Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Chimera of Life: Story 1: Mutual Conquest ❯ Story 1: Mutual Conquest Chapter 4 ( Chapter 4 )

- Chimera of Life -
Story One: Mutual Conquest
Chapter Four
By Heartfire

~*~

"It's not as if I wanted to, he said." Hilde kicked her desk again. She had stomped into her office without even giving a glance to her workers, locked her door, and then started massacring the inanimate objects all over her floor. "Stupid idiot." She heard a cracking sound when she kicked her desk for the tenth time. "You'd have thought that after going out with so many women, he developed some sort of sensitivity to our feelings! But no! He's so self centered and lazy… The brat just-" Her anger climaxed yet again and the desk was given no mercy with one more satisfying kick. She could have murdered that braided moron!

With a deep sigh, she deposited her suddenly tired body into her hand picked chair and was about to go to work when her private phone line rang. The scowl was still set on her face when she turned on the monitor, only to look into Relena's smiling face.

"Hilde! I've got great news- What's wrong? What happened?"

It was nice to see her friend go from a happy to a concerned look. So nice in fact that her scowl disappeared. Who would have thought that she- Hilde Schebeker- would be such good friend with Relena Dorlian? Her head shook. "Nothing. I'm just being moody."

Relena's eyes showed her disbelief. "Come on. Tell me what's wrong. You and Duo fought again, didn't you?" Really. Those two are like married couples!!!

Her small body slumped in her chair. "No. I just punched him."

Relena blinked a couple of times just to be sure that this was Hilde she was talking to. "Did I hear that correctly? Did you just say that you punched him?" What could Duo have done to provoke such anger from Hilde?!

"Yes. You heard me." A deep sigh left Hilde as she placed her elbows on the desk and cupped her chin. "He kissed me and I punched him. That's just the story of my life."

"But Hilde!" Relena smiled widely at the announcement. She shouldn't scream in excitement, or else… "That's wonderful! I mean, how many times have you told me that you wanted him to kiss you?" Suddenly, a frown appeared on her face. "Unless… if you… if you didn't like it… I mean… if there wasn't… uhm… fireworks…"

Hilde's face dropped onto the desk. "Ungh! That's the problem! Fireworks were nothing compared to what happened!" She was talking to her desk. She couldn't look at her friend at the moment.

"Another wonderful thing. So, what's wrong?"

She wanted to cry and laugh at the whole silly situation! She was so frustrated that things just started to spill. "What's wrong is I married him and he's just using me and-"

"What the heck did you just say?!"

The door that connected Hilde's office to the conference room opened with a slam, and Hilde's head snapped up. Her eyes widened as she saw Relena, standing in the doorway with her jaw- hanging.

"Relena…?! What-" Hilde stood up from her desk in confusion. "What are you doing here?"

"I was supposed to surprise you but you have just turned the table around- twice!" She started walking to her midnight blue haired friend the moment she got her bearings back.

"When did you get here? Why are you here?" Embarrassment had flooded her and she just couldn't look at Relena that moment.

Relena stopped as she reached Hilde's desk. "There was an emergency meeting. I came this morning and we just finished. Now, don't you dare question me until I finish questioning you, and you had better answer."

Her voice left no room for argument and Hilde could only nod. Actually… now that she thought about it, she does need someone to talk to. "Fine. Shoot me. My world is over anyway."

"Okay. Good." Relena looked down at Hilde's finger and saw the ring. Excitement bubbled in her as she grabbed Hilde's hand, stared at it then looked into Hilde's face. "You really are married!!! How did he propose? Why didn't you call?! I thought I was going to be your bridesmaid! You-"

Hilde clamped her hand on Relena's mouth before any more questions could be asked. "First and foremost, Duo and I…" Hilde breathed in deeply as she tried to harden her aching heart. "We aren't really married."

Relena's right eyebrow shot up. Hilde let her hand drop to her side and sadly shrugged her shoulder.

"How about if we," Relena hooked her hand around Hilde's arm, "… go out and get a cup of tea. Then you can tell me everything."

A small smile appeared on Hilde's lips. "Without Wufei?"

Relena solemnly crossed a finger over her heart. "Without Wufei. He'll be staying a couple of tables away, so you will be safe."

