Posted: Thu May 23, 2002 3:07 am
Whatever Makes You Happy
No own, No Profit, No Sue. ?kay?
Chapter Two
The mist sat low against the ground, moving around his feet and seeming to snatch at his ankles. The air was heavy, and each breath felt laboured. All around, the barren and blackened trees that surrounded him seemed to creak and groan in the strong wind. A nagging voice in his head questioned the presence of mist and wind. He shook his head in irritation. The landscape was bland, vacant of colour.
?Hilde??
He glanced around, hoping for a response to his shout, but none was received. His voice sounded hollow, and the same nagging voice questioned the lack of echo.
?Hilde??
Suddenly a flash of purple, almost garish in its? vividness, caught his eye. He shook his head again. Hadn?t Hilde thrown that jersey out years ago?
?Hilde!? he hollered to the departing figure.
Gaining no recognition, he broke into a jog, as he tried in apparent vain to catch her as she walked away. Jogging soon progressed to running, as she mysteriously appeared further and further away. Yet the faster he ran, gasping as he struggled to breathe the leaden air, the greater the distance between them became. His heart began to hammer in his chest, as he was overwhelmed with a fear he could not fathom. Why wouldn?t she stop?
?Dammit Hilde, stop!?
She continued to walk, and now the heavy mist appeared to surround her? concealing her.
?HILDE!!?
******
Hilde shook Duo?s shoulder firmly.
?Duo. Duo, wake up. You?re dreaming.?
Blue eyes snapped open, slightly dazed as they made an effort to focus on the face that hovered before them. Blinking several times, Duo drew a deep breath, followed by a sigh of relief.
Hilde crouched beside him, running a gentle hand across his forehead, hoping to soothe him. She was startled. It had been so long since he had had a bad dream, and this one certainly seemed to have rattled him. His fringe was darkening with sweat, and he seemed to tremble slightly.
?Hon? Are you alright??
Duo gazed up at her, and he frowned slightly. The early morning sun was casting its rays through the small bedroom window, and the light illuminated Hilde?s weary features. She didn?t look like she had had a wink of sleep. He raised his hand and traced his thumb along her lower lip.
?I should be asking you the same thing. You?re exhausted.?
He paused a moment, troubled.
?Hilde, have I? have I done something wrong??
?No!? she gasped, ?No, of course not.?
She ducked her head, flushing slightly; distressed by the lie she was about to tell.
?I?m sorry I was so horrible last night, Duo. I didn?t mean it. I? I was just tired.?
Duo gave her a lopsided grin, and he seemed reassured.
?Hey, it?s okay babe. As long as everything?s alright.?
Hilde nodded softly, although her heart sank. She was torn by her guilt, knowing that she had never lied to him before. No, it wasn?t a lie, she reasoned. She was just withholding some information. She groaned inwardly. Oh, who the hell was she trying to fool?
Hastening to distract Duo, and herself, she ran her hand across his smooth chest, enjoying the texture of his skin beneath her fingertips. Leaning forward, she placed a heated kiss against his breastbone. Giving him her best alluring glance, she allowed her hand to drop lower.
?Well then. How about I make it up to you??
******
?You?re Late.?
?And good morning to you too Heero ol? buddy.? Grinned Duo, as he hung his jacket behind his office door.
?Hn, you?re still late.? Replied Heero, who was sitting back behind Duo?s desk, his feet up and arms crossed.
?Ah, but it was so worth it.? Duo laughed, his trademark twinkle in his eye. ?Anyway, shouldn?t you be off writing another book or something??
Heero shrugged. He watched silently as Duo seemed to pace the room. Despite his cheerful facade, Heero suspected that something was troubling his friend. He waited, certain that the loquacious American would be quick in spilling his dilemma. His presumption was not far from the mark.
?Say, is Relena much of a ?morning? person?? asked Duo, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. Heero paused a moment, before glowering at his American friend.
?I am not discussing my sex life with you, Maxwell. Especially not at 9.30 in the morning.?
