Posted: Sun Jul 14, 2002 8:06 am
What Ever Makes You Happy
As if you DIDN?T know already? I don?t own Gundam Wing. It belongs to some other lucky SOB. But I?m sure they won?t mind me borrowing? after all? it?s not like I?m making any money?
Chapter Seven
?Shouldn?t you be in a meeting or something, right about now??
Relena looked up from her spot on the floor, where she was returning an upended drawer?s contents. Brushing her hands against her skirt, she shook her head at Sally.
?Meetings can be rescheduled. Besides, what kind of friend would I be, if I wasn?t around when I was needed most??
Sally crossed her arms, slouching slightly against an armchair. Her voice was soft, despondent.
?A better friend than I was.?
Relena glanced at the older woman in dismay, rising to her feet quickly and placing her hand on Sally?s arm.
?Don?t say such things! You can?t hold yourself responsible for what has happened today! How were you to know how Hilde would react? You offered your friendship, no one could have asked for more. Besides,? she smiled softly as she moved to straighten an upturned lampshade, ?Everything is going to work out. The boys will bring her home.?
Sally shook her head slightly, amazed by the young woman?s unfailing optimism.
?You really do have complete faith in those guys, don?t you??
******
?That?s it? You?re just going to let her walk away??
Trowa?s tone was incredulous, stunned by the apparent turn of events. Duo shrugged, his reply soft and lacking emotion, as he stared off in the direction Hilde had just disappeared.
?What else was I supposed to do? I promised.?
Trowa glared at Heero, as he saw the other man nod slightly in agreement at Duo?s words.
?You two are as bad as each other. You?ll throw everything away for the sake of a misplaced promise and your own stupid pride. I?m out of here. You guys make me sick.?
Heero watched, eyebrow raised, as Trowa stalked over to his bike, revving the engine sharply before accelerating away. Turning back to Duo, he saw his friend had not moved from his spot. His hands were shoved deep into his jacket pockets; his shoulders slumped as he stared ahead at some unknown point.
?Come on Duo. Let?s go home.?
Duo?s response was hollow, devoid of feeling.
?Home? I don?t think I have one any more.?
******
She had hoped that each step she took away from him would strengthen her resolve. Weaving her way through the afternoon crowd, however, she simply felt more alone as a growing emptiness expanded in her heart. She did not look back, knowing that Duo would not try to stop her. After all, Duo Maxwell never broke a promise.
Instead, Hilde walked on, allowing herself to be engulfed by the faceless mass of strangers.
******
Relena wandered aimlessly around the flat, restlessly trying to find something to occupy her. Duo?s mess had long since been tidied, but she found herself unable to relax and wait as she was overwhelmed by nervous energy.
Sally and been called back to headquarters some time ago, leaving Relena to wear a hole in the carpet on her own. She was slightly relieved, the solitude allowing her to fret in peace. A nagging feeling of unease nestled in the pit of her stomach and it grew with each passing moment. It had been hours. What was taking them so long?
As if in response to her question, she heard the soft sound of footsteps, and turned to see Trowa enter the room. His face was free of expression, bearing a blankness she had come to dread. Things had not gone well. She opened her mouth, about to ask the whereabouts of the others, when she was interrupted by the bang of the front door.
Head down and hands forced deep into his pockets, Duo?s step was heavy, devoid of his trademark vigour. He trudged passed them, as if they were not there and made his way down the hall into his room, slamming the door with a force that caused the walls to reverberate.
Stunned, Relena turned to Heero, who had followed silently in Duo?s wake. Before she could say a word, however, she found her hand grasped firmly as Heero drew her behind him into the kitchen.
?What happened? Did you find her? Where is she??
The anxious questions rolled from her lips, fading off, as his intense gaze mesmerized her.
?Heero???
His arms wrapped around her, holding her close, as he buried his face in her hair. She sighed softly, understanding the feelings he could not verbalize. His hold was possessive, almost anxious, as if he sought to make certain that she was really there. She turned her head slightly, so he could feel her warm breath against his ear.
?I know Heero. I love you too.?
