Title: Heaven In Her Eyes
Author: Amber
Pairings: Hetro
Disclaimer: Gundam belongs to Gundam and any scene or plot similarity to another person's story, movie or anime is purely coincidental and unintentional. AU
Relena was waiting for him at the door. He stopped staring at her in reluctant amusement his smile flickered briefly then died. "Asking about your homework I guess would be a waste of time hmm, especially when you can do it with your eyes closed?" She shrugged.
He stared at her intently, "I don't pretend to understand Relena, but going with me would probably not be the wisest course of action. Things are heating up between the Alliance and the Colonies. I may not be able to protect us much longer going along with me could draw undue attention to yourself. But you know that don't you?" he murmured in a thoughtful tone.
He stared at her sadly, "you'll never forgive me will you?" She tilted her head inquiringly. "For offering to take you from Milliardo," he elaborated. She lifted the palm unit and typed. So expressive was her face and eyes the simulated voice of the unit jolted him from his thoughts.
"You've done nothing that requires forgiveness."
"Then why Relena? I know you can talk is this to punish us? Milliardo? What?" Frustration flickered in her eyes before lashes dropped covering her expression. When she met his gaze again her face was expressionless and her eyes calmly stared into his patiently waiting his decision.
He started to protest then stopped at a loss. He could mediate between bickering politicians but couldn't fathom the reasoning behind one teenage girl. And now the moment was lost whatever it was defiance, trauma, he would like to think it wasn't a matter of simple petty vindictiveness on her part.
"Very well Relena, I'll instruct Pagan to pack you a few things and tell Helen." She stretched her hand out then clenched her fist lifting it to her chest. He hesitated at the indecision on her face a moment later she lifted her unit and typed.
"Please don't leave her this way parting in anger leaves the most regrets."
"Relena..."
She held up her hand then typed frantically. "Not because of me, please."
He nodded stiffly handing her the attaché case, "instruct Pagan to pack for you then we'll leave."
* * *
Dr. J looked up as the door opened; nodding to the technician he waited until the door closed before the person in the shadows came forward. Curiously, he watched a gloved hand push the hood back revealing a helmet concealing most of the features; it was next to impossible to tell whether the person was male or female, even with the long blonde hair. He shifted forward in anticipation; somehow sensing something momentous was about to happen. One by one, the fingers slowly worked free of the gloves, first one hand then the other. Laying them on the desk between them slender hands lifted and drew the helmet off his head. Dr. J's eyes narrowed, searching the impassive features before him.
"I had heard the Alliance had a pilot of extraordinary skill as much a mystery as he was talented. But even with my sources and considerable intellect, if I do say so myself, can't imagine what business you could possibly have with me?"
Slowly, wordlessly, he shook his head, "have I changed that much or was helping to destroy a kingdom so insignificant?" His eyes widened pushing himself up his gaze went over him thoroughly before lifting to return the searching look in Milliardo's eyes.
"Milliardo Peacecraft?"
"Milliardo Peacecraft is dead."
He sat down thoughtfully, "I see. What does.. what was that name ah bother, I was always bad with names what does the Alliance's Lightening Count want with me then?"
Zechs smiled faintly acknowledging the jib before his mouth tightened. "The alliance doesn't know I'm here. But they have heard about the your suits."
He shrugged, "so the alliance has suits is it so unusual for the colonies to desire them for protection as well."
Zechs smiled coldly, "your right they don't care about the suits but the computer is another story this is something they covet as much as it terrifies them."
Dr.J chortled, "Just a little something we are working on in our spare time. A man has to have hobbies." Zechs lowered his shields and stealthily searched for the answers he wanted. What he found was mathematical equations he was about to go deeper. "Ahh ahh young man, just because I have no abilities myself doesn't mean I'm too dense to know when a body is trying to take a stroll through my mind.
He tilted his head in acknowledgment, "Is your hobby really worth a war?"
"Who is asking, Milliardo Peacecraft pacifist or Zechs Merquis officer in the Alliance?"
"Does it matter?"
"It might."
"Things are precarious at best, the Alliance is rotten at the core and is turning on anyone or anything that threatens it. Hell, it's turning on itself to survive. The slightest thing could cause the whole situation to blow up in our faces."
"Then I'd say it's time for a change. Wouldn't you?"
