Note: As always I own nothing but Heero and Noin's new pasts, their
relationships and the general plot of the story. Everything else is own by
rich people who I'd love to get in touch with so please don't anyone sue
me. Thanks to all those who have reviewed and I hope you like this next
chapter and tell all your friends about it cause I won't continue if I
don't get more reviews. Thanks and hope to hear from ya soon.
NOTE::::: THIS FIC IS RATED R PEOPLE!!!!! RATED R!!!!!! Don't read unless your mature enough to handle this. If your not a 6/9 fan I wouldn't read it either. ONCE AGAIN FOR THE RECORD THIS IS RATED R. THIS HAS SEX IN IT!!!!!
Love Is Not Enough?
Milliardo walked into the apartment that night and looking around saw that yes, it wasn't a joke. Most of Noin's stuff was gone, the stuff they'd bought together was still there but whatever she could have easily carried out that was hers was gone. Dropping his duffel bag on the floor he walked through all the rooms in the apartment in a daze, not really seeing any of it. What he did see was what his apartment had looked like before she'd moved in. He'd never been one for personal touches which was obvious now. It had been Noin's stuff and presence that had made this place a home. And now she was gone, without any warning or hinting. He could still remember the last time he'd seen her. She'd walked him out to the carrier for the meetings he and Relena had been going to. She'd kissed him on the cheek and had smiled her warm smile that had made him wish he could say to hell with it and stay on earth with her. He'd mentioned that they'd have to celebrate her birthday with a bang when he got back, asked her what she wanted this year. She'd simply smiled wider and said his safe return was the only thing she wanted, had given him that look that made him feel like he could do anything, be anything. She hadn't said anything about quitting, or being unhappy. Why hadn't she told him anything?
His last words had been 'don't give your new cadets too hard of a time General.' Milliardo thought with a shake of his head. Not I love you, or I'll miss you, but a joke. He didn't even know how to contact her; she hadn't left any information on how to contact her with anyone, least of all him. Swearing under his breath Milliardo marched out of the room and headed straight for their home office where their computer was. He wasn't going to let her go that easily; he'd find her, wherever she was. Turning it on he began to search for any hints as to where she might be. Three hours later he had nothing, as far as the world and colonies knew Noin was still here, somewhere. Either that or she'd disappeared into thin air. Both were good possibilities.
"Where the hell are you Noin?" Milliardo demanded out loud as he rubbed his tired eyes, having not even bothered to try and get some sleep. How could he sleep, when Noin wasn't beside him?
"Technically I'm right behind you." A familiar and loved voice said and whirling around in his seat Milliardo saw a lone figure in the doorway, her back resting against the door as she quietly watched him with calm eyes. He couldn't make out her other features at all but every nerve in his body was telling him exactly who it was and his heart began to beat once again at the knowledge that she wasn't gone. "If you want to be specific."
"Noin." Milliardo said softly then loudly as he hurled himself out of the chair and over to her, hauling her into his arms and into a crushing embrace. Holding her as close as their bodies allowed Milliardo held onto her like he'd never let her go, like she'd disappear into thin air if he wasn't careful. "What's going on Noin?" Milliardo finally asked after minutes had gone by and she'd said nothing. "Why didn't you tell me you were quitting?"
"I wasn't going to come back here to tell you, but I realized I'd be the worst kind of coward if I ran away without at least telling you myself." She finally said, gently pulling away from him so that she could look him in the eye. "I'm leaving Zechs, for good. I don't plan to ever come back. I was going to tell you but I knew you'd stop me somehow, I never planned to stay this long Zechs, I never planned to get involved with you." She said as she looked up at him, his head now cradled gently in her hands. "I can't stay Zechs, I just wanted to make sure you understood that."
"Why can't you stay?" Milliardo said staring at her as though he'd never seen her before. This wasn't like Noin, her voice sounded almost dead? What did she mean she had to go? She was his God dammit, he couldn't lose her, wouldn't lose her.
"Because I'm not who you think I am Zechs. Lucrezia Noin no more exists then Zechs Merquise did. I have another name, another birthday, another past you know nothing about, can never know about Zechs. It's time I live the life I was suppose to have, I don't belong in this life Zechs, its not real, it's not me." She said as she tried to explain it in a way he'd understand. I'd stay if I could but I can't, it wouldn't be fair to either of us."
