DISCLAIMER: I claim no legal rights, or ownership of the mentioned characters, or the show Gundam Wing from whence they came. They belong to their respectful owners at Sotsu, Sunrise, and Bandai, and to the writers/creators etc
A/N: This is kinda a 13xR story, but MAYBE a 1xR later on…Let me know what you think! Btw, the next chapter has a teeny little lemon in it. But nothing to break a sweat about.. So to speak..
A Cell Without Walls
By Hour Glass
It was one of those days where the air is so heavy and dense you can smell the earth through the fog. The humidity is so thick you feel like you could be swallowed whole by its disgust. The odor of wet leaves and grass seeps from your damp skin, making you want to scream for just one pure breath of air, just a steady, cooling breeze.
Warm, pestering drops of rain drizzled from the gray clouds that seemed to stick to me with the humidity as I made my way up the boundless white stairs to the home of Treize Khushrenada. I had secretly arranged a meeting with the General after a message had been sent to me by OZ describing their plans of deposal, and offering surrender if I wished to plead so on the behalf of the Sank Kingdom. I did not doubt their ability to level my humble kingdom with the wave of a hand, so I found myself about to be face to face with the one man that may just help decide the fate of myself and my father's kingdom.
My heels clicking up the stone stairs sounded so dull in the gray weather, everything seemed like a dream. I stopped to look around, my eyes slowly scanning upwards toward the sky. What an ugly day it was, I remember. It was perfect weather for an ugly day. Bringing my head back down to earth, I realized I was alone. It was a strange, and awkward feeling; I had never felt so alone in my life. Not since my father had died. Earlier I had requested that I go to the meeting by myself, refusing any bodyguards. It had been quite a task enforcing this, and quite another to insure that a certain Gundam Pilot wasn't going to show up.
I was going to make a deal with Treize, anything to protect the well being of the kingdom. It was everything to me. The Sank Kingdom was an emblem of peace to the people, and an emblem of the past to my heart. I could not afford to let my father's kingdom fall again; it was my responsibility to make sure it stood steadfast through the war. I was so determined not to let both of my fathers' deaths be deemed a waste. They died for peace, and it was the only thing I lived for.
When I finally made it to the top of the porch, I found myself standing in front of the two tall green doors. It clashed most tastefully with the very clean white washed exterior of the mansion, I recall. I didn't see those doors very many times, but that first vision of my soon to be prison was never erased. I began to feel nervous and fidgeted with my hair that had frizzed up some because of the weather conditions, and tugged at my dangerously cut skirt that was unconventionally higher than my usual formal knee-length skirt. I pulled my bra up some between my cleavage so that the slight line peaked through the opening of the silk, button down blouse I wore. To complete the pale lavender suit I wore a matching waist jacket, which buttoned up right under my breast, accentuating the only too obvious bust of a fifteen-year-old girl, and slim waist. The tiny silver cross that was always worn around my neck, fell right above the center of my breasts, which was no accident, mind you. Everything was meant to catch the eye to one, conspicuous view, and this was only made possible by the help I had gotten from the Romefellar daughter, expert in enticement, Dorothy Catalonia. In general accordance, I still maintained my only too natural persona of innocence that was second nature to my naivety and youthfulness.
I then heard the door click, and immediately ceased my fidgeting, snapping my head up to see who was answering the door. An old man who was obviously the butler kindly waved me inside. I politely nodded in return and followed the elderly man as he lead me to where I assumed the General Khushrenada was. Glancing around the enormous house, I remember feeling very warm. The house had a nice coziness to it that made it seem as though a kind old person might live there, or maybe a family. No, it was too extravagant to be dwelled in by an entire family, or even a humble elderly person. Covering the stairs was a blood red carpet that blended so perfectly with mahogany floors. The roses meticulously placed in almost every corner of the room blended the interior to perfection; a simple motif that filled the house with a sweet scent. His obvious infatuation with red seemed like a sanctuary to all the bloodshed he had caused. The comfortable, homey affect of the house was now tainted by the sinister image printed in my mind. Still, anyone who hadn't known the identity of the master of the house would never have guessed that such a powerful and equally evil man of war lived there. It seemed strange me after thoroughly examining the house with much curiosity, how though the house felt so "lived in" and comfortable, Treize lived alone. Why would anyone want to live alone in such a gigantic house like this with no one to share it with?
I pondered the thought until what seemed after only a few seconds, I was left alone in an office. I nearly jumped at the sound of the door shutting behind me as I stood across from the General. The older man stood to greet me with one of his dashing smiles; so charming, yet so dangerous.
"Good afternoon Princess Relena. It is nice to have finally met you in person."
"Likewise I'm sure General-
"Please, take a seat, Princess." The accentuation on the last word made my skin tingle… I could feel the mockery in his tone. Even so, he politely gestured an immaculately gloved hand to the plush red velvet chair in front of his desk. I was glad to have a place to sit since I wasn't sure my knees could hold me up for much longer. I sat down, Crossing my ankles and folded my hands gently in my lap in routine habit. He smirked, amused at my refined behavior. He saw me as merely a spoiled child who had come to discuss matters of war with him. I admit, I was very young, and had only received power through my family's situation, but I was not so ignorant. I had learnt fast all that I could about running a kingdom. I was walking proof that even children are quickly forced grow up when the world is in the midst of a war.
