22: Decisions and Forgiveness
[Author's note: This is the end of my story Questioning of battles. I hope you enjoy it. I know I enjoyed writing it. "Don't leave home" belongs to the singer Dido. Note: Dorothy's leg is healed up and no longer broken. Just to let you know.]
Like a ghost I'll need a key
Your best friend I've come to be
Please don't think of getting up for me
You don't even have to speak
When I've been here for just one day
You'll already miss me when I go away
So close the blinds and shut the door
you won't need other friends anymore
Oh don't leave home, oh leave home
And if you're cold, I'll keep you warm
If you're low, just hold on
Cos I will be your saftey
oh don't leave home
"Anyways, we sorta understood you guys were leaving for your respective homes in the colonies tomorrow so we thought it would be best to come visit you before then," The 16-year-old explained. "What he said," Heero replied blandly. Both Quatre and Trowa laughed at the two in front of them causing looks of confusion among Duo and Heero. "Thanks.... we appreciate it," Quatre said.
Heero nodded in response before turning his attention to the living room, he then gestured his head in that direction. Catherine and Dorothy figured the four boys had something important to talk about they didn't want them overhearing, so politely the two said their good-byes and headed off to find Relena and Hilde leaving the four ex-pilots by themselves. "What's the matter?" Trowa asked curiously. In perfect synchronized time, both young men pulled out the small boxes Jin had given them. Quatre and Trowa removed them from their grasps out of curiosity as they examined the blue and red boxes' white ribbons.
"Where'd these come from?" Quatre said. "Jin," Heero responded bluntly. Trowa's green eyes narrowed noticing the animosity in Heero's eyes, it was obvious that his friend did not like the young boy at all. He shifted his line of sight toward Duo who appeared to hold no animosity toward the young boy, just confusion and concern. "Do you know what's in them?" Quatre asked shaking the box. Both young men shook their heads. "That's obvious, you haven't even opened yet," Trowa grunted. "Where's Jin now?" Quatre looked up, also curious of Jin's whereabouts. "At st. Gabriel. Don't tell Une that though. He's trusting us not tell anyone," Duo informed. Trowa never asked why, he simply nodded as he handed the red box back to Heero. Quatre handed Duo back his blue box, the braided ex-pilot removed it from his grasp and held it tight in his hand.
As the four ex-pilots headed into the living room Heero stared fondly at the objects in the living room, one thing in particular that caught his eye; a picture frame holding two old brown photos. While the others sat down on the couch and chairs across from the couch Heero walked over to the desk beside the couch and picked up the picture frame. He stared thoughtfully at the young Relena smiling in the worn picture then shifted his Prussian blue eyes over to the pciture of a young man that sort of resembled Zechs holding a baby that was probably Relena as well.
Heero sighed and placed the picture frame back onto the desk and was caught off guard by the sudden rising of a carmel colored dog with floppy furry ears, a beautiful fur coat and pericing brown eyes. The dog barked at him showing off his teeth, Heero slowly backed off but the dog followed him out of the corner growling. Duo, Quatre, and Trowa watched as the dog prepared to pounce Heero. Rising from the couch Trowa stepped in front Heero then kneeled down in front of the dog, the animal paused in its tracks and stared into Trowa's green eye, Trowa stared back carefully extending his hand. After a moment of staring the dog lowered his defenses and pounced happily on the Latin American.
Trowa could hardly conceal his laugh as the dog began to lick him with his rough sandpaper tongue. "Trowa sure does have a way with animals doesn't he?" Duo turned and smiled at Heero. The 16-year-old sighed in relief before flopping on the couch. Once the dog was done loving Trowa he jogged out of the living room and headed up the stairs. Trowa knew he smelled like a dog so he sat on the far end of the couch away from Heero. "Sorry about that Heero. Lokey has a tenancy to get moody around other people," Trowa explained. "Who's dog is he?" Heero asked causally. "Relena's," Quatre answered. "Zechs bought the dog for her, last week." Heero's eyes widened in surprise, Relena had converted to using dogs as as bodyguard?
