Bittersweet Part 2
The rain had stopped- of course! For the Vice-Minister's party, the skies had to be clear. I made my way down the streets towards the park where the party was to take place. It wasn't hard to find. The streets were packed with people heading out to see the Vice Minister and maybe get some free food. The party itself was being held in a tent in the center of the park, but I was sure that most of the people would be outside.
I was right. There was a line to get into the tent, but there were tons of tables set up in the damp grass. There were pots of coffee and hot chocolate, and it looked like they were handing out cookies too. Nothing really expensive, but there was plenty of it, and that's what mattered.
People were milling everywhere- I was sure that the Preventers had agents mixed in with the crowd in and outside of the tent. I joined the line. I didn't really want to get that close to Relena, but once I was inside the tent I would be able to move away from the line and... do what I needed to do.
I wasn't really sure what that was though... Was I doing all this just to look? To see Heero in person? I had no intention of going up to talk to him- after our last talk the idea was unpleasant. Abandoning what he saw as my duty would just be fuel for his fire. He wouldn't have any kind words for me.
So why was I here again?
The line was moving at a good pace, we'd soon be inside the tent. I'd have to watch for an opportunity to slip out of line and mingle with the crowd I was sure had to be in there.
Once I reached the doorway, my heart sank. The line was outlined by a series of ropes that led up to a small stage where Relena stood shaking hands with people- I could just see the top of her head from where I was standing. There were plenty of people in the tent- and more cookie and drink tables, but the crowd was slightly smaller. Worse- the Preventer agents in here were in uniform- and they were everywhere. There was no way I could get out of line without someone noticing and giving me a second look.
My disguise was pretty good though- I was wearing green and brown, colors that I had never worn a year ago, and I had tucked my braid and most of my bangs up under a flat cap. I let the ends out a bit on the sides and back so it looked like I had one of the stylish brush cuts. Glasses perched on my nose, tinted just enough to distort the color of my eyes. My boots were built up a bit on the bottom, so when I stood straight up, I seemed taller than my real height.
Maybe I could fool them even on a second look... if I didn't mess up.
I let my eyes scan the crowd wondering if Heero was up on the platform with Relena, or somewhere in this press of people.
I spotted Quatre first- I saw him in a corner, talking to a group of men in suits. He was in his element- arguing a point and flattening his opponents. I could tell by the way his head was tilted and the smile that rested on his lips. I knew that look.
His eyes would occasionally move over the crowd- a habit left over from the war- and I was happy to see his eyes pass right over me. Sure enough, the minor changes I had made to my appearance seemed to do the trick.
The line moved along and I got closer to Relena. I was finally near enough to see that she had two Preventers standing beside her- the one closest to me was Sally Po, the one on the other side was Heero. Wufei must be working the crowd, I surmised, along with Trowa.
Relena was smiling and nodding, shaking each person's hand, letting them talk to her for a moment, replying to each. I knew every person in this line tonight would never forget the moment that the Peacecraft Princess had given them all of her attention. The thing was- I knew she'd never forget it either. Relena truly cared about the people she served- an oddity even in these times.
Heero was a coiled spring by her side. The tension was practically rolling off of him- I could see it in the set of his shoulders, the way his eyes scanned the crowd. I knew he must hate this- every moment wondering if someone was going to slip through the crowd and start something.
It was so good to see him, despite the way it made my chest hurt. I watched him watching the crowd and it was almost like the old days...
I wondered if he missed me being his backup, if he missed me straightening his tie for him, if he missed my customary kiss before we left on the job, if he missed my comments that I would make over the headset just to get him to smile a little...
Remembering the things he had said to me on that last day- I doubted it. My stomach tensed at the memory.
I was getting closer, and I knew I had to keep myself calm. Any tension in me would be read as a threat and that meant Sally and Heero would focus on me. That was the last thing I wanted.
Besides, I reminded myself, it would be arrogant to assume they were looking for me at all. Why would they? I had resigned from the Preventers- maybe Une hadn't been happy about it but after she suspended me, she could hardly complain if I chose to vanish instead... there was no reason to look for me, no one would care if I did turn up...
That did the trick. I felt myself relaxing into my role, felt the devil-may-care smile touch my lips. I had nothing to loose. I moved closer, unseen, letting myself take long looks at Heero- not long enough to trip his alarms, but enough to satisfy me.
Then the person in front of me was shaking Relena's hand vigorously and talking about some sporting event. Relena was nodding politely. Sally was watching, looking amused, and Heero was eying the man like a Doberman waiting for the order to tear his throat out.
Just as Relena started to reply to the sports fanatic, Trowa materialized by Heero's shoulder, claiming his attention. I was almost disappointed, but it was a good thing that those eyes of his weren't on me, I reminded myself. Sally was looking back at Trowa too, my luck was holding...
The sports fan moved on. It was my turn.
"Hello," Relena said to me, extending her hand. Her smile was polite and warm, but there was no recognition on her face. My disguise was working.
I took her hand in a gentle grip. Poor girl might have calluses by now after all this hand shaking. "'Ello," I said to her, imitating Nell's accent. "I just wanted to meet you. Something to tell the grandkids about someday, yes?"
I focused on her, not on the people behind her, contenting myself with only a brief glance. This close it was dangerous to do more.
Heero's lips were drawn tight, and he was shaking his head. I knew that look. Something was frustrating him. I remembered how I used to try and soothe that expression off his face...
Except for the last time I had seen it- when it was directed at me...
"It is my pleasure," Relena was saying, unaware of my wandering attention. "I truly didn't realize how many people there would be though! I hope no one is mad about waiting, but I may have to sit down soon!"
"You should take a break," I scolded her, without thinking. "You always did work too hard."
Suddenly her eyes widened and her whole expression changed to one of complete surprise. I saw her mouth silently form my name.
I felt as if I had been drenched in cold water. She recognized me! How?
Then I realized- I had kept the accent- but the words were mine. How often had I scolded her about working too hard in that exact way?
Her hand tightened around mine. "Don't!" I said softly even as her mouth opened a little. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have..."
At that moment, Heero turned his head and looked me full in the face. Our eyes met and I saw his expression change into one of complete shock.
Fuck.
TBC...
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