Disclaimer: See chapter 1
A/N: Sorry this has been so long in getting here. I finished it awhile ago, but with how hectic life has been, I have hardly gotten the time to do any writing unless it was assigned. Forgive me if you have been waiting for this story! Comments are always welcome!
Chapter 6: It's over now
Trowa watched Tara with curiosity for the next couple of weeks. He had caught her and Milliardo in a fight, just after they had finished. Tara said she was fine, but dark bruises had formed on her wrists and a couple on her back, so she had to use stage makeup for performances. The shows still went well, and they were heading steadily inland from the ocean. Tara's attitude had shifted low, and she would keep to herself, unusually shy for her normal self. Trowa found her sleeping in the main tent one morning, and when he woke her, she got up and left silently. Trowa met with Catherine later and asked about her strange behavior.
"I think she is put off with me." She told him.
"Why?"
"Well," they walked about the tent amid the early morning bustle, "I have been getting rather worried about her behavior lately, so I asked her why she was so down. She wouldn't tell me. I kept on her though, thinking that she would eventually. No such luck, I got her feeling so bad that she up and left. After realizing what I had done, I figured it was best not to go after her."
"I think you better talk to her though." Trowa knew that Milliardo had something to do with her mood. Catherine nodded and left to find Tara, while Trowa left the tent to find a tent away from the fairgrounds.
There was a payphone booth a little ways down the road; it was perfect. He punched in a military number, and an operator answered.
"Preventors Corps. Please state your name and business."
"Trowa Barton, get me Wind, now."
"One moment."
"Tara, I'm really sorry about the way I acted last night," Catherine apologized, "it was uncalled for, but I am just worried for your well- being."
"It's okay, I just can't really talk about it right now."
"Well, if you ever can, let me know," Catherine put her arm around Tara's shoulders, "I know I would like to listen, Trowa would too."
"Wind. Who is this?"
"I thought the receptionist would have told you."
"Trowa."
"What's going on, Milliardo?"
"I know he would," Tara smiled, "it is just not the right time." She looked at her wrists, the bruises nearly gone. Tara felt guilty about not telling Trowa and Catherine, but she held firm that she should wait.
"Nothing is going on."
"You are an awful liar, Milliardo."
"I know," Trowa heard amusement in Milliardo's voice, "but you don't need to worry about it. It was between the girl and I, she may tell you about it in due time, knowing her."
"Milliardo," Trowa grew impatient, "just tell me how you know eachother."
"You need to find that out for yourself." Trowa heard the connection cut, and he slammed the receiver down. As he walked back, his mind wandered over the possibilities of what had happened between Tara, Milliardo, and Lucrezia. He entered the main tent and saw Tara smiling again, and as she ran over and hugged him, his doubts washed away. He knew that she could not be a completely innocent person, but this girl could be forgiven, and he would wait to hear what she had to say.
"Sorry." her voice was muffled. Trowa smiled and embraced her warmly.
"Don't worry about it, just talk to me when you are ready."
That night ran slowly, but there was a jovial feeling rooted into the show, more so than usual. Tara was out entertaining the crowd with the clowns. While Catherine and Trowa were in the center ring, Tara noticed a young woman in a beige trench coat. Her breath caught in her throat, and she crept over to take the seat next to her.
"Relena?" She whispered. Relena looked at her, surprised for a moment.
"Tara, hello," she smiled, "what are you doing up here?"
"I am spending time with the clowns," she mused, "but why are you here?"
"I'm here to see Trowa," Relena blushed slightly, "he knows I am here."
"All right," Tara winked, and then stood up to resume her job, "good to see you!" She didn't want to stay near Relena for too long, fearing that someone may see her. Tara stopped for a moment, realizing that she was buying into their deception. She glanced at Trowa, who was stone-faced as ever as the glittering blades sunk deep into the board behind him. Tara frowned, finally noticing that he had become something special to her, and that he was an anchor that kept her in the circus. Milliardo would be watching her, and he would not approve. She knew her situation was not a good one, but she only had two choices: stay, and have Milliardo and the Preventors tracking her every move, or leave a place that was starting to feel like home. Tara did not have time to think upon it, Catherine and Trowa were done and they were the last act of the night. She felt someone grab onto her arm firmly, and she spun from their grip. A set of Prussian blue eyes, shining through a slight veil of dark brown met her own. Through she was initially ready to defend herself, she was taken back by the hard gaze.
"Heero..." her voice failed her.
"Is Relena here?" he asked quietly, calmly. In the back of her mind, she wished to tear from him and get Relena the hell away from the area. She felt bad for advocating their semi-adulterous relationship, but she was scared for them; no, she was scared for Trowa.
"I haven't seen her." She shrugged innocently.
"Then you won't mind if I look for her." It was more of a statement than a suggestion as Heero pushed past her effortlessly. Tara almost cried out in protest, but instead retreated quickly backstage. She knew where Trowa and Relena would be, the question was could she catch them in time? Heero was faster than her, but could he navigate the backstage crowd like her? Probably not.
