Sea of Emotion 15/15

[Gundam Girl]

Woo, another one down. ^_^;

Disclaimer: I still don?t own Gundam Wing. And I?ve been writing for it a long time.

Sea of Emotion ? Chapter 15

By Gundam Girl

Zechs was dressing. He had asked Noin to dinner. He?d done it thanks to the not-so-subtle push by his little sister, whose actions yesterday had basically been translated into, ?Get some balls, Milliardo.?

And Zechs Merquise would be damned before he was a coward.

They weren?t going anywhere too fancy, he reflected as he stepped into some khaki pants. Zechs? favorite restaurant in Panama City was Pineapple Willie?s and he had resolved to take Noin there, eating out on the patio right on the beach. That way, they could enjoy a good view and at the same time, not be too far from the ship in case he was needed.

Noin had accepted the invitation with grace, if some slight embarrassment. Zechs got the feeling that part of her thought his feelings extended either one of two ways: sympathy because of her time with Treize or general male hormones.

Zechs was determined to show her that both of those theories were very wrong. He hadn?t been in love before; at least, he didn?t think so. As a man, he?d known desire, and had been with women, but they were brief flings. To them, he?d been the strong sea captain, and they had been?temporary.

Noin was different. Noin made him feel? He could feel sexuality, and while there was plenty of that, there was more. When she looked at him, he didn?t think of himself as someone?s target for an evening. He didn?t think of himself as a target for her at all, or of her as a target for him. She was a person. They were people.

And he was a man in love.

The question Zechs had was whether or not Noin had even the potential to be in love with him as well. She had been through rough times on Treize?s ship. Noin was now the second woman Zechs cared about that Treize had attempted to ruin. The difference was, with Noin, he had succeeded.

Zechs paused in front of his dresser mirror. No, he decided as he began buttoning his black dress shirt. Treize had not succeeded. He would make Noin realize that. He?d make her understand that, no matter what had happened with Treize, no matter what the bastard had done to her, she was still a woman, free to make her own choices.

Even if that choice was to refuse Zechs.

o0o

Relena didn?t even bother blow-drying her hair after her shower. Her room at the hotel wasn?t very expensive; it wasn?t tourist season (it was September) so there were only a few handfuls of guests. There was a very nice luggage boy that had assured her he was at her assistance if it was needed.

She?d even been able to smile two times now since leaving the ship the previous morning.

It was the strangest thing, being back in a city, among people who knew nothing about the sea or living on it. Actually, when she?d flipped on the television, all the available movies had something to do with car chases ? on land.

It seemed that her way of living was the less popular one; she?d never realized it before now. Living on the Golden Wave with Milliardo had always felt so incredibly natural. It had taken a few hours to realize that she didn?t have to prepare herself for any intermittent jolts that might knock her off balance.

She was going sightseeing, maybe even do some shopping. She didn?t have very many clothes besides her numerous pairs of uniforms from the ship. Somehow, she suspected that wearing the ship?s colors of dark green every day would not be presentable.

She smirked a bit. Zechs would be shocked; she was actually acting like a girl.

Without warning, a sudden flash of the night in Venice with Heero came unwelcome into her mind. She closed her and pushed it away. She was here to work things out, but?not right now. She didn?t have the strength yet.

She could only hope to God that she would eventually have it.

Grabbing a jacket (her uniform one), she headed out, making sure her wallet and room key were secure in the inside pocket. Unable to break the habit, she also had the walkie-talkie that connected her to Zechs hooked to her belt. It wasn?t on, but it was there ? just in case, she supposed.

In case of what?She wasn?t going back to the ship anytime soon.

As Relena stepped out into the busy city street, she felt the sun?s rays duel with a brisk breeze that made her damp hair twine and tangle low over her back. She forced herself to smile.

This day was about her. Not Heero.

o0o

?Heero? It?s me. Wufei.?

Wufei? What the hell did that guy want? Aside from crew business, he and Heero rarely spoke. In fact, Heero was fairly certain he hadn?t heard a word from Wufei since the meeting in Zechs? office discussing Relena?s kidnapping a week ago. So Heero couldn?t really understand why he was speaking to him through his bedroom door right now.

?I can make an educated guess that you?re not up to conversation.?

?Then why are you standing out there?? Heero growled, irritated.

Heero heard a sigh, and then the door opened. Wufei stood there, an impatient look on his face.

?It was locked,? Heero bit out.

Wufei lifted an eyebrow, then held up the small set of keys he carried. ?Behavior monitor, Yuy. Remember?? He stepped inside the darkened room, scowled. ?This isn?t healthy.? He flipped up the lightswitch and light flooded the small room. ?I suppose the case is that you?re not really inclined to think about anything that doesn?t involve Colonel Darlian.?

?If you know that, then why are you here??

