Repercussions
Disclaimer: I own nothing
Heero turned his computer off and yawned. It had been a long day at Preventer and he was ready to head home and do some reading while he waited for the sun to rise for the next day. He wasn't really a fan of sleeping, but when he was tired, he enjoyed the solace of his house more than staying in at the office.
He grabbed his green and brown licensed jacket from the backrest and headed for the door. Today was a killer. Three meetings, field work in the next town and teaching greenhorns how to change car oil. He deserved the rest and he knew it. It was a matter of mustering whatever auxillary power he had left to trudge towards the garage where he kept his car and speed off like there's not tomorrow.
The hallways were alive with sound. The evening shift was preparing to take over and there was a buzz of excitement and constant chatter in the air. Trowa, who was the Preventer Five in charge of the evening shift came walking towards him, a set of papers already in his hand.
"Good evening Heero". Trowa greeted, smiling at his friend.
"Good morning Trowa. Rough night ahead?" Heero smirked, amused at their private joke.
"We don't have that many meetings during the night Heero. You know that. I'm just hoping this would be a quiet night rather than chaos running back and forth."
"haha. That's true. I heard you were in town the other night, trying to break up a riot."
"It was an after-game riot. Basketball and stuff. You know how it is."
"Yeah. I do."
Heero POV
He walked with me towards the atrium where the Z-room was located. The Preventer's prized possession was located right in the middle of the building to ensure that it was visible to everyone so all eyes could watch over what was in it. The Zero system.
I never let any of the preventer's use the Zero system. As of to date, only a handful of people were able to control themselves in the system. There was me, Trowa, Q and...
"Yin."I heard Trowa whisper as he gazed into the glass-walled room.
Right in the middle of the room, was my sister Yin.
Her back was facing us. She was facing the computer on the other end of the room. Her shoulders were hunched and she stood still for quite a while. She didn't make any movement and just stood in that position.
I took a step forward, then began walking towards the room.
Trowa went along his merry way. He knew he didn't have to be here.
The mechanical doors opened, sliding to let me in. The room was empty, save for the two of us. Though the evening shift was going out and about right outside, their noise were muted by the soundproofing. My footsteps echoed, bouncing against the wall and reverting back to the middle, giving the effect of enormity when in fact the Z room was only as big as the personnel canteen. That little thing can barely fit a hundred people.
She didn't look up when she heard my obvious intrusion. She kept her back against me. I stopped a few paced behind her.
"Working late tonight Yin?"
She didn't answer. I waited.
"No" She said, her voice soft.
"Then what are you doing here?" I asked, watching her back.
She didn't answer immediately. I waited.
"I don't know."
She straightened up and faced me.
Her eyes were crossed. She looked like she was trying to figure out a very complex puzzle and failing. She always had that look when she was troubled. I was glad that there were no tears involved. She was such a crybaby.
She leaned her hand on the table, staring up at the ceiling. She sighed heavily.
"I thought I could find what I was looking for." she said, looking around, not meeting my eyes.
"And what are you looking for?" I asked, always the patient older brother. She wasn't really my sister. It was a psuedo-adoption thing. No surname change, but I am invited to all their family occasions. Grandmother practically adores me, and I enjoy wrestling with my two younger brothers. I don't mind the least.
"My heart"
I sighed inwardly. Here we go again.
"Your heart is where you left it Yin. It never leaves."
She groaned and glared at me. "Don't make this any harder than it already is Nii-san. You know what I mean."
Oh yeah. She has a bad temper.
I proceeded on "And what makes you think it's here?"
She shrugged. "I didn't. I actually thought that I could hide it here. Now I can't find it."
"Your waxing philosophies on me Yin. What happened this time? I thought you just came for class?"
"I did. I met up with Sakura."
"And?"
"We talked about something." For a moment, her eyes lit up and she smiled. I always wondered if she had a mental streak on her. If ever she did, she kept it in check.
"That girl. She was keeping something from us! She has the exact same situation as I!"
"Which is?"
"Oh please Heero, do I have to spell it out for you?!"
"Not really. I enjoy making you squirm."
We laughed at this. The tension had been broken.
I eased my stance and pulled two chairs toward us. I knew this sudden break would make her talk about it finally, rather than scurrying around the whole issue like she always does.
"She has a crush as well. Two in fact! I can't believe she didn't tell us! She only started sharing it to me when I talked about crush."
"and how did that go? The talk"
"great! I got home pretty late."
"mom get angry?"
"Kinda. I forgot to text."
"Yin...."
"Hai nii-san. Don't make them worry."
We sat quietly, ignoring the people who gazed into the room, hoping to see a spectacle of lights and sounds that the room was known for. People here know that when YIn was in the room, there would be a lights show waiting to happen, since her subconscious is so full of it.
"So...you're here because of Sakura's crush, or yours?"
She gave me a small smile.
"Mine nii-san. The crush that isn't there."
That was true. She always liked the kind of people who are never interested in her, thus never there. Her standards were fine to me, but I noticed that they were always for the kind of people she could never reach.
