I own nothing, just a fan of Gundam Wing!
Thank you, thank you, Thaaaaaank you to our fearless leader JenJenGundamFan for hosting this little saucy soiree for another year. Also, thank you JJGF for being my awesome beta for this story. You're the best lady!
This was a random brainchild with a little fluff with a hint of lime, some humor and all the feels.
Enjoy! ;-)
Just Like Any Other Day
The day began in the usual fashion, the coffee was strong, the commute was normal, and the office was busy, just like any other day. Although this day seemed to include the presence of an overabundance of flowers, all displayed in different shaped receptacles, both big and small, in various shades of pink, white, and red. Balloons were equally present, along with a few teddy bears seemingly stationed next to the fragrant culprits as if scattered like shrapnel after a bomb went off. The gaudy sites and pungent smells up against the pristine white walls of Preventeer HQ was rather difficult not to notice, as it was currently violating his vision.
While he and Relena had briefly discussed this particular day, and he knew what the calendar declared this day to be, that was quite honestly as far as his knowledge went on the subject.
When you're training to become a human weapon, there was no special class on holidays. Of course, since the end of the war he did have more time to consider such occasions, and his working conclusion thus far…it was not practical.
He walked briskly through the landmine of excited co-workers, all-the-while being hit over and over again with the smells of what he could easily believe to be every known flower in the universe. His sights were set on his office door as it was his only salvation from this unnecessary onslaught. His key card poised in hand as he reached out for the scan pad, and at the satisfying sound of the access beep, he once again felt centered as he took in the solitude and silence of his clean office space.
Making his way around his desk, he now found comfort in the familiar feel of his ergonomic chair. At Relena's insistence, he had upgraded from his previously standard one, which he had to admit wasn't the worst idea in the world. The finer things in life were certainly her department, as luxuries were simply not something he had ever afforded himself when it came to work.
While he knew that most found it tedious, his ability to input data at a breakneck pace provided a sense of normalcy and calm from the chaos.
Despite his proficiency, this particular report had taken him longer than he had originally calculated. However, forging through the mountainous heap of paperwork was still not enough to keep his mind from thinking. While he could certainly multi-task, better than most, today, he just couldn't shake the feeling that he was a little off his game.
And as the universe often did, it threw an obstacle in his path at that exact moment…in the form of the one person that would never cease to make him seriously reconsider his promise to Relena…not to kill anymore.
"Hey ya, Heero! How's it going, buddy?"
Heero watched as the obnoxious former Gundam pilot waltzed into his office, unceremoniously plopped down onto his couch, and his braid appeared to swing out of the way on its own accord.
"Lotta love around the office today, huh?"
Heero didn't respond; this was par for the course between the two of them. Honestly, it was just the best way to get Duo out of his space as quickly as possible. Although today it did not seem to deter the man that was so casually sprawled across his office sofa, as if he were at home instead of a place of business.
"Man, I gotta tell ya, buying Hilde's gifts this year made my wallet cry…and me right along with it." Duo let out a half-hearted chuckle that wouldn't convince anyone that he was kidding.
"I swear, though, seeing that big 'ol smile on Hilde's face makes it all worth it. And of course, all that good lovin' after the big, fancy, and expensive V Day dinner doesn't hurt either." Duo winked in an exaggerated fashion, while laughing out loud in the usual jolly way that had very much become a trademark of his happy-go-lucky personality.
Heero watched as a wide and stupid smile spread across Duo's face. He could guess the lewd images playing through the man's questionable mind. Duo was not shy and oftentimes would share far too much information regarding his latest romp with Hilde. He only hoped that this time the overzealous man might spare him the details.
Heero could sense that he would indeed have to converse with the resident idiot savant today. Taking a deep breath, he reminded himself, yet again, of the promise he had made to Relena. This had become a regular exercise now, mainly where Duo was concerned.
"Why do it then?" Heero asked in his usual, severe tone.
Duo's demeanor drastically changed as the humor had now drained from his face, and his normally lackadaisical attitude was instantly replaced with a serious one, and seeing Duo serious was always, at the very least, a little unsettling.
"What do you mean, 'why do it then?'"Duo was certainly in a dramatic mood as he actually made air quotes with his hands.