?Because you look like hell, you haven?t eaten today, it?s nearly five PM, and the guy we were originally going to send was Duo.? When Heero raised his head from his position on his bed, he smirked. ?Yeah, I thought you?d be grateful.?

With some effort, Heero pushed himself into a sitting position. ?That still doesn?t explain your purpose for intruding in my business.?

?This particular business is everyone?s. Relena is temporarily handing over her position to Luchrezia Noin who, by the way, is at dinner with Captain Merquise right now.?

Heero blinked in surprise.

?Yeah.? Wufei pulled out Heero?s desk chair and lowered into it as though he had all the time in the world. ?Apparently, from what the Captain told Trowa, who told this to me, Relena gave him a much-needed nudge. She wants her brother to get moving. So I?ve come to pose this idea to you.? The Chinese man made sure Heero was looking at him. ?How do you know Relena doesn?t want you to do the same??

?The same? Oh Christ?? The idea enraged him. ?She?s got an issue right now, Wufei. I don?t think it?s anyone?s fault, but Relena?s positive she doesn?t want me around her right now.?

?Women always think they know what?s right for them.?

?She does. I know things, Wufei.? Heero set his jaw. ?Things that she needs time to deal with.?

Wufei frowned. ?Maybe you?re right. I?m only here to drop a note ? you should do what you think is right.?

The ignorant jerk, Heero thought. ?What I think most likely goes against Relena?s own thoughts about us.?

?Well, you can think that. And if you do, you can also give her the time she ?needs,? ? Wufei declared, rising. ?After all, it isn?t my business. My business is helping Trowa.?

Curiosity overwhelmed his depression for a second. Heero shot Wufei an odd look. ?Help Trowa with what??

?Oh, that?s right. You?d know about this if you?d come out of this room and read the damn bulletins. We?re leaving, Yuy.? Wufei?s eyes sharpened. ?At midnight tonight, we?re taking off back into the sea. There?re bounties to get. Relena asked for time off, but Zechs isn?t about to follow suit. He?s never going to need a break from this business. It?s his life.? Wufei went for the door.

?Oh, and Yuy,? he said. ?I was only joking. Maxwell doesn?t even know about you and Relena yet.?

It was nearly five minutes after Wufei had gone that Heero stood up from his bed. He looked out his window, at the familiar shores and buildings of his hometown. Relena was there, among his past. Among the place he?d let go of. If he left on this ship again tonight, he?d be leaving Relena there as well.

He dashed from the room.

o0o

?Nice place,? Noin commented mildly, lifting her glass to swish the golden champagne lightly and see how the light drifted through it. ?Better drinks. What are we celebrating??

?Your promotion,? Zechs told her with a smile. ?Not my doing, so I can?t take credit. But I thought I could take you here.?

?It?s?unique,? she decided. She laughed lightly at the pineapple grinning insanely on her paper napkin. ?I feel like a teenager grabbing a burger. Of course,? she added, ?there aren?t that many burger places in Venice.?

?You grew up there.?

She stiffened, suddenly aware of how casually she?d spoken of her long-ago past. ?I? Yes,? she admitted. ?I was born there. My parents were glass-blowers. And although that sounds charming, we were more or less as poor as church mice.?

Zechs balanced his elbow on the table and pressed his steepled fingers to his lips, recalling something she?d said that had haunted him.

?You should know that I only came to serve Khushrenada because he saved my life. But I didn?t want him to. I was trying to kill myself.?

He swiftly rose. ?Will you come walking with me??

A small smile spread her lips. ?Sure.?

He paid the bill and within a few moments, they?d walked down the stairs of the restaurant patio and onto the golden sand below.

Noin steeled herself. She had seen the contemplative look in the captain?s eyes and knew a question was coming. She wasn?t mistaken.

?Noin,? Zechs began slowly, ?before the conflict with Treize, you told me how you came to be with him. If you don?t want to answer, that?s your prerogative. But I would really like to know??

?Of course,? she murmured, keeping her eyes on her feet as she spoke. ?When I said my family was poor, it didn?t mean that they liked it. If nothing else, they wanted something more for me.?

o0o

It was late in the evening when Relena stepped into the quirky little pawn shop. She?d been to one mall and was beginning to feel exhausted, but on her way back to the hotel, her eye had been caught by the odd store.

She didn?t think she could keep on going without stopping by.

A bell over the door jingled as she entered. The store was dimly lit, giving the place a slightly eerie glow. Relena sat her earlier purchases down near a corner and glanced around, curiosity filling her.

A voice in the back scratched out in her direction. ?It?s almost closing time. You may want to return tomorrow.?

Relena shifted her gaze and saw the hunched man in the white coat, noted his walking stick, his gray hair, but was most focused on the fact that his right hand had been replaced by a metallic three-pronged claw. Over his eye, he wore tiny goggle-like spectacles. The colonel wasn?t afraid. She?d known stranger-looking sailors.

