I do not own Gundam Wing, nor do I have any rights to it whatsoever. Please don't sue me.
Recreate Me: I Crumble: Chapter Four
Warning: I just want to remind everyone, since its been such a long time since I've posted on this story, to pay close attention to the dates, so you don't get too confused. The two scenarios in this chapter both take place on July 20th, however, they take place a year apart. As in past chapters, the most recent date (AC208) is told first, followed by the earlier date (AC207). I promise that the later will catch up to the former. Why did I chose such an odd way to tell this story-for dramatic purposes of course! Anyway, on to the story.
AC 208, 20 July
Lady Une cracked her knuckles in irritation and clenched her jaw as she listened to the lieutenant. He dutifully and evenly reported the massacre that had taken place in the Northern Africa two days before.
"...As you can clearly see, Madam Commander, not only were numerous men from the wrong sect killed, but also women and children from both sides. The Wellington family warehouse was, again, as you have seen, riddled with corpses. There were no survivors within a 100 meter radius of the warehouse, Sir."
Lady Une looked him straight in the eye, and drummed her fingers impatiently. "Well, Milliardo," she began patronizingly, "it appears as though your brilliant idea to keep Yuy under our control seems to have failed, what would you say?"
Zechs, composed as ever, easily ignored her tepid demeanor. "I realize his defection, Commander, and am starkly grieved by it, such as it is. I have my reputation-my life invested in keeping Yuy's objectives (or returning them to) one in the same with the Preventors."
Une's eyes darkened considerably as she slammed her hands on her desk. "Peacecraft! The entire point of this was to eliminate Yuy from being a threat by engaging his interests! It was not to make him even more of a loose cannon by fueling his misguided sense of pride and justice, which, I daresay, you have more than successfully done!" She resumed her seat and scribbled something on her desk calendar. "My security tells me that he has been frequenting the Vice Foreign Minister's home over the past year. . . When was he last there, do you know?"
"Relena says she has not heard from him for near to one month," he reported, gritting his teeth.
"You are aware of the danger in this friendship?" Une asked. Zechs honored her with a nod.
"There will be no returning Yuy's interests back to those of the Preventors. He has long left those behind. By acting on his own conscience, instead of his orders, he has condemned himself. If he is not dead within one month's time, I will make sure it is accidently leaked to the press that you personally financed Winner's assassination. You can consider that a threat." She tossed a large envelope at him. "You are dismissed, Lieutenant."
He stood, still grinding his teeth. He left an aura of rage in his wake.
----------
Zechs wrung his hands as the screen in front of him flashed again the scenes of carnage from Africa. It was the same footage he had just showed Une. And though his composure was cold and calm, his wringing hands gave away the turmoil inside at the very product of Yuy's obvious betrayal. He had slaughtered the lot of them. There were only a few members of each family yet living.
Yuy would pay dearly for this act. As Une had ordered, he would pay with his life. And though he was now employing the help of Change, he promised himself that he would finally end his long time feud with the boy. He would be the one to kill the bastard. He sneered to himself as he imagined the man his hands itched to slay. He had to stifle a growl as he pictured his sister in Yuy's arms, as he had come in upon them spooning a month ago.
Zechs watched in satisfaction as Chang allowed his lips to curl in disgust. A snarl escaped his throat. How could people do this to each other even now, when all others strove for peace; Zechs knew this is what the younger officer was thinking.
The screen switched off, and Zechs rose, crossing his arms. He faced the corner, avoiding eye-contact with Chang. "I assumed that you have already deduced that this is no ordinary feud.."
Wufei nodded, awaiting further explanation.
The Preventors hired an independent moderator-a former terrorist turned mercenary (of sorts)-to keep things under control. However, this agent, as you saw, got a little carried away. We have had no contact with him for the past fifty-two hours.
"He's running then?"
Zechs nodded, "Uned and I have agreed that you should be the one to track him, if you have no objections."
A sour glare lingered on Wufei's face, his fury at the injustice barely being bottled by his pride. "When do I get the file?"
Zechs looked him straight in the eye. "You get no file. The mercenary is Heero Yuy. That should be enough information."
Chang's hands gripped his armrest with white knuckles. "The bastard's snapped. . ." he breathed.
