Trust in Me [ chapter three ]
Posted: Sun May 25, 2003 12:31 am
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. All characters, terms, and affiliates of Gundam Wing are not mine, but belong to their respective owners, Shin Kidosenki, Sotsu Agency, Sunrise, &c.
Summary: It's a race against time for Heero. Will he reach Relena and Duo in time before a ring is chosen?
Trust in Me
Written by: Nausica?
Chapter Three: "I?m guessing you?re you the best man, then?"
Heero continued to watch the oblivious couple, puzzled at what they were saying. But as he moved in for a close up of Duo pulling out a picture, everything became just a bit clearer, while the feeling in his stomach got just a bit worse. Heero jerked upright and closed the window, the last shot he had of them leaving their dining table.
He had to get on the earliest flight to Earth as soon as possible. Opening another window and after some hesitation, he booked a round trip flight. As he drove to the shuttle station, Heero kept seeing Duo pulling out the picture over and over in his head and Relena nodding her consent. His irritation had him flooring the gas pedal.
But what had him really worried was why he was even bothering to go to Earth. This would be the first time in four years that he had stepped onto the planet. I said I didn?t care, right?
As he boarded the shuttle, Heero had the reason why Duo?s actions were causing him to behave so strangely. Plain curiosity. That?s been it. No more, no less.
But even as he tossed the reason around in his head, Heero couldn?t help but think that it was just an excuse. So why was it?
Shying away from subject, he turned his head towards the view port and waited.
As Patrick finished cleaning the diamond tennis bracelet, he stretched his tired neck muscles and happened to see a very attractive couple walk in and begin to browse the merchandise. The woman was petite and delicate looking, with long golden hair cascading down to her waist and large cornflower blue eyes. Looking at her with an appreciative eye for all things beautiful, Patrick tipped an imaginary hat to the woman. She looks so fragile, but confidence seems to nearly ooze out of her very pores. She was stunning, he concluded, the dress she wore like a frame to draw attention to what was inside it.
Patrick shifted his eyes to her partner and assessed him. Such a contrast, these two.
The woman?s partner had expressive violet eyes and an engaging grin pasted on his face. Everything seemed almost average about him, until he turned his head and a large brunette braid swung into Patrick?s view. Patrick cocked an eyebrow, trying to measure the braid?s length from his seat twenty feet away. Now that?s something you don?t see everyday on a guy, he thought.
Patrick got up and made his way to the couple, noting that the man was pointing at some pieces in particular. They both looked up at him as he came forward. ?Hello, my name is Patrick. Can I help you with anything today??
Blue, as he had decided to call the woman until he learned her name, spoke, ?Actually, yes you can. May we take a look at that ring over there, please?? She pointed to a plain looking ring sitting at the farther end of the display case.
As he brought it out, Patrick noted that the woman had good taste; more importantly, expensive taste.
The ring itself was simple in its design, but Patrick knew that it was made that way for a reason. The slim yellow gold band had a high sheen to it, but was just acting as a background for the main exhibition. Patrick?s eye followed the glossy reflection of the gold until in his view came the large and perfectly cut, solitaire diamond set in a precarious looking perch of only six prongs. This was all the band was made to do.
Handing it to the woman, Patrick watched the man?s eyes widen, his hand reaching out to carefully pull out the ring. He turned to the woman. ?I hope you don?t mind my asking, but when?s the big day??
The woman blushed becomingly. ?Actually, we don?t know yet.? She looked like she would say more, but her fianc? spoke.
?Relena, don?t you think this is a little? um, expensive??
Ah, so that?s her name. Relena. Beautiful.
Patrick stood patiently and listened as the couple before him discussed. Relena apparently didn?t believe the ring was too expensive, for she shook her head and stretched out her left hand. ?I don?t think so, Duo. Look at it. It?s what you described: not too flashy, but not too plain either. All we really need to do is check if it fits.?
Patrick felt a bit nervous that the ring might not fit. This ring in particular was one of a kind, and because of its slim band, was not resizable. But as he watched Duo?s hand shake visibly when he slid the ring onto Relena?s finger, Patrick forgot about his worries and just enjoyed the moment. It was rare to see a couple walk in and choose the engagement ring. Usually, only the man came in, planning the proposal as a surprise.
All was quiet for a few moments, and then two cries of joy were heard as Patrick looked to see the ring, sitting snug on Relena?s finger.
