68Once upon another time
Somebody's hands who felt like mine
Turned the key and took a drive
Was free…
Once upon another time
Before I knew which life was mine
Before I left the child behind me
I saw myself in summer nights
And stars lit up like candlelight
I make my wish but mostly I believe
No enemies to call my own
No porch light on to call me home
And where I was is beautiful
Because I was free
Once upon another time
Decided nothing good in dying
So I would just keep on driving
Because I was free
"Once Upon Another Time," Sara Bareilles
Evening fell, and by then Heero and Relena had left the confines of the Sanc Castle and taken Heero's rental car into the village. At least, Relena assumed he'd rented a car, and not stolen one, although with Heero Yuy one could never be too sure… but she wasn't worried about that at the moment.
Tonight, she was determined to enjoy what time they had together. Ever since Heero had revealed the truth of the future that awaited her, courtesy of the Preventer order to have her cryogenically frozen to prevent a worldwide tragedy, well… Relena was beginning to realize just how precious every moment they had truly was, and she wasn't about to take any of it for granted.
And so for now, she managed to push all of the unpleasant thoughts swirling in her mind aside. Now, it was all about her and Heero, together, the way she'd long wished they would be. She'd left the castle practically giddy, and her excitement continued as they wound their way through the village together, her arm tucked inside Heero's, moving together as one. They had to dodge piles of snow on the cobblestone streets, and more than once Relena started to slip, but Heero was too close to let her fall. Her heart soared, and she hoped things would always be that way. Then again, he had promised they would be.
He had vowed to protect her, to follow her to another world. That was no small thing. Every time she thought of that, of his promise to her, a fresh shiver ran over her. It was as welcome as the intimacy they now shared.
But Relena forced her thoughts from carrying her away as they entered the tiny bistro together, a haven of warmth and savory, inviting smells. It was her favorite place to eat in the village, and sure enough, the other patrons hardly paid them any mind. Then again, she wasn't sure anyone even recognized her, and wondered if her casual dress had anything to do with it. She'd chosen a soft pink sweater and jeans, and knee-high boots that matched her camel wool coat. Part of her had wanted to dress to the nines, but she'd also wanted Heero to feel comfortable and figured a fancy night on the town would not be the best move for their first date. Meanwhile, Heero was wearing the same clothes he'd arrived to Sanc in: a gray sweatshirt, jeans, combat boots, and a blue jacket that Relena doubted was remotely warm enough to combat the frigid January air. But if Heero was cold or uncomfortable, he didn't let it show.
As usual, his face was a mask as they were seated at a small round table toward the back of the restaurant. Relena hoped being tucked away in a corner would please Heero, but after they'd been seated, his features fell into a scowl, and stayed that way for a good long while.
It didn't take Relena long to realize that the Heero Yuy she'd encountered behind closed doors was far different from Heero Yuy out in public.
His posture was completely rigid while his eyes darted after every person that came and went. And while he managed to keep occupied sawing his meal with his knife and fork, it looked like he'd hardly eaten anything. Relena was doing her best to make pleasant conversation, continually complimenting the food and atmosphere, asking Heero about his meal; but he was practically unresponsive, unless his occasional grunts and "Hms" were supposed to count as conversation.
Eventually, Relena stopped mid-sentence and sighed, glaring pointedly at him, but Heero didn't pick up on her annoyance as his eyes latched onto even the slightest movement on the other side of the room. To Relena's mounting irritation, her date's attention was focused on anything and everything but her.
When only hours ago, she had all but blurted her undying love for him, now she wanted to kick him under the table.
"Heero," she hissed. "Could you please just relax?"
Heero's eyes slid to hers, his expression slightly baffled. "Huh?"
Relena couldn't help it; she began stamping her foot underneath the table. "You've been distracted this entire time."
Heero frowned and straightened up in his seat. "Sorry," he said simply. Then he glanced about the room again before returning his attention to his plate.
Relena continued to gape at him, her face burning as her irritation mounted.
"Sorry?" she cried, pushing back from her seat. "Couldn't you try a little harder? This is supposed to be a date, Heero."
His eyes snapped back up to hers. "Sorry," he said again. "I guess I don't really know what I'm doing." His frown deepened. "This… isn't really my thing."
