Guardian Shadow
Chapter 2: The Job
Heero didn't need Relena to tell him that Lady Une wanted him to work for the Preventers. He knew from Lady Une's reports about the security reduction that she knew he was guarding Relena and that she wanted him as her permanent body guard. He lived his life on his emotions, and he loved Relena, but he couldn't get close. She fell asleep and he tucked her into her soft warm bed before silently leaving the room again. Only she and her body guard knew he was even there tonight. He needed to finish some things up before he could fully relax.
He climbed back up to the roof of the hotel where he had 2 men tied up. They had actually gotten close to completing their mission, not many could claim to have even seen the Vice Foreign Minister in their attempt to kill or kidnap her before he stopped them. Heero had promised himself that he would never kill again, "I don't have to anymore." Those were his last words before passing out from exhaustion and injury when he broke the shield of Mariemaia's Brussels fortress and snuck inside to save Relena. His hands were stained with blood though.
Before the war he was an assassin, the youngest in the world, starting from birth he was trained to be a soldier and raised as a professional assassin. Then when he was 14 he started his mission as the Gundam Pilot of the Wing Gundam or Gundam 01as OZ called it. He accepted his missions without hesitation, and originally he had a very suicidal streak of accepting the missions that almost assured his death. He was too strong though and eventually fought through to gain peace for the world. Then a year later, Relena was kidnapped and he embarked on another near suicidal mission without his Gundam. His self proclaimed best friend helped him out. Though Duo was never one to leave things alone he had to make the comment "Anything for the one you love." After Heero stated that they had Relena. Fighting again this time so the people would see that you sometimes need to fight for peace, Heero protected Relena and her world of pacifism.
Now he was protecting her by keeping her from harm and giving her a peace of mind when he could. He took the two men to the local police, dropped them off and they were identified as known criminals. He didn't need to give a name or any other explanation. Though he had a forged fully credentialed computer background if one checked it that said he was a major in the Preventers that worked undercover. After finishing his dealings with those two he needed to go take care of his shoulder, change the bandages, clean the wound, and get some breakfast. Today was going to be a long day. He had to round up the rest of the 8 man team. Too bad they knew he was coming, but no matter he knew how to hide and get at who he wanted.
He got out of the shower and ate some rations in his commandeered warehouse. It was abandoned, but he needed a place no one would find him and hotels weren't his thing anyway. Throughout the course of the day he "picked off" the rest of the gang that had planned to take his Relena from him. Bringing them one by one to the police, except when one didn't have a record, then he took them with one that did so the new guy would be guilty by association. He got another shower, then he went to sleep in the shadows so no one would find him.
Relena woke the next morning very happy, much happier than she had been in a long time. It took her a few moments to remember why. Heero had been there and she had fallen asleep feeling safe in his arms. But he wasn't there now, and that worried her a little. He had come in last night with a non-bandaged bullet wound that looked like he received it no more than 10 minutes before. Now he was gone, and probably out there protecting her from the shadows again. His closest friend was after all the pilot of the Death Scythe, the gundam that was designed for stealth, and Heero was raised as an assassin, he had the roughest training from birth of the 5 pilots. She bathed, got a shower, then went outside to enjoy the beautiful day. Her guard asked about the boy that was in her room last night.
"He's an old friend, you don't need to worry about him," assured Relena. "After all, he keeps your job simple." That solidified who the guard had thought that guy was. He was fast, strong, and he had been shot. Though the guard only realized this when he looked at the bandages the Vice Foreign Minister was holding and when the man handed back the gun, his shoulder had some bandages wrapping what looked like a bullet wound. The boy was good, Lady Une must have been right about his training and childhood; the guy's skills were eerie. The guard walked along as the Vice Foreign Minister did some shopping, keeping a small distance so others would see him but the boy—no he was a man in a 17 year-old's body just as the Vice Foreign Minister was already a woman at her young age. Now he had someone to look for, someone he knew was out there watching. The guy was good, he only got a glimpse of him once as it looked like he hugged or maybe was it grabbed a bigger man, but when he tried to look again both were gone.