Hilde dropped her head on Relena's shoulder. "Thanks. I'm glad you decided to pass by."

Relena nodded. 'So am I… So am I…'

…

"Hilde!" The front door opened and closed with a loud bang. "HIIIIIILLLLDDDDDEEEE!" The demanding bellow echoed inside the house as Duo walked from the living room, to the kitchen, and finally, to Hilde's room. He was steaming mad. First, she ditched him in the restaurant after that humiliating ordeal, then, when he finally came back to the office, she wasn't there- and she never came back! "HILDE!" Duo pushed the door open and found-

No one. The house was empty.

"Dammit!" He glanced at his watch. Nine o'clock. "Where the hell is she?!" He had to kill overtime because she left her work unfinished. Not that he minded. He wouldn't have cared if she left half her share of work to him! He would have done it! It wasn't as if he was blind to the fact that she had saved him countless of times before. The fact that was bothering him was-

"Where is she?!" It was troubling him! He's worried about her! Their secretary didn't even tell him whom Hilde went out with! Just smiled that stupid, silly smile! Duo stomped out of Hilde's room and into their living room then stopped in his tracks. The living room table was overflowing with shopping bags!

"What the…" An indecipherable frown appeared on Duo's face as he stared at the uncommon sight. Hilde does not shop. She does not shop! Why was there- "… five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven- TWELVE!" Twelve bags on the table and- "Five boxes?!"

Not that he was stingy. He doesn't care what she does with whomever's money but- "Hilde… shopping?! That's like…" Duo fell into the couch in complete amazement. "Trying to make Heero say he loves Relena!"

He stared at the bags and boxes, completely overwhelmed. "What did she do? Buy the whole store?" A black box on the very top caught his attention. It was sprinkled with gold and silver stars and… well… his curiosity gnawed at him and he couldn't help but wonder… what she bought.

"Well… maybe it doesn't hurt to…" He reached for the box then stopped an inch away. "… to see… right?" Duo's lips pursed. His straight, white teeth bit down on his lower lip then a slow smile appeared as his hand pushed the box off the table.

"Oooops!" Duo leaned down and grinned triumphantly when he saw the white tissues spill out of the half opened box. "Hilde, your box fell…" Duo Maxwell never lies. That evil laugh was already ringing in his ears as he dropped on the floor and started reaching for the things. "I am just going to put these…"

His power of speech eluded him as his hands brought what was inside the box in front of his face. His throat had suddenly grown dry and he swallowed- hard. There was a good hard kick way, waaay, waaaay below his stomach and, did it suddenly become hot in here?

It was hanging by his thumbs- a white… silk… lacy… completely see through… lingerie… And the bad thing was…

Duo gulped once again and sweat poured down his forehead.

He could see Hilde wearing it… walking towards him in that graceful, seductive walk that only women could do… and-

Their front door's lock clicked and Duo scrambled to get the… the… the thing inside its box and back on the table just in time! Their door opened slightly then stopped.

Duo stood by the table and waited.

"You're too silly!"

Duo's upper left lip turned up and his eyebrows met. That voice sounded like Hilde's but… the tone was unlike Hilde's… It was too… flirtatious!

"No. I'm just being honest. You are beautiful tonight, Hilde."

That low, voice, fit for a radio host, reached Duo's ears and he felt an indescribable anger flow through him. He cracked his knuckles then left both hands in fists.

"Thanks. Really. Alright… uhm… Good night… Thanks for taking us out."

"It was my pleasure. I wouldn't have missed it."

'It was my pleasure… I wouldn't have missed it.' Duo silently mimicked the guy outside as he pushed his sleeves up his arm. He couldn't stop himself as he walked to the door and opened it only to see Hilde waving goodbye to a slowly moving limousine.

Wait- Hilde?

Duo's eyes widened as his eyes moved from Hilde's gelled hair, down to her tight, sleeveless royal blue top, down her slender back and flowing miniskirt, then legs… legs… bare legs… high heels and slowly back up. He was… shocked! This… She- she could not be Hilde!

She turned around and gasped as she stared into Duo's brooding face. "Duo! Why didn't you say that you were back there?!" Her hand went up to her chest. "You nearly gave me a heart attack!"

