A story post-EW that's a melancholy one about Sally & Treize
"You look much better than the last time I saw you," said Sally said to the man standing next to her on the second story balcony overlooking a garden full of flowers and herbs.
The man smiled back at her. "But very different than I used to."
"That's cosmetic surgery for you. Even if they did try to give you back your old face, I doubt it would've been exactly the same. You were burned pretty badly but they did a really good job. Your eyes still look the same even if everything else has changed. So, how's life?"
He thought for a second. "I've enjoyed this peaceful life. I thought I would be bored without the constant challenges of being a soldier, but traveling and seeing people enjoy themselves is interesting in itself. I still hunt and target shoot even if they are anachronisms now."
"You can take the man out of the army... "
"But not the army out of the man. Maybe others, but not me. But don't worry, I don't plan on doing anything rash or start anything. Epyon taught me that much. It taught me a lot of things I didn't want to face about myself."
"I admit that I've never piloted under the influence of the Zero program. I've heard some dreadful things about it."
"It's not something I recommend. The stronger your ego is, the harder it is on you." He sighed.
"Une still thinks about you."
"I know, but you and I know that if I were to ever come out publicly, it would be a disaster. Some people would want to put me in charge of everything again and that time is well past. Even she would agree with that and besides, I want her to find someone who can simply be her husband, not her commander, not her hero, not her... "
"Idol."
"Yes. I gave her a good part of my estate to her in my will so she knows I cared about her. I wrote it out shortly before I went into that final battle," he said, a sad look crossing his face. "I'm sure she'll put it to good use in taking care of Mariemeia. I heard Zechs went with Noin to Mars."
"Yes, she did. The minute he came back, zoom off she went to be with him." He chuckled. "She's a good woman. I once had a mission with her on L1. He should take care of her."
"I'm surprised you're not angry at him."
"For firing at me? I prefer to remember the good times. I could understand some of his anger. I don't think I'll ever see him again but I won't speak ill of him. So, how's Wufei?"
"Wufei's fine."
"Is he treating you OK?"
Sally nodded. "Wufei is Wufei. He's just getting the hang of thinking of us as an item. He's learning fast, though."
"Sometimes, I wish... "
Pause.
"Wish what?" said Sally.
"Sometimes I wish that I could go back to those days at the Academy and start over from the very beginning. There's some other choices I could've made."
"The war might've turned out differently if you had."
"That's true. I remember the way you used to tease me about everything. I burned those pictures you took of me hungover."
"Ah, but that would've been such a lovely touch if they were to ever do a retrospective on your life."
"Hah!" he said.
There was a companionable silence.
"Sally, do you think... "
"What?"
"Do you ever think that we could've ever... " He didn't finish his sentence.
"Ever. . . been together? The way I remember it, I drove you crazy with the way I teased you and didn't take you as seriously as everybody else. And you were so intent on becoming leader."
"But maybe that was what I needed, someone to burst my bubble once in a while. I ended up surrounding myself with people who didn't see me as I was. I was either the great General destined to lead people towards a new utopia or I was the one thing standing in the way of world peace. And now I'm just a man who has a house in the country."
"Treize... I... "
He smiled, closed his eyes and put his hand up as if to wave away her embarassment. . "No, I'm not suggesting anything, just speculating about could-have beens, might-have-beens." Then he looked at her again with his blue eyes, full of mellow melancholy.
Her watch beeped. She glanced at it and said, "I better get going."
"Oh, just a minute." He went in, then came back within a minute with a little basket of herbs and vegetables. "It's a little parting gift for you."
"Chives, basil, oregano, rosemary, home grown cherry tomatoes? I really... "
"It's the least I could do for all you've done for me. I insist, they'll only go to waste."
"Thank you."
"I'm glad the Preventers are in place. If you ever need to pick my brains on anything, just call me."
"I'll be sure to."
They went back into the house.
"This pasta is excellent," said Wufei. "And the tomatoes are delicious."
"I got those tomatoes and some herbs from an old friend from my military school days." She paused then said, "A very good friend."
The End
(:./mk/separate)