"Wait a minute! Wait just a damn minute! Are you saying you didn't get anything for Relena for Valentine's Day?!"
The incredulous look that Duo was now shooting at Heero, like daggers, was honestly a bit over-the-top in his mind, but he just stared right back at Duo as he listened to his tirade.
"I'll take your silence as a yes! Geeze, Heero, what the fuck?! I thought you would at least know the basics after all this time?! This is the first Valentine's Day that you and Relena are finally officially together! How the hell could you not get her anything?!"
"She told me not to worry about it. That it was not what mattered…"
"AND YOU BELIEVED HER?! HA! Holy hell Heero, and here I thought you were sooo smart, and yet here you are acting like a first class dumbass!"
"Now, wait a minute Du…"
The volume with which Duo now spoke caught Heero off guard just enough that Heero's words stopped in mid-sentence.
"No! YOU WAIT A MINUTE, HEERO!" Duo yelled, but just as quickly calmed himself as he now appeared to be muttering something indecipherable under his breath while pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Okay, look Heero, I know you're crazy, but damn, man! This is bad! You can't not get Relena anything for your first Valentine's Day! You just can't!"
"Duo! Would you shut up and sit down!?" This time it was Heero's turn to raise his voice. He wasn't sure if Duo did what he demanded out of fear or placation. "Relena and I are not the average couple, and she is certainly not the average wo…"
"Oh, hell no! No! Just NO!" This time Duo didn't care about calming himself. "Don't give me that shit! Regardless of how high and mighty Relena is in your mind, or the world's mind for that matter, she is still a woman! And I don't care what she told you! Women always expect something on Valentine's Day! I mean, would you show up empty handed on her birthday or Christmas? Hell no, you wouldn't! My God! You could be shot on sight for that, so why the hell would you show up without something for the woman you love on the universal day of love?!"
The question halted Heero's response as the inquiry started his wheels spinning, and he pondered the missing piece of this quandary.
His mind replayed the conversation he and Relena had regarding today's date. Like a movie, he combed over the minuscule details in his mind that he had previously overlooked, the way her eyes lit up at the broaching of the topic and now…the way her face fell ever-so-slightly as she told him that she was perfectly fine with not exchanging gifts.
Okay, this was one of those moments when he realized the one thing he hated more than anything…Duo was right. The loudmouth pain in his ass was right!
"Well, I'll be damned! You get it now, don't ya!? Lemme guess, you're remembering when Relena told you it wasn't a big deal? Recalling the disappointment in her voice and the sadness in her eyes, huh? Am I right?! Huh, huh?!"
Despite him being right and despite Heero acknowledging it to himself, he'd be damned if he actually said those words to Duo.
Instead, Heero just stood up, grabbed his phone and jacket, and started for the door.
"Oooooh hell no! No way are you going alone! You're a rookie and gonna need as much help as you can get!"
"Duo…"
"No arguments, buddy. I'm going with you."
Normally Heero would argue, but much to his chagrin, Duo had made it clear that he had started this day off in the entirely wrong way. Regardless, he'd be damned if he would end it the wrong way, he would correct this, even if that meant letting Duo help him.
As they walked through the building, Duo continued to talk as if Heero were actually listening. The sound of Duo's voice seemed amplified in the small space of the elevator as they rode down to the basement, so Heero was eager to exit the tiny metal box. As they walked down the extensive hallway towards the garage entrance, Heero suddenly turned and pressed his palm against a seemingly normal looking section of the wall, a barely visible light scanned his hand while a previously unnoticed door opened to a secret garage. At this point, Heero registered Duo whistling low and long, "Daaaamn! Had no idea this hidden gem was here!"
"That's the point," Heero said with satisfaction. Despite walking swiftly, Heero still managed to appreciate the beautiful machines he stored in this underground, highly secure garage. From classic American muscle to the sleek racing beauties of Europe, they were all gleaming at him in the fluorescent lighting as if smiling. Now, he could hear Duo's clear appreciation that sounded more like a kid in a candy store. Even though it was annoying, he did manage to derive some pride from someone else enjoying the only collection he had ever possessed, the only luxury he had ever indulged. Relena had encouraged him to take joy in the sleek, fast machinery she had witnessed him admire from afar so many times in the past. She had mentioned on several occasions how his stoic mask would slightly slip at the sights and sounds of such rarities making their special appearances on the streets of Brussels.
