Trowa isn't at all sure where Meilan might be right now. He didn't think to ask her grandfather before he left, and doesn't even know if the old man would have answered him honestly, anyway. What Trowa does know is that, if he can't contact Meilan, there's still someone else that he can visit instead.
First, he's trying to get inside what feels like the Chinese Embassy, and now he's going to try and talk to a popular political figure. Trowa's not at all surprised to find out when he arrives that Relena Peacecraft lives in a gated mansion. Of course she does. He's already resigned to even more scrutiny when he hands his driver's license over to the gate guard to examine.
Honestly, Trowa's not even expecting to be let inside. Not really. He's waved through, though, and pulls up to the huge house, wondering how people even lived their lives in places like this. All of this space is not necessary. Though it's probably great practice for Relena Peacecraft, if she's planning on running for president at any time in her future career.
He's greeted by an elderly gentleman in actual livery, and barely suppresses an incredulous raise of his eyebrows. The elderly man asks what he's there for, and Trowa says that he wants to see Relena Peacecraft.
Well, looks like the butler or whoever is the one who is going to raise an eyebrow. "I see," he says. "Do you have an appointment?"
Of course he doesn't. Trowa shakes his head no. "It's about a mutual friend," he says, hoping that's enough, but the elderly man only gives him a thoroughly unimpressed look in response. Trowa refrains from wincing, but just barely.
"And who might this mutual friend be?" the man asks. Even though his tone stays exactly the same as before, Trowa feels judged. This is not going smoothly.
Guess there's nothing for it. "Long Meilan," he says. "I actually want to talk with her, but her grandfather said that she was out, and I was hoping that she was here."
Whatever the butler expects, it clearly isn't that. His whole expression somehow changes, growing warmer, and he inclines his head. "I see. Miss Long is not here, I'm afraid, but I can take you to see Miss Relena. Perhaps she knows of Miss Long's plans for the day."
"Oh," Trowa says, "thank you." He's not sure if he should feel disappointed or relieved. On the one hand, Meilan's not there. On the other, Trowa isn't being thrown out on his ass just yet. He's a little surprised that just using Meilan's name is enough to gain him access to Relena Peacecraft, and wonders if he should mention how lax that is for security.
Best not to say anything until after he's seen Relena Peacecraft first, at least.
The elderly man leads him down a few hallways, and Trowa is quickly lost once again. Hopefully, he never has to find his way through places like this on his own. After a few minutes, the man knocks on a door and waits for someone to reply before he opens it.
"Come in," a woman's voice says.
Well, at least it looks like Relena Peacecraft has some privacy in her life. Somehow, Trowa can't see Meilan's grandfather waiting for permission before he enters her private rooms.
"A young gentleman is here to see you, Miss Relena," the elderly man says. "He's apparently an acquaintance of Miss Long's."
Trowa looks inside of the room, and there's the young, pretty woman from all of the recent commercials and media coverage. She gives him a wary look, which is understandable, but smiles and gestures him into the room, anyway.
"Come in," she repeats. "You know Meilan?"
Trowa nods, walking over and shaking her hand. She's got a firm grip. "Trowa Barton," he says, introducing himself. "Sorry to barge in like this." Into a stranger's home. "I met Meilan recently."
Relena Peacecraft nods at her butler, or whoever he is. "Thank you, Pargan, for showing Mr. Barton the way."
It's a polite dismissal, and Pargan, apparently, nods and leaves, shutting the door again behind him. Immediately after the door's closed, Relena Peacecraft pierces him with a sharp look. Trowa blinks, caught off-guard. The media always portrays her as someone gentle and sweet. Trowa's not seeing any of that here right now.
"Do you really know Meilan?" she asks again. If Trowa was lying before, this would be the time to come clean, he knows.
He's rarely ever been more grateful to be telling the truth. "I know her," he repeats. "We only met yesterday, though."
Relena Peacecraft sits back again, relaxing a little. "Alright," she says. "I figured that you were probably telling the truth," she admits, "but it doesn't hurt to be careful. My apologies, Mr. Barton."
"Trowa," he says. Her calling him Mr. Barton when they're of a similar age just feels wrong. "I'm sorry, too. I really just wanted to see Meilan again, and thought that she might be here." Or that Relena might know where she is.
"You can call me Relena," she says in return, and then shrugs. "I'm seeing Meilan later tonight," she continues, "but that's all I can say." Or all that she's going to confess to him, not that Trowa can blame her. "How do you know Meilan?" Relena asks.
Time for the awkward truth. Or a partial truth, anyway. "Actually, I found a phone recently." He also doesn't blame Relena at all for the confused look that she gives him in response to that cryptic statement. "I found out that the phone belonged to Wufei, and so I gave it to Meilan yesterday."
"Oh, damn," Relena says, surprising Trowa. He wouldn't have thought that she's the sort of person who would swear out loud like that. "That's why she sounded so off on the phone last night."
