Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ The Magicians of Gundam Wing ❯ Hildy's Junkyard ( Chapter 6 )

Chapter 6: Hildy's Junkyard

“Hey, Hildy!” Duo shouted. “Long time, no see!”

“Duo!” Hildy waved furiously from the doorway of her office across the junkyard. “Gimme a sec!” She disappeared back inside the office.

Duo strolled across the junkyard, examining the myriad items Hildy had accumulated since his last visit. Hildy re-appeared outside the office and raced toward him with a big smile. She got within five paces and leaped into the air with her arms out.

“Duo! Man, it's good to see you!” She landed in Duo's arms and sent him staggering back a few steps.

“Dang, Hildy! Warn a body when you're gonna do something like that!” Duo laughed and swung Hildy around in a circle. “You missed me, huh?”

“I always miss you.” Hildy stared earnestly into his eyes. “You're important to me.”

Duo grinned nervously. “Uh, yeah, I know.” He put her down. “You're important to me, too. Like a sister.”

Hildy looped her arm through his and led him toward the office. “Closer than a sister, I thought. What have you been up to anyway?”

“The usual. Fighting evil, promoting peace, that sort of thing.”

Hildy eyed him with a slight frown. “I thought you were done with fighting.”

“Mankind will never be done with fighting, Hildy.” Duo waved his free hand airily. “Some idiot's always going to kick up a fuss and make work for the God of Death.” He pointed a thumb at his chest. “And that's me.”

“I have never liked it when you call yourself that.”

“It's who I am.”

Hildy hugged his arm. “Sometimes I think you're hiding part of yourself from me. You aren't, are you? I want to know all about you, just like you know all about me.”

“Ah, well, I guess there might always be some things about me…” Duo said vaguely. “I've got a dark past.”

“But still…”

“Anyway, it's not important.” Duo quickly changed the subject. “You've picked up some cool stuff.” He pointed at a jumble of metal that might once have been a mobile suit beam rifle. “Where'd you get that? Does it work?”

Hildy shrugged. “You can pick up all kinds of mobile suit scrap just about anywhere these days. People are always junking stuff. I probably got enough stuff here to put together a couple of mobile suits.”

“Oh, really?”

Hildy pinched his arm. “Don't go getting ideas. I don't need trouble. I scrap the parts for re-usable ores and power units.”

“But a whole mobile suit…”

“I have no use for that,” Hildy said firmly. “I couldn't sell it and I don't want people thinking I'm in league with rebels.” She frowned darkly. “I don't need those damn Preventers closing down my business and hauling me off for a few years of questioning.”

Duo looked at her in surprise. “Is that what people say about the Preventers?”

“How else do they keep the stations in line, except by clamping down? But it doesn't matter. I keep my nose clean. They got no reason to come bugging me.”

They entered the office. Two file cabinets stood against the wall on the right and a neatly organized desk rested just inside the door to the left. Several pictures hung on the back wall, quite a few of them of Duo. In the far left corner was a coffee machine on a table.

“You cleaned the place up!” Duo exclaimed. “The last time I was here, there were papers everywhere.”

“Yeah, well, I decided I couldn't use your filing system anymore. I don't seem to have a knack for knowing which scrap of paper represents what bit of junk I just bought or sold.”

“Hey! My system worked! Recent stuff was on top and older stuff was toward the bottom.”

“Right.” Hildy plopped into the chair by the desk and put her feet up. “So how long can you stay?”

Duo leaned against one of the file cabinets. “I have a few days. I thought I might poke around and see what's up.”

Hildy smiled. “Well, you can stay at my place. I want to spend as much time together as we can.” She stared at him fixedly.

Duo paled. “Ah, sure! I can bunk on your couch.”

“You don't have to sleep on the couch, you know.”

“Now, let's not get ahead of ourselves. I just want to get caught up.”

“Whatever you say, Duo.”

Duo licked his lips. “So, can we get some lunch? It's not too early is it?”

Hildy glanced at her watch. “It's a little early, but I guess we can eat now.” She stood up. “You never did like going too long between meals.” She looked him up and down. “You never seem to gain weight, though. I can't imagine what you do with it.”

“I have a high metabolism.”

“I daresay.”

They left the junkyard and walked down the road to a nearby diner. They sat in a booth by the window where they could watch people passing by.

“This looks like my sort of place,” Duo announced gleefully. “Big portions and low prices!” He ordered two lunches, “Just in case I miss dinner.”

Hildy shook her head.

Duo looked out the window. “Hey! It's Heero!” He jumped up and dashed outside, ignoring Hildy's hissed objection. “Heero!” Duo waved. “Over here!”

Heero immediately jogged toward him. “Hey, Duo. I was looking for you.”

“You were?”

“Yeah.” Heero looked around furtively. “I'm hiding from you-know-who. I figured with your, ah, talent, you can help me avoid her.”

“Found you on L1, did she?”

