Disclaimer: Neither of us own Gundam Wing. All Ryan has is a Yugi-oh deck and a sorrel fetish and all I have is a hot arse. If I owned GW, the show would just be Club Beer but with robots?.that?s entertainment.
Also this is kind of an experimental fic. We kind of want to fiddle an d challenge the usual idea of romance, pairings and love triangles...to test a hypothesis of mine (Beer's). So even though it has been posted in a 1xR forum there is NO PRESET PAIRING. It's a love story that could go either way. Just warning you. Hope you like it.
Superposition
By Beer and Ryan.
Chapter One:
Similia similibus curantur
The most difficult thing that you can do is to watch the person you love, love someone else. --Unknown quote
The sparkle of the fluttering snowflakes twirled in perfect reflection upon the mirror-like windows of the huge skyscraper that stuck at a sky alight with the muted orange halo of ambient light. The street caught the rim of the globe motif that represented the Earth Sphere Unified Nations, making the sign glimmer like the hope and order it represented.
The snow spiralled and danced as it fell to the streets below. Here and there bearded replicas of jolly St Nick rang their bells reminding last minute shoppers that the time of reckoning was fast approaching. Young children, up late, lurked behind hedges, walls and snowdrifts only to leap forth with battle cries to the inundate their unwary adversaries with dreaded slush balls. The kids soon fled from vengeful adults promising unholy retribution, while the unfortunate pounded on the closed department store doors and the Santas filched a few coins from their pots.
Another Christmas tradition was honoured inside the building as the Preventers were enjoying their annual celebration, and as usual; bets were placed as to whether this would be the year a certain stoic pilot would finally settle down with his political admirer.
*****
"Well well. Look who's decided to show his face," Dorothy remarked from her position on Quatre's lap, brushing a hand through her long blonde locks.
Six pair of eyes moved to the doorway, homing into the unusual pair that was being greeted by commander Une.
The young man barely gave his superior a nod of acknowledgement before striding further into the room, his Prussian blue eyes piercing through dark brown bangs to glare at any who stared at his unusual attire. He tugged at the bow tie of his tuxedo like he wanted to tear it off and choke someone, as his other fist remained clenched at his side, besides a holster carrying a loaded automatic.
However he did not need to worry about people watching him as all eyes were turned by the dazzling smile swept across the room by a tall, beautiful woman. Her honey-blonde hair was swept back into a silky tail tied by black ribbon, swaying between her shoulders, feathering the pale skin of her back left bare by the cut of her dark dress. Each step was made with a calm grace as she moved to the side of the scowling man; her grin becoming slightly mocking as she playfully straightened his tie. The man?s stare became ice as he looked up at her, the three-inch difference in their height making her smirk all the more condescending.
"Wonder how she got him here?" Quatre wondered aloud.
"Better yet how'd she get him into the tux," Duo grinned, rising from his seat." There's an epic in that alone."
"Be seated, you moron," Wu Fei barked, yanking at Duo's chestnut braid." We don't need a repeat of what happened last time you decided Yuy was hiding something." He stared pointedly at the American with his dark, almond-shaped eyes, emphasising his point without words.
"Not the braid, not the braid," Duo yanked his prized possession from Wu Fei's hands, examining it for any damage. "It's not my fault he was so touchy, I mean all couples do weird things together.?
"Duo...he was wearing her underwear," Trowa remarked sipping at his drink.
"So? He was experimenting."
"It was A PINK THONG!!!" Six different voices replied.
" So what I?ve worn a pair?Ow! Hilde what was that for?"
?Quiet idiot,? she muttered, the scarlet flushing her cheeks stark against her midnight coloured hair. Turning quickly to the entrance she sought out her friend.
?Relena,? she called, coming to her feet and trying to ignore her partner and sometimes boyfriend's exaggerated whining; waving full armed in an attempt to catch her friend's attention and cut of any line of enquiry into the American pilots choice of panties.
Heero's eyes swung to their table and he gave Relena's arm a gentle tug. Her head turned with her lips tight, and they could all almost envision the admonishment that was on her lips about protocol and courtesy. Something that Yuy never bothered to learn in his years as her bodyguard.
*****
Heero barely caught himself before he sighed, watching Relena?s azure eyes light up as they found their friends, saving him from another chastisement. She hooked her arm through Heero's as he guided her through a swarm of Preventers and various political supporters of the agency.
"Smile," she whispered to him out of the side of her mouth. "You promised to at least LOOK like you were enjoying yourself."
