Act VI
"What do you mean the suits aren't yet completed?"
Colonel Anne Une leaned forward on her desk, bringing her face inches from the man displayed on the video message screen in front of her, hazel eyes narrowed menacingly. The delay was beginning to try her patience and she had never been one to wait for very long.
The man on the screen, his eyes hidden behind a pair of metal-framed glasses, cleared his throat and pushed the glasses up on the bridge of his nose with one robotic hand. He took his time with the movement, further agitating Colonel Une. She clenched her teeth.
"Colonel Une, you must think it is terribly easy to construct a mobile suit," the man finally spoke. "I would love to see /you/ complete two entirely new designs within two weeks and with no delays, at that."
Colonel Une squeezed her white-gloved hands into fists at her sides, wanting nothing more than to smash the video screen or better yet, head over to the mobile suit laboratory and smash the pitiful old robot-man himself. *That Gundam doctor is vital to this project* she reminded herself, slowly quelling the anger that had risen in her at his disrespectful tone. *But once it is over, he will be mine to personally get rid of.* She smiled at this and nodded at the doctor on the screen, who was absently scratching his head with the robotic hand. "Please give me a report, Doctor J."
Doctor J cleared his throat once more. "Yes, very well," he said, reluctant and meandering in his tone, trying Colonel Une's patience once more. She continued to force an encouraging smile. "The Mercurius is 98% complete as of this moment, but my colleagues would like to do some further tests on the planet defensor sheild while the Vayeate reaches completion."
"How far along is the Vayeate?" Colonel Une asked.
"Only 52%, Colonel. The system for this suit is quite different from that of the Mercurius, which is much more similar to that of the Gundams. It has many aspects that need to be re-worked before it is pilot-ready," the doctor answered. The old head technician that Colonel Une and the pilots had met in the lab during their tour suddenly appeared in the screen, whispering something to Doctor J. The doctor nodded and waved the man off. "Excuse me, Colonel, my assistance is /greatly/ needed." His sarcasm wasn't missed.
Colonel Une held up a hand. "A moment, Doctor J," she said. "When will the suits be completed?"
Doctor J paused, reaching up to scratch his head once again. Colonel Une sighed loudly, conveying her impatience if it hadn't already been noted. "I would say in a week, maybe, if we are lucky," he finally replied. "Now I must-"
"No," Colonel Une interrupted. "No, this project has been delayed quite enough. Our troops need their assistance in outer space at once. We can't afford to wait." She gazed at the doctor, staring as evenly as she could into his obscured eyes. "As soon as the Mercurius is completed, the testing will begin," she finished. "The Vayeate can wait." *After all, the Mercurius will be the one using the co-pilot method... Officer Barton will be competent on his own, no matter if his suit is completed or not.*
Doctor J arched one gray eyebrow. "That could be extremely dangerous, Colonel," he said. "It would be risking the life of one of your precious OZ pilots." He smiled then, and Colonel Une felt her fists tighten once again.
"No matter," she replied calmly. "You will obey my orders, Doctor J. Report to me as soon as the Mercurius reaches completion. Dismissed." She shut off the screen without waiting for the doctor to reply. His disrespect had burned away the last vestiges of her calm.
Colonel Une sat back in her desk chair with eyes closed, resting her elbows on the hard wooden surface and massaging her dully throbbing temples. She was tired; tired of leading this life, of commanding people and fighting wars. *But I love war* a voice in her mind suddenly reminded her. *I love commanding, I love being a soldier. It's what Mr. Treize wants...*
A soft knock on her office door stirred Colonel Une from her thoughts. She opened her eyes, straightening up in her chair. "You may enter," she said, forcing the tiredness out of her voice.
A tall, elegant man in a bright blue dress uniform, long black cape draped over his left shoulder, entered her office, a soft smile curving his lips. "Good morning, Colonel Une," he said, bowing deeply and taking a seat opposite her at her desk.
Colonel Une forced herself to remain at attention; even after all of these years, Treize's prescence still made her anxious. She wanted to be absolutely perfect for him; she wanted him to always think of her as his best soldier, his closest confidante. "Yes, Your Excellency?" she asked, lowering her gaze respectfully.
Treize smiled at her, shaking his head slightly at her obvious nervousness, her eagerness to please. In many ways she was like young Ensign Schbeiker, only more poised, more controlled in her actions; he had a feeling that was why Colonel Une had taken such a liking to her. He thought about this as he asked, "How has the project with our young pilots been proceeding?"
Colonel Une looked up and for a moment the exhaustion showed on her face before it hardened, her eyes narrowing. "Yes, the project," she replied. "I suppose it's going well, although our unwilling doctors seem to delight in delaying the commencement."
Treize chuckled. "Well, I suppose that was to be expected. How are the pilots getting along? And Miss Schbeiker..." He trailed off, studying Colonel Une's face as she replied.
"Ensign Schbeiker seems to be coming along wonderfully," she said. "And of course, Officer Barton's conduct is perfect. But I have a slight problem with Mr. Yuy."
Treize lifted one wild eyebrow. "A problem?"
Colonel Une nodded slowly. "Yes. He seems to have captured the attention of Ensign Schbeiker... Her dislike of Gundam pilots is something that is well-known to OZ, so I had hoped this would have had rather the opposite effect on her, but Mr. Yuy seems a bit... bothered by her as well."
Treize nodded, resting his chin in his hand as he thought. "So you are afraid Miss Schbeiker will develop some sort of attatchment to the Gundam pilot? The project would be null then, yes?"
"Yes, Your Excellency. My entire reason for pairing them in the co-pilot project was for Ensign Schbeiker to perfect her skills in combat with the pilot's help, as well as find out his weaknesses so as to destroy him. Attatchment is completely against conduct here at OZ and would complicate the entire project." Colonel Une sighed deeply and lowered her eyes once more.
Treize listened silently, a pensive look on his face. When she had finished and was staring thoughtfully down at her desk, he leaned over and took her chin in his hand, lifting her face to his. Colonel Une's breath caught in her throat as she gazed into the deep blue eyes of her mentor. He smiled.
"I think attatchment is wonderful," he finally said, his voice deep, soothing. "I believe they will both benefit from this interest in each other, as will we. You have already found his weakness, Colonel Une."
She continued to stare up at him, lost in his eyes, the sound of his voice. "His weakness?"
"His weakness is in Miss Schbeiker. We must now simply help to augment this interest and then let the sweet drama play out on its own." He leaned closer to Colonel Une, his eyes flickering gently over her face. Her full, red lips were slightly parted; he felt the warmth of her breath on his cheek. "Attatchment is wonderful, my dear Lady Une," he whispered, before finally claiming her mouth with his own in a long, passionate kiss, his tongue dueling hers as gracefully as was his manner.
Colonel Une moaned softly through the kiss, surprise and somehow, familiarity, coursing through her body. The feeling of his lips on hers, his tongue gently caressing hers, was foreign and yet strangely familiar all at once. He ended the kiss then, smoothing back a strand of her hair.
"I want to invite certain dignitaries from Romefeller to come and view the progress of our little project," Treize said, moving to stand upright once more. "It would also greatly please me if they were allowed to meet with our young pilots. I'm sure they would amuse our guests, especially the enchanting Miss Schbeiker." He smiled.
Colonel Une raised her hand to her mouth, touching her lips gingerly where his had only recently rested, her eyes dreamy. The sound of his voice soon brought her back to reality, and she straightened, at attention once again. "Yes, Your Excellency, that would be fine," she replied. "When do you propose this engagement should occur?"
"I should like it as soon as possible, tomorrow," Treize said, making his way towards the door. "Yes, tomorrow would be lovely. Our dear doctors have informed me that the Mercurius mobile suit will be ready within two days, at your orders. I should like my guests to view the project before it officially begins. Have our little darlings ready for tomorrow then, Colonel Une." He turned to leave, then stopped, gazing over his shoulder at Colonel Une, still seated behind her desk.
"I should also immensely enjoy the pleasure of your company tomorrow night at the party, Lady Une," he said, smiling. She nodded once, joy and confusion filling her. Treize bowed then. "If you'll excuse me," he finished, and then was gone.
Colonel Une could only sit and stare at the empty space he had just occupied, wondering what Treize's intents actually were, and why he had addressed her as the Lady Une instead of the Colonel.
