Deceptions Part 12/?
Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2003 1:08 pm
Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing
<Center>Deceptions Part 12: The Trial
By Symee-Sama</Center>
Relena screamed when he fell and tried to run forward, but Duo stopped her, placing his body between her and the balcony. ?You can?t help him now.? He told her as gently as he could as he pulled her back into the room and forced her to sit in a chair. ?Stay here. Don?t move.? He ordered her, and walked back out onto the balcony. Bracing himself for what he knew he would see when he looked over the edge.
It didn?t work. ?Shit.? Duo whispered as he peered over the edge, grimacing at what he saw in front of him. Heero was lying in a pool of blood, his arm bent in an unnatural direction. He had broken that arm earlier, Duo realised and felt bile rising in his throat. He forced it back down, staring at his fallen friend. ?Shit.? He repeated. He couldn?t have deserved this. He had done a lot of bad things, but could he have deserved all this?
Duo couldn?t answer the question, and it bothered him. He took one last look at the bloody body on the ground, and walked back into the room, pulling Relena to her feet. ?Come on Princess.? He said in a strained voice. ?We gotta get out of here.?
?But what about Heero?? Relena protested as he practically dragged her down the halls. ?Is he dead?? she asked, the concern evident in her voice. ?Did I kill him?? He didn?t answer her, and she struggled against his grip. ?Damn it Duo, answer me!?
?Why do you care?? Duo asked angrily, turning on her. ?You hate him! You said that you did!? He struggled to control his anger. ?You?re the one who pushed him! He went through a lot of shit to get here. All he wanted to do was see you, and you push him off a friggin? balcony!?
?He sold me!? Relena screamed at him. ?He gave me to Him, and let Him do what He wanted to with me! He almost raped me! He would have raped me hundreds of times already if I hadn?t kept finding ways to stop Him, and Heero?s the one who gave me to Him?? She seemed to lose her drive. ?You have no idea what it was like? To have to hurt yourself so He wouldn?t touch you.?
?No Princess,? Duo deflated instantly. ?I don?t know what you?ve been through, but I know what he?s had to go through and he doesn?t deserve your hatred.?
?Why not?? Relena spat. ?Why shouldn?t I hate him?? She asked and pulled her ripped dress back into place. ?Even if I didn?t hold any hard feelings for what he did to me, I can?t forgive him for what he did to others.? She looked at him, her eyes full of pain. ?I want to, Duo. I wish I could just forget this whole mess, and move on the way we were before he left. But I can?t.? She stopped running, and stood in the clearing, wrapping her arms around herself.
Duo looked at her, pity in his eyes. ?He never expected you to forgive him.? He said slowly, wondering if he was betraying his friend by telling her this. ?I?m not even sure if he wanted you to forgive him, but he came anyway. He never wanted to??
?Hurt me?? Relena interrupted, knowing what this was leading to. ?That?s a lie. He did hurt me. He wanted to hurt me.? She glared at the braided man. ?Admit it Duo. Don?t lie to me.? He tried to pull her along again, but she held her ground, only going forward a few steps before stopping again. ?Admit it Duo.? She said again.
?Is that what you want to hear?? Duo asked in a frustrated tone, and dragged her towards the shuttle. ?Then fine, he wanted to hurt you! He wanted to kill you, and everything that you held dear!? He sighed. ?But he also wanted to protect you.?
?You?re not making any sense!? Relena snapped at him. She was tired of the word games that they were playing. ?He can?t want both!?
Duo sighed again. ?Get your brother to explain it to you.? He told her and helped her into the shuttle, handing her to Zechs. ?I gotta go get Heero.? He said quietly to the older man. ?Don?t leave without us.?
Duo turned and sprinted back towards the mansion, muttering curses under his breath. This was his fault. He had let Relena go near Heero, knowing how fragile her state of mind was. It was just that he wanted everything to be the way it was. He knew that it could never happen, but that didn?t stop him from wishing for it. He didn?t want her to hate Heero?
Duo cursed himself again, and ran faster. Heero could be dying while he took his sweet time. Heero could be bleeding to death because Relena pushed him off a balcony. Duo shook his head. He couldn?t blame Relena for acting the way that she had. She had gone through a lot of horrible things, and she hadn?t meant to push him that hard.