Feeling the tension rising between them, Duo whistled loudly to get the attention of his friends. "Well what's on the topic list today?" He said in a chipper tone. Trowa looked to Quatre, who looked to Heero. Digging into his denim jacket Heero revealed the red box Jin had gave him reminding his two friends what they were talking about earlier. "Oh!" Quatre exclaimed remembering. "How is Jin? I haven't seen him since before we left Preventers HQ to get to Corsica." Duo shrugged simply pulling the bow ribbon on the box undone. "He's fine, considering that he's hiding in the st. Gabriel institute using his real name. Not too smart," Duo said.
"And he came over to me and Hidle's house this morning to see us. He wanted us to forgive him for almost killing me. We didn't, but we did give him the bennifent of the doubt. Of course this lead him to say strange things like he looked up to us, thought of us as brothers of his, and he felt safe around us. It was a strange moment." Quatre pondered for a moment before he spoke again. "Well he just might be scared. He is only eleven years after all," The Arab poined out. Trowa scoffed and began to fiddle wiith a lose feather that he found floating in the air. "True, but he's almost as tall as Heero. Which is strange," The Latin Amercian added.
Duo and Quatre nodded in agreement. Heero was barely listening to the others as he pulled the ribbon off the box and removed the top. He stared curiously at the red, yellow and white shard on a shoe string shaped as a diamond with a emerald shaped as a triangle in the middle. Staring into the box he thought was empty Heero found a folded piece of paper the size the box itself stuffed at the bottom. Placing the necklace on the side he pulled out the paper and unfolded it. Slowly began to read the note.
Dear Heero and Duo:
If you reading this, and wondering the strange objects on my shoe strings are, I'll tell you. There shards of Wing Zero's sheild and eye in the shape of diamond and a bird. I made these before I blew the Gundam up. There wasn't a trace of him left. You've got the Diamond, and Duo's got the bird [its an eagle], I thought you might want something to keep as your own. They can be used as keychains too. Oh, I before I forget, tell Duo I say thank you for helping me out that scrap with Tomeki and thank "you" Heero for well.... offering me help even when I didn't want it. Sorry for setting that smoke bomb on you by the way. I'm gonna stay in school then head out to space one day, to make something of myself. I enjoyed the time I spent with the both of you and the others, even though it felt uncomfortable at times...... I hope you accept this, because you might not see me for a while. Ja ne.
Your friend,
Jin
Heero folded the note in the same order it was folded in before and caught the attention of his three friends. "What's up Heero?" Duo asked. "A note from Jin," Heero replied tossing the paper over to Duo. The paper began to floated down to the ground but Duo grabbed it out of the air in record timing, unfolded the paper and read the note in a slow pace. While he was doing this he untied the ribbon around his box, he then removed the top and reached inside. He pulled out the eagle from the blue box with a stort of nostalgia reflecting from his eyes onto the eagle.
"What's wrong, Duo?" Quatre asked concerned. Duo looked up from the note with a state of bewilderment indicating he was barely listening to him but he was caught off guard by the question. "N-nothing. Just spaced out kinda... hehehe," Duo laughed sheepishly scratching the back of his head. Trowa rested his elbow the arm of the chair smirking at Duo's sheer ability to laugh at almost anything, even himself. "Well, I think Catherine and the girls are about done talking, which means our time just might be up," Trowa yawned. Duo almost groaned but the sound of his necklace falling out of his grip caught his groan before it could come out.
The braided teenager bent down and picked the necklace off the ground just as Hilde and the others came into the living room smiling and talking amongst each other. The boy's time of peace without females had ended as quick as it began. Duo and Heero rose from the couch and chair catching Hilde's attention. "Thanks for letting us come over Relena, I enjoyed my time here," Hilde said pilotely. Relena laced her hands together with a forced smile on her face. "Your welcome Hilde. Call me anytime, I miss talking to you," She said cheerfully. Hilde returned the complement with "thumbs-up" and grabbed Duo by his injured arm. Maxwell gritted his teeth in pain but only for a moment in fear that Hilde had seen his expression.
