Blinded Depths
by: WolfCry17
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the gundam wing characters I borrow in this story.
AN: I am so sorry that it has been so long since I updated, but yeah, my job, school, AP exams, SATs, art projects, ...um yeah. Hee, hee...not to mention my car got all screwed up due to a suicidal deer jumping in front of my car at midnight a few weeks ago! Which by the way costed me $2100 to fix. Stupid Deer!!! But my car is back now, thank goodness! Stupid deer!!! Basically, my spare time has been used to crash and just sleep, so I haven't written very much. Sorry guys.
The good news is, I was so thrilled to recieve so many reviews on this story that I have decided it is worth continuing. And on that note!!!!!!
APerfectSoldier87: Thank you so very much for reviewing, you never know...I just might make this one my primary fic since I have recieved so much needed support!!! I loved your new word...just for me (lol). Actually, I use "Greatness" all the time when I think something is awesome, so i completely welcome made-up words ;P
Purple-Jaxie: Thank you so much for your coments. I really appreciate it. Especially when I write in this style, it takes me forever just to think which words would work best together... which is another reason why it took me so long to update. sorry :(
onemeanrabbit: Thank you so much for reviewing. I am very glad I have your attention!!!!
Angel Yuy: Thanks to bits! I will certainly continue as long as people remain interested!
Nubia: Thanks a lot Nubia. I really appreciate it!!!!
Gohan-Chan: Hmmm.... I think you'll have to keep on reading to find out what happens next. Sorry, it took me so long. Thanks!
Ladybug: Thank you Ladybug, and so very very sorry that I left you all hanging for so long!
fairytaleprincess03: Thank you tons for reviewing. I really appreciate it!!! And I will definitely ignore flames, I promise...I am actually surprised I haven't gotten any yet, and maybe that will continue. Well, here's hoping!
Airen2: Hey! I am so glad you read this fic. I was wondering whether you would or not. THANK YOU!!! (lol) I know the first chapter was really confusing...it kinda confused me too, especially with where I was going to go with it. And I don't know if this chapter will clear much else up, but by ch.3, I am planning to give enough flashbacks for everyone to fill in the holes. However, this style is so different, that it is going to be hard for me, especially switching from Too Lost to be Saved to this. Please let me know of course if I need to change anything! Thanks again Airen2!!!
Serena73: Thank you so much for your opinion Serena73... I really, really appreciated your time! I am going to try and stay consistent with Relena and Heero's feelings and the writing style. (hopefully!)
jisAtsU siLENcE: Thanks so much for reviewing!!! I really appreciated your thoughts.
BLUE ICE 2: Sorry! But I love cliffhangers to death... you can ask anyone who has read my other stories... I really, really love cliffhangers!!! Thanks so much for your review!
riku-inuyasha: I have to say, I have never recieved a review like yours before!!! ( ;P ) And no worries, I will continue!!!!
Strawberry Hee-chan: Thanks so much for your enthusiam! I really appreciate it! Really, everyone's review has sparked me to write as often as I can spare!
Heero'sMINE: Happy belated birthday!!! I don't know how late it is, but I tried!!! Does that count ( puppy-dog eyes) Sorry for the last part being so confusing... hopefully, everything will clear up as the story progresses. Thanks so much!!!
vicky: Thank you for reviewing my fanfic. I appreciate it lots, and I will certainly continue!
DesolateAznVamp: Thanks! I love depressing too, it keeps the story so emotional...and I will!
Thanks again everybody! I really appreciate everyone's thoughts. A LOT!!! And if anyone has any questions, suggestions, anything, please drop them by my email or through review, -k-. Now on to Ch. 2!
Chapter 2
Silent winds collapsed noisily against the loose, unsturdy walls of worn-down buildings that served no purpose, but to house the unfortunate and lowly. Graffiti etched upon the crumbling walls voiced their opinion of the nonchalant world, the world they found fault with, because if left them to rot miserably, painfully. The cracking streets were littered with every unsanitary piece of waste, including random pieces of newspaper that blanketed the shivering cold.
A lone silhoutte tracked its intruding shadow into the slums of the colony, passing flickering streetlights that swarmed eith every light- loving bug imaginable. A piece of newspaper clipping blew into the air to rest next to the leather black boots of the man. His sharp, prussian eyes glared daringly down to examine the intrusion. "Unexpected Cancellation of Donations for the Homeless! Vice Foriegn Minister Darlian Gives in to ESUN Threats." Prussian eyes hardened in fierce agitation, and the man kicked the worthless piece of paper in frustration. She was invading his mind again, torturing him.
Heero Yuy drew a rough hand to his head to brush through his unkept, dark brown locks. He didn't understand, didn't want to understand it. No matter where he averted his eyes, she was there, starring deeply toward him with a cryptic expression, one he had tried vainly to define endless times before. He didn't even need the use of his eyes to see her. His mind kept a perfect replica of her, an unwanted replica. She alluded him, yet was always there with him. She was a constant fixation that he wanted to relieve himself of as soon as possible. But he couldn't... wouldn't.
