Chapter 5: Lonely

Relena stumbled, laughing, into her room, Ryo's arms around her as she pulled him in. She had seen Heero again that night at the conference as he watched things unobtrusively, talking in an undertone to Trowa, who watched the cameras around the compound. Seeing him there had tortured her, and she threw herself more and more upon the unwitting support of Ryo, who she was now kissing and pulling onto her bed, trying to forget his blue eyes and drown herself in Ryo's green, wipe the vision of his lips with the feel of Ryo's, the touch of his pale skin with Ryo's warm golden brown, the wild dark hair with these silken golden locks.

"Relena," Ryo pulled back, breathing heavily. "We shouldn't. You're upset." She looked at him from where she reclined on her elbows, her body stretched out on the bed, tense and humming with energy.

She rolled over, sighing. "Yeah, you're right."

"Do," he hesitated, uncertain as to her reaction or what was going on, "you want to tell me about it?"

Relena stood up, walking to the balcony doors and not looking at him. "I don't know if I should." He came up behind her as she stepped out and sat in one of the chairs there, the cool night caressing her skin. "It was a long time ago."

"Tell me, darling, please," Ryo clasped her hands in his, looking at her so earnestly that she had to kiss him.

"You know I care about you, Ryo," she looked deeply into his eyes and saw that he did know. She let out a breath and looked away. "I cared about someone else – once. Four years ago, really, in the wars. He was a Gundam Pilot, and his name was Heero Yuy," she looked at Ryo again, knowing he would connect that name with her newest bodyguard. "He never cared for me," she assured him, "at least, not like I wanted. I don't think he ever did." She ended simply and without self-pity, but in her mind she added the words or will.

He gazed at her a long moment, and she felt compelled to reassure him.

"It's just the memories bother me," she insisted, "I'm fine, really."

"Do you still love him?"

Relena opened her mouth to protest that she didn't love him, but stopped herself and looked away, troubled.

Ryo sighed, frowning. "Relena . . ."

"Ryo, he doesn't care," she burst out before he could continue, "and I don't want to lose you. I don't want to . . ." she bowed her head to hide the tears from him, but he had heard them in her voice.

Ryo relented, patting her shoulder and bringing her into his embrace. "Sh, sh, baby, don't think about it. I got ya."

Aiden watched the couple from his place in the shadows below the balcony. He knew when Duo came up behind him, and didn't bother to turn, only watched the pair stand up, share a tremulous kiss, and go back inside.

"The price went up," he told Duo. "Ten thousand."

Duo nodded, and Aiden walked away. "Give them their privacy," he muttered, almost bitterly.