-------------
AC 207, 20 July
The sun was high, but it was uncharacteristically cool for the end of July. It had rained for the past week. The sun had just peeked over the clouds earlier that morning. He smiled inwardly as he checked his watch, forcing the smile to manifest itself outwardly on his face as a pre-mission warm-up. It was 10:45 am. At 10:47 am, every Thursday morning Relena snuck from her office for an early lunch break to the bookstore/café two blocks from her office.
She rounded the corner right on time. Today, he noted, she wore a lavender pant-suit with a pearl necklace and pearl earrings to match. She gripped her white handbag in front of her as her white heals clicked with determined strides. Heero counted to thirty, then folded the news magazine he hadn't been reading and headed for the bookstore. He walked straight to the café at the back of the store. He stood in front of the stack of newspapers as if deliberating over whether to pick up the Times or the Post. He reached thirty once again, and grabbed whichever issue was on top before hiding behind it's randomly opened pages while standing in line. Relena took her place at a table for two in the far corner. Her nose was buried in a novel, the reason, he presumed for her weekly trips to this antiquated place. She would call it quaint.
He ordered two tall black coffees, knowing she was allergic to chocolate and didn't fancy hot and foamy drinks. He flashed a generous tip when ordering a freshly made cherry danish to be delivered to his table with two forks in exactly five minutes. The tart, though seemingly a small gesture, was overall a pivotal step in today's short mission objective.
He snuck up to her from behind and cleared his throat. Annoyingly, she didn't respond as he would have supposed. The book enraptured her so that her awareness was down. He frowned, then replaced it with his usual straight face; it was the one he knew she would be expecting. "Is this seat taken?" He asked evenly. Her eyes grew as he sat down, raising her coffee cup before setting it in front of her. She closed her book and set it aside. He noted the title-Wuthering Heights.
"Can I help you, Heero?" she asked. He sipped his coffee before offering her his best attempt at a sheepish grin. He had practiced it last night. It had the desired affect of causing her to drop her guard and smile as she absently fiddled with Quatre's ring.
"I saw you sit down when I was in line. I thought maybe you would like some coffee." On cue, she sipped her drink.
"Well, thank you" She took another slow sip. " Do you come here often, Heero?"
He shook his head. "I just came in for coffee and a paper." He held up the paper he had been hiding behind in line. "Do you come here often, Relena?"
She watched him, checking for any sign, any hint of embarrassed hesitation in his actions. He didn't waver, and Heero Yuy most definitely did not get embarrassed. "Occasionally," she said, reading the glittering smile in his eyes as the server delivered a steaming rolled cherry danish in front of her. She regarded the two forks and lowered her eyes from view of his manipulative, yet subtle flirtations.
"What's the matter? Do you not like these? I can have them bring us something else?"
The distress in his voice sounded so sincere, and out of place in his words that she met his eyes with a startled and genuine smile. A slight blush graced her cheeks. "Oh no. Actually, it is my favorite. He handed her a fork with the same adorably sheepish grin he had given her before, and allowed her the first bite. She was acutely aware of her lips as she blew on the bite to cool it. The pastry was absolutely superb. She said as much. He nodded in response.
Under the table, his toe brushed hers. He drew back for a moment, and then he placed his foot beside hers, rubbing gently at her heal. No blush rose to his cheeks. In fact, no thing above the table gave way to the luxury he was taking underneath it.
They ate the rest in silence until Heero had the final bite en route for his mouth. He realized his mistake just in time. He excused himself and reversed the direction of his fork, feeding the last bite to Relena. She accepted it willingly, but awkwardly. A bit of red filling clung to the corner of her mouth. Heero wiped it away with his index finger and then licked it clean.
To Relena's temporary internal disbelief, his color had not changed to reveal the slight blush she had expected. He was not sitting in a relaxed possessive hunch like Quatre used to do, leaning slightly on his elbows, a boyish grin on his face and love in his eyes.
Heero ran through conversation topics in his head, but could not think of any of the suitable ones he had thought of the night before. The one thing he thought of, he could not mention, for sake of the mission. If he did speak of her glaring lack of a personal body guard, as he might have in another situation, she would accuse him of being a single-minded and impossible man. He was drawing a blank, until he noticed her unconscious nervous fumble with the ring Quatre had given her.
