Life... Really Part 2
"Hi, Heero! I didn't expect to find you here!" The cheerful voice called from behind him. Heero sighed deeply, his shoulders falling.
Looking over his shoulder, from where he sat at the top of the rock, he replied flatly, "Hello, Relena." Of all the things his mother had planned out for him, at least he could rest assured that who he married was never one of them.
The blonde girl was smiling up at him in her pale green sun dress, with her robotic puppy in the shape of a cocker spaniel at her side. "I was just taking Jasmine, here, for a walk," she grinned. The said 'puppy' yelped as its tail wagged excitedly.
Forcing himself to be polite, Heero rose from the rock to jump down to the grass. He supposed that he shouldn't be so rude to the girl. She really was nice to him, even if it was due to the infatuation that he and his friends knew she had for him.
Meanwhile, Heero never thought of being in a relationship with anyone, really. He had so many other things to worry about, so many other things that his parents had planned for him. While he was flattered that such a girl would be attracted to him, he really didn't know the first thing about what to do about it, nor did he really want to.
Shifting on her feel almost nervously, Relena bit her bottom lip before asking, "So, are you going to be attending the Freshman dance next month?"
Able to breathe a sigh of relief inwardly, he shook his head and answered, "There is an important board meeting that I have to attend with my mother that night. I won't be able to make it."
He could almost hear her heart break as she frowned sadly, "Oh. I see." Sensing her master's disappointment, Jasmine gave a small whimper as she hiked up to place her front paws up on her owner's leg.
"Well, I know that Quatre is looking for a date that night, if you're looking for someone," Heero quickly added, trying to amend having to let her down. While he did not have any interest in having a relationship with her, he never intended to hurt her in any way.
Relena did brighten a little at that and nodded with a small smile, "All right. I think I'll do that." Bending a bit at the waist, she pat the top of her pet's head to soothe it as Jasmine licked her hand with a metal tongue.
The girl straightened again and tilted her head a bit as she commented, "I don't often see you out and about like this without the other three."
The Japanese teenager shrugged, "They're all busy with meeting of some kind until later tonight. Normally, that's what I would be doing, but my mother is away on business for the next week."
Looking at his watch, he stated, "Actually, I should be heading back home. My mother will be trying to reach me soon."
"Well, maybe I'll see you later then," Relena smiled sweetly. "Tell Quatre to leave his card open. I'll call him before Monday."
"I'll do that," he reassured her with a nod and a wave before walking off. If anything, their meeting just helped take care of two problems with one stone.
Heero knew that Quatre would be too shy to just start asking girls if they needed a date, and now he didn't have to leave Relena down and out by having to turn her down. With much trouble involved in just attending a dance, he was relieved that he wouldn't have to go.
* * * * * *
The video phone rang to announce the incoming call, right at the top of the 0100 hour. Heero opened it to see the smiling face of his mother when their cobalt eyes met. "Good afternoon, son," she greeted.
Returning the smile, he replied, "Hello, mother. How are things on Colony D43? Were you able to find what you needed for your upcoming trial?"
Her smile faltered only slightly as she brushed her blonde red bangs from her face. "I have a lot of work cut out for me while I am here. There are a lot of holes in the files that will need to be fixes if they're going to help the defense for the Johnson's trial. I may be even more delayed in returned home than I had hoped."
"Then they sent the right person to straighten everything out," he smirked. "You haven't lost a trial in more than ten years."
Danielle Yuy chuckled deeply, "Ah, Heero, one can never allow themselves to become too confident. But, I thank you for your faith in me, nonetheless."
Heero nodded and asked, "Do you have any assignments for me while you're away? I am already finished up my homework for the weekend."
For a moment, his mother thought it over before answering, "To be honest, I have so many things to sort through here, I am not really sure where to start. I have Julie and David here with me to help me for the time being. I'll probably need your help in a couple days, just making some contacts for me and some faxing for the most part. We'll take care of the bulk of the work here."
