August 12, A.C. 197

Seaport Hotel

Boston, Massachusetts, former USA

"Of all these damn conferences, this one has got to be the most boring."

Duo Maxwell sighed dramatically from his post, looking to his partner for sympathy. His supposed pal did not respond.

Heero Yuy's eyes were trained on the Vice Foreign Minister below, where she stood onstage at a podium addressing the auditorium full of delegates and media. Typical, Duo scoffed inwardly. Actually, when he failed to get Heero's attention, he scoffed out loud, but his sighs did nothing to pull the devoted Preventer agent and bodyguard from his hyper-focused gaze.

If Duo had had something to throw at him, he might have, if only to watch Heero snap and snarl and become all but unglued. All over a girl. Not just any girl, of course. He could certainly understand why any guy would be enamored with Relena Darlian; and, naturally, the beautiful, young politician had her fair share of admirers. But it was amusing, nevertheless, to see the otherwise impeccable Heero Yuy become so easily flustered.

And, right now, Duo was dying for a little entertainment.

He smiled lazily and tipped his head toward Relena's tiny figure below. "She's lookin' good these days, am I right? Growth spurt or something?"

Heero's brow creased, but his eyes didn't move. "What are you talking about?" he asked under his breath.

Duo's smile spread into a grin. "You know what I mean. Not a vertical growth spurt." His brows waggled as he raised both his hands and feigned squeezing imaginary breasts. Heero's frown deepened.

"You're an idiot," he muttered.

"Pssh, don't pretend you haven't noticed. You spend so much time staring at her- ow!"

With a single pull of Duo's braid, Heero sent him crashing onto the floor of the balcony. Several pairs of eyes from the audience snapped up to their area. Heero tipped his chin upward to indicate that nothing was amiss. Relena's voice never wavered, her eyes trained on the crowd. Heero's lips tugged into a smile.

He had noticed… a few things. But as usual, he kept his observations to himself.

Later that night, though, he had to endure more of Duo's.

"Do you ever get tired of just guarding Relena's body?" Duo asked him with a smirk. They were in the posh hotel's bar. Relena had retired for the night and, after Heero had done another sweep of her room and declared it uncompromised, he had allowed the next detail to take over night watch. Something he preferred to do. But he and Duo had been assigned to accompany her during the conference itself, so that meant when she slept, they slept. Only Duo hadn't wanted to sleep. And he had managed to drag Heero along with him.

Heero had agreed to go to the bar because he was hungry, but that didn't mean he was in the mood to chat. He ignored Duo and tucked into his burger.

Duo rolled his eyes and took another swig of beer. "You know how many guys would kill to be in your position?"

"What?" Heero asked between bites. He didn't want to indulge Duo's questions, but he also wanted to shut him up. Unfortunately, ignoring him never seemed to work; Heero had learned over the past few years that trying to tune Duo out only caused the braided man to turn up the volume. What would help would be a swift punch to the gut, but they were in public and that would draw too much attention their way. As if the two of them, in their Preventers uniforms,weren't conspicuous enough, already.

"What do you mean 'what'?" Duo sighed and shook his head. "I mean as the object of Relena Darlian's affection. Duh."

Heero's eyes narrowed. "As usual, I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Sure you don't." Duo drew out the first word in a long, lazy drawl. "I'm starting to think you already have a thing going, you just don't ever talk about it."

Heero snorted before taking another bite of his burger.

"So, I'm gonna take that as a 'yes,' then," said Duo. Heero just glared at him in response. "Eh, I can't say I'm all that surprised." Duo arched his back against his chair and grinned at Heero. "After all, you're a big fan of the cloak and dagger stuff. I'm betting Relena is, too."

Heero didn't care for Duo's incessant commentary, but it irked him whenever he dragged Relena into it.

"Again, you don't know what you're talking about," Heero growled.

"And, as usual, you're in denial," Duo said with a jab of his pointer finger. "Admit it; you've banged her." His eyes gleamed as Heero's face reddened. "Ha!" he exclaimed, giving Heero's arm a shake. "I knew it! Well, don't hold out on me any more! I need details, man."

Heero reached up and grabbed Duo's wrist, giving it an unsavory turn. Duo yelped in pain.

"All right, uncle! Sheesh!" Heero released his grip and went back to his meal. Duo wrung his hands. "Do you always have to get so physical when you're mad?!"

"Do you always have to be so invasive with your questions?" Heero muttered, knowing it wasn't the best retort, but deciding he didn't care enough to verbally spar with Duo.

