Contains: 2xR Lime

*italics*

\\ // Duo's thoughts

Duo continued to walk down the tunnel. Relena followed some paces behind him. They had maintained this distance for the past fifteen minutes, fifteen minutes of silent walking with only their footsteps echoing down the expanse of the tunnel. In that time, Duo managed to take his handkerchief and wipe away some of the blood. It proved more difficult than he anticipated. He had to wet the handkerchief with his saliva before he was able to remove the dried blood from his lips and chin. Now the sullied handkerchief was tucked in the breast pocket of his tux. His lip was a dull pain. He'd experienced worse injuries as a pilot. But, it was just *how* the wound came to be that put him at unease. He could still feel the heat of Relena's breath on his lips. \\Baka// He chided himself. \\I've got to watch her…she sure has no qualms over hand to hand combat…//

Relena's voice interrupted his thoughts. It approached him from behind, traveled the distance between them, and passed over him. “Duo…”

Duo froze in his tracks. He turned to look at her. She had her hands clasped together. She actually appeared contrite.

“Duo, you won't tell anyone about what happened, will you?”

He didn't want to look at her. \\So that's why she was keeping quiet...//

“I won't lie for you, Relena. I don't do that for anyone. But no one will hear any of this unless *you* bring up the topic first.”

“Thank you. That's all I can hope for…”

He waited for her to catch up with him. Together they took a right at the fork in the tunnel.

“Duo…”

“Yes?”

“I need…I need to finish all of this.”

He shook his head wearily as he asked, “What do you mean? You want to duke it out all over again? Aren't you bruised enough already?”

“…I need to know what you know about Heero. I need to know whether I truly … loved him, love him. After all that has happened…everything I have ever done seems so… artificial. I don't know what is true anymore. You seem to be the only who…dares to bring out the real me. Help me, Duo, or else what has happened today will mean nothing…”

“You want me to *what*? Oh, no, let's not start that again. I know you've unearthed the warrior princess inside of yourself and this seems all exciting and stuff, but I don't want any part of it. I have to keep on my toes around Heero; I don't need to protect myself from you, too.”

“Duo…”

“No! You don't want to hear what I have to say! *I* don't even want to hear what I have to say! Why can't you just let this be? Why does everything have to be a constant issue with you?”

“Then, you've lied to me! Nothing happened between you and Heero. You said those things just to hurt me.”

“Don't say that!” He turned away from her piercing blue eyes. He felt exposed under their gaze. “I told you those things because they were true…I just can't bear it. To tell you what I went through with him, will kill me.”

“If you don't tell me, things will remain as they are: unsettled…unsatisfying…tortuous… You can save us both.”

“Save us both?” Duo shook his head in disbelief. “Relena Peacecraft is begging me to tell the intimate details of my relationship with Heero? You've got to be kidding me… oh, my God, we're here.”

Fifteen feet in front of them was a steel door with a sign that read: To Century Forest.

“We've finally made it.”

It was still dark outside as they scampered out of the set of cellar doors that led out of tunnel and to the surface. Above them, the night sky twinkled and some distance ahead of them laid the dark, wide expanse of Century Forest.

“Where do we go from here,” asked a shivering Relena. “It's so cold out.”

“I didn't exactly plan this far ahead…why didn't you wear more?”

“I was planning on seeing Heero.”

“Enough said. Well, we can probably find shelter around here, for now, while I get my bearings.”

They began walking towards the forest when an odd collection of linear looking rocks caught Duo's attention.

“That almost looks like…” Duo began running towards the questionable object. Relena chased after him, but she struggled to keep up with him.

“You won't believe this…” He shouted behind him. “You won't believe how lucky we are. It's a jet!!” He climbed inside it and started the engine. “It's even gassed up and ready to go.”

She finally caught up with him. Wheezing slightly she asked, “How did this get here?”

“The Prince said this place was 3 miles outside of Roquet. Why does the number 3 sound so familiar…” A recollection came to Duo: *“Quatre, where's Sandrock?”

“Just 3 miles due east of here.''*

Duo switched on the outside lights of the jet. The bright beams of light poured into the forest, illuminating an immense patch of fallen trees.

\\Yup, Quatre was here all right. There's a gundam-sized opening in this forest.//

Out the pilot's window, he shouted to Relena, “Quatre! This has to be Quatre's jet. There's no doubt he had his Gundam hidden out here in this forest. When he came to pick it up he must have just ditched the jet here…which means it's up for grabs.” The pilot of Shinigami rubbed his hands together fiendishly.

“We can't just take it. That's wrong,” she shouted back.

“Listen to me. Quatre's probably joyriding in Sandrock as we speak. He won't mind us borrowing the jet if it will save us from freezing our keesters off.”

