Chapter 3: Reminders
That baka. Thinking he can order me around. Hmph,Vixen thought as she stormed home.
Stupid girl. Thinking she's better than everyone,Heero thought as he searched out the house.
He'll see, I'm better than him anyway,she reminded herself as she unlocked her front door. She stepped inside and closed it behind her.
She'll see. Just because I don't fight anymore doesn't mean I've turned into an idiot like everybody else,he told himself as he rounded the corner.
Moron.She set her bags down on the table. "Now where the hell is that guy to fix my stuff?!" she asked out loud.
Crazy.he finished in his head. "Finally," he said. He walked up the drive and knocked on the door.
"Jeez, it's about time!" Vixen said, exasperated. She walked to the door and flung it open. "You're lat-" she began, then her jaw dropped. "What in God's name are you doing here?" she asked incredulously.
What the-?!Heero's brain thought. "I'm here to fix something. You got a roommate in there? Or did that woman give me the wrong address?" he said, regarding her calmly though his head was spinning. I came here to fix something for HER?!
Say something Vixen!"Um... uh... no I haven't got a roommate!" Oh yea, that was intelligent...! Good going girl!
Great... think of something Heero!"Okay... then... Maybe I got the wrong house or something," he said.
"NO!" she blurted out. "Uh, I mean," she tried to recover. Damn, he's got me all unnerved!"I called you, I guess, only I didn't know it was you, I mean, yea, well, anyway, I need something fixed, come in and fix it, then you can go away." That's telling him. Ha.
Calm Heero, stay calm. Stay cool."Whatever." He stepped inside and she closed the door after him. "What am I supposed to fix again? You never told me on the phone."
I guess I didn't...! Smart Vixen, smart!"Um, it's a device for a... project I'm working on right now, sit in there, I'll get it." She pointed him towards her living room and ran off.
Wow, nice place,Heero thought. How does she afford a place like this anyway?He wandered into the living room, staring around and sat down in an armchair.
HEERO is going to fix this?!?!she thought nervously. But then he'll know...! Um... well, maybe he won't realize it! It's been a year, maybe he's forgotten...She dragged the part from its place against the wall.
I wonder what she does for work...he thought. Then he heard her calling.
"Hey! Heero! Get in here!"
Oh jeez... treating me like a servant already and I've been in her house all of 5 minutes...he thought, rolling his eyes. He began to walk toward the sound of her voice. "Where are you? Keep in mind I've never been in your house before!" he retorted.
"Walk down the hallway and take the second door on your left!" he heard her reply. "And hurry up already!" Maybe if I rush him... he won't have time to figure out what it is!she thought quickly.
Heero walked briskly, studying the dŽcor of her home as he went. He found what he thought was the correct door and opened it. He was presented with a pitch-black room. "Uh, Vixen? Did I go in the wrong room or something?"
"No, you didn't. I just prefer to save energy when I can," Vixen lied from within the room. Just come in and close the door."
Whaaaat? What IS this anyway?Heero thought. "Yea, right. Should I be wondering about this, or are you this gracious to all your guests?" he asked, stepping into the room but leaving the door open.
Vixen sighed and thought hard. Then she shook her head. "Fine. I give. Hit the damn light switch on your right and THEN close the door."
Heero obeyed. Flipping on the switch, he blinked several times as his eyes adjusted to the light. Closing the door slowly behind him, he stared in amazement at what he saw. "Where... did you get something like this?" he asked in surprise.
Fabulous. He DOES know what it is, still.Vixen sighed again, inwardly. "I had it on hand for a project! I told you that already. Just fix it now, I'll give you the money for it, and then you can go, 'kay?"
Heero stared at the booster part hesitantly.
"Hey! C'mon! What's wrong, forget how to fix a part for a Gundam already?" Vixen asked hotly, letting her temper give away her secret.
Heero looked at her suspiciously. "What about a Gundam?" he asked.
Vixen's eyes communicated a mix of despair and anger. She hid her emotions well other than that, thought. "Nothing. It was... uh... just a comment..."
