Part Seventeen
Open Hearts, Closed Minds
And the story continues.
I am very happy to have this chapter finished. There's a scene between Sally and Wufei that I had been looking forward to writing for a very long time.
I hope it turned out okay.
Lots of conversations in this chapter! Lady Une stops in to say hello... And for anyone wondering:
crullers are long sticks of bread (kinda like french bread) and congee is like turkey stew. It's a traditional Chinese breakfast...
Anyway, hope you enjoy the chapter, and look forward to the next one!
All the usual disclaimers apply.
Wufei woke up early. The morning light was still somber and grey when he opened his eyes to stare at the ceiling. He had managed to sleep well enough, despite his plaguing thoughts about Relena. Her smile had even haunted his dreams.
Not bothering with a light as he stepped out of bed, he made his way toward the bathroom. He stopped at the sink, hunching over to stare at the mirror. Seeing his reflection, he knew his thoughts were finally clear. Today was the day for things to change. He was going to tell her, consequences be damned.
Getting dressed for some quick exercises in the park, he could think of nothing but Relena. He didn't know quite what to say to her, not exactly – and there was no telling what her reaction might be. He had not been around her long enough to know how she dealt with people. As nice as she had been to him over the last few days, a part of him still wondered if that was just her status quo. She was nice to everyone, why should he be an exception? Yet he had to tell her, if only for peace of mind. Being so close to her while she remained oblivious to the feelings she stirred in him would be unbearable.
Heading for the door, he noted he still had the keys to Heero's bike. It was still too early to wake Sally; he would take care of that as soon as he returned from the park. Then, it would be off to Relena's.
Sally opened her eyes and smiled, drifting back into a half sleep as she stretched a little, squeezing the warm body lying next to her. Heero complied to Sally's movements, folding an arm around her as her head came to rest against his shoulder. He had been awake for some time, content to merely watch her in her sleep; but now the sun was well above the horizon, and his stomach was reminding him of the promise she'd made. He was debating whether or not he should wake her when a very audible growl escaped his belly.
Sally peered up at him, her bleary eyes doing their best to focus in the morning light. "Hungry?" she asked, her voice thick with sleep.
Heero smiled, embarrassed. "Just didn't want you to forget."
Sally chuckled, snuggling against his chest once more. "Alright, I'll get up in a minute."
Heero was about to protest, but before he could do so, there was a knock at the door.
Sally moaned. "Go away," she huffed.
"Want me to get it?"
"No no, I'll get up…"
Neither moved as Sally continued to lay there, content in the stillness. It was only a moment before that stillness was broken, however, when their visitor began to pound.
With a grunt, Sally threw back the covers and stomped toward the door, leaving Heero to stare after her. He absently wondered if he could get away with lying there until breakfast was ready.
It was hard for Sally to keep her eyes open as she made her way to the door. She had been sleeping so soundly, she felt she could spend the rest of her vacation in bed. Opening the door even as another series of knocks began, she wondered what it was that could be so important.
"Come on, woman! You've been on vacation less than a week, and you're already a mess!"
The sound of his voice immediately opened her bleary eyes, a cold knot of dread forming in the pit of her stomach. "Wufei."
"What happened to getting up before dawn, morning jogs in the park, that sort of thing? It's after 8. You keep this up, I'll have to drag you to work on Monday."
"Wufei, why are you—"
"Here," he said, thrusting his fist at her, from which dangled a small set of keys. "You'll get these to Yuy, right?"
Momentarily dumbfounded, Sally nodded meekly, slowly holding out a hand to take the keys from him. "Right," she said finally, anxious to get rid of him.
Wufei shook his head. "You disappoint me, Sally. Even your apartment's messy. You've got things thrown all over—"
"It's nothing," she blurted, moving to block the door as Wufei began to step forward, but it was already too late. She could tell by the expression on his face that his eyes had caught something. Turning to glance back, she saw what it was: Heero's jacket, sprawled over the couch. Wufei had seen it enough times to recognize it instantly – afterall, Heero was rarely seen without it. So how was she to explain why it was now in her possession?