“Hmm…are we still going to find Heero?”

Duo rolled his eyes. He tried to hide his frustration. “Find Heero? I doubt that's very likely at this point. Heero's only found when he wants to be found…” \\Look who I'm saying this to…//

“But, then what are you planning to do?”

“I was thinking off dropping you off somewhere, then going off to find Howard so I can score a flatbed truck to move Shinigami. Flying her now when all the fun is over is pointless. It'll just attract attention. I've got to think of getting her out of here.”

“You can fly this? Right?”

“Let's not be so dense, Relena. I'm a gundam pilot. I can fly *anything*.”

She frowned at him before climbing into the small jet. Without wasting much time, Duo taxied to an open stretch of land and then took off in the jet.

“So, princess, where can this lowly chauffeur take you?”

“I'm staying in the penthouse suite at the Merrenfield.”

For a split second, Duo almost lost control of the aircraft.

\\ The Merrenfield…that's the most expensive hotel in this hemisphere…not to mention…//

“What are you doing,” Relena gasped. The plane had taken more than a little dip.

Duo's voice was gruff as he said. “…I don't believe this. You royals, get all the breaks…and…the Penthouse suite?!”

“What's your point?” Relena looked at him carefully.

“As representative of a country that is now regaining its footing, economically, do you think it is wise for you stay in such an extravagant hotel?”

Slightly miffed, she looked at him as she said, “You're saying that I'm selfish, aren't you? Well, I hate to burst your bubble, but it wasn't my choice to stay there. Prince Quiniento offered the suite to me. We *are* within the borders of his domain…it would have been rude for me to refuse his hospitality…Anyway, what other place could I have found that would allow me and my five guards stay together without denying me the privacy a young girl deserves?”

Duo felt a little foolish. “Oh.”

“And, it's only for one night.”

“Hmm.”

“And…you can bring me there directly. The Merrenfield has its own landing strip. All we have to do is call in for clearance.”

Without a word, he handed her the jet's phone.

“We're here.” The jet slowed its taxi down the runway and then stopped.

“I guess this means goodbye,” said Relena.

“I guess it does.” He got up and opened the jet door to find three smiling attendants dressed in the Merrenfield garb.

A startled Duo back pedaled into Relena.

“Oww… my feet…” griped the princess of the Sank Kingdom

“Sorry about that.”

Relena looked over Duo's shoulders to see the attendants. “They've sent people to greet us. Isn't that wonderful?”

“Splendid.” He gave the disturbingly happy attendants a wary look before hopping out of the jet. He was immediately pulled aside by one attendant while the other two rushed past to help Relena out of the jet.

Duo's attendant began to brush the dust of his tux. Duo raised an eyebrow at his eager little helper. “What are you doing?…Could you give me some space? I'm fine. *I'm fine*. It's just a little dust from the explosion.”

“Yes, sir, we've heard all about it. And, you must be the brave gentleman who saved Princess Relena.”

“How…did you know about the attack?” Duo squinted even more at the attendant.

“There's something called the news, sir.”

“Oh.” Duo's perturbed expression disappeared. He had to laugh. There was something snide in the obsequious tone of his attendant. It figured that he would get the servant with sarcastic sense of humor.

Relena and the two other attendants met Duo. She linked her arm around Duo's. The startled pilot shot her a quizzical look.

“You three can go ahead and open the rooms for us. We'll be up soon.”

“But, Princess--”

“Don't worry about us. We'll be *fine*.”

“As you wish.” Catching the dismissive clip in her voice, the three scurried away to do her bidding.

Duo moved out of Relena's grasp and turned to face her. “Since when are *we* fine? I didn't say anything about staying *anywhere* with you.”

“Duo, look around you. When else will you get the chance to sit in the lap of luxury? It's the penthouse suite. It has more rooms than you can count.”

He thought about it, pictured lush draperies, soft beds, and hot showers… He didn't really have anywhere to go…except to some dinky little safe house…that probably didn't even have the basic utilities…

“Well, I don't know about this,” he said.

“And free room service. You can order anything you want.”

“Well, it's been a long time since I've had a good old American cheeseburger--” He stopped suddenly. He squinted at Relena before he asked, “Why are you being so nice?” \\Shouldn't she be trying to kill me right now?//

She looked down and began to wring her hands. “It's a big suite and I think I owe you this much…”

“No, really, Relena. What are you up to? I'm not that dumb.”

She stopped the little girl act to look at him squarely, “Like I said before, I need to finish all of this.”

“I must be a fool to go along with this… But since when have I been able to pass up a free meal, especially one at a swanky hotel?”

