Duo’s Awakening
Part Two: Me? Jealous? No way!

20-19-04-03
Author’s Note: Here’s part two everyone! As I’ve said before, the main characters of this story are from the Gundam Wing anime. Hope you enjoy!

C-615 Colony, Outer Space:
Three Days Later:
Suesse Airport, 0800 Hours

There’s a skip in Duo’s walk as he went through the hubbub of the airport. Excited by all the people he passed by from one terminal to the other with Hilde in tow.

“There it is, Hilde, passage 20…” Straining his neck to make sure that it’s the right terminal.

Hilde tugged at his sleeve as she whispered, “There he is!”

Duo looked to where Hilde is pointing and analyzed his somber looking friend. Wearing cream slacks, white polo shirt, and a blue blazer slung over his shoulder, he looks as if he doesn’t have a care in the world.

But, Duo had spent time with him and knew that what you see is not always what you get when it comes to Heero Yuy.

They walked over to him, and Heero met them halfway. Giving his friend a cheerful smile, Duo casually said,

“Hey Heero.”

Heero nodded, “Duo (looking at Hilde he smiled faintly) Hilde…” came the low baritone greeting.

Hilde couldn’t stop herself and flung her body to Heero for a hug.

“I’m so sorry, Heero…” She looked up at Heero’s startled face, “You never really said how you felt about Relena, but I had a feeling that she was… special to you.”

Heero half smiled at Hilde and patted her back, “It’s all right Hilde…”

Meanwhile, Duo unconsciously took hold of the small metal handle in front of the passageway, and gripped it very hard as he saw the touching scene in front of him.

He heard the metal groan, and quickly looked around if anybody noticed, or heard it. Shaking his head to clear the sudden anger that flared in his mind, he slowly let go of the metal.

Whistling softly (while looking anywhere but where he was at), he placed his hand behind his back and casually walked to Hilde and Heero who just finished their ‘greeting’. Reminding him self to analyze what made him react the way that he did.

Later on that day, one of the cleaning crew who was polishing the metal around the airport, came by a slightly bent metal railing in front of passage 20.

~*~

“Here you are, Heero!” Duo announced as he flung Heero’s suitcase on the bed and plopped just beside it. While Heero silently let go of his other suitcase by the bed and started to open it.

Silence encompassed the room and Duo, used to Heero’s silence, turned over on his belly to look at his new gloomy housemate.

Duo’s head bowed in sympathy, and his hands started to play with the bed sheet.

“Heero…?” Duo said as he looked at his friend... He wants to ease the pain he's probably feeling... but he doesn't know how... Heero turned to face Duo. “I’m sorry about Relena too…”

Duo didn’t see a flicker of emotion cross friend’s face before Heero turned his back to him.

“Duo…”

“Hmm?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

Duo nodded although he knew that Heero didn’t see it, “All right…” Thinking that Heero might need some time alone, Duo started for the door.

“Just remember, I’m here if you need to talk…” said Duo.

Heero turned to face Duo and a small smile showed itself on his face, “Thanks, so is Hilde…”

And he went back to arranging his clothes into the cabinet.

After a few seconds of staring at Heero (after his comment), Duo noticed his right hand shaking as he gripped the doorknob tightly. Remembering what happened to him at the airport, Duo mentally shook his head again as he closed the door.

“What’s happening to you, Maxwell?” he asked himself as he walked to his own room. Flopping on top of his bed and placing both hands behind his head, he contemplated for an answer until his eyelids fell and he went to sleep with no answer, but more questions.

~*~

For the next two days, Heero volunteered to help Duo with his company, at the same time, asked Duo for a computer so that he could check on his own company. Duo not only complied, but also gave Heero his own office to work at.

‘Heero is still silent, but he’s always been like that, although not that much anymore...’ thought Duo, not letting his thoughts go to the events he saw when Hilde was laughing up at Heero. He passed by Hilde’s opened office and a few steps later he stopped.

With a stunned expression on his face, Duo backtracked to Hilde’s office and opened the door wider.

The sight that greeted him made his jaw drop.

Hilde is picking up a paper on the floor.

