Captus Nihil Dixit
By Jillian Storm
(Disclaimer: That rascally Latin book is amusing me to no end. The last chapter's title Experiendo Discimus means "we learn by experiencing." This time around, the phrase means, "having been captured, he said nothing." Okay so there is some strange connection in my mind, and I'll allow you to make your own if you'd like. In the same way, these anime series while normally not connected to each other have made some sort of strange bond in this alternate playground. And the lyrics are-surprisingly--Starsailor this time around. A little different . . . but much is the same.)
"You're new here?"
Heero glanced up from where he'd slumped into the back seat of the Road Rage auditorium balancing his boots against the seat in front of him. The shadows had more or less absorbed him into a comfortable silence. Watching as the strangers rehearsed on a strange stage so unlike the Glass House he was used to. Yet strangely familiar parallels.
"Hi." Heero said, as the newcomer sat a seat away. Leaving appropriate space.
"I'm Alexander Edinburgh, or Shin as most people call me." The boy grinned easily enough. "I'm sort of attached to the theater via Miss Sagara. I'm Faye's boyfriend." Offering a hand.
Heero managed to accept it without moving much. "Heero Yuy. I'm with Trowa Barton."
"Ah." Shin's eyes widened just enough that Heero understood that it was new information. He'd had that look quite a bit that afternoon when Trowa had briefly introduced the cast. "I heard about the House." Shin continued, "But the last show held up quite well."
"Thanks." Heero said, not terribly encouraged nor offended.
"Shin!" And the tomboyish young woman had swiftly made her way back to them. "You came, finally."
"What's the matter?" Shin stood immediately, and Heero noticed the delicate way the friendly boy radiated affection in everyway but touching her. Chin down, shoulders forward, arms curling around. And the ever-present smile. Heero turned away, shutting his eyes and doing so could make out the rich tones of Trowa's voice through the general bustle of conversations.
"I didn't see it coming? Did you?" Faye's voice rising over all others to a rather impatient volume. "Sano didn't know if he should try to find her. But, what if she's really in trouble?"
"Have you told Trowa?"
Heero's interested turned back to the near-by conversation. The two young people had pulled back into the deeper shadows, but his hearing was acute even more so when he focused. He tilted his head to one side, letting his mane of dark hair half conceal the glance he sent back their direction. The girl was shaking her head with frustrated reluctance. Then Shin motioned her back into the auditorium.
Back on the stage, Heero found Trowa's tall form, seeming more lean in the dark colors of his clothes. Crossing his arms, the watcher leaned forward so that his mouth was pressed up to his knees. Thinking.
Get back on your feet again -
So insincere -
Crying American
I held you so dear
"I see Heero is as moody as ever." Dorothy smoothed the skin beneath her eyes. Studying the mirror and admiring her complexion.
"Oh really?" Nichol leaned in the doorway. "I hadn't really noticed."
"Of course not, darling," Dorothy unclipped the heavily jeweled ornaments for her usual earrings. Her character was a carefully adorned creature, with plenty of accessories, so Dorothy was using the elaborately decorated pair as her tentative first step into her character during the early rehearsals. She attached to one prop to establish the scene and the rest became arbitrary extras. "If you were observant, we'd all be in much more danger. As it is, you haven't even spoken with the Tyrannical Yuy, have you?"
"I don't have anything against Yuy, really . . ." Nichol began.
"Except Trowa."
"Not even that." Nichol laughed, "He can have the pansy boy if he wants. I certainly don't."
"The pansy that distracted your lady." Dorothy added quite charmingly. She watched from the mirror as Nichol's expression immediately darken, but Dorothy continued before he could protest the point. "Not that you haven't kept yourself well entertained in the meantime."
"You mean the pet?" Nichol smirked, "She is a wicked little thing, isn't she?"
Dorothy leaned back in her seat to face him directly. Her hair folding over her shoulder like a veil.
"Giving her quite the education then?"