"I see." Wufei's voice was whisper quiet, yet it gave Sally chills with its intensity. "You move quick, don't you think? Wasn't it just yesterday you had your first date?"
Every word was clipped short, his Mandarin accent jutting in. It was a sign of just how upset he was. Sally didn't want to fight with him, but it was difficult to keep her own anger in check in the face of his implications.
"Wufei, calm down. It's not at all what you—"
"What I think? That my partner went behind my back and slept with—"
"Keep your voice down!" Sally commanded, her face red with anger. "I did not go behind your back and I did not sleep with anyone!"
Wufei's glare was deadly. "He's here, isn't he?"
"Whether he's here or not, I don't think this is any business of yours."
"Business? I'm your partner! So is he! That's exactly the problem!"
"Wufei, the only problem is that you're too selfish or too arrogant to let me handle my own life!"
"We work together, Sally. My life depends on you. I can't have a partner who isn't reliable—"
"This has nothing to do with you!"
"It does if I can't trust you to be professional!"
Sally had had enough. "Get out."
"You're being irresponsible!"
"Irresponsible! Wufei, you can't make my decisions for me!" Sally's anger was swelling. "Stop treating me like a child!"
"Then start acting like an adult!"
"And be an emotional ice cube? Is that your definition? No thank you!" It was years of pent up rage and frustration that made her speak her next words: "I think you're just upset because I never slept with you!"
Wufei was silent. His eyes shifted past her for a moment before meeting hers with a hard look. Then, without a word, he turned and left, slamming the door behind him.
Sally stared at the door in disbelief. Had that really happened? Had she really said that? She became aware of a presence standing next to her, and immediately sank into an open embrace. Heero held her close, calming her as he thought over what he had just heard. "You're probably right, you know," he said finally, once Sally had stopped trembling.
"About what?" she murmured against his chest.
"About him… wanting you."
Sally pulled back, looking up at Heero with confusion.
"I don't think he would ever admit it," he began, "but I think Wufei's been holding back all these years, denying that he's had feelings for you."
Sally stared at him, incredulous. "No way."
"From what he said just now," he continued, ignoring her disbelief, "I'd say he was probably afraid of what a relationship would do to your friendship, as well as your partnership. But in the end, it was his own cowardice that kept him from saying anything. He just covered that up with logic."
Sally was still staring. "You really think so?"
Heero looked down at her, nodding. "I bet that's why he was so hurt. It was the reality of seeing you with another – the realization that he will never have you."
Sally sighed, her head sinking back to Heero's chest. "That just doesn't make any sense."
"Trust me. Once he gets over the fact that he can't control everything, he'll be okay. In the meantime…" As if on cue, Heero's stomach gave another loud groan.
Sally smiled. "How 'bout some breakfast?"
Wufei could not believe the gall of that woman. How could she? She barely knew Yuy, had hardly spoken with him in the little time he had been around, and yet…
His anger was threatening to boil over. He had to get out of there, out of his apartment, out of his building. Before he knew it, he was in his Jeep, tires squealing as he peeled out of the parking lot. He didn't know where he was going; he just needed to drive.
The soft morning light had intensified to a glare when Wufei first caught the scent of something tantalizingly familiar wafting on the breeze. Two blocks later, he found the source.
Amidst an influx of traffic and pedestrians, the street was choked with venders tending booths filled with steaming pots, rainbows of fruits and vegetables, meats, beverages, and merchandise. He smiled as he listened to buyers and sellers haggling over prices in a language he heard spoken less and less beneath signs brightly colored with thick strokes of kanji. It was Chinatown, and it was just what he needed to relax.
On the next street, he spotted a tea house boasting tall windows and food smells that made his mouth water. Feeling his stomach giving an anticipatory murmur, he opted to try it out.
