"Come on now...you HAVE to eat SOMETHING..." Silence followed the near plea and she huffed again, an intense put-out look on her face. "Are you even going to SPEAK to me??" Silence again. She sighed and set the bowl down, taking his still bandaged wrist with her hands. It was entirely limp as he made no connection to hold her hand or withdraw.
She hated it when he was stubborn. GOD but she hated it! Was this how he intended on punishing her for keeping him bedridden?? If he was, he was doing a pretty good job!
"Heero...be rational and grown up about this. PLEASE... I'm not doing this to torture you. I'm doing this for your best interests. I don't know what torturous training you went through with doctor J, but you can't keep forcing your body to heal. It has to go at its own pace sometimes." Those blue eyes remained almost firmly fixed on the far wall. They didn't even blink. His stare was even and emotionless.
Her mouth scrunched into a pout. The little...he was doing this on PURPOSE and she KNEW it! And just when she was trying to take some extra time off to HELP him! Not that it hadn't been a disguised blessing to help heal and baby him, but this routine was getting old.
She wasn't going to get through unless she did something that captured his attention. Something entirely NOT Relena Dorlain. She kissed his knuckles again and took satisfaction that he blinked a few times, along with a brief clench to his jaw. Still...his eyes remained on the white wall. There was no window on that wall, so he CERTAINLY wasn't looking at boring white for the view.
Her brow furrowed a little. She didn't want to do something TOTALLY not herself...something not pacifist...but it seemed he was giving her no choice. Teeth harshly bit her lip as she let go of his hand and raise one. It hovered in the air and her fingers curled in hesitation, hanging only a foot away from his face. If he noticed, he still wasn't paying attention.
Steeling herself with a deep breath, her hand whipped out before she could regret second thoughts and lightly tapped his forehead with her fingers. It wasn't a slap, barely a gentle smack. It was just a brief tap...but it certainly did the job. As if she actually hit him, his face whipped over with mildly wide eyes.
She smiled and sat back, subtly going for the food again. "There...that wasn't so hard, was it?"
The shock left his face at her pleasantries and he settled for a weak glare, showing how much he was disliking this constant position. Not only was this utterly boring, but he couldn't get away from Duo's constant chatter or her visits. Blue darted from her face long enough to see the spoon before strengthening his glare. "I can feed myself."
The cheerful smile from the short victory drooped a little. She felt a little hurt that he wouldn't let her at least TRY to help him. Had everything they'd gone through been just a lie? Did he really NOT feel anything for her? She bit the inside of her lip briefly before giving another friendly look.
"Heero really...I mean what I say and don't think I'll help you if you disobey me. I won't let anyone help you either, and I know you can use it to help heal you." Blue gave a hurt look before it covered up with humor. "Now, don't make me feed you like a two-year old again. You ended up with quite the mess before you gave in." A wide smile plastered in memory as she fought not to laugh at his pride.
The glare worsened at how much she was enjoying his discomfort. Nice to know someone was... He grunted and craned his head back a little. "This is humiliating."
So it was back to his articulate vocabulary again? If she bartered his release, she wondered if he would talk to her... She mentally refused to continue that thought. This was Heero here, he wasn't a barterer and he wasn't a conversationalist. Sadly enough...
"Only because you make it." She gently retorted, her eyes hardening. Here they went again... The spoon moved close to his face, but it craned up as his eyes locked on the ceiling. "REALLY Heero...be a MAN about this! Accept some help once in a while."
"You've been doing this for a WEEK already." He darkly retorted, glaring at the ceiling. If ANYONE was in the room, he would probably push her away and refuse her to come near him again. As it was, he was fighting massive embarrassment to his ego, pride, and emotions at how caring and tender she was being. It was all he could do to regrettably let her do what she kept intending. Feeding him.
With a wide grin, she wiggled the spoon, knowing he could see it, and inched it closer to his mouth. "Come on...I know you weren't baby fed when you were an infant, but just let go this once eh?" The grin widened. This was part of the job she loved...teasing the daylights out of him and getting away with it. "You ever play choo-choo at ALL?"