Pulling the braided wonder out of the room toward the front door, she motioned Heero to follow her. "Later guys!" Duo shouted as he was pulled around the corner. Trowa and Quatre waved with amused smiles on their faces. Heero stared at Relena in the corner of his eye as he made his way toward the front door. Relena however never made eye contact with him for no more than a second then she went back to talking to Dorothy. Sighing in defeat Heero hurried after Hilde and Duo who had just went out the front door. He slipped right through the small space just as the door was closing.
Relena looked up at the empty space in the hallway that Heero once occupied with sorrowful expression before Trowa placed a hand on her shoulder catching her by surprise. "You alright Relena?" He asked concerned. Relena stared into his eyes for a brief moment before she nodded. "Yes, I'm fine.... thanks," She said quietly before running off. Trowa watched the honey blonde girl race up the stairs in a hurry.
Mariemaia sat on the window seat of her dorm room watching the rain soak her window with its rhythmic raindroplets. She soon began to wonder if it would ever stop raining so the moon could come out and shine through the clouds. Mariemaia began to doze off into slumber because of the cold draft in the room when the sound of someone knocking on the door brought her back to reality.
Yawning, she slipped off the window seat and headed toward the door. Grabbing the door knob she opened the door and was surprised to find Jin drosey looking and overworked. "Hi-- Jin," She stammered. "Hi," He said quietly. Jin stepped back letting her come out of her dorm room. "What's up?" Mariemaia asked. Jin shrugged staring down the hallway.
"Not much. I'm done playing catch-up with my home work and ready for the test tomorrow. I was just wondering if you wanted to get........ errr ice-cream or tofu and shrimp fried rice?" Jin asked as his stomached growled. Mariemaia tried her best not look caught off guard by his growling stomach and nodded. "I'll take ice-cream. I had dinner," She said. Jin gave her a ghost of a smile and the two headed off down the kitchen.
Duo yawned tiredly as he sipped away at his fruit drink in the bedroom. Hilde marched around in a circle with her hands behind her back, Duo watched her curiously as she went back and forth across the bedroom. "Whatcha thinking about Hilde?" Duo wondered aloud staring up at the ceiling. Hilde shifted her auqamarine eyes toward the long haired American with a shrug. She wasn't sure that she was thinking about, her mind was more focused on nothing than anything. Stopping in her tracks Hilde headed over to the bed and flopped down beside Duo, she stared at his right arm curiously as he moved it along the bed like he was making a snow angel. "What's up?" He asked. Hilde pointed his arm with a monotone grunt, Duo looked toward his arm in question just as Hilde reached out and squeezed it.
Duo let out a cry out pain as he yanked his arm out of Hilde's vice-grip, Hilde folded her arms in triumph while Duo tried to not move his arm. "What the hell was that for??!" He shouted in rage. "I knew you were hiding something from me! I'm not stupid Duo," Hilde exclaimed angrily. "Why didn't you tell me you were still hurt?" Setting up, Duo spat the empty fruit juice container's straw out sending it flying to the floor. "I didn't tell you for a reason!" He snapped. "Oh yeah, what reason was that? You didn't want me to worry?" Hilde said mockingly.
"No, I didn't want you treating me like a liability everytime I went to work in the yard," Duo replied indigently. "I wouldn't have treated you like a liability Duo. Honest, I wouldn't have," Hilde paused and thought for moment. "Besides you would have never listened to me. You never do." Duo sighed in frustration and got up from the bed, Hilde watched with narrowed eyes as he left the room shutting the door behind him. Sighing Hilde kicked off her shoes and laid down in the bed. To morrow would be the day Quatre and the others left. She would have to drop her temper quick before the morning came.
Heero was busy tapping away at his laptop when he spotted Duo the floor beside him. "What is it?" Heero asked. Duo sighed placing his arms upon his knees. "Hilde found out about my arm," He said quietly. "She's inside the room fuming now." Heero scoffed in disbelief at Duo's carelessness as he closed his laptop. He placed it back into his duffle back and zipped it up. Duo noticed there were a lot of things missing on and around the couch that belonged to his friend. Looking up at Heero Duo noticed the longing he had seen in his friend's eyes before he headed off never to been seen again until at least a year. "Heero....?" Duo said quietly. Heero looked down at his friend with a look of regret for what he was about to say. "I'm going back to the colonies with Trowa, Quatre, and the girls," He said sternly.