?Oh, a young woman. Are you seeing the city?? When she nodded, the old man grinned widely. ?I fear I don?t have much in the way of pretty jewelry or other such things, but you?re free to look around. Are you looking for anything particular??

?No,? answered Relena freely. ?I?m just browsing.? When she walked slowly around a shelf, she paused. ?What is tiny shop like this doing with a retro gear of a submarine?? With her thumb and forefinger, she lifted the tiny, screw-like engine part. This type was much like the model Zechs used on The Golden Wave.

?Oh!? Surprised, the only man hobbled over to her and glanced at the gear. ?You recognized what that was? You?re the first. Spent some time around subs, have you??

?I?ve worked on one for years,? Relena said. ?It?s unusual to find something like this out of legitimate dealerships or pirating warehouses.?

?Well, I?m not pirating.? He watched carefully and Relena set the part down again. ?What might you be doing off your ship then, young miss? It?s a bit early for retirement for you, isn?t it??

?I?m taking a break,? she muttered, more to herself than to him. ?The Golden Wave will be fine without me for awhile.?

?The Golden Wave?? Taken aback, the old man?s stared at Relena. Uncomfortable, she shifted, pushing her long hair behind her shoulders and unintentionally revealing her rank badge on her jacket. The old man tensed. ?Good Lord, you?re Relena Darlian, aren?t you??

?Excuse me?? asked Relena. ?Well ? yes, I am. I?m terribly sorry. Have we met??

?Never,? the man declared. ?My name is Dr. J. I raised your officer, Heero Yuy.?

Heero Yuy. Relena?s stomach dropped frighteningly low. ?I beg your pardon, Doctor? You raised Heero??

?Well, until he was old enough to take care of himself, which was awhile ago.? Dr. J shook his head slightly. ?So you?re the girl he?s been fawning over. I?m not surprised. Why are you here in the city??

?I?m?? God, what was she doing? She wasn?t helping anything ? not even herself. Despite traces of relaxation all day, she hadn?t actually felt happy. Not in the way she wanted to feel. Not in the way she?d felt in Heero?s arms. ?I?m running,? she finally murmured.

?Ah.? The way J said the word was with utter understanding. ?We all do that at some point. Granted, I haven?t been able to do any running for quite a few years, but? Say, are you finished here? Can I not interest you in anything??

?I?m sorry, Doctor.? Relena smiled back as she hurried and gathered her things before moving quickly to the door. ?I?ve just realized something urgent I have to do. Hopefully, I?ll stop by here again soon. And if I?m lucky, I won?t be alone.? Without another look to the pawn shop or to the old man, she raced outside.

Dr. J scratched his cheek with his remaining hand, smiling softly to himself. ?Well,? he grunted. Walking to the door, he locked up for the night.

o0o

It was eleven-thirty as Zechs and Noin were walking back toward the Golden Wave. They would be diving soon and both of them had things to do.

Zechs was still having trouble fathoming what she had confessed to him on the beach, with the waves crashing before them and the sunslipping beneath the horizon.

?I was engaged to a man I didn?t love. I know that sounds clich?, but it still happens. Especially in Italy; many families still consider matchmaking a grand tradition. My parents were very traditional people.?

Zechs glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. She was looking to the side opposite where he stood, either staring at something far away or avoiding seeing him. He wasn?t sure.

?Anyway, he was rich. My father was certain that money was the only thing that could possibly make me a happy woman. I don?t blame him for it. He?d only known poverty, so his way of thinking seemed logical. I don?t know whether my mother truly agreed with him or not. She was more like a shadow than a wife.?

As he recalled her words, Zechs? hand tightened on her hers as they walked.

?I was expected to be the same way. So, the night before my wedding day came?and I lost all courage. I went to the pier. I stood there for a few hours, thinking?but I kept coming back to the same conclusion. Escape.?

They could see the familiar lights of the sub?s doors. A lamp on the dock illuminated the blue lettering of his ship?s name.

?It didn?t go as planned. I jumped, but within minutes, I was pulled to the surface, unconscious, and when I woke up, I was on the Rosetta? Which was already out to sea, below the surface. From that moment, I was Treize?s. A failed human who couldn?t even end her own life. A couple years later, you found me.?

Her entire being had lit up as she?d looked at him.

?You saved my life, sir. Not Treize.?

They arrived at the door of this ship. Standing by the entrance was Trowa, who held a small box in his hand. ?Captain, your order came in a few hours ago.?

?Quick work,? Zechs commented. ?Just how I like it. Thank you, Mr. Barton.?

?I?ll prep for dive,? Trowa said, saluting. For a second, his stern countenance dropped, and he smiled. ?It?s always a pleasure to work with you, sir.?