Duo was breathing heavily by the time he reached Heero, and he had to fight to keep his lunch. It seemed like he was always queasy when he was around this guy. He walked over to his friend?s still form, and knelt beside him, checking for cuts. He found none, but then where was all the blood coming from? Duo carefully turned Heero over, not wanting to injure him more, and his face fell.
This was bad. Duo cursed again. There was a long, bloody gash in the back of Heero?s head. Blood had matted and dried, but it was still bleeding slightly. He didn?t know how to deal with this. Should he move him? Probably not. But he didn?t have a choice. He had to get Heero to the shuttle.
Carefully, Duo picked up his friend?s body, not wanting to hurt him more than he had, and slung him over his shoulder. Damn, Duo thought as he dragged Heero back the way he had come. For a skinny guy, he?s really heavy.
Duo gritted his teeth and pulled Heero faster. He didn?t know how bad his injury was, and he wouldn?t know until he got Heero back to the base. He grimaced when he felt blood dripping on him. Shit. Heero had started bleeding again and that couldn?t be good.
He reached the shuttle and placed Heero in a chair, checking to make sure that the handcuffs didn?t jar his broken arm before doing up the restraints and sitting down behind him. ?What the hell is going on?? Duo didn?t flinch as Zechs strode up to where they were sitting. ?That ? That thing shouldn?t be in the same place as my sister!?
?He?s hurt Zechs,? Duo snapped. ?Leave him alone for once!?
Zechs was about to go on another tirade and force Duo to move him, but he felt a hand on his arm. ?Please Milliardo,? Relena?s voice was low, but it easily cut through all the other noises in the shuttle. ?He is hurt, and it?s my fault. We need to get him medical help.?
?What about you?? Zechs asked her quietly. ?You were hurt too.?
?Not as badly as he was.? Relena held her head up proudly. ?Give me some credit, Milliardo. I?m not as weak as everyone seems to think I am.? She looked down at Duo and saw that he was in no condition to pilot. ?Could you fly us back to the base?? She asked Zechs. ?I would like to talk to Duo.?
Zechs nodded and walked quickly towards the cockpit. ?Where are the others?? Relena asked Duo quietly once he had left.
?As far as I know, Quatre is still resting in the back of the shuttle, Trowa is with him, and Wufei is in the cockpit with Zechs. Why??
?Just wondering,? Relena shrugged, and then she looked at him. A serious look on her face. ?Could you explain to me how he could want both?? Duo shot her a confused look. ?What we talked about earlier. You said there was a reason for his actions and I want to hear it.?
?Alright,? Duo glanced over at Heero, nervously. ?He?s insane.? He took in Relena?s shocked look and gave a weak smile. ?I know it?s hard to swallow, but it?s true. He told me that he talked to Zero inside his head, and that he had all these memories of things that never really happened.?
Relena?s eyes widened as she remembered what Heero had said to her in the cell so long ago. Holes in my memory? bright light?that voice?Zero! He had pushed her away from him, moving to another corner of the cell and huddling there. Stay away from me! Zero?s back!
How had she not seen this before? His actions, his words, they all pointed to insanity. Why else would he have suddenly gone on a killing rampage? How else could he have changed so drastically in the span of a year? He had always been so strong. The strongest of all the Gundam pilots in her eyes, but he was still able to fall.
She felt a swell of pity wash over her as she looked at his blood-covered body. Could she still hate him now that she knew that he was insane? Had she ever hated him? Relena wished that she knew the answers. She wished that she knew how this whole fiasco would turn out. She wished? that this had never happened.
Relena realised that Duo had asked her a question, and she searched her memory for what he had said to her. ?I?ll be fine,? She said softly, not looking away from Heero. ?What?s going to happen now, Duo?? She asked, not sure if she would like the answer.
?We?ll try to clean up the mess that he made.? Duo replied, his eyes filled with pain. ?We?ll try to go back to our lives.? He stopped, unsure how to phrase what he needed to say. He knew that Relena still cared for Heero. Maybe she didn?t love him anymore, perhaps she couldn?t love him anymore, but she still cared for him, and didn?t want to see him hurt.
?Then I?ll pay for my crimes,? Duo nearly jumped out of his seat when he heard Heero?s voice. The stoic man sat up slowly, raising a hand to touch the back of his head. ?I want to go to trial as soon as possible.? He stated dully.
