*Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing, I don't own Neon Genesis Evangelion. I wish I did—but alas, I'm not that great. *falls on knees and worships Anno* I do own Angel- don't steal her unless you have MY permission J *remembers the creators of Gundam—bows to them too* Okay—now on wit da story.
~~ Closing Wounds, Opening Hearts ~~
Chapter 4
1-week late r-- Peacecraft Shuttle-- Destination: Aquarius
Relena drummed her fingers impatiently against the armrest.
The trip had taken far to long for her liking. Besides she never had been that fond of space.
It was too quiet, too lonely.
She sighed and continued to thumb through the profile report she held.
The subject had caught her interest. Not only had the girl been trained
to pilot Eva -- instead of a Gundam or other mobile suit -- but she had been trained so at Base 0:1,
alongside Heero.
Relena had, of course, let her curiosity get the best of her. Now she was on her way to learn
what she needed to know.
She leaned back and stared out the window, seeing stars in the distance, and fixed her eye on the blue planet below. She was relieved to be returning at last. She sighed again. From here on, she knew things would only get more complicated. Her heart told her as much.
So many things didn't make sense. And the information she had found just raised more questions. Base 0:1 had to fit in somehow. It was the key to something dark, that had to be why the name sent chills up her spine. That had to be why so many people seemed afraid of it. Or what it held. Was it the Eva?
Somewhere along the line, this pilot had left the Base. Why? Was it pacifism? Then why would she be at Aquarius now?
Another disturbing factor was Heero. It was after the girl had fled that Heero began to train as a Gundam pilot.
There's more to this, I know, thought Relena, Do you, Angel, have the answers I seek?
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Meanwhile, at Aquarius—
"Duo?"
"What now?" the braided boy whined.
Angel leaned out her door,
"You're still standing there?"
He rolled his eyes," C'mon, get out here already!"
The blond girl looked around the hallway.
Technicians, soldiers, and the like passed by, ignoring the teenagers as they made their ways down the passage. Occasionally, one or two stopped to watch the disagreement: Duo trying to persuade Angel that she looked fine –gorgeous in fact, and the girl disagreeing, slamming her door, and finding something else to wear.
Occasionally was enough. Angel wrinkled her nose and grabbed Duo by the collar, slamming the door shut behind them.
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" Where's Heero?"
"Sparring with Wufei,"** Trowa answered, not even bothering to look up.
" Humph, figures. Hey are you going to come see Relena today?"
" Doubtfully."
Quatre sighed. Someone really needed to get that boy to open up. He was way to quiet.
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" For the last time! You look fine! There's nothing wrong with what you're wearing—or what you've been wearing!" Duo cried, then smirking, he added, " Except that pink bathrobe you've got."
Angel glared at him. She spun on her heel and stormed back into her closet. From there she called,
" Well, it's not like I'm just gonna walk around in my underwear, you know!"
" Why not?" Duo replied innocently.
Ignoring his last comment, Angel strode out of her walk-in and stood in front of her mirror. She scanned her reflection. Her hair was up in a bun, with a few of the shorter tendrils hanging down the sides. It wasn't too bad, but since then, her clothes had become the main issue. She had on a white skirt that ended just above her knees, with a pink silk blouse.
" You don't think it's too conservative, do you?" She asked, worried,
" You're asking ME?"
" I'm serious, Duo! What if she's one of those chicks who hates over conservative people?"
" Like you?"
" I don't hate 'em, I just don't like wearing the clothes that much."
" Look, don't worry 'bout it, it's not like you're trying to impress some guy or anything."
" That's not it! You're supposed to dress to make the other girls jealous. When you walk into a room, you gotta turn people's heads. Women and men, that's the point."
" So that's why you wear what you wear around us guys? Those really sexy clothes, you wear 'em to impress me?" Duo asked slyly.
Angel glared at him.
" Not YOU, all guys, duh."
" Aahh, but what if I'm not the kinda guy who likes those clothes? What if I think conservative clothes are sexy, huh?
" Why should I care what you think?"
"Hey!"
" Besides, you like what I wear, so get over it."
" Don't be so sure, Angel," he winked, " maybe I'm the kinda guy who likes those prude clothes, so I can find out for myself, eh?"
" Like you'd ever get the chance," she spat.
" Oh, that hurts," Duo laughed, faking a hurt expression.
Angel sauntered back into her closet, muttering.
" What was that you said?" called Duo.
" None of your damn business!"
" You know, we're gonna be late. I don't think that's the impression you want do you?"
" And what impression would that be?"
"Oh, I dunno, you're supposed to meet Relena Peacecraft in about 10 minutes, but you show up late. With me," he smirked, that would get her moving.
A loud crash was heard from Angel's area of presence. She ran out of the closet and out the door in a flash, almost forgetting to grab Duo on her way out.
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Quatre laughed as a familiar blur rushed past him. He heard a shout, a loud crash, followed by a high pitched shriek. Still smiling, he winced as he heard a resounding thump.
