"Madame, we can't control those urges he feels when he's around that Darlian woman!" a man shouted.
The woman in the swivel chair turned to his direction.
"Increase the magnitude, Wilde. He'll pay for his damn memories if they ever seek him once more," she said rather angrily.
"But, Madame, if we do that, we'll hurt him," the man responded.
"That's the whole point of the SolChip. If he doesn't learn from his mistakes the first few rounds and doesn't find ways to control it, then I'm afraid that we've invested all our time and effort into another human being, and not that war-glorified specimen we've been tailing for quite some time. Continue!" "Yes, Madame," the man said meagerly.
~~~~~
Relena's hands left her temples as there was a knock on her door.
"Coming!"
Opening the door to the smiling face of Montel, she took the arm that was offered to her. Sighing as she snuggled up to him, she realized something. It hit her rather abruptly and hard, but all the affection that she had been showing him had stemmed off of her crushed love for Heero. But then she realized that somehow, her version of long ago Heero had died out. No, this is love for Montel, this is.
But there still might be that chance… where Heero might reveal himself like he did on that night so long ago. Nothing happened physically, but something did happened.
"Are you alright? Deep in thought, hmm?" Montel's voice cut across her thoughts.
"Just thinking how nice it is to have your company at a time like this, that's all," Relena replied.
Montel smiled at her and patted her hands gently. They reached the bottom of the stairs and walked towards the kitchen. Relena had her breath taken away as she saw the lovely decor of the kitchen.
The lights were completely turned off, and in place of the light bulbs were candles. The light threw off a soft glow that enhanced the mood. There were five plates at the table, and Relena breathed a sigh of relief as she noticed that. Lilies and snapdragons adorned the table and vines spilled onto the floor from the center of the table.
"Please, sit!" Hilde said, coming up behind them.
"Oh, Hilde, you're beautiful!" Relena said, admiring her friend.
"Oh, this old thing?!"
"Old thing?" Duo said, popping out from the shadows, "Didn't you buy that thing today?"
Hilde poked Duo as he hugged her from behind, smiling as she heard an "Oomph" from Duo.
"Where's He-I mean, where's Odin?" Relena asked, worried that he wouldn't keep his word.
"I'm here," Heero said, making his way into the kitchen.
Relena's jaw dropped to the floor and Hilde gently picked it up and placed it back. For a moment, Relena thought that the Angel of Death had come for her. Heero's pale complexion stood out against the dark garment that covered his body. The shadows and light played with his silhouette as he glided past Relena.
"Alright, now that we are all here, let's EAT!" Duo said rather enthusiastically.
"Not before we say our grace!" Hilde said.
"Fine, fine. Thank you, Shinigami, O Mighty Keeper of restless souls, for this drop-dead meal you had your servant prepare for us tonight. Heal these people tonight that joined us from their struggling battles and find... and find, uh... ripening fruit at the end of their dark passage because--"
Hilde cleared her throat to stop him and resumed herself.
"--because without this _faithful_ servant of yours, this banquet would not have been possible. Amen, now let's eat!"
"That was my line, Hilde!" Duo whined.
Hilde stuffed a sweet roll into Duo's mouth, which stopped his talking for the moment as the God of Death munched away happily. Relena, Montel, and Heero hesitated for a moment after that quick scene. The enticing smell got the best of them as they piled their plates up with food. Silence reigned over the five as they ate.
Two hours later, the table was cleared as Hilde set warm slices of apple pie in front of everyone. Hilde then heaped a large scoop of vanilla ice cream on the pie, finishing it off with sprinkles of cinnamon and nutmeg. The smell of cinnamon tickled Relena's nose.
"You're too much, Hilde," Montel said as he sank his teeth into the pie.
"Mmph mmph mmmmmmmmmmmph," Duo said, or rather, mumbled.
"I think Duo said 'I agree'," Relena said, giggling.
Duo shook his head vigorously to show that Relena was right. He flashed a Victory sign towards Relena as he went for a third helping. Heero ate quietly and slowly, savoring the warm pie in his mouth. A new sensation to his taste buds.
By the next hour, everyone was done and in the living room, talking. Montel asked Heero a heap of questions, much to Relena's dismay. Heero replied back coldly and smoothly, his actions precise with the careful choosing of his words. The night ended with Montel taking a graveyard shuttle back to Colony L1, for duty called him away. With apologies to Relena, they decided to meet again within the next month.
Relena and Montel walked to the station, so she could say good-bye to him. As he boarded the shuttle, he waved to her and Relena waved back. She felt weird at that moment, as a dreaded feeling washed deep within her. She felt relieved, of all things, that Montel wouldn't be seen until a few weeks.
"He's my boyfriend, how could I be feeling that way?" Relena asked herself.
Relena felt a chill blow through her bones, even though it was more than a little warm out. She rubbed her arms for warmth and turned to head back to Duo's house.
"You shouldn't be out here alone," a voice from the shadows said as she passed by.
Relena jumped up and almost shrieked as she saw whom the voice belonged to.
"Odin! You nearly scared me to death! Promise you won't sneak up on me like that!"
"I promise," Heero said after a few moments, "I won't do that again without giving you a warning."
"Thanks a lot," Relena said, making a slight face.
"Might I walk you back? After all, we are headed in the same direction," Heero said, half of his face obscured by the shadows that claimed him.
'This isn't Heero... this is Odin... but then how could it be Odin when it's Heero that I see?'
"That'd be nice," Relena said, looking down.
Heero cleared his throat as he offered her his arm. She looked at him, and took his arm. Relena was tempted to rest her head on his shoulders, but fought that urge. They quietly strolled through the city streets and parks, only whispering with each breath. The lights lit a dreamy path for the couple; only which they could see, but didn't know the other acknowledged it.
They passed by a row of yellow carnations, and Relena came to a slow stop.
"Oh, these are so beautiful!" Relena sighed as she let go of Heero's arm and stooped down to smell it.
Heero suddenly stooped down also, picking a single carnation and placed it in Relena's hands. Both were kneeling on the ground, staring intensely at each other. Heero had no idea why he did what he just did, but something, in his mind--no, in his heart--won this little battle.
Heero's hands clasped around Relena's hands, and she blushed under the soft light. As the magic of twilight and stardusts seeped its way around the two, their fingers intertwined as Heero leaned in to finally taste Relena's lips. Relena's heart beat a wild rhythm as she returned the kiss, slowly at first.
Our first kiss, Heero. They deepened the kiss to a flaming passion, a fire that went out of control. Relena broke the kiss first, knowing that guilt will soon stomp around in her mind for who knows how long. Heero moaned in disappointment, both finding them standing.
Heero held her tight to him, his hands tangled in her honey brown hair. Relena's nails dug their way into the back of his skin, slowly releasing the grip.
"Odin, why--"
Heero put a finger to her soft lips, tempted to move his finger and place his own lips there.
"Someone, faraway, long ago, told me it was best to act on your emotions."
They stayed frozen that way for a second, but eternity was what they both pictured. Heero offered her his arm again, giving her a rare genuine smile that burned into Relena's soul. She took his arm and they finished the rest of their journey together in silence.
As each separated and went to their own beds that night, confused thoughts and longing emotions surfaced in Heero's dream, as he saw Relena taken away from him, but returned with that same innocent smile. Every time he saw her face, he felt pain.
She smiled at him, taking his hands into her own. She opened new doors, gave him opportunities to redeem himself. Heero finally woke up, sweat covering his body as his sides burned with pain.
"Why does it hurt so much when I think of you?" Heero quietly whispered to himself.
~~~~~