Trowa winces. "Sorry," he says, again apologizing for something that really isn't his fault. He should just get that phrase printed on a t-shirt, at this point. Hell, he could just buy one. He's sure that they're already available somewhere. "We talked a bit, about her and Wufei," he tries to explain, "and then her fiance walked in and-"
Relena's snort cuts him off. "I'm Meilan's fiancee," she announces bluntly.
Well, if she felt confused earlier, apparently it's Trowa's turn now. "Funny," he says, his mouth on autopilot, "you don't look anything like Huang."
Relena chuckles, laugher spilling from her lips. "Sit down," she says suddenly, gesturing to the cushion beside her on the couch. Trowa sits, feeling like he needs the support right now, anyway.
"I don't know if you've noticed," Relena says wryly, "but Meilan's family comes from old money."
It's Trowa's turn to snort. "You don't say," he drawls.
Relena smirks briefly. "It's something that we have in common," she admits shamelessly. "We met at Cambridge, actually. Hit it off right away, and then spent almost two years convinced that we were platonic soulmates before things finally clicked."
Trowa, who's pretty much always known that he was gay, says nothing. He knows that a lot of people are confused about their sexual orientation at some point in their lives. "Did you do the thing where you're dating before you realize it?" he can't help but ask eventually, genuinely curious.
Relena nods, smiling. "Yes, we were both hopeless. Of course," she adds, "I think I can be forgiven for being a bit dense, considering that Meilan was engaged to Wufei at the time."
Trowa's only grateful that he isn't trying to eat or drink anything right then. As it is, he still ends up choking on air. "What?" he asks incredulously, once he stops coughing.
"An arranged marriage," Relena explains. "Probably decided on when Wufei was born a few months after Meilan." Trowa's still mentally reeling. What? How? What?
"That actually might have worked out for them," he realizes suddenly. They would never have been in love with each other, of course, but they were very close. They clearly loved each other dearly.
"Yes," Relena agrees. "It's why they were still engaged when I met Meilan. So I think I can be forgiven for not realizing that an engaged woman was still available."
Trowa nods. That makes sense to him. "Then you two fell in love," he supplies.
"Wufei must have known for at least a year before we did," Relena agrees. "He always teased us about not catching on sooner." Her smile falls away, and in her eyes is grief, still strong. She obviously still misses Wufei a lot.
"Meilan and Wufei broke off their engagement eventually," she continues after a minute, clearing her throat. "Her grandfather was highly disappointed. He wants to keep their money and properties in the family. I don't know if anyone's told you, but Huang is a distant relative."
"Ugh," Trowa says. He doesn't even try to be politic about the way that his nose crinkles in response to finding out about that.
Relena shrugs again. "Different families, different customs. Anyway, after Wufei passed away, Meilan's grandfather announced that she was engaged to Huang."
Trowa takes a minute to process that. He supposes that it makes sense from her family's perspective. Still.
Relena sighs. "It's all ridiculous. Meilan and I have been together for five years now, but her family still refuses to accept us."
In her voice is sadness, but also, surprisingly, acceptance. Different families, different customs. Huh.
"I can't believe that he didn't say anything about you two being engaged," Trowa says, unwilling to just let that go like Relena clearly has. "When I spoke with him, he only mentioned you as Meilan's friend."
Relena raises an eyebrow. "Who are we talking about?" she asks. "Meilan's grandfather, or Huang?"
"Her grandfather," Trowa clarifies. "Huang didn't mention you at all." The reason why being painfully obvious now.
"I'm impressed that you've spoken with him already," Relena says, and she does sound astonished. "I've only seen him once. From a distance."
And she's been in a relationship with the man's granddaughter for at least five years. Trowa remains silent. Otherwise, he's just going to end up apologizing once again.
Relena looks as though she can read his feelings anyway, and pats his hand. "Don't worry about it. His attitude isn't stopping us," she reassures him. "In fact, Meilan and I are officially moving in together tomorrow."
"Really?" Trowa asks. He thinks that's probably a risky move at this point in Relena's campaign, but he's sure that she knows this already.
She smiles. "Really. We've bought a townhouse already. Someplace that's not here, and not her family's estate, either. Someplace that's just ours."
Trowa can hear a wistful tone in her voice, and can definitely appreciate them both wanting a place to call their own. "Congratulations," he tells her, sincerely meaning it.
"Thanks," Relena says, still smiling. "Meilan and I are doing a lot of packing tonight, actually. If you haven't seen her before then, you can come back around 7. She'll be here."
Trowa smiles back. He likes her, the same as Meilan. "Thanks for the invite." He doesn't even mind that he'll no doubt be used to help with the packing if he does show up.
Right now, though, Trowa has someone else that he wants to visit. He's been thinking quietly, in the back of his mind, about who could possibly have any reason to kill Wufei. Trowa thinks that he might have an answer to that question now.
Trowa says a short goodbye to Relena, with a promise to return later if he doesn't see Meilan before then, and then he heads off to confront the man that he thinks might be Wufei's murderer.