Disclaimer: I don't own GW.
Reviewer Comments:
Elly- I try to make the chapters as long as I can, but when I'm done, I'm done. It would just make the story bad to try to force out more when I don't believe there should be. Sorry about that.
SonicBloom- I aim to misdirect. You'll see.
me- Man, people like blowing and smashing Cronis... Hell to think what'll happen after THIS chapter... Oh dear...
Camigwen- Aww, thankee!
DogDemonK9- Here's your 1xR update... I think you'll like this one...
mT96- Thankee!
Mikairi- Yeah, the whole "Omae o korosu" thing to everyone he meets would put a FEW people off, I'd think. Poor boy, he just wanted to save the world! hehe.
Wing- All will be revealed in due time... Though I'm finally getting around to that revealing!
To Everyone- Thanks to everyone who commented/read! I hope you enjoyed the chapter and that this one isn't too bad! Chapter 14 is a product of partial writer's block, partial not knowing what to do with the story, and partial.... well... just stuff.... So, I hope it's okay! Enjoy!
Chapter 14
She followed the men down the hallway silently, hair brushed back out of her face as best she could manage, head held high and eyes locked on the doorway that loomed ahead. She could feel the eyes on her back from the soldiers that trailed behind, admiring their handiwork on the fine curve of her body: blacks and blues and purples that could be seen on her face and through the sheer fabric of the clothing that had been provided to her. She frowned defiantly at the thought. Beatings or not, she would not let them win this battle of wills.
They stopped while one of the leading officers knocked on the door, waiting until a muffled voice answered from within to enter. They did, and she found herself in plush private quarters- obviously those of a high-class officer of the rebel organization by the fine Oakwood tables and chairs that adorned the room, complete with silk table clothes and leather cushions, as well as an array of paintings and photographs that filled the walls. Her thoughts were confirmed when she saw the man sitting across the room in a high-backed leather burgundy chair. He stood as they entered, and her heart froze in her chest as prisoner and captor first looked upon each other.
Dark grey eyes stared out at her from beneath ebony strands, glinting so sharply beneath the light that they looked almost silver. The hair itself was long and silken- hair that would make normal women jealous-, pulled back neatly into a ponytail that hung down at a thick, masculine neck. He wore a button-up shirt, sleeves rolled to his elbows, and a pair of dark slacks similar to those worn by Preventers, with boots that shined like they had just been polished. But it was his expression that turned her blood cold: an icy, dead gaze that stared through her like daggers even as a smile curled upon unkind lips. He was powerful in body and mind, it was easy to see, and the grimacing smile was enough to tell her that he was well aware of his power. Currently, his power over her.
"Miss Darlian… I see you have finally managed to grace me with your presence." The voice was monotone and deep, and she found herself momentarily reminded of another expressionless man, but the enchantment that she might have found was lost by the complete lack of caring in those calm tones. Unlike the boy she knew so well, there was no passion or concern to be found beneath those layers of ice. This man was dead.
"Excuse me, but men like you can never be graced by anything, not even the hand of God," she heard herself bite out, bitter from two years of starvation and maltreatment. That cruel smile only widened, and she watched as he waved the soldiers away.
Once the door had closed behind them, he approached her carefully- like a panther stalking its prey in the brush. She could hear the chuckle forming low in his chest.
He circled her once without a word, eyes roaming where they should not while she stood stiffly in place, focusing on an old tapestry at the back of the room. When he stopped, he was poised directly behind her, and she flinched away when she felt the brush of a hand against her arm. Eyes narrowed as she flung herself away from his touch. "What do you think you're doing?" But he was already descending again, grabbing her roughly by her arm until they were face-to-face. The smile was gone.
"I don't believe you realize the situation you are in, Miss Darlian. I've waited a long time to see you here." Those eyes bore into her, his hand like a furnace on her arm. She wanted to scream, struggle, hit him where it counted the most, but she found herself paralyzed. Who was this man?