"Heh," Nichol breathed with arrogant disbelief, "I wouldn't waste my time. But she's got enough spunk to fuel her own fire."
"As long as it's fun."
"Only when it's fun.' Nichol, distracted, turned from the doorway. "At least I've learned not to make favorites." Waving from behind as he disappeared down the hall.
Dorothy scowled at his back.
Get back on your feet again -
So into you -
We met in the cinema
You felt from my view
Opening the door with more than a little fear, she wiped her arm across a weary brow with relief when there was no one on the couch, no messages on the answering machine, no letters slipped under the door, no immediate problems to face. Catherine glanced around her new permanent home, hastily unpacked and beginning to resemble a place where she could live. Start over.
She's spent the better part of the day looking over the relatively small office she was going to be using as her contact point for future catering business. A portion of it was already fitted to work as a small kitchen, for those things that had to be prepared before the party service. When the landlord had suggested she quit overseeing the last renovations, Cathy had to admit that a nap sounded good.
She slipped through the still overstuffed with boxes hallway and breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of her new bedroom. It was the safe haven of the entire apartment, completely free of the hurried presence of boxes.
She browsed her small bookshelf and pulled out a well tattered romance novel that always amused her until she drifted off to sleep. It had been a while since she'd packed it away. An envelope marked the place where she'd last been reading. Curling in between the pillows and pulling the top blanket over her lap, she opened to those pages and realized how long it had been since she'd packed the book away.
It had been right after she'd demanded Duo let her move out.
And the letter he'd written to her was still angrily stashed where she'd been reading when he'd handed it to her. For great communicators, they'd been reduced to bitter typed words those last days. She felt the flush of humiliation as she remembered using Helen to give her daddy messages. So tempered that she couldn't pretend to be civil. And yet, it all seemed so long ago. So long ago that Catherine could feel regret for her behavior. But no matter how much regret she had felt, nothing ever changed.
She tore the end of the envelope more as she pulled the letter out again. It had been the last.
*Cathy, I'm taking Helen to the movies after school tomorrow. You had promised, it was your thing to do together, but with everything else? I can't stand watching her wait for you. I can't believe how horrid this whole thing has turned out. So, I want you to make up your mind. When we come back Friday evening, I don't expect you to be here. Duo.*
*I don't expect you to be here.* She re-read the last line. It was something she'd gotten used to.
Lullaby, stop twisting my words tonight
If you get high on life -
Don´t leave me behind
"Heero?" There it was again.
"Hn." Heero hardly wanted to move his head away from the shoulder it was resting against. It felt so heavy.
"I don't know how . . . but you can sleep anywhere."
But the shoulder was his own after all, and the voice was getting dangerously close to his uplifted ear. Vulnerable to the texture of the words. He sensed Trowa folding over the back of the chair, and narrowly opening his eyes saw Trowa's sideways smile.
"Don't tell me we were that dull?"
"Worse." Heero growled groggily.
"Hungry?" Trowa straightened up again as Heero sat up, putting his feet back on the floor for the first time since he'd sat down. His shoulders were understandably stiff.
"No."
"Too bad," Trowa mussed Heero's hair in a mock attempt to organize it. "I invited Juri to come to dinner with us. You need to see the International Velvet, it's sort of the Selfish Gene for this place."
"Hello, Heero." Juri had walked up to them at that point. A smaller woman with a strikingly unnatural hair color at her shoulder. Heero almost remembered her. Then she smiled, slightly, at him. A strange smile that promised a strong rival if aroused. That smile, he remembered.
"We're going to dinner together." Heero said simply, wishing he wasn't separated from Trowa by a row of chairs. The woman and the girl blocked the nearest exit.
"And I invited Shiori, if that's alright?" Juri's voice promised that any difficulty could change the plans without hesitation. Heero snorted instinctually, the woman was obliging and kind to a fault, reminding him oddly enough of Trowa. He knew they'd become quite close during Trowa's time at the Road Rage, understandably so. Their souls were embroidered from the same sound integrity. Something preciously rare, he thought, sensing that Shiori held something else in the light of her ordinary eyes.