Awestruck, he peered into the suite with his mouth open. He tried to calculate. Let's just say he sold his gundam part by part, would he able to furnish such a suite with the profits? There was a grand piano in the living, a chandelier in the dining area, an entertainment system, which made his mouth water and his eyes tear, in the game room…Then there were the bedrooms, the bath and area that served as a kitchenette. Duo plopped down on one of the soft leather couches in the living room. How could Relena be so nonchalant about this level of luxury?

She glanced at him. A peculiar emotion fleeted across her visage. She said to him, “You can pick out any room you would like to stay in. When you are done, I would like you to come find me.”

He looked at her, for the first time becoming conscious of how dissimilar their lives were. He nodded. He would find her after he chose his room.

“Relena? RELENA?”

“I'm in here, Duo.”

“WHAT?” He kept walking around trying to pinpoint her location.

“Follow the sound of my voice.”

“Right, sure.”

Eventually he found the correct room. And, when he opened the door, he nearly fell flat on his face. The light given off by countless candles bathed the entire room. He had opened the door to find Relena sitting on her bed still wearing her gown from the ball. Since he had nothing to change into, Duo had simply removed his jacket, vest, tie, and shoes, keeping on his shirt and pants.

He walked into the room. “I hope you realize this a fire hazard,” said a bewildered Duo as he looked suspiciously at all the candles before bringing his gaze to Relena.

With a curious half smile she responded, “So?”

“Ok, then…what, exactly, is going on here?”

“We're going to finish what we started in the tunnel.”

He threw up his hands in confusion. “What?”

“We're going to talk about Heero.”

“Oh, not that again!” He looked at her. “I guess this how I'm going to pay for room and board, right?' Duo groaned as he seated himself crossed legged on the floor beside Relena's bed. “Fine, whatever. I've got a cushy bed and a sweet view…It's not an unfair trade…” He ran his palms down his thighs. “What's with these candles anyway? What are we holding a séance or something?”

“It's for ambience. We are going to have a nice *long* conversation.”

“Now, when you put it like that, it sounds *so* attractive…” Impatient indigo eyes rolled.

“When did you fall for Heero?”

Duo nearly choked, “Wait a second! I thought you just wanted me to tell you about Heero? Since when--”

“Everything is connected. Whatever attracted you to him could be an aspect of Heero I'm unaware of…We've agreed that you've had more contact with him…enlighten me…tell me what you see…”

Duo looked suspiciously at her. She was completely calm.

\\Now I can see why she's succeeding at being a diplomat as such young age…she can turn on and off her anger at the press of a button…no emotion holds her…//

There was silence.

“Do you love him,” she asked.

Duo was surprised at his own voice as he answered. He sounded frightened, weary, but at the same time resolute. “My most hated part, the weakest part of my being, still does. Even now, after all he has put me through, my love for him has not diminished.”

Relena's hands clutched the satin sheets on her bed. Duo did not notice. “When did this all begin,” she dared to ask.

Duo looked down at the hem of Relena's skirt. His voice was a soft, bittersweet melody. He sighed, “Well, it was incredible. I shot the guy twice and he was still determined to launch those missiles, with himself on it, to destroy his gundam…I shot him *twice* and I still had more rounds to finish him off and it didn't even faze him… He was so strong. It was like nothing could take him unless he *allowed* it. All the people I have ever known, all the people I've ever held dear have been taken away from me by… cruel means…He was the first person I ever met who seemed like he could *survive*--”

“You fell for him because he was strong?”

“No…it wasn't like that at all. You don't fall for someone because of one thing.” Briefly, he looked up at her. Relena swallowed. He looked back at the floor. “It's a combination of incidents and characteristics that shouldn't make sense together…that all of a sudden just…fit, just…mesh perfectly. It was everything about Heero. Even after the scoundrel had stolen the parts from my gundam, I couldn't stop thinking about him… Back then, I wasn't in…love with him. It was something else…it was awe and …curiosity. When we met up again on the way to the New Edwards base, he surprised me. After giving me the cold treatment (at that point I didn't realize that's his usual reaction to people), after pretending I didn't exist after I saved him, after ripping off the parts from Deathscythe, I was amazed he even knew my name and he said it as if it had some meaning… That proved to me that his tough guy attitude was a part of a carefully… crafted façade and that somewhere deep down he was hiding a sensible human being who didn't want to kill everyone he met. ”

Relena was suddenly anxious. “So when did you actually *fall*, Duo?”

Duo's voice became small. “I fell a million times without even knowing it. I didn't know I even wanted him until we were thrown together in a very compromising situation…and the stress of the moment accelerated what was already in the works.” A wide grin pronounced itself on Duo's face. “It was great. We'd spent so much time being on guard around each other…and then the truth came out…and then, Wham! Our anxiety transformed into passion. Love is like that. It hits you when you least expect it.”

