Black Balloon

Chapter II: Sweet like Honey

Heero was anything but a morning person; a lover, an assassin, a neurosurgeon for all he cared, just not a morning person. His alarm went off loud and shrill and he groggily smacked his snooze button, as if it were a reflex. The red numbers glared a bloody red as silence ensued once more. He didn't want to be woken up from his land of dreams by some damned ringing sound.

Wait. He had a job, a job with a sizeable amount of money to be earned.

He moaned and stretched himself out, his bones cracking and muscles loosening up. The sun was still asleep, hidden beyond the horizon. That lazy ass, he thought. If it wasn't up, then nobody should be up. The air was icy against his skin as he reluctantly threw the thick covers off and felt his way into the kitchen. The floor was cold too, his bare feet tingling against the wooden panels. He didn't like the cold. His hand roamed along the wall and felt the switch and he flicked on the lights.

"Good morning."

Heero jumped slightly at the voice. The lack of sleep was causing delusional voices in his head… that sounded much like Duo's.

The braided man sat at the kitchen table, sipping a cup of brown muck. Heero looked at the mug, and edged back, his face crinkled and disgusted. The odor was horrible and smelled as if it were a pile of dung.

"What is that crap?" Heero asked him, holding his breath.

"It's not just any crap. It's for my hangover…" he moaned, rubbing his temples.

"Did you kill her?" he asked, a serious mask over his face. "Duo, if you didn't…"

"Of course…" Duo responded coolly, only to add, "After have one hell of a good fuck." He smirked at his roommate. "Man, she was so warm and tight…"

"Spare me the details," Heero shot at him.

"Well, fine." Duo pouted. "This crap doesn't seem to help with the hangover so I think I'll just go to bed…G'night." With that, Duo disappeared into his room and quietly shut the door behind him. Heero poured the concoction out into the sink and cracked open the window to let the stench diffuse. He glanced at the clock on the microwave and quickly returned to his room. Heero changed into a worn pair of jeans and a black turtleneck a bit too big for him. All that dawdling in bed took time away and he had no time for breakfast.

But coffee. Yes, that was his god. Black, with nothing but the soothing taste of the roasted beans.

He reached into the pantry and fumbled with the metal can. Almost happily and anxious, he opened the tin and awaited the strong, smooth aroma to fill his senses.

Nothing.

He looked down and saw a few grains of brown on the bottom. His brows furrowed as he tossed the can out and grumbled. Time was wasting and there'd be no coffee brewing this morning. Reluctantly, he wrapped a scarf around his neck and slipped on his coat and gloves and stepped outside.

Heero hopped onto his motorcycle and sped off towards the café. Heero would get his coffee there, or there would be hell to pay. Unforgiving, torturous hell. His addiction to the warm liquid caused him to speed down the streets at a rapid speed, and he didn't care if there were innocent bystanders. All he wanted was his coffee.

Café de la café was a quaint little coffee house that sat on the corner. It was old and rustic, capturing the essence of an old Italian villa, painted with mellow browns and gold. He slowed his engine down and parked to the side of the entrance on the streets. Businessmen and women emerged from the door of the shop, hurrying along with their java or cappuccinos. A bunch of overworked and psychotic people who were up at dawn. Pathetic, Heero thought. He tucked his helmet under his seat and fastened his bike to the metal bars. He walked into the café and almost immediately, rich smells of coffee beans and hot chocolate filled his senses. Almost intoxicated, he found himself lured into a booth by the window, staring out at sun, which had finally decided to wake up.

"Good morning," a girl smiled. "Would you like to order something?"

Heero looked up at her. "A cup of coffee. Black."

"Alright," she said while jotting it down in a little notepad. "I'll be right back with your order."

She walked off and Heero stared at the sloppy bow that kept the apron from shifting in the back. Her hair seemed soft and silky, tied up into a messy bun too. She came back soon with a mug of coffee, still hot and tempting. He paid and took a hearty gulp from the mug, savoring the deep and bittersweet taste. He looked around again. She wasn't anywhere to be seen.

"Long blonde hair and a waitress," he thought to himself. "You think she could have been any vaguer?" He scanned the shop with his eagle eyes; three of the four staff members fit that description.

And at that moment, the heavens seemed to love him.

"Relena!" a girl from behind the counter called. "You're going to be late!"

The girl who had served him before ran from the corner table and up to the counter. "Thanks, Betsy," she said, quickly fumbling with the bow of the apron.