However, it wasn't a question of could or would; it was a matter of must. She was married now, completely out of his reach. Not that she was ever truely within his grasp. Except... for a fleeting moment, she was his, before... when he existed as nothing more than a mindless, emotionless machine with only one objective: seek out and destroy. And then, suddenly, she came into his heartless life and clinged to him for strength as he later and even still clings to her for meaning. That was when he was trapped between two siblings who hardly knew each other: one of which he hated, yet loved to rival with, the other of which he loved, yet hated to remember, to cling upon. That same rival took her away from him, and that same rival introduced her to a sickeningly wealthy banker and son of a prostegious ESUN senator... Daniel Guierro.
From the start, Heero loathed Daniel's very presence, his constant proximity near Relena. Something about him, his haughty posture, his arrogancy, his eyes, the way he looked at her, something was off. Heero growled callously toward space where the earth hung in the sky. He continued to stalk into the night, fading into the homey blackness and desolance of the night, and vanished as if his presence never trodded along that wasting street.
Beams of stray light illuminated through clear glass upon a stirring Relena as a frail hand shot to the back of her head. Sharp pain shot up her skull as her face scrunched up from the intense ache. 'What happened?' She fought blindly to regain composure when a mixed, incomprehensible mess of images from the previous night intruded her mind. None of which made any sense. Relena struggled to raise her aching body against the headstand of the empty bed until a trespassing hand pushed her back down.
"My mistress, you must rest! Lie back down."
Relena groaned as more excrutiating pain shot up her spinal cord, too much pain. What was this pain from... did he hit her, or... rape her, again... she couldn't remember. "Paign, what happenedlast night, I don't r- remember."
The red-haired maid glanced toward Relena, worry evident in her emerald eyes. "My lady, you appeared to have fainted last night. Poor Danny! When he found you unconcious on the floor... he was so concerned. He caled in to ESUN to inform the president that you were terribly sick. I am on strict instructions to keep you motionless in bed."
Fainted? No... that was a lie. It wouldn't hurt so much if she merely collapsed upon the ground. The last thing she remembered was banging, incessant banging! The walls were vibrating, and Daniel, he was late and completely drunk, it was a miracle that he made it home. Then, she suddenly saw something hurling towards her... white lace... the bar, the bar that held up the curtains... it fell unto her, crushing her body beneath its iron weight. Then... darkness.
"Where is Daniel?"
"At the bank, my lady, of course. Oh, mistress, he was so worried over you. He blamed himself for allowing you to work as extensively as you do--" The simple-minded maid rushed about the room, yacking about this and that, causing Relena's mind to swirl from the maid's round-about movements.
'Wait a minute! Daniel. Concern!' How did those two words end up in the same sentence? How many more lies would exit out of this over-talkative woman's mouth anyway? 'He must have paid her... or threatened her.' Relena's face enveloped a dark disposition as she drew her knees toward her, clutching them towards her chest in a rocking position. "Paign, please leave, I'm tired."
Paign quickly ceased her mindless chattering to awknowledge her mistress, and with hesitation, bowed and exited the room. As she closed the door, Paign leaned her shaking body against the wall for support and raised her hand to stare blankly at a tiny copper key, that dreadful key. She couldn't do it, not to Miss Relena, she just couldn't, but what if...
Flashback to that morning
Haughty, violet eyes glared menacingly toward Paign's trembling form, obviously enjoying the interrogating effect they had upon Paign's body. After he was satisfiedwith his overwhelming power over her, he abrubtly thrusted a tiny, copper key into the palm of her hand. "Relena is not to be allowed out of her room, no matter what. Is that understood?" He sneered at her, tempting, daring her to object to her obvious task.
Too rigid for confidence, Paign nodded her head so lightly that Daniel had to do a double-take to confirm that she was indeed shaking her head. "Yes, sir," she mouthed the words, no sound could escape her. She slowly shifted her body to secure the key in her apron pocket, but froze stiff. An unexpected wetness, warm yet sinister, crawled slowly up and down her neck. Her breathing cut short, she stood there motionless out of reflex. She didn't know what else to do.
"That a girl!" Daniel breathed hot airupon her pale flesh before continuing to nuzzle her neck. "Afterall, she is my wife, and I am terribly worried that she isn't recieving enough rest, am I not, Paign?"
It was all Paign could do to answer him, gently nod. His tongue pulsated against her skin in tiny circles and all she could do was stand, stare blankly ahead. This sudden hunger in him made her sick, disgusted with his lustful drive for any female skin. This must be response to the lack of satisfaction he recieved from his wife the night before. Lucky for Relena, he had stumbled in last night raging mad until he collapsed due to an overdose of alcohol and drug abusewhile attempting to half-climb, half- crawl up the stairs.
end flashback
Paign's eyes never strayed from the trembling key that was clasped between her thumb and forefinger. She couldn't... SHe had to. With a shaky determination, she swirled around on her heel and closed her eyes before jamming the key into the keyhole to lock it. Her hand slowly pulled away as she took a few steps back. How would God ever forgive her for what she had just done? She walked away slowly, feeling absolutely dreadful.
