3Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing. ^-^
Song used: A Different Way by DJ Snake (With Lauv)
Back to Zero
a 1xR, 3xR fanfic by Ines Kanoyan
Romance/Drama
Chapter 8 A Different Way
That day, Relena and Sophie met to talk about Arthur's past, Trowa decided to pick up Relena from the university. Things had been crazy for Relena and she wasn't able to properly celebrate her birthday.
He surprised her, as he suddenly showed up outside the main gate, where Relena usually exits.
"Trowa, what are you doing here?" Relena gasped.
"Let's celebrate." He replied, as he led her to his car.
"Celebrate what?" Relena asked, as Trowa ushered her in to the passenger's seat, while he himself joined her shortly.
Taking his seat at the driver's seat, he replied. "Your birthday, of course."
"My birthday was 2 days ago."
"And were we able to celebrate it properly?" he asked her, eyebrows raised.
Relena shook her head slowly. A wave of sadness passing across her features, as she remembered everything that had happened.
Trowa pinched her cheeks and said, "Quit those sad thoughts, I'm taking you out for pizza and if you smile a lot, maybe we could go for desserts."
Relena couldn't help but grin upon hearing the word 'desserts'. Trowa knew her so well.
Could you believe I could be different?
I'll be the difference, I'll lift you high
And I understand your hesitation
Our reputation, it's no surprise
Relena wasn't able to suppress the loud burp, as they exited the pizza parlor. She shyly glanced sideways at her companion, hoping he did not notice. Crimson shade crept up to her cheeks as she saw Trowa grinning wildly at her.
"That was undeniably loud, huh?" he teased.
"Trowa!" Relena cried as she hit him at his left shoulder, but it didn't seem to bother him at all. He was very happy that they could be like this now. That, he could tease her and make her forget her worries, even for a while.
He held her by the arm and said, "I'll treat you ice cream and let's see how louder that burp gets."
"How could-" Relena was cut off when Trowa suddenly ran for it. "Hey wait!"
They went inside Relena's favorite ice cream shop. A small shop near the university, with only a few seats, for most people just order take out and stroll down the streets. So, every time they ate there, it was like they had the place for themselves. It was Relena's happy place.
She smiled eagerly as Trowa arrived at their table carrying their orders. Since, today was her pseudo-birthday, Relena went overboard and ordered the Strawberry Smorgasboard - three scoops of strawberry ice cream, drizzled with thick chocolate sauce, almonds and with a healthy heaping of whipped cream. Trowa, on the other hand, ordered his usual boring vanilla ice cream.
Relena was busy enjoying her sundae when Trowa cleared his throat. She glanced up to him. He was looking at her and holding a black velvet box with a tiny bow on top of it.
Relena grinned as she realized something. "Is that your gift for me?"
Trowa nodded and handed her the box.
Relena almost lost it when she saw what was inside the box. "Trowa, this is-"
Inside, was a white gold necklace with a pendant of white gold mesh forming a sphere and inside it dangled a glittery sapphire stone.
"-too much," Relena said, as she slowly pushed the box away.
Trowa stood up and took the necklace and place it in Relena's neck. "No, it's not. It's perfect for you."
"But," Relena stammered as she touched the beautiful pendant. It glimmered in the soft sunlight that beamed from the shop window. "this is the kind of gift you buy for a special someone."
"You're someone special," Trowa replied, looking at her intently as he sat down again.
"I mean like a girlfriend. Trowa, what will your date think?" Relena fought back.
Trowa's brows furrowed quizzically. "Date?"
"I knew you were with someone that day,"
"When?" he asked, still not following.
"My birthday. When I called you, you weren't yourself. I figured you must be with someone." Relena explained.
"I was buying your present that time. I was so mesmerized with it too that I wasn't able to talk to you properly."
They both stared at the necklace once again. Trowa, eyeing it, as Relena held the pendant again, while staring at it.
"I'll take care of this. Please don't mind if I don't wear it often. You know what a clutz, I am. I'll end up losing this." Relena said, as she took it off and placed it back into the box.
"Sure, no worries. I'm glad you liked it."
Relena frowned and said, "Geez, if this is the kind of gift you give your friends, your girlfriend must be so lucky!"
"You bet!" Trowa teased, as he took a spoonful of his ice cream.
So let me redefine you
And you can see the tide move
Just like tears in the eyes do
And when you're feeling alone
Oh, baby, I'll be right here
Between the sea and silence
So breathe easy my dear
You can find sunshine in the rain
As they were driving back to Relena's condo, Trowa decided it was time to tackle the difficult topic of Heero Yuy.
"So, how did it go with Sophie?" he asked, throwing a quick sideways glance at Relena.
Relena slowly sat upright upon hearing the question. She was hoping to avoid the subject entirely after such a perfect afternoon with Trowa.
"She was very perceptive and understanding. She cares about him a lot. Arthur is so different from Heero." Relena started off, uneasy and uncomfortable.
"I see," Trowa replied, contemplating. He wanted to be gentle and to not push Relena into overthinking. "You told her about the wars?"
"I covered everything, Operation Meteor, the Gundams, the Zero System." Relena replied softly.
'The Zero System,' Trowa gasped silently to himself. That maybe, the most difficult to explain. Physical pain and death was something all soldiers were taught to endure but psychological conditioning were the worst terrors for anyone in the battlefield.
"Sophie cried while I was narrating everything. She was sheltered enough to not have experience war first hand. Her family, treated Heero like he was their own." Relena continued. "Trowa, you wouldn't believe how cool and casual Arthur is. He is friendly, he smiles a lot, he, even jokes!"
Relena's voice tensed up as she was telling Trowa these, Trowa replied, "Well, he used to joke before, but it always coupled with his deadly glares."
Relena sighed, detecting that Trowa was trying to lighten up the mood. "Sophie just wanted to make sure, Arthur wouldn't be hurt."
Trowa wasn't able to reply. There was no way Heero or Arthur wouldn't be hurt. They were all victims of the war. They were the weapons. Hurt and pain was synonymous with their being. They were hurt and they have caused massive pain. It was a million times harder for Heero, who had no one- no one but her.
"You told her, about you?" he asked. "Who you are to Heero,"
"I said that I was his target but he failed to kill me and ending up fighting by my side. I told her he was the Perfect Soldier,"
She had said this with an undeniable tone of sadness that pierced his heart. The way the words 'perfect soldier' rolled of her tongue burst with so much affection and longing. He almost wanted to pull over and wrap her to an intense embrace.
But, he wanted her to continue faking her strength. He would train her to be strong. To hold her tears, but he would make sure that he was there, when she couldn't hold on anymore.
I will come running when you call my name
Even a broken heart can beat again
Forget about the one who caused you pain
I swear I'll love you in a different way
TO BE CONTINUED...
A/N: Another 3xR chapter! Please reread the prequel for this at my inactive account Ines Kanoyan, the title is Back to Zero. I plan to finish this off along with my other story, Fatal Five.
Please read and review! Would love to hear from new readers!