Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2002 3:46 pm
Disclaimer: As always, I don?t own GW or any of the characters. I even borrowed the fianc??s name from my brother (though my brother has blue eyes not brown).
Moment of Truth
By the Black Rose
Author?s Note: SURPRISE! A second part to this very short, 2 chapter fic. I don?t have anywhere else to take it in mind, so this is the end for now. Just wanted to throw a little sap out there, since I don?t do that near enough. Think of it as the light at the beginning of the freight train of angst heading our way? Eh heh heh heh. It?s nothing spectacular, but I hope you will enjoy it. *hugs* Love, Rose
Chapter 2
?Thank you,? Relena said and sat down. She let out an uneasy sigh and forced a smile at the hostess that had led her to the table. It was a fancy restaurant, the type he used to despise, with the pristine white tablecloths, the elevator-style music, and one too many forks for his liking. Who cared which one went with salad, and which one went with dinner?
He watched as she folded and unfolded her hands, then fidgeted with the napkin in her lap. He read her lips as she ordered tea from the waiter, then changed it to coffee, and finally settled on a margarita instead. A frown creased his forehead; Relena rarely consumed alcohol. He knew this must be difficult for her.
He closed the door to her office and rested his head on the polished wood. Relief soaked his skin and was absorbed into his blood stream like a drug. She still loved him. The thought pumped air into his lungs and he could breathe again.
He opened his eyes and straightened his posture, turning to look back at Relena. She was wringing her hands with a pained expression on her face.
?But is loving you enough? Enough to make it work this time?? Her eyes pleaded and she stared at him as if she were trying to search his very soul for the answer.
?Yes,? he said and moved towards her. He gazed down at the woman before him and lifted a hand to tuck some wayward strands behind her ear as he bent down to steal a kiss from trembling lips. She pulled away.
?I?I can?t Heero. I?m still engaged to Jonathan. I have to think this all through.?
?Relena, you said??
?I know. And I, I?m willing to try, Heero. But I do care for Jonathan. I just need some time.?
?I understand,? he said and turned away. ?It?s going to hurt worse before it gets better. But if you need?anything, I won?t be very far.?
?When did you get to be so wise, Heero Yuy?? He could hear the smile on her lips even though he couldn?t see it.
?Wisdom is only surviving your mistakes. I?ve just made more than most people our age.?
A man in a well-tailored suit arrived, his head darting from left to right as he entered the mouth of the dining room. He saw the hostess gesture towards Relena?s table, and the new arrival took off in that direction. Even if Heero hadn?t known whom she was meeting, he would have easily surmised that the man was Jonathan ? the fianc?.
?Soon to be ex-fianc?.?
******************************************
She saw him, looking handsome in his dark navy suit as he rounded the corner and approached the table where she sat in wait. Relena smiled when they made eye contact, but her heart wasn?t in it. It was beating at a hectic pace and her stomach churned in perfect time, making her feel nauseas. She stood up to receive the obligatory peck on the cheek before they both sat down again. Her mouth felt dry and her quaking hand reached out for the large glass on the table?s edge, and then went back to folding her napkin on her lap.
?Sorry I?m late, my meeting finished?? He was interrupted by the waiter asking what he wanted to drink. Jonathan quickly glanced to see what Relena was drinking and arched an eyebrow at the margarita glass before ordering iced tea. ?Tough day at the office??
?Not really,? she said in a voice that strained to sound normal, but failed in her estimation. She looked down at her hands. Her left one felt strange, naked, without the engagement ring that had been a part of her regular attire for the last six weeks. She wondered if she would be able to begin her well-rehearsed speech before he noticed it was missing.
?Is something wrong??
She looked up into brown eyes framed by deep creases in his normally smooth brow. Guilt grabbed her stomach in its merciless talons, and she had to look away.
?Relena, why aren?t you wearing your ring??
The tightness in his voice seeped through the restaurant?s easy atmosphere, and it added to the pain she was already feeling inside. She had to tell him, he deserved to know, he honestly deserved better than what she could offer him. She just hoped that someday he?d understand. ?Jonathan, I??
Mechanically, she slid the black box with the ring tucked safely inside across the table. ?I??
His dark eyes narrowed as he stared down at the table. A nervous laugh escaped his lips. ?Is this some sort of a joke, Relena??
?No. I?m sorry. I can?t?I can?t marry you.?
He had been leaning forward over the table, as if straining to hear her words, but now he sat up and away from her, his brown eyes set in a troubled frown. ?Are you going to tell me why??