"Things will change, and only those responsible will pay the price. Your way the price is too high." He said choosing his words with care.
"And you think Khushrenada is the change this world needs?" He challenged.
He smiled with gentle irony, "as you said it's time for a change." He lifted his gloves and slid them on then picked up his helmet heading for the door.
"Why come here and warn me, I imagine my system would be quite a boon for a budding revolution?"
He turned his head but didn't glance back. "Have I?"
"Yes, I believe you have. Tell me young Peacecraft did your sister survive?" Zechs stiffened angrily the glass obelisk on his desk cracked. He slowly turned blue eyes glittered dangerously. Dr.J lifted his eyes from the paperweight to Zechs face, "you blame me for your parents deaths," he smiled sad acceptance.
Zechs sighed consciously making an effort to calm himself his abilities always got away from him when his emotions were out of control but the pain and the desolation of past horrors still lingered in his eyes. "No, I've had years to think about it my father knew what the price was for helping, if it wasn't you it would have been something else. History is full of situations where humanity destroys that which their afraid of. For my family, it was their beliefs and our differences. And it's only gotten worse. I admire the fact you've given those similarly afflicted a safe haven. I'd hate to see it all destroyed now."
After a brief pause of consideration he asked softly, "Is that how you view your gift afflicted?"
"Sometimes, most of the time." He placed his helmet back on and moved toward the door.
"Milliardo, did Relena survive?" Even with his face hidden Dr. J could almost feel him flinch inwardly.
"Survive? Survive, is an apt description as any I suppose." He lifted the hood enveloping himself once more within the welcoming darkness provided. Then opened the door.
"Don't place too much faith in your alternative my young friend. I think you'll find yourself disappointed in him when he doesn't live up to your expectations."
His head shifted sideway acknowledging he heard. "I have very few illusions left."
"I see the eyes of the boy I met so long ago, within the man before me. I think there is more left than you care to admit."
The click of the door closing was his answer.
* * *
The dream came nearly every night in the beginning. Then it was once a week then there were months were he had no dreams at all. None that he could or would want to remember. Now it came only when something disturbed her or him it was difficult to tell who it originated with once it began it seem to feed off the emotions of both of them. It still was a mystery to him how connected he had grown to her and yet she remained blissfully unaware. Yes, despite doing their damnedest their perfect weapon still felt things intensely, buried to be sure deep beneath the pain of the training and the final indignity. The reconditioning. There were still a few things that he retained that were exclusively his.
Flinging one hand over his eyes, even in sleep he was unable to find respite from the visions tormenting him, Heero's expression twisted into a mask of foreboding as the fear reached for him again. Taunting him, her fear lured him to a place within himself he knew, even now, in his dreams, or hers, was somewhere he shouldn't go. Realistically he knew he couldn't help her now. What had happened. Happened so very long ago.
But the nightmares still come, always beginning the same a darkness so deep that even with his enhanced senses seeing much less sensing anything was impossible. He was blind literally and figuratively and that frightened him more than anything else. There wasn't a time when he couldn't sense things others seemed oblivious to. Then came the nausea. Brought on by her revulsion to the smell of burnt flesh, chemicals and the sweet acrid smell of blood so much blood, always followed by the iron taste of bile in her throat that had him swallowing with her in silent empathy.
The intellectual side that always remained remote now thanks to the good doctor was already analyzing logically explaining away what was happening. But that part of him that was drawn to her suffered with her. For a split second, there was one brief glimpse of stars and wispy clouds as the drifted across the moon. Then it was gone. The images came faster now a collage of flashes, sensations, and feelings. Half of them making no sense at all as her terror rose to keep pace with the images. Then a stillness so absolute it felt as if he could physically touch it. He twisted his body from left to right fighting to get free physically, putting into actions what mentally her mind sought and failed to achieve. He sucked in a raw hoarse breath his movements more violent.
Her feelings rolled over him overwhelming in their intensity devastating betrayal, disbelief, and abandonment. Then nothing. The distant remote side within him literally watched the fracturing of her mind with clinical dispassion while the other grieved for innocence lost.