"Sure," Trowa said, quickly to cover Heero's apparently dismayed reaction. "I don't think I've had your company much." Trowa nodded to the girl who shrugged demurely.
"I tend to absorb myself in character once the show starts." Shiori's voice comment was as general as her appearance, state university pull-over and faded jeans. Even though he was intrigued by the others, Heero found it much easier to watch how Trowa's throat worked over the collar of his dark sweater.
"Should we be off?" Trowa put his hands together. Deciding, Heero climbed over the back of the chair.
Get back on your feet again -
Nothing to say -
Some of your weaker friends get in my way
"Do you think she'd hurt herself?"
Faye's question haunted him more because he hadn't thought of it himself. Sano had waited in the foyer, until he saw Juri closely followed by Shiori, then Trowa and Heero. He turned away, then was immediately angry with himself for reacting so strongly at Trowa. It wasn't as if they had any true connection. But the instantaneous jealousy of the established relationship that Trowa permanently had with Catherine shamed him. When he had time to think about it, he recognized it for what it was.
In the meantime, he tried to pretend he was doing exercises with his neck.
"Oh, Sanosuke," Juri said softly, "I'm sorry, I didn't tell you that I wouldn't need a ride tonight."
"It's Friday." Sano shrugged. "Makes sense that you'd have plans, I just wanted to check." The rooster-head stood, stuffing his hands deep into his pockets and slinking toward the front door hoping that no one would comment.
"Still, I'm sure you had some plans tonight as well."
"Not really." Sano kept walking, willing himself to believe that no one knew what double meaning words might have for him.
"Want to come with us?" Trowa's invitation splintered the back of Sano's brain like a well placed knife. "It's just to International Velvet."
"Or some other time." Heero said curtly.
"Yeah, some other time." Sano lifted a hand in a half-wave and pushed through the front doors. Relief stuck him as quickly as the evening's last sunlight. Not caring what they thought. And frustrated at his inability to speak the truth as he would otherwise. Truth be told, he felt very young.
Get back on your feet again -
Always seems down
Some of your weaker friends
Don´t want you around...
Whatever Trowa had been drinking made him glow warmly even in the darkening lights of the International Velvet. Soon being connected at the knee wasn't enough. Heero pulled back his chair and said gruffly, "Can't insult the music by not dancing to it."
"Damn you're romantic." Trowa looked up, amazed. He smiled apologetically to their companions and let himself be led away. They lost themselves into the dizzying fray for a moment. Every once and a while, Heero pulling Trowa back toward him.
"Don't get lost." Heero warned. The flashing of a light suddenly making each movement seem individually placed, solid in time.
"I'm right here." Coaxed the taller man, twisting behind Heero and wrapped himself around Heero's shoulders. Leaning in to breath close to the dark man's cheek.
"I've got something serious to say." Heero turned into Trowa's chest and was almost distracted from his mission by the nearness of it all.
"Right." Trowa agreed with a light laugh, "I take everything you say seriously."
"Shh." Heero interrupted, then reflected. "Damn, you're going to lose interest after this. Wait a moment." Heero reached up to pull on Trowa's lower lip with his kiss. It didn't take long for Trowa to prefer the tangent, when Heero slipped his head back. "Okay."
"Okay?" Trowa said baffled, still holding Heero close.
"Do you know where Cathy is?"
"What?" Trowa pulled back, shaking his head quickly as if what he heard might change if he took a moment to think of it again. "Cathy? She's all moved into her new place."
"Ah." Heero raised his eyebrows. He thought about things a moment longer, then added, "I'm taking it that you don't know about her involvement with the theater boy."
"What the heck?" Trowa asked again, the electric buzz between his ears sharpening once before almost immediately fading away.
Lullaby -
Stop twisting my words tonight -
If you get high on life -
Don´t leave me behind.