Relena's brows arched at that. "What do you mean, not your 'thing'? So eating food is not your 'thing'?"
Heero's eyes sparked, and his lips twitched. "Okay, fine, yeah," he said with a smirk. "Just… not like this."
Relena looked at him askance. "You mean in a restaurant? With other people?"
He nodded. "Exactly."
Relena's brows seemed to be launching upward of their own accord. "So how do you normally eat?"
Heero shrugged one shoulder. "Alone."
"And do you prefer it that way?"
He paused to take a bite of his food, his eyes continuing to scan the room. "Most of the time, yeah."
"Most of the time?"
Their waiter reappeared to refresh their drinks before Relena could probe Heero any further. And as soon as the young man vanished to the back of the restaurant, Heero resumed his surveillance routine. Relena sighed audibly.
"You weren't like this at dinner the other night," she said pointedly. "With Cornelius and his wife? You were pretty social, then…" She sighed again, sinking her cheek into her palm.
Heero's eyes glittered. "Yeah, well, there weren't as many variables."
"You mean people?"
She took his silence as confirmation, and couldn't help rolling her eyes. "Oh, Heero... I told you before, this place is perfectly safe. But if you're so uncomfortable, we should just leave." With a huff, she pushed back from the table, and made as if to stand. But she didn't get very far before Heero reached out and grasped her hand. She glared at him but remained seated.
"What?" she said tersely.
His stare pinned her in place. "Tell me something about your childhood."
Relena's eyes bulged. "Wh-what?"
Heero released her hand, his expression neutral and vacant. "That's usually something people talk about on a date… right?"
He might as well have smacked her upside the head. "I… I suppose, yes." If this was Heero's way of making more of an effort, it was downright bizarre. Then again, Relena did want him to open up more, so she was going to have to go with it.
"All right." She leaned forward in her seat and gave Heero a mischievous smile. "Tell me something, then."
He shook his head and picked up his glass of water. "I asked you first."
Relena frowned at him. "But you already know all about my childhood." Over the past few years, she had told him much of what she could remember from her early childhood. And, of course, he already knew about the pampered life she'd led as the daughter of the Vice Foreign Minister, before her entire world was turned upside down…
Relena must have gotten lost in her thoughts, because the sound of Heero clearing his throat startled her.
"Sorry," she murmured, straightening in her seat. "I guess I'm having trouble remembering anything happy to discuss…"
Heero shrugged. "It doesn't have to be happy. But maybe you should try to think of something, anyway."
Relena smiled at that. "Well… I suppose the last time I was truly happy as a child was three summers ago, when my parents took me on safari in Africa." Her smile grew wider at the memory. "I'd always wanted to see these great animals up close like that… and not in zoo cages, either. They were so… free."
It came back to her in a rush, that blissful, carefree summer. It was the last vacation she'd taken with both her parents; after that, the only time she'd gotten to travel with her father was when he'd allowed her to tag along on his business trips to the colonies. But Relena didn't want to gripe about that, knowing she would sound like a spoiled rich girl. Instead, she kept to the subject at hand.
"I got to feed baby giraffes, and elephants," she said excitedly, leaning closer to Heero over the table. "And the zebras! I know they're basically striped horses, but they were so beautiful in person." She could feel her eyes welling up despite her smile. "I suppose I'll never experience anything like that again; there won't be animals like that on Mar-"
Heero's mouth closed over hers before she could get out the rest of her sentence. Relena's eyes widened at the sudden contact. Just as abruptly, Heero broke away and sat back in his chair. And then he picked up his glass and sipped casually, as if he hadn't just shocked the living daylights out of her.
Relena had all but given up trying to understand him. She reached for her own glass and gulped her water down, hoping it would cool the heat lashing her cheeks.
"Heero… are you going to tell me what that was about?" she asked as calmly as she could manage.
He glanced around them before leaning forward and murmuring, "What you were saying was… sensitive. I didn't want to risk anyone overhearing."
Relena's eyes narrowed. "But what did I- oh," she said, realizing. She'd been about to say Mars. She should have known the Preventer mission at hand was still very much a secret. Her flush deepened. "I'm sorry."