They were all happy, but none as much as Duo. He held Relena?s hand and gazed at the ring, its diamond twinkling up at him in a flash of colour. He thought it had temporarily blinded him, but Duo soon realized that it was tears that threatened to overflow. He lifted his gaze to Relena?s face, his heart squeezing with what he saw in her eyes.
?It?s a perfect fit, Duo,? she whispered.
?Yes,? he replied, ?a perfect fit.?
Two hours later
Patrick was about to close up shop when a young man walked in, looking like he?d seen better days. Although his clothes were clean and well kept and his hair looked like it received regular cuts, the man?s eyes seemed to detract all the life out of his look. They were so devoid of emotion. Almost like they were empty, Patrick thought, a chill running down his spine. He approached the man carefully.
?Hello, can I help you with anything??
The man turned and pinned his gaze on Patrick. ?Today, did you see a couple in here? The woman has blonde hair down to her waist, blue eyes, and is wearing a black dress. The man with her has violet eyes and looks like any other guy except for a long braid.?
As soon as the braid was mentioned, Patrick knew right away whom the young man was talking about. ?Ah yes, you mean Duo and Relena. They were here about two hours ago. Such a striking couple, don?t you think? Even their names go well together.?
Heero felt the tempting urge to punch the salesman, but refrained from doing so by shoving his hands inside his pockets. ?Do you have any idea where they went??
?They spoke about visiting the beach,? was all the Patrick managed to get out, watching the strange young man turn and walk away. He shouted after Heero?s retreating back. ?I?m guessing you?re you the best man, then??
He watched the young man freeze in midstep. Heero slowly turned his head and shot him a look meant to put him aflame. ?What do you mean by that??
As that unrelenting gaze remained on his face, Patrick rushed to explain, his desire to be safe at home goading him. ?Well, they came in here and bought a ring. An engagement ring.? Patrick looked at the toes of his shoes and tugged at his collar nervously. ?I guess I ruined the surprise.?
When he had enough courage to look up and apologize, the young man was already gone.
TBC
Notes: Not that I'm disparaging any of those who reviewed the last chapter - * kisses * - you guys know who you are! But truthfully, I was a bit disappointed that not a lot of people replied in TIM chapter two.
Make me feel better, please?
Summary: It's a race against time for Heero. Will he reach Relena and Duo in time before a ring is chosen?
Trust in Me
Written by: Nausica?
Chapter Three: "I?m guessing you?re you the best man, then?"
Heero continued to watch the oblivious couple, puzzled at what they were saying. But as he moved in for a close up of Duo pulling out a picture, everything became just a bit clearer, while the feeling in his stomach got just a bit worse. Heero jerked upright and closed the window, the last shot he had of them leaving their dining table.
He had to get on the earliest flight to Earth as soon as possible. Opening another window and after some hesitation, he booked a round trip flight. As he drove to the shuttle station, Heero kept seeing Duo pulling out the picture over and over in his head and Relena nodding her consent. His irritation had him flooring the gas pedal.
But what had him really worried was why he was even bothering to go to Earth. This would be the first time in four years that he had stepped onto the planet. I said I didn?t care, right?
As he boarded the shuttle, Heero had the reason why Duo?s actions were causing him to behave so strangely. Plain curiosity. That?s been it. No more, no less.
But even as he tossed the reason around in his head, Heero couldn?t help but think that it was just an excuse. So why was it?
Shying away from subject, he turned his head towards the view port and waited.
As Patrick finished cleaning the diamond tennis bracelet, he stretched his tired neck muscles and happened to see a very attractive couple walk in and begin to browse the merchandise. The woman was petite and delicate looking, with long golden hair cascading down to her waist and large cornflower blue eyes. Looking at her with an appreciative eye for all things beautiful, Patrick tipped an imaginary hat to the woman. She looks so fragile, but confidence seems to nearly ooze out of her very pores. She was stunning, he concluded, the dress she wore like a frame to draw attention to what was inside it.
Patrick shifted his eyes to her partner and assessed him. Such a contrast, these two.
The woman?s partner had expressive violet eyes and an engaging grin pasted on his face. Everything seemed almost average about him, until he turned his head and a large brunette braid swung into Patrick?s view. Patrick cocked an eyebrow, trying to measure the braid?s length from his seat twenty feet away. Now that?s something you don?t see everyday on a guy, he thought.
