LaF05: Pour Mon Coeur (For my Heart)

“I’m… sorry, Andria.”

“Heero, look at me,” she tilted his face up with her finger. His eyes were so, so sad. “What’s wrong?”

“I… don’t think I’ve been completely honest with you.”

“About what?”

“Let’s take a walk.” Heero tried to think. Why hadn’t he thought of anything to say yet? “Um, You know Relena, yes?”

“Yes, we’ve been with her for a week now. She’s really nice, but it sounds like you already know that,” Andria said calmly.

“Well… actually… she and I have known each other for a very long time.”

“Really? How long?”

“Four years. Give or take.”

“Wow. That is long.”

“Look, Andria-“ he stopped walking and turned to face her. “Relena and I…”

“You and I what?” Relena had found them outside. There seemed to be a lot riding on the question. Her eyes held so much hope.

Andria looked between them, noticing everything about their body language and the silent signals that passed between them in the air. “Oh, Heero… Of course…” she started to back away slowly. “I should have realized. I was just an interim thing, wasn’t I?” her voice began to break. Any moment now she would break into tears. She couldn’t do that in front of him.

“What? No! Andria!” Heero realized she had gotten the wrong impression. Or had she?

“It’s ok, I understand,” she tried to smile and sound strong. “You go ahead and be with her. I’ll be alright. I have a job to do. Good bye, Heero,” she turned and began to walk, then run. She was quickly out of sight.

That stung. ‘I have a job to do’. The GW pilots hadn’t had a mission in so long… even if they had, they no longer had the gundams to complete those missions.

“Heero?” he had forgotten Relena was there. “Did I-?”

“No, no it’s not your fault, Relena,” Heero sat on the ground, unable to stand and think at the same time anymore.

“That’s probably one of the only times you’ve ever called me Relena to my face as a friend,” she said, sitting next to him.

“As a friend?” Is Relena my friend?

“If that’s what you want,” she said easily. Heero searched her eyes. She was hiding some emotion, but he couldn’t tell what it was.

“I’ve screwed up so much,” He hung his head.

“Is she your girlfriend?”

“She was my girlfriend.”

“Why don’t you go after her?”

“I don’t know how.”

“You’ve changed, Heero,” she said, startling him. “You used to be so cold and closed off. You’re much more open now. More relaxed. It’s good for you.”

Odd. Duo had said the exact same thing more or less. “I wish I hadn’t. Life is more painful this way.”

“Heero, from the first time I saw you, I knew that you were a kind person. What you have is a heart.” She reached out and put a hand on his chest, over his heart. “Hearts beat to give life. Hearts give us love and happiness. But in return for that happiness, you run the risk of getting hurt. A strong person can take the pain and learn from it, and grow so that next time they won’t get hurt as easily.”

“Like fighting a war,” he swallowed. Those damn emotions were swirling around again. Her hand on his chest was driving his crazy. She could probably feel his heart thumping like crazy.

“No, Heero,” she shook her head. “Love isn’t a war. You need to understand that if you’re going to keep your heart from getting hurt.” She stood and brushed off her light summer clothes. “I’ll see you at dinner?”

He nodded and watched her head back inside. Love is not a war. His entire life had been the preparation for, and then the fighting of, wars. He looked at his hands and the bits of dirt and grass that clung to them. “I’m completely unprepared for this. Where am I supposed to go now?”

__________________________________

Andria aimlessly wandered the dry gardens for a while. Eventually she headed back indoors and to her room. The tears had subsided for a while but as she closed the door they began again. She couldn’t help it. She could tell herself all the truths and lies in the world; it still hurt to lose her first boyfriend. She turned on the shower and let the water run hot. She got in and tried to get clean, but the tears overtook her. She sank to the floor of the shower and cried. Cried for losing Heero, cried for a misspent childhood training in a Keep, cried for all the hardships she had ever endured, cried for all the lost opportunities.

On the other side of the building, Relena, too, returned to her room. She remained composed, though sad as she moved about her room. She too decided to shower before dinner. In the shower, the warm water washed away all her pent up emotions. She also began to cry, to cry for the life she would never again know, for the terrible fight she had been thrust into at the tender age of fifteen, for her friends the gundam pilots who had it so much worse than she did, and for losing Heero possibly forever.

