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Stronger
Chapter 5 -The Space Between
"Well, well, well" came an amused, familiar voice. "Look what the cat dragged back home."
"You're still around I see and you seem to be the same as always" Relena observed as she turned to face her unannounced visitor.
"Well looks like the little kitty has grown some sharper claws". The amused voice came again.
"Why are you here? How exactly did you get passed my security?" she said as she turned back to the papers in her hand "I have a speech to give"
"Yes the global announcement of your return to the world and hopefully the vice foreign office. Well you're majesty I wouldn't want to miss this I want a nice front seat"
"Shouldn't you be rotting in a prison cell somewhere?"
"Probably, we should talk in more detail at some point in the future. However for now you must concentrate on your speech. Goodbye for now your highness"
Relena turned and watched as the door quietly closed. 'Something to look forward to, a nice chat with old friends perfect' looking at the table in front of her, Relena sighed and looked down at the words on the paper. Her head began to ache as the words on the page began to get blurry and meld into each other. She leaned the palm of her hand onto the side of her head as she sat at the desk. She felt the stress of what she was about to do, edge back into her mind.
"Are you alright" Said a voice, interrupting her musing? It was the cold emotionless voice that she knew all to well.
"Fine" She said not forgetting the last time they were in a room, alone together 'Let the good times roll' she though as an amused smile graced her lips.
"I asked you a question" came Heero's stoic reply
"I gave you an answer. Even though it puzzles me as to why you should care" She said finally to face his unmasked face showing his pent up frustration for the first time. Rising from her seat and trying to look indifferent to his presence.
"I suppose its time to face the masses" Relena said picking up her prepared speech.
"Is that now how you see people Relena? As the masses, time as certainly changed you're views. Maybe the position of vice foreign minister is no longer suited to you"
"Heero Yuy" Relena said in a firm voice "It was a figure of speech, honestly." She threw her hands up in frustration "Who exactly then would you have take the job instead then Heero? Maybe David Wells? Although there wasn't any prove of his involvement in supplying White Fang with weapons or maybe you want to help you're girlfriend, are you afraid that I will ruin her chances?"
"Relena" Heero said "How did you…" He never got any further as Relena raised her head fully.
"I think I heard enough from you in one day or maybe one life time. Now if you have finished insulting my intentions towards the people of the world and colonies I have a speech to make"
Heero looked momentarily taken a back. He wasn't sure he liked the new Relena and how did she know about his relationship with Sylvia. He knew now was not the time to ask Relena was not in the right frame of mind at the moment.
"I have to check the route" he said stopping her from walking out the door.
"Heero, the press conference is being held in the living room. I am not going to be attacked from here to there"
"It's my job"
"Well so far you are doing a wonderful job" the sarcasm was oozing from her.
"What is that suppose to mean?" he said eyeing her suspiciously
"Absolutely nothing. I was being really genuine about my gratitude towards you're brilliant protecting skills" of course Relena was referring to her early visitor but was not going to tell him anything about that to Heero. The lapse in security would never have happened four years ago perhaps time has lulled his skills or a certain woman has distracted him too much so now he is incompetent in his job. Relena looked at him pondering these exact thoughts me she would voice them at a later time. Now she had focus on her speech.
"Well you better hurry, the route needs to be walked" she faced the window and didn't look back as she heard him leave. She felt the familiar pain in her heart as she heard the losing of the door. Clutching a fist she pressed it into the pain in her chest. Was this feeling ever going to leave her? She had to focus, now was not the time to worry about this.
She waited for Heero to return with the grim look still on his face. She took the time to really look him over. He was taller and broader in the chest; he wore the preventer uniform pristinely.
"Relena its time to go"
"Let's do it" she turned and hurriedly went out the door, not stopping to see if he had followed. She walked into the now converted front room to press conference arena. Her desk was clean and shiny. The room was now filled with TV cameras and strange TV crew running around muttering into their ear phones.
"All the crew have been passed the security clearance, so don't worry" a voice said in her ear.
"Well I'm completely reassured" she whispered back
"Miss Darlin, we are ready for you" a strange high pitched voice interrupted the two. "My name is Pierre and I will be you're director for today" Relena got her first good look at the man approaching her. He had a purple beret on with slicked back black hair. A Hawaiian style shirt with tight leather completed his look.
"Very nice to meet you Pierre" Relena replied as the initial shock had worn off "It's nice to be working with you"
"Ca-va bien merci" he replied in his thick French coated accent "I of course jumped at the chance to meet Relena Darlin the Dove of Peace herself" He bended and planted a kiss on her hand
"Dove of Peace I haven't been called that in a long time" a forlorn look crossed her face briefly. So quick that Heero wasn't sure if he had seen it or not. "Anyway Pierre where would you like me"Relena said smiling brightly
"Of course my darling" Pierre clasped her hand and lead her towards the desk. "I must say you look absolutely divine is that Calvin Klein" he asked looking at her seat.
Heero didn't know what he hated more. This guy drooling all over Relena or actually touching her. He was working on keeping his anger in check before he went over there and taught him about invading people's personal space. He stood near a camera and watched this guy and Relena interact quietly; he couldn't hear what they were saying but made a mental note to check out this guy again.
"Well whose is the tall, brooding, handsome guy who won't stop glaring at me" Pierre asked Relena who looked shocked to the core.
"Huh"
"Miss Relena if looks could kill, I would be ten foot under by now. Who is he lover, boyfriend or jealous ex?"