?Are ya sure?? Duo asked him. ?You should probably get Sally to look at your wound.?
?It?s not serious,? Heero said gruffly, ignoring the throbbing pain in the back of his head. ?Besides, I want to get this over with. Call Lady Une, and tell her that I want a trial as soon as this shuttle lands.?
Duo rubbed the back of his head. ?I don?t think that she?ll like that, Heero. We pissed her off when we left, remember?? Heero glared at him, and Duo backed away, holding his hands up in front of him. ?All right! I?ll call her!? He stalked towards the cockpit, leaving Relena and Heero alone.
Relena was the one who broke the silence. ?I?m sorry.? She said softly. ?For pushing you off the balcony.?
?I deserved it, and more.? Heero said grimly, trying to hide the pain that he felt.. ?Relena?? He looked up at her. ?I know that nothing I say will make things right, but?? He struggled to find the right words through the pain induced haze that clouded his brain. ?I want to try to make amends.? He nearly flinched at the hurt that he saw in her eyes, but refused to look away. He was the one who put that pain there, he would not turn away from it. ?I-?
?Are you asking for my forgiveness, Heero?? She asked, and he nodded miserably. ?I can?t give it. Not for what you?ve done to others,? her voice lowered until it was barely a whisper. ?Not for what you?ve done to me.?
?Relena?? Heero began. ?I don?t want you to-? He trailed off when he heard shouts coming from the cockpit. His eyes narrowed and all of his kind words were gone, replaced by the detached, cool mask that she knew so well. ?Sit down.? He ordered her roughly. ?Far away from me.?
Relena nodded, hearing the urgency in his voice. Sitting in a chair that was a few rows down from him and doing up the seat belt. Not a moment too soon either.
Relena winced as Zechs threw open the cockpit door, looking at Heero warily. ?I can?t believe you left her alone with him!? He yelled at Duo, who was a step behind him.
?Aw, come off it Zechs!? Duo snapped back at him. ?He was tied to the chair, and the only way for him to get free would be for someone to untie him.? He scanned the shuttle, noting that Relena was now sitting far away from Heero. ?Besides, nothing happened.?
?Something could have happened!? Zechs growled at him, clenching his hands into fists. ?I don?t want him anywhere near my sister!?
Duo looked at Zechs warily, calculating his odds. Zechs was stronger and had a longer reach, but Duo was faster. Not to mention all the dirty fighting tricks that he had learned as a child on the streets. He tensed, preparing to defend himself as the older man drew his fist back-
?Milliardo!? Zechs froze at the sound of his sister?s voice. ?There is no reason for you to fight him!? She walked towards them, placing herself between Zechs and Duo. ?Everything he said was true. Heero did not escape, and even if he could, what could he have done before I called for help? Absolutely nothing.? She glared at him. ?So please go back into the cockpit and fly the plane.? Zechs shot one last warning look at Duo before he stalked back into the cockpit.
Relena sighed after he had left. ?I?m sorry about my brother.? She said softly. ?He can be over-protective at times. Although, I can?t blame him.? Her lip curled in disgust. ?I have a nasty habit of getting kidnapped.? She glanced over at Heero, but he refused to look at her.
Relena forced herself to look away from him. She couldn?t stand this! She couldn?t stand being so close to him! She wanted to hurt him for what he had done, but she didn?t want him to get hurt? It?s not possible to want both! Her words came back to her, mocking her as the echoed inside her head. It seemed that she had made a hypocrite of herself. Because she wanted both.
She walked on unsteady legs to her seat and sat down, trying hard no to stare at the man who was sitting a couple rows in front of her. She loved him still, she knew that she did. Because of the way she felt whenever she saw him. The warmth that spread through her body whenever he talked to her.
But something was wrong now. Now when she looked at him, she felt something new. Fear. She looked sadly at him, unsure of what she was going to do. I have to move past this. She told herself angrily. I have to be strong and grow stronger from what happened. This has happened to many women before me. Her resolve hardened. I can do this. I can get past this. She told herself as she looked at Heero, pushing all feelings of love and fear away from her. I can forget.
<Center>* * * * *</Center>
Heero gritted his teeth as the room spun around him. Trying to focus on the judge?s words. He had told them everything. The bombings, the families that he had killed, Relena?s kidnapping?he had confessed to all the terrorist acts that he had committed, down to the last child. He had watched the people in the stands, trying to gauge their reactions. Most of the people there were victims of his insanity, or knew people who were. He would get no mercy here, and he wouldn?t have it any other way.
