Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Quintessence ❯ And so they meet again ( Chapter 4 )

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

Chapter 4 - And so they meet again…

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Relena could smell the distinct odors of the men around her. They weren't too talkative during the entire trip, which lasted for a couple of hours. Moreover, the young politician was blindfolded with a slim hand cloth that was wound so tightly it made her eyes sore and distorted. She knew that this wasn't any operation performed from any rebellion. These people organized the kidnapping with such ease that they must have calculated every possible outcome of the event, taking months to plan and systematize. From the moment when she was taken hostage, she speculated any authentic motives as to why they needed to capture her, only ending up with an overwhelming headache and tired muscles.

Tired… she was so tired. It must have been around two in the morning since the streets were so quiet and unflustered. Sounds of civilian life were not heard whatsoever, or perhaps they weren't in the city anymore. She really couldn't tell. Her eyelids started to grow heavy and she found herself in a deep sleep, traveling to a world where nothing mattered.

When she regained consciousness, she noticed that the blindfold was taken off from the moment she opened her eyes. Bright rays of light raced to awaken her pupils from their dreamy state and it took a few seconds for her to become used to the new atmosphere. She was no longer in the car. Then where was she?

Once her sapphire eyes adapted to the intensity of the light, she found herself in a nicely furnished room with grand oak and glass furniture. Relena was placed comfortably on a silk mattress herself and for some reason, the room seemed familiar to her, as if she had been here before. She sat up from the bed and eyed the area more carefully. The general feel that she received was unmistakably recognizable. It took her a few more seconds to distinguish where she was.

"It's the fortress where they kept me when Mariemeia attempted to overthrow the government, when Duke Dermael was still alive. But how…" She pondered on the thought a bit longer, positing a hand under her chin, "They rebuilt the entire vicinity?"

Just then, Relena heard footsteps from outside the room and she became very silent. Was it the presence of fear that sealed her voice or was it something else? With each passing second, the tick tacking of the steps seemed to draw nearer to her room and she remained motionless.


"Hey quit resisting will ya?" one man hollered.

"No shit man, you think you can take all three of us on?" Another responded.


The wooden frame door suddenly bolted open which made Relena jump slightly from pretense. She could visibly see three huge, strong men dressed in uniform, dragging someone a lot smaller in height and size. They shoved him into the room and he remained lifeless once he hit the carpeted floor. Relena stood to meet their eyes and wished that she could inflict the same amount of pain that they have caused that man lying before her.

The soldiers could see Relena standing directly opposite from them, frozen in place. "We'll be coming for you later sweetheart." The soldiers tantalized her with those harsh words as they closed and locked the door from the other side. She shivered at the thought of being touched or handled by any one of them.

Once they were out of sight, Relena immediately walked over to the man lying there. She knelt right beside him, trying to identify any major injuries, which she found none. Only a couple of bruises were present. Within a few seconds she slowly glided her right hand to reach out and comfort him. The spaces between her hand and his shoulder were only inches apart when he bolted upright and glared at her.

It was him.




"Heero…"


He looked more carefully at the woman standing across from her. He couldn't believe it. It was her.


"Relena…"


It really was Heero. How could she have mistaken him for anybody else. From the customary outfit of a staggering pure green tank top and blue jeans, there was no one else who would wear such clothing. His eyes were so clear and enticing, the same eyes that Relena fell in love with. She remembered the same wavy brown hair that refused to lie in an orderly fashion. It WAS him.


He was here.
He was safe.


Heero carried a shocked visage and tried burying his feelings by glancing at any other inanimate object instead of Relena's determined eyes. He couldn't believe that she was in this horrid location. Regardless of his position, he knew that he must find a way to protect her at all costs. She looked so vulnerable, yet so strong and willful. Relena looked just the way he remembered her. Two years had passed and she still wore her innocence with such pride and dignity. Nevertheless, she was more beautiful that he remembered her. Her golden locks carried themselves behind her slim shoulders and figure, locked in place with a large bow. Whenever he felt her presence, Heero swore he could feel a warm glow swirling about him. It felt so good to be with her again.

Heero too had changed. His physique broadened the width of his shoulders and it enhanced his features more so than ever. Relena never noticed how handsome he was. And those eyes, she could never stop herself from drowning into his eyes. So much time has passed, so many words to say… She didn't know where to begin. Before she had an opportunity to speak, Heero began the conversation with his usual intonation.

"Relena, you shouldn't be here." He spoke calmly, following her exact movements.

Relena slowly stood from her knelt position in order to see him better, to see the one who she missed all throughout the years. Tears were forming from beneath her eyelids but she forced herself to be strong.

"I shouldn't be here? Heero, everyone's worried about you. What happened?" Relena asked with a quivering voice.

"On my way to my mission on Mars, a space force fleet intercepted my coordinates and drove me off course. There was a terrible struggle and I couldn't outmaneuver their attacks. I failed Relena." Heero explained patiently and monotonically, closing his eyes shortly afterwards as if he was recollecting that moment in his mind.

"Never say that. You have never failed at anything in your life. The only one who failed is the person standing before you." Relena argued with intensity in her voice and she progressively walked over to Heero. "My policies are too much for the world to handle. How can peace ever be maintained if humanity cannot accept what I offer? Was I naïve or simply reckless?"

"Neither. Your ideals have guided you through everything that has challenged this era of peace. You have been victorious Relena. You have gained so much power and respect from the people that this new organization hungers to claim as their own. … They captured you didn't they?"

Relena didn't have to answer that question. He already knew the response. If only he had been there to protect her. If only he paid more attention with the hidden agendas and the rise of the rebel forces. If only… Life was filled with lots of 'Ifs.'

With that last statement, the former Gundam pilot no longer had anything to say. Despite his desperate need to reach out to Relena, he couldn't find any words to console her. They remained silent for quite some time. As Relena gazed out the window for any signs of hope, Heero continued to run his memory and thoughts through all the possibilities for Relena's capture. Suddenly, it clicked. Heero hypothesized a practical reason for the rebel force to detain both Relena and himself. It was so simple.


"Relena, no matter what they demand from you, you must not give in." Heero declared, breaking the silence and causing more friction between them.

"I'm not sure I understand." Relena replied, with a puzzled look.

"You must not give up the Earth Sphere Alliance at ALL costs, even for me."

TBC…