Note: A bit of editing in this chapter!
That's the Way
Chapter 6
What Is and What Should Never Be
Duo padded swiftly around another corner, his eyes peeled for any sign of a guard. They had infiltrated the base for close to ten minutes ago and to not see a single human life anywhere was atypical to say in the least. That was not the strangest thing he noticed about this place. The bewildering labyrinth came with an abundance of oddities. He would open steel doors that opened to a wall and would climb short flights of stairs that only led to a ceiling. He would enter one room, venture through another door into a corridor to another room. These rooms were completely empty and dimly lit, seeing with the naked eye near impossible. It was a bizarre place and it felt eerily like he had unwittingly wandered into an alternate reality.
He came to another door and twisted the handle cautiously, suspicious of what may greet him at the other side. He pushed the door open only a foot before it halted, a thud resonating in his ears. He looked around, ensuring there was no one within the vicinity who could have heard that. He edged into the narrow room, hoping to be met with something of worth. He pushed the door shut, the space going entirely black without the hallway's light. His fingers quickly brushed the wall, searching tactility in the darkness. Upon finding nothing, he went back to the door and reached for the handle. His hand bumped into the cool metal, his fingers grasping nothing.
There was no handle from this side.
"Crap…of all the times to not have a flash light." He muttered under his breath as he clawed at the edge of the doorway. "There has to be another way out."
Duo took two steps back, displeased with his entrapment in such a small space with no source of light. He reached his hand up to the cord hanging near his neck from his earpiece. He pressed the small button, allowing him to speak into the device. "Wufei. I'm a little bit stuck at the moment."
"What do you mean 'stuck?'"
Duo edged backward, closing the small distance between him and the bricked wall. He slid down slowly, sighing. "This isn't a trick question."
"I'll notify Trowa to find you."
"Roger that. Tell him good luck with that. Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere. Out."
Quatre studied the tangled lines that were supposed to be their schematics for the underground base. It was difficult trying to make sense of the structure when it looked like their comrades were only walking in unpredictable directions at every moment. The space was incredibly sinuous and having to navigate through this capricious structure, even with a map at hand, would prove to be arduous.
"This is so peculiar." Quatre announced, scrutinizing the tablet computer. Tony averted his attention to the blond from his previous tasks of documenting their findings. "At first I thought it was a mistake, that there was a glitch in the program, but after running a quick troubleshoot, this is the actual map of the headquarters. It is the weirdest thing."
Wufei's voice entered the vehicle. "It's also unusual that zero guards have been reported."
"What kind of place is this?" Tony's voice echoed over them, perplexity etched on his face. "I've heard of structurally complex labyrinths but this…this is something else."
"It's just another one of their tricks. These people have proved that they are to be reckoned with." They all knew the black haired man was correct. These people that had worked underground for so long, literally and figuratively, who essentially appeared from nothing but a cloud of dust, were now Preventers' priority number one. They are unmistakably a group to be taken critically. This faction gaining power would be disastrous and the stability of the government of the Earth and the colonies is in the balance. Preventers' needed to tread lightly to protect the people.
"Trowa, Duo is trapped in a room on the east side of the base. Quatre is sending his position to your PDA. Help him out and travel together from this point. Do you copy?"
"Copy that." Trowa responded.
The Arabian messaged the of Duo's trail to him, hoping that he would be able to get to their comrade in time to avoid any potential threat of detection.
"Wilco. On the move. Over and out."
Tony eyed the map on the handheld computer. "Here's to hoping he doesn't get trapped anywhere either."
Quatre nodded in mute agreement, knowing it would risky sending their last solider their way, deviating from their task's path. "We can't afford to lose this mission."
Heero's steps were cautious, already wary of the jokes this outlandish place was capable of. He'd almost been caught in three rooms, opened two doors to solid walls and was nearly lost in a trap door. It was like a strange dream that he could not escape from until his initial undertaking was complete. At this tedious rate however, he felt like it would never come to be. He was kept unwaveringly perceptive of his surroundings but moving slow was not a part of their game plan.
He heard that Duo had gotten locked in a room minutes before, he wanted to curse the braided man for allowing himself to get caught like that. He could not blame him though, considering this entire structure was like a trap. It was unlike anywhere they had been before. His main concern came was that if no one was aware of their presence before, they likely were now.