Duo grimaced.
?I?ll take that as a yes.? Duo rubbed the back of his head thoughtfully. ?It?s funny, but I wouldn?t say that Hil is, but boy was she frisky this morning. Almost intense?.?
Heero stared at him through narrowed lids, intrigued by the other mans? agitated condition. Noticing the odd look he was receiving from his friend, Duo gave a nervous cough, before attempting to change the subject.
?Anyway?s, you?ve yet to tell me why you?ve chosen to grace me with your presence.?
?Why I?m here isn?t important. Don?t avoid the issue, something?s on your mind. Is Hilde okay??
Duo jerked to a halt.
?Hilde? What makes you think??
There was a sharp rap on the door, interrupting them. They both turned, as Colonel Une appeared in the doorway.
?Ah Heero,? she began ? I had a feeling I would find you here. Relena won?t be too much longer. Could I possibly speak to you quickly??
He nodded briskly in reply, as he rose from the desk and followed her out into the hallway. Before closing the door behind him, he glared at Duo.
?This conversation is not over.?
Slouching into the now vacated seat, Duo groaned inwardly. Great, just what he needed, a grilling from the perfect soldier. He rubbed his hands across his face, his thoughts in turmoil. He could no longer remember exactly what the dream was about, nor did he know why it still left him so ill at ease. What did it mean anyway?
He sighed, as his vid screen buzzed to life. Why was it that when he actually wanted to be left alone, nothing would? He was struck with a wave of guilt as Quatre?s face flashed up on the screen.
?Cat Man! How?s it going??
Quatre smiled warmly back at him.
?Things are going well. I just thought I would check that everything was going well with the preparations? Is there anything I can do to help??
?Hell no!? laughed Duo ?You?ve already done enough. Just make sure you?re on that shuttle in six hours.? He leaned forward with a conspiratorial air, ?We?ve got one hell of a Bachelors party planned.?
?I have no doubt. What about Hilde? Do the girls have anything planned??
An almost imperceptible shadow flashed across Duo?s face, catching Quatre?s eye. His expression slipped to one of concern.
?Is something wrong? You?re not getting nervous are you? Surely you?re not having second thoughts??
Duo blinked, and he shook his head resolutely.
?Second thoughts? I?ve never been so sure of a decision in my life. I don?t know how I ever lived without her. It?s just??
Quatre waited patiently, his characteristic compassionate gaze adorning his features. Duo stared out the window, composing his thoughts. Or at least attempting to.
?I came home late last night.?
Quatre simply nodded, and continued to wait.
?She was angry at me.?
Duo shook his head. He couldn?t seem to find the right words. He was probably over reacting. He simply couldn?t understand why this bothered him so much. And then there was a flash of the dream, and he recalled the conversation from that morning.
?She?s hiding something from me.?
Quatre?s eyebrows shot up, and he opened his mouth to say something. Duo continued, interrupting him.
?I know her, man. I know her better than I know myself. She?s never lied to me but this morning? I think she did.?
Duo?s tone seemed confused, almost incredulous.
?I asked her if I?d done something wrong, something to warrant her strange behaviour, but she said that everything was fine. That she was just tired.?
?Maybe she was, Duo.?
?No, you don?t understand. I can?t explain?? he sighed, frustrated.
?I had a dream last night. She was walking away from me. I kept yelling at her, asking her to stop, to wait. But she just kept walking. And then she was gone.? He shuddered slightly at the memory.
?Duo,? Quatre?s voice was soft, soothing. ?I?m sure you?re both just tired, nervous. This is a tremendous step in anyone?s life. Try to relax. It was just a dream.?
Duo nodded; glad to have shared his worries. He gazed at the framed photograph that rested on his desk. She smiled back at him, her eyes glittering with mirth beneath the woollen cap that obscured her dark hair and framed her glowing cheeks. His heart swelled as he traced a loving finger over Hilde?s motionless image. He had never known such love, never could have guessed how it would overwhelm him.
He would die without her.
