Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Counting the Seconds ❯ Chapter Two ( Chapter 2 )

DISCLAIMER: For this purpose, I have made a recording. <presses play and repeat on the recorder> I do not own Gundam Wing. I do not own Gundam Wing. I do not own Gundam Wing. I do not own Gundam Wing. I do not own Gundam Wing. I do…nod…owph…bleruch…eeurchfppt…<smashes it with a bat> Heh…<sheepish grin>

Counting the Seconds

By Scilja

Chapter 2

"I'm sorry I left earlier, but I'm alright, Hil. I just didn't feel well to stay there long enough," Relena reassured to the sympathetic lady on the video-phone screen. Well, it was half truthful. She hated lying to her friend, but she did not like the option of having to be near her intense, earlier years the whole night through.

Hilde slump her shoulders in relief and let out a pent-up breath, "I'm just glad you're okay." Her thankful expression was replaced with worry. "Duo and I were deeply concerned with you once you were gone. I was afraid that something terrible happened, and besides that, Duo almost went stark raving mad. Come to think of it, I think I nearly did as well." She then laughed faintly to ease the tension, but then turned into a much more serious tone. "It was only until Heero told us that you had some urgent matter to attend to and that you gave apologies in advance."

'Heero did that?' Relena wondered why he came up with such an explanation. She would have expected something among the lines of: "She had to leave," or "We didn't get along well." Anything but what Hilde had just told her would have made more sense. Her thoughts were interrupted when Hilde said, "Relena, I had a feeling that throughout the night, both you and Heero were… how do I put this…edgy?"

Relena feared that she would become aware of that and hopefully wished her friend wasn't so observant. She couldn't blame her though, it was part of her job to watch the interaction between the clients and Dreask, and it had rubbed off on her.

Though Hilde was only concerned for her wellbeing, she couldn't possibly tell her the history between her and Heero. She had never done so, and hadn't planned on doing so in the near future. Relena looked at it as one of those small things that would simply wash away a few days later, but it had proved it would be staying for much longer than she had thought.

"Did anyone ever tell you that you fret way too much, Hil?" Relena forced a laugh with an off-handed gesture. "Heero and I just didn't click. The spark, it wasn't there." She ignored the inner voice that screamed defiance in her mind and shrugged nonchalantly, "It happens."

"Too bad," Hilde tilted her head in pretend pity, "I thought you both would have made a cute couple."

"Yeah, too late for that now, I guess. I didn't mean to ruin your evening."

"I understand."

"Thanks Hil, for being so considerate. Don't forget to tell Duo he can stop being jumpy."

"Will do, captain," Hilde gave a mock salute. "Take care of yourself. See 'ya!"

Relena returned the goodbye and shut off the video-phone. Suddenly, the silence that echoed throughout her condominium apartment made her throat clutch in fear. She shivered, not from the cold, but from the memories. As if she stood alone in a foggy mist, she felt utterly vulnerable and gradually succumbed to her past callings.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

It was part of a project she was sent to complete for Dreask. The manager had called her to his office to confirm their status with a software module company called Thyss.

"Relena, I know this may be a spur of the moment sort of thing, but we need someone to go down there and figure out whether or not the deal is still on," replied a man in his late 40s as he sat in his leather chair.

Chaucer Dreask was a kind, impervious, and you could say jolly, elder man. He had earned a high reputation in the business world through several years of hard work and effort. Both she and he had gotten to know each other well enough to be almost a family relationship. Relena couldn't help but look up to him as an older grandfather. Apart from being stern with his employees, he had a big heart to make sure they weren't overworked and grumbling with complaints. To quote Hilde, "It is difficult not to find him amiable."

"What about contacting them through phone? Or is this a much more face-to-face kind of matter?" Relena questioned as she crossed her legs in the maroon seat. His office showed his personality, deep reds and purples splashed together and cheery wood furniture decorated the setting. It gave out a laid back sense, but strict and grave when it came to be.