His back to the wall, gun poised and ready, he listened intently for any on coming guards. It was silent. He turned the corner sharply, pointing his gun, his senses on high alert. He could feel the adrenaline coursing through him, this feeling having been lost on him for too long.
He could not deny the thrill that took over him at feeling the cool metal in his hand again, the weapon feeling foreign in his grasp but appropriate. He would not describe himself as a killer in this day but he was still an agent. This is who he was, who he was trained to be since a child. The rush he felt when on a mission was exhilarating and ignoring his self for this long sent his body reeling. Finally being back where the action is was all he needed to feel like him again.
The gun was aimed forward, his gaze piercing and vision sharp. The fire he felt inside him made him want to bolt around every corner but he could not risk that in this place. He felt like he was in the Minotaur's lair, the labyrinth that it called home. If he did not know any better, he would say this place was a lost epistolary of Heroides. It was winding and foreboding and he felt that one false move could be his last.
His earpiece buzzed with a pending message. It was Quatre. "Heero, what's your status?"
"All clear. It's been silent since I separated with Duo and Trowa."
"Any updates?"
His brow furrowed, quickly tracing his short-term memory for any potential leads that he could share. He did not care for the only answer he had. This was a precarious setting and even more rare occurrence. "I'll get back to you on that. Out."
For now, it would have to suffice. He did not like having an appropriate answer and he still had plenty of time to turn up with something.
Around another corner he went, ambling around the curved corridor. His arms crooked, his piece erect next to his head. His guard was not down. The lack of guards only increased his edge rather than suppressed it. It was far too suspicious.
For a number of minutes, he wove through the boggling hallways, wondering if he had passed these areas prior but uncertain. He leaned against a wall, opting for a brief rest to gather his bearings and contemplate how he would continue his charge. Deep eyes glanced around his surroundings, deciding which direction to take from this four-way intersection.
"Dammit." It escaped him as a breathy sigh, the exasperation resounding through the void halls. As much as he hated to admit it, he was beginning to believe that this situation hopeless. He did not even know if he would ever be able to track his way out of here. He slid down the wall and leaned his head back, closing his eyes.
He felt like he failed her all over again.
Looking at his gun, with a click and a firm hit, the clip slipped out and dropped heavily in his hand. His first notion was to throw it, mindlessly venting his anger. He twisted it in his grip, examining the metal. His gaze then switched to the triggering device and back to the clip. Without thinking, he slammed the weapon back together, determination reigniting in his eyes.
At that moment he decided this was not going to be a lost cause.
He was on his feet again and trudged forward, he refused to give up on her so easily. He had only ever fought this long for her. Letting go when he had finally made progress, when he was this close would be crass and selfish. She had never quit on him, she never would.
A narrow passage to his right caught his attention and he turned down it. Though the entire structure was dim, this hallway saw even less light. He nearly missed another turn, the opening being shrouded in shadows.
Heero padded his way down, keeping his gun aimed and ready. He was hunched forward, using the darkness as his cover. He was perfectly skilled at being invisible. Any incomers would never see him until he was already attacking; he was nearly lost on the camera's eyes.
Through the black, he could barely make out the raised edge of the metal against the brick wall. He pressed his hand to it and the slight shift under the pressure confirmed he found a keypad. He traced his finger along the smooth material, noting that it only had one button and what he assumed to be a touch screen.
When he brushed his fingers over the thin screen, it lit up with a faint glow as the colored specs danced across the screen.
Unsure of what to do and not wanting to risk alerting anyone to his position, he stared at the contraption, thinking. He did not have the tools necessary to dismantle the small machine and he did not have the space to use a bullet to malfunction the device. Hacking was not an option, as he did not have access to a computer capable of overriding the complex sequences common in these types of pass codes.
He needed to know what was hiding behind this door and he refused to turn around. He was fully capable of handling himself if he were to be discovered. This doorway being a trap was something he was willing to risk.
Without a second thought, he tucked his gun back into its holster and pushed the button.
The specs swirled into a circle and slid across the length of the screen, disappearing into the edge. The moments seemed to melt past slowly as he anticipated the sound of any alarm alerting him to his dreaded failure.
He took a half step backward as he heard the hushed click and the door was released from its confinement. Heero was not sure if he should be concerned by the ease of his entrance or of the possibility that there was a silent alarm sounding in the distance.
At the moment, he did not have time to stand and ponder.