"I don't care about your past or your name or any of that." Milliardo said, his head spinning with what she'd just told him. It had never occurred to him that Noin was just playing a part like him; it had never occurred to him that she'd been lying to him about her past. A lot of people had during the war, lied about who they were and how old they were. But it had never occurred to him that Noin had done so and never told him.
"You would if you knew." She said with a shake of her head. "You think that I'm sweet and kind, a nice person who's dedicated her life to improving the world. But I'm not Zechs, I've never been that person. I joined Oz for one reason and one reason only. Revenge. We'll I've had that Zechs, I've done what I set out to accomplish long ago, there's no point in me staying and I'm a danger to everyone if I stay."
"Why?" Milliardo said staring down at her, trying to process what she was throwing at him. It was like he'd been thrown into darkness and didn't know which way was up and down. He'd known her for so long and yet she'd just told him she didn't. Who was she, really? "Who are you Noin?"
"I have to go Zechs, trust me on this." She said as she moved away only to be yanked back against his chest. "Zechs.."
"No." Milliardo said before he lowered his head and caught her lips in a bruising kiss. Holding her tight he ravaged her mouth, daring her to try and break away from him. She could have, they both knew it, but she didn't. Instead with a hand that trembled slightly she dug her fingers into his hair and held his head, demanded that he not let her go, making her forget why this could never be. Why her love for him would destroy them both if she wasn't careful. Breathing hard their hands moved across each other's bodies, as familiar to them as there own as they peeled and ripped away barriers, both hungry to consume the other. Moving as one they made their way towards the bedroom leaving a trail of clothing behind in their wake. Time spent apart caught up with them as they struggled to control their raging demons. Bodies slick with exertion and sweat the two stared blindly at each other as they fell onto the bed together, Milliardo weight keeping her pinned to their bed.
Blue eyes meshing with dark purple, his eyes reflecting his desire and love for her, hers reflecting her desire and the hidden knowledge that this wouldn't sway her. She'd leave, but they had tonight. Either not willing to see it or refusing to believe it Milliardo simply lowered his head to brush his lips across her face. Slowly and lovingly he tried to show her with his actions that he loved her, that he didn't care what was in her past. Maybe at times she had been playing a role but he knew her, knew what kind of a person she was in her heart.
"Zechs." Rome breathed as she gently traced the plans and angles of his face with her fingertips, memorizing them with a desperation she hated but had expected. "You're suppose to be the one with the cool head here, not me."
"Never with you." Milliardo said as he turned his attention to kissing his way down her neck while she gave up and allowed him to have his way, she'd give him this final memory. Then she'd go. Whispering encouragement Rome wrapped her arms around his bare chest and hugged him tight as his lips brushed her bare chest and breasts. Purring her approval Rome moved her hands from around his chest to his shoulders where her nails dug in as he applied his tongue where his lips had been moments before, nowing just where to touch and kiss. Biting back a loud response Rome arched into the caress, her nails digging in deep enough to draw blood as she pulled his head up for a bruising kiss, their tongues mating as they would soon. Sensing her control completely deserting her Rome used all of her strength to push them over to their sides and then again so that she was on top. Looking down at him she grinned evilly and stradling him leaning over to place her own kisses all over his chest, gradually working her way down till he was in as much pleasure/pain that she'd been in. Licking the sweat off of his rock hard chest Rome felt his muscles bunch tightly under her and before she knew it she was once again under him and they had become one as they had always been meant to be. Moving in a rythm as old as time they took each other to Heaven and beyond.
A month later,
The Preventer known as Heero Yuy but had been born Paris Mcmaster stared at the pile of paper in front of him and sighed as he ran his fingers through his already thoroughly mussed hair. Maybe he should retire like Rome too, less paperwork. He'd rather be a soldier then a paper pusher any day. His sister had been gone for almost a month now, he still wasn't used to it, which just went to show how stupid he was being. He'd just gotten back from a two-week mission and already his thought had turned to her. Well he did have vacation time coming up, maybe he'd go visit her for a while.