Dark blue narrowed as his glare hardened. Damn it...he could feel his face was starting to turn red. NO! He was NOT going to give her the satisfaction of getting under his skin with her cute little ways and that melodic voice of hers! He nearly heaved a sigh at his behavior. Beaten by a few broken bones and a woman with a spoon...how degrading.
So why didn't he mind it that much? Surely if he ordered Relena from the room, she would obey his request for privacy. But he had yet to tell her to stop what she was doing once, or tell her to go away. He was getting too soft...yet somewhere deep in his mind didn't seem to care. Sad, but true. He WAS getting soft...but it was for her. Only her.
His brow furrowed a tiny degree in contemplation. He never really allowed much time for thought of his emotions toward her. Not in massive degree...and without either getting a headache from over thinking or confusing himself with it all. Emotions, even the simplest, were out of his grasp. He could stare at someone all day long, Duo as a great example, and still not be able to figure out WHY they acted like they did.
Someone of his sharp mind just didn't understand the complexity of the human brain with its serotonin levels and chemical balances. He mentally grimaced. Emotions of the heart...couldn't he just say emotions of the heart?? No...he knew that wasn't true and the brain regulated all the right chemicals composed with the right emotion and circumstance. That was the correct answer...and highly scientific.
"Earth base to Heero Yuy...come in Heero Yuy."
With a blink he looked to her with the tiniest of odd looks. That brilliant smile dimmed part of his anger and his reluctance to give in started building. If it was anyone but Relena he wouldn't cave so easy...actually if it was anyone but Relena this wouldn't be HAPPENING.
She was the ONLY one who could even remotely get halfway to picking on him. If it was Duo his bandaged wrist would've been put to use and either gripping fistfuls of the idiot's clothes or punched square in the face by now. Noin and Hilde wouldn't do it, as they weren't that acquainted. Duo and Relena would be the only two who dared to try something like this. He was almost surprised Duo hadn't already done so.
Her head tilted to the side as she kept meeting his eyes, wondering what took him away from the situation at hand. He hadn't said a word or glared at her for the past minute. It must be serious.
The smile pasted back on as she put the bowl down and went to grip his chin. If he was distracted, this was her perfect chance...
He snapped back to attention and twisted his face out of immediate reach to the wall again. Even though she dared, he wasn't going down without a fight. He wasn't a soldier for NOTHING...
'It's a good thing I took so much time off and don't have work tomorrow...' She mused, trying to keep a positive mind frame. 'Please oh PLEASE don't let this end up like two days ago...' The last thing she wanted to do was get hot soup all over her shirt again or on his bandages.
"Come on Heero...please cooperate this once for me..."
Blue darkened and narrowed. "No." He wanted to add that she'd only keep trying and come back for his meals tomorrow. If he gave in this easy, she would think he was that simple to push around and try to manipulate him. At least it was always interesting to see her patience strain... The great pacifist having a temper at his actions...that was rather amusing at times...
"Heero...please don't force me to take drastic measures." She nearly begged, not wanting to resort to yelling at him again. Her brain was already whirling at the bartering speed she reserved for trying to placate senators when they acted up. Was it necessary to show some un-Relena behavior again?
When he didn't answer or look at her, she could feel irritation boil. So...they were going to do this AGAIN were they? Well...at least when he was done healing her patience would know no boundaries... "Heero Yuy...I'm telling you one last time to let me help get some food in you. You don't eat enough and you need your strength you know."
Blue hardened, ready for anything she'd throw his way. "Save it." They did this so many times each day this past week and it always processed the same way. It was just amazing she kept thinking up new stuff to effectively gain his attention. It wasn't that he couldn't ignore her, but some of the things her mind thought up were rather shocking and he couldn't help looking at her in disbelief...
Her mouth pursed as if she just got done sucking on a lemon. The hardest glare yet speared the side of his face before her features smoothed into a small smile. Save it? Fine, then she'd get this done by not using words...
Keeping a careful grip on the spoon to keep from spilling anything, she slowly stood in the chair and moved it toward his face. Keeping an eagle eye on his attention, she leaned down and slowly kissed his cheek.