The opened room before him was bright, the light shredding the dark space and shocking his eyes that had since grown accustomed to the dull fluorescents. He stepped inside quickly, the door snapping shut behind him immediately. Scanning the room, he noted its size to be bigger than any section he had been before. The only furniture to be found was one simple, feeble looking side table. On it sat a plain black plastic card. Straight before him was an additional door with another keypad. This one, however, had a magnetic stripe card reader in place of the touchpad.
He picked up the piece of plastic and looked at the back of it, detecting the reflective black stripe he was looking for.
He considered stepping back and requesting backup. As far as he could tell, there was only one way in and out of here.
Pushing his intrusive thoughts to the back of his mind, he pressed the three buttons and swiped the card. He listened as the lock released and the door was freed, revealing another bleak room. Initially he thought he had ended up traveling in a massive circle, being lead directly back to a room he had since been in.
Heero walked inside slowly and scrutinized the small, dust-coated space. The air was stale and thick in the windowless room, irritating his lungs upon initial entrance. There was an old cot on the right side of the room with a grubby, ragged blanket strewn across it and a steel toilet occupied the opposite side the quarters. A stagnate bucket of water sat straight across from him, beneath a faucet that leaked slowly. His eyes stopped at the corner to his left.
His breath hitched and his heart raced. He found himself frozen, his feet seemingly made of stone. The thought occurred to him that time had stopped. Every part of him ached, skeptic on how to react at the instant he was in now.
Any thoughts he had before were now concentrating on only one, his mind unable to diverge from its single focus and him not wanting it to.
As rare an incident as it was, this moment could account for a lifetime of hourly shocks.
Heero found air again, just enough to pull a single word together. The name resounded, his voice seeming far away to him, as if it was not his own.
"Relena?"
Trowa studied his PDA, trying his best to pinpoint where exactly Duo was. The braided ex-pilot had gotten himself into trouble, which is not entirely a surprise to Trowa. He knew his comrade to be a superb agent but sometimes his rambunctious personality interfered with the tasks at hand. He had no contention aiding him when needed though. He owed him that much, afterall.
This place was a complicated mess. How anyone could find their way through it without a detailed map and precise directions was beyond Trowa. Weaving through the corridor, he found himself just beyond Duo's location.
The headset crackled to life, relaying the latest message from their surveying comrades on the outside. "Trowa, you're at Duo's present position. Out."
The emerald-eyed pilot knocked at the door. "Duo, can you hear me?"
"Sure can!" Duo's muffled yell squeaked through the metal door.
"Step back, I'm opening up the door for you." He pushed the door open and the entrapped agent hopped out promptly, his unhappiness written clear on his face. His eyes took a moment to adjust to the sudden assault of light.
Duo brushed himself off, his grin gracing his lips. "You have no idea how glad I am to be out of there." He had his thumb pointing over his shoulder to his temporary solitude, as if Trowa had not been aware of where he was trapped.
Trowa looked around, perplexity written on his characteristically stoic face.
"What is it, man?" Duo asked, his hand on his gun, ready to pull it upon threat.
"This place…we have not seen one guard anywhere since we've been here."
Duo stared at him, his muscles losing tension. "I know…we all already know."
The green eyed man turned to his friend, "And no alarms are going off? There are no security cameras? No computers? This place is built like a maze, lined with trapdoors and walls. Everything is peculiar."
Duo glanced either way, his furrowed brow giving away his confusion. "We're already aware of the quirks of this crazy place. What are you thinking, Tro?"
"This whole time we've been assuming this to be the headquarters for Imperium but this is not conducive for an H-Q."
"So what are you saying, Trowa? They made this entire…puzzle! Just for the hell of it? That it serves no function at all? It's just here to be here and confuse the life out of whoever happens to stumble across the vacant hideaway!" Duo's hands were flying every which way, expressing his words but better displaying his utter exasperation of this hellhole.
"No, it's not a headquarters or a base or an aimless hideout."
Duo quirked an eyebrow, the question in his slight expression changes.
"It's a prison."
"A prison?" The lighthearted pilot scratched the back of his head. "For who?"
Trowa looked his comrade straight in the eyes, silently answering his question.
"No, no, no. No way. I am not getting stuck anywhere in here again." He was adamant in the notion. This was the most unique place he had ever been in and he really had no desire to come back, or stay.
"We have to contact Heero. This mission is a dead end."