When he woke all those years ago frantic to reach her they had humored him at first. When his connection with her had been silenced so abruptly he went berserk. She was whom he was doing this for it didn't matter that she hadn't asked him to or that she didn't even know who he was. What good was he if he couldn't even protect her? He nearly killed them all before they finally brought him down after that they had taken one look at their prize specimen and decided his compassion and free will were something not needed in their soldier. They reconditioned him.
Always stronger, faster, and mentally more advanced than most, with the removal of the mental inhibitors for pain now truly they had nothing that could touch him. When he woke and remembered, there was a split second when he sought that familiar link and found nothing but absence. He went slightly crazy, then he went after his chief tormenter the single minded driving force behind his dehumanization. He tossed Odin Lowe's unconscious body on the Doctors desk and told him cold precise terms what he could and would do to them if they ever touched him again. The one positive from it all after that they believed him.
Still caught halfway between her nightmares, disorientation from the dreams and his desperation to reach her, this time he was determined to make a difference. No one would keep her from him again. Even if the only place she was his was within his mind. He froze his body went rigid with the tension of pent-up energy the moment he was touched instinct and training took over. He went for the pressure point in the hand between thumb and forefinger numbing the arm. Then he jerked the body forward. He grabbed the head in a hold his thumb rested over the pressure point right behind the ear all in the blink of an eye. Heero felt something familiar tentatively brush against his shields recognition dawned as the identity of who he held became evident he sat there focusing on calming his breathing .
"Heero," he croaked. Heero slid back irritated with himself for what he almost did and Duo for constantly going where most feared to tread. He shoved him off his bed.
Running a hand through his hair he watched impassively while Duo dragged air into his lungs. "O lord, you need to cut out the caffeine."
"You're lucky I recognized you before I killed you. You have been warned before Duo about coming up on me like that."
Duo stopped rubbing his neck to cradle his other arm. "What the hell did you do to my arm?"
"Its temporary, feeling will return gradually." He said giving it a cursory glance.
"See if I try and help you again."
Heero frowned, "what are you talking about?"
"You were having a nightmare, humdinger too by the looks of it."
"Hn."
"Wanna talk about it?" Duo looked at him expectantly. Heero gave him a look that spoke volumes. "OK... I take that as a big no." Duo shrugged, "hey that's cool we all have places we don't want poked at." Duo stood and awkwardly shuffled toward the door he paused in the opening with an air of anticipation. "O by the way, Dr. Looney Tunes has upped the schedule he's loading HAL into our suits tomorrow. Yours is going to take a few days longer."
Heero stared at him blankly. Duo grinned, "don't you ever watch the Sci-Fi Classic network? There was this really cool movie these guys find this alien thingie and they go into space with this computer named HAL he was designed to interact with hum.."
Heero held up his hand, "I think I get it. If it's anything like your taste in cartoons I'm sure it was something I could miss without regret."
"You don't know what you're missing. Any way I did a little snooping." Duo looked either direction of the hallway then leaned smugly back against the doorjamb.
"You took information from the technicians mind again," he interrupted disapprovingly. Exasperated Duo frowned, "you want to hear what I found or not?"
He eyed him cautiously and when he didn't say anything more he smiled knowingly. "Their calling yours ZERO."
"Why?"
"Hey buddy, that's the million dollar question. What I got was kind of disjointed. But from what I can piece together, I think you're their Superman with your psy and your advanced training your scores are off the charts. So they cooked up a system and a suit to do you justice. Of course they must of decided that before they got a load of what Shinigami can do."
"No, why the sudden rush?" he clarified.
Duo raised an eyebrow at the question but merely shrugged, "could have something to do with his visitor tonight."
His eyes narrowed in concentration, "who was it?"
"He didn't know but he did creep the poor guy out he came cloaked literally and figuratively." Heero tilted his head in thought then mentally shrugged pushing it aside for a more thorough consideration later.
Duo groaned dramatically, "I'm going to rest my poor abused body." He went to pull the door shut when Heero's voice stopped him.
"Duo. Be glad Duo, be glad they missed you," came his weary reply.
Duo stared into his usually expressionless eyes and instead found an emptiness and soulnessness that he viewed with equal parts pity and revulsion. Heero held his gaze a moment longer letting the significance of what he said sink in before his expression closed and his eyes once more became unreadable.
"Yeah.. I think your right Heero," Duo said finally. Heero waited a moment more then mentally closed the door on his thoughts and his past with the same determination with which he did the door to his room.
