I still don't own anything, but I'm sure you already know that by now.
Well, it seems all of you now thoroughly hate Relena. Mission accomplished! coughs Gomen minna.just had to get that out of my system. Anyhow, you will be pleased to know that Relena will eventually get a big, fat punishment. Also, as I've said, the inners will make an appearance, but not for a few more chapters. Sorry if you're unhappy with that, but this is meant to be a Lita/Mako centered fic. The thought has also crossed my mind of possibly doing a sequel to this story once I finish. In such event that takes place, pairing up scouts and pilots will be rather hard to do. Also, if one should be written, Relena will not be an included character, but Zechs would be. Just something for you all to think about.
Now enough rambling from me. Enjoy!
Quatre paced nervously across the living room. "It's been a week now. A whole week and as far we know Lita still hasn't come out of her room." He stopped and turned to the rest of the pilots, who were scattered in various seats around the rooms. "I was concerned before.but now I'm down right worried."
"I don't see what the problem is," Wufei said. "Making all this fuss over a stupid earring. Only an onna would do something like this."
"That isn't nice Wufei."
"Humph," he answered in response.
"I know what Relena did upset her, but she really needs to get out. Staying in there is only making things worse," Duo said, motioning toward the kitchen. "I think Heero should ask her to that party Saturday night."
"What are you talking about Duo?" said person asked.
"Relena's birthday party."
"I told you already.I'm not going."
"And I told you that you don't have a choice. We all have to go because we have a standing mission to play bodyguard."
"And I told you that I don't give a damn what the circumstance is. I'm not going and I'm certainly not asking anyone else to go either. So just leave me alone."
"Aww.Heero come on."
"No."
"At least talk to her then," Quatre pleaded. "We've all tried to. Well.Wufei actually yelled insults instead of trying to talk.but that's beside the point. She hasn't listened to any of us. Maybe you could get through to her."
"Hn."
"Yuy.if you do not go and talk to her, I will call that weak onna Relena and tell her that you've had a change of heart and have suddenly realized how much you care."
Heero glared. "You wouldn't dare."
"Try me." Wufei reached over and lifted up the receiver of the phone sitting on the table next to him.
"Fine," Heero grumbled. "But I do this under protest."
Quatre smiled. "Thank you Heero."
"Hn," he said scowling as he stood and exited in the direction of the kitchen.
"And where do you think you're going Duo?" Quatre asked, watching the braided pilot sneaking out behind Heero.
"Just going to.um."
"Spy," Quatre finished. "You come back here right now and sit down. I'm beginning to think that part of the problem before was that all of us were standing around the door listening to what the speaker was saying. I'm sure she could hear all the noise we were making and I bet that only upset her more. Also, Heero seemed rather agitated. I'd rather not make him any grumpier, so we're going to make it easy on everybody and just go out.all of us."
"Out where?" Duo asked.
Quatre though for a moment, before getting everybody rounded up and herding them out to the car. "Well?"
"We're going bowling."
"BOWLING??" Wufei shrieked. "That is a weak game and I will." His voice trailed off as he saw the glare on Quatre's face. "I will force myself to have a good time.."
Meanwhile, back inside the house, Heero had been standing outside the door to Lita's room, trying to figure out something appropriate to say. But so far nothing had come out sounding right and as uncomfortable as he was being put in this position he knew that even if he said the right words they would have a harsh edge to them. Guess I'll just have to get this over with he muttered to himself, preparing to knock. Just as he was about to announce his arrival, the door swung open and he saw his first glimpse of her in a week.
She was in pretty bad shape to be quite frank. Her hair was messy, like she'd just woken up from a nap. Her clothes were wrinkled and her eyes were tinged red from crying, looking rather tired as well. "I was wondering when you would show up."
Heero raised an eyebrow. "And just what does that mean?"
"It means that everyone else has been here trying to give me a pep talk. I wondered how long it would be before they forced you to give me one too."
"I don't give pep talks. I'm only talking to you because Quatre asked me too."