"At least I know these people exist Nii-san, not like some imaginary person being talked about as if he was as real as you and me."
Ah, the other issue. immaterial at the moment.
I watched her raise her legs up on the chair. "I like what I can't have. As if I expect my standards to be so unattainable. That shouldn't be. I deserve better than that."
"And you do. I'm also glad that you don't go out with just about anybody."
She laughed, but I heard the bitterness. "What anybody? There's no one there nii-san. No on is waiting for me out there. It's always me waiting."
"That is not true and you know it."
"I know. But that's what this world is making me feel"
We sat in silence again. The clock ticked on as our thoughts filled the empty room.
"Will you be the one to get what you want?"
"This country has some stupid double standards. When a guy likes someone and she's available, he can easily go and try his luck. but a woman can't do that or risk being called a slut or hard-to-get. yet we like people too you know. I'm not going to say yes to the first man who shows any interest in me. I have non-negotiable standards too you know."
"Such as?"
"NO KULOTS"
We laughed hard at that one. this girl had so many issues she could form an issue forest. I knew what she was looking for.
I placed my hand on her shoulder. She looked at me in the eye. A trait I love of hers. She isn't afraid to look me in the eye when she is emotionally ready. That, or she's checking out the color of my iris again.
"What color?"
"Black. I'm not expecting it to change ever. but beautiful nonetheless"
And people wonder why I don't love this girl.
I also know what she wants to hear.
"YOu're a beautiful woman Yin. You are strong, stable and unyielding. You know what to do and you don't let setbacks get in your way. You are a model to your students, and you show them that God will see them through. You make people happy with your words. JP said so, you have a beauty that others don't have. You don't need to change or prove yourself because people know the real you."
Yin's medicine is affirmation just like me. and I'm never afraid to shower her with it.
That's what older brothers do.
She looked at me with a smile. I saw a tear well at the corner of her eye, but it disappeared just as quickly. She nodded at me.
I patted her head. Her smile disappeared and she looked at me with loathing.
"Dinner at the condo?"
"I'm ordering Chinese tonight."
"Pfft. I'm in the mood for chicken."
"Who owns the condo again?"
"you, but I want chicken."
"Fine. But I'm still getting Chinese."
"Can we invite JP and the others?"
"Sure. Are they free?"
"Yes."
"Tell them to bring beer."
"Oh yeah. I forgot. You're a man."
"Haha. Yin. You're better. You're sarcasm returned."
"Happy to serve."
Heero turned his computer off and yawned. It had been a long day at Preventer and he was ready to head home and do some reading while he waited for the sun to rise for the next day. He wasn't really a fan of sleeping, but when he was tired, he enjoyed the solace of his house more than staying in at the office.
He grabbed his green and brown licensed jacket from the backrest and headed for the door. Today was a killer. Three meetings, field work in the next town and teaching greenhorns how to change car oil. He deserved the rest and he knew it. It was a matter of mustering whatever auxillary power he had left to trudge towards the garage where he kept his car and speed off like there's not tomorrow.
The hallways were alive with sound. The evening shift was preparing to take over and there was a buzz of excitement and constant chatter in the air. Trowa, who was the Preventer Five in charge of the evening shift came walking towards him, a set of papers already in his hand.
"Good evening Heero". Trowa greeted, smiling at his friend.
"Good morning Trowa. Rough night ahead?" Heero smirked, amused at their private joke.
"We don't have that many meetings during the night Heero. You know that. I'm just hoping this would be a quiet night rather than chaos running back and forth."
"haha. That's true. I heard you were in town the other night, trying to break up a riot."
"It was an after-game riot. Basketball and stuff. You know how it is."
"Yeah. I do."
Heero POV
He walked with me towards the atrium where the Z-room was located. The Preventer's prized possession was located right in the middle of the building to ensure that it was visible to everyone so all eyes could watch over what was in it. The Zero system.
I never let any of the preventer's use the Zero system. As of to date, only a handful of people were able to control themselves in the system. There was me, Trowa, Q and...
"Yin."I heard Trowa whisper as he gazed into the glass-walled room.
Right in the middle of the room, was my sister Yin.
Her back was facing us. She was facing the computer on the other end of the room. Her shoulders were hunched and she stood still for quite a while. She didn't make any movement and just stood in that position.
I took a step forward, then began walking towards the room.
Trowa went along his merry way. He knew he didn't have to be here.
The mechanical doors opened, sliding to let me in. The room was empty, save for the two of us. Though the evening shift was going out and about right outside, their noise were muted by the soundproofing. My footsteps echoed, bouncing against the wall and reverting back to the middle, giving the effect of enormity when in fact the Z room was only as big as the personnel canteen. That little thing can barely fit a hundred people.
She didn't look up when she heard my obvious intrusion. She kept her back against me. I stopped a few paced behind her.
"Working late tonight Yin?"
She didn't answer. I waited.
"No" She said, her voice soft.
