I didn't forget this
Nov. 8th, 2008 08:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lavandarlizard2Really, I didn't. O_O The hamsters were hiding it from me.
~ 5 ~
A week later I got the sniffley call from Relena.
There is a reason why Jewish mother jokes and Catholic guilt jokes are still around; both groups have elevated the application of guilt to an extraordinary level. However, they have nothing on adolescent princesses thwarted in their pursuit of the mythical Prince Charming.
“Oh” – wail – “Heero!” – snuffle – “How could you” – sob – “Leave without saying a *word*” – guilt trip – “To me?!”
That’s something of a loaded question. Do I answer it straight up – I wanted to go, so I left? Or do I take the time to formulate a polite reply – I’m not your boyfriend, so it’s none of your business?
Hn. Neither one seems to be very politic. So I ignored the question; any answer at all would likely only get me in trouble.
“Duo said you cried on his shirt and ruined it.”
You’ve heard the expression ‘deafening silence’? Yeah; one of those.
“Duo’s” – gulp – “Shirt?”
“The snot. From your crying.”
“Heero!!! I’m talking about the rest of our lives! Who cares about Duo’s shirt?!”
“Well, Duo cares, and I care, since I have to replace it,” I suggested reasonably.
Another of those silences. I imagined I could hear crickets chirping in the background.
“Heero,” she said finally. “Do you or do you not love me?”
Crap. A direct question.
“Relena... I think of you as a bright, charming and dedicated… nuisance. In other words, I think of you as the sister I never had.”
“A sister,” she said with an ominous calm. “I already have a brother.”
“Yes. But I do not have a sister. And I would like one.”
Yet another silence; this one not nearly so... ponderous.
“You don’t... love me?”
“I am quite fond of you, but no; I am not in love with you.”
A wet sniff. A whimper. A strangled... noise.
“Very well, then.” She made me proud of her in that moment. “I-I hope you enjoy your vacation. Please...” she wibbled.
“I will keep in touch,” I inserted solemnly. “And you continue trying to whip the world into shape.”
“Oh, Heero...! Dammit!”
“You’ll find a prince of your own; maybe even closer than you think,” I smirked. Splutter at *me*, will you, Chang.
“All right... Heero... If you change your mind...”
Better to nip that notion in the bud. “I won’t, Relena. Would you want to be with a man who could have thoughts like that about his sister?” That strangled noise again.
“Of course not!”
“Good. Because I wouldn’t want to be with a woman who would want that sort of man. Now, it’s late; go to bed. And don’t go out without a guard. I will not be amused if my vacation is interrupted again.”
~ 5 ~
A week later I got the sniffley call from Relena.
There is a reason why Jewish mother jokes and Catholic guilt jokes are still around; both groups have elevated the application of guilt to an extraordinary level. However, they have nothing on adolescent princesses thwarted in their pursuit of the mythical Prince Charming.
“Oh” – wail – “Heero!” – snuffle – “How could you” – sob – “Leave without saying a *word*” – guilt trip – “To me?!”
That’s something of a loaded question. Do I answer it straight up – I wanted to go, so I left? Or do I take the time to formulate a polite reply – I’m not your boyfriend, so it’s none of your business?
Hn. Neither one seems to be very politic. So I ignored the question; any answer at all would likely only get me in trouble.
“Duo said you cried on his shirt and ruined it.”
You’ve heard the expression ‘deafening silence’? Yeah; one of those.
“Duo’s” – gulp – “Shirt?”
“The snot. From your crying.”
“Heero!!! I’m talking about the rest of our lives! Who cares about Duo’s shirt?!”
“Well, Duo cares, and I care, since I have to replace it,” I suggested reasonably.
Another of those silences. I imagined I could hear crickets chirping in the background.
“Heero,” she said finally. “Do you or do you not love me?”
Crap. A direct question.
“Relena... I think of you as a bright, charming and dedicated… nuisance. In other words, I think of you as the sister I never had.”
“A sister,” she said with an ominous calm. “I already have a brother.”
“Yes. But I do not have a sister. And I would like one.”
Yet another silence; this one not nearly so... ponderous.
“You don’t... love me?”
“I am quite fond of you, but no; I am not in love with you.”
A wet sniff. A whimper. A strangled... noise.
“Very well, then.” She made me proud of her in that moment. “I-I hope you enjoy your vacation. Please...” she wibbled.
“I will keep in touch,” I inserted solemnly. “And you continue trying to whip the world into shape.”
“Oh, Heero...! Dammit!”
“You’ll find a prince of your own; maybe even closer than you think,” I smirked. Splutter at *me*, will you, Chang.
“All right... Heero... If you change your mind...”
Better to nip that notion in the bud. “I won’t, Relena. Would you want to be with a man who could have thoughts like that about his sister?” That strangled noise again.
“Of course not!”
“Good. Because I wouldn’t want to be with a woman who would want that sort of man. Now, it’s late; go to bed. And don’t go out without a guard. I will not be amused if my vacation is interrupted again.”
