If you'd told me ten years ago that I would one day be instrumental in winning the biggest war in our history, I'd have laughed in your face. Not just because back then I was a tiny little street brat with a massive chip on my shoulder and a bad attitude, but also because, by that time I had been blind for three years.
The only reason I survived those three years of living the streets blind was Solo, he had helped me when everyone else had left me to die. To this day no one else has done as much for me as he did, not even Father Maxwell and Sister Helen who adopted me, or Professor G who taught me to overcome my disability and pilot a Gundam.
The three years I spent with the Sweepers, being trained by Professor G how to "see" without my eyes were brutal, but I was thankful for them in the end. G trained me hard, he was uncompromising in his expectations and by the time he had finished with me I was the best pilot alive and could navigate, fight and shoot better than most sighted people.
And no one could tell that I couldn't see.
Even now I'm surprised I managed to make it through the whole war without anyone figuring it out. I mean I'm good at distracting people from things I don't want to let them notice, but I have a few weaknesses that are difficult for me to cover up. For one, as good as I am at being able to "see" with my other senses, I couldn't read words or maps that weren't textured. If someone gave me a map that had been printed instead of hand drawn, I had no way of seeing the lines. I'm not entirely sure how I managed to fool the guys on that one, it was a dance I'm glad was over.
Or I had thought it was over…
"What the hell is this Heero!?" I waved the papers he had dropped on my table in his face irritably. Acting like I had been able to read them and was irritated by what they said, I was guessing that was the expected reaction judging by Heero's slight hesitation on giving them to me and the tension I could feel rolling off him.
"Director Une wants to offer you a job as a Preventer." Heero said blandly
I just gaped at him stupidly, my mind racing. What the hell! Who in their right mind would want me as a Preventer? I was a mouthy, disobedient little shit. And I didn't want to work as-
"You would be my partner." He added mildly
The gears working away in my mind crunched as I changed them hard mid thought. Work with Heero? Be his partner? Um, yes please! Sign me up now! And no that's totally not because I have the most ridiculous, useless crush on him! Or it's mostly not… I do also actually like working with the guy. We make an amazing team, somehow fitting together seamlessly. But if I worked as a Preventer I had to do-
"Paperwork? Heero, you know I hate paperwork! I can't be a Preventer, all you guys do is paperwork between getting shot at and saving people!"
"As partners we are able to split the duties. If you will take on the training to be our field medic, I will agree to complete all of our reports." He sounded like he was negotiating chores, I couldn't stop the laugh that bubbled forth and I sensed Heero tensing further.
"Chill Heero, I'm just laughing at the way you said it, not at your offer. I would love to work with you, and I'd be totally fine with getting medic training if it gets me out of paperwork! When do I have to get back to Une by?"
I heard a soft exhale from Heero that sounded like relief and felt the air of nervous tension he had been exuding since he came into my apartment vanish. Huh, I guess he kinda wanted to be my partner too. Who'd have thought.
"Director Une would like me to let her know this afternoon what your initial answer is then if you could return the paperwork to her by Friday if you have decided to take the job."
I kept the grimace off my face with difficulty. Signing printed paperwork was always a bit of a problem for me, I couldn't feel on the paper where I was meant to sign.
"You said no paperwork Heero." I whined theatrically "Just show me where I'm meant to sign and take it back to her today, I don't need to read it to know it's just stupid legal babble that I'd never understand anyway."
Heero just gave a slightly amused grunt and turned the papers to the last page tapping the bottom once. This is one of the reasons I love... I mean like this guy, he manages to do just what I need without even knowing. Or I'm pretty sure he doesn't know, surely Heero Yuy wouldn't keep it quiet if he'd worked out something like that.
I grinned at him and signed it in my large, loopy scrawl right where he'd tapped.
"There, done. Thanks partner. I can totally call you that without sounding like some cowboy try hard, cause you're my partner now. "
Heero huffed an amused breath and took the papers back.
"I will return tomorrow to give you your orientation packet and you can come in with me in the afternoon so I can show you around headquarters."