"You mean to tell me that you've been riding your motorcycle to work all this time when you had all of these just sitting here collecting dust?"
"Do you see any dust? Besides, my bike is more practical."
Duo's mouth opened to respond, but no sound came out as his jaw dropped. "Holy shit! Is that the McLaren Elva?! It looks like the freaking batmobile! Oh shit! Boy, does that fit YOU!" Duo laughed hysterically at his joke, but just as quickly switched gears. "Daaaamn, it's even better looking in person!"
Heero didn't have time to respond to Duo's crack as the braided man was now practically bouncing up and down, asking if they could take the Elva…once again like a kid in a candy store.
"Duuuude, how have you kept these gorgeous ladies a secret?!"
"You never asked," Heero smirked as he grabbed the key fob off the wall and walked towards the sleek black beauty Duo was unashamedly dancing around.
"Oh, fuck you! You don't tell anyone anything, even when they do ask! I swear, man, you could work for the CIA! Heeeey, maybe you are Batman?"
"Shut up, Duo, or you're not coming."
"Oh hell yes I AM coming! If you think I'm NOT going to catch a ride in this baby, YOU are out of your damn mind. Besides, YOU need my help!"
"Fuck you!"
"Touche, Batman." Duo laughed back as he quickly hopped into the car. "Seriously though, how many people know about this garage?"
"Very few."
"See, I stand by my previous statement, you don't tell anyone anything." Once again, Duo's obnoxious laugh followed his declaration.
Heero sighed heavily and rolled his eyes. "I thought it would be obvious to a master of stealth that this is a highly secure garage for Relena's protected armored vehicles, as well as a hidden underground bunker and undisclosed way out of the building."
"Uuuuh, but I don't see any of Relena's vehicles in here, I only see Heero's toys. Ooooh, I see, you're lady let you take it over, since she doesn't have that much in the way of armored vehicles, right?"
"Hnn."
"Ha! I'm right! Oh, hey, when do I get to drive?"
Heero couldn't hold back his scoff. "Well, I guess you weren't a terrible pilot in Deathscythe."
"Ooooh the perfect soldier giving me a compliment? Hot damn! I need to go buy a lotto ticket."
Heero just rolled his eyes and decided to focus on the operation of his beloved machine, the purr of the engine aiding him in momentarily forgetting about Duo's presence.
The ride to the mall was swift in the unique onyx vision that appeared to glide in between the other pedestrian vehicles on the road. The shopping center was rather busy, but Heero managed to find a lone parking spot at the very top of the parking garage.
Duo continued to talk, and Heero continued to ignore him. Walking through the mall was just
another reminder that he definitely preferred to buy things online.
As they moved through the crowds of frenzied shoppers, Duo pointed out suggestions for Relena, and with each one, Heero started to wonder if Duo even knew her at all. Although, he was equally pleased with the knowledge that he at least knew what she would not like.
So many heart shaped items, pinks, reds, purples, whites, and frilly items all inexpensively made trinkets. Nothing felt right to him; he honestly could not fathom giving her a heart shaped box of chocolates, the very idea did not compute in his brain.
Flowers came to mind. He knew Relena enjoyed the fragrance, however, when they got to the flower shop, it was packed with men screaming prices for what looked to be the last flowers left. So, he decided not to venture into that particular battlefield.
Duo, however, was apparently enjoying the desperate men all but fighting one another over the last remaining vestiges of Valentine's Day paraphernalia. Heero now noticed that Duo had acquired popcorn at some point in their short journey, munching on it as he gawked through the window at the poor souls in the flower shop like he was watching a movie.
