Earth Bound

Punishment for all my Sins

Chapter six

Serena felt like she was going in slow motion.  She was hobbling down the hallway, heading towards the Princess's chambers, where the princess and her brother, waited patiently for her. 

She felt eyes on her, and knew everyone was watching her, move.  They knew what had happened, and yet, they stayed away, as if they were afraid.  She didn't like Earth anymore.  Back home, servants were never treated like that, even if they were late, not even if they stole. 

Fighting back the tears, she moved down the wide hallway to the door at the end of the hall.  Her back screamed for something cool, but she didn't have time to waste on herself.  Not until after sunset.  She was a mess, more than she had been that morning.  Her feet were bare, since her shoes had fallen off, and she hadn't dared go back to get them.  Molly would be mad, but her anger wasn't as bad as the punishment she knew that waited for her.  Her hair was falling from her bun; it hung at her neck in a rat ness.  Her face was wet with mixed tears and sweat, but that was the least of her problems.  Her dress clung to her skin, and rubbed against the freshly open wounds on her back.  It brought tears to her eyes, no matter how strong she tried to act.

Serena stopped at the door, and gently reached out to open it.  She winced in pain, at the fact of having to jar her back.  Her breathing came in gasps, and she tried hard, to stop herself from breaking into tears.  Other servants, had gone through that, so she had to be strong, and fight back the urge to cry.

Turning the knob, she pushed the door open.  Relena had been in a conversation with her brother, when she stepped inside.  She didn't turn, to close the doors, but in fact kept her back away from their prying eyes.  She lowered her gaze, and let her hair masked the pain in her eyes.  The Princess smiled, "Serena, its good of you to finally join us.  Serena meet my brother Miliardo.  He fought in the battles on Earth.  A very well known soldier.  Miliardo, meet the newest edition to our staff, Serena."

Serena smiled softly, but it didn't reach her eyes.  "Good morning your highness."  Her voice was soft, and she was proud that it showed no hint of pain.  Maybe she could do this after all.

Relena clasped her hands together, "Well for the reason why I brought you hear Serena.  I have…well Miliardo, and I, have both agreed to go to the Moon, to arrange a meeting with their Queen to form an alliance.  I want you to come along, as my private maid."

Visibly paling, she replied, "Th…The Moon!  I…" Relena smiled, "Oh good, you agree.  We leave tomorrow.  Pack your things tonight.  And try not to be late alright, we leave at dawn."  Relena then turned to Miliardo, leaving Serena to her own thoughts.  Is this my punishment, for leaving my Princess duties to be a servant for a week?

She sighed, her heart falling to her toes.  Everything was falling apart on her.  She had actually found someone who seemed to detest her; she had been whipped for behind tardy, and nearly killed by a horse.  But now, worst of all, she was going back home.  There was no way she could hide from her personal guards.  Or her own mother.  Dejectedly she turned to leave.  "Dear lord, what happened to you back?"  Serena froze at the sound of Miliardo's voice, and bowed her head low.  She had forgotten to not to turn around.  "I…I was punished, for being late.  I'm sorry your highness.  It wont happen again."

How many times now, had she apologized for something?