“Like…in the tunnel…”

Duo's heart tripled in its beat. “What? No, *not* like in the tunnel. I don't even know what that was…”

Duo suddenly became aware of his sore lip.

“Hmmm,” came Relena's curious sigh.

Duo's skin began to crawl. He didn't like this shift in conversation at all. But, for some reason he couldn't drop it. Things like that didn't just happen. It had to mean *something*.

“Relena, why'd you… oh…forget I said anything.” He began to play with the end of his braid, twirling the ends of his silky chestnut hair over his dexterous fingers.

“Do you think Heero's right?”

Duo kept his head down. “What do you mean?”

“About what he told me in Ambersford, at the time he said, 'when people are thrown together this way, it must mean something'… Do you think…”

\\God…we're on the same wavelength…// “Do I think *what*?” \\Why am I going along with this? I must be nuts. This can only lead to one thing.//

“Do...you think that we fit…that *we* mesh…”

Before he could stop himself he murmured, “That kiss…”

“Yes…”

He tried to distract her. “Just remember. *You* started it.”

“But you *enjoyed* to it,” she tossed back.

Duo fidgeted. “But *you* bit me.”

“…”

“Yeah, you're so quick to forget that…how convenient…I *still* can't believe you bit me. What was *that* all about?” He looked up at her and saw that she was twisting her skirt. Her hands were making rags out of a perfectly beautiful evening gown.

She began to speak, keeping her eyes focused on her nervous hands. “When we kissed--” Duo cleared his throat. “Fine, when *I* kissed you…I gave into an urge…it just came out of nowhere. I was angry--”

“ 'Livid' would be a better word--”

Relena ignored him. She was too into her revelation to be sidetracked by his wisecrack. “I was angry at you, angry because you had a connection to Heero I couldn't touch, angry because you were now my competition instead of just a nuisance, and angry because… I wanted to be in Heero's place.”

“What?” Duo could feel a vein throbbing at his temple.

She released her death grip on the skirt. “Heero… has it *so* easy. He has me chasing after him and now he has you wanting him, Duo. I realized then that *no one* was chasing me …and that the closest thing to kindness I have experienced in past months has come from *you* … and not from where I always wanted it. Heero has never referred to be as “Hey, good-looking” or dipped me or told me not to worry my 'pretty little head off.' Then I thought: why shouldn't I desire someone who could do and say these things to me. The thought occurred in a flash and all of a sudden everything made sense. We were in the tunnel. Your body was pressed to mine…all I had to do was give into the urge…so I did.”

Duo rubbed the back of his neck nervously. “Then, why? If you really felt that way …how could you bite me?”

“When you kissed me back…it was like a… shockwave of emotion…it was like an overload and my mind couldn't accept it. For so long, I've only thought of Heero…and then I realized that that …was the same for you and things would never change with one kiss…it was like a switch had been flipped in my head. I realized I was kissing the enemy.”

“I've never been your enemy.”

“Also, at the time…my mind wasn't clear. Our fight, these new emotions, everything just left me feeling so angry and confused …and then I saw the blood…and I snapped out of it… I'm so sorry.”

“Huh? You're apologizing and…*crying*?”

“No, I'm fine.” She smiled weakly through her tears. “I'm not, exactly, used to feeling remorse. I've never had to apologize for anything.”

Duo got up from the floor and began to walk towards one wall of candles. He began slowly, “The Heero I knew was different from the one you knew and different from the one the rest of the world knows… He was gentle, he was responsive, and he was without reservation… as long as the lights were out.” He began to blow every other light out. He used his breath and his fingers to snuff out the flames.

“What?”

“Don't interrupt, Relena, because this is as close to Heero as you will ever get.”

She watched him quietly as he walked around the room to dismiss the flames of candlelight. He finished, leaving the room dimly lit. Relena could feel his weight on the bed as he seated himself behind her. She could feel him settling himself in a comfortable position. But, she didn't turn her head to look at him. He ran his hands across the sheets.

“Satin, Relena?”

She remained silent.

He smiled. “Don't tell me you're getting timid with me, now?”

She felt as if her voice had been stolen from her, but she managed to whisper, “I like things that are smooth.”

“That's good to know.” She could feel his breath caressing the back of her neck and then the tops of her shoulders. Her own breath became shallow as she waited for him to speak … or to… She flushed red at the direction her thoughts were taking. Then her desires manifested themselves in the way she arched her body towards the ever close, ever exhilarating Duo. What was he up to? Then the answer came. Lightly, he kissed her back just above the top of her dress. His lips were warm and pliable as they met with the soft skin of Relena's back. He pressed another chaste kiss on her shoulder. She could feel him removing the five silver chains from her neck. She didn't have the presence of mind to question where he laid them. She sat frozen. She was suddenly conscious of where the conversation had led them. Duo's voice broke the silence.

