Penname: Lady Lye

Duo chuckled as the ship took off. Kyla stared wide-eyed out the window, watching every moment as the Earth fell away behind them. “Never been to space before, huh?”

“No,” Kyla said softly, still staring at all the stars that now swept around them. “This is beautiful… You used to live here? How could you ever leave?” she finally tore her eyes away so she could see him when he answered.

Duo took his time readjusting his seat now that the warning lights had turned off. “Kyla, babe, I said the same thing the first time I saw Earth.”

“I guess it’s true that the grass is always greener on the other side,” Kyla looked out the window again.

“You mean the star clusters,” Duo said with a straight face. She blinked at him, unsure if he was being serious or not. A hint of a smile touched his lips.

“Dingbat,” she said fondly, slapping him lightly on the arm.

“It’s true! They are!” he protested, laughing and grinning broadly as he saw the smile grace her lips. She made him feel so ALIVE. Some girls had made him act this way before; made him want to impress them and make them laugh. But he had never felt so incredibly comfortable and at ease at the same time before. Only with her. No, he wouldn’t trade this time with her for anything. Not Space and not Earth. Because it was only with her.

“Welcome to L2, babe.”

Kyla frowned at the walls of the colony. “Doesn’t it make you feel- claustrophobic?”

“Nope. Grew up here, remember?” They made their way through the terminal and into the streets where they hopped onto the nearest form of public transportation. Kyla’s eyes grew wide again at all the little differences in even the most simple things. Duo couldn’t help laughing. “You’re such a tourist, Ky. Think everything’s so high-tech and new here?”

“It’s just- odd,” she shook her head and smiled weakly. “I’ll just have to get used to it.”

“Here, I want to show you something,” he pushed a button and they got off at the next intersection. They walked for a few blocks, Kyla still trying to take in everything at once. Duo felt odd as he walked through the streets. Everything looked out of proportion. Of course. He had been a child the last time he was here. A familiar landmark caught his eye. “Welcome to my former home-“ he said as they rounded a corner.

“You lived in New New Las Vegas?” Kyla blinked at the fluorescent lights.

“HUH?” Duo did a double take. “What the hell happened here!?” Where before there had been slums and poverty, were casinos and bars of all shapes and sizes. “This used to be a slum!”

“I dunno,” Kyla said sagely. “Some might call Booze, Cards, and Sex Alley a slum.”

“No- this wasn’t here before!” he protested.

“Are you sure this is the right street?” she readjusted her grip on her suitcase.

“Positive- hey isn’t that-?” they both stared as a man left one of the casino’s close to them and got into a large limo. Before leaving, they had reviewed all the files Estelle had pulled. This was one of the men from the images there.

“I think this may be a blessing in disguise,” Kyla said. “Pick a hotel, Duo.”

“We’re gonna stay HERE?” he blinked at her.

“Why not? Where else are we going to go? Besides, it looks like the perfect place to find the sleazebags we’re tracking.” She said frankly.

“But- but- we’re only-“ he paused. Ooh damn. His ‘birthday’ hadn’t been that long ago, had it? Colony gambling age was OVER eighteen. He was certainly that. “Nineteen. We’re nineteen. GAMBLING HERE I COME!”

Kyla’s eyes popped a little. “Oi! Hush! We don’t want to draw attention to ourselves! And who says we’re going to have time to gamble, hm?” she managed to calm him down.

“Fine,” Duo grumbled. “Let’s head for that one,” he pointed to one across the streets from the one their quarry had left.

“Looks good,” they headed across the street to check in.

“Two roo-“ Duo began.

“One suite, please,” Kyla cut him off, smiling sweetly at the clerk. She produced fake ID’s from her bag and Duo simply stared in amazement as ‘Mr. and Mrs. Jones’ appeared on the screen. “Thank you. Come on, Duo. Upstairs- fifth floor-“

“When did you have time to get those?” he asked, picking up her suitcase to carry it to the elevator while she put everything back in her bag.

She gave him a critical look. “Andria’s taught me everything I know.”

“Ah. Hey- We’re sharing a room?!” he cried happily.

“Ding,” said the elevator, letting them off on their floor.

“Don’t go getting any ideas-“

“But we have to make it realistic!” he insisted, dragging both suitcases to their room. “Otherwise no one will believe that we’re married.”

“Well they certainly won’t if you keep talking like that,” she opened the door using the key. “What are you waiting for?” She blinked at him as he stood there with the bags.

“Pardon me,” Duo put the bags down. He crossed over to her and picked her up, carrying her over the threshold.

“What?! Duo what on Earth are you-“ she flung her arms around his neck and protested. At the same time, she never wanted him to put her down. So close… so very, very close to those laughing blue eyes and that wonderful smile that was aimed directly down at her. She unconsciously relaxed enough for them to get through the door to the ‘living room’ of the suite.

He unceremoniously dumped her on the couch. “My duty as a husband is done,” he bowed and went to retrieve their bags. When he came back, he was obviously trying to repress laughter.

Kyla had no such problem. “You’re a dingbat,” she said giddily. Good god, how was she going to manage as the sane one around here?

Duo pretended to pout. “Just for that, I get the bed.”

“Who says!?”

“I do.”

“Not if I can get there first!” Kyla was not about to sleep on the couch! They raced for the bedroom.

“G’Night!” Kyla called sweetly and shut the door of the bedroom behind her. Her response was a string of grumbling from the plush couch.

The next morning, Duo was up and ready to go first thing. He didn’t want to disturb Kyla, who hadn’t emerged from the bedroom yet, but they couldn’t afford to waste time either. Tentatively, he knocked on the door. “Ky?”

“I’ll be out in five,” he heard her call, and went back to cleaning up the slight mess he had made of the living room. “Alright. I’m ready.”

“Gre-“ Duo stood up straight and stared. His voice came out in a gasp. “W-What are you wearing?”

Kyla didn’t appear at all phased by his reaction. Knee-high black boots added a good four inches to her height, leading up to a tight black mini skirt and red tube top. She’d pulled her hair back in twin pigtails that curled coyly around her face. “What do you think?” she turned around so he could get the full view.

“Um, Ky? I know you girls have kind of been cut off from the rest of society and, well, the fashion world but uh-“

“Is prostitution illegal on this colony?” she asked casually, going to investigate the tray of breakfast foods Room Service had brought up.

He continued to gape at her. “P-p-p-p-“

“Prostitution, Duo,” she scolded, picking up a muffin. “Is it illegal here or not?”

“uh- I- er- wha- uh-“

She sighed and rolled her eyes. “Great. We’ll just have to make sure we aren’t caught then. You’re not going out like THAT are you?” she asked, referring to his usual black shirt and pants deal.

“Kyla WHAT is going ON here?!”

“It’s called a disguise-? You know? Fitting in so you can slip in unnoticed?” She finally noticed the way he was staring at her and started to giggle. “Y-You didn’t think- You didn’t think that I- that I would really-“

Suddenly Duo’s head hurt. “This is gonna take a lot more out of me than I thought it would…”

She continued to giggle, hiding it badly. “I’m sorry, Duo,” she wrapped one arm around his neck and planted a kiss on his cheek.

“So just what is your great plan, Ms. Smarty-pants?” he pretended to still be offended.

“You saw the hotel that guy came out of yesterday. This whole place is one seedy pit of sex, drugs and money. And hey- who’s got better access to their rooms than a whore who makes house calls?” she said, eating her muffin in between sentences.

He stared at her again. How could she be so damn casual about it? “You’re not gonna REALLY-“

“No, of course not. But they don’t have to know that.”

“Great. Just great. Not only are you doing something potentially illegal, you’re only pretending to do something potentially illegal, which could land us in even MORE trouble. Boy,” he shook his head. “Are you ever lucky I came out here.”

She shot him a sideways glance. “Have experience in this, do you?”

‘She knows,’ he thought, panicked, suddenly seeing all the hundreds of explosions he himself had caused only a few years ago. Then he looked at her face. She was only kidding. He relaxed- “Hey!”

“I’m kidding, Duo!” she laughed. “Come, sit down and have breakfast and then we’ll go Bad-Guy hunting, huh?”

He made a big show of giving in, but ultimately smiled. Just to be able to spend this time with her. It was more than he’d ever dreamed of.

