A Time Of Mistrust- Ch. 7

[Dark Mistress]

Disclaimers apply, you know the drill?

[Flashes to Duo trying to find out where Heero is?he doesn?t know yet that Hilde is pregnant]

He had searched all over town, meaning every fast food restaurant within a five-mile radius. To his credit, he actually went INSIDE instead of his usual drive-through ritual. Next on his list was, unfortunately, the boring electronics store, although there were many buttons to push. He usually got in trouble for doing so and thus rarely entered the really cool automatic doors. He went through them a couple of times, just for fun. (AN: Simple things amuse simple minds?) In all actuality, Heero was more likely to be here than in line at McDonalds, although the chick behind the counter was really cute?.?Whoa,? Duo thought, remembering why he was in this massive array of electronic whatchamacallits and thingamajigs. Little did he know that although he would check every building possible that afternoon, the stoic pilot would not be found.
~*~
He stood at the window of his studio apartment, looking down at the busy streets of downtown Tokyo. Heero ran his hand through his unruly brown hair and sighed heavily. He really did miss Relena, but the betrayal tore his soul apart. She had, after all, been the one who had taught him how to love, but in the end was the one to teach him that love isn?t worth the trouble. In the short time between the grocery store and his current position, he had rebuilt the steadfast stone wall around his heart. He now donned his impassive mask once again. His eyes had returned to their cold, heartless depths of stormy blue. Not even Relena would recognize him now, which saddened a part of him, a part of him that he had yet to reconstruct. He glanced at the clock and realized that if he did not leave right away, he?d be late for his new job. He was never late. He was a librarian at the local junior high. His death stare could silence even the peppy cheerleaders, arguing over whether to wear strawberry or watermelon lip-gloss at the next pep rally.
~*~
[Duo?s apartment]
Hilde managed to sit Duo down on the couch by offering to make him cupcakes, the ones with the rainbow sprinkles in them. ?You?ve got yourself a deal, babe! So, what?s on your mind??
Hilde sat down and a nervous expression flashed across her face, which Duo mistook for a grim expression. ?Duo, we need to talk.?
Instantly fear entered his eyes. ?I SWEAR I didn?t mean to sleep with her! It was a mistake! I swear I won?t do it again! I?m sorry!!!!!?
Hilde, to say the least, was taken aback. ?Slept with WHO, Duo??
Realizing that they were thinking about two different things, Duo scratched the back of his neck and slyly (so he thought) said, ?Uh, nothing babe. What did you want to talk to me about??
But Hilde was not so easily distracted. ?I repeat, slept with WHO, Duo??
Duo was now thoroughly confused and rather flustered. ?Well, didn?t you go see Relena today??
Hilde?s face took on a look of astonishment and comprehension before deadpanning. ?Relena? As in my BEST FRIEND Relena?!?
He nodded meekly and said in a small voice, ?Yeah?but Hilde I swear it was a mistake! It didn?t mean anything! She was just so hurt?? But then Duo stopped himself before getting into even hotter water.
Hilde was so angry with everyone; Duo for betraying her, Relena for sleeping with her boyfriend, but most of all at Heero for exposing the three of them to such vulnerability. She stood up and left the apartment without revealing the reason for her visit.



A/N: I couldn?t quite figure out a way to work in the fact that Relena is not pregnant, but FYI she isn?t. Things aren?t going so well for everyone, but the angst is a nice change from the sap. Please post and I will too! (((LIZ)))