He was hit on the blind side once again. She was wearing make up! Her midnight blue eyes looked smoky and seductive with that dark whatchamacallit around her eyes, her long eyelashes looked longer and her beautiful lips looked more inviting than before.

Hilde shifted her weight from one foot to the other, uncomfortable with the way Duo was looking at her. "What? What is it?"

Her voice brought him back to reality and Duo realized that gnawing want for his pal. 'Dammit! What is wrong with me?!' Angry with himself for such wayward desire, he started to snap at her. "Where the hell have you been?! You left work early, there were no messages- Hell! It's-" Duo checked his watch. "It's 9:30, for Pete's sake!!! You could have called me! Dammit! I was worried about you!"

A slight feeling of satisfaction went through Hilde at what he just said. He was worried about her… 'Humph! Now you know how I feel whenever you're out until midnight.' But that feeling of satisfaction was overridden by anger at his tone of voice. "What?! You mean to tell me that you're the only one who can have some fun?!" Hilde brushed by Duo and entered their house.

"Fun?! Fun?!" Duo parroted from behind as he followed Hilde and slammed the door shut. "You can have fun whenever you want to but do it after office hours!"

Hilde threw a look over her shoulder as she grabbed her packages. "And you don't?" Sure, he said his thank you's afterwards, when he noticed that she had done his share of work, but heck! The hypocrite!

"Who was that guy you were out with?!" Duo demanded as he slammed his hand on their couch, anger like no other coursed through his veins as he remembered what he had overheard.

"He's just a friend." With a huff, Hilde took all her parcels then started walking to her room.

"A friend?!" Duo followed her once again. "Did he kiss you?!" Dammit! Why did that even matter?

"Duo, I don't kiss and tell." A grunt escaped her lips as she opened her door.

"Well you better start telling!" He stopped just outside her room, ready to stay there until she fesses up.

Hilde's patience broke. She dropped her stuff carelessly onto the floor then sharply turned to face him. "Whatever it was that I did today, it's none of your business!" Why was he acting like this anyway?

"It is, too!" Duo glowered at her, his eyes trying to figure out if her lips were kissed.

"Give me one good reason why!" Hilde met his glare, her hands on her hips in that defensive manner.

Her question stumped him. For a moment, his anger cleared but there was that feeling of hate for that guy that still gnawed at him. "Because…"

Hilde shifted her weight. "Because…?" Sarcasm outlined her mimicked word and she knew she had poured a new can of gasoline onto Duo's fire as she saw his eyes darken.

"Because you're my wife, dammit!" That wasn't exactly the answer he had hoped to say, but it still came out for reasons unknown to him.

Hilde's right eyebrow shot up. "Oh yes… I'm the wife for a month…" She could tell that Duo was just as surprised with his own answer as she. She could tell he was embarrassed but heck! She's still mad at him. "In case you've forgotten, you idiot, this is a fake marriage!" Her last word was said in a barely controlled scream.

They glared at each other on the threshold of her room. He really didn't know what came over him. Alright, so he was a bit angry that she left without telling him, then again, he's done that to her before, also… And why did he get angry with that guy? Hilde's allowed to date, anyway… He just wanted to - A sigh escaped his lips.

"Okay… okay…" His right hand raked through his bangs, clutched it then let go.

Hilde breathed in deeply. It had been too long since they had fought like this… When was that last time-

"The last time we fought like this, it was over a stupid toaster." Duo muttered, finally able to reign in his anger and truly felt embarrassed with his earlier actions.

Hilde almost smiled. Oh yes, the toaster. Who broke it… "I still say that that was your fault."

Duo's jaw fell but he quickly closed it. "We're not going to get into another argument." He breathed in deeply for control then stared into Hilde's beautiful midnight blue eyes. "I went into your office to apologize this afternoon but you weren't there."

Hilde just nodded. She does feel kinda guilty that she left work just like that- Waitaminute, did he just say he was going to apologize?

"By the way, I finished the proposal for Reese Incorporated." Well… he finished it because he was so angry he needed to work off some steam.

"Oh…" Hilde looked away. Reese was her project and he started it up for her…? "Thanks."

