The Symbol of Temptation Chapter 3

[Litia-sama]

Disclaimer: Yadda yadda I don’t own Gundam Wing and so on.

The Symbol of Temptation
Chapter Three

He was nervous. He didn’t know why.

It was just a door. A door.

It mocked him.

He raised his hand, knowing that walking through this door was going to be different today. Today, he was not going to talk business. Today, he was going to talk personal.

With her.

She made him nervous. He knew now that that was what happened to make him shaky and tense every time he saw her. She made him nervous. Damn her.

He wondered what she would be wearing.

It was her weekend off. No suit. Maybe pants. Maybe a dress. Maybe red. He liked red.

He shook his head. Since when did he start thinking like this? And since when did he need her help?

He closed his eyes. It was her fault anyway. He didn’t know how to deal with her. She was different from everyone. Set apart. She was warm, loving, and caring. She was surreal. He couldn’t describe her with just words. All he knew was that he liked being with her. Her presence was like an eternal peace he didn’t dare to let himself even think about.

He didn’t deserve such a thing.

Raising his head, he looked at the door with a straight face and knocked on it, waiting. He heard her footsteps as she approached, hurried and with a noticeable “thud” every time her foot hit the ground.

That “thud” meant high heels.

Maybe red ones.

The door opened and she smiled up at him, her face aglow with happiness. Was she glad to see him? Did he care? Should he care?

Her smile faded. “Is something wrong, Heero?”

He snapped out of yet another trance and noticed to both his delight and distress that she was in fact wearing red. A sleeveless red dress that ended at her knees, and one-inch red heels to match. A gold necklace, gold wristwatch, gold earrings. Hair down.

God dammit.

She looked perplexed now and moved to the side, ushering him in without a word. Her home office seemed smaller for some reason. He didn’t sit down in one of the soft, plush chairs. She didn’t move behind the desk. They just stood there, calculating each other after she closed the door.

What was she thinking? Was she wondering the same thing about him? She looked worried. Was she? About him? Why? Why did she care?

“Why do you care?” he asked, more harshly than he wished to. By her expression, he thought he had caused her pain with his question, which bothered him. And then that bothered him. There was just no end to this.

Her surprised expression quickly died away and was replaced with a straight face. He thought for a moment that she might be mad. He almost hoped she was. Maybe she would tell him to go. Maybe she would end this whole situation right here and now.

“Do you mean, ‘Why do I care’ about you?” she asked, her voice soft. He nodded, his face set. She wouldn’t see his confusion. She would just answer questions about it.

Like why the way she looked at that moment made him so warm he could steam.

For some reason, she smiled again. “I care about you because…I just do. You’re a good person, and you’re a great friend both to Laura and to me. Why wouldn’t I care, after all your help?”

Help? When did he help? “When did I help?”

Her face suddenly wore an expression that made his breath catch. “Heero…”

Her eyes twinkled. He shivered. What was she doing to him? What made her so powerful? Why was he letting her do this?

Why was her hand on his face?

It burned. It sent waves through his body he couldn’t describe. It was pleasant. It felt good. It was caressing his cheek.

When he was paying attention again, she smiled even more brightly at him. Her face came up, came closer. Her lips touched his other cheek.

His mind flew away.

He didn’t want it when it came back.

She stood back, her hand still on his cheek, and said, “You’re the best person I know, Heero. I don’t need to tell you how grateful I am for all your help. And yes, you did help, in more ways than one and over a much longer period of time. Without you, I wouldn’t be smiling.”

She left him then, leaving the office with a flushed face. His cheek was cold. The other cheek, the one she’d kissed, seemed to tingle.

He touched it, and stopped worrying about his worth.

She thought he was good enough for her to touch.

He was on a cloud.

* * *

The first abduction attempt on Laura happened the next day. Peagen was out buying more paint for Laura, and Heero and Relena were in the study talking to Quatre on the vid-phone. Laura was supposed to be in the dining room eating cinnamon-applesauce, but a knock on the window drew her attention outside. The servants, who were supposed to be keeping an eye on her, were too busy with their work to notice. A tall man in dark clothing waved at her, pointing towards the kitchen where there was a servants’ exit door. Delighted to be making a new friend, Laura had pushed her chair out noisily and ran to the kitchen, drawing Heero and Relena’s attention all the way from the study. Instinct told them to go. They caught her just as she went outside, Relena grabbing her and pulling her back as Heero chased the man fifteen yards and subdued him, dragging his unconscious form into the house and handcuffing him facedown on the floor of the main hall. Laura was confused, Relena was worried, and Heero was mad. He felt like dragging the man around in the dirt some more.

He could have carried him, but that wouldn’t have satisfied his anger.

Nobody touched Laura.

Nobody tried.

He looked over at Laura while Relena fired all the servants and ordered them out, along with the authorities arresting the man. He would be interrogated. Meanwhile, Relena’s security team was sweeping the grounds for any more intruders. They were working extra hard after the earful they got from both Heero and Relena. Mainly Relena.

He admired that. That fire. Even though Laura wasn’t hurt in any way, Relena kept her close and gave a cold hard glare to anyone who got close. It was something he found absolutely incredible.

He didn’t think he could admire so much about a person.

She proved him wrong.