Relena cried out, "By whose order?  I never granted the power to such a person!"  Serena bit her bottom lip, and turned back around, "the head maid Mrs. Kettle, your highness."  Relena frowned, "she is the one who needs punishment.  I told her, that you could sleep in, with your injury from yesterday.  Brother, call one of the soldiers, and tell him to escort Serena, to the infirmary.  I need to speak with Mrs. Kettle."

~~~~

She watched as he came in, and shivered visibly.  She could see his hatred radiating off of him in waves.  The anger licked her with an intense flame.  She took an unconscious step back from him, as he stalked towards her.  "What's wrong with you now?"  Her bottom lip trembled, but she tried her best to hold back the tears.

His eyes looked her over, but he couldn't see any wounds or injuries.  He grabbed her roughly by the shoulders, and jerked her forward.

She cried out in pain, and the tears fell from her eyes, as her knees buckled beneath her.  She pitched forward, startling him.  The cloth of her dress was frail and thin.  So thin, that the blood had soaked through the fabric, before it had dried.  She pulled away, and whispered another apology.  When she heard nothing from him, she looked up from the floor, to find not what she had expected.  She had feared the repulsive look, had expected to find at least disgust.  But the shock, and boiling fury, was something new.   His eyes even appeared to flash red in the dwindling light of a candle.

In one stride, he lifted her up into his arms, and pulled her legs up to wrap around his waist.  Shocked, her hands grabbed for his shoulders, to hold herself up.  Heat raced along her veins, as his hands tightened their hold at her thighs.

What was he doing?  If anyone saw them…  her eyes glanced around, but found not a sole in the hallway.  He was carrying her, as he walked down the hall in long easy strides.  Her cheeks reddened when she looked at him.  He didn't have to carry her.  She was able to walk, slowly, but she could still get there on her own two feet.

This was embarrassing!

The doctors were out in town, leaving the infirmary empty, except for him and her.  He laid her down on one of the white beds, letting her lay on her stomach.  He came back to her side, with gauze tape, and disinfectant.  He looked down at her face.  She knew what he saw.  A frail girl who always got herself in trouble.  How pathetic she had become!

He looked at her back, and his brows drew into a firm line.  He looked ready to kill, and the thought formed a lump in her throat.  Was he mad that he had to help her?  Again?  If it were such a bother she would do it herself.

"I can do it, you don't have-" without acknowledging her, he took a cloth, and soaked it into the disinfectant liquid, before pressing it against her back.  She cried out, tears pouring from her already swollen eyes.  A sob bubbled from her throat.  He touched her again, and he watched her body stiffen at the touch.  Her hands fisted around a handful of sheets, and she buried her face into the pillow on the bed.

He cleaned her wounds slowly, taking special care to be gentle.  When he was done, he took the gauze, and redid the bandaging to her upper body, making it tight over the wounds.  When he was sure he had done a good enough job, he began to clean up.

Serena relaxed, when he left her side, to put away the gauze tape, and the bowel of liquid.  She watched him carefully, and she felt so grateful, that he had been willing to help her.  "Thank you sire."

He glanced at her, and replied, "Heero."  She nodded slightly, and repeated, "Thank you Heero."  This time, he didn't say anything, but calmly looked about the room.  Serena dropped her head back onto the pillow, and inhaled deeply.  She braced her hands on the edge of the bed, and pushed herself up.  She got that far, and couldn't move.  She drew in a shaky breath, but the paralysis that took over her didn't let go.  Tears sprang from her eyes, but she forced them back to dwell on later.

Suddenly, two strong arms slipped underneath her, and gently lifted her off the bed, and onto her feet.  Her cheeks warmed, the feel of his hands burning into her skin, even after he let her go.  She looked up into his eyes once she was steady on her feet.  She bowed her head.  He may hate her, but she felt grateful for him.  Even though he found himself angry with her, be he still had helped her.  He still cared enough to take her away from the pain of her injuries.

He lifted her chin to raise her gaze up to his face, and curtly ordered, "Go."  She numbly nodded, and took a step back.  She felt a brush of wind touch her chest, leaking through the gauze tape, and her flush deepened.  His scowl was brief, before his face became a blank mask.  He helped her back into her dress, and loosely tied the back.  He turned his back on her, as he ordered, "go get some rest."

"Thank you sire, thank you."  With that said, she scurried out of the room.

~~~~

Serena spent the rest of the day, doing her chores, and packing her things, for the trip to the Moon.  She wasn't ready to go back yet, but she didn't have a choice.  She sighed heavily, and dropped one of the many maid clothes; Mrs. Kin had been nice enough to give her.

She bowed her head, and sat down on the bed.  She touched her forehead, and traced the invisible crescent moon there.  It flashed, but didn't appear.  It wouldn't, until the moon rose.

She climbed to her feet, and finished packing the little of what she had here.  A knock on the door startled her.  She stared at her bedroom door, and wearily asked, "Who is it?"

There was silence at first, and she reached over for the hairbrush.  She held it tightly, intent on protecting herself.  "Hn."  She raised an eyebrow in question, when a grunt came as a reply.  Flabbergasted, she walked to the door, the hairbrush raised to pummel, if she was the least bit threatened.

Turning the knob, she cracked it open far enough, to see her late afternoon visitor.  She frowned, when she saw him, but opened the door letting him in.  "Heero?"  He stalked past her, and the door slammed behind him.

She jumped in surprise, her heart pounding in alarm.  What have I done now?  Slowly, she turned to look at him, as he circled the room like a caged animal.  Dear Serenity what have I let in?  He stopped in front of the small window, the only one in the tiny bedroom that had been given to her.  All the other servant quarters, had been filled, so she was given one of the many rooms on the second floor.  But she was to work harder, to earn it.  And so far, she had.

"Can I help you Heero?"  She liked saying his name, and the feel of it roll off her tongue.  Just his name, screamed excitement.  His dashing looks, promised mystery, and his voice guaranteed pleasure.  She flushed, at her wandering thoughts, and looked away.

After a second of silence, he finally held up a thin sheet of black cloth.  "I need your help."  He spat out the words as if they were vile.  She winced, but nodded.  Stepping towards him, she took the black cape, and shirt from him.  She noticed his eyes assessing her, and she felt her cheeks burn beneath his hard stare.  "Yes, I am much better sire.  Again thank you for treating my wounds."  He scowled, and shot back, "Heero."

Serena nodded, and sat down on the edge of her bed.  She laid out the cloth, and studied it there was something wrong.  "What is it you would like me to do Heero sir?"  His eyes narrowed at her, "Heero.  I can't sew."  She glanced up at him with a frown, before turning to the fabric.  Holding it up, she found the problem she couldn't see before.  Down the middle of the cape was a large gash.  "Oh my Serenity!!!!  You're not hurt are you?"  She looked at him, her eyes searching for some kind of terrible wound.

Embarrassed by her searching eyes, he crossed his arms over her chest.  "No.  It was only a scrape.  Now you wanted to help, so sew it up so I can leave."