Patrick got up and made his way to the couple, noting that the man was pointing at some pieces in particular. They both looked up at him as he came forward. ?Hello, my name is Patrick. Can I help you with anything today??
Blue, as he had decided to call the woman until he learned her name, spoke, ?Actually, yes you can. May we take a look at that ring over there, please?? She pointed to a plain looking ring sitting at the farther end of the display case.
As he brought it out, Patrick noted that the woman had good taste; more importantly, expensive taste.
The ring itself was simple in its design, but Patrick knew that it was made that way for a reason. The slim yellow gold band had a high sheen to it, but was just acting as a background for the main exhibition. Patrick?s eye followed the glossy reflection of the gold until in his view came the large and perfectly cut, solitaire diamond set in a precarious looking perch of only six prongs. This was all the band was made to do.
Handing it to the woman, Patrick watched the man?s eyes widen, his hand reaching out to carefully pull out the ring. He turned to the woman. ?I hope you don?t mind my asking, but when?s the big day??
The woman blushed becomingly. ?Actually, we don?t know yet.? She looked like she would say more, but her fianc? spoke.
?Relena, don?t you think this is a little? um, expensive??
Ah, so that?s her name. Relena. Beautiful.
Patrick stood patiently and listened as the couple before him discussed. Relena apparently didn?t believe the ring was too expensive, for she shook her head and stretched out her left hand. ?I don?t think so, Duo. Look at it. It?s what you described: not too flashy, but not too plain either. All we really need to do is check if it fits.?
Patrick felt a bit nervous that the ring might not fit. This ring in particular was one of a kind, and because of its slim band, was not resizable. But as he watched Duo?s hand shake visibly when he slid the ring onto Relena?s finger, Patrick forgot about his worries and just enjoyed the moment. It was rare to see a couple walk in and choose the engagement ring. Usually, only the man came in, planning the proposal as a surprise.
All was quiet for a few moments, and then two cries of joy were heard as Patrick looked to see the ring, sitting snug on Relena?s finger.
They were all happy, but none as much as Duo. He held Relena?s hand and gazed at the ring, its diamond twinkling up at him in a flash of colour. He thought it had temporarily blinded him, but Duo soon realized that it was tears that threatened to overflow. He lifted his gaze to Relena?s face, his heart squeezing with what he saw in her eyes.
?It?s a perfect fit, Duo,? she whispered.
?Yes,? he replied, ?a perfect fit.?
Two hours later
Patrick was about to close up shop when a young man walked in, looking like he?d seen better days. Although his clothes were clean and well kept and his hair looked like it received regular cuts, the man?s eyes seemed to detract all the life out of his look. They were so devoid of emotion. Almost like they were empty, Patrick thought, a chill running down his spine. He approached the man carefully.
?Hello, can I help you with anything??
The man turned and pinned his gaze on Patrick. ?Today, did you see a couple in here? The woman has blonde hair down to her waist, blue eyes, and is wearing a black dress. The man with her has violet eyes and looks like any other guy except for a long braid.?
As soon as the braid was mentioned, Patrick knew right away whom the young man was talking about. ?Ah yes, you mean Duo and Relena. They were here about two hours ago. Such a striking couple, don?t you think? Even their names go well together.?
Heero felt the tempting urge to punch the salesman, but refrained from doing so by shoving his hands inside his pockets. ?Do you have any idea where they went??
?They spoke about visiting the beach,? was all the Patrick managed to get out, watching the strange young man turn and walk away. He shouted after Heero?s retreating back. ?I?m guessing you?re you the best man, then??
He watched the young man freeze in midstep. Heero slowly turned his head and shot him a look meant to put him aflame. ?What do you mean by that??
As that unrelenting gaze remained on his face, Patrick rushed to explain, his desire to be safe at home goading him. ?Well, they came in here and bought a ring. An engagement ring.? Patrick looked at the toes of his shoes and tugged at his collar nervously. ?I guess I ruined the surprise.?
When he had enough courage to look up and apologize, the young man was already gone.
TBC
Notes: Not that I'm disparaging any of those who reviewed the last chapter - * kisses * - you guys know who you are! But truthfully, I was a bit disappointed that not a lot of people replied in TIM chapter two.
Make me feel better, please?
So, what's the next chapter gonna be???....I can't wait!!!! 