"And I'm only talking to you because if I don't the whole cycle will start over again and I'd rather not listen to anymore of Duo's bad knock knock jokes."
"It's as good a reason as any."
She shrugged. "Yeah, I guess." There was a slight pause. "Well?"
"Well what?"
"If you're going to talk, then start talking."
He just looked at her.
"What are you waiting for, an invitation?" she asked.
"Actually yes. Regardless of what you think, I don't just go barging into people's rooms."
"Oh, well then by all means please come in," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. Lita stepped aside and let Heero in, shutting the door behind him. "Now can you talk?"
He shrugged. "I can talk. I'm not sure it will do any good though."
"Just what are you implying?"
"All I'm saying is that probably nothing I say will do any good. Hell, you may not even listen to me at all. You haven't listened to anything anybody else has said so why should I be any different?"
"You of all people should understand Heero. You know what those earrings meant to me. Relena crushed one and then a day later I wake up and the other one is missing! Those were the only links I had to my parents and they're gone. What do you expect me to do.smile and say 'shit happens'?"
"No. But I think it is going a little far."
"What would you know about it? Have you ever lost anything that meant the world to you?"
He looked at her and said point blank, "I've never had anything like that to lose."
"See? I was right.you don't understand."
"No, it's you that doesn't understand. So you lost a pair of earrings.they were only physical links. Things like that don't last forever. But memories do.and you do have memories of your parents don't you?"
"Some, yes. But things like that pair of earrings can help you remember things."
"I believe that if it's something you really want to remember, you can never forget it. Those earrings weren't the root of your link to your parents.it was that," he said, pointing to her heart. "Relena may have crushed the rose, but did she break your heart?"
Lita was silent. She hated to admit it, but what he was saying did make sense.
"Put yourself in my shoes," he continued. "At least you have memories of your parents; you know who you are and where you come from. For all I know, I never had parents. My earliest memories are of being trained to be a soldier, trained to lead the life I live I now. I have no knowledge of my background at all. In fact, Heero Yuy isn't even my real name."
"Then what is it?"
He shrugged. "I don't know." He promptly clamed up, slightly angry with himself for having even given out that little information about himself. "Just be glad you have something you can call a past," Heero said acidly before opening the door and exiting the room, slamming the door behind him.
Lita blinked, staring at the back of her door. For the first time she felt that somebody had a better handle on things then she did. She laughed softly, something she hadn't done since the week before. I guess I owe him an apology.and everyone else one for that matter. She went over to her mirror, hoping to do a little repair job before she went out to face everybody. "OH MY GOD!" she cried out, looking at her reflection. "I look worse then the bride of Frankenstein!" She crashed around her room grabbing this and that and dashed off to the shower, then dashed back to her room and tried to make herself look presentable. She finished and made her way into the living room just in time to see the other four pilots coming in. In the lead was Wufei, who was dancing around singing "I got a turkey, I got a turkey" over and over.
Just as she was about to ask what Wufei had been smoking and why they'd let him smoke it in the first place, Duo spotted her. "Hey Lita! Long time, no see." Then he scanned the room, spotting Heero sitting in a chair with his laptop. "Say Heero, did you ask her?"
"Ask me what?"
Heero scowled. "No, I didn't. And you just had to go bring it up didn't you big mouth?"
"Ask me what?" Lita repeated.
"Come on Heero, ask her," Duo said.
Heero turned himself around in the chair so he was facing the opposite direction. "No."
Lita walked around in front of Heero and stuck her face right in front of his. "If I apologize, can I find out what this question is?"
"Um.I guess so," he stuttered.
"Good," she said, straightening up. "I wanted to apologize to all of you. I haven't been the best.company the last week.you were just trying to help and I kind blew you all off. I especially want to apologize to you Heero. I mean, you were right and I guess I knew that. I was just too upset to think straight. I'm not used to losing control like that, or needing help to get control back. Well, that and I've never been in an environment like this.I mean, all my other friends in Juuban.they all have families or relatives. I've never lived with other people like me and well. I wrongly assumed that none of you would understand what I was going through. Boy, I'll never make that mistake again," she said, clearing her throat. "Anyway.now that I've apologized.what's this question you're supposed to ask me Heero?"
