Tan fingers flashed across the keys beating a cadence in keeping with his thoughts. Intense blue eyes scanned the text as it formed on his screen. Mission reports had been one boring continuity that followed him most of his life. Commander Une required them, Doctor J demanded them Odin had actually given him a letter grade as if they were school assignments. Heero couldn't even imagine a time where he wouldn't be required to document each and every aspect of the missions that comprised his life. But there WAS more to him than that perhaps not much more, but more none the less.
"What is that thing," Chang bit out from the other side of the cramped office they shared for the better part of six months.
"Care to be a little more specific 05?" Heero asked not looking up from his screen.
"On your desk, it was there when I came in this morning."
"Yes, it was. And as for what it is, it is a box. Roughly eighteen centimeters long, eight centimeters wide and six centimeters in depth covered in some type of aluminum composite foil secured with synthetic nylon ribbon."
"It looks like a present." The dower agent scoffed flopping down into his desk chair.
"It does." Heero agreed saving his report and powering down his computer.
"Is it from Relena?" WuFei asked with a smirk.
"No. The ribbon is green, not pink, and that is a square knot, not a bow."
"Is it a bomb? WuFei asked, "if it is, I'd thank you to open it in the hall. It is my office too you know."
"Why would Barton give me explosives?" Heero wrinkled his nose at the idea.
"Why would Barton give you a present?" The other agent asked wryly one ebony eyebrow quirking toward his taunt hairline. "And you neglected to say the thing originated from Barton."
"You asked what it was, not where it came from." Heero explained succinctly.
WuFei rolled his eyes, "You are worse than Maxwell sometimes."
"Hn," Heero shrugged off-handedly then continued, "Regardless, this is not a present. It is a remembrance of sorts."
"A remembrance?" WuFei echoed.
"Yes Chang." Heero frowned, he hadn't expected to have to explain himself. "Like the shrine you keep in your apartment to remember L5 or, that stubby little dragon tail at the nape of your neck."
At the mere mention of it WuFei's hand gravitated toward the tightly bound tuft of hair. "Why?" he whispered softly. "What have you lost?"
"Today is the anniversary of Odin Lowes death. It happened moments after he was forced to assassinate a man he admired. The man whose name I bear." Heero felt his jaw clench and nearly crushing the silver wrapped box in his fist.
WuFei saw the emotion cross his partners usually impassive face and toyed with the pencils in the cup on his desk. "I'm sorry, I didn't know." He apologized.
"It is all right." Heero sighed. "I never told anyone. 03 must have looked into a few offhanded comments I made before a mission a few months ago. I never expected him to do something like this though." He set the box back on the desk and slipped off the ribbon.
"What is in it?" Chang asked. Heero removed the lid to show him.
WuFei wasn't terribly surprised at Barton giving Heero a knife, but when He thumbed the small silver stud revealing a comb rather than a blade the other Agents mouth gaped stunned. That surprise was only magnified when the silver wrapped box was also found to hold a small tub of hair jell. The perfect soldier surveyed his reflection in the darkened screen of his computer and proceeded to style his perpetually unruly locks. He quickly slicked the sides back, then encouraged the top and back into careful curls. The effect was rugged yet alluring. "I suppose I should go all the way and get it colored too." He mused.
"What?" WuFei squawked, "Y-you can't do that. Hair coloring isn't good for you; is a sign of vanity! I suppose it is all right for a woman but you are not...its just...unnatural!" WuFei said as his mind tried to grapple the unreality of his companions action.
Heero snorted, "When has anything I do been classed as natural? Besides, Men do it all the time Chang. It is nothing to be ashamed of. When I was a boy I got mine lightened regularly to look more like Odin's son. It doesnt mean I'm vain. I always liked the way I looked with a few honey colored highlights. J wouldn't allow it but hes dead. I don't have to be the perfect soldier anymore. I can do what I want. It was Trowas idea really. I have been rather depressed. In fact, I believe I tied your record. Duo said I managed to make six recruits cry with a single glare. This is 03's way of suggesting that instead of mourning Odin's death and taking it out on others I ought to do something to honor his life and the good times we shared. You should try it. I have seen the picture you kept in your Gundam, Chang WuFei. I look at you and I see very little that resembles the young scholar in that photo. You spent years trying to become a mirror image of the girl you lost. Are you aware of how much of yourself you've lost along the way? If Meirin cared for you as much as you care for her, Is this truly how she would want you to honor her memory? I know what it is to look at your reflection and see a stranger staring back at you. If you don't like what you see, Do something about it."
WuFei blinked as him and had nothing to say.