Chapter XVII
The Vanishing Pirates (Part II)
'Ah! Here they are!' Treize Kushrenada smiled down at the group of prisoners before turning to the gasping wide-eyed guards behind him. 'I see you've already shackled and moved them for me.'
'Uh… Ah… But, Mr Kushrenada, sir… There's been no word of a transfer…'
'No word?' the taller man frowned worriedly, but it only lasted a moment before he waved it away. 'No matter. Someone must have known I was coming and readied the prisoners. For that I'll put on a good word for you with your superiors.'
'Apologies, sir, but could I… Mayhaps… See your papers?' the closest guard asked sheepishly. They all looked up to the famous commander and it certainly wasn't satisfying to question him like that… He did not feel he had the right.
'But of course!' Treize pulled a roll of parchment out of one of his coat's inner pockets, letting it unroll in front of the guards' eyes. 'Here it is.'
The man squinted at it briefly under the faint light of the lamp that he raised above his head. 'Very well, sir. I am truly sorry for that, sir. You may proceed.'
'Why… Thank you, guard. Milady, if you'd please…'
'This way.' The woman ordered the pirates before crossing the threshold. They followed with Howard on the lead.
'Goodnight, gentlemen.' Treize nodded at the guards as he brought up the rear. Heero glanced at the man out of the corner of his eye, he did not know what was going on or what Treize's intentions were, but he was ready to retaliate if he deemed necessary. He thought it was curious how that man could inspire such devotion from his men… To the pirate captain he looked like no more than a snake.
The woman led them through the darkest narrowest alleys, past the most suspicious and scary parts of town until they reached the port. Howard took a deep breath of wet fish-smelling air, his lips curving upwards. 'You may remove your shackles now.' Their guide told them quietly. 'Just be careful not to make too much noise.'
'Is this where they tell us to run and shoot us through our backs?' Duo whispered in Quatre's ear only to receive a horrified wide-eyed look in return.
'Actually…' Libra's captain's smirk was suddenly very close to their faces, making them shudder. 'I'd like to invite you to join me for a drink. There's a tavern nearby. I wish to have a word with you.'
'Ye've got quite a few answers to give us.' Wufei forced the taller man to take a step back under the intensity of his glare, but Treize did not seem at all shaken, merely amused.
'We're going with him then?' Trowa turned to Heero for confirmation.
'If 'e pays me a drink I'll go wherever 'e wants.' It was Howard who answered, taking a step closer to the redcoat, making himself ready to follow.
'As many as you'd like.' Treize's charming smile split his face.
'Hn.' Heero nodded rubbing his wrists.
'I don't like this…' Hilde whispered in Duo's ear, taking his arm as the group started moving again.
'Well…' Dorothy smiled smugly. 'We can always use our charms to escape.'
'I wouldn't be so sure about that…' Sally muttered, her eyes fixed on the Chinese man's back. She feared for him… She feared for all of them.
The inn was small, eerily quiet and of the few patrons loitering about almost all bore familiar faces. Treize Kushrenada's crew seemed to own the place. They cleared the largest table for him as soon as he crossed the threshold, greeting him and the brown haired woman with polite reverence. The pirates' presence did not seem to particularly surprise them, still the Peacemillion's former crew felt diminished by the redcoats' judging glances and was unusually quiet as it sat around their captain's table.
'Ale, please.' He gestured to no one in particular.
'How 'bout rum?' Howard complained under his breath. 'And 'e calls 'imself a man of the sea…'
'Shhh!' Quatre glared at the old man. It was not polite to complain when someone else was treating you.
Treize chuckled at them. 'It's fine.' He said, waving his hand as well. 'And a pitcher of rum as well.'
It did not take five minutes for all pirates to have mugs sitting in front of them, nor for Chang's patience with the arrogant commander to wear thin. 'So?' he questioned, crossing his arms and scowling.
Surprisingly, Treize sighed, reclining against his chair. 'I've heard some stories about you… All of you.' He added when the Chinese man's eyes narrowed. 'And – to be completely honest – I was impressed.'
'How so?' it was Dorothy who asked, a smirk blooming on her lips.