"I'm here whenever you need me," Heero told her.
She smiled and replied gently, "I know you are, son. You always have been." Yawning as she stretched, she suggested, "You should enjoy the rest of the weekend. You've been working very hard with me for several months straight now. At least you'll have a few days before I'll need your assistance again."
He was somewhat surprised. It had been a long time since she allowed him some time to himself. While she was gone, he had expected to have a file of work to on in order to help his mother prepare for her client's case.
It had been so long since Heero had any real time to himself, he really wasn't sure what he was going to do with it now. It was a long weekend with a school holiday on Monday. What was he going to do for two-and-a-half days?
"Just don't do anything that you wouldn't do if I was there," his red-haired mother warned in a light manner with a wink. "Remember that Noin and Zechs are still there to keep an eye on you for me."
Shaking his head, Heero laughed lightly, "I wouldn't know how to get in trouble if it fell into my lap." At that, his mother laughed along with him, knowing the truth of it.
When she gained her composure, she said, "Well, I better be going. I need to make some headway in this mess over here. Have a good weekend, Heero. I'll call in a couple days."
He nodded, "Okay. Take care, mom. I love you." She replied the same before the connection was cut off.
Closing the video phone, Heero sat back in the chair at his desk. Here, he had the fax machine, printer, intercom and computer fired up, ready for whatever assignments his mother would have for him. He went about turning everything off in his large, private office as he tried to come up with something that he could do to stay occupied for the next few hours.
Once the office was closed, he want downstairs to find Noin dusting the bookshelves in the living room. Looking up from her work, she smiled and questioned, "Did you hear from your mother?"
He frowned and nodded, "Yes. She said that it may be a while before she'll need my help in the case. I'll have the next couple days off before she'll probably send anything."
"Well, now you get to enjoy the long weekend," the young woman grinned brightly. "I can hardly remember the last time you were able to do that?"
Quickly, he inquired, "Do you remember what I did with myself then? What I did with all that free time? I'm not sure what I am going to do before school starts again."
Noin's face was turned away from him so he missed the sad frown on her face at hearing such a thing. It broke her heart knowing how much he was missing out on because of what his parents had wanted for him. He never had a say in the matter. They never even thought if this was the kind of life he wanted. Noin considered herself like Heero's older sister since she came to work with the Yuy's. It pained her that there was not more she could do for him.
Careful to hide her frown, she turned back to him as she suggested, "Well, Quatre and the others should be finishing up with their meetings, if I remember what you told me yesterday correctly. Why don't pay them a visit when they're available?"
Not used to having the opportunity to visit his friends on the weekend too often, it was not wonder why the idea did not just come on Heero's own invention. He was still disoriented in realizing how much time to himself he had. Thinking it over a moment, he nodded, "That sounds like a good idea. I think I'll do that."
After overhearing part of the conversation as he stepped into the room, Zechs asked the Japanese teenager, "Would you like me to drive you to Quatre's house? I just finished washing the limo and cars."
Shaking his head, Heero replied, "No, I can walk. It's a nice day and not that far. But thank you for the offer, Zechs." The tall man grinned at him and nodded as the boy walked out the door. "I'll be back time for dinner at six as always," he called over his shoulder.
Zechs called over his shoulder, "Supposedly, we're going to get some rain tonight. If it starts before then, give me a call when you're ready to be picked up."
"Okay," Heero answered before the tall door closed after him.
Noin's shoulders fell as she leaned against the back of the sofa, frowning deeply. "That poor kid," she said softly. Looking up the object of her affection, she sighed deeply, "We'll never have wealth of our own, Zechs, but our lives are so much richer than that poor child's will ever be at this rate."
Taking a deep breath, Zechs sighed sadly as well as he looked back to the front door. "I know." He ran a hand through his blonde bangs and frowned, "I feel sorry for him as well. But really, there is only so much we can do for him now."