Her supervisor shook his head, "This has to be a more personal encounter. Since you are practically the one who knows most about the comings and goings of this company, I see that you are fit to resolve any conflicts and can answer any question thrown at you. You have demonstrated what you are able to do for this business, Relena, and I consider myself fortunate to have you on board. We have to prove to them that we have the guts to show them what we are made off." He gave her that award-winning smile that appeared on several magazine covers, "After all, does it not make a difference when situations are met in person?"

She had to be of the same opinion at his intelligent reasoning, it did matter on the kind of contact they made. She let out a defeated sigh, "Alright, Chaucer. I'll do it." She rose off her seat and smoothed down her jacket. "When do I leave?"

"In three hours."

Relena's eyes widened as she gaped at the grinning man in front of her. "You're kidding."

"Nope, don't have the time to."

She gave a ticked off sound through clenched teeth, but she showed humor on her face, "You were expecting me to say 'yes', didn't you?"

He merely nodded and continued to give her that satisfied smirk of his, "I knew I could count on you, Relena."

And before she knew it, after a swift goodbye to Hilde and her co-workers, she was off to Athens, Greece.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The lengthy time period she had spent there was most definitely shocking, she did not realize that it would be more time-consuming than she had predicted. Relena had spent at least five months in Athens, hectic with resolving issues that occurred back and forth between Dreask and Thyss. On the other hand, she was often able to find spare time to herself, since the meetings took no more than three to four hours to begin with.

She had been granted to stay at one of the finest hotels during her time there. Elegant, Victorian-style furniture, a crystal bathroom, a beautiful queen sized bed in the centre, and to top it all off, your television and mini bar and fridge.

Relena sought out desperately to some fresh air, having just returned from a complex discussion, and decided to treat herself for awhile. She glanced down at her left ring finger, where a white diamond encircled around it. She was engaged to be married to Randen Barrett, one of the most handsome and sought out bachelors in the world. Well, bachelor no more, he had just proposed to her a few weeks ago. They had known each other for almost two years now, and Relena bubbled with joy at the mere picture of their wedding. Life couldn't be better.

After looking over once more at her appearance in the vanity mirror, she was pleased with the results and stepped out into the carpeted hallway, only to be rammed into by force.

"Ow," Relena groaned with soreness as she tried to open her eyes, but they seemed to be opposing her will. Strange, she expected a heavy weight to be settled on top of her. She blinked back into alertness.

"Hn."

Relena averted her gaze to the sound that came from below and was met with the bluest eyes she had ever seen.

"Ah!" she instantly realized someone had caught her fall, and quickly got up off the ground. "M―my deepest, deepest apologies!" She bowed low to hide the blush that stained her cheeks. "I'm so sorry, are you alright? Are you hurt? Was I really that heavy?" 'Nice move Relena! It was bad enough that you were born a klutz, but no, you had to squash a person to make it all the better.'

She extended her hand to help the anonymous person up, but saw that he was already to his feet. Gradually bringing her eyes upwards to take a good look at her rescuer, she had to gasp with what she saw.

Truly he was a sight to behold, and Relena became increasingly doubtful that her legs would support her. The tousled look of his dark brown hair expressed a sort of wildness about him, and the carelessly free bangs that seemed to hang off added more mystery to him. His face was like as if the greatest sculptors in the world had created a masterpiece, a work of art. His body, though hidden by a soft blue shirt and navy pants, was well built, not bulky, nor was it lean. She marveled at how anyone like this could be able to walk the earth without a fanfare.

But it was those eyes almost hidden behind the veil of dark tresses that captured her the most. They seemed to draw her in their endlessly blue depths. A wild storm seemed to be enraging behind them. Strong and powerful. At the same time, like the sea, they can be soothing and passionate.

"You should be more careful next time," he said interrupting her quiet admiration, then simply turned around and strolled off.

She promptly spoke again after he had taken a few steps, "Wait!" She quickened her pace until she met up with him, "At least let me take you to coffee. It's the least I can do, after all that."

He normally would've continued walking away, but the flushed face he was met with along with a hopeful gleam in her eyes somehow beckoned him to stay. He finished all his work for the day, and so he agreed.