Duo was up on his feet in a second with look of hurt and confused. Heero could tell that Duo had gotten used to seeing him sleep on the couch and helping him and Hilde out in the yard with their orders among other things. "I'll come back. You are my friend.... More or less my family on earth, and I've gotten the hang of controlling and showing my emotions," Heero reassured Duo. "You won't leave without talking to Relena right?" Duo said suddenly. Heero sighed looking down at his hands, Heero could only hope Relena would listen to him. "I'll try to, she seemed to be upset with me still," The Japanese teenager replied. "Not surprise there," Duo grumbled.
There was a moment of silence between the two as they both pondered on his decision. The sound of Duo inhaling and exhaling snapped Heero out of his trance, he looked up at the braided shinigami; Duo appeared to be upset but there was a look of understanding on his face and a smile on his lips. "You better come back Heero," He said sternly. Heero almost laughed at this, extending his hand he felt Duo grip it tightly. "I will," Heero replied. With that Duo headed back into his bedroom leaving Heero alone with his thoughts of Relena and slumber.
Hilde heard the sound of the bedroom door open then shut and Duo groan as he slipped out of his shirt. I probaby went overboard with squeezing his arm. He must really think that..... no stop thinking like that Hilde!!! She thought burying her head in the pillow. She could feel Duo's weight on the bed and his steady breathing as he slipped underneath the covers. She could tell he was sleeping with his back to hers because she couldn't feel his eyes on her.
As her heart raced in her chest, Hilde opened her mouth to speak. "I'm sorry for hurting you," Hilde said quietly. There was more silence between them, and Hilde felt like the biggest heel in the world at that moment. "I'm sorry for not telling you. I don't know what I was thinking," Duo mumbled. Hilde smirked. "Hilde, injury = liability," She joked. Duo chuckled at her ability to know what he was thinking. "Something like that," He yawned. "Good night Hilde." Hilde tunnled deeper into her covers with a smile. "Good night Duo," She sighed turning around to face his back. Duo could feel her eyes on his back, he smiled at the feel of her arm draped over his side and her fingers lacing themselves with his.
The next morning Heero, Hilde, and Duo were escorted by one of Relena's limos to the air/space port base. He had told everyone that he was accompaning Trowa and co. back to space. No one tried to talk him out of his decision. Hilde felt a bit cheap riding in a limo, it reminded her why she didn't have a car; it cost money. She stared at Heero and Duo who sat beside her, they looked solemn and their minds seemed to have wandered off to their respective getaways. When the car came to a halt Heero rolled the automatic window to see where they were.
The limo had stoped in front of the entrance of the Air/Space port. "C'mon," Heero groaned stepping out of limo. Duo scooted over and followed him out, Hilde was not far behind. The three traveled across the parking lot, into the building and stopped at the nearest womens bathroom. Hilde had to pee. Duo stared at Heero's duffle bag unsure whether or not he had imagined Heero saying he was leaving for space. Heero noticed this hand shifted his arm behind him obscuring Duo's sight of the bag. "I told you I'd be back," Heero sounded annoyed. Duo raised his hands in defense with a nervous look about him. "I know, I know, its just still digesting pal," Duo replied.
Heero stared at him for a while longer before checking his watch for the time. It was 7:56 the shuttle back to L3 left at 8:10, Hilde was holding them up. The sound of running could be heard outside the women's bathroom, the two young men figured it was Hilde rushing toward the door with tissue on the bottom of her shoe. And to their great asmusment it was Hilde dashing out of the bathroom clipping her overhalls together while running past them with tissue on the bottom of her shoe.
Heero and Duo ran after her until they reached their final destination the shuttle boarding area. Heero spotted, Quatre, Trowa, Dorothy, Catherine and Relena all standing across from the entrance to the shuttle. Relena caught sight of Heero and quickly hid her face behind Zechs' arm just as the trio came up to them. "Never peged you'd come," Zechs grumbled to Heero. Noin jabbed him roughly in the ribs silencing all other nasty words her desired to say to Heero. "Hiya everybody," Duo greeted. "Hello Duo," Noin laughed. "Hide you looking nice today." Hilde blushed and hid her hands behind her back. "Thank you Noin," She said sheepishly. Both Heero and Duo rolled their eyes before shifting their attention to all the people boarding the shuttle ahead of time, they weren't sure why though. "Well, we'd better head on to the shuttle," Trowa grunted picking up Catherine's suit case full of his and her new clothes. "We'll see you." Duo nodded giving the circus performers a thumbs up before he headed off to the boarding area. Catherine waved good bye headed off after Trowa.
