Reflections of Beauty
By Obsolete Love
Chapter 3
Shanah wavered just outside of Quatre's door, with a cup of tea in her hands… Not that she's afraid he'd do something but the hint of stress, tension, and pressure was so strong that it was suffocating… Not only that, but his gentle grace had started to show hints of suppressed anger… although, he was covering that up quite nicely.
"Quatre?"
"Yes."
Shanah bit her lower lip at the curt answer she received… Ah well, time to enter the lion's den… "I brought you some tea… it might relax you a bit."
His once lively and clear aquamarine eyes held a dull tinge to them as he looked at her and smiled his tired smile. "Thanks."
Shanah placed the mug on his desk and stood in front of him hesitantly… She would like to stay and help… but he's not asking for help… he's putting his entire burden on his shoulders and tackling everything by himself. Lack of sleep and strain showed not only through his physical outlook but also through his words in the drafts she received. It had become a lot less understandable.
"Are your things ready for the flight?"
Shanah nodded. "Ready and waiting."
"Good."
She saw, for a moment, a relaxation around his tense face while he breathed in the tea's aroma.
"Quatre, the Terran formation in the Outer Belt does need financial backups but should that extend to so much worry and burden on you?"
For the first time of what seemed like weeks, Quatre felt a real smile come over his face at the concern that dripped from her words. "Thanks, Shanah, but they don't only need financial backup. Besides, worry and burden are a part of business."
Shanah sighed. "Not to the extent that you're pushing yourself."
Quatre felt slightly defensive. Why is it that he suddenly felt the need to explain himself? "I only need to finish this last project."
"That project and a couple of others." Shanah muttered under her breath then shrugged and walked out of the room.
Quatre pressed his lips tightly together while he stared at his closed door. 'What is up with everyone? It's not as if I've done something wrong… When I finish this, there's a chance that 75% of the deprived population in the colonies might be able to get decent jobs and homes…'
He returned his gaze to the last sheet of paper he was reviewing and to his disgust, saw the lines start to become alive once again… A queasy feeling swept through Quatre and he quickly glanced out to check upon the artificial lighting of the colony… He glanced down at his watch and tried to focus on the numbers before he gave up…
A stream of maledict rushed out of his lips. 'Why the hell do I have this anyway?'
He tried, once again, to focus on the paper only to throw it away with a grimace. 'I'm just happy it's not starting to show up in my handwriting…'
Quatre started remembering Laddi's scolding voice about getting enough rest before thrusting a bunch of paper under his nose that showed the evidence of his stress.
Well… at least Laddi kept her word to shred all of them afterward and to keep his problem a secret. He didn't want anyone to know…
He glanced at the mug on his desk and saw that it was empty. 'Guess I better get some more… Damn papers…'
~*~
Shanah rubbed her temple while she tried to get the right word for what Quatre meant in the sentence. The handwriting was hard to understand not to mention that she's pretty sure Quatre knew each word he would like to appear on the draft. But how in the world could she understand a Martian language?!
Fine… So, for a couple of days, everything went on smoothly and then stuff started zooming into the office that added a new layer of stress on poor Quatre…
Okay, so she has yet to tell him what she knows… so she hadn't complained to him about the byproducts of his stressed out condition, he's got enough to worry about now…
'But God! His handwriting is getting harder and harder to decipher!'
"Shanah?"
At the sound of that soft baritone, Shanah nearly fell off her seat in surprise. She tried to sit up straight and at the same time cover Quatre's drafts- and her own translations without appearing guilty.
Guilty emerald eyes met Quatre's own and he frowned in confusion as he noticed her futile attempt to hide the papers on her desk. "What are you doing?"
Shanah shook her head. "N-nothing… Nothing! Just… just typing out your memos…" Her voice trailed off when Quatre walked to her desk and gently pulled her hands away from the papers…
Shanah flinched as she saw- for the very first time- Quatre's soft eyes harden into something akin to steel… Somehow, she knew that he'd be mad once he found out what she had been doing…
He turned to her, the translations in his hand. "Since when have you started doing this?"
She opted to be funny. "Uhm… about thirty minutes ago."
Quatre's eyes slanted. "You know what I mean. I'm not stupid."
Shanah frowned. "I didn't say that you were."
"You hinted on it!"
Shanah's jaw dropped. "I did not!"
"And now you're telling me that I'm hearing things?!" Quatre turned away from Shanah, walked into his office and then slammed his door shut.
She closed her eyes, her hands in fists… 'It's the stress talking… it's the stress talking… it's the stress… Ah to hell with it! He's not the only one who's stressed!' Before she could stop herself, Shanah barged into Quatre's office and met his glare with one of her own.
