What It Feels Like For A Girl

Relena was in shock and absolutely nervous. It wasn’t the fact that she was going to express her feelings to Heero, or that she was going to do it publicly. She’s done that more than enough times. No. What had her worried was that she called Duo Maxwell to help, and that left her terrorized beyond belief.

She didn’t have anything against Duo. How could she? He and Heero had practically become best friends over the past two years. After the incident where the three of them met for the first time, he and Heero have just about been inseparable. Duo knew him better than anyone else. Still, it was hard for her to accept the fact that she actually called him the night before last to ask him for advice. Now, she couldn’t believe that she let him talk her into this mess.

One of Duo’s friends from the scrapyard owned one of the most popular night clubs on L2. Every Saturday night, the five former pilots would meet around ten or so to have a few drinks and relax, laughing at whoever had the courage to step up to the microphone for karaoke. Tonight, they were doing the latter, and she was going to be the last one to sing.

Relena paced back and forth behind the curtain, the butterflies in her stomach threatening to make her pass out. Duo hadn’t arrived yet, and the person before her was already halfway through the song. She started to chew on her bright red fingernails, cursing herself for being so agitated.

“Hey ‘Lena!”

“That can only be one person,” she said to herself, as she turned to face Duo. She let out a startled gasp as she took in his appearance. He didn’t dress modestly by any means, but the ripped up jeans and the white t-shirt he wore seemed to make him appear like any normal young adult. “Duo! I’m glad you’re here. Is he--”

“Yep, he’s here. I have him sitting dead in the center, right up front. He can’t help but see you.”

“Good. I hope this works.”

“It will, it will,” he said dismissively. “Oh yeah, someone’s here to see you and make sure you’re okay. He didn’t like what I had in mind for you, and he’ll kill me if it doesn’t work out.”

Relena looked at Duo curiously before he stepped aside and allowed someone to stand next to him.

“Quatre!”

“Relena!” They embraced gently before stepping back to look each other over.

“Well Quatre, I never took you for the type to wear leather pants.”

Quatre smirked as he twirled around in his black leather pants, which were too tight to be real, and his dark blue silk shirt, which was only using two of its many buttons. “Well, I never took you to wear black leather either Relena, and that black mesh top doesn’t leave much up to the imagination. Let me guess. Duo picked that outfit out for you, am I right?”

Relena glanced down to the floor, fixing the strap of her black bra as she nodded. “Yes, he did. How did you know?”

Quatre rolled his eyes and chuckled. “Who do you think got me into these pants? Anyway, don’t worry. Duo and I are here, along with Heero, Trowa, Wufei, Hilde and Sally. Nothing’s going to happen. Besides, Heero would be a fool to turn you down. Every guy here will be drooling over you.”

“Yeah. In fact, you might have to beat them away with a stick! Oh yeah, one more thing.” Duo took a small bottle out of his pocket and started to rub the substance on Relena’s arms, neck, and eyelids. “There. Glitter. That will win him for sure.”

“I hope you’re right,” she whispered under her breath.

“Of course I’m right!” Duo held her face between his hands. “You just knock ‘em dead, and we’ll bury the bodies. Gotta run, you’re next.” Duo quickly dashed behind the curtains and out into the audience. Quatre wished her luck as he fled behind Duo. Relena took a deep breath and released it, feeling some of her confidence return. If they thought she could do it, then so could she.

Once the announcement was made, she made her way on stage and was nearly floored by all the screaming and catcalls, half of them from Duo. She stood in front of the microphone and nodded to the emcee when she was ready. They had already picked out her selection. Conquering her fear, she decided to glance over the audience before the music started. Wufei, Trowa and Sally were leaning against a pool table, clapping and cheering for her. Duo, Quatre and Hilde were sitting at their own table, doing the same thing, and dead in front was Heero, seeming in total shock. His eyes were the widest that she had ever seen them, and his mouth gaped open. She couldn’t help smirking mentally.

The music started and she patted her hips every two counts or so, trying to get into the rhythm of the music. She was both excited and scared. She had never felt this way before. So when the time came, she closed her eyes and began to sing.

// Silky smooth
Lips as sweet as candy, baby
Tight blue jeans
Skin that shows in patches //

Relena cracked her eyes open a bit to see what was going on around her. She saw that Heero watched her intensely, but now he had his mouth closed. The other patrons were roaring with applause or whistling, so she took that as a good sign.

// Strong inside but you don’t know it
Good little girls they never show it
When you open up your mouth to speak
Could you be a little weak? //

While Relena sang this verse, she couldn’t help but think about the wars. She remembered how strong Heero was, and how devoted he was to his missions. But she also remembered her role. She didn’t realize how strong she was, how devoted she was to peace, and how hard she fought to obtain her objective as well, even though it didn’t involve fighting directly. Then again, she was fighting in her own way, and that made her as strong as him. In fact, she felt it was slightly more difficult for her because of the fact that she was a girl. A young, pacifist, teenage girl in a war torn world.