He shot a glare at Duo, before answering.but not before his ears turned pink in embarrassment. "We have to go to Relena's birthday party tomorrow night and he told me I should ask you to come."
"With you?"
"With us."
She frowned, her arms crossed over her chest. "I don't know.I don't really want be around Relena if I can help it."
"Oh, come on," Duo said, trying the sad puppy face. "It'll be a lot more fun if you come. Besides, you haven't been out of the house for a week and with you around Relena will be too distracted with you she won't bother poor Heero."
"I'm not going to just play diversion for 'poor Heero'."
"Then go for me," Quatre said. "I think you should take an evening off, even if it is to go to Relena's party. But all of us will be there, not really of our own choosing either."
She frowned again, and then nodded. "Alright. I don't want to see her or have anything to do with her.but I'm done trying to hide to protect myself from her. I'm not a coward and if you all can go there against your will, the least I can do is go by choice. You do realize though that I don't have a proper dress for this.party."
Quatre smiled. "Oh don't worry about that. Everything will be taken care of."
"I'm not sure I like the sound of that," Lita said. "Oh well. now that that's settled, will somebody please tell me where this turkey is that Wufei got?"
"Oh that," Duo laughed. "Quatre made us go bowling. That's where Wufei got the turkey." (A.N. For those that don't know, a turkey in bowling is three strikes in a row.)
"Oh.that kind of turkey. That still doesn't explain his weird dancing and singing."
"Well, no." Duo said.
She laughed. "I don't suppose it really matters anyway."
"No it doesn't onna," Wufei said.
"Ok, ok.geez. Well, I think I'll go to bed now so I avoid getting into more trouble." Saying her goodnights to everyone, she retired to her room. She didn't get much sleep though.she was too busy wondering what Quatre had mean by everything being taken care of. The next day wasn't much better. All day long her thoughts drifted around, wondering.
At long last, a couple hours before they were supposed to leave, she opened her bedroom door to find Quatre there, standing with some boxes in his arms. "Yes?"
"These are yours," he said, handing the boxes to her. "I had them sent here from one of the stores in town. They should be the right size.I hope.."
Seeing how nervous he was, Lita offered him a smile. "I'm sure they'll be fine. But you didn't have to do this you know."
"I know I didn't.I wanted too." Smiling, he took his leave and left her to go about getting ready. She is a lady after all, and we all know they need lots of time to get ready.
A few minutes before departure time, the pilots were assembled in the living room. They all looked pretty much the same. Each had on a black suit, a white shirt, and a tie. Heero's was dark green, Duo's dark red, Wufei's black, Quatre's light blue, and Trowa's silver. "How much long do we have to wait?" Wufei complained.
"She should be out any time now," Quatre said, trying to calm down the slightly irate young man.
In the meantime, Trowa was standing around with a blank expression his face, Duo was checking to make sure everything was as it should be as far as his appearance was concerned, and Heero.well Heero was leaning against the back of the couch. His hands were shoved in his pants pockets, fingering three small boxes that the right pocket held. He was just about to go nuts with anxiousness when a voice interrupted his jumbled thoughts.
"Sorry I kept you all waiting." Lita now stood in the living room, wearing a white Chinese style dress with green trimming and a slit to the knee and a pair of strappy white sandals. The dress was embroidered with little brightly colored dragons. "So.do I pass inspection?" she asked teasingly.
Quatre smiled his approval.
"You look very nice," Trowa said, while Wufei just grunted.
"I'll take that as a yes." she laughed.
"I'll say!" Duo exclaimed. "You look great!"
"Well.what about you Heero? What's your opinion?" Lita asked.
He opened his mouth, but when he did the only thing he could get out was "Hn."
"I'm guessing that's supposed to be a yes too."
Turning away, Heero silently cursed himself, his fingers tightening over the small boxes in his pocket.