"You know what's wrong with you?! You tackle war, world peace, poverty and whatever else I can't think of right now but you can't handle your own problems!!! Just accept it! YOU'RE DYSLEXIC!!! What's so wrong about that?! It's going to come out whether you like it or not!!! SO JUST GROW UP!!!"
Shanah saw fire erupt into an uncontrollable blaze in his eyes but before he could say anything, she quickly walked out of his office and slammed the door as hard as she could then she grabbed her coat and bag and walked out of her office.
A stream of curses that Quatre had forced himself never to utter came out of his mouth, but his words fell only on his thick wooden door…
He's so angry that he could… he could…
SNAP!
Quatre looked at the pencil in his hands, broken into two, and muttered another set of expletives just as Rashid came into the room.
"Rashid! We're going to the Box." Quatre barked out as he grabbed his coat and headed out the door.
Rashid stared at Quatre, his jaw about to touch the floor. Quatre was rarely angry, the times that he was… even rarer! So rare that… he's not used to it!!!
"RASHID!"
His angry tone came from the outer office and Rashid's feet quickly scooted his body after Quatre.
One look at the usually placid Master and he knew better than to ask what happened… Whoever said: 'It's the silent ones you should look out for' was so correct. And Quatre had been silent for far too long…
~*~
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
With every ear numbing sound, the Maganacs from behind flinched as they saw each bullet hit the very center of the target. Those who teased Master Quatre about being able to hit nil all hid behind the others who didn't inside their hangout- the Box.
CLICK!
Another set of bullets flew out in rage from the small semi-automatic R120.
Whoever got their master mad was definitely going down… not only because of his aim, but also because of his loyal servants!
Rashid turned and noticed the men cowering by the sidelines. One significant glance in Quatre's direction then at them and they started scooting out of the range to leave the two alone… Master Quatre's rage plus Rashid's own temper wasn't a good mix…
"You know, Rashid," Quatre inserted a new set of ammunition in the rifle, his glance still zeroed straight at the target. "There was a time in my life when I never understood why Heero loved to let out his rage with guns-"
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Rashid sighed. "Master Quatre, what's upset you?"
That seemed to snap him out of his focus as he turned to Rashid with gun in hand. The semi automatic started bobbing up and down as if to accentuate his point while he talked. "And then she called me stupid! Stupid!"
Rashid's eyes followed the gun up and down while sweat started to form on his forehead. "Really, sir? I never thought that Ms. Winter would ever say something like that about you."
Quatre turned away from Rashid as he started to pour some more bullets out of his gun. "Well… she did!"
"Did she say it?" Rashid asked, bartering his life at that moment just to get through to Quatre.
Quatre pouted, his right eye slanted and then he pulled the trigger. "She hinted on it."
Rashid allowed the young man to vent out his frustration some more before he spoke. "Quatre, this is not like you."
His stern voice penetrated through Quatre's anger-fazed mind… That same stern voice who had been his guide when he was younger… that same stern voice who had taught him to push himself to his best… the same voice who had patiently taught him his lessons when he could not understand… More of a father than his real father had ever been…
No… He was not acting like himself…
Quatre let out a sigh and dropped the gun on the wood in front of him. "Sorry, Rashid…" He leaned on the wood while he remembered all those nights when he would force himself to study and be the best even if it hurt…
'You're dyslexic! What's so wrong about that?!'
Quatre shook his head as long ago insecurities came back to him…
'Idiot.'
'Stupid.'
'No brains.'
Quatre cringed as he remembered those slicing words he was called by children his age… 'You're wrong, Shanah… There is something wrong with that…'
"Excuse me Rashid, I think I need to get some rest."
The hallow voice echoed throughout the deserted hangout and Rashid could only watch as Quatre walked out of the room…
~*~
"Maybe she's not there."
Rashid glanced at a gloomy looking Quatre. Those were the first words Quatre's uttered since he'd picked the boy up from his house. Well… there's no question which person he meant by 'she'.
Rashid's eyes darted forward, through the restricted zone they were walking too… hmm… "Too bad, Quatre… She's there."