'I have a very… peculiar view of the world, Miss… Catalonia, is it? Yes. Differently from my dear first mate, I see the world not in black and white, but in shades of grey.' At that he took the brown haired woman's hand, his smile turning melancholy. 'And some people, despite doing things that are considered wrong, are in actuality righteous people. The world – this world we live in – it needs people willing to do the wrong thing for the right reasons. It really does.'
Duo could not help snorting. The others also looked sceptical, almost scornful, but no one dared manifest their opinion. At least not within the enemy's territory. The braided man's courage, however, was rewarded with wide-eyed stares. 'How right is it?' he forced himself to speak when he noticed he was the centre of attention. 'How right is it to make deals with murderers like Jay and Lowe?'
'We thought we were letting two bad men go free in exchange for arresting nine. Does it not sound like a good deal to you, pirate? There was no way we could've known…' he paused, frowning, and the lady beside him took his gloved hand and squeezed it. 'I'm sure we've helped hang dozens of righteous men, but, if we did, it was without our knowing. We don't always come upon the knowledge, but when we do we try to make up for our mistakes. Or – at least – I do, for that is who I am.'
Silence settled then and even though not all pirates were satisfied with the sappy explanation, they sipped their drinks each lost in their own thoughts. Sally took Chang's hand knowing he remained displeased and was pleasantly surprised when – instead of pulling away – he squeezed her fingers.
'What are we gonna do now?' Hilde asked suddenly, her voice small like a lost child's.
Heero wanted to laugh – bitterly – when slowly but steadily all eyes came to rest on him as if he had all the answers. Apparently, the fact that he had made a blunder that had cost them both treasure and ship, not to mention their freedom, had already been forgiven… Or forgotten… Or both. He wondered what he would do if he was responsible for no one's fate but his own… He supposed he would disguise himself, let hair and beard grow, get lost in the world, but he had a crew to look after even if he no longer felt worthy of being its captain.
Before he could answer though, Treize's woman cut in. 'I heard rumours that Odin Lowe was in town…' she commented quietly and with unreadable eyes. 'And that the famed Peacemillion was docked at the pier.'
'O' course that bastard would come all the way 'ere to flaunt 'is coin and 'is royal pardon on everyone's faces.' Duo grimaced too angry to make jokes for once.
'He's come to watch us hang.' Quatre commented quietly, feeling suddenly cold with horror. 'He must have picked up a new crew along the way…'
'What! Ye thought it'd be easy to steal 'is ship, Winner?' the braided man smirked widely at him, back to his true self. 'Shame on ye, ye dirty pirate.'
The blonde man blushed. 'I never thought it'd be easy… I just hoped we wouldn't have much trouble, after all… There's no way we can leave the Peacemillion in Lowe's hands knowing she's right here. She's our ship.'
'So she is…' Heero whispered staring at his empty mug.
'Then you really intend to take her back?' Treize asked them curiously. 'Because it is up to you now to get rid of those two murderers… For better or worse they are now out of our reach.'
'Unless they commit another crime and get reported for it.' Trowa half-asked half-stated.
'Yes…'
'We'll get our ship back.' Peacemillion's former captain assured them, finally raising his eyes and meeting Treize's gaze with a piercing one of his own. 'Though we won't promise to fix yer mistakes.'
'I understand.' Treize nodded, his smile serious. 'I just wanted you to know I can no longer meddle in your affairs or offer you any kind of help in retrieving your ship. I've gotten myself in enough trouble as it is.'
'We don't need yer help. Nor do we want ye meddling in our affairs.' Chang spat, standing up and turned to Heero. 'Should we be on our way?'
The brown haired man nodded. 'I believe "thanks" would've been in order had ye not been the one to blame for us being captured in the first place.'
'I never expected any.' Treize's smirk turned comprehensive.
Heero stood up. 'Let's go home.' He told the others.
'Arrr!'
XXX
'There she is…' Howard sighed deeply in his infatuation. 'Me beauty… Me love…'
'For god's sake, Howie. She's just a ship!' Hilde complained beside him as they crouched behind a couple of crates, trying to get a look at the Peacemillion's new crew. 'Do ye see anyone?'
'Nay. Not from 'ere I don't. They've surely assigned us the worst possible post.'
'All sides had to be covered, ye know that. We can't take any chances.'
