"Heero,"  Duo complained.  "We've been here almost three weeks. What exactly are you looking for?"

Heero said nothing, turning away from Duo and walking back down the dock.

The sea breeze cooled his face and blew his short-sleeved, yellow shirt in ripples across his skin.  It was early morning in Taravren, a beautiful blue morning.  Seagulls cried as they winged through the sky and waddled across the streets, picking at the scraps of fish and other crumbs that had fallen in the dirt during the day.  Just beyond the docks, away from the sea, a throng of humanity milled about, shouting, chatting, going about their business as truckloads of goods were brought in from the ships at Port and the inventory taken.

His sources indicated that weapons had been smuggled in through this area and stored in a warehouse on the curve of the bay.  Duo and Heero had already infiltrated it last week and found it completely abandoned, empty of all stores.  Whatever used to be there was gone now.

"You know the Preventors are working on this, right?"  Duo said in his usual suave and cocky tones.  "We'd do better to go back to Cinq then stand around here waiting for something to happen."

Back to Cinq.

Heero sat on the side of the dock and swung his legs over the edge.  Quatre and Trowa had decided after one week that it would serve better for them to keep up with Preventor intel than stay in Taravren.  But Heero didn't want to go back to Cinq.  Out here his head was cool, his thoughts clear, his body responding normally to all his wishes.  In Cinq he was distracted, almost beyond functioning.   Because Cinq was where Relena was.  She had his heart, what she had restored of it, and he had realized he was better off without one.  But it only worked when he was elsewhere.  Everything was so much simpler this way.  When he was not near her, thoughts of her did not consume him.  They were idle, far away, and though they still filled his head every waking hour, they were not flamed to desire, to passion, to desperation, and he could do without those things.  He knew where they had gotten him before.  Besides, she was Damion's girlfriend.

"Forget it," Heero said.

Damion had everything.  He was a prince. He walked into a room and heads turned.  He was good looking.  He could fight, ride, was trained in a hundred other things, and he had confidence.  He had Relena.  Had Heero stabbed him on accident, upset with himself, or to level the playing field?  Something in Heero's eyes must have alerted Duo to his thoughts.

"Come on, Heero," Duo urged, sitting beside him.  "Damion's totally recovered.  You weren't trying to kill him or he'd be dead.  Everybody knows that!  Surely Relena will forgive you eventually, but not if you don't try."

"She doesn't want to see me again," Heero said.  "And why should she?"

"Oh, come on!" Duo scoffed.  "She said that in a fit of rage.  Buy her some flowers and a card or something and she'll come around.  She probably misses you."

Heero's hands clutched into fists.  Sweat beaded on his brow with the images.  "And then what, Duo?" he said quietly.  "Then what?"

Heero did not speak the words, but Duo's optimistic statement fell as Heero looked at him with piercing eyes.  He understood.  Then what?  Would she fly into his arms and spout words of forgiveness between kisses if he repeated those words on the hill?  Of course not.  She was with Damion.  She wouldn't even be able to accept any flowers, and how could she possibly react to Heero if he did return?  Were they supposed to pretend to be just friends while he watched her pursue a courtship with someone else?  It would drive him mad.  And he could not court her fairly now, not after what he had done.  And she could not just drop Damion with any fairness to him.  By now they might be... he didn't pursue that thought.

"Right," Duo said wearily, crestfallen.  He ran a hand over his head.  "Well, I guess it's back to work then."

"It's what I'm good at," Heero agreed, and looked out over the ocean, heard the gulls crying.  He was beginning to love the sea.

"You're the best," Duo sighed, and then added, "second best."

Heero chuckled.

"Hey!"  Duo said brightly.  "That's the first time I've made you smile in... ever I think."  He laid back and put his hands behind his head.  "Ah, yeah, I'm starting to rub off on you.  Pretty soon you'll be telling jokes and singing songs in bars."

"Don't hold your breath," Heero said, and got up.

"Where're you goin'?" Duo asked, scrambling to his feet.

"Back to work,"  Heero said darkly.  He needed to do something.

"We're not even getting paid for this," Duo muttered, stamping his feet in his shoes, but he followed.

