Shattered Wings
~*~
Heero woke up the next morning at exactly 5:30 a.m. He didn't have to set an alarm; his body just seemed to wake every day at the same time. Opening his eyes, then rolling over to stare at the ceiling he remember what today meant. Today he was getting his assignment. He really didn't know how to feel about it. Like Hilde had said yesterday, he'd been running away from this problem for three years and he still didn't know how he felt.
Not wanting to linger on his thoughts, Heero through the sheets back and walked into the bathroom, preparing himself for the day.
Driving to the Preventors building in the area and listening to the news on the radio didn't divert Heero's sharp mind to wonder again. Yesterday Hilde had so understood. Not once did he detect sympathy in her eyes. She didn't think he was weak, like he thought he was.
Pulling into the parking lot and parking Heero turned off his car and sat there, breathing deeply, trying to gather himself. Then, remembering everything he had been taught, the Heero Yuy that everyone knew, with the piercing blue eyes and mask of indifference, was back into place.
~*~
The first thing Hilde noticed as she walked down the 4th floor halls was that every person there was nervous. Hilde smiled to herself as she passed a young Preventor fidgeting with his uniform. The news that Lady Une had arrived had everyone trying there best to impress. To Hilde, it was hilarious. They didn't even have the chance to meet Treize. Now that was a man that would make her nervous.
"Excuse me? Miss?"
Hilde stopped and looked at the young blonde in uniform guarding the closed door.
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry but no one's aloud beyond this point without proper identification."
"Oh. Sorry." Hilde said sheepishly. She had been daydreaming not really paying attention. Actually she'd been doing that a lot lately. "Um, here's my clearance card."
Checking the ID and swiping her card the guard returned it back to her and smiled. "Your all clear Miss."
"Thank you."
Continuing on her walk Hilde began to feel nervous, just like when Heero came over to her house. Stopping at the conference room door she was instructed to go to Hilde stopped. She didn't know if she could do this. Entering this room meant that she had to face Duo and Relena. Walking through the door in front of her meant that she would be accepting probably the hardest assignment in her life.
"Come on Hilde. You're not a 15 anymore. You're a woman now, and it's your time to prove it to everyone."
Squaring her shoulders and saying a silent pray Hilde grasped the doorknob and opened the door.
~*~
Heero and Lady Une had just sat down when Hilde entered the room. He thought that she would look nervous, like she did yesterday, but instead she looked determined. 'Good.' Thought Heero. He knew she had strength and she was going to need it.
"I'm sorry I'm a little late Lady Une."
"Don't worry about it Hilde."
Lady Une, who was still as posed and proper as normal watched the two adults in front of her. She had chosen them specifically for this mission. She personally believed that if one of her Preventors were personally attached to the mission, they would become sloppy, emotional. But these two were different. Treize had taught her that. He saw the potential in Heero, and she had seen the amazing work Hilde could do. Now, this was their test.
"Let's get to business." Lady said, breaking the silence. "I'm sure Heero has informed you Hilde on some of the current situation. Let me fill you in on the rest." Standing from her chair, Lady Une walked over to the wall window and stared out. "A terrorist group has been attacking and harassing government official. They have killed two colonial representatives from Colony L1853 and one from Colony L4729. We know it's the same group because of clues left behind. Because of are inability to find this group I sent Trowa Barton and his partner Midii Une in to try and find some information. As of this moment, they are still in constant contact with the group themselves. Their information has proved to us that the group's main target is the Vice-Foreign Minister. We also know that they have backing, meaning someone very rich is paying them. The only other information I can give you two is being decoded as we speak. Trowa and Midii can't send that much information without being caught. From what we understand this group knows what they're doing but once the information is decoded we'll send it to you on a secure line."
Turning to face the two Lady Une walked and sat back down before continuing. "I want you two to report to the Sank Kingdom immediately. There will be a flight leaving at 2100 hours tonight, meaning you should arrive there at 1500 in the afternoon. Milliardo and Lucrezia Peacecraft will be expecting you at the airport. You will stay with them in the Peacecraft mansion. Your assignment is relatively easy. Hilde, you and Heero are friends of the Vice-Foreign Minister and are there on a long visit. You will use your regular name and act like normal, at the same time you will be protecting the Minister and watching. We know they will go for her. We'd also like you to try and find out whose backing this group. That's vital information. We have a feeling this person is in the United Earth Sphere government and isn't to pleased with Relena. There's nothing really more for me to say. Trowa and Midii could possible show up with the group and you are NOT to initiate conversation with them for obvious reasons. I trust you two to know what I'm asking. I also know that this is a difficult assignment but I believe in you. You are dismissed."
~*~
Walking out of the building together Hilde remanded confidant. She was a soldier. She had been trained like any one else. Of course the Gundam pilots were special but she also had dealt with the trials of war.
"Do you have a firearm?"
"Yes. I have my own at home. I only have one though so if you wouldn't mind, could I borrow a 9mm?"
"Sure."
Heero was making a categorized list of everything that he was going to need. Clothes, duh, his laptop, firearms, ammunition, his own personal security system which he would set up once he reported to the Peacecraft mansion. Everything would need to be in order.
"Heero?"
"Hm?"