'They're all still 'sleep… I don't blame them. It's awful early too…and we 'aven't slept right in days if not weeks.'
'It's been longer than that.' The black haired woman shook her head slowly, sadly, letting out a weary sigh. 'But now's not the time to rest. Not when we're so close to getting our ship back.'
'I wonder how we'll get 'er back… We've nothing but the tattered rags we're wearing.' The old man went on mumbling worriedly.
'We'll figure something out.' She assured him still not seeing any movement on the poop deck. 'How long 'til we meet the others?'
'Capt'n will send someone for us. Whoa! There they come already!'
Hilde let herself fall back against the wooden crates as they watched Trowa approach them discreetly with Duo somewhat behind him. 'Ye seen anyone?' she asked as soon as they came within hearing distance.
'Nay.' The braided man shook his head. 'What about ye?'
'Not a soul.'
'Kushrenada's scheme doesn't seem to have been uncovered yet, but the capt'n wants us to make our move before it is and the redcoats start lookin' for us.' The green-eyed lookout informed them.
'Has any of the others spotted anyone?' Hilde inquired frowning worriedly.
'Nay.'
'What if it's a trap?'
'Lowe couldn't have known we escaped.' Duo's eyebrows knitted.
'News spread like the plague amongst the common folk…' Howard shook his head gravely.
'Still… Trap or no trap we must act immediately.' Trowa reiterated Heero's orders.
'But we've got no arms!' the young woman protested recalling the old man's earlier words. They carried nothing but the rags they had worn since they had been captured.
'Quatre's got a plan. We must trust 'im.'
She hesitated but for a moment before taking the hand the braided man offered her and rising to her feet. 'He's tellin' the truth.' He assured her. 'Ye may trust Quat'. He knows what 'e's doin'. Besides, if both Heero and Chang agreed to 'is plan then it's gotta be good.'
Kissing his cheek, she laid on him her vote of confidence, smiling as they rounded the slowly crowding docks and returned to the narrow alley where they had assembled earlier. The others were already there. 'Anything? Anyone?' it was Dorothy who questioned them upon their arrival.
'No one.' Hilde shook her head and met their captain's eyes. 'Nothing.'
'We had expected as much.' Quatre nodded to himself completely undisturbed despite the way his eyebrows drew together in concentration. 'Either they have yet to learn of our escape or they have set us a trap.'
'Shouldn't we scout a while longer?' Sally asked standing at the corner where she could keep an eye out for trouble.
'We cannot risk wasting any more time.' Heero warned seriously and the blonde strategist nodded in agreement.
'So here's what we're going to…'
'Wait.' Sally cut in. 'I see someone on the main deck… Wait, no. Two, three… No. Four men.' She turned back to them. 'Should we get closer and take a look?'
'Docks're getting crowded.' Trowa observed with a displeased frown. 'If we all leave this tiny alley at once someone's bound to notice us.'
'Of course…' Chang mumbled angrily. If only they had not lingered so long on their uncertainties.
'I'll go.' Duo offered smirking confidently. 'I'm sneakiest.'
'Ye're flamboyant-est.' The Chinese man made sure to correct him.
'That's the secret, mate. The more attention ye attract the least suspicious yer enemies will be.'
'Not really.' Dorothy immediately disagreed.
'That so?' the braided man's eyes narrowed at her. 'What's yer strategy then?'
'Well… If you must know… I am a master at blending in.' she bragged.
'Eh? I doubt it. Not with that hair and those… eyebrows.'
'Enough!' Chang cut in, having finally run out of patience. 'Barton, how's yer ankle?'
'Back to its old self, though I ain't sure Sally would like me to go climbing just yet…' Trowa commented sending their assigned medic a wary glance. Sally's eyes narrowed, but their first mate resumed before she could step in.
'That's fine. All we need is a closer look, aye, Heero?'
'Aye.' The captain nodded. 'No need to overexert yerself.'
The green-eyed lookout nodded and stepped out into the street. Duo and Dorothy continued arguing while the others waited in silence for Trowa's return and the information he would bring back with him.
