23
Relena insisted on Heero coming to her house after the narrow escape. He wasn't badly injured; just a few cuts and bruises lay on his skin. Relena cleaned him up and bandaged him. He stayed for dinner (which was served when the Marquis arrived home). He had never dined with royalty before (except if you want to count earlier that week when he and her and the guys went to Burger World) and minded his manners so the Marquis would allow him to continue seeing Relena. Heero told the Marquis his account of the psychotic driver incident that was all over the news during dinner, and the Marquis listened with shocked eyes and worry lines on his forehead. Heero left after dessert and more pleasant conversation, kissing Relena goodnight.
Heero came home to an empty house. Duo and Quatre had gone double dating with Dorothy and the girl from the party shop, Trowah was on a date with Hilde (he wondered if Duo knew), and Wufei was trading in his car. All of this was indicated on a note. Heero flopped on the couch in sweet content. Every second he had with Relena was pure magic. When she touched his wounds, they healed. Heero realized exactly how in love with her he was. He sighed.
The Marquis expressed to his granddaughter that he liked the young man that she'd chosen to date, and felt even better that she was as safe with him as she could be.
The phone rang and Relena answered it.
"Hello?"
"Ms. Peacecraft?"
"Yes?"
"Hello, I'm Lieutenant Peters at 0067 B colony police station. I'm calling in reference to the man you and your friend dropped off with my men."
"Yes?"
"I'm afraid he's dead, ma'am."
"What?" Relena gasped.
"Yes, ma'am, just a few minutes ago. We resuscitated him after you dropped him off and questioned him. He didn't talk, but we found his record. He is one of the most notorious hit men this centaury, wanted for sixty-seven counts of first-degree murder."
"Oh, my God!"
"He died from the lethal amount of alcohol in his blood, not his gun shot wounds. What really disturbed us was the fact that he did mention that he was on his way to kill somebody, and that Vincent Bangotti sent him."
Relena returned a shocked silence. "Who was he assigned to kill?"
"That we don't know. If you like, we can send an officer to protect you. We're already observing him."
"No, I'll be okay."
"Vice Foreign Minister Darlian," the lieutenant went on, "I strongly advise your hiding or moving some place safer."
"I will," she assured, "keep me updated." She hung up. When she did and while she dialed Heero, she fed her Grandfather the basics of the call. Heero waited several rings to pick up the phone.
"Hello?" he answered dreamily.
"Heero, its me."
"Relena!"
"Heero, the guy died."
Heero snapped out of his dream world. "I'm sorry, what? I thought you said he died."
"He did." Relena proceeded to tell him about the notorious hit man and his employer. "They don't know who he was supposed to kill."
"Me, obviously." Heero answered coldly.
"Why not me?"
"Men tend to go for the other guy, but women would punish their cheating spouse."
"If you say so," Relena said in slight disagreement.
"I'll protect you," Heero offered.
"I know you will." Relena said with a smile.
"No, I mean I can do like the officer said: take you some where safe."
"Really?"
"Yeah, but I gotta talk to your Grandfather."
Relena handed the phone to the Marquis. The Marquis took it and held it to his ear while Heero explained his plans to him. The Marquis agreed with pretty much everything. He handed the phone back to Relena.
"Hello…yeah…gotcha…alright….love you….bye." she hung up. "He'll be here Sunday to pick me up.'
"Relena, don't let him talk you into having sex with him." Her grandfather said bluntly, "I know for a fact that boys his age have one thing on their minds, or rather, in their trousers."
"Yes, grandfather," Relena promised, thinking to herself, Heero doesn't talk me into it, we just kiss and go from there.