"Heero!" Relena said waltzing into his small and crowded office, if you could call it an office, without bothering to knock, her blonde hair flying and her cheeks pink with emotion. "You're finally back already."
"Well hello to you too." Paris said with a smirk as he returned his Prussian blue eyes to the pile in front of him that only seemed to grow every time he looked at it. Better to look at the horror of paperwork then the proverbial forbidden fruit. "Why do I have a feeling you came here for reasons other then to welcome me back Relena?"
"I need you to do something for me." Relena said with something very similar to a puppy-dog look as she moved some paper piles so that she could actually see him clearly. Rolling her eyes at the way he was staring in mock fascination at the papers on his desk Relena placed a hand under his chin and moved his head so that he was looking up at her.
"What?" Paris asked suspiciously as he moved his head so that he didn't have to feel her touch. He knew that tone of voice anywhere; he wasn't going to like this favor at all. He'd probably end up doing it, but it was the principle of the thing. He was always grumpy and cool; it was the Heero Yuy image. It wasn't him though Paris thought and wondered briefly what Relena would say if he acted like he normally would in this situation. Pulling her into his arms and kissing her senselessly was his style, he'd probably end up slapped and in the med wing. Course it might be worth it he thought with a barely suppressed grin.
"I wouldn't ask you if it wasn't important Heero." Relena said earnestly turning her blue eyes on him pitifully. Damn but she knew just how to manipulate him Paris thought with no small amount of anxiety and worry. One of these days she was going to realize it and then there'd be hell pay.
"What is it Relena." Heero asked pinning her with his sharpest gaze that had been known to send grown men running in fear for their lives. "If its another mission or political gathering I just got back and I'm not interested."
"I need you to find Noin for me." Relena said leaning over so that their foreheads were practically touching as she prepared to plead her case to her favorite frowning soldier who didn't look at all eager to help her. "I know that if anyone can find her its you."
"You want me to find General Noin for you?" Paris asked, stunned at that request. Of all the things she could ask of him it had to be to find Noin. Especially since he'd gone to such lengths to keep anyone from finding her. Why hadn't she asked him to do something easy, like bring someone back from the dead or destroy earth; he'd rather do both then this. Rome was his sister, he couldn't turn her over to Relena. "She doesn't want to be found Relena, we should respect her wishes."
"But she has to come back Heero, she has to." Relena said making it sound like a life and death situation. "You have to Heero, Milliardo's life depends upon it."
"His life depends upon it?" Paris said skeptically. "Is he on a mission I didn't know about?" He knew Peacecraft wasn't, he kept track of everything that went on in Preventers and he knew that Milliardo wasn't away on anything. "And since when have I cared whether he lives or dies? Last time I checked we get along as well as Dorothy and Wufei."
"No he's not on a mission but if he was he'd probably be as suicidal as you use to be! He looks like a corpse Heero. Ever since Noin left its like he's lost the will to live. He's drinking heavily and I don't know what to do; its like he's turned into a shell and nothing matters anymore. You have to find her Heero, I'm afraid of what'll happen if she doesn't come back." Relena said desperately, tears coming to her eyes. "He's the only family I have left, I can't stand my and watch him slowly kill himself in front of me. Maybe he is a jerk to you but I couldn't bear it if something happened to him. Please Heero, please help me."
"Relena." Paris said, completely stunned. Could she me right? Could Milliardo really be that badly off? He'd always suspected that the other man felt more for his sister then he let on but could he really have cared for her that much? "Are you sure it's because of Noin leaving?"
"I'm sure Heero." Relena said with a hopeful look.
"I'll see what I can do." Paris said carefully, unable to look her in the eye. He'd see for himself what was going on with Peacecraft; he wouldn't make a decision until then. If Peacecraft was really that bad off then he'd contact Rome, otherwise he'd pretend to look around a bit and unfortunately have to report that he couldn't find anything.
"Relena guess what!" Duo said with glee as he came rushing into the room with a small, black disk in his hand and his long brown braid flying behind him. "I think I've found a way to find Noin, Relena. Heero knows where she is. She's still on earth!"