Well, it seems all of you now thoroughly hate Relena. Mission accomplished! coughs Gomen minna.just had to get that out of my system. Anyhow, you will be pleased to know that Relena will eventually get a big, fat punishment. Also, as I've said, the inners will make an appearance, but not for a few more chapters. Sorry if you're unhappy with that, but this is meant to be a Lita/Mako centered fic. The thought has also crossed my mind of possibly doing a sequel to this story once I finish. In such event that takes place, pairing up scouts and pilots will be rather hard to do. Also, if one should be written, Relena will not be an included character, but Zechs would be. Just something for you all to think about.
Now enough rambling from me. Enjoy!
Quatre paced nervously across the living room. "It's been a week now. A whole week and as far we know Lita still hasn't come out of her room." He stopped and turned to the rest of the pilots, who were scattered in various seats around the rooms. "I was concerned before.but now I'm down right worried."
"I don't see what the problem is," Wufei said. "Making all this fuss over a stupid earring. Only an onna would do something like this."
"That isn't nice Wufei."
"Humph," he answered in response.
"I know what Relena did upset her, but she really needs to get out. Staying in there is only making things worse," Duo said, motioning toward the kitchen. "I think Heero should ask her to that party Saturday night."
"What are you talking about Duo?" said person asked.
"Relena's birthday party."
"I told you already.I'm not going."
"And I told you that you don't have a choice. We all have to go because we have a standing mission to play bodyguard."
"And I told you that I don't give a damn what the circumstance is. I'm not going and I'm certainly not asking anyone else to go either. So just leave me alone."
"Aww.Heero come on."
"No."
"At least talk to her then," Quatre pleaded. "We've all tried to. Well.Wufei actually yelled insults instead of trying to talk.but that's beside the point. She hasn't listened to any of us. Maybe you could get through to her."
"Hn."
"Yuy.if you do not go and talk to her, I will call that weak onna Relena and tell her that you've had a change of heart and have suddenly realized how much you care."
Heero glared. "You wouldn't dare."
"Try me." Wufei reached over and lifted up the receiver of the phone sitting on the table next to him.
"Fine," Heero grumbled. "But I do this under protest."
Quatre smiled. "Thank you Heero."
"Hn," he said scowling as he stood and exited in the direction of the kitchen.
"And where do you think you're going Duo?" Quatre asked, watching the braided pilot sneaking out behind Heero.
"Just going to.um."
"Spy," Quatre finished. "You come back here right now and sit down. I'm beginning to think that part of the problem before was that all of us were standing around the door listening to what the speaker was saying. I'm sure she could hear all the noise we were making and I bet that only upset her more. Also, Heero seemed rather agitated. I'd rather not make him any grumpier, so we're going to make it easy on everybody and just go out.all of us."
"Out where?" Duo asked.
Quatre though for a moment, before getting everybody rounded up and herding them out to the car. "Well?"
"We're going bowling."
"BOWLING??" Wufei shrieked. "That is a weak game and I will." His voice trailed off as he saw the glare on Quatre's face. "I will force myself to have a good time.."
Meanwhile, back inside the house, Heero had been standing outside the door to Lita's room, trying to figure out something appropriate to say. But so far nothing had come out sounding right and as uncomfortable as he was being put in this position he knew that even if he said the right words they would have a harsh edge to them. Guess I'll just have to get this over with he muttered to himself, preparing to knock. Just as he was about to announce his arrival, the door swung open and he saw his first glimpse of her in a week.
She was in pretty bad shape to be quite frank. Her hair was messy, like she'd just woken up from a nap. Her clothes were wrinkled and her eyes were tinged red from crying, looking rather tired as well. "I was wondering when you would show up."
Heero raised an eyebrow. "And just what does that mean?"
"It means that everyone else has been here trying to give me a pep talk. I wondered how long it would be before they forced you to give me one too."
"I don't give pep talks. I'm only talking to you because Quatre asked me too."
