Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing.
As morning broke through the east windows of Relena's bedroom, she felt her lover trying to stir her. As she slowly regained consciousness she felt him. She was wrapped, naked, in his arms, pressed into his warm skin, under the covers. She sighed peacefully, nuzzling deeper into his embrace.
"Relena," he whispered.
She could only release a soft moan.
He smiled openly, brushing her hair from her face. "I'm going downstairs."
Her lips pouted without command.
"I'll let you sleep," his smile deepened. "I'll wake you up when it's time to get ready. I promise."
Still half asleep, her hand tightened its grip on his, as he pulled away. Once dressed, he stopped by the door, consciously wiping the joy from his face before exiting. He knew that a smile was not something that would slip unnoticed past his friends.
As Heero dismounted the stairs, his eyes met with Quatre's. "When did you come in?"
Quatre grinned when he saw his friend. "It must've been about one in the morning." He rose, approaching the respected soldier. "I went up to tell you I was in, but you weren't in your room. I figured you were still around, somewhere, but I was too wiped out from the trip to go looking or wait up." Quatre laughed at himself. "Wiped out from a trip? Man. These politics are making me weak."
"It seems to be an overwhelming job," Heero growled. He thought of Relena's exasperation the day before. He knew she was exhausted when he arrived, but he finally saw how it was demanding so much from her. And that didn't include the jetlag.
"Relena," he whispered, as he followed his drifting thoughts toward the kitchen.
Quatre stayed where he stood, at the mouth of the library, watching Heero walk away. There was something distinctly different about his old friend-better-but he just couldn't put his finger on it.
He was startled by an apparition on the stairwell over him. In her blue-white, satin robe, the Foreign Minister looked like an angel smiling down on him.
"Relena," he beamed at her, as she fluttered down the steps to meet him. After greeting her with a peck on the cheek, he pushed her messy hair back from her face, looking into her eyes to read her. "Are you well?" He sensed her sadness immediately, but as she turned, inside, to the new joy breaking free in her heart he felt her powerful positive emotions. Smiling deeply in response to her own optimism, he pulled her into a hug. He didn't, yet, know what turn of events gave her so much hope, but he was moved by how brightly she was glowing.
"Won't you have breakfast, with us?" Relena broke from the hug, still smiling.
"Yeah," he responded. "You go ahead. I'll put my mess away, in here."
He gathered the books, carefully placing them in order, when the thought slipped from his mouth. "Why are you glowing, anyway?" His voice echoed down the hall, following her as she entered the kitchen.
Coming from the library, she entered facing the coffee machine, in front of which Heero was sitting at the nook, silently refusing to turn and face her.
"A good night's sleep does wonders," she called back. Heero shook his head, clearly amused at her white lie. "Besides," she reached up and took two mugs from the cupboard. "Who wouldn't be glowing after a surprise greeting by their best friend, first thing in the morning?" She glided past her lover, giving him an equally warm silence.
They were comfortable, and nothing needed to be said, just yet.
"Thank you for teaching me this," she said after several quiet moments, feeling his eyes on her. "I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't make myself coffee after you leave." She fought the inflection at the end of the sentence, trying to hide the question mark, but still hoped he'd get the hint and consider his decision. She resolved herself to the fact that she would accept any decision he made on the matter, without question. He never seemed an overly emotional man, in spite of her love for him, and she was willing to sacrifice anything to preserve a relationship and respect his wishes.
Heero sipped his black coffee, willing her to turn to him. She did. He leaned back, leaving an opening between them. Relena yielded to the pull of the table and leaned in front of him, resting her cheek in her hand with playful eyes. Pleased with her cooperation he leaned back in, brushing his nose against hers and spoke slowly, to enhance the importance of the communication.
"I am not a politician," he said clearly. "I don't start things I can't-or won't-finish." He brushed a stray hair from her eyes. "I'm not leaving you, Relena," he clarified. "Pagan knew that, bringing me in. I almost hoped I could keep it plutonic, but that would never have lasted." He smirked, touching the tip of her nose with his thumb, as he cupped her cheek. She could feel the heat from holding his coffee radiating back off his hand. "I'm devoted to you." He met her eyes, searching. "I love you."
