”
They reached the woman in
elegant, yet practical clothing, with a welcoming smile on her face. “Good
evening, Mr. Winner.”
Quatre nodded. “Good
evening, Cassie. These are my friends, Duo and Hilde… Please take good care of
them.”
Cassie nodded. “I will, Mr.
Winner. We are waiting permission to take off in half an hour.”
“Are you sure everything is
secure? Do you have enough beverage and food?” Rashid inquired as he checked
the shuttle from the window.
“Yes sir. Everything is in
order.”
“Thank you, Cassie.” Quatre
gave the woman a smile before he turned to his friends. “Okay. Just tell the
pilot where you want to go.”
“Uh… Thanks, Quatre…” Hilde
whispered just as Duo nodded.
Quatre shook his head. “It
isn’t any trouble. What are friends for, right? Of course, you still have to
tell me what happened back there.”
“Er…” Hilde looked away.
Duo coughed. “Sure, Q-man…”
“Fine.” Quatre held out his
hand for Duo and his friend gratuitously accepted it. He turned to Hilde, ready
to do the same but she hugged him instead. “Well… you two lie low for a bit…”
“We will.” Hilde waved her
good bye. “Thanks again, Quatre.”
Quatre only grinned, glanced
at Duo who gave him a thankful smile, and then Cassie started to lead them
away… A sigh escaped him just as they disappeared from his line of vision. “Do
you think they’d settle their differences in twenty minutes?”
Rashid’s eyebrow shot up as
he tilted his head thoughtfully. “Master Quatre… what do you think?”
Quatre pushed his hands into
his trouser pockets and shrugged. “Right now… I’m not thinking… Right now, I’m
just… hoping…”
…
“The bathroom, is at the
back and if you need anything, just press this button.”
Duo and Hilde nodded as they
looked around the shuttle. It was built for luxury, that’s for sure! Man! They
could invite a hundred people and party in here! The seats at the farthest ends
were long and wide, almost like beds, while the ones nearer to the front were
curved in a half moon… and everything was in white leather. Even the floor was
carpeted! Luscious sky blue carpeting!
Duo whistled. “Man! Quatre’s
got the life…”
“Mr. Winner only wishes to
please his guests and family members with these luxuries.” Cassie fluffed a
pillow and neatly arranged it onto the nearest seat. “Would you like some
beverage or cakes?”
Hilde shook her head. “No,
thank you.”
Duo just shrugged. He’s too
nervous. “Uh… later, maybe.”
“Remember, just press the
button if you need me. I’m going to check on the tower status.” With one last
smile, she walked to the small door that separated their side from the main
control system of the shuttle.
Duo nervously pushed his
hand through his hair while Hilde unconsciously brought her hand to the base of
her throat, a sure sign of unease. She couldn’t take it – them, not talking…
the tension in between…
“Are you all right?” It was
hard to tell if she received any bruises under that thick, black coat.
“Yes…” Hilde started to
nervously wring her wrists.
Duo nodded… Her single
answer didn’t exactly prompt him to make a genial conversation.
“Duo…” She faced him and
forced her eyes not to look away.
Suddenly feeling bashful,
Duo tried to meet her look. “Yeah, I know… We have to talk.”
Hilde nodded.
With the embarrassing
knowledge in his heart, and incriminating evidence in his pockets, Duo
swallowed hard. “Uh… Ladies first.”
She stopped a grimace. She
didn’t want to go first… then again, better to get it over with. “About that
kiss-”
“Hilde, please don’t say
that you’re sorry.” Duo cut her off… It pained him that she would say that again…
Dammit! He wants to at least think she had felt something for him!
A frown appeared on her
forehead as she tried to comprehend what was happening. She was a little bit
confused… she wasn’t even sure if she truly heard him say he wasn’t sorry
inside the conference room only a few minutes ago… She opened her lips only to
ask him why but he cut her off again. This time, with a finger upon her lips…
“Please… Don’t…” Duo quickly pulled his hand away then took a step back. Distance. He needs distance…
“I… I guess it’s your turn…”
What else could she say? He didn’t want to talk about it…
All the different ways of
introducing the problem that he practiced inside his office flew out of his
mind as he heard his cue… He stuttered. “Uh…”
Hilde waited just as she always
had.
“Y-you’re gonna laugh at
this…” He nervously pushed his hand through his mop of thick hair once again.
He never even noticed that his braid was unruly.
A sinking feeling started to
sweep through her stomach. “Let me guess… You forgot to go to AR-074…?”
“No!” Duo cleared his
throat. Was that squeak, his voice?! “No… I went there…”
“All right…” Hilde frowned,
trying to figure out why he was suddenly pale.
