Chapter Ten:
Something to Be...
Two years had passed since the last time he saw her. He was in his office at CTSA, looking over some paperwork that had mysteriously ended up on his desk. He only thought that it had just come in, but then again, there was always his partner, Wu Fei, who didn't like doing his own work. He sighed roughly and placed his head on the desk. "This is going to take forever! I'm suppose to be off!" he thought, out loud.
"Is that so?"
Heero looked up and looked at his boss. A young woman in her mid twenties, about 25 or 26 years of age. She had long black hair and light purple eyes. Her business suit was a dark gray color, a color that matched her well. But, this was his partner's cousin. Heero sat up and replied, "sorry, I'm just a bit frustrated right now." She walked in and went around his desk. She leaned against it and asked, "My cousin's paperwork?" Heero shrugged, unsure to who's paperwork it really was. "Well, how about you go ahead home. I know that you need the time off. Take tomorrow off as well." she stated. Heero smiled at her and thanked her. She grabbed the paperwork and Heero got his jacket. "Oh, Miss Rei. I thought I let you know that Wu Fei hasn't shown up yet for work." he stated. Rei looked at him with hate in her eyes. "He hasn't!" she roared. Heero looked at her with fear in his eyes. "I'm sorry! I didn't-"
"It's not your fault, Mr Yuy." she said calmly. Heero watched as she walked out the door. He was certain that Wu Fei was in some trouble... thanks to his big mouth.
Saturn walked over to the door and opened it. She smiled as she looked at the young girl, who smiled at her. "Saturn!" Rini yelped, jumping out of her father's arms. Saturn held her into a hug and smiled. "Well, hello to you to Rini." Saturn laughed. Endymion smiled and then looked at Saturn. "Are you sure that she can stay for a few hours? I mean, I'll take her with me if I-"
"Endymion, you worry too much." Saturn stated. "Yeah, Papa... you worry too much!" Rini stated. Endymion sighed, realizing his defeat. "You go ahead to your meeting. When it's over, just give me a call and I'll bring her home." she stated. Rini smiled at her father and Endymion kissed her cheek. "Behave... the both of you." he stated, looking at them both. Rini waved bye and Saturn asked, "When haven't we behaved?" Endymion looked at her seriously and she replied, "Hey, that was one time, and she's the one who side into the cake." Endymion shook his head and turned to head towards the garage. "See you later!" Rini called. Endymion smiled and waved good bye to his only daughter.
Saturn closed the door and placed Rini on her feet. " Alright, after we have lunch, we'll go to the park and get ice cream. How does that sound?" she asked. Rini smiled goofily and replied, "Great!" Saturn shook her head and went into the kitchen. She had basically raised Rini since Endymion and Serenity were swamped with paperwork and meetings. She still was a body guard when needed, but, now-a-days... she was Rini's older sister. She had taught her some simple things... everything a toddler needed to know. She opened the fridge and looked around. "What should we eat?" she thought, out loud.
"Ramen Noddles!" Rini stated, trying her best to get into a chair, by the table. Saturn looked at her and asked, "Alright, princess. What kind do you want?" Rini sat there in thought, trying to decide between chicken and beef. "Chicken!" Saturn smiled and went over to the cabinets, by the sink. She grabbed the packet and placed it on the counter, by the stove. She then went to her dish rack and grabbed a pot.
"Daddy says that you've changed over the passed few years..."
Saturn looked up at Rini. She was playing with her Luna P, not really looking at her. "Is that true?" she asked, looking at her. Saturn showed a smile and replied, "A part of me has changed, yes... but I'm still your big sister. You don't worry about it. You just be you." Rini nodded, and went back to her playing. Saturn turned around and looked at the block of noddles in the water. It was true... she did change... her heart at least.
Later that afternoon, Saturn and Rini were at the park. Saturn was watching Rini from a safe distance, which she thought was fine. She could remember when she was that age and Endymion was watching over her. She smiled at the thought and heard her cell phone go off. She looked at the caller id and picked it up. "Hey, Saturn, what are you doing tonight?" Lita asked. Saturn looked over at Rini and replied, "Nothing, unless the King and Queen want me to watch Rini tonight. Why?"
