disclaimer: the gundam wing universe and its subsequent character belong to their creators. it wasnt me, im not getting paid for this. dont sue, please.
To save readers searching time, I'm posting these, four parts to a post. Each part is from a different character's pov.
Hearts In Ice
Part I: No Tears
by: NemKess
A.C. 204
"It's over Relena. Sacrebleau! Everything is more important to you than me. I'm tired of this. Mademoiselle, I don't even think you know what love is." The man paused to glare up at the woman who stood in the doorway watching dispassionately as he packed his belongs. A quick sweep of the room showed that he had everything. Despite being engaged for two and a half years, there was very little in her apartment to show he'd ever existed. On the other hand, there was very little of Relena there either. Six nights out of seven, she slept at the office. she was a willing slave to her work.
"Here." Relena tugged the engagement ring off of her finger and handed it to him. "Better luck next time."
He spat a French curse at her.
Relena watched him leave then turned and let herself out onto the balcony. She took a cigarette out and lit it. taking a deep drag, she contemplated what had been said.
Pierre was wrong, she decided. She knew what love was. She'd once loved someone with every fiber of her being. Loved him so much, she'd have done anything for him; all he had to do was ask. His final request of her had nearly broken her heart, but she'd done it.
For the first time in nearly five years, Relena Darlian let her mind wander into the past. Back to the last time she'd seen Heero Yuy.
*"Dammit, Relena. You can't be here. It's too dangerous." Heero's tender kisses along her jaw line and the gentle hands working their way under her blouse and up her ribcage, belied his harsh words.
"I had to come." He lifted his arms to let her tug off his shirt. "Had. To be. With. You." The words were punctuated by bites and kisses as her mouth made its way down his bare chest. They were the last coherent words spoken the rest of the night.
The next morning, Relena awoke before Heero. She took the rare opportunity to gaze at his peaceful features. At nineteen, he was even more handsome than when they'd first met. Six feet tall with broad shoulders and a trim waist, he'd had more than a few women drooling over his body. His features had matured, even softened a bit, but his beautiful cobalt blue eyes were as intense as ever.
As if on cue, his eyes opened to pin her with that intensity. She started to tell him how much she loved him, but was stopped when he put his fingers over her mouth.
"We need to talk."
A shiver of unease worked its way up her spine. Somehow, she knew she wasn't going to like this conversation.
"I'm leaving." His fingers tightened when she tried to protest. "I'm leaving." he repeated, "and you're staying."
Relena pulled his hand away from her mouth.
"You can't," she said as tears welled up in her eyes. "I love you and I know you love me!"
Heero didn't reply. He just got out of the bed and began dressing.
"Why? What did I do wrong?" She was sobbing and could barely able to get the words out.
Heero, now fully clothed, came back to the bed. He pulled her up into his embrace, stroking hair gently until the sobs quieted into soft sniffles. Then he pulled back.
"It's nothing you did or didn't do, Relena. It's just the way it has to be."
"But-"
"I've thought about everything very carefully. This is the way it's got to be. It's the best thing for both of us. If you really loved me, you'd trust my judgment. You'd trust me." He wiped away her tears. "And don't cry. Don't ever cry."
With a last gentle kiss on her lips, he turned and picked up the two suitcases he'd packed the night before; before she'd even arrived.
Relena Darlian stood there silently and watched the one person who meant more to her than anything else in the world, walk out of her life.
Relena sighed and lit another cigarette. Three months after he left, she'd miscarried the baby they'd made that night. Officially, she'd been sick with pneumonia for the week of work she'd missed. Only Milliardo and Sally knew any different.
She'd thrown herself into work, grateful for the distraction it gave her. A nearly successful assassination attempt had left her blind in her right eye and temporarily paralyzed. Despite a ninety percent recovery, she still had a limp. Several hours everyday were spent in physical therapy and strength training with sally and Wufei. Now, as long as she concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other, the limp was unnoticeable to anyone other than herself.