“Uhm…” He pushed his hands
into his pockets and he felt the weight of the gold ring- Hilde’s ring. Then,
with his other hand, he felt the annulment papers. Slowly, he brought them out…
Hilde curiously tried to
catch a glimpse but she only saw the edges of the white, folded paper. Duo
looked from his hands then at Hilde and she saw complete hopelessness in his
eyes… and… fear…? “Duo…?”
He tried to garner in his
courage as he reached for her hands then guided it between them. Then, he
placed his hands over hers. The confused frown on her face, in her eyes, didn’t
exactly give him the courage he needed, and he could feel himself tremble, as
he had never done in such a long time. “Hilde, I didn’t know… Believe me, I
didn’t know…”
Hilde tilted her head ever
so slightly.
Duo bit his lower lip as he
deposited what was in his hands on to Hilde’s palms. She felt the coarseness of
the paper, and the circular shape of the ring before she looked down at them.
“I… I don’t think I…
understand…”
‘Of course not…’ Duo smiled
softly. “I’ve got a proposition for you…”
Hilde looked up and met his
serious, violet eyes once again. “What is it?”
“Either you sign the
annulment papers… or you stay married to me…”
The news nearly shocked her
to immobility. “Wh-what…? Annulment?”
This time, Duo blushed deep
red. “We… signed the bottom line… We weren’t supposed to sign the bottom line
of the contract if we only wanted to be married for a month.”
She couldn’t believe it! Her
eyes widened in disbelief while she stared at Duo as though he was joking. “So…
we’re…?”
“We’re legally married.
That’s why it took so long for the license to be processed.”
“Oh my God…” What else could
she have said?! Like a newly activated automaton, Hilde jerkily turned to the
nearest seat, walked towards it, and then fell like a ton of bricks. This
couldn’t have happened. Was this a blessing in disguise?! Or was it a curse?
“Hilde?” Duo stood in front
of her, afraid to touch her. “I’m sorry… it was all my fault… I wasn’t
listening when the lady was explaining the whole thing…”
She couldn’t speak… God!
What should she say?! Was Duo just trying to be a gentleman by telling her to
stay married to him? Because of guilt?
“Hilde?” She had her head
down, and he reached out to touch her but stopped himself just in time. He
shouldn’t…
How could she find out? How
could she… “Duo… which one do you want me to choose?” She closed her fingers
over the glinting gold ring, not wanting to see its shine.
Duo dropped to his knees…
the moment of truth had finally came… He tried to laugh it off, but no laughter
came. “Honestly?”
Hilde only nodded, head
still down, face covered by her bangs. He wanted to see her reaction… With his
right hand, he tenderly pushed back her bangs then traveled down the frame of
her face then gently pushed her chin up. Her eyes were closed. He tried to
ignore the disappointment that coursed through him. “Honestly… Hilde… I would pick…” He lovingly touched her left
hand, the one in a tight fist. “This one.”
Hilde’s eyes snapped wide
open and Duo stared into her deep, mesmerizing, sparkling, midnight blue eyes
just as her left hand slowly opened to reveal the ring… her other half. “Why?”
Her voice was hoarse, as if
she was trying to fight the urge to cry, and Duo felt the same way as he looked
down at the ring. “It says why…”
She gazed at the ring in the
middle of her palm, and saw the slight difference… Her eyes swam in a pool of
haze but she tried to blink it away as she bought the ring closer for her eyes
to read the engraving inside the circle of the ring.
“I love you, Hilde…” He
voiced out his feelings to erase any doubts that might be flittering in her beautiful
head.
‘Duo loves Hilde.’
Plain, simple, and just
utterly wonderful. A fresh batch of tears assailed her eyes. She must be
dreaming… Someone must have found her in Morley’s office and knocked her out
cold. Maybe she’s dead…? “I can’t believe this… This isn’t real…” She closed
her eyes and willed for her body to wake up.
Her muttered skepticism cut
through Duo’s heart. Was she trying to say that she had not wanted to hear what
he had just said? “Hilde… it’s real.”
Hilde shook her head. She
wants to believe... She wants to believe it so terribly, but even with the ring
on the palm of her hand… with Duo on his knees in front of her, why couldn’t
she believe it? Dread? Fear that everything might change?
Slowly, Duo’s hopes crumbled
into dust… He found his answer in her silence. The way she wouldn’t look at
him. “Hilde…”
She locked her jaw, afraid
that she would suddenly bawl at the soft tone of his voice.
He was dying inside but he
wanted to voice his feelings out before he accepts the inevitable. At least,
there wouldn’t be any more secrets on his side. “I know I haven’t been the
easiest man to live with… I’ve been an ass. I’ve been a complete idiot. I didn’t know I was living with the woman I
love all these years… and then when I finally did, I was afraid…”
Hilde’s eyes fluttered open.