Relena?s eyes fell to the starched white cloth she continued to toy with in her lap. ?I??
?If it?s too soon, we can push back the date. I don?t want to rush you.? The urgent pleading in the tone of his voice caused her heart to lurch again in her chest. He had been kind, and a sincere friend she had grown to love. It wasn?t his fault she still had feelings for someone else.
?No. It?s not too soon.?
?Is it something I?ve done??
She winced and felt her hand tighten around the napkin, chortling the life out of it in a dim reflection of what she was doing to the man before her. But she had faith that in time, he?d fine someone else ? someone better than a woman that would love him only second-best. ?No. It?s nothing you?ve done. It?s nothing you haven?t done. I?ve just come to realize that I don?t love you the way that you deserve, Jonathan. You deserve a wife that loves you better than I do.?
?I don?t understand.? He sounded farther away than he had ever been. She lifted her heavy gaze to meet his eyes.
?I care for you very deeply, but I can?t love you with my whole heart.? Her voice dropped to a whisper. ?I love someone else.?
?You what? When? Who? Have you been seeing someone behind my back?? His voice pitched to an angry level. She could feel the stares of the people around them boring into her skin, and hear the hushed murmurs begin.
?Isn?t that Relena Darlian and her fianc???
?No. I haven?t been seeing anyone. I wouldn?t do that to you. It?s?It?s Heero. I still love him, Jonathan.?
?And you?re just now realizing this? Relena, this doesn?t make sense.?
?I-I don?t expect you to understand??
?Oh, well, thanks a lot. Dammit Relena, we?ve been through this. You were over him. I waited, and??
?I thought I was, too. But I?m not, and I won?t be happy always wondering what if I had given it one more chance??
?Heero. That jerk who left you two years ago to go ?find himself? and told you not to wait? You?re going to throw away our relationship on the off chance he?ll come back? Do you know how juvenile that sounds? How utterly stupid?Relena, you love me, don?t do this.?
?I?m sorry, Jonathan.?
?You?ll change your mind. You?re just having cold feet??
?No, it?s not that.?
?We can postpone the marriage, take it slower?.I?ll give you time to see you are over him.?
?I?m not, and I never will be. I don?t wish it could be different, I only wish I didn?t have to hurt you like this.?
His hands flew to either side of his head, knotting in his hair. ?This?this is unbelievable. Just like that, two years of our lives just gone?. for that jerk.?
?He?s not a jerk.? Her voice revisited a firm timbre of command. ?He?s had a different life than you and I, and his emotions are more difficult for him to understand.?
Jonathan?s jaw dropped and he just stared at her, angry flames burning in his usually kind eyes. He bolted from his seat, and threw his napkin at the table. ?You?re not kidding. I do deserve better than this.?
Go. And find someone who can return your heart.
?I?m sorry.? She blinked and lowered her gaze to the table. She couldn?t believe how calm she felt despite the trembling of her hand as she reached for her margarita again.
?What?s wrong?? She asked him, her hand finding his across the backseat of the limousine. But Heero wouldn?t look at her.
?Nothing.?
?You?re not going to talk to me?? She pulled away. ?Let me guess, you?re angry that I dragged you to another one of these formal affairs??
?Yes.?
She glared at the back of his head. ?Heero, you haven?t had to go to one for more than two months. I have to attend these things from time to time, so you might as well learn to deal with them.?
?Hn.? He continued to stare out the window, but his eyes didn?t follow the scenery as they passed by. It was almost like he didn?t see it.
?What?s really bothering you?? She softened her tone, trying to get him to speak to her.
There was a long pause, then finally: ?I saw that interview you did last week.?
Her shoulders drooped. ?Oh. Yes, I was really angry about that myself.?
?You could have at least told them that the reason I threatened you was because it was my job. You could have connected me to Wing, that was the only reason I was going to kill you.? He met her with narrowed, accusing eyes. The look on his face was as effective as any gun could have been. It nearly killed her.
?It wouldn?t have mattered. It would have brought more attention to the situation. I just wanted to move passed that line of questioning.? Her words begged for his understanding. He turned away.
?Instead, all your cronies think I may end your life at a moment?s notice.?
?Well, I had no idea you spent the first half of your life as an assassin, Heero. Maybe if you?d let me in from time to time and tell me these things I could be better prepared to handle those kinds of questions.?
?I didn?t know.? His voice was low and far away.
?What do you mean you didn?t know??
?I don?t remember anything before my training with Dr. J. He told me that the genetic experiments would wipe out my memory. If he knew what I did before that time, he never told me, and I knew better than to ask.?