Quatre's head snapped up and for a moment, Rashid saw sadness but it was quickly replaced by anger… Ms. Winter herself is the very statue of stone cold iciness… Rashid saw Shanah flash them a look from a distance but when he and Quatre reached her, she started looking everywhere else except at Quatre's direction… Just like Quatre…
Not only that, but he found himself walking right in the middle of the two! 'Gah! These two are acting like children! Well… it's better that than having them fight each other…'
~*~
4 Hours Later:
'Allah! I can't stand this!!!' Rashid mentally cried out while he squirmed in his seat… Alright, so maybe he did wish that there wouldn't be a fight… but the eerie silence inside the shuttle was slowly killing him!!! Truth be known, he'd give anything for those two to say something!!! But no… They just wanted to stay as far away from each other as possible by sitting on the very first and the other on the very last row of seats.
'Breathe… only 5 more hours to go… Just five more hours, Rashid… Calm… Try to be calm…'
~*~
5 Hours and 30 minutes later:
"Are you sure, Master Quatre?" Rashid asked hesitantly while they walked to the counter.
Quatre nodded curtly. "Go on and visit your cousin, Rashid… I'll take care of it."
'I trust him… I trust him… I trust him not to just leave Shanah in an unknown place. He will help her through the hotel…' Rashid nodded. "I trust you."
Quatre frowned at the unusual response but before he could question Rashid, the older man was out the door.
'Freedom! Those two will be the death of me!!!'
~*~
Quatre barely gave Shanah a glance while he waited for the clerk to finish his business with the customer in front of them.
"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting, sir… Have you reserved a room?"
"The Terran Council had reserved rooms for both myself and my assistant. Winner and Winter."
The man glanced at his computer, nodded with a smile, grabbed a key card and then passed it on to Quatre. "Suite #34, sire. Enjoy your stay."
Quatre stared at the single key card on the palm of his hand. "Excuse me but there are two names."
The man gave him a confused look and Quatre, not in the mood, glared at him, burning the man's name in his brain. "Ronald, you only gave me one room. I suppose this card is for Mr. Quatre Winner?"
The man nodded as he stared at his computer once again.
Quatre smiled tightly. "Where is Ms. Shanah Winter's keycard?"
Shanah bristled at the emphasis Quatre gave on her last name. Is he implying that-
"Shanah Winter, sir?"
"Yes." The word was able to get out through Quatre's gritted teeth.
Utter confusion showed on the man's face. "Sir, there's no reservation for that name. There is one for a Shanah Winner, though."
Shanah started to gag and cough incredulously.
Quatre pressed his lips together. "Fine, they must have misspelled it, give me her keycard." He's starting to lose his patience… Fast…
The man gulped, clearly embarrassed. "Sir, you are holding the keycard."
Quatre's eyes slanted, demanding an explanation. "What do you mean?"
"Uhm… the… the room is for both Quatre and Shannah Winner… sir…"
"WHAT?!" Two enraged faces leaned over the counter while they shouted their disbelief.
"I… I suppose…" The man had the decency to blush and tug at his collar, "Someone didn't hear the order correctly and presumed-"
"I AM NOT SLEEPING IN THE SAME ROOM WITH HIM!" Shanah yelled out, unable to stop the words that slipped from her lips while she glared at Quatre. At that moment, she didn't care that he's her employer.
Quatre gave Shanah a scowl. "Well, I am not sleeping in the same room with you!"
The two glared at each other. Sparks flew until Quatre turned to Ronald once again. "IS there another room?" Quatre's dangerously low voice cut through the man like a very sharp shredder.
"No sir… There are three conferences in the Terra this week… This hotel is booked." He saw the blonde haired man's hands clench into tight fists…
"Uh, sir, ma'am if I could make a suggestion…" His voice faltered as two blazing pair of eyes raked through him once again. "The… the suite has a connected sitting room. One person can sleep in there, the other in the bedroom… The staff could bring a bed up there."
Quatre knew that it was the only logical thing to do… Especially since he might need to call Shanah for various notes.
Shanah felt a sinking feeling at the pit of her stomach… It was the only way… As the personal assistant, she needed to be able to get to him when he called for her… and there WAS no more available room…
"I don't have to like it, but it's the only way." Shanah complied with the man's suggestion.
Quatre nodded. "As soon as a room is available, notify us."
"Yes sir… as soon as possible sir." Ronald signaled for a courtier to bring the bags to the guests' room and literally breathed out a sigh of relief as soon as the two were out of sight.
~*~
As soon as the courtier closed the door, Quatre and Shannah looked around the room and then faced each other.
"I'll take the sitting room." Quatre said in a voice that left no room for an argument.
"Oh no! I'm the one who's going to get the sitting room." Shanah countered, instantly grabbed her bags and started for the adjoining room. She's not about to let him try to make her feel guilty for taking the soft bed!
"Fine! Take it." Quatre barked out.
