"Second isn't bad, for your first relay," Kenzie tells her. They're in the locker room, changing back into their everyday clothes.
"It was only because of the others," Mariemaia protests. "Julia was the one who really pulled it together at the end."
Kenzie frowns at her. "Don't sell yourself short. You were a part of that team and you all earned it."
Mariemaia shrugs as she pulls on a hooded sweatshirt over her t-shirt. "Thanks," she mumbles. "And congratulations on your wins. First in both events, I thought Maes was going to cry."
"Well, Coach is a big softie under all that yelling." Kenzie grins brightly and ties her dark hair back in a high ponytail. "I'm going for celebratory pizza with Yen and Julia, you should join us."
"I don't want to intrude…"
"Khushrenada," Kenzie snaps, "are you a part of this team or not? Come on, it'll be fun."
Yen looks up from where she's tying her shoes two benches over. "You should definitely come. Yasmin has a family-thing or she'd be with us too."
"We're going to Il Colosseo," Yen adds.
Mariemaia shrugs, lifts her swim bag up. "Maybe. I'll see if I can get a ride."
Kenzie grins at her. "Hey, take down my number so you can let us know if you're coming or not, okay?" Mariemaia digs her phone out, hands it over to the other girl and Kenzie quickly adds her name and number.
"Come on, Kenz!" Julia calls. "Hope to see you there, Mariemaia!"
. . ... . .
Most of the crowds have thinned by the time she leaves the locker rooms. Regardless, it isn't hard to find the two Gundam pilots. They're standing near the doors, nearly identical blank expressions on their faces. Mariemaia watches them as she picks her way around families and spectators.
Heero Yuy still has his arms crossed over his chest, scowl replaced by a nearly as disquieting blank expression. His shoulders are tense, body positioned as though he's expecting an attack. In contrast, Trowa Barton looks positively relaxed. He has his hands in his pockets, eyes surveying the dispersing crowd, and shoulders slightly slumped as he leans against the wall.
She doesn't think they've noticed her yet.
She jerks as someone catches hold of the strap of her swim bag. "Well, if it isn't Little Miss Mariemaia," Minerva says. Mariemaia stumbles as the other girl gives another tug on her swim bag. "Have a good race?" she asks, voice sweet.
Mariemaia turns, scowling at the other girl. "More fun than sitting on the sidelines," she replies. She yanks her swim bag free from Minerva's grasp. "You should try it next time."
Minerva's lips thin. "Listen you little half breed-"
"Careful, Pallas, wouldn't want Coach to hear you speak like that." She tilts her head, eyeing the other girl critically. "I hear you're already on thin ice with Coach. What was it he said yesterday? One more toe out of line and you're off the team?"
"Father's right," Minerva states. "You're nothing but a time-bomb. All those speeches and charity functions are a show. You don't want to be normal." She pauses, tilts her chin up and glances around the room pointedly. "Is that why your jailor didn't bother showing up? Has she finally realized it's all an act?"
Mariemaia feels her face flush, but before she can respond, Minerva spins on her heel and scurries over to where her parents are waiting alongside Larissa and her family. Mariemaia notes that Larissa averts her eyes when she catches Mariemaia looking, files that observation away for later consideration. She takes a breath and turns to face the two Gundam pilots. Trowa's watching her while Heero's attention is directed behind and slightly to the right of her. She's sure he's tracking Minerva.
"Are you my ride?" she asks when she reaches them. Trowa inclines his head toward Heero and Mariemaia can't restrain her groan. "His driving is terrible!"
"You can walk," Heero replies. He takes her swim bag from her though, slinging it over his shoulder and ignoring her startled protest.
He pushes off from the wall, heading for the doors to the parking lot. Mariemaia takes a moment to stick her tongue out at his back before hurrying to catch up. Trowa trails her by half a step and she can feel eyes watching as they make their way out of the building. She's sure Minerva's noting her guards. Mariemaia grits her teeth, keeps her chin raised, and focuses on Heero's back.
"You did well," Trowa states, voice quiet.
"I got fourth," she grumbles, frowning. "And that was pure luck since lane three got disqualified." She takes a breath as they emerge into the fresh air, trying to rid her nose of the smell of chlorine. Heero is heading toward one of the standard-issue Preventers cars. "He won't really make me walk back, will he?"
Trowa simply shrugs.
Heero has tossed her swim bag into the backseat by the time they reach the car. She climbs into the backseat, double checks that nothing has fallen out of her swim bag, and glares at the back of Heero's head when he climbs into the driver's seat. Trowa closes the door behind her before he takes the front passenger seat.
"The girl back there," Heero says as he starts the car and pulls out of the parking spot. "Who is she?"
"Just a teammate." She catches Heero's incredulous look in the rearview mirror. "We're on the swim team together."
"What did she want?" Trowa questions.
Mariemaia shrugs. "I don't know," she replies. "I guess to insult me? It's kind of her thing." She fiddles with the swim bag strap. "She got benched from the meet because of me."