“The dark was Heero's playground. And, every playground has its rules. On our first night together, as lovers, he led me through these 'lessons…of sensitization', as he liked to put it, but it's a game I like to call 'resist me'--”

“Resist me?” her voice came out breathy. Her mind had turned to mush at the mention of the word “lovers.” Was Heero actually capable of that brand of intimacy?

“Relena, you've already broken rule one: don't cry out. Rule number two: you can't touch me. Rule number three: all rules can be bent when I allow it. For instance, if I want you to speak I will do this.”

He leaned forward and playfully nibbled Relena's ear. She shied away from him, but didn't say a word.

“Go ahead. Speak, Relena.”

“I don't know why you are doing this.”

“Why are you letting me?” He made a move to kiss her ear. This time she didn't move away.

“I don't know,” she said.

Behind her, Duo smiled. “To tell you the truth I don't know why either…but, for now, it feels…right.”

He ran his knuckles across her shoulders then he allowed his fingers to slide lower to the fasteners on the back of her bodice.

Duo's voice was low with suggestion as he continued, “That night, while Heero undressed me, he taunted, 'Maxwell, do you think you can resist me this time?' Each time he said that he would do something horrible… like this --”

With one move, he ripped the back of the bodice so that it was hanging open in two halves. Each flap hung uselessly in his slim hands. Relena's hands flew up to her chest to hold what was left of the material to her bosom.

“What was worse was that the taunting grew worse as the game progressed…”

He leaned forward and ran his tongue up the small of her back. Once again, she tried to move away from him.

His voice was taunting with its sexy tone as he said, “Now don't tell me you are a prude, Relena.” He began to stroke her back suggestively. “I haven't even done anything, yet.”

The stroking stopped and the only noise in the room came from Duo as he quickly removed his shirt. He changed his position behind Relena so that he was sitting directly behind her. His legs were at the sides of hers and his groin rested on the back of her buttocks. She was now sitting between his legs.

“I think what was the most trying was when he'd come up behind me and use his own body to taunt me.”

From behind, he wrapped himself around Relena. His hug was an erotic one. His arms were placed over Relena's as she struggled to hold the remains of her bodice over her breasts. His hands then slid lower, slowly dragging the cloth out of Relena's failing grasp. Lower and lower his hands slipped, finally leaving the cloth pooled onto her lap, but his hands didn't stop there. As they moved over her thighs, they began to knead rhythmically the flesh there through her skirt.

“We really must get rid of this.” He gave a sharp tug on the fabric for emphasis.

Relena gasped. She could feel two tiny, hot projections of flesh boring into her back. Duo covered her with his body in a way that each of his exhalations was hers, too. The heat of his skin against hers scorched and the presence of his hard nipples pressing relentlessly against her back was a constant reminder of how fierce was his embrace.

His hands began to climb upwards. His lips were hot on her face. Then he was stroking her arms that covered her breasts.

“So shy, Relena. So bashful. Where's the minx I knew in the tunnel? Hmm?”

He took a playful nip at her neck, then another not so playful one.

“Don't hide your charms away from me.”

He continued to rub her arms. Then slowly and haltingly Relena removed her hands from their protective position. Her arms now lay at her sides.

He began to nuzzle her ear.

Trembling, she spoke, “You won't leave me with one shred of dignity, will you?”

He smiled into the nook of her neck before saying, “Since when is dignity fun?” With one swift movement his agile hands cupped her breasts.

“Do you feel me?” He kissed her ear.

She gasped and was suddenly at a lost for words as he gently squeezed, and kneaded her compliant flesh. When she still failed to answer, he began to gently twist and pinch the erect tissue of her nipples. All he received was a definite shiver and a low moan.

“Now tell me what's going on in that head of yours.” He licked her ear. Her response was a quick series of shallow pants. He chuckled softly in her ear, “At last, the great Relena Peacecraft is at lost for words…how delightful.”

He moved away from her so that he could let a hot string of wet kisses parade their way up and down her back. With feline ease, Duo stole around to the front of her. She didn't hide herself from him, but she couldn't look at him either. He stood above her as she continued to sit on the bed with her head down. He took her face in his hands and forced her to look up at him. Gently, his thumb stroked her bottom lip. Carefully, he looked into her eyes to see if there was any resistance. When he saw none, he dared a kiss. He bent down close, then closer till their lips nearly touched. Then he spoke, his voice a husky whisper against her lips.