"I don't do happy. Especially not in this," he muttered sourly, tugging at the collar.
"Would you like me to tell Duo how I got you to wear that?" Relena asked, arching her eyebrow as she glanced at him from the corner of hers eyes.
*****
LAST NIGHT!!!!
Heero glared across at Relena, "What?"
"Scared, Mr Yuy?" Relena gave him a sneer. The look of which was lessened by the fact that she was clad only in a deep yellow lace panties and bra.
Heero snorted and adjusted the front of his boxers (which were becoming embarrassingly restrictive), trying to keep his attention from straying from the cards to the woman across from him.
"Four of a kind...not bad," he mused, voice nonchalant and face like stone. "Fine I agree to your terms."
"Loser pays up," Relena smirked. "Spread 'em zero one."
Heero slapped down his cards and slowly swept them upon the table in front of him, "Four eights.. .Any plans for the weekend?
Relena's eyes widened in shock and Heero felt a smug smile begin to tug at the corners of his lips. Until Relena lay her hand upon the table.
"A flush!" Heero, prayed his voice did not really sound as strained as he had heard
"Royal straight flush, to be precise." Relena leapt to her feet hips swaying and hands pumping circles in the air as she did the victory dance while Heero stared dumbly into the face of defeat. He'd swear even the Queen of Spades was laughing at him. He then raised his face to stare into the eyes of doom and at the smile on her face. He swallowed audibly.
"Shit!?
*****
Visions of a braided American spreading highly exaggerated versions of his disgrace danced through Heero's head in the form of glee-filled chibi?s. He suppressed a shudder.
"Damn politicians,"He cursed. Damn politicians and their practised poker faces. He frowned as the memory flicked through his mind once more. And damn their hot and revealing underwear, he added lamenting his testosterone-fuelled weakness.
He endured a hug from the young German woman with his hands held stiffly at his sides, as first Quatre, then Dorothy, warmly embraced Relena. Trowa and Wu Fei both merely nodded their heads but that didn't put off Relena as she hugged them both in turn. Heero removed Duo?s arm from his shoulders by jamming his elbow into the American?s ribs and shooting his patented glare. Immune after years of exposure Duo merely laughed, although he cradled his side with one arm.
"Nice duds Heero. Man, you must be whipped to let a babe who isn?t even your girlfriend dress you. "He chuckled, which morphed swiftly into a wry smirk. "Unless; she has something on you. Hm? C'mon, scowl-boy, Share!"
Heero grunted fingers straying towards his gun holster once again, before balling into a fist, there were too many witnesses, and Duo occasionally had his uses. The point became moot as Hilde disciplined her man with an unoriginal but time-tested method. A quick yank on the American's braid had Duo yelping in both pain and distress as to his prized possession.
"Not the braid! Not the braid! " Came the familiar complaint as Hilde pulled Duo away from Heero and back to his seat, berating the American in seething tones.
"Well at least we know who where's the pants at the junkyard," Trowa remarked, his one visible green eye flashing in amusement as the ghost of a smile curled his lip.
"Like it wasn?t obvious from the girly hair," Wu Fei grunted sourly ignoring the hurt look Duo shot him at the insult to his treasure. He pulled himself to his feet ?I need another drink."
"Go easy there, Wu Fei," Quatre warned, wagging a matronly finger. "You got drawn for duty tomorrow."
?Thanks for reminding me,? Wu Fei grumbled glaring at the blonde pilot, and then at the bar, then back to his friend. Finally he sighed, ?They had better serve some damned good tea,? he growled.
"I'll keep an eye on him," Heero said, turning to follow the Chinese agent. "I suppose I?ll need a drink too," his attempt at reluctance fooled nobody.
"I'll join you," Duo shot up from his seat, finally releasing his braid from Hilde?s chastising grip. "I'm not lettin' this go Heero,? he called after the scowling pilot as he rose from his seat and followed his friends.
Hilde groaned and rubbed at the bridge of her nose with her thumb and forefinger, envisioning another night tending to an unconscious and bruised partner. "Quatre...damage control," she pleaded.
Quatre sighed, placing a kiss on Dorothy's cheek, before rising to follow his three friends. Trowa raised his glass to his lips, and then paused, feeling the three pairs of eyes on him. Dorothy cleared her throat loudly. He swallowed audibly and quickly drained his glass. ?Looks like I need a refill,? he said as if it shocked him, rising swiftly from his seat and moving off in the direction of the four other men.
