Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Anacrusis ❯ Chapter 2 ( Chapter 2 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Anacrusis

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“I strongly believe that our journey to peace for the Earth Sphere Unified Nations is coming much closer to our grasp. Ladies and gentleman, I congratulate you in the steady progress that is being made. Hard work has been put into ensuring our future and it is now that the fruits of our labour are showing.

By no account do I believe our work is done. Nor do I think it ever will. But I believe that if we get over these first few steps, we can face any other problems with stride and seal a peaceful future together. Thank you.”

Relena closed her eyes and held them that way for a few seconds as the sounds of applause echoed in one of the great chambers in the ESUN's headquarters. She calmly opened her eyes once more and gazed about the room critically waiting for the applause and quiet murmuring to cease. This chamber never really appealed to her, nor did the others surrounding this complex for that matter. It had been the President's idea, to allow several random architects to design conferencing chambers. And of course they had to have a completion for who could come up with the best camber, to which Relena had translated as a competition for who could come up with the most ridiculous chamber.

This particular one was designed by a man named Vincent Watanabe. He was one of those people who found it unique and `in' to change your surname into something exotic. Vincent was from the former New York state and from the times Relena had met him, his constant effing's and blinding's in casual conversation meant he was definitely a New Yorker. He always seemed a little overbearing to Relena, his rambunctious attitude appealed to her greatly but she had never quite found the words to express to him.

This design involved glass, lots of glass. The entire dome shaped chamber was constructed with glass bricks of all shapes, sizes and colours. It reminded Relena greatly of the stained glass windows in cathedrals. Over all the look was appealing, but that wasn't what got to Relena. Everything was made of glass, including the chairs and the podium and the stage…even the curtains were made from thin yet resilient shards of the stuff, stringed together with a silver looking wire.

Sure it looked very pretty to Relena, but it just wasn't practical. The chairs were very uncomfortable and hard going of ones rump, especially if you had to sit in the same position for hours on end. Even now she could see people shift and wince discretely as they finally settled down to hear her speak again.

An odd feeling came over Relena and crept evilly down her spine. She felt like she was being watched, which was ridiculous because she was being watched, by hundreds of people for that matter. But she could help but feel that violation of personal space. Someone was watching her without her knowing. But she decided to ignore it since she needed to introduce the first speaker who happened to be delegate Walters.

“Now ladies and gentleman I now introduce to you the new L2 delegate Christi-“

She didn't get to finish the next sentence.

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The chamber filled with panic as a shot was fired the sound that would usually be a moderate noise morphed into the bang of a cannon thanks to the harmonics a one Vincent Watanabe had placed into his design.

Women shrieked and fainted men shrieked and then tried to look professional and hero like and fled the scene, heading to the door with some random helpless looking soul in toe. All in all it was a disaster scene and a pain in the ass for the Preventers who were trying to navigate past the mass of terrified people to assist their comrades near the stage.

All Relena could do was blink as she found herself lying on the floor, with something sprawled all over her, a person she faintly noted. Her dazed gaze tried to focus after its sudden wrench from looking at people to the whirlwind of moving things. The screams of terror ripped in her ears and Relena snapped her eyes shut as tightly as they could and moved her head to the side and away from the screams.

What was going on? Relena tried to get her mind to cooperate and sort out the information of what just went on but no sooner did the sound of a gun firing register, she was wrenched to her feet and then scooped into someone's arms and were running. Running where? Relena had no clue but the strangely familiar presence holding her stopped her from struggling. Her mind still reeling left her only staring blankly at air listening to the steady breathing of the one holding her and the thud of her own heart beat.

A burst of sunlight and the echo of a door being kicked off its hinges made Relena blink, the light hurt her eyes and she scrunched them closed to block out the offending light. What was going on now?

She felt the person shift her position and the distinct sound of a car door opening barely registered before she was flung into the car and the door slammed shut behind her. She struggled to get up in the back seat as the driver's door opened and the figure got in hurriedly and slammed the door shut with unnecessary force.

“Keep your head down.”

Relena, following the commanding tone out of sheer instinct rather than what the words meant, sank down in the back seat and lay there sprawled with the seat buckles digging uncomfortably into her side.