?Are you all right?? Heero asked, interrupting her thoughts with his deep voice. His hand came to rest on her shoulder.
She blinked up into frowning sapphire eyes filled with his familiar, but now somewhat gentler concern. ?Yes. I?m okay. What are you doing here??
?I just wanted to make sure things didn?t get out of hand.?
?He wouldn?t hurt me, but thank you. Won?t you stay and have dinner with me??
He nodded and sat down, pushing the glass of tea to the side of the table. She saw him eye her glass.
?Yes, I know. I was a little nervous.?
He nodded. ?I could tell. I was watching you.?
?You always do.?
He reached and covered her right hand with his own. She smiled and met his tender gaze. Her heart did flip-flops in her chest and made her feel warm all over, as if she was melting into the man across from her. But the moment was interrupted as Jonathan came charging back into the dining room.
Her eyes widened and she pulled her hand from Heero?s grip. She shot out of her seat. ?Jonathan!?
?I can?t believe this. I came in here to apologize, to try and change your mind, and I find you here with..with?him! You lied to me, Relena.?
?Lied to you??
?That B.S. about still being in love with Heero when you?ve got bachelor number three here moving in before the cushion of my seat gets warm. What did you do, call him up and tell him to wait until you got rid of me and then you two could have a good time? ?Sorry, I just have to ditch my fianc? before our date. It should only be a minute.??
?I didn?t know he was here.?
?Oh right,? he spat and took a menacing step forward. Heero moved to block his path.
?She didn?t. I have a habit of watching over her. When we were together, and even the time that we spent apart. I was still watching, still protecting her.?
?Who the hell are you??
?Heero Yuy, it?s a pleasure.? He shoved his hands in his pockets.
?Jonathan Durham. I see.?
Relena tapped Heero?s shoulder, and indicated he could move aside. She looked up at the man who had been her friend for all this time.
?It wasn?t easy, Jonathan, when he came back. But I still love him, and that in itself isn?t fair to you.?
Jonathan took a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair, turning to glare at the man standing in front of his chair. ?Take care of her,? he said.
Heero?s eyes flicked over to the woman beside him, then up at the tensed features of the defeated opponent. He nodded.
Jonathan turned and quietly exited the restaurant.
?That?s just my job. This time around I?m going to love her.?
Moment of Truth
By the Black Rose
Author?s Note: SURPRISE! A second part to this very short, 2 chapter fic. I don?t have anywhere else to take it in mind, so this is the end for now. Just wanted to throw a little sap out there, since I don?t do that near enough. Think of it as the light at the beginning of the freight train of angst heading our way? Eh heh heh heh. It?s nothing spectacular, but I hope you will enjoy it. *hugs* Love, Rose
Chapter 2
?Thank you,? Relena said and sat down. She let out an uneasy sigh and forced a smile at the hostess that had led her to the table. It was a fancy restaurant, the type he used to despise, with the pristine white tablecloths, the elevator-style music, and one too many forks for his liking. Who cared which one went with salad, and which one went with dinner?
He watched as she folded and unfolded her hands, then fidgeted with the napkin in her lap. He read her lips as she ordered tea from the waiter, then changed it to coffee, and finally settled on a margarita instead. A frown creased his forehead; Relena rarely consumed alcohol. He knew this must be difficult for her.
He closed the door to her office and rested his head on the polished wood. Relief soaked his skin and was absorbed into his blood stream like a drug. She still loved him. The thought pumped air into his lungs and he could breathe again.
He opened his eyes and straightened his posture, turning to look back at Relena. She was wringing her hands with a pained expression on her face.
?But is loving you enough? Enough to make it work this time?? Her eyes pleaded and she stared at him as if she were trying to search his very soul for the answer.
?Yes,? he said and moved towards her. He gazed down at the woman before him and lifted a hand to tuck some wayward strands behind her ear as he bent down to steal a kiss from trembling lips. She pulled away.
?I?I can?t Heero. I?m still engaged to Jonathan. I have to think this all through.?
?Relena, you said??
?I know. And I, I?m willing to try, Heero. But I do care for Jonathan. I just need some time.?
?I understand,? he said and turned away. ?It?s going to hurt worse before it gets better. But if you need?anything, I won?t be very far.?
?When did you get to be so wise, Heero Yuy?? He could hear the smile on her lips even though he couldn?t see it.
?Wisdom is only surviving your mistakes. I?ve just made more than most people our age.?
