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When the Roses Weep
prologue

Relena looked down, the darkness concealing the tears that fell freely from her eyes. Her arms wrapped around her waist in an effort to soothe her own suffering, but still the crystalline tears feel to the ground silently. Standing in the courtyard, surrounded by rose bushes, the late night dew setting in upon their fragile blooms. Relena, wearing a midnight blue evening gown, wept and felt the whole world close in around her. Suffocating, heartless and cold. She wished that he was there to show her how to stay strong, to keep her hope when it was only a sooty ember.


The day before...

Heero listened to the recording again. Her weak voice whispering for help. Desperate to have someone to hold her up, he supposed. But it was serious, Relena's frightened message on his voice mail was startling. Something he'd never expected. Of course, he didn't return her call, but wore the tape down listening to her plead for something, someone to come save her. Heero felt his heart shatter when signs of her sobbing showed over the recording, feeling her very tears seep onto his own face. Sitting restlessly in the couch of his apartment, Heero did all he could to stay planted. To not rush off to earth and sweep her away without thinking. In an instant, he got up and left.


The present...

The roses seemed to look away as she fell to her knees there in the garden. Their beautiful faces cast down, the dew droplets mimicking the girl's tears of sorrow. Falling onto the soil as more came forth, Relena fought with herself to remain as quiet as possible. She bit her lips until blood came, and found herself sinking lower onto the ground. The wind blew through the garden, shaking the trembling leaves of the rose bushes, and brushing past the shivering form of a young woman. Relena closed her eyes hard, trying not to wail out in anguish, knowing the consequences of such an outburst. The party inside roved on without her, as she cried into the earth.


At the front...

Soon, he was taking the front steps two at a time. His breath hissed out in clouds as he approached the front door. When the guards wouldn't let him in, he went back down the steps and got out of their line of vision. The garden was just around on the other side of him, and he heard the foliage rustle. Tugging at his sleeves, he jogged to where the noise was coming from and jumped the wrought iron fence to topple into the bushes. Relena was just behind a wall of clinging ivy, and briefly, Heero could see her take something from within the folds of her skirt. Just as he walked around the wall, Relena was holding a long metal object, about three inches. A pin that had been holding the bodice of her dress to her incredibly thin waist.
His eyes slid together, as she positioned the pin over her heart, tears streaming over her sullen features. A pleading look washed over her face as she looked up, the moon casting its glazed glow upon her. Heero gasped and ran towards her, skidding to his knees before her, taking her hand and wrenching the pin free from her grasp. Stunned, she became silent as Heero pulled her to him. His arms snaked around her, his head burying into her shoulders. Relena allowed herself to sink into him, her salty tears dropping to his shirt.
No, no, no, Heero repeated, as Relena's entire body crumpled into his chest.
She sobbed, her fists balling into his shirt.
His strong arms pulled tightly about her. I'm so sorry, Relena.
As he cradled her trembling body, the doors leading inside to the party opened, sending a flood of golden light over the concrete before them. What in the... muttered Miliardo. Heero Yuy?
He looked at them, his sister weeping, Heero Yuy holding her. What's going on here? What have you done? Miliardo rushed over to his sister and glared down at Heero. If you've done anything to her...I swear I'll...
I didn't do anything to her, Heero glared back at Miliardo, holding Relena more securely.
Relena cried out, holding onto Heero for dear life. Miliardo crouched down and put his hand on her shoulder. She shrank away from him. Miliardo said. What's wrong with you?
Heero covered her as best he could with himself. Miliardo stood up angrily and turned his back to them. Heero whispered into her ear, trying to soothe her.
Miliardo started to walk back inside. Relena, I expect to hear an explanation tomorrow.
When her brother left them, Relena slowly let herself stop crying. She felt Heero's hands slide over her back in a comforting gesture, and moved her head to his ear. Heero...you got my message...?
He nodded.
You can't leave me, she said weakly. I don't think I can make it another day without you.
he pulled back to look her in the eyes. What happened to your strength? Where has all your confidence and will gone? You were so strong, Relena. What happened to you?
She closed her eyes her eyes for a moment, and when they opened again, she looked away from him. Heero, I... After she swallowed hard, she continued. I never told anyone.
His hands went to rub the salty tears lining her eyes away. Never told anyone what?
Relena put her hands over his, never making eye contact. That I was raped.
Heero's throat closed. His eyes grew angry, but slowly faded to sorrow as she started to cry again. She kept her head down, and Heero put his arms around her. Relena collapsed into his chest and wept. His fingers ran through her hair, cupping her neck as she whimpered and gasped for breath. His heart burned, an intense feeling of...something...welled up within him. Something hot as acid, and painful in his throat.

...and in the silence of the night, the roses wept their tears of evening dew...

To be continued...