That voice, that voice sounded familiar.

Relena's eyes widened and her head snapped to front seat and she gazed hard at a very, very familiar mop of brown hair. How could she forget his voice?

“Heero…”

Her utterance of the man's name sitting in the seat in front of her either went unheard or ignored. Relena had a sneaking suspicion it was the latter. She looked at the head rest obscuring a full view of the back of his head for a minute, almost trying to see his face. The shock of his sudden appearance still wasn't coming to her as the curiosity to see what had changed about him grew over powering.

She turned her head to look blankly at the car ceiling's cheap velvet cover. Her heart still thudded in her chest, beating loudly enough she thought Heero could even hear it. Her body was relaxing from its sudden adrenaline surge and it left Relena slightly exhausted. All she felt she could do was watch the ceiling change hue as light flashed on and off it in random patterns. It really was kind of pretty.

But Heero was back, had he come purely to save her? Was he leaving as soon as he returned her back home? Her heart sank at the prospect and she could picture the scene across her mind. He'd drive up and promptly plonk her on her doorstep then run off to God knew where. Ah yes a perfect rendition of the Heero saving Relena saga.

She sighed and shifted uncomfortably in her position to relieve the pressure of the seat buckles. Could she dare hope that he'd stay? Her gaze returned to the back of Heero's head and she sighed quietly once more. Was there a reason for him to stay? It was clear that he didn't love her otherwise he'd have never left in the first place. But a part of her hoped that it wasn't his lack of feelings towards her that drove him to go. Maybe…just maybe he left to find himself, to gain his emotions. Maybe…after five years he'd finally learnt to feel and was back to stay?

These questions that kept cropping up weren't helping and Relena took a deep cleansing breath. Now wasn't the time to try and hope Heero was hear to finally sweep her off her feet like the Prince Charming that she'd first envisioned him to be.

The car stopped and she stiffened in anticipation. Was this it? Was this the last time she'd see Heero for the next five or more years? Their reunion was simply the view of his head and four ordered words? She bit her lip to hold the wrench in her chest from over whelming her. This really was it, she wouldn't even get to say goodbye to him. She didn't even say goodbye to her father…was she destined to have everyone she loved leave with uttering that simple and over looked word?

The door opened and before she knew it, she was being hauled out of the back seat. She shuddered in a breath like a dying mans last and brought her gaze up to meet the perfectly manicured gravelled front driveway.

Only…this wasn't it.

Relena blinked and whipped her head around in confusion. Where was she? She was standing on a tar pavement next to some road. She was surrounded by shabby looking flats. Litter lay scattered everywhere and the homeless loitered in closed shop doorways. She would have taken in more of her surroundings if she hadn't been swept off her feet once again and carried into one of the rundown apartment buildings.

Relena tried again “Heero?”

Once more she was ignored and her head hung in defeat as they carried on in an uncomfortable silence up countless flights of stairs. Her eyes caught various sights that her pampered lifestyle at a young age had never encountered. At random intervals, they'd come across people. Homeless maybe or just looking for an escape they were all surrounded with either empty alcohol bottles or syringes. The putrid smell of urine and sick emanated about her and Relena forced back a gag when it first reached her nostrils.

After what seemed an eternity to Relena, Heero stopped at a particular floor and headed to a doorway leading into a hall way. Still carrying her, he approached a door in the hallway and managed to unlock it. Swiftly he walked in and deposited Relena behind him as he closed the door and started locking it.

Relena took this time to straighten up her dress suit and hair and look about the place.

She gaped.

It was so bare and rundown. Was this where Heero Yuy, the saviour of the Earth, lived? Relena couldn't believe it, wouldn't believe it. Shouldn't he have a job, shouldn't he be happy and in a house that wasn't surrounded in decay? All the hope filled fantasies of Heero leading a full life in beautiful surroundings shattered and Relena was left blank, at a loss. What human could stand such a living space?

