Relena's stomach dropped at the sound of Aiden's voice. They were caught. And she was really stuck. How were they going to get out of this?
Since she couldn't see anything that was happening, she could only hope that Aiden was alone, so Trowa could take him down without much of a fight.
Of course, she should have known she could count on the Preventer agent, and former Gundam pilot, to spring into action. Relena heard Aiden's surprised cry at seeing Trowa, identical to him in every way, but from the sounds of it Trowa didn't give Aiden much time to react. She heard brief scuffling sounds, and a crack, and the sound of a body hitting the floor.
"Trowa?" she whimpered, figuring Aiden was the one who had dropped, but wanting to be sure.
"Right here," Trowa answered, and Relena's heart swelled in relief.
"Could you help me down, please?"
She felt his warm, calloused hands on her bum again, which was beyond awkward, but he managed to help her wriggle free enough to get her feet back on the floor. Then he gripped her waist and pulled her out the rest of the way. Relena stood up straight and adjusted her wayward skirt, then turned to face Trowa.
Behind him, Aiden was knocked out cold, his hands behind his back, presumably in cuffs. Relena heaved a deep sigh of relief.
"Thank God," she breathed.
"An apt choice of words." Trowa's eye twinkled. Relena rolled hers.
"Ha-ha. Did you enjoy groping me back there?" His face immediately colored, and Relena smirked at him. "Uh-huh. That's what I thought. So, do I get to return the favor?"
Trowa turned his face away. "I'm sorry. I was only trying to help."
"I know, I know…" Relena sidestepped him to get a better look at his unconcious look-alike. She looked from Aiden to Trowa, then back again. "Ugh, this is so creepy."
"Tell me about it."
"So what happens now?"
"We're going to escape as planned. Just…not out the window." Trowa tipped his head to the door. "With Aiden locked in here, you and I will be able to stroll right out of here. Really, this worked out perfectly."
Except for the part where Trowa would be coming back here to do whatever else this mission entailed, without her, Relena thought morosely. Whatever these people were up to… Relena had a bad feeling. She would much prefer they just leave together, and never look back.
"But, Trowa…what if we can't just walk out of here? What if we run into someone? You'll have to explain why we're leaving."
Trowa shrugged. "I'll think of something. Anyway, it doesn't matter. I'm their leader, remember?"
He looked much more confident than Relena felt. Trowa reached for the door handle, but Relena seized his hand.
"I think we need to come up with a game plan, just in case," she said, fixing him with her best no-nonsense expression.
Trowa gazed steadily back at her. "All right, well. Considering I know their plans and you don't…"
Relena released his hand, and planted both her hands on her hips. "That's exactly the problem."
Trowa placed his hands on her shoulders, bringing his face close to hers. "Quiet. I'm trying to catch you up."
Relena flushed and lowered her gaze. "Right."
Trowa let go of her and folded his arms over his chest, leaning against the door. "I'll give you the gist. Aiden Wardwell is the leader of a cult. They've been active for the past decade or so."
Relena arched a brow, but didn't interrupt.
"Their activities are usually fairly tame. Animal sacrifices, that sort of thing. But…" Trowa frowned, and Relena got the sense that he was wavering on how much he was planning to divulge. "Aiden…is a sick bastard. We've found a lot on this guy." He shook his head to the side, as if he was trying to clear disturbing thoughts from his mind.
"Anyway," Trowa went on, "tonight's ritual…is a human sacrifice. A virgin."
Relena's eyes widened. "Oh. God."
Trowa raked a hand through his long bangs, and Relena caught a glimpse of the eye that was normally hidden. Both eyes were hooded as his frown deepened. "There was some chatter about this on the dark web, but we didn't know if it was just a rumor. We received an anonymous tip that spelled out a slightly different plan. Regardless…" Trowa tipped his head in her direction. "You can see why I need to get you out of here. And fast."
"I see." Relena thought quickly. "Well, assuming I'm the intended target for this…virgin sacrifice…" She shuddered. "You, as their leader, could just tell them that I'm not a virgin, and therefore no longer suitable. So, you need to leave right away to find another, er, victim."
"Hmm…" Trowa nodded. "That could work."
"Of course it will work," Relena said. "They have to listen to their leader, right? They're just a flock of sheep, and you're their shepherd." She reached over and squeezed his bicep. "It may be our only chance."
"Right. Well, let's just hope no one insists that we have to prove your…status." Trowa's brow creased.
"How would they even go about proving something like that?" Relena balked at him.
"We could show them your underwear," Trowa quipped.
Relena rolled her eyes at him. "That proves nothing. And anyway, thongs are very comfortable."
"Sure."
She rolled her eyes again. "Seriously, it's not like they have a gynecologist at the ready, right? And even if they did, a vaginal exam isn't enough to 'prove' one's virginity. I mean, I broke my hymen as a tween while horseback riding…"
Trowa held up a hand. "Didn't need to know that."
"Sorry," Relena said with a shrug. "I didn't realize details like that creeped gay guys out."
Trowa's eyes bulged. "What did you say?"
Relena's face heated. "I'm sorry…did I just out you?" Her hands flew to her mouth as Trowa's face grew more exasperated. "Oh, Trowa, I'm so sorry! Look, if you're not out yet, I swear, I won't tell a soul! I just thought you and Quatre were–"
"We're friends," Trowa said with a cough, his face turning beet red. "I have a lot of guy friends, most of whom you know personally… did you assume they're all gay?"
"Um, no… I happen to know that at least three of them aren't," Relena said pointedly. "Duo's married, for crying out loud. And Wufei and Sally…well, everyone knows what's really going on there. And Heero…"
"I already know about you and Heero," Trowa sniped. "Everyone does. So you can spare me the details."
Relena glared icily at him. "Oh, so you think you know everything? Did you know that Heero and I dated for maybe a year, then he dumped me? And that was five years ago, so…" She spun away from him. "Shows how much you know."
She could feel Trowa's gaze on her. "I had no idea he dumped you. I wasn't aware of your current status. I just assumed…"
"Yeah, so we both assumed things." Relena kept her eyes glued to the floor. "I'm sorry I thought you were gay."
A low chuckle rumbled from Trowa's chest. "That's quite all right. I'm not offended. I probably shouldn't be surprised, either. You're not the first who's ever made that assumption, that's for sure. You just…caught me off guard, is all."
"Well, I am sorry." Relena glanced up at him shyly. "But that makes this whole situation all the more awkward."
Trowa frowned at her. "How's that?"
She planted her hips back at her sides. "Oh, I don't know, maybe because you were fondling my ass earlier? Now that I know you're straight, it's more than a little pervy that you basically groped me…"
"I didn't grope you; I was just getting you loose." And then his face grew even redder, somehow.
Relena couldn't help it; she burst out laughing. Trowa pulled her back against his chest, clamping his hand over her mouth.
"Quiet," he hissed in her ear.
Relena went slack in his hold, her eyes glued to Aiden, praying her outburst wouldn't wake him. She and Trowa stayed utterly still for a full minute, waiting… Thankfully, Aiden didn't move a muscle. At last, Trowa released Relena. She inhaled a deep breath.
"A little less manhandling, please," she rasped.
"Sorry," he said, not looking sorry at all. He turned back to the door. "Now, come on. Let's get out of here while we have the chance."
She couldn't argue with that.
At least they had a plan.
Sort of.
A/N: Hello, loves! Sorry today's update is short, but there will be more to come in the next few days. Happy early Valentine's! :)
- RFP