So I dub thee unforgiven... (2xH, AU, Pg-13-ish)

[sitboy007]

Ok, this was originally part of another story i was going to write for Heero and Relena, but i realized that i had no time left to write it. And also that the story was about Heero and Relena, not Duo and Hilde.

I can't say that its my favorite piece, but thats why im posting it. Please give me your opinions.
Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing or Metallica's The Unforgiven (the title of this piece is one of the lyrics in case you didn't know.)




Home was a wonderful sight to Duo. Well, at least it should have been. He had been gone for two years at the Crusades and he expected some sort of warm homecoming. However he had received quite a different welcome.

His wife chased him out of his own home with several pots and pans then finally a still blazing horseshoe. Dammed woman. He understood why she would be angry with him, but that was simply unnecessary.

Not only that, but she had the audacity to say that she had no room for him? in his own home! Initially Duo thought that she might have replaced him with another in her bed. This made him livid. Normally he would patiently reason with her on the matter of room and board, but the suggestion of unfaithfulness blocked all logic. However, it was all much simpler than that. Hilde was too angry with him to just allow him to sleep in their house again.

Hilde, Hilde, Hilde. How perfectly vengeful she could be. Duo had never believed that women were the root of all evil, imperfect and easily swayed by darkness, until that moment when a wooden spoon came flying at his head.

She was doing everything in her power to upset him. Beyond not letting him in his own home, she decided that a light flirt with the other knights would be particularly devious. Standing there smiling cutely, stroking the nose of Heero?s horse. Thankfully, Heero had too much dignity to really reciprocate her flirtatiousness. Trowa, however, was not Heero. He exchanged a few suggestive remarks with her, though they were not sincere.

Duo was going mad.

Here, his wife, who had vowed chastity and faithfulness to him, was blatantly flirting with other men. His trusted comrades nonetheless! He could have lopped off her head that very instant. But he knew that that happy shameless expression would remain on her petite head as it rolled away. Duo opted to stay in an inn that night.

All that was almost a week ago. Now Duo stood over a smoldering piece of metal, pounding away at it rhythmically. Hilde had gone to the market for food, so Duo snuck into his old smith shop. He could tell that Hilde had kept his business going; the ashes were too fresh.

The rhythmic sound of the clinking hammer calmed him. This was where he belonged. Somehow he had gotten the notion that volunteering for the Crusades would somehow reserve him a place in Heaven. It was laughable. After all that he had done, he was more likely to go to Hell. He was a black smith, not a knight. Funny, that was what Hilde said just before he left.

?You were like that the first time I saw you.? Duo jolted. Damn, the woman came home earlier than expected. Or he had stayed longer than he had planned.

?You?re not going to throw an apple at me?? He grinned. I guess she?s calmed down a bit.

?It would be a waste of a good apple.? He frowned. Apparently she was still sour.

?I?m sorry for leaving you, love. Somehow I thought that I was being righteous by going.? After a moment of silence, he returned to the piece of metal.

Hilde stood there watching him from the doorway. ?You were serious that morning too. Working so hard to make that horseshoe just perfect.?

?It was for a knight!? She lifted her eyes to the ceiling then lowered them.

?Well, I remember you came to help me with my mule. Damn animal. So stubborn.?

?Like it?s master.? She glared and he grinned.

?I?m sure I?ve got a rotten tomato I can sacrifice.? The threat was empty of course, but it got her point across. ? You decided to prod it with a hot fire poker to make it move.?

?Then I believe I had to help you make it stop.?

?I still don?t think that the Friar has forgiven us yet.? They laughed, but then abruptly stopped.

Silence made Duo uncomfortable. He set down his tools and approached his spouse. ?Hilde, don?t be angry with me. I?m sorry for going off like that, but you must understand. I thought it was right. I thought-?

?You?ve given me this speech before, Duo. I don?t need it more?n once.?

?True, but the last time it didn?t end with ?I missed you more than I would miss the air?.? He took her hands with a hopeful smile.

?You were never a good poet.? That smile collapsed. Arguing with her took far took much energy, energy that he didn?t have at the moment.

?I suppose I?ll have to try better next time.? He scratched behind his head then followed her inside.

Hilde practically damned herself for giving in so quickly. The man could have gone another week without sex right? Or perhaps it was her who couldn?t last.