?So?? Heero forced himself to focus on the judge and what she was saying. ??it is the decision of this court that Heero Yuy be executed one week from today.? Silence reigned in the courtroom, and Heero could feel the people?s eyes upon him, watching for a reaction. He gave none. No emotions showed on his face as the judge spoke. He had been expecting nothing less. Although he couldn?t help but be amused at the irony of it all. They had just healed him, so he would be alive for his execution.
He had collapsed the pain from the wound in his head when he tried to exit the shuttle, and had been rushed to the hospital. Not wanting to waste any time before they put him on trial, they?d had a field doctor sew up the gash in his head, and put his broken arm back into place. The doctor had assured the Preventors that he was in excellent condition and would make it through the trial without any problems.
He was seriously doubting his words right now, as he stood in front of the court, his head feeling like it would split in half if he tried to move. He knew that he was probably very pale by now, and he could feel the sweat running down his face, but he refused to wipe his forehead. He wouldn?t give them the pleasure of knowing that he was weakened.
He just wished that this trial would end. He accepted their decision, he wasn?t going to fight against their ruling. So why wouldn?t they let him out of here? His legs were starting to ache and he struggled to stay standing. He accepted their decision. He was ready to die. So why wouldn?t they let him out?
He closed his eyes, trying to keep his balance. Trying to think of happier times, and hoping that it would be enough to make the pain go away. His eyes shot open when he heard someone say his name, and he turned to face the woman who was speaking about him. Relena?
?I do not think that it is right to execute him.? Her voice held the court spell-bound. ?Nothing can be achieved by death. It does not make sense to kill him in order to avenge the many lives that he destroyed. It does nothing to help you. Killing him will not bring back your loved ones.? She paused, looking right at him before continuing. ?Let him spend his life in prison. Let him live with the guilt of what he has done.?
?Is this what you really want, Miss Dorlian?? The judge asked her. ?You suffered at the hands of this man as well.?
?I?m well aware of that, your Honour.? Relena said smoothly. ?But I don?t think that I could ever suffer so much that I would wish to end someone?s life.? She tore her gaze away from Heero, looking at the judge. ?Please, don?t kill him.? She said quietly, and Heero was sure that he was the only one who heard her.
Apparently, the judge did too. She raised her gavel banging it once to get the attention of the court. ?This court will take a brief recess, and will reconvene tomorrow morning.? She banged her gavel again and exited the courtroom, ignoring the whispers that had started when she made her decision.
Heero didn?t notice her leave, he didn?t hear the whispers; all he could see was Relena. Why had she done this? He didn?t understand. Why was she trying to save his life after what he had done to her? It didn?t make any sense at all.
?Why?? He asked her, and she smiled sadly at him. ?Why are you trying to save me??
?Life is precious,? she said simply. ?Even your life.? She turned away, unable to face him anymore and walked swiftly down the aisles and out the door. Heero stared at her retreating figure, letting her words wash over him. She had just said that he was worth something. No one had ever told him that before.
He had always been told that he was expendable, and that it would be best if he died while fighting for the cause, because that way, he could use his worthless life to its maximum potential. But Relena- she said that he was special without the missions, without the fighting.
He cursed himself for hurting her, and he cursed himself for not thanking her. She deserved so much, and he wished that he could give it to her, but that was impossible now. He would stay in jail, maybe he would be executed, and she would move on, find someone new. Someone who deserved her.
The thought hurt Heero more than his head wound did. Relena with another man, marrying another man, living with another man. It made him want to scream. He wished that he knew how this whole thing would turn out. He wished that he could be there with her, protecting her from anything that would seek to harm her. He wished that? this whole thing had never happened.
He was grabbed roughly by a Preventor, and was lead out the door, down the hall to his cell. He barely noticed as he was thrown in. He didn?t even register the bars slamming shut. All he could think about was her and her words.
Life is precious, even your life.
He wished with all his heart that he could believe it.
Author's Note: So... This is not the end. I promise you that. I refuse to leave it like this. There are too many issues unresolved. so aside from that? What did you think?