“If you want, you can kiss me. Just remember,” he smiled, “no biting.”

In a flash her mouth was on his, sucking, pressing, and kissing those succulent little devils Duo called lips. Heero was the farthest thing from her mind. She couldn't stop herself from moaning as Duo slipped his tongue into her mouth. It was torment, sweet torment. She knew that he would stop if she dared to touch him with her hands. All she wanted to do was stroke those lovable flanks of his…but, no. She would have to show her desire with her mouth. She let her tongue mate with his. She slanted her mouth savagely over his. Again, his tongue darted into her mouth and she claimed him, sucking steadily on his wet messenger until Duo, himself, was moaning. She would teach *him* a lesson. A lifetime of talking people to death had left Relena with limber lips and a fierce, relentless tongue. Duo didn't know whom he was really dealing with when he proposed that kiss. No, Maxwell had no idea.

“Relena.” He was shaking as he spoke against her lips. “Stand up, I want to show you something.” Under his hands, Relena was also shivering. Still in his grasp, she stood up, allowing her breasts to rub their way up his chest as she reached full height. His hands moved from her face to her shoulders. He pulled her roughly against him, flattening her eager breasts against his chest. Her lips were rosy and bruised from their kiss and her eyes warm with passion. Instinctively, she moved against the bulge in his pants.

He laughed into her ear, “That's not what I wanted to show you.” She flushed automatically. “You can touch me now, but listen carefully to what I am saying.”

She moved a little way from him so that she could see his face. Her curious hands stole up to his face to trace the contours of his lips then his cheekbones. Her right hand caressed the side of his handsome face while the other began to smooth back his unruly bangs. He chose his moment to speak.

“My favorite part of 'resist me' was when Heero would take a moment to be gentle. His game of sensitization had a point; it was to prepare the victim in a way that the least tactile sensation was pleasurable. The teasing breath of a lover, the slight tickle of feather, the caress of the sheets against your skin, anything would set a chain reaction of sensations rocketing through your body. You've got to love that guy. He's thorough.”

His hands climbed from her shoulders to her hair. He began to stroke though the light ringlets. Then he reached out and released a pin from its hold. One bouncy curl came free and landed playfully on Relena's back. He continued to pull out the pins. A second jaunty curl, then another, and another followed until the whole mass of hair was undone.

She gasped upon contact. The sensation was delicious as the silky mass of hair languidly cascaded against the responsive skin of Relena's back. Each fall of velvety hair whispered seductively against the yielding skin of her breasts and back. She reached out to Duo but he had stepped away from her. Her skin was alive with the sensation of thousands of silken threads rubbing about her.

“Shake your head and you can experience it all again.”

She did as he said and the miracle happened again and again. Finally, in one seductive sweep she tossed her head back, letting her mane fall in one luxurious mass of sun-kissed locks behind her. She walked up to Duo and began to kiss and nibble at his chest. She began suckle one rosy nipple.

“I guess you liked it,” said a slightly breathless Duo.

She took at a nip at the same nipple.

“Oi, Relena. Watch the biting…”

She stood looking into his eyes. They twinkled mischievously back at her.

“You want to say something don't you?”

With her right hand she twisted his other nipple. All the while smiling seductively at him.

“Itai! I get the point! Go ahead, you've been played along longer that I expected.”

She reached behind him and grabbed his braid and pulled it over his shoulder. It was between them now and she swung it from side to side, allowing its rich ends to brush against his now bruised nipples.

“I see you're a fast learner.” Duo sighed at the peculiar tickling sensation radiating out from his abused nipples. Then it stopped suddenly. He looked down to see Relena snapping the bands on the end of his braid.

“Wait! No!” Without thinking, he pushed her away.

“What was wrong? I was only--” Her eyes were wide with shock.

“You can't. You just can't. Only Heero…” He turned away from her.

Her voice was soft and comforting behind him. “I won't hurt you, Duo. What ever happened between you and Heero is past.” She moved in to gently touch his back. When he didn't move away, she hugged him from behind.

Strangely, her voice was soothing when it said, “Don't throw this away. We can be so much more tonight.”

She could feel him tense under her. His voice was unsure as he asked. “And, what about tomorrow? What then?”

She laid a soft kiss on his shoulder. “Tomorrow is another day.”

The sun was shining brightly through the windows of the room. As Duo crawled out of the bed he became aware of the pools of candle wax littering the floor of the bedroom. He gave a luxurious stretch. Leaning back with his arms outstretched, he opened his mouth and gave a long, comfortable yawn. His apprehension was all for nothing. Despite what occurred last night, the world hadn't ended. Relena was still sleeping. And, he was intact, with only a couple of bite marks as evidence of his and Relena's venture into the impossible. He chuckled to himself.