"What?" Relena said in surprise, Heero hadn't mentioned that he had found anything about Noin's whereabouts yet. "He didn't tell me he'd found her. Where is she?"
"Apparently he's known where she was for a while now, he simply had already promised her that he wouldn't give her away. That's probably why he's been so hesitant to help find her, he didn't want to betray her trust." Duo said cheerfully as he leaned up against Relena's desk. "The guy's loyal that way."
"So then how do you know that he knows?" Milliardo asked from the doorway. He was aware that his sister had asked the Gundam pilots to look for Noin. It was a lost cause, he'd been doing the same using every contact and favor he had bot had ended up with nothing. But could Heero really know where she was? Why would she have told him of all people?
"Well you see Lady Une asked me and Heero to check out all the computers on file to see if any of them have been used to send classified information to another source. Anyway Heero got called away to help Trowa with something so I went ahead and started going through the records. Well I was doing it I found faint signs of a past conversation between Heero and somebody that had been covered up and altered. I was curious so I took the time to bring it back, it wasn't easy and I lost the picture and the sound ain't great but its there. And if the voice on the other end wasn't Noin then I'll shave my head." Duo said with a huge grin on his face as he set the disk on Relena's desk with a mock bow. "And here it is."
"Maxwell I can't believe it." Relena said picking up the disk. Looking across the room at her brother she held it out to him. "Did you find out where she is too Duo?"
"Naw, they're both too good for that. As it was I was lucky to recover as much as I did." Duo said with a shrug. "They both used heavy duty coding here and if I hadn't been looking for it I would have never seen it in a hundred years. I don't know whether or not she's coming back though. Apparently she and Heero are meeting during his leave. That's probably why he asked for it."
"Let's hear it then." Milliardo said motioning with his head towards Relena's computer, eager to see what the disk would reveal about Noin's whereabouts. She'd snuck out of their apartment before he'd woken up, he'd reached for her and she hadn't been there. She'd simply retreived the note she'd written earlier and had left it on her pillow. The last few weeks had been hell, worse if that was possible.
Understanding Relena pushed the disk in and accessed the disk memory banks. Pushing a few buttons the room was filled with the sounds of the voices of Heero Yuy and Lucrezia Noin.
Flashback
"What's up?" Rome asked as she looked into the screen image of her brother as she pulled her hair up into a high ponytail.
"You have long hair." Paris commented as he took in her new look. "Extensions?"
"Hey, I've had short hair for long enough, I wasn't about to wait for it to grow to the length I wanted it. Besides, no one can tell." Rome said as she rolled her eyes as she took a sip from her water glass. "Now what do I owe the pleasure."
"I need you to do something and you know I wouldn't ask you this if it wasn't really important." Paris said as he smiled at her weakly.
"What's wrong?" Rome asked instantly picking up on the worry in her little brother's voice. "Sue-Ling said everything went as planned on your last mission. Are you hurt?" she asked with a touch of worry in her words.
"I'm okay, it's Peacecraft." Paris said as he struggled to find the words that would convince her to come. She didn't look any worse for the wear, she was a bit thinner and she had faint circles around her eyes but she didn't look even half as bad as Peacecraft.
"Which one?" Rome asked looking even more worried now. She hadn't realized how much it would hurt to be away from Zechs until now. If she'd thought him leaving after the war had hurt it was nothing compared to now. Could it be that he missed her as much as she missed him?
"The older one, the one you were involved with and hates my guts. The one who currently is looking like a walking corpse and is actually so involved with his suffering that he hasn't given me my weekly lecture once this month." Paris said as he leaned forward. "The one who's responsible for the fact that everyone is looking for you and is driving me insane as we speak."
"What?" Rome said, her voice filled with a touch of fear. "He looks like a corpse? Everyone's looking for me? What's going on?"
"I've seen better looking dead bodies on the battlefield." Paris said perfectly serious as he mock shuddered at the thought. "I'm not kidding, I really think the guy's become another old me. If you thought I was going suicidal." he added, the meaning clear.
"That bad?" Rome said, her voice so faint it was almost a whisper.
"That bad. Look I'll be there in four days on holidays. I'll talk to you then, I have to get going before someone tracks this transmission." Paris said. "I'll talk to you then."