Symee
<Center>Deceptions Part 12: The Trial
By Symee-Sama</Center>
Relena screamed when he fell and tried to run forward, but Duo stopped her, placing his body between her and the balcony. ?You can?t help him now.? He told her as gently as he could as he pulled her back into the room and forced her to sit in a chair. ?Stay here. Don?t move.? He ordered her, and walked back out onto the balcony. Bracing himself for what he knew he would see when he looked over the edge.
It didn?t work. ?Shit.? Duo whispered as he peered over the edge, grimacing at what he saw in front of him. Heero was lying in a pool of blood, his arm bent in an unnatural direction. He had broken that arm earlier, Duo realised and felt bile rising in his throat. He forced it back down, staring at his fallen friend. ?Shit.? He repeated. He couldn?t have deserved this. He had done a lot of bad things, but could he have deserved all this?
Duo couldn?t answer the question, and it bothered him. He took one last look at the bloody body on the ground, and walked back into the room, pulling Relena to her feet. ?Come on Princess.? He said in a strained voice. ?We gotta get out of here.?
?But what about Heero?? Relena protested as he practically dragged her down the halls. ?Is he dead?? she asked, the concern evident in her voice. ?Did I kill him?? He didn?t answer her, and she struggled against his grip. ?Damn it Duo, answer me!?
?Why do you care?? Duo asked angrily, turning on her. ?You hate him! You said that you did!? He struggled to control his anger. ?You?re the one who pushed him! He went through a lot of shit to get here. All he wanted to do was see you, and you push him off a friggin? balcony!?
?He sold me!? Relena screamed at him. ?He gave me to Him, and let Him do what He wanted to with me! He almost raped me! He would have raped me hundreds of times already if I hadn?t kept finding ways to stop Him, and Heero?s the one who gave me to Him?? She seemed to lose her drive. ?You have no idea what it was like? To have to hurt yourself so He wouldn?t touch you.?
?No Princess,? Duo deflated instantly. ?I don?t know what you?ve been through, but I know what he?s had to go through and he doesn?t deserve your hatred.?
?Why not?? Relena spat. ?Why shouldn?t I hate him?? She asked and pulled her ripped dress back into place. ?Even if I didn?t hold any hard feelings for what he did to me, I can?t forgive him for what he did to others.? She looked at him, her eyes full of pain. ?I want to, Duo. I wish I could just forget this whole mess, and move on the way we were before he left. But I can?t.? She stopped running, and stood in the clearing, wrapping her arms around herself.
Duo looked at her, pity in his eyes. ?He never expected you to forgive him.? He said slowly, wondering if he was betraying his friend by telling her this. ?I?m not even sure if he wanted you to forgive him, but he came anyway. He never wanted to??
?Hurt me?? Relena interrupted, knowing what this was leading to. ?That?s a lie. He did hurt me. He wanted to hurt me.? She glared at the braided man. ?Admit it Duo. Don?t lie to me.? He tried to pull her along again, but she held her ground, only going forward a few steps before stopping again. ?Admit it Duo.? She said again.
?Is that what you want to hear?? Duo asked in a frustrated tone, and dragged her towards the shuttle. ?Then fine, he wanted to hurt you! He wanted to kill you, and everything that you held dear!? He sighed. ?But he also wanted to protect you.?
?You?re not making any sense!? Relena snapped at him. She was tired of the word games that they were playing. ?He can?t want both!?
Duo sighed again. ?Get your brother to explain it to you.? He told her and helped her into the shuttle, handing her to Zechs. ?I gotta go get Heero.? He said quietly to the older man. ?Don?t leave without us.?
Duo turned and sprinted back towards the mansion, muttering curses under his breath. This was his fault. He had let Relena go near Heero, knowing how fragile her state of mind was. It was just that he wanted everything to be the way it was. He knew that it could never happen, but that didn?t stop him from wishing for it. He didn?t want her to hate Heero?
Duo cursed himself again, and ran faster. Heero could be dying while he took his sweet time. Heero could be bleeding to death because Relena pushed him off a balcony. Duo shook his head. He couldn?t blame Relena for acting the way that she had. She had gone through a lot of horrible things, and she hadn?t meant to push him that hard.
Duo was breathing heavily by the time he reached Heero, and he had to fight to keep his lunch. It seemed like he was always queasy when he was around this guy. He walked over to his friend?s still form, and knelt beside him, checking for cuts. He found none, but then where was all the blood coming from? Duo carefully turned Heero over, not wanting to injure him more, and his face fell.
