"I stopped by to check on you, Wing, 'cause it looks like we'll have a mission tomorrow night. I think there's a secret naval base not far from here, and if I can breach their security codes to confirm it, we'll be all set. Should be a nice night's work.

"So, let's just run those system checks, eh?

"Well, my friend, I have to report that I've made some progress on my self-ordered lessons. Guess who showed up at the school? That's right. That baka, Duo. Seems like he's copying my plan to hole up at schools between missions. Of course, in his case, it may be just to socialize.

"I first saw him when I was trying to walk down a hall that was almost blocked by a big group of people, all laughing and talking. I glanced over as I squeezed by, and there he was -- right in the center of it. Naturally. He's the kind of guy who attracts people, like moths to flame. It's that personality he has. I guess most people like the perpetually cheerful.

"He didn't say anything, but I felt his eyes following me down the hall. I heard one girl's voice carry over the others. "Oh, him? He's new, too. No, I don't know his name."

"I've seen him a coupla times over the last few days, across a room or passing in the hallway, but we didn't talk. It's hard to find a place where no one can hear. The crowd that always follows him around doesn't help, of course.

"I don't understand him, Wing. How can a person be so damn extroverted? Dr. J never exposed me to anyone like that. How can a guy who's a gundam pilot go around laughing and smiling, flirting with half the school? He's a conundrum, that's what he is. I wonder what's inside him. What drives a baka like that?

"The only thing that keeps me from being completely irritated with his non-stop mouth is knowing that he's a gundam pilot, like me. And I don't mind telling you, Wing, he's good. After seeing him in action, don't you agree? He fights with everything he's got, no holding back. I can respect a guy like that. That part of him I *do* understand.

"It's the rest of it that leaves me stumped.

"Your navigation system checks out fine, my friend. And the data shows all weapons are ready to go.

"I got to see him fighting at school today -- sort of. We had fencing class together. I wanted to be paired off with him so we could match skills, but he ended up partnered with somebody else. It turned out okay because I got to watch him, along with just about everyone else in the class, since they all immediately gathered around his mat.

"He's obviously never had formal training. He has no finesse, but his instincts are sharp. Every move he made was torn between attack and retreat. Like he wants to fight and flee at the same time. Street reflexes, I guess. He won the match without any trouble, though.

"Do you know what else, Wing? I can tell you, 'cause I know you won't tell anyone else.

"We have to wear white body suits for fencing class. They don't hide anything, if you know what I mean. Seeing him in that suit was ... amazing. Watching him move -- he has this way of using his body, like a dancer, almost. I got to really stare at him, since everybody else was doing it, too. You know what? It made my stomach do flips. I still don't understand it, Wing, but even now, just remembering the way he moved makes me feel weak inside.

"Damn it, Dr. J, couldn't you have given me just a bit broader of an education?

"Hn. All transformer and flight systems check out okay.

"I still haven't told you about my little lesson. Fencing was the last class of the day, so I waited with that baka Duo until everyone else had left, and then we walked back to the dorms together. He asked if I had any missions set up, and where you were hidden. I didn't give him any specifics. He may be a good pilot, but my missions are my missions, neh?

"We were walking along talking, and we came to a bunch of trees that separates the classroom building from the dorms, with a little path that winds through it. His mouth was going full speed until we got about halfway to the dorms, when all of a sudden he grabbed me by the arm, pulled me into the woods, and shoved me back against a tree.

"I didn't know what was up. I was half afraid he was going to tell me off for kissing him in the hangar, and half afraid he wasn't going to say anything about it. I stood there, waiting, and he stared at me for a second or two. When he finally did speak, it was like a hiss.

"Why'd you leave?"

"I never got a chance to answer, though. It's hard to talk with someone else's mouth plastered over yours. Yeah, Wing, he kissed me this time, and it was ...fierce. He pressed his lips against mine, hard, and actually bit the bottom one. Then his tongue was in my mouth, and I swear, it seemed like he wanted to devour me.

"And it wasn't just kissing -- his hands moved as fast as his mouth. He had them up under my shirt, kneading my back and rubbing across my chest. His hands are rough and callused, just like mine, and I swear he was shooting off little electric sparks over my skin. Good God, I've never felt like that before. I tried to pull away, it was so intense, but he wasn't having any of it.

"Now, Dr. J did teach me that the best defense is a good offense, so I decided to try some of my own tactics. I reached around him, rubbed my hands up and down his back a couple of times, moved down to his waist, and grabbed for his braid. I wanted to undo that tie so I could get my fingers into his hair. But even though he seemed completely focused on examining my tonsils, he knew exactly what I was doing. His hands were locked around my wrists in a flash. He broke off the kiss, cocked one eyebrow at me, and shook his head.

"Evidently the braid is off limits. Like I said before, my friend, vanity.

"We wrestled a bit, with me trying to make him let go of my hands. He finally leaned into me, pushing me even harder back against the tree, and I got so distracted that I stopped struggling. Right away he pinned my hands behind me and started kissing me again while he rubbed up against me. I was so hard by then, it felt like I was on fire, and when I felt his cock bumping up against mine, I was glad I was pinned against that tree because otherwise I would have just collapsed.

"I don't know how long it went on, standing out there in the woods, him pressing me against the tree, working over my mouth, both of us sticky and sweaty from class. I'll tell you Wing, my senses were on overload -- the taste of him, his touch, his smell, the look of him -- his eyes closed, so intent at his task. All that energy, focused on me.

"And then he made that noise. Not a whimper this time, a different noise. It was a moan, Wing, from deep in his throat. He moaned long and deep, right into my mouth. It made his lips vibrate against mine.

"I thought my brain was going to explode.

"That was it. I couldn't take any more, so I broke my hands free and pushed him away.

"He staggered back, and stared at me with this confused look on his face. We were both breathing like we'd just run a race, and I'll tell you Wing, my heart was beating about as fast as if I had.

"He kept looking at me, waiting for me to do or say ... something. I sure as hell didn't know what he expected. I wasn't any more inspired than I was when I'd kissed him before. Finally, I just said his name.

"Duo.

"That seemed to be the magic word, 'cause he flashed that goofy grin, and he bounced forward to plant another kiss on me. Just a little one, though. He asked me what room I'm staying in, and I told him.

"Then he turned and ran off.

"So, I should go, Wing. I have the feeling he might be coming by tonight after lights out, and I wouldn't want to miss the chance to further my education.

"All systems check out within normal limits, my friend. We're ready to go. See ya tomorrow."