Relena finished her shopping and decided to have dinner watching the sunset. She never noticed how apprehensive and overly observant her guard was. He sat a few tables away, drinking a coffee and watching the other customers. He was now aware how easily someone could get to the Vice Foreign Minister. After he saw her go to her room for some rest he stayed on duty outside her door until 2300 that night. He went to bed and got up well before the Vice Foreign Minister did. He never noticed the man watching him and Relena all day and his guarding patterns.
The next morning Heero woke up and knew something was off. Then he noticed his jacket wasn't quite the way it was when he dropped it. Lifting it up he saw an envelope and realized someone had found him. His eyes went cold, he stared at white paper, then he opened it and read. "I know you're the one protecting that girl. You are not doing a good enough job. I could kill her. I issue a challenge. If she is still alive in after her next trip, you win. If she is dead, I win." Rage, fear, cold, those were the things in his emotions, but he couldn't act on them right now. This person was challenging him. And from what he could tell this one was good, real good. He was a fast thinker though, and never showed signs of fear or nervousness. He left the warehouse and never went back, leaving no sign he was ever there.
Giving Relena's hotel a thorough check, Heero checked on her body guard and then slipped in the room without anyone knowing. He saw her, and he almost stopped and stared, but moved back into the corner and waited. She was so beautiful when she slept. He couldn't wake her, it would be a crime. She slept so peacefully and she looked happy. She stirred at about 0930. By the way his body felt he wouldn't be able to stand being this close without doing something. She awoke slowly, peacefully. She swung her legs off the bed and slowly got up. He was so engrossed in what he was watching that he almost forgot about the letter. Heero just enjoyed watching her move. He closed his eyes as she changed but when she started brushing her hair he couldn't hold back any more. He wanted to hold her, protect her, and keep her safe, but he couldn't, not here. Heero silently slipped out of her room through the open balcony door, climbed up to the roof and went for another check of the hotel. He was very worried, she could have been killed.
Just as Heero opened the door of the roof, Relena felt the soft breeze from the cracked balcony door. The morning view was beautiful, and she was happy. She was still on a little high from the kiss she shared with him. Though, she thought for a second that Heero had been watching her while she slept, and that made her very happy. When she started to put her hair up she thought, 'This is my vacation, and I want to be lazy today. I'll order room service and watch a few movies.' Using the hotel phone she informed her body guard of what she was planning, and then ordered her breakfast/lunch and some candy. At about 10:30 pm she got up to get a drink. As she was pouring it she felt two arms gently wrap around her as a strong chest pressed against her back.
Heero had spent all day checking the hotel. He checked the background of every employee. He checked the food the kitchen was serving, but he couldn't get close enough to check Relena's specific food and that had bothered him. He had spent the whole day doing security checks and making sure that each of the weak points in the hotel security were covered. He hadn't gotten to half of them when he realized that it was 2215 and he hadn't even seen the lobby, the halls, or the elevators all day. He had been so busy he hadn't been protecting Relena. This guy had scared him. He didn't know how to protect her anymore. When she had gotten up to get her drink he slipped in from the balcony silently, he had been watching her just breathe as she watched something, he loved just watching her be peaceful. But that same pain…, no that wasn't the right word for this feeling. He felt a longing for her, but he…couldn't describe it. He wanted to hold her forever, to protect her, and not let anyone take her away.
He came up behind her and embraced her just like he did the last time. She didn't jump but was obviously surprised at his presence. "Were you watching me?" a sly grin present on Relena's face showed she wasn't angry.
"Yes." The simple reply said more than the word. It also hid any fear that was present about her safety.
"So, is my guardian shadow done protecting me from the darkness, and is he free to enjoy a vacation with me?" Relena wanted to play. Heero didn't know how to answer. He was scared, not for himself, he was always in life and death situations, but he didn't know what he would do if Relena was ever hurt. Relena turned in his arms to hug him back. She saw his eyes and got a little worried; she never saw his eyes like that. His face was indiscernible as always but the key to knowing Heero was his eyes. "What is wrong, Heero?" She was concerned now.
Heero didn't know what to say, he couldn't tell her the truth, that this person, whoever he was, was better than him. She was in danger. No, she was to always feel safe near him. It was the only thing he could think of that would protect her. She was vulnerable without a team of capable body guards. He had to do more. "I'll take Lady Une's offer."
