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Disclaimer: I don't own this anime
Chapter Seventeen: Steak Out
- Somewhere -
"Are you with those amplifiers yet, Duo?""Yep. Just put on the earpiece and enjoy the show from a safe distance."
"I know what were doing is privacy violation but we are granting a request for a friend."
"Say Quatre, I've been wondering."
"What is it, Duo?"
"I know we have gone through this already with Heero but why do you think that he wanted us to do this?"
"You mean looking after Ms. Relena for him?"
"Yeah. I mean usually it's him doing all of this while we wait as back ups. It's really weird that he didn't even give an argument about her appointment. You know, like all of the sudden he doesn't give that much care for her anymore."
"Duo, I'm surprised at you."
"Huh?"
"You should know better. Heero sent us here because he still cares for her. Remember he said that he wouldn't jeopardize her time enjoying her off, right?"
"Right..."
"Let's think of it this way. He doesn't like giving worries to her deliberately. And we have to admit; our real enemies are the ones who pose the greater threat than the guy meeting with Ms. Relena."
"So he wants to be the main hero again by facing the top priority. But it would have been more interesting for us to watch if he would have forbidden her to go or some sort. Where's the fun with that?"===============================================================(Backtrack)
Earlier at breakfast, The Vice Foreign Minister and the three Preventers are dining at the dining table. Through out the whole time Heero and Relena haven't spoke with each other but only made quick glances at each other. Duo and Quatre only sat and ate their food and stayed out of bay while they watch their other companions doing their little scene.
The three of them already assembled at the dining room waiting for her to join them minutes ago. Duo and Quatre are used to Heero's unspeaking nature but ever since she sat with them, things got weird. The only words she gave so far was "Good Morning" and that greeting was for no one in particular but in general to those she sees at the moment.
After Quatre laid out the events to Duo at early dawn, both of them just wished that silver ware or ceramics would fly at random. Though the thought is indeed radical, they already saw the two get in each other's nerves in the past. Most of their "arguments" involved awkward situations, unexplained plots, practical jokes, unwanted consequences and of course, their silly conjuring ways of making the other jealous.
Finally the quietness of the dining table is broken by the lady's initiative. She doesn't want her day to start badly and neither as he. But he is usually not a morning person so you got to persuade him to talk. So it could be said that him not talking is just a agreeable habit.
"I'm going to meet with somebody later, Heero." She didn't look at his face but to her plate. The two audiences didn't bother to move their head but they allowed their eyes to avert at the direction of the voice then averted them to the one addressed.
"Alright." Not satisfied with his reply but seems whole enough, they averted their gaze to the girl who just took the bread knife. The man is just busy eating emptying his plate of pancakes and taking his time while she paused from doing anything.
"He called me again last night. He confirmed the things that he planed for today. He said that he wants me to go watch that movie "She's so pretty" with him."
"I see." He said then chomps a fork full of sliced pancakes.
Sometimes his lack of conversation skills is really annoying. She doesn't understand why this issue got her riled up because apparently she didn't do or said anything wrong and so it seems that he is guilty of nothing either. Maybe she needs to be sure first. "Is that all you can say about this, Heero?"
"You made the decision to go so let's not make a big deal out of it." He said before he takes a sip of his latte. "You're here to have fun and socialize, remember?"
"And I suppose you have no intention of forbidding me to do something that I decided?"
"If you're mind is made up then I'll comply with it. It's your decision."
"So you don't care whomever I go out with, is that it?" she looked down and bit her lip. The two spectators just kept on munching on like they are actually watching a movie while eating popcorn. She didn't even yell those words; not showing any tone of hostility and neither was he naturally.
He laid down his cup on the coaster and took his napkin and gently wipes of any stains off his lips. "That wasn't what I said." he said calmly.
He is not this usually this generous for words when it comes to letting her do whatever it is outside her day plan. But since she is not at work right now, perhaps he really did loosen up his grip off her. "Um... Duo I think we are quite finished with our plates." Quatre smiled faintly at their braided companion.
"Uh – yeah... do you guys need to be alone coz me and Quatre will just..." Duo is about to sit up but she waved her hand to them signaling them to stop from what they are about to do.
"No. It's alright guys." Relena assured them. "I'll go. I need to prepare soon anyway. If anybody needs me I'll be upstairs."
After that she gracefully dismissed herself and walk off straight out of the dining room. The two sat back on their seats as they just smiled at her and watch her leave. Heero on the other hand just took another drink out of his cup.(End of Backtrack) ==============================================================="Yeah I know. But whatever they decide on how they show their feelings for each other, let's just hope for the best and keep on supporting them."