Hilde sat on a bench in the practice arena, wrapping a long white bandage over and around her injured wrist, twisting it tightly and knotting it securely to bring down the swelling. She had hurt it more than she had first thought; the wrist was practically useless. *As long as Colonel Une doesn't find out, I'm safe* she thought, breathing a sigh of relief to be alone in the arena for once. Heero and Trowa had already done their exercises earlier that morning; she had seen them walking across the courtyard together outside of her window, talking. She didn't leave for the arena then until late afternoon.
Hilde slid off the bench to the floor and began her stretching exercises, bending her torso down over her legs, her forehead touching her knees. She smiled; she was still in shape even after one year without any physical training, running errands for her chief commander at the OZ base on L-2. Her flexibility had always been one of her most important and helpful abilities.
She switched positions then, spreading her legs and alternating her stretching over each leg in turn, until she felt completely warmed up. Standing up, she grabbed two of the free weights off the floor and worked on her arms, careful with her left hand not to disturb the tightly bandaged and aching wrist. She lifted and lowered until her muscles were tight, throbbing with the exertion, and her wrist finally gave out. Dropping the weights back down, Hilde walked over to one of the many exercise machines, this one designed to work the leg muscles, and piled on as many weights as she believed she could handle. She had to be in perfect physical condition before the actual pilot testing began; her failure with Heero had proved that.
Memories of what had happened in that cockpit just yesterday flashed through Hilde's mind; the sweat, the moans, the thrusts, and the voice deep in her ear, commanding her with a controlled anger that frightened and excited her all at once. She closed her eyes and pushed the memories away, concentrating on lifting the weights piled on the machine with her legs, the muscles tensing painfully.
*He's only your co-pilot, Hilde. What happened was a mistake. You let it happen. Only for a few more days...* She continued to lift, repeating this thought over and over again in her mind, a comforting mantra.
The door to the arena opened then, casting a dark, reddish orange glow over the stark whiteness of the room. A slender, shadowy figure stood outlined against the brightness for a moment before the door slammed shut, returning the room to its colorlessness. Hilde knew it was him before she even heard the deep monotone.
"I came here to tell you we've been ordered to practice."
Hilde continued to lift, keeping her gaze fixed on the emptiness spread before her, ignoring him. *How can he even suggest practicing after what happened yesterday?* her inner voice cried, protesting.
*Because that's what you're both here for.* She answered her own question.
Heero crossed the sparse room, over to where she sat at the exercise machine. His eyes traveled down from her face to finally rest on the white-bandaged wrist in her lap. "You injured it worse than you thought," he said, nodding at her hand.
Hilde finally turned her eyes towards him, holding her wrist up to her chest protectively. "It isn't hurt that bad. It's fine," she replied, still continuing to lift.
Heero stared at her for a moment before he held out his hand. "Let me see it."
Hilde clenched her teeth, fighting back the urge to curse him, to scream at him to leave her the hell alone. His eyes on hers were soft, though, and she felt strangely reassured; he wasn't going to hurt her. She finally stopped her movements and held out her wrist gingerly. Heero took it carefully in his hand, running long, cool fingers over it gently.
Suddenly, he pressed down on the joint connecting her wrist and her hand, making her cry out in pain. He lifted his eyes to hers. "It's a fracture," he said. "The joint is fractured, here on the left." He touched the sensitive area once again and Hilde flinched, tears springing to her eyes as she nodded. "It isn't too serious. You have to work it. Just bend it, like this." He cradled her wrist in his large hand, taking his other hand and gently bending the wrist back and forth, working the joint. Hilde closed her eyes, loving his touch and marveling at how gentle he was. *A murderer wouldn't do this... but maybe he would.* He spoke then.
"Keep doing that; it should be gone in a couple of days." He let go of her wrist, letting it drop back into her lap.
Hilde continued the motion for a while, silent, amazed at how working it was beginning to make the pain ebb away. She looked up at Heero, who stood watching her, arms crossed over his chest. She forced her hands down to her sides and nodded once, silently thanking him. He nodded back. Hilde cleared her throat, breaking the uncomfortable silence.
"So we've been ordered to practice," she said, pushing herself to a standing position.
Heero nodded once again. "Colonel Une sent me the orders. The Mercurius is going to be complete in two days. They want us ready for field practice when it's done."
Hilde sighed. *So it's finally beginning... The sooner it'll be over.* "I'm sorry about yesterday..." She trailed off, unable to finish the sentence. Heero only stared at her, expressionless. *It didn't mean anything to him. I know that.*
*Why do I care?*
"We have to practice," Heero continued, ignoring her last words. "Your wrist will be healed by the time the test begins, but practice will help work it. I'll lead this time." He turned and started across the room to the simulation consoles. Hilde only followed, silent.
They entered one console, Heero taking the pilot's chair in front and Hilde positioning herself behind him. He pressed the switch to activate the door; they were enclosed in darkness together once again. Hilde closed her eyes, beginning to feel the sickness and suffocation she had felt yesterday, but the warmth of her thigh pressed against Heero's comforted her and the feelings were gone. She circled her arms around his body, reaching her hands around to grasp his firmly on the controls.
She breathed. His wild dark hair tickled her face and she smelled the faint scent of cherry blossoms mixed with the tangy, spicy fragrance of male sweat. She felt his heart beating steadily under her forearms, encircling his slender, muscular form. Her own heart beat with his, her breasts pushed up against his back. She was extremely aware of her sex pressing against his lower back, already wet and hungry. A million erotic thoughts raced through her mind, the very state of being in the intimate enclosure of the cockpit with him erotic in itself.
*He's a Gundam pilot... He's only here for the test project... He isn't interested in you... It's only for a few more days...*
Hilde lay splayed across the pilot's chair, legs spread wide, dangling over the armrests, clad only in a pair of white cotton panties and her black uniform jacket, unbuttoned all the way to reveal perky, naked breasts, smiling up at the intense, handsome boy before her. Heero stood over her, barechested but for a silver crucifix adorning the tanned, muscular flesh, his arousal apparent in his tight black shorts. One strong hand swung down to slap her breasts, almost painfully. She cried out softly in pleasure and he smiled, slapping her once again before massaging the flushed, perfectly rounded orbs to soothe her, cool hands on hot flesh. "You will obey me this time, Hilde." He bent down and his lovely mouth claimed her neck as he reached down, sliding the panties down her legs, then draping the long, slender limbs over his shoulders. "Hilde..." He moaned her name and bent his head to lick her sex, his tongue delving into her most secret entrance. She moaned and cried out once more, hands sliding up her body to fondle her own breasts as he licked and suckled her. *Oh, God, Heero... Please...*
"Hilde." Her name was a command, not a sensual moan. Heero's voice returned her to the present, and Hilde quickly erased the erotic vision, coming back down to reality. The screen before them lit up with enemy mobile suits. "Hilde, follow me."
"Yes," she whispered her reply, shaking herself of the last vestiges of her reverie. *No more, Hilde.* The battle was beginning.
"I'm equipping the beam cannon. When I say move, move with me. Understood?" He turned his head slightly to look back at her. Hilde only nodded.
*Don't screw this up.*
Heero positioned the beam cannon in the direction of the farthest enemy suit, readying to fire. His body tensed under her arms and she felt herself tensing with him. "Hilde... Go right... /Now/!" He moved his entire body to the right, hands gripping the controls with white knuckles. Hilde followed him; her body seemed molded to his, perfectly matching his movements as if she were a part of him and not a separate entity.
Another suit attacked. Heero aimed the beam cannon and fired. "Right once more, now!" he commanded, jerking in the direction before the suit could execute its first blast. Hilde obeyed. "Left, left, left! Don't think about it; /move/!" Hilde obeyed, and the suits came faster now, pounding their own suit with vicious blasts. She helped Heero obliterate them, one by one.
*I'm learning now. I'm like him now.* Her eyes clouded with tears then and the sickness came back to her stomach.
Three enemy suits closed in on them suddenly. Heero turned on them, equipping the chainrifle and firing, shouting, "Bear right! Right!"
A tear slid slowly down Hilde's cheek. She closed her eyes. It was over in a second. The siren blared throughout the cockpit, flashing red, and the screen shut off. Hilde opened her eyes.
Heero slammed a fist down onto the control panel, his head falling to his chest in defeat. Hilde removed her arms from around him quickly, closing her eyes again, fearful of what he would say this time.
The stifling silence was finally interrupted as he spoke. "You weren't fast enough. Didn't you hear me?" He didn't turn around.
Hilde choked back a sob. "Yes, I heard you," she replied softly.
"You didn't obey my commands again."
"I know."
