The Symbol of Temptation chapter seven

[Litia-sama]

Disclaimer: Yadda yadda I don?t own Gundam Wing and so on.

The Symbol of Temptation
Chapter Seven

Watching the wind blow through the leaves of trees is strangely relaxing. One can become easily accommodated to life on Earth, where all things are natural and happen only as they are meant to.

Usually.

Heero turned from the glass door he was gazing through and rested his eyes on the young child sitting in the center of the room. She was running her paint-covered fingers across a large sheet of paper, very intent on her work. The hot cocoa in the cup next to her was untouched.

Relena was in the study. Talking to Zechs.

Even with his incredible amount of respect for her and her privacy, Heero found himself wondering what Relena was discussing with her brother.

Knowing the truth may not be worth it. But then again, Zechs?s daughter was right in front of him, far from her father?s eyes.

Why?

Not until he heard the name of Alex Sinay was he even the slightest big curious about Zechs?s whereabouts. Now that he had, his mind was completely chaotic.

Had this ?Alex? hurt Relena in some way? Had he tried? What had he tried to do?

His skin was crawling. Every time thoughts of the many possibilities came into his mind he instantly pushed them away. He didn?t need to start worrying about his anger, of all things. Right now the important things were Relena, Laura, and the ones after them.

And Alex. And Alex?s neck.

He heard laughter coming from the study. Zechs was making her laugh. That?s good, he thought. Maybe he can loosen her up. Make her slip something important.

Maybe he should listen in. Just for a little while. What could it hurt?

Turning away from the determined artist on the floor, he walked silently across the room, stopping just in front of the doorway to the study. The door was cracked. He could hear Relena?s soft voice but couldn?t make out the words.

This is wrong, he told himself. I shouldn?t be listening. If she wants to tell me, she will. I shouldn?t invade her privacy this way.

He leaned closer.

??him and Laura seem to be getting along just fine now, though,? he could hear her saying. ?He?s so protective of her, too. I think he cares about her more than I do.?

?That?s saying something,? Zech?s voice replied. Heero?s well-trained ears picked up on the slight difference in the pitch of his voice and the light humming that accompanied it. He surmised that they were talking via videophone. Zechs definitely wasn?t trying to hide, then. ?How did Heero react when he first found out that I am her father??

He could practically feel her smiling. ?He was quite surprised, to say the least. I think he was expecting me to say that I was her real mother.?

?That might be true. If there?s anything I know about Heero, it?s that he always assumes the worst with you. It?s safer for him that way.?

?What do you mean??

There was a pause. ?What?s that on your neck??

Heero grinned as he heard Relena?s gasp, followed quickly by the sound of her hand slapping against her neck. He could just imagine the look on her face.

?It?s uh?? she paused. Heero found himself longing to be in the room with her so he could see Zechs?s expression. He was actually weighing the pros and cons of just walking in. ?It?s?um?well it?s??

?It?s what?? Zechs interrupted her, ?Heero?s way of saying ?thanks? for something??

He could just see her blushing.

?Uh?no. It?s?um?it?s?err??

?Good God Relena what is that on your neck!??

Noin?s voice was an explosion through the videophone. He wondered if Laura had heard her. A quick glance in her direction showed that the child was still hard at work on her latest masterpiece. He returned his attention to the conversation inside the room, where Relena was doing well for being stuck between a rock, a hard place, and another rock.

He decided to make a mental note of this incident: From now on, all marks must be left below the neck.

A good plan.

Except for Alex.

That was a neck that needed to be marked immensely.

??So you see, Heero?s been taking really good care of us. I don?t think I?ve ever felt more safe in my entire life.?

?I can see that,? he heard Zechs say. Noin whispered something he couldn?t hear that resulted in Relena choking on a drink and coughing like crazy. Zechs?s low chuckle sounded in his ears.

?I can see that you?re happy, but for how long? It?s only a matter of time before Alex-?

?Alex won?t find us,? Relena interrupted him. She was still coughing but spoke with a stern voice. ?Even if he were to do so there is nothing he can possibly do to us now.?

?Don?t be so sure of that,? Zechs warned. His tone wiped the grin right off of Heero?s face. ?He?s dangerous, Relena, you know that. Don?t forget what happened last-?

?I know. I don?t want to talk about this right now. I just want to enjoy my time here with Laura and Heero. It may be the last time that I get to see them like this.?

?What?

?Don?t talk like that. Everything will be fine. Heero is perfectly capable of protecting Laura and you. Especially you.? Another pause. ?He loves you.?

He didn?t have to imagine her face to see its expression. ?I know.?