"Tara! Slow down!" she slipped between a group of clowns and dancers. She cursed them in her head, for it Heero heard her name, which would without a doubt tip him off.
"Tara, could you get a treat for Riley, he's hungry." Catherine asked, but Tara passed her by.
"Sorry, not now!" she called back, turning a corner sharply. She ran into a cage almost immediately. Riley, their big black-mane lion, watched her quizzically as she recovered and kept running. She finally caught sight of Trowa and the girl in the beige trench coat.
"Trowa!" she hissed as she got closer. He looked over his shoulder, Relena was blushing.
"Not now, Tara."
"But Trowa!"
"Not now." Tara furrowed her brow at the cold shoulder. She spun him around sharply and whispered into his ear.
"Heero is here!" Trowa looked at her, dumbfounded. His face quickly turned from a look of surprise to one of determination. He muttered an inaudible thank you, and then grabbed Relena's hand and headed out of the back of the tent. Tara allowed herself to breathe hard now. Hopefully she was in time. She headed out of a different exit, but stopped dead in her tracks when she saw a rather upset looking Catherine. She slung an arm around her shoulder.
"What's wrong?" As soon as she asked the question, she found that she needed no explanation. There stood Heero and Trowa staring venomously at one another with Relena between them trying to keep them apart.
"What is going on?" Catherine looked at Tara, who was staring at her feet. She looked up at Catherine, who seemed to have realization dawning on her features. Trowa and Heero were arguing vehemently, but Tara and Catherine were too far away to hear them clearly. Tara noticed everything, though. She saw the way Trowa held an arm around Relena possessively, and how she was little by little pulling away. She saw the anger in Heero's unwavering stance, and the tension between the two could have physically manifested. Heero started talking to Relena, who in turn started to cry. Somehow, Tara's heart began to sink, as if she didn't want to see the resolution. She and Catherine couldn't turn away, and when they saw Relena go to Heero's open arms and saw the dismay upon Trowa's face as he walked away, they felt the despair of the scene. Catherine ran after him, but there would be no condolences for Trowa. Tara stood there for a moment, clutching the frills of her skirt with her left hand as she watched the reunited couple. Relena gazed over Heero's shoulder at Tara. Tara suddenly felt a chill run through her body, feeling unfulfilled by the innocent look Relena sent her. Tara then left back to her trailer and fell into an uneasy sleep.
A/N: Sorry this has been so long in getting here. I finished it awhile ago, but with how hectic life has been, I have hardly gotten the time to do any writing unless it was assigned. Forgive me if you have been waiting for this story! Comments are always welcome!
Chapter 6: It's over now
Trowa watched Tara with curiosity for the next couple of weeks. He had caught her and Milliardo in a fight, just after they had finished. Tara said she was fine, but dark bruises had formed on her wrists and a couple on her back, so she had to use stage makeup for performances. The shows still went well, and they were heading steadily inland from the ocean. Tara's attitude had shifted low, and she would keep to herself, unusually shy for her normal self. Trowa found her sleeping in the main tent one morning, and when he woke her, she got up and left silently. Trowa met with Catherine later and asked about her strange behavior.
"I think she is put off with me." She told him.
"Why?"
"Well," they walked about the tent amid the early morning bustle, "I have been getting rather worried about her behavior lately, so I asked her why she was so down. She wouldn't tell me. I kept on her though, thinking that she would eventually. No such luck, I got her feeling so bad that she up and left. After realizing what I had done, I figured it was best not to go after her."
"I think you better talk to her though." Trowa knew that Milliardo had something to do with her mood. Catherine nodded and left to find Tara, while Trowa left the tent to find a tent away from the fairgrounds.
There was a payphone booth a little ways down the road; it was perfect. He punched in a military number, and an operator answered.
"Preventors Corps. Please state your name and business."
"Trowa Barton, get me Wind, now."
"One moment."
"Tara, I'm really sorry about the way I acted last night," Catherine apologized, "it was uncalled for, but I am just worried for your well- being."
"It's okay, I just can't really talk about it right now."
"Well, if you ever can, let me know," Catherine put her arm around Tara's shoulders, "I know I would like to listen, Trowa would too."
"Wind. Who is this?"
"I thought the receptionist would have told you."
"Trowa."
"What's going on, Milliardo?"
"I know he would," Tara smiled, "it is just not the right time." She looked at her wrists, the bruises nearly gone. Tara felt guilty about not telling Trowa and Catherine, but she held firm that she should wait.
"Nothing is going on."
"You are an awful liar, Milliardo."
"I know," Trowa heard amusement in Milliardo's voice, "but you don't need to worry about it. It was between the girl and I, she may tell you about it in due time, knowing her."
"Milliardo," Trowa grew impatient, "just tell me how you know eachother."