*Punish me...* The daydream returned to her conciousness and she felt the stirrings of desire between her thighs once more.
Heero stood up then, finally turning towards her. Hilde averted her gaze and wiped the tears away with the back of her hand, feeling a blush creep into her face, embarassed at how foolish and pitiful she knew she seemed to him. He only stared down at her, his face tense but his eyes oddly soft, almost understanding. Hilde looked up.
"We'll try it again tomorrow." The door to the console slid back down and he left without saying another word.
Hilde pushed herself up off the chair and stood standing still for a moment, regaining her composure. The tears were gone; she felt only numb now. He hadn't gotten upset, he hadn't punished her. Relief turned to disappointment, disappointment turned to a kind of hope. Hope that she would be able to go through with the project after all. She hadn't let her desire get the best of her, she had done her best to follow his commands and almost succeeded, and now he hadn't gotten angry with her failure. He had almost understood her then, her sadness...
Hilde chewed her bottom lip thoughtfully, thinking about the strange look she had glimpsed in his eyes. He was almost human just then. She could almost believe he wasn't a murderer, like the other Gundam pilots. She remembered his help with her wrist, how genuinely caring he had seemed. He was beginning to trust her, she knew this, and she was beginning to trust him.
*I have to talk to him. He knows what I need to know. And he's my partner. Only my partner.* She smiled a little, finally exiting the practice arena.
*Maybe I can get over him.*
And then there was still Trowa.
Act VII
A sudden knock on her door interrupted Hilde from her sleep, wakening her. She opened her eyes sleepily and glanced over at the alarm clock by her bedside; fifteen minutes after ten. She had overslept.
Pushing herself up to a sitting position on her elbows, Hilde forced herself to open her eyes all the way and glanced over towards the figure who had entered her room.
A woman in plain dark blue uniform was carrying a long, white satin garment bag in her arms, carefully setting it down on the vanity table chair. She turned towards Hilde then and saluted.
"Officer Schbeiker," she said. "Good morning. I trust you've slept well."
Hilde stared at the senior officer, confusion etched into the smooth, pretty features of her face. She nodded slowly. "Yes... Yes, I slept well, thank you." She pushed herself all the way up then, swinging her legs over the side of the bed, preparing to get up. "Have I missed much of today's practice?"
The other officer shook her head, smiling a little. "Not at all, Officer Schbeiker. Practice isn't until much later; you'll be doing a demonstration for some members of the Romefeller Foundation today. Then, tonight, you and the other pilots have all been invited to His Excellency's engagement." The woman's smile widened then and she motioned over to the garment bag draped across the vanity chair. "Your dress, Officer Schbeiker."
Hilde lowered her eyes, thinking for a moment. *A demonstration? With Heero...* She looked up at the smiling woman and followed the line of her arm with her eyes towards the vanity chair. *And my dress...* A wave of girlish excitement suddenly swept over her and she jumped out of the bed, running to the garment bag and unzipping it with trembling fingers. The officer watched, continuing to smile.
Hilde gently parted the folds of white satin, revealing a long, pale blue and white beaded gown. *Oh, my God...* she thought, carefully removing the dress. It was single strapped, the neckline cut diagonally, as was the long skirt, beginning high up on the left side and trailing down to the right. The material was a sheer, silky white, laced through with pale blue beads in a floral pattern and silvery thread; the blue matched her eyes almost perfectly. Hilde could barely breathe as she held up the dress, holding it against her body.
"Compliments of His Excellency," the woman explained. "I trust that you like it?"
Hilde ran a hand gently over the beautiful material. "Yes," she whispered. "Yes, I love it!" She smiled up at the other officer and replaced the dress in its bag. "I'm going to be wearing this tonight?"
The woman nodded. "Yes. Your shoes will be brought up here later. You'll have them long before the party at ten tonight." She turned then to leave. "Colonel Une and His Excellency await you in the mobile suit lab. The Mercurius was completed just this morning. Try to hurry." She smiled omce more and disappeared.
Hilde smiled back, standing up and quickly putting on her uniform, tying her hair up into a ponytail with a black band before zipping up her boots and heading outside to the lab. The pilots' hallway was empty, the doors to both Heero's and Trowa's rooms open; they were already there, waiting. Hilde quickened her pace.
She heard the echoes of many people talking and laughing before she had even swiped her card in the keypad, allowing herself access to the vast laboratory. She pushed open the door.
A makeshift stage had been set up at the farthest end of the room, in front of the two mobile suits behind their cage of framework. Five old men, varying in height and characteristics, but clothed in the same long, white lab coats, stood in a line on the stage, behind a wooden podium where Treize stood. Colonel Une was seated beside him, off to the right a bit. She caught Hilde's eye as the girl entered and a small smile lifted the corners of her mouth. Hilde raised her hand in a quick salute before she finally caught sight of Trowa's shiny brown hair and broad shoulders, seeming to tower above the rest of the group centered around the stage.
Hilde ran towards him, lightly tapping him on the shoulder before she jumped into place beside him, smiling cheerfully. Trowa smiled back, amused. She really was cute. Heero only gave her a quick nod of acknowledgement and continued staring straight forward. Hilde smiled at him; he wasn't making her nervous anymore.
*I can do this.*
Hilde stood up on tip-toe and leaned her head against Trowa's shoulder, whispering in his ear, "Are these the guests from the Romefeller Foundation?" All around, elegant men and women milled about, socializing with one another and conversating animatedly about the two mobile suits displayed before them.
"Why, these suits are /much/ larger than the Gundams!" a man said, and Trowa glanced at Heero, who shared an amused smile with him.
Trowa turned his attention back to Hilde then. "Yes, these are the dignitaries Mr. Treize invited," he whispered back. "They're mostly members of the old wealthy families Treize is associated with." He lifted one gloved hand slightly to point at a tall, austere-looking white-haired man, who had climbed the stairs to the stage to whisper something to Treize. "That man there is Duke Durmail, one of the head founders of Romefeller. He's Treize's grandfather."
Hilde tilted her head to the side, appraising the elegant duke. She could see some resemblance to Treize... but the girl who ascended onto the stage next definitely resembled him. Something about her face, so pale and smooth and coolly assured, and her eyes, an icy blue under wild, dark eyebrows. She didn't look much older than Hilde herself, but the way she carried herself and the curves of her body under the silky black dress she wore defied her age. Hilde watched, almost in awe, as the girl swept onto the stage, smiling and laughing, a swirl of long black skirt and equally long, pale blonde hair, as she stood on tip-toes to kiss Treize's cheek.
"Who is that?" Hilde asked, nodding to the girl.
Trowa stared at the three figures on the stage, his eyes lingering on the icily beautiful young girl, talking excitedly to Trieze and clutching the arm of Durmail. The girl's gaze shifted suddenly and he was locked in the wintry blue depths of her eyes for a moment, before she looked away again, whispering something to Durmail. She bent slightly forward, a lock of long platinum hair falling over her shoulder, and Trowa's eyes were drawn downwards, to the girl's ample cleavage. His uniform pants began to feel extremely tight.
"Trowa?"
Trowa shook his head, tearing his gaze away from the blonde girl. He looked down into the large, pale blue eyes of the girl at his side, innocent and concerned, her brows furrowed worriedly. He smiled. "I don't know who she is," he replied softly. "Most likely a relative of Treize, or Durmail, or probably both."
"Oh." Hilde gazed at Trowa curiously for a moment, smiling to herself. That look in his eyes when he had stared at the girl- so much like that of Heero, when he stared at her...
*Not anymore.*
"Excuse me, everyone," Treize called from the podium. "I would like to begin."
Durmail and the girl had stepped down off the stage and now Treize was alone. The crowd of people gathered below lowered their voices, slowly quieting down until the room was entirely silent. Hilde held on to Trowa's arm.
Treize smiled. "I'd like to start out by saying that I am immensely honored to have the plaesure of your company today in sharing the progress of OZ's and Romefeller's success," he said. The people clapped. Hilde joined them, noticing oddly that Trowa didn't. His face was expressionless, staring straight ahead, as was Heero. She felt a chill run down her spine and abruptly stopped her clapping, hoping she wasn't offending him by doing so. He cast a soft smile down at her then and she breathed a sigh of relief.
"Well, now. That being said," Treize continued, "I should like to get on with the demonstration. Our first suit, the Mercurius, has just been completed today. Therefore, the demonstration this morning will be using this suit, piloted by Mr. Heero Yuy and Miss Officer Hilde Schbeiker." The audience clapped compliantly, whispering amongst themselves about Heero Yuy, unbelieving that a Gundam pilot had been willing to participate in the furthering of OZ and Romefeller. Hilde stood firmly next to Trowa, a sick, nervous feeling welling up in her stomach, catching in her throat.