?Then trust him. Everything he?s ever done he?s done for you, he just doesn?t know it yet.? Something inside him jerked. Was that really true? ?I wouldn?t have trusted him with this if I wasn?t sure of that fact. He?ll die before he?ll let anything happen to you.?

He heard her voice strain. ?I know. That?s what I?m afraid of.?

He let his eyes fall. When they hit the floor, he felt extremely confused.

?That?s what I?m afraid of.? Why did she say that? Why was she afraid that he was going to die?

What the hell was going on?

He heard the conversation coming to an end so he walked back over to the glass door and gazed outside once again. When Relena emerged, she was smiling what was obviously a fake, empty smile. If ever there were a time when her gloominess truly bothered him, this was it, and he needed to fix it. Fast.

So he kissed her; then let her know exactly what he thought of her ?masking? her feelings from him.

She didn?t talk to him for the rest of the afternoon.

* * *

After dinner, when Laura was roasting marshmallows again, Relena grabbed him by the hand and led him into the study. It was dark, even though she?d left the door ajar to keep an eye on their charge. She stood there for a long time facing away from him, breathing deeply and running her hands through her hair. He?d never seen her like this. So nervous and unsettled. He felt the need to touch her, comfort her, anything to make her calm down.

When she turned around, her face betrayed her efforts at composure. She was in complete agony.

?I don?t quite know how to tell you this,? she began, voice shaking. Whatever she was trying to say, she seemed eager to say it and get it over with. ?You?ve been such a great help to me, Heero. Such a great help?that?s why I didn?t tell you until now.?

Whatever he was about to hear, he felt certain that it wasn?t going to ease his mind the way he wanted it to.

?Al?Alex Sinay?he-? she shuddered. In the back of his mind something began chipping away. He noticed he was shaking, but not like the other times. He was anxious for a different reason now.

She took a breath, determined to say whatever she had to say. Despite his instincts to run away, he was determined to listen. He wanted to know, right? This was his chance. If she didn?t say it now she never would. They both knew that.

At last, her eyes met his, and he about died at the look of complete and utter pain he saw there. ?Heero,? she breathed heavily, as though she?d been running. Perhaps she had been running. ?Alex is a man used to?getting what he wants. He?he wanted a?a family.?

She shook terribly now, and he placed a hand on her shoulder to try and steady her. It didn?t work.

She shook harder.

?He?he??

?Shhh,? he hushed her, drawing her to him and wrapping his arms around her shoulders. She cried into his chest. Why was she so terrified? He didn?t understand. ?Relena, tell me what happened. I need to know, in case this guy is the one I?m after.?

?He?he tried?he tried to?? She shook her head and squeezed his shirt between her fingers. ?Oh God, he killed them, Heero! I watched him kill them! He said Laura was ?our daughter? and that they had no right to take her from us! He-? she sobbed, her whole body jerking from the force of it, ?He told me I could never get away, that I belonged to him. He tried?he tried to force me to?he said I belonged to him?? He felt her shaking uncontrollably now.

His body was on fire with rage before she even finished the first sentence.

Alex caused her pain.

Alex deserved pain.

?He?he told me no one could ever love me like he did. He attacked me when I said I didn?t want him. That I never wanted him. He killed my mother. He killed the Dryeks. He tried to kill Laura and Milliardo and Noin and Peagen and everyone just to hurt me! He said I deserved it for how much I hurt him. I didn?t do anything to him! And he?s killing people! He?s killing them because of me! Oh God, Heero! He?s killing people because of me! I can?t take this! I can?t take this anymore!?

Her strength gave way and she collapsed in his arms, tears streaming down her face, as he lowered her to the floor. She whispered one last thing before she stopped completely.

?I can?t take anymore death, Heero.?

I know, he said in his mind. I'm sorry.

"I guess you'll just have to look away when I find Alex."



\\\\\Well...that's another one down. Next chapter I promise to explain what all this means. Promise. 'Til then I'll give you a little teaser...prepare to see Heero go ape-$#!@/////

[Numena]

Yay! I love this fic, I'm so glad you updated. It's so different from anything else I've read, and now I can't wait for the next chapter! I want to see Heero lose it! *grin* hope it's Alex that gets in trouble! :evil: Evil little man.
Can't wait for the next chapter!

[TigerQueen]

*whew* For a terrible moment there, I was scared that this Alex sketchball had raped Relina. Thank you for saving her from that agony!

This is a wonderful fic -- full of character development, yet with a nifty plot, too...I love your portrayal of Heero's thoughts! The fact that Mr. I-Will-Kill-You could literally shake with nerves around Relina is...I want to say "charming," but that sounds stuck-up & insincere. Not exactly "cute," either...charming yet sincere, cute yet mature. How's that?

Please update soon! I love it! TQ