The Open Road 4/? [PG-13, R/NC-17 to come]

[Alilamba]

THE OPEN ROAD
Chapter Four
By AliLamba

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Ring ring riiiiiing. Ring ring riiiiiiing.

One of Heero?s eyelids lifted in a snap. Bright sunlight crept through the window curtains, meekly attempting to illuminate the dark room. Heero didn?t know what that sound was, but he didn?t like it?With a stifled groan he lifted his arm off of Relena?s waist and brought it to his face, intent on mushing his skin into waking up. But then he froze.

He had lifted his arm...off of?Relena?s waist.

Heero?s eyes jumped to where his arm had rested just a moment before, and what he saw made him nearly blush.

The Foreign Minister?s entire body was pushed flush against his, save for the light sheet between them. Last night came back to him in a rush of consciousness?at least he had enough sense to sleep on top of the bedding?

Heero shut his eyes and steeled himself against the warmth of her body.

Ring ring riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing.

With all the stiff, awkward poise he possessed, Heero inched carefully away from her form. The current noise was hammering from his jacket pocket, strewn hastily over a chair at some point last night. Keeping eyes trained on her face, Heero saw that Relena?s lips were parted slightly, and drool was beginning to pool at the corner of her mouth. For reasons he attributed to the grogginess of waking up after too much bad wine, the corners of Heero?s mouth itched to quirk up in a grin.

How well he suppressed the urge to smile he attributed to all his years of training.

He took the vile, loud object into the bathroom, shutting the door before he could make too much noise.

?Yuy,? he spoke hoarsely into the phone.

?Good morning, Agent Yuy,? Heero remained silent to Colonel Une as he caught sight of his reflection in the mirror, crumpled clothes and messy hair. Not things that would get in the way, not a problem.

?I trust you are on track?? Heero also suppressed the urge to grumble. What did she mean I trust you are on track? Of course they were on track.

?Affirmative.?

Colonel Une seemed to expect the answer, and didn?t question him further, ?With your given coordinates, and the plans I have before me, it looks as if you are anticipating a three-day drive from San Francisco to New York City. Is this correct??

Heero wondered why he was awake. It felt like he had just fallen asleep for the first time in years.

?Affirmative.?

There was a pause on the other line, as if the Colonel was considering her words, which was unlike the usually straight-to-the-point woman.

?How is the Foreign Minister??

?The Foreign Minister is,? Heero heard his voice falter, and stood himself up straighter, ?is fine. There was a slight incident at check-in, but there was no accident.?

The Colonel let out a contemplative hum, and he sensed tension. ?It is my understanding that the Foreign Minister was to expect a vacation this week. I trust you are making this as comfortable as possible.? Heero?s mind suddenly named her scent. It was something?really flowery.

?I am calling because the Foreign Minister?s offices have been irritatingly persistent. Apparently, there are some things which require her immediate attention, and needed to be sent to her right away. I?ve taken the liberty of having them delivered to your location. Her work is waiting in the lobby with a personally appointed representative of Preventers. I expect that Miss Relena will still be sleeping soundly when you return.?

Heero didn?t question how the enigmatic woman knew Relena?s position, ?Affirmative. Yuy ou??

?Agent Yuy,? she cut him off, ?I remind you again that this is the Foreign Minister?s vacation. She has just been dealt a horrible ordeal from which she is still recovering, and is expectedly still unsure how she feels. I expect that you will take these factors into consideration during the rest of your mission.?

Heero paused. What did that mean? Driving back to Reno? They had seen the puddle, there couldn?t be that much more that she wanted. Regardless, he had been presented with a new objective.

?Accepted. Yuy out.?

Heero clicked off the small phone, slipping the obstruction into the back pocket of his jeans. It was the third day straight of wearing them, and Heero knew that while there was no alternative, they were probably dirty. He passed from the bathroom and first looked to the bed, where Relena had tossed under the covers to the side of the bed he had been occupying five minutes before.

Her yellow-ish hair splayed across the pillows, some of it in her mouth, some of it rising and falling over her nostrils as she breathed. She was breathing. Alive?check.