But…Heero wasn't human as so many acclaimed yet she refused to listen to. The room, the living room she guessed, was neat. But the walls were a sickly grey colour, a simple couch looking tattered and worn and on its last legs lay pitifully against a wall. A small TV stood in the corner on the floor, opposite the couch. An electric heater stood in the centre of the room switched off. Her gaze shifted to the small kitchen attached to the living room. A small metal table stood in the centre of it with a single foldable wooden chair placed in front of a laptop on the table. From what she could see the kitchen had all the basics, fridge, sink, stove e.t.c.

Heero whispered past her and further into the living room only to pause at the centre next to the heater. He turned around to face her, pinning her with his trademark hard gaze. Relena got her first good look at him after five years, and she wasn't disappointed.

Heero hadn't changed one bit and yet he had at the same time. He was taller about 5' 11” now, he looked broader in the shoulders and beautifully tapered in the waist. He looked thinner than she remembered, but she didn't know if it was because of ill-nourishment or his natural growth. His face was much more chiselled and defined with the familiar mop of hair that looked a lot thinker and a little longer and if possible looked even more unruly. His eyes hadn't changed though, not one bit. Still the hard shards of midnight blue that could look right into your soul and leave you feeling naked.

It took Relena a moment to realise he was waiting for something, for her to sit down most likely. She slowly slipped further and sat on the couch in a poised position. She turned to face him completely and looked at him expectantly for an explanation.

He just stared at her with his piercing gazed, if she wasn't used to it, Relena probably would have found it belittling. Relena decided to go for the direct approach. She frowned slightly as she spoke “Well? Heero can you please tell me what is going on?”

“Hn” was all she got. Heero blinked at her and walked across the room to a small window. Relena caught sight of the butt of a gun poking out of the top of his jeans and she crossed her legs uncomfortably. She watched him look out the window briefly before retreating back into the middle of the room where he promptly yet gracefully sat against the wall. One arm rested on a raised knee while the other rested on the thigh of his unbent leg.

“Don't go near the window, ever.” Was all he said.

Relena frowned and tried her best not to scowl and reply with a sarcastic comment. She instead kept her shoulders back and tried to fix his gaze with her own slightly pleading one.

“Please Heero, what's going on? I haven't seen you in five years and now you appear but won't say why.”

Heero's gaze had wandered off to the wall and seemed to be following an almost invisible crack. He appeared to be thinking, the slightly glazed look in his eyes giving it away. It surprised Relena that she could still read him after all these years. He really hadn't changed one bit and Relena was still debating whether that was a good or bad thing.

“There was a planned assassination attempt on you from a small rebel group I've been tracking. I caught wind of their desire for your death and stopped the gunman from killing you.”

That brought Relena out of her musings, and she was left to stare at him a little wide eyed.

“But why now? There haven't been any assassination attempts or rebel groups for years now.” Relena clasped her fingers together in front of her and stared down at them blankly. Heero observed her quietly no hint of emotion showing as usual.

“I do not know much as to why but I intend to find out.”

He still used that deep monotone she idly noted while still staring at her clasped hands in her lap. It suited him much more now his body was that of a man's. It was a comfort in a way, something familiar in an environment totally alien to her. She looked up and noticed his eyes on her. They looked calculating, dissecting her almost.

“Why am I here Heero? Surely I am a bother, couldn't you just have left me back home?”

“Hn” was all she got, and to be frank she wasn't surprised by it. They sat in silence then. Heero watching her intensely and Relena who'd returned to looking at her hands.

Heero got up eventually, pausing for a second to glance down at Relena before heading towards a door. Relena took his glance as his way of saying to follow him. She stood up, straightening her suit out of habit and followed him into the room. It was a bedroom. A simple single bed stood by a wall a small bedside table next to it with a dingy lamp on top. A small wardrobe tilting to one side thanks to two missing legs rested on the wall opposite the bed.

“You will be staying in this room.”

Relena, who'd past Heero to get a better look into the room, frowned.

“Staying? So I'm here for a while? Heero that isn't practical, I have no clothes plus I have work that I need to take care of. Some silly assassination attempt wouldn't stop me, there have been many others bef-“ Heero interrupted her.

“Relena, these people know what they are doing. You are safer here with me.”