---

VID FIC TIME! Yeah, it’s soooooooo corny but I jus’ couldn’t help it!! ^__^
The Song: ‘I’m just a girl’ by No Doubt. (WHOOOO! NO DOUBT ROCKS! WHOO! Asinine lawyers, I’ve already got the CD! I LOVE it! See, I’m practically advertising it! So :p) Hey, at least it’s not Lady Marmalade… too cliché…

/Take this pink ribbon off my eyes
I’m exposed
And it’s no big surprise
Don’t you think I know
Exactly where I stand
This world is forcing me
To hold your hand/

Kyla and Duo entered the casino, heading for the ‘Dance Hall’. Really, it was just one big strip show. They couldn’t help staring as they entered. It was huge, lavishly, if tackily decorated to give the semblance of a fine theatre. The illusion was betrayed by cigarette butts smashed into the delicate carpet and disarray everywhere, covered in a thick, sickeningly layer of smoke and the smell of alcohol.

Kyla watched the girls moving about the room apprehensively. More were on stage, putting on a show for a drunken crowd of men. Some moved between the tables, obviously designated as waitresses, but others were simply lap warmers and teasers.

“You were saying something about this being a pit of sex?” Duo croaked. His eyes were bulging. Never had he seen quite this much of- well- this- all in one place and all so crudely done that it almost repelled more than tantalized.

She shot him a look. “You’re not thinking about what I think you’re thinking, are you?”

“Huh? NO! No, never!” he protested, cheeks coloring a little.

“I understand, Duo, it’s only natural, I guess…” she murmured, looking out at the sea of sleaze and filth. She shot him another quelling look. “So long as ALL you do is think about it.”

“Yes, ma’am!” he saluted, nodding vigorously.

/Cuz I’m just a girl, little ‘ol me
Don’t let me out of your sight
I’m just a girl, all pretty and petite
So don’t let me have any rights
Oh… I’ve had it up to here!/

“Alright… I’m going in…” Kyla said grimly. If they stood here too long it would ruin their chances.

“Kyla- babe-“ he grabbed at her arm, making her turn towards him. His eyes held such worry and concern. Inwardly he was terrified. That someone would molest her, that they would hurt her, that they might sink to using drugs to seduce her, …that they would be found out. He searched her face, desperately not wanting to let her go. “Just… be careful. Please?”

She reached a tender hand up to brush his long and unruly bangs away from his face. “I promise, love,” she kissed him softly. Before either could change their mind, she fled down into hell.

He watched her go, feeling empty. She had called him love… But what good was it if she didn’t come back? Loud catcalls in the corner made him surface from his reverie. He could feel the old Duo Maxwell rise within him as he shifted from worrisome lover to jaunty Casanova. He straightened his clothes and with a rakish grin, walked down the stairs. “Mission Accepted… Shinigami is back from Hell…”

/The moment that I step outside
So many reasons for me to run and hide
I can’t do those little things
I hold so dear
Cuz it’s all those little things
That I fear/

It took Kyla several moments to get her breath back in the hazy reek of stale cigarettes, unwashed bodies and alcohol everywhere. She stumbled only once and walked boldly forward, looking more confident than she felt. Confidence was the key. As she strolled between the close tables, she wanted to gag. Everywhere was mess, everything soiled, nothing clean. Raucous sounds filled the area, combining with everything else to make her want to fall to her knees and try to block it all out. She fought down the nausea and instead concentrated on focusing on the group. She had memorized pictures of the men they were looking for. Now all she had to do was find them.

Table to the front right, men in business suits, drinking heavily. Bingo.

/Cuz I’m just a girl
I’d rather not be
Cuz they won’t let me drive late at night
I’m just a girl
Guess I’m some kind of freak
Cuz they all sit and stare with their eyes
I’m just a girl
Take a good look at me
Just your typical prototype
Oh… I’ve had it up to here
Oh… Am I making myself clear?

I’m just a girl…
I’m just a girl in the world…
That’s all that you’ll let me be!/

All eyes at the table swiveled to look at her as she approached, a wing in her hips and her shoulders back, head held high.

“Which one of you boys would like to offer me a seat?” she purred. Five chairs instantly pulled out to make laps available. She chose the man who looked most important, settling herself daintily in his arms, smiling charmingly. He grinned at her and his breath assaulted her. Suddenly she didn’t know why she bothering to play the part- these louts were so drunk they’d probably bang a cat. She steeled herself however not to flinch as his hands started to roam over her. This was so not want she always dreamed fighting for peace would be.

/I’m just a girl
Living in captivity
Your rule of thumb
Makes me worry some
I’m just a girl, What’s my destiny?
What I’ve succumbed to
Is making me numb
I’m just a girl, my apologies
What I’ve become is so burdensome
I’m just a girl, lucky me
Twiddle-dum there’s no comparison/

It seemed an eternity that she sat on his lap, feeling more and more ill with each passing moment. But still she played the part, giggling coyly and seductively, letting her body be manhandled. It repulsed more than anything she’d felt in her entire life. Miserably, she doubted herself, her reason for being here. It seemed she’d sunk so low… she felt so light-headed… all she wanted to do was shove these gross beasts away from her and get out of this place. The heat, too, was getting to her. Some small part of her hallucinated… of warm arms wrapped around her waist to pull her closer and someone’s cheek she had kissed that morning. ‘Duo…’ With a horrified start she realized the hot arms around her were those of a monster, who didn’t care about her at all. The brightness in her eyes became tears. ‘Duo…’

/Oh… I’ve had it up to!
Oh… I’ve had it up to!
Oh… I’ve had it up to…here…/

She blinked rapidly as brighter light pierced her eyes and her mind cleared. Where were they? They were out of the room, out of the Hellhole. But still the man’s arms were about her waist, his lips sucking hungrily at her neck as they got into the elevator. So he lived in the hotel, did he? She could stand this. Again she steeled herself. She WOULD stand this. There was no room for error here. She do this and get out and then wash herself from head to foot, scrape away this slobbering wetness on her neck.

She cooed to him and tugged him out of the elevator to his room. The fool was so drunk he could barely walk. Again she fought down the revulsion, subtly urging him to get out his key. He was too drunk to do it himself and so she did it for him, pocketing the key without him noticing. She pushed him towards the bathroom to get changed, whispering in his ear that she would do so out here and be waiting for him.

The door closed. With a wordless cry she used the sheet from the bed to wipe off her neck. “Oh GROSS. How do real prostitutes DO this?!” she shuddered and went immediately to the laptop on the desk. A quick code breaker and she was in. “B-I-N-G-O and bingo was it’s name-o!” she sang softly, finding the file already open. She popped in a disk and hit copy. Now all she had to do was wait.

_________________________________

Downstairs, very few would recognize the games Duo Maxwell played. A recorder in his pocket caught every word as he charmed information out of the women wandering the floor. His good looks and smooth voice drew them in, away from the regulars who old and fat and ugly, and all too willing to hit a girl when she was already down.

He couldn’t help glancing at the door. Kyla had disappeared and not come back yet. Of course, that was the plan, for him to be faithful lookout and watch her back while she did the hard part. But the worry was painful. If anything happened to her… he’d castrate the man who touched her. He already has his eyes on the brute who’d lead her out.

A flash of red hair crossed his vision and he looked up. Then he gaped. “ELEANOR!?”

The blond turned red head turned to him, her brown eyes blinking widely. She squinted in the dim light, dressed in what appeared to be typical get up for the area. “Duo?” she gasped.

Oh, ACK! Mercy! Shinigami protect! Duo picked his jaw off the floor. “Well. Fancy seeing you here. You do this regularly or are you just here trying to get noticed as Playbunny of the Month?”

She glared at him. “I,” she said in her twanging Australian accent, “Am VERY highly respected around here. Men BEG for me.”

“Yeah sure, pull the other one. Listen, El, sit down a moment,” he said with a winning smile. She eyed him suspiciously but conceded. It had, afterall, been that grin that had made her want to get to know him in the first place. That and those nice long legs. “What can you tell me about big, bad and ugly over there?” he pointed to the table Kyla had gone to.

“Who, them? They’re business guys,” she cracked her gum. “They’re, like, in here every day. Not much fun… one of ‘em punched a girl in the eye last week.”

‘Kyla…’ he thought with a gut wrenching pain. “What rooms are they in? How about the big guy who’se the boss?”

“HE came in here? No way, you must mean the other guy- He’s on the fifth floor, 5102. The big guy never comes to places like this. He’s real solitary, you know?”

“Thanks, El, I owe you one.” He meant it, too. He did indeed owe her for this.