Relena's ears suddenly perked to the sound of clicking and jerked her head toward her bedroom door with surprise written in her eyes. 'No!' Relena stumbled off the bed in haste, landing in a clumsy heap. 'She couldn't... s-she wouldn't.' She scrambled to reach the door knob. 'She did! Why!' She collapsed to the floor on weak knees, dragging her arms down the side of the door to support herself. "He can't do this! He can't just keep me locked up like this!" She sobbed miserably as she started banging on the door with intense force, partly out of anger and partly to get someone's attention.
"PAIGN! LET ME OUT! I CAN"T STAY IN HERE! DANIEL CAN"T DO THIS, PAIGN! PAIGN! Let me- let me out!" She clawed at the door in a helpless attempt to get out, to escape this wretched room, this wretched life. Why couldn't she escape? How did it get this far?
Memories flooded her, engulfed her mind into the past as she hugged herself into a fetal position upon the floor, pouring salty tears to soak into the carpet's textured fibers. The floor spun in her eyes as she drifted into unconciousness once more to another place, another time...
Flashback
4 years earlier...
Soft music of woodwind and string instruments filled the crisp April air as flagrant, white rose petals floated like feathers to the ground, littering it with delicacy. Silk, green fabric draped from Relena Darlian's shoulders, molding around her body, displaying her curves splendidly at the tender age of seventeen. Everybody who was anybody was there, mostly due to keep up appearances. After all, it was her birthday, this seventh of April.
Amongst the many faces, familiar or strange, however, Relena's ceralean eyes found little comfort in the claustrophobic room, Oh, there was Lady Une and her adopted daughter, the daughter of her only love, the girl Mariemaya Krushrenada. And there was Dorothy Catalonia, but Relena still felt so alone, so desolate from the world around her.
She stood motionless, blankly starring toward the crystal glass between her fingertips as her hand swirled the cup around, swirling the garnet red liquid inside. She watched different hues of red mix within her glass as light shot the colors to the walls, allowing the colors to dance. As she observed the colors illuminate in her mind, a completely different image invaded her mind. 'Heero.' She wasn't sure if she would see him later that night or not. Would he surprise her as he did the past two birthdays in her life, or would he even show up at all?
Little time was given to her to ponder those thoughts. A sudden chain of thuds shook the chandliers as people shot their gazes toward the double doors, many dropping their glasses in the process, including Relena. The crimson liquid poured out upon the floor, staining her shoes and the trim of her dress. Her eyes furrowed in a set glare as she stepped toward the invading group all dressed in camouflage, guns ready in their hands. "Who are you? What do you want?" She inspected each member of the group, taking in their facial features one at a time, just waiting for one to take a stand.
Suddenly, the most buff of all the men stepped forward to her, swinging a gun to relax against her forehead. Relena never faltered, even when a chain of gasps sounded throughout the room. The owner of the gun grinned maliciously with a sinister light gleaming through his eyes. He knew she wouldn't falter. He had expected it, anticipated this moment against the strongest woman in the world, not to mention the most powerful. It was enticing.
"I suggest that if you all want your precious Vice Foriegn Minister to live long enough to see another sunrise, the nyou will all do exactly as we say." His gray eyes found Relena's ceralean ones once more. "And you! You may care nothing for your own life, my dear, but I am afraid that if you try to pull anything, my gun might find a more appealing target."
Relena's features only hardened, transfixed upon the conspicuous threat before her. "You haven't answered my question."
The man motioned his men to surround the guests and herd them together like cattle before glancing back toward Relena. "You are quite bold, my dear. I expected nothing less of the sister of Zeches Marquise. So, I'll amuse you." He turned his head to motion one of the subordinates, "Rogers, bring me the commander in chief of the preventer organization. Vice Foriegn Minister Darlian is insisting we reveal our demands before she decides to cooperate with us."
Relena intently watched the rebel direct Lady Une towards them with a gun pointed to the spine in her back. Lady Une neither faltered nor allowed the rebel faction to relish in satisfaction toward their achievement in fazing her. Her eyes remained closed, content upon seeing only the inside of her eyelids. She knew exactly which steps to take and when to stop. The ex-Oz soldier's commanding, yet elegant presence astounded Relena.
Lady Une finally revealed the brown hue in her eyes, the very eyes that frightened hundreds, yet commanded a strong sense of respect from hundreds more. She glared icily toward the man, obviously challenging him to pull the trigger on her. "Will you answer the Vice Foriegn Minister now or should I repeat her to refresh your memory?"