"Fine!" Shanah countered before the door slammed behind her.
'1…2…3…4…5…6… Aaaaarrrggghhh!!!' Quatre stomped off to the other door and slammed it behind him. Thank Allah that the meeting wouldn't start until tomorrow morning!!! If he went in there in this state, he'd create a blasted commotion!
~*~
0800 Hours
The Next Day
Terran Frontier; Asteroid Belt starting colony 861
He thought he had his control back in place, but the moment he saw her emerge from the sitting room into the small strip of living room, his anger came out once again. And with that glare she gave him that morning, he knew she felt the same way.
'Where's Rashid? Where's that darn car?'
Shanah looked away from Quatre to the metal dome above her… She needed to keep her anger in check… 'Dang him…' She saw a white limousine rounding off a corner and muttered a silent prayer of thanks. Maybe if she's around other people, it'd help her ease her anger… or cover it at most!
'Finally! Now where's Ra-' Quatre didn't finish his sentence as he saw Rashid's figure cross the street. He didn't wait for his friend and started to walk towards the now parked limo. "Let's go."
"Don't have to tell me twice." Shanah sarcastically muttered under her breath.
Quatre gave her a look that was meant to shut her up but she just gave him an ultra sweet 'make-me' smile then glanced away and trained her eyes to the street in front of her while Quatre focused his eyes on the white limo.
Shanah frowned as she saw a speeding car… No… three heavily tinted black cars, windows down and… with the overhead lights of the colony making something glint…
"Oh my God! Quatre!" Shanah didn't think as she pushed Quatre down on the sidewalk.
"What the-"
His voice was drowned through the hail of bullets.
'MGR 8 model 3.' Quatre's quick mind registered as he twisted, looped an arm around a closed-eyed Shanah and forced their bodies away from the limo, onto the patch of grass.
The hail of bullets didn't stop, and Quatre could hear a single R-65 not in sync with the beat- 'Rashid…'
Quatre glanced up and saw the whole limo full of holes-
"Shanah don't look!" Quatre quickly covered her body while his hands went to the back of his neck and head.
A loud blast reverberated throughout the street and with it, he could hear faint yells of victory…
He looked up once again to survey the damage around him and to make sure he could catch a glimpse of the cause. The whole limo was a burning furnace and all around them were bits and pieces of it… shards of glass jutted out of the ground just a reach away from Quatre and Shanah…
The sound of a single oncoming engine caught Quatre's attention. He didn't have long to wait as he saw a motorcycle come into view. 'Damn! If that's a civilian…'
"What's happening?" Shanah's hoarse voice was faint against the sound of the raging inferno…
But Quatre didn't answer, his eyes focusing upon the black figure on the dark blue motorcycle going straight at the three heavily tinted cars…
The deafening sounds of the M8's rattled through the air once again, but this time, the hail of bullets were focused on the individual…
Quatre's eyes widened as he saw the helmeted man bring his hand out of his jacket with three familiar-
"Shanah run!" Quatre instantly pulled Shanah to a stand and started tugging her out of harms way, the knowledge of the area of spread those three explosives could cover-
Quatre suddenly felt the extreme heat from behind him. The force of the blast propelled him forward and then he felt the sudden pain as he landed flat on his chest.
He gasped. His ears were ringing and his whole body felt burnt. He moved his hand, still gripping Shanah's own…
Quatre shook his head, willed himself not to pass out while he tried to get up. "Shanah?" His voice sounded vague and hoarse… He blinked for a couple of seconds to take out the multitude of stars that had invaded his vision and then followed the limp hand from his own.
Fear gripped his chest as he saw her bleeding head and lifeless body sprawled at the base of a tree. "Shanah…" He instantly moved to her, hesitated for only a moment whether or not to move her before he gave up to his mind's clamor and moved her body into his arms. He forgot about everything around him…
His cold hands patted her cheek. "Shanah, come on, open your eyes…" Quatre's breath started to come in rapidly when she didn't move, her skin so pale…
"Shanah, come on! Dammit, wake up!" She had pushed him down and saved his life… why wasn't he able to do the same for her?
"Quatre?"
Quatre's head jerked up as he heard a muffled voice call his name.
"Master Quatre!!!" Rashid's voice came from his left, but Quatre didn't leave his gaze off the man who rode the motorcycle just a few minutes ago.
"Who are you?" How did you know my name?
The man walked to Quatre and Shanah while he unlocked his helmet, leaned down and reached out for Shanah.
For a moment, Quatre felt the want to punch the man, but even through his fear filled mind, he could feel that he knew this man… that he's a friend… From the corner of his eyes, he saw Rashid reach them and aim his gun at the man.
