In Between the Stars
Quatre inclined his head towards the servant, a polite smile gracing his features. Nodding his thanks, he entered through the open door, which was discreetly and quietly closed after him.
A tasteful, well appointed room was what he first saw. Relena, the sole reason he was here, was no where in sight. Resisting the urge to sigh, Quatre slouched slightly in annoyance. He wandered further, wondering if he should dismiss courtesy and just sit down. Quatre was exhausted, tired from the endless bantering between the doctors, Heero's... he stopped, and shook his head. Already the name went quickly off his tongue. Heero's stubborn silence of what he intended to do, Quatre wasn't even sure if Heero wanted or intended to meet with Relena. Which made it difficult to facilitate a meeting he wasn't sure that would ever take place.
The servant, a man that had introduced himself as Pagan, had insisted she was here. Dismissing it, Quatre walked over to a delicate chaise was, and sat down. It was bliss for his feet, so Quatre sighed happily.
"Quatre Winner?" A voice behind him startled Quatre. Instantly coming aware, he whirled around to face the speaker. "Pagan told me that you were here. He'll fetch my sister when we are done talking."
This wasn't what Quatre wanted. Making the best of the situation, Quatre stretched out his hand, "Is that so? Well, I don't know what we could talk about."
"Don't be patronising, Winner. I know what you are a part of. I know what you have done," Milliardo Peacecraft murmured quietly. "My sister doesn't. With what you have done, why would you even think that I would consider allowing Relena to join your... group?"
Today was just not Quatre's day. Quatre considered being urban and polite, but judging from the almost feral look in Milliardo's eyes, pacifism was not his forte.
Time to be blunt then. "Relena is not a fighter. I do not want her as a fighter. Don't worry, I won't allow her to be hurt. She'll be a symbol. A grand figure head, that people can follow, she can inspire people."
"Do you think Relena will want that?"
Quatre had now decided that Heero had all the cushy jobs. He resolved to get back at Heero. Externally he merely smiled, wondering how long would Milliardo keep him here.
"She won't. Relena is far too independent." Milliardo insisted. "Don't come here again. I won't be fooled by your so called social calls. You will leave - "
"Are you leaving then, Milliardo?" Relena said loudly, a welcoming smile on her face as she floated in. "I do so want to talk to Quatre, alone."
Milliardo swallowed, his jaw tight with tension. Nodding to them both, he left the room. Quatre was surprised at the restraint he expressed in quietly, carefully closing the door.
Relena turns to him, hands clasped in front of her. She walks forward, and sits beside him. They are almost touching, but not. Relena takes a careful, deep breath. "I want to help." She says quietly, "I do. Quatre, I want to help!"
Slowly Quatre smiles, he inclines his head and places one hand on hers. "Heero Yuy will be very pleased to meet someone of your devotion."
She shivers, and turns to him excited and nervous at the same time. "Really? I always wanted to meet him, her ideas, his dreams... I thought I would never meet him."
"You have the chance," Quatre squeezes her hand with his own.
With a start, Relena withdraws from him. "Heero Yuy, he's dead, Quatre. He was assassinated. I won't meet him, because he's dead. There will be no dreams."
It was quite difficult to keep his face straight as Relena tore his plans apart. She was smarter than he had figured. "Yes, and I mourn his death as well as you, Relena."
"Then how will I meet a dead man?" Relena asks, his nostrils white with anger. "He's dead, he's no more! The Heero Yuy is gone, forever! You have tried to fool me and - "
"There's a new Heero Yuy," Quatre interrupts. "He's young, but he is devoted to what the original Heero Yuy wanted. Both Heero Yuys wanted you Relena, please. Please, don't."
"A-A new one?" Relena struggles to say something, her mouth moving helplessly. "How is that possible?"
"Please, Relena, meet with Heero Yuy and decide what you do then."
Staring at him cautiously, Relena jerkily, slowly nods. "It won't harm anyone, then." She murmurs quietly.
"But what would he want with Relena?"
Milliardo frowns. "I'm - I don't know. He wants her, for his 'dreams of peace,'" Milliardo snorts. "The Winner boy is delusional, but intelligent."
"Oh, Milliardo. Don't give up hope of peace so easily. Your parents have worked hard and tirelessly for peace, and they merely want you to carry on their goal." Noin murmurs.
"You are a soldier. How can you say such nonsense? You know what propaganda that is distributed by both sides. And you remain on the fence, even as you are given missions to kill... Peace."
"I believe in you, Milliardo. You can be so much more, so powerful, so good. That's why I'm here, that's why I try to help you. I believe that you will change the world."
"Then you are the only one," Milliardo mutters darkly. "Paraded by parents, sprouting peace. Yet when I show will to defy them, I am the devil incarnate."
"They care for you, and merely want the best for you," Noin says. "Just like all parents. They care for you and Relena. They don't know, but, about Quatre Winner?"
"There's been no time. They are in deep mourning about Heero Yuy."
"As are all pacifists across the world," Noin murmurs sadly. "He was the colony's brightest star, and now he has been destroyed."
"Relena doesn't understand. Noin, will you speak to her? I cannot, we are not close enough, not any more."
Noin smiles warmly at Milliardo and nods.
