Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Chimera of Life: Story 1: Mutual Conquest ❯ Story 1: Mutual Conquest Chapter 2 ( Chapter 2 )

Hilde's head whipped around to stare at him with her wide, midnight blue eyes. He was so close that his aftershave cologne hit her full force, but that wasn't what had sent her mind reeling in shock. "Wh- wha-" Hilde swallowed and tried again. "What did you say?"

Duo grinned as he let her go. So, he caught her attention. Good! He needed her to stay put while he proposes. "I said, let's get married."

He said it in such a carefree manner, with that cute shrug of his… The way he was looking at her… White laces, doves, white layered icing and the wedding march started playing in her still shocked mind-

"You know… that one place in Colony AR-074 that hit the news big time last year…? The one where you could get a marriage license good for only a month?"

The wedding march song died a terrible death as she realized her mistake. He wasn't talking about a real marriage. He was talking about a fake one!

Duo could almost see her decision before she said it with the way her eyes clouded. He could read her like a book and right now, he's on the 'not-so-very-happy- with-him' part.

"No." Hilde turned around before he could see the disappointment that had left a bitter taste in her mouth.

"Aw, c'mon Hilde." Duo didn't give up. He knew that this was the only way. And he never gave up until he got what he wanted. His hand went over hers once again.

"No!" Hilde pulled away. It was obvious that he wouldn't let her out of her own office, but she needed to put a space between them or else he'd shape her into what he wanted her to be- putty in his hands, damn!

"Hilde, its-"

"N.O., Maxwell! What part of 'no' don't you understand?!" The initial bout of shock had finally turned to blazing anger- thank God! She has to keep her wits around her right now!

"Hilde, please. Let me explain." Duo followed her around as she walked hither thither.

Hilde pressed her hands over her ears and started chanting her answer. "No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no-" She gasped her last 'no' when Duo suddenly stopped and turned her around.

"Hilde, listen to me first, please." His hands were on her shoulders while he tried to figure out why she was acting so negatively. Usually, she had the passion for mischief that he has. Usually, she'd go along, why this all of a sudden?

Hilde shook her head. "I can't hear you. Nope! No…" She shook her head. Oh, she must look like a spoiled child at the moment with her hands on her ears and shaking her head like so, but she didn't care! She had almost- almost!- thought that he was really proposing to her… but that would only happen in her dreams.

Duo sighed deeply as he gently took hold of her wrists, and then smoothly, but firmly, brought them away from her ears. "Hilde, just listen, please?" His hands traveled to her hands and then he entwined them together. Once again, he couldn't believe their softness- what with the amount of work she does, or used to do.

Hilde closed her eyes and looked away. Tingling sensations rose from her hands to all over her body. 'Please no… no… not that look… God, just don't make him give me that look…'

"Hilde, look at me."

She shook her head. It was hard to talk when he was so near and knowing that he didn't feel the same… she just might blurt out something she had been keeping for the past ten years- and more.

'Why are you being so difficult?!' He was getting a bit annoyed at her antics. He reached for her small chin then turned her to his face. "Hilde, open your eyes and look at me."

'No! Schebeker don't you dare!' But with all the self-recriminations, she still opened her them and looked into his handsome face with his incredibly expressive violet eyes dominating his features. He didn't give her the 'look' but the serious one he was giving her still had that effect.

"This is just going to be like playing my girlfriend. Only this time around, the title will be 'wife'. It would only be legally binding for one month. No one but the needed people has to know." His hand traveled from under her chin, back to her hand, and squeezed them softly. "You're the only one I trust. You're the only one I'd propose this idea to."

The way his eyes searched her face… She bit down on her lower lip- hard- because she could almost feel herself say- 'yes'!

Duo saw that she couldn't be swayed- but she was near to it! And if he had to beg, beg he will do! He couldn't live another day running around with a pack of hungry women in his wake! "Please… please, Hilde."

Her eyes went wide when he suddenly dropped to his knees and brought their hands together, as if praying, near his lips. Then, he looked up and gave her that 'look'! Oh God! That watery, big eyed look that could melt even the hardest metal!

"Please." He could already feel her changing answer and decided to play his last card. Why he was even trying this hard to make her say yes, he had no clue! His hands went around her legs as he pressed the side of his face against her stomach. "Pleeeaaase… Pleeeeaaase Hilde. I won't ask for anything else. I'll wear my shoes and be prompt at work. I'll cook and clean and… and… and clean my office."

He was playing her around- again. And she was letting him do it to her- again! He wouldn't do anything he promised but… She knew she had lost as she sighed and placed her hands on his shoulders. "Okay… Okay. Fine. I'll play along with it."

His shout of 'YES!' boomed in her ears and then her feet were suddenly lifted off the ground and she was being swung around in merry circles by a laughing Duo. It was such an exhilarating feeling! Her mind was still swirling when he placed her back on the ground. Then again, living with Duo had always been a whirlwind of events! She felt his hand under her chin and she looked up.

"You won't regret it." Okay… why did he even say that? It was unnecessary.

