"You are mistaken 'cause I do not bite
Over the Williamsburg bridge on a bike
And if he loves me then why does he leave?"
-Just Like the Movies by Regina Spektor
Chapter Two
Relena pinched the bridge of her nose, praying the headache would pass quickly. The throbbing pain on the side of her head had started after exiting Une's office, but now it was escalating. This wasn't the day to get distracted by any personal issues. By noon, she had to shrug her shoulders in defeat. Heero was a grown man and he could more than take care of himself. She knew he would be perfectly fine wherever he had gone.
Regardless of what Une said; he wasn't around anymore.
At one o'clock she had a meeting with all the ESUN and whichever colony representatives came. She hoped that Quatre would be there. He was usually busy and couldn't come to all the meetings, especially the boring ones like today. There really wasn't a point to it other than to talk about how well the peace was going.
Pointless.
Everyone knew the war was over and it seemed like nothing was going to interpose it. Sometimes, she felt as if these meetings were more for show. It was just a show for the people that there was still strong communication between the space colonies and Earth. It was redundant.
She sighed heavily, forcing the remaining bits of sandwich in her mouth. She wasn't hungry and hadn't been all day, but it wouldn't help her any not to eat. These meetings could take up hours of her time and rarely scheduled breaks. She sorted through her files according to importance that were growing steadily as the day wore one. She could at least continue to work during this meeting.
Ten minutes before the meeting, a junior Preventer knocked on her door. She knew her face, but not her name, which was common. There were so many now that it was hard to keep up with all of the new recruits. She only remembered the ones that were closely involved with herself or Heero. This redheaded woman had escorted Relena to a few meeting before and had remained silent the entire time. Relena didn't complain, though. Her life was full of conversations so she enjoyed the rare silences.
Folders tucked underneath her arm, she lead the way to the conference hall. Over the years, there had been more women removing the old delegates and taking their place, and for this Relena was grateful. She wasn't seen as some teenager without experience anymore. These women had stood up for the Vice Foreign Minister several times in debates without hesitation.
However, these women also gossip like it's their jobs. She was sure it was one of these women that had started to rumor of Quatre and her dating. She was friendly enough, but knew when to keep her guard up. She didn't have much of a personal life to begin with, but she wouldn't want it to slip that she had been infatuated with a Gundam pilot since she was fifteen.
Somehow Quatre had done an amazing job with keeping quiet about his piloting days. Pacifists don't use weapons for their battles and he surely would be shunned if word had ever gotten around that he was a violent solider. These people didn't care if you were a hero or not. Be a pacifist and they'll welcome you with open arms.
The oldest woman, Senator Eleanor Harmon, now on her third husband spotted Relena and immediately secured the Vice Foreign Minister's arm with her own. There was no fighting it and Relena couldn't possibly get away from the biggest gossip of the political women. She dismissed the Preventer and looked desperately for Quatre, although he wouldn't even be able to save her from the senator.
"Miss Darlian, how are you and Quatre?" the woman's husky voice whispered in her ear.
"If we were a couple I would assume we would be perfectly fine, however…" She spotted the blonde man sitting just inside the conference hall.
"I still don't know why you deny such things. It's obvious the two of you are attracted to each other." Before Relena knew it, the senator shoved her gently into the table behind Quatre, "I would consider it, Vice Foreign Minister."
She had to bite her bottom lip to hold back any nasty comment she would have loved to make. She had to keep her composure and settled behind the ex-pilot. She didn't need to say anything to get his attention for the senator had already made the announcement of her arrival to everyone sitting in the back of the hall.
"Miss Relena, it's good to see you again." Quatre said over his shoulder.
"I have to talk to you later, Quatre." She said in a hushed voice. She felt like she was in school again and trying not to get caught.
She noticed his shoulders slump ever so slightly. He must have been relieved about something. "I know what you're going to ask, but I don't know either."
She blinked in surprise, "How did you—"
"All right everyone! I hope you've cleared out your schedules for the rest of the day." The Chancellor announced from the high rise podium. Relena immediately laid her head on the table, regretting on not taking a sick day.