******
Everything about their room spoke her name. Whether it was the soft lavender paint she had chosen for the walls, or the subtle hints of femininity she had added to the space. He remembered how he had bemoaned her selection of bedspreads, grumbling when she had replaced the worn flannel sheets with cotton and satin. He had ribbed her at the time at the way she was taking over ?his? room. She hadn?t taken it over though. She had simply made it theirs.
He sat on the edge of the bed, picking up one of the pillows that had cradled her head, not so many hours ago. He ran his hands across the fabric, as he stared off into space, cursing the way he had allowed himself to be tricked by her. Why had he made such a stupid promise? And why was he too much of a coward to break that promise?
Trowa was right. He was throwing everything away for the sake of a few stupid words.
******
?But it can?t just end like this!? Relena exclaimed, as Heero recounted what had happened at the bus depot. ?There must be more we can do??
Heero shook his head slightly, unsure of how he could soothe her. She had been pacing the floor for the entirety of his tale, and it made him dizzy to watch her. Trowa leaned against the wall, his traditional mask hiding the real sorrow he felt for his friend.
?She made her choice Relena. What else can we do??
Heero?s words simply resulted in further agitation, as Relena came to a sudden halt.
?They?re meant to be Heero.?
Her voice was a mere whisper, but the anguish in her tone all but shouted the words. Heero blinked at her.
?Don?t you understand? If they can?t have a happy ending, what hope is there for the rest of us??
Heero?s expression darkened, as her words found new meaning. Stepping forward, he brushed his fingers across her cheek, before kissing her tenderly.
?Relena, there is always hope.?
He turned sharply, his stride determined as he moved towards the door, pulling his jacket on as he went. Throwing the door open, he stopped dead in his tracks as he saw Quatre, who was poised to knock on the door. Not pausing for pleasantries, Heero brushed passed him, leaving a dumbfounded Quatre in his wake.
Shrugging slightly, Quatre shouldered his bags and made his way into the living room, pausing at the sombre congregation.
?Judging by the atmosphere in this room, I would guess there?s a pretty good reason nobody remembered to pick me up from the shuttle port.?
******
As if you DIDN?T know already? I don?t own Gundam Wing. It belongs to some other lucky SOB. But I?m sure they won?t mind me borrowing? after all? it?s not like I?m making any money?
Chapter Seven
?Shouldn?t you be in a meeting or something, right about now??
Relena looked up from her spot on the floor, where she was returning an upended drawer?s contents. Brushing her hands against her skirt, she shook her head at Sally.
?Meetings can be rescheduled. Besides, what kind of friend would I be, if I wasn?t around when I was needed most??
Sally crossed her arms, slouching slightly against an armchair. Her voice was soft, despondent.
?A better friend than I was.?
Relena glanced at the older woman in dismay, rising to her feet quickly and placing her hand on Sally?s arm.
?Don?t say such things! You can?t hold yourself responsible for what has happened today! How were you to know how Hilde would react? You offered your friendship, no one could have asked for more. Besides,? she smiled softly as she moved to straighten an upturned lampshade, ?Everything is going to work out. The boys will bring her home.?
Sally shook her head slightly, amazed by the young woman?s unfailing optimism.
?You really do have complete faith in those guys, don?t you??
******
?That?s it? You?re just going to let her walk away??
Trowa?s tone was incredulous, stunned by the apparent turn of events. Duo shrugged, his reply soft and lacking emotion, as he stared off in the direction Hilde had just disappeared.
?What else was I supposed to do? I promised.?
Trowa glared at Heero, as he saw the other man nod slightly in agreement at Duo?s words.
?You two are as bad as each other. You?ll throw everything away for the sake of a misplaced promise and your own stupid pride. I?m out of here. You guys make me sick.?
Heero watched, eyebrow raised, as Trowa stalked over to his bike, revving the engine sharply before accelerating away. Turning back to Duo, he saw his friend had not moved from his spot. His hands were shoved deep into his jacket pockets; his shoulders slumped as he stared ahead at some unknown point.
?Come on Duo. Let?s go home.?
Duo?s response was hollow, devoid of feeling.
?Home? I don?t think I have one any more.?