Through the years, she'd grown colder and more distant towards those around her. She'd only agreed to marry Pierre to get her brother off her back. All his lectures on duty and honor had been driving her crazy. So when Pierre asked her again, she said yes to a man she not only didn't love, but one she didn't even really like. She'd been spending even more time at work or in training with Wufei than ever before.
Still, in five years of pain and loneliness, she'd kept her silent promise to Heero. She'd never looked for him. Over time, the memories faded and the love disappeared. It took with it all her other emotions. Now she felt nothing. No joy or sorrow. No love or hate. Nothing. She simply existed. And no matter what, she hadn't cried.
Sighing, she tossed the cigarette down and went back inside. Time to tell Milliardo she'd been jilted.
disclaimer: the gundam wing universe and its subsequent characters belong to their creators. it wasnt me. dont sue, please.
Hearts in Ice
Part II: Desperate Measures
by: NemKess
Milliardo Peacecraft growled in annoyance as he flicked off the screen. He'd known Pierre was getting fed up with Relena, but to call off an engagement the night before the ceremony was idiocy. Relena had been cold and unfeeling for as long as she'd known Pierre. To his knowledge, his sister had never promised undying love. It was a well known fact that Heero Yuy was the only man who' ever received that vow.
He smiled grimly. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that Heero's leaving her was the direct cause of the drastic changes in Relena. Even without taking into account other factors. Having the man she loved take everything she could give and still walk away, had to have crushed the strength of her ideals.
Oh, she could still do politics with the best of them. Politicians and the general public still held her in high esteem. She always showed them a polite smile and a calm voice; only those who'd once been close to her ever noticed the empty eyes. Only he and Sally knew that she'd buried a baby and never shed a tear.
Milliardo was tired of this Relena. He wanted his baby sister back. The one who laughed and cried. He even missed her rare fits of temper.
He studied the fax Duo had sent him earlier that morning. He hated going against Relena's wishes, but enough was enough. Besides, he was sure his sister would thank him in the end.
He dialed up the number on the fax. In only a few moments, a familiar face was staring at him, expressionless.
"Zechs." Heero acknowledged.
"Heero, I am in need of your assistance."
disclaimer: the gundam wing universe and its subsequent characters are the property of their creators. it wasnt me. im not getting paid. dont sue.
GW: Hearts on Ice
Part 3: Heero Returns
Written by: NemKess
He'd never really believed her when she said she loved him. He was just the forbidden fruit that she had to have. Not wanting to wait around until she left him, he'd beat her to the punch. Heero had his pride too.
In the years since, he'd learned a very important lesson in life. Pride did not keep one warm at night while you slept. Neither did it rub sore muscles, listen when you needed to talk, or make you laugh. Still, he felt that he'd made the right decision. Relena was better off without him. And he was certainly better off without her.
Liar.
He ignored the voice in his head and began to pack his bags.
It was Wufei that met him at when his shuttle docked. The Chinese man called out to him. They shook hands and went to get Heero's bags.
"It has been a long time, Heero."
"Yeah."
"Silent as ever, I see. Well, you'll be in for a few surprises I guess." He said, shouldering one of the bags and leading him to where a beat up jeep awaited.
Heero just looked at him questioningly. Wufei shifted a bit uncomfortably.
"Well, time passes, people change." The young man guided the jeep into the flow of traffic.
"I seriously doubt anything has changed that much." In response, his companion just shrugged his shoulders. The rest of the drive was made in silence.
At the Peacecraft mansion, a butler greeted them and had a boy fetch the baggage. Heero stared up at Relena's home. He hadn't seen it's grandeur in five years, but he remembered every inch of the place. In his mind, he could see all of the little hidden corners and such, where they'd hide and sneak kisses. He smiled suddenly. If those walls could talk…
"Would you like to see Zechs now?" Wufei questioned.
