Disclaimers: The song is Fiona's, the boys belong to some production company somewhere, not making any money from this, you know the routine.
Spoilers: There's a reference to a couple of in-series events. If you've been around the fandom for a while, you shouldn't be surprised.
Feedback: Pretty please? With little chibis on top? (You
pick which ones ~_^) Post here, or you can e-mail me at insanewritinggirl@yahoo.com.
//thoughts//
Never Let You Go
Chapter 14
by quelirain
| What I need is a good defense
'Cause I'm feeling like a criminal And I need to be redeemed to the one I've sinned against because he's all I ever knew of love --Fiona Apple, "Criminal" |
The hot studio lights warmed the air that settled, motionless, around
Relena's body like a blanket. It lit her cheeks with a rosy
glow that was highlighted by the blush the makeup artist had painstakingly
dabbed and blended into her cheekbones. Her toes
curled in her shoes, and she swore the collar of her blouse tightened
around her neck. She sat perfectly still; if she moved, something might
burst.
"Vice Minister? Your response?"
A cool breeze wafted through the heavy insulation the studio air provided,
grazing her forehead. Her hands lay relaxed
and tranquil in her lap, cool and unafraid. The calmness rose up her
arms and settled into her chest. Everything would come out,
now, and when it was over there would be nothing left of her.
//Nothing left...//
A sweet smile crept onto her face, bringing a sparkle to her eyes. She
looked directly into the camera and began to speak. "Ms.
O'Connor, it would be my pleasure to answer that question. I--"
Her sentence was cut off by the studio door banging open. The floor director turned. That was the last thing Relena saw before the studio went black.
Angry voices filled the room. Relena could make out the floor director's
shouting and cursing over the melee. A hand grasped
Relena's elbow, and she heard Roshelle's voice. "Follow me."
Roshelle dragged Relena through the darkness and into a small side room, shutting the door behind them.
"Miss Peacecraft--"
"Call me Relena, please. We're under seige, after all," Relena quipped
as she felt her way down to a position on the floor.
Across the room, she heard Roshelle making the same sort of sliding
sound in the darkness.
"I suppose this is all part of why you came New York."
Relena didn't answer.
The shouting in the studio continued, punctuated by occasional thuds.
Relena listened for familiar voices, but heard none. //Did
Heero come for me that quickly? Amazing.//
//But then again, he always was amazing.//
Roshelle scooted over to sit next to Relena. "So, what is your answer?" Roshelle whispered.
Relena continued to listen for noises that would identify the attackers. "My answer to what?"
"As to what's going on that's so top secret."
Relena fiddled with her lapel, hoping that Roshelle wouldn't notice
the motion. The self-destructive feelings that she'd had this
morning were fading now that she was faced with their consequences.
//Last minute jitters, I suppose... I wonder if this is how
Heero felt before he self-destructed?// "It's a long story, Roshelle,
and I'd rather keep you safe than give you a scoop."
"So it is Heero Yuy that's after you."
Relena's forehead dampened in the dark. "What... what makes you say that?"
"He seems like the protective type, and he's almost always at your side.
When he's not, he's in the area. You're not with him
now; there must be a reason for that. Am I right?"
Relena didn't answer, intent on the sounds from the studio. The shouting had stopped. //Just a matter of time...//
Roshelle sighed. "I suppose there's no better way to go."
Relena relaxed against the wall. The secret was out, though she wasn't
going to confirm it for Roshelle. "Shh..." she whispered.
"We shouldn't attract attention--"
The closet door flew open. Bright light flooded the room. Relena squinted,
trying to make out the shadow behind the light
source. A strong hand grabbed her upper arm and hauled her to her feet,
reaching for her lapel to remove the microphone. "Onna," a familar voice
hissed, "next time, don't run away from your problems."
Relena twisted out of Wufei's grip. "I had to do something. All you wanted to do was sit and wait for something to happen."
Wufei dropped the microphone and crushed it with his foot, staring at her. "You certainly made something happen. The interview was broadcast worldwide." She felt Wufei's hand take her arm again. "We're leaving. Now."
She twisted again, but found that she couldn't quite escape this time. "Just because you piloted a Gundam doesn't mean you can throw me around like this!"
Roshelle snorted. Wufei's black eyes swung around to stare at her. "Is something funny, onna?"
"You? A Gundam pilot? You're barely old enough to remember the war, much less have played such a key role in it."
Wufei froze, then scowled. But instead of replying, he dragged Relena from the small room, leaving Roshelle in the darkness.
"Hey! You can't take the Vice Foreign Minister! Security!" Roshelle's shouts faded as they exited the studio.
"This way." Wufei hauled Relena through shadowed hallways, stepping over several limp bodies on the way.
Relena looked at the still faces on the floor as the she passed over them. "Wufei, you didn't hurt anyone, did you?"
Wufei banged open the door to stairwell labelled as an emergency exit. "There were no fatalities."
The door slammed shut behind them. Relena's shoes clicked rapidly on the stairs. It reminded her of the cocking of a gun. "Where are you taking me?"
"Just keep moving." Wufei reached the bottom of the stairwell first.
He slowly opened the door, heading outside to make sure
the coast was clear. "Come on."
"No."
Wufei turned to stare at Relena as she stood in the dim stairwell. "Onna, we don't have time for this."
"I won't run any more, Wufei." She met his eyes. He studied her in return. "I won't run."
Wufei muttered something under his breath, then said, "Heero isn't here."
Relena's knees went weak. Wufei grabbed Relena by the waist and threw her over his shoulder. Relena didn't resist.
//Heero isn't here. Heero isn't coming. This didn't work. I didn't stall
long enough.// Wufei dumped Relena into the backseat of a
waiting car. The door slammed. She stared at the ceiling. //It wasn't
enough. Heero didn't come. It wasn't enough. I wasn't
enough.//
The car moved. She remained prone on the backseat.
//I wasn't enough.//
She closed her eyes. "Where's Milliardo?"
"Still in Brussels."
"Take me to him, Wufei."
~owari chapter 14~