On the stage, Treize turned the podium over to one of the doctors, a man with long, graying hair and strange robotic hands, who began explaining about the technical aspects of the suits and comparing them to the Gundams. Colonel Une had silently slipped out of her chair on the stage and was now standing before the three pilots, hands on her hips.
"Mr. Yuy, Ensign Schbeiker," she said. "Let's go. The demonstration will be commencing right now." She turned sharply and started a brisk walk across the room, towards the long, makeshift staircase leading up to the cockpit of the Mercurius. Heero followed, arms crossed stiffly over his chest, his face blank but his eyes flashing darkly.
Hilde clutched Trowa and looked up at him, catching her bottom lip between her teeth nervously, silently asking him a million questions. The boy looked down at her and smiled. *It's going to be alright.* Hilde nodded and disentangled her arm from his, running lightly to catch up with Colonel Une and Heero, who had already started up the staircase. The crowd watched, talking excitedly.
The old head technician emerged from the crowd, running up to Hilde and scooping her up, half-carrying her to the staircase and setting her on the second stair. "Good luck, Miss Schbeiker," he whispered, tipping his cap and winking before jumping back down. A young OZ officer in a dark uniform, Lieutenant Nickol, if she remembered correctly, came to her then, taking her arm roughly and leading her up the stairs.
"Come on, Colonel Une is waiting for you," he said.
Hilde allowed herself to be dragged up the stairs by the lieutenant, her eyes taking in the entire scene before her and willing herself not to be sick. Technicians still hurried along the framework surrounding the suit, checking parts and tightening screws, giving the bright red hull one last, quick shine. The dark cockpit suddenly loomed before her. Lieutenant Nickol pushed her inside.
Heero was already seated in front, his safety straps buckled tightly over his shoulders, his hands moving deftly over the controls, getting a quick feel for the new environment. He glanced at her once and inclined his head slightly.
*Don't screw this up.*
Hilde took her position behind Heero, pulling her own safety straps over her shoulders, securing her body tightly against his. The tips of her breasts brushed his back through her uniform and she immediately felt a hot flush engulf her body.
*I can do this.*
Hilde shook her head, clearing her mind quickly, before she slid her arms around his body, hands feeling blindly for his on the controls. She laid her head against his shoulder, her lips brushing his bare skin under the green tank top. He smelled like cherry blossoms.
"I trust that you've been practicing," Colonel Une's voice cut through the commotion outside the cockpit. "Don't disappoint me. I wish you luck." The hatch to the cockpit was suddenly slammed shut and the two were engulfed in darknesss. Hilde unconciously tightened her hold around Heero's body.
"Just follow my lead," was all he said.
Heero flipped the activiation switch and the cockpit was suddenly bathed in a hazy blue light, the controls lighting up as well. The entire landscape of the mobile suit laboratory- every office door, every shelf filled with parts, every person standing on the ground below- was spread out before them. Hilde stared out, amazed at how much she could see, how the view from the standard OZ suits paled in comparison to this.
A target range was suddenly presented in front of them; a line of shiny black mobile dolls, chainrifles aimed straight at the Mercurius. Hilde's eyes widened and she whispered in Heero's ear, "Are they going to attack?"
"Hai." She could feel every muscle in the boy's body tense then, and she imagined the hardness between his legs. She closed her eyes.
"But they can't attack... There's too many people below. Won't someone get hurt?" Hilde buried her face in his shoulder, unable to think about killing someone, even unintentionally.
"They know the risk," Heero replied. "Obviously they don't care. We're just here to do our job."
Hilde felt a chill run down her spine at his words; the coldness, the finality. *He's a Gundam pilot, remember?* her inner voice taunted bitterly. She took a deep breath.
Heero's hands moved to arm the suit. "We'll use the beam gun," he said. "Listen to my commands." Hilde tightened her hands around his, squeezing lightly in answer; she couldn't find the strength to voice her compliance. *Someone might die here...*
The beam gun was raised, targeted on a mobile doll off to the left of the center doll. "Firing... now!" The sound of the gun was deafening, even in the cockpit, and Hilde gritted her teeth to keep from crying out. The doll shattered; the others made their move.
Hilde watched, paralyzed, as the dolls trained their rifles on the suit, firing off quick, short blasts, and dodging their own gun's blasts deftly.
"Left, Hilde, left! Now right! Bear /right/!" Heero shouted commands, his body jerking with the movements of the Mercurius, his voice choked with tension. Hilde obeyed, keeping her body firmly pressed to his, following his every movement. She forgot about the people below; there was only the battle.
"We're using the beam saber now, readying to strike!" Heero's right hand tightened on the control and he lifted his arm, the saber equipped, holding it high above the mobile suit's head. Two mobile dolls stood before them, rifles blazing.
"Slam down and bear left, /now/!" Heero grunted and brought his arm down hard, taking Hilde's with him, as the saber cut a clean line down the middle of both dolls. They each exploded in a shower of convoluted metal and fiery sparks.
Hilde tore her gaze away from the oblierated dolls, awestruck at the power the explosion exuded, the beauty of destruction. Her lower body ground into Heero's back as the Mercurius reared back, readying to strike through another line of dolls, and Hilde was immediately wet. The bright yellow flash of the beam saber cutting through another doll illuminated the cockpit and for a fleeting moment, Hilde caught sight of Heero's face; the handsome features were twisted into a smile of pure joy and almost evil bliss. He closed his eyes as another suit exploded before them. Ecstasy.
Hilde bit her lip, her body trembling with fear and arousal at the monstrous, incredible boy in front of her. *Is this what it was like for the Gundam pilot who killed Thomas?* her inner voice questioned her angrily. *Did he feel pleasure? Was he not confronted with guilt at the taking of a life?*
*I want him.*
She slid her arms down Heero's body, removing her hands from his to clasp him against her. He didn't seem to notice; he continued to destroy doll after doll. Hilde closed her eyes then and grew bolder, her hands finding the hem of his tank top and pulling it up, delving down under the material, caressing the hard muscles of his flat stomach, the powerful torso and chest, running light fingertips over the small, hard nipples. Heero groaned but continued to fight.
Hilde bent her head to lick his bare shoulder, her body seeming to be controlled by someone other than herself, a spirit filled with lust. The greedy hands on his chest, eager to touch every part of him, slid down lower now, finding the waistband of his shorts. Heero strained his hips against her hands; she plunged down, grasping the long, hard shaft and pumping it fast, up and down, over and over.
Heero's groans intensified and he began to thrust wildly, snapping his hips, increasing the friction between his aching cock and her beautiful hand. Hilde rained passionate kisses all over the flesh of his shoulder, his back, sliding her other hand down her own body and slipping into her uniform pants to rub the soft, hot wetness.
The battle raged on. Hilde still continued to move with Heero, his shouted commands little more than cries of pleasure between groans and labored breaths. Heero turned his head slightly to look back at the beautiful girl behind him; the large blue eyes were closed, the soft pink lips parted slightly in a petulant pout, tiny moans escaping them as her hand worked the hot sex between her legs, sweat trickling down the pale, lovely face, long black strands of hair stickling wetly to her cheeks. He imagined her breasts; small and perfect, ivory orbs capped with pale pink nipples, hard from her exertion. Mentally, Heero squeezed them in his hands and slapped them with strong, smooth blows, until they were suffused with scarlet and she was sobbing, her sex trickling wetness down her thighs as she begged for him to fuck her. It was all he needed.
Heero gritted his teeth, a choked scream of pleasure escaping his lips as he finally let go, the last mobile doll shattering into bits of charred shrapnel before his eyes. Behind him, Hilde pushed her hips into his one last time, voicing her own release, crying out his name. She continued to rub her throbbing need, arching her back and crying softly, until her body calmed itself, falling slowly back down into the blissful abyss. Her hand disengaged from Heero's sex, slipping gently out of his shorts. He closed his eyes, fighting the urge to grab her hand and place it back inside.
Hilde removed her other hand from her own body, licking the sweetness from her fingers before wrapping both arms back around Heero. She laid her head against his shoulder once again, her flesh damp against his own. She breathed.