* * *
The moment they stepped off the shuttle a little entourage surrounded the Minister and gradually eased Relena further and further away. She smiled a trifle sadly but not unexpectedly. Was there a time when she hadn't been alone? 'Yes.' Relena tilted her head caught off balance her expression bewildered. Milliardo's name echoed through her mind leaving her with an overwhelming sadness. In the beginning it was hurt, betrayal that kept her from reaching out for the comfort of his familiar presence. Then when she was at her loneliest and time and maturity crumbled her fit of pique she tried to reach him and met a gaping wound that blocked her. Was it His? Hers? Both of them she didn't know she didn't even know how to fix it and without his help she wasn't even sure she could.
She was here she could barely believe it her gaze went upward taking in the colony her mouth gaped in awe at the achievement of man. An unexpected lump grew as tears welled up making everything shimmer through a rainbow of colors. Though not intentionally and as arrogant as it probably seemed she felt an overwhelming pride. She just wished her parents could have lived to see them completed. Man helping his fellow man for nothing other than he,she, they could.
They were like little oases within the confines of space that thought made her smile whimsically. "Beautiful," she whispered in a voice rusty from disuse. Just when things seemed the most impossible or improbable humanity dug deep and did their best achievements in moments of beautiful desperation.
Pulling herself from her inner musings she realized they were approaching the limousines so turned her attention toward her father waiting to take her cues from him. He turned somewhat absent-mindedly. "Relena, I have a meeting but there is time for us to go by the hotel or we can have lunch, if you prefer?"
He watched the subtle shift of emotions across her face and for the first time wondered if something other than idle curiosity prompted her desire to accompany him. She smiled then a wistful smile as if she dared not count on it actually happening. He found himself responding with an answering smile and a feeling of ease he hadn't felt between them in years. "Lunch it is then. Afterwards, there's someone I should see while I'm here."
He watched her face fall before she quickly schooled her expression. "It shouldn't take long you might find him of interest yourself would you like to go with me?" he offered impulsively. Her smile blossomed anew, and he found himself giving an answering smile "It's a date then."
Author: Amber
Pairings: Hetro
Disclaimer: Gundam belongs to Gundam and any scene or plot similarity to another person's story, movie or anime is purely coincidental and unintentional. AU
Relena was waiting for him at the door. He stopped staring at her in reluctant amusement his smile flickered briefly then died. "Asking about your homework I guess would be a waste of time hmm, especially when you can do it with your eyes closed?" She shrugged.
He stared at her intently, "I don't pretend to understand Relena, but going with me would probably not be the wisest course of action. Things are heating up between the Alliance and the Colonies. I may not be able to protect us much longer going along with me could draw undue attention to yourself. But you know that don't you?" he murmured in a thoughtful tone.
He stared at her sadly, "you'll never forgive me will you?" She tilted her head inquiringly. "For offering to take you from Milliardo," he elaborated. She lifted the palm unit and typed. So expressive was her face and eyes the simulated voice of the unit jolted him from his thoughts.
"You've done nothing that requires forgiveness."
"Then why Relena? I know you can talk is this to punish us? Milliardo? What?" Frustration flickered in her eyes before lashes dropped covering her expression. When she met his gaze again her face was expressionless and her eyes calmly stared into his patiently waiting his decision.
He started to protest then stopped at a loss. He could mediate between bickering politicians but couldn't fathom the reasoning behind one teenage girl. And now the moment was lost whatever it was defiance, trauma, he would like to think it wasn't a matter of simple petty vindictiveness on her part.
"Very well Relena, I'll instruct Pagan to pack you a few things and tell Helen." She stretched her hand out then clenched her fist lifting it to her chest. He hesitated at the indecision on her face a moment later she lifted her unit and typed.
"Please don't leave her this way parting in anger leaves the most regrets."
"Relena..."
She held up her hand then typed frantically. "Not because of me, please."
He nodded stiffly handing her the attaché case, "instruct Pagan to pack for you then we'll leave."
