Oh but if you follow me I will follow you to the unknown
Oh like Apollo, like Apollo we'll fly to the moon
Oh yes if you follow me I will follow you to the unknown
Oh like Apollo, like Apollo 13 we'll explode...
The Tears, Apollo 13
Rose petals drifted to the ground, tiny white offerings at her feet. She’d always loved roses, and she loved this place as well, this tiny alcove which nobody else knew about. Nobody would ever think she’d come here, much less fit. Oh no, not her. She was big and gawky, she didn’t like pretty things or feminine things. She was all business.
She gazed down at her hands, the knuckles scratched from tending to her plants, the fingers long and flexible. Nobody ever noticed that. They were just big hands, man hands, not suitable for a princess. She didn’t fit the mold.
There was a rustle. She froze, shrinking back into the niche. She didn’t want anyone to see these red eyes. Let them think she was hard. Let them think she didn’t care. It was better that way. It was growing louder, louder, no, no, go away!
She cringed as the bushes parted, pulling further back.
“Princess… Jupiter? I saw you heading this way.”
She could have died of shame. Why him? Why did he have to be the one person who followed her? “Then you know the way back, so please take it,” she said, fighting to keep her voice steady.
There was another rustle. She heard footsteps and a head blocked the light coming into the alcove, long chestnut hair falling forward as he looked down at her. “There you are…”
“Please go away, Nephrite,” she said, feeling ridiculous. “I don’t want to talk to anybody.”
He didn’t say anything for a moment, but he didn’t move either. She could feel him looking at her, his eyes on her face. “Look… I’m sorry.”
Startled, she looked up. “You’re sorry? For what?”
“For them. They’re jealous of you. Your skills. You’re one hell of a warrior, and on Earth it’s an insult if a woman beats you in anything.”
She smiled at the colloquialism before his other words sank in, sparking dormant anger. “Well, this isn’t Earth!” she said, stepping forward and making him move back. “And I don’t see why being beaten by a woman is such an insult! I’m not just any woman!”
“I’m not the enemy here! I’m just trying to explain why they said those things!” he protested, holding up his hands. “Look, they’re idiots, Princess. Everyone knows you’re the strongest senshi.”
“Oh yes, I’m the strongest all right,” she said, hysteria sharpening her voice. “Herculean Jupiter, that’s me! I don’t feel anything! I probably don’t know how to cry! Maybe I’m not even really a girl!”
He stared at her, horrified. She turned around, hating the look on his face. “Well, I do know how to cry!” she said, her voice harsh with tears and anger. “And I don’t need your explanations or your pity. I just need you to leave me alone!”
Hands grabbed her shoulders, and she reacted instinctively, throwing a punch.
“Woah!” Nephrite yelled, barely ducking in time and grabbing her arms.
“Get off me!” she shouted, feeling more tears slip down her cheeks. “I told you, I don’t need your pity-!”
“Will you just listen for a moment instead of trying to knock me out?” he snapped, pushing her against the wall. “I don’t pity you. At. All. I think they’re idiots who shouldn’t have challenged you if they weren’t prepared for a beating. And as for being a girl, I think it’s perfectly obvious…” He stopped, feeling her eyes on him, and suddenly realised there could be a double meaning in that. “I mean, you’re very warm and caring, you mother everyone, you even mother the plants!” he babbled, waiting for the second punch.
She giggled, sniffed and scrubbed her cheeks. “You really don’t pity me?”
“Why would I?” he asked, his eyes wide and innocent.
Jupiter shrugged, feeling awkward. “Because…” She gestured down at herself. “I’m not exactly the ideal princess.”
He let go of her arms and put his hands in his pockets. “Not every man wants a simpering doll batting her eyelashes at him,” he said harshly, looking away. “I like looking a girl in the eye. You look me in the eye. It’s nice.”
She stared at him, standing there, proud and shy. His cheek reddened under her gaze, and a warmth bloomed in her chest. “Thank you,” she said, “for coming after me.”
He shrugged, still not meeting her eyes, his cheeks even redder. “Don’t mention it. They’re idiots. You’re above them.”
She leaned against the wall, taking him in. She wanted to make him smile. She wanted to make him look at her again. “That probably doesn’t help, either,” she suggested, with a small smile.
A wide grin flashed on his face. “Ha! No, that’s probably the worst thing: they can’t even look down at you.”
She laughed and wiped her cheeks again. No more tears. That was good. Hopefully her eyes weren’t too red. Her eyes wandered over his shoulders (wide), his back (straight), his… she stopped herself.
Not going there.
“Come on,” she said, “let’s go back. How are my eyes?”
He looked at her finally, a serious look. Time slowed down and everything was suddenly quiet. She could hear herself breathing, feel her heart speed up. She wanted him to come closer. She wanted him to stay right there. Her lips began to burn, and she resisted the urge to lick them. A bird broke from the trees above them and he blinked.
“Perfectly fine,” he said quietly, and she felt the breath leave her body in one quick shudder.
Neither of them spoke on the way back to the palace, but they walked closer together than before, and when their arms touched they both looked down to hide the smiles that appeared on their lips.
DISCLAIMER: I own neither these characters nor environment. It all belongs to Naoko Takeuchi.