He gazed at it pointedly until she followed his eyes, when she stopped her messing, leaving the ring positioned upside down. His fingers righted it with the gentlest touch. Then, he held her hand to his nose, examining the ring closely.
"You still wear his ring. Why?" He said.
Relena promptly pulled her hand away and stood. "I need to be getting back."
Afraid he had spoiled his mission, Heero stood just as quickly, leaving her book and his newspaper behind. In an unnoticed chivalrous gesture, he pushed her chair back after she'd gone. In two quick strides he had caught up with her and had linked her arm through his. "I'll walk you."
"I can't possibly be seen with you in public like this. It will start all sorts of rumors," she protested, but did not pull away. He smiled, noting her annoyance, yet confused acceptance of his attentions.
"Is there something wrong, Relena, with two old friends walking together in a comfortable and familiar way?"
Relena frowned at him, as they rounded the corner. "Heero Yuy, you and I both know that you have never acted comfortable and familiar-until today. Speaking of which, your conduct today has left me wondering just exactly what it is that you want from me."
He stopped, effectively halting Relena as well. His face contorted with thought as he looked at her, stroking her hand with his thumb. She willed herself not to blush as he raised that hand to her cheek and held it there as he spoke.
"I don't think I can define for you what sort of relationship I want to have with you. But, I do know that I want you to trust me-more than anything."
"Heero. . ."
He let his hands fall to his sides and he turned to leave, counting this time to five. Right on time, Relena reached for his wrist, and he turned to face her.
"Heero I do trust you," she said. "I'm just confused by you."
He took her hands in his, pulled her close and brushed his lips against hers, breathing, "then trust me, Relena," as he turned, leaving her alone on the street.
He smirked to himself inwardly as he tucked his magazine further into his pocket. All was on schedule. If he calculated correctly, Relena would be his in a year-maybe more. Then balance would be restored.
Ah well, there you have it, finally. A good, new part to a story! I quite like it now that the story has finally actually begun, and we can get into the exciting stuff! I hope you all enjoyed it as well! Let me know what you think.
Recreate Me: I Crumble: Chapter Four
Warning: I just want to remind everyone, since its been such a long time since I've posted on this story, to pay close attention to the dates, so you don't get too confused. The two scenarios in this chapter both take place on July 20th, however, they take place a year apart. As in past chapters, the most recent date (AC208) is told first, followed by the earlier date (AC207). I promise that the later will catch up to the former. Why did I chose such an odd way to tell this story-for dramatic purposes of course! Anyway, on to the story.
AC 208, 20 July
Lady Une cracked her knuckles in irritation and clenched her jaw as she listened to the lieutenant. He dutifully and evenly reported the massacre that had taken place in the Northern Africa two days before.
"...As you can clearly see, Madam Commander, not only were numerous men from the wrong sect killed, but also women and children from both sides. The Wellington family warehouse was, again, as you have seen, riddled with corpses. There were no survivors within a 100 meter radius of the warehouse, Sir."
Lady Une looked him straight in the eye, and drummed her fingers impatiently. "Well, Milliardo," she began patronizingly, "it appears as though your brilliant idea to keep Yuy under our control seems to have failed, what would you say?"
Zechs, composed as ever, easily ignored her tepid demeanor. "I realize his defection, Commander, and am starkly grieved by it, such as it is. I have my reputation-my life invested in keeping Yuy's objectives (or returning them to) one in the same with the Preventors."
Une's eyes darkened considerably as she slammed her hands on her desk. "Peacecraft! The entire point of this was to eliminate Yuy from being a threat by engaging his interests! It was not to make him even more of a loose cannon by fueling his misguided sense of pride and justice, which, I daresay, you have more than successfully done!" She resumed her seat and scribbled something on her desk calendar. "My security tells me that he has been frequenting the Vice Foreign Minister's home over the past year. . . When was he last there, do you know?"
"Relena says she has not heard from him for near to one month," he reported, gritting his teeth.
"You are aware of the danger in this friendship?" Une asked. Zechs honored her with a nod.