'I don't get how they operate their modern day relationship but I do tell you Quatre it's really quite fun watching them do their own style of bickering every once in a while."
"I'll have to agree on that. Do you remember their big fight when he told her about the time when Heero was still attending to school and some girl gave him a sweet sixteen-birthday invitation?"
"Do I? That was the time when Relena thought that Heero tore up that invitation just like he did the last time with hers but instead he joked and told Relena that he attended the damn party as the girl's escort."
"Although it wasn't really a fight. She just gave him the longest silent treatment in history. She didn't even talk to us whenever Heero was with any of us five anywhere. I tell you, she really is a pacifist."
"And Oh! You remembered that time that we partied and we got all wasted. You approached Relena and asked her if she wants to marry you. And you were all like 'fuck Heero and hook up with me instead'. Man, even if you've said it we still cant believe it."
"C'mon Duo. We all know it was just the booze talking. And may I remind you that you guys took advantage at my current state at that time and talk me out of saying those to her. And I thought it would take me forever to lie to Rasheed about what happened next."
"Well believe me, Heero's sucker punch packs a wallop. And that description comes from experience my friend. He doesn't do fisticuffs with comrades if it's not necessary. Or maybe that blow came from all of the booze Heero drunk?"
"Well regardless, they still haven't announced it officially but there is something definitely there between them. In my opinion, they just say and do all of those crazy things at each other just to keep that 'mutual understanding' of their stay intact."
"Yup. Be that as it may, I just wish things wont get ugly between them on the future, the way Heero is acting recently to say the least. He always has been the greatest hero out of the lot of us before and then. Now more than ever, he faces the fear of loosing her and he does most of the effort. Let's just see how a hero is rewarded."==============================================================="Hot Shot arrived at the restaurant early on purpose. He wanted to avoid the bulk of the lunch-hour crowd and to get a cozy corner booth for him and White Lady." Duo said while he eyes the man called Jean Paul from somewhere.
"We'll only watch and listen from the raptors, 02. I already lied to White Lady trying to cover our butts out here and my conscience say that it wont rest if she finds us out.--------------------------Getting in touch with Relena was Relena's girlfriends' idea. During one of their recent chats yesterday, they broached the idea of Relena, who had recently gotten back from space, and him touching base and catching up. Admittedly, he was curious on to how she was and how the years had been treating her, but they summed it up pretty well in his frank, often brutal way of wisdom:
(Backtrack... Yesterday, The preparations for the Reunion Party at St. Gabriel)
'Look her up, Jean Paul. You could use some socializing like her. All you do is work, and you two always got along pretty well back then, so who knows? Besides, what's the worst that can happen?' Tanya said.
'Let's see... Diss me off like she did on her birthday party when I said the word "Heero"?'
'Silly. Are you still sore about that? And don't tell us you're not the least bit curious. AND don't tell us you never found Relena the least bit attractive." Sheila said while he replied with a leer.
He hated it when they gang up on him like this.
'Fine, so I found her attractive. But so what? You know me. I was never one to let my hormones do my thinking for me.' Jean Paul replied confidently.
'Suuure.' Both girls responded and giggled.
'OH MY GOD! You're acting like gossiping squealing high school girls.'
'Oh don't give us all of y'all so called "insults". If y'all is going to be like that then what is the 411 of you checking up on our girl from head to toe a while ago, Mr. Man?'
' C'mon Tanya. He already said that he digs. Him doin all that is the proof.'
'All right, all right. Lemme go, I'll do it already!" Jean Paul said grudgingly. 'Just so you know, I am planning to call her tonight to ask her out tomorrow so I am way ahead of you girls.'
'That's a good boy. Anyway... I'm just curious... why didn't the two of you ever hook up anyway? Look, you're both smart, your personalities complement each other, you and her were the respective alpha male and female of our class. So... I mean it just makes sense.' Sheila asked while curling her hair around.
'Well she did became more absent minded since Mr. Personality was introduced to our class as a transfer student. And I thought sparks flew between the two of them but then again I was wrong to think otherwise.' Tanya replied.
'See what I'm getting at? It's him again.'
'Don't worry sporty. It was probably a high school crush or something like that. He is over there and it is pretty evident that he still is the guy we knew back then. Though they did strangely came here together, I haven't notice them getting close.'