"Okay." Rome whispered and with a faint and forced smile signed off.
Well? What do you think? Please review and let me know what you think cause your opinion matters
NOTE::::: THIS FIC IS RATED R PEOPLE!!!!! RATED R!!!!!! Don't read unless your mature enough to handle this. If your not a 6/9 fan I wouldn't read it either. ONCE AGAIN FOR THE RECORD THIS IS RATED R. THIS HAS SEX IN IT!!!!!
Love Is Not Enough?
Milliardo walked into the apartment that night and looking around saw that yes, it wasn't a joke. Most of Noin's stuff was gone, the stuff they'd bought together was still there but whatever she could have easily carried out that was hers was gone. Dropping his duffel bag on the floor he walked through all the rooms in the apartment in a daze, not really seeing any of it. What he did see was what his apartment had looked like before she'd moved in. He'd never been one for personal touches which was obvious now. It had been Noin's stuff and presence that had made this place a home. And now she was gone, without any warning or hinting. He could still remember the last time he'd seen her. She'd walked him out to the carrier for the meetings he and Relena had been going to. She'd kissed him on the cheek and had smiled her warm smile that had made him wish he could say to hell with it and stay on earth with her. He'd mentioned that they'd have to celebrate her birthday with a bang when he got back, asked her what she wanted this year. She'd simply smiled wider and said his safe return was the only thing she wanted, had given him that look that made him feel like he could do anything, be anything. She hadn't said anything about quitting, or being unhappy. Why hadn't she told him anything?
His last words had been 'don't give your new cadets too hard of a time General.' Milliardo thought with a shake of his head. Not I love you, or I'll miss you, but a joke. He didn't even know how to contact her; she hadn't left any information on how to contact her with anyone, least of all him. Swearing under his breath Milliardo marched out of the room and headed straight for their home office where their computer was. He wasn't going to let her go that easily; he'd find her, wherever she was. Turning it on he began to search for any hints as to where she might be. Three hours later he had nothing, as far as the world and colonies knew Noin was still here, somewhere. Either that or she'd disappeared into thin air. Both were good possibilities.
"Where the hell are you Noin?" Milliardo demanded out loud as he rubbed his tired eyes, having not even bothered to try and get some sleep. How could he sleep, when Noin wasn't beside him?
"Technically I'm right behind you." A familiar and loved voice said and whirling around in his seat Milliardo saw a lone figure in the doorway, her back resting against the door as she quietly watched him with calm eyes. He couldn't make out her other features at all but every nerve in his body was telling him exactly who it was and his heart began to beat once again at the knowledge that she wasn't gone. "If you want to be specific."
"Noin." Milliardo said softly then loudly as he hurled himself out of the chair and over to her, hauling her into his arms and into a crushing embrace. Holding her as close as their bodies allowed Milliardo held onto her like he'd never let her go, like she'd disappear into thin air if he wasn't careful. "What's going on Noin?" Milliardo finally asked after minutes had gone by and she'd said nothing. "Why didn't you tell me you were quitting?"
"I wasn't going to come back here to tell you, but I realized I'd be the worst kind of coward if I ran away without at least telling you myself." She finally said, gently pulling away from him so that she could look him in the eye. "I'm leaving Zechs, for good. I don't plan to ever come back. I was going to tell you but I knew you'd stop me somehow, I never planned to stay this long Zechs, I never planned to get involved with you." She said as she looked up at him, his head now cradled gently in her hands. "I can't stay Zechs, I just wanted to make sure you understood that."
"Why can't you stay?" Milliardo said staring at her as though he'd never seen her before. This wasn't like Noin, her voice sounded almost dead? What did she mean she had to go? She was his God dammit, he couldn't lose her, wouldn't lose her.
"Because I'm not who you think I am Zechs. Lucrezia Noin no more exists then Zechs Merquise did. I have another name, another birthday, another past you know nothing about, can never know about Zechs. It's time I live the life I was suppose to have, I don't belong in this life Zechs, its not real, it's not me." She said as she tried to explain it in a way he'd understand. I'd stay if I could but I can't, it wouldn't be fair to either of us."