"What a queer couple." Shiori said simply as they watched Trowa follow his leather clad prince to the cleared away dance area.
"You could say that." Juri smiled the slightest bit, "I have yet to decide what I think about this Japanese fellow, but he doesn't seem to hurt Trowa."
"Pain isn't always visible to others." Shiori stretched, her hair which seemed quite normal in the International Velvet's lights brushing across the hood of her shirt. Changes could be so subtle that one might hardly notice.
"When did you become so wise?" Juri wondered softly. Observing the way that the girl's fingers rested over the table in the shape of a crescent moon.
"That's not so wise. It's just the way it is." Shiori shrugged, her fingers curling more.
"I remember sharing a conversation with you, here, before." Juri said, finding that her own fingers closely mimicking the girl's. "It seems like a long, long time ago."
"I hardly remember . . . the conversation."
Juri wished she wasn't sitting right next to the girl, so she could see Shiori's face. She needed a sign, some confidence to move forward. "It was cold, that night." She continued, then laughed with a thought. "And we sang those horrid songs at the karaoke bar."
Shiori's lips pulled back, almost dimpling her near cheek, yet she surrendered not a glance. "That was special."
Juri caught her next words in surprise. Her lips open but unable to form whatever words had seemed important just a moment before. The silence lingered until Shiori broke it again.
"What a mystery you were back then." Shiori laughed, then wrapped the fingers around her drink. "So seductive and no one else seemed to notice. Well, besides Ruka but he didn't stay around very long did he?"
Lullaby -
Your living my lullaby -
Make light of all you see -
And leave me from here...
"Juri."
And she felt her spirit pulled back into her body, turning at the sharp sound and seeing Trowa with the most anxious look she'd ever seen. "What?" She asked almost afraid.
"Did you know about Sano and Catherine?"
"What?" Juri was taken back. "Sano and Catherine? Your Catherine?"
"Yes." Trowa sat down uncomfortably, as if he needed to stand up once more to try again.
"I didn't, what happened?" Juri tried to think back, remembering the conversation she had had with Trowa's sister in confidence. Trying to remember if Sano had hinted at anything during their frequent trips to and from the theater.
"What an idiot." Trowa said trying to recall any clues he might have missed by rubbing the heels of his palms over his eyes and across his eyebrows.
"Who?" Shiori asked indirectly.
"Heero heard . . . thinks. Well," Trowa sighed, his cheeks seeming to sink with the relaxing surprise. "Apparently, they've had some sort of affair. Not telling anyone, except Sano seems to have shared some concerns with his sister." Trowa's lips pulled back in the impression of a grin, "At least some brothers and sisters confide in each other."
"I knew that he was interested in Cathy." Juri recollected some conversation, "Why do we think they might have been more than friends?"
Trowa's eyes narrowed, "And she didn't say a word to me?"
"Well, that's a point." Juri leaned forward to comfortingly take one of his hands with hers. "But that doesn't mean that there's a problem. You know where Cathy is and she's fine."
Trowa tried to smile, but the doubts accumulated faster than thought. "How did I miss it?" Trowa frowned in frustration, feeling Heero's cool fingers on the back of his neck. Comforting.
"Tomorrow's Saturday," Juri offered, "Go see her."
"Right." Trowa studied the ground, deep in thought. Everyone waiting to see what would come next. "Right." He repeated, resolved. "Juri, would you come with me? It's a ways to travel and . . ."
"Sure." She nodded, deciding to explain how she'd already met Catherine later.
"I think we should go." Trowa apologized, looking more comfortable as he stood and turned toward Heero. "Take me home."
"How exciting." Shiori commented, as the boys left them alone at the table again.
Juri frowned, "It is odd . . . still." She didn't feel any great urge to stay at the Velvet either. "Do you need a ride?"
"Nope." Shiori glances through her side bag as they walked out onto the street. She held up her train ticket between two fingers. "One more late train, and I've got a permanent pass."
Get back on your feet again -
Nothing to say -
We met in the cinema -
You got in my way.
