The Orphan and The Princess

By Aoko

I am sitting out on the balcony of my hotel. Today, I am in Germany for a peace conference. Germany had long since divided into two governments back when Treize was "placed under house arrest" by the Romefellar Foundation. Beautiful Germany has yet to be able to come as one and civil war threatens to arise.

Duo is here, leading a Preventer team to keep riots and such down. He's been doing well so far. Heero is here also. He is my body guard, naturally. Normally, Heero would not let me sit on the balcony. If he did, he would be out here with me. Today, he makes himself scarce, his main reason being that Duo is here also. The other reason has been forgotten by everyone.

At this particular moment, I am thinking I might have time to myself, but a soft knock and a voice ends that train of thought. I don't turn my head. I just keep staring out at the beautiful landscape.

"Relena?"

It's Duo. "Yes?"

"Can I talk to you? For a moment?"

"Certainly." Now I turn my head. I watch the boy I have competed with for years take a seat across from me. He grabs his long, chestnut braid as he sits, playing nervously with the ends. His beautiful violet eyes shine brightly. I notice that he his eyes dart back and forth for a few minutes before finally resting on me. I hate his eyes.

"How are you doing?"

"Fine. You?"

"Great! Heero surprised me with this awesome lunch..." Duo stops, realizing I might not care to hear the wonderful perks of their relationship.

"Was it a nice lunch?" I ask.

"Yes, Relena. It was."

I grow tired. The small talk is for the diplomats and Duo is no diplomat. "Cut the bullshit, Duo. What do you want?"

His eyes nearly bug out that I, Princess of Cinq, dare use a word such as bullshit. Why can't they understand that I'm human too?

"Geez Princess, you're full of surprises."

I don't reply to him. It would feel as though I were wasting valuable oxygen.

Duo shrugs and continues. "You know, about the things I say about you, well I'm sorry. Okay? It was never meant to hurt you. I was joking."

My eyes narrow. "Joking? I'm a joke to you?"

"No! That's not what I meant!" He waves his hands in front of him frantically.

"Of course not." I sigh and look back at the landscape. "I won't deny it. I was very childish during the war. I thought that if I spoke, if I commanded it so, then it would be. I learned that it doesn't quite work that way. I realized during the Mariemaia incident that I was powerless.... that I was somehow always the pawn in the war. He who controls Relena Peacecraft Darlain controls the war."

"That's how it seemed," Duo agreed. "I really disliked you because of that. Or at least that was one reason I disliked you. It always seemed like Heero had to be the white knight in shining armor coming to rescue the helpless princess and I hated it."

"You always thought I looked down on you because you were an orphan, a street rat, a joker... a boy in love with another boy. I never did. Never. I envy you actually. You know what it's like to go without so that you can truly appreciate the finer things of life. You have someone to love and someone to love you back. I envy you because you have a strong pair of arms waiting to embrace you each night you come home, where as I have no one. Not even my own brother. I envy you because... you could always smile so naturally, so easily when I couldn't. I envy you because you are free. Free to go wherever and do whatever."

"Relena... the war is over for everyone. You should let it go. You're free to do whatever too."

"You are wrong, Duo. You are so wrong." I took a small sip of my tea. "The war is over for everyone except me. You are free to go wherever and my place is here, in the mist of the aftermath, holding the fragile peace together. I am the thread that binds the Colonies and Earth. My name gives the people hope... hope that they truly can live in a world without war. And as long as I breathe, then I shall fulfill this duty bestowed upon me as best I can. In order to do that, I must remember the war for the people who will eventually forget."

Duo mouth drops open, then closes. He takes a deep breath and shake his head. "I never knew you took what you did so seriously."

"You never knew me at all."

Duo nods. He stands and starts to walk away, pausing for a moment to throw me a sad smile. "Bye, Miss Relena."

"Good-bye, Maxwell."

So, he left. I'm tired of looking at everyone's back.

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