Both eventually stopped crying. They wiped the salty water away and used nice smelling soaps to life their moods. Their thoughts turned towards their bold, brave new futures, and both emerged as new women.

Duo, Kyla, Trowa and Raisa found Heero still sitting on the lawn a little later. They had brought snacks out for a mini picnic despite knowing that dinner wasn’t that far away.

“Hey, what’s up?” Kyla said quietly so as not to startle him. She sat next to him and rubbed his back comfortingly. (AN: Don’t you dare even think that. I swear I wouldn’t do that. Kyla is DUO’S girl, got it?)

“I have no girlfriend at all,” Heero said softly.

“So what happened?” Raisa sat on the other side of him, setting out bowls and plates on a blanket.

“Andria thinks I’m with Relena. Relena thinks I should be with Andria. Neither understands. Hell, I don’t understand.” Heero told them.

“At least you weren’t dumped,” Duo suddenly remembered the pain of El leaving him. “I gotta say,” he said hoarsely. “That’s the worst.”

Heero glared at him. “Close enough.”

“Heero,” Trowa spoke. “Who do YOU want to be with?”

“I don’t know.” Heero stared at the grass. “Relena said that I have a kind heart. And that’s what’s causing my pain. But she said that it can bring happiness as well. But in return for the happiness, you risk pain. I don’t know how to deal with that.”

“Oh, Heero,” Kyla hugged him around the shoulders. (AN: again. Not what you might think.) “No one does. That’s part of life. We all learn to deal with things as they come. And we’re not perfect- we make mistakes. That’s life.”

Duo finally spoke. He had actually been sitting quietly, concerned for his friend. “She’s right, Heero. And no one makes more mistakes than me. But look- I’m still here.”

Heero looked at him. “How many times in the last week have I told you that you are not helping?” there was a twinkle in his eyes now though.

“That’s our Heero!” Duo said happily. “Cheese puffs?”

Quatre ran around frantically trying to make tea. He waved away the servants, wanting to make it himself. He spoke aloud, tending to babble. Estelle watched him curiously, following along.

“-Wufei can be very, very violent- I have to apologize for him. Actually, almost all of my friends are violent. And very quiet. They don’t talk much.”

“Really?” Estelle said, truly interested in this sweet, pale young boy who was obviously slowly becoming a man. “You couldn’t keep my friends from talking.”

Quatre turned to her briefly. “I noticed that. You’re all very… verbal. And really friendly with one another. You talk like normal people.”

“We are normal people. Aren’t you?”

Quatre tried to chuckle, but it came out more like a strangled, weak giggle. “Um, sure we are.” Running through his mind were memories of his friends screaming down into battle. “Water’s boiling!” He made the tea and then set it out on a tray (AN: yes, Quatre keeps tea trays. You got a problem with that? It’s obvious the boy isn’t gay! Not of course that that would be a bad thing- I happen to love Heero-Duo fics.) and took a seat across from her at one of the pleasant tables stationed in nooks of the massive kitchen.

Estelle savored the tea. “Congratulations- you pass inspection Mr. Winner!”

“Good tea is important, isn’t it?” he agreed, smiling and savoring his own. He had indeed outdone himself this time. “Please, call me Quatre.”

“As I am Estelle,” she reached her hand out and they shook. “I’m very sorry to say that I’ve had little information as to current events- what is it your family does?”

“The Winner family owns a major corporation- we do everything. But that’s really not interesting. How did you end up working for Relena?”

“We were… assigned, I suppose you could say,” she stared into her cup. “We believe firmly in everything Ms. Relena does, and so it’s our mission to help her succeed in her goals.” For some reason, she felt she could tell this boy anything. His blue eyes were so sincere. “I lost my family when I was seven years old.”

“That’s horrible,” Quatre said, really meaning it. He put a hand on her arm to comfort her. “I’m so sorry.”

“I-It’s alright. It was a long time ago. All of us have lost families, you know. Kyla’s parents died of a fever and then she went to live with her grandmother who was killed by ESA soldiers. Andria was separated from her parents on the Serengeti- she found them dead a few days later. Isabel lost her sister and parents to still more soldiers because of her family’s resistance. Raisa was kidnapped by rebels in Russia and was rescued. Reports have come trickling in over the years that her family is dead as well.”