She eyed him suggestively. “You know… I could give you half price,” she batted her long, fake lashes at him. “What would that little brunette tramp care?” she said, running a hand roughly into his hair.

Duo stood abruptly, anger on his face. “Don’t ever talk about her like that,” he hissed. “I don’t ever want to see you again, got it? Not near me, and not near her. We are THROUGH Eleanor and that’s that.” He stalked away to the elevator. He could only hope he wouldn’t be too late to help Kyla.

_________________________________

“Just a minute…” Kyla called back towards the bathroom door. Her eyes pleaded with the computer. Stupid files- there were too many, it was taking too long! But she couldn’t afford to let one slip through their fingers… The last file loaded onto the desk and she nearly whooped with delight. It was time to beat a hasty retreat! She grabbed the disk, shut down the laptop and dashed for the door and into the hallway, just as the idiot came out of the bathroom, to find his room empty.

In the hall she collided with something big and black. Before she could open her mouth to apologize she was swept up in a bone crushing hug. “Ky… I was so worried, did you get it all?” Duo pulled back to look at her.

Her eyes filled with unshed tears and she hastily brushed them away. “Yes, a whole disk’s worth. Let’s get the hell out of here.”

_________________________________

That evening, Duo watched her worriedly. She sat wrapped in a blanket, leaning against the large panes of the sliding glass doors that lead onto a minute balcony. Her hair swirled loose around her shoulders and she had scrubbed all the make up off her face. Actually, it looked worryingly to him as though she had scrubbed too hard all over. She had taken a long time in the shower and emerged bright pink, unwilling to speak to him about it. He was hurt as well… she had shied from his touch ever since that initial large hug.

In his mind reeled bits and pieces of news reports of rape victims… How they felt unclean and tried too hard to wash away the feeling, how they wouldn’t let anyone close how- He shook his head and made up his mind. It was stupid to worry when he should just ask her and set his mind still, be the news good or bad.

“Hey,” he sat down next to her.

“Hi,” she sniffled quietly.

“Ky, be honest with me… did anything happen to you?” he asked softly.

Her eyes brimmed with tears again. “No. No, nothing. He touched me and he kissed me, that was all. But I still-“ she bit her lower lip. “I can still feel him on my neck. I just can’t get rid of it. And-“ it was a stupid fear, she knew it was. But something in his eyes told her that she could tell him anything.

“Go ahead, babe,” he reached down and took her hand in his, their fingers intertwining, his large ones with her small ones.

“I- It was just too damned close!” she said, eyes brimming again. “You know what could’ve happened to me? He could have raped me so easily… and I would’ve been almost helpless. And I was inviting him to, just by being there! How could I be so stupid!? How could I put myself in so much danger!?” her voice trembled with every sentence.

“Oh, Kyla…” his eyes seemed watery too, or was it just a trick of the fading light? He put an arm around her shoulders and she leaned in to sob into his chest. “You did what you thought you had to do. You did what you thought was right. It was a selfless act, a risk most people would be too afraid to take.”

“But it wasn’t bravery,” she choked. “It was stupidity. It was ignorance. God- He barely touched me and I still feel manhandled- how do rape victims handle it?! How do they bear to feel this way over their whole bodies!?”

“I don’t know,” he said softly, hugging her again. “We can only hope to never find out.”

She wiped her eyes and looked up into his face. Her voice quavered. “I don’t want to fight a war anymore… They’re dirty and ugly…” she bit her bottom lip. “But if I don’t, who will?” she whispered.

“Sometimes life plays cruel jokes on us, heart of mine,” he put a hand up to stroke her hair and she put her head down on his chest again. His heart was aching now. Hadn’t that always been his reason for fighting? So no one else would have to? Now he COULDN’T fight and she was in his place. She who had become his reason for everything. It wasn’t right, it wasn’t fair; to have Fate mock him this cruelly and throw his reasons back in his face. Right now he felt helpless. The only thing he could do was try to help her stay away from the bottomless pit of depression war could bring. “Sometimes the Fates decide to mess with us, and then we have to try to pick up the pieces as best we can.”

She snuggled into the crook of his neck, pulling the blanket over them both. “Thank you for being here, Duo…”

“I wouldn’t be anywhere else right now,” he kissed the top of her head. He held onto her quietly as she drifted into sleep in his arms, her breathing becoming even and regular. He kissed the top of her head again before laying his cheek against it. “I wouldn’t be anywhere else…”

---

A week later, Kyla sat in the storage room they had rented, atop her gundame. A piece of its hard shell was flipped up like the hood of a car and she glared down at the contents. Something had gotten stuck in the moving process and the leg wasn’t working properly. Unfortunately- she couldn’t see exactly what it was. She gave the Thistle’s innards an assessing look and rocked back on her heels to reach a pair of small pliers.

Her escapade still haunted her dreams, but only at night now. With Duo’s help, she was finding it easier and easier to face each new day. A warm feeling came over her and she smiled a little as she looked to see if the pliers were the ones she wanted. He was so good to her- better than she deserved, surely. He was always ready to lend a helping hand, or a smile, or his shoulder to her, his eyes always full of love for her. She sincerely hoped that hers reflected the love for him to see. He hadn’t made a move on her in the entire week, proving himself honorable, but it was with a mischievous, grim satisfaction that she realized she may have to go out of her way to prove it to him when she was ready to return to the physical aspect of their relationship.

She carefully positioned the pliers around a piece of metal that was supposed to turn easily. She gripped them and pushed. No go. She frowned, readjusting her grip- this must be the problem area. She strained at it and it still would not budge, seemingly stuck fast. She tried again, rising up on her knees to give her extra hold and still it remained still.

“Why you stupid little piece of junk-“ she muttered at it, giving it one more try. She ended up panting and decided it was time to go back to her tool kit for a bigger pair of pliers. She turned on the smooth surface and smiled. “Hey, Du.”

“Hello yourself,” he looked past her to the open piece of the Thistle’s shell, his arms crossed as he stood on the stepladder, peering up. He hoisted himself up to look at what she’d been doing. “Problem?”

“Very. It won’t turn- the part with the pliers-“ she said as he came over to peer at it.

“Ah,” he nodded. He reached in and lifted up another piece of metal. The part with the pliers swung around and a piece of shrapnel from the Sydney battle fell away. “Tada,” he picked it up and put it in her open palm. “There’s a little souvenir for you. You wanna head out? I was thinking we could go to that Indian place for dinner-“

Kyla swiveled again to face him and he stopped his descent down the ladder. “Duo… Why do I feel like you’ve been avoiding me?”

He looked hurt. “Avoiding you? When have I avoided you? I’ve been looking out for you this whole time.”

She shook her head. “That’s not what I mean. …I feel like… like you’re avoiding touching me.”

He looked at her solemnly. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you that you were so precious that I’m afraid not to.”

“Are you afraid I’ll flinch away?” she asked, a little bit of hurt for both of them in her eyes. He flinched. It was answer enough. She slid over on the slippery metal to take his face in her hands. “I will never, ever, shy away from your touch.”

His hands trembled as they came up to brush her hair back and hold her face as well. “Ky…”

“Sh…” she leaned down to kiss him and he met her halfway. She let him pull her down onto the ladder beside him and wrapped her arms around his neck, delighting in the delicious feeling of his strong arms around her waist. All was right with the world once again.

To: Dame Addison
From: Dame Kobiak
RE: L2
Text: How is mission progressing? Please check in regularly. We worry. Have you heard from the others? Will set up safe line to phone you and email when established.

Trowa says Hi. ^__^

Be safe, Addison. And your dingbat, too.

-Kobiak

Kyla stared at the laptop screen and the email she had received. Her chest ached. She missed Raisa and the other girls. Her fingers wavered over the keyboard, debating a reply. With a sigh she closed the window. She didn’t know what to say and wasn’t sure she wanted to speak to anyone right now. Raisa asking after the other girls wasn’t a good sign, however. Surely she, who was acting as their HQ in Sank and Europe, would be in contact with them all? Then why had she asked?

Still musing, she opened another window to sift through still more of the data she had taken from the hotel. Behind her she could hear the comforting sounds of Duo in the bathroom, singing. File after file opened and closed, each one both telling her more- and leaving her with still more questions. What were the bastards after?

One name appeared again and again. Jack Darwin. Curious, she searched and found his file. Obviously, he was the ‘big guy’ Duo’s ex had told him about. Head of operations from L2, one of the only people in direct contact with Markiah. Taking a risk, she tapped into their network, more specifically, Darwin’s files. Her eyes widened.