It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the dim interior. There weren't many people around, and it seemed very quiet: it was perfect. Taking a seat at a table by the windows, Wufei looked around as he waited. He caught a smile from the elderly woman behind the counter as she looked him over. Casting his glance out the window at the shops across the street, Wufei paid the woman no mind. Thus, he was startled by the much younger sounding feminine voice that greeted him to take his order.
"May I get you a drink? We have many kinds of tea."
Wufei looked up into dark eyes that mirrored his own, set beautifully upon a face of porcelain, sparkling over the pink curves of a smiling mouth. Her Mandarin was perfect – polite and formal. Her dark hair was tied simply at her nape, leaving the silken rope to hang well past her waist. It was apparent from the readiness of her smile and the interest in her gaze that she was being more than just an attentive waitress.
"Green tea," Wufei replied simply, his eyes returning to the view.
"Would you like some breakfast?" the girl continued, unfazed by his apparent lack of interest. "We have fresh crullers and congee, if you would like."
Wufei nodded, his gaze still directed out the window. "Sounds good."
The girl bowed politely before leaving Wufei alone with his thoughts.
While the more dangerous elements of Wufei's rage had subsided, he was still left with the feelings of a fundamental disquiet, like a pebble in his shoe on a long journey. He couldn't deny that Sally's words had hurt him, surely as a blow delivered by a strong enemy. Yet the worst of it was, a small part of him acknowledged her words to be true.
His solitude was interrupted again as the waitress returned, binging him his tea and breakfast. "Is there anything else I can get for you?" she asked, peering at him through her thick veil of lashes.
"I'm fine."
Again, she bowed and let him be. He watched as she walked away, his eyes captivated by the swing of her long ponytail. It should be honey blonde, he mused.
Shaking his head, he took a sip of tea. He remembered back to the days when he had first joined Preventers, when the world was filled with the chaos of confused soldiers and aristocrats who refused to change. Sally had been much wilder then, her every effort aimed toward cementing the fragile peace that had begun to settle like newly fallen snow. In those days, he had loved her. It had been just as Heero had surmised only yesterday – he had dreamt of nothing but being with Sally, making her his wife, raising their children. There was a time when he felt nothing could make him happier than to see that dream come true.
So why hadn't he acted on it?
He tore into his crullers, trying to remember what it was that had stopped him. He supposed it was the very thing he had lectured her about that morning – he didn't want to ruin their working relationship. And at the time, he hadn't thought she'd felt anything in return. He had agonized over the idea of him telling her his feelings for her, the image of her laughing in his face filling him with dread. He wouldn't have been able to stand it if she'd rejected him, and he was too fond of their friendship to risk it.
In other words, he was a coward.
He realized his feelings for Sally had never really faded. He had forced them to disappear. By the time she had made her feelings known to him, he had already convinced himself that it was all just a matter of circumstance – men and women who worked closely had a natural tendency toward attraction, but it didn't really mean anything. It had no basis. Outside of work, their relationship would fizzle, the attraction would be gone. He felt sure it would only be a matter of time before she realized this as well.
Except she hadn't. And now she was moving on to someone else, and he felt like crap.
Wufei sighed, dipping into his congee. He thought back to all those times he had almost given in to her persistence, but held himself back, convinced that it would never work. He'd never thought about how much she must have suffered because of his cowardice. He hadn't been fair at all.
He swallowed, the smell of his breakfast suddenly making him ill. He understood he had wasted his chance with Sally. Fine. He could live with that. Afterall, she deserved to be happy. Maybe with Heero…
The waitress visited again, bringing him more tea. Wufei hardly noticed as she switched his empty cup for the full one, eyes intent on his congee. "Is anything wrong?" she asked, her light tones of Mandarin almost musical. "You seem very upset about something."
Looking up into her concerned eyes, he was suddenly struck by just how much he missed Relena. The image of a rain-soaked Heero appeared in his mind's eye, the words he had spoken that day echoing in his head: What are you going to do the next time a woman like Sally comes along?