What they had uncovered so far was enough to know there was definitely a problem but not enough to do anything about it.  There were lots of rumors, mostly about Royalty and the Presidency and if the two should be connected.  What Heero understood most about Taravren was that it was still very traditional.  Jacob Ravineere might be called President, but he was still a King to the eyes of most of the people who lived in his lands, and he and his family were well-liked.  There was still a royal guard, now called a secret service, and there was still a palace and servants and courtiers and no one seemed interested in having any of that changed too fast.  The President's senate was made up of members of the Romafeller Foundation, Dukes and Marquis and Barons and everyone who had been the Royal Council before Relena's decree.  Most everyone was satisfied with this.

But obviously some were not.

There had been arson, civil disobedience, graffiti and protest demonstrations held throughout the city of late.  And weapons were being shipped secretly.  Many civilians had been sent to jail for disturbing the peace, but they were never held long and no one talked.  After seeing it, Heero understood why Damion was sent to Cinq.  It didn't feel like the regular sort of rioting.  It felt organized, sinister; someone was behind it.

But there was nothing to trace.  No correspondence was made over the internet that Heero could find.  No documents had been left carelessly unguarded.  It was almost as if someone, or a group of people, were handling the matter personally, distributing commands face to face.  If so, it had to be someone with much at their disposal, but that hardly narrowed the choices.  And for the life of him, he could not figure out a motive.  The whole business felt like something ready to explode, something waiting for the order to be given.  Heero had to prevent that order, at whatever cost.  But it would help a lot if he knew who was supposed to give it.

Duo's cell phone rang.

"Answer it," Heero said sharply.

"Chill out," Duo said, lifting the phone from his pocket.  "Duo Maxwell speaking," he said casually into the receiver. "Oh, yeah, hey."  He paused, listening.  "Yeah," Duo said after several moments, glancing sideways at Heero.  "Well I will," he said again.  "No, no problem.   Yeah.  Yeah.  Bye."  He ended the call and turned to Heero.  "That was Wufei.  Preventors have something on this Taravren situation and they want us to come down to Cinq for a briefing in three hours." He paused.  "You don't have to even look at Relena, you know. Are you game?"

Could she be avoided?  Did he want to avoid her?  Didn't matter.  There was a mission.  Heero stared at him with a level, unblinking gaze.  "We'll have to take Zero," he said.  "There's no time to get Deathscythe."

Duo shrugged.  "If this is as serious as I think it is, we'll be back here soon anyway," he said seriously.

Heero nodded and turned away.  He felt more himself these last few weeks than he had in a long time, but she was still in his head.

Relena laughed as Damion grabbed her for a kiss on his way out.  She handed him his coat and walked with him to the gates, chatting about everything and nothing.

"You've been here three weeks," she said.  "Is that allowed?"

He smiled at her, pausing at the entrance.  "I'm cleared for the time being, but I will have to go eventually."

She bit her lip and lingered in the walkway.  "Me too," she said. "I've been making everyone come to me lately.  Will I see you later today?"

"I think so," he said, leaning in to kiss her again.  "I received a message from Farnworth, but it shouldn't take all day to read."

"Who's Farnworth?" she asked as he held her.

"He used to be Captain of the Royal Guards.  Now he's Head of Intel for my family," he said, holding her hands.

"Ah.  Same job, different name.  Do you think this is important then?"

"I don't know," Damion said.  "Very well could be.  I'll let you know when I get back."  He released her hands reluctantly, caressing the length of her fingers, and walked out, glancing over his shoulder as she ducked back behind the gate.

She wandered out into the garden and sat on a bench with a book on her lap, but she did not open it.  Instead she stared at nothing, mesmerized by the colors of birds, flowers and butterflies as her thoughts drifted inward.  She didn't want to think too hard.  It only confused her more, but even when things with Damion seemed so perfect, Heero was there.  He wouldn't go away.  It apparently didn't matter what he did or to who, or even if he was physically present, he was always in her head.  She had conceded to herself after Damion healed that she still loved Heero, but with a past-remeberance love that would fizzle out and die before long, which seemed likely since he hadn't come back and wasn't likely too.  He had changed in some way, so perhaps their permanent separation was for the best, but there would always be a part of her that still loved him, even if she married someone else she loved more deeply and raised a family.  It was just the way it was.

