There's No Such Word as Won't (Chapter 9)

[Rose of Betrayal]

Disclaimer: This is purely for entertainment purposes, I do not make any profit, so please, leave me alone.
AN: I will try my hardest to submit this on time. Sorry if I have totally warped the story from the very beginning, but, you know, I'm complicated.


There's No Such Word as Won't
Chapter 9

Relena glanced around nervously at the party. Even though it was functioning as normally as any other party she had attended, she had the weird feeling that something was very, very wrong. Or maybe she was just being paranoid. Amazing how Heero Yuy could wreck her nerves with one look.

Raking a hand through her loose curls, she sidestepped a grinning man who was about to ask her for a dance and quickly slipped around to Milliardo's table, where he was drinking wine with another man and chatting. His reaction was totally unexpected. As soon as she approached, he said, rather wildly, "Oh no! I mean, yes, I mean, of course, oh, oh...sorry..."

His wine had tipped out of his glass in his haste to stand up, and splashed right onto the man's coat. The man jumped up, red and furious, and stormed to the direction of the bathroom, cursing loudly. People muttered to themselves as Milliardo stood there, aghast, staring at Relena with wide open eyes. Then the circle which had gathered around the table moved away as someone parted in their midst.

It was Wufei, and he stiffly shooed the people away before casting Milliardo a murderous stare and bowing his head as a gesture of politeness toward Relena.

"Are you alright, Milliardo?" Relena asked softly, assisting him onto a chair. "You're acting quite strange today."

"No, it's nothing," he muttered, putting a hand to his flushed forehead. "Just..."

"Is it Noin?" she asked.

"No."

"Is it your wedding?"

"No."

"Then for God's sake, what is it?" she asked him, her tone turning angry. "Something is going on here that I don't know about, and I want to know NOW!!"

He sank as low into his chair as his broad frame permitted him, his face turning a fiery shade of red, not unlike the color of blood. It gave him the impression of a tomato with long blond hair. "Just ask him no questions, and he'll tell you no lies," someone said from above them.

Milliardo took the excuse and scurried away from Relena's accusing glare, rejoining Noin. As Relena watched, Noin quickly shot her a look before dragging Milliardo around to the outside.

Relena turned and saw Quatre standing above her, along with Dorothy. Dorothy raised a hand and curtsied, and Quatre bowed.

"What is the meaning of this?" Relena demanded. "What the heck is happening here?"

Dorothy raised a forked eyebrow. "Nothing, Miss Relena. Milliardo was merely flushed because Noin..." She glanced at Quatre, who blushed and turned away. "I assume you have heard."

"Oh..." Relena's face flamed as she remembered what Noin and Milliardo had done before the party. Why hadn't she thought of that? She accepted the explanation without question, and her face relaxed somewhat. "Okay. Well, I'll see you around." She drifted away, oblivious to the fact that Dorothy and Quatre exchanged very significant looks behind her back.

*

Soon, about an hour later, Relena was asked to dance by Wufei, who she accepted. He led the way to the dance floor firmly, and they started swaying to the endless music. Though he wasn't a bad dancer, he moved quite stiffly and awkwardly.

"Is this your first time to dance, Wufei?" she asked as he moved her around.

He shook his head. "Sally."

"Oh." She suddenly realized that she must be the only girl who didn't have a partner in the gang, beside Catherine. Right now, Catherine was doing well enough to raise a small amount of money for food and comfortable quarters, aided by Trowa, her little 'brother'. She didn't need a man. She, on the other hand, needed a man like she needed clothes.

And that man had taken to the shadows, scowling, and now they were on formal terms on each other, due to the fact they had agreed to 'break up'. She was not so sure she agreed, but he certainly had, and now she was forced to agree anyway.

Suddenly, someone shoved past her, and she caught a flash of blond hair before she stumbled to the floor, smashing into Hilde, who was behind her, and spilled the glass of champagne the girl had down her front. Wufei had disappeared into the mayhem, and someone shouted, who she recognized as Dorothy, "That thief stole my purse!!"

A blond stole Dorothy's purse? she thought dazedly, just before Duo caught her and carted her off into a dark corner, pushing her back, concealing her. "There's a thief somewhere in the crowd," he hissed. "Stay still! Dorothy said he's armed when she caught a glimpse of him."