:::
By eight o'clock, Relena's legs were numb. She had been sitting in the same seat for seven hours listening to the Chancellor drabble on and on about peace and how to make even more improvements upon the ESUN. There was about five minutes where the lecture actually correlated with her position, and it was only updating everyone about the Mars Terraformation. However, as the former Queen she was obligated to sit through everything as if she still ruled the world. Her back was aching from the perfect posture she had to keep and the headache was still pounding from the constant mental reminders that she was setting an example for everyone.
It took everything in her body not to fall into her limo and sprawl across the leather seats. She hadn't been able to work through her files like she had hoped, and would now have to stay up several more hours to catch up on the tedious tasks.
She had almost forgotten the disappointment that was waiting for her at home. Any other time, Heero would have been waiting outside her front door for her arrival. Tonight, however, it was Trowa. She was still pleased to see the man, but he wasn't nearly as comforting as Heero. He spoke more than the Japanese man, but it wasn't the same critiquing that she had grown so fond of. Trowa would be kind to her if she expressed her difficulties. Kindness wasn't what she needed from her friends. She wanted to know if she was making a foolish decision or not. Trowa had never said one ill word to her about anything.
Like Quatre.
She smiled at the clown, letting herself inside.
"Quatre will be here shortly. I'd advise you to take a shower now before he arrives." Trowa said, closing the antique door behind them.
"No, I'll do it in the morning." She shook her head, redirecting her steps to the formal living room. All she wanted to do was curl up in her bed for a few minutes to relax her body. Sighing heavily, she stretched out onto the ivory sofa, still refusing to look at Heero's replacement. "What are you doing here?"
"Taking over your night guard." He said simply. He spoke it as if it didn't break her heart a little more.
"Where has Heero gone?" She asked, laying an arm over her face.
"I don't know." He answered too quickly.
"Agent Barton, where has Heero Yuy gone?"
"We're not entirely sure, Miss Relena." Quatre's voice answered gently.
She didn't try to sit up, but could hear that he was accompanied by another person. She would scream if it was Wufei. He always rubbed her the wrong way.
"Dearest Quatre, you're not the type of person to lie. I don't know why Heero has left me, but he has. I'm okay with him leaving, but I would like to know why."
"Sorry Princess, that's top secret Preventer stuff." Duo's jovial voice answered her.
She sighed heavily; relieved to know the American was there too. He would always cave into her demands. "Lady Une said that she wasn't aware of him leaving. If it really is Preventer related, I know Une would have told me something."
"Relena, you just need to trust him." Quatre had walked over to the couch, resting on the glass coffee table in front of her. She removed her arm, looking at him.
"I do, but—"
"He shouldn't be gone long, Princess. It's not like he can be away from you. After all, you are his—"
"DUO!" Trowa and Quatre bellowed simultaneously.
"…his charge."
Quatre laughed nervously, moving Relena into a sitting position. "You're too busy to worry about Heero. Concentrate on your work and he'll be back before you know it."
"What do you think I've been doing? What do you think I've been doing since I was sixteen?!" Suddenly, tears escaped her. She didn't know why she would cry. She never cried over Heero, no matter what happened. She hadn't even cried when he collapsed in her arms. But maybe it was her job finally taking its toll and then the added stress of his sudden disappearance.
"Why are you crying, Miss Relena?" Quatre asked, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
"'Cause she's a woman." Wufei spoke from somewhere in her foyer.
The sound of his voice made her stop crying. She wasn't going to be around the Chinese man right now. She didn't know if she respected Sally or pitied her for constantly dealing with the man. She had thought Heero was bad until she met Wufei. He spoke constantly and it was always negatively. She stood up, ignoring the pilot's stares. She had too much work to do.
"Quatre, you are more than welcome to stay here. Trowa, I will see you in the morning, I assume?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Thank you, Relena."
"Goodnight, everyone." She said shortly, marching her aching legs up the stairs. In all honesty, her paperwork could wait until tomorrow.
A.N. It's all planned out, it just has to start off kind of boring. I promise it will get more interesting in a few more chapters!
