Part Eleven
An Afternoon in the Park
Once again, my apologies for making everyone wait so long... ^_^()
Thank you very much for all the e-mails and such.
They really do mean a lot.
Lemme know what you think of the new chapter!
All the usual disclaimers apply.
Heero left Relena's apartment with his own share of thoughts and questions, each swirling through his mind in turn. He hadn't intended on asking her that question -- at least not quite so bluntly -- but in many ways, he was glad he did. Her answer didn't really surprise him, but he was impressed that she showed enough strength to come to the realization of her own accord.
Now it was time to analyze his own mind. Sally had weighed heavily in his thoughts all day -- even now, he was practically running across the street to find her. But what would he do once he got there? He would have to leave that up to chance.
Heero forced himself to relax. He crossed the lobby at his usual measured pace, waited patiently for one of the elevators to descend, and got on, pushing the round button marked with an "8." He rode the car alone to the eighth floor, which was fine by him; either way, he would have stood in the same spot: leaning against the railings in the right corner. In a few moments he was in her hallway, striding toward her heavy oak door. He paused outside for a moment, listening. There were sounds of movement coming from inside; she was home. The flickerings of a smile surfaced upon his otherwise clear features, momentarily giving him a boyish naïveté that could have melted any unsuspecting girl's heart.
Feeling something akin to nervousness, Heero raised his hand to knock.
* * *
Wufei was the closest to the door when the knock came, and since Sally was busy grating cheese, he was the one to answer it. This was not the first time today he had opened the door to find Yuy standing there, waiting for Sally.
Wufei gave him a smile, but it had little humor in it. "Taking your own advice, Yuy?"
Heero regarded the Chinese man with all the warmth of a cadaver. "Of course. I'm not a hypocrite, Wufei."
They might have continued staring at each other, or perhaps they might have argued again if it weren't for Sally calling Wufei on his rudeness. "Well aren't you going to let him in?"
Wufei scowled at her, stepping back to let the taller man enter.
Sally shot him a reproving look before turning to smile at Heero. "I'm glad you came over, Heero. I was hoping you'd join me for lunch."
Heero nodded, looking at Wufei, who was leaning against the kitchen's doorway, arms crossed over his chest.
Sally knew what Heero was thinking, but she wasn't going to tell her partner to leave when she knew he wouldn't stay anyway; she might as well be polite. "Wufei, would you like to join us?"
"Hn. No thank you," he said, turning to leave.
Heero had already put him out of mind when Wufei spoke again, the hesitancy in his voice drawing his immediate attention.
"Uh, Heero…"
Heero turned, his gaze intent. "Yes?"
"Is your bike outside?"
Heero considered before nodding. "Why?"
"I'd like to borrow it."
"For how long?"
"The night, if possible."
Heero frowned; it was barely noon. "Going somewhere?"
Wufei exhaled, his gaze traveling to a basket of fruit on the table. "There are some places I want to go that my Jeep can't handle."
"Sightseeing then?"
Wufei's eyes met Heero's, the guarded depths revealing nothing. "Well?"
"I could take you home later, Heero," Sally chimed.
Heero debated silently, finally nodding his consent. "Alright. Let's go downstairs; I'll show you the controls."
The elevator ride was tense. Sally had opted to stay in her apartment in order to finish up her meal, and the sparks that had been kindling between Heero and Wufei throughout the day were trying their best to ignite a fire.
Neither spoke on the way down; Heero leaned against the corner while Wufei stood, arms crossed, looking at the floor. When the doors opened to reveal the lobby, noticeably cooler air rushed in to greet them. They gladly escaped the confines of the elevator, welcoming the fresh air once outside.
Heero's motorcycle was parked by the curb, just as it had been the night before, the unmistakable pair of painted wings heralding its owner. Taking a closer look, Wufei noticed a few buttons mounted between the handlebars, as well as a switch located next to the right-hand grip.
"You won't need to touch any of these," Heero stated.
"Why? You think I can't handle it?"
"No. They're obsolete, really."
Wufei looked skeptical. "So what do they do?"
Heero said nothing. His eyes said it was none of his business.
"At least tell me what that switch does. I might accidentally hit it."
Heero regarded the switch as if mulling over the possibilities of that happening. "It's a booster," he said finally.
"A booster?"
"It triggers a burst of speed lasting approximately 4.3 seconds so that you can evade pursuit or capture if necessary."
Wufei's eyes were wide. "You think you're James Bond or something?"
Heero ignored him, showing him the rear compartment as he continued to explain the rest of the controls. "The steering pulls to the right, but not by much. Just keep that in mind if you go for a sharp turn. She's got good traction off road, but if you get mud in the gears, she'll overheat."