"Who was he?"

There was quite a long pause. "Someone you know, Relena. That's all."

Regaining her senses, she grew quite indignant. "Duo, the only blonde people I know are Milliardo, Dorothy and Quatre."

There was a pause from behind her. "Well, Dorothy was the one who was mugged and Milliardo doesn't really care for thief rats, right?" Duo asked, his voice low over the pandemonium that was ensuing around them. Someone staggered past, apparently disoriented, and Relena recognized him as Chris Walker. He gave her a lopsided-grin that sent shivers up her spine before his shoulder knocked into hers and he stumbled away like a drunk.

"What about Quatre?"

"Do you really think someone like Quatre Rebarba Winner would steal Dorothy Catalonia's purse?" Duo asked, his voice somewhat irritated. Yet, she could detect a faint note of amusement in his voice.

Several screams erupted around them as someone smashed into a table laden with glass, sending a shower of crystals over the guests, and also sending them for cover. Relena recognized the person as none other than Hilde Schbeiker, apparently drunk and had no clue of what was going on, but when she raised her head and stared Relena in the eye, her dark-blue orbs were as clear as glass, apparently no alcohol fogging them. In fact, Relena could have sworn Hilde had given her a wink before vanishing.

And her suspicions mounted.

But they had only mounted an inch when someone clapped a hand around her mouth and dragged her away from Duo. When he spun around as she jerked away from him by a strong pair of arms, he whipped out his gun and yelled, "STOP!!"

Twisting around to get a look at her attacker, he twisted her away from him, and she saw Duo sneak away. She could have sworn he had a small smile on his face. Amid the confusion, she was dragged away to the main hallway, where the heavy doors were slammed shut behind them. Quickly, her attacker dumped her on the floor and hurried away before she could see him.

As soon as he disappeared around the corner, Milliardo, Sally, and Noin appeared. Exaggerated looks of fear and surprise were mingled on their faces. Sally and Noin rushed for her at once, but Milliardo lagged behind, a scowl deepening on his features.

"She's hurt," Sally announced grimly.

Dazed, Relena stood up and insisted, "I'm fine...fine... Just a little bit... Everything happened so fast..." And indeed it had. It was all a blur in her mind. Spying her brother, was was now currently trying to sneak away from the scene, she shouted, "Brother! The man went around the corner!!"

Milliardo merely looked confused and didn't make a move, and, growing desperate, she was about to shout again when Noin, with a sudden burst of strength that was surprising, hauled her over her shoulder and carried her to the front door.

It would have seemed silly to do beat Noin's back with her fists, so Relena struggled instead. Noin kept a firm grip on her, and when Relena twisted around, she saw Sally trailing after them, a slight grin on her red lips.

"You're hurt, Relena. You have to go home right now."

The words pressed through her foggy mind, and she struggled furiously as Noin hauled her into the back seat of the limo and slammed the door shut. Sally leaned through the open window and grinned at Relena, who was looking confused. "Don't worry. Just trust Pagan."

"Pagan? Of course I trust Pagan..." She could not say more for Sally reached inside and rolled up the window, extracted her arm, and held it up in a wave as the car began to move. They had turned onto the highway. The sky was dark, the snow fierce, and the wind blowing. Flakes littered the road, making it wet and slippery, but that was not her concern. Pagan was a safe driver. Her main thought was about what had happened, what was happening to her right now.

Confusion and turmoil happened. Then she was half-kidnapped. But why had her attacker dropped her? Perhaps he had heard Noin, Milliardo, and Sally come around the corner. Then why hadn't Milliardo gone after him when he had plainly heard her shout out that he had gone around the corner?

Something was going on here... A knot formed in her abdomen. She had a very bad feeling that it had to do with her and Heero... But Pagan wouldn't do that...or would he?

Leaning over the window divider, she tapped Pagan on the shoulder and said, "Let's just go home, Pagan."

He looked back, friendly gray eyes twinkly with mischief. And the knot of apprehension twisted in her stomach. "I'm afraid I only drive, Miss Relena. It's up to him," Pagan jerked his head toward the other front seat, "to give the directions."

"And me," someone chorused from behind her.

Suspicious, she turned and saw Duo with a cheshire cat grin on his face. "Lucky I got here before you, was it?"