The man glared viciously toward the head preventer before turning his gaze hard upon Relena. "We, 'Epyon de Telos', have occupied the Sanc Kingdom castle. Our demands are as follows: the right to bear arms, the release of our imprisoned comrades, one-third of the Earth Sphere Unified Nation budget as ransom. If these are not met within twenty-four hours, we will detonate a nuclear warhead... that is all. Until these demands are met, you are our prisoners. Lady Une, I suggest you contact someone of significance to inform them of this vital information, hmmm?"
Almost ten hours passed, ten nerve-racking, excrutiating hours. There was nothing to do, nothing that could be said except sit down shaking with utter worry. Everyone was nervously silentwith silent prayers, silent hopes that they might be rescued. Relena tried to comfort them, to erase their fear, but with little success.
Suddenly, the doors to the rather crowded room was unlocked and immediately thrusted open, revealing the rebel faction soldiers once more. Relena's gaze etched a sense of shock when she saw one of their own tied up and being thrown into the room like a traitor. Curious, she scrambled to his side once the rebels exited once more and relocked the door. "Sir, are you alright?"
"Of course I am, O'jousan!"
Relena's eyes widened as the sound of a familiar voice registered in her mind. "D-Duo!" Tears of joy filled her eyes as she removed his hat and sunglasses to confirm her suspicions. "Oh, Duo!" Relena threw herself into his welcoming arms, releasing all of her bottled up emotions upon his shoulder as he instinctively tightened his hold of her.
"It's alright good-lookin', everything's fine now. All five of us are here trying to control the situation. We'll get you all out of here in a few minutes, k?" Duo smiled reassuringly as he tried to shush the tearful Relena. How Heero would clobber him if he saw his close bud holding unto his girl like this. He had to let out a shaky laugh at that thought.
However, Relena pulled away quickly with a mixture of shock and curiousity filling her eyes. "Heero's here!" A rare smile lit up her porcelain features, erasing her escaping tears. She struggled to stand up almost in a daze as she starred breathlessly toward the doors. He was just outside. That single thought lifted her spirit to an uncalculable degree.
Nearly an half hour later, the doors reopened to reveal a relief- washed Sally Po, Wufei, Trowa, and Quatre, who all smiled triumphantly at the room's occupants. Relena greeted and thanked them hastily, yet politely, before running out of the building with only one person on her mind. She had to see him. But what she found was clearly unexpected. There it was. She was face to face again with the wing zero. Shocked eyes watched intently as the hatch opened to reveal a touseled, chocolate brown head. "Heero."
Heero's gaze immediately found the girl he had come to rescue. "Relena." He casually jumped down from the zero to stand before her and check if she was alright for himself.
Relena tried to breath in some air, but only recieved the thick musk of Heero's body... Heero's smell. It sent shivers down her spine as tiny goosebumps formed along her arms as a strange heat vibrated from her lips. And his eyes, the depths of them engulfed her into a sea of prussian blue. He was here, before her now, and she couldn't speak a single word. However, words were just not necessary between them, especially now.
Before either one knew what was happening, Heero thrusted his weight forward to catch claim of hers in a desperate kiss, a hungry, long-awaited kiss. They had only kissed once before, before the mariemaya coup de'taet. Only that one was rather shy and niave, especially compared to this one. Heero deepened the kiss only to recieve a greater reaction from Relena who responded with just as much force. They both desaperately needed one another, and there was absolutely no one else around to put their sudden open display of affection toward one another to shame.
end flashback
That simple, fruited taste of that one particular kiss still lingered on Heero's lips, taunting him with samples of something he could never have. He still didn't know what had possessed him to kiss Relena like that. He didn't even think he knew how to do that, but man, did he like it. It awoke a strange fire in him that both fueled him and intoxicated him. He couldn't escape it, he didn't want to, he just wanted more.
Heero abruptly shook his thoughts aside with a thick growl as he ascended up the stairs that led to his apartment, attempting to dig out his keys from his pockets during the process. However, when he reached his apartment, he found the keys unnecessary... the door was open.
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AN: OMG! I never thought I would ever finish this chapter! It just dragged on for me, but now that school is practically over for the year, maybe the chapters will come out sooner. Maybe! Anyway, I know this story is really, really confusing right now...but I decided that I like it this way. It will of course clear up as the story progresses, but I think for right now, I will linger on the idea that I can keep you all guessing. Hee Hee, I am so evil!!! (Hey! At least I decided to continue... that has to count for something, right!!!)
Anyway, I like the idea of having lots of flashbacks... so this story will be a pretty balanced mixture of present events and flashbacks... hopefully this style will prove helpful. Neway, I hope you have enjoyed this story thus far... hopefully, my next chapter will be out before the end of June. And, if my luck holds out, I might be able to get the next chapter of Too Lost to be Saved out by Jun 1st, again, maybe! Well, til next time.
byz WolfCry17
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the gundam wing characters I borrow in this story.