This was bad. Duo cursed again. There was a long, bloody gash in the back of Heero?s head. Blood had matted and dried, but it was still bleeding slightly. He didn?t know how to deal with this. Should he move him? Probably not. But he didn?t have a choice. He had to get Heero to the shuttle.
Carefully, Duo picked up his friend?s body, not wanting to hurt him more than he had, and slung him over his shoulder. Damn, Duo thought as he dragged Heero back the way he had come. For a skinny guy, he?s really heavy.
Duo gritted his teeth and pulled Heero faster. He didn?t know how bad his injury was, and he wouldn?t know until he got Heero back to the base. He grimaced when he felt blood dripping on him. Shit. Heero had started bleeding again and that couldn?t be good.
He reached the shuttle and placed Heero in a chair, checking to make sure that the handcuffs didn?t jar his broken arm before doing up the restraints and sitting down behind him. ?What the hell is going on?? Duo didn?t flinch as Zechs strode up to where they were sitting. ?That ? That thing shouldn?t be in the same place as my sister!?
?He?s hurt Zechs,? Duo snapped. ?Leave him alone for once!?
Zechs was about to go on another tirade and force Duo to move him, but he felt a hand on his arm. ?Please Milliardo,? Relena?s voice was low, but it easily cut through all the other noises in the shuttle. ?He is hurt, and it?s my fault. We need to get him medical help.?
?What about you?? Zechs asked her quietly. ?You were hurt too.?
?Not as badly as he was.? Relena held her head up proudly. ?Give me some credit, Milliardo. I?m not as weak as everyone seems to think I am.? She looked down at Duo and saw that he was in no condition to pilot. ?Could you fly us back to the base?? She asked Zechs. ?I would like to talk to Duo.?
Zechs nodded and walked quickly towards the cockpit. ?Where are the others?? Relena asked Duo quietly once he had left.
?As far as I know, Quatre is still resting in the back of the shuttle, Trowa is with him, and Wufei is in the cockpit with Zechs. Why??
?Just wondering,? Relena shrugged, and then she looked at him. A serious look on her face. ?Could you explain to me how he could want both?? Duo shot her a confused look. ?What we talked about earlier. You said there was a reason for his actions and I want to hear it.?
?Alright,? Duo glanced over at Heero, nervously. ?He?s insane.? He took in Relena?s shocked look and gave a weak smile. ?I know it?s hard to swallow, but it?s true. He told me that he talked to Zero inside his head, and that he had all these memories of things that never really happened.?
Relena?s eyes widened as she remembered what Heero had said to her in the cell so long ago. Holes in my memory? bright light?that voice?Zero! He had pushed her away from him, moving to another corner of the cell and huddling there. Stay away from me! Zero?s back!
How had she not seen this before? His actions, his words, they all pointed to insanity. Why else would he have suddenly gone on a killing rampage? How else could he have changed so drastically in the span of a year? He had always been so strong. The strongest of all the Gundam pilots in her eyes, but he was still able to fall.
She felt a swell of pity wash over her as she looked at his blood-covered body. Could she still hate him now that she knew that he was insane? Had she ever hated him? Relena wished that she knew the answers. She wished that she knew how this whole fiasco would turn out. She wished? that this had never happened.
Relena realised that Duo had asked her a question, and she searched her memory for what he had said to her. ?I?ll be fine,? She said softly, not looking away from Heero. ?What?s going to happen now, Duo?? She asked, not sure if she would like the answer.
?We?ll try to clean up the mess that he made.? Duo replied, his eyes filled with pain. ?We?ll try to go back to our lives.? He stopped, unsure how to phrase what he needed to say. He knew that Relena still cared for Heero. Maybe she didn?t love him anymore, perhaps she couldn?t love him anymore, but she still cared for him, and didn?t want to see him hurt.
?Then I?ll pay for my crimes,? Duo nearly jumped out of his seat when he heard Heero?s voice. The stoic man sat up slowly, raising a hand to touch the back of his head. ?I want to go to trial as soon as possible.? He stated dully.
?Are ya sure?? Duo asked him. ?You should probably get Sally to look at your wound.?