"I arranged this meeting, because I was hoping we could discuss some kind of negotiation. I'm of course referring to the message I received from OZ. Though I'm sure you're already aware of the content of the message, and their intentions of assaulting an attack on the Sank Kingdom if there is a refusal to surrender. I am willing to do anything I can to prevent the Sank Kingdom from falling, and I was hoping you would be open minded and grant me a chance to save my kingdom."
I cleared my throat unnecessarily, realizing how small and weak my voice had sounded. He leaned in closer to me, resting his arms on the desk with his hands folded under his chin. He looked straight into my eyes, that I knew glinted desperation. I was desperate and that was all this man needed to know to wrap me around his finger. He knew I would do anything to save my peaceful kingdom from harm; I was vulnerable.
"What kind of negotiation are we talking about, Princess?"
I mimicked him, leaning in closer; aware of the view that was now accessible down the silken blouse I wore.
"I am willing to make any deal on the terms of yourself and OZ." I said in a low, almost whispered voice.
I looked down at my arms that were resting on the desktop only inches from his now, realizing how enormous his seemed in comparison to mine. Feeling his hot breath on me, goose bumps rose on my flesh. He was very close, and I could hear my heartbeat picking up in to loud thumps against my chest.
"In exchange for the safety of your kingdom, OZ is requiring that you omit any anti-OZ or Romefellar convictions in your speeches, and that you provide them with any information you have on the Gundam Pilots," The General replied, putting me a cold shock. Was that all he wanted? I went there ready to give everything I had to this man, and he spoke of OZ's terms?
"Fair enough." I sighed with relief getting up from the chair to head for the door.
"But Princess, I don't believe I've had the chance to propose my terms."
Chills ran down my spine, blood rushing to the nether region of my body at the sound of his deep voice. I reclaimed my seat in the red-velvet chair, and looked up to meet Treize's eyes once more.
Noticing the sudden paleness in my complexion, he smiled in satisfaction as he probed my body with his eyes. I then realized how carefully he had been watching my body language ever since I had stepped into his office and how It had dawned on him that this "little girl" meant to seduce him. I knew he was not going to deny such an offer; after all, he was still only a man.
"OZ's terms only guarantee the safety of the Sank Kingdom. They did not however, promise your own safety. You of all people should know that OZ does not play by the rules. Despite their deceitful terms, I personally can guarantee your protection."
"I don't care about my own safety, I just want my kingdom to survive."
I decided then and there that maybe it really wasn't worth living with the indignity. Maybe there are worse things than death.
"Hn. Princess, what do you think will happen to your pacifist kingdom if you, the only leader, are dead?"
I said nothing in return, and just waited for the words that I had been waiting to hear all day: the terms of a powerful and lonely man.
"I have a feeling you know the nature of my terms already, Princess."
"Yes."
"My dear child. I don't think you are aware of what you're getting yourself into. These are very dangerous grounds you are crossing."
"What are your terms, General?", I had come too far to let this man embarrass me into sway.
"All right, I won't linger on the matter. If you will be mine every night for the next year, you will be safe from OZ and Romefellar. Do you agree to these terms?" Treize searched my eyes, seeing the pain I was trying so desperately to hide. He knew I didn't want him to see just how hard this was for me to do. This was war, and nothing was warm and sunny, I knew he knew that, and I knew I would soon know it even more.
Staring out the floor to ceiling window behind Treize, barely hearing all of the man's words, I couldn't help but think of my father. I saw what I was subjecting myself to, to save his kingdom and to preserve my family's ideals of pacifism. I realized some wars were not fought with guns, and sometimes pacifism meant fighting with one's self. After a long stretch of silence, I began to feel my eyes burn with tears, but I held them back, refusing to ever let this man see how much this killed me inside.
"Yes. I agree to them."
"This is never to be spoken of to anyone. Do you understand?"
"Yes- but… What about after the year is up? Will you guarantee my safety then?"
"…You may choose any room in this house that you wish, as long as you are at my chambers by 9:00pm, that is an hour after dinner is served in the dining room. You may go into any of the rooms except for the rooms of which the doors are kept locked. During the day you may do whatever you please. Is this clear?" he finished, blatantly ignoring my question.
"Yes, when shall I-
"Tomorrow night. You may bring all your things today if you please, and stay tonight in your own home if that is your desire."
"Thank you." I replied coolly, my eyes never leaving his.
"Likewise, my Princess."
With that he stood, towering over my head that only came up right below the broad shoulders clad in a blue, OZ uniform jacket, and escorted me down the grand staircase to the front exit where I had first entered, and watched me walk down the porch stairs. My bodyguards immediately popped out of the car where they were ordered to stay until I emerged from the home. Treize stood at the door as I drove away in my little pink car down the winding road.
