Trust in Me [ chapter four ]

[Nausica?]

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 the quiet before the storm, per se, as Heero has a heart to heart with an old painter. Confrontations will occur and hearts will be broken.




Trust in Me

written by: Nausica?



Chapter Four: "What could I possibly give to the girl who?s got everything?"



?Bloody ?ell, what?s wrong with me?? he shouted, completely disgusted. Old Charlie threw his paintbrush down and looked about at his surroundings.

The beach was at its best today: the fine, white sand comforting to his bare feet, the soothing crash and retreat of the waves murmuring their song in his ear, and the sun warming his weathered face. There was so much around him just waiting to inspire ? and he knew it. But for the life of him, he couldn?t seem to capture anything on the blank easel before him. Frustrated almost to the point of anger, Old Charlie was about to give up and pack his things when the sound of carefree laughter reached his ears. Turning to his left, Charlie was treated to the enchanting sight of a young couple, an air of absolute contentment radiating from their movements.

Shaking his head at the flood of memories from earlier years spent at the side of his beloved Emma, Charlie reached a hand down to continue packing, but stopped. He couldn?t explain it to anyone if asked, but something inside told him to wait just a little bit longer and watch. Had it been the voice of Inspiration? Whether or not it was, Charlie had a feeling that his long, fruitless wait for stimulation would be rewarded in a few moments.



With shoes in hand, Duo and Relena walked down the beach, their footprints marking their travel and the waves erasing them in turn. Feeling the water rush around her ankles caused cool shivers to run pleasantly up her spine, and as she turned to speak of the feeling, Relena was taken aback at the comical sight before her.

As if he were wearing a dress, Duo grasped the material of his pants at the thigh and walked ever so carefully on his tiptoes, his eyes fixedly watching the level of the water swirling around his legs. The action contrasted so drastically with his obvious masculinity that Relena couldn?t help but laugh. He looked up for one moment to give a bashful grin, before he pleaded, ?Man, ?Jousan, can we take a break for a sec? I?m afraid my pants are gonna get ruined, and they?re my best pair.?

Taking pity on him and smothering another soft laugh, Relena lead Duo away from the wet sand to an old, sun-bleached tree, its roots exposed to the sun and elements by the ageless coming and going of the waves. Pushing him down onto a sturdy looking root, Relena knelt before Duo and began to roll up his pants, humming a light tune as she brushed off stray grains of sand.

Normally, if it had been anyone else doing such a task for him, Duo would?ve felt embarrassed. But as he gazed at the top of her golden head, Duo realized that such an act was humbling but honouring all the same. Especially, when the former Queen of the world knelt at your feet. He was about to say his thanks when a sudden idea came to mind.

He?d been wondering how he?d do it ? thinking of ways to make the moment as original but still romantic as possible ? though now that he thought of it, doing it the traditional way never received any complaints from the women.



From his seat thirty feet away, Old Charlie felt his jaw drop wide open at what he saw next.



Gently taking a startled Relena?s hand into his own, Duo switched their positions? and knelt down on one knee.



He searched for the familiar black convertible at the parking lot and slowed to a stop, spotting the high sheen of the sleek vehicle. Parking his rented car beside it, Heero cut the ignition and sat behind the wheel, staring at nothing in particular. He knew they were near, but once he found them, what was he going to do? Pretend it was by coincidence that they?d gone to the same place?

Snorting with derision, Heero scrapped the idea. Questionable as Duo?s intelligence was at times, he knew that his comrade acted such for his own purposes. For when push came to shove, Duo Maxwell was a gundam pilot. Nothing escaped his notice, and a weak ploy of ?accidental run in? would be immediately recognizable. And Heero would never hear the end of it then.

?And where did all that thinking lead me?? he muttered. ?Back to square one, that?s where.?

Heero got out of the car and locked it, walking towards the familiar set of stairs he?d seen only once before, five long years ago. He had run up their steps, kicking and knocking off a paramedic only to steal the ambulance parked at the top. Now, at the bottom of the stairs, Heero looked both ways up and down the beach, searching for the figures of his long time best friend and the woman he?d? well, he still wasn?t ready yet to acknowledge what he considered Relena to be.