He suddenly had a very pressing sense that there was somewhere else he needed to be. "It's nothing," he said, foregoing his native tongue as an uncharacteristic smile graced his lips. "I was just thinking about someone."
Relena sat with her legs stretched out on the couch, thumbing through the morning paper. She was having trouble concentrating, however; her attention kept wandering toward her window, then her clock – and every time she heard the slightest noise, her expectant gaze darted to her door. Taking a sip of her coffee, she tried again to focus on the column she was reading – the same one she had been trying to read for half an hour – before realizing that she was again staring at her front door. It was hopeless. Why don't you just go over there? she asked herself. It's just across the street… But no, she didn't want to do that. Not after she had practically dragged him up there last night, not to mention the hug she'd given him…
She chided herself. She had finally realized her feelings for Wufei, told herself that a possible relationship with him was definitely worth a try… So why was she being so hesitant? Standing to look out her window at the building across the street, the answer finally came to her: it was Sally. She was not sure how her friend would react to her suddenly taking an interest in Wufei, when Sally herself had been pursuing him for the last few years. Of course, after Heero's visit the day before…
Relena sighed, hating her own indecisiveness. The only way to solve this would be to go over there and talk to Sally personally. Then, and only then, would she be able to iron out all the kinks of the matter once and for all. Eyes drifting to the eighth floor of the opposite building, Relena knew she had to speak with Sally before she saw Wufei. That way, she could tell him everything with a clear conscience.
Smiling now that she had a plan of action, Relena danced over to the phone to call Sally. She scowled when all she got was a busy signal. "You should have call waiting!" Relena yelled, hanging up with a violent press of the receiver. Sighing again, Relena got up. She couldn't just sit there. She would start to get ready – one way or the other, she was going to speak with Sally Po, even if it meant busting down her door.
Sally hung up the phone with a dejected sigh. She had been trying to get ahold of Wufei for over an hour. She hated what she had said to him, even if Heero thought it was true. Partners – or rather, good friends – shouldn't let things like this keep them apart.
Looking around her empty apartment, she wished Heero were there to give her some sage advice. Of course, he had to leave right after breakfast. Lady Une was supposed to drop by his place later that morning to review the details of the security program he was working on for Preventers.
When the phone rang a moment later, she nearly jumped out of her skin. "H-hello?"
"Sally. You ok?"
Sally let out a breath. "I'm fine, Heero." Already she was grinning like an idiot. "What's up?"
There was a slight pause. "I shouldn't be long with Une… How about lunch later?"
"Well, I think I could squeeze that into my schedule…"
"Can you cook for me again?"
"Cook for you? Are you sure? It might be safer to eat out."
She could sense Heero's smile. "I've sampled enough restaurants around here to know that isn't the case. Anything you make will be fine."
"Alright, Heero. I'll cook."
"Good. I see you in a couple hours."
Even with such a short conversation, she felt better after talking with Heero. And the prospect of seeing him again so soon was more than enough to lift her spirits. Thinking of what she could make for lunch, she made her way to the kitchen, humming as she checked her ingredients. She was still thinking of the possibilities when she heard a knock at the door.
Hoping against hope that it might be Wufei, she rushed to open the portal. Her disappointment about who it was not quickly gave way to surprise in seeing who it was.
Lady Une noted the mixture of emotions that flickered across Sally's features with interest, greeting her friend with a warm smile. "Well, can't you invite me in?"
"Of course! Come on in. I just never would have expected you."
"Well, I was in the area…" Une's eyes surveyed the apartment as she entered, taking in Sally's new setup. This was the first time she had actually seen where she and Wufei had been assigned. "I like what you've done with the place," she remarked, passing by the pictures that graced Sally's living room walls. She had seen them many times before, yet she never tired of looking. Her favorite was an 8x10 perched on a table by the sofa. It depicted Sally, herself, and Lucretzia Noin, all dressed in their brand new Preventer uniforms. She smiled at the memory. It had been taken the very day their organization had become official.
