Okay, I apologize greatly right now…..I don't know much about politics. Let me know if I messed up something.
Chapter Fourteen
Four months later…
Dressed in her best two piece suit, Relena emerged from the bedroom, physically and mentally prepared for her upcoming challenge. Four months of preparing. Four months of studying and researching. Four months of questioning everyone and everything. She was ready to face this political war head on. She had never felt more prepared for anything before in her life. She knew that the moment she stepped into the spotlight, she would become a target, but Heero not only taught her as much as he knew about the war, but also self-defense and how to spot an assassin.
He had been more than loyal to her over the months. The only times he left her was for flights that started becoming scarce. She had originally doubted that he was just a pilot, but now when he would come back he would have more information about the Khushrenada's which almost confirmed her suspicion that he was something else. She thought he might still be involved in the military.
Duo and Hilde decided to join her, moving into the large mansion to help protect the Peacecrafts. With Hilde moving in, Relena was content. She was even able to call the safe house her home. Hilde and Relena would hole themselves up in the office or bedrooms, laughing while researching. Heero still hadn't thought it safe for Relena to go into her late mother's office in the parliament building so she was still forced to stay inside, occasionally outside in the gardens, doing her work. News of her mother's death had spread throughout the world, startling several, but now the question that remained was who was going to take her spot? Zechs kept Relena's inheritance hushed.
Until today.
Today, Relena had a very large and very public debate against the empowered Khushrenada. She would get to meet the infamous Treize which she had discovered to be her brother's best friend, but almost political enemy. She wasn't sure how their friendship worked at all. Maybe they passed notes about how to control the world. There were times when she questioned Zechs' peaceful intentions.
As she walked down the staircase, she felt as powerful as she actually was. When she came into view of her awaiting escorts, she felt her skin burn on the back of her neck. She saw Zechs, who was usually stiff, stiffen even more. However, the response of Heero made the flush creep up to her face. Heero's bored persona changed once he saw her. His eyes widened slightly and she saw the tight line of his jaw slacken. She knew she looked the every bit of pureblood politician that she was. She tried to smile, acting as if she didn't notice their changes in demeanor. Noin and Hilde, however, cheered from joy. Everyone in the safe house was waiting for the day she was revealed as Relena Peacecraft.
Hilde, whose belly was very subtly showing now, beamed brightly, tears streaming down her face. "You look beautiful!"
"You're gonna kick their ass, Princess!" Duo said from the foyer.
She smiled, stepping up next to Heero, who was her main escort. He nodded, regaining his posture again and said roughly, "Let's go."
Zechs, Heero and Duo walked out in front of her. She hugged Hilde briefly and followed them out. She wasn't about to admit that she was nervous, but she was. Her hands were shaking and her heart was racing. The moment the car pulled up and an older gentleman, she believed his name was Pagan, opened the door for her, she began to take deep breaths. She was prepared. She had to remind herself. There wasn't anything Treize could throw at her that she didn't have a rebuttal for.
Zechs sat in the front with Pagan and Duo and Heero sat in the back. The car ride was quiet and Relena tried to calm herself by watching the countryside disappear into the city. Once they reached into the city limits and the Congress Hall started growing in size, Heero reached for her hand. She jumped from the contact, but once she saw his stoic expression soften for her, she held his rough hand tightly. Over the months, their physical contact was starting to grow. They'd brush hands when walking by each other, or he'd hold her hand when she was feeling overwhelmed. Some nights he would fall asleep in her room, usually in the chair or the lounge she had brought up for Hilde.
"You'll be great, Lena." Duo said absentmindedly, staring out the window.
"Thanks Duo. Thanks for coming to this too. I know you don't like politics much." She said, smiling weakly.
"It's not that I don't like them. They just lie so much and you know me, I don't like liars." He turned his head away from the view to look at her. His eyes registered Heero and Relena's hands entwined, but didn't say anything.
"I'll be as honest as I can throughout this whole thing, Duo." She promised, wondering how easy it would actually be.
"We're here." Zechs said suddenly from the front seat.
Relena hadn't noticed that her shaking had subsided, but now with the debate so near, she couldn't control it any longer. Heero held her hand tightly, helping her out of the car and into the building. She was surprised that there were no reporters or paparazzi hanging around to see the new heir of the Darlian's.
Zechs must have seen her confused look, "We're entering through a different building. These two buildings are connected through the basement so we'll sneak in from there."
Once inside, she felt as if she was eight years old again. Everything looked just like it had back then. She couldn't help but smile, remembering her father and the confidence he would exude. This was his element and she couldn't disappoint him now.
Relena walked onto the stage the moment the mediator said her name, only he introduced her as Relena Peacecraft. Heero followed her out, standing beside her on the podium. He was clad in a stiff suit and she knew he had a gun tucked in the back of his pants. She felt safe with him near.
Next, the mediator announced her opponent, Treize Khushrenada. He was a tall man, confident just like Zechs. He had a condescending air about him and she knew he would try to demean anything she said. Once seeing him in person, she realized he wasn't as much of a threat as she had once worried about. She had dealt with men like him before, even in the financial world. As he stepped onto his podium, she noticed a woman stand beside him, acting as his bodyguard. This was strange, seeing a woman hover over such a large man. She was sneering at Relena from across the stage and Relena felt her blood boil. This woman was more frustrating than Treize.