“And yours?” he prompted, his heart going out to her. “If it’s not too-“

“No. I should tell this to someone who hasn’t had it happen to them,” Estelle pushed her hair out of her face. “My parents all died of a disease. My older brother tried to take care of me, but he was killed by soldiers when he had to steal food to feed us. I wandered those streets for days… Madam Anthony found me then. She took me in and that’s when I met the other girls.”

“I’m so sorry, Estelle…” Quatre said, his own eyes holding the beginnings of tears.

Estelle sniffed and wiped her eyes. “I’m alright. I mean- you have to move on, right? There’s no sense in dwelling on the past when there’s nothing you can do to change it. Learn your lesson and move on.” She slowly began to cry however.

“Estelle…” Quatre sympathized. He moved into a chair nearer to her and let her cry on his shoulder.

__________________________________

Wufei chased Isabel into the flower gardens of the residence. He looked for her frantically- which way had she gone? He couldn’t quite understand it, but he felt the wildest attraction to her. He had to know if she felt the same for him, or if that kiss had been a joke. No, that kiss could not have been a joke. No one kissed like that without meaning it.

“Over here, amante,” he heard her call softly.

He found her sitting beneath a rose bush. “I don’t even know your name.”

“Isabel,” she smiled. “Sit. And yours?”

“Wufei,” he replied, sitting as close to her as he dared.

“Interesting. Where have you come from, Wufei?” she asked him, looking at him with her luminous black eyes.

Those eyes seemed to penetrate into his soul. He remembered a pair of eyes that had done that once… “Outer Space. My family’s from China.”

“I figured that,” she said drily. Wufei cursed himself for being so stupid. “But that’s not what I meant- where have you come from, Wufei?”

“What do you mean?”

She got a far away look in her eyes. “A long, long time ago, my family lived in what’s left of Spain. We were so happy. I was the happiest child you could ever wish to meet. But my parents resisted against the Alliance- Within a day, my entire family was destroyed. I became the saddest child, in return for being the happiest. Had I not been taken in and joined my friends, I would probably not be alive right now.”

Wufei didn’t know what to say. “That was injustice,” he croaked. “The Alliance was wrong. I’m sorry for you.”

“Thank you. So where have you come from, Wu-man?” she smiled at him. “That is what Kyla’s dingbat friend called you, isn’t it?”

“I… have never really been happy,” he cast his eyes down. “When I- I lost my wife- I turned all my anger on the Alliance, and towards protecting the colonys.” Why was he telling her this? He had never told anyone so much about himself.

“To lose someone so close to you is the ultimate pain, I know,” she put a hand on his arm. He looked up at her in surprise. He wasn’t a touchy-feely person like Duo, or even Quatre.

“Isabel- why did you do that?”

“Why did I do what? Why did I put my hand on your arm? Because human contact helps to lessen the pain. You haven’t had enough contact. Why did I kiss you? For the same reason. And because you are muy calinete,” she smiled.

“I don’t speak Spanish,” he apologized.

“Ask Heero. He will understand. He is a fast learner.”

“How did you come to meet Heero?”

“Andria dragged him in one day,” Isabel laughed at the memory. “He wouldn’t speak to me. He’s a tough one. He thinks he has so much to prove. Like he’s constantly being watched, our Heero.”

“Your Heero? Last I checked, none of us belonged to anyone,” Wufei couldn’t help saying.

“He’s your Heero, too” she looked at him. “He’s the braided dingbat’s as well. And he’s mine, and Kyla’s and Raisa’s and Estelle’s and especially Andria’s.”

“He’s Relena’s too,” Wufei said firmly.

“Mmm, I gathered that.”

They sat in silence for a while. Finally, Wufei couldn’t stand it anymore. “Why did you kiss me?”

“I told you already. You’re muy caliente, and you needed it. Wu-man, I can tell just by looking at you that you’ve denied yourself any kind of affection for god only knows how long. It’s time you get off your ass and start to live.” She said determinedly.

Wufei couldn’t help feeling chastened. “That’s not what I meant.”

“I know it’s not,” she smiled slyly. “You want to know if I kissed you because I want to do it again.” He stared at her. “Why don’t you come over here and find out, amante?”

__________________________________

Relena decided that they would stay for a few days. No one complained. They were all very interested in finding out more about the other gender. None of them had ever really gotten a chance to do that before… Well, maybe Duo had. Then again, everyone’s read Chp. 12, right?

