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Standard disclaimers apply...
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Midii sighed in relief as she entered the lobby of Preventer Headquarters, her aching head rejoicing as she relished in the dimmer light, and the cooler surroundings. She managed a small smile as Marie tugged Trowa towards the bank of elevators, her childish laughter echoing in the cavernous room. She glanced at the mirrored walls and smirked at what she saw. A happy family. How misleading, she thought as she followed them.
"Thank you," Marie said as the doors closed. "I never go to papa's grave without mama, never."
For an instant Midii saw the young woman who would have ruled the World Nation as it's dictator. The strength of character, which lurked beneath the childlike exterior shining through. And then as quickly as it had appeared it was gone.
"It's good to remain true to traditions," Midii began hesitantly, "but sometimes we can't do that." She stopped, memories assaulting her. Similar words falling from someone else’s lips as they explained that Christmas would be different that year. That maman wasn't coming home, that they wouldn't spend it sitting in front of a fire roasting marshmallows. That she wouldn't even be at home to wait with her little brothers to see what old St. Nick brought. So lost in her memories she didn't notice the arms thrown about her, and the face burrowed into her waist until the ding of the elevator sounded.
"It's ok, it's ok, it's ok," the whispered words fell like a mantra from Marie's lips as she clung to her cousin. Sensing the pain the elder girl held in check.
"It'll never be ok," Midii whispered, falling to her knees, and clinging to the younger girl, tears falling freely from lavender eyes. Trowa watched the scene between the two young women, moving to block the sight of them from prying eyes as Midii cried out her pain. "It'll never be ok."
He watched as Mariemaia's eyes widened with something akin to fear and pried the younger girl from Midii's bruising grip, substituting his own body as her comfort.
"Go to Lady Une, Mariemaia, tell her we'll be right there," he said softly, shifting Midii in his arms, a large calloused hand moving in comforting circles against her back.
He left out a sigh of relief as Mariemaia left and the doors slid closed. A long arm reaching out to press the emergency stop. A woman must be allowed to break down in private.
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Duo looked up from the report he was reading as Mariemaia darted from the elevator, and he watched the doors slide closed. He smirked as he caught a glimpse of platinum hair in stark contrast with a Preventer jacket, and silently cheered the
newbie. She moved fast, he mused, and then his spirits deflated. Did this mean she wouldn't help him with his plot?
"Agent Maxwell?" A soft insistent voice called, startling himself out of his reverie and he blinked. Coming face to face with azure eyes. His heart beginning to beat rapidly as he struggled to maintain his cool.
"Yes, Agent Schebeiker?" he responded, and gave himself props for the level tone of his voice.
"Lady Une wishes to speak with you in her office." And with that Hilde turned on her heel and walked away from him. And once more he was treated with the sight of her retreating back. Forcing him to relive the memories of their breakup, and the feelings of loss to revisit him once more.
"I'll be right there," he responded to empty air. The jovial mask lying at his feet, fragile, beginning to show signs of wear. An endless web of cracks threatening its structure.
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Lady Une looked up from her screen at the sound of the door creaking open. She was mildly surprised to see the small figure of her ward, no her daughter, standing hesitantly in the doorway.
"Yes Marie?" She asked with mild surprise.
"I couldn't go to Papa's grave without you. It wouldn't be right," the little girl said, at first hesitant but her voice growing firmer with each word.
"And did you come here by yourself?" Lady Une asked gently, fighting to keep her voice calm. Mentally swearing vengeance against her niece if she had let Marie wonder through the streets alone.
"No... but something happened to Midii, she was talking about not always being able to follow traditions and then she just started crying. Trowa said they'd be here soon.... Did I do something wrong?" the little girl asked, her insecurity evident.
"No, you haven't done anything wrong. You've done nothing wrong at all. It's her father who's at fault." She begun, cutting herself off as she debated the merits of spilling the long, drawn-out tale of betrayal and pain. Her heart forcing her to go through with it. "You see, her father has always had a slight problem with money. He never has enough to do what he wants, because he always spends it... And well, he got himself in trouble with his habits..." She trailed off unsure of how to tell her daughter that Midii had been all but sold to the Alliance.
"Did Midii have to pay?"
Lady Une smiled sadly as she nodded, pulling her daughter into her arms. Burying her face in the vibrant red hair, breathing in the fresh innocent scent of youth.
"Yes, Midii had to pay. They made her do something she's never forgiven herself for, and something she's never really recovered from. She has three brothers, and she had to leave them all behind to pay for her father's debts. And..." her breath hitched as shame at the actions of the man whose blood she shared built up, and she choked it back, "she was forced to give up those traditions she held dear." She finished, refusing to go into the darker details of her niece’s life. Hoping, wishing, to prevent her daughter from pitying the older girl.
"But her mother?" Marie asked, pushing out of Lady Une's arms to look the woman, she had come to know as mother, in the eyes.
"Her mother died when she was young..."
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Midii sniffled, pulling herself together, and pushing away from Trowa's embrace simultaneously.
"Your welcome." He responded caustically, as he shrugged out of his jacket, calloused fingers gingerly touching the wet-spots her tears had created.
"Oh shove it, you're an insufferable prat," she hissed, digging in her purse, searching for her compact to hide the evidence of her tears. Berating herself for loosing control like that, and breaking down in front of this man. Her Nanashi of old. A cold uncaring bastard now.
"Nice way to speak to the man who let you cry on his shoulder." His voice was devoid of emotion now, and his words cut to her core of her heart. Why, she wondered, why did she still care for this man when he could not possibly care for her.
Hanging her head in shame, she ignored him. And his comments. Willing the walls she had once erected around her heart, and her mind to rebuild themselves. To protect her from pain. To allow her to play the game once more. She snorted at her own foolishness, a sense of childish glee spreading as she heard him jump at the unexpected sound.
"How manly of you, should I write you a recommendation, so whichever unfortunate female you choose to marry can know that you are able to offer a shoulder for her to cry on when you break her heart?" She shot back, drawling an aura of cold civility around her.
The glare he leveled at her would have made a sane person quiver in fear, but she just chuckled as she leaned forward to press the button that would cause the elevator doors to open once more.
"Ta, Agent Barton." She called over her shoulder, a smirk on perfectly painted lips. This was war, she thought.
As distracted as she was, she couldn't help but bump into Duo. The collision causing the cogs in her mind to turn at an alarming rate.
"Duo, I can call you that right?" She asked, not waiting for an answer as she barreled on, leaning into him as flirtatiously as she dared. "Care to go clubbing again tonight? I can't seem to remember much of last night, and I wish to replace the memories," she smirked at her choice of words. And belatedly remembered their deal, to aid each other.
"Things not working out with lover boy?" was the good-natured response.
"Not yet..."
"Don't worry, you didn't disgrace yourself last night," he murmured without prompting, and a weight lifted from her shoulders.
"Thank you."
"So, it's still on?"
"Yes... its war now."
He chuckled, lifting her up effortlessly and twirling her around. Looking to all the world, and those they wished to torment, like lovers.
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