The slow, painful pangs of futility were beginning to creep into his gut, causing him to think that maybe this endeavor was a lost cause, and then as if on cue, he noticed a flash of color. Suddenly his mind was recalling a favored store Relena mentioned on several occasions. The name appeared above the store, and there it was, Tiffany & Co. He had noticed several boxes in various sizes from this particular establishment tucked away in one of Relena's many spare bedroom closets. He knew this company sold items ranging from jewelry, home goods, and even leather and canvas items. By the quality of the products he had seen in Relena's possession, he knew the items to be high end, so that seemed more along the lines for Relena. The frustration started to fade away, but as they walked into the swanky store, they were both quickly reminded why they did not frequent such establishments. The burly bodyguard at the door, in the dark suit with an earpiece secured in his ear, combined with the piercing stare he aimed at the newcomers, was only reinforcing this fact. If Heero had been a different kind of man, this might have come across as threatening, but he was not that man.
"Dude, stop staring down the guard, I already feel out of place here, I don't want you putting this guy in a coma and us ending up on the news. That would ruin any VDay loving from Hilde." Duo whispered.
"Shut up, Duo." Heero shot one more hard glare at the man at the door before turning towards the now nervous looking woman behind the display case.
He really had believed that he had become better at not appearing so ominous, but the look on the woman's face in front of him told a different story. At this point, he was just grateful that Duo was keeping quiet.
"Hiya, sweetheart."
Heero wasn't certain if he groaned internally or outwardly, but he did know that Duo could always be relied upon to speak at the exact wrong time. The previously alarmed looking woman now just looked irritated. So, he decided to just speed up this process and put the now flustered looking woman at ease, so he pulled out his Amex black card and watched as her eyes lit up and she flashed a blinding smile at him. It did not escape his attention that the woman was actively ignoring Duo, and there was some part of him, a bigger part of him than he cared to admit, that relished that fact.
After looking through purses, wallets, sunglasses, bracelets, and charms, he was starting to feel the dread of futility creep in once more.
"Here ya go, Heero! Right here! Rings! Look at them sparkle!" Duo cackled like a mad man.
"No, too soon," Heero said in a dark and far too serious tone.
Either Duo ignored it, or didn't notice as it seemed to go over his head.
"Too soon? Ha! Are you kidding me?! The two of you aren't too soon for anything! If you ask me, you two need to catch up and just do it already! You know you'll end up asking her someday, and someday might be way too long from now if you aren't encouraged." Duo was leaning toward Heero smiling and winking like an idiot.
At this point, Heero could not help but roll his eyes.
"Too soon." Heero said as he turned away from his overexcited companion and began to look at the necklaces. That's when he noticed it, a starfish, like on a beach…their beach. The middle of the starfish held a shining diamond. The sales woman noticed where his attention had landed. "Oh, yes, this is a wonderful choice, sir. This piece is from the Elsa Peretti designer collection, featuring a 16" Platinum chain and a Platinum starfish with a brilliant diamond in the middle." This was it, this was the one, a symbol of where they met and combined with her birthstone, it felt right. He believed the diamond to be the perfect birthstone for Relena, she was certainly the diamond in his life. The bright shining light, and unbreakable force that had led him out of the darkness.
After a large amount was charged to his card, a perfectly packaged trinket was handed to him in a small teal bag, his exhaustive afternoon was now complete, and he was more than ready to go home.
Duo, true to form, kept talking the entire way back to the office, and par for the course, the topics at hand were of no interest to Heero. By the time he had finally dropped Duo off, he was feeling completely exasperated with this day.
Although the solitude of the drive home gave him pause to consider everything Duo had explained today. All of the new information combined with his shopping experience honestly exhausted him, but in the end, if it put a smile on Relena's face, that was all that mattered. There were no lengths he would not go to in order to be the cause of her smile.
As he took a curve on the road, his mind equally took a turn, reflecting on Duo's insistence that he buy Relena a ring…the ring. It's not as if the thought had not occurred to him. On the contrary, it had more than occurred to him. They had moved in together rather quickly, it was practical after all. However, living together proved to make hiding their feelings for one another even more difficult. Once the dam had broken, there was no going back, and when the physical aspect of their relationship took hold…that was it. So, perhaps it wasn't too soon. A once burning ember was now stoked into flame within his mind and heart as a smile started to spread across his face while his foot pressed a little harder on the gas pedal. This idea felt right to him, much like finding the necklace, or agreeing to be her head of security, and moving in together…all of these events felt right and true.