By Jillian Storm
(Disclaimer: That rascally Latin book is amusing me to no end. The last chapter's title Experiendo Discimus means "we learn by experiencing." This time around, the phrase means, "having been captured, he said nothing." Okay so there is some strange connection in my mind, and I'll allow you to make your own if you'd like. In the same way, these anime series while normally not connected to each other have made some sort of strange bond in this alternate playground. And the lyrics are-surprisingly--Starsailor this time around. A little different . . . but much is the same.)
"You're new here?"
Heero glanced up from where he'd slumped into the back seat of the Road Rage auditorium balancing his boots against the seat in front of him. The shadows had more or less absorbed him into a comfortable silence. Watching as the strangers rehearsed on a strange stage so unlike the Glass House he was used to. Yet strangely familiar parallels.
"Hi." Heero said, as the newcomer sat a seat away. Leaving appropriate space.
"I'm Alexander Edinburgh, or Shin as most people call me." The boy grinned easily enough. "I'm sort of attached to the theater via Miss Sagara. I'm Faye's boyfriend." Offering a hand.
Heero managed to accept it without moving much. "Heero Yuy. I'm with Trowa Barton."
"Ah." Shin's eyes widened just enough that Heero understood that it was new information. He'd had that look quite a bit that afternoon when Trowa had briefly introduced the cast. "I heard about the House." Shin continued, "But the last show held up quite well."
"Thanks." Heero said, not terribly encouraged nor offended.
"Shin!" And the tomboyish young woman had swiftly made her way back to them. "You came, finally."
"What's the matter?" Shin stood immediately, and Heero noticed the delicate way the friendly boy radiated affection in everyway but touching her. Chin down, shoulders forward, arms curling around. And the ever-present smile. Heero turned away, shutting his eyes and doing so could make out the rich tones of Trowa's voice through the general bustle of conversations.
"I didn't see it coming? Did you?" Faye's voice rising over all others to a rather impatient volume. "Sano didn't know if he should try to find her. But, what if she's really in trouble?"
"Have you told Trowa?"
Heero's interested turned back to the near-by conversation. The two young people had pulled back into the deeper shadows, but his hearing was acute even more so when he focused. He tilted his head to one side, letting his mane of dark hair half conceal the glance he sent back their direction. The girl was shaking her head with frustrated reluctance. Then Shin motioned her back into the auditorium.
Back on the stage, Heero found Trowa's tall form, seeming more lean in the dark colors of his clothes. Crossing his arms, the watcher leaned forward so that his mouth was pressed up to his knees. Thinking.
Get back on your feet again -
So insincere -
Crying American
I held you so dear
"I see Heero is as moody as ever." Dorothy smoothed the skin beneath her eyes. Studying the mirror and admiring her complexion.
"Oh really?" Nichol leaned in the doorway. "I hadn't really noticed."
"Of course not, darling," Dorothy unclipped the heavily jeweled ornaments for her usual earrings. Her character was a carefully adorned creature, with plenty of accessories, so Dorothy was using the elaborately decorated pair as her tentative first step into her character during the early rehearsals. She attached to one prop to establish the scene and the rest became arbitrary extras. "If you were observant, we'd all be in much more danger. As it is, you haven't even spoken with the Tyrannical Yuy, have you?"
"I don't have anything against Yuy, really . . ." Nichol began.
"Except Trowa."
"Not even that." Nichol laughed, "He can have the pansy boy if he wants. I certainly don't."
"The pansy that distracted your lady." Dorothy added quite charmingly. She watched from the mirror as Nichol's expression immediately darken, but Dorothy continued before he could protest the point. "Not that you haven't kept yourself well entertained in the meantime."
"You mean the pet?" Nichol smirked, "She is a wicked little thing, isn't she?"
Dorothy leaned back in her seat to face him directly. Her hair folding over her shoulder like a veil.
"Giving her quite the education then?"