Shooting him as deadly a glare as she could muster- which was quite something, considering all the time she had spent with her own blue-eyed, deadly soldier- she stood her ground beneath his grip, using her skills as a politician to mask any trace of fear. She eyed him almost casually. "Whatever it is that you want from me, I believe you'll be sadly disappointed. I dare say you were better off when I was just another prisoner on Death Row."
"Dare you?" The smile had returned, but this time it was more a cruel smirk of triumph.
Without warning he threw her away from himself so that she stumbled back and abruptly landed on the soft plush of the carpet beneath their feet. He watched her from across the room as she stood almost immediately, frowning fiercely at her captor. She would not be pushed around.
"If we are done here, I would like to be returned to my cell."
He laughed, low and malicious. The sound froze her blood and his eyes upon her made her feel like a deer in headlights. He approached once again, but this time with deliberation, stopping to consider her before a hand shot out suddenly and caught her throat, wrestling her down to the carpet once again. Fear shot through her and she began to struggle, but found herself hopelessly pinned.
It was all clear to her now, and his words proved it.
"I already have what I want."
Oh Gods… Heero!
"Heero!" Relena bolted upright in the bed, heart racing in her chest while unbidden tears streamed down her cheeks. Her body trembled, as it never had before. Looking around, she saw herself tucked safely away in Heero's bed, in Heero's room. But no Heero. The room suddenly felt deathly cold to her.
She pulled her legs from beneath the covers and stood with a shuddering gasp, a hand coming up to clench at the gentle fabric above her heart as it pounded in her chest. Not knowing what else to do, she simply retreated to the far wall and rested her forehead against it in an attempt to calm herself, breathing harshly and sweating despite the chill about her body.
When she felt the hand clamp down on her shoulder she jumped as though burned, whirling viciously towards her "attacker" while throwing her back against the wall at the same time. It was only when she saw Heero standing before her that Relena dropped her guard, the tears falling quicker and harder with each passing moment. She felt her jaw work for an explanation, but nothing would come, and in defeat the despairing princess turned her eyes to the floor, ashamed and enraged at both the act and the dream.
"Relena…" She was surprised when she felt arms pull her forward and wrap around her, drawing her close. Was he… was he trying to comfort her? Attempting to pull away, she found he would not allow it, and a small, bitter smile formed on her lips at the gesture. The tears came to a halt, the trembling slowed and then stopped altogether, and she melted against him as though she were liquid, losing all thoughts of just what she was doing. It did not matter anymore. He was protecting her, just like he always promised, and that was enough. It was always enough.
The dream was washed away as she allowed herself to relax and for time to pass. She did not know how long they stood together. Somehow, he managed to make her lose all track of time, clearing her mind of all that troubled her if even for a moment. But as her mind focused on the moment, embarrassment flooded her.
She felt warm there, tucked safely and securely against his chest, but a chill that ran through her spine- her mind acutely aware of their close proximity- disrupted the warmth. She could feel his breath on her neck, his heart beating steadily against his chest while hers ran a violent race. She did not dare raise her head from its pillowed position against his shoulder, both afraid and excited over what she might find, but he soon remedied that as she felt him draw back, a finger reaching up to gently lift her chin.
She was met fleetingly with a sea of cloudy, storm-washed blue, her lips parting slightly to utter the only word that was running through her mind.
"Heero…"
The sound of her voice startled her into reality, suddenly realizing her position. Relena snapped from her reverie and slipped, alarmed, from his arms and tried to walk away. Unfortunately for her, the pilot was faster and sharper, and had managed to capture her chin in his hand once again. To her surprise, his lips followed.
It was fire and ice water all at once, all over her body. She could only stand in shock as she felt his other arm snake around her waist and pull her against his chest, his lips warm and gentle, kind and reassuring. It was only through the greatest of dazes that she realized her body was responding against her better judgment, and she closed her eyes purely out of habit, arms reaching hesitantly for the dark-haired boy- no, man- that held her so fiercely. The feeling was bliss.
When he finally pulled back she was left breathless and stunned, staring at him. She tried his name again, tasting it in her mouth and on her very being. "Heero…"
"I'm taking you home today."
She blinked in confusion. Home?