She snorted. "Please." She turned back to the front. "Pagan..."

Heero Yuy glared at her from the front seat. "Don't speak anymore. Sally prescribed home and rest."

She gazed open-mouthed at him. "Where the hell are you taking me?" she asked finally. Duo moved next to her and tapped her on the shoulder, bending to whisper in her ear. She froze. There, of all places?

He sat back, a satisfied look on his face, and Heero turned back to the front, apparently unwilling to say anymore. The ride passed, uneventful, and they stopped in front of a house. It was Relena's own private house, where she often stayed when she needed some time to herself. As she got out of the car into the freezing cold, she scowled at Heero, but her anger quickly dissolved when he slipped an arm around her shoulders.

He felt warm, the curve of his arm resting against her shoulders, into the back of her neck. She folded her arms to keep warm over her coat, which Duo had mercifully remembered, and leaned against Heero, her eyes closing, reveling in his warmth.

Unbeknownst to her, Duo smiled behind them and slipped back into the car, closing the car door with a small thump that hardly disturbed the warmth now curling around the pair. Pagan, hidden by the tinted windows, gave Relena a fond smile and drove the car away, tires crunching in the snow. As soon as the vehicle was out of sight, Heero led Relena into the house, slipping off his coat.

In turn, she slipped off hers, and he followed her into the living room. Heero soon stoked a fire for them to get warm, but none of them bothered with drinks. They watched the flames dance over the slowly darkening cabin. The crackle of the fire comforted her somehow, and she snuggled into the couch.

"So, did Duo come up with the plan?"

He nodded, watching her. "Do you have a problem with it, Relena?"

His eye caught hers, and she suddenly felt entranced by their dim depths. Her pulse began to race, and her mind was in a whirl of emotion. She hardly knew what she was feeling. She wanted to run, hide, away from the feel of him nearby, away from his cold eyes and gaze... But his dusky blue eyes held her there, hypnotizing her, rendering her helpless.

Running away won't help anything, a voice whispered inside her. It pierced through her haze of thoughts, and her state cleared. Without looking at him, she inched further away from him. She didn't know what she was feeling. But she couldn't face the man who was slowly destroying her from the inside out. No. Never.

Dammit, someone swore inside her head.

She blocked out the voice and turned to him, her eyes brimming with anxiety. "Why did you bring me here, Heero?"

"You needed it," he said, staring at the fire. His eyes were unfathomable, their depths deep. The fire light spread over his face, shadowing him, his hair hooding his face. The sky outside was dark, flecked with snow. It made the room even darker than before, made him even more frightening than before. But he was frightening in an oddly beautiful way.

She swallowed. Oh, no.

*

Heero kept her talking for an hour or so, soothing her nerves. It was unusual for him to talk, but he refused to say anything about his past even when she pressed him. He talked about usual things, like his current life and work.

But in him, his own thoughts were churning, making a knot twist in his stomach. Relena was plainly opening up to him, but he could not contain the lust rising in him with ever passing second. Yet, she had not told him whether or not she wanted to be together. Or did she want him to spring the question instead?

He sank deeper into his seat, reflecting on his thoughts as Relena talked. His mind was elswhere completely, even when he was listening.

He watched her face, watched it as it switched from various expressions as she gestured with her hands to the topic of what she was discussing. Her hair fell loosely around her face, framing it, and he felt his groin tighten as her lips move, his eyes followed their movement. The dress was very revealing, something to be called completely daring, as Relena had abandoned her usual taste of casual clothing for the night.

And, God, was he glad. He shifted in his seat. Was he also uncomfortable.

His thoughts wandered deeper as he watched her. Here sat the woman of pure Peacecraft blood, pacifist blood, and yet he could not spill it. He had nothing against pacifists, as they supported his ideals, but this certain pacifist was an exception. She saw him for him, the bloody soldier at work, who had killed thousands and spilled their blood.

Heero had no desire for killing, and performed the missions with ruthlessness...until he met her. Now, he wasn't even sure he was an ex-soldier. She had released his heart from the cages he had built, knocked down the walls he had constructed, all because of her faith, purity, and, damn, her innocence.