"Erm… he is my Bodyguard" she replied speaking in a lower voice
"Oh right, so its one of those can't get involved with his assignment" Pierre said patting her arm in comfort. Relena smiled at him, she genuinely likes him, and he is open, warm and friendly.
"No its one of those he has a girlfriend and considers me more of a babysitting job than anything else"
"Well by the way he looking at you I don't think he has babysitting in mind. Typical jealous attitude, look at his stiff body language that just screams sexual frustration" he was looking at Heero from the corner of his eyes and Relena was beginning to get nervous.
"Maybe he just anxious to get home to his girlfriend" Relena replied trying to sound indifferent
"Yes and maybe I go to the gym to work out and not stare at the fine men in their lycra shorts" Pierre eyed her amusingly "Or maybe he is really in denial"
"Heero in denial I really doubt that" Relena looked at Pierre 'Where did this guy come from'
"Shame I would have loved to take a crack at him but alas I will have to stay with Ronald"
"Who's Ronald if you don't mind me asking" she said politely has he helped her to sit down in the seat that was station in front of the camera.
"My long time partner, fabulous hair and gorgeous smile" Pierre said dreamily
"You sound happy "she said not being able to keep the envy out of her voice
"I am, had to fight for my man" nudging Relena he smiled and said "you know had to fight of the competition but it was worth it in then end"
"Does that have some kind of hidden meaning" she eyed him
"Of course not sweetie, now show me that beautiful smile because its time to face you're public" he walked off and stood near Heero behind the camera
"And in five we are live five …
"Four
Three
Two
One and go" said the man pointing at Relena. She took a deep breath and smiled for the camera just like Pierre had said
"Ladies and Gentlemen, My name is Relena Darlin and I am now in the running for the post of Vice Foreign Minister…
On the farthest colony, sat a man in a deep, plush purple sofa, he sat with a small single malt whiskey in his right hand and in his left a half smoked cigar. He was currently watching the news with only mild interest, occasionally taking a sip from the tumbler in his hand. The taste of the whiskey on his thick black moustache caused it to tingle a bit. He relaxed more into the chair and tried to focus once more on the television screen in front of him.
"And now we go live to the Peacecraft Mansion in the Sanq Kingdom for a live press conference with the former vice foreign minister Relena Darlin".
"Ladies and Gentlemen, My name is Relena Darlin and I am now in the running for the post of Vice Foreign Minister…
The man had to do a double take at the screen before his fist closed around the tumbler in anger and the broken shards of glass cut into his skin. He barely registered the blood flowing from his wounds as he stood up in anger and threw the remains of the glass against the wall
"Stupid bitch" he shouted as he fumed in anger
The red camera light when off signally that the interview was over, Relena took a deep breath and sat back in her chair.
"Darling, you were absolute fab" Pierre said clasping his hands together in glee
And smiled at her, he nudged Heero "Wasn't she beautiful?" he asked
Relena watched as the pilot looked from her back to the director who had just nudged him. Relena rubbed the migraine that was forming 'Oh God' she thought 'Heero going to kill him'
Heero gazed returned back to her and he remained silent for so long that people had started other conversations no longer waiting for his reply, however if the had and if they had listened very carefully they would have heard the small 'yes'.
Relena got up from her seat and said a formal goodbye to Pierre, she walked right past Heero 'Out of sight, Out of mind' was the new tactic she was going to take with the silent, deadly sexy bodyguard. 'Maybe if I ignore him, then he will just go away' she thought hopefully. Relena came outside the double doors and began walking down the corridor, she could hear the footsteps fallen into place behind her but said nothing. She could feel a new wave of nausea coming over her but the realisation that sooner or later they will all need to be told the truth about when she has been and what is going on made her feel tired and old.
"I am going to bed Heero" Relena spoke confidently
"I know my job, Relena" he said in a cold 'don't mess with me attitude'
he carried on walking and pretended that he had given no reply "I am going to sleep and I don't need some hired babysitter to tuck me" she had reached her bedroom and put a slightly shaky hand on the door.
"I have to check the room. I have to keep you safe" he spoke softly has he looked at her back.
His words touched the coldest part of her heart, brief hope entered a small smile formed but as soon as it appeared on her face it was gone again.
"Do you're security checks then leave" she commanded, her headache was getting worse and she needed her pills.
Heero went around the room in slow, agonising movements that were slowly making Relena crazy.
"Heero" her voice was loud and stern, something Heero was not used to, he turned and faced her more from the shock of her voice "Its fine and I am tired" she said looking at the bed. He crossed the room with no more than two strides and his face was an inch from hers.
"What's wrong with you? Where have you been?" the concern he momentarily showed on his face surprised Relena.
'Stay strong' she said in her mind. She put her hand on the open door and politely ignored his question and said "Get out Heero" from her tired expression and posture Heero decided to leave, he was not going to be put off forever he silently vowed as he closed the door behind him and headed to his room which was next to hers
'Sooner or later Relena, you will answer my questions' he vowed.
A/N – So sorry for the long wait. This chapter is more of space filler, after this one the story will begin to move at a slightly faster pace.
Who's the angry man? Who the stranger at the beginning? Where as Relena been? And the classic question Who is Relena informant?
Also I am in my final year of college which means lots of work and trying my best to get into a decent university so please forgive me if updating is a slow process.
To my Reviewers, you are all lovely and I love you all. Also anyone who interested in being a beta please e-mail me. It won't for just this story but all my stories.
Luv Neo