+ + +
Queen Katerina Peacecraft was a hair's breadth away from throwing a fit.
"Mother, people have spoken of this for a good while," her daughter said softly, leaning against the marble wall. "It should come as no surprise."
Relena's words were undermined by the sempiternal lisp no speech trainer could eliminate. The 52-year-old Katerina gave her a fretful look. "I never regretted bringing her into our home when her parents … had problems. She was your brother's friend; kept him down to earth. But this-"
"Isn't cute anymore?" she offered. Her eyes lit up in amusement. "To him it is."
"Relena!" Katerina stopped to catch her breath. The doctor told me I shouldn't have problems breathing … "This is no laughing matter. It could destroy new diplomatic relations, and she-"
"Isn't good enough for him," Relena mused. The little child who knew too much, am I? "What a lovely little scandal my brother has set up. Lovers with the captain." She laughed. The sound disconcerted Katerina.
"Enough of that. Go finish your schoolwork."
"But, Mother," she protested. "I wanted to see Milliardo."
Katerina hesitated. "I don't suppose it would hurt. Very well, you can go out and meet him when they arrive."
Relena smiled happily. "Thank you."
+ + +
"Banana," Relena called to the aide. She watched him flinch in sheer sadistic mirth at the nickname.
"Yes, Princess Relena?" he answered without turning.
"Why did my mother know about the rumors?" she asked, stepping around to face him.
"Rumors … travel, my princess," he responded nervously. "No one can control them."
"Control what?" a new voice asked.
"Milliardo!" Relena said, pleased. She ignored Noin. "You're back."
"Yes, it's nice to be back," Milliardo agreed. The captain's eyes were downcast, and Relena was upset when she realized Noin would take her brother somewhere else soon.
"Milliardo," she said quietly, as expected, "I have to speak to you." Maybe I can make my brother leave her for a while.
"But, brother," Relena complained, "I wanted to read those books you gave me together. Can you please come with me?" She watched him pause, and silently hoped he would choose her over Noin. Those rumors weren't too farfetched …
"Relena …" he started, bending down so he was at her eye level. "I'm sorry, but this is more important."
"It's always more important," she nearly whined.
"Well," Milliardo hesitated, "this really is more important. But I promise I'll come see you later, okay?"
I'm glad I did it, then.
"Okay," Relena acquiesced reluctantly. Noin nodded briefly to him, and Relena focused on the floor. She's probably happy he chose her over me, the princess thought sullenly. They're damned Siamese twins.
+ + +
Noin felt guilty as she walked away with Milliardo in step with her. She didn't like having to disappoint Relena either, but as her companion had said, this really was more important.
"Noin …" Milliardo looked nearly forlorn as he spoke; halted and turned to look at her. They were a few steps away from an exit into the garden. "Do you want to leave?"
"What?" she asked, startled.
"Do you want to leave here, Cinq, and … me?"
Noin was shocked into a confused silence.
"You do, don't you?"
"No, no-" She blinked and stared. "No, I don't. Cinq is home. I could never leave here."
He sighed in relief. "I'm glad. But … with all this, it occurred to me that you could."
"I never could." She frowned, perturbed as they resumed walking. The abrupt sunlight temporarily blinded her; to keep her balance she held onto Milliardo's arm. Her eyesight returned and the floating spots left, but she didn't let go. "I still don't regret my decision to take that gun. I don't think I could ever regret that either."
"Why did you do it?"
"Because I'm supposed to protect you. I thought … I thought it would help. That's what Treize told me. And he was right."
"Are you saying pacifism is wrong?" He was incredulous, to the point he appeared to think she was ridiculous.
"I - I don't know," Noin responded honestly. "I don't know." Milliardo shook his head. He was tired of arguing.
"Prince Milliardo! Captain Noin!" a hoarse voice called.
"It's the flower vendor," she observed, confused. The palace gardens were open to the populace; it was more of a city park than anything. Everyone respected it and did their part to keep it in its pristine state.
The woman stopped, panting, in front of them. Noin reflexively reached out to help her, only to be waved away.
"Madam, may I ask what your business is?" Milliardo queried helplessly.
"Oh, it's just me being a silly fool." The crone smiled, shaking her head. "You still have that flower? Here, give it." He obeyed, even more baffled. "There!" She threw it away, revealing a white rose, the same as all the others. "I truly hope you can both forgive me, it was none of my business to listen to those foolish rumors." The flower vendor bowed respectfully.
"What rumors?" Noin was relieved, but still baffled. "I assumed everyone was angry because we left for Austria …"
"Oh, poor girl." She sighed, clicking her tongue. "And those fool, fool people … you haven't heard what started?"
"We haven't heard much of anything," Milliardo attempted to explain, "as … there have been more important things to handle."
"Yes, of course." She nodded vehemently. "I suppose I should explain - there have been rumors about you two - about you two, if you understand. But it really isn't my business."
"This isn't our day," Noin whispered to him, slightly upset at the new information. "Thank you, Madam. Your apology means much to us."
"Oh, the least I could do, dearie." The flower-vendor smiled and bowed again, starting to leave. "Good day, Prince; Captain. I'll wait for when next you pass!"
+ + +
"You're saying it's never occurred to you?" Milliardo asked.
"No!" Noin exclaimed. They were back inside, on the second-floor wraparound. "They're ridiculous rumors; if we even remotely confirm them, it could ruin everything!"
"Since when have you cared about Cinq's diplomatic relations?" he demanded quietly. She stared at him as if slapped, as if by he who had never once raised a hand or voice at her. The comment stung.
"I've always cared."
Milliardo was startled to see her that hurt at the unthinking comment. "Noin, I'm sorry; I didn't mean to-"
"No. But you did." She crossed her arms and looked away. "Is that what you think of me? Because of what I did, even after all this time?"
"I-" he hesitated. "Because of that …"
"Because of that," she sighed. "I still don't regret it. But I hate that it matters, hate that this has to be mixed up with those damned rumors."
"They have to matter. They're Cinq's ideals. I don't like that our personal lives have to matter either, but-"
"I know about ideals; I'm just starting … not to see their practicality. As well, our lives have to matter because they're not personal, not anymore."
"What if part of the rumors were true?"
Noin glanced up, confused. "We know they aren't anywhere near true. We aren't sleeping together."
"No, we're not." Milliardo looked at her almost patiently.
"You're serious." Her expression bordered on amusement as she expectantly watched her best friend. His sentence didn't need to be completed; Noin understood its meaning without it. The mirth evaporated from her face as quickly as it came. "My God, you're serious."
He looked sad - to her, an expression worse than when he had been angry and arguing.
"I would think," he murmured, "that you would know me well enough by now."
+ + +
Have I sufficiently convinced you all that I'm a nutcase? Well, tell me.