When the officer had left, Zechs turned to Noin and smiled. ?I have something for you. Since I hadn?t planned to do this, it wasn?t ready before now. I usually plan everything, but?? He shrugged. ?Some things call for spontaneity.? He took the lid off the plain cardboard box.

Noin watched, bewildered, as he lifted small, metal badge out of the box and held it out to her. She accepted it with deft fingers. Colonel Luchrezia Noin, it read, and below it, in slightly smaller print was The Golden Wave. Her heart swelled. ?Sir??

?I don?t know Relena?s plans,? Zechs told her lightly, ?but she obviously thinks that we are good together. Professionally and personally. Relena has excellent judgment, and frankly?? She wasn?t looking at him, so he slid a palm beneath her chin and tipped her head upward so they were gaze for gaze. ?I believe she?s right.?

?Sir,? Noin began.

?And if this is going to work between us,? he went on, ?you?re going to have to stop calling me ?sir.? All right?Luchrezia??

Her eyes flew open. A moment later, she smiled. ?All right. Zechs.? She put the badge in her pocket, a sign of acceptance.

And when he reached for her, she kissed him with her whole heart.

o0o

Relena couldn?t stop running. When she had coincidentally passed her hotel, she?d taken five seconds to drop her bags off at the service desk. They were slowing her down. They were unimportant. The only thing on her mind right now was finding?

She was nearing the docks. She?d miraculously been able to hail a cab to the gate of the port and had begun running the second she?d flung a few bills at the driver. Her lungs burned. She didn?t care. What she wanted?

o0o

Heero felt dejected. He hadn?t been able to find her anywhere. The city was big, but he knew every inch of it, and no hotels had been willing to give out any names. He?d been physically removed at one of them. But the anger was gone now, and in its place was sheer hopelessness.

It was nearly midnight. He needed to hurry, but his feet continued to drag past the docks toward the Golden Wave. Part of him didn?t want to leave, but the other part knew he had to. If he stayed, what were the odds that he?d actually find Relena? If an experienced woman like her didn?t want to be found, then she wouldn?t be. And that his fault.

He?d finally increased his speed a bit when he saw a familiar flash of always-illustrious golden hair. His heart stopped. He pulse ceased to beat. But his feet pounded the pavement as an absurd hope made him race back toward the ship.

Heero skidded to a halt at the end of the dock were the Wave was anchored. There, chest heaving with exertion, and eyes welling with tears, was Relena.

The first words out of his mouth weren?t at all what he?d thought he would say to her when he saw her again.

?Well, I don?t think there?s any reason to cry.?

Relena swiveled to face him, and her mouth trembled open. In the next second, her eyebrows lowered challengingly, but she couldn?t quite keep the sadness from her voice. ?Which of us is the superior here??

Heero walked toward her slowly, regaining his breath and, as he neared her, his heart. ?Well. Considering I?m the only one of us not in tears??

?Heero!? She leapt against him, sighing wearily as his arms came around her. ?I?m sorry. I?m so sorry. I shouldn?t have??

?Stop.? One hand gripped her around the waist, the other tangled in her hair. ?You want time?? he asked tersely. ?Fine. I?ll give you all the time you want in the world. As long as I can have it with you.?

?Heero?? She looked up at him. ?I don?t need time. I know what I want.? He opened his mouth to speak, but she raised her fingertips to his lips to silence him. ?You. I know that. I love you. So much.?

He pressed her to him, touching his lips to the top of her head. ?I just don?t want you to feel like you?re jumping into anything you?re not ready for.?

?Not ready? God.? Her tears overflowed, and he swiped his thumbs across her cheeks to wipe them away. ?I feel like you?re the one thing in my life I never had. The last thing I want is for you to go away.?

?Good. Because?? He took a step back and gripped her by the shoulders so that she could see his entire face. ?I?m never letting you leave me again.?

Relena?s only thought as he kissed her was how that was fine with her.

The Golden Wave blared out a signal for the final boarding call before dive. Heero looked at her patiently.

?It?s your choice.?

Relena smiled. Pushing her hair back, she quickly unpinned her colonel badge from her uniform blouse. She raced to the edge of the dock and flung the tiny item into the sea. She went back to Heero and held out her hand. ?I?m staying with you. At home.?

He gathered her against his side and the headed for the entrance to the ship. ?What about Zechs?? Heero asked.

Relena laughed carelessly. ?We?ll have to tell him he has a new officer.?

Together, they walked into the Golden Wave. Their home.

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Yay! It?s over! Just kidding. I loved writing this fic. But this held such a huge change in my writing style (if you go to chapter one and then read this chapter, you?ll know what I?m talking about.) A lot of the time it was OOC, which I dread, but I tried. I hope you enjoyed the finale. Thanks for reading. I?d love to hear from you all on any of my other fics. Viva 1xR!

GG