AN: I am so sorry that it has been so long since I updated, but yeah, my job, school, AP exams, SATs, art projects, ...um yeah. Hee, hee...not to mention my car got all screwed up due to a suicidal deer jumping in front of my car at midnight a few weeks ago! Which by the way costed me $2100 to fix. Stupid Deer!!! But my car is back now, thank goodness! Stupid deer!!! Basically, my spare time has been used to crash and just sleep, so I haven't written very much. Sorry guys.
The good news is, I was so thrilled to recieve so many reviews on this story that I have decided it is worth continuing. And on that note!!!!!!
APerfectSoldier87: Thank you so very much for reviewing, you never know...I just might make this one my primary fic since I have recieved so much needed support!!! I loved your new word...just for me (lol). Actually, I use "Greatness" all the time when I think something is awesome, so i completely welcome made-up words ;P
Purple-Jaxie: Thank you so much for your coments. I really appreciate it. Especially when I write in this style, it takes me forever just to think which words would work best together... which is another reason why it took me so long to update. sorry :(
onemeanrabbit: Thank you so much for reviewing. I am very glad I have your attention!!!!
Angel Yuy: Thanks to bits! I will certainly continue as long as people remain interested!
Nubia: Thanks a lot Nubia. I really appreciate it!!!!
Gohan-Chan: Hmmm.... I think you'll have to keep on reading to find out what happens next. Sorry, it took me so long. Thanks!
Ladybug: Thank you Ladybug, and so very very sorry that I left you all hanging for so long!
fairytaleprincess03: Thank you tons for reviewing. I really appreciate it!!! And I will definitely ignore flames, I promise...I am actually surprised I haven't gotten any yet, and maybe that will continue. Well, here's hoping!
Airen2: Hey! I am so glad you read this fic. I was wondering whether you would or not. THANK YOU!!! (lol) I know the first chapter was really confusing...it kinda confused me too, especially with where I was going to go with it. And I don't know if this chapter will clear much else up, but by ch.3, I am planning to give enough flashbacks for everyone to fill in the holes. However, this style is so different, that it is going to be hard for me, especially switching from Too Lost to be Saved to this. Please let me know of course if I need to change anything! Thanks again Airen2!!!
Serena73: Thank you so much for your opinion Serena73... I really, really appreciated your time! I am going to try and stay consistent with Relena and Heero's feelings and the writing style. (hopefully!)
jisAtsU siLENcE: Thanks so much for reviewing!!! I really appreciated your thoughts.
BLUE ICE 2: Sorry! But I love cliffhangers to death... you can ask anyone who has read my other stories... I really, really love cliffhangers!!! Thanks so much for your review!
riku-inuyasha: I have to say, I have never recieved a review like yours before!!! ( ;P ) And no worries, I will continue!!!!
Strawberry Hee-chan: Thanks so much for your enthusiam! I really appreciate it! Really, everyone's review has sparked me to write as often as I can spare!
Heero'sMINE: Happy belated birthday!!! I don't know how late it is, but I tried!!! Does that count ( puppy-dog eyes) Sorry for the last part being so confusing... hopefully, everything will clear up as the story progresses. Thanks so much!!!
vicky: Thank you for reviewing my fanfic. I appreciate it lots, and I will certainly continue!
DesolateAznVamp: Thanks! I love depressing too, it keeps the story so emotional...and I will!
Thanks again everybody! I really appreciate everyone's thoughts. A LOT!!! And if anyone has any questions, suggestions, anything, please drop them by my email or through review, -k-. Now on to Ch. 2!
Chapter 2
Silent winds collapsed noisily against the loose, unsturdy walls of worn-down buildings that served no purpose, but to house the unfortunate and lowly. Graffiti etched upon the crumbling walls voiced their opinion of the nonchalant world, the world they found fault with, because if left them to rot miserably, painfully. The cracking streets were littered with every unsanitary piece of waste, including random pieces of newspaper that blanketed the shivering cold.
A lone silhoutte tracked its intruding shadow into the slums of the colony, passing flickering streetlights that swarmed eith every light- loving bug imaginable. A piece of newspaper clipping blew into the air to rest next to the leather black boots of the man. His sharp, prussian eyes glared daringly down to examine the intrusion. "Unexpected Cancellation of Donations for the Homeless! Vice Foriegn Minister Darlian Gives in to ESUN Threats." Prussian eyes hardened in fierce agitation, and the man kicked the worthless piece of paper in frustration. She was invading his mind again, torturing him.
Heero Yuy drew a rough hand to his head to brush through his unkept, dark brown locks. He didn't understand, didn't want to understand it. No matter where he averted his eyes, she was there, starring deeply toward him with a cryptic expression, one he had tried vainly to define endless times before. He didn't even need the use of his eyes to see her. His mind kept a perfect replica of her, an unwanted replica. She alluded him, yet was always there with him. She was a constant fixation that he wanted to relieve himself of as soon as possible. But he couldn't... wouldn't.
