Title: BROKEN
Disclaimer: I don't own anything about sailor Moon
Authors Notes: Thanks for all the reviews you guys. I've written a couple more chapters so I'll update them as soon as I can proof them. Hope you enjoy the story!
Darien tried desperately not to be bothered by the way she was looking at him. He had imagined meeting her. He had imagined her looking at him again, the way he saw in his mind and it had always been calm and peaceful. Her eyes had been pure and full of love. But now he felt like the world might dive into chaos. Her blue eyes were terrified as she seemed locked in his gaze.
When she whispered his name, it was as if she were hoping it wasn't really him. He felt the shudder in her body as what he could only assume was fear gripped her entirely. It felt like the whole world was being sucked into this moment and he couldn't find the air he needed to stay focused.
At first nobody said anything.
Then finally Lita stepped in front of Serena, severing their link.
"Well that wasn't awkward at all," Lita said shocking everyone back into the presence. "Welcome back Darien. Are you here for long?"
Darien felt how dry his mouth was.
"He's back for good hopefully," Andrew said softly.
Lita heard Serena's sharp intake of breath.
"Well, that's nice," Lita wasn't sure what to do. "We were just meeting Nathan quickly before going to the beach with the girls. Nathan, her answer is yes, she'd love to meet you for dinner tonight. Pick her up at seven."
Nathan seemed a little unsure, but he nodded.
"Okay then, I guess we'll see you tonight," she smiled at him. "Bye Andrew, Darien."
Lita turned around quickly and kept herself between Serena and Darien all the way out the door. And then they were gone.
Nathan and Andrew looked at Darien.
"What was that all about?" Andrew asked concerned.
Darien felt a sudden pressure coming from the two men beside him like they were baring down on him. Anxiety built up within him and he tried desperately not to let it show on his face.
"I don't know," he said honestly.
"That was a pretty extreme reaction to seeing you again Darien. You must have done something before you left to upset her. Did you guys have another fight?"
Darien just shook his head. "I don't know."
They went quiet.
Darien's mind pounded in his head painfully. But despite her reaction, there was one other thing that bothered him. He could feel it in his heart, a strong pulling sensation that hurt when he breathed. He looked at his long time friend.
"You're going out with her?" He asked quietly.
Nathan looked unsure for a moment. "Well, that's the plan, yeah."
Darien couldn't bring himself to say anymore. He just nodded, feeling a weight on his chest. He could feel Andrew looking at him and didn't know what to do.
"I think I should go," Darien finally said standing up.
"What? Why?" Andrew asked surprised.
"Darien, are you okay?" Nathan asked with true concern in his voice.
Darien felt awful but he couldn't look at Nathan. A few moments ago he had been reveling in the friendship and loyalty of this man, but now he didn't want to sit next time him. His presence was almost unbearable.
He quickly nodded.
"Do you want me to drive you home?" Andrew asked.
"No," Darien said quickly. "I'll meet you later."
He walked out of the arcade quickly, knowing that they would be watching every step and every slight movement he made until he was completely out of sight.
The heat of the city crashed down on him immediately when he left the arcade and it was like the air was super heated. It was harder to breath, but he didn't turn back around. All he could do was focus on the desperate pounding of his heart as he tried to think of what to do.
It was his first day here and he felt the sudden build towards an attack. First his mind jumbled itself into a world of chaos and he couldn't focus on any of the memories and emotions racing through him. His heart filled with anxiety and he began to shake with momentous tremors.
He ducked through the trees and found himself in the park.
He nearly bruised his back as he slammed against a low stone wall and all bet fell into the grass. He put his head in his hands, desperately grasping at his hair. He breathed raggedly.
Darien grasped at a memory of Serena and held it as firmly as possible in his mind. Her easy smile shone brightly through the shadows and her blond hair drifted softly around her.
He tried to breath deeply, filling his lungs with air.
He felt her warmth radiate through him.
Slowly, his heart came down from it's desperate race.
Darien felt the world come back into focus, allowing him to see.
His shoulders relaxed.
He felt worn, like he had just struggled for his life. Every muscle in his body seemed to be one fire. He leaned his head against the hard stone wall behind him and breathed deeply.
He continued to focus on her. Her eyes, her laugh, her smile. Everything about her was warm and soothing.
When he felt sturdy enough he opened his eyes.
Everything around him was painted with the most luscious colors of green. The grass he sat on was healthy and long, and the tress bent to nearly touch the grass with their long branches. The colors smoothly molded together creating a formidable and yet peaceful barrier. The breeze that drifted by him was fresh and clear.
Darien felt defeated.
Of all the things that he thought might cause an attack, he never expected it to be Serena. The small girl he remembered was all but gone, and in her place was this new bronzed, elegant version that penetrated deep within him. The look of terror in her eyes devastated him, and the idea that she was with Nathan made his heart ache.