As the words sank in, deep inside Relena could felt small explosion. Maybe it was just a spark, but it seemed to be what Heero was searching for. His eyes glistened with recognition as he leaned in and pressed his lips from hers.
"Now, get Quatre's coffee on. He's been standing behind me at the door for several seconds." Relena jumped, realizing that her friend had overheard the better part of their conversation. With rosy cheeks she turned her backs on the men, and set the brew for Quatre's cup.
The Winner heir sank onto the barstool next to his old friend, yawning off the long night. He glanced over to Heero warily, feeling guilty about eavesdropping on what he suspected was the first "I love you" in previously unknown the relationship. Heero didn't meet his gaze, but leaned back, studying Relena carefully.
The soft material of the satin robe draped over her hips gently, giving her movements the air of a floating spirit, free of gravity. She tied the belt high on her midriff, allowing slack around her bosom for modesty. The material was fairly thin, as was its nature, and gave no immediate sign of what was or wasn't underneath, but upon further study, Heero seemed cautious. "Relena?"
She froze in her steps. Turning slowly to hand Quatre his brew, she met Heero's eye. "I hate that tone," she said, emphasizing her nervousness.
"Didn't you have black on last night?"
"Yes?"
He pointedly looked up and down her curves as she handed Quatre the sugar. When he met her eyes, again, she understood. Her cheeks flushed. No, she wasn't wearing her nighty, anymore, but she could hardly see why he'd point it out, especially with company.
Quatre looked on in silence, trying to decipher the apparently successful communication.
Heero cleared his throat as she turned, again, to put the sugar back. "Duo loves that robe, remember?" He let it sink in. "All he has to do is grab it in the right place as you pass and he gets it off of you every time."
Relena's eyes widened as she suddenly remembered the pranks she'd suffered through on many a morning, while Duo was keeping them company. She clamped the cloth closed across her chest, squeezing until her knuckles were white.
She usually slept in her nightgown, so she'd never been naked under Duo's favorite robed, before.
Regaining her composure, though still not releasing her grip on the opening, she turned calmly around and smiled. "Well," she said breathily. "If you'll excuse me, I have to go and get ready for work, anyway. Before Duo wakes up." Relena gently touched Quatre's hand with her free one as she walked away. "Do enjoy your coffee."
Her breath caught as she approached the door. The way was blocked by a familiar brunet with a long, healthy braid down to his thighs. She stopped and took a step back, eying him suspiciously.
"Good morning," she started, tightening her grip across her chest. "Where's Hilde?"
"Getting dressed," he grinned, looking at her nervous behavior. He noted her grip and was already pondering schemes to loosen it, to accomplish the task.
"Duo." Heero's voice was sharp, authoritative. He almost sounded angry, like he was scolding a child. "As you'll recall, Relena's had a rough few days. I advise you that it may be in your best interest if you avoid any practical jokes. After all, the two of you didn't exactly have a friendly passing, last night, did you?"
Duo thought, remembering how angry she seemed when he touched her. "Alright, Miss Moody. I'll let you go this time. But it's only because I love you." He stepped forward, slowly and gently taking her into his arms. Relena's eyes were wide in surprise as he gave her the most kind and protective hug she'd ever received from him. "I do," he whispered, looking down at her.
She studied him. He wasn't joking. He wasn't flirting. He wasn't being romantic or trying to get his way. He was showing her pure compassion. Her thoughts came smashing back down to earth. She may be on cloud nine with Heero, but she was losing her dearest and oldest friend. Slowly backing out of the friendly embrace, she massaged her own neck with her free hand. She looked back into Duo's eyes and gave him a sad smile. "I love you, too," she nodded, touching his shoulder before she quietly floated up the stairs, to her room.
Heero and Quatre watched silently, both recognizing the emotional turn of events. Heero lowered his eyes, returning to his coffee. She needs some time alone, he thought.