And, for the first time since he knew Hilde, she’s wearing a skirt! A skirt that hugged her…uhm… Duo gulped and he felt sweat build on his forehead.

Hilde straightened, and tugged at her skirt. The action seemed to snap consciousness back to Duo, and he was able to regain control of his facial muscles so that when Hilde finally turned around, what she saw was a Duo who is standing by the door with a warm and friendly smile.

Duo leaned against the door’s frame. It was all he could do to stop himself from, if not fainting, then making a fool of him self in front of Hilde.

Hilde looks gorgeous! The peach colored skirt and blazer went well with her coloring, and her usual hairstyle (hair in a bun) is gone. Right now, her hair is free from the bun and is grazing against her shoulders, with a silver barrette contrasting her black hair, just on top of her right ear for her hair to be straight. Not only that, but she’s wearing make-up! All these four years of working together and he had never, ever seen her look like this, and it’s making him feel weird! But through it all, he still managed to say,

“Mornin’ Hilde.”

Hilde smiled back at him, her rose colored lips seemingly to beckon at Duo as it moved. And Duo started imagining those lips under his…

“DUO!” Hilde shouted.

Duo jerked back and fell on his backside. “What the hell…?”

Hilde leaned to Duo and offered her hand, concern etched on her face,

“Are you all right?”

Duo reached for her hand and hoisted himself up, he hesitated only a little bit before letting her hand go.

“Yeah, yeah… I’m all right…Not to worry.” Muttered Duo. He started to walk to his office, and Hilde walked with him.

“I think you’re overworking yourself, Duo…Maybe you need some R and R?”

Duo laughed. Placing a hand on top of Hilde’s shoulder, he looked at her in the eyes and said, “I’m all right, really.”

He seemed to be mesmerized by Hilde’s dark eyes since he couldn’t look away.

Then he heard the main door click open, jolting him back to reality. He patted Hilde’s shoulder,

“Thanks for your concern Hilde…”

Turning away from Hilde, he walked to his office and sat on his chair to start on with the day work. He was trying so hard to focus on the paper on his hand, trying so hard to not think of a certain dark eyed beauty, that he didn’t see Hilde sigh as she leaned against his office entrance. Look at him once more then walk back to her office.

~*~

Duo looked at the paper he had probably tried to read more than a hundred times since this morning and sighed. He just can’t concentrate! Rolling up a piece of paper and tried to shoot it into the trashcan but he missed.

“Dammit!”

Duo slumped into his chair. What’s bothering him anyway? A picture of Hilde floated in his mind. He smiled as he remembered the way her skirt hiked up her thigh this morning.

“Gad, she looked great!” he muttered. He looked to his left wall, where Hilde’s office is located and wished that there wasn’t any wall.

He picked up another contract and tried to read it. He bit his lip then looked up at his watch and a smile showed itself on Duo’s face.

“Lunch time!” He stood up and happily walked to his door. ‘Maybe I could ask Hilde to eat lunch with me.’ He thought to himself.

But once he was by Hilde’s door, he saw Heero already inside. Duo frowned as he asked himself what was going on.

He saw Hilde put her arm around Heero’s, and anger like he had never felt before flared in Duo. Hiding behind the curtain blinds, he saw the two walking toward the elevator while Hilde is chatting and laughing with a content looking Heero.

Duo balled his hands into fists, and once they were out of his sight, he left his hiding place.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing, Heero?” he asked in anger.

Then, he frowned, as he eased his balled up hands. He chuckled to himself.

“What am I doing? (He shook his head) Hilde’s just a friend… I mean, we’re not even going out with each other! (Duo opened his door) So, there’s no reason for me to get mad at Heero just because (Duo breathed in a little air for control) just because he asked Hilde to go eat lunch with him, just this once!”

With that, Duo went back to his contracts and was able to put half, if not all, of his concentration on it. Thinking that he doesn’t need to worry about Hilde and Heero.

Heero knocked on Duo’s office door. Everybody already left for home, so it’s safe to check on a very moody Duo.

“WHAT?!” came the angry reply. Heero smiled to himself as he, after opening the door, saw Duo look at him in fury.

‘I guess two weeks of taking Hilde out is finally taking a toll on him.’ Heero thought to himself.

