Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Counting the Seconds ❯ Chapter Twelve ( Chapter 12 )

DISCLAIMER: Standard disclaimers apply. (Too lazy to recite.)

Counting the Seconds

By Scilja

Chapter Twelve

It had come to this. It could have been someone else. Anyone else for that matter, but reality hit like a hard slap on the face.

She watched Duo bend next to the figure on the white bed, his raspy voice whispering words shared secretly between the two of them. His hand occasionally caressed the side of her face and his lips brushed against her forehead in an affectionate gesture. His brow furrowed in plain distress as he stayed by her side. Yet, the lying woman did little to respond.

The hand Relena held felt cold, distant, not like the warmth and liveliness of her childhood friend. Her heart constricted tighter as a flash of the dark pixie's mischievous smile ran across her mind. She stroked the dainty palm, looking wearily at the thread of IV fluid imbedded into it. Her line of vision traced the wire to the many others attached to various parts of her body. The beeping of the heart monitor drummed in her ears, adding to the remorse she felt growing inside.

The noises around her flitted through one ear and out the other. The faint chemical smell of the hospital wavered in the air, and the atmosphere felt cold…so very cold. The chill tinged her dry eyes and goose bumps formed a path on her arms. She let the frigid air embrace her. It was comforting in a way, for it numbed the excruciating fault she was feeling.

Hilde wasn't supposed to be unconscious on that putrid bed. Almost four days had passed since the accident had taken place. She looked so helpless, her life depending on nothing more than machines and fluids. Dependence did not suit her carefree lifestyle; it was like a foreign stranger in a territory. Her healthy fresh hue was replaced by a whitish-pastel shade. The irregular pattern of the rise and fall of her chest was the only sign they were given that she was still hanging in there, breathing all she had.

'God,' she cried out silently, anxiety mixed in with her pleads, 'please, Hilde, please.' Relena wound her hands tightly around hers and brought it to her forehead, never minding of the sharp aches she herself had received. Her own pain was nothing more than a dull sensation.

She accepted the heavy weight of guilt that settled on her shoulders. She was to blame for Hilde's morbid state. Her careless slip-up made it result to this point and she loathed every minute of it.

The scene of the horrid event came back to her repeatedly. She hated to envision Hilde come rushing to her aid only to be brutally hit by the massive vehicle. She hated to imagine the way her petite body would be slammed upon and thrown off to the side. She hated to think of how the jagged road scraped against her skin and tear flesh. She never wanted to see her helplessly still, not moving, not speaking, not laughing, not smiling…

She had to force down the bile that kept rising in her throat whenever she remembered the fatal incident. Her heart dropped to the depths of her stomach. A pounding sensation throbbed against her temples.

"Ms. Darlian!" Relena's head shot up at the nurse that came rushing to her. "Oh, what are you doing out of bed!" The medical attendant lifted her up from her sitting position at Hilde's bedside and assisted her back to her own.

Relena lay back on the pillow while the nurse pulled the thin covers up to her waist. "This may be your last day before you discharge but your body is still sensitive and not fully healed." She gave a comforting smile and patted her hand. "I know you want to be next to your friend, still, in order for you to be up and about again, honey, you need to rest, okay?"

She did not answer back since throat seemed to be blocked out of words. What does is matter to be up and about when your best friend is close to the brink of her life and you helped cause it? Stepping aside, the elder woman gave a sympathetic smile to Duo before leaving the room.

The sight of him being so cheerless worsened her shame. Her head lolled to the side on the coarse pillow. She looked despondently in the direction of her two friends before staring back to the pallid ceiling.

"I'm sorry."

To her own ears, that didn't even sound like her. Her mouth was dry and tasted foul from the medication she had been taking for the past few days. It even sounded pathetic. Apologizing seemed so obsolete compared to this whole incident.

A moment of silence passed until the sound of a chair scraped against the floor. Unhurried footsteps approached her bedside.

"Rel."

She turned away from him; her long hair shielded her face from his view. When she made no move to look at him, Duo called again with more insistence. Slowly, Relena averted her gaze towards him. He saw tears gathering in her eyes.

