Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Healing Peace ❯ Chapter 8 ( Chapter 8 )

How many times have we been over this? I don't own Gundam Wing or any of its characters. Those lucky bastards over in Japan do…

HEALING PEACE

He had to admit, this wasn't a bad place that Relena had set up for him. The young man who had met him at the airport had brought him to a small four-room cottage. Although it was on the school grounds, it was set off a bit as to ensure his privacy. The cottage itself was filled with light as the sunbeams filtered through the clear glass to dance along the freshly painted walls. There was a kitchen, a living room, a bedroom, and a bathroom, all tactfully decorated and furnished. The furniture was simple but well made, and Heero could see that the cottage had been recently renovated, probably for him. It's too bad that I won't be staying here long enough to appreciate it, he thought. Just as soon as he could arrange it, he planned to leave. He would disappear for a while and recover on his own, and then, just as soon as he could, he would rejoin his comrades. Heero's eyes widened at this thought. He really did think of them as his comrades, didn't he? Funny, he thought. I always thought that I worked better alone, but as soon as I am alone, I am thinking about going back to them. When had his life gotten so complicated?

He threw his duffel bag onto the wide bed in the middle of the bedroom. It looked very inviting, and he was so tired…Before he knew what he was doing, Heero joined his bag on the bed, and promptly fell asleep.

* * * *

Sally let herself into the cottage. "Heero?" she called. No answer. There were no lights on in the house; the sun outside was just setting, and the shadows were filling the rooms previously lit with sunlight. "Heero?" He hadn't left, had he? Perhaps she shouldn't have let him on his on…No, there he was. Sally smiled gently at the sight of the pilot stretched out on the bed, fast asleep. He looked so peaceful; all of the hardness usually etched in his face was gone. I'll leave him alone, Sally decided. I need to speak to Relena anyway; I'll go and meet with her first. With that thought, Sally turned and left.

* * * *

Heero tossed restlessly in his sleep. The dream was fierce and relentless, and he whimpered slightly as the nightmare wrapped it dark tentacles around his mind, leaving him completely at its mercy.

He was back in the cell; no, he had never left it. He had never been rescued. He shivered convulsively in the unheated room. He had pulled what remained of his clothing around his trembling form, as though it would protect him from the cold, as though it would protect him from HIM. The man that filled Heero's every waking moment with fear; the man that haunted his dreams, so that not even in sleep could he gain escape. The room was pitch black; even if he tried he could not see his hand when he held it out in front of his face. He liked the dark. When it was dark, he was safe.

Without warning, the door to the cell flew open. Light entered the room, causing his eyes to well up with tears. Heero cringed and drew himself as far against the wall as he could. He knew his effort was futile; he had no power to stop the man. He had long ago learned to lie passively and endure the abuse; afterwards, he would continue to lay still, stifling his sobs as the blood trickled down his body, from his face, from his chest and back, from between his thighs…He was violently jerked from his thoughts as the commander jerked his head up roughly, claiming Heero's abused mouth in a painful kiss, his hands roaming over Heero's bruised form, hands that felt like thousands of snakes were slithering over the dazed boy. Against his will he cried out…

And to his surprise was answered. A smooth, calm voice, only slightly tainted with anxiety, said, "It's alright, Heero. It's alright."

* * * *

Relena and Sally walked toward the small cottage together, conversing quietly. The doctor, unlike Duo, told Relena matter-of-factly what had happened to Heero. The girl blanched, and drew her hand up to cover her mouth with an expression of horror. Then she drew a deep breath, and recomposed her expression. You knew it had been bad, Relena, she mentally scolded herself. But not that bad. I guess I am still a naïve little girl.

"Are you alright, Miss Relena?" Sally asked, concerned. She had tried to give as few details as possible…

"Yes, Sally, I'm fine," Relena responded, with only a slight tremor in her voice. It quickly vanished as she continued to speak. "How is he now?" she asked.

"When I left, he was asleep. I thought it best to let him rest. No matter how much he might deny it, the trip here exhausted him."

They had reached the cottage. Sally opened the door and held it as Relena walked in to the dark house. She flipped on the light switch, and instantly the kitchen was bathed in golden light. A small noise caught her attention, and she turned abruptly to Sally. "Did you hear that?"

Sally didn't have a chance to respond before a fierce cry erupted from the bedroom. The cry was laced with pain and fear. Relena dropped her purse and ran for the room, with Sally following closely behind.

In the light from the kitchen, Relena could make out Heero's form on the bed. He thrashed around violently, and cried out once more. Instantly, she was by his side, placing a calming hand on his arm. "It's alright, Heero. It's alright."

* * * *

Whelp, that's it for this chapter. So Heero and Relena are finally going to meet. What will Heero's reaction be? Will he still leave? Stay tuned to find out… Oh, and I apologized for any OOC; I am trying to keep them in character as much as possible.