Suddenly, Relena noticed there was a woman in a suit standing before her.  Relena frowned, blinking in the sunlight as she raised her eyes to the stranger in some confusion.  "Yes? Can I help you?"

"Miss Relena Darilan," the girl said brightly.  "Can you elaborate your relationship with Prince Damion Ravineere?"

Relena blinked.  A reporter?  There had been a few previous inquiries, but nothing so aggressive.  "I'm seeing him," she said slowly, wearily.  That was not news, and there was nothing more to it.  "Why?"

The girl smiled at her.  "Can you elaborate your physical relationship with Prince Damion Ravineere?"

"That's a highly personal question," Relena said in some controlled outrage, setting her book beside and rising.

The girl looked nervous, but she didn't budge.  "Several reliable sources have indicated that you and the Prince have engaged in highly sexual behavior the first week of you acquaintance.  Can you elaborate on this development?"

Relena stared in shock.  "No," she said breathlessly.  "That's not true at all.  Who has been saying such things?"

"But you are seeing him?" the girl pressed.

Relena only stared at her for several moments.  "Damion and I have done nothing improper," Relena said firmly. "I have only been with him for a few weeks."

"But he did stay several nights in your home?"

Relena swallowed.  "Yes, but that..." she floundered.  "Nothing of the kind you are implying has happened," she finished breathlessly.  "Please leave."

The girl smirked.  "Thank you for your time, Vice Foreign Minister."

Relena left the garden on shaky legs.  Who would have spread such a rumor, and why?  She went back to the Cinq Castle in a flutter of worry.  It wasn't long before she discovered that the rumor had already spread far and wide.  Her legs almost gave way as Terese accosted her in the hall with a stack of magazines, her face flushed with worry and stress.  Relena lifted several tabloids with shaky fingers, and even a few respected magazines.  The papers would be next!  True or not, a rumor whispered in enough ears would be believed as truth.  And her denying it would only make her look like a liar.

She ran to her office and locked the door, unable to breathe.  This would be detrimental to both Damion and herself!  Everyone would talk about it.  Her reputation and his would be sabotaged.  And they had done noting!  But how could they be believed without revealing that Heero Yuy, Gundam Pilot 01 and hero of the Universe, had stabbed Prince Damion Ravineere over a matter of jealousy?  Which was the worse scandal?

Relena choked, suffocating her cries by pressing a hand to her mouth.  She gulped and coughed, tears streaming from her eyes as she sank against her door.  Heero would hear about it.   She sobbed, not sure why.  What would he believe?  Would he believe Damion had stayed at her house to protect the man who stabbed him as well as himself?   Would he think that far at all, or would he believe the rumors?  She hiccupped, her eyes red and hot with steaming tears, her cheeks dry and sticky from their salt, but she could not stop crying.  She wanted him to hold her and believe her, but that could not be.

If she revealed the truth, Damion and Heero would both be sacrificed.  If she let the lies prevail, everyone would think her a whore.  Heero would hate her either way.

"Relena!"  A door slammed.

She jerked, rising.  Damion's voice, anxious and angry in tone.  He hadn't been gone long at all, barely enough time to read a letter, but he was back now.  She choked, and called out.  "In my office!"

She unlocked the door just before he burst in.  His face was contorted with rage, not with her, but general fury.  Her own face was red and tear-streaked, and when she saw him, the tears began to flow again.  He stared her, the anger in his eyes dwindling in confusion. "What?"  he asked.

She handed him one of the tabloids she had brought with her and thrown on the floor.  "I didn't know," she gasped, choking.  "I don't know what to do."

He scanned the article patiently and then swore, tossing it aside.  "I'm being set up," he said, crossing the room and looking out the window..

She frowned, her tears drying in an instant.  Whatever was bothering him was not the same thing that was bothering her.  "What else has happened?" she demanded.  He didn't answer.  "Damion?  Damion!"

He turned.  "I need to return home," he said. "Immediately."

She stared.  "Why?"