Relena spent most of the time locked up in her office with a stressed out Hilde. Andria kept to her room as well. Heero was left to amuse himself or hang out with Trowa. The two messy-haired boys decided to just sit in one of the comfortable lounges. That was what they were there for, wasn’t it? They did that for several days without saying a single word to one another.

In the meantime, Estelle and Quatre enjoyed the finer things in life. Tea, civilized conversation, and more tea. Both being from upper-crust families, they completely bonded on that level. Estelle became extremely interested in Quatre’s work. He was becoming more and more involved in the workings of the family business, and it turned out Estelle had a knack for predicting what next would make it big.

A very reserved Raisa accompanied Wufei and Isabel into Sydney for an afternoon. She quickly decided that this was not a good idea and instead opted to stay home and read in the gardens for the next few days.

Kyla and Duo might as well have been one person. They went everywhere together. And they had fun while they did it. They never stayed at the residence all day- they usually went into Sydney for some city fun instead.

“So how long have you worn that braid?” Kyla asked, as they strolled through the sunny streets. They had bought ice cream from a street vendor and Kyla licked hers all the more delicately as Duo wolfed his down and threw the napkin in the trash before responding.

“Forever.”

“Ah. Then you won’t believe me when I tell you that I’ve never braided mine before,” she said from half-closed eyes.

“No way! I DON’T believe you!”

“It’s true,” she said, licking very delicately.

Something didn’t click. The tone of voice… the controlled look on her face… “You’re lying.”

“Yes, I am!” she laughed. “You’re good! I always get Estelle on those.”

“I always get all the guys,” Duo pouted. “They never get it.”

“They’re so quiet…” she murmured.

“Yeah, they don’t talk much.”

“Well you sure talk enough for the five of you,” she teased.

“Hey! Come here!” he grabbed her around her middle.

“Ah! Duo, stop that!” she laughed.

“Don’t you know what they do to bad little girls who lie?” he said teasingly.

“No, what?” she twisted so she could still see his face.

“They don’t get to finish their ice cream.” He neatly plucked it from her hands and took a big bite.

“Duo!” she exclaimed. “Give that back!”

“Uh uh-“ he managed to hold her and slowly eat the ice cream at the same time.

“C’mon, Duo! Is it my fault you ate yours in one bite?” she tried to reach for it but her arms were pinned.

“Mmm… I’m gonna take my time with this one, though. Mine was chocolate- this is strawberry, it’s better. You should really try it,” he chuckled, enjoying watching her struggle.

“Hah!” she got her hands free and grabbed the ice cream. In that one split second where she jumped up for the cone, Duo’s heart stopped beating. She was glorious. She really, really was. She skipped away a few paces and turned to look at him, eating her ice cream triumphantly. She paused. “Hey! You ate that big strawberry I was trying to save!”

“The God of Death strikes again,” he regained his cool and moved so they could walk side by side again.

“God of Death? Thanatos?” she asked.

“What’s Thanatos?”

“The God of Death.”

“Oh.”

“Why did you call yourself that?”

“Because I AM the God of Death, baby,” he said, forgetting for a moment just who he was talking to. In his mind’s eye he saw what he thought of as his glory days.

She looked at him oddly. “Alright, Thanatos. Whatever you say,” she finished the ice cream. ‘I know I’ve heard that ‘god of death’ thing somewhere before,’ she thought.

“Thanatos… I like it.”

“Isabel still calls you a dingbat.”

“What!? Why?”

“Because you are. Ooh- look!” she dragged away down the sidewalk. “Aren’t these just the coolest?” she stared at the outfit in the store window longingly.

“They’re clothes. So what?”

“So they’re COOL clothes! Look at the embroidery- they’re so pretty!”

“Let’s move on-“

“I want to go try them on!” she dragged him inside. He took a seat next to the counter, where the clerk gave him a knowing look. ‘You’re gonna be here for a while’ it said. He sighed while Kyla rushed around picking out clothes to try on. “I’ll be right out!” she called.

“Ok, Kyla,” he tried to sound encouraging. “Dammit… why am I being so nice? I’m a gundam pilot! I don’t go clothes shopping!” he glanced down at his tired-looking black jeans. If it weren’t for Quatre, he would probably never have realized that he had grown out of the old ones.

