What If?
I'm kinda proud of myself for making the time to revise and update these chapters so quickly...
I do not own Gundam Wing.
Chapter 4
The young, Asian man brought the brim of his hat lower over his eyes as he made his way through the busy spaceport. His keen sight scanned the area around him, taking in his surroundings. If his former life as a Gundam Pilot hadn?t taught him to always be aware of his environment, then his training as a Preventor Agent definitely had. He continued his advancement toward the exit. He pushed through the door, reaching the inner confines of the colony. No sooner then he left the building did he catch the sight of three familiar figures walking toward him. Though they were all wearing disguises, as he was, he would know those three anywhere. He intentionally knocked his shoulder into the tall, lean one walking in the closest proximity to him. He caught the young man?s one visible eye with his.
?Wufei.? He said as the emerald green registered the familiar face. The other two stopped walking as they noticed the exchange between the former Pilots.
?You shouldn?t be here together? it makes you all easy targets.? Wufei replied firmly.
?Hey, you betta watch it Wufei, people might start to think that you actually care.? Duo said with heavy sarcasm.
Wufei sighed. He did care? he just didn?t like to show it outright the way Quatre did. His strict, formal upbringing was a major part of why he was so reluctant to display such emotions so plainly. During the war, he had suppressed those feelings, afraid that they would effect his ability to complete his missions. He had thought that he and Heero were the similar in those days, but as the years passed, he realized just how incorrect that belief was. As Wufei was able to mature emotionally through the years, Heero seemed unable to. And not just unable to grow, he also seemed unable to identify his emotions and connect them to situations he was in, but Wufei knew that he wasn?t completely cold either. He knew Heero to have just as kind and gentle a soul as his exterior was cold and emotionless, because he had been the one to pull Wufei out of the fog of rage that had so consumed him just two years ago.
How many more people must we kill? How many more times must I kill that little girl and her dog?
The overwhelming grief in his voice had made Wufei realize just how much suffering the war had caused everyone? even Heero. He knew then that as long as the war continued, people?s suffering would continue, and he didn?t want to be the cause of that suffering he could hear in his comrade?s voice. Wufei didn?t know much about Heero?s past, as he never confided in anyone, but he understood that whatever had happened to him was what caused Heero to shut everything out and remain detached.
?Speaking of laying low? what are you doing here Wu-man??
Wufei?s eyebrow twitched at the sound of Duo?s ridiculous nickname for him. He valued his friendship with all of the Pilots, as they all kept in touch over the years? even Heero, but Duo often made it difficult for him to not throw something at the braided man. Duo simply referred to their sometimes violent relationship as a ?different? kind of fondness for each other. The surprising thing was that Wufei secretly agreed.
?Lady Une wishes to speak with Heero about the attempt on his life? and to offer him protection at Preventor Headquarters.? He answered matter-of-factly.
?Couldn?t another agent have handled this?? Trowa asked curiously.
?I didn?t trust anyone for this.? He stated curtly.
?You wanted an excuse to visit Heero and see if he was alright, didn?t you?? Quatre asked knowingly.
Wufei was only mildly surprised by the Arab as he averted his eyes. Truth be told, he was worried about Heero. The last time he had seen him, he was bleeding to death outside the restaurant. What bothered Wufei most about it was that Heero didn?t seem to care, or at least he didn?t show it. It was like he had given up? was just waiting for Death to take him. He knew that it was bothering the other Pilots as well.
?I?m worried about him too? I know that he only fought off Death because Relena was there with him, but what if she hadn?t been?? Quatre questioned, as Trowa placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. ?I don?t think that he ever placed any kind of value on his life. Not just that, but he also seems more lost and confused lately? there?s something else going on, but he won?t let us in.?
Wufei put a mental note on the conversation. He knew Quatre to be an extremely observant person, and any information that he received from him was reliable.
?Yeah?? Duo agreed in a melancholy voice as he absentmindedly stroked his long braid. The pain in his cobalt eyes seemed to reach much deeper then his humor had just moments ago.
Wufei nodded his head towards the three young men in a symbolic ?Good bye?. He left, Quatre?s comment about Relena swirling through his mind.
..........................................................................................................
Heero sat at the edge of the bed after his doctor gave him the final look over before releasing him. He crossed his arms over his chest impatiently as all the necessary paperwork was being filled out. All he wanted to do was leave this hell hole. He had been here, conscious, for more then a month and a half now, and was beginning to feel uneasy. He usually never stayed in one place for long periods of time.
After the weeks of healing and physical therapy, Heero had regained full function of his left leg, but his right leg was still giving him some problems. It was truly frustrating when it would become stiff and difficult to move, or when his leg went completely numb and wouldn?t even hold his weight anymore. His other injuries were all almost completely healed. Other then the obvious nerve damage, he had lost a kidney, and suffered a punctured diaphragm, along with a few other very minor injuries. The nerve damage was what troubled him the most? he could live without one of his kidneys and his diaphragm was in proper working order again, but if he couldn?t move his body well, then he would have to rely on others to help him. This was something that Heero didn?t want. The most infuriating thing is when others treat him like he is about to break. It seemed like only Relena didn?t treat him like he was incapable lately.