*No...*
*What have I done?*
A small video message screen popped up onto the main screen of the cockpit, revealing the uncharacteristically smiling face of Colonel Une. "Well done, Mr. Yuy, Ensign Schbeiker," she said, not bothering to mask the pride in her voice. "The demonstration was an absolute success. I am pleased to inform you that you destroyed each of the targets with no complications whatsoever. The Foundation and OZ is very pleased with you. I look forward to meeting with you at tonight's engagement." She smiled once more and the video screen shut off.
Hilde laid still, concentrating on breathing. Heero was equally silent; still and tense under her touch. She swallowed the lump in her throat, finally breaking the silence.
"Heero..."
The hatch suddenly opened, throwing a harsh white light into the comfortable darkness. Hilde fell silent. A strong hand gripped her shoulder. Trowa.
"Well done."
Hilde turned to look up at him. The boy returned her gaze evenly, his face expressionless, his clear, forest green eyes clouded with a dark shadow. Angry. Hilde lowered her eyes, unable to look into the cruel depths any longer. Heero had unbuckled his safety straps and was disembarking from the cockpit, not even bothering to give Hilde a glance. He brushed against Trowa on his way out, his shoulder bumping the other boy's almost intentionally. Trowa turned his gaze on him.
"See you at the party," Heero said, and disappeared down the staircase. Trowa stared after him. Hilde sat still, fixated on the seat in front of her.
"Well done," Trowa said again.
He turned and was gone before she could even get out a reply.
Act VIII
Hilde stood in front of the mirror attatched to the back of her closet door, staring at the image in front of her and hardly believing it was her. The blue beaded dress fit her perfectly, molding to every curve of her body and accentuating the delicate shape of her breasts, revealing the long, slender perfection of her legs where it cut down across the bottom diagonally. Her long black hair had been twisted up, held in place with silver and diamond pins. Her makeup was smooth, perfect; a shimmery, pale blue shadow covered her eyelids and the dark blue liner helped to bring out the incredible color in her eyes. She was beautiful.
The door to her room opened then and Hilde quickly crossed her arms over her chest, suddenly self-concious in the clinging dress. The figure who entered wasn't Trowa, or even Heero; it was Colonel Une. Hilde stared at her, amazed at how different she looked. The colonel was out of uniform, clad in a long, burgundy satin dress that dipped down in a deep V both in the front and in the back. The satin clung to her curvaceous body and the color brought out the green in her hazel eyes and the darker streaks in her long caramel-colored hair, which hung in a shiny, straight curtain down her back. She wasn't wearing her ever-present glasses as well, and her face seemed softer, younger now. She was gorgeous.
"Mr. Treize was right. That dress is absolutely beautiful on you," Colonel Une said, smiling and walking over to Hilde. "Put your arms down, I want to see." Hilde slowly obeyed, forcing her arms down to her sides. The colonel smiled. "Beautiful."
Hilde could only stare, amazed at the change in the colonel. She lowered her eyes respectfully then and nodded. "Thank you, Colonel Une."
Colonel Une reached out one delicate hand and gently lifted Hilde's chin to face her. "Please, call me Lady Une," she said, smiling again. She stroked Hilde's face, running the back of her hand down the younger girl's cheek, down to her shoulder. "You remind me so much of how I used to be," Lady Une said, almost wistfully, her eyes dreamy. Hilde bit her lip. The beautiful woman finally came back to reality, smiling gently.
"I must go meet with Mr. Treize now," she said, straightening up and turning to leave. "I hope you will grace us with your presence soon, Miss Hilde." She was gone.
Hilde dropped back down onto her bed, confusion clouding her thoughts. *Why did she want me to call her /Lady/ Une?* she wondered, shaking her head. *It's almost as if she's two different people...* Hilde reached down then and grabbed the shoebox that had ben brought to her room after the demonstration that morning. Inside was a pair of diamond-strapped stiletto heels, the straps fixing together with a tiny silver chain. She pulled them out of the box and slipped one on her foot, struggling to fasten the tiny chain around her ankle. Hilde sighed impatiently and brought her foot up onto the bed, not caring that she was now sitting with her legs spread wide. *Definitely un-ladylike* she thought with a smile. *But then again, I never /was/ very ladylike.*
Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the familiar feeling of eyes upon her, and she looked up. She had known it was him.
Trowa Barton stood in the doorway, leaning against the frame with his arms crossed over his chest and an amused smile on his face. He wasn't in uniform either; instead he was dressed in an elegant black tuxedo, the dark accentuating the clear green of his eyes.
Hilde was suddenly aware of her position and slid her legs off the bed, pressing them tightly together. A deep blush suffused her cheeks and his smile widened.
"Need help?" he asked, entering the room.
Hilde nodded. "Thank you."
Trowa bent down on one knee before her, taking her foot and gently laying it in his lap. Cool, nimble fingers touched her ankle then and in a moment the chain was fastened. He slipped the other shoe on her other foot and easily fastened that one as well. Hilde watched him, silently.
When he was finished, Trowa raised his eyes to hers. Hilde was extremely aware of one hand still on her ankle, caressing her leg. She closed her eyes. She could feel warm breath against her thighs now, and then the barest brush of soft lips on her skin. She pulled away quickly.
"Thank you." Hilde stood up abruptly and turned away from the boy, still on his knee on the floor.
"May I walk you down to the party?" Trowa stood up and came around to face her. Hilde looked up at him; she almost felt sorry now, the hurt clearly apparent in the deep green orbs. She nodded, averting her gaze. Trowa took her arm, placing it in the crook of his own. Together they ascended the stairs to the convention hall, silently, each lost in his and her own thoughts.
The hall was already filled with people, their elegance only intensified by the decadent evening clothes they now wore. An orchestra was seated in the far right corner of the hall, tuning their instruments. Hilde's eyes swept over the crowd; Heero was nowhere to be found. *Not surprising.*
"Miss Schbeiker, Officer Barton! Please, come join us for a moment!" Hilde looked up. Treize was waved one gloved hand in their direction, motioning them over to where he stood with Lady Une and the head of the Foundation, Durmail. The blonde girl from earlier wasn't present.
"Come on," Trowa said softly, taking her arm and leading her towards the small group. "They want to talk to you." Hilde followed, nervously avoiding Treize and the other man's attentive gaze as they walked over.
"Grandfather, I would like you to meet Officers Trowa Barton and Hilde Schbeiker, the future of OZ," Treize said, smiling almost proudly. "Miss Schbeiker was one of the test pilots in this morning's demonstration."
The older man gazed down at the pretty raven-haired girl before him, clinging to the arm of the handsome young officer, and smiled. "So that was you in there," he said thoughtfully. Hilde raised her eyes shyly and nodded. "Impressive, my dear, certainly impressive. It pleases me greatly to know that we have such fine young people on our side." He turned to Lady Une then, who stood silently, smiling. "Absolutely beautiful, Miss Une. Again, you've done a wonderful job," he said, winking at Hilde, who blushed profusely.
Lady Une gazed at her protegee and inclined her head slightly. "Yes, she is wonderfully lovely," she replied softly. "Your approval is honored, Duke."
"Yes, the demonstration was wonderful," Treize spoke. "But please, I don't want to keep you from enjoying yourselves." He waved a hand dismissively. "Go on, have fun." He smiled once more and Trowa nodded, gently leading Hilde away.
Hilde couldn't keep herself from smiling; she was finally proving herself as a soldier. The very elite of OZ had taken notice of her and they had even went so far as to commend her personally. *Thomas would be so proud of me...*
"Have you seen Heero?" Trowa's voice cut through her thoughts and she looked up at him as if seeing him for the first time.
"Oh," she replied slowly. "No. Not since this morning..." Trowa's eyes darkened and she bit her lip quickly to keep from saying anything else. The stirrings of desire spread through her body at the memory and she clenched her free hand into a tight fist, triggering pain in her still injured wrist to distract herself. The orchestra began a slow, lilting ballad.
"Would you like to dance?" Trowa asked, the shadows lifting from the depths of his eyes. He held out his hand.
Hilde smiled. *He's so sweet to me.* "Yes, I would like that," she replied, taking his hand and allowing him to lead her onto the dance floor where a few other couples had already started dancing. She placed her hand on his arm, his sliding around her waist, holding her against him, and they glided out onto the floor.
Trowa spoke first, surprising Hilde by voicing her thoughts. "Do you ever wonder what Heero's intentions are?" He gazed down into her eyes, his brows furrowing slightly in concern.
Hilde met his gaze evenly. "I'm not sure what you mean," she lied. Did he know what had happened?