"He'll be feelin' that one tomorrow."
The blond boy turned the corner. He doubled over with laughter at the sight that greeted him. Apparently, Wufei and Heero had finish sparring. It must have been Wufei who shouted. The four were tangled in a dog pile on the floor.
" I broke a nail!" wailed Angel.
" Get off me!" Wufei demanded.
" I'm not on you!" Retorted Angel, scrambling quickly away from the boys.
The girl pulled at her shirt and wrinkled her nose. Duo paled considerably when he noticed her expression.
"Eeeww! Gross! There's sweat all over me!"
" Angel…" Duo began.
" No time to talk! Gotta take a shower. Can't meet a princess smelling like a dirty, sweaty boy," she said as she took off back to her room.
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Relena walked down the hall, frustration apparent in her eyes. She had waited for on the platform for at least 15 minutes. She wasn't used to being stood up. When her meeting had been delayed for unknown reasons, she decided to search out Angel herself.
Angel practically ran down the passage. She stopped abruptly at the sound of voices, causing the boys to almost run into her. They didn't, to their obvious relief.
She whipped out her mirror and smiled at her reflection. Quickly, she re-brushed her hair (which was now left down), and dropped the items back into her handbag.
Angel breathed once the turned the corner.
Relena stopped short when another group came into view. She saw four familiar faces, along with a girl she knew not. That must be Angel.
Angel strode confidently down the corridor. She wore a confident face – as if to show Relena that she wouldn't be intimidated. When the pilot laid eyes on the princess, she smirked. She needn't have worried.
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--1 hour later—lobby of Aquarius
" Do girls always talk this much?" complained Wufei.
Duo and Quatre looked at him with pity in their eyes. Heero was silent, deep in thought, the usual as of late.
As soon as the girls had met, they seemed to instantly click. Sort of. Their personalities had sharp differences. But, for some reason, they had found equality amongst themselves. An offer of genuine friendship that both eagerly accepted.
Angel noticed the bored gazes of the boys. She smiled.
" Hey, Rel, whadda ya say we ditch these guys and go have ourselves some fun?"
" What do you mean by fun?"
" You know, shopping, salon, manicures the usual."
" Sure," Relena grinned.
The Gundam pilots stared confusedly at the open door in front of them. Women. They would never understand them.
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Chapter 5
The two girls slumped wearily into a booth at a small café. Angel noted wryly that it was the same place the boys had taken her to on her first night at Aquarius.
" So when are ya leaving'?" questioned Angel.
Relena shrugged, replying that since she was no longer really needed at the moment, and she was free to do what she pleased.
" Then why did you come here?"
" I wanted to see someone," Relena said nonchalantly.
Angel narrowed her eyes, grinning, " Oh? Got someone special, do you? Lemme guess—Quatre?"
" No."
" Trowa?"
"No."
" Wufei? Wait never mind."
" Why, Angel, how could you say such a thing?" smiled the princess.
" Oh, I could just see it now-- Wufei dear? What do you want, woman!" Angel mocked, purposely doing a bad job at imitating the two. The girls laughed.
" But, Rel, that only leaves Duo and Heero."
" Yeah, so?"
" So which one's the lucky guy? Heero?"
I wish!"
" Then you're going with Duo?" Angel tried desperately to imagine Duo dating someone like Relena.
" No. I'm not going out with any of them! I came here to see you," Relena corrected calmly.
" Me! Why would you come hear just to see me? I thought I was just meeting you cuz' I was new or something."
" Nope. I came here just to talk to you."
" What? Why?"
Angel instinctively threw up her guard. Something in her friend's eyes was off. It didn't add up. There was more to Relena's 'visit' than making new friends. She set her latte in front of her. Looking Relena straight in the eyes she spoke slowly,
" What exactly do you want from me?"
" Well, for one thing, I want to be your friend-"
" Cut the sappy crap and ask me!"
" How did you know I had a question?"
" Because everyone's always asking me questions. Let me guess yours. It's about when I was at Base 0:1, huh?"
" Well, yes, sort of."
"Then just ask me."
" What happened?"
" What happened when?"
" There's one thing I don't get. You were being trained for Eva piloting. Heero, the same age and capability as you, was there. Then you left. Why? After you left, Heero immediately began training as Gundam pilot and dark op. After you left. Why then and not before? What happened?"
" What if I don't want to tell you?"
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Duo and Quatre nodded solemnly at one another. This would be hard. Very. When Heero wanted to keep secrets, he damn well kept them. So how was it would the two boys get any answers out of their ever so secretive friend? They had absolutely no idea.
" Hey, Heero, we're gonna ask you some questions, okay? And you're gonna be a good little boy and answer them, okay? Okay Duo, whatever you say, Duo," Duo tried a tactful approach. Unfortunately, it didn't work. His reply came in the form of a glare that could be interpreted one way: There is an idiot speaking to me.