He let his lips quirk into a semi smile at that one. He would have thought that she, out of everyone else, would be the one to treat him with over attentiveness. But she was always encouraging him to do things on his own when she knew he could, or when he wouldn?t have it any other way. There were those times when even he couldn?t deny the fact that he needed help and was too ashamed or embarrassed to ask for it. He wasn?t sure what he did differently at those times, but she still seemed to know, and would always ask permission before ?lending him a hand?, which was what she called it. She really had become a good friend to him. But that is as far as he was going to let it go. She didn?t need anything more from him.
Let her in? came a very feminine voice.
Heero snapped his head up and looked around the room. He was alone. He shook his head to get the unease out of his mind. The voice seemed so real? then there was a knock at the door. Heero got up from the bed, with only a little stiffness, and went to open the door. It was Relena. He was? surprised, to say the least. He thought she had already left for Earth. He opened the door a little wider, allowing her to walk in.
?What are you doing here, Relena?? He asked monotonically.
?I??
She was cut off by a coughing noise near the door where his doctor was standing with Wufei. Heero had been expecting him.
?Everything is taken care of, you are good to go.? The doctor said, then his features turned into a disapproving look. ?You really should be using that cane I gave you? Your body is still healing, and pushing yourself will only keep you from healing properly.?
Heero could see Relena having difficulty suppressing a laugh as Wufei, though still scowling, was clearly amused by the look in his eyes. People who knew Heero knew that he didn?t know how to not push it.
?I?ll be fine.? Heero assured the doctor, giving him a warning glance not to push the matter.
The doctor smiled and muttered something. Heero caught ??gets that glare from.? and this time, Heero saw Wufei actually crack a small smile from where he was standing in the doorway.
He shook his head, bemused, and left as Heero stared after the retreating white coat.
?What was that about?? Heero wondered aloud, sounding more board then curious.
?Apparently, he thinks a little of you is rubbing off on Relena?? Wufei answered.
That was not something Heero wanted to hear. The last thing Relena should ever be is like him.
?Are you ready to go?? Wufei asked.
?Hn.? Heero nodded and moved towards the doorway. When he noticed that Relena wasn?t moving, he turned back to see her staring down at the floor.
Her hair was tightly pulled back into a high ponytail, but the length still fell past her mid back. She was wearing a flowing, blue cotton skirt that came down just past her knees. Her shirt was a simple white tank top, as it was warm out, and she wore matching blue and white, toe thong flip-flops. She was obviously dressed for comfort during the long shuttle ride back to Earth.
Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and Heero had to work to keep his breath even. She looked so beautiful as the light pink turned a shade deeper from his stare. She twisted her slender, delicate hands together? a motion that Heero had come to know as a habit when she was nervous or embarrassed.
?What.? Was all he could get out without betraying his emotions.
?I was just? wondering,? she paused, probably not sure how to continue. ?Where are you going to go after you leave Preventor?s Headquarters??
?A safe house.? He answered truthfully. Heero could see Wufei watching the exchange with some interest.
?Will I know where you are?? She asked very quietly, still staring at her flip-flops.
?Relena??
?You could always stay with her.? Wufei cut in suddenly.
Heero turned, shocked, to face the Chinese Preventor. Relena, her mouth agape, nearly toppled over from such an unexpected proposition. Wufei himself seemed a little surprised that the words actually came from his mouth, but recovered quickly.
?Yeah?? He said, as though he were trying to convince himself as well. ?That could work out well. She lives close to HQ, we know her and can obviously trust her, her house is under constant guard?? He said this last bit as though it were an after thought to his original suggestion.
?I don?t think that that?s a good idea?? Heero said almost immediately, but, inwardly, he was thinking, What if I attract more danger? I can?t expose Relena to that.
Before he made that statement, Relena had had a small smile on her face, but it instantly disappeared at his comment and returned her gaze to the floor. Heero felt his chest tighten a little. Why did he hate disappointing her so much?
?I think that it?ll be safe.? Wufei said, the scowl returning to his face. ?After all? the people after us think that you?re dead, Heero.?
He looked back to Relena? and decided that he at least wanted to try to not hurt others feelings anymore.
?Okay..? Heero said.
Relena brought her head back up again with a guarded half smile on her lips. Heero felt heat beginning to rise within him, but quickly extinguished it before it became uncontrollable. She made her way out of the room and Heero stood to follow her, when his leg gave out on him. He leaned against the doorframe, putting all of his weight on his left side. Relena, quickly noticing that Heero wasn?t following them, turned back.
?You coming?? she asked. Understanding crossed her features almost instantly, and put a sweet smile on as she walked back to him. ?Need a hand?? she offered in a low voice so no one else could here. ?May I?? She questioned, moving closer, offering her body for support.
Heero only closed his eyes submissively, a silent signal that she had his permission. She snaked an arm around his waist as he slung his arm across her shoulders. He felt a little bit indignant as they slowly made their way back down the hospital hallway. He felt Relena pull him in a little tighter, making that warmth flood his body once again. He had to work harder to push it back this time.
Let her in? Let me come back? He heard that voice again.
..........................................................................................................
I understand that this is probably where things will get a little too out there for some people, but stay with me on this and you might be pleasantly suprised.
Please let me know what you think...
