disclamier- Some big-name richies own Gundam Wing. Not I. However, if that big-name dude happens to tumble
across this, call me, let's get together, talk about important stuff, ya know, adding me into a new seires with the G-cast, Heero hooking up with me....



Playing House -Prelude


The orange color seats were embedded with the stench of cigarette smoke. Ah, yes, good old smokers, destined to be born, buy a pack of Salams Cigarettes, and sit behind me in the nice cafe where most people only take a glance at and mummer, "I should try that place sometime." -and never do. But none the less, I didn't complain of the intoxicating smell, nor the water where I wasn't sure if the ice had been dropped on the floor or not.  I was too afraid to look at my spoon. Who knows what stuff was growing on that sad little piece of fake silver.

But I was here none the less. Sitting in my too nice of a blazer and matching gray skirt, with my hair down in it's usual way (braids of course mind you), chewing a piece of gum I thumbed off an Ambassador at a morning meeting.

Flavor intact as well. Winterfresh.

Every minute I would side glance to the front door whenever the bell rung just to see if that certain someone had arrived yet. He promised he would be here.

Actually, he made me promise I would show up. I did, he didn't.

When he called I was to say at least, shocked. After much training, venting, and tears, I was able to keep my composer over the vid-phone. The lack of technology made the details of his face hazy but those eyes could never be mistaken. I had bitten my tongue so hard that I had to just nod instead of speaking. I was sure to scream ouch if I parted my lips just a centimeter.

He wasn't smiling but that normal glare that was born into his eyes was missing. It was replaced with an emptiness and a need. Naturally I was surprised when he asked me to meet him at the Dave's Cafe across town for lunch. When did he get into town? How long has he been here? How did he know where to reach me at? Where is he staying? How come I haven't seen him around?  But then again he was a shadow in the dark. One that couldn't be detected, one that didn't need light. I smiled, I took a breath, and I forced out the most cheerful, "Of course," in the history of fake cheeriness. I would treat myself to a chocolate bar later as a prize.

I was scrunching my nose to the greasy smell of hamburgers and pancakes when I noticed him walk in. He was taller and much leaner, his dressing habits sure had changed though. Dark jeans and a plain cotton white shirt.  I was about to joke about where his old green tank top went but I held my tongue. I had to remember this was Heero. Cold Heero. Stone Heero. Emotionless Heero. Heero who wants to kill you Heero, probably. And I was about to joke about where his tank top was?  As hard as it was from keeping myself lunging into an embrace I had to treat him like a diplomat. A CO-worker. A respectful gentleman. We were not friends. We were only acquaintances.

I had to repeat that phrase over and over again like a tape player.

But the same look drove me back to the past. His chocolate hair was still the messy mess that I learned to grow fond of. His lips where still smooth but hard. He was the same.

But different. The coldness was missing. Emptiness still rung, but without the cold.

Before either of us spoke a waitress handed us two bark-brown coffee cups and filled them to the rim. My cup was chipped and I absently finger the sharp details to keep myself calm.

"Relena." After hearing my name on his lips so often I was sure I was in his vocabulary. That was good, right? Now only if he would sucker up to his emotions and open up. Oh, but that would happen when Duo would understand the Japanese proverb," Silence is  a
flower." If silence was a flower, Duo was a weed.

"Have you waited long?" His voice didn't carry much voice, but none the less, I could tell he had changed. The brick wall that I could always feel, the one I was tempted to draw cute pictures with chalk on had crumbled while he was away. After counting to ten I
looked up and smiled.

"Not long." -Only an hour, but hey,  spent in the leisure hours of second hand smoke and cheap coffee. Not bad Yuy. Not bad at all.

"I'm glad you came. I thought you wouldn't."

I folded my hands in my lap and watched them turn white. Maybe I was squeezing just a little to hard. Maybe.

"Of course I came Heero." -Let's not go over the fact that I screamed and banged my head against the desk when you called nor the hesitation and the pacing before the entrance of this "lovely" restaurant.

I could tell by the silence that fell , that both of us were being reserved, polite, distance. And had I been like that before with anyone? Hell no.

"Cut the fake politeness Yuy. Why are you here?" Okay, so perhaps that was just a bit rush, sudden and harsh. But that wasn't about to make me stop my venting. "You've been gone since I was seventeen. And now I'm twenty four. Twenty four damn years old and you have the guts to show back up and pretend you've changed but yet you won't even ask how I am?" I noticed I had leaned forward and lowered my voice into a cruel whisper.

Heero looked like he was slapped. His gaze drifted for a moment and snapped back into my desperate lock. He tried to compose himself but I could see he was looking for a back up plan. Treating me like a mission is he?

After a moment his lips twitched and a soft, "How are you?" fell between them and out to my senses.

"Fine. Oh, wonderful." Sarcastic? Oh no. Prompt.

"Listen Relena, I know I could have written, called, do something humanly that you all so wanted when we were teenagers but I'm here now because it's been a long time and I need your help."

"My help." Again my finger found it's way back to that chip and I fiddled with it. I repeated the words in my head again and mumbled, "My help. Heero, why are you here?"

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. It was then I noticed what little sleep he had gotten. His skin was rough, and his face pale. His eyes were firm with little caffeine he had gained but the dark circles were still there.

"I didn't want to drag you into this, but your the only one who would be willing to help me out."

I wanted to laugh. Perfect solider needs my help? And when did the ski lift in hell start up?

I smoothed out my napkin and pursed my lips. "Lets be practical adults Heero. Let's pretend for one moment, we're old friends who haven't seen each other since we were teenagers and you've come by town and gave me a call for a nice lunch and catch up chat." I watched his eyebrows knit together and smiled casually, "Then I'll listen to your problem and possibly agree to help you."

He studied me shortly before nodding. "Hungry?"

"Your paying?"

"If that's what you'd like."

I reached for his hand and leaned forward over the table. "In that case Yuy, I'd like a chocolate shake, hold the sugar."

His face twisted into a smile and I was graced by his laugh.


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Author's Notes::
     I know Heero is out of character but I have a
point for it. Please remember to review, how do I know
how to make if better if you don't?