"I don't care about your past or your name or any of that." Milliardo said, his head spinning with what she'd just told him. It had never occurred to him that Noin was just playing a part like him; it had never occurred to him that she'd been lying to him about her past. A lot of people had during the war, lied about who they were and how old they were. But it had never occurred to him that Noin had done so and never told him.
"You would if you knew." She said with a shake of her head. "You think that I'm sweet and kind, a nice person who's dedicated her life to improving the world. But I'm not Zechs, I've never been that person. I joined Oz for one reason and one reason only. Revenge. We'll I've had that Zechs, I've done what I set out to accomplish long ago, there's no point in me staying and I'm a danger to everyone if I stay."
"Why?" Milliardo said staring down at her, trying to process what she was throwing at him. It was like he'd been thrown into darkness and didn't know which way was up and down. He'd known her for so long and yet she'd just told him she didn't. Who was she, really? "Who are you Noin?"
"I have to go Zechs, trust me on this." She said as she moved away only to be yanked back against his chest. "Zechs.."
"No." Milliardo said before he lowered his head and caught her lips in a bruising kiss. Holding her tight he ravaged her mouth, daring her to try and break away from him. She could have, they both knew it, but she didn't. Instead with a hand that trembled slightly she dug her fingers into his hair and held his head, demanded that he not let her go, making her forget why this could never be. Why her love for him would destroy them both if she wasn't careful. Breathing hard their hands moved across each other's bodies, as familiar to them as there own as they peeled and ripped away barriers, both hungry to consume the other. Moving as one they made their way towards the bedroom leaving a trail of clothing behind in their wake. Time spent apart caught up with them as they struggled to control their raging demons. Bodies slick with exertion and sweat the two stared blindly at each other as they fell onto the bed together, Milliardo weight keeping her pinned to their bed.
Blue eyes meshing with dark purple, his eyes reflecting his desire and love for her, hers reflecting her desire and the hidden knowledge that this wouldn't sway her. She'd leave, but they had tonight. Either not willing to see it or refusing to believe it Milliardo simply lowered his head to brush his lips across her face. Slowly and lovingly he tried to show her with his actions that he loved her, that he didn't care what was in her past. Maybe at times she had been playing a role but he knew her, knew what kind of a person she was in her heart.
"Zechs." Rome breathed as she gently traced the plans and angles of his face with her fingertips, memorizing them with a desperation she hated but had expected. "You're suppose to be the one with the cool head here, not me."
"Never with you." Milliardo said as he turned his attention to kissing his way down her neck while she gave up and allowed him to have his way, she'd give him this final memory. Then she'd go. Whispering encouragement Rome wrapped her arms around his bare chest and hugged him tight as his lips brushed her bare chest and breasts. Purring her approval Rome moved her hands from around his chest to his shoulders where her nails dug in as he applied his tongue where his lips had been moments before, nowing just where to touch and kiss. Biting back a loud response Rome arched into the caress, her nails digging in deep enough to draw blood as she pulled his head up for a bruising kiss, their tongues mating as they would soon. Sensing her control completely deserting her Rome used all of her strength to push them over to their sides and then again so that she was on top. Looking down at him she grinned evilly and stradling him leaning over to place her own kisses all over his chest, gradually working her way down till he was in as much pleasure/pain that she'd been in. Licking the sweat off of his rock hard chest Rome felt his muscles bunch tightly under her and before she knew it she was once again under him and they had become one as they had always been meant to be. Moving in a rythm as old as time they took each other to Heaven and beyond.
A month later,
The Preventer known as Heero Yuy but had been born Paris Mcmaster stared at the pile of paper in front of him and sighed as he ran his fingers through his already thoroughly mussed hair. Maybe he should retire like Rome too, less paperwork. He'd rather be a soldier then a paper pusher any day. His sister had been gone for almost a month now, he still wasn't used to it, which just went to show how stupid he was being. He'd just gotten back from a two-week mission and already his thought had turned to her. Well he did have vacation time coming up, maybe he'd go visit her for a while.
"Heero!" Relena said waltzing into his small and crowded office, if you could call it an office, without bothering to knock, her blonde hair flying and her cheeks pink with emotion. "You're finally back already."