"It's all right." Heero remained nonplussed as he finished his meal. Relena pushed her pasta around with her fork, but couldn't possibly finish; at some point she'd lost her appetite. She wondered if all of their dates would be like this… if they would even get to have any more. But that thought was too depressing.
She brightened when the waiter brought the check, and Heero pulled out his wallet. Now it felt like a real date, although she felt bad about him paying.
"Let me," she said, reaching for her purse. "You came all this way to see me…"
Heero's hand stopped hers. "No," he said firmly. "I've got this." The look he gave her left no room for argument. Relena sighed and acquiesced reluctantly, although on the inside, she was thrilled. She knew Heero could be a gentleman, when he wanted to be.
They stepped back into the cold night together, the sky already pitch black, save for the street lights illuminating the snow-covered sidewalks, and the stars glittering in full force above. There wasn't much light pollution in the Sanc Kingdom to obscure them, and Relena was grateful for that.
She smiled up at Heero as he offered her his arm, but frowned when she realized he was leading her back to his rental car.
"Do we have to go back, already?" she blurted, tugging on his jacket sleeve. Heero glanced down at her, his expression blank as usual.
"It's getting late," he said, striding forward unabated.
"Heero, it's barely six o'clock," she countered.
"Is it? It seems later." He frowned. "Guess I'm not used to it being so dark, so early."
"Yes, nightfall comes early this far north. So… can't we stay out a bit longer?" She was prepared to plead with him, if she had to, although she didn't want to sound too whiny. She could already tell she was fighting a losing battle, as she felt Heero stiffen under her grasp.
"Why, what do you want to do?" he asked warily.
She beamed and pointed further up the street, where the marquee lights of the local movie theater beckoned. "Most first dates involve dinner and a movie… right?"
Relena watched as several expressions washed over Heero's face. She couldn't tell if he was more panicked or annoyed. His nostrils flared, and she fully expected him to give her a flat-out "no." Then he glanced down at her, and his eyes softened.
"Fine," he said. "Whatever you want."
Relena could have squealed and jumped for joy, but she managed to keep herself in check. "Yes, let's," she said instead, steering Heero toward the theater.
Once they were inside, Relena faced a task she did not anticipate being so difficult: choosing a film they would both enjoy. They stood for several minutes in the foyer, examining the movie posters that lined the wall. Unfortunately, none of them looked promising; there was a children's cartoon, a romantic comedy, some drama that looked hopelessly depressing, a war movie that Relena worried might trigger something in Heero, and a horror film. She didn't expect he'd want to sit through a drama any more than a kids' movie or a romance, but his expression was unreadable. She thought she detected a shred of impatience, though, as he turned to look at her.
"Well, which one?"
"Why don't you pick?" Relena fully expected him to refuse, but he shrugged nonchalantly and pointed to the horror film. "Really?" she squeaked.
Heero arched a brow. "Too scary?"
Relena looked over the poster, which featured a creepy-looking dilapidated house surrounded by dark, gnarled trees, and the words HOUSE OF DEATH in blood-red letters. "No," she said quietly. "It looks fine."
"You sure?"
Relena nodded and smiled brightly up at him. "Yes. Let's do it."
She wasn't sure, but she thought she heard Heero chuckling under his breath as they walked toward the ticket stand.
After he purchased their tickets, Relena led him over to the concession area, toward the wafting scent of popcorn. Heero cast her a skeptical glance.
"Aren't you full from dinner?"
"We have to get popcorn, Heero," she said insistently. "I want the full experience here. Don't worry," she added with a smile. "We're going to share."
He arched a brow but said nothing as she ordered a large popcorn and soda. Relena was not expecting the bucket she was handed to be so big. The size of the beverage was equally comical. Once again, she thought she heard Heero snickering, but she held her head high and ignored him as she hefted the bucket and soda. Heero reached for the popcorn and carried it for her.
Relena's mood lifted as they made their way into the theater and chose their seats- in the very last row, at Heero's insistence. Even though she knew it was so he could have a bird's eye view of the room, everything still felt so perfectly, blessedly normal; exactly as life should be. Why shouldn't they - two teenagers - get to do things like this on a regular basis? If only their relationship had started out when they'd first met; they had been in high school, for crying out loud. Relena could only imagine where they would be now if they'd had the chance to live out their lives in a simpler day and age.
