The Grass is Always Greener...
Part Five
This chapter focuses more on Sally and Heero. Hopefully it brings a couple things to light... I tried my best to stay IC with this, but sometimes it's hard. I hope I did okay... Ja ne!
All the usual disclaimers apply.
Sally and Heero sat across from each other at the small table in Sally's kitchen, talking over their empty plates, occasionally sipping water from their glasses--though it was Sally who did most of the talking. "I don't know why he has to be so obstinate," Sally continued, talking about none other than Wufei. "He always insists on doing things his way. I can't even reach a compromise with him sometimes." Sally sighed and shook her head. "I don't know why I put up with him."
Heero lowered his gaze to the glass of water he swirled in his hand, a smile touching the corners of his mouth. "You have feelings for him."
Sally looked up, her wide, blue eyes showing her surprise. Her surprise quickly faded, however, and she smiled at him. She'd forgotten how impossible it was to hide anything from Heero Yuy. "You're very perceptive, Heero." Now it was Sally's turn to stare at her glass as she tilted it this way and that. It was true, she had sometimes wished that she and Wufei were more than just friends, but for the most part, she was happy with things just the way they were. "I do love Wufei dearly as a friend," she continued, "but to be honest, I'm not sure if it really extends beyond that. I mean, as arrogant and selfish as he can be sometimes, I can also count on him to be there when I need him, and he's generally fair and honest in most any situation. I can't imagine working with anyone else at Preventers."
"So it's just a matter of respect."
"Huh?" Sally blinked, turning her attention to Heero as he, in turn, focused on her.
"It sounds like you hold Wufei in such high esteem, you've confused admiration with love." Heero spoke matter-of-factly, but his words seemed to echo some of his own thoughts, as though he had come to this line for reasoning a long time ago. "Now, you've gotten so used to the idea that you might love him, it's hard to consider that you might not."
Sally absorbed Heero's words, silently thinking over all he had said. She couldn't deny that there was at least some truth to it. "That's a very calculated way to look at things, Heero," she said finally. "But with that kind of logic, you could reason yourself out of almost anything. So how do you know when you're really in love?"
Heero closed his eyes and smiled. "That is something only your heart can tell you." Sally smiled warmly as Heero looked at her again. His statement was so simple, yet it brought a new light of understanding to her confused thoughts, and she was grateful she'd had this chance to talk with him.
Suddenly, it dawned on her that she'd been talking about Wufei non-stop through the larger part of dinner. "Oh, Heero, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bore you with all this talk about Wufei. I just… I'm used to people just telling me to shut up when I go on like that."
"Don't worry about it. I just hope what I've said helps you think more clearly."
"It has, Heero. Thank you." Sally's smile faltered as a question popped into her mind. "Heero, why did you stay away for so long?"
Heero again closed his eyes, contemplating his reply. "Months have a way of turning into years when things are uncertain." Sally stared at him in open confusion. It wasn't like Heero to speak in riddles. Opening his eyes, Heero fixed his gaze on the empty plate before him, speaking low as he continued. "I wasn't sure what I wanted. After the wars…
Wufei once asked me what happens to soldiers when there isn't a war to fight. The only answer is to accept peace. But adjusting… isn't easy. Wufei and the others each had something to turn to, something to help with the transition. But I had nowhere to go. I've spent my life training for war: learning computer codes, fighting techniques, battle strategies…" Heero shook his head. "I do not belong in such a peaceful world."
"So you left… to find a place to belong?"
Heero nodded slightly, a wan smile briefly touching his features. "It may sound strange… I was not sure if this peace would last. I wanted to see for myself that another Mariemaia would not appear. But the people really have changed. No one wants war anymore. And it took me a while to accept that as fact." Looking up, he met Sally's warm blue eyes.
"That's understandable, Heero. Even I had trouble believing peace was here to stay." They sat in silence for a moment longer, each feeling lighter somehow, now that they had shared some of their inner turmoils with one another. Letting out a sigh, Sally finally broke the stillness. "Well, Heero, would you like some dessert?"
Returning her smile, he nodded his answer. "Sounds great."
"Good." Standing up, Sally took the empty plates from the table over to the sink. Heero stood as well, bringing their nearly empty glasses to her. "I made a pie last night. I was going to share it with Wufei… but he would just find something to criticize me about. Especially since it's apple, and he's a cherry person…" Sally glanced up at Heero, who had a very tolerant look on his face. "Oh my god! I'm doing it again! Heero, why didn't you say something?!" Heero shrugged, doing his best to look innocent. Sally smiled at the attempt. Something the perfect soldier needs to work on, she mused. "Alright, out. Go sit on the couch, and I'll bring it to you." Hiding his amusement, Heero complied, turning to stroll into the living room.