"Want some coffee or anything?" Sally offered
"Actually, some tea would be nice."
Sally nodded, ducking into the kitchen. Une followed her a moment later, pausing to admire the view from the window. Upon entering the kitchen, Une was surprised to see Sally merrily tending to her task, smiling and even humming as she did so. "You look happy," she began, smiling herself now as she sat at the kitchen's small table. "Did something finally happen between you and Wufei?"
The mention of that name was like a sudden weight on Sally's shoulders. Her mood soured immediately. "No. Well, yeah, kinda. Actually, he's quite upset with me at the moment."
Une frowned. "Really? What happened?"
Sally released a heavy sigh. "We had a little… misunderstanding this morning." Sally shook her head. "I don't know. Maybe, in some ways, he was right."
Une waited patiently as Sally finished pouring the tea, taking a mug as Sally sat across from her. "I'm not really sure how to tell you this," Sally began, feeling flustered in the presence of her friend, who was also her superior at work.
"Well don't keep me in suspense! It can't be any worse than the things you two have squabbled over before."
Sally averted her gaze, inwardly cringing.
"Sally?" Une's mirth was fast disappearing. "Sally, say something. What is it?"
She hesitated. "He saw… He saw—" Sally stopped, searching for a way to tell her without really telling her. "Someone was here this morning, and Wufei happened to drop by… It was just a misunderstanding."
"You said that." Une quietly sipped her tea. "So who was this 'someone?' I can't see Wufei so easily upset over something like that… unless, it was another man."
Sally stared into her mug, finally giving a nod.
"Anyone I know?"
Sally considered. When at last she spoke, it was barely a whisper. "It was Heero."
Une regarded her friend. She knew she was far too upset for it to be something that simple. "Go on."
Sally gave a long sigh. "Heero… he spent the night last night, and Wufei… Wufei came by this morning and realized he was here, and... Oh, God, I don't know what to do. I really think I'm in love, but Wufei—" Sally's cheeks were hot from her confession. She really didn't mean to spill all of it.
Une stared at her from across the table, tea forgotten, mouth agape. "In love – with Heero? Heero Yuy?"
Sally nodded.
"Wha-- When did this happen?" she asked, trying to regain her composure.
"Just over these last few days… I don't know. We had dinner Monday night. After that… it just happened. Believe me, I'm as surprised as you are."
"What about Relena? Does she know?"
"I'm not sure. But Heero said not to worry about it. He said he already had a talk with her."
"That's incredible." Une had finally regained enough control of herself to take another sip of tea. "I never would have thought… But about Wufei. You say he saw you?"
Again, the smile left Sally's face. "He saw Heero's jacket. It was lying on the couch. Next thing I know, he's screaming at me, telling me it's unprofessional, and it'll just make things awkward at work. But I think Wufei's the only one who feels awkward." Sally's fingers traced the rim of her mug. "He accused me of sleeping with Heero, like I was some tramp off the street. He was so angry, I thought his head would explode."
Une's brow furrowed in thought. "Well, I'm sure it must have been quite a shock for him. Afterall, he's your partner. You two have been awfully close these last four years." Une paused, voicing something she had silently been thinking for quite some time. "It could be that you unknowingly trampled on some deeper feelings Wufei might have had for you. Otherwise, I don't think he'd feel so hurt."
Une met Sally's look of shock with unflinching eyes. Sally released a sigh, slumping forward on the table. "That's what Heero said," she murmured. "But if that were true, then why didn't he ever say anything?" Sally sat up now, her own hurt and confusion evident. "It's not like he didn't know how I felt. I gave him plenty of opportunities to say something, but he just snubbed me off, making me feel guilty for practically obsessing over him!"
Une could see that Sally's anger was returning, and not without reason. Yet this was not a fire that she wanted to fuel. She needed her top officers to at least be civil with each other. "Wufei is a man of great deliberation. I can't say for sure what his reasons were, but he was probably unsure of the consequences a relationship with you might bring. Love is a very delicate and uncertain thing, and you two have had some pretty rocky times."