“He’s a fucking spin doctor!” she exclaimed, millions of articles listing on the screen, everything from a lawsuit over a children’s medicine, to an actor trying to cover his affair, to major politicians. Whatever it was, Darwin was all over it, covering it up, distorting it’s public image, changing people’s minds.

A memory flashed through her mind. Hanging out in Relena’s office, Hilde had come in with Relena’s mail. She asked if Relena wanted to reply again to a Jack Darwin; it was the thousandth letter he’d sent. Firmly, Relena had taken the envelope to reply to it personally, looking angry. When Andria asked, Relena’s tight lipped reverie had broken enough to explain that she wasn’t about to do business with someone whose job was to manipulate people’s minds. She didn’t want and didn’t need it.

“Bastard…” Kyla muttered, skimming some of the articles. The man could make killing endangered baby harp seals sound righteous. And- an ad filled her screen, headlining his latest. “WHAT!? DUO!!!!”

“Woah- woah- Ky, what’s wrong? You ok!?” he scrambled into the room, dripping wet, a towel clinging loosely around his waist.

“Look at this-“ she pointed angrily at the screen.

/Work becoming taxing?

Not being treated right?

Feel you deserve better?

Times are changing.

When you’re not getting what you deserve, it’s time for a revolution. Revolutionize your free time by getting away from it all. Join the brave people of Eastern Europe for summer this year and make a world of difference to your mental health.

Edin, is your Eden.

Call your travel agent for details. /

“Edin is your Eden?!” Duo looked at it skeptically. “But they’re recovering from their stupid war. How can they be advertising for tourism already?”

“It’s a cheap ploy… What can they be thinking?” Kyla took the link and started surfing. Her eyes widened. “I don’t think they’re going to let people leave, Duo. Something I saw-“ she frantically returned to the project files she had on disk. “They’re upping their security in customs, keeping people in-“ her fingers flew over the keyboard.

“Wait, what’s that?” he pointed to a shipping bill. “They’re importing some heavy loads of that herb…”

“That’s no herb,” Kyla frowned. “That’s a highly refined version of marijuana. It alters people’s perceptions so that they become confused easily, even after the effects have seemingly worn off. Worse- unlike marijuana- it’s highly addictive.” (AN: S’true. Marijuana’s NOT addictive. Don’t take my word for it- look it up, it’s scientifically proven. The war on drugs just doesn’t want you to know that- they’re still going for the demonizing thing. GAH don’t flame me! Go AWAY! I don’t use the damn stuff! GERROF!! And as far as I know, this new thingy doesn’t exist. Ain’t it fun righting about the future? ^_____^)

“Looks highly suspicious to me,” he murmured.

“Let’s take a look at his next campaign-“ she clicked again. Both gaped.

/RELENA PEACECRAFT A FAKE. DNA PROVES NOT REALLY PEACECRAFT.
Queen of the World? Does this con-artist deserve to rule anything, let alone Sank or the world? /

“Do you think it’s true?” Duo asked, his voice hushed.

“Doesn’t matter. The question is- will people believe it?” Kyla said grimly. “No doubt about it. We go in and shut this down before it leaks out. When we get home to Sank, we talk Relena. Until then, we don’t mention it to anyone.”

“Gotcha. So what do you wanna do? Quietly erase their files? Destroy all evidence? Just say the word,” Duo cracked his knuckles, a part of him thrilling to be back in business.

“I was thinking more along the lines of kill Jack Darwin, but that’s not too realistic, is it?” she said cheekily.

“Nah, we can probably squeeze that in,” he grinned.

“Let’s go with taking out the whole building. Want to help?”

“I’d love to. Scooch over?” he nudged her out of her chair and sat at the laptop, taking control and pulling up blueprints. “We need to plant explosives in key points, here, here and here… You’re gonna want to do this when no one’s likely to be there but they won’t be on the lookout for anything like this… Now for REAL destruction we’ve got that bucket of bolts you call a gundam in the hanger- hey! Stop hitting me with that!”

“GundamE! GundamE! It’s not a frigging gundam! It’s BETTER.” She thwaped him with a cushion for punctuation. (AN: Hey! Thwaped is a word you crappy spell checker! *grumble*)

“That’s debatable, babe.”

“Yeah and I’d win that argument. What are you, a war buff or something?” she looked at him quizzically, hugging the pillow she had hit him with. “You know everything about them, you think they’re the coolest MS in the world and yet you swear you didn’t do much more in the war than mechanics and junkyard duty on this very colony.”

He shot her a sideways glance. How long could he keep it a secret? It would come out eventually, and at the rate he was headed, he was willing to bet that ten years from now he’d still be only a few feet from her. If he had it his way, there’d be a lot LESS than a few feet between them. Should he tell? She’d find out eventually. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you that I’ve worked on gundams.”

She gave a derisive snort, something dancing merrily in her eyes. “Like they’d let a dingbat like you work on one?”

“Hey! I was pretty good in my day! I-“ he bit his tongue. ‘I PILOTED one. I was the Great Destroyer, Shinigami, the God of Death. I helped win that war.’

“Yeah, yeah, save it,” she teased. “Go dry yourself off, you’re distracting in that little towel.”

“Eh!?” he jumped, blushing. Then swallowed hard; she was looking at him in that way that would suddenly make only having that little towel a VERY awkward situation. “Maybe you’ve been working too hard,” he poked back recklessly.

“Maybe I have,” her voice a dropped to a husky purr. Oh boy. He beat a hasty retreat, the towel slipping off his behind just as he reached the sanctuary of the bathroom. “WHOO! NICE ass, Du-babe! Love it!”

“Oh screw you…” he muttered, cheeks going bright red. He quickly shut the door behind him, blocking out her laughter. Mmm this was getting hard… He’d have to do something about this whole ‘not actually being married’ thing.

---

Kyla breathily whistled a merry tune as she put her hair up. It was a sea shanty her grandmother had taught her when she was small. Thoughts of her family brought on a wave of sadness as she parted her hair in the back, leaving half of it loose and grabbing a hair tie for the other. With a snap of elastic, she turned her sorrow into determination: no one else would ever have to loose their families the way she had. She quickly fixed the second pigtail and grinned, shaking her head so they bounced in the mirror.

Straight leg jeans and sneakers were dug out of the closet, and she pulled on a thinly strapped tank top, assessing herself in the mirror again. Good. She looked enough like a civilian to not raise suspicion, but she wouldn’t be hindered. Grabbing a denim jacket, she left the bedroom.

“Ready to go?” she slipped her arms around Duo’s waist from behind and hugged him, burying her face in his back. He was tense and she looked up when he spoke.

“I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready again…” he murmured, unaware almost that he had spoken out loud. He fingered a gold cross on a long chain, his face grim. She moved to look at him quizzically and he sighed, forcing a smile. “But that’s never stopped me, has it?”

“I’m probably not the one to ask,” she said, brushing his bangs out of his face so she could see his eyes clearly. They looked so haunted. “Christian? Catholic?”

Duo blinked, then realized she referred to the pendant. He flushed a little and looked at it again, cupping it in both hands. “I was never really anything. But when I was little, a Catholic church took me in. I dunno if I ever believed any of it. I sure don’t now.”

“My family’s always stayed true to it’s roots,” she murmured softly. It certainly was a day to remember loved ones lost, wasn’t it? “No armies could ever make them give up the Auld Ways.” (AN: Pronounced ‘old’. If you wanna get specific, there’s a slight twang to it.)

Grimly, Duo lifted the chain over his neck, letting the cross slide down beneath his shirt, a white tank top, already covered by a closed black jacket. “Sometimes I wonder what my life would’ve been like without the armies.” Never an orphan, never a street brat, never a thief, never a soldier. Never here with her.

“I wonder as well…” she murmured, then hugged him tightly again. Armies of different kinds had slowly chipped away at her life before she could take control of it. Now was her time to fight back, and she wasn’t going to lose him, too. “Come on, let’s go. And remember that I’m only letting you come because you swore you could help and keep yourself out of trouble.”

That coaxed a laugh from him, be it a hoarse one. “My middle name is Trouble.”

“Mm, I know,” she teased, pulling away to buckle on a belt of tools and equipment, stuffing a map in her pocket. “Is Duo Trouble Maxwell what it reads on your ID? Or just an initial?”

“Only if yours says Kyla Mischief Addison,” he shot back, tickling her before strapping on his own equipment. The laughter died in his face. “Let’s go.”