A moment later, Sally appeared, holding two small plates with ample helpings of dessert. "I hope this turned out okay. It's been a while since I made a pie from scratch…" Sally stopped as she regarded Heero, who was staring at the same picture she'd found him looking at earlier. "Heero? Is something wrong?"
Turning his dark eyes to her, Sally gasped at the emotion that churned in their depths. Like a storm at sea, she thought inwardly. "No, nothing's wrong…" Heero dropped his gaze to floor. Sally had the feeling he was deciding something. "Let's sit down," he said finally, nodding toward the couch.
Taking a seat on her tan sofa, Sally eyed Heero as he sat down at the opposite end, handing a dish to him when he reached for it. Knowing that Heero would continue when he was ready, she silently waited, taking a bite of her apple pie.
"I wasn't… completely honest with you before, Sally."
Sally's brow furrowed as she thought back to their conversation. "What do you mean, Heero?"
"About why I stayed away for so long. Adjusting to peace wasn't the only reason."
Suddenly, she knew what he was trying to say. "It's Relena, isn't it?"
Heero looked up, surprise showing vaguely in his blue eyes. "You're very perceptive, Sally." A smile tugged briefly at the corners of his mouth before his thoughts again turned inward. "I stayed away at first because everything seemed to be in chaos after the war, and I was part of that chaos. I wasn't yet ready to be a part of the world Relena was helping to rebuild. But later, I realized I was just using that as an excuse, an excuse not to deal with my own feelings. I had always believed that one should act on their emotions, but my emotions were so confusing… I didn't know what I wanted. And that's when I decided it was time to stop running from myself and try to live a normal life."
"So that's why you came back…"
"I came back because I had to decide if I wanted Relena as a part of that life."
Sally stared at Heero, meeting his steely gaze. "So what have you decided?"
Heero lowered his eyes to the dish in his hands. "We have both changed much over the last four years." Heero paused for a moment, his eyes focusing on nothing as his mind turned over events of the past. Finally, sighing, he shook his head. "I'm just… not part of her world."
"But what does your heart say?"
Meeting her gaze, Heero's features were stern. "It tells me that I am not the man she seeks."
Slightly taken aback by his reply, Sally would have questioned him about it, but her thoughts were thrown off track by Heero, who had just taken his first mouthful of pie. "Mmm. Delicious," he said, his words slightly distorted as he chewed.
Forgetting what she was about to say, Sally's eyes brightened. "Really? It's okay?"
Glancing up at her as he scooped another forkful, Heero grinned at her. "See for yourself." Blushing slightly, Sally looked down at her own plate, soon joining Heero in eating the dessert.
Several minutes later, after they had each enjoyed a second piece of pie, they sat in contented silence together on the couch. Sally let out a sigh, feeling she had eaten too much. But she had to admit, her pie was good. "This has been a nice evening, Heero," Sally said, breaking the stillness around them. "We'll have to do this again soon."
Heero nodded. Looking at a clock on Sally's wall, he realized the time had gone by much quicker that he had thought. "Sally?"
Funny, she thought, his voice doesn't have that mechanical edge like it did earlier… "Hmm?"
"I should be going. There's some work I wanted to finish tonight…"
"Oh, that's right. You're still working on a new security system for Preventers Headquarters, huh?" Heero nodded. Looking at her clock, Sally was surprised to see it was almost a quarter to nine. "Oh, it has gotten late. I guess time flies when you're having fun." Standing up, Sally stretched a little before turning to retrieve their dishes. Standing to meet her, Heero followed her into the kitchen. "Thanks for coming over, Heero. I really enjoyed talking with you."
Heero gave her a small smile. "Thanks, Sally. I enjoyed it too."
* * * * *
Moving down the hall, Wufei hardly felt the plush red carpeting he walked upon as he neared his apartment. For some reason, he felt incredibly light-hearted, and he was unable to figure out why he couldn't erase the smile from his lips. He had left Relena's in a very similar state a few moments ago. Perhaps it was the pillow fight, he mused. Whatever it was, he decided not to question it, preferring to just enjoy its effects.
Ahead of him, he heard a door opening. Wondering if he might finally catch sight of one of his neighbors, he looked up. To his dismay, it was none other than Sally Po. Probably about to knock on my door, he mused. Fixing a stern look on his face that he hoped would deter her from asking to come in, he was very surprised when, a moment later, another figure came out of Sally's apartment. Yuy!
