Author: Omnicat v''v
Rating: PG (K+)
Genre: Romance.
Spoilers & Desirable Foreknowledge: Gundam Wing in its entirety.
Warnings: Heero?s potty mouth... eh, mind.
Pairings: Heero Yuy x Relena Peacecraft.
Soundtrack: None that I know of.
Disclaimer: They?re not mine. I?m just playing with them.
Summary: One of the manifestations of love between Heero and Relena. ?You mean more than the world to me, Relena. But what about...?
Author?s Note: Unbelievable... I wrote this in exam season. My writing bunnies should be dead. But no, suddenly here it was! And it?s not even Christmas (= miracle season)! And even the sucky title cannot be blamed on the exam stress, because my titles are always sucky. Enjoy!
The Love is... series which this fic is a part of currently consists of:
More Than This
Worry beyond Control
Taking Risks
A Sentinel
Stronger than Duty
In this order. So if you like this fic, do read those too.
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Stronger than Duty
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She?s running for president now. That should be an incentive to take better care of her health. Time to remind her of this. Again.
The exact time is 10.00 PM. One hour after she asked for one more hour to finish her work. She won?t get another hour.
I knock.
?Enter.?
Her expression, a guarded yet defiant look of determination, says it all; she wants even more time. She doesn?t even put down her pen.
?We?re going home.? I say firmly.
?I?m not done yet.? she responds.
?You?re a politician, your work is never done. That doesn?t mean you can never take a break.?
Her eyebrows draw together, then one of them rises. Hmph. She shouldn?t be surprised that I?m using her own words against her. Two can play that game. It?s almost enough to make me smile.
But ?almost? is enough for her keen senses. I wonder if she also realises that her skill to pick up on almost non-existing clues still amazes me. ?But it does mean that I have to make sure the old work doesn?t pile up while new work keeps coming in.?
Sigh. ?Who are you trying to kid, Relena? This is the third time this week. The fifth time this month, and it?s only the tenth day. You won?t be able to cope if you keep going like this.?
And I miss you.
She finally puts down her pen. That?s a good sign. But she remains silent, she crosses her arms across her chest and her expression darkens, which turns it into a very bad sign.
?Relena...? I say, looking deeply into her eyes. Come home with me.
No response apart from a further pursing of her lips. She?s... ignoring my plea? Ouch...
No. No, that?s right; she has more important things to think about.
?Why are you so stubborn? You know just as well as I do that when you slow down, the projects you are working on slow down as well. And if you don?t cause as many rapid changes with the fruits of your work, new projects will start later as well. Plus, working this hard will negatively affect your functioning, which will ultimately hinder you in your work even more.?
Now she sighs, closing her eyes. Still no change in the determined set of her brows, though. ?Heero, it?s not like I generate my own workload. The work is just there, and it needs to be done.?
She opens her eyes and looks at me again with that stubborn expression. I need to start mapping these. Something tells me there?s a connection between their increased frequency, her working conditions, and another, unknown factor. Unknown factors are never a good thing, and something tells me this one is particularly bad. I cross my arms across my chest, mimicking her. If this has to become a battle of wills, so be it. I?d rather not resort to methods such as these, but if this is what it takes... Watch me, Relena. I?m not going to lose when it comes to protecting your well-being.
It takes a while - not for her to figure it out, I?m sure, but to accept the fact that I will not budge before she does - before she looks away, biting her lower lip in the process. ?There are people waiting for me to process these proposals.?
?Let them wait.?
?They?re counting on me. I made promises. Breaking promises doesn?t look good on a politician.?
?Delegate.?
?I am still responsible for the results, in the end.?
?You have an election to prepare for. People will understand -?
?Understand what, Heero?? she interrupts sharply. Looks like this conversation is getting on her nerves. Just goes to show I?m right; she needs to rest. ?That I?m neglecting my duties in favour of a popularity contest? That I care more about my image than my responsibilities??
That I would like some of your time as well. But no - that?s not important right now. There are bigger things at stake here. But my own patience is starting to wear thin too, Relena. I lean forward and plant my hands on the desk. ?Why am you being so stubborn?? I ask again. ?You know it?s not good for you to overexert yourself. Especially now. Nervous breakdowns don?t look any better on a politician than broken promises. I am responsible for your health and safety, but I can?t look after you without your cooperation.?
Suddenly: ?I should never have entered the elections.? The change is abrupt; the defiance on her face breaks, she slumps forward and lowers her head into her hands, elbows resting on the desk. Shit. That wasn?t my intention.