He did not need to ask who it was, Heero was well aware of the woman before him. What came out was a question of astonished disbelief spoken in that single word – that name.
Two years. For two years she was assumed dead. His hope had began to dwindle but he was sure to maintain just enough in trying to keep his sanity in check. A life without her was hard enough. But living in a world where he had to let go of her forever? It was an unbearable thought and there was no answer for it whatsoever.
He was well aware of the fact that he had succumbed to the darkness that lurked in his mind since her supposed death. His friends assumed him to be in a precarious state but he had always been there mentally. His emotional state had been shattered the day of the fire.
Remembering that day caused a subtle ache in both his heart and his shoulder.
And now here she was, right before him.
It was hard to believe that was her. Nothing about her looked like she did the last time he laid eyes on her.
Her blonde hair was a greasy, matted mess, knots tangling the long, golden locks. Her brilliant cerulean eyes lost their sparkle, their now dingy depths marred with trauma and fear. Dark circles encompassed her typically bright eyes. Her pale skin lost its glow and she appeared sickly, unnaturally lifeless. Deep purple stained the pasty flesh of her emaciated frame. She had always been thin but now she looked so frail, as if the most gentle of touches would shatter every bone in her body.
Heero was livid. His anger was boiling beneath the surface, infuriated that anyone would dare lay a harmful hand on her. It was disgusting and he wanted to find the perpetrator and tear him to shreds.
But he would not let his fury reach the exterior. The only thing he could look at was her.
A faint ghost of who she used to be but she was alive.
He wanted so much to hold her close to him but the fear of hurting her held him back. She looked so broken and helpless. She had always been so strong and here today, during this very moment, she looked so weak.
"You…" Her voice eked out, barely a whisper. For a moment, Heero saw her eyes light up but as quickly as it came it faded, replaced by dread and suspicion. "You're not real…it's a lie. It's always a lie!" Her eyes grew glassy, welling with tears waiting to fall.
His worry rose as her voice did, it gaining the momentum she was looking for, trying to sound as forceful as possible through her raspy voice.
"Relena, it's me." He tried to coax her to relax. "It's Heero."
"They always say you're coming. Then they spit in my face!" Her voice was wavering, trailing off to the meek whisper it was before. "They never tell the truth. Every time it's a lie." The tears finally spilled over, her eyes no longer able to hold them back.
"I'm here, Relena. This is real." He took a tentative step forward.
She flinched.
"I will save you. Just trust me." He held his hand out for her to take; trying to let her take the time she needed but knowing they did not have enough. "Please trust me."
"Heero…?"
She held her gaze to his calloused hand, apprehension sinking in. Long, timid fingers quivered in the air mid-reach.
Suddenly she jumped back, the anger returning, and her voice increasing. "Why didn't you look for me?"
Heero did not know how to respond. He waited for the outburst to pass, silent with nothing to say.
"You should have known!" She pointed an accusing finger at him, not knowing what else to do in this situation. He was supposed to find her, she always said he would and after three months, she gave up hope. The men who controlled her knew this, making a mockery of her words. They would tease her, saying Heero was on his way to rescue her only to find out it was a lie and they would laugh at her. She was emotionally broken, any faith she once held was taunted out of her by her vindictive captors.
How come he did not know to look for her?
"Relena…I'm sorry." He was truly apologetic, his regret consumed him for two years and at this very instance, he thought it would destroy him completely. He would not let it faze him at this moment though. He needed to save her. He promised he would protect her and he was going to. He would be damned if he did not.
He heard the soft echo footsteps down the hall, heading for the pair at this moment. He panicked, not wanting her to face anymore hurt. He could see the fear in her eyes, the anxiety in her features, how rigid her body was. "Relena, stay back. Get to the corner and stay low." His eyes locked with hers and he wished so much that he could cup her face in his hands. "I will keep you safe."
She nodded and moved to the corner of her dungeon, crouching down as she was told to, shielding her body with her slender, frail arms. She knew Heero would protect her.
Heero watched her as she secured herself in the corner, wrapping her arms around her legs. The more she moved around, the more bruises he saw tainting her body. He was irate. Thinking about the pain she endured felt like a knife stabbing in his heart and being mercilessly twisted.
He was irate and would let the bastards coming around the corner know that. Those people would suffer for what they did her.