“Duo!” a voice exclaimed.

He glanced up sharply, old instincts returning. “Eleanor?”

“Hi, sugar,” she hugged him.

Duo pulled away from her touch. He didn’t want to see Eleanor. She had dumped him harshly. And he was here with Kyla- what if she saw him? ‘What am I thinking? It’s not like we’re dating…’ “What are you doing here, El?”

“Just doing some window shopping- and then I saw YOU in the window and I just had to come in!” she laughed. Her laugh grated on his nerves now.

“That’s nice, Eleanor.” He glanced at the changing room doors anxiously.

Eleanor too a seat on the arm of his chair, playing with his hair. “You know, I was thinking. Maybe you and I shouldn’t have broken it off. Why don’t you come around to my place sometime to discuss it? It’s much too- PERSONAL to talk about here.”

“No thanks, El. I’ve sworn off women,” Duo got up. He felt like glaring at her and telling her to leave.

Eleanor pouted. “Then who’s that?” she pointed.

Duo turned back to the dressing rooms behind him. A vision greeted him. “Kyla…” he breathed.

“Do you like it?” she asked, turning around slowly. The dress went to just above her knee and was form fitting but not tight. The deep blue contrasted with her paler eyes and little rhinestone shone from strategic places on its v-neck.

“Like it? I love it!” This was why he had come in here… Something in him had just known it… “You look beautiful, Kyla!”

She blushed. “Thanks.”

“I think she looks like a slut,” Eleanor said sharply.

“No one asked you,” Duo turned on her viciously.

“Duo,” Kyla came and put a hand on his shoulder, alarmed.

“So is she for rent, or what?” Eleanor sneered.

“Take a hike, El,” Duo sneered. Without realizing it, he slipped a protective arm around Kyla’s waist. “I think it’s almost time for your next appointment. Don’t want to keep big, unshaven and hairy waiting, now do we?”

Eleanor glared at Kyla. Kyla shot back a death glare of her own, unsettling Eleanor. “Fine then. Keep your new little hussie. She’ll never last. I hope you’re willing to keep putting out the dough for her- she’s got expensive taste.” She left, slamming the door of the shop behind her.

Duo had pulled Kyla still a little closer. She looked up at his face, concerned at the hard, cold lines there. “Duo?”

He shook his head, shaking off the grim mood. It had been too long since the last battle. “I’m ok. Don’t let her worry you. She’s just jealous.”

“Of what?” Kyla said very quietly. Her voice was low and husky and it sent shivers through him.

He cleared his throat. “You’re going to get the dress, right?” he released her so he could look at her again. Touching her was getting unbearable. She was too beautiful.

“I can’t. It’s way too expensive,” she shook her head.

“Don’t be silly- I’ll pay for it then.”

“But Duo-“

“With my own money too. You look beautiful. You should have the dress,” he said firmly.

Kyla studied his face again. “Alright then. But let me pay for half-“

“No. It’s my treat.”

“Expensive treat.”

“It’s my gift then.”

Kyla went to change back into her normal clothes, shaking her head and smiling. When she got inside the little stalls she leaned against one of the walls. What she had seen in his face and heard in his voice and felt in his touch. She sighed. No way. It wasn’t possible. Could she really love him that much in so short a time? Was it even dreamable that he felt the same way? She dismissed the thoughts as silliness and changed quickly.

__________________________________

Raisa sighed and closed her book. She looked up at the clouds. This was getting so boring. She looked back at the residence longingly. Trowa was in there. He had spoken to her today. Just a few sentences, but it was enough. Something stupid about not being able to find something, but it was enough.

She packed up her things and decided to go in. Casually, she strolled into the room where Heero and Duo had been sitting in silence, each doing his own thing. They glanced up at her as soon as they knew she wouldn’t easily notice. She took a seat and brought out her book again. “Mind if I join you?” Shrugs and grunts. Inwardly she sighed. It was enough.

That evening turned out to be beautiful. They all agreed to eat together spaced out on the lawn furniture. Everything was perfect, just the eleven of them.

“Mmmm… food…”

“You have such a one-track mind, Duo!”

“That is because Maxwell lacks discipline.”

Duo stuck his tongue out at Wufei.

“So tell me more about shopping!” Isabel said to Kyla.