*****
"...and then she throws me out of the room and tells me I'm sleeping on the couch. Can you believe it?"
"Hn." Heero grunted. Like the other three Gundam pilots Heero had long since developed a way of tuning Duo out, reducing him to a real time muted television, the lips moved but all he heard was blissful silence.
Duo, of course, knew about this but on faces like Heero's or Trowa's he was never a hundred percent sure. Right now Heero was more interested in his drink than in hearing Duo rant on bout his and Hilde's topsy-turvy relationship. Spinning on his barstool he turned to fully face Wufei, and present Duo with his back.
"Sally's due back today, isn't she?"
?What?s your point?? Wu Fei growled.
?Er?should we take that as a yes?? Duo asked as he stepped around Heero?s shoulder, and then he frowned. " Hey,where'd she go anyway?" Duo asked, "and why'd she not take Mr Personality here?" He jerked a thumb at Wu Fei who scowled in response, and cracked his knuckles. .
"She went to pick up Zechs and Noin from their annual inspection," Heero answered absently, eyes scanning the room like a sentry.
"Inspection?" Duo gave them all a blank look.
"Mars?" Quatre said, as if explaining something to a child. "The terra-forming project? Ring any bells?"
"Oooooh right,? Duo perked snapping his fingers in recognition.
Wu Fei snorted leaning back against the bar," At least we now know why Hilde tosses you out every year at the same time. Usually around her birthday, and Valentine?s isn?t it? Or is that a coincidence?"
The others chuckled as Duo levelled a glare at the almond-eyed agent, "At least I have someone to throw me out on a yearly basis."
Heero raised an eyebrow an Quatre exploded with laughter and even Wu Fei couldn't suppress the chuckle that fought its way from his mouth. "Maxwell, do you have any idea how pathetic that sounded?"
"Well I?uh...I mean...,"Duo floundered then slumped back into his seat. He glanced up at the bartender watching him with an amused expression. "Shut up and gimme a scotch, Alex," he said before the moustached man could say anything.
"Speaking of which, why didn't you bring Sylvia tonight?" Quatre asked turning to Trowa.
The taller man shrugged, ?Thought I?d come alone this time,? he muttered.
?That means you think she?s getting ready to leash you," Quatre?s grin became a knowing smirk." What about you? Think you could handle a commitment? Or do you want to carry on chasing the other puppies."
Trowa?s green eye widened, his jaw dropping slightly as his face paled. For the stolid acrobat such a subtle shift of expression was resounding. Quatre and Duo collapsed into paroxysms of laughter, Duo?s arms holding his side. Wu Fei?s shoulders shook as he chuckled silently and a wry smile crept across Heero?s face despite obvious efforts to repress it. Trowa glared at them with his one visible eye, before he too succumbed and his let his laughter ring, together with his friends.
Duo wiped the tears from his eyes," Oh DAMN...you should've seen your face Trowa. Like a brick wall trying to do an impression of a deer in headlights. Oh God, my stomach hurts."
Quatre covered his mouth with his hand to try and stifle the laughter that continued to bubble up from his gut.
A sudden movement caught his attention as Une crossed the room back to the door as a familiar flash of white hair shone in the bright light. Preventer Wind was back on Earth.
The years had been kind to Zechs. His silver hair feathered lightly upon the collar of his grey coat; worn across his shoulders like a cloak, it did little to hide the power in his frame, billowing open as he shrugged it off and tossed it to the waiting doorman. His once severe face had softened in the years of peace and a warm smile shone beneath his crystal blue eyes.
Quatre turned his eyes to the Lightning Count's two companions. Like him they were still dressed in their black Preventer uniforms, indicating they'd come straight from the flight strip. The answer as to why was readily obvious, as Une embraced Zechs in a tight hold, two hands cupping his face and pulling his lips down to meet hers passionately.
The young blonde winced as he watched Lucrezia Noin look on, her beautiful face crumbling for an instant, before being reassembled into granite firmness.
*****
Relena glared at her brother, torn between wanting to hug him and the desire to choke him by his collar. She watched Noin?s devastation, and how she tried to cover it before anyone noticed, like an ill-fitting patch over a large hole. Her heart went out to the older woman. She could not believe her brother was heartless but nor could she believe him to be so clueless as to the depths of Noin's feelings for him.