"I'm being accused of treason in my own country, only whispers, but they will grow.  My father is livid and Farnworth has sent for me.  There is more implied than was written into words.  I suspect whoever has set me up has made a demand.  I have to return."

Relena swallowed.  "You can't just go, Damion.  You might be a target for assassination!  Your family might be under arrest, or arrest you!  You don't know the situation.  Don't go without protection!"

"I won't," he said softly.

"Let me go with you," Relena pleaded, grabbing his arm. He stared at her.

"No.  Out of the question.  You'd be a liability.  I'd put you in danger."

"I don't care," she said.  "I've been in it before.  I don't care if I lose my life.  Whoever has done this has conspired against me too, but I am still respected.  I may be a benefit to you.  Please let me come."  Her eyes were like blue steel.

He stared at her.  "You..." he began.  "You're really not afraid."  He stared at her again, and there seemed to be questions in his mind, as if he was seeing something he didn't understand, or hadn't expected.  "And I don't think I can stop you anyway," he muttered.

"I would follow you," she said softly.

He blinked and touched her face.  "Get whatever you need.  We leave in an hour."

The Preventors and the Gundam Pilots were all gathered when Heero and Duo strode into the room right on time.

"There's been a development," Sally Po said.  "We have confirmation that Damion Ravineere will be publicly accused of High Treason in Taravren if the demands of a third party are not met within the next 24 hours.  If such a threat is carried out to its full potential, his family will disinherit him and another will rule when his father's term has come to an end.  There will be rioting, perhaps innocent deaths before it settles.  Weapons have been disbursed in the city."

"What are the demands?"  Trowa asked dully, sitting with his arms crossed in a leather chair.

"We don't know yet," Wufei said.  "The third party has remained anonymous and has demanded Ravineere's presence personally to lay out the terms.  He was sent for by his Royal Guard.  His plane leaves within the hour."

"We're going to back him up then," Trowa guessed.  "Escort him safely to his kingdom and unravel this conspiracy against him."

"Unless it's true and he's in conspiracy with this third party," Duo muttered, throwing himself in a chair.

"He's not," Heero said.  "He wouldn't do that."

Quatre and Duo stared at him in surprise.  Heero ignored them.  It didn't matter if he was defending Damion.  He no longer felt anything toward him, and this was a mission.

"We don't believe so either," Sally said.  "But be that as it may, he needs a bodyguard, at least to get him to the palace and probably for some time afterward until this is straightened out."

"I'll do it," Heero said.

Duo's jaw dropped open.  Quatre stared.  Everyone else shifted uncomfortably, but Sally smiled.  "I was hoping you would, Heero," she said.  "Because you're the best."

"Heero," Duo said shakily.  "Maybe this isn't the best idea.  I mean..."

"I want to," Heero confirmed, staring at Duo with eyes like nails.  Duo swallowed.  Heero said nothing for several moments.  "And I want the the gundams to back us up.  There might be trouble."

Clara Veron paced the velvet carpet of her rooms in Taravren on bare feet, satin swishing across her legs as she held the phone to her ear.

"I am aware of your interest in Heero Yuy," Clara said fiercely.  "This better not be a ploy to keep Damion with Relena.  That will destroy what I've..."

"Of course it is," Dorothy murmured on the other end of the line.  "But it will suit your purpose and mine.  Think about it: What will Daddy say?"

Clara clenched her hands into fists.  "I've already considered that, but it would be cleaner if Relena were with someone else and unobtainable.  Now I have to deal with variables."

"Well it's too late," Dorothy said harshly.  "Heero will not want her back when he hears the rumors.  First the competition and now betrayal.  Heero has been denied and rejected in every way.  I have seen to my own success without compromising yours. You must deal with your own end as you can.  You are resourceful."

"I don't care for your tone," Clara said darkly.  "And I will win this time."

"I always assumed you would," Dorothy replied snidely, and hung up.

Clara set the phone on the windowsill with a small smile.

You are not half so clever as you think you are, Miss Catalonia, and I am more ruthless.

Ooooh.  What's going to happen?  I wouldn't keep Heero and Relena apart forever... would I?  Wouldn't that be classically tragic?

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