She folded her arms across her waist, as if suppressing a shiver as she replied, "Still, I wish that we could do more than just sit back and act like this is all right. Heero has no idea that this is not what life is really like.
"His friends have the same fate, so as far as he's concerned, this is all there is for him. I know that their mothers and fathers meant well for him when they made these great plans when their children were born."
The young maid's hand moved about in vague gestures of grandeur as she continued, "Look at everything that Mister Yuy had to enjoy before he passed away. But how happy was he really? Wealth and recognition only go so far."
Another shudder ran through Noin as she rubbed her arms and lowered her head. "I wonder how much of what he owned Heero's father would have given back to have just a few days to really enjoy the simple things that he missed out on." She bit her lip and said in a near whisper, "And now Heero will share the same fate if this keeps up."
Zechs walked over to her and held her tightly against him, rubbing her back soothingly. "I am as concerned for him as you are, Noin. Don't forget that I had known this family for quite some time before you came. While that does not make your feeling less accountable, I know how the urge to do something could consume a person if they have not had experience in matters like this."
When they pulled apart, Noin wiped at the tears that fell as she questioned, "So, you're saying that we just sit back and continue to do nothing? We just let this whole charade go on and let a young boy be led into a life that he has no say in?"
Lifting her chin so that his eyes met her reddening orbs, Zechs said gently, "There are some things that are beyond our control. But, we can continue to be the support for Heero that we have been and hope that he opens his eyes to what is happening to him. He's the only one who can change all of this. We can't push him into realization that he is not ready for."
At that, Noin took a deep breath and closed her eyes as she nodded, "I can understand that... Heero needs to somehow make the choice on his own to change things." She sniffed slightly and whispered, "It's just hard sometimes."
Zechs decided to take a chance and placed a soft kiss at the top of her head, noticing the sharp gasp from the young woman. "Believe me when I say that I feel the same. After all, he has grown on us quite a bit." He finished the last part with a small smile. "But you'll see that in the end, it'll be the best for him. And I know you want the best for your 'little brother' as I do."
The dark-haired woman had to fight the blush that threatened to color her cheeks at the kiss that she could still feel, even though Zechs's lips were no longer pressed against her forehead. She smiled warmly up at him and replied sincerely, "You're right. Thank you, Zechs. I am sorry that I let this get the best of me."
His own smile grew as he said in response, "There is nothing for you to be sorry about. I consider that boy as much my own family as you do. For his sake, we have to stay strong for him."
At her firm nod, he stepped back and winked at her before leaving the room. Noin worked to find her footing, now feeling the full effect of a blush on her cheeks. She couldn't help but smile to herself, at knowing that maybe Zechs really was attracted to her. Sighing to herself, she pushed those thoughts aside for the time begin and returned to her work. There was a lightness to her step for the remainder of the day.
* * * * * *
Heero knocked on the door to Quatre's grand home and he heard Treize bark from inside. Looking up into the tiny camera at the top of the doorway, he smirked slightly and folded his arms. A second later, the automatic lock was unhitched and the door opened. No doubt, his Arabian friend was surprised to see him at his doorstep that afternoon.
Stepping inside, he looked down at Treize, the 'puppy' sitting with its metallic tail wagging excitedly when it recognized him. Heero took a moment to bend down and pat the top of his head, muttering, "Good boy." It never ceased to strike him odd at how a robot could really be considered a pet. Still, he played along with it.
Quatre entered the room with a bright smile as he exclaimed, "This is a pleasant surprise! A visit from Heero Yuy on a Saturday!" He extended his hand and the longtime friends shook firmly.
When he pulled his hand away, the blonde teenager gestured for the other to follow as he walked towards the back of the house. "Trowa and Wufei are both out back on the patio. I was just coming inside to get some drinks ready. Would you like anything?"
As they stepped into the large kitchen, Heero shrugged, "I could go for a glass of milk. Thank you."
