Blissful Ignorance

Title: Pretty Baby
Penname: J Alberghini
Email address: JAlberghini2@aol.com
Categories: Best Series/Multipart, Best Romance
Warnings: None

Disclaimer: Gundam Wing does not belong to me. Heero and Relena do not belong to me. The song, which this is based on, does not belong to me; it belongs to Vanessa Carlton. Each chapter title is a line in the song.
Pretty Baby
Chapter 1
"You light me up and then I fall for you"

"Aw, come on, let me a buy you a drink, baby!" the man begged me pathetically. I rolled my eyes. He'd been at it for almost an hour now. He was young, though older than I was and attractive, your basic blue-eyed blonde. But A) I won't drink, even if I was the legal age. And B) my two self-proclaimed self-defense instructors, Noin and Sally, and my dating tutor Dorothy had told me that that was possibly the oldest trick in the book (as if I didn't already know) and fortunately, I?m too innocent to fall for it. Well, okay, Dorothy said the last part. But they all said the first. And they are much wiser than I am, I admit, when it comes to dating. And experienced. As for myself, I've never had a boyfriend in my entire life. The closest I came to even being kissed was- no, no, Relena, you promised yourself you wouldn't think of him tonight. Bad girl!
After mentally slapping myself, I turned my attention to my current "suitor", if you could call him that. Personally, I'd just call him a nuisance. "I said, 'No!'" I gave him my fiercest death glare imaginable, which I have been practicing diligently for the past couple years. He got the message now.
"S-so-sorry," he stammered and backed away slowly before turning and running off to find easier prey.
"Well, at least something he taught me was useful," I muttered. Realizing my mistake, I kicked the bar as a means of self-punishment. I cursed as pain shot through my toe and nearly fell off the barstool.
What am I doing here in the first place, you may be wondering? Good question. I'd been asking myself the same thing. But I needed to get out, go somewhere, anywhere. And sneaking into bars with fake IDs is apparently the "normal" teenage thing to do. For what teenager, I don't know, but that's what I've heard anyway. Despite the fact that I don't drink, or flirt, or smoke, or dress like a hooker, or? oh my God, I'm starting to sound like I'm Sandra freaking Dee. "Lousy with virginity," I could hear Dorothy's voice crooning in my head. Friend though she may be now, however trusted, she is still the Rizzo to my Sandy. That's part of the reason I didn't bring her tonight, even though it'd probably have been a lot safer. And I couldn't bring Noin, because, besides the fact that the girl's on Mars right now, she'd have to tell my brother and he'd never let me go. Sally was "not" on a date with, surprise, surprise, Wufei. Although perhaps not so surprising, since she's the only woman he actually likes. Hilde was home in the colonies with Duo and Cathy was traveling with her circus troop, as always, so they were out. No way would I ask any of the boys, even if they could be here. Least of all Heero. I came here to get away from bodyguards, not bring them along. Don't worry, I was perfectly disguised of course in my brand new sunglasses. No one had recognized me so far, grant it, possibly because they were so drunk they couldn't see straight. And thankfully, no one had followed me either, assassins and annoying preventers alike. Not that he would. I was dressed casually in jeans and a red spaghetti strapped shirt that Dorothy had gotten me for Christmas this year. I put on make-up, well, okay, lipstick, and generally looked pretty good, if I do say so myself. I blended in perfectly. At least, I thought I did.
A couple minutes later, I felt a light tap on my shoulder. Figuring someone just wanted to get to the bar to buy a drink, I shifted to one side of the stool. It swiveled for a moment, setting me off balance. I slipped off the varnished wood, bracing myself for the fall. Instead I found myself suspended in the air. A strong muscle-toned arm was wrapped around my waist. My face flushed pink with embarrassment.
"Thank you," I said to my rescuer, who helped me back onto the seat. My back was to him, so I couldn't see his face. I was safe and secure now; yet he still wouldn't let go of me. I began to fidget slightly, no response. My stomach bounced up and down and my skin was covered in goose bumps. Trying not to panic (yeah right) I attempted to pry his fingers off me. No dice. Remain calm, Relena, I told myself. "Excuse me, could you let go of me? Please?"
I spun around to glare at him like I'd done to the other guy. I tell you, it was a good thing he was still holding onto me. Or I surely would've fallen again. My glasses almost did. They hung loosely on my face.