His heart fluttered at the butterfly contact. A jolt suddenly went through him and the second those lips pulled away enough, he looked over. "Relena wha-umph!"
A victorious smile appeared as she pulled the spoon back, carefully wiping off a little that dribbled out the side of his mouth. "That wasn't so hard was it?" She muttered, fighting laughter. She ignored another fierce glare and readied the spoon again.
"Now...are you going to behave or am I going to have to do that every time and jam the spoon in your mouth again? I honestly don't mind either way, but don't think I'll wipe off the lipstick marks as retribution for when Duo comes and visits you." Blue twinkled mischievously. "You don't want THAT kind of teasing, do you?"
Blue looked at his foe again in calculation. "You wouldn't..." She was more ruthless than that pretty face gave away...
Her eyes narrowed as she took up an evil look. She leaned closer a little to his face with that malicious grin. OH she loved her job sometimes! "I may be a pacifist Heero, but I've been storing up a LOT of stress from work and worry over your whereabouts. I wouldn't bet with me if I were you..." The spoon hovered inches from his mouth. "Now. Open up."
It was that or hearing Duo's laughter and assuming what he and Relena did THIS time. He chose the former and promptly opened his mouth, getting on with it at last. The last thing he wanted was to have his ear talked off anymore than it already was. The pains of being an invalid...
When the bowl was finally emptied, she stood in satisfaction and wiped the little residue off his chin. "Now... was that so hard? I'm pretty sure I'm worse off than you are." A hand went and lightly rested on his forearm. "You always make this hard on yourself you know." She muttered.
He didn't dignify that with a response. He wasn't going to give her the pleasure of knowing she got his goat.
A hand brushed those unruly bangs away from his face, even as his vision turned to the wall to ignore her until she left. She quietly sighed, trying not to feel offended. He did this every time...
With a soft smile, she leaned forward and gently kissed his forehead. "Sleep tight Heero... I'll be back later." She whispered, seeing him blink once. Somewhere along the way, she knew one met affirmative and two negative. WHEN he started that she had no clue, but it was more amusing to see her figure that out and pick it. It was rather scary to know she was in his head for that.
Just as she was halfway to the door, a thought hit. "Hey...come get these lipstick prints off my face." He ordered, pointedly meeting her eyes. She left two and he could feel the substance on his skin. "You said if I cooperated... Don't you dare make me put up with that later."
The evil grin returned full force as she stopped in the doorway. "But you didn't cooperate Heero...you resisted me until I was forced to take drastic measures. I won't let Duo in right now, as you'll be resting, but let that be a lesson to you."
"You're not leaving me like this!" He growled. She was EVIL! Who needed an assassin as an enemy when they had Relena Dorlain???
The grin turned from evil to sugar sweet. "Aren't I? I suddenly don't feel very forgiving at this moment. I've had such a trying time..."
"RELENA!..." He loudly growled.
The door closed behind, not letting him say anything else.
She fought a giggle and turned, startling when she met violet.
"I had no clue you were so wicked."
She gave in and quietly laughed, stifling it with a hand. "At least give him two hours before you go in there." She winked. "And keep it light...I still have to check up on him before I go to bed."
Duo saluted with a playful gleam in his eye. "What say I walk you down to the kitchen and we raid the pantry then? I assume you're pretty hungry since you haven't had dinner yet..."
She happily nodded and started down the hall. "You're on..."
~*~*~
By the time Duo came back, he managed to wipe almost all of the horrid lipstick off with his wrist bandage. It was painful, even though his injuries were swiftly healing due to his training, but he bypassed it.
As soon as Duo walked in the door, mouth poised for some type of sarcastic greeting, he beat the American to it. "Get me a communications console."
Duo halted in confusion and blinked in silence. "For what?" He asked, head tilting. An evil grin popped up. "How do you intend on using it anyway? You think I won't squeal to Relena if you get outa that bed?" The grin widened, almost daring him to do so.
The harshest glare yet speared violet as he mentally wished Duo to whither and die. His jaw harshly clenched as he tried to rope in his frustration and anger. Duo apparently had the attention span of a gnat if he couldn't remember the mission that happened not that long ago.