They decided to have dinner out that night since there was no chef to cook for them. They went to a diner across town where they weren’t likely to be recognized or followed by reporters; news of the incident at Vice Foreign Minister Darlian’s residence was the new hot topic in the political world. Her security was doubled again, but she insisted that Laura was the one who needed it, not her. Heero agreed.

He could protect Relena on his own.

During their dinner out, he and Relena kept meeting each other’s eyes. Every time he looked up she looked up as well, almost in the same instant. She smiled every time. He didn’t know he’d been cold until she did, and he warmed up.

His reactions began to fascinate him. Her movements, her voice, even her body itself drew his attention. He didn’t understand it but the sight of her skin made him feel uneasy. Somewhat excited.

He denied his eyes the permission they demanded in order to travel over her. He still refused to give her anything he considered to be disrespect. Instead, he laughed for her. She made him happy.

It frightened him.

When they returned to the house, they put Laura to bed, together, and said goodnight outside Relena’s door. Her eyes were glowing when she went into her room and closed the door. He watched her go, feeling strangely more alone. Did she want something? Did he?

He felt cold that night, alone in his room. The only thing he could think of to warm him was her. If a kiss on the cheek could send him spiraling, he couldn’t imagine what holding her could do. He wanted to know. He wanted to know what she did to him. He wanted to know how long it could last. He wanted her hand on his face, putting him at ease while he went to sleep.

He wondered what it would be like to touch her face.

When he fell asleep, he dreamed about it. He touched her face. It made him feel perfect, so calm and pure. She radiated a feeling that overwhelmed him, and he gladly surrendered to its power.

He woke up smiling. It was still dark. Could she really give him that feeling? He wanted to know. He had to know. He’d get no peace if he didn’t, he was sure of it.

He stood outside her door again, hesitating. What did he want? Would he be able to get it? Would she be able to give it? He didn’t have the answers. She did. He knew she did. She must.

It was all about her.

He about jumped out of his skin when she opened the door, before he even knocked. She said she’d just been coming to see him. What for? And why this late? They went downstairs to the kitchen and got water. She wanted wine, but he forbid it. They walked to one of the sitting rooms as though it were the middle of the day and this were a casual afternoon meeting. When she sat on the couch and he in a chair, she stared at him with a look like no other. She had so many expressions, and he had so few. Something else he admired.

It was a searching look. What was she looking for? Why had she wanted to see him? He thought for a moment that she might want to know how the interrogation went, but that thought was discarded immediately. Besides, he didn’t even know; he’d find out tomorrow.

She set down her water. He did the same. “I’ve been having strange thoughts lately, Heero,” she said, her voice as soft as ever. “Thoughts about you.”

His chest tightened. She thought about him? “What kinds of thoughts?”

Once again, a smile. “You tell me.”

How the hell should he know? “How should I know?”

She looked down, then up again. “Because I believe you’ve been having the same thoughts.”

Confusion. “What do you mean?”

She stood up, her hair falling down around her face. His chest got tighter. She was wearing a long white nightgown. Thin straps. Same as every night. She walked over to him, standing by his chair. She looked unsure.

He felt terrified.

She leaned forward, putting her hands on his face. Both hands. He felt nervous. He felt hot.

Their lips touched.

His whole body flinched.

He opened his eyes, she leaned back a few inches. He didn’t know what he was feeling. He wanted to touch her. It hurt him to think he shouldn’t. He brought his hands up, placing them on her face like porcelain. He shook uncontrollably.

Their lips touched again.

He was overwhelmed.

Then they heard Laura’s screams.


\\\Don't you just hate it when that happens? Ooooooh this is getting good, don't you think? Heh. Just wait. The best is yet to come.///

[Naoko]

Oh my gosh! They kissed! YAAAY!!!

I like the way you portrayed Heero here...a bit of the "perfect soldier" is in him, and yet he feels his emotions fighting to take over. It's amazing. It's so cute how he's so head over heels in love with Relena (though he kinda doesn't know that yet).

AAAHHH!!!! Fix the cliffhanger! I can't wait for the next chapter


Love, Naoko

[ice princess]

I don't believe I've ever read a more accurate depiction of Heero's character. See, he has emotions, a whole helluva lot of 'em, really, but he's only used to dealing with them like a child would. Everything he feels, he's bewildered by it. I don't know why I seem to be telling you this, since you're the one who saw that enough to write this fabulous story!
I especially love how you're dealing with Heero's sudden onslaught of naughty thoughts. I'll bet his training did something to block sexual thoughts, especially since he was a teenager, but now he's got nowhere to run!! WOO-HOO!!!! Go get him, Relena!
okay, so basically I'm trying to say that I love this story. Usually when I reply to say I like a story, I simply do just that, but this one really strikes a chord with me, so I had to elaborate.
Hopefully you'll be doing the same with some soon-to-be-posted future chapters!

[Litia-sama]

Gosh, you guys are flattering me!

I'm so glad you all like this story. I've been working so hard on it, too. It's always such a challenge to tell things from Heero's point of view, but for this story I thought it'd be perfect. And who doesn't like a challenge, eh? Thank you so much for responding. You make me smile and give me inspiration.

You guys are awesome.


~Litia-sama