Fifty-Seven

Never Forget

      “Mom?” Kitty sounded slightly unsure.
      There was a murmured reply.
      “Can I go with them to Earth?”
      We had decided it best for her to ask first. She was going no matter what the answer, though.
      This reply was shocked.
      Kitty started to argue with the woman and we all headed for her.
      “Mr. Winner...” she was...awed, then she saw me, “Hi, Duo...what...”
      I smiled, “Mrs. Seepa, we really do want Kitty to come with us.”
      “Why?”
      Quatre smiled, “Because I’m going and have no problems with taking her...I want her to come. What do you say? All her friends are coming too.”
      The woman was thinking about it. “And you’ll be there, won’t you, Duo?”
      I smiled, I had won the woman over by teaching Kitty self-defense.
      “Of course I will, Vey.”
      “I’ll have to talk to her father...”
      “I don’t think he’ll care. He is, after all, the one who encouraged her to travel.”
      She nodded and I knew we’d won. Which was a good thing, all we needed was to be slapped with official kidnapping charges...
      “Call me back in two hours.”
      I nodded, “All right.”
      We walked back over to the main of the study as she and Kitty talked.
      “We never called Adam...” Nikki muttered suddenly, giving Heero a look along the lines of ‘oh shit’.
      He shrugged.
      She rolled her eyes, “He’s probably pissed at me.”
      He shrugged again.
      Nikki sighed.
      “Well...” Heero’s voice was almost defensive, “I don’t want to talk to him...he treats me like a fucking first year...”
      Nikki smiled slightly at that and he frowned, “No matter how he treats you, Ai,” she told him reassuringly, “He thinks of you as a man. He told me years ago that we should get together so I was always protected.”
      Heero grinned slightly, “I was protecting you even before we...” he looked around and fell silent.
      I grinned, turning to Kris, “What do you think your parents’ll say?”
      She shrugged, “They might be a little annoyed with me...but, I’m a big girl now, I don’t have to have their approval...I just prefer it.” For a moment she looked about to ask me what my own would say, then thought better of it.
      I looked away, not having a family...a good sturdy constant home...wasn’t something I would wish on anyone...not even my worst enemy.
      “Hey, Duo,” Nikki said suddenly, coming and sitting on my lap, “I love you.” she kissed me on the cheek.
      I smiled at her, shaking my head slightly.
      “What? I do...”
      I nodded, “I know.”
      Her mouth opened slightly in an amused pout and I laughed.
      “What? I do...”
      She smacked me on the arm, crawling off me, “Fine. I’ll go sit on someone who does love me.” she walked over in Heero’s direction and sat on Trowa’s lap.
      Heero pouted slightly at her...obviously amused.
      We started laughing and she grinned, tousling Trowa’s hair.
      “Now who said that I didn’t?” I demanded.
      She smiled, standing.
      Sam considered something a second, “You think Kitty should be worried?”
      Nikki gave her the same amused, shocked look.
      Trowa gave her a ‘yeah right’ look.
      Sam blinked, then shook her head, “No, I mean about her parents letting her go...”
      Nikki shook her head, then went over and sat on Heero’s lap, nuzzling his chest slightly and murmuring in his ear.
      I looked around the room, realizing for the first time, that I wasn’t the only one without a family...
      Heero, Wufei, Quatre, and Trowa all had this...of varying degrees, yes, but none of them had a family...well, Quatre had like...twenty-eight sisters or some shit...but he had only ever gotten close with one of them...
      It dawned on me, as I looked over my friends, that they were my family...and that was what Nikki had been telling me...
      I had known that, of course...but it never had occurred to me.
      “Hey, Nikki...”
      She looked up from Heero, who also looked at me curiously.
      I winked at her, “I love you too.”
      She laughed and stood, then came over and gave me a hug.
      “Always remember that I’m here for you...and Sam...and Kris...and Kitty, of course.” she whispered, “Never forget that.”
      Then she was back at Heero.
      She, of course, had recognized my look earlier...and the others had too...but they had let her deal with it...
      I couldn’t help but grin.
      Kitty came back to us with a smile, sitting on Trowa’s lap and starting to talk to him. After a moment she looked us all over, then focused on Wufei, who was sitting in his normal seat.
      We all looked at him.
      He looked...sad? Maybe...it was hard to tell with him...
      “What’s the matter?” she asked.
      He met her eyes and shook his head.
      She exchanged a look with Sam.
      I smiled slightly, he was probably feeling that same pain I had...he didn’t realize that he was part of the family too.