More than willing to oblige, as always, Quatre punched in four items on the touch computer in the side of the refrigerator. Four glasses appeared in the panel beneath the computer screen. The requested drinks poured down into the tall glasses until they reached near the rims.
After they were filled, the glasses were extended out of the refrigerator on a metal tray. Quatre took two of the glasses, one being his own cup of soda. Taking his own glass of milk and a second glass, Heero followed the Arabian to the back patio.
Once they stepped out into the warm afternoon air, they found Trowa and Wufei sitting at one of the round, white tables shaded by a tall umbrella over it. Looking up to their friends, both young men smiled at the sight of the Japanese youth.
"Well, well. Never would have thought that we would see you here today," Trowa commented with a grin.
Beside him, Wufei nodded, "I can't recall the last time we saw you out and about on a Saturday. Is everything all right with your mother's case?"
Handing his Chinese friend his drink and taking a seat beside him, Heero replied, "There are a lot more holes in the defense than she had thought. She told me that it will be a couple days before she has enough of the load sorted out to start sending me any assignments." He closed his eyes as he took a long sip from his milk. Lowering the glass, he concluded, "So, I have the remainder of the long weekend to myself."
There was a long silence and for a moment, Heero wasn't sure what he had said that made the others all stare at him with wide eyes. Looking from one to another, he finally asked, "What?"
Quatre was the first to speak as he asked, "What are you going to do will all that free time? I can't remember the last time I had a few days where I didn't have to do something or go somewhere."
At that, Trowa piped in with a snort, "I don't think that any one of us can. It's easily been a couple of years since any of us had that much time."
"I'd say more than that," Wufei commented with a deep frown in thought. "It's hard enough for us to meet for a couple hours on a day like this. If Summer hadn't cancelled our date so that I could meet with Doctor Phillips early, I wouldn't have been able to be here now."
Taken off guard by what he had just said, Heero forgot about the subject at hand for a moment and inquired, "Summer cancelled your date to the movies? As much as she was all over you when you were 'officially dating'," he emphasized with gesturing quotation marks with his hands, "as you put it before, I thought Hell would have to freeze over before she cancelled spending time with you."
Rolling his eyes, Wufei stated, "Yea, that was until she found someone else to cling to now that she knows we're just friends. Her new boyfriend is taking her out, instead."
"What are you going to do for a date for the Freshman dance now?" Quatre asked, a sad frown on his face. "It's only a month before the event."
No concern rolled off the Chinese youth as he shrugged, "I'll just talk to Merian. As far as I know, she's available for the night."
Trowa almost choked on his drink. Sputtering, he looked over at the dark-haired boy and half-coughed, half-chuckled, "You mean the same girl that you've been pining over since we started high school who won't give you the time of day because she thinks that your blatant chauvinism is overbearing?"
With an undignified look, Wufei shouted, "I have not been pining over her!" At that, his three friends fell into loud rounds of laughter. His eyes narrowing, His folded his arms and grumbled in admission, "Fine, maybe I have been." Raising a finger to the air, he yelled over their subsiding laughter, "But that is not a sign of weakness."
Drying a tear from laughing so hard, the brunette snickered, "Of course it isn't, Wufei. I wish you all the luck in the world to you getting her to agree to attend the dance with you. You're going to need it."
Wufei raised an eyebrow. "Is that a challenge?"
"Maybe," Trowa replied, a smirk on his face as he leaned in towards him.
Looking from Trowa to Wufei and back again, Quatre pleaded, "Oh no, not this again, guys. The last time that you two made a bet, I had to swear that I never knew either of you for over a month. I would never have heard the end of it from my sisters, otherwise. Iria wouldn't talk to me for weeks when she found out that I was involved after the fact."
Heero leaned back in his seat with his arms folded behind his head as he insisted in a dry voice, "Let them do it. How often do we get to have entertainment like that? We still have the pictures from the last time."
Wufei sat up in his chair and warned with a threatening glare, "Are you're all dead if any of you show them to anyone else!"