However, it wasn't a question of could or would; it was a matter of must. She was married now, completely out of his reach. Not that she was ever truely within his grasp. Except... for a fleeting moment, she was his, before... when he existed as nothing more than a mindless, emotionless machine with only one objective: seek out and destroy. And then, suddenly, she came into his heartless life and clinged to him for strength as he later and even still clings to her for meaning. That was when he was trapped between two siblings who hardly knew each other: one of which he hated, yet loved to rival with, the other of which he loved, yet hated to remember, to cling upon. That same rival took her away from him, and that same rival introduced her to a sickeningly wealthy banker and son of a prostegious ESUN senator... Daniel Guierro.
From the start, Heero loathed Daniel's very presence, his constant proximity near Relena. Something about him, his haughty posture, his arrogancy, his eyes, the way he looked at her, something was off. Heero growled callously toward space where the earth hung in the sky. He continued to stalk into the night, fading into the homey blackness and desolance of the night, and vanished as if his presence never trodded along that wasting street.
Beams of stray light illuminated through clear glass upon a stirring Relena as a frail hand shot to the back of her head. Sharp pain shot up her skull as her face scrunched up from the intense ache. 'What happened?' She fought blindly to regain composure when a mixed, incomprehensible mess of images from the previous night intruded her mind. None of which made any sense. Relena struggled to raise her aching body against the headstand of the empty bed until a trespassing hand pushed her back down.
"My mistress, you must rest! Lie back down."
Relena groaned as more excrutiating pain shot up her spinal cord, too much pain. What was this pain from... did he hit her, or... rape her, again... she couldn't remember. "Paign, what happenedlast night, I don't r- remember."
The red-haired maid glanced toward Relena, worry evident in her emerald eyes. "My lady, you appeared to have fainted last night. Poor Danny! When he found you unconcious on the floor... he was so concerned. He caled in to ESUN to inform the president that you were terribly sick. I am on strict instructions to keep you motionless in bed."
Fainted? No... that was a lie. It wouldn't hurt so much if she merely collapsed upon the ground. The last thing she remembered was banging, incessant banging! The walls were vibrating, and Daniel, he was late and completely drunk, it was a miracle that he made it home. Then, she suddenly saw something hurling towards her... white lace... the bar, the bar that held up the curtains... it fell unto her, crushing her body beneath its iron weight. Then... darkness.
"Where is Daniel?"
"At the bank, my lady, of course. Oh, mistress, he was so worried over you. He blamed himself for allowing you to work as extensively as you do--" The simple-minded maid rushed about the room, yacking about this and that, causing Relena's mind to swirl from the maid's round-about movements.
'Wait a minute! Daniel. Concern!' How did those two words end up in the same sentence? How many more lies would exit out of this over-talkative woman's mouth anyway? 'He must have paid her... or threatened her.' Relena's face enveloped a dark disposition as she drew her knees toward her, clutching them towards her chest in a rocking position. "Paign, please leave, I'm tired."
Paign quickly ceased her mindless chattering to awknowledge her mistress, and with hesitation, bowed and exited the room. As she closed the door, Paign leaned her shaking body against the wall for support and raised her hand to stare blankly at a tiny copper key, that dreadful key. She couldn't do it, not to Miss Relena, she just couldn't, but what if...
Flashback to that morning
Haughty, violet eyes glared menacingly toward Paign's trembling form, obviously enjoying the interrogating effect they had upon Paign's body. After he was satisfiedwith his overwhelming power over her, he abrubtly thrusted a tiny, copper key into the palm of her hand. "Relena is not to be allowed out of her room, no matter what. Is that understood?" He sneered at her, tempting, daring her to object to her obvious task.
Too rigid for confidence, Paign nodded her head so lightly that Daniel had to do a double-take to confirm that she was indeed shaking her head. "Yes, sir," she mouthed the words, no sound could escape her. She slowly shifted her body to secure the key in her apron pocket, but froze stiff. An unexpected wetness, warm yet sinister, crawled slowly up and down her neck. Her breathing cut short, she stood there motionless out of reflex. She didn't know what else to do.
"That a girl!" Daniel breathed hot airupon her pale flesh before continuing to nuzzle her neck. "Afterall, she is my wife, and I am terribly worried that she isn't recieving enough rest, am I not, Paign?"
It was all Paign could do to answer him, gently nod. His tongue pulsated against her skin in tiny circles and all she could do was stand, stare blankly ahead. This sudden hunger in him made her sick, disgusted with his lustful drive for any female skin. This must be response to the lack of satisfaction he recieved from his wife the night before. Lucky for Relena, he had stumbled in last night raging mad until he collapsed due to an overdose of alcohol and drug abusewhile attempting to half-climb, half- crawl up the stairs.
end flashback
Paign's eyes never strayed from the trembling key that was clasped between her thumb and forefinger. She couldn't... SHe had to. With a shaky determination, she swirled around on her heel and closed her eyes before jamming the key into the keyhole to lock it. Her hand slowly pulled away as she took a few steps back. How would God ever forgive her for what she had just done? She walked away slowly, feeling absolutely dreadful.