Sparkling violet eyes met hers and she saw so much… so much more than she
expected to… Truth…
“I was afraid our friendship
would end…” A hopeless sigh escaped his lips as he turned away from her
shuttered eyes and looked down at his lap, ready to end his confession. “I
wouldn’t stake our friendship on anything… If you don’t feel the same way about
me, just forget what I said… It wouldn’t be the same, but I’d still like to be
your friend, to be there for you.” He was hopeless against the tide of emotions
that had left him weak… Knowledge that everything wouldn’t be the same after
today was ripping him apart.
He had stopped talking… All
she could see was the top of his unruly, brown head… ‘God, if this is a dream,
don’t wake me up.’ How could she
describe what she had seen in his eyes? Her Duo… She let go of the paper in her
hand and reached out to caress his hair.
Duo frowned at the soft
touch and slowly looked up… A serene smile lighted her face while her eyes held
a soft look… Her knuckles tenderly made way down his forehead, cheek, and then
gracefully turned to cup his face.
“So… you had been afraid,
too…”
He couldn’t decipher what
she was trying to tell him. At the moment, he just felt so… tired.
If there was ever a perfect
confused look, it was upon Duo’s face right now, and she couldn’t blame him…
After all, wasn’t it only a little while ago that she couldn’t believe it
herself?
Duo’s eyes slowly widened as
Hilde traced his lips. He wasn’t used to the way she was staring at him,
holding him, caressing his face… He wasn’t used to it but he doesn’t want it to
stop. Then, Hilde leaned forward and Duo forced his body not to move… He
couldn’t even think properly.
Hilde nearly smiled at the
tension she could feel radiating from him. He, who was always so relaxed. She
stopped just before their lips touched and her breath teased at his lips. “I
love you, too…”
She saw the surprise in his
eyes then felt his jaw drop and she used that moment to kiss him as a
passionately in love woman would… and Duo responded the way she had always
dreamt he would… only this time, it was better…
His arms went around her
waist and marveled at her taste. For an instant there, he thought he had lost
everything… He was so wrong. They parted only to drink in air as a nearly
drowned man would but their eyes were that of a thousand twinkling stars, so
alive and full of joy.
“I thought…” Duo whispered
as his hands traced a path from her elbows to her hands.
Hilde nodded. “I know… me
too…” She could read his mind…
He brought her hands, one of
them opened while the other was closed, to his lips for a kiss. He felt a
tremor from her that brought excitement in him. “I think it’s time to put the ring back on…”
Hilde opened her left hand
and Duo, still on his knees, picked the ring and reverently placed it back
where it rightfully belonged- around Hilde’s finger… With his eyes still
trained on Hilde’s face, Duo leaned down and kissed the ring then tentatively
brushed a light kiss upon her knuckles. It was the most memorable day of her
entire life… and his.
A knock came from the
cockpit, and with their hands still clasped in each other’s, they glanced at
the door.
Cassie walked inside with
her smile. “I’m sorry to bother you, but we’re cleared for take-off and our
pilot would like to know our destination to make the final flight path
adjustments.”
Their hands tightened in
each other’s hold as they glanced back at one another. His eyes asked her the
question and she answered.
“Let’s go home.” Hilde
whispered as she leaned against his shoulder with a sigh.
He wouldn’t have it any
other way as he kissed her one her hair. “Of course…”
…
Duo checked his caller
identification before he opened the communication lines and saw Relena’s image.
“Hey, Rel.” At that moment, Hilde
peeked inside his office and he grinned as he motioned her inside.
“Duo, I heard from Une and
Wufei that you haven’t returned their calls.”
“Hi Relena.” Hilde stopped
just behind Duo and took her usual place, but this time, knowing that Relena
wouldn’t see, she leaned forward and Duo’s hand met hers.
“Hi Hilde.” Relena gave a
cursory smile then she leaned forward and stated her concern. “Please talk some
reason into Duo. Une is not exactly the best person to cross… So was James
Morley’s younger brother, but still…”
“It’s been a little hectic
here, Relena… We’ll contact her as soon as possible.” She felt a tender squeeze
from Duo and bit back a smile. They had been busy. Reporters had been knocking
on their door day and night! It was a good thing that everything was slowing
down… surprising, in fact, that no one had called their office for an interview
all morning! Also, their sudden popularity incited tons of projects from all
over the place. It was a miracle that they could still cuddle in front of the
television at night!
“B’sides, Une doesn’t get
mad that quickly.” His thumb lightly made patterns over the back of her hand
that nearly made Hilde break in uncontrollable fits of laughter.