"Well hello to you too." Paris said with a smirk as he returned his Prussian blue eyes to the pile in front of him that only seemed to grow every time he looked at it. Better to look at the horror of paperwork then the proverbial forbidden fruit. "Why do I have a feeling you came here for reasons other then to welcome me back Relena?"
"I need you to do something for me." Relena said with something very similar to a puppy-dog look as she moved some paper piles so that she could actually see him clearly. Rolling her eyes at the way he was staring in mock fascination at the papers on his desk Relena placed a hand under his chin and moved his head so that he was looking up at her.
"What?" Paris asked suspiciously as he moved his head so that he didn't have to feel her touch. He knew that tone of voice anywhere; he wasn't going to like this favor at all. He'd probably end up doing it, but it was the principle of the thing. He was always grumpy and cool; it was the Heero Yuy image. It wasn't him though Paris thought and wondered briefly what Relena would say if he acted like he normally would in this situation. Pulling her into his arms and kissing her senselessly was his style, he'd probably end up slapped and in the med wing. Course it might be worth it he thought with a barely suppressed grin.
"I wouldn't ask you if it wasn't important Heero." Relena said earnestly turning her blue eyes on him pitifully. Damn but she knew just how to manipulate him Paris thought with no small amount of anxiety and worry. One of these days she was going to realize it and then there'd be hell pay.
"What is it Relena." Heero asked pinning her with his sharpest gaze that had been known to send grown men running in fear for their lives. "If its another mission or political gathering I just got back and I'm not interested."
"I need you to find Noin for me." Relena said leaning over so that their foreheads were practically touching as she prepared to plead her case to her favorite frowning soldier who didn't look at all eager to help her. "I know that if anyone can find her its you."
"You want me to find General Noin for you?" Paris asked, stunned at that request. Of all the things she could ask of him it had to be to find Noin. Especially since he'd gone to such lengths to keep anyone from finding her. Why hadn't she asked him to do something easy, like bring someone back from the dead or destroy earth; he'd rather do both then this. Rome was his sister, he couldn't turn her over to Relena. "She doesn't want to be found Relena, we should respect her wishes."
"But she has to come back Heero, she has to." Relena said making it sound like a life and death situation. "You have to Heero, Milliardo's life depends upon it."
"His life depends upon it?" Paris said skeptically. "Is he on a mission I didn't know about?" He knew Peacecraft wasn't, he kept track of everything that went on in Preventers and he knew that Milliardo wasn't away on anything. "And since when have I cared whether he lives or dies? Last time I checked we get along as well as Dorothy and Wufei."
"No he's not on a mission but if he was he'd probably be as suicidal as you use to be! He looks like a corpse Heero. Ever since Noin left its like he's lost the will to live. He's drinking heavily and I don't know what to do; its like he's turned into a shell and nothing matters anymore. You have to find her Heero, I'm afraid of what'll happen if she doesn't come back." Relena said desperately, tears coming to her eyes. "He's the only family I have left, I can't stand my and watch him slowly kill himself in front of me. Maybe he is a jerk to you but I couldn't bear it if something happened to him. Please Heero, please help me."
"Relena." Paris said, completely stunned. Could she me right? Could Milliardo really be that badly off? He'd always suspected that the other man felt more for his sister then he let on but could he really have cared for her that much? "Are you sure it's because of Noin leaving?"
"I'm sure Heero." Relena said with a hopeful look.
"I'll see what I can do." Paris said carefully, unable to look her in the eye. He'd see for himself what was going on with Peacecraft; he wouldn't make a decision until then. If Peacecraft was really that bad off then he'd contact Rome, otherwise he'd pretend to look around a bit and unfortunately have to report that he couldn't find anything.
"Relena guess what!" Duo said with glee as he came rushing into the room with a small, black disk in his hand and his long brown braid flying behind him. "I think I've found a way to find Noin, Relena. Heero knows where she is. She's still on earth!"
"What?" Relena said in surprise, Heero hadn't mentioned that he had found anything about Noin's whereabouts yet. "He didn't tell me he'd found her. Where is she?"