Hilde stopped a grimace. 'I already do.' She smiled instead. "Well… It might be fun."

"Yeah, nothing's gonna change. It'll be the same as always. We'll just have the title of husband and wife." Duo reached for her hand then started pulling her to the door.

"Where are we going?" Hilde stumbled after him.

"To get married." Duo answered promptly.

"B-but… meetings, conferences-" She was stalling… She knew she was stalling.

"I was reading our schedule before I was interrupted this morning. We don't have anything today." Duo smiled as he announced that they would be out the whole day to their secretary, and to hold the fort, the calls, and everything.

'Well… this is it, I guess…' Hilde looked around. 'Not exactly how I dreamt my proposal would be… not exactly how I dreamt my marriage was going to be… but this is it…'

…

Colony: AR-074

Duo nodded as the elderly woman behind the booth explained the contract that they were going to sign. To hell. He'd made, read, and signed contracts before. It wasn't as if he couldn't read! Right now, he was more nervous than a snake about to bite. "Where is she?"

He didn't know he muttered it out loud until the woman answered. "She just went to the bathroom to fix herself. That's how women are."

"No, Hilde never fixes herself. That's how she is." Duo answered as he turned to where Hilde had disappeared. "You sure there aren't any exits on that side?"

The woman nearly laughed. This couple sure was funny. "No. There aren't any, Mr. Maxwell."

"Well… okay…" Duo started to pace. His palms were sweaty and he was starting to feel a nervous set of searing heat. He looked around the place just for the heck of it. It was a nice enough place. Elegant but stiff… Too stiff with those bare, wooden walls, polished mahogany table… There wasn't even a single flower around- "I don't have a ring… She doesn't have a bouquet-" Duo started nervously. "Where's the nearest flower shop? What about a jewelry store?"

"Mr. Maxwell," The woman sighed. She could tell wedding jitters when she saw one. "This isn't a real wedding. She doesn't need a ring on her finger, or a bouquet, or flowers, or white lace. This is just a one month contract."

Duo stopped. "Oh… Yeah. I knew that." Hell! He did…! It's just that, it seemed so wrong. He'd always pictured Hilde in white, with a veil covering her face, rose petals swaying with the wind around her, and a bouquet of her favorite orchids in her hands… Duo quickly shook his head. 'Now where did that thought come from?' And why was it that he suddenly felt this smoldering sensation of jealousy when he imagined someone else's hands slowly pulling the veil from her face?

"Darnit, where is she?"

…

For the fifth time, Hilde splashed cold water on her face then looked at herself in the mirror. Why was it that alarm bells were ringing like a crazy fire alarm in her head?

"This isn't a real wedding… This isn't a real wedding… Don't get sentimental… Pull yourself together. Get out there, and sign that contract." She breathed in deeply as she patted her face dry. Then, she looked at herself on the mirror and felt like crying. She looked shabby. Not at all the image of a fitting bride. Her plain black trousers and plain- almost manly- cotton blouse hid more than she knew… No make up and her hair was a mess…

Her nerves were all frayed. "Why?! Why did I have to be the one to fall in love with him?!" Her eyes glistened once again and she looked up at the ceiling to stop them from falling. She couldn't go on living like this… After this month, she'll resign and get the hell out of his way… Maybe she might even fall in love with another guy. But right now-

"Time to get married, Hilde…" With one last look at her woeful image on the mirror, she turned, and walked to the man of her dreams to get a fake marriage.

…

A relieved feeling swept through Duo when he saw her. He walked to her and grabbed one of her hands as if afraid that she would suddenly disappear on him. "Thought you'd never come out of there."

"Well, I'm out." Hilde nodded to the secretary.

"Are you nervous?" Duo asked, his voice almost wavering.

'Yes.' She shook her head. "Why should I be? This isn't real."

Duo nodded. "Yeah… it isn't." But he sure was nervous. His palms were sweating more than ever but not her… cool, calm, and collected, as always. That's why she would be great for him. She was always the one who had been keeping him in check. 'Whoa! Maxwell! Careful with that thought!' He shook his head as they sat in front of the desk.

"I just need both of you to sign a set of papers. One would be for the name change, the other for the government, and the other for your one-month marriage license. If anything happens during and after this marriage, it would have to be settled like a divorce case. Understood?" She didn't think she had to explain the contracts anymore, especially since she already went through the whole ordeal with the guy.

Hilde and Duo nodded.

"Okay… Let's get this over with and go home." Duo grabbed the pen in his coat with one hand and the papers with the other while Hilde took out her own pen and got ready to sign. She watched as Duo signed papers after papers, gave her the set and then she signed it herself. She didn't feel anything different after the last contract, so she just handed the papers back to the secretary.

"You will get your license in the mail within this month, and a couple of souvenirs. Other than that, have a good month."

"Of course." Hilde stood up, happy that the act was finally over while Duo couldn't help but feel as if he had missed something.

"We have to get back here before the month is over to make sure that everything is in order, right?"