******
She had hoped that each step she took away from him would strengthen her resolve. Weaving her way through the afternoon crowd, however, she simply felt more alone as a growing emptiness expanded in her heart. She did not look back, knowing that Duo would not try to stop her. After all, Duo Maxwell never broke a promise.
Instead, Hilde walked on, allowing herself to be engulfed by the faceless mass of strangers.
******
Relena wandered aimlessly around the flat, restlessly trying to find something to occupy her. Duo?s mess had long since been tidied, but she found herself unable to relax and wait as she was overwhelmed by nervous energy.
Sally and been called back to headquarters some time ago, leaving Relena to wear a hole in the carpet on her own. She was slightly relieved, the solitude allowing her to fret in peace. A nagging feeling of unease nestled in the pit of her stomach and it grew with each passing moment. It had been hours. What was taking them so long?
As if in response to her question, she heard the soft sound of footsteps, and turned to see Trowa enter the room. His face was free of expression, bearing a blankness she had come to dread. Things had not gone well. She opened her mouth, about to ask the whereabouts of the others, when she was interrupted by the bang of the front door.
Head down and hands forced deep into his pockets, Duo?s step was heavy, devoid of his trademark vigour. He trudged passed them, as if they were not there and made his way down the hall into his room, slamming the door with a force that caused the walls to reverberate.
Stunned, Relena turned to Heero, who had followed silently in Duo?s wake. Before she could say a word, however, she found her hand grasped firmly as Heero drew her behind him into the kitchen.
?What happened? Did you find her? Where is she??
The anxious questions rolled from her lips, fading off, as his intense gaze mesmerized her.
?Heero???
His arms wrapped around her, holding her close, as he buried his face in her hair. She sighed softly, understanding the feelings he could not verbalize. His hold was possessive, almost anxious, as if he sought to make certain that she was really there. She turned her head slightly, so he could feel her warm breath against his ear.
?I know Heero. I love you too.?
******
Everything about their room spoke her name. Whether it was the soft lavender paint she had chosen for the walls, or the subtle hints of femininity she had added to the space. He remembered how he had bemoaned her selection of bedspreads, grumbling when she had replaced the worn flannel sheets with cotton and satin. He had ribbed her at the time at the way she was taking over ?his? room. She hadn?t taken it over though. She had simply made it theirs.
He sat on the edge of the bed, picking up one of the pillows that had cradled her head, not so many hours ago. He ran his hands across the fabric, as he stared off into space, cursing the way he had allowed himself to be tricked by her. Why had he made such a stupid promise? And why was he too much of a coward to break that promise?
Trowa was right. He was throwing everything away for the sake of a few stupid words.
******
?But it can?t just end like this!? Relena exclaimed, as Heero recounted what had happened at the bus depot. ?There must be more we can do??
Heero shook his head slightly, unsure of how he could soothe her. She had been pacing the floor for the entirety of his tale, and it made him dizzy to watch her. Trowa leaned against the wall, his traditional mask hiding the real sorrow he felt for his friend.
?She made her choice Relena. What else can we do??
Heero?s words simply resulted in further agitation, as Relena came to a sudden halt.
?They?re meant to be Heero.?
Her voice was a mere whisper, but the anguish in her tone all but shouted the words. Heero blinked at her.
?Don?t you understand? If they can?t have a happy ending, what hope is there for the rest of us??
Heero?s expression darkened, as her words found new meaning. Stepping forward, he brushed his fingers across her cheek, before kissing her tenderly.
?Relena, there is always hope.?
He turned sharply, his stride determined as he moved towards the door, pulling his jacket on as he went. Throwing the door open, he stopped dead in his tracks as he saw Quatre, who was poised to knock on the door. Not pausing for pleasantries, Heero brushed passed him, leaving a dumbfounded Quatre in his wake.
Shrugging slightly, Quatre shouldered his bags and made his way into the living room, pausing at the sombre congregation.
?Judging by the atmosphere in this room, I would guess there?s a pretty good reason nobody remembered to pick me up from the shuttle port.?
******
And poor Quatre all alone,with no friends who want to pick him up at the port.....