Heero almost choked on his coffee. How could he have been so blind?

She removed the rubber band off from her hair, golden locks spilling halfway down her back. "Just make sure you give them their cinnamon bun and hot chocolate, okay?" She pointed at an older couple in the corner. "I'm going now – bye!" With that, she picked up a couple of books from behind the counter and her wool peacoat, running out into the bustling early morning traffic.

Heero chugged the rest of his coffee and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. He ran outside after her only to be met with a flood of pedestrians. He couldn't let her escape from him a second time. He narrowed his eyes and caught a glint of her long hair billowing in the light wind. He stalked her as if she were his prey as she sped down the sidewalk, turning into the college campus nearby.

He couldn't just pop up from behind her, pull out a gun, and go boom. Heero's style had always been sly and seductive – his reputation was of that at least. His leather jacket clung to his slim and built body as he strode past the garbage cans and stray cats that watched him with big round eyes. Minutes later, he reached the campus across from where she had entered, watching the students walk in large groups. His cobalt blue eyes stared, almost enviously at them.

A normal life – something he had always wanted, but could never have.

He saw her again, quickly pacing towards her class, he assumed. Heero studied her gait; graceful but not fragile, her figure; slim but healthy, curves in the right places and a b-cup he guessed. He made small mental notes to himself of her fashion as well; simple, comfortable, casual.

A short boy just a bit taller than herself caught up with her. His face was bright and his hair was platinum blonde, his bangs swooshing back and forth. She grinned and they walked to class together, her pace slowing down and her posture loosening up. A friend… perhaps even more, Heero thought. That had to be fixed. The two entered the Liberal Arts building, and he entered casually soon after. He didn't want to catch the attention of anybody but that seemed harder than it was.

Three pairs of eyes fell upon him as he strolled down the halls, filled with a want… no, a need, for sex. Theirs heads turned to watch him, their makeup covered faces pleased with the sight of the mysterious male with a nice ass. He could imagine them licking their crimson lips, luring stupid men to bed with them with a wave of their three-inch nails.

"Idiots," he mumbled under his breath to himself. He ignored their lustful glances and kept himself focused on the task at hand – the blonde girl who had just turned into Government Politics. Heero slipped into an empty seat in the back and prepared himself for what would be an almost endless three hour lecture.

He yawned and cracked his knuckles as he stepped back outside into the midday sun. He took off his leather jacket and leaned against a brick pillar, waiting for Relena to emerge from the building.

"Hey, there," she greeted, leaning her anorexic frame against the other face of the pillar. "I haven't seen you around here before."

Heero mentally slapped himself. "I just transferred," he lied.

"Mmm," she giggled. "Do you…" Heero wanted to flee. He wanted to shoot her in the head in broad daylight. He hated women. "Do you want to go to the stude…" Luckily, Relena had come out and was carrying a pile of books.

"Excuse me," Heero retorted coldly, catching up to Relena. Her hair smelled like sweet, sweet honey.

"Hi," he said coolly. "Let me help you with those." Smooth, Yuy. You're one smooth operator, he thought to himself.

She seemed pleasantly surprised and grinned, a light pink color washing over her cheeks. "Oh… thanks," she spoke, handing him over a few textbooks, "They're for the exam next week."

"Oh, right," Heero nodded along. "Do you think you can help me with section five?" he asked casually, tucking the books under his arm.

"Umm…" she hesitated, slowing her steps. "You don't have to know that for the exam."

"Right…" he spoke drawing out the words, "I just thought I could use a little refresher course." He smiled – no woman could resist his smile.

She thought about it for a minute, "…sure. Do you want to do it tomorrow night?"

He remembered he had another client to take care of only hours away; it could easily be done in a few hours. "Ah, great," he smiled again. This was turning out to be much easier than he had anticipated. They walked off campus and back into the quiet coffee shop, which had died down since the buzz in the morning. Relena set the books behind the counter and slipped on her apron.

"Thanks," she grinned. "Let me get you some coffee – it's the least I can do after you helped me." She poured him a large cup of coffee and carefully handed it to him.

He sipped out of the styrofoam covering. "I should be going now – I'll see you tomorrow."

"Oh yes! I forgot to ask – what's your name?" Relena quipped, playing with the fabric of her sleeve.

"Heero," he replied simply.

"I'm Relena," she responded.

"I know," he smiled and walked out of the café back into the streets.

Comments and critique appreciated. More to come soon [hopefully!]