“Well I found this awesome blue dress…”

“Hey, you guys are too quiet over there!” Estelle called to Heero and Trowa who had annexed themselves again. “cart your arses!”

Trowa sent a puzzled look to Heero, who shrugged. “Girls.” Was his only answer.

Over in another corner, Andria moved her food around her plate. She looked up when she felt someone’s prescence.

“May I join you?” Relena asked.

“Um, sure,” Andria was a little surprised. “But isn’t she…”

“I think you and I need to talk, don’t you?”

“I agree.”

At the other end of the group, Heero stiffened. They were talking to each other. He started to stand, but Trowa shook his head, holding him back. “What will be, will be. Let it go.”

“I’ve lost them both,” Heero sighed.

Andria studied Relena. What was it Heero found so special about her? Andria had to know- it hurt to lose him.

“I don’t want us to be enemies,” Relena said sincerely.

“Neither do I. We have a mission- we can’t let anything get in it’s way,” Andria agreed.

“Not just for the mission- I think it would hurt Heero,” Relena said softly.

“Why? To see us fighting over him?” Andria couldn’t help sounding bitter. She was a little. “You can have him. I understand that you had a thing- it’s not my place to intrude.”

Relena frowned. “I’m not with Heero. He- he doesn’t love me. Not the way I want him to.”

Andria was shocked. “But- but- No, that’s not true. When you saw each other- it was screaming at me! What you were to each other- How can you say he doesn’t love you?”

“He doesn’t,” Relena looked into her lap. She had come to grips with herself. It would never happen and she knew it. She looked up again, determined. “If I ruined things for you and he-“

“No- Relena don’t think that!” Andria couldn’t believe this. This intelligent, strong, pretty young woman- ok, beautiful, she had to admit, despite any jealousy- was telling her that Heero didn’t love her, never had, never would. “You should be with him. It’s your destiny.”

“But he doesn’t see that…” Relena whispered, not aware that she had spoken aloud.

“Yes he does. And if he doesn’t, he’s a fool and I don’t want him anyway!” Andria said fervently.

“I think… that maybe we’ve outstayed our welcome,” Relena said carefully. Andria noticed the sparkles at the bottom of her eyes- Relena’s tears. “This is just too difficult for us to work out right now.” She stood to go. “Thank you for speaking with me, Andria. I’m going to go in now. We’ll leave as soon as possible.”

“Oh, Relena…” Andria’s mind was haunted by the sadness in Relena’s eyes.

Such a scene… Course, things were quite as gloomy on the other side of the patio…

Hilde finally came back from the city where she had been running an errand for Relena. A servant told her they were eating outside. Her heart soared. She hadn’t had the chance to speak with the pilots at all in the last few days. Quickly she rushed to her room to change into something lighter and fresher than her uniform and ran to join them.

She was pleased to see that Relena had chosen to speak with Andria, and so she left her alone. “Duo!” she said happily, grabbing a plate and a chair right next to him.

“Huh? Hilde?!” Duo blanched. Oh no… He had completely forgotten about her… that she was here at all… Thank god Kyla had gone to get more food for them both. He was screwed… First Eleanor and now this? His cheeks already burned with embarrassment.

Wufei gave him a knowing look. ‘This will be fun to watch’ it said. Duo glared at him. Wufei helped Isabel move into a better position to watch while whispering an explanantion.

If looks could kill… Isabel glared at Duo so hard he swore he would come out with two drill holes in his head. He gave her a weak, ‘eh heh’ sort of smile.

“So how have you been, Duo?” Hilde said conversationally, her eyes sparkling at seeing him again.

“Uh, good.” He tried to edge away a little and put a decent amount of space between them. Normally he would have replied with a joke, having a sparkle in his eye as well. He felt ill instead. Why? It’s not like he and Kyla were an item or anything… for all he knew he was just another guy-pal to her like Heero…

“What, no witty repartee?” Hilda asked flirtatiously.

“I like to be unpredictable. Don’t want to get in a rut, you know!” he laughed weakly. ‘I’m so screwed… I wonder if this is how Heero feels?’

“Is this another friend of yours, Duo?” Kyla said with an odd note in her voice, holding the plates.