"You need to find that out for yourself." Trowa heard the connection cut, and he slammed the receiver down. As he walked back, his mind wandered over the possibilities of what had happened between Tara, Milliardo, and Lucrezia. He entered the main tent and saw Tara smiling again, and as she ran over and hugged him, his doubts washed away. He knew that she could not be a completely innocent person, but this girl could be forgiven, and he would wait to hear what she had to say.
"Sorry." her voice was muffled. Trowa smiled and embraced her warmly.
"Don't worry about it, just talk to me when you are ready."
That night ran slowly, but there was a jovial feeling rooted into the show, more so than usual. Tara was out entertaining the crowd with the clowns. While Catherine and Trowa were in the center ring, Tara noticed a young woman in a beige trench coat. Her breath caught in her throat, and she crept over to take the seat next to her.
"Relena?" She whispered. Relena looked at her, surprised for a moment.
"Tara, hello," she smiled, "what are you doing up here?"
"I am spending time with the clowns," she mused, "but why are you here?"
"I'm here to see Trowa," Relena blushed slightly, "he knows I am here."
"All right," Tara winked, and then stood up to resume her job, "good to see you!" She didn't want to stay near Relena for too long, fearing that someone may see her. Tara stopped for a moment, realizing that she was buying into their deception. She glanced at Trowa, who was stone-faced as ever as the glittering blades sunk deep into the board behind him. Tara frowned, finally noticing that he had become something special to her, and that he was an anchor that kept her in the circus. Milliardo would be watching her, and he would not approve. She knew her situation was not a good one, but she only had two choices: stay, and have Milliardo and the Preventors tracking her every move, or leave a place that was starting to feel like home. Tara did not have time to think upon it, Catherine and Trowa were done and they were the last act of the night. She felt someone grab onto her arm firmly, and she spun from their grip. A set of Prussian blue eyes, shining through a slight veil of dark brown met her own. Through she was initially ready to defend herself, she was taken back by the hard gaze.
"Heero..." her voice failed her.
"Is Relena here?" he asked quietly, calmly. In the back of her mind, she wished to tear from him and get Relena the hell away from the area. She felt bad for advocating their semi-adulterous relationship, but she was scared for them; no, she was scared for Trowa.
"I haven't seen her." She shrugged innocently.
"Then you won't mind if I look for her." It was more of a statement than a suggestion as Heero pushed past her effortlessly. Tara almost cried out in protest, but instead retreated quickly backstage. She knew where Trowa and Relena would be, the question was could she catch them in time? Heero was faster than her, but could he navigate the backstage crowd like her? Probably not.
"Tara! Slow down!" she slipped between a group of clowns and dancers. She cursed them in her head, for it Heero heard her name, which would without a doubt tip him off.
"Tara, could you get a treat for Riley, he's hungry." Catherine asked, but Tara passed her by.
"Sorry, not now!" she called back, turning a corner sharply. She ran into a cage almost immediately. Riley, their big black-mane lion, watched her quizzically as she recovered and kept running. She finally caught sight of Trowa and the girl in the beige trench coat.
"Trowa!" she hissed as she got closer. He looked over his shoulder, Relena was blushing.
"Not now, Tara."
"But Trowa!"
"Not now." Tara furrowed her brow at the cold shoulder. She spun him around sharply and whispered into his ear.
"Heero is here!" Trowa looked at her, dumbfounded. His face quickly turned from a look of surprise to one of determination. He muttered an inaudible thank you, and then grabbed Relena's hand and headed out of the back of the tent. Tara allowed herself to breathe hard now. Hopefully she was in time. She headed out of a different exit, but stopped dead in her tracks when she saw a rather upset looking Catherine. She slung an arm around her shoulder.
"What's wrong?" As soon as she asked the question, she found that she needed no explanation. There stood Heero and Trowa staring venomously at one another with Relena between them trying to keep them apart.
"What is going on?" Catherine looked at Tara, who was staring at her feet. She looked up at Catherine, who seemed to have realization dawning on her features. Trowa and Heero were arguing vehemently, but Tara and Catherine were too far away to hear them clearly. Tara noticed everything, though. She saw the way Trowa held an arm around Relena possessively, and how she was little by little pulling away. She saw the anger in Heero's unwavering stance, and the tension between the two could have physically manifested. Heero started talking to Relena, who in turn started to cry. Somehow, Tara's heart began to sink, as if she didn't want to see the resolution. She and Catherine couldn't turn away, and when they saw Relena go to Heero's open arms and saw the dismay upon Trowa's face as he walked away, they felt the despair of the scene. Catherine ran after him, but there would be no condolences for Trowa. Tara stood there for a moment, clutching the frills of her skirt with her left hand as she watched the reunited couple. Relena gazed over Heero's shoulder at Tara. Tara suddenly felt a chill run through her body, feeling unfulfilled by the innocent look Relena sent her. Tara then left back to her trailer and fell into an uneasy sleep.