Chapter 3
The United People. That's the title that humanity comes up with for their universal constitution and laws. Heero thinks that it's over-simplified, but she has to admit that it's unlikely to offend or exclude anyone, and that was the whole point to begin with.
It takes everyone over three months just to decide and agree on that, which Heero thinks is beyond ridiculous. But slowly, ever so slowly, agreements are being made. Heero can barely believe it, even though she's been there guarding Relena during all of the boring meetings. Once or twice, Heero's even spoken up in support of one law or another, just to watch someone twitch as they're suddenly reminded that she's still there.
Relena's also being shadowed by Mariemaia, and between the two of them, they're perfectly terrifying, while still maintaining an appearance of regal calm. No one's able to forget who the two of them are, or the power that they hold (whether good or bad being a matter of opinion) over the public.
Favors and debts are also being called in at an astronomical rate now that they're busy with the actual formation of the new government. Heero's been keeping track of these exchanges, and has a list of everyone who owes them something and why. When Relena asks her for a copy, Heero has to admit that the list is only in her head, though she does spend some time typing it down for Relena after her request. It's printed out and hanging on Relena's bedroom wall in a place of honor, and never fails to lift her mood.
Today is a conference call between all the governors of the colonies, plus Zechs. They're being surprisingly cordial with each other. Heero assumes that this is because Zechs supported the colonies all of those years ago, joining White Fang. It doesn't really matter, though it makes for a more pleasant meeting than it would have if Earth's parliament was present as well.
Not that they won't be joining in the talks later on, but this specific meeting is to discuss business taxes between the colonies and Mars. Earth's parliament members would probably complain, except that their current exclusion means less time they have to spend talking with Zechs. He unnerves them almost as much as he effortlessly settles tensions between the colony governors.
Watching him and Relena work together is an interesting dichotomy. Where Zechs is unyielding, Relena gives compromises. Not ones that she wasn't already willing to make, of course. And where Zechs is harsh in his criticisms, Relena is gentle. Most of the parliament prefers to negotiate with Relena, especially when faced with Zechs as their only other option, which is the whole reason why they operate that way when working together, Heero's sure.
Final agreements are still going to take many more months to negotiate. At least a year more, if Heero's guesstimate is correct, but everything is finally coming together. The people are slowly being united under one law. Perhaps the name that they've come up with isn't such a bad idea after all.
For now, the public is surprisingly on board with everything, but their good will could disappear at any moment, depending on the press coverage. Overall, the many governments of the ESUN are rallying around Relena, and more often than not, talks are taking a positive turn.
It's so much more than Heero had expected years ago that they'd be able to accomplish this soon. Her renewed hope in humanity feels good.