"If you'll get on track and remember where you were at for a month or two, then I don't have to explain." His look turned pointed as he wondered how long it would take for the light bulb to turn on. Surely there was a switch amongst those cobwebs SOMEWHERE...
A sudden blink and Duo startled. "Oh yea...sorta forgot about that..." A sheepish look appeared. "Well...I'm not too sure we even have anything like that here...unless it's in the Taurus suits..."
He fought to heave a sigh. Why couldn't he have time to grab his computer? If he had, there would be no problem. What he wouldn't give to have Duo head back to Shanghai and grab it. A tiny spark of remorse hit him. His precious laptop...the only thing he ever really owned besides his guns and the clothes on his back.
At least he had the satisfaction of knowing it couldn't fall into the wrong hands. There were so many security codes just to open that and all the programs he had on there. It was nearly impossible and total virus free. NO one was going to be able to use it if they found it. Not to mention if it wasn't touched for a few weeks, the thing would purposely short itself out on a self-destruct. He didn't take chances with anything.
"Then find a way." He needed to get in contact with Wufei and see if the Chinese man returned any other messages. If Wufei had and he was kept from seeing them, he didn't doubt that Wufei would either wait for his return or go by the seat of his pants. The latter was more the Chinese's style really.
But still...he didn't know unless he didn't check. Wufei needed information more than what he gave. All he managed to type out was his expertise were needed in Shanghai. And that he'd send more on further contact. It wasn't even sure if Wufei even took the mission!
He stared at the ceiling, quickly becoming frustrated. There had to be a way to get OUT of here! But Sally would know as she regularly checked up on him to see how he was doing. Not as much as Relena, but Sally would ask questions if suddenly, one of his bones was put back in its normal position...
A plan started forming. It was tricky, but as long as he stayed in bed... It might work and speed his recovery of not having to screw around with all this wait time! His spine and ribs were okay to move and he was now propped up with multiple pillows. He could reach his injuries a lot easier now.
"Earth to Heero, you in there anywhere??"
He harshly glared at violet. "Go get me a console." He grit out, wanting Duo to leave. The faster Duo left, the quicker he could get on with it and see how rest was going to go. If he told Sally to keep it a secret, she MIGHT...but that wasn't certain. Relena would pick up on Sally's change in mood toward him and then it would be out of the bag. The eyes of a doctor were sharp, but he would find a way.
"You can't be serious. You know Relena won't allow you to operate one with your hand and arm in the condition they're in-"
"This is more important!" He grit out, tired of Duo thinking that Relena controlled him. He knew she would make good on her threat, but he was the perfect soldier. She underestimated him if she thought he was going to be in trouble with these little setbacks by keeping anyone from helping him. There was always a way around people seeing him.
Duo stood in silence, violet looking on in calculation. There was a difference to that tone and those blue eyes. What was he thinking if he could bark orders and yet not be all there? How interesting that he could do two things at once.
Shaking it off, knowing he always had a reason for SOMETHING...at least usually...Duo smiled and gave a quick salute. "Yes sir captain SIR."
His teeth ground in agitation. Why was Duo always being so pleasant when it REALLY wasn't a funny matter right now?? That was irritating in itself. "Just GO."
Without a final retort or joke, Duo whirled around and shut the door behind him. He blinked in realization that he got off with a small amount of teasing for once. Maybe there WAS a God up there...
Shaking his head, he looked to the bandages. Sally told him he had a broken wrist and bones in both his legs were dislocated, but she popped those into place. They felt ten times better than before, but the bandages around the area were tight enough that he could barely move them. His forearm was relatively okay by now, as she said he just bruised the muscles and bone and it would be fine in a few weeks.
Of course that was the point, but he scowled. He couldn't take them off and see how they faired because Relena WOULD have a massive conniption fit and throw him out. Oddly enough, he didn't really want to be kicked out and be on her wrath more than he already was. Some of that was just for revenge for what he was enduring...the rest was just to get her riled up. She looked rather...nice when she was angry...
A squeeze from his injured wrist and the pain from the purposeful action helped put him back on track. He was NOT going to muse about Relena's looks or the color of her hair and everything that sprung up at times of what he wanted to do, but never get the courage for.