"I'm going to go home and pack, get everything ready. How about we just meet at the airport about 8:00?"
"That's fine." Stopping he turned and looked at Hilde. "Is there anything else you need?"
"No. I think I'm fine. I'm going to make a run to Joe's though, just in case. He's got all sort of stuff. Anyway, I'll see you then." Hilde then turned toward her car and left. At the moment she wanted so desperately to talk to Heero. She was still confident that she would carry out her mission with success but she was still insecure about seeing Duo and Relena again. Not wanting Heero to think she was weak though she let it go. She also knew that Heero wasn't like most people. Men rarely liked to talk about their feelings in the first place, but Heero rarely talked altogether. 'Oh well.' Hilde thought. 'I'll just suck it up I guess.'
~*~
The ride from Okinawa to the Sank Kingdom took about 8 hours. The shuttle was commercial and fine. Hilde and Heero both worked on their laptops during the ride, collaborating their information and setting up their systems for the work. Afterwards Hilde pulled out a book from her carry-on bag.
"What are you reading?"
"Oh." Hilde said as she blushed. "It's a historical romance novel. I know that most people think they're cheesy but I enjoy them. Do you read?"
"Sometimes."
"What?"
"Um, mostly history books." Heero replied.
"You enjoy history?" Asked Hilde, a little taken back that Heero read.
"Yes. I enjoy learning and history can tell you many things."
"I agree totally. I've actually been thinking about going to college. I really don't know what I want to do. I'm a great mechanic and can fix any computer but I don't want to spend my whole life as a Preventor back up and mechanic. Not that I don't love to take things apart and fix them but I want more out of life. Maybe I could even adopt a kid."
"Why adopt?" Heero asked looking at her.
"I… I want kids. Of my own I mean but I don't know if I could even find someone that would except me. I know I'm desirable, that's not what I meant, it's just, something. Something's always missing. I haven't found it yet and I know it's a bit pessimistic but I don't think I ever will. I guess I have high expectations. My mother told me before she died that I should marry the man who could read my thoughts, who could take me dancing in the stars, who would read to me while I'm pregnant, but most of all, I should marry the man who knows me inside and out and believed in me and our love. She said that when she meet my dad she just knew. Must be nice." Hilde finished. She wasn't staring out the window or at Heero, just sitting there, staring off into space, and recalling her thoughts.
"Why'd your mother die?" Heero asked. He was curious. She spoke with so much love when she mentioned her mother. He kind of wished he could remember more of his mom.
"She had complication after birthing my little brother. When Christian died because of heart failure, my mother thought it was her fault. She never showed her depression to me but I could tell something was off. Through the years she just started to get weaker and weaker until she finally was bedridden. I was 10 when she died. It didn't hurt that much because she told right before she died that she wasn't afraid. She said that she was sorry that she wouldn't there in person but that she would always look out for me. They say she died because of ovarian cancer but I think it was just her time to go. My dad never got over her death though. He withdrew into himself for a long time. I became a typical anger teenager until OZ came. I wanted to see the world so I joined up."
"Is your father still alive?"
"Yeah. He's on a side colony. He loves it where he is and I visit him occasionally." Stopping, Hilde turned to look at Heero. "What about you Heero? Do you remember your mother? Father?"
"Hn."
Seeing the look on his face Hilde knew she'd gone to far. "I'm sorry. You can tell me if you'd like because I'd love to hear about them but I'm not forcing you." Hilde smiled at his face and reached down to squeeze his hand. Then, settling into her chair she began to read.
~*~
"Ladies and Gentlemen, we have just arrived to the Sank Kingdom. I hope you enjoyed your flight."
With their carry on baggage on their shoulder, Heero and Hilde walked down the ramp together. The butterflies were so strong now that Hilde, with out thinking, reached for Heero's hand and squeezed. When she realized what she had done she tried to excuse herself and pull away but she noticed that Heero was squeezing her hand back. They held on tightly until the entrance came into sight and then let go.
After they collected their other luggage they headed outside where their ride awaited.
"Heero."
Heero stopped in front of the speaker. Milliardo. He was only slightly taller than Heero now but he was the same, with his ice blue eyes and long white blonde hair. Beside him stood Lucrezia Noin. She was also the same but her stomach was protruding, showing that they were expecting another child.
"Zechs."
"Hello Hilde." Noin said softly, noticing the girl's hesitant expression.
"Hello Ms. Noin. Oh, I'm sorry, it's Mrs. Peacecraft now isn't it?"
"Yes." Noin replied laughing. "Don't worry about it Hilde. I get that all the time."
"Shall we?" Milliardo asked while staring at Heero. He noticed that this wasn't the boy he'd seen the last time he encountered Heero. This person in front of him was a man.
"Yes. Hilde?"
"Of course."
Sitting in the back of Milliardo's Expedition Hilde tried not to be so scared but she couldn't. She was terrified. Noticing her fear Heero reached for her hand this time. Not making a deal of it Hilde held his strong hand, relaxing from the warmth radiating off of it. In the rear view mirror Milliardo watched the action and smiled to himself. He hoped the two in the back seat helped each other. He hoped they realized how lucky the were to have found each other. If they didn't, he didn't know what would happen during their stay.