She stumbled through the halls, clutching her torn shirt to her chest in hopes of covering herself. Her long skirt ripped to about mid- thigh, one could see dried trails of blood running down her legs. Tears fell from her eyes, but she was silent, for she didn't want to wake those sleeping.
Finally she found the hall where her room was. There were no others inhabiting the rooms of this hall, for she had asked for privacy. She reached the door to her room and opened it. Grasping the doorknob in her hand, she pulled herself into the room.
~*~*~*~
Heero ignored the hurried yet sluggish footsteps in the hall outside his room. He figured it was some maid cleaning up the rooms (which were already spotless, he thought to himself) so he didn't pay it any mind. He continued hacking, searching for the missing princess.
When the door swung open and a trembling figure fell into the room as it slammed shut, he did pay it some mind. He whipped out his gun and pointed it at the figure…
…Only to gasp in surprise and horror as he recognized the bloodied and bruised face of the girl who knelt there.
~*~*~*~
She looked up and her eyes widened. He wasn't supposed to be here! Nobody was! This was her room. Nobody was allowed here, least of all him!
~*~*~*~
He quickly crossed the room to her and knelt before her, placing his hands on her shoulders.
~*~*~*~
She pulled away, crying out in pain.
"Don't touch me!"
She received a confused look. Couldn't he tell that she was hurting?
~*~*~*~
What was wrong with her? She never pushed him away before. Something was up. She looked worn out. He peered at her from under his long chocolate brown bangs, then gasped.
It was then he took a good long look at her. Her hair was messy and damp, not to mention bloody. Her face had purple and blue all over it. He guessed they were bruises.
Anger flared up. Who dared to hit her?! He would kill anybody who did… Wait, why was he being so protective of her? He didn't care about her. She wasn't his problem. But he had said he would protect her. And this looked like she had hardly any protection.
He continued his examination of her. She had her arms crossed over her chest, her delicate hands clasping the material of her shirt so tightly her knuckles were white. Briefly he wondered about this, then went on.
Her skirt was torn to a couple inches above the knee, whereas it used to be near her ankles. Why did she cut her skirt? Surely there was no purpose in that?
He gasped at the sight of her legs. Dried blood ran in trails down them, mainly on the insides and back, but some on the front too.
What had happened to her?
Then, it clicked. And the sudden darkness in his eyes gave away his anger.
~*~*~*~
She mistook the anger as being directed at her.
She watched him raise a hand. Oh no! He would hit her! She raised her own hand and pushed him away.
"Don't hit me!"
~*~*~*~
Shock alighted his features. Hit her? Hit her?! He would do no such thing! The darkness left his eyes and concern filled them in its place.
~*~*~*~
Why was he hesitating? His hand was still raised, so why wasn't he hitting her? The hand continued toward her, and she closed her eyes, waiting for the blow. A wetness formed at the corner of her eye and threatened to be released.
~*~*~*~
He reached out and touched her face. His thumb wiped the tear away gently, and his hand softly caressed the bruises.
"What did they do to you?"
~*~*~*~
She was startled by the fact he wasn't hitting her. She was even more startled at the question. She opened her eyes to stare at him.
"They.. they raped me."
The darkness appeared again. She realized that it wasn't at her. But.. why would he care? He hated her. He always had. Why was he suddenly so kind to her now?
~*~*~*~
He took her into his arms, being careful of her bruises, and carried her to the bed. She started to cry as he set her down on the soft comforter. He brushed a stray strand of hair from her face. Her sobs grew louder.
"Shush, it's all right. They can't hurt you now."
He went into the bathroom.
~*~*~*~ She stared at him in shock as he returned. Why did he have a bowl and a small towel?
That question was answered as he began to tenderly wipe the blood from her face and golden hair. But another arose in her light blue eyes.
~*~*~*~
He ignored the question in her eyes as he finished her face. He cleaned her arms and neck, not touching her chest or lower body. He went to her legs and gently brushed the dried blood away.
Then he asked her to turn over. The sudden fear in her eyes was not what he expected. Then he realized that that must have been how they had.. he growled under his breath.. entered her. He shook his head and banished the thought.