Heero makes a hmming sound, drums his fingers against the steering wheel while they wait for the light to change. Mariemaia settles back into the seat, stares out the window at the lit up storefronts and people out for an evening stroll now that the rain's stopped. She's thankful when Heero turns the radio on, something soft and instrumental playing. She suddenly feels exhausted. She leans her head against the window, lets the hum of the music and the motion of the car relax her.
. . ... . .
Mariemaia wakes to the sound of car doors closing. She sits up, rubbing at her face, and suddenly the door she'd been leaning against is opened. She manages to catch herself before falling out of the car. Trowa peers at her through the shadows cast by the front lights of the house. "Good, you're awake," he states. "Come on."
Mariemaia blinks, looking around. They've made it back to the house and Heero is in the process of opening the front door. She frowns. "Does he have a key?"
Trowa glances over his shoulder, shrugs. "Lock picks."
Mariemaia feels her frown deepen. She grabs her swim bag and stumbles out of the car, yawning. It's darker than when she'd dozed off. Trowa shuts the door behind her, trailing her up the front steps and into the house. She follows the lights and sounds to the kitchen. "Is Lady Une requiring you to babysit me as well?" she questions.
Heero glances up from where he's rifling through one of the kitchen drawers. "Thought you might be hungry," he states. It's then that she notices the take-out bags sitting on the table, the smell of something spicy and fried making her mouth water. Heero catches her look and raises one of his eyebrows, smirking a little at her expression and holding three spoons in his hand.
She frowns at him. "What is it?" she asks, arms folded.
"Guay teow," Trowa answers. "And kluai thot for after."
Mariemaia nods, not sure what either of those are, but the food smells delicious and her stomach rumbles expectantly. She hasn't really eaten since the slice of toast at breakfast and a banana at lunch. Her stomach had been too nervous for the meet. She takes a seat at the table while Trowa pulls the food containers out of the bag.
It turns out that it's some type of noodle soup with beef and chili pepper. She slurps happily at the meal, enjoying the slight bite of the spices. Heero's watching her again and she frowns at him. "What?"
"You did well," he says after a moment. "Especially on the relay. It helped, not having the pistol sound."
"Uh, yeah, thanks." She fiddles with her sweatshirt's sleeve and stares at her soup so that he won't see the pleasant surprise on her face.
"You should be proud," Trowa agrees. "You were half a length in front of the next swimmer coming out of the turn."
"Wait, I was?" Trowa nods and she sits back against the seat, surprised. "Probably because Yen did a good first run." She glances over at Heero again; he's focused on his meal once more. "I didn't expect you to be there today," she admits. "Is it because Trowa's supposed to be keeping you on a leash?"
Trowa snorts into his soup, looking distinctly amused while Heero looks first startled and then annoyed. "What?"
"I heard you nearly caused a diplomatic incident with the Trade Federation," she states. She gives him a curious look. "Why?"
Heero aims a disgruntled look at Trowa who remains impassive, attention focused on his soup. "An old acquaintance from the war."
"Yeah, I heard that," she states, nodding. "But you're you," she pauses, waving a hand around to try to illustrate her point. "You shot down a defense system without a care about Miss Relena. What did this guy do?"
"I'm not sure if that example supports your point," Trowa comments. He reaches into one of the take-out bags and pulls out the kluai thot he had mentioned earlier. "Fried bananas," he explains, catching her curious look. The bananas are coated in sesame and coconut and drizzled in melted chocolate. Mariemaia feels her mouth water.
Mariemaia accepts the fried banana Trowa places in front of her, but it doesn't escape her that neither pilot answered her question. It's okay, she can wait. "I guess you knew what you were doing after all. With the training." She takes a bite of the fried banana, chews slowly. It's still warm and she has to keep herself from shoving the whole thing in her mouth. "Since the meet is over, I guess that means you don't have to spend your free time training me."
"Yes, I'll be heading out Monday," Trowa replies. She looks up curiously in time to catch Heero and Trowa exchanging a look between them that she can't decipher.
"Back to the circus?"
"Yes." There's nothing to give him away, no darting eyes or rapid breathing, his tone doesn't change and his posture doesn't shift, but somehow Mariemaia gets the feeling he's lying. Mariemaia feels her appetite dissipate. "Time to get back to work."
Heero leans back in the chair, arms folded across his chest. "If you're done, maybe you should head up and get ready for bed. It was a long day."
Mariemaia takes the hint, getting up from the table. She pauses at the door to the kitchen, half-turning to look at the two pilots. They're still seated at the table, Heero's arms crossed while he watches her and Trowa is finishing off a second one of those fried bananas. Heero raises his eyebrows expectantly when he catches her hovering.
"Did Lady Une tell you to babysit me, or to guard me?" she asks. She's proud that her voice comes out clear and mostly disinterested.
Heero tilts his head, eyeing her speculatively. "Is there a difference?"
She shrugs and before they can confirm which one it is, she turns and makes her way upstairs.