A man in a well-tailored suit arrived, his head darting from left to right as he entered the mouth of the dining room. He saw the hostess gesture towards Relena?s table, and the new arrival took off in that direction. Even if Heero hadn?t known whom she was meeting, he would have easily surmised that the man was Jonathan ? the fianc?.
?Soon to be ex-fianc?.?
******************************************
She saw him, looking handsome in his dark navy suit as he rounded the corner and approached the table where she sat in wait. Relena smiled when they made eye contact, but her heart wasn?t in it. It was beating at a hectic pace and her stomach churned in perfect time, making her feel nauseas. She stood up to receive the obligatory peck on the cheek before they both sat down again. Her mouth felt dry and her quaking hand reached out for the large glass on the table?s edge, and then went back to folding her napkin on her lap.
?Sorry I?m late, my meeting finished?? He was interrupted by the waiter asking what he wanted to drink. Jonathan quickly glanced to see what Relena was drinking and arched an eyebrow at the margarita glass before ordering iced tea. ?Tough day at the office??
?Not really,? she said in a voice that strained to sound normal, but failed in her estimation. She looked down at her hands. Her left one felt strange, naked, without the engagement ring that had been a part of her regular attire for the last six weeks. She wondered if she would be able to begin her well-rehearsed speech before he noticed it was missing.
?Is something wrong??
She looked up into brown eyes framed by deep creases in his normally smooth brow. Guilt grabbed her stomach in its merciless talons, and she had to look away.
?Relena, why aren?t you wearing your ring??
The tightness in his voice seeped through the restaurant?s easy atmosphere, and it added to the pain she was already feeling inside. She had to tell him, he deserved to know, he honestly deserved better than what she could offer him. She just hoped that someday he?d understand. ?Jonathan, I??
Mechanically, she slid the black box with the ring tucked safely inside across the table. ?I??
His dark eyes narrowed as he stared down at the table. A nervous laugh escaped his lips. ?Is this some sort of a joke, Relena??
?No. I?m sorry. I can?t?I can?t marry you.?
He had been leaning forward over the table, as if straining to hear her words, but now he sat up and away from her, his brown eyes set in a troubled frown. ?Are you going to tell me why??
Relena?s eyes fell to the starched white cloth she continued to toy with in her lap. ?I??
?If it?s too soon, we can push back the date. I don?t want to rush you.? The urgent pleading in the tone of his voice caused her heart to lurch again in her chest. He had been kind, and a sincere friend she had grown to love. It wasn?t his fault she still had feelings for someone else.
?No. It?s not too soon.?
?Is it something I?ve done??
She winced and felt her hand tighten around the napkin, chortling the life out of it in a dim reflection of what she was doing to the man before her. But she had faith that in time, he?d fine someone else ? someone better than a woman that would love him only second-best. ?No. It?s nothing you?ve done. It?s nothing you haven?t done. I?ve just come to realize that I don?t love you the way that you deserve, Jonathan. You deserve a wife that loves you better than I do.?
?I don?t understand.? He sounded farther away than he had ever been. She lifted her heavy gaze to meet his eyes.
?I care for you very deeply, but I can?t love you with my whole heart.? Her voice dropped to a whisper. ?I love someone else.?
?You what? When? Who? Have you been seeing someone behind my back?? His voice pitched to an angry level. She could feel the stares of the people around them boring into her skin, and hear the hushed murmurs begin.
?Isn?t that Relena Darlian and her fianc???
?No. I haven?t been seeing anyone. I wouldn?t do that to you. It?s?It?s Heero. I still love him, Jonathan.?
?And you?re just now realizing this? Relena, this doesn?t make sense.?
?I-I don?t expect you to understand??
?Oh, well, thanks a lot. Dammit Relena, we?ve been through this. You were over him. I waited, and??
?I thought I was, too. But I?m not, and I won?t be happy always wondering what if I had given it one more chance??
?Heero. That jerk who left you two years ago to go ?find himself? and told you not to wait? You?re going to throw away our relationship on the off chance he?ll come back? Do you know how juvenile that sounds? How utterly stupid?Relena, you love me, don?t do this.?
?I?m sorry, Jonathan.?
?You?ll change your mind. You?re just having cold feet??
?No, it?s not that.?
?We can postpone the marriage, take it slower?.I?ll give you time to see you are over him.?
?I?m not, and I never will be. I don?t wish it could be different, I only wish I didn?t have to hurt you like this.?
His hands flew to either side of his head, knotting in his hair. ?This?this is unbelievable. Just like that, two years of our lives just gone?. for that jerk.?
