Chapter 6
"Hello, Heero."
She didn't even realize just how much she wanted to see another one of the ex-Gundam pilots' faces until Wufei looks back at her through the vid connection. She smiles, and inclines her head in greeting. "Wufei."
He peers intently at her face, no doubt searching for clues about her health, and especially about how well she's been sleeping lately. Heero raises an eyebrow to let him know that she notices the scrutiny, and shakes her head fondly. "I'm doing fine," she assures him.
What she means is that she's been sleeping fine. Wufei nods and sits back in his chair, understanding. He looks much more tired than she does, actually, and Heero turns her own piercing look on him in return.
He smiles at her, rueful. "I'm in the middle of an investigation," he admits.
While she wasn't sure before, now Heero knows. "You're still at work." It's almost midnight where Wufei is, and he's still in his Preventers uniform, though he's loosened the tie and rolled up his shirtsleeves. The wall behind him is the same color as the walls in every Preventers building Heero's ever visited.
"Like you don't work long hours during an active investigation," he mutters. Heero mentally braces herself, anticipating that the reminder of her current suspension will hurt, but surprisingly, all she feels is humor at the quip. After all, Wufei's right.
Heero shrugs, agreeing. "Are you sure you have the time right now?" She doesn't think that Wufei would have agreed to talk with her if he knew that he'd be busy, but then again, his mission could have come up unexpectedly. "We can reschedule."
Wufei actually rolls his eyes at her, which surprises Heero. "It's fine. I'm just crap at delegating."
The admission startles a chuckle out of her, which judging by Wufei's smirk, was the whole point. "Alright. Do you want help with your investigation?" she asks.
The look Wufei gives her after she offers speaks volumes. "You're bored out of your mind, aren't you."
She really is becoming too predictable. That wasn't even an actual question. "Is that a no to my offer?" Heero asks, rather than confirm his suspicions.
Wufei sighs, and it honestly sounds a touch regretful. "Yes, that's a no, Heero. Don't get me wrong, I'd let you help, but there's nothing except surveillance and recon to do right now, and you're kind of far away."
Heero nods, resigned. "Maybe I won't be so far away for much longer," she says. Not the most subtle way to initiate the topic she wants to discuss with Wufei, but it'll do.
Wufei's eyebrows rise up his forehead in surprise for a few long seconds before they lower again. "You're relocating?"
He doesn't sound approving or not of the idea yet, only neutral. Heero frowns slightly. "It might be the better option over remaining around here. Une mentioned it."
Une's opinion as Head of Preventers holds more weight than anyone else's, and Wufei knows that. He blows out a loud breath, and then reaches up to rub along the bridge of his nose, edging his glasses up and out of the way in the process, before pulling them back down into place before he opens his eyes again. "What do you think about that?"
What does Heero think? "I'm not sure," she admits.
Wufei shakes his head. "No, not about staying. Not about the consequences of sticking around, Heero. What do you really think about leaving?"
She lets Wufei's question sit between them for a minute, then reluctantly admits, "Like I'm running away."
He nods. "That's how I'd feel, too," he says. "You chose to work at the main headquarters for several reasons, instead of at an office colony-side. That was your decision."
Heero understands what he's getting at, and agrees. "If I relocate, it won't be because I want to, but because I think it's the easier resolution."
"It's not something you would have chosen to do without that ridiculous investigation happening first," he agrees. Hearing Wufei call the investigation of her actions 'ridiculous' makes something relax inside of Heero. She's grateful to hear that one of the very few people who she considers a peer also thinks this whole inquiry is beyond absurd.
"No, it's not," she agrees quietly. "Still, I'm not staying here. I've already decided." It's the first time she's mentioned the decision out loud. Not even Sally or Une have heard this from her yet.
Wufei doesn't look surprised. "I would have left already, and to hell with Internal Affairs," he admits without an ounce of shame.
Heero smirks as she imagines Wufei's reaction to being questioned by the Board of Professional Review. The image is almost funny enough for her to file an investigation against him just to arrange the meeting.
Heero really is too bored. "What would you do, then, if you were me?" She's interested in his answer because Wufei's been in Preventers even longer than she has.
Wufei takes a minute or two to think her question over in silence, swiveling his chair away slightly and staring blankly off to the side. Heero forces herself to wait quietly, and tries to not stare too demandingly at him. She did ask knowing that Wufei would need to think it over before answering her question. "Start up an office on Mars," he finally says in answer.
That's really more specific than she'd been expecting. Heero stares, honestly surprised. "Mars? Did Une talk to you about that before?"
Wufei chuckles, likely at her reaction. "Noin, actually. She asked me to years ago, and then Une offered me this office instead."
Heero hadn't known that, but Wufei's abrupt departure to L4 makes a lot more sense now. "Why didn't you accept Noin's offer?" she asks, curious.
Wufei grimaces. "I hate traveling for long periods of time without a break."
Despite her disbelieving look, Heero can tell that he's being honest, which is just hilarious. She'd never known that about him either. Heero loves traveling, and has never considered before that the long journey to Mars might be that much of a deterrent for anyone else.
"Well, Mars isn't an option for me," is all that Heero says in response, though. There's no way that she and Zechs could handle living so near to each other on a permanent basis.
Wufei snorts. "No, I think not," he agrees wryly. Wufei pauses then, like he's hesitant to continue, before obviously deciding to go ahead and just say what's on his mind. "You know, you could quit."
Heero stills, but then nods. "I could," she agrees. "It doesn't sound appealing, though."
"Because you're already so bored when you're not going to work every day, or because you still love your job that much?" Wufei asks sharply.
Heero hears the underlying question in there. Are you afraid of going insane from having nothing to do, or do you still want to continue as a Preventers agent, no matter what? It's a good question, and Heero hasn't really considered her hesitance in those terms before until Wufei points it out to her.
She's about to admit that she still doesn't know for sure yet when a phone rings on Wufei's end. He glances at it, frowns, and then picks up quickly. "Chang."
The investigation he's working on right now, Heero assumes. She watches Wufei's face get more and more exasperated the longer he listens, and already knows what he's going to say when he finally looks her way again. "I have to go, Heero. I apologize."
Heero shakes her head. "It's fine. You gave me a lot to think about."
"I'm happy to hear it," Wufei says, his voice warm. "Let's talk again soon."
Unlike most people, Heero knows Wufei means that. "Sure, I'll contact you."
When she signs off, Heero leans back and sighs. Wufei did give her a lot to think about. Does Heero actually still want to be a Preventers agent? If she ignores the idea of Internal Affairs trying to decide her life for her, and her dread of continual boredom, would Heero still choose to stay at her job after everything that's happened?
It's not like her being involved in Preventers seems all that necessary anymore. The political state of the Earth Sphere isn't what it used to be when Heero first joined up. Back then, it had seemed like any wrong move on anyone's part would be enough to spark yet another war. Things are not necessarily better now, but they are less precarious.
So, is Heero only staying with Preventers now because she's afraid that she won't be able to figure out something new to do with her life? That's just pathetic. Obviously, Wufei agrees.
Well, Heero wanted to know Wufei's opinion. Now she just has to decide what to do with it.