Either way, she had not seen her friend smile since Milliardo announced his engagement to Anne. She could not fathom how the woman continued to support him accompanying him on trips back and forth between Earth and overseeing the Mars terra-forming operation togther with the man the Relena knew had broken her heart.
She quickly averted her eyes as Noin glance in their direction. Pity would only make her feel worse. She looked at Sally from the corner of her eyes. The Chinese girl nodded at the unspoken words and headed for the bar and the guys. Relena watched Noin approach, her gait smooth and confident, but her steps were slow as if the floor were clutching at her ankles.
"Relena, Hilde, Dorothy," the dark haired woman embraced her three friends in turn as they rose to greet her, her lips twitched, trying to form a smile, but it would not take shape and fell back into the now familiar frown.
"It's good to have you back Lu," Relena said eyes searching the Italian woman?s face. That hug had been empty.
"It won't be for long," the other replied in a listless tone. "They hit a pocket of ice, and they need us back for the melting and distribution."
"How long do you have?" Dorothy asked, leaning forward.
"A week maybe...two at the most if Une pulls some strings," All eyes swung towards the couple at the door. "Somehow I'm betting we'll get the full time..." Her voice was a dull monotone, but Relena could feel the bitterness that bubbled through her words like a miasma. She could see the pain that was welled in those eyes, but it was quickly hidden behind a wall of coldness, like ice formed across the across the surface of a frozen lake, concealing the dark waters below.
Relena recognised the signs of someone hiding all of their hurt, and although Lucrezia?s eyes were not the same frozen blue steel, they reminded her a lot of Heero.
Now, there?s an idea, her mind chimed, a light bulb flashing in her brain.
?Excuse me a moment Lu, I think I need to check on the guys,? she smiled warmly at the raven-haired woman, but that lost expression never changed.
As she crossed the floor, her heels clicking against the varnished wood, something teased at her, making the hairs on the nape of her neck stand on end. It was a strange sensation like a needle scratching at the back of her mind, grating on her brain. Her chest felt hollow and her throat tight, as the needling grew.
?Hey Relena,? Dup piped as he watched her approach.
Heero tuned towards her, regarding her with his stormy, Prussian blue eyes, his head tilted like a hawk?s. Quatre smiled and Duo waved, Trowa and Wu Fei glanced in her direction before the Chinaman resumed his conversation with the circus-performer.
?What can I get for you Rel?? Duo asked, nodding his head to beckon the barman.
?Nothing right now thanks, Duo. I just need to talk to Heero for a minute.?
Heero nodded and pushed away from where he was leaning against the bar, downing what was left in his pint glass and moving away without a word, glancing at Relena indicating for her to follow. Her lips pursed into a tight frown and she sighed, this was too important to kill him now.
They came to stop a short distance away, a secluded spot behind the table that housed a projector that was used for conferences and that maintenance could not remove for the party. Heero simply turned on his heel and faced her, his eyes somehow glaring at her and everything else in the room at the same time.
?Heero,? she said, then paused, chewing on her bottom lips. Her brow furrowed as her mind fumbled for the words. He stared up at her blankly, his gaunt face expressionless, hard lines and angles like a cliff face.
?Heero, how would you like a partner?? she asked, just spitting the words out and into the air in a rush.
He blinked, ?A partner?? She caught the barest movement of his mouth as he curved into a frown. ?Am I not performing my task to you satisfaction, Relena?? If she did not know better he almost sounded hurt.
?No, Heero, you?re the best bodyguard any one could have.? She said quickly put her hands up before her and waving them to emphasis her dismissal. ?No this is more of a favour.?
?A favour?? his right eyebrow cocked up, climbing behind his bangs.
?Well I was hoping that maybe I could convince Lucrezia to join you as my guards??
?Noin? She?s a good soldier.? his eyes narrowed, ? but she works with Zechs on Mars why would she need to join us??
?Oh c?mon Heero,? she cried. ?You know she can?t keep on making those trips with him. Ever since he and Anne became and item, every second with him must have been torture, it?s killing her.?
She spun around so fast her hair tossed in a golden wave, sweeping an arm in the direction of the dark-haired woman. Noin had escaped the other girls, sitting alone at one of the rickety fold out tables, shadows falling across her face and disappearing in the black of her hair. Her eyes alternated from scanning the room with an aloof glare, or from glowering at the rippling surface of her wine as she twirled the glass by the step with thumb and forefinger.