?It?s not serious,? Heero said gruffly, ignoring the throbbing pain in the back of his head. ?Besides, I want to get this over with. Call Lady Une, and tell her that I want a trial as soon as this shuttle lands.?
Duo rubbed the back of his head. ?I don?t think that she?ll like that, Heero. We pissed her off when we left, remember?? Heero glared at him, and Duo backed away, holding his hands up in front of him. ?All right! I?ll call her!? He stalked towards the cockpit, leaving Relena and Heero alone.
Relena was the one who broke the silence. ?I?m sorry.? She said softly. ?For pushing you off the balcony.?
?I deserved it, and more.? Heero said grimly, trying to hide the pain that he felt.. ?Relena?? He looked up at her. ?I know that nothing I say will make things right, but?? He struggled to find the right words through the pain induced haze that clouded his brain. ?I want to try to make amends.? He nearly flinched at the hurt that he saw in her eyes, but refused to look away. He was the one who put that pain there, he would not turn away from it. ?I-?
?Are you asking for my forgiveness, Heero?? She asked, and he nodded miserably. ?I can?t give it. Not for what you?ve done to others,? her voice lowered until it was barely a whisper. ?Not for what you?ve done to me.?
?Relena?? Heero began. ?I don?t want you to-? He trailed off when he heard shouts coming from the cockpit. His eyes narrowed and all of his kind words were gone, replaced by the detached, cool mask that she knew so well. ?Sit down.? He ordered her roughly. ?Far away from me.?
Relena nodded, hearing the urgency in his voice. Sitting in a chair that was a few rows down from him and doing up the seat belt. Not a moment too soon either.
Relena winced as Zechs threw open the cockpit door, looking at Heero warily. ?I can?t believe you left her alone with him!? He yelled at Duo, who was a step behind him.
?Aw, come off it Zechs!? Duo snapped back at him. ?He was tied to the chair, and the only way for him to get free would be for someone to untie him.? He scanned the shuttle, noting that Relena was now sitting far away from Heero. ?Besides, nothing happened.?
?Something could have happened!? Zechs growled at him, clenching his hands into fists. ?I don?t want him anywhere near my sister!?
Duo looked at Zechs warily, calculating his odds. Zechs was stronger and had a longer reach, but Duo was faster. Not to mention all the dirty fighting tricks that he had learned as a child on the streets. He tensed, preparing to defend himself as the older man drew his fist back-
?Milliardo!? Zechs froze at the sound of his sister?s voice. ?There is no reason for you to fight him!? She walked towards them, placing herself between Zechs and Duo. ?Everything he said was true. Heero did not escape, and even if he could, what could he have done before I called for help? Absolutely nothing.? She glared at him. ?So please go back into the cockpit and fly the plane.? Zechs shot one last warning look at Duo before he stalked back into the cockpit.
Relena sighed after he had left. ?I?m sorry about my brother.? She said softly. ?He can be over-protective at times. Although, I can?t blame him.? Her lip curled in disgust. ?I have a nasty habit of getting kidnapped.? She glanced over at Heero, but he refused to look at her.
Relena forced herself to look away from him. She couldn?t stand this! She couldn?t stand being so close to him! She wanted to hurt him for what he had done, but she didn?t want him to get hurt? It?s not possible to want both! Her words came back to her, mocking her as the echoed inside her head. It seemed that she had made a hypocrite of herself. Because she wanted both.
She walked on unsteady legs to her seat and sat down, trying hard no to stare at the man who was sitting a couple rows in front of her. She loved him still, she knew that she did. Because of the way she felt whenever she saw him. The warmth that spread through her body whenever he talked to her.
But something was wrong now. Now when she looked at him, she felt something new. Fear. She looked sadly at him, unsure of what she was going to do. I have to move past this. She told herself angrily. I have to be strong and grow stronger from what happened. This has happened to many women before me. Her resolve hardened. I can do this. I can get past this. She told herself as she looked at Heero, pushing all feelings of love and fear away from her. I can forget.
<Center>* * * * *</Center>
Heero gritted his teeth as the room spun around him. Trying to focus on the judge?s words. He had told them everything. The bombings, the families that he had killed, Relena?s kidnapping?he had confessed to all the terrorist acts that he had committed, down to the last child. He had watched the people in the stands, trying to gauge their reactions. Most of the people there were victims of his insanity, or knew people who were. He would get no mercy here, and he wouldn?t have it any other way.