XXX
Milliardo was not surprised when his sister came racing down the stairs, interrupting his meal in the process and breaking his train of thought which never strained far from her those days, except when it travelled all the way back to Port Royal where he had left his heart. He could not wait to go back to Lucrezia's arms, but with all that had happened and was still happening, with his captain getting involved in Relena's and those pirates' businesses he doubted he would be returning home any time soon.
'What is it?' he asked his little sister when she did no more than stand there anxiously staring at him.
'Have you heard from Treize?' she asked immediately.
'Have you broken your fast? You're distressing the servants.' He sipped his tea, staring out the window instead of at the young woman. She was but a child in his eyes and yet… She was already rebelling against him. Definitely not what Milliardo had pictured when her adoptive father had written, to inform him of his decision to send Relena to live with her older brother, and yet… He could not help but grow fond of her. 'You remind me greatly of our father.'
Taken by surprise, the lady blinked at him. 'I do?' she asked quietly, taking a break from her constant nagging to sit down and have tea with him.
'Yes…' Milliardo nodded thoughtfully. 'He was a stubborn idealist himself… One that would've gone to any lengths to achieve his goals and yet… He was so kind I don't think I ever saw him hurt a fly.'
'You…' Relena hesitated if only for a moment. 'You wanted to emulate him.'
'Yes, but it is you who has succeeded… and without even trying.' His smile was bittersweet and he could see she wanted to say something, so he cut in before she could. 'He would've been proud of you…'
'Why… Why did they leave me behind?' she wondered not for the first time.
'The colonies were dangerous and wild… Certainly no place for a lady to be brought up.' Milliardo could not stop his lips from curving upwards at the sight of his sister's frown. 'They wanted you to have the best of the best.'
'What about you?'
'I was much too old and much too attached to them to be left behind.'
'Milliardo…' Relena started, but he would never get to hear what she wanted to say for, right at that moment, they were interrupted by a knock on the front door.
They saw one of the maids hurry down the corridor to get it, a broom in her hand. 'Yes?' they heard her say to whoever was at the door. 'Yes, he's home. Would ye like to talk to 'im? I will, sir. Right away, sir. A good day to ye too.' She then headed straight to the sitting room where they sat and, with a short bow, delivered the missive addressed to her master.
'Thank you.' He took the envelope with a nod and dismissed her.
As he read the contents he could see the young woman across from him grow steadily restless. 'What is it?' Relena finally could hold back no longer, her hands twisting on her lap. 'Is it…'
'From Treize. Yes. He's been called in for questioning concerning the Peacemillion pirates' disappearance.'
XXX
The moment Trowa stepped back into the alley all eyes were expectantly trained on him. He cleared his throat. 'Jay and Lowe were nowhere to be seen, but there really were four men on the main deck. They don't look much like sailors least of all pirates, but I wouldn't underestimate them. One's tall and bulky with a full beard… Looks mighty dangerous.'
'What about the others?' Hilde questioned anxiously.
'The others ain't as big, but – though they look less intimidating – I wouldn't underestimate them either. Actually, they sort of reminded me of us… In a way.'
'How so?' Dorothy frowned, unable to see how they could be anything like Lowe's thugs, but he only shrugged, not knowing how to put his impressions into words.
'Do you think we can face them?' Quatre asked him, already trying to come up with the best possible strategy to get them back on the Peacemillion.
'Not without weapons.'
'Then we'll have to sneak in…' Heero crossed his arms, frowning thoughtfully. 'Sure ye cannot climb?'
Trowa's lips curved downwards, but he did not dare glance at Sally again. He had been prudent, just as she had told him to be, though he did feel like he was ready to climb again without reinjuring his ankle. She seemed to notice his unhappiness for she sighed. 'If ye promise to be extremely careful…'
'Thank you.' It was the blonde strategist who beamed at her. There was no use elaborating a flawless plan if he did not have the best men at his disposal to put said plan into action. He noticed the others were watching him expectantly. 'Again, we can't all go at once. The infiltration team will go first, sneak past those four men – possibly more in the sleeping quarters – all the way to the gun deck to get us weapons. The attack team will blend in with the nearby crowds at the docks and wait for the signal to join the first team on board.'
'Right… And who'll be part of which team?' Duo asked, head slightly cocked to the side.
'I think you, Heero, Trowa and Wufei should be the first team. The rest of us will wait at the docks amongst the merchants and passers-by. Try to look inconspicuous, will you?'