Getting inside was easier than she had thought, but then, she didn’t know that she was traveling with the great Shinigami. She felt a little dazed actually at how he had swiftly gotten them in and exactly where they wanted to be with none the wiser. She gave him a ‘you’re going to explain just how you did that someday’ look and he simply looked smug.

“Never doubt me,” he grinned.

“Can’t say I ever did,” she sighed. “Got everything?”

“Roger that,” he mock saluted, and kissed her cheek. “I’ll see you on the other side, babe.”

“Be careful,” she reminded, walking backwards so she could still look at him. Now that she was here, fear gnawed at her gut.

“Same to you,” he smiled tenderly, then saluted again and disappeared into the shadows.

‘The sooner you get this done, the sooner you can both get out of here,’ she thought, turning grimly to her task. Duo may have been the master at sneaking around, but she was surely an expert. It didn’t take her long to slip past what few guards there were and into a file storage center.

Rows and rows of shelves filled with disks, papers and other records seemed crammed into the tiny space so as to keep people out. She stared for a moment at the racks that went straight to the ceiling and then got to work. She needed to find the information they had gathered on Relena to take back to Earth, and possibly anything else that looked interesting. She studied the filing guide for a moment and then crossed straight to the box-drawer labeled ‘Peacecraft, Relena’. It was full of disks. She whistled softly and picked a few up. Their labels read things like ‘Christening ceremony’, ‘Public Appearance 00003’, ‘adoption papers’, ‘private school enrollment, elementary’, ‘Public Appearance 00027’, ‘Public Appearance 00153’, ‘private school enrollment, high school,’ ‘Public Appearance 04742’… It was every piece of data generated by Relena Darlian-Peacecraft since birth. Reaching into one of the holsters on her belt, she pulled out various flat, cloth holding cases, taking off the denim jacket and slipping one of the vests on. She was about to put on a LOT of weight.

It took a good fifteen minutes to cram the disks onto her person, but she still had space left over. Lovely things these cargo jackets… Closing the drawer, she swept her eye over the shelves again. She already had so much… could she possibly take on any more? Was it worth it to look?

One word leapt out at her and she curiously pulled the drawer open. Gundam. Feeling as though she held the key to some huge secret, she riffled through the disks. Oddly enough, the Madam had never spent very much time going over the gundams. They had been taught how their suits worked, what symbols they were, that the gundams had played major roles in the war. That was all. For some reason, none of them had ever questioned it. No, that wasn’t true. Some of them had clamored to know more and their questions had never been answered. Kyla couldn’t even remember if they’d ever been told who the pilots were. It suddenly seemed like a huge gap in her education, and she shoved the disks into the vest pocket, closing the drawer and putting her jacket back on, buttoning it closed. Now she was ready. Now she had to get out.

A quick glance at her watch told her that Duo would be almost finished setting up the explosives he had magically produced. He was going to have to explain that, too. She made her way to their meeting point as swiftly and carefully as she could, glad for mufflers between the disks.

“Hey, you!” a security stepped out.

“Not today, buddy,” in the same movement, she drew her gun and hurled a smoke bomb out him. It opened immediately, blinding the man, and knocking him out. She ran away from the incriminating scene, nearly running into more guards. She shot att them and opened another gas bomb, then ran full tilt for the rendezvous. Alarms started to go off- their cover was blown.

Sight of a familiar chestnut braid leaning around a corner to aim a gun, brought a relieved smile to her face. “Duo!”

“Babe!” he replied, not looking up from his targets until he was finished, then he grabbed her hand and pulled her after him. “They found you, too?”

“Can we get out in time?” she nodded.

“Have you got the disks?”

“Plenty.”

“Then we can get out. This way,” he pulled her down a side corridor, and again she was being lead by a master of infiltration. Duck in here, take a side route there, through endless corridors and they were on the roof of the building. “Only way. Get that stinger of yours out here,” he turned to fire on men following them and slammed the door closed on them. “Hurry!”

“Right,” she fished out a pocket remote and pressed the most prominent button. Ten seconds later, Thistle Wing’s engines cut the air and landed before them. “Come on!” she called, swinging herself up.

“You go, I can handle this,” he ordered, holding the door closed. The sound of helicopters whirring towards them added urgency. “Go! Whatever happens, you’re more important. Don’t worry about me.”

“Duo!” she cried in disbelief. How could he do this to her? She couldn’t just leave him here!

“GO!”

The choppers were getting closer. With a wordless cry of frustration, she swung inside the cockpit and closed it, firing up the manual systems. “Idiot. Thinks he can be all noble-“ she muttered, strapping in. There was only one option- protect her peanut-brained dingbat boyfriend from the suit. “Let’s do this.”

The Thistle shot upwards easily. Green, serrated wings, almost like leaves, rose from it’s back to keep her up and purple accent lights shone eerily. One great hand reached around to the back to lift away a giant claymore, it’s blade an eerie purple beam. (AN: *sweatdrop* I’ve been reading too much of Kate Forsyth’s ‘Witches of Eileanan’ Series. Actual books. According to her, a claymore is- “a heavy, two-edged sword, often as tall as a man.” Or in this case, a gundam. O.o That is SOME weapon…) With barely any effort, it raised to knock it’s flat side into the two helicopters, flinging them away. She immediately plunged downward to check on Duo, just as the door was forced open.

The guards came out triumphantly, bearing down on Duo, and came face to face with- a mobile suit nearly 17 meters tall. (AN: ^^; Anybody know how to convert meters to feet?) The horrified shock on their faces was almost comical and Duo took advantage of it to scramble up one of the Thistle’s legs and into the cockpit.

“Miss me?” he panted, still managing a cheeky grin.

“You’re just damn lucky,” Kyla muttered and raised the claymore in warning. The guards scattered, practically climbing over each other to get back inside and far, FAR away.

“I knew you’d come through,” he said smugly, strapping himself into a seat further back in the cockpit. “Hey this thing’s really done up!”

Kyla didn’t respond, her fingers flying over the keyboard of an onboard computer, and she swore. “They’re mobilizing. We just HAD to be flashy about it, didn’t we?” she sighed.

“Can I use that thing?” Duo pulled a disk out of his jacket pocket. “I found this lying around.”

“Sure, go ahead. But don’t blame me if it gets rocky around here,” she unstrapped it and handed it to him, then took the controls again, already able to see Mobile Dolls approach. “Hiiiiiiiiaaaaaay!” she leapt into the air and came down amidst the dolls, slashing at them with the claymore and bringing down the first row.

Duo rocked against his seat and raised an eyebrow, but dared not comment. He no doubt that she was indeed descended from brave Scottish clansmen as she ripped apart the suits, making ‘Braveheart’ look tame. He popped the disk into the machine and opened it up, sifting through passcodes and files, growing accustomed to the rocking of the suit.

The Thistle jumped into the air and kicked off against the wall of the building, flying through the lines of suits, the great claymore taking out rows and rows at a time.

“Yie!” Duo’s eyes widened and he stared at her, straining against the seatbelts. “Oi, watch it, will ya?!”

She glanced back to grin at him. “Aw, don’t tell me you can’t stand a little boat rocking, Thanatos.”

Suits fell rapidly, the Thistle barely taking a hit, and never once scratching or denting; dolls just didn’t have the power to break through that lacquer. The field cleared a little, the remaining suits attempting to gang up on her.

A comm. link appeared on Kyla’s screen, a man’s image in it. “Greetings, Ms Addison,” he said condescendingly.

Kyla gasped in recognition and Duo peered around to see. Memories came at her in a rush and she found her tongue slipping back into old ways, the twang in his tone starting the onslaught. “Harold ye blaygird scumbug, what in hells do ye think ye’re doin’?!” she snapped.

He smiled wickedly. “I’m no longer Harold, Ky. My name’s Jack Darwin now. And YOU are intrudin’.”

“Ye stupid fuck, what are ye blatherin’ on abou’?!” she demanded angrily. The dolls seemed suspended in place, hanging back and waiting for orders. Duo glanced from Kyla to the man on the screen who had the beginnings of a similar face structure. His overwhelmed mind fought to understand their heavy accents before he remembered; Kyla had said that she was born in Scotland. So this must be someone she knew.

The man scowled. “Ye canna speak to me that way, cousin!”

“I’ll speak to you any way I damn well please! Now stop fucking around and tell me what it is ye’re up to!” Duo facefaulted. COUSIN?