“Is there something wrong?” Heero asked Duo, fully aware that Duo won’t say anything.

Duo slumped in his chair, “Nuthin’ Heero… Nothing’s wrong.”

“Well…” Heero said in his best know it all voice, “Everybody’s been worried sick about you since you’re not acting like yourself for the past two weeks!”

“Sorry…” Duo muttered.

Heero thought to drop the bomb, wanting to see his friend’s expression.

“Especially Hilde…” Heero saw light enter his friend’s expressive eyes, and he bowed his head to hide his own smile.

“Really?” asked Duo. Then he cleared his throat, “I mean, so what?”

Heero looked back up at Duo, noticing the change in his friend’s face and smiled inwardly.

“Nothing. Just thought that you might want to know…” Heero said as he moved outside the door, and closed it behind him.

Not able to contain his laughter, Heero went to his own office and there, he laughed till his stomach ached. Wanting to share his news to the others, he dialed Quatre’s number.

He was so busy reporting to Quatre and Relena what was happening that he didn’t notice his door open, and a shadow lean by the doorway.

Finally, he was saying his good bye.

“I love you too, Relena. Take care all right?” he dropped the phone.

Feeling another persons’ presence, he looked up. Heero saw Hilde, leaning against the doorway, with her eyes in slits.

“Care to explain what all that was about, Mr. Heero Yuy?” she asked in a dangerously low toned voice.

Heero assessed a very angry Hilde, and knew that it was time to tell her the truth.

Standing up and walking to Hilde, he offered her his arm,

“Let’s go eat dinner, and I’ll tell you as much as I can…”

Heero saw distrust in Hilde’s eyes, but she still looped her arm around his.

“How about if we go to that new place down the block?” Heero suggested as they walked out of his office, and into the street.

Hours later:

“…So, you see, we’re really doing this to help you…” Heero explained.

Hilde finally smiled. “Thank you for the thought…But do you think that it’s going to work?”

Heero looked thoughtful, “Well, when you started wearing a skirt (Heero saw Hilde smile) after I suggested it, I already noticed some changes. Then, there’s the mood swings because we’ve been going out. If it doesn’t work, I’ll resort to kidnapping and locking both of you in a shed, if that’s all right with you…”

Hilde laughed and nodded. “Fine with me! So Relena is really alive?”

Heero smiled, “Alive and better than ever. But call her Rena.”

Hilde’s eyes crunched itself as she looked at Heero. “You’re not telling me everything!”

Heero hid a smile,, “I’m not?”

“Oh my gosh! You two are married, aren’t you?! I mean, considering the time span of how long she's been gone... You two have been on your honeymoon!” came the excited conclusion.

Heero only smiled.

The door at the restaurant opened.

Hilde clasped Heero’s hands into hers to show him how happy she felt for her two friends.

“I wish you both the best of luck, Heero.”

The door at the restaurant opened once again.

Hilde let Heero’s hands go. “But, next time, “she said, as she leaned comfortably back down at the chair, “Let me talk to Relena, too!”

Heero smiled back at Hilde and nodded his approval.

The two friends resumed eating. Finally clearing things up.

A few blocks from the restaurant:

“Damn you Heero!” shouted Duo in an empty alley as he kicked a can out of his way.

He could still remember the scene vividly in his mind.

Duo was feeling hungry and thought of going to the new restaurant everybody seems to be talking about. He was even in a very good mood, until he entered the restaurant…

Duo saw Hilde sitting in one of the booths, and started walking towards her, then he stopped in mid step. Her hands were intertwined with somebody else’s. He looked at the person Hilde is looking at.

Duo didn’t need any other evidence as the distinctively cut brown hair showed itself well above the sofa’s backrest.

Duo felt as if he couldn’t breathe, and grabbed the nearest chair to steady himself. He looked back up at Hilde who was looking lovingly at Heero.

He couldn’t take it, so he quickly exited outside the restaurant.

“DAMN YOU!!!” he cursed again.

“This shouldn’t hurt me…” Duo thought to himself, “I was a gundam pilot, dammit! I’ve been through hell! This is just a little thing… SO WHY THE HECK DO I FEEL LIKE SHIT!!!”