She gasped out a choked sob, "I'm so sorry, Duo."

He wrapped his arms around her tightly and rocked gently as she stared off into the distance.

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

"Is that so?" A blonde head nodded while talking into a cell phone. "I see. Well, report back to me as soon as possible. Thank you, and good night."

Quatre sighed as he ended the conversation. He shifted through the documents set out before him. His brow wrinkled, not at the article that was in front of him, but of what he had just been told.

"What is it?" Trowa asked from his seat next to the young heir.

He looked up from the parchment. "After talking with TMG, I've been informed there will be a slight delay of the credentials on the aircraft. Nothing much," he reassured.

The taller man said nothing in reply at first, then spoke a moment later, "Winner Enterprises is supporting TMG Corp. financially on the construction of this airline, correct?"

At the sound of his agreement, Trowa continued, "And Winner Enterprises is entitled to a fair percentage of designing the airline vessel. TMG is the one building the actual aircraft."

He was pleased to hear that his associate was thorough, "Correct." Quatre resumed his reading on the contract, "The commencing of the project should begin in a few days."

Nodding at that statement, Trowa picked up his drink and leaned back in his chair. He eyed suspiciously at the two figures that sat across at the mini-bar. One of them was noticeably drunk. His actions jerky and he could only hear muffled noises slurred from his mouth. The man next to him looked to be younger than the other was with a frown marring his face, but appeared sober enough. The first looked vaguely familiar, but none of the names that drifted through his mind matched the one he was looking at.

Averting his eyes back to the manuscript, he jotted down notes in the meantime.

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

The soft ding of the elevator interrupted her state of blank musings. Relena weakly made her way to the door of her suite, her mind barely registering turning the key in the lock.

Shrugging out of her long coat, she threw it aside, dressing in a shirt two sizes larger over her small frame along with fitting shorts. She ambled over to the kitchen and plopped a personal pizza box on the marble counter. Her tired state resignedly plunked down into a nearby chair.

At that moment, she had never thought she could feel so lonely in her life. Without Hilde's sparkling character and the sounds of teasing being exchanged, it felt so bare. The suite was made for more than one dweller, now it seemed dismal and bleak.

Her eyes roved over the many articles in the kitchen, then back to the pizza box. A frail hand lifted the top of the box, which doing so revealed the mozzarella cheese that she had paid extra for stick to the lid.

"Damn."

It was the last straw.

She dropped her head dejectedly on the table. Her shoulders trembled with the pent-up despair she had been holding back. Though she felt no tears fall from having dried herself out for Hilde's pain, her heart wept in anguish. She cried for her best friend. Not to mention whatever relationship that existed between her and Heero, whom she hadn't spoken or seen for a long time. He must think of how idiotic she was for having such naiveté.

She propped an elbow on the table's surface. Her breathless sobs muffled into a hand. "My fault, it's my fault." Her throat constricted painfully as something akin to a snuffle escaped her lips.

"Did you say something?"

Her body spun around on her chair seat, a sense of fear clutched her at the low, masculine voice. Heero was leaning against the side of the entrance post to the kitchen. His face almost looked as ravaged as hers must. His burgundy shirt was not tucked from his pants so it hung to his broad frame. The shirt sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. His tie was loosened, hanging on a sharp angle across his chest.

She swiped at her eyes and stood up. For once, she didn't pick an argument with him. She didn't ask him any questions or demand for an explanation of his presence. She did exactly what was on her mind.

She walked into his arms.

They came around her in a protective embrace. She breathed in his scent, relishing in his warmth. They did not kiss or cuddle, only clung together in comfortable silence.

"Why have you been crying?" he said a while after, cupping her face in between a palm.

Relena sniffed softly, "Because I've hurt the two most important people in the world to me."

He cocked his head to one side, "I don't believe that one bit."

"My best friend is teetering on the line in the hospital, and plus, I think I just shot down any chance of having a relationship to the day I become wrinkly and toothless."

"Why?"

"I've been a horrible partner, in both romantic and business speaking. Idiotic, assertive, immature…I've been a coward through it all. He should never want anything to deal with me."