* * *
Dr. J looked up as the door opened; nodding to the technician he waited until the door closed before the person in the shadows came forward. Curiously, he watched a gloved hand push the hood back revealing a helmet concealing most of the features; it was next to impossible to tell whether the person was male or female, even with the long blonde hair. He shifted forward in anticipation; somehow sensing something momentous was about to happen. One by one, the fingers slowly worked free of the gloves, first one hand then the other. Laying them on the desk between them slender hands lifted and drew the helmet off his head. Dr. J's eyes narrowed, searching the impassive features before him.
"I had heard the Alliance had a pilot of extraordinary skill as much a mystery as he was talented. But even with my sources and considerable intellect, if I do say so myself, can't imagine what business you could possibly have with me?"
Slowly, wordlessly, he shook his head, "have I changed that much or was helping to destroy a kingdom so insignificant?" His eyes widened pushing himself up his gaze went over him thoroughly before lifting to return the searching look in Milliardo's eyes.
"Milliardo Peacecraft?"
"Milliardo Peacecraft is dead."
He sat down thoughtfully, "I see. What does.. what was that name ah bother, I was always bad with names what does the Alliance's Lightening Count want with me then?"
Zechs smiled faintly acknowledging the jib before his mouth tightened. "The alliance doesn't know I'm here. But they have heard about the your suits."
He shrugged, "so the alliance has suits is it so unusual for the colonies to desire them for protection as well."
Zechs smiled coldly, "your right they don't care about the suits but the computer is another story this is something they covet as much as it terrifies them."
Dr.J chortled, "Just a little something we are working on in our spare time. A man has to have hobbies." Zechs lowered his shields and stealthily searched for the answers he wanted. What he found was mathematical equations he was about to go deeper. "Ahh ahh young man, just because I have no abilities myself doesn't mean I'm too dense to know when a body is trying to take a stroll through my mind.
He tilted his head in acknowledgment, "Is your hobby really worth a war?"
"Who is asking, Milliardo Peacecraft pacifist or Zechs Merquis officer in the Alliance?"
"Does it matter?"
"It might."
"Things are precarious at best, the Alliance is rotten at the core and is turning on anyone or anything that threatens it. Hell, it's turning on itself to survive. The slightest thing could cause the whole situation to blow up in our faces."
"Then I'd say it's time for a change. Wouldn't you?"
"Things will change, and only those responsible will pay the price. Your way the price is too high." He said choosing his words with care.
"And you think Khushrenada is the change this world needs?" He challenged.
He smiled with gentle irony, "as you said it's time for a change." He lifted his gloves and slid them on then picked up his helmet heading for the door.
"Why come here and warn me, I imagine my system would be quite a boon for a budding revolution?"
He turned his head but didn't glance back. "Have I?"
"Yes, I believe you have. Tell me young Peacecraft did your sister survive?" Zechs stiffened angrily the glass obelisk on his desk cracked. He slowly turned blue eyes glittered dangerously. Dr.J lifted his eyes from the paperweight to Zechs face, "you blame me for your parents deaths," he smiled sad acceptance.
Zechs sighed consciously making an effort to calm himself his abilities always got away from him when his emotions were out of control but the pain and the desolation of past horrors still lingered in his eyes. "No, I've had years to think about it my father knew what the price was for helping, if it wasn't you it would have been something else. History is full of situations where humanity destroys that which their afraid of. For my family, it was their beliefs and our differences. And it's only gotten worse. I admire the fact you've given those similarly afflicted a safe haven. I'd hate to see it all destroyed now."
After a brief pause of consideration he asked softly, "Is that how you view your gift afflicted?"
"Sometimes, most of the time." He placed his helmet back on and moved toward the door.
"Milliardo, did Relena survive?" Even with his face hidden Dr. J could almost feel him flinch inwardly.
"Survive? Survive, is an apt description as any I suppose." He lifted the hood enveloping himself once more within the welcoming darkness provided. Then opened the door.
"Don't place too much faith in your alternative my young friend. I think you'll find yourself disappointed in him when he doesn't live up to your expectations."
His head shifted sideway acknowledging he heard. "I have very few illusions left."
"I see the eyes of the boy I met so long ago, within the man before me. I think there is more left than you care to admit."
The click of the door closing was his answer.