"Hn. Anything else?"
Heero gave him a hard look. "Clean her up when you're done. And Wufei--" Heero's voice was deadly serious: "If you scratch her, I'll kill you." Heero dangled his keys, then dropped them into Wufei's awaiting hand.
Wufei smiled at the comment. Some things just never changed.
Within moments, Wufei took off, leaving Heero to finally go where his heart had summoned him during those bleak rainy hours of the morning.
* * *
Relena had freshly dressed herself in pale slacks and a comfortable shirt, her hair newly combed and styled. She had abandoned her usual ponytail, instead pulling it back at the crown to let the honey colored locks fall freely down her back. She grabbed her square canvas bag, filling it with a bottle of water, a sandwich, a Walkman, and a book she had picked up Friday evening at a used book store. It had been ages since she had read for pleasure; she thought she should take Heero's advice and make the most of her vacation while she still had a few days to herself.
Leaving her apartment, she turned left, knocking on the door to the apartment next to hers. The portal was opened immediately by a tall man of average build finishing off the last of a turkey club sandwich, a few crumbs falling to his dark tie. Behind him, she saw the apartment was cluttered with the usual debris, the other two members of her observation team settled among computers, tangled wires and piles of paper to eat yet another take-out lunch.
"Steve, I'm going out for a while. Just to the park a few blocks down."
"I'll get my jacket."
"No, I'd… rather you not come. I need some time alone."
"Miss Relena, I understand. But you know the rules."
Relena sighed. "Yes, I do. I just…" Her eyes grew distant, worrying the man who had been on her personal protection team for nearly three years.
"Tell ya what. I'll pretend like I don't even know you. You'll never see me, I swear."
She couldn't help but smile. "Alright, Steve, it's a deal. But…"
He waited, pulling his jacket from the hook inside the door.
"Could you give me a head start?"
"I'll lose you. Someone might grab you, or--"
"In broad daylight on a crowded street?"
He gave her a doubtful look.
"I'll walk slow. I probably won't make it half a block before you catch up to me."
His look was stern, yet his eyes were genteel. He must have used this look many times on his two children. "Alright. Go on ahead, but be careful. Have you got your watch?"
Relena held up her left wrist, giving the gold chain a shake.
"Good. I'll wait 'till the elevator comes up again. The way that thing moves, you should be halfway to Pluto by then."
Relena smiled. "Thanks, Steve. I owe you one."
* * *
Heero nudged the door open slowly, so that it didn't make a sound as he entered. He wasn't sneaking in, exactly. Sally had left the door open slightly, expecting his swift return. He could hear her humming in the kitchen, setting dishes aside for their lunch.
The idea that she had cooked a meal for him -- without knowing that he would show up -- gave him a strange sense of warmth that he could only describe as… belonging. He had once held a similar notion during the war with Wing Zero; every time he got inside that cockpit, it was like coming home. But coupled with that feeling had been a strong sense of duty, among other things, and the constant dealings with death made it impossible to really feel anything. But this… This, he suspected, was what people meant when the spoke about normalcy.
And he was wondering if this, too, was what it felt like to fall in love.
It had taken an extreme effort to focus on Wufei when Sally's every movement had clawed at his senses, begging him to look at her, touch her skin, smell her hair. It seemed to take hours to explain to Wufei the workings of his bike, but now that he was here, it felt like he had never left.
He closed the door gently behind him, quietly coming to stand at the kitchen doorway. And at the sight of her, he knew.
Sally noticed him almost instantly, her pale blue eyes turning to welcome him. She would have welcomed him with words, but she couldn't quite get them out. There was a strange expression on his features, and the way he was looking at her -- so intently, as though to memorize every detail about her -- started a flutter in her belly that soon spread to the whole of her body.
"What is it, Heero?" she managed at last. "Is anything wrong?"
Heero shook his head, his expression sobering a little, though there was still something there in his eyes that Sally could only guess at. He came to stand beside her, looking over the meal she had prepared. He noticed that she smelled faintly of chocolate, but underneath that was a closer, lighter scent that he remembered smelling before, during their hug by the river. It reminded him of the wind on a hilltop -- fresh and clean and pure.
Sally resisted the urge to step away. Heero's nearness was like a feather teasing at her skin. She forced herself to ignore it, a nervous smile spreading her lips as she gestured toward the plate of brownies. "Well, how do they look?"
It took a moment for Heero's gaze to follow her lead. "They look good." Reaching forward, he took one, biting into it without hesitation. He nodded his approval almost instantly. "You see? You're a better cook than you think."