'Arrr!' they all agreed and the first group prepared to leave.
One at a time, they left the narrow alley and discreetly made their way to the docks, lowering themselves into the water where they would be hidden under the pier as they made their way to their stolen ship. Duo was the last to jump into the water and, just as he did, Quatre stepped out of the alleyway intent on heading to the nearest merchants and traders, pretending to be an ordinary customer as he waited for the others' signal. The braided man saw him freeze, in the middle of the street, right before he let go of the edge and fell into the water.
'Something's wrong.' He immediately told the others and they all exchanged worried glances.
'Is that Winner?' Chang asked horrified as they saw a shadow stroll purposefully over and past them and straight to the Peacemillion.
'Aye.' Heero confirmed, slowly recovering from the shock.
'What the hell is 'e doing?' the braided man's annoyance was as clear as crystal. He just could not believe the blonde man would spoil their plans in such a manner.
'He knows them.' Trowa's voice cut through their group's stupor, his being the only pair of eyes to remain trained on the strategist's movements.
'What?' Duo frowned confusedly at him for a moment before his gaze followed Heero's and Chang's to the Peacemillion's deck. 'Is he hugging the scary bulky bearded fella? Or have I gone mad?'
'Ye went mad a long time ago, Maxwell.' The Chinese man made sure to inform him.
'What's that supposed to mean?'
'But ye're right this time. I'll give ye' that. That traitor… Winner…'
'He's waving us over.' Heero observed already composed.
'We cannot fall for his trap!' Wufei warned them.
Trowa frowned. 'But it's Quatre.'
'He'd never betray us.' The braided man agreed though his voice was small and filled with painful uncertainty.
'Heero?'
He sighed. Sometimes he hated being captain. 'He's never given us any reason not to trust him. Au contraire, Winner's been nothing but loyal to us all these years.'
Duo got suddenly angry. 'We shouldn't even be having this conversation.' He pulled himself back up onto the wooden platform. 'I'll fetch the others.'
'Be discreet.' Heero warned him seriously and the three of them resumed making their way to the ship.
The blonde man was waiting for them with a wide grin on his face. He threw down a rope to help them climb on board. 'Heero, Trowa, Wufei, I want you to meet the Maganacs.'
'Those Maganacs?' the green-eyed lookout, who had long heard the tales of Quatre's fight in the African continent, immediately asked.
'Aye. This is Rashid.' He pointed at the bearded man who in turn nodded at the dripping wet pirates. 'And these are Auda, Abdul and Ahmad.' All men nodded awkwardly at each other.
While the blonde man linked his two lives together, Heero's eyes ran over the deck. The Peacemillion had been fixed in record time, certainly thanks to the fortune that now resided in the sleeping quarters underneath them. There was no sign of her new captain and first mate however. 'If you'll excuse me… I feel I need a change of clothes.' He nodded a second time to Quatre's friends and under Trowa's knowing gaze started making his way to the captain's quarters. He was not sure what he would do if he found Lowe there, but he feared he might steal his friend's kill… Trowa had missed his shot. Literally. It had been dark and stormy and Heero could not blame him, but this time – if he decided to go through with it – he was not going to miss.
He entered his cabin as silently as a cat and – sure enough – Odin Lowe was there, lying on the bed with his eyes closed. Heero picked up his pistol, which had been left on the round table, and made his way to the bed Relena had once planned to push further backwards and against the wall. The older man's eyes opened the moment the cold barrel touched his forehead and a smirk slowly twisted his lips.
'Ah…' he said distantly. 'I see ye've made it out of the gaol already…'
'Expected to see me hang?' he could not help asking.
'Actually, if ye hadn't escaped I would've broken ye out.' Heero snorted. 'That's why I recruited those Arabs. They not only happened to be looking for "Master Winner" but – from what I heard – would've gone to any lengths to save 'im… And we both know Winner. He wouldn't 'ave gone anywhere without the lot of ye.'
'Ye expect me to believe that?'
'Aye.' Lowe paused, looking almost sad. 'Doesn't yer old father deserve a second chance? To right 'is wrongs?'