"I need to clean the back of your legs."
Most of the fear disappeared, but she nodded and rolled over onto her stomach.
His cobalt blue eyes widened at the sight. Her skirt, shirt, and underwear were all torn. He wiped her back, which had scrapes all over it (probably from nails, he dimly noted), and put another towel over her behind. He quickly wiped the rest of the blood away and asked her to turn over again.
~*~*~*~
She hid her surprise as he put the towel over her. Why was he being so courteous? Most boys would jump at the chance to touch a girl there…
But he wasn't a normal boy. He was perfect. She sighed as she turned over.
~*~*~*~
He placed some clothing on the bed next to her and kissed her forehead before he left the room, hoping to hide his blushing face.
~*~*~*~
She sat up slowly and looked over the clothes. These were hers! She stared after him. Why did he keep her clothing? Maybe because he thought she would return?
She raised an eyebrow as she held up the underclothes. No wonder he was blushing. She quickly changed and lay back down.
"You can come back in."
The door opened. But the man there wasn't her hero.
"You!"
The snake-like man sneered at her.
"Who'd ya think it would be? That weak excuse of a boyfriend? Sorry, but no."
He eyed her sleeveless light blue nightgown.
"So you changed. Well, that won't last long. You won't be wearing anything."
"No! Stay away from me!"
He ran over to her and clamped his hand over her mouth to silence her screams.
"You will do exactly as I say. You won't make a sound, or I'll kill your boyfriend over there."
He pointed over to where Heero lay slumped against the doorway. Her eyes widened for the second time while being there and she looked up at him in fear but didn't say a word. He grinned and pushed her against the headboard. She winced and closed her eyes in defeat.
~*~*~*~
He moaned softly and opened his eyes, rubbing his head where he had been hit. He heard a groan and looked up sharply to see the gruff- looking man start to rip off Relena's nightgown. His eyes narrowed drastically and he pulled out the gun he always kept hidden.
"Get your damn hands off of her."
~*~*~*~
Both on the bed turned to the voice. One pair of eyes widened in anger and shock while the other pair widened in hope and question.
"Who's gonna make me?"
"I am."
The man slid off of the girl and stood to face the boy.
"Really. Well hurry it up, I need release."
The man's eyes suddenly widened in pain as the boy slammed his foot into his groin. He doubled over, breathing heavily.
"You.. dirty.. little.."
The rest of the sentence was cut off by Heero slamming his elbow down on the man's head.
"AUGH!"
Heero stepped behind the man and slammed his foot into his back, pushing the man forward roughly. A crack drifted up to his ears, and Heero smirked icily.
"That's what you get when you mess with my girl."
Relena's eyes betrayed her emotions. His girl? Since when was she his girl? Not that she minded…
The man turned to face the boy, holding his stomach and groin. "You little bastard."
"No, that's you."
Heero raised his gun.
"Get the hell out of here. And never show your face again."
The man quickly nodded and ran out the door with difficulty.
~*~*~*~
A few minutes passed and a shot and a scream were heard. Heero smirked in satisfaction and shut the door. He turned to look at Relena. The smirk quickly died at the sight of tears.
"Heero…"
He was at her side in an instant. He leaned over her, one hand placed gently on her cheek wiping the tears away, the other holding her to him. She welcomed his embrace with warm arms, clinging to him.
"Shh.. it's all right now. He's dead. The others took care of him. You don't have to worry."
"But it hurts… Oh it hurts so bad…"
He sighed. He couldn't do anything about that, no matter how much he wished he could.
Or could he…
He crawled on the bed and pulled her into his lap, rocking her back in forth gently. She cried into his white dress shirt. He whispered comforting things into his ear, holding her tightly. The tears slowly subsided. He then decided to tell her.
"I can make the pain go away, but only if you let me."
She looked up at him in question. His eyes betrayed him like hers did her. They showed all the love and care and passion bent up from over the many years he had known her. She searched his eyes some more, then nodded.
"Yes."
He gently laid her on the bed, kissing away any sneaky tears that marred her beautiful face.
That night, he made sweet love to her, healing her with his gentle touches and caresses, showing her how much he loved her.
Just like the first time should be.