"Then what are you doing here?" I asked, watching her back.
She didn't answer immediately. I waited.
"I don't know."
She straightened up and faced me.
Her eyes were crossed. She looked like she was trying to figure out a very complex puzzle and failing. She always had that look when she was troubled. I was glad that there were no tears involved. She was such a crybaby.
She leaned her hand on the table, staring up at the ceiling. She sighed heavily.
"I thought I could find what I was looking for." she said, looking around, not meeting my eyes.
"And what are you looking for?" I asked, always the patient older brother. She wasn't really my sister. It was a psuedo-adoption thing. No surname change, but I am invited to all their family occasions. Grandmother practically adores me, and I enjoy wrestling with my two younger brothers. I don't mind the least.
"My heart"
I sighed inwardly. Here we go again.
"Your heart is where you left it Yin. It never leaves."
She groaned and glared at me. "Don't make this any harder than it already is Nii-san. You know what I mean."
Oh yeah. She has a bad temper.
I proceeded on "And what makes you think it's here?"
She shrugged. "I didn't. I actually thought that I could hide it here. Now I can't find it."
"Your waxing philosophies on me Yin. What happened this time? I thought you just came for class?"
"I did. I met up with Sakura."
"And?"
"We talked about something." For a moment, her eyes lit up and she smiled. I always wondered if she had a mental streak on her. If ever she did, she kept it in check.
"That girl. She was keeping something from us! She has the exact same situation as I!"
"Which is?"
"Oh please Heero, do I have to spell it out for you?!"
"Not really. I enjoy making you squirm."
We laughed at this. The tension had been broken.
I eased my stance and pulled two chairs toward us. I knew this sudden break would make her talk about it finally, rather than scurrying around the whole issue like she always does.
"She has a crush as well. Two in fact! I can't believe she didn't tell us! She only started sharing it to me when I talked about crush."
"and how did that go? The talk"
"great! I got home pretty late."
"mom get angry?"
"Kinda. I forgot to text."
"Yin...."
"Hai nii-san. Don't make them worry."
We sat quietly, ignoring the people who gazed into the room, hoping to see a spectacle of lights and sounds that the room was known for. People here know that when YIn was in the room, there would be a lights show waiting to happen, since her subconscious is so full of it.
"So...you're here because of Sakura's crush, or yours?"
She gave me a small smile.
"Mine nii-san. The crush that isn't there."
That was true. She always liked the kind of people who are never interested in her, thus never there. Her standards were fine to me, but I noticed that they were always for the kind of people she could never reach.
"At least I know these people exist Nii-san, not like some imaginary person being talked about as if he was as real as you and me."
Ah, the other issue. immaterial at the moment.
I watched her raise her legs up on the chair. "I like what I can't have. As if I expect my standards to be so unattainable. That shouldn't be. I deserve better than that."
"And you do. I'm also glad that you don't go out with just about anybody."
She laughed, but I heard the bitterness. "What anybody? There's no one there nii-san. No on is waiting for me out there. It's always me waiting."
"That is not true and you know it."
"I know. But that's what this world is making me feel"
We sat in silence again. The clock ticked on as our thoughts filled the empty room.
"Will you be the one to get what you want?"
"This country has some stupid double standards. When a guy likes someone and she's available, he can easily go and try his luck. but a woman can't do that or risk being called a slut or hard-to-get. yet we like people too you know. I'm not going to say yes to the first man who shows any interest in me. I have non-negotiable standards too you know."
"Such as?"
"NO KULOTS"
We laughed hard at that one. this girl had so many issues she could form an issue forest. I knew what she was looking for.
I placed my hand on her shoulder. She looked at me in the eye. A trait I love of hers. She isn't afraid to look me in the eye when she is emotionally ready. That, or she's checking out the color of my iris again.
"What color?"
"Black. I'm not expecting it to change ever. but beautiful nonetheless"
And people wonder why I don't love this girl.
I also know what she wants to hear.
"YOu're a beautiful woman Yin. You are strong, stable and unyielding. You know what to do and you don't let setbacks get in your way. You are a model to your students, and you show them that God will see them through. You make people happy with your words. JP said so, you have a beauty that others don't have. You don't need to change or prove yourself because people know the real you."
Yin's medicine is affirmation just like me. and I'm never afraid to shower her with it.
That's what older brothers do.
She looked at me with a smile. I saw a tear well at the corner of her eye, but it disappeared just as quickly. She nodded at me.
I patted her head. Her smile disappeared and she looked at me with loathing.
"Dinner at the condo?"
"I'm ordering Chinese tonight."
"Pfft. I'm in the mood for chicken."
"Who owns the condo again?"
"you, but I want chicken."
"Fine. But I'm still getting Chinese."
"Can we invite JP and the others?"
"Sure. Are they free?"
"Yes."
"Tell them to bring beer."
"Oh yeah. I forgot. You're a man."
"Haha. Yin. You're better. You're sarcasm returned."
"Happy to serve."