"H-h-h-" My tongue was twisted around in tiny knots. Yes, for probably the first time ever, Relena Darlian Peacecraft was speechless. Someone get a camera, catch this historic moment on tape. Or else call a medic.
"Heero," he supplied with a smirk. He seemed both impatient and amused at the same time. I think so at least. For him, anyway. Though, personally, I didn't even think he had a sense of humor.
"What are you doing here?" I asked. I lowered my eyes to avoid his piercing stare. His eyes were so blue, like two puddles of water. Enough to make me a puddle of mush. Sigh.
"I could ask you the same question," he replied. He lifted my head and took off my already askew glasses so I would look right at him. Oh God, somebody get a mop! I stared at him speechless. I hope I wasn't drooling. I'm telling you, only Heero can look that good in a ratty tank top, only Heero. I kept my mouth firmly shut, hoping to collect myself enough so as not to sound like an immature schoolgirl.
"Well?" he pressed. "What do you have to say for yourself?" His slightly condescending tone brought me back to my senses. What is he, my brother? Oh, I was angry now. I slapped his hand away.
"I don't see why it's any business of yours," I said defiantly. "What I do on my own time concerns me and me alone."
"Not if it's stupid and endangers your life. What if someone attacks you or something? It doesn't have to be an assassin; it could be just some drunk. I mean, if I came here planning to rape somebody, you'd be the first one I'd pick. Honestly, Relena, I thought you were more intelligent than that."
I would almost have been touched by his concern, if I weren't thoroughly insulted by his little speech. On the one hand, it seemed as if he were concerned about my welfare. But on the other hand, he was saying I couldn't take care of myself! As if I needed him to baby-sit me! My hand reached out and connected with his smooth skin, leaving a red welt on his handsome face.
"To hell with what you think! I don't need you to protect me all the time! So just go away and leave me alone." I couldn't help adding, "Like you always do."
He ignored that. "I don't think so. I'm not going anywhere." I glared at him fiercely. He matched it with his own infamous death glare. Mine was nothing compared to his. It could make any woman, or man for that matter, fall on their knees and beg for mercy. Not me, though. I was too used to it. But even I can't win a staring contest against him.
"Fine," I said. "But as of this moment, you don't me and I don't know you. You'll sit far away from me and we won't talk, not that you would anyway. Agreed?"
He nodded. "Have it your way." He grabbed the bottle of beer the bartender handed him and slammed some money on the bar. It surprised me, I never took Heero for a drinker, but I didn't say anything. Then he stormed off to a table near the wall, close enough so he could still see/glare at me. I turned away, trying to ignore him. I swiveled around to the counter, for the first time in my life intending to drink enough so I couldn't see straight, or at least not see him. It's funny, the crazy things he makes me do. I found myself face to face with an emerald-eyed blonde with a blinding white smile.
He nodded to me in greeting. "Come to this place often?" he asked casually. Another pick-up line. I'm not that stupid. I searched for Heero out of the corner of my eye. Already I could see steam pouring out of his ears. Serves him right.
I put on my most charming politician smile. "Nope, first time," I answered him, trying not to sound sexy and flirtatious and not like a total dork.
"I didn't think so. I would've remembered such a beautiful face."
Stay cool girl, I reminded myself. Line or not, it was much nicer to hear than anything a certain insensitive jerk sitting right over there had ever said to me in the time I'd known him. Heero never once told me I was beautiful. In fact, he probably only complimented me maybe once in our entire relationship/lack there of. Well, too bad for him. I continued to smile, not knowing quite how to reply to that. I supposed thank you, but it seemed awkward. I'm not used to this, can you tell?
"If I did," he continued, "I would've snatched you up long ago." With that choice of words, I should've really known to run right then. But you know me. I?m an innocent.
"Who said you'd be able to?" I asked coquettishly. I hopped down off the stool. Playing hard to get was always a good idea, according to Dorothy. "Don't be too desperate," she'd always told me. "Well, I guess I'll see ya around."
"Wait a second!" He grabbed my wrist. "Stay and talk with me a while." Without waiting for an answer, he pulled me into his lap. "What's your name sweetheart?" he asked me. I felt his hot breath on my neck and shivered.