?Relena...? Just a bit further forward - the tips of my fingers on her cheek startle her. You?ve been bottling things up again, haven?t you? You shouldn?t, I?m always here. I cup your cheek. ?Relena, look at me.?
Eventually, you do. But why is it so hard?
?Why am I doing this, Heero? Don?t I have enough responsibilities?? you ask. Your gaze roams the room like it?s searching for something, as much as your mind must be doing. Now you blink. A new train of thought? ?And who am I to think I?ll make a good president, anyway? I?m just a well-bred twenty-something who always got anything she wanted handed to her on a silver platter. I never even finished secondary school!?
Your skin is flushed. Moisture collects in the corners of your eyes. It?s silly to address symptoms, but I wish they would just leave when I tell them to.
?The former is untrue and the latter has long since been rectified. You are intelligent and strong, Relena, and kindness is your guide. The people trust you, your colleagues respect you. You?d make a wonderful president.?
My thumb is in just the right place to catch that stray tear and wipe it away. At least your smile is back. Even such a sad smile means hope. I hate to see you hopeless. But I don?t know what?s worse; not being able to help fight the despair, or not knowing how to help, because I don?t know what it is that?s bothering you.
?Please don?t try to stroke my ego, Heero. It?s sore.?
?I don?t understand.? Look me in the eye, Relena. Look deeply. That?s the only way I can show you how much I want to help you.
You smile, but it?s such a bittersweet smile. ?I don?t understand either. I... I don?t know. Something about the whole presidential business feels off, but I can?t put my finger on what it is. I guess I just... can?t help but doubt myself. I can?t help but wonder if I?ll be able to do it. I want the station, it would... enable me to do what I started out to do when I entered politics. Even though... even though... ugh, I don?t even know. But if I can?t... if I can?t make the right decisions, give the world what?s best... then I think I?d rather not be elected at all. The top of the political food chain is a precarious position. I wouldn?t want to slip and fall, and cause chaos.?
That?s why you?re such a beautiful person, Relena. ?You have me to help you.?
?You have your own duties.? A hint of sadness comes into your eyes, a sadness so familiar to me. It?s almost like looking in the mirror. Is that why my own throat is closing up?
It?s hard to speak; I can hardly raise my voice above a whisper. ?You are always my first and foremost priority. They can have their peace. I wouldn?t be able to care about a world without you in it.?
The warmth of your cheek abruptly leaves my palm. There are tears in your eyes again, your eyes are so wide... Why are you crying? I intended the exact opposite. ?Relena, what?s wrong??
?I?ve been so stupid. All this time I was trying to create a world in which you could... a world without fighting... but in the process I lost track of... and now look where it took us... Oh, I?ve been so stupid...? You back away, pressing a hand to your face, not looking at me. The desk is between us, preventing me from taking you in my arms and making things right.
It always is.
Now I see.
I stalk around the desk, drop to one knee, take your hand, look up. ?Marry me.?
Silence.
...Oh shit. Did I really just...? ...oh shit. I don?t think I?ve ever seen your eyes become so big before. Why did I do that? Sure, I want you to marry me, but why now? Oh crap - that was supposed to have been a question, not a demand, was it?
Your mouth moves, but only strangled, squeaky sounds emerge. ?A - are you serious??
I swallow thickly. Nod. I have to nod. Nod, damnit. My head finally nods.
How is it possible that your eyes can get even bigger? ?Heero... why??
Where are these words coming from? ?You mean more than the world to me, Relena. I want... I want...? They just keep coming, I can?t stop them. But that?s good. I don?t want to stop them. ?I want to mean the same to you.?
The hand you cover your mouth with doesn?t hide the sound of your sobs, Relena. And I can clearly see your shoulders shake and the fresh tears forming in your eyes. ?You do. You do, Heero, you do! And I do. Yes. Yes, I?ll marry you!?
My arms move even without my prompting when you collapse into them. Your body is wracked with sobs. But it?s okay. It?s alright. It?s good, even. I feel light-headed.
?I?ll always be there to support you, no matter if you become president or not.?
?I?m so sorry Heero. I tried to - tried to rid the world of anything that could hurt you. But I forgot the most important thing; you.?
I know that, Relena. I always have. ?Will you finally come home with me now? The stress is making you sentimental.?
...that sounded inappropriate. Was it the dizziness speaking? You start to shake more violently, but now, it?s accompanied by laughter. You think it was, huh? Yeah, well, I do too. Apparently. I don?t know what else could cause my control to slip as much as to allow this huge grin to come over my face.
?Always, Heero. For you, always.?
Oh, who am I trying to kid.
Ooh! I just loved this. You write Heero's POV so well, and the ending was just brilliant.
Update.
Wonderful as always!