Wufei stopped in his tracks, his mind momentarily confused by what he was seeing. However, his confusion quickly gave way to anger as his mind swirled over the night's events. Lowering his head, a deep scowl took over his features, erasing all traces of the smile he previously wore as he resumed walking toward the pair.
* * *
Sally smiled as Heero followed her out of her apartment, then turned to lock her door. Pulling her key out of the lock, she began to walk toward the elevator, but looking up, she was stopped in her tracks. "Wufei." The name was startled from her lips before her mind could react otherwise.
In response, the Chinese man looked up at the pair, not stopping as he nodded a greeting. "Good evening, Sally, Heero," he said curtly, brushing past them. A moment later, he disappeared into his apartment.
Sally stared after him for a moment, her mind a little numb. Wufei didn't seem at all pleased that she was with Heero. Was he jealous? Or was that just the usual Wufei? She couldn't tell. She hoped it was the latter. Otherwise, things might be a little strained between them once their vacation was over, especially since Heero was now working for the Preventers as well.
"Not the warmest of welcomes," Heero commented, snapping Sally's mind back into focus.
Smiling slightly, she tried to hide her worry as she continued down the hall. "Yeah, that's Wufei for you. Like I said, he's very obstinate. It'll probably take him a while to get used to working with you."
"You speak from experience?"
Sally nodded. "Yeah, I guess I do." The two waited in silence for the elevator, riding down to the lobby in the same stillness. Heero could tell that Sally was still thinking about Wufei's reaction; he wished he could say something to comfort her.
Going out by the back of the building, the two made their way across the parking lot to Sally's faded blue car. Sally fished out her keys as she got in, but before she could start the ignition, Heero stopped her. "Sally…"
Leaning back, Sally looked at him. "Yeah?"
"Don't worry about Wufei; he probably didn't know how else to react when he saw me. I know you think he was upset over something, but whatever it was can be resolved in the morning."
Sally nodded. "I guess you're right, Heero. I'm probably overreacting." Sighing, Sally started the car. "Still, I wish he didn't have to be so arrogant."
Twenty-five minutes later, Sally pulled up outside of Heero's house. Unbuckling his seat belt, Heero reached for the door handle, but paused before opening it. "Something wrong, Heero?" Sally asked, hoping he didn't forget anything at her place.
"No… but I was wondering…" Sally looked at him, waiting for him to continue. "Would you mind taking me back to the repair shop tomorrow afternoon? It should be ready this time."
Sally smiled. "I'd be glad to, Heero. What time?"
"I'll have to call him to make sure. I don't want you to go all that way for nothing again."
"That's fine, Heero. I'll see you tomorrow, then." Heero nodded a farewell, then got out of the car. Sally followed him with her eyes as he walked around the car to his front door, waiting until he disappeared inside to throw the car in reverse and head home. What a strange night, she mused. I wonder what made Wufei so upset. It couldn't have been Relena…
* * *
Wufei looked down on Walnut Avenue with a look of disgust, his features reflecting the thoughts that that swirling in his head. Thinking over the day's events, he didn't know what to make of it. First, Relena had shown up out of the blue with her welcoming gifts, and then Yuy was having dinner at Sally's. It wasn't making sense. He thought for sure Relena and Heero were together, but after tonight, he didn't know what to believe.
Why *should* I have thought they were together? he asked himself. They've never behaved as a couple… Wufei shifted his gaze up to Relena's window. Sighing, he couldn't help but recall all that had happened. "Why did you come here, Relena, and spend the day with me instead of Heero?" The empty air around him gave no answer, so he had no choice but to listen to those his own mind came up with. There were several possibilities. Perhaps it really was just to welcome him as a new neighbor and friend. Or perhaps she and Heero had had some kind of fight, and spending the day with him was a way to ease the tension for her.
And then there was the chance that it was something a little more twisted, a prospect that he hated to acknowledge. It was possible that Relena had stayed with him as a distraction of sorts--or maybe it was a dare. It was a very slim chance, but it presented itself nonetheless, and the idea made Wufei sick. Yet still, he couldn't help but feel this was all someone's elaborate idea of a joke, and that someone, somewhere, was laughing at him.
Looking down to the street below, Wufei prayed that wasn't the case. He realized he genuinely liked Relena--she had an odd way of growing on him, and he felt that they could become good friends. Now that he had gotten to see past her political demeanor, he wanted to see more. He just hoped that once the veil was dropped, he wouldn't regret it.
Wufei was startled out of his thinking by the sound of a soft tap against his window. It was soon followed by another soft tap, and then another. It had begun to rain. Looking again toward Relena's apartment, he watched as it began to rain harder. He stood there for several minutes, until the rain beating against his window obscured his view entirely, then shuffled toward his bedroom for some much needed sleep.