Duo sighed again. "I just don't get why you're so defensive, still. The war's over, buddy; it's been over. Can't you just, ya know, lighten up a bit?" He jerked a thumb up toward the ceiling. "You've got a beautiful girl up there who looks at you like you hung the moon, and you pretty much did." His eyes turned serious. "So if you haven't made a move already… what the hell are you waiting for?"

Heero grumbled something under his breath and took a long, slow sip of his beer. He was grateful that the drinking age for ESUN territories on Earth was 18 - which, according to his Preventers-issued ID, he was - and not 21, like it was on some colonies. Heero knew if he was going to have to deal with Duo for the duration of the conference, he was going to need a lot of alcohol.

Although Heero wasn't a fan of lowering his inhibitions, even when off-duty, Duo's lack of regard for his - not to mention Relena's - privacy set him on-edge. And made him want to slip into a drunken stupor for at least a few hours.

Besides, Relena was secure. He'd checked. Multiple times.

His thoughts turned to her as Duo continued to babble beside him.

No, Heero hadn't "sealed the deal" with Relena, as Duo kept insisting. Heero hadn't made any sort of declaration to her, and why would he? He was there, working in her detail, day after day. Even when occasional Preventer assignments took him away from her, he would eventually return to her side. They had an unspoken agreement, he and Relena; he had promised her after the war ended the first time, that he would always protect her. She knew how he felt - that she had given him a newfound purpose, that he felt he owed her his life. And although at first she had encouraged him to go to school, make new friends, explore his potential in this new, peaceful reality, Heero found he couldn't enjoy much of anything if he was far from her side. After all, why would he stray from his purpose?

Besides, he had tried it. Campus life, studying, socializing. For months he felt restless and out of place. Out of sync with everyone around him. And then he'd see Relena and feel like he could breathe again.

Not to mention, whenever he was away from her for too long, bad things tended to happen. Three times, in the past year, she'd been kidnapped or held hostage, and he blamed himself for each incident. Even though she didn't. In fact, she had seemed genuinely surprised when he told her he'd joined her detail. And that he intended to stay with her, for as long as she would allow him. Her eyes had registered her shock, but then she had smiled and nodded eagerly. Heero wouldn't admit it under pain of death - at least not to the likes of Duo - but he liked seeing Relena happy. He knew she never would have come out and asked him to do such a thing, to devote himself to her, but he'd wanted to. And, months later, he was content with his decision.

Hell, he was content in general. Unlike Duo's perception of him, Heero felt relaxed in Relena's presence. With the war behind them and a peaceful future unfolding before them, she seemed much more at ease as well. Now, they enjoyed long, comfortable silences in the same room, each cherishing their solitude and one another's company. They could both wile hours away on their laptops, neither of them speaking a word, together without requiring anything from one another.

Then there were times when they would talk, for hours, about everything and nothing at all. Most of the time they talked politics and strategy; Relena would run her speeches by Heero, and he would listen intently and make suggestions, however misguided they may be; she was the one with the experience, after all. But he was gratified that she sought his opinion; not only that, but valued it. In turn, he tried to ease her worries and, when he could, make her smile. Which, he had learned, was not a very difficult feat; he would often catch her smiling at him for seemingly no reason at all.

And, sometimes, she would ask him questions about his past. Cautiously, as if she feared any moment she would offend him, and he would take off like a frightened deer caught in the open. He was likewise guarded with what he chose to reveal. But he was growing comfortable enough to give her glimpses. At this point, the only reason he didn't divulge his entire biography to her, as he knew it, was because he was more concerned about upsetting her than himself. For so long, he had dealt with his war-ravaged memories by shutting them up in some mental file he refused to access. But, slowly, carefully, Relena was chipping away at his armor. And, to his own alarm, at times, he was letting her.

That didn't mean he was ready to take things to the level Duo kept insisting on, however. And if the other Preventer knew why Heero was hesitant, he was likely to give him even more grief.

After a few more beers, Heero managed to pry Duo away from the bar. The two retreated to Relena's hotel suite, where they each had their own room. They nodded to the two Preventer agents who were guarding the suite from the hallway before swiping their keycards - a rather primitive level of security that irked Heero - and going inside.

The other agents' names escaped Heero at the moment, but he figured the booze was partially to blame. That and he had only met them that morning. Normally he would have fought Une on allowing two new recruits to join Relena's detail, but the Preventers commander had insisted the new additions had undergone thorough vetting and training. If Heero had had his way, all five former Gundam pilots would have been dispatched to this conference, as representatives from each ESUN territory was present, but Une had insisted she was confident that two of them would be enough.