// Do you know what it feels like
For a girl?
Do you know what it feels like
For a girl? //

She opened her eyes fully now, and nearly laughed off the stage as she saw Duo jump up on his table, playing at strip teasing while Hilde shoved napkins in the waistband of his pants instead of dollar bills. Quatre and Sally were dancing together, rather seductively, with a smoldering Wufei glaring at the both of them. Trowa watched the entire thing with no small amount of amusement. Heero continued to stare at her, except now his expression was unreadable.

// Hair that twirls on finger tips so gently, baby
Hands that rest on jutting hips repenting //

At this point, Relena released her hair from the bun it was in and shook it loose, allowing it to fall down her back. Even more catcalls erupted as she freed it and threw both of her hands on her hips, swaying them side to side as she let the music overtake her. Another quick peek revealed that Hilde was now dancing with Duo on the table, both of them grinding against each other to the point where sparks were flying. Quatre and Sally were now dancing wildly as Trowa held Wufei back, presumably to keep him from killing Quatre. Heero still stared on, even more stern than before. She felt her spirits start to quell, but decided to keep going. It’s already gone this far, so she couldn’t stop now.

// Hurt that’s not supposed to show and
Tears that fall when no one knows
When you’re trying hard to be your best
Could you be a little less? //

Making up her mind to be bold, and possibly more flirtatious, Relena took the microphone off of its stand and moved to the corner of the stage, where she started to sing for the other men. She felt incredibly sexy from the way the other men called for her, reaching out to touch her and pleading as if she was some sort of rock star. She smiled to herself despite Heero’s lack of reactions. Quatre and Duo were right. His loss would be someone else’s gain.

// Do you know what it feels like
For a girl?
Do you know what it feels like in this world
For a girl? //

As she sang the chorus a second time, Duo jumped up on stage and started to dance, winking at her for effect. She played along, bumping her hips to his. Relena was enjoying herself immensely. It felt good to be out at night in town, amongst people her own age who were happy to have peace as much as she was--well--sort of. Now, Quatre was dancing with both Sally and Hilde, and Wufei looked as if he was about to have a stroke. Heero continued to sit at his table, completely attentive. She decided to use that to her advantage.

Relena got down on her hands and knees, crawling on the stage towards Heero as she finished the last line of the chorus, and stopped just at the edge. She could see his eyes widen even further and the sharp intake of breath. She grinned mischievously. This was going to be fun.

// Strong inside but you don’t know it
Good little girls they never show it
When you open up your mouth to speak
Could you be a little weak? //

Relena felt a finger wrap itself in the loop of her pants and she was pulled backwards to her feet and against a warm body. She let her arm hang behind her, loosely around Duo’s waist as she danced suggestively with him, all the while singing to Heero.

// Do you know what it feels like
For a girl?
Do you know what it feels like in this world
For a girl? //

The song came to a close and Relena bowed dramatically, earning a loud applause along with whistling and laughter. She turned to thank Duo, laughing graciously at him as he dropped to his knees, bowing at her feet and screaming ‘I’m not worthy’ at the top of his lungs. Relena looked up to Heero’s table and saw that he wasn’t there anymore. It didn’t matter though. She did what was planned, and she would leave it up to Heero to make the next move. She couldn’t chase after him anymore. If he wanted something, he would have to seek her out.

She walked backstage, tying her hair up as she prepared to leave. She thought about staying a while longer, but decided against it. She did have a meeting with the delegates for brunch tomorrow, and she didn’t want to be too sluggish. So she accepted Duo’s invitation to meet them next Saturday instead, where he and Quatre would con the others to be the Village People. [1] Relena picked up her purse and turned around to see Heero standing behind her, jacket on as well. Tonight he wore light blue jeans and his signature green tank, with a jean jacket to match. “Heero?”

“I like your glitter,” he said, a bit bashfully. “It...looks nice on you.”

“Oh, well thank you.”

He looked to the ground and kicked at an invisible rock. “Um...there’s this, coffee shop down the street, a block or so from here. Would you...like to grab a cup? I know you have a meeting tomorrow and--”

“I’d love to.” Relena threw her purse over her shoulder and looped her arm in his, effectively silencing him. A small smile graced his face as he walked down the stairs and opened the door for her, ushering her out into the night air. Once outside, she could clearly see the coffee shop at the end of the block. “We should walk. It’s a nice night out.”

“Okay.” They began to walk, and Relena sighed happily as the cool evening breeze whipped along her exposed skin. So far everything was going great. “Um, Relena?”

“Yes?”

“That song...the lyrics meant something different for you, didn’t they?”

She nodded her head. “Yes, they did.”

“What about?”

She sighed quietly. “What it felt like to be a girl during the war.”

“I see.” He was silent for a moment. “You will tell me about it?”

She smiled at him, tightening her hold on his arm. “Of course. But remind me to thank Duo, okay?”

He gave her a quizzical look, but nodded. “Okay.”

Relena only smiled to herself, happy that she finally caught the man of her dreams.

(end)