I do not own Gundam Wing. This fan fiction has no commercial value and I am not making any kind of profit or income off of this. I also do not own the quote below…and don't know who to contribute it to - other than perhaps the creators of Xena (don't ask).

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You could miss your true path by the width of a hair, but that is the same thing as missing by a mile.

 

Chapter 2

 

            While Relena was escaping to the movies, Heero was conducting an all-out manhunt throughout the Conference Hall and surrounding five-mile radius.  What looked like a permanent scowl marred his features as the search continued and they were forced to contact her chief of security - Relena’s older brother, Zechs.  The only thing the searchers found was a missing ceiling tile in the men’s restroom.  Heero cursed and punched the wall.

           

            Approximately two hours later, Relena reluctantly left the safety of the theater and walked out into the lobby of the movie house.  She wasn’t surprised to see the tall man with platinum-blonde hair she called brother, nor the sullen young man with piercing blue eyes she had escaped from earlier that day.  Relena squared her shoulders and prepared for the worst.

 

            They saw Relena amidst the crowd and watched her make her way over to them.  She probably knew they had the place surrounded, and therefore didn’t bother to put up a fight.  They had tracked her down through the cab company, after scanning her phone records that morning.  Zechs was highly displeased in her behavior, but this wasn’t the first time she had done this.  The ditching of her guard detail was going to stop - tonight.

            Her face was set in a grim expression as she approached them.  In a gesture of obedience, Relena took her place between the two men that guarded her life with all they were worth.  The only difference was that to one, it was a labor of love, but to the other, it was just his job.

           

            The three rode in silence back to the Peacecraft Mansion.  But Relena knew this was the proverbial calm before the storm.  Hurricane Zechs would touch land tonight; there would be no pity for those caught in his path.

           

            When they arrived, Duo was waiting on the front steps in full uniform.  He smirked as Heero and Zechs accompanied the young woman into the house.  “So you thought you could do so much better, huh, Yuy?  Guess you’re not so smart after all.”  Duo taunted his friend and replacement as Relena’s head bodyguard.  He grinned at Relena, his violet eyes dancing gleefully, as she passed by on her way into the house.  She was trying hard not to laugh.  Yes, the great Heero Yuy had been beaten.

            *                      *                      *                      *                      *                      *

            Relena was tired of Zechs’ angry ranting.  She’d heard it all before.  They were just trying to protect her, blah blah blah. He always had the same tired lines and excuses.  To her, they still weren’t good enough reasons for keeping her prisoner.

            Relena looked up at the sound of her own voice.  She hadn’t meant to declare the sentiment out loud.  She cringed as Milliardo’s complexion changed from its usual pale hue to a dark crimson red.  “You’re not a prisoner!  How dare you insinuate…”

            Relena tuned him out again.  She felt awful.  She didn’t want her brother to worry so much, but she couldn’t stand being followed around by a bodyguard all day - especially ‘him’.

            At first, Relena had been pleased when Heero had been assigned to take over Duo’s old post.  Not that Relena didn’t like Duo – she just liked the thought of having Heero’s attention.  Now, she was sorry for every time she had ditched Duo and made him look bad.  She had regretted it before, actually, and had always apologized to her dear friend.  She was just one of those people that needed to have time to herself, occasionally…and ‘losing’ Duo had become somewhat of a game.  She never thought they’d reassign him.

            Relena’s ears no longer reverberated with the deep sound of Milliardo’s baritone.  She looked up at her brother’s expectant face.  This was the part where she normally apologized and tried to make up with him – telling him not to worry so much, etc.  But not tonight.  No, she’d had enough of Mr. I-think-I’m-God, Yuy.

            “Milliardo,” she began and stood up.

            Zechs could see fire in her eyes and was surprised.  This was supposed to be the part where she apologized and promised to change, etc. etc.  This didn’t sound like an act of contrition.

            “I want Heero Yuy reassigned.  I don’t want him as my personal bodyguard.”

            Zechs was shocked.  His ice blue eyes bulged from his head as he regarded his sister, not sure he had comprehended correctly what she had just said. “Come again?”

            “I want Heero Yuy reassigned, fired, whatever.  I don’t want him as my personal bodyguard.  I want him gone.” She said firmly, keeping her voice steady and composed.

            “But Relena…”

            “No.  I will continue to be difficult and I promise that if he is not reassigned immediately, I will cease to obey his orders and lose him every chance I get,” she said decisively.

            “Relena, don’t be foolish.  Yuy’s the best there is.  Besides, I thought you two were friends.”  Zechs replied tripping slightly over the last word, displeasure evident in his voice.