"Une sent word that your butler has already been informed of your rescue and is prepared for your return. Don't worry, the house has been well cared for over the past three years and is still in your name. All of your belongings have been returned and it should be the way you remember it." He looked at her with that normal, expressionless gaze, studying her as no one could. She was dumbfounded, to say the least.
"…You mean I still have my house?" He nodded. She smiled. There was yet another moment of comfortable silence as she could only think of all that was suddenly going right.
Truthfully, she had not even thought of her house since her return, too caught up in all that had happened to even consider the possibility that she might be deprived of the most basic of requirements after three years. She frowned, then, still looking at him. "What about my job?"
"I suppose it's yours, if you wanted. No one ever tried to take the position after your disappearance." Her heart fluttered, missed a beat. She… she was still the Vice Foreign Minister? The shock must have registered on her face, for she was sure she saw the hint of an amused smile on his face and in those eyes. Then her own smile broke out once again and she laughed, short and softly. It was all a dream, wasn't it? She would wake up any minute and be back in that dirty cell, alone and abused. Right?
"Heero?"
"Hn?"
"Are you real? Am I dreaming? Please tell me I'm not…" She looked at him hopefully and this time she was sure she saw that smile- there and gone again in a blink.
"You're not dreaming."
"…Heero?"
"Hn?"
"…Kiss me again." It was not a question.
"Hn." Who was he to deny a princess?
At the other end of the Preventer's building, a floor below, Zechs Merquise stood in front of one of the large COM screens, staring eye-to-eye with the blurred, battered, and burned face of Quatre Raberba Winner. Lady Une stood beside him and Sally Po just behind as they finally listened to the reports of what the three pilots had encountered on L2. Zechs was not pleased.
"If Cronis is after Yuy, why did he capture Relena?" The blond shook his head.
"I don't know. I asked the same question, but Linnux came before Lytol could answer the question."
"I see… Do you think we can trust his story?" Zechs knew better than to ignore the intuition of the former Sandrock pilot. As any of them knew, the boy had a six sense for the emotions and honesty of people. Some even dared to call Quatre an empath, though the Winner heir would kindly laugh off the accusation with a smile. Zechs simply believed that the pilot was simply more attune to reading people's eyes and words.
"In all honesty, I don't see why he'd lie, and I never felt threatened or deceived. In fact, he was somewhat eager to divulge the story. I wonder if perhaps he's in deeper than we thought. …Maybe Miss Relena might know something?" Quatre frowned as he answered, but Zechs found him to be -as always- right.
"Yes, maybe. Yuy is supposed to bring her back to her house today. He actually volunteered for it." He did not miss the smile that lighted Quatre's face at the mention of Heero and Relena. The blond had always been a fan of the couple, pushing them gently towards each other when Maxwell had not been all but shoving. Zechs scowled inwardly, but said nothing.
The door opened at that moment and Duo walked in with Hilde, grinning and pestering the red-faced, flustered girl. As the braided man walked closer to the former White Fang leader, he glanced up at the screen and stopped with a surprised expression. "Yo, Q-man, how big was the bus that hit you?"
Quatre blinked. "Wha- Oh! You mean my face…" To everyone's amusement, the blond blushed and turned his face away from the screen. Distantly, they could all hear another voice behind the boy.
"Is that Maxwell? Ask him what the hell he and Yuy have been doing all day!" Duo frowned as he heard the comment and finished his advance towards the COM screen, all but pushing aside an amused Une and rather irritated Zechs.
"Hey! We were working. It was Heero's fault for getting us blown up! And then was met Linnux, and it all went to hell from there…" The Deathscythe pilot was almost pouting by this time, tendering rubbing at his own, more conspicuous wounds- particularly the bandage that adorned his forehead.
The red-faced Chinaman shoved Quatre from view, "Speak sense, Maxwell!"
"Yo, Wu-man! You look just as bad as Quatre! Did the bus hit you too?"
"MAXWELL!"
Zechs sighed and retreated from the room at that point, head in hands as he decided to go searching for his sister.
AN: It's late and I'm tired, but here's the chapter. . A bit awkward, I must admit, and sorry about that, but I hope you enjoyed it!
-Sar