Heero approached her. "What didyou do with Solo after everything had ended, anyway?" he asked forcefully.
Vixen began to back up slowly. "That's my business! I don't go around tracking down you or those other guys and asking what you've done with yourGundams, do I?" she said out of desperation.
Heero continued his approach until he was right in front of her, so close he could feel her breath on his face. "No, you don't," he said calmly. "But I'm asking you now. What happened to Solo?"
Vixen looked into his eyes and froze. Her breaths became shorter as her mind raced. Maybe I should tell him... about... no, but then he might... I don't know...Even her thoughts betrayed her. Thinking quickly, she stepped to the side. "Fix the part," she said quietly, turning to the wall.
Heero looked at her curiously. "You didn't tell me-" he began, then thought for a moment, saw how uncomfortable it was making her, and went to study the pack. "This thing's in pretty bad shape," he said, lifting a charred piece of metal and setting it on the floor. "You got tools around here I can use?"
Vixen wordlessly pointed to the corner.
Heero walked toward the area she was pointing at. Once there, he found a stocked box of tools laying against the wall. Sifting its contents, his thoughts wandered once again to the Gundams and what had become of them all. He knew that Quatre, Duo, and Trowa had detonated theirs, making them no more than scrap metal. Wufei had also said a fond farewell to Nataku. Wing...he wondered. What happened to you?He was so preoccupied with his thoughts that he didn't notice a sharp tool and sliced his hand. "Damn!" he said aloud, forgetting to pretend not to notice the pain. Vixen hurried over.
"What the heck did you do now?" she complained. Heero glared at her.
"Nothing. Never mind it. Just go back to doing... well, whatever you're doing." He selected the tools he needed, heedless of his bleeding hand, and began to walk toward the booster part. Vixen stopped him.
"You should at least bandage it," she said hesitantly. "Come with me."
Heero stayed where he was. "You hired me to come here and fix a part. I charge by the hour, you know."
She shot him a look. "I don't care about how much the cost is. I'm not as bad off as you are." Ouch, that was low,Heero thought. Vixen continued. "But I won't have you bleeding all over my house while you work on the part. Now come on." To her surprise, he reluctantly followed. She led him upstairs and into her room, where she took out a bandage roll and began to wrap his hand. His gaze shifted from his hand all around the room as he took in its dŽcor. "How do you afford all of this anyway?"
Vixen looked up from bandaging his hand, startled. "What?"
"How can you afford a house like this? And food and everything?" he asked again, testing his hand against the bandage. To his delight, he was able to move it freely and without much pain. Vixen looked at the floor.
"I get by," she began. "Nowadays there are plenty of jobs for a pretty girl." Heero began to question her statement, then thought better of it and left it alone.
"If you don't mind then," he said with mock courtesy, "I think I'll get back to myjob now." With that he walked swiftly out of the room and downstairs. Upon reaching the hallway, he realized that he didn't know which door led to the room they had been in minutes before. "Stupid big house," he mumbled, selecting a door. The room that was presented to him was pitch-black, and he fumbled for a light switch, thinking Vixen had turned out the light when they left. Once lit, the room was empty with the exception of a door on the far side. Intrigued, Heero walked to it quickly and opened it. He met with another dark room, and searched for another switch. The room did not flood with light as the other had, only a soft glow that reflected off a massive structure. As Heero squinted to try and see what it was, Vixen called.
"Heero! Where the hell did you go?" she yelled.
His eyes becoming accustomed to the light, Heero stepped back as he saw the structures. He heard Vixen striding through the adjoining room.
"Heero!" she said forcefully upon reaching the doorway, then gasped as she saw what he had discovered. She ran for the light switch, but it was too late. He had seen them.
"Vi- Vixen," he stammered. "WHY are they here?! How? I mean, why would you- could you-"
Vixen sighed deeply. "I guess I have to tell you now," she said. As she began to explain, the soft light glinted off Wing and Solo, looming over them.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
((*END CHAPTER 3*))
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