Nonchalantly shrugging, Heero replied, "Only if you're good." The Chinese teenaged growled dangerously at him.
"Shall we make the same bet as before?" Trowa asked, breaking up their little sparring match.
Turing his gaze back to his tall friend, Wufei nodded firmly and answered, "Why not? It'd be good to have justice served after the last bet that you got lucky on." The deal settled, they shook firmly on it as Quatre groaned.
At recalling the Freshman dance, Heero looked over to the smallest of the quartet. "That reminds me. You should be receiving a call some time today, Quatre."
He blinked at him in surprise. "A call? From who?" No sooner had the questions passed his lips did the vid phone ring. Sitting up slightly, he looked to the Japanese boy for an answer.
"That must be her," was all Heero offered.
With his eyes widening, Quatre almost paled as he gulped, "Her?"
"Her?" both Trowa and Wufei asked in their own states of shock. At the next ring, all three boys sprang from their chairs and bounded into the house. Shaking his head with a smirk, Heero followed behind them at a casual pace.
Opening the vid phone, Quatre blinked in shock at the image on the screen as he felt his palms beginning to sweat from nervousness. "R-Relena!?" The young woman smiled warmly at him. Having to remind himself to smile back, the Arabian laughed nervously, "Well this is a pleasant surprise."
"Hello, Quatre," the girl replied kindly. "I hope that I am not calling at a bad time." Trowa and Wufei stood back in the doorway of the living room, leaning closely to hear the conversation without being seen. Heero walked up behind them and listened as well as Quatre insisted quickly that she was not disturbing him.
Relena's smile grew as she said, "Good. I have a favor to ask you." At the boy's wide eyes and moving mouth, that could not find any words, she asked, "Would you accompany me at the Freshman dance next month?"
* * * * * *
As he stepped from the house, Heero chuckled deeply to himself at how shocked Quatre had been to have a girl ask him to be their date to a dance. Recalling how quickly the little blonde had grabbed a pad and paper when he accepted, once he finally found his voice to do so, to jot down everything that he needed.
Relena had been very sweet to his friend, being very patient and helping with all the details that would need to be taken care of for their date. In her voice, Heero could tell that she was more excited about going to the dance at seeing how Quatre reacted to her invitation. He was actually proud of his the Arabian handled himself, never being one to be very comfortable talking to a lovely girl. As nervous as he was, he made it through the conversation and had come across well.
Heero never did tell Quatre or the others that Relena was intending on asking him out to the dance first. That really didn't matter, and he didn't want to dampen Quatre's excitement and joy in now having a date that he did not have to ask out, himself. Content with that choice, Heero left feeling pretty good about how the world was going right about then.
That was when the rain decided to come.
All of a sudden, the rain that had been holding off decided to downpour at that moment, leaving the Japanese teenager drenched in minutes. Cursing to himself, Heero decided to continue to walk home. It was only a couple blocks away, and he was wet anyway. Zechs and Noin would worry, though, if he didn't get back soon. It was almost dinner time.
Quickening his pace, as he pulled his light coat tighter over him, Heero made his way down the streets as puddle splashed under his feet. Rounding the corner to his block, he paused with a sharp gasp. His cobalt eyes widened at the sight of a brown ball of fur that was lying still in the middle of the road.
At the realization that there were no cars approaching, he ran into the street and crouched over the still form. It was the same kitten that he has seen on his front porch that morning. It was sprawled on the ground and looked to have been hit by something. Perhaps the animal was caught off guard in the rain and made a dash for cover, only to be struck by an oncoming car that it did not see.
Placing his fingers over the lifeless kitten, Heero gasped when he heard a tiny, pained meow. "You're still alive," he whispered in awe. Still alive or not, the poor cat was not in good shape. Gently, he scooped the unconscious creature into his hand, shielding it under his coat from the rain.
As quickly as his feet would allow, he ran back to his house.
TBC...
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