Quatre instantly gave the signal not to shoot.
The man touched Shanah's throat, and then lightly went down her body. He tilted her gently to her side to check her spine. "She's okay… I don't think she's in a coma, no sign of broken bones, but x-rays just in case… The blast just knocked her unconscious."
Quatre's fear slowly ebbed, and his hand involuntarily tightened its grip upon Shanah. His attention focused on the man who was trying to get the helmet off and finally succeeded.
Quatre's eyes widened. "Heero?!"
Heero nodded as he swept his hand through his ruffled hair. "Sorry about the trouble. Clean up crew will be down here in a few minutes."
"What the hell is going on here?!" Rashid blurted out, angry that his Master nearly got killed.
Heero turned to Rashid and nodded his greeting. "Small band of rebels used to be called Jargon. Had enough armament and ammo to blast this whole Terra from the inside."
"Used?" Quatre asked just to be sure.
Heero nodded and motioned to the burning cars. "They're the last." He glanced at Quatre and saw the question. "I tried to talk to them but they ignored the Preventer's warnings and still went through with what they planned."
Quatre nodded and turned his gaze to the burning limo. "Who was their target?"
At that question, Heero's gaze darkened with anger. "Relena."
Quatre blinked. "Relena? But she's not even here!" He saw Heero frown for a second before giving him a look.
"Didn't you read Une's memo for you?"
"What me-" Quatre stopped. He remembered a time when Rashid told him that Lady Une had sent him a letter… He could remember saying that he'll read it later but… later became never…
"I can see that you didn't." Heero turned away. "Relena's shuttle is to port in an hour."
"But…" Something's not right. "Even a small band of rebels wouldn't just waste M8 bullets on a limousine…"
"Let's just say that Relena's flight got delayed…"
Quatre's eyebrow shot up. That could only mean… "You didn't…"
~*~
One Hour and 15 Minutes Away from Terran Frontier:
"HOW MUCH LONGER?!"
The mech cringed at the barked question and turned to look at the red faced Chinese man in charge of Miss Relena Peacecraft.
"Just about 15 more minutes, sir."
"HURRY UP!!!"
"Wufei, please calm down." Relena's voice washed over the two men like cold water.
Wufei glanced up and glared at her but Relena didn't flinch… She's used to those glares anyway.
"He's trying his best. An hour delay isn't that bad."
A stream of Chinese curses flowed out of Wufei's lips as he stomped out of the engine room and into the main passage.
Relena gave an apologetic smile to the man, her clear blue green eyes showed the same message. "Sorry about that."
"It's alright, Ms. Peacecraft. We'll get you to TF."
"Of course." Relena replied before she walked out of the room to face a scowling Wufei.
"What's wrong? Why are you so nervous?" Relena leaned toward Wufei… She knew for a fact that he'd probably not tell her anything, but it didn't hurt to try to talk to him.
"Nothing." Wufei growled out before turning away from Relena. 'If Yuy ever finds out about this… But I checked the whole shuttle before it left!!! Damn!!!'
Relena gave a shrug then relaxed back in her seat. One of them needed to keep a cool head about everything anyway.
~*~
Back on Terran Grounds:
Quatre stopped shaking his head. "No… knowing you, you did."
Heero just shrugged. "Don't worry about Une, I'll give my report. As for the letter, it was asking you to help Wufei with Relena." He started walking away.
"Heero?"
He stopped, his back still facing Quatre.
"Do you want me to say 'Hi' to Relena for you?" Quatre felt a moment's indecision from him before he walked away.
"No."
Quatre bit his lower lip… He could feel that though Heero had said 'No' he had meant 'Yes' … so…
The sound of the motorcycle revving up and then zooming off made Quatre shrug. He looked down at the woman in his arms and instantly scooped her in an embrace.
"Call the doctors. Room #34 and tell the Council that I will not be attending today's meeting. Send the Agenda and Minutes to my suite ASAP."
"Yes, Master Quatre."
Quatre stopped and turned around. "And Rashid…"
Rashid nodded as he waited for whatever else Quatre wanted to say.
Quatre smiled softly… sincerely. "Thank you."
Rashid grinned… He knew what Quatre had meant… He watched as Quatre walked up the stairs, through the gaping crowd of workers and hurried on along with his duties…
AN: I'm sure some of you weren't expecting what happened *points up* If so... GREAT! ^_~ Thanks for all who've written me a review! I couldn't email eveyone because your emails were private, or no links, but I wanted to say thanks!