Those cold eyes hated for a brief moment and Relena followed her gaze to the edge of the dance floor, where as Commander Une stood and watched her subordinately smile and laugh as they swayed to the music, her brother appeared from behind her as if solidifying from the smoke pumped from the DJ box. His arms wrapping around her like a clock his mouth whispering in her ear and kissing at her neck.
Noin winced as if struck and immediately cast her eyes back to the depths of her drink, the red liquid sloshing over the sides as her fingers spun the glass faster and faster.
Relena saw this, and from the corner of her eye she noticed Heero tense a fraction telling her that he had seen it too.
?You see, it would be cruel to keep putting her through that,? she declared turning to face Heero, whose jaw worked tightly. ?I can probably convince Anne to change her assignment and talk to Milliardo, but you?re in charge of my security and my Preventer liaison, I need your approval.?
?Why guard duty?? he asked plainly. ?There are hundreds of other assignments that would benefit from her skills and expertise.?
?If she was my guard I would be able to keep an eye on her, make sure that she gets over him and gets on with her life. Otherwise she may just bury herself in her work and never move on.?
?I think you?re over reacting,? Heero muttered. ?She?s a professional, she wouldn?t let her feelings run wild.?
Relena snorted. ?She?s also a woman, and a person who has had their heart broken.? She glared at him with flashing azure eyes. Emotionless idiot, she swore mentally. She new from experience that it wasn?t true, she had experienced herself how fiery or warm his passions could be, but did he have to hide them behind icy walls so well?
The thought reminded of her of the real reason behind this conversation, and again sparked the gnawing sensation that scratched at the her bind, the feeling now more intense growing like a weight on her chest. Pulling her mind from the emotional itch she continued what she was saying.
?There was something else Heero,? she said, her eyes were on her skirt as she smoothed out imaginary wrinkles. ?Lucrezia could really use a friend now, and I was hoping that maybe it could be you.?
Heero?s eyes widened and he frowned, brows furrowing. ?What??
?Well I can?t be there all the time, I have a lot of meetings and paperwork. Also coming from me she will know what I?m trying to do and think its? pity, which is the worst blow to her confidence at the worst time.?
?Why me, Quatre would?? he seemed uncomfortable, shifting his weight from foot to foot.
?Heero,? Relena said softly, steeping closer and pressing her fingers gently on his chest. ?What Lucrezia need most now, is someone strong who she can release her problems on. Someone who listens.? She smiled at him, not the dazzling smile that she gave to the papers and the reporters, the small, warm smile she reserved just for her closest friend. ?You?ve always been there for me Heero, even after we decided to just be friends. That?s what Lu needs right now. Please Heero, for me??
She tried batting her eyelashes, his eyes narrowed and then he sighed, his head nodding almost imperceptibly.
?So you will?? she asked, already catching him around the neck in a hug, which he returned, placing an awkward hand on her waist.
?Don?t I always,? he said, a slight grin forming on his mouth.
?Yes you do,? she said with an emphatic nod. Letting go of him she took a couple of steps back, easing out of his space a wide grin almost splitting her face as she stood with both hands behind her. ?Well I have to go and convince Anne. It shouldn?t be too hard, she?s a lot more sympathetic to Lu?s feelings than most think,? and a lot less than she should be, she added silently. ?So I?ll let you get back to wanting to strangle Duo.?
Spinning on her high heel, she began walking away, eyes scanning the room for the location of the Preventer?s commander, while her mind worked in a fever for a convincing excuse to separate the woman from her brother?s arms.
Then Heero?s voice halted her in mid-step and making her thoughts echo in silence.
?You underestimate yourself Relena,? he said softly. ?The only strength I have comes from you.?
She twisted to see him, her hair and dress streaming like a comet?s tail, yet all she saw was his back. The black fabric across his shoulders rippled as she walked away without another word.
Again that needling feeling began to prick at her mind, stronger than ever, grown in to a hollow, making the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. Butterflies sprang into being in her stomach, flogging her heart wildly as she watched his retreating form.
What?s wrong with me? she asked herself, glancing across the room and Noin who was lost in her drink, dark hair shrouding her eyes. I have to help her; this is the right thing. She looked back towards Heero, watching his back as he moved, a strange yet graceful tenseness to his steps like the way a lion prowled through the bush. The butterflies drummed inside her, pounding her with her heartbeat as she watched her bodyguard move. This is the right thing, it must be. Right?
There was no answer.
End Chapter One.
Here's a question for any of you familir with out fics. Who wrote what?
And um thanks for reading. Have a Club Beer closet token *hands out tokens*
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