"There will be no returning Yuy's interests back to those of the Preventors. He has long left those behind. By acting on his own conscience, instead of his orders, he has condemned himself. If he is not dead within one month's time, I will make sure it is accidently leaked to the press that you personally financed Winner's assassination. You can consider that a threat." She tossed a large envelope at him. "You are dismissed, Lieutenant."
He stood, still grinding his teeth. He left an aura of rage in his wake.
----------
Zechs wrung his hands as the screen in front of him flashed again the scenes of carnage from Africa. It was the same footage he had just showed Une. And though his composure was cold and calm, his wringing hands gave away the turmoil inside at the very product of Yuy's obvious betrayal. He had slaughtered the lot of them. There were only a few members of each family yet living.
Yuy would pay dearly for this act. As Une had ordered, he would pay with his life. And though he was now employing the help of Change, he promised himself that he would finally end his long time feud with the boy. He would be the one to kill the bastard. He sneered to himself as he imagined the man his hands itched to slay. He had to stifle a growl as he pictured his sister in Yuy's arms, as he had come in upon them spooning a month ago.
Zechs watched in satisfaction as Chang allowed his lips to curl in disgust. A snarl escaped his throat. How could people do this to each other even now, when all others strove for peace; Zechs knew this is what the younger officer was thinking.
The screen switched off, and Zechs rose, crossing his arms. He faced the corner, avoiding eye-contact with Chang. "I assumed that you have already deduced that this is no ordinary feud.."
Wufei nodded, awaiting further explanation.
The Preventors hired an independent moderator-a former terrorist turned mercenary (of sorts)-to keep things under control. However, this agent, as you saw, got a little carried away. We have had no contact with him for the past fifty-two hours.
"He's running then?"
Zechs nodded, "Uned and I have agreed that you should be the one to track him, if you have no objections."
A sour glare lingered on Wufei's face, his fury at the injustice barely being bottled by his pride. "When do I get the file?"
Zechs looked him straight in the eye. "You get no file. The mercenary is Heero Yuy. That should be enough information."
Chang's hands gripped his armrest with white knuckles. "The bastard's snapped. . ." he breathed.
-------------
AC 207, 20 July
The sun was high, but it was uncharacteristically cool for the end of July. It had rained for the past week. The sun had just peeked over the clouds earlier that morning. He smiled inwardly as he checked his watch, forcing the smile to manifest itself outwardly on his face as a pre-mission warm-up. It was 10:45 am. At 10:47 am, every Thursday morning Relena snuck from her office for an early lunch break to the bookstore/café two blocks from her office.
She rounded the corner right on time. Today, he noted, she wore a lavender pant-suit with a pearl necklace and pearl earrings to match. She gripped her white handbag in front of her as her white heals clicked with determined strides. Heero counted to thirty, then folded the news magazine he hadn't been reading and headed for the bookstore. He walked straight to the café at the back of the store. He stood in front of the stack of newspapers as if deliberating over whether to pick up the Times or the Post. He reached thirty once again, and grabbed whichever issue was on top before hiding behind it's randomly opened pages while standing in line. Relena took her place at a table for two in the far corner. Her nose was buried in a novel, the reason, he presumed for her weekly trips to this antiquated place. She would call it quaint.
He ordered two tall black coffees, knowing she was allergic to chocolate and didn't fancy hot and foamy drinks. He flashed a generous tip when ordering a freshly made cherry danish to be delivered to his table with two forks in exactly five minutes. The tart, though seemingly a small gesture, was overall a pivotal step in today's short mission objective.
He snuck up to her from behind and cleared his throat. Annoyingly, she didn't respond as he would have supposed. The book enraptured her so that her awareness was down. He frowned, then replaced it with his usual straight face; it was the one he knew she would be expecting. "Is this seat taken?" He asked evenly. Her eyes grew as he sat down, raising her coffee cup before setting it in front of her. She closed her book and set it aside. He noted the title-Wuthering Heights.
"Can I help you, Heero?" she asked. He sipped his coffee before offering her his best attempt at a sheepish grin. He had practiced it last night. It had the desired affect of causing her to drop her guard and smile as she absently fiddled with Quatre's ring.
"I saw you sit down when I was in line. I thought maybe you would like some coffee." On cue, she sipped her drink.