Duo’s mind wondered to Heero as he got to his apartment. “This is all your fault…”

He went to his living room and turned on the television to wait for his so-called friends’ arrival.

“That boy is going to get a piece of my mind…” whispered Duo to himself.

~*~

Later:

Duo heard the lock click open and positioned himself to faced the door squarely.

He saw Heero go inside.

“Where have you been?” asked Duo, anger flaring up in him as soon as he saw Heero.

Heero looked up at Duo, not at all surprised, “Out.”

Duo stood up from where he was sitting and menacingly walked toward Heero.

He pushed Heero, “You were out with Hilde, weren’t you?” he accused.

“Yes…” came the calm agreement which only angered Duo some more.

“What do you think you’re doing going out with Hilde?! (He pushed Heero once again, not noticing the anger that started to spark in Heero’s eyes) You asshole!” Again he pushed Heero.

“Stop pushing me Duo…” came the short warning from Heero.

“The hell I will!” Duo answered, pushing him back once again.

“Duo, stop pushing me.” Warned Heero once again.

But the message seem lost to Duo as, once more, he pushed Heero to the wall, “Damn you!”

Heero drew back his right hand, and in the blink of an eye, thrust it into Duo’s stomach.

Duo doubled over. Glaring at Heero, he charged, trying to land a punch, but Heero kept avoiding it.

“Stand still you snake!” yelled Duo as his fist slightly grazed Heero’s cheek.

“That’s it…” Heero growled, his patience just nearly used up. He caught Duo’s incoming fist with one hand, twisted him around then, hooking Duo’s feet out from under him, Duo fell flat on his face as Heero placed his knee in between Duo’s shoulder blades.

Duo lay panting.

“Now, promise me that you’d start behaving.” Heero said. Duo didn’t answer, so Heero twisted his arm some more.

“Aaaaargggggh! All right!!!”

Heero let go of Duo and stood up, walked over to one of the chairs and sat down to wait for Duo to stand up. Duo finally stood, and Heero motioned for him to sit down. Against his will Duo grudgingly complied with the command.

He stared at Heero with loath.

“Why are you so angry Duo?” asked Heero. ‘Maybe at long last, we’ll be going somewhere!’ he thought.

Instead of answering, Duo asked, “Are you and Hilde a couple now?”

Heero looked surprised and frowned.

“Me and Hilde?!” then, Heero started laughing.

The laugh surprised Duo a lot, after all, the few times he saw Heero laugh was when he was destroying some Oz models... I mean... Sure I've seen Heero smile and laugh for the past years that the group has started to meet... but, this very amused laugh is totally different!.

“Is that what this is all about?” asked Heero, after his hearty laugh, “Well! Somebody sure is jealous!”

“I am not jealous!” denied Duo. He slumped into his chair as he asked another question, almost to himself,

“What does she see in you? I’m funny, smart, have my own company (he slumped in his chair) I was even voted one of the most eligible bachelors of the colony…”

Heero rolled his eyes, “You’re full of pride, full of yourself…” he continued.

He received a glare from Duo. “You must love Hilde.” Commented Heero.

Duo stood up from his couch, “I do not!” he denied. Then, looking at Heero, he asked, “What about you?”

Heero smiled, “Hilde and I are just friends, Duo. Just friends…"

The statement stunned Duo, “Just friends? But I saw you two holding hands tonight! (Duo saw Heero’s accusing look and quickly denied his friends’ silent accusation) I didn’t follow you!”

Heero nodded. “She was giving her condolences, and wishing me luck.” he lied easily. Standing up, he walked toward Duo and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“If she means so much to you, show her…” Heero started to walk away, then stopped and face Duo again, “After all, you just told me that you ‘like’ her, and she just told me that she ‘likes’ you too…” With that, Heero headed to his room and hoped that something will come out of this night.

Sliding into his bed, he closed his eyes, and thought of Relena.

Duo, on the other hand, just stared at Heero’s retreating back first. Then, a slow smile appeared on his face. He stood up, and headed to his own bedroom. Planning some surprises for Hilde as he slowly drifted off to sleep.