“Ye always were impudent,” Jack snarled. “We thought ye were dead.”

“Too bad for you I’m no’! Wha’ games are ye playing here, Harold?”

“My name isna Harold!” he fumed. “Tis Jack Darwin now and dinna ye forget it!” a mad gleam lit his eye and several dolls came sailing towards them.

She spared the dolls no more than the necessary effort or attention and immediately faced him again. “I’m no’ in the mood for your games,” she quiet tone was dangerous.

“You don’ have the luxury of decidin’, cousin,” he was nearly able to match her glare for glare, save the maniacal glint in his brown eyes. He turned away from the screen, barking orders at men behind him, and when he turned back, he was laughing. “Good bye at last, Addison,” he cackled.

Kyla’s eyes widened at the screen. “SHITE!!!!!!!”

---

Blinking, heat seeking missiles streaked straight for the Thistle, aiming directly for it’s middle. Furiously, Kyla and the Thistle shot upward and back the way they had come, the pilot swearing viciously when the missiles turned all-too quickly to follow. She beat at the controls frantically, tried to evade them, make them miss, but then with a sickening drop of her stomach realized that they were within a colony. Those missiles slamming through the outer wall, possibly even the explosion they made anywhere else, would kill everyone within. All it would take was the tiniest tear, the most minute pinprick of a hole. Angry with herself and her son of a bitch cousin, she headed straight for the exit, punching in an override code to make the massive doors between her and open space obey her need.

“Ky, let me off,” Duo unbuckled his seatbelt.

“What?! Why!?”

“I’m not good in here. I think I know where he’s hiding. Open the door, I’ll be ok,” he readied himself to jump out through the cockpit’s door.

“What?! You’ll be killed!” she spared him a horrified look. “Duo-“ she bit her lip and nodded. She knew he was right. “Be careful.”

“I will,” he kissed her cheek and wiped away the beginning of a tear from her soft lashes. The cockpit door swung open and he dropped down and away, lost to her. Feeling ill, she switched on the video screen, watching, heart in her throat, as he landed expertly in the softening treetops of a park. With a choked sigh of relief- whatever happened now, she had no control of it- she turned all her attention back to the opening doors.

Space swallowed her and her immediate mission was to lead the missiles away from the colony. Very, VERY far away. They made three comet-like pinpricks of moving light in the vast black vacuum. Within the colony, people pointed to video screens in awe and fear. What was going on? Why was there a mobile suit battle here?

Duo half free fell, half climbed his way down the trees, taking on many a scratch and dropping neatly to his feet onto the grass. He took a moment to orient himself and then started running. He knew exactly where he was going. Cousin or no, this guy was going down.

He raced along the streets of the colony and directly to the building the laptop had pinpointed as the source of the signal. Without hesitation, he dodged the distracted guards and ran in. No one moved to stop him- all were glued to the video screens, watching news coverage of something no one had ever thought to see again. He wasted no time watching, steeling his heart to believe in her, and continued through the building to the top story and the roof. The door flew open at his entrance and a figure turned to face him.

“Jack Darwin,” Duo growled.

The man’s eyes narrowed, a slight resemblance to Kyla flickering over his face in his determination, but it was lost immediately as his look turned wicked. “And who might you be?”

“Och, I’m jus’ a wee man o’ the faeries,” Duo mocked his accent and drew his gun fluidly. “Back away from that control panel if you know what’s good for you.”

Jack sniffed disdainfully. “American. Only YOU could be so crass. What’s your business here, George Washington?”

Duo fought down his reactions to Jack’s words, knowing it would just make him lose his temper. “My ‘business’ is to stop you. I won’t say it again- back away from the control panel.”

A slow smile spread across jack’s face. “What, you mean- this control panel?” he waved a hand at the array of technology set up before him. “Gladly-“ his finger jammed down on a button and as Duo’s bullet streaked for his skull, he leapt out of the way, laughing madly.

“You sick bastard-“ Duo swore.

“Duo!?” Kyla’s voice echoed over the comm..

“Ky!”

“Aye, my cousin’s no’ such a bad fighter afterall,” Jack nodded. Too late, Duo realized Jack’s eyes weren’t on him, and someone he couldn’t see was pulling both his arms back, immobilizing him. He fought back, but within a moment his gun was out of his hand and he was completely captive. Jack laughed as the string of curses from the American. “You on the other hand, are obviously no’.” That stung. “But even she is not invincible,” Jack continued, and strolled casually back to the control panel.

“Duo!? Harold, what’ve you done to him!?” Kyla tried to fight and talk at the same time, earning herself several close calls in the process.

“Why, nothing, cousin, dearest. Only taken him out of action,” he reveled in the horrified look on his cousin’s face. The man holding Duo clamped a hand over his struggling captive’s mouth to keep him quiet. “You shouldn’t’ve come here, Ky. My influence stretches across the entire Earth and all its’ colonies. I know you’re helping against Markiah, I heard all about Sydney. He’s the biggest and greatest account I’ve ever handled and soon, no one will be able to stop us from punishing the world for their wrongs against us! They WILL suffer!”

“I won’t let you ruin this world they’ve worked so hard for!” Kyla’s eyes narrowed. The beat of the righteous heart. The promise of the thistle. Wait- something wasn’t right. She quickly surveyed the lit equipment before her. What was-?

“Enjoy Dame Addison, I’ve left you a wee gift,” he said, keying in a four digit passcode.

“You bastard- what’ve you done?” Duo yelled, foreboding filling him and turning his stomach to jello, all his hatred pouring out of his eyes.

Kyla’s eyes widened in fear and a sickly yellow glow seemed to fill the cockpit. It was like- like the Thistle was in her head with her, fighting with her. Telling her what to do, how to fight, where to strike at the throat of her enemy. Her scream echoed through space and the colony.

“You bastard!” Duo broke free of his captor, and ran forward, swinging his fist in a wide arc, ready to slam it into Jack’s jaw. A force field like those that had been created for the Mercurious stopped him, sending a jolt of electricity up his spine and crackling with static. He collapsed to his knees as the flares died down. “What’ve you done to her?” he whispered, not defeated yet.

“You may step back- he won’t be any more trouble,” Jack nodded to the guard, who left, and smirked down at Duo. “You’ve heard of it, I’m sure. It’s called a Zero System.”

Duo’s eyes widened.

In space, Kyla battled, slicing through suits without thinking about it- no, she wasn’t thinking about it. Her thoughts were searching frantically for a way out. An irrational wave of claustrophobia swept through her and she could feel herself tensing up in fear, like a child. And suddenly, she was a child again.

“Mam!” she could feel someone’s legs inside her arms. Her mother. She was warm… she smelt like flour and ginger…

“MAMA!” someone pulling her away- away from the still, discolored forms of her parents- “MAMA!!!”

“Kyla,” warm arms wrapped around her and she cried into the folds of someone’s dress. She turned her wet face up to look at the person there. Her grandmother smiled down at her, every detail of her wizened old face etched deep into her memory. “I know little one… it’ll be alright…”

The unforgiving, crackling light of flames swept away her grandmother’s image. She ran up the stony dirt path, tripping, falling, scraping her knee, scrambling to her feet and pressing onward. “GRANMAMA!” There was smoke- too much smoke- much too much smoke- Her heart pounded with fear, she understood now. She knew what was happening- didn’t want to believe it, but did she have a choice?

“GRANMAMA!” she crested the rise and stopped at the small white gate, her workdress blowing in the winds and updrafts generated by the flames. Even at this distance, they seemed to burn into her skin with their heat. “GRANMAMA!” she screamed, ready to run in and find her.

“Don’t be a fool!” someone held her back.

“No! Granmama! I have to go to her! GRANMAMA!” she cried, struggling against their grasp, knowing she couldn’t break free. She sank to her knees, watching the flames lick up around the cottage. It was too late. She was too late. One final sob escaped her lips before she lost all her senses to the tears. “Granmama…”

“Eh?” he looked up and his face broke into a grin when he saw her. “Hey, Ky, what’s up?”

“Muchacha-!” Isabel screamed as Andria and Estelle shoved her over the edge of the pool and she fell in with a splash, making them all laugh, Raisa and Kyla watching from their seats by the pool. She resurfaced to spit water in their faces, joining them in a grin. Then she yanked them both in with her. “Do NOT think you can win-“ gurgle.

“Kyla!” he smiled warmly at her, something twinkling, dancing in his eyes. “Wanna go somewhere?”

“You’re going to get the dress right?”