"Heh," Nichol breathed with arrogant disbelief, "I wouldn't waste my time. But she's got enough spunk to fuel her own fire."
"As long as it's fun."
"Only when it's fun.' Nichol, distracted, turned from the doorway. "At least I've learned not to make favorites." Waving from behind as he disappeared down the hall.
Dorothy scowled at his back.
Get back on your feet again -
So into you -
We met in the cinema
You felt from my view
Opening the door with more than a little fear, she wiped her arm across a weary brow with relief when there was no one on the couch, no messages on the answering machine, no letters slipped under the door, no immediate problems to face. Catherine glanced around her new permanent home, hastily unpacked and beginning to resemble a place where she could live. Start over.
She's spent the better part of the day looking over the relatively small office she was going to be using as her contact point for future catering business. A portion of it was already fitted to work as a small kitchen, for those things that had to be prepared before the party service. When the landlord had suggested she quit overseeing the last renovations, Cathy had to admit that a nap sounded good.
She slipped through the still overstuffed with boxes hallway and breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of her new bedroom. It was the safe haven of the entire apartment, completely free of the hurried presence of boxes.
She browsed her small bookshelf and pulled out a well tattered romance novel that always amused her until she drifted off to sleep. It had been a while since she'd packed it away. An envelope marked the place where she'd last been reading. Curling in between the pillows and pulling the top blanket over her lap, she opened to those pages and realized how long it had been since she'd packed the book away.
It had been right after she'd demanded Duo let her move out.
And the letter he'd written to her was still angrily stashed where she'd been reading when he'd handed it to her. For great communicators, they'd been reduced to bitter typed words those last days. She felt the flush of humiliation as she remembered using Helen to give her daddy messages. So tempered that she couldn't pretend to be civil. And yet, it all seemed so long ago. So long ago that Catherine could feel regret for her behavior. But no matter how much regret she had felt, nothing ever changed.
She tore the end of the envelope more as she pulled the letter out again. It had been the last.
*Cathy, I'm taking Helen to the movies after school tomorrow. You had promised, it was your thing to do together, but with everything else? I can't stand watching her wait for you. I can't believe how horrid this whole thing has turned out. So, I want you to make up your mind. When we come back Friday evening, I don't expect you to be here. Duo.*
*I don't expect you to be here.* She re-read the last line. It was something she'd gotten used to.
Lullaby, stop twisting my words tonight
If you get high on life -
Don´t leave me behind
"Heero?" There it was again.
"Hn." Heero hardly wanted to move his head away from the shoulder it was resting against. It felt so heavy.
"I don't know how . . . but you can sleep anywhere."
But the shoulder was his own after all, and the voice was getting dangerously close to his uplifted ear. Vulnerable to the texture of the words. He sensed Trowa folding over the back of the chair, and narrowly opening his eyes saw Trowa's sideways smile.
"Don't tell me we were that dull?"
"Worse." Heero growled groggily.
"Hungry?" Trowa straightened up again as Heero sat up, putting his feet back on the floor for the first time since he'd sat down. His shoulders were understandably stiff.
"No."
"Too bad," Trowa mussed Heero's hair in a mock attempt to organize it. "I invited Juri to come to dinner with us. You need to see the International Velvet, it's sort of the Selfish Gene for this place."
"Hello, Heero." Juri had walked up to them at that point. A smaller woman with a strikingly unnatural hair color at her shoulder. Heero almost remembered her. Then she smiled, slightly, at him. A strange smile that promised a strong rival if aroused. That smile, he remembered.
"We're going to dinner together." Heero said simply, wishing he wasn't separated from Trowa by a row of chairs. The woman and the girl blocked the nearest exit.
"And I invited Shiori, if that's alright?" Juri's voice promised that any difficulty could change the plans without hesitation. Heero snorted instinctually, the woman was obliging and kind to a fault, reminding him oddly enough of Trowa. He knew they'd become quite close during Trowa's time at the Road Rage, understandably so. Their souls were embroidered from the same sound integrity. Something preciously rare, he thought, sensing that Shiori held something else in the light of her ordinary eyes.