And yet, all five of them, along with Zechs and Noin, had been needed the last time Relena was in danger. And that still hadn't been enough…

Heero's mind was drifting to a dark place. He shook his head in an inane effort to reroute his thoughts. Duo flopped down on the couch in the common area, announcing with an unceremonious belch that he was "so wasted." Heero didn't comment as he walked over to the door leading to Relena's room, and knocked softly. His heart thumped wildly when he didn't hear a response.

He opened the door slowly and gave a low warning. "Relena, I'm coming in." Then he pushed the door open all the way, his hand hovering over the gun he still had in the holster on his belt. On-duty and off, he always kept one close.

As he entered the dark room fully, he could see why she hadn't answered the door. The French doors leading to the outside balcony were wide open, and Relena was leaning on the railing, her back to Heero. He frowned and strode over to her.

"What do you think you're doing?"

She seemed to start, her shoulders arching up, before she turned her head to look at him. She gave a little huff, but her eyes glimmered.

"What, I'm not allowed to enjoy the view?" She turned her head back around, as if that satisfied his remark. Heero glowered at her back.

"You shouldn't be out here by yourself. You know that."

Relena sighed but didn't turn back around. "Stay with me, then."

Heero grumbled to himself but moved closer to her so that they were standing side by side. He paused to take in the view of the harbor. The water twinkled up at them, reflecting the moon and streetlights and lights from nearby buildings, but they couldn't see any stars.

"Not much of a view," he grunted.

"I think it's pretty," Relena said softly. Heero turned to look at her and saw the smile playing on her lips as she pointed to the water below. "I love looking at all the boats. My dad took me sailing a few times as a child…"

He knew by her "dad," she was referring to the late Vice Foreign Minister Darlian, not her birth father, who she didn't remember. Heero nodded and looked down at all the sailboats and luxury yachts tethered to the docks. Relena sighed and sank her cheek into her palm, both her elbows leaning on the railing. "What I wouldn't give to spend a day out on the water…"

In moments like these, Heero had learned to offer Relena some small comfort, or at least remind her that her life's work, while difficult, gave hope and purpose to millions. Including himself. He didn't feel a need to remind her of that now. Perhaps, he thought, as he watched her staring dreamily at the water, it had been said enough. Instead, he slipped an arm around her and hugged her to his side. She rested her head on his shoulder, and he allowed the contact for a few minutes before defaulting to protocol.

"Let's go inside," he said quietly. She sighed her agreement. He released her and she followed after him.

Heero shut - and locked - the French doors before drawing the thick curtains across them. He stood there frowning at them for a moment until Relena tapped his shoulder.

"Penny for your thoughts?" she teased. It was a phrase she used around him constantly; at first, Heero had had to admit he didn't know what it meant. It was some idiom that had been lost in translation, but now he understood. He turned to face her, still frowning.

"I've decided I don't like these doors." Relena burst out laughing.

"Oh, Heero," she sighed, giving him a knowing look before sauntering over to her private bathroom and shutting the door. That was another thing she was always saying around him, but she never offered an explanation. He wondered what he might be doing to amuse her so much, when he was just trying to do his job.

He wasn't sure what to do with himself while Relena was in the bathroom, but she hadn't indicated that she wanted him to leave, so Heero did his usual checks around the room. Which he had already done, several times, but he could never be too thorough.

Some, including Duo, may have called his methods obsessive, and would surmise that Heero's motives were more personal than professional. But Heero's… jaw went slack when Relena emerged from the bathroom, having changed out of her work clothes and into a white nightgown that hugged every curve. She seemed oblivious to his sudden awareness, however, as she padded over to him.

"Well?" She planted her hands on her hips and tipped her head to the side. Heero forced himself to maintain eye contact and frowned at her.

"Well, what?"

"Have you declared my room safe again?" She spoke in her most businesslike tone, but Heero had a feeling she was mocking him.

"It appears that way." Heero glanced around them again, for good measure. Relena rolled her eyes at him before climbing onto the king-sized bed, which was far too large for a person of her size, he couldn't help but note. It was almost comical, looking at her sitting in the middle of the thing. She smiled up at him and he wondered if she was reading his thoughts. Thoughts he quickly forced away.

"Well, I'll leave you to it." He turned and headed for the door.

"Now you wait just a minute, Heero Yuy." Her firm tone took him by surprise. He turned back around, his hand poised over the doorknob.

"What's wrong?" he asked immediately. Relena was glaring up at him from the bed, arms folded across her chest. The motion had a very annoying way of showcasing her ample cleavage, thanks to her low-cut nightgown. Heero's jaw tightened. Goddammit…

"Don't think you can get away with things so easily," she said coolly, quirking a brow.