She was surprised when Duo remembered exactly how to get to their bed while all his other senses were completely preoccupied with his wife. He dumped her on the bed a little rougher than she had wanted. Their movements were somewhat frantic. Before she had gotten his shirt fully off their bodies were already one. Once they were bare of their clothing and comfortably in the bed, their pace slowed drastically.

Moving in a steady rhythm that Duo set, they enjoyed each other?s love. However, Hilde kept thinking about her nights alone, and somehow this still didn?t atone for them. Duo had tried and failed to get Hilde into his bed before they were married, but she was ardent about abstinence. Once they were married, he was with her for only a week before he left. They made love all those nights, but seven days don?t make up for two years.

Hilde spent many nights clinging to his empty side of the bed. The loneliness was almost unbearable. She had once considered bringing another man to take Duo?s place, but she felt too guilty for just thinking it. Those years alone were emotional, and Hilde felt those emotions begin to resurface. Her vision began to blur.

?Oh Hilde.? Duo mistook her tears for happiness. The man was utterly clueless sometimes.

Hilde indulged him, panting his name and running her nails down his back. While she did enjoy their intimacy, she couldn?t bring herself to say what she knew he wanted to hear; ?I love you.? He didn?t deserve it. Not yet. Call her bitter; Hilde hardly cared. ?I missed you,? she could say. ?I want you,? she could say too. But, ?I love you? was far too precious to tell him. Especially since she wasn?t sure of his faithfulness.

Duo shifted to her side, satisfied yet subtly disappointed. She turned her back to him. Hilde wasn?t sure if she had the strength to express what she was thinking. In one movement, Duo shifted onto her back and placed his head on her chest. Why did he always feel the need to snuggle?

?I need forgiveness.? The statement was rather random and Hilde was slightly shocked, but not out of her wit.

?Then see a priest,? she said wryly.

?I?m afraid God won?t forgive me anymore, no matter how much I plead.?

?God always forgives.? Her voice was soft.

?I?ve destroyed too much of his creation. Besides, it is not his forgiveness I seek.? His body hovered hers.

Hilde felt incredibly vulnerable lying there beneath him naked. She grabbed a blanket and pulled it over her exposed form. Once again she turned to her side to avoid him. Soon she felt his body pressed against her back..

Hilde played coy. ?I understand that faithfulness is hard to keep when you?re so far away. I will not deny you forgiveness if you have asked for it.?

?I would never share my bed with any woman but you.? His lips caressed her neck.

?Would and did are completely different,? she responded sternly.

?I did not take any women to my bed,? he said, pressing his mouth near her ear. ?Nor any men,? he added quickly. Hilde stifled a laugh.

?That?s reassuring.?

?Say you love me.? She was waiting for it. After she stayed silent, he said, ?Hilde, if you can forgive me so godly like, you can love me can?t you?? Hilde remained silent. The silence frustrated him. Hadn?t he done enough? ?You ask too much.? Duo rolled to his back.

?Perhaps you expect too much.?

?Perhaps I do.? A sigh escaped his lips. ?Somehow I expected you to welcome me, arms open banner flying. I knew better, but I still hoped. I thought that perhaps, even after all that I have done, that I still deserved you: the devoutly religious German girl who believed so fully in abstinence.? He laughed a little. ?I suppose I was wrong about that too. But Hilde, whether you deem me a good husband or not, I was completely devoted to you while we were apart. Not a moment went by that I didn?t think of you. Your face, your voice? your cooking. There was a time when I was afraid that my memory of you was fading, and a time when I was afraid that your memory of me was fading. I felt guilty??

Throughout Duo?s little speech Hilde debated with herself whether or not to tell him that he didn?t to beg anymore. Finally, after hearing enough of Duo?s talking, she rolled over and placed her chin on his chest.

?Maybe you should have been a priest. You?re very good at making long boring speeches that aren?t very inspiring.?

Duo pouted when he realized that she probably stopped listening after ?perhaps I do.? He opened his mouth to say something but Hilde hushed him with her finger.

?Duo, it will take a while before I can completely forgive you. However, I already have quite a bit. Look at where you are. So, Duo Maxwell, my husband, I love you.? She kissed him.
?If I get a kiss after every speech, maybe I should make them more often.? Hilde gave him a look that made him laugh. ?Or not.? She nodded and grinned.

Duo loved her kisses.

[Oyuki]

that was good. i liked it. i liked her feelings of unforgiving-ness. good times.

[sitboy007]

yay someone reviewed

[Raspberry]

Really good story.

Quite IC.

Well done!

Shame that this isn't longer...