Bracing himself for the imminent attack, he glanced over at Relena. She was shaking wildly in the corner, her eyes wide and pupils dilated. The terror of her returning captors was scarred on her face. He watched as she pulled tighter into herself. Even when he was right here with her, the fear that they would again harm her still gripped her like a vice. He began to wonder if it would ever let her go.
The closer they got, the worse her fear grew.
He softened for a moment, quickly contemplating a new tactic to get her safely out and away from these people without further traumatizing her.
"Relena." He whispered. She looked at him, a brief reprieve from her dread. "It's going to be okay. Trust me."
She stared silently, shaking in herself.
"Trust me." His voice was soft and his eyes were gentle with understanding. "Trust me."
The fear written on her face lessened and a small fire burned in her eyes. Her mind started processing information better and it dawned on her.
Heero is here.
She nodded to him, certain that the man she loved would protect her with his life. She was scarred, frightened and aching but she still had enough in her to have faith in Heero.
The men were closing in on Relena's prison cell.
"Where are you, my little Princess?"
She shivered and Heero tensed, furious at them taunting her like that. She was only his and no one would ever claim her as their own. Ever.
As soon as they walked in, Heero pounced on them with the elegance and ruthlessness of a hungry jaguar. Plowing into the side of the larger man, he managed to disorient both of them. One from the brunt of his momentum and the other from the surprise of an attack from what he first believed to be their petite, blonde captive. With a swift motion, Heero swung a fist into the temple of the shocked man, knocking him into the wall. He slipped down, limp and unconscious.
As soon as he was down, Heero was on the next man who realized it was not Relena executing such a vicious assault but instead an unknown agent, the rescuer to their precious and rightfully stolen property. The guard made a reach for his handheld radio, trying to turn to escape, seeing more logic in alerting his commanders rather than fighting a potentially losing battle.
However he was not quick enough, as the trained attacker was bringing a hard kick to his chest, ramming him into the doorframe, causing the radio the drop to the ground, rendering it useless for the desperate security guard.
Heero wrapped his hand around the man's throat, lifting him from the ground and restricting his airway. He clawed helplessly at Heero's tight grip but it was a futile attempt. Heero waited until the man stopped kicking, leaving him out cold, but alive. He did promise Relena he would never kill again and he would stay true to his word, as much as he did not want to at this moment.
He let go, the guard falling to the ground in a heap of defeat. Heero wasted no time in grabbing their radios, ensuring they would not be able to contact anyone upon awakening and he turned to check on Relena.
His heart dropped. She looked petrified, curled and quivering in her corner. It did not take him long to realize that he should not have handled the situation in the manner that he did. His options were limited with the small timeframe they had, there was not much else he could have done.
He knelt down in front of her, extending a calloused hand towards her, wanting to touch her but not wanting to startle her. He would wait for her calm, though time was not on their side.
Slowly she began settle, each second melting slowly past them. Her eyes focused, registering Heero and the safety he would undoubtedly provide her with.
"He-Heero…" Her voice was a hoarse whisper, barely audible.
"I'm here."
She looked at his hand, unsure of what to do at that moment.
Finally her dull, broken eyes locked into his desperately hopeful orbs, the lost trust finding its way into her shattered mind. Without a word or a falter, she slipped her frail, thin hand into his rough, scarred one and he curled his fingers tenderly around her hand. The whole world seemed to fall away. There was no prison, no hurt, no suffering, no loneliness. She was never taken away, they were never separated. He did not spend two years thinking her dead and she never spent two years believing she would die alone in this dungeon. For a moment, everything in this world was right.
The instant could not last long. Her safety was still in jeopardy and it was still his duty to protect her.
Reluctantly he broke their gaze and stood, gently lifting her light frame after him. "I need to get you out of here."
She nodded meekly, thirsting so anxiously for freedom from this prison.
Heero grabbed his radio, pressing the button to reach Trowa. "Trowa, we need to get out of here immediately. Are you clear? Over."
Trowa's voice crackled through. "Affirm. All clear here. Wilco, we're out. This place is a dead end. We'll start more research tomorrow. Over."
"Not a dead end. Relay to Wufei. Encountered two guards. I have Relena. We're leaving. Clear." Before Trowa could offer a response, Heero shut his radio off. Relena looked at him, silently pleading for them to leave. He understood and complied wordlessly, her hand still firmly but gingerly in his.
Duo and Trowa stood baffled in the hallway, questioning if they had heard Heero's transmission correctly. Before Trowa could request a repeat, he was off the channel and unreachable.