"And I'm only talking to you because if I don't the whole cycle will start over again and I'd rather not listen to anymore of Duo's bad knock knock jokes."
"It's as good a reason as any."
She shrugged. "Yeah, I guess." There was a slight pause. "Well?"
"Well what?"
"If you're going to talk, then start talking."
He just looked at her.
"What are you waiting for, an invitation?" she asked.
"Actually yes. Regardless of what you think, I don't just go barging into people's rooms."
"Oh, well then by all means please come in," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. Lita stepped aside and let Heero in, shutting the door behind him. "Now can you talk?"
He shrugged. "I can talk. I'm not sure it will do any good though."
"Just what are you implying?"
"All I'm saying is that probably nothing I say will do any good. Hell, you may not even listen to me at all. You haven't listened to anything anybody else has said so why should I be any different?"
"You of all people should understand Heero. You know what those earrings meant to me. Relena crushed one and then a day later I wake up and the other one is missing! Those were the only links I had to my parents and they're gone. What do you expect me to do.smile and say 'shit happens'?"
"No. But I think it is going a little far."
"What would you know about it? Have you ever lost anything that meant the world to you?"
He looked at her and said point blank, "I've never had anything like that to lose."
"See? I was right.you don't understand."
"No, it's you that doesn't understand. So you lost a pair of earrings.they were only physical links. Things like that don't last forever. But memories do.and you do have memories of your parents don't you?"
"Some, yes. But things like that pair of earrings can help you remember things."
"I believe that if it's something you really want to remember, you can never forget it. Those earrings weren't the root of your link to your parents.it was that," he said, pointing to her heart. "Relena may have crushed the rose, but did she break your heart?"
Lita was silent. She hated to admit it, but what he was saying did make sense.
"Put yourself in my shoes," he continued. "At least you have memories of your parents; you know who you are and where you come from. For all I know, I never had parents. My earliest memories are of being trained to be a soldier, trained to lead the life I live I now. I have no knowledge of my background at all. In fact, Heero Yuy isn't even my real name."
"Then what is it?"
He shrugged. "I don't know." He promptly clamed up, slightly angry with himself for having even given out that little information about himself. "Just be glad you have something you can call a past," Heero said acidly before opening the door and exiting the room, slamming the door behind him.
Lita blinked, staring at the back of her door. For the first time she felt that somebody had a better handle on things then she did. She laughed softly, something she hadn't done since the week before. I guess I owe him an apology.and everyone else one for that matter. She went over to her mirror, hoping to do a little repair job before she went out to face everybody. "OH MY GOD!" she cried out, looking at her reflection. "I look worse then the bride of Frankenstein!" She crashed around her room grabbing this and that and dashed off to the shower, then dashed back to her room and tried to make herself look presentable. She finished and made her way into the living room just in time to see the other four pilots coming in. In the lead was Wufei, who was dancing around singing "I got a turkey, I got a turkey" over and over.
Just as she was about to ask what Wufei had been smoking and why they'd let him smoke it in the first place, Duo spotted her. "Hey Lita! Long time, no see." Then he scanned the room, spotting Heero sitting in a chair with his laptop. "Say Heero, did you ask her?"
"Ask me what?"
Heero scowled. "No, I didn't. And you just had to go bring it up didn't you big mouth?"
"Ask me what?" Lita repeated.
"Come on Heero, ask her," Duo said.
Heero turned himself around in the chair so he was facing the opposite direction. "No."
Lita walked around in front of Heero and stuck her face right in front of his. "If I apologize, can I find out what this question is?"
"Um.I guess so," he stuttered.
"Good," she said, straightening up. "I wanted to apologize to all of you. I haven't been the best.company the last week.you were just trying to help and I kind blew you all off. I especially want to apologize to you Heero. I mean, you were right and I guess I knew that. I was just too upset to think straight. I'm not used to losing control like that, or needing help to get control back. Well, that and I've never been in an environment like this.I mean, all my other friends in Juuban.they all have families or relatives. I've never lived with other people like me and well. I wrongly assumed that none of you would understand what I was going through. Boy, I'll never make that mistake again," she said, clearing her throat. "Anyway.now that I've apologized.what's this question you're supposed to ask me Heero?"