            Tears threatened, but Relena blinked them back stubbornly.  “We were never friends, Milliardo.  It’s apparent he doesn’t give a damn about me personally.  Someone like that isn’t going to give one hundred percent to the task of protecting me.”

            “On the contrary, Relena, a lack of emotion on my part will always keep me focused on my mission,” Heero’s monotone echoed from the far corner of the room.

            Relena stiffened as she turned and saw him step out from the shadows.  She glared at him.  “Despite what he says, brother, I find him inadequate for the task and I want him removed – immediately.”  She virtually shouted before leaving the room.

            Milliardo watched her stomp angrily out the door and slam it shut behind her.  He turned his head back to face a bewildered but equally angry young man.  “She sounds serious, Yuy.  What did you do?”

            Heero shrugged.  “I’ve done my job, nothing more, nothing less,” he frowned, thinking of the hateful words she had uttered a few moments ago. “I find him inadequate for the task…I want him reassigned.”   Heero shook his head.  He didn’t understand why he felt so….hurt by her words.  “Pride,” he thought.  “Ah yes, she’s wounded my self-image.  That must be it.”  The smirk returned to his face.  “I can handle her.  She won’t get away again,” Heero promised.

            “See that she doesn’t.  She’s apparently very unhappy with you for some reason.  If she continues to remain so, I will have to have you reassigned.  Even if it’s her own foolishness, I can’t have her endangering her life.”

            Heero nodded.  “Understood.”

            *                      *                      *                      *                      *                      *

            It had been over a week since Relena had issued her ultimatum to fire Heero Yuy from his post as her bodyguard.  She was in a good mood despite the situation, as today was Friday, and her schedule was light in preparation for the weekend.

            She placed a few objects into her briefcase and headed downstairs for breakfast.  As always, her dutiful shadow followed.

            She rode with Heero to her office, not speaking to him.  He noted that she hadn’t spoken to him in days.  He supposed it had something to do with the fact that he had yet to be reassigned as per her request.  Zechs had moved to block his removal, and in doing so had added himself to her ‘not-on-speaking-terms-with list’.  Heero was surprised that despite her normally talkative nature, she had managed to keep her promise for a week so far.

            Again, he felt something like pain clutch his heart.  Heero ruthlessly pushed it aside and just watched over her.  This was his job – no more, no less.  If she didn’t talk to him, fine - less distraction that way.

            The car pulled up in front of the large steel and glass modern-looking building and she got out.  Relena no longer waited for Heero to open the door for her.  She brushed past him hastily and arrived at her office suite within a few minutes.  She greeted her secretary and checked her agenda for the day, “Ah, a meeting with Ambassador Dixon from the L4 colony.  Wonderful,” she remarked dryly.  The secretary looked puzzled but didn’t say a word.  Relena continued into her inner office and shut the door.

            Seconds later, the door opened and Heero marched in, taking up his usual post.  Relena didn’t even glance up as he entered the room.

            Just before lunch, Relena pushed the button on the intercom.  The secretary’s voice came on.  “Miss Relena, Ambassador Dixon is here.”

            “Thank you, Judy,” Relena replied, sounding tired.  She knew Heero hated what Duo had termed “schmooze-fest” – where she had to greet these diplomats with more enthusiasm than she felt.  “Heero, would you mind terribly much if I asked you to bring me something to drink to tide me over until lunch?  I’m afraid Mr. Dixon can be quite long-winded.”    

            Heero was surprised, but didn’t show it.  He wordlessly agreed, thankful to miss out on the sickeningly animated greetings these diplomats required from Relena.  He left the office quickly to avoid seeing even the beginning of ‘schmooze-fest’.

            When he returned, the door was already locked.  He could hear the Ambassador’s voice droning on and on, and sighed.  He sat down in a chair just outside the room and waited.

            An hour went by and he could still hear the old windbag in there boring the snot out of poor Relena….  “Wait a minute, poor Relena?” he questioned himself.  His train of thought, however, was interrupted unexpectedly as his ears picked out something the Ambassador was saying from amongst the endless babble.

            “Tomorrow we will make a statement to the world….” Tomorrow was Saturday, there wasn’t anything planned for the weekend.  He frowned as he listened more closely to the Ambassador’s speech.  He had heard that last sentence before.  Suddenly, he realized he had heard the whole thing before.

            “Damn it, Relena!” He cursed and stood up.  He backed up a few steps and rushed at the door, throwing his shoulder into it to jar it open.  The room was empty save for the tape recorder on her desk playing the speech Ambassador Dixon gave last month before the signing of a disarmament treaty.  He picked it up and switched it off.

            A few moments later, it exploded into tiny pieces of plastic and metal with ribbons of tape spilling out of the wreckage – after Heero hurled it at the wall.