Serena flushed, and dropped her gaze, to the cloth she clutched to her chest.  How embarrassing.  She stood, and walked to her vanity.  She sat down, and opened a drawer.  Mrs. Kin had given her a sewing kit, and had told her that soldiers would come to her, expecting her to sew up their uniforms.  She looked at him through the mirror, and watched as he moved closer, to see what she was doing.

She threaded the black string through the small hole in the needle, before she searched the cape for the slash, and began her work. In and out, an easy stitch her best friend had taught her, when they were younger.  It had come in handy to hide all the times she had nearly destroyed her dress.  "If you ever rip a hole in your dress, you can sew it right up to hide any evidence of your adventure.  Here, I'll show you how Sere."  They had laughed, and enjoyed the task of sewing up the nice huge hole in her dress.

Serena sighed.  She missed her home greatly, and all of her friends, but most of all, she missed her mother.

It wasn't until she glanced in the mirror, did she realize, he had snuck up behind her, and was leaning over her shoulder.  She jumped, her heart slamming against her rib cage, like a wild beast wanting to break free.  He looked at her briefly through the reflection of her eye, and grunted.  "Are you done?"

Looking down, she nodded feebly.  Heero took it from her, and held it up to the light to see.  She watched him study her work, and she felt her heart swell with pride, when he nodded curtly.  He looked at her, and his eyes caught hers in a hard stare.  She swallowed, as a blush crept across her cheeks.  "Thanks."

She stood, as she spoke, "you're welcome sir…" she trailed off, when her eyes fell onto his mouth, on their own accord.  It had formed a straight line when she had spoke.  "I mean.  You're welcome Heero."  Saying his name, felt foreign, but great all at the same time.  She smiled, and bowed slightly.  "Would you like me to drop them off at the river for you tonight."

He eyed her oddly, and Serena hastily continued, "Don't worry, I wont even have time to wash them.  I have to leave tomorrow with Princess Relena."

He grunted, and tossed the clothes on the bed, "Yes, if you want."  She eagerly nodded, "Yes, I'd love to."  He frowned, but didn't protest.  When he suddenly lifted his armor over his head, Serena drew in a sharp breath.  He slipped off the shirt he wore, and tossed it with rest of the clothes.  He reached for his pants, and she squeaked in protest.

He looked at her oddly, and wondered why it bothered her so much to see him- even if he was only half naked.  Her face was dark with a flush, and he had only taken off his shirt.  He grunted, and picked up one of the drying towels from the stack on her vanity.  She had yet to put them away, from washing, and drying them earlier that day.

With a roll of his eyes, he motioned for her to turn around, and she did.  She heard him slip off his pants, and kick them off from the ankles.  They slid across the floor, and stopped next to her.  She would have picked them up, but a certain naked man beat her too it.  She gasped, staring at his bare back, and felt her stomach drop to her toes, while her heart stopped.  He stood, and held out the pants to her.

He looked calm, and collected as if he had let many women see him naked.  She could only stare at his tall rugged form, in shock.  He frowned, but before he could make a word of annoyance, she squeaked, "Are you crazy?"

He scowled, and held the knot at his hips tightly, while his other hand jerked towards her with the pants.  "You don't just undress in front of a lady!!!  Don't you know what happens if you do????"  He raised an eyebrow, clearly not understanding her.  "This is the third time I've seen you half uncovered.  And you almost saw me completely uncovered.  If this got out, we would have to be married."

He snorted; his eyes held a bemused look in them.  "You're old century.  That hasn't been the law, in years.  Was your mother old century?"  Serena scowled, "It's not funny.  You're a crazy!  Get out of my room!!  You pervert!!!  I'll call the guards!"

He rolled his eyes, "I'm the captain of the guards."  He threw his pants at her, turned, and stalked out of the room, before she could comply.  "Y-you perverted jerk!!!"  She spat at the floor he had stood on, and held tightly onto the pants he had tossed at her. 

She'd show him.

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Well here's another chapter…  I'm in a little slump, so I thought I would add this chapter now, before I completely forget to.  So I hope you liked it, and I believe you guys will be anticipating the next chapter.

Replies to my reviewers:

Elemental Angel Number 4: Yea I know… but they are the perfect couple.  Opposites do attract…  sorry about you having to give up, maybe you can come back to it later once you get pass any struggles.  I always hate it when I have to put my schoolwork before my writing, but it has to be done…

AnimeGirl: Yes I completely agree.  With exams gone I feel this huge weight lifted from my shoulders… WOOT I can breathe again. Hehe…I'm glad this is one of your favorite stories…

Moongirl: sorry I was vague on that, but its better than what I had originally written.  This is an old story, and I just reread it did a little tweaking, and wrote the ending.  I did do well on my exams.  B's mostly.  One D, but that was in Chem…  so that aint too bad… at least I passed…

Twiggirl06: hehe glad you liked the last chapter…

Hikari:  I don't mean to embarrass you.  Hehe but you are the best pre pre-reader… you're so quick at getting the chapter back to me…

Silly Smiles: thanks for the luck I could use all that I can get.  In fact I did pretty good…  glad you like the story…

Well that's all,

LP