Driving through the large, ornate gates that once used to fill him with a sense of dread now just felt like home. Of course, it wasn't so much the place, but who lived there that made it home. No matter where he was, as long as she was there or where he was going or working towards, everywhere was home. He even really enjoyed Pagan's company, and he certainly appreciated the elderly gentleman's steadfast resolve in standing by and supporting Relena.
As he walked through the door, he caught the scent of her perfume, and his smile returned. His feet carried him as if following the sweet scent straight to her, and when he walked into the living room, his breath caught. There she was, Relena, his Relena, his Princess that the soldier in him could never not protect. Candles seemed to fill the room, like shining a spotlight on her, her body, and the sheer black lace negligee that was currently accentuating her every curve as if clinging to her supple and inviting form. His body was already reacting, and he did not know how much control he could maintain in the face of such temptation.
The soft flicker of the candlelight licked her skin with a warm glow that seemed to heat his blood and send his heart racing. The contrast of her porcelain complexion against the raven lingerie made her look like a siren that danced within the deepest parts of his fantasies, the very place he never allowed himself to indulge. In this moment, he felt free to delve into the fantasies that once plagued him in bittersweet torture. Now, he was actually glad that Duo had walked into his office and informed him on the importance of Valentine's Day.
This day was not merely about sex, flowers, candy or gifts, it was a special day to express your love for your partner, taking the time to extricate yourself from the daily routine and truly focus on one another in celebration of the success of being together.
She was already on her feet before he could utter a word, closing the distance between them.
"Happy Valentine's Day, Heero," she purred as she claimed his lips.
He seemed to melt into her kiss, his unoccupied hand exploring the soft, thin lace of her lingerie, the touch of her lips and warmth of her body igniting his soul. As her hands traveled down his body, one of her hands found her gift and she pulled away, looking down at the tiny teal bag hanging by its string from one of his fingers. The smile she produced filled his was more than he could ever ask for…to make her happy.
"What have you got there, Heero?" She practically sing-songed her question.
Before he could respond, she had already plucked the small bag from his finger.
"Oh, what's this? Is this for me? How did you know this is my favorite store?" She giggled in jest. "Okay, who are you and what have you done with the real Heero?" Her laugh was sweet and giddy while the sheer excitement in her voice was palpable.
Once again, he didn't have time to respond, she was eyeing him as she peeked inside, and her smile stopped his impending words cold.
He watched as she pilfered the small box out of the bag and slowly pulled on the white satin ribbon. She lifted the top and then proceeded to turn the box upside down to eject the padded inner box holding the prize within. As she raised the lid, he heard her gasp, and her eyes seemed to mist over.
"Oh! Oh, Heero, it's gorgeous! A starfish with my birthstone. Oh, Heero, it is so beautiful!"
"Not as beautiful as you."
The look she gave him now was entirely different, one of love and lust and need and something else he could not quite pinpoint. But before he could put too much thought into it, she was kissing him again, and before he could act on his emotions, she pulled away with a mischievous look in her ocean blue eyes.
Stepping back, she locked eyes with him as she slowly pulled the spaghetti straps of her negligee aside and allowed the black lace to fall, now revealing her bare beauty in all of its glory. In the blink of an eye, she was right in front of him now. The heat emanating between them was electric. Holding up his gift, in an almost whisper…"will you put this on me, Heero? I want this to be all I'm wearing when you take me."
His blood was boiling, and just as he was about to throw her down and ravish her right then and there, she spoke once more.
"I did not hear the sound of your bike's engine. How did you get here?"
She always had a way of throwing him completely off track and turning his world upside down with the details, but it was just one of the many things he loved about her.
"I drove the McLaren."
"Oh, well, that's convenient," a mischievous smile graced her lips, "I've been waiting to christen the newest addition to your prized collection."
His smile was back, and so were his urges from mere moments ago. This time he followed his emotions, sweeping her into his arms as he claimed her lips and headed for the car. He could never deny her.
This certainly was not like any other day. Being with Relena had made every day feel new, and he was eternally grateful that she wanted him as he wanted her, a fact that would never cease to amaze him. He would forever be in awe of her ability to love, accept, and her seemingly never ending supply of patience as he continued to learn and navigate this new life…with her.
Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed it!
Thank you again to JenJenGundamFan for EVERYTHING!
Until next year LS participants and fans!
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