* * *
The dream came nearly every night in the beginning. Then it was once a week then there were months were he had no dreams at all. None that he could or would want to remember. Now it came only when something disturbed her or him it was difficult to tell who it originated with once it began it seem to feed off the emotions of both of them. It still was a mystery to him how connected he had grown to her and yet she remained blissfully unaware. Yes, despite doing their damnedest their perfect weapon still felt things intensely, buried to be sure deep beneath the pain of the training and the final indignity. The reconditioning. There were still a few things that he retained that were exclusively his.
Flinging one hand over his eyes, even in sleep he was unable to find respite from the visions tormenting him, Heero's expression twisted into a mask of foreboding as the fear reached for him again. Taunting him, her fear lured him to a place within himself he knew, even now, in his dreams, or hers, was somewhere he shouldn't go. Realistically he knew he couldn't help her now. What had happened. Happened so very long ago.
But the nightmares still come, always beginning the same a darkness so deep that even with his enhanced senses seeing much less sensing anything was impossible. He was blind literally and figuratively and that frightened him more than anything else. There wasn't a time when he couldn't sense things others seemed oblivious to. Then came the nausea. Brought on by her revulsion to the smell of burnt flesh, chemicals and the sweet acrid smell of blood so much blood, always followed by the iron taste of bile in her throat that had him swallowing with her in silent empathy.
The intellectual side that always remained remote now thanks to the good doctor was already analyzing logically explaining away what was happening. But that part of him that was drawn to her suffered with her. For a split second, there was one brief glimpse of stars and wispy clouds as the drifted across the moon. Then it was gone. The images came faster now a collage of flashes, sensations, and feelings. Half of them making no sense at all as her terror rose to keep pace with the images. Then a stillness so absolute it felt as if he could physically touch it. He twisted his body from left to right fighting to get free physically, putting into actions what mentally her mind sought and failed to achieve. He sucked in a raw hoarse breath his movements more violent.
Her feelings rolled over him overwhelming in their intensity devastating betrayal, disbelief, and abandonment. Then nothing. The distant remote side within him literally watched the fracturing of her mind with clinical dispassion while the other grieved for innocence lost.
When he woke all those years ago frantic to reach her they had humored him at first. When his connection with her had been silenced so abruptly he went berserk. She was whom he was doing this for it didn't matter that she hadn't asked him to or that she didn't even know who he was. What good was he if he couldn't even protect her? He nearly killed them all before they finally brought him down after that they had taken one look at their prize specimen and decided his compassion and free will were something not needed in their soldier. They reconditioned him.
Always stronger, faster, and mentally more advanced than most, with the removal of the mental inhibitors for pain now truly they had nothing that could touch him. When he woke and remembered, there was a split second when he sought that familiar link and found nothing but absence. He went slightly crazy, then he went after his chief tormenter the single minded driving force behind his dehumanization. He tossed Odin Lowe's unconscious body on the Doctors desk and told him cold precise terms what he could and would do to them if they ever touched him again. The one positive from it all after that they believed him.
Still caught halfway between her nightmares, disorientation from the dreams and his desperation to reach her, this time he was determined to make a difference. No one would keep her from him again. Even if the only place she was his was within his mind. He froze his body went rigid with the tension of pent-up energy the moment he was touched instinct and training took over. He went for the pressure point in the hand between thumb and forefinger numbing the arm. Then he jerked the body forward. He grabbed the head in a hold his thumb rested over the pressure point right behind the ear all in the blink of an eye. Heero felt something familiar tentatively brush against his shields recognition dawned as the identity of who he held became evident he sat there focusing on calming his breathing .
"Heero," he croaked. Heero slid back irritated with himself for what he almost did and Duo for constantly going where most feared to tread. He shoved him off his bed.
Running a hand through his hair he watched impassively while Duo dragged air into his lungs. "O lord, you need to cut out the caffeine."
"You're lucky I recognized you before I killed you. You have been warned before Duo about coming up on me like that."
Duo stopped rubbing his neck to cradle his other arm. "What the hell did you do to my arm?"
"Its temporary, feeling will return gradually." He said giving it a cursory glance.
"See if I try and help you again."
Heero frowned, "what are you talking about?"
"You were having a nightmare, humdinger too by the looks of it."
"Hn."
