The motorcycles screamed down the dark cobblestone streets they were neck in neck. Weaving around the lampposts and up and down bridges, soaring over benches and parts of the street depending on whether there was a ramp like object or not.
Heero led the way most of the time slowing down so her less modified bike wouldn't loose his. He led her all the way up to the cliff hanging over the water. They could see their ship from up there but he stopped and looked back at her.
She took off her helmet and with her mouth in a visible "o" she looked up at the millions of stars.
Heero got off his bike and sat down a few feet away. Relena followed but lay on the grass beside him instead.
He reached down and took her hand in his, he lay down on the soft cool grass, enjoying the view of space. "One day. I'm going into space."
Relena smiled and leaned her head on his shoulder, no other words were spoken or needed to be spoken. That little statement, that little sentence revealed the Heero no one had ever seen before. A little boy who had dreams of being an astronaut.
The two pulled up into the loading dock around nine a.m. Their hands joined once more. 'So what if we're not in love, doesn't mean I can't enjoy this' Relena reasoned.
Heero hadn't tried to kiss her once the entire night, he was as surprised as she was. 'I guess I'm just not used to it…' Heero thought as he walked into his room. He changed his shirt and pants before going back outside.
"Wufei and Trowa are probably already eating breakfast," he mumbled to himself as he went to the kitchen area.
Sure enough they were both there, Relena was too, much to his surprise, munching away on a piece of toast with a newspaper before her, a serious look on her face. He passed by behind her and saw she was reading the comics section. Heero allowed himself a small smile once again that day as he made himself some coffee.
He looked over his shoulder "You want some coffee Relena?"
She looked up and grimaced, "Chocolate milk is fine for me."
Heero surprised everyone as he filled a cup with milk and put it in the microwave before sitting next to Relena.
Trowa and Wufei exchanged a glance before turning back to their respective newspaper article or book.
Later when the rest of the crew had woken up they gathered on the bridge on a meeting. They sat around on every available surface and watched quietly as Wufei walked up to the front and face everyone.
"We've refueled, stocked up and gotten new supplies and parts. We're good to fly across the ocean people!" Wufei announced a half-grin on his face.
His crew cheered with the exception of Heero and Trowa, they never made such noises.
They split up and headed to their respective stations.
Relena and Quatre just stood at the back of the bridge. Watching their new friends rush to get the ship back into the air.
"Quatre, do you think Treize will find me?" Relena asked, edging closer to him.
Quatre put his arm around her "Don't worry Relena… we'll make sure he doesn't get anywhere near you."
They were silent for awhile until Relena broke into a grin.
Relena leaned her head on his shoulder and smiled solemnly "So… how's Trowa?"
The blond stiffened "He's fine. You can see him. Fine and dandy."
Relena stifled a giggle and lowered her voice "Not like that. How is he… you know…?"
Quatre smiled despite himself and whispered in her ear "We haven't gone far. Not as far as I hoped… but so far. He's great."
She put a hand over her mouth and tried to stifle her laugher "I told you he liked you."
Quatre chuckled and looked around and saw Trowa, the green eyed boy nodded and slowly approached them.
"Relena, I was hoping you could go down to the engine room and help Heero a bit. He gets impatient with the things down there and I'm sure you can calm him. I have business to attend to and have no time for his childishness."
Relena blinked and looked from Quatre to Trowa "Um… sure. I guess…"
Trowa nodded "Good. Ask Hilde for something to wear."
Heero rubbed his hands clean on his blue jeans and looked at the huge piece of machinery that he needed to fix. He took the wrench out of his back pocket and started to loosen a few bolts that kept the panel shut. He swore as he saw the amount of grease build up.
"Fucking Trowa, never cleaning his shit," Heero mumbled as he rifled through a pile of rags. Finding a relatively clean one he started to remove the crusted grease.
With his large, calloused hands he found it hard to maneuver between the wires and cables.