"Huh?" Heero couldn't keep his brow from furrowing. "What are you talking about?"

"You had alcohol," she said, her lips creasing. "Without me." Heero arched a brow.

"And that upsets you… why?"

"Because you and Duo went off to have fun, leaving me here to be babysat." Her lower lip jutted out, a reminder of the pampered society girl she used to be. Heero chuckled.

"I wouldn't call it fun…"

"Well, still." Relena turned her face away. "You could've at least invited me."

Heero let out a slow breath - the closest he would come to sighing out loud - and took a few tentative steps toward the bed. "It's not that we didn't want you to come," he said.

"It's that I'm a walking liability, right?" Relena turned her face back to look at him. "I understand, you two want time to do your own thing when you're off-duty. I get it." She pouted again, and Heero wondered if she was serious. He scratched the back of his head and sat down on the edge of the bed.

"You really want to hang out with… me and Duo?" Heero frowned, trying to picture the three of them spending time as… friends. It was a bizarre picture. He hardly even considered Duo a friend, more like a stray animal he had started feeding out of pity that refused to go away…

"Why wouldn't I?" Relena shot him an exasperated look. "We're all friends, right?" Once again, it was as if she had pierced his thoughts. Heero frowned and looked down at the fluffy white duvet covering the bed.

"Well… yeah, I guess," he said slowly, realizing immediately it was a poor choice of words. He looked back up to see Relena's pouting had only worsened. "I mean… we are friends. You and I. Duo…" Heero shrugged one shoulder. "I guess I don't… mind him hanging around. Sometimes." Relena's eyes went wide, and then she started to laugh. Heero was grateful, at least, that she had stopped pouting. It was unnerving, the way her troubled looks upset him.

She crawled over to his corner of the bed. Heero backed up unconsciously, although if he sat back any further, he would be on the floor. She came to a stop mere inches away.

"Oh, Heero." There it was again. But this time she smiled and poked his arm. "When are you going to take me out for fun?"

"For fun?" he echoed, as if it were a foreign concept.

"Yes." Her eyes flashed at him. The look on her face was dangerous, he decided. "I want to go out. Now."

"Now?!" Heero's brows lifted along with his raised voice.

"Yes," Relena said again, with more insistence. "We could have a night on the town." A grin spread slowly across her face. "I've never gotten to explore here much before, and I've heard so many good things…"

Heero was already shaking his head "no," and Relena's pout returned.

"But there's so much to do here. And so much history. And even you love history," she said pointedly, giving his arm another jab.

"It's a city. And it's late. And there are too many variables," Heero said tersely. Relena's face fell.

"Right," she sighed. "I should know better than to try to get you to be a little spontaneous." She lowered her eyes and started twisting the hem of her nightgown.

Heero let out another huff before edging closer to her. His fingers joined hers. Relena glanced up at him through her dark lashes, her cheeks flushed.

"I know," Heero said softly, "that you think I go overboard sometimes, Relena. But this is why."

Ever so slowly, he inched up her nightgown, higher up her thigh, stopping where the scar started. The long, jagged disfigurement that was still pink and raised and puffy, marring her otherwise perfect skin. Heero's eyes burned as he traced a finger over it. Relena winced and jerked back, clasping the fabric tightly as she yanked it down.

"I'm sorry," Heero murmured, backing away himself. "Does it… hurt, still?"

"No." Relena shook her head, her eyes downcast. "Not any more. I guess it's more… emotionally painful than anything, at this point." She shivered, and Heero knew a dark memory had descended. He was struggling not to focus on that moment he found her, lying in a pool of her own blood on the ballroom floor of the Sanc castle. On her birthday, of all days.

That was four months ago.

He lifted a throw blanket from the end of the bed and placed it around Relena's shoulders. She looked up at him with moist eyes, but managed a smile. Heero leaned forward and thumbed under her lashline, wishing he could do more to chase away her demons.

Her lips parted, as if she might say something, then she appeared to change her mind and clamped her mouth shut. Heero knew she still didn't want to talk about that night. Of all the things they talked about, all about the war and the days before they met, it was the one thing neither of them liked to bring up. He tried to think of a way to make her feel better, for now.

He brought his hand down to caress her cheek, eliciting another smile. He did his best to give her one in return.

"Want to raid the mini-bar?" he asked her. Relena's face lit up.

"Yes, please."

If you like this so far, please favorite/follow and review! More to come. Leave a comment on what drunken shenanigans you think our favorite trio should get into! Happy Thirsty Thursday and Anime Boston eve (yes, this story is set in Boston, in honor of the convention). :)

- RGS