"You would have done the same thing for me." Duo whispered as he reached out and gently touched her chin to make her look at him again. Their eyes met and they saw… wariness. "I'm sorry I was such an asshole at the restaurant, Hilde." He wasn't going to say anything about liking her taste, or how he would like to taste her lips again right now 'coz if he did, hell would break loose.

She could tell that he meant it and when he means what he says, she found it hard to not bend. "I wouldn't say that you weren't an ass… but… since you apologized, then… fine."

"Fine as in, I forgive you?" Duo asked hopefully. Why does it matter so much that she forgives him?

"Fine as in, 'forget it'." Hilde muttered with her lips pursed.

"Well…" Duo sighed. "That's near enough, I guess…" He let his hands drop to his sides then stared at Hilde some more. She had definitely changed, though he can't quite put his finger on it… But what's important right now was… he knew if he left without easing the burden between them, something bad would happen… A smile… If he could only make her smile, or laugh, everything would be fine again… "Hey angel,"

Hilde forced herself to stay emotionless after he used his pet name for her.

"You think you could give me a smile over there?" He brushed his knuckles lightly against her chin. They did this game before. It always worked- before.

"No, I don't think so. I don't feel like smiling right now." She remained impassive, or tried to, anyway. At that moment, she was trying to think of why in the world she chose to fall in love with this person.

"Aw, c'mon. I do not take no for an answer and you know that. Either you give me a smile right now or I'll resort to cheating."

'Cheating…?' When she remained indifferent, a twinkle in Duo's eyes made her frown. 'What's he gonna-' Her train of thought stopped when Duo's lightning quick hands suddenly started to tickle her ribs.

Uncontrollable laughter echoed inside the house.

"No! This isn't fair!" Hilde gasped as she pushed herself away from him. With her hands around her stomach, she ran to her bed. Hastily, she grabbed hold of one of her pillows and used it as a shield. "I'm warning you, Maxwell! You take one step and you'll be sorry!" Her threat was hallow with happiness and laughter.

Duo grinned and impishly took that one step, then ran to her bed and grabbed her other pillow. "PILLOW FIGHT!"

The grin on Hilde's face reached ear to ear. "Alright! You asked for it!" With a battle cry, she landed her pillow over his head with a satisfying blow.

They played like children, ran around after each other, teased and yelled. Duo made it a point to let her hit him as often as she liked. He could tell that she was really frustrated with him and he achieved two things with that pillow fight: got their friendship back; and let her frustration be satisfied, yet at the same time, have fun himself!

The two collapsed on Hilde's bed, bent over their stomach, and laughed uncontrollably.

"Man! That was fun!" Duo turned over to his side to face Hilde and she did the same thing with her head propped on her hand. "Wanna do it again?"

Hilde shook her head with a grin. "Nah… not tonight. I'm tired as it is."

"Okay." They stared at each other with that silly smile on their faces, as comfortable as they were like before.

"So, tell me. Why is it that when women gets frustrated, they shop?"

Hilde grinned. "Not always. I just tried it this way today just to see if it really helped and it kinda did."

Duo shook his head because he couldn't think of anything to say.

"By the way…" Hilde started to blush as she shyly looked from her packages on the floor to Duo.

Duo frowned. "What?"

"Er… I placed those under your name." Hilde whispered without looking at him, a bit embarrassed with what she had done. Honestly, she just wanted to make him feel angry and pick a fight.

Duo looked from the packages to Hilde. He took in her elegant dress, the skirt, that, at the moment, was hiked up her wonderfully toned, beautiful legs, enough that he could see a portion of a black, ruffly garter. She looked, and he knew that she didn't know, innocent and seductive at the same time. Should he be angry at what she did? It was nothing compared to what he had done that afternoon.

"Well… are you angry? I'll pay you back."

Her hushed tone made him realize that he hasn't spoken. Like before, he chucked her chin lightly with his knuckles and she looked up at him. "Don't pay me back… If it's any consolation," He let his eyes glance from her face down to her black, see through stockinged feet, then back up again. "I think it was worth it. I never knew you had those legs under that skirt."

"Yeah. Or else you wouldn't have taken me seriously and rushed at me like you did some of your girls, huh?" Hilde made the comment into a joke even if it was one of her secret pains.