"Thank you!" She replied with a smile. He was completely taken back by how her face shone when she smiled. It was as if an aura glowed about her.

"By the way," she held out her arm towards him again, but this time in greeting, "I'm Relena, who is most eternally grateful for your help."

He looked down at the small hand before him and shook it. Furthermore, he couldn't help but feel somewhat comfortable with this unexpected first acquaintance. "Heero."

Relena became lightheaded from recounting their first meeting. As the days went by, both she and Heero found ways of crossing each other's paths. There would be numerous occasions where they would do nothing but talk, gone were business and careers, replaced with simplicity things of life. In fact, it led to much deeper matters, where self-control broke loose and flew out the window.

Relena didn't know when they had gotten back to her hotel suite. She had a blurred idea on how they even got there. All she knew was right now both she and Heero were on her bed. What even flabbergasted her more was what they both were doing, but it was frighteningly thrilling.

The mattress dove from his weight as he mouthed wet kisses on the neck of the woman beneath him. Every touch, every caress felt like scorching passion reached at its highest peak. Relena's hands repetitively clenched and unclenched the backside of his shirt, revealing sleek muscles of his arms and back. She mewled and moaned as Heero unbuttoned her blouse and traced his tongue against every inch of bared skin revealed to him.

"Relena," he husked. "How could you say no to this?" He continued to her chest. "How can you deny what we both want?"

She could hear the anguish through his voice, and in return she made a noise through her throat which came out like a sob. "Heero…"

"Do you purr when he kisses you?"

She gasped when he had unzipped her skirt.

"Does your body react to his as it does to mine?"

Her back arched when he stroked her. She tossed her head to the side, her face scrunched up in pleasure and agony.

She was having a hard time gasping for words; she eventually managed out, "I―I love him!"

"Liar," he brought his face back up to hers and looked into her tear glistening eyes. Vaguely, she got a glimpse of the anguish his face showed, "Relena."

With that, his mouth clamped down on hers, leaving no more room for word. Relena felt herself being torn inside, heat emanating from her body that coursed through her veins like a wild, uncontrollable fire. She tangled her hands in his hair, and silently cried out.

"Hee-ro," she whispered hoarsely.

All too soon, Heero raised his head. She could feel his penetrating stare. His features were indistinguishable in the darkness, but his eyes were powerful even without light. She could do nothing but freeze and become immobile under his glare.

"Relena," he rasped. His chest heaved to regain breath. God! What had he almost done? She could feel him tense greatly and slowly lean away from her. Relena watched with an empty feeling of helplessness. "If I ever hurt you…" He cursed. "…Never, never in my life have I ever…"

She sat up slowly and sensed him bury his face between his hands dejectedly.

"I don't know what's happening to me."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

After that night, that was the last she had seen Heero. Early the next day, she immediately booked a ticket straight back home. Home, the word sounded so foreign to her ears after all that had happened. Her heart felt incredibly heavy, and throughout the whole trip, she couldn't think. She didn't want to. If she did, her thoughts would always lead to him.

Back at Dreask, she had given surety to Chaucer that everything was in its place with Thyss and they are looking forward to their next meeting with him. She remembered that breaking off her engagement with Randen was the first thing she did when she arrived back, saying she thought about it for a while, and felt she wasn't prepared for it all.

"That's all right, Relena," he told her with understanding as he held her hand, both of them sitting on his lounge. "You're young, there is still a lot of things out there for you. Just promise me we'll keep in touch." He gave an embrace to their parting relationship.

"I will, Ray," she answered him faintly and returned his hug, tears threatening to burst behind glossy, blue pools for not telling him the true reason behind this doing. "I promise. Thank you."

Curling her knees up on her couch and sipping the chocolate, which at this point had turned cold, Relena watched the last scene of her memory dissolve away. She allowed her mind to drift towards space as she stared blankly at the walls of her apartment.

And now, here she was, two years later. Then again, so was Heero.

TBC…