'Yeah Sheila is right. You might actually stand a chance.'(End of Backtrack)He could see that it took her only a second or two to spot his place upon entering the crowded first class restaurant. She started walking towards him... and they locked eyes.
This was not exactly the Relena he remembered. This... woman coming towards him was... stunning. Sure, she had already been eye-catching back in junior high, but now...
Jean Paul allowed his eyes to wander some more.
Her goldilocks-colored tresses were as silk like he remembered from the day before, and she had worn them down today, nicely framing the delicate lines of her shoulders. The girlish figure she had in junior high had matured into a slender, well (ahem) proportioned one, wearing a simple, white translucent ensemble. She had the top few buttons undone on her shirt; giving his imagination a stir he was quite unprepared for.
This is Relena!? Hey!
He focused his eyes some more.
Lordy, she's wearing a black brassiere. The shade's visible from under the shirt. He bit his tongue.
Get your mind out of the gutter! Okay... relax. Focus on her face. That's it.
He found himself staring at her lips.
The eyes you fool! Look her in the eyes! And relax damn it! Be the Jean Paul she remembers! Levelheaded, smooth! Poker face, poker face...
His body did as it was told this time.
She still has those glamorous aquamarine eyes.
Before he could deliberate it any further she was already there standing beside their table.
"Hey there, stud, would you mind if we shared a table? There aren't any more seats available." She said to him engagingly.
"It'd be my pleasure miss." He replied with a grin. He waved her to sit down right across him.
"Please, have a seat, Vice Foreign Minister". She laughed and took her seat.
"Anyway, you look good Relena."
Idiot. You don't get brownie points for stating the obvious.
"Likewise, Jean Paul."
Heh. That's always a good thing.
She grabbed a menu. "I'm famished. Sorry if I kept you waiting." She added.
"No worries. Shall we order now?" He signaled to a waitress that they were ready to order.
"So... you're here early?"
"Well I have to. I need to shake off my bodyguards. I would like to dismiss them but my dad is their real boss so I can't really decide to go off being alone when I want to."
"Bodyguards, huh? Don't get me started on bodyguards."
"Oh really? You know what, I think it's a wonderful start for us to talk about something. Share the pain Relena."
"Well being the Vice Foreign Minister is not a healthy job. There are people who come after me every once in a while so you could just imagine how bodyguards can be to ensure safety on their clients."
"Oh of course. They can get as far as messing even your every day life style."
"Even invasion of privacy. And by that I mean by reading then changing your work notes and schedules, checking every nook and cranny of your chambers and even decide who, where and when to meet."
"Wow. Sounds troublesome. Mine don't give me that much trouble."
"Mine does, Jean Paul. However I know they mean well."
"Then tell me... how much fuss did it cost you to be here?"
"To tell you the truth... I think I'm costing the fuss."(Backtrack... minutes after breakfast)Heero knocked twice on Relena's door. She recognized the gesture and hesitated to open it. After a couple of seconds she responded to the call and turned the doorknob. He looked at her and she hasn't started on getting ready yet. She let him step inside of the room and she sat sown on her bedside while he just stood there in front of her.
"What is it, Heero?"
"I'm not going to stay here that long so I'll just get right to it."
"You're upset. I know."
"It's not whether I am or I am not, Relena."
"What?"
"You see, because I believe that you are such a great woman, I also trust you for not doing or deciding on stupid things just jeopardize your personal welfare. In case some kind of uncertainties happens, it's us specially me will be there to get you out."
"So you're going to trust me on this one, too? By going in a date with somebody I haven't talked for quite a while now?"
"Relena, when I had to through our fencing match, that friend of yours tried to defend your honor in his own merit because of something I did that made you cry. Even though it didn't turned out as he expected how the match would end, I think I can say that he really is a good friend of yours."
"Wow, Heero. Perhaps I should tell that to Jean Paul later because he –
Heero bends over a little and placed his hands on her shoulders. He leans in closer until he lays his forehead to hers.
"Don't get me wrong, Relena. As much as I want to do my own way of persuasion of you canceling this so called date of yours, I don't want to disrespect your decision. Though I want you to live up your time off, I can't say that it really doesn't bothers me a bit."
(You are so gay!)
"Heero..."
"So you better have listened to what I just said because I'm not usually this nice."
(Either you're repressing something from me again or you just suck at jealousy this time around. Let's see how long you could play this game of yours, you big stupid softee.)
"Heero... you're way too close on my face. Either kiss me or get it off mine."
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(A/N: As always, school work is killing me. Here is the latest installment of my damn story. Read it and Rip! )