Chikyuu Defender Beyblader - Thanks, I love praise. We also have a few things in common, I love the Year of the Cat books but I think I read them when I was like fourteen and haven't been able to find them in my Library since. Oh yeah, I also love Yu-Gi-Oh and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but then I think nearly everyone I've ever talked to on does. Thanks again for the review and keep reading.
Cleverwitch – As I've said above, I love praise. Thanks.
Stalker of Dreamz – You've made some good points, I need constructive criticism and pointers, I will do my best to follow your advice, but I'm afraid I've got that bad habit of adopting a screwy style and not being able to adjust. Oh and just so you know, you're a bad influence, I checked your profile and ended up reading nearly all of your favourite stories. Keep reading plz, thanks for the review.
MissAnnThropy2600 – Yeah the formatting was tricky, thanx for your offer of beta reading, this doesn't mean you're allowed to stop reviewing though ; o)
Reignashii – I shall try and keep my story interesting, I'm pretty sure you'd tell me if it was losing its lustre. Thanks for your review, keep it up.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Gundam Wing (Unfortunately) But I do worship it. So please don't sue.
Huge thanks go to Redaura and MissAnnThropy for beta reading. Don't forget to R & R, thanks...
The atmosphere inside the sleek black Preventer vehicle matched the climate on the outside, humid, quiet and stifling.
She wasn't exactly certain when her political vestige of propriety had evaporated; she only knew that over the last few years she had become accustomed to hiding her emotions and facial expressions behind a mask of careful consideration. That mask was now shattered. From the moment Heero had arrived at her side unforeseen, saving her life in a single spilt second instant...
It wasn't that she was particularly affected by the attack at the benefit, events such as the one demonstrated only a half hour ago were expected, and Relena had endured enough to know that possible assassination attempts and attacks were part of the job, it was never personal, just part of the territory when you were the Vice Foreign Minister of the ESUN. What Relena hadn't been prepared for was the sudden arrival of a certain intense individual who had been missing from her life for a momentous two years.
Heero had never saved her in the past, why now?
Speaking of said person, Relena cast a curious glance to her right. Beside her, Heero sat motionless, gaze focussed on the road outside his window, Prussian blue eyes still searching for threats that weren't coming. He was still the boy she had met on the beach three years ago. Contained, determined, with an air of indifference and a body that rippled with raw power.
Only he wasn't a boy anymore, he was...
A brief glance from her saviour prompted her to find the scenery outside her own window very interesting. It didn't however; stop a faint flush from colouring her cheeks. Ridiculous really, so much for her earlier claims of being changed.
"Hey," Duo called from the drivers seat. "Are you two okay back there?"
Her response was automatic. "Fine."
So was Heero's. "We're not being followed, head for Preventer Headquarters."
Duo snorted, voice laced with humour. "You got it, perfect soldier."
Judging from his expression Duo seemed to find his reply as predictable as she did. She sighed, something she had a habit of doing when she was annoyed or frustrated. Trust Heero Yuy to remain fixated on his mission, personal inquiries rejected and left at the door in favour of his objective. If she had changed, Heero definitely hadn't.
A faint melody filled in the silence as Duo hummed along to some tune or other floating through his head, the added reminder that she wasn't alone in the car with the perfect soldier did a lot to soothe her frayed nerves. It wasn't fair that his proximity could affect her like this. She was an adult. Her hormones should not be raging. There was no excuse.
He was imposing though, a careful voice argued from somewhere deep inside her mind, taller, with a better build that filled out his grey polo shirt and moulded black jeans to long muscular ...
On impulse her hand flew up to smack against her forehead. The answer was obviously no. A huge resounding no. She looked up, meeting both questioning stares of the cars other occupants, and blushed. Well damn! She thought she had that involuntary reaction under wraps. "Too much champagne at the benefit." She lied; the press certainly had something right, she mused randomly, as Heero returned his attention back to the window, politicians were accomplished grade A liars. The truth was, she rarely ever drank alcohol. But Heero didn't need to know that, she would rather he thought she was a raving alcoholic attending regular AA meetings than a spoilt, simpering little princess swooning over him.