“You'll protect me then Heero?”

“I always keep my promises.” Relena's heart which had been fluttering with hope that he really cared, sank to the bottom of her stomach. He was just keeping his promise…but that promise was a heart felt one. She knew it was! He had to have cared for her. But after so long, the seed of doubt would take hold and Relena would doubt that she was anything more than a tool for peace to Heero.

“Don't go near the window, don't answer the door and don't leave the apartment.” And with that Heero left, leaving Relena to stare bewildered at the place where he'd been. The click of the door closing and locks activating brought her out of the stunned daze. She backed up and bumped into the bed where she promptly sat down. What had just happened?

Relena blinked and kicked her shoes off suddenly feeling like she'd run the marathon. All the things that had happened, nearly dying, Heero coming into her life once more, then the cold shoulder he'd given her, were finally sinking in. She climbed further onto the bed and curled up over the covers fighting against the twinge of pain behind her eyes. This was all too much. Sure and assassination attempt she could handle no problem, she would be shaken up but it was normal.

But Heero was here…

She honestly didn't know that she'd come to be so susceptible to his presence. But seeing him there, looking at her, in the flesh. It was all too much. He surely didn't have the right to come swaggering in (though she didn't think he was swaggering while saving her life) and mess about with her life. She had more important things to worry about.

She breathed in slowly and closed her eyes to will sleep to come to her. She couldn't think properly while in this shocked state. She'd sleep and confront a certain pilot when she awoke.

She hoped.

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When she first opened her eyes, Relena didn't have a clue where she was. It was that time between asleep and awake where you knew only your own bed. Relena was in this time and she knew this wasn't her bed.

Almost instantaneously she sat up and looked about owlishly. Where the…and then it came to her. She was at Heero's apartment, on his bed. She looked about half expecting him to be there making sure she hadn't been killed while asleep, but he wasn't.

She slowly pulled back the bed covers, when had she gotten under them? She paused and tried to get her sleep hazed mind to work to no avail. Deciding not to bother too much over it, she padded towards the door and quietly opened the door. She leaned up against the frame and took in the scene before her, Heero in his usual tank top and jeans sat at the kitchen table typing vigorously away at his laptop. The site caused Relena to smile despite herself; it really was good to see him again.

She pushed off from the door, intent on ignoring her earlier thoughts and settled for leaning against the countertop and watching the 01 pilot typing away. Without looking Heero spoke suddenly.

“I have a bag with some of your clothes on the couch.” Relena titled her head to the side and regarded him with a small smile.

“Was that where you were Heero?”

He didn't reply but the short sideways glance in her direction answered her question as an affirmative. Relena didn't let his lack of conversation to get to her and headed into the living room to retrieve the duffle bag on the couch. Once it was in her hand, she walked into the bedroom, settling the bag on the end and then making the bed. She debated unpacking but the fact that she didn't know if Heero wanted her unpacking her things and her fascination of what he'd been up to, stopped her.

Instead she walked back out and retook her position leaning against the counter top. She watched him continue type in a childish rapt attention. He was such a mysterious person. He could have her spell bound within a few seconds thanks to his enigmatic nature.

“Where will you be sleeping Heero?”

He didn't answer, didn't even pause once Relena noticed. Obviously her question wasn't worth an answer. Relena frowned and thought that it obviously was a silly question to ask. But she honestly didn't know what to say. She had so much to ask him but breeching the subject was the problem. She couldn't just dive straight in and say `Hey Heero where in Gods name have you been these last five years?' That would be rude and plain stupidity. So she went on a little less pushy route.

“How have you been Heero?”

“Hn.”

Relena scowled. Well that went well.

“I have been sufficient.” He said after a long moment obviously seeing her scowl and decided to reveal something of how he was.

Well that was better she supposed. She decided to push a bit and see where it got her.

“Only sufficient Heero? Could you elaborate, I'm curious as to what you've been up to all this time?” Heero's typing paused and he looked at her with an unreadable expression that had Relena wonder what it was he was thinking about.

“I've been trying to find this rebel group and destroying them.” That had her frowning. “All these years? I thought you didn't want to fight anymore…” She winced mentally at the ungratefulness that must have sounded but Heero appeared unfazed.