"Wanna talk about it?" Duo looked at him expectantly. Heero gave him a look that spoke volumes. "OK... I take that as a big no." Duo shrugged, "hey that's cool we all have places we don't want poked at." Duo stood and awkwardly shuffled toward the door he paused in the opening with an air of anticipation. "O by the way, Dr. Looney Tunes has upped the schedule he's loading HAL into our suits tomorrow. Yours is going to take a few days longer."
Heero stared at him blankly. Duo grinned, "don't you ever watch the Sci-Fi Classic network? There was this really cool movie these guys find this alien thingie and they go into space with this computer named HAL he was designed to interact with hum.."
Heero held up his hand, "I think I get it. If it's anything like your taste in cartoons I'm sure it was something I could miss without regret."
"You don't know what you're missing. Any way I did a little snooping." Duo looked either direction of the hallway then leaned smugly back against the doorjamb.
"You took information from the technicians mind again," he interrupted disapprovingly. Exasperated Duo frowned, "you want to hear what I found or not?"
He eyed him cautiously and when he didn't say anything more he smiled knowingly. "Their calling yours ZERO."
"Why?"
"Hey buddy, that's the million dollar question. What I got was kind of disjointed. But from what I can piece together, I think you're their Superman with your psy and your advanced training your scores are off the charts. So they cooked up a system and a suit to do you justice. Of course they must of decided that before they got a load of what Shinigami can do."
"No, why the sudden rush?" he clarified.
Duo raised an eyebrow at the question but merely shrugged, "could have something to do with his visitor tonight."
His eyes narrowed in concentration, "who was it?"
"He didn't know but he did creep the poor guy out he came cloaked literally and figuratively." Heero tilted his head in thought then mentally shrugged pushing it aside for a more thorough consideration later.
Duo groaned dramatically, "I'm going to rest my poor abused body." He went to pull the door shut when Heero's voice stopped him.
"Duo. Be glad Duo, be glad they missed you," came his weary reply.
Duo stared into his usually expressionless eyes and instead found an emptiness and soulnessness that he viewed with equal parts pity and revulsion. Heero held his gaze a moment longer letting the significance of what he said sink in before his expression closed and his eyes once more became unreadable.
"Yeah.. I think your right Heero," Duo said finally. Heero waited a moment more then mentally closed the door on his thoughts and his past with the same determination with which he did the door to his room.
* * *
The moment they stepped off the shuttle a little entourage surrounded the Minister and gradually eased Relena further and further away. She smiled a trifle sadly but not unexpectedly. Was there a time when she hadn't been alone? 'Yes.' Relena tilted her head caught off balance her expression bewildered. Milliardo's name echoed through her mind leaving her with an overwhelming sadness. In the beginning it was hurt, betrayal that kept her from reaching out for the comfort of his familiar presence. Then when she was at her loneliest and time and maturity crumbled her fit of pique she tried to reach him and met a gaping wound that blocked her. Was it His? Hers? Both of them she didn't know she didn't even know how to fix it and without his help she wasn't even sure she could.
She was here she could barely believe it her gaze went upward taking in the colony her mouth gaped in awe at the achievement of man. An unexpected lump grew as tears welled up making everything shimmer through a rainbow of colors. Though not intentionally and as arrogant as it probably seemed she felt an overwhelming pride. She just wished her parents could have lived to see them completed. Man helping his fellow man for nothing other than he,she, they could.
They were like little oases within the confines of space that thought made her smile whimsically. "Beautiful," she whispered in a voice rusty from disuse. Just when things seemed the most impossible or improbable humanity dug deep and did their best achievements in moments of beautiful desperation.
Pulling herself from her inner musings she realized they were approaching the limousines so turned her attention toward her father waiting to take her cues from him. He turned somewhat absent-mindedly. "Relena, I have a meeting but there is time for us to go by the hotel or we can have lunch, if you prefer?"
He watched the subtle shift of emotions across her face and for the first time wondered if something other than idle curiosity prompted her desire to accompany him. She smiled then a wistful smile as if she dared not count on it actually happening. He found himself responding with an answering smile and a feeling of ease he hadn't felt between them in years. "Lunch it is then. Afterwards, there's someone I should see while I'm here."
He watched her face fall before she quickly schooled her expression. "It shouldn't take long you might find him of interest yourself would you like to go with me?" he offered impulsively. Her smile blossomed anew, and he found himself giving an answering smile "It's a date then."