\\The impossible did happen, didn't it? Who would have thought, Relena and me? It doesn't make any sense of, at all. It's as absurd as the thought of Wufei and Quatre ever shacking up…//

He felt arms wrap around his middle. He made a small noise of surprise.

“Whoa, Relena, you're awake.”

“Hmm, yes I am. I thought it was all some dream.” She continued to squeeze him from behind. She loved to hug him like this. His firm buttocks were against her stomach and her breasts were pressed to his back.

“Relena, not now. I need breakfast.” One of her small hands played with his chest while the other was on a direct route to his overworked manhood. He turned around to tickle her mercilessly. “What are you trying to do, kill me? No, no, no, it's not going to happen!”

Through her giggles she managed to ask, “Now…why … is …that?”

“Because you can't kill what you can't catch!”

He pushed her and she landed onto the bed. In a flash of youthful, bare skin he sped out the room leaving Relena splayed on the bed.

“I'll get you, Duo Maxwell!” In naked pursuit, Relena chased after him.

From room to room he evaded her. As soon as she would come close to him, he would throw himself over a couch, bed or table and escape from her grasp. The penthouse suite was filled with excited squeals and gasps as they played their little game of tag. Duo smiled. The unthinkable had occurred. He and Relena were not only on good terms, but now, they were lovers. His smile grew wider. It could only mean one thing: *nothing* was impossible; his dreams could finally be realized…

“Not fair. Not fair! How am I going to be able to catch a Gundam pilot,” asked Relena as she sprinted out of the dining area in hot pursuit of Duo.

“The same way you did last night.”

“You want me to bite you?” For a moment, she looked confused.

“No.” He shook his head for emphasis. “Use flattery. It never fails.”

He dashed into the living room. The couch stood between the disrobed Duo and the undressed Relena.

“Duo, you are exciting and irresistible!”

She tried to run around the couch to catch him. Easily, he dodged her by jumping to the other side of the couch. But, she was ready to give chase again.

“Sorry, that's not going to cut it, Relena. I'm not that easy…”

Relena stopped in her tracks. One quavering word escaped her lips, “Heero--”

“What?” Duo looked over at the suddenly paralyzed heiress. The blood had drained from her face and Relena's eyes were wide with astonishment. She quickly grabbed a pillow from the couch to shield her nudity.

Duo's cheery tone turned alarmed as he demanded, “Stop fooling around, Relena! That's not funny!”

Her lips began to tremble, but she managed to say, “Just look behind you.”

Duo could feel his heart stop as a sudden chill swept over him. It felt like it took him forever to turn around, but, when he did, he was startled to see Heero standing there still wearing his tuxedo from the night before. Heero's tux was torn in several places and had a smattering of blood for good measure. But, at least, Heero was wearing something. Duo had nothing to cloak his nudity. He quickly looked around and grabbed the tablecloth off a nearby little table. Hastily, he wrapped it around his middle.

The unfortunate trio just stared at each other. Then, out of nowhere, Heero drew his gun. Duo didn't even flinch. He deserved this. He closed his eyes and hoped it would be brief. A shot was fired and a body hit the ground. Duo cracked open an eye. He was still alive and still standing. He didn't even feel as though he had been shot. Comically, he patted himself up and down to feel for bullet holes. Finally, he dared a look around to see only Heero standing.

Duo stammered, “You didn't--”

Cold as ever, Heero replied, “She fainted.”

Duo sighed with relief. “I'm not going to *ask* how you found us.”

Still holding the now smoking gun, with his free hand Heero pulled what looked like a homing device out of his pocket. With one deft movement, he flung it onto the couch beside Duo. The device had already been turned off.

Duo shook his head in disbelief. “I knew you were possessive but this just takes the cake.”

Heero ignored him and leveled the gun at Duo's head. His voice was emotionless as he said, “I assume everything went smoothly.”

Duo sighed and decided to play it cool. This was Heero's way of taking control of this incredibly awkward situation. With a calm expression the pilot of Shinigami answered, “Yeah, I did what you asked. Relena is out of your hair for good.”

“And, how did you manage that?”

“She thinks she's in love with *me*. You're now off the hook.”

Heero walked closer to Duo, keeping the gun at close range. Duo reached out and pushed the gun away from his face. Heero's hand went limp, allowing the gun to rest at his side, for now. The wing pilot's eyes scoured Duo's body. There was a slight glint of jealousy in his cobalt eyes as he sighted one of many bite marks.

Heero's voice was cold but his eyes betrayed his anger as he said, “I hope you didn't enjoy yourself *too* much.”

