Standard disclaimer applies.

Here we go )

He lazed on the mud-green sofa and nursed his second to last can of Bud. The beer had gone flat but he didn't care. Slurping another trepid mouthful, he reached for the comic section of the Sunday Herald, read a Heathcliff comic strip. It wasn't funny. Annoyed, he crumpled it into a ball then tossed it into the waste basket. He turned on the television the eight o clock news was on, broadcasting more death and devastation. You'd think that after eight years of peace the death rate would have dropped some he thought. The situation made him, once again, consider Relena's puritan concept of peace. To him it was a crock; he thought people existed under a false hope, a false consciousness and lived in the illusion of peace.

He absentmindedly scratched the dark stubble that had taken over his face and he read for the umpteenth time since he arrive at the Motel de Grasse a week ago the sign opposite the sofa. 'HOME SWEET HOME' it read. It mocked him, the pink and yellow confections wall paper and the feeble attempt at recreating a home. His gorge rose. If he weren't civilized, he would have ripped the sign from the wall and stomped it to hell, instead he dolefully surveyed his surroundings and grunted.

He rested his head on the back of the sofa and cleared his head and above the blare of the television he heard the incessant sound of raindrops as they splattered like machine guns against the window panes. The noise echoed in his skull and he couldn't tell if it was just rain or his past coming back to haunt him. He shook himself from the chill that held him and diverted his attention to the television once again.

"…and in other news. Our new Foreign Minister's diplomatic skills may soon exceed those of her father's. Ms. Peacecraft, pioneer of the masses, has seen to the signing of yet another peace treaty, this time with Eurasia…

"Peace treaty my ass." He mumbled as he turned off the television.

He leaned into the sofa and closed his eyes concentration - willing the rain to stop. His concentration was broken was interrupted by the gentle vibration in his pocket-his cell phone. He opened his eyes and answered it.

"Heya Yui! What's up?" the voice belonged to none other than Duo.

"Duo, the next time you call this number I will kill you."

"How was my day you asked? Hmmm tedious training sessions at the gun range, long hours, dodging bullets for minimum wage, life is good.

There was a pregnant silence.

"Duo-"

"Look this isn't a social call. Lady Une has called us in, it seems that you're vid-phone was disconnected and you never left her an alternate number or a forwarding address."

"I gave my cell phone number to you Duo."

"I lost it."

"But how did you-"

"I called all the possible numbers that had the same last four digits as yours. Simple."

Heero couldn't help but chuckle.

"This is about Relena isn't it."

"It always is."

He disconnected the call and finished the beer, not really enjoying it, then went into the bathroom to shower his grimy body and scrape the weeds off his face. He put on a pair of worn blue denim, a green t-shirt and a pair of adidas. It was still raining so he put on a wind breaker and a plain baseball cap. He swung behind the wheel of his green GMC pickup and started the engine. He was glad for an excuse to get out of the motel which was about as fit for human habitation as a fever swamp.

The rain tapered off two hours later as the truck passed over the Cinq Kingdom Bridge, one of three colossal structures linking Cinq to the mainland. It would only take him twenty-five minutes to get to the Preventer's head quarter.

Meanwhile

Relena half scowled at the pastel coloured confection placed in front of her. She spotted a card and plucked it out; then looked up. Josselle, her new secretary, was still standing there, waiting like a dog to be rewarded for a job well done. This annoyed her.

"Is there anything else Josselle?" Relena asked.

She blushed crimson.

"N-no. No ma'am." She replied and left, still flushed.

She sank into the plush office chair that Une had bought for her birthday and fondled the pendant of the necklace hanging from her neck. She studied the bouquet.

"Let's see… hmm…roses, gerbera daisies, oriental lilies, stock and salal; the work of a professional."

She read the card:

"I saw these flowers and thought of you. But this is not to flatter you, I use this medium to inform you that I will be unable to accompany you to Crystal Ball Corps Dinner party tonight. Death has chosen a most inopportune time to visit and it is I who am left to deal with the tedious intricacies. I promise though, that I will make it up to you.

With Love,

Luke Anthony

I hate it when they try to sound intelligent, she thought. There was a knock on the door and she acknowledged it. It was Josselle.

"Preventer Maxwell is here."

"Okay. Send him in."

Relena packed her briefcase while Duo waited. He started to make small talk.

"Looks like someone's got a secret admirer."

"Wha-? Oh! These are nothing." She continued to clear her desk.

"Doesn't sound like it."

"Huh. Sound?"

She looked up to see Duo reading her card.

"Sounds a little cocky."

"Give that to me Duo."

"With love? What? No little X's and O's."

"C'mon Duo. Let's go."

"What with all the paperwork. Just because you don't have a date for tonight, doesn't mean you have to burry yourself under paperwork."

"Duo…"

"I mean if you asked I could set you up with a friend of mine…"

"Duo…"

"How about Quatra? Or Trowa? Wufei? They're all ok guys."

"Duo…"

"Okay, not those guys.'

"Duo…"

"How about… Heero."

"DUO… Huh? What did you say?"