Disclaimer: Of course I own Gundam Wing, why else would I post on the net for free. Okay, Okay. I don't own it.
Note: This fic is rated PG-13. This is a straight Relena and Heero pairing. There will be violence, particularly in the later chapters, but I don't think it will be too graphic. There will also possible be mild language.
Constructive critism is more than welcome. Flames will be used to roast marshmallows. Mmm.
Chapter 1
Heero squinted his eyes slightly, temporarily blinded as his eyes adjusted to the brilliance that flooded thought the two lavishly crafted doors. The doorman having taken their invitations gracefully ushered them in. Heero crossed the threshold, his companion walking slightly ahead of him. He paused at the side banister to the grand staircase, his sharp eyes automatically sweeping over the room with swift military precision cataloging each sound, scent, and person on the floor below. His gaze hesitated as it alighted on one soft golden head, his attention drawn to it like a beacon. Unconsciously, his piercing gaze softened slightly and his hands twitched ever so slightly on the wrapped object that he held within his hands. The head was turned away and he could not see her face, but he already knew who it was. He watched Relena as her head nodded to a richly garbed woman beside her. The woman was so overladen with finery that Relena almost looked plain beside her. Relena reached up teasing a lock of her hair, something that most people never noticed as out of the ordinary. Heero, however, knew it was something that she tended to do a lot when she was annoyed or in this case just possibly bored. He was abruptly shaken out of his musing as his previously forgotten companion spoke.
"Hello. Earth to Heero." Duo waved his hand in front of his face. Heero glared back at him in annoyance. "Come on it can't be that bad." He continued misunderstanding why he as standing there.
"I'm fine, Duo." Duo opened his mouth to reply but was interrupted by a call below them.
"Duo!" Hilde called. "About time you got here."
Duo smiled and waved back. "Hey babe, be down there in a minute." He turned back to Heero. "You're sure?" Heero answered with another one one of his steely glares, but Duo wasn't fooled. "Just remember what I said." A pause. "Oh and don't try to skip out on me either, I still have the keys." He smiled impishly as he twirled said keys on a finger and walked down the stairs. To lock arms with his date.
Heero stood there a moment longer, drawing a quick calming breath, before he too made his way down the staircase. He then smoothly threaded his way through the milling throng in search of Relena.
He came upon her not far from where he had seen her last. This time she and the overly garnished woman was also joined by a much older man. He looked possibly old enough to be her father, but from the way they acted around he other , more like lovers than family he surmise that infact they were more likely married. His guess was confirmed a moment later when he glanced the matching wedding bands. As he puzzled on that he watched the woman laugh loudly apparently at some joke that she had just made. Relena merely smiled back politely, though the smile did not reach her eyes. As the moment passed Relena's eyes resumed there previous activity, of calmly scanning the room, most likely looking for some means of escape from the self-absorbed couple. Not surprisingly neither the man nor the woman noticed her wavering attention. Her dulled senses suddenly snapped to attention and her wandering gaze paused for a moment as she sensed something, her gaze swung suddenly in his direction, her eyes widening in surprise. Her heart immediately kicking up its pace. She quickly, but politely excused herself murmuring about seeing an old friend. Though she was trying to be subtle, he smile inwardly in slight amusement as her hand reached up to self-consciously brush at her curls at the side of her face and smooth the folds of her gown. She tried to school her face to a sense of calm, though her eyes betrayed the emotions within. Heero watched her approach in a graceful, but brisk pace. They both paused awkwardly a foot away from each other. Heero wondering how she always did this to him. Relena found her voice first.
"Heero, you came." She said simply a slight smile on her lips as her gaze traveled over him noting the changes that had occurred in the year since she had last seen him. He had grown an inch taller and his shoulders had broadened quite a bit. The suit he wore fit him quite handsomely. His hair had been combed for once, but she could already she the strand fighting to regain there position of unruliness. His eyes... A slight frown graced her face as she looked into them. Heero suddenly uncomfortable under her gaze quickly glanced away, but not before she caught the glimpse of haunted pain and the dark circles that rested under his eyes. For the first time, she got to see for herself what had been bothering Duo about Heero's current state. Though Heero looked physically healthy, in that moment, she was able to see the affects that the nightmares and the lack of sleep had really been doing to him. She was suddenly filled with the need to help, but she wasn't really sure she really knew how, after all in a whole year he had never once come to see her, or at least never allowed her to see him. Though from time to time she had thought that she had felt his presence, but she couldn't be sure if that was truth or simply wishful thinking. Yet he had kept the promise he had made a year ago...
"Relena." Heero said his tone almost a question as he noticed her attention wander. She recovered quickly consciously removing the worried frown from her face.
"Its nothing." He held the gift up that he had brought.
"Happy Birthday." The words sounding foreign to his own ears.
"Thank you." She smile taking it from him leaving his hands suddenly empty and vulnerable. She placed it on a nearby table already filled with presents. She then took his hands looking meaningfully into his eyes. "This is my best present." Clearly not meaning the wrapped gift at all. At his look of surprise, her smile broadened. "Dance with me?" He nodded dumbly still slightly in shock.
On the far side of the room a man stood completely ignoring the group of people milling around him. He felt like he had been there for hours. In his hands, he nursed a glass of red wine. His piercing gaze swept the large room. When he saw the unusual couple walk towards the dance floor, his eyes narrowed to deadly slits and his hand clinched and shook causing the glass to crack. Red wine escaping through the newly made fissures. Soon, he thought his heart alight with long held anticipation. Soon it will be all over. He was completely impervious as the red wine formed tear drops as they seeped through the cracks running down to his hands like rivulets of blood.
TBC.....
Please review and tell me what you think.