The young man's eyes narrowed. He could feel the pistol heavy and solid in his hand, his index finger resting lightly on the trigger. A part of him wanted so badly to see himself rid of that vile man, but the other part wondered what he would tell Relena… He still had to hear her side of the story. 'I have somewhere to be.' he mumbled to himself and turned away to find some clean clothes.
Lowe pushed himself up, a knowing smile on his lips, however sad it was. 'Ye're going after her.' It was not a question. 'Can't ye see ye're wastin' yer time, boy?'
'What business is it of yours?'
'I'm yer father.'
'Aye…' Heero sounded nothing but sceptical.
'Why would she choose a pirate over her own brother? A life at sea over a life of luxury?'
He knew the answer though he would not dare voice it. If she chose him it would be because she loved him and the mere thought made him feel warm inside. No. He was not the kind of man who would ever voice such thoughts, but in his heart he knew it to be true and he hoped she would choose him. He fastened a cloak around his neck and prepared to leave, pulling the hood over his head lest the guards should already be looking for them.
'Can't ye see ye're just a diversion to 'er? That she has given up on ye? Just as yer mother did?' Lowe's words felt like a knife to the chest and Heero froze short of reaching for the door.
Ye cannot experience joy and love without reliving the pain and the sadness. Jay's voice echoed in his head and he knew he had been the one to bring this on himself. By pursuing something he had been long denied, he had awakened memories he had believed buried forever, reopened the old wounds and relieved the ever present pain in its full intensity. He did not say anything or even turn around to show he had acknowledged the older man's words because he already knew he would go after Relena one way or another.
XXX
Finding the Peacecrafts house was not as easy as Heero had thought it would be. The once prestigious family had fallen into near complete obscurity after its patriarch's death. Marticus had not even been a Peacecraft from birth but become one through marriage and yet it had been his revolutionary ideas that had made the Peacecrafts so well-known even if only for a short time. As it was, very few people knew what to tell a wandering vagrant who asked them for directions to the once-famous family's estate, and the sun was already setting by the time Heero finally reached it.
The redcoats were already after them from the bits and pieces of conversation he had overheard on his way, which meant there was no time to waste. Relena's brother was not on Treize's side for once, so the front door was not an option. In his ridiculously suspicious disguise, he circled the property, looking for a way to climb in and trying to figure out which room he would find the blonde woman in. It was no easy task.
Thankfully, luck was on his side. Light could be seen shining through one of the second floor windows and the black silhouette he observed against it was one he would have recognised anywhere. For a moment all he did was stand there, staring up and hoping Relena would see him, but the cloak hid him too well and it was growing steadily darker. Then he inspected the street for gravel and finally found a pebble to throw at her window. It hit the sill, startling the young lady out of her thoughts. He was glad she did not scream, but it took her a long moment to recognise him, squinting in the twilight.
'Heero?' he heard her ask quietly, hopefully and – before he could answer – she was gone. His eyes ran the length of the house, searching for her, sure that she would reappear at any moment. She did and he snuck into the garden to meet her at the sitting room window.
'Where's—' Heero started but was cut off when she latched onto his cloak and pulled him into a desperate kiss.
'Thank god you're alright.' She breathed out when they pulled apart.
'Yer brother?' he finished his question.
'Out.' She said simply. 'But he might be back any moment now.'
The pirate nodded, looking down at her white hands in his dirty ones. In his rush, he had not even bothered to clean up decently. Now that she was right in front of him he did not have the heart to question her loyalty… He looked into her eyes and felt stupid for having ever doubted her. 'I cannot stay long, the redcoats are looking for us.'
'I know.' She said, squeezing his hands. 'I know.'
'Will ye come with us?'
'I…' she hesitated and he felt a heavy weight settle on his chest as he watched her eyebrows draw closer together. When she reopened her mouth, he held his breath. 'My brother…'
'Ye cannot tell him.'
'I know.' Relena shook her head, smiling reassuringly at him. 'We just haven't been on very good terms and I did not wish to part like this… He's… He's a good man, Heero. He's just fighting for what he believes in.'
The pirate scowled, however briefly, but nodded anyway. An approaching carriage sent their hearts racing and reminded them of the shortness of their time. 'We'll wait for ye 'til dawn. At the pier.'