His warm arm around her waist…

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

Reaching for her ice cream on a busy street in Sydney, his arms wrapped tightly around her middle…

“With my own money too. You look beautiful. You should have the dress.”

Stepping lightly, twirling in his arms, to the rhythm of a heart-throbbing harmony… The cool, hardwood floor beneath her stockinged feet the exact opposite of the heat in her face or passing between their hands.

“It’s my treat.”

His worried eyes and lingering hand on her arm before she slipped out into the bar to execute her mission.

“It’s my gift then.”

In the cockpit, Kyla shook her head, trying to focus on the reality around her again. She was sweating but she couldn’t lift her hands off the controls to wipe it away. “What…?” She was breathing hard, the suit had finally stopped moving. Had she stopped it? Or were there simply no enemies left? She swallowed hard, a new fear gripping her stomach. Had she destroyed them all in one fit of fury? “What is this thing?”

Jack laughed down at Duo, thinking he had beaten him into submission. “It’s really a very advanced system. It plugs directly into the pilot’s brain, making them the perfect soldier. The best killing machines ever made. The only draw back, is that it has a tendency to… drive the pilot insane,” his face broke into a cruel grin.

Slowly, shakily, Duo pulled himself up so that he could glare at him. “You don’t know the first thing about the Zer- oh!” someone kicked him in the back, hard. Bastards. Dishonorable bastards. Kicking a man when he was down…

“It’s also,” he knelt down to look Duo in the face, to gloat and be able to watch the pain tearing him apart. “been known to show a pilot his future.”

“Why are you telling me this?” he croaked. The pain in his back was fading, going numb. His ribs would probably ache for the next week though. If he made it to the next week. The back of his mind was whirling, calculating, trying to find a way out. Perhaps the best way was to pretend that he was just the back country hick tagalong sidekick, infatuated with the gundame pilot and shoving his nose in to help even though he couldn’t. Dimly he hoped he wasn’t living the role.

“Because,” his voice dropped to a whisper. “Dame Addison, is psychic.”

Duo’s eyes widened, reacting before he could stop himself. Real fear for her gripped him now, along with a flood of memories. He had piloted Wing Zero- he knew the torture of the system- but- if she- if she had a tendency towards these things- god- her senses- her poor senses- they’d overload! It really might drive her insane!

“Didn’t know that, did you?” he chuckled maliciously, falling for the trap Duo’s wide blue eyes always set.

Ky, Ky, babe, I’m going to get you out… I have to… If I can just get to the comm…. If she can just hear my voice… Thank god this guy was such a fool. “She’s stronger than that, you know!” he spat, slipping into his role again. Just a little longer… let him relax enough for Duo to land one good punch to his jaw and make that stupid forcefield move out of his way…

“You don’t really understand, do you?” he cocked his head to the side. “The Zero system has only ever been truly mastered by one man. A gundam pilot, years ago. But maybe he didn’t master it- you see, he disappeared after the war. Most likely the aftermath of what he saw has driven him mad. Pity really. He could have been an excellent addition to our side.”

“What side is that? Satan’s?” earned Duo another kick in the ribs. He groaned appropriately, but his eyes never left Jack. Yes, there! He had done it- Duo Maxwell, you are one hell of an actor.

“It shouldn’t be long now before it begins to show her her future,” he said, standing, stupidly turning his back on Duo, thinking him impotent now. He grinned, nothing nice in it. “It will show her dying by my hand, you, her lover, dead or in pain nearby- I haven’t decided which yet.”

“Let me make the decision for you,” the sound of cracking knuckles and Duo’s voice strong and without pain made Jack turn and his eyes widened moments before Shinigami’s fist connected with his face. Duo made sure he had fallen and then wasted no time reaching the comm. Thistle registration number… “KYLA!!!”

---

“Thistle, why are you doing this to me?” she had lost all control. This machine was taking over her mind. Dimly a word made it through the fog… ‘ZERO’. Of course…

It was hot day and none of the girls wanted to pay attention. They slouched in their seats or passed notes, some daring to giggle in the back. The class spanned three age brackets, the youngest about twelve.

She was fifteen years old again, shooting furtive looks to her companions and trying not to draw any attention to themselves. Andria looked the other way as she expertly flicked a folded up note onto Kyla’s desk, drawing a giggle from Raisa at her over dramatics.

“Girls?”

Kyla’s arms immediately folded to cover the note. Every girl in the room instantly faced front, looking innocent and engrossed in the Madam’s lecture.

She was not amused. Arms crossed over her chest, her glared around the room, scouting out the guilty parties. “Do I need to remind you again why it is important that you be here?” Now they all looked guilty, reminded of their missions. “I thought not. May I continue?” No one dared protest. “The Zero System. Who was it made by? Dame Brownlow?”

“We don’t know,” Estelle swallowed hard. She had been drawing on her notes again.

“Correct. What DO we know about it, Dame Jacobs?” the Madam turned to a younger girl, also not paying full attention.

“Th-that it’s powers are incredible,” the girl began, looking nervous but pushing ahead anyway. “That it can drive a pilot insane. That it’s only been programmed into two mobile suits so far and that this is the first war it’s ever been used in.”

“Very good.”

The Madam’s voice faded from her mind. Her breath came in short, hard rasps, her exhausted form straining against the seatbelts. A shaking hand reached up to support her aching, buzzing head, her eyes wide and unseeing. Her thoughts raced at a thousand miles a minute, confusion and chaos reined. She could feel her heart throbbing in her chest, fighting to keep a steady beat. The only sounds were those of the system and her breathing, a disturbing quiet as she fought for control.

Slowly, she realized that that crackling wasn’t just static… it was someone’s voice, fearful, urgent, as familiar as the Madam’s had been, and right now, infinitely more welcome. Numbly, her hand reached out to flick the comm. back on. “Duo…”

Inside the colony, Duo stopped screaming into the comm. He swallowed hard, tilting his head back to send up silent thanks and when he blinked again, there were hot, wet lines crossing his cheeks. “Kyla.”

“Duo… how do I get out of here?”

“Kyla, listen very carefully. Jack Darwin found a way to plant a different cockpit system in the Thistle. It’s called ZERO. It plays off your weaknesses to make you stronger, but you have to have a strong mind set to fight under it, otherwise it takes control.”

Kyla listened carefully, taking stock of herself and moving her stiff limbs. She glanced at the screen and wimpered. “There are more coming…”

“Bring it in, Ky. I’m not risking you on that with a sixth sense,” he ordered, finally able to pull up the visual on the unfamiliar machine. She looked scared and shaken, but not beaten.

“Sixth sense?” she blinked at him, wide-eyed.

“He said that you have one. It makes sense, Ky, think about it. I’d rather not risk it. Bring the Thistle in. I’ll pilot it,” Duo was already pressing buttons on the panel- there, he had a view of the battle field now. He swore. Their reinforcements were practically on top of her now.

“Duo, I can’t- they’re right here- I’ll just have to risk it,” she sounded brave as she pulled on a helmet, but he could see she was afraid. “Besides,” blue eyes turned to the comm. tenderly, and a pale hand reached up to touch the screen. “I don’t want you to get hurt, either. Over.” She closed the window.

Dup put his hand up to meet hers, too late. “Ky- Kyla! No! Damn it!” He slammed his fist into the paneling and sparks flew up. In classic Duo fashion, his eyes widened. “Whoops…” it started to smoke and electricity crackled along its glass surface. “Woah- hey!” he backed off, staring at it.

“You idiot- what’ve you done to it?! The whole system’s blown now! My dolls! My network!” Jack pushed Dup aside to lurch to his feet and see that it was too late for his precious machinery.

Duo gave him a skeptical look and slugged him again. He didn’t get up again. Warning lights were flashing like crazy from the panels and the guards had fled the room. “Woops- looks like it’s time for me to boogie-“ One instinct, he found his way back down through the building, again, with no one to stop him. When he hit the street, he wasted no time and hailed a cab to the vast doors leading onto outer space. If he had to hijack a suit, he would.

His resolve not to glance at the coverage of battle being broadcast throughout the entire colony fell apart when he looked up to see the Thistle streaking straight back for the colony. Several people screamed, and for a moment he couldn’t move. Then he was off like a shot for the doors to help her back in.

“Damnit- gerroff!” Kyla muttered through grit teeth as she confused the last doll and ran it through with her claymore. Before more suits could be sent, she was streaking back to the colony, punching in the override and ready to ride it out. She was sweating the effort and much fewer lights blinked back at her from her dashboard. She had had to disable most of it to keep the ZERO under control. Manual battling… NOT something to make a habit of.

