Author: aomurasakiai
Warnings: AU, Angst, Sap, Shounen ai/Yaoi [Lime Warning]
Pairings: 2+1, 1+2, 2x1
Spoilers: None
Rating: PG-13 [R in Chapters 17 and 18]
*Everything above may be subject
to change*
Fragile Faith: Chapter 20 – Blackmail
"E-Excuse me?" Lady Une spluttered out.
"I just mean that Heero has been here for so long, that in itself can't be good for him, or anyone else for that matter to live in an orphanage all their life. And Heero is almost an adult now. He has to go and live someplace else soon," Relena explained.
"Heero *will* be living someplace else in a few weeks. He doesn't… *need* to live with you." Lady Une was getting angry herself.
"Ah… but don't you see *I* can provide that in just a few days? I'll be going back to England soon and I can give him anything and everything he desires and needs." Lady Une stood up, almost shaking with suppressed rage.
"No!" She took a deep breath. "No… that isn't necessary. Heero has everything he needs… everything he *wants* right here." Lady Une tried to keep calm but she was concerned because she knew she hadn't quite convinced Miss Darlian yet. She knew trouble was coming when Relena narrowed her cerulean eyes.
"May I remind you that my father provides this orphanage with a significant amount of money… just because you two knew each other." She paused before continuing. "However, if I tell him that you are keeping orphans here against their will, I'm sure your funds can and will be liquidated." Lady Une gasped sharply.
"You wouldn't dare. That's a lie!" Relena just smiled.
"I can with just one phone call. And… he'll believe me. You can trust me on that. Besides the fact that you two haven't seen each other in so long… it won't be hard to make him believe that you have changed for the worse, a cruel manipulative woman and not the person that he remembered you to be." Relena smiled confidently and Lady Une was horrified that Mr. Darlian could have such a daughter.
"Why him?" she said in a low voice.
"Haven't you heard of 'love at first sight'? Heero is the husband I've been dreaming about for years."
"H-HUSBAND?! You don't know anything about him!"
"I know that he is an orphan, but I don't care. I love him unconditionally. His past doesn't matter… it is the future that we will build together that does. And I promise you that I will make him happy."
"You… are seriously deluded, Miss Darlian. Get out of here," Lady Une said in a threatening voice. Relena's eyes narrowed before she got up and left without a word. It was only over the course of the next 4 days that Lady Une learned how great the power and influence of the Vice Foreign Minister's daughter could be.
~~~Five days later~~~
Heero woke up early like he did every morning and immediately ticked off another day, one less day until Duo would be back.
'Just 2 more days left,' he thought with a smile, before getting up. He removed the headphones from his ears and gently placed his Duo plushie on his pillow. The past few nights had felt empty without Duo holding him but the plushie had offered him some comfort. Acting on impulse, he leaned in to kiss the smiling face before heading out for breakfast.
Lady Une was in the kitchen, her hands clutching a piece of paper. Tears were running down her cheeks and Heero was immediately concerned.
"Lady Une? What's wrong?" Lady Une looked up at the boy before her.
"You've changed so much, Heero. It's like you are a different person… no, it's like the person whom I always knew that was inside the outer shell finally came out. And it was all because of Duo."
"Lady Une?" Heero was confused. He had sensed that something was troubling her for the past few days but every time he asked, she refused to say anything.
"Heero… they are forcing me to… close down this orphanage." Heero blinked in shock.
"What?! Why? How can they do that? Where will Midii and the others go?"
"Tell me Heero. Do you want to stay with Duo for the rest of your life?" Lady Une asked even though she knew the answer… for it was what she wished as well.
"Yes!! But what does that have to do with the closing down of the orphanage?" Lady Une bit her lip before she gave Heero the toughest decision he would ever have to make.
tbc…