Cloak and Dagger

Prologue: Underground Movement

A/N: Apparently, this story needs some explanation, though I would love to just present it as is. This is AU in almost every definition of the term: the world I am describing is not real, and the characters (particularly Milliardo, more on this later) could have moments of OOC because they have quite different backstories than their original GW counterparts. That being said, I've written Relena and Heero as true to form as possible, so I hope all this talk of the characters being "out of character" doesn't put you off this story. That would be a shame, but your loss.

Thanks to Trumpet-Geek for Beta-ing for me; I actually took her suggestions 3/4ths of the time. I appologize for that 1/4, but a gal has to stand by her writing on occasion, even if it does lack sense.

Sanq Kingdom – 5th Year of King Milliardo's Reign

"I'm looking for Father Maxwell," she said quietly to the man behind the counter of the bar. He had a lit cigarette dangling from his lips, the ashes occasionally dribbling into the glasses of liquor he was pouring. Without moving his mouth, he nodded towards the back of the room. She thanked him politely, though his directions were about as helpful as a written text to the illiterate, and moved further into the dank tavern. Once she moved farther from the front door, she realized that the curt nod of the barkeep's head couldn't have been more concise.

She had finally located the elusive Father Maxwell surrounded by drunken bar patrons as he told a tale which had his audience enraptured.

"… and so she stood on the precipice of the cliff, watching as her brother walked towards her with the news of their father's death. She was fifteen and knew relatively nothing of the world, but the people adored her kindness and her spirit as much as they despised the prince's cruelty. It didn't hurt that she was also beautiful. They say that Princess Relena's smile broke that day as her brother told her the news. No one knows if it was an accident and she took one step too far backwards, or if she fainted at the news, or perhaps something far more sinister which I will refrain from mentioning for fear of treason, but witnesses say she let out a cry and tumbled backwards over the cliff, down into the deep waters and treacherous rocks below. Our king says his sister didn't survive the fall, but local legend dictates that she did, and will some day return to save her people from her brother's tyrannical control. They say that she will rise with an army of men and reclaim her heritage. To Princess Relena," Duo saluted with his drink, downing the frothy liquid in a healthy gulp.

"Princess Relena," his crowd echoed.

"Father Maxwell," the woman said intrusively, using the cover of the tale to slip to his side, "I need to speak with you on an urgent matter."

"What need is urgency when one has good drink, and good company?" Duo proclaimed, amid a claim of general agreement from his fellow drunks. "Come see me at the church on the morrow, when I am more sober and less drunk."

"This is unrelated to church matters," she hissed, her voice lowering to a point where even she could barely hear it. She observed from his manner as he sat straighter and with interest that he knew what she was saying. "I've been sent by Trowa."

Duo stood abruptly, his manner changing as his cloak fell heavily along his shoulders, and in that moment she could see the Obsidian Knight he was rumoured to be. She followed silently as he abruptly left the tavern and hurried down the street. She didn't speak again until he sequestered the two of them in the back room of an empty store.

"You have news?"

"No. He has nothing further to add to his last missive." The woman pulled a small bag out of the front of her bodice. "He says you are the man to see about renewing my business now that I have moved into the capital." She shook the contents of her pouch into her hand, revealing a glitter of cut diamonds.

"I am not a businessman," Father Maxwell responded with a suspicious narrowing of his eyes. "Barton knows this."

"I am not selling," she said. "Think of it as a charitable contribution to your parish. My only suggestion is that you handle them with care, and very, very quietly."

"Ah," Duo said with a grin, "that kind of business. What cut do you want?"

"I'm not selling," she reiterated. "I want nothing for these jewels but the knowledge that they are feeding those who cannot feed themselves, clothing those –"

"I've heard the drill," Duo said, fingers grasping around the gems now safely resecured within cloth. "Where does Trowa find you self-sacrificing people? First stories of his pet thief started reaching town, and suddenly more and more people like the idea of taking from the rich and giving to the poor."

"Do you really believe there are two of us?" The woman asked, adjusting the hood covering her head nervously, as though she remembered for the first time that she was keeping her identity hidden. Quickly, realizing what she was doing, she turned on foot sharply and headed for the door. "I only ask one thing in return for my services."

"Ah, that's more like it." Duo muttered, his faith in human nature once again renewed.

"I want news of my arrival to spread." She smiled, and it flashed beneath the strange, hollow shadow of her cloak. "I want men to know my name when I rob them; I want to be feared. And when I bring the nobility of this country down around their ears, I want King Milliardo to know who brought about his demise."

There was a pause.

"Long live Queen Relena," she finished. And she was gone like a flickering candle in the wind.

©RelenaFanel.Sept19.2007

"But where's the Edge of the Chase update you promised us?" you ask. "Valid question," I explain, "unfortunately, my laptop power cord died and I have no battery on my computer, so all my files are inaccessable."

Which is a shame, but then I never would have wrote this.