      I had Sally...so why did I feel like this?
      True. I understood that look Duo had...I’d felt the same way many times and would have loved to have someone reassure me like Nikki had him...not so much with the kiss on the cheek and the sitting in the lap bit, but with the hug and the murmur of comfort...the reminder.
      He knew that they cared for him, so those words weren’t lost.
      How could Kitty tell? I had kept my face impassive...
      I shut the door to my room, wanting to be alone.
      Things had gone as planned. Kitty’s father was more than willing to let her go with us...and now she was so excited...it was cute. All of them were excited...
      There was a tap on the door.
      “Yeah?” I wasn’t sure who would be coming to see me...
      “Wufei?” the door opened and Nikki came in.
      “Yeah?” I was a little annoyed for some reason...that look, maybe...
      She shut the door and watched me.
      “What?” I couldn’t figure out why I was annoyed...it wasn’t the look...
      “What’s the matter?”
      “Nothing.”
      “I don’t believe that.”
      “Nothing is the matter.”
      “Do I have to repeat myself.”
      I glared at her.
      “I guess I do...” her voice was quiet, “What’s the matter?”
      “Why do you think something’s the matter?”
      And why was I so annoyed with her? No, nothing was wrong, but I didn’t need to bite her head off for asking...
      She frowned, “Wufei...”
      I sighed in exasperation, “I’m fine, Nikki. Thanks for the thought.”
      She shook her head and came towards me.
      “I’m fine.” I repeated.
      She stopped in front of me, her eyes searching as she met mine.
      I looked away, “Nothing’s the matter.”
      She reached her hand up and pulled my face so I met her eyes, “What is the matter?”
      Each word was precise.
      “Nothing.”
      “Then why did you look away?”
      I stared down at her. She was...was...how could I explain it? She was looking at me like she had Duo...like she cared for me...only not the same...I realized I did care for her too...but not like I did for Sally...it was different...I’d never had this experience before...
      It was confusing.
      “Nothing...”
      She smiled slightly, “You know I don’t believe that.”
      Confused...
      I hated being confused. It was the worst feeling in the world...when not in a tragic situation.
      “Nothing. Oh my God, will you get it through your fucking head already...”
      She shrank back, hurt.
      Damn those eyes when they looked hurt...
      “Nikki...”
      She was already starting for the door.
      “Nikki...”
      She practically slammed the door behind herself.
      I went over and threw myself onto my bed.
      Okay. Something was the matter...
      If I only knew what...I thought about that for a while.
      There was another tap on the door.
      “Come in...” I didn’t care anymore.
      It was Heero, “That was really dumb of you.”
      I sighed, “Whatever.”
      “Why did you do that?”
      I looked at him.
      “She was only trying to see what was the matter.”
      “Nothing’s the matter.”
      “She would have done the same to you as she did to Duo, you realize.”
      “What?”
      He nodded, “You don’t seem to realize what happened.”
      “What?”
      “They’re all worried about you, too.”
      ‘They’ meaning the girls...
      “I can’t believe you did that.”
      “Did what?”
      “Dumb-ass.”
      I sat up, “What? What did I do?” I put emphasis in the question.
      “You and your damn pride...” he sat next to me on the bed.
      “You can be annoying, you know.”
      He almost smiled, “So I’ve been told.” he shook his head, “She would have done the same to you as she did Duo.”
      “What do you mean?”
      “Comfort. You think its easy to get her to give you a friendly hug with no games? That she’ll do it for any guy?” he shook his head again. “You’ve gotten past her walls...”
      “What walls? She hasn’t seemed to have any walls...” I thought over her games.
      He gave me a look. “So it’s easier to hurt her because she cares what you think.”
      I sighed, “What do you mean, ‘Comfort’? I don’t need comforted.”
      “Please, Wufei, spare me. You had the same look Duo did before when she told him that he could always rely on them.”
      “I didn’t have a look. I was keeping...” I trailed off.
      He nodded, “You can keep your face as blank as you want, but your eyes. I didn’t see it. I was talking to Nikki, but Kitty did. So did Sam and Kris.”
      I frowned.
      “Guess what? They actually care for you.”
      I continued to watch him.
      “A novelty isn’t it? Not many girls care about you for you instead of you for sex. You’ve gained four new friends...caring friends who are willing to do just about anything to keep you happy...Just don’t let your pride get in the way. If you need a shoulder to cry on and don’t want to go to Sally, then any one of them will be there. You need a good laugh, they’ll do their best. You just want to bull-shit, then they’ll bull-shit. You want to hurt someone, there you go.” he shook his head, “Sometimes the slightest frown can make’em cry...and the slightest grin can make them laugh. Not many people get past the walls of bitch she’s built...her protection...”
      I was shocked. Was he serious?
      “What...” I started, thinking maybe I should say something...
      “Pride is no longer an issue for them. You’re allowed to have it, but don’t let it get in the way. I can’t say that enough. You gonna apologize? She’s almost crying.”
      “But I...”
      “What? Treated her like shit when she was just trying to help?” he nodded, “Yeah. That’s right. She’s almost crying because of whatever you said to her...”
      “Then...”
      “I’m leaving now. But if you don’t come soon, I suggest you wait a while...like a week...” he stood up. “Maybe if you hurry, she won’t put you back outside her walls.”
      He did slam the door...the whole wall shook slightly.
      I sat there in shock. That was odd. I couldn’t imagine her giving me a hug and telling me it would be okay...or whatever...I just...she didn’t seem like the type...at least, not with me...
      I stood up, I had hurt her. I’d seen it in her eyes...
      It occurred to me what that meant. Everything he’d just said started to sink in...
      For once in my life, I had a stable family...people who...loved...me? People who weren’t going to tell me I was wrong...
      People who accepted me...for me.
      Always remember that I’m here for you...and Sam...and Kris...and Kitty, of course...Never forget that...