The ex pilot of the Deathscythe raised a suspicious eyebrow. "But Rei, you never-"
"Shouldn't you be watching the roads?" She interjected, shooting her friend a look that said; "Finish that sentence and you're a dead man!"
Duo cast her his Devil May Care smile and gave nonchalant shrug. "Sure," his tone of voice indicating he knew the exact reason why she was blushing.
Well double damn! She fumed, she was Relena Darlain Peacecraft, Vice Foreign Minister of the ESUN, she faced down possible threats to the Earths peace everyday, persuaded the most stiff collared conservatives to bend to her will within the blink of an eye and, lunched with the Prime Minister on a regular basis. And yet here she was, floundering under the presence of the Perfect Soldier.
It was totally uncalled for.
Sighing again, she reflected on how impressive he had been after the initial attack, hauling her to her feet with gun in hand, ignoring the cries of others and dragging her toward the nearest exit while covering them. Duo awaiting them in the ally with the commandeered Preventers car. How they had co-ordinated this she could not fathom. All the same she was grateful for it. She had to idea were her usual guard detail was now. She hoped they hadn't been killed.
"Nearly there, boys and girls." Duo called over his shoulder, slowing the car as it cruised down one of the more familiar lanes to Relena.
"Wait!" Relena exclaimed, abruptly, a pointed question brimming forth from her befuddled consciousness. "Why are we going to Preventer Headquarters? Why aren't you taking me home?"
Heero answered, without looking at her. "Because it may not be a secure location."
It was her turn to snort, one of the many bad habits she had picked up from spending far too much time with Duo. She couldn't keep some derision from her voice as she replied "Heero, please. Lady Une has my house sealed up tighter than Fort Knox. I hardly think-"
This time Heero did look at her as he spoke. "I don't recall asking for your opinion."
From somewhere in the front of the car Duo chuckled. Relena could only stare, speechless. How dare he?! Was the only thought she could muster, she opened her mouth in an attempt to voice her outrage at being dismissed in such a manner. But stopped as the guard at the Headquarter outpost rushed from the station toward the car. Heero tensed, ready for action as Duo wound down the black plated windows.
"Mr Maxwell." The guard addressed, voice full of urgent questioning as he reached the car. "Is the Vice Foreign Minister with you?"
"Yeah, "he replied, winking in the rear view mirror for the benefit of those in the backseat. "Right now she seems to have lost her voice."
Relena was in the middle of spluttering when the guard's response cut her off. "Oh thank God for that!"
"What?" The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them.
The guard seemed caught between relief and sympathy. "I think Lady wants to be the one to tell you ma'am."
"No." Relena retorted, eyes narrowing. "What's going on? Why are you so relieved I'm here?"
"Well, ma'am, I'm sorry to have to tell you this." The guard stuttered. "But your house was attacked and blown up, not even ten minutes ago."
"Blown up...?" Her voice sounded hollow as she parroted the guards' revelation. Everything seemed to blur for a minute and she didn't hear the rest of the interaction between Heero, Duo and the guard properly. Her house attacked and blown up?
She wasn't aware of holding her breath until a steady hand touched her arm. She turned to look into the face of Heero Yuy. It occurred to her that he had suspected something like this was going to happen. She looked into the face of her first and only love and couldn't think of what it was she was supposed to say, it seemed too unreal.
"Relena?" Heero said, reaching a hand up to her brow.
"Shock?" Duo queried.
A nod as response. "Relena?" Heero repeated, tone firm as he shook her shoulders slightly.
Relena blinked. Turning wide eyes on Heero. "What about Peygan?"
Both men remained quiet, their uncertainty written plain on their faces. It took her a few seconds to register that this attack had just become personal.
AUTHORS NOTE: Okay so this chapter is way late in coming I know. I swear it's not all my fault. It has everything to do with viruses and corrupted data and having to have my hard drive wiped so please don't give me shit, I'm still mourning all the stuff I've lost off of my memory. I also know there was a lot of Relena in this chapter but I promise Heero, Duo and even Zechs play a bigger part in the next on so review, the more reviews the quicker I'll post.
Duo: Yeah right, blame your computer.
Duo?
Duo: What?
Shut up!
Heero: smirks
Duo: What are you smirking at?
Here they go, I better go and hide all of Heeros guns again, there's no stopping them when they get like this.