"Most guys wait until after they get a girl's name before they do this," I informed him, feeling slightly sick in the stomach and in the head for getting myself into this. Next time I try to ignore Heero's advice, please hit me. "You seem to have it a little backwards."
He grinned devilishly. "It doesn't really matter. I just wanted to know who I should call later tonight." He ran his hand down my back and something told me that he didn't mean on the phone. Oh dear. "I'm Mike, by the way, for future reference."
"Well, Mike," I said icily, writhing to get out of his grip. "I'd prefer not to tell you my name. I highly doubt you'll need it. Now if you'll excuse me?"
He grasped me around the waist and pulled me back towards him. "Who said you had an option?" he replied. I struggled, but he only pulled me closer. He was still smiling, but it was more Joker-like than friendly now.
"No thank you!" I cried. I jerked my head back to avoid his approaching lips. They looked slimy yet so unsatisfying. I could smell the stench of beer on his tongue. I searched desperately out of the corner of my eye, dodging him all the while. The booth in the corner was now completely empty, except for a lone bottle of beer on the table. He was nowhere in sight. Oh thank you so much, Heero, I thought. Some protection he is. I ducked out of the way of another unwanted kiss. No time to complain about Heero now. Time to put those self-defense lessons to use. I squirmed to find the best position for my first technique, the classic "knee-in-groin" move to which poor unfortunate Wufei (Sally's suggestion, not mine) had been a test subject. Big baby! He can still have children. I think. But that traditional move is so much easier to do standing up and not at such a close range. Fortunately, there was no need for it.
All of a sudden, he stopped his advances. His face contorted, like he was having a seizure and he looked like he was in extreme pain. I searched for the source and found a hand gripping his shoulder so tightly I thought it would shatter. He let go of me and spun around involuntarily. I fell to the ground, getting dust on the seat of my jeans. When I recovered, I stood to see who had rescued me, as this idiot was much taller and wider than he was. To my not such a surprise and my great relief, lo and behold, guess who it was. My Heero. Mike was bigger than he was, taller, and more muscular looking. I almost felt sorry for the man. Almost.
"Let- let go of me!" he crowed. His voice was filled with terror. He looked as if he was about to relieve himself in his pants. Those brave words must have been a shock to even him, the coward.
"Leave her alone," Heero warned him. His glare could turn someone to ice or stone or both. It was an unparalleled look. It still surprises me how such a good-looking person can look like such a cold-blooded killer, that he was a cold-blooded killer. Gives me chills thinking about it and I thanked God he was on my side. So much for it not having an effect on me. The look he gave me before couldn't compare to this one, touched by concern and annoyance. This was pure anger. Heero let go of him, knocking him into the bar with a loud thunk. This apparently caught the bartender's attention, finally. He rushed over to us.
"Hey, what are you doing? You're not supposed to be here!" he yelled at my attacker. "We kicked you out a week ago after you harassed six girls. Get out of here now, you filthy drunk!" That would have been useful to know, oh, just A LONG TIME AGO!
He turned and slunk away slowly. Heero watched him for a moment and then turned back to me. His features were normal now and his eyes no longer had that mad look to them. I was relieved to see that they were much calmer and gentler, as I knew Heero to be. "Relena, are you okay?"
I nodded dumbly, than with a sudden flood of emotion, threw my arms around him and buried my face in his neck. He patted my back awkwardly as a few tears leaked onto his hair. After I was done with my good cry, I lifted my head up. It was the perfect time, for I was able to see over his shoulder that knucklehead charging toward him. "Wat-" The words didn't even leave my mouth before Heero did a 180 and clamped that nut's fist in his own. He sank down, screaming in agony. Heero twisted his arm around slightly. "Get. Out." The lunatic, he couldn't be anything less to mess with Heero like that, scampered away like a wounded puppy. The door shut with a satisfying slam.
I sighed and sank down against the bar in relief. "That was freaky." I peeked around Heero's shoulder to see what his reaction was to this all and gasped. His face was completely unscathed, but the murderous look was still there. Just when I thought it couldn't get worse, it had. It was frightening from afar, but up close... The thought that he looked willing to kill, but this time for me, combined with the stress of the night's events overcame me. I found solace in the darkness spinning around me. And in Heero's arms.