"Well, thank you" She took another slow sip. " Do you come here often, Heero?"
He shook his head. "I just came in for coffee and a paper." He held up the paper he had been hiding behind in line. "Do you come here often, Relena?"
She watched him, checking for any sign, any hint of embarrassed hesitation in his actions. He didn't waver, and Heero Yuy most definitely did not get embarrassed. "Occasionally," she said, reading the glittering smile in his eyes as the server delivered a steaming rolled cherry danish in front of her. She regarded the two forks and lowered her eyes from view of his manipulative, yet subtle flirtations.
"What's the matter? Do you not like these? I can have them bring us something else?"
The distress in his voice sounded so sincere, and out of place in his words that she met his eyes with a startled and genuine smile. A slight blush graced her cheeks. "Oh no. Actually, it is my favorite. He handed her a fork with the same adorably sheepish grin he had given her before, and allowed her the first bite. She was acutely aware of her lips as she blew on the bite to cool it. The pastry was absolutely superb. She said as much. He nodded in response.
Under the table, his toe brushed hers. He drew back for a moment, and then he placed his foot beside hers, rubbing gently at her heal. No blush rose to his cheeks. In fact, no thing above the table gave way to the luxury he was taking underneath it.
They ate the rest in silence until Heero had the final bite en route for his mouth. He realized his mistake just in time. He excused himself and reversed the direction of his fork, feeding the last bite to Relena. She accepted it willingly, but awkwardly. A bit of red filling clung to the corner of her mouth. Heero wiped it away with his index finger and then licked it clean.
To Relena's temporary internal disbelief, his color had not changed to reveal the slight blush she had expected. He was not sitting in a relaxed possessive hunch like Quatre used to do, leaning slightly on his elbows, a boyish grin on his face and love in his eyes.
Heero ran through conversation topics in his head, but could not think of any of the suitable ones he had thought of the night before. The one thing he thought of, he could not mention, for sake of the mission. If he did speak of her glaring lack of a personal body guard, as he might have in another situation, she would accuse him of being a single-minded and impossible man. He was drawing a blank, until he noticed her unconscious nervous fumble with the ring Quatre had given her.
He gazed at it pointedly until she followed his eyes, when she stopped her messing, leaving the ring positioned upside down. His fingers righted it with the gentlest touch. Then, he held her hand to his nose, examining the ring closely.
"You still wear his ring. Why?" He said.
Relena promptly pulled her hand away and stood. "I need to be getting back."
Afraid he had spoiled his mission, Heero stood just as quickly, leaving her book and his newspaper behind. In an unnoticed chivalrous gesture, he pushed her chair back after she'd gone. In two quick strides he had caught up with her and had linked her arm through his. "I'll walk you."
"I can't possibly be seen with you in public like this. It will start all sorts of rumors," she protested, but did not pull away. He smiled, noting her annoyance, yet confused acceptance of his attentions.
"Is there something wrong, Relena, with two old friends walking together in a comfortable and familiar way?"
Relena frowned at him, as they rounded the corner. "Heero Yuy, you and I both know that you have never acted comfortable and familiar-until today. Speaking of which, your conduct today has left me wondering just exactly what it is that you want from me."
He stopped, effectively halting Relena as well. His face contorted with thought as he looked at her, stroking her hand with his thumb. She willed herself not to blush as he raised that hand to her cheek and held it there as he spoke.
"I don't think I can define for you what sort of relationship I want to have with you. But, I do know that I want you to trust me-more than anything."
"Heero. . ."
He let his hands fall to his sides and he turned to leave, counting this time to five. Right on time, Relena reached for his wrist, and he turned to face her.
"Heero I do trust you," she said. "I'm just confused by you."
He took her hands in his, pulled her close and brushed his lips against hers, breathing, "then trust me, Relena," as he turned, leaving her alone on the street.
He smirked to himself inwardly as he tucked his magazine further into his pocket. All was on schedule. If he calculated correctly, Relena would be his in a year-maybe more. Then balance would be restored.
Ah well, there you have it, finally. A good, new part to a story! I quite like it now that the story has finally actually begun, and we can get into the exciting stuff! I hope you all enjoyed it as well! Let me know what you think.