"I think you've got the roles reversed." He leaned closer so their faces almost touched. "But why would you think he would act that way?"

"What reason would he want a girl who needs a lot more growing up to do?"

Heero crushed her petite body to his and bent from his height to drop his head against her shoulder. "No, Relena, don't even think that." He tightened his hold on her, "You're perfect, don't change the way you are."

The blonde form placed a hand against his bicep and pushed back so she could lock gazes with him. "Heero?" A look of bewilderment washed over her

"Since the first day, it had always been about you." Her eyes widened at his confession. "You gave me a feeling that I thought had long disappeared. You did what no-one could ever do." He touched his forehead with hers, "You gave me something to look forward to each day."

These gestures of endearment were truly rare from Heero, and Relena brightened at such moments. Her lips trembled at his words, but she willed herself not to throw her arms around him, "But Cheryl had ―"

His lips pressed against her own, silencing whatever she had to say, "Cheryl had never been given any of my time and never will, Relena. She was nothing but a prick at my side, a complete nuisance. She had only been a minor date, compliments of Duo, and nothing more."

Her brow furrowed in puzzlement. "But you were engaged."

He grunted in annoyance. "It was her parents who bought that story up to gain publicity and what not. The ring had already been paid for, as well as mine. All that was needed to make it complete was the groom." His hand toyed with gold silk tresses, "Whatever she mentioned of our engagement after that had nothing to do on my part. It was her doing.

"Don't make me say it again, Relena," he grasped her chin upwards so his eyes bore into hers, "it was just you."

It was believable, knowing Cheryl, that she was the kind of person to conduct such a selfish deed. She tore away from the endless blue of his eyes, "That's not what it was two years ago."

If she had looked back at him, she would have seen the slight crestfallen expression on his face. Then realization clicked and his hands held her shoulders, "Relena, what are you getting at?"

"You left," she was annoyed that her voice quivered. "So, it wasn't good enough for you?"

"Relena!" When she was trying to shake off his grasp, he only held on tighter, "I didn't leave!"

"The last time I remember, not being there was a sign of leaving."

"I didn't leave, Relena! I didn't…" She raised her head at the momentary pause. "I was berating myself."

Her eyes widened in disbelief, "Why?"

"You remember that night, Relena? When we were about to make forbidden love? I was angry at my stubborn pride for pushing you too far, with you engaged nonetheless!"

He returned his arms around her waist, "It was one of the highest points in my life, and yet I cursed myself daily for it. I despised myself for having taken advantage of you." He let out a small sigh. "I thought that I may have taken away your spirit. Then when I went back to apologize, you were no longer there."

New tears found their way to her aquamarine orbs, but for the first time in many days, they were not of sadness. 'It was all a misunderstanding. A misunderstanding! After two years, that's all that it was!'

"As for my short leave, I was called back to the office," she answered his silent question.

Her heart blossomed with a shout of joy. She raised her eyes to meet his and found them gazing intently back at her, "So, all this time…?"

His hands lightened the pressure on her upper arms, congratulating her brilliant deduction. The corner of his lips lifted furtively, "Was I not that obvious?" Prussian blue glinted slyly.

Relena flushed lightly and turned her gaze away as images of their secretly shared kisses seemed to roll through her mind. A light groan came from her lips followed by a smile against his shoulder, "You're terrible."

He smirked, "Like you aren't any worse." He brought a hand up to her nape and stroked it, enjoying the moment they shared.

His hands languorously roved over her back in a soothing motion. The ministrations immediately came to a halt when she flinched. He pulled back enough to see her face, "Still sore?"

She shook her head, smiling, "Only a little. It should heal in a few days."

If it hadn't been for the hand that caressed her cheek, the narrowing of his eyes and the scowl he shown would have startled her, "I will never forgive her for what she has done."

"How did you know? I was among a throng of people when it happened."

"A sales vendor reported as a witness. It was a damn good thing he had a sharp eye."

"And Cheryl?"

"Right where she should be ― in trial, but I didn't press any serious charges."

However vain the redhead may have been, Relena couldn't help but feel pity for her. Then kissing his cheek, she said, "No charges? Heero, you are a softie beneath that hard, tough exterior!"