Relena had to wonder who was going to be the bigger threat.
"You may lead, Ms. Peacecraft." Thee mediator said into his microphone. "What is your opinion of the war and its way of influencing the smaller lives of the world's people?"
"This war has become redundant. There is nothing left to prove other than two family holding grudges against each other for years now. This war needs to end immediately and send home all soldiers that have been subjected to this insignificant and irreverent war." She spoke slowly and calmly, wanting to sound convincing. "Two families have been feuding for years, decades really, trying to find out who is correct on how to rule the world. Eliminate all borders and let the people speak for what they want. Yes, there will be arguments, but that is nothing that communications cannot resolve. Fighting and weapons only bring fear and panic into this world. No one wants to walk around their city and fear of being attacked, not just by some petty criminal, but the fear of the war that is going on right now coming to their backyard. I say we discard all weapons, send the soldiers home and let peace reign over the entire world."
"Treize, now your rebuttal." The mediator said, looking down at his papers.
"Peace is not something you can attain by just words. You have to fight for it." Treize said confidently. He was nervous at all and acted as if he was sitting in his own home talking about the weather with his friends. "You say to discard weapons, but would that really bring peace? So many people rely on the safety of their weapons and the comforting thought that they can protect their families from their own home. Soldiers should stay where they are, fighting for what they believe in and help stop this violence. The war is much bigger than a feud. Essentially, it started off as such, but now it has transpired into something words cannot stop. Pretty words cannot stop the violence and the hatred that surges through our world. If we discard our weapons, we let ourselves become vulnerable to those petty criminals. Not everyone would abide by those rules. Not everyone would believe that peace can be attained through communication. Remove all borders? How would that help the world gain peace? Prejudice and racism knows no borders. This is something that is dealt with every day and has been for centuries. There is no quick fix for this war. I say, keep on fighting. Let the world fight for what they want so they can appreciate the peace that they will eventually achieve."
"Ms. Peacecraft?" The mediator said, still refusing to look up at the politicians.
"Violence will end violence? I can't see how that cycle would help create peace." She looked over to her side at Heero for a second, considering her words. "Yes, we should stop fighting and throw away the weapons. Communication is the strongest form of peace. There are some things that can be handed to people and not be taken for granted. There are some things that people need guidance with and I am more than willing to help the people of the world realize this. There is nothing wrong with talking things through before escalating into a war. You want peace, but you think peace can only come if you fight for it. You think the people of the world are ignorant and wouldn't appreciate peace and lack of weapons? People would rejoice that they no longer have to fear others."
"Peace is not something that can be handed to them." Treize retorted calmly.
"It certainly is. We have to show them how to do it. Give them examples and let them know that there is nothing wrong with talking this through." She was growing frustrated.
"Miss Peacecraft, your lack of experience is something we need to consider. Although you have grown up in a political home, this does not mean you have the worldly knowledge of war and the effects it has on people. There are people that will never reason and will always lean to violence to get a point across. If we stopped this war right this moment, the world would head straight into anarchy."
"How so, Mr. Khushrenada?" She had to bite her tongue.
"If you take away weapons, send people that have spent most of their lives fighting for what they have believed to be the right thing back to a life they never really had will result in emotions that would only bring more stress and confusions. People would act out, not knowing exactly how to handle these knew insecurities. All throughout history, we have seen just one or two people revolt, which has ended up in a war. A little bit of chaos is all it takes." He closed his eyes, tilting his head respectfully.
"Ms. Peacecraft, Mr. Kushrenada, this will be a short recess." The mediator interjected, standing up from his desk.
Relena sighed heavily, turning away from the microphone and stepped off of the podium. She glanced out at the audience quickly, seeing the height change her perspective entirely. Instantly, her eyes landed on the front row and there she saw the two people she had actually forgotten about since she agreed to become a Peacecraft again, Dorothy Catalonia and Quatre Rebabera Winner. Heero placed a hand on the small of her back leading her behind the stage. Panic blossomed in her chest. She clenched her hand, bringing to her chest to trying and sooth herself.
"You were great. Stop sweating it, Princess." Duo said, smiling brightly as he held a phone to his ear.
"Sister, you were wonderful. Keep talking about ending all borders. I think that threw Treize off for a minute." Zechs said, striding away from her quickly.
None of their words mattered to her. She was afraid and feeling beaten down. Treize was certainly a worthy adversary and now she had to worry about Dorothy attacking her while she stood under a spotlight.
"She's here." Relena said breathlessly to Heero.
"I know. She's Treize's cousin." Heero said nonchalantly.
"And you didn't think to tell me this?" She snapped.
"I didn't find it relevant." Heero shrugged.
She flipped her hair off of her shoulders, setting her firm gaze on him. "This woman attacked me and poisoned my mother. It will always be relevant to know when she will be around."
"You don't know it was her, Relena."
"I have a strong hunch. She's the only one that would have known I was related to Zechs and –" She was cut short suddenly as Heero's lips pressed against hers.
Two deaths, two jobs, my daughter has been sick for two weeks, and now I have to start preparing for shoulder surgery…..my life has been crazy. I've finally gotten back in the mood for Gundam Wing so I immediately started writing this chapter again. I had this chapter planned out for a while, but with everything going on, my mind wasn't in it. I'm sorry.