"Yes. I already explained that to you."

Duo nodded. "Okay. Thanks." He turned to Hilde and a tumbling, nervous sensation erupted at the pit of his stomach. "Let's go?"

Hilde nodded. "Back home."

He opened the door for her then they started walking as if they were strangers. They didn't even notice the secretary's raised eyebrow as she stared from the contract to the couple outside. Didn't hear her mumble - 'I guess they changed their minds.'

Something was missing… Just something… Duo kept glancing back at Hilde as he tried to get a grasp at that something.

"What? Do I have something on my face?" She tried a joke. Never in their entire life had there been stilted air between them and it just had to start now.

"No… Your face is fine, as always." Then he stopped as he stared at the store just across the street, right behind her. The word 'Jewelry' just seemed so right that he knew he had to get Hilde a ring. A ring to signify that they were married. That she was his. 'Whoa! Maxwell, there you go again!' He shook his head.

"Are you alright?" Hilde frowned as Duo shook his head as he grimaced.

"Yeah… just fine. Let's go get you a ring." He reached for her hand and felt a belonging sensation race through his veins. He stared at it. Entwined. It was a perfect fit for each other. Ringless… but not for long.

Before Hilde could protest, she was being tugged to the pedestrian lane and then they were running off to the direction Duo wanted to go to.

He didn't glance at the display cases and went straight to the clerk behind the counter. The man promptly looked at them and nodded when they reached him.

"Good afternoon, sir."

"Afternoon. I want a ring."

Hilde frowned at Duo's blatant, forward request.

The nearly balding man nodded. "Of course. You didn't look at our displays-"

"No. I want something…" He tried to find the right words for it. "Something exquisite… one of a kind." He was still holding her hand and he didn't want to let go anytime soon.

A smile appeared on the man's face. "Ah… the unique ring. Who is it for? Your mother, your sister, a mother in law-"

"No! I want it for my wife." The moment he said that word, he pulled Hilde forward and let go of her hand to put his arm around her waist. "This is my wife and I want to get her a ring." Man! It felt good to say that! Almost… too good…

"Duo! Stop it. Honestly!" She tried to get away but his hand was securely clamped around her waist. He was taking things far too seriously that it seemed as if everything was real but it wasn't! "We're not even really married."

Duo whipped his head to hers. That announcement made him see a dim light of reason through the giddy haze he suddenly found himself in. But that dim light was gone almost too instantly. "We are married."

"For a month. Now stop being a domineering husband." Hilde tried to wriggle out of his embrace but he didn't let go. Instead, she stopped when she felt the back of his hand on her cheek.

"Hilde… indulge me okay? I just want to buy you a ring… I don't know why, but… just indulge me."

She shouldn't have looked up, but she did and the way he was looking down at her, so near to her face that if she tiptoed up their lips would meet… She bit her inner lip and lived on the pain. "Fine… alright. Darn it, why can't I say no to you?" She sighed her frustration and punched him lightly on his arm.

Duo grinned. He liked what she had just said. "You say no. I just don't listen."

"Well, if I'm going to have to wear a ring, you should, too." Hilde pouted and crossed her hands over her chest. This was one argument she was not going to back away from. If she has to do it, he does too!

Now that's an idea. "Okay." He faced the clerk and didn't see Hilde's surprised look. "Well, sir, we want wedding rings. Exquisite, unique wedding rings."

"Y-you really shouldn't have to… this will be over in a month." Hilde tried to keep her head from floating off her shoulders at this touching moment.

Duo looked at her once again then shook his head, his eyes serious and calm as a lake at sunset on a clear weather. "I want to."

They stayed that way, staring at each other with Duo's hand around her waist until the clerk came back.

"Here we are. This is the only ring with this design made by Krouckants. He's an exclusive designer, the best of everyone."

Hilde and Duo looked at the closed box expectantly until the man opened it… Their breaths caught in their throat… It was clear why the designer was the best… The rings were beautiful! Elegant wasn't even the word for it! The rings were a whole when placed together. It was designed like two doves with their heads curved around each other in the middle and their wings almost in perfect circle around the heads, so clearly defined. The woman's ring was thinner than the man's but it just added to its beauty. And buds of roses in soft rose gold were etched just around the thinner gold band's dove.

Duo slowly reached for one ring with one hand and with his other, brought Hilde's hand up. He stared from her hand then to her face and the distinct happy and just perfect feeling swept through him as he tried the ring on her finger.

It fit like a glove. She was having the hardest time trying not to cry as she reached for the other ring and memorably placed it on his finger. It fit on him, too… It was as if the rings were meant for them…

His hands entwined themselves with hers then he brought them up to his lips to brush a kiss on her knuckles while his eyes remained on her face, staring straight into her eyes. He loved the way her eyes sparkles, the way it does now. "Hello, Mrs. Maxwell…"

A lump caught at her throat and try as she might to make herself remember that this was all going to be over in a month, she couldn't help but feel sentimental at that moment. "Hello… Mr. Maxwell."