"Well, I can't take all the credit. They actually came out kinda dry, so Wufei gave me the recipe for the frosting."
Heero paused as he was about to take the next bite. Without a word, he flipped the brownie, biting off all but the frosting. After a moment of chewing, he told her, "Tastes fine to me." Sally gaped, not quite believing what he had just done. "Now wait just a minute. I had to put up with Wufei for half an hour to get that recipe. You could at least make it worthwhile." Heero shrugged, then popped the rest into his mouth.
Sally shook her head, unable to keep from smiling. This man was surprising her at every turn, yet how could she expect him to be any different? "Let's eat."
* * *
Relena stepped outside, shielding her eyes as the sun chose that moment to make its first appearance of the day. Digging into her canvas bag, she pulled out her sunglasses. Her gaze traveled across the street as she donned them, and she noticed the freshly empty space outside the doors of 525. Heero's motorcycle was gone. Had he just made the short visit for her, then? Or had he taken Sally with him?
Relena made a conscious effort, blocking out the questions that bubbled up, nagging at her already frazzled mind. She made a deliberate turn away from the adjacent building and began walking in the direction of the park. It was only three blocks away, and she didn't want Steve catching up to her before she left.
It was turning into a gorgeous day. The breeze was cool with the scent of rain, but the sun felt warm on her skin. She relaxed, breathing deeper as she allowed herself a smile. The streets were already getting crowded, with plenty of pedestrians as well. She wondered how there could be so many people out and about on a normal workday. Was this what people did on those long, late lunches she had heard about? Normally, she'd be taking lunch in her office about now, mulling over a proposal or perhaps some minor dispute as she ate her salad, drafting letters or speeches as she chewed her sandwich. For once, she was thinking she should get out more.
The park was filled with children, screaming and laughing the way that only carefree children can. This end of the park had been made into a giant playground, and little bodies were swarming over the monkey bars, swings, slide, and merry-go-round. Relena smiled as she walked the path around the playground, laughing a little as she watched a trio chasing each other, playing tag.
She managed to find a bench in the shade of several oak and pine trees not far from the children, and decided to take a seat. She sat still for a few moments, pulling off her sunglasses to look around her. There were a few couples sitting on blankets on the grass, and a few more walking the paths that snaked their way through the park. She turned her eyes from those, focusing instead on a man playing Frisbee with his dog. There were a few other loners besides herself, doing much the same as she was; but, she realized, she didn't see any sign of Steve. That was one man who was always true to his word.
With the birds singing and the sounds of children playing, she decided she didn't need her walkman. So, she pulled out her book -- a mystery by some author an acquaintance had recommended -- and began reading.
* * *
Wufei smiled, liking the feel of being on a motorcycle once again. Leaning forward slightly, he revved the engine, speeding up as he wove his way through traffic. He dared any watching policeman to try to pull him over.
He was just passing the city park when the sun made a bold appearance, momentarily washing everything in gold-white light. He instantly felt the warmth on his bare skin, feeling a new energy wash over him as he thought about the day ahead. The decision to ask Heero for his bike had been spontaneous; he didn't really expect Heero to agree so easily. It was almost as though he did so only to be rid of him. Nonetheless, he was happy with the end result, and he didn't have to reveal the true reason why he wanted it. If Heero knew, he might not have relented.
Having gone a few intersections down, Wufei turned left. This was, afterall, only a minor test spin. Now he would work his way back to Walnut Avenue, and back to Relena. He meant to see that she had her ride the way that baka Heero never did, if only so she could say she did it once. He imagined he would only take her for a short trip around the city, and perhaps explore some of the outlaying areas as well. After that, he meant to ride into the hills south of the river. He thought doing a few of his katas outside away from prying eyes would do him a world of good. And perhaps (the thought came unbidden, but he couldn't deny its appeal) he could bring her along and teach her a few of the moves. From what he had gleaned of her habits in the last few days, she needed a way to unwind.
It wasn't long before he was back on Walnut Avenue. He made a U-turn at a break in traffic, parking on Relena's side of the street this time. He looked up at the building, the sunlight a sharp glare among the windows. He realized he had no idea whether or not she was home; either way, he felt as though the distant hills were calling to him.
Once again, the elevator was excruciatingly slow. He didn't understand why they let her live in a place with such an out of date piece of junk. Wasn't that considered a security risk? Stepping off the elevator, Wufei decided that seven flights of stairs really wasn't so bad. If he could avoid it, he would never take the elevator again.