"He isn't one to play with people's emotions," Trowa continued. "But I can't help feeling like there's another reason as to why he does this to you." *She's the one he's been looking for* he thought. *But he's going to destroy her.* He knew.
Hilde looked away. "Heero and I are only co-pilots," she said stiffly. "I understand that. He doesn't have feelings for me..."
*But he does* Trowa thought.
"... and I..." Hilde took a deep breath before finishing, "... and I don't, either."
Trowa stared down at the girl in his arms; her body trembled slightly under his touch, the bright blue eyes shimmering with tears under long black lashes, veiling her gaze from his. *It's already begun* he thought sadly. *He's already begun to destroy her and it isn't over yet.*
*I still have to do my part.*
Trowa held her close, letting her lay her cheek against his chest as they danced. He couldn't tell her yet, and yet he knew he must. She had a right to know who had killed her brother. He would be able to go on with his life once she knew. *She is our humanity* he thought, rocking her gently against him. *We cannot possess humanity, and so she must be destroyed.*
*I have to tell her.*
"Do you want to go back upstairs?" Trowa stopped dancing and held her by the shoulders, looking deeply into her eyes. "It's quieter, and we can talk."
Hilde stiffened under his hands suddenly and she raised her eyes to his, immediately ashamed at the hurt she saw before her. *He only wants to talk* she reassured herself, nodding in answer to his question and allowing the boy to lead her out of the noisy hall. They were alone.
*It's not him I'm afraid of... it's me.*
Trowa gently led Hilde up the stairs, down the hall to his bedroom. Once inside, he softly shut the door, leaving it opened a bit so as not to mistake his intentions. *I have to tell her... It can't wait any longer* he thought, averting his gaze as he sat with her on the edge of his bed.
Hilde looked down at her hands in her lap, anxiously clasping and unclasping them as she waited for him to speak. Finally she took a deep breath. "Did you want to talk about Heero?" she asked, looking up to meet his eyes. "About what happened this morning?" The light pink flush in her cheeks deepened and she looked away again.
"No," Trowa said softly. "It isn't any of my concern."
Hilde raised her eyes. "So I won't be punished," she replied slowly, the phrase almost a question.
Trowa smiled and shook his head. "No. It isn't anyone's concern." He took her hand and gently ran long fingers over it, caressing it tenderly, stroking the still sore structure of her wrist. Hilde held her breath, unable to control the sensations coursing through her body at his touch.
*No... I won't be defeated.*
Trowa sighed. "Hilde..."
She closed her eyes, felt his hot, sweet breath on her face. He continued to stroke her hand. She felt her the insides of her thighs go wet. Her own breath came in short, ragged gasps.
"I have a confession to make..." The slow, deep voice blended into the sensual haze, drowning Hilde in the dark abyss. The slim fingers crept slowly up her arm, fingertips brushing the barest of caresses against her smooth flesh. She opened her eyes.
A curtain of silky chestnut hair fell across the handsome face, tickling her skin where it brushed against her cheek, one forest green orb visible beneath the satin strands. Unconciously, Hilde's hand moved up, brushing back the long hair to reveal his entire face, eyes clouded with sadness and burning with something else... Desire. His brows were furrowed as if he were trying not to cry and he looked so vulnerable she wanted nothing more than to take him in her arms and tell him everything would be alright. She only stared back.
"I have... a confession..." Trowa repeated, gazing at her through half-lidded eyes, soft lips parted. The hand on her arm inched further up, sliding fingers under the single strap of her dress, slipping it down to reveal her bare shoulder. His tongue crept slowly from his beautiful mouth; he ran it agonizingly over his lips. The strap was pulled completely down now, the hand moving around to her back to unzip the dress. A moan escaped Hilde's lips and the last vestiges of her resolve were gone.
She pushed her body into his desperately, catching his mouth with hers in a kiss, crying out between breaths as their tongues dueled for dominance, both sets of hands working recklessly to tear off clothing. Hilde heard the beautiful beaded dress tear as it as ripped from her body and then the cold night air penetrated her skin, chilling her, clad only now in a pale blue thong. She was pushed back onto the bed suddenly and she lay still, trying desperately to catch her breath.
Trowa hovered over her, naked and rigid with his need, the sylvan irises of his eyes smoldering with lust. Hilde unconciously backed away into the soft shelter of pillows, afraid and aroused by his predatory gaze. She felt the hard, moist tip of his shaft against the inside of her thigh and she closed her eyes, biting her bottom lip hard.
*He doesn't know I'm a virgin...*
"Trowa-" His mouth claimed hers once again and Hilde was silenced, lost in his kiss, in the tongue leading hers in an erotic dance. A strong, slender hand wrapped around her left breast, squeezing the soft white plumpness and teasing the nipple with agile fingers. Hilde cried out softly through the kiss and the throbbing organ against her thigh dared higher, nudging her virgin entrance.
Trowa's mouth left hers then to ascend upon her body, kissing and licking his way down her neck to consume one firm breast. Hilde screamed, the edges of his teeth against her nipple sending arcs of pain shooting through her body. Suddenly, he was inside her, his incredibly long, thick sex driving past her barrier and deep into her tight channel.
Hilde screamed once again and strained her body against his, crying and cursing with pain and pleasure, her hands clawing at his back. Trowa disengaged his expert mouth from her breast and kissed her, lovingly, soothingly, as he continued to thrust into her.
"Hilde, Hilde," he moaned softly against her neck, driving his cock in and out relentlessly. "Oh, God, Hilde..."
Hilde cried out as her body adjusted to the organ inside of her, filling her with male need, and lust finally overcame as her as she fucked back, meeting Trowa thrust for thrust, snapping her hips up into his. She gazed up into the beautiful face before her, flushed and contorted in pleasure, his hair hanging down over his face, damp. She reached up to push it away again, keeping her eyes trained on his as they fucked, harder with each stroke.
Trowa's body stiffened suddenly and his hand delved down between their bodies, finding Hilde's sensitive, distended jewel and rubbing it furiously. She screamed, latching onto his body as the most incredible sensation filled her, sending her into orgasmic bliss, the feeling only intensifying as Trowa cried out then, a girlish, incredibly erotic moan as he spilled his creamy seed into her.
Hilde lay trembling beneath him, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him close, the beating of his heart syncopated with her own. A trickle of sweat made its way down the side of his face, leaving a salty trail down the smooth, tanned skin. Hilde gently flicked out her tongue, catching the bittersweet droplet, tasting him.
Trowa closed his eyes and groaned softly as Hilde's tongue gently lapped at his flesh, her small hands caressing the taut muscles of his chest, tracing invisible patterns. He was still inside her. Reaching down to grasp one hand, Trowa gently brought it to his lips, his eyes finding hers. She stared back, the blue depths of her eyes sparkling in the pale light filtering in from the long window across from the bed.
*I owe it to her* his inner voice suddenly spoke.
*I have to tell her.*
Hilde reached up with her free hand to push Trowa's wet hair back from his face once again. *He looks so sad* she thought, caressing his face gently. His brows furrowed in anguish.
"Trowa." Hilde gazed into his eyes, running her fingers lightly through his hair. "What was your confession?" The beautiful boy looked down and away then, a slight blush creeping into his cheeks and Hilde would have smiled if not for him looking up again in that moment, tears shimmering in his eyes. He shifted slightly, disengaging his sex from hers, and he turned away on the bed, his body trembling violently.
*What the hell have I done?*
Hilde touched his shoulder, gently pushing him back around to face her. He still wouldn't meet her eyes. "Trowa," she said, bending her head to kiss his shoulder. "Please tell me."
*I owe it to her.*
Trowa finally looked up; the blue eyes that met his were wide, innocent, imploring. "Hilde," he said softly. "I killed your brother." A single tear slid from the corner of one sylvan eye, shimmering faintly in the light as it trekked down his face. He looked away.
Hilde lay beside him, staring at the lovely boy in front of her, her vision unfocused, blurry. A thousand emotions raced through her mind, her body. She wanted to tear at the boy beside her, pummel him with her fists, rip him apart.
*Trowa killed Thomas...*
The realization sunk in and Hilde felt sick, dizzy, a numb feeling spreading throughout her limbs. She bit her lower lip and closed her eyes, tasting blood now, hoping to God this wasn't real.
*It's not real.*
*Trowa killed Thomas...*
*He's a Gundam pilot.*
Hilde opened her eyes and stared down at the Gundam pilot lying next to her, his eyes closed, his face contorted in anguish as the tears coursed down his face. His pale, naked form, although tall and muscular, looked vulnerable, fragile, lying against the dark satin sheets, immersed in their sex and their shared grief. She felt for him; she knew his pain.