"Stupid… cables… Dammit!" He threw the rag down looked at the still dirty panel in with rage in his eyes. He rubbed sweat off his forehead and accidentally smudged the grease. Already he had grease on his jeans, shirt, face and hair. None of which he noticed of course.
Relena watched him from the doorway, who knew Heero had such a potty mouth? She had put on one of Hilde's gray t-shirts and jeans, they were all dirty but she didn't care. Ignoring Heero's surprised face as she picked up the discarded rag. Without saying a word she began to clean the panel. Her much smaller hands easier to manage.
Heero looked at her reddish hair that was tied into a braid, hanging over the greasy piece of metal. Her thin frame clothed in the worn work clothing. Her porcelain skin becoming smudged and greasy, eyes focused, framed with long, dark lashes.
"Relena…" a million and one questions whirled around his mind but the second her eyes met his, all he could choke out was a small "thanks."
She smiled and Heero felt that everything that had happened so far, the kidnapping, the bargain, the fight with Quatre, everything, it was all worth it.
She slipped the cloth between a piece of cloth and cleaned the nearly invisible spot of dirt "I think I'm done."
Heero stood in front her and cleaned the oil spots off her face with his shirt. Relena giggled when he brushed a sensitive spot beneath her ear. Heero smiled and traced her eyebrow with a finger before bopping her nose lightly. Relena laughed at the childish show of affection. Relena took his hands in hers and kissed the fingertips, marveling at dark roughness of it compared to her pale, slim (and oily) ones.
Heero kissed the palm of her hand before burying his head in her neck and hair, inhaling the sweet smell of her shampoo and lotion.
Strawberries.
He held her tight to him, Relena wrapped her arms around him and smiled softly.
She smiled at the strength she felt in corded muscles of his arms.
She smiled at the softness of his skin.
She smiled at the gentleness of his embrace.
And she smiled at sweet little boy who held her.
Unfortunately all good things come to an end and week later Wufei announced the approach of land.
Heero watched as land loomed closer and closer, his hand firmly around Relena's. She was standing near the window watching the land come closer too, the look on her face unintelligible. Heero squeezed her hand in a reassuring manner. She smiled back at him but he saw the fear and apprehension in her eyes.
"I'll stay with you until I see you securely in the arms of your brother and his wife" he promised to her quietly.
She sighed and tightened her hold on his hand, the fear somewhat lessened in her eyes.
Quatre sighed and looked up at Trowa who was gently staring down at him. Trowa wrapped his arms more securely around the smaller boy loving the way his smooth skin felt under his hands. Quatre's hard muscles bunched and relaxed as he turned to face Trowa.
"I'm going to miss you," he said, his large crystal blue eyes welling up with tears.
Trowa smiled softly and kissed his lips "I know. So am I" his green eyes growing misty and the smile fading.
Quatre buried his blond head into the crook of Trowa's neck and wrapped his bare arms tighter around Trowa's shoulders.
The larger man sighed and brushed his hand down the smooth skin of his lover's back. He really was going to miss him…
They lay in silence interrupted only when Wufei announced that land was looming.
Relena changed into a suit that the crew had stolen ages ago but never used for lack of occasion and smoothed out the wrinkles. Looking at herself in the full-length mirror she sighed 'Here I go again… always pretending…'
From Heero's place seated on her bed he frowned "What's wrong?"
Relena smiled softly at him "Nothing… I'm fine."
He took her hand and kissed it softly wondering if her lips were as soft as the skin on her hand. Probably. He tore his gaze from her lips and gave her small smile, his face still slightly unused to it.
"I'll protect you," he said matter-of-factly.
Relena sighed and looked him in the eyes, he saw the uncertainty in her eyes, "I'm stronger then I look. I will be able to protect you" he said slightly offended.
She looked down at her hands, the uncertainty in her eyes was not in his ability to protect her, it was in his ability to remember her after she'd left.