?He?s not a jerk.? Her voice revisited a firm timbre of command. ?He?s had a different life than you and I, and his emotions are more difficult for him to understand.?
Jonathan?s jaw dropped and he just stared at her, angry flames burning in his usually kind eyes. He bolted from his seat, and threw his napkin at the table. ?You?re not kidding. I do deserve better than this.?
Go. And find someone who can return your heart.
?I?m sorry.? She blinked and lowered her gaze to the table. She couldn?t believe how calm she felt despite the trembling of her hand as she reached for her margarita again.
?What?s wrong?? She asked him, her hand finding his across the backseat of the limousine. But Heero wouldn?t look at her.
?Nothing.?
?You?re not going to talk to me?? She pulled away. ?Let me guess, you?re angry that I dragged you to another one of these formal affairs??
?Yes.?
She glared at the back of his head. ?Heero, you haven?t had to go to one for more than two months. I have to attend these things from time to time, so you might as well learn to deal with them.?
?Hn.? He continued to stare out the window, but his eyes didn?t follow the scenery as they passed by. It was almost like he didn?t see it.
?What?s really bothering you?? She softened her tone, trying to get him to speak to her.
There was a long pause, then finally: ?I saw that interview you did last week.?
Her shoulders drooped. ?Oh. Yes, I was really angry about that myself.?
?You could have at least told them that the reason I threatened you was because it was my job. You could have connected me to Wing, that was the only reason I was going to kill you.? He met her with narrowed, accusing eyes. The look on his face was as effective as any gun could have been. It nearly killed her.
?It wouldn?t have mattered. It would have brought more attention to the situation. I just wanted to move passed that line of questioning.? Her words begged for his understanding. He turned away.
?Instead, all your cronies think I may end your life at a moment?s notice.?
?Well, I had no idea you spent the first half of your life as an assassin, Heero. Maybe if you?d let me in from time to time and tell me these things I could be better prepared to handle those kinds of questions.?
?I didn?t know.? His voice was low and far away.
?What do you mean you didn?t know??
?I don?t remember anything before my training with Dr. J. He told me that the genetic experiments would wipe out my memory. If he knew what I did before that time, he never told me, and I knew better than to ask.?
?Are you all right?? Heero asked, interrupting her thoughts with his deep voice. His hand came to rest on her shoulder.
She blinked up into frowning sapphire eyes filled with his familiar, but now somewhat gentler concern. ?Yes. I?m okay. What are you doing here??
?I just wanted to make sure things didn?t get out of hand.?
?He wouldn?t hurt me, but thank you. Won?t you stay and have dinner with me??
He nodded and sat down, pushing the glass of tea to the side of the table. She saw him eye her glass.
?Yes, I know. I was a little nervous.?
He nodded. ?I could tell. I was watching you.?
?You always do.?
He reached and covered her right hand with his own. She smiled and met his tender gaze. Her heart did flip-flops in her chest and made her feel warm all over, as if she was melting into the man across from her. But the moment was interrupted as Jonathan came charging back into the dining room.
Her eyes widened and she pulled her hand from Heero?s grip. She shot out of her seat. ?Jonathan!?
?I can?t believe this. I came in here to apologize, to try and change your mind, and I find you here with..with?him! You lied to me, Relena.?
?Lied to you??
?That B.S. about still being in love with Heero when you?ve got bachelor number three here moving in before the cushion of my seat gets warm. What did you do, call him up and tell him to wait until you got rid of me and then you two could have a good time? ?Sorry, I just have to ditch my fianc? before our date. It should only be a minute.??
?I didn?t know he was here.?
?Oh right,? he spat and took a menacing step forward. Heero moved to block his path.
?She didn?t. I have a habit of watching over her. When we were together, and even the time that we spent apart. I was still watching, still protecting her.?
?Who the hell are you??
?Heero Yuy, it?s a pleasure.? He shoved his hands in his pockets.
?Jonathan Durham. I see.?
Relena tapped Heero?s shoulder, and indicated he could move aside. She looked up at the man who had been her friend for all this time.
?It wasn?t easy, Jonathan, when he came back. But I still love him, and that in itself isn?t fair to you.?
Jonathan took a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair, turning to glare at the man standing in front of his chair. ?Take care of her,? he said.
Heero?s eyes flicked over to the woman beside him, then up at the tensed features of the defeated opponent. He nodded.
Jonathan turned and quietly exited the restaurant.
?That?s just my job. This time around I?m going to love her.?