Seeing a movement far down the beach to his left, Heero began to walk, mentally planning and in turn, rejecting reasons for why he was there. Fifteen minutes passed and still, no plausible excuse was found. Nearing the source of movement he had seen before, Heero felt a small wave of disappointment to find only an old man, a half finished easel set before him.



Hearing the soft crunch of shoes behind him, Old Charlie turned to look up into the face of a young man. His sombre look didn?t scare Old Charlie away, for Charlie knew better than to just judge a person at face value. He gave a friendly, nearly toothless smile and patted the large rock he?d been sitting on as invitation. ??Ello, my boy, what brings you to the beach alone? And don?t tell me you?ve got no girl, ?cause with a face like yers, you would ne?er be without some lady lookin? yer way.?

Normally, Heero would?ve told the man to mind his own business with just a look, but apparently, today was ?Heero-acts-out-character day.? He was sitting beside a man whose name he didn?t even know, ready to tell him the truth of why he was on a beach, when he shouldn?t have been on the face of the earth at all but at work on L1. Before he could stop himself, Heero heard himself speaking.

?I?m always alone. Even more so since I left her four years ago.?

Old Charlie smiled a rueful smile. ?Ah, a problem with a lady, eh my boy? All men mun go through that phase, one time or ano?er. Care ta tell Ol? Charlie what gots ye in a fuss??

Heero really didn?t understand the feeling that urged him to unload his thoughts to Old Charlie, but he did it anyway. ?Remember the war four years ago?? Seeing Charlie?s nod to continue, Heero went on, ?I fought in that war ? in the one a year before that one too. I fought both of them for her. She?s needed in this world. Her position is important. In 195, I knew she had feelings for me, saw her nearly everywhere I went? but I barely said a word to her. Always ran away, or said nothing at all. But she still followed me ? even after I threatened to kill her. For that full year before the Eve Wars began, I watched her from the shadows, you know? Never had contact with her except a few times? like when she?d hurt her ankle **.?

?And when the Eve Wars began, I had a chance to be near her again? but when they were over, I left her. Again. No note of goodbye - nothing.?

Heero paused to take a breath, knowing that Old Charlie listened, even though his brush had not paused on the canvas. ?Don?t tell me,? Charlie said, a note of knowing in his voice. ?After ye did that, you tried to move on, tried to erase yer past and its memories o? her.?

Sighing, Heero leaned his elbows on his knees and looked out at the shimmering water. ?Exactly.?

Pausing for a moment to switch brushes, Charlie glanced over at Heero and asked, ?And have ye had any contact with her in the last four years? Or even at least, kept tabs on the lady??

Running his hands through his hair and making it stand in spiky licks, Heero replied, his eyes reflecting his misery. ?Yeah, but only that. I see her practically everyday. But no physical, no vocal contact ? I won?t allow it.?

Old Charlie was amazed. ?And why not, lad? Last time I checked, fellers in love try to stay as close to their women as possible.?

Jerking his head towards the man, Heero exclaimed, ?I never said I was in love with her.?

?Oh, but ye are, my boy. Ye are. None but a special woman can make a man forsake all others.? Old Charlie answered, with all sagacity. ?Now, does the lady in question look for ye??

Heero moved his head in the negative. ?Last I heard, she quit looking for me two years ago. Her duties got in the way.?

Holding up his index finger in triumph, Charlie replied, ?But she only stopped looking ?cause her work got in the way. That doesna mean she doesn?t love ye.?

Hope sparked in Heero?s heart, but he stamped it down furiously. ?That may be, but? just today I received a call from a friend of mine that might settle that argument.? Hearing a grunt of interest to go on, Heero expounded. ?He wanted her, and asked my permission. Simple as that.?

?Wanted her for what?? Charlie asked, slightly confused.

?He wanted her because? because? I don?t know.? Heero said. His brow furrowed as he noted, ?I never listened to anything else he had to say. I kind of disconnected him.?

Chuckling with amusement, Old Charlie jokingly ? though unconsciously ? gave Heero hope once more. ?So, did you e?er think that yer lady was wanted fer something else??