"I'll be sure to send you a message on the progess of the renovation of the colonies," Quatre said picking up Dorothy's bags. "Farewell," Dorothy said politely as Quatre pulled her along with him. Duo nudged Heero in the ribs meaning he was saying 'hurry up and talk to Relena before you loose your flight to space!' Heero flung his duffle bag over his shoulder and made his way over to Relena who hid behind Zechs. Noin noticed that Heero was coming toward them, carefully she tugged Zechs away from his sister and drag him over to a souvenir shop. Relena wanted to run away from Heero to go after her brother and Noin but she felt paralyzed by his gaze, therefore she rendered herself immobile. She stared at his outfit; He wore a black turtle neck underneath a brown waist jacket and khaki pants accomapnied by his trademark boots.
"Heero...?" Relena stuttered nervously. "Relena," Heero replied. Relena jumped in surprise when she saw him unzip his duffle bag and pull out the make-shift teddy bear Duo was susposed to have given her the last time they were on the colonies with Relena (aftermath of the frozen oranges incident). Duo breathed a sigh of relief, thankful Trowa wasn't anywhere in the area or he would have to hear him laugh at the bear Heero had him sew. Hilde stared at hm strangely but did not utter a word to him. "Its for you," Heero said bowing his head. His hangs hid the blush on his face as he felt Relena remove the small bear from his grasp. "I'm sorry for being--- stubborn and hard headed when all you wanted to was help me out.....!" Heero was stopped in mid-scentence by Relena embracing him tightly.
He felt a great sense of relief spread through his body, Relena looked up at him with tears flowing freely from her eyes. Heero cracked a smile as he placed a hand on her head. " I accept your apology. I'm sorry for being pushy." She paused taking a sharp intake of air. "Come back Heero Yuy," She cried into his chest. Heero went rigid as his heart rate sped up. Pulling her away from him he used the back of his hand he whiped the face dry. "I will. Promise," He said, his voice was full of sincerity. Relena stepped back giving him permission to leave, but before she did this she slipped a heart locket into his jacket pocket. "Sir, if your going to get on the shuttle, now would be a good time!" The woman at the desk cried.
Heero blinked back tears of his own and headed off to the desk in a hurry. Relena watched the woman check his ticket and give him directions. Heero nodded givng Duo, Hilde, Relena one last glance and dashed through the boarding area as the man announced that they were going to leave in 10 minutes. Duo walked over toward Relena and wrapped and arm around her, Relena looked up at him with a smile. "Do you like the bear, Princess?" Duo asked grinning. Relena sighed resting her head against his chest. "Hai," Relena sighed squeezing the stuffed animal gentley in her hand. Duo smiled broadly and looked to Hilde who was just staring at him with her sparkling Aquamarine eyes.
Heero sat in the third class row seats behind Trowa, Quatre, Dorothy, and Catherine who were unaware of his presence. He stared at the necklace that hung outside his shirt that Jin had made him. As the vibrations of the shuttle shook everyone inside Heero stared outside the window wondering how long he would stay in space and when he would come back to earth to visit.
Reaching into his jacket pocket he felt something cold and rough, slowly he pulled it out and stared wide-eyed at the silver heart locket on a stainless steel chain. Opening it he stared in wonderment at the picture of Relena holding the first bear that he had given her, and on the other side a picture of himself and the other ex-Gundam pilots standing back to back to each other in their space suits obviously after fighting over something. A sweatdrop appeared on the side of his head and he closed the heart locket putting it back into his pocket. Attention ladies and gentlemen, we are now heading for the atmosphere, please safen your seat belts and remain seated. Came the woman over the speaking. Reaching down he buckled himself in for the rough ride to space.
The shuttle blasted through atmosphere and proceeded into space.
[FIN]