Bewilderment was written clearly on Duo's face as he slowly processed the newly received information. "Did he really just say he has Relena? I mean, I know the guy has been a little off the past few years but this would be a whole new level of crazy for him."
"We'll do as he says. I'll contact Wufei and we'll head out. We will meet Heero out front with the others. Let's go." Trowa turned, bringing his radio up to his mouth, beginning to walk to their puzzling path to the exit.
"Wait, wait, wait!" Duo brought his hands up to Trowa's radio, cutting him off before he could send their newest message, halting him in his place. His face was back to its usual stern features. "Why are you so calm? Heero just said he was with Relena and you're acting all ho-hum!"
"The mission isn't over yet. We have to get out of here – and her out safely. There will be time for questions later. Right now, we just need to move."
Quatre felt the tears fall from his eyes, a hand of relief pressed firmly to his heart as a shaky exhale slipped out of his moist lips. He had always been the most expressive emotionally out of the group, but he was positive that everyone felt the same way he did at this moment. They just expressed it differently.
Relena was alive. The light of their darkness, the so pure and innocent angel that graced their undeserving presence, the one who knew well of all that they did and still loved each and every one of them despite that. She was the person that made them feel like they still had a purpose in this world after the war was over. She was more precious to them than their words could express but their actions had always shown.
Duo was adamant to make them believe that that was what Heero had last said to them and these were their orders. At first Quatre thought his ears were deceiving him but Duo said that is exactly what their comrade said and they are to follow through with his command. With a few confused inquiries and brief moments of stunned silence, the information was fully grasped and now Quatre sat here in grateful shock for knowing one of his closest friends was, in fact, alive.
Shaking himself loose from the clutches of astonishment, he examined the other passengers in the vehicle. All were silent, in shock and unsure how to respond in this situation.
Relena Dorlain Peacecraft, presumed dead two years, was very much alive.
As happy a moment as it was, it was also a dreary one. They could only imagine what she endured in that time until they saw her and until she was comfortable enough to tell them.
Wufei told them to do as Heero said and they would wait for them in the convoy. They would track their position on the tablet computer and contemplate their plan of action from this point on. With Relena, they would need to make a few major adjustments to their plan.
Duo and Trowa banged on the door and Tony pushed it open for them. They climbed in, greeting their comrades. They took their seat, feeling relaxed being out of that labyrinth.
Trowa crossed his arms and legs, closing his eyes. "This place proved more useful than I had ever imagined. Though, the problem still remains with those documents. If they are released, there will be riots across the colonies and the earth. People will lose faith in the Preventers Unit."
"We won't let that happen." Wufei stated plainly.
"And now that we know Relena is alive, the people will have to have a shadow of a doubt about them if they are ever released." Duo chimed in, a grin on his face. "Let the bastards reveal them. They will just look like the liars that they are."
Quatre's voice was low, laced with worry. "Things are about to get really hectic for Relena…I just hope she's ready for it."
The pair rounded another corner, the man's arm upright, gun aimed and ready. His other arm reached behind him, his hand holding on to a delicate, bruised one. The woman let the man lead as he held onto her hand, her other arm trailing behind her as they ran. During breaks for him to make a quick sweep of the area and to let her rest for a moment, she would huddle close to his back, her other hand coming up to clutch tightly onto his strong arm. She felt safe, the closer she was to him, the safer she felt. The tighter she held on to him, the more she never wanted to let go.
This was real.
Heero gently squeezed her hand to let her know they were moving again and off they ran. There had not been any more guards since the last two back at Relena's once was cell. He was glad for that because that meant he did not have to let go of her at all. He did not want to.
Despite the strange pang in his heart and the strong desire he had to stop and look into the eyes he had missed so much, he kept his run. His senses alert and muscles tensed, ready for any threat. A fire of life burned inside him, reignited with a newfound strength. He finally felt his once was become again.
The two bounded through the maze, Heero recollecting every turn made and every step taken. He was going to get her out of here and if things kept at this pace, they would be out in minutes.
He stopped them again and turned to her. "Are you okay?"
She nodded her tentatively, an unconvincing gesture. Clearing her dry throat, she rasped, "I…I hurt a bit."
Heero did not have time to get angry at the people who hurt her as a piercing roar ripped through the corridor, echoing off the walls and reverberating painfully against their eardrums. Relena gasped and crouched to the floor, startled, terrified.
