Starman chapter 13

[wsprs]

?Relena.?
She whorled around at the voice, and practically flung herself into the arms of the man who?s voice had beckoned her.
?Quatre! What are you doing here? And why do I keep running into all of you??
He smiled, and held her until she left his embrace to stand on her own.
?Une?s orders. We?re to track and observe, mostly to see about your safety, but we?re not to engage under any circumstance.?
She frowned a moment, but a reprimanding grin wormed its way to her face.
?Quatre. I?m surprised at you, not following your orders!?
He looked abashed, but his smile was genuine.
?I have good reason.?
His gaze pierced through the room to fall on the form of the man, still seated with his hamburger suspended in the air before him, staring out the window as he chewed. She followed the line of Quatre?s sight, and sighed.
?He really does look like Heero, doesn?t he??
Quatre?s eyes shifted suspiciously to Relena, who?s attention was still on the alien. He studied her, the look in her eyes held no fear ? rather regret, and sorrow. His eyes widened with what else he saw, but he regained his composure quickly.
?You mean that isn?t Heero??
It was more a statement than a question, but he noted that she did not find the remark strange. She looked into his waiting eyes, but made no denial or confirmation. Quatre closed his eyes. He took a deep breath, and reopened them to bore into Relena?s eyes.
?You?re ok??
She smiled, but the sparkle didn?t reach her eyes.
?I?m fine, Quatre. Really.?
He breathed a sigh of relief, but his attention snapped as she asked a question.
?Quatre. I assume that since everyone else knows my situation, my brother has been informed??
He nodded. At her brief look of alarm, quickly smothered, he drew his brows over his eyes.
?Yes, Milliardo knows. He?s very worried about you.?
He studied her face for a reaction, and realized she was on diplomatic mode when her face was devoid of any emotion at all. Baffled he tried again.
?Do you have a message you wish for me to give him??
She smiled, and her face regained the warmth from moments before.
?No. In fact, I?m planning my big escape as we speak. This is a truck stop, but I believe I saw a bus in the back??
Obviously relieved, Quatre smiled. Humor abuzz in his warm, aquamarine eyes, he cocked his head as if amused.
?I was wondering if you?d ask me about that.?
His eyes flicked to the man still waiting at the booth before returning to Relena.
?It was meant as a last resort, if I thought your safety in detriment, but it seems to me that if you feel comfortable enough to speak to me behind his back, you?d be confident in an escape attempt. I trust your judgment.?
?Will Lady Une fault you for losing track of- of..?
He brought his hand to her shoulder, and waited until hear features smoothed under the kind embrace of his gaze.
?All that matters to us is you, Relena. We won?t lose that fellow.?
He gave her a wry grin.
?Zechs has made it his personal mission to follow him to the ends of the galaxy if needs be. I know what you?re thinking. Lay your mind to rest. We made Zechs promise not to hurt the fella until we know without a doubt who he is and what he wants.?
?And then??
Quatre paused. She looked so worried and afraid, and her eyes pleaded him for answers. He didn?t have an answer for her, though, so kept his mouth shut, his eyes full of sympathy for the blond woman in front of him.
?Quatre. I don?t want you to tell anyone we were here.?
Dumbfounded, he dropped his hand from her shoulder and stared at her, unable to speak.
?Please. Just ? give him these.?
She inclined her head towards the booth where she and the alien sat, and thrust a credit card, a map, and her keys into Quatre?s hand.
?Relena..?
?Please, Quatre.?
He looked into her eyes, and knew that he could not deny her request.
?As foolish as I think this is??
She flung herself into his arms and kissed his cheek before whispering into his ear.
?Thank you.?
With that, she turned and walked towards the back of the restaurant, looking for the back door that led to the bus waiting outside.

The door was jammed. She?d have to chance the front door. Maybe she could ask Quatre to create a diversion. Twisting her mouth in a cynical line, she turned to go back the way she had come, only to find Quatre chasing after her.
?Relena. I forgot to tell you that the back door is rusted shut. You can go out the front door, the fellow you were with is in the parking lot and won?t see you if you leave now.?
Confused, she looked at Quatre, questioning him with her eyes. Instead of waiting for an answer, she brushed passed him.
?Relena, wait!?
She turned to face the blond man, and waited for him to catch up to her.
?Are you sure you want to do this? You can still get on the bus??
Her eyes softened, and she smiled sadly.
?No, Quatre?
He looked resigned, as though he had expected her answer. She took her things from his outstretched hand, glancing up to capture his eyes with hers.