Relena's ears suddenly perked to the sound of clicking and jerked her head toward her bedroom door with surprise written in her eyes. 'No!' Relena stumbled off the bed in haste, landing in a clumsy heap. 'She couldn't... s-she wouldn't.' She scrambled to reach the door knob. 'She did! Why!' She collapsed to the floor on weak knees, dragging her arms down the side of the door to support herself. "He can't do this! He can't just keep me locked up like this!" She sobbed miserably as she started banging on the door with intense force, partly out of anger and partly to get someone's attention.
"PAIGN! LET ME OUT! I CAN"T STAY IN HERE! DANIEL CAN"T DO THIS, PAIGN! PAIGN! Let me- let me out!" She clawed at the door in a helpless attempt to get out, to escape this wretched room, this wretched life. Why couldn't she escape? How did it get this far?
Memories flooded her, engulfed her mind into the past as she hugged herself into a fetal position upon the floor, pouring salty tears to soak into the carpet's textured fibers. The floor spun in her eyes as she drifted into unconciousness once more to another place, another time...
Flashback
4 years earlier...
Soft music of woodwind and string instruments filled the crisp April air as flagrant, white rose petals floated like feathers to the ground, littering it with delicacy. Silk, green fabric draped from Relena Darlian's shoulders, molding around her body, displaying her curves splendidly at the tender age of seventeen. Everybody who was anybody was there, mostly due to keep up appearances. After all, it was her birthday, this seventh of April.
Amongst the many faces, familiar or strange, however, Relena's ceralean eyes found little comfort in the claustrophobic room, Oh, there was Lady Une and her adopted daughter, the daughter of her only love, the girl Mariemaya Krushrenada. And there was Dorothy Catalonia, but Relena still felt so alone, so desolate from the world around her.
She stood motionless, blankly starring toward the crystal glass between her fingertips as her hand swirled the cup around, swirling the garnet red liquid inside. She watched different hues of red mix within her glass as light shot the colors to the walls, allowing the colors to dance. As she observed the colors illuminate in her mind, a completely different image invaded her mind. 'Heero.' She wasn't sure if she would see him later that night or not. Would he surprise her as he did the past two birthdays in her life, or would he even show up at all?
Little time was given to her to ponder those thoughts. A sudden chain of thuds shook the chandliers as people shot their gazes toward the double doors, many dropping their glasses in the process, including Relena. The crimson liquid poured out upon the floor, staining her shoes and the trim of her dress. Her eyes furrowed in a set glare as she stepped toward the invading group all dressed in camouflage, guns ready in their hands. "Who are you? What do you want?" She inspected each member of the group, taking in their facial features one at a time, just waiting for one to take a stand.
Suddenly, the most buff of all the men stepped forward to her, swinging a gun to relax against her forehead. Relena never faltered, even when a chain of gasps sounded throughout the room. The owner of the gun grinned maliciously with a sinister light gleaming through his eyes. He knew she wouldn't falter. He had expected it, anticipated this moment against the strongest woman in the world, not to mention the most powerful. It was enticing.
"I suggest that if you all want your precious Vice Foriegn Minister to live long enough to see another sunrise, the nyou will all do exactly as we say." His gray eyes found Relena's ceralean ones once more. "And you! You may care nothing for your own life, my dear, but I am afraid that if you try to pull anything, my gun might find a more appealing target."
Relena's features only hardened, transfixed upon the conspicuous threat before her. "You haven't answered my question."
The man motioned his men to surround the guests and herd them together like cattle before glancing back toward Relena. "You are quite bold, my dear. I expected nothing less of the sister of Zeches Marquise. So, I'll amuse you." He turned his head to motion one of the subordinates, "Rogers, bring me the commander in chief of the preventer organization. Vice Foriegn Minister Darlian is insisting we reveal our demands before she decides to cooperate with us."
Relena intently watched the rebel direct Lady Une towards them with a gun pointed to the spine in her back. Lady Une neither faltered nor allowed the rebel faction to relish in satisfaction toward their achievement in fazing her. Her eyes remained closed, content upon seeing only the inside of her eyelids. She knew exactly which steps to take and when to stop. The ex-Oz soldier's commanding, yet elegant presence astounded Relena.
Lady Une finally revealed the brown hue in her eyes, the very eyes that frightened hundreds, yet commanded a strong sense of respect from hundreds more. She glared icily toward the man, obviously challenging him to pull the trigger on her. "Will you answer the Vice Foriegn Minister now or should I repeat her to refresh your memory?"