“Yes, damn it all,” Heero growled.

Duo flung an arm around his shoulders. “I'm happy to be of service, my friend. Hildy and I were about to have lunch. Come join us.”

“Thanks.”

Back in the diner, Hildy was not very successfully hiding a frown.

“Hildy, you remember my friend Heero, don't you?”

“Yes, of course,” Hildy said with strained politeness. “It's good to see you again.” She held out her hand and Heero shook it before sitting down on the opposite bench seat. He slid over to make room for Duo, who squeezed in next to him.

“It looks like Heero's gonna be hanging around the station for a few days, too, Hildy. Do you mind putting him up, too? We won't be in your hair for long.”

“Of course I don't mind,” Hildy said, although the rather sour expression on her face did not match the forced cheerfulness of her voice.

“Great! Look, here's lunch!”

“You were expecting me?” Heero remarked as three lunches were placed on the table.

“No, these are mine,” Duo said, tugging two plates toward him. “You can order your own food.”

“What can I get you, hon?” the waitress said with a grin.

“One of those,” Heero pointed at one of Duo's plates. “Then he can let me eat this one while he eats the other one and waits for my order.”

The waitress winked at him. “Gotcha!”

“Pretty clever,” Duo mumbled around a mouthful of food.

Heero didn't answer as he proceeded to make very short work of his food.

Hildy watched them eat with faint dismay.

After lunch, the three of them walked back to the junkyard.

“Do you have plans for the afternoon, Duo?” Hildy asked as they returned. “I'm afraid I've got an appointment to pick up some space salvage this afternoon. If I don't show up, the guy will probably sell it to someone else.”

“I don't want to mess up business,” Duo said quickly. “You go do what you need to. Heero and I will crash at your place and wait for you.”

“I guess that's ok.”

They entered the junkyard to find two men waiting in front of the office.

“Come on, Hildy!” one called. “We gotta go if we're gonna be first in line for that salvage.”

“Yeah, I know! I'm coming.” Hildy turned to Duo. “I'll see you later, ok? I should be back around 19:00.” She dug a key out of the pocket of her trousers. “Here's my key. You remember where it is, right?”

“Sure. It's just around the corner.”

“Ok, see you in a bit.” Hildy hurried to join the two men.

“Let's go,” Duo said urgently. He grabbed Heero by the arm and dragged him down the street.

“Hang on!” Heero exclaimed. He pulled his arm free. “What's the hurry?”

“It's before noon still. That means we have nearly seven hours for sex if we hurry.”

Heero groaned. “Is that all you think about?”

“It's not my fault! I never knew Hildy had those kinds of thoughts. She kept thinking about it and now I've got sex on the brain.”

“That sounds like a standard description of you,” Heero said dryly.

“This is no laughing matter!” Duo exclaimed. “I've got a serious problem here and you're just the man to solve it for me. So let's get a move on.” He hurried along the street and Heero fell into step with him.

“Can you really think about having sex after eating all that food? I feel more like taking a nap.”

“You will not sleep!” Duo declared. “I left Fei three days ago and I haven't been laid since. Three days! Do you think I'm some kind of saint?!”

Heero chuckled. “Three days, eh? That's pretty much the same thing as forever to you, isn't it?”

“It might as well be!” Duo groaned. “I'm starting to hurt. Can we pick up the pace a little? Hildy's place is just up ahead, above that video store.”

A gated stairway next to the video store allowed access to the apartments above it. Duo quickly unlocked the gate and led the way up to an apartment on the third floor in the back. As soon as they were inside, he locked the door and started stripping off his clothes.

“Right here?” Heero remarked as he also began undressing.

“I'm not gonna do it in her bedroom and this is the only other room. Can you undress a little faster please?” Duo was already naked.

Heero shook his head. “Too bad Fei isn't here. I think you need to be double-teamed.”

“If wishes were horses…” Duo grumbled as he dropped down on all fours. “Just start fucking. I'll tell you when to stop.”

When Hildy arrived home later that evening, a very satisfied Duo was reclining on the couch watching television. Heero was sleeping on the floor wrapped in a blanket.

“Did you eat dinner?” Hildy asked.

“No, we waited for you,” Duo replied. “Besides, you don't have any food.”

“I should have known you'd check. There's a Chinese restaurant across the street.”

“I remember it.”

“Does Heero want to go?”

“Probably.” Duo grinned. “He needs to keep his strength up.”

“Ok. I'm going to change into something more comfortable.” Hildy went into the bedroom and closed the door.

Heero sat up on one elbow. “What could possibly be more comfortable than overalls?”

“And she looks rather fetching in them, too,” Duo added with a chuckle.

“She probably wants to dress up for you.”

“I hope not. I've always thought of her as more of a buddy.”

“You said she was having sexual thoughts.”

“I know and it's creeping me out. I've got to figure out how to turn off this mind-reading thing. It's just not a good thing sometimes to know what people are thinking.”