She sighed, and leaned her head against Heero's shoulder as the lights in the theater dimmed down, eclipsing them in darkness. He stirred beside her but didn't break their contact. She reached over for a handful of popcorn, and felt her hand brush against his. Relena glanced up to meet Heero's eyes, which were just as intense in the dark room as they were in broad daylight. Or anywhere else, really… But with the only illumination coming from the silver screen, his eyes burned like blue fire. Relena's breath caught, her mind immediately filling with images from earlier that day, and the night before… the two of them, tangled in her bedsheets, in their own little world, which was nothing short of paradise…
She was hoping he would kiss her then, like he had in the restaurant, but she had a feeling Heero wouldn't go for making out in such a public place. Even if it was dark enough… and they were in the back...
But Heero just smirked at her, as if he knew exactly what she was thinking, palmed a handful of popcorn and started eating, returning his gaze to the screen. Relena sighed and turned her attention back to the screen as well. She was slightly disappointed, but she was determined to have Heero make it up to her later.
At least she'd manage to get him to agree to go on this date in the first place; that alone made her happier than she could even fathom. She grinned to herself and reached for more popcorn. More than anything, she wanted to stay in this happy little bubble forever…
Her momentary happiness was shattered as the movie ads and previews ended, and the film began. The theater filled with suitably-creepy music, courtesy of what sounded like a broken piano. The screen filled with the sights of the equally creepy house from the movie poster, surrounded by a dark, twisted forest. Relena wanted to yell at the on-screen actors who seemed oblivious to the perils that awaited them inside the house.
Of course, she knew things were not going to go well for these hapless characters, but she couldn't help but hope at least some of them would escape. Especially the young teenaged couple who was not unlike her and Heero…
She winced at the first sight of violence, and realized too late she was digging her nails into Heero's arm. He didn't react, but she immediately felt bad.
"Sorry," she whispered, loosening her grip. But then she went right back to holding onto his arm for dear life.
"Relax," he murmured without taking his eyes off the screen. "It's a movie."
Relena rolled her own eyes. "I know it's a movie, Heero. I- ahhhhhhh!"
Relena couldn't contain the scream ripping from her throat as a severed head came flying at the screen, along with a downpour of blood.
She was relieved that she wasn't the only movie patron who shrieked at the sight. But to her horror, Heero was laughing.
Not a quiet chuckle or even a snort. He was downright laughing, his head thrown back.
Just when Relena thought she had seen everything… No, she had never seen this side of Heero Yuy before.
"Heero," she hissed, squeezing his arm. He glanced over at her, his eyes more mirthful than she'd ever seen them. Right then and there, her irritation ebbed; she couldn't possibly be annoyed at him, not when he looked so content. She wanted Heero to be happy, even if the things that made him happy were… questionable.
The next bloody act had Relena all but jumping into Heero's lap. She was amazed that he managed to hold on to the popcorn as she flung her arms around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder, determined to stay that way for the duration of the film.
Heero draped one arm over her shoulders, drawing her closer, his other hand still balancing the popcorn bucket in his lap.
But when the scary music died down and Relena chanced a glance at the screen, there was no hope for what remained of the popcorn…
An axe came slamming down on the screen, another head went rolling, and Relena somehow found herself sharing Heero's seat. The bucket of popcorn went flying off to the side, half-rolling down the carpeted stairs. She flushed and hid her face inside Heero's jacket, feeling his chest rumble as he laughed.
"It's not funny," Relena whimpered into his shirt. His hands came up to rest on her back, and he began to rub her with soothing strokes as he... shushed her.
Relena snapped her head up in annoyance. "Don't shush me," she scolded. "This is scary!"
"Sorry." Heero tore his eyes away from the screen to look at her briefly. "But there are people trying to watch this movie."
Relena barely contained her gasp or her flaring temper as Heero smirked at her.
"You can scream all you want later," he added. One of his hands drifted down her lower back and landed on her ass. Which he then squeezed.
"Heero!" she shrieked.
"Shhhhhhh!"
Relena shrank back in her seat as a few people in the lower rows swung around to look back at her. Next to her, Heero chuckled. She elbowed him, her face hot with embarrassment.