Relena shook her head. “It’s
been a month! Une has patience but it also has its limits! I’m the one who gets
the unnerving stares for the both of you.”
“And we thank you for that,
Rel.”
Hilde nodded, agreeing with
Duo. “From the bottom of our hearts.”
Relena looked from Duo to
Hilde and had the sinking feeling that she just missed a joke in there,
somewhere… “Fine… all right…” A tired sigh left her lips as she checked her
watch. “I’m sorry I’m snapping at both of you, but there’s been too many press
conferences lately…”
“Especially with your
resignation in the process.” Hilde leaned forward as she noticed the dark
circles under Relena’s eyes and concern washed over her. “Relena, are you
getting enough sleep?”
The moment Hilde said that,
Duo re-checked Relena’s projected image. She does look a bit thinner.
Relena shook her head. “No…
plenty of time for that later…”
“When is your official good
bye?” With his other hand, Duo reached for a pen and paper.
“Three weeks from today at
Kwairy Hall, exactly at noon. Are you going to be there?”
The hopeful look on Relena’s
eyes bade them to nod.
“Of course!” Duo underlined
the date and place.
“Wouldn’t miss it for the
world. Who’s going to replace you again?”
Hilde tried to remember the name but right now, her brain had turned to
mush with the way Duo’s hand was tickling her palm.
“Sylvia Noventa.” Relena
looked behind her then grimaced. “Well, I have to go. Wufei just screamed that
I’m going to be late.”
Duo nodded then winked.
“Maybe you’ll see Heero there.”
For a moment, Relena stared
at the monitor as if shocked then she laughed half-heartedly. “Yes… Of course… Why didn’t I think of that, Duo?
I’ll wear my most alluring gown. Bye now.”
The monitor turned black and
Duo pulled Hilde onto his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck while she
tried to get into a better position. “You know, I think she forgot that you
were only joking about Heero.”
Duo glanced back at the
black monitor. “Yeah… That gurl needs rest… We need to get Heero there, too…”
She knew him well enough to
know when something’s brewing in his mind. “So… what are you thinking?”
He just grinned. “Maybe it’s
time we finish up here and pay a visit to Une…”
He was talking about
something else. She could just feel it. “Just remember, I want in on the plan.”
Duo grinned. “Of course…
Then…” He playfully growled as he leaned for a playful bite on her neck.
Hilde gasped. “Then?”
“How about a nice… long…
overdue… honeymoon?” His tantalizing lips traveled up her neck then settled
onto her lips and she could only murmur her approval as she tightened her
embrace around him and he deepened his kiss…
They’ll face the wrath of Une… later…
...
"What is it?" Intelligent brown
eyes stared at the strip of paper that slowly came out of their machine. It was
the first time that Arche was contacting them-
"Ma'am..."
She didn't waste any time and took the
strip of paper from her subordinate's hand. Mentally, she screamed, while a
hand curled in a shaking fist. "Duo... Look what you've done..." She
handed the paper back to the soldier while she tried to think of a substitute
plan to the one she had before. Whom could she turn to?
As the head of the Preventers stepped out
of the room, the soldier glanced at the paper and read the message-
'Warning for Duo Maxwell, Arche's public
enemy number one.'
{AN: I do hope you all enjoyed the start to my saga!
Thank you all so much for the wonderful reviews! I wanted to write to all of
you, but not all have open emails, so I could only write a general Thank You! A
friend of mine recommended that I write a preview of the next story, so,
taking her advice, here it is. I hope you will enjoy it as much as story one.}
The glass behind her shattered to a million pieces and before she could stand up, someone tackled her from behind. Indescribable pain erupted through her as her head was knocked against the stage floor while her breath was snuffed from her body… Then, along with the soft ringing sounds that came out of nowhere, she heard a familiar voice shout a string of commands…
…
The hands deep in his pockets shook. He saw Relena’s
head hit the stage floor… Saw her wince because of that sloppy tackle….
“You were late….” The words escaped from tightly
clenched jaw. He was furious and anybody who could see him right now would be
able to tell even without glancing at the burning look of death in his eyes.
One more second and Relena… could have died in front
of his eyes-
…
Relena met his gaze steadily. “Wufei, you have done
your best to protect me. You have stopped numerous assassination attempts on my
life before they even happened. If I was destined to die… I will die.” She
walked to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Wufei… death is my only
freedom.”
She treaded to the only window in the room while her
words echoed in her mind. If she had wanted freedom… why did she ended up doing
what the note had asked and, thereby, escaped the only way to obtain what she
had been longing for?
(All right. Everyone take care now! And thank you
once again!)