"How about you come with me and Trowa tonight. We're going out, you know, to have a few drinks."
"I really don't know..." she looked over at Rini again.
"Oh, come on... it'll be fun. You may meet someone new..."
Saturn sighed, knowing that Lita wouldn't have 'no' as an answer. "Alright...I'll tag along.. but that doesn't mean that I'm going to flirt." she stated.
"Alright... you don't have to flirt... I'll just send all the guys towards you." She stated.
Saturn hung up the phone and looked at Rini, who was standing before her. "I have to go potty." Rini stated. Saturn nodded and took her hand. She knew that somewhere in the long run, she would regret going out tonight.
That night, Heero sat at the bar with Wu Fei. He couldn't believe that he got himself suckered into something as going out for a drink or 2. He looked over at his partner, and noticed that he was trying to flirt with some girl. He rolled his eyes and sipped the liquor. He should have stuck with his gut instinct and stayed home. He sighed and knew that if he left now, Wu Fei would start some scene. Suddenly, Wu Fei threw his arm around Heero and Heero looked at him. "See, this is my partner in crime, Ladies." Wu Fei stated, looking at the two blondes. Heero didn't say anything. "He's a bit of a boy next door... you know how those guys are. He broke up with some girl two years ago... he hasn't had a date since then."
Hey man
I don't wanna hear about love no more
I don't wanna talk about how I feel
I don't really wanna be me no more
Dress down, now, I look a lil too
Boy next door
Maybe I should find a downtown whore
That'll make me look hardcore
I need you to tell me what to stand for
"Thank you, Wu Fei, for telling them my life story!" Heero snapped, unwrapping his partner's arms from his neck. He picked up his glass and held his head back, the drink disappearing. Wu Fei smiled and replied, "That's the spirit!" Heero said nothing, but he knew that he had changed for the better.
I've been looking for something
Something I've never seen
We're all looking for something
Something to be...
On the other side of the bar, Trowa, Lita and Saturn sat. Saturn was between them, sipping her whiskey. Lita was talking to some guy she had ran into on the way in, and Trowa was talking to some girl that he had bumped into on the way to the bar. Saturn, on the other hand, was watching surroundings, wondering what the hell she was doing there. She sighed and placed the glass down. She had to get back into her old self. She hung her head low and placed her hand in the air. "Yes, ma'am?" the bartender asked, cleaning a glass. She looked at him and replied, " could I switch my glass to a shot glass?" He nodded and then asked, "same drink?" She nodded and the bartender was off to get her glass. Saturn felt someone tap her on her shoulder and she looked at Lita. "Hey, you okay?" she asked. Saturn showed her a smile. "Yeah... I'm fine..." she replied. She turned back around and looked at the shot glass before her. She picked it up and listened to the sappy love song that was playing. She leaned her head back and swallowed. Her face turned into a sour expression. She hadn't taken a shot of whiskey like that in two years. Sure, she drunk whiskey every now and then, but taking it as a shot drink... that was always her specailty. She coughed and the bartender looked at her. "You okay?" he asked. Saturn managed a smiled and replied, "yeah... just haven't had a shot of whiskey in a while." she stated. The bartender chuckled and placed a glass of water on the counter. "Take your time. There's no need to rush it." she heard. Saturn watched as he walked off to attened the other side of his bar. Saturn sipped the water and heard, "Well, you've been trying to catch the Bartender all along." Saturn looked at Lita, who had a sly expression on her face. "No, honestly... I just-"
"Yeah... sure."
Hey man
Play another one of those heart break songs
Tell another story how things go wrong
And they never get back
My pain is a platinum stack
Take that shit back
You don't wanna be me when it all goes wrong
You don't wanna see me with the houselights on
I'm a lil too headstrong
Stand tall
I don't wanna get walked on...
