Even If You Smile [2xR] Chapter Two

[TroTro]

Notes:
Original link is here.

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Duo's heart skipped a beat. His breath clogged his throat. He wrung his hands nervously, anxiously waiting for any sort of response from the Vice Foreign Minister. He bit his lower lip and looked down at the carpet. It was a nice pale shade of peach. Much like Relena's skin. His indigo eyes finally looked up to face the young woman.

She shut her mouth. "I...you...do?" Her cheeks burned red.

Duo softly smiled.

"But...but...what about Hilde?"

Ah, yes. Hilde Schbeiker. The cute German girl, his good friend and semi-girlfriend, or so everyone thought. Not that Duo could blame them for making the assumption. He and Hilde lived on L2 together for three years, during and after the Eve Wars. He would have been lying if he said that he didn't find Hilde attractive. She was a sweetheart, an awesome pilot, and one of the most intelligent people he ever had the pleasure of crossing paths. They had even tried the dating thing at one point, a very brief point. It lasted only four weeks. It was just strange and it just didn't feel right. It felt like dating his sister. If...he had a sister.

Duo smiled again. "Against popular belief, Hilde and I are just good friends. She is like a sister to me." He shrugged and flipped his hand upward. "And besides, she has a thing some guy named Frank."

Relena looked down. The corners of her rouge colored lips tugged upwards ever so slightly. "I'm sorry."

Duo swallowed. Does she mean, "Sorry for Hilde not liking you" or "Sorry I think you're a stuck-up, egotistica, American, who needs to burn in Hell, for all the men you've killed! I think you're the most repulsive and ugliest human being I have ever laid eyes on!" If she wasn't going to give him a direct answer then he was just going to keep talking until she did.

"I know you must think I'm a complete idiot. I mean, who the hell am I, to barge into your dressing room, declare my feelings for you, and on your wedding day no less." He sneered. "I'm a total jackass. Sorry I came in. Just forget I ever said anything."

He turned to leave. His braid swaying from side to side as he moved.

"Duo, wait."

He rested his hand against the brass doorknob.

"I don't think any of those things."

Duo put his hand down. His back still facing her.

"Quite the contrary in fact. You're smart, funny, loyal, determined, handsome... ."

He raised an eyebrow. Perhaps, there was hope afterall.

He tensed as he felt a slender gloved hand touch his shoulder. Relena's voice was soft and...trembling? "To be honest...You...were the one pilot I could always see myself ending up with --"

"If Heero wasn't in the picture." He finished the sentence for her.

Her grip on his shoulder tightened then relaxed again.

"I wasn't going to say that."

Duo slowly turned to face her. She was only inches away from him. "Then what?" He whispered taking her hand into his own. His heart pounded, his pulse echoed in his ears. His whole body tingled from her small touch. It felt like fire coursing through his veins.

"You were the one pilot I could always see myself ending up with in the end." She tilted her head downward.

Duo licked his lips. He felt a But coming on.

"But...I wish you would have told me sooner."

He released her hand. He knew the "But" was inevitable. He knew it was coming. He was nothing compared to the great and wonderful Heero Yuy. The cold-hearted bastard, who struggled to feel alive. Was he even capable of love? Did he even know what the word meant? God dammit, Heero. I can never out rank you in anything no matter how hard I try. I'm always, Duo Maxwell, the funny guy in the group. The one who can always get the laugh. I'm always one step behind you. Hell, even the Scientists knew. I wasn't called "Pilot Zero Two" for nothing, apparently. Boy, did they peg that one or what? You're always perfect. I guess it's only natural for you to snag the perfect girl even when you mistreat her and don't deserve her. Heaven knows you don't deserve her.

"Just great." He finally muttered more to himself than to her.

The blond grabbed him and gently placed her lips against his. It was a slow kiss. It took a minute for the American to respond. He wrapped his arms around her petite frame and pulled her against him. His plump lips crushed against hers. He felt her hot tears tickle against his upper lip and finally seep into his mouth. It was his first kiss, a bittersweet kiss, and Duo was going to savor it for as long as he possibly could.

She pulled away first gasping for air.

"I should go." He said breathlessly.

He did not look back. He could not bring himself to look back. All he could do was walk away and wonder "What if... ." What if it was him she had found on the beach that one fateful day. What if it was him that had danced with her at her school party. What if it was him that blew up Libra and was the hero of the day. What happened if he had only told her sooner. What happened if he was the one managed to claim her heart? Would things have been different? Would she have loved him and not Heero?

Duo shut his eyes and pressed a finger against his lips.

He could never be her knight in shining armor or her fairytale prince. His hands were too blood stained and his heart too tainted. He was destined to be shrouded in darkness. It was the price he had to pay for his sins. Not because God did not forgive him, but because he damned himself. He was his own devil.

He was the God of Death.

He always would be.

[lilac310]

um....so, Relena does love Heero with all her heart, right? It's just that Duo would seem to be the perfect husband but she doesn't love him as much as she loves Heero...

Why did she kiss him, by the way? On her wedding day no less?

[samta22]

The only thing I'm going to ask is... is tha all???

You can leave poor Duo feeling this bad and Relena, kind of confession, and we all know that, even if we love Heero and Relena, sometimes the guy is a jerk...

Come on, say something more.... please

[Kanya Barton]

Once again, I totally agree...this can't be all, can it? I mean...that's a horrible place to end a story! Well...not horrible, but it's kinda angsty, don't you think? But, that's just my opinion...do what you want, you know? But keep writing...your style is PRETTY good!
Peace out!