“You're just now figuring that out?”

“Cut me some slack, ok?”

Hildy re-appeared from the bedroom. She was wearing a blouse and skirt, and she had put on sandals. Duo's mouth fell open.

“What do you think?” Hildy asked.

“Um… Well…”

“Duo says you look very nice,” Heero put in smoothly.

Duo nodded quickly.

Hildy looked from one to the other. Her brow wrinkled with suspicion. Duo leaped up and grabbed her hand.

“Let's go eat!” Duo said brightly. He threw a worried glance at Heero.

Heero grinned wickedly and started to open his mouth.

Duo held up a stern finger. “One word, wiseguy, and you-know-who will be all over you.”

Heero promptly clamped his mouth shut and blinked expressionlessly at Duo.

“That's better,” Duo grumbled.

Hildy stared at them as Duo hurried her out of the apartment and down the stairs. “Is there something going on I should know about?”

“Nothing you need to know about, Hildy,” Duo assured her. “Everything's fine.”

“You're not telling me something.”

“It's nothing. Really!” Duo rushed across the street to the restaurant. “This smells great doesn't it?”

Hildy continued to stare suspiciously at Duo for a few more minutes, but she relaxed when dinner arrived and they were all talking and laughing by the time they were snapping open their fortune cookies.

“What does your fortune say, Hildy?”

“It says: Reach for the good that is close at hand.” She dropped the scrap of paper and munched on her cookie. “I guess that means don't expect too much.” She glanced at Duo and sighed.

“What about you, Heero?”

Heero tossed his scrap of paper toward Duo. “It says: Appreciate true friendship.” He lifted an eyebrow at Duo.

Duo grinned. “Ain't that the truth?” He held up his fortune. “Mine say: Good fortune is coming your way.” He popped his cookie into his mouth and rubbed his hands together gleefully. “I hope it means fortune as in money and not fortune as in luck. I could use money more than luck right now.”

Heero frowned. “What about all that stuff you scrounged out of the Wizard's Cave?”

“I left most of that with Roku.”

“Quatre will skin you if he finds out.”

“It's not that much stuff.”

“Oh?”

“Really!”

“Who's Roku?” Hildy asked.

“Quatre's son,” Heero said.

“Quatre is one of your other friends, isn't he?” Hildy asked.

“That's right.”

“Is the Wizard's Cave a junkyard?”

“You might say that,” Duo said with a grin. “I found a few interesting odds and ends there, but I left most of it with Roku. Actually, I did bring something for you. It's part of the reason I dropped by.” He fished around in his pocket for a moment and then produced a small gold locket on a fine gold chain. He held it out to her. “The locket opens. You can put something small inside if you want.”

“Oh my!” Hildy exclaimed as she accepted the locket. “It's beautiful. Thank you, Duo.” She slipped the chain over her head and lifted her hair through. The locket settled just above her cleavage. “It looks really old.”

“It is.” Duo and Heero exchanged a look.

“I'll take good care of it.” Hildy sat back with a smile. “Maybe you noticed that I don't have anything to drink in my apartment either. There's a bar just down the street.”

Duo perked up. “A beer or two would hit the spot after this great meal.”

“All right,” Hildy said. “But if you'll excuse me for a moment, I need to stop in the rest room first.” She left the table.

“You realize she's just hoping to get you drunk so she can seduce you,” Heero remarked.

“I know,” Duo agreed mournfully. “The bad thing is: Hildy is one of the only people I know who can drink almost as much as I can. I can drink her under the table, but I'm usually not that far behind her. I might be too drunk to screw later.”

“I won't be,” Heero said blandly.

Duo glared at him. “If you screw me while I'm not awake to enjoy it, I'll never forgive you.”

A hint of a smile touched Heero's lips.

“You're a heartless man.”

Hildy returned and the three of them adjourned to the bar.

In the end, all three of them got so drunk that they barely managed to crawl back to Hildy's apartment, where only the concerted effort of all three managed to get the key into the lock in the gate and then again into the door of the apartment.

“Duo,” Hildy said with the exaggerated pronunciation of the very drunk who is trying not to sound drunk, “come sleep in the bedroom with me.”

Duo, however, staggered to the couch and collapsed. “Too far,” he rasped out. “This is good enough.”

Heero sprawled on the other end of the couch with his legs flung across Duo's hips. “G'night, Hildy,” he muttered and immediately went to sleep.

Duo lifted his head and blinked at Heero blearily for a second. “Damn pansy can't hold his liquor,” he complained. Then his head dropped back down on the arm of the couch and he promptly fell asleep.

Hildy regarded Duo wistfully for a moment before stumbling into the bedroom, where she collapsed across the bed with her clothes and shoes still on, although one sandal slowly slipped off her foot and plopped onto the floor.

-o-o-o-o-

I just had a thought: if a shoe falls in a drunk's apartment, does it make a sound?

See you in the next chapter!