Consciousness

Author: Gin Ryo no Nari

Date of First Submission: June 6, 2001

Rating: PG, maybe PG13 later (I know nothing about ratings systems—correct me if I’m wrong)

Disclaimer: I own nothing associated with GW, or any other copyrighted items. Nor do I claim to. I do claim ownership to this story though, it may not be original in plot line, but I like it. Please no sue.

Points for Audience: This is a HeeroXRelena fic, and is centered around them primarily. Other couples at this time DuoXHilde, ZechsXNoin. No others intended at this time in the writing process although possible QuatreXDorthy pairing later. This is about 5 years after the series. G. Pilots and etc. are about 20-21 with the appropriate exceptions (Zechs, Noin…) Mixture of Anime and Manga “history” I’ve only read so few or seen a few scans of pages, and in the middle of both mediums lies truth. Yeah that’s it.

Consciousness 1/?

Conscious- adj. 1 Awake and aware of one’s surroundings and identity. 2a. Aware; knowing. b. Intentional. Courtesy of The Oxford Essential Dictionary. American Edition.

Vice Foreign Minister Darlian was happily sitting in the shadows outside on the wide rail of the white marble balcony. She was content to be watching the interaction and flow of the partygoers, instead of being amongst them. Out of nowhere a wave of dizziness washed over her and she started to tip over backwards. Gravity’s pull seemed to be shifting. At one moment it would seem to be below her, then behind her before shifting again to some location out to her side. It was always moving, shifting as quickly as she could pinpoint the direction. Time seemed to slow down but she still could not react quickly enough to save her balance. She fell further backwards, starting to tip off of the rail towards the ground below. She felt her right hand brush against the surface of the rail. By now she was no longer sitting on the rail. She willed herself to grab onto it with all her strength. When she jolted to a stop she felt her elbow and shoulder pop painfully as well as audibly. For what felt like moments she hung suspended over the rail of the balcony, that was probably 25 feet from the ground, by only one hand. She felt sweat start to slick the surface of her palm and her fingers were losing their grip on the smooth marble. She was about to toss up a prayer to whatever God there was to at least keep her from cracking her skull wide open on the ground below, when she felt warmth slip around her arm just past her wrist.

She opened her eyes to see a hand holding onto her arm. “Let go of the rail and try to grab my arm. I won’t let you fall.” The voice was very familiar and with her eyes she quickly traced up the hand to the arm up to the face of a very familiar man. She smirked to herself briefly before twisting her arm slightly in his grasp, to her relief she felt the reassuring pull of her fingers on his tuxedo’s sleeve. “Now swing your other arm up here and grab my other hand,” she must have looked at him curiously because he continued, ”I’d dislocate your shoulder if I pulled all of your weight on one arm.” She did as she was instructed and managed to swing her left arm up to grab onto his other arm, he then proceeded to pull her up. Once she was standing on the balcony she gave herself a cursory glance and was relieved to see that her dress was undamaged. She would not have to explain how she damaged her dress, which was just bought two days ago, or her little adventure to her brother. Most importantly, she wouldn’t have to tell her brother about her “adventure.”

She looked into the face of her savior, her “Heero.” And for an instant of a second she saw something flash in the dark blue depths of his eyes before it was submerged once more. He seemed to be studying her intently. They were still holding onto each other’s arms and Relena noticed that he was lightly stroking the skin there with his thumbs. Unfortunately, in her opinion, he stopped shortly after she realized he was doing it, “Relena, you should be more careful. I know that the grounds security team has explained to you about the dangers of sitting on the rails.” He admonished her quietly, “Numerous times,” he added with a slight frown.

“I know Heero, I just forget every once in a while. I’m sorry if you were concerned for my safety,” Relena replied with a small smile. She used one of her hands to smooth the skirt of her grayish silver silk dress. Heero Yuy was the only person she knew whose gaze could cause her to squirm and fidget like the schoolgirl that she never really was.

“You gave up your youth before you had a chance to live it, but you need to be careful. --You cannot have the luxury of being carefree as a child --” Heero answered, trying to sound stern but with little success.

“You would understand losing your carefree years to adult responsibilities better than most anyone else on this planet, or the colonies,” she replied wryly. Relena knew she had better return to the party inside, but she did want to thank Heero for his actions. For a moment Relena debated ways to thank him in her head before she decided on a course of action. She held onto one of his arms that was still in her grasp, leaned towards the former warrior and brushed a kiss on his cheek, “Thank you for saving me, Heero,” she whispered before she turned back towards the party. She was glad to do so though, with her back to him he could not see the blush that stained her cheeks. She rolled her shoulders back and went back into the ballroom filled with people discussing politics, trade policies and the various foundations and projects that they either supported wholeheartedly or were disgusted beyond reason with.

Heero watched her return to the party, he saw her encounter her brother and sister-in-law and converse with them briefly before heading over to a group of diplomats from the colonies. ‘She is too reckless for her own good, and one day I may not be able to get there in time.’ Heero shook his head and started to scan the crowd for possible threats to the young diplomat’s safety. “Relena, when did I become so preoccupied with your safety?” Heero muttered quietly to himself. “Was it during Operation Meteor or during the Barton Coup d’etat?” He moved out of the shadows towards the rail that unofficially separated the balcony from the ballroom. ‘No, it happened between those two events. It happened slowly, starting when Relena had lost her position as “Queen of the World,” and was summarily discarded by Romefeller, when she was reported as being on board Libra.’ The conversation in Heero’s head continued on for a few moments as he continued to scan the crowd for threats.

Relena smiled to herself as she saw her brother and sister-in-law at the outskirts of the crowd. “Hello Millardo, Lucretzia,” she bowed her head slightly in greeting. “So have any of the diplomats tried to talk either of you into anything? I know you have both accepted your commission at the Preventers, while you’re here. At least while some of you are able,” she said while looking at her sister-in-law.

“Ok, Relena, who told you our plans? Not very many people know.” Lucretzia looked at the woman she considered to be her own little sister with a mixture of surprise and happiness on her face.

“It was Lady Une. She thought I already knew, since you were going to be staying here with me at the palace --that and why else would you two leave after what has been a very successful first three years on Mars?”

“ Yes --well we are scheduled to meet with a Doctor a week from now to see how we should proceed.” Millardo answered.

Relena saw a small group of dignitaries from the colonies enter the room. “I’m very sorry. I hate to do this, but I need to greet the colony dignitaries. Promise me that we will get together tonight in the kitchen for cookies and talk after this party is over.” Relena begged.

“Of course we will, besides you do have your duties to attend to. We will see you later tonight.” Lucretzia replied, as her husband nodded in agreement.

“Thank you,” Relena whispered as she plastered on her diplomatic smile.

to be continued

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