Once the annoyed moviegoers had turned back around, Heero leaned toward her and murmured, "Wanna get out of here?"
His suggestion was music to her ears. "You don't want to finish the movie?"
Heero didn't even answer her, already rising to his feet. He held a hand out to her and pulled her up beside him. As they descended the staircase, they had to sidestep the popcorn mess they'd made. Relena felt awful about that, but Heero at least had the decency to pick up the empty bucket and toss it in the trash bin on their way out of the theater.
They left the warmth and light behind them, stepping out once again onto the snow-lined street. Icy air immediately rushed and filled Relena's lungs, but she didn't mind the cold. Not when Heero's hand was wrapped around her own, warming her all the way to her toes. Her heart, too, felt warm, with the promise of the rest of the night still before them. No matter what happened, no matter how dark the future… they still had so much more to look forward to.
As they walked together, Heero's hand tightened in her own, and Relena wondered if his thoughts had taken a similar path. She tilted her face to look up at him, and saw that his head was turned toward the night sky. Relena followed his gaze up to the nearly full moon glittering overhead. She smiled as she watched Heero, watching the stars, and at the stars that seemed to be watching back.
"This view… it never gets old, does it?" Relena squeezed Heero's arm. He turned his head to look back at her, a smile tracing his lips.
"Yeah. It's much better from here."
"I agree," Relena said. Then sadness slammed into her like a ton of bricks. She couldn't stop the tears that sprang from her eyes. Heero paused his steps, slowing the both of them to a stop. He bent toward her and raised a hand to her face, gently brushing his thumb along her lashline.
"There will be other moons," he said.
"But it won't be the same," Relena gasped, and more tears fell. Heero nodded, and swept them away.
"No, it won't be," he agreed. Then he released her face, turned and looked back up at the sky. "Do you see that? To the lower right of the moon…" He pointed, and Relena followed the direction of his pointer finger to the sparkling object.
"Which star is that?" she asked, remembering shamefully little of the astronomy she'd studied in school, not so long ago. Whichever celestial body it was, it outshone the other stars around it.
"Not a star," Heero said. "It's Mars."
Relena's heartbeat quickened. "It is? It's so bright from here. Isn't it supposed to be red?"
"In the evening sky, yeah, it's more of a dull red. But as night falls, it grows brighter." Heero smiled faintly, his eyes still on the sky. "This time of year, you can also make out Mercury, and Jupiter, but right now Mars is the brightest."
"Wow…" Relena whispered, raising her eyes back to the heavens. Heero wrapped an arm around her, pressing her to his side.
"Everything's going to be all right. You know that, don't you?" His chest rumbled as he spoke.
"You keep saying that," she sighed, pressing further into him, to feel his heartbeat, to feel more of him.
"Because I mean it," he said firmly, tightening his grip. "You have nothing to worry about. Believe me."
Relena twisted in Heero's hold to look at his face. His gaze was hard, determined; his mouth set in a hard line. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. His skin was cold, but when she stepped back, between the moonlight and streetlights, she thought she detected fresh color staining his cheeks.
"I believe you," she said.
"Good." Heero held her gaze for a moment, then began to move again, gently tugging Relena alongside him. "Come on. Let's get you home."
Relena beamed up at Heero, his flushed, boyishly handsome face her beacon in the dark, frozen night, and whispered, "I already am."
The end
A/N: Wow... is this story really over?! Part of me is tempted to tag on an epilogue, but you know me... ;)
It's always so hard to say goodbye to these two, no matter what they're doing or where they're going... They will always hold a special place in my heart. I feel like this is a good place to leave them, in one another's arms, where they belong, facing an uncertain future but knowing that they will always have one another's backs. They will follow one another to whatever end. That's the Heero and Relena we know and love, right?
Thank you, dear readers, for sticking with this story, even when I almost had to take it down! I'm happy the spam bots stopped and that I had the chance to get back to it. This story is also posted on AO3 under my other pen name, AerisEithne, if you prefer to read it there.
I really can't thank you all enough! But it's time to move on... I still have many other stories to tell.
Love love love,
- RFP
P.S. Thank you to Scarlet Eve and Mistaken Miracles for proofing this chapter for me! And to MM for her genius contribution of HOUSE OF DEATH ^_^ Love you both!