"Sure," Trowa said, quickly to cover Heero's apparently dismayed reaction. "I don't think I've had your company much." Trowa nodded to the girl who shrugged demurely.
"I tend to absorb myself in character once the show starts." Shiori's voice comment was as general as her appearance, state university pull-over and faded jeans. Even though he was intrigued by the others, Heero found it much easier to watch how Trowa's throat worked over the collar of his dark sweater.
"Should we be off?" Trowa put his hands together. Deciding, Heero climbed over the back of the chair.
Get back on your feet again -
Nothing to say -
Some of your weaker friends get in my way
"Do you think she'd hurt herself?"
Faye's question haunted him more because he hadn't thought of it himself. Sano had waited in the foyer, until he saw Juri closely followed by Shiori, then Trowa and Heero. He turned away, then was immediately angry with himself for reacting so strongly at Trowa. It wasn't as if they had any true connection. But the instantaneous jealousy of the established relationship that Trowa permanently had with Catherine shamed him. When he had time to think about it, he recognized it for what it was.
In the meantime, he tried to pretend he was doing exercises with his neck.
"Oh, Sanosuke," Juri said softly, "I'm sorry, I didn't tell you that I wouldn't need a ride tonight."
"It's Friday." Sano shrugged. "Makes sense that you'd have plans, I just wanted to check." The rooster-head stood, stuffing his hands deep into his pockets and slinking toward the front door hoping that no one would comment.
"Still, I'm sure you had some plans tonight as well."
"Not really." Sano kept walking, willing himself to believe that no one knew what double meaning words might have for him.
"Want to come with us?" Trowa's invitation splintered the back of Sano's brain like a well placed knife. "It's just to International Velvet."
"Or some other time." Heero said curtly.
"Yeah, some other time." Sano lifted a hand in a half-wave and pushed through the front doors. Relief stuck him as quickly as the evening's last sunlight. Not caring what they thought. And frustrated at his inability to speak the truth as he would otherwise. Truth be told, he felt very young.
Get back on your feet again -
Always seems down
Some of your weaker friends
Don´t want you around...
Whatever Trowa had been drinking made him glow warmly even in the darkening lights of the International Velvet. Soon being connected at the knee wasn't enough. Heero pulled back his chair and said gruffly, "Can't insult the music by not dancing to it."
"Damn you're romantic." Trowa looked up, amazed. He smiled apologetically to their companions and let himself be led away. They lost themselves into the dizzying fray for a moment. Every once and a while, Heero pulling Trowa back toward him.
"Don't get lost." Heero warned. The flashing of a light suddenly making each movement seem individually placed, solid in time.
"I'm right here." Coaxed the taller man, twisting behind Heero and wrapped himself around Heero's shoulders. Leaning in to breath close to the dark man's cheek.
"I've got something serious to say." Heero turned into Trowa's chest and was almost distracted from his mission by the nearness of it all.
"Right." Trowa agreed with a light laugh, "I take everything you say seriously."
"Shh." Heero interrupted, then reflected. "Damn, you're going to lose interest after this. Wait a moment." Heero reached up to pull on Trowa's lower lip with his kiss. It didn't take long for Trowa to prefer the tangent, when Heero slipped his head back. "Okay."
"Okay?" Trowa said baffled, still holding Heero close.
"Do you know where Cathy is?"
"What?" Trowa pulled back, shaking his head quickly as if what he heard might change if he took a moment to think of it again. "Cathy? She's all moved into her new place."
"Ah." Heero raised his eyebrows. He thought about things a moment longer, then added, "I'm taking it that you don't know about her involvement with the theater boy."
"What the heck?" Trowa asked again, the electric buzz between his ears sharpening once before almost immediately fading away.
Lullaby -
Stop twisting my words tonight -
If you get high on life -
Don´t leave me behind.
"What a queer couple." Shiori said simply as they watched Trowa follow his leather clad prince to the cleared away dance area.