‘Oh shit…’ Duo thought. “Uh, Kyla, this is Hilde. Hilde, Kyla. Shake,” He begged. Maybe if they started out on the right foot it wouldn’t be so bad…

Both gave him weird looks, but did shake. Kyla sat and gave the food to Duo. He quickly stuffed as much in his mouth as was possible cutting him out of the conversation.

“We’ve met,” Kyla told him.

Whoops…

“You haven’t changed,” Hilda smiled.

“Hilde, you never told me you knew Duo,” Kyla said.

“Oh, yeah, we’ve known each other for a while.”

Duo stopped chewing. He stared at Hilde in fear. She did remember the whole ‘let’s never tell anyone we’re gundam pilots so we don’t get killed’ promise, right?

“I knew the two of you would get along,” Hilde continued.

“Sounds about right to me,” Isabel couldn’t help it. Duo GLARED at her. Damn that girl… Isabel smirked. “He’s such a dingbat- what was it you said before, Raisa? About our Kyla always falling for the dumb ones?” she called over to where her friend was sitting.

“Hey, I got stuff thrown at me for that- leave me out of this,” Raisa waved her away.

Hilde’s eyes had shot up at Isabel’s choice of words. She chose to ignore it. Probably just coincidence. “Dingbat- I like it. It suits you, Duo.”

“Ahm mah a phigbah,” he mumbled around his food.

“Isabel called you a dingbat, therefore you are a dingbat,” Kyla declared, giggling at him. He glared at her.

Raisa was watching all this. Estelle saw what she was looking at and frowned. What was up over there? Quatre looked up. Oh no. His pale little face managed to get even paler.

“Hilde and Kyla? Duo’s doomed!” he cried.

“Why not look over there. Andria and Relena were talking,” Trowa said helpfully. This earned him a punch on the arm. If it were his style, he would have grinned broadly. Instead he just gave one of his half smiles.

Raisa melted.

“What’s so bad about Kyla?” Estelle asked.

“Duo and Hilde sorta had a thing,” Trowa supplied.

“That’s not good.”

“Really.”

“I hope Kyla can handle this…”

“I hope Duo makes it out alive.”

Duo made it through the meal. Barely. He thought he was going to have a heart attack every time one of them opened their mouths. When they all finally stood to go back inside, he stretched and said, “Ya know, I think I’m gonna turn in early tonight-“

“But you always stay up late,” both girls said in sync. They laughed at the joke.

Duo tried to calm his ever-thumping heart. This was too much for one day… Too many close calls… Look at the way the fading light shone of Kyla’s hair… “Um, right. I’m a- I’m not feeling too well, so I’m going to bed.”

“You’re sure?” Kyla looked concerned and reached up to feel is forehead. “You do feel a little hot.”

“I bet he he’s found some comic he wants to read or something,” Hilde laughed.

“Sleep tight then, Maxwell,” Wufei said too-happily.

“Si. C’mon, Kyla, I want to see that dress,” Isabel took her hand and they ran back in, talking happily.

“You want to practice again? The instruments are here,” Quatre said to Trowa.

“Sure. I feel like I’m getting out of practice.”

“You both play?” Estelle was surprised.

“Yeah. Violin and flute,” Quatre indicated who played which.

“I play keyboard!” Estelle said happily. “Could I join you?”

“Sure,” they shrugged.

“Raisa, why don’t you get your flute as well,” Estelle turned to her.

“Huh? Oh- no- I couldn’t. I’m not good enough,” Raisa went a little pink.

“Don’t be modest, Raisa!” Estelle said as they went inside. “I know how good you are! I wouldn’t have said anything if I thought you couldn’t handle it.”

“Um, I’m not exactly feeling up to it… I’ll catch you guys some other time, ok?” Raisa made her excuse and left. She headed back to her room and leant against the wall when they were out of sight. They played the same instrument… Resolutely she went to her room and pulled out her flute. Maybe she would join them.

Kyla changed behind the screen in her room and came out to show Isabel. “Isn’t it beautiful?”

“Si, Kyla! It is! Where’s this shop you found? Did they have one in red?”

“A style better suited to you, yes- long with a slit.”

“And you say the dingbat bought it for you?”

“Yes,” Kyla paused. “He said it was his gift.”

“Some gift,” Isabel whistled. She thought of Hilde.

“What aren’t you telling me?” Kyla frowned.

“I suggest you ask your dingbat about that,” Isabel couldn’t help saying.