*It wasn't his fault.*
"Trowa..." The sound of her own voice brought Hilde back to reality and she immediately fell upon him, wrapping him in her arms and covering him with soft kisses. He didn't respond; he lay still, silent. "Oh, God, Trowa... Trowa..." She whispered his name over and over again, holding him tightly against her.
*It wasn't his fault... but he's still a Gundam pilot.*
*I know his secret now.*
There was a sudden soft knock on the door then; it had stayed partially open the entire time. Hilde sat up in the bed, clutching the sheets to her body. Trowa sat up as well, casting a dark glance at her. The door opened and a slender figure stepped inside.
Heero.
Act IX
Heero Yuy entered the room, shutting the door softly behind him. His face was expressionless, as usual, but the dark cerulean eyes burned with azure fire, fixated on Hilde's slim, naked form, pale against the dark satin sheets of the bed. Strands of long black hair had fallen from the silver and diamond pins holding her hair, framing her delicate face and adding sharp contrast to her almost translucent skin and wide, pale blue eyes. Heero's intense gaze devoured her whole. Hilde averted her eyes and pulled the sheets tighter against her body, trying her best to reveal as little flesh to him as possible, although his gaze never left her and she was acutely aware of the dampness between her thighs.
Heero crossed the room to stand by the window on the far end, across from the bed. He was silent; arms crossed tightly over his chest as he tore his eyes away from Hilde finally to stare out of the window.
Trowa disentangled his limbs from Hilde's and slowly slipped on his tuxedo pants, which had been thrown carelessly at the foot of the bed in the midst of their passion. He avoided her gaze and zipped up the pants. Heero finally broke the silence.
"So you told her." He continued to stare out the window. He knew what had happened.
"Yes," Trowa replied softly, reaching for his shirt. "She knows now. It's done."
Heero shifted his gaze slightly towards the other boy. "Does she know everything?"
"Not yet."
Hilde stared at them silently, unable to speak, confusion and anger fighting for dominance of her emotions. *What else am I supposed to know?* she wondered, the sick feeling returning to her stomach. She was suddenly aware of everything; of Trowa's kindness towards her from the very beginning, of how he had known Heero from before the test pilot project had even begun, of how he had known Heero wasn't the one who killed her brother. Trowa was a Gundam pilot all along.
*And I had sex with him.*
*I had sex with Thomas' murderer.*
Hilde closed her eyes, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall. *I won't cry* she promised herself, wrapping the sheets tighter around her body. *I can't let them win.* She opened her eyes then and fixed the two boys with a calm, even gaze.
*I won't be defeated.*
"What else do I need to know?"
Heero and Trowa turned to stare at Hilde as if seeing her for the first time. Trowa looked away but Heero returned her gaze, his face registering no emotion. Hilde faced him squarely.
"So what else do I need to know?" she repeated, clenching one hand into a fist to keep her voice from trembling. The wrist still throbbed dully. She was glad for the pain; it distracted her from feeling any other emotions. "What else is there? You're both Gundam pilots, one of you killed my brother, and now what?" Hilde narrowed her eyes, glancing first at Trowa, then back to Heero. Her body began to tremble uncontrollably. She squeezed her fist tighter.
"Are you going to kill me now? Is that why you signed up for this little project? What kind of a joke is this?" She fixed her gaze on Trowa. "You pretend to be my friend and then you fuck me? Did you think that would make me easier to kill, that maybe I would fall in love with you or something? And you..." She turned to Heero then, who stared back at her silently, a slight smirk lifting the corners of his sensuous mouth. Her eyes involuntarily flicked over his body, and she was angry and somewhat pleased to find him aroused.
*This excites him.*
*/I/ excite him.*
Hilde breathed deeply, her anger and her own arousal intensifying.
*I won't be defeated.*
Trowa sighed heavily then, interrupting Hilde's thoughts and momentarily calming her. "No," he replied, his voice barely a whisper. "This isn't a joke, Hilde. You have nothing to do with why we're here." He looked up, over to Heero. The other boy continued to stare at Hilde, although the slight trace of a smile was gone from his lips. Trowa continued.
"We came here to eliminate OZ's new mobile suits. I had heard that they captured the original Gundam developers and were going to make suits similar to our Gundams, only supposedly more powerful. I infiltrated OZ, got recruited as a soldier and then for the test pilot project. Heero came afterwards, on his own mission to destroy the suits. I commissioned him to help me with the project. We still have yet to decide what to do with the suits." He stopped for a moment and looked up into Hilde's eyes, the serene sylvan orbs almost pleading with her.
"We had no idea that OZ would pick another pilot for the project. And especially that the pilot would be you... Thomas Schbeiker's sister..." The green eyes clouded with tears then and he looked away, an embarassed flush creeping into his cheeks.
Hilde continued to stare, a cold numbness engulfing her body. She felt for Trowa, believed that he was truly sorry for Thomas' murder. But at the same time, she knew she couldn't really trust him. She couldn't trust anyone. Not even OZ- what she thought was her home, where she had thought she belonged and was safe. She wasn't even sure if she belonged as a part of OZ anymore, either. The dull ache that started in her wrist crept slowly up her arm, into her head.
She was tired. Tired of all the lies; of being lied to by the two Gundam pilots and of lying to herself, wanting to believe that Trowa loved her and that Heero...
*No more.*
She had to think.
Hilde stood up suddenly, startling Trowa, who finally looked up. She pulled the satin sheets around her body, the coolness soothing her skin; she felt as if she were on fire. Heero watched her, his predatory blue gaze devouring her once again, the hint of a smile returning. Hilde narrowed her eyes at him.
"I'm not going to listen to any more of your bullshit," Hilde finally spoke, grabbing the torn blue dress from the floor and heading towards the door. "Just stay the hell away from me. I promise you when this is all over you won't have anything to do with me ever again."
*Because I'm going to destroy you.*
The two pilots were silent; Trowa gazing at the floor while Heero continued to keep his eyes trained on Hilde. She could feel him mentally peeling away the sheets from her body and suddenly she wanted nothing more than to push him down to the floor, tear at him, fuck him until her anger was exhausted.
*No.*
She had to think.
Hilde gave them one last glance before pulling open the door and running as fast and silently as she could down the hall, to her own room. The music and voices of Treize's party, the party that was supposed to be in their honor, wafted gently up the stairs, filling the empty hall. A wave of dizziness suddenly swept over her and Hilde grabbed her doorframe for support. She was still on fire.
After the uneasiness subsided, she entered her dark, cold room and locked the door behind her.
*Hot, so hot...*
Hilde let the sheets fall to the floor and collapsed on her bed. Sweat trickled down her body; the sound of her own breathing was foreign. Loud, labored. The icy chill in the room did nothing to quell the fire burning in her body.
*Trowa killed Thomas... He's a Gundam pilot... I had sex with him... Heero...*
*Oh, God, I have to think...*
Finally, she let the flames consume her.
She was running.
Someone chased her but it was dark, misty. Her breath came in short, hard gasps, echoing off the walls of what seemed to be a cave. It was damp, the air thick with mist and the scent of her own emotions.
Fear. Sickness.
It was hotter than Hell itself.
Hilde noticed a shaft of bright, pale blue light emanating from around one dark corner and she bolted for it, lifting her arms out to her sides to feel blindly for the walls, to keep her balance. Delicate skin scraped against sharp rocks; she felt blood trickle down her wrists.
*God... I'm so hot...*
She finally rounded the corner, stumbling into a large clearing. She could see now; she /was/ in a cave. A steady stream of water fell in a clear blue waterfall from the open ceiling to the rocky, sunken ground, pooling into a small pond there. Hilde moved forward, held out one blood-stained hand to touch the water.
Cold. It was cold.
A happy cry escaping her lips, Hilde closed her eyes and stepped under the stream falling from the misty azure sky, immersing herself in it, tilting her head back and opening her mouth to drink from it like a woman starved, gasping for breath.
The icy water coursed over her heated body. She was now aware that she was clad only in a thin, loose blue tank top and a pair of white panties; the water had soaked both garments through and now they clung to her body, transparent, molding to the curves of her breasts and their distended nipples, the impression of her sex between her thighs. Her long black hair, still somehow twisted up in the ornate pins, shimmered almost the same azure as the water, strands sticking wetly to her cheeks, her bangs falling across her eyes.