"No, I'd like to see Relena first," he replied. Wufei hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
"Let's go ask Sally where she is."
After leaving Sally, the pair made their way to the balcony above the training salle. From there, Heero got his first glance of Relena in five years.
disclaimer: do i really need to spell it out? ok, they dont belong to me. not getting paid. yatta yatta yatta.
GW: Hearts In Ice
part 4: Fools and Women
written by: NemKess
"What is she doing?" Wufei glanced at Heero from the corner of his eye. The man wore a disapproving scowl. With a frown of his own, the Chinaman looked back at Relena. He could see nothing offensive. She wasn't smoking those disgusting cigarettes (everyone was on her case about that) nor was she drinking. She was simply going thru the strength training program he had left for her. Currently, she was lifting weights. If the former wing zero pilot found this upsetting, there was no telling how he would react to the next part- sparring.
Oh well, Wufei thought. It's not really up to him, not anymore. Sally had said more than once that he was thick as a post, but Wufei figured there was at least one other person denser than he could ever be.
they continued watching as Relena finished her reps. When she got up and moved towards the ring, he sensed Heero stiffen. Oh great, here we go.
To his surprise, it wasn't the idea that she was about to spar with someone that caused this. "Why is she limping?"
Wufei stared at him in shock. They had spent years training the limp out of her walk. Even he and Sally couldn't see it anymore. That Heero had picked it out, and so quickly, said volumes more than his words ever would. "Don't you get the news on L1?" Heero just turned a baleful glance on him. "Sorry, it's just old news to us I guess." He paused a moment as he considered the best way to continue. "A little over six months after you left, she was very nearly killed in an assassination attempt. She was hit twice. One bullet pierced her spine. The other, her head. We didn't think she was going to make it for a while."
"She's better now?" he asked, his eyes never leaving the feminine figure in the ring below.
"Yeah, strength training and physical therapy took care of most of the limp. The one in the head tho, it left her partially blind." Heero's eyes jerked back to him, shock clearly written in their depths.
"She's blind?" there was a catch in his voice. Wufei almost felt sorry for the fool. He'd left the woman he loved, probably thinking she'd be safer that way, and returned to find that she hadn't' been safe at all. Wufei could just imagine how he would feel if someone informed him that something like that had happened to Sally. He shuddered at the thought.
"Only in her left eye." He considered adding more details, but decided against it. Why torture the man anymore? He would get plenty of that when he actually spoke to the diplomat.
He led Heero down to the ring.
"Do you mind?" the Japanese man asked. Wufei hesitated. Relena was stronger than before, but she was still no match for a former gundam pilot. But he supposed it wasn't really his decision.
"Relena!" he called. The young woman and her partner stopped and walked over to their corner. Though her eyes flickered over Heero, there was no change in the bland expression on her face. She just reached for a towel and wiped the sweat off her face.
"What?" she asked without preamble.
"Would you care for new sparing partner?" He asked, gesturing to Heero. She glanced at him again and shrugged her shoulders. Wufei just sighed. He should have known better than to expect an actual reaction.
"Whatever," she replied. Without sparing either of them another look, she turned and went to her corner. There she stood patiently, waiting for her new opponent.
He put a hand on Heero's shoulder. "Be gentle, she's still not at your level." The other man just nodded and, having taken off his shirt and shoes, climbed into the ring. The two circled each other, her expression never changing. She threw a few punches, even landed one or two, blocked a few of his. He turned quickly, bringing his leg up, and caught her in the face. Blood spurted.
Though Heero's face had become remorseful the moment the connection had been made, hers remained frozen.
She walked over to Wufei. He examined it to make sure it wasn't broken and sent her to Sally. Sighing, he looked over at where Heero was sitting, his head hanging. Wufei honestly couldn't decide which was worse.
Fools and women, God, please save me from both, he prayed silently, sincerely hoping that someone was listening.
to be continued