He reached out and kissed her again, chastely. Not giving her the chance to say a single word before he pulled the cloak tighter around him and disappeared into the night.
XXX
'Good evening, Milliardo.'
He raised his head, frowning at his sister as he walked into the house. Despite the hour, she seemed to have been waiting for him and, surprisingly, not with the anxious, afflicted, look he had gotten so used to seeing on her face, but with a pleasant smile. He could not help but wonder if she had heard something… Though how could she possibly have? Unless the vanishing pirates had contacted her themselves… But then would she not have left with them? Perhaps it had been Lady Une then. 'Relena… You need not have waited up for me.'
'I know, but I wanted to.' She said, helping him remove his heavy uniform coat. 'I figured we might enjoy a late dinner… I feel I've been somewhat boorish and unfair to you.'
Milliardo raised an eyebrow at her, but his sister had her back to him as she hung his coat on the rack. 'You wish to make it up to me?' he inquired, both doubtful and amused.
'In a way… I suppose." Relena shrugged as she met his eye. 'You are my brother after all and – thought we clearly won't always agree with each other – I mean you well.'
'I mean you well myself.' He admitted honestly, touched by her words.
'I know.' She nodded, then motioned him towards the candlelit dining room. 'Shall we then?'
Over a meal of bread, dried fruit, fish and chicken pie, Relena learned of the fates of her father and mother, heard tales of Peacecrafts long gone and shared with her brother stories of her own foster family and childhood. Her mind often wandered to the Peacemillion waiting for her at the pier, but her focus never strayed from Milliardo whom she wanted to make sure knew she appreciated his concern and all that he had done for her.
Treize's first mate on the other hand could sense their peaceful and quiet supper was meant as a farewell… And yet he could not bring himself to spoil it, could not bring himself to prevent his sister's departure. Instead, he decided to let her know he was not going to stop her. 'Treize made it out unscathed.' He commented randomly as they finished their meal and prepared to bid their goodnights.
Relena's interest immediately picked up. 'You said he'd been called in for questioning…'
'Yes… Someone forged documents ordaining your friends' transfer and turns out Treize was as fooled by them as the prison guards. The pirates ganged up on him, of course, and escaped, but our superiors could not bring themselves to lay any blame on Treize. He's too much of an asset and hurting him would have angered a large number of people.'
'Then my fri—' she cleared her throat. 'The Peacemillion's crew… They're free?'
'Yes, but not for long. Our guard's already after them and there's no place in this world where they can hide from us. Not forever.' His eyes were serious, and she recognised the warning. He was not going to stop her, but if she joined the pirates again the two of them would be enemies for, as much as he cared for her, her brother also cared for the laws he fought so hard to defend. 'You should turn in… It's getting late.'
'Yes…' she nodded, standing up and made a curtsy before meeting his eyes again, they reflected the candlelight, looking as if they were on fire. 'Goodnight, Milliardo.'
'Goodnight, Relena.'
She made her way to her bedroom and quietly went over her clothes. Her brother was not one to go to bed early and – despite the fact he had practically assured her she would not be stopped – Relena did not feel right leaving while he was still awake as if she wanted to be rid of him as soon as possible. There was time, she mused, choosing a couple of dresses to take with her. She still had a few clothes on board, but since Dorothy seemed to have acquired a fondness for her dresses, she figured the more she could take the merrier.
When the clock struck two and the house was eerily quiet, Relena picked up her valise, snuck out of her bedroom and tiptoed down the dark corridor, making her way as quietly as humanly possible down the stairs. It was only when she closed the front door behind her that she dared release the breath she had been holding. A smile immediately lit up her face unhindered at the thought of where she was headed and who she was meeting and the confession she had planned on making.
Her shoes clip-clopped lightly against the cobblestone as she picked up her pace. It was dangerous for a young woman such as herself to wander the streets at that hour, but Relena kept calm. There did not seem to be a soul around and she held on firmly to the hope that there would really not be anyone around for the remainder of the way.
Relena's luck, however, had apparently run out for she was not even halfway to the harbour when she turned a corner and found a familiar silhouette blocking her way. Jay leaned on his cane, his wide smirk reflecting the moonlight straight at her, and she knew he was there to stop her.