"Apparently he's known where she was for a while now, he simply had already promised her that he wouldn't give her away. That's probably why he's been so hesitant to help find her, he didn't want to betray her trust." Duo said cheerfully as he leaned up against Relena's desk. "The guy's loyal that way."
"So then how do you know that he knows?" Milliardo asked from the doorway. He was aware that his sister had asked the Gundam pilots to look for Noin. It was a lost cause, he'd been doing the same using every contact and favor he had bot had ended up with nothing. But could Heero really know where she was? Why would she have told him of all people?
"Well you see Lady Une asked me and Heero to check out all the computers on file to see if any of them have been used to send classified information to another source. Anyway Heero got called away to help Trowa with something so I went ahead and started going through the records. Well I was doing it I found faint signs of a past conversation between Heero and somebody that had been covered up and altered. I was curious so I took the time to bring it back, it wasn't easy and I lost the picture and the sound ain't great but its there. And if the voice on the other end wasn't Noin then I'll shave my head." Duo said with a huge grin on his face as he set the disk on Relena's desk with a mock bow. "And here it is."
"Maxwell I can't believe it." Relena said picking up the disk. Looking across the room at her brother she held it out to him. "Did you find out where she is too Duo?"
"Naw, they're both too good for that. As it was I was lucky to recover as much as I did." Duo said with a shrug. "They both used heavy duty coding here and if I hadn't been looking for it I would have never seen it in a hundred years. I don't know whether or not she's coming back though. Apparently she and Heero are meeting during his leave. That's probably why he asked for it."
"Let's hear it then." Milliardo said motioning with his head towards Relena's computer, eager to see what the disk would reveal about Noin's whereabouts. She'd snuck out of their apartment before he'd woken up, he'd reached for her and she hadn't been there. She'd simply retreived the note she'd written earlier and had left it on her pillow. The last few weeks had been hell, worse if that was possible.
Understanding Relena pushed the disk in and accessed the disk memory banks. Pushing a few buttons the room was filled with the sounds of the voices of Heero Yuy and Lucrezia Noin.
Flashback
"What's up?" Rome asked as she looked into the screen image of her brother as she pulled her hair up into a high ponytail.
"You have long hair." Paris commented as he took in her new look. "Extensions?"
"Hey, I've had short hair for long enough, I wasn't about to wait for it to grow to the length I wanted it. Besides, no one can tell." Rome said as she rolled her eyes as she took a sip from her water glass. "Now what do I owe the pleasure."
"I need you to do something and you know I wouldn't ask you this if it wasn't really important." Paris said as he smiled at her weakly.
"What's wrong?" Rome asked instantly picking up on the worry in her little brother's voice. "Sue-Ling said everything went as planned on your last mission. Are you hurt?" she asked with a touch of worry in her words.
"I'm okay, it's Peacecraft." Paris said as he struggled to find the words that would convince her to come. She didn't look any worse for the wear, she was a bit thinner and she had faint circles around her eyes but she didn't look even half as bad as Peacecraft.
"Which one?" Rome asked looking even more worried now. She hadn't realized how much it would hurt to be away from Zechs until now. If she'd thought him leaving after the war had hurt it was nothing compared to now. Could it be that he missed her as much as she missed him?
"The older one, the one you were involved with and hates my guts. The one who currently is looking like a walking corpse and is actually so involved with his suffering that he hasn't given me my weekly lecture once this month." Paris said as he leaned forward. "The one who's responsible for the fact that everyone is looking for you and is driving me insane as we speak."
"What?" Rome said, her voice filled with a touch of fear. "He looks like a corpse? Everyone's looking for me? What's going on?"
"I've seen better looking dead bodies on the battlefield." Paris said perfectly serious as he mock shuddered at the thought. "I'm not kidding, I really think the guy's become another old me. If you thought I was going suicidal." he added, the meaning clear.
"That bad?" Rome said, her voice so faint it was almost a whisper.
"That bad. Look I'll be there in four days on holidays. I'll talk to you then, I have to get going before someone tracks this transmission." Paris said. "I'll talk to you then."
"Okay." Rome whispered and with a faint and forced smile signed off.
Well? What do you think? Please review and let me know what you think cause your opinion matters