Hilde fell to her knees then, cupping her hands and dipping them into the pool below, taking drinks and splashing the water onto her body. She ran her hands over every part of herself, massaging her neck, her breasts, hoping to knead the tension and heat out of her body. It was then that she felt the two glittering sapphire orbs staring at her from the darkness of the surrounding cave.
Him.
Heero.
Hilde opened her eyes and let her arms fall to her sides. She could felt her chest rising and falling almost violently with each gasping breath, the dark pink nipples straining against the cold, wet material of her tank top. She watched, unable to move or speak, as the eyes came into sharper focus, the pale blue light from the ceiling illuminating first the beautifully shaped mouth, then the fine, straight nose, and finally, the eyes. The intense heat began once again, pulsing against the thin fabric of her panties, aching to be quelled. He approached her. Hilde held her breath.
Heero.
A different light seemed to emanate from his lean, well-muscled figure; this one brighter, almost white. Ghostly. Heavenly.
*God, he is heavenly...*
Heero was clad in long, loose white pants, made of the same near-transparent material as her own clothing, and nothing else. The smooth, tanned chest, taut with muscles, was bare. His dark hair stood in wild peaks, the hypnotic cerulean gaze fixed on Hilde, menacing and seductive beneath the carnal wildness of his long bangs. His gaze promised punishment, erotic sexuality. His naked erection was clearly visible, straining against the sheer fabric of his pants.
He came closer, coming to a stop when he was only an inch from touching her. Hilde tried to scream out, tried to will her limbs to move, to fight, even though her body ached with the pain of wanting him. Her breath caught in her throat; she was paralyzed.
Hilde slowly raised wide blue eyes to his, veiling her gaze slightly under her long black lashes. She listened to the sound of her breathing, heard its tempo increase.
In one swift motion, Heero's hand shot down and grabbed Hilde's arm, pulling her roughly to her feet. Then, without giving her the chance to cry out or react, Heero assaulted her mouth with his, his tongue forcing entry and catching hers, attacking fiercely.
Unable to do anything but stand submissively in his grasp, Hilde countered Heero's every move, thrusting her tongue into his, against his, in an erotic duel. His hands on her arms held her in a vice grip, bruising the pale, delicate skin, the willowy limbs. The strong, painfully erect organ pressed into the junction between her thighs, rubbing insistently as their mouths fought for dominance, imitating the battle above below. Hilde moaned softly, loving the feel of his sex pressed against hers.
Heero broke the kiss, biting Hilde's lower lip hard before breaking completely away, drawing a little blood and making her cry softly. A slow, satisfied smirk curved his lips as he forced Hilde's arms up over her head, yanking the tank top up and off of her. One hand immediately covered her right breast, squeezing and fondling the soft white plumpness roughly. When he had completely divested her of the garment, both of Heero's large, expert hands, strong and agile from piloting mobile suits, slid up her body to fondle her breasts, teasing the nipples with his thumbs.
Hilde closed her eyes and let her head fall back as he made love to her breasts with his hands, lost in his touch. She managed to groan his name once before she was suddenly jerked forward by her breasts, Heero forcing her to the ground. The pain from his grabbing subsided only when it was replaced by a new, stinging agony as he delivered a series of strong, hard blows to her body, covering her breasts, her rear, and finally, her sex. Hilde screamed in pain, although her body derived a certain pleasure from his harsh punishment and she was soon crying in ecstasy as Heero's blows assaulted her nether regions, soaking her through the thin white panties, turning the sensitive skin a soft, glowing pink.
Heero's final blow struck her just near her throbbing clit and Hilde screamed, arching her body up to meet his hand, throwing her head back into the cool water pooled below her. She felt her walls clench and then the first liquid stirrings of her release. She found her voice.
"Oh, God, Heero!" she gasped between breaths. "Heero, please!" But the blows had subsided. Hot tears stung Hilde's eyes and she closed them and wept unabashedly at the pain of unfulfillment, the tension draining from her body as her hips sank back into the water.
Cold, gentle hands covered her now, spilling handfuls of the azure water over her hot, abraded flesh, massaging the dull ache from every limb not spared from Heero's cruel blows. Soothing her, cleansing her. Hilde let the tears continue to fall, let herself relax under his touch once more.
*His hands feel so good... So cruel, but so good...*
Heero's thumbs hooked under the waistband of her panties, sliding the soaked garment down her wet thighs, slowly, letting his fingertips caress the flesh as the panties were pulled completely off. Hilde sighed his name softly. She opened her eyes.
Heero lay above her, propped on one elbow. The Prussian blue orbs of his eyes were soft as he gazed down at her. Lovingly. He had divested himself of his pants and his naked male perfection was displayed before her, his incredible sex rigid and ready. Hilde's breath caught as she looked up at him, his hand on her thigh gently parting her legs as he positioned himself over her, the hard, aching tip of his cock poised against her warm, moist entrance.
A slow smile curved Heero's lips, his eyes burning with cerulean fire beneath the long, dark bangs. Lust.
"Retribution before absolution, Hilde," he whispered, his voice sounding even deeper in the lower register, sensual and promising as his hands traversed her pure, white body, caressing her like an adoring lover. He ran his tongue along her upper lip, parting them to kiss her once again.
Her pursuer through the cave finally caught up with her.
"You're the one he's been looking for."
Trowa's voice.
Hilde broke Heero's kiss to turn her head towards the dark corner of the cave where the voice emanated from. Forest green jewels flashed in the thick blackness.
"You're the one he's been looking for," Trowa repeated. "His humanity. He's able to accept his humanity now."
"You are his humanity, Hilde."
Hilde shifted her gaze back to Heero. The Gundam pilot stared back at her, his soft lips parted slightly, his breath coming in slow, hard gasps. His cock throbbed against her, aching. He parted her tender petals. Hilde closed her eyes and moaned, arching her body up against his.
"Retribution before absolution," Heero repeated. "Punishment..." He pushed inside her suddenly, filling her completely in one swift downstroke. Hilde screamed with the ecstasy of his prescence inside her and threw her head back, letting Heero devour her neck.
"... before pleasure," Heero finished, whispering against the soft flesh of her neck. He pulled up then, readying to thrust himself into her hard, to bury and immerse himself within her. Hilde opened her eyes to watch him, his beautiful features twisted in ecstasy. He began his descent into innocence...
Suddenly, a long, silver metal blade slashed down from above, cutting cleanly through Heero's body. Hilde tried to scream out but her throat was closed, dry, her voice choked off.
Heero was gone in a shower of blue shimmers.
Hilde was alone now, staring into the empty space Heero had just occupied, unable to believe what she had just seen. Was he dead? Had he just disappeared?
*But a blade went through him, I saw it... A scythe...*
Hilde lay back in the pool of cold blue water, unable to move, her body and mind in a daze as thick and hypnotic as the mist that swirled around her. Even Trowa was gone, suddenly. She was alone.
Then, a tall, slender figure, clothed in tight, black leather pants and holding a long silver scythe in one black, fingerless gloved hand appeared before her, staring down at her with large violet eyes that glimmered in the darkness. Long chestnut hair, gathered in a braid that trailed down his back, fell over one smooth, strong shoulder. A lazy, devious smile spread across the handsome, shadowed face.
"You're mine now."
"Hilde. Hilde."
Hilde tore her eyes away from the boy standing above her, trying her best to look towards the sound of the voice that called her now, but the cave was empty. The darkness was beginning to slowly ebb away.
"Ensign Schbeiker!" The voice was harsh, insistent now.
Hilde forced her eyes open and stared up into narrowed hazel eyes, a pretty face contorted with anger and impatience. Colonel Une.
"Please get up, Ensign Schbeiker," the colonel said, straining herself to keep her voice calm. "It's urgent." She paused momentarily to regard the girl before her, naked but for a blanket loosely covering her. *The party... last night...* she thought, watching as the pretty young officer wrapped the blanket tighter around her body, blushing under the colonel's gaze. "There will be /much/ to tell Mr. Treize.* Clearing her throat delicately then, she continued.
"A Gundam has been sighted on the outer perimeter of L-2." Colonel Une clicked on the telescreen against the far wall of Hilde's room. A news broadcast was being shown. The screen flashed and a picture of a Gundam was suddenly displayed, taken from one of OZ's surveillance shuttles. Hilde's eyes widened.
The Gundam was dark, gray and black. Armed with a scythe.
"Welcome to your first mission, Ensign Schbeiker."
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