For good measure, Heero verified the window again, noting that on the third floor little could be done about scaling the walls. The hotel sign was barricading the windowpane, another obstacle. Entries secure?check. There were no suspicious looking automobiles in the parking lot, save for the suspiciously happy-looking families loading up their station wagons for more ?fun on the road.? Heero gave them a cool, blank glance before crossing back across the room, sliding his gun under the pillow supporting Relena?s head. In an emergency, she would be able to find it, and in an emergency, he had his spare.

The suitcase racks were placed in front of the door, should anyone try to barge in, Relena would hear the noise. It wasn?t perfect, but he would be reprimanded if he kept the Preventer agent waiting for long. Heero took the card key and headed downstairs.

The only one in the lobby was sitting in a high-backed, plush armchair, sipping tea from a cup and saucer. Pale blond hair peaked over the top of chair?s back, a hue that was entirely unmistakable. Heero felt the annoyance build up in him before he could stop it.

Quatre Raberba Winner seemed to sense a body was making its way towards him, because he set down his tea and stood from the chair before Heero had made it halfway from the elevators to his fellow agent.

?Heero,? he said warmly with a smile to accompany it, ?It?s been a long time.?

?Quatre,? he muttered in return, almost with spite, ?Great. I expect I?ll be seeing Duo pretty soon??

?Oh! Actually, he?s expecting to see you when you get to Chicago.? Heero exhaled a string of loudly muttered curses, loud enough to make a young girl passing by burst into tears. Heero?s fists clenched at the wailing impounding his ears.

?Oh, hush hush baby,? her mother soothed her, ?It?s just a bad man going to hell, come on?? Heero shot a murderous look into the retreating pair?s back, but turning the look on Quatre didn?t seem to be enough to crack his blond companion?s cheerful demeanor.

?Miss Une told him about your plans, and thought that the time together would be enjoyable for Miss Relena.?

??probably just has an itty bit of a stick up his butt-hole, isn?t that right, sweetie? It?s okay, it?s okay??

?She gave him your mobile phone number, and Miss Relena?s, so I doubt you?ll be able to avoid them. Miss Une thinks it?s best if you spend the night there, as she?s sure you?ll have plenty of time to get to New York afterwards.?

??Oh, hunny, don?t worry, he probably just said those things because he was dropped on his head as a little itty bitty baby? Hasn?t had enough time to recover from all the suppressed regression, did he sweetie? Not enough time during his anal stage of sexual development??

?Uh-huh!? loud, snotty sniffles echoed through the parlor. Heero felt his teeth shaving away as he ground them together.

Quatre gave a warm smile to the mother and daughter standing by the elevator, but didn?t show that he had taken in what they were saying. The elevator chimes alerted that the elevator was ready for its passengers, and the pair boarded with smothering words.

?You?ll have a good time together.?

Heero snorted and shoved his hands in his pockets, turning his head away.

?Is Miss Relena all right? I was hoping to see her this morning when you came down??

?She?s fine. Sleeping.? Heero grunted, scoping the surroundings. He didn?t mention that he had gotten her drunk the night before off a cheap bottle of wine, or the looks of disappointment he had caused on her face. She was alive upstairs, something that he should be ratifying pretty soon. ?Une mentioned something for Relena??

He caught the blond man in a smiling, contemplative look. Heero didn?t know what the other man was thinking about, but he got the feeling he didn?t like it.

?Oh! Right, here you are,? Quatre picked a briefcase from off the ground by his chair and handed it to Heero, ?A new mobile phone is inside for her, as well as the documents she needed. We would have put together a new set of clothes and amenities for her, but we didn?t know her sizes or preferences. Perhaps you could see to those sometime today? You are making such good time as it is??

Heero nodded mutely, his hand clutching the briefcase?s handle tightly. Why did everyone seem so concerned with Relena?s happiness? She was alive, wasn?t she? Why wasn?t that good enough? A nagging thought threatened to spill into consciousness, but Heero threw it back to his anal stage of development.