      I smiled slightly at him...surprised, he looked like he needed a hug...
      I stepped forward and hugged him.
      This was a change.
      Maybe a half an hour ago he’d demanded why I wouldn’t let it lie, that had hurt. I was only trying to help...I’d been near tears when I’d came in. Heero had asked me a few questions and then left.
      When he came back he had looked calm...slightly aggravated.
      Then Wufei had come and apologized...in front of Heero...then Heero’d left.
      Wufei had looked distinctly uncomfortable...I could tell he’d been fighting his pride...I couldn’t turn down the apology.
      “It’s all right.” I murmured, “It’s okay...”
      Suddenly he was crying...crying and hugging me...not sobbing, but tears.
      I held him and murmured more comforting words...which caused him to cry harder...I was confused.
      Why was he crying?
      After a time...how much time, I couldn’t be sure, he pulled back slightly and met my eyes.
      “Sorry...” he muttered.
      “For what?”
      He smiled.
      “Feel better?”
      He stepped back and wiped his eyes, “Yeah...”
      “So what was the matter?”
      He took a deep breath, “I’ve never had a family before...never had someone to hold me if I wanted to just cry...So when you were telling Duo he could always count on you...well,” he shrugged, “I was reminded of that...”
      I nodded but he went on anyways.
      “That he had something I’d always wanted, coming from...basically the same background as myself...”
      “So why the tears?” I asked, looking down at my...soaked...shoulder.
      He smiled, “I’ve never really belonged to any group...”
      “But you have,” I informed him, “You’ve been their friend since the beginning.” I turned and went to my dresser for a clean shirt. I reached for the hem.
      “Uh...”
      I glanced at him, realizing that I’d never actually changed in front of him, “Yeah?” I pulled the shirt off and threw it to the side.
      “Well...”
      He was trying to look un-perturbed...and failing.
      I smiled. “What? Never seen a girl change a shirt?”
      He smiled too, meeting my eyes, “Not without a little down time between...”
      I laughed, “Well, there’s a first time for everything.”
      He grinned, “Do you change in front of anyone?”
      I gave him a look, “No, only my close friends.”
      He looked like he was trying really hard to blush...unintentionally.
      I laughed, “What?” I gestured to my shirt instead, “You think that I’m gonna mind you seeing me in my bra?”
      He chuckled, “No, its just that no girl’s ever changed in front of me. Not with me watching...”
      That was a bit obnoxious.
      “Watch me care.”
      He laughed, and the door opened.
      Heero gave me a raised eyebrow look.
      I winked at him.
      “Feeling better?” he asked his comrade.
      Wufei nodded, “Much.”
      He looked his friend over, then glanced at me, “You should probably put your shirt on, Omaesan.”
      I grinned, “Why?”
      “Because I think you’ve made your point.”
      I walked over and sat on the bed, “You think?”
      He nodded, “Yep. Have a seat...” he offered Wufei.
      Wufei shook his head, “Naw...I promised Sally I’d meet her twenty minutes ago...well, I told her I’d meet her this morning...and I should have been there twenty minutes ago...”
      I smiled, “All right, laters.”
      He gave me an odd look but waved at us from over his shoulder.
      After the door closed, Heero turned and looked at me questioningly, “Laters?”
      I smiled and nodded, “Laters.”
      He shook his head, “All righty-then...if you say so...”
      “I do, Mine...”
      This got another look, “Mine? Not being possessive, are we?”
      “Got a mouse in your pocket?”
      He laughed.
      “My love...mine...it just goes...I don’t know,” I shrugged, “I think it’s just a Nikki thing...” I finally pulled the shirt on.
      “Must be...” he agreed, “Now why didn’t you have your shirt on?”
      I picked the other up and showed him the wet spot.
      “Umm...”
      “He’s realized he’s part of our...family, if you will...” I sighed, “He’s never had anyone to just hold him while he cried...”
      “Without sex?”
      I smiled at that, rolling my eyes, “Something like that.” I looked him over, “Not jealous, I hope...”
      He grinned, “Shh...” he put a finger to his lips, “Don’t let Nikki know...”

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Kyeian