Blue momentarily narrowed. He was a coward, even though he could face anything ELSE. Why was he thinking so negatively about what she would think toward him after all she said...and did? His lips pressed together from their first kiss. It was chaste and almost mothering, but it was burned in his brain. ANYTHING she did he remembered with absolute clarity...
'Get to it baka!' He mentally shouted. The more time he wasted, the more he was going to get caught doing this if someone came in. Since the door had no lock on it, he had to be quick.
Gritting his teeth, he looked to his hand. There wasn't a cast on it, which he was thankful for, just a lot of bandages. The inside was taped on, and that was going to be a problem when Sally checked it again. She'd know, but he would deal with that later.
Experimentally moving his left arm, the sprained forearm was just a dull pain and easy to ignore. He knew for a fact his right wrist was still busted from the many times Relena held it. Today, that was going to change.
It didn't take long until the bandages were unwrapped and carefully put on his bed for fast access if necessary. Now free of the coverings showed his wrist a little more swollen than he thought. Well...that was due to the bone in his carpal area being broken, but he'd fix that.
He quickly took the tape off with the same speed and blue narrowed upon further inspection. Gritting his teeth, a finger prodded the area to find out what needed to be fixed. Finding the right bones, his fingers carefully positioned.
With a deep breath, harshly biting his lip, his fingers moved his wrist back. A crack sounded in the quiet and a harsh jab of pain sped through his nervous system, making him draw blood to his lip. He quickly stuck it in his mouth to keep the bleeding from getting everywhere and looked to his wrist.
It looked like the swelling went down a little bit and the pain lessened a lot. Now all he had to do was wait for the tendons to fit back the way they were supposed to. A hand went for the tape, putting it on exactly as it took it off. With his body trained as such, that wouldn't take long.
After replacing the final bandage and getting it hooked into place, he breathed a rare sigh of relief that no one burst in. Now all he just had to wait until nightfall and everyone went to bed. It was a good thing his ankle wasn't in any kind of sling, even though his knee was hooked up to some type of contraption to keep him from moving it that much.
As soon as everyone was down for the night, just like the previous few, he would get out of bed and walk around to test his progress. Not a soul knew about it and he was going to keep it that way. Sitting in lethargy wasn't his style. Strengthening his muscles while they healed was the only way to speed it up. He was NOT going to stay in this bed any longer than he had to.
~*~*~
It was late and she REALLY should be getting to bed, but there was such a need to get some work done and stay a little caught up... 'Who am I kidding...I can't work AND take care of Heero at the same time. I need all my energy just for one!'
She plopped into the leather chair with a sigh, a hand rubbing her forehead. Really, she hadn't taken any time off at all. Chalk it up to being Vice Foreign Minister...not to mention a workaholic. Tired blue stared at the sorted stacks on her desk.
She could feel her stress levels rising again and not just from Heero either. That didn't really up her cholesterol levels; it had to deal with politicians. With a huff, she slouched a little in the seat and stared at the ceiling. Really, there had to be a better way to alleviate her levels than just taking time off.
A hand propped her head up as she stared at the far wall. Her mind blanked as she spent minutes with her eyes locked on nothing. It was a nice change of pace compared with thinking about the rules she was trying to conceive concerning the project in space. She and Quatre should've put more thought into it than this... Made more than just a general outline...
Blue idly went to the blank vid phone. Quatre...she missed him. His pleasantries and softness. She wondered how he was fairing with Divinity. Had everything been resolved yet? She got an itch to call, but didn't want to impose. She wasn't that big a meddler and knew it would repair itself in time.
She missed Trowa too. She hadn't seen him since he left nearly six months ago and it would be nice to have HIM deal with Heero for once. Trowa's placid mood matched Heero's and the two were really quiet. She got the impression that they could get along quite well.
A small bit of loneliness speared her. She couldn't really complain; she had Duo, Hilde, Noin, Sally, and Heero around. Not to mention Pagan, but he wasn't really the same as those her age. But Heero didn't talk unless he barked at her and the reunited couple was too busy getting Hilde better.