The long years away had taught him many things, but he had never gotten used to being weak. His whole life he had been there for the people around him, supporting them no matter what they were going through. For years he had kept himself away from the things he wanted in case he hurt them. He had been strong. For years he had been stronger even then he thought possible. He hated being weak more then anything else in the world.
He sat there, reconnecting with the world. For hours he waited for something to happen. The sun moved across the sky, changing the shade around him in dizzying patterns.
When he felt content with standing, he stood.
It took him another few minutes before he was ready to start walking.
He exited his sanctuary in the trees to find himself back in the world.
People walked in crowds all around him through the beautiful park. The sun glittered brightly off the water and cast rays of the brightest light against the surrounding trees.
Darien sighed and walked back to meet Andrew.
Serena sat agitated on the back of the couch watching the cars slowly pass by her house. Every time a new one appeared, her heart kicked a little fast before she realized that it wasn't Nathan.
"You should get changed," Mina said looking her over.
Serena ignored her.
Lita came and sat quietly beside her while Mina ran upstairs to search for something more suitable to wear.
"What are you thinking?" Lita asked quietly.
Serena looked at her, worry in her eyes.
"Please Serena, I've been dying all day to ask you about it. Now that Mina's not here and Raye and Amy went home, it's just you and me. You know you can trust me. What did you feel when you saw him again."
Serena took a deep breath.
"Were you angry with him?"
"I just……" Serena sighed. "After all this time, I honestly just thought he was gone for good. I thought that I'd never see him again and it wouldn't matter."
"This morning you said you've moved on," Lita reminded her.
Serena nodded. "I have."
"Your reaction said you're haven't."
"My reaction was nothing more than surprise Lita. I met someone from my past that I didn't expect to see again. I was shocked."
"You were terrified," Lita contradicted.
"I just want to go out with Nathan and have a good time," Serena said trying to convince herself. "I just won't think about Darien."
"Can you do that?"
Serena nodded. "Of course I can. Darien hurt me one night years ago. Just because he's suddenly reappeared after all this time doesn't mean he's still going to get to me."
Lita nodded while watching her friend closely.
Serena looked back out the window.
"Where do you think he's been?" She asked after a few minutes.
Lita shrugged. "Who cares?"
Serena sighed.
"Nathan's here," Lita said watching the car pull into the driveway.
Serena slowly got up just as Mina came back into the room.
"Here, put this on really quickly. You can't where that dress on a date. It still has grass stains on it from this morning."
Serena allowed Mina to pull the darker summer dress over her head and she quickly changed.
Nathan smiled when Lita answered the door.
"Okay, here's what's going to happen," Lita said crossing her arms.
Nathan just grinned and leaned against the door frame giving her his complete attention.
"You're going to have her back by midnight. If it's going to be later then you have to make her call and tell us what's going on. You're going to treat her with respect at all times."
Nathan nodded.
"You're our friend so I'll trust you, but that doesn't mean you're automatically going to get a free ride with her."
"I would be disappointed if I did," Nathan said.
His eyes drifted towards Serena and he smiled. "Ready?" He asked softly.
Serena couldn't help but flush under his gaze. They had been friends for years and this was the first time they were going outside that comfort zone. She couldn't help but be nervous about it.
He took her hand and her heart fluttered.
She looked back at Lita nervously.
Lita just motioned for her to go.
Serena took a deep breath and closed the door behind her.
Lita smiled and looked at Mina.
"Well, she went, that's a good sign."
Mina just sighed.
"What? You didn't want her to go?" Lita asked.
"I want her to be happy," Mina said. "I was just sort of hoping she would be happy with someone else."
Lita rolled her eyes. "You told us all that you didn't like Nathan anymore."
Mina shrugged. "You wanna order a pizza?" She chirped.
"You're impossible," Lita sighed. "But no, I don't want a pizza tonight. I have to get home before my dad realized I'm late."
"You should just beat him up," Mina said grabbing her bag.
"Some day I might," Lita admitted.
"How can he tell you're late when he's to drunk to see the clock."
Lita shrugged. "Sometimes he just knows."
"Well, good luck!" Mina said happily running out the door.
Lita sighed into the quiet house. Serena's parents were both gone with her brother for a few weeks.
Slowly she grabbed her bags and started leaving.
The phone rang.
Lita waited for the answering machine to pick up.
"Lita, it's Serena. Stop arguing, put down your bags and raid my fridge. You're staying with me again tonight. Besides, you're going to want to know all the details about tonight anyway. This way you'll be the first to know."
Lita smiled at her friends voice.
She looked around her.
She picked up the phone and dialed a number.
"What," the man that answered said in a rough voice.
"I'm not coming home tonight dad," she said in a serious voice.
"You get your ass back here right….."
Lita hung up the phone and sighed. She walked towards the TV and flipped it on, sitting on the comfortable couch and putting her feet up. She smiled in relief and felt her body start to relax again.
End of Chapter Three!
Please Review! Next chapter will be up soon!