"Softie?" He quirked a brow, "Doesn't sound very masculine."

She rolled her eyes, "Have I hurt your male pride?"

"You bet you did," his features remained unchanged, but amusement glinted in his dark orbs, "now you have to make it better."

Relena didn't realize that she had been backed up against a wall. Only when he leaned forward and supported his weight against his left arm right next to her head did she meet his predatory stance.

"Something you have in mind?"

He inched his face closer to hers, "Yeah," he replied huskily and closed the distance between them.

The instant their lips touched, they moaned at the realization of how much they missed it. He preserved the moment by teasing her lips with flicks of his tongue. She sighed impatiently against his mouth, managing to a small sample now and then. When their lips finally parted, tongues danced in a fiery passion. They stroked hungrily, tasting every corner.

He crushed her to him and brought his hand below her nape to get a better angle of delving into her mouth. She instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck in haste, happily returning the favor. He groaned into their kiss when her hand wove in the dark locks of his hair while the other traveled down his back.

They parted for air, but Heero wasted no time to dip his head near her neck. His tongue expertly lave at the open flesh his hand revealed from her shirt collar. Relena writhed at the pleasurable sensation he was giving her. His other hand busied itself by inching higher on her smooth thigh. She curled her hand behind his neck and cried softly when his tongue hit a particular spot. Craving to taste him again, she brought his head down and touched her lips to his, where they engaged into another heated kiss.

Hands roved over flesh, leaving nothing more than blazing trails of desire. Relena's own boldly lifted Heero's shirt to caress the sculpted planes of his abs, which brought forth a delighted moan from him. He broke away from their kiss only to breathe out, "Bedroom," then picked up where they left off.

Everything rushed by like a blur. Relena didn't realize they had already gotten to the bedroom except when the back of her knee bumped against the edge of the mattress. They were becoming needier as they divested of each other's clothing. With her shirt tossed aside, he brought them down unto the bed. He took advantage of her bare chest and stomach, planting open-mouthed kisses on every inch of fair skin.

He shrugged out of his dress shirt before leaning over her with his arms supporting his weight. She slowly opened her eyes, feeling utterly hypnotized by the swirling predatory blue tracing the outline of her figure.

At a changed pace, he rasped, "Relena," then bent low to join their mouths once again.

His hand came up to cup her breast. She let out a soft cry as he stroked until it became taut in it's arouse. The mere touch from him churned something deep within her, craving to be fulfilled.

With eyes shut at the delirious sensations Heero was giving her, she arched beneath him while his fingers toyed with the waistband of her shorts. He divulged her offered neck to him, taking great satisfaction at her throaty moans knowing he could please her in such a way.

When his nimble fingers took hold of the clasp and unzipped her shorts, Relena suddenly stilled.

At the same time, Heero ceased his actions but did not move away. He whispered next to her ear, holding back the desire that still burned inside him, "Relena, tell me, do you want to stop?"

When she didn't respond, he raised himself on his elbows and peered down her face. She had her eyes closed tightly, but when they opened, he saw them shimmer with moistness. "Heero, I can't. I'm sorry. I mean with Hilde…" Her voice trembled lightly, "I don't ―"

Surprise overcame her when he pressed a finger to her lips, silencing them. The purity behind the meaning of those unsaid words only proved her thoughtfulness. He nodded his understanding, "It's alright, Relena." He gave a chaste kiss on her forehead and rose to get off the bed.

Immediately, she shot her hand out to reach for his arm. Heero turned to her, dark brown tresses hung messily across his forehead. "Don't leave, Heero," she said softly, "stay with me for the night, please?"

He couldn't resist the way her eyes presented themselves to him, a striking shade of blue in the moonlight. With a light affirmative grunt, he climbed back on top of the bed and pulled a blanket to cover them. He lay next to her. A beautiful smile graced her features, "Thank you."

"Sleep, Relena," he said. She closed her lids. He was caught off guard when she inched closer to him and curved against his body. In response, he wrapped an arm around her, bringing her to him.

TBC…