?So?? Heero forced himself to focus on the judge and what she was saying. ??it is the decision of this court that Heero Yuy be executed one week from today.? Silence reigned in the courtroom, and Heero could feel the people?s eyes upon him, watching for a reaction. He gave none. No emotions showed on his face as the judge spoke. He had been expecting nothing less. Although he couldn?t help but be amused at the irony of it all. They had just healed him, so he would be alive for his execution.
He had collapsed the pain from the wound in his head when he tried to exit the shuttle, and had been rushed to the hospital. Not wanting to waste any time before they put him on trial, they?d had a field doctor sew up the gash in his head, and put his broken arm back into place. The doctor had assured the Preventors that he was in excellent condition and would make it through the trial without any problems.
He was seriously doubting his words right now, as he stood in front of the court, his head feeling like it would split in half if he tried to move. He knew that he was probably very pale by now, and he could feel the sweat running down his face, but he refused to wipe his forehead. He wouldn?t give them the pleasure of knowing that he was weakened.
He just wished that this trial would end. He accepted their decision, he wasn?t going to fight against their ruling. So why wouldn?t they let him out of here? His legs were starting to ache and he struggled to stay standing. He accepted their decision. He was ready to die. So why wouldn?t they let him out?
He closed his eyes, trying to keep his balance. Trying to think of happier times, and hoping that it would be enough to make the pain go away. His eyes shot open when he heard someone say his name, and he turned to face the woman who was speaking about him. Relena?
?I do not think that it is right to execute him.? Her voice held the court spell-bound. ?Nothing can be achieved by death. It does not make sense to kill him in order to avenge the many lives that he destroyed. It does nothing to help you. Killing him will not bring back your loved ones.? She paused, looking right at him before continuing. ?Let him spend his life in prison. Let him live with the guilt of what he has done.?
?Is this what you really want, Miss Dorlian?? The judge asked her. ?You suffered at the hands of this man as well.?
?I?m well aware of that, your Honour.? Relena said smoothly. ?But I don?t think that I could ever suffer so much that I would wish to end someone?s life.? She tore her gaze away from Heero, looking at the judge. ?Please, don?t kill him.? She said quietly, and Heero was sure that he was the only one who heard her.
Apparently, the judge did too. She raised her gavel banging it once to get the attention of the court. ?This court will take a brief recess, and will reconvene tomorrow morning.? She banged her gavel again and exited the courtroom, ignoring the whispers that had started when she made her decision.
Heero didn?t notice her leave, he didn?t hear the whispers; all he could see was Relena. Why had she done this? He didn?t understand. Why was she trying to save his life after what he had done to her? It didn?t make any sense at all.
?Why?? He asked her, and she smiled sadly at him. ?Why are you trying to save me??
?Life is precious,? she said simply. ?Even your life.? She turned away, unable to face him anymore and walked swiftly down the aisles and out the door. Heero stared at her retreating figure, letting her words wash over him. She had just said that he was worth something. No one had ever told him that before.
He had always been told that he was expendable, and that it would be best if he died while fighting for the cause, because that way, he could use his worthless life to its maximum potential. But Relena- she said that he was special without the missions, without the fighting.
He cursed himself for hurting her, and he cursed himself for not thanking her. She deserved so much, and he wished that he could give it to her, but that was impossible now. He would stay in jail, maybe he would be executed, and she would move on, find someone new. Someone who deserved her.
The thought hurt Heero more than his head wound did. Relena with another man, marrying another man, living with another man. It made him want to scream. He wished that he knew how this whole thing would turn out. He wished that he could be there with her, protecting her from anything that would seek to harm her. He wished that? this whole thing had never happened.
He was grabbed roughly by a Preventor, and was lead out the door, down the hall to his cell. He barely noticed as he was thrown in. He didn?t even register the bars slamming shut. All he could think about was her and her words.
Life is precious, even your life.
He wished with all his heart that he could believe it.
Author's Note: So... This is not the end. I promise you that. I refuse to leave it like this. There are too many issues unresolved. so aside from that? What did you think?
Symee
I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!!! 
IS THERE A HAPPY ENDING!!! I DON'T LIKE SAD ENDINGS!! PLEASE MAKE IT END HAPPILY!!! (I like the chapter, it's really good 
, but it makes me sad 