He shot a glare at Duo, before answering.but not before his ears turned pink in embarrassment. "We have to go to Relena's birthday party tomorrow night and he told me I should ask you to come."
"With you?"
"With us."
She frowned, her arms crossed over her chest. "I don't know.I don't really want be around Relena if I can help it."
"Oh, come on," Duo said, trying the sad puppy face. "It'll be a lot more fun if you come. Besides, you haven't been out of the house for a week and with you around Relena will be too distracted with you she won't bother poor Heero."
"I'm not going to just play diversion for 'poor Heero'."
"Then go for me," Quatre said. "I think you should take an evening off, even if it is to go to Relena's party. But all of us will be there, not really of our own choosing either."
She frowned again, and then nodded. "Alright. I don't want to see her or have anything to do with her.but I'm done trying to hide to protect myself from her. I'm not a coward and if you all can go there against your will, the least I can do is go by choice. You do realize though that I don't have a proper dress for this.party."
Quatre smiled. "Oh don't worry about that. Everything will be taken care of."
"I'm not sure I like the sound of that," Lita said. "Oh well. now that that's settled, will somebody please tell me where this turkey is that Wufei got?"
"Oh that," Duo laughed. "Quatre made us go bowling. That's where Wufei got the turkey." (A.N. For those that don't know, a turkey in bowling is three strikes in a row.)
"Oh.that kind of turkey. That still doesn't explain his weird dancing and singing."
"Well, no." Duo said.
She laughed. "I don't suppose it really matters anyway."
"No it doesn't onna," Wufei said.
"Ok, ok.geez. Well, I think I'll go to bed now so I avoid getting into more trouble." Saying her goodnights to everyone, she retired to her room. She didn't get much sleep though.she was too busy wondering what Quatre had mean by everything being taken care of. The next day wasn't much better. All day long her thoughts drifted around, wondering.
At long last, a couple hours before they were supposed to leave, she opened her bedroom door to find Quatre there, standing with some boxes in his arms. "Yes?"
"These are yours," he said, handing the boxes to her. "I had them sent here from one of the stores in town. They should be the right size.I hope.."
Seeing how nervous he was, Lita offered him a smile. "I'm sure they'll be fine. But you didn't have to do this you know."
"I know I didn't.I wanted too." Smiling, he took his leave and left her to go about getting ready. She is a lady after all, and we all know they need lots of time to get ready.
A few minutes before departure time, the pilots were assembled in the living room. They all looked pretty much the same. Each had on a black suit, a white shirt, and a tie. Heero's was dark green, Duo's dark red, Wufei's black, Quatre's light blue, and Trowa's silver. "How much long do we have to wait?" Wufei complained.
"She should be out any time now," Quatre said, trying to calm down the slightly irate young man.
In the meantime, Trowa was standing around with a blank expression his face, Duo was checking to make sure everything was as it should be as far as his appearance was concerned, and Heero.well Heero was leaning against the back of the couch. His hands were shoved in his pants pockets, fingering three small boxes that the right pocket held. He was just about to go nuts with anxiousness when a voice interrupted his jumbled thoughts.
"Sorry I kept you all waiting." Lita now stood in the living room, wearing a white Chinese style dress with green trimming and a slit to the knee and a pair of strappy white sandals. The dress was embroidered with little brightly colored dragons. "So.do I pass inspection?" she asked teasingly.
Quatre smiled his approval.
"You look very nice," Trowa said, while Wufei just grunted.
"I'll take that as a yes." she laughed.
"I'll say!" Duo exclaimed. "You look great!"
"Well.what about you Heero? What's your opinion?" Lita asked.
He opened his mouth, but when he did the only thing he could get out was "Hn."
"I'm guessing that's supposed to be a yes too."
Turning away, Heero silently cursed himself, his fingers tightening over the small boxes in his pocket.