“He’s not MY dingbat…” Kyla focused all her attention on cutting off the tags.

“So is he Hilde’s?” Isabel couldn’t help it.

“Well he’s not the Australian girl’s that’s for sure…” Kyla’s hands tightened just thinking about it.

“What Australian girl?” Isabel frowned.

“Today in the shop… she came in… I saw her hitting on him but he didn’t accept it. She acted like she knew him really well,” Kyla put a hand up to her mouth. “She called me a hussie and said I ‘wouldn’t last’. Duo- he-“ she blushed. “He put his arm around me and told her to go…”

“Kyla, he likes you!” Isabel cried happily.

“No… he couldn’t possibly… we’ve only known each other for a few days…”

“So what? Love at first sight, right? And remember the first time you saw him? Kyla, you fell for him on the spot! When he literally fell for you!”

“No… And what were you saying about Hilde? She’s obviously known him for a long time…” Kyla bit her lip. She had pretended not to notice how close to him Hilde has sat. Or the way she had looked at him and spoken to and about him.

“I suggest you talk to your dingbat about that,” Isabel repeated. “Come on, Kyla, why not go now? He’s alone, we know that.”

“Maybe he’s not though…” Kyla’s voice broke a little. “Maybe she got there first…”

“Stop that, muchacha! Your imagination is always worse- go talk to him or you’ll never know for sure. You’re a Dame! You can do this!”

“Thanks, Isa,” Kyla smiled weakly. “I’ll go now.” She left to do so.

“Good luck, amiga,” Isabel sighed.

__________________________________

Duo sat on his bed and put his head in his hands. What the hell was he going to do? He liked Hilde, he really did. He’d never want to hurt her. But he was pretty sure that he loved Kyla. But he wasn’t sure if she loved him back. Was it worth it to risk his relationship with Hilde to hope that Kyla liked him?

Someone knocked on the door. “Can I come in?” Hilde called.

“Uh, sure,” Duo pretended to look ill.

“You ok?” Hilde kept the door half-open and stood near it. “I’ve missed you, ya know.”

“Yeah, I’ve missed you too,” he stared at his hands.

“You don’t sound happy about it,” Hilde frowned.

He made a decision. “Hilde, we need to talk.”

“Isn’t that what we’re doing?” she smiled.

“No, seriously talk.” He gestured at a chair.

“Alright,” she sat, confused.

They chose the room Heero and Trowa had holed themselves up in for the last few days because it had a large electric piano for Estelle to play, as she hadn’t brought her keyboard with her. The three tuned their instruments and kept to a conclusion as to what key they would be in etc.

Heero, having no where else to go, took his seat on the couch. He had to admit, he had missed hearing Trowa and Quatre play. Wufei joined them as well. A few minutes later, Isabel came and sat next to him. Relena and Andria were no where to be found- probably both in their rooms. Heero tried not to think about it.

“You begin,” Trowa said to Quatre.

“Alright,” he put up his violin. The beautiful strains of a song came through. He played alone for quite a while before Trowa joined him. Estelle programmed the keyboard and a percussion part began to play. She let it go and joined them on the regular piano setting.

Their music penetrated heart and soul. Were Wufei and Heero not heavily trained soldiers, they would have had tears in their eyes, just as Isabel did.

“That’s beautiful!” she gasped. “Keep going!”

They looked at each other. Quatre and Trowa nodded. They began to play the first piece they had ever played together. (AN: I love that “Heart Throbbing Harmony”

Duo sighed and wandered through the halls of the house. He could hear Trowa, Quatre and someone else playing some haunting tune. He couldn’t help appreciating it.

“Duo?”

He turned. Why was her voice so insecure? “Hey,” he said to Kyla.

“Um, Duo, I-“ she bit her bottom lip. How the hell did you tell someone something like this? “I-“

“Can we- dance?” Duo asked pleadingly.

Kyla was surprised. She could hear the music as well. A beautiful duet now. “Sure,” they joined hands.

They danced together, their motions perfectly in sync. Thy both smiled happily. It had taken this contact to show them what they had known all along.

__________________________________

Raisa stood outside the living room, completely still. She could see everything perfectly. All her attention was on Trowa. He was spectacular. She couldn’t even find the right word for it. She became lost in the music and in the sight of him.