She was still rather envious of that connection they had. It was like Duo was never gone. And after seeing how well Hilde did in the months he was absent, Duo kept boasting how proud he was of 'his girl'. After seeing how better Hilde was with walking, Duo was buckling down and helping her with her cane and weights in the garden.
She heaved a sigh, her jaw clenching. She knew Heero would never be like Duo in a million years, but sometimes it was like she wasn't getting through to him. Did that last dance mean nothing? She thought she saw the hard edges crumble a little in his eyes and, for even a split second, he showed an emotion directed only at her.
Her head hit the back of the chair to stop herself from thinking like this. Depressing herself over such a stubborn, antisocial person never helped. She had Heero pretty much figured out, but there was no way to get inside his barriers. Not well anyway... Not even TROWA was that bad...
After a while of staring at the ceiling and thinking of her last encounter with Trowa, a light bulb clicked. She blinked and looked to the vid phone. It was a long reach and a crazy idea...but crazy enough that it just might WORK!
Biting her lip, she suddenly realized she had no way to get the ball rolling. Her lips pursed. Where there was a will, there was a way. She'd spend all NIGHT finding him too if she had to!
~*~*~
Next morning, bright and early, she sat at the same desk in front of the vid phone. "Hello Divinity. Is Quatre around?"
After being put on hold, she leaned back with a pleasant smile. It was good to see the girl and the easygoing manner tipped her off that everything was okay now. She'd ask later, when everyone was around.
"Hey Relena, what's up?"
A sandy blond brow rose. "My, my. Such an IMPERSONAL greeting Mr. Winner." She joked, grinning.
Quatre smiled sheepishly. "Well you know ME, I LIKE impersonal at MY office." They chuckled. "How can I help you?"
Her eyes sparkled as she took in his appearance. Quatre looked a lot more relaxed too. That was nice to know. She was just glad they were together, like they SHOULD be. "I have a proposition for you. One I think you'll ACCEPT." She mysteriously challenged.
"Oh? And pray-tell, what makes you think I'll AGREE? I do have WORK to do y'know." He musingly retorted. "Busy, busy, BUSY."
She smiled. She wished she could say the same on that level, but honestly all she'd done so far was baby Heero back to health. "Oh, it's not MUCH," She humorously answered, a hand waving dismissally, "just an offer to stay at Sanc for a few weeks...with DIVINITY...to watch TROWA perform..."
Quatre shot toward the vid phone. "Trowa's going to SANC?!" He excitedly burst out. "Of COURSE I'll go!"
She smirked. "Knew you WOULD." She answered, laughing. "ANY time you get to see Trowa and spend your vacation with Divinity is an automatic YES." One hand kept her chin propped up as she stared at him over the line. "I think you two would be happy if you spent your vacation in your GUNDAM."
Quatre blushed, but laughed. "Probably." He agreed, grinning that idiotic, love-sick grin. They shared another laugh. "When is he arriving?"
"Soon." She replied. "He'll be here HOPEFULLY by the end of the month. You intend on BEING here by then?"
Quatre's lips pursed in quick calculation. She could almost see the gears grinding in his eyes. "MAYBE. I can reschedule a few meetings I have around that time, but there're a few I have THIS week and the beginning of NEXT." One hand rubbed over his smooth chin in thought. "I'll just do what Diva suggested I guess..." He quietly muttered. "I'll tell Diva and we'll be down by Trowa's arrival."
She smirked. "You're not going to ASK her?"
Quatre grinned. "Anywhere SHE goes, I go, and vice versa. I KNOW she won't want me going by myself, not when she can use some of her vacation."
"Then it's settled. I'll make sure Pagan has your rooms ready for your arrival." A finger pointed to the screen. "Just make sure you CALL when you touch down on Sanc soil, ALRIGHT??"
Defensive hands shot into the air. "Yes MOTHER."
She playfully scowled. Like she needed another person to baby. After some more talking, the two severed the connection. 'Two down, now to tell Duo and the others... At least Duo gets to hang out with Quatre like he said.' She smiled and left her office, not even glancing at the papers as she shut the door.