Chapter 10

 

    "I'm going to miss having you around, Zan." Matt smiled and extended his hand. Heero took it without any hesitation and offered his friend a rare, but small grin. "I had no idea that you knew anything about mechanical engineering. If it weren't for you, I don't think I would have gotten my B-. Why aren't you working toward a degree in that?"

    Heero released his friend's hand to place the last of his belongings into the duffle bag on his bed; he zipped it up before answering. "I needed something to challenge me."

    Matt's jaw dropped. "Something to challenge you?"

    "I've always been around machines and computers; I needed a change," he said and shrugged his shoulders. "Where's Kino?"

    "He, um…. He um er well, went to see Kira."

    "Oh?" Heero picked up his bag, and slung the strap over his shoulder. "Are they together now?"

    "I... So, you're looking forward to Earth right?"

    Matt was obviously avoiding the question, which answered his. It was nice to know that his former roommate considered his feelings. "It doesn't bother me  - that they're together." Over the past three months, while he had been finishing up his semester, he and Relena had kept in touch, talking about two times a week. He always waited to be alone, not wanting to have his nosy roommates in his business. They knew that he was seeing someone. And they had already been far too interested in the couple of packages he had received from her containing little things she thought he might like.

    Matt smiled. "I know."

    "I should get going." Heero moved towards the door and opened it, but before he walked out, he looked back at Matt. "You really didn't need my help with your class. You know what you're doing."

    "Thanks." Matt smiled; his gaze traveled over Heero's shoulder, and his eyes widened in surprise. "Kira! What brings you here?"

    Heero turned around to face her. He hadn't seen her in a couple of days, but even that was at a distance. There were a few times he would catch her staring at him, but she hadn't once approached him since he came back.

    Kira glanced down at her hands. "I heard you were leaving. I.... I wanted to say goodbye and wish you well." She threw her arms around his waist for a brief second, and hugged him, then quickly retreated down the hall.

    "Kira."

    She stopped, but didn't turn around.

    "Take care of yourself."

    Kira walked away without a word.  He watched her vanish around the corner. And then she was gone.

    He had no idea how long he stood there before Matt spoke up.  "I thought you were leaving?"

    "Yeah." He looked at his watch. "Tell Kino bye for me."

    "Will do."

    Heero took one step and stopped.  "And one more thing."

    "Yeah?"

    "Tell him I said…" He swallowed against an unfamiliar knot in his throat.  "Tell him I said to take care of her."

    A small chuckle sounded somewhere behind him, but Heero didn't wait for a reply.  He moved swiftly down the corridor to the dormitory entrance, then out the door to his car.  He started the vehicle and drove towards the shuttleport.

    And never once looked back.
 

****************************

    'Time seems to be standing still.' Heero flicked his wrist and stared at his watch; his flight was almost an hour away. He sat down, not paying too much attention to the person beside him. He couldn't get his mind off of Relena. He missed her, even though they made occasional phone calls, it wasn't enough for him anymore. His hand came up to rest on his shirt pocket.... It wasn't enough anymore and Heero was determined to change that.

    He turned to look at the arrival board behind him.

    "You're flight isn't going to take off any sooner with you doing that."

    "Huh?" He stared at the man next to him.

    Hasado chuckled. "Zanto... " He paused and corrected himself. "Heero, I must thank you again for allowing me to see you off."

    "It was no problem."

    "But it isn't exactly something that you would have elected to do on your own, if Miss Darlian hadn't pressed for it."

    "Relena had nothing to do with my decision." Heero glanced down at his feet. Every time he tried to give the man a second chance, one of the two men would end up walking out on the other.

    A long moment of silence passed between them.

    "I'm going to miss you." Hasado placed a hand on his shoulder; the contact startled Heero. "I'll visit, if you allow me to."

    "It's not my place to tell you no."

    Hasado sighed, his hand slipped off of his son’s shoulder. Heero watched his father cross his arms and close his eyes. The younger man felt his heart cramp with guilt. He had done nothing but give his father a hard time - not that the man didn't deserve it - but it was time to let go and try to start things over again. "Not that I would say no," Heero added.

    His father opened his eyes and met his son’s gaze. Hasado smiled, then nodded. "I'll look forward to it then." He made a motion with his head at something over Heero’s shoulder. "It looks as though your flight will be boarding soon."

    Heero sprang to his feet; his eyes searched the board for his flight information, just as the boarding call came over the loud speaker. His heart started to beat faster, even though he was still hours away from Brussels and Relena.

    Hasado reached for Heero's bag and rose from his seat. "I'll walk you to your gate."

    Heero quietly lead the way. As he got closer to his shuttle, he dug his boarding pass out of his pocket. He turned toward his father and took his bag out of the older mans hands.

    "I'll make sure your stuff from home gets to you."

    Heero nodded once then turned and walked the short distance to the attendant. He handed over his pass and waited while she looked it over. She smiled as she handed it back.

    "Enjoy your flight, sir."

    Heero paused to look back at his father one last time only to see that the older man had already left. His chest tightened with a strange feeling, and he turned back to board the shuttle. He hadn't expected Hasado to leave without saying goodbye.

    Heero quickly found his seat and sat down after putting his bag away. One hand flew up to his shirt and patted his chest. He fished a delicate gold band from his pocket and held it between his fingers. It had taken him the money he had saved the past few years and a few odd jobs over the past two months to save up for it. ‘I wish it could have been more…’ The ring was nothing in comparison to the one that she had worn last, but he knew, or at least hoped, that she would like it.

    ‘But will she accept it?’ They may have been taking things slowly, but there was still a lot of catching up to do. Being away from her was driving him crazy. He wanted to see her. He wanted to hold her and kiss her and let her know that he loved her. And the only way he could do that was for him to return to Earth.

    He had plans once he got there: find a job then find a place to live so he could court Relena in the correct manner. And hopefully, one day, give her the ring he held in his hand. He wasn't exactly sure what he would do once he got there. He knew the Preventers were out of the question. He wouldn't want Relena to worry about him all over again. She wouldn't allow him to guard her, anyway. She had trusted people in place for that now, even though he had promised to protect her.

    He closed his eyes and settled back to a comfortable spot. He could only hope that everything would work out for the best for both of them.