Isolation

Chapter 6

By Animeguera


Chapter Warning: Rated M for adult situations.

Disclaimer: I do not claim to own Gundam Wing or its characters.


Heero gave directions in short bursts, not that there was much directions to give for flying the shuttle. Once it got going, the autopilot did most of the work for the pilot.

The tricky part was reentering the Earth's atmosphere without turning the shuttle into a burning ball of fire. The knobs and controls were a mystery to Relena and Heero seemed to be speaking a completely different language with the orders he giving.

Altitude and speed she could handle. Angular momentum must have been explained after OZ blew up her school.

Still, despite their past, Relena listened intently to all of Heero's directions. Asking questions that may have infuriated him.

Relena became more quiet the longer they interacted in the shuttle. Heero's orders becoming painful to hear. With each criticism, she heard her own shortcomings as Vice Foreign Minister, as a daughter, as a girlfriend and as his former best friend.

On approach, Relena managed to land the shuttle in a Preventer controlled spaceport. Heero radioed in their approach, mentioning Relena's presence aboard the shuttle. Once Relena landed, she started laughing uncontrollably. Heero regarded it as insanity due to the high amount of stress.

Several Preventers entered the shuttle, along with a medical unit, to assess both of their conditions. Relena allowed them to assess her condition. She unzipped the space suit and allowed air to cool her down. Sweat was dripping inside the tight fabric.

Heero said nothing, just watched and quietly sighed in relief when the medical unit declared her condition, if only stressed. She insisted on walking out of the shuttle herself instead of being carried out. She didn't look at Heero as she left.

Heero watched through the front window of the shuttle, he saw her leave and felt an emptiness in his heart. He decided as she walked away that he needed to follow her. He ran out of the shuttle, knocking down everyone who stood in his way.

He caught up with Relena, ignoring the medical personnel who surrounded her. She was tired, he could tell by the polite smile she adorned. He confronted her without a plan.

"Please excuse us." She said quietly, grabbing ahold of the nearby wall, to keep her balance. Her smiled faded as soon as the medical personnel were out of earshot.

"I love-" He started to say.

"Stop." Relena interrupted. "Love is not enough. I need more than that."

"What do you want me to do?"

"I'm not a soldier that will follow your orders without question. I am done with being afraid in my own home because of your anger. I will be treated with the love and respect that I deserve, not because I am the Vice Foreign Minister, but because you chose to be with me and that choice requires commitments of changes, just like I alter my behavior for your benefit."

Heero stayed quiet. "I want to become the man that deserves to be at your side for the rest of our lives."

Relena didn't hear the rest of his declaration as she fell unconscious, collapsing under her own weight. Heero caught her with his functioning arm but shouted to the EMTs that he required assistance.


Relena awoke to dimmed fluorescent lights. She blinked, adjusting to the dimness of the room. She tried to move her arms, but found them heavy and lethargic. She took in her surrounding environment, recalling what she could. This was the second time in a week she awoke in a strange environment without the knowledge of how she had arrived. The room as quiet, but she heard quiet breathing nearby, along with the steady beep of the monitors. She turned to her left and was surprised to find Heero Yuy asleep in a small but adequately soft chair, his light breathing filling the room with sound, as she had stopped breathing. He was sleeping fitfully, twitching randomly and frowning. His arm had been adequately taken care of by proper physicians. She noticed the cast and wondered how much effort it took to force him to undertake such a procedure.

A woman entered the room quickly, but silently. She sighed with relief as she saw Relena was conscious. "Miss Relena, thank goodness."

Relena smiled, taking her eyes off of Heero and facing the older doctor. "Sally, I'm glad to see you as well." She coughed lightly.

Sally handed her a cup of water with a straw that had been sitting on a tray nearby. "How are you?"
"A little tired, I guess the stress of piloting that shuttle was too much for me."
"That's not what I meant."

Relena turned her head to look at Heero's sleeping form. "Full of hope and fear."

"He hasn't left your side." Sally commented softly.

"How long has it been?"

"Four days."

Relena looked incredulous. "Four days? Plus the two we were missing. Oh dear, what must the Earth's Sphere think?"

"I believe your security detail mentioned you were going on vacation. The word around town is you were hiding after your break up from your ex-fiancee. The Earth's Sphere is happily distracted gossiping about you."

Relena sighed, "A broken heart, that's partly true, I suppose." She continued to look at Heero's deposed form.

"After all this time?" Relena nodded. "Have you forgiven him?" She shook her head in response.

"I'm not sure I trust him to be a better man." Her voice began catching in her throat.

"You can trust he loves you. You can trust he would do anything for you."
"I need more than love, I need his support." Her voice increased in volume.

"Did you ever tell Heero how his actions made you feel? Did you tell him how to alter his behavior to make your relationship better? " Sally took a deep breath. "Heero's been a soldier his entire life, he needs direction. You can't expect him to simply know how to be a normal person much less a loving partner. I know you are afraid of saying anything critical, but its part of making the relationship work." Relena's eyes filled with tears. "Oh dear, I didn't say that to make you cry."

"You're right. I was so focused what he did to me, I didn't bother to see his perspective. I was a terrible partner to him." Waterfalls of tears flowed down her face. "How could he ever forgive me for being so horrible."

"Love doesn't solve everything, but it does give you a reason to keep trying. No relationship is perfect, believe me, I am well aware. But loving someone means giving them the chance for redemption even when they don't deserve it, just so they can earn that opportunity."

"Is Wufei very forgiving?"

Sally smiled. "I'm forgiving enough for the both of us. He is the pillar of strength, I am the bending tree. Not everyone understands it, but it doesn't matter. We complement each other. You and Heero are both very strong and stubborn young adults with big passionate hearts that will usher in a new generation of citizens. Together." Sally squeezed Relena's hands and walked out of the room.

"Heero?"

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry."

"I don't deserve an apology."

She took in a shaky breath. "You still have it."

"You're not a horrible partner."

"Please forgive me."

"I forgave you long ago, if you'll have me, I'd like to prove that I can earn your forgiveness."

Relena nodded, not trusting her voice. Heero took her hand in his and kissed it.


2/8/15 - The End

-Guera-