“Don't worry about it, Heero. We're square. I've fixed everything.”

“Have you?”

“Yes, I have. Now it's time for your part of the deal. Now, that I have Relena off your back, you're mine. A deal is a deal.”

For a second Heero's cold demeanor faltered. “I never thought… you would actually go through with it. I only said that to keep you away. But, you did it. And,… it only took you one… day. Even so, I thought you would have shot her, not *seduced* her.”

“I was angry with you…what better way to screw with your buttons than to play up to Relena?”

Heero slapped away Duo's hand as it tried to touch his cheek. In one sharp motion, he had his gun pressing against Duo's nose. It was all Heero could do not to throttle him.

Heero's voice was taut with barely, restrained anger as he snarled, “That didn't mean you had to *fuck* her.”

Unnerved by the pressure of the cold steel pushing against the yielding flesh of his nose, Duo stammered, “*That* was not my fault. There must have been something in those candles…”

“Candles!!!!” Heero's voice was low guttural growl.

“Calm down. I'll explain later. What do you care anyway? After all this, Relena will hate us both. She won't want to have anything to do with us. You win.”

“Hn.” Heero lowered the gun and allowed it to drop to the floor.

Duo smiled weakly at his fuming partner before saying, “No more regrets, no more suffering, and no more interference.”

“Duo--”

“You don't have to say a word. I know: Ninmu Kanryou.”

“No, that's not what I wanted to say.”

“Then, what is it? What can you possibly have to say to me after all of this?” Duo began to turn away. In the span of a heartbeat, Heero grasped Duo's forearm forcefully. Duo smarted under the contact and twisted to face two flaming blue eyes.

“Did I do this? Did I push you into Relena's arms? Did you do this just to strike back at me?”

“Heero--”

“If you meant to hurt me, you've succeeded.”

Duo's eyes began to burn. “Heero, the night before took the last of my anger away. I can't hate what I've always longed for.”

“And Relena? What about her?”

“She's my problem now.”

Heero let Duo out of his grasp. Duo felt helpless as he watched Heero walk towards the door. As the wing pilot placed his hand on the doorknob he said, “You've got me now. Don't lose me.” Heero opened the door and walked out.

“Heero, wait--”

But it was too late. Heero had already left.

Shaking, Duo collapsed onto the couch. Unfortunately, he sat on the homing device. Shifting slightly, he reached beneath to pick it up. He shook it angrily.

“You did this, you stupid machine. You let him find us. I don't even know where he placed the bug! He'll never forgive me!”

In the midst of all the abuse, the homing device suddenly turned on. At first, it beeped loudly. Then, little by little the volume decreased itself.

Duo stopped shaking the machine to eye it suspiciously. “I must have set it off...”

As the screen appeared, Duo was able to discern a large red dot slowly becoming smaller and smaller against the background of a gridded landscape. At the side of the screen read: distance: 30 feet then it changed to 12 yards then 15 yards. The distance continued to increase.

Heero had left Duo a way of finding him.

With renewed energy, Duo flew between Relena's and his room to toss on his clothes from the night before. As he came back to the living room, a wave of shame washed over him. Relena was still passed out on the floor behind the couch. He ran to the couch and cradled her in his arms before placing her gently on the sofa.

“Relena.”

He brushed the hair away from her face. Her breathing was even. Other than the fact that she was unconscious, there were no other signs of her distress.

“I guess when you pass out you *really* pass out.” He shook his head. “I can't leave you like this.”

He scurried back to her room and grabbed the set of sheets from her bed. While he was leaving the room, he noticed a pad and pencil.

Relena awoke with a splitting headache. As the events of the past evening and morning came back in flash, her splitting headache went from severe to absolutely God-awful. Had Heero shot Duo in a fit of anger? She removed the damp cloth from her forehead. Soon she realized she was on the couch wrapped in her bed linens. Her eyes searched the room for some clue as to what happened. Duo was nowhere to be seen, no blood soaked the floor, and nothing was broken. Finally, as she was about to slip into another shock-induced fainting spell, she saw an envelope with her name scrawled across its surface resting on the little table before her. She sat up and reached for it. Trembling, she tore it open. The note read:

Relena, I don't have the words to explain myself. Somehow, we were able to embrace the impossible. But, I still find myself caught in the same trap that brought us together: Heero's my end and my future; I know no other path. It's a difficult one but it is what fate has set before me. But, for what it's worth, for one brief moment in time, we fit.
-Duo

She hugged the letter to her chest. Heero had won this round. A determined look stole across her flushed features. But, he wouldn't have Duo for long. She would make sure of that. She would teach Heero what she had recently learned: that love is like revenge; it hits you when you least expect it.