Niceties of Hostages

Disclaimer: own nothing.

A/N: sorry for the loong delay.. but since so many people have been viewing it, I updated it. So the next update is up to you.

Take Four

As Duo ran toward the door with Heero at his heels (clothed), Relena grabbed what she could of her garments. She didn't want to take the time to put them back on so she just swiped Heero's sheet and scurried back into her room across the hall.

She could hear Heero and Duo's conversation, or argument, faintly through her door.

"…just checking on you…..didn't know…with her." Was what she could decipher from Duo, but Heero spoke too low to catch any syllable.

She felt, stupid. Embarrassed. Angry, at herself for letting it go that far so quickly, and out of no where. She always held herself to the highest standards of control and reservation. Any drop in it was entirely HIS fault. They had never taken their relationship to such a level, well….if you counted that one time at the Christmas party two years ago…but she was drunk and couldn't even remember that night clearly.

"ugh." She locked the door behind her as she landed on the plain bed in the center of the room. As if it would help though. If Heero really wanted to get in, he'd probably just take the lock apart if he wanted to be stealth, or break the door down if it were an emergency.

She heard the front door slam shut and suspected a cry of pain on Duo's part. She could hear Heero approaching the backrooms. She pulled the comforter back and climbed under, still clad in only the sheets from Heero's bed. She shut her eyes tightly, wanting to sleep away this whole incident. A quiet knock could be heard from the door, but feigned sleep.

"Relena?" he quietly inquired, his husky voice coming out evenly. But she didn't move. Let him go away, let him go to sleep, let him forget this every happened.

Relena didn't know how she could face him tomorrow. If she could.

Sleep over took her.

Morning came. The blinds cast off a striped shadow upon her alabaster skin and the brightness coaxed her awake. Relena arose slowly, but nearly had a stroke when she felt her naked body against the sheets. Memories of last night flooded her head and the same heavy weight of embarrassment, dread, and anguish overtook her senses.

Getting up from the plain mattress she reached for the dresser drawers. She grabbed a clean shirt and jeans along with the usual essentials. The door remained locked from last night so she freaked out when the door knob wouldn't turn--but felt stupid within the 3 seconds of realization that SHE locked it. Peaking into the hall, she could see the bathroom door closed and steam making it's way out of it. Heero must already be up.

She left her room fully clothed and decided to make breakfast while he was showering. Relena scanned the cabinets for food, only finding instant mixes and soup cans. Grocery shopping obviously wasn't on his priority list. Near the back there could be spotted a cereal box, she reached back and grabbed it only to reveal a bland flake brand.

'Better then nothing.' she thought. As she poured the flakes in a bowel she began to think of how to approach the subject of last night to Heero. Should she just not bring it up? Ignore him all together?

The shower door opened…revealing DUO?

The braided man walked out fully clothed in jeans and a dress shirt, unnatural for him. Relena looked at the man she'd known for years in curiosity.

"Where is Heero?" she asked abruptly. Duo looked over toward her and a smile crept on his face.

"Why goodmorning sleeping beauty! Have a good night's sleep?" There was a hidden meaning she just knew it.

"When did you get here?" Duo walked past her to look into the cupboards himself.

"About an hour ago, Heero had called and said he'd be leaving early this morning." He looked through the same areas as Relena did and wrinkled his nose in distaste, "Man doesn't know what real food is."

Relena slumped into her chair. "when will he be back?" Duo caught her gloominess quickly.

"Why, eager to finish what I had interrupted?" He was cackling now. Relena turned several shades in color and was blushing like she had an illness.

"Oh, come on. I'm just joking." Duo chortled and leaned against the counter. "Heero seemed a bit upset this morning is all." Duo began. "And considering his face is fixed that way I'm sure it takes a lot to make it even more dower." another smirk came over his face. "He didn't have any problems, 'rising' to the occasion, did he?" barely able to get it out without laughing. Relena glowered. He went towards the couch and settle himself down and turned the television on.

An hour later the front door swung open, revealing Heero carrying a duffle bag. He was wearing the standard Preventer uniform, jacket and black pants. His gun was in it's holster along with other devices strapped to his waist.

"We are going to proceed with the ransom taping." He said to no one inparticular. Duo just remained on the couch watching a football game, unfazed by his return. While Relena had been preparing a tea in the kitchen.

Duo muted the television, "And how are we going to go about that?"

Heero set the duffel bag on the table and took some objects out of it. "We'll be driving to a different location for it, there is an old barn not far from the interstate. That is where we will set everything up."

Relena didn't like the emphasis on the world 'everything'. What did they have in mind exactly? Were they going to just tie her up in a chair and point a camera at her? Heero ignored her gaze, and wouldn't even turn toward her when he spoke of this plan.

Duo shut off the television altogether and arose from the couch. Willing and ready for anything they were going to do to make this whole thing work. After all, it was vital that the world believe that she had been legitimately kidnapped and taken for ransom.

Relena stopped mixing the tea she had been preparing. Where they going now? Heero moved toward the back hall and into her bedroom. She didn't think to question what he was doing but heard the drawer being pulled out. Obviously he was getting clothes.

Duo made his was out of the apartment to start the car, leaving Relena and Heero to themselves.

The said man returned not but three minutes later with a set of clothes, from what Relena could see it was similar to what she had on already.

"Go get in the car." he commanded. Still not looking in her direction. She grabbed him as he walked by.

"Heero, about.." She began but was cut off.

"Now isn't the time." He said sharply, but seemed to regret it when he was the hurt in her eyes. "The press is demanding it within the hour, and if we don't take this phase by phase, they won't be convinced." he reasoned with her. Relena simply nodded and followed after him out the front door.

Duo waited in the drivers seat with a grin. Apparently he had already been briefed of where it was, otherwise Heero would have been driving. How else could he know where to go?

Relena opened up the back door and climbed in. Still upset from Heero's sharp comment before.

Heero locked the apartment door and got in the passenger's seat.

Duo sped off as soon as Heero's door was shut.

The ride to the barn was a relatively short one. It was several farm fields away from the suburban areas, but no more then five miles away. Duo pulled into the dirt driveway of a blue painted barn, it had one window on the side and the paint was chipping away. Abandoned.

"I'll get out and secure the area." Heero said as he slid out of the car. Leaving Duo and Relena there to wait.

"Exactly what am I suppose to do?" Relena asked Duo, watching Heero walk about the grounds. Duo sighed, "Heero told me to be the one to do the improvising, he'll just be handling the camera. So anything I say---don't take it personally." He turned around and gave her a small smile for comfort.

It didn't ease it however.