Sally's anger dissipated, replaced by something darker. "So then, he was afraid." The comment was more to herself than to Une. "Ok. If that's the case, then at least I know how to talk to him." She paused. "If I can ever get ahold of him."
"Don't worry, he can't hide from you forever. Besides, we could always kidnap him and throw him into an interrogation room. That way, he would have no choice but to listen to you."
Sally eyed her friend. "You've thought about this before, haven't you?"
"I can't say it hasn't crossed my mind. But Sally, Wufei is right about one thing. Relationships in the workplace can be a very tough thing, especially with a job like ours."
"Oh, Une, that's the last thing I want to hear. I know what I'm getting into. Why can't I just get a 'Congratulations, I'm happy for you?'"
Une smiled. "Congratulations, I'm happy for you. There, feel better now?"
Sally laughed. "Not hardly." Just as her anxiety was easing, the phone rang. Sally got up immediately, answering on the second ring. "Hello?"
"Are you alright, Sally? You sound rather tense."
"Oh, Relena." Sally released a pent up breath. "I'm fine. What's on your mind?"
She felt Relena hesitate. "I need to talk to you – as soon as possible. Can you meet me right now?"
"Right now? Well…" Sally gave a pleading glance at Une. The woman gave a knowing smile.
"I should be going anyway. I've got that appointment with Heero."
Sally thanked her, then turned back to Relena. "Okay, I can meet you, but where?"
"Just stay put. I'll be over in a couple minutes." The phone went dead before she could protest.
"Sounds like Relena's got troubles of her own." Une spoke matter-of-factly, but Sally knew she was digging to see what else her friend knew.
Suddenly, Sally's eyes lit up. "I think you're right, Une. And I think they might be centered around a certain Chinese man I know."
The warmth of the sun mixed with the cool breeze that flowed through his open windows had done much to calm Wufei's mood. Yet as he neared the familiar intersection of Walnut Avenue, he was faced with a new and growing anxiety: that of facing Miss Relena Darlian.
He parked on the side of her building, then did his best to walk at a normal pace inside. As he started up the stairs, all he could think about was her smiling face, and what he would say to her once he got there. Relena, I like you. Relena, I care for you. I want you to be more than just a friend. Relena… Relena… Relena… He wasn't going to be afraid anymore. This was a chance he wanted to take.
Halfway up the stairs, he heard a man laughing. Yet it was not a laughter of mirth; it was one of secrets. Instinctively, he slowed his pace, intent on listening. He could discern two voices, both little more than echoed whispers coming from above, yet he was almost certain he recognized one. It was a voice heard only once and briefly, but it's low, guttural tone was quite distinct.
He climbed higher, straining to keep quiet lest the echoes of his footsteps betray him. He leaned forward, peering between the railings to get a glimpse of the speakers – but it was useless. He stopped at the sixth floor landing, his breathing soft and shallow as he listened. They were very close now, almost directly above him. Yet still, it was difficult to make out their words.
"…I have to know what he's planning."
"I'm on it, sir."
"In the meantime, focus your manpower on Darlian."
Wufei's marrow froze in his bones.
"How many are covering her?"
"Twelve in the vicinity," the second man answered, the voice Wufei did not recognize. "We've posted twenty-five along the outskirts, listening for intel in the surrounding towns."
Wufei silently cursed. Who the hell were these guys? And what where they planning? If it involved Relena…
Flattening himself against the wall, Wufei began climbing once again.
"Good. Make sure she's watched 24/7. And don't neglect the apartment. I have a feeling—"
Wufei was halfway to the seventh floor when the conversation abruptly ceased. They were on to him. Not wanting them to get away, he launched himself up toward the next landing. He did not hear the other man come down to meet him. He only saw the barrel of a custom made Jericho, aimed point blank at his face.