The doors were open just enough- and she was through, bringing the suit to a decent stop and ignoring the frantic technicians running around. The cockpit door opened on a huge cloud of dust that made her choke and obscured her from their view. She fell back in her seat, eyes stinging and hacking her lungs out, it seemed.

Strong arms lifted her out and in a dizzying moment had set her on her feet on solid ground. “Ky- Kyla, are you alright? How many fingers am I holding up?”

“Duo?” she rubbed at her eyes and her weary face broke into a smile as she wrapped her arms around him.

He hugged her back just as tightly. “Come on- we can’t stay here- where’s that remote control thingy you’ve got?”

“Here,” she pressed it into his hand. “Be careful with that-“

“Let’s try- this one-“ Duo jammed a finger on the button and the cockpit door slammed closed, the huge suit rocketing upwards, only his lightning reflexes keeping it from slamming into the ceiling. They both stared upwards at it through the haze, as terrified technicians and engineers panicked, clueless.

“C-A-R-E-F-U-L,” Kyla reiterated weakly.

“Eh heh…” Duo muttered sheepishly and got control of the suit. “Let’s rock and roll, baby!”

__________________________________

Kyla moved around the tiny kitchen of the minuscule apartment she and Duo had been forced to move to when their hotel room had become conspicuous. Mm, had it only been three days ago since that big battle? She forced back memories of the ZERO system and placed a pile of cutlery in the sink, humming a little. A noise came from the room behind her and she called over her shoulder.

“I’ll be there in a minute, Duo! I just need to finish. You don’t want burned food, do you?” she lifted the lid of a pot on the stove to monitor its contents and adjusted the heat. “You know, you never did tell me how you managed to hide the Thistle in that hangar so quickly- or without anyone seeing you.” Another grunt from the back room. “You also didn’t tell me how you got through those air vents so easily. You DO know that you ARE going to have to explain it all to me eventually, right?” she filled a bowl with the soup from the pot and placed it on a ready and waiting tray, ignoring the grumblings that emanated from Duo’s vicinity. “What was that?”

Silence.

“I didn’t think so.” She carried the tray into the bedroom and set it on a side table, grinning at her Shinigami. “It’s chicken soup.”

“Kyyyyyyyyy~laaaaaaaaaa!”

Her laptop began to blink and she gave him one last teasing glance before opening it. A window opened immediately, presenting with an option. Her eyes widened and she shrieked, pressing ‘Enter’. “Oh my god!”

“What!? What?!” Duo called frantically from behind her.

“Raisa!” was the happy reply as Kyla pulled up the video link. “Rai-!” she paused. “Trowa?”

A small smile graced the bang-ed wonder’s lips. “Hello, Kyla. I’ll get her. Raisa!” he called into the background.

Duo’s eyes widened. “Trowa!? On video!? Gah! No!” he dove under the already rumpled covers of the bed.

Kyla ignored him. “You’re being an idiot, Duo.” Her eyes lit as Raisa came to sit in front of the camera, just as excitedly. “Rai!”

“Ky! Oh gods, I was getting so worried about you! You never replied to anything and neither have the others-“ Raisa started to babble.

“What? Rai, what do you mean they haven’t responded?”

“I haven’t had contact with anyone since you all left!”

“What!?” Kyla stared at the monitor. Behind her, Duo peeked out from beneath the sheets. “You’ve heard nothing?”

“Not a word,” Raisa shook her head sadly. A pair of gentle hands came to massage her shoulders and she glanced up and behind her gratefully. “I don’t suppose you have?”

Kyla shook her head, disturbed. “No. I’m sorry I didn’t reply, Rai, I didn’t know you’d be worried… this can’t be good. I’ll try them later, if that’ll help.”

“Thank you,” Raisa smiled gratefully.

“So how’ve you been?” Kyla asked carefully, trying to hide any amusement as she watched Trowa’s hands on Raisa’s shoulders.

“We’re good,” Raisa said lightly, then broke into a smile.

“I thought so!” Kyla grinned.

“And how’s your dingbat?”

“I’m not a dingbat!” Duo shot beneath the covers again.

“Actually, how IS Duo?” Trowa bent down to look at the monitor better.

Kyla’s grin turned feral. “How is the dingbat? How IS the dingbat? Dingbat, why don’t we show them how you are?”

“Noooo! Kyla! Come on, you can’t! They’ll never let me live it down!”

“Oh, but Dingbat they’ll be so concerned!” Kyla winked at the confused Raisa and Trowa and angled the camera towards the bed, where Duo was trying to burrow through the mattress. “Come on, Duo,” she pulled the sheets off him.

Trowa and Raisa stared. Then almost simultaneously, both began to giggle, and grin, and then to laugh outright, leaning on one another for support.

Duo glared back at them, crossing his arms over his chest, and then immediately scratching the spots on his arms. “You people act like you’ve never seen someone with chicken pox before…” he muttered.

“Check out my Connect The Dots Thanatos!” Kyla hugged him and then swatted at his hand. “Don’t scratch,” she ordered.

“H-How did you get chicken pox?” Trowa managed through his laughter.

“We walked past a day care on the way home the other day,” Duo glared at him.

“Within twenty-four hours, he had spots,” Kyla affirmed.

“I hope you have plenty of calamine lotion,” Raisa giggled.

“Rai, can’t you see they’ve already used half a bottle!” they both succumbed to more laughter.

“I’m going to get you for this,” Duo scowled at Kyla.

“Well you sure can’t give it to me,” she pointed out. “Waves of it ran through the Keep and I’ve already had it. Actually-“ she turned back to the computer, serious now. “I don’t know how long it’ll be before they let us go back to Earth.”

They both sobered, and Raisa pulled the laptop closer. “Nothing urgent is happening here as yet, but I am getting worried about the others. Whenever you can, come home and let me know. We’ll meet you in Sank.”

“Right,” Kyla nodded.

“We need to try the others though, so I suppose we have to go,” Raisa smiled sadly.

“What’re you doing letting him man your laptop, anyway?” Kyla raised a slightly teasing eyebrow at Trowa.

“No one ever answered my calls anyway!” Raisa defended him. “He’s good at this kind of thing,” she deflected any argument. “Tell the Dingbat we hope he feels better and stay in touch, alright?”

“Hey, I’m right here, you know!”

“Will do,” Kyla smiled sadly and reached over the laptop. “Our regards to Trowa as well. See ya, Rai.” The connection was closed.

Kyla sighed and sat back against the pillows on the bed, lost in her thoughts. “Life’s funny, isn’t it?”

Duo continued to scowl and tried to scratch again, “You aren’t the one with chicken pox at nineteen… this is a kid’s disease!”

“I can’t believe you haven’t had it or a vaccination by now,” Kyla raised an eyebrow at him. “Don’t scratch,” she batted his hand away.

“But it itches!” he wailed miserably.

“I know, heart-of-mine,” she sat up and kissed the top of his braided head. “But scratching just makes it worse, I promise. Come on, lie back and have your lunch, huh?”

He grumbled but complied, enjoying the attention he received as she fluffed his pillows and straightened the sheets. “You know what would REALLY make me feel better?” he said, a light dancing mischievously in his eyes.

She shot him a skeptical look. “What?”

“Having a pretty girl sit here and feed me and then help me bath and put lotion on me and-“

“Duo!” she crossed her arms and tried to look angry but failed at his too-cute look. “What am I going to do with you, huh?”

“Love me and take care of me and- yeah, and love me,” he decided.

She raised an eyebrow at him, her posture shifting subtly. “Love you, hm?”

“You heard it straight,” he said seriously.

“Well…” she sat next to him on the bed, very close and leaned in until their faces nearly touched. “I don’t have any problem with that…” his eyes lit. “But- I don’t think you’re really up to it at the moment,” she pulled away and went to get the cooling tray of food.

Duo stared at her, slack jawed. She had- had just- just said- just said she would- and- DAMMIT! “Woah, woah, woah, back up there-“

She set the tray across his lap and smiled pleasantly down at his shocked face. “Motivated to get better yet?” she kissed the dumbfounded Duo on his forehead again and left. “You better eat all that!”

He stared after her, in shock. He allowed himself the time to let their conversation filter through his fever clogged mind and register on every level. A hugr grin slowly came to his face and he let out a whoop. Kyla loved him!