“The group only appeared three years ago and I've been tracking them since.”

“So what were you doing the other two years…?” Relena sucked in a brave breath before speaking again. “Were you finding yourself?”

“Hn.”

Well it was better than being ignored she supposed. She didn't expect him to spill his heart out to her. She'd be very suspicious if he started babbling on about God knows what. A picture of Heero grinning and running up to hug someone came to Relena's mind and she snorted in mirth. Heero looked up at the noise and looked at her with an odd look which just set her off in a small bout of giggles. Heero raised an eyebrow still looking at Relena like she'd grown a second head. Relena coughed in a very un-lady like fashion.

Well at least it was something.

She couldn't ever expect him to be open with his emotions, and she knew he had them, because no one could truly ever turn about like that. Heero was taught to bury his emotions for the first 16 years of his life, and there was no way he could go back on what he'd known. That was silly.

She studied his face as he'd typed away either ignoring or oblivious to her intense gaze. He seemed a little less tense the constant frown that creased his eyebrows seemed to have relaxed a little. In fact, she noted, he seemed to be over all a much more relaxed person, save for the tense look in his eyes which she could only conclude was because of this situation.

“You've changed Heero…I like it, you don't seem so tense anymore.”

Heero looked up from his laptop screen and eyed her up and down before speaking.

“You seem a lot tenser than before Relena.” Despite herself Relena blushed faintly at his words and gaze.

“Yes well it's been hard work to set up the Terra Forming project over the past five years...” she frowned at him in thought “...I'm surprised that you didn't get involved with it in some way. It seems like something you might find interesting.”

Relena didn't really know why she made that observation and she half expected him to end the conversation (if that's what you could call it) with another `hn'. But he surprised her when he closed the laptop and swerved in his chair to face her.

“What led you to believe I hadn't?” Relena raised an eyebrow at this and tried to hold back the hurt she felt that Heero felt the need to hide from her.

“The first two years before I caught wind of the rebel group, I've been protecting the Project from any glitches or people that would stunt it. I didn't say anything or it would jeopardise the mission.” Relena didn't know whether to be surprised he'd revealed this much to her or saddened that he still was sacrificing his life for everyone. He deserved happiness.

“You don't need to sacrifice yourself Heero. You have been free to live your own life for years.” Heero shook his head and pinned her with a look.

“My life is cheap Relena. I use it to ensure a peaceful future.” Relena frowned and looked mildly disgusted at this. Heero's life was by no means cheap and she'd make him see it. Pushing off from the countertop she walked the short distance to Heero and knelt down cupping his left cheek with her right hand. Her expression was an intense swirl of affection for the man in front of her and deep worry for what had transpired for him.

“Heero, your life is by no means cheap. It is perhaps the most precious thing I know and I'll be damned if I let you throw it away. You have a future Heero Yuy and it should be one that isn't shadowed by the soldier that you were. There is so much more out there…so much more of you to show.”

Heero's eyes held hers for a fraction before slanting to look at the lino flooring. But that small time was enough to see the surprise and uncertainty he held. He didn't move away from her touch and Relena had to smile softly and the mystery of this man. Heero looked up again and into her eyes almost struggling for words.

“Relena…” his Adam's apple bobbed as Heero swallowed. “…I don't have anything. The only thing I can do is ensure peace is kept in my own way.” At this he slowly stood and Relena's hand sipped from his cheek to lie dejectedly on her lap as she kneeled. She watched his back as he slowly walked into the living room.

“You do have something Heero! You have emotions! I've seen them hidden under that icy exterior.”

Heero didn't even flinch or seem to acknowledge her words as he sat down on the couch and looked out of the window. Relena sighed before slowly standing once more. Her heart ached for Heero, ached to help him in some way. But she was at a loss again of how to accomplish that feat.

Suddenly feeling tired once more, she left the kitchen and walked into the bedroom. The door closed with a soft click. She wasn't even aware of the hard midnight blue eyes that stared at the closed door with intensity and an unreadable emotion floating within their depths.

“Relena…”