"Hmmm… Probably." Duo tilted his head and his eyes seemed to be pulled to that portion of Hilde's leg where he could see the black garter. "Although, I'd advice you not to wear that sexy looking garter."

Hilde instantly glanced down and saw that the hem of her skirt was a bit too high for her liking. She quickly pulled it down with one hand and didn't even notice that Duo had given her an offhanded compliment. "Oh you-" Her other hand grabbed a pillow.

The next thing Duo knew, he was pushed to his back with a pillow on his face.

"You could have told me!"

'And miss the show?' Duo took the pillow off his face and revealed his grin. "Well, I'm a man. I appreciate beauty." The moment those words left his lips, he blinked in confusion… 'Hell…?!' Was he flirting with Hilde…?

"Oooooh!" Her frustrated growl belied the twinkle in her expressive eyes. "Get out of my room right now. You've made enough mess."

Duo stood up, humped his body and started bowing consecutively as he imitated those monster movies' butlers. "Yes, oh master."

Hilde laughed, as she led Duo to her door and side stepped her packages. "Go, Igor!"

Duo answered in that same, hoarse, funny way. "Yes, oh Master." But the moment he stepped into the hallway, he straightened his back and faced her. "Are you going to be alright now?"

Hilde leaned against her door and nodded with a smile. "Yeah. Just fine, Doc."

"Okay." He stared at her and felt the urge to grab her around the waist and give her a mind numbing good night kiss… She looked ruffled. Her cheeks were red from laughter, a twinkle in her eyes, and a killer dress… He just couldn't stop the words that left his mouth. "That damn guy was correct, though… You do look beautiful tonight… but…" He tried to stop the words but he couldn't. "You always had been beautiful to me." The moment those words left him he knew it was true.

Hilde blushed and thanked the stars that she was already leaning against her door or else she would have landed flat on her face. That was the first real compliment Duo had given her- the first about her looks. Usually, it was: 'you're so good'; 'you're so organized'; 'it's wonderful that you…'

The soft, touched smile that played on her lips was a thank you for him already. "Alright. Go to sleep." Duo turned and walked only a few steps from her door to open his own.

"Duo…"

He turned at her voice and the funny thing was, he half expected her to rush over to his side and kiss him!

"Good night."

Duo nodded like an automaton, shocked at what he had just imagined. "Good night, Hilde." He watched her close her door then he did the same as he shook his head in confusion.

"Damn! I need to get my head examined." He quickly walked to his bathroom and stared at his reflection in the mirror. "What is wrong with you?" He slapped his face twice. "Alright. Cross psychoanalysis for Duo Maxwell. You are thinking of bedding your nearly ten years buddy, housemate, and business partner. What does that tell you about yourself?" He took off his shirt and showed his well-toned muscles.

"I'm an asshole." He shook his head. "Think, Maxwell… One logical reason… That's all you need…"

He stripped himself naked then walked into the shower. From the other side of the room, he could already hear the pounding water from Hilde's shower, as if calling to him like a siren…

"DAMN! DAMN! DAMN! Not again!" He twisted the cold-water lever and let his body cool off.

Okay… what did he learn about Hilde today, aside from the fact that her lips were as sweet as the finest quality of chocolate, aside from the fact that she's got great legs and aside from the fact that he never knew she bought, owned, and wore lacy garments?

His hands pulled at his long hair, free from its braid to experience pain. He needed to get his mind off her like that!

"Okay, I got one…" He started soaping himself. "Maybe this is just the after effect of getting married. Then again, we're not really married, it's just that I am starting to think of her like a husband to a wife because…. Because it's just natural! That's it!" A smile lighted his face and his body finally felt the ice-cold water. "Natural!"

His smile disappeared when one more waylaid image of Hilde in that lingerie entered his mind. "Man! She'll kill me if she ever found out! She'll murder me and pulverize me and then kill me again…"

From the other side of the house, no such thoughts were in her mind. Instead, she let Duo's compliment echo again and again like the warm shower that flowed over her body. It was a wonderful feeling to know that he cherished their friendship enough to let her hit him that many times.

Oh, she knew what he did, and she was touched to the core… then his compliment… It was a nice ending to such a long, and a bit frustrating, day.

Authoress: Heartfire