The man glared viciously toward the head preventer before turning his gaze hard upon Relena. "We, 'Epyon de Telos', have occupied the Sanc Kingdom castle. Our demands are as follows: the right to bear arms, the release of our imprisoned comrades, one-third of the Earth Sphere Unified Nation budget as ransom. If these are not met within twenty-four hours, we will detonate a nuclear warhead... that is all. Until these demands are met, you are our prisoners. Lady Une, I suggest you contact someone of significance to inform them of this vital information, hmmm?"
Almost ten hours passed, ten nerve-racking, excrutiating hours. There was nothing to do, nothing that could be said except sit down shaking with utter worry. Everyone was nervously silentwith silent prayers, silent hopes that they might be rescued. Relena tried to comfort them, to erase their fear, but with little success.
Suddenly, the doors to the rather crowded room was unlocked and immediately thrusted open, revealing the rebel faction soldiers once more. Relena's gaze etched a sense of shock when she saw one of their own tied up and being thrown into the room like a traitor. Curious, she scrambled to his side once the rebels exited once more and relocked the door. "Sir, are you alright?"
"Of course I am, O'jousan!"
Relena's eyes widened as the sound of a familiar voice registered in her mind. "D-Duo!" Tears of joy filled her eyes as she removed his hat and sunglasses to confirm her suspicions. "Oh, Duo!" Relena threw herself into his welcoming arms, releasing all of her bottled up emotions upon his shoulder as he instinctively tightened his hold of her.
"It's alright good-lookin', everything's fine now. All five of us are here trying to control the situation. We'll get you all out of here in a few minutes, k?" Duo smiled reassuringly as he tried to shush the tearful Relena. How Heero would clobber him if he saw his close bud holding unto his girl like this. He had to let out a shaky laugh at that thought.
However, Relena pulled away quickly with a mixture of shock and curiousity filling her eyes. "Heero's here!" A rare smile lit up her porcelain features, erasing her escaping tears. She struggled to stand up almost in a daze as she starred breathlessly toward the doors. He was just outside. That single thought lifted her spirit to an uncalculable degree.
Nearly an half hour later, the doors reopened to reveal a relief- washed Sally Po, Wufei, Trowa, and Quatre, who all smiled triumphantly at the room's occupants. Relena greeted and thanked them hastily, yet politely, before running out of the building with only one person on her mind. She had to see him. But what she found was clearly unexpected. There it was. She was face to face again with the wing zero. Shocked eyes watched intently as the hatch opened to reveal a touseled, chocolate brown head. "Heero."
Heero's gaze immediately found the girl he had come to rescue. "Relena." He casually jumped down from the zero to stand before her and check if she was alright for himself.
Relena tried to breath in some air, but only recieved the thick musk of Heero's body... Heero's smell. It sent shivers down her spine as tiny goosebumps formed along her arms as a strange heat vibrated from her lips. And his eyes, the depths of them engulfed her into a sea of prussian blue. He was here, before her now, and she couldn't speak a single word. However, words were just not necessary between them, especially now.
Before either one knew what was happening, Heero thrusted his weight forward to catch claim of hers in a desperate kiss, a hungry, long-awaited kiss. They had only kissed once before, before the mariemaya coup de'taet. Only that one was rather shy and niave, especially compared to this one. Heero deepened the kiss only to recieve a greater reaction from Relena who responded with just as much force. They both desaperately needed one another, and there was absolutely no one else around to put their sudden open display of affection toward one another to shame.
end flashback
That simple, fruited taste of that one particular kiss still lingered on Heero's lips, taunting him with samples of something he could never have. He still didn't know what had possessed him to kiss Relena like that. He didn't even think he knew how to do that, but man, did he like it. It awoke a strange fire in him that both fueled him and intoxicated him. He couldn't escape it, he didn't want to, he just wanted more.
Heero abruptly shook his thoughts aside with a thick growl as he ascended up the stairs that led to his apartment, attempting to dig out his keys from his pockets during the process. However, when he reached his apartment, he found the keys unnecessary... the door was open.
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AN: OMG! I never thought I would ever finish this chapter! It just dragged on for me, but now that school is practically over for the year, maybe the chapters will come out sooner. Maybe! Anyway, I know this story is really, really confusing right now...but I decided that I like it this way. It will of course clear up as the story progresses, but I think for right now, I will linger on the idea that I can keep you all guessing. Hee Hee, I am so evil!!! (Hey! At least I decided to continue... that has to count for something, right!!!)
Anyway, I like the idea of having lots of flashbacks... so this story will be a pretty balanced mixture of present events and flashbacks... hopefully this style will prove helpful. Neway, I hope you have enjoyed this story thus far... hopefully, my next chapter will be out before the end of June. And, if my luck holds out, I might be able to get the next chapter of Too Lost to be Saved out by Jun 1st, again, maybe! Well, til next time.
byz WolfCry17