She had taught him to love again, and he had unwittingly fallen in love with her. Because of her faith, purity, and yes, her innocence. It seemed that what had happened to him, freed his heart, was because of those three hated reasons.

He loved her, yes, but he needed to kill her. This was the most confusing part of his problem. Should he kiss...or should he kill? There was no point in asking these useless questions. He had brooded far enough. There was only one thing he had to say.

Then, it would run its own way.

*

Relena watched him interlock his fingers and gaze at them silently, and got the hint that he wasn't listening. She fell into quiet, sitting back in her chair. His eyes were preoccupied with something, and he visibly swallowed, as if he was steeling himself to say something.

She swallowed to. He was going to ask her. God...help her...

"Relena."

At the sound of his voice, she almost shrieked, but was stopped immediately when his eyes bore into hers, once again with that same entrancing, dark hypnotizing look. She felt his index and thumb close around her wrist, their length quickly covering her slender bone. She felt the callused skin rub against her own smooth skin, and she felt a sense of sudden warmth filling her.

"I want you to know something." He gazed at her. "As much as Duo helped us, there wasn't much he did except bring you to this place and keep Chris Walker away. Currently, I think Dorothy is torturing him."

Neither of them laughed.

The inner voice broke through her thoughts again. This time, it said, 'Right, right, Hee-chan!!' But also, this time, it did not clear the Heero-induced haze that was now filling her mind. His scent, faintly of gunpowder and nicotine (even though she knew he did not smoke) was intoxicating, filling her nostrils. It seeped into her brain, making her thoughts whirl delicously.

She could almost taste his scent on her tongue.

Oh, that DEFINITELY wasn't a good sign. Or...maybe it was.

He leaned closer, so her whole view was of him. It blocked out everything: the snow-filled window, the crackling fire... He was so close now that she could feel her warm breath on her cheek. Her heart thudded against her ribcage in excitement, and her senses were stretching to breaking point. An inch closer, Heero...an inch closer and she would lose control.

"We've been complicating this far too much," he whispered softly, his other hand caressing her cheek. His warm breath spilled on her cheek. She shivered, but the warmth was oddly comforting, rather than intimidating.

"It's time we put behind all past mistakes, Relena. There's no doubt now."

She could see every swirling emotion in those blue orbs that were now painfully close...so close...

"We've known each other for a long time..."

A centimeter closer...her brain was fogging...she was almost desperate...

"Even Milliardo agreed..."

Heero. She closed her eyes, blocking out the sight of Heero, blocking out his Prussian blue orbs that shone into her soul, blocking out the skin that she almost felt against her own. Closer, Heero, closer...

"Relena. I love you."

And she kissed him. "I love you, too, baby."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hiya, ppl!! *waves* I know this is short (well, by my standards, anyway), but it looks like I have temporary inability to put anything good down. I thought of a twist, but that comes later. Lemon chapter coming up, plus an Epilogue. Maybe I'll merge the next chapter and the epilogue together. -DJ

P.S. If Trowa comes to your mind, I'm saving him for later.

[Kari]

Oh this is my hentai mind speaking but I can't wait for the next chapter. Hope you update soon DJ.

[stormwind16]

You're a really good writer! Keep it up I love this fic

luv Stormwind16

[Rose of Betrayal]

I'm trying my best!! I don't know why I'm beginning to get so wordish again, but I guess that's okay, anyways. *gives them thumbs up and dashes* gtg and write the nxt chapter!!

[Kari]

Hey DJ when do you think the next chapter will be up??
Oops I'm nagging again.

[Rose of Betrayal]

Hey DJ when do you think the next chapter will be up??

Soon, I hope. I don't have much time because the holidays are about to end!! Oh, doom!!

[Kari]

I don't have much time because the holidays are about to end!!

Mine is already done. *grumbles* Stupid school.

[Rose of Betrayal]

Stupid school.

Agreed, already, ppl. I checked with my classmates.

[Wingnut]

Yes! Heero shoots, HE SCORES!!
Are you going to have them retreat to a bedroom or have them gget it on right there in front of the fire? That would be very exciteing to think of, makeing love with only the light of the fire to see by.
Get back in that closet you hentai baka! Sorry about that. Although I do like his idea.

[Rose of Betrayal]

Jesus Wingnut!! *gawks at Wingnut like mad*