?I promise I?ll explain, just not now. I?m not really sure I understand it myself.?
He returned her smile, though it was tired and strained.
?I?ll be ok, Quatre.?
?I know you will. I?ll give you a couple of hours, but then I will have to report in. I?m sorry. That?s all the time I can give you.?
Tears came to her eyes, and she flung herself into his arms again. Not trusting her voice, she just hugged him tighter, and abruptly let go and ran out the door where she knew her friend would be. She didn?t hear his last words as he looked after her, worry and understanding warring in his eyes.
?I hope you know what you?re doing, Miss Relena.?

She reached the door, but instead of going to him, she held back, bewildered. He had situated himself in front of the deer, not more than 50 feet away from where she stood, hand raised and glowing. With the other hand, he stroked the animal. The waves of light cast from his clenched fist fluctuated and were absorbed by the doe through the hand that touched her side. Astonished, she saw that the deer twitched. Slowly one leg was moved, then another. An ear flicked, and her head came up to look at the man standing above her. Relena couldn?t help but feel a marvelous awe come over her, and a smile forced its way to her lips. She had never witnessed anything so miraculous and beautiful in her life. Her eyes shone with unrepressed emotion as she watched the strange man from space untie the now healthy deer. He petted the forest creature with such gentle consideration and love that she felt, just by watching, she had been somehow touched with the same magic that recalled the life of the doe. Carefully, he lifted the deer to her still floundering legs until she was steady, and then watched her as she bounded carefree to the forest beyond. Relena laughed and shook her head in wonder.

Then from her left, a man came sauntering to stand beside her.
??Scuse me, miss, but you seem the meat eater type. Can I interest ya in a nice venison? Perhaps some lamb??
When she ignored him, he turned his attention to what held her so captivated.
?Son of a bitch! I?m gonna get that bastard!?
With that, the hunter stormed out of the restaurant, and toward the unsuspecting alien. When he arrived, he grabbed the space man by the shoulder, and twisted him around.
?Where th? hell?s the damn deer!??
He turned his eyes to the loud human, still euphoric from the thrilling exhilaration he had felt when the deer soared to freedom. He held a hand up to point in the direction the deer had gone, and even took a step in that direction, as if to follow the gentle creature.
?She wennt there.?
?Bull shit!?
And the hunter jabbed the alien on the shoulder to get his attention, and shouted.
?Hey!?
When he turned to face the angry hunter, he found his vision explode and he felt himself fly into the air before crumpling to the ground. Disoriented and confused, he felt his mouth fill with a metallic tasting liquid. As he looked up into the waiting sneer of the man standing above him, he was at a loss as to what had happened, and blinked as the ugly cur spit a wad of chew to the ground.
?Bingo.?
Just then, five other men, all shouting and angry came upon them. When the hunter saw his friends had joined him, he didn?t hesitate to relate his story.
?Damn bastard did somethin? with the damn deer! Haul him up!?
Two men grabbed his elbows and lifted him to his feet. He looked at them, puzzled, and tried to make sense of what was happening.
?Hold him!?
He turned his head in the direction of the voice, but was unable to see anything as a severe blow landed in his gut. His eyes flew wide, and he doubled over, crying out in surprise. Someone grabbed his hair to force his face up, and he looked around wildly, desperate to understand. Before the fist made contact with his jaw, three shots rang out, and he was dropped. On his knees, he tried to regain balance of his awkward body so that he could stand.