******
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: melodrama on 2002-05-23 04:13 ]</font>
No own, No Profit, No Sue. ?kay?
Chapter Two
The mist sat low against the ground, moving around his feet and seeming to snatch at his ankles. The air was heavy, and each breath felt laboured. All around, the barren and blackened trees that surrounded him seemed to creak and groan in the strong wind. A nagging voice in his head questioned the presence of mist and wind. He shook his head in irritation. The landscape was bland, vacant of colour.
?Hilde??
He glanced around, hoping for a response to his shout, but none was received. His voice sounded hollow, and the same nagging voice questioned the lack of echo.
?Hilde??
Suddenly a flash of purple, almost garish in its? vividness, caught his eye. He shook his head again. Hadn?t Hilde thrown that jersey out years ago?
?Hilde!? he hollered to the departing figure.
Gaining no recognition, he broke into a jog, as he tried in apparent vain to catch her as she walked away. Jogging soon progressed to running, as she mysteriously appeared further and further away. Yet the faster he ran, gasping as he struggled to breathe the leaden air, the greater the distance between them became. His heart began to hammer in his chest, as he was overwhelmed with a fear he could not fathom. Why wouldn?t she stop?
?Dammit Hilde, stop!?
She continued to walk, and now the heavy mist appeared to surround her? concealing her.
?HILDE!!?
******
Hilde shook Duo?s shoulder firmly.
?Duo. Duo, wake up. You?re dreaming.?
Blue eyes snapped open, slightly dazed as they made an effort to focus on the face that hovered before them. Blinking several times, Duo drew a deep breath, followed by a sigh of relief.
Hilde crouched beside him, running a gentle hand across his forehead, hoping to soothe him. She was startled. It had been so long since he had had a bad dream, and this one certainly seemed to have rattled him. His fringe was darkening with sweat, and he seemed to tremble slightly.
?Hon? Are you alright??
Duo gazed up at her, and he frowned slightly. The early morning sun was casting its rays through the small bedroom window, and the light illuminated Hilde?s weary features. She didn?t look like she had had a wink of sleep. He raised his hand and traced his thumb along her lower lip.
?I should be asking you the same thing. You?re exhausted.?
He paused a moment, troubled.
?Hilde, have I? have I done something wrong??
?No!? she gasped, ?No, of course not.?
She ducked her head, flushing slightly; distressed by the lie she was about to tell.
?I?m sorry I was so horrible last night, Duo. I didn?t mean it. I? I was just tired.?
Duo gave her a lopsided grin, and he seemed reassured.
?Hey, it?s okay babe. As long as everything?s alright.?
Hilde nodded softly, although her heart sank. She was torn by her guilt, knowing that she had never lied to him before. No, it wasn?t a lie, she reasoned. She was just withholding some information. She groaned inwardly. Oh, who the hell was she trying to fool?
Hastening to distract Duo, and herself, she ran her hand across his smooth chest, enjoying the texture of his skin beneath her fingertips. Leaning forward, she placed a heated kiss against his breastbone. Giving him her best alluring glance, she allowed her hand to drop lower.
?Well then. How about I make it up to you??
******
?You?re Late.?
?And good morning to you too Heero ol? buddy.? Grinned Duo, as he hung his jacket behind his office door.
?Hn, you?re still late.? Replied Heero, who was sitting back behind Duo?s desk, his feet up and arms crossed.
?Ah, but it was so worth it.? Duo laughed, his trademark twinkle in his eye. ?Anyway, shouldn?t you be off writing another book or something??
Heero shrugged. He watched silently as Duo seemed to pace the room. Despite his cheerful facade, Heero suspected that something was troubling his friend. He waited, certain that the loquacious American would be quick in spilling his dilemma. His presumption was not far from the mark.
?Say, is Relena much of a ?morning? person?? asked Duo, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. Heero paused a moment, before glowering at his American friend.
?I am not discussing my sex life with you, Maxwell. Especially not at 9.30 in the morning.?
Duo grimaced.