?Would you mind if we had breakfast together first?? the question caught him off guard, ?You made an excellent choice in hotels. There is a fantastic restaurant just off the lobby,? Quatre gestured and Heero noticed the aforementioned eating establishment for the first time. I guess I know who to compliment for the snails?Heero mused without being able to stop it. A sudden insurgence of warmth threatened his gut. Those stupid, stupid snails. He quashed the feeling down.

Knowing he was expected to answer, Heero nodded mutely. Relena would probably like that, just as she would probably like seeing Duo and his girlfriend in Chicago. She would also probably like to spend the night. Heero felt himself grumbling as he headed for the elevator with the briefcase enclosed in his tight fist.

?I?ll just, wait for you in there then!? he heard the voice behind his back, but didn?t turn. The doors opened before him and he entered, riding to the third floor.

***

Relena was dreaming. One of those fitful, awkward dreams about being stark naked in public places, when suddenly a buffalo walks by and asks you where to buy a rubber ducky. You realize you speak perfect Armenian and reply kindly that you need a jelly sandwich for your baby. This only confuses the buffalo, which has dark blue eyes, and he tells you again to get out of bed. You reply that you are not in bed, but that you are on the iceberg the Titanic hit, and you?re very worried about your jelly sandwich. The buffalo doesn?t say anything, but looks at you as if you?ve sprouted a giant beanstalk from your ear, which is terrible embarrassing and you try frantically to smother it with your hair. Then you realize that the buffalo is Heero Yuy, and that he is staring at you in the hotel bed that you fell asleep in together last night?you think. It is pretty hard to remember what happened last night. You pry your hands away from your ear.

?Are you?okay,? Heero muttered. With the deep blue eyes of a person most definitely not on all fours, Heero regarded her state with a blank stare. Relena remembered her dream, noted that she probably had said half of her dream out loud, and whimpered.

Heero?s eyes closed and he stood from squatting near her bed, heading to the bathroom to brush his teeth.

?Quatre Winner is waiting for us downstairs. You better get ready.?

Feeling herself calming at the sound of a friendly name, Relena allowed herself to sit up, checking one last time that there was nothing large and green in her ear.

?Good morning Heero Yuy,? she muttered quietly to herself, if not a bit sarcastically, running a hand through her tangled hair.

She missed Heero?s head popping out of the bathroom door, a toothbrush dangling from his foam-covered mouth as she checked the time and put her wristwatch back on. It was already seven thirty in the morning; Heero had let them sleep in.

***

Breakfast was lovely. She knew that she was hanging around the wrong Gundam pilot, sitting across from Quatre in the restaurant, wearing an easy smile as they chatted idly over their bowls of fruit and yogurt. Heero?s look was as dark as the coffee he was hording to himself, downing mug after mug.

They talked about politics a little, and how Quatre?s life had been and how Relena?s life had been. Quatre had the dual duty of managing his father?s business and being something of a political symbol, and the two were able to commiserate over long hours and certain long-winded evaluations of the petroleum situation.

They lamented the state of affairs of the colonies, and Quatre told her about his most recent trip to the former India, presenting her with a shawl he had bought for her there. Relena?s face lit up as she felt the fabric, cooing and giving Quatre hugs across the table. Heero thought the shawl looked stupid, and sent Quatre not-so-hidden glares to tell him he thought so.

Eventually the subject of love lives came up.

?Well?? Relena contemplated, and Heero?s ears perked up too noticeably for his own liking. ?There is the Ambassador to the Americas, Ambassador Riley??

?Oh, yes,? Quatre chimed in, agreeing, ?He escorted you to the Americas Summit in March, didn?t he??

Relena nodded quietly, remembering the night. ?We went for dinner afterwards, and he was quite charming. It will tell you something about my work life that we haven?t been able to meet up since, but he has been calling.?

Quatre nodded, understanding, ?Well he seems lovely. Tell me when there are wedding bells, will you?? he teased.

?Quatre!? she admonished playfully. ?I hear he?s been getting ready to campaign for a seat on ESUN, most likely for the Internal Affairs.? Quatre responded with mirth.

