Written for theme #1 - beat in the LJ community beatofdestiny. I claimed Relena and Wufei as a couple, so expect 99 more fics for them. :)
"There's a rhythm in the city tonight. Like a heartbeat." Relena spoke softly, leaning against the railing; as if afraid to disturb a fragile connection between them in the quiet.
Wufei nodded, understanding what she meant. Everyone seemed happy, and why not? There was to be no more war, no more disturbances. Let them dance.
The others had all gone already; Heero had gone with Duo, who'd offered him a place to stay, Trowa with Quatre. It was only Wufei who didn't really have anywhere to go, and Relena… well, this was Relena's world, wasn't it? Bright lights, and dancing, and happy people. She belonged here, as they did not.
She turned to face him, her eyes shining in the semi dark. "Why aren't you already gone?"
What was she? A mind reader?
He shrugged his shoulders, finding a smile somewhere for her. For her slender fragility, standing there, as if she could be broken so easily. For a moment, he almost itched to try; see how easily he could break people. But no; he wasn't a murderer, and gone was the time of violence.
"I don't know."
She looked at him; compassion and overwhelming sweetness, like she cared, like she understood. She was beautiful, he thought, fitting in perfectly with the night around her.
Relena crossed to stand next to him, took his hand and held them between both of hers. "The war is over. You've a life, now, all of you. Are you glad?"
"I don't know," he said again, confused. She smelt nice, sweet as her nature, roses and wildflowers and some female perfume he would never be able to name.
"The beat in the city… it's like a heartbeat," she said, repeating herself. She lifted his hand, pressed it against her chest, and his breath caught, feeling her life pulse beneath his fingers; a fragile life, something easily taken. "Like my heartbeat. This heart, the city's heart, none of it would beat if it weren't for you guys."
"What are you trying to say?" he asked her, uncomfortable, his hand falling.
"Stop thinking of it as an ending. Think of it as new life," she said softly, and he could feel her breath on his face. She kissed him gently, and pulled back before he could react, looking up at him. "Start a new life," she suggested.