?I?ll take that as a yes.? Duo rubbed the back of his head thoughtfully. ?It?s funny, but I wouldn?t say that Hil is, but boy was she frisky this morning. Almost intense?.?
Heero stared at him through narrowed lids, intrigued by the other mans? agitated condition. Noticing the odd look he was receiving from his friend, Duo gave a nervous cough, before attempting to change the subject.
?Anyway?s, you?ve yet to tell me why you?ve chosen to grace me with your presence.?
?Why I?m here isn?t important. Don?t avoid the issue, something?s on your mind. Is Hilde okay??
Duo jerked to a halt.
?Hilde? What makes you think??
There was a sharp rap on the door, interrupting them. They both turned, as Colonel Une appeared in the doorway.
?Ah Heero,? she began ? I had a feeling I would find you here. Relena won?t be too much longer. Could I possibly speak to you quickly??
He nodded briskly in reply, as he rose from the desk and followed her out into the hallway. Before closing the door behind him, he glared at Duo.
?This conversation is not over.?
Slouching into the now vacated seat, Duo groaned inwardly. Great, just what he needed, a grilling from the perfect soldier. He rubbed his hands across his face, his thoughts in turmoil. He could no longer remember exactly what the dream was about, nor did he know why it still left him so ill at ease. What did it mean anyway?
He sighed, as his vid screen buzzed to life. Why was it that when he actually wanted to be left alone, nothing would? He was struck with a wave of guilt as Quatre?s face flashed up on the screen.
?Cat Man! How?s it going??
Quatre smiled warmly back at him.
?Things are going well. I just thought I would check that everything was going well with the preparations? Is there anything I can do to help??
?Hell no!? laughed Duo ?You?ve already done enough. Just make sure you?re on that shuttle in six hours.? He leaned forward with a conspiratorial air, ?We?ve got one hell of a Bachelors party planned.?
?I have no doubt. What about Hilde? Do the girls have anything planned??
An almost imperceptible shadow flashed across Duo?s face, catching Quatre?s eye. His expression slipped to one of concern.
?Is something wrong? You?re not getting nervous are you? Surely you?re not having second thoughts??
Duo blinked, and he shook his head resolutely.
?Second thoughts? I?ve never been so sure of a decision in my life. I don?t know how I ever lived without her. It?s just??
Quatre waited patiently, his characteristic compassionate gaze adorning his features. Duo stared out the window, composing his thoughts. Or at least attempting to.
?I came home late last night.?
Quatre simply nodded, and continued to wait.
?She was angry at me.?
Duo shook his head. He couldn?t seem to find the right words. He was probably over reacting. He simply couldn?t understand why this bothered him so much. And then there was a flash of the dream, and he recalled the conversation from that morning.
?She?s hiding something from me.?
Quatre?s eyebrows shot up, and he opened his mouth to say something. Duo continued, interrupting him.
?I know her, man. I know her better than I know myself. She?s never lied to me but this morning? I think she did.?
Duo?s tone seemed confused, almost incredulous.
?I asked her if I?d done something wrong, something to warrant her strange behaviour, but she said that everything was fine. That she was just tired.?
?Maybe she was, Duo.?
?No, you don?t understand. I can?t explain?? he sighed, frustrated.
?I had a dream last night. She was walking away from me. I kept yelling at her, asking her to stop, to wait. But she just kept walking. And then she was gone.? He shuddered slightly at the memory.
?Duo,? Quatre?s voice was soft, soothing. ?I?m sure you?re both just tired, nervous. This is a tremendous step in anyone?s life. Try to relax. It was just a dream.?
Duo nodded; glad to have shared his worries. He gazed at the framed photograph that rested on his desk. She smiled back at him, her eyes glittering with mirth beneath the woollen cap that obscured her dark hair and framed her glowing cheeks. His heart swelled as he traced a loving finger over Hilde?s motionless image. He had never known such love, never could have guessed how it would overwhelm him.
He would die without her.
******
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: melodrama on 2002-05-23 04:13 ]</font>