Anxious now to be on the motorcycle once again, he didn't hesitate to knock on Relena's door. But to his surprise, it was not her door that opened, but the one next door. Stepping back, Wufei regarded the stout man who poked his balding head into the hallway. Wufei felt he recognized him somehow, though he couldn't immediately place his face in his memory.
"She's gone out, Mr. Chang. Took a walk to the park."
Wufei blinked his surprise, then remembered Relena's comments about her own private task force being holed up in the room next door. Wufei's memory sparked just then. He remembered seeing this man wandering around Preventers offices on several occasions. "You're Morgan, right?"
The man smiled. "Yes, sir, Roger Morgan. Glad you remember me."
"So you're on her personal protection team, then?"
"That's right."
"Well, if she's gone to the park, then why--"
"Aw, she said she wanted time to herself, you know. But don't worry, Steve went along with her, anyway."
"Steve Stan?"
"Uh-huh. And we got her wired pretty good just in case."
Wufei was thoughtful. He had personally worked with Steve on many prior occasions, as he was one of the first to join their organization, and found him to be one of the best intelligence agents in Preventers. He had missed working with him since he moved to security, but he was glad to hear he was assigned to Relena.
"Wanna come in and check it out?" Morgan offered, unsure of how to respond to Wufei's silence. Wufei nodded, leaving his memory, and followed the shorter man inside.
* * *
Relena hadn't even finished her first chapter when she felt a shadow looming over her. Looking up, she saw a dirty and disheveled man peering down toward the ground, his hand held out in a plaintive gesture. "Could you spare a bit of change for a fellow down on his luck?"
She could smell his odor of mold and dirty, stagnant water from clothes that had obviously spent too many nights out on the street; she could see the streaks of grime that layered his features, thicker around the wrinkles at his eyes and the deep lines set around his mouth. Nonetheless, she gave him her gentlest smile and reached into her bag. "Well, I'm not sure what a bit of change might get you, but I'm sure I can give you something else that will be worth your time." Relena fished for one of the cards she always carried for encounters such as these. On these plain white business cards was an address to a very reputable outreach station that was well known for being an accomplished half-way house and homeless shelter. Locating the card she sought, still smiling, she reached up to give the man the address and whatever help she could offer him. Yet her smile disappeared as soon as her eyes met his.
He was no longer looking at the ground. Rather, his eyes were fixed, not truly at her, but simply staring, empty, as though he were looking through to another world.
"You," he hissed, startling her. "How dare you… To your own father!" The man, his face red with his anger, spittle foaming at the corners of his mouth, grabbed her by the shirt, pulling her closer to his foul, rotting breath. "I'll show you," he breathed. Relena thought she saw tears huddling in the dirt caked corners of his eyes. "I'll show you!" Pulling back, he raised his other hand, balled into a fist, high over his head. With a shock, Relena realized he intended to strike her.
Time seemed to freeze for the next few moments. Relena, staring at the rage that confronted her point blank, pried at the hand holding her, closing her eyes when she could do nothing to free herself. Therefore, she felt more than saw someone rushing her from behind, leaping over the park bench where she had been sitting. As if by magic, the hand holding her shirt loosened it's grip, and she fell on weak legs to the ground. An instant later, the man fell as well, his nose now bloody, his gaze stunned and empty as he lay next to her, unconscious.
Relena felt another shadow looming over her. Then the shadow was there by her side, and she heard Steve's voice speaking to her in urgent tones. "Miss Relena, Miss Relena, are you alright?"
Relena turned her gaze upward and saw Steve Stan's clean-cut profile silhouetted against the sunlight. As he reached down to her to help her up, she felt time resuming its normal pace. As if in response, he heart pounded in double time. "Yes, Steve, I'm fine," she said, though she did feel a bit winded.
"What happened there?" he asked, tenderly helping her to her feet.
"I'm not sure, he just… I don't think he really saw me. He called himself my father."
Looking around, Relena was not pleased by the crowd that had formed. She noticed a few of them murmuring to each other, and knew at least half of them probably realized who she was. She didn't want to think about what would be on the 6 o'clock news, or the headlines in the tabloids, let alone what her PR department would have to go through to explain all of this, though she prayed that by some miracle that it wouldn't be too bad. Stepping away from Steve's helping hands, she brushed herself off, ignoring the sore spots where she had hit the ground.
A policeman was rushing over to them, already speaking into the radio clipped to a band at his shoulder. Undoubtedly, a squad car would be ordered, and she would have to explain the situation at the police station. Without missing a beat, Steve whipped out his phone, punching the button that would dial his two partners back in their surveillance room. Relena sighed, sitting back on the bench to gather her things. So much for a casual afternoon at the park.