?What the hell?s wrong wi? you, lady??
?Get away from that man! He doesn?t understand!?
With their hands in the air, they circled wide, wary of the woman and her gun. She swept the pistol in a wide arc, and in turn, they each jumped, but staggered but a few feet and no further.
?What did you think you were doing ganging up on him like that!?
She turned her icy gaze to the brutes who had held the lone man. They looked to each other, then back at her, shaking their heads. As this was going on, her friend had finally found his feet, and made his way behind the hunter. He raised his hand, tapped the man on the shoulder, and shouted.
?Heyy!?
As the hunter turned, his face met with the crushing blow of the alien?s fist. His body flew over the car the doe had been strapped on, tumbled over and over, and finally came to rest ten feet away. His friends ran to pick him up, and his head lolled from side to side, his nose and jaw obviously and utterly crushed. They looked up, cold shock raging through their limbs as their eyes found the alien, who turned his head and spit a stream of blood.
?Bin-go.?
Relena recovered first. She had known Heero was capable of such feats of strength. This alien was proving to be more like Heero than even Heero had been. Even so, she remembered herself to be holding the gun, and felt it better to threaten them with something everyone knew could not surpass its own limits.
?Pack up your junk and get out of here.?
They looked at her, looked to the man who had come to stand behind her, and then to the man unconscious and bleeding under them.
?But??
?I said MOVE!?
They grabbed their downed companion, and drug him a short distance away. She watched them until she was satisfied that they would not come after her or the man by her side. Then, she turned and grabbed the alien by his elbow, and tenderly led him towards her car.
?I thought I told you to stay away from that jerk.?
Her heart melted when his wild eyes found anchor on hers, and slowly filled with the look of a lost child, just found.
?That?s ok. I think I understand. Watch your head.?
As he allowed himself to be folded, he hit his head on the arch of the car door, and slumped the rest of the way in the passenger seat.
?Oh! Are you ok??
She rubbed his head, and waited until he looked up at her, curious as to what concerned her, and what she was doing with her fingers in his hair. She smiled down at him.
?Are you hurt??
He knitted his eyebrows.
?Hurrtt..?
?Pain. Like the body has been injured.?
His eyes widened and he tightened his lips.
?Injure. No. Nott pain.?
?Alright then. Let?s go.?
He swung his legs in and she shut the door. She raised her eyebrows in speculation, and lifted the corner of her lips in puzzlement.
Ok? not hurt. Huh. Truly, I don?t know why I?m surprised. That IS Heero?s body he?s wearing..
She grinned at herself as she plopped in the driver?s side.
Alright! I admit it. I just miss worrying about him, that?s all.

A few moments passed, and when she had not turned the ignition, he turned to look at her. She looked back and ruffled his hair playfully. Without thought, he smoothed it back. Immediately, she ruffled it again. When he raised his hand to smooth it, she caught and held it.
?Don?t. It looks better messy.?
She let go, and he held his hand in the air for a second, considering. Slowly, he let it drop into his lap. She nodded once, smiling, and then put the key to the ignition.
?I thoughtt guns make you lit-tle bitt jum-py, Releena Peese-craft.?
She sucked in a breath and looked at him sideways.
?You make me a little jumpy.?
She turned the engine, and it roared to life. Looking out the back window, she saw the hunters rally and pouted.

?I don?t know ?bout you fella?s. But I?m gonna get that asshole. Right now.?
One of the hunter?s friends took a few steps towards the mustang. Relena, wearing a wicked grin, maliciously stomped on the gas and geared the car in reverse. The five men behind her hooted and cursed her.
?HEY! Take it easy!?
Something clicked inside the alien?s brain. The correct response to that phrase was? He raised his middle finger at the men.
?Upp yourz??

Outraged, the hunters left their felled friend and hastily packed themselves into their car. They revved the engine, and spun their tires in a hasty attempt to follow the little orange and black mustang. Relena?s eyes flew wide, and even as she grinned, her knuckles became white on the steering wheel, and the blood from her face drained. She stepped on the gas and flung her car towards road, nervous at how close the hunters were behind her. Just as she her pursuers were on top of her, a bus roared from nowhere blocking them from ramming into her. She confirmed the sound of screeching tires and screaming metal twisting in protest by looking in her rear-view mirror. She raised one arm in victory, and whooped.
?Ah, haaa!! Thank you, Quatre!!!?
Quickly she composed herself, aware of her passenger. But she couldn?t contain the look of pure glee spread across her features, and she laughed.

[kawaiiemogirl]

Oh my gosh this Heero alien is just too funny. lmao I can picture him doing that.

Something clicked inside the alien?s brain. The correct response to that phrase was? He raised his middle finger at the men.
?Upp yourz??