" Heero, we're really worried. You've been acting very strangely ever since Angel showed up. And whenever we mention you around her, she locks up and tries not to cry. We know you two haven't spoken to each other since she arrived, and we know you two have some sort of a past history together, so there's obviously a reason. And there's also obviously an answer that one or both of you has," Quatre stated firmly. His reasoning was, of course, actually more effective. At least they got some words, whether they liked them or not.
" It's not really any of your business you know."
Quatre sighed, defeated. They knew they'd never get any answers out of this soldier. Duo shook his head regretfully.
" It's no use, Quatre. Damnit, Heero, this is so uncool!"
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"I just LOVE your hair!" squealed Angel.
The two girls' wanderings had landed them in a salon. After much thought, consideration, protests, and a little bit of angelic reasoning, Relena had decided to cut her hair. A lot of it.
The long, dark blond tresses had been boring and somewhat childish. So the girls got rid of it. Relena had a new do. It was cut short. Three layers, feathered at the bottom, and trimmed around her ears. They had even livened the color, highlighting the lighter blond and deepening the darker—giving a result of pure honey. Angel was very pleased with herself. From the moment she saw the princess, she knew short hair would be better. And, of course, she was right.
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A few hours later found the girls holed up in Angel's room, sifting through their purchases. Relena had, along with her new hairstyle, gotten a crash course in fashion thanks to Angel.
So, now they lay sprawled across Angels bed, comparing their clothes to the ones in the magazines they had bought. Overall, the girls had spent around $400 dollars between them. But, hey, Relena was rich—she could afford it. Though of course, there were always sales.
After the two blondes had organized their belongings, and trekked across the hall to put away Relena's stuff, they settled back in Angel's apartment to talk and paint their nails.
" You know, Relena, I've heard some things about you," smiled Angel.
"Hhmm? Like what?"
" Just some things the boys told me."
" Oh!" she rolled her eyes," God help us all!"
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Relena walked silently to her room. She sighed contentedly, Angel was a great person—and an even better friend. But a friend with a dark past. When would she get her answers? Soon, later? Never?
Her thoughts were cut short when she noticed a person walking towards her. Heero.
" Heero? What are you doing at this hour?"
" What do you care?" he said in his traditional monotone.
Relena put her hands on her hips and did her best to glare at him. But her demeanor changed as she noticed that she no longer held his attention. He stared wistfully at the door behind her. The door to Angel's room. Their was a strange quality in his eyes. Something she had never seen in them before. She wasn't allowed to analyze though. Heero's eyes darkened suddenly, as though he had just remembered something unpleasent. His Prussian blue eyes now burned with an icy hatred. Heero then walked away, not bothering to say anything to her.
Relena shut her door behind her. That was beyond strange.
What had just happened. Now, she was convinced that there was something going on. Something deep, dark, and secretive. It was in the air. That look in Heero's eyes. Could it have been love? But how what that possible, when the emotion that had followed had been pure unadulterated hatred.
Two such emotions of that intensity could not possibly be borne in one person.
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Interlude 3
She shivered in the silent darkness. Her eyes sparkled as the moonlight reflected in her tears.
Dreams. Haunting dreams of terror and despair. The past would plague her once again, it seemed.
She covered her ears with her hands, trying desperately to block out the screams that echoed through her mind. The images of her dream still lingered, fresh in her mind.
A sharp chill ran swiftly down her spine.
These dreams, how could she make them stop? How could she fight this pain?
The regret of what she had done was enough to last a lifetime. And now, the reason would torment her. Forms of dreams, why did they haunt her so? It was especially hard, with him so close.
After all these years, why did it return? Wasn't the guilt she carried enough? Didn't she suffer enough pain? But alas, there was nothing she could do.
Besides, I deserve it.
Bitter sobs wracked through her. She knew, as she had known, there was no escape. Unless she ran again. Unless she left. She didn't know if she could do it, or if she should. The tears still fell.
Solace was unattainable here.
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Another horrible Ending but don't worry it's not forever
A/N 5/7:: HEY THERE, um what's up? Anyway, ch 6 is coming SOON, you're gonna love it. Angel starts her synch tests—I would appreciate some help (such as explain the process atiny bit cuz it confuses me) via e'mail. But something unexpected happens—you're either gonna hate me or love me for it. Well I'm gonna shut up before I babble out the WHOLE story to ya. Please review and tell me what you think—cuz I know that a ton a people read it. Even if they are bad reviews I don't care I need to know what you think—I write to please people! *makes puppy dog eyes*
A/n 4/28:: Sorry all you Relena haters—but nothing terrible is gonna happen to her. (Well not REALLY terrible anyway) By the way now that she's older she's lost her ugly hair (she got it cut really short it's now adorable and not crusty yay *cough* any-way and she's got style!
Sorry that this chapter wasn't really deep like the rest of em' I'm kind on an inspiration low right now
Please send reviews or email me with your questions, comments, and much needed/appreciated ideas.
High Priestess Lunatic ** that was for you *smirk*
LUV YA LOTZ
Silky