Saturn turned her gaze to her drink. She had about enough of heart break. She decided that she really didn't need a man in her life. She had been hurt so many times that she ended up in the hospital at one point. She closed her eyes and wondered why she allowed him to walk all over her... how he was able to do anything and get away with it, without her knowing. She looked up and saw the bartender in front of her. "Are you going to give it another try or do you want to change your drink?" he asked, a slight smile on his face. Saturn smirked and replied, "I'm going to give it another shot." He nodded and walked over to someone new, who just arrived. She picked her glass up and looked at it. She inhaled her breath and Lita and Trowa looked at her. She tilted her head back, this time the drink not tasting as sour as it did before. She slammed the shot glass down and smiled at herself. "About damn time we got the old Saturn back!" Lita stated, throwing her arm around her friend.
I can't stand what I'm starting to be
I can't stand the people that I'm starting to need
There's so much now
That can go wrong
And I don't need somebody
Trying to help it along
It's the same old song
Everybody says you've been away too long
Everybody anna tell you what went wrong
Wanna make you an icon
Till you believe that they're right...
Heero stood up and looked over at Wu Fei. " I'm going home. I have no need to stay here." he stated. Wu Fei looked at Heero. "Oh, come on! You've got to get over ... whatever her name is. You are a new person with a new life! Stay a lil longer and hang with me and the girls." he stated, talking about the two who were sitting by him. Heero looked at him and replied, "No, unlike you, I have to keep up with my work."he stated, walking towards the door. Wu Fei shrugged and looked at the two women. "Ah, he's a sore loser. He thinks he should shut himself down just because some girl broke his heart two years ago."
Saturn got up and burped. Lita and Trowa looked at her and she smiled. "I better head home. Knowing me, I'll have a hangover in the morning. Plus... I think I have a meeting with Endymion in the morning." she stated. Lita smiled and replied, "Alright, be careful." Saturn waved good bye and headed out towards home. She had her keys in her front pocket along with her id. In her back pocket was her cell phone. She grabbed her black jacket from the coat rack and pulled it onto her shoulders. She opened the door and headed up the stairs. She paused when she looked up and saw a certain someone.
My December plays...
Heero looked at her as she stared at him. She was completely different from that last time he saw her. Her eyes were still cold, but hint of warmth laid hidden. Her long hair was now short, only up to the top of her chest. She wasn't the Saturn he had known before. Saturn couldn't believe it... the man that had torn her heart out some years ago was now before her. "Excuse me..." she whispered, avoiding eye contact with him as she passed. Heero looked in another direction and moved away. This wasn't the young woman he had known before... he really didn't understand it. Was he losing his eye sight?
Saturn walked along the sidewalk, listening to the night life around her. She thought her mind was playing tricks on her when she saw Heero in the hall of that Bar. She sighed and placed her hands in her jacket's pockets. She looked up at the sky and thought that maybe it was time to call it quits. Nothing had happened since then and the King and Queen had enough people ready to guard and protect them. She looked down and realized that she really didn't need any of it. She had to make a choice. She could live there, with all the horrible memories of that life she had or she could pack up her things and leave.
Heero closed the door to his apartment and took off his jacket. The darkness that surrounded him was perfect for the mood he was in. He threw it onto the couch and walked into the kitchen. He couldn't believe that Saturn was in the same bar as he. The chances of that was a million to one. He grabbed the glass of water and went to his room. He needed to sleep... he just had to get his mind off of her...
Saturn stepped out of the shower, her towel wrapped around her. She sighed heavily and went into her room for her clothes. She looked through her drawers for some pjs, her mind drifting back and forth to why Heero was there at the bar. She then uncovered her father's scarf and her eyes saden.
Heero laid on his back and stared at the ceiling. He knew that he wouldn't be able to go to sleep. The thought of seeing Saturn today was just on his mind and the fact that she changed... he turned over and stared at the opened window, the rain falling against it. He wondered what she was doing... how she was... what she thought of him now-a-days.
Saturn pulled back the black covers and looked out the window. She knew that Heero was home... she had seen his light go off in his room. She shook her thought out of her head and got into her warm bed. She brought the coveres to her chin as she looked out the window. No word from him... nothing... not even a letter... and then suddenly they run into each other at a bar? She closed her eyes, tears falling to her pillow. "Papa... I'm so confused." she thought, gripping her other pillow. She had never been that confused in her life...
Heero closed his eyes, wondering what would have happened if they had never met again those two years ago.