26 June 2000
Title: Arawa na Wufei
Author: Cutter
Notes: The title is something like "Wufei Revealed." I hope.
Sachie-san, help me out with my Japanese/translation there? Also,
nothing fantastically important happens in part 1, but without a
setup there would be no story, ne? I'm working on the rest as we
speak, expect periodic installments. For those of you who don't like
to read anything without your fave couples, there will be a few
pairings; however, I'm not telling you which ones right now.
Timeline: After Endless Waltz, oh, a couple of months, during which
time Wu-chan's been wandering around the universe by himself, doing
God knows what. Actually, Cutter knows what, but you don't. Yet.
OK?
Warnings: Wufei is a three-dimensional character in this fic. Also,
Sally is not perfect (this is straining against all of my Sally-
worshipping instincts, but I'm trying my best... ). She's damn near
close, though. (So my best isn't very good, so sue me. I like
Sally. ^_~) For all the other warnings, you'll just have to wait,
because they'd all be spoilers.
Disclaimer: Do I seem like I could've created Wufei? Do I seem like
I have the self-control to write an entire 49-episode series full of
bishounen/bishoujo without *one* single sex scene, ever? If your
answer to either of these questions is "no," then you have no reason
to sue. If you answered "yes," I urge you to seek help, because
you're deluding yourself.
As soon as he walked in, she knew something was up. Wufei Chang did not just "drop by" places; he was exactly where he intended to be, for his very specific (although seldom comprehensible) reasons, at all times.
So Sally felt she was justified in being a tad suspicious.
"So, Chang Wufei, it's been a long time."
"Sally."
...there was a pause. //Now I *know* it's the Apocalypse. Has to be. Shit, and I was finally going to ask Noin out on Friday... // "'Sally'?! You called me 'Sally'?!"
Wufei raised an amused eyebrow, bowing politely and sitting down in a chair on the other side of her desk. "Is that not your name? Po Sally?"
Bewildered, she muttered, "I usually leave it in the Western order... " //He wants something... what the hell is it?//
"All right then, Sally Po. Have I interrupted something? You seem startled." His expression was curious, but politely reserved.
//I have never, ever seen anything approaching non-anger on that boy's face. Maybe this is some sort of test. Something has to be going on that I can't see here.// Aloud, she said only, "What happened to 'onna'?" She was actually rather proud of herself for keeping her voice neutral. Wufei had too much of an effect on her; he broke her concentration. She did not like that.
"It's not polite to address women as 'onna'," he replied, oblivious to the sweatdrop that appeared on her forehead and the severe contradiction to his role in their former working relationship. "Especially women one wishes to be employed by."
"*Employ* you? Is that why you're here?"
Wufei nodded. "I wish to become a Preventer."
"Wufei... " she began, confused and more than a little angry for reasons she didn't totally understand, "we weren't exactly on the same side in our last encounter. And you want to work with me now? For me?"
For just a moment, he looked uncomfortable. The look quickly passed from his face and it was unreadable again when he replied. "Yes. I admit that some of my previous actions were dishonorable. But I wish now to protect the peace, and the people I once fought for." He clearly had an entire persuasive speech worked out, having obviously anticipated her doubts.
She knew he was really a good kid at heart, but the speech would not have convinced her. And the Preventers could certainly use someone of his ability and personal integrity, but that wouldn't have been enough for her, either, because... she didn't know why. He made her nervous.
He confused her. Every time they were around each other, she'd held an ace, been in control, but all the same... he was too insulting, too much of a loose cannon, too sexist, too bullheaded, had come too close to killing Noin. Too close... too close to an enemy...
<Une was an enemy, too, and now she's a fellow leader of your organization,> the evil little voice of her reason told her. <You trust her. Why can't you trust him? He helped you win the war against OZ.>
//Because I don't know what he's thinking. I can't get inside his head.//
<You can't get inside Une's head either. For that matter, you can't get in Noin's head, *or* her pants, and she's always been on your side.> The voice was smarter than she was, that was what pissed her off... <You don't want him here because he didn't think you could do what you did. He didn't believe in you, and that hurt, and now he makes you insecure. Weak. Like he always says women are.>
//Shit.//
//Fucking conscience... Goddess I need a day off. I don't have to deal with this. Wufei doesn't like me, and he doesn't want to work for me, and he's got something up his sleeve. I don't want to know what it is. And I know it's unfair and that I'm neglecting my duty to him and my organization if I don't at least find a good reason not to hire him... but I don't *like* the boy.// That settled, she shook herself out of her thoughts and opened her mouth to refuse him.
And said, "Well, only on a few conditions."
The speech he'd been making during her mental absence held no weight with her; her own conscience had held no weight with her... but as soon as she'd gotten a good look at him, her opened mouth informed her that she'd changed her mind.
Because something was just not right with this picture, and to Sally's sharp mind it begged further investigation.
Because ever so slightly, almost unnoticably, Wufei's hands were shaking.
~Tsudzuku (of course!)~
Yes, my romanization of 'tsudzuku' is somewhat creative... so sue me. Anyway, comments? Notes explaining you hate me for not giving away any information in part one? Requests not to write part two? (These will be ignored, but free speech is cool, ne?)
Cutter is very tired, and has scheduled a doctor's appointment, but some good things happened to her today, and she's going to go to bed without complaining or telling y'all about the Bra Ordeal. 'Night, and I hope RL is treating everyone well! ::massive glomp::
I'm gonna check in on Emily now...
(:./cutter/arawa1)