"You could say that." Juri smiled the slightest bit, "I have yet to decide what I think about this Japanese fellow, but he doesn't seem to hurt Trowa."
"Pain isn't always visible to others." Shiori stretched, her hair which seemed quite normal in the International Velvet's lights brushing across the hood of her shirt. Changes could be so subtle that one might hardly notice.
"When did you become so wise?" Juri wondered softly. Observing the way that the girl's fingers rested over the table in the shape of a crescent moon.
"That's not so wise. It's just the way it is." Shiori shrugged, her fingers curling more.
"I remember sharing a conversation with you, here, before." Juri said, finding that her own fingers closely mimicking the girl's. "It seems like a long, long time ago."
"I hardly remember . . . the conversation."
Juri wished she wasn't sitting right next to the girl, so she could see Shiori's face. She needed a sign, some confidence to move forward. "It was cold, that night." She continued, then laughed with a thought. "And we sang those horrid songs at the karaoke bar."
Shiori's lips pulled back, almost dimpling her near cheek, yet she surrendered not a glance. "That was special."
Juri caught her next words in surprise. Her lips open but unable to form whatever words had seemed important just a moment before. The silence lingered until Shiori broke it again.
"What a mystery you were back then." Shiori laughed, then wrapped the fingers around her drink. "So seductive and no one else seemed to notice. Well, besides Ruka but he didn't stay around very long did he?"
Lullaby -
Your living my lullaby -
Make light of all you see -
And leave me from here...
"Juri."
And she felt her spirit pulled back into her body, turning at the sharp sound and seeing Trowa with the most anxious look she'd ever seen. "What?" She asked almost afraid.
"Did you know about Sano and Catherine?"
"What?" Juri was taken back. "Sano and Catherine? Your Catherine?"
"Yes." Trowa sat down uncomfortably, as if he needed to stand up once more to try again.
"I didn't, what happened?" Juri tried to think back, remembering the conversation she had had with Trowa's sister in confidence. Trying to remember if Sano had hinted at anything during their frequent trips to and from the theater.
"What an idiot." Trowa said trying to recall any clues he might have missed by rubbing the heels of his palms over his eyes and across his eyebrows.
"Who?" Shiori asked indirectly.
"Heero heard . . . thinks. Well," Trowa sighed, his cheeks seeming to sink with the relaxing surprise. "Apparently, they've had some sort of affair. Not telling anyone, except Sano seems to have shared some concerns with his sister." Trowa's lips pulled back in the impression of a grin, "At least some brothers and sisters confide in each other."
"I knew that he was interested in Cathy." Juri recollected some conversation, "Why do we think they might have been more than friends?"
Trowa's eyes narrowed, "And she didn't say a word to me?"
"Well, that's a point." Juri leaned forward to comfortingly take one of his hands with hers. "But that doesn't mean that there's a problem. You know where Cathy is and she's fine."
Trowa tried to smile, but the doubts accumulated faster than thought. "How did I miss it?" Trowa frowned in frustration, feeling Heero's cool fingers on the back of his neck. Comforting.
"Tomorrow's Saturday," Juri offered, "Go see her."
"Right." Trowa studied the ground, deep in thought. Everyone waiting to see what would come next. "Right." He repeated, resolved. "Juri, would you come with me? It's a ways to travel and . . ."
"Sure." She nodded, deciding to explain how she'd already met Catherine later.
"I think we should go." Trowa apologized, looking more comfortable as he stood and turned toward Heero. "Take me home."
"How exciting." Shiori commented, as the boys left them alone at the table again.
Juri frowned, "It is odd . . . still." She didn't feel any great urge to stay at the Velvet either. "Do you need a ride?"
"Nope." Shiori glances through her side bag as they walked out onto the street. She held up her train ticket between two fingers. "One more late train, and I've got a permanent pass."
Get back on your feet again -
Nothing to say -
We met in the cinema -
You got in my way.