The agent scanned his surroundings quickly and reached down and grabbed the scared woman's wrist. "We have to get out of here."
"They're coming for me." She whispered, her eyes vacant and welling with tears. Heero's heart stung as he watched the tears fall down her flushed cheeks.
"They will not take you away. Not again." With that promise, he lifted her from the ground and pulled her with him, running to the only place he knew as their exit. It was just a little further.
Heero's trained ears picked up the sound of clamoring footsteps, a group of people running towards them. They were still behind a ways and they could still make it to the doorway easily.
The duo turned their last corner to their exit. The voices were getting louder, closer. Wasting no time, Heero slammed his hand against the unsophisticated lock pad.
"Heero, they are so close. We won't make it."
"We will."
The door slid open as the group of men came around the corner, their weapons at the ready. Relena froze, petrified of her abusers being so near her. We were so close…
Heero grabbed the terrified girl by the wrist and charged up the stairs.
He heard the men yelling commands to "shoot them down," which only motivated him to move quicker. He dropped behind her, so he would take any damage that will likely come their way. He was curious as to why they did not follow them up the stairs. He looked back, seeing them aiming their guns for them, Heero pressed Relena's head low, her run slowing as she fumbled with having to run in such an awkward position.
Halfway up the stairs, he realized the walls were closing in on them. "Are you fucking kidding me?" He hissed under his breath.
The stairway was getting more and more narrow with every step they took and they were two thirds of the way up. The shots started to ring out, ricocheting off the dense walls, whistling past their heads.
"Heero, we can't!" She heaved, running low on stamina and hope.
"We will. It's not much further."
The stairwell got so narrow, they had to run sideways, awkwardly clambering up the last few stairs. He reluctantly pushed Relena, her staggering quickly out, safe. He took the last few steps, feeling the walls beginning to apply pressure to his frame. At least she's safe.
Unexpectedly he felt a small hands grip his arm tightly and yank him forward, Heero staggering and falling into the petite woman who he had just been the savior to. Her feeble frame could not hold up his body weight and she collapsed beneath it. He caught himself before he landed on top of her. He pushed himself back onto his knees instantly, his eyes scanning his entire body for fresh injuries.
He was going to get up and help her but he found himself captivated by her, life slowly beginning to return to her eyes. He could do nothing but stare at the damaged, broken beauty that lay beneath him. Even when so marred, she was still the most beautiful creature he had ever laid eyes on. It did not take him long to forget completely where he was.
Relena's lips were moving but he could not process any sound.
Relena was alive. She is alive.
Then reality struck. They were still in danger. Without any hesitation, he was on his feet, lifting her after him and turning to run out of the rubble filled building. His movements were swift and his senses alert. Bursting out the door, both their eyes were assaulted with a bright sunlight, his eyes adjusted quickly and hers remained in pain, acclimated to the dimness of below. She had to keep her eyes shut, her running blind and being led by the man who she spent years longing for.
Heero charged up to the running vehicle, them waiting and ready to move out. He pulled the fragile girl in front of him and waited for her to open her eyes to look at him. She was squinting, her eyes watering from the brightness of the outside world. He gazed at her a moment, his eyes softening.
"You are safe now."
Then he reached over her and opened the door, helping her inside the raised truck. She replayed his words over and over in her head, the faintest of smiles reaching the corners of her dried, cracked lips. She was safe now. And it was all thanks to Heero. He rescued her. He protected her – as he promised he always would years ago.
The Prussian eyed man climbed in behind her, slamming the door shut and yelling for them to get moving. He took a seat in the silent car, between Relena and the window, further shielding her from danger.
All around the machine, eyes were wide. Staring in disbelief that the ex-Queen of the World was still alive. No one said anything; no one knew what to say.
Finally a glassy eyed Quatre leaned out of his seat and embraced the scarred woman. "We'll take you home."
It only took a couple minutes for Relena to fall asleep, exhausted physically, mentally and emotionally. For the first time in two years, she could rest easy without the fear of her captors lurking in the shadows, just beyond her room. She was still scared, but she was out of harm's way. Her head lolled to the side, her body angling itself to the man who found her and saved her life again.
Heero looked down, the blonde girl's head on his shoulder and hand on his leg, palm facing up and open. He did not hesitate and he slipped his hand in hers, squeezing it lightly.