Heero didn?t answer, his mind racing with the possibilities.

?Alright, tell me one more thing, lad. Why won?t you allow the contact? And don?t give me a weak excuse,? he interjected, seeing as how Heero was about to protest, ?There obviously isna anything else that?s standin? in yer way, except fer you.?

Heero?s shoulders slumped ever so slightly, but Charlie saw it. He knew he?d find out the truth. ?Because,? Heero whispered, ?I?m a soldier, one among many, insignificant. She?s a woman, known by her first name alone, always in the limelight, important to all of the earth and colonies.?

Charlie knew where the young man was going, but he wanted to hear it for himself. ?? And?? He encouraged gently. Glancing at his easel and back at the couple by the tree, Charlie?s jaw dropped, but he managed to listen to the young man beside him. It was important, and Charlie readily felt an almost paternal affection towards him. He?d draw his attention towards the unfolding scene after the lad finished his explanation.

?And therefore, completely and irrefutably, out of my world and out of my reach.? Heero concluded. ?What kind of life would I be able to give her? Me, a soldier but otherwise a civilian ? what could I possibly give to the girl who?s got everything??

Feeling his pain and confusion, Charlie turned his gaze away from the brunette and blonde, and patting Heero?s back comfortingly, said, ?Look, lad. If the girl loves you like you love her, there?s no question as to if she still loves ye, even after all this time. She can?t continue searchin? for ye, ?cause of her duties, right? Well, then, go to her. Find out once and for all. And if ye find out that she still loves you, then by all means, seize the day.?

?But like I said before,? Heero argued. ?What could I possibly offer her that could make her happy.?

?Easy.? Charlie replied. ?She knows yer a soldier, but she loves ye anyway. So she doesna want a man with a fortune. She wants you.? And with a nonchalant rinsing of his current brush, Charlie made everything crystal clear. ?And for starters? don?t worry about what you can give her. Just show up at her front door. That?ll make her happy. Take everything one step at a time.?

This time, Heero let the feeling of hope grow. ?You think so? Take it one step at a time, huh??

Pulling them both up to stand and stretch, Old Charlie nodded. ?That?s right, lad. Take it one step at a time,? and facing Heero towards the couple by the tree, Charlie said, ?and maybe someday, you?ll end up like them.?

Heero glanced indifferently at the couple, then did a double take, his eyes not believing what his mind had already registered.



Seeing movement off to their right, Duo and Relena turned their heads and froze, recognizing the dark haired man standing beside the old painter.



Hearing no reply to his encouragement, Old Charlie looked back at Heero, frowning in concern when he saw the stark look of hurt straining the young man?s face. ?What?s the matter, lad? Feeling a little worried it won?t end like them??

?No,? Heero choked out, turning away. ?It?ll never end like them.?



TBC




Notes: All three players are now aware of each other?s presence? what?ll happen? Heero?s shocked and hurt? Duo?s proposing? And Relena?s silent?

Ehehe, I?ll let you chew on that while you reply ? you will, won?t you? Please?

* blows kisses *

Until next time, sweets...


** Gundam Wing Episode Zero (I believe)

[raine_yuy]

oh man, you just had to end it like that! ok, you definitely got me on the edge of my seat now. i've got questions. lots of question!

but i'll let you answer them when you post the next chapter which i hope is very soon. i love your writing! it's nearly flawless. i want more!

[Melville's Best Friend]

I love this story! ^_^ *bounces off the roof*

Yay!!!! It makes me happy and sad and giddy and romantic and purple all at the same time! Do be a godd dear and finish it quickly. You have 45 minutes. Go! Go! Go!!!!!!

This IS a 1 x R, right? You're not....messin' with us, are you? This IS a fic about the SHAGGINATION of my Hee-chan and *mutters* relena

Keep it updated, and I shant complain. Failure to comply will result in...something.


QUICKLY! END MY MISERY!!!!!!!!!

[AngelOfDeath]

Oh geez it just keeps getting more and more painful for Heero! Move faster boy, faster I say (gives Heero a little push at the risk of losing limbs).

[Beer-monster]

Well I've read it before. But who cares its so damn good. I want more, more
MORE!!!!