Snapshots:

Departure

By Starling

"When do you leave?" Arys asked, taking a sip of coffee from the heavy mug in her hand. She eyed Mei over the rim of the mug, struggling to keep her disappointment from showing. She and Mei had been close friends ever since they had joined the Preventers, and now, Mei was leaving. Arys could not imagine working at the Preventer headquarters without Mei around to break up the monotony with a spur-of-the-moment coffee break or another "Wufei" story.

"Wufei and I put in our resignations two days ago. I’m guessing we’ll be leaving before the end of the week."

Arys sighed as she gently placed the mug back on the table. She smiled at Mei. "Do you know how much I’m going to miss you?"

Mei shrugged, the look in her eyes teasing. "You’ve got Heero."

Arys laughed. "Point taken, Mei, but may I remind you that he is a guy?"

"That’s never bothered you before," Mei replied, grinning widely. She leaned forward, elbows on the table. "Look, Arys, just because Wufei and I are leaving the Preventers doesn’t mean that we’re never going to see each other again."

"You’re right. But who are you going to call when you want to get away from Wufei?"

A shadow seemed to pass over Mei’s features, and Arys realized what she had just said. It was after just such a phone call that Mei and Heero had found Arys, dying on the floor of her office. Arys reached forward to pat Mei’s hand. "I’m sorry. I had forgotten."

Mei winced. "I’ll never forget, Arys. That was an awful day, for Heero especially."

Arys didn’t want to dwell on what had happened in the past, so she squeezed Mei’s hand and leaned back in her chair. "Well, it turned out all right in the end."

Mei nodded slowly.

"So, you and Wufei are going to work for a bondsman?"

Mei smiled. "Yeah, his name’s Ed Harris. He has a great personality, and he and Wufei get along really well, believe it or not. It’s the perfect job for us. Wufei gets to deal out justice, and I get to help him."

Arys ran a finger along the edge of the spoon lying in front of her. "You two felt smothered in the Preventers, didn’t you?"

Mei threw her a wry grin. "Who wouldn’t with Une in charge?" She propped her chin up on her hands. "How do you and Heero stand it?"

"Heero likes the way Une works." Arys shrugged. "So we stay."

Mei nodded. "And you don’t want to admit it, but you like the way Une works too."

Arys smiled. "You know me too well, Mei. Maybe it’s a good thing you’re leaving."

"Hey!"

Arys ignored Mei’s protest and glanced at her watch. "Coffee break’s over. We’d better head back to work." She stood to her feet, tossing a few bills on the table. "Coffee’s on me."

Mei pushed back her chair, yawning as she stood up reluctantly. "One thing I’m looking forward to. Unlimited coffee breaks. With Wufei."

Arys tapped her friend on the shoulder as they left the café. "I thought Wufei hated coffee."

Mei shrugged. "It’s the thought that counts."