?I hear that he had ulterior motives for seeking a position there.?

Heero felt his mouth moving without noticing.

?I hear he eats babies.?

Silence swept across the table as if time had frozen itself. Two horrified faces turned on Heero, and he suddenly felt very, very uncomfortable. Heero started gulping down his coffee, making the motions long after he had drained the cup.

Relena settled on a strange cough slash choke, and the topic changed to energy resources.

***

The goodbyes were said, noted with far more awkward formality on Heero?s part, and eventually Relena reluctantly plied herself off Quatre enough to get back in the car. Her happy expression noticeably evaporated once she was seated on the leather upholstery.

?So, where are we off to today, Mr. Yuy??

Heero gave her a sidelong glance.

?New York.?

Relena let out an exasperated sigh, letting her hands fall to her lap without sparing him a glance.

?And reasonably, where to today??

Heero paused in his calculation. Reasonably? To him, that meant somewhere in the vicinity of New Jersey. But to Relena, this trip probably meant a leisurely stroll through the former United States, pausing every few miles for photos and knick-knacks. And he was starting to understand that this would be a very unpleasant mission if he did not give in at least a nanometer.

?You tell me.?

He heard a scoff from her end of the car over the rev of the engine as he veered out of the parking lot. ?Right. You tell me.?

Another sidelong glance was issued from Heero?s side of the car.

?I?m serious. Where do you want to stop.?

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Relena?s jaw slacken, and she turned an aghast look upon him. Her mouth opened and closed for a minute, eventually closing in a thin, tight line.

Her lips were a pleasant shade of pink. This couldn?t help but be noticed.

?I would like some new clothes.? she said, through half-squinted eyes. Heero spared the road and looked his passenger over. She was wearing a navy blue skirt that came down to just above her knees, and a white blouse with short sleeves and a high neck that tapered in a ruffle. Small, white buttons trailed from the slight bump of her throat past her bellybutton, tucked underneath her skirt to disappear somewhere near the area between her thighs.

Heero had to hitch the wheel so as to not hit go off the road.

Other items of clothing: two female shoes, two and a half inch heels, color navy blue, and one navy blue blazer, fitted and next to her feet. No jewelry. Questionable undergarments, but probably white and possible lacy.

A loud, screeching sound assaulted Heero?s ears, and it took but a half-second to realize he was out of his lane and onto the strip of pavement purposefully marked to alert sleepy or negligent drivers. Ignoring Relena?s look, Heero straightened his back and focused on avoiding all forms of road kill.

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AN: Well?I have half of another scene, but I thought I would get SOMETHING out before I get enwrapped in working out that, finishing chapter two of Call to Arms, and finishing this other one-shot that?s been on my mind for awhile. AND potentially finishing all those LJ 1xR?s I?m behind on. Oi. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

[Morrighan]

Heero felt his mouth moving without noticing.

?I hear he eats babies.

*ROFLMAO*

Best line EVER.

[takisha16]

He eats baby's!!!!!! jajajjaja
This was an awesome awesome chapter!!!!
I loved the way Heero woke up to being nestled in with Relena! It was so
sweet and cute!
the drool was disgusting though! :-?
I loved Quatre! He was so nice and charming and I bet Relena really needed
some time alone with someone who actually talks to her in more than one
word!
I thought they're conversation was hilarious, I promtly burst out laughing
and received very weird glances in return!
ohhhhh I bet Heero must have been even a teensy bit jealous!
That reminds me!.....that women was really really rude!
To think she said that to her child!
It was funny though!
Now that I'm done rambling, update sooon!

[Kari]

*dances crazily around* You updated!!! Yes !!!I could hug you if I could. Ok now I'll read the story.

[Kari]

It seems that our boy is a little bit distracted by our lovely VFM. Hmm wonder how that will end

[perfectpeach]

the baby line killed me! XD

Oh and the mother! that was priceless!

[destiny's lil-gurl]

oh that was hilarious, i was dyin of laughter.
i hope that u will review soon