Author: Jei
Warnings: Ficlet, RFO
Pairings: 1+2
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Standard disclaimers apply.
Sorry, kids, just felt like a good ol' fashioned RFO today.
Coming to Terms
Her business in this building was done, but there wasn't any reason she couldn't stop in for a brief social visit on her way out. She waited patiently for the elevator to stop at the twelfth floor, politely ignoring the surreptitious glances sent her way by the other two men in the box with her. As soon as she stepped out, she was sure they would start pondering the Vice Foreign Minister's reasons for being in Preventers Headquarters anywhere other than on the executive floors, but that was fine with her. If anything inappropriate started flying about, she knew at least one man who would firmly squelch anything before it became troublesome.
It was just barely 'after hours', but she was sure Heero would still be in his office. The man just wasn't the type to quit and rush out the door as soon as his shift was over. It was just one of many things she admired about him.
His door was ajar, but she tapped on it twice with her knuckles before leaning her head inside to confirm invitation prior to entering.
He looked up, lips already parted to say something before blinking twice at her appearance. "Relena. You're back."
She echoed his small smile with her own. "Hello, Heero. It's been a while."
He gestured to a chair on the other side of his desk. "How was your trip?"
"It took longer than I had hoped, but I think we reached a good agreement." The guest chairs in his office weren't quite as comfortable as the ones upstairs, but she imagined Heero was happy to make his space uninviting to others.
"You've just briefed Une?"
"Yes. Once things start to take effect, the Preventers should be able to withdraw some of their resources from the area by the end of the year."
"Good. We could definitely use those resources elsewhere. What do you think are the chances you could win some concessions from their neighbors to the south?"
Her laugh was soft with exasperation. "Now there's a whole other can of worms. I'd be happy to discuss it over dinner, if you'd like."
She almost laughed again at his expression. It started blank, then shifted to pained. "Sorry... I have plans for tonight."
"Well, in that case, I'd rather not waste time talking business. How have you been, Heero?"
He shrugged almost awkwardly. "Work is steady, of course."
"Of course." Why couldn't the world just be at peace already? "Not working all the time, I hope?"
"Not... all the time."
"The Preventers will be holding their annual charity dinner next Friday, won't they?"
He nodded.
"Are you going?"
He nodded again.
"So am I. I look forward to it. It's never nearly as stuffy as some of the other events I have to attend."
"I don't believe a dinner can be all that stuffy when it's in a tent with a buffet line."
"But it's ever so much more practical for a charity. The fundraising is for a charity, not for throwing an expensive party. I don't suppose I could convince you to be my escort for the evening?" She turned one of her more beguiling smiles on him. While she was always interested in spending more time with Heero, she wasn't in the habit of proposing it more than once per meeting, but sometimes, it was just amusing to watch him try to graciously turn her down.
His pained expression returned. He seemed a little more uncomfortable than he usually did. "I..."
After a couple of seconds, she decided to let him off the hook. "Already have a date?" she teased.
He blinked, then blurted out a quick answer. "Yes."
She cocked her head slightly and gave him a curious look. He appeared to have not truly intended to say that. She didn't think he would feel the need to lie to her, but she was having trouble determining the exact nature of this 'date'.
He squirmed for a few more seconds before elaborating with a few rushed words. "I'm seeing someone."
"Oh?" She managed to make that sound like a question and not a statement of surprise. She also somehow managed to twist her next question into sounding like idle small talk. "Someone special?"
He avoided eye contact while putting together his answer. "I... hope so."
Since he was conveniently not looking at her, it gave her a little while to gather herself. He did look unexpectedly adorable sitting there thinking shyly about his potentially-special someone, and she did wish that he was looking that adorable because of her, but alas. She was disappointed, but found herself not unduly distraught. Perhaps it was because things were still in the 'potential' stage for him, but also perhaps because she wasn't sure she'd ever really thought she'd be able to win him. Heero was the kind of boy a girl waited for. He wasn't really the kind of boy a girl came home to.
She swept all of her internal pondering aside for later and moved on with the conversation, deliberately keep a light tone. "How long have you been seeing this someone?"
He glanced back to her, seeming to weigh his answer carefully. "Well... we've known each other for a while now. It's only been recently..."
"Ah. It's a 'date' tonight then, hmm?"
"Ah, well, dinner. I'm not sure 'date' is... quite the word I'd use."
She laughed softly. "'Very' recently, then?"
He ducked his head and shrugged a little, but it was answer enough. "Depends whom you ask. We... Well. It may or may not be complicated. We'll see."
Relena really tried not to press her curiosity, but it was quite the chore. Heero seemed dodgy on the whole subject, trying not just to be sparing of the details, but also being a little too carefully vague. He was trying to not to hurt her feelings. At least he cared that much. Could it be someone she knew, she wondered. She didn't see Heero getting to 'special someone' stage with someone who wasn't aware of his history. Who could it be? The idea of him attempting to date Dorothy was beyond laughable. Was it Sylvia? Relena knew she'd always had a little thing for Heero, and that Heero held her in a special regard. Was it her? She liked Sylvia, really, she did, but what did the girl have to offer that she couldn't?
There was a token knock on the door behind her before it swung open not even a second later. "Hey, Hee-- whoa, Relena? Long time no see."
She responded with an amiable smile and a nod. "Duo."
"Hope I wasn't interrupting anything?"
"No, not at all. I should probably get going, anyway." She stood and smoothed her pant suit down before turning back to Heero, who had risen to his feet with her. "I wouldn't want to keep you in the office any longer than I already have. You work too hard as it is."
Heero shot her a wry look, as if to imply a pot may have been calling a kettle names.
Duo laughed and stepped close enough to Heero to slap him on the back. "Yep, tell me about it. Don't worry, I got this guy in hand. I managed to wrangle him out of the office for some dinner."
Oh. Oh my. "Really?" Relena asked innocuously, just to get confirmation. It hardly seemed necessary, though, given the glare Heero shot him, or the way the glare turned on her as soon as she'd spoken.
"Yeah," Duo answered cheerfully. "We found a great review for this place we pass by all the time. Thought we'd finally try it out."
"I see." She noticed Heero's expression had slipped into resignation with a touch of apology and embarrassment. So much for all of his careful discretion. She couldn't help but laugh.
Duo gave her an odd look. "What's so funny?"
She just shook her head and snuck into Heero's personal space for a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek. When one was on the very short list of people Heero would allow to do so, one needed to take advantage of the privilege. "I'll leave you two to it, then. You'll have to let me know if it's any good. You, especially," she admonished Heero lightly before turning to give Duo the same friendly hug and kiss. "Will you two be going to the Preventers' charity dinner?"
"Uh, yeah," Duo answered, returning the hug. "We'll be there."
"Excellent." She beamed at them both, though more smugly at Heero. "We'll have more of a chance to chat then. I'll see you both there."
She left the office in a different mood from what she'd entered with. It wasn't bad, just... different. Well, if Heero had to find someone, at least he'd had the common courtesy to find someone so completely unlike her as to render comparisons meaningless. That would save her a good deal of trouble and let her shortcut to the end of this whole 'coming to terms' nonsense.
It didn't mean she wouldn't be curled up on the sofa tonight in her favorite pajamas with the classic movie channel and some comfort food, but at least she was quite certain she'd be able to tease them about things the next time she saw them.
OWARI
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