Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing
Relena opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling.
How long had she been out? She didn't know. A machine beeped away in the background, and she realized it was connected to her. Taking a quick check of herself, she twitched her toes, her fingers. Everything worked.
She tried to sit up.
A promptly whimpered.
Oh god, what was that? The door opened, and Lady Une stood in the doorway. Her face was pale, and there was dark circles under her eyes. The woman had started to become more like an aunt than her head of state.
"Relena," she closed the door, and hurried over, "Is there something you need?"
Looking up at Lady's face, Relena sighed, "What...happened?"
"There as an assassination attempt."
Relena couldn't stop herself from groaning. She moved her right hand, the one not attached to something, and touched the bridge of her nose. Her headache was horrible, and she felt like someone rolled over her with a trunk.
"Do you remember what happened?" Lady sat on the edge of the bed.
Thinking for a moment, she frowned, "I was in my office. Something hit me, and I tripped," she sighed, "Heero was there."
"He found you."
Sorry...
"Where is he?"
Lady was quiet for a moment, looking away.
"Lady, where is Heero?" Relena asked. Her voice was scratchy and quiet, but she still carried a hint of command in her tone.
"There is a faction called the New Awakeners. They branched off of the group that used to work with Dekim Barton. When Barton's group was disbanded after Mariemaia was shot, some of the members were never found. It was presumed that they were killed in the attack, but-"
"They were not."
"No," Lady frowned, "Some of the preventers managed to find some intel on them, interception their communications for the last three months. They group was so new and unorganized that we weren't worried-"
"It looks like we underestimated them."
"Apparently."
There was a silence in the room, and Relena felt a slight panic seize her. "Where am I, Lady? I'm not at the capital."
"No."
It was a simple answer, filled with so much emotion that Relena suddenly felt the urge to cry. Lady reached over to show her the paper.
President Darlin Killed in Assassination
Relena bit her lip, "But-"
"We needed to protect you. It was voted by the cabinet members to be the safest course of action until the group can be taken down. They managed to sneak into the main estate, Relena," Lady sighed, "We know they won't stop until you're dead."
"What will I do?" Relena touched a shaking hand to her forehead, "Where can I go, I-"
"That's where Heero comes in," Lady took out her phone, "There had been a safe house set up for you. It's in the country. He will appointed as your bodyguard. Wufei and the others will be putting together a detail to find the members of this group, and when it's finalized, you both will be called back before the plan is put into action."
She felt like a puppet being pulled on it's strings. She knew these things had to be done, but she had no day in them. Relena felt her eyes sting slightly, and she willed herself not to cry.
She swore she wouldn't cry anymore.
She had also promised herself she would never be afraid anymore.
The door opened, and a familiar face showed up in the doorway. Lady Une stood up, a small smile on her face, "She's all yours," leaning over, she brushed the hair out of Relena's face, "I promised Millardo that I would keep you safe, and I will do that."
"Thank you, Lady."
The woman smiled, and disappeared from the room, Heero closing the door behind her.
Relena watched as he moved towards the bed, and took the spot that Lady had once been. She tried to smile, "Are you alright?"
"I should be asking you that," his face softened slightly. The fact that Heero was worried concerned her more than anything.
"I'm feeling great," she smiled at him. It was a lie. She felt like hell, "I feel good as new."
Heero stared at her a moment, and picked up her hand.
He pressed it to his face, "Relena?"
"Hm?"
For a second, he closed his eyes. There was pain there that she hadn't expected to see. He pressed his lips to her palm, bending his head slightly, "Please stop crying."
Tears streamed down her face, despite the fake happy smile that she had plastered there. Her fingers curled over his cheek. He was the only real thing that had to hold onto now. Relena squeezed her eyes shut, and rolled to the side, not caring that her chest hurt. She pressed her face in his lap.
"I'm sacred, Heero."
"I know," he said, "It's okay. No one will hurt you anymore. Not if I have anything to do about it."
"Please don't go."
There were plans for the next few days. Wing Zero was stationed at the docks not too far away. She would have three more days of rest, that was the minimum amount the doctors gave after she woke. Then he would take her away with him to the safe house. It was armed to the teeth, enough weapons to take down a small army, a hidden bay underground for Zero...he was prepared for anything.
But, right now, he didn't think about that. The president, the most powerful woman in the world...she now looked like a fragile young woman who simply wanted to hide away and be left alone. He would give her that. He would give her anything she wanted.
If she asked him to stay, he would never leave her side. Even if it killed him.
"I won't.